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.

Friday, July 31, 2009

Do You Have a Sleep Disorder?

By Jason McDrarren

Sleep disorders are more common today than every before. Many people don't even realize they have a sleep disorder. If you have trouble falling asleep at night or if you wake up numerous times throughout the night, then you might have a sleep disorder. Do your family members comment on how exhausted you look? Or perhaps you get irritated more easily than you should and find that you easily become emotional? All of these factors could indicate that you suffer from a sleep disorder.

Sleep disorders can be identified by paying attention to the problem itself. Some people have trouble falling asleep while others have difficulty waking up in the morning. Others can't seem to stay awake throughout the day. Many people discover that they do odd things while they sleep. Still other people have trouble sleeping because their partner or spouse keeps them up at night.

If it is falling asleep that you have trouble with then you ought to identify if it is falling asleep at night that's the problem or is it falling asleep after waking in the middle of the night or in the early morning that is the problem? Difficulty with falling asleep at bedtime is quite common. It is called sleep latency and could indicate that you are suffering from sleep onset insomnia or restless leg syndrome. Those that find it hard to stay asleep all night are experiencing sleep fragmentation. There are several sleep disorders that could cause this. You might be suffering from sleep maintenance insomnia or advanced sleep phase disorder. All of these sleep problems could be compounded if your sleep patterns change because of a changing work schedule.

For those that have no trouble sleeping through the night but do have problems staying awake throughout the day there are other possible causes. One sleep disorder of this type is called narcolepsy and causes a person to fall asleep almost instantly at random times during the day. Other possibilities are obstructive sleep apnea or periodic limb movement disorder. This can also be a result of shift work.

Those with excessive sleep inertia find waking up in the morning very difficult. This could be the result of sleep apnea or delayed sleep phase disorder.

Other people find they do strange things when they are sleeping. This could range from sleep walking. They might wake up in new places or even make a meal while completely asleep. If this describes you then you may suffer from sleep walking, night terrors, or any number of parasomnias.

Some people can't sleep because their partner keeps them up. This might mean that their partner has a snoring problem or perhaps suffers from sleep apnea. Bruxism and restless leg syndrome are other possible culprits.

By identifying the type of sleep problem a person suffers from, it becomes easier to identify one of the many sleep disorders that could be responsible. This makes treatment possible.

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What Are Cataracts And How Are They Treated?

By Bella Holly

What is a cataract? A cataract is the result when the lens of an eye becomes damaged. A tell-tale sign of a cataract is a "cloudiness" of vision, which is due to the proteins in the eye become changed. If you suffer with a cataract, it is wise to gather as much information as possible about how to treat a cataract.

Cataract laser surgery is the best treatment option to go with, as it is the only way to completely restore vision to the eye. The basic idea is that an incision is made in the eye (the size of cut depends on the severity of the cataract), and if the lens damage is not too severe, it will be removed in pieces. If the damaged lens is significant, the lens is removed completely intact. After the damaged lens is removed, the surgeon implants an artificial lens which will remain permanently in the eye. One does not have to wait until the cataract becomes severe to have the surgery.

One of the most notable perks of having cataract surgery is that your eyesight improves as soon as the surgery is over! Obviously, your eye(s) will need time to heal, and 100% vision clarity may take a few months to achieve because of this. However, a pair of glasses (with a new prescription, of course) would suffice until your vision is completely restored.

Your doctor may require you to administer eye drops for a course of eight weeks, just to make sure that your eye does not sustain any infection as a result of the surgery. It is imperative that you keep your eye as clean as possible, which means avoiding eye make-up and, whenever possible, making sure that soap does not get in your eye (although that's not very fun even without having had surgery!).

You must bear in mind that any kind of surgery carries some risks, but very few patients actually have any serious complications when undergoing this surgery. Everything you do to treat medical problems comes with some degree of risk, but simple surgery has been proven to cure cataracts in almost all cases.

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Selecting An Elliptical Trainer

By Bella Holly

If you've heard all about the benefits of using an elliptical trainer and have decided you'd like to buy one, the next step is to decide which elliptical trainer you want to purchase. Whether your motivation for purchasing home fitness equipment is to tone up, lose weight, or rebuild your strength after an injury, there are a few things you need to decide before committing to a purchase.

Exercise machines can be a rather large purchase, therefore it's important to know what type of results you want gain. As you're at least considering an elliptical trainer, you probably want a low impact cardiovascular workout centered on the lower body, core, and arm muscles. An elliptical trainer is definitely the best machine for such a workout. Plus, you won't have to worry about joint or back strain.

The first thing you'll want to be aware of is your price range. It's a good idea to do a bit of browsing so you know what you want, and even some of the most popular brands and models can be bought at reduced prices online. So, while it is an important factor to know your budget and stay within it, you might do a bit of shopping around online to price compare and see what deals you can find.

Another thing you will want to take into consideration when picking out your trainer is the construction of the model. While weight restrictions aren't always a problem with fitness equipment, it can be with some cheaper models made of less sturdy material. You can easily compare elliptical trainer reviews online to find out which machines have proven durable and which have been duds.

Next, look for something that offers enough features to ensure you will actually want to use the machine. Some will come with pre-programmed workouts and others will have built in fans, MP3 player plug-ins, or games that can be played on the console while working out.

Obviously, the amount of extra gadgets the machine is equipped with, the more likely it is to be in a higher price range. Lots of buttons and features aren't for all people-some are happy with a straight-forward, simple machine, while others love the "extras." It's definitely a decision that depends upon your taste and budget.

If you are having trouble deciding where to start with your elliptical trainer hunt, try having a look at Sole elliptical trainers. They're one of the top selling brands and have very good user reviews. They're decently priced and are very durable. They also offer models with lots of gizmos for you who like extra features.

For more information about Elliptical trainers, you can contact your local fitness equipment store or gym. Many resources online compare user reviews to help make your elliptical trainer purchase the most satisfying.

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How To Resolve Pregnancy Bad Breath Issues

By Danielle Justie

We all know that bad breath is common to most of us, however, are you aware that you can actually experience this more when you are pregnant? Pregnant women more often encounter this pregnancy bad breath issues, and this could be due to certain hormonal changes in the body which can also be one of the main reasons why there is a possible weakening of one's dental condition during this time.

Not all pregnant women expect this kind of condition during and after giving birth. Usually post pregnancy concerns would be more often about reducing weight, bringing back the old body figure, and get rid of the excess fats, skin and other changes that are frustrating for the part of the woman. Now, you may also consider having oral and dental problems during this time.

This is the reason why more often you see advertisements which are more related to having pregnant women drink beverages that can enhance calcium intake. These products are out in the market to alleviate issues concerning calcium deficiency for pregnant women and their baby. Without enough calcium in the body, or calcium intake, the bones and dentures of a pregnant woman would be weaker than normal, and that is why supplementation is needed.

If you cannot give the right calcium supplementation for your body needs during pregnancy, there is no way for you to be able to regain the strength of your bones and teeth during pregnancy, and this is one reason why one may encounter oral problems such as mouth diseases, halitosis and other gum problems.

So one would probably be searching for the best mouth solution that would have no side effects for the child, to get rid of bad breath. Since the baby inside a pregnant woman's body would be very sensitive enough to any chemicals that may be found toxic for their tiny little bodies, it would be safer to look for natural or herbal alternatives.

The first thing that one should look into is limiting the production of anaerobic bacteria in the mouth which causes bad breath. This pregnancy bad breath issue could be very aggravating on the part of the pregnant woman, so finding the best solution for the problem would be good news for her.

There are essential oils and other natural remedies that a pregnant woman can make use of such as lemon, lime, and peppermint oils. The best alternative cure would also include using salt water with warm water in rinsing your mouth several times a day, or probably even try drinking lemon juice more often.

Definitely it is essential for every person to keep her oral hygiene in mind. Medications which you can buy from over the counter drug stores may not be that much helpful in this case. If a pregnant woman is dealing with bad breath and she wants to resolve the issue soon, she should try doing some research on alternative health solutions she can find, which would be safe enough for her and her baby.

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Taking The Right Vitamins Can Help You Lose Weight

By Tom Servo

It is said that certain vitamins can help you lose weight. Vitamins make your body healthy and stronger, and being slim is all about being fit. Taking a vitamin is certainly much easier than running a mile or counting calories, so their no excuse to be lazy about this.

Nevertheless, you should still exercise and diet if you want to lose weight. Taking the right vitamins will just give you that extra edge. Here are some excellent vitamins you can take to lose weight:

B Vitamins: B2, B3, B5, and B6 are great for your metabolism, which is an important part of losing weight. If you don't want to take a B vitamin supplement, you can incorporate lots of eggs, oatmeal and wheat into your diet.

Choline: Choline is helps metabolize fat. Surprisingly, egg yolks (often said to be bad for you) contain contain lots of choline. Perhaps instead of eating an all whites omelet, you could you mix one yolk into your omelet, so that you're still cutting calories, fat and cholesterol, but also getting some choline. Choline is also found in peanuts and wheat germ.

Vitamin C: Vitamin C does a lot more than simply boost your immune system; it also improves the way your body converts glucose into energy. I think vitamin C tablets are yummy, but if you don't like them, you can eat lots of citrus fruits and green vegetables like oranges, grape fruit and broccoli.

Very Important: Believe it or not, there is such a thing as a vitamin overdose. Don't get impatient and think that if you take a bottle of vitamins at once, you will lose weight faster. You won't.

You'll just make yourself sick. Only take the daily recommended value of the vitamins you need. Vitamins are our friends, but if you abuse them, they can harm you. Like all good things, use them in moderation.

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