Archive for Февраль, 2010

What You Should Know About Exercise Induced Asthma

What You Should Know About Exercise Induced Asthma

Do you suffer from exercise induced asthma? Here is what you can do about it.

Keywords:
exercise induced asthma,asthma and exercise,asthma treatments,preventing asthma attacks

Do you end up with wheezing, chough or other asthma symptoms after physical exertion? If so, you may be suffering from exercise induced asthma.

In some people, asthma is triggered exclusively by exercise and not by allergens like pollen. How does exercise bring on this condition?

Researchers point out to a number of contributing factors.

One reason is that the person may have greater than normal sensitivity to changes in temperature. It could also be that during exercise, breathing often becomes rapid and shallow, which may end up bringing more allergens into contact with lung tissues.

A third factor is that when breathing rapidly, air that reaches the lungs doesn’t have a chance to warm up sufficiently. When we breathe normally through our noses, the air that reaches the lungs warms up during the passage.

However, during exercise, the body has increased oxygen requirements. To meet it, we tend to breathe through the mouth. This doesn’t allow the air to warm up before it gets to the lungs.

Cool, dry air reaching the lungs can irritate the bronchial tubes and the trachea lining. When that happens, the body releases histamines which result in inflammation.

What can you do to reduce the risk of having an exercise induced asthma attack?

One of the best things to do is to use the bronchodilator inhaler prescribed by your doctor. Use it a quarter of an hour before exercising. This action by itself will significantly reduce the chances of an asthma attack.

Bronchodilators work by relaxing the muscles around the bronchial tubes. This cuts the chances of asthma being induced by changes in breathing patterns.

Warm up before starting on heavy exercise. This is anyway a good idea for a number of reasons not related to asthma. When you warm up, the body can better adjust to changes in breathing patterns. This reduces chances of asthma attacks. Also, ensure that you cool down after intensive exercise.

Since cold air is a major factor in triggering asthma, avoid exercising outdoors in cold weather. At the very least, use a face mask that covers your nose and mouth. Using a mask will trap warm, moist air near the nose and mouth so that the cold air can’t get directly into your lungs and trigger an attack.

Likewise, avoid outdoor exercise during pollen season. Rapid breathing during exercise can pump a lot of allergens into your lungs thus increasing your chances of coming down with an asthma attack.

Exercise induced asthma is no reason to avoid exercising, provided you take your doctor’s advice and follow some simple, sensible ground rules.

hair loss treatment,hair loss,hair loss cure,hair growth

The Truth About Hair Loss

The Truth About Hair Loss

This article is about hair loss and the three different kinds of hair loss. This also briefly discusses the average life span of hair. The three different kinds of hair loos include alopecia areata, alopecia totalis, and alopecia universalis. Alopecia areata is called spot balding where one grows bald spots on one or more areas in the scalp. Alopecia areata is when all hair in the scalp is lost. Alopecia universalis is when there is no hair growth all over the body. This article also discusses the different causes of excessive hair loss and the different available treatments.

Keywords:
hair loss, stress and anxiety, surgery

Scared of combing your hair? Frightened by the amount of hair you see on the comb when you do? Is your hairline slowly receding? Face it. You may be experiencing hair loss.

The average life span of hair

The average hair strand lasts for two to six years. Each strand grows approximately a centimetre per month during this duration. Around ninety percent of the hair on your scalp is growing at any one time. The remaining ten percent, at any given time, is in a resting phase. After about two to three months, resting hair falls off and new strands grow in its place.

It is about normal to shed hair as this cycle progresses. However hair loss may become excessive for some people. Abnormal hair loss may affect men, women and children.

What is hair loss?

Alopecia is the scientific term for hair loss. There are three types of alopecia: areata, totalis and universalis. Alopecia areata is a form of hair loss from areas of the body, usually from the scalp. It is characterized as bald spots or patches in the scalp. It may just be one spot or multiple spots in the scalp. For one to two percent of people with alopecia areata, the condition progresses into alopecia totalis and then alopecia universalis.

Alopecia totalis, more commonly known as baldness, is characterized by loss of all the hair in the scalp. The causes of this is still unclear, however it has been related to autoimmune disorders and is said to have been brought about by stress.

Alopecia universalis is a medical disorder in which the sufferer is unable to grow hair on the entire body. This condition may start manifesting at any age. Like alopecia totalis, this is said to be an autoimmune disease.

What causes Alopecia?

A lot of factors may contribute to abnormal hair loss.

Three to four months after an illness or major surgery, you may notice a large patch of hair missing. This hair loss may be related to stress and anxiety brought about by the condition and is most likely temporary.

Hormonal dysfunctions may also cause hair loss. If you have hyperthyroidism or hypothyroidism, your hair may fall out. This hair loss may be remedied by having the thyroid problem treated. Hair loss may also occur if male or female hormones are out of balance. Correcting the hormonal imbalance may stop or lessen the hair loss.

Most women notice hair loss three months after delivery. This is because the woman’s body returns to its pre-pregnancy state and causes extra hair to be shed.

There are also medications that can cause hair loss. Medications such as anticoagulants, gout treatment medicine and medicines used in chemotherapy to cure cancer, too much vitamin A, birth control pills and antidepressants may cause or aggravate hair loss.

Certain infections may cause hair loss. Fungal infections in the scalp can cause hair loss, too. And lastly, hair loss may be a secondary effect of underlying diseases such as lupus or diabetes.

How can I treat Alopecia?

The most cost effective way to minimize hair loss is to lessen stress. Some forms of hair loss are said to have been caused by stress and anxiety. Your doctors ask you of your eating habits and the medications you’re currently taking or whether you’ve recently had any illness. This will determine the treatment your doctor will suggest. Certain medication may help minimize if not stop the abnormal hair loss.

If rest and medication does not help minimize your hair loss, you may want to consider trying different hairstyle to cover the balding spots or wear wigs, hair pieces, hair weaves or even surgery.

This surgery is more popularly known as hair transplant surgery. This procedure offers a longer-term solution to your hair loss dilemma. It involves transferring hair bearing skin patches to the balding areas. Surgeons will be placing rows of micrografts in front and minigrafts a few rows behind. It is the best solution to your hair fall problem though it may be expensive.

Natural as it may be, hair loss is not something we should just overlook or ignore. This may already be warning signs of hidden diseases you may have. Once you notice excessive amounts of hair falling off, contact your dermatologist and have your scalp checked. Who knows, you may already be balding and it might be too late before you take action.

The Heat is On for This Natural Back Pain Relief

The Heat is On for This Natural Back Pain Relief

Many episodes of lower back pain result from strains and over-exertions, creating tension in the muscles and soft tissues around the lower spine. As a result, this restricts proper circulation and sends pain signals to the brain. This article provides an examination of how heat therapy, another kind of natural back pain relief interacts with the body to alleviate types of lower back pain.

Keywords:
natural back pain relief

Natural pain relief comes in many forms. Some of it are acupuncture, relaxation techniques, hypnosis, massage, reflexology, chiropractic manipulations and a lot more. These methods are quite popular nowadays as they have proven to be effective and have less side effects compared to medicines with chemicals and other unknown artificial ingredients. Some of the more widely known natural and herbal remedies for pain relief include varying dosages and combinations of Devil’s Claw, Willow Bark, the ayurvedic compound Boswellia, Chamomile, Bromelain, St. John’s Wort, Horsetail, and numerous other plant-based cures. While these herbs and alternative natural substances may have indeed possessed some therapeutic anti-inflammatory and pain relief qualities, they could not kill the pain sufficiently enough on their own. A recent research was done by the VA Medical Center at the Lovelace Medical Center in Albuquerque, New Mexico, regarding one kind of a natural back pain relief that can supposedly improve muscle flexibility. The research acknowledged that heat therapy application can help relieve pain from the muscle spasm and related tightness in the lower back. Many episodes of lower back pain result from strains and over-exertions, creating tension in the muscles and soft tissues around the lower spine. As a result, this restricts proper circulation and sends pain signals to the brain. Muscle spasm in the lower back can create sensations that may range from mild discomfort to excruciating lower back pain. Heat therapy facilitates stretching the soft tissues around the spine, including muscles, connective tissue, and adhesions. Consequently, with heat therapy, there will be a decrease in stiffness as well as injury, with an increase in flexibility and overall feeling of comfort. Flexibility is very important for a healthy back. This application can help provide lower back pain relief through several mechanisms. Heat therapy dilates the blood vessels of the muscles surrounding the lumbar spine. This process increases the flow of oxygen and nutrients to the muscles, helping to heal the damaged tissue.

Heat also stimulates the sensory receptors in the skin, which means that applying heat to the lower back will decrease transmissions of pain signals to the brain and partially relieve the discomfort. There are several other significant benefits of this kind of natural back pain relief that make it so appealing. Compared to most therapies, heat therapy is quite inexpensive and in many circumstances it’s free such as taking a hot bath. Heat therapy is also easy to do. It can be done at home while relaxing, and portable heat wraps also make it an option while at work or in the car. Although heat therapy is commonly administered with hot packs and hydrotherapy, ultrasound is also considered a form of heat therapy. Basically, hot packs heat up affected body parts by the process of conduction, hydrotherapy heats by convection, and ultrasound heats tissues as the result of the transduction of sound waves to heat. Radiant heat, short-wave diathermy, and paraffin baths are also used on occasion to heat up troublesome body regions.
For many people, especially among athletes, this natural back pain relief works best when combined with other treatment methods, such as physical therapy and exercise. Relative to most medical treatments available, heat therapy is appealing to many people as it is a non-invasive and non-pharmaceutical form of lower back pain relief.

Natural Liver Support Cleansing Products

Natural Liver Support Cleansing Products

The liver is involved in thousands of biochemical mechanisms making it second only to the brain in importance and complexity. Natural health practitioners are also acutely aware of the detrimental effects on the liver of modern living, with its chemicals, excessive fat intake, pesticides, hormones, and stress.

Keywords:
Dandelion, Liver cleanse, Milk Thistle, Liver Support Cleansing,

The liver is involved in thousands of biochemical mechanisms making it second only to the brain in importance and complexity. Natural health practitioners are also acutely aware of the detrimental effects on the liver of modern living, with its chemicals, excessive fat intake, pesticides, hormones, and stress. This suggests that we as a culture are in need of liver support. You should consider liver support supplementation if you:

• Have a history of a Fatty Liver
• Consume Alcohol
• Consume Tobacco Products
• Have been taking Medications/Drugs
• Are exposed to Environmental Toxins or Chemicals or Second Hand Smoke
• Have a history of Liver or Gall Bladder Problems

Dandelion
Dandelion root enhances bile flow, thus improving conditions such as liver congestion, bile duct inflammation, hepatitis, gallstones, and jaundice. Dandelion increases bile flow by affecting the liver directly to cause an increase in bile production and flow to the gallbladder, and exerting a direct effect on the gallbladder by causing a contraction and release of stored bile. Dandelion’s hepatic tonic effect may be attributable to the high choline content.

Milk Thistle
Milk thistle (Silybum marianum) has been used since Greco-Roman times as an herbal remedy for a variety of ailments, particularly liver problems. Several scientific studies suggest that active substances in milk thistle (particularly silymarin) protect the liver from damage caused by viruses, toxins, alcohol, and certain drugs such as acetaminophen (a common over the counter medication used for headaches and pain; acetaminophen, also called paracetamol, can cause liver damage if taken in large quantities or by people who drink alcohol regularly.)

Many professional herbalists recommend milk thistle extract for the prevention and/or treatment of various liver disorders including viral hepatitis, fatty liver associated with long term alcohol use, and liver damage from drugs and industrial toxins such as carbon tetrachloride.

On Matters of Sleep and the Body

On Matters of Sleep and the Body

With so many aspects of a person’s daily life being affected by it, one would think that a lack of proper sleep would be a major concern.However,the pressures of the modern world have made it so that people are finding it harder and harder to get enough sleep every day.According to recently concluded research,this may have more drastic effects on a person than was previously believed.

Keywords:
side effects, sleep patterns, mental health, sleep problems, insomnia

The human body is often cited to be a complex machine, with several subsections that are working in conjunction with one another. As such, it can be seen that there is some truth to the traditional Chinese medicine concept of treating overall balance, rather than individual symptoms. Since all the systems are inevitably interconnected, then what affects one aspect of a person’s physical or mental health can also have an effect other aspects. While everyone and their grandmother knows that disrupting one’s sleep patterns or a lack of sleep can have an effect on the body, new research is revealing that there may be more side effects than conventional knowledge is aware of.

Most people are already aware of the more immediate effects of sleep problems, such as insomnia. There is a noticeable drop in alertness and cognitive ability, which can sometimes appear to be cumulative if the lack of sleep is prolonged. Sensory information can sometimes be processed slower than normal. There are also some studies that point to partial temporary memory loss as an effect. The ability to control body temperature is also disrupted, with some people losing the ability to regulate body heat altogether after prolonged periods with disrupted or broken sleep cycles. Significant lack of sleep has also been known to speed up the aging process of the skin, making a person seem older than they actually are.

However, there are even more problems for those with chronic lack of sleep or broken sleep cycles. According to research recently completed by the U.S. Air Force Office of Scientific Research, the metabolism of a person may also be subject to side effects of sleep deprivation. There were profound differences in the metabolic rates of the people who were subjected to controlled levels of sleep deprivation. The results showed that glucose tolerance, one of the key indicators used to determine whether someone has diabetes, changed. Rather than showing a normal glucose tolerance for their age, the sleep deprived test subjects exhibited the tolerance of someone in the early stages of diabetes. The results seem to indicate that the body’s ability to metabolize glucose is hampered by sleep debt.

The results suggest that sleep deprivation may play a role in the onset of diabetes, as well as being considered as a possible factor in the statistic rise of people with diabetes in developed countries. Other effects that the study noted included hypertension, more rapid aging of skin cells, a decreased metabolic rate (which may lead to obesity), and various memory-related issues. The study was conducted only on a short-term basis (for this type of research), lasting only 16 days. It is speculated that the recorded effects can only get worse if the sleep deprivation period was prolonged.

It is notable that, unlike studies that have come before it, this research team was not interested in the cognitive effects. There has always been speculation on the concrete physical effects of a lack of sleep on the body, but there has never been a study dedicated solely to pursuing what those effects are. The study is actually considered rather timely, mainly because most of the working population spends less than the recommended eight hours of sleep. While the difference of eight hours to the average sleep time of five hours may not seem that significant, the results emerged from test subjects who were subjected to just five hours of sleep per 24-hour period.

Factors that May Contribute to Decreased Testosterone Levels

Factors that May Contribute to Decreased Testosterone Levels

The article talks about the importance of testosterone in one’s sexual and overall health. The production of this hormone can be hampered by factors like high blood pressure, smoking, and excessive weight and obesity. Engaging in healthy lifestyles and partaking in nutritious diets may promote optimum levels of testosterone.

Keywords:
sexual health problem

Testosterone is the hormone that makes men—men. Testosterone is considered as the most essential of all sex hormones. It is a steroidal hormone that is primarily secreted by the testes in males and in ovaries in females. Females also have small amounts of this hormone in their system because it is a precursor to estrogen. In men, it is responsible for bone and muscle development. As stated, testosterone is essential in male sexual health because it stimulates spermatogenesis and influences the development of male secondary characteristics like facial hair and deep voices. This hormone is also responsible for mental sharpness and sex drive. Some medical reports suggest that testosterone is important in the development of self-confidence and social success.

Other functions and roles of testosterone may include the following:

Promotes muscle strength and endurance
Increases libido
Increases bone density
Decreased fat in tissues
Promote overall health and well being.
Overproduction of testosterone in males may lead to aggressive puberty in men and amenorrhea (absence of menstrual period) in women. Recent medical studies suggest that testosterone levels in the United States are lower today than they were several years ago. Some of the possible factors that are responsible for this decline are explained in this article.

Excess weight and obesity

One possible explanation for testosterone decline is: men are more overweight than ever. Medical studies suggest that obesity is a significant predictor of low testosterone. These studies add that gaining ten percent in one’s appropriate Body Mass Index (BMI) may lead to decreased testosterone levels by about ten percent. Because of this, fat or over weight individuals may have up to 25 percent less total testosterone than their fit counterparts.

Smoking

Cigarette smoking may damage the cells in the testes—male reproductive organs located in the scrotum which produces sperm and testosterone. Smoking-induced damage may hamper testosterone production and cause problems in male sexual health. It may also interfere with the body’s efficiency and effectiveness in building muscles.

High blood pressure

In the long run, high blood pressure may damage the lining of the blood vessels and cause atherosclerosis, or hardening of the blood vessels. Because of this development, less blood which carries oxygen and nutrients flow to the penis. For a lot of men, decreased blood flow may cause difficulties in achieving and maintaining erections. High blood pressure may also interfere with ejaculation and reduce libido. Many medications used to treat high blood pressure may also bring similar adverse effects.

Making lifestyle changes are essential in maintaining the right testosterone levels and overall health. A man’s testosterone levels will have a decline once he reaches the age of 40. But maintaining a healthy lifestyle and nutritious diets may slowdown this decline and maintain optimum sexual health. If these things fail there are medical methods available that may be used to improve one’s testosterone levels. Undergoing testosterone replacement therapy and using testosterone supplements may improve one’s testosterone levels. Individuals who want to engage in these methods should seek the approval of medical professionals.

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The Possible Science Behind “Comfort Food”

The Possible Science Behind “Comfort Food”

There appears to be more to the concept of “comfort food” than people first thought. The idea appears to have links to mental health, evolutionary science, and even biochemistry. Still, no matter what the science behind it, comfort food will always be comfort food.

Keywords:
stress and anxiety, stress relief, stress, mental health, weight loss pill

Do the words “comfort food” mean anything to you? There’s a very good chance they do, regardless of how you were brought up. The fact is, sometimes life just puts so much pressure that your mind starts to seek out ways to take focus away from the stress and anxiety of modern life. There are numerous ways to achieve this effect, though it would cause a lot of stress to list all the possible methods. However, in a pinch, occupying your taste buds is pretty equivalent to occupying the mind. In other words, “comfort food” can often be the easiest, most convenient means of stress relief.

Take a second to think about that possibility. Modern society seems hard-wired to make sure people are going to feel upset at one point or another. Stress and anxiety are facets of modern life that you can’t get rid of, no matter how hard you try. Of course, with life being as fast-paced as it is, taking an hour or two our of your busy day for stress relief is unfeasible. In some cases, it might not even be a practical option! So naturally, the body adjusts and the mind finds an acceptable alternative way to relieve all that stress. For the sake of maintaining mental health, of course. More often not, the simplest alternative is to grab a candy bar and start munching.

Apparently, there’s more to eating “comfort food” than initially thought, as science is starting to discover some information on this field. It is safe to say that moods can be dictated by the chemicals that control the central nervous system. It is also medically sound to say that certain activities and foods cause the body to release some biochemical compounds that affect the mood. Exercise and chocolate, for example, both cause the body to produce larger numbers of endorphins. Endorphins, as some people have so eloquently put it, “make people feel happy.” However, pressed for time as most people tend to be in modern civilization, exercise isn’t really an option at all times. So that leaves the easier, more readily available alternative.

Mental health experts also believe that “comfort food” can also be linked to memories, and not merely their potential psychoactive effects. There is anecdotal evidence that suggests that some people take comfort in certain foods due to a link to a positive experience or loved one from the past. The positive memories can sometimes be enough to trigger the central nervous system to produce a variety of chemicals that have positive effects on mood and performance. A man who has a thing for eating blueberry cheesecakes may be subconsciously associating said food with a positive figure from his childhood, like a close relative who liked to make blueberry cheesecakes.

In an evolutionary sense, “comfort food” also makes sense, it would seem. Most “comfort food” tends to be of the high-energy sort, typically foods that give the body a sudden energy boost. The tendency of people to eat high-energy foods during moments of stress and anxiety related to the natural survival instinct. During times of stress, performance is compromised and anything that can alleviate that problem could prove critical to survival in a natural environment. Now, just take the words “natural environment” and replace them with “corporate workplace” and you’ve got a perfectly apt comparison. The quick boost of energy from comfort foods – whether it happens to be dark chocolate or a greasy cheeseburger – could be what the mind needs to stay sharp.

It would appear that the science behind “comfort food” is more complex than initially believed. Still, despite the risks of obesity, people will still turn to food as a quick source of relief. Even if it could cost them dearly when they pick the wrong weight loss pill to compensate for their eating binges. Why? Because good food is so damn hard to turn down.