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Showing posts from October, 2017

Exercises for Air Travel

Travel often involves extended flights. Long periods of time seated in a cramped atmosphere can lead to reduced movement. In addition to general discomfort, this immobility can lead to dangerous health events. Excessive sitting has the potential to cause blood clots in the legs. This condition is referred to as Deep Vein Thrombosis (DVT), sometimes also called traveler’s thrombosis. When blood pools in the legs, these clots can form which may have varying degrees of size and effects on health. Small clots often go unnoticed. Moderately sized clots can cause swelling, stiffness and pain. Unfortunately, large clots can have life threatening consequences. The clot can break off and transfer to the lungs causing a pulmonary embolism, also termed a venous thromboembolism (VTE). The effects of a pulmonary embolism may not result until hours after it has occurred. The signs include chest pain and shortness of breath. In some cases it may cause sudden death. The World Health

Beta Carotene and Vitamins A and E

In a recent press release, a Chicago study of 68 existing studies on Beta carotene and vitamins A and E have been found to increase the risk of death. The review consisted of studies on almost 250,000 people using these antioxidants. According to critics, many of the study's participants were chronically ill before starting antioxidant treatments. Researchers have not found evidence of risks associated with natural antioxidants found in fruits or vegetables; only in synthetic supplements. Synthetic supplements have higher concentrated levels of antioxidants and can therefore be more problematic. Antioxidants fight free radicals that can cause cell damage. The study explained that by wiping out the free radicals from our bodies, we are interrupting important defense mechanisms needed to fight disease. According to the study, using antioxidants Beta carotene and vitamin A and E, can increase the chance of mortality by 5 %. Vitamin C, which is thought to increase longevity, was

Acupuncture Treatments

Acupuncture has been practised in Asia for thousands of years and its use as a treatment for numerous illnesses have been well documented. What is Acupuncture? A form of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Acupuncture is an increasingly popular type of complementary/alternative medicine that uses needles to help stimulate different "meridians" in the body. It is based on the concept that the life-force energy of the body runs through various areas or pathways in the body. By inserting small needles into various points and depths, it's considered that a rebalancing of this life-force energy (called 'Qi') will promote good health and correct many ills. Currently there are over 400 known points on the body and each correspond to various bodily functions. There are documented cases that have shown that acupuncture is effective in treating maladies such as nausea and vomiting associated with pregnancy and chemotherapy, minor aches and pains, dental pain, headaches, migr

Causes of Hypoglycaemia

Hypoglycaemia means that the glucose in the blood has dropped to a level that may cause harm if prolonged. This level is around 2.5mmols/litre in most people. The most frequent reason for this is seen in diabetics due to the failure to adequately match insulin dose (or diabetic tablets) with food intake and energy expenditure – in effect, an insulin overdose. However it can occur in non-diabetics for a variety of reasons. As the effects of low blood glucose can be serious, rapid attention to the problem is paramount. Control of Blood Glucose Level Blood glucose is a prime source of energy for the muscles and organs of the body. Whereas many tissues can also utilise fat for their energy needs the brain can only use glucose, a fact that has considerable bearing on the consequences of hypoglycaemia. The hormone insulin removes glucose from the blood and transports it into the muscles and the liver where it is stored. Glucagon, also a hormone, has the opposite effect and removes glu

Fractures of the Hip

Hip fractures are like any other broken bone in the body, but they are also distinctive. Such injuries can result in the inability to walk and lead to major functional disruptions. Fractures of the hip occur often in the elderly, a population that is prone to these fractures. Such reasons make hip fractures a commonly discussed condition. The following is an overview of how these fractures occur and how they are managed. Relevant Anatomy of the Hip The hip joint consists of the femur, or thigh bone, and the pelvis. The head of the femur fits into the acetabulum, a round socket in the pelvis. The femoral head comes out of a narrow femoral neck, and below the neck are two bony prominences called the greater trochanter and lesser trochanter. These anatomic landmarks comprise the upper portion of the femur involved in hip fractures. The blood circulation to the upper femur is also noteworthy. Of three arteries that carry blood to this region, about 90% of circulation come

Top 6 Fitness Myths

1. Women who lift weights will get bulky muscles: Not true ; lifting weights, doing cardio and eating right are all three essential for losing weight. If you just want to tone up, perform each exercise between 10 and 20 reps. So keep your reps high and don’t be scared of weights; after lifting your metabolism will speed up for the next 48 hours. 2. Spot reducing is possible: False ; let’s take the stomach for example. Everyone has a “six-pack” in there somewhere - it is just a matter of exercising in general and eating right that gets rid of the fat on top. The best abs in the gym belong to the people who do a variety of things, not just working one area. If all you do is 500 crunches a day for the next two months, you will have the strongest abs that Nobody Will Ever See! 3. No pain, No gain: No Way! This myth often scares people away, so let’s replace it with the truth. No Consistency, No Gain; consistency is the most important part of exercise, without it you are swimming u

Frozen Shoulder

Frozen shoulder affects only about two percent of the population but can greatly impact day to day life events such as brushing hair, opening doors or reaching up to retrieve something from a top shelf. It is most common in people between the ages of 40 and 60, and, according to the American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons, can also strike people with diabetes, thyroid problems, Parkinson's disease or cardiac disease. Dr. Jennifer Solomon, a specialist in physical medicine and rehabilitation at the Hospital for Special Surgery in New York, which is well-known for its treatment of frozen shoulder, says, "It is also extremely common in perimenopausal women." This suggests hormonal changes may cause joint stiffness associated with frozen shoulder. The disorder often develops slowly, and in three stages. Stage One: Pain increases with movement and is often worse at night. There is a progressive loss of motion with increasing pain. This stage lasts approxim