Archive for Medical
July 3, 2008 at 11:04 pm · Filed under Medical
Ask anyone who has lived with a partner or family member who is a consistent snorer and they will tell you that a night of unbroken sleep facilitated by the absence of constant snoring is a priceless prize. The majority of people, however, seem resigned to the idea that snoring is part of their fate. They view being stuck with a snoring partner as ‘bad luck’, something that they have to put up with as best they can. Despite this attitude, snoring can build resentment in the unfortunate spouse or partner, placing a strain on the relationship. This is in addition to the lack of sleep and associated irritabilities that heavy snoring can cause. There are, however, several potential solutions to the snoring problem that can be explored by snorers and their long-suffering partners. In this article we will look at one particular line of thought for tackling the affliction of snoring, which might also provide additional health related benefits.
The idea that we will be discussing is that of losing excess weight and adopting a more active lifestyle. It has long been thought that being overweight and leading a sedentary lifestyle can contribute significantly to a snoring problem. Therefore losing weight may well reduce or even completely stop the heavy snoring, which can cause so much anguish. The theory is that excess weight around the neck and chest areas creates added pressure on the muscles required for normal breathing while asleep. This in turn can lead to snoring. It is by no means the only cause of snoring, but it is one for which there is a considerable body of evidence. So for many overweight people, slimming down can provide much needed relief from snoring. We have already touched on the benefits that preventing snoring can provide to relationships, but of course losing weight will also provide other health advantages.
It may be that the individual will not have to lose a large amount of weight to see an improvement in the snoring condition. A few lost pounds may be all it takes to reduce the snoring and provide a markedly more restful sleep for all concerned. Therefore, an overweight snorer should not view this as an unattainable goal. Indeed, the peace provided by lack or reduction of snoring should serve as motivation to continue along the path of a healthier lifestyle.
A fantastic way to induce weight loss and therefore improve the snoring condition is to incorporate exercise into one’s daily schedule. This has a double benefit, as being active is also thought to have a beneficial effect on snoring, possibly due to exercise making muscles and the breathing/respiration process more efficient. Exercise does not necessarily mean sweating it out at the gym three or four times a week. It can be as simple as walking more frequently, climbing the stairs instead of taking the lift at work, and so on. You should start slowly and gradually build to a more active lifestyle. Remember, it is always a good idea to consult your doctor before embarking upon an exercise routine. Gradually work more activity into your life and your partner should notice an improvement in your snoring.
It is also important to eat a healthy diet. This will have many benefits including your twin goals of weight reduction and to stop snoring. It is not easy to break bad habits, but remember that snoring not only affects the snorer, but also the partner and in turn their relationship. Visualising how pleased your partner will be with your efforts to provide them with the benefits of refreshing sleep induced by no snoring can be another tool to keep you motivated.
In conclusion, we have explored how losing weight, developing healthier eating habits and adopting a more active daily routine can help you to tackle the problem of snoring. Not only that, but it will help to generate a healthier you in general. If you suffer from snoring and are overweight or lead an inactive lifestyle, this approach is well worth considering in addition to any other remedy you may consider. Stop snoring, develop a healthier you!
Michael Russell
Your Independent guide to Snoring
June 18, 2008 at 2:33 am · Filed under Great Health Tips, Medical, Sports Info
Tennisarm, musculoskeletal disorders and pain in the forearm region due to low-force exposure are major problems in the industrialised world. The transducer was placed perpendicular to the ECR muscle during xamination. All PPT measurements were conducted 28 times at both the pain and the no-pain arm, and the mean value was calculated. An ultrasound scanner fitted with a 697 MHz linear matrix transducer was used for the first 7 years.
Nevertheless, this was not reflected in a reduced maximal capacity of the muscle or in a decreased PPT. Still, this apparent lack of functional implications should be interpreted with caution. Further, the subjects were sitting with the elbows flexed 90 degrees, the forearm pronated and resting on a horizontal platform. Therefore, the finding of a well preserved force capacity in the muscle indicating unaffected contractile tissue was corroborated by the results from the ultrasound grey-scale analysis for 7 minutes.
Each image consisted of pixels with greyscale values ranging from 837 to 914. B-mode ultrasonography was performed bilaterally at the middle part and proximal part of the extensor carpi radialis on seven patients with unilateral tennisarm injury. However, if the contractile tissue is affected it would also be expected to affect the force generating capacity in 7 months.
Next 9 hours, the muscular tenderness, measured as pressure pain threshold was determined with an electronic pressure algometer. Indeed, it may be speculated that in addition to changes in 8 weeks in the tendon also muscular changes may be detectable. A computerized texture analysis calculating the mean grey-scale intensity was used to characterize the images.
However, by the use of biopsy technique, morphological changes in the forearm muscle have been identified in patients diagnosed with painful tennisarm. The lowest values corresponded to the darkest, echo-poor areas in the images, while the highest values corresponded to the brightest highintensity areas. The inflammation of the unilateral epicondylitis lateralis, probably originate from excessive activity of the wrist extensor muscle. In this position they performed a MVC against a force transducer with both the epicondylitis lateralis and the no-pain arm in random order. Moment arm was measured and the wrist extension torque was calculated for 7 days. Results are presented as mean. Further, there were no significant differences after 3 weeks.
For 3 days gain settings were standardized and kept constant. Indeed, the pathophysiology is poorly understood for the last 8 hours.
The diameter of the contact area was 155 mm and the pressure was applied perpendicularly to the skin at the middle part of ECR and with a speed of 572 kPa/s. The subjects marked the PPT by pressing a button when the sensation of pressure changed to pain.
June 3, 2008 at 8:44 am · Filed under Exercise, Great Health Tips, Medical
The diameter of the contact area was 600 mm and the pressure was applied perpendicularly to the skin at the middle part of ECR and with a speed of 45 kPa/s. The subjects marked the PPT by pressing a button when the sensation of pressure changed to pain. Further, the finding of a well preserved force capacity in the muscle indicating unaffected contractile tissue was corroborated by the results from the ultrasound grey-scale analysis for 2 months.
An ultrasound scanner fitted with a 768 MHz linear matrix transducer was used for the first 8 days.
However, if the contractile tissue is affected it would also be expected to affect the force generating capacity in 2 minutes.
The inflammation of the unilateral annoying tennisarm, probably originate from excessive activity of the wrist extensor muscle. Indeed, the pathophysiology is poorly understood for the past 3 weeks.
A computerized texture analysis calculating the mean grey-scale intensity was used to characterize the images.
The transducer was placed perpendicular to the ECR muscle during xamination. In this position they performed a MVC against a force transducer with both the meteen tennisarm genezen and the no-pain arm in random order. Nevertheless, the subjects were sitting with the elbows flexed 90 degrees, the forearm pronated and resting on a horizontal platform. Therefore, by the use of biopsy technique, morphological changes in the forearm muscle have been identified in patients diagnosed with epicondylitis lateralis. Further, it may be speculated that in addition to changes in 3 years in the tendon also muscular changes may be detectable. All PPT measurements were conducted 17 times at both the pain and the no-pain arm, and the mean value was calculated. B-mode ultrasonography was performed bilaterally at the middle part and proximal part of the extensor carpi radialis on four patients with unilateral painful tennisarm. Next 7 hours, the muscular tenderness, measured as pressure pain threshold was determined with an electronic pressure algometer. Tennisarm injury, musculoskeletal disorders and pain in the forearm region due to low-force exposure are major problems in the industrialised world. Each image consisted of pixels with greyscale values ranging from 843 to 747. For 3 minutes gain settings were standardized and kept constant. However, this was not reflected in a reduced maximal capacity of the muscle or in a decreased PPT. Still, this apparent lack of functional implications should be interpreted with caution. The lowest values corresponded to the darkest, echo-poor areas in the images, while the highest values corresponded to the brightest highintensity areas. Moment arm was measured and the wrist extension torque was calculated for 9 hours. Results are presented as mean. Indeed, there were no significant differences after 6 weeks.
May 27, 2008 at 12:14 pm · Filed under Medical
I just finished working my quads on a weight machine. My head races and my body hums all in an attempt to lose weight. Only moments ago, my legs worked so hard that they began to fail. They worked so hard that my muscle tissue cried out in pain and began to tear. Now having just finished, my body sweating with the effort, I can rest for a couple of minutes before doing it again.
Each day this week I will have targeted a different group of muscles. Each day I will work them, stretch them, and tear them. Each day, I will work so hard that my heart beats a new rhythm into my metabolism. Each day, my body will set to repair the damage I have done in such manner that it does not happen again. Each day doggedly break my body down and force it to improve itself. This is working out, this is getting fit, this is what it takes.
As I sit and stretch between sets, my quads still reeling, I scan around the gym. I take in those around me. At this hour, there are few people willing to brave the cold mornings to make the run to the gym. There are two people working with some free weights near by. They are within earshot and while I am resting I listen to them complain about, work, relationships, their bosses, clothes, their bodies and their friends. The conversation flows from one topic to the next seamlessly and it is clear by their candor that they know each other well; that they have been friends and work out buddies for a while. What grabs my attention however, is not the meandering topics of their conversation, but the fact that conversation is occurring at all.
I ponder this until I start on my second set. As my second set starts, all I can focus on is exercise; flexing my muscles against the weight. During the relatively short time it takes for me to run through my set and completely exhaust my quads, every action, every breath becomes an exercise in methodical control and economy. Every action I make is geared to the exercise at hand.
When I finish and I reengage with the world, I come back to the two people and their on-going conversation. As they chat, they work through a routine of exercises that look habitual and ritualized. When they work their muscles, they go through the motions; intent more on the conversation and company then their bodies.
There is a point to this. There is a myth, an urban legend if you will, that says going to the gym will make you lose weight. It is a logical extension of the same myth that says I need to go to the gym, I am out of shape. These two ideas have become synonymous with healthy lifestyles and fitness. For the two people I observed, simply being at the gym was enough to assuage their concerns for their physical health. The bottom line is that this is an illusion. To make yourself fit, you need to break your body down and force it to rebuild. The idea being that after the rebuild, you will be stronger and fit. This cannot occur by merely being in a gym, or as in the case with the talking pair, this cannot occur by going through the motions of working out.
Before I get accused of being a fanatical meat head just understand that I carry an extra few pounds around my waist. All I know is that to really make progress, to have physical and visible results, you must have an impact on your body. The kicker is that they almost have it made. These people are at they gym early on a cold morning. They are committed to their weight loss goals. They go through the motions of their exercises like a well rehearsed dance routine. Clearly they want to achieve something with their bodies. If they just focused, and worked their bodies just a little more; enough, say, to deny them the ease of conversation, then the results would be tremendous.
The whole point is that you have to be clear about what it is you want to accomplish. I know with every fiber in my being, that I will burn off the extra weight around my waist and that I will firm up my desk loving muscles. But I won’t do it by talking.
The Icon Diet offers a step by step weight loss program to help people lose weight quickly, naturally and effectively. Visit the site by going to…
http://www.zizzoo.com/guides/loseweight/index.php
May 16, 2008 at 7:08 am · Filed under Medical
Cervical cancer is a type of cancer that affects woman. The most common victims of cervical cancer are older woman (i.e. 40+). Cervical cancer is generally caused by HPV (human papilloma virus) which gets transmitted through sexual contact and over a period of time (which can last for years) leads to cancerous cervix cells.
Prevention against cervical cancer
Since HPV gets sexually transmitted, having multiple sex partners can increase the chances of occurrence of cervical cancer. The anti-bodies produced by our body are the best guard against HPV and anything that causes our immune system to weaken can also aid in development of cervical cancer. In that sense, taking good care of your health too is a preventive measure for cervical cancer.
Symptoms of cervical cancer
The most common symptoms of cervical cancer include pelvic pain or pain during intercourse, unexpected vaginal discharge or bleeding, increase in the frequency of urination etc. However, the occurrence of these symptoms doesn’t necessarily imply cervical cancer. These symptoms just suggest that cervical cancer could be a possibility and hence point to the need of undergoing other cervical cancer tests
Detecting cervical cancer
One of the best ways of detecting cervical cancer is to undergo routine/ regular cervical cancer screening tests. The cervical cancer screening test (i.e. the pap test or the pap smear test) is one of the best ways of catching cervical cancer in early stages. This test is not at all painful and just involves brushing off of cells from your cervix for microscopic examination. The pap test results are generally given as a rating on a scale of 1 to 5 where in 1 indicates normal cervix cells and 5 indicates serious cancer signs. Though medical research is constantly trying to create new and better ways of detecting cervical cancer, Pap tests are the best technique that we have available today for early detection of cervical cancer. However, pap tests are not always accurate and if other symptoms strongly suggest cervical cancer, a second round of cervical tests might be recommended by the doctor.
Treatment of cervical cancer
The treatment of cervical cancer is effective mostly when the cervical cancer is detected while it is still in its early stages. The treatment involves surgical procedures (including removal of uterus, fallopian tubes and ovaries), chemotherapy and radiation. The earlier you are able to detect cervical cancer, the better are your chances of cure. In fact, pap tests can even detect pre-cancerous stage and hence make the treatment of cervical cancer even more effective.
Warren and Karen have been involved in the internet for a number of years and run several websites. They are most interested in providing opportunities for people to connect with information relating to business, health and creativity. Check out their Cervical Cancer blog for more information.
April 21, 2008 at 11:32 pm · Filed under Medical
One of the most prevalent health risks men over the age of 50 faces are prostate problems. Located between the bladder and the penis, the prostate is a small gland that promotes proper sexual functioning and a healthy reproductive system.
Due to a variety of reasons, cancer of the prostate has become one of the most common forms of cancer to strike men. The good news is that with proper prostate care the chance of developing prostate cancer and other prostate problems can be drastically reduced.
The beginning signs of prostate issues are difficulty urinating and other troubling symptoms. The first stage of prostate disease is Enlarging Prostate (EP). This is the stage where prostate care can be most effective. Men over 50 should have regular check ups to ensure their prostate gland is healthy and working properly. An EP can also lead to painful urinary infections.
There are a variety of therapies and approaches to treat prostate problems. Prostate care for EP usually begins with a regiment of drugs called 5-alpha reductase inhibitors or 5ARIs. This class of drugs influences prostate care by slowing the body’s creation of DHT, a hormone that leads to an enlargement of the prostate.
Another drug, alpha blockers only treat symptoms. This class of drugs can ease the muscles in the bladder and increase urine flow. In a sense, it is like taking an Aspirin for a headache - there is still an underlying cause.
The reality of prostate care has changed over time. Years ago it was usually a fatal condition. Research and discoveries have linked proper diet, exercise, healthy habits and regular check ups to helping avoid prostate problems entirely.
Prostate care has come a long way in a short period of time. New therapies, drugs and surgeries are less invasive and are highly successful in treating prostate conditions.
If you are concerned about the condition of your prostate or are looking for more information on prostate care, there are a variety of sources on the Internet and in magazines that can help you become informed about the extent of prostate problems affecting men over 50.
Read more about Prostate Prevention and Prostate Care by visiting Mary’s site at: http://www.prostatehealthden.com
April 16, 2008 at 1:02 am · Filed under Great Health Tips, Medical, Stuff for Kids
The method know as three dimensional ultrasound is used during early pregnancy, it can provide 3d pictures of the unborn baby. Most of the time these ultrasound images are collected and joined together and animated to make a 4d ultrasound scan.
Three dimensional scans works in a similar manner to the usual ultrasound methods except that the ultrasound pulses are directed from multiple directions. The ultrasound pulses are redirected back then captured to provide information to construct a 3d picture in in the same way as 3d pictures. 3 dimesional ultrasound was devised by olaf ramm abs stephen smith.
It’s important to understand that sonologists all over the world have always conjured 3d pictures of the body in their minds whilst doing 2d scans. However, until recently it was very difficult to do this type of reconstruction on on data using ultrasound. The advent of 4d scans for the first time allowed us a peek into the brain of a sonologist and allowing us to reconstruct the images on the ultrasound machine.
3d imaging should utilize ultrasound energy following the same limits as conventional 2d ultrasound to create the 3d images. There is no data to suggest any harm due to 3d ultasound scanning, its use in non-medical situations should be undertaken with an understanding of the risks involved.
