Thursday, February 11, 2016

10 Reasons for Your Back Pain

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 Sudden back pain can be caused by a number of things, such as moving boxes, tough workouts, shoveling snow or carrying heavy bags. However, determining the cause of chronic back pain can be a little trickier. Let's take a look at what could potentially be to blame for your achy back.

1. You're stressed out


Mental and emotional distress can manifest itself on a physiological level. If you've been feeling run down or uptight over a long period of time, muscle tension can lead to aches and spasms. Stress-triggered back pain crops up in the neck and shoulder region, as well as the lower back.


Try: Relaxation techniques like deep breathing. Inhale slowly for a count of four, hold your breath for another count of four and exhale for a count of four. Take frequent walks and consider practicing yoga - both are also very helpful.  


 2. Your heels are too high


While high heels may be fashionable, they could be causing you back problems. High heels throw off your center of gravity, making you lean forward when you walk. It also puts extra pressure on your feet. Consequently, this puts more stress and strain on your lower back, causing pain.


Try: On occasions where you must wear heels (such as at the office), invest in a nice pair of walking shoes for your commute, changing your shoes when you arrive.


 3. You don't pay attention to what you eat


According to a 2014 study published in the Asian Spine Journal, 31 percent of women and 25 percent of men who suffered from back pain also had gastrointestinal issues, including abdominal pain and food intolerance. But what is the connection between back pain and nutrition? The main culprit here is inflammation. Foods that are high in fat and sugar cause inflammation throughout the body, including the lower back.


Try: Cutting back on sugar and caffeine. Eat clean, whole foods instead of processed ones and always include a protein-rich food in your meals, such as meat or beans, plus whole grains such as brown rice or vegetables.


 4. Your pants are too tight


Outfits that are too tight constrict the body, limiting your range of motion, straining your back, neck and shoulders. Skinny jeans and pencil skirts are the worst culprits.
Try: Opting for clothes that are snug but have a bit of a stretch to them. Make sure that you can easily slip a finger under the waistband.


5. You sit down all day
One of the most detrimental things you can do to your health is sit down all day, as your muscles get used to that position, causing them to tighten up.


Try: Reducing the effect of sitting-induced muscle stiffness and tightness by stretching your calves, hamstrings and glutes when you wake up. When these muscles begin to tighten, the lower back suffers. Also aim for a quick stretch midday and before bed. And try to get up and walk around a few times throughout the day.


 6. You smoke
A Northwestern University study found that smokers are three times more likely than nonsmokers to develop chronic back pain. Smoking affects how the brain responds to back pain, making people who smoke less resilient to an episode of pain. The study also found that smokers who kicked their nicotine habit during the trials experienced a decrease in chronic pain. Furthermore, previous studies found that smoking may damage tissue in the lower back area, as it slows down circulation and reduces the flow of nutrients to back muscles.


7. You're dehydrated
Your spine is made up of 33 vertebrae. Between each disk is a jelly-like substance made up of 90 percent water. In order to keep that cushioning intact, your body needs a steady stream of fluid. When your body is dehydrated, those disks become flatter and less cushiony, which can consequently lead to pain.


Try: A good way to know if you are drinking enough water is to look at the color of your urine. It should be clear or light yellow. If it is dark yellow, grab a glass of water. 


 8. You've been skipping ab workouts


f your abdominal muscles are weak, your lower back muscles have to work harder, which can cause lower back pain. Combat an achy back with an abdominal muscles workout. Also pay attention to how you are sitting or walking. Your core should never be relaxed - this is what often puts you at risk of developing pain.


Try: If you're up for the challenge, there are a number of stomach crunching exercises you can try. These exercises will engage your erector spinae, the muscle that keeps your spine erect, helping you maintain correct posture.
9. Your hips are uneven


Many people have no idea that one side of their pelvis is slightly higher than the other. This imbalance can cause lower back pain in your day-to-day life. An apparent way to tell if your hips are uneven is during a workout, enabling you to see how your body responds to certain moves. For example, if your left hip is higher than your right when you do a lunge on the left side, you may feel that hip muscle pull tighter. 


Try: Prior to establishing a routine to cure your alignment, it is vital that you visit your doctor in order to detect any potential imbalances.  


 10. You have a urinary tract infection


A urinary tract infection is often accompanied by pain in the lower and upper back, or sharp pains along the side. Back pain often indicates that a urinary tract infection has spread to the kidneys.


Try: Classic UTI symptoms also include a persistent urge to urinate or pain during urination, so be sure to visit a doctor immediately for treatment.










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Tuesday, November 24, 2015

Importance of Potassium after 40

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 No matter your age, potassium keeps your blood pressure in check. In fact, research has found that among postmenopausal women, a higher intake of potassium-rich food has decreased risk of stroke. You can get the potassium you need from a well-balanced diet, making sure to include a variety of foods like bananas, sweet potatoes, chard, beans and lentils. Supplements should be taken with caution, and should be carefully monitored if prescribed by a doctor. Too much potassium can damage the gastrointestinal tract and the heart, causing potentially life-threatening cardiac arrhythmias.

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Wednesday, February 11, 2015

New study reveals why antibiotics can have unwanted side effects

A new study has revealed that antibiotics have an impact, which is broader and more complex than previously known, on the microorganisms that live in an animal's gut.

The research at Oregon State University helps explain in much more detail why antibiotics can have unwanted side effects, especially in disrupting the natural and beneficial microbiota of the gastrointestinal system, and also suggests that powerful, long-term antibiotic use can have even more far-reaching effects.

Scientists now suspect that antibiotic use, and especially overuse, can have unwanted effects on everything from the immune system to glucose metabolism, food absorption, obesity, stress and behaviour.

The issues are rising in importance, since 40% of all adults and 70% of all children take one or more antibiotics every year, not to mention their use in billions of food animals. Although when used properly antibiotics can help treat life-threatening bacterial infections, more than 10 percent of people who receive the medications can suffer from adverse side effects.

Researcher Andrey Morgun said that prior to this most people thought antibiotics only depleted microbiota and diminished several important immune functions that take place in the gut, which actually is only about one-third of the picture. Morgun added that they also kill intestinal epithelium and destruction of the intestinal epithelium is important because this is the site of nutrient absorption, part of our immune system and it has other biological functions that play a role in human health.

The research also found that antibiotics and antibiotic-resistant microbes caused significant changes in mitochondrial function, which in turn can lead to more epithelial cell death.

Morgun concluded that when the host microbe communication system gets out of balance it can lead to a chain of seemingly unrelated problems.

The work is published in the online journal Gut.

THIS IS ONLY FOR INFORMATION, ALWAYS CONSULT YOU PHYSICIAN BEFORE HAVING ANY PARTICULAR FOOD/ MEDICATION/EXERCISE/OTHER REMEDIES.








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