Posts Tagged ‘disease’

Arthritis – Crippling Your Quality Of Life

Saturday, April 7th, 2012

If you or someone you know has arthritis, then you know how hard it can make your life. Arthritis comes in many different types. There have been over 100 known forms of arthritis. Arthritis is a group of many different conditions that all engage in damaging the joints of the body.

Osteoarthritis is a form of arthritis and it’s also the most common. Osteoarthritis is a degenerative joint disease that comes as a result of excessive trauma to the joints, infection of the joints, or simply by old age.

Osteoarthritis, as well as affecting the joints, decreases the amount of cartilage in your bones. When your cartilage is attacked by osteoarthritis, your bones will try repairing themselves. The bone then remodels itself and in the process, a bone cyst forms.

Osteoarthritis has many symptoms that can easily send a warning flag your way. An early sign of osteoarthritis is when you have stiffness or difficulty in moving the joint and it causes pain in which case you should see a doctor immediately.

The fingers, hip, spine, and knees are the most common joints affected with Osteoarthritis. Don’t brush it off and see a doctor immediately if you feel your fingertips are engorged but aren’t causing you any pain.

Besides Osteoarthritis, there are other forms of arthritis. One of them is Rheumatoid arthritis. A severe inflammation of your joints is what happens here. It can also strike various other organs in your body, making your immune system unknowingly attack your own body’s tissue.

The official term for this type of disease is “autoimmune,” where you have antibodies in your blood that target your own body. Generally, when your own immune system attacks itself, inflammation occurs.

Luckily, while rheumatoid arthritis is still considered a chronic illness, many people claim to experience extensive periods of time without any symptoms. The main symptom of rheumatoid arthritis is inflammation of any joint or organ.

Low energy, lack of appetite, stiffness of your joints, and fever are other symptoms. In the morning hours is when most patients describe the stiffness to be most dominant. While your symptoms have flared up, joints may also become tender or red.

Commonly known as psoriatic arthritis autoimmune disease or PSAAD, psoriatic arthritis is one of the scariest forms because the body ends up attacking itself in order to fight off the arthritis.

With psoriatic arthritis, your skin and joints are attacked. The name came from psoriasis, a skin condition affected 4% of the people in the US. Itchy, raised, reddish patches of skin are the main symptoms of psoriatic arthritis.

The patches may even become flaky or scaly. When it comes to psoriasis, the affected areas include the tips of the elbows, knees, scalp, and near the genitals. Patients are often diagnosed as having psoriatic arthritis if they claim to have inflamed joints and psoriasis.

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Arthritis In Spine Explained

Friday, April 6th, 2012

Of all the many different types of arthritis, some cause problems in spine joints, while others cause pain in other parts of the body such as shoulders, hips and knees. Usually it is the joints of the lower back that are affected, and in fact arthritis in its various forms is one of the most common causes of lower back pain.

Usually many of the people who develop arthritis in the spine joints already have a history of degenerative disc disease or spinal stenosis. These conditions place an extra burden on the joints of the spine which can lead to damage and the pain of arthritis.

The majority of people suffering from arthritis usually suffer from Osteoarthritis, and the condition is fairly common in old age. About 1 in 10 people over 65 will be disabled due to osteoarthritis, although most of these cases refer to knees and hips which can often be restored to mobility through surgery.

Some of the most common symptoms of osteoarthritis are usually pain and stiffness in the neck and lower back. A problem in the neck may be accompanied by weakness or numbness in the arms.

Rheumatoid arthritis is another arthritic condition in which the joints are inflamed and cause a lot of pain. As with other auto immune diseases, the cause is not known but there may be a genetic factor. Women are three times more likely to develop it than men. Unlike other forms of arthritis it is more likely to affect the upper spine, especially the joints of the neck, along with feet and hands.

Ankylosing spondylitis is a type of arthritis that involves the spine. Like other types of arthritis, it is an auto-immune disease, but it affects the spine instead than the joints. As opposed to rheumathoid arthritis, it affects men more than women, and it is usually developed before 40 years of age. It causes pain and stiffness in the whole spine, and many people suffering from the condition complain of general fatigue. Inflammation of the eyes is sometimes also an issue. Relief from pain can be experienced with movement, and pain is at its worst when resting. Most people are treated with physical therapy, exercise and pain medication.

If you feel you’re developing arthritis in the spinal area, you might want to assess your sleeping arrangements. Sometimes, changing your mattress to a firmer one, or even finding a different pillow, can make all the difference. Heat may also bring great relief.

You might want to ask your doctor for any possible suggestions on exercises that could benefit you by strengthening your back and making you more flexible. He or she can prescribe pain medication that is suitable for you. So, make sure you let your doctor know of your condition, and you also keep him informed if you notice any changes.

In some cases, surgery may be recommended. This kind of decision is uniquely decided after considering all factors. Spinal surgery is not undertaken lightly, but it can be helpful, especially where the arthritis in spine is accompanied by other problems that may respond to surgical procedures.

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Could An Arthritis Diet Reduce Your Pain?

Thursday, April 5th, 2012

Have you tried all sorts of remedies to reduce arthritis pain and now you feel like you’ve hit rock bottom? There is a new arthritis diet that may help greatly reduce your pain. Doctors have found out that there are foods that can help reduce the pain while others cause inflammation of the joints and muscles.

If you’ve ever thought to yourself that your joints are much achier after your meal than before you ate, the pain you’re experiencing could directly relate to the foods you ate. Although there’s no medical or scientific evidence that actually links the two together, they have more in common than you think.

Antibodies in the body affect the bursts of arthritis pain and this is where most of the studies have been centered. But food-related antibodies mainly show up in the gut, not the blood, so the studies are somewhat incomplete.

Known to trigger the symptoms of arthritis pain are food allergies. Your body accidentally seeing something you ate as harmful is what happens. Your immune system creates an overload of antibodies as your body tries to protect you and they are the actual triggers of the pain.

According to one arthritis diet, it’s recommended that in your daily diet you incorporate oily fish. Cod liver supplements, tuna, salmon, and sardines are foods that can help with the pain.

Vitamin should also be incorporated into your diet with the consummation of beets, turnips, tomatoes, asparagus, crab, mangoes, papaya, unsalted nuts, sunflower seeds, carrot juice, and bran-flake cereal.

Vitamin C has also been claimed to reduce arthritis pain. Examples of Vitamin C include peaches, oranges, broccoli, green and red peppers, parsley, lime, guava, pineapple, kiwi, cabbage, raspberries, strawberries, etc.

Also greatly reducing your pain are turmeric and ginger which are used in soups, stews, or curries. Also helpful vegan and vegetarian diet. While there are foods that can help you relieve tension in your joints, there are also foods you want to stay away from.

Mozzarella cheese, parmesan cheese, goat cheese, ricotta or cottage cheese, buttermilk, whey, creams, eggs, butter, ice cream, milk, yogurt, etc. may aggravate your system.

Arthritis pain can also flare up because of fatty meats. Good examples of fatty meats are chicken, turkey, roast beef, hamburger, steak, pork, spare ribs, sausage, bacon, and ham.

Cupcakes, cakes, cookies, English muffins, and other baked foods and dessert items may also increase pain. For those who have food sensitive disease, consult your physician first before embarking on any sort of diet.

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Pain Relief Tips For Arthritis

Friday, March 30th, 2012

If you’re experiencing arthritis pain, you already know how severe it can be. What you also know is how much you struggle just to find solace from all the pain. Even though this disease doesn’t have a formal cure, there are tips to help you achieve pain relief from arthritis.

To warm you right up, a great form of pain relief is moist heat. For around $10-$30, you can buy hot packs or heating pads. You could also make a homemade heating pad – they both work in the same way.

If you want to make your own, grab a towel. What you want to do with the towel is dampen it with warm water. Afterwards, you can either heat it up in your microwave for 10 seconds to a minute or heat it in an oven.

Set the oven at 300 degrees. You’ll want to do this for about 5-10 minutes depending on the type of oven you have. In order to restrict the likelihood of burns, you should test the towel’s temperature on the inside of your forearm like you would with a baby bottle.

Also a good form of arthritis pain relief is taking baths. Besides being described as hydrotherapy, it’s also a regular part of many routines of physical therapists.

When it comes to hydrotherapy, it can be performed at home in a bathtub or hot tub. Have water jets in your bathtub in order to resemble the warm water massage done by professionals. Even a 15-20 minute dip in a warm bath will do the trick if you don’t have an over-sized tub.

When your body is exposed to the warmth because of the heat of the bath, the muscles carrying your weight are allowed to relax. Not only that, you’ll also get an excuse for to get a much needed bubble bath.

There’s another form of hydrotherapy you can do in your shower if you don’t have a bathtub. Having one of those shower massagers can work as well.

What you need to do is choose a pulse rate that’s best for you after you’ve set the temperature to warm or hot. Hold the massager 4-6 inches away from the affected joint after you’ve decided on the perfect settings.

If the place you live in is not so chilly, then you may not want more heat. What you may want instead is a breath of icy fresh air so that on a hot day, you can relieve your pain.

When you ice your pain away, the effects are similar to those who uses heat. On your aching joints, use an ice pack to relieve a lot of pain. Gel-filled cold packs are usually the way to go instead of straight ice – only because it’s a little less frigid and more refreshing.

Cold packs are very inexpensive and are available in many different shapes and sizes for those hard-to-reach areas. Cold packs go for $10-$15 at most grocery or local department stores. Keeping a few in the freezer is recommended so that you can have arthritis pain relief at your fingertips.

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Memory Enhancement

Wednesday, March 28th, 2012

Do you currently have trouble with keeping your memory sharp? Do you find yourself being a lot more forgetful frequently? These two signs and symptoms can indicate that you are starting to exhibit signs of regressing memory. Or, your memory is simply not strong enough. This can be due to a variety of different reasons. For example, some of the more widespread reasons are aging, head injury, disease, illness, drinking or drugs.

The first thing you should do is check with a doctor. If they say things are ok, your memory is most likely declining as a result of aging. However, if you are a heavy drinker or drug user, you may be accelerating the rate of brain cell death. You have to take proper step for memory enhancement. Memory enhancement techniques will help you increase your memory Memory enhancement techniques can also help to bring back the health of your brain as well as enhance your memory.

You can help keep your brain active by making sure to implement these memory enhancement methods. These techniques will enhance your memory by ensuring that the neurons in your brain are frequently communicating with one another more efficiently. This interlinking of neurons will improve the amount of information you can retain and recollect. One great memory enhancement technique is to play memory games. These games will train and improve both your long term and short term memory.

Play Memory Games: Playing memory games could be really useful to enhance your memory. As you get better, increase the difficulty and play more difficult games. Your brain will stay active and this will help to improve your memory due to ample blood flow supply and the active neurons.

Visualization: Visualization is a crucial memory enhancement technique which is able to help people remember better. For example, remembering a shopping list could be so much easier if you visualize the picture of the items rather than the text on the list.

Repetition: Always keep training your memory. This is very important! You will have to repetitively workout your brain so they stay active at all times.

Memory Enhancement Supplements: Memory enhancement supplements are a good way of improving your memory. Most of these supplements contain essential nutrients such as B vitamins, potassium, niacin and essential fatty acids that help keep your brain functioning at an optimal level.

A powerful memory can be achieved if you constantly train your brain through exercises, as well as including memory enhancement supplements to your daily life.

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Long Term Memory Loss

Monday, March 26th, 2012

There are thousands of new cases of long term memory loss each and every year. Each and every year, the number of cases of long term memory loss is increasing. This is probably linked to the amount of stimulating elements that an average American takes in in their daily life. Alcohol, recreational drugs, cigarettes, sleeping pills and numerous other substances have all been linked to causing long term memory loss.

Researchers have also linked long term memory loss with a shift in the kind of lifestyle the average American now lives. This new lifestyle packed with external stimulants has caused Americans to be at a higher risk than they were 10 years ago. Many studies have confirmed this and report that the Modern day lifestyle has led to the increases in long term memory loss cases. However, there are many people who believe pharmaceuticals are not the main cause but can actually prevent and cure long term memory loss.

Prevention is superior to the cure. This is particularly true for long term memory loss. One possible prevention strategy is to start exercising regularly and eat healthy. When you exercise and stay active, you will improve the health of your heart. Your heart health is extremly important because a healthy heart will provide your brain with more oxygen allowing it to function at an optimal level.

Another method of prevention is to regularly perform mental exercises such as actively playing memory games. This is especially helpful in keeping the brain active. An active brain makes use of more neurons more regularly, which makes them efficient at interlinking information. This is really helpful in improving your memory and your capacity to remember, retain and recall information as well as keep long term memory loss at bay.

Even modern medicine is unable to find a assured cure for long term memory loss. However, a few drugs have been found to boost the rate of regeneration of cognitive abilities. These drugs help create a better chemical environment which allows the brain to perform at a more optimal level.

The overall memory of an individual can be directly linked to the condition and health of your brain. Proper care of your brain by exercising, keeping the brain active and taking memory enhancement supplements could really help to fight long term memory loss.

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Can Your Thoughts Do A Better Job Than Medication?

Saturday, March 24th, 2012

In our society today the population of people over the age of 65 is rapidly growing, along with a community growing older unfortunately brings many new health challenges; chronic pain is one of the many challenges facing our seniors today due to the financial cost to treat this disease. In the first six months following diagnosis, it costs on average $3,481 for consultations, tests, and medications.

Acute pain plagues each of us at different times in our lives where as a Chronic pain is pain that a person has endured for a period of time longer than 3 months. The concern about seniors having chronic pain deals with the fact that health care premiums are on the rise and many seniors who have suffered with on-going pain would like to sidestep the expensive pharmaceuticals yet do not know how to get help otherwise, for there are as many medications available as there are causes to chronic pain.

These little things might not seem like a big deal to main stream society but to someone who has burns over 70 percent of their body, if they can find the beauty in their smile, their eyes, or even be able to find a freckle that remains on skin unaffected by a burn, what joy this person feels; it also helps the person feel healthier recover from some illness quicker.

Do you believe happiness is available to everyone if they just engage in positive thinking? A new study published in Science Translational Medicine reveals that a patient’s thoughts can be better than medication. Optimistic thoughts can influence how we respond to symptoms and drugs, for example those who’ve attempted multiple treatment options for a chronic disease who add positive or healthy thinking find a better way to cope with their chronic disease by changing how they think and approach solutions to the disease. It’s based on research that shows that you can change how you think. And how you think affects how you feel- you are what you think.

For example those diagnosed with cancer, chronic fatigue syndrome, diabetes, arthritis, heart conditions and other illnesses; psychologists have found that positive attitude can even overcome serious diseases such as these and by positive thinking the body also heals faster. The illness it’s-self might not disappear but with positive thinking you are able to care for yourself and handle the situation of illness better than those who avoid or can only see the negative oppression of their illness.

It comes down to choice- you can believe in positive thinking and directing the brilliant power of one’s mind and subconscious to produce a life of health or you can be a skeptic, negative person, whose health may or may not improve with this kind of thinking. What will you choose?

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Conditions of the Ear

Sunday, March 4th, 2012

You will find two components in the auditory technique, Peripheral and central. Peripheral auditory is composed of middle, outer and inner ear. You’ll find two kinds of hearing loss, conductive and external.

Transmission of sound occurs when soundwaves are picked up by your external ear, funneled in to the ear canal and bounced against your tympanic membrane. These sound waves are transferred into fluid in the cochlea in the inner ear. Nerves choose up these vibrations in fluid and turn them into signals your brain can have an understanding of.

Presbycusis is hearing loss due to aging. loss is better for high pitched sounds. Tinnititus is also in some cases knowledgeable, this can be referred to as ringing in the ears. More than 36 million americans encounter hearing loss, this can effect their every day lives in numerous strategies.

When assessing for hearing loss you must also involve testing for loss of balance. A thorough history is important, patients with frequent middle ear infections and past surgery or head injuries have an increased risk for hearing loss. Ailments like mumps, measles, scarlet fever and rubella also put you at an elevated threat.

Medicines can also impact your hearing. Some antibiotics, salicytes, anitmalarial agents, chemo and NSAIDS can all lead to hearing loss if applied inappropriately. Significant queries to ask include things like “Have you noticed a change in your hearing?” or “Do you have any ear pain, if that’s the case describe it.”

There are other elements that influence your hearing at the same time. Nutritional Status, Activity, and sleep patterns can all possess a negative or positive effect on your hearing. A diet low in sodium and alcohol may well support the hearing illness generally known as meniere’s disease. If you somehow had a massive object struck against your head multiple times, this too could affect your level of hearing.

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An Overview of Arthritis Pain Management Treatment

Thursday, March 1st, 2012

There are several different types of arthritis, and they fall within an area known as the rheumatic diseases. Treatment for arthritis will vary based on the type patient has along with the symptoms they’re suffering from. The various types of arthritis have similarities in that they all affect joints, cartilage, tendons and ligaments. Several types of arthritis also affect internal organs.

Arthritis Treatment Varies Based on Forms of the Disease

There are multiple different types of arthritis so there’s not one treatment that is uniform to all. Over 100 types of arthritis are known in that number gets larger every few years. The main type of arthritis is osteoarthritis which leads to normal wear and tear on a person’s cartilage with increasing age. Another type of arthritis as a result of an overactive immune system and this is rheumatoid arthritis. Arthritis in America is the most common illness of a chronic type is not surprised as are so many different types.

Around the world, over 350 million people suffer from arthritis. Is not just an older person’s disease, as over half of those afflicted are under age 65. 60% of those with arthritis are women, which is interesting because as a worldwide population women do not make up 60%.

Contributing Factors to Arthritis Treatment

There are several contributing factors into how arthritis gets treated. The type of arthritis dictates some of the treatment, but in large part it is how bad the symptoms are, persistence, location, and parts of the medical history can also play a role in the type of treatment. Treatment for arthritis is also subject to the treatment preferences of the doctor.

There are several arthritis treatments that have been handed down for generations and include homeopathic remedies and over-the-counter medications which can keep the cost of treatment low. As you move up the severity, there are prescription drugs, injections into joints with steroid and other regenerative medicine substances, and also as a last resort surgery.

One treatment that can work extremely well for arthritis is losing weight which can decrease pressure on the joints. What you really want an arthritis treatment is to relieve the pain and inflammation, along with protecting the joint so that is not subjected to such bad arthritis going forward.

One of the 1st things most doctors do with patients is to prescribe rest to the area in question. If that individual is an avid runner, and suffering from an arthritic flare in one of the knees, then it’s prudent to hold back on the running for a bit. Ice and heat compresses along with pain cream formulations may provide excellent pain relief. Chondroitin and glucosamine are an excellent over-the-counter supplement for providing some pain relief and joint protection going forward.

Several arthritis treatments involve trial and error. Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory medications often work great for patients, but it may not be the 1st medication tried that does the trick. Sometimes naproxen works well patients, other times its ibuprofen that performs better for pain relief.

Exercise is one of the best treatments around for arthritis, and strengthening up the muscles around the arthritic joints can relieve pain off of the joint itself. The exercise may occur in a formal physical therapy program, home exercise program, or as a regular fitness center.

Along with that, steroid injections into the problematic area may give substantial relief for months. This may allow people to dramatically improve their activity and avoid surgery, or at a minimum delay it.

Braces can help arthritic joints for pain relief a lot as well. This may include a brace on the wrist for instance to mobilize it, or a knee offloading brace or even a lumbar back brace in a time of an arthritic flare too. TENS units may help substantially as well.

If a patient has mild to moderate pain, an over the counter medication such as Tylenol or nonsteroidal anti-inflammatories may make life much more tolerable. In those instances where pain is substantial, a short term course of narcotics can help a patient get through the rough patch.

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Treatment By a Scottsdale Chiropractor Benefits Asthma And Diabetes

Wednesday, February 29th, 2012

Quite a bit of literature now shows an association between diabetes and numerous musculoskeletal problems. It is becoming more common for diabetic individuals to seek out chiropractic treatment for alternative therapies.

Most chiropractors will probably help these types of patients at some point in their career if they haven’t already.

What is Diabetes?

Patients obtain a diabetes diagnosis when they are unable to properly regulate blood sugars and glucose due to either a problem making insulin or problem using the insulin that they have.

Often times individuals with diabetes will inject themselves with insulin to keep in normal amount in the body. This is particularly true if type I diabetes is present.

Here are several common diabetes symptoms:

1. Losing weight unintentionally

2. Dry mouth causing excessive thirst

3. Abdominal pain

4. Frequent urination

5. Abnormal pains

6. Fatigue

7. Irritability and problems with vision

These symptoms may occur acutely or over a period of several weeks. Worst case scenario is they occur for a number of years.

Benefits of Chiropractor Therapies in Diabetes

1. The diagnosis of diabetes is made by a medical doctor, not a chiropractor. But diabetics who receive regular spinal adjustments may also receive excellent nutritional advice along with advice for a great home exercise program.

2. Chiropractic adjustments can help with stabilizing blood glucose levels along with the numerous other treatments available under their care.

3. Many chiropractic offices have a masseuse who can reduce stress, which can then improve circulation and move nutrients and oxygen through the body.

Asthma

About 5% of the population is affected by asthma. Wheezing, continuous coughing, chest pain, and difficulty breathing are just a few of the symptoms that asthmatic patients possess.

It is possible for individuals to keep on having attacks of asthma while using an inhaler or on medication. This is just where chiropractic treatment fits in.

Asthma has been linked to the nervous system in children, which is a skill set chiropractors have. The ribs and spine help with filling the lungs with air.

Any lung dysfunction may restrict its capacity, but make it harder to breathe. That is the reason asthmatics have such a hard time breathing, and this is why chiropractic adjustments are helpful to kids dealing with asthma.

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