Tuesday, March 27, 2012

Remedy Arthritis Pain


According to medical definitions, there are more than 40 conditions that manifest as joint pain. The most likely causes are joint injury, joint strain or sprain, infections, cancer and inflammatory joint disease such as the various types of arthritis. Tendonitis and bursitis can also fit into these categories.
Here, we will concentrate on the inflammatory conditions that cause joint pain, the most common form being the condition we all know as arthritis. The word comes from arthro (joint) and itis (inflammation) and inflammation is defined as the symptoms of heat, pain, redness and swelling. Sound familiar? Arthritis, however, is a much more complex and diverse condition than you might at first imagine.
Arthritis in its many forms is America's major cause of disability and chronic pain. It affects 16.7 per cent of Americans (more than 3.4 million people), of which 60.4 per cent are women. Sixty per cent are between the ages of 15 and 64 (ie of working age). Fifty-four per cent of Americans over 75 have arthritis.
Arthritis is a general term for many conditions, of differing causes, involving inflamed, thickened and/or painful and stiffened joints. There are at least 100 known types of arthritis, but only five of these account for 90 per cent of cases. The main ones are classified generally into three groups:
• Osteoarthritis (OA).
• The systemic inflammatory forms of arthritis such as rheumatoid arthritis (RA), systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) and fibromyalgia, which frequently has an infective trigger. These are often autoimmune diseases.
• Gout.
Osteoarthritis is the most common type of arthritis and is a localized disease that involves increasing deterioration of the cartilage in the joints caused by injury, repetitive use or general wear and tear. It typically runs in families and is three times more common in women than in men.
The structure of the joint is composed of hyaluronic acid, proteoglycans attached to glycosaminoglycans. In the joints, cells called chondrocytes make and maintain the integrity of the cartilage. These cells receive nutrients from the synovial fluid, which also removes waste byproducts. The synovial activity is triggered by movement, which compresses and releases the sponge-like cartilage.
Osteoarthritis is characterized by the degeneration, destruction and erosion of the cartilage in the joint, with bony outgrowths (Hebderden's Nodes) often forming at the edges of the joints. The synovial fluid changes and the elasticity of the cartilage degenerates. The joint surfaces become irregular, flattened and poorly adjusted to each other. This causes the joint cavity between adjacent bones to narrow until eventually the cartilage disintegrates and the bones may directly scrape against one another.
Osteoarthritis is more common in weight-bearing joints such as the ankles, knees, elbows, wrists, spine and shoulder (wear and tear) and is commonly one-sided: for example, in the right thumb in right-handed people. Osteoarthritis gradually develops over several years and initially is not always painful, although in the later stages when the cartilage has disintegrated, inflammation sets in and muscle spasms may occur. Many older people have difficulty looking after themselves as their movement is restricted by severe pain and stiffness.
Although the specific triggers for osteoarthritis are unknown, it may be precipitated by excess salt consumption, which affects calcium metabolism, and obesity, which causes greater wear and tear. Because of the joint destruction that occurs, osteoarthritis is better for rest and worse for movement, as movement (particularly weight-bearing) increases the damage. Movement causes the joints to scrape together and increases the inflammation. Despite this, exercise is vital, so non-weight-bearing exercise such as swimming is excellent.

Alex Strande, ND, Ph.D., is a naturopath and microbiologist. His primary location is in Houston, Texas. If you have any issues concerning your health, please visit us at www.simplyhealingclinic.com or call us to set up a consultation on 713.660.1420. We do long distance phone/Skype consultations with people from all around the world.

Fennel - Anti-Aging Benefits


Fennel is a tall and particularly attractive perennial plant that is native to the Mediterranean region. Widely hailed from times of yore for a large host of properties, the chief among those being anti-aging and weight loss, it possesses a piquant flavor that resembles licorice or anise. The herb is popularly used for flavoring in culinary recipes both in Europe – especially in France and Italy – as well as in India. Oil extracted from the seeds is sometimes added to certain liqueurs for flavor as well.
Anti-aging effects of the herb
The herb boasts of a surprising array of anti-aging properties and is said to impart strength and contribute to longevity. It is often used in facial steam concoctions to combat signs of aging while cleansing the pores simultaneously. It is also added to many anti-wrinkle creams as well as products like perfumes, soaps, body and facial cream.
Fennel is rich in vitamin C, stimulants and detoxifiers and an amino acid called arginine, which aids tissue rejuvenation, thus preventing ageing. All these, along with minerals such as magnesium and cobalt are present in the herb’s essential oils and protect human eyes from disorders connected to ageing like macular degeneration as well as inflammation. Herbalists often recommend that the juice from the plant’s leaves be applied topically on the eyes to decrease fatigue and irritation.
The herb is an enviable source of vitamin C which helps regulate the immune system and protects the arteries and brain from the effects of aging. It is also a source of folic acid that aids in cell body division and lowers heart disease risk and is needed to utilize amino acids and sugar.
Other properties
Rich in fiber, this herb is also believed to decrease cholesterol. The plant’s seeds help the liver detoxify the body more effectively. It is considered a great antidote for the blues, anxiety, insomnia and stress. It can also relieve water retention and thus eliminates toxic wastes and is prescribed to eliminate urinary stones and for inflammation of the urinary tract.
The seeds are recognized to help relax smooth muscles, thus aiding in digestion, particularly fat. As chewing on the seeds inhibits appetite, it is considered a good weight loss aid.
Methods of consumption
This plant is one of the most popular herbs due to its versatility. It can be imbibed as a tisane – a herbal tea – or included while cooking a dish. However, do remember the old adage that too much of everything is as bad as too little. So do exercise moderation as some of the herb’s essential oil components and chemicals can have adverse effects like palpitations, breathing trouble and irregular heartbeats if ingested in large amounts.
Fennel is considered a blessing from every angle as every part of the herb from root to seed can be utilized, ranging from cosmetic to culinary to medical uses. This age-old herbal prescription is still widely acclaimed as an anti-aging and weight reduction remedy today. It is a bonus in today’s world that is replete with additives and chemicals that we not only apply topically on our bodies but also regularly ingest.

Coping With a Disease Called Cancer


It will only be a matter of time before cancer becomes the deadliest illness in the world. Today thousands of people die every day from all sorts of cancer, from children to seniors.
Being stricken with cancer can definitely make you feel scared about a lot of things. What will my future be like? Am I going to die? Who's going to take care of my family? How do I spend for my medications?
However, you should know that cancer doesn't really have to drive hope away from your life. There are some ways on how you can better cope with your diagnosis:
1. Coordinate with your physician. Be a proactive patient. Learn more about your illness and the possible treatments available for you. Know the side effects as well as your prognosis. In times of sickness the most important thing is you gain quality of life, whether life is going to be short or not.
2. Accept it. It's recommended you do take second or many more opinions when you're diagnosed with cancer. Nevertheless, that shouldn't stop you from slowly accepting the truth. The sooner you can do that, the faster it is for you to decide what you want to happen from thereon. Would you like to fight and go on with the treatment or surrender to it and just hope for the best?
3. Share your pain with others. Being sick with cancer is already dreadful enough. It becomes more painful when you start to worry or feel a lot of anxiety about the future. A good step to release the stress is to actually share your thoughts and pain with your friends and family members. You can also join support groups and meet up with other cancer patients. You may just find survivors and discover cancer doesn't have to end life too abruptly.
4. Lower the stress as much as possible. Stress can definitely worsen any disease, including cancer. It is a trigger to very low immune system. Thus, you become more prone to infection and other disorders.
An excellent step in reducing stress is through the use of subliminal messages. You can speak of subliminal messages to help calm the mind and be more aware of the future. The subliminal messages can help you become more accepting of the illness.
Some of the subliminal messages you can utilize are the following:
I embrace my illness wholeheartedly.
This illness is not a punishment to my mistakes.
This is not my fault.
I accept the limitations of life.
I can use my sickness to gain more knowledge about my life's meaning.
You can repeat these subliminal messages regularly, especially in times when you're very down and you're about to give up.
5. Strengthen yourself. Strengthen not just your emotional and mental well-being but also your physical health. Boost your immune system by taking supplements and eating a lot of fruits and vegetables. Exercise to keep your vital organs as healthy as possible. Make sure you can have your regular check-ups.

Acupuncture London - How to Keep Yourself Healthy


Take advantage of the magic of movement. Engaging in physical activity on a regular basis is one of the most effective and rewarding ways to lower your health care expenses. Numerous studies show that not only does exercise lower your risk of contracting almost all chronic medical conditions; it also helps keep you healthier in the near term as well. As a result, the number of times you need to see a physician will fall, as will the amount of money you'll need to spend on medication. Acupuncture London is also well-known way to cure some ailments. It is an ancient method of healing.
Practice good dental hygiene. Flossing several times a day (particularly after meals and before bedtime) will help reduce your chances of getting cavities and having to make a visit to a dentist. Flossing to remove food and plaque from between the teeth also can help prevent gum disease - another potentially costly detour from sound oral health.
Get a good night's sleep. The benefits of a good night's sleep should not be underestimated. Sleep is essential to good health and to mental and emotional well-being. A number of studies have shown that individuals who get an inadequate amount of sleep are at a higher risk for contracting certain medically related problems, including type two diabetes, cardiovascular complications, and depression. Each of these problems can have a substantial impact on your level of health care expense.
Practice healthy eating habits. Consuming a healthy diet and adhering to sound eating habits can not only make you look and feel better, it also can reduce your risk of heart disease and stroke, help protect you from osteoporosis, and boost your immune system. Among the steps that you can take to help make sure that your dietary and eating habits don't wreak havoc on your efforts to minimize your health care costs are to eat breakfast every morning, add fish and omega-3 fatty acids to your diet, and eat five or more servings of fruits and vegetables every day.
Keep things in perspective. Chill out. Don't let stress unduly affect your life or your health. Uncontrolled stress can (and will) evolve into distress, a condition that can disturb your body's internal equilibrium. When this negative stress reaction occurs, your body can experience physical symptoms, such as a headache, an upset stomach, an elevated level of blood pressure, chest pain, sleep-related problems, and sexual dysfunction, as well as emotional problems (e.g., depression, anxiety, etc). Although you can't always control what events happen to you in your life, you can control how you react to those events.
The Author has been writing articles for years. He likes to share his thoughts with others. He's sharing his new article onAcupuncture London. For more information, you can visit my Google Profile.

Having Sex When You Have a Yeast Infection


When most of us think of a yeast infection, we think of it in connection with women. However, the Candida albicans fungus (yeast) can cause infections in anyone of either gender, because it is present in all of our bodies. This will come as an unwelcome surprise to men, but hang on, because it gets worse. Guys, when you have sex with a woman who has yeast infection, she can easily pass it on to you.
Due to the specific hormones women have, they are more susceptible to yeast infections. Usually when a woman has an infection she will experience all of the uncomfortable symptoms that tell her what's going on. She'll know when it's necessary to take more precautions in having sex. However, there are times when she may experience such mild symptoms that she's unaware she even has a problem, so she can pass the infection on to a man without knowing it.
Most men don't even think about being concerned over getting a yeast infection, but it can happen. In fact, yeast infections of the penis are very common and seldom cause any symptoms in otherwise healthy men. During an active yeast infection in either partner, it is safer to avoid sex altogether. This practice will not only ensure that the infection won't be passed on, but it will also avoid more irritation which will make the condition last longer.
In order to know if you have a yeast infection, it will help if you know the symptoms. In women the most common symptoms are irritation, itching, redness, swelling, burning, and a whitish-grey discharge that has the consistency of cheese as well as a smell much like yeast or beer.
Men who are infected will show redness, irritation, and possibly white spots on the end of the penis. There may also be a white to yellow discharge present. It could be that after he has intercourse his penis will be sore. The better your overall health is, though, the milder the symptoms you'll experience.
Both men and women should see a physician if they are concerned that they might have yeast infection. Your doctor will be able to confirm the diagnosis and make suggestions for effective treatments. There are numerous prescription, over-the-counter and natural remedies for treating yeast infection available.
If one partner in a sexual relationship has yeast infection, both partners should get diagnosed and treated. Otherwise, the person who was treated and is now symptom-free will run the risk of getting it back from their untreated partner every time they have sex.
Yeast infections can be a nuisance and wreak havoc with your sex life, but with proper treatment and precautions, soon you'll both be healed up and back in action.
It is very important that you let your partner know of the risks involved. Sharing a tender moment is great, sharing an infection is not. Learn the facts and learn more about what options are available to you

Monday, March 26, 2012

Skin Cancer- Types, Risk factors, Signs and Treatment


Skin Cancer- Types, Risk factors, Signs and Treatment
Skin cancer represents the most commonly diagnosed malignancy, surpassing lung, breast, colorectal and prostate cancer. Tumors develop primarily on areas of sun-exposed skin, including the scalp, face, lips, ears, neck, chest, arms and hands, and on the legs in women. Contrary to popular conception, skin cancer affects people of all skin tones, including those with darker complexions. Most skin cancers appear after age 50, but the sun's damaging effects begin at an early age, therefore protection should start in childhood in order to prevent skin cancer later in life.
Types of Skin Cancer
The main types of skin tumours are:
1. Melanomas are skin cancers that form in melanocytes (skin cells that make pigment). Even though it is rare, malignant melanoma is responsible for 75 % of all skin cancer related death cases.
2. Basal Cell carcinomas are skin cancers that form in basal cells (small, round cells in the base of the outer layer of skin).
3. Squamous Cell carcinomas are skin cancers that form in squamous cells (flat cells that form the surface of the skin).

Rarer types of skin tumors are:
1. Neuroendocrine carcinomas which form in neuroendocrine cells (cells that release hormones in response to signals from the nervous system.) carcinoma of the skin.
2. Dermatofibrosarcoma protuberans.
3. Merkel cell carcinoma.
4. Kaposi's sarcoma.

Risk Factors
Risk factors for non melanoma and melanoma skin cancers include: unprotected and or excessive exposure to ultraviolet (UV) radiation, fair complexion, occupational exposures to; coal tar, pitch, creosote, arsenic compounds, radium, family history, multiple or atypical moles, and severe sunburns as a child. Anyone with a family history of skin cancer also has an increased risk of developing skin cancer.

Signs of Skin Cancer
Signs of melanoma may include: A large brownish spot with darker speckles located anywhere on your body, a simple mole located anywhere on your body that changes in color, size or feel or that bleeds, a small lesion with an irregular border and red, white, blue or blue-black spots on your trunk or limbs, shiny, firm, dome-shaped bumps located anywhere on your body, dark lesions on your palms, soles, fingertips and toes, or on mucous membranes lining your mouth, nose, vagina and anus.

Signs of basal cell carcinoma can vary depending on the type and may include skin changes such as a: Firm, pearly bump with tiny blood vessels in a spider like appearance (telangiectasias). Signs of squamous cell carcinoma include any: persistent, firm, red bump on sun-exposed skin.
Treatment
Depending on the type of skin cancer, dermatologic surgical treatments include: surgical excision; electrodessication and curettage which involves alternately scraping or burning the tumor in combination with low levels of electricity, cryosurgery and laser surgery. Other dermatologic treatments include radiation therapy and photodynamic therapy (a chemical is applied to the skin prior to exposure to a light source). Mohs micrographic surgery is preferred for large basal cell carcinomas, those that recur after previous treatment, or lesions affecting parts of the body where experience shows that recurrence is common after treatment by other methods.

Skin cancer can be deadly, but nearly all skin cancer can be treated if it is detected and diagnosed early, however skin cancer can recur, so it is important that you examine your skin regularly for any changes and see your doctor for a check-up every six to 12 months.

Look for contraceptive pill which suits you best


There are ample methods of birth control available these days and women can easily access them from local doctors or online pharmacies. However, women like to explore more about oral contraceptive pill to decide what is best suited for them. It depends a lot on your lifestyle, relationship with partner, present and past medical conditions and many other factors which are different for everyone. Hormonal contraception is by far the most popular method of contraception, and especially oral contraceptive pill have proved to be almost 100% effective in preventing unplanned pregnancy. They are broadly categorised into the combination pill and mini-pill.
A combination pill contains synthetic versions of both the female sex hormones, whereas a mini-pill contains a single hormone. The mini-pill is an excellent alternative to the combination pill as it is widely used by women who cannot endure the effects of oestrogen hormone. Mini-pills are also prescribed to women who are above 35 years of age and smoke regularly. The combination pills are usually taken for 21 days of your 28 days menstrual cycle. It is advisable to consult a doctor before continuing with the pills after missing out on any dosage as an overdose may lead to serious effects. Here we have discussed two of the widely prescribed combination pills.
Introducing Dianette Pill
Dianette is a popular combined pill which is composed of cyproterone acetate and ethinylestradiol. It not only helps in preventing pregnancy, but also aids in treating skin problems like acne or hirsutism (excess body hair). The synthetic oestrogen and progestogen present in this medication helps in reducing excess hair growth and oily skin. At times, you may experience some mild side effects which gradually disappear as your body gets habituated to the new influx of hormones. Some of the common side effects are vomiting, nausea, headache, stomach upset, changes in menstrual bleeding, low sex drive and weight gain. Dianette pills should not be taken if you are already pregnant, breastfeeding or suffer from serious health complications such as high blood pressure, diabetes, high cholesterol, and liver or heart problems.
Benefit of Ovranette
Ovranette is a widely prescribed oral contraceptive which has proven to be effective in preventing pregnancy. It is generically also known as levonorgestrel. It provides additional benefits such as treating endometriosis or regulating heavy and painful periods. It is considered to be safe for every woman as it does not cause many side effects. However, just like other medication there can be some mild and temporary side effects. The common side effects can be listed as headache, nausea, abdominal pain, changes in weight and lower sex drive. Ovranette is suitable for every woman who is above 18 years of age and is not a regular smoker. It can be taken every day with or without food. You may not be prescribed this medication if you are already pregnant or are breastfeeding. Health complications related to the heart, liver and kidneys can also restrict you to take this pill. You can buy this pill from any of the registered online pharmacies after completing a free and confidential online consultation with a licensed doctor.