White Toenails Treatments and Prevention

Having white toenails is a sign of a toenail fungus infection in most cases. Fortunately there are remedies and preventative measures that you can take before the condition worsens.

Symptoms

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Toenail fungus may start its development by a thickening of the infected nail. The nail may become foggy at this point and develop colored or discolored spots. Toenail fungus may be white, brown, black, yellow, and even green. At this point nails may become brittle and start flaking off. You may experience a slight pain in your toe as you apply pressure on it. You may also notice a little odor coming from the infected toenail.

Minimizing Risks Of Getting Toenail Fungus

It's important to realize that the most important step in curing your toenail fungus is to actually take preventative measures so you don't get it back. The significance of this step is often overlooked.

Toenail fungus infection risks can be reduced by taking several precautionary measures. Make sure that you always wear sandals around public pool areas, locker rooms, gyms, and any other moist public areas. Trimming your toenails should be done carefully. Make sure you do not trim the nail too far back otherwise you might cause minor cuts on the toe. Finally, always wear clean dry socks and dry shoes. Make sure your shoes do not fit too tightly.

Treatment

There are many ineffective anti-fungal medications out there that do more harm to your body than good. Some prescription drugs can cause kidney and liver diseases. I urge you to not take these extreme drugs to cure your fungus. In most cases it really isn't worth the risks.

The best treatment that I found for my white toenails was first taking a warm shower. I did this so I could then easily file back my thick nail. This will increase absorption of the treatment. Make sure if you do this that you do not file the nail too much. After filing, I soaked my feet in beer for 30 minutes twice a day. Beer has anti fungal properties and you'll be surprised how good it works. After my beer treatment, I applied a natural topical treatment.

This treatment took about two weeks to start seeing noticeable results. I'm sure with a little perseverance and determination you'll cure your fungus as well.

White Toenails Treatments and Prevention

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Herpes Relief

Relief from symptoms of herpes simplex symptoms includes simple practices, home remedies, herbs and medications. It is also important to keep stress to a minimum as stress can stimulate herpes outbreaks.

For quick relief of herpetic sores and blisters, it not advised to make use of over-the-counter ointments or creams unless recommended by a physician. Most of these ointments and creams may only exacerbate the symptoms by smothering the lesions and preventing them to desiccate. The cold sores must be kept clean and dry at all times. They should be thoroughly cleaned with soap, salt water or bicarbonate of soda. They should not be opened or skinned with fingernails or any other sharp instrument. Cotton underwear must be used to allow airing and tight clothes must be avoided. Others recommend drying of genitals with a hair dryer. Some people advise compressing the blisters with vinegar and tepid water for ten minutes twice a day to hasten drying of the blisters. To relieve pain, ice wrapped in a clean cloth or towel applied to the affected area for ten minutes and removed for five minutes is beneficial. Especially soothing are warm baths two to three times everyday. When going out, a non-stick dressing should be used to cover the lesions as sunlight aggravates the sores. Moreover, uncovered sores will be exacerbated by rubbing and open sores make possible viral transmission.

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Herpes relief also includes improving the resistance of the sick person. Vitamin C and zinc are effective in hindering herpes outbreaks. Vitamin E relieves pain and shortens the duration of the symptoms. Beta-carotene reinforces the immune system and inhibits viruses. Lysine supplements are valuable in herpes relief as well as it deters the virus? activity. Lysine creams applied topically are also available. Lactobacillus acidophilus, the live microorganisms in yogurt, fight herpes as well. Foods to be avoided include those rich in the amino acid arginine such as nuts, chocolate, seeds, oatmeal, raisins, etc.

Home remedies for herpes relief include carrot poultice (grated carrot wrapped in gauze or cloth) applied on the area as it can accelerate healing, alleviate pain and lessen glandular swelling. Herbs beneficial for herpes relief include Solanum nigrum, olive leaf extract, lemon balm, lavender, hyssop, myrrh, sage, gentian, horsetail and many more. Drugs indicated for herpes relief include anti-virals, anti-inflammatories and pain killers.

Herpes Relief

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Stand Up Tanning Beds - Pros and Cons

What picture comes to mind when you think of a tanning bed? Probably a traditional shell style structure where a person lies down while getting tan. However, there is another type of tanning beds - stand up tanning beds. As the name implies, you stand rather than lie when getting your tan. Are there any advantages to using stand up beds? Many people who tan regularly will tell you that yes, stand up tanning bed is far superior to a traditional style. Let's find out what are their reasons.

Advantages of Stand Up Tanning Beds

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In a standing bed you can move more freely, for example you can raise your arms. This gives you a more even tan all over. The lamps are also different; they have a special reflector that helps to spread all rays more evenly. So the claim that stand up beds produce better quality tan is definitely true.

Another benefit of stand up tanning beds that comes down to getting even tan is that there is no pressure points. This is different from person to person, but many people get less intense tan on the arias that touch the bed (in traditional style beds). Since in a vertical bed there is no pressure point the problem is illuminated all together.

Stand up beds use stronger bulbs. A bulb in a traditional tanning bed is about 100 watt, while standing up tanning beds use bulbs in the range of 160 watt. This gives you stronger tan for the same length session. As a result sessions in a stand up bed are shorter, which saves you time.

For many people hygiene is the main reason. In a stand up bed you don't have to touch the same surface that other tanners were touching. So people feel that this type of tanning beds is more sanitary. Actually, touching the surface of tanning bed doesn't matter. Salon tanning beds use very strong bulbs and UV light from them kills most bacteria. Also the law requires that salon tanning beds should be cleaned and disinfected after each use. However, if it makes you feel better, that you don't have to lie on the same surface as everybody else, than vertical tanning beds have one more plus side.

Stand up beds cons

The only real disadvantage of this type of tanning bed is that you can get tired easily. It might be quite boring to stand up while tanning. But it is really a matter of personal preference.

Some tanners might tell you that since vertical tanning beds use stronger lamps, they are more dangerous. This claim is not true. Yes, you get exposed to more harmful UVB and UVA rays than in a traditional tanning bed, but you tan a shorter time. So at the ends the health risks are exactly the same for both types of tanning beds.

Tanning safely

Speaking of tanning safety rules, you should be careful no matter what type of tanning bed you use. Tanning lotion is an absolute must have for safe tanning. You should never go for indoor tanning without applying a lotion first. Another way to avoid health risks associated with artificial tan is to take only short sessions. If you protect your skin with a quality tanning lotion and don't tan for longer than necessary, you don't have to worry about tanning bed dangers.

Stand up tanning beds definitely give you more even tan more quickly. Other than that it is a matter of personal preference. You can't say that one style is safer than the other. So if you are thinking about trying a stand up bed go for it, and then you can see which style you like more.

Stand Up Tanning Beds - Pros and Cons

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Signs of Diabetes - Diagnose Early to Avoid Major Complications

Diabetes is chronic in nature only treatment can be given there is no proper cure for it. The signs and symptoms for diabetes develop very slowly and steadily but when they become more severe they lead to serious other complications. The main symptoms and signs of diabetes are

· Increased thirst

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· Increase in appetite or excessive hunger

· Increased urination, during night times

· Weight loss or gain which is unexplained

· Blurred or unclear vision

· Sores and wounds that do not heal

· Dry itchy skin

In more complicated cases diabetes leads

· Blindness

· Kidney failure

· Nerve damage and

· Micro vascular and macro vascular diseases.

· Micro vascular disease are related to small blood vessels.

· Macro vascular diseases are related to arteries i.e. hardening of arteries and narrowing them and leading to strokes, heart attacks.

Diabetes is mainly classified into two types i.e. type 1 and type 2 diabetes. Type 1 diabetes is mainly due to halt in production of insulin which is due to autoimmune system of the body, it destroys the beta cells of the pancreas which are responsible for secretion for insulin. Type 1 diabetes is also known as insulin dependent diabetes mellitus because insulin is a must dose over here. It is also by name Juvenile diabetes because it is more common among young adult and teenagers.

Diabetes type 2 is due to low production of insulin or the receptors of the cells not reacting with the insulin produced. This condition is known as insulin resistance. Here the body secretes more and more insulin rigorously and so it develops a resistance by itself.

The good news about diabetes is that it can be controlled or maintained naturally by taking well balanced diet, doing regular exercise.

Balanced diet in the sense diet should be rich in nutrition. For diabetes diet rich in fiber is recommended. Examples of diet rich in fiber are carrot, broccoli, peas, beans, apples, bananas, apricot, dates.

Signs of Diabetes - Diagnose Early to Avoid Major Complications

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Know the Symptoms of Torn Rotator Cuff

The most common and obvious symptoms of torn rotator cuff is pain. Pain is often felt at the top and outer or back side of the shoulder. However, the pain can sometimes radiate and it may be felt throughout the arm. The pain will also be intensified whenever the person raises or swings his arm.

In some cases, the pain can be greater during sleep. This is because when sleeping, people often unknowingly put pressure or weight on the injured shoulder. Since the rotator cuff is torn, the person will consequently feel weaker in the arms. An X-ray or an MRI can help effectively diagnose any tear in your rotator cuff.

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Another symptom of torn rotator cuff is when you feel pain or you experience difficulty in normal activities. If you feel pain when combing, dressing or reaching behind your back, you might have a minor tear in your rotator cuff. Ask your doctor for further tests to confirm your condition. If you are worried about a tear in your rotator cuff, be mindful of your range of movement. If you notice you cannot move your shoulder normally or have difficulty lifting or swinging your arms, seek medical attention at once.

Unusual sounds can also be indicative of a torn rotator cuff. If you hear your shoulder 'pop' whenever you lift it overhead or when you bring it down, there may be an injury to your rotator cuff. Also, if there are cracking or grating sounds whenever you move your arm, you may have a tear in your rotator cuff.

Keep in mind that the symptoms of a torn rotator cuff may appear gradually, especially if the injury is due to overuse. You may have developed a tear but the pain and other symptoms may appear much later and sometimes, when the tear has worsened.

If the torn rotator cuff injury results from a fall, the symptoms may be felt immediately. After a fall or a collision, the person may feel like his shoulder snapped or suddenly weakened. There will be sudden onset of acute pain.

Know the Symptoms of Torn Rotator Cuff

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What Causes Left Arm Shoulder Pain?

Left arm shoulder pain is one type of pain that can surely affect work. It even impedes one from functioning normally. In fact, people affected with this problem usually find it hard to perform even the simplest activities of daily living like taking a bath, or driving. The causes of this pain may be very simple and obvious or deadly and discreet. Here's some of the most common pain triggers.

Starting off with the most serious, one should always suspect an underlying heart problem when experiencing left arm shoulder pain. It is better to expect the worst, than ignore it and then regret in the end. Heart problems or heart conditions, such as angina, or the crushing feeling in the heart may be felt as a pain that is radiating to the left shoulder down to the left arm. A heart attack, even if it's the most minor, can also be felt as a dull or shooting pain travelling from the left shoulder distally to the arm. So first thing to do, consider going to the doctor and get heart conditions ruled-out as the cause of the pain.

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Now that the heart is not the problem, one can assess the usual activities one does at work or at home. An overused shoulder limited to the left body region specifically to the shoulder and arm can evolve into a very painful sensation. Assess if work and home activities include excessive stretching, flexing, extending or rotating. If they do, try minimizing these actions, or at least making both left and right shoulder do the work than isolating it only to the left area.

Bad position and improper body mechanics can also lead to left arm shoulder pain. Bad positioning includes the posture one holds while sleeping. It also involves the prolonged position one usually hold for a long time at work, such as leaning on the left side for hours, among others.

If the left arm shoulder pain is characterized as dull and heavy, it may be due to chronic stress. Although it seems harmless, stress can take its toll on the body by representing itself as a painful sensation anywhere in the body. In this case, it may be come in the form of pain in the left arm and shoulder.

Obvious fracture, strong force, or damaging injury can also make the left arm and shoulder painful. This is because when blood and other cellular components escape through the muscles, the area becomes swollen and sore. One can also try checking for nerve impingement in the left arm and shoulder. A trapped nerve can be due to a growth, a cyst, or a chronic inflammation, that is constantly pressing the nerve, making it very painful.

The list of the causes of left arm shoulder pain doesn't end here. There are other reasons why left arm and shoulder aches. The important thing is to make sure that the pain is not due to a life-threatening heart condition. At least it is a relief, although not from pain.

What Causes Left Arm Shoulder Pain?

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Bike Riding for Weight Loss - Tips for Beginning A Bicycling Plan

If you are one of those people who leisurely pedal around the block or over a flat stretch of scenic road, you've probably been riding for sheer pleasure. Riding bikes for pleasure is a good form of aerobic exercise. But unless you map out a plan to "push yourself," you probably won't lose much weight.

I really get sick of hearing people say, "No pain, no gain!" But the old adage is true when it comes to riding bikes to lose weight. By pushing your cycling distance or speed, you are sure to feel some pain in your leg muscles, your hands, wrists, and your derriere-- even some pain in your throat and lungs as your body tries to accommodate your increased demand for oxygen.

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HEALTH TIP: Stretching exercises prior to exercising are helpful in preventing injury!

GETTING YOUR BICYCLE READY...TO ROLL OFF THE WEIGHT

Your first concern will be outfitting your bicycle. If you need an excuse to purchase a new bike, this is an excellent opportunity! I went from a 3-speed bicycle for leisure riding, to a 24-speed bicycle for more committed exercising. Once I learned how the different gears worked, I was very thankful for the extra speeds. They make my ride faster and the hills a lot easier to handle.

We've found the guys at the bicycle shop to be very helpful, and concerned for our unique cycling needs. Rather than simply steering us toward the most expensive bicycle available (as I had expected), they asked how much riding we would be doing, whether we were trying for speed or leisure, and whether we would be riding on paved roads or dirt trails. When you honestly share your goals and level of experience, the sales clerks can match you with exactly what you need. They want you to be successful in your biking venture!

Some state laws require bicycle lights. But if you will be riding anytime from dusk to dawn, common sense demands that you have lights on your bicycle. These little accessories are battery-operated and last a long time. There are a variety of lights to choose from. My tail light has different blinking speeds, and is designed to make my bike visible to cars approaching from both the rear and the sides. Check for brightness before you buy one. Install the light where it makes the most sense.

We held off on buying a speedometer and odometer unit for our bikes, but once we got serious about losing weight and getting in shape, this feature became a "must have." You simply cannot track your progress without knowing how far and how fast you're riding.

If you already have a bicycle, take it to the bike shop for a safety inspection each season. They should check the gears, tires and brakes to make sure everything is working properly. They can adjust your seat to fit your height and adjust the handlebars to fit your reach, making your ride more comfortable. If you're lucky, they might even clean and polish your bike!

If you want to save money in the long run, you can find books and videos that teach you how to care for your own bicycle. It's always a great idea to know how to change your own flat tire and adjust a loose chain.

Another must have is a bicycle pump. Ask your bike dealer how many pounds of air pressure to put in your bicycle tires. Check the tires each time you get ready to ride! We guessed at the air pressure one summer day, and lived to regret it. We rode the bikes to the swimming pool, not realizing that one tire was too full. While we were cooling off in the water, the hot sun was rapidly expanding the air in the tires-one tire blew as it sat in the parking lot. The day in the sun was not so fun, once the pool closed and we had to wait for a truck to haul us home!

HEALTH TIP: Talk with your doctor first, and get his or her blessing before you increase your rate of physical activity!

STAYING COMFORTABLE ON YOUR BIKE

Sitting for long periods of time on a bicycle seat can cause pain, discomfort, and even serious blood circulation problems in avid bicyclists. At your local bike shop, you'll find a variety of bicycle seats made specifically for your comfort and health. The salespeople at our local bike shop encouraged us to try out new seats on our bikes for a few days. My husband found the split seat to be more comfortable for himself, while I opted to keep my old gel seat. Someone has even invented seats that look more like a bird perch than a bicycle seat!

HEALTH TIP: Get off your bicycle seat and walk around every 25 minutes or so to get the blood flow to important unmentionable parts of your body.

Think about your clothing...you don't have to have padded biker shorts and special clothing to start riding bikes. There are actually scientifically engineered fabrics designed to pull sweat away from your body in the summer and to keep you from getting hypothermia in the winter. But for now, just wear layers of comfortable sports clothes.

Make sure your clothes aren't so tight that you are miserable trying to pedal. But they shouldn't be loose enough to become entangled in the bicycle chain, either! If you become overheated, strip off a layer. If you get cold, add a layer. Wear light or bright colors to allow drivers to see you easily.

It really helps to have a small cargo rack on the back of your bike. Mine looks like a little shelf over the back tire. It has two bungee cords to keep any cargo securely fastened to the bike. I've used it to tote a small picnic cooler, a shopping bag or extra clothes.

I had the bike shop attach a water bottle holder to the bike under my seat. I can grab a quick swig as I ride or pour some water over my pulse points to cool off a bit. Take small sips of water when needed during your bike ride, rather than chugging huge gulps.

A helmet is almost a must. Life is filled with hazards-and biking has its share. Be smart. Wear a helmet. You can buy a cool rear-view mirror for your helmet. The mirror helps you see when it's safe to turn and lets you observe traffic coming up from behind.

I recommend wearing sunglasses-both for the sun and for bugs! At certain times of the year, the air is thick with flying insects. Getting a tiny bug in your eye is a painful event. For contact wearers, carry a contact case and lens cleaner on bike rides for just that reason. Some day you'll be glad you did!

HEALTH TIP: Shake your hands downward frequently to get the blood flowing and to prevent pain or numbness in your arms and hands.

MAPPING OUT A WEIGHT LOSS PLAN

You will want to keep a record of your daily diet and food intake, your weekly body measurements and weight, as well as your bicycling miles and time.

The web site http://www.OpenFitness.net is an excellent way to track your progress. It is very easy to use-simply type in your information you wish to track. As the only community fitness web site of its kind, you'll find it to be a fantastic motivation tool that will print out charts and graphs to show how much progress you've made in a few days, a week, or a month!

It keeps track of your food, vitamin, and supplement intake. Thousands of foods have already been analyzed by experts for number of calories, fat, carbs, and protein. You simply select the foods you ate from a pull down feature, and the daily total is tallied for you. Make sure you don't exercise when you've just eaten, or when it's almost meal time. Both times will slow you down.

No matter how humiliating it is, measure your arms, legs, chest, waist, neck, hips and thighs once a week. The software keeps track of your weight and body measurements. The thrill of seeing those same inches melt away in the coming weeks will be worth the effort. It's especially impressive seen as a graph!

Consider investing in an instrument that actually measures body fat-there are inexpensive pincer-type instruments that measure fat by pinching you, or buy a set of bathroom scales that cost more but calculate body fat quite painlessly.

Try to ride 4-6 days per week. When you map out your weight loss plan, your short-term goals will change as you change. You'll quickly develop stamina for longer distance. As fat turns to muscle, your speed will increase. Each week, try to increase either your mileage or your speed.

You know how far you've been able to ride, thus far. Start keeping track of the exact route you are taking, the total mileage, and the length of time it took you. Make notes in your records for special circumstances. Did it get dark outside so you were forced to cut your ride short? Did the road crews dump a layer of gravel on your normally paved road?

What was the weather like? Was it dangerously hot? Was it windy? The wind can be your friend or your enemy. When the wind is behind you, your ride is a breeze...but coming from any other direction, be prepared to huff and puff. Accept any length of time as a job well done and simply get the ride accomplished!

Finally, add an upper body workout three times per week. Bicycling works your legs, but to get the rest of your body firm and trim, you'll need to exercise your upper body, as well. The http://www.openfitness.net web site, created by a certified personal fitness trainer, has excellent features which allow you to design and track this portion of your fitness program, as well.

Bicycle riding is a fun, inexpensive form of aerobic exercise-it's good for every part of you. But be warned-you will need to buy a whole new wardrobe for the thinner, more beautifully fit body that emerges!

Bike Riding for Weight Loss - Tips for Beginning A Bicycling Plan

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Top 7 Tips To Treat And Prevent Calf Pain

You are playing tennis. You hit a backhand and set yourself for the volley. It is a lob. You take off,, lunging to reach the shot and all of a sudden you hear a snap, and you can't move forward. You feel as though you have lost control of your left calf. That is the scenario of a ruptured tendon. But calf pain is not always so drastic. Often, it is a dull ache that grates your lower leg. Sore calves can be triggered by foot problems, such as high arches or flat feet, or by ill-fitting shoes. Or the pain may be the result of a muscle tear, a partial rupture of the Achilles tendon, or the tendon inflammation called tendonitis. Problems like that will need to be treated by a doctor, of course. But if you have injured your calf or, more commonly, simply suffer from aching legs, here are some tips that you can consider to adopt.

1. Try Lifts

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If your calf pain is caused by an injury, take pressure of your heel. Heel lifts available at athletic shoe stores can help ease the strain on tendons and muscles. To make heel lifts, cut two ¼ -inch-thick pieces of cork and place them in your shoes.

2. RICE

RICE means rest, ice, compression, and elevation. Rest an injured calf for the first day or two, ice the area for no more than 20 minutes at a time every 2 to 3 hours as needed, compress the leg with an elastic bandage, and elevate the leg above the level of your heart, if possible. You can apply moist heat such as hot water bottle to the injury after the first 72 hours. Moist heat is more effective than dry heat.

3. Try Arch Supports

When you wear arch supports inside your shoes, they help correct mechanical imbalances that affect the way you walk. These imbalances may throw off your gait and put extra pressure on your calves.

4. Rub And Wrap

Once the swelling recedes, rub your injured calf with a pain-relieving balm and wrap it in a plastic wrap. Then top that wrap with an elastic bandage. This will help to retain the heat and relax the calf muscles so that it doesn't cramp up. You can wear the combination wrap as long as it is comfortable.

5. Check Your Shoes' Shocks

It is recommended to replace worn shoes. Losing the shock absorption in your shoes can lead to calf pain. Once you lose 1/8 inch of thread, get new shoes or have the soles replaced.

6. Try NSAID

To reduce the pain and inflammation of an injured calf, try an over-the-counter nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug (NSAID) such as ibuprofen. If you still need pain medication after a week, see a doctor.

7. Pamper Your Calves

If your calf pain is not the result of an injury, revamping your footwear may relieve the soreness. It is recommended to wear running shoes as often as possible. If you have to wear dress shoes at work, change into them when you get to the office.

Top 7 Tips To Treat And Prevent Calf Pain

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Fibromyalgia and Severe Pain Symptoms

Fibromyalgia is a common diagnosis for patients that suffer from sore joints, aching muscles, fatigue, impaired immunity, sleep disorders, disturbed microcirculation, and reduced level of energy. When these symptoms occur side by side with autoimmune symptoms, chances are the patient is suffering from fibromyalgia.

Fibromyalgia is difficult to diagnose as majority of physicians and medical practitioners are still uneducated and ignorant about this condition. This is a sad thought because this condition, though may seem harmless, is actually progressive and destructing. Fibromyalgia patients usually suffer from lack of the synovial fluid in the body. These fluids provide lubrication for the joints.

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Fibromyalgia comes with a lot of symptoms. Symptoms affect a huge range of body systems. From the respiratory, such as nocturnal sinus stuffiness, post nasal drip, runny nose to the digestive tract, difficulty swallowing, dry cough, sore throat, reflux esophagitis, carbohydrate/chocolate craving, appendicitis-like pains, and unexplained toothaches.

Some symptoms like, unexplained allergies, drooling in sleep, swollen glands, dizziness when turning head or changing field of view, stiff neck, mold/yeast infection, headaches, light/broken sleep pattern, morning stiffness, sweats, fatigue, painful or weak grip, problems holding hands up, handwriting difficulties, shortness of breath, night-driving difficulty, short-term memory impairment, sensitivity to odors, trouble concentrating, sore spot on top of head, balance problems, difficulty speaking known words, loss of ability to distinguish some shades of colors greatly affect everyday activities and can be a cause of extreme discomfort.

Some rather abnormal symptoms include the feeling of continued movement in a car after stopping, the feeling of being tilted when cornering a car, when taking first steps in the morning feels as if one is walking on nails, pressure felt on eyeglasses and headbands is painful, and getting scarred or bruised easily.

Other symptoms that affects other body systems include visual perception problems, doubling/blurry/changing vision, visual and audio effects, bloating, nausea, abdominal cramps, sensitivity to pressure/colds/lights, weight gain, weight loss, mitral valve prolapse, earaches, irregular heartbeats, rapid heartbeats, directional disorientation, drooping of the eyelid, tearing or reddening of the eye.

This disease also traverse even the psychological aspect of the body, resulting to extreme depression, panic attacks, tendency to cry easily, confused states, problems climbing stairs, problems going down the stairs, free-floating anxiety, unaccountable irritability, dizziness caused by seeing stripes and checks, teeth grinding, inability to recognize familiar surroundings, delayed reactions and such.

Oftentimes, symptoms vary according to sex. Women often experience menstrual problems, pelvic pain, PMS, loss of libido, nail ridges, mood swings, hypersensitive nipples, breast pain, and fibrocystic breasts as symptoms. Men, on the other hand, tend to experience urine retention, groin pain, impotence, stress incontinence, anal/genital/perineal pain, painful intercourse, and thick secretions.

Common symptoms for both sexes include lower back pain, mottled skin, thumb pain and tingling numbness, weak ankles, upper/lower leg cramps, tight Achilles tendon, irritable bowel, sciatica, urinary frequency, muscle twitching, diffuse swelling, buckling knee, shin splint-type pain, sensory overload, staring into space, heel pain, tight hamstrings, carpal tunnel-like pain in the wrists, restless leg syndrome, myoclonus, and tissue overgrowth, fibroids hairs, ingrown hairs, heavy and splitting cuticles, and adhesions.

If you are experiencing a number of these symptoms, take an appointment with your physician before it's too late.

Fibromyalgia and Severe Pain Symptoms

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Sciatic Nerve Pain Cures - 10 Tips For Sciatica Treatment

Sciatic nerve pain can be caused by many things including a slipped disc, narrowing of the spinal cord from age, degenerative disc disease, pinched nerves, or even improper posture. The sciatic nerve runs from your back down behind your thighs, to the lower leg and foot area. When compressed, the pain can be excruciating. There are several methods of sciatica treatment which help to eliminate sciatic nerve pain including back pain exercises and therapy. Below you will find a few of these holistic type treatments that many people have found effective.

1. Heat/Ice - A cold pack can reduce any type of inflammation and numbness associated with sciatic nerve pain or sore muscle tissues, alleviating some of the pain associated with it, and should only be used when the pain is intense. Heat helps to increase the flow of oxygen and nutrients to this specific area, and is usually only used when the intense pain decreases. Alternating both gives the best results.

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2. Triggerpoint Therapy - Another sciatica treatment which some people find effective is to apply some pressure for approximately 2 minutes with a ball, or hard object, to the triggerpoint area.

3. Pillow - This sciatica treatment is commonly used and helpful in also relieving common back pain. Taking a pillow and placing it under your knees when you lie down, helps to relieve the pressure that the disc is putting on your sciatic nerve, thus, reducing the pain.

4. Warm Bath or Hydrotherapy - Taking a warm bath relieves sore muscles and relaxes the body. Soaking for approximately 20 minutes to 2 hours, helps reduce the pain caused from sciatic pain. If sitting is too painful, a hot shower for about 20 minutes will do the same trick, but let the water rise in the tub if possible to cover your feet. This warms up the venous blood that returns from your feet through your body.

5. Acupuncture - This age old Chinese method of pain treatment has gained popularity with people suffering from sciatica, and is very effective. It is believed that acupuncture spreads out what is called the external pathegen, activating Qi energy, which help to stop pain. This needs to be done professionally.

6. Reflexology - This can be done by yourself with a reflexology tool or your thumb. There are 2 reflex points on your feet, and when pressure is applied there for a minute or two, it relieves the pain from the sciatic nerve.

7. Back Pain Exercises - Most back pain exercises will include stretching and strengthening, helping to train the muscles to hold the spine in a correct manner. The most effective back pain exercises for sciatica nerve pain include neck and shoulder stretches, back stretches, hip and buttock stretches, and hamstring stretches. These are always done slowly and should only be held for approximately 20 seconds so you do not hurt yourself.

8. Massage Therapy - This is very beneficial to most people with back pain and sciatic nerve pain. The Oriental and Western techniques are the most popular one's used today, but caution must be taken as to what type of sciatic pain you have. You should get advice from an expert in this field to determine which would be the proper treatment for you.

9. Diet - Keeping yourself healthy today with proper nutrition, including vitamins and minerals, is always the right decision. People overweight or obese should think about losing some weight in order to take the pressure off their spines. Eating a well balanced diet will improve your chances of beating sciatica. Lack of magnesium can cause tense, tight feeling muscles along with muscle spasms, and in turn, create sciatic nerve pain.

10. Herbs - Herbs have been used throughout the centuries as a very holistic approach to relieve the pain of certain disorders such as sciatica, arthritis, inflammation, muscles, injuries and wounds. Most of the conventional medicines today were at some time taken from a herb that was used many years ago but have since become commercialized.

Sciatic nerve pain can be controlled and sometimes cured completely with proper nutrition, natural remedies, and exercise. This will insure you to have a healthy, happy, enjoyable life.

Sciatic Nerve Pain Cures - 10 Tips For Sciatica Treatment

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Is Your Ear Ache Caused by Stress?

I am often asked to examine an ear that has been hurting several days and is slowly getting worse. Usually there has not been any fever, no cold symptoms and no recent water in the ear. Many times the examination of the ear is normal. The only positive finding is pain to palpation just in front of the ear when the person opens their mouth.

This is classic Temporomandibular Joint pain. The TMJ, as it is often called, is the attachment hinge for the lower jaw or mandible. When the joint is overused - too much gum, very chewy foods, prolonged dental procedures, injury, constant clenching of teeth during sleep - the joint and the tendons associated with the muscles that move the joint can become inflamed. This pain will manifest as an "ear ache".

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How can this pain in or near the ear be caused by stress? Frequent clenching of the jaw is a habit of many people. Often this is a stress related problem that causes the person to bite on pens, pencils, or fingernails. This often happens during sleep also with grinding of the teeth, and clenching of the jaw. The joint itself may become inflamed along with the cartilaginous disc that pads the joint. The muscles and tendons that move the mandible become sore and ache. That can lead to not only ear ache but also headache. The person may experience swelling on the affected side and may hear clicking or grinding noises in the affected ear.

If other causes of pain and headache have been excluded, treatment consists of pain relief, behavior modification (to quit biting nails, pens, etc...) and consultation with a dentist. This condition can be a temporary aggravation or a major cause of morbidity. In this article I have covered only the highlights of diagnosis and therapy. You should consult your physician about questions and health problems you are experiencing.

Is Your Ear Ache Caused by Stress?

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Menopause Symptoms - Is an Enlarged Uterus One of Many Menopause Symptoms?

Menopause as all women know is a time for change and may have some uncomfortable symptoms. The question is whether one of the menopause symptoms could include an enlarged uterus. There are specific tests for diagnoses and treatments are available.

Causes and Symptoms of an Enlarged Uterus

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An enlarged uterus is also called Endometriosis - a bulging formation that occurs in the uterus and continues to develop. It can sometimes be misconstrued as pregnancy. It is typically categorized by severe pain in the lower abdominal region. This pain occurs because of the pressure the enlarging uterus puts on the bladder. The extreme abdominal pain and possible bladder problems can be indicative of an enlarged uterus or other health conditions including pregnancy so it is strongly advised that you have the necessary exams and tests done to accurately identify the source of your symptoms.

Examinations and Tests Used to Diagnose an Enlarged Uterus

A laparoscopy is a surgical procedure used to examine internal organs. A pelvic examination is a physical examination by a physician of internal organs. An Endometrial biopsy is performed to rule out any possible malignancy as a cause for your symptoms. A hysteroscopy is similar to a laparoscopy but examines the reproductive organs specifically. An ultrasound scan and an MRI-magnetic resonance imaging test will produce images of the reproductive organs from which information can be gathered. Blood tests called a CBC- complete blood count may also be done to determine if hormone levels and body chemicals are at healthy levels.

For a specific diagnosis for enlarged uterus and or menopause a physical examination and some tests may be ordered by your doctor. These things will also help to rule out any other possible health concerns. It's better to have the test and find nothing serious than to not have them and have something serious going on.

Menopause symptoms could include an enlarged uterus because the changing hormone levels could mimic pregnancy. The uterus does change somewhat during sexual activity and this could affect the size of the uterus.

Treatment for an Enlarged Uterus

Current treatments include hormone therapies that can be very effective in treating enlarged uterus and other menopausal symptoms. Surgical examination can be done during a laparoscopy. In the past however, the typical treatment for an enlarged uterus was surgery that required a long incision or a complete hysterectomy- the complete removal of all reproductive organs.

Many women choose to use herbal supplements in treatment of menopause and they have been proven to be highly effective. If hormones are at a healthy level than it may be possible to treat it with herbal supplements but this is not known at this time.
An herbal supplement should be with only standardized herbal extracts and manufactured to meet pharmaceutical grade standards. The ingredients should have extensively tested including the metabolic route of the ingredients at the molecular level. The interactions of the ingredients should also have been tested.

All of this helps to guarantee consistent dosing and consistent quality from capsule to capsule. Herbal supplements are often chosen to avoid some of the serious side effects that can accompany traditional pharmaceutical treatments. Though they have far less side effects they should not be added to your health routine without your doctor's knowledge. Some herbs may interfere with the performance of prescriptions you may be taking for other health conditions.

Conclusion

The question was/is this: Can an enlarged uterus be one of many menopausal symptoms.
There are tests and treatments available including diagnostic imaging, physical examinations and blood tests. Treatments could include hormones but may also include the use of herbal supplements. If you have any of the symptoms listed here, consult your doctor to be on the safe side.

Menopause Symptoms - Is an Enlarged Uterus One of Many Menopause Symptoms?

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What Causes a Headache Behind the Eyes?

Having a headache behind the eyes is a relatively common problem, and such headaches happen for a variety of reasons.

Most of the time, such headaches are a sign of some other problem or disorder. This problem may have nothing to do with your eyes or vision.

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To stop the pain, you first have to figure out where the pain is coming from.

What Causes a Headache Behind the Eyes?

Here are the most common reasons most people get a headache behind the eyes.

Your sinuses or an infection in your respiratory system can might be the cause. Swollen nasal passages near the eyes can put pressure on nerves behind the eyeballs when you have a cold or the flu..

Unfortunately, there's a possibility your headache may be caused by a tumor. Hopefully, this is not the case.

But the most common problem that causes a headache behind the eyes is related to general eye health and eye conditions or disorders. Something happens that causes the lens of the eye to cast an unfocused image on the retina. When this happens, your brain automatically tightens your eye muscles in an effort to compensate. After this has been going on for a while, the eye muscles become strained, causing soreness.If this situation corrected, the muscles become even more strained and sore.

There are several common vision problems that are likely to result in soreness and pain behind the eyes.The list of vision problems that are likely to produce such discomfort or pain include the following.

Astigmatism - Sometimes there's a change in the shape of the lens, which results in a distorted image landing on the retina. Vision becomes blurry or fuzzy.

You'll notice that people who have astigmatism sometimes have to squint a lot. By squinting, they're trying to force their eyes to focus. Squinting, if it's done often enough, overworks and strains the eye muscles. This causes pain around the eyeballs, which feels like a headache behind the eyes.

Presbyopia - When we're young, and even in our early adult years, the lenses of our eyes are pretty flexible. But with passing time, we lose some of this flexibility.

The result: objects close to us begin to lose their clarity. This is why many people need "reading glasses" as they pass into middle age.

When you have uncorrected presbyopia, you will strain your eyes trying to make them focus as you read. This results in headaches in the area around the eyes.

Hyperopia - This is similar to presbyopia in that images don't focus correctly on the retina. They focus in an area behind the retina instead. Once again, the brain overworks the eye muscles in an effort to resolve the problem. This, of course, lead to strained muscles and soreness around the eyes.

Tips for Relieving Headache Pain

Many different over-the-counter medications are available that will relieve pain from a mild headache behind the eyes. Talk to your doctor or pharmacist for specific recommendations.

If over-the-counter pain-relievers don't work, and your headache persists for several days, call your doctor. He or she may prescribe something stronger.

If your headaches are happening often, and you haven't had an eye exam for a while, a visit to your optometrist is probably in order. Since headaches behind the eyes are often caused by uncorrected vision, a set of eye glasses or contacts may put an end to your discomfort.

Acupuncture and massage may help to some people.

Short of the possibilities just mentioned, your best bet is rest and relaxation. If eye strain is the cause of your headaches, then giving your eyes a break is probably the best prescription for finding relief.

What Causes a Headache Behind the Eyes?

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How Can You Care For a Slow Healing Open Wound?

Did you ever have a wound or sore that simply does not heal no matter what you try? Perhaps it's even been treated by a physician, but still remains.

This type of wound is characterized by skin deterioration to the point where the underlying tissue is exposed. Such wounds are also called sores or ulcers and can have a variety of causes. But they all have one thing in common --- prompt treatment is important to prevent infection and further deterioration of the surrounding area.

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Here are some examples of slow-healing wounds:

Ulcers often form on the leg and foot as a complication of diabetes Pressure Sores (also known as bedsores) are caused by constant pressure on an area of the skin Venous Skin Ulcers develop when veins don't allow blood to flow back to the heart normally. A Wound or Open Sore may have many different causes such as incisions, lacerations, abrasions, puncture, penetration, and gunshot

If you have a wound that will not heal in a reasonable period of time, it is always wise to seek medical treatment. But is there something you can do initially to prevent a wound from getting worse and help it heal more quickly?

According to foot surgeon, Dr. Paul R. Glaser, the answer is yes.  He often advises his patients to use a natural-ingredient, over-the-counter topical spray and foam to speed healing on foot wounds including diabetic ulcers, infected ingrown toenails, psoriasis, and post-op lesions. [1]

The results he has seen are often dramatic:

Chronic diabetic ulcers have been healed in 6 weeks. [2] Pain and burning is greatly relieved when regularly applied post surgery. [3] The risk of infection is greatly diminished with regular use. [3] Overall healing time after a common surgical procedure has been reduced to 2 to 3 weeks compared with a more usual 3 to 5 weeks with topical antibiotics alone. [4]

Why can a natural product often heal wounds better than prescription drugs? The answer is simple... By using ingredients that support the natural action of the body's immune system, you can achieve the desired result in a safe, non-invasive manner.

For example, some traditional wound care treatments may be quite expensive and have side effects such as higher blood pressure, higher eye pressure (glaucoma), retention of fluid, skin thinning, red lesions and mood swings.

An effective natural treatment can help fight infection and heal the wound without side effects and at significantly lower cost.

For example, the natural treatment Dr. Glaser recommends contains an enzyme (lysozyme) that is found in the tears, saliva, mucus, urine and salt water body fluids. Lysozyme targets harmful bacteria while sparing beneficial ones. The treatment also contains sea salt with all the trace minerals left intact. The sea salt solution provides an ideal pH environment for the lysozyme to operate, as well as nutrients that support new cell growth. This creates a product that's so safe it can be sprayed directly in the eyes or mouth, yet effectively supports and speeds the body's natural healing process.

While you should always consult with your physician for any chronic medical condition, you may find a natural product will encourage your body's own innate healing ability better than conventional preparations.

1"What's In Your Medicine Cabinet", presentation by Presentation By Paul Glaser, DPM, FACAS Summit Podiatry, North Carolina

2 "Porokeratosis of Mibelli", Paul Glaser, DPM, FACAS Summit Podiatry, North Carolina

3 "Study In The Use Of Ocean Aid Products In Common Podiatric Conditions", Paul Glaser, DPM, FACAS Summit Podiatry, North Carolina

4 "Post-Op Phenol-Alcohol Procedure", Study In The Use Of Ocean Aid Products In Common Podiatric Conditions, presentation by  Paul Glaser, DPM, FACAS Summit Podiatry, North Carolina.

How Can You Care For a Slow Healing Open Wound?

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Four Kinds of Fruits Most Suitable for Pregnant Women

It is known to all that pregnant women should eat more fruits. So here we introduce the following four kinds of fruits which are most suitable for pregnant women.

First, pear
Pear is one of the oldest fruits in China. It is sweet and juicy, tasty and refreshing. It has the effects of clearing heat and promoting urination, moistening the throat and lowering the pressure, so it is helpful to treat gestational edema and gestational hypertension. What's more, it also plays an important role in the prevention and treatment of lung infection and hepatitis. Eating stewed pear regularly can prevent dry mouth and lips. It can not only protect your throat, but is also the best natural medicine to cure pneumonia, bronchitis and hepatitis.

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Second, persimmon
Persimmon is juicy and sweet. It is a kind of high-quality and inexpensive fruit. It contains various kinds of vitamins and trace elements such as potassium, iron, calcium, magnesium and phosphorus. The content of mineral substances in persimmon is much higher than some fruits such as apple, pear and peach. Its nutritional and medicinal value is suitable for pregnant women. Although persimmon has abundant nutrition and medical effects, it also has disadvantages. Persimmon may easily cause dry stools. And when it is combined with protein, it will form precipitation, affecting the digestion and absorption of the nutrition. Therefore, one persimmon every meal is appropriate.

Third, citrus
Citrus contains plenty of citric acids, amino acids, carbohydrates, fats, vitamins, calcium, phosphorus, iron and other nutrients. It is one of the favorite fruits for pregnant women. The skin and kernel of citrus are well-known traditional Chinese medicine. Eating citrus can prevent scurvy and nyctalopia. However, although citrus tastes delicious, it is improper to eat too much of it. As citrus is warm in nature, so eating too much will easily cause dryness-heat, which will lead to stomatitis, periodontitis and pharyngitis. Pregnant women should not eat more than 3 citrus every day, with a total weight of less than 250 grams.

Fourth, figs
Figs are rich in various kinds of amino acids, organic acids, magnesium, manganese, copper, zinc, boron and vitamins. It is not only a kind of high nutritional fruit, but is also a good medicine. It can help clear away the heat and toxic materials. It is especially effective in the treatment of hemorrhoid, diarrhea and sore throat.

Fruits are indeed very nutritious. However, the crude fibers and some specific nutrients in fruits are inferior to that of green leafy vegetables. Fruits and vegetables have different nutritional and medicinal value, so they can not be replaced with each other. Therefore, when purchasing the food, we should pay attention to the collocation of fruits and vegetables, so as to maintain the balance of the nutrition.

Four Kinds of Fruits Most Suitable for Pregnant Women

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The Difference Between Aerobic and Anaerobic Exercises

Many people mistakenly believe that all vigorous forms of exercise are aerobic in nature. However, some forms of vigorous exercise are actually anaerobic, and have a very different effect on the body. If you're just getting started on an exercise regimen, this information will help you sort out the difference between the two and tailor your workouts accordingly.

So exactly what is the definition of aerobic exercise? Aerobic means "with oxygen," where anaerobic is "without oxygen." No, that doesn't entail holding your breath while exercising! Rather, it refers to cellular tissues producing energy without having to rely on oxygen availability. Alternatively, you may have guessed that aerobic exercise requires large supplies of oxygen to generate energy. The fundamental difference between aerobic and anaerobic exercises is that simple.

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A more detailed definition is that during aerobic exercise, activity is so sustained that it requires large amounts of oxygen. The muscles utilize oxygen to burn fat and glucose to manufacture adenosine triphosphate (ATP) - the basic energy vehicle for all cells in the body. During the initial stages of aerobic exercise, glycogen is transformed into glucose. If glucose stores become depleted, fat is metabolized as fuel. It's interesting to note that "runner's high" occurs when muscles have exhausted their immediate glycogen stores and begin relying only on oxygen, which releases endorphins in the brain.

During anaerobic exercise, the muscles being used rely on energy-producing processes that don't require large amounts of oxygen. Instead, the body metabolizes muscle glycogen to produce power. Glycogen is supplied by blood sugar, which is manufactured by the liver from dietary amino acids and carbohydrates--whole grain, of course! Anaerobic exercise is so fast and brief that it doesn't have time to rely on oxygen, so glycogen is used.

Some people mistakenly believe that aerobic exercise makes you small and weak. However, it actually tones muscle throughout your body and burns fat. This will make you look good in your bathing suit--not to mention your birthday suit! The effects that aerobic activity has on your body are not merely cosmetic - there are numerous health bonuses, such as:

· Improved circulation and lower blood pressure

· Increased lung capacity through stronger respiratory muscles

· A stronger heart, which boosts pumping efficiency and lowers the resting heart rate

· Increased red blood cell count, which transports oxygen more efficiently throughout the entire body

· Reduced risk of cardiovascular disease

The effects that anaerobic exercise has on your body involves being able to deliver powerful performance on demand. That comes in handy when sprinting to the finish line, or making a break to score after stealing the ball. Muscles that are anaerobically trained develop differently, which boosts their performance in brief, high-intensity situations. Benefits include:

· Stronger bones

· Reduced muscle atrophy with age

· Increased speed and power

· Increased muscle strength and mass

It's important to understand the different types of exercises that produce an aerobic vs. anaerobic effect. Anaerobic benefits are produced by brief, high-intensity activities, while in the aerobic zone, effort is moderate with a steady heart rate.

Specific types of anaerobic exercise include tennis, weight lifting, sprinting and jumping. If you'd prefer not to frequent a gym, weight lifting can be performed in the comfort of your own home. A few dumb-bells, a weight bench and medicine ball are all you need.

Some good aerobic exercises are walking, running, swimming, cycling, cross-country skiing and rowing. Fortunately, you can do aerobic exercises at home: riding an exercise bike, walking on a treadmill, or following an exercise video - the choices are virtually endless. This is particularly helpful if it's rainy or drastically cold outdoors. Also, depending on where you live, going snow-shoeing, hiking or kayaking is possible without ever having to step foot in the car!

Combining aerobic and anaerobic exercise is essential to maintaining overall balanced fitness. While most associate getting into shape with aerobic activities, anaerobic exercise is a beneficial complement to aerobic exercise. For example, weight lifting is a great way to add even more tone and definition beyond what aerobic training provides.

Be sure to check with your physician before beginning any exercise regimen. Also, it's very important to begin any exercise program slowly. Many people overdo it and lose motivation or worse yet, sustain injury. You may experience a little soreness the day after working out in the beginning; but if you are so sore that you can only work out one or two times per week it is counter-productive. Make exercise a healthy habit by doing a little every day; you can increase the intensity as you build endurance and strength over time.

Of course, a daily exercise routine is just one factor in the equation for optimum health. You should also enjoy a nutritious and delicious diet, get eight hours of sleep every night, say no habits such as smoking and excessive drinking, and make sure you get the full spectrum of vitamins and minerals that your body needs to look and feel its best.

The Difference Between Aerobic and Anaerobic Exercises

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Why Do My Feet Hurt When I Wear High Heels?

This is a very common question that we hear all the time, so it needs to be addressed. We often hear women complaining about their aching feet after a long day of wearing high heels, but they keep on wearing these uncomfortable and painful shoes for the sake of beauty and fashion.

The primary reason why wearing high heels can cause sharp foot pain is that human feet were not designed for high heels. Looking at the other perspective, high heels were not designed for comfort and pain-free walking either. People's feet were created to provide us with balance and strength while we walk or run. However, wearing high heels can change the structure and shape of the feet, which not only causes pain along the way, but may also inhibit proper functioning of feet over time.

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Women experience pain when they wear high heels because their feet slide forward into the shoes, inevitably forcing their bodies to redistribute their weight while creating unnatural pressure points and disrupting the natural alignment of our body.

There are numerous foot ailments related to wearing high heels. Some of the most common ones are metatarsalgia (ball of foot pain), bunions, callous and corns, Achilles Tendonitis, hammertoe, and many others.

Metatarsalgia, the most common effect of wearing high heels for prolonged periods of time, occurs when one or more of the metatarsal heads become inflamed due to too much pressure. This ailment, which is also known as ball of foot pain, is a painful condition of the metatarsal area of the feet, which can be found below the toes.

People who suffer from this condition usually feel burning and tingling sensation on the ball of the foot. There is also an excessive accumulation of callous in the same region. Wearing high heels for long periods of time can worsen the situation.

Tips to Minimize Foot Pain When Wearing High Heels

Buy shoes in the afternoon or at night allows a better fit. Save your high heels for special occasions instead of wearing them every day. Opt for high heels that have chunkier heels than stilettos. Buy leather shoes instead of synthetics. Stay away from pointed and extremely high heeled shoes. Wear orthotic shoe inserts to correct foot mechanics and walk more comfortably. Stick to one height. Having many shoes of different heel heights can lead to inflammation of the Achilles tendon. Go for wider shoes instead of narrow ones. Always bring spare running or tennis shoes. Keep your feet and toenails clean all the time. Get regular foot massages to alleviate muscle soreness and improve circulation of blood. Do stretches before walking or before doing any strenuous physical activity. Seek medical attention if you feel constant pain in any part of your feet.

Wearing high heels seems like a euphemism to the ancient tradition of foot binding. Let us all remember, that more than beauty and fashion, health and comfort should always be more important.

Why Do My Feet Hurt When I Wear High Heels?

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8 Early Pregnancy Symptoms - How To Find Out If You Are Pregnant

You feel queasy. You're experiencing a headache. You just don't feel too good. Blame it on yesterday's seafood? Or are you catching a cold? Or could it be that you're pregnant? How can you tell the difference?

This article will hope fully lead on the right path. We will discuss early pregnancy symptoms and signs that you should keep an eye out for.

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One of the most telling sign of being pregnant is a delay in your menstruation. If you miss your period and have been sexually active, then you should take a pregnancy test kit. Keep in mind that many women still get bleeding, but it will be lighter and for shorter days.

Besides missing your period, you could also experience some spotting or light bleeding. This normally takes place very early in the pregnancy stages, somewhere between 6 to 12 days after the conception. This happens when the tiny embryo clings itself onto the wall of your uterus.

Once you are pregnant, there will be changes to your body. One significant change is the swelling of breasts. Women tend to get swollen breasts as early as 1 - 2 weeks into the pregnancy. The breasts are sore and tender and can be a discomforting experience for women. Besides breasts tenderness, women could also experience the darkening of the areolas. The nipples tend to grow darker when you are pregnant.

One thing that sends shivers down the spine of soon-to-be mothers is the morning sickness or nausea. Nausea is experienced by many pregnant women anytime between weeks 2 - 8 after conception. And even though it's called morning sickness, you can get it at anytime of the day. You might not have to throw up, but the queasy feeling is still there. The good news, it will not last forever. Some women are very fortunate in the sense that they never have to go through morning sickness. However there are some unlucky women who go through morning sickness right through their pregnancy.

When you're pregnant, you could experience extreme tiredness or fatigue. This can keep you in bed, as you're often sleepy or just don't want to get out of bed. This is normal for an expecting woman.

And if that's not hard enough, another symptom of pregnancy is the frequent urination. You may feel like you just want to sit near the bathroom all day, or that your bladder just can't hold it in any longer. Pregnant women have to put up with this and make extra trips to the bathroom every day.

Expecting women also experience aches - backaches and headaches. Early in the pregnancy, you may experience lower backaches. Backaches are also common throughout the entire time you are pregnant. Your body has to cope with a growing belly and this can strain your back, thus you may experience a dull backache all this time. As your body changes, so do your hormones. As a result of this, you may find yourself experiencing headaches early in your pregnancy.

And of course, who can forget the food cravings of the pregnant woman. Of course it might not be a longing to eat odd combinations of food like sardines and chips, but many pregnant women feel a craving for some types of food. This craving could also last for the entire pregnancy.

The above are the most common symptoms that a woman may go through in the early stages (and some till the end) of pregnancy. Should you experience these symptoms, get a pregnancy test kit or meet with your doctor. Do remember that the symptoms might vary, as everyone is unique and that each woman is different.

8 Early Pregnancy Symptoms - How To Find Out If You Are Pregnant

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Learn to Avoid Foods That Trigger Lupus Flares - With an Easy, at Home Food Allergy Testing Strategy

A food allergy is an immune response to a particular food or beverage, similar to the immune response against the body itself in a lupus patient. Don't confuse food allergies with food intolerances; they are different. When you experience food intolerance, it is not caused by the immune system, and is simply an adverse response by your body to a particular food (like lactose intolerance).

You've got to take care of yourself; having lupus or any auto-immune disease makes you especially susceptible to food allergies and these allergic reactions can instigate flares.

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There are many ways to determine food allergies and the symptoms they produce. According to the Food Allergy & Anaphylaxis Network, you should watch for the following 7 symptoms up to two hours of eating.

Food allergy symptoms to watch out for:

o Tingling sensation in the mouth

o Swelling of the tongue and the throat

o Difficulty breathing

o Hives

o Vomiting, abdominal cramps, or diarrhea

o Sudden drop in blood pressure

o Loss of consciousness

If you suspect you have a food allergy, it is important to work with a health professional, because while simply cutting that food out of your diet may alleviate your symptoms, it won't address the potential allergy itself.

Allergy testing is easier than it sounds. You might be afraid of needles, but in most cases you don't even have to see them!

Common allergy testing methods:

Pin Prick allergy testing

In the pin prick skin test the doctor places a small drop of the substance (in this case food) that you may be allergic to on your skin and then pricks you with a tiny needle. He or she will then wait for a few minutes to see if you develop a reaction, which is usually localized in the form of redness and swelling.

RAST Allergy Test

The RAST test is another allergy test that requires a blood sample sent to a lab, where specialized tests are done to determine your allergies.

The At-Home Allergy Pulse Test

Another easy way to get an indication of a food allergy is by using the at-home allergy pulse test. This is done by checking your pulse rate before and after eating. When you maintain a close watch over your pulse rate while you challenge different foods, you can often determine possible food reactions. However, it is important that you do not use or rely on this test if you have a history of strong allergic reactions, especially anaphylaxis (a life-threatening allergic reason which results in swelling of the throat).

To perform the pulse test on yourself, simply take your pulse before eating a meal to establish your base (or control) pulse rate.

It's best to eat a single food, and then re-check your pulse rate at 15, 30 and 60 minutes afterwards. If you see an increase in elevation of more than 10 beats faster than your base pulse, it means you are likely allergic to that food.

An obvious problem is that you may want to eat more than one food at a time. Go ahead and eat that meal, and again do your pulse test before, and after your meal as above. In this way you'll be able to determine if the foods don't have any effect, or if there are foods creating a reaction with an elevated pulse rate.

To start testing your food reactions, a simple natural diet is the way to go. Stick with meals that don't require a lot of work and include just a few simple ingredients.

If you do find an increased pulse, it's a good idea to test each food separately in order to narrow down which food ingredient is the culprit from that meal.

Be sure to keep a diary with you at all times, so you can keep a proper record and learn to identify which foods, if any, are triggering a flare. Be cautioned though, food triggers and their reactions can change, therefore be tricky to catch. However, this test is a great start to taking control of unnecessary flares that result from food allergies.

It is best to work with an experienced wellness specialist to help you maintain your health program and get further support to answer your health questions when necessary.

90% of all food allergies are caused by only eight foods!

Yes, it's true. Only 8 common foods are the culprit for most food allergies. These are milk, eggs, peanuts, tree nuts (such as walnuts, cashews, and pistachios), fish, shellfish, soy, and wheat. You should also avoid spicy foods, processed foods (such as American cheese), alcohol, chocolate, and caffeine if you have Lupus. I know this sounds like no fun at all, but all of these have the potential to mess with your immune system and have unexpected effects on your body. That's the last thing you need to worry about with lupus!

One way to recall these foods is by remembering the term 'DONGS', which stands for:

Dairy: Cow's milk and related products, goats' milk and related products, eggs

Ocean: Fish, shellfish

Nuts: Peanuts, tree nuts

Grains: Soy, wheat, wheat, rye, oats, barley, anything referred to as "gluten"

Spices: Paprika, garlic, cinnamon, cloves, cola, liquorice, mustard, oregano, peppers, poppy seeds, and sage

Now that I've told you all the no-no's... we can go over some of the foods you can eat and enjoy without fear of stimulating your immune system. Foods like brown rice, sweet potatoes, and veggies can make up delicious dishes full of energy and carbs to keep you going through the day. For a refreshing drink, why not reach for some fresh fruits or veggies and make a nice juiced smoothie or drink that will support your immune system and energy as well (just avoid asparagus, eggplant, onion, zucchini, raw olives, and peppers).

It's important to keep your strength up so you can fight the lupus all day, not just after eating, so try and have several smaller meals throughout the day versus 2 or 3 heavy meals that will rob you of precious energy you don't have to waste.

To learn more about the essentials of a healthy Lupus diet, plus holistic approaches to reducing Lupus symptoms visit Healing-Lupus.com for a free mini course.

Learn to Avoid Foods That Trigger Lupus Flares - With an Easy, at Home Food Allergy Testing Strategy

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Common Problems During the Third Trimester of Your Pregnancy

Pregnancy is a time when a woman glows with the anticipation of her new joy,a new life she is bringing into this world, this is a time of wonder, a time of amazement, a time that can feel like an eternity when common complaints of pregnancy can make you feel less than glowing!

Yes indeed pregnancy is wonderful but back aches, breathlessness, rib pain and high blood pressure can all leave you worn out and overwhelmed. Fortunately there are natural solutions for common complaints that really do work.

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In the third trimester most women begin feeling just as bad if not worse than they felt in the first trimester of pregnancy. There may well have been fewer problems in the second trimester from what was felt in the first but in the third trimester you may well come back to realise just how very, very pregnant you are.

Back aches and rib pain is experience in nearly every pregnancy and can range from fairly mild to extreme.

The pain of a back ache is usually in the lower back and goes down the legs; this can be aggravated by standing for long periods of time. Twisting or turning as well as poor positioning while sleeping also causes and contributes to back pain.

Hormones are playing a part in this situation and will allow your joints and ligaments to loosen to assist your body and prepare it for birth. Massages for the back and strengthening exercises can help as well as proper alignment from a qualified chiropractor. Wearing flat supportive shoes and sleeping on a firm mattress can help too.

The rib pain that is often felt is usually caused by the uterus pressing into the abdomen and in turn into your ribs. Tiny baby feet will find their way under the rib cage as well as baby stretches in the head down position preparing for birth. There is little that can be done for this complaint other than wearing comfortable loose clothes and stretching the abdomen a bit with an exercise ball or by leaning into a wall as you face it.

Along with the rib pain many women experience breathlessness, like there is just not enough room for baby and lungs too, this is kind of often the case. Often breathlessness and rib pain will subside a little after week 36 when the baby drops into the birthing position. Propping up with pillows while lying down or even sitting can help move the baby off of the diaphragm. Experimenting with positions to find what is most comfortable and effective is about the only solution.

High blood pressure can be common and must be addressed in pregnancy. High blood pressure in pregnancy needs to be carefully monitored by a health care provider to avoid serious complications such as eclampsia and even death. Some ways to prevent high blood pressure before it begins is a healthy diet, avoiding caffeine, spicy foods and nicotine and exercising regularly. Mild to moderate high blood pressure can often be controlled by deep relaxation, meditation, eating raw garlic, parsley and onion as well as cucumber. Always follow the recommendations of the health care provider and check with him or her before any herbal or other supplements.

Just as there are many different complaints in the third trimester there are many different solutions and one of the best ways to obtain information is in mass numbers of experience. Reading books, web sites and message boards often can provide the information that not only matches the symptom but the personality as well. Searching out the camaraderie of others who are going through it too gives a sense of community that can ease those blues.

Always remember to check with a health care provider before following herbal or any advice that creates a feeling of doubt...better to be safe.

Common Problems During the Third Trimester of Your Pregnancy

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Your C-Section Incision - Look Out For These 4 Warning Signs of Potential Problems Ahead

Your C-section incision needs to be monitored regularly for the first few weeks, watching for any changes in its appearance.

There are some changes and conditions that are normal to see with your C-section incision, but other differences that could be signs of potential problems ahead. It is common to feel a large ridge or lump under the scar which is scar tissue forming underneath, this should reduce over time.

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Another common concern many moms notice is the area often feels slightly numb and tight. These are all normal responses to the effects of the operation and should all gradually become less noticeable over the following weeks.

It is important to be very vigilant over your C-section incision scar because if it becomes infected, the healing process can take many weeks longer.

You should always call your doctor or midwife immediately if you notice any of the following: -

#1 Redness - the edges of a healing incision will normally appear slightly red, this is a natural reaction to the healing process. If the redness increases or starts to spread more than half an inch from around the wound then this could be a sign of something a little more sinister and you should contact your doctor or health advisor.

#2 Heat or excessive warmth on or around the wound. If your wound feels particularly hot compared to previous sensations and if this is accompanied by new pain or discomfort, then it be worth having it looked at.

#3 Any change or unusual appearance of the incision. Your C-section incision should gradually become less inflamed, smoother in appearance, less painful and more comfortable over the following weeks. In you notice any changes other than improvements, monitor them closely and if they continue or deteriorate any further then speak to your doctor.

#4 Any puss in the incision. If you suddenly notice a pussy discharge from your C-section incision after having a clean wound previously, or if the area starts to get mildly tender or painful, this could be a sign that it isn't knitting together very well and again you need to monitor the area closely and speak to your doctor if it continues for more than 24 - 48 hours.

If your C-section incision pulls apart and starts bleeding, apply an antibiotic cream, to keep any bacteria away from the wound. Do not apply any creams other than an antibiotic cream until your incision has completely healed. If you notice any bleeding, applying slight pressure to the wound may help to stop this. If the wound keeps bleeding after you apply pressure, call your doctor.

It important to stay vigilant and not obsessive over your C-section incision because any problems spotted early can reduce their severity over the long term. Don't panic over the slightest change, just monitor it and if you see further deterioration then contact your doctor or health care advisor.

Your C-Section Incision - Look Out For These 4 Warning Signs of Potential Problems Ahead

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Cramps During Early Pregnancy - Tips To Help Reduce The Pain

Cramps during early pregnancy are something that happens to many women. Your body is changing and getting ready for your baby to grow.

Many women will experience mild cramps during the first few weeks of pregnancy. In fact, a lot of women think that they are getting ready to start their periods because they feel cramping. This article will teach how why you cramp in early pregnancy and when to call your doctor.

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Your uterus consists mainly of muscle and other surrounding tissues that enable it to expand during pregnancy and to contract when it's time for childbirth. These actions are triggered by hormones.

Some women may feel light cramping when the fertilized egg implants itself into the uterine wall. This can take place as early as six to eight days after fertilization. You may experience some light bleeding or "spotting" when the egg implants itself.
Another reason for cramping in early pregnancy is that hormones have triggered your uterus to expand to get ready for the growing baby. These cramps may be uncomfortable and feel a lot like period cramps. This is perfectly normal as long as they don't become severe and are accompanied by heavy bleeding. Cramps are most likely to occur after sexual activity or when your bladder is full.
The round ligaments support your uterus. As your uterus grows the round ligaments must expand to support it. This may cause a feeling of cramping or a dull ache in your lower abdomen. It should go away with rest. However, if the cramping becomes severe and is accompanied by heavy bleeding, fever, or any other unusual symptoms, contacts your doctor right away.There are ways to treat cramps during early pregnancy. A good way to relieve cramping is by applying heat. A heating pad to the lower abdomen works wonder for cramps but be careful to not get it too hot. You may take acetaminophen for pain relief if needed. Sometimes this will help take the edge off of the cramps. But ibuprofen or other NSAIDS should not be taken during pregnancy. Never take any drugs unless it is allowed by your doctor.

Take care of yourself by getting plenty of rest and eating right. The changing hormones in your body can slow down digestion and make you constipated, which can cause abdominal pain. If you feel that you may be constipated, increase your fiber and water intake.

Finally, another way to help relieve cramps in pregnancy is to abstain from sex. Sex does not hurt you or the baby but may increase the cramping and cause some spotting. The combination of cramping and spotting can make you think that you are having a miscarriage.

Cramps during early pregnancy are quite common. Cramps should be mild and never unbearable. However, if they become severe or are more prevalent on one side and are accompanied by any other unusual symptoms, let your doctor know right away.

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Cramps During Early Pregnancy - Tips To Help Reduce The Pain

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Home Remedy For Sinus Infection

Sinus infections are one of the most common infections across the world. Sinus attacks are caused by an infection in the sinuses or cavities that are present in the bones near the nose. When there is any swelling in these sinuses because of some infection, breathing becomes difficult, resulting in fever, headaches, and other discomforts. This is known as sinusitis.

Each sinus or cavity in the skull has an opening that allows free exchange of mucus and air. Each sinus is joined to the other by a mucous membrane lining. When there is an infection like hay fever or a disease like asthma, these sinuses and the lining become inflamed, causing air and mucus to be blocked inside or a vacuum to be created. This can cause pressure on the sinus walls, causing severe pain. Millions of dollars are spent for sinus medications and sinus research.

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Sinus infections can cause a lot of pain and discomfort. Sometimes, the infection may also lead to some brain infections or other chronic problems. Though there is no effective remedy for sinus infections, a lot of comfort can be gained by treating the sinus symptoms like headaches, nasal discharge, nasal blocking, runny nose, ear/neck/cheek/jaw pain, swelling of eyelids, etc. However, acute or chronic sinus infections require prolonged treatments, comprised of antibiotics or therapies like saline nasal rinses, topical/oral decongestants, antihistamines, mucolytic agents, and intranasal corticosteroids.

Sinus infections can also be treated by some home remedies. A lot of relief can be obtained by inhaling steam from a vaporizer or a bowl of hot water. Applying a hot or a cold compress over the inflamed area would also provide relief. A decoction of mustard seed powder and water, instilled in the nostrils; eating jalapeno peppers; drinking juice of ripe grapes; applying a paste of cinnamon and water on the forehead; applying paste of ginger and water/milk on the forehead; applying paste of basil leaves, cloves, and dried ginger on the forehead; inhaling steam of eucalyptus oil; and drinking warm tea are all found to be effective in providing some relief. Drinking a lot of water and other fluids would also help. A great deal of rest is also required. However, it is better to consult a specialist if the infection persists.

Home Remedy For Sinus Infection

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A List of Foods High in Omega 3 Fatty Acids

There are many foods high in omega 3 fatty acids both from animal and the plant diet. The most healthful of these foods is fish which contains large amounts of fatty acids, particularly DHA and EPA. Because of this reason, fish oil capsules are made which are good for promoting overall health and are also easy to consume.

Other foods high in omega 3 fatty acids are flax seed oil, soybean oil, hemp oil and some other plant oils. It should be kept in mind that plant oils are also rich in omega 6 fats which raise blood pressure and balance cholesterol levels in the body.

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It is advisable not to consume plant oils in large quantities all at once. In addition to this, flax seed oil contains only ALA which is a long-chain fatty acid. ALA is broken down into short-chain fatty acids also known as DHA and EPA in the body and these fats are then utilized by the bloodstream.

Flax seed oil is good for people who want to gain weight or those who suffer from stomach problems. It is especially useful for reducing inflammation throughout the body and is therefore recommended to elderly people.

Plant oils do not cause any side effects or allergies. They should be consumed by pregnant and lactating women but not at once. 1 tablespoon of liquid fish oil and plant oils is sufficient to be taken after each meal. If you already have high cholesterol and high blood pressure, then plant oils are not good for you.

There are some alternative foods high in omega 3 fatty acids as well. These include seafood, tofu, walnuts, beans and omega 3 enriched eggs. You should add these foods to your everyday diet to receive your share of DHA and EPA and to ensure proper health and well-being.

It is advisable to find good quality fish oil nutritional supplements available out there. These supplements are made from pharmaceutical grade fish oil which is pure and does not contain any impurities, contaminants and heavy metals.

In addition to this, you are also advised to consume fish oil capsules made from the oil of the hoki fish found in New Zealand. This is because New Zealand waters are less-polluted and contain very little levels of heavy metals like mercury and lead. As a result, the oil extracted from the tissues of the hoki fish is fit for consumption and does not cause any side effects.

A List of Foods High in Omega 3 Fatty Acids

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What Are the Warning Signs of Pneumonia You Should Know

Pneumonia is an inflammation and subsequent infection of the lungs. It can cause difficulty with breathing, produce a cough and cause chest pain. Pneumonia can affect either one or both of your lungs and various forms exist of the disease. It is known that the most common cause of pneumonia is a pulmonary infection associated with viruses or gram-positive or gram-negative bacteria. Some infectious agents that share both the similarities of viruses and bacteria can also cause pneumonia.

Aspiration pneumonia is caused by the inhalation of foreign materials: liquids, dust particles, chemical fumes and other irritants. This type of pneumonia mostly common affects small children, but adults are not immune to it, because they have inhaled either vomit or food. The symptoms of Aspiration pneumonia are not always intense and may disappear within a few days, but in rare cases the aspiration of either food or vomit can result in respiratory arrest and death. The main symptoms of Aspiration pneumonia include: a dry cough, chest pain and soreness, wheezing during normal breathing, and difficulty in breathing. It is advisable to see your doctor if you experience any of these symptoms.

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Viral pneumonia is very common form of pneumonia affecting children, teenagers and the elderly. It can sometimes be mistaken for either the flu or a cold. Viral pneumonia presents the following symptoms: inflammation of the throat, productive or non-productive cough, a swelling in the lymph nodes, chest discomfort during breathing, mild to severe headache and a generalized feeling of fatigue. The cough may or may not produce varying amounts of mucus. You may also experience a mild fever and chills.

Bacterial pneumonia is a more severe form and can produce symptoms that are more intense. The bacterial forms of pneumonia seem to be more common in adults and those who have a weak immune system. Bacterial pneumonia can cause symptoms such as: a high fever, sweating excessively, a productive (mucus-producing) cough, SOB (shortness of breath), chest discomfort and pain (a feeling of soreness when breathing), nausea with abdominal pain, muscular pain and a pronounced body weakness. A critical symptom of Bacterial pneumonia is cyanosis, which is a bluish coloring on the lips and fingernail beds, because of inadequate blood oxygenation. Also the person may cough up a greenish to brown-colored mucus. There may also be traces of blood in more advanced stages.

Walking pneumonia or Mycoplasma pneumonia can be hit anyone, as your health condition and age do not matter. This type of pneumonia is generally mild. It can produce symptoms of: a cough with mucus, some chest pain from excessive coughing, difficulty with your breathing, mild headache and fatigue. You may also experience a slight fever, the chills, nausea, abdominal discomfort and vomiting. Walking Pneumonia tends to develop slowly and you may not experience any of the symptoms until several weeks after becoming infected. Although this type of pneumonia is not really considered to be serious, it is strongly advised that you see your doctor if you experience any of the above symptoms.

Since Pneumonia is a very contagious illness and the infectious agents that cause the disease are transmitted through the air we all breathe, it is very easy to become infected simply through breathing. Given the fact that the respiratory system has its own natural defenses of nasal hairs, mucus and the cilia), some of the microorganisms are still able to penetrate into the lungs and cause both the inflammation and infection. Once the microorganisms are able to break through our natural body defenses, the fumes, irritants, viruses and bacteria are able to quickly spread inside the alveoli (tiny clusters of air sacs where the exchange of oxygen and carbon dioxide take place) and this can cause serious damage to the lungs, if untreated.

Pneumonia can strike anyone, since age is not a factor. It is a fact that elderly people and very young children are the most likely targets to developing pneumonia. You may also be very susceptible to developing pneumonia if you have a weak immune systems, suffer from chronic pulmonary obstructive diseases (COPD), other internal dysfunctions (liver, kidney problems), have had chemotherapy or have gone through a recent surgical procedures. 

Walking pneumonia used to be responsible for the deaths of thousands before antibiotics were discovered and the availability of the pneumonia vaccination. Most people who have walking pneumonia will confuse the symptoms with the flu (influenza) and if the wrong treatment is used, it can progress further.

Pneumonia can spread rapidly in schools, army barracks or any place where there are large numbers of people where they are relatively close together and the microorganisms can easily be transmitted through a simple cough or sneeze from an infected person. The first symptom can be a mild sore throat that worsens each day. Then a dry cough is noticed. You may experience a general state of fatigue all the time.

The real problem to be concerned with is that the initial symptoms of pneumonia can be the same as a cold or the flu. After developing the cough, a mild fever may also appear, followed by a runny nose, exactly as when you have a cold. The first major clue that indicates you do not have a simple cold is that the frequent or excessive coughing is not cured with the normal medications. This is because the bacteria that actually cause pneumonia respond only to antibiotics and can only be treated with antibiotics. Even though you may have taken cough medicine, it continues to get worse until you begin treatment with antibiotics.

Try and remember the symptoms and facts about pneumonia as it can save you a lot of time and trouble from confusing the signs of pneumonia with the flu, but if you do have the symptoms of pneumonia, you need to see your doctor as soon as possible and avoid the illness from becoming more serious. It is really no fun to cough so hard that it makes your chest hurt, or cough up nasty looking mucus or to have trouble breathing. Pneumonia is treatable with the correct medications.

What Are the Warning Signs of Pneumonia You Should Know

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White Spots on Your Throat - What Are They?

When you look in the mirror do you notice little white spots on the back of your throat?

If so, then you most likely are searching through books and websites trying to self diagnose these white spots, fearing the worst. It could be some sort of strep throat. It could be "thrush"- a yeast infection in your mouth. Or it could be tonsilloliths.

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Tonsilloliths or "tonsil stones" are little white or yellow balls of built up food, dead white blood cells and other particles in your mouth.

Ask yourself this: - Do you have a sore throat that accompanies the white spots on your throat? - Do you have trouble swallowing or does it feel like something is stuck on the back of your throat? - And, do you have really bad breath?

If you have answered Yes to any of the above, then those white spots on your throat are most likely tonsil stones. Tonsil stones occur in some people and not in others. Experts suggest that overactive salivary glands, an excess of oral bacteria, larger tonsils and bigger tonsil crypts, or crevices, all play a factor in tonsil stones.

Tonsil stones are not life threatening or even dangerous. They are just annoying as they can be irritable and also cause embarrassment. They have quite a strong unpleasant odour caused by the build-up of bacteria. Tonsil stones, similar to tarter, will continue to grow and harden with time. While some tonsil stones are only the size of a pea, others can grow as big as a marble.

Removing tonsil stones can be quite difficult. Some people simply sneeze or flex their throat and these white spots will remove themselves. Others have to use a toothbrush, a Q-tip or their finger to scrape at the tonsil stones. Others opt to have their tonsils surgically removed or lasered if the problem becomes too much.

If you are prone to these annoying white spots on your throat, then you need to ensure that you practice good oral hygiene. Adding baking soda to your toothpaste can also combat against the bad odour as well as chewing on mint, thyme or parsley leaves during the day.

And keep in mind that those yucky white spots on your throat as more common than you may think. You are not alone.

White Spots on Your Throat - What Are They?

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Vaginal Rash & Genital Warts Differences - Does Your Red, Itchy Sore Vagina Cause You Pain Also?

Is having a red rash in the vicinity of the genitals, or particularly the vagina a serious issue? In a manner of speaking, no, a vaginal rash is no different than having a rash on your face or on other body parts. Nevertheless depending on the cause of why the rash has developed could then determine seriousness. In saying this still not a time to worry till you have had your vaginal rash checked out by your doctor.

What is the difference between a vaginal rash or face rash? Simply answered, we find more women will go and seek medical advice for a facial rash before that of seeking treatment for a rash round their vagina. The primary reason why this is - is because they are embarrassed. Listen ladies the vagina is just another part of the body that a doctor will treat in great numbers on a daily basis. Your vagina is no different to any other woman`s that your GP will see. You will be doing yourself a favor to stop blushing and have yourself checked over.

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A vaginal rash can affect both women and men, not vaginal for the male, but genital. We are dealing with tender and delicate skin with this issue, so it is best to treat your rash in the way you would that of facial skin (tenderly) unless suggested otherwise by your GP. A vaginal rash that has developed is not usually diagnosed as a serious issue and is more times easily and quickly rid after using appropriate treatments.

If the rash has occurred through infection then this is different matter altogether, as it will need medical attention. Infections left untreated can turn nasty, and should it be a venereal disease, even nastier. Particular VDs can cause serious health complications, even death. If you're 100% sure that your vaginal rash has not erupted from allergic reaction or from profuse sweating, or genital skin rubbing caused by tight garments, then more the reason to talk to your GP. Vaginal infections come varied but the more types known to cause a vaginal rash are:

Yeast infections
Herpes
Genital warts
Trichomoniasis

We connect a vaginal rash more towards a yeast infection which comes about if fungus Candida is permitted to reproduce around the vagina.

Unfortunately the importance of wearing loose clothing round the genitals although pointed out on high scale as to be a major cause of vaginal rash is oft times ignored; women tend to still tighten their knickers round their crotch. Tight clothes smother the vagina, yes smother, the vagina and surrounding areas need space to breathe. When you sweat, tight cloth restricts it being absorbed to leave the genitals cool and dry, resulting in it doing the complete opposite and creates a warm moist site for yeast fungi to grow.

A regular time we see the vaginal rash happen is round the time of your periods. If you use tampons or sanitary towels and they are not removed or changed regular then a vaginal rash can occur. Your toilet habits may need changing too. Old habits die hard but where your health is concerned they need to be deadened pronto and new habits practiced. When you use the loo for bowel movement you need to clean from the vagina towards the anus. Clean thoroughly after weeing, not only because stale pee can be smelly but because the acidic effect in urine can cause irritation and skin rawness. This makes sense as you only have to think babies and nappy rash. Drying the genital area after washing is vitally important to prevent vaginal rash.

Rashes are common symptoms related to STDs (genital warts or herpes.) If you already have a rash round the vagina, try adding salt and vinegar to bath water. If you shower then do this using a basin and apply the solution by hand. Yeast infection is widely found in the armpits and between the toes as well as other body parts. Yeast fungus namely Candida can also infect the mouth, fingers, skin and throat. Candida albicans has been determined for the cause of vaginitis in some cases.

Symptoms of a yeast infection may include

burning
Stinging when weeing
sexual intercourse discomfort
vaginal odor (not unpleasant)
irritation
Vulva/vagina itchiness
Pain urinating
Redness and swelling

Home treatments for particular vaginal infections may include nonprescription vaginal creams or suppositories. Fluconazole (Diflucan) tablets are effective for vaginal yeast infections, however can only be got via prescription.

Genital herpes cannot be ruled out if you have vaginal rash. It is a viral infection caused by the herpes simplex virus (HSV). It is sexually transmitted and is recognized through blisters and sores. HSV even though treated stays dormant in the body for life. Genital herpes cannot be rid completely.

Genital warts another condition affecting both men and women. They are caused by various types of human papillomavirus. HPV commonly affects the cervix, vagina, vulva, and anus. In men the penis is affected, the scrotum and anus. Main symptoms of genital warts are lumps which appear pinkish/white in color, or they can be larger and shaped like a cauliflower. To help keep vaginal infections away there are many things you can do and one of those is to turn to yogurt, yes you heard right, yogurt.

1 Replace sugar with yogurt. Yogurt contains good bacteria called acidophilus. Sugar promotes the type of bacteria that the yogurt bacteria attempt to destroy.

2 Infections can come about from sweat and oil build up, and by just merely bathing regular and keeping vaginal hygiene at its best can prevent sweat and body oils causing you problems. Do not douche as it is too harsh of a cleansing process, Douching may well remove bad bacteria, but at the same time takes good bacteria too. Inflammation is drawn to douching (vaginitis). Use a clean cloth and unscented soap to wash the inside of your vagina.

3 Using condoms helps keep the vagina clean and also protects against unwanted pregnancy and sexually transmitted diseases.

4 Wear cotton garments around the genitals.

5 Remove tampons at the time of menstruation regular. Aside from smell leaving tampons or forgetting about them can cause toxic shock syndrome. Toxic shock syndrome symptoms include rapid high fever, faintness, and loose diarrhea, headache, and muscle pain, however not a common condition, but one that has to be taken very seriously if it were to occur.

6 Soap can cause vaginal dryness. Warm water is enough to stay clean and fresh.

Personal hygiene is a beneficial feature that the body needs to stay in a healthy condition. A vaginal rash can cause discomfort if clothing comes in close contact with the infected area because the skin is sore and tender, and in some cases of severe vaginal rash it can appear red and angry looking.

If you don't get your vaginal rash examined by a doctor, and make the decision to treat the problem yourself with over-the-counter medications or natural remedies, you should be aware that potential problems can happen from this. You need certainty of your health issue because while you may treating a yeast infection, in reality your vaginal rash may be as a result of something else, so therefore a correct diagnosis will keep you safe.

Vaginal Rash & Genital Warts Differences - Does Your Red, Itchy Sore Vagina Cause You Pain Also?

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