Archives for October 2012

Common Symptoms of a Concussion

October 22, 2012 By Angela

Fall sports season is in full swing across the country and with that, brings an increase in sports related injuries, particularly in young children. Sports injuries are often in a league of their own from scraped knees, broken bones and the most serious sports injury of all, concussions. It is important to be aware of the symptoms of a concussion. This way, if a child has suffered a hard hit in their football or soccer game, you know what to look for and when to seek medical attention, which is critical for their safety and well-being.

What is a concussion?

Concussions are a common occurrence in high impact and team sports, and are caused when there are significant movements of the brain. When the brain is moved in any direction at a fast speed, the patient may become unconscious. Becoming unconscious as a direct result of a sports injury is another common symptom, and should be evaluated immediately. While becoming unconscious during a sports injury may be a clear indicator that someone is suffering from a concussion, the majority of symptoms signifying a sports related concussion are not as clear-cut.

Symptoms

Some of the most common symptoms include feeling spacey, acting confused, being drowsy or having a hard time waking up, suffering an extreme headache, memory loss, nausea, vomiting and seeing flashing lights or dots in front of your eyes. These symptoms can range from mild to severe, and depending on which end of the spectrum the symptoms fall on, medical care should be sought immediately. It is important to be notified when someone has hit their head so you can be on the lookout for these symptoms, which can easily be misconceived as being caused by other issues. For example if you had a long week you probably would not think twice about having a hard time waking up, or trying to remember something because, you could chalk it up to being tired.

Diagnosis

Once you seek medical care for the symptoms of a concussion, your doctor or emergency room physician will begin a series of tests, which evaluate both your physical abilities and nervous system. Concussions can cause a change in the size of your pupils, your ability to think rationally, and can affect your coordination. By checking these functions, your physician will have a better understanding of the severity of your concussion. If your physician has additional concerns regarding your concussion, he or she may also perform tests that include an EEG, Head CT scan, and an MRI of the head. These diagnostic exams will allow the physician to view a clear picture of the brain, to determine whether there is any advanced damage.

Care

Your physician will most likely send you home with instructions to take it easy, take an over-the-counter medication if your headache persists and rest for a short period of time. If the concussion was caused by a sports related injury, your physician may advise you to refrain from physical contact for at least, two weeks as a way to give your brain the chance to fully heal. Other than resting and taking it easy, recovery from a concussion is a process that takes time. If the original concussion was not severe, you may feel like you are back to normal within just a few short days. However, if your concussion was on the severe side, it may take weeks or months before you feel back to your old self.

Follow-up

After suffering from a concussion, your condition should be monitored at home over the next several weeks after you return to your normal routine. If you begin to display any signs of the following emergency symptoms of a concussion, you should return to your physician at once. Symptoms include: changes in alertness and consciousness, convulsions, muscle weakness on one or both sides of the body, persistent confusion or repeated vomiting.

Concussions can be a serious medical concern but if treated immediately and care is taken in returning back to your routine and heavy contact sports, the prognosis for individuals suffering from a concussion is very optimistic. While you may still experience irritability, trouble concentrating and blurry vision, your symptoms should go away in a few days with rest and by following doctors orders.

Information on the common symptoms, diagnosis and treatment of concussions is brought to you from author, Sarah Smith and Grossinger Neuropain Specialists

Excessive Sitting Decreases Life Expectancy

October 21, 2012 By Angela

As our lifestyles in the western world become increasingly sedentary, there are more studies being done on the effect of so much sitting down on our health, and the results are never good. Backache, damage to vertebrae, diabetes, kidney disease, muscular problems and more have all been linked to prolonged periods of sitting on a regular basis. Now a new study shows that those of us who sit for more than three hours per day on average will actually not live as long as those of us who do not, by an estimated two years. All those office workers who have moaned, and groaned this job will kill me; have actually been proven correct. This reduction in life expectancy was true even in cases where the person was otherwise fit and active.

Fighting the Dangers of Sitting

When talking about certain health risks associated with sitting there are measures we can take to combat them. Taking frequent short breaks, getting plenty of exercise and performing certain stretches regularly can all help to prevent or alleviate backache or pains in the neck and shoulder muscles. Eating a healthy diet, staying hydrated and keeping fit will usually keep diabetes at bay. Steering clear of fatty foods and being fit and active will reduce the risk of heart disease. Despite all this however, there is only one thing we can do to eradicate certain problems associated with too much sitting, and that is to reduce the amount of time we spend doing it.

How Long Is Safe To Sit?

The majority of studies done on the subject of sitting use the three hour benchmark. Sitting for less than three hours a day seems to be acceptable and not harm our health in any noticeable way. Over three hours and the risks increase dramatically. Lying prone is actually much better for us than sitting down, as the body weight is spread more evenly.

I Have A Desk Job; what Are The Alternatives?

Standing or walking desks have increased in popularity and therefore in availability over the past few years, due in part to studies such as these being released. While standing up or walking slowly on a treadmill whilst working may sound tiring, the majority of those who have tried it actually report feeling more alert at the end of a day than when they were sitting all day long. Our bodies are not naturally designed to sit in office chairs for any length of time. Standing or walking desks may take a bit of getting used to after years of sitting, but eventually they will feel just right. If this is not an option in your workplace, you can at least try to off-set the issues a little by not spending your free time sitting down as well.

This post was provided on behalf of Chair Office who stocks everything you require to set up your office exactly the way you would like it.

How to Effectively Manage Uninhibited Bladder Control Problems

October 21, 2012 By mykethomas

Many people across the globe, both male and female, have problems with controlling the bladder. They suffer from a lack of bladder control when they get the sudden urge to urinate. This brings about social isolation, as they fear suffering from such embarrassing moments especially in front of their friends. Many other people have gone on to quit their jobs or schooling activities because of this condition. They are usually left embarrassed and ashamed after every episode. This is the main reason why they choose to ostracize themselves from the rest of society.

For some people, the lack of bladder control is a periodic occurrence that only happens at certain times. This is especially true for some women due to their menstrual cycle. For most men and some women it could be because of psychological trauma. In some cases, the lack of bladder control is actually a medical condition caused by injury or disease.

Causes Of Loss Of Bladder Control

There are many physiological reasons why considerably young people are suffering from this condition. Most of the time, this condition is brought about by infections. Urinary tract infections in men and vaginal infections in women are major factors that can predispose one losing control over their bladder. Some infections are usually related to sexually transmitted diseases such as Gonorrhea and syphilis.

Another major cause of uninhibited bladder control is the weakening of the sphincter muscles. The sphincter muscles surround the lower urinary tract of the bodies. If these muscles become weak, it leads to the lack of control of the opening and closing of the urethra. The urethra is like a tube or tunnel that carries urine from the bladder. The weakening of the muscles can also be because of overworking of the bladder muscles.

Patients who suffer from this condition could also be suffering from neurological diseases such as degenerative multiple sclerosis and spinal cord injury. Patients of diabetic neuropathy are also at risk of suffering from loss of urinary control. People who suffer from some sort of mobility impairment are equally at risk of falling victim to the condition. Psychological instability exhibited by individuals who suffer from depression or at times bipolar disorder can also can also predispose them to bladder control problems.

Tips For Better Bladder Control

You can attempt to manage loss of urinary control in several ways. For instance, you may consider controlling the types of foods you consume. Many people find that eating certain foods actually brings about the uninhibited bladder symptoms. These may include spicy or hot foods as well as chocolate-laced pastries and even citrus fruits. It is best to avoid such foods especially if you know that they trigger loss of bladder control.

Beverages are culprits when it comes to substances that can trigger problems with your urinary systems. Such beverages may include fruit juices, drinks with caffeine or artificial sweeteners. This is especially true for patients who are suffering from diabetes. Intake of such beverages leads them to urinate more frequently. This frequent urination might lead to overworking of the bladder muscles or the weakening of the sphincter muscles.

Authorâ€™s Bio: Myke Thomas is a freelance writer, professional blogger, and social media enthusiast. His blog, Vitaminsandminerals.net focuses on health bloggers and fitness bloggers. You can follow him on Google+ and Twitter.

How to Get Rid of Fever Blisters

October 20, 2012 By Angela

Fever blisters, also known as Herpes labialis or more commonly as cold sores are small painful abrasions that usually form on the lips. Fever blisters are cause by the herpes simplex virus (type 1) and will generally occur repeatedly. They are extremely contagious and need to be treated quickly. They can also be found on the chin, nostrils or cheeks. The blisters typically turn yellow and develop a “Å“crust”Â before disappearing in a few weeks. There is no cure for fever blisters but there are a few methods to treat them. There are a few methods to treat fever blisters and to alleviate the pain associates with their appearance.

Making sure you have fever blisters

Fever sores are sometimes mistaken for canker sores. Canker sores are not contagious and are not cause by a virus so treating them as you would a fever blister would not work. Confirm with a doctor that you have fever blisters before trying any form of treatment

Knowing when fever blisters are about to appear

The faster you are able to detect a fever blister outbreak, the sooner you will be able to treat them. Outbreaks usually begin with a burning or tingling sensation around the area of the mouth where the blister will appear.

Quarantine the fever blister as soon as an outbreak is detected

Because fever blisters are very contagious it is important that you stay away from activities that could transfer the virus to others. These include avoiding :

Kissing
sharing utensils, cups or straws with others
touching the sore

Wash hands thoroughly and often with disinfectant soap as the virus can be spread to other areas of the body such as the eyes and genitals.
Wash the fever blister with soap and warm water may also prevent the spread of the virus.

Get a new toothbrush

Keeping the same toothbrush can keep re-infecting you. Get a new tooth brush as soon as there is an outbreak and after it has run its course.

Take medication

Take medications that are approved for the treatment of fever blisters. These will have to be prescribed by a physical and will help with the pain and shorten the duration of the blister.

Treat the fever

Fever blisters are accompanied as the name suggests by a fever. Treating the fever will help to reduce the severity of the outbreak. Take acetaminophen or other medications to reduce fevers as directed.

Treat the pain

This can be done by taking over the counter pain medications or by placing an icepack on the sore for 10 to 15 minutes.

Tips and warnings

It is important to remain patient when treating fever blisters. They will go away eventually
Do not squeeze or pick at sores as this will slow down their healing
If an outbreak lasts longer than 2 weeks or is extremely severe, seek medical attention immediately
Applying lip balm / lip gloss throughout the day may prevent the scab from forming and reduce the length of the outbreak

Jenny Richards is a free lancer writer and content builder of http://www.askdeb.com/

Massage to Lose Belly Fat at Home

October 19, 2012 By Angela

Having an unwanted layer of fat around your abdominal area is common for many. It is not reserved for those who are proclaimed to be ‘overweight’; it is a phenomenon most associate with. Even those who are ‘thin’ can often see belly fat. The solution for this excess fat is seen through determined exercise routines, nutritious dietary choices and an overall lifestyle transformation.

An individual mulling over reducing fat will go through various ideas to improve physically. There is a new concept making the rounds that focuses on ‘massaging’ the stomach area. It is starting to catch on and is demonstrating results.

What is The Concept behind This Massage?
Massaging relies upon the idea of friction and eventual heat creation. This generated heat from the massage will slowly remove the excess fat. The blood vessels within the targeted area begin flowing and make the body enhance its metabolic rate. Within a concentrated and reasonable point, a faster metabolic rate ensures exceptional results. One’s bowel movements are also increased in number and leads to the processing of food. The massage is a quality therapeutic option for those looking to trim fat and improve their body’s overall functionality.

Pros of the Massage
1) Receiving a massage is a trouble-free option
2) Massages in general are associated with relief and therapy
3) Big money saver, no need to waste money on unnecessary products
4) Overall body enhancement in terms of how it functions
5) Increased bowel movements mean efficient cleansing of body

Dos and Don’ts of Massaging
This is a process that requires patience and concentration on the part of the individual. Each exercise and routine has its own steps along the way that have to be learned and perfected. The same goes for this particular massage as perfection is required in order to reap maximum rewards.

List of Dos
1) Quality over quantity is the key to this process. Do not overdo the massage, focus on perfection.
2) Move from right to left when massaging.
3) Three sets of 10-15 minute sessions (per day) is recommended
4) Do not rush into the process, start with smaller session and work your way up.
5) Do not press hard when near liver area, it is important to be careful and avoid recklessness

List of Don’ts
1) Do not proceed with massage, if you are pregnant.
2) Revelation of Kidney or Bladder Stones equals to no massage.
3) Hypertensive patients should avoid massage
4) Massaging right after a meal is a ‘no no’.
5) Umbilical Hernia patients should avoid this massage
6) Inflamed uterus, bladder or fallopian tubes means massage should be avoided.

A variety of stomach massages are available as options, but the recommended one is the ‘Traditional Chinese Medicine’. It is a gradual process that is effective and healthy. Here are the steps on how to do this particular massage properly.
1) Acquire mat or soft surface to lie down on your back.
2) Heat up hands by rubbing them together for 20 seconds.
3) Begin ‘clockwise’ movements on your stomach with your right hand (at naval). It has to be a circular move. Initially, use shorter circles and continue to increase the size of the motion.
4) Proceed to do this for two minutes. Heat will be felt on the belly indicating the process is working.

As with any procedure, it is important to learn about massage therapies. If concerned, consulting a physician is never a wrong option.

Author Bio: This post has been submitted by Sarah Baker. She is a fitness enthusiast and blogs about weight loss foods & other dietary supplements. She is also an evangelist for vh nutritionâ€™s Company.

« Previous Page