Month: August 2008

Guide To Back Pain Relief Products

Leave a comment

Warning: count(): Parameter must be an array or an object that implements Countable in /home/healthca/public_html/blog/wp-content/plugins/UltimateTagWarrior/ultimate-tag-warrior-core.php on line 1390

If you are one of the many people that suffer with back pain then you will know what little relief there is from this condition; finding a back pain relief remedy is probably important to you and whilst there isn’t a cure as yet, some treatments can help sufferers. Pain relief is possible with the medications available but that is all they do and the reason for the pain continues. Long term medication of pain killers is something that should be supervised as other problems can occur because of their continued use.

The back is under a constant strain throughout our lives and whilst it is very strong, it can be injured without to much difficulty; spinal injury is one of the most common conditions around the world and even sitting incorrectly can create a long term problem. It can also be caused if you are lifting heavy loads and usually characterized by a sharp pain to your lower back. Fortunately there area number of natural back pain relief remedies that can help without a reliance on prescription medication.

An easy, inexpensive method to treat pain and bring relief is stretching; it actually relaxes the back muscles which can become knotted and tight, causing discomfort. Reflexology, an ancient type of alternative medical treatment, uses the concept that areas of the body have corresponding regions on the feet that can benefit from massage; some people are now discovering its benefits as a back pain remedy. Another benefit to reflexology is how it can improve the circulation which helps to ease tense muscles.

Although acupuncture is an age old Chinese medical practice that has been used for thousands of years, it is only recently that the Western world has accepted it as an alternative form of back pain relief. Traditional Chinese medicine is based on the theory that all people have this energy which flows through them called ‘chi’ or ‘qi’. By using thin needles placed into the body at specific points, they can free this trapped (unhealthy) energy. There are large numbers of people that use acupuncture on a regular basis and claim it works well for them providing pain relief; especially those who have what is termed a chronic condition.

Relief can also come from another Chinese treatment like tai chi which is a form of yoga but not so strenuous. Tai Chi focuses on breathing techniques and is a great way to relax your back. Whilst it involves some stretching and breathing exercises it is not too strenuous which means that anyone, young or old can take part in Tai Chi. Regular exercise is also one of the best preventative medicines available and can help with back pain relief; it increases physical flexibility generally, but also of the spine, which can aid the prevention of future problems.


Tags:  

Are Weight Loss Drugs Safe?

Leave a comment

Obesity is fast becoming the number one health problem in developed and developing countries around the world; the problem has now extended to younger and younger children who are affected, with the fear they will grow into overweight adults. The two main methods that people currently employ to shed excess pounds are surgery which might be considered excessive by some, or exercising and eating more healthily. Of course if you are really in a hurry then you can always use weight loss medication to speed the process up.

The process is relatively simple as the drugs act upon the brain’s own chemical, serotonin, fooling the brain into believing it’s not hungry and at the same time increasing the body’s metabolism. It was only after scientists discovered that these drugs had side effects and were related to heart valve disease that they were taken off the shelves. Newer drugs were developed and started to be prescribed by physicians and dieticians, some of these drugs are currently waiting for the Federal Drug Administration go ahead.

Most people have known friends or family members who have tried using diet pills and have seen tremendous improvement. To many it is a wonder drug and let’s be honest, if you could lose weight that easily without having to sacrifice anything in the process, you would take them as well. Many millions of dollars are spent each year in The United States alone whilst the drug manufacturers spend huge sums on further research into weight loss drugs.

Even with all the testing and new techniques available for manufacturers, many side effects like nausea and diarrhea still exist with the new generation of weight control pills which, incidentally, can still be purchased over the counter. Surprisingly more dangerous side effects exist including stroke, heart attack, renal failure to name only a few, so these drugs are still far from safe to use.

The side effects will depend on the person taking the medicine and can be related to their lifestyle; a consultation with the doctor first, rather than buying them over the counter, can help to reduce side effects; stopping using the drugs completely may not eradicate all the problems they may have caused. Problems like depression, nausea, bad mood swings, nightmares, insomnia for example have all been reported when a person has stopped taking the weight control pills.

Many clinical tests will show that the weight loss drugs taken to reduce weight really work but this can only be done in conjunction with a low calorie diet and an exercise plan. A diet that is full of foods such as oats, rice, cereals, potatoes, vegetables and fruits contain a good supply of vitamins, minerals and essential fiber.

Of course this should always be combined with a good exercise routine which will use up excess calories and provide a good all round fitness workout. The best exercise plans should have cardiovascular and weight training exercises as this helps burn calories and increase the muscle to fat ratio that will increase a person’s metabolism and assist with weight loss.


Tags:  

Stem Cells And Spinal Injuries

Leave a comment

An accident caused an individual to not be able to move throughout his life. This was the news that was given to the person who had gone through an accident and that person was living a very happy life having a wonderful family but now every dream of that person was broken into pieces and that the only thing that he is able to see now is that he is going to live the life of a crippled person and his every single dream is going to go down the drain. What can someone give to that person to comfort? What is the motivation level of that person to live? What are the feelings that he is going through every single day? Those of you who can feel that can feel but honestly speaking it is that person who is going through all that. He is the one who is suffering so no one can understand the agony and pain better than him. For example if I burn your finger with a match stick, it is you who is going to feel the burn and not me. If we just talk with these people who are going through this pain and ask them about their feelings, they might ask as to whether they have any hope where they can get their life back or not.

Well there is hope and there is light in the times of darkness and something to look up to. The scientists have recently conducted experiments where they have been successfully able to regenerate the damaged spinal cord tissue in the mice. This is not a dream, this is a reality. This experiment has been conducted and it has been successful. The researchers said that this is just the beginning and that a lot of people can find their lives back and they can find a cure for their problem with the spinal injuries. The approach of the scientists is a little different in this experiment where they did not let the stem cells mature into the neural cells but the scientists have used the adult neural cells before they were transplanted into the spinal cord. These adult neural stem cells that were injected into the spinal cord of the mice who were suffering from spinal cord injuries then transformed into the oligodendrocyte cells. Once the cells transformed into the oligodendrocyte, they then were able to restore the myelin around the damaged axons of the nerve cells. Myelin is a substance, which acts as a biological insulation for the nerve fibers and are required as a must to provide insulation for the nerve cell. If for any reason the myelin is being stripped off of the nerves then this can result in the sensory as well as motor deficiencies and in certain cases can also result in paralysis.

The most amazing thing in this experiment was that these adult neural cells did not only transform into the oligodendrocyte and restoring the myelin around the nerves but they also differentiated into the new neurons that are responsible to make the new synaptic connections with the neurons of the mouse. The researchers were really amazed to see that the experiment that they have conducted was something that turned out into a big success. The researchers said that they were really happy when they saw that the cells that were damaged responded to this therapy and not only this they were able to make new cells that would definitely help restore the connections as well as assist in repair.

At the end of the experiment, the scientists found out that the mice who got human neural stem cells after the spinal cord injury showed a remarkable improvement in the walking ability as compared to the mice that received control transplant of human fibroblast cells or no treatment at all. The mice who got the controlled transplant were the ones who were able to walk but their walk was uncoordinated but the mice who got the human neural stem cells were able to walk in a coordinated way. The scientists said that the cells that were transplanted were able to survive for about four months and shown extremely positive results. The scientists have said that this is just the first step that they have taken in the direction where the people who are suffering from the spinal cord injuries are going to get their life back in which they will be able to walk back again.

So those people who are suffering from the spinal injuries must not lose their heart, there are people who are working on finding the remedy and have found the remedy but more advances are needed as well as more experiments to make these advancements work for humans so that they are able to get their dreams back and live a full and a happy life. So as a last word for all those people who are suffering, I would just say that do not lose hope and the life is not going to be as dark as you think it is going to be. Just feel alive and be strong, just know that things are going on in the direction where the remedy is being sought out and a little more work is needed to get promising results in humans.


Tags: