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.

Thursday, June 25, 2009

How Breast Exercises can deal with Sagging Breasts

By Claudia Miller

Like me you're probably looking at options for breast enlargement. Women are prepared to spend a great deal of money on finding ways to grow bigger breasts, but forget that exercise also plays an important part in any breast enlargement routine.

Now I'm not saying that breast enlargement exercises alone are going to increase your breast size from an AAA to a C cup. That would be great, but unfortunately, it's not true! What I suggest however, is that breast exercises are a fabulous way to prepare the breasts for growth.

Once we understand how important it is to include exercises into our daily life we can also begin to address problems such as sagging breasts. Research suggest that daily exercise helps to prevent disease, improves stamina, strengthens and tones the muscles, enhances body flexibility, controls the weight and most importantly makes you feel and look good.

Light exercise is all that is required as too much can make you sick

It's a good idea to exercise lightly. Leave the long-distance running or swimming to the top athletes. Their goal is probably not one of breast enlargement. When you partake in such intense physical activity, the chances are that your body will be under considerable stress. Stress hormones will inhibit the production of progesterone, a hormone required for breast enlargement.

Resistance Training Routines

Weight training exercises will help to lift sagging breast tissue. The breasts themselves have no muscles to hold them up. If you are after lift and perkiness, focus on the pectoral muscles that surround the chest area underneath the breast tissue. When these muscles are well toned, they will give a smaller bust an appearance of being larger.

A modified or full push-up and a set of flyes are great ways to address sagging breasts. You will discover that there are many breast exercises that you can choose from.

Remember that you only need to exercise moderately so long as you do it consistently. Choose a range of breast enhancement exercises that target your upper chest area to complement your general exercise program. Incorporate a range that you personally find enjoyable and stick to these until you have reached a comfortable level. The ultimate goal is to improve your overall health, to help deal or avoid sagging breasts and to benefit your breast enlargement program.

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Massage Chairs with Reflexology Massage

By Claudine Balsells

The practice of reflexology massage has so far been traced back to the Egyptian times. The archaeology record shows reflexology massage being practiced as early as 2030 B. C. Our ancestors certainly understood complex relationships about the body. Reflexology is the practice of stimulating the hands or feet which relieves tension throughout the body. Many of these techniques are now being integrated into massage chairs.

Reflexology massage is an interesting field of study. The idea behind this type of therapy is that the hands and feet have special relationships with the major organs in the body. Certain areas of the hands and feet can be massaged and their corresponding organ releases tension.

Reflexology or zone therapy is the study of certain areas of the hands and feet and their corresponding relationship to other parts of the body. Reflexology uses zone maps to identify the regions in the hands and feet. Massage is provided to the areas of the feet or hands which then releases tension to its corresponding organ.

Reflexology is mainly focused on the release of tension in the body. When someone is under stress, they began to tense up. This means the muscles are held under tension for sometimes very long periods of time. This in turn leads to muscle fatigue.

We all go through points of stress in our lives. Many of the stresses we have our mental yet they cause the same reaction in our bodies as a physical threat. Our bodies are ready for action but most the time there is in action. However, the stiffness of the muscles will increase when we are under stress.

Just as our body has a self protect cycle, reflexology seems to be able to undo the effects of the self protect cycle. When you are under stress, blood goes to your major organs in your feet and hands are ready to act. Reflexology works from the hands and feet, which are in turn connected to specific organs.

Many massage chairs are integrating reflexology into their programs. Reflexology is used for the feet and contained in the leg rest. Reflexology points in the feet are targeted with small nodes. These nodes are gently pushed into the prescribed zone.

Massage chairs also utilize the air compression technology and may inflate an air bag underneath the reflexology to. When the airbag is activated, it will fill up pushing the reflexology nodes into the appropriate spot on the foot. Compression massage is used around the foot to hold it for targeting the reflexology point.

Massage chairs also have heating elements built into the leg rest. It facilitates blood flow and helps to reduce swelling. This is a nice complementary treatment to the reflexology massage.

Some massage chairs allow you to customize your foot massage. They come with reflexology nodes that are mounted on a footpad. Be footpad is a plate that can be taken out of the leg rest. Those who do not want to have their reflexology points stimulated can opt out.

The ancient art of reflexology massage and its associated benefits is slowly being replicated in massage chairs. As science begins to unravel the mysteries of traditional healing treatments such as reflexology they surely will be incorporated into the most advanced massage chairs.

The ancient art of reflexology concentrates on the hands and feet. These are normally activated when somebody is under stress. Reflexology seeks to release the tension that is prevalent under stress. It helps to release tension from the major organs by soothing the soft tissues of the hands or feet. These techniques are being replicated in massage chairs.

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The Impact of LMS Training on the Medical Field

By Russel Simons

Have we forgotten what those ancient Greeks taught us? "Know thyself," they said. In this day and age when all we'd ever like to know is just a few computer or smart phone keystrokes away, it seems like we would know a little more about ourselves. LMS training and online courseware also makes acquiring knowledge simple. But how familiar are we with our own bodies?

Unless you're a medical student or practitioner, you're probably unfamiliar with at least half of the hundreds of activities that are taking place in your body as you read this article. Personally I know I'm one of those people.

Online medical courses include those in nursing, pharmacy, radiologic science, and food and nutrition. Medical students often use LMS training only to complement real-life experience, but individuals can also benefit from such courseware.

LMS training is a versatile tool in the medical community, and can serve a number of purposes.

For instance, cultural sensitivity training can be deployed using LMS training platforms. Aetna is one health insurance provider that uses online courses to train doctors and nurses in cross-cultural issues. Any clinician who is part of the Aetna network, or who has filed a claim with the insurance company, can take the online course in cultural sensitivity free of charge.

In part due to the scenario in which many Latinos in the U.S. immigrate from countries whose governments provide free or low-cost health care, chronic diseases affect the Latino demographic to a disproportionate degree.

Also, strong doctor-patient bonds and communication are prevented by language barriers.

In response to this situation, LMS training can provide doctors and nurses with ethnic diversity videos and Spanish resources which cover various medical issues.

Just like any training program, whether it's LMS training or face-to-face, rewards are important to ensure student success. For instance, Aetna provides credit for continuing education requirements to those who complete the training.

Tools offered by a robust LMS include video, audio, and podcast-creating tools, as well as demo and screen-recording features. Course creators can design and customize their own learning material for any kind of training necessary. LMS training is simple, efficient, and low-cost. Thanks in part to online resources and courseware, people both inside and outside the medical field are coming to feel confident helping not only themselves, but each other.

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Cause of Tinnitus: A Brief Overview Of The Reasons For Tinnitus

By Thomas Colman

Suffering from ringing in the ears? Find out the real causes of tinnitus which the pharmaceutical companies are hiding from you.

When external sound waves reach the small, sensitive hairs that are present in the inner parts of the human ear, they produce signals that are electronic in nature. These signals, thus generated, travel through the auditory nerves and finally reach the brain. These signals are received, and then interpreted as sound, by the brain. However, when the delicate hairs on ones inner ear somehow get damaged or are not functioning properly, confusing and wrong signals are sent up to the brain. While processing these signals, the brain produces bizarre, disturbing noises, which in turn, travel back to the ear. These sounds can vary in their nature, and include whooshing, whistling or ringing sounds, among others. As a result, a person gets to hear these noises, even when no apparent source of such sounds is present near him/her. Tinnitus is the name given to the disease which causes a person to hear such distressing sounds.

We would here be delving into some factors that are not, in themselves, basic causes of tinnitus. Rather, they are the triggers that can initiate the causes of the ailment. Doctors need to have the proper mindset while dealing with tinnitus cases, since the disease is caused by a combination of factors. As an example, problems related to sinus are not among the direct reasons for tinnitus, but are among the triggers. However, if a person leads a wasteful lifestyle, is exposed to too much strain or anxiety, or has a high blood pressure, these factors can directly bring about tinnitus problems in him/her. Since these are causes of the ailment, holistic methods of treatment should be opted for to ensure a quick relief.

Cause of Tinnitus: A Brief Overview

Exposure to acute depression and stress factors : Even if the ears appears to be healthy, and medical check-ups do not yield any aberrations, tinnitus can still affect the person. These problems can be avoided or reduced if they take up a holistic approach to lifestyle.

Acoustic neuroma factors : This refers to a tumor which can cause tinnitus. These benign tumors generally form on the nerves of the brain, which extend till the internal portions of the ear, from the brain. These nerves, in their normal state, help a person to retain balance, and also aids in his/her hearing. Vestibular Schwannoma is the alternative name given to these problems, which in most cases, affect one of the ears of the patient.

Problems from Menieres disease : Menieres disease refers to a medical condition inflicting the inner regions of the ear. The problem is mainly caused by the pressures of a typical fluid in the ear, and often results in tinnitus as well.

Damages in head and/or neck regions : Such injuries often affect the system of nerves adversely, and can hamper the proper functioning of these nerves. The brain, as a result, also suffers an impact, and tinnitus problems often make an appearance.

Problems due to senility: As a person becomes senile, (s)he can lose his/powers of hearing, either totally, or, at least, to some extent. As a person reaches 60 years of age, these factors, also termed Presbycusis in medical jargon, start to manifest themselves.

Having to hear sounds at high volumes: This is also a probable cause. If a person has to continuously hear noises at extremely high pitches, a constant ringing noise seems to be audible to him/her, even when there exists no such source. For example, this is common in people who are employed in stamping mills or forging jobs. Tinnitus problems can also result from the shot guns that are rather heavy, and have to be placed on the shoulder for firing. Also, if individuals are constantly exposed to the loud beats of music at night clubs, they are prone to tinnitus attacks.

Deposits of ear wax: If ear wax gets accumulated in the ear over time, it might cross the prescribed maximum level. When this limit is crossed, tinnitus problems may crop up.

Atherosclerosis: It refers to cases when deposits of cholesterol constrict the blood vessels of the human body. When the blood vessels of either the middle or the inner portions of the ear are affected, tinnitus can be a direct result. The inherent elasticity that accounts for other cardiac functions are also lost as a result. The affected person hears such auditory impulses as hissing or whooshing noises, apart from other pulsating sounds. Both the ears are affected in such cases.

Blood pressure related issues : The level of blood pressure can go up considerably due to the presence of excessive amounts of cholesterol in the arteries. In a logic similar to the one discussed above, these deposits bring down the supply of blood to the neck and the head, thereby causing tinnitus. However, holistic treatments can solve these problems at an early stage.

Tumor formation in the neck and/or head : The blood vessels of the human neck and head (i.e., the vascular neoplasm) experience an increased pressure due to these tumors. As a result, tinnitus problems may come up.

AVM (Arteriovenous Malformation):This process refers to erroneous contacts between the veins and the arteries and it can be a major cause too. Tinnitus, caused in this manner, affects one of the ears.

Cause of Tinnitus " A Look at Some Medicines With Adverse Effects

Medicines of a certain variety can, in fact, give birth to tinnitus problems. The situation can be considerably worsened by consuming some types of drugs as well.

Let us now look at some of the common medicines that are considered to be among the contributing factors of tinnitus as well:

Antibiotic medicines (e.g. Vancomycin, Erythromycin, Tetracycline, Bleomycin and Chloramphenicol).

Cancer-treating drugs (e.g. Vincristine and Mechlorethamine).

Diuretic drugs, namely, ethacrynic acid, bumetanide or furosemide.

Quinine drugs, which are widely prescribed to treat malarial problems, and other diseases of a similar nature.

Researches show that aspirin can also cause tinnitus. This risk is particularly high when one consumes aspirin for a long period of time, and at high doses too. Such habits can result in the person hearing continuous sounds of ringing.

All the basic causes of tinnitus have to be properly detected, and then, treated accordingly. Tinnitus can be caused by many reasons and so it is a multi-factorial ailment. However, the conventional remedies do not find out what the causes of the disease might be, and deal only with the symptoms of the problem. Naturally, the relief that they provide are not of a lasting nature. On the contrary, the entire human body is deemed as a single structure under the holistic approaches to treat tinnitus. This approach advises the affected person to change his/her lifestyle, and also recommend certain medicines and other herbal remedies. The holistic methods find out each of the reasons behind the tinnitus problems, and correct the issues. Hence, it is hardly surprising that holistic methods work the best as curative measures for tinnitus.

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Caribbean Food Fusion A Background

By Melissa Walker-Jones

The beauty of the Caribbean is reflected in it's food. Everyone who has ever been to the Caribbean knows and loves the cuisine of the Islands. The history that is built into the world of Caribbean food, offers a combination of flavours, textures and aromas that delight the senses and tickle the palette.

If you are a fan of Caribbean food, then perhaps you are someone who is looking for recipes for dishes first sampled on a trip to one of the islands that you can cook at home. Perhaps you've not yet had a visit to one of the Caribbean islands but have friends or family that have introduced you to this type of cooking and you want to try it out for yourself.

It doesn't really matter where or how, all that matters is that you enjoy the food that you are eating and that through the enjoyment of the authentic dishes you are getting a little slice of Caribbean life to make your world that little bit better.

Why is Caribbean cooking fusion cooking? The original south American indian tribes that inhabited the islands of the Caribbean, the Arawaks, Taino and Caribs cooked using the fruits and vegetables found on the islands. As more people from around the world arrived, the Europeans, who brought enslaved Africans, techniques, flavors and ingredients began to change.

Slave masters gave their slaves the foods they didn't want. The enslaved AFricans had to find new ways to make the inferior food taste good, so tenderizing meats with herbs and spices, slow cooking stews infused with vegetables and fruits all made the food taste better and also stretch. Later Asian indentured laborers brought from China and India added to the culinary mix.

If you are someone who enjoys Caribbean food, then why not try to cook some at home for yourself? What are the techniques you need to use? Well for starters, ensure that the meat, vegetables, herbs and spices you are using are fresh and of the best quality that you can find. Many Caribbean Islanders are within 30 miles of an agriculture producer so their produce is usually very fresh, there are very few Islands that don't have some sort of agriculture or farming community.

The most important aspect of this style of cooking is in the marinades. If you are cooking a meat dish them be sure to season and leave to marinade for at least 2 hours, or preferable overnight in the fridge. This is an important part of Caribbean cooking as it is how the meat is tenderized and the flavors are allowed to soak in, giving the dish greater depth and body.

Cooking meat slowly is another feature of Caribbean food. Remember the islands are a relaxing place. So should the method by which you cook island food. Slow cooking helps meat to develop flavor and tenderness if cooked over a low fire.

I hope this article has given you a little taste of the Caribbean and has even, possibly got you in the mood to try out some Caribbean recipes for yourself. As said before, Caribbean food is really a fusion style of cooking. The inhabitants of the Islands took what was available to them and created dishes that are still with us today.

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