Archive for the ‘Health’ Category

Chronic Back Pain

Monday, April 5th, 2010

Chronic back pain can be very difficult to treat, even more so in cases involving unsuccessful back surgery or neuropathic or Nerve Pain. The pain tends to last a long time, and continues even after physiotherapy and is not relieved by the standard types of medical management.

It may be the result of a an old sports injury long since healed, or the result of arthritis or some form of nerve damage.Usually it is the involuntary, habituated contraction of back muscles which can be induced by emotional issues, ongoing reaction to pain or general stress.

There are two main reasons for chronic pain. These include the physical injury and neurological problems. While physical injuries can be identified and treated effectively, it is often difficult to diagnose neurological problems. Chronic pain can also be a result of certain psychological process.

Chronic pain, being acute and recurring, is debilitating and frustrates the patient by hindering their normal day to day activities. Often, patients of chronic pain suffer even for years with the pain progressing in intensity.

Chronic back pain in the back can be caused due to aging when the elasticity of the muscles and strength of the bone decreases to a great extent. There is no flexibility and fluidity in the discs and therefore the vertebrae is not sufficiently cushioned resulting in Acute Back Pain. Chronic pain can be due to lifting heavy objects and not doing so in a safe way, over stretching, spasm in ligaments or muscles, strain and sprain.

Sometimes, chronic back pain can also be a result of a serious medical problem. It is vital to consult a doctor, identify the cause and start treatment in order to manage and bring the pain under control.

Chronic pain in the back is usually diagnosed with x-rays, electro-diagnostic procedures, magnetic resonance imaging, computerized tomography, bone scans, ultrasound imaging, thermography and discography.

Most of the time this pain can be treated without going in for any surgical procedure. Doctors may prescribe medications to be complemented with ice packs, exercise and bed rest. Effective medications include a combination of over the counter drugs and prescription drugs. Only if none of these methods reduce the pain, doctors advise going in for surgery.

Maintaining healthy levels of LDL

Thursday, April 1st, 2010

Maintain healthy LDL levels is considered to be one of the most important factors in reducing a person’s risk of heart attack, stroke, and artery disease. While most know LDL simply as bad cholesterol, LDL actually stands for low density lipoproteins. When a person’s levels of LDL are consistently high (over 130) it causes the buildup of fatty deposits inside the arteries known as plaque, narrowing the arteries and reducing blood flow to the heart. If left untreated arterial blockage will eventually occur, leading to a heart attack or stroke.

Healthy levels of LDL are generally considered to be under 120 milligrams for each deciliter of blood for those with no family or personal history of heart disease. On the other hand if you have a personal or family history of heart disease, or have one or more of the other common risk factors (smoking, obesity, inactivity, high blood pressure, diabetes etc…) healthy levels of LDL will be in the 90 to 100 mg/dl range.

Diet and healthy levels of LDL
There are two basic ways your body gets cholesterol: from the foods you eat and by producing it internally through the liver. The truth of the matter is that the liver produces enough cholesterol each day to supply your requirements. What this means is that any cholesterol consumed from the diet must be either used or disposed of through solid waste, otherwise it will end up in your arteries in the form of plaque.

According to the American Heart Association to maintain levels of LDL in a heart healthy range your total dietary fat intake should be no more than 30 percent of total calories consumed daily and most of that fat should be in the form of polyunsaturated and monosaturated fats; along with omega 3 fatty acids found in cold water fatty fish.

The most dangerous type of fat, as it relates to heart and artery disease, is that of saturated fat. The AMA suggest keeping saturated fat consumption below 7 percent of total calories, which equates to around 11 or 12 grams for every 1600 calories consumed.

What next? Maintaining healthy levels of LDL, in most cases, is about eating right, changing old habits, adopting new healthier habits, and enlisting the help of convention medications such as statins or natural cholesterol reducing remedies if needed. Put simply, this basically means finding ways to increase HDL (good cholesterol) and decrease LDL (bad cholesterol levels), and bring overall cholesterol down to acceptable heart healthy levels. Certainly the aforementioned statin drugs will be one of your options but they do carry a number of serious label warnings. The side effect risks have made natural cholesterol reduction supplements combined with diet modification and smart lifestyle choices (not smoking, staying active) a safe and effective combination worth considering.

Foods to help lower cholesterol

Monday, March 15th, 2010

Are you looking for ways to lower cholesterol? People these days are very conscious of their weight and their cholesterol level as well. It is not surprising to find people searching for tips and suggestions on how to lower their high cholesterol. Perhaps it is because of the health disadvantages that can result.

Several heart ailments have been connected to high cholesterol level in the body. Some people, for whom the risk of a stroke is high, should not take high cholesterol for granted.

Health is an essential aspect to a happy life, but it must be monitored. Generally, having good health means that a good diet and exercise regime is followed. What you eat plays a significant role in your cholesterol level. So it is essential that one should choose the proper food and nutrition in order to attain the right level of cholesterol that you need. Having cholesterol levels that are too high could result in ill health so lowering cholesterol levels is necessary.

There are two types of cholesterol, the LDL and the HDL cholesterol. Imagine the HDL as the healthy type and the LDL as the non-healthy one. In particular, HDL can eventually aid in carrying cholesterol out of the blood vessels while the LDL permits it to be deposited inside the artery walls. But it is good news that you can do something about it.

So, let us start by discussing it. Eating hot dogs, mayonnaise, bologna and salami may be very pleasing, but these foods could easily increase your cholesterol levels. You don’t want that, so your food choice instead should be replaced with sandwiches made of lean turkey and a whole lot of fresh, green vegetables.

Restrict eating those highly processed foods and those that you know have high fat levels. As much as possible avoid trans fats, for these further raise the LDL cholesterol and advance the lowering of the beneficial HDL.

Moreover, it is advisable that you do not eat foods like shortening, margarine, and especially those which contain partially hydrogenated soybean oil. Furthermore, eat those foods that are rich in Omega-3. Salmon is a really good option so buy red salmon varieties, for they are fantastic sources of Omega-3. Flax seed is also rich in Omega-3. Nuts are also great alternatives to your high-fat cravings.

Try walnuts, almonds, cashews, and pecans. They are high in fat but they are not the kind that causes harm. You should also cut down on rich desserts. Why not try to eat other alternatives like angel food cakes, jelly, crackers or fat-free yogurts?

Fresh, green vegetables are rich in fiber and these will aid in lowering cholesterol. Fruits, vegetables, cereals, beans and oatmeal are nutritious and can trim down your cholesterol levels as well. Try to grill if you are going to eat steak or burgers for a treat. This would lower the intake of fatty grease and it tastes great too. In addition, olive oil is better to use and try to avoid bacon bits, egg yolks, and other like foods. And most of all avoid fast foods.

If you suffer from high cholesterol, you should consult your primary care physician for advice before making any changes to your diet.

Beauty Home Remedies Natural Beauty Homemade Recipes

Wednesday, March 10th, 2010

Most women do everything in their power to look as good as possible. Everybody knows that beauty goes hand in hand with health. Nevertheless, ladies spend incredible amounts of money on beauty products that sometimes don’t even have the expected results. Keeping yourself beautiful and healthy is not at all complicated as long as you know how to take advantage of beauty home remedies. Natural products or ingredients that you can find in your own kitchen can prove more efficient than expensive cosmetic products. All you have to is to pick the right ingredients for what you need and to be perseverant. It might be a little bit more complicated to prepare natural beauty remedies than to buy them from a store, but it is sure worth the time and the effort.

Beauty home remedies are at hand whether you are interested in skin care or hair care. If you have dry hair for example, massages with mayonnaise or olive oil are the perfect solution for you. If, on the other hand you have oily hair, try a paste made of boiled carrots and your problem will be history.

When it comes to skin care, the variety of beauty home remedies available is even larger. However, in order for your choice to be effective, you need to determine your skin type. Natural beauty remedies differ depending on how your skin is. Almond oil or a mash made of bananas is excellent for dry skin, but they can only worsen the condition of an oily skin. As I said, beauty home remedies are just a few steps away, into your kitchen. Ground coffee can easily be used instead of expensive scrubs because it does a great job in exfoliating your skin. The kitchen can also provide solutions if you have acne. Garlic is great when cooking and it’s even greater when applied on the skin areas affected by acne. Your nails and your teeth can also benefit of natural beauty remedies. Make your own toothpaste from lemon juice and salt or from apple cider vinegar and baking soda. Everyone will the envy your beautiful smile. A true lady also has an impeccable manicure at all times. Olive oil nourishes your hands and nails and makes them look perfect.

Whatever your problem is, there is always a natural solution at your disposal. Whether you are trying to get rid of wrinkles, to avoid hair loss, to reduce cellulite or just to have a natural approach towards your body, beauty home remedies are going to help you.

Having a free list of low cholesterol food is useful

Friday, February 26th, 2010

Today people all over the world are suffering the problem of cholesterol levels in the body. This is the reason why it is good to know about the foods which are low in cholesterol levels so that you can take those foods and save your health. You can find a free list of low cholesterol food online. Food plays a very important role when it comes to maintaining a balance between the good and bad levels of cholesterol. We all know the fact that there are two types of cholesterol; one is good and one is bad. The relation between these should always be in a healthy proportion. Try to eat as many as fresh fruits and vegetables on a daily basis. This natural food is rich in fiber and contains nothing like cholesterol and it would be a nice supply of vitamins and minerals to your body. Garlic and blueberry are the best when it comes to combating the cholesterol of your body. Also try to eat walnut and also almond. Try to get a free list of low cholesterol food online.

We all know that oatmeal is so popular when it comes to increasing the levels of good cholesterol in your body. Make sure you take some amount of natural oatmeal every day. Fish contains omega-3 fats which play a very important role when it comes to the cholesterol levels of the body. You can get all this information in any free list of low cholesterol food online.

There is a lot of importance to free list of low cholesterol food because if you know the food to eat to lower cholesterol then you can save your life from cholesterol. It is healthier to be familiar with various details about cholesterol and how to decrease bad cholesterol in the body. This is because it has become a chief health problem all over the planet today. The way of life we lead today is entirely damaging these days and our lives are prone to many medical problems if we don’t take sufficient care in the food we take and the life we live.

You also need to keep in mind the fact that cholesterol is mostly obtained from consuming animal products. So if you boost your intake of plant products then you can decrease the risk of cholesterol. This plays a significant role in lowering cholesterol levels of the body. This way by eating the right kind of foods you can stay away from a range of risks of cholesterol. It is very important to maintain the right quantity of cholesterol in the body as there are lots of risks involved with it. You are prone to health hazards like strokes and even heart attacks. It literally means that cholesterol kills. We can’t afford to stay careless about cholesterol anymore as it may take away our lives. Gain adequate information about this topic and stay healthy. This way you can manage a good lifestyle and stay healthy with a long life.

Beauty Tips for Beautiful Black Skin

Friday, February 12th, 2010

For women especially, beauty is something that we obsess about. Maybe you have seen Iman and wondered how you can get your skin to look as beautiful as hers especially at her age. Or Gabrielle Union’s skin, Halle Berry’s and so on. By following the beauty tips for beautiful black skin discussed below, you too can have the skin you have always wanted by working with not against what you have.

Although most celebrities have “beauty teams” including makeup artists, hair stylists, easy access to exclusive cosmetics, etc, there are several tried and true beauty secrets that will work for anyone who is seeking to have more beautiful skin whether you are dealing with sensitive skin, oily skin, hyperpigmentation, etc.

There are many harmful beauty practices that are damaging black skin such as skin bleaching and other harmful chemicals as well as poor diet, and eliminating these harmful practices is the beginning of having beautiful skin.

If you have a poor diet, it will be shown in your skin. When you start properly nourishing your body by following a beauty diet, your skin will start to glow and you will not be as dependent on beauty creams and makeup for your skin to look beautiful.

A proper beauty diet includes nutrient rich foods containing high quality proteins, healthy carbs and good fats such as omega 3 fatty acids contained in salmon for instance. Beauty foods are also rich in beauty enhancing vitamins such as vitamin C and E, minerals, antioxidants and phyto chemicals.

Finally, beauty food should be fresh, organic, unrefined and high in fiber to be the most beneficial to you body, skin, hair and nails. Drink at least 8 to 10 glasses of water to remain properly hydrated.

The one biggest misconception relating to black skin is that “black don’t crack”. It does crack. Black skin has a high content of melanin which provides some sun protection of about SPF 13 which is not enough to protect against the suns damaging rays.

It is important that you use a sunscreen containing an SPF of between 15 to 30 and more if you spend a lot of time outdoors. Sunscreen should be applied on a daily basis rain or shine. Lack of sun protection will lead to sun damage as well as premature aging.

If you suffer from acne, depending on the severity, you can get a prescription for topical retinol products such as Retin-A which work by increasing cell turnover and stimulating the body’s natural collagen production. Over the counter beauty products to treat and manage blemishes and acne usually contain salicylic acid and benzoyl peroxide. For those with sensitive skin, products containing alpha and beta hydroxy should be used instead.

Another problem that affects black skin is hyperpigmentation. This occurs because of the high melanin content of black skin and represents the dark marks left over from acne and blemish scars that have healed. The high melanin content is the reason that most women are plagued with uneven skin tone at a greater rate than those with fairer skin.

To fade these dark marks, it is important to use sunscreen on a daily basis so than the sun’s damaging raise do not exacerbate the problem. Prescription strength combination hydroquinone is usually prescribed to even out spots over time however, it is important that you check with a dermatologist to ensure that you are not sensitive to hydroquinone. Hydroquinone abuse is also common in the harmful skin bleaching practice.

There are also various other skin creams that address uneven skin tone that you can get over the counter and do not contain hydroquinone that work just as well as prescriptions.

The basic skincare regimens should be followed and includes cleansing twice a day, moisturizing for you particular skin type (oily, combination/normal, dry or sensitive) otherwise black skin will tend to look ashy, exfoliation once or twice a week and sun protection to prevent wrinkles and skin cancer. If you have oily skin you can add a skin toner or astringent two to three times a week. A toner is usually unnecessary for most skin types.

5 Ways To Positively Change Your Life Without Spending A Penny!

Tuesday, December 15th, 2009

Have you ever thought to yourself, “life would be so much easier if I could escape to a tropical island in Hawaii, lie on the beach and not worry about anything except for how many hours it will take to become a bronze god (or goddess) and which swim-up bar I’ll get my next daiquiri from?” If you have, you’re not alone.

While the idea of escaping to a tropical paradise seems like the best solution to finding a new you, it’s not the most practical. Not only would it cost a fortune to live the island dream, but you probably have children and jobs that rely on your presence at home every day. Luckily, there are fun, easy and affordable ways to improve your life without uprooting your family and abandoning all of your responsibilities.

Here are 5 ways to improve your life without spending a penny!

Health. Your health is the key to your happiness. If you’re sick all of the time, you’re going to be more stressed out and less energized than you would be when you’re in tip top health. Exchange the bag of potato chips for a bag of snow peas and the beer for a bottle of water and you’ll be laughing. Not only will these small changes make you healthier but they’ll also improve your skin, decrease your waist size, reduce acne and leave you with a healthy glow. This leads us to our next point…

Beauty. It’s a proven fact that men and women who are content with their appearances live happier lives in general. Take the extra money you’ve saved from swapping the beer for water and the snow peas for potato chips and spend it on a $10 at-home spa kit. A bottle of bubble bath, an aromatherapy candle and a portable massage brush will leave you feeling rejuvenated and re-energized in no time.

Addiction. Everyone is guilty of having some form of addiction. Whether it’s coffee, beer, wine or junk food, there’s always something in your life that you could use less of. We’re not saying cut out beer, wine, junk food or whatever it is you’re obsessed with (hey you work hard for your money, you deserve a reward) but trying to cut back from 2 beers a night to 1 or from chips and dip to just chips will likely make a difference in both your health and your happiness.

Relationships. Relationships can either greatly improve your life or cause undue stress and anxiety – depending on what’s going on. Try and surround yourself with positive people that make you happy and try to mend broken relationships that you think are worth saving. Eliminate the people in your life that cause stress and hardship and increase the number of people who make your life exciting. Relationships – whether it be friends, family or co-workers – are the key to your happiness so choose them carefully.

Personal Finance. Finance is the one subject that can turn a smile into a frown in mere seconds – or vice versa. Financial problems are the leading cause of stress in men and women between the ages of 18 and 65. If you’re stressing out about money, talk to a financial advisor who can help allocate your savings and monitor your spending habits. Before you know it, you’ll have enough money in the bank to go for a vacation. We’re thinking a tropical island paradise…

Healthy weight loss – The right and proper way to lose weight

Saturday, December 12th, 2009

A lot of people are trying their best to find the best solution for their weight problems. Many people have gone from the weirdest techniques to the absurd. But in spite of everything, the problem remains. Do you know why? That is because they are not doing it the right way. If you really want to lose weight, then you must have a healthy weight loss plan. Unless you do it this way, you will not achieve the results that you want. Yes, you may achieve it for a while but you will definitely go back to your original size. Doing it the healthy way is the only solution that will allow you to really keep your weight problems away.

So what is the healthy way to lose weight? Here are some tips that you can use as your guide. They are simple enough for you to understand and follow.

1. Always eat plenty of fruits and vegetables.

As a general rule, fruits and vegetables are advisable. They contain vitamins and minerals that you need to maintain essential body processes. They also help in boosting your immune system. If you have enough of them, your immune system will be strong enough to be able to fight infections. Fruits and vegetables are known for having antioxidant properties that can help you fight cancer-causing free radicals.

2. Avoid removing one food group in your diet.

These food groups have their own unique use in your body so if you remove any of them you will not get everything that your body needs.

3. Choose the right sources of food.

This is the preferred option over the one mention in the second item. Instead of removing one food group, just make sure that you select the right choices like having white meat over red or olive oil over coconut oil.

4. Eat food rich in fibers.

Fibers are needed for proper digestion and elimination of waste. Fruits and vegetables are good sources. You can also take grains that are known to have high fiber contents.

5. Avoid eating food items that have high salt content.

Too much salt increases water retention so you will be bloated. Apart from that too much salt is also bad for the kidneys.

6. Avoid eating too fast.

If you eat hurriedly, the tendency is for you to eat more. It takes a while for your stomach to send the signal to your brain that you are already full. If you eat fast, you may have already eaten too much before you realize it. Besides, it is good to eat slowly so you can enjoy the food you are eating.

7. Avoid skipping meals.

You might think that if you miss one meal a day you will lose weight. This is not how a healthy weight loss program works. If you miss meals, your body’s metabolic rate will go down. This means that you will burn less energy and store more as fats. If you miss meals you will also feel starved. This leads to eating more in your next meal to compensate for that feeling of deprivation you experienced.

8. Drink lots of water.

Water is good in maintaining body processes and it also aids in digestion. It also helps flush away toxins.

If you really want to lose weight avoid being tricked by the many programs you will see in the internet or on magazines. The surest way is to just follow a healthy weight loss plan.

Good and Bad Cholesterol Explained

Saturday, December 5th, 2009

Most have heard the term cholesterol but how many of us really understand the true importance good and bad cholesterol? It is not often that one of your friends calls, texts, or tweets us to brag about his/her good cholesterol being 60 mg/dl and his/her bad cholesterol coming in at around 100 mg/dl. Anyone who did might just be classified as a cholesterol nerd, or something of the sort. Nevertheless, these are important numbers and gaining a better understanding of what they represent in relation to your health could just save your life. Now if you have a few minutes to spare why don’t we jump right into our topic of good and bad cholesterol explained.

Did you know cholesterol doesn’t float freely in your blood? That’s right, it has to be ferried around. The body’s answer to this is good cholesterol (HDL) and bad cholesterol (LDL) which are know in medical terms as lipoprotein carriers. In other words fat and cholesterol carriers. Think of our two stars as competing cab drivers in the same city both vying for that prized customer known as cholesterol who has a schizophrenic personality. When he gets into the HDL cab he is the perfect citizen just wanting to get to the airport to catch his flight home. On the other hand if he gets into the LDL cab he has the potential to become a danger to society if allowed to hang around too long.

Well, pretty corny analogy, right! Not the best way to go about defining good and bad cholesterol explained. So let’s try again, and this time let’s let the American Medical Association do the heavy fat lifting for us. According to the AMA the two most important blood fat/cholesterol carriers are low density lipoproteins (LDL) and high density lipoproteins (HDL). The levels of LDL and HDL have opposite effects on the heart. High levels of LDL, referred to as “the bad cholesterol” are associated with the buildup of plaque (fat deposits) in the arteries, leading to atherosclerosis and heart disease. High levels of HDL, “the good cholesterol” reduce the risk of the disease. End

So there you have it good and bad cholesterol explained. I hope you have enjoyed the ride.

What else? Lowering and maintaining good and bad cholesterol levels in a healthy range, in most cases, is about changing old habits, adopting new healthier habits, and enlisting the help of convention medications such as statins or natural cholesterol reducing remedies if needed. Put simply, this basically means finding ways to increase HDL (good cholesterol) and decrease LDL (bad cholesterol levels). Certainly the aforementioned statin drugs will be one of your options but they do carry a number of serious label warnings. The side effect risks have made natural cholesterol reduction supplements combined with diet modification a safe and effective combination worth considering.

How to Lower Cholesterol Levels

Wednesday, November 11th, 2009

Health problems might not be the main concern of many these days. They are more concerned with their figure. It is their beliefs that when they are slim it means they are healthier. That is a misconception. Low cholesterol foods can prevent heart attack, stroke and other cardiovascular diseases as well as other body disorders.

Low cholesterol menus are already available in the market. Usually, the problem is you do not have any idea, yet, what the perfect menu is, to keep an eye on and what drugs naturally lower cholesterol level.

There are simple ways on how to lower cholesterol levels. You must have to know your limitations and choose the proper foods which are low in cholesterol. These are the kinds of food that can provide you with good health. If your goal is to have lower cholesterol levels, then you have to begin it right by your choice of low cholesterol foods.

If in addition to good food, exercise is your other option; then consider the following tips on how to lower cholesterol levels.

It is necessary for you to take a routine and dynamic exercise because you cannot achieve your desirable results overnight. Normally, it takes months if not weeks to get your target. When you are in the process of doing such an exercise, it is also important to do it with moderate intensity. See to it that the exercises you opted are enough.

For best results, exercise should be of moderate intensity. Do not overdo things. Just make your exercises enough or in a moderate extent.

Regular exercise should be for at least twenty minutes daily. However, for those who are not used to this, they can do these three to four days per week. Weight training is highly recommended to burn calories for the purpose of building your muscles and making them strong.

Like other activities you perform, you must also set your goals in doing regular exercise. Set your goals and keep a record for this. Jot down in your record book what improvement was seen in your daily exercise. This way you can monitor whether your cholesterol level is going up or going low.

If you had been a chain smoker or one addicted to alcoholic beverages or drugs, it is now time to stop these vices. These bring bad effects to the health as they reduce motor skills as well as muscular functioning. The worst is it can lead the users to death. Overnight is not enough for you to be reformed. It needs months if weeks are not enough. Diligence and perseverance are the keys to the attainment of your goal.