| Saturday, August 30, 2008 |
| Oral Herpes - Natural Remedies |
Oral Herpes, the visible symptoms of which are called cold sores infects the face and mouth and is caused by a virus known as Herpes simplex type 1 (HSV-1). It is the most common form of infection. The virus has the ability to lie low in the body after initial infection until it is reactivated. The condition is infectious during attacks but cannot usually cause another form of the infection.
Symptoms of herpes include recurrent cold sores around your mouth. It is usually preceded by numbness or tingling in the affected area. To minimise the possibility of spreading infection take care when using towels, pillowcases, facecloths, cutlery and crockery. Always wash your hands after touching a lesion.
Oral Herpes Natural Remedies
Avoid Stress - The virus that causes cold sores can be reawakened by excessive stress or when you are fighting off a cold or another mild infection.
Avoid Overexposure to the Sun - Attacks can also be sparked off by increased exposure to ultraviolet radiation.
Diet - A balanced diet can also help by boosting the immune system and thereby reduce the risk of an infection. The most important nutrients for maintaining a robust immune system are vitamins A, C and E and zinc.
Ensure a good intake of foods that provide these vitamins and mineral. Eat plenty of whole grains, fresh fruit and vegetables.
Reduce your intake of alcohol and caffeine which is found in tea, coffee and cola drinks. Cut down on smoking or give up altogether.
Make sure you get adequate sleep daily.
In a clinical trial, oral herpes natural remedies were found to prevent the development of blisters in 24 out of 38 cases. |
| posted by Healthy Life @ 10:23 AM |
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| Wednesday, August 27, 2008 |
| Low Back Pain - 5 Ways to Get Rid of Pain in Your Lower Back by Fixing Your Posture |
If you have muscle strain in your lower back, you probably know that your posture can be a major cause.
But, what causes poor posture? And, how can you fix your posture and get rid of your low back pain?
Most of us hold our head and arms in front of our body for most of the day. This causes the muscles in the front of our body get short. These short muscles pull your shoulders forward. They pull your head forward and down and make your chin stick out.
If your back muscles are weak because you aren't making a point to strengthen them, they get overstretched. So, instead of holding you up, your weak back muscles let your spine bend forward at the top. That causes you to lose the curve in your low back, too. Your posture starts to fail. Gravity starts pulling on your heavy head and that causes you to collapse even more.
What happens next?
Your bones are the support system for your body. They are supposed to be the steel grids. But, when your posture starts to collapse, your muscles have to start acting as bones to hold you up. Your poor muscles strain to hold your heavy head up while gravity is pulling it down. (Why? Because your head has moved in front of your body instead of being held directly over it.) Your muscles are doing what your bones are supposed to do. Your muscles are being strained because they are doing the job of bones.
So what can you do?
There are several natural things you can do to improve your posture and get rid of your back pain.
1. Assess your posture. Have someone take a sideways photograph of your whole body (right side and left side) and examine it to see where your head is. Is it over your body or is it several inches in front of your body? The holes in your ears should be pretty close in line with the center of your shoulders. The midline of your shoulder should be directly over the joint of your hip and thigh. Are your hands hanging next to your body or are they in front of your body?
If your head and hands are in front of your body, that indicates that your back muscles need to be strengthened. A strong back side will let you stand straight and tall. Forward head and arms also indicate that the muscles in the front of your body are tight, or short.
2. Learn about muscle balance therapy and how to assess your posture to determine the cause of your pain.
3. Stretch the muscles in the front of your body that are tight and short.
4. Balance your workouts. It is so much easier for us to strengthen the large muscles in the front of our thighs than the hamstrings in the back of the thigh. But, the hamstrings need to be strong, too.
It might make you feel more powerful if you have well-developed pectoral (chest) muscles, but they can pull you into poor posture unless you also strengthen your back.
5. If your lower back is too flat, one thing you might do is practice flexing it slightly backward and forward. Also, stretch the front of your thighs. The goal is to develop a small curve in your lower back. But, if your lower back has too much curve in it, you might practice pressing it into the floor. That's one movement that can help normalize the curve.
When the muscles in front (from knees to head) are relaxed, or in a neutral resting length, and the muscles in the back of your body are strong enough to hold you up, you are in an ideal posture.
If you correct poor, or "forward" posture, it will take the strain off your back muscles (and your neck muscles, too.) Less muscle strain means less low back pain. |
| posted by Healthy Life @ 9:45 AM |
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| Saturday, August 23, 2008 |
| Brain Injuries and Depression |
The symptoms of his depression were extreme anger, frustration, irritability, hostility, and being critical and uncommunicative. He had no interest either in any of his former activities. He also made a decision during the time when he was angry that he was going to sell the house and go to Mexico.
Other symptoms can include less energy, a feeling of being slowed down, restlessness, low self-esteem, anxiety, difficulty concentrating, increased weight or loss of weight, increased appetite or loss of appetite, sleeping too much or other sleep problems. However, fatigue is a common symptom of brain injury, not only when associated with depression. There can also be thoughts of suicide in severe cases of depression.
Depression can be brought about by a biochemical imbalance of serotonin, dopamine or norepinephrine; a distressing life event; trauma or genetics. People who have low self-esteem, negative outlooks, physical or other health conditions or psychological disorders are also at risk.
This condition can easily be treated by medication and/or psychological counseling and support from friends, family and self-help groups. Changes won't happen overnight although my partner did claim to feel better more quickly than I expected. In most cases, medication can take a few weeks to begin working. In the case of clinical depression, it will likely need to be managed over a person's lifetime.
Depression will affect not only the sufferer but his family as well and can put huge stress on the partner. It is important that family members be patient and non-judgmental and that they listen and offer their support.
My partner was diagnosed with depression several months following his serious motorcycle accident. Besides his brain injury, he suffered other injuries which included broken shoulders, a broken collar bone, his left hand and two badly broken legs. All of the ribs on his left side were also broken, puncturing his lung in the process.
We were told that it was very common for someone to have depression brought about because of a chemical imbalance following so many physical injuries combined with the traumatic brain injury. They expected that he would be on the medication for approximately six months and then it would be gradually reduced and eventually tapering off until he no longer needed it. However, when it was initially reduced, there was an almost immediate reversal back to his behavior and mood difficulties, pre-medication. And at over two years since beginning the medication, it is still necessary to continue with it. |
| posted by Healthy Life @ 10:22 AM |
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| Wednesday, August 20, 2008 |
| Tips to Healthy Teeth |
Healthy teeth are the first sign of how much attention a person pays to their appearance and personal hygiene. If our eyes are our windows to the world, then our teeth are the world's window onto us. The first thing that will be noticed about you in any social setting is your teeth. People with strong, healthy, and white teeth will immediately send out a vibe of confidence and reliability.
This is in stark contrast to individuals who have poor teeth and will immediately be considered undesirable. As a result of these social conventions, having a set of healthy teeth is very important in various scenarios and circumstances that are a part of our daily lives. Our teeth are one of the factors that influence the impression that others form of us.
As such, having healthy teeth may be the clinching factor in being hired for a job or being asked out on a date. The world is a very competitive place and healthy teeth are one of the first factors that can be used to either include or preclude an individual from a particular task, activity, or opportunity. Additionally, healthy teeth are also very important for the overall health of human beings.
Most people who have bad teeth are the sort of individuals who do not pay a great deal of attention to the other health issues that they may have as well. This means that a person who has bad teeth is also likely to suffer from other health issues. A set of healthy teeth also ensure that our bodies are less prone to infection. Our mouths are one of the most susceptible pathways for bacteria to enter into our bodies; a healthy set of teeth make it that much harder for many bacteria to find their way into our systems. |
| posted by Healthy Life @ 9:45 AM |
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| Saturday, August 16, 2008 |
| Quickly Lower Blood Pressure This Way |
If you want to quickly lower blood pressure and do it without drugs, there is one technique that stands out above all others-using slow, relaxed breathing.
At first sight, that might put you off. But here is the good news-it only takes 15 minutes per day. Even better, its easy to learn, safe, has not a single side effect, and its scientifically proven to quickly lower blood pressure as well as medication. What could be better than that?
Although scientists have some ideas, they aren't quite sure how it works. But here is one thing they do know-slow, relaxed breathing helps the blood vessels throughout the body expand. When they do your blood pressure drops. And the good thing about this is that the technique sort of trains your blood vessels to relax and stay relaxed. At first the effect only lasts a short while, but in 4-6 weeks time, the effect lasts all day long.
Clinical studies on this technique have been conducted and published in leading medical journals for several years. They have shown some consistent results that should grab your attention if you want to quickly lower your blood pressure without drugs: it works for the vast majority of patients-even those who don't respond to medications. The results are dramatic. Systolic pressure is reduced by up to 30 points while diastolic pressure can be reduced by up to 20 points.
To do the technique correctly, patients are advised to use approved musical aids which are basically recordings of tones that tell you when to breathe in and when to breathe out. The method is actually FDA approved for treatment of hypertension. The goal is to get the patient into what doctors call the theraputic breathing zone, which is 10 breaths per minute or less. You need to stay in this zone for about 12-15 minutes each day. That might sound like a pain, but would you rather jog for 30 minutes a day to try and lower your hypertension? This is a whole lot easier and its been proven to work.
There are other advantages to this method. While high potassium diets are a very effective way to quickly lower blood pressure, many patients can't consume the amount of potassium required because of kidney problems or diabetes. But they can use breathing techniques, because there are no side effects. Also consider patients trying to reduce their hypertension by eating a low salt diet. That leads to a bland boring existence in the food sphere, and it doesn't work all that well. Instead of worrying about your salt intake, try the breathing method instead. The bottom line is that anyone can do it, and it will work for almost everyone. So give it a try.
If you want to quickly lower your blood pressure and do it without medications, breathing techniques may be the way to go. |
| posted by Healthy Life @ 10:21 AM |
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| Wednesday, August 13, 2008 |
| Learning Difficulties |
Parents often say that their child with attentional problems has difficulty behaving and joining in with others when in public.
A routine trip to the shops, doctor's office or just out for the day can become an embarrassing disaster. Of course, the humiliation is compounded by all the other parents who witness your child's much misunderstood behaviour, often looking at you as if to say, "What kind of parents are they'?
Many parents decide to avoid such public scenes by minimising the child's outside life. Unfortunately, this greatly denies the child the opportunity to gain public and social skills that he or she will need in order to take part in community life.
When your child is in his home envirement, all their needs can be met relitivaly stress free. Food and drink is at hand and the setting such as bedrooms, gardens etc are all known and understood and offer a sanctuary of familularity as well as comfortable souroundings.
Outside settings greatly enhance the child's frustration and anxiety. Most adults would acknowledge or accept that the dynamics of a visit to the community are often a social nightmare.
It is possible to lower a child's social anxiety when in public by trying to make their physical needs easier by bringing food, drink and being more aware of of quieter locations that are at hand if needed offering opportunities to explore more in unfamiliar settings can often help a great dealminimising the amount of time spend in a crowded or confined area.
Public areas and outings can be challenging for children with learning problems but they can provide parents the opportunities to enhance and increase the child's social learning and behaviour
It is said that a child often needs love most when they deserve it least. I don't profess to have all the answers but hopfully sharing mine help other a bit. |
| posted by Healthy Life @ 9:45 AM |
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| Saturday, August 9, 2008 |
| Childhood Obesity - Excess Childhood Weight and How to Control It |
The lifestyle of today causes obesity in children. Children are overweight because they tend to eat all sorts of food and don't exercise enough. The calorie intake in children is higher than the calories burnt. Parents these days are too busy to watch out on childhood activities. They tend to depend upon schools and others. However, parents need to take responsibility of the children.
The lifestyle plan that parents should adopt to keep their children healthy is:
1. You should restrict television viewing and playing of electronic games to not more than two hours a day. They should be encouraged to walk or cycle to a friend's house or call a friend over to play outdoors.
2. Children should be encouraged to walk or ride their bikes to school. This will mean parents having to walk with their children to school if they are too young to walk alone. This will give good exercise to the parents as well.
3. Stop buying unhealthy food. Buy more fruits and healthy food. Children tend to eat biscuits and chocolates after school. You stop that habit and give fruits instead.
4. Parents should eat along with the children. Children should be given plenty of fruits and salads. Salads should be given before meals. This helps in a healthy weight loss for children.
5. Parents should play with children as a family that plays together stays together. Children should be encouraged to do work and told that if they do that work, they would be take out to play> Children love playing with their parents particularly their father.
6. Encourage your children to take part in games or other physical activities. Getting children motivated for sports is not difficult. You can make children join judo and karate classes which will be an added bonus as this will make children self-reliant as well as given the m exercise for the burning of calories.
Thus parents should become the friends of the children and monitor their eating habits so that they do not put on too much weight. |
| posted by Healthy Life @ 10:21 AM |
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| Wednesday, August 6, 2008 |
| How to Beat Numbness in the Extremities |
If you have diabetes, then you have probably experienced numbness in the hands or feet due to poor circulation. There are some simple ways to combat this numbness - known as diabetic neuropathy - and increase the circulation to your hands and feet.
I have had type 1 diabetes for nearly forty years. In my struggle with this disease, circulation has certainly been a factor. Quite a few years ago, there were many nights when I would wake up with a painful tingling in my hands that would quickly turn to a numb feeling and and inability to even use my hands. I have discovered some very simple ways to prevent this from ever happening again.
One way to combat diabetic neuropathy is to take the vitamin B-6. I would suggest at least 200mg daily. My doctor turned me on to my daily dose of B-6, and I am forever thankful for it.
Another way is to take l-argenine. L-argenine is an amino acid that is a vasodilator. A vasodilator increases blood flow and circulation throughout the body. The hands and the feet get a very marked increase in the amount of blood that circulates to them after just one dose. L-argenine is available at vitamin stores and many supermarkets.
It is also very important to try and eat foods that will allow you to lower the amount of insulin that is required to sustain a normal blood glucose level. Try and stay away from high-sugar foods that will require large bolus amounts. Even though the body needs it, extra large amounts of insulin can slow down circulation.
Try standing up! Maybe you have just been sitting too long, or have put your feet in a precarious position. If you stand up and move around, the circulation increases throughout your entire body.
Take your daily dose of vitamins.
A WORD OF WARNING:
Diabetic neuropathy can also be a symptom of low blood sugar. If you suddenly feel tingling and numbness in your hands or feet, be sure and test your blood glucose level before doing anything else. I would suggest that you test your blood glucose at least eight times a day - but especially if you are experiencing diabetic neuropathy.
Try these simple treatments on a regular basis and hopefully your diabetic neuropathy will decrease just as mine has. Not only will increased circulation be helpful for your diabetes, your heart will thank you as well. |
| posted by Healthy Life @ 9:45 AM |
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| Saturday, August 2, 2008 |
| Colon Green |
First Thoughts on Colon Green
By combining fiber, probiotics, and enzymes, Colon Green delivers a comprehensive formula that should deliver all of the many health benefits of a decent cleansing regimen.
These benefits include the not-so-insignificant relief of constipation, itchiness, sluggishness, bloating, weight gain, decreased energy, and suppressed wellness. In short, I think colon health is crucial to bodily health. In fact, a healthier colon can make weight loss easier by promoting more efficient digestion. And of course, the better your body uses foods, the more efficient your dieting efforts. So I recommend considering Colon Green as one source of cleansing. It is by no means the best option on the market, but it provides a good example of what to look for in a cleanser.
Colon Green Ingredients
Colon Green contains Psyllium, Alfalfa Leaf and Juice, Pau D'Arco, Echinacea, Black Walnut, Fenugreek, Watercress, Parsley, Rosemary, Cloves, Bayberry, Cayenne, Triphala, Lactobacillus Acidophilus, Lactospore® Lactobacillus Sporogenes, and Pancreatin 4X USP, which contains Lipase, Protease, and Amylase.
I'll note the following important ingredients:
Psyllium is a dietary fiber that isn't absorbed by the small intestine. It moves through the digestive tract, absorbing excess water and stimulating elimination.
Lactobacillus Acidophilus are beneficial bacteria, often found in yogurts. Along with a few other strains, these bacteria are among the most popular probiotic options on the market today. They can be used in treatment and prevention of diarrhea, digestion problems, and bowel conditions. They may have an immunity-boosting property.
Lipase is a water-soluble enzyme, which, depending on the type of Lipase, may be responsible for the breakdown of fats in the digestive system.
Amylase is a digestive enzyme needed for the breakdown of carbohydrates.
Drawbacks to Colon Green
I'm confused on one point: how do the probiotics and digestive enzymes benefit the body if they're administered at the same time as the cleansers. It seems as though everything would come out in the end, no pun intended. Perhaps a two-phase formula would be more suited to the cleansing and replenishing task.
Would I Use Colon Green?
I wouldn't mind trying it, but I think I'll stick to shopping for a good two-phase supplement. First cleanse, then replenish - that seems to be the soundest logic.
Response to Colon Green
Colon Green enjoys a decent reputation, but some consumers have voiced concern about the formula of the product. The worry is that without a second, replenishing phase, all replenishing ingredients will be lost. Still, have a look at Colon Green before shopping around. |
| posted by Healthy Life @ 10:20 AM |
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