Heartburn, also called pyrosis, is a condition wherein there is a painful or burning sensation in the esophagus, just below the breastbone because of gastric acid regurgitation. The pain is described to rise to the chest and may even radiate to the neck, throat, or angle of the jaw. The pain worsens when you bend over, lie down, or eat. It may also be more frequent or worse in the evenings. A common misconception is that heartburn affects the heart. The truth of the matter is, this medical condition is not, in any way, related to the heart. One reason why it was called heartburn is because the pain is usually felt on the breastbone where the heart is situated. Another reason is because the hydrochloric acid from the stomach goes back up to the esophagus because of a problem with the cardiac sphincter, a valve in the stomach, which does not have anything to do with the heart. What causes heartburn? To understand what causes heartburn, one must understand how the upper digestive tract works. When you swallow, the cardiac sphincter relaxes to let foods and liquids into the stomach. Then it closes again to prevent food from coming back up. If the cardiac valve weakens of relaxes abnormally, gastric acid may flow back up to the esophagus, causing a burning sensation, or heartburn. Here are factors that may trigger or make heartburn worse: o Food. (fatty foods, spicy foods, chocolate, caffeine, onions, tomato sauce, carbonated drinks, and mint.) o Alcoholic beverages. o Large meals. o Lying down too soon after eating. o Medications. (certain sedatives, antidepressants and calcium channel blockers for high blood pressure) o Cigarette smoking. o Stress and fatigue. o Medical condition. (hiatal hernia) What medical complications may arise from leaving heartburn untreated? Most heartburn attacks are occasional. However, if your heartburn becomes severe or chronic, your body may already be telling you that you have gastroesophageal reflux disorder (GERD). People might mistake it as just a prolonged case of acid reflux. Although heartburn is a symptom for GERD, in this case stomach acid, and occasionally bile flows back into the esophagus, causing inflammation and irritation of the esophagus. Continued irritation may cause narrowing of the esophagus, ulceration of the esophagus, and a slightly increased risk of developing esophageal cancer. How is heartburn treated? Treatment for mild heartburn is more concentrated on providing relief from the symptom. The use of the following medications is advised: o Antacids. These medications neutralize digestive acid and provide quick relief for the burning pain. o H2 receptor blockers. These medications reduce acid production instead of neutralizing the gastric juices. o Proton pump inhibitors. These medications block acid production to allow enough time for esophageal tissue healing. For cases of persistent and prolonged heartburn that may have already developed into GERD, prescription-strength medications are required as medical treatment, and for severe cases of GERD, surgery. Preventive tips A simple lifestyle change may help prevent experiencing the pains of heartburn over and over. Here are some quick tips to reduce the risk of experiencing heartburn. o Watch your weight. Excess pounds mean added pressure to the abdomen, pushing up the stomach and causing acid reflux back up to the esophagus. o Eat smaller meals. Meals in smaller portions reduce pressure on the cardiac sphincter, and it helps prevent the valve from opening and acid from going back into the esophagus. o Eliminate triggers. Take note of the food that trigger your heartburn and try to stay away from them. o Avoid lying down immediately after a meal. Leave a window of two to three hours after eating before going to bed. o Avoid smoking. Ingesting air during smoking aggravates belching and, in turn, acid reflux. Heartburn isn’t as simple as it sounds, so don’t take it lightly. Your pain tolerance may tell you it’s nothing but a bad base of belching, but it may lead to further medical complications if you leave it unchecked. You are in-charge of your own body, so keep close watch and maintain a healthy lifes.
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Has it ever occurred to you that while you are happily typing away on your computer for hours on end you are actually creating a problem in your neck that can lead to chronic migraine headaches or tension headaches? If you suffer from migraine headaches or tension headaches it may be something you should investigate. When a person with migraine headaches or tension headaches visits a chiropractor for their pain what does the chiropractor typically do for that patient? The usual treatment for most headache patients is to manipulate, or adjust, the neck. Chiropractors teach us that most headaches come from neck problems, and that by adjusting or manipulating the neck tension and migraine headaches can be relieved or cured. Over 80% of headache patients that receive chiropractic treatment show improvement that ranges from slight improvement up to complete elimination of their headache pain. If this is the case then it seems logical that the majority of migraine headaches or tension headaches originate from spinal (neck) problems. It also seems logical that if we knew what was causing these neck problems, and eliminated what was causing them, we could also eliminate the headaches, both migraine and tension. As a chiropractor for 25 years I have treated many patients with migraine headaches and tension headaches. After examining thousands of patients I discovered that as many as 95% who were experiencing headaches had one thing in common, a reversed cervical (neck) curve. From the side view a normal neck should have a slight curve in it. But in my experience as a chiropractor I estimate that approximately 95% of my patients with headaches had either a lessening of that curve, no curve at all, or a curve that was completely reversed. When these “poor neck curvatures” were treated with chiropractic adjustments most showed great improvement. Chiropractors know that headaches can be caused by “poor neck posture,” so the next question becomes “can sitting at a computer cause poor neck posture?” If the answer is yes, then it’s obvious that sitting at a computer can and does cause headaches. People usually develop poor neck curvatures because of poor posture habits. Anything a person does that places their head in a position forward to their body will lessen or reverse their normal neck curve. And poor neck curvatures DO cause headaches. Chiropractors have been teaching this for decades. The types of activities that can lead to poor neck posture include sitting at a computer for extended periods of time, reading with the head bent forward, sitting while slouching in a chair or on a couch, sleeping with the head or neck in odd positions, or any other activity that places the head in a position forward to the body. So, to answer our original question, yes, headaches can be caused by sitting at a computer. Sitting at a computer can cause an abnormal neck curvature to develop which can cause headaches. Good posture can surely prevent the development of poor neck posture, which would seem to be the best remedy, but what can be done if the lessening or reversal of the neck curve has already been developed? Obviously, chiropractic treatment is an option that could be considered. But there are many other alternative treatments for tension or migraine headaches. Most people just take a pain pill. But are pain pills the best approach? They surely are in some cases, but there are many other headache treatment options that don’t require the use of potentially harmful drugs. All drugs have side effects, some of which can end up being worse than the headaches themselves. Before treating your health problems with drugs it is wise to seek the advice of a health professional. There are many natural remedies for migraine headaches or tension headaches. These include stress and tension reduction, ice therapy (used at the base of the skull), eliminating food triggers, getting the proper amount of rest, biofeedback, headache pillows or cushions, exercise and many others. Some of these may help relieve headaches, both migraine and tension, and could be investigated further.
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Some people are aware that a glass or two of red wine per day can help keep the heart healthy. Among the many positive side effects of red wine is its ability to promote a good heart condition, provided that a person doesn’t consume too much of it. This has been scientifically verified and is often said to be a good way to avoid heartburn, even though that may not be entirely accurate. As if people needed even more reason to indulge in a good glass of Merlrot, recent research shows that red wine is also good for the respiratory system. Interestingly, the positive impact of red wine consumption has been recorded even among people who engage in smoking. According to the study, two glasses or less of any alcoholic substance, including wine or beer, actually helped clear up airways in the body. They also had an appreciable effect in helping prevent conditions such as asthma and bronchitis. The research noted that while there were positive effects for increased daily amounts of alcohol, they were reduced in comparison to the data from the two-glass tests. At some point, the data also showed that the positive side effects actually ceased and more negative effects on the air passageways and lungs began to to appear. It is currently still unknown what exactly causes this effect to occur, but there are some that believe the alcohol somehow aids in breaking down substances that can potentially block the airways. Another facet of the study involved statistical analysis. The test involves analyzing the statistics between people who were considered “light drinkers,” and the chances those same people would develop a pulmonary illness or would need respiratory treatment. Naturally, measures were taken to eliminate other possible factors, such as second-hand smoke exposure and genetics. The final data results from the research showed that “light drinkers” were less likely to develop any serious respiratory problems on their own, barring other factors. In this case, “light drinkers” were defined by the study as being the type that does not regularly engage in drinking, probably only doing so during social occasions. Moderate drinkers, defined by the study as having a more regular intake of alcohol, also showed a decreased risk in comparison to others. No data for heavy drinkers was released by the study. However, there are some inconsistencies in the data that seem to indicate that nicotine and smoking play no part in the effects of alcohol on the lungs. Indeed, according to the data gathered from the survey, a good percentage of test subjects were long-time smokers, or had respiratory diseases in the past. Yet, when their survey data was compared with the research data, there was very little difference from those that were non-smokers. There is still much analysis to be done, but is is becoming apparent that the 20% reduction in the likelihood of developing a respiratory illness with light drinking was not affected by how much nicotine was being pumped into the lungs. At least, not directly, anyway.
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For millions of people across the world, acne scars are a daily reminder of puberty; that difficult period that everyone must go through and nobody wants to remember after it’s over. As if it wasn’t difficult enough, puberty can leave some scarred years after they thought they were done with all those annoying self-produced blemishes. The good news is that now, through medical and technological advancements, these long-suffering people can once again have beautiful and smooth skin. In 2001, an index of the different types of acne scars that affected people was released. This made significant forward steps in the identification of acne scarring and therefore in the treatment of those particular scars. This breaks down into three major categories or types of scarring; Rolling scars occur when the subcutaneous tissue that lies just below the surface of the skin becomes attached to one another. Treatment for this type of scarring requires the breaking up of the attached subcutaneous fibrous bands. Boxcar scars are oval or round shaped with sharp vertical edges. These can be shallow scars or run very deep. The deeper boxcar scars will more often require a treatment known as full-thickness. The shallower boxcar scars can be treated with less invasive skin resurfacing procedures. Ice pick scars are narrow, acute scars that can run deep and make the skin seem like it has been repeatedly punctured, as with an ice pick. Laser resurfacing and dermabrasion are usually the preferred methods of dealing with this type of scarring. For milder cases, there are now a wide variety of topical creams and lotions that can be quite effective in covering and repairing shallower acne scarring. The important thing to do is to get the correct type of solution for your particular type of skin. A physician or dermatologist can be very helpful in determining what kind is the appropriate one. There are several treatment methods that have become available over the past few years. Consulting a dermatologist or similar specialist will help determine which would be the best option. Dermal fillers are injections in the skin that cause the surface of the scars to rise which gives it an even look as opposed to a rough pitted appearance. Subcutaneous Incisions are what is used in the treatment of the rolling scars. A surgical needle is inserted under the skin and used to break up the attached subcutaneous fiber bands. This surgery is a little more invasive and can cause bruising in the affected area that goes away in about a week. The last, laser resurfacing, is a treatment that is used for a variety of skin problems in addition to acne scarring. Basically, a laser is used to burn the surface layer of the affected area. Depth of the laser is in accordance with the depth of the scarring. As the treated area heals, the burned layer of skin is replaced with a fresh, healed layer. If you are considering one of these treatments, it is important to do some research about which is the right and most efficient one. Of course, because people who are highly specialized do these treatments, any of these procedures can end up costing a good deal of money. You must decide which is the best for you and which one is the most conducive to your budget. Remember that there are lots of options out there, so don’t be afraid to do some research and find out what works best for you.
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Cancer is serious business. It is a deadly illness that has claimed many lives, and will continue to take lives despite the variety of treatment options available for it. Cancer is considered in some circles as the best place to exercise the supposed power of “positive thinking.” In theory, a person in stable emotional health and positive mindset is more likely to survive a brutal illness, such as cancer, than someone who simply accepts defeat and gives in to “fate.” However, recent studies have found that there is really no truth to that previously accepted notion, with scientific data showing that people who were optimistic about their chances were just as likely to bite the dust as those who held more realistic, or even pessimistic, views of their chances of survival. Emotional health and status, according to the study recently concluded under the supervision of Dr. James Coyne, held no bearing on the chances of survival. According to the data gathered over a period of several years, which include detailed analysis of two different studies on cancer, there was no correlation between feelings and cancer. The study went to great pains to eliminate other possible factors affecting the survival of a cancer patient, including gender, psychological factors, the location of the tumor, and the stage of the disease. The results universally showed that positivity had no effect whatsoever on the chances of survival, but the researchers do concede that psychological and emotional support does still provide help for cancer patients. It just doesn’t really do anything to extend one’s life or help treatment methods in making the cancer recede. The study covered several types of cancer, with the test subjects being in different stages of the disease. The researchers also took consideration of a pool of patients in different methods of cancer treatment, to obtain the best possible data and results for the study. Of the 1,093 patients who were included in the study, over 646 of them had died during the timespan of the study. The researchers took careful note of everything they could, including outlook, attitude, psychological state, and emotional health. Their data effectively discards the long-held notion that positive thinking and emotions can help prolong a person’s life, which has been among the most prevalent pieces of advice that doctors provide their patients. The research team also determined that those with more “realistic” expectations, or were outright pessimistic about their chances, did not have a higher mortality rate than their happier counterparts. This, too, contradicts previously held notions that negative thinking can aid in the spread of a tumor. The only real discrepancy the study could note was that pessimistic patients tended to be less eager to work their way through the difficult methods of fighting cancer, which did have an effect on their chances. However, removing negative perceptions and emotions altogether did not have any feasible effect on its own. The researchers aren’t saying that people should forbid cancer patients from engaging or joining in support groups or psychiatric counseling sessions. There are still benefits to allowing a patient to go to those groups if they want to. The effects, however, are likely going to be purely psychological.
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If we look back in history, it seems pretty obvious that human beings care about their skin. And why shouldn’t we? As the largest organ of the body, the epidermis (the scientific name for skin) serves an extremely important role of keeping the bodies’ moisture in while keeping foreign material out. It does this by having a protective layer of lipids that coat the body and protect the top layer of skin. When we work and play in our daily lives, the daily activities will often strip our skin of this protective layer. This is why the skin can benefit from the use of a moisturizer at times. Moisturizers contain oil-soluble molecules that help to restore the skin to its natural condition. There are hundreds of different moisturizers from manufacturers that promise to do everything from restoring your face’s natural moisture to making age lines and wrinkles disappear. If a product can really do this, wouldn’t it be in your best interest to get the best possible brand to enhance your skin? Is there really a difference in all these different products? Don’t they all basically just do the same thing? If all of our skin was exactly the same that would probably be the case. Unfortunately, the skin is a complex organ that has specific properties that are unique to each of us. Therefore one kind of moisturizer can definitely be more effective than another when it comes to treating our own special skin qualities. Knowing what goes in all these products is the key to choosing the type of moisturizer that best fits your skin type. Most moisturizers are a combination of oil and water soluble parts called an emulsion. More recent advances include vesicles, microscopic bubbles made of biological components. These components are useful in restoring the skin’s protective layer and also carry active ingredients inside the cells. The correct use of moisturizers is important for people with dermatologic disease. Improper application of a product could lead to a worsening of the condition. Moisturizers claim that they can restore and heal the skin but there is not a very clear definition of exactly what dry skin is. The symptoms include dry and uncomfortable sensations that include pain, itchiness, stinging, and tingling and a rough surface. Redness may also be apparent. More severe cases include dry, white patches on the skin that is flaky or cracked in appearance.