Back Pain and treatment

“Most episodes of leg and back pain will resolve on their own within six to eight weeks with activity, moderation and over-the-counter anti-inflammatories,” said Dr. Devin Datta, an orthopedic spine surgeon with The B.A.C.K. Center in Melbourne.

Full story here http://www.floridatoday.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20080714/BREAKINGNEWS/307140001/1006/NEWS01

Get information back pain treatments here.

Hayfever Treatments

Great article on different hayfever treatments

New Value For Money ELISA IgG Food Intolerance test

A simple test that offers fresh hope to millions of people keen to find out if what they eat is causing their chronic health conditions has been launched.

 

The new intolerance2food website offers the best value home test on the market to help people identify how their diet could be damaging their, or their children’s, bodies.

 

The test that can be done  at home has been hailed as a potentially life-changing development that could dramatically boost the health of sufferers and their families.

 

Nearly half the British population is thought to suffer from food intolerance at some time, which can cause them to react badly or feel unwell after eating particular foods or ingredients.

 

Now people who want to find out whether what they are eating is doing more harm than good can find support from the website created by intolerance2food.

 

The site features an array of easy-to-understand information and allows visitors to order a simple blood test that is sent for laboratory analysis.

 

The Elisa IgG test costs just £149  – the lowest price test per food on the market in the UK – and checks people’s intolerance to 131 different foods. They can then read their confidential test results on-line.

 

Food intolerance is difficult to detect as the adverse reaction can be delayed by several days.

 

But it can be the root cause of a variety of ailments, from sickness and headaches to panic attacks and depression.

 

It has also been linked to behavioural problems among children, including the hyperactivity disorder ADHD, as well as autism and moderate learning difficulties, which can have a damaging impact on family life.

 

By taking the food intolerance test, it is hoped more and more people will be able to get back on the road to good health.

 

Health experts have welcomed the introduction of the new test.

 

Sue Lipscombe, a GP and Director of Migraine in Primary Care Advisors, said: “Migraine triggers vary widely and for many there may be an association with food. People often get cravings for sweet things as part of the attack and eat chocolate, for example, and then erroneously blame it for causing the headache.

 

“A good test to isolate hypersensitivity triggers that people might not be aware of would be well worth while.”

 

Sally Bunday, founder director of the Hyperactive Children’s Support Group, added: “Studies, including those carried out at the Institute of Child Health, found foods – including fresh, everyday foods – could contribute to conditions such as epilepsy, ADHD, hyperactivity, aggression and mood changes.

 

“With the problems parents encounter trying to establish which foods or food groups are the culprits, it can be impossible using a simple trial and error method. We are always seeking ways to help our families that may make identification of possible intolerances easier and more affordable.”

 

For more information on the tests and where to get them see www.intolerance2food.com

 

 

Approaches to Knee Pain Relief

You use your knees every time you walk, run, or move your lower body at all. Knee pain, therefore, dramatically affects the daily life of sufferers, who must use their knees throughout the day. Knee pain is the second only to back pain among American adult pain sufferers. Knee trouble is most often caused by osteoarthritis, a degenerative joint condition in which the cartilage that surrounds the two bones that comprise the knee joint wears away, sometimes causing painful joint-on-joint contact.

There are many treatment options for knee pain. Under the care of a doctor, sufferers can select the most appropriate course of treatment to provide optimum knee pain relief. Over-the-counter and prescription medications including acetaminophen (Tylenol) and aspirin reduce pain, and non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) including ibuprofen, can reduce inflammation as well as knee joint pain. At-home remedies like ice packs and capsaicin, found in cayenne pepper, often have a similar effect.

Natural supplements like chondroitin and glucosamine have become popular alternatives to traditional medicines in recent years because they present fewer risks of side effects. Both are naturally occurring substances in the body. The former aids in building joint cartilage, while the latter fights against degeneration of cartilage. Studies have proven their effectiveness in alleviating osteoarthritic joint pain, but have yet to demonstrate that these supplements actually reverse the effects of cartilage degeneration that have already taken place.

Modifying knee activity with physical aids such as padding, crutches, and splints, and even simple rest take the pressure off of the knee and provide temporary knee pain relief while the joint recovers from injury. Conversely, specific exercises, stretching, and low-impact aerobic activities such as biking, walking and swimming increase joint strength and flexibility, promoting healing and reducing the risk of further injury.

For severe knee injuries that have not responded to the aforementioned treatments, surgery remains an option. There are several common knee surgeries, which range from exploratory arthroscopic surgery, which orthopedic physicians use to diagnose the exact source of knee pain so that they can determine which behaviors and activities need to be modified, all the way to a total knee replacement. Whichever course of treatment a patient decides upon, it is important to work alongside a physician to ensure proper care.

Pain Relief provides detailed information on Pain Relief, Arthritis Pain Relief, Back Pain Relief, Joint Pain Relief and more. Pain Relief is affliated with Chronic Pain Management.

Benefits of Green Tea

A number of ‘wonder’ herbs are being used these days with green tea one of the most interesting; although primarily known for the benefits it provides as an antioxidant, it has many other positive health properties.

Green tea weight loss products are readily available in many forms and considered by many as one of the best products to take to shed excess calories.Although known more for its weight loss properties, extended use has other beneficial affects by slowing the oxidation process of our cells to reduce the signs of aging. When used in weight loss products, it shows some amazing qualities like helping the metabolism by ridding the system of toxins and using the natural laxative quality it possesses. The product increases the metabolic rate and the number of calories burnt so less fatty tissue forms.

Mention should be made that some dietary efforts should be also taken; you can’t eat hamburger and French fries and expect green tea weight loss products to make you slim over night. For it to work, adjustments to diet and mental attitude are necessary for a person to become healthier, it is not just a case of losing weight.

If you use green tea as a drink then the best time to take this is just before you retire for the night. Weight loss products containing this product can take some getting used too and often there may be some bowel irritation for a couple of days but it will pass. Such green tea weight loss effects are normal, particularly if you haven’t used the plant before as the body adjusts to the accelerated metabolism that eliminates the toxins much faster, before they pass into the blood. It doesn’t take long to see the results and if you follow your diet correctly; i.e. increasing your liquid intake, regular exercise and eating fruit and vegetables then expect to see good results within your first week.

The attributes of green tea can be further enhanced when it is used in combination with extracts from the root of ginseng. Used in Asia for thousands of years ginseng is well known and respected there and provides essential vitamins and minerals for good health when combined with those already found in the product.

Ginseng is also beneficial for the immune system and when used in combination with green tea, helps to improve the energy level of a person who is losing weight so they do not feel so lethargic. Ginseng and green tea have an excellent safety record with people using them for up to six months without incident.

Alzheimers and an aging population

Dementia is a hot topic and with an aging population it is not surprising that Alzheimer’s disease takes center stage when age related conditions are discussed; unfortunately, it often overshadows the other forms of dementia. If you spent time with a person with Alzheimer’s disease, you will see a gradual decay in their ability to remember; diagnosis of the condition has improved dramatically and is now approximately 87 – 94 percent accurate. The world started focusing on the disease only about thirty years ago although was first discovered in 1906 by Alois Alzheimer, a German physician; it is a complex disease that is not yet fully understood.Studies have shown that the greatest known risk for developing Alzheimer’s is increasing age. Often, a person experiencing their first signs of Alzheimer’s is unable or unwilling to admit it to themselves or anyone else; until this happens it is hard to start any form of treatment.Dementia covers quite a broad spectrum of problems but they are all, including Alzheimer’s disease, currently treated in a similar fashion. Unfortunately, because there is still so much that is unknown about the disease, there is no definite way to treat it although some symptoms can be improved or slowed down with drugs. The three main medications currently approved for treatments of Alzheimer’s disease are: Donepezil, Tacrine, and Rivastigmine; improvements have shown to help the average sufferer’s cognitive abilities by up to six months.Another drug, Memantine, a relative of the older anti-influenza drug Amantadine, is proving successful at slowing down the mental decline of sufferers; it is now normally given to those on Donepezil who are suffering moderate to severe Alzheimer’s. Although Memantine is not a wonder medication, it is showing success where other medicines gave not and with few side effects; most of the drug is passed out again when the patient urinates (about 80 percent), virtually without any change taking place.The average age of a person living in the industrialized world is increasing which is making Alzheimer’s disease a major health issue to be looked into; it is a major cause of death in America. Although contracting the disease is a tragedy, the cost of treatment and care for sufferers is causing economic vibrations everywhere; the annual cost of treatment and care for sufferers is in excess of 40 billion dollars and is expected to rise well beyond this in the future. Nearly half the annual budget was spent on research into the condition last year by the National Institute of Aging; they are now testing over three hundred compounds at any one time.To help you reduce the chance of contracting dementia, it’s important to adopt a healthy lifestyle, choose carefully what you eat and drink and take more exercise. In fact researchers believe the happier and healthier someone is with Alzheimer’s, the slower his or her decline. At the time of writing this condition primarily affects men and women over sixty years of age; there have however, been recent occasions (although rare) where a younger person has developed this condition.

Managing back pain

There is generally no respite from back pain, once you have an injury in this area; a one hundred percent effective back pain relief cure has yet to be found, but that does not mean that some easing of the discomfort isn’t possible.

While there are a host of prescription medications that help with back pain relief, many are doing nothing more than masking the symptoms instead of tackling the underlying cause of the pain. This medication should only be taken whilst under supervision by a medical expert.

It is not difficult to injure your back, especially if you are a manual worker but long term problems can also be the result of an accident. Spinal injury is one of the most common conditions around the world and even sitting incorrectly can create a long term problem. Most spinal problems are a result of lifting heavy weights but they can also be caused by lifting even light weights incorrectly, the pain is usually experienced in the lower back. There are a number of natural back pain relief methods that mean you will not have to rely on drugs.

Tense muscles in the back can be eased just by gentle stretching; this provides relief and is simple to carry out. On the other hand reflexology is an alternative medical practice where pressure is applied to the feet to relieve pain in different parts of the body; it works very well in relieving back pain. Relaxing muscles and increasing the effectiveness of the circulatory system are two other reasons to use reflexology.

Although acupuncture is an age old Chinese medical practice that has been used for thousands of years, it is only recently that the Western world has accepted it as an alternative form of back pain relief. If you follow Traditional Chinese medicine then you will know that they believe all people have a unique energy force running through their body called qi or chi. By inserting needles in specific parts of the body, it can help to unblock qi and restore the flow. There are large numbers of people that use acupuncture on a regular basis and claim it works well for them providing pain relief; especially those who have what is termed a chronic condition.

Tai Chi is also another ancient Chinese discipline which is basically a type of exercise similar to yoga except it is slower. It focuses on breath control and is very relaxing owing to its gentle nature. It is possible for anyone to participate irrespective of age. Regular exercise is also one of the best preventative medicines available and can help with back pain relief; this not only conditions the back but is an excellent preventative measure.

Preventing Athletes Foot

Athletes foot is a common condition affecting roghly 15% of the population. It’s caused by a fungus which can be stubborn and hard to eliminate. There are a number of things you can do to prevent Athlete’s Foot.

Bathroom hygiene

• Spray tub and bathroom floor with disinfectant after each use to help prevent reinfection and infection of other household members.

Frequent laundering

• Wash sheets, towels, socks, underwear, and bedclothes in hot water (at 60 °C / 140 °F) to kill the fungus.
• Change towels and bed sheets at least once per week.

Avoid sharing

• Avoid sharing of towels, shoes and socks between household members.
• Use a separate towel for drying infected skin areas.

Prevention measures in public places

• Wear shower shoes or sandals in locker rooms, public showers, and public baths.
• Wash feet, particularly between the toes, with soap and dry thoroughly after bathing or showering.
• If you have experienced an infection previously, you may want to treat your feet and shoes with over the counter anti-fungal sprays after using public facilities.

Personal prevention measures

• Dry feet well after showering, paying particular attention to the web space between the toes.
• Try to limit the amount that your feet sweat by wearing open-toed shoes or well-ventilated shoes, such as lightweight mesh running shoes.
• Wear lightweight cotton socks to help reduce sweat.
• Use foot powder to help reduce sweat. Some foot powders also include an anti-fungal ingredient.
• Wear open-toed shoes or simply light-weight socks without shoes when at home.
• Keep shoes dry by wearing a different pair each day.
• Change socks and shoes after exercise.
• Replace sole inserts in shoes/sneakers on a frequent basis.
• Replace old sneakers and exercise shoes.

More information on conditons like athlete’s foot

Meningitis and Septicemia – Know the signs

Meningitis is an infection of the lining around the brain and spinal cord. Septicemia is a blood poisoning by the same germ. Both can develop very rapidly into life-threatening conditions.

Meningitis is the inflammation of the protective membranes covering the central nervous system, known collectively as the meninges. Meningitis may develop in response to a number of causes, most prominently bacteria, viruses and other infectious agents, but also physical injury, cancer, or certain drugs.

While some forms of meningitis are mild and resolve on their own, meningitis is a potentially serious condition owing to the proximity of the inflammation to the brain and spinal cord.

Although children are now being vaccinated against one form of meningitis, the infection can be caused by the other bacteria as well, so it is vital that all parents know the signs.

Signs of Meningitis

• Severe headache
• Stiff neck
• Dislike of bright lights.
• Fever / Vomiting
• Drowsiness
• Rash

Signs of Septicemia

• Fever / Vomiting
• Cold hands and feet
• Rapid breathing
• Joint / Muscle pain
• Stomach pain (sometimes with diarrhoea)
• Drowsiness
• Rash

Other signs in babies

• Tense or bulging fontanel (soft spot on the scalp)
• Blotchy skin
• Pale complexion
• Refusing to eat
• High pitched or moaning cry
• Irritable when picked up
• Stiff body with jerky movement or else floppy and lifeless
• Difficult to wake or lethargic  

Symptoms can appear in any order and not every child gets all the symptoms. If you are worried about someone who is ill, or your child has some of these symptoms, seek medical help immediately.

The rash is the most telltale sign of meningitis / septicemia and ‘The Tumbler test’ is the best way to identify the rash. Press a glass tumbler firmly against the rash. If you can see the rash through the glass then get medical help immediately (it is harder to see on dark skin so check paler areas).

Do not wait for the rash. It may be the last symptom to appear, and in some cases it may not even appear at all.

More information on Meningitis and Speticemia and childrens health.

Travel Health – Sunburn can be a serious issue

While family vacations can be fun, they can become extremely stressful if there are unexpected health problems, experts say.

Parents need to include preparations for possible health troubles in their holiday planning, says Dr. Stephen Park, an assistant professor of pediatrics and communicable diseases at the University of Michigan C.S. Mott Children’s Hospital.

Parents also should consider specific features of the family’s vacation, such as the destination’s climate. For example, bring plenty of sunscreen for sunny locales, as well as aloe vera to relieve sunburn pain. If you plan to spend a lot of time outdoors, bring insect repellent, mosquito netting and poison ivy treatments.

Lazing in the sun can be one of life’s greatest pleasures but too much can be hazardous, especially when your skin burns. Sunburn causes permanent damage to the skin, making it look older and increasing the risk of developing skin cancer. Sunburn in childhood makes you more susceptible to skin cancer later in life.

It is vital that you keep infants out of direct sunlight and be very careful with young children. Using a sunscreen with a high sun protection factor (SPF) does not mean you or your children can stay in the sun indefinitely.

Sun Safety Tips:

• Always wear a sunscreen with SPF of 15 or higher. Put it on an hour before you go out into the sun and reapply regularly, particularly if you are swimming.
• Wear loose, cool clothing – sleeves and long shorts – to keep the sun off your skin.
• Always wear a hat with a wide brim to protect your neck.
• Protect your eyes with sunglasses
• Stay in the shade between 11am and 3pm – the hottest part of the day.
• Children should always wear a shirt and hat when playing in the sun, even at the beach.

 Get more informetion on travel health here.