Archive for the ‘Health and Fitness’ Category

Red, burning, swollen and so stiff you don’t want to move…
that’s what those who suffer from arthritis experience on a
daily basis. If you know this all to well, you are probably
one of the 46 million Americans (that’s 1 out of every 5
people) that are living with arthritis every day. To better
understand how to get relief from this debilitating disease
we need to dive deeper into its root cause.

Some of the types of arthritis which are associated with
inflammation include:

* rheumatoid arthritis
* gout
* tendinitis
* bursitis
* polymyalgia rheumatica

What is Arthritis?

Arthritis actually means joint (arthr) inflammation (itis).
Arthritis can be used to define a group of more than 100
rheumatic diseases and other conditions that can cause pain,
stiffness and swelling in the joints or any part of your body.
Additionally, it can damage the joint cartilage which can lead
to joint weakness, instability and visible deformities that
can interfere and, in severe cases, limit a person’s ability to
perform most basic daily tasks such as walking, climbing stairs,
using a computer keyboard, washing dishes or brushing your
teeth. Arthritis can affect anyone regardless of age and most
commonly affects joints in the knees, hips, hands and spine. If
left undiagnosed and not treated properly, arthritis can cause
irreversible damage to the joints, bones, organs, and skin. Not
to mention dramatically impair your quality of life.

Arthritis-related conditions primarily affect the muscles and
the bones but it is also considered to be systemic, affecting
the whole body. Arthritis can cause damage to any bodily organ
or system, including the lungs, kidneys, blood vessels, skin and
even the heart. The Arthritis Foundation sites two independent
studies (Brigham and Women’s Hospital in Boston and at the Mayo
Clinic in Rochester, Minnesota) both of which prove that the
widespread inflammation in rheumatoid arthritis is linked to
heart disease and an increased risk of early death.

No one really knows the exact cause of arthritis but there are
certain risk factors to keep in mind:

* Genetics – likely to contribute to risk but no one knows
how much.
* Age – the older you are the more at risk you become.
* Weight – maintaining a healthy weight will ease the load on
the joints.
* Previous Injury – major injuries are likely to contribute to
risk.
* Occupational Hazards – repetitive, high demand jobs increase
risk.
* Certain Sports – high level, high demand sports can
contribute to arthritis (however, general exercise is always
a plus)
* Illness or infection – an infection in the joint or gout can
lead to arthritis.

What we do know is that when you have arthritis your immune system
goes into over-drive and causes the joints to swell and become
inflamed. Therefore, treating the inflammation becomes key in
managing the pain and discomfort associated with this condition.

Sadly enough, the Arthritis Foundation reports that half of those
Americans with arthritis don’t believe anything can be done to help
ease their pain. You may be in that situation yourself, having
thrown your hands up in frustration and simply decided to live with
your pain. The good news is that by reducing the inflammation you
can significantly ease the painful symptoms associated with
arthritis.

Here are a few ways to reduce your inflammation:

* Exercise – less weight equals less stress on joints
* Diet – Eat plenty of vegetables, fruits and whole-grain
products; limit sugar, salt and fat (especially saturated fat
found in animal products)
* Rest – a good balance between rest and activity is the key to
joint health
* Over-the-counter and prescription medications – while these may
provide temporary relief by masking the pain they are not always
get to the root of the problem – inflammation. They can also
have serious side effects, especially with long-term use.
* Natural anti-inflammatory supplements – probably the most
promising natural approach to reducing inflammation in a long
while. We recommend looking for supplements containing systemic
enzymes and all-natural herbal ingredients.

By taking these simple steps to reducing inflammation you will be well
on your way to managing your arthritis pain and it devastating effects
on your mind and body. Everyone should strive to achieve a healthy and
active lifestyle for optimal health and wellbeing.


Learn to get your life back.

Everyday we hear reports that the US population is becoming increasingly overweight, and just as often we are faced with a confusing array of diets, pills and other products, all claiming to help us lose weight. Most of these products are not grounded in sound nutrition. Recently, the benefits of weight loss through water fasting have been touted by certain health-conscious groups, However research does not support this claim.

Before beginning any type of diet, it is a sensible thing to determine if one is really overweight. It is easy to recognize excess weight, however there is a distinction between overweight and being obese. An overweight person is one who has a body mass index (BMI) of 25 to 29.9, while an obese person is one with a BMI of 30 or more.

Some people become overweight because of compulsive eating or food addiction. Drinking copious amounts of water will not help a person lose weight if he/she is constantly eating lots of fried foods and sweet things. During a water fast, a person drinks only water when thirsty. Water fasting is undertaken for spiritual reasons among several religions. Traditionally, Roman Catholics do a water fast before receiving Holy Communion. Muslims and Jews all fast at certain times of the year during special observances, while Christians fast whenever they feel like it.

Some people engage in water fasting as a means of detoxifying the body, with weight loss as its ultimate goal. It is believed that water fasting helps the body to heal and detoxify faster than juice fast. The idea behind this is that less energy is used in digesting food, freeing up energy for the release of toxins. However, doctors and dietitians warn against this practice, saying that the human body is capable of losing toxins through the skin, liver, colon and kidneys. They say that extended water fasts are harmful as the body loses vital nutrients; they also slow down the metabolism.

Proponents of water fasting attribute several health benefits to this type of fast. Among them are:
a. More energy
b. Healthier skin
c. Improved sleep
d. Elimination of headaches
e. Elimination of stored toxins and
f. Weight loss

Another reason given for water fasting is that more fat is burned during a water fast as the body has to draw on its stored fat for energy after the first few days of fasting. Finally, it is advised that water fasting is more effective when accompanied by physical and emotional rest. If this is not possible, then a juice fast is recommended.

Those who find the taste of water boring can drink carbonated water. There is no calories added and there is both neutral and flavored carbonated waters available.

Water by itself is essential to life. We cannot live without water, but like everything else it must not be overdone. Dietitians and nutrition experts maintain that the only way water can help a person lose weight is if they substitute water for high-calorie drinks and foods. While fasting may have some health benefits, the key to these benefits is moderation, and, as always, if in doubt consult your medical practitioner.

Making an informed decision about any surgery requires that you feel secure in your knowledge and understanding of the procedure that you will be having, which in this case is liposuction surgery. The Tumescent Liposuction technique has been recognized as the procedure with the least amount of pain, the greatest safety, the quickest recovery time and the best results.

Liposuction is often referred to as body sculpture and is heralded as a dream come true. If you have localized areas of accumulated fat that even dieting and exercising will not remove, then it is likely an inherited trait, which until recently you were stuck with no matter what. Liposuction surgery has made tremendous strides since its inception, such as being able to perform the procedure in an outpatient surgery center rather than a hospital. A great plus for the Tumescent procedure is that most patients will be able to walk out of the center or doctors office within 30 minutes after the procedure and should be able to go back to work within a day or two.

It is also interesting to note that for both women and men this is a very popular choice. In women, the most commonly treated areas for liposuction procedures are the abdomen, thighs, knees, hips, calves and ankles. Chin liposuction has also become popular. For men, the most commonly treated areas are “love handles,” the abdomen, breast and the chin, as well as neck liposuction.

The body fat of an adult usually increases gradually over the years and normally after the age of 30 much of the fat is the result of a genetically predetermined pattern. Unfortunately, this fat distribution tends to be resistant to exercising and dieting. For many individuals who have inherited this trait a liposuction procedure is the only realistic means of changing their body.

Fat cells that are removed during liposuction do not grow back. As long as you do not gain an excessive amount of weight, the results are permanent. If there is one complaint that most patients have in common, then it is the fact that due to post surgical swelling the ultimate results normally require 12 to 16 weeks to become completely apparent.

One factor that makes the Tumescent liposuction technique so popular is that it is performed completely under local anesthesia rather than a general anesthesia used during most surgeries. This eliminates the need for dangerous drugs and there is no nausea that can happen when using general anesthesia.

As with any surgical procedure, liposuction surgery is associated with some common side-effects, such as bruising, temporary numbness and swelling. And while some irregularities of the skin are possible after liposuction, this side-effect is minimized, along with other side-effects like infections, bleeding and nerve injury by using the Tumescent technique. Perhaps one of the most appealing aspects of this procedure is the minimal downtime involved, which those individuals with busy lifestyles really appreciate.

Liposuction recovery, after using general anesthesia, must be done in a recovery room until the doctor is satisfied that things such as blood loss, nausea and vomiting are under control. However, after having Tumescent liposuction, where local anesthesia was used there is little to no nausea and virtually no blood loss. At times a patient undergoing the Tumescent technique may be on the surgical table longer as it takes a while to inject the local anesthesia, however with the quicker recovery period it works out to roughly the same amount of time spent.

Liposuction can be the answer for many people that are suffering from excess weight that will not come off with diet and exercise. No matter how much you try to lose those pockets of cellulite through diet and exercise they just seem to never disappear. Before you go under the knife by a cosmetic surgeon you can check out other methods to get rid of that cellulite or at least reduce how it looks. You can be the shape you want without the surgery. All you have to do is begin your search by clicking here:Chin Liposuction and at Park City Liposuction