Tips For Healthy Lifestyle

27Dec/110

Natural Bladder Control For Men and Women



The bladder is found in the lower part of the abdomen. Your bladder is a hollow pelvic organ with flexible, muscular walls that stores urine. In males, it is superior to the prostate, and separated from the rectum by the rectovesical excavation. In females, the bladder is separated from the rectum by the rectouterine excavation, and it is separated from the uterus by the vesicouterine excavation. Bladder problems are not a natural consequence of aging.

Incontinence is uncontrollable leaking of urine from the bladder. Incontinence is both a health problem and a social problem. Incontinence is often worse if you are overweight, have a cough or a urine infection and after the menopause. Incontinence occurs if the bladder muscles contract or the muscles surrounding the urethra relax without warning.

Symptoms of a bladder infection may include going to the bathroom frequently, passing blood in the urine, cloudy and odorous urine, increased spasticity in the lower extremities, fever and chills. A person with any of the following symptoms should see a doctor: blood in the urine (urine that looks bright red or rusty), pain during urination, passing urine often, or feeling the need to urinate even though nothing comes out. Restricting alcoholic beverages, carbonated sodas, coffee and other caffeinated products, and beverages and foods with artificial sweeteners appears to reduce symptoms in some people.

Overactive bladder is a significant health problem. An overactive bladder is more common in women, and in older adults, but can be found in younger folks and in men. Overactive bladder (OAB) is a treatable medical condition caused by involuntary bladder muscle spasms. The bladder muscle can be such that it cannot contract (ie it is always relaxed) or overactive and the sphincters (especially, the voluntarily controlled one) uncontrollable and either too relaxed or too tight.

There are three key symptoms of an overactive bladder. You may have only the first two, or all three.

1- Frequency, needing to empty your bladder more frequently than usual. Going to the toilet more than eight times in 24 hours is usually regarded as unusual.

2- Urgency, the sudden feeling that you have to go right now.

3- Urgency incontinence. This means that your need to go is so urgent that you lose control before you can get to a toilet.

Of all those who have an overactive bladder, 40% have urgency incontinence. Apart from overactive bladder, another common cause of bladder leaking is called stress incontinence.

The typical person with overactive bladder is an adult who urinates more than 8 times per 24 hours with a voiding volume averaging approximately 150ml.

Pharmacological therapy for treatment of overactive bladder is based on the use of muscarinic receptor antagonists. As common a problem as overactive bladder is, patients seldom mention it to health care providers.

Cancer occurs when cells in the bladder begin to grow uncontrollably affecting the normal function of the organ, and, sometimes surrounding organs. In fact, patients with bladder cancer sometimes have a similar type of cancer in the lining of the kidneys,ureters, or urethra. Therefore, a complete evaluation of the urinary system is recommended for patients diagnosed with a cancer of the kidney, bladder, ureter, or urethra. Treatment recommendations for some patients may be influenced by the type of cancer. Fortunately, when bladder cancer symptoms are diagnosed early, bladder cancer is treatable with a variety of treatment options.

Treatment options depend on the stage of bladder cancer. Treatment for urinary incontinence varies according to the type of incontinence. It can include both drugs and surgery. The chance of recovery from the disease (prognosis) and the choice of treatment for bladder cancer depend on the stage of the cancer (whether it is just in the lining of the bladder or has spread to other places in the body) and the patient's general state of health. A licensed physician should be consulted for diagnosis and treatment of any and all medical conditions.

26Dec/110

The Symptoms of AIDS



Acquired immune deficiency syndrome is known as AIDS and represents the part of infections and symptoms resulting from the harm to the human immune system caused by the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV). This structure constantly decreases the value of the immune system and leaves individuals in position to become infected with tumors and infections. HIV is spread through direct contact of a mucous membrane or the blood circulation with a physical fluid containing HIV, such as blood, seminal fluid, preseminal fluid, vaginal fluid and mother's milk.

The symptoms of AIDS are found as a result of infected immune system. Viruses, bacterias, parasites or fungi are the main reason for causing conditions that develop AIDS and are usually controlled by the elements of the immune system that HIV damages.

The symptoms of AIDS can be found in almost every part and every organ of the human body. In the early stage when first infected with AIDS, there is a good possibility of not having any signs and symptoms of infection, but there is a chance of flu-like condition two to four weeks after becoming infected. Some of the early symptoms include: pyrexia (fever), headache, rash, swollen lymph glands and sore throat (pharyngitis). Even if the person does not have these symptoms, he can transmit the virus to the people surrounding him. The virus is reproducing in lymph nodes and gradually starts to break down the helper T cells which have the role of managing the complete immune system.

After a few years, the AIDS develops into the later stage. The person infected by AIDS can stay without any symptoms manifestation for more than nine years, but after this period the virus is very crucial and destroys the immune system. There is a good possibility of getting soft infections or showing infection effects such as: swollen lymph nodes, weight reduction, diarrhea, fever, cough and breath problems.

Ten or more years after the first AIDS infection, this virus becomes very critical and expands into the latest phase of infection when more serious symptoms can be found. The number of CD4 lymphocyte is less than 200 while normal count varies from 800 to 1,200. In this period the immune system of the person infected by the virus is much damaged, making it very sensitive to similar infections. The signs and symptoms of some of these infections may contain: headaches, weight reduction, chronic diarrhea, soaking night sweats, dry cough and difficulty in breathing, blurred and distorted vision, steady white spots or unusual lesions on the tongue or in the mouth, shaking chills or fever higher than 38 C for several weeks.

The person infected by AIDS is more likely to develop certain cancers, but improved treatments have reduced the risk of these illnesses.

26Dec/110

Infection Sinus Treatment Tips – Home Remedy For Nasal Congestion



You may find it hard to believe that 37 million Americans suffer with sinus infections each year and it is more prevalent today than it was in the pre-antibiotic age! But that is not to say that antibiotics are not effective in treating it. In fact when sinusitis occurs the use of antibiotics to kill the infectious bacteria is the best way. In this way we look at infection sinus treatment to help alleviate the symptoms related to sinus infections.

One of the best infection sinus treatment tips is to take a decongestant. Also the use of oral or topical steroids for combating sinus inflammation as well as antihistamines for those where underlying allergies are involved are other forms of treatment for sinus infection.

However more and more doctors are coming to realise that the best to successfully fight off a sinus infection is to prevent it from recurring and unfortunately medication alone can not help to do this. A person will need to ensure that their mucous membrane lining of their nasal and sinus passages are healthy and functioning correctly. Below are some natural treatments which will help to keep your cilia healthy and functioning which will prevent mucus from building up in your sinuses. If a sinus infection does occur then these same treatments will increase the effectiveness of any antibiotics or medications that are prescribed to speed up the healing process and thus making a recurrence of the infection less likely in the future.

1. Drink Hot Liquids This is one of the best ways for you to unclog your sinuses is by drinking hot tea either black, green, herbal or decaffeinated (it really does not matter which one you drink). Or you could have hot chicken soup throughout the day instead. But it is important that you drink enough to ensure that your urine is light in colour. These hot liquids will help to moisturize your mucous membrane and help to speed up the movement of your cilia which will then was mucus out of your sinuses more quickly.

2. Apply a warm compress to your face three times a day for 5 minutes. What you need to do is soak a small towel in warm water and then place it over your face below and between your eyes as this will help increase the circulation in your sinuses and so will help speed up the movement of your cilia. This is a popular home remedy for nasal congestion.

3. Irrigate the sinuses. For 3,000 years yoga practitioners have been keeping their sinuses healthy by sniffing a saltwater solution rapidly in and out of their nose at low pressure. However you should not use this method unless you have been taught how to do it correctly. This has been a great home remedy for nasal congestion for thousands of years.

There are solutions and effective infection sinus treatment ideas so don't give up.

25Dec/110

Ten Tips To Lessen Snoring



How many of you have spent many a sleepless night due to your spouse/partner has a chronic snoring problem? Both sexes snore but men have a 71% tendency to snore more often and louder than women at 51%. I have known couples that have terminated their relationships or have come very close to it due to chronic snoring. Hell, I have even known a women who was so sleep deprived because of her husbands chronic snoring she took a shot gun and fired it at her husband. Luckily she missed and the blast of the gun did wake her snoring husband. They are now in marital counselling and sleep in separate bedrooms at opposite ends of the house.

My husbands chronic snoring even affects our dog. When he starts his symphony of nasal overtures our dog begins the howling, barking, and the growling concert, keeping me awake even more.

These 10 tips I use will help relieve the snoring, they may not erase the problem, but if practised regularly, they will get you more peaceful nights.

1. Lose Weight: Most snorers are middle-aged, overweight men and past menopause women. Dieting will help the snoring become less loud and in some people it may totally disappear.

2. Alcohol: Do not drink and sleep. Any kind of alcohol before bed will worsen the snoring.

3. Sedatives: They may make you sleep but believe me they will keep your partner awake.

4: Smoking: Butt Out! Smokers tend to be snorers.

5: Get off your back: Sleep on your side. Many snorers only snore when they sleep on their backs.

6: Tennis Anyone? Sew a tennis ball into the back of your pyjamas shirt; this will prevent you from rolling onto your back when you are sleeping.

7. Down with pillows: Anything that puts a kink in your neck, like a large pillow, will make you snore.

8. Raise yourself to new heights: When you elevate the upper torso and not just the head, you will lessen the snoring. Place bricks under the legs at the head of your bed.

9. Allergies: If you suffer from allergies, you will probably snore. Use nasal decongestant during hay fever season.

10. Put a plug in it! When you've tried all of the above tips with no success, go to your nearest pharmacy and stock up on ear plugs. Not for you the snorer, but for the person who is on the receiving end of nasal abuse.

25Dec/110

What is H1N1 (Swine Flu) And How Does it Affect Your Immune Health?



H1N1, also known as swine flu, has become a phrase that has struck fear around the world, yet many people still don't understand how it compares to the seasonal influenza virus. The H1N1 virus is a new influenza A virus that is composed of what scientists call a quadruple reassortant, meaning it is made up of several different genetic strains of viruses including two genes from influenza viruses normally circulated in the European and Asian pig populations, one gene from avian influenza and one gene from human influenza.

Contrary to some initial fears, the H1N1 virus is not spread via the food chain, but instead is a respiratory disease spread by contact with infected individuals. It is spread just as the seasonal influenza virus is passed via infected droplets expelled by coughing or sneezing that can be inhaled, or that can contaminate hands or surfaces.

Who Is At Risk?

When the epidemic was first discovered, panic set in, closing schools. People immediately went to the emergency room rather than the family doctor. Since then, the panic has subsided and most experts suggest only going to the doctor if certain symptoms are present including shortness of breath, difficulty breathing, or fever that continues for more than three days. Parents with young children who are ill are encouraged to seek medical care if a child has fast or labored breathing, continuing fever or seizures.

About 70 percent of people who have been hospitalized with H1N1 virus have had one or more medical conditions that placed them in the 'high risk' category for serious seasonal flu-related complications. These conditions include pregnancy, diabetes, heart disease, asthma and kidney disease.

Yearly influenza epidemics can seriously affect all age groups, but the highest risk of complications occur among children younger than age two, adults age 65 or older and people of any age with certain medical conditions. Illness with the new H1N1 virus has ranged from mild to severe. The vast majority of people who have contracted H1N1 have recovered without medical treatment, yet hospitalizations and deaths have occurred.

The First Lines Of Defense

Vaccination is recommended by the CDC as the first line of defense to prevent the disease or severe outcomes from the H1N1 virus. Vaccinations have been proven to prevent 70 to 90 percent of influenza-specific illness. Among the elderly, the vaccine reduces severe illnesses and complications by up to 60 percent and deaths by 80 percent.

Seniors (adults 65 years and older) are prioritized for antiviral treatment to limit risk of complication if they contract the flu. While your age could mean you have a lower risk of getting the flu, certain risk conditions (COPD, diabetes, etc.) mean if you get sick, you may have higher risk of complications from any influenza.

However, some groups of people should avoid getting vaccinated for health reasons. These groups include anyone who is allergic to chicken eggs or any other component of the vaccine, anyone who has had an adverse reaction to flu vaccines in the past, and anyone who has had Guillain-Barre Syndrome.

Aside from vaccinations, the second line of defense in fighting flu is good hygiene. Since it is is spread via hand to mouth and nose contact, hand washing is essential. Hands should be washed frequently and thoroughly for at least 20 seconds. Hand sanitizers are also effective at fighting flu viruses. People who have H1N1 are wise to sneeze into their sleeve rather than hands to prevent transmitting the germs.

Fighting Flu By Boosting Immune Health

It's impossible to not be exposed to seasonal or H1N1 flu at some point, but that doesn't necessarily mean that everyone who is exposed will become ill. Boosting immunity before coming in contact with the virus can help ward it off.

Fighting flu and enhancing immune health is possible by building immunity with vitamin C, zinc and elderberry extract. Vitamin C increases the production of infection-fighting white blood cells and antibodies that coat cell surfaces, preventing the entry of viruses. Zinc increases the production of white blood cells that fight infections and helps them fight more aggressively while also assisting white cells release more antibodies.

Perhaps one of the most promising immunity boosters is elderberry extract. Research conducted at the University of Oslo has demonstrated that products containing elderberry extract also aid in the prevention of the influenza virus by preventing viruses from attaching to host cells, thereby preventing infection.

Good hygiene, vaccination and immune support such as vitamin C, zinc and products containing elderberry extract provide several of the barriers required to fight the H1N1 virus.

24Dec/110

Weaker bones may be a problem

The design of the human body shows remarkable adaptation to our immediate environment. Whenever a foreign element is detected, the autoimmune system is there for our defense. Whatever the problem, the white cells rally round and fight the invasion. Because our body learns about new strains of bacteria and viruses all the time, it's constantly modifying the way the autoimmune system works to give us the best possible protection. If it cannot beat the invader, the body tries to adjust its chemistry to reduce the adverse effect. Overall, we do well in our increasingly complicated environment.

To the body, the chemicals we take as medication are also invaders in the bloodstream. Sadly, we can't send a message to the white cells telling them these chemicals are new friends. Everything is an enemy to be destroyed. This is really bad news. When the drugs first arrive in our bloodstream, the effect is exactly as predicted by the research team that designed the drug. An unprepared body always reacts with the most beneficial results in the first few hours. But as time passes, the autoimmune system gets to work and it adapts the body to reduce the effect of the chemicals. Doctors call the result tolerance. Our body grows used to have the drug in the bloodstream and the beneficial effect slowly disappears. The only ways of dealing with this are either to increase the dose or to switch to a new drug. Unfortunately, all this does is buy time. Sooner or later, tolerance builds up again and we are back to the same decision.

The proton pump inhibitors are not addictive in the same sense as, say, the opiate painkillers, but they are subject to the same problem of tolerance. If you take any of these drugs over time, you will slowly have to increase the dose to get the same effect. Until recently, this was not thought a problem but recent studies now suggest a problem for menopausal women. Any woman over the age of 50 who begins to go through the menopause will lose calcium. Osteoporosis is a well-recognized problem and doctors usually advise women to take calcium supplements to retain bone density. It's now clear the use of drugs like Nexium may be accelerating the calcium loss. When the proton pump is slowed and the amount of acid is reduced, the body also reacts by changing the volume and type of enzymes produced. This is intended to improve the digestion system but it can also affect the way in which the dissolved food is processed. The recent studies suggest the increase in some enzymes slows the rate at which calcium is absorbed. Even if you are taking a calcium supplement, you may be losing bone density.

The moral of this most recent study could not be more clear. Men do not seem to be at risk in the same way but, for women, the best possible chance of retaining bone density seems to be stopping the use of Nexium as you go through the menopause. To avoid the return of heartburn, this will involve changing your diet to reduce the amount of high-fat. But, if you retain strength and lose weight, you get a double benefit.

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