Shoulder Weakness And Stiffness: Early Signs Of Rotator Cuff Damage

 

On National Sports Day, as we celebrate the spirit of athletes and sports, it is equally important to highlight conditions that can limit the ability to stay active. Among athletes and fitness enthusiasts, shoulder pain and stiffness are often early signs of rotator cuff injuries, one of the most common causes of impaired mobility. The rotator cuff, a group of muscles and tendons, helps stabilize the shoulder joint and enables free movement. Damage here can affect not only sports performance but also daily activities. Dr. Gaurav Gupta, shares all you need to know:

Causes of Rotator Cuff Injuries in Athletes

*Overhead Sports: Repetitive overhead movements in tennis, swimming, volleyball, or cricket can strain and tear the tendons.

• High-Impact Trauma: Falls, tackles, or collisions in contact sports may lead to acute tears.

• Over-training & Poor Technique: Intense training without adequate rest or improper form during workouts increases the risk of shoulder injuries.

Early Symptoms of Rotator Cuff Damage

• Persistent Pain and Weakness: Pain during throwing, lifting, or weight training is an early warning sign. Weakness often follows, reducing power and endurance.

• Stiffness and Reduced Mobility: Difficulty rotating the shoulder or raising the arm overhead limits performance in sports like swimming, tennis, cricket, or basketball.

• Disturbed Sleep: Athletes often report shoulder discomfort at night, especially when lying on the affected side, which hinders recovery.

Types of Rotator Cuff Tears

• Partial Tear: Tendon damage without full detachment, often seen in early-stage sports injuries

• Complete Tear: Full separation of the tendon from the bone, resulting in significant weakness and reduced performance

• Massive Tear: Multiple tendons involved, severely restricting shoulder function if not treated promptly.

Treating the tear

• Non-invasive treatment: Physical therapy, medication, R.I.C.E therapy (Rest, Ice, Compression and Elevation), lifestyle changes such as certain exercises may be recommended as a first step to provide pain relief, reduce swelling and restore shoulder movement.

• Arthroscopic surgery: If non-surgical treatment does not bring relief, a minimally invasive surgical procedure could be suggested. During an arthroscopic shoulder surgery, the joint is accessed through 2-3 small incisions to insert a tiny camera and specialized surgical instruments to repair or treat the tear using either titanium or bioabsorbable anchors. The camera allows surgeon to see your joint and injury in real-time on a video monitor. This technique supports faster recovery and less pain due to its minimally invasive nature.

Post-surgery recovery regime includes immobilizing the joint with an arm sling for a few weeks, based on your condition, to aid healing followed by physiotherapy to help regain full range of motion.

 

 

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

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Do Women React To Stress Differently Than Men?

It certainly feels terrible to be stressed, but the effects of this terrible malady on the body are so much more than just unpleasant. The physiological effects of stress on the human body range from hair loss to serious health conditions like hypertension and depression, no wonder psychologists and doctors alike take it so seriously. 

 

But you probably knew all that already. What you might have not known, however, is that stress manifests itself differently in men and women. In this article, we will focus on the symptoms of stress in women, and then we will discuss how to treat it without going to therapy or taking antidepressants. 

 

How Is Stress Different In Women? 

We know that stress is our body’s reaction to danger, both immediate and chronic. A 2000 study revealed that women and men may have a different reaction and sensitivity to stress. 

 

While men usually react to stress by the “fight or flight” response, women tend to do the opposite: instead of fleeing from the dangerous situation, they try to react to the dangerous situation by forming bonds with other people, which got the nickname “tend or befriend” response. 

 

This difference in sexes is suggested to be an evolutionary development, as in the distant past, women were the primary caregivers and had to provide for their children first, whereas men were the hunters who usually had to react fast in a dangerous situation. 

 

Whether or not this theory is true, we know that, on average, women are more stressed than men, which suggests that they are more susceptible to the adverse effects of stress.

These adverse effects are both physiological and mental, and can be categorized into the following 7 categories: 

 

1. Stomach Issues

Many women report that they either lose appetite or start eating more (usually junk and comfort foods) when they’re stressed. This may change, too: one situation can upset your stomach, whereas another can make you eat more.

Irrespective of the changes in diet, the most common stomach issues caused by stress are:

Bloating

cramps 

Heartburn

Changes in weight

 

A 2017 study in the journal Frontiers in System Neuroscience even suggested that stress can cause irritable bowel syndrome (IBS).

2. Heart problems

Chronic stress raises the amount of adrenaline and cortisol in blood, both of which are hormones associated with hypertension. This can have a negative effect on the cardiovascular system and may contribute to stroke and heart attack.

Also, some studies associate stress with changes in blood clotting, which also increases the risk of a heart attack.

3. Skin reactions

Your skin, hair and nails are especially sensitive to stress. This is likely because of the hormonal changes due to stress, and every woman who ever had a hormonal breakout knows very well what hormones can do to the skin. The most-common skin reactions include: 

 

Acne 

Rosacea and psoriasis flare-ups 

Hives or rash

Hair loss 

Brittle nails 

 

Luckily, the symptoms of these conditions tend to subside when the stressful period is over, but do take into account that you will have to take better care of your skin and use gentle and non-irritating skin care products when you know you're stressed.

4. Disrupted Sleep

Consistently high levels of cortisol in the blood, a signature feature of chronic stress, affect the so-called HPA loop, which is a relationship between the hypothalamus, the pituitary gland, and the adrenal gland. 

 

Unfortunately, the same loop controls our sleep cycles, so when you're stressed and the HPA loop is too active, you often feel tired, yet unable to fall asleep. Furthermore, even the quality of sleep decreases as the transition between the various sleep cycles is disrupted. 

 

5. Emotional Disturbances 

Chronic stress can cause a variety of emotional disturbances and even mental illness: 

 

Anxiety 

Depression 

Irritability 

Mood swings 

Compulsive behavior (such as addiction). 

 

As alarming as it may sound, there is even a study that showed that higher levels of anger are commonly linked to both mental stress and even the likelihood of a stress-related heart attack. stress in women depression

6. Difficulty Concentrating and Memory Issues  

Researchers found that certain hormones secreted after a stressful event can potentially impair memory and concentration. Also, an animal study found that stressed rats had more memory issues than the non-stressed control group. 

 

The same is suggested to occur in humans, as many patients report that they have difficulties focusing or remembering important information when they're stressed. 

 

7. Lowered Immunity  

The American Psychological Association suggests that stressful events and negative emotional experiences can take a toll on your immune system, which can make you more susceptible to a cold, but also to any other infectious disease. 

 

They conclude that managing stress is crucial for you to regain your ability to fight off germs. The next section is exactly about that, the most basic lifestyle change you can make to be less stressed. B

How To Deal With Stress 

 

Therapy and medications can certainly get you through a stressful period in your life, but the following changes in lifestyle can also significantly improve your stress symptoms: 

 

1. Improve your diet 

When you’re stressed out and you have no time to do anything, you’re more likely to settle for a snack or junk food instead of a healthy and nutritious meal. 

 

You have to resist this urge and try to improve your diet, include more leafy greens and colorful vegetables in your diet, as in the past years there is more and more scientific evidence suggesting that a healthy diet can help you fight anxiety and depression, and, certainly, stress.

2. Make time for exercise  

When you exercise and spend more time outdoors, your brain releases chemicals associated with happiness and wellbeing, such as the neurochemical oxytocin, the levels of which drop dramatically during stressful periods in your life. 

 

So, lift your mood while you’re getting in shape by normalizing your oxytocin levels. 

 

3. Find fun ways to relax 

Women often seek connection and meaning in life when they feel stressed, and what your gut tells you is exactly what you should do, in this case. 

 

Distracting yourself by doing activities that require a lot of concentration is another effective method of fighting off stress, as reported in the journal Frontiers in Psychiatry in 2017. 

 

So, find or rediscover your old hobby, participate in engaging conversations with family and friends and just do something meaningful.

4. Hugs

 Let’s end our list of recommendations on a happy note and with a non-trivial tip. It turns out that hugs, especially long hugs lasting up to 20 seconds, may have the same effect on your brain as a morning jog, as reported in a 2018 study. Like exercise, hugs raise the levels of oxytocin in blood, which may just be enough to compensate for that stressful day at work.

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

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What Does It Mean When You Talk in Your Sleep?

If you’ve ever heard your partner blurt out strange bits of gibberish in the middle of the night, you probably know it can be equal parts jarring and hilarious. In some cases, talking in your sleep just seems like harmless chatter, but it can also be a little disconcerting if your bed partner starts loudly screeching “Why are you doing this to me?” in a high-pitched voice (trust us, it’s terrifying).

While experts and researchers have several theories as to why this happens, Abhinav Singh, M.D., medical director at Indiana Sleep Center and member of the medical review panel for SleepFoundation.org, tells SELF that the most simplified explanation for sleep talking is that your sleep/wake switches aren’t working as efficiently and may be a little sloppy.

Sleep talking occurs in all sleep states and stages, including rapid eye movement (REM) and non-REM sleep, with episodes ranging from isolated speech to full conversations without recall. This means you could be chatting it up at any time, according to a 2014 review published in the Canadian Medical Association Journal.

That said, sleep talking is typically easier to understand when someone is in the early stages of sleep, including non-REM stages 1 and 2. In later parts of the sleep cycle, or non-REM stage 3 and REM sleep, sleep talking usually sounds more like moaning and groaning, according to SleepFoundation.org.

Although it’s generally harmless, and often a bit humorous, what freaks people out the most about sleep talking is that they typically don’t remember doing it when they wake up. Plus, the voices and language a person uses while sleep talking might be different from their typical speech habits.

All of this might lead you to search online for answers as to why you’re carrying on conversations or blurting out random thoughts in the middle of the night. So, keep reading to learn what causes sleep talking, how common it is, and tips for getting a better night’s sleep.

What is sleep talking?

Sleep talking, also known as “somniloquy” by sleep experts, can involve complete gibberish and mumbling or complicated monologues that contextually make sense. According to the Cleveland Clinic, somniloquy falls under a group of sleep disorders called parasomnias, which are unusual or undesirable experiences that disrupt your sleep.

At one time, it was considered a disorder, but sleep talking is now seen as more of a sleep quirk, which sometimes can be associated with sleep disturbances, psychiatrist and sleep specialist Alex Dimitriu, M.D., founder of Menlo Park Psychiatry & Sleep Medicine, tells SELF. In fact, Dr. Dimitriu says talking in your sleep is most often harmless and happens once or twice in a person’s life.

So, what are some of these unusual or undesirable talking events? Well, if you’re wondering how weird things can get, ask anyone who shares a bed with someone who rattles off gibberish or has entire conversations while sleeping. They’ll most likely tell you it can get pretty bizarre. But don’t take our word for it.

How common is sleep talking?

Anyone can experience sleep talking, but it’s more common in children, with about half of young kids chatting it up while sleeping, according to the American Academy of Sleep Medicine (AASM).² An older study published in Sleep Medicine,³ found that up to two in three people experience a sleep talking episode at some point in their life. However, the ongoing prevalence of sleep talking in adults is only around 5%, per the AASM.

Why do people talk in their sleep?

We’ve established that idle chit chat while sleeping is perfectly normal and actually quite common, but why do some people talk in their sleep and others don’t? Here are some factors to consider:

• Kids are more likely to talk in their sleep than adults, per the Frontiers For Young Minds,⁴ an organization that provides free medical journal articles that have been shaped by scientists and young people to explain complex issues. That’s because kids spend more time in deep sleep, and sleep talking and walking typically occur when they move out of that deep slumber to lighter stages of sleep.
• Sleep talking often co-occurs with other sleep disturbances like sleep walking, teeth grinding, and nightmares, according to the National Sleep Foundation.
• Some people may be more susceptible than others genetically. If any family members carry on at night, you might be more likely than someone without a family history to start talking in your sleep. Many parasomnias show genetic effects or familial clustering, but no specific genes are yet implicated, according to 2011 research published in the journal Cell.⁵

What causes sleep talking? Is it bad?

Just like the words you utter might not make sense, researchers aren’t exactly sure what causes someone to talk in their sleep. That said, sleep talking most likely means that a person is sleep-deprived. “Most of the time it’s due to either something causing sleep deprivation or there already is a high level of sleep deprivation, including a disruptive sleep environment,” Michael Breus, Ph.D., a sleep specialist and author of The Power Of When, tells SELF. Disrupted sleep environments can mean anything from the room being too warm to too much light pouring in your window from a streetlamp.

Stress is another contributing factor, according to Dr. Dimitriu. This is most likely caused by disturbing the natural depth of your sleep. “Whenever something wakes you, even slightly, you are prone to do something strange—as you are half asleep—sleep talking is one of those things, and sleep walking is another,” he says. Certain medications (either sedating or stimulating), anxiety, or just being really tired can sometimes trigger an episode of sleep talking in some people but not in others, Dr. Dimitriu adds.

According to the Cleveland Clinic, depression, daytime drowsiness, alcohol, and fever can cause sleep talking too. Underlying medical conditions could also cause sleep deprivation, leading to sleep talking. This includes sleep apnea, a sleep disorder where breathing is repeatedly interrupted during sleep.

The good news in all of this? “There is no danger to random isolated episodes of sleep talking,” Dr. Dimitriu says. However, if it begins to occur frequently, or there are other symptoms, such as insomnia, waking up several times per night, or being sleepy by day, he says it may be worth speaking with your doctor, and considering a sleep study. For most people, though, sleep talking is a short-lived phenomenon and no treatment is really necessary.

So, do sleep talkers tell the truth?

Maybe it’s because we’ve seen too many movies or want to coax secrets out of our loved ones, but many nighttime conversationalists have one burning question: “When you talk in your sleep, are you telling the truth?”

While sleep talking parallels awake talking for semantics, syntax, and turn-taking in conversation, according to a 2017 study published in the journal Sleep,⁶ it’s not a reliable method of getting someone to spill their dirty secrets. Partly because you are in an unconscious state simply expressing words and noises. However, researchers from the study did discover a few interesting tidbits: The most frequent word spoken during sleep talking was “No,” and an interrogation-type tone was found in 26% of speech episodes.

How to stop sleep talking

If you’re unsure about why you’re talking in your sleep, it might be a bit challenging to figure out how to stop. While no official sleep talking treatment protocol exists, eliminating or reducing the conditions triggering it is a good place to start. And your first order of business if you want to curb your nightly chatter is to overhaul your sleep hygiene (a fancy word for your pre-sleep habits).

“With my patients, I increase their overall sleep and decrease things that are disrupting their sleep—so decrease caffeine, decrease alcohol, decrease stress before bed,” Dr. Breus says. “Those types of things can then really help make the situation literally go away by itself.”

“Regular bed and wake times cannot be underscored in their ability to improve and stabilize sleep,” Dr. Dimitriu says. Also, make sure the bed is comfortable and cool, and the sleeping area is dark. “If anything bothers you at night, it could wake you or cause something strange to occur when you are half awake,” he adds. Being really tired or sleep-deprived can also cause sleep talking to occur, so make sure you get enough sleep (ideally seven to nine hours) consistently.

If the issue is starting to impact your day-to-day life, Dr. Singh suggests seeing a sleep specialist. “They can evaluate for other interrupters like sleep disorders, sleep apnea, or complications from alcohol, medication, or nicotine.”

If you want to start small, here are a few other tips to get your sleep space in order:

• Create a bedtime routine to allow your brain to unwind before going to sleep. This includes sleep-promoting activities such as taking a warm shower or a bath and practicing relaxation techniques, such as meditation or gentle stretching.
• Optimize your sleep environment. This includes a comfortable room temperature (about 60 to 67 degrees Fahrenheit), powering off electronics at least 60 minutes before bed, and using dim lighting.
• You’ll also want to steer clear of alcohol and caffeine in the evening hours, with the goal of curbing caffeine use six hours before bedtime, per a 2013 study published in the Journal of Clinical Sleep Medicine.

What to do if your partner is a sleep talker

If your bed partner sleep talks, you might find yourself tuning in to see if they reveal anything juicy about themselves. But before you break out the recorder, Dr. Breus says what someone says while they’re asleep isn’t worth analyzing. “There’s no data to suggest that sleep talking is either predictive in nature or kind of gives you a window into their subconscious or anything like that,” he says. (Bummer, we know.)

Therefore, if you’re sharing a bed with a sleep talker, Dr. Breus recommends good ol’ ear plugs or a white noise machine to keep your own sleep undisturbed. And know that if you try to talk to a sleep talker, you’re not going to get very far. “There used to be this old wive’s tale that said, ‘Just wait until a partner is asleep and ask them a bunch of questions and you’ll really find out what’s going on,’” Dr. Breus says. “But that really doesn’t occur.”

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  
https://gseasyrecipes.blogspot.com. feel free to view for easy, simple and healthy recipes    
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