Health Articles

Anyone who sits at a desk studying or using a computer, has probably had student syndrome. Sitting in any position for a prolonged period of time can cause neck, midback, or lower back pain. Most people however, suffer through and wait for it to disappear, which it eventually will, that is, until the next time. To understand how to treat these aches and pains it is important to understand what is actually happening.

When students sit for prolonged periods they strain muscles, ligaments and joints of their spine. This usually occurs because of the lack of strength in the stabilizing muscles of the spine, combined with bad posture. Most people do not strengthen the proper muscles in their daily workouts, and many students do not exercise at all. The result of this is that spinal joints and ligaments take the majority of the force being put on the spine.

Just as in a sprained ankle, the joints swell up and there is a very active inflammatory process that occurs. The surrounding muscles sense that there is an injury, and they contract to protect the area from any further damage. Now there are two problems, the tight muscles and the strained joints.

If no treatment is done, and the area is left to rest, the pain will eventually go away, but the area is not healed. When inflammation settles it becomes scar tissue. Scar tissue can restrict the motion of joints, as well as reduce the amount of blood flow,oxygen and nutrients to the area. Scar tissue is also much weaker than healthy muscle or ligamentous tissue. So, you can see how important it is to get rid of any scar tissue to allow the body to heal properly.

Treatment goals would be to reduce pain, regain motion and strengthen the stabilizing muscles of your spine. Reducing pain and increasing motion can be accomplished with spinal adjustments. An adjustment releases endorphins which help kill the pain, but it will also help reduce the scar tissue, by regaining the range of motion and natural mobility. This enables the body to heal naturally. When sufficient healing has occurred, exercises are added and proper stretching should be done throughout the entire course of treatment. Eventually, stretching should become a daily habit.

As a chiropractor I have to be realistic. I know that patients are leaving my office to go home and do the same type of things that caused the problem in the first place. Most patients, after a series of treatments, realize that they can use chiropractic care as a tool. In busy times they will come weekly, or every other week to help them get through the tough times. As long as the same stimulus is there, it is hard to cure the problem, but in most cases it is controllable. One last hint: Have an icepack handy, it will help reduce the inflammation and pain.
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Natural cures for kidney stones are out there! Kidney stones can be both worrisome and very painful! Doctors will tell you that there is not a lot that they can do for them other than to prescribe you pain medication. They will also tell you to drink plenty of fluids to help push the stone through and for larger stones that cannot pass, doctors will sometimes have to schedule surgery in order to remove them. There are some natural cures to help with stones. If you do not know if you are suffering from kidney stones, some of the symptoms are, blood in your urine as well as urinary tract infections that you can not seem to get rid of, or reoccurring urinary tract infections. Fever, frequent urination and cloudy urine may also be symptoms of kidney stones. One of the biggest symptoms of kidney stones is the pain! You may start out with feeling just a small amount of discomfort in your back and rib area. This may be the stone trying loosening and making its way through your system. The pain that you feel will probably increase in strength as the stone travels from your bladder to be expelled. Kidney stone sufferers say that this is a very painful process that is almost debilitating.

Where do stones come from and how are they formed? Stones are formed when urine becomes too concentrated. This can occur because of lack of fluids or not drinking enough water. Substances (to include minerals) will being to crystallize, the crystals the form together and make a larger stone. Smaller stones can pass without causing damage to your bladder; however stones look like small rocks that have spines around them. These spines can scratch the walls of your bladder. There are other factors, (besides dehydration) that can cause stones, family history is one. If you have close family members that have suffered from stones, it is very likely that you too will have them. Males are more likely than females to suffer from stones. Those that have been on high protein diets have also experienced an increase of stones as well as those that suffer from maladies such as gout, and even those who do not move frequently (sedentary lifestyle) have seen an increase in stones.

Some natural cures for kidney stones are eating the right amount of fruits and vegetables as well as drinking plenty of water! Green vegetables that provide liquid and roughage will keep your body working properly. Foods that are rich in vitamin B6 such as mustard greens, celery, cabbage and tune will also help with stones. People tend to see an increase in kidney stones during the summer months that are because of not properly hydrating your body. I will help you find a natural cure for kidney stones.

The asthma and smoking debate… have you been thinking of quitting smoking? Now you have asthma that choice has been made for you. There is no longer any room for debate. Read this article for some eye-opening facts.

Believe it or not, at one time doctors used to recommend that people should smoke for their health! Soldiers coming home from war were given cartons of cigarettes. Film makers glamorized smoking to the masses and they were gullible enough to take it on board.

The Real Damage Caused By Smoking

In this generation we can see past these beliefs. It is clearly evident that smoking does an awful lot of damage to people’s health and wallets. Discover your real relationship with cigarettes; cancer of the lungs, cancer of the esophagus, cancer of the mouth, chronic bronchitis, complications of viral infections. If this reality is not attractive to you then quit.

Cigarette smoke is largely composed of pollutants and nasty chemicals. These minute substances can cause the lining of the throat to inflame. When inflamed, the throat lining swells up (a symptom of asthma), making breathing extremely difficult.

Avoid Passive Smoke

If you developed a peanut allergy, you would never again eat a peanut or anything contaminated by peanuts. If you have asthma, chuck the cigarettes in the garbage bin immediately and avoid even passive smoke like the plague.

The non-smoking asthma patient is wise to avoid passive smoking, as it can be just as harmful. International law forbids smoking in planes and most countries now have adopted the policy of banning smoking in all public transport. If you live in a country which still allows people to smoke wherever the mood takes them, lobby against it for the sake of your health. People who subject others to foul, chemical laden air, are surely ignorant or selfish beyond measure. Smoking at home cannot be stopped, but a considerate person does not do this. In certain countries, a house which contains traces of cigarette smoke will not be accessed by tradesmen or municipal workers.

Get Help to Stop Smoking

Staying with that decision to quit smoking is not an easy one for the nicotine addict. Get help or you will probably relapse. There are many avenues of assistance. See your doctor for advice. There are talking therapies, group therapies, courses, patches, chewing gum, sprays, etc. There is a method to suit everyone and you may even choose to use more than one. Millions of people have now succeeded in freeing themselves of nicotine enslavement. You will too!

Keep your home smoke free. Remove all ashtrays and should a guest ask for one, explain that it is necessary to keep your home unpolluted, and suggest they smoke outside. Offer them a nicotine patch if they do not want to go out. It is important to have fresh air circulating throughout your home but beware of room fresheners as they also can be triggers. Open a window back and front of your home for a little while twice a day. Children are much more sensitive to cigarette pollution than adults. Seek out practical information on how to protect them against asthma using new and innovative methods. Look up a website with an alternative solution about how to cure asthma the natural way.

Neck pain is a common medical condition & most of the adult population suffers from this problem at some point of time in their life. The neck pain may be due to improper habits/postures in our daily routine life, lackluster life style, and misalignment in the spine, injury, stress, muscular tightness or any other health problems. Bad sleeping habits like sleeping on stomach (when you have to keep your head 90 degrees to side), using very thick or thin pillow, working long hours on desk/computer, viewing TV in awkward position or traveling for long hours in sitting position, improper/excess exercises or work outs, are the main causes of stiffness, soreness, cramp or neck pain. The neck is composed of vertebrae along with the ligaments that provide stability to the spine. It supports the entire weight of the head as well as provides mobility. However, because it is less protected than the rest of the spine, the neck can be vulnerable to injury and disorders that produce pain and restrict motion.

Following precautions/measures can save you from neck pain:

• Proper posture while sitting – keep your head & back straight.
• While working on computer or viewing TV move around periodically and do some stretching exercises to relieve tension/stiffness of the neck. Avoid continuously sitting for a long time in one position.
• While lifting heavy things do not bend your back & neck. Sit down with your knees bend; keep the heavy object close to your body while lifting.
• Sleep on a hard bed while lying on your back. Do not sleep on your stomach.
• When there is swelling or pain in the neck apply heating pads on the neck.
• Do regular exercises/yogaasanas to keep your neck flexible.

You may get relief in neck pain by doing following exercises if the pain is not due to any injury or other medical reasons.

Stretch your arms in front of you, parallel to the ground at shoulder height level and palms of both the hands should be facing ground. Close the fists in such a way that your thumbs remain inside; rotate your fists in clockwise direction. While rotating fists your hands should remain straight & may not bend at elbow. Now rotate your fists in anticlockwise direction & keep normal breathing. You should do these exercise 15-20 times from both the hands.

• Place your both the hands on shoulders & join elbows in front of you & make big zero in clock wise direction. While rotating your arm your elbows should touch each other with every rotation. Repeat this exercise in anticlockwise direction. You should do at least ten rotations in both the directions with normal breathing. You can do these exercises in your office also while working on computers for long time.

• Raise your both the hands over your head & catch the right wrist with your left hand & left wrist with your right hand. Take a deep breath & pull the right hand with your left hand in such a way that elbow of your right hand should come behind your head. Now exhale & repeat this exercise from left hand.

• Interlock fingers of both the hands & place them behind your head. Take deep breath & put pressure in opposite direction from hand to your head & from head to hand. It will strengthen the muscles of your upper spine.

I believe in ancient theory of lifestyle. My website& blog on health emphasize that regulated lifestyle, balanced diet & regular exercises/yoga can prevent and even cure many diseases and will keep you physically as well as mentally fit with out medicines.

Symptoms of systemic yeast infections can often be difficult to pinpoint, as they are often caused not only by the usual Candida albicans fungus, but also by a number of other organisms. The problem that arises with a systemic infection is that the different symptoms may not be instantly recognizable as being the result of a yeast infection.

A systemic infection differs from a regular infection because of the spread of organisms throughout the body. If a systemic infection exists, the organisms responsible could be living in the mouth, intestines, genitals and in other parts of the body as well. This invasive infection should be treated under medical supervision as it can require more aggressive treatment than a regular infection.

There are a number of different conditions that can arise as a result of a systemic infection; hence the symptoms of systemic yeast infections can be quite varied. Seeking medical treatment from a health professional is important if you suspect you are suffering a systemic infection. Without medical supervision and the use of prescription medicines, you may be unable to shift the infection. If the infection is allowed to continue, then you could be at risk of serious health issues.

The following are some conditions that can be symptoms of systemic yeast infections:
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• Rosacea and acne
• Arthritis
• Gout
• Crohns disease and Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS)
• High cholesterol
• Asthma and allergies
• Chronic fatigue syndrome
• Acid reflux
• Fibromyalgia
• Arteriosclerosis
• Psoriasis, eczema and hives

At first glance, this list of conditions looks totally unrelated. That is why the symptoms of systemic yeast infections can often be mistaken for other conditions. This increases the possibility for ill health to be prolonged, because the damage can continue without accurate diagnosis and comprehensive treatment of the real infection. Due to the various organisms and fungi responsible for systemic infections the impact may not be limited to the infected area, but also extend further as toxins are released into the body. When this happens, poor health can become more widespread or systemic. Because a systemic yeast infection can present as another condition, getting medical advice is recommended so that appropriate treatment can be provided. It may also be advisable to examine your lifestyle as there may be some obvious changes you could make to help alleviate the problem.
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As mentioned previously, in a more usual yeast infection, the Candida albicans organism is what causes the infection to occur. Symptoms of systemic yeast infections, however, stem from multiple organisms being present in the individual. Among these are Candida tropicalis, an organism responsible for intestinal troubles and asperigillus, an airborne fungus which often leads to respiratory problems. This spreading of different organisms throughout the body creates a larger range of symptoms than those seen in a more typical Candida infection and can therefore give conflicting symptoms that make the underlying condition harder to diagnose.

Symptoms of systemic yeast infections should initially be treated by a physician, who can rule out the presence of other conditions, prescribe suitable medication and monitor the condition to ensure that no more long term damage occurs. By getting the appropriate treatment, the infection can be resolved and the individual will make a steady recovery from the infection symptoms. Taking steps to treat the infection early on is a must if you believe that you could be suffering from a systemic yeast infection.

Is it possible that a natural sugar which is found in fruit could be one of the main causes of childhood obesity and of diabetes? It would probably be foolish to suggest that any one thing is THE cause, but a 10 week study including 16 subjects on a strictly controlled diet, has produced evidence that fructose is at least one of the causes. The study found that fructose, a natural sugar found in small amounts in fruit, is a significant player in the problem. Fructose can be produced very cheaply from corn. As a result it is used to sweeten thousands of products such as soft drinks, cakes and pastries, cereals, yogurt and even salad dressings, to mention just a few.

Not only that but a recent study has determined that fructose, consumed in large quantities, produces a layer of fat cells around the heart, liver and certain other organs. Fructose is not digested in the way that other sugars are. It arrives undigested and intact in the liver where it results in a number of abnormal reactions including breakdown of the messages which result in the body either burning or storing fat. A molecular biologist who led this study has stated that this is the first evidence that fructose increases diabetes and heart disease.

Fructose represents 5 to 10 percent of the weight of fruit. It is produced from corn by a process of synthesis which produces a corn syrup with 55 percent fructose and 45 percent glucose. This syrup is six times sweeter than cane sugar and costs less. This high fructose corn syrup is used in the production of many food and drink products. Glucose, unlike fructose, is digested in the normal way and the study found that it did not cause these problems, in subjects who consumed glucose only, with no fructose.
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Sugar is a product which the human body does not process well. We are not designed to consume the large quantities of sugar that have become a part of our modern diet. Whether that sugar be sucrose (cane sugar), fructose or glucose it is definitely advisable to keep its consumption to a minimum. It remains to be proven whether consumption of fructose in its natural form in fruit is equally dangerous. My gut instinct tells me that fruit consumption is not only safe but is also healthy, since mankind has consumed fruits and vegetables for millions of years.

Asthma is a chronic disease, just like diabetes and high blood pressure. It cannot be cured, so even when it is not showing any symptoms and you feel just fine but it is still there and can react at any point. It is not something that will go away, once you develop asthma you are likely to have it all your life.

Here are some facts about asthma:

- 3 million people suffer from asthma all over the world.

- African Americans and Latinos are more prone to developing asthma.

- Around 5000 people die of asthma in the USA every year.

Asthma is one of the primary chronic childhood diseases and a major cause in childhood disability limiting the capacity to learn, play or sleep.

Asthma requires daily attention like monitoring your breathing and taking medicine even when you do not have symptoms. It becomes a routine part of you life.

You can keep your asthma under control by taking your medicines as prescribed, avoiding asthma triggers and monitoring.

Without treatment, asthma attack become more frequent and severe sometimes leading to death.

You can help prevent asthma attacks by identifying and avoiding your triggers.

Cigarette smoking increases your chances of developing asthma as an adult and second-hand smoking can cause childhood asthma.

Asthma is the third cause for hospitalization among children below the age of 15.

People who suffer from asthma are more likely to have attacks when the ozone levels are high, increasing their sensitivity to pet dander, dust mites, pollen and mold.

Recent studies have shown that the inflammation in the airways persists even among people with asthma who are free of symptoms and have normal lung function measurements.

Usually, people who are having an asthma attack look like their gasping for air, but in fact it is easier to breathe in than to breathe out. Air gets trapped in the lungs making them overinflated. Asthmatics try to push the increasing amount of air out of their long and through the irritated airways.

With proper treatment and monitoring asthma symptoms can be held under control and people who suffer from this disease can live perfectly normal lives.

Head lice are parasitic insects that live in the hair on the head and neck. The belief that the cause of head lice is dirty hair is a myth. One generally gets lice from someone who already has it in their hair and is most commonly transmitted through the use of the same comb, but that is not the only means by which it is transmitted.

Head lice can be really exasperating but fortunately they are not harmful nor do they cause any sort of infections. They are more of a bother because they make you feel itchy in the scalp and when you scratch too much you tend to bleed in the scalp, but generally this condition can be quite easily remedied.

Trying to get rid of an excessive growth of head lice can be time consuming, but it definitely can be done provided you make use of the right treatment. Many pharmaceuticals have come up with different products to get rid of it.

The mechanical method of eliminating these parasites involves ridding the head of lice and nits by combing the hair with the use of fine toothed combs that trap the lice as you comb the hair right from the roots to the tip. Done regularly and consistently this helps to eradicate head lice.

Chemical products are also used to rid the head of lice, but these have to be used cautiously as they can damage the hair and scalp. Such products generally have insecticide as a primary ingredient.

The best treatment to get rid of these parasitic insects is the use of natural remedies that are safe to use and are capable of really cleansing the head of the menace. Special shampoos consisting of natural ingredients to eradicate head lice are very commonly used these days as they are very convenient. Vinegar is said to be one of the best and most preferred cures for getting rid of lice in the head. A good search on the internet can give you any number of remedies for head louse treatment.

I had the pleasure of spending two days at a Dr. Stuart McGill seminar about “Building the Ultimate Back”. Dr. McGill is a spine biomechanist at the University of Waterloo, an internationally renowned speaker about low back dysfunction, an equally renowned clinician, and the author of Low back Disorders and Ultimate Back Fitness and Performance.

This first article provides what I view as the 4 basic points that everyone should know about low back pain:

Avoid repeated flexion: Everyone knows that bulging discs are caused by a single heavy or awkward lift, right? Not true, according to Dr. McGill. Discs can be damaged by a single traumatic event, but this typically results in a complete rupture of the disc, or even an end-plate fracture. Disc bulges on the other hand, typically happen as a result of repeated small movements. Remember the wafer thin mint from Monty Python’s the Meaning of Life? This is why so many people claim to have put their back out from picking up something incredibly light.Why does this happen? Because when our low back bends forward (flexion), the load we are carrying (including our body weight) is completely supported by the structure of the back (the discs and the vertebrae), not by the muscles. Muscles get stronger from repetitions, but discs do not; they get strained. Is there a way to reduce the risk of low back injury and reduce the symptoms of an already injured back? Absolutely: Stop flexing! I wonder how many people have been told that the best way to keep their back healthy is to do crunches or situps? Both are flexion exercises and both are bad for your back. Now, the idea behind it is a good one: strengthening the core. Strengthening your core is a fantastic idea. But find better ways, and do not limit yourself to just the rectus abdominus (”six pack” muscle). Some good core strengthening exercises include bird dogs, planks, side planks, cable chops and glute bridges.

Posture! For people suffering from back pain, it is often difficult to exercise because they get tired or sore very quickly. Sometimes just sitting, standing or walking causes pain. Even though there may be a disc injury present, in most cases the underlying problem is postural.To demonstrate this concept, Dr. McGill asked us to put a hand on the low back an inch or two to the side of the spine either seated or standing (try this at home!). With the hand on the back, adjust your position forward and backward; gently sticking your chin out and back; and try to find the “sweet spot”, or the point at which the back muscle feels relaxed. When you move out of this position, you will feel the muscle activating again. If you do not feel this, try again with your hand on a few different spots on your back. If you sit or stand anywhere but your “sweet spot”, the muscles in your back are constantly working, which means they are getting tired and when they are tired, they get weak. Weak back muscles are not capable of stabilizing your back properly, and so your back is left unprotected and susceptible to injury. In addition to finding the sweet spot when sitting and standing, Dr. McGill teaches walking as if you “own the world”. What does this mean? When you walk, straighten your back, rotate your thumbs out (with elbows relatively straight) and keep rotating until you feel your chest open up (with shoulders pulled back). From this position, swing your arms and walk “like you own the world”.

Avoid back exercises in the morning. Most people who have had low back pain have been told to do knee to chest exercises first thing in the morning. Guess what? Knee to chest exercises in the morning are bad for your back. I attended this conference with a room full of physiotherapists and chiropractors, and they were all surprised to hear this, but once Dr. McGill explained himself, they all seemed to be in agreement. When you bring your knees to your chest, your back rounds slightly. In this rounded (or flexed) position, your discs change shape slightly in response to the position of the vertebrae.While you sleep, your back hydrates so that by the time you wake up your discs are filled with liquid. Think about your discs as water balloons. If they are only half full, you can push on one side of the balloon and the water will just move over to the other side without any trouble and then move back when you let go. But if the balloon is completely full of water, when you push on one side, the balloon will burst. This is essentially what can happen when you flex your spine first thing in the morning. This risk is reduced significantly after about an hour as most of the liquid leaves the discs. So think about avoiding bending in all your activities first thing in the morning. So why does it feel good? That good feeling is a neurological result of the stretch reflex. Am I right that the good feeling lasts for less than 20 minutes and then the pain returns? Try going a few days without this movement and you should see an improvement.

When we sit the ligaments in our back stretch. Because the ligaments are important stabilizers, when they are stretched they leave the spine less stable. It can take up to 30 minutes for the ligaments to return to their normal length, which means for 30 minutes after sitting, your back is at risk. This is particularly important for people who perform heavy labour shortly after sitting at a desk or in a car. To reduce the risk of back injury, it is best to try to plan your day so that you have a bit of time to walk around between sitting and lifting. Think about this the next time you watch an NBA player get off the bench and right into a game and then they have a 7-foot tall opponent leaning on their back to get the rebound. Some teams now realize this hazard and will call players they want to sub a few minutes in advance so that they can walk around a bit and start getting their spinal ligaments back to normal.

Achilles pain may be caused by flat feet or over-pronation during walking or running. Pronation is the opposite of suppination. Our feet tend to turn in different ways when we are walking or running. If they are over-pronated, they turn too far inward.

Shoes that properly stabilize your feet, custom-fitted orthotics, arch supports and insoles are some of the solutions. Heel cushions may help, too.

If you choose heel cushions, they should be made of medical grade silicone. The point is to act as an extra shock absorber, reducing the impact on the joint when your foot slams down on a hard surface during exercise or just walking around.

The cushions are among the least expensive treatment choices, available. Yet, many people find that they provide relief.

Shoes that stabilize the fit and prevent over-pronation should include a “pronation control plate“. You won’t find the plate in the least expensive brands, but many of the “designer” running shoes don’t have them, either.

Just because it’s a well known name does not necessarily mean that it is the best quality. You can visit a good shoe store or shop online for suggestions.

Custom fitted orthotics can help relive Achilles pain when it is due to pronation or a high arch. They are simple insoles that will fit in most well designed shoes. Today’s technology allows for home fitting by taking a cast of the foot and returning it to the manufacturer.

Arch supports are most beneficial for people with flat feet or fallen arches. But, everyone needs a shoe with good arch support, particularly those that are physically active. Think about all of the pressure that is constantly being applied to the arch and you’ll understand why.

Achilles pain can be a sign of inflammation of the tendon, which means that rest is warranted. You may want to change the type of exercise that you are doing, for a while.

For example, if you are a runner, you could switch to a recumbent bike, for a while. Whatever activity you try, just be sure that it does not cause increased pain. Inflammation can become chronic, if you don’t get your rest.

Severe pain in the area of the tendon is indicative of a rupture. It is important to get treatment, right away. If you have a history of Achilles pain, you have an increased risk of rupture, but ruptures are usually caused by “something”, such as jumping down from a high spot and landing straight-legged.

The Achilles tendons are easily damaged, if they are not stretched properly before running or if a person fails to “warm up”. So, don’t rush your workout. Follow the advice of your trainer or use common sense.

The risk of injury is greater when the tendons are cold. In most cases, they occur early on in a run or during a fast sprint. If you are an athlete, you should have any Achilles pain evaluated follow your doctor’s instructions. If not, take it easy for a few days and remember to stretch.