Sometimes I sit cross legged in my chair a little bit too much at the office, and I end up pinching of my Sciatic nerve. This stretch has done wonders in relieving the pain as quickly as possible. For best results, do this twice every day – once in the morning to stretch out before a day of non-movement, and once in the evening to stretch out the day’s tensions.
A sick world: We live longer, with more pain and illness
The world has made huge progress fighting killer infectious diseases, but as a result we now lead longer and sicker lives, with health problems that cause us years of pain, disability and mental distress . Continue reading
The Five Most Common Reasons People Visit Emergency Rooms
With the cost of visiting the emergency room escalating, emergency rooms should be empty. The reality is that many people who at one time had health care insurance now use the emergency room as their primary access point to medical care. Emergency room nurses and paramedics prioritize patients according to their symptoms to help ensure that the most seriously ill patients get treatment first. With the large number of emergency room visits each year, the Centers for Disease Control estimates that fewer than 20% of patients who come to the ER get treatment within 15 minutes of arrival.
So what are the most common ailments that trigger a trip to the emergency room?
Headaches: Surveys of emergency rooms around the nation reveal that headaches, more than any other chief complaint, send patients to the Emergency Room. Headaches can be chronic or acute, but rarely do they signal the signs of serious medical illness. Why are headaches such a pain? As schools teach in RN programs (Registered Nurse Programs), headaches are often accompanied by other symptoms (like nausea or vomiting) that make them seem worse than they actually are. Headaches that are accompanied by nausea, vomiting, head trauma, dizziness, slurred speech, paralysis or partial paralysis on one or both sides of the body, or blurred vision could be symptoms of something more serious and should get checked out right away.
Foreign Objects: Most foreign object complaints arise as the result of ingesting something that shouldn’t have been eaten. The rule of thumb is that small objects – those less than 3/4th of an inch in diameter will probably make it through the digestive system without event. Objects larger than that could pose a problem. Another factor to consider is what’s been swallowed. Certain objects, like pennies or other coins, illicit drugs, or sharp objects that could become stuck or puncture soft tissue need a closer examination. Objects that don’t make it into the digestive tract – like nails, knives, pins, and the like – may get stuck in other places. As a general rule, if you’ve been punctured by something, don’t remove it. Instead, go to the ER with the object in place and let the doctors there take it out.
Skin Infections: Infections can quickly become large and grow out of control. When presented in the ER with skin infections, doctors try to drain, clean and treat the infected area and determine the cause of the infection. Antibiotic pills, ointments or even IV preparations may be used to try to control the infection and limit it’s spread. Some highly resistant infections (MRSA) are beginning to show up in emergency rooms and require more intensive medical treatment.
Back Pain: Back pain can be chronic or acute. In acute conditions, it’s usually the result of strain, kidney stones or accidental injury. As a chronic condition, it could signal deterioration or herniation of the cervical (neck) or lumbar (lower back) discs. Rarely, it can be a sign of head or neck cancer.
Cuts, Bumps, and Bruises: The fifth most-common reason to visit the ER includes the standard injuries that you’d expect. Deep cuts, contusions, and head trauma (mostly from motor vehicle accidents) send about 2.5 million Americans to the ER each year. Most cuts are accidental and result from mishandling knives or broken glass, or occur when glass is broken accidentally.
Other common reasons that people visited the emergency room, but that didn’t make the top 5? Upper respiratory infections, sprains and broken bones, toothaches, abdominal pain and chest pain. ER doctors and nurses alike agree that many of these patients would benefit from a trip to an urgent care facility, rather than a trip to the ER.
Symptoms that shouldn’t be ignored? Chest pain, deep cuts, seizures, trouble breathing and high fevers.
Osteoarthritis, Pain Relief and the Importance of Dietary Choices
We are what we eat!
Any condition which limits movement and causes pain in the joints is called Osteoarthritis. It is common knowledge that cartilage (the smooth surface at the head of the bone) and bone health impact on joint health. Inflammation of bone/joint, bone spurs and long-term wear and tear all have a role to play, but importantly, Osteoarthritis is not an inevitable part of ageing but our daily routine, lifestyle and dietary choices do play a crucial role in the development of this disease. Together with a healthy active lifestyle our joints need nutritional support to stay mobile and pain-free. For example, collagen is the most abundant protein in the body and provides structure to skin, organs, joints and bones. While anti-oxidants are used to minimize breakdown at the bone surface, and minerals and vitamins such as vitamin D can help to re-build bone. Studies have shown that the perennial Omega 3 fatty acids act as anti-inflammatory agents and are a reliable alternative to non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAID).
Healthy foods for joint pain relief
Vitamin E: Protects cells from free radical damage, which may help promote joint comfort and has been shown to promote a healthy circulatory system.
Wheat Sprouts: A natural source of antioxidant enzymes with detoxifying properties.
Selenium: Has antioxidant properties to protect cellular health.
Vitamin B12: Powerful blood-building factor and key nutrient for new growth.
Antioxidants: Fruits and vegetables are full of anti-oxidants. Anti-oxidants are small compounds that act like warriors in the body. They seek out and neutralize damaging molecules that can cause inflammation. And, a recent study noted that a lower intake of fruits and vegetables is associated with an increased risk of developing inflammatory arthritis.
Marine (sea food) products: In addition, marine products such as Green Lipped Mussel powder, Fish Oils, Shark Cartilage and Marine Collagen provide many of the nutrients necessary for healthy joints (in various forms). Fatty fish like Solomon and fish oil are specifically important in osteoarthritis. Fish oils can reduce general inflammation, reducing both pain and your long-term risk of arthritis and heart disease. Two to three portions a week give maximum health benefit.
Finally, while there is no real scientific evidence behind this, experiences show that avoidance of certain foods may of be of significant benefit in several people with arthritis. For example, milk and other dairy products, red meat, cereal products, citrus fruits, chocolate, spices, and alcohol have been implicated in the aggravation of symptoms and, therefore, should be consumed in the minimum quantities possible. Cutting out these foods entirely could be a great way to enjoy natural arthritis pain relief without the use of drugs and improve your quality of life.
All in all, like many other severe and chronic illnesses, diet / food has a direct and special connection with arthritis. You should, therefore, make your dietary choices wisely and timely.
After all, we are what we eat!
Alternative Methods For Back Pain
Back pain can be a debilitating condition. Once you’ve exhausted modern medical treatments, and are fed up with popping pain pills, you may consider resorting to alternative means. There are in fact many effective alternative treatments for your back’s health. Give some of the following methodologies a try to relieve your back pain.
1. Acupuncture. Working along acupuncture points (meridians), acupuncturists place painless needles in your skin. Where the needles are placed is based on your pain and thousands of years of trial and error. For instance, back pain is often relieved with needles in your under elbow and hand. If you’re not interested in getting punctured try acupressure. Acupressure works on the same meridians without the needles.
2. Yoga. Who can argue with a good stretch? Yoga strengthens your back against further injury and stretches it to relieve pain. If you believe in Chi, these motions also allow your energy to move more freely through your body.
3. Chiropractic. Another form of alternative back pain therapy. Chiropractors manipulate and “adjust†your back to relieve pain. There are many skeptics of this treatment, however, most advocates simply refer to the relief the treatment allows and shy away from the vitalistic claims of early chiropractors.
4. Cupping. This Chinese therapy involves putting a flame in a glass cup to create a vacuum and then applying the cup to points on your back. The vacuum creates suction pulling your skin into the cup and increasing your circulation, which encourages the healing process. The actual therapy is doesn’t hurt much but leaves red rashes where the cups were applied.
5. Rolfing. A sometimes painful procedure, rolfing is the manipulation of soft body tissue. For your back, this means folding yourself into yogo-like positions to be massaged by a rolfing specialist. It is not a proven methodology, however, participants are often relieved afterwards (perhaps because it is over).
6. Prolotherapy. This therapy involves injecting sugar solutions into your ligaments and tendons. The idea is that this will promote the growth of connective tissue and healing. Some studies show that this is not an effective method by itself, yet there are some positive results for this method in conjunction with massage or other techniques.
7. Alexander technique. So simply it might work. This technique, also used to improve vocal capability, involves methods of improving your posture. Poor posture is of course a proven cause of some back pain, so it follows that this technique has proven validity.
What is most important is that these therapies are effective in treating your pain. Give these techniques a shot to see what works for you.
You can also try an inversion table or a Thumper massager over at the BHI Store.