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Archive for December, 2009

Rheumatoid Arthritis – Joint Pain and Inflammation

31 Dec



When Your Joints Say No!

You may ignore the stiffness in your joints until one morning your hands resemble a claw and your knees or elbows ache when you try to straighten them. You may continue to ignore what your body is telling you until you bend over to tie your shoes or wash your feet in the shower and your back remains in that bent over position.

When your joints say no to you, your life, once active, becomes a passive retreat. This is not a sign of entering the golden years. It’s simply a message from your body to simply take a closer look at your lifestyle and nutritional habits. This message can save you from more potentially harmful diseases.

Toxic food elements in what you presently eat, along with excess stress, can cause joint inflammation, pain and a jarring halt to every day simple motion. When your joints say no, you may have Rheumatoid Arthritis.

Rheumatoid Arthritis is a chronic condition of inflammation of the joints that disturbs every part of your body, including your emotional state. The word itself means inflammation (itis) of the joints (arth).

SYMPTOMS:

Symptoms may include joint stiffness, pain ranging from dull to severe, weakness, fatigue and low-grade fever.

CAUSES:

Scientific studies and an array of evidence have led to the conclusion that Rheumatoid Arthritis is a reaction in which certain antibodies within the body attack our own joints. Investigations of the culprit have led to speculation ranging from lifestyle to nutrition. The possibilities of interfering factors include food allergies, and bacterial and viral invasions caused by an imbalance in the bodies normal intestinal flora.

In most Rheumatoid Arthritis cases, digestive disorders including constipation contribute to the body’s imbalance. If constipated, you may be absorbing toxic antigens through the intestinal wall that eventually become lodged in the joint tissue.

Constipation develops as the result of consuming empty foods such as refined white flour, refined white sugar, and foods with artificial additives and preservatives. These refined substances cause a sticky plaque on the lining of the intestinal wall as well as on the lining of blood vessels.

The consumption of refined products along with such products as coffee and alcohol create plaque and leach calcium from your bones. This calcium finds its way into weakened joints in the forum of calcium deposits, causing arthritic effects.

The refining processes of food strips beneficial nutrients that balance the foods’ nourishing qualities and digestive abilities. Use of cows’ dairy products cause an excess of mucous congestion and yeast products can aggravate and imbalance the normal intestinal flora, causing digestive disturbances.

Prescriptive Medicine

Many physicians prescribe drugs that block digestive secretions as a way to decrease pain in the stomach due to ulcers and an uncoordinated release of digestive juices. However, this method of symptom relief causes additional digestive disturbances that can lead to constipation and malnutrition due to poor and improper digestion.

Supplementation

A simple digestive enzyme supplement may be all you need to resume proper digestion and a good acidophilus product will restore your intestinal flora. Prolonged use of chemical antacids that decrease digestive secretions may damage normal secretory processes. Most nutritional experts agree that enzyme supplementation makes more sense when dealing with this type of disorder.

 
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Herbal Medicines For Rheumatoid Arthritis (RA) and Gout Treatment

30 Dec



Rheumatoid arthritis is a systemic disease that begins with severe pain in the small joints of hands and feet, spreading to the wrists, knees, shoulders, ankles, and elbows. Overlying skin appears red and shiny. This condition affects mostly women, often beginning between the ages of 20 and 40, although it can occur at any time. Symptoms include joint pain, swelling, and stiffness, accompanied by fatigue, low-grade fever, and poor appetite.

Rheumatoid arthritis is an autoimmune reaction resulting in a chronic, inflammatory condition affecting the joints and the tissues around them. The joints them

 
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Treating Gout – Know the Essentials

30 Dec



Gout is a type of arthritis that affects the joints, tendons, and other bodily tissue. In most cases, the condition is difficult to diagnose as it is often confused with fractures, breaks, or dislocations.

Upon diagnosis, however, the condition is extremely painful and must be treated properly to prevent future attacks. Treating gout may consist of drug therapy, changing an unhealthy life- style, and loosing weight.

Initially, healthcare providers treat the disease with certain types of medications. The combination of gout medications are used to reduce the pain associated with acute attacks, reduce the duration of the attacks, and reduce the production of uric acid in order to avoid the formation of tophi or kidney stones.

This form of arthritis is often characterized as the “king of diseases” because it attacks intensely and suddenly. The attacks occur in the middle of the night with great pain. Gout suffers experience certain prominent symptoms when enduring a sudden attack.

The symptoms include swelling, stiffness, redness, warmth, and tenderness. Although most common in the joint of the big toe, it sometimes affects the fingers, wrists, foot, elbows, knees, and ankles. Consequently, the medications, such as anti- inflammatory and non- steroidal are used to treat these symptoms of acute gout attacks.

The medications that are initially prescribe by physicians are non- steroidal or anti- inflammatory (NSAIDs) over-the-counter drugs. These drugs may be Aleve, Advil, Ibuprofen, or Motrin. More powerful NSAIDs are available by prescription only.

Prescription drugs consist of Colchicine, steroids, and joint injections. Unfortunately, each of these prescription drugs have annoying side effects such as nausea, vomiting, bone thinning, poor wound healing, or even decreased ability to stave off infection.

In addition to drug therapy, treating gout is accomplished through a number of options such as natural treatments and dietary supplements. Herbal remedies are very effective for lowering the amount of uric acid in the body. More so, these remedies often reduce the swelling and pain caused by gout.

Physicians might recommend devil’s claw, gravel root, tumeric and nettle root. A selection of vitamins ands minerals will also help relieve gout symptoms. Vitamin C, B Complex Vitamins and Folic acid are all used to eliminate acid from the bloodstream as well as prevent future gout attacks.

It is beneficial to utilize a treatment option that best suits you and alleviates the pain and suffering that results from the development of gout. Yet, before you experiment with any type of natural treatment, it is recommended that you consult your primary physician.

 
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Flu Scare- Are We Aware

28 Dec



It is always said that awareness can keep you away from danger. And when the scare is as threatening as bird flu, most people would not dare to take any chances. As the bird flu virus strike different parts of the world, the latest entrant been India, poultry industry is naturally the worst casualty. Though recent studies have confirmed that the flu virus is not food-borne and the poultry meat cooked at 70 degrees eliminates all possibility of the deadly H5N1 strain of bird flu virus, yet people are reluctant to take chances. Such is the extent of the scare that hundreds of people with cold and cough were turning up at medical camps in bird flu-hit areas for a check-up as precautionary measures.

Bird Flu, medically termed avian influenza is a contagious disease of animals caused by viruses that are highly species-specific and normally infect only birds but on rare occasions crossed the species barrier to infect humans as well. It spreads very rapidly through poultry flocks, causes disease affecting multiple internal organs, and has a mortality that can approach 100%, often within 48 hours. Symptoms of bird flu are very specific:

o In birds: Birds that sit still for unusually long spell, have dirty feathers, swollen necks and red spots on their feet

o In meat: Pink spots in the usually white chicken meat and runny yolk in eggs.

The bird flu virus spread-theory across the world has nailed the migratory birds as the possible suspect. Sick migratory birds shed the flu virus with their saliva, faeces and nasal secretions which in turn infect domestic birds when in contact with secretions or contaminated surfaces. Influenza viruses are highly unstable and have the ability to mutate rapidly, potentially jumping from one animal species to another. Direct contact with infected poultry, or surfaces and objects contaminated by their faeces, is presently considered the main route of human infection. The disease caused by H5N1 follows an unusually aggressive clinical course where primary viral pneumonia and multi-organ failure are common, with rapid deterioration and high fatality.

Though there has been no breakthrough in developing a vaccine for bird flu, yet the FDA has approved Tamiflu (generic Oseltamivir phosphate), an oral anti-viral drug for the treatment of uncomplicated influenza in adults whose flu symptoms have lasted more than two days. It belongs to a group of medicines called neuraminidase inhibitors. Their main task is to attack the flu virus and prevent it from spreading to other parts of the body. Tamiflu has since been used to treat type A and B influenzas but it has also been found effective against the avian flu virus H5N1 strain. Further Tamiflu information is available from health practitioners, print media and online information sites. So do not panic, bird flu is no scare if you are aware of all eventualities.

 
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Rheumatoid Arthritis Diet

27 Dec



Rheumatoid arthritis comes with significant amounts of pain, stiffness that restricts mobility and fatigue. As these effects grow in strength and get worse over time, it is only natural that sufferers look to ways and means to find solutions to deal with the situation over and above the recommended medication. Being considerate of one’s diet is one such popular method. However, there is no solid proof that a particular diet will eliminate the risk of rheumatoid arthritis or reduce its effects. This however does not disqualify the thinking that one’s diet helps those living with the condition. As such it certainly does call for a closer look at a rheumatoid arthritis patients menu.

To begin with it is commonly believed that some food types increase symptoms while others decrease them. This may differ from person to person and as such it is best to take this on a person by person basis. For starts you can remove suspect food items from your diet for a certain period. Then start reintroducing selected suspect food items into your diet and watch its affects on the symptoms. Pretty soon you will know what types of food increase the effects of your symptoms and what food items have no marked influence. This practice will provide you with the ideal rheumatoid arthritis nutrition plan.

Being overweight also considerably contributes to the level of symptoms and thereby the level of pain a person experiences. This is purely because the excess weight adds more pressure to your joints, especially those joints that bear your weight. Research indicates that the action of walking alone increases the pressure on joints such as ankles, knees and hips by about three to five times of a person’s body weight. For example a single pound of excess weight can add three to five pounds of increased pressure to one knee alone. Compare this with a ten pound weight loss and you are looking at loss of pressure in the range of about 30 to 50 pounds. This alone will provide a person with significant relief and as such a weight watchers diet can also prove to be ideal for a person with rheumatoid arthritis.

In addition to the above, certain fat types can also increase the effects of pain and inflammation for those with this disease. For example saturated fat, commonly found in food items such as butter, cream, bacon and steak tend to increase pro-inflammatory chemicals known as ‘Prostaglandins’. These chemicals cause inflammations that could lead to swelling, joint destructions and increased levels of pain. There is also evidence that meat items with more than normal levels of arachidonic acids can also result in increased levels of prostaglandins which could yet again increase inflammation and thereby pain. This is why some people with this disease find a vegetarian diet to be helpful, but as mentioned earlier this does not apply to all patients with rheumatoid arthritis, with some sufferers seeing no significance or any difference by switching to a supposed rheumatoid arthritis diet that excludes meat.

 
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Talk Your Way to Good Health and More

27 Dec



The flu bug is in the air. You kind of feel weak. You tell yourself that you are going to fall sick. You lose your appetite. Your head feels heavy. True enough, when you wake up the following day, you run a fever. You report sick. You stay in bed. You have successfully convinced yourself that you will be the next sick victim and without fail, your body programs accordingly. And there you are, lying sick and weak on the bed.

What if, instead of negative programming, you apply positive programming? Let’s replay the scene. The flu bug is in the air. You are busy with your work. You tell yourself that you are strong and healthy and that you will not fall sick. You also tell yourself that you cannot afford to get sick. You continue with your work and carry on with your daily chores. True enough, when you wake up the following day, you remain fit and well. The flu bug did not get you. You have successfully convinced yourself that you are strong and healthy and without fail, your body programs accordingly and builds up the necessary immunity.

What if, instead of talking your way to good health, you talk your way to great wealth and great possibilities? You will have set the stage for great happenings. Drums will roll. You will start to attract the things, events and people that will help propel you towards your goals. What you need to do is to continue talking to yourself, follow the flow and do all that is necessary to bring your goals to fruition. If you come to a road block, don’t give up. Continue with your pep talk. Nothing and no one can stop you from achieving what you set out to achieve. Stay strong when the current is strong. Soon it will pass. It has to. No earthquake or tsunami will last forever. Talk yourself out of all negative emotions and thoughts. Talk yourself into everything positive. When you have successfully programmed yourself to achieve great possibilities, there is only one outcome. That you will achieve them, without fail.

 
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The Best Faucet Filters

26 Dec



There are products commonly found in modern household plumbing systems. It helps remove rusts and other chemical residue from contaminating water for safe and healthy water consumption.

filters doesn’t only come in different filtering systems; it also comes in different shapes and sizes. This means, you need to consider both space and efficiency before finalizing in a filter you’ll use for your home.

The most common filter design is the easy mount. They are installed directly on the mouth of the faucet. They look like strainers that make use of a sponge as a filter. The piece of fabric inside it is the main material that catches the metallic residue from tap water.

Simple & Easy Faucet Water Purifier Type CA Tap is an example of an easy to mount filter. It features a special fabric material that filters foreign bodies from the water. It is very easy to install and is ideal for a hassle-free home installation.

There is another design that has the more advanced filtering process. It requires different filtering stages. This design of filter runs the water in stages of proper water purification to make sure that unwanted residue is removed from the water and will be safe to drink.

PUR water purification system is one of known manufacturers of filters in the market. They design reliable that are effective in purifying tap water.

PUR FM-3700 3 Stage Vertical Faucet Mount is one of the latest designs from PUR. This product is durable and highly efficient for professional and ordinary kitchens. It features three filtering stage processes to ensure clean and safe to drink water products.

That products are now one of the basic necessities for one’s home. Due to the growing demands on these products, more and more filtering systems are continuously being developed.

Culligan US-EZ-4 Under-Sink Filter is another easy to install product. It treats contaminants and filters more harmful water foreign components. The filters of this device can last up to 6 months.

Another easy to install and highly recommended faucet filter is Brita 42633 Faucet Filtration System, Black/Chrome. This faucet filter can be installed in a matter of minutes. It features a filtering system that can remove up to 98 % of lead and other foreign bodies or harmful chemical components in the water. Brita 42633 Faucet Filtration System has quick and easy to replace filters that are proven to be very convenient to the user. Although these filters provide a highly advanced water filtering system, if you’re still uncertain, it is still best to boil water before drinking.

 
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Golf Swing Teaching Aids – Do You Need Them?

25 Dec



There are so many golf swing training aids available today and so much hype that you might buy one after the other and still not find one that improves your golf swing. The first thing you need to do is figure out what aspect of your golf swing needs attention. It is vital that you understand what your weaknesses with your swing are and concentrate on finding a solution for that particular problem. Then, and only then, should you consider searching for a golf teaching aid that will address the swing fault that you have identified.

The best thing you can do to start with is make sure you have the fundamental elements correct that are necessary for a good golf swing. You need to make sure that you have the right grip to start with. Next, the address position and your body posture have to be in alignment to the target. Your balances at set up and throughout the swing, as well as your weight transfer have to be correct or you will never achieve a good golf swing. And finally, you have to maintain a perfect tempo and plane to achieve the right impact position for hitting the ball with distance, accuracy and consistency.

So how do you know which of the above elements you are doing wrong? Well, if you can afford it, get a golf instructor to analyze your golf swing and identify your fault; although, from my experience, having someone tell you what you are doing wrong, then showing you what to do to correct it, did not work for me. But at least you will know what your fault is and therefore make a more informed buying decision of a golf teaching aid. Another possibility for identifying your swing fault is to video tape yourself. By watching a replay, especially in slow motion, you should be able to spot your swing fault; if not, maybe a golfing buddy that is more experienced than you can watch the video and tell you where you are going wrong.

After identifying your fault you will then know what type of golf teaching aid you need to correct it. I have found on the internet that the teaching aids are conveniently categorized into the following swing aids: full swing aids, swing plane aids, swing tempo aids, swing alignment aids, balance aids, grip aids, impact position aids, fitness training aids, and weight transfer aids. Some of these aids overlap in different categories – in other words, one type of swing aid might correct two or three different problems.

So, if you know you have a golf fault and you have identified which area of your needs attention, then you are in a position to choose the right golf swing teaching aid. Search the internet for reviews for particular teaching aids or look for testimonies from known golf professionals or golf instructors. So, do you need them? Well, if you find the right teaching aid for you and it improves your game – then yes!

 
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Abortion and the 2008 Presidential Election

24 Dec



Abortion has long been a hot topic ever since its creation way back in the 1820s. But with so many technology breakthroughs and new abortion techniques, the controversial issue has become more intense and litigious, especially on the political stage with the upcoming 2008 presidential election.

Abortion has been, is, and always will be a deeply ingrained issue in many Americans because of the moral and religious factors it presents. Many individuals firmly believe abortion is just another form of murder since essentially it involves the willful termination of another living being. On the contrary, others think such a decision should be completely up to the woman and is an inherent constitutional freedom since it is her body.

Abortion is a very crucial issue for each presidential candidate and their declared platform; in fact, so much so is that the case, that many candidates lose the votes of certain votes based solely on their abortion positions. Here is a look at the top runners, both democratic and republican, in terms of abortion.

Barack Obama (Democrat)

Obama has been a long-time supporter of a woman’s right to choose and the Supreme Court case of Roe v. Wade. He also believes in protecting a woman’s decision on partial-birth abortions and voted no on a bill that would obligate minors to inform their parents before they receive an out-of-state abortion.

Hilary Clinton (Democrat)

Much like Obama, Clinton is also against banning partial-birth abortions and wants to protect a woman’s right to choose. She does, however, endorse funding education programs and providing contraceptives to decrease teen pregnancy and parental notification for minors.

Mitt Romney (Republican)

Romney has actually changed his position on abortion and steadily defends what opponents have labeled as “flip-flopping.” While he has always personally been against abortion, Romney was once tolerant of it while serving as the governor of Massachusetts. However, he claims his anti-abortion view beliefs have progressed and he would support the repeal of Roe v. Wade.

Rudy Guilliani (Republican)

While Guillinani is personally pro-life, he has said on the record that he respects the choices others make in regards to abortion. He fully supports a ban on partial-birth abortions and is a staunch supporter of the abortion alternative of adoption. Guilliani also would support the repeal of Roe v. Wade.

 
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Natural Tips For Sinus Relief – 4 Best Cures For Sinus Relief

24 Dec



No form of medical treatment can beat the natural treatment for any disorder. But how can sinus problems be treated naturally? Sinus headaches are a lot different from other forms of headaches. When the head begins to pain just behind the eyes and around the brow you know your sinuses are playing up. A little facial swelling and a feeling of heaviness in the head and nasal region can accompany sinus headaches, so patients are advised to watch out for these signs. There may also be some amount of puffiness detected around the regions of the eyes as well.

One good natural way is to get some saline drops and put a few of these drops in the nostrils, while the position of the head is kept rested all the way back in a chair. Patients are advised to hold this position for a few minutes. If you are suffering from prolonged sinus problems and do not find significant sinus relief even after following the above remedial measure, then you can try it again after just before you retire to bed for the night. Additionally, you can also dab some saline liquid on your pillow as well. The saline drops drain out the nasal passage, releasing the pressure on the sinuses, giving you sinus relief and a good night’s sleep. Dry air is a cause for a lot of sinus problems. If the air in your home is too dry it may be a good idea to get yourself a humidifier to combat the problems when they occur. Speaking of moistening the air, it is always good to do a bit of steam inhalation with saline water when sinus problems make their presence known. Boiling water with a tablespoon of salt should be placed on a table. The person should bend over the container with the hot water and a towel over his or her head so that the steam is trapped under the towel. This steam should be inhaled for at least twenty minutes twice a day if the sinus problems are really serious. This is the quickest way to get relief from sinus problems.

 
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