Menstrual Cramps Remedies and Causes – Treat Menstrual Cramps Today
Herbal teas may help to treat menstrual cramps. Raspberry leaf tea contains a substance that is thought to relax the uterus and ease cramping. Chamomile tea also has antispasmodic action and may help. Drink the tea while relaxing in a warm bath or lying down with a heating pad over your abdomen to relieve muscle cramps and tension. Take an anti-inflammatory.
Research has found that prostaglandins, hormonelike substances that cause uterine contractions, play a part in causing menstrual cramps, but the precise mechanism is unknown. Aspirin, ibuprofen, and other nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) can block prosraglandin production and alleviate menstrual cramps. Use these drugs with care, because they can cause stomach irritation and bleeding problems. In scime instances, painful periods are related to other conditions, such as fibroid tumors (benign uterine growths) or endometriosis (the growth of uterine tissue outside the uterus). These conditions all require the attention of a gynecologist.
HEAVY PERIODS
Menstrual bleeding tends to be heavy and irregular at the beginning and end of a woman's reproductive years. Heavy periods, caused by hormonal fluctuations, often conclude anovulatory (i.e., no egg is released) cycles in the months following the first period (menarche) and in the year or two preceding menopause. Eat lots of iron-rich foods. Although it can be inconvenient, heavy bleeding is rarely the signal of a more serious condition.
However, excessive blood flow may result in a greater loss of iron, with a risk of anemia. An adult woman needs 18 mg of iron daily. Good sources are red meat, legumes, fortified cereals, leafy green vegetables, and dried fruits. To help the body to better absorb iron, a food rich in vitamin C should be eaten at the same meal. A woman who experiences persistently heavy or irregular periods should see a gynecologist to determine ways of menstrual cramps remedies.
Rheumatoid Arthritis – 6 Tips To Fight The Pain
Living with rheumatoid arthritis can be a very painful affair. It might mean living with and enduring chronic pain, fatigue and joint stiffness for years. It can even make you miserable for the rest of your life!
Rheumatoid arthritis is a disease where the white blood cells attack healthy tissues, specifically the joints and cartilages, for no apparent reason. If you happen to be afflicted with this disease, you might be in for a very difficult time. But as with all other diseases, you can adopt several measures to help ease the pain brought by the symptoms of this crippling disease. Here are a few suggestions that may help you in handling the pain when a rheumatoid arthritis attack is in the offing:
Live a healthier lifestyle. It is never too late to start living healthy. Losing weight can be good for your joints - the less you weigh, the lesser the pressure on the joints and hence, you will feel less pain. So, start eating a healthy diet and get enough sleep to keep your weight at a healthier range.
Pop in a pill to reduce the pain - No matter at what stage your rheumatoid arthritis might be in, taking anti-inflammatory drugs such as aspirin, ibuprofen and naproxen may help keep the pain and the inflammation under control. However, keep in mind that all drugs have a tendency to cause certain side effects. So, take caution in taking these drugs for they might just increase your risks of developing certain heart problems and may lead to gastrointestinal bleeding. Your best bet? Take acetaminophen. It can effectively do the job without the risks!
Stretch those joints! Stretching is an important part of any exercise routine because it greatly enhances your flexibility. When doing your stretches, stop whenever you feel a mild discomfort and hold the position for 10 to 30 seconds before proceeding.
Try weight lifting - Making exercise a regular part of your routine may bring you tons of benefits. Performing moderate exercises such as weight lifting and aerobics can help ease mild to moderate rheumatoid arthritis symptoms. In this case, weight lifting is an ideal exercise since it improves your flexibility, strength and balance thereby allowing you an increased capability in handling the symptoms of the disease.
Before doing your lifts, don't forget to do some stretching exercises. Start with 3 sets of 8 to 10 repetitions. You can even begin your training without using any weights at all! Weights may be gradually added as your routine progresses. Lift the weights slowly and evenly to prevent doing any more damage to the joints and cartilages. Take things easy. Take a rest when your joints flare up to avoid adding any more strain to your already aching joints.
Try alternative therapy - Some people swear by the positive results of aqua therapy and Tai Chi in relieving the symptoms of rheumatoid arthritis. Just remember to find a qualified practitioner before embarking on these routines. And as always, consult with your doctor first before doing any exercises.
Strive to learn more about the disease - Knowledge is power. To increase your fighting chances against rheumatoid arthritis, try to learn as much as you can about this disease. A large number of online as well as offline sources can give you all the information that you might need. When in doubt, ask your doctor to provide you with some reference on where to look for additional help.
Does Rheumatoid Arthritis Begin in the Intestine?
It's not widely known, but the results of numerous clinical trials over the last 30 years have pointed to an intriguing connection between rheumatoid arthritis and the intestines. As long ago as the 1940s, Charles de Coti-Marsh in his pioneering research into the causes and treatment of arthritis declared 'the disease begins in the bowel.' Nowadays there is increasing evidence that he was right.
Unfortunately, the connection between arthritis and diet has historically been downplayed, with nutrition never quite making the grade as an object of scientific study. More recently, however, the development of nutritional biochemistry. immunology and pharmacology, as well as ever increasing scientific data on free-radical disease, antioxidants, prostaglandins, and flavonoids have lifted the subject of nutrition out of the realm of anecdotal uncertainty into the province of credible science.
In Joints and Arthritic Disease (2002), Dr Gail Darlington references a number of research projects, for example a study by O'Farrelly which took small intestinal biopsies from 93 patients with rheumatic arthritis (RA) and compared them to those of a control group. The conclusion was that the gut may play a part in the immunopathogenesis of certain cases of RA.
The combination of the development of certain types of gut flora and an increased permeability of the intestine (allowing potentially harmful bacterial antigens into the blood stream) seems to be the key issue. Darlington notes that 'RA patients untreated by nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) have normal gastrointestinal permeability, but patients on NSAIDs and perhaps also on disease modifying antirheumatic drugs show increased permeability. Such increased permeability may allow food or bacterial antigens to be absorbed in greater quantities than usual, overwhelming normal gut defences and, possibly producing symptoms of RA.'
What that means is that dietary manipulation could, in theory, reduce gastrointestinal permeability, with reduced absorption bacterial antigens
Doctor – How Serious Are The Risks Of Arthritis Pain Relievers To My Stomach?
Non-steroidal-anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDS) are anti-inflammatory pain relievers. Approximately twenty different NSAIDS are available by prescription. Three NSAIDS (ibuprofen, naproxen, and ketoprofen) are also available over-the-counter as Advil, Motrin IB, Aleve, and Orudis. Aspirin is also an NSAID. NSAIDS are also found in many common cold preparations such as Advil Cold and Sinus, Dimetapp Sinus, and Aleve Cold and Sinus.
The most common side effect associated with these drugs is stomach problems. These problems can range from mild stomach upset to ulcers and bleeding. NSAIDS cause this situation because the same mechanism that allows them to block inflammation also causes them to block the secretion of substances that protect the stomach lining.
The magnitude of this problem is enormous. Significant stomach side-effects from NSAIDS result in 103,000 hospitalizations and 16,500 deaths each year in the United States.
While anyone who takes an NSAID can be at risk for stomach problems, there are some high risk factors that significantly increase the chance of problems developing. These include:
o Age greater than 60
o History of previous ulcers
o Taking steroid medicines such as prednisone
o Using blood thinners like coumadin, Plavix, or heparin
o Regular alcohol consumption
o Taking higher than the recommended dosage of NSAID
o Taking more than one NSAID at the same time (such as taking an NSAID along with aspirin)
o Taking NSAID for a prolonged period of time
A 2003 survey revealed that about half of all Americans who took over-the-counter NSAIDS took more than the recommended dose. This can happen when the dose is taken before the recommended time for dosing, taking more than the recommended number of tablets, taking more than the recommended dosage per day, and taking more than one NSAID at a time.
Small amounts of over-the-counter NSAID including low-dose aspirin to prevent stroke, heart attack, and colon cancer also increase risk.
Warning signs that a significant problem may be occurring include:
o Stomach pain
o Tarry black stool or blood in the stool
o Vomiting up material that looks like coffee grounds
One unfortunate issue is that more than 80 per cent of people who have a life-threatening stomach problem have no warning symptoms. Symptoms can occur quickly also. Serious medical events have occurred in people taking NSAIDS for less than one week.
To reduce your risk:
o Check to see if you have risk factors.
o Discuss potential side-effects with your prescribing physician.
o Read the warning label and follow dosing instructions.
o Don't use prescription NSAID and over-the-counter NSAID at the same time.
o When you see your doctor let him or her know about all the medicines, including nutritional supplements, you are taking.
o Limit your alcohol intake while on these medicines.
o Recognize that low dose aspirin is an NSAID.
o Let your physician know if you're experiencing any symptoms that suggest a stomach problem.
o Ask about other medicines that might reduce your risk of a stomach side-effect. Medicines called proton pump inhibitors (PPIS) can reduce the risk of stomach side-effects. Examples of PPIS include Nexium, Protonix, Prilosec, and Axid.
Another medicine, Cytotec, may also protect your stomach. Sometimes using an analgesic that is not an NSAID can relieve arthritis symptoms sufficiently. Analgesics include Tylenol or Ultram (tramadol).
Cox-2 medicines such as Celebrex may also reduce your stomach risk. However, adding low dose aspirin to Celebrex apparently removes the protective effect of the Celebrex.
Doctor. How do I get Arthritis Pain Relief?
Arthritis is the most chronic joint disease and affects almost 70 million Americans. Arthritis symptoms include pain, stiffness, joint swelling, and sometimes fatigue. These symptoms can be so severe that they affect a person's ability to perform such routine activities of daily living such as dressing and undressing, combing their hair, or opening jars.
So how does a person with arthritis get pain relief?
Here are a few important tips...
Exercise. Proper exercise is important. Low impact aerobic exercise increases blood flow to the joints. Strengthening exercises help to stabilize the joints. Range-of-motion exercises increase flexibility.
Rest. Just as important as exercise is rest. Properly cushioned, well-fitting shoe, canes, walkers, and braces are all methods to help rest joints. These devices should be used after consulting with a physical therapist to ensure that damage is not being done to the joint by excessive reliance on the assistive device.
Over-the-counter medicines are an option. Low doses of analgesics (such as acetaminophen) and anti-inflammatory medicines can help relieve the discomfort of mild arthritis. Topical agents such as capsaicin are also helpful. Proper and timely application of cold or heat can also be a tremendous aid for patients. Neither should be applied for longer than 20 minutes at a time and extremely hot or extremely cold applications should be avoided.
Weight control is essential. Even small weight losses can improve physical function and reduce pain.
So what do you do if you still hurt?
Arthritis treatment and pain relief often depends on the diagnosis. Different types of arthritis (and there are more than 100 different kinds) are treated differently. For most types of arthritis, though, there are some general principles that apply.
Prescription anti-inflammatory medicines or, as they are called, non-steroidal-anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDS) are often used to treat arthritis pain. Examples include Motrin, Naprosyn, Celebrex, and Mobic. While effective, they do have potential side-effects including allergic reactions, stomach ulcers, and cardiovascular risks. Nonetheless, they may help relieve pain tremendously.
Patients who have localized joint pain often benefit from steroid injections directly into the affected joint. A well-trained rheumatologist using ultrasound or fluoroscopy for needle guidance should be consulted. Patients with osteoarthritis ("wear and tear arthritis") in the knees can get relief from hyaluronic acid injections. These are synthetic lubricants that are effective in relieving pain. Other joints also respond to this method of treatment.
Nutritional supplements such as glucosamine and chondroitin as well as a host of other supplements may also be useful. They are worth a try.
In patients whose arthritis has progressed beyond what medicines can do to help, surgical procedures such as arthroscopy (inserting a small telescope into the joint and removing damaged and diseased tissue) or arthroplasty (joint replacement) may be necessary.
Natural Treatment For Rheumatoid Arthritis
If you have rheumatoid arthritis, you may want to avoid anti-inflammatory drugs that can do damage to your organs and have other negative side effects. This is a crippling auto-immune disease, but you can use natural treatment for rheumatoid arthritis. Those who have this condition have done well by eating healthy, exercising and taking supplements to help their immune system.
Causes
RA is similar to other forms of arthritis in that it causes inflammation of the joints that gets progressively worse over time. Unlike other types of arthritis, however, rheumatoid arthritis is an auto-immune disorder in which the body actually attacks itself. No one knows why people get this condition and others do not. It may be caused by a virus or bacteria, although there has been no known cause reported by medical science for rheumatoid arthritis.
Healthy Diet
Natural treatment for rheumatoid arthritis includes a healthy diet that consists of vegetables, fruits and whole grains as well as proteins such as fatty fish. These are foods that not only help the immune system stay in check, but also help with inflammation. Fatty fish oils such as those found in salmon are very good for the body and even the mind. They can help when it comes to an anti-inflammation diet.
Foods that are high in anti-oxidants can also help with the immune system and help treat rheumatoid arthritis. When you have a disease that attacks the immune system, you need to do what you can to make it stronger. Eating fruits and vegetables is not only smart when it comes to reducing inflammation, but they can also boost the immunity.
Not eating certain foods, such as fats and sugars, can also help with natural treatment for rheumatoid arthritis. In addition to eating the right foods, you should be sure to stay clear of the wrong foods. You should also avoid alcohol as well as bad habits that can weaken the immune system, such as smoking tobacco. This can interfere with your natural treatment for rheumatoid arthritis.
Exercise as Natural Treatment
Exercise is another way that you can treat RA naturally. One of the best exercises that you can do is swimming as it exercises the entire body and joints. Swimming in warm water can even be relaxing for those who are suffering from rheumatoid arthritis. While it may hurt to walk and move, it is important to keep your body strong when you are trying to treat yourself for this condition.
Natural Supplements
Taking a natural supplement that can minimize inflammation is also a good way to treat rheumatoid arthritis naturally. There are many supplements on the market today that have anti-inflammatory properties. You can also consider getting a massage as well as aromatherapy for treating this condition without drugs.
RA is a crippling condition, but can be put in check and into remission by following a healthy lifestyle. There are plenty of people who have this disease who do not take daily doses of medication but prefer to treat the condition naturally be living a healthy lifestyle. You can join them if you follow a healthy diet, exercise regularly, avoid bad habits that can harm your health and take a natural, anti-inflammatory supplement.
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