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.

Tuesday, July 28, 2009

Varicose Veins - Foods That Could Ease The Symptoms

By Erin Mullins

Dietary deficiencies or the loss of skin flexibility due to aging can be major factors causing varicose veins. As we grow older, the valves and veins in the legs lose some of their strength and muscle tone. Veins begin to stretch and weaken causing pooling in the lower legs and ankles increasing the risk of developing varicose veins, leg heaviness and discomfort.

Varicose veins can be painful mentally as well as physically. If you're fearful about what the effects may be for your health due to varicose veins or spider veins, take heart, making little changes in your diet can make a massive difference in how you feel about yourself and will give you smoother, more interesting legs! To ease varicose veins and spider veins, it is advised that you consume at least thirty grams of fiber a day from whole foods.

These foods ease varicose vein symptoms while buttressing leg vein walls :

* masses of fresh fruits, including berries, cherries and citrus fruit ensuring to nibble on the inside of the rinds to get maximum amounts of vitamin C and bioflavanoids.

* lots of steamed veg like spinach, cabbage, carrots, turnips and cauliflower for fibre.

* ginger, garlic and onions help break down the fibrin surrounding the varicose veins. Without adding these foods to your diet, varicose veins will continue to multiply.

* whole grains, particularly buckwheat and millet, oats, barley, beans, peas, lentils, baked potato with the skin, brown rice and unprocessed wheat. The fibre in whole grains takes some of the pressure off varicose veins and prevents constipation.

* seeds, nuts, raisins, figs and dates.

* flavonoid-rich foods such as yams, onions, grapes and berries.

* lots of fish.

Food to be avoided, these foods worsen varicose vein symptoms :

* bread, peeled potatoes and starchy foods cause trots which can put more strain on leg veins.

* all condiments, salt, alcohol, coffee, robust tea, fried foods, processed and refined foods, bleached flour products, white sugar and white sugar products, cheeses and ice cream. These foods can be constipating and could cause lethargic circulation, leg pain and cramps associated with varicose veins.

* it is suggested to cut down on red meat as much as possible and prohibit greasy animal protein to stop worsening your symptoms.

Varicose vein creams and lotions made with safe but powerful herbs and fancy oils excite lethargic circulation in the legs and help pump blood back up to the heart, enlarging leg energy, comfort and ease.

Look for creams that contain calendula, pony chestnut and gingko biloba. These herbs reinforce circulation, seriously reduce pain and swelling and regenerate weak veins.

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