Health Articles

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.

If you have tingling, pain, and numbness in your hands or wrists, especially in the middle, index, ring fingers or thumb, you could have Carpal Tunnel Syndrome. This condition also features weakness and loss of feeling in the hands and fingers.

Repetitive hand and finger use are thought to cause Carpal Tunnel Syndrome. The median nerve gets compressed where it passes through the carpal tunnel, which is a constricted passageway of ligaments and bones underneath the wrist.

One of the ways this syndrome can be treated is by acupuncture. The acupuncture treatment points for Carpal Tunnel Syndrome are on the hands, wrists, arm neck, thumb, upper back and leg.

The amount of acupuncture treatments you will need for relief vary and depend upon things like the severity of your condition, how much you use your hands, wrists, and arms, and your overall health.

Laser acupuncture can also be used for treatment of this ailment.

Acupressure is another treatment option. This works very similarly to acupuncture, only it does not rely on needles or lasers. Instead, pressure is applied to certain points of the body. This pressure is thought to result in increased blood flow to the affected areas, thereby reducing swelling and pain. Acupressure points for Carpal Tunnel syndrome are the hands, wrists, and forearms.

In some studies, Carpal Tunnel Syndrome has been related to Vitamin B6 deficiencies. Therefore, it may be effective to treat the condition through an increased intake of Vitamin B6. Bok choy, chic peas, salmon, pork, turkey, chicken, potatoes, avocados, sunflower seeds, brown rice, bananas, barley, and mangoes are foods naturally rich in levels of Vitamin B6. You can also take 50mg of Vitamin B6 from two to three times a day as a treatment for Carpal Tunnel Syndrome.

Eating more pineapple can actually help in the treatment of the condition, since pineapples are a natural source of the enzyme, bromelain. Bromelain may help to decrease the swelling that comes with Carpal Tunnel Syndrome.

There are many other treatments available to you if you suffer with Carpal Tunnel Syndrome. It is always advised to consult with a physician before you start any course of treatment for any disease or condition. Tell your doctor if you desire to try natural homeopathic or holistic treatments for your condition. Most doctors will respect your desire to want to treat your condition in a natural or holistic doctor. If your physician is pressing you to immediately medicate for your condition, ask why. Perhaps, your situation is particularly or he or she has a very valid reason for refusing the natural option for your treatment.

While Carpal Tunnel Syndrome can be painful and restrictive, it is not life threatening. Therefore, your doctor should be reasonable enough to allow you to try natural therapies for this particular ailment. If your physician is not responsive to your desire to treat your ailment naturally, you might want to seek out the advice of another doctor.

There are plenty of doctors around these days who are responsive to natural healing and treatment.

Get hair growing in your bald spot. The fact is, due to the causes of balding in men, the chances of rubbing something into your scalp and miraculously seeing hair start to grow is about zero. 95% of all men who suffer from hair loss have a genetic condition known as Androgenetic Alopecia or Male Pattern Baldness (MPB). The results of this condition are that the hair follicles, the part that grows the hair, are rendered useless by a substance called DHT. This DHT bonds with receptors on the follicle and causes it to slowly stop functioning.

Once enough of this substance has attached itself to the hair follicles they can no longer produce hair shaft material and the hair itself turns thin and whispy and eventually falls out. Although there are two FDA approved drugs, Finasteride and Minoxidil, that will help a little with this condition, once the follicle stops operating it is usually never going to produce hair again.

The only proven technique for getting hair to grow on a bald spot is to utilize hair implants in a hair transplantation procedure. A cosmetic surgeon performs this treatment which involves removing growing hair follicles from an area that still has good hair growth, usually the posterior, and inserting them into the bald area. If you are interested in this method of getting you hair back then you need to be aware of the different types of hair implants also called hair grafts.

The largest implant is known as the strip graft. This is comprised of a slice of scalp with about 30 hairs. It is removed from the donor area and then placed in an incision in the patient’s scalp at the balding area. This graft type is very noticeable because the hairs are in a straight line. The next type is also noticeable. The plug graft is a round section of scalp with about 12 hairs. When these are inserted into the scalp they tend to look like the hair on a cheap dolls head, tufts of hair growing every which way.

The mini-graft is usually comprised of about four follicles in a group. These are almost unnoticeable when inserted by a surgeon. Close inspection of the scalp can give away the fact that you had implants though. The best and most natural looking is the micro-graft. This techniques involves dealing with individual follicles or small groups of two or three growing in a natural cluster. The surgeon can insert these small grafts in such a way as the match the growth direction of surrounding hairs giving you a look that is as good as your natural hair.
Once you have lost the hair in a spot on your head the only real solution is to have a hair implants procedure performed by a qualified surgeon.

There are many people who suffer from excessive perspiration and extreme discomfort. They are very unpopular because of their odor and this makes them suffer from low self esteem. You can get effective perspiration treatment from the comfort of your home and you do not have to use expensive treatments.
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The problem areas in most people are the groin and the armpits. Shaving the hair from these areas helps to reduce the problem. The reason behind this is that the bacteria from the body thrive on the hair and produce unpleasant body odor. If you take a shower at least three times per day and use an antibacterial soap it will help to keep you clean and free from body odor. A loofah will also help you clean the skin better and after the bath you can use talc powder to keep you fresh and free from body odor.

You can opt for zinc rich food which includes foods like turkey, whole grains, nuts and legumes. Spicy food should be avoided because this helps to reduce odor to a great extent. A healthy diet with plenty of water is also recommended, a well hydrated body functions better, has better body temperature control and ejects harmful substances faster and more frequently.

The use of antiperspirant also reduces body odor and helps to reduce the smell. There are many popular brands that available in the market but make sure to select the ones that actually reduce the sweat not just the smell. By selecting a quality deodorant you can effectively protect yourself from this problem for most of the day.

If numbness and tingling occurs in the feet for no apparent reason, it’s a pretty good indication that something is wrong. And, while some of the causes might only be temporary, these symptoms can indicate some serious problems that, if not addressed in a timely manner, may require neuropathy surgery. This makes it vital that anyone who experiences a numbness or tingling foot seek the help of a professional such as a neuropathy doctor.

Temporary Causes

Limited blood flow is one of the most common causes of tingling or numb feet. This can occur any time the feet are elevated for a long period of time, wrapped too tightly with a bandage or clothing, or weighed down. Instead of neuropathy surgery as treatment, however, the patient simply has to remove whatever is restricting blood flow or move his feet to a lower position.

A neuropathy doctor also cannot do much in terms of treating systems caused by temperature. In this instance, fluids have difficulty flowing through cold tissue. The patient just needs to warm the flesh up slowly to eliminate the symptoms.

Diabetic Peripheral Neuropathy

Diabetes can take a toll on anyone’s body, particularly if they suffer with it for a long period of time. This condition can also cause serious damage to the nerves in the body and feet including the sensory nerves, which allow the body to feel pain, temperature, and touch; motor nerves, which control muscle movement; and autonomic nerves, which control involuntary functions like sweating.

This condition starts out as numbness, tingling, pain, and general discomfort in the feet as well as muscle weakness, balance problems, and changes in the foot’s shape as well as dry and cracked skin. Neuropathy surgery is ineffective in this instance, but medications in conjunction with a program to control blood sugar methods have shown great results. A neuropathy doctor may also recommend physical therapy to help treat balance and muscle problems.

Peripheral Neuropathy

While being similar to the diabetic condition, this form of nerve damage is caused by a number of different conditions including toxins, cancer, broken or injured bones, malnutrition, uremia, and AIDS. Sometimes, even the medications used to treat conditions such as cancer or AIDS can cause this problem.

Patients with this condition often notice that the numbness, tingling, and strange sensations such as burning start in the feet and gradually works upwards. The treatment of the condition may vary, however, depending on the cause. A neuropathy doctor might only be able to help ease the symptoms with therapy, acupuncture, or massage if the cause is medications, cancer, or similar illness. If the cause is broken or dislocated bones, however, the physician will need to repair the damage and may also perform neuropathy surgery. Transcutaneous nerve stimulation has also been proven to be effective in some instances.

If there seems to be no apparent reason for the symptoms, it’s important to see a neuropathy doctor as soon as possible. This will help determine the cause of the sensations and help prevent the need for neuropathy surgery and the chance of permanent damage.
A tingling or numb foot might not seem significant at first, but it can actually be a sign that something is seriously wrong and that neuropathy surgery may be necessary. This article looks at three causes of these symptoms, all of which require the expertise of a neuropathy doctor.

What is normal range blood pressure? What can be considered healthy? You’d think that there would be a range considered “normal” and that anything outside of that is either too low or too high. The reality is quite different.

High Blood Pressure

The easiest place to start is to realise what is high blood pressure. In most countries this is considered to be anything over 140/90 mmHg.

So does that mean that anything below this figure is either normal or low? Not quite.

Prehypertension

In fact, there is an additional zone called “prehypertension” which is between 121/81 and 139/89 mmHg. If you lie in this range then even though you are not classified as “high”, you are still at an increased risk of cardiovascular disease than you would otherwise be if it were lower.

Best Blood Pressure

Really you should be thinking not in terms of “normal” but in “best”. The best figure to have for your bp is between 115/75 and 120/80. This is really the ideal bp where it is not too low but at the same time you have minimized your risks. This should be everyone’s target.

How To Reach The Ideal

Drug companies, their lobbyists and doctors will tell you that drugs are the way. Recently in the UK, the media made a big story of a study that recommended that everyone over 55 should take blood pressure lowering drugs. They are trying to position them as the next big thing since statins. Quite frankly, this is irresponsible advice.

The side effects from such drugs are debilitating and well known. These drugs are not easily tolerated and are often prescribed in all sorts of combinations in a failed effort to control side effects.

This is all needless because natural methods alone such as changing your diet, taking supplements (e.g. taking herbs for bp), getting a little exercise (not much) and looking at your stress levels are sufficient to bring you down to 115/75 without using any drugs whatsoever.

When it comes to losing weight, everyone loses at a different rate and they lose the weight differently throughout the body. This is typical. However, something that is the same for everyone is the main principle of weight loss. You want to make sure that you are following these closely in order to make sure that you are getting the most out of your diet and life change.

Exercise: Even if you have not exercised in years, this is something you have to force yourself to do. At first, it may seem incredibly hard and boring. The thing is though, you cannot let up. You have to keep pushing forward. The more you exercise, the more you will get used to it. After a while, you will find that you may have only started with being able to exercise for ten minutes but now you can go an entire hour without a problem. You also want to make sure that you are mixing some weight training in with your cardio. It is important to not just drop the fat but to gain lean muscle mass as well.

Eat Right: When it comes to losing weight, you have to change what it is that you are eating and drinking on a regular basis. This does not mean that you can never have cake again, but you will need to limit how often you eat it and how much of it you eat when you do have it. It is important to make sure that you are eating more fruits and veggies and steering clear of the bad carbohydrates. You also need to make sure that you are drinking enough water each day. Since tea, pop and coffee do not count towards your total water intake, you will need to cut back on those.

Positive Thinking: Believe it or not, the way you think about the changes you are trying to make has a lot to do with your success. If you are always thinking that you are going to fail and that you are never going to be successful with your weight loss journey, you will find that you will not succeed. You have to think positive thoughts and always remind yourself just why it is that you are in need of loosing weight. Do you want to live longer for your children or your grandchildren? Would you like to finally enjoy shopping for clothes? On the other hand, maybe you just finally want to be able to walk on the beach and have every head turn your way. No matter what your reason is, you want to remember it so that you are always staying focused. Focused people are the people who succeed.

Arthritis pain can radiate to tendons and muscles, but it is actually caused by wear and tear on cartilage between bones. This erosion of cartilage mainly occurs in joints such as the fingers, knees, hips and even the between spinal vertebrae. Arthritis can be painful and cause inflammation, numbness, tingling and even a weakness in joints. The best way to cure arthritis is through rest, immobilization, ice, heat, massage and exercise.

After the onset of arthritis symptoms, you should rest your arthritic joint for a few days. This will prevent further damage to the cartilage. It will also help control some of the inflammation and pain. During this time, you can further reduce inflammation and pain by using ice during the first few days. Ice causes vasoconstriction, a narrowing of blood vessels, which lessons swelling and pain by limiting the flow of blood and lymph fluid to the affected joint. Once the initial inflammation has been reduced, a heating pad can increase the flow of blood, which carries oxygen and nutrients that are essential for healing.

You should also take an anti-inflammatory medication such as ibuprofen or naproxen, which can help control pain as well. These medications are Cox-2 inhibitors. They minimize pain and inflammation by limiting the effects of certain enzymes on prostaglandins or body chemicals, which is the body’s natural response to irritation or injury. Massage can also help cure arthritis muscle and joint pain by relaxing the nerves and promoting the flow of blood and nutrients to the soft tissues surrounding the joint. Stretching and resistance exercises can also help cure arthritis pain. Stretching will help increase flexibility in tight muscles around the joint. Resistance exercises such as weightlifting can build strength and stability in the muscles and tendons, which can relieve pressure on the joint.

If you are looking for a natural aid for your pain, Glucosamine and chondroitin are two supplements that can help rebuild existing cartilage in the joint and increase synovial fluids. Taken daily over time you will find a reduction in your arthritis pain.