Asthma attack symptoms may vary accordingly to individuals. With the proper guidance from health professionals, these symptoms, if not avoided, can be prevented. As soon as early signs of these symptoms are detected, action plans should be taken early so needful treatments can be applied.
Asthma attack symptoms are easily recognized. Among these symptoms include the increase in urination, thirstiness, and irritation of the throat and nose. These symptoms commonly occur before asthma attacks. However, not all asthmatic persons would experience similar severity of symptoms.
Just the same, it may always vary depending on the peculiar pattern of the early signs of symptoms. If not properly treated, these symptoms can lead to severe distress of the respiratory system.
Among the common asthma attack symptoms that are identified, are shortness of breath, wheezing and coughing. Exhaling and wheezing are the actual symptoms seen during an asthma attack. These symptoms begin with rapid breathing whereas the respiratory airways of the person are tightened and constricted. During the attack, all the breathing muscles inside the body will become visibly active.
Chest pain or tightness is usually the first asthma attack symptoms experienced by an asthmatic person. It normally happens to about 75% of the asthmatic population. Its intensity may depend on the kind of asthma that the person has.
A cough is usually marked at the end of every asthma attack where the cough is producing stringy and thick mucus. If the asthma attack is acute, then the inflammation inside the respiratory airways can only persist for about a few days or even several weeks.
Lethargy is also one of those common asthma attack symptoms. It refers to the feeling of tiredness, which is quite usual for asthmatic persons. It is the result of some sleep patterns that are interrupted, availability of oxygen to the blood and body tissues, and building up of muscular lactic acid, which then result in generalized fatigue of the muscles.
Learn what are the common causes of asthma at my asthma homeopathy site. Learn how to prevent asthma attacks by identifying the common asthma attack symptoms.
Wednesday, January 28, 2009
Common Asthma Attack Symptoms – Learn To Identify Common Asthma Symptoms
Tuesday, January 27, 2009
What is causing chronic insomnia?
Insomnia is a sleep disorder characterized by chronic problems falling asleep, staying asleep or only sleeping for several hours and being wake unable to fall back to sleep. It is typically followed by functional impairment while awake. Both organic and non-organic insomnia constitute a sleep disorder.
It can be caused by another disorder, by changes in the sleep environment, by the timing of sleep, or by stress. Researchers do not know exactly why people need sleep, but we do know that lack of sleep can kill. Humans deprived of sleep for long periods begin hallucinating and develop other mental problems.
Insomnia that last for over 6 month is considered chronic insomnia.
Because so many people suffer from sleep disorders, Sleep medicine is a recognized medical subspecialty. Doctors who specialize in sleep medicine help people who are unable to sleep well. Sleep doctors are able to detect and treat both common and rare sleep disorders. Some common sleep disorders are insomnia, jet lag, sleepwalking, snoring and obstructive sleep apnea.
Over-the-counter sleep aids or supplements may help when stress, travel or other disruptions keep you awake. If you have chronic insomnia, though, a better approach is to remove the cause — most often, by changing your lifestyle.
Acute insomnia is the inability to consistently sleep well for a period of between three weeks to six months. Chronic insomnia lasts from months to years. Insomnia occurs 1.4 times more commonly in women than in men. Researchers do not know exactly why people need sleep, but we do know that lack of sleep can kill. In research studies, rats normally live two to three years, but if rats are totally deprived of sleep, they only live about five weeks. They also develop sores, their immune systems do not work well and their body temperature drops. Humans deprived of sleep for long periods begin hallucinating and develop other mental problems.
You've followed all the tips for getting enough sleep — sleeping on a regular schedule, avoiding caffeine and daytime naps, exercising regularly, and managing stress. Still, a good night's rest remains out of reach. You may be thinking about over-the-counter (OTC) sleep aids or other sleep supplements. OTC sleep aids are effective for an occasional sleepless night. If you're considering sleeping supplements, it's important to understand that much is unknown about their safety and effectiveness.
Chronic insomnia can itself be a symptom of another condition, such as depression, heart disease, sleep apnea, lung disease, hot flashes, or diabetes, so it's important to see a doctor if you are having trouble sleeping.
Monday, January 26, 2009
A lesson in Insomnia of how the body works
Insomnia is a sleep disorder characterized by problems in a person’s sleeping patterns and affects people differently. Some people have problems falling asleep when they first go to bed and is referred to by most physicians as “sleep on-set insomnia”. Other people fall asleep easily but wake up after only a few hours and have problems going back to sleep. Still others fall asleep easily, but their sleep pattern is not one that goes through the entire cycle of sleep. This is often referred to as “sleep maintenance insomnia”. To better understand this fairly common sleep disorder and the effects of insomnia on a person’s body, we must first learn about sleep and better understand why sleep is so necessary to a healthy life.
Sleep is the period of time when the body appears to repair the damage that has occurred while awake. The study of sleep is comparatively new and what sleep does for the body is not entirely understood. But researchers do know that people can go longer without food than without sleep. In studies done with mice deprived of sleep versus mice deprived of food, the sleep deprived mice get ill and die faster than the unfed mice.
Sleep studies have revealed that there are 5 stages of sleep. Stage 1 is a very light sleep when all body systems begin slowing down but the person can still be easily wakened. Stage 2 is a period where eye movement stop and brain waves begin to slow down. In stage 3, brain activity slows down even more and the slowest brain waves, called delta waves, sporadically appear. In stage 4, the brain waves are almost totally delta waves. Stages 3 and 4 are called "deep sleep" and it is difficult to wake a person during stage 4.
Stage 5 is called REM sleep and during this stage everything changes. Breathing becomes rapid, there are rapid eye movements; this is the stage where subjects dream. Researchers believe that quality, restorative sleep happens when a person goes through four or five sleep cycles during a sleep period.
Deficiency of sleep first affects the brain, so theories are that the brain needs to rest so as to recharge itself or reorganize data and may also need to rid itself of waste products produced while awake. Subjects kept awake for days begin to have mental symptoms first; such as hallucinations, inability to concentrate, and problems with memory.
During sleep, researchers have also found that metabolic rates and energy consumption are reduced. The cardiovascular system also slows down during sleep as blood pressure drops as well as heart rate. Chemicals are replaced and muscles are restored and in children, growth hormones are released.
So, with so many functions in the body affected by sleep, it becomes easy to understand why insomnia can be an extreme problem. According to the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services approximately 64 million Americans suffer from insomnia each year. It also seems to occur 1.4 times more commonly in women than in men.
Often insomnia is actually a secondary symptom of a primary medical illness such as depression, chronic stress or anxiety, heart disease, sleep apnea, menopause or diabetes; so it's important to see a doctor if you are having trouble sleeping.
If insomnia only occurs time to time, it is commonly referred to as intermittent insomnia. This is the type of insomnia that occurs when a person is traveling or is worried about a temporary problem. When insomnia last for a period of 3 weeks to six months it is classified as acute insomnia. But the problem is insomnia which last from months to years and is classified as chronic insomnia. Major health problems caused by chronic insomnia are many and vary from fibromyalgia to obesity and can even be fatal. Experts believe that chronic insomnia is a greater mortality risk than smoking, high blood pressure and heart disease.
Sunday, January 25, 2009
Understand sleep apnea
What is sleep apnea? In sleep apnea, with each period of breathlessness (as many as twenty in an hour) the carbon dioxide level in the blood rises and there is a corresponding decrease in the blood oxygen levels. This, along with the stress and the struggle to draw breath, puts a strain on the heart.
Central apnea is caused by the temporary cessation of the message from the brain that tells the diaphragm to breathe. When a person suffers from a combination of obstructive and central apnea, it's called mixed sleep apnea, and is by far the most difficult to treat and control.
In pure central sleep apnea, the brain's respiratory control centers are imbalanced during sleep. Blood levels of carbon dioxide, and the neurological feedback mechanism that monitors it does not react quickly enough to maintain an even respiratory rate, with the entire system cycling between apnea and hyperpnea, even during wakefulness. The sleeper stops breathing, and then starts again. There is no effort made to breathe during the pause in breathing: there are no chest movements and no struggling. After the episode of apnea, breathing may be faster (hyperpnea) for a period of time; a compensatory mechanism to blow off retained waste gases and absorbs more oxygen.
While sleeping, a normal individual is "at rest", as far as cardiovascular workload is concerned. Breathing is regular in a healthy person during sleep, and oxygen levels and carbon dioxide levels in the bloodstream stay fairly constant. The respiratory drive is so strong that even conscious efforts to hold one's breath do not overcome it. Any sudden drop in oxygen or excess of carbon dioxide (even if tiny) strongly stimulates the brain's respiratory centers to breathe. In central sleep apnea, the basic neurological controls for breathing rate malfunctions and fails to give the signal to inhale, causing the individual to miss one or more cycles of breathing. If the pause in breathing is long enough, the percentage of oxygen in the circulation will drop to a lower than normal level (hypoxia) and the concentration of carbon dioxide will build to a higher than normal level (hypercapnia).
In turn, these conditions of hypoxia and hypercapnia will trigger additional effects on the body. Brain cells need constant oxygen to live; and, if the level of blood oxygen goes low enough for long enough, the consequences of brain damage and even death will occur. Fortunately, central sleep apnea is more often a chronic condition that causes much milder effects than sudden death. The exact effects of the condition will depend on how severe the apnea is, and the individual characteristics of the person having the apnea.
In any person, hypoxia and hypercapnia have certain common effects on the body. The heart rate will increase, unless there are such severe co-existing problems with the heart muscle itself or the autonomic nervous system that makes this compensatory increase impossible. The more translucent areas of the body will show a bluish or dusky cast from cyanosis, which is the change in hue that occurs due to lack of oxygen in the blood ("turning blue").
Overdoses of drugs that are respiratory depressants (such as heroin, and other opiates) kill by damping the activity of the brain's respiratory control centers. In central sleep apnea, the effects of sleep alone can remove the brains' mandate for the body to breathe. Even in severe cases of central sleep apnea, the effects almost always result in pauses that make breathing irregular, rather than cause the total cessation of breathing.
Sleep apnea can cause high blood pressure, depression, heart problems and in some cases sudden death. If you thing that you or anyone in your family has sleep apnea, a visit to your family physician is highly recommended.
Saturday, January 24, 2009
Fibromyalgia - How to Flee from the Awful Aching
Experiencing fibromyalgia could be really distressed. Fibromyalgia is a condition that is chronic as well as excruciating. It is complicated and bemused to diagnose this problem. Nevertheless, there are certain symptoms that point to the emergence of fibromyalgia. They consist of things like continuous ache and stiff muscles, softened tissues that going over to tender as well as shortage of sufficient sleep that leads a patient to suffer enormously tired.
Could be Another Illness
When suffering from fibromyalgia, you are going to undergo pain in your neck as well as back as well as in the hands and even the pelvic girdle, also some other parts of the body. If you are suffering such pain, you’d be better to visit a doctor immediately. The doctor would do something necessary to diagnose whether or not you are suffering from fibromyalgia.
However, as mentioned, the diagnosis of this condition is not an easy matter. This is because numerous symptoms are closely related to other diseases like chronic fatigue and arthritis and rheumatism.
So you are going to have to describe your trouble thoroughly to your doctor, who will then perform certain tests so as to diagnose your condition. Frequently, fibromyalgia may also become noticeable following an injury or even after an ailment and there are also genetic reasons that can lead a person to suffer from fibromyalgia. Actually, based on newest research on the topic, fibromyalgia can also be caused because of defects in the central nervous system that lead to extremes of pain.
Following the correct diagnosis, you can then expect to obtain help from the symptoms and by following the advice of a medical health professional, you should be able to get some relief, though simultaneously you may need to also go in for various treatment regimes that include things such as taking dietary supplements, exercising, and better nutrition. Furthermore, you may even need to take hot-cold therapy as a way of getting relief from the pain.
You can even need to take over-the-counter medications to take care of your fibromyalgia condition and some doctors can even prescribe anti-depressants that are going to aid patients in getting right amount of sleep. The nice news is that there are quite a few techniques by which to get relief from fibromyalgia which makes this unberable condition rather more bearable.
It is very useful to give appropriate emotional as well as physical support to people who are experiencing fibromyalgia. Besides, a patient who can keep his chin up and take up an optimistic attitude be able to gather his own health rather than get crushed by terrible pain of fibromyalgia
Still being confused of how to manage fibromyalgia? Just keep exploring here and get to know that you will not be confused with this horrible painful anymore.
Friday, January 23, 2009
Good medication for Insomnia problems
This article will go over a few things that you can take to help with sleep.
About ten percent of the population are constantly getting too little sleep. Sleep deprivation is more common with women than men. Most people need between six and nine hours of sleep per day and on average adults sleep eight and a half hour if they are allowed to sleep as much as their body needs. Sleep is very important, for body, mind and our general well-being. Long term sleep problems often contribute to a lowered quality of life.
If you suspect you have a sleep disorder, a sleep specialist can confirm if your suspicions are correct – and make a careful and detailed medical evaluation to find the source of your sleep problem.
Insomnia is usually the most common sleep disorder and it means you have a hard time going to sleep or that you have a hard time staying asleep. Usually, you will know if you are experiencing insomnia because you will remember tossing and turning or being awake at night.
Insomnia can be caused by fear, stress, anxiety, medications, herbs, caffeine, depression, or other mental conditions and sometimes occurs for no apparent reason. An overactive mind or physical pain may also be causes. Finding the underlying cause of insomnia is usually necessary to cure it.
Medication that can be taken for insomnia are both prescriptions and over the counter.
Benzodiazepines - The most commonly-used class of drugs prescribed for insomnia. Includes drugs such as temazepam, diazepam, lorazepam, and midazolam.
Non-benzodiazepine prescription drugs -Includes drugs such as Ambien and Lunesta. These drugs have a cleaner side effect profile than benzodiazepines but do appear to cause psychological dependence and physical dependence.
Melatonin - A hormone that has proved effective for some insomniacs in regulating the sleep/waking cycle.
Over-the-counter sleep aids - Many of these sleep aids use the antihistamine diphen¬hydramine. The effectiveness of these aids often decreases over time and next-day sedation is common.
There are several herbs that are known to be beneficial for people having sleeping problems. One common herbal sleep aid is Valerian which has been recognized for years in Europe as being helpful with insomnia. It is sold in the United States as a dietary supplement. There is no agreement on how this sleep aid works, but studies have shown that it does help with insomnia, as well as stress, and often as an aid in helping people who are trying to discontinue the use of benzodiazepines (a class of prescription medications for anxiety and panic attacks). There are side effects that have been reported, so before taking this herbal aid, a person should discuss taking Valerian with a pharmacist, especially if they are taking any prescription medications. The root is the part that is used in herbal sleep aids, and side effects of headaches and night terror, have been reported. The oil of this root is reported to have the odor of cat urine, so the most popular way to take Valerian is as a pill, rather than a tea made from the liquid.
Sleeping pills or aids should never be taken before speaking with your doctor about your sleeping problems.
Wednesday, January 21, 2009
De-Stress and Get Thin
These days, everyone’s stressed. Kids, traffic, gas prices, and work add up to a prescription for headaches and grinding teeth. Another side effect of stress is weight gain.
How Stress Makes You Fat
During ongoing stress, the body’s adrenal glands create more of the hormone cortisol than is normally needed. Too much cortisol can make you depressed, which can trigger comfort food binges. Cortisol also stimulates your appetite for fat and sugar and tells your body to store fat around your stomach. All of this combined is a recipe for weight loss disaster.
How to Reduce Stress
The best weight loss plan includes getting rid of stress. Stress may seem impossible to get rid of, but there are some things that you can do to reduce the stress in your life, making it easier to lose fat fast:
· Exercise releases hormones that can naturally calm you. It is a dual edged sword that helps you lose weight by burning calories and de-stressing you. Find an exercise that you like and think of it as a treat away from your day.
· Before bed, take five minutes to think about your day. Then, when the five minutes are up, imagine locking the thoughts behind a door and go to sleep.
· Try getting a relaxing massage once a week. If you are strapped for cash, find a family member that gives great massages.
· Use aromatherapy to fight stress. Use lavender candles around the house and office to lessen headaches and frazzled nerves.
Once your stress is lowered, you will find that it is easier to lose weight…and not worrying about your weight is one less thing to be stressed about.
Combine these tips with regular use of a workout plan like this No Nonsense Muscle Building review, and you may find that you have less stress than ever.
Tuesday, January 20, 2009
Causes and Cures for Snoring
Snoring can be defined as the sound made through an open mouth due to vibration of the soft palate and uvula. Snoring happens when a person can't move air freely through his or her nose and mouth during sleep. That annoying sound is caused by certain structures in the mouth and throat - the tongue, upper throat, soft palate (say: pa -lut), uvula (say: yoo -vyuh-luh), as well as big tonsils and adenoids - vibrating against each other. Snoring can also be a symptom of sleep apnea, which is a serious medical condition. Learn more about snoring and sleep apnea from this cure for snoring site that has already helped thousands of people.
Snoring occurs when soft throat tissues vibrate during sleep. Some oral strips that are not known to be what is known as a natural cure for snoring are a blend of micro-encapsulated natural oils designed to reduce the vibrations. Snoring is a modest annoyance for most people. But for those who snore habitually, it can cause serious social and marital strife. Snoring sound occurs when air passes through relaxed tissues in your throat, forcing the tissues to oscillate as you breathe, creating raucous sounds.
Snoring is a pretty common sleeping habit that millions of Americans (and their partners) deal with on a nightly basis. Chances are, you or someone you know makes these low, grunting noises during sleep. Snoring can also occur when flabby throat muscles are drawn into the airway, particularly when muscular control is overly relaxed by alcohol, drugs, or deep sleep. Snoring really isn't sexy. Neither is cardiovascular disease, high blood pressure, diabetes, stroke, depression and even erectile dysfunction.
Snoring can actually cause insomnia and other issues for people who share a bed with a snorer. Snoring can also lead to dangerous sleep conditions such as sleep apnea. Snoring is an indication of obstructed breathing. Therefore, it should not be taken lightly. Snoring may increase with age, but there are indeed snoring home remedies that can take care of the problem quickly.
Snoring is a warning that the sleeper may be a victim of obstructive sleep apnea. can happen even if the snorer is a man, woman, young man, young woman, male child or female child. Snoring is relatively common during pregnancy, although no one knows exactly how widespread it is. It tends to be more of a problem in the third trimester.
Monday, January 19, 2009
Lack of sleep and dreams
There are two theories on sleep function; the conservation theory and the restoration theory. The conservation theory proposes that we basically need to sleep in order to preserve our energy for our daytime use. When our use of energy amount is considered in terms of the rate of metabolism, slow wave sleep especially the first four stages spends merely 5 to 25 % of the amount we use during day, and slow wave sleep is strongly "associated with conservation of energy". Another theory, the restoration theory, holds two hypotheses, the whole body restoration and the neurological restoration. The whole body restoration hypothesis suggests that sleep functions as a process of "anabolism" with respect to protein as well as a release of more hormones. The neurological restoration hypothesizes that brain is the one that needs to sleep. In addition, each stage is responsible for the partial brain restoration and that is why people need to repeat several non REM and REM sleep cycles throughout the night. Some researchers even hypothesize that these two theories might be both correct, and the sleep function is still a myth.
Why do we sleep in the first place? What triggers to fall asleep is not a single source. For example, it has been said that the hypothalamus, located in the center of the brain, collects messages from certain cells and carry the signal to the pineal gland in the brain. This process causes to produce the "hormone melatonin" which helps the body temperature to go down. Also, another example is raphe nuclei, located in the part of the brain which is in charge of "unconscious activity" such as walking and eating, sends an order to nerve impulses to shut down the brain system. Therefore, falling asleep is not merely a single process but a collective event
Many researchers have been trying to find out the functions and symbols of dreams. Though there are many theories, researchers have not exactly found out the reasons we dream and whether the contents of dreams have directly something to do with our everyday life. The first theory came up by a psychologist, Sigmund Freud. Freud explained that what is in our dream is the "repressed longing": the suppressed thoughts and desires that we are usually unable to express socially. Carl Jung also supports Freudian ideas especially the origin of dreams, but except for one important principle. What Jung sees different is that dreams enable us to see ourselves as well as solve our problems. The third theory, "activation-synthesis hypothesis", proposed by Allan Hobson and Robert McCarley in 1970's takes a very different view compared to Freud and Jung. They claim that dream consists of random images which are stored as a memory in our head. These random images, dreams, are created by "nerve signals sent out during REM sleep from a small area called the pons" .Though there are many theories to solve the representation of dreams, the recently study in 1997 by Mark Solms using fMRI and PET seem to lean toward Freudian theory. Solms studied people with a brain damage, and concluded that the most active place during sleep was the part which controls emotion regardless of the differences in brain damages. Though many researchers including Solm do not necessarily see Freudian ideas as completely valid, they do believe that unconscious thoughts may be projected on our dreams.
REM sleep and dreams are related, but what is important about them? In the study by William Dement at Stanford University School of Medicine, participants were awaken when they were about to go to REM sleep stage, and Dement concluded that many participants had a psychological problem such as anxiety and irritability. According to this theory, REM seems like an essential sleep stage for humans. Jerry Siegel, director of UCLA's center for sleep research explains that "REM sleep may have evolved for physiological reasons" considering that Non REM and REM behave like the automatic temperature change which a lot of animals do. Siegel also see dreams as a kind of "epiphenomenon" of a sleep product. The importance and function of sleep and dreams are controversial; some researchers claim that sleep and dreams are essential for health whereas some claim that they were a necessary development for human.
Although there has been many researches and theories on sleep and dreams, we still have not found why we actually sleep and what exactly the importance of this activity. After all, sleeping can be accepted as a fact that we all have to do everyday in our life regardless of the puzzles in reasoning. Because of the technological advancement, our scientific discovery has been much more rapid. Someday, some research might be able to find out the definite answers for sleep and dreams, but until then, the myth of sleep and dreams remains with us.
Sunday, January 18, 2009
About overcoming insomnia
There are many tips to help overcome insomnia.
There are 80 different sleep disorders of which the most common is insomnia. Insomnia may mean you have a hard time going to sleep or that you have a hard time staying asleep. Usually, you will know if you are experiencing insomnia because you will remember tossing and turning or being awake at night.
The following habits and conditions are risk factors for developing insomnia:
• Poor sleep environment (e.g., too noisy, too brightly lit, too hot, or too cold)
• Excessive use of caffeine, alcohol, or certain medications and drugs
• Smoking or chewing tobacco
• Illness
• Obesity
• Anxiety, depression, or another mood disorder
• Stress, such as the death of a loved one or job pressure
• Unhealthy or irregular sleep routine
• Early or late-night bedtimes
• Traveling between time zones
• Daytime napping
• Shift work with a rotating schedule
Insomnia is a sleep disorder characterized by an inability to sleep and/or inability to remain asleep for a reasonable period. Insomniacs typically complain of being unable to close their eyes or “rest their mind” for more than a few minutes at a time.
Insomnia can be caused by fear, stress, anxiety, medications, herbs, caffeine, depression, or other mental conditions and sometimes occurs for no apparent reason. An overactive mind or physical pain may also be causes. Finding the underlying cause of insomnia is usually necessary to cure it. But there are tips for helping with insomnia while you are working on curing it.
Behavioral Treatments for Insomnia:
Progressive Muscle Relaxation (PMR) - This relaxation technique is practiced by tensing certain muscle groups and then totally relaxing them.
Autogenic training - A relaxation method that calls for an individual to repeat a set of visualizations to induce a state of relaxation.
Meditation - Concentration on an object of thought or awareness that can calm and relax the body and mind.
Stress management - Being aware of and managing the amount of stress in your life can allow you to more easily relax at night when it’s time to sleep.
Stimulus control - Stimulus Control therapy reassociates the bed and bedroom with sleeping by limiting the amount of time spent in the bedroom for non-sleep activities.
Diet management - Reducing the use of stimulants and depressants and avoiding big meals just before bed can help reduce the risk of insomnia episodes.
Acupuncture, acupressure, and massage - These alternative treatments can have an extremely calming effect on your nervous system.
Medicinal Treatments for Insomnia:
Benzodiazepines - The most commonly-used class of drugs prescribed for insomnia includes drugs such as temazepam, diazepam, lorazepam, and midazolam.
Non-benzodiazepine prescription drugs - New drugs such as Ambien and Lunesta. These drugs have a cleaner side effect profile than benzodiazepines but do appear to cause psychological dependence and physical dependence.
Melatonin - A hormone that has proved effective for some insomniacs in regulating the sleep/waking cycle.
Over-the-counter sleep aids - Many of these sleep aids use the antihistamine diphenhydramine. The effectiveness of these aids often decreases over time and next-day sedation is common.
These methods will only help with insomnia while you and your medical professional are working on finding the primary problems so as to find a cure.
Saturday, January 17, 2009
Health problems from being overweight
It's not only the fact you will look better if you diet to lose fat, there are plenty of other health factors to think about when you weigh too much.
Diabetes is one of the biggest areas of concern with those who are overweight. People suffering from diabetes are increasing in number and they have to cope with all the health issues that are bound up with it.
One of the major problems with diabetes is that it is a major cause of going blind. Another serious problem linked to diabetes is kidney disease.
Added to this, diabetes increases the chance of having heart disease and having from a stroke by almost 400%.
For men being overweight can also mean erectile dysfunction.
Being too fat leads to high cholesterol and high blood pressure.
If you drop only a small bit of weight it can have a huge positive effect on your health. This will also help to reduce the possibility of you developing other diseases later in life.
Being fat can also mean you snore as when you lie down fatty tissue in your throat can obstruct your breathing. Due to this you aren't getting good quality sleep and your energy levels will be reduced accordingly.
Dropping even a small amount of body fat can reduce your snoring quite a lot and the effect of getting better quality sleep at night is you will have a lot more energy.
Being over tired also tends to make most people want to eat more food while attempting to kick start energy levels. This only adds to your weight problems so as you can see all these little steps help each other to help refine your overall health and well-being.
Looking good shouldn't be the single focus when trying to exercise to lose fat. It should just be an added bonus of actually being healthier. You do not have to be healthy to be attractive. There are ways you can do this such as surgery or make-up. Although, think on this - Will being unattractive kill you in the future?
Friday, January 16, 2009
Two Really Helpful Ways to Fall Asleep At Night
Sleep disorders can affect people in many ways. When sleep disorder keeps a person from falling asleep at night, it wreaks havoc on your daily performance. It affects you in all aspects of your life from being an effective parent and at work. There are a couple of things you can do to help yourself get some sleep at night.
When it comes to finding a natural way to fall asleep, it is best to deal with the source of the sleep disorder. If you have consistently stressful days filled with a long work schedule, bills rising and wondering why the government doesn't bail you out, then you definitely need to take a step back and regroup. Remember, the idea is to get your body to shift its thoughts to something that's more pleasurable and relaxing.
One thing that's really easy to start doing just take up reading. Reading has many benefits that can last a lifetime. Try making a habit to read a book about 30 minutes before you go to bed. Reading a book will help you take your mind off of your daily stresses temporarily and can eventually help you go to sleep. Make sure when you read, you do not have the television on and you're reading in a quiet place.
If you're one of those people that have thoughts racing every second, you want to make sure you make a conscious effort to read the words of the book. Make sure you are telling yourself to take in and focus on every word you are seeing. Because while you're reading are actually taking in the words of the book and hopefully enjoying it.
Another helpful hint help to you fall asleep, is to clear your mind. Thinking about nothing is the best way to stop thinking about your problems. To clear your mind, start thinking about the breathes you are taking, it's one of the easiest things to do. Think about the breaths going in and leaving your body, and only concentrate on that. If you want to steer yourself away from your days experiences, then you should start concentrating on your breathing to relax. Your goal is to relax enough to the point where your body wants to get back to sleep. When
While not being able to fall asleep at night can be devastating to your body and mind. Just remember that it may have to do with the stress and anxiety in your day to day life. The best way to help yourself is to remove yourself from the daily stresses for a while so you can relax and finally go to sleep at night. Hopefully it to helpful ways to fall asleep discussed above will be effective for you. Once you find yourself sleeping more at night, you may be able to deal with your daily routine more effectively.
To find out how to get a good nights' sleep again, read our review of the sleeptracks sleep optimization program. For more information on helpful ways to fall asleep, go to http://www.aboutsleepdisorder.com.
Disclaimer: This article is for informational purposes only and reflects an opinion. This article is not a substitute for medical advice. You should consult a physician for medical advisement.
Thursday, January 15, 2009
Medline Medical Information
As you may already know, there is an exhaustive wealth of information on the internet regarding your health. Perhaps you went online to look up some information about how to care for rheumatoid arthritis, or to look at pictures of skin diseases to see if you may have one. Maybe you've already been diagnosed and are looking for local resources to help you deal with the symptoms. Maybe you're looking for doctors who specialize in blood disorders or genetic diseases in your area. For all of your burning questions regarding health topics, there is Medline.
Medline offers many unique functions to enhance your understanding and enrich your life. For instance, if you are about to undergo a colonoscopy or hip replacement surgery, a biopsy, a laparoscopy, LASIK eye surgery or another procedure, then you can watch an interactive tutorial that will show you what will be done and alleviate some of the mystery and anxiety. Another resource you may find very useful is the "Health Check Tools" page, which gives you educational quizzes about breast cancer, arthritis or alcoholism, as well as an "alcohol calorie intake counter," a mental health screening quiz, a cancer risk questionnaire, a diabetic "rate your plate" assessment, a target heart rate calculator, an interactive menu planner and a risk assessment tool for coronary heart disease.
Medline is set up to accommodate all different types of people. Speak Spanish? No problem, as there is a version en Espanol, as well as forty other languages! Is your eye sight failing? Don't worry, there is a version, located on the lower right-hand corner of the "Health Topics" page, which offers an easier to view page.
Did you hear about a drug on television, from a friend, in the news or from your doctor that you'd like to know more about? Medline has a comprehensive "Drug Information" section. For example, if you were to look up Lunesta, a chronic fatigue drug used to treat sleep disorders, then you can have the following questions answered: Why is this drug prescribed? How should this medication be used? What are other uses for this medication? What special precautions should I follow? What special dietary instructions should I follow? What should I do if I forget a dose? What side effects can this medication cause? What storage conditions are needed for this medication? What should I do in case of an overdose? What other information should I know? What are the brand names for this drug? The answers are presented all on one page with quick, informative, bulleted responses for a quick scan.
Visit Medline at www.Nlm.Nih.gov for all the medical information you need. You may be feeling depressed or anxious when you are first diagnosed with a disease or disorder, but seeking information can give you that sense of control over your life again. You can find assisted living devices, medications and treatments to make life more manageable. You can get tips on healthy living to be sure you're doing all you can in terms of damage control. You can find local organizations and programs that can help you cope as well. If you'd rather not spend the rest of your life just trying to find trustworthy health information, then just visit Medline to tap into a wealth of knowledge.
Tuesday, January 13, 2009
Looking for herbal remedies for Your Anxiety Problems?
The explanation why anxiety becomes a cause of anxiety owing to the symptoms and reactions which result from anxiety can often be very grievous and can be opposing. The very thought of seeing a person suffering from anxiety can be grievous and when the person turn out to be your loved one then your agony becomes mutifold. The hunt for a supreme herbal remedy for anxiety is well underway and has yielded several hopeful herbs. The main bearing in dealing with anxiety is to initially find out what is causing this emotional state. In some cases, herbal remedies for menopause can actually help ease anxiety because the onset of menopause may be the cause of the anxiety or worry.
Valerian As Herbal Remedy For Anxiety
Valerian is an herb that is presumed to have a sedative effective on people taking it and as an herbal remedy for anxiety, valerian is quite notable. The sedative effect is developed by the root of the Valerian herb which can be used as an herbal remedy for anxiety. Valerian has undergone large-scale study and research and has been proven to be an effective herbal remedy for anxiety. It has been found to soothe and calm many people who suffer from anxiety and depression. It can also curtail the effects and symptoms of stress, agitation and worrying.
The effect of this herb steps up the possibility of falling asleep abruptly and going into deeper sleep. This feature or property of the Valerian root is one that is coveted by many since people who suffer from anxiety have trouble getting sleep or sleeping well. A well rested person is also more capable of dealing with stress and anxiety of his or her daily life.
Ginseng As An Herbal Remedy For Anxiety
Ginseng has long been celebrated as an herb that has several uses. As an herbal remedy for anxiety, ginseng is quite appropriate because it has properties that promote emotional stability, relaxation, stress reduction and overall well being. Ginseng can also maintain the correct function of hormones in our body as well as promote better reproductive and circulatory systems. Many also accept that this herbal remedy for anxiety also has the capacity to slow down aging.
Dealing with anxiety is something that can be accomplished with the help of an herbal remedy for anxiety. The above mentioned remedies have both shown a promising capacity of managing and controlling the anxious and nervous feelings that often occurs when a person is stressed.
Monday, January 12, 2009
Hgh Side Effects Explained
HGH therapy has been the subject of extensive study and the results are amazing. The findings have excited the public, leading to publication in influential journals like the New England Journal of Medicine.
Among of the beneficial effects reported in these studies include an 8% increase in muscle mass, weight reduction with no exercise, and a mean four percent loss of fat.. Also reported was a loss of cellulite, wrinkle reduction, more elastic skin, enhanced memory, sharper vision, improved sleep, decreased blood pressure, improved cholesterol readings, increased cardiac function and many other health benefits.
Trying to develop drugs that furnish even one of these benefits the drug industry has expended huge sums of money and utilized major human capital. Now that you know that there is a drug available that combines so many of these great benefits into one amazing substance, you will of course start to think about what the downside of this product could be.
Whenever your body is introduced to a large dosage of any drug there will be a risk of side effects. When taken in excessive amounts the side effects of hgh can be rather dangerous. An individual's genetics greatly impacts how they react to various dosages of human growth hormone.
The most extreme HGH side effects have been observed in body builders and athletes who have in all likelihood taken abusively high dosages over extensive periods of time. Cases such as these have been known to produce unusual growths with unnaturally large bones being one characteristic. Research shows to increased danger of irregular heart beat, heart damage, and joint and facial deformities due to long term abuse.
Most recorded hgh side effects have been caused by over use of the hormone. Strictly following the dosage prescribed by your physician and by limiting the time the drug is used can significantly minimize the unwanted HGH side effects. The chance of reactions can be reduced by injecting a smaller dosage.
In some of the initial studies there have been a few documented cases of patients who suffered from carpal tunnel syndrome, and a condition of enlarged breasts called gynecomastia. Other side effects that have been recorded are hypertension, swollen joints and chronic joint pain, increased hair growth, and retention of internal fluids.
Stress to the liver and even liver damage can occur when it has to process huge amounts of the synthetic forms of HGH in the blood.There is a major risk that your pituitary gland will produce a smaller quantity of natural human growth hormone. This could even lead to a case where the pituitary gland stop functioning.
An individual needs to look at the benefits and side effects to determine if HGH therapy is for them. Knowing all the risks and studying the many alternatives are important to making an informed decision.
Sunday, January 11, 2009
A Guide to The Various Meditation Postures
Since ancient times, people have practiced meditation for the numerous benefits it offers. Incorporating meditation into your everyday life could make a huge difference in your mindset and attitude.
Almost all meditative practices teach that the spine must remain straight and slumping is not encouraged. The reason for this is that when you sit erect it promotes the circulation of your spiritual energy. This is considered to be your life force.
Even though a straight back is almost universal in the different approaches to meditation, some spiritual traditions and meditation instructors advise a variety of postures. Here's a look at a few of them.
1. Seated position. The person sits erect while keeping the back straight. The head and spine are in alignment and not tilted. Thighs are parallel with the ground. Hands are placed comfortably on the knees or chair arms.
2. Cross legged posture. This is one of the most popular positions, and includes the lotus position.
3. Kneeling posture. The person is positioned with both knees resting on the floor. The buttocks rest on the heels and toes, which are placed side by side. The hands are placed on the thighs.
4. Lying down posture. In yoga this is referred to as savasna; it's also known as the corpse position. The person lies down on the floor keeping the legs unbent and at ease. This posture isn't that common since it so closely resembles the sleeping position. A person might doze off at times. This is better as a means of reducing stress more so than for meditating.
In addition to these postures, there are several gestures and movements that can be incorporated into the practice of meditation. Included in these are hand motions which are termed Mudras. A theological meaning is at the root of these gestures. Founded on the yogic school of thought, they might affect the consciousness. One illustration is the typical Buddhist hand placement. The right hand reposes on top of the left hand with thumbs touching.
Integrating assorted repetitive actions like chanting, deep breathing or humming also assists in bringing on a state of meditation. Some people practice walking meditation. It's common to keep the eyes closed or partially open while meditating. However, Soto Zen practitioners perform their meditation with their eyes wide open in front of a wall.
To gain the benefits of meditation, follow the training of the type of meditation you have decided to practice. Remember that acceptance and persistence are necessary in order to have success. This could be of help at times when you find difficulty in meditating, and it will also improve your concentration in daily life.
Saturday, January 10, 2009
Chronic constipation diet: Proper Natural Foods Will Ensure Healthy Colon
Taking medications is a natural response to suffering from chronic constipation and the medical community too is doing its bit to promote such thinking. However, there are many alternative solutions that can help to not only prevent chronic constipation, to but also treat the condition once it has developed. This of course does mean that you will need to take another look at these options.
Constipation relief is also possible by consuming plenty of fruits of which figs and dates are a good example as too are grapes.
Sad Truth About Drugs And Laxatives
The sad truth about using drugs and laxatives is that they may well be able to provide relief; but they can also cause long term side effects. It is far better to opt for natural remedies such as controlling your chronic constipation diet. Mostly, it is not a person’s fault that they have started to suffer from chronic constipation. Nevertheless, controlling what you eat can do a lot of good in preventing chronic constipation.
The right chronic constipation diet can prove to be a great short term cure for the condition. In fact, with the proper food intake you can even expect to see noticeable results in just a week or even a fortnight; sometimes, even in just a single day. It only requires that you ensure having a healthy colon which in turn will ensure daily bowel movement; however, keeping the colon in good health is not so easy to achieve unless you eat the proper foods.
The right chronic constipation diet
The right chronic constipation diet is one that must start off by drinking a glass of natural juice or even plain water and this should be done immediately after you have woken up from a night of sleep. Not having enough water in the stomach will cause the body to draw water out of the colon and that in turn will result in hardening of the stool which in turn makes for difficulty in elimination of the waste.
The second part of taking the right chronic constipation diet is to ensure eating plenty of fruits and to consume more juice. In fact, between the hours of eight in the morning till noon you should only eat fruits and drink juices because these two will detoxify as well as eliminate accumulated waste in the colon.
Finally, the right chronic constipation diet is one that should also include taking adequate amounts of protein along with plenty of vegetables because the vegetables with high fiber content will help in breaking down protein and so, keeps the colon in good health and that in turn means that it (the colon) can expel unwanted fecal matter.
Friday, January 9, 2009
Natural Bodybuilding Supplement
Before discussing the benefits that organic Bodybuildingsupplements can have on a Body Building workout schedule, let’s look at the expense of using steroids. The first and most critical concern about the eat of steroids is that it is hazardous. Steroids have lasting effects on the body that can contain a user with health puzzles for the rest of their lives.
Steroid abuse can cause damage to the heart, liver and kidneys. It can also stunt growth, increase mood swings, cause sleep disorders and cause infertility. There are also aesthetic issues that arise from the use of steroids, which include testicular shrinkage, breast development in men, breast shrinkage in women, acne and hair loss. These are just a few of the many physical side effects that can result from using steroids. Additionally, steroid use is unfair and unnatural. It is an unhealthy practice that has taken over a sport that is supposed to be anchored in health and fitness.
Now, let’s take a look at the benefits that are associated with organic bodybuilding supplements. First of all, it is important to understand that supplements are intended to compliment a bodybuilding nutrition plan. They should never be used instead of whole foods. That being said, it isn’t necessary to take bodybuilding supplements at all to achieve a great physique. However, organic bodybuilding supplements will give bodybuilders a slight edge because they allow the athlete to consume large amounts of concentrated nutrients in forms that are easy for the body to digest.
Protein supplements in particular can be highly beneficial to a muscle building workout nutrition plan because protein is a building block of muscle. Additionally, it has to be consumed is very large quantities to support the muscle repair that occurs after an intense bodybuilding workout. If an athlete was to try and consume their daily protein requirement through whole foods alone, they would find themselves eating all day long.
Additional natual bodybuilding supplements can assist in protein synthesis within the muscles; prevent the body from metabolizing muscle to fuel Body Building workout; support in fast recovery after grueling Bodybuilding workout and aid avoid the joints from overuse injuries.
Thursday, January 8, 2009
Home Remedies for Acne Scars ?? Results Like Medication and Surgery
For people who have scarred skin due to acne damage, getting rid of those scars would certainly be a nice thing to do. Some people think that using medications and undergoing surgery are the only ways to get rid of such scarring. There are some methods for removing acne scarring that are easy to do yourself at home and do not require you to use any sort of medicines. These medications are those home remedies for acne scar.
Patiently Anticipate Results
Another concern for many people when it comes to getting rid of acne scarring is the lengthy period of time that you have to wait before the acne scarring will actually heal. In most cases you need to wait one week before you see results.
Although there is no medical explanation for why this method works, rubbing ice on your acne scars is an effective at home treatment for acne scarring that does indeed work for many people. In about two weeks, you should be able to remove your acne scars if you rub ice on them for three minutes each day.
Another useful tip as far as suitable home acne scar remedy goes is to use Aloe Vera gel to rid you of the acne scars. Aloe Vera is readily available in every grocery store and it is also not very expensive and by simply rubbing it for half an hour on the areas where you notice acne scarring, it will soon work its magic and pretty soon, you will start to notice that the scars have gradually disappeared.
You can also check out another acne scar remedy which requires using honey. Anyone that has used honey will vouchsafe for its effectiveness in ridding the skin off its acne scars.
You do not have to use very much honey at all in order to get the results that you are looking for. Just apply a little bit to your scars before you go to sleep. After a short time, you will begin to notice how the honey heals your scars, leaving your skin clean and fresh in appearance.
The best thing about these simple home remedies for acne scar is that they are easy to do and in case you lost the war in preventing acne from developing, then using these simple acne scar remedies will help you in simple yet effective ways.
Wednesday, January 7, 2009
Medication Options to Treat Insomnia
An ongoing spell of insomnia could lead you to try almost anything to help you get some much needed rest. However, it's important that you do your research so you understand how various products work.
Most people who experience a few nights in a row of insomnia will head straight to the pharmacy to get an over the counter remedy. Sleeping aids may be of some use at the outset, but they won't deal with the actual causes of the problem.
Sleeping aids shouldn't be considered a cure for insomnia. It could assist you at first, yet you need to ascertain the reason why you’re experiencing sleep problems. Being forced to rely on a pill to get some sleep is not the most beneficial alternative for your health.
Quite a number of people get addicted to the medication and find they can't sleep without it. Other people experience unpleasant side effects, or they end up with complications because of the way it interacts with their prescriptions.
Nonprescription sleep aids work against insomnia by employing an antihistamine, which is a common treatment for allergies. They make you sleepy and help to make sure you remain asleep.Some people experience drowsiness the next day, which might interrupt your natural sleep cycle. Other side effects might include memory loss, constipation, dizziness, dry mouth and blurred vision. If you become dependent on them, you will require increasingly larger doses to get the benefits.
Your physician may prescribe something more powerful, like a non-benzodiazephine. This helps you feel sleepy by stepping up the natural chemical process of your brain. If you need a sleep aid for long-term treatment of insomnia, it's safer than taking nonprescription, short term cures, however they can also cause dependency.
It’s uncommon these days, but your doctor could prescribe a tranquilizer if your insomnia is serious enough. This will calm your nervous system and lead to sleepiness. This is a short term solution that could lead to feelings of grogginess the day after.
Your physician might think that the best treatment for you is a prescription for anti-anxiety or antidepressant meds that will act as a sedative. These are common, but don’t have the same possibilities for addiction as other prescription drugs.
If you want to avoid the medical choices and select something more natural, you could look at an herbal remedy for your insomnia. There are herbs that have been shown to encourage a good night's sleep, such as chamomile, which is often served up as tea.
Melatonin, valerian root and SAMe are also considered to be effective herbal insomnia treatments. Be certain to use the proper dosage, because too much of even a good thing can cause undesirable results.
Tuesday, January 6, 2009
Make Some Changes to Your Lifestyle to Reduce Your Heartburn
If you experience heartburn, easing your symptoms might be as simple as changing a few habits. Here are several tips for preventing heartburn from firing up.
Lots of people experience heartburn discomfort while they're trying to sleep. However, simply by cutting back on bedtime snacks, you'll be able to get considerable heartburn relief. Don't snack for several hours leading up to bedtime. This can be difficult for all you late-night snackers. Yet it's essential if you want to get a more restful sleep at night.
When you eat is important, but what you eat is equally critical. For instance, acidic foods such as citrus juices, alcohol, tomato products and coffee all increase the risks of getting heartburn symptoms. Even if a specific food appears harmless, it can nevertheless cause the production of acid in your stomach. Spicy foods or those that are high in fat are frequent triggers of heartburn.
Restricting the quantity of food you consume is another consideration in staving off heartburn symptoms. This means that you shouldn't overeat during a meal. Food is sent back up the esophagus when your stomach is too full. This really aggravates the burning sensation in your chest because it's absorbed some of the stomach acids.
Overweight people can benefit by losing some of their body fat. Once they do, many people find their heartburn symptoms are reduced. Oftentimes they experience decreased pressure on the stomach, which leaves more room for the digestion process. So it's less likely to be sent back by way of the esophagus.
From time to time you might indulge yourself too much, and with the wrong foods. If this is the case, it's very important that you avoid lying down and instead remain sitting or standing in an upright position. This will help to hold the food in your stomach, away from your esophagus, and hasten the digestion process.
Heartburn sufferers who are overweight aren’t the only ones who should make more beneficial lifestyle choices. Those who smoke are also more prone to this ailment. If you smoke, the muscles in your esophagus don't work as efficiently. So they have a harder time keeping undigested food out of the esophagus and in the stomach where it belongs. Also, the stomach acids of those who smoke is more toxic because of the chemicals present. Every time you take a puff on a cigarette, you raise your risk of suffering heartburn symptoms.
Don't forget that lifestyle modifications might not be the ultimate fix for more severe instances of heartburn. There are those who will still need to visit their doctor to find relief.
Monday, January 5, 2009
Boost The Immune System With Powerful Polysaccharides Found In Red Marine Algae
Red marine algae has been a valued food in Asia for many of years due to its high nutritious value and trace mineral qualities. Red marine algae has been used by people as a food staple for thousands of years in costal regions around the world. This alga is a rich source of vitamins, minerals, proteins, complex carbohydrates, enzymes, essential fatty acids, fiber and trace elements. It nourishes skin, balances skin oils and helps with various skin disorders.
You might wonder how Red Marine Algae can help you. Red marine algae can assist the body's immune response to viruses. Some consider this alga to be one of the most beneficial ocean vegetables in the world, which has caught the attention of the modern scientific community for its immune supporting properties which may help with skin disorders such as herpes.
Herpes I also known as cold sores are not nice viruses because they can lie dormant for years and then be activated by one trigger or another. Herpes is a contagious viral infection caused by the herpes simplex virus. Studies suggest that red marine algae has been shown to have significant inhibitory effects against herpes.
Red Marine Algae's medicinal properties are thought to enhance the immune system's response, indicating that it is an immuno modulatory perfect as an antiviral agent. The polysaccharides or long chained complex sugars stimulate interferon production as well as other anti-tumor and immune- enhancing agents such as T and B cells improving their action in the body. Because Algae stimulates the immune system, increases white blood cell count and promotes the growth of healthy flora, algae supplements are ideal for improving immune, skin, and overall health.
Herpes has some what of a bad reputation; there are five types of herpes viruses that are very common causing conditions such as cold sores, shingles and Chronic Fatigue Syndrome or Epstein Barr. Red marine algae through its immune boosting properties can reduce the formation of herpes virus colonies, also helping to reduce the number and severity of outbreaks when they occur. Eradication of the herpes virus will most likely never happen, but success in the short term temporarily suppression of the virus has been achieved with diet and marine algae.
The polysaccharides found in Red Marine Algae are what give this alga a powerful immune stimulator. This alga is often referred to as a sea vegetable, research has proven that the sulfated polysaccharides in red marine algae may provide nutritional support for immune health. Research has isolated and identified a number of sulfated polysaccharides from sea plants that improve immune function, but do sulfated polysaccharides only boost immune response or can they do more. Yes they can do more, clinical trials have shown that these sulfated polysaccharides can suppress HIV, herpes, and influenza viruses, and patients have reported a lessening or even a halting of their growth within the body. It is a great antiviral alga that anybody who suffers from the above listed viruses should consider.
In addition to antiviral properties, red marine algae has been useful in weight-loss, lowering cholesterol and fat in the blood, detoxifying and counteracting degenerative conditions. The antiviral polysaccharides found in sea algae can stimulate the production of interferons, which work with the immune system and strengthen it. A long series of scientific studies has confirmed that red marine algae has potent antiviral applications and that, when used as a medicinal food, could play and important role for people who are susceptible to herpes (Cold sore) conditions, including genital herpes and shingles, as well as other viral conditions.
In summary, we know that sufficient rest together with a good diet and exercise can do much to maintain a robust immune system. This ancient life-giving balance we receive from marina algae takes on new meaning when understood as a major step towards strengthening our immune system to fight viruses. While outbreaks are never predictable, the number of outbreaks can be reduced through a proper diet and exercise to build up the immune system, proper amount of sleep, Stress management techniques, such as meditation, avoiding extended exposure to sunlight, and supplementing with red marine algae.
Sunday, January 4, 2009
Why Should You Try a Sleep Apnea Pillow?
As doctors and scientists get a better understanding of sleep apnea and what causes it, there are more and remedies that patients can try to fix this condition. One of those may be a sleep apnea pillow, which is gaining popularity with those who try it.
You may already know that sleep apnea refers to a cessation of breathing when you sleep.There's different reasons why this can happen but similar to snoring it may happen if a person sleeps on his/her back and his/her mouth falls open.The tongue may fall over the throat and cause the airways to become covered or fatty tissue along the back of the throat has the same effect. A sleep apnea pillow is designed to keep a person from sleeping on their back so that these conditions don't occur.
In the past patients that snore or are affected by sleep apnea were told to put a tennis ball on their back so that if they roll onto their back they will feel uncomfortable forcing them to roll back to their side. But imagine how uncomfortable and downright painful this is! A sleep apnea pillow on the other hand is a large pillow-like foam piece that cradles your head and your back to stay in place. There are many different varieties from which to choose; some are like regular pillows and wrap around the head and neck to keep it from turning.
Another type of sleep apnea pillow is one that wraps around the midsection and back to keep a person sleeping on their side.It has the same effect as the tennis ball method but it is far more comforting.At the end of the day would you rather have a cold hard tennis ball digging into your back or a soft and firm sleep apnea pillow sleep apnea pillow supporting you.Most people prefer the pillow!Your sleep won't be disturbed and you will be more comfortable all evening.
There is also another type of sleep apnea pillow that works with a CPAP machine. This pillow has inserts in which you can nestle the hoses for the CPAP machine, making it easier and more comfortable to use. If you use a CPAP machine you may want to consider a sleep apnea pillow with it as well to keep you comfortable and the hoses out of your way.
Saturday, January 3, 2009
Diet and Exercise Can Affect Mood and Anxiety Disorders
There's no super food or magical exercise routine that can cure mood and anxiety disorders, despite what some dismissive and self-righteous celebrities may claim to the contrary. Taking vitamins and jogging every day won't cure anyone of their emotional and mental afflictions, however, taking care of yourself physically can go a long way toward helping with these. At the same time, ignoring or neglecting your diet and physical routine can actually make mood and anxiety disorders much worse. How so?
When it comes to diet, there are certain foods that can make mood and anxiety disorders much worse. Sugar and caffeine typically make most people jittery and edgy, and someone prone to these disorders is just going to make the condition worse by having a lot of caffeinated beverages and sugary foods and drinks.
When it comes to food and mood and anxiety disorders, a person may also have special sensitivities, such as to wheat, peanuts, preservatives, or food colorings and dyes. Sometimes even a little bit of these things, if you're sensitive or allergic, can irritate mood and anxiety disorders. You would do well to keep a food diary for a few weeks and see if any particular food triggers a reaction or seems to make your mood worse. You can then begin to eliminate or cut back on these.
Regular physical activity can help alleviate some symptoms of mood and anxiety disorders for a variety of reasons. Exercise releases serotonin, the "feel good" chemical in the brain, which helps a patient to feel calm and relaxed. Exercise also increases blood and oxygen circulation in the system, and these fresh nutrients help to elevate your mood. Also, when a person exercises they usually just feel better about themselves overall; they've set a goal for themselves to be more active and then reaching that goal helps to alleviate those mood and anxiety disorders.
Ignoring good eating habits, regular physical activity and adequate sleep patterns is only going to make mood and anxiety disorders that much worse. It would be nice if you could just take a pill and not worry about any variety of mood and anxiety disorders but unfortunately it's not always that easy. Taking care of yourself and your health overall is absolutely imperative so as to live your life as panic-free as possible; this means some hard work on the part of the patient but in the end can definitely be worth it!
Friday, January 2, 2009
Don't Let Cold Sores Return
Are you feeling miserable because of cold sores symptoms? You're not alone as many people worldwide suffer cold sores and fever blisters. I'm sure you already know the pain it brings and you have to be careful because it is contagious. In the starting development stage, tiny blisters that are filled with fluid emerge in the lips and mouth area. After some time, they can turn into rash.
The herpes simplex virus type 1 (HSV-1) is the culprit behind this disease. What this virus does is stay dormant in your body and wait for the opportunity to become active. It's take about 10-14 days for the symptoms to subside. If you leave the sores alone without medication, it will eventually subside.
The world of medicine says you can use antiviral medication to resist the herpes simplex virus. Dynamiclear is one of the potent topical antiviral products. It is suggested that the solution be put on during the peak of the cycle so the solution can come in direct contact with the virus, thus leading to better results. Check out the review on Dynamiclear to discover more about this cold sore treatment.
If you're like many people, you'll opt to purchase an over the counter medication instead. If you're seeking for a long lasting solution, you'll not get it with these though. They don't treat the source of the fever blisters and cold sores. Therefore, you better be prepared for future episodes.
Certain medications for cold sores require prescription. These kinds of treatments can be expensive. You also need to know that if you are under certain medications, the cold sores medicines can interfere with the medications you are taking.
I hope that you're not searching for a cure with these medications as they only do well to relieve your symptoms. You also have to remember that healing will take time, so don't get too impatient. To avoid future outbreaks, you cannot stop taking these drugs and that can be a real stinker to many people.
You can always opt for home treatment for cold sores.Your immune system will also benefit from it. This can help your body to overcome the viral infection. The best thing about home remedies is that you don't have to worry about side effects.
I know it's a horrible thing to have cold sores, but there are cold sore products available to you. I'll always go for antiviral products because they treat the root causes. Don't give the herpes simplex virus a chance but destroy them all and you will see your outbreaks getting less and less.
Thursday, January 1, 2009
Try These Acid Reflux Remedies
Severe heartburn is very painful. Heartburn causes pain after eating and it frustrates many when they can't sleep. You could go to see your doctor like most people do for a cure. The odds are you have already tried many products that don't work. What would you do if you could use a natural remedy? Would you give that a try? In this article were going to take a look at some home remedies for acid reflux disease.
Apple cider vinegar is the very first remedy that you should try. What you do is mix 2 teaspoon full with some good old water. Don't be suprised if your condition gets worst at first. Stick with it. Things should get better in a few days.
2 Change In Diet: This one sounds like common sense, but it will help. The key is to find out what foods bother your stomach. This may not even be the usual foods that you think. From there you learn to avoid those foods. Many people struggle with this because they can't change their eating habits.
3 Ginger Root: Ginger root is a herb that works well against acid reflux. Ginger root can help absorb any extra acid your stomach is making. Ginger root is very easy to find in health foods stores in capsule form. You most likely will need to take one after each meal.
4 Fennel Seed: This is another herb that fights off acid reflux. Fennel seed has some very good compounds in it that helps contain spasms in the stomach and digestion problems. You will need to take half a tea spoon after each meal for it to work correctly.
5 Aloe Vera Juice: Yes you can drink Aloe Vera. Many people don't know that. I recommend that you buy your juice at your local health store. Making it yourself isn't a good idea because it could make you sick.
6 Apples: Some people find eating an apple after each meal to help their acid reflux condition a great deal. The problem with apples is that this is more temporary solution. Most people find that their acid reflux will return. It is still worth a try.
Lots of people are now using almonds to cure acid reflux. This isn't much of a surprise to me. Almonds are very good for good for you and help many different conditions. Eat a few after each meal.
You will have to experiment with these remedies to find out witch one works best for you. That's just the way this natural remedy stuff works. Many home remedies only work temporarily. The best place to start is with apple cider vinegar to stop acid reflux.