Acid Reflux Symptoms
The typical cause of heartburn or acid reflux is when acid from the stomach backs up into the esophagus. If your lower esophageal sphincter is not normal, stomach contents may flow back into your esophagus and cause heartburn. Stomach acid flows into the esophagus (called acid reflux), causing the burning sensation. Acid reflux is caused by stomach spasms which cause acid.
Many believe that acid reflux symptoms affect the heart or mistakenly diagnose acid reflux as a heart related problem. In fact acid reflux has nothing to do with the heart – it is a digestive problem. Indeed for most people, a proper eating habit may help fixing the heartburn problem. Eating high-fiber bread instead of white bread, and exercising for 30 minutes at least once a week, decreased the odds of getting heartburn. Keeping a daily diary for a week can help keep track of specific food items and circumstances related to episodes of heartburn.
One is solution to eliminate acid reflux is to stop smoking. After a meal, when the stomach is full, smoking increases the chances that you will suffer from acid reflux. Loss of weight can also reduce stomach acid reflux. Pregnant women are particularly vulnerable to heartburn in their third trimester as the growing uterus puts increasing pressure on the stomach.
Here are some easy things that doctors recommend:
Wait at least three hours before going to bed after eating.
Sleep with your head at least 8″ higher than your stomach so that gravity can help keep stomach acids from coming up into your esophagus.
Avoid exercising or bending over right after eating.
Eat 5 or 6 small meals a day instead of the three, traditional, big ones.
Acid reflux tends to be more of a problem at night, while you are lying down or sleeping. Having the head and shoulders higher than the stomach lets gravity work to keep acid from refluxing.
If heartburn is a continual or severe problem, it’s a good idea to see your doctor. In patients with acid reflux, the heart valve pressure is usually low, which is the root of the problem. Some people have only an occasional acid reflux symptom. For others, however, acid reflux and regurgitation are persistent, chronic symptoms that return several times a week, if not every day.
Medical evaluation of heartburn is recommended for individuals who experience persistent symptoms several times a week. If acid reflux (heartburn) occurs on two or more days per week despite the measures discussed above, you should consult your family doctor. For chronic reflux and heartburn, the doctor may prescribe medications to reduce acid in the stomach.
Susanne Garris is a stay at home mom. But that doesn’t mean she isn’t at work. Susanne works as a research assistant and freelance writer on a variety of subjects. Her private research is devoted to more information you can find at: squidoo.com/signsofastroke squidoo.com/signsofastroke
Anti Aging Skin Care: “Pharmaceutical” Cosmetics
Have you ever heard the new buzz term “cosmeceuticals”? This nifty term refers to the fusion of two areas, one which cultivates necessary medications which control our bodily processes internally, and the other, which manipulates our body from the outside, cosmetically improving our appearance.
You guessed it, the first is “pharmaceuticals” and the second is “cosmetics”. The joining of these two fields, both extremely lucrative, and arguably necessary, is called “cosmeceuticals”, and this exciting new breed is causing a stir in the beauty community lately.
Although they have been united in this new genre of cosmetics, the two are very different when it comes to government and advisory board regulation. Pharmaceuticals, at least in the US currently, are heavily regulated by the organization known as the FDA, while cosmetics are not government regulated.
Why? Cosmetics are not regulated by any government agency because they are not considered a device that alters bodily chemistry of function internally in any way, nor are they advertised as substances that change the chemistry of the body.
Currently, cosmetics manufacturers are walking on eggshells to keep this paritcular pharmaceutical and cosmetic distinction in tact, as precious dollars could be lost if the new breed of cosmeceuticals were government regulated.
Even if a wrinkle cream currently marketed had the ability to actually “get rid of wrinkles”, cosmetic marketers are very careful to still note that they only decrease or eliminate the “appearance” of aging and wrinkles, since this still technically is not pharmaceutical in nature.
Some of these new cosmeceuticals which feature high grade vitamins and various proteins and peptides actually do “get rid of wrinkles” and remove signs of aging though, although they still are careful to avoid this overzealous marketing for fear of FDA regulation.
Cosmetic companies specializing in anti aging have come up with everything from potent vitamin extracts, to skin tightening complexes with antioxidants, restructuring aids like peptides and other skin cell regenerators, and a host of other interesting sounding ingredients that keep popping up as the latest in age reversal and age prevention.
And which of these latest “cosmeceutical grade” anti aging and wrinkle creams is best? Well, it’s hard to say, because there are now quite a few in competition with one another that do contain ingredients that are beneficial in different ways.
If you’re looking for a fresher and brighter look, with more cell turnover, you may turn to a formula with acids such as alpha hydroxy and other fruit derived acids, or one loaded with antioxidants.
If you’re looking for more of a quick fix, skin tightening formula, you may choose a formula with ingredients like copper, hyaluronic acid and DMAE, which is a substance that is found naturally in the skin of certain fish and is excellent for almost instantaneous firming and toning.
Either way you slice it, women have the best options for anti aging and wrinkle fighting in the here and now, than they ever had in the past.
The best part is, it only stands to get better, with the constant development of new anti aging products. As long as the cosmetics companies keep responding to increasing consumer demand for anti aging aids, we will have consistent upgrades in cosmeceutical offerings.
The downside? Some of it can become a bit pricey, but remember, a little usually goes a long way, so you may actually be going through the “expensive” stuff at a fraction of the speed you would go through a cheaper, lighter formula. And who can put a price on looking and feeling young? Call me vain, shallow, or narcissistic, but I’ll pay the extra money, as long as I get serious results!
Copyright 2006 Danna Schneider
Danna Schneider is the founder of two skin care and beauty online magazines with the latest news, tips, “Skin Science”, and products in skin care acnemagazine.com Naturally Treating Acne and mybeautyspace.com Beauty News.
Diagnosed With a Herniated Disc? What To Do Next
You’ve probably heard people say they have a “slipped” or “ruptured” disc in the back. Sometimes they complain that their back “went out”. What they’re most likely describing is a herniated disc. This condition is a common source of back and leg pain.
Discs are soft cushions found between the vertebrae that make up the spinal column (your backbone). In the middle of the spinal column is the spinal canal, a hollow space that contains the spinal cord. The nerves that supply the arms, leg, and torso come from the spinal cord. The nerves from the neck supply the arms and hands, and the nerves from the low back supply the butt and legs. The discs between the vertebrae allow the back to move freely and act like shock absorbers.
The disc is made up of two main sections. The outer part (the annulus) is made up of tough cartilage that is comprised of series of rings. The center of the disc is a jelly-like substance called the nucleus pulposus. A disc herniates or ruptures when part of the jelly center pushes through the outer wall of the disc into the spinal canal, and puts pressure on the nerves. A disc bulge is when the jelly substance pushes the outer wall but doesn’t completely go through the wall.
What do you feel?
Low back pain will affect four out of five people during their lifetime. The most common symptom of a herniated disc is “sciatica”. Sciatica is best described as a sharp, often shooting pain that begins in the buttocks and goes down the back of one leg. This is most often caused by pressure on the sciatic nerve that exits the spinal cord. Other symptoms include:
Weakness in one leg or both legs
Numbness and tingling in one leg (pins & needles)
A burning pain centered in the low back
Loss of bladder or bowel control (seek medical attention immediately)
Back pain with gradually increasing leg pain. (If you have weakness in both legs. Seek immediate attention.)
How do you know you have a herniated disc?
Your medical history is key to a proper diagnosis. A physical examination can usually determine which nerve roots are affected (and how seriously). A simple x-ray may show evidence of disc or degenerative spine changes. An MRI (magnetic resonance imaging) is usually the best option (most expensive) to determine which disc has herniated.
Why do discs herniate?
Discs are primarily composed of water. As we become older (after the age of 30), the water content decreases, so the discs begin to shrink and lose their shape. When the disc becomes smaller the space between the vertebrae decreases and become narrower. Also, as the disc loses water content the disc itself becomes less flexible.
While aging, excess weight, improper lifting and the decrease in water in the discs all contribute to the breaking down of discs, the primary cause of a herniation or bluge is uneven compression and torsion that’s placed on the discs.
This uneven pressure is caused by imbalances in muscles that pull the spine out of its normal position and then your body is forced to function in what I call a physical dysfunction. Every human being develops these dysfunctions over time and eventually they cause enough damage to create pain.
The best treatment options
When it comes to treating a herniated disc, there are traditional treatments such as ice/heat, ultrasound, electrical stimulation, cortisone injections, anti-inflammatory medications and even surgery. While these may deliver some relief, it will usually be temporary if at all.
But the major problem with these traditional treatments is that they can’t fix or heal a herniated disc as they do not address the actual cause of the problem. For example, even if you were to have a surgery and get some pain relief, the fact is the dysfunctions that caused the disc to herniated in the first place are still there and if not addressed, they will continue to place uneven pressure and strain on the discs and sooner or later you will likely have another problem with that disc, or others.
Without identifying and addressing the underlying cause of the problem, which is the physical dysfunctions caused by imbalances in muscles, you will likely continue to suffer with this condition and the continuous flare ups for years.
Unfortunately, most doctors, chiropractors and physical therapists don’t spend time or focus on identifying the physical dysfunctions that are responsible for the condition so most people end up jumping from one useless traditional treatment to the next and suffer for months or years unnecessarily.
If you have been diagnosed with a herniated disc, or are wondering if your back pain may be caused by a herniated disc, either way you must identify and address the physical dysfunctions that are causing your pain as part of your recovery.
For more information on herniated discs and how to treat them effectively, read the latest Back Pain Advisory from The Healthy Back Institute. You can get a free copy of it here: losethebackpain.com/herniateddisc.html losethebackpain.com/herniateddisc.html.
What You Need to Know About Nocturnal Panic Attacks
Nocturnal panic attacks are much more difficult to diagnose than regular panic attacks due to the fact that they often get confused with bad dreams. There are plenty of folks who are troubled with nocturnal panic attacks and are completely oblivious of it. Except of course for the symptoms that they fail to recognize.
Typically, nocturnal panic attacks do not occur any time after nightfall. People go to sleep feeling perfectly all right, they probably never have panic attacks during the day, and fully ready to face the next day. Somewhere in their period of sleep, something is triggered in their minds and they wake up completely frightened, sweating, and breathing hard. That sitting bolt upright from a deep sleep is the prime evidence of nocturnal panic attacks. Notice that the symptoms are not that different from daytime panic attacks like shortness of breath, sweating, palpitation, and fear.
Nocturnal panic attacks are as random as their daytime counterparts are, they just seem to happen for no reason at all and there is precious little that can be done to avoid them because the victim is fast asleep when they happen. As mentioned earlier, you must not confuse nocturnal panic attacks with dreams, as the two are completely unrelated. It is practically impossible for people who suffer from nocturnal panic attacks to even remember what they were dreaming about. The condition of their terror wipes that information clean out of their minds.
One of the major reasons for nocturnal panic attacks is sleep apnea and it affects many people who suffer from that sleeping disorder. Sleep apnea causes the heart rate to increase and this in turn increases the blood flow. Such high blood activity during sleep leads to unconscious anxiety and finally the whole situation explodes into nocturnal panic attacks. You might even say that nocturnal panic attacks are relief mechanisms for people who suffer from sleep apnea.
It is common for people with nocturnal panic attacks to suffer some during the day but this is not necessary. Similarly, people who are prone to panic attacks in daytime are at a higher risk of experiencing nocturnal panic attacks. Whichever way you look at it, of all the panic attacks that do take place, only about 10% happen at night. People often wrongly mistake the condition of their heart during nocturnal panic attacks as a symptom of some heart trouble.
An easy way of avoiding nocturnal panic attacks is to thoroughly examine your diet, especially what is your last meal of the day. Your diet determines to quite an extent what kind of sleep you will enjoy. A deep sleep means low risk of nocturnal panic attacks. The biggest culprits in the form of diet are caffeine during waking hours and alcohol after noon. Lower the consumption of both these consumables if you are taking a high quantity of them. Sweets, including artificial sweeteners, are another factor to consider when planning your diet to cope with nocturnal panic attacks.
Yap Kee Chong writes on various tips and techniques to stop panic attacks. If you like to claim an exclusive FREE report on how to eliminate your panic attacks in 2 simple ways and discover a secret natural cure for your panic attacks symptoms, drop by now at secretinfosite.com/top1/stoppanicattack secretinfosite.com/top1/stoppanicattack
What to Do About Painful Periods
Do you experience painful menstrual cramps? Is your period longer than normal? Do you feel like things just aren’t right with your body but your gynecologist doesn’t know how to help you? You could be suffering from one of two painful female health problems that are missed by many doctors but can be treated easily with medication or surgery.
Having painful periods that interrupt the normal function of your life is not normal. If you want to stay curled up in your bed for a few days whenever you have your period and normal pain medications don’t help, then you could be suffering from either endometriosis or adenomyosis.
Endometriosis is when the endometrial lining of your uterus grows outside of your uterus. This lining is normally inside your uterus and is discharged from your body during your monthly cycle. The pain or cramps you feel during your monthly cycle is the result of your uterus trying to expel the lining.
There are many treatment options available for women who suspect they have endometriosis. Make an appointment with your doctor to let him or her know why you think you might have it. The important thing to remember is that painful periods are not normal and if it’s causing your normal routine to be disrupted whenever you have your period, you should seek a solution with your doctor’s help.
Adenomyosis is when your endometrial lining begins to grow into your uterus. Everytime you have your period, you bleed inside your uterine wall. This can cause cramping pain as well as an enlarged uterus. Sometimes the pain is so severe, over the counter medications do not help.
There are some doctors who believe excess estrogen or estrogen dominance is the reason adenomyosis develops and they prescribe a progesterone-only pill to help ease the effects. While this is a short-term fix, often the only “cure” for adenomyosis is a hysterectomy.
If you are interested in protecting your fertility, there are other medications or devices like IUD’s that can help relieve adenomyosis. Usually pregnancy is the best remedy for adenomyosis because of all the progesterone in a woman’s body when she’s pregnant but it can return once the pregnancy is over and you start having your period again. Beware of taking estrogen if you have adenomyosis since this is the reason you might have the condition in the first place. Taking more estrogen in the form of birth control pills sometimes only makes it worse.
These two female health problems can be difficult to diagnose for many doctors because they must rule out other conditions that have similar symptoms, such as fibroids. But you must be persistent in finding the cause and cure for your female health problems
Eunice Coughlin is the founder of healthy-living-for-moms.com healthy-living-for-moms.com, a resource for moms of all ages and stages who seek spiritual and physical health and wellness. If you want more information about endometriosis or adenomyosis, go to healthy-living-for-moms.com/female-health-problems.html healthy-living-for-moms.com/female-health-problems.html The information in this article is not meant to diagnose, treat, prevent or cure any disease. It is for educational purposes only. Please consult your doctor if you suspect you have endometriosis or adenomyosis.
Plastic Surgery Options After Pregnancy
Giving birth sometimes results in body changes that can negatively affect the body image of a new mother. Unlike decades ago, when women just had to deal with post-partum figure changes, today there are several options in cosmetic surgery to help you get back (or even improve) your pre-pregnancy body. Fortunately, for today’s busy new mother, many plastic surgery procedures can be done on an outpatient basis, which means you are back at home with your newborn that same day.
Many new mothers worry that breastfeeding may alter the shape of their breasts. Actually, breast changes occur during pregnancy in preparation of nurturing your child. Milk glands in the breasts swell and replace fatty tissue, and after childbirth, the milk glands shrink causing the breasts to sag. Plastic surgery offers natural-looking implants that give your breasts a youthful contour, and breast augmentation can be done on an outpatient basis with local or general anesthesia; stitches are typically removed in about one week.
An outpatient breast lift (mastopexy) can remove excess skin and reduce sagging. Using local or general anesthesia, your surgeon tightens the skin on the lower half of the breasts, which lifts and firm them.
Stretch marks and C-section scars usually linger long after childbirth, so stomach tightening procedures may be what you are looking for to remove the excess skin below your navel. The stomach tightening procedure that may require you to be admitted to the hospital for a day or two is commonly called a tummy tuck (abdominoplasty). If there is only a small amount of excess skin to tighten, you may be a candidate for a mini-lipectomy, which is a less extensive procedure often done under local anesthesia.
Liposuction is the most commonly-requested cosmetic surgery procedure after pregnancy. Many new mothers complain that they just cannot lose the fat in areas such as the thighs, buttocks, and upper arms. Your plastic surgeon can remove fat deposits that contribute to the flabbiness in those troublesome areas.
Labioplasty is sometimes sought after childbirth to enhance the appearance of post-delivery genitalia. Many women feel self-conscious after childbirth because the shape and appearance of the labia is altered.
There are many options available now to new mothers who want to regain or even improve their pre-pregnancy figure. Your plastic surgeon will discuss these options with you, and together you can decide which options are best for you.
If you live in the Dallas – Fort Worth area and would like to learn about all the cosmetic surgery procedures available today to help new mothers get back (or improve upon!) their pre-pregnancy bodies, please drrai.net/meet.htm contact Dallas cosmetic surgeon Dr. Vasdev Rai and his staff today.
Iron and the Importance in Nutrition
Iron is an important mineral which enters into the vital activity of the blood and glands. Iron exists chiefly as haemoglobin in the blood. It distributes the oxygen inhaled into the lungs to all the cells. It is the master mineral which creates warmth, vitality, and stamina. It is required for the healthy complexion and for building up resistance in the body.
The chief sources of iron are grapes, raisins, spinach, all green vegetables, whole grain, cereals,
dried beans, dark coloured fruits, beets, dates, liver and egg yolk. The Indian Council of Medical
Research has recommended an allowance of 20 to 30 mg. of iron in a balanced diet for an adult.
Iron deficiency is generally caused by severe blood loss, malnutrition, infections and by
excessive use of drugs and chemicals. Deficiency of dietary iron may cause nutritional-anaemia,
lowered resistance to disease, a general run down condition, pale complexion, shortness of
breath on manual exertion, and loss of interest in sex.
Iron is the classic remedy for anaemia. However, there are several forms of anaemia, and iron
deficiency anaemia is only one. If one is taking iron pills due to insufficient intake of iron in the
normal diet, one should also take atleast 40 mg. of folic acid or folate every day, along with 10 to
25 mg. of vitamin B12. Both these vitamins are essential in building healthy blood cells.
To learn more about the energy principle in healing, please read:
miracle-asthma-cure.com/ Cost-free Miracle Asthma Cure
overcome-diabetes.com/ Overcome Type I Diabetes and Type II Diabetes Naturally
treatments-4-incurable-diseases.us/ Alternative Treatments for Incurable Diseases made easy
How to Get Rid of Cold Sores
They seem to show up at the worst time you can choose. Usually they find their way to the surface just in time to make an appearance at some big event, such as a date or perhaps a wedding, and there they are, bigger than life. It’s kind of a universal irony that they show up at these times, and actually there is a good reason for this. The cold sores that you have are the result of carrying the herpes simplex virus, and that virus, for some reason or another, seems to respond to stress. So it makes perfect sense that you have the cold sores surrounding these times. But how do you get rid of cold sores once you have them.
There is the old saying that an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure, and that is very true when it comes to your battle with cold sores. There is really nothing that can be done, from a medical standpoint to deal with the cold sores. Sure there are creams that you can pick up at the drug store, and there are even some prescriptions that you can purchase but these only shorten the length of the cold sores, they do nothing to help to keep them from showing up again. Not to mention that they carry a list of side effects of their own.
The best way to get rid of cold sores is to not get them in the first place. You can do this by controlling your diet and supplementing as well as some other natural methods for treating the cold sores that you have. If the cold sores are already evident and out then you can try putting some Lysine on them topically. This has been shown to reduce the length of time that they are out on a person.
It’s time to cure the cause instead of just treating the symptom. If you are tired of dealing with embarrassing and uncomfortable cold sores then try using our natural method of cold sore reversal and healing, in as little as 3 days. Be cold sore free for life. Visit us online for our special report and some free tips at coldsore-killer.info/ coldsore-killer.info/
coldsore-killer.info/ Natural Cold Sore Treatment has helped many people to be cold sore free for life.
Different Male Infertility Treatment
One of the very first things when checking into infertility is to check for egg production and sperm production in both the man and woman. After both people have been evaluated then there will be a choice of treatments available and choices for you to make. In the choice of male infertility treatment, there are some options to choose from. Male infertility can be caused from a few different things. Sometimes infertility can be caused from some kind of injury such a spinal injury. In a case such as spinal injury, there may be a problem with ejaculation. In a case such as this, the sperm can be harvested in other ways such as vibratory stimulation. As with other injuries there can be reproductive dysfunction in both the male and female but keep in mind there are other ways to get the eggs and sperm.
Other Treatments
For the men who have a good sperm count but are unable to ejaculate there is a procedure called electroejaculation therapy or EEJ that allows for the retrieval of sperm and is non-evasive. There are hormone treatments that can be used although rare in men. Other drugs can help with sperm count giving better chances for having a baby. There are also surgeries such as Varicocele ligation used to tie off abnormally dilated veins and found to improve sperm quality for some men. There are a few sperm retrieval techniques that you talk to your doctor about.
Though the male infertility treatments for men have come a long way through the years in cases such as genetics defects there have been no findings to correct many of them. This does not mean that you cannot have a baby in some cases but it can make it much more difficult for some. In some cases, it is simply not possible. Make sure you do your homework and research all of the possibilities. If one doctor says no, another may know of a drug or procedure that may give you that chance. Get more than one opinion, ask many questions, and be sure you understand the answers given.
Talking Openly
The male infertility options available will be different from the options given to women. Know the differences and be aware of what is available to you as a man. Know what the procedures involve and know the cautions and what to expect in the outcomes. Know your rights and understand the regulations and policies of your insurances. Be sure to follow up on any counseling available to you and your partner. Communicate openly with both your partner and your doctors.
You can also find more info on infertilitytreatmentoptions.com/Female_Infertilty_Treatment/ Female Infertility Treatment and infertilitytreatmentoptions.com/Infertility_Egg_Donation/ Infertility Egg Donation. Infertilitytreatmentoptions.com is a comprehensive resource to know about Infertility.
Controlling Allergens in Your Home
Do your eyes water? Does your throat itch? Perhaps you get a runny nose during certain times of the year. These are some of the common signs of an allergic reaction. Others could include itchy ears, a skin rash, swollen eyes, and a host of other symptoms that suggest you may be allergic to something in your environment. If these things persist or develop over time, see your doctor about medical testing to determine whether you have true allergies or perhaps more vague sensitivities to temporary irritants, like smoke, household cleaning chemicals, or attic dust.
Experts claim that allergy diagnoses have increased significantly over the past few decades. Improved home insulation that keeps out bad weather but also seals in airborne contaminants may be one of the reasons. Another might be due to the fact that more children are receiving better and earlier health care, which reveals childhood allergies sooner than before.
Whatever the reason, if you suspect a loved one has allergic reactions in response to any type of household allergen, ask your doctor to confirm the allergy and then take steps to control or eliminate it.
1. Many people have pet allergies, which typically is a response to a dog or cat’s skin dander that dries and sloughs off, much as human skin does, usually imperceptibly. Don’t let your pets sleep in your bedroom, which will provide at least eight hours of separation daily from this allergen. Bathe and groom your pets frequently, and vacuum two or three times a week.
2. Dust mites and their excrement irritate some people’s skin and nasal passages. Encase your mattress and pillows with plastic covers to kill the tiny creatures that inhabit those areas. Or, if this is uncomfortable, wash pillows and bedding in hot water with detergent, which will help to reduce if not eliminate the mite population. At least weekly, vacuum carpets, fabric furniture, draperies, and other similar areas that house the mites.
3. Food allergies are common, especially to products like nuts, eggs, shellfish, and chocolate. When you identify specific food groups as the problem, find healthy substitutes and check all processed foods before purchasing them to be sure they do not contain even miniscule amounts of the food group allergens. For example, someone who is allergic to nuts also may be sensitive to foods cooked in peanut oil.
4. Those with seasonal allergies should stay indoors in the early morning or on windy days and run the air conditioner to clean indoor air.
Keep antihistamines on hand, along with medication to manage serious reactions if someone is prone to these. Sensitization injections are available for certain types of allergies to gradually increase a person’s tolerance of those substances. However, this can take years, so be patient. Life-threatening reactions must be managed rapidly by injecting the person with epinephrine from a kit that he or she should carry everywhere. Seek emergency treatment if you or someone else develops a rapid or irregular heartbeat, feels faint, or experiences difficulty in breathing.
For more information on how to manage allergy symptoms, visit The Allergy Directory at allergydir.com allergydir.com