Health Guidance

What is Down Syndrome?

2008-03-16T14:46:00.000-07:00

What is Down syndrome?

Down syndrome is set of mental and physical symptoms that result from having an extra copy of Chromosome 21.

Normally, a fertilized egg has 23 pairs of chromosomes. In most people with Down syndrome, there is an extra copy of Chromosome 21 (also called trisomy 21 because there are three copies of this chromosome instead of two), which changes the body’s and brain’s normal development.

What are the signs and symptoms of Down syndrome?

Even though people with Down syndrome may have some physical and mental features in common, symptoms of Down syndrome can range from mild to severe. Usually, mental development and physical development are slower in people with Down syndrome than in those without the condition.

Mental retardation is a disability that causes limits on intellectual abilities and adaptive behaviors (conceptual, social, and practical skills people use to function in everyday lives). Most people with Down syndrome have IQs that fall in the mild to moderate range of mental retardation. They may have delayed language development and slow motor development.

Some common physical signs of Down syndrome include:

* Flat face with an upward slant to the eye, short neck, and abnormally shaped ears
* Deep crease in the palm of the hand
* White spots on the iris of the eye
* Poor muscle tone, loose ligaments
* Small hands and feet

There are a variety of other health conditions that are often seen in people who have Down syndrome, including:

* Congenital heart disease
* Hearing problems
* Intestinal problems, such as blocked small bowel or esophagus
* Celiac disease
* Eye problems, such as cataracts
* Thyroid dysfunctions
* Skeletal problems
* Dementia—similar to Alzheimer’s

What is the treatment for Down syndrome?

Down syndrome is not a condition that can be cured. However, early intervention can help many people with Down syndrome live productive lives well into adulthood.

Children with Down syndrome can often benefit from speech therapy, occupational therapy, and exercises for gross and fine motor skills. They might also be helped by special education and attention at school. Many children can integrate well into regular classes at school.

Who is at risk for Down syndrome?

The chance of having a baby with Down syndrome increases as a woman gets older—from about 1 in 1,250 for a woman who gets pregnant at age 25, to about 1 in 100 for a woman who gets pregnant at age 40. But, most babies with Down syndrome are born to women under age 35 because more younger women have babies.

Because the chances of having a baby with Down syndrome increase with the age of the mother, many health care providers recommend that women over age 35 have prenatal testing for the condition. Testing the baby before it is born to see if he or she is likely to have Down syndrome allows parents and families to prepare for the baby’s special needs.

Parents who have already have a baby with Down syndrome or who have abnormalities in their own chromosome 21 are also at higher risk for having a baby with Down syndrome.

Once the baby is born, a blood test can confirm whether the baby has Down syndrome.

Institute of Child Health and Human Development

What is Fragile X Syndrome?

2008-03-16T14:43:00.000-07:00

What is Fragile X syndrome?

Fragile X syndrome is the most common form of inherited mental retardation.

Fragile X happens when there is a change, or mutation, in a single gene called the Fragile X Mental Retardation 1 (FMR1) gene. This gene normally makes a protein the body needs for the brain to develop. But when there is a change in this gene, the body makes only a little bit or none of the protein, which can cause the symptoms of Fragile X.

Fragile X is inherited, which means it is passed down from parents to children. Parents can have children with Fragile X even if the parents do not have Fragile X themselves. The changes in the gene can become more serious when passed from parent to child.

Some people may only have a small change in their FMR1 gene (called a premutation) and may not show any signs of Fragile X. Other people may have bigger changes in the gene, called a full mutation, that cause the symptoms of Fragile X syndrome.

What are the signs and symptoms of Fragile X syndrome?

Not everyone with Fragile X has the same signs and symptoms, but they do have some things in common. Symptoms are often milder in girls than in boys. Here are some common signs of Fragile X:

* Intelligence and learning – Many people with Fragile X have intellectual disabilities. These problems can range from mild learning disabilities to more severe mental retardation.
* Physical – Teens and adults with Fragile X may have long ears, faces, and jaws. Many people with Fragile X may also have loose, flexible joints. They may have flat feet and be able to extend joints like the thumb, knee, and elbow further than normal.
* Social and Emotional – Most children with Fragile X have some behavior challenges. They may be afraid or anxious in new situations. Many children, especially boys, have trouble paying attention or may be aggressive. Girls may be shy around new people.
* Speech and Language – Most boys with Fragile X have some problems with speech and language. They may have trouble speaking clearly, or may stutter, or leave out parts of their words. They may also have problems understanding "clues" when talking to other people, such as understanding the speaker’s tone of voice or that person’s body language. Girls usually do not have severe problems with speech or language.
* Sensory – Many children with Fragile X are bothered by certain sensations, such as bright light, loud noises, or the way something feels. Some do not like to be touched, or have trouble making eye contact with other people.

What are the treatments for Fragile X syndrome?

There is no cure for Fragile X, but there are ways to help with the symptoms.

People with Fragile X can get help to reduce or eliminate some of the learning, physical, social and emotional, speech and language, and sensory problems common in Fragile X. The sooner those with Fragile X get help, the more they can learn and the better their outcomes.

Institute of Child Health and Human Development.

What is Klinefelter Syndrome?

2008-03-16T14:40:00.000-07:00

What is Klinefelter syndrome?

Klinefelter syndrome, also known as the XXY condition, is a term used to describe males who have an extra X chromosome in most of their cells. Instead of having the usual XY chromosome pattern that most males have, these men have an XXY pattern.

Klinefelter syndrome is named after Dr. Henry Klinefelter, who first described a group of symptoms found in some men with the extra X chromosome. Even though all men with Klinefelter syndrome have the extra X chromosome, not every XXY male has all of those symptoms.

Because not every male with an XXY pattern has all the symptoms of Klinefelter syndrome, it is common to use the term XXY male to describe these men, or XXY condition to describe the symptoms.

Scientists believe the XXY condition is one of the most common chromosome abnormalities in humans. About one of every 500 males has an extra X chromosome, but many don’t have any symptoms.

What are the symptoms of the XXY condition?

Not all males with the condition have the same symptoms or to the same degree. Symptoms depend on how many XXY cells a man has, how much testosterone is in his body, and his age when the condition is diagnosed.

The XXY condition can affect three main areas of development:

Physical development: As babies, many XXY males have weak muscles and reduced strength. They may sit up, crawl, and walk later than other infants. After about age four, XXY males tend to be taller and may have less muscle control and coordination than other boys their age.

As XXY males enter puberty, they often don’t make as much testosterone as other boys. This can lead to a taller, less muscular body, less facial and body hair, and broader hips than other boys. As teens, XXY males may have larger breasts, weaker bones, and a lower energy level than other boys.

By adulthood, XXY males look similar to males without the condition, although they are often taller. They are also more likely than other men to have certain health problems, such as autoimmune disorders, breast cancer, vein diseases, osteoporosis, and tooth decay.

XXY males can have normal sex lives, but they usually make little or no sperm. Between 95 percent and 99 percent of XXY males are infertile because their bodies don’t make a lot of sperm.

Language development: As boys, between 25 percent and 85 percent of XXY males have some kind of language problem, such as learning to talk late, trouble using language to express thoughts and needs, problems reading, and trouble processing what they hear.

As adults, XXY males may have a harder time doing work that involves reading and writing, but most hold jobs and have successful careers.

Social development: As babies, XXY males tend to be quiet and undemanding. As they get older, they are usually quieter, less self-confident, less active, and more helpful and obedient than other boys.

As teens, XXY males tend to be quiet and shy. They may struggle in school and sports, meaning they may have more trouble "fitting in" with other kids.

However, as adults, XXY males live lives similar to men without the condition; they have friends, families, and normal social relationships.

What are the treatments for the XXY condition?

The XXY chromosome pattern can not be changed. But, there are a variety of ways to treat the symptoms of the XXY condition.

* Educational treatments – As children, many XXY males qualify for special services to help them in school. Teachers can also help by using certain methods in the classroom, such as breaking bigger tasks into small steps.
* Therapeutic options – A variety of therapists, such as physical, speech, occupational, behavioral, mental health, and family therapists, can often help reduce or eliminate some of the symptoms of the XXY condition, such as poor muscle tone, speech or language problems, or low self-confidence.
* Medical treatments – Testosterone replacement therapy (TRT) can greatly help XXY males get their testosterone levels into normal range. Having a more normal testosterone level can help develop bigger muscles, deepen the voice, and grow facial and body hair. TRT often starts when a boy reaches puberty. Some XXY males can also benefit from fertility treatment to help them father children.

One of the most important factors for all types of treatment is starting it as early in life as possible.

Institute of Child Health and Human Development

What is McCune-Albright syndrome?

2008-03-16T14:37:00.000-07:00

What is McCune-Albright syndrome?

McCune-Albright syndrome is a disease that affects the bones, skin, and endocrine (hormone) system. It results from a change (or mutation) in a gene that occurs by chance in the womb. Because it occurs by chance, it is not inherited and passed down from one generation to the next.

What are the symptoms of McCune-Albright syndrome?

People with McCune-Albright syndrome may have symptoms related to bones, the endocrine system, or skin. The symptoms can range from mild to severe.

Bone symptoms

* Those with McCune-Albright syndrome often have polyostotic fibrous dysplasia (pronounced pa-lee-oh-STOT-ik FIE-bruss diss-PLAY-jsha), which occurs when normal bone is replaced by softer, fibrous tissue. When this happens in weight-bearing bones, such as the leg bones, it can cause limping, deformity, and fractures.
* People with McCune-Albright syndrome often have this dysplasia condition in the bones of the skull and upper jaw, so these bones grow unevenly. There is no known hormonal or medical treatment for controlling this aspect of disease, although surgery can help correct some fractures and deformities.

Endocrine system symptoms

* Precocious, or very early, puberty – Girls with McCune-Albright syndrome begin to show signs of puberty much younger than normal. Menstrual bleeding before two years of age is the first symptom of McCune-Albright syndrome for most female patients. Boys with the condition may show signs of puberty early, but these signs are less common than in girls.
* Thyroid function – The thyroid is a small gland in the neck that affects the metabolism. About half of patients with McCune-Albright syndrome have problems with their thyroid glands, such as enlargement or masses (called nodules or cysts). Drug therapy can sometimes improve thyroid function.
* Growth hormone – Some patients have too much pituitary growth hormone, which causes coarse facial features, larger hands and feet, and arthritis. Treatments include surgery and medication.
* Cushing’s syndrome – This is a rare problem for McCune-Albright syndrome patients. Symptoms include obesity of the face and body, weight gain, skin fragility, and stopping growth in childhood. Cushing’s syndrome is treated by removing the affected glands or with medicine.

Skin symptoms

* McCune-Albright syndrome can cause patches of increased or darker skin coloring. These areas are called café-au-lait spots because, in children with light complexions, these spots are the color of coffee with milk. In darker skinned children, the spots might be hard to see.
* Most children have these spots from birth and the spots rarely grow. There are usually not any medical problems caused by these skin changes.

What are the treatments for McCune-Albright syndrome?

There is no cure for McCune-Albright syndrome. Drug treatments may help reduce or alleviate some of the symptoms, and surgery can help repair some of the bone problems.

Institute of Child Health and Human Development.

Menkes Syndrome

2008-03-16T14:35:00.000-07:00

What is Menkes syndrome?

Menkes syndrome is a genetic disorder that impacts how well the body stores and distributes copper.

Menkes is caused by a mutation in the ATP7A gene that results in poor distribution of copper through the body. Copper builds up in some tissues, such as the small intestine and kidneys, while areas like the brain and liver don’t get enough copper.

Menkes syndrome is an X-linked recessive disorder, meaning that the mutated ATP7A gene is on the X chromosome and the condition is usually inherited. Males are affected by Menkes more often than females. About one-third of Menkes cases result from a spontaneous mutation in the gene, meaning that it occurs without warning and is not inherited.

Occipital horn syndrome is a less severe from of Menkes syndrome that begins in early to middle childhood.

What are the symptoms of Menkes syndrome?

Symptoms of Menkes, which appear during infancy, include normal development for 2 to 3 months, followed by a period of severe developmental delay and a loss of developmental skills.

Other symptoms may include:

* Sparse, kinky, coarse hair
* Failure to thrive
* Deterioration of the nervous system
* Weak muscle tone and sagging facial features
* Seizures
* Lower than normal body temperature
* Weakened bones that can result in fractures
* Pudgy, rosy cheeks

The prognosis for people with Menkes syndrome is poor, and most children with the disorder die within the first few years of life.

What is the treatment for Menkes syndrome?

The most common treatment for Menkes is copper injection therapy, but the studies of the treatment show mixed results. In general, the earlier the copper therapy is received, the better the results. Also, people with ATP7A mutations that don’t completely stop the copper transport in the body respond better to treatment than those with mutations causing absolutely no activity.

In addition to copper therapy, physical and occupational therapy can help maximize developmental potential, and nutritionists can recommend the best diet.

For more information about treatments for Menkes syndrome, talk to your health care provider.

Institute of Child Health and Human Development.

What is Prader-Willi Syndrome?

2008-03-16T14:33:00.000-07:00

What is Prader-Willi Syndrome?

Prader-Willi syndrome is the most common genetic cause of life-threatening obesity in children.

People with Prader-Willi syndrome have a problem in their hypothalamus, a part of the brain that normally controls feelings of fullness or hunger. As a result, they never feel full and have a constant urge to eat that they cannot control.

Most cases of Prader-Willi syndrome result from a spontaneous genetic error in genes on chromosome 15 that occurs at conception. In very rare cases, the mutation is inherited.

What are the symptoms of Prader-Willi syndrome?

There are generally two stages of symptoms for people with Prader-Willi syndrome:

Stage 1 - As newborns, babies with Prader-Willi can have low muscle tone, which can affect their ability to suck properly. As a result, babies may need special feeding techniques to help them eat, and infants may have problems gaining weight. As these babies grow older, their strength and muscle tone usually get better. They meet motor milestones, but are usually slower in doing so.

Stage 2 - Between the ages of 1 and 6 years old, the disorder changes to one of constant hunger and food seeking. Most people with Prader-Willi syndrome have an insatiable appetite, meaning they never feel full. In fact, their brains are telling them they are starving. They may have trouble regulating their own eating and may need external restrictions on food, including locked kitchen and food storage areas.

This problem is made worse because people with Prader-Willi syndrome use fewer calories than those without the syndrome because they have less muscle mass. The combination of eating massive amounts of food and not burning enough calories can lead to life-threatening obesity if the diet is not kept under strict control.

There are other symptoms that may affect people with Prader-Willi, including:

* Behavioral problems, usually during transitions and unanticipated changes, such as stubbornness or temper tantrums
* Delayed motor skills and speech due to low muscle tone
* Cognitive problems, ranging from near normal intelligence to mild mental retardation; learning disabilities are common
* Repetitive thoughts and verbalizations
* Collecting and hoarding of possessions
* Picking at skin
* Low sex hormone levels

Prader-Willi syndrome is considered a spectrum disorder, meaning not all symptoms will occur in everyone affected and the symptoms may range from mild to severe.

People with Prader-Willi often have some mental strengths as well, such as skills in jigsaw puzzles. If obesity is prevented, people with the syndrome can live a normal lifespan.

What are the treatments for Prader-Willi syndrome?

Prader-Willi syndrome cannot be cured. But, early intervention can help people build skills for adapting to the disorder. Early diagnosis can also help parents learn about the condition and prepare for future challenges. A health care provider can do a blood test to check for Prader-Willi syndrome.

Exercise and physical activity can help control weight and help with motor skills. Speech therapy may be needed to help with oral skills.

Human growth hormone has been found to be helpful in treating Prader-Willi syndrome. It can help to increase height, decrease body fat, and increase muscle mass. However, no medications have yet been found to control appetite in those with Prader-Willi.

Institute of Child Health and Human Development

What is Turner Syndrome

2008-03-16T14:27:00.000-07:00

What is Turner Syndrome

Turner syndrome is a disorder caused by a partially or completely missing X chromosome. It is a condition that only affects females.

Most people have 46 chromosomes in each cell – 23 from their mother and 23 from their father. The 23rd pair of chromosomes is called the sex chromosomes – X and Y – because they determine whether a person is male or female. Most females have XX in most of their cells and most males have XY in most of their cells.

Females with Turner syndrome are missing all or part of one of their X chromosomes.

What are the symptoms of Turner syndrome?

People with Turner syndrome can have a wide variety of symptoms. Some people may have more severe problems, and others may have mild symptoms. Turner syndrome may affect many areas, such as:

* Appearance – Features may include short neck, low hairline at the back of the neck, low-set ears, hands and feet that are swollen or puffy at birth, and soft nails that turn upward.
* Stature – Children with Turner grow more slowly than other kids and without treatment tend to be very short as adults.
* Puberty/Reproduction – Most individuals with Turner syndrome lose ovarian function in early childhood and do not start puberty at a normal age. These women usually cannot become pregnant naturally.
* Cardiovascular – Some individuals with Turner syndrome have structural problems with their hearts or major blood vessels. For this reason, everyone with Turner syndrome needs a thorough cardiologic evaluation at the time of diagnosis. High blood pressure also affects about 20 percent of girls and 40 percent of adults with Turner syndrome.
* Kidney – Some people with Turner have kidneys that appear to be structurally abnormal, but their kidney function is usually normal.
* Osteoporosis – Women with Turner syndrome who do not get adequate estrogen often get osteoporosis, which can cause loss of height, and increased bone fractures.
* Diabetes – People with Turner syndrome are at higher risk for Type II diabetes.
* Thyroid – Many people with Turner have thyroid problems, usually hypothyroidism, or an under-active thyroid.
* Cognitive – Even though people with Turner syndrome have normal intelligence, some have problems with specific visual-spatial coordination tasks (such as mentally rotating objects in space) and may have trouble learning math (geometry and arithmetic).

What are the treatments for Turner syndrome?

Although there is no cure for Turner syndrome, there are some treatments that can help minimize the symptoms.

* Human growth hormone (hGH) given in early childhood can often increase adult height by a few inches.
* Estrogen replacement therapy (ERT) can help start up secondary sexual development that normally begins at puberty for girls without Turner (such as breast development or developing wider hips). Health care providers may prescribe ERT to girls who haven’t started menstruating by age 15.
* Assistive reproductive therapies, such as egg donation, may help some women with Turner get pregnant.

Institute of Child Health and Human Development.

Morning Breath Is A Transient Thing

2008-03-12T16:52:00.000-07:00

Morning Breath Is A Transient Thing

It would be tough to find a person who has never suffered from morning breath. We wake up in the morning feeling as though our mouths have been immobile all night long. Indeed, they probably have been. The oral cavity is either parchment dry, from breathing through the mouth (worse if you snore), or glued together from a lack of free flowing saliva. We force our lips to move: the first word is a croak.

Morning breath is actually a consequence of naturally decreased saliva production: the body produces less saliva while we sleep. Since saliva is a potent force against the oral bacteria that produce bad breath, a decrease in saliva allows those bacteria to proliferate during the night - and proliferation of those bacteria means production of volatile sulfur compounds (VSC), which smell really bad and are the main component of bad breath.

Fortunately, morning breath is a transient thing - once we are up and around, and have brushed and rinsed, the higher daytime flow of saliva resumes and all is well in the mouth (unless there is a chronic problem with VSC-producing bacteria). For most of us, a regular program of oral hygiene is all that's needed: brush and floss regularly, and clean the tongue, especially if you notice a white or yellowish coating on it in the morning. Morning breath should be easily vanquished.

There are a few things that make morning breath worse: coffee, alcohol, smoking, snacking during the night, poor oral hygiene, and sinus congestion, to name a few. In addition, many drugs cause a dry mouth, and this effect is accentuated when saliva flow is naturally decreased. These things affect morning breath for different reasons. Some decrease saliva flow; some directly support the proliferation of VSC-producing bacteria by providing nutrients. What's important is that we know they make things worse - avoid them if possible.

If your morning breath bothers you so much that you want to do something significant about it, try stepping up your oral care first. Are you brushing your teeth and rinsing your mouth out first thing in the morning? Are you cleaning your tongue? If these measures seem inadequate, use a good oral rinse that kills or removes VSC-producing bacteria on the tongue. Perhaps you want fresh breath before you even get out of bed - a difficult order to fill, but there are products on the market that claim to stop morning breath from happening at all. Of course, you'd add these into your routine in the evening, before going to sleep.

R. Drysdale

Sinus Drainage Bad Breath

2008-03-12T16:51:00.000-07:00

Sinus Drainage Bad Breath

Have you heard of sinus drainage bad breath? This condition implies that the bad breath is coming from the sinuses; however, that is usually not the case. When draining sinuses contribute to halitosis, the odor is coming from the back of the mouth, just as it does with regular halitosis.

When there is a problem in a sinus bad breath results for a very simple reason: drainage from the sinus runs down the back of the throat and onto the very back of the tongue. The drainage is a rich source of protein because it contains dead sinus cells that have sloughed off, blood cells, pus cells, and other molecules produced by the body. These are the exact things that oral bacteria like to use for nutrients. With a steady food supply from sinus drainage bad breath increases with the increase of bacteria.

The bacteria that are particularly known for producing sinus drainage bad breath, and other bad breath as well, are anaerobes, meaning that they live in an oxygen free environment. They cannot withstand significant amounts of oxygen - the back of the tongue is a perfect place for them to hide. They get down in the little grooves between tongue papillae and taste buds, and just wait for food to come to them. When it does, they take what they need and produce foul smelling volatile sulfur compounds as an accidental byproduct of metabolism. Unfortunately for the person with an inflamed sinus bad breath is the final result.

The good thing is that treating sinus drainage bad breath is really no different from treating any other type of bad breath. Many people suffer from post nasal drip, which essentially produces the same type of sinus bad breath. Bad breath products that work for regular bad breath will work just as well for these situations. Of course, a product that works by decreasing the population of anaerobes living at the back of the tongue will be the most effective. Look for oral care products that are antibacterial in some way - they may physically remove tongue bacteria or they may kill them. Either should help decrease the odor on your breath and allow you to focus on alleviating the discomfort of the sinus problem, instead of worrying about your sinus drainage bad breath.

R. Drysdale

Oral Health and Calcium

2008-03-12T16:49:00.001-07:00

Oral Health and Calcium

What is calcium?

Calcium is a mineral your body needs to help build strong bones and healthy teeth. Low-fat and fat-free milk and dairy products are especially good sources of calcium.

How does calcium help keep mouths healthy?

* Even before baby teeth and adult teeth come in, they need calcium. And after teeth come in, they continue to take in calcium so they can develop fully.
* Calcium makes gums healthy. Getting enough calcium as a young adult may help prevent gum disease later in life.
* Calcium makes jawbones strong and healthy too. Jawbones need to be strong - they hold the teeth in place!

How else can I help my child have a healthy mouth?

Besides teaching your children to drink milk and eat other calcium-rich foods, there are a number of ways you can help keep your child's mouth health. For example:

* Make sure your children brush with fluoride toothpaste. Fluoride protects teeth from decay and helps heal early decay.
* Ask your child’s dental care provider or health care provider if there is fluoride in your town or city’s drinking water. If there is not, ask about fluoride tablets or drops for your child.
* Ask your child’s dental care provider about proper brushing and flossing techniques and other ways your tween and teen can make sure teeth stay healthy.

Institute of Child Health and Human Development

Dental Health: The Facts

2008-03-12T16:44:00.000-07:00

Dental Health: The Facts

Introduction

The major source of knowledge concerning the prevalence of dental health problems comes from periodic national surveys. In 1971-1974, the National Center for Health Statistics conducted the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES I) on a representative sample of the U.S. population. The survey included information concerning prevalence of caries, periodontal disease, edentulousness, and other dental health problems among children and adults. A 1979-1980 National Caries Prevalence (NCP) survey conducted by the National Institute of Dental Research (NIDR) assessed the dental health of U.S. school children aged 5-17. In 1983-1984, the Indian Health Service conducted a cross-sectional study of clinical patients to assess the dental health among American Indian and Alaskan natives. The dental health data that follows comes largely from those national surveys. Fluoridation data is collected and reported by the Centers for Disease Control. In late 1986, the National Institute of Dental Research will complete an Adult Oral Health Survey, which will provide updated Information about progress made in improving dental health among adults.

The prospects of prevention in dental health are encouraging. The use of fluoride at optimal levels before and after eruption of permanent teeth reduces the amount of caries an average of 50%-60%. Newly developed and under-utilized dental sealants can result in a 90% reduction in caries in treated teeth after one year, and a 55% reduction after six years. Lack of public and professional acceptance is a major factor limiting the effectiveness of these currently available prevention strategies.

Prevalence

Caries—Children

The 1979-1980 National Caries Prevalence (NCP) survey of U.S. school children aged 5-17 revealed that, on average, a school child had at least 1 caries lesion in permanent teeth by age 8,4 caries by age 12 and 11 by age 17.

The NCP survey estimated the caries prevalence in the permanent dentition for U.S. school children age 5-17 to be 4.77 decayed, missing or filled tooth surfaces (DMFS) per child and 2.91 decayed, missing or filled teeth (DMFT) per child.

A 1971-1974 National Center for Health Statistics (NCHS) Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES I) reported that children 1-5 years old averaged 1 primary tooth that was either decayed, nonfunctional-carious or filled.

School children aged 5 years in the 1979-1980 NCP survey averaged over 4 decayed or filled surfaces. Children 5-9 years old averaged 5.3 decayed or filled surfaces and 2.6 decayed or filled teeth per child in their primary dentition.

In the 1979-1980 NCP survey, 36.6% of U.S. school children aged 5-17 had no decayed, missing or filled teeth (DMFT), 39.8% had 1-4 DMFT, 15.9% had 5-8 (DMFT); and 7.7% had 9 or more (DMFT).

White children had more caries (4.89 DMFS per child) than children of other races (4.15 DMFS per child), according to the 1979-80 NIDR survey.

A 1983-1984 study of American Indian and Alaskan Native (AI/AN) children indicated that AI/AN children aged 5-19 years had an average of 6.8 DWI, compared to an average of 4.8 DMFT among 5-17 year olds in the general U.S. population reported by the NCP survey.

Between 1971 and 1974, children 6-11 years old who ate 20% of their total calories as between-meal sweets had 20% more decayed, missing and filled teeth than those children who did not have between-meal sweets.

Among school children in the 1979-1980 survey, 16.8% of the DMF surfaces were classified as decayed and unfilled, while 76.1% had been filled or restored by dental treatment, thereby indicating a relatively high level of restorative dental care among U.S. school children.

Marked regional variation in caries prevalence among U.S. school children exists. Children from the Northeast have been reported to have the highest mean number of decayed, missing and filled surfaces (DMFS) at 6.1 compared to children from the Southwest with 3.4 DMFS.

In the Southwest, 45% of the children are caries-free, compared to 30% of the children in the Northeast.

Caries—Adults

The 1971-1974 National Health and Nutrition Evaluation Survey (NHANES I) revealed that adults aged 18-74 years with at least one natural tooth averaged 16.9 decayed, missing or filled permanent teeth per person, including 1.4 untreated decayed permanent teeth.

Blacks aged 18-74 years averaged 4.7 fewer DMFT than whites in NHANES I. Women of all races averaged 1.2 more DMFT than men, while black women averaged 2.9 more DMFT than black men.

The 1982 National Health Interview Survey reported 11.4 million days of restricted activity, 4.16 million days of bed disability, 2.01 million days of work loss and 1.37 million days of school loss as a result of 3.21 million dental conditions.

Periodontal Disease

The 1979-1980 National Caries Prevalence Survey (NCP) of U.S. school children reported that 92% of the children had moderate gingival treatment needs, 3% had severe needs and 5% had no gingival treatment needs.

NHANES I showed that 31% of U.S. adults 18-79 years old had destructive periodontal disease and 25% had gingivitis.

The prevalence and severity of periodontal disease increases with age and is more common among males than females.

Periodontal index (PI) is a composite index used in oral epidemiological surveys to indicate the presence and severity of disease in the supporting tissues of the teeth. The PI ranges from 0 (indicating no inflammation) to 8 (indicating advanced destruction). The 1971-74 NHANES I survey showed that persons not brushing their teeth daily had a mean periodontal index of 3.54, whereas persons brushing once daily had a mean PI of 1.40, and persons brushing twice daily had a mean PI of 1.05.

The same survey revealed that nonsmokers had a mean PI of 1.01 compared to current smokers whose mean PI was 1.55.

Edentulous Persons

14.7% of the U.S. population aged 18-74 years were missing all of their teeth, according to NHANES I data.

Dental Treatment Needs

A 1975-1976 study showed that more than 9.5 million persons received medical care each year for craniofacial injuries.

Oral Cancer

In 1981, 27,000 new cases of oral cancer were diagnosed, and 9,000 cancer deaths were attributed to oral cancers.

Fluoride

The natural fluoride concentration in domestic water in the U.S. supplies ranges from 0.1 to 10 mg/L. Sea water contains fluoride at 1.0 to 1.5 mg/L.

Fluoride ingested at optimal levels before eruption of permanent molars reduces caries an average of 50%-60%. Reduction of caries continues at 50%-60% only if fluoride in water at 1 mg/L washes over teeth for the lifetime of the teeth.

The use of fluoride at optimal concentrations results in a 75% decrease in premature extraction of teeth among children.

Persons with the highest concentration of fluoride in the enamel of their teeth had more than 50% fewer decayed, missing and filled teeth than persons with the lowest fluoride concentration in a 1971-1974 national survey.

Public and Professional Awareness

When asked about factors important to preventing tooth decay in a 1985 National Health Interview Survey (NHIS), 95% of those surveyed said seeing a dentist regularly, 78% said drinking water with fluoride from childhood, and 96% said regular brushing and flossing teeth.

When asked about the main cause of tooth loss in children in the above survey, 58% said tooth decay; 30% said injury to the teeth; 8% said gum disease; and 4% did not know.

When asked about the main cause of tooth loss in adults during the same survey, 55% listed gum disease; 40% tooth decay; 2% injury to teeth; and 3% did not know.

In a survey for the American Dental Association (ADA), 94% of respondents said they brush their teeth. Of those respondents that brush, 64% do so at least once a day, and an additional 23% brush after each meal.

In the ADA survey, 38% of persons responding floss their teeth. Of the respondents aged 30-40, 47% stated that they flossed their teeth.

In the ADA survey, almost one third of respondents reported visiting a dentist within 6 months of the interview, 23% had visited a dentist between 6 months to 1 year, and 22% had not visited a dentist for 3 years or longer.

Preliminary analyses of the 1983 National Health Interview Survey indicate that 94% of people using a dentifrice use a brand containing fluoride.

Service Delivery

In 1983, there was an average 1.8 dental visits per person in the U.S. 51.8% of Americans in 1983 had visited a dentist in less than one year, 23.7% had not visited a dentist in two or more years and 10.8% had never visited a dentist.

According to the Health Care Financing Administration, $25.2 billion was spent on dentist services in 1984. This represents 6.5% of the total national health expenditures for that year.

In a 1978 survey for the American Dental Association, 26% of respondents had some form of dental insurance. Of those with dental insurance, 79% received it as a job-related benefit.

Mandatory football and ice hockey mouthguard rules exist through the National High School Federation, National Collegiate Athletic Association and the Amateur Hockey Association of the United States.

Fluoridation

The Centers for Disease Control estimates that as of December 1985, 130 million Americans (or 54.8% of the U.S. population) were served by fluoridated water. This figure includes 10.7 million persons who received water with natural fluoridation and 119.3 million who received water adjusted to achieve optimal fluoridation.

In December of 1985, 87.2% of the 236.2 million persons in the U.S. received public water supplies and 62.8% of those on public water supplies were served by fluoridation.

As of December 1985, 41 of the 50 largest U.S. cities had fluoridated water supplies.

28 states, Puerto Rico, and Washington, D.C. provide fluoridated water to over half their populations.

The World Health Organization has estimated an average savings of $40 in costs of dental care per $1 of expense for community foundation worldwide. In the U.S., the benefit-cost ratio for fluoridation of water supplies has been estimated at $50: $1.

Significant Trends

Caries—Children

Surveys of school children revealed a one third reduction in caries prevalence from 1971-1973 to 1979-1980.

Periodontal Illness

National surveys of periodontal disease in adults 18-79 years of age reveal that nearly twice as many people in 1971-1974 were without periodontal disease as in 1960-1962. In 1971-1974, 45.3% of males and 57.1% of females 18-79 years old were without periodontal disease, compared to 20.9% and 31.0% (respectively) in 1960-1962.

Edentulous Persons

Young adults aged 18-24 years had, on the average, 2.3 fewer missing teeth in 1971-1974 than in 1960-1962.

Fluoridation

Since the introduction of the practice of adjusting fluoride levels in community water systems in 1945, the number of people with access to water with optimal levels of fluoride for caries reduction (0.7 parts per million or higher) has increased steadily to an estimated 130.8 million in 1985, approximately 54.8% of the total U.S. population.

Special Issues

Fluoridation Growth Slow

In 1975, 60% of the population on community water systems received fluoridated water. By December 1984, the proportion of those served by community water systems who were receiving fluoridation rose to 62.8%.

Dental Sealants

55% of caries in children 5-17 years old develops in the pits and grooves of the chewing surfaces of teeth where the benefits of fluoride are least effective. Dental sealants are plastic resins which are applied to these occlusal surfaces to prevent caries formation.

A review of studies of a popular dental sealant showed 89%-96% retention of the sealant after 1 year and 58%-68% retention after 6 years. The sealants effectiveness at preventing caries when compared to untreated teeth was 89%-91% at 1 year and 55-56% at 6 years.

A national survey revealed that in 1982, 42% of dentists in private practice were not using dental sealants.

Nursing-Bottle Tooth Decay

The practice of leaving babies with bottles containing sugared liquids results in widespread caries referred to as nursing-bottle tooth decay. A 1983-1984 Indian Health Service (IHS) study showed that up to 50% of American Indian/Alaskan Native (Al/AN) preschool-aged children who seek dental services suffer from nursing-bottle tooth decay. Over 40% of AI/AN children under age 5 years had 7 more decayed and/or filled primary teeth in the IHS study. Children with nursing-bottle caries had almost 4 times the amount of tooth decay as those children without nursing-bottle caries.

A study of children ages 3-5 in Head Start programs in Ohio revealed that 14%-15% of children in urban fluoridated areas and 18% of children in urban nonfluoridated areas had nursing-bottle tooth decay.

Smokeless Tobacco

National data suggest that 12 million people used some form of smokeless tobacco in 1985. It is estimated that 16% of 12-17 year-old males used smokeless tobacco in 1985.

A North Carolina study of women who use smokeless tobacco revealed a 4.2% increase in the relative risk of oral cancer among snuff users.

Steven Parker

Parkinson's Disease - Definition, Causes, Symptoms and Treatment

2008-03-12T16:39:00.000-07:00

Parkinson's Disease - Definition, Causes, Symptoms and Treatment

Parkinson's disease is a degenerative disorder of the central nervous system.

Parkinson's disease occurs when nerve cells, or neurons, in an area of the brain known as the substantia nigra die or become impaired. Normally, these neurons produce an important brain chemical known as dopamine. At least 500,000 people in the United States currently have PD. Parkinson's disease belongs to a group of conditions called movement disorders. Parkinson's disease is progressive, meaning the signs and symptoms become worse over time. But although Parkinson's disease may eventually be disabling, the disease often progresses gradually. Parkinson disease affects movement (motor symptoms). Typical other symptoms include disorders of mood, behavior, thinking, and sensation (non-motor symptoms). Individual patients' symptoms may be quite dissimilar and progression of the disease is also distinctly individual. Parkinson's usually begins around age 60. It is more common in men than in women. Symptoms of Parkinson's disease often start on one side of the body first and then affect both sides.

There are many secondary symptoms associated with Parkinson's disease.

Parkinson's disease patients may notice that they are weaker or more tired. Symptoms include disorders of mood, behavior, thinking, and sensation. Poor balance is due to the impairment or loss of the reflexes that adjust posture in order to maintain balance. Falls are common in people with Parkinson's. Shaking (muscle tremor). This is one of the first symptoms in three-quarters of people, and affects most people with Parkinson's disease. Bradykinesia is the phenomenon of a person experiencing slow movements. In addition to slow movements, a person with bradykinesia will probably also have incomplete movement, difficulty initiating movements and sudden stopping of ongoing movement. The progressive loss of voluntary and involuntary muscle control produces a number of secondary symptoms associated with Parkinson's. Postural instability, or impaired balance and coordination, causes patients to develop a forward or backward lean and to fall easily.

Parkinson's disease requires broad-based management including patient and family education, support group services, general wellness maintenance, exercise, and nutrition.

Medications can help manage problems with walking, movement and tremor by increasing the brain's supply of dopamine. Amantadine may also be added to carbidopa-levodopa therapy for people in the latter stages of Parkinson's disease. Catechol-O-methyl-transferase (COMT) inhibitors drugs prolong the effect of carbidopa-levodopa therapy by blocking an enzyme that breaks down dopamine. Tolcapone (Tasmar) is a potent COMT inhibitor that easily crosses the blood-brain barrier. A medicine called levodopa is often given to people who have Parkinson's disease. Called "L-dopa," this medicine increases the amount of dopamine in the body and has been shown to improve a person's ability to walk and move around. Thalamotomy involves the destruction of small amounts of tissue in the thalamus - a major brain center for relaying messages and transmitting sensations.

Parkinson's Disease Treatment

* Carbidopa and benserazide are dopa decarboxylase inhibitors.
* Tolcapone inhibits the COMT enzyme, thereby prolonging the effects of L-dopa, and so has been used to complement L-dopa.
* Selegiline and rasagiline reduce the symptoms by inhibiting monoamine oxidase-B (MAO-B).
* An antiviral drug, amantadine, can help reduce symptoms of PD and levodopa-induced dyskinesia.
* COMT (catechol-O-methyl-transferase) inhibitors are a new class of drugs that stop the breakdown of dopamine.
* Other therapies that are important for managing and coping with Parkinson's disease include physiotherapy, speech therapy, and occupational therapy.
* Amantadine acts like a dopamine replacement drug but works on different sites in the brain.

Juliet Cohen

Parkinson's Disease And Its Effects On The Mind And Emotions

2008-03-12T16:33:00.000-07:00

Parkinson's Disease And Its Effects On The Mind And Emotions

When the phrase "Parkinson's disease" is mentioned the majority of people will automatically think about the physical symptoms associated with the condition such as the tremors, the loss of mobility and other motor impairments. However coping with Parkinson's disease also take a tremendous toll on the emotional well being of the sufferer; something that many people don't consider.

Feelings of anxiety, frustration, embarrassment at not being able to do every day things and often depression can have a huge effect on Parkinson's patients. These psychological symptoms occur as a result of the physical symptoms and can have a very negative effect on a person. Depressive episodes are seen in an average of 50% of patients and these episodes often alternate with anxiety attacks so that the patient has the symptoms of a manic-depressive. Alternating emotional outbursts of depression and anxiety are common in around 80% of cases.

Partial memory loss can also add to the psychological stresses felt by a Parkinson's sufferer. As the disease progresses, patients can begin to forget dates, names and faces which can be quite traumatic, especially when the sufferer knows that a person is a loved one but they can not recall their name or what relation they are to them.

However with a loving support system of friends and family and all the information that can possibly be known about Parkinson's disease, many of the emotional symptoms of the disease can be kept under control i.e. depressive episodes and feelings of frustration. It is very helpful to a sufferer if they can join a local support group as well so that they can talk about their emotions with people who understand exactly what they are going through. Simply having someone who is experiencing the same feelings and frustrations can prove to be a very positive influence.

It is also helpful for a Parkinson's sufferer to participate in activities that hold their interest, be they physical activities or mental activities. Having happy experiences can quickly fend off any depressive feelings and mental exercises will help to keep the brains functioning normal for longer. Any activity can be enjoyed with the support of a loved one so for example daily exercises can be made fun if they are performed to music with a partner. They can even become a bit of a competition with a reward for the winner.

For the Parkinson's sufferer, work can be both a burden and a release. Explaining the situation to management can mean that allowances are often made so that stress levels and physical labor are kept to a minimum. People in general are very understanding when it comes to long term illness in the workplace and a good boss will help in any way they can. This means that a Parkinson's disease sufferer can remain active and with the people they know for much of the day, thus leaving less time to sit and contemplate their condition. Research has shown that the most emotionally stable Parkinson's disease patients are those who can make a joke out of their symptoms and who don't let the condition get them down, under any circumstances.

Jeremy Parker

I Have a Headache

2008-02-28T16:23:00.002-08:00

I Have a Headache!

Really. Not a great big skull-splitting headache. Just one of those little low-pressure guys. And I know why. It’s because I’ve been thinking too much. I really need to try to cut back on that.

Actually, my headache is not the result of just thinking – it’s due more to what I’ve been thinking about. I can normally go for months and months and months without any perceptible twinge of intracranial discomfort. No problems at all. Well unless I decide to chance it and watch more than one reality show in a week. Then I’ll notice a bit of distress. But apart from that, life is good and the old gray matter just keeps cruising along in the smiley mode.

But today is different. Here’s what happened. I decided to do a bit of research on healthy living to include diets (not necessarily to lose weight) and supplements. In the course of doing this, I naturally came across a pile of information related to what foods to avoid and what other foods or supplements could potentially prevent physiological malfunctions. A big pile of information. A gigantic pile of information! A super-mega-humungo pile of information! (Are you beginning to get a clue as to why I have a headache?)

In an attempt to turn all of this into a positive, beneficial experience, I need to pass along what I’ve learned. So here it is.

I’ve learned that:

Everybody – that’s EVERYBODY – has an opinion about what works and what doesn’t. About what’s good and what’s bad for you.

There are as many folks who disagree with other folks opinions as those who agree.

The phrase “studies have shown” can be translated to “the studies that I agree with have shown”. Let’s try this… studies have shown that there are probably way too many studies.

We are thinking entirely too much about the possible effects of weird stuff like d-chromo-anti-lycoperene beta 4 and how it binds to the interceptural neural hair follicles to create left ear moles. Or something like that.

There are more dietary supplements which are guaranteed to be “ultimate solutions” to all of our health problems than there are galaxies.

For only $79.95 we can all receive the “secret” to a long, happy, healthy life.

They eat guinea pigs in Peru. (I don’t recall how I stumbled onto that one…)

Passing gas in the bathtub is not bad for your health. (Actually, I didn’t find that one. I just instinctively knew it.)

There is something either in tropical ocean waters or equatorial jungles that will solve your problem.

Veggies and fruits are good for you. Whole-grained foods, too. Duh…
As I did my research, I thought about growing up in the Midwest. I thought about all the old folks I knew that lived long (like up into the 80’s and 90’s) healthy lives. Shucks, they didn’t know about all of these wonderful dietary discoveries we’ve made in the last 50 or so years. They obviously didn’t have a clue that their health could have been improved dramatically by taking one of the thousands of supplements that we have available to us today.

Instead, these old farm folks just ate what they had – including lots of red meat, greasy fried potatoes and eggs, butter, lard, and a gob of other “unhealthy stuff” – and worked their buns off to make a living.

The conclusion seems to be pretty simple, doesn’t it? Farm food (“natural food”?) – no matter what it is – is probably very good for you. So is hard, physically demanding work. Instead of worrying so much about what causes or cures what, maybe we should just focus mainly on eating a good, balanced diet of wholesome “farm-type” foods and get a whole bunch of exercise. A good vitamin supplement probably wouldn’t hurt either. Who knows – it might even help prevent headaches…

Gene Simmons

Magnetic Therapy for Pain Relief

2008-02-28T16:23:00.001-08:00

Magnetic Therapy for Pain Relief

Magnetic Therapy is making a comeback worldwide, companies are selling magnetic underlays for all sizes of beds, and they come in Cotton or Genuine Sheeps Wool.

There are small sized units, to fit on the wrist, fit on the waistband of underwear, belts to fit around your back, your knees or just about anywhere that you are likely to suffer pain. Some ladies are using a magnet that fits on the waistband of underwear at the front, when they are suffering menstrual pain, and they swear that it eases the pain.

It has been claimed as a drug free alternative for insomnia, headaches and migraines, by sleeping with a magnetic pad in the pillow, it reacts on the Pineal Gland which is in the center of the brain and responds to a magnetic field.

Magnetic Therapy, is not new, it has been around for about 3000, years, it was supposed to have started at that time in India. The red dot worn by some Indian women on their forehead, was originally made from a magnetic powder. It was put on a important nerve point midway between the two eyes, an area that some believe is the third eye, it supposedly calmed down the brain and reduced stress, thereby keeping the ladies looking beautiful.

Magnets work on the circulatory system by making the blood flow faster and at the same time refining the blood. This helps the body to dispose of waste and toxins. A number of health problems are frequently due to a sluggish circulatory system and magnets appear to overcome a lot of these problems.

Science has shown that by placing a magnetic field next to the body, a bioelectric activity occurs. At the cellular level, it is the trace elements of Iron and Potassium in the blood that are drawn to the magnetic field causing a mild effect in the blood stream.

A large number of people feel heat when sleeping on a magnetic underlay, this is quite normal, this increases vasculation, oxygenation, balancing of energy flow and stimulation of the Lymphatic System.

Magnetic Therapy today is being used to treat many illnesses and painful conditions, it is a Natural Therapy, that really has no adverse side effects, you should increase your intake of pure water, to help the waste and toxins flush from the body, you might feel a little hot, but if you are in a cold climate, this is probably a beneficial side effect.

Scientists are researching the therapy and the benefits of treating colds and flu arthritis, reduction of stress and nervous problems. It has even been tried on people with partial damage to the spinal cord.

A number of famous people are using Magnetic Therapy, including Hollywood Stars and even one ex US President. Magnets have become an interest to the medical world. The powerful effects of healing through magnetism on thousands of patients, has caused some doctors to have another look at the situation.

Magnets themselves of course don’t heal anything; they stimulate the body into healing itself.

The body has a Natural Healing system installed at conception, this is the Immune System, but if it does no harm, why not give this system a bit of a boost along. The Immune System has quite a struggle in our modern day, fighting the effects of Chemicals, Pesticides, Herbicides gasses and a million other things that we eat, drink and breathe daily.

Alfred Jones

Pain Relief Drugs 101

2008-02-28T16:22:00.000-08:00

Pain Relief Drugs 101

Ever given a piece of thought to how actually one feels that a part of his/her body is paining? Majority of the response to this question will be in the negative. And ironically it is one piece of information that a person should be aware of.

Whenever a part of our body is hurt, the pain makes that part ache but the actual sensation is felt in the brain. There are various kinds of receptors in our brain and each is attributed with a different type of sensation. The process can be explained as follows. Every time part of our body is damaged, the damaged tissue releases chemicals – called prostaglandins – making the pain more acute. These chemicals on coming in contact with the cells in the damaged tissue, with the help of enzyme called cyclooxygenase 2 (COX-2), further release chemicals. Also, these prostaglandins react with the nerve endings to send signals to the brain where the sensation of the pain is felt.

One importance of pain that can be highlighted here is that they keep reminding a person of the hurt, so that till the time injury is healed they are more careful about it. Pain can also result without a direct injury being caused, for example arthritis. Thankfully because of the advancements of the medicine, various types of medications are available to deal with different types of pains felt. A wide range of medicines start right from one as mild as Aspirin to something as strong as Narcotics, which should be only taken through a proper prescription of a medical practitioner and thus, it becomes necessary to take such medicines with highest degree of caution as every medicine has its own kind of side effects.

One of the most common pain relievers is Acetaminophen (popularly also known as paracetamol , and has established its 30 years of usage. It can also be used for curing fevers in children and adults apart from relieving pain.

As against acetaminophen, Narcotics are also used to cure pain but is adopted if no other medicine is able to effectively affect a patient, even though it is the greatest pain reliever than any medication prescribed. This is due to the numerous side effects that are associated with it, which includes chemical dependence. There are various types of Narcotics (OxyContin, Demerol, Hydrocodone) and have their own set of side effects. One of the most peculiar features of Hydrocodone is that it can even cause death.

There are various cautions that one should adopt while undergoing a pain relief medication, as many risks are associated with it. Primarily one should make the doctor aware of the medicines that are normally taken by the patient in the normal course for ordinary pains or any other thing as they can react with the pain relievers to cause side effects. Also, it should be told to the doctor if the patient is already associated with any disease apart from the on for which the doctor is consulted. Another thing to be kept in mind is that the pain relievers taken by the patient should not be stopped without consulting his doctor.

So now knowing this every one has a reason to take utmost precautions. God bless us all.

Mansi Gupta

Choose Back Surgery As A Last Resort

2008-02-28T16:20:00.000-08:00

Choose Back Surgery As A Last Resort

For years I have suffered from low back pain. For years I have tried just about everything for the pain except having back surgery. From physical therapy, traction, chiropractors, steroid injections, drug therapy, biofeedback tactics, stretching and anything I could think of to relieve the pain. Through the years of suffering from pain it would have been very easy on several occasions to go under the knife and have back surgery in an attempt to help my back and the pain associated with it.

After seeing several doctors, after a few MRI's, after a CT scan, and a discogram, the general concessus by most physicians was that back surgery was needed. In order to get pain relief from my herniated disc, most doctors told me that surgery was the way to go. I still was not convinced. I heard the horror stories, I talked to the people who had back surgery who told me whatever you do don't do it. I saw the people who had back surgery who could barely walk, walking with a Cain. I thought to myself they are hurting worse than they was before. I might be in pain, but at least I can walk without using a walker or a cane.

Some of the people that I had talked to that had surgery, needed follow up surgery to either repair mistakes made in the first surgery, or to do things they simply did not do in the first surgery. To me this didn't sound very good at all. After talking to a lot of people about this, I think I only found one person that had a successful operation. So I made up my mind not to have surgery for the time being. I started doing excersises that stretched and streghthen muscles to take pressure off the disc's and nerves that cause the pain. I did a lot of mind over matter tactics telling myself that IM too young for surgery, and that I didn't even need surgery. I was a single man with a daughter, and just the work I would miss during the recovery time from having surgery would be devastating within itself. So I was determined to put it off as long as possible. I then told my personal doctor that I had decided not to have surgery. He in turn referred me to a pain management physician.

After seeing the pain management physician, he also advised me that I should have surgery. I told him at my age, and after thinking it all through, and talking to people who have had surgery, I had decided not to have back surgery until I couldn't stand it anylonger. I told him as long as my bladder is still in control, and the pain is bearable, I will be putting it off as long as I can. This physician didn't seem to like this. He put me on a low dose pain medicine program for a few months, but when I told him that I had decided against surgery, all the sudden he stopped prescribing pain medications.

I could not believe this, it seems for deciding against back surgery, my punishment was to stop giving me the medication that did give me the little relief that I desperately needed. So I felt like I was trying to be pressured into having back surgery. I told myself this is my back not theirs, they don't have to live with what happens in a failed back surgery. So to all of those people that are told they need back surgery, think twice. Don't get bullied into having a surgery that might make your life miserable. Remember, its your back, and you have to live with what happens. So only choose back surgery as a last resort.

Robert Gould

Buy Your Pain Medicine Online

2008-02-28T16:19:00.000-08:00

Buy Your Pain Medicine Online

Don't loose time from work to make a doctors appointment. Don't sit around in a doctors office all day just to get prescriptions for the medications you know you already need. No need to make those follow up appointments that you might forget about, and if you do you then run out of medication. Now you can get all you pain medication legally online. More and more people all the time are finding alternative ways to obtain their medication they need each month, and this is another alternative people are choosing to take.

For people like me who hate going to the doctor anyway this works perfect. There was always something about going to the hospital or a doctors office that I found creepy. Now days those days are over. You can get online in the comfort of your home or office, you can get a same day consultation with the Physician. A consultation is when you talk directly to the physician over the phone. You go over your medical history, what other medications you are taking, he also asks if you are allergic to any medications. He goes over your chronic pain condition, goes over your medical records that you have already faxed in along with your ID ahead of time. After the consultation he writes you a prescription and forward it to a US Pharmacy for same day filling, and next day delivery.

Along with your consultation you get an additional two refills plus up to three different medications per consultation. So you could get three medications with two refills on each one. This has proven to work very good. This works great for the person who cant leave work to go to the doctor each month. Works great for the person who knows already what medications they need each month. Why pay a doctors visit just to sit around in a doctors office all day missing work. I have always thought that was kind of a waste of time and money anyway. With this method you get total privacy. Your spared the embarrassments that come along with a doctors appointment. With this type of online service you get your medications shipped to you overnight to your home or office.

With today's skyrocketing healthcare costs and the fact people cannot afford to miss work once a month to get their prescription paid medication, this alternative way is the wave of the future. I myself am a chronic pain sufferer and use this type of service. I have also found that the physicians are more compassionate to people suffering in pain to the traditional office visits. If you haven't already learned by now, chronic pain sufferers are treated differently than other people complaining of a medical condition.

With this type of service you are actually treated like a human being. I high recommend this to anyone who wants the proper pain medication needed to treat your pain, who wants the convenience of having it delivered to your front door. Anyone who wants a more pain free life, able to do the things you couldn't do before because of the pain, I would highly recommend this to anyone suffering from chronic pain for a better quality of life.

Robert Gould

How To Live In Chronic Pain

2008-02-28T16:16:00.000-08:00

How To Live In Chronic Pain

Living in chronic pain is one of the most difficult things that I can think of. Everyday millions of Americans struggle with this issue. People of all ages young and old alike are finding themselves in this position. The sad thing about someone who lives in chronic pain is that their pain will most likely not be treated properly, therefore leaving the person to suffer. Its a sad fact that chronic pain goes grossly undertreated. People who live in chronic pain seeking treatment from the medical community in general are greeted with not to welcoming arms. It appears for various reason that people seeking relief from their pain are cast in a different light than other people who seek medical treatment. This is due to several reasons. First of all doctors these days simply will not treat someone long tern with chronic pain, unless of course your suffering from cancer. Not all chronic pain sufferers have cancer.

Some medical conditions as Fibromyalgia, Lupus, Arthritis, Herniaated discs, complications from failed back surgery, to any other conditions that causes great pain on a regular basis. Its really a shame and a sad statement that you have to have cancer to get the proper treatment needed for pain. Other reason people don't get the proper treatment is some physicians are ill equipped to treat a chronic pain sufferer. Other and more frustrating reasons are that Physicians are just plain scared of the government when writing prescriptions for narcotic medicine. This reason alone is probably the biggest one. The government has scared doctors away from treating people who truly suffer from pain.

If a person has a true medical condition that falls under chronic pain, and there is nothing you can do to help the patient, than pain medication should be available for everyone in that situation. As long as there is a medical condition, as long as patients abide by the guidelines that doctors require, and as long as doctors keep proper documentation, a physician has nothing to worry about. Most doctors just don't want to bother with the whole thing, for them its too much of a hassle. I would like to tell all these doctors to walk a day in the shoes of a chronic pain suffer and they would change their tune real quick. Also a lot of clinics and pain management programs in hospitals and such, have actually shut down business. But most have not shut down business due to the lack of people hurting in pain, they shut down and closed their doors due to them not making any money. This is another sad fact that making money comes first before helping people who suffer from chronic pain. I thought physicians took an oath to help people, not to shut their doors if they don't make money.

Fortunately, there are online U.S. Physicians that are willing to help people in pain. This has been a godsend. Without these type of physicians and pharmacies, people would simply just have to suffer and go without the proper medication needed to comfort their pain. Its a shame a country with the best medical care on the planet, will not treat people in pain properly. Sure there are those and always will be who manipulate the system, trying to get pain mediation for recreational use, but that's easy to weed out if the medical community was serious about treating people in pain. People who truly suffer in pain needed pain medication. Its that easy, but people are not getting it. I would recommend chronic pain sufferers to find a reputable online pharmacy who has U.S. Physicians and Pharmacies that treat people in pain. For this seems to be the only way people in pain get the proper medications needed. I have always wished that the people who are not interested in helping people in pain, or simply who don't help people in pain, I wish they would walk a painful mile in my shoes. Maybe then they would realize that pain is a real thing and people need real help.

Robert Gould

Multiple Sclerosis - What are the Effects?

2008-02-28T16:05:00.000-08:00

Multiple Sclerosis - What are the Effects?

What is multiple sclerosis?

Multiple sclerosis is a central nervous system disorder characterized by damage to the messages transmitted to and from the brain. These messages generally control the way the body works. Thus, any damage can cause problems with vision, memory, balance and movement. It may also affect the ability to feel sensation, pain and vibration.

The human body is serviced by an extensive system of nerves that control the way the body functions. These nerves are protected by a fatty substance called myelin which insulates them from damage. If a person suffers from multiple sclerosis, the myelin is damaged thus blocking the impulses from the brain.

Symptoms of multiple sclerosis

The early symptoms include loss of vision, loss of balance, weakness, and numbness. These symptoms are not universal to all sufferers. In fact, some people suffer little more than intense fatigue while others may be so affected they may become paralyzed.

The term 'sclerosis' means scarring and anyone looking at the brain or the tissue of the spinal cord sees what looks like intense scarring.

The damage in multiple sclerosis is thought to be caused by an unusual reaction to infections. The immune system produces white blood cells that destroy dangerous bacteria or viruses. However, in cases of multiple sclerosis, the white cells attack healthy tissue like myelin and nerve cells. This is called an auto immune response.

What are the types of multiple sclerosis?

There are four main kinds of multiple sclerosis, with symptoms varying in severity. These are:

* Benign Relapsing/remitting (RRMS).
* Secondary progressive (SPMS).

Primary progressive

People with benign multiple sclerosis may have the occasional attack while feeling perfectly healthy at other times. They suffer only a mild disability or no disability at all though medical examination shows evidence of multiple sclerosis damage to the brain. The lack of disability is because the damage may be in places in the brain that do not cause obvious disability or the damage is minimal.

More than fifty percent of sufferers start with relapsing/remitting multiple sclerosis in which they may suffer relapses two or three times a year with partial or complete recovery at other times. However, due to the gradual death of nerve cells and the myelin, the symptoms may get worse and more frequent. This takes them into the stage of secondary progressive multiple sclerosis (SPMS).

In secondary progressive multiple sclerosis or SPMS, the disability increases as there is a progressive loss of nerve cells. During this stage, the sufferer no longer has relapses and remissions and the disability becomes progressively worse.

There are some people who become more and more disabled without ever having relapses and remissions. This type of multiple sclerosis is called primary progressive multiple sclerosis.

How is it diagnosed?

Our bodies fight infection by producing white blood cells, a natural disease fighter. However, in people with multiple sclerosis, the protective covering of the nerve fibres (myelin) is also attacked by these white blood cells. One of the tests done to diagnose multiple sclerosis is a lumbar puncture. In this test, cerebrospinal fluid is extracted from the spine through a hollow needle and is examined for signs of this disease.

The hidden signs of multiple sclerosis can also be detected using an MRI (magnetic resonance image). This uses a combination of radio waves and magnetic fields that provide a detailed view of the brain and spinal cord. By using this, the lesions in the myelin can be detected.

Treatment and outlook

At this time, multiple sclerosis is incurable, although thre is research taking place globally in an effort to find a treatment that will slow down the progression of this illness. In the meantime, there are a number of options which may make life more bearable. Some doctors prescribe ACTH, a steroid that accelerates the healing actions of the body.

Though there is no scientific evidence that special diets are beneficial, anecdotal evidence suggests that diets such as gluten free diets or those low in animal fats do help. Many multiple sclerosis sufferers seek out alternative therapies to relieve their symptoms. This may include acupuncture, homeopathy, and yoga.

For each person, the answer may be different and, though multiple sclerosis has no cure, it is important for the sufferer to find a positive way of living with this illness.

Anne Wolski

What Causes Tinnitus?

2008-02-14T11:59:00.000-08:00

What Causes Tinnitus?

There may be times that you would hear an unusual ringing in your ears- beware you might be experiencing tinnitus. Tinnitus is a sensation in the ear, which constitutes a feeling of fullness of the ear. You can also feel some sort of pressure in it. The loud ringing within you is also dominant feeling and it is mostly a very long and sustained sound. It could last for just a few seconds but the loud ringing sound is very disturbing. And if you have Meniere's disease and tinnitus strikes it would last for a longer period.

Tinnitus is an ear problem. Most ear problems can be caused of a number of factors of which the most common one is the infection inside the ears. The infection could manifest itself in different ways and can affect specific parts of the ear. Ear infections are usually due to poor hygiene.

Wax build-up in the ears causes ear infection too. When those ear fluids come in contact with dirt, wax forms. If the ear is not cleaned regularly, wax can buildup to the extent it causes major problems.

Foreign objects in the ear canal can definitely pose some health risks. Anything, no matter how small, that finds its way inside the ear would pose to be a problem. It would also cause multiple ear infections when not attended immediately.

Tumors growing inside the ear would cause some hearing loss. Tumors are abnormal growths and tumors may either malignant or benign. Once you experience some abnormality in your hearing, consult your physician at once.

Injuries may cause ear problems as well. Physical injuries, even if not directed to the ears may cause some serious problems. If some parts of your head may be damaged, it may cause some hearing problems even if the damage is far away from your ear.

To take care of your ears and be free from tinnitus, do not expose yourself to too much noise. Loud music would gradually cause hearing problems and try not to use headphone much if possible. When the first signs of problems in the ears are observed, check with your doctor right away.

Jason Rickard

Hyperacusis And Social Issues

2008-02-14T11:58:00.000-08:00

Hyperacusis And Social Issues

Hyperacusis is a condition where one develops an abnormal sensitivity to everyday sounds and noises. They may also be sensitivity to high pitched sounds. It is a chronic condition which is associated with tinnitus or ringing sounds in the ear. Young and old, who have both normal hearing and a hearing loss may suffer from hyperacusis.

It is a condition that develops in one slowly, maybe due to head injuries. Some research has also proven that some brain chemistry dysfunction resulting from poor intake of some chemicals leads to hyperacusis. Sometimes job related noise exposure, drugs or surgeries of the brain, ear and any other related surgery may lead to hyperacusis.

A person suffering from hyperacusis usually experiences inner ear pain or a feeling of fullness, like pressure, in the ears. This is the reason such people have a low threshold to sound, and find it difficult to take part in much social activities. They may in fact, consider themselves socially unfit, by not being able to withstand the sounds that are associated with social activities.

Hyperacusis sufferers usually end up with tinnitus (ringing sounds in the ears). Sometimes they may also find it difficult to sleep because of the stress level they suffer from. Another cause of hyperacusis is Phonophobia. Phonophobia is a condition where the person develops a fear of being exposed to some sounds, thinking that the sounds will damage their ear.

The best way of diagnosing hyperacusis is through hearing tests that detect sound sensitivity. Otolaryngologists, who are ear, nose and throat physicians, are also well versed in making a medical evaluation of hyperacusis.

The best treatment is through in-depth discussion of the tests performed to diagnose hyperacusis, explanation of the anatomy and physiology of hearing mechanism and how it is associated with hyperacusis helps control hyperacusis. This therapy focuses in educating the patient on hyperacusis, and to relieve their fears and concerns about it. Some patients may be advised Tinnitus Retraining Therapy (TRT), which is a habituation-oriented therapy.

With TRT, the patient's reactions to hyperacusis are reduced by using sound therapy. With the help of sound therapy, the patient's sensitivity to sounds is decreased, to help them view sound more positively. TRT is usually a combination of counseling and sound therapy where the patient is exposed to low-level sound for a few hours everyday.

Then there are alternative treatments where people are advised to take minerals like magnesium, zinc or herbal preparations like Ginkgo biloba, B vitamins or homeopathic remedies to help cure hyperacusis. Treatment varies with the patient, and the physician.

Jason Rickard

Vertigo: A Symptom Leading To Miniere's Disease

2008-02-14T11:57:00.000-08:00

Vertigo: A Symptom Leading To Miniere's Disease

Vertigo is the feeling of whirling or spiraling that takes place as a result of a disorder to a person's balance. Subjective vertigo happens when a person feels dizzy from within while Objective vertigo is when the person feels that the things around him move.

Vertigo is, in fact, a symptom, it is not a disease on its own. It is a disorder in the vestibular system. The vestibular system is responsible for joining together the stimuli of the senses and a person's movements and it is also responsible in keeping the object in imagery focus, even if the rest of the body part is moving.

Vertigo can be one of the symptoms of Meniere's disease. Patients with this disease exhibit hearing loss and feels pressure in their ears. They also suffer from tinnitus, a state of severe imbalance. Vertigo is the most dramatic and the most disruptive symptom of Meniere's disease. When vertigo attacks, the patient should immediately head to see his doctor for treatment as it usually hits in succession within a short period of time.

If you experience a vertigo attack, you would suddenly feel wobbly and perceive all the things around you are spinning. Your eyes can also beat from side to side. You will also feel nauseous and sweaty. It would feel as if you are riding a real shaky ship amidst a hurricane for hours.

Meniere's disease binds vertigo to the definite hearing loss of a person. Although research shows an average of 0.01% to 0.07% people attains this disease. People above 40 are more prone to it. For people younger than that, cases are considered rare. It is also true with children.

If you have vertigo, chances are, you have contracted Meniere's disease. You should not waste any time and head for treatment immediately. Vertigo is one symptom that should never be taken for granted. Once it strikes, take a quick rest and immediately set and appointment with your physician.

If vertigo does lead to Meniere's disease, don't fret. Mineare's disease can be easily cured. Just heed your doctor's advice and recovery would be quick and easy.

Jason Rickard

Understanding The Symptoms Of Vertigo

2008-02-14T11:56:00.000-08:00

Understanding The Symptoms Of Vertigo

Have you been a little lightheaded lately? If you happen to set your eyes on an object and you see it spinning, then your dizziness may lead to something serious. If your wooziness is coupled with a whirling sensation, chances are you may be experiencing vertigo. Vertigo is a medical term for dizziness that can lead to a balance disorder.

Vertigo is also known as "hallucination of motion". Individuals having this ailment begin to see blurred motions of stationary objects. It has almost the exact feeling of being in an unstoppable merry-go-round.

It may be left untreated many times, but vertigo is actually one of the most widespread medical problems among adults. In United States alone, around 40% of individuals experience the symptoms of vertigo at least once. This fact is so reported by the National Institutes of Health (NIH). Studies show that vertigo is more common in women than in men and as a person grows older, he or she may experience more frequent attacks of vertigo.

Vertigo is usually associated inner ear infection, which is also referred to as labyrinthitis. Fluid-filled canals or labyrinths have very small hair cells that are responsible for sending impulses to the human brain. The brain then identifies the individual's correct body orientation. Once the small organs in the labyrinths gets irritated, then these cells may send incorrect messages to your brain. When this happens, you would feel a sudden drowsiness. Since the ear is responsible for the body's balance, once your ears are malfunctioning you may often observe yourself getting dizzy and out of balance.

Vertigo can also be caused by balance disorders and inflamed vestibular nerves. If you are physically injured in a part of your ear, chances are you would suffer from vertigo as well. It is important to take not that vertigo is not a disease in itself. It may be a symptom to a more complicated illness like tumor and stroke.

At the first signs of vertigo, immediately consult your doctor for proper advice. The common treatment for vertigo is meclizine. The symptoms of vertigo usually go away on its own but comes back after a few weeks or so. If you experience any signs of vertigo, never tell yourself that's it's just a simple headache and would soon go away. As passé as it may sound, prevention is always better than cure.

Jason Rickard

Understanding Vertigo

2008-02-14T11:02:00.000-08:00

Understanding Vertigo

Vertigo is a condition where you experience dizziness with a change in the normal environment. Sometimes feeling a movement in space too is a sign of vertigo. However, it is not the case that all types of dizziness is vertigo; but certainly all vertigo is dizziness.

The true form of vertigo is a severe form of dizziness that results in movement hallucination. Such people suffer from a peripheral vestibular disorder like benign positional vertigo. These conditions in turn lead to tinnitus and hearing loss. With vertigo, you get the impression that you and your surroundings seem to move and you may experience some vomiting, tilting, and a feeling of falling through space. Some cases also lead to eyes jerking back and forth uncontrollably. It commonly lasts for periods ranging from a few days to a few weeks and though these symptoms generally improve, they may persist for a few weeks to a few months.

There are many causes for vertigo, the most common one being the Benign Positional Paroxysmal Vertigo (BPPV). This is a disorder of the inner ear, whose cause is not exactly known. However, it is usually an upper respiratory tract infection or a blow to the head that seems to be responsible for it. This is because it leads to a dislodgement of crystalline structures in the ear's balance detectors. This form of vertigo is most prevalent, especially when the head moves up and down, or when turning in bed. These attacks generally last 30 to 60 seconds and its occurrence can be reduced by avoiding positions which bring on vertigo.

Vertigo is also caused through labyrinthitis. This is a condition of the inner ear, which is associated with inflammation, maybe nerve deterioration, an upper respiratory infection or may occur independently of other situations. A symptom of various central nervous system disorders like multiple sclerosis, neck injuries, epilepsy, some forms of migraine, cerebellar and brain stem tumors and acoustic neuroma can be vertigo.

There is no common treatment for vertigo. Your physician has to do a complete medical evaluation to find out the true cause, and correspondingly advise the right solution. If some medication is found to cause your condition, lowering the dosage or discontinuing it can eliminate it all together. Some doctors also advise Vestibular rehabilitation therapy, which is the most popular physical therapy used for the treatment of vertigo. Here, dizziness is minimized, balance improved and falls prevented by restoring the normal function of the vestibular system through exercises that make the brain adapt, and compensate the cause of vertigo. Some types of vertigo are also treated through medication while multiple sclerosis, cerebrovascular disease, and tumors may need medication, radiation or surgery.

Jason Rickard

Understanding Back Pain Treatments

2008-02-14T11:00:00.000-08:00

Understanding Back Pain Treatments

To understand your back pain is the best method of its treatment. If you commence taking over the counter medications, the pain may instantly stop, only to re-emerge with double vigor. Any medicine does two things, either it delivers the goods. Or it damages the goods. Either positive effects or negative side effects! Back pain treatments have to be understood in this context.

Taking unrecorded painkillers have done enough damage to back pain sufferers. It is therefore better for you to visit a pain management clinic that understands the root cause of the pain, and then commences a treatment that is suitable in your case. It is reported that over 60 % of the people who opted for the treatment at pain management clinics, regularly for a period of one year, have experienced substantial decrease in the level of suffering.

The main advantage of taking treatment in the pain management clinic is that a group of specialists take care of your problem. These health care providers normally include, apart from your family physician, psychologist, physical medicine specialist, neurologist, anesthesiologist and most importantly the physical therapist.

Pain clinics also offer non-drug therapies like physical therapy, massage, acupuncture, breathing exercises, TENS (Transcutaneoius Electrical Nerve Stimulation), self-hypnosis, biofeedback, hot and cold therapy.

Pain medications that directly and instantly relieve you of back pain include steroids to reduce inflammation, muscle relaxants and tension reducing medications. But before deciding about the clinic, examine its creditability. That is, whether it has the Certification by the American Academy of Pain Management.

By way of additional verification, please see whether the clinic holds the certification by the American Board of Anesthesiology and the American Board of Pain Medicine.

Along with the medication, physical exercises and stretches go a long way in permanently getting you rid of the pain problem. The recurring back pain problem may adversely affect your day to day activities. It has a direct bearing on your working efficiency, with pain anywhere in the body, you can not concentrate.

If you take treatment on the lines indicated above, most probably you will be relieved of your back pain problem permanently. If these treatments, including physical exercises do not work, surgery is the only alternative. Surgery is again, a risky proposition. But why surgery is necessary depends upon the consensus arrived at by your personal physician in consultation with other specialists.

Javier Fuller

What Is The Right Medication For Your Back Pain?

2008-02-14T10:59:00.000-08:00

What Is The Right Medication For Your Back Pain?

Back pain medicine is a misnomer. But if you say that back pain medicine is a part of the overall back pain treatment, the statement is quite correct. The main problem with back pain medicine is the diagnosis of the back pain. You have only one back, the nomenclature of pains are many. Any wrong treatment could result in damaging consequences.

The investigations part is the first; the medicine part will follow it. This is true in all types of diseases. But in case of back pain treatment, its importance is more. This is for the most vital parts of the human system are involved in the mess of the back pain. Spine for example! Any wrong treatment which will cause damage to the spine, is inviting overall disaster for the body. Nerve centers near the brain which is another very sensitive part!

There is nothing lacking in the investigation part of the back pain saga! You can have the strength and intensity of your back pain, with tests like physiologic assessment, electro diagnostic assessments like needle electromyography and nerve conduction studies. The results of these tests provide guidelines for the course of further treatment and the extent of injury that causes the recurring back pain.

Initially, rest was considered as the best medicine for back pain. But in reality bed rest is not the cure. It is the cause of the malady. Several studies have shown that this bed rest therapy is the root cause of aggravating the pack pain. Rest even in reclined position increase the intra-disc pressures and in theory worsen the pain.

What is required is activity modification. The patient should be allowed and encouraged to do the normal activities and practice the art of conducting such activities, bearing the pain aspect in the mind.

Your activities should not be controlled by the pain factor. Rather, you should practice the art of living and work with the pain. When the various parts of your body realize that they can not escape their responsibilities, they will know how to cope up with the responsibilities. This is the real back pain medication!

There are a number of Physical Therapy Modalities of which the back pain is most afraid of. This is the area of decisive battle. Either you win or your back pain wins. Mostly you win!

Cold packs and massages, superficial heat (hydrocolloid packs), ultrasound (deep heat) are good for relieving the back pain even in the acute stage. These treatments need to be given under expert supervision only.

Javier Fuller

Learn Right Back Pain Exercises

2008-02-14T10:58:00.000-08:00

Learn Right Back Pain Exercises

Utter the word 'back pain' and almost everyone in the crowd will wince and appear familiar with the symptoms of this ailment. This is simply because back pain is one very common problem today. The official estimates worldwide show that back pain afflicts at least 2.5 million adults everyday. That is, at some time or other in their lives people have been victims of back pain in its acute form or in its mild form.

Back pain is usually felt in the region of the lower back and therefore to alleviate the pain the best answer is to concentrate on the region of the spine in that location.

For the rehabilitation of people who are chronic sufferers of back pain, the answer lies in exercise to rehabilitate the spinal area in the location of the lower back. A proper exercise regimen can also prevent the recurrence of back pain and thus make the victim feel free of the many physical and psychiatric developments that result from back pain.

But then, the regimen of exercise comes with a note of caution. A haphazard set of exercises done in any odd and whimsical manner is more harmful for the sufferer. Since this exercise system is not an act of body building or muscle toning but is meant to be a way to alleviate, prevent and even cure the problem of back pain, the pattern of exercising has to be done with its ultimate aim in mind.

This is possible only when the victim of back pain adopts a controlled, gradual, and progressive system of exercising, preferably according to the advice of the doctor, so that the back pain problem is solved satisfactorily.

Just why exercise has such a profound effect on back pain is easily understood if we examine the benefits of exercising for getting rid of the problem of back pain. It is a well-known fact that exercise creates movement and movement distributes the nutrients in to the disc space between the bones of the lower spine. Thus, to keep discs, muscles, ligaments and joints healthy, exercise is the best answer.

The advantages gained from exercising is best understood by back pain sufferers because the moment they become lax about their exercise routine, the irritating symptoms of a forthcoming episode of back pain come into focus. There are joint pains, stiffness in the region of the lower back and even a feeling of weakness and de-conditioning. The moment the exercise system is put back into the place these problems, related in and around back pain, just disappear magically.

The types of exercises best suited for victims of back pain are stretching exercises. In combination with stretching exercise for back pain one can also do strengthening exercises, and enjoy the obvious benefits. Of course the best way to exercise for back pain sufferers is to do low impact exercises. These include cycling, walking, swimming, and water therapy.

While these exercises are for the more common forms of back pain, one must also be on the alert if the symptoms of back pain show no signs of decreasing when regular exercising has done no visible improvement for back pain. If back pain persists to the same degree for more than three weeks after a sincere and meticulous round of exercising, it is time to consult the doctor. After all, it is better to be safe than to be sorry later.

Javier Fuller

When Nothing Seems To Work—Try The Opposite!

2008-02-14T10:56:00.000-08:00

When Nothing Seems To Work—Try The Opposite!

From working with back pain sufferers my entire adult life, I've learned that when people are suffering, they will go to great lengths to find relief. Unfortunately, too many people are given very useful but incomplete information about what to do in order to get relief and regain control of their lives.

I also know that people who are suffering can develop feelings of fear, anger, betrayal, and even hopelessness when their treatments don't deliver as promised. The trust they once had with their health care provider starts to diminish, and they don't know where to turn. Here is an e-mail I got from a young girl that illustrates my point:

I've tried every homeopathic remedy and every remedy with all these anecdotal positive results. I will never again be duped. I'm sorry, but I am jaded with this type of thing. I'm not spending a dime on anything with promises. Mostly they are false.

It is my belief that if our health care providers helped to educate us a little more, we consumers would have a better chance of understanding our condition, and we could make better decisions about what is best for us.

A must-read book

To help you look at your back pain from a different angle, I want to tell you about the best book I have ever read. It's called "Think Inside the Box," by David Deutsch. Actually, I recommend that you listen to the audio CDs to get the full impact of how he learned to think in new ways and how he can teach you to do the same. The book is primarily about thinking creatively, but all the lessons can be carried over into your everyday life.

One of the most fascinating topics he presents is called "doing the opposite." I know the concept is as old as man, but what I'm about to tell you is so simple that you are going to have to try it for yourself.

Stop doing what people tell you

Let me give you two examples of what I'm talking about. There is a good chance that you have read an article about trying yoga or Pilates as a way of keeping your back healthy. Well, yoga may be just fine for someone who doesn't have a back condition. But here is what you must know.

No matter what condition you are suffering from, your back pain is a physical problem that was created by imbalances in your body. Therefore, it will require a physical solution—that's what rehabilitation is all about. Unfortunately, it is often the case that what is taught or done in your rehab does not work toward bringing your body back to a more balanced state.

Consider the yoga example: We know that yoga is a well-balanced program—and that's the problem. You need an "unbalanced" workout to get your body back into balance. With yoga, you will be strengthening all of your muscles. And if you strengthen a muscle—or a group of muscles—that is already too strong, you'll make your imbalance even greater and your condition will get worse.

The unbalanced workout has to be a very targeted action plan based on your specific imbalances. That's why you should never start an exercise program such as yoga or Pilates without first knowing where your body is out of balance.

The unbalanced workout is also referred to as "muscle-balancing therapy." It will only strengthen muscles that need to be strengthened and stretch muscles that need to be stretched. When you employ a therapy that has a very set program, it is easy to follow and results are easy to recognize.

Are you doing the same thing every day?

What you must also understand is that your imbalances are the result of what you do in your everyday life—your workouts, sitting, the activities of your job, and your own personal habits. I'm not going to tell you to stop doing what you need to do. But what if you slightly changed the way you do them, or even tried to do the opposite.

- Instead of sitting at your desk, try kneeling. I kneel at least 30 percent of the time I spend at my desk. I have a small foam pad that puts me just high enough to type.

- When I do sit, I sit on a therapy ball. And guess what? I don't sit still like my momma told me to. I move my hips in every direction, which means I'm working on my core balance all day long.

- When most people are standing in line at the store or talking to someone, they tend to stand on one leg and kick the other leg out to the side, with their hands on their hips. Instead, I try to stand at attention, with both of my feet exerting equal pressure on the floor and my hands behind me.

One more thing to try

Have you heard the phrase, "You don't know what it's like until you walk a mile in my shoes"? Well, if you're going to try that one, you're going to have to walk backwards. Yes, every morning I walk backwards for at least 20 minutes, varying the speed and the length of my steps. I've gotten so good at it that I don't even have to look back—even when someone is coming.

I know you are all going to go out and try this, so let me give you some quick tips: Start slow. Hold on to someone for support in the beginning. Walk on the edge of a path so you can use the edge as a guide. Know that the path you're walking on is smooth, like a high school track.

You're on your own

My hope is that you will read the book I recommended and learn to think a little differently. My hope is that you can change your daily activities just a bit. My hope is that you get my point that doing the same thing over and over again may not be the answer, and it may be one of the reasons you have struggled for so long.

You may not have to do the complete opposite to find the one thing that will give you relief. But whatever you do, be sure it makes sense for you and your condition.

Steve Hefferon

Back Pain At The Office

2008-02-14T10:52:00.000-08:00

Back Pain At The Office

It's getting to be so bad that by Monday afternoon, you're already tired of being at the office. You're not even thinking as far ahead as Friday. Just getting to hump day is going to be challenge enough.

In reality, it's not the folks you work with who are getting you down—they're tolerable, mostly, although there is that one guy in accounting. Where do they find these people?

It's not even your boss, who, if he knew even half as much as you do, WOULD be a shoo-in for Executive of the Year.

No, the biggest pain in your neck is actually located a bit lower. And it's really what's making working where you do seem a lot worse than it actually is.

Face it. It's your aching back that's sucking the joy out of your nine-to-five existence and making you feel 10 years older to boot.

Sure, you've learned to tolerate the bad coffee, pointless meetings, and lame jokes in the course of your day. But you just can't tough it out when it comes to back pain, which can range from dull, nagging aches to those unexpected twinges that feel like you've been hit with a taser gun.

If it's any consolation, you're not alone. More than 31 million Americans have low back pain at any given time. The bad news about back pain is that it not only lives with you all day at the office but it also comes home with you at night. It may even dog your weekends.

How do you develop pain?

If you are experiencing back pain at the office, you may think that it is coming from all the sitting, standing, and lifting that you have to do. And, indirectly, it does. But it is actually more about how the body has to adapt to all the sitting, standing, and lifting than the activity itself. Let's take sitting as an example.

Because of the amount of time you spend sitting, your body must gradually adapt itself to that position. This happens in a number of ways. The first thing it must adapt to is how the weight goes through your hips and pelvis. Then, there is the way you sit—upright, slouching, or something in between. Most importantly, it's what happens to the muscles while you're sitting. For example, your hip flexors will get tight from being in a shortened position and your butt will get weak and flabby from being in a relaxed state.

That simple combination of tight hip flexors and weak glutes is called a "muscle imbalance." The result of these muscle imbalances will be postural dysfunctions of your pelvis and spine. These imbalances send both your spine and pelvis into abnormal positions, the combination of which can be devastating to a person with a healthy back and catastrophic for a person suffering from any form of back pain.

What can you do about it?

What you must also understand is that your imbalances are the result of what you do in your everyday life—your workouts, sitting, the activities of your job, and your own personal habits. I'm not going to tell you to stop going to work. But what if you changed the way you present yourself at your desk?

Instead of sitting at your desk, try kneeling. I kneel at least 30 percent of the time I spend at my desk. I have a small foam pad that puts me just high enough to type and see the monitor.
I sit on a therapy ball—and guess what? I don't sit still like my momma told me to. I move my hips in every direction, which means I'm working on my core balance all day long.

Action steps to take

Because you have to work and because the quality of your life depends on your career, you need to be able to make the most of your situation. Let me give you just a few tips to help you through the day:

Sitting

When I sit, I sit with my legs in all different positions—sometimes bent, sometimes behind me, other times stretched out in front or even to the side of me, keep the legs moving.

Every 10 minutes or so, I will work my body in some way—and, yes, that includes walking away from my desk. But more than that, I make it a habit to stand up when the phone rings. I also stand when I have to read something or when I'm rearranging the stack of stuff on my desk for greater productivity.

Standing

If your job requires you to stand all day long, be sure you have quality footwear and a neutral shoe insert. Our body mechanics start when our feet hit the ground. It is best if your feet are in the most neutral position possible.

One negative body pattern that many people fall into is to continually shift their weight from one foot to the other. The problem with this is that most people find eventually decide that one leg will be more comfortable than the other, and then that leg will get most of the weight most of the time. This will wreak havoc on the pelvis and spine. Better to put equal on each foot as much as you can, and learn to correct when you catch yourself shifting your weight or leaning on one leg too much.

Lifting

A third obstacle on the job can be situations where you have to lift anything over 10 pounds repeatedly. Again, it's not the activity itself that puts you in jeopardy; it's your body's inability to tolerate the stress of the weight. In other words, you should be able to lift anything you want to and not have any difficulty doing it. The problem occurs when your body is suffering from the muscle imbalances and postural dysfunctions that we talked about earlier—and you don't even know it.

So, when you lift that object and you get injured, think of it as the straw that broke the camels' back. Your body was already in a compromised state, and it just needed that last bit of stress to send you in to a painful condition.

Stress

It's an unavoidable fact of life at the office, and it can also play a role by causing your muscles to tense up, which makes you more prone to injury. Stress also lowers your tolerance for pain. In some cases, minimizing stress on the job can be a daunting task, but deep-breathing exercises, walking around the block, or even talking about your frustrations with a trusted friend can help.

In closing, I want to leave you with this message: Even though the workplace can be a hazard to your health, if you do find yourself having back pain, remember that your thoughts and your beliefs about your situation will have a direct impact on your ability to recover and how fast you recover. That's why it's critical to learn all you can about your condition and take action as soon as you can...

Steve Hefferon

Advice For Your Eyes - Part 2

2008-01-23T15:28:00.000-08:00

Advice For Your Eyes - Part 2

Dark Circles Around Your Eyes - Many may suffer from this problem as the first thing you try hide during a make-up session is the dark circles around your eyes. Some very common factors play an important role in developing this kind of a problem. These factors are: your increasing age - as the skin becomes thin making it more vulnerable and saggy, some kind of an allergy which affects your nasal passage, lack of sleep, pregnancy, smoking, menstruation and heredity.

Home Remedies for Dark Circles

You can open up a vitamin E oil capsule and apply it over the skin. This would help you to get rid of the dark circles.

Apply cream containing Vitamin C which is very beneficial for your eyes.

Yoga plays an important role to overcome the dark circles problem. Sarvangasana and Jal Neti are one of the best and natural ways of treating this problem. Doing sarvangasana everyday and Jal Neti five times a week would serve its purpose.

Have cod liver capsule everyday to strengthen your eyes.

You can make a fine paste by mixing teaspoon of tomato juice, drops of lemon juice, pinch of turmeric powder and little flour. Apply it under your eyes. Keep it for 15 minutes and wash it off with cold water.

Keep yourself hydrated by consuming eight to ten glasses of water per day.

Apply cucumber, potato or tomato slices over your eyelids for 10 minutes and relax. This encourages the blood circulation and helps remove the dark circles. You can also use cucumber juice for this purpose. Dab cotton pods in the cucumber juice and place it over your eyelids. This would work too.

You can also place used tea bags over your dark circled eyes. If these are herbal tea bags well and good, if not, ordinary ones will also do.

A mixture of potato and cucumber juice in 1:1 ratio applied on the eye with cotton pods and kept for 20 minutes; prove to be very useful for your eyes.

Equal parts of lemon and tomato juice used in similar fashion as above also helps to clear dark circles.

A paste of turmeric powder and pineapple juice is very good for dark circles.

Use crushed mint over your eyes to treat dark circles.

Massaging almond or saffron oil daily around your eyes for two weeks before going to bed helps in discarding the dark circles.

Use grated potato wrapped in cheesecloth to be applied over your eyelids for 15-20 minutes to lighten the dark circles. After 15 minutes dab yourself dry and apply an eye cream.

For bright and shiney eyes free from dark circles dip two cotton pods in fig juice, rose water or cold milk to be placed on your eyelids. Keep it for 10 minutes and later see the difference on continuous use.

Warning: The reader of this article should exercise all precautionary measures while following instructions on the home remedies from this article. Avoid using any of these products if you are allergic to it. The responsibility lies with the reader and not with the site or the writer.

Kevin Pederson

Advice For Your Eyes - Part 1

2008-01-23T15:27:00.000-08:00

Advice For Your Eyes - Part 1

Eyes are one of the finest assets which help us see the world in a better manner. With the vision we have found enough ways to nourish it too. Over exertion makes our eyes saggy, covered by dark circles, puffy and tired. With the different ways and means we can protect our eyes and also enhance our vision.

Eyestrain - A very common problem which causes dullness in your eyes as well as a pain due to continuous strain put on your eyes through TV or your personal computer. This kind of a strain leads to a headache which can be stopped once you switch off your TV or your PC. This mainly happens because your eyes have been over-worked. Other than TV or PC your eyes get strained due to reading, minute work such as embroidering, or sewing.

Self-Care Measures

Have good amount of sleep i.e. at least eight hours.

Lie down in a dimly lit room and apply a cold compress over your eyes. Relax and continue with this process for minimum ten minutes.

Keep taking enough intervals to avoid any strain.

In every half hour you can focus on something in a distance for 1 or 2 minutes to avoid the strain.

Puffy Eyes: A common reason for our eyes is to go through so much is mainly due to stress. If we avoid stress many of our eye problems will be solved. Puffiness has many causes and some of them are heredity, fluid retention due to weather changes and hormonal imbalance. With minor changes in your routine life you can make a lot of difference to benefit your eyes.

Home Remedies for Puffy Eyes

Raise the head-level of your bed as this would prevent puffiness by avoiding fluid retention around your eyes during your sleep.

You can dip cotton in a mixture of rosewater or milk or almond oil to keep your eyes refreshed.

Soak couple of cotton pads in Witch Hazel to be placed on your eyelids. Due to the good starch content, potatoes work greatly to minimize puffiness and redness.

The first thing in the morning you see in the mirror is the puffed eyes. You can use ice, chilled spoons or tea bags on your eyes to get rid of that look.

Lavender oil is another soothing agent which helps to keep your eyes fresh and radiant. Add a drop of this oil in two and a half cup of water. Shake it well before use. You can use two cotton pods as eye pads which are dipped in this solution to be placed on your eyes.

Easiest of all the solution is to wash your face with cold water. This helps in making your face clean and clears your face from any inflammation and also moisturizers it to avoid any eye problems.

You can use egg whites which have been stiffly beaten then add a drop of witch hazel to it. Apply this under your eyes to avoid the puffiness and to keep your skin tighter.

Some of the remedies for dark circles and puffy eyes are similar. You can use these remedies to help clear both the problems.

Contact Lenses or Spectacles?

2008-01-23T15:26:00.000-08:00

Contact Lenses or Spectacles?

While plenty of people still wear glasses, there seems little doubt that they're on the way out. There's no doubt that putting them in and taking them out can be scary at first, but once you're used to it they are much more convenient than having bulky glasses on your face, not to mention almost invisible, even to people who get close to your eyes.

Vanity isn't the only reason to wear contact lenses, though. For many people, it is simply more practical - they work better for sport or any kind of manual work, for example, where glasses could easily get damaged. Contact lenses are also not subject to the many things that can go wrong with glasses, such smashing, breaking, or being affected by the weather (when they get rained on, for example).

If you're just entering the world of contact lenses, though, it can feel like a bit of a maze. What should you get? Hard lenses or soft? Daily lenses or monthly? Each option comes with its advantages and disadvantages.

The easiest question to tackle is probably that of hard lenses. While hard lenses are still used in many parts of the world, this is mainly down to reasons of habit - people who are already using them are unlikely to switch. To the new user, hard lenses offer no advantages, and they are incredibly uncomfortable until you get used to them. It is much better to simply go with soft lenses.

When it comes to the question of whether daily disposable lenses are better, however, there is some controversy. Once you factor in the cost of cleaning solution for monthly lenses, there is little difference in price, but some people simply prefer not to buy and throw away so many lenses. Ultimately, though, daily disposables tend to be thinner and therefore more comfortable, as well as costing you less if you happen to lose one, which makes them better suited to the beginner.

John Gibb

Conjunctivitis, The Ailment Behind Those Pink Eyes

2008-01-23T15:23:00.000-08:00

Conjunctivitis, The Ailment Behind Those Pink Eyes

Conjunctivitis is an eye ailment characterized by soreness and redness of an eye or both eyes in a person. The inflammation occurs in the clear covering that coats or protects the white portion of the eye.

Conjunctivitis also affects the lines which are inside the eye lids. This infection of the eye sometimes quickly manifest, but it may be a consolation that the duration of the infection would only last for just a short period of time.

Conjunctivitis, or more popularly known as pink eye, is not curable, only treatable. That means, even without medication the infection would subside.

The body will mostly do its work in curtailing this eye ailment. It should be noted, however, that people with conjunctivitis should seek immediate medical help to ease and relieve the discomfort that will surely arise from its onset.

Otherwise, further infection or complication might surface, making the infection more painful and more discomforting.

Causes of conjunctivitis

Doctors and medical professionals cite three causes for the onset of conjunctivitis. One, the infection would be viral or caused by virus. Second, conjunctivitis can be caused by allergic reactions to substances, called allergens, that cause adverse reactions from the body's protective immune system.

Lastly, conjunctivitis can be bacterial in nature. Conjunctivitis caused by bacteria are the fastest- healing. Such kind of conjunctivitis will also tend to become less distracting.

Other than three mentioned, experts attribute conjunctivitis to other causes that may include vitamin deficiency, allergy to chicken meat, contact lens overuse, chemical contacts, intrusion of foreign substances into the eye and ultraviolet or thermal burns.

Treating conjunctivitis or pink eye

The usual home remedy advised to patients or victims of conjunctivitis may be somehow discomforting and scary. But the thing is, although medical and modern science fail to provide specific and exact reason for it, is surprisingly effective.

Adhering to simple home remedies, the conjunctivitis victim is advised to put a mild slat solution into the infected eye. If it will be uncomfortable and too painful, opening the eyes in a small tub containing a little pinch of salt in it would be an alternative measure.

Upon doing so, be sure to wash your hands after. That is because conjunctivitis is spread and communicated through touching things that may also be touched by other people, especially your housemates and loved ones.

It would be imperative to consult or seek help from the doctor to determine or pinpoint the cause of the infection.

Conjunctivitis caused by bacteria can be relived by antibiotic eye ointments or eye drops. If the cause is viral or allergens, then the infection would not be immediately relived, but the doctor can try to prescribe other practical medications to soothe out.

Conjunctivitis caused by allergens or allergy-causing substances could also be relived by taking in antihistamines, which is the usual and most common drug prescribed to people with asthma and other allergies.

Conjunctivitis Prevention

It is observed that people are more prone to the eye infection immediately after recovering from colds. Remember that conjunctivitis is contagious, and you should be responsible to give out your share in curtailing the infection's spread.

Always wash your hands and avoid making physical contacts with objects that may be in constant physical contact with other people.

Prevention is better than cure. Help prevent the spread of pink eyes. Will you?

Charlene J. Nuble

Ocular Nutrition And Eye Health

2008-01-23T15:22:00.002-08:00

Ocular Nutrition And Eye Health

Understanding ocular nutrition and eye health can be one of the ways to support your vision. As early as age 30, our eyes and vision can begin to deteriorate. Wind, dust, chlorine fumes, automobile fumes, smoking, freezing temperatures and physical injury are examples of threats to healthy eyes and good vision. Long hours spent at a computer screen and the vibration from driving have a cumulative negative impact on eye health over time.

Healthy vision is related to the health of the individual parts of the eye - the cornea, iris, macula, lens, optic nerve, pupil, retina and the vitreous humor. And making good ocular nutrition and eye health food choices are one of the ways that good vision can be supported. Information provided by the U.S. National Eye Institute and the results of other ocular nutrition and eye health studies have shown that using nutrition to improve and support eye health definitely happens.

Here are foods that are known to support and improve eye health:

Collard greens, kale and spinach - studies on ocular nutrition and eye health show that eating foods rich in carotenoids is associated with reduced risk of developing age-related macular degeneration. Foods rich in carotenoids are leafy green vegetables such as spinach, collard greens and kale. Macular eye nutrition becomes increasingly important as we get older.

Green vegetables and corn - another study on ocular nutrition and eye health has shown a reduced risk of developing cataracts for persons having diets higher in lutein and zeaxanthin. Foods high in these two carotenoids include broccoli, collard greens, corn, green peas, kale, romaine lettuce, spinach, turnip greens and zucchini. Lutein is also found in egg yolks. Persons with diets high in lutein and zeaxanthin were also less likely to need cataract surgery. In another study done on persons ages 40-59, those with diets high in lutein and zeaxanthin experienced a reduced risk of developing adult macular degeneration.

Apricots, bilberries and blueberries - apricots are rich in beta carotene and lycopene that help promote good vision. Beta carotene is converted by the body to vitamin A as needed, an important antioxidant that resists oxidative stress damage to cells and tissues including the eye lenses. Continued oxidative stress may result in the development of cataracts or damage the blood supply to the eyes and lead to macular degeneration. Eating blueberries has been associated with the reduction of eye fatigue.

Blueberries are related to cranberries, and both also help the body resist urinary tract infections. Bilberries are a form of wild blueberry that grow on small bushes. Bilberries were used by British pilots to improve their night vision during World War 2. Fresh bilberries and bilberry jams would be sources of this ocular nutrition and eye health food. Bilberry seems to improve eye health by increasing the blood supply to the eyes.

Our eyes are considered to be the most important of the senses. By knowing which ocular nutrition and eye health food choices support the eyes, you can include more of these foods in daily meal planning.

David Buster

Your Expectations for Laser Eye Surgery

2008-01-23T15:22:00.001-08:00

Your Expectations for Laser Eye Surgery

Laser eye surgery is one of those elective surgeries that you may have your own ideas of what the outcome will be that may not necessarily be the true outcome. As with any type of elective surgery you must realize what your expectations, ideas, and hopes are for the outcome of the surgery. Is it your expectations that your vision will be 20/20 as it was when you were a child?

Before any type of elective surgery including laser eye surgery, you should discuss your hopes and expectations with your ophthalmologist. He should be able to explain that not all of your ideas are true with laser eye surgery. Yes, your blurry vision will be improved but maybe not to the extent that you desire.

Normally, individuals with very poor vision to the extent that their vision is so bad that they cannot be fitted with contacts are very pleased after laser eye surgery. Any improvement over wearing those thick ugly glasses is a lifesaver. However, if you are one of those individuals who are mild to moderately nearsighted then you must know that 90 percent of patients are able to drive during daylight hours without wearing glasses or contacts. The other 10 percent still need to wear corrective lenses. Out of the 90 percent that can see to drive without their glasses during the day, the majority, still have to wear glasses at night to see to drive.

When you think of good vision, you may not really be considering all the aspects of good eyesight, which include such things as depth of field, night vision, color vision, contrast sensitivity, and bi-ocular vision. The depth of field is if you can see clearly from near to far. Color vision is if you can differentiate between the colors of red and green. Contrast sensitivity is the ability to differentiate between the various shades of gray. Night vision is the ability to see in low lighting conditions. Bi-ocular vision is your eye working together properly.

To ensure if you will be happy with your laser surgery you should of course talk it over with your eye surgeon. Remember, you may not receive perfect vision, but your eyesight will be improved over what you now have without wearing glasses or contact lenses full time. The choice is yours, just be sure that you will be happy with the results.

Nicky Pilkington

Home Remedies For Bloodshot Eyes

2008-01-23T15:21:00.001-08:00

Home Remedies For Bloodshot Eyes

As the name suggests bloodshot eyes makes your eyes blood colored. The blood vessels in the white portion of the eyes are enlarged and irritated causing the redness. Some common reasons for the redness of the eyes are due to coughing, eyestrain, dry air, over exposure to sun, dust, foreign body, an allergic reaction, infection, trauma, fatigue, alcohol consumption, lack of vitamin B2 and B6 and high blood pressure.

You can get bloodshot eyes by

Blepharitis - Caused by skin bacteria that leads to itching and turns your eyelid greasy and crusty.
Conjunctivitis - Also known as pink eye is caused by a virus, bacteria and allergy or skin irritation. It is very contagious if caused by an organism.
Corneal ulcers - It is caused by viral infection affecting the outer cover of the eye.
Uveitis - It causes inflammation of uvea, including iris, ciliary body and choroids. It is related to autoimmune disorder, infection or exposure to toxins.

Home Remedies for Bloodshot Eyes

Reduce the redness by splashing cold water over closed eyes. This soothes the eye and shrinks the blood vessels as in case of an allergic reaction.

You can apply cold compress to your eyes by using an ice pack wrapped in a towel.

Use warm compress for red eyes without any itching. This may be due to fatigue or tiredness.

Put three drops of rose water in your eyes.

Soak cotton pad in a mixture of rose water, milk and Aloe Vera juice. Place these cotton pads over your closed eyes for 10-20 minutes in a dimly lit room. This will help in reducing the redness.

You can try the hot and cold compress on your eyes, alternately.

Stay away from allergy triggering agents which may lead to bloodshot eyes.

Goldenseal is a native medicinal plant that contains berberine which compresses blood vessels and helps in reducing the bloodshot effect. You can use it as a compress or wash to get rid of the pain.

To get relief from bloodshot eyes have two ripe tomatoes first thing in the morning on empty stomach. The vitamin C and flavonoids in the tomatoes makes the blood vessel walls stronger.

You can also use non-preservative artificial tears, this helps in soothing your eyes and clearing the redness.

Wear genuine preservative-free contact lenses. The ones with preservatives can cause redness and other related infections.

Kevin Pederson

A Quick Fix for Sagging, Heavy Eyelids

2008-01-23T15:16:00.000-08:00

A Quick Fix for Sagging, Heavy Eyelids

Droopy eyelids are a sure sign that Mother Nature has arrived to make your face look old.

You know the look and the feel of heavy lids – they seem to have a mind of their own. You constantly lift your forehead when you are speaking and your eyes may begin to feel a tiredness that just doesn't go away.

Not only are your eyes bothering you, those forehead wrinkles may have you thinking that a paralyzing injection might be required or even more drastic measures such as surgery may be needed.

The medical community wants you to believe that you need to consider this route to look younger but in reality – this is not a fact!

The upper eye lids, the brow and upper forehead are connected under the skin with muscles that weave over and under each other. The actual forehead muscle is vertical and it originates in the hairline.

Usually by age 40, gravity has affected the forehead resulting in poor muscle tone and its downward slide pushes into the eyebrow muscles which then affects the upper eye lid and creates crow's feet. This downward movement of loose skin can impair one's vision if the lid puddles onto the eyelashes.

There are only a few options available to enjoy younger looking eyes.

Blepharoplasty is a surgical procedure to correct sagging upper and lower eyes. The upper eye procedure involves actually cutting the eyelids, removing excess tissue and then suturing the eyelids usually in the existing crease. The surgery is performed while the patient is under general anesthesia although there are other types of local and oral anesthesia's available; the procedure takes about 2 hours to complete and just like any other invasive procedure there are risks to consider.

Electro-stimulation devices, using minute electrical currents, claim they can lift eyelids and brows. According to some well-paid physicians they do work but there is a healthy amount of skepticism from their peers.

Overuse can cause spasms, headache, irritation, redness and burning. Electro-stimulation is very time consuming as each area requires about three minutes to treat so it's not unusual to spend an hour or more trying to lift your face every other day.

The above mentioned options are not only costly; they're very temporary. Yes, temporary! Surgery does not correct poor muscle tone and neither do injections or electro-currents.

What's the solution?

Facial exercise is the smartest thing you can do to stop the cause of aging in your face but not all facial exercise programs work. Why? Because scrunching and contortions are not exercises!!! When there is no resistance or anchoring to create a contraction, your face cannot lift or look younger. Genuine facial exercise is not about scrunching or making contortions, rather, they are bone fide, precise movements that treat the cause of aging in your face.

How long until you see results? Well, most people see results immediately and you should know that it takes about three to four weeks to see permanent results. Permanent results occur when the muscles are sufficiently strengthened to retain their new positions. If you do not regularly exercise the muscles in the face, you will look older.

Our entire body needs exercise, and that includes our faces and necks. From head to toe, you can look healthier and vibrant without ever thinking about surgery, injections or electricity. Exercising your face requires only minutes per day and in less time than it took for your morning shower, you can have a face that looks 10-15 years younger.

Cynthia Rowland

What Do You Need To Know About Multiple Sclerosis

2008-01-23T15:15:00.000-08:00

What Do You Need To Know About Multiple Sclerosis

1. Multiple Sclerosis:

Multiple Sclerosis is one amongst the widely afflicting diseases today. It can be interpreted to be a disease of nervous system where it worsens over a period of time with loss of feeling and loss of control of movement and speech. So, MS attacks the individual’s central nervous system that is constituted of different nerves and nerve fibers. It involves a threat to his brain, spinal cord and eye or optical nerves. Basically MS hampers or destructs the protein that safeguards the nerve fibers. This protective protein is known as myelin and it aids in the communication between nerve cells. Once myelin gets burnt up, a breakdown occurs in the nerve cells’ co-ordination. Its effect is visible in the behavior (that drifts from normal to abnormal) of the individual. Along with this there appear lesions and plaques occur on that part of the body where demyelination takes place. But this is not all. Most often the cells that help in regaining myelin are even eliminated. The individual’s body then succumbs to damage and disability.

2. Invoking and Provoking Multiple Sclerosis: Various conditions are deemed to invite multiple sclerosis.

• An individual’s genes are the first and foremost factor that contributes to the risk of developing MS at any stage of life. Medical research reveals that the kids born of those parents where either of them has a history of MS, are largely prone to it.

• Apart from the genes, an environment change is also instrumental in causing MS.

• Viruses of diseases such as herpes, measles, flu etc. have proved to be quite effective in invoking multiple sclerosis.

• Hormones, especially the sex hormones like estrogen and progesterone have weakened the immunity system and instigated MS.

3. The Indications:

MS may be exposed differently in different people or a single person may face various symptoms. Actually, the time MS strikes the nervous system, it becomes manifested via some or the other indicator. For instance, as soon as demyelination begins, the individual may experience lack of balance of his body, tremors, a paralytic attack and so forth. Gradually, these symptoms translate to outburst of the disease.

4. The Varying Features:

According to doctors, there are differing types of multiple sclerosis. The primary is the Relapsing- Remitting MS. As the name suggests, relapsing MS is that where MS dissolves or disappears but only initially, it recurs after a span of time. After relapsing, the disease begins to catch pace and so injure the spinal cord and brain.

If the nervous system starts worsening right after the inception of the symptoms, it is Progressive-Relapsing MS. Similarly there are Primary-Progressive and Secondary Progressive stages of Multiple Sclerosis. At the onset of this disease, the doctors by studying the symptoms determine or adjudicate which form it will take.

5. Diagnosing and Medication

Right after the perception of MS indicators, in order to confront the actual status of multiple sclerosis, doctors ask the individual to undergo different tests. MRI and blood tests are commonly advised to estimate the actual status of the disease. Besides the tests, medicines too are prescribed. There are quite a few good drugs available in the market such as Avonex, Rebif etc. However, MS does not seem to be cured by any of these measures then chemotherapy is the final resort. It is an extremely difficult treatment but it entails positive results.

6. Precautionary Measures:

• The best possible defence against all diseases is the intake of a rich balanced diet that strengthens the immunity system.

• If an individual has a background of diseases like hypertension, kidney issues and fluid retention etc. then the doctor ought to be ultra cautious prior to recommending any medicine. For there can be many serious hostile effects of these antibiotics.

• Those who fear MS due to appearance of some similar symptoms must go for an instant check up. Otherwise also, the people born of any of the MS parents must pay extra heed to their health ad consult doctor time and again.

• The effects of an environmental change should be carefully studied before making any trip to a foreign place.

Mansi Gupta

Lichen Sclerosis

2008-01-23T15:14:00.000-08:00

Lichen Sclerosis

What is lichen sclerosis and what does it look like?

Lichen sclerosis (LS) is a skin condition that makes the vulva look white, slightly shiny, and smooth. The skin's surface becomes thin and delicate so that it tears easily. This can cause bleeding under the skin. In severe cases of lichen sclerosis of the genital area, scarring can occur. This causes the inner lips of the vulva to get smaller. The clitoris can become covered in scar tissue.

What causes lichen sclerosis?

We do not know the exact cause of lichen sclerosis. Scientists have different theories to try to explain the cause. Some scientists think that an overactive immune system may play a role in causing the disease. Some people may also develop lichen sclerosis due to their genes or to changes in hormones. Since lichen sclerosis is not caused by an infection, it cannot be spread and is not contagious.

What are the symptoms of lichen sclerosis?

Symptoms of lichen sclerosis may be different from one person to another and can be mild to severe. Girls and young women who have this disease may experience some or all of the following symptoms in the vulva area:

Mild to severe itching in the vulva area

Skin that appears fragile, pale, and/or white

Bruised skin with broken blood vessels or "blood blisters"

Small tears or fissures in the skin

Scar tissue covering the labia or clitoris

Bleeding or tearing of skin when having bowel movements

How is lichen sclerosis diagnosed?

Lichen sclerosis can be a difficult diagnosis to make. It is not unusual for someone to see more than one doctor before the disease is finally diagnosed. Most of the time, doctors who see many patients with lichen sclerosis can often make the diagnosis just by looking at the skin. However in most cases if you are in the early stages of lichen sclerosis, the doctor may have to do a biopsy (removal and examination of a small sample of affected skin) to identify the cause of your symptoms.

David Chandler

Multiple Sclerosis - What Is It?

2008-01-23T15:12:00.000-08:00

Multiple Sclerosis - What Is It?

Multiple Sclerosis (MS) is an autoimmune disease of the central nervous system (CNS) where the body's own immune cells attack the nervous system. In Multiple Sclerosis, inflammation of nervous tissue causes the loss of myelin, a fatty material that acts as a sort of protective insulation for the nerve fibers in the brain and spinal cord. This demyelination leaves multiple areas of scar tissue (sclerosis) along the covering of the nerve cells, which disrupts the ability of the nerves to conduct electrical impulses to and from the brain, producing the various symptoms of multiple Sclerosis.

Multiple Sclerosis-Causes, symptoms, and risk factors.

The cause of multiple Sclerosis is unknown. Geographic studies indicate there may be an environmental factor involved. Multiple Sclerosis is more likely to occur in northern Europe, the northern United States, southern Australia, and New Zealand than in other areas.

Symptoms of multiple Sclerosis vary because the location and extent of each attack varies. There is usually a stepwise progression of the disorder, with episodes that last days, weeks, or months alternating with times of reduced or no symptoms (remission). Recurrence (relapse) is common although non-stop progression without periods of remission may also occur.

The exact cause of the inflammation associated with multiple Sclerosis is unknown. An increase in the number of immune cells in the body of a person with multiple Sclerosis indicates that there may be a type of immune response that triggers the disorder. The most frequent theories about the cause of multiple sclerosis include a virus-type organism, an abnormality of the genes responsible for control of the immune system, or a combination of both factors.

Multiple sclerosis (MS) affects approximately 1 out of 1, 000 people. More women are affected than men are. The disorder most commonly begins between ages 20 and 40, but can strike at any age. Risks include a family history of multiple Sclerosis and living in a geographical area with a higher incidence rate for multiple Sclerosis.

David Chandler

Multiple Sclerosis - What are the Effects

2008-01-23T15:10:00.000-08:00

Multiple Sclerosis - What are the Effects

What is multiple sclerosis?

Multiple sclerosis is a central nervous system disorder characterized by damage to the messages transmitted to and from the brain. These messages generally control the way the body works. Thus, any damage can cause problems with vision, memory, balance and movement. It may also affect the ability to feel sensation, pain and vibration.

The human body is serviced by an extensive system of nerves that control the way the body functions. These nerves are protected by a fatty substance called myelin which insulates them from damage. If a person suffers from multiple sclerosis, the myelin is damaged thus blocking the impulses from the brain.

Symptoms of multiple sclerosis

The early symptoms include loss of vision, loss of balance, weakness, and numbness. These symptoms are not universal to all sufferers. In fact, some people suffer little more than intense fatigue while others may be so affected they may become paralyzed.

The term 'sclerosis' means scarring and anyone looking at the brain or the tissue of the spinal cord sees what looks like intense scarring.

The damage in multiple sclerosis is thought to be caused by an unusual reaction to infections. The immune system produces white blood cells that destroy dangerous bacteria or viruses. However, in cases of multiple sclerosis, the white cells attack healthy tissue like myelin and nerve cells. This is called an auto immune response.

What are the types of multiple sclerosis?

There are four main kinds of multiple sclerosis, with symptoms varying in severity. These are:

Benign Relapsing/remitting (RRMS).
Secondary progressive (SPMS).

Primary progressive

People with benign multiple sclerosis may have the occasional attack while feeling perfectly healthy at other times. They suffer only a mild disability or no disability at all though medical examination shows evidence of multiple sclerosis damage to the brain. The lack of disability is because the damage may be in places in the brain that do not cause obvious disability or the damage is minimal.

More than fifty percent of sufferers start with relapsing/remitting multiple sclerosis in which they may suffer relapses two or three times a year with partial or complete recovery at other times. However, due to the gradual death of nerve cells and the myelin, the symptoms may get worse and more frequent. This takes them into the stage of secondary progressive multiple sclerosis (SPMS).

In secondary progressive multiple sclerosis or SPMS, the disability increases as there is a progressive loss of nerve cells. During this stage, the sufferer no longer has relapses and remissions and the disability becomes progressively worse.

There are some people who become more and more disabled without ever having relapses and remissions. This type of multiple sclerosis is called primary progressive multiple sclerosis.

How is it diagnosed?

Our bodies fight infection by producing white blood cells, a natural disease fighter. However, in people with multiple sclerosis, the protective covering of the nerve fibres (myelin) is also attacked by these white blood cells. One of the tests done to diagnose multiple sclerosis is a lumbar puncture. In this test, cerebrospinal fluid is extracted from the spine through a hollow needle and is examined for signs of this disease.

The hidden signs of multiple sclerosis can also be detected using an MRI (magnetic resonance image). This uses a combination of radio waves and magnetic fields that provide a detailed view of the brain and spinal cord. By using this, the lesions in the myelin can be detected.

Treatment and outlook

At this time, multiple sclerosis is incurable, although thre is research taking place globally in an effort to find a treatment that will slow down the progression of this illness. In the meantime, there are a number of options which may make life more bearable. Some doctors prescribe ACTH, a steroid that accelerates the healing actions of the body.

Though there is no scientific evidence that special diets are beneficial, anecdotal evidence suggests that diets such as gluten free diets or those low in animal fats do help. Many multiple sclerosis sufferers seek out alternative therapies to relieve their symptoms. This may include acupuncture, homeopathy, and yoga.

For each person, the answer may be different and, though multiple sclerosis has no cure, it is important for the sufferer to find a positive way of living with this illness.

Anne Wolski

Home Remedies for Arteriosclerosis

2008-01-23T15:06:00.000-08:00

Home Remedies for Arteriosclerosis

If the causes of arteriosclerosis are known, remedial action should be taken promptly to remove them. To begin with, the patient should resort to short juice fast for five to seven days. The juices of fresh raw vegetables and fruits may be taken diluted with water on 50:50 basis. Grape-fruit, pineapple, lemon and juice of green vegetables are specially beneficial. A warm water enema should be used daily to cleanse the bowels during the period of juice fasting.

After that, the patient should take optimum diet consisting of seeds, nuts and grains, vegetables and fruits, with emphasis on raw foods and sprouted seeds. Vegetable oils like sunflower oil, flex seed oil and olive oil should be used regularly. Further short fasts on juices may be undertaken at intervals of three months or so, depending on the progress being made.

The patient should take several small meals instead of a few large ones. He should avoid all hydrogenated fats and an excess of saturated fats, such as butter, cream, ghee and animal fat. He should also avoid meat, salt and all refined and processed foods, condiments, sauces, pickles, strong tea, coffee, white sugar, white flour and . all products made from them. Foods cooked in aluminum and copper untensils should not be taken as toxic metals entering the body are known to be deposited on the walls of the aorta and the arteries. Smoking, if habitual, should be given up because it constricts the arteries and aggravates the condition.

Recent investigations have shown that garlic and onions have a preventive effect on the development of arteriosclerosis. They should be included in the daily diet either raw or cooked.

One of the most effective home remedies for arteriosclerosis is the lemon peel. It strengthens the entire arterial system. Shredded lemon peel may be added to soups and stews, or sprinkled over salads. To make a medicine, the peel of one or two lemons may be cut up finely, covered with warm water and allowed to stand for about 12 hours. A teaspoonful may be taken every three hours, or immediately before or after a meal.

Parsley is another effective home remedy for this disease. It contains elements which help to maintain the blood vessels, particularly the capillaries and arterial system in a healthy condition. It may be taken as beverage by simmering it gently in the water for a few minutes and partaking several times daily.

The beet juice has also proved valuable in arteriosclerosis. It is an excellent solvent for inorganic calcium deposits. Juices of carrot and spinach are also beneficial. These juices can be taken individually or in combination. Formula proportions found helpful when used in combination are 300 ml carrot and 200 ml spinach to prepare 500 ml of juice.

Honey is also considered beneficial in the treatment of arteriosclerosis. It is easily digested and assimilated. The patient should take a glass of water with one teaspoon each of honey and lemon juice in it, before going to bed. He can also take it if he wakes up at night.

The patient should undertake plenty of outdoor exercise and eliminate all mental stress and worries. Prolonged neutral immersion baths at bed time on alternate days is beneficial.

Krishan Bakhru

Grapes May Prevent Alzheimer's

2007-12-25T14:53:00.000-08:00

Grapes May Prevent Alzheimer's

Resveratrol, a compound found in grapes and red wine, may be prove to be a potent weapon in the battle against Alzheimer's.

Fights Amyloid-Beta Peptides

A study has shown that it lowers levels of the amyloid-beta peptides, which are responsible for the plaques leading to Alzheimer's disease.

Scientists administered resveratrol to cellsthat produce human amyloid-beta; they found that levels of amyloid-beta in the treated cells dropped significantly.

Further Research Needed

It is uncertain, however, if simply eating a resveratrol-rich diet will have the same effect; follow-up research is therefore being conducted to identify the molecular mechanisms that resveratrol triggers to fight Alzheimer's. The compound may act by stimulating the proteasome, a multi-protein complex that can digest other proteins.

Could Fight Other Diseases

Resveratrol may also be effective in fighting other human amyloid-related diseases such as Huntington's, Parkinson's and prion diseases. It can, for example, protect neurons against amyloid-like polyglutamines, which accompany Huntington's disease.

Journal of Biological Chemistry November 11, 2005; 280(45): 37377-37382 Science Daily November 4, 2005

Dr. Mercola's Comment:I've been telling you about resveratrol, the natural polyphenol found in grapes, peanuts, berries and red wine that fights cancer, for quite a while now. It always amazes me how science continues to uncover more and more benefits of simple natural whole food products.

While alcoholic beverageshave some benefit they are not your best source of these beneficial nutrients. If you want to boost your consumption of resveratrol, stick with natural sources like whole grape skins (pass up the meat of the grape, which has no resveratrol but a lot of extra fructose).

Although red wine also contains resveratrol, and many health experts feel it is fine in moderation, I am not so certain about this. This is largely because I am convinced the alcohol itself is actually a neurotoxin, which means it can poison your brain. Additionally, it has the strong potential to seriously disrupt your delicate hormone balance.

Alzheimer's is serious business and we are in the midst of an Alzheimer's epidemic. Grape skins that have reservatrol are useful but only a small part of a Total Health apporach to reduce all chronic illness. I also urge you to review my recent guidelines that can protect you from Alzheimer's without taking a drug:

Follow the nutrition plan paying special attention to avoiding sugar
Eat plenty of high-quality omega-3 fish oil
Avoid most fish and remove mercury
Exercise for three to five hours per week
Eat a nutritious diet based on your body's unique metabolic type
Eat plenty of vegetables (also according to your metabolic type)
Avoid flu vaccinations
Try Wild Blueberry IQ, an all-natural, whole fruit softgel made from wild blueberries, which have high anthocyanin and antioxidant content that are known to guard against
Alzheimer's and other neurological diseases
Keep your mind active
Since worry accelerates your risk of Alzheimer's, learn an effective energy psychology tool like the Emotional Freedom Technique

Joseph Mercola

Heavy Metals Anchor Alzheimer's In Your Brain

2007-12-25T14:52:00.000-08:00

Heavy Metals Anchor Alzheimer's In Your Brain

Heavy metals and aluminum are in every part of our environment and food. These elements are deadly and you will benefit if you are aware of what they do where they come from.

Brain tissue has an attraction for heavy metals such as lead, mercury, cadmium, and others. When heavy metals appear in the brain they can interfere with your natural brain chemistry. This interference, overtime, can accelerate the onset of dementia or Alzheimer's.

Aluminum is an element that has been associated with Alzheimer's. Aluminum has been found in high levels in people's brain that have died of Alzheimer's. The evidence points to aluminum been involved with Alzheimer's.

There is a lot of controversy about whether aluminum can bring on Alzheimer's. But because the Aluminum Industry is so powerful, it has blocked and campaigned against any reports that point to aluminum's involvement in dementia or Alzheimer's.

Here is a list of products that contain aluminum:

Antacids, aluminum wrap, pans, pot, rice cookers, small oven trays, soft drink cans, various food cans, toothpaste tubes, water, roll on deodorants.

Here is what heavy metals do:

Lead - makes you aggressive and hyperactive Cadmium - makes you confused and aggressive Mercury - gives you headaches, causes memory loss Aluminum - is associated with dementia and Alzheirmer's.

Heavy metals come from air pollution, smoking, pestricides, fillings.

Be aware of how heavy metals and aluminum get into your body, since they will end up in your brain and accumulate along your artery walls with cholesterol. Having loss of memory and other mental abilities is not result of aging. It is a result of poor diet and excess consumption of pollution and toxins.

Here is how to minimize heavy metal damage. Take a good electrolytic mineral supplement or eat a lot of fruits and vegetables since they contain a lot of minerals.

The good minerals compete to get absorb in your intestines with the heavy metals. Good minerals will get absorbed leaving behind the heavy metals. These heavy metals will then be excreted out of your body.

Also drinking a lemon and chlorophyll drink is helpful. Chlorophyll attaches to heavy metals and help to remove them from your body. Drink this every morning. Here's how to make this drink. Combine juice of one lemon, 8 oz of distilled water, and 1-2 oz of chlorophyll.

Rudy Silva

Alzheimer's Disease - A Brain Disorder

2007-12-25T14:51:00.000-08:00

Alzheimer's Disease - A Brain Disorder

Alzheimer's disease is one of the commonest problems faced by old people. This disease slowly and gradually takes over your mind to leave you as blank as a clean slate. Alzheimer's disease is a brain disorder and one of the most common causes of dementia. Dementia damages the brain's basic functionality of memory, thinking, behavioral pattern and emotion. It is one of the most common forms of irreversible dementia. With the increasing age your chances increases too, to get affected by this condition. Once you cross 60 you become more susceptible to this disease. Though you will find young people getting affected too but, that is a rare case.

Under this condition the nerve cells near the brain, key to memory and mental activities and connections between nerve cells are damaged. This loss of connectivity causes serious damage to the brain which spoils the thinking process and the memory. Some common symptoms of this disease is memory loss, confused state, personality changes, loss of language skills, forgetfulness, losing power of reading, writing and speaking, failing to understand language as well as familiar faces. After a period of time patients may loose total touch with their life and require full time care.

It starts off with mild memory problem which ends with severe brain damage. The severity of the disease may differ from person to person which can be determined by the diagnosis of the doctor. People suffering from Alzheimer's can live for another 8 to 10 years or even more, once they have been diagnosed. There are many drugs in the market which have claimed to treat this disease. By the proper guidance of the doctor you can start your treatment with medicines like cholinesterase inhibitors donepezil (Aricept), galantamine (Reminyl or Razadyne), and rivastigmine (Exelon). The other is NMDA receptor memantine (known as Ebixa, Axura or Namenda).

Herbal Medicines

Antioxidants have showed immense improvement with Alzheimer's. Antioxidants like vitamin E and C slows the progress of this disease. These can be recovered by antioxidant diet like fruits, vegetables, grains, nuts and seeds.

Essential fatty acids are very useful in treating this disease. Regular consumption of cold-water fish which has EFA also known as Omega 3 and Omega 6 fatty acids are very useful for treating this problem.

A high-magnesium diet proves to be very handy to evade this problem. Avoid processed food and diary products. Increase magnesium consumption by eating peanuts, almonds, spinach, navy beans, broccoli, kelp and many more.

Studies have also shown that the leaves of ginkgo biloba tree also helps in minimizing the cruel effect of this problem. There is no actual cure but the consumption prevents dementia problem.

Huperzine A derived from Hyperzia serrata (Club Moss) is very useful in improving your memory, behavioral patterns without any side effects.

Vinpocetine has come from Vinca minor (Periwinkle) which improves brain circulation and utilization of oxygen.

Bacopa monnieri (Water hyssop, Brahmi) works tremendously for nerve impulse and to build-up on memory and cognition.

Kevin Pederson

Coping With Alzheimer's Disease

2007-12-25T14:48:00.000-08:00

Coping With Alzheimer's Disease

Many elderly people in nursing facilities have Alzheimer’s disease. This disease causes the short term potion of the brain to shut down. Elderly people who have the disease may forget their children’s names, but will remember events and people from their childhood. This disease can be very painful to those who have the disease and painful for loved ones who have to witness their parents or other relatives live with Alzheimer’s.

The best way to cope with this disease is to accept it and work around it. There will be days when the disease will not be as bad. Unfortunately, those who suffer from Alzheimer’s disease are prone to violent behavior, verbal abuse, and other uncharacteristic behavior. Waiting until the person calms down is the best way to handle the situation. Otherwise, they could become more violent and uncontrollable. There are medications available that can curb violent behavior.

Visiting a person with Alzheimer’s disease in a nursing facility can be frightening at first. But after a few visits, it will become easier. Having patience and a willingness to forgive are great qualities to bring to the nursing facility. Even though the person has changed, they are still the same person filled with emotions and feelings. They may not always remember things they should, but this does not mean that they do not care. Sometimes one memory can trigger another which will cause them to remember recent events. There is no cure for Alzheimer’s disease, but much research is being conducted to help fight the effects of it.

Jeanette Pollock

Home Remedies For Fever Blisters

2007-12-25T14:47:00.000-08:00

Home Remedies For Fever Blisters

Fever blisters or cold sores are small red blisters that usually appear on the lips and outer edges of the mouth. They often display a clear liquid and form scabs after a few days. They are caused by herpes virus that becomes active when something triggers them. There is no cure for cold sores, but there are remedies that will reduce the severity and frequency. They appear after colds, fever, exposure to sun and stress during menstruation.

Foods that contain chocolate, peanuts and other nuts, grains, peas, seeds, oatmeal and whole-wheat products should be cut out or reduced from the diet. Cold sore is preceded by tingling, burning or itching sensation, fever, and enlargement of lymph nodes close to the sores and a general feeling of malaise.

- When you feel the tingling, burning or itching sensation, rub juice from aloe plant on the affected area. Dab of aloe gel is effective too. Aloe will begin the healing process immediately and not allow the sore to grow.

- Apply cornstarch paste to the affected area.

- Mix a drop or two of grapefruit seed extract either with aloe or olive oil and dab it on the sore.

- Rub ice cube on the sore for 10 minutes every hour at the onset of fever blisters. It will prevent the movement of the virus to the skin.

- Extract of lemon balm reduces the symptoms and speeds up the healing process.

- Combine equal parts of tinctures of echinacea, calendula, oats, burdock, and lomatium. Take ½ tsp four to fives time a day to soothe the inflamed tissue, remove the toxins from the body and kill the viruses and bacteria.

- Topical application of extract of mint will speed the healing of the blister.

- Drink several cups of sage tea with a dash of powdered ginger till the blisters are not cleared up.

- Steep an ordinary tea bag in boiling water, cool it and then apply to the blister. The blister should disappear within few days.

- Vaseline will help to moisturize and soften blisters to prevent them from cracking and bleeding.

- Dab a drop or two of St. John's Wort essential oil. It not only soothes, but reduces the pain and speeds up the healing process.

- Apply Witch Hazel on sores.

- Put some common salt on your moistened index finger and press it on to the sore for a minute twice a day for 2-3 days.

- Apply spirit of camphor on the sore.

The reader of this article should exercise all precautions while following instructions on the recipes from this article. Avoid using if you are allergic to something. The responsibility lies with the reader, not the site, and the writer.

Kevin Pederson

Cruise Ship Virus - Danger At High Sea?

2007-12-25T14:45:00.000-08:00

Cruise Ship Virus - Danger At High Sea?

"On the last night/morning, many people were stricken with a gastrointestinal illness that caused diarrhea and vomiting. A great deal of vomit was on the stairs, elevator and other public areas by Friday morning." So a passenger from Canada, on December 30, 2005, sailing on the Zuiderdam in the Holland America Line, reported to the website cruisejunkie.com.

Norovirus is a highly contagious gastrointestinal virus where the potential for someone who is sick to infect others exists from the moment they become sick, to at least 3 days after they get better. Disturbingly, some people remain contagious for up to 2 weeks after recovering. This may be a factor in successive cruises becoming infected. And it remains questionable whether sick passengers and crew are confined to their cabins for 3 days after they get better.

Whilst norovirus outbreaks are by no means confined to cruise ships, the nature of a cruise increases the likelihood of an infection spreading. This is similar to the potential for infections spreading in other closed communities like nursing homes. The 'cruise ship virus' can be spread through contaminated food and drink, which is particularly concerning if the crew members who serve or prepare food become sick.

Passengers can pick up the virus from touching infected surfaces like handrails, walls and mirrors. When a suspected norovirus outbreak occurs on a cruise ship, crew will spray disinfectant on all common surfaces, and sick passengers are confined to their staterooms.

Sick passengers and crew have acute symptoms of nausea, vomiting and diarrhea. Some also have stomach cramps, headaches, a low grade fever, and chills. One 21 year old man actually died two days after disembarking from his ship. The cause of death was cited as being complications from a norovirus infection.

This isn't common however. Norovirus infections are usually not significant health risks, though they are highly unpleasant, both for passengers and cruise ship companies. For passengers, what is meant to be a relaxing holiday turns into a retching and wretched nightmare at sea. For cruise companies with ever increasing ship capacities, it is a public relations nightmare.

Rebecca Prescott

Chickenpox Is An Airborne Disease

2007-12-25T14:26:00.000-08:00

Chickenpox Is An Airborne Disease

Chickenpox is one of the 'classic' childhood diseases. Most children will catch it sooner or later.

Chickenpox is an airborne disease and is very contagious. The symptoms are:

general mild flu like symptoms (headache, fever, tummy ache, and loss of appetite)
followed a day or two later by hundreds of itchy, fluid filled blisters

Once you have had chickenpox the virus is with you for life but kept in check by your immune system. However, the virus can flare up later in life in the form of shingles, especially if you undergo a period of stress.

Most cases occur in children younger than 10 and the disease is usually mild. Older children and adults often develop a more severe case of chickenpox.

Chickenpox can cause serious complications:

a secondary infection of the blisters may occur if these are scratched and this can cause scarring
newborns are at risk of severe infection if the mother is not immune (i.e. she has not previously had the disease)
other, rare, complications include encephalitis; Reye's syndrome; and cerebellar ataxia

Treatment:

As it is a virus, chickenpox can not be treated by antibiotics. In most cases a chickenpox infection can be left to run its course, however, it is advisable to treat the blisters to reduce the likelihood of them being scratched. To this end, it is advisable to trim the nails of young children and place scratch-mitts on babies to minimise scratching and reduce the chance of scarring.

Calamine lotion will help to ease the itching as will baking soda (bicarbonate of soda). When our toddlers caught chickenpox a friend suggested adding a little water to baking powder to make a paste and applying that to the blisters. As our son passed his chickenpox on to me I can verify that the baking soda does work! It was more effective than calamine lotion at reducing the itching.

Antiviral medicines have been developed and can help the fight against chickenpox if the medicine is started within the first 24 hours of the rash developing. For most healthy children antiviral medicine is not required, but teenagers and adults who are likely to experience a more severe dose, may benefit.

Others who could benefit from antiviral medicine are kids with eczema, lung conditions such as asthma, and those who have been prescribed steroids.
Article Source: Health Guidance

Tony Luck

Shingles Natural Treatment

2007-12-25T14:18:00.000-08:00

Shingles Natural Treatment

In the past ten years recent studies and research with alternative treatments for shingles has shown it is possible to recover in less than one week and to reduce outbreaks of lesions and pain in three days.

Shingles is a serious health condition and it is important to follow your doctor's recommendations. Traditionally, most doctors prescribe painkillers for the temporary symptomatic relief of the pain and an antiviral drug to suppress the virus. This form of treatment with drugs reduces the severity and frequency of outbreaks but does not eliminate it from the body. This course of treatment can take six weeks or more and does very little for the patient. The pain associated with shingles can continue long after the initial outbreak.

Some doctors prescribe steroids or itch-relieving creams that contains steroids. Recent studies question the effectiveness of steroids in relieving shingles and suggest avoiding any treatment with steroids. Monitoring by your doctor is recommended, if steroids have been prescribed. It is best to find alternative treatments with your doctor and to seek out natural remedies.

The virus herpes zoster causes shingles and is the same virus that causes chicken pox. Shingles is an infection of the central nervous system and may affect the elderly, those with a compromised immune system, anyone under severe stress or those who have been exposed to the chickenpox virus again. Symptoms may include burning, itching, or pain in one part of the body. A few days later, blisters and a rash appear. The infection may run along a nerve path and look like a branch of a tree. Shingles usually appear on the trunk area and the chest but can also be found on the face. Shingles can cause blindness if it affects the eyes. If an outbreak occurs on the face the patient should get immediate medical care.

Natural Remedies For Shingles

A good starting point for treating shingles is a diet full of fresh fruits and vegetables. A good diet and reducing daily stress will help boost your immune system.

A simple remedy for lesions is to apply a cool or cold wet washcloth or towel to the affected area. A wet towel can be put into the freezer for a while after wetting it to make it colder.

Eliminate sugar from your diet and add these important nutrients to your daily diet - vitamin E, vitamin B12 and vitamin C.

Vitamin C is suggested with an initial diagnosis of shingles. You may start with 1,000 mg.
Vitamin E taken daily before meals may reduce the pain of shingles (Study published in the Archives of Dermatology).
Vitamin B12 injections may reduce the pain of shingles (Study published in the Journal Geriatrics).
It is recommended that you consult with your doctor before starting any vitamin program.
E capsules can be squeezed directly onto lesions.
Avoid heat as well as tight clothes and itchy fabrics like wool.
Calamine lotion may relieve the pain and help dry the lesions.

Shingles is a serious illness and before starting any treatment program you should consult with your doctor. Shingles is the same virus as chicken pox. You cannot catch shingles from someone else unless you've never had chicken pox. If you have shingles you should use caution being around pregnant women who have not had chicken pox - you could infect both the woman and her unborn baby.

Wayne McDonald

Common Sleeping Positions

2007-12-25T14:16:00.000-08:00

Common Sleeping Positions

To get the best out of your daily rest, you should have proper blood circulation during your sleep. There are a number of sleeping positions that you might find comfortable and at the same time promotes proper blood flow. Having a correct sleeping position would prevent that stiffness and soreness you might experience during mornings.

A proper sleeping position can effectively relieve you of any strains from your back. If you are frequently experiencing headaches when you wake up, changing your sleeping position might just do the trick.

Sleeping on one's side is one of the most common sleeping positions. This is done with the legs slightly drawn near the chest area. Make sure that your neck and spine are properly aligned. Always sleep on your right side, otherwise sleeping on your left side would cause stress on your vital organs (liver, stomach, lungs). Most people stuff in a pillow between their legs while in this position. The pillow would support your knees and take off any pressure on your lower back. Sleeping on one's side can help people with osteoarthritis, spinal stenosis or those who suffer from spinal and hip problems.

Sleeping on your back is also another position you can try. This is done with a pillow placed beneath your knees to help maintain the natural curve of your lower back. The pillow should not be too high and should have just the right thickness to fit the space between the surface of your bed and your limbs. This position is best for people with low back pains. It also allows internal organs to rest well.

You can also sleep on your abdomen. Although some health experts attest that this sleeping position would strain your neck, head and lower back, it is advisable for people who suffer from degenerative disc disease. You can minimize the strain by tucking a pillow underneath your lower abdomen and/ or pelvis. You can either use a pillow under your head or do without one.

Mattresses, pillows and recliners also play a big role in promoting a good sleep. If changing your sleeping positions did not improve your backache and muscle pains, then try to invest on quality sleeping supplies and monitor any improvement.

Jason Rickard

How To Effectively Fall Asleep

2007-12-25T14:13:00.000-08:00

How To Effectively Fall Asleep

Sometimes, it is hard enough to fall asleep. And it is even more frustrating to go back to sleep when you wake up in the middle of the night. Being sleepless and restless during bedtime is often related to stress and physical or even emotional conditions.

Sleeplessness can often lead to insomnia or sleep apnea. In most cases, sleeplessness is simply a matter of poor sleeping habits. To help you unleash those z's at night, here are some tips that could help you sleep like a log.

Do not involve yourself with exhausting activities, like exercising, right before going to bed.
Steer clear of foods that are high in sugar like chocolate desserts and caffeinated drinks minutes before heading to sleep.
After working or studying, allow a couple of minutes of relaxation before you jump into bed.
Find suitable lighting for your room. Too much light can be distracting so you might want to turn it off for a restful sleep. On the other hand, some people can't sleep without the lights on. If this is the case, it would a good idea to have a study lamp on or anything that can be a source of dim lights.
Make sure that your room is noise-free by the time you hit the bed. Turn off all appliances, like TV or radio, which might keep you awake.
The temperature of the room is also of prime importance. If you have an air-conditioning unit in your room, make sure that you set it in your preferred temperature so you wouldn't have to wake up in the middle of the night to adjust the temperature because it's too warm or too cold.
Anxiety can also be a reason for sleeplessness. Try not to think of anything you should worry about before sleeping. If a soothing music can help you veer away from anxious thoughts, then you can turn the radio.
Your physical condition could also dictate your sleeping habits. If you are not feeling well, you would obviously have a hard time getting some needed sleep too. Always consult your doctor if you notice any symptoms of any kind of ailment or disease.

Jason Rickard

How To Stop Snoring Naturally

2007-12-25T14:08:00.000-08:00

How To Stop Snoring Naturally

The ways to stop snoring naturally are some of the most discussed topics in the world. Snoring is breathing through the mouth while sleeping, which could produce embarrassing sounds. The effect of snoring is often so loud it can be a nightmare for anyone sharing a bed with them. More over, scientific studies have shown that snoring will also lead to more serious health problems such as hypertension and cardiac arrest.

Snoring is a common phenomenon and statistics say one out of three people will snore daily, at some point in their sleep. The methods to stop snoring can be formulated and practiced, only after understanding the real cause for the snoring. It is said that snoring sound is produced as a result of the vibration of soft tissues in the mouth, while the air pass through it. The physical peculiarities such as long uvula, tonsils, tongue movements, obesity, nostril septum, allergy and behavioral irregularities such as alcohol consumption are considered to be the main reasons for snoring.

Before resorting to the costly remedies flooded in the market, such as mandibular advancement devices, continuous positive airway pressure devices and surgery, practice any of the suggested natural methods. Most of the natural methods are effective and possesses unique advantages such as no side effects, permanent cure and cost effectiveness.

Snoring natural remedy can be chosen according to the difficulty, which stops the person from normal breathing. Sleeping on the side is the most practical option to stop snoring, as it promotes nasal breathing. Sleeping on side results in the opening of nasal passages, which helps for a normal breathing where as sleeping on back may reflux breathing through the mouth. Use thick pillows on the side to avoid involuntary turns while sleeping and using a thick elevated pillow is another method to alleviate snoring. It reduces snoring tendency by opening the nasal passages.

Exercises are the best practices for stop snoring naturally. Many experts have formulated effective exercises, to reduce snoring. The exercises are non-invasive options, which focus to control the movement of the parts such as tongue, and jaw that take part in the action of snoring. The regular practice of exercise for recommended period of time will certainly give relief from snoring.

Good dietary habits are also an inevitable part of natural snoring remedy since obesity increases the chance for snoring. Avoid high calorie foods and include easily digestible cuisines for the night menu. The excessive use of alkaloids such as caffeine, nicotine and alcohol consumption has to be strictly avoided. The tranquillizers and other such medications are also not advisable for a good sleep.

Good sleep hygiene is a necessity for sound sleep and to stop snoring. The experience of successful patients proves that good sleep and routine practice of natural methods will definitely help to stop snoring. Alternative medicines also suggest many herbal remedies to stop snoring, however, seek the advice of an expert sleep specialist before starting the recommended natural methods to stop snoring, since some of them may not suit your body constitution.

Jason Rickard

Heart Attacks and Drinking Warm Water

2007-10-06T14:45:00.000-07:00

Heart Attacks and drinking Warm Water

This is a very good article. Not only about the warm water after your meal, but about heart attacks. The Chinese and Japanese drink hot tea with their meals, not cold water, maybe it is time we adopt their drinking habit while eating.

For those who like to drink cold water, this article is applicable to you. It is nice to have a cup of cold drink after a meal. However, the cold water will solidify the oily stuff that you have just consumed. It will slow down the digestion. Once this "sludge" reacts with the acid, it will break down and be absorbed by the intestine faster than the solid food. It will line the intestine. Very soon, this will turn into fats and lead to . It is best to drink hot soup or warm water after a meal.

A serious note about heart attacks - You should know that not every heart attack symptom is going to be the left arm hurting. Be aware of intense pain in the jaw line.
You may never have the first chest pain during the course of a heart attack. Nausea and intense sweating are also common symptoms. 60% of people who have a heart attack while they are asleep do not wake up. Pain in the jaw can wake you from a sound sleep. Let's be careful and be aware. The more we know, the better chance we could survive.
A cardiologist says if everyone who reads this message sends it to friends and colleagues, you can be sure that we'll save at least one life .

Maintaining a Strong Skeleton

2007-09-28T03:46:00.000-07:00

Maintaining a Strong Skeleton

Approximately 95 percent of our skeleton is developed during the first 18 years of life. Periods of rapid growth occur during the first year of life and during the adolescent growth spurt. After adult height is achieved, our bones continue to become more dense as minerals are deposited. This is the consolidation phase. An additional 5-percent increase in bone mass is accumulated by age 30 to 35. At this age, our bones are the most dense and we are in a period of peak bone mass. After age 40, we experience an age-related phase of slow bone loss. The most rapid loss of bone mass for women occurs during the first 4 to 8 years after menopause. This chapter discusses the consequences of bone loss and also the lifestyle factors that protect the skeleton.

Osteoporosis

When enough bone mass is lost that bones become vulnerable to fracture, the individual has developed osteoporosis. Osteoporosis is a debilitating disease that affects over 24 million Americans. Each year in the United States, 1.3 million fractures are attributable to osteoporosis. The most common fractures occur at the wrist, the spine, and the hip. Hip fractures alone result in annual health-care costs of $10 billion. This figure will continue to increase with the increase of the elderly population. Between 15 and 25 percent of persons with a hip fracture enter long-term-care institutions. Hip fractures are associated with a high mortality rate due to surgical deaths and to complications such as thromboembolism, fat embolism, and pneumonia.

Treatment of Osteoporosis

A number of drugs are being investigated for their efficacy in the treatment of osteoporosis. These include calcitonin, bisphosphonates, and 1,25-dihydroxyvitamin D3. These drugs slow bone resorption but have little effect on the stimulation of bone formation. Other agents being researched are fluoride and parathyroid hormone; these may stimulate bone formation but are not proven to reduce the rates of fracture.

Because of the lack of a cure for osteoporosis, the prevention of excessive bone loss is the current focus. Approximately 80 percent of bone mass is genetically determined. The other 20 percent can be modified by lifestyle factors. Adequate calcium intake, weight-bearing exercise, and estrogen-replacement therapy for women who have entered menopause are the primary lifestyle factors associated with reducing the risk of osteoporosis. Factors associated with increased risk of osteoporosis include smoking and abuse of alcohol and caffeine. Thin, small-framed women are more vulnerable to osteoporosis, and Caucasians and Asians are at higher risk than African-Americans. Women are at greater risk than men by a ratio of 4 to 1. Women have less hone mass, experience accelerated loss of bone mass following menopause, and ingest less calcium than do men.

A researcher at the USDA Human Nutrition Research Center at Tufts University (Boston, MA), Bess Dawson-Hughes, has shown that calcium supplements can prevent the usual bone loss associated with aging in women who consume less than 400 milligrams (mg) of calcium per day. Furthermore, two studies have reported that the risk of hip fracture is reduced by as much as 60 percent on higher calcium intakes.

Other nutrients that are important to the skeleton are protein, vitamins C and D, phosphorus, magnesium, manganese, copper, zinc, and boron.

Estrogen-replacement therapy can also prevent or retard bone loss in perimenopausal and postmenopausal women as long as the therapy is continued and the dietary calcium intake is sufficient. Calcium supplementation in combination with estrogen replacement has synergistic positive effects on bone loss; that is, the effectiveness of each treatment is enhanced.

Early-Life Steps To Prevent Osteoporosis

Building bone mass in early life may be the most effective way to prevent osteoporosis in later life. If this opportunity is missed, it probably cannot be made up. Even small increases in bone mass can have a great impact on the risk of fracture. For instance, a 5-percent increase in bone mass can reduce the risk of osteoporotic fracture by 40 percent.

A lifelong habit of drinking milk is associated with increased bone mass. Researchers at the Indiana University School of Medicine in Indianapolis have shown that calcium supplements increase the bone mass in preadolescent children, compared to that in their identical twins who received placebos during a 3-year study.

Getting Enough Calcium

In the American diet, almost 75 percent of dietary calcium comes from dairy products. Few other foods are concentrated sources of absorbable calcium. At Purdue University (West Lafayette, IN) and Creighton University (Omaha, NE), plant foods are being screened for calcium absorption. These include broccoli, bok choy, kale, and tofu made with calcium salts. Calcium is well absorbed from these vegetables and from all dairy products—that is, milk, yogurt, cheese, processed cheese, and their low-fat counterparts. Spinach is a concentrated source of calcium, but this calcium is poorly absorbed because it is complexed with oxalic acid and is therefore indigestible.

Depending on their stage of growth, people need 2 to 5 cups of milk or the calcium equivalent each day. American females more than 12 years old typically consume less calcium than this recommended amount. Calcium intake in American women is 40 to 50 percent below that in men. A 1984 National Institutes of Health consensus-development conference recommended 1,000 mg of calcium per day for premenopausal women and 1,500 mg per day for postmenopausal women. However, 25 percent of American women have an intake below 300 mg per day, which is the amount of calcium in one glass of milk. Calcium supplements are recommended for individuals who cannot get adequate calcium through diet. However, supplements do not contain all the nutrients necessary for building bones, and people often forget to take pills. An alternative source of calcium is the fortified beverages now on the market.

Exercise

Weight-bearing exercise has a positive impact on bone density. An effective exercise program applies weight loading to all parts of the skeleton. For example, the right arm of a right-handed tennis player has a higher bone density than does the left arm. Activities that are exclusively aerobic seem to be the least effective in building peak hone mass. Thus, weight lifters have higher bone density than do swimmers. We do not know if the positive effects of exercise on bone mass are retained when exercise is discontinued.

A partial explanation for bone loss in the elderly is the reduction in physical activity with age. The physical work of the average sedentary elderly adult is 30 percent less than that of the average younger adult. If immobilization occurs, bone loss is accelerated; but bone mass can increase when the individual again becomes ambulatory.

The Known and Unknown

Obtaining adequate dietary calcium, exercise, and estrogen-replacement therapy following menopause are three lifestyle choices for maintaining a strong skeleton. The interaction of these factors is not well understood. Nor do we know the residual positive effect after cessation of treatment. Research to determine the best food sources of absorbable calcium and the most effective exercise programs, in combination with education programs on behavior modification, can help reduce the suffering and the healthcare costs associated with bone loss.

Mike Espy

Stress Can Affect Your Mental Health

2007-09-28T03:44:00.000-07:00

Stress Can Affect Your Mental Health

Mental health issues that are caused by stress can range from homicidal or other violent acts towards oneself or drive others to addictions. The range of mental health disorders that are stress related is so broad that it can be difficult to understand how two situations fall in the same category. The days of shock therapy are gone for the most part, but it still is used for certain mental illnesses. Gone, too, is the routine procedure of frontal lobotomies to calm patients into total submissiveness.

A large key to dealing with stress related mental health issues is to know how to relieve stress. We now understand that men who are returning from wars endure thoughts and images that affect them in ways that we have only begun to be aware of. Post traumatic stress disorder which is caused by stress can affect victims of abuse and violence of all types. Only recently have we begun to understand how traumatic events can affect the people who survive them.

Despite the many types of mental health disorders that currently exist because of stress, some of them tend to be much more common than others. Mental health disorders are not discriminatory and affect everyone. They do not choose specific people or races to affect. Mental health disorders are equal opportunity problems. These disorders have been proven to be hereditary in some cases but that is the closest generalization that you can expect.

A very common mental illness that is caused by stress is manic/chronic depressive disorder. This is characterized by extreme highs and lows in moods for no apparent reason. Sufferers are irrational and quick to change, in terms of mood. For example, if you suffer from this disorder you are happy--very happy or sad---very sad for no apparent reason. Stress is a major cause of this problem.

Eating disorders, which are also quite common, include anorexia (not eating), and bulimia (binging and purging) are also caused by stress that arises from self esteem. Anxiety disorders are characterized by having an irrational dread of living one's life, to the point where it is incapacitating.

Obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) is a form of anxiety disorder where a person obsesses (thinks about) and is compulsive (does) about a particular action such as washing their hands, to the point where he or she repeats this action an inordinate amount of times. Stress is a major aspect of our lives and can lead to serious mental problems if not taken under control. Learning to contain stress can lead to your overall health.

Abbas Abedi

How To Manage Stress To Get Total Stress Relief?

2007-09-28T03:42:00.000-07:00

How To Manage Stress To Get Total Stress Relief?

Stress is a complicated web. If I say, it bothers everyone, from the cradle to the grave, from the womb to the tomb, it won't be an incorrect statement.

Stress has a combined effect, on your body and on your mind. Those who have no jobs are stressed due to unemployment. And ask those who have jobs! They complain about day to day job stress. There may be varied reasons, such as time spent on traveling, low salary, harassment by the boss and lots of outstation tours. To secure relief is the normal expectation of any individual. Nobody wishes to live continuously under stress.

You please note that stress is entirely different from a challenging situation. Difficulties are not to be confused with stress. Stress is mainly your inability to cope up with a particular situation or a cluster of situations.

Can you ever be totally stress-free? In that situation you would not be a human being. You will be an angel in the celestial world! As a human being, you need to know, how to live with a certain level of stress!

I will explain this with an example. A young man wished to take bath in the sea. He went to the sea shore, but saw the waves. He surmised I shall take bath, when all the waves are over. Will such a situation ever come?

The sea has learned the art of living with the waves! You need to know the art of taking bath, swimming in the sea with the waves ever present there!

So, the golden rule is, having gone for a sea bath, don't be afraid of the oncoming waves. If the waves are powerful, duck them, when the waves are friendly, dance with them. When the waves are normal, swim your way further.

There are many strategies for stress relief. Review, yourself and decide whether any lifestyle changes are required. When your body is relaxed, your mind will also be relaxed. Yoga asanas, meditation, breathing techniques, jogging, running and dancing are brilliant techniques of stress relief. Get your body massaged from a professional once in a while. This is a great stress reliever.

The topmost techniques accepted all over the world today for stress relief are meditation, exercise and massage. Each of these serves different purpose, at the same time they contribute to the total purpose of stress relief. They provide you with many additional advantages. Laughter is also one of the best stress relieving methods.

You get ultimate stress relief, when you know the art of working for joy and not from the career view point alone. Work sincerely, by giving the maximum out put, not because your boss is telling you to do it, but only because it is the correct way of life.

Work for a cause- you will have the ultimate stress relief!

Javier Fuller

Does Stress Damage The Immune System?

2007-09-28T03:41:00.000-07:00

Does Stress Damage The Immune System?

Does stress damage the immune system? That question can only be answered by first discussing the difference between acute (short-term) stress and chronic (long-term stress). While acute stress causes responses in the body that include boosting the immune system, chronic stress may impair the immune system.

Better questions are "Does stress damage the immune system on the short term?" and "Does stress damage the immune system on the long term?" The body's response to acute stress (a real or immediate threat such as a confrontation with a burglar) which is sometimes called the "fight or flight" response includes changes in all the systems of the body. Since the question is "Does stress damage the immune system?", then we will focus on those responses to acute stress that are temporarily boosting the immune system during this flight or flight scenario.

The most noticeable initial response to the burglar's appearance is an increase in heart rate. Your body is preparing itself for the possibility that you will need to run. The increase in heart rate triggers the spleen to discharge more red and white blood cells. The red blood cells increase your oxygen supply, while the white blood cells will be necessary for boosting the immune system, in case you fall or the burglar attacks you. Portions of the brain trigger the production and release of cortisol, a primary stress hormone, which dampens less important parts of the immune system, so that white blood cells and other infection fighters can be directed to the areas of the body where injury or infection are most likely to occur, namely the skin, bone marrow and lymph nodes, thus effectively boosting the immune system temporarily. Once the immediate danger has passed, the body systems return to normal.

So, the answer to "does stress damage the immune system" on the short-term is "no". Acute stress activates the body's natural defense systems and while this results in boosting the immune system temporarily, it does not "damage" the immune system. Chronic stress, however, is a different story.

Does stress damage the immune system on the long term? It can, if persistent stressful situations, such as a high-pressure job or an unhappy relationship, do not allow the body to return to a normal relaxed state. Instead of boosting the immune system, chronic stress appears to blunt the immune response, increase the risk for infections and impair a person's response to immunizations. Studies have shown that people under chronic stress have lower than normal white blood cell counts, are more vulnerable to colds and other viruses, take longer to recover from them and experience worse symptoms than people who do not have high stress levels.

If you are concerned about the answer to the question; does stress damage the immune system, then you may feel that you are in a stressful situation over which you have no control. It may not be possible to leave a high-pressure job in order to reduce your stress level and if doing so would cause financial problems, you could actually increase your stress level. Good nutrition, regular exercise and certain health supplements may help you protect yourself from the effects of chronic stress by naturally boosting the immune system and allowing the body to return to a more relaxed state.

Patsy Hamilton

Control of Stress and Violent Behavior: The Facts

2007-09-28T03:39:00.000-07:00

Control of Stress and Violent Behavior: The Facts

Introduction

Stress is a recognized phenomenon among a majority of Americans. Its affects can be felt in the work place, where it can reduce productivity, and in the home, where it has been associated with family violence. Efforts to assist those in need have been undertaken by both the public and the private sectors. Crisis hotlines and outreach clinics are available to offer assistance for those having problems coping with stress, and most Americans are aware of their services. Violent behavior, including homicide, suicide, rape and family violence is a continuing health problem of major concern. Homicide and suicide are leading causes of death among persons 15-34 years of age.

Prevalence

Stress

An estimated 86% of the adult population believes that psychological stress exists.

84% of males surveyed and 88% of females surveyed reported having experienced stress. 40% of those surveyed reported that they experience at least a moderate amount of stress during an average week.

Among those surveyed, 83% of the college graduates, 71% of the high school graduates and 50% of those persons with less than a high school degree reported having experienced stress.

63% of the blue collar workers, 83% of the professionals, 71% of those unemployed, 67% of the homemakers and 79% of the white collar workers reported having experienced stress.

Of those who reported having experienced stress, 35% believed that stress had a negative impact on their lives. 33% said stress had not had any affect on their lives.

Professionals reported illness due to stress more frequently than any other occupational group (23%). They are followed by part-time employees (21%), unemployed persons (21%), white collar workers (20%), homemakers (18%), blue collar workers (13%) and retirees (9%).

Sources of Stress

Among those surveyed, persons earning more than $30,000 per year cited financial and work-related problems as the most frequent causes of stress.

Those persons earning less than $30,000 per year most often cited problems with friends and family as the primary cause of stress.

47% of the 18-29 year olds surveyed reported being able to solve an upsetting problem during the past year. 65% of those 65 years and older reported that they were able to solve an upsetting problem over the past year.

"The proportion reporting the existence of an upsetting situation is greatest for respondents 18-29 years old (22%). Proportions for the remaining age categories vary from 19% for those aged 30-to 44 to 12% for those aged 55-to 64."

It is estimated that 500,000 or more Vietnam veterans are in need of emotional help. Up to 30% of their drug abuse, violence, emotional instability are alleged to be a direct result of exposure to combat and atrocities.

Public Awareness and Service Delivery

77% of those surveyed did not consider seeking help in dealing with personal or emotional problems; 5% considered, but did not seek help, and an estimated 15% of the population actually sought help from a variety of sources.

Of those surveyed, 17% of the women and 12% of the men sought help. 81% of the men and 74% of the women did not consider seeking help.

Survey respondents who had at least a high school education sought help more readily than those who did not.

Help-seeking behavior did not vary across income levels.

Among those surveyed, 91% had never been a member of a self-help group. 5% had participated in a self-help group during the past year and 3% were currently participating in a self-help group.

Respondents were most often familiar with the following agencies: emergency medicare centers, alcohol and drug abuse centers, community mental health agencies, child abuse services and crisis hotlines or help centers. 45% knew of a suicide prevention hotline.

"A community-based emergency center had been contacted by 30% of those sampled; less than 8% had ever contacted a community mental health agency, an alcohol or drug abuse center, a child abuse service, a crisis hotline or a stress service. 1% had contacted a battered woman's shelter, a rape crisis center, a suicide prevention service or a Parents Anonymous group."

Blue Cross of Western Pennsylvania reports that for 136 persons who used insured outpatient psychiatric benefits, medical costs dropped from $16.47 to $7.06 per month.

A Washington-based health maintenance organization reported that users of mental health counseling benefits reduced their nonpsychiatric physicians visits by 30.7% and lab X-ray services by 29.8%.

According to a study recently conducted by the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health, the costs of "executive stress" (based on conservative estimates) are as follows: cost of executive work-loss days: $2,861,775,800.; cost of executive hospitalization: $248,316,864.; cost of executive outpatient care: $131,058,235.; cost of executive mortality: $16,470,977,439.

Violent Crime

Police reports collected by the FBI indicate that the number of violent crimes in the nation increased by 4% between 1984 and 1985. Murder increased by 2%, forcible rape by 4%, robbery by 3%, and aggravated assault by 6%.

Each year about 6 million persons—3.2% of all Americans—are the victims of a violent crime.

Violent crime victims are more likely to be:

men rather than women (except for the crime of rape),
Blacks rather than whites or members of other racial groups,
Hispanics rather than non-Hispanics,
people with low incomes (less than $7,500 per year).

In 1981, an estimated $223 million in medical expenses was incurred by victims of assaults, robberies, and rapes.

Child Abuse

In 1984 an estimated 1.7 million children were referred to child protective services because of child abuse and neglect in the United States. This represented a 158% increase in the number of such reports between 1976 and 1984.

Neglect, alone or in combination with abuse, accounted for 58% of all reports to child protective services in 1984.

Reports of child sexual abuse have increased by approximately 1600% since 1976. This increase reflects greater public awareness of the existence of the problem, changes in reporting and investigative policies, expansions in definitions of child sexual abuse to include extra-familial abuse, and the increase in the number of treatment programs.

Severe physical child abuse may be decreasing in the United States. Data from two national surveys conducted in 1975-1976 and 1985 indicate a 47% decline in severe violence towards children in intact families with children ages 3 to 17.

Among the possible reasons for the reported decline in severe child abuse are increased use of planned parenthood (including abortion) by the U.S. population, compulsory child abuse and neglect reporting laws in the 50 States, and the appearance of new preventive and treatment programs for child abuse and neglect.

Spouse Abuse

Data from national surveys conducted in 1975-1976 and 1985 indicate that severe violence by husbands against wives has declined. The rate for such violence decreased from 38 per 1,000 couples in the initial survey to 30 per 1,000 couples in 1985. Relative to the 1975-1976 rate, this represents a 26.6% decline in severe wife beating over the 10-year period and comes close to statistical significance.

Severe violence by wives against husbands decreased only slightly between 1975-1976 and 1985. Although the meaning and significance of this violence is poorly understood, it appears that much of it was in self-defense or in retaliation for violence inflicted by husbands.

Murders of wives by husbands, and of husbands by wives, accounted for 8.3% of all murders nationally in 1985.

Although spousal violence is usually thought of in terms of intact marriages, available data suggest that violence of this type is even more frequent among persons who have been divorced or separated from each other.

Homicide

Homicide was the 11th leading cause of death in the United States in 1983. However, the relative rank of homicide as a cause of death varied greatly by race. In 1983, homicide was the 5th leading cause of death among Blacks, the 14th leading cause of death among whites, and the 9th leading cause of death among persons of other races.

Homicide takes its greatest toll among young persons ages 15 to 34. In 1983, homicide was the leading cause of death for Blacks in this age group.

The toll that homicide takes among the young is also reflected in the number of years of potential life lost (YPLL) before age 65. For Blacks in 1983, homicide was the 3rd leading cause of YPLL; for whites and others, it was the 6th leading cause of YPLL.

Males account for nearly 75% of homicide victims. Black males have a 1 in 21 lifetime chance of being murdered; white males have 1 chance in 131.

Most homicides in the United States are committed with firearms. In 1985, firearms accounted for 3 out of 5 homicides nationally. Cutting or stabbing instruments were employed in 1 out of 5 homicides.

Nearly 3 out of every 5 homicides committed in 1985 were perpetrated by persons acquainted with the victim (47%) or by relatives (17%). Arguments are the leading precipitants of homicide and accounted for nearly 40% of homicides nationally during the period 1981-1985.

Rape

In 1983, an estimated 154,000 rapes and attempted rapes occurred nationally, or roughly 1 for every 600 females 12 years of age and older.

Most rape victims are young. The ages with the highest victimization rates for rape and attempted rape are 16 to 24 year olds.

Most victims of rape or attempted rape are white, reflecting the general racial composition of the population. However, the likelihood of being a rape victim is significantly higher for Black women (2.5 per 1,000 annual rate) than for white women (1.5 per 1,000).

Two-thirds of rapes and attempted rapes are committed by men who are strangers to the victim. More than three-fourths of all rapes involve one assailant and one victim. Weapons are used in about one-fourth of rapes and attempted rapes.

Social stigma traditionally attached to rape makes it difficult for many victims to report the crime to police. Only half of the victims of rape and attempted rape surveyed nationally during the period 1973-1982 had reported the crime to police.

Aggravated Assault

Aggravated assault is an unlawful attack by one person upon another for the purpose of inflicting severe or aggravated bodily injury, but not resulting in death.

In 1985, there were 300 reported victims of aggravated assault for every 100,000 persons nationwide. Rates were highest in metropolitan areas (342 per 100,000) and lowest in rural counties (129 per 100,000).

Weapon distribution data for 1985 showed that 21% of reported aggravated assaults involved the use of firearms, and that 31% were committed with blunt objects and other dangerous weapons.

During the five-year period 1981-1985, the reported number of aggravated assaults increased by 9% across the nation.

The term "reported aggravated assaults" refers only to data on such assaults contained in police reports. Recent research has indicated that police reports do not adequately reflect the true extent of aggravated assault in the nation. One study of 41 acute care hospitals in Northeast Ohio found that close to 3 out of 4 cases of assault seen in hospital emergency departments were not reported to police.

Control of Violent Behavior

In 1984, the year end prison population in the United States numbered more than 463,000 persons. This was the largest number of prisoners ever confined in the nation and the 10th consecutive year in which the national year end prison population reached an all-time high.

Since 1980, the national prison population has increased by more than 40%. While an estimated 100,000 new prison beds were added in 1980-1984, the number of prisoners increased by more than 130,000 during the same period.

Although the number of female prisoners has greatly increased in recent years, and reached a total of 20,853 nationally in 1984, women still account for a very small percentage of the total prison population. In 1984, less than 1 in 20 prisoners were female.

A record 223,551 persons were being held in local jails as of June 1983. This represents a 41% increase over the total population recorded in the previous national jail census conducted in 1978.

Relative to the U.S. population, the number of jailed persons rose from 76 per 100,000 in 1978 to 98 per 100,000 in 1983.

With the exception of Massachusetts, every state had more women in jail in 1983 than in 1978, but women still account for only 7% of the national jail population.

The number of juvenile jail detainees is small and relatively stable, totaling 1,736 nationwide in 1983 and 1,611 in 1978.

More than 1.5% of the adult U.S. population is under some form of correctional supervision on a given day. Nearly two-thirds of these are under some form of probation; the remainder are in prison (17%), jail (8%), or on parole (10%).

Steven Parker

How To Conquer Stress And Depression

2007-09-28T03:37:00.000-07:00

How To Conquer Stress And Depression

I am quite a fragile person and can quite easily find myself thinking and worrying about the smallest of things. People who know me comment that I am always stressed and that I should attempt to learn to relax more. This is easy for them to say! I have however now learned how to reduce the amount I stress and get depressed and will explain more in this article.

About a year ago I decided that I had had enough of the way I was living my life, up one day and down the next. I was on an emotional rollercoaster, never sure if I would wake up in the morning in a happy mood or in a depressed state. I was also aware that it was not really fair on my family as they did not know from day to day which Steve would appear.

So how was I going to go about improving my life and to conquer this near constant stress and depression? Well, what I thought I should do is to treat it as a project and even a hobby. I was determined to get to the bottom of it but was aware that it would take time and hard work. It was important to think positive about this project and to see it as a hobby rather than a choir as this would be the only way I would be likely to succeed.

The first thing I thought about doing was to write down the periods where I was in a stressed or depressed state. I then asked myself certain questions, such as, am I tired? Have I recently had an argument on my girlfriend? Is work getting me down?

I like to think of myself as quite a sociable person and I have to admit that most of the places and evening outs I go on or to, involve the drinking of alcohol. To be sociable I would always participate in this drinking but never really to excess. This is quite strange in reality as I have never really enjoyed the taste of alcohol or the affect that it has on me.

From my studies I soon realised that nearly all of my stressed and depressed days followed one of these evening outs drinking etc. I also realised that I always felt very low and even sorry for myself when I was tired and that I was always tired the day after drinking alcohol.

It is now quite plain for me to understand, alcohol is no good for me. It is like it creates the wrong chemicals in my brain. To help improve my life, I have now decided to become tee-total and therefore my drinking days are over. I will still socialise but will only be drinking soft drinks from now on.

I must say that I do not miss drinking alcohol at all and that I am a far happier person. I wish I had realised and stopped drinking alcohol years ago.

Steve Hill

Sexually Transmitted Diseases (STD) Guide

2007-09-16T17:22:00.000-07:00

Sexually Transmitted Diseases (STD) Guide

Sexually transmitted diseases are escalating nowadays when more people have started entering into multiple sexual relationships. They might not consider this ethically wrong but the fact remains that such people are more prone to sexual diseases. However, if unfortunately one gets infected by any such disease, it is better to start ailment as soon as possible for these diseases have the potential to ruin your entire life. People often are embarrassed and scared to disclose their problem to others even to their friends but they fail to realize that delaying diagnose is compromising with their life. Thus, as soon as you fear a sexually transmitted infection, approach a doctor.

This article informs the readers about certain primary STDs and their symptoms.

1. AIDS and HIV

• Transmitted through- AIDS and HIV are two more or les related diseases. The HIV stands for the ‘human immunodeficiency virus’ and the disease that spreads through it is known as AIDS i.e. ‘acquired immune deficiency syndrome’. HIV travels through blood. It can be transmitted from one HIV positive person to his partner through sex. It can also pass on from the HIV positive mother to her child through infected breast milk and even from an infected syringe or other equipments that come into contact with the blood of the HIV positive to any other individual who is treated with the same devices.

• Symptoms- weak immune system and susceptible to more infections than usual. HIV gets translated to AIDS when the HIV patient acquires a particular indicative illness.

• Preventive Measures- not much available yet. But avoid taking drugs. Maintain hygiene.

2. Chlamydia

• Infected via- the bacteria Chlamydia trachomatis is the cause of this infection. Once this bacterium enters the individual’s body it affects his mucous membranes, eyelids and even reproductive tissues.

• Symptoms- the symptoms Chlamydia often confused with another similar STD called Gonorrhea and even with Conjunctivitis due to eyelid infection. The common symptoms to this disease are pain during sex, burning and abnormal discharge. Chlamydia can be without any typical indications also.

• Prevention- the disease is curable. As a precautionary measure one should maintain hygiene during sex and get medical check up done in order to avoid infection.

3. Pelvic Inflammatory Disease

• Usually women are afflicted by this disease. It is a an infection in the upper genital tract and reproductive organs including ovaries, uterus and fallopian tubes.

• Spreads through- Chlamydia and Gonorrhea are the two STDs that are most often responsible for this disease. Women between 15 to 25 years of age are more prone to be infected by it. Excess douching can also lead to PID for it cleanses the naturally beneficial bacteria from the women’s vagina.

• Symptoms- When ailing PID, women might experience pain during intercourse, burning and even fever.

• Precautions and Cures- antibiotics are useful to cure PID. But it is recommended to get frequent check ups done and in case the disease is discovered medicines and proper treatment should commence the very moment for PID can be unexpectedly harmful in later stages.

4. Gonorrhea

• Infects the individual’s sensitive tissues of reproductive system.

• An individual can acquire this disease through all types of sexual contacts like oral sex.

• Indications- the indicators to Gonorrhea are very few which makes it all the more difficult to adjudicate it and so stop it from being transmitted from one to the other person through sex. Symptoms are akin to Chlamydia so the two diseases are liable to be confused with each other. A person suffering from Gonorrhea experiences unusual discharge, burning, pain during sexual activity, swelling, fever and other infections like women may have bleeding between periods.

• Remedies and Safety- treatment should commence in initial stages to cure Gonorrhea. Those who are pretty active in their sexual life should get check ups done on a regular basis to be on a safer side.

Apart from these there are several other STDs not discussed here like Hepatitis, Scabies, Herpes, Syphilis, HPV etc. which are most common in ones. It is better to acquire information about them once you are sexually active and consult a gynecologist every now and then to avert from all kinds of STDs.

Mansi Gupta

10 important Facts About Sexually Transmitted Diseases

2007-09-16T16:55:00.000-07:00

10 important Facts About Sexually Transmitted Diseases

1. WHAT ARE SEXUALLY TRANSMITTED DISEASES (STDS)?

Sexually transmitted diseases are diseases that can be passed from person to person through sexual contact. In this case sexual contact means penis-vagina penetration, oral sex which is sexual contact using the mouth, and insertion of the penis into the rectum which is anal sex. Some of these diseases may be transmitted by exchange of sexual fluids such as semen or vaginal discharge. Some of the STD's result in open sores, and it can be spread by contact with skin of someone else. There are also ways to transmit these diseases in a non sexual way, an infected pregnant woman can either give it to her baby during pregnancy, or when the baby is being delivered. Drug abusers can transmit the disease through sharing hypodermic needles that have been used by an infected person. The seriousness of STD's varies, some are cured easily by drugs, others need a combination of treatments and drugs, whilst others have no cure, and the only option is treatment.

2. WHAT ARE SEXUALLY TRANSMITTED IINFECTIONS (STI's)?

Any infection that is usually passed through sexual contact.

3. ARE THE TWO WORDS INTERCHANGEABLE?

Fifteen years ago both these categories came under one name Venereal Disease (VD). To distinguish between them they were separated into infections(STI) and diseases(STD). Infection means that a germ, bacteria, parasite or virus is present in the body. An infected person does not necessarily have any symptoms, which means that they do not usually feel ill. A disease is any abnormal condition of the body or mind that causes discomfort, dysfunction, or distress, in other words your body tells you that you are unwell. This means that STI covers a wider range than the term STD. STD refers only to infections that are causing problems. Because most of the time, people don't know they are infected with an STI until they start showing symptoms of disease, the AIDS Resource Center uses the term STD, even though the term STI is also appropriate in many cases.

Let's see if we can simply un-muddy the waters here. Genital herpes has two states when the blisters are present and when they are absent. When they are present they are causing symptoms, ie the blisters, at this stage it is an STD, and it is that this stage that the infection is most likely to be spread to another person. When the blisters are absent then there are no symptoms, and this is then an STI, and the likelihood of an infection is reduced. However HIV can be an infection, in the sense that there may be no symptoms, when they develop symptoms then they have AIDS which is an STD. However it is important to remember that HIV infection can be spread at any time.

4. WHAT IS THE RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN STD'S AND HIV?

A person who is already infected with STD, has a higher risk of contracting HIV if they have unprotected sex, without a condom. This risk is greater if the STD causes open genital sores, as these wounds provide a break in the skin which enables the HIV infection to enter the blood stream. STDs that can cause genital ulcers include genital herpes, syphilis, chancre, gonorrhoea, trichomoniasis, and scabies.

5. WHY IS IT DIFFICULT TO RECOGNIZE THAT YOU MAY HAVE A STD?

First of all the majority of the people with STD have no immediate symptoms and when they do have them it can be misleading to diagnose as the symptoms can be confused with non sexual diseases. Please note that this applies much more to women than men.

6. WHAT ARE THE MOST COMMON SYMPTOMS FOR WOMEN WHEN THEY ARE SUFFERING FROM AN STD?

Unusual or A bad-smelling vaginal discharge, severe itching or burning in the genital area, unusual bleeding, pain in the pelvic region, pain during sex, rashes on the genitals, open sores or warts on the genital area, and/or recurrent urinary tract infections.

7. WHAT ARE THE MOST COMMON SYMPTOMS FOR MEN WHEN THEY ARE SUFFERING FROM AN STD?

In men, the most common symptoms of STD are: pain when urinating, open sores or warts on the genital area, genital rash discharge from the penis, and/or pain in the scrotum/testicles.

8. WHAT ARE THE OTHER SYMPTOMS NOT CONNECTED TO THE GENITALS?

The following symptoms are present in both men and women. discharge from the anus, swelling of the groin, jaundice (yellowing of the skin and whites of the eyes), oral thrush (white tongue), arthritis, sores or bumps in and around the mouth, and generalized rashes.

9 CAN I CONTRACT STI AS A RESULT OF MUTUAL MASTURBATION?

Yes you can and listed below are some examples. Bacterial Vaginosis Cytomegalovirus (CMV) Herpes Simplex Human Papilloma Virus (HPV, Warts) Pubic Lice Scabies.

10. CAN I PREVENT GETTING STI OR STD?

The only foolproof way is abstinence from sex. A condom merely reduces the risk, and it must be used every time, before any sexual fluids are exchanged.

Roy Barker

Do Condoms Work? The Truth About Condom Effectiveness

2007-09-16T16:49:00.000-07:00

Do Condoms Work? The Truth About Condom Effectiveness

All methods of contraception are used to prevent pregnancy, but condoms have the added advantage of providing protection against infection and the spread of sexually transmitted diseases (STDs). How effective are condoms at doing these two things? Are they really as effective as other contraceptive methods at preventing pregnancy? And since one of the most common reasons for using a condom is to provide protection against infection, are they really an effective barrier against being infected by STDs?

In this article we look at some of these questions.

Does using a condom prevent pregnancy?

Condoms are an extremely effective means of preventing pregnancy. Of course, no method of contraception is 100% effective because there will always be instances of incorrect or inconsistent use. This is as true of "the pill" or any other form of contraception as it is of condoms. However clinical studies have shown that high quality condoms, when used consistently and correctly, provide an excellent barrier against pregnancy. These trials have shown that correct and consistent use of condoms can have between 95% and 98% contraceptive efficacy rate.

How often do condoms fail?

The main reason that condoms "fail" to prevent pregnancy or infection is not because the condom itself has "failed", but because of incorrect or inconsistent use. Latex condoms can be weakened by oil-based lubricants like petroleum jelly. They can also be weakened by exposure to sunlight or by age. Sometimes they are torn by teeth or fingernails. But putting these incorrect uses aside, condoms almost ever "fail".

How often do condoms break or slip off?

In the United States, most studies of breakage caused by fault in the condom itself have shown breakage rate is less than 2 condoms out of every 100. Studies also indicate that condoms slip off the penis in about 1-5% of acts of vaginal intercourse and slip down (but not off) about 3-13% of the time. Again, these rates are influenced by the care one takes when using a condom.

Are condoms effective at preventing infection from HIV or STDs?

Studies have shown that if a latex condom is used correctly and consistently (every time you have sex), they are a highly effective barrier against infection. This has been demonstrated most clearly by studies of "discordant" couples in Europe. A "discordant" couple is one in which one partner in infected with HIV and the other one is not. In a study of 123 couples in which condoms were used consistently, none of the infected partners became infected.

Do thinner condoms give less protection against pregnancy and STDs?

Thinner condoms are equally effective as a protection against both pregnancy and infection by STDs. However they may be more easily damaged by fingernails, teeth, jewelry and other incorrect uses, so extra care should be taken when using a thinner condom.

Are all condoms thoroughly tested before being sold?

All brand name condoms are subjected to rigorous quality control tests at every stage of the manufacturing process. In the US, each condom is electronically tested for holes and defects. Samples are taken from each lot and visually examined using a water leak test. In this test the samples are filled with 300 ml of water and suspended for 3 minutes.

Samples from each lot are also subjected to an Air Inflation Test. This involves filling the test condoms with air until they reach the bursting point. They typically will hold about 40 liters of air -- the equivalent of 9 gallons of water!

Other samples are checked for size and thickness, some are tested to destruction for physical strength, and still others are prematurely aged by applying high temperatures to ensure that they will retain their quality well beyond their 5 year product life.

In all regards, condoms have been shown to be an effective way to prevent pregnancy as well as being a highly effective way of guarding oneself against HIV or STD infection.

Rick Hendershot

Your Sexual Health Can Enhance Your Relationship

2007-09-16T16:45:00.000-07:00

Your Sexual Health Can Enhance Your Relationship

Sexual health seems to be on everyone's mind these days and with good reason. Everyone wants to be healthy when it comes to sex; no one wants to think that they have problems with this most basic of human activities.

Many men, however, find themselves faced with serious sexual issues, such as erectile dysfunction and impotence. While most seek to hide what they think of as a deficiency, those who are able to communicate their issues find that help is a lot closer and a lot easier to find than they might have thought. Pills like Viagra and Cialis are there to help, however in some cases the side effects are worse than the problem.

Sex pills are sweeping airwaves and inboxes; a new miracle product seems to arrive on the market every day. Some of these drugs are promised to be all-natural; many others are advertised to have lasting effects on penis size and sexual abilities. Most of these sex pills are not worth the paper that their advertisements are printed on, or effective enough to justify the use of an iota of bandwidth.

People are getting more information about their sexual health these days thanks to the overwhelming set of sexually transmitted diseases that are now sweeping the nation. Diseases such as: AIDS/HIV, and syphilis which can actually kill you and diseases that cannot really be treated like genital warts and herpes are running rampant these days. Even though there is much information available about these diseases, many people are newly diagnosed every year.

It seems as though the onset of knowledge and resources has not deterred people in the 18-24 age bracket from engaging in unprotected sexual activity. Too many people seem to live under the belief that these diseases will not reach them. If the diseases are not fatal most people do not care about getting infected. Right now, the only prevention method for sexually transmitted diseases is latex condoms. With this in mind, it is a wonder that more people do not just take the extra few minutes out of their day to use one. Every year thousand of people die from AIDS; you would think that this would be a wake up call for those who know what AIDS can do.

Enhancing your relationship can be easy, but you have to be responsible in your sex life if it is to be enhanced. If you have or have had an STD in the past, you have to be sure that you are keeping up to date with your physician. Your sexual health is a very important aspect of your sex life. Protection is important in making your relationship better. With all of the potential problems that are out there these days, you just cant be too careful.

Abbas Abedi

Three Steps to Get Rid of Hemorrhoids

2007-09-16T16:42:00.000-07:00

Constipation, Hemorrhoids or Piles, and inactivity go hand in hand. If you have been constipated for quite a while, chances are you have hemorrhoids. If you are inactive because you just like sitting around or are confined to a bed or chair, then you will have constipation and hemorrhoids.

So if you want to get rid of hemorrhoids, you need to take 3 steps. These three steps can be done at the same time, especially if you have hemorrhoids that are itchy, painful, and are in need of attention.

First you need to do something about your hemorrhoids. There are many different natural remedies for reducing, relieving, and eliminating hemorrhoids. Since everyone is different in his or her chemical make-up and nutritional requirements, one remedy will not work for everyone.

Each of you has to find out what remedy works best for you. Use the remedy that feels right for you, the remedy where you have the ingredients, or that one based on the severity of your hemorrhoids.

Here’s one remedy you can try - Collinsonia Root Powder Collinsonia is a vegetable, known as “Stone Root” because of it hardness. It comes in powder and liquid. Stone Root is found in Canada and in Florida. It has been found quite helpful in aiding hemorrhoids.

Linda Clark in her book called, Linda Clark’s Handbook of natural remedies for common ailments, 1976, says this about collinsonia root. “I have heard people rave enthusiastically about the results of this remedy, which works quickly.” It’s benefits come from,

Supporting blood vessel contractions and flow

Reducing irritation and inflammation of veins

Providing a tonic effect on weaken veins, capillaries, and tissue

Improving digestion

Helping to keep mucus membranes healthy
Secondly, you need to do something about becoming regular and to eliminate mild or chronic constipation. To start with, do these simple changes in your diet.

Eat fruits as a snack between meals – oranges, apples, bananas, prunes, grapefruits, mangos, watermelon, grapes, cherries.

Stop eating bread, flour products, milk, sodas, back off on eating a lot of protein.

Eat a few serving of vegetables during the day – green lettuce, celery, carrots, and so on

Drink at least 2-3 glasses of water every day or drink more water than you normally do.
The third thing you need to do is add some exercise to your daily routine. It can be any thing as long it is something you like and you do it regularly – walking, swimming, or rebounding. Don’t over exercise; all you need is 10 – 20 minutes per day.

There you have it, the threes step to getting rid of hemorrhoids – a hemorrhoid natural remedy, a slight change in your diet, and 10 minutes of daily exercise that you like.

Rudy Silva

Drugstore Hemorrhoid Medications

2007-09-16T16:40:00.000-07:00

Drugstore Hemorrhoid Medications

There are many drugstore and alternative Internet products for treating hemorrhoids. Most of the products are not made to cure or eliminate hemorrhoids but to give you temporary relief of itching, pain, swelling or bleeding. I don’t recommend using any type of product that is not natural or that comes from a drugstore.

If the product contains petrochemicals, additives, coloring, dyes, or other chemicals, which enhance its appearance and feel, I would not use them. Most, if not all, of these chemicals will be absorbed into your body where your organs of elimination will have to deal with eliminating them.

All products whether drugs, drugstore medications, or natural formulations use chemicals, substances, oils, and herbs that have the following properties:

Anesthetics – suppresses pain and gives relief…any name with the suffix “caine” like tetracaine

Analgesics – suppresses and give pain relief – some of them are Anacin, Tylenol with Codeine, OxyContin, Darvocet, Ultracet

Vasoconstrictors – helps to narrow or constrict hemorrhoidal veins…any name with the suffix “rine” like phenylephrine

Lubricants – provide lubrication in the colon to relieve constipation – mineral oil, flax seed oil, castor, oil olive oil

Astringents – help to tighten tissue, which have been pushed out by hemorrhoid action – zinc oxide, witch hazel, calamine

Keratolytics – help to remove excess hemorrhoidal tissue. They are compounds of sulfur and salicylic acid
Many of the drugstore medications have anesthetics. They can aggravate and irritate the hemorrhoids you’re trying to eliminate. If you are using one of these drugstore medications, consider using a more natural remedy.

In 1975 Carl I. Flath, wrote a book called The Miracle Nutrient – How Dietary Fiber Can Save Your Life. In his book he talks about the effectiveness of drugstore suppositories,

“Suppositories quickly work their way up in the rectum beyond the location of most internal hemorrhoids, and so are of limited value in reducing local pain. As antiseptics they are essentially worthless, since the surface areas they are supposed to protect are under constant exposure to new bacteria….

Anesthetic agents do offer temporary relief from local irritations and pain… Neither the suppositories nor the ointments, however, do anything whatever to correct the basic cause of hemorrhoids—constipation.”

Rudy Silva

How Do You Get Hemorrhoids?

2007-09-16T16:39:00.000-07:00

How Do You Get Hemorrhoids?

A lot of people don’t even know they have hemorrhoids. The rectum is not an area you can readily see. Some times you don’t know you have hemorrhoids until you see blood in the toilet water after a bowel movement, when you start to have pain or discomfort in the rectum, or when you feel extra tissue around the rectum.

So how do you develop hemorrhoids? For sure, constipation is not the only way you can get hemorrhoids. Here are some additional ways:

Alcoholism or drinking to many alcoholic drinks

Being pregnant and not eating enough fiber

Doing daily heavy lifting and holding your breath while you do it

Eating excessive processed foods, which are low in fiber and move slowly through your colon.

General body weakness, which will affect the colon function

Having a predisposition to constipation or inheriting a weakness in the colon and rectum area * Holding fecal matter too long in the rectum causing pressure to buildup in the rectum veins - postponing a bowel movement

Having a weak liver, which reduces the amount of bile released into the intestines. Bile helps to active peristaltic action.

Having inflammation in the rectum that causes you to have constipation

Irregular eating patterns

Lack of protein leading to weak tissues and slow healing of wounds

Not eating foods that keeps you constipation free such as fiber, vegetables, essential fatty acids, protein, water.

Not getting the right vitamins and minerals in your food.

Being overweight

Poor muscle tone in the anal area from lack of exercise

Pressure on rectum veins from cysts or tumor in the colon

Sitting in a chair at home, at work, in a car, or in a truck for long periods

Using laxatives to the point where your colon no longer works properly and you end up with constipation
As you can see there are many reasons that you can develop hemorrhoids. And most of them relate to the function of your colon. If you want hemorrhoid relief look at the list and see which condition or situation relates to you and try to make changes in these conditions. In addition to changes add new foods that will help your colon to work better.

Rudy Silva

Using Herbs to Relieve Hemorrhoids – Aloe Vera, Bilberry, Butcher's Broom

2007-09-16T16:28:00.000-07:00

Using Herbs to Relieve Hemorrhoids – Aloe Vera, Bilberry, Butcher's Broom

To relieve hemorrhoids first look for ways to get your bowels moving easier and more frequently so they produce softer stools. I have suggestion ways, in other articles, to do this by changing your diet.

Any straining and puffing you do to push hard or even soft stools out during a bowel movement will aggravate your hemorrhoids and can lead to bleeding and pain.

When completing a bowel movement, make sure you are using the softest tissue available so that when you clean yourself you don’t scrape or aggravate your hemorrhoids. You can also use pre-moisten tissue. Just make sure that the tissue you use is not colored or scented because these chemical additives can aggravate your hemorrhoids.

You may have to take a shower a couple times a day to keep your rectum area clean.

Here are three natural remedies that you can use to aid in eliminating your hemorrhoids.

Aloe Vera

Aloe Vera gel is an astringent that helps to heal open wounds. It is useful in hemorrhoids by applying the gel directly onto your anus. The best type of gel for this is directly from the aloe plant. If you don’t have one, then 100% organic whole leaf aloe gel is second best. You can get this organic aloe at a health food or nutrition store.

If you have a fresh plant, wash a leaf thoroughly with distilled water. Peel it on one side, bend it with the peeled side outward, and slip it into your anus. This will provide you with pain relief and reduce your hemorrhoid bleeding. Just trim down the leaf so it slides into your anus easily.

Aloe Vera juice, that you drink, is also good for hemorrhoids. It helps to soften your stools and to activate peristaltic action. If you like aloe juice, then drink around 1/2 a cup of Aloe Vera juice three time a day.

You can add 1/4 or 1/3 part aloe juice to a cup of apple juice to make the taste easier to handle. To make this aloe-apple juice more effective, add 10 drops of barberry extract.

Barberry is an astringent for blood vessel congestion along the colon and rectum. It will improve blood circulation; it stimulates the immune system to resist disease, and will tone body tissues. It also is capable of stopping bleeding hemorrhoids.

Bilberry

Bilberry’s active ingredients are flavanoids. Bilberry contains chemical called “anthocyanosides.” This fruit like herb has been used in Europe for a long time. In clinical studies, it has shown to be effective in treating weak capillaries by strengthening their walls.

Buy the 25% standardized formula and take 100 mg three times a day of bilberry. Bilberry will give you hemorrhoid relief.

Butcher's Broom

Butcher's broom, an evergreen bush, has a history of being used for varicose veins and hemorrhoids. As an extract, it contains “ruscogenins”, which can narrow blood vessels and decrease their inflammation and swelling. It strengthens and tones veins and capillary walls.

Take 100 mg of butcher’s broom three times a day. Use the type that has 9-11% ruscogenins.

Now you can use either of the three herbal remedies for hemorrhoid relief. If one is not working to good, try the other. Once you have gotten the hemorrhoid relief that you want stop using the herbal remedy.

Rudy Silva

10 Ways to Avoid a Heart Attack

2007-09-16T15:57:00.000-07:00

10 Ways to Avoid a Heart Attack

A heart attack is known as a myocardial infarction. This occurs when the heart muscle is damaged or does not receive enough oxygen. Many cardiac related problems occur due to blockages in arteries that carry purified blood away from the heart to different parts of the body. Another cause is the formation of blood clots.

Very often, it is quite difficult to differentiate between a heart attack and heartburn. The common signs of a heart attack are a tightness, pain, or discomfort in the chest. Sweating, nausea, and vomiting that are accompanied by intense pressure in the chest. A radiating and intense pain in the chest that extends from the chest to the left arm. A shortness of breath for more than a few minutes. If you have any of the above you must consult the doctor or go to the emergency rooms.

If you even think you are having a heart attack you must call for a cardiac care ambulance, and put under your tongue a sorbitrate or chew an aspirin. If you are allergic to aspirin don't take one. At the hospital care will include rapid thrombolysis, cardiac catheterization, and angioplasty. They will also administer intravenously clot busting medications.

The risk factors for a heart attack include: smoking, diabetes, high levels of cholesterol, hypertension, family history of heart diseases, atherosclerosis, lack of exercise, obesity, and fast foods.

Reduce the risks of a heart attack by:

1. Quitting smoking.

2. Eating healthy. Avoid fatty foods, excess salt, and red meats.

3. Controlling high blood pressure and diabetes.

4. Ensuring regular exercise at least 30 minutes a day. Walking is most beneficial.

5. Preventing obesity. Doing all you can to maintain weight.

6. Choosing to live a healthy lifestyle.

7. Practicing meditation.

8. Doing regular relaxation and breathing exercises.

9. Undergoing periodic cardiac evaluations.

10. Including foods that are rich in anti-oxidants in your diet.

A killer disease, according to the American Heart Association approximately 58,8 million people in the US suffer from heart diseases. And, about 950,000 Americans die of heart ailments each year. Heart diseases and death from it can be prevented by maintaining your health. Find a balance in life between work and other activities, abandon the couch for the outdoors, don't watch sports on television play sports instead and you can hope to live a long and fulfilled life.

Paul Wilson

Why Doctors Struggle to Treat High Blood Pressure

2007-09-16T15:53:00.000-07:00

Why Doctors Struggle to Treat High Blood Pressure

Although a lot of research has been done on high blood pressure, the best way to treat it medically remains a mystery to doctors. The medical profession continue to perform studies, test drugs and try different treatments on individuals while patients have to go through the process of finding out with their doctor what works best for them.

Why is that? Surely with all the research which has been done, they have found the medication which will cure the problem?

What is being shown in all the studies is that hypertensive disease (high blood pressure) is not a simple phenomenon with one cause and one cure. It is brought about by a number of different processes - metabolic, genetic and environmental, which together create the condition. Working out which factors are at play in any one individual (and finding out how to treat them) is therefore a complex business and difficult for doctors to pin down. And new drugs are being frequently released onto the market for this condition too - so this all adds to the complexity.

So you can't expect to be given a one drug fits all solution on your first visit to the doctor after finding out you have the condition. Some exploration about what is best for you is likely to be necessary. You may be given one blood pressure drug for a few weeks to see if it is right for you and then something else to try if it does not suit you.

And while you should always consult your doctor if you have hypertension (or any other health issue) many doctors now believe that lifestyle changes are the best way to treat it, especially if you have a mild case. So don't be surprised if your doctor simply wants you to lose weight, take more exercise and change your diet a bit rather than have you take a hypertensive drug.

Janice Elizabeth Small

How to Prevent Coronary Heart Disease and Heart Attack

2007-09-16T15:44:00.000-07:00

How to Prevent Coronary Heart Disease and Heart Attack

Coronary heart disease and heart attack like heart infarction can in great extend be prevented by lifestyle measures.

THE DIRECT CAUSES OF HEART DISEASE

The direct causes of coronary heart disease and heart attack are factors like these:

- Narrowing of blood vessels in the heart and the rest of the body by arteriosclerosis.

- High blood cholesterol level.

- High blood pressure.

- Over-weight.

- Diabetes.

- High level of the amino acid homocystein in the blood.

- High content of low density lipoprotein (LDL) and low content of high density lipoprotein (HDL) in the blood. Lipoprotein is a combination of protein and fatty substances bound together.

- Inflammation in the circulatory system.

- High age.

- Inherited tendencies for high cholesterol levels and heart disease.

- Men have somewhat greater chance of getting heart disease than women.

These factors are interrelated in complicated ways, and are causing or amplifying each other. For example, arteriosclerosis will cause higher blood pressure, and high blood pressure will cause even more arteriosclerosis. Many of these factors are ultimately caused or aggravated by these lifestyle factors:

-A too high consume of fat, cholesterol and sugar.

-Consuming the wrong fat types.

-Lack of fibre, vitamins, minerals and other diet deficiencies.

-Stress at work and in the daily life.

-Smoking.

-Lack of exercise.

Lifestyle adjustments will therefore be the main methods of preventing heart failure.

GENERAL DIET ADVICES

A diet with the aim of preventing heart disease is generally the same as a diet to prevent cancer and other diseases. Here are the general diet advices:

- Avoid or reduce the amount of food that are industrially processed, artificially made or heavily fried.

- Eat fish at least every second day. Also eat seafood and fouls.

- Do not eat very much red meat.

- Eat 5 fruits or vegetables each day. Each piece should be of the size of an apple or carrot. They should be raw or carefully boiled so that the nutrients are not washed out.

- Eat full corn bread, full corn cereals, peas, beans and potatoes.

- Eat just a moderate amount of fat.

- Consume cholesterol rich foods like egg, spawn or liver in just moderate amounts.

- Ideally most fat you eat, should be of the type mono-unsaturated. You also need some poly-unsaturated fat of the types omega-3, and omega 6, but not too much of omega-6. The consumption of saturated fat should be moderate.

- In order to achieve right fat balance, much of the fat supply should come from a blending of sources like olive, olive oil, canola oil, nuts, nut oil, sunflower, sunflower oil, linseed oil (flax oil), fish and fish oil.

- Use only a moderate amount of soy oil and corn oil in the diet. Only using such oil types will give you too much poly-unsaturated fat of the omega-6-type.

- Use just a very moderate amount of fat sources like butter, coconut oil and palm oil. A high consumption of these fat sources gives you too much saturated fat.

- Avoid altogether fat that has been chemically altered, giving so-called trans-fat. This type of fat is often found in margarine, cookies, snacks, fast food and other pre-made food.

- Consume just a very moderate amount of sugar, refined flour or refined cereals.

- Consume just a moderate amount of tranquilizers and stimulants like alcohol and caffeine.

- Use just a moderate amount of salt in the food. However, in warm weather and by hard physical work, you will need more salt.

DIET SUPPLEMENTS THAT HELP PREVENT HEART DISEASE

Evidence suggests that it will be helpful to take some supplements of natural substances to prevent heart disease and help to ameliorate already manifest heart problems. These supplements are:

- Omega-3-fatty acids derived from fish and other marine sources, especially the fatty acids EPA (eicosapentaenoic acid) and DHA (docosahexaenoic acid) and alfa-linolaeic acid. 1 gram a day of each of these substances may be taken as a supplement. Higher amounts should only be taken under medical supervision, since higher amount of these substances may cause bleeding tendencies, and may suppress the immune system.

- Supplement of vitamin C has been thought to help prevent heart disease, but newer findings cast doubt upon this.

- Vitamin B6 (Pyridoxine), folic acid / folate, vitamin b12 and riboflavin seem to prevent the building up of the substance homocystein in the blood and thereby help prevent heart disease, according to results from research projects.

GET RID OF OVER-WEIGHT

The lifestyle measures listed in this article will also help you loose weight. If these measures are not enough, you should consider engaging in a more specific weight reduction program. You should choose a program that has a moderate fat content philosophy. Some weight reduction programs have a higher fat and low carbohydrate consume philosophy, and those are probably not the best ones to reduce the chance of getting heart disease.

EXERCISE

You should do some exercise of at least half an hour at least every second day. Condition training as vigorous walking, jogging, cycling or swimming is best for reducing the heart attack probability. Muscular building exercises are also of value, especially exercises building leg muscles.

STOP SMOKING

If you smoke, stopping or reducing this habit radically will decrease the chance of getting heart problems.

CONTROL DIABETES

If you suffer from diabetes type 1, a good control of the disease by insulin medication and by diet adjustments will help to prevent heart disease.

Many people over the age of 50, and an increasing number of young people suffer from diabetes type 2 because of bad lifestyle. This disease does not necessarily give dramatic symptoms, but the disease increases the chance of getting serious heart problems, and many have the disease without knowing it. This disease can be prevented by the same lifestyle measures depicted above. If you already have got the disease, a more rigorous control of carbohydrate intake is necessary. And sometimes also medication must be used. People over the age of 50 and younger people that do not feel well should find out if they suffer from this condition.

TAKING ASPIRIN

Low doses of acetyl salicylic acid or aspirin prevent heart disease by persons bearing a high risk for heart disease. However, this medication increases the risk of bleeding and should not be used without constant medical supervision. For persons with a low risk of heart disease, the dangers of aspirin will be greater than the benefits.

Knut Holt

Are You Suffering From Tension Headache?

2007-09-13T16:14:00.000-07:00

Are You Suffering From Tension Headache?

Whether headache is the cause of tension or the tension is the cause of headache? Think over... if their origin is due to the common cause?

Well, the dividing line between tension and headache is thin.

The tension headache is the unique and generous gift of high paced life style of the modern world. Most of the people caught in the grip of this civilization are out to run an endless marathon that has no end. Many of these crazy run ups end on stretchers, ambulances and ICUs in the hospital. Tension headaches are directly responsible for this sorry state of affair.

What is the source of these tensions? An individual, on a normal working day is connected to his family, his friends and his office. Any serious tension in any of these places is the direct cause of their tension headache.

The causes of tension headache may be simple or complex. Your son's poor percentage in the higher secondary examination, and his inability to get admission in any of the reputed Colleges might become a major reason for your tension headache. Well, any kind of stress or worry could be the root of your tension. This is why tension headache is the most common form of headache.

Herein, the tension type headache is not to be confused with any of the serious forms of headache. Tension headache could be due to a single factor. The moment a solution is found to the problem, it disappears.

You may not need any treatment or medicine for this type of tension headache. This headache can be compared to the sharp, passing showers. It comes and it goes. But if you experience intense pain when you have such headaches, you need to consult your doctor immediately.

How to treat the tension headache? The correct treatment is to go to the root cause of the tension and treat that cause. When that cause is satisfactorily resolved, the headache is also gone.

And last but not the least, solving your tension headache through over the counter medications is neither the correct nor the recommended solution for it. At best, this can be described as a temporary solution. The effect of headache will reappear again.

So, learn to be at peace with yourself to treat this peculiar headache. Find a solution in the activities that pleasure you. You may read some lessons on right type of living as well. For, good literature many a times solves the riddles of tension.

Article Source: Health Guidance

Javier Fuller

How to Prevent Headaches?

2007-09-13T16:12:00.000-07:00

How to Prevent Headaches?

"Prevention is better than cure." But the attack of headache is so sudden and violent, where is the time to prevent it?

Headache arrives unnoticed and ultimately departs and you forget everything, the causes of its arrival! You have never tried to analyze, why you are repeatedly having the bouts of headache. Preventing headache is not one of the items in your agenda.

You have to do certain things, follow certain regimen to get rid of yourself the headache problems. You just treat the pain, without going to its root causes. You believe you are an active, bright person. That was so, till 9.00 a.m. this morning and you were making brisk preparations to go to your office duty. Suddenly, you are confronted with a nagging, throbbing headache, which would not let you do anything! What can be done, except applying for a day's leave? But, that has not solved the problem throughout the day, you suffer and suffer more. Will it be alright by tomorrow?

For the time being, you have solved the problem by taking antibiotics, but by evening again, it has resurfaced! This has happened to you a number of times in the past.

So, now you have to budget your time, according to your revised plans to live a head-ache free life!

From where do you start? Do proper exercise at a fixed time of the day. Try your best to live a tension-free life. Avoid stress. What causes the headache? Try to identify the factors. Is it food, alcohol or oversleeping? Yes, sleeping many times cures and at times causes headache. Taking pain killers so often, your body's natural ability to fight the diseases may vanish if you test it with painkillers. Painkillers are not faithful health agents! They also suppress the pain, without affording it a permanent cure. And when the pain resurfaces, it will arrive with double force!

Herbal products and supplements have been proved to be effective in preventing headaches. Learn relaxation therapy from an expert yoga teacher. Some of the techniques those are bound to be helpful for you to prevent headaches are visualization, meditation, deep breathing exercises and many more. Daily practice of such techniques is a must.

Preventing headache is not a course of medicines, it is a discipline!

Javier Fuller

The Best Headache Treatment Tips For You

2007-09-13T16:10:00.000-07:00

The Best Headache Treatment Tips For You

The best treatment to your headache is to understand your headache!

The reasons may not be far to seek! Some types of headaches may come and go! No medication is necessary for them. Just control your diet, drink lots of water and you would be alright after sometime! The heavy load of oily stuff that you ate in yesterday's late night party, could be one of the reasons! In that case, give stomach some time and some chance to unload the extra burden! In the hope to get instant relief, if you stuff it with pain killers and antibiotics, you might get relief, but in the long run, some other ailment will take hold of you, and you will have to suffer the side effects!

Only, when the headache persists over a period of days, and when you feel internally that something is definitely wrong with your system, consult your doctor. He will be, it is sincerely hoped, able to identify the root cause of your headache, on the basis of your feedback.

Some home remedies work miraculous way in the area of headache. It is now the known fact that the pressures of the modern competitive, and materialistic civilization, is the cause of many a tensions and headaches. Tension, stress and headache are comrades in arm!

Grandma's treasury is full of traditional medicines for your headache! If there is no grandma in your house, there must be one in the neighborhood! Before visiting the doctor, taking her advice, may be both time-saving and money-saving! And the valuable advice, when it works to your advantage, will definitely be a heritage property. You will likely to pass on the benefit of advice to others!

Take a small, clean towel and dip it in white vinegar. Wrap the towel around your head, close your eyes and relax. You should be a changed man after about half an hour. Make a paste by pounding the dry ginger. Apply the paste on your forehead. Slight burning sensation notwithstanding, it is likely to send your headache packing. Onion is known to be a miracle-cure for headache. Let the tears overflow through your eyes, anyway they were about to flow on account of the unbearable headache, and soon you will wonder where this headache has gone. The cost of the onion will not exceed the professional charges of the medical practitioner, whatever may be the market trend!

And finally, give headache a chance, it came unannounced, most likely it will depart unannounced! Without your treating it, rather ill-treating it!

Javier Fuller

Why Does Female Hair Loss Occur?

2007-09-13T16:01:00.000-07:00

Why Does Female Hair Loss Occur?

Female hair loss usually presents in two types - temporary and permanent. Temporary hair loss in women is also known as telogen, transient or non-genetic, while permanent hair loss is the same as genetic hair loss or androgenetic alopecia. To better understand alopecia in women, it is necessary to first know about the hair growth cycle.

Men and women lose an average of 40 to 100 strands of hair daily. The growth stage can range from two to six months with the hair growing at an average of one-half inch per month. The hair transition phase takes place after the growth stage and happens for about one to two weeks after which the resting phase occurs when the hair is then shed at a rate of 40 to 100 strands on any given day. Hair growth cycle is a significant part of the process that can lead to female hair loss.

The failure to grow new hair is attributed to genetic predisposition, aging, hormonal imbalance and the levels of endocrine hormones, particularly androgens. During the time that hormonal changes caused by menopause are occurring, the levels of androgens rise and many women find that their hair has thinned. Family history is also an indicator of whether or not a woman will suffer some degree of genetic alopecia. If the mother or aunt has thinning hair, daughters may expect to undergo the same experience when they reach the same age as their mother or aunt when the hair loss occurred.

When women suffer from hair loss, their hair follicle is normal but the growth cycle is abnormal. There are also disorders where the hair follicle is damaged. Androgenetic alopecia is the most common cause of hair loss in women. This is caused by various hormonal imbalances triggered by conditions such as pregnancy and menopause. Another type of hair loss is alopecia areata, which may affect both men and women. This is also known as patch baldness and at its worse can cause all the hair in the head to fall. Telogen effluvium, cicatricial alopecia and traumatic alopecia are the other forms of baldness in women caused by factors such as stress and hair styling practices.

For all types of hair loss in women, the diagnosis is based on a thorough family background check and a targeted medical screening. Some laboratory tests may also be performed such as a punch biopsy. Androgenetic alopecia is usually treated with minoxidil, while corticosteriods and other agents are used to treat alopecia areata. Telogen effluvium usually does not require treatment as the condition goes away when the underlying cause is treated.

Female hair loss can be very depressing. A woman's hair is considered her crowning glory and losing it will likely take its toll, not just on her appearance, but also on her frame of mind. Management of this condition should include a psychological assessment and emotional support should be provided by the people who have a close relationship with the individual involved.

Trevor Mulholland

Seven Reasons For Temporary Hair Loss

2007-09-13T15:59:00.000-07:00

Seven Reasons For Temporary Hair Loss

Not all types of hair loss would lead to permanent baldness. Depending on the nature and cause of the baldness, the chances of growing back your hair could be good. Temporary hair loss could be caused by several factors. The seven very common causes of temporary baldness could be (1) illness, (2) poor nutrition, (3) medications, (4) medical treatments, (5) recent high fever, flu or surgery, (6) infancy (7) childbirth.

According to medical studies, people who are diabetic, suffering from lupus and thyroid disorders often suffer from hair loss. According to medical practitioners, hair loss can be attributed as an effect of the illness and the poor absorption of nutrients into the body of a sick person. This condition is often times temporary and the hair would often re-grow upon the patient’s recovery. The medications and medical treatment undergone by a patient also contribute to hair loss. There are certain medications, especially those drugs used for treatment of gout, arthritis, depression, heart problems and high blood pressure and those treatments used to fight cancer, which cause hair loss in some people. In most cases, as soon as the patient is taken off medication, the hair would grow again.

Aside from illness and medications, there are natural bodily transitions, which could result to hair loss. Childbirth may cause excessive hair loss for several months in some women. During pregnancy, women often experience active hair growth and after delivery, the excess hair is shed as the body corrects itself. In infants hair loss usually occurs when the first six months and the baby sometimes go bald. The shedding of hair is a natural process in this case. As the baby grows older, more permanent hair replaces the old ones.

Article Source: Health Guidance

Jeanette Pollock

Hair Loss Treatment: Do It The Natural Way!

2007-09-13T15:53:00.000-07:00

Hair Loss Treatment: Do It The Natural Way!

Hair loss treatment can be done inexpensively by doing it the natural way. You may not have the money to afford any surgery. Simply pay attention to your diet and make use of natural plants for hair loss treatment.

Your Diet Matters In Hair Loss Treatment

You may have forgotten that the hair is composed of protein therefore it is a must that you take in sufficient protein in order to maintain a healthy hair. To be able to sustain a healthy hair growth, nutrients are needed as they do take care of the hair and the scalp. The numerous nutrients which you need to take in are protein, B-complex, Vitamins A and C, omega-3 fatty acids, and cysteine, which is another amino acid. Any deficiency with these nutrients is likely to cause hair loss. Vegetarians should not forget that they should integrate foods rich in protein in their diets such as the beans, wheat, brown rice, corn, nuts, or seeds. The cysteine is another amino acid which makes up the protein. It can be found in foods rich in sulfur like the meat, fish, egg yolks, onion, nuts, garlic, kale, raspberries, and cabbage. This amino acid is also a renowned detoxifier.

The vitamin B, most especially the biotin, aids in maintaining the health of hair. Among the best sources of the vitamin are the egg yolks, milk, meat, brewer’s yeast, soybeans, saltwater fish, and whole grains. You should remember that taking in the uncooked egg whites deplete the biotin content in the body so therefore eating it must be avoided. The use of saccharin which is commonly found in most toothpastes and taking in of antibiotics also produce an adverse effect on your body’s biotin absorption.

Then, make sure you take in enough Vitamin A. The best sources are broccoli, carrots, pumpkin, fish liver oil, yellow squash, spinach, sweet potatoes, peaches, and cantaloupes. Vitamin C is another very important component that ensures a healthy hair. It can be found from the citrus fruits, green vegetables, and berries.

The Omega-3 fatty acids are needed for a good circulation that will feed the hair roots. It also supplies the body with enough motivation to get on with the production of the hormones. Its best sources are the tuna, salmon, and flaxseed.

Plants That Help Out With The Hair Loss Treatment

Among nature’s components which help out in hair loss treatments are the aloe vera, jojoba, henna, capsicum, lemongrass, and Dong Quai. What are these? What good do they bring as hair loss treatments?

The aloe vera promotes the balancing of the scalp’s Ph and then heals from the inside. It also cleans the pores. The jojoba treats eczema, dandruff, seborrhea, and psoriasis. It works well as a moisturizer so hair loss can be minimized. The henna works as a natural conditioner, repairs, stops hair breakage, and restores the silkiness and shine of the hair. The capsicum treats hair loss by as much as 50% and heightens the flow of blood. The lemongrass stabilizes the oil in the scalp and gives out enough nourishment for the hair. The Dong Quai possesses phytoestrogens that minimizes the buildup of the DHT.

It never fails to secure the natural hair loss treatments via the use of herbal plants and maintaining a proper diet. Your hair is your crowning glory. Hence, learn to take care of it.

Article Source: Health Guidance

Jeanette Pollock

What is Gestational Diabetes?

2007-09-13T15:47:00.000-07:00

What is gestational diabetes?

Gestational diabetes, also known as gestational diabetes mellitus, GDM, or diabetes during pregnancy, is a type of diabetes that only pregnant women get. If a woman gets diabetes when she is pregnant, but never had it before, then she has gestational diabetes.

Normally, your stomach and intestines digest the carbohydrate in your food into a sugar called glucose. Glucose is your body’s main source of energy. After digestion, the glucose moves into your blood to give your body energy.

To get the glucose out of your blood and into the cells of your body, your pancreas makes a hormone called insulin. If you have diabetes, either your body doesn’t make enough insulin, or your cells can’t use it the way they should. Instead, the glucose builds up in your blood, causing diabetes, or high blood sugar.

Gestational diabetes happens in about 5 percent of all pregnancies, or about 200,000 cases a year in the United States.

How do I know if I have gestational diabetes?

Health care providers will test most women who have average risk for gestational diabetes when they are between 24-28 weeks pregnant.

If your risk is higher-than-average, your health care provider may test you earlier, possibly as soon as you know you are pregnant.

There are two approaches to testing for gestational diabetes:

In the one-step approach, a woman will fast for 4 to 8 hours. Then a health care provider will measure her blood sugar and will do so again 2 hours after she drinks a sugar drink. This type of test is called an oral glucose tolerance test.
In the two-step approach, a health care provider measures a woman’s blood sugar 1 hour after drinking a sugar drink. Women whose blood sugar is normal after 1 hour probably don’t have gestational diabetes. Women whose blood sugar is high after 1 hour will then have an oral glucose tolerance test to see if they have gestational diabetes.

Will gestational diabetes affect the baby?

Most women who have gestational diabetes give birth to healthy babies, especially when they control their blood sugar, eat a healthy diet, exercise, and keep a healthy weight.

In some cases, though, gestational diabetes can affect the pregnancy and baby. Some potential risks include:

The baby’s body is larger than normal—called macrosomia. A large baby may need to be delivered by a surgical procedure called cesarean section, instead of naturally through the vagina.
The baby’s blood sugar is too low—called hypoglycemia. Starting to breastfeed right away can help get more glucose to the baby. The baby may also need to get glucose through a tube into his or her blood.
The baby’s skin turns yellowish and the whites of the eyes may change color—called jaundice. This condition is easily treated and is not serious if treated.
The baby may have trouble breathing and need oxygen or other help—called Respiratory Distress Syndrome.
The baby may have low mineral levels in the blood. This problem can causes muscle twitching or cramping, but can be treated by giving the baby extra minerals.

How is gestational diabetes treated?

Many women with gestational diabetes have healthy pregnancies and healthy babies because they follow a treatment plan from their health care provider.

Each woman should have a specific plan designed just for her needs, but there are some general ways to stay healthy with gestational diabetes:

Know your blood sugar and keep it under control – By testing how much sugar is in your blood, it is easier to keep it in a healthy range. Women usually need to test a drop of their blood several times a day to find out their blood sugar level.
Eat a healthy diet – Your health care provider can make a plan with the best diet for you. Usually controlling carbohydrates is an important part of a healthy diet for women with gestational diabetes because carbohydrates affect blood sugar.
Get regular, moderate physical activity – Exercise can help control blood sugar levels. Your health care provider can tell you the best activities and right amount for you.
Keep a healthy weight – The amount of weight gain that is healthy for you will depend on how much you weighed before pregnancy. It is important to track your both your overall weight gain and weekly rate of gain.
Keep daily records of your diet, physical activity, and glucose level – Women with gestational diabetes should write down their blood sugar numbers, physical activity, and everything they eat and drink in a daily record book. This can help track how well the treatment is working and what, if anything, needs to be changed.

Some women with gestational diabetes will also need to take insulin to help manage their diabetes. The extra insulin can help lower their blood sugar level. Some women might also have to test their urine to see if they are getting enough glucose.

What happens after the baby is born?

For most women, blood sugar levels go back to normal quickly after the baby is born. Six weeks after the baby is born, you should have a blood test to check your blood sugar levels. The test also checks for your risk of getting diabetes in the future.

If you know you want to get pregnant again, have a blood sugar test up to three months before becoming pregnant to make sure your blood sugar level is normal.

Children whose mothers had gestational diabetes are at higher risk for obesity, abnormal glucose tolerance, and diabetes.

Women who have had gestational diabetes and children whose mothers had gestational diabetes are at higher lifetime risk for obesity and type 2 diabetes. It may be possible to prevent type 2 diabetes through lifestyle changes. Talk to your health care provider about diabetes and increased risk from gestational diabetes.

Institute of Child Health and Human Development

Kidney Disease And Diabetes

2007-09-13T15:46:00.000-07:00

Of the many complications associated with diabetes, kidney failure is the one that can do the most damage to the body. People who have had the disease for a long time may develop kidney problems in the later stages of diabetes. Many people will need to be on dialysis until a replacement kidney can be found. During the early stages of kidney damage, there are medications available that can slow the process. Though these medications are not a cure, they will help to slow the effects so that one can alter their diet before the damage is worsened. Kidney failure can occur at any time if the damage is left untreated. Once the kidneys begin to shut down, there is little that can be done.

Kidney problems can affect anyone who has diabetes. Preventing these problems begins with a healthy diet and exercise regime. This is perhaps the best way to prevent many complications when a person has diabetes. By lowering one’s sugar intake, the kidneys will be able to function normally. When a person has a poor diet, the kidneys have to work more than normal to rid the body of waste. This can cause kidney failure over time.

Knowing the possible risks involved in not practicing good eating habits is usually enough to get a person motivated to change their eating habits. Smoking and drinking excessively can also affect the kidneys when a person has diabetes. It is recommended that a person stop these behaviors as soon as they can.

Article Source: Health Guidance

Jeanette Pollock

The Effects Of Diabetes

2007-09-13T15:42:00.000-07:00

Diabetes is being a huge health problem. Many people suffer from diabetes and the other medical side effects it cause. An early diagnosis of diabetes can help a person to avoid serious related diseases. The earlier diabetes is caught the easy it is for doctors to monitor the patients overall health, thus preventing any further medical problems.

Diabetes is when the pancreas does not function properly and glucose levels fall outside the normal range. A normal glucose reading is lower than 110 mg/dL upon waking in the morning and lower than 140 mg/dL two hours after eating. There are simple blood tests that are used to diagnose diabetes. Once diagnosed a person will work with their doctor to determine a treatment. Treatments can include diet changes, pills, or injections. Any history, family history and people in certain ethnic groups may be at elevated risk for developing diabetes. There are different types of diabetes. Some start in childhood, some start in adulthood and another form occurs during pregnancy. All can cause harmful effects on the body if not taken care of.

Long term effects of diabetes are usually due to a patient letting their glucose levels remain elevated for long periods of time. That is why early detection is important. Excess blood sugar levels have a horrible effect on the body. Some common effects from diabetes include vision problems, kidney damage, nerve damage, heart and circulation problems. A person with diabetes is at a higher risk for these types of conditions, but a person who does not control their diabetes is even more likely to develop one of these conditions.

Diabetes is a disease that does not have a cure. Diagnosing and treating diabetes have evolved into easier processes. A person with diabetes can normally live life as they did before their diagnosis. Living with diabetes is a matter of taking control over the disease and preventing complications.

Article Source: Health Guidance

Jeanette Pollock

Cancer And Exercise

2007-09-12T06:54:00.000-07:00

Cancer. It's perhaps the most frightening word in the English language. Although our medical system has made tremendous advances in the last few decades the grand prize of them all, the holy grail of medical science - a cancer cure - continues to elude researchers.

A cancer diagnosis is serious business. This disease claims over a half million lives each year in the United States alone. Cancer, in its many forms, has the ability to threaten each and every one of us no matter what our age.

Most Common Cancers:

The four most common types of cancer are prostate cancer, breast cancer, lung cancer and colorectal cancer. Although cancer death rates have been slowly declining for years, the death rate for prostate cancer remains 28.0 per 100,000. The death rate for breast cancer is 25.4 per 100,000. Colorectal cancer has the lowest death rate of the top four cancers, coming in at 19.6 per 100,000. The highest death rate is attributed to lung cancer at 54.8 per 100,000 (Source: Randolph E. Schmid; Associated Press).

Although researchers haven't yet discovered a fail-proof cancer treatment, early detection can greatly improve the odds of survival. Screening tests that can find the first sign of cancer are becoming more popular. "As of 2003,69.7 percent of women over 40 had a mammogram in the last two years, up from just 29 percent in 1987... .. 79.2 percent had a pap test for cervical cancer" (Source: Randolph E. Schmid; Associated Press).

How To Lower The Risk Of Most Cancers:

There is no cancer center or alternative cancer treatment that can promise a cure. However, it's important to note that we do have the power to raise or lower our cancer risk. In fact, the choices we make in everyday life have a surprisingly large impact on our chances of contracting cancer. "Evidence suggests that one third of the 550,000 cancer deaths that occur in the United States each year are due to unhealthy diet and insufficient physical activity" (Source: Dr. Tim Byers and Colleen Doyle, MS, RD of the American Cancer Society).

Experts, such as those at the American Cancer Society, point to several behavior modifications that can be made to lower the risk of cancer. For example, wearing sun-block and minimizing exposure to the sun can lower the risk of skin cancer. Reducing or stopping smoking altogether will lower the risk of many types of cancer, including mouth cancer and throat cancer. Other lifestyle changes that may lower cancer risk include limiting the consumption of alcohol and high-fat foods.

Although rarely mentioned in the major media, scientists are now realizing that perhaps the biggest cause of cancer in our society today is lack of exercise. As a matter of fact, it's no understatement to say that the best cancer insurance you can purchase today is to invest in a gym membership.

"For the majority of Americans who do not smoke, eating a healthful diet and being physically active are the most important ways to reduce cancer risk" (Source: Dr. Tim Byers and Colleen Doyle, MS, RD of the American Cancer Society). Regular exercise helps you maintain a healthy weight, which is important for cancer prevention. Overweight or obese individuals have a higher risk of several cancers, including breast and colon cancer, esophageal cancer, and kidney cancers.

"Being overweight works in a variety of ways to increase cancer risk. These include mechanical ways in which abdominal obesity leads to acid reflux into the esophagus, and hormonal ways, in which obesity increases circulating levels of hormones such as estrogen and insulin that can stimulate cancer growth. Achieving an ideal weight need not be the first goal, though, as substantial benefits can come from first stopping weight gain, then beginning to achieve a modest amount of weight loss." (Source: Dr. Tim Byers and Colleen Doyle, MS, RD of the American Cancer Society). The single best way to obtain weight loss and normalize hormonal balance is through regular exercise.

The Calle Study:

Researcher Eugenia Calle, PhD, in a study published in Thursday's New England Journal of Medicine (Vol. 348, No. 17: 1625-1638), found that overweight and obesity may account for 20% of all cancer deaths in US women and 14% in US men. That means 90,000 cancer deaths could be prevented each year if Americans could only maintain a normal, healthy body weight.

According to the research done by Calle and her colleagues, the heaviest men in the study had death rates from all cancers combined that were 52% higher than the rates among normal-weight men. The heaviest women had cancer death rates 62% higher than normal-weight women.

Adding to the conclusions of previous studies, Calle found that being overweight or obese was linked to uterus cancer, kidney cancer, esophagus cancer, rectal cancer, and cancers of the gallbladder, colon, and breast (in postmenopausal women).

Because obesity increases a woman's risk of developing the disease in the first place, and her risk of dying from it once she has it, the effects on breast cancer are compounded, Calle said,

The researchers also found that many types of cancer that were not previously linked to obesity were indeed impacted by excess body weight. Those included cervical cancer, ovarian cancer, pancreatic cancer, liver cancer, stomach cancer (in men), prostate cancer and non-Hodgkin lymphoma and multiple myeloma.

"Overweight and obesity has a very broad impact on cancer across most cancer sites," Calle said. "That's not something that's really in the consciousness of the American people." In fact, in an American Cancer Society survey conducted in 2002, just 1% of Americans identified maintaining a healthy weight as a way to reduce cancer risk.

Additional Studies Reinforce The Cancer/Exercise Link:

Besides the Calle research, there are multiple studies proving a link between regular exercise and a lower risk of cancer.

"A longitudinal study of Harvard alumni found that highly active or even moderately active individuals had a substantially lower risk of developing both colon and lung cancer than alumni who were less active or sedentary" (Source: Cedric X. Bryant, Ph. D., ACE's Chief Exercise Physiologist).

"Heart disease and diabetes get all the attention, but expanding waistlines increase the risk for at least nine types of cancer, too. And with the obesity epidemic showing no signs of waning, specialists say they need to better understand how fat cells fuels cancer growth so they might fight back. What's already clear: Being overweight can make it harder to spot tumors early, catch recurrences, determine the best chemotherapy dose, even fit into radiation machines. That in turn hurts chances of survival. One major study last year estimated that excess weight may account for 14 percent to 20 percent of all cancer deaths -- 90,000 a year." (Source: LAURAN NEERGAARD, AP Medical Writer; Mon Aug 23,9:09 PM ET).

The Bottom Line:

The most important behavior we can adopt to minimize our risk of cancer is to stay active and maintain a healthy weight through regular exercise. Adults should exercise at least thirty minutes each day, but with exercise more is better. Diet is important, too. The American Cancer Society recommends eating five or more servings of fruit and vegetables every day, choosing whole grains over processed grains, and limiting red meat. Of course, alcohol consumption and smoking should also be curtailed to lower the risk of most cancers.

Cancer research continues, and new cancer drugs are being developed even now. Here in the United States we are extremely fortunate to have some of the finest cancer treatment centers in the world. But we still do not have a cancer cure. Until we do, protect yourself by exercising regularly and eating a healthy low-fat diet full of vegetables.

Article Source: Health Guidance

Tracie Johanson

The Dangers of Deep Vein Thrombosis

2007-09-12T06:51:00.000-07:00

A deep vein thrombosis is a blood clot developing in a deep vein, usually in the leg. They also can occur in other parts of the body. Blood clots in the veins in the thigh are usually more serious than blood clots that happen in veins in your lower leg. A DVT causes pain, and possible complications if it reaches the lungs. If a clot in a vein breaks off and travels through your bloodstream, it can lodge in your lung. This is called a pulmonary embolism which is a very serious condition that can cause death.

DVTs are known to occur in about 1 out of 1000 people in the general population from all causes. DVTs are more common in obese people and those aged over 40. Causes include long-distance air travel and long journeys by car, train or coach, because of prolonged immobility.

Symptoms of Deep vein thrombosis include: Swelling of the leg; Pain or tenderness in the leg-the pain is usually in one leg and may only be present when standing or walking; Feeling of increased warmth in the area of the leg that is swollen or that hurts; Red or discolored skin.

The main goals in treating deep vein thrombosis are to: Stop the clot from getting bigger; Prevent the clot from breaking off in your vein and moving to your lungs; Reduce your chance of having another blood clot.

Exercising the legs once an hour can reduce risk. Take regular breaks if driving, or walk up and down the coach, train or plane aisle.

Lower leg muscles can be exercised while sitting by pulling the toes towards the knees then relaxing, or by pressing the balls of the feet down while raising the heels.

Other preventative measures include: Avoid sleeping pills. These cause immobility, increasing the risk of DVT; Wear loose clothing; Keep legs uncrossed; Keep hydrated by drinking; Avoid alcohol to prevent dehydration; Wear graduated compression stockings or socks – particularly important for travelers with other DVT risk factors. Compression stockings are worn on the legs from the arch of the foot to just above or below the knee. These stockings are tight at the ankle and become looser as they go up the leg. This causes a gentle compression (or pressure) up your leg. They have some side effects: They can be uncomfortable when worn all day They can be hot They may be difficult to put on, especially for older adults and overweight people.

Some doctors recommend aspirin because of its blood thinning effects. This is unsuitable for children and can have side effects, so seek professional advice.

Article Source: Health Guidance

Anne Wolski

Tips to Improve Your Asthma

2007-09-12T06:49:00.000-07:00

1. Practice breathing from the diaphragm or abdomen instead of the chest. When you are breathing correctly the belly will push outward on breathing in, and contract or tighten when breathing out. The chest and shoulders do not rise up.

2. If you do start wheezing or getting short of breath try to breath slower while relaxing the rest of your body. This reduces the demand for oxygen in the body. If you are exercising slow down or stop.

3. Stop smoking or hanging out in smoky rooms whenever possible. If you live with a smoker who won’t quit or go outside to smoke then encourage the use of an air-filter or devise that sucks up the smoke. Don’t underestimate the dangers of second hand smoke, particularly on children and the elderly.

4. Try swimming as the exercise of choice. The increased moisture seems to lessen the chance of spasm of the bronchial tubes. Starting slowly with walking or a stationary bike can also safely improve cardiovascular stamina.

5. Drink extra glasses of water or liquids. With more rapid breathing it is easier to get dehydrated. Some regular tea is ok as it has a chemical to relax the bronchial tubes called Theo bromide, similar to the asthma medicine theophylline.

6. If you are using a rescue inhaler such as Albuterol more than three times a week you may need a preventive medicine either as another inhaler and/or a pill such as Singulair. Keep ahead of your asthma. At the first sign of worsening, use your medications early. In the end you will require less medicine overall. Make sure you tell your doctor if your symptoms become more frequent. In short, DON’T WAIT.

7. Often people with asthma also have allergies to pollen, animals, and dust. Discuss with your doctor getting allergy testing to see if desensitization shots will cure the problem. Be sure to mention stuffy nose and itchy, watery eyes “sinus problems” during your visit if they occur.

Article Source: Health Guidance

Katherine Martin

Asthma Natural Remedies With No Side Effects

2007-09-12T06:46:00.000-07:00

Asthma Natural Remedies With No Side Effects

There are many causes of asthma and each person can have different asthma attack triggers. So, each person may need to use a different medical approach and different asthma natural remedies.

Using drugs to control your asthma makes sense when you first discover that you have asthma provided your asthma is well established or life threatening. Once you have your prescriptions and your doctor's instructions, you should consider looking at or experimenting with natural remedies to control or even eliminate your asthma, since drugs are not a cure.

No matter what type of drug or inhaler you are using, they all have their side effects. The longer you use drugs or an inhaler, the less effective they become and most likely you will see side effects.

You should use asthma natural remedies when you are having an asthma attack or when asthma is under control. There are four areas you need to concentrate on when examining asthma natural remedies.

Reduce mucus
Reduce inflammation
Reduce emotional and stressful situation
Improve immune system

Reduce Mucus

By using various herbs you can control and remove mucus from your bronchioles. Test various herbs or herbal combinations to determine which work best for you.

Drink carrot and celery juice and drink plenty of water daily to help dilute and move mucus out of your body.

Reduce Inflammation

There are quite a few different nutrients that can help you reduce inflammation. You should consider using more than one at a time. Start with these and then experiment with the others.

Add omega-3 to your diet by using flax seed oil or fish oil
Use MSM supplements
Take vitamin C supplement
Systemic enzymes, try Vitalzyme
Digestive enzymes

Reduce Emotional and Stressful Situation

Reducing stress in your life is a difficult area to deal with since some situations in your life are strongly anchored, like your job, your family, your friends, or marital situation. But if these areas are causing your stress and you frequently have asthma attacks, then you have to decide which is more important for you, your job or your health.

If your job is deteriorating your health, then start looking for a way out. This may require you to look for another job or to go back to school to get training for something you might like to do. Just take action and start changing your life.

Improve Immune System

Improving your immune system is accomplished through diet, through taking nutritional supplements, by reducing stress, and eliminating those conditions that overwork you body.

The fewer things your immune system has to react to and get under control, the stronger it is to take care of an asthma attack when it occurs. When your immune system has to deal with toxins in your colon and throughout your body, then it is weakened and not able to neutralize pollen or pollution you inhale from the air which can trigger an asthma attack.

Use drugs when you first discover you have asthma can make sense. But, if your asthma is light, then finding asthma natural remedies to control it, instead of using drugs, also makes a lot of sense.

Article Source: Health Guidance

Rudy Silva

Winning The Battle Against Allergy

2007-09-12T06:43:00.000-07:00

Winning The Battle Against Allergy

Whether it's dust, pollens, or different kinds of food, many Americans today are susceptible to having an allergy. An allergy is a reaction of the immune system to certain types of substances, which are called allergens.

When the person with an allergy, for example animal dander, comes in contact with the allergen, his body will experience different types of reaction. Depending on the type of allergy, the person can experience rashes, difficulty in breathing, sneezing, runny nose, watery eyes or involuntary bowel movement. In the most extreme cases of allergy attacks, the person can suffer an anaphylactic shock and can cause death.

What are the symptoms of an allergy?

Allergy attacks vary in symptom and degree.

Mild allergy symptoms can usually be seen on a specific area and do not spread on different parts of the body. This is indicated by a rash, itchiness, watery eyes, uncontrollable sneezing, or swelling in the affected area.

Moderate symptoms include allergic reactions that spread to the entire body. This is manifested by itchiness, numbness, involuntary bowel movement or difficulty in breathing.

A severe allergic reaction is called anaphylaxis. It is a dangerous emergency state where the body's reaction to the allergen is fast, sudden and does not hit only one area of the body. This allergic symptom can begin with a persistent itching followed by abdominal pains, vomiting and hives. Dizziness or confusion may also be a symptom because anaphylaxis causes a sudden drop in the person's blood pressure.

These allergy symptoms can appear in different parts of the body:

Eyes - redness, itchiness and watery eyes.
Nose - swelling of the mucous membrane resulting in a runny nose and sneezing.
Lungs - constriction, wheezing and difficulty in breathing, which is sometimes signs of asthma.
Ears - swelling, a slight pain and even temporary impairment or hearing loss.
Skin - itchiness, reddening and swelling of affected area.

Treatment

There are treatments for a person's allergy, depending on the type of allergen he or she may be susceptible to. For an airborne allergen like pollen, animal dander, mold, dust mite feces and fur from cats or dogs, medicines like a nasal spray, decongestants or antihistamines can be sufficient to give immediate relief from the symptoms. Eye drops can also be used if the redness and itchiness becomes too much.

For an ingested allergen like an allergy to certain types of food, the best treatment is to avoid the food altogether. Food allergy can cause wheezing, hives, runny nose, swelling of the mouth area and sometimes, difficulty in breathing. For the rashes, a skin cream can applied to make it feel better. Antihistamines also reduce the other symptoms.

There are people with allergies to certain types of drugs and insect bites. Usually, they get their treatments through an injection of epinephrine (adrenaline) administered by a doctor. This will immediately reverse the allergy symptoms and save the person.

Most of the allergy medicines can be bought over-the-counter at the local drugstore. But before you get one, make sure that a doctor properly diagnosed the person with the allergy. A wrong treatment can kill a person.

Prevention

Can an allergy be prevented? Sadly no. One cannot prevent an allergy attack but they can treat it by getting the right medicines. The person with an allergic reaction must also look at their environment and make the proper changes to reduce the symptoms in their body.

One can only win the battle against allergies but making a positive action. Do not fall victim to these allergens.

Article Source: Health Guidance

Charlene J. Nuble