Wednesday, April 29, 2009

Relief For Stress - High Blood Pressure Or Diabetes

There is a misconception that people who are stressed out only lose weight. Even though people do lose weight when stressed out, the opposite is also true. Some people gain weight when they are feeling stressed. In this article we will talk about relief for stress of High Blood Pressure and Diabetes, and how you can control or avoid it.

Blood Pressure

Even though people have many answers when asked, " does stress cause high blood pressure?" The fact of the matter is, stress may not cause (HBP), but it does raise your heart beat because your body produces a surge of stress hormones which temporary cause your heart to beat faster.

You may experience headaches, dizziness, or blurred vision. People do not seek medical care until they have symptoms arising from the organ damage caused by chronic long-term high blood pressure. Some of these organ damage from chronic high blood pressure are: heart attack, stroke, kidney failure, eye damaged with loss of vision, and peripheral arterial disease.

To decrease your chance of (HBP), try getting plenty of sleep. When you do not have enough sleep, your problems may seem worst than they really are. Also try exercising. Just make sure to get approval from your doctor before you start any new program. Exercise is one stress-reducing activity that can actually lower your systolic blood pressure by as much as 5 to 10 millimeters of mercury (mm Hg).

Diabetes

As a diabetic, both physical and mental stress can cause your blood sugar to swing out of control very rapidly. Some symptoms are Increased fatigue, unusual weight loss, frequent urination, excessive thirst, and etc. When you are stressed, your blood sugar levels rise. Epinephrine and Cortisol are stress hormones which can raise your blood sugar usually when you need it the most. They are most needed when you find yourself in some type of danger. However, the way we respond to certain situations often cause this same reaction.

The best prevention of Diabetes is to educate yourself as much as you can. One of the first thing you should know if you already have diabetes is to find out what type you have. Example, if you have type1 diabetes, you need to take insulin every day; formally called juvenile diabetes this type is less common.

Type 2 Diabetes is most common and is controlled usually by diet and physical activity. Most people will also need to take pills or insulin to control it. Many people with type 2 diabetes have no symptoms and do not know they have diabetes.

People who are at risk are people who are inactive, or have high blood pressure, are African American, Hispanic or Latino, Asian American or Pacific Islander, or American Indian. No matter what stage you're in, you should take it very seriously and do what ever you can to prevent or control it.

About the Author:

Looking for Easy Stress Relief? Visit this site today and learn all you can about Relief For Stress to manage High Blood Pressure or Diabetes.

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Thursday, April 23, 2009

Revealed: How To Control Your Heartburn

Ok, so I’m guessing that if you’re reading this article either you, or someone close to you suffers from heartburn…but do you know what it really is? Is heartburn different from reflux? And most importantly, how can you control your heartburn?

First of all lets take a quick look at how the stomach works (or not as the case may be!) So, basically your stomach is like a bag with two valves (or sphincters), one at each end. When you swallow food comes in the top and sits on the bag (your stomach) until your body decides that it’s broken down enough to move on into the small intestine.

How your body judges this is by how acidic your stomach is. If your stomach isn’t acidic enough the bottom valve won’t open, so the food sits there and ferments letting off gas and other nasties. The pressure then builds as the body tries to get things moving but, here the problem is that the top valve is weaker than the bottom one. So that means the extra pressure forces all these lovely fermenting gases up your throat!

Does this sound like what you experience?

So what is really causing acid to go back up your throat, is that it’s too weak! Sounds really strange but that’s the body for you isn’t it? This also explains why as people age they tend to suffer from more heartburn even though their stomach acid is getting weaker.

So is there any difference between heartburn and reflux? To put it simply…no. They’re just two names for the same thing. And if you’ve looked around and seen GERD everywhere and you’ve been wondering who the hell that is, it stands for gastro-esophageal reflux disease. So just another name for the same condition.

There’s a whole range of drugs, some of which work to relax the lower valve so that food passes through. This has been linked to fairly serious long term complications. Other treatments focus on increasing the strength of the stomach acid so that the bodies own processes work better.

I hope this information has been useful to you and if you want more information check out my blog here

I wish you all the best and relief form your heartburn.

Mark Syme

About the Author:

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Saturday, April 18, 2009

Acne Medications How do You Choose?

Acne Medications How do You Choose?
There are many medical treatments for acne, although unfortunately, it can not be said that there is any one, single treatment to cure acne. Rather than having a single treatment for acne, doctors generally have to try several different products for each individual before finding the treatment or combination of treatments that will clear up the problem.

Every case of acne is different and will do different things to the skin depending on the individual. This makes acne quite a difficult condition to treat. A lot of experimentation and trial and error with various medications is usually needed before a successful treatment is found. This can be very frustrating for the person that wants a quick-fix solution to their problem or even for those individuals that have a stubborn strain of acne that takes a long time to clear up. It always helps to see a doctor or dermatologist that has plenty of experience in treating acne, this way they can draw on their professional experience.

There are some absolute ‘no nos’ when it comes to dealing with acne. You should never scrub skin that is affected by acne. This irritates and inflames the acne, causing more pimples and making the healing process longer and more drawn out. Never attempt to self-treat or self-medicate. Pimple removal is something that should always be left up to a trained doctor in an antiseptic environment.

In most cases, the first treatment that a doctor will recommend is a topical cream. These creams, like all acne treatments, do not cure acne, but rather help manage the symptoms of the acne. The treatment that you receive will depend on the type of symptoms that you are experiencing. It will either be aimed at unplugging pores, killing bacteria (antibiotics), reducing the amount of oils (such as Accutane) or altering the hormones that stimulate the sebaceous glands (such as oral contraceptives).

If topical creams alone prove ineffective, doctors will usually combine them with an oral antibiotic. The topical creams usually contain benzoyl peroxide which although effective, should be used in small doses. It was originally thought to be harmless, however studies show that prolonged use or overuse can lead to premature aging of the skin.

The most important thing to remember when attempting to rid yourself of acne is to work with a trained medical professional that you trust. Secondly, be patient. Even in the best of cases, acne does not clear up overnight. In fact, even when you have found a treatment that works, your skin will usually get worse before it gets better. Doctors usually recommend continuing a treatment for at least four to six weeks before expecting to see results. Do not be disappointed if the first treatment that you try does not work. Expect to try several different treatments before finally finding success.

Tuesday, April 14, 2009

What is the most addictive drug?

What is the most addictive drug?
This is a question that people often ask but is actually a very difficult one to answer. Addiction is not just one single and simple process, it is a complex process that has both physical and psychological aspects. Nevertheless despite this complexity two attempts have been made to determine the most addictive drug. Independently Dr. Jack E. Henningfield of the National Institute on Drug Abuse and Dr. Neal L. Benowitz of the University of California at San Francisco, ranked six psychoactive substances, nicotine, heroin, cocaine, alcohol, caffeine and marijuana, on the five criteria they felt were most important in addiction.

The first of these criteria was withdrawal. This is defined as the severity of withdrawal symptoms produced by stopping the use of the drug. Both researchers rated alcohol as having the most severe withdrawal symptoms, for example hallucinations and convulsions, and the fact that withdrawal from alcohol is the only one of the included drugs that is potentially fatal.

The second criterion is reinforcement, that is the drug's tendency to induce users to take it again and again. This is influenced by the feelings that taking the drug brings, that is whether it is a pleasurable high or not, obviously if the feelings are negative there will be little incentive to repeat the experience. Again both researchers were in agreement and rated cocaine as the most reinforcing.

The third criterion was tolerance, this is defined as the user's need to have ever-increasing doses to get the same effect. For the first time the researchers disagree with Henningfield rating heroin first and Benowitz rating cocaine.

The fourth criterion is dependence. This is defined as the difficulty in quitting, or staying off the drug, usually measured by the number of users who eventually become dependent. For many dependence is viewed as the hallmark of addiction and how 'addiction' is usually measured by the medical profession. For this criterion both researchers are again in agreement as they rate nicotine highest for dependence. For the other drugs they both rated them in the same order that is highest for dependence, nicotine, then heroin, cocaine, alcohol, caffeine and last marijuana.

The final criterion is intoxication. This is the degree of intoxication produced by the drug in typical use. Again the researchers are in agreement and rate alcohol as the most intoxicating of the drugs.

Given the complexity of the addictive process it is not surprising that there is not a clear 'winner' in all criteria. What some may find surprising is that for both researchers caffeine ranked higher than marijuana on a number of the criteria and indeed Berowitz rates caffeine higher than marijuana for dependence.

These results have been quoted many times by many researchers, commentators and reporters. They are usually interpreted as nicotine, or tobacco smoking, being named the most addictive substance purely on the definition of the difficulty in refraining. What the results do show is that addiction is a complex and multi-facetted activity and that it is impossible to reduce it to a simple metric.

Source: http://www.articlecircle.com/ - Free Articles Directory

About the Author
John McMahon Alcohol and Drug Guide.com I have worked in the addiction field for over 25 years. I have worked as a therapist, university lecturer and researcher and have published about 50 articles in scholarly journals and books. Could your experience help others new survey here. Tell us about yourself.

Monday, April 13, 2009

Using Natural Herbs to Curb Hot Flashes

Using Natural Herbs to Curb Hot Flashes
For women suffering from hot flashes during menopause and perimenopause, finding a cure is often a long and ultimately frustrating process. But amid all of the synthetic treatments currently available on the market, none compare to natural herbal treatments that have been used for centuries by women in the know.

Hot flashes, which are noted by increased heat and flushing in the face, is common among women approaching menopausal age, and some are afflicted by severe symptoms. Finding relief in the form of natural herbs helps eliminate stress that accompanies the problem.

While hormone therapy is a popular treatment which is used by many women, others prefer the natural route, taking doses of Vitamin E and Vitamin B to aid in the easing of symptoms. But herbs play an important role in natural hot flash therapy.

Flaxseed, also perhaps more commonly known as linseed, is used in whole seed and oil form to help ease hot flash symptoms. While there is no hard or solid scientific evidence to back up the support of this claim, many women have used it successfully for years in the treatment of hot flashes.

Evening primrose oil is another herb commonly used to treat hot flashes during menopause. However, this botanical is sometimes accompanied by side effects such as diarrhea and nausea. It's important to talk to your doctor before combining evening primrose with other medications, such as blood thinning drugs, because it could cause adverse reactions.

Soy products such as plant estrogen, which is found in isoflavones, contribute an estrogen-similar effect to the body to weaken hot flash symptoms. Many women concentrate on using soy-based food products to treat hot flashes, not soy supplements.

Another natural herbal remedy for hot flash symptoms during menopause and perimenopause is the use of black cohosh. As a short-term natural remedy, it works very effectively. But side effects can include an upset stomach, so it needs to be used carefully.

With so much controversy in the news about hormone replacement therapy, it is important that women find reliable and natural ingredients they can use to treat various symptoms associated with menopause.

The herbs mentioned in this article only serve as a small reminder of natural cures that you can find to treat a single symptom - hot flashes. There are dozens of other herbs that can help alleviate the other menopausal symptoms women have to endure over the years.

Source: http://www.articlecircle.com/ - Free Articles Directory


About the Author
Download your free report entitled "Natural Herbal Remedies & Antioxidant Vitamin Wonders" from http://www.herbalvitaminwonders.com

Sunday, April 12, 2009

Is it Possible to Overcome or Prevent Hypothyroidism? Part 1

Is it Possible to Overcome or Prevent Hypothyroidism? Part 1
It is a known fact that hypothyroidism is a condition that can be overcome. All you really need is information on what it is, its mode of operation, its causes and what to do in the eventuality that it occurs. Now, it is possible that you might have been to see your physician and he’s talked to you about the possible outcomes and all. But you see, your doctor does not have the time to give you a total breakdown on everything regarding hypothyroidism. As a result, you’ll find that getting to spend about five minutes of learning quality information is almost an impossibility given the fact that your doctor is a very busy person and can only spare so much time talking to you about it.

This write up is not meant to ridicule or in any way, take the place of a doctor’s advice. It is just a general overview on hypothyroidism. Hypothyroidism, if you aren’t already familiar with the word is a situation where the thyroid gland situated at the lower end of the neck; just under the famed “Adam’s apple” under-produces the required thyroxine hormone useful in balancing the body’s metabolic activities. Let me explain here.

You see the body is made up of any important components; all of them playing a vital role in the sustaining of human life and enabling the optimal functioning of the human body system. Part of these important components are the various hormones. One of which is thyroxine. When the body lacks of these important hormones, the individual starts manifesting certain symptoms. Unfortunately symptoms manifested as a result of hypothyroidism are also common to other ailments. So there is an inclination towards treating them as other ailments when in truth, it is to be treated as hypothyroidism.

The symptoms are very common. Some of them are weight loss, lethargy, extreme fatigue, dry flaky skin, and in some extreme cases, acute depression. So you can see now that it looks just like any other common ailment that you probably know. It for this reason that hypothyroidism is deemed deadly. It might be too late before you realize it hypothyroidism. It is the reason why as soon as you notice these symptoms and you have taken energy boosters, mood enhancers or antidepressants without getting any adequate results, you have to go see your doctor as soon as possible. This will at least stem its tendency to become worse.

Saturday, April 11, 2009

Medical Causes of Hypothyroidism

Medical Causes of Hypothyroidism
Hypothyroidism is caused by varied causes. It could stem from a singular cause or a mixture of various causes such as complications arising from thyroid gland diseases, afflicted brain activities, exposure to medical treatments, and autoimmune disorders. It is common knowledge that hypothyroidism can arise from a chronic thyroid disease known as Hashiloto’s thyroiditis. This ailment is characterized by thyroid glands that are inflamed or enlarged. This inflammation can be responsible for the brutal damaging of the thyroid cells if it is not attended to early enough and on time. The reason the thyroid cells are damaged is because of the body’s antibodies attacking the thyroid cells and tissues in the body instead of functioning as a protector. Certain diseases that are autoimmune may even be responsible for hypothyroidism. Examples of such autoimmune diseases are diabetes, rheumatoid arthritis, Addison’s disease, vitiligo, and anemia.

Exposure to various forms of medical treatments can leave an individual lacking adequate thyroxine in the body. Treatments such as lithium, radioactive iodine and surgery can be responsible as certain research have proven. For instance, someone who takes doses of lithium as a form of treatment for manic depressive disorder –a form of psychiatric disease- is likely to develop hypothyroidism over time as a result of th thyroid’s gland inability to produce the hormone. The production of this hormone in itself is actually hindered by the presence of the lithium in the body.

Also, an individual suffering from both goiter and hyperthyroidism can be treated using radioactive iodine therapy. This form of treatment is very likely to produce symptoms of hypothyroidism and if not stopped on time, will actually result in hypothyroidism. The radioactive iodine is useful in the hindering of the production of excessive thyroxine. This is achieved by its getting rid of or preventing the secretion of excess thyroid hormones. The use of radioactive iodine is not a bad idea in itself as it effectively eliminates the production of too much thyroid hormones. The thing with it is in its excessive application. Because it functions by eliminating the thyroid hormone-producing cells which get rid of hyperthyroidism, it has a tendency to also eliminate the normal ones that will allow the production of the normal hormone quantity.

Surgery can also be responsible for hypothyroidism. Although in this case, most patients have to choose between the lesser of two evils: either death or the total or partial removal of the thyroid gland. For instance, a patient whose thyroid gland cannot be saved or who has cancer of the throat has to choose between leaving the thyroid like that, and getting rid of it. Therefore allowing the individual’s thyroxine producing capacity dwindle

Friday, April 10, 2009

Don't let your diet beat you

Many start a diet with high hopes. However, after the initial enthusiasm of the diet rubes off, many people simply give up to go back to old habits. Moreover, people think that there must be an easier way to lose weight and go fad diet hunting! The fact is that you don’t need to throw in the towel so soon. This article will give you some diet skills that will help you stick to your diet and make long term change.

1. Diets that work take time
Diet has become a dirty word. When people think of a diet they think that they have to starve themselves, eat foods they don’t like and in the back of their they are saying to themselves “how long will i stick to this one”? Diets that work long term will need long term discipline on your behalf. The pain of discipline is far less painful than the pain of failure and regret. Commit that you aim to lose .5kg per week on your new diet. Commit that the changes that you are making will be for life and not just for a few weeks.

2. Choosing the wrong diet
Diet selection is critical. Many people chose the newest fad on the market thinking that they will get the results. Think again. Choose a diet that contains the foods you like. If you enjoy carbohydrates, choosing a plan that doesn’t allow for moderate carbohydrate intake would be unrealistic. Take a diet profile to help you with your selection.

3. Unrealistic Goals
Don’t create goals that are unachievable. Your weight loss and diet goals need to realistic. On a diet and weight loss program losing about .5kg per week is attainable. Perhaps a little more at the beginning of the diet program due to some water loss, however, after week two back to more consistent weight loss.
Also don’t weight yourself too often. Once per week is ample on any diet you choose.
About the Author
Australian Lifestyle & Fitness is an online weight loss and diet company that creates online weight loss programs to help you lose weight. Your weight loss program will be based on a unique diet profile to ensure that you diet is tailored specifically to you. We believe that you will lose weight and keep it off.

Thursday, April 9, 2009

Alternative Acne Treatments that Work

Alternative Acne Treatments that Work
There are several acne alternative treatments that can help impede or even cure acne. The Chinese believe that acne is caused by toxicity and heat in the blood stream. Some view acne as a digestive problem where the poisons from poor digestion are discharged into the skin.; One of the most elemental alternative acne treatments is to consume a low fat diet, maintain proper hygiene, and eat proper vitamins. Saturated fat intake should be kept to a minimum, as they can damage the tissue of the body, and also induce inflammation.
It has also be proposed to abstain from foods that may cause heat to build up in the body, like garlic, coffee, or spicy foods. Plenty of Vitamin A should be consumed, as it is essential for healthy skin. Zinc is also important as it helps heal the skin, and reduces hormonal imbalances. Omega-3 fatty acids are essential as they maintain cell membranes and aid in the transport of nutrients to the cells. Acidophilus capsules may be used to help with digestion. Daily bowl movements are important so a high fiber diet should be adhered to. For acne that is cause by menstruation Vitamin B-6 is important as it can help regularly maintain the proper metabolism of the increased release of hormones.
Some acne alternative treatments that may be applied directly to the skin include a honey facial. This is done by putting uncooked honey onto ones face and leaving it on the skin for five to ten minutes. Honey is said to revitalize the skin. Alternately tea tree oil may be applied to the skin. This has been said to impede bacteria from growing on the skin. Exfoliants may be used to treat acne and pimples. Glycolic acid and lactic acid are alpha-hydroxyl acids that are found in citrus fruits. It is suggested that they lessen dead skin cells from building up. Therefore lemon juice can be mixed with water and applied to the face. The juice should be allowed to dry on the skin for up to ten minutes and then is should be rinsed off. If one has sensitive skin more water may be required to the blend so the individual doesn't experience too much of a "burning" sensation.
Herbalists have their own concoctions to use as pimple alternative treatments. They suggest evening primrose oil, or black current seed oil capsules. Alternatively some recommend teas with Echinacea or goldenseal. Exercise and relaxation are also important alternative treatments for acne, as the body needs to be at its peak. While alternative acne treatments are controversial, especially with doctors, their success depends highly on the individual and the degree of acne they are suffering from.

Hair Loss is a Major Problem

Hair Loss is a Major Problem
Many people are scared to become bald, both male and female. Many of them worry when they see an amount of hair in their basin after shampooing. But as a matter of fact, our hair naturally loses about 50-100 hairs. The hairs removed often stays on our head. So when we take a shower we see a lot of hair in the basin, truth is this hair had been shed earlier.

It is really hard to tell if your hair is starting to get thin. Bald spots may be one of the signs but there is no assurance for it. There is a way to find out if your hair is starting to thin. The so-called “Tug test”, using your thumb and index finger, hold about 15-20 strands of hair. Pull it firmly and slowly. If more than 6 hairs were removed, you can say it is starting to get thin.

Hair loss can be caused by heredity and such major illness. Hair loss is generally a major problem for adults (elderly). But in some cases, teens start to loss their hair too. It is a great sign that there is something going wrong. Hair loss in adolescence stage is caused by illness or improper diet. Some caused by medical treatments, like chemotherapy. Wearing hairstyles that pulls hair also causes it, like braids, because there is tension on it.

Losing hair is really a great worry especially for teenagers that are concern with their appearance. The good news is, in adolescence stage it is really often happening. Once the causes of it were corrected, hair usually grows back.

Here are common mistakes of people about hair loss. It is not true that when you brush your hair about 100 times it will be stimulated. It might only cause you hair injury. Hairs really don’t breath. They get their oxygen from our blood in our scalps. Our hair will be damaged only because of wig or caps if it is too tight. Frequent cleansing and shampooing of hair is really not one cause of hair falling. Most hairs that are being removed by shampoo are the hairs that are already fallen out. Protein-containing conditioners and shampoos help our hair grow and nourished? False. It only fills the surface of the hair shaft. Making it thicker and much smoother.

We must take care of our hair to prevent hair loss, avoid too much style that would put tension on it. Avoid unnecessary gadgets for our hair to maintain its natural beauty

Tuesday, April 7, 2009

Suplements and Your Health

Suplements and Your Health
By: Galina Samitova
A lot of people these days are trying to make their health better. No matter where you turn, from TV to newspapers, you'll see stories about people and how bad their health actually is. Even though there are many different companies out there that offer vitamins and supplements and claim that they will change your healthy, you'll need to research what they offer and sure that you aren't just wasting your money.

If you are looking to improve your health, you'll need to look at many different vitamin supplements to find which ones are the best for you. You should look at everything available, and not just try a few to see what happens. Dieting is the ideal place to start, as it can make the most improvements on your health. Dieting can change your body, and make you feel a lot better as well.

These days, a lot of people eat way too much sweets and sugar, choosing refined products over healthy food. Even though it isn't a bad thing to enjoy sweets and chocolate, you should never make a habit out of it. You can still enjoy your favorite foods as well, although you should be looking at the healthy benefits of food as well and think of everything as a whole.

If you include healthy foods such as salads, vegetables, and fruit into your diet, you'll be eating healthy. Protein is also beneficial to your health, as it promotes the growth of your muscle. Those of you, who are serious about eating healthy but are unsure where to start, should contact a nutritionist. They will be able to tell you where to start, and how to achieve a healthy diet that will chance your life.

Even though you may be eating healthy or trying to eat healthy, you'll probably find yourself wondering about vitamins and supplements and how much of an impact they have on your diet. Dieticians are ideal to consult with these types of questions, as they can answer any questions relating to vitamins that you have. They can also tell you which supplements are ideal to your health, and which ones you should include in your diet.

Different people will have different needs and requirements, making it essential to get advice from a qualified professional. If you get the advice from a professional, you'll know what you can add to your diet. If you try to do it all yourself without the advice of a professional, you can end up not getting enough in your diet, or you could end up taking something that you shouldn't be taken.

Exercise is also important to your diet and your health. Although supplements and vitamins will go a long way, exercise will do a lot for your body. If you exercise on a regular basis, and take the right supplements and vitamins with your diet, you'll notice that you have more energy and you feel better than you ever have in your life.

Before you start with your new diet or rush out and buy your new vitamin supplements, you should always check with your doctor first to see if he has any recommendations. You should also tell him what type of exercise you are planning on doing, and see if there are any complications with your health. Getting a healthy lifestyle is always a great thing, although you should always consult with your doctor. This way, you'll know the best way to start and how to go about getting in the best shape of your life.

Author Bio

Galina Samitova - Who is
Living a healthy Life with Veriuni nutritionals.
http://www.ezinfocenter.com/8386375/VNU

Monday, April 6, 2009

Sunday, April 5, 2009