Heartburn or GERD can Kill

Heartburn is a common annoyance. The busy lifestyle, quick meals, fatty or spicy foods all contribute to the occasional need of a chewable pain reliever. The acceptance of heartburn as an inconvenient, but natural, part of the daily grind can blind you to the warning that a severe heartburn symptom can bring.

Heartburn as a Disorder

Heartburn can be a symptom as well as a disorder. Simple heartburn or GERD can be controlled and dealt with. However, heartburn can signal the presence of a much more serious problem. If it’s heartburn, you will have a burning sensation in the chest usually after eating. There may be a spread of the burning to the throat, sometimes accompanied by a bad taste, difficulty in swallowing, belching, coughing, hoarseness and/or wheezing.

It can become worse by lying down or bending over or by eating. Relief can come from an antacid. While the more severe heartburn symptoms may be mistaken for a heart attack, simple heartburn is usually not made worse by exercise. If there is any concern that the pain may signal a heart attack, get help quickly.

Saturday, July 25, 2009

The Best Ways to Prevent Stretch Marks

By Kim Archer

The majority of folks who have stretch marks feel embarrassed by them, especially in the early stages at which time the scars are purple or red in appearance. A few folks are more inclined to acquire them than other people. Fortunately there is a lot you can do when it comes to stretch mark prevention.

Stretch marks develop when the body expands too quickly and the skin cannot keep pace. Teenage girls normally acquire stretch marks on the legs and hips. They can also crop up if you build up muscle size in the gym, if you put on lots of weight rapidly or if you are expecting a baby. Stretch marks are the result of the mid layer of skin, called the dermis, pulling apart after the collagen breaks down. The scars become apparent on the outer layer of skin, known as the epidermis.

Control your weight: It's well established that fast increase in weight is one of the causes of stretch marks. Therefore it should be clear that the most effective way to avoid them is to not pack on the pounds abruptly. If you're a weight lifter endeavor to boost your muscle mass slowly. If you are a woman who would like to prevent stretch marks in the course of pregnancy endeavor to ensure you increase weight slowly. Moreover, you must maintain your weight increase at the prescribed rate, which is normally between 25 to 35 pounds. If you are not a weight lifter and you're not expecting a baby, just endeavor to maintain a healthful body mass index between 20 to 25 if you want to keep stretch marks from developing.

Healthy eating: Individuals who eat a nourishing and sensible diet are more likely to keep to a normal weight and are hence less prone to stretch marks. Furthermore, particular nutrients are good for the skin.If you want to prevent stretch marks, you will have to consume a diet rich in zinc, silica, fatty acids and vitamins A, C and E. If you do not obtain these nutritional elements from your diet you may wish to consider using vitamin and mineral supplements.

Keep your skin moisturized: The collagen inside the dermis is more prone to rupture and stretch marks if the skin is thirsty. Thus if you wish to prevent stretch marks it helps to take care that your skin has an adequate amount of water. You can help keep your skin moist by ensuring that you drink the recommended eight glasses of water each day. You may also want to try a top quality skin care oil, lotion or cream. Products that contain cocoa butter or vitamins A and E are thought to be particularly beneficial for this purpose.

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