Leg cramps, also known as charley horse, occur when muscles of the leg contract all of sudden with a force. Usually people experience the cramps in the calves, but you can also get them at the hamstrings or the quadriceps. These cramps do not last very long, usually under a minute. Some people regularly get leg cramps while sleeping in the night and this is mainly seen in seniors and middle aged people. Night leg cramps occur due to bad circulation to the lower limbs.

Usually the cause for legs cramps is not drinking sufficient amounts of water. Water helps to transport nutrients to all the parts of the body and if you do not drink enough water, then nutrients supply is hampered. Also, the muscles have to be properly hydrated in order to function normally.

Another reason for experiencing cramps in the legs is deficiency in minerals. Usually low levels of calcium, potassium and magnesium can cause cramps in the legs. If you are suffering from calcium deficiency, you will initially experience tremors and twitching in the muscles that will then progress to cramps. Potassium and magnesium help to maintain the electrolyte balance in the body and also aid in the controlling and building muscles. So, deficiency in potassium and magnesium can cause severe cramps in the legs. Sometimes, even over exercising or doing too may different exercises can lead to cramps in the legs.

Some of the other causes for experiencing legs cramps are dehydration, being overweight, having an imbalance in electrolytes, muscle fatigue, or taking medications like statins or prednisone.

If you are experiencing legs cramps, make sure that you eat foods that are rich in vitamins and minerals. Try to incorporate foods like bananas, potatoes, tomatoes, broccoli, and citrus fruits in your daily diet. In addition, drink around 6 to 8 glasses of water and reduce your caffeine and sugar consumption. If you get a sudden attack of cramps, try massaging the area, doing some stretching movements or applying a hot compress. The massage should be in circular movements to loose the muscles in the affected region. If you regularly experience leg cramps in the night, drink a glass of warm water or take a warm bathe before retiring to bed.

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When it comes to colon health and the diverticular ailments, one of the most common issues is diverticulitis. Diverticulitis occurs when pockets are generated on the colon and become irritated. The medical term for the pockets are diverticulum (when there is one} and diverticula (when there is more than one).

In some cases, which are not uncommon, these pockets can actually move and push out the area where the lining has been thinned out on the colon. This condition is referred to as diverticulosis. If they are pushing on the wall of the colon and are irritated, the diagnosis is going to be diverticulitis. Just about twenty five percent of those who get diverticulosis come down with diverticulitis.

It is not yet known why this inflammation or irritation occurs, even though it has been thoroughly researched. The main cause is assumed to be fecal matter or bacterium that is caught in the pockets or diverticula.

Diverticulitis and diverticulosis are rare in third world countries. This is probably because many people in the industrialized nations are not getting the proper dietary fiber.

Common Diverticulitis Indicators

Some of the common indications of diverticulitis are stomach aches, which include a pain in the left side of the lower stomach area. In some cases, it can begin instantly without any warning. Other times, pain can be a gradual increase in the affected area. It may take a week for the pain to become severe.

Your doctor will make a diagnosis based on the following symptoms:

• High temperature
• Throwing up
• Sick to the stomach
• Cramps in the abdomen
• Blocked stool

The stronger these symptoms are, the more severe the infection is.

Those who have diverticulitis may experience the following:

• Unusual bleeding
• Infections for no reason
• Tears in colon tissue
• Blocked stool

A physician should be consulted as soon as these indications appear. In some cases, it can take a surgical consultant to see if an operation is going to be needed to alleviate the damage. If left untreated, these symptoms can become worse and can lead to even more severe health issues.

How to Treat Diverticulitis

The treatment will depend upon the severity of the case. Sometimes, it may require simply drinking fluids. But at other times, an operation and a hospital stay may be necessary. When operated on, the affected area of the colon is removed and stitched back together.

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Scientifically, Epsom salts is known as magnesium sulfate heptahydrate. The main ingredient of Epsom salts is magnesium. The salt is named after the city in England where it was first discovered. Besides being used for cleaning purposes in the house, Epsom salts also has many medical uses.

If your diet is deficient in sulfate and magnesium, you can get a variety of health problems like poor circulation of the blood, malfunctioning kidneys and several heart ailments. If you increase your magnesium intake, it will help tonormalize your electrolyte levels and also enhance the level of serotonin in the blood. If serotonin levels are increased, it helps in de-stressing the body and improving the quality of sleep. If sulfate levels are normal in the blood, toxins are flushed out easily from the body. Also, sulfate is known to help with migraines.

There is ample evidence to show that magnesium and sulfate present in the salts can be absorbed by the body through external sources. So, after a long tiring day, you can rejuvenate your body by soaking yourself in a warm bath. However, make sure that you add a cup of Epsom salts into the bath water. Miraculously you will notice the tiredness and aches and pains disappearing.

If you have arthritis, make sure that your bath water contains the salts. It will help to increase the circulation of the blood and reduce inflammation of the joints. You can even try lotions that contain Epsom salts to help with the stiffness and swelling of joints.

The salts is also used as exfoliating agent. Take around a teaspoon of the salts and mix it with your cleansing lotion or cream. Then gently massage it into your skin. It will help to get rid of dead skin and also reduce the blemishes.

If you are suffering from constipation, then having some salts will help you out. However, make sure that you consult your doctor before trying this remedy out. Athlete's foot and ringworm infections can be treated to some extent through Epsom salts. Make a paste and apply it on the infected part. It will help to alleviate some of the symptoms.

Epsom salts can also help avoid pre-term labor and pre-eclampsia. However, in these conditions, it is best to consult the obstetrician before taking the salt.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Kum_Martin

Although hydrogen peroxide is a weak acid, it has very powerful oxidizing properties. The acid looks very similar to water. The concentrated form of peroxide is quite dangerous, but its diluted form is quite useful. It is strong bleaching properties and is used to whiten paper. It is also used as an antiseptic, disinfectant and oxidizer.

In nature, the chemical is present in both snow and rain. Plants produce this acid during photosynthesis; and even fruits and vegetables are known to contain it. However, the maximum production takes place in the ocean via planktons. It is even present in humans and is one of the ingredients in human milk, especially colostrum. It helps to enhance the immune system of a newborn baby.

For commercial use, hydrogen peroxide is produce in a variety of grades depending on the use. Usually pharmaceuticals use 3.5 percent hydrogen peroxide, while beauticians tend to use the 6 percent one. In rocket fuel, 90 percent grade is used. For internal medical use, only the 35 percent grade is advisable.

While it is used in many industrial processes like paper making, textiles, leather, electronics, purification of drinking water, treatment of waste water, mining, medically it is used for various ailments.

According to some health experts, the chemical is an important metabolite. Right after the First World War when an epidemic of pneumonia struck people, dilute hydrogen peroxide was given intravenously to those who had contracted the disease. Many studies indicate that hydrogen peroxide can be an effective treatment for various bacterial-related mental ailments and also poliomyelitis.

Even today, hospitals use peroxide to sterilize ambulances, toilets and bathroom due to its antiseptic properties. Also, surgical and medical equipment are sterilized with it. The US FDA has approved hydrogen peroxide as a mouthwash and you can get many dental and oral products that contain it.

Certain skin-related conditions like acne, cold sores, insect bites, pimples and small burns can be healed with the help of hydrogen peroxide. It is also used to treat arthritis as it kills anaerobic bacteria that cause the arthritis by supplying oxygen. It can be effectively used to treat viral infections, bacterial infections, fungal infections, yeast infections, allergies, gingivitis, ulcers, pneumonia, sinusitis, certain problems with the digestive tract and also anemia.

Besides these, there are many other medical uses of hydrogen peroxide.

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The best way on how to lower triglycerides is to lower bad cholesterol intake. Unwanted cholesterol containing foods are those rich in oils, trans fat and toxins. The toxins are usually found in caffeine and alcohol. On top of that, desserts rich in sugars and dairy are also the criminals in the world of cholesterol.

To lower bad cholesterol, make certain that the proper foods enter the system rather than pure dieting as a treatment for high cholesterol levels revealed in the blood tests. A gradual weaning of the body from the toxins is a great way to start and this will make certain that there is no sudden drop in either weight or fluids exiting the body. A sudden drop of 10 pounds in less than one week is very dangerous.

Be it a serious diet or a gradual one, there is one thing that is certain: junk foods, alcohol, caffeine and high dairy content desserts are not part of it. These foods are not only dangerous in their high triglyceride content, but continuing to ingest them is not going to lower bad cholesterol at all, it will just increase them. To lower bad cholesterol, a diet rich in fruits, vegetables, water and fish, accompany that with a good workout regimen and you are on your way to good health. Just make sure that you do not overly exercise as this is also not good for the body.

Although dieting will lower bad cholesterol, it is also a known fact that people get hungrier when they work out. The secret to a good diet includes instructions that you can eat from 4 to 6 meals a day, as long as the required daily allowance is taken in. Also, the water will stave off the hunger pains when doing exercises.

They always said that if there is a way to lower these unwanted cholesterol, then there should be a way to increase the good ones. This is definitely true with the proper diet and exercise regimen which should be done under the guidance of the doctor, nutritionist and the workout instructor. These three people are the ones to trust for guidance and they will make sure that you will not overdo yourself.

Other people look surprised when they see dedicated dieters not only lower their cholesterol levels, but that they look good and healthy and young for their ages. Of course! When you lower bad cholesterol, all the toxins are washed out, sure you'll look good.

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You have been working all day long and now your bottom just itches and burn. You can not stand the idea that you will have to suffer with this another day so you start to think about what you can do right now to make it stop hurting and to ease the swelling. You were told this day about sitz baths for hemorrhoids and you decide that you are going to give it a try. This method if done correctly is indulgent to your body and very relaxing.

You already know that hemorrhoids are pretty common and that it affects most any age group, though statistics show that 50% of adults over the age of 50 will deal with this most uncomfortable problem. You should know by now that hemorrhoids are simply large inflamed veins, centered on your anal opening. Most hemorrhoids begin inside the rectum and with time and pressure they fall out. That is when it becomes most uncomfortable. Most time when the hemorrhoids are inside the rectum they are not painful. They will however bleed if you pass a bowel movement, especially if you are straining. You may see blood on the stool or on the toilet paper.

They are not critical in the sense that you will bleed to death from them and they rarely get infected. But they do bulge and create pain, itching and bleeding. Your need is to shrink them and take away the discomfort and this can be done by a technique called the sitz bath. This method is easy and most comforting, simply follow these procedures and your bottom will be feeling much better.

Sitz bath is also known as hydrotherapy and involves the use of water to sooth and treat a disease. For us this is hemorrhoids. Another name for it is hip bath and is a bath in which only the hips and buttocks are soaked in water with or without additives. Its name comes from the German verb "sitzen," meaning "to sit."

Let us get started:

What you will need

The easiest thing to use would be a portable tub that is called the sitz bath, and it sits inside your toilet clinging to the toilet bowl and uses it on it or the seat. If you do not have that you can use your bathtub. Add two to three inches of warm water, usually about 95-100 degrees Fahrenheit, or 38 to 40 degrees Celsius.

Your store bought sitz baths will usually have a full working system included and that means it will come with a solution bag that you fill with warm water, tubing and a vent on the all around the bath to prevent the water from pooling and overflowing. When it gets filled it filters into the toilet to be flushed away later.

The bag can be hung on any hook, the higher the better as gravity will help, at least have it higher than the toilet seat. The tube runs to the seat of the sitz bath and infuses your bottom as you sit there.

Sitz baths are not expensive and you can get them at any pharmacy, drug store or medical supply. The range is from $10 to $30.

Rules to Remember

* Do not make the water too hot or too cold
* You can add salt or backing soda but nothing else unless your doctor tells you to
* Make sure you are safe
* Sit in the sitz bath 10-20 minutes
* Use the bath after a bowel movement or 2-4 times a day
* After the bath rise slowly so you do not get dizzy
* Carefully clean and dry the area
* Wash the sitz bath between treatments



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When voice mapping biofeedback entered the public arena in 2005, it was presented as a tool to help people recover from the consequences of stress and trauma they experienced earlier in their lives. Thousands of people have benefited from the initial application of this methodology. However, as clients work through and heal from primary issues, they have also found other diverse and deeper results from their work with voice mapping. Among my clients, these have included the enhancement of the performance skills of musicians, writers, and athletes.

One example involves singers who initially used voice mapping like other clients, to work on unwanted behaviors and reactions to stress in their lives. While many people have reported significant results from voice mapping, those who are not singers seldom notice any differences specifically in their voices. Singers, however, are very attuned to what is happening in their voices at all times. A number of the singers I have worked with have commented after their sessions that their voices feel richer and/or more full.

One singer who had several sessions with me in 2007 contacted me recently to work on the current stressors in her life. She didn't mention that over the past year, she had been having difficulty with her voice and didn't relate that problem to the the issues she chose to work on in her session. But, at the end of the session, to her surprise, she said that the tightening in her voice was significantly reduced. I see this as a good illustration of the connection between stress in a person's off-stage life and their on-stage performance.

Some writers and musicians have told me they have been able to overcome writer's block and re-stimulate their creativity after having voice mapping sessions. These kinds of benefits translate into the sports world as well. A golf school in Utah reports voice mapping helps their students improve their scores. As I write, we are developing ways to use voice mapping biofeedback to help athletes of all kinds achieve their personal best. This is a logical evolution in sports, given the attention coaches are paying to sports psychology.

Brian Mackenzie, a noted UK athletic coach and author, writes: "The increased stress of competitions can cause athletes to react both physically and mentally in a manner that can negatively affect their performance abilities. They may become tense, their heart rates race, they break into a cold sweat, they worry about the outcome of the competition, they find it hard to concentrate on the task in hand.

This has led coaches to take an increasing interest in the field of sport psychology and in particular in the area of competitive anxiety. That interest has focused on techniques that athletes can use in the competitive situation to maintain control and optimize their performance. Once learned, these techniques allow the athlete to relax and to focus his/her attention in a positive manner on the task of preparing for and participating in competition. Psychology is another weapon in the athlete's armory in gaining the winning edge."

Voice mapping has also proved to be helpful in the philosophical and spiritual arenas. Several of my clients have used their sessions to explore their connections to their spirituality. Some people have told me that they have experienced expansions in their understanding of spirituality and, in one case, a significant re-connection to faith that had been buried for years.

These are a few examples of the unanticipated ways that people have found voice mapping biofeedback to be helpful in improving their physical and mental talents and performance abilities, and even ways it has improved their spiritual lives. We are still learning what the potential is for this new technology. As more and more people work with voice mapping, who knows what other benefits may come to light.


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While it is true that incontinence tends to be a condition more common in the elderly, people of all ages and different levels of health can suffer from it as well.

If you are unfortunate enough to be suffering the embarrassing leakages of urine that come from incontinence then it is important for you to know that there are options available such as Tena incontinence products which are designed to help you deal with this condition in a discreet and comfortable manner.

The younger populations are generally more active and if people from this age group suffer from incontinence, then they are going to require incontinence products that allow them to maintain their active lifestyle while at the same time fully absorbing any leakages without it being obvious that any product is being worn.

Tena incontinence products are designed with these exact demands in mind. They have a great reputation for providing comfortable, reliable products at an extremely affordable price.

This has allowed Tena to become a market leader in the provision of incontinence solutions to all age groups and demographics.

Tena incontinence products include a range of pads that have been designed to absorb leakages that range from light to heavy. Their design is both discreet and comfortable and they are able to be changed quickly and easily.

Separate pads are available for men and women with each being uniquely created to match the differing contours of the body and the requirements of the two sexes.

Another option available are Tena pants, with many people preferring these to the incontinence pads. The major reason for this is that they have the appearance of and feel just like underwear.

The material is undetectable under the clothes and these pants can be more effective when people are being more active. They may also be better for people who suffer from heavy leakages or faecal incontinence.

Another factor that Tena's incontinence pads and pants take care of is odor control. This gives the wearer added confidence in knowing that there are no obvious signs or smells that can reveal to friends or family their embarrassing condition.

Tena understands that incontinence can affect people of all ages and sexes and has designed it's range of incontinence products accordingly.

Regardless of the severity of your condition or how active your lifestyle, there are Tena incontinence products available which can help you maintain a full and active lifestyle.



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Internal hemorrhoids are from veins that swell inside the anal canal. The anal canal is the last four centimeters of your bowels that empties feces out into the outside world, preferably the toilet bowl. They are generally not at all painful. The symptoms that you do get are usually bright red blood on the stool, in the toilet water or on your toilet tissue. They become painful only when the drop out and then they are known as protruding hemorrhoids.

Even though the internal hemorrhoids do not cause pain and itching, they still need to be addressed and one way to tend to them is through the use of medication. If you research and learn about the different medications that are available then you will know which ones to use for your own personal need and thus choose the best one for you to ease the symptoms. With the right medication you should be able to shrink the hemorrhoids and to get them to stop bleeding and causing problems for you.

Most often internal hemorrhoids are in the anal canal and are small, swollen veins. They can at times become large and will sag and bulge from your anus. If your anus passes gas, or stool or you clinch down then these internal hemorrhoids will respond with pain. If they are protruding and the blood supply gets clamped off then your hemorrhoids can give you a throbbing pain in your bottom.

Toners

Toners are also called astringents and are used by people with internal hemorrhoids. They contain medications that are very effective in causing clumping or a coagulating of proteins in the cells of anal canal lining. This simple action will encourage the skin around the anal opening to dry up and thus it will help with pain, itching and burning. Some over the counter, non prescription medications are: Witch Hazel, Zinc Oxide and Calamine.

Protectants

Protectants are another group of medication that is recommended to treat internal hemorrhoids. When you use these drugs they provide a physical barrier that will allow the tissues not to be irritated by stool that passes through the rectum, in doing that they reduce itching, pain, irritation and that annoying burning. The hemorrhoids then have time to heal and shrink and cause no problems. Drugs in this group contain aluminum hydroxide gel, glycerin, mineral oil, cocoa butter, Starch, zinc oxide, cod liver oil and lanolin.

Vasoconstrictors

Vasoconstrictors are also used to ease symptoms of internal hemorrhoids. They work by making the blood vessels smaller and thus the swelling and irritation decreases. They also may reduce itching and pain by their mild anesthetic effect. Drugs in this group include ephedrine sulfate and Phenylephrine hydrochloride. Before you use this kind of medication, make sure to seek your doctors' advice and ensure that you have no medical conditions that might be aggravated by the use and cause a harmful reaction.

Local anesthetics

This group of medication will numb the area that you apply it to and relieve most of your symptoms of burning, itching and pain. They do not treat the hemorrhoid itself merely give you some relief. Local anesthetics can cause allergic reactions so if any of your symptoms increase or more is added then stop the medication. Drugs in this group: Benzocaine, Lidocaine and Pramoxine.

Analgesics

Analgesic products work by depressing pain sensation. Drugs that are used include: Juniper Tar, Camphor and Menthol



Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Corinne_Bridgewater

A stroke is caused by damage to a part of the brain, caused by interruption to it's blood supply or by leakage of blood through the walls of blood vessels. It is also called Cerebrovascular Accident. A stroke is a life-threatening event and can be fatal if the brain's vital supply of oxygen is disrupted. It can affect your senses, speech, behavior, thoughts and your memory. It may also result in permanent brain damage, paralysis, coma and death.

A stroke occurs when an artery of the brain bursts or becomes clogged by a blood clot, cutting off the oxygen to a part of the brain. The brain tissues that does not get enough oxygen dies within minutes. This result in the part of the body that is controlled by these brain cells not to function properly.

High blood pressure and atherosclerosis, the build up of fatty plaque in the arteries, can increase the risk of a stroke. The main types and causes of a stroke are, cerebral thrombosis, cerebral embolism and hemorrhage.

Cerebral thrombosis is a blockage by a thrombus (clot) that has built up on the wall of a brain artery. This is the most common cause of stroke. The onset is gradual and accounts for 40 to 60 percent of strokes. This tends to occur while the person is sleeping or it can happen within an hour after rising.

Cerebral embolism is also a bloskage by an embolus (clot) into an artery in the brain. The onset is sudden because of the interruption of blood flow to the brain. This accounts for 30 to 35 percent of strokes.

Hemorrhage or bleeding is the rupturing of a blood vessel. It is usually an artery in the brain. Hemorrhage is usually associated with hypertension. (high blood pressure) Stroke from cerebral hemorrhage is common after the age of 50 and recovery is usually much slower than other strokes. This kind of stroke occur most often in the day time while the person is active and accounts for 20 to 25 percent of strokes.

A stroke may happen suddenly but it is often follows by years of a slow built up of fatty deposits inside the blood vessels. About 10 percent of strokes are preceded by TIAs (transient ischemic attack) or mini strokes.These mini strokes can occur days, weeks or even months before a major stroke. They last less than 5 minutes, with symptoms similar to a full stroke. Since a large percentage of people who experience TIAs suffer full stroke sometimes within days, you should seek immediate medical attention if you are experiencing any symptom of a stroke.

Factors that contribute to a stroke include, hypertension, arteriosclreosis or heart disease, cigarette smoking, diabetes mellitus, obesity, lack of physical activity, overweight, a family history of strokes or a history of TIAs (mini Strokes) and chronic stress.

Symptoms of a stroke are, sudden weakness or numbness of the face, arm, and leg, usually on one side of the body, loss of speech, or trouble talking or understanding speech,dimness or loss of vision particularly in only one eye, unexplained dizziness, unsteadiness or falls, or sudden severe headache.

To avoid stroke, you should have your high blood pressure checked regularly and keep it under control, you should eat a well- balanced diet that that is low in cholesterol and saturated fats, If you have diabetes, you should keep it well controlled, Do not smoke and you should get your regular physical exam done by your doctor.

Any stroke is an emergency that requires immediate medical attention in order to prevent brain damage. Seek emergency care if you are experiencing any sign of a stroke. Your life depends on it.


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