HealthRemedis directory

Home Remedy for Gout

2009-07-15T05:09:00.000-07:00

Home Remedy for Gout

What is Gout?

Gout is a disease created by a buildup of uric acid. In this condition, uric acid crystals are deposited on the articular cartilage of joints, tendons and surrounding tissues due to elevated concentrations of uric acid in the bloodstream. This provokes an inflammatory reaction of these tissues.

Gout is characterized by excruciating, sudden, unexpected, burning pain, as well as swelling, redness, warmth, and stiffness in the affected joint.

Gout symptoms

Skin becomes swollen, tender and sore if it is even slightly touched.
The big toe is the most commonly attacked (usually in 75% of the cases).
Crystals of Uric acid may get deposited in the helix of the ear.

Picture of Gout

Gout Remedies

The home remedies would include:

1. Apply ice. If the affected joint is not too tender to touch, try applying a crushed-ice pack. Place the pack on the painful joint and leave it for about 10 minutes. Cushion it with a towel or sponge. Reapply as needed.

2. Drink lots of water. Large amounts of fluid can help flush excess uric acid from your system before it can do any harm.

3. Avoid high-purine foods. Check below for the list of high purine foods

4. Avoid alcohol

5. Consider herbal teas. Another good way to take in sufficient liquid is with herb teas. They're free of both caffeine and calories, so large amounts won't make you jittery or pile on unwanted pounds.

6. Make a mixture of one tablespoon of pepper, 1 cup of vinegar and 1 glass of water. Boil it and apply it on the affected area.

Gout diet

Food to Avoid

Avoid high purine food. Foods very high in purines include:

hearts
herring
mussels
yeast
smelt
sardines
sweetbreads
Anchovies, sardines in oil, fish roes, herring.
Yeast.
Organ meat (liver, kidneys, sweetbreads)
Legumes (dried beans, peas)
Meat extracts, consomme, gravies.
Mushrooms, spinach, asparagus, cauliflower.

Avoid alcohol or drink alcohol in moderation

Recommended Foods To Eat

Fresh cherries, strawberries, blueberries, and other red-blue berries
Bananas
Celery
Tomatoes
Vegetables including kale, cabbage, parsley, green-leafy vegetables
Foods high in bromelain (pineapple)
Foods high in vitamin C (red cabbage, red bell peppers, tangerines, mandarins, oranges, potatoes)
Drink fruit juices and purified water (8 glasses of water per day)
Low-fat dairy products
Complex carbohydrates (breads, cereals, pasta, rice, as well as aforementioned vegetables and fruits)
Chocolate, cocoa
Coffee, tea
Carbonated beverages
Essential fatty acids (tuna and salmon, flaxseed, nuts, seeds)
Tofu, although a legume and made from soybeans, may be a better choice than meat

12 tips to be healthy

2009-07-15T05:00:00.000-07:00

12 Tips to be healthy

All of us really wants to be healthy, i think no one wants to be sick, but because of many things to do we sometimes forget to take care of our health, but don't blame yourself that you do nothing for your health, because there are many easy ways to stay healthy and we just have to do it.

here are the easy tips to stay healthy:

1. Don t eat too much: Eating too much can get you fat, and being fat is not healthy

2. Drink right amount of water: at least 8 glasses a day, water carries wastes out of your body. It cushions your joints. It supplies oxygen and energy to your cells. It regulates your body temperature.It stops kidney failure, it stops loss of hair, it stops you from getting dry skin and headaches.Water is like oil in a vehicle. You have to have it.

3. Don t Skip Breakfast: Eating in the morning give you energy for the rest of the day. Because it gets your bodies metabolism going first thing in the morning so you don't feel like snacking on bad stuff. It puts your body on a schedule so your body will release fat and start burning energy. You need 1300 calories a day to lose weight anything less you just store and gain back in a cycle.

4. Do breathing exercise: Specially in the morning when the air is fresh.it lowers blood pressure, heart rate, and stress levels. it increases blood oxygen levels which helps with kidneys, heart, muscle growth, electrolyte exchange, circulation. it also prevents atelectasis which is a closing of the aveoli in the lungs by forcing them to stay open. one of the problems that we face as we get older is a lack of expansion in the lungs. muscles become weaker, cartilage flexes less, etc. as the lungs will expand less and less, the lower parts lose their ability to open and hold air so we get short of breath with simple exercise the older we get because we have less space. doing deep breathing as a younger person helps fight off some of the effects of old age, just like stretching muscles of the back or legs improve flexion and circulation as we get older. how often?? good question. just like regular exercise, doing it every day is a good thing. but like regular exercise sometimes we just don't have the time or energy. even once a week will do you some good and increase the oxygen levels in the blood

5. Always smile: Firstly and most importantly it improves the overall psychological and mental state of a person. It relaxes some facial muscles and widens blood vessels that help blood flow better and benefit the physical and mental health.
I am sure it also increases one's popularity and thus improves his/her social state

6. Drink your vitamin: The benefits one gets in general is, it builds up our immune system, e.g. Vit-C, B, E, A, D, K all help improve your immune system.

7. Eat Fruits: fruit has fiber, vitamins, minerals. Benefits of fruit on the digestion
Most fruits function as natural laxatives, helping to regulate your body's digestive process. They provide roughage and fiber that is important in helping your body get rid of wastes.

8. Stay Relax: Stay calm always, relaxation means three words " peace of mind"

9. Drink milk: There's loads of calcium in milk, which benefit joints. If you're not into artificial growth hormones, there are hundreds of organic options that taste the same and provide the same health benefits

10. Exercise: Strengthen your cardiovascular and respiratory systems, keep bones and muscles strong, manage your weight, prevent and manage diabetes, ease depression and manage pain and stress, reduce your risk of certain types of cancer and sleep better.

11. Socialize: Try to meet new people everyday having many friends can be benefit to your health.

12. Stay away from vices and bad habits: drinking too much alcohol, smoking, gambling, etc.

How to use Aloe Vera plant in common disorders

2009-07-15T04:57:00.001-07:00

How to use Aloe Vera plant in common disorders

Image via WikipediaAloe vera are not only use as ornaments in our gardens, aside from its beautiful to our sight, it is also good herbal medicine to some kinds of disorders. Aloe Vera are effective herb against minor burns, dandruff, Falling hairs, pimples, sprains, sunburn, and some minor wounds. Here are some simple tips how to use aloe vera in some common disorders.

For Minor Burns - Washed some fresh leaves of aloe vera. squeeze it hard to get the juice or extract of aloe vera. Apply the extract of aloe vera in the affected burn area two times everyday. Rinse with not too cold and not too hot water after 15 minutes.

For Dandruff - Squeeze the juice extract and apply the juice extract to hair scalp specially in the most dandruff affected areas do it like your using your favorite shampoo, massage the juice extract in your scalp before you rinse it with water. Do this for four weeks.

For Falling Hair - use the cut piece of aloe vera leaves and its extract and massage it in your hair scalp 15 minutes.

For Pimples - Once again squeeze the extract of aloe vera and apply it to your acne affected area, make sure you washed your face first and make sure it free from dust and oil before you apply the extract. washed it with a not too cold not too hot water after 30 minutes.

For minor Wounds - Apply the juice extract of aloe vera in the wound, allow the extract to penetrate the wound. Dont cover the wound but dont let the fly go near your wounds. Do this 1 to two times a day until the wound is cured

Ways to use Onion for common disorders

2009-07-15T04:56:00.001-07:00

Ways to use Onion for common disorders

Onion what are the things you can think of about onion aside from eating it or to saute. Onions can be used, usually sliced or chopped , in almost every type of food, including fresh salads and cooked foods, and as a spicy garnish; they are rarely eaten on their own but usually act as accompaniment to the main course. A lot of people don't know about the benefits ad use of onions, there many types of disorder that can cure by onions. Examples of disorders that in can cure are joint problems, headache, rheumatism, hypertension, and even insect bites.

Here are the ways how to use onion for:

Headache = Mince two to three grain of onion, massage the extracts of onions to part of head were it aches most, massage circularly, repeatedly until it penetrates the skin. repeat this until you feel relief.

Hypertension = Every breakfast, lunch and dinner try to eat at least two to four grain of onion, cook or fried it first so it can eaten easily. If you have hypertension always keep in mind to eat onions everyday, avoid eating onion if you have ulcer because it can make your ulcer severe.

Insect Bites = Slice the grain of onion horizontally, then place it where insect bites you, this is effective in sucking the impurities that carried by insects.

Rheumatism and joint problems = Mince three to five grain of onion, apply the mince onion on affected areas of your body, you could also try to cover the specific area with bandage for effective penetration .

Onion contains chemical compounds believed to have anti-inflammatory, anti-cholesterol, anti-cancer, and antioxidant properties such as quercetin.Onions is one of the oldest vegetables known to humankind.

Health Benefits of Carrots

2009-07-15T04:55:00.000-07:00

Health Benefits of Carrots

Carrots, Bugs Bunny's favorite food, it has been considered to improve our vision. I still remember what my grandmother always tell us when we where kids, that if we want to have a good vision or we don't want to wear reading glasses early is that we should always it some carrots for better vision. Carrot is rich in beta-carotene. A substances in the body will be converted into vitamin A, vitamin, which is very important for the function of our Retina. Carrots are an excellent source of antioxidant compounds, and the richest vegetable source of the pro-vitamin A carotene's. Carrots' antioxidant compounds help protect against cardiovascular disease and cancer and also promote good vision, especially night vision. However, vitamin A will not treat blindness and vision can only improve if the vision problems are not caused by lack of vitamin A. In addition to a role as pro-vitamin A, beta-carotene as protective against cancer because it is an antioxidant.Antioxidant is a compound that can neutralize free radicals: unstable molecule produced by various chemical processes normal body, or by solar radiation, cigarette smoke, and the influence of other environment.
In the body, the majority originating from free radical complex chemical process used when the oxygen in the cells. Radical free-radical chemicals that are not complete it can "steal" of particles from the molecule-molecule to another. He then produces a compound-rocker compound and create a chain reaction that can damage cells, by making fundamental changes in the genetic material and important parts of other cells.Simply, the way of free radical damage to cells with the same oxygen causes paper changed color yellow or become rancid butter. In addition to the beta-carotene, carrots also contain antioxidants fenolat acid.
Studies have been conducted widely in humans show that the pattern of food that included carrot, despite the small amount, per day can reduce the incidence lung cancer around 50 percent.

1. Lower cholesterol
Can also help lower blood cholesterol. Research shows, the consumption of fresh carrot / raw 200 grams a day for three weeks can reduce blood cholesterol rate of 11 percent.
It means one percent decrease in cholesterol synonymous with heart disease risk reduction of approximately two percent. So, strictly with the carrot for three weeks, the risk of heart disease is estimated to gain can be reduced 22 percent.2. Lower risk of stroke
Addition to reducing the risk of heart disease, carrots can reduce the risk of suffering stroke. Eating carrots, at least five times each week can reduce the risk of stroke affected 68 percent of the carrot one time, or less than, a month.That large-scale research findings of Harvard University, U.S., conducted on almost 90,000 female nurses for eight years.
Harvard previous study found that consume extra beta-carotene contained in carrots around one and a half days each stem can reduce the likelihood of stroke by 40 percent. This decline is clearly on those who consume beta-carotene 15-20 mg per day versus those who consume beta-carotene only 6 mg.When analyzing the blood of 80 patients within 24 hours after stroke affected, the researchers found, patients with stroke in the amount of vitamin A on average, including beta-carotene, have more opportunities to survive (survival), have fewer neurological damage, and recover the same once.

3. Cooked more absorbedThe rate of beta-carotene contained in carrots (754 ) almost two times more than the content of beta-carotene in the kangkungs (380 ) and three times more than the content of beta-carotene in the leaves caisins (286 ).
Beta-carotene found in carrots is higher than that found in spinach (409 ). The more orange color of carrots, the higher the rate of beta-carotene carrot.

To maintain vitamin astringent-carrot maximum, rubbing / brush it carrot, peeled do not, unless the skin is very hard or have been damaged / disability.4. Choosing carrot
carrots that look fresh, firm, smooth and shapely with interesting color. Avoid carrots that cracked, wrinkled / wrinkled, or rubbery. At the time of purchase carrot that the top of the green still cling, make sure the green looks fresh.Keep the carrot in the refrigerator. Should release the green / stored before the first cut.
5. Carrot juice benefitsCarrot juice is also good to drink pregnant women.
Beta Carotene content of the fruit is also anti-oxidants, a good candidate for mother and baby. In addition, anti-oxidants also help slow the aging process. Other fruits rich anti-oxidants are the berry. Both these fruits can be blended together or separately.Tips Benefits Carrot juice
- Carrot juice as a useful anti-inflammatory and invigorate the skin.- Carrot juice can help prevent cancer
- Carrot juice to help take the spots in the skin- Carrot juice consumed each day able to overcome the rough skin pigmentation .
Maybe for some people, carrot juice feel uncomfortable, but good for our health and harmless to try.

Food for the skin from the food pyramid

2009-07-15T04:54:00.000-07:00

Food for the skin from the food pyramid

Fruits (citrus fruits, apples) and vegetables (green leafy vegetables and tomatoes) make up the glow foods, a review of elementary school science will remind us. These foods contain essential vitamins and minerals for youthful skin, as so dairy products, such as milk and cheese, eggs, and animal protein. There are a lot vitamins and minerals that the skin needs, including the fat soluble vitamins (vitamin A, E, K) vitamins B and C, folic acid, biotin, selenium, and zinc. Even essential fatty acid are also important for a healthy skin. Here are the vitamins and minerals naturally found in food that keep skin looking young and glowing. You'll be amaze that all of this foods are also found in the food pyramid.

Vitamin A - maintains and repairs skin tissue and may reduce the risk of psoriasis.
It can be found in:

sweet potato
carrots
mango
spinach
milk
egg yolk
cheese

Vitamin B complex - vitamin B, boosts cardiovascular health, with better blood flow resulting in healthy, glowing skin. B3 and B5 hydrate the skin.
It can be found in:

green leafy vegetables
beans
peas
meat
fish
dairy products
fortified grains

Vitamins C and E -help reduce wrinkles and premature skin aging caused by free radicals.
It can be found in:
(vitamin C)

citrus fruits
green leafy vegetables
broccoli
cauliflower
bell pepper

(vitamin E)

Vegetable oils
nuts
seeds
olives
spinach
asparagus

Vitamin K - minimize bruising and may fight wrinkles and protect skin elasticity. Topical preparations with vitamin K are effective in reducing dark circles around the eyes.
It can be found in:

green leafy vegetables
broccoli
spinach

Folic Acid - a B vitamin, assists healthy cell division and replication and may delaying graying of hair.
It can be found in:

green leafy vegetables
beans
wheat germ

Biotin - a B vitamin prevents dermatitis and hair loss.
It can be found in:

bananas
eggs
oatmeal
rice

Selenium - Reduces the formation of sunburn cells.
It can be found in:

whole grain cereals
seafood
garlic
eggs

Copper - together with vitamin C and zinc, helps develop elastin, fibers that support skin structure.
It can be found in:

liver
seafood
beans
nuts
whole grains

Zinc - tames oil production and minimize acne lesions.
It can be found in:

oysters
poultry
lean meat

Perhaps you noticed the variety of foods listed above, All the food groups are represented. It is important to eat variety of foods, using the food pyramid as a guide for the food groups and portions. Following the food pyramid, will help you include the variety of nutrients your body needs, including the ones for our skin that can help to have a healthy glowing skin for all daily functions

4 tips to prevent breast from sagging

2009-07-15T04:52:00.000-07:00

4 tips to prevent breast from sagging

Prevent your breast from heading south with this four anti drop strategies:

1. Keep your weight steady - Because breast tissue is made up mainly of fat cells, repeatedly gaining and losing as little as five pounds can cause breast skin and the connective tissue inside your twins to lose elasticity, making your mammaries appear softer and losses over time.

2. Support your breast - A supportive bra in your correct size will take the weight off breast ligaments, preserving your twins firmness. Even with larger breasts it's still possible to keep them from drooping badly by keeping a bra on as much as possible - even in bed. Many sleep bras are comfortable and thin, while providing the necessary support.Whether you're an A or D cup, wear a bra with top notch support. And whenever you go to the gym, opt for a sports bra that's design like an regular bra.

3. Do some exercise for your breast - Boobs don't contain muscle. so no workout in the world will tone them. Bur by regular exercising the pectoral muscle that lies under your breast, you can create the illusion of a perkier pair and higher cleavage, Chest presses and Push ups are the move that will give you the best boost. But it takes a few months to notice results.

4. Surgery-Much further down the road you may wish to have a surgical procedure done which involves removing some of the fat from your breasts and inserting a tuck to bring them upward.

12 reasons why swimming is good for our health

2009-07-15T04:51:00.000-07:00

We all know that it takes years of practice to be like Michael Phelps who is collecting golds in the Olympics and breaking world records, but like Michael Phelps we too can enjoy swimming as our sport and benefit from it specially in our health. So we should start a sport like swimming here are 12 reasons why swimming is good for our health:

1. Swimming supports our health, boosts our immune system - The water temperature, which is in all cases of swimming training, lower than the average body temperature of humans which should be 36 to 37 degrees Celsius. The difference in temperature loads the work rate of the cardio-vascular system. With the ability to adapt to those temperatures, We achieve a solid resistance to diseases, like flu and colds. It also influences our breathing (the colder the water the harder the breathing), which is a health benefit especially for patients (or swimmers) with asthma problems.

2. Improve Breathing -The water pressure, which is exerted onto the human body (skin) increases with greater depth of the water.This effect will influence the blood circulation through the human body and improve one's breathing as this pressure concerns the lungs.
3. Swimming is a sport for rehabilitation of injuries, and after operations, as the special gravity condition in water allows people to execute movements with lesser body weight

4. Stress Management - We are experiencing a more and more hectic daily life and swimming supports the relaxation and recovery, which leads to a more balanced lifestyle

5. It's part of the physical education and water safety - In schools swimming is a part of curriculum. Everyone who wants to Scuba Dive or do White Water Rafting has to be able to swim.

6. It's a social sport - we can swim with friends or family enjoy the water and bond with your friends and love ones.

7. Swimming is a full body exercise - It tones our entire muscle spectrum and it works as our fitness.

8. Job requirement - Some jobs require the know-how to swim.

9. Low risk of injuries - It is a sport where, if we are a beginner or an expert, there is very little risk of injuries.

10. It's an affordable sport. - specially if you are near the beach

11. It's a substitute to other sports - especially to running as it trains one's upper body.

12. It's a competitive sport - Master's, Open Water, Triathlon.

12 reasons of Teenage drug abuse

2009-07-15T04:38:00.000-07:00

12 reasons of Teenage drug abuse

Drug use in anyone can lead to health problems but these can be so much worse for teenagers who's bodies have not yet finished growing.I know some people who use drugs every day that have a mental illness because of it,drugs damage the brains ability to function normally and process information normally. they affect the chemical levels in the brain which lead to mental illnesses such as psychosis and schizophrenia these are very serious and if left untreated the psychotic symptoms of schizophrenia (such as paranoia, hearing voices, visual hallucinations, delusions) can become permanent and affect your quality of life. Here are some reasons why teenagers turn to drugs.

Curiosity- They want to experience new things, too bad they want to experience drugs.
Rebellion - Because using drugs is rebellious and its illegal and forbidden.
Peer pressure - They want to fit in with groups the bad thing is drugs is involve.
Copying significant others - If a role model is doing drugs, they might feel justified in trying it too.
Experimentation - They don't realize that an cation today can lead to very bad consequence tomorrow.
Feelings of indestructibility - Some teenagers tell themselves that they can control anything, that they can control the use of drugs, but many fails and turn to addiction.
Forget problems - Teenagers turn to drugs to escape their problem with the environment he lives in.
Increase creativity and productivity - Some interpret altered states as inspiration for creative ideas.
Psychiatric problem - Teenagers with mental illness like depression or a personalty disorder are more prone to abuse drugs.
Weight loss tool - Some drugs do suppress appetite, but addiction usually pushes the addict to place little important to health.
False hope - Some teenagers who losses hope turns to drugs.
Substitute to love - Teenagers who don't feel any love from someone turn to drugs and feel love by himself.

Joint Pain Home Remedies

2009-07-15T04:36:00.000-07:00

By far the majority of folks here and overseas are plagued with joint aches and pains at some time or another in their life. Any joint in the body can be involved - the glenohumeral or the radial collateral or the calcaneocuboid or the talocalcaneonavicular or the ulnar collateral or the meta carpophalangeal. Joint pain may happen when a person has had a fracture or sprain, or from repetitive strain. There are also countless syndromes and diseases that may cause pain throughout the joints of the body. Here, you will learn about some of the most common types of joint discomfort, the symptoms that are associated with joint problems, and furthermore some helpful home remedies for joint pain.

Types of Joint Pain

As we have already noted, there are many different contributing factors when it comes to joint pain. One of the most common situations is an injury that has been sustained. Men or Women who participate in sports (Short track motor racing or Curling or Road hockey) and work that is highly physical may get these types of injuries. Additionally, if an individual get a sprain or a strain in the area of the joints, excessive pain may be experienced. An infection may cause pain and aching . Common infections include that of the common cold, various viruses, and even the flu.
There are many medical conditions that can cause painful joints. Arthritic conditions like Dupuytren's contracture, Fibromyalgia, and even Scheuermann's osteochondritis can be an underlying cause.

Symptoms of Joint Pain

The symptoms of joint pain have a simple explanation. Pain in these areas around the body may result from swelling in and around the joint. The joints may be difficult to move appropriately due to the fact that they become stiff from the inflammation that is occurring in and around them. When you touch a painful joint, you may notice that the skin is warm to the touch. You may also notice that the coloring is red. This is often a direct result of the inflammation and/or infection that is occurring in the joint area.

Remedies for Joint Pain

Many times, medical care that is required to diagnose and treat joint pain can be expensive. This is the reason lots of people take the time to use home remedies for joint pain. These remedies have been found to be inexpensive and effective means of helping joint pain. The following are some remedies that you can do in order to finally get the relief that you have been hoping for:

1. One of the first and most effective means, to treating joint pain at home is by remembering to move as much as you can. You can walk, stretch, swim, or dance � the choice is yours! If you fail to remain active, the joints will only result in more pain.

2. You should have a cold pack and a hot pack available at all times. When applying them to the area that is painful, you should allow each to sit in intervals of approximately fifteen minutes a piece. This will help to reduce the amount of inflammation that is present in the joints.

3. Massage has proven to provide effective relief for those that experience pain. It helps in the area of circulating the blood and soothing the senses.

4. There are a number of over-the-counter medications that can relieve joint pain. When choosing one, it is important to select one that acts as an anti-inflammatory.

Conclusion

When dealing with joint pain whether it is in the interclavicular or palmar carpo metacarpal or volar radioulnar joint, it is important that you nail down the cause of the pain. In so doing, you can select an appropriate home remedy for joint pain. You can select from many types of relief the use of heat and cold, massage, remaining active and even over-the-counter anti-inflammatory. There is no need to experience unbearable pain without relief simply use the correct home remedy for joint pain relief, and return to the pain-free life that you deserve!

Is Your Back Pain Killing You?

2009-07-15T04:31:00.001-07:00

Is Your Back Pain Killing You?

Living with a killer back pain and running your day to day chores can be quite a problem. Especially if you are a mother, you can hardly get the rest that is really important to get rid of that unbearable back pain. How many of us actually do something about our back pain even when it becomes unbearable? The best effort we put in is to apply an ointment or take a pain killer once in a while to relive the back pain and then forget about it until the back pain returns and hits us twice as hard.

Here are some excellent remedies I have always advised women who suffer back pain problems. These remedies have shown excellent results and are famous for curing back pain significantly.

To relieve back pain take:

50 grams of wheat
250 grams of milk
25 grams of cuscus grass
25 grams of coriander

Soak the wheat over night in water. The next morning, pour the cuscus grass and coriander into the water. Mix it thoroughly until it turns into a paste. Now take milk and boil the paste in it till 2/3rd of the liquid is left. Drink this once a day to cure back pain. It is considered as an extremely effective home remedy to relieve back pain on long term basis and improve the digestive system.

Drink honey mixed in a cup of hot water to get rid of your annoying back pain.

My grandmother has always practiced drinking a cup of hot milk with a pinch of turmeric (haldi) powder in it after breakfast. She is 80+ and has never experienced back pain or joint problems like most women develop in later ages.

Mix sugar candy and cuscus grass and have 6 grams of this everyday with milk to cure back pain.

Exercise is also effective to treat back pain, which may be due to immobility or excessive bed rest. It helps to create flexibility in the bones and increases blood circulation through the spine, which in turn reduces back pain over the period of time.

Rest for 2 hours flat on your back on the floor. This helps to cure back pain as the back gets the best posture this way. We mostly fail to give our back the comfort it needs and instead sleep on soft mattresses that can be the root cause for persistent back pain.

Boil cabbage leaves in milk until it resembles jelly. Spread this mixture on a cloth and put this pack on your body area where you feel back pain the most and leave it overnight as long as you can. It kills the back pain as if it never existed.

Don’t use soft cushions or seats. Use a hard mattress to sleep on and prefer to sleep on the floor with knees bent at a 90-degree angle to your body while sleeping on the side.

Fry 10 garlic cloves in coconut oil or mustard oil and use this garlic oil to massage the back. It relieves back pain significantly once it starts penetrating the skin.

Arthcare oil is excellent to relive body and back pain. It works as effective penetrating oil and has an anti-inflammatory effect that cures back pain within no time.

If you are not a blood pressure patient then mix lemon juice (1 table spoon) with a little bit of salt and have it twice everyday. It will definitely relieve back pain and you won’t have to worry about taking medications.

Apply hot water bottle or heat packs on the area where the back pain is concentrated most.
Rub raw potato on your back where the back pain persists.

Mint oil massage is an excellent remedy for back pain. Mint is used in most back pain ointments too.

Burn Body Fat and Lose Weight

2009-07-15T04:30:00.001-07:00

Burn Body Fat and Lose Weight

Body fat can be really difficult to reduce. Motivation and consistency is the key to reducing body fat. It depends on how over weight you are. Your life style and habits determine how difficult the challenge of reducing your body fat will be.

In certain cases without exercise it is almost impossible to reduce body fat. But when you have a control over your food cravings, then the weight loss challenge may not be as difficult for you as it may seem. You just need a little bit of guidance and motivation to burn that body fat and lose the weight which makes you feel miserable.

Stay Active

If you really want to keep your hands off that roast turkey and double cheese burger on the kitchen counter then the best way is to keep your self so busy that you hardly get the time to think about food or even look at it.

Natural remedies to reduce body fat

Drink a cup of hot water mixed with 1 tablespoon of fresh lemon juice every day in the morning before you have your breakfast. This burns body fat and cellulite while your stomach is not busy digesting.
Having a cup of green tea with 1 teaspoon of lemon juice twice a day works wonders to reduce body fat and trim down your curves.
Grapefruit diet is based on having grapefruit juice with or before every meal. This diet is extremely effective and reduces body fat within a month.
Soak 1 teaspoon of fenugreek seeds in ¾ glass of water over night. Sieve it the next morning and drink this water empty stomach. This reduces body fat significantly, balances the menstrual cycle, reduces facial hair and smooths down the complexion.
Soak ¼ teaspoon of carom seeds (bishop’s weed) in ¾ glass of water over night. Drink this water early morning with an empty stomach. This cuts down body fat and improves the digestive system speeding up the metabolism so that extra fat does not accumulate.
Increase the use of fresh lemon in your diet to burn more calories and reduce body fat.

After 1 hour of every meal it is ideal to have a cup of hot water. This stops fat from depositing in the form of cellulite.

Reduce the intake of salt with food and water. When you have salt and drink liquids with it like when having chips and drinking water with them, it directly leads to water retention. This means you appear to be more fat and fat deposits in the form of cellulite.
Use brown sugar whenever you need to sweeten foods. It has fewer calories.
Eat foods rich in fiber such as fruits instead of fruit juices and uncooked green vegetables without dressings. High fiber foods burn calories when the body digests them.

The more you drink water the more you urinate. This flushes out calories from your body and helps to reduce fat. Always prefer water to beverages when you are thirsty. But remember that you should never drink water during meals.
The more Vitamin C you take the better it is for reducing body fat. Citrus fruits like lemon, oranges, grapefruit and tangerines are rich sources of vitamin C and help to cut down body fat significantly.
Pectin is a natural chemical found in apples and berries, which reduces the fat absorption capacity within cells. If you eat more apples and berries, it will cut down fat deposits tremendously.
Increasing the use of garlic and garlic oil reduces fat deposits and burns calories down.
Its an ideal practice to ensure a gap of at least 3 hours between a meal and going to bed at night.

I reduced 30 Kg off my body within a year after I had my baby without even noticing that I was putting extra effort in it. I just followed these tips and lost all the excessive weight and never felt that I was burdening or depriving myself of my cravings. It can be simple and easy depending on how consistent you are in following fat reduction remedies.

Best Remedies for Strong And Shiny Hair

2009-07-15T04:29:00.000-07:00

Best Remedies for Strong And Shiny Hair

The best remedies for strong and shiny hair are mostly based on herbs, natural oils and therapies. Thinning and falling of hair is a common problem in every age group. Over stressed routines, inadequate nutrition, damaging hair products and bad sleeping habits can be one of the few causes that lead to hair loss, thinning of hair and reduced hair shine.

Before jumping to conclusions about the best remedy to use for hair loss, it is more important to analyze the root cause. So the remedies have been suggested according to the root causes that you may associate with your hair loss condition.

If you have dandruff:

Dandruff is one of the leading culprits in causing hair loss and thinning hair. If you have dandruff then it is important that you use your own brush to stop it from coming back. Using brushes that already have dandruff scales on them that don’t belong to you can very easily transfer this problem to you.

Dandruff loves hot water or even warm water. To get rid of it, make sure you always rinse your hair with water at room temperature or cold water.

You can cure your dandruff problem by applying a hair mask that is very easy to make at home. Yes it may sound a bit yucky but honestly…it works wonders:

4 tablespoon yogurt
2 table spoon oil
2 drops of lemon
1 table spoon rose water

Before you shampoo your hair, mix the above ingredients and apply into the scalp of your hair. Wear a shower cap to wrap up your hair and leave it for 15-20 minutes. Rinse it out with water and then wash your hair with shampoo to get the yogurt out. Avoid combing hair while they are still wet.

If you are stressed:

When you are in stress or work pressures are at their peak your hair tend to fall more. Do you feel every inch of your body aching or tired when you are stressed? Especially your neck, head and shoulders may feel stiff after a hard day’s work and you crave for a body massage to soothe them. Well, the same goes for your hair.

Incase you cant do much to alter your routine, its recommended to give your hair a once in a week oil massage. Using a mixture of coconut oil, Amla oil (gooseberry oil) and almond oil taken in equal proportions gives shine, strength and elasticity that hair need to grow well. Crispy dry hair looks much richer and hydrated if you make oil massages a habit before every wash. It reduces hair fall as it stimulates blood circulation in the scalp, thickens hair and enhances hair shine.

Drinking plenty of water each day (minimum 6-8 glasses) gives moisture to hair that is necessary for a healthy and shiny look.

Keeping them away from dust, heat and sunlight is proven to reduce the process of hair fall. Dust and heat dehydrate hair from their natural moisture and reduce hair shine. Just as you would protect your face and skin from dust and heat, your hair need equal protection. Wearing a scarf or a hat outdoors may do the trick and then keeping them hydrated through ample water and juice intake along with oil massages can work wonders.

The best oil massage you can give your hair:

2 tablespoons of Gooseberry oil,
1 tablespoon of almond oil
1 teaspoon of coconut oil

Mix the three oils and warm them a little. Apply the oil mixture while it is still warm into your scalp and give your hair a gentle massage with your fingertips for 5-7 minutes. Tie up your hair and let the oil stay for 1 or two hours. Wash with shampoo.

Inadequate nutrition:

Nutrition plays a very important role in almost every aspect of life. No matter what products you use and remedies you follow, unless you balance your diet and eat healthy making sure you get all your vitamins, you can never cure your hair loss permanently.

Vitamin B6 and folic acid generate hair growth, reduce the thinning process and increase the elasticity of hair making them less prone to breaking away easily.

Eating vegetables and fruits rich in iron and vitamin C stimulate healthy hair growth. Drinking pure and natural fruit juices from freshly squeezed citrus fruits is excellent for hair shine as well as your skin and reduces hair loss significantly.

Don’t forget to count the hours of your beauty sleep. Sleeping for 7-8 hours a day is important for proper blood circulation and body growth. And this means it will give you a good body, good health and good energy levels. So with just a little bit of care, your hair can change your entire personality giving you the grace and confidence you’ve always wanted!

Natural Remedies for Dandruff Problems

2009-07-15T04:28:00.001-07:00

Natural Remedies for Dandruff Problems

Dandruff is another common problem people face and it must be cured through natural remedies. Most people experience increased dandruff problems during winters, while others have it all year round. Using chemical products like selenium sulphide should be avoided as far as possible. Dandruff shampoos most of the times give temporary solutions. People rarely consider their dandruff problem as a leading cause to hair fall.

Dandruff is a skin problem. It must be treated keeping the skin sensitivity of your scalp in mind . Therefore natural remedies are the right choice in this case which have no side effects.

Mix 1 teaspoon of fresh lemon juice in water and rinse your hair with it after you shampoo them. This gives added hair shine and eliminates dandruff problems. Repeat this process for a month at least twice a week.
Grind 2 table spoons of fenugreek seeds and soak them in water overnight. Apply the paste in the scalp and leave it to absorb for half an hour.Use soap-nut(Retha) to wash your hair instead of shampoo.This helps to eliminate dandruff completely and reduces hair loss.
Snake guard juice also prevents dandruff from coming back. Apply it with finger tips into the scalp before a bath for half an hour.
Yogurt based hair masks help to reduce dandruff and enhance hair shine.Take 3 tablespoons of yogurt mixed with 2 drops of fresh lemon. Apply this mixture to your hair once a week. This hair masks is not recommended for winters.

It is also important that you keep your comb and hair brush separate. Using hair brushes that don't belong to you may increase or bring back your dandruff problem.

Glowing skin

2009-07-15T04:27:00.000-07:00

Glowing skin

How could I miss this remedy out! If you want a glowing skin then there is nothing better than this mixture that has been used throughout generations in my family.It gives your skin a smooth texture, removes blemishes and radiates skin appearance.

For a glowing skin use this mixture

1/2 lemon juice( fresh)
1/2 teaspoon coconut oil
1/2 teaspoon rose water

Rub this mixture on your skin until you feel it has absorbed significantly.Leave it on for half an hour or so. Wash it off with a paste made of gram flour and water. Repeat this process atleast thrice a week and you will notice your skin has started to shine and glow within 2 weeks.! Trust me ...I have seen it work and I try to do this application frequently myself. It always gives my skin the smoothness and glow I always want and so I prefer to try this mixture a day before a special occasion to make my skin appear fresh and spotless.

Clean, Spotless and Sexy Feet

2009-07-15T04:26:00.002-07:00

Clean, Spotless and Sexy Feet

Do you dread wearing sandals because of your untidy looking and spotted feet? If you see a woman wearing pumps all year round and never get to see her feet no matter what the occasion then know it...her feet are not her best feature..

It goes the same way for men. Men may be just as cautious about displaying their feet in public whether its a pool party or a picnic at the beach. Feet give a statement about your personality and if you don't maintain their charm, they may turn out to be a repelling part of your personality for others...especially for the opposite gender.

Its hard to find good foot creams or foot care lotions that give instant or long lasting results and it's even harder to go to a saloon for a pedicure every time. So why not try some easy to use home remedies that have excellent results and give you amazing feet that you would be proud to carry your body on.Well here are a few:

Once a week rub raw potato slices on the soles of your feet and heels.You can also rub these slices on the top of your feet and especially around the cuticles.This therapy eliminates dead skin, replenishes it and improves the skin texture keeping it soft.

Take a tub of warm water.Mix alum in it and let it dissolve a little. Add 1 teaspoon of salt and a little bit of coconut oil in the warm water. Soak your feet in this water for 30 minutes while you read a magazine. Scrub your feet gently for 5 minutes in the same water.It removes dirt from the most unreachable parts of your nails, toes and cuticles. It also softens the skin, eliminates blemishes around the feet, scrubs off dead skin and prevents chapping.

Rub a lemon on your feet once a week to give them that charm, glow and softness you have always wanted.

Rub olive oil on each of your toe nails and all over your feet gently in circular motions before going to bed. This strengthens nails and prevents them from turning brittle,de-shaped and rough.It gives toe nails a natural shine while your feet will look maintained and groomed every morning throughout the day.

Scrub your feet with a mixture of pure milk-cream and oatmeal. This removes dead skin flakes from the feet and also hydrates skin by improving blood circulation and increasing oxygen absorption.

Your feet need just as much care as your face or hands. Don't avoid wearing a pair of sandals or hesitate to roam around bare foot on a beach only because you think your feet aren't beautiful. With just a little bit of extra care and using easy home remedies you can make your feet look sexy and attractive.

some facts about weight loss

2009-07-15T04:26:00.000-07:00

some facts about weight loss

I was sipping a cup of tea this morning at the breakfast table thinking how difficult it is to stay motivated enough to work out for hours each week in the gym in order to stay healthy and fit. What most people dont know is that its not just quiting food that reduces body weight...you can also reduce weight by eating the right things!

Most women lose their looks and charm after child birth and give in to unending munching and nibbling. Most part of their food intake is comprised of

potatoes
fries
cheese
choclates
icecream
cakes and biscuits
soda

Well... it may not be easy to work out each morning when you have alot of other things to do that seem to be much easier and interesting. But just quiting on these unncessary intakes is not as difficult as you may think.

Here are some facts for those who need and want to lose their weight the easy way:

Eating breakfast can help you lose body fat quicker than skipping it

Eating oatmeal or porridge reduces body fat as it contains fiber. Espcially if you eat it in the morning.

Drinking a glass of grape juice before each meal not only reduces the appetite but also stops fat content present in the food from storing in the body.It also expels saturated fats from the body and reduces body weight by boosting the metabolism.

After each meal ,drink a warm cup of water with a teaspoon of lemon juice mixed in it. This helps keep the stomach flat and reduces fat deposits.

Prickly Ash A Herb With Many Benefits

2009-07-11T11:39:00.001-07:00

Prickly Ash - A Herb With Many Benefits

Having heard of Prickly Ash before, but really never knowing what is it was or what it did, it was about time to find out. It is also known by the names Toothache Tree, Yellow Wood, Tumburu, and Hua Jiao to name a few and is native to North America. The bark,and berries are used as medicine. There is a Chinese prickly ash that is related and this grows in Asia and is also used for herbal treatment to many ailments.

Generally the prickly ash is an effective herbal remedy for poor circulation, fevers, mouth sores, paralysis, ulcers and wounds. There are many other uses of this herb in the alternative medicine genre currently still being discovered.

The Native American tribes relied on prickly ash bark as an effective remedy for upset stomachs, sore throats, aching muscles and skin infections. Still in the USA toward the end of the 19th century, the Prickly Ash Bark was used as a digestive tonic that stimulated the nervous system; this was also used for the treatment of cholera. Rheumatic sufferers were also treated effectively.

Prickly Ash Bark possesses oils, fat, sugar, gum and tannin along with many alkaloids components. It gives stimulation to the entire body. It aids sluggish digestion whilst at the same time destroys toxins such as worms and yeast overgrowth.

The plant stems have even been used as a toothbrush, as well as being used as a poultice for toothaches, hip and back pain as well as a lotion for poor circulation as massage oil.

The prickly ash helps in providing additional oxygen and nourishments to the blood circulation and at the same time helps in removing the waste materials from the body.

In China the Chinese version of prickly ash has its use in helping get rid of parasites, this is in addition to many other cures mentioned earlier.

The prickly pear can easily be bought online at many herbal medicine sites and comes in many forms, it is a big business now, but still in the States and China, home made tonics are made and used and well practiced. Living out of these regions the only access is through commercial suppliers. However the commercial products can be found to be reasonably priced considering the benefits they give.

Martin Miller-Yianni

http://bulgarianslivatree.com - http://www.herbsways.com

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Martin_Miller-Yianni

Fix a Hangover With Prickly Pear

2009-07-11T11:39:00.000-07:00

Fix a Hangover With Prickly Pear

Hangovers can cause horrible short-term suffering. It's no wonder we'll do anything to fix a hangover.

Prickly pear, a cactus found in Arizona, is vastly growing popular because of it's amazing ability to fix a hangover. It's no surprise, the Aztecs started cultivating the plant in Mexico in the early sixteenth century for its medicinal purposes.

Researchers from Tulane University Sciences Center in New Orleans recently proved how this cactus fruit can prevent and fix a hangover. The study couldn't come from a city more familiar with hangovers than New Orleans!

The researchers recruited 64 healthy medical students who had at least one hangover previously, all between the ages of 21 to 35. Certain participants received a placebo, others received the real prickly pear extract. In a 4 hour period they simulated a party, and everyone had anywhere from 5-10 alcoholic drinks.

Boy, that must have been fun! Just not if you received the placebo.

In the study, they discovered three symptoms of a hangover were significantly reduced. These included:

- Nausea
- Dry Mouth
- Loss of Appetite

Overall, the researchers found that the risk of a severe hangover was cut in half. Now just imagine you don't get absolutely hammered, you'd mostly likely wake up with no hangover.

The next question of course is, where do buy prickly pear?!

Since the news that prickly pear can fix a hangover is at the tipping point of the masses finding out, the fruit isn't widely available yet. Check with local health food stores. The best place to find some is on the Internet. Just make sure to find the most natural and organic source possible.

Liam Deantoni is a health expert in very unique and niche fields.

To view a reliable source of prickly pear for hangovers go to: Fix a hangover with Hangover Patches at ZacaLife.com

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Liam_Deantoni

Prickly Heat Rash

2009-07-11T11:38:00.000-07:00

Prickly Heat Rash

There is an old saying about skin irritations and rashes. "If it is dry, wet it. If it is wet, dry it. If it doesn't get better in a week, see the doctor." Heat rash is a common problem that isn't in the least serious. Infants and young children are most often affected, but adults can and do get heat rashes as well.

Heat rash is caused by the obstruction of sweat glands. Sweat glands can be obstructed simply by clothing that is too tight or does not let air circulate around the body. Heat rash is simple to prevent and simple to cure. When the skin is not properly ventilated, sweat that would normally come to the surface of the skin evaporates collects under the skin. A heat rash is the result.

To prevent heat rash, do not wear clothing that binds during hot weather, and don't put clothing that binds on small children. As often as possible and for as long as possible, allow infants to not wear diapers during very hot weather. It might be heresy, but old-fashioned cloth diapers are better for a baby during hot weather months. The disposable diapers are all contained in plastic shields that prevent the adult's clothing and the household furnishing from becoming stained and soiled, but do not allow air to circulate around delicate little bottoms at all.

There are hundreds (maybe thousands) of products on the market to treat heat rash. These products are available over the counter and without a doctor's prescription. There are products to heal heat rash made especially for infants and small children.

An inexpensive and effective product that you most likely have sitting on a kitchen shelf is baking soda. You can apply baking soda to a heat rash dry, or you can make a paste with baking soda and water and apply it to the rash. It will cool and dry the rash.

Dante Rambaldi is an guru in the field of Skin Care and has helped thousands of acne sufferers cure their condition. He runs a highly popular and comprehensive Skin Care web site. For more articles and resources on Skin Care related topics, Acne Treatments, Natural Skin Care, Oily Skin Care, Skin Beauty Mineral and much more visit his site at: http://skincare.explore-me.com/

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Dante_Rambaldi

Fight the Prickly Heat

2009-07-11T11:37:00.000-07:00

Fight the Prickly Heat

Fight the heat, the sweat, and the Itch !

Children these days are amidst their summer vacation. They are enjoying sporty activities, holidaying, being pampered by grandparents and relishing appetizing mangoes. May their plans not be affected by the heat, the sweat released and the itch caused... 'prickly heat'!

'Prickly heat is also medically known as miliaria and it is a very simple condition and not a disease or disorder. Also, as a relief it is not at all contagious. So, don't worry, if any of your near or dear one's is suffering from miliaria, you don't have an increased risk of being infected. This condition is caused when the body reacts to the heat and humidity of summers in a tropical climate like in India.

Our skin is composed of many layers of cells. The outer most layer is called the epidermis. There are small pores on this epidermis which release sweat and sebum. Sweat is the water and salts released by the body after it performs work or physical exercise or in response to excessive heat. Since the body has to function rigorously to fight the excessive heat, more water is liberated in form of sweat in summers than in winters. Sebum is the oily secretion which is released from these outer pores as a result of normal body activities. That's why even if you're a housewife and remain home most of the time, still you need to wash your hair occasionally since it turns oily after a few days. This is not due to dust or pollution...but due to sebum.

In summers, the sweat released by the body is quite good enough to block the pores of the skin. Once the pores are blocked, the sweat and sebum are trapped inside and this results in a hindrance to further release the excessive salts and water of the body. Now he body fights back by a response of itching on the outer layer of the skin. This response is called 'inflammation'. As a result of the inflammatory response, the skin shows boils , red rashes or other similar physical appearance with a severe itch or needle like pinning sensation. This is 'prickly heat'. This condition can be further uncomfortable if bacteria like staphylococcus are also involved . Once the pores are blocked and hygienic conditions are not maintained in a humid environment, the bacteria starts thriving giving rise to worse symptoms. However, whatever be the severity, this is only a response of one's own body and is not a disease as stated earlier. Hence no medications are required to treat it. Infact even if nothing is applied on the affected area, normally the face, underarms, neck and back, after 3-4 days, the area will itself be treated.

Prevention is better than cure and it is always better to avoid uncomfortable situations. Hence, it is better to avoid prickly heat to affect your family and especially your dear children who may become very cranky in this itchy summer. Here are a few things which can help you keep prickly heat away...

1. Keep yourself well hydrated

2. Maintain room temperature of 25 degrees by an air conditioner or a well ventilated fan.

3. Take shower more than once to wash of the sweat.

4. Wear cotton clothes and avoid synthetic garments.

5. Avoid being in crowded places for long.

Unfortunately, there may be a few of our readers who are already experiencing prickly heat in their families. Here are a few home remedies to help them provide relief from the discomfort of prickly heat ...

• Take a dip in the bathtub with oatmeal powder atleast three to four times a day. Oatmeal is an antinflammatory agent which will relieve itching.

• A thick paste of gram flour should be applied repeatedly on the affected area and then allowed to dry. Then it should be washed off with cold water. This would remove the dead cells of the skin and thus clear off the epidermis.

• Ice cubes could be used to provide cool to the affected area.

• Neem (Margosa / Azadirachta Indica) leaves are a very good antiseptic. 20-25 leaves should be dried and ground to a powder, mixed with rose water and applied to the affected area. This would avoid further deterioration and prevent further recurrence.

• Chamomile, Sandalwood and multani mitti are a few other cooling agents which could provide when applied to the affected area in form of a paste with water or rose water.

• It is important to avoid contact with oil and oily preparation since the oil could block the pores again.

So, go ahead, enjoy the summer without the hitch of itch!!

Puneet Aggarwal is a contributor at the Natural Health Blog. For more tips on how to improve your health using natural therapy, Ayurveda and herbs, please log on to : http://www.herbscancure.com/blog

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Puneet_Aggarwal

Ode to the Prickly Pear

2009-07-11T11:32:00.002-07:00

Ode to the Prickly Pear

More often than not, developers of both commercial and residential areas immediately bulldoze over our native Prickly Pear Cactus. Often mistaken as a weed, this gravely misunderstood wonder has much to offer the Austin area homeowner and community. Say if on your property there was something that year round produced a green bean/okra tasting vegetable, a fruit less acidic than kiwi, vials of vitamins, seeds for flour, medicine, a natural burglar fence, insect repellent, materials for mortar, a brilliant magenta dye, and a hair conditioner, would you run a bulldozer over it?

Found as far North as Canada, south to Chile, add Africa, Greece, Israeli, and largely farmed in Sicily, The Prickly Pear Cactus (species Opunta genus) can handle a variety of temperatures. It has pads (nopales) that stack on each other up into clusters that can reach twelve feet in height and are covered with large sharp spines. The pad's function is for water storage, photosynthesis, and flower production. As for color, if the cactus were a crayon, it would be the "forest green" one and have the waxy Crayola glow to it. The cactus' fruit, called "Tuna" has a waxy Crayola Fuchsia (purple) glow. This waxy appearance is from the cactus' second and very painful line of defense: glochins. Glochins are very fine, extremely tiny barbed spikes that once they get into your skin, will be there for days, causing itchiness and blisters to form.

None of this is really helping the argument of keeping these things around the house, but there is a simple solution. When harvesting anything from the Prickly Pear, wear leather gloves, clip with long handled scissors, gather with tongs, and transport in a bucket. Hen, by putting the pad or tuna to an open flame, the glochins burn right off and very deep vibrant non-waxy colors emerge.

These pads are completely edible. They can be used in salads, casseroles, soups, grilled, with omelets and prepared in a variety of other ways. Nopal's are stocked with vitamins A, B1, 2, 3, C and the minerals: Calcium, Magnesium, Sodium, Potassium, Iron, and Fibers along with 17 amino acids. These detoxify the body with antioxidants. Research suggests that the pads help regulate blood sugar offering an insulin alternative treatment for people with type-2 diabetes. The pulp also boosts "good" HDL and absorbs "bad" LDL cholesterol.

The fruit of the Prickly Pear is also high in vitamin and water-content. It can be eaten raw, made into jam, jelly, sorbet, syrup, quick breads, and cactus candy. The seeds can be consumed with the fruit or spit out. Indians would dry the seeds and grind them into a type of pastry flour. There are at least two commercially imported liquors made from the tuna.

Because the Prickly Pear is very draught tolerant, planting it along the edges of your yard create a sharp zero-scaping fence that deters unwanted intruders. It houses the Cochineal bug who feeds on nutrients found in the cactus sap. The insect produces carminic acid deterring other insects. The carminic acid can be extracted from the insect's body and eggs to make bright red dye that is food-safe. In Mexico, Prickly Pears are boiled and mixed in with mortar for building houses. Add Cactus pads to a container of water, agitate, strain out the cactus, but keep the mucilaginous liquid for a hair conditioner. Cutting up a pad and leaving it in a water supply prevents mosquito larva from developing. Ranchers can supplement their cattle feed by 40% with the a mixture of pads and tunas.

No weed is ever this useful, so get off the bulldozer and get out your tongs. The Prickly Pear is waiting.

Escapeso Realty helps clients interested in Austin Real Estate properties. Escapeso provides information on their blog about the Austin housing market along with a search for Austin Condos.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Ki_Gray

Natural Cures With Homeopathy

2009-07-11T11:32:00.001-07:00

Natural Cures With Homeopathy

When you start looking, natural cures abound. From the rapid resolution of a simple insect bite, to the healing of a chronic, disabling, wasting and fatal disease. All can be healed naturally. The key is in finding the cause.

Some causes are easy to see. For instance, if you regularly eat doughnuts for breakfast, burgers for lunch and microwave a packet for dinner, you know your health won't, can't, last. It can be that easy.

So, armed with your brand new homeopathic first aid kit, you want to magically bring about some natural cures for you and your family.

Let's say your young daughter has been bitten by a bee. The site swells up, becomes red and tight to feel. She complains of a stinging or burning pain. She may or may not be allergic to bees, but if she is, there is a very real possibility of her going into anaphylactic shock.

Deciding on first trying the natural cures approach, you rapidly read through the instructions in your kit. Apis seems to be the appropriate remedy, given the cause and the resultant symptoms, as well as the past history.

You give her a dose. Ten minutes you give her another dose. The whining reduces a little. You give another dose ten minutes later. You didn't imagine it, the whining has almost completely abated. Twenty minutes later, it starts again. Another dose. She races off playing.

A couple of hours later, she asks for another dose. By which time the site has improved a great deal and you're feeling pretty pleased with yourself.

Your cat comes home one day, feeling rather sorry for himself. On closer inspection, you see some marks on his leg that look like a bite mark. You know he tends to play with baby snakes that are common where you live. So you fear the worse.

Although this is pretty serious stuff, you are encouraged by your past successes, so you opt for the natural cures approach again. Digging out your homeopathic first aid kit you look up bites from poisonous animals.

It tells you to give Aconite first for the shock, then Ledum for the bite. Then to alternate them every ten minutes. Your cat doesn't seem to mind this at all. You feel he knows you're trying to help. After a couple of hours, you begin to see he is noticeably relaxing and trying to sleep. You leave him, checking on him regularly.

That evening, he wakes up, demanding his dinner as normal. Now you're really getting into your stride.

Skeptical to the last, your partner comes down with a fever after swimming in cold water on a hot day. His face looks red, you can see his carotids pounding at his throat. He's burning up with a fever. You've heard that fever is a good reaction of the body to stop invading pathogens taking a hold. But you're a bit alarmed as his fever is surging through 38 degrees C and rising.

Your, by now trusty homeopathic first aid kit, comes out again. You quickly scan the instructions and decide on Belladonna. Putting a pillule (small pill) in half a glass of water, you spoon a little water into your partner's mouth, every few minutes. It's not long before you see him relax and fall asleep.

An hour or so later he wakes, takes another sip and falls back to sleep. Typical of his gender, although completely recovered in just a few hours, he puts it down to fluke, coincidence, not a very bad attack. You nursed him. You know different.

So when shouldn't you try to achieve natural cures with your home remedy kit?

Well, firstly, when you have a serious condition and the selected remedies don't seem to be having any effect. Secondly, when the remedy kit doesn't seem to cover the eventuality. Thirdly with any serious or chronic disease. Serious disease often has more than one cause and many factors need to be considered. For instance, I'm often contacted with how someone can help themselves with the pain of cancer.

This is way beyond the scope of a home prescriber. Seek the services of a professional homeopath or your preferred therapist in these circumstances. You need to know a lot more than a kit can give you.

A chronic disease is one which lasts a long time, often the rest of your life (but not with homeopathy!).

A home prescribing homeopathic first aid kit generally covers acute conditions - which can look alarming, but are usually resolved within a few days or weeks. And this is where you can do most good, this is where your natural cures will become a regular occurrence.

So learn to know what you can and can't treat, know that you will make mistakes and you won't always get it right, and be empowered by those magical natural cures that will soon become commonplace.

Madeleine Innocent is a practicing homeopath, a specialised modality of natural health care. She treats both people and animals in her busy West Australian practice. Madeleine loves to spread the good work of homeopathy and other areas of natural health care and writes extensively on the subject.

For a complimentary ebook on how to naturally treat some common ailments at home, visit http://www.twolegsandfour.com.au or http://www.twolegsandfour.blogspot.com

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Madeleine_Innocent

Do You Know the Symptoms of Dog Poisoning

2009-07-11T11:29:00.001-07:00

Do You Know the Symptoms of Dog Poisoning

Symptoms of dog poisoning can be very obvious to extremely subtle depending on the type of poison or toxin consumed. Dogs are extremely curious and hence are subject to lick every object they come across.

Dogs even eat feral mushrooms that crop up after the rains. Insect bites and pollution can depart poisonous substances into dogs. Many dogs also absorb harmful materials through their skin.

Dogs are inquisitive pets, so they walk around and discover lousy places. Thus, are exposed to harmful plants, fatal insects and remains of dead animals.

Common Symptoms of Dog Poisoning:

Following are some of the common symptoms of dog poisoning caused due to ingestion of poisonous substances in dogs:

1. Skin rashes
2. Lethargy
3. Drooling
4. Lack of appetite
5. Vomiting
6. Bleeding disorders
7. Heart failure
8. Seizures or tremors
9. Hallucination
10. Breathing Difficulty
11. Mouth Irritation
12. Diarrhea
13. Cramps
14. Kidney, Heart, or Liver problems
15. Muscle tremors
16. Rigidity in muscles
17. Convulsions
18. Swollen mouth or tongue
19. Loss of coordination and consciousness

If you notice your dog experiencing any of these symptoms, then the dog might have consumed certain toxic materials. Hence, you need to take extreme care of your dog at such period. You may take your dog to a vet or may call the poison control center.

If your dog has absorbed toxins through skin, then a warm bath with soap will help to stop the absorption.

Symptoms of toxic substances will appear gradually. Some symptoms are visible within 2 to 3 days, whereas some signs appear after months or even years. Quick and appropriate care can prevent your dog from severe diseases.

Never give chocolates to dog. These can cause certain symptoms such as nausea, vomiting, and frequent urination. Cardiac arrhythmias, extreme responses to noise, muscle twitching, stiffness, excitement, internal bleeding, and weakness are few other symptoms that your dog might exhibit after consuming chocolates. In extreme cases, it can lead to coma and eventually to death within 12 to 36 hours of consumption.

In addition, a few plants are not suitable for dogs. They may develop rashes on their skin, if they come across such plants. It is best to discuss with your vet regarding which plants are suitable for your dog.

Next, certain chemicals may also trigger a few symptoms of dog poisoning in your dog. This might be onset of any serious illness. However, remember that some poisoning might cause everlasting or fatal injury to your dog.

As you can see symptoms of dog poisoning can vary a lot not only by what toxin was consumed, but by how much of it was consumed. If you think you are seeing symptoms of dog poisoning call your veterinarian immediately.

Learn more here about Pet Poison Prevention at Free Online Veterinarian Advice.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Luke_Blaise

First Aid Treatment For Spider Bites

2009-07-11T11:29:00.000-07:00

First Aid Treatment For Spider Bites

Most spiders in the Untied States are not poisonous. Therefore, their bites do not cause any harm so you do not need to treat them. This allows your body to heal itself which is always the best for your continued good health. To tell if you have suffered a spider bite (and not a bite from another insect like a mosquito for example), simply look at the center of the bite mark. If you see two small indentations or holes then you most likely have a spider bite.

Some people do experience some mild symptoms or reactions to spider bites even when the spider was not poisonous. To calm your nerves and give you more knowledge so you don't get nervous in the future I will list some ways to make yourself feel better after you have had a spider bite.

Spider Bite Treatment

The first thing you will want to do is to clean the area where you have the spider bite to prevent any infections or other reactions from occurring. The best way to clean your bite area is with warm soap and water. Then dry your skin completely and apply an antibiotic ointment .
If you start to experience any swelling around the bite area or itching you may be experiencing an allergic reaction. You can stop this reaction in its tracks by taking an antihistamine .
If you experience any pain in the bite area you can use acetaminophen which is also called Tylenol. Tylenol is effective in reducing pain and swelling. In addition grown adults may use aspirin to reduce the swelling and pain.
A great way to reduce the swelling without taking any kind of medicine is to simply press a cool wet washcloth or ice pack to the bite area for 20 minutes or so. If you are using an ice pack be sure to wrap it in a small cotton cloth to keep the ice pack itself away from your skin.

If the spider that has bitten you happens to still be near by, you can easily catch it to identify that it is indeed not a poisonous spider. To catch a spider simply take a paper cup and a small piece of paper. Slowly put the paper cup over the top of the spider. Then keep the paper cup pressed against the wall or floor, and slide the paper under the top of the cup without lifting the cup up. Then lift the paper cup up being careful to keep one hand on the piece of paper to keep the spider inside the cup. You can also use a glass cup as well, however, they are heavier and sometimes harder to be slow in putting it over the top of the spider. If you move too quickly the spider will run away. By using slow movements you will discover just how easy it is to catch the spider in question.

If you have a child that is under six years old that has been bitten by a spider, you should contact your doctor right away. In addition if you experience any of these symptoms it is time to call your doctor for an appointment.

Spider Bite Symptoms

Headache after the spider bite
You develop a fever
You begin to experience muscle aches and pains
You have nausea
Your skin around the bite area is discolored

To set your mind at ease here is a list of spiders who could cause you some additional symptoms if they bite you.

Black Widow Spiders

These spiders are small and black, and easily identified by the large, red, hourglass shape on their backs. Symptoms of a black widow bite are immediate pain and swelling of the bite area, headache, dizziness, weakness, tremors, anxiousness, sweating, nausea, tearing, muscle cramping, and even paralysis. If you think you've been bitten by a black widow, administer the first aid as directed for other spider bites and contact a doctor immediately for further treatment.

Brown Recluse Spider

This is a very small, brown spider. You can recognize this spider easily because it has a violin-shaped mark on its back. As the name suggests this spider stays in hiding and prefers small, dark and dry spaces. Symptoms of brown recluse spider bites are:

Delayed pain
Delayed itching
Delayed burning and redness around the bite area
Fever
Headache
Muscle aches and pains
Nausea and/or vomiting

A brown recluse spider bite will slowly turn into a bull's eye marking on your skin and develop a black blister. If you experience a brown recluse spider bite you should elevate the part of your body that has the bite and contact your doctor right away.

Nicki is a specialist in Alternative Health treatment and is the owner of The Healthy Alternative blog. She has written a number of articles covering Complementary Medicine including Home Remedies.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Nicki_Harrison

First Aid - Insect Bites and Stings

2009-07-11T11:27:00.000-07:00

First Aid - Insect Bites and Stings

Many insects bite or sting, but few can cause serious symptoms by themselves, unless of course, the person is allergic to them. However, some insects transmit diseases. For example, certain types of mosquitoes transmit malaria, yellow fever, and other diseases; certain types of ticks transmit spotted or Rocky Mountain fever: and certain types of biting flies transmit tularemia or rabbit fever.

Occasionally, stinging or biting insects that have been feeding on or have been in contact with poisonous substances can transmit this poison at the time of the sting or bite.

Persons who have experienced serious reactions from pervious insect bites should be urged to secure any possible immunization or have an antidote readily available to prevent more serious reactions from future insect bites and stings.

The signs and symptoms of insect bites and stings are as follows:

The stings of bees and the bites of mosquitoes, ticks, fleas and bedbugs usually cause only local irritation and pain in the region strung or bitten.
Moderate swelling and redness may occur; and some itching, burning, and pain may be present.

The first aid for insect bites and stings are as follows:

The sting area should be inspected to determine whether the stinger is still left in the body. If it is, remove it in order to prevent further injection of toxin. The stinger should be carefully scraped off the skin, rather than grasped with tweezers, so as not to squeeze toxin into the body.
Application of ice or ice water to the bite helps to slow absorption of toxin into the blood stream. A paste of baking soda and water can also be applied to the bite.
The victim should be observed for signs of any allergic reaction. For people who are allergic, maintain an open airway and get the victim to medical help as quickly as possible.

Kiya Sama is an author on http://www.Writing.Com/ which is a site for Writers

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Kiya_Sama

Snake Bites Kill 125,000 Annually World Wide

2009-07-11T11:26:00.000-07:00

Snake Bites Kill 125,000 Annually World Wide

If you see a snake and you are unaware of what type it is, then you might consider simply avoiding it. Snakes generally do not want anything do with larger animals and for the most part will simply go away if you do not harass them or challenge them. Providing there is a direct escape route for cover. Why should you avoid snakes if you know nothing about them and do not know what type of snake you are dealing with? Well simple really; did you know that snake bites kill some 125,000 people per year.

This of course is about ten times less than the number of human deaths from Mosquitoes, nevertheless it makes sense to pay attention. Sometimes most people never even met the Mosquito which ended up killing them, but with a snake bite, the victim always knows; Who Done It.

What many people do not realize is that some venomous snake species are much more potent when they are young. For instance a small Rattle Snake which are common to North America are much more poisonous than the larger adult Rattlers. So, if you are hiking and see a snake out sunbathing or on your trail, avoid it and be glad you did. You might make both of your days that way. Consider all this in 2006.

"Lance Winslow" - Online Think Tank forum board. If you have innovative thoughts and unique perspectives, come think with Lance; http://www.WorldThinkTank.net/. Lance is an online writer in retirement.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Lance_Winslow

Getting Rid of Fleas: Step By Step

2009-07-11T11:21:00.000-07:00

Getting Rid of Fleas: Step By Step

Fleas have been bothering people and their pets since the beginning of time. Although not terribly dangerous many animals and people are allergic to their bites, making flea infestations miserable. Here’s how to get rid of them.

Allergic Reactions to Flea Bites:

Fleas inject saliva to stop coagulation when they bite. It’s this salvia that causes allergic reactions in animals and people. Humans react with dermatitis, skin lesions and mild to severe itching. Try applying ice, menthol, camphor or calamine lotion to your flea bites. Insect repellents that containing thyltoluamide (DEET) will repel fleas and lessen the frequency of bites; use these repellents only on your clothing but never on skin or pets. If you are having serious allergies, a doctor can prescribe you something to help while you get the infestation under control.

There are many dogs and cats that are allergic to fleas and will chew themselves raw. With the advent of so many great flea medicines for animals there is really no need for them to suffer anymore. If your pets have been bitten recently however, your vet can prescribe medication to soothe the itching.

Removing Fleas From People and Pets:

If your pet becomes infested with fleas there are some products that your vet can prescribe. Capstar is a pill that kills all the fleas on your dog or cat within an hour. Frontline, Advantage and other topical medications can also kill the fleas on your pet within hours. When Frontline and Advantage is used monthly it will keep the fleas off of your pets permanently. Treat your poor infested friend for fleas first and then focus on the environment to put a stop to further infestation.

Fleas generally don’t like to live on people, but they will visit you long enough for a quick bite. If you’ve been exposed to an infestation, wash your clothes in hot water with detergent and jump into the shower yourself. The fleas will drown in the soapy water. The next important thing is to remove them from the environment.

Removing Fleas From The Environment:

Fleas end their lives living on a host animal, but your pets are not actually the source of your flea infestation. Your home is. Fleas begin their life as eggs which are laid on the host, but fall off everywhere. The eggs then hatch into larvae that feed off of skin flakes and the dried-blood droppings of adults. Eggs can lay dormant for as long as a year. Killing the fleas is the first step. Getting rid of larvae and eggs is the next critical part of eliminating fleas. Here are the best methods.

Collect anything that cannot be vacuumed and throw it the washer on the hottest setting with laundry detergent. This will kill eggs and larvae. Then vacuum everything. Use the vacuum attachments and get all the corners, crevices and upholstery. Be as thorough as possible. This will get rid of most of the fleas. After vacuuming, remove the vacuum bag, sprinkle flea powder inside, seal it in a plastic bag and throw it in the trash outside. You may also want to have your carpet steam cleaned by a professional to get rid of any eggs or larvae that may be hanging on to your carpets fibers.

Once you get everything mostly flea-free, the best defense against them is to not allow them to remake your home into a stronghold. If you keep your pet on flea medication your house will most likely remain flea-free, but here are some recommended preventative habits to be safe:

Vacuum frequently to keep larvae and eggs from gathering in your carpet.
Wash you pets bedding frequently
Keep you pet current on its flea medication

The above method should keep everything under control. When the remaining larvae hatch, they are likely to jump on your dog and be killed by the medications. If you are still having trouble in your home steam clean or shampoo the carpets in your home as frequently as is needed. If this still isn’t enough, it’s time to call a professional or speak with your veterinarian who may have some great suggestions!

Popular Flea Control Products:

Talk to your vet when deciding on treatments for your animals and environment. Follow the directions carefully and never give medication that’s for a dog to a cat or vice versa. Also keep all medications and flea poisons out of the reach of pets and children.

Sorptive dusts kill fleas by dehydrating them; they absorb their moisture and damage their bodies. These dusts can be applied to carpets before vacuuming when you have an infestation of adults in your carpet.

Pyrethrins is derived from the chrysanthemum cinerariaefolium flower and is one of the least toxic flea control products available. They can be good for environmental control.

Flea collars work by constantly emitting poisonous vapors that kill any fleas on the animals. They work, but not nearly as well as the topical treatments or oral treatments that are available today.

Sprays and powders are not really worth the time and money when there are so many easier and moderately inexpensive methods for killing fleas. Flea dips can be a good choice for larger dogs that are expensive to treat with medications. Again, talk to your vet.

Mark shares more about how to kill fleas at HowToGetRidOfStuff.com; the web's #1 resource for getting rid of things.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Mark_Gebbia

Chicken Pox or Bedbug Bites

2009-07-11T11:20:00.000-07:00

Chicken Pox or Bedbug Bites: A Definitive Analysis

Do you remember as a kid when the local board of health would send a man or woman to your house who would take a look at you, and say, “That’s Chicken Pox, all right!”

Then he or she would put a sign in your window which said in big black letters, “CHICKEN POX.”

Well, if it wasn’t chickenpox it was mumps, diphtheria, scarlet fever, measles, or the dreaded polio.

You don’t remember?

Well, I guess you are not of my generation.

We got shots for some of the childhood diseases of our day, but not for all of them.

There where seven kids in my house and someone always had something. My mother wanted everybody to have the same disease at once. Once she put me in bed with my little brother so that I would catch whooping cough.

I didn’t catch whooping cough or anything else that came into our home, except one day after a marvelous career of complete immunity, I woke up with a rash.

Mother said, “John, you got chickenpox!”

“It’s just bedbugs. That’s all. The rash will go away.”

I knew I couldn't catch anything because I always held my breath around the sick.

We had to fight bedbugs back then. Everybody in our neighborhood did. I don’t know if the sparrows carried them to the rich side of town or not. But we had them.

We were continually tearing the beds apart, scrubbing the springs with lie soap, stomping, killing, maiming the bed bugs here and there. After such a cleaning, you could sleep well perhaps until the next Thursday, and then you had to go through the cleanup ritual again.

When I was in Korea before DDT was poisonous and softening the bird eggs and all, we were continually harassed by medical guys shooting DDT into our britches. That was so we would not get Bubonic Plague from the fleas in our bunkers.

I never got the Bubonic Plague, never saw anyone with the Bubonic Plague, and never heard of anyone with the Bubonic Plague. (After seeing seeing the plague documentary on the History Channel, I'm very glad of that. http://www.historychannel.com/classroom/admin/study_guide/archives/thc_guide.0037.html)

The DDT did the trick.

That’s how we finally got rid of bedbugs forever.

We used DDT.

I went to http://www.naturalginesis.com/remove_bed_bugs_the__nontoxic_way_.htm. The pictures there of bed bugs made my skin crawl! I hated those things when I was growing up. The little buggers would suck the blood out of you and swell up until they were the size of lady bird beetles, except they were hideous lady bird beetles.

The reference site carries products to kill pest. I’m sure they are not in competition with most of us, so I used them as a reference anyway. One of their testimonials says:

“I kept waking up with mysterious bites and on occasion found blood spots on my sheets, suggesting they were the culprit. Sure enough, I found some bed bugs upon further inspection the day after I bought your product. They were all over my apartment! I only found a few, but one was in the living room, one was in the bedroom, one was in the kitchen and a baby was even in the bathroom!” (The person who gave the above testimonial didn't have chickenpox!)

“Vampires!”

That’s what they call bedbugs at the reference site.

I agree! My skin is crawling from thinking about the little creeps.

My mother didn’t believe me, of course. Mothers seldom do in such matters. The man came from the health department, put the sign on the window, CHICKEN POX, and left.

I said, “Momma, I’m going outside to play.”

“You can’t go out, not for 10 days.”

I said, “Mother, I’m not sick. I want to play. These are bedbug bites.

It did no good. I never got a fever nor did I become ill, but I did get quarantined like my paternal grandfather did at Ellis Island.

After much research, I’ve found that they had to have bedbugs on the Mayflower.

I’m descended from George Soule who was the 35th signer of the Mayflower compact.

At http://members.aol.com/calebj/soule.html you will find that George was born in 1595-1602, England and he died 22 January 1679, Duxbury, MA He married Mary Buckett in1626, at Plymouth and had nine kids.

I ought to know a bedbug bite when I see one.

The End

P.S. I want you to know that I restrained form using a great deal of profanity in describing the bedbugs in this article.

John T. Jones, Ph.D. (tjbooks@hotmail.com), a retired college professor and business executive, Former editor of an international engineering magazine. To learn more about Wealthy Affiliate University go to his info site. If you desire a flagpole to Fly Old Glory, go to the business site.

More info: http://www.InternetBusinessToolCenter.com

Business web site: http://www.AAAFlagpoles.com

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=John_T_Jones,_Ph.D.

Treatment Options in Pneumonia

2009-07-11T11:19:00.000-07:00

Treatment Options in Pneumonia

Most of the cases of pneumonia are triggered by bacterial factors and are usually treated with 5-10 days of ant biotherapy, even longer in case of an impaired immune system. The doctor will choose the most appropriate antibiotic for your condition after taking notice of your age, symptoms, their severity and the eventual need for hospitalization. Most physicians recommend a broad-spectrum antibiotic with bactericide effects on a large number of bacteria; still, most of the antibiotics available have a good curing effect on pneumonia.

In less severe cases with no need for hospitalization, the doctor will prescribe you one of the next possible treatments:

1. Macrolides such as Biaxin, Biaxin XL, Ery-tab or Zithromax.

2. Tetracyclines like Doxycycline

3. Fluoroquinolones such as Levaquin or Avelox.

In case of hospital care, the mentioned antibiotics may also be administered but in addition, other several ones are available for more severe cases of pneumonia:

1. Cephalosporines like Ceclor, Duricef or Ceftin.

2. Penicillin like Augumentin, Amoxil, Omnipen, Biomox or Timentin

3. Vancomycin

Mild to moderate pneumonia cases can also be cured with a new-generation antibiotic class called Ketolides.

In healthy young subjects, the effects of the proper ant biotherapy must usually be seen in about 2-3 days. If by this time the symptoms show no real amelioration, you might need bacterial culture and testing for sensitivity to antibiotics. This will allow the physician to determine which organism is responsible for your pneumonia type and whether you have developed resistance to that particular antibiotic.

Hospitalization is only requited in over 65 years old patients, associated conditions like diabetes, heart or kidney failure, severe illness with hypoxia, severe chest pain, no real improvements after therapy or the impossibility to eat or keep food when in this case intravenous feeding is required.

Pneumonia can also be caused by viruses similar to the Influenza causing the flu or the varicella-zoster virus causing chicken-pox. For viral types of pneumonia there is currently no actual treatment except home stay, care and treatment for the symptoms. Pneumonia cases caused by Varicella virus can be cured by using the medication called Acyclovir.

If your case is not severe enough to require hospitalization, you will not need to identify the responsible bacteria. If you have been hospitalized, additional testing will be done to find the exact cause of pneumonia. If you immediately start the ant biotherapy you will see a faster improvement and you will rapidly feel better.

Great resources can be found regarding pneumonia symptoms, pneumonia vaccine and many moreby visiting http://www.pneumonia-center.com/

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Groshan_Fabiola

What is Pneumonia

2009-07-11T11:14:00.002-07:00

What is Pneumonia?

Pneumonia is an infection caused by viruses, bacteria, and fungi which affects the human lungs. Pneumonia is a contagious disease and it can spread in the air. By breathing other healthy people bring the germ into their lungs and most of them develop the illness. Sometimes there appear epidemics inside small collectivities.

In healthy individuals, the body is fighting with the bacteria to stop it infect the lungs. This response to the germ activity is called inflammation. An inflammation can occur in the alveoli and makes them fill with fluid, and so the lungs do not function properly any more, they do not give oxygen to the blood or take carbon dioxide from it like they use to do. This causes the breathing problems you have during pneumonia. Other symptoms given by pneumonia are: fever, muscle aches, chest pain, and fatigue.

Symptoms like these can be given also by other diseases like acute bronchitis and only a thoracic X-ray can tell them apart.

Streptococcus pneumoniae is one of the most frequent bacterium that leads to pneumonia. Other bacteria involved in the turn up of pneumonia are: Haemophilus influenzae, Chlamydia trachomatis, Mycoplasma pneumoniae, and Legionella pneumophila.

Pneumonia can be caught from the air, if you inhale small particles of infected sputum or saliva from other people, or if the air conditioner was not cleaned properly. One can get pneumonia easier then other if it has a weakened immune system.

Doctors have classified pneumonia in two types: typical and atypical.
The typical pneumonia gives high grade fever, chills, and cough with yellow or greenish sputum, breathing problems, fatigue, and chest pains.

The atypical pneumonia gives you milder symptoms then the typical one and generally occurs if you have suffered from other illnesses during the last few weeks: low grade fewer, fatigue, abdominal pain, headaches, joint pain.

Pneumonia generally occurs at those who have a weakened immune system, like children, old people and those who have other diseases (HIV, organ transplanted people, cancer, chemotherapy). Smoking, drinking alcohol, working in cold places are also factors of risk.

A check up is indicated when you have some of these symptoms, so that the doctor could fast apply the necessary treatment and spare you from other complications that might occur if you leave pneumonia untreated. Hospitalizing is necessary when you have severe symptoms of pneumonia and so, a drastic treatment must be applied, with bed rest, antibiotic drugs in order to cure the disease faster.

Great resources can be found regarding pneumonia symptoms, pneumonia vaccine and many moreby visiting http://www.pneumonia-center.com/

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Groshan_Fabiola

What is Pneumonia

2009-07-11T11:14:00.001-07:00

What is Pneumonia?

Symptoms like these can be given also by other diseases like acute bronchitis and only a thoracic X-ray can tell them apart.

Great resources can be found regarding pneumonia symptoms, pneumonia vaccine and many moreby visiting http://www.pneumonia-center.com/

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Groshan_Fabiola

Pneumonia Treatment

2009-07-11T11:14:00.000-07:00

Pneumonia - Causes, Symptoms and Treatment

Pneumonia Definition: Pneumonia is an acute or chronic disease marked by inflammation of one or both lungs. An inflammation of the lungs caused by viruses, bacteria, or other microorganisms and sometimes by physical and chemical irritants.

The air sacs in the lungs fill with pus and other liquid. Oxygen has trouble reaching your blood. If there is too little oxygen in your blood, your body cells can't work properly. Because of this and spreading infection through the body pneumonia can cause death.

Pneumonia can range from very mild to very severe, even fatal. The severity depends on the type of organism causing pneumonia as well as your age and underlying health.

Pneumonia may be defined according to location of the lung as:

Lobar Pneumonia (occurs in one lobe of the lung).
Bronchopneumonia (tends to be patchy)

Causes of pneumonia:

Bacteria, Viruses, and Other Causes of Pneumonia

Some of the important bacterial causes are:

Gram-positive bacteria:

The most common cause of pneumonia is the gram-positive bacterium Streptococcus pneumoniae (also called S. pneumoniae or the pneumococcus ).
Staphylococcus (S.) aureus , the other major gram-positive bacterium responsible for pneumonia, accounts for about 2% of community acquired pneumonias . It is associated with viral influenza, and can develop about five days after the onset of flu symptoms.
Streptococcus pyogenes or Group A Streptococcus : This bacteria affects the functions of the lung, which in turns leads to pneumonia.

Gram-Negative Bacteria.

Haemophilus (H.) influenzae is the second most common organism causing community acquired pneumonia.
Pseudomonas aeruginosa is a major cause of pneumonia that occurs in the hospital. It is a common pneumonia in patients with chronic or severe lung disease.
Other gram-negative bacteria that cause pneumonia include E. coli , Proteus and Enterobacter .

Viruses: A number of viruses can cause pneumonia either directly or indirectly, and include the following:

Influenza. Pneumonia is the major serious complication of viral influenza (the "flu") and can be very serious.
Respiratory syncytial virus (RSV). RSV is a major cause of pneumonia in infants and people with damaged immune systems.
Herpesviruses. In adults, herpes simplex virus and varicella-zoster (the cause of chicken pox) are generally causes of pneumonia only in people with impaired immune systems.

Other possible causes of pneumonia may be:

Pneumonia is caused by an infection or injury to the lower respiratory tract resulting in inflammation. Pneumonia can also result from the aspiration of gastric contents, water, or other irritants.
Pneumonia can also be caused by inhaling substances, such as caustic chemicals, food or vomit into the lungs. This is known as "aspiration" pneumonia.
Smoking, heavy drinking, heart failure, diabetes, or having a lung disease, such as chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), also increase the risk of developing pneumonia.

Symptoms of pneumonia:

The symptoms of pneumonia vary from person to person, and few people experience all of them.

The possible symptoms may be :

Fever, which may be less common in older adults.
Fast heartbeat is one of the primary symptom of pneumonia.
Feeling very tired or feeling very weak .
Loss of appetite may occur in case of pneumonia.
Vague pain under and around the breast bone may occur, but the severe chest pain associated with typical bacterial pneumonia is uncommon.
Patients may experience a severe hacking cough, but it usually does not produce sputum.
Cough, often producing mucus from the lungs. Mucus may be rusty or green or tinged with blood.
wheezing
difficulty breathing
Sometimes nausea, vomiting, muscle aches occurs.
Mental confusion.
Coughing up sputum containing pus or blood.

Home remedies for pneumonia:

Parsnip Juice: The juice of parsnip, a root vegetable botanically known as Pastinaca sativa, is very effective for the treatment of pneumonia. Basil: Rub the oil of basil on the chest of the patient and give internally the juice of 5 leaves of basil mixed with a little ground black pepper at six hourly intervals. This will induce sweating and relieve the patient from pneumonia.

Vegetable Juices: The juice of carrots, in combination with spinach juice, or beet and cucumber juices, helps in the healing process.

Toss the Cigarettes: Smokers are much more likely to develop bronchitis than nonsmokers. If you stop smoking, you may cough up even more mucus for a time, but that's actually a good sign. "It means that your lungs are working to clear themselves out.

Turpentine Oil: The pain of pneumonia can be relieved by rubbing oil of turpentine over the rib cage and wrapping warmed cotton wool over it.

Eat Onions: Onions contain a number of ingredients, including quercetin, a compound in the bioflavonoid family that may help protect the lungs from infection

Steve Mathew is a writer, who writes many great articles on home remedies and herbal remedies and some conditions and ailments. For more information on pneumonia, and pneumonia treament visit http://www.home-remedies.info

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Steve_Mathew

The Cause of Influenza

2009-07-11T11:13:00.000-07:00

The Cause of Influenza + Pneumonia Information

For those who are interested, this article provides, what we hope is easily understandable information about the cause of influenza + pneumonia information. The biggest threat associated with influenza is that some people develop complications; pneumonia being the most serious. In fact the Bureau of Vital Statistics reports annual deaths associated with the two on the same line i.e. deaths from influenza/pneumonia or influenza + pneumonia. Information supplied by the bureau shows that in 2004, 61,472 deaths were attributed to the two.

Influenza and pneumonia are not the same conditions, but pneumonia is sometimes a complication that arises from an infection with the influenza virus. The cause of influenza is infection with an influenza virus. There can be any number of different strains of influenza viruses circulating at any given time. Pneumonia by definition is an accumulation of fluid in the air sacs (alveoli) of the lungs. The cause of pneumonia can either be viral, bacterial, fungal or parasitic and can result from chemical or physical injury to the lungs.

Scientists believe that when the cause of influenza is a strain of the virus that the cells of the immune system have not been exposed to before, symptoms are more severe. The different viruses can cause symptoms ranging from cold-like ailments to severe headache, high fever, extreme fatigue and severe body aches. In the case of the Spanish flu, scientists believe that the viruses infected the lungs quickly and that, the immune system responded slowly (because it was a new strain), resulting in severe viral pneumonia and many deaths. The symptoms of pneumonia include chest pain and coughing up phlegm that is tinged with blood. In the case of the Spanish flu, many people who died experienced severe bleeding or hemorrhaging of the alveoli (air sacs) in the lungs.

In order to prepare a vaccine for the seasonal flu, a number of viruses are identified as being most likely to be the cause of influenza outbreaks. Typically, the seasonal flu only leads to pneumonia in the elderly, infants and those who have impaired immune system function. Strains like the Spanish flu appear to have attacked otherwise healthy individuals, but occurred during World War I, when poor nutrition and exposure to chemical toxins could have weakened the immune system. To learn more about the cause of influenza + pneumonia information related to the spread of the newest strains, or to learn about natural products that help build immune system strength, please visit our website at http://www.immune-system-booster-guide.com.

Patsy Hamilton has more than twenty years experience in health care and currently writes informational articles for the Immune System Booster Guide.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Patsy_Hamilton

The Truth about Super Pneumonia

2009-07-11T11:12:00.000-07:00

The Truth about “Super Pneumonia”

Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome (SARS) is a form of atypical pneumonia that generates serious impairments at pulmonary level. Although no one can deny the seriousness of SARS, the over-promoted denatured ideas and misconceptions regarding the syndrome can be easily dismissed by taking a look over the facts. The catalyst for the wide range of exaggerations that revolve around the concept of SARS remains unknown. However, the media had a great contribution in triggering and augmenting the mass hysteria generated by the global over-promotion of the syndrome.

The news about SARS endemics in Asia and the later outbreaks in the United States have rapidly become popular all around the world due to exaggerated implication of the mass-media, which caused a pronounced state of panic worldwide. As if this wasn’t enough, the media had quickly introduced various exacerbated rumors and suppositions into the overall picture, generating even more panic and confusion among the masses. Inappropriately referred to as “super pneumonia” or “killer pneumonia”, SARS is in fact a treatable and even preventable form of pneumonia that has caused far less victims in Asia and the U.S. than it was initially stipulated by the media.

Due to the inaccuracy of the information promoted by the media, people have quickly assimilated the idea that the so called “super pneumonia” is a deadly malady with mysterious causes. These beliefs are far from the actual truth. Medical scientists have revealed that the primary cause of SARS is infection with strains of paramyxoviruses, viral organisms that are also responsible for causing influenza, commonly referred to as the flu. Judging by this aspect, “super pneumonia” is nothing more than a form of complicated flu. In addition, SARS has caused far less victims than common seasonal flu epidemics account for each year. Research results indicate that SARS accounted for around 50 deaths among 1500 people afflicted during the outbreak in China.

Medical reports also reveal that there were less than 40 overall cases of SARS in the United States. Not a single death was reported among patients with SARS in the United States. By contrast, influenza accounts for thousands of deaths in the United States and worldwide each year. Furthermore, there are over 50 types of pneumonia that are capable of causing death. Compared to SARS, there are up to 20 forms of atypical pneumonia with a considerably higher killing potential, accounting for more than 40.000 annual deaths among the American population.

If you are wondering how contagious SARS really is, the answer is easily revealed by the previously mentioned statistics. Yet again, compared to the highly contagious character of common flu, which affects millions of Americans each year, the transmissibility of SARS can be considered a negligible factor. As for the idea that SARS can’t be treated with the existent means of treatment, medical scientists have proved the exact opposite: SARS is a highly treatable form of pneumonia. However, prompt medical intervention is required when dealing with this type of pneumonia. Similar to all types of pneumonia, SARS requires immediate medical treatment and proper medical care.

As a conclusion, it is advised not to pay attention to every rumor promoted by the mass-media. Considering the fact that the media would do virtually anything to boost their ratings, it is best to think twice before assimilating doubtful claims and ideas.

You can find great content regarding pneumonia causes, pneumonia symptoms and many more by visiting http://www.pneumonia-center.com/

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Groshan_Fabiola

Pneumonia and the Necessity of Hospitalization

2009-07-11T11:10:00.000-07:00

Pneumonia and the Necessity of Hospitalization

Pneumonia is a common type of pulmonary disease that involves inflammation and infection of the lungs, triggering an overproduction of mucus at the level of the respiratory tract. The intensity and the duration of the symptoms generated by pneumonia differ from a person to another, according to factors such as age, overall health and the immune system’s capability of fighting against infections. While people with strong immune systems are less likely to acquire pneumonia and develop complications, people with compromised immune systems or increased susceptibility to respiratory disorders are exposed to a high risk of developing complicated forms of pneumonia. Due to this fact, pneumonia has a high incidence in elderly people, which also commonly develop further complications.

In present, most people diagnosed with pneumonia require hospitalization. In the absence of proper medical care and frequent monitoring, some patients with pneumonia may experience a rapid aggravation of the disease, and for this reason doctors recommend hospitalization to all pneumonia sufferers. However, patients with milder, uncomplicated forms of pneumonia can be spared of hospitalization, by receiving medical treatment at home. Considering the fact that once developed, pneumonia is little contagious, patients with milder forms of the disease rarely spread it to other people. Thus, certain categories of patients with pneumonia can receive pneumonia treatments in the comfort of their homes. In fact, patients with mild types of pneumonia such as “walking pneumonia” don’t even require bed confinement, being able to carry on with their daily activities on the entire duration of the treatment.

On the premises of hospital overcrowding and very high hospitalization costs, doctors have lately focused on limiting the overall number of unnecessary hospitalizations. In future, hospitalization may even be avoided for elderly people in nursing homes when they develop pneumonia. Recent studies have revealed the fact that certain nursing home residents can be spared of hospitalization, by receiving pneumonia treatments in nursing homes instead. Elderly people in nursing homes already benefit from medical surveillance and assistance, rarely requiring hospital medical care. Judging by this fact, nursing home residents diagnosed with mild, uncomplicated forms of pneumonia that have a stable overall condition may not require hospitalization at all.

By reducing the number of unnecessary hospitalizations among nursing home residents with pneumonia, both patients and doctors may benefit from the process. Furthermore, judging from a financial point of view, avoidance of unnecessary hospitalization can save up to 1.500 dollars per patient.

In order to determine the necessity of hospitalization among nursing home residents with pneumonia, a group of Canadian researchers has recently conducted a study that involved the collaboration of 20 nursing homes. Half of these institutions were asked to follow their usual medical care procedures, while the others were asked to follow the instructions imposed by the researchers. Thus, when they were confronted with cases of pneumonia among residents, each group of nursing homes followed a different approach: the usual care group transferred patients with pneumonia to the hospital, while the referential group followed the imposed guidelines before deciding upon hospitalization.

The established guidelines required nursing home residents with stable conditions to receive the treatment of pneumonia inside the nursing home. Residents that didn’t meet the established criteria (presented with complications or had unstable conditions) were transferred to the hospital. The referential group involved the participation of 327 nursing home residents with pneumonia, while the usual care group included 353 residents with pneumonia. During the study, only 10 percent, respectively 22 percent of the residents in the two groups were eventually hospitalized. By the end of the study, the researchers concluded that residents in both groups responded similarly to the treatment of pneumonia, regardless of medical regimen. Thus, the study has confirmed the fact that hospitalization can be avoided for nursing home residents diagnosed with mild, uncomplicated forms of pneumonia.

Generalized appliance of the Canadian researchers’ guidelines regarding the necessity of hospitalization among nursing home residents with pneumonia can considerably reduce medical care costs. Researchers inform that by reducing the number of unnecessary hospitalization among residents with pneumonia, the costs savings would be around 70 million US dollars for Canada and up to 800 million US dollars for the United States each year.

You can find great content regarding pneumonia causes, pneumonia symptoms and many more by visiting http://www.pneumonia-center.com/

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Groshan_Fabiola

Influenza and the Risk of Viral Pneumonia

2009-07-11T10:59:00.000-07:00

Influenza and the Risk of Viral Pneumonia

Influenza, commonly known as “the flu”, is an infectious disease generally caused by viruses. The viruses responsible for causing the flu during viral outbreaks are very contagious and they can easily be contracted by entering in contact with infected people. Flu viruses are airborne and they can be transmitted through coughing, sneezing or simply by breathing the same air with contaminated individuals. You can also acquire flu indirectly, by entering in contact with contaminated objects. Thus, impeccable hygiene during flu seasons is recommended as an effective means of preventing infection with flu viruses.

Although most people experience no problems in overcoming seasonal maladies such as influenza, the elderly are very susceptible to developing serious complications such as bronchitis, otitis, heart disease and pneumonia. In the case of people with already existent conditions (asthma, chronic bronchitis) and people with weak immune system, flu can degenerate into serious pulmonary diseases such as viral pneumonia. Considering the fact that flu viruses primarily affect the respiratory system, people with respiratory sensibilities are exposed to a high risk of developing pneumonia during the flu seasons.

Pneumonia involves inflammation and infection of the lungs that triggers an overproduction of mucus at the level of the respiratory tract. Common symptoms of pneumonia are: difficult, shallow breathing, chest pain and discomfort that intensify with deep breaths, wheezing, exacerbated productive cough and moderate to high fever. Doctors sustain that the occurrence of pneumonia is strongly related to previously acquired infectious diseases such as the flu, which can degenerate into a wide range of complications. There are many forms of pneumonia, most of them triggered by viral infectious agents. Some types of pneumonia are caused by the same viruses responsible for causing influenza or other common seasonal maladies.

Statistics indicate that around 30-50 million Americans are confronted with influenza during winter outbreaks. While most of these people have no difficulties in coping with the illness, the elderly and people with special conditions (weak immune system, already-existent respiratory affections) often develop serious complications, requiring hospitalization. Recent studies indicate that influenza accounts for more than 115.000 hospitalizations in the United States each year. Viral pneumonia and other serious diseases associated with complicated flu are responsible for causing 20.000 annual deaths.

It is important to note that common medications and remedies used in the treatment of flu can’t prevent or overcome viral pneumonia. Pneumonia is a serious infectious disease that requires rigorous treatment with specific medications. If you experience possible symptoms of pneumonia, it is very important to quickly contact your doctor in order to receive the correct medical treatment.

Considering the fact that flu and other seasonal contagious diseases can trigger exacerbated symptoms and lead to serious complications in certain categories of people, it is best to take measures in preventing the occurrence of such maladies in the first place. Doctors strongly recommend people with pronounced susceptibility to infections to get the influenza vaccine every year, before flu outbreaks. Flu vaccines can also prevent against certain forms of viral pneumonia that are caused by common flu viruses. However, flu shots can’t prevent the occurrence of bacterial or atypical pneumonia, which require a different type of vaccine. In addition to the influenza vaccine, the categories of persons exposed to a high risk of developing pneumonia should receive a pneumococcal vaccine as well. A single dose of pneumococcal vaccine offers lifetime protection against various forms of pneumonia and the vaccine can be administered at any time of year.

You can find great content regarding walking pneumonia, walking pneumonia symptoms and many more by visiting http://www.pneumonia-center.com/

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Groshan_Fabiola

Cure Piles Safely and Effectively

2009-07-11T10:56:00.000-07:00

Cure Piles Safely and Effectively

Suffering from piles or what they usually call hemorrhoids, is not a very nice condition to suffer from.

If you are a person who has a job where you sit down most of the day, this can actually become devastating to your every day living. It is embarrassing as well as being very uncomfortable and there are many people that would do anything in order to get rid of them.

In order to Cure Piles Safely and effectively, there are many websites that you could visit in order to learn about what piles actually are, what causes them, and how to get rid of them.

You can visit the internet in order to get some great information on how to Cure Piles Safely. There are many websites that tell you about using natural cures in order to get rid of your hemorrhoids. You can learn about what the root of the problem is when it pertains to hemorrhoids. There are many testimonials on various websites of people who have tried many other different types of possible solutions to their hemorrhoids and have found that many of them just didn't work for them until they visited this website and learned about hemorrhoids.

Once you learn what types of things you are doing that can cause piles, then you can actually start to cure your hemorrhoids along with learning what you can do in order to prevent them. You have to somewhat careful when you want to Cure Piles Safely because there are many different types of lotions and creams on the market at physical retail stores and within online stores that can make your problem worse. The severity of the piles that you have will tell you what type of treatment that you may need in order to get rid of your piles.

There are many types of diets that can help to cause piles along with many different types of exercises that can cause them as well. You need to research many different websites on the Internet in order to find out the information that you need to know about the piles that you have. To understand piles and to be able to Cure Piles Safely is the only way you will ever cure the problem you have. You can get the information from the Internet or from a friend that cured their own problem with natural alternatives or medication. But the fact is getting relief is the key to why you need to learn about piles.

The information that you can find on the Internet along with the website http://www.CureHemorrhoidsSafely.com will help you immensely to find a safe and painless way to overcome piles.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Jim_Moore

Piles - Relief Without Surgery

2009-07-11T10:54:00.001-07:00

Piles - Relief Without Surgery

"The veins in the anal region get swollen and start to bleed" - we call it PILES.
The patient will suffer silently but will try to hide his/her problem. That results into further complications.

Normally, following factors give rise to PILES:
a) Consumption of fast food, no vegetarian food and sodas.
b) Sedentary routines and negligible exercises.
c) Alcoholics and persons having liver problems.
d) Chronic patients of constipation, consuming less water and avoiding going to toilet, as per their lazy nature. This practice makes the stool harder. And give rise to piles at a later date.

Constipation and abrasions give rise to internal piles. When the internal piles are forced out of the anus, it is considered as external piles. Internal piles rarely bleed but the external piles cause anguish and sufferings.

Irrespective of the situation, the patient is advised to take the following steps:

1. Increase intake of fruits and vegetables and consume lots of water. Go for easily digestible food. Avoid spices and chilies. Green vegetable, ginger, onion, garlic, radish, bitter gourd, papaya, apple, lime, cherry and figs should be preferred. It will help in reducing the constipation and make the stool soft.
2. The urge to go to toilet should never be suppressed. It will, help in easy defecation. Care should be taken that NO pressure is applied.
3. Once a day, Sitz bath should be undertaken. The patient sits in a warm water tub for 15 minutes. It will relax all anal spasms and pains.
4. Indian type toilets should be preferred. It helps to pass the stool easily. Full pressure could be exerted on the abdomen area.

The conventional solution for Piles is considered to be Surgery. Since the patient is scared of getting cancer, so he does not think of any other alternative except opting for surgery. Advanced Laser surgery is preferred as the duration of hospital stay and blood loss is reduced. Still the surgery does not stop the piles to re-appear.

It is very important to note that the piles are the result of internal circulatory system. It is certainly not a localized problem where its removal by surgery could offer a permanent solution.
It has been found that Homeopathy does not consider piles - a surgical disease. The piles are considered as the outburst of an internal problem which has to be treated ONLY Internally. The blood vessels are strengthened and its resistance power is improved. Homeopathy medicines do not offer any side effects. Besides it ensures to erase the piles problem.
More articles at: http://fitnessnectar.com/blog/index.php/2008/12/30/piles_relief_without_surgery

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Ajit_Airon

Piles - Relief Without Surgery

2009-07-11T10:54:00.000-07:00

Piles - Relief Without Surgery

"The veins in the anal region get swollen and start to bleed" - we call it PILES.
The patient will suffer silently but will try to hide his/her problem. That results into further complications.

Irrespective of the situation, the patient is advised to take the following steps:

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Ajit_Airon

Natural Remedy For Piles

2009-07-11T10:53:00.000-07:00

Natural Remedy For Piles

Most people would prefer to use a natural remedy for piles and this is understandable when you look at the conventional treatments which are available. Some of the surgical procedures can be painful, with long recovery times and even then piles can reform. Much of the over the counter medication can give results which are at best, temporary and at worst, of no use.

A natural remedy for piles is one which often uses simple self help measures to relieve the symptoms and these can be surprisingly effective. Often, long-term sufferers have spent many years buying products costing hundreds, if not thousands of dollars which may have given short term relief but have done nothing to prevent the symptoms returning. Sometimes people feel that the word "natural" implies "less effective" but this is not the case. There is a growing trend to use natural remedies wherever possible as these can be very economical and generally do not have the unpleasant side effects associated with drugs or conventional medication.

About Piles

Piles can be internal or external. External piles originally form outside the anus and can be painful, depending on the size and location. Internal piles are not normally painful but can be very itchy and can cause bleeding. Sometimes they can stick out of the anus. They are categorized in to 4 distinct types:-

1. First Degree-These do not bulge from the anus

2. Second Degree-The bulge outside of the anus during bowel movements but slip back in on their own

3. Third Degree-These bulge during bowel movements and will only go back inside the anus by pushing them back in

4. Fourth Degree-These bulge outside the anus permanently and cannot be pushed inside

Natural Remedy For Piles

The following natural self-help measures will help give some symptomatic relief.

* Apply an ice pack covered in cloth directly to the piles

* Take warm baths (you could take 3 or 4 a day if the symptoms are very bad)

* Drink plenty of water to help keep the stools soft

* Use wet moist unperfumed wipes after emptying the bowels. Allow the area to dry naturally if possible

* Increase the amount of fiber in the diet

* Try not to strain on the toilet. If you find that you are having difficulty, it may be worth considering a stool softener until you become "regular"

* Diluted witch hazel applied directly to the piles is very soothing and will help promote healing

* Avoid spicy foods

You are likely to find that by increasing the amount of fiber and water in your diet, that stools become easier to pass and the symptoms caused by the piles become less painful. In the case of more severe piles, there is a treatment you can use which is guaranteed to get rid of the symptoms of piles within 48 hours.

Piles respond very well to natural treatments and they have been shown to be far more effective in treating the causes of piles than surgery and over the counter medication.

This effective natural remedy for piles has a very high cure rate and you can get further useful information about this condition. on the link below. The remedy which I recommend comes with a huge number of testimonials from ex-sufferers plus there are endorsements from health professionals. It comes with a cast iron 100% guarantee.

In addition, you can claim your free copy of the ebook "What 95% of Hemorrhoid Sufferers Need To Know But Don't".

Click Here for details.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Emma_F_Hopkinson

Neo Healar Piles Treatment & Cure

2009-07-11T10:52:00.001-07:00

Neo Healar Piles Treatment & Cure

Piles (or hemorrhoids) can be quite painful, irritating or itchy, resulting in some embarrassing circumstances. Technically, we all have hemorrhoids, but it is only when they get inflamed or enlarged that they become the problem that we typically call 'piles', 'hemroids', or 'hemorrhoids.'

The causes of piles are varied, and no single theory has been proven to be the ultimate cause. However, we probably know most of them, over-straining during bowel movements or spending excessive time on the toilet (reading etc.) However, there are some other causes that we might not know about such as an (unhealthy) low fiber diet, tumors in the pelvis, pregnancy, or genetic causes (weak rectal vein walls.) Doctors generally divide piles into two categories: internal and external. Internal piles are not painful, but can become a major problem once they extend to the anus. There are usually four 'categories' of internal piles that doctors have, to distinguish their severity (the fourth being the worst.) External piles are quite painful, and will usually need medical attention if blood clots inside them.

When exploring a piles treatment & cure, you need to also look at ways of preventing piles (which would aid any more forming, and therefore allow the present piles you are suffering with to heal.) To do this, you need to keep your bowel movements soft. This can be done by eating plenty of fiber-rich foods (such as fruit, vegetables, wholegrain cereals) and drinking a lot of water. Also, don't spend more time than is necessary on the toilet (don't hurry your toilet time either) and try to stay away from laxatives as best you can. If you need to take a laxative, keep away from strong laxatives unless the doctor advises. Regular warm baths also help to keep to relieve irritation.

Serious problems with piles may require surgery. However, the doctor must decide if this piles treatment is necessary. Out-patient treatments (i.e., you don't need to stay in the hospital overnight) include Banding and Sclerotherapy. Both of these involve methods of getting the piles to shrink or lose their blood supply, and fall off. These kinds of surgery are usually for first, second or third degree piles (internal piles.) For more serious kinds of piles, surgical removal is needed, and involves two treatments called a Haemorrhoidectomy or a Haemorrhoidopexy.

It's important to remember that piles usually do require treatment to go away. There is, however, an alternative piles cure which may work for even serious cases of piles. Although most creams, ointments, suppositories ease pain and itchiness (and don't really heal the piles as much as just relieve the symptoms, allowing the body to heal itself) there are some natural creams such as the Neo Healar treatment cream which are usually quite affordable, and very effective. Plus, they can save you that embarrassing doctor's appointment and offer both relief and healing very quickly. Being made out of completely natural ingredients, there are also no complications that can sometimes occur through pharmaceutical products.

John Lim Cher-Sern is an alternative health expert with more than 7 years of experience in natural piles treatment Please visit http://www.hemorrhoids-help.com for more free information about Neo Healar piles treatment cream.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=John_Lim_Cher_Sern

Neo Healar Piles Treatment & Cure

2009-07-11T10:52:00.000-07:00

Neo Healar Piles Treatment & Cure

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=John_Lim_Cher_Sern

Easing Piles or Hemorrhoids Naturally

2009-07-11T10:48:00.001-07:00

Easing Piles or Hemorrhoids Naturally

Piles, as they are commonly called hemorrhoids are swollen varicose veins in the anus or rectum. Piles are usually the result of exerting pressure during bowel movements, pregnancy or obesity.

Causes of Piles

1. Piles can be hereditary with innate weakness of the vein walls.

2. In men, as a result of erect posture high pressure is created in rectal veins.

3. Exerting pressure due to constipation and over purgation.

4. Dysentery could worsen latent hemorrhoids.

5. Piles is also common among pregnant women.

Symptoms of piles

Typical symptoms of piles include inflamed, painful lump or swelling in the region of the anus. Oftentimes this causes bleeding, leaving blood in the stools, in the toilet bowl or on the toilet paper. Other symptoms might include mucous discharge, itching and a distressing dragging sensation during bowel movement. When going through these symptoms it is best to get a medical examination to rule out other more serious digestive conditions.

Some other symptoms of piles are pain and discomfort after opening the bowels1 and a feeling that the bowels have not completely emptied. Still, there are conditions besides piles that could cause anal bleeding. If this happens for more than six weeks it is best to seek medical advice.

Easing piles naturally

Keep the affected area clean, clean with water only (no perfumed soap) after every bowel motion and pat dry with a clean soft tissue, this should help with itching.

The following supplements may help if you are suffering from Haemorrhoids (piles).

1. Extracts of horse chestnut

2. Flavonoids

3. Gotu kola

4. Psyllium

5. Vitamin C

6. Witch hazel

Diet for piles

Piles are closely connected to constipation and this is why diet can make a good impact in clearing up piles. Your diet should include lots of fiber. This is to be found in whole grains, vegetables and fruit. See that you have loads of mineral water and stop having spicy foods. Psyllium husks supplements are good since they are high in fiber and help get rid of constipation. Softer stools help empty the bowels easier and decreases the pressure on piles caused by straining. Also wheatgrass juice, it is found, abets better digestion. Besides, green juices provide easy assimilation of nutrients particularly in cases of poor digestion or immuno-suppression.

It is better to avoid highly refined foods such as white, rice, white bread, pastries, cakes, pies. Also steer clear of alcohol, since it is known to contribute to small, dry stools. Lastly keep away from acid forming foods like sugar, animal protein, dairy, and coffee.

Kevin Pederson, manages number of sites on Home Remedies and Home Cures which gives information on many home based treatment helping us to treat common aliments such as piles or hemorrhoids naturally in the comforts of our homes.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Kevin_Pederson

Home Remedies for Piles

2009-07-11T10:48:00.000-07:00

Piles - Home Remedies for Piles

Piles is a very common ailment. Women have higher incidence than men. The reason behind it is not clearly known. It is more commonly seen in adolescent age group and aged persons who all seem to be more tensed.

In medical terminology, piles is known as hemorrhoids. Piles refers to a condition in which the veins around the anus or lower rectum are swollen and inflamed. It is the dilatation (varicosity) of the veins of anus. It appears as bluish coloured swellings due to stagnated blood. Piles arise due to the increased pressure of internal or external veins around the anal canal.

Piles can be both internal and external. Internal hemorrhoids, unless they are severe, cannot be seen or felt. There is however, a discharge of dark blood. External hemorrhoids can be seen around the outside of the anus, and there is a lot of pain but not much bleeding. In some cases, the veins burst and this results in what is known as bleeding piles.

Symptoms –

Symptoms of piles vary, and depend on the type and place of origin. Piles in its initial stage is most commonly found to be without any symptoms.

However, the most common symptoms include -

• Intense pain at the time of passing stool.

• A pain around the anus and lower rectum, which can be quite severe.

• Frequent ineffectual urge for stool without passing stool or without satisfaction of complete evacuation.

• Itching in the rectal area.

• There may be bleeding. This will be bright red blood, not usually mixed in with the motion.

• There is often a feeling of something bulging, or hanging down from the anus.

• If a haemorrhoid at the outside of the anus gets a blood clot, it leads to tender lump.

• Anemia due to profuse bleeding.

• Wind formation in the stomach.

• Sitting becomes difficult due to pain.

If left untreated, piles can lead to complications including, infection, prolapse, necrosis and gangrene. Painful bleeding usually indicates startup of complications.

Causes -

Haemorrhoids are very common. It is more common in people, who regularly follow a low fibre, and high processed diet, such as processed flour, polished rice, bread etc. The main contributory cause is anything that raises the pressure in the abdomen, which leads the blood vessels to swell and become engorged.

Thus, the main cause of piles include -

- People chronically suffering from constipation.

- Even diarrhoea can cause piles. The strain for passing the stool is the main reason for the development of piles.

- After or during pregnancy, as the baby may press on the main blood vessel that returns blood to the heart.

- Overweight people.

- Physical strain – even coughing for long periods can cause the anal veins to strain.

- General weakness of the tissues of the body.

- Low fiber diet

- Age

- Hereditary

- Anal intercourse

- Prolonged periods of sitting or standing.

- Strenuous work

- Mental tension

Piles Treatment –

It is usually best to treat piles with the least treatment possible, as even after the most extensive treatments, there is a possibility that they may still return.

Usually, piles becomes better with increased water intake, a high fibre dietary regimen and other measures to correct the constipation. Care for blood loss should be taken to avoid anaemia.
Many times, they settle on their own over a matter of days without any treatment.

Haemorrhoidectomy refers to the removal of the pile by surgery. In this advanced laser treatment, the surgery reduces the pain and blood loss. However, in course of time, there is a possibility of the recurrence of piles even after surgery.

Over the counter drugs, include cream or suppositories. These soothe itching and pain, and cause the swelling and bleeding to diminish.

If the pain is very severe, cold compresses with ice can be helpful.

Homeopathic treatment, under an expert is also an effective way of dealing with this problem.

Prevention –

Haemorrhoids are very common, and may occur even after surgical removal. However, one may follow certain preventive steps to avoid recurrence –

- Avoid becoming overweight, and lose weight if you are.

- Eat a high fibre diet.

- Exercise regularly.

- Take rest and avoid long walks if you are suffering form piles.

- Drink plenty of water and follow regular bowel habits to avoid constipation.

- Use Indian style toilets since the squatting position is better for natural defecation

- If required, pass stool twice a day to avoid constipation.

- Don’t strain to evacuate hard faecal matter.

- Take easily digestible, simple homemade food. Avoid spices, chilli, very hot or cold food, and alcohol.

- Take foods such as green vegetables, ginger, onion, garlic, beetroot, bitter gourd, which helps in healing piles.

- Avoid eating potato, and the yellow variety of pumpkin.

- Take plenty of high fibre fruits especially papaya, mango, lime, jamun, figs, etc.

- Avoid sedentary habits, alcohol, smoking and unnecessary drugs like painkillers.

Some useful home remedies for piles –

- Take 1 table spoon of roasted black cumin seeds and mix with 1 tablespoon of unroasted black cumin seeds and powder both together. Take 1/2 a teaspoon of this mixture with a glass of water once a day.

- Drink a glass of buttermilk with 1/4 tsp carom seed powder (ajwain) and a pinch of rock salt.

- The jamun fruit should be taken with salt every morning for two or three months during its season.

- Soak 2-3 dried figs in a glass of cold water overnight. Have it first thing in the morning on an empty stomach. Have them for 2-3 weeks for good results. It is effective in the treatment for ordinary as well as bleeding piles.

- Mix 1 teaspoon fresh mint leaves juice with 1 teaspoon lemon juice & 1 tablespoon honey. Take 3 times a day for relief from piles.

- Take ½ cup radish juice in the morning and night for a period of 1 month.

- Boil 1 ripe banana in 1 cup of milk, mash well. Take 3-4 times a day.

- Extract 3 teaspoon of bitter gourd juice, and mix in 1 glass of buttermilk, and drink on an empty stomach every morning, for a month.

Read more on Home Remedies for Scars Also Read more on Home Remedies for Acne Visit http://www.natural-homeremedies.com - for 100% Safe and Natural Home Remedies for Common Ailments.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Dr_John_Anne

Home Cure For Piles

2009-07-11T10:46:00.000-07:00

Home Cure For Piles

The home cure for piles which I have used is a combination of different single treatments which, when used together, can relieve the symptoms of piles surprisingly well. As piles are not caused by one single factor or an illness or disease, they are not easily treated by oral medication. Surgery can sometimes help although many people find it painful with a long recovery time. In addition, as surgery does nothing to treat the causes of piles, they often return unless steps are taken to remove what actually caused them in the first place.

My Self-Help Home Cure For Piles

* Drink plenty of water as this softens the stools
* Eat plenty of fresh fruits and vegetables
* Try not to spend most of the day seated in one position
* Bathe the area with diluted witch hazel
* Always wash the anal area after defecation
* Do not strain on the toilet
* Treat both constipation and diarrhea quickly
* Put petroleum jelly or zinc cream onto the piles
* Place an ice-pack wrapped in a clean cloth directly on the piles
* Take a shallow, warm bath up to 4 times a day

Over The Counter Treatments

On the whole, these are not particularly effective. They can work to relieve the symptoms of piles temporarily but they do nothing at all to cure them. Some contain local anesthetic and others have vasoconstrictors, (which can actually shrink the piles temporarily)-both of which can be useful in symptomatic relief. Many people spend hundreds of dollars repeatedly buying various preparations.

Surgical Options

The most common surgical procedure is where the blood supply is tied off and the pile and surrounding tissue is removed. This normally requires a short stay in hospital and can have complications such as rectal bleeding, fever, infection and pus formation. Recovery from this procedure can take around 6 weeks and can be painful. There are other treatments which are less severe, such as rubber band litigation (a way of tying off the blood supply) and cauterization. These procedures do not remove the piles, but as they cut off the blood supply, the piles will wither up and die off.

Piles surgery is no different to any other forms-it carries risks and should not be undertaken lightly. The main shortcoming with surgery is the fact that unless you take steps to eliminate the root cause, it is highly likely that they will return.

A successful cure for piles requires more than just treating the symptoms and this is the shortcoming of both treatments you can buy from the pharmacy and surgery. To cure piles successfully and to prevent them returning, it is necessary to look at what may have caused them in the first place. Although experts agree that there is no one single cause of piles, it is generally agreed that there are a number of common factors which can make people likely to get piles. These include a poor diet lacking in fiber, lack of exercise, pregnancy and genetic dispositions.

Fortunately, piles respond very well to natural treatments and they have been shown to be much more effective than both over the counter remedies and even surgery.

If you would like to see details of a home cure for piles which has a very high success rate and get further useful information about this condition, you can find more on the link below. The remedy which I recommend comes with a huge number of testimonials from ex-sufferers plus there are endorsements from health professionals.

In addition, you can claim your free copy of the ebook "What 95% of Piles Sufferers Need To Know But Don't".

Click Here for details.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Emma_F_Hopkinson

Cure For Piles

2009-07-11T10:45:00.000-07:00

Cure For Piles

Many sufferers search long and hard for a cure for piles. Piles can be extremely painful and uncomfortable. In addition, they can cause extreme embarrassment-indeed piles are very often only spoken about as part of an ill-humored joke.

Piles usually occur because of the lifestyle of the sufferer. As they are not a "disease" or and "infection", they are actually not curable by conventional medication. Having said this, there are times when conventional medicines might help give some symptomatic relief, but in general, this is a condition which responds very well to natural treatments plus lifestyle changes and a good cure for piles will incorporate these aspects.

Some of the causes of piles are dietary. People who regularly eat processed foods and have a diet low in fiber are likely to suffer-particularly those who are prone to constipation. Heavy lifting can also be a cause as this puts pressure on the blood vessels in and around the anus. Less active people may have a decline in the muscular tone of the anal area, so those who spend a large part of their time seated may get piles. People who have regular very loose motions can also suffer from piles-this includes those who take laxatives regularly. Pregnancy can also predispose women to piles. Finally, it has been shown that there is a genetic link to piles, although this is only relevant in a small number of cases, with lifestyle issues being the main cause.

The fact that piles are lifestyle-related means that amongst other things, you will need to change habits or take a different approach to your diet if you want piles to be a thing of the past.

There are a number of self help measures which form a cure for piles which will give relief

* Sit in a warm "Sitz" bath (or even a shallow ordinary bath) up to 4 times a day

* Drink plenty of water to help keep the stools soft

* Eat fresh fruits and vegetables daily

* Avoid alcohol as this can make the bowel sluggish

* Bathe the area gently with diluted witch hazel

* Wash the area after each bowel movement and allow to dry naturally

* Avoid lifting heavy weights

* Place a cold compress on the area

* Try to walk around frequently-if you have a job which requires you to be seated, try to get up and have a short walk around each hour or so

* Use some zinc cream or petroleum jelly on the area as this will help soothe

These self help measures should give some relief and you may feel that small or less troublesome piles can be adequately managed. However, if you would like a guaranteed cure for piles which works even for those which are very large and painful, you may like to look at the link below.

The cure has been proven to be much more effective than over the counter medication and surgery as it works by eliminating the root causes of piles rather than just treating the symptoms.

This natural cure for piles works very quickly and most sufferers are symptom free within 48 hours.

In addition, you can claim your free copy of the ebook "What 95% of Hemorrhoid Sufferers Need To Know But Don't".

Click Here for details.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Emma_F_Hopkinson

Natural Remedy For Piles

2009-07-11T10:43:00.000-07:00

Natural Remedy For Piles

About Piles

1. First Degree-These do not bulge from the anus

2. Second Degree-The bulge outside of the anus during bowel movements but slip back in on their own

3. Third Degree-These bulge during bowel movements and will only go back inside the anus by pushing them back in

4. Fourth Degree-These bulge outside the anus permanently and cannot be pushed inside

Natural Remedy For Piles

The following natural self-help measures will help give some symptomatic relief.

* Apply an ice pack covered in cloth directly to the piles

* Take warm baths (you could take 3 or 4 a day if the symptoms are very bad)

* Drink plenty of water to help keep the stools soft

* Use wet moist unperfumed wipes after emptying the bowels. Allow the area to dry naturally if possible

* Increase the amount of fiber in the diet

* Try not to strain on the toilet. If you find that you are having difficulty, it may be worth considering a stool softener until you become "regular"

* Diluted witch hazel applied directly to the piles is very soothing and will help promote healing

* Avoid spicy foods

Piles respond very well to natural treatments and they have been shown to be far more effective in treating the causes of piles than surgery and over the counter medication.

In addition, you can claim your free copy of the ebook "What 95% of Hemorrhoid Sufferers Need To Know But Don't".

Click Here for details.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Emma_F_Hopkinson

Fast Treatment For Piles

2009-07-11T10:42:00.001-07:00

Fast Treatment For Piles

A fast treatment for piles is something that all sufferers crave. Fortunately there are home remedies which you can use to give relief quickly and these are detailed below.

If you have piles, you have probably tried various over the counter medication which simply does not work and you will want to be free of this horrible, embarrassing condition as quickly as possible and for it to become a distant memory! If you have had them for a while, you probably think there is nothing you can do, short of surgery, to be free. Even surgery is not a cure-all though.

Although it will either shrink or get rid of existing piles, unless you treat the causes they will come back-and that's a near certainty and one which many find distressing.

Many people first realise that they have piles when they notice bright red blood on their underwear, in the toilet or on the surface on their stools. This is normally a sign that an internal pile has been grazed during defecation. (If you notice this sign and are unsure whether you have piles you should visit your doctor for confirmation). It is often at this stage that people will try various over the counter treatments for piles, none of which seem to give any lasting relief.

To get fast relief from the symptoms of piles there are a few home treatments you can try right away.

* Sit in a warm bath-you can do this up to 4 times a day if the symptoms are really severe

* Place an ice pack wrapped in a clean flannel directly on the piles-this is wonderfully cooling and will soothe immediately

* Many people find that petroleum jelly or zinc cream can be just as soothing as expensive over the counter meds.

* Drink plenty of fluids-this will help keep the stools naturally soft and prevent straining

* Take a mild painkiller

* Try sitting on a doughnut cushion-theses are available from pharmacies

Many people believe that piles are caused by constipation. However, this is only part of the story. There are many different causes of piles and understanding just what is relevant in your particular case is part of understanding how to treat them successfully. As piles are not caused by an "infection", the best way to treat them is by using natural methods which will successfully ensure that you eliminate the causes of piles. Indeed many thousands of people have used a fast, natural treatment for piles which has proved to work extremely quickly, curing the condition in just 48 hours. To those who have suffered from piles for years, this seems like an unbelievable miracle-but it really works. Indeed with a cure rate of over 97%, this is an exciting treatment indeed!

For further useful information about this condition and to see just how you can get almost instant pain relief and get hold of the fast treatment for piles which works within 48 hours, click on the link below.

Click Here

You can also claim your no obligation free copy of the ebook, "What 95% of Hemorrhoid Sufferers Don't Know But Need To.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Emma_F_Hopkinson

Neo Healar Piles Treatment & Cure

2009-07-11T10:42:00.000-07:00

Neo Healar Piles Treatment & Cure

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=John_Lim_Cher_Sern

Piles - Home Remedies for Piles

2009-07-11T10:36:00.000-07:00

Piles - Home Remedies for Piles

Symptoms –

Symptoms of piles vary, and depend on the type and place of origin. Piles in its initial stage is most commonly found to be without any symptoms.

However, the most common symptoms include -

• Intense pain at the time of passing stool.

• A pain around the anus and lower rectum, which can be quite severe.

• Frequent ineffectual urge for stool without passing stool or without satisfaction of complete evacuation.

• Itching in the rectal area.

• There may be bleeding. This will be bright red blood, not usually mixed in with the motion.

• There is often a feeling of something bulging, or hanging down from the anus.

• If a haemorrhoid at the outside of the anus gets a blood clot, it leads to tender lump.

• Anemia due to profuse bleeding.

• Wind formation in the stomach.

• Sitting becomes difficult due to pain.

If left untreated, piles can lead to complications including, infection, prolapse, necrosis and gangrene. Painful bleeding usually indicates startup of complications.

Causes -

Thus, the main cause of piles include -

- People chronically suffering from constipation.

- Even diarrhoea can cause piles. The strain for passing the stool is the main reason for the development of piles.

- After or during pregnancy, as the baby may press on the main blood vessel that returns blood to the heart.

- Overweight people.

- Physical strain – even coughing for long periods can cause the anal veins to strain.

- General weakness of the tissues of the body.

- Low fiber diet

- Age

- Hereditary

- Anal intercourse

- Prolonged periods of sitting or standing.

- Strenuous work

- Mental tension

Piles Treatment –

It is usually best to treat piles with the least treatment possible, as even after the most extensive treatments, there is a possibility that they may still return.

Over the counter drugs, include cream or suppositories. These soothe itching and pain, and cause the swelling and bleeding to diminish.

If the pain is very severe, cold compresses with ice can be helpful.

Homeopathic treatment, under an expert is also an effective way of dealing with this problem.

Prevention –

Haemorrhoids are very common, and may occur even after surgical removal. However, one may follow certain preventive steps to avoid recurrence –

- Avoid becoming overweight, and lose weight if you are.

- Eat a high fibre diet.

- Exercise regularly.

- Take rest and avoid long walks if you are suffering form piles.

- Drink plenty of water and follow regular bowel habits to avoid constipation.

- Use Indian style toilets since the squatting position is better for natural defecation

- If required, pass stool twice a day to avoid constipation.

- Don’t strain to evacuate hard faecal matter.

- Take easily digestible, simple homemade food. Avoid spices, chilli, very hot or cold food, and alcohol.

- Take foods such as green vegetables, ginger, onion, garlic, beetroot, bitter gourd, which helps in healing piles.

- Avoid eating potato, and the yellow variety of pumpkin.

- Take plenty of high fibre fruits especially papaya, mango, lime, jamun, figs, etc.

- Avoid sedentary habits, alcohol, smoking and unnecessary drugs like painkillers.

Some useful home remedies for piles –

- Drink a glass of buttermilk with 1/4 tsp carom seed powder (ajwain) and a pinch of rock salt.

- The jamun fruit should be taken with salt every morning for two or three months during its season.

- Mix 1 teaspoon fresh mint leaves juice with 1 teaspoon lemon juice & 1 tablespoon honey. Take 3 times a day for relief from piles.

- Take ½ cup radish juice in the morning and night for a period of 1 month.

- Boil 1 ripe banana in 1 cup of milk, mash well. Take 3-4 times a day.

- Extract 3 teaspoon of bitter gourd juice, and mix in 1 glass of buttermilk, and drink on an empty stomach every morning, for a month.

Read more on Home Remedies for Scars Also Read more on Home Remedies for Acne Visit http://www.natural-homeremedies.com - for 100% Safe and Natural Home Remedies for Common Ailments.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Dr_John_Anne

Easing Piles or Hemorrhoids Naturally

2009-07-11T10:35:00.001-07:00

Easing Piles or Hemorrhoids Naturally

Piles, as they are commonly called hemorrhoids are swollen varicose veins in the anus or rectum. Piles are usually the result of exerting pressure during bowel movements, pregnancy or obesity.

Causes of Piles

Symptoms of piles

Easing piles naturally

Keep the affected area clean, clean with water only (no perfumed soap) after every bowel motion and pat dry with a clean soft tissue, this should help with itching.

The following supplements may help if you are suffering from Haemorrhoids (piles).

1. Extracts of horse chestnut

2. Flavonoids

3. Gotu kola

4. Psyllium

5. Vitamin C

6. Witch hazel

Diet for piles

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Kevin_Pederson

Obesity Treatment and Complete Cure

2009-07-11T10:35:00.000-07:00

Obesity Treatment and Complete Cure

Obesity is one of the greatest health challenges of the 21st century. Obesity is defined simply as too much body fat. It is different from being overweight, which means weighing too much. Obesity is increased to a point where it is associated with certain health conditions or increased mortality. Obesity is a serious problem that affects millions of people. The most common measure of obesity is the body mass index or BMI. Obesity occurs over time when you eat more calories than you use. The balance between calories-in and calories-out differs for each person. Factors that might tip the balance include your genetic makeup, overeating, eating high-fat foods and not being physically active. Obesity, especially central obesity (male-type or waist-predominant obesity), is an important risk factor for the "metabolic syndrome" ("syndrome X"), the clustering of a number of diseases and risk factors that heavily predispose for cardiovascular disease. These are diabetes mellitus type 2, high blood pressure, high blood cholesterol, and triglyceride levels (combined hyperlipidemia). An inflammatory state is present, which — together with the above — has been implicated in the high prevalence of atherosclerosis (fatty lumps in the arterial wall), and a prothrombotic state may further worsen cardiovascular risk. Being obese increases your risk of diabetes, heart disease, stroke, arthritis and some cancers.

Obesity and its related diseases are more prevalent among groups with low socioeconomic status. Obesity results from an excess of energy (caloric) intake over expenditure. Obesity can have a number of causes, including thyroid problems and lack of exercise. Obesity and overweight are chronic conditions. Overall there are a variety of factors that play a role in obesity. Obesity can run in families, but just how much is due to genes is hard to determine. Many others factors have contributed to the increasing rates of overweight and obesity. Changes in society, work and leisure have affected activity and eating patterns, leading to a rise in overweight and obesity. Men have a higher resting metabolic rate (meaning they burn more energy at rest) than women, so men require more calories to maintain their body weight. Many families eat the same foods, have the same habits (like snacking in front of the TV), and tend to think alike when it comes to weight issues (like urging children to eat a lot at dinner so they can grow "big and strong"). All of these situations can contribute to weight gain, so it can be difficult to figure out if a person is born with a tendency to be obese or overweight or learns eating and exercise habits that lead to weight gain. The average American is inundated with fast food, processed food, and enriched food choices on a daily basis. Advertisements for these food products boast their nutrition values and ease of preparation can make our lives easier. We lead busy lives, eat fast, and choose television or computer over exercise.

Treatment of obesity depends primarily on how overweight a person is and his or her overall health. Certain medications can also be a cause of obesity. Phen-fen" and Redux prescription drugs have been removed from the market in the United States and many other countries. Steroid medications are common culprits increasing the amount of fluid the body holds in the body. Some migraine medications are also known to cause weight gain. Antidepressants and other mood altering medications, sometimes used for the treatment of stress, anxiety and depression can also cause increased weight gain. Treatment for obesity is an energy-limited diet and increased exercise. Patients with morbid obesity, especially those with serious co-morbid conditions, may qualify for bariatric surgical treatments such as Lap Band or Roux-en-Y gastric bypass. Gastric reduction surgery is an important treatment option for obese patients with severe health problems. Initially, it leads to very significant weight loss in the 2 year period following their gastric bypass or banding operation, but it deals with symptoms (our excess weight) not causes (why we overeat). As a result, about 2-5 years after their operation, up to 40 percent of bariatric patients find it too arduous to follow the recommended dietary guidelines and end up regaining weight. Ephedra is essentially an herbal phen-fen. Ephedra is often combined with caffeine and aspirin ("the Stack"), which increases the thermogenic (fat-burning) effect of ephedra. Eating less over the long term means learning to think about your eating habits and patterns.

Juliet Cohen writes articles on rare skin disorders and homemade recipes. She also writes articles on makeup tips.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Juliet_Cohen

What Is Obesity? How Can You Overcome Obesity

2009-07-11T10:34:00.000-07:00

What Is Obesity? How Can You Overcome Obesity?

Obesity is a condition that results from the accumulation of excess fat in the body. In general, a person has obesity when the weight of the person is 20 percent or more above the normal recommended weight based on the person’s height, age, sex and build or bone structure.

There is what is called the Body Mass Index (BMI), which is a measure of body fat, calculated using a formula that requires the height and the weight of an adult (either man or woman). Persons with a BMI of less than 18.5 are underweight. A person is considered to be of normal weight if his or her BMI is between 18.5 and 24.9; overweight if the BMI is between 25 and 29.9; and obese if it is 30 and above. If the BMI is 40 or exceeds 40, then the person is said to be morbidly obese. Morbid obesity is also described as a ‘clinically severe obesity’, that requires urgent medical intervention.

The BMI figures given above are compiled and supplied by the National Heart, Lung and Blood Institute (NHLBI). One problem with the BMI is that it does not give the right estimate of the body fat in cases of persons with a muscular build (as in the case of athletes) or those who have lost their muscle mass (as in the case of old people). Usually, however, the BMI is a fair indicator of obesity.

When you have accumulated excessive fat in the body tissues, you have obesity, a condition that may increase the risk to several health conditions such as diabetes, ailments of the heart, stroke or paralysis and so on. Excess weight is always a health risk. Millions of people (more than a third of the adults) suffer from obesity and the attendant health problems. Included among them are those with morbid obesity. It is estimated that almost 5 to 10 percent of the obesity-affected population is in need of immediate medical care and treatment, because of morbid obesity.

That over-eating causes overweight or obesity may not be news. Nevertheless, there may also be some other factors responsible for obesity. A large number of scientific studies link obesity to genetic factors. Scientists from the National Institutes of Health have been studying the occurrence of obesity in the Pima Indians of Arizona and Mexico for decades, because they are among the most obese people in the entire world, some of them weighing more than 500 pounds. That amounts to very severe obesity. No wonder, most of them, especially the Pima tribes in Arizona, are found to have diabetes and heart problems. Certain people therefore are genetically predisposed to obesity. Processed or fast food and a sedentary lifestyle, with little or no time devoted to physical activity or exercise and with no need or even desire to walk (the advent of the car being the culprit here) are found to contribute to obesity. In addition, some medical conditions like hypothyroidism and steroid-intake result in obesity.

Excessive weight, which is usually visible in a person’s girth, or the circumference of the person’s waist, due to the accumulation of too much fat in the abdomen, leads to serious health risks, including death in severe cases of obesity, especially morbid obesity. Therefore, irrespective of the causes of obesity, it is essential for obese people to take suitable steps for losing as much weight as is necessary to bring it to the level of normal BMI.

Check out 21 sure fire ways to lose weight and claim your free lose weight newsletter

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Carl_Walker

India is the Destination for Obesity Cure

2009-07-11T10:33:00.000-07:00

India is the Destination for Obesity Cure

Obesity surgeries in India have seen a phenomenal Growth during recent past. Most patients from countries like USA and UK travel to developing countries such as India for treatment, few main reasons while choosing India at first choice are because India offers wide range of cheapest pricing options of treatment. While planning a treatment in India, one does not require waiting in patient queues or registering for a waiting list. Moreover the doctors and the medical facilities are comparable to anyone in the world. Another main reason for choosing India is comfort of Language; one does not pose a problem as most people speak English. Above all India always offers a good holiday, which can help in fast recoveries. India combines world-class healthcare with prices costing a fraction of those in the US or Europe. The Indian education system at present is training an estimated 20,000 to 30,000 doctors and nurses each year to meet the demand for increased medical services.

What is Obesity Surgery?

Obesity surgery is an operation that reduces or bypasses the stomach or small intestine so that severely overweight people can achieve significant and permanent weight loss. Obesity surgery is performed only on severely overweight people who are more than twice their ideal weight. This level of obesity often is refered to as morbid obesity since it can result in many serious, and potentially deadly, health problems, including hypertension.

Who is A Candidate for Obesity Surgery?

There are a number of widely accepted criteria that make a patient suitable for weight loss surgery:

Weight greater than 45kg above the ideal body weight for sex, and height.
BMI > 40 by itself or >35 if there is an
Associated obesity illness, such as diabetes or sleep apnoea
Reasonable attempts at other weight loss techniques
Age 18-65
Obesity related health problems
No psychiatric or drug dependency problems
A capacity to understand the risks and commitment associated with the surgery.
Pregnancy not anticipated in the first two years following surgery.

Procedure of Obesity Surgery:
Obesity surgery is usually performed in a hospital by a surgeon who has experience with obesity surgery or at a center that specializes in the procedure. General anesthesia is used, and the operation takes 2–3 hours. The hospital stay lasts about a week.Three procedures are currently used for obesity surgery:

Gastric bypass surgery. Probably the most common type of obesity surgery, In this procedure, the volume of the stomach is reduced by four rows of stainless steel staples that separate the main body of the stomach from a small, newly created pouch. The pouch is attached at one end to the esophagus. At the other end is a very small opening into the small intestine. Food flows though this pouch, bypassing the main portion of the stomach and emptying slowly into the small intestine where it is absorbed.

Vertical banded gastroplasty. In this procedure an artificial pouch is created using staples in a different section of the stomach. Plastic mesh is sutured into part of the pouch to prevent it from dilating. In both surgeries the food enters the small intestine farther along that it would enter if exiting the stomach normally. This reduces the time available for absorption of nutrients.

Jejuoileal bypass. Now a rarely performed procedure, Jejuoileal bypass involves shortening the small intestine. Because of the high occurrence of serious complications involving chronic diarrhea and liver disease, it has largely been abandoned for the other, safer procedures.

Post-operative care after Obesity Surgery:

Immediately after the operation, most patients are restricted to a liquid diet for two to three weeks; however, some may remain on it for up to 12 weeks. Patients then move on to a diet of pureed food for about a month, and, after about two months, most can tolerate solid food. High fat food is restricted because it is hard to digest and causes diarrhea. Patients are expected to work on changing their eating and exercise habits to assist in weight loss. Most people eat three to four small meals a day once they return to solid food. Eating too quickly or too much after obesity surgery can cause nausea and vomiting as well as intestinal "dumping, " a condition in which undigested food is shunted too quickly into the small intestine, causing pain, diarrhea, weakness, and dizziness.

Why should one travel to India for Obesity Surgery?

There are numerous foreigners that are flying to India and desperate to do so. It is not to see the backwaters of Kerala or the beautiful beaches of Goa but to rid themselves of the extra flab, what binds them is their desperation to get freedom from those extra pounds through much cheaper surgery in Indian metros. They do not want to be anorexic but are desperate nevertheless to rid themselves of their obesity and lead a better life. Obese people across the world are flooding the email box of noted laparoscopic surgeons in India. Because there is a long queue for such operations abroad and because it is far economical here, we are flooded with queries from abroad for operation dates in India."Important cost difference subsist between U.K. and India when it comes to medical treatment tourism packages. Every year innumerable number of alien visitors from different parts of the world visits India for its historical escapade. Moreover, many a time some of them fall ill as illness knows no place. India is not only cheaper in respect of medical treatment packages but the waiting time is almost zero. This is due to the explosion of the private sector, which comprises of hospitals and clinics with the up-to-the-minute technology and best practitioners. Traditional tourist spots still attract foreigners by the hordes to India, but lately, medical tourism is proving to be one of the most lucrative and viable options. Obesity cure by operations in India can form a major chunk of our medical tourism revenues in future," With globally recognized healthcare professionals, holistic medicinal services and low cost treatment, India can earn $5 billion a year and attract over one million health tourists a year.

To know more about affordable Obesity surgery in India-please visit the Website =>http://www.dheerajbojwani.com

Important Details:

Medical Tourism to India - http://www.dheerajbojwani.com

International Patient Experiences - http://www.dheerajbojwani.com/experience-treatment-patients-india.html

Email - contact@dheerajbojwani.com

Contact Number-0091-93711-36499.

Dheeraj Bojwani-MD is an expert in "Health and Medical Tourism"to India.He guides,consults and advises patients about the Hospitals,surgeons and the medical institutions in India and helps them make an informed decision about getting the right medical treatment in India at the most cost-effective prices.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Dheeraj._B

What Causes Obesity

2009-07-11T10:31:00.000-07:00

What Causes Obesity

Obesity refers to a state of a person's bodyweight when it's 20% or more above normal bodyweight.

Obesity increases risks of developing high blood pressure, diabetes (type 2), heart disease, stroke, gallbladder disease and cancer of the breast, prostate and colon.

In the US, about 300,000 deaths per year are directly related to obesity........

It's not just a health hazard, it's a life threatening disease as well.

Understanding what causes obesity will help you battle it more effectively.

And surprise!Surprise! You'd think that "no exercise and overeating" are the culprits.......

These 2 of course are the main causes since we are bombarded daily with plenty of high calorie food, but because of our increasingly sedentary lifestyles, we don't exercise at all or don't do enough exercise, so we struggle real hard not to get fat.

But there's also other causes - other than the "big 2" - "no exercise and overeating", that contribute to obesity.

Ahem.......If you hate exercise and like to eat, you can now breathe easier knowing that "no exercise and overeating" are not the only culprits that cause obesity......

Right on. I bet you want to know what're these other factors that cause obesity.....Let's have a look at them and see whether they resonate with you.

Not Enough Sleep is What Causes Obesity

You're surprised?

You think it should be the exact opposite, right? That not enough sleep would cause you to lose weight (because it affects your body's health), not to gain weight!

However, several studies suggest that there's a relationship between how much you sleep and your weight gain.....

The first is the US Health & Nutrition Examination Survey which concludes that if you sleep less than 7 hours per night, you tend to have a higher body mass index (BMI) than a person who sleeps more hours.

The other is a study conducted by the US Nurses'Health, which tracks 68,000 women for 16 years in which it finds that women who sleep an average of 5 hours per night gain more weight than women who sleep 6 hours, who in turn gain more weight than women who sleep 7 hours.

Obesity reserachers have suggested that this is so due to the fact that if you don't have enough sleep, your metabolism could be changed as Leptin, the hormone that signals satiety decreases while Ghrelin, the hormone which signals hunger, increases and this cranks up your appetite.

We all know obesity affects sleep, so these studies' results which say that not enough sleep could lead to weight gain are really "eye-openers".......

And we're sleeping less, that's a fact we can't deny, given our hectic lifestyle and the firece demands life put on us.

The Americans slept an average of 8.5 hours per night in 1960. In a 2002 poll by the National Sleep Foundation, the average hour had decreased to less than 7 hours per night.

The results show that the decreased hours of sleep was partly associated with the increase in obesity.

Prenatal Effects Are What Cause Obesity

The odds that you'll become fat could be set, at least in part, before you're born. It's shown that obese mothers would likely give birth to children who'll become obese themselves later in life.

You could say that this is largely due to genetics but there's evidence to suggest that some "intra-uterine programming" has taken place here.

In the study for mice during pregnancy, offsprings of mice fed with high-fat food are more likely to become fat than offsprings of mice fed with normal food.

Fat Equals Fecund - This Is What Causes Obesity

If you're fatter, chances are you'll have more children. A study carried out by Minot State University in North Dakota concludes this.

It shows that there's a small but significant correlation between BMI and reproductive rates as normal weight women have an average of 3.2 children while overweight and obese women have an average of 3.5 children.

The intriguing question is this:

Does having more children cause women to gain weight or does being overweight or obese cause women to produce more children?

Answer is probably both.

Having more children increases your chance of escalating into the "fat" territory, if for no other reason than poor sleep.

On the other hand, being obese or overweight can lead to lower socio-economic status, which is in turn associated with having more children, the study reveals.

Older In Age is What Causes Obesity

Well, if you're older, you tend to be fatter than others! Survey by the US National Center for Health Statistics found that if you were aged between 40 - 79, you were 3 times as likely to be heavier as those aged younger.

The most probable reason?

Ah...Sigh....Due to decrease in your metabolism......

As you get older, your body's ability to metabolize food slows down. This is why you would notice that you eat the same amount of food and do the same activities as you did when you were 20 years old, but at age 40, you gain weight.

Temperature Effects Cause Obesity

Studies have shown that in comfortable temperature, you use less energy, thereby burning less body fat. In hotter temperature environment, you'll sweat a lot more which in turn uses more energy. There's also evidence to suggest that you'll reduce the amount of food intake in hotter temperature environment.

Less Smoking Or Quitting Smoking Causes Obesity

If you're a smoker, you're likely thinner than others. So, if you cut down smoking or quit altogether, you'll pile on the pounds, though no one knows why this is so.....Most likely is because nicotine is an appetite suppressant and seemingly can raise your metabolic rate.....

The US National Center for Health Statistics calculates that smokers kicking the habit have been responsible for a small but significant portion of the US obesity epidemic.

The Center works out that smokers who quit in the previous decade are more likely to be obese than smokers and those who never smoke. Among men, almost 50% of the quitters are obese compared with 37% of non-smokers and 28% of smokers.

Pollution Can Cause Obesity

Our environment has become more polluted and inevitably, we're exposed more to pollutants like industrial chemicals (dyes, plastic wastes, pesticides, herbicides, gaseous compound, solvents....).

There's evidence that a small amount of some of these chemicals can lead to weight gain. Studies have found that when people are exposed to these chemicals found in food, the higher the toxic level in the food, the greater the body weight.

This is because some of these chemicals are endocrine disruptors that disrupt the functions of hormones like oestrogen.

You know right, when your hormone (oestrogen) does not function well, it wreaks havoc in your body, including weight gain?

Drug Use Is What Causes Obesity

Some drugs have ugly side effects - one of the most common ones - weight gain.

Want to know which drugs?

Well, drug for high blood pressure, is one.

Drugs to treat HIV, is another.

Endometriosis drugs to treat endometriosis, is a classic example that can fatten you up.

Contraceptive pills will pile pounds on you.

Diabetes medications will pad you out.....

So, don't be too over-dependent on drugs.....

First Child In Older Women - A Cause For Obesity

The mean age of women giving first birth in the US has increased from 21.4 in 1970 to 24.9 in 2000.

The implication for this is that an older woman at first birth seems to be a risk factor for obesity.

The results from the US National Heart, Lung & Blood Institute's study found that the odds of a child being obese increases

by about 14% for every 5 extra years of his or her mother's age, though no one knows for sure why.

Could poor sleep cause this? Probably.

Also, as family size decreases, first-borns make up for a greater share of the population - evidenced in the US wherein in 1976, 9.6% of women in their 40s had one child but in 2004, the percentage had increased to 17.4%. This combination of older women and more single children could be contributing to the obesity epidemic.

Like Marrying Like - A Cause For Obesity

I'm sure you've seen the pattern -

We tend to pair off according to looks.

So we do like wise when comes to body size.....

If you're thin, you're more likely to marry a thin person and if you're fat, you're more likely to marry a fat person...

On its own, this would not account for the increase in obesity but if we include other factors such as genetics and obese people produce more children, they could amplify the increase in obesity from other causes.

In conclusion, obesity isn't due to a single cause but is multifactorial in origin.

The causes discussed here are by no means exhaustive...

You could have other causes like genetics, overeating, slower metabolism, gender, illness, psychological factors, diet rich in simple carbohydrates, frequency of eating...

S-o-o-o-o,

Can you then jump in glee because "no exercise and overeating" are not the only major causes of obesity? Since you hate to exercise and like to eat? (Aren't we all?)

Can you then don't do exercise and eat with no restrain?

Hey, certainly not! A reasonable amount of exercise and healthy eating are still on the card for you...

What the obesity researchers try to say is this -

when we think of what causes obesity, we normally point to "no exercise and overeating" as the culprits...

Oh, they are.

But if you're still on the heavier side even after doing enough exercise and eat healthily, then you might want to look beyond these "big 2 " factors to find out the true reason(s) for your weight problem.

Other factors like those mentioned above could cause obesity as well...

It's good for you to find out, to better address your problem.

However, adopting a healthy lifestyle that inculcates the habit of exercise and eating healthy food should be your first priority, to stave off further weight gain.

If you do this, even weight losses as small as 10% of your bodyweight can improve your health...

Cecelia Yap is a seasoned exerciser who walks the talk concerning exercise.

Her passion is exercise, fitness and eating right.

She shows you what works and what doesn't at her website: http://www.perfect-body-toning.com

If you're plagued by "overweight and obesity" problems......

Try these weight loss exercises and these healthy eating guidelines for a change.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Cecelia_Yap

Morbid Obesity Causes Cure and Threats

2009-07-11T10:30:00.000-07:00

Morbid Obesity – Causes, Cure, and Threats

Obesity becomes morbid when it reaches the point of significantly increasing the risk of one or more obesity-related health conditions or serious diseases (also known as co-morbidities) that result either in significant physical disability or even death.

The term morbid obesity, also called “clinically severe obesity” or “class-3” obesity - is a disease of excess body fat (adipose tissue), which can adversely affect general health, mobility and quality of life. Morbid obesity is typically defined as being 100 lbs. or more over ideal body weight or having a Body Mass Index of 40 or higher. According to the National Institutes of Health Consensus Report, morbid obesity is a serious disease and must be treated as such. It is a chronic disease, meaning that its symptoms build slowly over an extended period of time.

Morbid obesity is a significant risk factor for hypertension, cardiovascular disease, some cancers, diabetes, respiratory problems and musculo-skeletal disorders. Generally, the health threats of morbid obesity are: double risk of early death if your weight is more than twice your ideal, 5-7 times greater risk of death from diabetes or heart attack, high risk of “end-stage” (untreatable) obesity, numerous negative social, psychological and economic effects.

The causes of severe clinical obesity remain complex and varied, and typically include factors such as family genetic history, lifestyle and eating habits in childhood and adolescence, medication usage, calorie-intake, mood/depression, degree of physical activity, and cultural, socioeconomic and psychosocial factors. Although there are several clearly identifiable causes and contributory risk factors for morbid obesity, experts have been unable to pinpoint the relative importance of these risk factors in the ongoing obesity epidemic.

Treatment for morbid obesity usually includes a combination of liquid or very-low-calorie diets, weight loss medications and exercise counseling. Patients suffering from significant co-morbid conditions may also qualify for bariatric weight loss surgery such as gastric banding or stomach bypass.

Mildly obese patients can benefit from diet and exercise treatments, sometimes provided in conjunction with weight loss medication. Patients with morbid obesity, especially those with serious co-morbid conditions, may qualify for bariatric surgical treatments such as Lap Band or Roux-en-Y gastric bypass. Lap-band adjustable gastric banding is the latest entrant (approved by the FDA in 2001) in the sphere of surgical treatment of morbid obesity

It has become increasingly clear that those with morbid obesity may not be able to get their weight under significant control on their own without surgery. If you are morbidly obese you run a significant risk of dying prematurely due to your weight. In fact, those with morbid obesity can be expected to die 13-20 years prematurely unless they can lose most of their excess weight.

Milos Pesic is an expert in the field of Weight Loss and Obesity and runs a highly popular and comprehensive Obesity web site. For more articles and resources on Obesity and Weight Loss related topics, symptoms and treatments visit his site at:

=>http://obesity.need-to-know.net/

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Milos_Pesic

What Obesity Debate

2009-07-11T10:25:00.000-07:00

What Obesity Debate?

This is a perfect example of how on-line weight loss "experts" can confuse and harm the American consumer...The Obesity Debate?
During a dinner conversation with a friend, the topic of laziness was brought up. From there, we some how got around to the topic of obesity. He said to me, "A great example of how bad laziness can be is obesity."
"Excuse me," I coughed out (almost chocking on the last bite).
"You know, obese people don't do anything. They are fat because they are lazy," my friend said as if from a position of authority. This was going to be a long dinner I could tell.
It turns out, my friend read an article posted on the net that started with a statement similar to my friend's words that almost made me choke. Unfortunately, he didn't remember the author's name but the title was Fitness and Exercise -- I haven't found it...yet.
What blows my mind is how easily people believe what is written on a website by someone calling himself an expert! The real experts need to start making noise!
Laziness does not cause obesity. If that were so, obesity would be the norm and not considered a problem. I recently found a wonderful definition of obesity...it covers all the possibilities in one clear sentence:
The etiology of obesity is complex, determined by the interplay of genetic and environmental factors -Andrea Baessler, from her recent article in Diabetes, Jan, 2005.
There has never been a debate about what causes obesity. We have always known that obesity is multifactorial in etiology. The "real" debate topics are which environmental factors and which genes increase the risk or incidence of obesity. The rest of the article reviews recent work around two genetic links to obesity.

SREB-1 Gene

Delphine Eberle's work (Diabetes, Aug, 2004), with the sterol regulatory element binding protein transcription factor, found that the two isoforms are linked to the "plasma leptin concentrations in American obese families."
His group hypothesized, "...genetic variations of the SREB-1 gene could be associated with obesity and obesity-related metabolic traits such as insulin resistance, type 2 diabetes, and dyslipidemia."
Interestingly, SREB-1 gene polymorphisms were found among obese cohorts when compared to nonobese cohorts. This means they are on to something and possibly not far from marking the SREB-1 gene as a clear link to obesity (1).

Ghrelin Receptor Gene (GHSR)

The importance of ghrelin in the central regulation of feeding has been demonstrated in animals and humans. Ghrelin increases appetite and food intake in normal subjects and patients with decreased appetite, such as those suffering from cancer cachexia. Recent evidence suggests that obesity is associated with an impairment of the entire ghrelin system (2).
Besides its biological function, the ghrelin receptor gene is located in a quantitative trait locus or QTL strongly linked to six phenotypes of obesity (1).
This is a second strong genetic association to obesity. Both groups will soon have conclusive evidence to support their arguments for SREB-1 and GHSR genetic links to obesity.
As far as I can tell, laziness wasn't mentioned once. How many wonderful people avoid treatment because they actually believe it's their own fault?
Educate at all costs.
Healthy Living!

Michael A. Smith, M.D.
Additional Information is available at The Weight Loss Professional
References:

Baessler A, Hasinoff J, Fischer M: Genetic linkage and association of the growth hormone secretagogue receptor gene in human obesity. Diabetes, Jan, 2005.

Eberle D. SREB-1 gene polymorphisms are associated with obesity and type 2 diabetes in French obese and diabetic cohorts. Diabetes, Aug, 2004.

Flegal KM, Carroll MD, Ogden CL, Johnson CL: Prevalence and trends in obesity among US adults, 1999-2000. JAMA 288:1723-1727, 2002

Dr. Smith is the primary physician and consultant for the Weight Loss Professional Website. His interests include preventative medicine, the genetic etiology of obesity, and several others too numerous to list.

Please visit his website at http://www.weight-loss-professional.com and let him know what you think.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Michael_Smith,_MD

Fighting Obesity - An Ayurvedic Way

2009-07-11T10:24:00.000-07:00

Fighting Obesity - An Ayurvedic Way

Definition of Obesity

Excess amount of body fat is Obesity.
Excess weight of muscles, bone, fat and water in the body (like body builders and athletes) is Overweight.
Over weighted persons are at increased health risk than normal persons. They are more prone to chronic diseases like heart diseases, type-2 diabetes, high blood pressure, stroke, and few types of cancers.

Is fat necessary to our body?

Certain amount of body fat does the following function

1. Heat insulation.

2. Absorption of shock.

3. Storage of energy. Etc.

Ayurveda describes the functions of body fat as

“Medaha sneha swedaudhrudatwam pushtim asthyancha”
This means in normal conditions the body fat keeps the body moisturized, causes sweating, gives energy to body (by storing energy) and nourishes bones. (By protecting them from shock)

Distribution of fat

Women have more body fat than men. In women usually the fat accumulates around hips giving them a pear shape. In men it accumulates around belly giving them an apple shape. The obesity related problems start when fat accumulates around waist.

In ayurveda the distribution of fat is described as follows:

Medastu sarvabhutaanamudarenvasthi thishtathi

Ata evodare vriddhihi prayo medaswino bhavet

Fat gets deposited in and around belly in all living beings. It is also present in bone. Hence when a person becomes obese his stomach bulges out.

And also the characters of an obese person are described as
"Medo mamsa ativriddhatvaachalasphigudarastanaha" which means the hips, belly and breasts of an obese person sag and sagged parts flap as that person moves. An obese person will not be active.

Causes of Obesity

When a person consumes more calories than he burns then the excess calories get stored in the form of fat causing obesity.

1. Genetic factors–Obesity tends to run in families. If parents are fat then the offspring also show a tendency to accumulate fat. Even the diet and lifestyle habits which are practiced in family also contribute to obesity.

2. Environment. – A person’s eating habits and the level of physical activities a person has also contribute for excess deposition of fat. When a person eats food containing more calories and has a sedentary work then the calories consumed are more than calories burnt. The excess amount calories are stored as fat.

3. Psychological disturbances.- There is a tendency to over eat in response to negative emotions like boredom, sadness or anger. This leads to obesity.

4. Binge eating disorder.

5. Diseases and conditions like Hypothyroidism, Cushing's syndrome, Depression, and certain neurological problems lead to overeating which in turn leads to accumulation of fat.

6. Medicines such as steroids and some antidepressants may cause weight gain.

Causes of obesity according to Ayurveda

The causes of obesity are very clearly explained in ayurveda. The following reasons which are mentioned in ayurveda increase the deposition of fat.

Avayamadivaaswapnashleshmalaaaharasevinaha |
Madhuroannarasaha prayaha snehamedhovivardhati ||
According to ayurveda the causes of obesity are defined as:

1. Avyayama: Not exerting physically

2. Divaswapna: Sleeping in afternoon.

3. Shleshmala Ahara Vihara: The diet and life styles which increase Kapha

4. Madhura Annaha: Consuming sweetened foods.

Health risks due to Obesity

Obesity leads to the following problems.

1. Type-2 diabetes

2. Heart disease.

3. High Blood pressure.

4. Stroke

5. Few types of Cancers

6. Gall stones

7. Liver diseases

8. Osteo arthritis.

9. Gout

10. Infertility

11. Irregular menstruation in women.

According to Ayurveda the obese persons are more prone to the following diseases.

1. Diabetes.

2. Kidney related problems.

3. Hepatitis.

4. Low libido.

5. Low energy levels.

6. Skin problems.

7. Fistula

8. Piles.

9. Filariasis . etc

Tips to reduce Obesity

1. Determine with the help of your physician how much weight has to be reduced.

2. Set several short term realistic goals .

3. Reward yourself each time you make progress (Not food items)

4. Even small weight losses have shown to be beneficial.

5. Make gradual changes in eating habits.

6. You will lose weight when you burn more calories than you consume. Hence eating less and being more active help in losing weight.

7. Sound eating habits keep you out of putting on weight.

8. Stay motivated to lose weight.

9. Slow weight loss is the safest and most effective. ( one to one and half pound per week).

10. Gradual weight loss, promote long term loss of body fat.

11. A person who is moderately active needs daily, 33 calories per kg of body weight to maintain his weight .

12. Reducing calories intake by 300 per day and increasing the physical activity to burn 200 calories per day results in weight loss of 400 Gms per week.

13. To satisfy basic nutritional needs eat a variety of foods every day. Choose from each of the five food groups milk, meat, fruit, vegetable and cereals. Balanced food plans encourage making wise choices about everyday food choices. This type of diet helps to stay at your proper weight for life.

14. Allow for an occasional treat.

15. Evaluate your eating pattern.

16. Try to cut down on foods high in fats and sugar.

17. Most successful weight – loss plans stress on reduction in both calories and the amount of fat eaten

Physical activity:

1. Determine the type of physical activity that suits your life style.

2. Regular aerobic exercise like brisk walking, jogging or swimming, is a key factor in achieving permanent weight loss and improving health

3. Health experts recommend exercising 30 minutes or more on all, days of the week for maximum benefits. The exercises should be moderately vigorous to be most effective but not exhausting.

4. Incorporate few simple measures to burn calories effectively. Like- taking an after dinner walk, using stairs instead of escalators or elevators, parking the car farther away to have a longer walk etc.

5. Exercises also improve sense of well being ,decreases stress and decreases appetite in some.

Ayurvedic tips to reduce Obesity

Numerous tips to reduce obesity have been mentioned in ayurveda. The following ayurvedic tips help you to reduce the obesity.

1. Very good exercises. Exercises like brisk walking, jogging, playing out door games etc help to reduce weight.

2. Physical and mental exertion. Exerting physically like doing house hold works, walking to distant places to bring groceries, vegetables etc, walking long distances to bring the child back from school, walking to working place, climbing stairs etc are types of physical exertion. Exerting physically as much as you can help to burn more calories. Mental exertion like worrying or involving in finding solutions to problems also restrict food consumption in some and there by reduces the intake of calories.

3. Having sex frequently is also a good physical exertion.

4. Consumption of honey. This is advisable for non diabetic patients. Consuming 2 tea spoon of honey with a glass of herbal tea which includes weight reducing herbs help a lot in weight reduction. Honey along with these herbs scrapes and dissolves the Kapha and medha (body fat).

5. Sleeping for less hours. Avoiding sleeping in afternoons help to increase the burning of calories. This avoids slowing of basal metabolic rate.

6. Avoiding the food and beverages which increase kapha and medha. The foods which increase kapha and medha are sweets, sweetened drinks, large quantities of carbohydrates and oily food.

7. Consuming wheat products than rice products help to reduce obesity.

8. Using Green gram and horse gram help in reduction of kapha and medha.

Biography of Dr. Savitha Suri

Dr. Savitha Suri has been an Ayurvedic Practitioner since 1989. After getting a graduation degree in ayurveda (Bachelor of Ayurvedic Medicine and Surgery) in 1988 from University of Mysore, India, she started practising ayurveda. Her articles about ayurveda have been published in news papers and websites. She is a regular health columnist to a regional news paper.

Dr. Savitha Suri lives in Mysore, Karnataka, India. She gives consultations in Mysore and also in Bangalore, the silicon valley of India. http://www.ayurhelp.com email doctor@ayurhelp.com

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Dr._Savitha_Suri

Do You Really Care For Your Nose

2009-07-11T10:22:00.000-07:00

Do You Really Care For Your Nose?

You have only two nostrils that are meant to serve you for a lifetime. Did I say serve you for a lifetime? Yes your one and only nose is supposed to serve you till you die because there is nothing like artificial nose.

Your nose is the organ of your body responsible for smell. You perceive the odor of things around you with your nose. You also perceive the aroma of delicious meals that you cook with your nose. So, your nose has sensory cells that perceive changes in your environment.

There are some problems which your nose can develop such as nose bleeding, catarrh and rhinitis. One of the causes of these nose problems is pollution.

You have to keep your nose away from pollutants especially the dangerous gases such as carbon monoxide and hydrogen sulphide. For example, carbon monoxide when inhaled can lead to carbon monoxide poisoning. How?

Carbon monoxide combines with hemoglobin which carries oxygenated blood round the body to produce a poisonous substance known as carboxyhemoglobin. Carboxyhemoglobin removes the oxygen content of the blood thereby making the blood unhealthy.

This condition could be so fatal that it could result in death. One way of treating the condition if the victim is still alive is to expose him or her to fresh air so he or she can inhale pure and fresh oxygen from air thus replacing the carbon monoxide.

My candid advice to you is that you have to maintain a clean environment. Stay away from pollutants and polluted areas because most diseases that can affect your respiratory system enter into your body through your nose as air-borne diseases. Protect yourself from catching cold because catarrh is a symptom of cold which can lead to critical nasal problem such as rhinitis.

Raymond Edeh is an expert writer in a variety of topics. He writes high quality reviews for high demand products. Visit Raymond's site at Raymond's Ghostwriting Services for your content writing needs.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Raymond_Edeh

Dog Nose Bleed - Why and What to Do

2009-07-11T10:19:00.002-07:00

Dog Nose Bleed - Why and What to Do

If your dog suffers a nose bleed you want to act immediately. Never assume it was caused by a knock of some sort. There are other more serious scenarios.

CAUSES:

Foreign material in nose, Haemophilia, Ratsak Poisoning, Ruptured nasal tumors, Car Accident or direct injury.

FOREIGN MATTER

Material in the nose automatically stimulates sneezing. Excessive sneezing and irritation will cause bleeding. It can be caused by a grass seed, a blade of grass or an insect or anything that the dog sniffs.

Allow a short time to see if the bleeding settles before going to the vet. Once the nose has started to bleed then the seed is well and truly up the nose causing allot of irritation and bleeding.

The vet may give the dog a general anaesthetic and examine the nasal cavity, soft palate and throat regions for a grass seed or any foreign matter and remove it. In the nasal cavity it is very difficult as the bleeding obscures the view and the sneezing sensation remains until the dog is fully anesthetized.

The effect of tranquilizers and anesthetics calm the sneezing and allow the seed to pass through the passages and eventually be swallowed in some cases. Others can lodge in a crypt or just in the soft palate area and start up an infection.

Once the irritation has passed the bleeding eases. Antibiotics may be given to prevent infection and antihistamines for the irritation.

HAEMOPHILIA

Blood clotting disorders and diseases usually show up first as anemia, nose bleeding and gum bleeding. If any of these are apparent with your dog then a veterinary examination is needed. The vet will probably recommend blood tests to identify the problem and a course of vitamin K. Supportive treatment e.g: giving blood and fluids to the dog may also be necessary.

RATSAK POISONING

This is very similar to HAEMOPHILIA, as Ratsak is an anti coagulant designed to kill mice and rats.

Fortunately it is treatable in the dog or cat but can still be fatal if left untreated. Veterinary treatment / consultation is needed as in haemophilia. Nose bleeding in your dog can have fatal consequences. Please be alert when this happens. Below are reasons why it happens and what you can do about it.

TUMORS

As tumors grow they cause more and more irritation to the breathing passages this can start a sneezing spasm. Eventually it will become partly blocked causing a snoring or snorting noise. Occasional bleeding may occur as the irritation and blockage gets worse. Veterinary diagnosis and if it is possible surgery to clear the breathing passages. Veterinary examination is necessary to alleviate the problem. Surgery may be possible.

CAR ACCIDENTS / INJURIES

Physical nasal damage will obviously cause bleeding. Let the dog settle down outside in the yard in a cool comfortable place and observe the bleeding. It takes time to stop so be patient. Do not excite the dog, let it settle. If the bleeding is not easing then transport the dog to the vet. Use a wad of material (cotton cloth) and hold around the dog's nose when transporting to the vet.

BE CAREFUL NOT TO OBSCURE BREATHING!

This and other dog care tutorials can be found at http://here-is-your.info/dog-training/ While you are there why not download your free ebook on dog barking: The why and when

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Craig_McPherson

Dog Nose Bleed - Why and What to Do

2009-07-11T10:19:00.001-07:00

Dog Nose Bleed - Why and What to Do

If your dog suffers a nose bleed you want to act immediately. Never assume it was caused by a knock of some sort. There are other more serious scenarios.

CAUSES:

Foreign material in nose, Haemophilia, Ratsak Poisoning, Ruptured nasal tumors, Car Accident or direct injury.

FOREIGN MATTER

Allow a short time to see if the bleeding settles before going to the vet. Once the nose has started to bleed then the seed is well and truly up the nose causing allot of irritation and bleeding.

Once the irritation has passed the bleeding eases. Antibiotics may be given to prevent infection and antihistamines for the irritation.

HAEMOPHILIA

RATSAK POISONING

This is very similar to HAEMOPHILIA, as Ratsak is an anti coagulant designed to kill mice and rats.

TUMORS

CAR ACCIDENTS / INJURIES

BE CAREFUL NOT TO OBSCURE BREATHING!

This and other dog care tutorials can be found at http://here-is-your.info/dog-training/ While you are there why not download your free ebook on dog barking: The why and when

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Craig_McPherson

How To Stop Nose Bleeds

2009-07-11T10:19:00.000-07:00

How To Stop Nose Bleeds, Is Cauterization A Permanent Solution To Nose Bleeds?

Congratulations on taking the first step towards eliminating Nosebleeds from your life by FINDING THIS ARTICLE. I do not occur nosebleeds frequently but had faced severe two events only and still remember the 2nd one that needs me to cauterize the vein inside my right nostril.

I think it's not necessary to write regarding the cause of nose bleeds. Although most of the doctors suggest dislocation of septum i,e bone at the small separation between the two nostrils is a cause of nosebleed and only the permanent solution for stopping nose bleed is a major operation for correcting this bone, as per my findings through a study of different informations, nosebleeds can be controlled with the following simple steps

During the Nose Bleed

Thumbs Up Method

1. Stay calm, slowly taking deep breaths.

2. With your hand (same hand as the bleeding nostril,) make a 'thumbs up' sign.

3. Press your thumb against your nostril's side, not so hard that it hurts, but firmly

enough to flatten the nostril.

4. Stay still, leaning forward slightly.

5. Stay in place for 5-10 minutes, breathing normally.

6. Slowly release the pressure; it may feel a bit weird as the blood flows back into your

nasal vessels.

Pinching Method

1. Pinch your nose just below the bridge. There is a vein just below the nose bone that is the culprit in 99% of bloody noses. Pinching puts pressure on it, which arrests the bleeding and speeds the clotting process.

2. Find a bathroom as you continue pinching. Now that you have slowed the bleeding by pinching, you should find a bathroom where you can clean up once the bleeding has stopped.

3. Keep applying pressure for at least 5 minutes at a time. Don't check to see if it is still bleeding over this period of time as it is important to keep continuous pressure. After this period of time let go briefly to see if the bleeding has stopped. If not, give it another 5 minutes. (This is also a good time to quickly wash any blood off your hands and get a paper towel or toilet paper to pinch with so that blood gets on the paper and not your hand.) If it is, continue pinching. Don't check every 30 seconds, as the key is constant pressure.

Pressure Method

1. Find the two very slight depressions on the back of the skull, approximately four finger-widths from the base of the skull (in line with the tops of the ears) and four finger-widths from the mid-line of the back of the skull. If you had eyes in the back of your head, this is where they would be.

2. Press the spots firmly, but gently, and if you have connected correctly, the bleeding should stop immediately. Keep up the pressure for about five minutes and then release. If the bleeding starts again, just repeat the process, but hold it longer: you may have to keep up the pressure for ten to fifteen minutes to stop it completely.

Upper Lip Method

1. Roll up a piece of gauze or tissue into a "cigar shape" approximately 2 inches long and a little thicker than a pencil. Folding it into a small, thick square also works well.

2. Wedge the tissue under your upper lip where it's tight and close your lip over it.

3. Apply light pressure by compressing your lip over the wad. Tilt your head forward.

Remedies

1. The green leafy vegetables are a source of Vitamin K, which is needed in trace amounts to help blood to clot. This Vitamin is needed in such small amounts that it's difficult to find it made in tablets all by itself. You need to eat green leafy vegetables regularly.

2. Taking ONE 1000 milligram Vitamin C tablet and ONE cayenne pepper capsule each day with your largest meal, and stay at that dose until you feel comfortable and have regular, normal bowel movements. Remember to drink lots of water at least 20 minutes before your meal, and also after about an hour after your meal. It's best not to drink a lot of water with your meal, as this will dilute your digestive juices and make digestion more difficult--unless, of course, you are severely dehydrated.

Summary

It is not common practice for doctors to check patients with a history of epistaxis for genetic disorders, vitamin K deficiencies and/or blood vessel constriction etc. However, these would all be highly logical possible causes to consider and evaluate in patients. Otherwise it will be an undiagnosed nose bleeds.
(The doctor of the future will give no medication, but will interest his patients in the care of the human frame, diet and in the cause and prevention of disease. By:-Thomas A Edison)

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The Nose Job - Pre & Post Operative Care

2009-07-11T10:17:00.000-07:00

The Nose Job - Pre & Post Operative Care

Before The Nose Job

Before getting a nose job or rhinoplasty, your doctor will want to examine your current condition, take a few photographs, discuss your options, and then walk you through the procedure.

The photographs will enable both you and your doctor to decide on the best shape for your face and health.

Part of the examination will take your age into account because patients under the age of 14-15 (for females) and 16 (for males) haven't reached the required puberty growth spurt.

Discussions regarding anesthesia occur beforehand, and, assuming that all goes well, you should receive a set of guidelines for eating a proper diet, resting, and taking medication before coming in for the surgery. Pre-surgery smoking and/or drinking is entirely out of the question.

During The Operation Itself

There are several ways to perform a nose job, and your surgeon will determine the best approach after making a thorough initial diagnosis.

Either through an internal entry or external incision, skin is removed from the bone and cartilage that supports the nose so that portions of the underlying skeleton can be extracted or added to.

Once the desired shape is acquired, the skin is replaced with surface layers from another part of the body or with a synthetic material. To help secure the new shape, the nose is held in place with a splint and stabilized with dressing.

After The Nose Job

Immediately following surgery, you will not be allowed to drive home even though you may feel fine, so make sure to bring a friend or family member to chauffeur you home. This is a precautionary measure reinforced for your safety because soon after, you will experience some swelling and pain (especially headaches).

Following the surgery, you should lie down with your head elevated for the entire day and take your prescribed pain relievers and/or antibiotics.

In the next few days, your eyes may appear swollen and bruised. Rest assured that this is a normal reaction and that they will return to their natural state on or near day four of your post-operative care.

Those who've undergone extensive surgery, however, may experience bleeding, but this is also normal result.

As long as you refrain from doing strenuous activities for two to three weeks following, you should be able to return to work or school after only seven days - the time in which your doctor will remove any splints or stitches applied during surgery.

Do not expose your nose to the sun, and never blow your nose for the first week after surgery. Follow your postoperative hygiene instructions and keep all your follow-up visits to the doctor.

Failing to follow these directions opens your sensitive condition to risks that could delay or complicate the healing process. This is because while in post-operation, your nose is extremely vulnerable to things like displacement or infection.

Nose jobs are not just for the rich and famous. Regular people just like you and me seek plastic surgeons in Atlanta every day for consultation about Atlanta rhinoplasty

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Nosebleeds-Bloody Nose-The Simple Facts

2009-07-11T10:13:00.001-07:00

Nosebleeds-Bloody Nose-The Simple Facts And The Cures

Why do some people get a Nose bleed: Bloody Nose: The nose was built for bleeding a doctor once told me. He said the nose was filled with numerous blood vessels, and many of these are thin and are on the surface of the inside of the nose. It takes very little damage to break one of these blood vessels which can cause severe bleeding. A smack or blow to the nose can lead to severe bleeding, as well as dry air in the winter causing the nose lining to crack, picking the nose can easily break a vessel, as well as blowing or even snuffing the nose. Even high blood pressure or bending down can cause enough pressure to break a vessel inside the nose. Smoking cigarettes can dry and crack the nose lining, and taking medications that thin the blood can cause severe nose bleeds.

Stopping a Nose Bleed - Bloody Nose: Once a nose starts bleeding what can you do to stop it, basicaly nothing except sit and wait. There are two things folks tell you to do. 1. Sit down and remain calm, keep the head elevated and just relax until the bleeding stops. 2. Sit and keep the head elevated, but gently pinch the sides of the nostrils together and hold for a few moments until the bleeding stops. Whenever I get a bloody nose I just sit and keep my head tilted slightly back and wait until the bleeding stops, pinching seems to make things worse for me. Once your nose stops bleeding, leave it alone, any rubbing, sneezing, picking or much activity can easily get it bleeding again, even a day or two later while it heals. After you have had a nose bleed, often the inside of the nose will feel crusty, this is clots and scabs forming. Do not blow the nose hard or pick at it for at least 24 hours or you risk getting it bleeding again. Any severe nose bleed, that lasts more than 15 minutes should warrant a trip to the local Emergency Room or doctors office. When I was a kid the right side of my nose wouldn't stop bleeding, my parents took me to the local Hospital where the doctor cauterized the blood vessel, the right side of my nose has never bled since.

Simple things you can do to help prevent a Nose Bleed - Bloody Nose: When I was a kid I always got nose bleeds it seemed. If I was digging my boogers I could get a bad bloody nose. If I had a cold and blew my nose much it would bleed, if I bumped or had my nose smacked it would bleed. If I drank hot chocolate it would often bleed. It seemed I spent most of my childhood holding my head up because my nose was bleeding. Then finally after gushing more blood then what was probably spilled in a slaughter house, the doctors discovered something, 'Duh! I was sensitive or allergic to aspirin'. Aspirin thins your blood, and it can cause severe nosebleeds in some people. Once my parents stopped the aspirins my nosebleeds slowed a lot, and when I learned to baby my nose they stopped even more. I had to blow it very gently when I had a cold, or just softly wipe it, I had to pick it gently etc. Now I may get a nosebleed once every 4 years or more, and when I do it bleeds very little. The strange thing is, my daughter often gets nosebleeds too, so I guess it's something I passed down to her. Anyway, if you or the kids have them, the first thing to stop is any aspirin or anacins, anything but tylenol. I take tylenol by the handful and it never gives me a bloody nose.

How to keep a nose healthy: Keep the inside of the nose moist year around. There are nasal gels you can purchase in many drug stores. Run a Humidifier in the winter to keep the air from getting too dry. Keep your blood pressure under control. Watch your intake of blood thinning medications such as aspirin. Don't dig or pick it, or blow it sharply. When you sneeze open the mouth to let the pressure or force escape.

There is a website that provides cures, facts and great information on Nose Bleed - Bloody Nose and numerous other medical conditions, the website is called: All About Health, and can be found at this url:

http://www.rb59.com/medical-health-info

By Robert W. Benjamin

You may publish this article in your ezine, newsletter, or on your web site as long as it is reprinted in its entirety and without modification except for formatting needs or grammar corrections.

Robert W. Benjamin has been in the software business on the internet for over 5 years, and has been producing low-cost software for the past 25+ years. He first released products on the AMIGA and C64 computer systems in the late 1970's-80's.

Dog and Cat Facts

http://www.dogandcatfacts.com

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Nose Bleeding Way!

2009-07-11T10:13:00.000-07:00

Nose Bleeding Way!

Anything that catches us unawares can be a little disconcerting, and one such occurrence is the sudden nose bleeds that most people experience at some time or other. The rush of blood from the nose can be quite alarming and if it takes place whilst in public, it can be a little embarrassing. The most important rule to follow when suffering a nose bleed is to stay as calm as possible, because the flow of blood will increase if panic sets in. You should sit down and lean forward, keeping the head at a level that is above the heart. The nose should be pinched firmly, just under the bridge and pressure maintained for ten minutes or so; this will enable a coagulation process to develop. During a nose bleeding episode, the natural reaction is to lean the head backwards, but this should be avoided as this can lead to the sufferer swallowing quantities of blood, causing choking and nausea.

Typically, nose bleeds start in the front of the nasal septum or at the very back of the nose cavity. The causes of nose bleeds can frequently be associated with dry nostrils, as the septum becomes crusty and is then prone to bleeding. Disorders of blood clotting or nasal cancer may occasionally be directly linked to the causes of nose bleeds, but these are rare occurrences. If the nose bleeds are occurring recurrently then there may well be a medical problem connected to a previous injury, such as a blow to the head or face, which although by appearance may have cleared, it could have left something else hidden from view. Basically persistent nose bleeds shouldn’t happen, so a check up with the doctor is a must, if only to discount something more sinister.

For a parent, a nose bleed in their child can be extremely perturbing and seeing your child bleeding, often heavily is not a very nice experience. At least as importantly, and probably a little more so, is the already mentioned need to remain calm. If the child sees their guardian in a panic this will cause extreme stress and complicate matters. Very often, a nose bleed in children is caused by animated blowing or picking, so sensible advise is the order of the day. The membranes inside the nose can become dried and itchy, causing your child to pick at his or her nose and further irritate the nasal tissue, so the need to keep the nasal passages moist becomes a key and there are many nasal sprays available.

Mick Burrows writes for http://www.nose-bleeding-chance.com

Click here for more info on nose bleeds; who nose, you might just find your symptoms and cure!

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Home Remedies For Mouth Sores

2009-07-11T10:10:00.001-07:00

Natural And Herbal Home Remedies For Mouth Sores

Mouth ulcers area very painful and discomforting condition, and may appear as a single sore, or in clusters. Mouth ulcer pain is made worse by eating certain types of food, and the most painful stages generally last for three to four days, with the symptoms usually settling down and the ulcers healing quickly on their own.

For single mouth ulcers, this is usually caused by inflicting damage to the mouth, like biting the cheek, damaging the gum with a toothbrush, a sharp tooth or filling, braces or scalding your mouth from hot food or drinks.

Other Major Causes Of Mouth Ulcers

According to oral health experts, the other primary causes of mouth ulcers vary from either poor circulation, bacterial or fungal infection and possibly an undetected food allergy.

These types of ulcers generally always occur in individuals who are either physically, or emotionally stressed, as these types of ulcers most often occur at period of excessive stress, or when the body's immune system gets weakened in some manner, therefore it's generally advisable to look at ways of properly reducing the impact of stress if these ulcers are frequently recurring. These kinds of ulcers can appear anywhere within the mouth, and may also affect the inner cheeks, gums, tongue, lips, or palate.

Helpful Herbal Treatments For Curing Mouth Sores

- Licorice

This well-known herb is generally utilized for many oral and dental health problems. It is also used as a component of several toothpaste brands, and its leaves and stem are used to effectively cleanse the mouth. Aside from containing the spread of the sores, its also effective in refreshing the mouth and cleaning teeth.

- Tea Tree Mouthwash and Lozenges.

Lozenges and mouthwash derived from tea tree are great-tasting, natural, antiseptic treatments that help control oral bacteria responsible for tooth decay, gingivitis and bad breath. The lozenges are also used for relieving sore throat, bad breath, sinusitis, blocked nose, mouth ulcers and coughing as well.

- Turmeric

This herb, which is a component of curry powder, serves as a potent cooling agent. It also helps relieve mouth ulcers. Turmeric is usually mixed in water and the suspension is used for gargling.

- Fenugreek

This herbal remedy is helpful in treating painful mouth ulcers. An infusion of these leaves is used for gargling, as fenugreek is a used as a strong agent on the ulcers, therefore its also used as a remedy for recurrent ulcers.

- There are also many herbal tinctures, which help to properly stimulate healing and reduce the inflammation. Among these tinctures are Marigold (Calendula officinalis), Myrrh (Commiphora molmol),), Sage and Thyme.

For those who suffer frequently from this painful mouth condition, a lot of attention should devoted to your overall general health, and to immediately seek professional treatment whenever the ulcers are persistent or recurring. In addition, implementing some major lifestyle changes, like eating a healthy diet which includes fruit and vegetables really helps.

Aside from this, you also need to keep your mouth clean, use a mouthwash, remember to avoid spicy, acidic and salty foods as well as hot or cold drinks. Lastly, it would also be good to gargle with warm salt water or essential oils, and to apply sprays and rinses for pain relief from mouth sores.

http://primeherbal.com - Prime Herbal

Vanessa A. Doctor from Jump2Top - SEO Company

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Cures for the Mouth Ulcer

2009-07-11T10:10:00.000-07:00

Cures for the Mouth Ulcer

The most uncomfortable, painful and annoying condition to have must be those horrible white volcanoes that appear inside the mouth. Yes of course, I mean the mouth ulcer! In many cases, the origin of the ulcer will be unknown, other times it is a bad reaction to certain foods. Learning the origin of the ulcer may be of interest to some people, but I am sure most would be more interested in learning how to cure that nasty that is making them wince every time they move their mouth.

Keep in mind, while most mouth ulcers are benign, they can be more serious forms of mouth ulcers that are not easily treated nor go away quickly. For minor mouth ulcers, a few tips can be offered.

Firstly, it should be brought to the fore what the worst type of mouth ulcer cure is. Purchasing external cold sore ointment and rubbing it into the inside of the mouth. I know, the packaging clearly says “For External Use Only”, however many cases have been reported of people mistakenly believing that “cold sore” and “mouth ulcer” are the same and ending up with a mouthful of completely un-useful and unhelpful ointment.

If one is looking for a common mouth ulcer cure that actually works, then it would be wise to try out some ordinary remedies that will help alleviate the ulcer. Such mouth ulcer cure remedies include rinsing with Listerine, using antiseptics and also using hydrogen peroxide. Another popular method is taking TUMS stomach medicine and crushing it and applying it directly on the ulcer in the mouth. This is a surprisingly effective means of eliminating a mouth ulcer that many people endorse.

Doctors can prescribe medicines to help treat a mouth ulcer that gets worse or just won’t go away. This mouth ulcer cure may not be necessary in most cases, but in some it will be the only way to go and should not be cast out of hand without due consideration.

James Woodley is the writer for the website http://ulcers.webinfo-site.com. Please visit for information on all things concerned with The cure for Mouth Ulcers

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Coconut Oil - A Natural Mouth Ulcer Cure

2009-07-11T10:08:00.000-07:00

A mouth ulcer is an open wound in the mouth where tender nerve endings are exposed and can often cause extreme pain to the person who is affected with them especially when they can become irritated. Often a person suffering from mouth ulcers will find it difficult to eat, drink and sometimes even talk and unfortunately these exposed ulcers are vulnerable to infection by bacteria that is find in our mouth and unfortunately create even more pain.

Many mouth ulcers often seem to start off as a small bubble or blister which then becomes open and ulcerated and this is when the pain really starts. However, they can be caused accidentally by someone biting themselves or there lips are so dry that they crack and then the ulcers begin to form on their lips.

Normally mouth ulcers are caused by either virus, bacteria or fungus and may result in the body’s own immune system attacking the mucosal lining of the mouth. In some cases people who suffer from either Ulcerative Colitis or Crohn’s Disease (intestinal conditions) may find themselves suffering from mouth ulcers also.

A good way of treating mouth ulcers is with coconut oil which kills the bacteria that causes them. It is also good for treating throat infections, gum disease and cavities. Certainly the Pacific Islanders who have a coconut based diet have excellent dental health and rarely suffer from mouth ulcers even when they have never brushed their teeth or used floss or anti-bacterial mouthwash.

Certainly coconut oil is ideal for helping to relieve the pain felt from mouth ulcers instantly all you need is get a tablespoon of coconut oil and hold it for a minute on the mouth ulcer. Soon you will feel the pain going away and this relief seems to last for quite a while because of the MCFA’s (medium chain fatty acids) find in coconut oil which are rapidly absorbed in to the body and thus the healing process is accelerated.

The way coconut oil works is that it has anti-viral, anti-bacterial and anti-fungal properties and which can help to combat viruses, bacteria and fungus that can be found in a persons mouth and will cause ulcers. The MCFA’s which are in coconut oil also help to enhance the body’s own immune system and thus help it to fight viruses, fungus and bacterial problems. Also coconut oil is great for helping a person’s intestinal system by killing any fungi found in the intestinal tract.

Above are a number of reasons as to why coconut oil can not only help to treat and heal mouth ulcers but also to help prevent them from forming. Also coconut oil is not messy to apply to the ulcer and is completely edible and natural.

Lee Dobbins writes for http://ulcers.health-g8way.com where you can learn about treating ulcers and find more mouth ulcer cures.

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A Painful Disease that can Strike Anyone Mouth Cancer:

2009-07-11T10:07:00.000-07:00

Mouth Cancer: A Painful Disease that can Strike Anyone

Mouth cancer is a painful disease. It can affect your lips, tongue, cheeks and even your throat in a short period of time. The first sign is a non-healing mouth ulcer or a red or white patch in the mouth.

This disease can affect anyone. It does not matter if you are a young or an old person. The important thing is the way of leading your life, because experts believe that mouth cancer is increasing probably due to drinking alcohol and smoking in huge quantities, and to a poor diet also.

It is believed that these people are up to 30 times more likely to develop this type of cancer than those who do not smoke nor drink alcohol.
The British Dental Health Foundation estimates mouth cancer kills 1,700 people in the United Kingdom every year, meanwhile 4,300 new cases are diagnosed. Thereby the importance of warning people of all ages to check their mouth regularly, since if mouth cancer is diagnosed early, it can be treated successfully in most cases.

Remember that the way to diminish considerably your risk of being affected by mouth cancer is leading a healthy lifestyle, giving up smoking, cutting down on alcohol and eating a healthy diet.

Regular self-examination is very important too, because you shall visit your doctor or dentist if you notice persistent ulcers, lumps or red or white patches in your mouth.

Article written by the staff of cancer - 10.com a website edited by Hector Milla. If you want to read more articles about mouth cancer information visit http://www.cancer-10.com, you can reprint this article in your website or ezine always mentioning the author above and keeping a live link to his website.

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How to Handle Mouth Ulcers

2009-07-11T10:05:00.000-07:00

How to Handle Mouth Ulcers

Recurrent mouth ulcers are a source of worry for many people worldwide. It is an apparently simple condition that causes much more pain than is expected. Because of its relative commonness in some societies, it has gotten itself a variety of names such as canker sore, aphthous stomatitis or aphthous ulcer. Commonly, mouth ulcer, canker sore or whatever name you wish to call it, involves painful open sores that will exist in the mouth, believed to be due to the breaking off of the overlying mucous membrane.

In most reported cases, mouth ulcers starts off with a sort of tingling or burning sensation at the spot where the future mouth ulcer will occur. After a few days, a blister forms in the mouth with the top quickly sloughed off resulting in a red spot or a bump, which will then be followed by an open ulcer. The mouth ulcer appears as a white or yellow oval with an inflamed red border. Sometimes a white circle or halo around the lesion can be seen. The grey, white, or yellow colored area within the red boundary is due to the formation of layers of fibrin around the ulcer.

When at this final stage, a mouth ulcer, in common cases can be as wide as 3mm, while in extreme cases it could be as large as 1cm (in extremely rare cases, though). The main ulcer body can be really painful when agitated especially with the presence of food in the mouth. This is perhaps the most unacceptable part of the disease. Also, mouth sores are often accompanied by painful swelling of the lymph nodes below the jaw and this fact tends to make people confuse canker sores for toothache, initially.

Several reasons and factors have been cited as the cause of mouth ulcers, though none seems to be conclusive yet. Some evidence points to the role of infections like herpes, cytomegalovirus and yeast as the cause of mouth ulcers. However, several other viruses that have not even been conclusively identified are also being researched for their role in the cause of mouth ulcers.

Moreover, a person's immune system seems to play an important role in the cause of mouth ulcers, in some people. This process is known as an autoimmune reaction, in which in the response to certain allergies, such as to chemicals in toothpastes and/or mouthwashes, a person's immune system causes the formation of blisters in the mouth which then open up to result in ulcers. Although, no studies have been able to isolate bacteria or viruses enough to establish definite roles in mouth ulcers, some studies have shown a rise in a person's immunity against herpes and cytomegalovirus when that person suffers mouth ulcers.

Mouth ulcers may last a couple of days or in some cases, up to about 4 weeks, with the pain and discomfort persisting throughout. They may disappear without treatment, though this rarely occurs.

There are several ways to prevent and manage mouth ulcers. However, the best prevention of the disease unarguably requires sound dental hygiene which eliminates the presence of harmful microbes in the mouth, and to avoid/reduce spicy, acidic or salty foods and drinks, which tend to predispose to it.

Medically, there are only a few treatment options available to choose from. In most cases, your doctor will have to inject a small amount of a type of cortisone called triamcinolone into each ulcer. This will get rid of the ulcers rather quickly, but it will not prevent them from recurring. However, the best home remedy you can employ is to pour salt on the surface of the main ulcer. This could be really painful though, but it relieves you of the continuous, daily pain that accompanies mouth ulcers.

The US Food and Drug Administration has approved the use of an oral paste known as amlexanox (Aphthasol). When applied, this paste reduces the swelling and discomfort of mouth ulcers. Moreover, clinical trials reported in recent journals, have established the efficacy of several treatment options for mouth ulcers. Some of these include the use of prednisone to suppress immunity (reducing autoimmune responses that are believed to cause mouth ulcers in some people), pentoxifylline, a drug that increases blood flow to the mouth, thalidomide to reduce blood flow to the area affected by the ulcer, acyclovir to kill herpes, and colchicine, a gout medication.

As you can see, there are several options available when you really need to battle that troublesome sore in your mouth. You only need to choose the option most suited to you or contact your physician immediately you feel you have a canker sore or mouth ulcer, for advice.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Michael_Russell

Mouth Ulcer Treatment The Easy Way

2009-07-11T10:04:00.002-07:00

Mouth Ulcer Treatment The Easy Way

My mum always has mouth ulcer problems. The days when ulcers infest her mouth, she gets really temperamental, and I'll have a hard time smoothing her bad temper. Are you also having ulcer problems regularly? Here are some tips which might helps to give fast relief to the pain ulcer problem.

To quickly allow mouth ulcer to heal, try rinsing your mouth many times a day with a cup of warm water mixed with half a teaspoon of sea salt. This may helps to get rid of the bacteria that feed on plaque and give some relief to the pain caused by ulcer. As sea salt is mild antiseptic, rinsing yourself regularly with this solution can help tighten gums and keep them healthy.

Another great natural medicine to use is resin from the myrrh tree. It has been used for centuries to heal mouth ulcer as it has antiseptic and antimicrobial properties which help to heal irritated mucous membranes. Use a capsule of powdered myrrh and apply it directly to the mouth ulcers several times a day.

For long term relief from ulcer you need to take deglycyrrhizinated liquorice (DGL). It stimulates your body to produce protective mucus that encourages healing of mucous membranes, and fight bacteria that causes mouth ulcer. Buy chewable DGL tablets that have had compound glycyrrhizic acid removed as this acid can cause water retention and high blood pressure. Take one or two three times a day. Use it as often as you need. Try taking it for three months to solve the ulcer problem completely if you are suffering from chronic mouth ulcer.

Besides healing ulcers, you should also try to prevent it from occurring. If you are having mouth ulcer frequently, you may need to take note of what you eat. Some of the food you eat may be the contributing factor. Examples are highly acidic foods, such as citrus fruits, tomatoes, pineapples, or vinegar. Some other food may be the prime factor, hence try noting what you eat often that may potentially cause the ulcer issue.

Another great mouth rinse you can use is a solution of sage tea mix with sea salt. These are antiseptic, relieve inflammation and also promote healing. Pour 250ml of boiling water over 2 teaspoon of dried sage, cover it and let it simmer for 15 minutes. Then add half teaspoon of sea salt and stir well. Just use 60ml of mixture to rinse your mouth after brushing your teeth.

Lastly drink more water to cool down your body. By cooling down your body temperature, you will let the infected area to recover quicker. At the same time, try not to take spicy food which will increase your body temperature rapidly.

Mouth ulcers are usually harmless and they will go away in a few days time. However, if your condition is very serious and you can't get rid of it, it is best to consult your doctor as it may be due to viral infection or by other health problems.

For more info on ulcer, visit ulcer.greenhealthinformation.com

Christopher Wen is the webmaster for greenHealth information site where he provides articles, news, and remedies to current health issues we faced in our everyday life. Check out his blog at greenhealthinformation.com

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What is Migraine?

2009-07-11T10:04:00.001-07:00

What is Migraine?

Migraine is a neurological disease. A migraine is a very painful type of headache. In some cases, these painful headaches are preceded or accompanied by a sensory warning sign (aura), such as flashes of light, blind spots or tingling in your arm or leg. More than 29.5 million Americans suffer from migraine, with women being affected three times more often than men. This vascular headache is most commonly experienced between the ages of 15 and 55, and 70% to 80% of sufferers have a family history of migraine. Migraine is the second most common type of headache syndrome in the United States. Tension headaches are the most common. Migraines most commonly are found in women, with a 3:1 female-to-male ratio.

In childhood, however, migraines are more common in boys than in girls. More than 80% of patients who develop migraines will have a first attack by age 30. Migraines continue through the patient's 30s and 40s. Less than half of all migraine sufferers. Migraine is often misdiagnosed as sinus headache or tension-type headache. Migraines' secondary characteristics are inconsistent. Triggers precipitating a particular episode of migraine vary widely. The efficacy of the simplest treatment, applying warmth or coolness to the affected area of the head, varies between persons, sometimes worsening the migraine. A particular migraine rescue drug may sometimes work and sometimes not work in the same patient.

Migraine pain is caused by vasodilation in the cranial blood vessels (expansion of the blood vessels), while headache pain is caused by vasoconstriction (narrowing of the blood vessels). Migraine is three times more common in women than in men. Some people can tell when they are about to have a migraine because they see flashing lights or zigzag lines or they temporarily lose their vision. Migraines are classified as either "with aura" or "without aura." An aura is a group of neurological symptoms, usually vision disturbances that serve as warning sign. Patients who get auras typically see a flash of brightly colored or blinking lights shortly before the headache pain begins.

However, most people with migraines do not have such warning signs. Migraines often begin in adolescence, and are rare after age 60. Eighty percent of migraine sufferers experience "migraine without aura. Some of the symptoms associated with migraine headaches, such as nausea (80%), vomiting (50%), yawning, irritability, hypotension, and hyperactivity, can be associated with dopamine receptor activation. Dopamine receptor hypersensitivity has been shown experimentally with dopamine agonists such as apomorphine, bromocriptine, and pergolide. Dopamine antagonists, such as metoclopramide (Reglan), haloperidol (Haldol), and prochlorperazine (Compazine), have been shown clinically to treat migraine headaches effectively.

There is no specific cure for migraine headaches. Many factors may contribute to the occurrence of migraine attacks. They are known as trigger factors and may include diet, sleep, activity, psychological issues as well as many other factors. The goal is to prevent symptoms by avoiding or altering triggers. Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) are helpful for early and mild headache. NSAIDs include acetaminophen, ibuprofen, naproxen, and others. A recent study concluded that a combination of acetaminophen, aspirin, and caffeine could effectively relieve symptoms for many migraine patients. Migraine-specific medications and analgesia are the keys of ED care.

Triptans are a mid-line treatment suitable for many migraineurs with typical migraines. They may not work for atypical or unusually severe migraines, transformed migraines, or status (continuous) migraines.Rest in a darkened, quiet room is helpful. Alternative treatments are aimed at prevention of migraine. Migraine headaches are often linked with food allergies or intolerances. Identification and elimination of the offending food or foods can decrease the frequency of migraines and/or alleviate these headaches altogether. Herbal therapy with feverfew (Chrysanthemum parthenium) may lessen the frequency of attacks. Some patients find cool compresses to painful areas helpful.

Juliet Cohen writes articles for acne treatment and depression treatment. She also writes articles on skin disorders.

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Migraine Headaches, Top 10 Triggers

2009-07-11T09:13:00.000-07:00

Migraine Headaches, Top 10 Triggers

In this article I will go over my 30 years plus past experience with Migraines and then get right to the top 10 Migraine Triggers and a source for a cure.

WHERE IT ALL STARTED

My job involves a lot of driving, however, much of my time is spent on the interstate, and as you know there are a lot of shiny windshields, bumpers, backs of semis, and much more. Every day brought the chance for Migraine Headaches. I loved the outdoors too, but I found myself dreading walking out the door. Even reflections coming in the house was starting to give me problems.

They used to take me down for the day. Then over time my headaches started changing, so did my Migraine Triggers. It got to a point where I was having one twice a week, and they were getting really extreme. More things become Migraine Triggers for me too. Then they switched to the other side of my head, and could return part way through the day.

When they start changing or go from Ocular Migraine to a regular Migraine Headache with pain, you are wise to seek advice from your doctor to investigate the reason for the change. Ocular Migraines can be a real cause for concern under certain conditions.

At this point, life was becoming quite unbearable for me. My quality of life was non-existent. I was turning into a real grump too. Migraine Triggers were waiting everywhere. I could always tell when a Migraine was going to start, my vision would start to go away. I mostly suffered from Ocular Migraines.

I am practically Migraine Headache free now, but anyone who has had a true Migraine Headache knows how miserable one can be. I started having Migraine Headaches when I was a teenager.

Top 10 Migraine Triggers

· Alcoholic Beverages

· Environmental factors

· Foods that contain caffeine , monosodium glutamate, and nitrates

· Glare from chrome, windows, etc.

· Stress

· Hunger can cause Migraines

· Lack of sleep is also a contributing factor

· Medications (over-the-counter and prescription)

· Smells, Perfume, etc.

· Hormonal changes in women.

The main Migraine Triggers for me was as follows; reflections off chrome or windshields, sometimes coffee, Tea, Diesel exhaust, stress was a major one. I found even chocolate was a Migraine Trigger sometimes for me.

Both of my Parents had suffered from migraines till we found a cure. It was quite a relief indeed. I have posted the cure on my website for Migraine Headaches and Migraine Triggers if you are interested in that, it's at the bottom of my page here.

After I started this routine, I went almost 6 months without having a Migraine Headache, even though all the Triggers were still there. That was really a weird experience. I had a hard time getting my parents onboard.

This may not treat all suffers of Migraine Headaches, and there are a lot more Triggers than what I mentioned here. But it will give you a place to start. One source I found during my research that has a lot of good information on the subject and has some great steps for increasing oxygen in your bloodstream can be found by following the link below that goes to my website where their link is. If I feel a Migraine Headache coming on now, I can usually always prevent it with a simple exercise also. This exercise can even be done while driving down the road. That is real handy when you are in the middle of a road trip, and an Ocular Migraine tries to comes on (Tries mind you!).

They have information to help you Discover An All-Natural Method That Permanently Eliminates Migraine Headaches And Migraine Triggers. I had considered taking some of the prescription ones out of desperation, but they sounded too risky.

One other thing that really got my attention was that you are about 50% more likely to have a stroke after a Migraine. To heck with that! I think avoiding them is the best solution. However, both the Migraine Headache and the raise in risk of stroke are only the symptoms of another problem.

That about does it for me. I hope you find relief from your agony, I feel your pain, and nausea. Although a thing of the past now, I feel very fortunate.

Best wishes for a Migraine Headache free life,

Randi

Migraine-Headaches-101.com

I am a past sufferer of Migraine Headaches; both of my parents had suffered from them also. We are all virtually Migraine free now because of some very simple changes in our lives. Now I'm all smiles and spreading the great news!

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Randi_W_Clifford

Migraine Relief with Ice Remedy

2009-07-11T09:12:00.000-07:00

Migraine Relief with Ice Remedy

When you have a migraine headache – or a loved one has – you want a migraine remedy. You visited your physician before, and you know his advice was to take over-the-counter pain medication and rest in a dark room, but that isn't enough. You want to get relief sooner.

One of your friends suggests getting migraine relief with ice, and you want to know more. What is a migraine remedy that uses ice?

Cryotherapy – the Ice Remedy

At the Department of Neurology, University of Illinois at Chicago, Lawrence D. Robbins, M.D. decided to study whether or not cryotherapy (treatment with ice) was effective as a migraine remedy. Dr. Robbins enlisted 45 migraineurs in his study and, when they experienced an episode, gave them only a cold head wrap as a migraine remedy. Here are some of Dr. Robbins' findings.

* 35.5 percent of the 45 patients said that, as a migraine remedy, the ice was not at all effective.

* 29 percent of them said the ice remedy was a little bit effective for migraine relief.

* Cryotherapy was fairly effective for 26.5 percent of those participating.

* Only 9 percent said the cold head wrap was completely effective as a migraine remedy.

Robbins, Lawrence D., M.D (1989), Cryotherapy for Headache, Headache: The Journal of Head and Face Pain 29 (9), 598–600.

If you were among the 35.5 percent who said the ice treatment was useless as a migraine remedy, you might never try it again. Nevertheless, as a result of his cryotherapy study, Dr. Robbins says: “You have a 50-50 chance of getting some pain relief within three minutes of applying a soft, cold ice pack wrapped in a towel to your head.”

Reasoning Behind the Ice Remedy

It is clear that the ice migraine remedy works for many people. It is clear, too, that it works to a degree most of the time. Perhaps a better understanding of how it works will help others test cryotherapy.

During a migraine episode, the blood vessels in the head tend to dilate – open more widely. They may become swollen with blood, causing pressure on the nerves surrounding them. The nerves begin to send pain signals, and you sense a migraine.

To get migraine relief with ice, you surround the head with a cold wrap, gradually cooling the blood vessels. As they cool, they become constricted, and return to normal size. This can lessen blood flow to the head, and reduce pressure on the nerves, providing a migraine remedy.

Migraine Ice

A relatively new product to hit the market, "Migraine Ice" headache pads are advertised as giving "instant cooling, soothing relief" that lasts, sometimes up to 4 hours. The pads are convenient, and require no refrigeration. Those who have frequent migraines can keep the pads in a desk or locker at work for a ready migraine remedy. To use, you simply remove the pad from its pouch, peel off a protective film, and apply the pad to the back of your neck.

Soft Ice

Another convenient product that claims to provide migraine relief with ice is Soft Ice. This is available as either a neck wrap or a head wrap. Since this product delivers comfortable cold therapy that chills the head or neck, it may be just what you need as a migraine remedy.

Traditional Ice Pack

There are many brands of ice available to use as a migraine remedy, and most do the job equally well.

Obviously, you do not need a commercial cold wrap, though, to get migraine relief with ice. A simply, traditional ice pack will do as well. An ice pack is a waterproof bag with a cap at the top that allows you to fill the bag with ice. Once full, the bag is capped, and the ice pack can be applied to neck, forehead, or other parts of the head.

Alternative Ice Pack

If you are away from home, and do not have access to an ice pack, an alternative ice pack can be made with crushed ice and a towel. Simply place the crushed ice on the towel, and fold it to contain the ice.

To best use your ice migraine remedy, go to a dark room. Place the ice pack on your neck or head and rest.

CAUTION: To avoid frostbite, keep commercial cold packs in place for only 20 minutes at a time. If the skin begins to feel the least bit numb, remove the cold pack immediately.

This migraine headache information is for educational purposes only. Please seek advice from your physician for any migraine headache.

©2007, Anna Hart. Member of a “migraine family” and sympathizer with all migraineurs, Anna invites you to read more of her articles about migraine relief at http://www.migrainereliefblog.com You won’t want to miss Anna’s article on how to get migraine relief through migraine pressure points.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Anna_Hart

Best Migraine Prevention Medicines

2009-07-11T09:11:00.000-07:00

Best Migraine Prevention Medicines

Migraine headaches are a destructive part of life for nearly 11 out of 100 people. During migraine episodes, they can barely function. They curtail daily activities, and all of life seems distorted. Between episodes, they may feel anxious about the next one, and wish for some form of migraine prevention.

Although guaranteed migraine prevention seems to be more a promise than a reality as of the writing of this article, you do have options for treating symptoms, and, better yet, options for possible migraine prevention.

One Size Does Not Fit All

Although migraines seem to run in families, migraine prevention does not always run in the same course. For some migraineurs, prevention is as simple as changing a few habits. For others, migraine prevention seems to require strong medication.

What are the best migraine prevention medicines for you? The ultimate answer must be decided by you and your physician. We offer here a number of medicines for consideration.

Common Over-the-Counter (OTC) Medicines

This is the first line of migraine prevention – beginning at the minimal strength, minimal dosage to see if it will be a solution. Among these migraine prevention medicines are the following.

1. Aspirin in a regimen dose, i.e., tiny 81 mg tablets, commonly called “baby aspirin”. For migraine prevention, these would be taken daily, just as they are to reduce risks of heart disease.

2. Ibuprofen such as Motrin, Nuprin, or Advil may be taken occasionally. Your physician will advise as to how often you should take ibuprofen for migraine prevention. People with active stomach ulcers or sensitive stomachs will not want to use ibuprofen, since it has aspirin-like effects. If you take ibuprofen, take it with food to minimize the effect. You should also be aware that ibuprofen has a blood thinning effect that can reduce the effectiveness of some blood pressure medicines and diuretics.

3. Naproxen may be effective for you, under its more common name, Aleve. This medicine may reduce the number of your migraines, but is not likely to give total migraine prevention.

4. A fourth OTC pain reliever you may want to try at the first sign of a migraine is Excedrin Migraine.

Ask your doctor before taking any of these regularly for migraine prevention.

Common Prescription Medicines

If OTC medicines fail to provide the degree of migraine prevention you seek, you may want to try a prescription medicine. Prescription strength pain relievers have been found to reduce the number of migraine episodes for more than half of all migraineurs. A few of the many prescription medicines available to you are listed here.

1. Ponstel, Anaprox, Naprosyn, Naprelan, and Topamax. Topamax claims to be the U.S. #1 prescribed brand for migraine prevention. Prescription strength Naproxen (Naprosyn, Anaprox, Naprelan) thins the blood, so your physician may not choose this as a fit for you if you are taking oral blood thinners or anticoagulants. Naproxen can have adverse gastrointestinal side effects also, so you should not use it if you have an active ulcer or sensitive stomach. Most doctors believe it is better to use medicines of this type continuously over a period of time to build up the effectiveness and provide ongoing migraine prevention rather than just pain relief.

2. Another class of prescription medicines that may give migraine prevention is Beta-blockers. These drugs, more often used to reduce high blood pressure, are sometimes helpful in cutting down on the number of migraine episodes. Of those that may give effective migraine prevention are inderal, Lopressor, metoprolol, nadolol, and timolol.

3. Physicians are gradually learning that antidepressants also provide migraine prevention for some patients. It is believed that this is due to the medicines’ effects on serotonin, the brain’s chemical messenger that influences migraine.

Which Size Is Right for You?

There are many other medicines, both prescription and non-prescription that are thought to provide a measure of migraine prevention. Like shopping for a new pair of dress shoes, you may have to try several before you find the one or two that work for you. Be sure to do your migraine prevention “shopping” with a health care provider, as he or she will know the possible side effects or interactions with medication you are already taking.

©2007, Anna Hart. Member of a “migraine family” and sympathizer with all migraineurs, Anna invites you to read more of her articles about the prevention of migraine headaches at http://www.migrainereliefblog.com/ You won’t want to miss Anna’s flip-side insights and perspectives on the best migraine prevention without medicines.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Anna_Hart

Informative Speech on Migraine in Children

2009-07-11T09:08:00.000-07:00

Informative Speech on Migraine in Children

Picture this. Your 9-year old daughter staggers to the breakfast table; hands on head, and moans plaintively, “I can’t go to school today. I have a headache.”

“Nonsense,” you say. You give her an aspirin with breakfast and say, “Off you go. You’ll feel better when your history test is over.”

But what if this happens every few weeks? Might it be migraine? Is there such a thing as migraine in children?

Betsy’s Migraines – a true story

My introduction to the possibility of migraine in children came when I was teaching fourth grade in Massachusetts. That’s when I met 9-year old Betsy. Betsy was a pretty child, but headaches kept her from making either friends or academic progress. Betsy claimed to experience regular bouts of migraine in children. Her doting mother vowed that Betsy’s attacks were real, but I was skeptical, since they always coincided with things Betsy disliked.

Even more suspicious was Betsy’s behavior during attacks. She began with plausible head-holding and tears. She begged for her mother to come and get her. Then, her act always went over the top. Looking around the room to be sure she had attention, Betsy shook her head violently from side to side. “You have to do this when you have migraine,” she announced loudly. She hit her head, and turned on the waterworks – always keeping a shrewd eye on her audience. When her mother arrived, Betsy abruptly stopped shaking her head, and moaned piteously. The curtain fell as her mother wrapped Betsy in her arms and ushered her from the room.

True Migraine in Children

While I never received professional confirmation that Betsy suffered migraine in children, I did learn that the condition is authentic. Its name is “migraine in children”, even when it refers to only one child.

Facts about Migraine in Children

Migraine affects people of all ages, social classes, races, and cultures. It is most prevalent between ages 20 and 50, but migraine in children hits younger generations. Often misdiagnosed initially as a “headache excuse” to avoid unpleasant tasks, migraine in children is real. Let me give you seven facts.

* Migraine often runs in families.

* Young babies and preschoolers can suffer migraine in children.

* Migraine in children begins earlier in boys than in girls.

* Up to 6 years, boys are affected equally or slightly more than girls.

* At elementary school level, 10 percent suffer migraine in children.

* The prevalence of migraines increases during secondary school.

* 20-30% of young women and 10-20% of young men experience migraines.

Migraine in children attacks every age from birth to age 20.

Symptoms of Migraine in Children

So, since your young daughter may be suffering migraine in children, and not simply avoiding a test, we need to look for signs. What are the symptoms of migraine in children?

1. PAIN: First of all, migraine in children is very painful, with severe throbbing in the head. Your daughter will probably report pain in the forehead, or the middle of the head, rather than just one side.

2. PALLOR: Typically, migraine in children will cause sufferers to appear ill and pale. There may be dark rings around the eyes.

3. QUIETNESS: A child suffering migraine in children will be very quiet. You may have trouble getting your child to say more than, “My head hurts.” He or she will choose to sit or lie in aching silence.

4. STILLNESS: Unlike Betsy in the schoolroom, children with migraines do not want to move any part of their bodies. They certainly do not want to shake their heads. If a headache complaint is followed by a running off to play, do not suspect migraine in children.

5. NAUSEA: For those taking notes, we’re on the fifth symptom now. Your child may complain of feeling sick in the stomach. He or she may not want to eat anything, and may vomit.

6. ABDOMINAL PAIN: In very young children, the main symptoms of migraine in children are abdominal pain accompanied by nausea and vomiting.

7. VISUAL DISTURBANCES: Some children experience changes in vision during an attack of migraine in children. They may have blurry vision, see flashes of light, or describe zigzag patterns in front of their eyes.

8. PHOTOPHOBIA: Your child may complain of light being too bright, and may want to go to a dark room. For those who like to sound knowledgeable, this light sensitivity is known as photophobia.

9. PHONOPHOBIA: Moving to the eighth symptom, migraine in children may cause them to hold their ears, or complain that you’re talking too loudly. Instead of turning up the television volume, they turn it down or off. This is sound sensitivity, also known as phonophobia.

10. OSMOPHOBIA: Migraine in children will sometimes cause sensitivity to smells. Even if you aren’t cooking liver-and-onions, your child may complain that dinner smells awful. For those who want the technical term, smell sensitivity is known as osmophobia.

11. MOTION SICKNESS: Those who suffer migraine in children have a tendency toward travel sickness. Even when not in a vehicle, a sufferer may complain of dizziness.

12. CONFUSION: Finally, and this is the last symptom we will look at, if your son or daughter is suffering migraine in children, he or she is likely to exhibit confusion and trouble concentrating. You might tell your teenager, “You aren’t thinking straight.”

Is It Migraine in Children?

There you have 12 symptoms. Some will exhibit all – others will exhibit a few. Some will have authentic migraine in children – some will not. How do you tell?

PATTERN: First, note whether your child’s attacks follow a regular, intermittent pattern. Migraine in children comes back again and again, following a pattern. Look for headaches that are very severe, lasting a few hours, and followed by an interval of no symptoms. Days or weeks later, a similar attack occurs, followed by another symptom-free interval. Migraine in children has a rhythm.

FAMILY HISTORY: Check to see if there is a history of migraine in your family. There may be a tendency toward migraine in children.

PHYSICIAN: Ask your doctor. A doctor will focus on ruling out other serious diseases or underlying conditions. If there are none, you will have the doctor’s reassurance, and a plan for effective treatment. I am not a professional, and my information must always be checked with your health care professional.

If your child’s attacks are migraine in children, you can provide relief.

Relief of Migraine in Children

* SLEEP: Sleep is the most important factor when it comes to migraine in children. In many cases, several hours of sleep in a dark, quiet room is all that is required.

* ICE PACK: Try placing a cold compress on your child’s head as he or she lies in a dark, quiet room.

* OTC: With your physician’s approval, use over-the-counter medications such as aspirin, ibuprofen, or acetaminophen.

* PRECRIPTION: Your physician may want to prescribe a medication for recurring attacks of migraine in children.

* WARM BATH: A hot Epsom salt bath may help an older child or teenager.

The most effective of these is usually sleep.

How Migraine Affects Your Children

In closing, I’d like to tell you about Thomas.

Thomas was a mischievous, high-maintenance little boy. From the time he could toddle, Thomas was on the go. Morning to night, he seemed never to stop. He talked incessantly, played loudly. Everything Thomas did was at top speed and volume.

Then, one bright autumn day in his eighth year, Thomas didn’t want to eat breakfast. Pale and listless, he lay on the couch, eyes closed. When his buddy called that the school bus was coming, Thomas covered his ears and moaned. When Mother opened the curtains to let in sunshine, Thomas covered his eyes. It was his first migraine.

Thomas lost that day. He missed the introduction of multiplication at school. He missed a film in history class. He missed an afternoon hayride with his cub scout pack.

Thomas lost many days after that. He lost days to migraine in children, and he lost symptom-free days out of fear. He began moving more quietly, more slowly. As additional migraines came and went, his bubbly laughter was gradually replaced by sadness and worry.

Thomas’ story is fictional, but it describes the experience of many who suffer migraine in children.

If you think your son or daughter may have migraine in children, I urge you to take him or her to your family doctor. Check for underlying problems, and discuss treatment possibilities.

Whatever you do, don’t ignore migraine in children. Appropriate diagnosis and treatment can greatly improve their quality of life.

© 2007, Anna Hart. Migraines are a part of Anna Hart’s family history, and although she personally does not suffer from them, Anna can sympathize with those who do. For that reason, she has turned her teaching and speaking skills to informing others about migraines. She posts regular migraine-oriented articles at: http://www.migrainereliefblog.com . If this article on migraine in children has been helpful to you, Anna invites you to read more about migraine relief in her current and upcoming blog entries.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Anna_Hart

What Are Painless Migraine Episodes?

2009-07-11T09:07:00.000-07:00

What Are Painless Migraine Episodes?

Most people think of a migraine as excruciating pain, but a migraine episode is far more than pain. Migraines typically have four stages: pre-headache, aura, headache, and post-headache. Millions of people globally suffer from these full-blown, 4-stage migraines - but a minority experience painless episodes. So what are painless migraine episodes?

Technically, there is no such thing as a painless migraine. That is, if you go by the International Headache Society's (IHS) Guidelines for diagnosis and classification of headache disorders. Yet your physician may tell you that yours is a painless migraine. He or she may call it a painless, optical migraine.

What are painless migraine episodes?

The answer is in the question. A painless migraine is a migraine episode that begins with the typical pre-headache stage, progresses to the aura phase of a migraine attack, and then stops short. It skips the headache phase - the pain.

If you have a painless migraine, you have the visual symptoms of the aura and other symptoms of a migraine without the headache. Such a migraine would usually be termed a migraine with aura. A physician following the IHS guidelines would describe it as "acephalgic" - meaning "without headache."

Pre-headache - Phase #1

The pre-headache phase is sometimes referred to as the prodrome. This is where your painless migraine episode begins. You may enter this stage hours or even days before what would normally be recognized as a migraine episode.

Recognizing the prodrome can be very helpful to you, since it is a warning. It is telling you that migraine changes are beginning to take place. How do you know? You may have some or all of the following symptoms.

* constipation

* diarrhea

* depression

* fatigue

* food cravings

* frequent urination

* irritability

* neck muscle stiffness

Aura - Phase #2

As your painless migraine progresses, you enter phase #2 - the aura. This familiar phase lasts less than an hour in most cases, but can be terrifying. Some of the bizarre symptoms and effects of the aura are believed to have influenced Lewis Carroll as he wrote "Alice in Wonderland."

Most people think of aura as being only visual: zigzag lines, spots in front of your eyes, or flashing lights. They believe the aura phase affects only the eyes. This may explain the physician’s term, "painless, optical migraine."

It is true that these are typical aura symptoms, but the aura phase has many symptoms, including:

* auditory hallucinations - you hear sounds that aren’t there

* confusion in thinking - things aren’t making sense

* decrease in your hearing ability

* difficult finding the words you want

* dizziness

* increased feel and touch - or reduced feel and touch

* olfactory hallucinations - you smell odors that aren't there

* partial paralysis

* sight loss - partial or blurry vision

* tingling or numbness of your face

* visual hallucinations - you see sights that aren’t there: flashing bright lights, wavy lines, spots, or zigzag lines

If you have a painless migraine, your episode stops here. You do not go on to experience the throbbing pain.

Other terms used for a painless migraine include "migraine equivalent," "silent migraine," and "sans-migraine." Even if you think yours is a painless migraine, consult with your health-care provider to be sure. Other serious conditions may be present.

Painless migraine episodes can be prevented in some cases, while others can be treated effectively. Turn your next painless migraine into a non-event.

2007 Anna Hart. As sister to a migraine sufferer, Anna can sympathize with your problem. Read more of her articles about migraine headaches and their treatment at: http://www.migrainereliefblog.com

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Anna_Hart