Signs of Heart Attacks for Women

In a survey done on women’s attitude towards heart disease, only a small percentage were found to be aware that heart attack is one of the leading causes of death in the world today. The survey also says that almost 300,000 women die of heart attack each year, all because they tend to ignore the signs and symptoms. Women are less likely to go and visit a doctor and have a checkup because they believe that their family is more important and should be given more priority. In fact, most women who die of a heart attack do not call 911 until it’s already too late.

The early signs of a heart attack are not that difficult to distinguish. However, you have to understand that the symptoms in women are not always the same as those in men. Here are the signs and symptoms you have to look out for that will save you from a possible deadly heart attack.

1. Upper-body discomfort - It’s logical to think that heart attack would strike and affect the left side of the body, particularly the left arm. However, one of the sure signs of a heart attack is the feeling of pain and discomfort either on the left arm or both arms. The discomfort can also be felt in the jaw, the back, the neck, or even the stomach.

2. Difficulty in breathing - If you are the athletic type but you find it hard to catch your breath even when you’re just sitting down or lying in bed, something is probably wrong. Shortness of breath that comes with profuse sweating and feelings of dizziness is usually a sign of heart attack. Be careful because such symptom can also lead to fainting.

3. Unexplainable weakness - It’s normal to feel tired especially if you had a stressful day at work, but if you’re feeling fatigued and weak than usual, it could be a sign that you’re having a heart attack. Before or during a heart attack, your heart will stop pumping properly. Because of this, oxygen and glucose will not spread throughout your body, which results to you feeling very weak as if all your energy has been sapped.

4. Nausea and vomiting - Because your body is in an emergency state during a heart attack, the nerves that control your bodily function may overwork. This will make you sweat profusely and look very pale. It will also make you feel very dizzy to a point that you keep on vomiting. Experts do not know exactly the reason behind this but if you’ve been experiencing this for a while, seek medical attention immediately.

5. Anxiety - Anxiety is a normal part of life, but you have to take note that it can be a risk factor and a sign of a heart attack at the same time. There is a link between panic attack and heart attacks so you have to be very careful when diagnosing both. When you’re having panic attacks, you can experience difficulty of breathing and feel some pain and discomfort as well. But if you’re getting tense without any reason at all, it can mean that your nerves are reacting to the overexertion of your heart.

6. Inability to sleep - Experts suggest that sleep disturbances are a symptom of an approaching heart attack among women. In obstructive sleep apnea, wherein the upper airway is partially or totally blocked, breathing is interrupted so that a heart attack is more likely happen. This is accompanied by tossing and turning during the night and total inability to sleep at times. According to surveys, women who suffer from heart attack experience this kind of symptom a month before the attack happens. So when you often wake up in the middle of the night having cold sweats and unable to catch your breath, it’s time to visit the doctor for a checkup.

7. Indigestion - Heartburn is sometimes difficult to distinguish from a heart attack simply because acid reflux can fester just right behind your heart. However, you will easily know that you’re having a heart attack if you get heartburn not during a meal but during a physical activity. When this happens, see your specialist right away.

Your heart is a muscle, so what makes your biceps and triceps strong will also strengthen your heart. If you can combine a heart-healthy diet with regular exercise, you will have a larger chance of not experiencing a heart attack altogether.

The article taken from Medsavailable

Causes of Depression

Depression is a state of feeling despondent and perennially anxious. Many people attempt to uncover the causes for depression in the hopes of finding a suitable cure, and the answers range from medical conditions to emotional issues. Interestingly, the condition continues to occur despite all our best efforts. The hard thing about it is that it is not always easy to tell which person it will attack next. Even someone who seems somewhat happy one minute can actually succumb to it without his friends or family understanding why. It is really a difficult scenario, both for the person suffering from it as well as those in his inner circle of friends and family.

Following is a list of the most foundational causes why someone would start feeling depressed, and each point ends with a suggested solution:

1. Constant fear will likely result in depression in the long run. What kind of fear? This is not talking about usual fears like fear of the dark or fear of dogs, but more often than not, a fear of the future or of the unknown. This often comes about when a person feels like he is an orphan. He may not be one physically, but feeling that there is nobody looking after your future, your provision, or your protection, can cause you to feel constantly afraid. As such, it is important for a person to realize that there is somebody who loves him, who is for him and not against him, and who will give everything up for him. Ancient writings say that perfect love can cast out fear, because when someone knows that he is loved perfectly, he will have no need to fear the future or fear not having enough for the present.

2. Getting burned out from something can also trigger depressed emotions. Burnout does not happen only from physical tiredness, although it contributes to it. Burnout can come about from extreme emotional pressure, such as when something or someone demands too much from you, whether real or perceived. A person needs to know that someone wants to give to him and not just to expect something grand from him all the time, especially if it is something that he cannot give. When he understands that there is someone who would be willing to give him everything with no strings attached, the possibility of burnout is lessened.

3. The most important factor that leads to depression is guilt and condemnation. The two come together, as when one feels guilt about something, he tends to condemn himself. This is a very tricky subject, because every one of us can feel guilty in a variety of ways. For one person, it may take a serious fault like betrayal or stealing, while for another, a simple white lie can make him feel guilty for days. The interesting thing is that this is an emotion that everyone feels. The only difference is that some people have gotten into peace with themselves, and sometimes with the Supreme Being. It is easy when you only feel guilty towards a person because you can avoid that person, but when you feel condemned by the Divine, there is no way out of it. The good news is that many people have found a way to be reconciled to the Divine. Many cultures depend on many human efforts to reach God, which sometimes fails. Christians across the world say the atonement came when God’s Son gave His life for ours. This is perhaps why Christians can enjoy a life free of guilt and shame that everyone else seems to crave.

The article taken from Medsavailable

What Causes Diabetes

Diabetes as the disease of the overindulgence of sugar in the bloodstream is the most highly contagious feature of the human body. 


The result of diabetes is caused due to the demolition of beta cells which are the body-building cells for humans and the natural formation of the cells is destroyed easily due to bodily ill-treated functions. Researchers and scientists are moving pillar-to-post to search the cause of excessive sugar formation in the bloodstream and knocking their noodles to relate the cause with genetic disorders due to change in the DNA of the human body, environmental factors or even mal-nutrition caused due to poor diet chart plan.

Causes of Diabetes in detail segments:

1. Inherited traits: The strong believe of the transformation of one gene to passing to another gene is the generation course for various inherited traits as the stem cells in the mother’s umbilical cord of the womb is transferred to the newly born baby and the baby too gets infected out of the process.

2. Poor diet: Malnutrition too takes its toll due to poor diet chart adoption and causes the diabetes to the patient. The low-protein, low-carb vitamin is missing from the diet and patient becomes susceptible out of it.

3. Age factor: The adolescent age which is unstoppable is more affective then the younger age. The diabetes affects after 50 years of age which takes the shape of permanent diabetes syndrome.

4. Obesity and deskbound lifestyle: Insulin resistance increases with over-weight which is the major cause of obesity where the BMI (Body mass index) enhances to 25+ and sedentary standard of living is disturbed making the person prone to diabetes where he easily fall prey to other forms of diseases as well with diabetes. Poor wound healing, infections, unsecured sex without contraceptives; hypertension, increased fatigue, etc are all responsible for causing diabetes to the bloodstream of the human body.

Insomnia

Insomnia is a very difficult condition to have. When a person is very tired, they desire sleep, but what if sleep doesn’t come? They wind up feeling more tired, and also cranky and stressed in the process.

The days seem to melt together with more stress getting piled up. Perhaps you have tried every single possible thing to do, from dimming down the lights in your room, to downing a glass of milk at every bed time, as well as avoiding strenuous physical or mental activity an hour before bedtime. But if you still have trouble sleeping, perhaps it’s time to check the possible emotional causes of your insomnia:

1. Perennial worry: Is there something bothering you deeply? Perhaps it’s a pending move, a recent development in a relationship, or worries about your financial provision for the future. When asked straight out, you might not have an answer right away, as these things do not seem right at the top of your head. But the next time you stay awake past the midnight hour, try this: whatever things you find yourself thinking about, grab a piece of paper and write them down. Perhaps you find yourself making mental calculations of how much you need to save every month to meet your son’s tuition fees, or to meet your retirement savings plan. More often than not, worry is a major sleep-grabber for just about anyone.

2. Condemnation: Have you done something that you feel guilty about? Perhaps nobody else knows about it, but it’s eating you up inside. Sometimes it’s something you feel was very serious, such as having had an abortion several years ago, or for some people, it could be as seemingly simple as losing your patience over a child. In any case, you might not be aware that you are internally beating yourself up for whatever it was you failed to do or did wrong. This may be why Christians can be the most well-rested people as they believe that everything they’ve done has been paid for when God sent His Son to die in their place.

3. Anger: Are you holding a grudge against someone? Perhaps somebody betrayed you, or somebody is constantly getting on your nerves and you are dreading seeing that person again the next day. Some people observe that letting out their anger through some outlet, such as writing, or music, or prayer, helps them get over the angry feelings and be at peace. Other people find it easier to forgive when they realize how much they’ve also been forgiven themselves by a holy God.

4. Fear: Are you afraid of something? You most likely are not afraid of the dark, but perhaps you are afraid of losing someone you love, or of not having enough, or anything that may be irrational in the daylight but feels so real when everything else is silent around you. This type of fear is related to perennial worry, wherein no amount of rationalizing will shoo it away. In this case doctors might prescribe you anti-relaxants just to get you to doze off. But some people find it even more effective to set their sights on something, such as a God who cares so much for them that He will not leave them alone to fend for themselves. If you talk to Christians about fear, they will likely tell you that perfect love can cast it away, and you may be scratching your head as they explain to you that this perfect love is a love you can receive from your Creator!

These emotions may look simple, but when they attack you in the middle of the night, you are usually left with no resources to fend them off. As such, learning to renew your mind against such thoughts, such as feeding your mind on the answers to those worries, may just be the key to the beauty rest that you need! If anything, just acknowledging your feelings or writing them down may do wonders, and you will be well on your way to many sleep-filled nights to come.

Sleeping Properly: How much sleep do we need?

As we grow old, our body develops. We experience the different changes that we normally go through in our everyday lives. Some are hard to get used to and some we get used to quickly. However, we might have not noticed it but our sleeping patterns also changes as we age. It is something that we somehow take for granted as we discover what life is all about. When we were young, we were told that sleeping is an important part of our lives since we need it to be able to grow and develop properly.

Sleep or sleeping is a natural phenomenon that is categorized by the reduction or absence of our consciousness, idleness of most of our voluntary muscles, and the moderate suspension of our sensory activities. When we sleep, we have a decreased ability to react to any stimuli. However, it is an important phenomenon that puts an emphasis on our growth and the rejuvenation of our bodily systems such as the immune, muscular, nervous, and skeletal systems. Therefore, we need it in order for our body parts to develop accordingly.

Since we undergo a lot of changes as we grow old and develop, our sleeping patterns change as well. If sleeping is an important natural phenomenon for all of us, then how much sleep do each of us need? What is the average sleep for the different age groups? In every age group, we all have to sleep according to the average sleep that we all need to be able to grow and develop in a healthy way. The age groups is divided into seven categories according to the average sleep that all of us need. The age groups are categorized by an age bracket such as 0 to 2 months old, 3 to 1 year old, 1 to 3 years of age, 3 to 5 years old, 5 to 12 years old, 12 to 18, and 18 and beyond.

After being born, at about 0 to 2 months old, we sleep from 12 to 18 hours a day. When we get to being infants or reach 3 months old to 1 year, our average sleep decreases from 12 to 18 hours into 14 to 15 hours. As we move on to being toddlers or 1 to 3 years of age, our average sleep decreases to 12 to 14 hours. Then, as we reach the preschool stage which is from 3 to 5 years of age, our average sleep decreases from 12 to 14 into 11 to 13 hours. As we developed into being school-aged children or children who are in ages 5 to 12, our average sleep decreases to 10 to 11 hours. Subsequently, at the age of 12 to 18 years, we would need an average sleep of 8.5 to 10 hours. Eventually, as we reach our adult age which starts at the age of 18 and beyond, our average sleep has decreased to 7.5 to 9 hours a day.

As you can observe, as we grow old and get passed each age bracket, our average time to sleep decreases significantly by four after the newborn stage which is 0 to 2 months old. Then, as we grow old to being an infant to being school-aged children which is from 3 months to 12 years old, our average time to sleep decreases significantly by 3. Ultimately, as we get to preteens and teens up to the adult stages, our average time to sleep declines 3 to 2.5 hours. The decline is due to the amount of rest that we need to rejuvenate our body or help our body grow as time passes. Therefore, as we slowly age, it is imperative to get the required amount of sleep that we need in order to grow and develop in a healthy way.

The article taken from HEALTH ARTICLE Medsavailable

ACNE

ACNE

Acne is the pigmentation process of the face which is very acute by nature.

This process of the face is suffered by every teenager as the hormonal changes and other contingencies are the real causes of having acne over the face of any individual. The skin surface breaks abnormally due to the presence of hormonal imbalance called upon as ‘Testosterone’.

Cause of Acne - The skin abnormality that reacts with such hormone is the real cause of having acne. The testosterone glands of our body’s metabolic system informs the sebaceous gland to produce excessive amount of oil inside the body and therefore the oily stuff called sebum blocks the soft and delicate pores of the surface of the skin and causes acne formation over the surface of the skin. The soft tubes of the hairy region starts to form blackheads & whiteheads with acne on the skin.

How to get Rid of Acne

A modern acne treatment requires a latest oil-tree moisturizing cream foe that extra protection. Please! Do not get tempted out of the ingredients mixed with a specific type of cream or moisturizer as most of the cajoling feeling for buying that special cream comes along under a price and your skin has to pay up the price which according to doctor study is called upon as ‘Benzoyl Peroxide’ which claims it has the capability to cure the disease of the face skin in minutes or might reduce the formation of acne form the surface of the skin but in reality it isn’t so.

If women are accustomed to using bleaches for te face do not use them instantly or if very important then try to use only the mild bleaches for the skin as it makes the surface dry and itchy. For more Acne treatmentinformation you can our website.

Acne can also be overcome with the help of prescribed medications which have anti-biotic tendencies to fight the cancerous cells and other infectious agents when mixed with the bloodstream proficiently.

Symptoms of Syphilis

Syphilis is an STI (Sexually Transmitted Infection) which is caused by 'Treponema Pallidum' a spirochetal bacterium. As an STI, the most common way the disease is spread is through sexual contact though in some cases it can be transmitted from a mother to a child during pregnancy or at birth. The symptoms of syphilis are highly varied and it has been called 'the great imitator' due to the way in which it can mimic many of the symptoms of other diseases – particularly during the tertiary stage. The symptoms may also vary depending on the stage of syphilis.

Primary Syphilis

Primary syphilis is that acquired via direct sexual contact with the legions found on another syphilis sufferer. After around 10-19 days of this contact, skin lesions will begin to appear at the point where the contact was made – most often this will be on the genitals but it can also be on the hands commonly, or anywhere else on the body. The lesions are called 'chancre' and are relatively large round ulcerations that are painless but highly angry looking. In some cases there will be multiple visible lesions. Generally these will last for four to six months and will heal on their own. Other symptoms might include swelling of the lymph nodes. This is part of the incubation period during which no other symptoms are often present and this leads many of those infected not to seek medical help, however it is important that if you suspect you have the signs of primary syphilis that you do get it checked.

Secondary Syphilis

Secondary syphilis then occurs around 1-6 months after the primary symptoms. There are many ways in which the disease can manifest itself at this stage though often there will be a symmetrical rash that covers the back and/or the hands and soles of the feet. The rash will then become flatter and more wart-like over time and this may also occur on the genitalia or in the mouth. Other symptoms which can complicate diagnosis include fever, sore throat, weight loss, lethargy, headache, again the swelling of the lymph nodes, arthritis, optic neuritis, periositis and proctitis.

Latent Syphilis

Latet syphilis is syphilis with no signs or symptoms. Latent syphilis can fall into two different further categories 'early' or 'late'. Early latent syphilis is that where the patient has syphilis for two years or less with no symptoms, while late syphilis goes on for longer. This distinction is important as it affects other aspects of the syphilis such as the risk of transmission and the therapy used to treat it. Early syphilis can be treated with a single injection of penicillin, whereas late latent syphilis requires three weekly injections. Late latent syphilis is not as infectious as early. Fifty percent of those with latent syphilis will develop into the tertiary stage of syphilis, with another 25% recovering and 25% remaining in the latent stage indefinitely. As latent syphilis has no symptoms it is difficult to spot, and it is therefore up to the patient to get precautionary checks if they suspect that a sexual partner was infected.

Tertiary Syphilis

Tertiary syphilis generally occurs around 1-10 years after the initial infection though this can vary and may take up to 50 years. Here the main symptom is the formation of 'granulomas' which are soft tumours that form around the body. These are chronic ie permanent and can appear anywhere on the body including on bone. If they appear on the head or face then this can result in quite noticeable deformity. This then creates an inflammatory effect on the body and this can have wide ranging effects.

Other symptoms of tertiary syphilis include joint disease which causes loss of sensation in the joints as well as pain as well as 'neurosyphilis' and 'cardiovascular syphilis'. Neurosyphilis is syphilis that involves infection of the central nervous system and it results in many symptoms including 'generalised paresis of the insane' which causes personality changes in emotion, hyperactivity, shrinking pupils and complications of the spinal cord resulting in shuffling and an awkward gait.

Cardiovascular syphilis meanwhile includes a range of characteristics such as aortic anneurysm, syphilitic aortitis and aortic regurgitation which can be heard as a heart murmur.

article taken from Health Guidance

6 Things You Can Do To Get A Better Night Sleep

1) Avoid watching TV before bed...especially in bed!- The bed should be reserved for two things...sleep and romance...not Desperate Housewives or football! Research shows that those who experienced the most sleep disturbances had televisions in their bedrooms and used the TV to fall asleep.

2) Try a different pillow or mattress. It's scary to think how long some of us have been sleeping on the same pillows and mattresses for years and years. Does your mattress provide the support you like? Do you wake with your back aching? Is there enough room for you and your sleep partner? Do you sleep better, or worse, when you sleep away from home? These are all things to ask yourself to determine if your mattress could be the "sabotager" of your good night's sleep. Or more simply, just replacing your pillow with a new, fresh, higher quality version could be all that you need.

3) Avoid caffeine late in the day. Did you know that even a small amount of caffeine even 10-12 hours before bedtime can cause problems falling asleep! Try eliminating the tea, soda and even chocolate and see if sleep improves.

4) Listen to relaxing music. Establishing a relaxing bedtime routine, such as listening to music, could be just the thing you need to signal your body it is time to sleep. So, dim the lights and throw some slow jazz or purchase a "relaxing sounds" CD to help slow your mind and body down for an evening of peaceful sleep.

5) Try mind- body techniques. After an action-packed day, your brain and body need to unwind and detox before sleep can occur (a.k.a. you need to chill!) Create a "ritual" for bedtime - take a bath, meditate, do some easy stretches or yoga. Try to do your "ritual" in the same way, in the same place, at the same time each night. The repetition will trigger your mind and body that it is time to relax and sleep.

6) Try a natural sleep aid. For many people, while the above tips and suggestions may help, it often isn't enough. if you are one of those people who really have a hard time getting to sleep and staying asleep, you may want to try a natural sleep aid.

While over the counter sleep medications may help you fall asleep, they cannot be taken long-term and have risky side effects. A sleep aid that uses natural ingredients is a better approach to getting a solid night's sleep. 

The article taken from web.

Damages and Risks of Health from Smoking

There are many ways and motivation to help you to get quitting smoking. It might look glamorous when you are in your teens and are trying to hang out with the cool gang but the ugly side of it gets to you in no time at all. In some years of smoking you are going to be looking quite older in comparison to non smoking peers. One does not have to be alone in trying to quit smoking as there are help and ready resources of all kinds to bring the support that one needs to quit smoking.

Detoxamin is a kind of safe and effectively working chelation therapy that tends to bring back the original health and glow back to your features in order to help you with quitting smoking. There are of course different techniques like pranayam, deep breathing, tantric yoga and rebirthing techniques that help you with releasing of the held up and pent up poisoned breath. Smoking will continue to age and wrinkle our skin and damage our inside organs. These can bring on to some of the most problematic features that we can think of, taking its toll down the years. Smokers who have smoked longer than ten years would require some solid help and guidance to quit smoking step by step.

Quitting smoking is a process that will have to taken in baby steps when one comes at this stage. It is obviously going to involve some heavy detoxing as smoke tends to affect and clog all parts of yourself. When one has been smoking for such long years at a stretch the mouth becomes lines, the face gets wrinkled and there are prominent lines and noticeable changes that can bring about some of the most degenerative effects on the skin. The lips can be dry and chapped and there are also greater things that can affect one on many levels.

This Smoking Article is Anonymously submitted and is a Part of Health Articles and Smoking Articles section

Intestinal Parasites

Introduction:

The two main types of intestinal parasites are helminths and protozoa. Helminths are worms with many cells. Tapeworms, pinworms, and roundworms are among the most common helminths in the United States. In their adult form, helminths cannot multiply in the human body. Protozoa have only one cell, and can multiply inside the human body, which can allow serious infections to develop. Intestinal parasites are usually transmitted when someone comes in contact with infected feces (for example, through contaminated soil, food, or water). In the U.S., the most common protozoa are giardia and cryptosporidium.

Signs and Symptoms:

Parasites can live within the intestines for years without causing any symptoms. When they do, symptoms include the following:

• Abdominal pain
• Diarrhea
• Nausea or vomiting
• Gas or bloating
• Dysentery (loose stools containing blood and mucus)
• Rash or itching around the rectum or vulva
• Stomach pain or tenderness
• Feeling tired
• Weight loss
• Passing a worm in your stool

What Causes It?:

These things raise your risk for getting intestinal parasites:

• Living in or visiting an area known to have parasites
• International travel
• Poor sanitation (for both food and water)
• Poor hygiene
• Age -- children and the elderly are more likely to get infected
• Exposure to child and institutional care centers
• Having a weakened immune system
• HIV or AIDS

Hair Loss

How to Stop Hair Loss and Support Hair Growth

Human beings on an average lose about hundred hairs a day from the scalp. Most of them grow back over a period of time. But due to some reasons which could be general health, hormonal imbalance, deficiencies, hairstyle changes, extreme climatic conditions, water contamination and many other internal and external factors, hair loss is more than the new hair which grows back. T

A few simple tips to prevent hair loss.

Everyday natural tips

• One hour before you go to bed, open a clove of garlic and rub the slices on the hairless area. Massage the scalp thoroughly with olive oil and then cover your head with a cap before going to bed.

• Massage the scalp everyday with a teaspoon of honey and half a cup of onion juice.

• Before going to bed every night, rub the scalp with sesame oil. Rinse with a mixture of apple cider vinegar and wash thoroughly with a good shampoo.

Periodical tips

• You can soak fenugreek in tepid water overnight and massage the liquid on your scalp. Cover your head with a cap and leave it for 3 hours. Rinse it thoroughly. You can repeat this process at least once in a month to promote good hair health and growth.

• Take half of raw onion and massage the scalp before going to bed. Cover your head with a cap and go to bed. Rinse it with mixture of warm water and apple cider the next morning and wash your hair thoroughly with shampoo.

• Massage corn oil on the scalp and wrap you head with a cloth soaked in warm water. Leave it for one hour. Rinse your hair with a mixture of tepid water and apple cider and wash it with shampoo.

• Massage your scalp at least for three nights in a week with olive oil and leave it overnight. Rinse with a mild shampoo the next morning. It removes the trapped dirt, grease and oil in the hair and clears the pores allowing the hair to grow. This also gives thicker hair.

Lifestyle tips

• Drink green tea every day. Target at least taking four cups on a daily basis. Some people may not like the taste or not have the time. In this case, it comes in the capsule form and can be consumed for hair growth.

• Consume foods rich in the vital nutrients required for hair growth - vitamin b, vitamin d, biotin, protein, copper, zinc, magnesium and iron. Spinach, chicken, eggs, almonds and turkey are good sources of these nutrients and promote hair growth.

Choosing shampoos

Shampoos containing a chemical called Sodium Laureth Sulphate have to be avoided. Though it removes oil and dirt, it affects hair growth. Hence, while purchasing your favourite brand next time, read the product label and check whether this ingredient is present.

Back Pain

If you have back pain or neck pain, you have a lot of company. About 8 in 10 people experience back pain at some point in their lives. Back or neck pain often goes away in time—60% of back pain is gone within a week and 95% within 12 weeks. But if your pain persists for three months or more, it’s considered chronic pain, a tricky-to-treat condition that could be due to injury, overuse, arthritis, or spinal problems.

4 Ways Yoga Relieves Low Back Pain

(ISTOCKPHOTO)

Yoga is one of the nondrug, nonsurgical therapies that has been shown to benefit back pain. In 2005 a study published in the Annals of Internal Medicine found that a yoga program was more effective in treating low back pain than another exercise regimen or educating yourself about proper back care. In October 2007 the American College of Physicians and the American Pain Society released guidelines that recommend therapies that include massage, Viniyoga (a gentle, therapeutic yoga style), acupuncture, and spinal manipulation for persistent back pain.

More about alternative therapies

• How Yoga Can Improve Your Health
• How the Mind Controls Pain
• Meditation Can Release and Relieve Pain
• 3 Pain Conditions Meditation Can Help

According to Timothy McCall, MD, the medical editor of Yoga Journal, yoga can enable patients to do the following.

• Strengthen weak muscles
• Increase flexibility
• Improve oxygenation to body tissue
• Shift the balance of the autonomic nervous system from the sympathetic "fight or flight" response to the parasympathetic "rest and digest" state

All of those changes can help support the musculoskeletal system and bring pain relief, but beyond those physical improvements, Dr. McCall believes that the greatest benefit yoga can provide to patients is in their mind. 

Diabetes

5 Tips To Avoid Diabetes

If you want to avoid diabetes, you need to bring changes (not necessarily drastic though) in your lifestyle. Every year, diabetes strikes millions of people across the world. The statistics are literally shooting through the roof. According to the International Diabetes Federation, 285 million people have been diagnosed with diabetes globally, with over 7 million new cases reported each year.

1. Eat wisely. It’s important to eat the right foods. Eat food that provides you with sufficient nutrition and energy to keep you going. You don’t have to starve, eat less or give up your favorite munchies. Just choose what you eat. Go for low-fat labeled food items. Take protein-rich and fiber-rich diet (think Apples); and be sure to go low on carbohydrates and fat. Your fast food menu should ideally include salads, fruits (without added sugar) and low-fat grilled chicken.

2. Tuck that tummy in. Do your best to reserve at least 30 minutes everyday to burn those calories and reduce your weight. It’s very important that you reduce your belly fat, as fat accumulation in the abdominal region is highly correlated with the occurrence of diabetes. What’s better than being in great shape and diabetes-free! 30 minutes a day is surely worth it.

3. Move your body. No ordinary repetition this. The more it is advised, the less it is done; mostly because it’s simply put off to another day. But, don’t you do that mistake… don’t you commit that sin. Spend some time everyday to exercise. Are you slim?! Great, keep it up. Being fit gives you the edge over others. For the not so slim, it’s time to buck up and aim to get fit?

4. Take sufficient rest. When tired, your body will crave for quick-energy fixes (food with high sugar content, usually) to get you going a few extra hours. Instead, take rest and let your body maintain optimum hormone levels to avoid complications in your pancreas while you sleep.

5. USE this simple meal-time tip. If you have a big appetite, drink a glass of water before you take your meal. It will help reduce your appetite, over a period of time.

It’s important to note however that determination to bring these changes is the key to avoiding diabetes. There’s no guarantee that diabetes will never strike, but it’s the best we can do; and if done rightly, you’ll be safe. Like they say, no pain… no gain.

Kidney Stones

A kidney stone is a solid mass made up of tiny crystals. One or more stones 

can be in the kidney or ureter at the same time.

A kidney stone may or may not cause signs and symptoms until it has

moved into the ureter — the tube connecting the kidney and bladder. 

• At that point, these signs and symptoms may occur: Severe pain in 
  the side and back, below the ribs Pain that spreads to the lower abdomen. 

 

 

Causes

Kidney stones often have no definite, single cause. A number of factors, 

often in combination, create the conditions in which susceptible people 

develop kidney stones. Kidney stones form when the components of urine —

 fluid and various minerals and acids — are out of balance. When this 

happens, your urine contains more crystal.

 

Prevention

Lifestyle changes You may reduce your risk of kidney stones if you: Drink water 

• throughout the day. Drink more water throughout the day. For people with a
  history of kidney stones, doctors usually recommend passing about 2.6 quarts 
  (2.5 liters) of urine a day. 

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Osteoporosis

What is osteoporosis?

Osteoporosis is a disease that affects your bones. It means you have bones that are thin and brittle, with lots of holes inside them like a sponge. This makes them easy to break. Osteoporosis can lead to broken bones (fractures) in the hip, spine, and wrist. These fractures can be disabling and may make it hard for you to live on your own.
See a picture of healthy bone versus bone weakened by osteoporosis .
Osteoporosis affects millions of older adults. It usually strikes after age 60. It’s most common in women, but men can get it too.

What causes osteoporosis?

Osteoporosis is caused by a lack of bone strength or bone density. As you age, your bones get thinner naturally. But some things can make you more likely to have the severe bone thinning of osteoporosis. These things are called risk factors. Some risk factors you can change. Others you can't change.
Risk factors you can't change include:

• Your age. Your risk for osteoporosis goes up as you get older.
• Being a woman who has gone through menopause. After menopause, the body makes less estrogen. Estrogen protects the body from bone loss.
• Your family background. Osteoporosis tends to run in families.
• Having a slender body frame.
• Your race. People of European and Asian background are most likely to get osteoporosis.

Risk factors you can change include:

• Smoking.
• Not getting enough weight-bearing exercise.
• Drinking too much alcohol.
• Not getting enough calcium and vitamin D in the things you eat or from supplements.

To check your risk for osteoporosis, use this Interactive Tool: Are You At Risk for Osteoporosis?

What are the symptoms?

Osteoporosis can be very far along before you notice it. Sometimes the first sign is a broken bone in your hip, spine, or wrist after a bump or fall.
As the disease gets worse, you may have other signs, such as pain in your back. You might notice that you are not as tall as you used to be and that you have a curved backbone.

Menopause

Menopause, the cessation of the menstrual cycle, is a natural part of aging in women. Defined as not having a period for at least a year, menopause occurs at an average age of 51, although onset can vary widely.

Similar to Menopause Symptoms

Other conditions that can cause symptoms similar to menopause symptoms include:

• Conditions that lead to an absence of the menstrual periods (amenorrhea), such as pregnancy, severe weight loss or gain, or excessive exercise.
• Emotional changes, such as stress, anxiety, or depression.
• Problems with other hormones, which can result from problems with the thyroid gland (underactive or overactive), problems with the pituitary gland, or polycystic ovary syndrome.
• Problems that can cause irregular bleeding. These include:
  • Irregular ovulation unrelated to an age-related drop in fertility.
  • Uterine fibroids, which are noncancerous growths in the uterus.
  • Endometrial polyps, which are another type of noncancerous growths in the uterus.
  • Endometrial hyperplasia, which is abnormal thickening of the lining of the uterus that can lead to uterine cancer if not treated.
  • Endometrial cancer, also known as uterine cancer.
  • Cervical cancer.

Sore Throats

Sore throats are common. Most of the time the soreness is worse in the morning and improves as the day progresses.Like colds, the vast majority of sore throats are caused by viral infections. This means most sore throats will NOT respond to antibiotics. Many people have a mild sore throat at the beginning of every cold. When the nose or sinuses become infected, drainage can run down the back of the throat and irritate it, especially at night. Or, the throat itself can be infected.Some viruses can cause specific types of sore throat.

For example, Coxsackievirus sometimes causes blisters in the throat, especially in the late summer and early fall. Mononucleosis and the flu can also cause specific viral throat infections.Strep throat is the most common bacterial cause of sore throat. Because strep throat can occasionally lead to rheumatic fever, antibiotics are given. Strep throat often includes a fever (greater than 101°F), white, draining patches on the throat, and swollen or tender lymph glands in the neck. Children may have a headache and stomach pain.A sore throat is less likely to be strep throat if it is a minor part of a typical cold (with runny nose, stuffy ears, cough, and similar symptoms). Strep can NOT be accurately diagnosed by looking at the throat alone. It requires a laboratory test.Sometimes breathing through the mouth will cause a sore throat in the absence of any infection.

During the months of dry winter air, some people will wake up with a sore throat most mornings. This usually disappears after having something to drink.In addition, allergies (allergic rhinitis) can cause a sore throat.With a sore throat, sometimes the tonsils or surrounding parts of the throat are inflamed. Either way, removing the tonsils to try to prevent future sore throats is not recommended for most children.Common CausesBreathing through the mouth (can cause drying and irritation of the throat) Common cold Endotracheal intubation (tube insertion) Flu Infectious mononucleosis Something stuck in the throat (See: Choking child or adult and CPR) Strep throat Surgery such as tonsillectomy and adenoidectomy Viral pharyngitis Home CareMost sore throats are soon over. In the meantime, the following remedies may help:Drink warm liquids. Honey or lemon tea is a time-tested remedy. Gargle several times a day with warm salt water (1/2 teaspoon of salt in 1 cup water). Cold liquids or popsicles help some sore throats. Sucking on hard candies or throat lozenges can be very soothing, because it increases saliva production. This is often as effective as more expensive remedies, but should not be used in young children because of the choking risk. Use a cool-mist vaporizer or humidifier to moisten and soothe a dry and painful throat. Try over-the-counter pain medications, such as acetaminophen. Do NOT give aspirin to children. What To Expect At Your Health Care Provider's OfficeYour health care provider will perform a physical examination. He or she may want to know some details about the sore throat, such as:How long has the sore throat been present? Have other family members had recent sore throats? Is the pain increasing, staying the same, or decreasing? Are you able to swallow saliva, fluids, and food? Is there excessive drooling (in infants)? Are you hoarse? Is it worse at night? Are you able to sleep? Are you breathing through your mouth? Is the soreness better in the morning? Better with moist air or mist? Better with medication? What other symptoms are also present -- noisy breathing, fever, wheezing, allergies, rash? Have you had a recent injury or surgery? Are there swollen lymph glands in your neck? Are there sores or pus in the back of your throat? Is there a sensation of gagging? What medications are you taking? What is your typical daily diet? The following diagnostic tests may be performed:Complete blood count Monospot test (to rule out mononucleosis) Throat culture and rapid strep test TreatmentUsually, treatment will be delayed until lab test results are known. Doctors will often begin treatment of a sore throat immediately if there is a family history of rheumatic fever, if the patient has scarlet fever, or if rheumatic fever is commonly occurring in the community at the time.Antibiotics are usually NOT wise if the strep test or throat culture is negative, and they can have serious side effects.

When antibiotics are started, it is important to complete the entire course as directed, even after symptoms improve. Children can return to school or day care 24 hours after antibiotics are started.For a sore throat caused by infectious mononucleosis, rest and home treatment is recommended.For a sore throat caused by bacterial tonsillitis, antibiotic treatment may be recommended. Some tonsillitis is viral and will clear up without treatment (surgery is rarely necessary). Recurrent or persistent sore throats without bacterial infection may be due to allergies and require anti-allergy treatment.PreventionClean your hands frequently, especially before eating. This is a powerful way to help prevent many sore throat infections. You might avoid some sore throats by reducing contact with people with sore throats, but often these people are contagious even before they have symptoms, so this approach is less effective.Not too long ago, tonsils were commonly removed in an attempt to prevent sore throats. This is no longer recommended in most circumstances.A cool mist vaporizer or humidifier can prevent some sore throats caused by breathing dry air with an open mouth.

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