Life Bridge Health and Fitness

Fibromyalgia is a disease long misunderstood and in fact, its symptoms were discounted and dismissed for years as a product of the patients’ imagination, or hypochondria. The disease was not named until 1976, although the symptoms of fibromyalgia have been chronicled since Biblical times. The symptoms include an increased sensitivity to pain and touch, generalized muscle and nerve pain, body aches, fatigue, depression, sleeplessness, dizziness, numbing, headaches, sensitivity to light and sound, memory lapses, and sometimes even irritable bowel syndrome. Fibromyalgia patients do not always report all of the same symptoms, and will report them to greater and lesser degrees.

Medical science still has discovered no one proven cause for fibromyalgia. Many potential factors have been cited as possible reasons for this disease. These factors have included a weakened immune system, toxic buildup in muscle tissue, food allergies, nutritional imbalance, chemical imbalance in the brain, low serotonin levels, repetitive stress injuries, whiplash injuries, or viral infection. Some theories promote a conclusion of genetic defect.

A person suffering with fibromyalgia faces a life of often debilitating or disabling pain and discomfort. While the disease is not terminal, it is definitely life-altering. Fibromyalgia quite often affects its victim mentally as well as physically, especially when considering how difficult it is to diagnose. There is no test for it, so it simply has to be diagnosed through ruling out all other possible illness.

Because there is not yet a definitive cited cause for fibromyalgia, there is no cure and treatments for it vary widely.

Conventional medicine has had a tough time with treating fibromyalgia. Physicians commonly prescribe antidepressants and pain medications, as well as muscle relaxants, anti-inflammatory medicines, and sleep aids.

Alternative medicine must approach fibromyalgia by treating the individual symptoms as well.

There are four herbal remedies which have been reported as being especially helpful in fibromyalgia cases: hyperacum (commonly called St. John’s Wort), arnica, bryonia, and rhus toxicodendron.

St. John’s Wort is a common herbal remedy for depression and anxiety. Arnica treats inflamed joints and muscle pain. Bryonia alba is also used for muscle pain or sciatica, and rhus toxicodendron is used topically as an external analgesic.

Vitamins and minerals are commonly reported as crucial in treating fibromyalgia. The nutrients are essential for promoting muscle health. Experts say the patient must carefully balance the ratio of potassium to calcium. To absorb the nutrition, the patient will need manganese, zinc, and magnesium. Other necessary vitamins are E, B1, B2, and B3.

Some fibromyalgic sufferers have reported great success with chiropractic treatment and/or massage therapy.

Chiropractic treament has been shown in many studies to be widely effective in treating the chronic pain of fibromyalgia sufferers. This is probably because of the ability of chiropractic manipulation to increase blood flow to muscles and joints, as well as to increase range of motion and allow the patient to move and exercise. Chiropractic treatment also contributes to the production and release of the body’s natural pain killers, endorphins, from the pituitary glands.

It seems a natural conclusion that in a condition where muscle pain and aches are involved, massage would provide some relief. Various trigger points can be relieved and soothed with the increase in blood circulation provided through massaging the tissues.

Acupuncture and/or acupressure have shown some effectiveness with many fibromyalgia patients. The idea is to release the patient’s endorphins by blocking pain impulses from getting to the brain. Acupuncture has also been shown to increase encephalin and serotonin levels which are also chemicals that decrease the feeling of pain. Also, any treatment which increases blood circulation, such as acupuncture does, will positively affect the health of a sufferer’s muscle tissue.

Hot and cold treatments are often used on fibromyalgia patients as well. Muscle pain caused by tension is often relieved by soaking in a warm bath or using a heating pad, while cold packs can be used in cases of inflammation or for an anesthetic “numbing” effect. To avoid spasming, neither heat nor cold treatments should be used for over twenty minutes at one time.

Low impact aerobic exercise such as a vigorous walk a few times a week has been proven beneficial to most fibromyalgia patients. The release of endorphins seems to be the most common thread among fibromyalgia patients reporting treatments most beneficial to them, and the most effective method to release them is simple exercise. Patients relate it can be difficult to get started with an exercise program,due to the general all-over feeling of weakness they suffer; however once started it proves invaluable.

Patients are advised to take “baby steps”– start slowly in the exercise program, do not expect too much at first. Stretch before and after exercise. Apply heat or soak in a tub afterwards if your muscles are aching. Do not start out trying to do too much at once. It can become too discouraging to cause severe pain by doing more than your body is ready for.

In conclusion, the fibromyalgia sufferer must listen to his body more than the average person. Treat yourself to that massage now and then. Pamper yourself and rest when you need to, but take care of those muscles and keep moving them. Pay attention to your nutrient intakes through food and supplements — and you just may begin to feel better!

In order to stay healthy, the body needs a steady supply of oxygen to the tissues and organs, but in cases of anemia the body is deprived of the essential oxygen needed to function. A doctor can diagnose and treat anemia after conducting a physical exam to evaluate the type and severity of the anemia.

There are different types of anemia, so the treatment would depend upon the type of anemia diagnosed by a doctor. A physician can diagnoses the type of anemia the by a blood test. In the United States, the most common cause of anemia is iron deficiency, according to the National Institute of Health.

Your doctor can design a treatment plan after talking to you about symptoms, medical history and looking at any current medical treatments. The doctor can monitor you blood levels during treatment and make adjustments as necessary. It is important to have the doctor monitor the anemia, as an overload of iron can cause side effects. The doctor can recommend the correct dosage and make adjustments as necessary.

Conventional remedies for anemia may include simple nutritional changes, vitamin or iron supplements, injections, hormone treatments and in extreme cases, surgery. The treatment path is determined by a physician after diagnosing the nature and severity of the anemia.

The doctor may recommend a consultation with a nutritionist, who can make dietary recommendations to correct the anemia. Dietary recommendations will depend upon the type of anemia. In addition to telling you what to add to the diet, the nutritionist can tell you which foods to avoid because they can block the absorption of iron and vitamins.

If the blood tests reveal a deficiency in iron, folic acid or Vitamin B12, the doctor will likely suggest dietary changes to correct the deficiency. The doctor may recommend supplements, either over the counter or by prescription. After a period of time that doctor will conduct another blood test to find if the blood level of the nutrient has normalized.

In cases of more severe deficiencies,the doctor may administered an injection. Since Vitamin B12 deficiency is almost always linked to the body’s inability to absorb the vitamin through the digestive tract, the treatment is usually a Vitamin B12 injection. Monthly injections can be administered at the doctor’s office, but many people learn to give themselves B12 shots in the convenience of their own home.

If the anemia is cause by excessive bleeding, such as in bleeding of the digestive tract, the physician may recommend surgery to repair the damage that causes the blood loss. In severe cases, the doctor may recommend a blood transfusion.

A physician can diagnose and prescribe an appropriate treatment plan. Information in this article is not intended as medical advice. If you have a medical condition, please consult a doctor.

Resources:

National Institute of Health

Medical Advisor Complete Guide to Conventional and Alternative Treatment: Time Life

There are a variety of types of anemia, the most common of which are iron deficiency anemia, or anemia due to insufficient iron in the body to build healthy red blood cells, and anemia due to vitamin deficiencies, usually vitamin B-12, and folate. Anemia is a serious condition in which there are not enough red blood cells, or enough healthy red blood cells to carry the proper amount of oxygen to the tissues and organs in the body. Without enough oxygen in the red blood cells, your heart must work a lot harder to get oxygen to the tissues, and to carry away the waste product, carbon dioxide. Because your heart has to work so hard, and your tissues are not getting properly oxygenated, you experience symptoms such as fatigue and weakness, dizziness, pale skin, and shortness of breath and chest pains.

Ideally, iron deficiency anemia would be prevented by a diet rich in foods high in iron, such as egg yolks, dried beans, dried fruits like raisin and prunes, and dark green leafy vegetables and lean meats. However, often people, especially infants and young children, and adult women of childbearing age, do not eat a diet that contains the required amounts of iron packed foods. Taking a vitamin supplement with iron can help, but if your diet is really poor, and you are a woman who has heavy periods, you may require extra prescription strength iron supplements to treat your iron deficiency anemia.

Once your doctor determines that you have iron deficiency anemia by doing a simple blood test to check your red blood cell count and hemoglobin levels, he will prescribe iron supplements that will likely need to be taken for several months to correct your anemia. When taking these iron supplements avoid taking them with milk products which will inhibit proper absorption. Instead, take your iron supplement with a food rich in vitamin C, such as orange juice, which will help your body to absorb as much iron as possible.

Iron supplements can cause stomach aches and may need to be taken with a little food, Constipation is also an annoying side effect of iron supplementation, so eat plenty of whole grains, fruits and vegetables and increase your fluid intake. Use the time that you are taking iron supplements to correct any poor eating habits that lead to the anemia.

Anemia caused by vitamin deficiencies are often caused by a person being unable to absorb enough of the vitamins from food sources, If this is the case, vitamin injections may be necessary for your lifetime. You can increase your intake of vitamin B-12 and folate by taking supplements, and by eating enriched bread, whole grains, and plenty of fruits and dark green leafy vegetables, such as spinach. Broccoli, cabbage and cauliflower are also good sources of these vitamins.

In many cases, a diet chock full of a wide variety of healthy, nutritious foods can prevent anemia. In the event that your diet does not meet your needs, and you begin to feel some of the symptoms of anemia, see your health care provider so that any anemia can be diagnosed and treated properly so that both you, and your red blood cells, will be back in top notch shape, ready to meet the demands of day to day life.

Anemia: Treatment and Drugs
http://www.mayoclinic.com

An estimated one or two out of every one hundred adults have food allergies some more severe than others. Many are not even sure what they have is a food allergy due to that fact that many may have a simple reaction to food and blame it on a food allergy. Though many believe to have food allergies doctors will disagree and say that food allergies are not as common as people would like to believe. The source of the allergy is not quite do to the food product itself but many factors may determine why you can have a food allergy to certain foods. Many food allergies may occur due to pollens in certain foods. Here is just a little about food allergies and how to determine if what you have is truly a food allergy:

1. Food allergy reactions usually occur anywhere from a few seconds to a few hours after consumption which can ultimately cause the following symptoms:

• Skin Rashes or hives which can last a few days while more severe rashes such as atopic dermatitis may last longer.
• Itchy nose and eyes may occur but are often rare. Sneezing, runny nose, coughing, and breathing troubles may occur along with these symptoms.
• Swelling around the lips and mouth may also occur promptly after food makes contact with mouth.
• You may also experience nausea, cramps, bloating, vomiting, or diarrhea.

2. The leading causes of food allergies may vary with each food. Some of the leading foods that cause these food allergies are as follows:

• Cows Milk
• Eggs
• Fish and Shellfish
• Fruits
• Legumes
• Nuts
• Cereals

3. To this day there are currently no cures for food allergies but there are a couple of choices you have to lessen your food allergy reaction.

• Go to the nearest Emergency room to receive an injection or shot of adrenalin which is needed to fight off severe food allergies. They may also keep you for a few hours to give you the proper fluids needed.
• For mild cases and easy over the counter antihistamine can easily do the trick and help with any mild case.

4. Food allergies are often mistaken for the following disorders:

• Histamine Toxicity
• Lactose Intolerance
• Food Poisoning
• Artificial Dyes
• Gluten Intolerance
• Fructose Malabsorption

For more information about common food allergy causes and treatments you may visit the following sites:

www.healthhype.com

www.mayoclinic.com

If you suffer from food allergies, then you know how hard it can be to eat a meal without side effects. The following is a list of common causes of food allergies:

1) Cow’s Milk – This most often shows up in infants as diarrhea or vomiting, or in adults as diarrhea, vomiting, or upset stomach. Commonly mistaken for Lactose Intolerance.

2) Soy – Although not commonly eaten, soy is a high food allergen. Soy can be found in many products such as soy milk and soy bean.

3) Eggs – Another popular dairy, eggs are one of the highest food allergies in the world.

4) Wheat – Very healthy, however wheat is yet another common food allergy. One should be cautious when eating a wheat product for the first time.

5) Peanuts – You hear it all the time, don’t give peanuts to toddlers! You shouldn’t give your child peanuts until the age of 3, that way their body will be ready for it and won’t create its own food allergy.

6) Tee nuts (walnuts, cashews, etc) – Just like peanuts, your body can create its own allergy to basically any kind of nut.

7) Shellfish – Because of the high iodine count, shrimp, lobster, crabs, mussels, and clams are all in the category. This is a very common allergy in adults and has cause many deaths.

8) Fish – There’s alot of fish that people are allergic to, especially salmon because it contains tons of mercury.

So, how do you treat a food allergy? Well to begin with, if you notice any of the symptoms (tingling mouth or throat, swelling in the face or lips, runny nose, diarrhea, dizziness, itchy skin, or rapid heartbeat), then you should go to your local emergency room ASAP. There is no real cure for any food allergy. You can reduce a food allergy by making sure your food is fully cooked before consuming it. Symptoms of a mild food allergy can be treated with over-the-counter pills that contain antihistamines, but in a severe case… you will need to go to the ER to have adrenalin injected into your body. If you have a severe food allergy, you should carry a kit with you that contains these injections. Remember to take allergy medicine AFTER you have eaten the suspect food, never before… they have no real “protection” value. Or, to avoid your food allergy all together, just don’t eat the suspected food.

What Exactly is a Stroke?

Stroke is an interruption of blood flow to the brain. Risk factors include hypertension, advanced age, high cholesterol, gender (more men have strokes than women), cigarette smoking, alcohol and drug abuse, sickle cell anemia, or diabetes. Those who suffer stroke can suffer a number of symptoms, such as partial or full paralysis, diminished senses (smell, taste, hearing, and/or vision), aphasia, memory loss, and a lack of coordination, among others.

Types and Causes of Strokes

There are different types and causes of strokes; the type and cause, along with its severity, play a significant role in stroke treatment and recovery. There are two major types of strokes: ischemic and hemorrhagic. Ischemic strokes are those strokes resulting from a loss of blood to the brain. Hemorrhagic strokes occur when blood vessel burst in the brain. The blood swells into a mass called a hematoma, which can damage brain tissue through pressure. There are several different causes of strokes:

Thrombotic stroke: A thrombus is a blood clot. A thrombotic stroke occurs when blood clots constrict the blood flow through arteries and interrupt the flow of blood through the brain. This is a type of ischemic stroke.

Embolic stroke: An embolus is a bit of debris; an embolic stroke occurs when an embolus cuts off the flow of blood to the brain. This is a type of ischemic stroke.

Intracerebral hemorrhage: This is occurs when a blood vessel bursts in the brain. This is a type of hemorrhagic stroke.

Subarachnoid hemorrhage: This occurs when a blood vessel bursts between the brain and the tissues that cover the brain. This is a type of hemorrhagic stroke.

Stroke Treatment and Recovery

Of course, the best treatment is prevention-reducing or eliminating risk factors. Hypertension can be reduced through proper diet and moderate exercise, as well as a reduction or elimination of alcohol and drug consumption.

But if you’ve been hospitalized for a stroke, doctors will try to identify the cause of the stroke relatively quickly to determine the best treatment options.

If you’ve suffered an ischemic stroke, doctors may try to break up the thrombus or embolus using drugs.

If you’ve suffered a hemorrhagic stroke, drugs may be used to raise or lower blood pressure as well as to alleviate pressure on the brain. But surgery is often required to fix ruptured blood vessels, and/or to remove the hematoma.

In either case, after release from the hospital, a drug regimen may be necessary to alleviate hypertension, and other stroke symptoms.

Stroke survivors, particularly those survivors of hemorrhagic stroke, may suffer severe and long-lasting brain damage. When a patient is no longer in immediate danger of dying, rehabilitation will begin and may include physical therapy, counseling, and/or speech therapy depending on which brain functions were impaired.

According to the National Stroke Association, stroke survivors are likely to suffer the following effects according to the particular affected area of the brain:

Right hemisphere: stroke survivors are likely to suffer partial or full paralysis of the left side, difficulty managing spatial relationships, and a tendency towards impulsivity.

Left hemisphere: this may result in partial or full paralysis of the right side, along with aphasia, and a tendency towards cautious behavior.

Cerebellum: this will result in problems with reflexes and motor coordination, and nausea.

Brain stem: survivors may develop paralysis on either side of the body along with difficulty maintaining heart rate, blood pressure, and breathing rate.

Stroke treatment depends on the effects: stroke survivors may suffer incontinence, which may result in a retraining program, or the use of a catheter. Brain damage induced-behavioral changes may necessitate counseling and/or therapy to deal with them. Motor control may be impaired as well and require physical therapy.

Brain functions may recover on their own or through medication and/or (further) surgery. The recovery time largely depends on the affected portion of the brain and the nature of the damage. The time it takes to recover from a stroke depends on its type and severity, as well as how quickly it was diagnosed and treatment begun.

Common among stroke survivors is depression, particularly among those who have suffered lasting damage to their basic functions. It is critical to recovery that all attempts are made to alleviate the stroke survivor’s depression, as the depression can impede recovery. Depressed survivors may neglect medications or therapy, exacerbating the impact of the stroke. Common remedies for depression include counseling, church, and social stimulation.

Sources

Stroke Risk Factors, American Heart Association

Types of Stroke, National Stroke Association

About Stroke, The Internet Stroke Center

Daniel B. Hoch, PhD, MD and David Zieve, MD, MHA, Hemorrhagic Stroke, Medline Plus

Daniel B. Hoch, PhD, MD and David Zieve, MD, MHA, Stroke, Medline Plus

Effects of Stroke, National Stroke Association

Life After Stroke: Survivor and Caregiver, National Stroke Association