Wednesday, May 20, 2015

Eating Disorders And How To Treat Them

Many people are having problems with their weight. These weight problems are the results of a person’s eating habits. In the United States, there are about 50 million of Americans are enroll weight loss programs. However, there are also people who wishes that they would have a lesser weight and resulted to suffering from eating disorders.

Eating disorders may be categorized as a psychiatric problem. Although many experts say that obesity is not truly a psychiatric problem, they consider that the state of being obese is also a form of eating disorders. Some people who are trying to lose weight may lead to the improper obsession of thinking of a person that his dieting becomes abnormal.

Another form of eating disorder is the anorexia nervosa. This form of eating disorder may happen to those people who may have a normal or a little above the average weight. These people think that their body is always overweight. This illness may begin to those who that have continuous diet regimens and eventually led to restraining the person’s balanced eating.

Anorexia nervosa can be identified to most women that are teenagers and are in their early adult stages. Although it is not common to males and to older adults, it can also occur to these types of people. The known classic dieters do not eat any food in a day which lead them to starvation. The self-starvation of a person is the point where he suppresses hunger sensations, which may lead an individual to become skeletal in appearance. These individuals are considered anorexic by type because they suffer from phobia on gaining weight.

Bulimia can be truly associated to many dieters especially to those individuals aged 17 to 25 years old. The process of bingeing and purging of most bulimics can make an individual addicted on what he has started in his diet regimen. Most of the time a person can no longer control the binge and spurge cycle that and led a person to be underweight and or even obese. However, most bulimics appear to be normal and have a normal body weight. Most of the time, the process in which they do their dieting is kept to themselves because most bulimics are shameful of their activities of bingeing and purging.

There are side effects an individual may suffer from for being bulimic especially for women that are actively in this process of dieting. An irregular menstrual cycle may occur to some women and the decrease of sexual interest may be experienced. Most bulimics have disturbing behavior on whatever things they would like to do. There are instances where bulimics have tendencies to be drug addicts and alcoholic. Some of which have records of shoplifting and other cases that are associated in such acts.

There are some different approaches on how to treat these forms of disorders. These ways may help bring back the proper eating and correct way to have a balanced diet. A well-known stage for bulimics could return the right eating pattern by not practicing the activity of bingeing and purging. They are able to control the incorrect dieting behavior on the diet regimen.

A consultative approach that would be advisable to those bulimics and anorexic is the therapy program. Many of the patients have been found to cooperate well and let themselves to be educated in psycho educational programs that will give them the information on the illness.


Diabetes: Cause And Prevention

An individual may get diabetes when the pancreas can no longer secrete the needed hormones that produce insulin. The insulin maintains the glucose in the blood to be normal. Low insulin means that the level of glucose, which is sugar in the blood, may get high and may lead to diabetes.

The autoimmune reaction is a type 1 diabetes where the cells in the pancreas organ that produces the needed insulin are destroyed. This results to the total loss of insulin in the hormones. This happens because the body has its own hormones that protects and destroys its own pancreas cells.

Although there is no scientific proof why this occurrence in the pancreas happens, some studies have some theories that may possibly be related in this kind of reaction. Some say that this happens when there is exposure of a newly born to a cow’s milk, the infection from viruses and bacteria, and the exposure from food-borne chemical toxins. There is not enough evidence yet to prove some theories that may trigger the cause of diabetes.

The type 2 diabetes is said to progress when there is lack of insulin that is needed to maintain the blood sugar in the body. Another reason is believed to be that the needed insulin not be effective effective to control the blood sugar because of abnormalities in composition. The last reason is said to be that the receptors in cells no longer respond and fail to stimulate the organ that produces the needed insulin.

An individual is likely developing the type 2 diabetes when a person is overweight or obese. The increase of age of an individual is also considered a factor in acquiring this type of diabetes. Some few cases that may lead in this type of diabetes may include when a woman is having her pregnancy, or when a person have some intakes of medicines and drugs. In addition, any sickness or infectious decease that can alter the pancreas production of insulin.

There are some basic treatments for diabetes. These ways can serve an individual its important role in treating diabetes. Here are some ways on how a person can treat diabetes problems.

1. An individual must work thoroughly in obtaining his ideal body weight. Every individual must have a regular exercise and physical endurance tests. People who suffer from diabetes are recommended to be physically fit if possible. Exercises for the lungs and heart may help the person lessen the sugar that causes diabetes.

2. An individual must follow a diabetic diet program. Not being on the proper diet can be a great factor in acquiring type 2 diabetes. It is recommended that a person must lose weight if he is an overweight person. It is advisable that a person must be conscious of the food that he takes. Eat foods that do not have sugar content.

3. The option of the individual to have medication and seek the help of a doctor. Every diabetes patients that have type1 and type 2 diabetes can take insulin daily to sustain the insulin production of the pancreas. There is also the new insulin pump that continuously provides the much-needed insulin. There are also new medications that treat diabetes like the synthetic human insulin, Sulfonylurea drugs, Biguanides, Thiazolidinediones, Meglitinides, Alpha-glucosidase, and other drug combinations.

Diabetes can be prevented with the proper awareness and information regarding this illness. What is important is that a person must have a healthy diet and regular exercise to have a healthy body. Responsibility and discipline is needed to help oneself in overcoming this disease.


Dealing With Insomnia – Get A Good Night’s Sleep

Among the most frustrating of sleep disorders, insomnia can be particularly maddening. The persistent inability to fall asleep, especially when you are tired, can leave you stressed and wound up and wondering what is wrong. Yes, an inability to sleep will occasionally occur, but persistent insomnia is no laughing matter.

Most everyone experiences some minor episodes of insomnia lasting from one night to intermittent episodes of sleeplessness for a few weeks. This form, called transient insomnia, is not unexpected and almost everyone will face it at some point in their lives. For instance, a particularly stressful week at work might leave someone unable to sleep for a few nights. But, once the week is over, they can get back to sleeping normally.

Some people may also experience acute insomnia, which is a form of short-term insomnia that can strike at some points in peoples’ lives. For instance, if someone is suffering through a job loss or a difficult divorce, they may experience a persistent inability to get good sleep for anywhere from three weeks to six months. Notice that, in the case of acute insomnia, this is not a nightly occurrence and the sufferer is still able to get good sleep on some nights.

The most severe form of insomnia is chronic insomnia, which occurs almost nightly for a month or longer. This form of insomnia often seems to arise from seemingly nowhere and leaves the sufferer almost no reprieve. Oftentimes, this can leave the person fatigued, but not actually tired enough to fall asleep. This situation can lead to depression, anxiety, an inability to concentrate, and a feeling of just “being in a fog” all the time. Obviously, this is a bad state for a person to live in and they need to find relief.

While the temporary forms of insomnia can be relieved by relieving the temporary causes of insomnia, this is not a solution for people who suffer from chronic insomnia. Thus, people with chronic insomnia need to find solutions that address insomnia specifically.

Many people turn to sleeping pills in these situations, but these are problematic in some ways. Sleeping pills can be addictive even in their most benign forms and, oftentimes, people will become permanently reliant upon sleeping pill to get their nightly rest.

Other people seek herbal treatments, such as valerian, chamomile or lavender, for relief from insomnia. Many of these herbal remedies are fairly benign, but they can still leave people reliant on them to fall asleep at night.

More traditional remedies for insomnia include exercising in the afternoon, drinking warm milk before bed, avoiding anything mentally stimulating in the evening, and just going to bed early at night and waking up early in the morning. Obviously, it is preferable to start with traditional remedies such as this and move toward herbal remedies or sleeping pills if these do not help.

While insomnia is frustrating for people who suffer from it, it is treatable. There are many remedies out there and people should not be afraid to try them. In most cases, people can simply wait out the circumstances that are causing their insomnia and they will be fine. However, if insomnia is an almost nightly occurrence for a month or more, it is time to talk to a doctor and see what remedies might be suitable.


Constipation & Free Clinics

When an individual begins taking new medication, undergoes surgery or changes their diet, they may not realize that they could also be dealing with constipation in the very near future. This is a condition relating to the digestive system where an individual has difficulty with bowel movements, which may be painful or altogether impossible.

Regular bowel movements are necessary in order to keep the digestive system working properly and to avoid hemorrhoids or additional pain. Early symptoms of constipation may be a reduction in or irregularity with bowel movements. Severe stomach pains, cramps or nausea may also be an early warning sign of constipation.

The diagnosis for constipation is fairly simple and may require a brief discussion with a physician, who will note any recent hormonal, dietary or medication changes. An exam may also be required in order to confirm the diagnosis. Once a determination has been made, constipation can be treated in a variety of ways, including the patient being told to drink plenty of water, increase their dietary fiber intake and/or prescription medication.

If home remedies do not relieve constipation, including the consumption of more water, vegetables, foods high in dietary fiber or other over the counter products, some individuals may be forced to look for other options at curing their discomfort. An increasing number of individuals go to work every day, but cannot afford medical insurance or have a job that does not offer coverage. In either of these instances, a free clinic may be the patient’s only hope for relief from constipation. Available to both children and adults, free clinics are located throughout the United States.

While free clinics primarily offer general care and are not equipped to handle surgical procedures, they are crucial to helping patient’s find relief from many common ailments. If an illness requires additional treatment, the patient may be referred to an emergency room or other medical center. Free clinics are typically utilized to treat the onset of common cold or flu symptoms, provide immunizations and treat other common illnesses.

The information in this article is to be used for informational purposes only. It should not be used in place of, or in conjunction with, professional medical advice. Anyone who has reason to believe that they, or someone they know, suffers from constipation should consult a licensed physician prior to beginning any treatment regimen and in order to receive a proper diagnosis and/or treatment.




Common Medications To Treat High Cholesterol

If your cholesterol level is high, or if you are at risk for heart disease, your doctor may perscribe a medication to reduce your cholesterol. There are several types of medications available, each type with a different action.

Statins – Statins are one of the more commonly perscribed medications to reduce cholesterol. These drugs inhibits the enzyme which the liver uses to produce cholesterol, thereby slowing the production of cholesterol in the body. People at risk for developing the plaques which line the arteries, or artherosclerosis, are usually given this medication. Statins not only slow the growth of plaques, but they also can shrink existing plaques and actually make them less likely to break apart, causing stroke or heart attack. Risk factors for artherosclerosis are:

High cholesterol levels;
Diabetes;
A family history of early-age heart attack or heart disease;
Advancing age.

There are several statins that are commonly perscribed. These medications have many differences, including their cholesterol-blocking ability, their side-effects, how they interact with other drugs, and their ability to reduce heart attack and stroke. Some common statins which are frequently perscribed include:

Atorvastatin (Lipitor);
Rosuvastatin (Crestor);
Fluvastatin (Lescol);
Simvastatin (Zocor);
Lovastatin (Mevacor);
Pravastatin (Pravachol).

Most side-effects of the statins are mild, like nausea and vomiting, but one major side-effect that is very rare, is rhabdomyolysis, which can cause muscle damage and eventually kidney failure. Any muscle or joint pain experienced while taking a statin should be reported immediately to your doctor.

Resins – Resins are another cholesterol-lowering medication. They bind with cholesterol-containing bile acids in the intestines and are then excreted. Resins actually reduce LDL cholesterol and are often perscribed with statins for a combined effect of lowered LDL cholesterol. Currently perscribed resins include:

Cholestyramine (Questran);
Colestipol (Colestid);
Colesevelam (WelChol).

Resins have few side-effects (gas, bloating, nausea and constipation); however, they may interfer with the absorption of other medications taken at the same time.

Nicotinic Acid – Nicotinic acid (niacin) is a common B vitamin, which, given in therapeutic doses, reduces LDL cholesterol and triglycerides. An over-the-counter niacin tablet as a dietary supplement would not produce the same effect, and could result in serious side-effects. Common trade names are:

Niacin;
Niacor;
Slo-Niacin.

Nicotinic acid interacts with other medications, including blood pressure medication, and your doctor should be consulted.

Gemfibrozil (Lopid) -- Gemfibrozil reduces triglycerides and increases HDL cholesterol, the good cholesterol, in the blood. It interacts with other medications, such as Coumidin, which could lead to increased bleeding, and glyburide, which could cause low blood sugar. The most serious, but rare, side-effect is rabdomyolysis, which could lead to kidney failure. Your doctor should be consulted and your current medications discussed before beginning therapy on gemfibrozil.

Clofibrate (Atromid-S) -- Clofibrate also acts by reducing LDL cholesterol levels; however, because of its many side-effects, it is usually perscribed only if all other methods of reducing cholesterol are ineffective. All current medications, including over-the-counter drugs, should be discussed with your doctor before using clofibrate.

Ursodiol (Actigall, Urso) – Ursodiol is made by the liver and reduces the production of cholesterol by the liver and absorption of cholesterol in the intestines. Side-effects are GI related, including nausea and vomiting, diarrhea, and constipation; and rash and back pain. Other medications may interfer with its function, reducing its effectiveness.

There are many more medications, including dietary supplements and over-the-counter medications that can help in reducing cholesterol levels. Before taking any medications, discuss them with your doctor and let your doctor know what medications you're taking already, to decide which may be best for you.

Basil – More Than A Kitchen Plant

A universally known fact is that aromatherapy uses essential oils extracted from plants. One of the most commonly used essential oil in aromatherapy is that of Basil. Basil got its name from the Greek word “basileum” meaning “king”. Considered as "king among plants" as it was one of the ingredients on the list of oils blended to massage kings.

Basil is an important herb as its uses are two-fold, for cooking as well as to cure a variety of ailments. The herb covers and offers a plethora of medical benefits. If added early while cooking, it loses its flavor; hence it should be used as soon as it is plucked from the plant. It ought be added towards the end of cooking. It exudes a warm, gentle unique flavor and fragrance in cooking.

The leaves of basil are steam-distilled to create oil. Medically, it provides relief to sore gums, ulcers, chest infections and digestive problems. It has been used as a brain stimulant and an antispasmodic, making it wonderful in the treatment of bronchitis and whooping cough.

Basil is said to have uplifting and refreshing properties. 2-3 drops of basil oil is known to relieve mental fatigue, tension, stress, mild anxiety, loss of appetite, flatulence, nausea, sinusitis, cold, fever, earaches, eases rheumatic, arthritic and muscular pains.

A potpourri of dried basil leaves and flowers creates a fragrant atmosphere wherever kept. It is also used as an insect repellent, as burned sprigs of basil drive away mosquitoes. If you keep a potted plant of basil on the windowsill, it will deter flies from entering your home.

Basil oil, when mixed with massage oil and gently rubbed over the stomach, helps to ease many types of digestive problems. Basil should be used sparingly on skin as it could cause irritation. If you want to add a few drops to your bath, dilute it with a carrier oil, or mix it with a skin cream or lotion.

It should NOT be used during pregnancy. Basil helps with depression, increases alertness, aids in concentration, relieves headaches, head congestion and migraines. Basil regulates the menstrual cycle and reduces menstrual cramps. The herb blends well with rosemary, lavender, bergamot, clary sage, geranium and citrus oils.


About Eczema: Conventional Versus Natural Treatment

Eczema is an inflammation of the skin frequently seen in association with allergic conditions such as asthma and hay fever. The parts affected by eczema, develop lesions which will often appear as patches, blisters and/or scratches. The vicinities affected by eczema are very itchy and uncomfortable. The affected areas may become abnormally thick. Thickening of the skin can be brought through trauma to the patches from scratching and rubbing. The affected spots will be typically dry in comparison to unaffected areas. The face, elbows, behind the knees, wrists are more likely to develop eczema than other body parts.

One of the major causes of eczema is the imbalance in a person’s immune function and is probably a form of response to the environmental substances such as dust, pollution, yeast, cosmetic products, chemicals such as: detergents, oils, greases, solvents at home or in the work place. In addition, stress can cause a depletion of certain body nutrients (vitamins and minerals), which ultimately leads to a sensitivity towards eczema.

Corticoid creams containing hydrocortisone are the most common conventional treatment for eczema. Hydrocortisone is similar to a natural hormone secreted by adrenal gland, which controls the inflammation process and actively participates in the ionic body balance. The hydrocortisone creams are effective for reducing inflammation, swelling, redness and itching thereby allowing the affected area to heal. In spite of temporarily reducing the effects of eczema, these creams can lead to skin thinning and damaging. At high doses or at low doses for extended time the hydrocortisone can accumulate through the body and induce metabolic changes in salt and water balance, potassium and calcium balance and increases the blood sugar level. The reasons for accumulation are multiple. One important cause is the competition between the naturally secreted hormone and the topical hydrocortisone for the same receptors, which can raise the uncoupled hormone level. Another important cause is the steroid structure of the hormone, which makes elimination through the kidney difficult. The corticosteroid creams have to be used with a low dose of hormone and for short period of time as sometimes indicated on the label. On the other hand, sudden discontinuation of the corticosteroid cream can lead to the worsening of the eczema.

Herbal therapy is a mild but long lasting alternative for eczema treatment. Many herbs are known for their beneficial qualities in the treatment of eczema such as: Burdock, Calendula, St. John Wort, Chamomile, Chickweed, Yarrow, Nettle, Licorice. They can be used as teas, tinctures or for topical treatment.

Since eczema is a complex skin disease one single herb is not enough to relieve the symptoms of the eczema or eradicate the disease. A complex mixture of beneficial herbs is more likely to succeed in the treatment.

The antioxidant therapy has been successfully used in the prevention and treatment of different skin diseases, which usually are characterized by a high percentage of free radicals at the site of the affected areas. A good example of natural antioxidants is Sea Buckthorn and Grape seed oils. They contain a wide range of antioxidants such as vitamin E, A, C, selenium, beta carotene, anthocyanidins, which can be beneficial in the case of eczema and other skin disorders.

In conclusion: Natural alternative may be longer than the conventional solution for eczema treatment but much safer for the skin and health in general.


17 Tips And Remedies For The Flu

The “best” flu remedy seems to vary by who you talk to. Some people think that certain over-the-counter medications are the best way to get relief. Others feel homeopathic remedies work the best. Still others feel that only their doctor can help make them make the appropriate choice.

If you talked to my husband he would tell you the best flu remedy is to not get the flu (he’s not always the most helpful person). He talks smart because he hardly ever gets sick. I’m very jealous of him. I think his genes must be better than mine because he doesn’t eat healthier or exercise any more than I do yet I get sick a lot more often than he does.

I catch the flu nearly every year. I’ve tried over-the-counter medications, some homeopathic remedies, and have gone to my doctor when I’ve gotten bad cases of the flu.

Below I’ve listed some common, and some not so common remedies for the flu. Some of the remedies are homeopathic; others involve taking over-the counter medications; while others are prescription.

1) This first item is more of a suggestion to keep yourself from getting sick again rather than a remedy but I think it’s a really good tip. Put your toothbrush in a cup with hydrogen peroxide in it to prevent you from re-infecting yourself (especially if you have a cold). Toothbrushes are a haven for germs and the hydrogen peroxide will kill the bacteria on your toothbrush. You may decide to put your toothbrush in hydrogen peroxide every day to kill the bacteria that accumulate.

2) In addition to putting your toothbrush in a cup of hydrogen peroxide you may want to put a few drops of hydrogen peroxide in your ears. It can help kill flu (or cold) germs. Sometimes the hydrogen peroxide will sting a little. The process is to put a few drops in one ear with a cotton ball or a Q-tip. After a few minutes drain the excess fluid out onto a Kleenex or paper towel. Then do the same thing in the other ear. Repeat the process after an hour or two. Continue to repeat until the hydrogen peroxide doesn’t bubble when it’s put into the ear (usually after 2 or 3 times). The hydrogen peroxide is said to be most effective if it’s used as soon as possible after getting sick.

3) Elderberry extract can lessen the duration of the flu according to studies done in Israel. Talk to your doctor, pharmacist, or herbalist for advice on how much and how often to take it, and also to make sure it will not interfere with any other medications or supplements you may already be taking.

4) Boneset is another herb said to help lessen the intensity and duration of the flu. It is usually added to boiled water, along with honey and lemon (to make it easier to drink) and then sipped. Again, consult with your doctor, pharmacist or herbalist for the recommended dosage.

5) Oscillococcinum is a popular homeopathic/natural product taken to help with the flu symptoms of body aches and pains, fever, and chills. One of the reasons it is so popular is that it does not cause drowsiness.

6) Naturoksinum is another natural flu remedy available. It is touted as being able to cut the severity of flu symptoms in half. It is one of the most popular flu remedies in France and is available for purchase in the United States.

7) Echinacea is another popular natural remedy for the
flu. Again, because it is an herbal product, check with your doctor, pharmacist, or herbalist to make sure it is safe for you to take and that it does not interfere with any other medications or supplements you are currently taking.

8) Tamiflu and Relenza are two prescription medications available for treating the flu. For either medication to work best it should be taken with two days of the onset of flu symptoms. Both Tamiflu and Relenza work by preventing the flu virus from infecting cells in the body that are still healthy, and they both work against influenza A and B.

9) Drink health juices such as mangosteen, noni, goji, aloe vera, or acai berry. They are not only great juices to drink if you get the flu, but they can also help prevent it because the juices are good at boosting a person’s immune system. My personal health juice of choice is a mangosteen juice. It tastes great and helps me feel better overall.

10) There are several products available to use in your bath or even your shower to help with the symptoms of the flu. Abra Bath for colds and the flu is a product you add to bath water. It is said to help relieve congestion, reduce body aches, and help relieve the chills associated with the flu. The makers of Sudafed offer a product called Sudacare Shower Soothers. They are tablets that react with warm shower water to create vapors of eucalyptus, menthol, and camphor to help with congestion.

11) Nasal sprays to help relieve flu symptoms are available over the counter. One product is called Flu Relief. Nasal sprays aren’t as popular as most other remedies though because many people dislike using nasal sprays.

12) Fever, headaches, and aching muscles are common symptoms of the flu. Acetaminophen or ibuprofen, both available over the counter can help lessen the pain.

13) A persistent cough may be present when a person has the flu (http://www.microflu.com/flusymptoms/). There are many over the counter cough medicines, such as Robitussin (which has specific formulas of its products for helping with flu symptoms), to help quiet a cough associated with the flu.

14) Congestion is another symptom that a person may get with the flu. An oral decongestant can help loosen the congestion. Again there are many over the counter products available to fight flu symptoms such as congestion. Vick’s vapor rub can also help ease congestion.

15) A sore throat can be another bothersome symptom of the flu. Throat lozenges or sprays can help with the pain. I gargle with warm salt water every hour when my throat is sore. It’s a remedy my Mom used when I was little. It worked for me then and it still works for me now.

16) Rest is a very important part of fighting the flu. Your body needs rest to help it fight the infection in your body. So give in to that urge to cuddle up under the covers and rest. You’re likely to feel better faster if you do.

17) Drink as many fluids are you can when you have the flu. Avoid drinks with caffeine because caffeinated drinks act as mild diuretics. Water is the best liquid but can be hard for someone who feels sick to drink enough of. Other good choices of liquid are clear juices, Gatorade (or any of the other sports drinks available) as well as flavored water and Pedialyte. When I was a child and had the flu my Mom always gave me 7-up to drink. I could drink it without feeling sick to my stomach and it tasted good so I was able to drink enough of it to keep myself from getting dehydrated.

Always remember that the flu (depending on what strain you have contracted) can be a life-threatening illness if not treated properly. Don’t be afraid to contact your doctor if your symptoms don’t start to get better in a few days or if they are very severe.

Another thing to remember when you have the flu (or are sick with anything else) is to only treat the symptoms you have. There are lots of over-the-counter products available to treat flu symptoms. Many of those products relieve multiple symptoms. But sometimes you don’t have all the symptoms that particular medication treats. Look for products that treat the symptoms you have, but nothing more. You don’t want to over-medicate yourself.

Disclaimer: this article is for educational purposes only and is not intended to diagnose or treat illness and disease; nor is it intended as dispensation of medical advice.


10 Tips To Put Your Insomnia To A Rest

Do you feel tired and un-refreshed on waking in the morning?

Do you stay that way throughout the day?

Do you have difficulty concentrating during the day?

The World Health Organization says that one-third of the world's population experience insomnia at some stage in their lives, with approximately five per cent needing medical treatment!

To avoid medical intervention, try these natural techniques and remedies, and help put your insomnia to rest.

1. Relaxation
Relax before going to bed. Do some deep breathing, listen to soft music. According to Dr. Timothy Sharp from Sydney University, avoiding caffeine, alcohol and nicotine will also help.

2. Bedtime routine
Develop a bedtime routine so your body knows it's time to go to sleep. By winding down your physical activities and following a set routine prior to bed, your body will start to associate some of these actions with going to sleep. Start with a cup of hot milk. Milk contains a protein called tryptophan, which helps to promote sleep. This can be substituted with chamomile tea, which is known to calm the nerves. Follow this with a hot bath or shower, the heat will help to lower your internal body temperature, again telling your body to go to sleep.

3. Your bedroom is for sleeping only
Make your bedroom your sleep-room. Turn the lights off as soon as you get into bed. Don't read, eat or watch television in your bedroom, or do any activity that is not sleep related. Make sure the room is dark and cozy; include extra pillows on the bed and even some teddy bears. Make your bedroom into a sleep sanctuary, a room that you will instantly feel secure and comfortable in, and best of all, a room that you will crave to sleep in.

4. Calm down and clear your mind
Clear your mind of the day's activities or things that are due to be done tomorrow. Write a 'to do' list for the following day. Organize uniforms, lunches, etc ... the night before. Make arrangements earlier than usual so you don't worry.

5. Give time back to yourself
Instead of trying to cram as much as you can into the day then find you haven't left much time to sleep, try to find short cuts or solutions to give a little time back to yourself. Make a double casserole and freeze half for another night. Spot clean the house as you go. Have more barbecues, using paper plates (less washing-up). Offer to pay the kids, or the neighbour's kids, to do some extra chores.

6. A balanced diet helps to make a balanced mind
If you're lacking in essential vitamins and minerals your body cannot operate at its best. Throw out the junk food and fizzy drinks, and make a new start to good physical and mental health. Add in some regular exercise and watch your body respond with some improved sleep.

7. Don't lie in bed if you can't sleep
If you don't feel sleepy enough to drift off, your mind will probably anguish over the fact that you can't get to sleep. This will only make it harder to get to sleep each time you experience this. Get out of bed and go into a different room. Do something to distract yourself until you do start to feel sleepy and then try to sleep again later.

8. Medications may interfere with your sleep
It has been shown that some of the medications below may cause sleep problems. Check with your doctor if you are experiencing insomnia and are also taking any of these medications - amphetamines (diet pills), antidepressants, beta blockers (heart and blood pressure), cimetidine (ulcers), clonidine (blood pressure), cortisone, diuretics (fluid), levodopa (parkinsons), methyldopa (blood pressure) and ventolin (asthma).

9. Above all: de-stress
Sharp says that stress is the worst cause of insomnia. Use some of the techniques above and try to remove as much stress out of your life as possible, and finally put your insomnia to rest.


5 Safe & Effective Home Remedies



While some ailments require specific medications, others may be treated with simple home remedies that have withstood the test of time. Generations ago, people began using home remedies and have passed their knowledge on to their families as time progressed. Still, many are unaware of the large number of home remedies that can provide instant, safe and effective relief. Best of all, home remedies do not cause side effects as other conventional medications often do.


Anyone who suffers from allergies or a cold may find themselves increasingly congested throughout the night. In order to relieve breathing and open the airway passages, an individual may find success in running hot water in the sink and slowly inhaling the steam from the running water. This will help to relieve blocked nasal passages and may help the sufferer to breathe easier at any time of day, including at night.


Snoring is a big problem, but few know how to treat it. In addition to a number of anti-snoring devices, medications and even surgery for extreme cases, there are also a number of home remedies that may help to eliminate this nighttime nuisance. Anyone who snores may find that sleeping on their side, instead of their back, may help to eliminate the problem. Adding an extra pillow may also help to curb snoring due to the fact that the head is raised slightly higher and may help to prevent air passages from becoming restricted, which is a leading cause of snoring. In the event that snoring worsens or does not seem to respond to home remedies, it is possible that the individual has developed sleep apnea. This is a serious condition that requires immediate medical attention.


With warmer months just ahead, the bees will be buzzing and this means the potential for bee stings. To lessen the itching of a bee sting, a combination of baking soda and water can be combined to create a paste that will ease some of the discomfort. Many individuals find this to be just another part of summer but to others, it can be life threatening. For people who are allergic to bee stings, medical help are not always close enough. Therefore, over the counter Benadryl is often recommended as a temporary aid to keeping the allergy under control until the bee sting sufferer can get to a doctor or hospital for further treatment. Individuals who are allergic may find that carrying Benadryl with them is a good idea.


Everyone is scared of the dentist, but it’s a part of life that everyone must face. Whether a recent tooth loss, cleaning or other procedure that may cause bleeding, rinsing with warm salt water on two to three occasions daily will help lessen the chance of infection and will ease soreness.


Anyone who paints their fingernails is probably familiar with the smell of nail polish remover. Well, for anyone who finds the smell unbearable or simply feels lightheaded in its presence, there is a much simpler way to remove nail polish. Simply applying clear nail polish to each nail and allow it to sit for 3-5 seconds before wiping it away with a napkin or paper towel. This will help to remove any trace of nail polish.

Tuesday, May 19, 2015

What Cause Acid Reflux Disease

The symptoms of acid reflux disease are as follows: heartburn, which is characterized by chest pain; inflammation in the mucosa; difficulty in swallowing; cough and hoarseness. These symptoms are felt by the infected person after eating a fatty meal or drinking liquor, when bending, and worse when constantly smoking. Acid reflux disease is primarily caused by the malfunction of the esophageal sphincter. If there is insufficient supply of the stomach acid, the valve in the stomach responsible for churning up foods to the intestine does not open up. Some of the factors that can trigger acid reflux disease are hiatus hernia, zollinger-elison syndrome, hypercalcemia, scleroderma and systemic sclerosis. According to paradoxical beliefs, drinking alcohol, tea and coffee can lead to gastro esophageal reflux. But recent studies show that although individuals already infected by this disease can be aggravated by alcohol, tea and coffee, these elements do not cause the disease. Compared to smoking which amplifies the risks of getting the disease, alcohol, tea and coffee had the least impact. But this doesn’t mean that GERD infected people are free to take the beverages stated above. Doctors still suggest avoiding drinking of alcohol in order to shun further aggravation. Smoking is the chief culprit that causes acid reflux disease. Regular smokers for twenty years are 70% susceptible to acid reflux disease compared to non-smokers. And symptoms of those who already developed the GERD are worsened day by day due to smoking. The highlight of the research is that great amounts of salts are found to be equivalent to regular smoking in terms of the risk of developing GERD. It is not a common knowledge that table salts can cause acid reflux disease but researchers found out in their studies that people who are constantly using extra salt are 70% at risk to have gastro esophageal reflux disease. Gastroenterologists of New York University Medical Center attested this fact. Gastro esophageal reflux disease can be diagnosed even by the infected person himself through the appearance of the symptoms. In the occurrence of these symptoms, it is advised to undergo the tests conducted by medical experts to clear doubts of having the disease or to carry out possible treatments. To treat this kind of disorder, there are varieties of ways possible. It can be cured by prescribed drugs such as antacids, by natural way such as change of diet system, elevation of the head when lying down, or to the utmost is surgery. And of course, it will be best to stop or avoid smoking and drinking alcohol especially to people who are vulnerable to acid reflux disease. Gastro esophageal reflux disease causes a lot of discomfort that it can ruin even your lifestyle. To avoid its bad effects, precautionary measures should be considered. The cliché quote that prevention is better than cure applies always.

What Are The Different Types Of Sleeping Disorders?

Several physical, medical, psychiatric or external factors cause disruption in sleep. Sleeping disorders are a common problem among people all over the world. There can be different types of sleeping disorders and the symptoms and causes may vary according to the types. Sleeping disorder usually occur due to stress, anxiety, grief, dependencies like alcoholism and various external environmental factors. Many people can experience sleeping disorders due to food sensitivity, which causes disruption while sleeping. The state of your health can also affect your sleeping. Mood swings, chronic diseases, depression, pain and alcoholism can all cause insomnia. Many women have sleeping disorders due to menstruation-related problems, with some women reporting insomnia during their menstrual periods. Pregnancy is also a common cause of sleeping disorders in women. Sleeping disorders can be classified into four general categories. They are dyssomnias, parasomnias, medical or psychiatric problems, and proposed disorders. Dyssomnia happens because of the interruption to the body’s natural resting. It can be caused by external factors or due to environmental factors. Parasomnia is a sleeping disorder that is caused by difficulties with arousal or sleeping stage changeover. It is a type of sleeping disorders where bedwetting, teeth grinding, night terrors, and sleep talking or walking can disturb sleep. Medical or psychiatric problems, which disturb sleep tend to come from alcoholism, ulcers, asthma and anxiety. Then there are proposed disorders, which are rest-related disturbances. The time required by people to take rest varies from individual to individual. Some might require longer periods or shorter periods. But if the total rest periods are unusual in length then it causes a sleeping disorder. There are also less serious sleeping disorders. Many people suffer with excessive night sweating without having fever. Usually you’ll wake up with your pj’s and sheets drenched in sweat. During sleep there can be fidgety or twitchy movements of limbs. Even though this is not a serious problem, it can cause disturbed sleep. Nightmares and vivid dreams can also disturb your sleep. If you detect any of these symptoms then it is important you seek treatment. Sleep is such a vital component of good health that you should treat any prolonged sleep disorders as warranting attention.

Weight Loss Tricks

Weight loss tricks which are little known can give you an edge you would not otherwise have. Many people find it difficult to lose weight safely and consistently, but it is not that hard if you know exactly what to do. There are many techniques and little known tricks you can employ which will ease the process, and speed it up. Here in this article you will find some very effective weight loss tricks. Weight Loss Trick 1 Keep a record of your progress. Some weight loss tricks we don't want to use are the ones which are self inflicted. We can often defeat ourselves by being dishonest about our calorie intake, or missed exercise because we were too busy, and this can largely be avoided by keeping a weight graph. It is easy to use squared or graph paper to plot the results of your progress, or lack of it. Make sure you weigh yourself consistently, wearing the same clothes, at a set time every day. When the graph is joined together to form a line, you will have visual evidence of your progress. Weight Loss Trick 2 Keep a record of the food you eat. So many people kid themselves by choosing not to remember all of the times they gave in to temptation and ate something they shouldn't. Then, they feign surprise at their lack of progress on the scales. Make a written record of everything you eat, and keep it accurate and comprehensive. Make a note of how much you eat, and when you eat it, as the body can burn calories at different rates at different times of day. Try to note down exact numbers of calories if you can. The weight loss graph and diary will allow you to analyse for yourself what is producing results and what is not. Weight Loss Trick 3 Get rid of junk food. Junk food, or as some call it “fast” food, is riddled with empty, useless calories. Even eating this once a week will put a severe brake on your progress, as one meal of burger, fries and sugar laden drink can contain the same calories as you would get from three healthy meals. There is no way you can expect to lose weight by taking in an extra day's worth of calories every week, so the junk food should be cut out completely. Weight Loss Trick 4 Set yourself a goal. It doesn't matter if the goal is modest, as some people only need to lose a small amount of weight. If you have a serious problem with obesity, as so many Americans sadly do, then do some research and find out what your optimum body weight should be. Even though that target may be a long way off, it will be achievable with solid, consistent effort. Everything is easier when there is a clear destination, and when a large goal is broken down into smaller ones. You can use some simple but effective weight loss tricks to reach your target so much more easily. Take note of these weight loss tricks, because they will give you renewed hope, and a belief you can succeed. Click the links below to discover some more important weight loss tips.

Weight Gain During Menopause

Menopause is simply one of several stages in the reproductive life of a woman. Menopause, or the permanent end of menstruation and sterility, is a natural biological process, not a medical illness. Menopause is merely the name given to the last menstrual period. Menopause before the age of 40 is termed ‘early menopause. Hormonal changes cause the physical sign of menopause, but mistaken beliefs about the menopausal transition are partly to blame for the emotional ones. The menstrual blood is partly blood and partly tissue from inside the uterus, or womb. It draws out of the body through the vagina. Periods usually begin around age 12 and continue until menopause, at about age 51. Premenstrual syndrome, or PMS, is a group of symptoms that start before the period. Approximately 1 percent of women experience menopause before age 40. Menopause may effect from premature ovarian failure. Menopausal women tend to exercise less than other women, which can show the way to weight gain. For most women, additions and shifts in weight begin during perimenopause — the years leading up to menopause. Weight gain can also have serious implications for your health. These factors also put you at increased risk of heart disease and stroke. The most effective approach to reversing weight gain after menopause included is aerobic exercise boosts your metabolism and helps you burn fat. Strength training exercises increase muscle mass, enhance your metabolism and strengthen your bones. Eating large amounts of high-fat foods adds excess calories, which can lead to weight gain and obesity. Limit fat to 20 percent to 35 percent of your daily calories. The causes of weight gain during menopause can be divided into psychological and physical. It’s normally accepted that in most women, physical causes are responsible for weight gain during menopause.Psychological causes for menopause weight gain: Anxiety and other forms of emotional daily stress, overwork and fatigue can cause weight gain during menopause. Physical causes for menopause weight gain: The most probable cause for Weight gain during menopause is hormonal imbalance. Healthy life helps to control menopause weight gain. Menopause weight gain can be controlled with alternative medicine. Testosterone helps your body to create lean muscle mass out of the calories that you take in. Avoid crash diets. Starvation will only cause your metabolism to slow down, causing you to gain more weight later on. Menopausal women tend to exercise less than other women, which can direct to weight gain.

Ways To Deal With Hair Loss

A great many people suffer from hair loss problems during their lives, and suffering from thinning hair – particularly at an earlier age – can prove very stressful and traumatic. We often associate hair loss with old age, but the truth is that there are many causes of this problem and it can affect anyone and at any age. From small bald spots to high level loss of hair, different people can be affected in different ways, often depending on the cause of the problem. Thankfully, there are a number of solutions available these days that can help with promoting regrowth of the hair. Often the solution that is most effective will depend on a number of factors, such as the cause of the problem, the level of loss, and even your budget. However, different treatments suit different people, and you may find that a solution that has worked on a friend may do nothing for your problem.   Benefiting from hair loss solutions   Medications, vitamins, and herbal remedies Products for the treatment of this problem have been around for many years, but in the past have been treated with some doubt and scepticism. However, over the years, the products available in terms of treatment for thinning hair or loss of hair have vastly improved and many people have found success through the range of over the counter solutions and medications designed to help with the growth of new hair and follicle improvement. You can also get medication on prescription for this problem, such as regaine, and for many this has proven the ideal solution, although you should ensure that you check the side effects with both prescription and over the counter solutions. Vitamins and herbal remedies are also available and could help with this problem, but again the cause of the loss of hair – which could range from illness and medication side effects to stress and poor diet – will often determine how effective each treatment for loss of hair will be. Transplants could prove the ideal solution Although more expensive than traditional solutions for the treatment of loss of hair, transplants are becoming increasingly popular as a solution simply because this form of treatment is both permanent and effective. By grafting from a healthy area of the scalp, the surgeon can then transplant hair and healthy follicles to the affected area, thus eliminating the baldness problem and promoting regrowth in the future. For many, this is the most natural and effective treatment for their problem. Because the cause of loss of hair can vary so widely, it is important to try and ascertain the cause of the issue before attempting to treat it. If you notice that you are losing your hair through anything other than aging it is important to seek medical advice before treatment. You can then determine which form of treatment might best suit your needs.

Ways To Burn and Reduce Your Calories

Most Americans struggle with weight gain and most have already tried every imaginable diet program yet with very little results to show for it. The fitness and diet industry has come up with a number of programs that promised “sexier” bodies for anyone who diligently follows every food consumption advice. Some of the more popular diets include the Atkins Diet, South Beach Diet, and the No Points Diet --- all of which have gained their respected throng of followers. The truth is, these diets are only as effective as the level of discipline you have. Any diet program can work if the person is committed enough to follow the dietary prescriptions. The bottom line is that you will gain weight again if you don't watch your calorie intake or if you consume more calories than your is supposed to have. Eating the proper food in the right proportions is the key to diet success. Moreover, a weight watcher should also understand that exercise still plays a major role in losing weight. Controlling food intake must work hand-in-hand with a regular exercise program that is intended for burning the excess fat in the body. But a person does not need to invest in expensive equipment or have a costly exclusive gym membership. The tools for losing weight can be found right inside our home or nearby surroundings. Aside from the diet and exercise, it is also wise to follow these tips on how to start and maintain a successful weight loss program: l Have a Positive Attitude - Even if you adapt a fitness or diet program, these will not work if you don't have a positive outlook about losing weight. It will normally take a few days or even weeks before you notice any results out of your diet and exercise regimen. It takes an optimist to keep with a program that is slow to show its promised benefits. Give yourself a break every once in a while and accept the fact it will take awhile to see the results. Start with good positive affirmations about yourself and your health. Have faith in the affirmations and it will surely influence your mood and motivation to stay on a diet and continue your exercise program. Your affirmation will be more effective if you write it down. For example, you may want to write down this statement and read it to yourself: “ I want to lose 30 pounds before Thanksgiving.” That is a manageable goal. You don't need to limit yourself to one affirmation either. Train your subconscious to be more positive. Do nothing and nothing gets done. Say, believe, and act on something...and it gets done. l Take Action – It is a well known fact that two out of three Americans are overweight. Why? We eat more and exercise less. We usually go for the high-calorie fast food meals when we take lunch breaks and many actually believe that we won't get fat if we eat “low-fat” food. If you eat more calories the body, will store it as fat. Having a low-fat diet prevents you from consuming unwanted calories while improving your blood cholesterol and triglyceride levels. It is important to know that there is also what is called good cholesterol. Not all cholesterols are bad for your health. Another important point is to determine your ideal body weight based on current standards of measurement for men and women. Another way to determine your health and fitness is by using the waist circumference method which says that your waistline should not be more than half of your height in inches. For example, a five-foot man which has a height of 60 inches should not have a waistline bigger than 30 inches. l Diet - Before adapting to a new diet plan or program, it is best to first consult your doctor. You should avoid consuming high-fat, high-calorie foods and learn to prepare delicious yet healthy meals. Once in a while, you can treat yourself by eating moderate amounts of food that you normally enjoy like a few bites of chocolate or half a cup of ice cream. That way, you won't feel deprived of these good “comfort food.” Losing weight takes discipline to follow a sensible diet and maintain regular exercise. Sometimes, for very difficult cases, the use of a prescription weight loss pill may become necessary. Just remember that losing weight takes time. If you stick to your plan and relish the prospect of having better health and a better figure --- you will lose those unwanted pounds and gain more in terms of your self-esteem and physical conditioning.

Water and Your Health

Here's a question you've heard many times before: How many glasses of water do you drink each day? Two, three, four... more? You've heard it so often because it's a very important question, prompting you to think about the amount of water you consume, urging you to drink more... Get the basics right, like eating a balanced diet, regular moderate exercise, rest and relaxation, fun and laughter, and life can be free of illness and poor health. Water consumption is one of these essential basics. If you want long-term good health, read on, we're going to give you all the evidence you need to encourage you to drink water, as recommended by the experts: 6-8 large glasses a day! Why you need a fresh daily supply At any one time, between 55 and 75% of your body weight is water. Your body's need for water is second only to it's need for oxygen! Take a look at why you need so much of this life-giving liquid: It assists the digestion, absorption and elimination of the food you eat It assists the excretion of waste from your bowel and kidneys It regulates your body temperature 24/7 It lubricates your joints and membranes Blood is your body's transport system, constantly distributing nutrients around the body Your blood is made up of approximately 92% water Body secretions and digestive juices are almost entirely water (your digestive system produces approximately 1.7 litres of saliva each day) Because of these many important tasks, in normal conditions your body needs between 1 and a half to 2 litres of water daily, in order to function optimally. This daily amount is also affected by your size, diet, how active your lifestyle is and even the weather conditions! The list below shows how your body loses water: Through exhaling, perspiring and elimination (urine, faeces) your body lose 1.7 litres daily In hot weather, perspiration increases so more water is needed to help regulate body temperature and keep you feeling cool During cold weather, additional moisture is lost through breathing For each hour of physical activity, you need and extra 1-3 glasses of water Central heating has a drying effect, so you need to drink more, or turn down the heat DID YOU KNOW? Water is a natural appetite suppressant. Lack of water can lead to over eating, this is because your brain doesn't differentiate between hunger and thirst, so when you think you are feeling hungry, chances are, your body really needs water, so drink a large glass of water before you eat. In most cases, you will probably find this will satisfy what you thought were hunger pains. Are you Dehydrated? You can probably appreciate by now that many, many people are walking around in a constant state of dehydration! So is your body gasping for water? How would you know? You can check for yourself below - we've started with the most common symptoms, right through to the more severe symptoms: Headaches A major function of water is to flush toxins from the body. Your brain is 75% water, so even being slightly dehydrated can cause headaches. Poor Concentration/Fatigue If your body is overloaded with toxins and not enough water to flush them out, you will feel less energetic while your body struggles with the toxins. Constipation Water speeds the process of elimination adding bulk to the stool, so drinking adequate fluid assist the flow and regularity. Reduced urine Output/Dark Urine The kidneys filter waste products out of the blood. Amazingly, approximately 180 litres of water is recycled by the kidneys daily! This process relies on an adequate fresh supply, without it, output of urine is reduced, waste products become more concentrated, resulting in darker urine. Furry tongue/bad breath If not enough fluid is passing through the mouth to wash away food particles, bacteria builds up in the throat and mouth, and on the tongue as a white film of fur. Dry Mouth Saliva lubricates the mouth, dehydration reduces the amount available. In More Severe Dehydration Muscle Cramps This happens when not enough oxygen is getting to the muscles via the blood stream because of insufficient water in the body. Skin If there is not enough water to feed the skin, it loses elasticity. Test by pulling the skin on the back of your hand, it should snap back instantly. Eyes Sunken eyes and dark skin around/under the eyes are a sign of severe dehydration. Get Into a Life-Long Water Habit Your aim is to drink water consistently throughout the day. Avoid drinking too much water at once, or too fast, because it will pass through you with little benefit to your body. For the first few days you may experience more frequent trips to the toilet, this is because your body isn't used to being so well hydrated and needs time to adjust. You should also begin to notice a reduction in weight and centimetres, as your body's water stores become redundant and gradually release their cargo! TIP If you don't have a water cooler/dispenser at work, take a two litre bottle with you each day - it will also help you monitor your water intake. Water is your body's life force, without it, you would literally dry up! WATER RETENTION Don't overlook water retention... The less water you drink, the more the body will try to store water for later use. This will result in water retention as the body cells swell with their precious water stores, giving the appearance of 'extra weight' TAKE ACTION NOW Choose your Source Wisely Some fluids work against hydration COFFEE - TEA Coffee and traditional teas contain caffeine, which produces increased urine output and is therefore a dehydrating agent. The more you drink, the quicker water will pass through your body. DIET DRINKS Diet drinks contain artificial sweeteners in place of sugar. These sweeteners send confusing messages to the brain that food (energy) is on the way to the stomach, but because sweeteners contain no calories, no energy arrives, so the brain sends out hunger messages until food finally arrives. People who drink diet sodas on a regular basis therefore tend to eat to much. FRUIT JUICES We generally think of fruit juices as being good for us, but in reality, they are sugar water. fruit is always far healthier when eaten in it's whole, fibre and nutrient-rich form. if you do drink fruit juice, dilute 50/50 with water to reduce the sugar content. Beware of fruit cordials/squashes, which are usually sugar-saturated or contain artificial sweeteners - check the labels.

Warming Up to Exercise

A lot of people exercise to get fit and maintain a toned body. Others take it to the next level and exercise regularly for competitive advantage, such as athletes do . For reasons that are either cosmetic or otherwise, exercise is the healthiest way of trimming down to your desired weight without resorting to taking pills or similar dieting aids. But that is not the only benefit that exercise gives us. It is an activity wherein a person gradually develops or preserves their physical fitness and health. Exercise can be done at home or in the gym, depending on your lifestyle and preference. It is important for a person to exercise regularly, since this also prevents certain cardiovascular diseases and chronic conditions such as high blood pressure, diabetes, and obesity. It is also associated to good mental health and depression suppression because it increases the production of endorphins, a chemical that induces a feeling of over-all wellbeing. There are different types of exercises to suit a person's need and endurance level. Exercises like swimming, cycling, walking, and running are for cardiovascular endurance. Exercises such as weight training and sprinting are called anaerobic exercises which increase muscle strength. Flexibility exercises such as stretching, yoga and pilates can promote the range of motion for joints and muscles. A person is bound to get hurt when warm up exercises are not done properly. Our muscles tend to experience muscle fatigue after intense workouts or when a person is continuously exercising without rest whatsoever. Lactic acid builds up in your muscles because it cannot be removed by the body fast enough, making them feel sore and painful. Muscle fatigue is caused by lack of oxygen availability. According to medical experts, “This condition is caused by oxygen inadequacy and an accumulation of metabolites like lactic acid and carbon dioxide which are not carried away in the blood stream as fast as they are generated”. This type of fatigue is basically occurring when a person exercises harder. Intense exercise will make a person feel stronger or better, but having muscle fatigue would be a probable consequence. Another condition exercise fanatics experience is muscle spasm, an involuntary contraction of the muscle, and is felt in certain areas such as the back, neck, legs, or shoulder parts of the body. It is an uncomfortable state similar to cramps when doing exercise or any other strenuous activities. When performing certain exercises, people sometimes tend to overuse their muscles and feel the tightness around the area but is not always painful. It is often symptomatic of an injury which if not treated may form abnormal areas within the affected are called muscle knots. The particular muscle part, when having such spasm or cramps, may be painful and hard to use. Muscle spasms can also be experienced in the neck when a person undergoes a lot of stress, making it hard to turn the head. This is a condition commonly known as stiff neck. In avoiding muscle fatigue and muscle spasm when doing exercise, it is essential to have proper warm up stretching and deep breathing as well. Let your body be ready for the workout that will surely make your body and yourself, more fit and healthy.

Vision Loss: Keep an Eye on it!

Probably the eyes are the most noticeable part of the face in any human being. The eyes are said to be the “windows to our soul.” It is obvious how valuable our eyes are in everyday life. Our eyes are invaluable assets that must be used every single day at home and at work. They start to work from the moment we wake up --- to the time we close them to go to sleep. The stresses of our jobs and even duties at home can also put a strain on our visual system. The use of glasses and contact lenses and the natural wear and tear that comes with the aging process can leave our eyes red and tired. It is true that our eyes are among the most neglected organs in our body. True enough, our eyes are the most used “appliance” in our working body, and as such, they also suffer the most. Headaches related to eye fatigue are also common among people who work long hours reading or working in front of the computer. Excessive watching of television is also a leading cause of eye strain and other vision-related problems. Those who overwork their eyes often suffer from visual migraines. Since the eyes are such integral part of our existence, proper care is needed to protect them. Having an annual eye exam is specifically recommended to prevent any eye diseases. In addition, many eye diseases start in childhood, so it is important for children to receive proper eye care treatment from the time they are still infants. According to research, there is a continuous case of vision loss in the world today, but half of all blindness can be protected. The goal of an annual exam is to minimize the adverse effects on the eye and the vision to prevent it from getting worse. But there are certain signs that can detect if you are suffering from vision loss, check out below if you have any of these: · frequent eyeglass prescription changes · difficulty in recognizing people · holding books or reading materials too close to the eyes · bumping into objects · finds lightning either too bright or too dim · acts disoriented or confused If you, or one of your loved ones are experiencing any of these, consult an eye doctor immediately. Many forms of vision loss are preventable if tracked down early. Keeping yourself in good health and taking necessary precautions to care for your eyes will go a long way. A regular eye examination will help you detect possible eye diseases and prevent blindness. Many eye diseases, if detected early, can be successfully treated. You can lessen the risk of eye disease and vision loss if you follow the following tips: · Eat healthy food · Do some eye exercise regularly and stay active · Control your cholesterol levels, blood pressure or other health problem · Quit smoking So, protect your eyes and those of your loved ones. Overall health care involves undergoing annual eye examinations. The eyes you have will be yours forever. Treat them right and they will never be out of sight.

Various types of migraine

Various types of migraine are abdominal, basilar, complicated, hemiplegic, nocturnal, and cyclic migraine syndrome. Abdominal migraine is also known as periodic syndrome which is common among children. It typically occurs to those have it in their heredity and this type may lead to a classic migraine. Symptoms of this type include periodic attacks of pain in the abdomen in approximately two hours. Basilar migraine, also called Bickerstaff's syndrome, typically affects adolescent women. This occurs when migraine obstructs the circulation the back part of the neck or brain. Its symptoms are dizziness, loss of balance, and even fainting. Another type is the complicated migraine that usually occurs with extended aura that may last for a number of hours or could reach to few days. This type poses a risk of the disorder leading to changes in the neurological area of the brain which is associated with MRI scan changes, those that are present in stroke. Hemiplegic migraine is the rarest among all types but one of the most severe. Its symptoms include temporary paralysis of the motor function and obstructions in the sensory system on a certain side of the body. As soon as the headache occurs, these symptoms may be gone. When migraine attacks early morning, it is the nocturnal type. Studies show that this type of migraine is associated with adrenalin changes. Cyclic migraine syndrome is the most disturbing when it comes to dealing with a person’s daily activities. It occurs ten times or more every month. Treatment Doctors recommend over-the-counter pain relievers or anti-inflammatory medications namely: • Ibuprofen – Motrin, Advil • Naproxen – Alleve • Aspirin - Excedrin Migraine • Triptans o Sumatriptan – Imitrex o Zolmitriptan – Zomig o Naratriptan – Amerge Triptans are a new class of migraine medications that aids in managing the source of pain. What it does is that it reduces the tendency of the blood vessels to swell in the brain and lessens inflammation; all these contribute to reducing the pain caused by migraine. For natural treatment, just rest in a dark area, drink more water, and place a cloth soaked from cold water on your forehead. Do not be terrified, it wouldn’t help at all; just relax.

Various Back Pain Causes

Back Pain causes a lot of inconvenience and hindrance to the normal lifestyle of a person. There are a number of Back Pain Causes, but the two most common causes related to discs are disc injury and degenerative disc. Disc degeneration leads to water content loss that narrows the gap between two vertebrae. This can cause pinching of a nerve and subsequent pain. Bulging discs are generally confused with ruptured discs. While the former condition is normal, the later condition can be serious. Discs may bulge during the day as they carry the body weight, and get back to normal at night when we sleep. Ruptured discs are damaged discs caused by leakage of jelly like substance called nucleus pulposus. Back Pain Causes – The Middle Back Among the Back Pain Causes, mid-back pain can be caused by poor posturing or sitting in one position for a long time. A poorly designed chair can also lead to mid-back pain. At the ethereal level, stress, and emotional worries can cause muscle stiffness that leads to pain in the back. Most back pain cases can be attributed to emotional imbalance. If your pain in the back is started by normal movements like bending or twisting, it could be a result of a slipped disc or a joint problem of the spine. It could also be because of muscle pull in the back. Muscular pain is among the common Back Pain Causes, which can occur while attempting to carry a heavy weight. Pain that is constant around the chest or mid back area could be the result of a fractured rib. The reason could be an injury or long set osteoporosis, which weakens the bones. Kidney infections can also cause pain in the mid-back. The symptoms are pain and discomfort during passing of urine. One of the common Back Pain Causes is stomach ulcer. Pain occurs in the mid-back that is accentuated after a meal. Strenuous exercise can also cause pain due to injury to the back muscles. Your back plays a vital role in mobility and needs care and attention through exercise and proper diet.

Thursday, May 14, 2015

Home Remedy For Sinus Infection

Sinus infections are one of the most common infections across the world. Sinus attacks are caused by an infection in the sinuses or cavities that are present in the bones near the nose. When there is any swelling in these sinuses because of some infection, breathing becomes difficult, resulting in fever, headaches, and other discomforts. This is known as sinusitis.

Each sinus or cavity in the skull has an opening that allows free exchange of mucus and air. Each sinus is joined to the other by a mucous membrane lining. When there is an infection like hay fever or a disease like asthma, these sinuses and the lining become inflamed, causing air and mucus to be blocked inside or a vacuum to be created. This can cause pressure on the sinus walls, causing severe pain. Millions of dollars are spent for sinus medications and sinus research.

Sinus infections can cause a lot of pain and discomfort. Sometimes, the infection may also lead to some brain infections or other chronic problems. Though there is no effective remedy for sinus infections, a lot of comfort can be gained by treating the sinus symptoms like headaches, nasal discharge, nasal blocking, runny nose, ear/neck/cheek/jaw pain, swelling of eyelids, etc. However, acute or chronic sinus infections require prolonged treatments, comprised of antibiotics or therapies like saline nasal rinses, topical/oral decongestants, antihistamines, mucolytic agents, and intranasal corticosteroids.

Sinus infections can also be treated by some home remedies. A lot of relief can be obtained by inhaling steam from a vaporizer or a bowl of hot water. Applying a hot or a cold compress over the inflamed area would also provide relief. A decoction of mustard seed powder and water, instilled in the nostrils; eating jalapeno peppers; drinking juice of ripe grapes; applying a paste of cinnamon and water on the forehead; applying paste of ginger and water/milk on the forehead; applying paste of basil leaves, cloves, and dried ginger on the forehead; inhaling steam of eucalyptus oil; and drinking warm tea are all found to be effective in providing some relief. Drinking a lot of water and other fluids would also help. A great deal of rest is also required. However, it is better to consult a specialist if the infection persists.

Fitness:Home Exercises

Some of the home exercises you can benefit from are aerobics. Instead of paying high fees to visit the gym, practice working out at home. You can find videos, books, guides and more on the Internet or at local bookstores to help you get started with working out at home.

If you are just starting exercise, prepare by considering what you want to accomplish. For example, if you want to lose 10 pounds then consider resistance, or aerobics that focus on burning calories and fat.

Some of the best exercises to help you burn fat and calories fast is walking in place. Stand in a position anywhere in your home, start walking with your arms up, bended and hands in a fist, and work your arms while walking in place. You will burn fat around the arms, stomach, legs and so on.

You have many benefits with home exercises. You can do aerobics, such as walking, jogging in place, and so on to lose weight fast. Try to mix your routines so that you get the full benefit of your home exercises.

Do some leg and arm curls. Also, add a few sit ups, torso workouts and so on. Do aerobics three times each week for about 30 minutes and you will reap great health benefits.

If you have a problem working out alone, get some videos at the store or download aerobic software online. This gives you the option of working out with an instructor.

You can also ask friends and family members to join you in home exercises. Your friends and family members will thank you when they develop tight buns, firm chest, and flat stomachs and so on.

To compliment your workout buy a few dumb bells, Pilate equipment, treadmill, etc at bargain stores, or at yard sales. This will give you great benefits when weight training or doing resistance workouts.

You can purchase cheap equipment by shopping at garage sales or yard sales. Visit some auctions or bargain basement stores that sell gym equipment cheap.

Set up a full home gym if you can to get the most of your home exercises and routines. Set up a schedule and plan to do something each week, like lose five pounds. Creating goals will inspire you to continue working toward good health with your home exercises and routines.

Himalayan Goji Juice



There are seven steps of Goji juice manufacturing process.


1. Selection
Vine-ripened, Himalayan-quality berries are meticulously harvested and classified according to Spectral Signature analysis.

2. Goji Berry Purification and Inspection
Himalayan goji berries are gently washed at a licensed, government-inspected juicing facility.

3. Goji Juicing Process
Cold pressed, the Goji berries are juices to a puree through a micro-fine screen to take out seeds and stems.

4. Goji Puree Analysis and Testing
Subjected to complete nutrient and microbiology examination, the Goji puree is analyzed for absence of pesticide residues.

5.  Proprietary Chill-Blending
To preserve the balance and content of the active polysaccharides, the puree is mixed with natural ingredients utilizing exclusive recipe and proprietary chill-blending methods.

6. Cold-Fill Process of Himalayan Goji Juice
Himalayan Goji juice is cold-filled into expensive, plasticizer-free pharmaceutical bottles.  This offers superior protection as compared to glass with no possibility of “leaching”.

7. Goji Juice Final Testing
Finished Himalayan Goji Juice is subjected to an exhaustive battery of tests, including polysaccharide analysis, full microbiological testing, and a final Spectral test.


Goji juice when opened should not be left out for any more than a couple of hours, the same steps you would take for any food or beverage that must be refrigerated after opened. Goji juice is different because it has never any added sugar, artificial sweeteners, artificial colors or flavors.

Freshness preservation is required to keep Goji juice chill-blended product from spoiling. Less than one-tenth of 1% of naturally-derived sodium benzoate and potassium sorbate in Himalayan Goji Juice is used.

Potassium sorbate is the potassium salt of sorbic acid. Sorbic acid is a natural ingredient of many fruits and vegetables. Sodium benzoate is the sodium salt of benzoic acid. Benzoic acid is a natural component of berries. Both ingredients are two of the safest preservatives that can be used in food products. They are so safe that they are even on the FDA’s GRAS (Generally Recognized as Safe) list. The only way to totally avoid preservatives would be to hot-fill the Goji juicet in glass bottles. Hot filling would destroy our delicate active ingredients—the bioactive polysaccharides.

High protein diet and foods for muscle building.



High protein diets have always been popular with athletes. Their popularity increased tenfold during the past 5 years with the introduction of the low carb type diets to the public that include high protein foods.

Regular people who do not exercise can eat moderately high protein foods. On the other hand athletes and people on muscle building diets must eat at least 1gram per lb of bodyweight in order to build muscle. A high protein diet is the staple of bodybuilders. Bodybuilding athletes always include a high protein food source in their daily diet.

High protein foods you can include in your diet are:

Turkey breast Chicken breast Lean cuts of red meat Lean cuts of pork Fish (most fish is high in protein) Eggs & Egg Whites Skim Milk Low fat cottage cheese Protein powders & bars

Whether you are going for muscle building or fat loss, a high protein diet plan can certainly help you either way.

If you are trying to build muscle, you need a high protein intake in your daily diet in order to recover from workouts and build muscle tissue. Protein provides the building blocks for muscle and without it muscle building and growth simply will not occur. During weightlifting and hard training, muscle tissue is broken down. In order for that muscle tissue to be rebuilt and grow stronger, we need to eat a diet high in protein. It's pretty simple.

If fat loss is one's goal, a high protein diet is also an absolute must. Most high protein foods are very low in carbs and saturated fats. Therefore by eating high protein foods in your diet, you also also eating quality low calorie foods. In order to accelerate the fat loss process, reducing carbs and overall calories is usually recommended. High protein foods can help you in achieving that.

An average person who trains hard and weighs 180lbs requires a minimum of 180grams of protein in his diet per day. This means at least 1gram of protein per pound of bodyweight. Anything less and muscle building/recovery will not be optimal. Some hard training athletes consume up to 2 grams of protein per lb of bodyweight in order to accelerate the muscle building process. This is not recommended for most people who require a moderately high protein intake. The total amount of protein taken every day should be spread over 5 to 6 meals throughout the course of a day.

Timing of high protein foods is also very important. You should be consuming high protein foods at all times but more for your breakfast, post workout meal and before-bed meal. Start your high protein daily diet by giving your body good quality protein to start the day. Then, right after your workout, consume a protein shake that will help kick start the muscle repairing process. Last but not least you have your before bed meal where you must consume a slow digesting form of protein (casein mostly) that will give you a steady release of high quality amino acids throughout the night.

Eating high amounts of protein in your diet can be very demanding. It requires a lot of time to cook high protein foods like chicken and turkey. The best way to get all of your protein is to use protein powders. Protein powders are extremely high in protein and they are very convenient to use. Just one small scoop of protein can provide 20-24 grams of the highest quality protein available. Make sure you choose your high protein supplements wisely. Do not get caught up in the marketing frenzy of magazines. A tub of high quality protein should not cost you more than $30 at any given time.

For more information on protein foods vs. protein supplements, check out: http://www.bodybuildingapplied.com/index_center_articles.asp?newsId=88

If you decide to embark upon a high protein diet, make sure you include a lot of vegetables and fibrous carbs with your meals in order to help protein digestion. Try to eat at least two salads per day and/or steamed vegetables. Furthermore, try to stay consistent with your high protein diet, day in day out, in order to keep a steady influx of aminos to your muscles. Always remember that if you are not eating enough protein & calories in your diet, your body will use existing muscle tissue to repair itself.

copyright 2006 Konstantinos Marangopoulos

High Blood Pressure: The Silent Killer

Maintaining a healthy blood pressure is very important to maintain a health and enhanced overall well-being. Blood pressure is the force that is exerted by circulating blood on the walls of the blood vessels. It is typical for blood pressure to fluctuate throughout the day, but if stays high, then high blood pressure is experienced. The medical term for high blood pressure is hypertension. Medical experts agree that the normal blood pressure is between 110/70 and 125/80. When a blood pressure is high, it may damage the blood vessels, heart, and kidneys. These conditions may lead to heart attack, stroke, and other serious problems. Hypertension is often called a “silent killer” because it does not cause symptoms while it causing the said damages.

About 90-95 percent of the causes of hypertension is unknown. But several factor may lead to high blood pressure like obesity, excessive alcohol consumption, family background of high blood pressure, eating too much salt, and getting older. One's blood pressure may also rise if he or she lives a sedentary lifestyle and is not eating sufficient potassium and calcium. Hardening of the arteries (arteriosclerosis) or thickening of the artery wall, and too much contraction of the small arteries may also cause hypertension.

High blood pressure does not usually cause symptoms that is why this ailment can go undetected for many years. This may result in progressive damage to major organs like the heart, kidneys, liver, and blood vessels. In addition to these conditions, high blood pressure can cause the tiny capillaries in the eye to bleed. However, symptoms of high blood pressure are noticeable in some people. These symptoms may include headache, blurred vision, nausea, and chronic fatigue.

Hemorrhoids: A Real Pain in the Butt!


Being afflicted by hemorrhoids is no laughing matter. The pain and itching associated with the condition can be embarrassing as well as distracting. There are a variety of solutions to help you overcome hemorrhoids and we'll discuss some of your options here.

Exactly what are hemorrhoids? In short, hemorrhoids refers to a condition in which the veins around the lower rectum or anus are swollen and inflamed. Hemorrhoids can be found internally within the anus or externally around the anus.

The condition is often worsened as sufferers attempt to make a bowel movement. Other causes include: diarrhea, anal intercourse, pregnancy, constipation, and aging.

Signs of hemorrhoids are observed through blood on toilet tissue, as well as blood found in and around the toilet bowl. A lump or painful swelling around the anus can be a physical sign as well as extreme itching in the same area.

There are two methods you can try to actively reduce or eliminate the condition:

1. Apply a hemorroidal cream or suppository to the area affected.

2. Warm tub baths, several times a day, in plain water.

To prevent future attacks you can take the following steps:

1. If constipation is a problem for you, increase your fiber intake to bring on smoother bowel movements.

2. Cut back on caffiene as coffee and similar products may exacerbate the problem.

3. Exercise regularly.

In severe cases you may require a physician's intervention. Your doctor may suggest that affected tissue be burned or the hemmorhoid removed altogether. Other options include rubber band ligation or the injection of a chemical solution to alleviate the condition.

Some cases of hemorrhoids simply go away on their own. In all cases you can control and even eliminate the condition by following the steps outlined for you.

Wednesday, May 13, 2015

Anabolic Steroids Are Good or Bad?

The debate on anabolic steroids continues. The anabolic steroids are one of the most debatable drugs of the recent times. “Are anabolic steroids good or bad?” is one of the most debated questions, often debated hotly in the United States, Canada, UK, Australia, and various countries of the world,  
Anabolic steroids are pharmaceutical chemicals resembling naturally occurring hormone, testosterone. Testosterone is the male sex hormone, which has many anabolic and androgenic effects. Responsible for androgenic or masculinizing features during puberty, testosterone causes development of sex organs, voice deepening, hair growth, and sperm production. It has anabolic, or muscle building, effects during adolescence.

Anabolic steroids are the drugs with a number of good and bad characteristics. The good characteristics of anabolic steroids are associated with the legal and medical use of anabolic steroids, but the bad characteristics are associated with steroid abuse or wrong use of steroids.
Legally - Medically, anabolic steroids are often part of a regimen to help restoring vitality in aging men and women. Anabolic steroids are also used to treat the patients of diseases, such as Breast Cancer, Osteoporosis, Hereditary Angioedaema, Inflammation, Anemia, Thrombosis, and Endometriosis. Other good characteristics of anabolic steroids are that – anabolic steroids especially help in the treatment of AIDS wasting syndrome; anabolic steroids are helpful in muscle rebuilding; anabolic steroids help fighting HIV infections and hormonal deficiencies in men; and they help reducing joint pain in women due to osteoporosis in the joints like knees, elbows, hips and more.
Dr. Alan Mintz, the founder of the Las Vegas-based Cenegenics Medical Institute, says that anabolic steroids give power to have a healthy life in the later years of life. There's a tremendous benefit, if anabolic steroids are used in the right and proper way. However, anabolic steroids abuse or overuse can lead to serious health problems.

Anabolic steroids are one of the most abused drugs. Often, widely used (abused) as performance enhancing drugs by bodybuilders and sports persons, anabolic steroids have many side effects and serious consequences, which are bad characteristics of anabolic steroids. Some of the common side effects of anabolic steroid include cancer, liver tumors, kidney tumors, jaundice, high blood pressure, coronary failure - increase in LDL (bad cholesterol) & decreases in HDL (good cholesterol), severe acne, trembling, nervousness, irritability, mood swings, fatigue, restlessness, and depression, etc. The visible bad characteristics of anabolic steroids in females include menstrual abnormalities, deepening of voice, breasts shrinkage, male-pattern baldness, and increase in sex drive, acne, body hair, and clitoris size.

Commenting on the good and bad features of anabolic steroids, Dr. John Baxter, the former president of the Endocrine Society & the professor of medicine at the University of California at San Francisco, says, “The concern I have is that hysteria over the use of anabolic steroids will cause people to lose sight of the potential good side of these hormones. It's really going to scare people away from their legitimate medical use.”

Alternative Remedies To Back Pain That Work

Come to think of it, a lot of people suffer from back pain these days without finding any cure with orthodox medicine, maybe because of incorrect diagnosis or ineffectiveness of the prescribed drug or drugs, so the pain becomes a part of most people’s lives.

However, for  a lot other people who have not been able  to obtain a exact diagnosis of their back pain problems, seeking alternative means of obtaining relief has become their immediate concern. It is becoming a big problem finding solution to back pain with orthodox medicine, back pain treatments are no long yielding the results that are expected. So the none-medical alternatives are coming to the rescue as follows:

•    Acupuncture: Acupuncture is an alternative treatment for back pain that has been in existence for sometime now. Rooted in ancient civilizations of Asia, acupuncture involves the insertion of needles into specific parts of the body for the purpose of taking away the pain. Acupuncture has been proved to work for chronic pain. It has provided short term relief from back pain for a great deal of people.

•    Massage therapy: The art of massage has been used for years as a tool of relief and relaxation. An experienced masseuse can massage the points of pain in your back, especially if it is caused by a strained muscle. People have been known to attain a state of painlessness after undergoing a well executed massage therapy. Some people argue that acupuncture or pressure point massage may be more effective than Swedish massage.

•    Physical therapy and exercise: Under the keen eye of a licensed physical therapist, you can stretch and exercise your back pain away. Exercise and physical therapy as a whole has been known to work well with chronic back pain sufferers than with acute back pain sufferers. Most back pain sufferers have also found relief from the education of the psychosocial factors of back pain.

You can end your suffering from back pain by finding a cure with alternative medicine because of incorrect diagnosis or ineffectiveness of the prescribed orthodox drug or drugs, so that the pain does not become a part of your life.


Allergy Management

These days of increasing pollution levels mean that more and more people are becoming victims of a variety of allergens, which are the various substances that cause an allergic reaction. These can be anything from a certain type of food coloring to pet dander or even a certain chemical that is present in seafood. There are also more and more children being born with allergies, so there is an all-over rise in the incidence of allergies. Given the impact that allergies can have on a person’s life, there are a variety of devices available that can help to decrease the advent of certain allergens in a specific environment. This has helped make the lives of many people who have severe allergies a lot easier and raised their quality of life.

There are, however, no methods of curing allergies and therefore the best measure that can be taken is to create an environment where the occurrence of the allergens is greatly reduced. The severity of the allergy also has a bearing on what measures must be taken to ensure that there are no allergens present in a given environment. For example, if the allergen is contained in food then especially stringent measures must be taken to ensure that none is mixed with other food, since the worst type of allergy reactions tend to be when somebody swallows something that contains the allergen.

The worst allergic reaction is when a person goes into anaphylactic shock, which can lead to death if not treated in time. Even if the allergy is not as severe as that, there is still the everyday discomfort that will lower the quality of life for anyone who has to live with this. The type and severity of the allergy will be the determining steps when deciding what steps need to be taken to ensure that person suffering from the allergy is kept out of harms way. The simplest step is to avoid the source of the allergens, but in some cases this may well be impossible.

One of the most common allergies is stated as being allergic to “dust”, this is however a misconception. There are very few people who are actually allergic to dust, but there are a very large portion of people who are allergic to dust mites and their excretions. These dust mites are commonly found in household dust, pet dander and feathers. There are very few people that can create an environment that is completely free of these allergens without going to massive expense. There are however products available that can decrease the amount of these allergens in the immediate environment, particularly in the bed room.

There are products available that can decrease the occurrence of allergens that commonly occur in the home. These can help to return the standard of living for those with mild allergies to that of those who do not suffer from allergies. These products can also help those who suffer from severe allergies, but are unlikely to completely eliminate the source of the allergy, depending on what exactly the source is. The biggest aid to those with severe allergies is a constant supply of anti-histamines. The products will help to stop the further aggravation of the allergic reactions.

Acupuncture Quit Smoking Stop

Jane was sitting comfortable in her armchair enjoying her after-diner cigarette. While checking the mail, she spotted an email - “Stop smoking now!” Although it was one of those irritating spam emails, it somehow caught her attention. She has been smoking for a few years and there were some signs that her body was not responding very well to this abuse. “May be it is time to stop smoking…” Jane thought. “But I am not a strong-will person, moreover I am allergic to many medicines… how can I stop smoking?”

She made some quick internet searches and within a few minutes she was carefully reading an acupuncture quit smoking – stop fact sheet revealing a possible way of smoking escape.

If you are in Jane’s shoes, here is some interesting information about acupuncture and how it can help you quit smoking.

Acupuncture is an ancient technique for inserting and manipulating thin needles into specific points of the body. The aim is to restore health and well-being. It is one of the Chinese medicine methods widely used nowadays.

Acupuncture quit smoking stop techniques are suitable for people who are unable to take any kind of stop smoking products due to allergies or medical conditions. The only option for them is to try to quit smoking using the cold turkey way, or in other words depending on their determination and will only. It may sound fair enough for a non-smoker, but most smokers find this way very hard and often unsuccessful.

Acupuncture can help such people as acupuncture quit smoking stop treatment results into reduced cravings and fewer withdrawal symptoms. With these benefits, the chances of successful smoking cessation are much higher. Moreover, in an acupuncture quit smoking stop program is combined with a correct behavioral therapy, the results are almost guaranteed.

If you are eager to try it, than the first thing you should do is to ask your doctor for an acupuncturist who has experience in similar treatment. It is important that you find a good acupuncturist because of the better results and some simple facts – as acupuncture includes inserting needles into your skin it is of utmost importance that you go to a high-standard place with guaranteed hygiene and acupuncture supplies.

The next steps are more than clear. Go to the clinic to have your initial exam and attend the sessions. An acupuncture quit smoking stop program may be over after a single session but in some cases, the sessions might be more.

“Ah, that sounds good for me!” Jane picked up the phone and arranged a meeting with her doctor for a chat about the best acupuncture quit smoking stop clinics in her town…