Archive for the ‘study’ Category

Have a Headache?

Monday, May 5th, 2008

Here’s what you should do

In today’s world, almost anything could give a person a headache. The term “headache” is used and often overused to describe a reaction to life’s general frustrations. For those people who suffer from headache-related pain, identifying it as “I have a headache” is not specific enough to find relief. To find the appropriate treatment to alleviate headache pain, it is critical to delve deeper and identify a specific headache type.

Determining what type of headache a person suffers from is the first step to finding appropriate treatment. According to a recent survey by the National Headache Foundation, 73 percent of headache sufferers reported experiencing more than one type of headache. For this majority, it is essential to determine headache type to develop a specific treatment regimen. While migraine was the most common and well-known type of headache in the survey, with 60 percent of respondents claiming it as a type they suffer from, it is important to get a diagnosis by a healthcare professional to determine what type of headache you actually have.

Seventy-three percent of NHF survey respondents reported taking initiative to determine their headache type and learn more about their condition. Of this group, 57 percent took matters into their own hands, and conducted personal research via the Internet and reading healthcare magazines. Of the 86 percent of respondents who consulted a healthcare professional on this issue, 59 percent were successful in gaining a diagnosis of a specific headache type.

“Educating yourself on different types of headache is important,” said Dr. Lisa Mannix, NHF board member and practicing physician. “However, it is best to make an appointment with your healthcare professional to obtain an accurate diagnosis and to establish the appropriate treatment plan.”

Healthcare professionals can educate the 41 percent of survey respondents who reported not knowing that medication and non-medication treatment options are available for headache symptoms. Thirty-eight percent of respondents use the simplest non-medication treatment available to alleviate their headaches: sleep. Massage is another example of a non-traditional treatment option used by 16 percent of the survey participants. Healthcare professionals may also recommend medication treatments such as the over-the-counter pain relievers used by 48 percent of respondents or prescription medications used by 15 percent of the respondents.

Additional survey results:

* After migraine headaches (60 percent), the next most common type among respondents was tension-type headaches with 37 percent.

* 28 percent of the survey participants suffer from chronic daily headache.

* 23 percent of respondents reported suffering from sinus headaches.

The 21 percent of survey respondents who reported not knowing what type of headache they suffer from represent headache sufferers nationwide who could benefit from prevention and treatment options that come from determining their headache type.

The following list of characteristics of common headaches can help keep you keep track of your symptoms, which you can share with your healthcare professional.

Characteristics of common headaches:

* Migraine headache is characterized by any or all of the following symptoms: pulsating or throbbing pain typically on one side of the head, nausea or vomiting, sensitivity to light or sound, and visual disturbances. The attacks may last 4-72 hours.

* Tension-type headache is the most common form of headache with symptoms of dull, aching and non-pulsating pain that affect both sides of the head, and can vary in frequency and severity.

* Chronic daily headache is often characterized by a headache that occurs more than 15 days a month for a period of at least three months.

* Sinus headache symptoms may include tenderness over the sinus, a deep dull ache exaggerated by head movements or straining accompanied by nasal discharge, ear sensation or fullness, and facial swelling.

NHF suggestions to determining headache type:

* Keep a headache diary. Identifying patterns among headache triggers, timing, duration, pain level and location offers useful information to share with your healthcare professional to help determine the headache type you are dealing with.

* Educate yourself about headache.

* Educate yourself about treatment options; both medication and non-medication. Treatments can have varying results from patient to patient so it is important that a sufferer understands how each option may work for them on an individual basis.

* See your healthcare professional. Make an appointment to specifically discuss your headaches with your healthcare professional.

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Headaches - How To Make Them Go Away

Friday, May 2nd, 2008

If you have a headache, you’re not alone. Nine out of ten Americans suffer from headaches. Headaches comprise the top three reasons why one goes to the doctor. Some are occasional, some frequent, some are dull and throbbing, and some cause debilitating pain and nausea. What do you do when you suffer from a pounding headache? Do you grit your teeth and carry on? Lie down? Pop a pill and hope the pain goes away? There is a better alternative. As a chiropractic neurologist, I have been successfully helping patients rid themselves of headaches, oftentimes in as little as one treatment. Research has demonstrated the value of manipulative therapy for a multitude of disorders including headaches. A report released in 2001 by researchers at the Duke University Evidence Based Practice Center in Durham, NC, found that spinal manipulation resulted in almost immediate improvement for those headaches that originate in the neck, and had significantly fewer side effects and longer-lasting relief of tension-type headache than a commonly prescribed medication.

As a neurologist, we have many diagnostic capabilities at our disposal, as well as adjunctive therapies, which have proven to work very well for migraineurs as well as headache sufferers who have yet to be diagnosed. Headaches have many causes, or “triggers.” These may include foods, environmental stimuli (noises, lights, stress, etc.) and/or behaviors (insomnia, excessive exercise, blood sugar changes, etc.). About 5 percent of all headaches are warning signals caused by physical problems. The other ninety-five percent of headaches are primary headaches, such as tension, migraine, or cluster headaches. These types of headaches are not caused by disease. The headache itself is the primary concern. Today, Americans engage in more sedentary activities than they used to, and more hours are spent in one fixed position or posture. Many find themselves in fluorescent lighting and/or in front of a computer monitor all day. Many are on the telephone much of the day, which is very stressful on the muscles of the head, neck and shoulder. These scenarios are fuel for headaches.

So what can you do?

If you spend a large amount of time in one fixed position, such as in front of a computer, take a break and stretch every 30 minutes to one hour. Exercise may help relieve the pain associated with primary headaches, however, this will often aggravate headaches of migraineurs. As migraine headaches are vascular headaches, they should always be evaluated prior to entertaining any course of self-treatment. Drink at least eight 8-ounce glasses of water a day to help avoid dehydration, which can lead to headaches. Naturally, I would recommend all headache sufferers to come see us for an evaluation, as most will be helped in a short amount of time without requiring drug therapies, which can often have deleterious side effects and consequences. You will be referred for these types of therapies if felt to be warranted to be used as an alternative course of care, although this is certainly not the norm but rather the minority. The vast majority of our headache patients share a common conclusion; they invariably wish that they had come in to see us sooner and avoided the years of unnecessary suffering.

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Stopping Headaches Before They Start

Friday, May 2nd, 2008

Do you suffer from migraines or headaches? Lots of people do in fact these conditions are directly affecting approximately 12% to 14% of the American population alone every day and while the cause of a migraine is still a bit of a mystery to the medical profession as to what exactly causes it, stress in it’s many forms, is a leading cause of tension headaches.

To control a tension headache, it’s important to break any patterns of stress. Stress and anxiety are one of the major causes of headaches, which very often trigger a headache within a very short period of time.

Migraine on the other hand is often misdiagnosed as a sinus headache however, this type of headache comes on when an infection is involved that causes the sinuses to become inflamed and while this type of headache can often be severe, tension and migraine headaches are excruciatingly painful too and are generally accompanied by other symptoms like visual disturbances or nausea and tend to begin on one side of the head, then typically spreading to both sides. healthyskin

Underlying symptoms can vary from person to person and generally speaking there are several types of headache, which can for example be caused by eating products that contain additives, smoking will certainly cause bring on a headache too. Some research reports state that headaches can also be brought on by certain foods such as fatty potato chips and other snacks.

Other common symptoms are emotional or psychological stress, muscle strain in the neck and back caused by poor posture, eye strain caused by tired, dry eyes, sleep deprivation, jet-lag, and hunger caused by irregular or missed meals.

Migraines and headaches although alike are not exactly the same, but are equally as distressing and painful and both can affect the everyday life of the sufferer to a great extent. People who suffer from migraine especially often have to lie down in a dark room to alleviate the pain. Headaches of any kind are among the most disabling of conditions known to most of the healing profession. However, medication isn’t the only headache relief available:

Often simple home remedies provide the best stress headache relief. Hot compresses can relax neck and shoulder muscle tension helping to relieve pain as well as a hot bath. A relaxing walk in the fresh air can often clear up a headache, especially if caused by stress. There are many pills that can be bought over the counter and home remedies that can alleviate headaches and migraines, most only work for a very short time.

The symptoms and pain associated with the various types of headache, can be difficult for a doctor to pinpoint precisely, but researchers suggest that there may be an abnormal cell passed down through generations that make family members susceptible to certain stimuli that cause headaches. Another viable theory relates to the blood vessel function in the brain that triggers headaches.

Many have had great success with hypnosis, using it to stop chronic headaches before they start. Hypnosis, which is a state of inner absorption, concentration and focused attention, is like using a magnifying glass to focus on the rays of the sun and make them more powerful. Similarly, when our minds are concentrated and focused, we are able to use our minds more powerfully. Because hypnosis allows people to use more of their potential, learning self-hypnosis is the ultimate act of self-control.

People often fear that being hypnotized will make them lose control, surrender their will, and result in their being dominated, but a hypnotic state is not the same thing as gullibility or weakness. If you’re not familiar with hypnosis - read more about it at The American Society of Clinical Hypnosis (ASCH), the largest U.S. organization for health and mental health care professionals using clinical hypnosis.

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Questions About Headaches

Thursday, May 1st, 2008

A headache can be as mild as a minor annoyance or as severe as an excruciating, debilitating pain.

While the vast majority of headaches are not signs of a serious condition, the pain is still real and bothersome to people who suffer from chronic headaches.

Randolph Schiffer, a neuropsychiatrist at the Texas Tech Health Sciences Center, and Dr. Fiona Prabhu, a family medicine physician at the HSC, answer common questions about headaches:

Q: What are the most common types of headaches?

A: Schiffer and Prabhu said the most common types of headaches are tension, migraine and cluster.

Tension headaches feel like a tightening sensation around the head and are not specific to one side. Schiffer said tension headaches are a steady, constant pain that are often caused by stress or tension. According to the National Headache Foundation, about 78 percent of people have experienced a tension headache.

A migraine headache is a pulsating, throbbing sensation on one side of the head that tends to be disabling, said Prabhu. Typically, they last from four to 72 hours, she said. A migraine can include nausea, vomiting and sensitivity to light or sound, said Prabhu.

Migraines are more common among women than men, said Prabhu. An estimated 5 to 10 percent of people suffer from migraines, according to Schiffer.

A cluster headache is described as a severe headache that feels like being stabbed with an ice pick, Prabhu said. They are not common - less than one quarter of one percent of people experience cluster headaches - but they are more common among men, said Prabhu.

Q: When should I worry about a headache - that is, when is a headache a sign of something more serious?

A: Rarely is a headache a sign of a serious problem, said Schiffer and Prabhu. However, if it is “the worst headache of your life,” and it comes on suddenly, you should seek immediate medical attention. A headache that is new or changed - that is, you haven’t experienced one quite like it, and the headache changes - also demands immediate medical attention. Major changes in behavior, fever, chills and weight loss that accompany a headache are signs that a person should seek immediate medical attention as well.

“If it’s the first headache you’ve ever had and it is severe enough to where you can’t function, it’s probably a good idea to have it checked,” Prabhu said.

“Anyone whose headaches interfere with work or social life, probably should go to the doctor,” Schiffer said.

Q: Is a headache a sign of a brain tumor?

Probably not, said Schiffer. A brain tumor will not typically cause a headache until the later stages, and other signs will tip off someone that something isn’t right far in advance of a headache, he said. Those signs include seizure, weak hands or a numb leg, Schiffer said. Prabhu said another sign of a brain tumor is vomiting in the morning. Moreover, if a headache were to be a sign of a brain tumor, the headache would become increasingly severe over time - not occur suddenly and severely.

Q: What can be done to treat headaches?

A: Schiffer said we tend to look for a pill to cure our ailments, but no such pill exists for headaches. He cautions against using over-the-counter pain relievers to treat headaches because someone can become habituated to them. Prabhu said when someone becomes habituated to pain relievers, they get rebound headaches that require more and more of the medication to ease his or her pain. She recommended someone with frequent headaches see a physician to explore ways to reduce the frequency of headaches.

Several therapies are available to a migraine sufferer, Schiffer said. Prabhu said that these medications are more effective when taken as soon as a person feels the migraine coming on.

Q: How can I prevent headaches?

A: Schiffer said tension headaches are a sign that something is wrong in someone’s life. He suggests a tension headache sufferer try to reduce the stress in his or her life. Physical exercise is a good way to reduce tension headaches, he said.

To prevent migraines, Prabhu suggests people keep a headache journal - a diary in which people record their headaches and suspected triggers. Once someone identifies possible migraine triggers, she or he knows what to avoid. Some common migraine triggers include red wine, chocolate, smoked meats, aged cheeses, weather changes, MSG and aspartame, Prabhu said.

A person with cluster headaches should seek a physician’s care to begin preventive therapy, according to the headache foundation.

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Migraine Ups Skin Pain Risk

Wednesday, April 30th, 2008

People who suffer with migraine are more likely to experience exacerbated skin sensitivity or pain after non-painful everyday activities, such as rubbing their head, combing their hair or wearing earrings, the results of a new study indicate.

A team of researchers surveyed over 16,500 people who suffered with headaches. The participants were asked about the type of headaches they suffered from and the frequency of these. They were also asked about their quality of life, depression and other illnesses that can cause pain.

Of the participants, 11,737 were identified as having migraine, 1,491 were deemed to be suffering from probable migraine, while the remainder had some other kind of headache.

The study found that 68% of those with chronic migraine (headaches occurring daily or almost daily) and 63% of those with episodic migraine reported having allodynia, a condition in which ordinarily non-painful stimuli evoke pain.

A further 42% of those with probable migraine had the condition, compared to 37% of those with daily or tension headaches.

“This condition causes discomfort or pain during everyday activities like touching one’s hair or putting on clothes. More importantly, this condition may be a risk factor for migraine progression, where individuals have migraines on more days than not”, explained study author, Dr Marcelo Bigal of the Albert Einstein College of Medicine in New York.

He pointed out that identifying risk factors for migraine progression is a very important public health priority.

“For example, it may be that individuals with allodynia should be more aggressively treated in order to prevent migraine progression, as well as to decrease this sensitivity on the skin”, Dr Bigal said.

The study also found that this type of skin pain was more common in women with migraine and people with migraine who were obese or had depression.

Details of these findings are published in the medical journal, Neurology.

Migraine currently affects around 400,000 people in Ireland. It is characterised by a severe, one-sided headache that can last up to three days. It can be accompanied by symptoms such as nausea, vomiting and sensitivity to light and/or noise.

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Headache? It’s Time For Sex

Monday, April 28th, 2008

It’s an excuse that just won’t wash any more. “Not tonight, darling, I’ve got a headache,” is no longer a valid reason for getting out of lovemaking.

According to medics sex will actually relieve a throbbing head by reducing the symptoms of pain.

And making love is good for our health in many other ways.

Feeling stressed? Go to bed early for sex to reduce the tension. A good session of  lovemaking will do wonders for keeping the heart in shape – that’s the cardiovascular side of things as well as the cupid stuff.

Intercourse will also boost self-esteem and improve intimacy between couples.

Researchers found it will boost your immunity to illness, burn off calories to keep you trim and reduce the chances of prostate cancer in men. And certain lovemaking positions will strengthen women’s pelvic muscles.

Kathleen Doheny, of internet health advice website WebMD,  said: “When you’re in the mood, it’s a sure bet that the last thing on your mind is boosting your immune system or maintaining a healthy weight. Yet good sex offers those health benefits and more.” And Dr Joy Davidson, a New York psychologist and sex therapist, said that could be a surprise to some.

She said: “Of course, sex is everywhere but the idea we are vital, sexual creatures is still looked at in some cases with disgust or in other cases a bit of embarrassment.”

But many Britons are missing out on the health benefits of sex. A third of people quizzed in a survey complained that they do not have intercourse often enough.

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Kiddie Migraines Linked to Sleep Problems

Saturday, April 26th, 2008

Not only do children who get migraines have to deal with the excruciating pain of the headaches, they may also have sleep problems.

New research from Temple University finds children with migraine are more likely to have sleep disorders, such as sleep apnea and lack of sleep.

The researchers gave 90 children with headache and sleep problems a sleep test that monitors the brain, eye movements, muscle activity, heart rhythm, and breathing. Results showed 60 participants had migraine, 11 had chronic daily headache, six had tension headache and 13 had non-specific headache.

Researchers found the children with migraine were nearly twice as likely as the other children in the study to have sleep apnea — 56 percent versus 30 percent. The condition causes repeated pauses in breathing during sleep because the upper airway is blocked.

Children with severe migraine also had shorter total sleep time, longer total time to fall asleep, and shorter REM sleep — the stage in which you can remember most dreams.

“Sleeping problems can exacerbate the problems migraine causes on a child’s health and may hinder a child’s performance at school,”study author Martina Vendrame, M.D., Ph.D., from Temple University, was quoted as saying. “Parents and doctors need to be aware of the strong likelihood of sleep disorders in children with migraine and seek appropriate preventions and treatments.”

The study also found half of children with tension headache grind their teeth at night compared to 2.4 percent of those with non-tension headache. And sleep apnea was common in children with non-specific headache and in those who were overweight.

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Antistress Remedies You Practise May Aggravate Stress!

Wednesday, April 9th, 2008

Today stress has become a talking point as the number of people who are suffering from non communicable diseases such as heart diseases, diabetes, cancers are increasing to great extent. The day to day living stress has become so intense in every age group. It is questionable whether the number of people who exit from the path of stress has exceeded the number who are entering.

Stress can be defined as any influence that interrupts or disturbs any aspect of the normal body functioning. There is a pressure or outside force to build up this anomaly which has become a social norm. The out side forces may be the work problems, financial worries, undue hurry to achieve a given goal, separations, relationship difficulties with the close associates or preparing for examinations.

The upbringing of a person will decide the type of responses for the outside influences. The people are conditioned by education, circumstances and religion. The parents, teachers and associates are the guiding factors in this effect. One’s attitude and thoughts will be formed with the editions and corrections to influence their perception of events. A person differs from another person in the way of reacting for an event, mentally and emotionally.

The initial reactions of the stress appears as , anger, fear, worry, anxiety or depression. If the stress becomes chronic or persistent the changes of bodily functions lead to diseases affecting almost every system. The heart diseases, diabetes, chronic obstructive airway diseases, chronic inflammatory conditions such as rheumatoid arthritis, autoimmune diseases, depression, gastrointestinal disorders, allergies and cancers may be the unwanted profit of these changes in the body.

The endocrine system of the body is activated in reacting to the stress. The adrenal gland which is situated over the kidney, releases hormones including adrenaline, cortisol and aldosterone as a result. This can lead to various ailments especially heart disease and diabetes.

When the stress is continuing for longer period and become chronic , the function of the adrenal gland will be affected consequently. The adrenal gland is exhausted at a point when the chronic stress is unbearable. The resulting deficiency of adrenal hormones in this stage, will lead to other kind of ailments like chronic inflammatory diseases such as rheumatoid arthritis, allergies and cancers.

There is an another important gland which is involved in protecting the human from external infections and preventing internal reactions to the own tissues by the immune cells and antibodies. This gland which is called thymus, may undergo shrinkage due to increased levels of cortisone and cortisol hormones which are secreted by the adrenal gland in response to the stress. The resulting malfunction of the thymus gland may lead to autoimmune diseases.

Stress related diseases of the cardiovascular system

The cardiovascular diseases are the most serious health problems which can be linked to stress. The adrenal hormones namely, adrenaline, cortisol, aldosterone cause a rising blood pressure. When the stress is pronged and chronic this will affect badly on cardiovascular system.

Atherosclerosis or hardening of the small blood vessels which are supplying blood to the organs and tissues from the heart will be another cardiovascular complication , linked to the stress. The increased blood pressure and the disturbed blood flow through the constricted path may cause injury to the vessel wall in consequence of stress.

Stress and diabetes

The releasing of increased levels of adrenal hormones will have substantial effects on the blood glucose levels in stress. The glucose stored in the liver as glycogen, will be released to the blood stream under the influence of adrenaline hormone. The corticosteroid, another hormone secreted from the adrenals, which increases the blood glucose by breaking down protein, also reduces the usage or metabolism of glucose by the cells. Insulin is a pancreatic hormone which control the blood glucose levels. The sensitivity of insulin is decreased by high cortisol levels.

Hence large levels of cortsol hormones secreted in chronic stress will lower the action of insulin hormone leading to higher incidence of diabetes.

When there is a family history of diabetes, overweight or obesity or excessive consumption of sugar , the diabetic tendency can be easily emerged in prolonged stress. The tendency to become diabetic can be expressed through prolonged stress.

Cancer and the stress

The white blood cells are capable of destroying unwanted cancer cells to some extent. This action of white blood cells may be decreased in chronic stress. The shrinkage of the thymus gland will further aggravate the condition. Due to both these reasons the risk of developing cancer cells increase.

Inflammatory conditions and the stress

The corticosteroid hormones , releasing from the adrenal gland have an antiinflammatory effect. When the adrenals are exhausted of the strength and hormonal supply , under prolonged or chronic stress , the ability of the body to fight against the inflammation is reduced.

The stress may be a factor in some chronic inflammatory diseases like rheumatoid arthritis. The body,s immune system mistakenly attacks multiple joints in this inflammatory disorder. If the natural normal supply of the corticosteroid hormones are reduced , the associated problems of the arthritic patient may become worsened

Allergies and the stress

The allergic reactions are a consequence of inflammation in body tissues. The adrenal hormones, namely adrenaline and corticosteroids are needed to prevent or control this effect of inflammation. When there is an exhaustion of the adrenals due to the chronic stress , the action of these hormones will be reduced. Therefore , conditions related to allergies are manifested easily in a person with chronic stress.

The best example for this phenomenon is bronchial asthma , in which the attacks are more common during the period of stress.

Headaches and the stress

Headaches can be produced by stress. There is a constricting effect of adrenal hormones on blood circulation. Although the circulation of the brain increases in the early stage of stress, the long term effects on the circulation may be negative in the case of chronic stress. This may adversely affect blood flow to the brain to cause headaches. Another facilitating factor is the effect of stress on the nervous system which will make a person more sensitive to pain. Also there is an increased muscle tension in the neck and shoulders that will aggravate the condition.

Depression and the stress

The depression may be a result of psychological effects of chronic stress. The decreased levels of noradrenaline hormone , secreted from the adrenals are linked to depressions in some individuals as a result of adrenal exhaustion in chronic stress.

Digestive and intestinal disorders and the stress

The several digestive and intestinal disorders re related to stress. Indigestion, abdominal discomfort, heartburn and irritable bowel syndrome are some examples.

We should be cautious and careful to be away from the stress. It is important to identify the source of problem to find a suitable answer to have the relief. It is needed to separate the causes of stress into relevant categories. The cause may be emotional,mental,physical or environmental. Also these causes may be under the control of the affected person or out of his control. If the sources are out of control of the affected person, he should concentrate on manipulating his reactions to cope with the stress in a better way like , practicing deep breathing as an example. The assessing the frequency in exposing to stress is also helpful to bypass the source.

The common remedial measures practiced by people who are in stress, are worth considering. Consuming alcohol, drinking coffee or smoking are some of them. Interestingly it can be shown that the stress is aggravated by these remedies. This is the hidden truth that remain unknown among the general public.

Caffeine is a constituent of the coffee. It causes release of adrenaline hormones from the adrenals especially when there is an excessive consumption of coffee. The nervous tension, irritability and difficulty in sleeping are the results of this effect. That means the remedy has helped not to relieve the condition but to aggravate it.

Alcohol also increases the release of adrenaline hormone from the adrenals as in the case of caffeine. This will have the same adverse affects to cause similar symptoms like irritability and sleeping difficulties. When a person is dependent on alcohol, there will be an additional problem , as the hormones of adrenals such as cortisol and aldosterone which are releasing in large amounts during stress are not eliminating sufficiently by the damaged liver.

Smoking also increases the symptoms of stress as it’s constituent called nicotine stimulates the secretion of adrenaline hormone from the adrenals. Therefore it is not a remedy for stress as it will definitely aggravate the condition. Smoking will affect adversely on the necessary nutrients like vitamin B and C. Cardiovascular diseases such as atherosclerosis and high blood pressure, poor digestion, impaired immunity and cancers are other related problems of smoking to complicate the life of a person with stress.

We should be capable of selecting beneficial measures in fighting with stress while avoiding stress aggravating factors in day to day life. Fresh fruits and vegetables are highly beneficial in this context as they contain a favourable amount of essential vitamins and minerals. The potassium content of fruits and vegetables is an important factor , relating to stress tolerance.

The change of whole environment and world may not be an easy task but the change in a person in keeping with outside influencers is not impossible. Therefore it is advisable to everyone to increase the stress tolerance, reduce the adverse physiological effects related to stress, reduce the possibility and the effects of adrenal exhaustion for maintaining a qualitative life with good health.

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Sinusitis Causes Headaches

Monday, April 7th, 2008

Anyone who’s ever suffered from sinusitis will confess to having had bouts of headaches. However, it may not always be caused by sinusitis.

An interesting case was written by a certain “DP” to Doctor Vincent Martin detailing the hardships “he” bore in connection with headaches seemingly caused by sinusitis. The patient has consulted with different specialists but still the condition persists.

There is evidence linking sinus infections to the headaches being felt by people who suffer from the disorder. Headache specialists agree that sinus infections can trigger headaches.

A number of mechanisms are responsible for triggering this effect. Chronic nasal or sinus disease are said to lead to headaches through these mechanisms theoretically. One of these would be through the obstruction of the nasal passage when the membranes of the nose swell or through abnormalities in the bone structure of the nose. There are instances when the drainage of our sinuses are also plugged making way for changes in the air pressure in the sinuses and this causes the pain we perceive as headaches. This is the other mechanism which contributes to the headache effect of sinus infections.

There are reports that people who suffer from this headache found an improvement after having been treated of their nasal and sinus disorders. These are the ones who have undergone treatments that included antihistamines, decongestants and nasal sprays containing steroids. These medications often improve nasal congestion and/or drainage of the sinuses.

However, I have to agree with Doctor Martin that the sinus infection per se is not the real cause for these headaches. There may be instances when it will be the cause but oftentimes they only serve as trigger for the headaches which might be caused by other disorders. Fact is, these headaches that are attributed to sinus infections may be migraine or other forms of vascular or “tension” headaches that also give pain in the forehead and around the eyes

Undergoing a comprehensive diagnosis with a competent physician will yield an accurate assessment of your condition. Great is the discomfort suffered by people afflicted with sinus infections and seeking medical help as soon as possible is very much advised.

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Is Stress Really As Detrimental To Your Health As You Believe?

Thursday, March 13th, 2008

Doctors have known for some time that stress can affect your health but we are just now beginning to fully understand exactly how stress can affect the body. A number of the myths surrounding stress, like the fact that stress can produce ulcers, are at last being laid to rest and others are being confirmed.

Many of the obvious effects of stress on the body like muscle tension, headaches, a rapid heartbeat, high blood pressure and digestive problems are easy to recognize and well known, however there are also various longer-term and potentially serious conditions that can be produced by persistent stress.

Studies that have been undertaken at the National Institutes of Health and at other institutions for instance suggest strongly that stress affects the immune system. Interestingly these same studies also show that the affect on the immune system can be both good and bad.

Given that one definition of stress is that it is merely an individual’s ‘fight or flight’ response to an apparent threat, it can clearly have a positive affect. It can, for instance, set off the release of chemicals which assist in healing infections caused by bites. This makes perfect sense if you consider how evolution might have tailored the immune system to deal with such problems.

But, when this particular response persists over an extended time period, the affects may be harmful and one consequence is that the immune system actually reduces in effectiveness resulting in an increased susceptibility to infection and a lowered resistance to colds and other virus induced illnesses.

Another consequence is an overall feeling of tiredness and sometimes depression. When an individual is stressed for long periods then a feedback loop develops between the cause of stress (the clear belief that you cannot find a solution to the problem that is creating the stress) and its affects. This results in a cycle where your belief becomes a self-fulfilling prophecy.

Chronic stress may also impact your health by compromising you circulatory system. When stress hormones released as a result of the ‘fight or flight’ trigger are not depleted by some type of physical activity like fighting off an infection then they can result in actual physiological stress on the body.

Hypertension hightens the tension on the walls of blood vessels and can result in small tears appearing in the blood vessels. When the body reacts to heal these micro-tears, scar tissue is frequently produced which lowers the blood flow through the vessels.

Whenever stress levels reach very high levels or remain for a long enough period of time then heart attacks may occur. The likelihood of heart attack is also increased in older individuals or in individuals who are carrying certain genetic characteristics. With narrowed blood vessels, the heart might be unable to deliver sufficient blood and oxygen at moments of high demand.

Doctors have also been aware for some time that stress can aggravate the affects of rheumatoid arthritis and this is now also explained by the affect of stress on the immune system as there is a proven and well documented connection between rheumatoid arthritis and the body’s immune system.

It is important for all of us to avoid stress to maintain good health and, happily, as we gain a clearer understanding of stress we are also developing some extremely useful ways to relieve stress.

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