What Is Your Back Pain Trying to Tell You?

Pain is our body's way of telling us that something is wrong. In the case of back pain, the root cause may be obvious - you may have been involved in a car accident, or lifted a box that was too heavy. Though it may also seem like a mystery. Nevertheless, if you dig a little, the root cause of your back pain could also be sorted out. So if you're unsure about why you are in agony, one of these 7 possible causes may be it:

1. You're feeling stressed 

It should come as no surprise to learn that stress can cause tight muscles and knots in your neck and upper back. Anxiety may also cause you to have back spasms too. If you suspect that stress is causing you back pain, try to incorporate some relaxation techniques such as meditation and deep breathing into your routine. A weekly yoga class or an intensive stretch will help reduce lower back pain. 

2. You're hooked on technology  

Hunching over a phone or tablet for several hours a day can cause what has now been termed, 'text neck'. Having a slumped neck and rounded shoulders add an additional 60 pounds of weight on your spine, which can inadvertently change your posture and cause back pain. To prevent this from happening, try keeping your phone at eye level instead. 

 

3. You're not sitting properly 

Just as looking down at your smartphone can cause back problems, sitting down all day can wreak havoc on your spine too. Poor posture can cause lower back pain by increasing the amount of pressure or tension on the bones, joints, ligaments, and spinal discs. Improve your sitting posture by keeping your forearms parallel to the floor, your head in line with your torso, your feet flat on the floor or resting on a footrest, your back fully supported and thighs parallel to the floor. 

 

4. You have a muscle imbalance elsewhere in your body 

Everything in your body is interconnected. Your back pain may be stemming from tight hamstrings or weak abdominals. If other muscle groups are weak, it can cause the muscles of the back to do more work than they should to keep the spine upright or moving correctly. Try working with a physical therapist to identify and correct the specific imbalances that are over-taxing your back.

5. You have a bulging or ruptured disc 

The disks between your vertebrae help cushion the spine and act as shock-absorbers. Over time, however, they can flatten or rupture due to natural aging, certain movements, or a family history of disc disease. While it doesn't always cause pain, when it does, it can be hugely uncomfortable. If a bulging disc is the culprit, doctors often prescribe over-the-counter medicine, hot and cold packs, and physical therapy. 

 

6. Something more serious is going on  

Pancreatitis, ulcers, or even a kidney infection could cause pain that radiates to the back. It may also be a result of an infection, osteomyelitis - an infection of the spine. Most back pains tend to resolve on their own in six weeks - but if yours has gotten worse then be sure to see a physician, particularly if it is accompanied by fever, numbness in the rectal area, and loss of bowel or bladder control. 

 

7. You just had a baby 

Statistics show that almost 80% of new moms suffer from lower back pain as a result of the stress placed on the body during pregnancy. Another cause may also be due to the habits that result from caring for a young baby, such as holding a baby on one side of the body, or hunching while nursing - which can lead to muscle imbalance, affecting the natural curve of your spine. Are you a new mom? Try being aware of maintaining good posture by alternating muscle groups so you're not constantly rocking, swaying, or bouncing your baby on one side. 

 

 

 

This is only for your information, kindly take the advice of your doctor for medicines, exercises and so on.   

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Cancer-fighting drugs included in UN list of essential medicines

The UN health agency, WHO, has announced that dozens of new drugs have been added to the list of essential medicines that every country should have, including new cancer treatments that can be swallowed rather than injected.

More than 150 countries use the UN’s Essential Medicines List, which contains around 460 drugs deemed critical to treat public health needs. This latest update adds 28 products for adults and 23 for children, and specifies new uses for 26 already-listed products, based on value for money, evidence and health impact.

WHO said on Tuesday that the five cancer therapies added to the list are regarded as “the best in terms of survival rates” to treat melanoma, lung, blood and prostate cancers.

They include two recently developed immunotherapies - nivolumab and pembrolizumab - that have delivered up to 50 per cent survival rates for advanced melanoma, a skin cancer that, until recently, was incurable.

“The inclusion in this list of some of the newest and most advanced cancer drugs is a strong statement that everyone deserves access to these life-saving medicines, not just those who can afford them,” said WHO Director-General.

Other updates to the list include new oral anticoagulants to prevent stroke, as an alternative to warfarin treatment of deep vein thrombosis. These are “particularly advantageous” for low-income countries, according to WHO, because, unlike warfarin, they do not require regular monitoring.

In addition, the agency’s committee also advised that countries supply new products to treat chronic inflammatory conditions such as rheumatoid arthritis and inflammatory bowel diseases.

Life-threatening bleeding after childbirth was also addressed in this year’s Essential Medicines List update, with the proposal to use carbetocin rather than the currently used therapy, oxytocin.

“This new formulation has similar effects to oxytocin?but offers advantages for tropical countries as it does not require refrigeration,” WHO said in a statement.

UPDATES ON CRITICAL DIAGNOSES TOO

In a related development, the UN health agency also updated its Essential Diagnostics List, in recognition of the critical, life-saving importance of finding out what is wrong with patients before it is too late.

The first list, issued last year, concentrated on a limited number of priority diseases, such as HIV, malaria, tuberculosis, and hepatitis. This year’s list includes more non-communicable and communicable diseases. In all, WHO added 12 tests to the Essential Diagnostics List to detect a wide range of solid tumours such as colorectal, liver, cervical, prostate, breast and germ cell cancers, as well as leukemia and lymphomas.

The list focuses on additional infectious diseases prevalent in low- and middle-income countries such as cholera, and neglected diseases like leishmaniasis, schistosomiasis, dengue, and zika.

The list was also expanded to include additional general tests which address a range of different diseases and conditions, such as iron tests for anemia and tests to diagnose thyroid malfunction and sickle cell anaemia, which is very widely present in Sub-Saharan Africa.

THIS IS ONLY FOR INFORMATION, ALWAYS CONSULT YOU PHYSICIAN BEFORE HAVING ANY PARTICULAR FOOD/ MEDICATION/EXERCISE/OTHER REMEDIES.                                    PS- THOSE INTERESTED IN RECIPES ARE FREE TO  VIEW MY BLOG-                                                                                           https://gseasyrecipes.blogspot.com/                                                                                                                                                FOR INFO ABOUT KNEE REPLACEMENT, YOU CAN VIEW MY BLOG-                                                  https:// kneereplacement-stickclub.blogspot.com/                                                                      FOR CROCHET DESIGNS                                                                                                                                                                                     https://gscrochetdesigns.blogspot.com

Mothers ignore their health after delivery

While it is always advised that mothers need to take good care of themselves during and after pregnancy, a new survey has revealed that about one-fourth of mothers ignore their health post-delivery. About 40 per cent of them claimed that they felt anxious, overwhelmed or depressed.

"The fourth trimester can be difficult and overwhelming for women as their bodies go through physical and emotional changes, and this time deserves the same support and attention as the first three trimesters," said a Dr.

She added, "Seeing your doctor within a few weeks of delivery and sharing any concerns is critical to getting the care and treatment you need."

The survey also highlighted that women under the age of 45 were more likely to report anxiety or depression after birth (57 per cent) as compared to women above 45 (31 per cent).

More than third of women (37 per cent) were embarrassed about what their body went through post-delivery.

The findings also pointed out that nearly two-thirds of women (63%) said they were equally concerned with their health as they were with their baby's health.

But 26% of them did not have a good plan for their own health management after delivery, a number that jumps to 37% among 18- to 34-year-olds.

"Just talking through some of the things they're going through can help women realize that they're not alone and that what they're feeling is okay. Asking for help will ultimately make you a better mom," the Dr. advised.

One of the participants shared that she started feeling under-prepared and find it hard to breastfeed, "I thought everything would come more naturally, but it was so much harder than I expected. Women have been raising babies forever, and I felt selfish for feeling like I couldn't handle it."

"Whether it's just reading a book or taking a walk, it's so important to have that time. It was also really helpful to reach out and find other moms who were going through the same thing," she added.

The Dr. said, "There is no perfect mom out there, and taking some of that pressure off yourself will help you be the best mom you can be and help you better experience the many joys of motherhood.

THIS IS ONLY FOR INFORMATION, ALWAYS CONSULT YOU PHYSICIAN BEFORE HAVING ANY PARTICULAR FOOD/ MEDICATION/EXERCISE/OTHER REMEDIES.                                    PS- THOSE INTERESTED IN RECIPES ARE FREE TO  VIEW MY BLOG-                                                                                           https://gseasyrecipes.blogspot.com/    

                                                                                                                                                     FOR INFO ABOUT KNEE REPLACEMENT, YOU CAN VIEW MY BLOG-                                                  https:// kneereplacement-stickclub.blogspot.com/  

         

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Breast feeding may help prevent chronic C-section pain

Mothers who breastfeed their babies for more than two months after a Caesarean section delivery are three times less likely to experience persistent pain, a new study has found.

Researchers analysed about 185 mothers who underwent a C-section at the hospital.

Mothers were interviewed about breastfeeding patterns and the level of chronic pain at the surgical site in the first 24 and 72 hours after C-section, and again 4 months later.

Researchers also looked at the effect of other variables on chronic pain including surgical technique, pain in the first 24-72 hours, maternal education and occupation, and anxiety during breastfeeding.

Almost all (87 per cent) of the mothers in the study breastfed their babies, with over half (58 per cent) reporting breastfeeding for two months or longer, researchers said.

Findings showed that around 1 in 4 (23 per cent) of the mothers who breastfed for two months or less still experienced chronic pain in the surgical site four months post-op compared to just eight per cent of those who breastfed for two months or longer.

These differences were notable even after adjusting for the mother's age. Further analysis showed that mothers with a university education were much less likely to experience persistent pain compared to those who were less well educated.

Researchers also found that over half (54 per cent) of mothers who breastfed reported suffering from anxiety.

"These preliminary results suggest that breastfeeding for more than two months protects against chronic post-caesarean pain, with a three-fold increase in the risk of chronic pain if breastfeeding is only maintained for 2 months or less," researchers said.

"Our study provides another good reason to encourage women to breastfeed. It's possible that anxiety during breastfeeding could influence the likelihood of pain at the surgical site 4 months after the operation," they said.

 this is only for your information, kindly take the advice of your doctor for medicines, exercises and so on.   
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https://gseasyrecipes.blogspot.com. feel free to view for easy, simple and healthy recipes    
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Baby blues? Dear moms, postpartum depression is not your fault

What can possibly make a mother want to kill her baby? 
Postpartum depression, said the Mumbai High Court last week in a historic judgment that acquitted a 26-year-old new mother for attempting to kill her newborn twice, before abandoning him near a scrap heap. “She was incapable of realising the nature and consequences of her act… She did not know that it was wrong,” said the Mumbai High Court Bench while accepting her counsel’s insanity plea.

Postpartum disorders can take the form of blues, depression and psychosis, with the symptoms usually beginning the first few weeks after giving birth. A few may develop it later, sometimes even six months after birth, and are completely out of the mother’s control.
The mood changes happen because of the sudden drop in the female sex hormones estrogen and progesterone, and the thyroid hormones T3 (triiodothyronine) and T4 (thyroxine) immediately after birth. Add to that looking after a baby while juggling chores and you have mothers feeling lost and out of their depth.

Depression after childbirth, referred to as postpartum depression, is far more common in India than popularly believed. Worldwide, around one in 10 women get depressed immediately after giving birth, but the numbers of new mothers affected in India ranges between 15.3% and 23%, estimates the National Mental Health Survey 2015. Of them, around 16% – one in six new moms – continue to have symptoms six months after delivery.

The symptoms, which may last from a few days to a week, include mood swings, tiredness, sadness, crying irritability, feeling overwhelmed, anxiety, and changes in appetite and sleep patterns – women begin eating and sleeping too much or too little. If the symptoms last for more than a couple of weeks or are overwhelming enough to make them withdraw socially, affect their ability to care for themselves or the baby, or take their anger out on the baby, they need social and medical support.

The signs of postpartum psychosis – a very rare condition that usually develops within the first week after delivery – are even more severe and include paranoia, confusion and disorientation, hallucinations and delusions, and attempts to harm the self or the baby. Since it can quickly trigger dangerous thoughts and behaviour, treatment is a must.

What keeps most women from seeking help is often the embarrassment and shame they feel about not being good mothers. The pressure to be the perfect mother is immense, so many new moms hesitate to recognise or acknowledge that they are not, so it’s imperative for the family to closely look for signs of depression.

Depression in parents can also have a ripple effect, causing emotional strain for everyone close to a new baby. Parental depression, however mild, during the first years of parenting also raises the toddler’s chances of developing troubling behaviours, such as hitting, lying, anxiety and depression during the most critical time of a child’s development, reported a study in the journal, Couple and Family Psychology. Children of mothers with untreated postpartum depression also more likely to have sleeping and eating difficulties, excessive crying, ADHD (attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder), and delays in language development.

The study shows new dads also get depressed after childbirth, with a man’s risk of depression after the birth of a child being greater than at any other time in his life. This study found that dad’s moods also influence his child’s behaviour during toddler years. In fact, parental depression affected a child’s mood and behaviour far more than parents fighting.

Children get affected because depression changes how people express emotions and interact with others. Depressed parents make less eye contact with their child and don’t smile as much as other parents. The more disengaged parents are in their child’s formative years, the more trouble the child will have in forming close attachments and developing social skills.

Apart from the obvious risk of recently giving birth, what raises risk are a personal or family history of depression or mood stability disorders, postpartum depression after a previous pregnancy, stressful events such as pregnancy complications, illness or job loss, if the baby has health problems or other special needs, marital or family conflict, poor family, social financial support, unplanned or unwanted pregnancy.

What mothers need to know is that if you’re not as happy as you are expected to be after having baby, it’s not your fault or the baby’s. It’s a biological change, much like high blood sugar, that can be easily treated with counseling and medicine.

 this is only for your information, kindly take the advice of your doctor for medicines, exercises and so on.  
 https://gscrochetdesigns.blogspot.com. one can see my crochet creations  
  htps://gseasyrecipes.blogspot.com. feel free to view for easy, simple and healthy recipes  
 https://kneereplacement-stickclub.blogspot.com. for info on knee replacement