Archive for December, 2008

How to Overcome Insomnia

Monday, December 29th, 2008

Insomnia is a condition characterized by difficulty getting to sleep or difficulty staying asleep, or both. Problems with sleep are often associated with many conditions, including medical and psychiatric illnesses. Sometimes insomnia can be caused of drug or alcohol abuse.

Depending of the type and the causes of insomnia there are different treatments. The best way to do is to look for medical treatment that is monitored by your doctor. In addition you can try some of the following practices that sometimes have positive effect in curing sleeping disorders.

Exercise.
Exercise has a direct, beneficial effect on several factors that affect insomnia. Physical activity reduces stress and anxiety that sometimes cause insomnia. Regular sport activities usually improve sleep patterns for many people.

Routines.
Many people suffering from insomnia prove they have overcome it by a strict bedtime routine. It can include various activities such as hygiene practices, making of the bed, having a cup of warm milk, etc. the point is to start associating these with sleeping and improve sleep.

Relaxation techniques.
Some relaxation techniques can also be employed to help overcome insomnia. First of all stop any activities at least four hours before bedtime. You can try some relaxation exercises or yoga to help falling asleep and better night sleep. Aromatherapy also helps so check which aroma therapeutic substances re good for this purpose. Another relaxation technique is to receive some massage treatment.

Sleep restriction.
This is another common method for overcoming insomnia. The idea is all time spend in bed to be in sleeping. It is achieved by calculating only the sleeping time. Than the person suffering from insomnia should go to bed at a time that will make the waking hour when the sleeping time is calculated.

People who prefer to be awake until late in the night simply go to bed later so that they can get up at a decent time and people who prefer to be awake in the mornings go to bed earlier.

The whole idea of this method is that the only time allowed in bed is for sleeping. The allowed time should be monitored and adjusted according the result shown. Not only that by this treatment the bed is only associated with sleep but also it is likely that the day time fatigue to increase which can also help overcome insomnia.

Alternative methods.

Insomnia can be overcome by some alternative methods as well. Traditional Chinese Medicine and hypnosis are some of the common practices. If you are eager to try something of these find a certified practitioner and always check with your doctor if the recommended treatment is suitable for you.

Keith Londrie II is the Webmaster of http://overcominginsomnia.coffee-info.info A website that specializes in providing information on overcoming insomniathat you can research on the internet. Please Visit http://overcominginsomnia.coffee-info.info Today!

The Different Stroke Types

Thursday, December 25th, 2008

Stroke is a medical condition characterised by interruption of blood supply to the brain. This may happen of a blood vessel is blocked and stops blood from entering the brain or when there is a bleeding.

There are three types of stroke: ischemic stroke, intracerebral haemorrhage and subarachnoid haemorrhage.

Ischemic Stroke
The ischemic stroke is the most common type of stroke. Almost 80% of all stroke cases are of ischemic stroke. The ischemic stroke occurs when a blood vessel in the brain is blocked. Regular supply of fresh blood is vital to brains health. If a blood vessel is blocked, the brain cells cannot receive blood rich of oxygen and nutrients and they stop working. If the blood supply is stopped for more than a few minutes the brain cells start dying. The ischemic stroke may be caused by many reasons but the most common one is narrowing the arteries of the neck and the head. If the blood vessels become too narrow blood cells start to collect and form blood clogs. These clogs may block the blood vessel or dislodge and get closer to the brain and again clog the blood vessel. An ischemic stroke may be also caused by drug abuse, injury, or disorders of blood clotting.

Intracerebral Haemorrhage
The intracerebral haemorrhage stroke occurs when a blood vessel inside the brain bursts. In this case blood just leaks out causing high pressure to the cells that surround the leak. If the blood leaks out rapidly there might be a severe brain damage and even death. The intracerebral haemorrhage usually occurs in selected parts of the brain and that is why the damages may be to selected functions of the body. The intracerebral haemorrhage stroke is caused by high blood pressure and it may occur in people of all ages including children. Overall around 12% of all strokes are of this type.

Subarachnoid Haemorrhage
The subarachnoid haemorrhage occurs when a blood vessel just outside the brain bursts causing blood to leak out. The area of the skull surrounding the brain fills with blood and that is why people experiencing subarachnoid haemorrhage may feel sudden severe headache, neck pain, and nausea or vomiting. This kind of stoke is typical for people of all ages, especially for young adults and teenagers. It is more common for women than for men and is caused by a disease of the arteries. It may develop from birth or in childhood and grow very slowly.

Keith Londrie II is the Webmaster of http://life-after-strokes.info A website that specializes in providing information on
Life After Strokesthat you can research on the internet. Please Visit http://life-after-strokes.info Today!

Facts About Cold Sores

Tuesday, December 23rd, 2008

Cold sores are unsightly, contagious and very painful sores, normally occurring on the edge of the lip or nose.

Cold sores are created by the replication process of the herpes simplex virus type 1 or type 2. Current studies show that about 77% of cold sores are caused by the herpes simplex type 1 and about 23% by the type 2 version of this simplex virus.

For the most part, cold sores caused by either type of the herpes virus are identical. They both look the same, hurt the same, are just as contagious, and last about the same amount of weeks.

Cold sores will occur and reoccur in about the same location as the initial infection. For example, if your cold sore appears on your upper left lip, then this is the site of the original infection. The virus that causes cold sores lives in the nerve cells.

It will seek out the nearest nerve fibers at the site where the virus enters the body. That herpes virus will make a home in that particular nerve fiber for the rest of your life.

Now don’t be fooled. You can be infected several times in different locations. If another cold sore appears on your lower right lip, this is a different infection and you now have located another “family” of the cold sore virus living in another nerve fiber.

When you have a cold sore, keep in mind that you are not only very contagious to others, but to other locations on your own body too. Cold sores can appear anywhere on the body where the virus found a crack in the protective skin layer.

The herpes simplex virus normally is in hibernation farther down the nerve fibers from the surface. If you get a cold sore on your upper left lip, chances are this virus is hiding in the nerve ganglia near your left ear.

Your body defenses create cold sore anti-bodies each time you have a cold sore outbreak. These anti-bodies surround and help keep the herpes virus asleep. Should there be some stress in another part of your body, these defenses may weaken and the cold sore virus will snatch the opportunity to move to the surface and create new viruses.

The herpes simplex virus cannot reproduce itself. The virus will enter a nerve cell and force the cell to clone copies of itself. When the cell becomes full of new virus, the original virus will destroy the cell to release all the new clones. This destruction of millions of cells in a close area create those hideous open cold sores.

The open cold sore would be painful enough, but it is even more so because the herpes virus creates the cold sore right on the end of that nerve fiber. The pain is quite similar to a dentist hitting a nerve.

The most common way of infecting others with cold sores is kissing. Doting relatives and friends usually infect children before they are seven. Remember, you are contagious from the first tingle until about two days after complete healing.

Cold sore sufferers will many times create a new area of infection on their body with contaminated fingers or towels. The fluid that weeps from cold sores is teaming with fresh virus looking for a new home.

If you have a cut on your finger and you get even one virus in that cut, you will likely get cold sores on your finger.

The body will naturally cure your cold sores without any special cold sore treatment but it often takes three to four weeks. A long time to be socially sidelined and feeling poorly.

There are many over-the-counter and prescription treatments for cold sores. The best and quickest relief comes from topical treatments – a salve or ointment that you put directly on the cold sore.

There are some prescription pills that are available but these are generally slow acting, giving no immediate relief for the cold sore sufferer. For the most part, oral remedies from the drug companies have been dismal failures.

Many people have reported great success with oral doses of the amino acid Lysine. Recommended dosage is 1000 mg. twice a day during the cold sores outbreak and 500 mg. per day between cold sores.

Ice is still the most universal and readily available cold sore treatment. Put ice cubes in a zipper type plastic bag and you’ll avoid a lot of mess. Ice reduces swelling, deadens the pain, and helps discourage the cold sores virus. And applying ice at the first sign of a cold sore often prevents the cold sore from actually occurring or shortens the life-span of your cold sores.

Denny Bodoh is a 35 year newspaper veteran and research writer on alternative health and nutrition. Get the latest information on cold sores and great cold sore treatment ideas at Denny’s popular cold sore site:
http://www.be-cold-sore-free.com

To The Rescue On Hair Dilemmas

Wednesday, December 17th, 2008

Many of us may have been neglecting our crowning glories by constantly damaging it with hair color, hair bleach, blow dry or iron, sun exposure and god knows other hair products and procedures causing it to suffer so much torture. It is for these reasons that there are many among us who have damaged strands making our hair look dull and lifeless. Read on and you’ll find some solutions to many of your hair dilemmas.

Split ends have time and again been constantly plaguing many among us. This usually happens when the tips of our hair strands dry up and then begin to split cause usually by excessive blow drying, ironing, perming and other chemical procedures performed on the hair. You can only get rid of it by cutting the ends but you can prevent it by doing a once a week deep conditioning with a deep conditioner as well as regularly having a trim.

The problem of falling and thinning hair has not been uncommon. Hair losses are sometimes caused by hormonal imbalances, medications, improper perming or coloring, tight braids or ponytails and even fungal infections. Always eat a healthy diet and select a shampoo that is suited for your type of hair to prevent hair falling.

Damaged hair is dry and is caused as well by the culprits that causes split ends. Keep the moisture locked in by using a protective conditioner during a bath. A leave on conditioner or some conditioning agent helps as well to be applied to help protect hair when it will be blow dried.

If your problem is frizzy hair then your hair lacks moisture. This problem is best addressed with a moisturizing shampoo. You can also find numerous anti-frizz products being offered in the market to help tame your tresses.

There are several important things that we have to take note of. Hair should be dry at least 80% of it before doing any styling, tying, or even before sleeping. A wide-toothed comb is ideal to use when combing it while it is still wet or damp. If you have colored hair and would want to color it again, you have to wait for at least two months minimum to avoid or prevent damage. Give your hair a weekly treatment whether at the salon or by yourself in the comfort of your own home. A good diet that is rich in vitamin E as well as protein can help keep your hair healthy and very shiny.

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