Health Articles

One of the most common causes of fatality in the growing population of the world is hypertension. There never has been an exception in terms of age, race and gender so as to speak. Anywhere in the world, what comes into reality is that day by day, the earth loses hundreds to thousands of lives because people tend to take their health for granted.

Lifestyle may define a person’s state of health, and one must consider how great and essential it is to be particular with such. Hypertension, the significant elevation of the blood pressure, is a predisposed medical condition that greatly affects the middle-aged to old aged. But genetic factors have been said to be contributing some percentage of possibility for a person to acquire this condition. It may also be present to people having such factors as insulin resistance, mutation and low birth weight. This risk may be triggered or precipitated with the form of lifestyle that one have, sedentary that is. All others will include stress, potassium and other mineral insufficiencies, obesity. This is the characteristic of essential hypertension.

Secondary hypertension that is, is caused by identifiable conditions and it is important to recognize because of the course of treatment that may vary from the essential one. There are underlying medical conditions that lead to elevation of blood pressure. It is caused by the disruption of homeostasis in the pathophysiological mechanisms such as your hormones and the organs that are responsible in its regulation.

The diagnosis of such is readily done through thorough assessment and history taking to also undergo physical examination. Basically it will require three separate sphygmomanometer measurements at least one week apart. There will be laboratory measurements to create the baseline of the treatment and to help work on a plan of action in treating the condition. Creatinine and additional testing for your protein for your renal function to check if kidney problems are present, glucose sampling to check for the presence of diabetes, electrocardiogram or ECG to evaluate heart insufficiency and chest x-rays to ensure there is no enlargement or damage in your heart and tissues.

Since lifestyle is subjective, change is the best way to get through with this. There is a known guideline that suggests a good line of lifestyle changes, and these are the following:

• Discontinuation and cessation of tobacco and alcohol consumption have been proven effective in lowering the blood pressure. Since these two stimulants have been constricting or narrowing your blood vessels and impeding the blood flow, the stoppage of such will lead to a better circulation of your blood.
• Weight reduction, regular exercise and proper diet improves the heart flow and eliminates the storage of fats and cholesterol which leads to regulation of heart rate and blood pressure.
• Lifestyle modifications, medications and maintenance will help save lives from throwing into waste resulting from negligence and failure to take better care of one self. Ensure your future and be very vigilant and critical when it comes to health care.

Several states have reported an influx in the populations of bed bugs and dust mites. To ensure as healthy a life as possible, one should take a moment to educate him – or herself in how to prevent these common household pests in his or her own home. Once one is educated in preventing dust mites and mold in his or her home, the benefits are immeasurable.

Dust mites are blueish gray in color and have eight legs like that of a spider. They are normally found in warm, dry, dark places in one’s home. This pest feeds on particles of other organisms that have already begun to decompose. They are so small that they are extremely difficult to see with the naked eye, which makes their control all the more powerful.

Bed bugs, reddish in tone, have six legs as others from the insect family. They are not as small as dust mites and are visible to the unaided eye. The bed bugs’ favorite space to occupy is one’s bedroom, more specifically, one’s mattress. Bed bugs feed on their host humans as well as other small insects. During their life span, they will shed the outer skin six times before becoming an adult. This shedding and fecal matter that they excrete can lead to over fifty pounds of added weight inside of one’s mattress in as little as five years. Considering that the average household only replaces mattresses every ten years, this can mean a lot of poor air quality inside one’s home.

A greenish-black fungus, known as Black Mold, can harbor wherever there is sustained moisture, such as that which is found in houses that have been damaged by floods or torrential rainfalls. Spores can be in the air that the individual is breathing, leading to many health complications.

There are several ways one can remedy this and other health related infestations, such as lice. Most infestations, such as lice or bed bugs, rely heavily on the use of pesticides. Also, controlled and continuous cleaning of the infected area is tantamount to success.

Dust mites can be controlled with extreme variations in temperature as well as continuous cleaning. Keeping the home as dry as possible, such as with the use of a dehumidifier, is also much needed. Washing any items contaminated will remove all fecal deposits and almost all mites. Continuous cleaning is urgent.

The use of mattress protectors is an absolute necessity for the health and well being of all in the home, especially children. This not only protects the lives of loved ones, but it also protects one’s investment in their furniture. These protectors are 100% machine washable and when placed in the dryer will kill remaining pests. This is also urgent when there are asthmatics living in the home.

Asthma symptoms will greatly increase should the above steps not be taken. Death is even a possibility, though rare, when remedying a Black Mold infestation.

The health benefits to having and maintaining fresh bedding are too numerous to mention. Suffice it to say that fewer attacks on asthmatics, increased air quality, and longer life expectation are the most significant.

There have been a range of studies over the past few decades that have shown a significant rise in the chronic disease asthma. Our environment is growing more polluted with what we are putting in the air, burying in the ground or spray on our food. These chemicals are starting to have adverse affects on our bodies with an increase in disease and illness. Recognition of this increase is evident and the world is taking notice and trying to change things. But is it too late? A young reporter did a study on infants being born with over 200 different types of chemicals and toxins inside their bodies. Some are known carcinogens that can cause cancer and other diseases. She was so struck by this amount of toxins in the infants that she did a study on her blood to see what she had in her body. What she found was astonishing. A PCB (polychlorinated Biphenyls) that had been banned in the U.S. 30 years ago was found in her blood.

After 30 years of being banned, the PCB’s were found in her blood, what does that mean? It means that our world is a toxic playground of environmental pollutions, which wreak havoc on our bodies. There is no ban in other 3rd world countries to stop the production of this chemical. With the rise in diseases like Asthma and other respiratory diseases, there is no doubt that environmental pollution is playing a big role in what affects our bodies. It causes us to become sick and contract disease. What can we do about this? The damage has already been done, so now it is up to us to find ways to remove the toxins from our bodies. There are several things you can do in your home to help minimize the flow of toxins into your body. Here are some ideas to limit exposure.

• Clean fruits and vegetables before you eat them.
• Use an air filter inside your home to help filter the air.
• Stay inside your home on bad pollution days.
• Use a vacuum that uses a filter made to limit the dust exhaust.
• On good days try to spend more time outdoors, indoor air can sometimes be worse than outdoor air.
• Live where industrial pollution is the lowest.

These are just a few ideas on how you can minimize your intake of environmental toxins. Over the past few decades, the burning of coal has subsided considerably. The plants that burn coal produce emissions of sulfur dioxide and other particulate matter. As our world becomes more populated, the increase in motor vehicles is on the rise and so is the pollution that comes from their exhaust. The most harmful emissions to date are the emissions made from diesel engines. Diesel emissions have several known carcinogens in it that have been shown to cause respiratory distress and even cancer. An example; When inhaler medication were being tested they were trying to find the exact particulate size of aerosol medication it would take to reach into the deepest part of the lungs. What they found was a particulate size of 2.5 microns was the perfect size to reach the deepest part of the lung. What is alarming to me is that the particulates in the smoke coming from these trucks are the exact size of 2.5 microns. That means those pollutants are being inhaled by all of us and they’re finding their way into the deepest part of our lungs, staggering.

At this point in time there is no exact cause of asthma. I believe that asthma for the most part is caused by what we have done to our planet, with the environmental pollution that we fill our world with on a daily basis. There is no hiding from it because it is everywhere and in everything. The best way to battle this growing problem is not fighting it from the outside in but fighting the battle from the inside out. What I mean is we need to find a way to remove the toxic burden that is already inside all of us. This will stop the development of disease and illness that comes from within. My son was diagnosed with asthma at the age of 4 and all we did was find a natural way to remove toxins that didn’t have any kind of side effects and the results are staggering. To this day his prescription drugs and inhaler collect dust on a shelf. He has regained his freedom from this horrific disease. Fighting the battle against a disease like asthma from the inside out made sense to me, how about you?

Today I will discuss the most common, non fatal, medical diagnosis low back pain. More money is spent on lumbar spine pain than diabetes, high blood pressure, high cholesterol to name a few. The question today is; does your weight affect whether your back hurts or not?

The answer is yes it can cause your back to hurt. Many other things can cause spine pain as well. You could sprain your back with an injury, arthritis, ruptured discs, osteoporosis and many other conditions as well. Before discussing how your weight could make your low back hurt we need a quick anatomy lesson.

The neck and low back have a loroditic curve; meaning the flex backward and resemble a backward “C.” The mid back flexes forward and has a kyphotic curve and most resembles a forward “C.” The back and spine muscles are more important in maintaining the neck and low backs structural integrity, than the mid back muscles. This is why car accident injuries always seem to injure the neck and low back.

So where does weight fit in? In most obese people they gain abdominal weight, fat, and this puts an added strain on you low back. The added frontal weight throws off your body’s center of gravity and makes your back muscles work harder than they are meant to. Need proof? Go to the store and pick up a 20 lb bag of dog food and walk up and down the isle. Better yet ask any pregnant woman in their 8-9 months; “does your back hurt?“

Lastly very few people specifically exercise their core muscle let alone try to isolate the low back spine muscles. If you don’t exercise them they weaken and are more prone to injury. Even slight back injury or the muscles working to hard, can make the low back muscle squeal with pain. Mild pain can be treated with OTC analgesics like ibuprofen. More severe back pain starts the medical expenses adding up. Beside meds we have physical therapy, X-ray’s, MRI’s, surgery, not to mention hospitalization and time off work.

Imagine if you just lost one 20 lb bag of “dog food”. Your back would hurt less and you would in turn have more energy and become more active. The loss of abdominal weight puts less strain on your low back muscles and they in turn don’t cause you to have pain.

If you need help losing weight to get healthy or help your back pain please check out my Bio box below.

Body Weight Exercises are another means to exercise without using external weights such as dumbbells, barbells, or other fitness equipment. In this article I will talk about two Body Weight Exercises that are exceptional for building strength stamina.

And at the same time you will burn a significant amount of calories which makes these two exercises ideal for weight loss purposes.

I will explain these two exercises, and then I will tell you the main difference between the two. However, I would recommend you to try both of them on a regular basis so your body gets the best of both worlds so to speak. But if you feel more comfortable using one over the other, then by all means go for it.

The Bear Crawl Body Weight Exercise

Execution

1. Like a baby with a crawl pose, position yourself on your hands and knees getting ready for the exercise
2. Lift the knees off the floor, and let your toes do the job instead
3. Stick your butt higher than your head so you create an incline or a slope surface
4. Start crawling by moving one opposite hand (ex., left hand) and opposite leg (ex., right leg) at the same time; then continue crawling by using the other hand and leg
5. You can repeat 10 crawls for each side for a total of 20 crawls/repetitions, or use a stop watch for 30 to 60 seconds

The Tiger Walk Body Weight Exercise

Execution

1. Like a baby with a crawl pose, position yourself on your hands and knees getting ready for the exercise
2. Lift the knees off the floor, and let your toes do the job instead(the main difference between Bear Crawl and Tiger Walk)
3. Don’t stick your butt higher than your head, but keep them in line or even so you can create a level surface
4. Start crawling by moving one opposite hand (ex., left hand) and opposite leg (ex., right leg) at the same time; then continue crawling by using the other hand and leg
5. You can repeat 10 crawls for each side for a total of 20 crawls/repetitions, or use a stop watch for 30 to 60 seconds

Both movements are excellent, but are slightly different. The Bear Crawl places more emphasis on the shoulders; the Tiger Walk involves the midsection or core muscles since you are trying the keep the body in line. Therefore, the core muscles are working harder to maintain that position.

Again, it is an excellent idea to practice both by alternating between the both using the following example:

• Workout One: Bear Crawl
• Workout Two: Bear Crawl
• Workout Three: Tiger Walk
• Workout Four: Bear Crawl
• Workout Five: Tiger Walk

Electrical brain stimulation (EBS) or sometimes called focal brain stimulation (FBS) is a common form of electrotherapy that are used worldwide since the 19th century. It is a technique used in research, therapeutical purposes and clinical neurobiology to stimulate a network of neurons in the brain, adding a discrete amount of energy into the cell membrane through electric current.

There are different types of electrical brain stimulation.

• Cranial Electrotherapy Stimulation (CES)
• Deep Brain Stimulation (DBS)
• Electroconvulsive Therapy (ECT)
• Functional Electrical Stimulation (FES)
• Magnetic Seizue Therapy (MST)
• Repititive Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation (RTMS)
• Transcranial Direct Current Stimulation (TDCS)
• Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation (TMS)
• Vagus Nerve Stimulation (VNS)

All of these types of EBS involves strong electric currents which may cause lesion in the nervous tissue or a brain seizure. This type of therapy are usually performed for neurosurgical procedures for a variety of treatments that includes Parkinson’s diseases, depression, short-term memory loss, epilepsy and psychosurgery. It is also used to explore other parts of the brain that are malfunctioning.

EBS are designed to stimulate wide portion of the brain’s motor area, causing some specific muscles in the body to contract. However, scientists have perfected the positioning of the coil to work on a specific part of the body where they want to focus on. This technique has contributed highly on the treatment of stroke victims where the usual symptoms involves muscle disabilities.

Other studies also proves that EBS boosts various kinds of cognitive capabilities such as the ability to store valuable information and solve problems with ease. Another health buzz that’s roaming within the Internet circles is that EBS can improve ones mathematical skills and further enhance the visual recognition between geometric shapes.

Transcranial Direct Current Stimulation or TDCS is the most used type of EBS which is noninvasive. This technique uses weak electric current to pass into the brain constantly to enhance or reduce the activity of neurons. TDCS is responsible for most EBS health benefits and are more safer than any other types of electrotherapy.

Also, people who undergone TDCS have doubled their mental alertness and numerical understanding with high competence. The results were highly impressive and many medical institutions are now considering EBS as an alternative medical treatment when it comes to mental disorders.

In summary, Electrical Brain Stimulation is an electrotherapy that helps improve mental deficiency or illnesses. I suggest that you choose Transcranial Direct Current Stimulation because this type of EBS does not involves any type of skin penetration, so it is much more safer than any other EBS types. If you think you are suffering from short term memory loss or any mental illnesses like depression, EBS can certainly help you solve your health problem.

Everybody it seems has jumped on the ADHD natural remedies bandwagon and is out to make a fast buck! So, we have to be careful when we want to take this option so here are a few precautions we should take so that we are not replacing one health hazard with another.

Just let me say that deciding not to use any of the amphetamines is a wise choice in my view. Did you know that the nickname for Adderall, one of the most popular ADHD drugs is ‘dcxies’ which actually comes from its main ingredient called dextroamphetamine, which is just one of the mix of amphetamine salts it contains.

You see it is popular on the school parking lot as a hot item right now and can fetch up to $15 a tablet. The reason for its popularity is that it is used to study all night but also is very popular recreational drug for when students do not have to study! After all, we are talking about amphetamines here so this should come as no surprise at all.

The important thing is that you have decided that your children will never be approached because all the other kids just know that your child is on ADHD natural remedies and these are certainly not in demand on the drug scene, thank goodness.

We need to know the provenance of all these ingredients just in case we want to buy these natural remedies for ADHD. We want to make sure that actually processing is carried out in a factory which is an approved FDA facility. If they pass all these tests and there is an adequate guarantee, then you can go ahead and buy them but these manufacturing plants are rare indeed.

Let me tell you about what the ideal company should be offering for ADHD natural remedies in my view. Let me take a homeopathic remedy as an example. It has one great advantage over the herbs and the supplements in that it has no side effects at all and will pose absolute no health risk in the long run. In addition, it will help to restore the delicate mind body balance in an ADHD child.

What are the actual ingredients in a remedy like this? Well, all these are from the HPUS which is the acronym for the official compendium for Homeopathic Drugs in the US and is officially recognized by the FDA as a valid homeopathic treatment. The facility should also be approved by them and the company should be following the GMP practices in the processing of the ingredients and have built in controls to ensure maximum purity and safety.

The actual ingredients are Tuberculinium which can calm irritability and reduce discontent. Then there is Verta Alb which can stabilize the emotions and be a calming agent for frayed nerves. Arson iod is great for coping with outbursts and can keep a child form overheating and getting too annoyed. There are no side effects and no health risks either!

This is, in my view, one of the best ADHD natural remedies to-day and the facility is one of the best and safest in the USA and meets all the criteria I have mentioned above. Why not check it out now?

In his hit book: ‘In Defense of Food’, Michael Pollen was able to sum up the collective nutrition knowledge of the world in a single succinct phrase: ‘Eat food… not too much… mostly plants‘. Unfortunately, many diabetics have ignored the final third of this simple piece of advice because plant foods tend to be heavy in carbs. However, avoiding plant foods because they contain carbs is a tad shortsighted. Sure, plant foods like fruits and vegetables are made up primarily of carbs, but that doesn’t mean they can be saddled together with other carb-rich foods like Wonder Bread and Blueberry muffins (also plant-based, but nutritionally from different planets). Many Atkins disciples have abstained from high and even moderately carb-rich plant foods like sweet potatoes, berries, and bananas based solely on carb content. Instead, they’ve replaced these nutritious, and diabetes-fighting foods with fatty red meat, butter, and lard. By and large, this trade hasn’t paid off particularly well… Many diabetics who shifted from a plant-based diet to an animal-based diet found themselves with higher blood sugars than before. Clinical research backs this up.

One of the most striking and consistent findings from one of the largest research studies of all time, commonly known as The China Study, was that a plant-based diet is effective at warding off Type 2 diabetes. A research review published in Diabetes Educator concluded that ‘…a plant-based diet reduces body weight and improves glycemic control, and has been shown to be remarkably well accepted by patients‘. On the other hand, studies show that diets rich in animal products, especially of the processed variety, amp up inflammation and insulin resistance. A study conducted with nearly 35,000 women found that animal fat intake upped diabetes risk by 20%.

Here’s how to get the most out a plant-based diet:

1. Eat From The Source: Every step that a plant goes through in its processing is one more step away from health for you. While low-fat Wheat Thins may technically be a ‘plant food’, it’s processing makes it a big no-no. When evaluating a plant food, be sure to focus on how close it remains to the original source. The closer, the better.
2. Veg It Up: While many plant foods are healthy, vegetables are far and away the king. Vegetables are rich in fiber and antioxidants… two nutrients shown to help improve blood sugar control.
3. Befriend Beans: Beans are one of the legitimate ’super foods’ for diabetes. Not only do they put a lid on high blood sugar levels, but beans also keep ravenous appetites at bay. Recently, a review in the European Journal of Clinical Nutrition concluded that legumes should have a place on every diabetic’s dinner plate.
4. Eat Fat: It can be tempting to overdo it on grains, produce, and legumes, on a plant-based diet. However, fat is an essential part of a healthy diabetic diet… and one of the most critical factors for improving blood sugar control.
5. Watch the Glycemic Index: In general, plant foods equals carb-based. However, that doesn’t mean the amount of carbs are the only thing that matters. The glycemic index, or the overall impact a carb has on blood sugar levels is paramount. Luckily, you’ll find that foods that are less processed boast the lowest GI… making your job a tad bit easier.

As a Doctor of Chiropractic and joint pain specialist, TMJ pain or jaw pain sufferers are commonplace in my practice. They usually come to me seeking relief after seeing their dentist who was unable to offer any real long-term solution. Typically, bite splints are recommended, after a proper bite alignment has been established, but the problem often persists.

TMJ disorder usually presents with jaw pain when chewing, biting down hard or when opening the mouth widely. The painful chronic condition may also be accompanied by clicking or popping when opening or closing your mouth.

The Major Causes Of TMJ and What I Recommend

While an uneven bite or occlusion is the #1 cause of TMJ pain problems, there are a host of other non-teeth alignment issues at the root of all TMJ jaw pain issues.

• For instance, other than the obvious cause of being punched in the jaw, if you are the worrisome type you may be clenching your teeth at night while sleeping.
• Another less obvious cause of TMJ is from being involved in a motor vehicle accident where you are hit from behind. The forceful and sudden whiplashing of the head can and often does disrupt the normal anatomy and normal physiology of the jaw hinge work. In this case, I would strongly recommend you see a chiropractor who specialises in TMJ re-alignment and treatment techniques.

This is when a bite splint would be of some help. But, then again, unless you resolve the cause of your teeth grinding in the first place, this solution is rarely very effective in the long run. The real solution is obviously to figure out a way to deal with your stress. Try meditation, yoga, exercise or perhaps taking some Valerian Root before bedtime to help you to relax. It is also a great natural sleep aid for your poor spouse who you’re keeping awake!

Ultimately you will need to deal with whatever it is that is stressing you and resolve it. Either by how you choose deal with it, how you let it affect you or don’t affect you, or to remove the stressful situation altogether.

Another fairly common cause of TMJ pain and problems is habitually chewing gum. This kind of constant stress on the chewing muscles of the jaw, namely the masseter and pterygoid muscles, cause them to become over worked and after a while to become spastic. If this is your problem, stop chewing so much gum and consider taking up another less stressful habit! Alternatively, once you determine which muscles are spastic, you can massage these tight muscles in a back and forth motion for 20-30 seconds routinely throughout the day to help alleviate the spasming.

The masseter muscles are located on each side of your jaw just below the cheek. The pterygoid muscles are located just below the jaw line on each side. In my office I always palpate them to determine if one or both of these muscles are spastic. I usually find that if the masseter or upper muscle is tighter on one side, then the pterygoid or lower muscle is also tighter on the opposite side. I would then demonstrate to the patient how they can perform the massages on their own to help balance the jaw muscles and reduce TMJ pain.

Lastly, a significant but less obvious cause of TMJ is from being involved in a motor vehicle accident where you are hit from behind. The forceful and sudden whiplashing of the head and neck can, and often does, disrupt the anatomy and normal physiology of the jaw hinge. In this case, I would strongly recommend seeing a chiropractor who specialises in TMJ re-alignment and treatment techniques.

When you properly engage in physical fitness exercises, your body will attain a high level of mental and physical health.

In fact, suitable aerobic fitness exercise will help you remove ‘bad cholesterol’ and increase ‘good cholesterol’. Moreover, the network that control blood supply in your body will get strengthened; the risk of many grave diseases will drastically reduce; the duration of existing illnesses will be significantly shortened; and infections will be prevented.

Yet, the 5 key dimensions of physical fitness exercises have different effects on different aspects of the body though they generally help the body achieve better state without taking drugs.

1. Strength (Muscular) Building ExercisesHere, the ability of muscles to carry heavy objects – lifting, pushing, and pulling – are developed as well as the basic walking, standing and general posture-related activities.

   Usually, you can develop these muscles by engaging them in overload exercise and gradually increasing the amount of load you carry during exercise. For example, isometric exercise involves trying to lift or pull immovable objects (though it is not advisable for people with hypertension); isotonic exercise involves the use of dumbbells and other regular objects used in weight lifting; and isokinetic exercise is usually done by athletes and professionals.

2. Endurance (Muscular) ExerciseYou can decide to improve the endurance of some groups of muscles in your body e.g. the leg muscles, abdominal mass, etc. This closely resembles cardio-respiratory endurance; it actually focuses on the ability of the muscles to withstand continuous, long term activities.
3. Flexibility ExerciseJoints are subject to ‘the law of use and disuse’ whereby they function less efficiently when not used regularly. This is particularly important to dancers. In physical fitness exercises, flexibility improves the efficiently of joints in the body. It also improves balance and posture.
4. Body Composition ExerciseThe ratio of healthy body fat to body mass is a primary concern in physical fitness training. Body composition exercise tackles overweight, obesity and related concerns.
5. Cardio-Respiratory Fitness ExerciseSpecifically, cardio-respiratory fitness exerciseforms the groundwork for other workouts by increasing your ability to endure work for longer periods and work more intensely. When the body draws on oxygen to perform activities, it would not have to (an-aerobically) produce lactic acid that causes muscle fatigue. More so, it has been reported that cardio-respiratory physical fitness exercise enhances lifespan and greatly reduces the risk of infections.

Consequently, it is advisable to pay a higher premium on cardio-respiratory fitness exercise since it supports your body fitness and enhances your wellbeing. Nonetheless, any of the other fitness exercises are alright depending on your own goal.