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Posts Tagged ‘men’s issues’

Narcolepsy - A Rare Sleep Disorder

July 5th, 2011

Narcolepsy is a fairly rare sleep disorder, which causes sufferers to fall asleep at any second of the day whether they are weary or not. Narcolepsy is a neurological disorder, meaning that the brain sends orders to the body that it is exhausted and ought to go to sleep immediately and the body obeys whatever it is doing.

Attacks of narcolepsy most often occur while the sufferer is doing something quiet, like watching TV or reading, but it can also occur when eating or driving, which is of course extremely dangerous. Some people fall asleep in the middle of a chat or at work in the middle of a job.

As with a number of other disorders like restless leg syndrome and sleep apnoea and even snoring, it is not usually the sufferer that is first aware that he or she has a problem. Very frequently a spouse or colleague is the first to alert them to their condition and frequently it take quite a time before they will believe it and even longer before they do anything about it.

There are five indications of narcolepsy, but not all sufferers will suffer all five of them: daytime drowsiness, broken sleep patterns (a kind of insomnia), sleep paralysis, hypnagogic hallucinations and cataplexy. If you have any of these indications, you ought to get yourself checked out, in case you too fall asleep at the wheel or while carrying out a dangerous manouevre in work.

The first and most obvious symptom is daytime drowsiness. Victims of narcolepsy might have the irresistible urge to go to sleep during the day five or six times or more. Narcoleptics call these 'sleep attacks' and say that they last for from five to ten minutes each.

Broken sleep patterns are not a ideal means by which to judge as many people suffer from insomnia for other reasons too.

About half the sufferers of narcolepsy experience sleep paralysis, which is when the sufferer can neither talk nor move for a number of minutes just before falling asleep and slightly after waking up. It can be very frightening for the narcoleptic and the family.

About the same percentage suffer from cataplexy, which is the loss of muscle control whilst awake. The bouts of cataplexy occur usually for short periods of time during episodes of great emotion. For instance, when the sufferer is very angry, very glad or very emotional. Occasionally, the sufferer falls down and goes limp - it looks as if they have dropped asleep, but| they are totally awake and fully conscious.

A hypnagogic hallucination happens just before sleeping or and slightly after waking up and involves seeing incredibly vivid images or and hearing incredibly lifelike sounds.

These experiences are often accompanied by sleep paralysis and most sufferers find them very frightening. Normally, the sufferer cannot distinguish between this hallucination and reality during a bout.

There are other symptoms which transpire occasionally such as migraine or headaches and 'automatic actions' which are not quite right, like putting books away in the fridge or writing off the edge of a page. Narcolepsy can be treated with pills.

Owen Jones, the writer of this article, writes on many topics, but is now concerned with obstructive sleep apnea syndrome. If you want to know more, please visit our web site at Sleep Apnea Surgery Techniques

Cure For Restless Legs Without Drugs

June 25th, 2011

If you find yourself unable to sleep at night because of the persistent pain in your legs, then you may be suffering from RLS or restless leg syndrome. This condition is characterized by aching, throbbing or tingling sensation on the leg. The sensation is often times more noticeable when the leg is at rest. People who have RLS feel the need to continuously move their legs in order to ease the discomfort.

There are no proven causes for this condition but experts believe that RLS may be a neurological disorder. It may be caused by an imbalance in dopamine levels, the substance that aids in the transmission of signals between the brain and the nerve cells. This may also be hereditary and people who are pregnant or suffer from medical conditions like diabetes, rheumatism, and renal failure are more likely to experience RLS.

RLS should be acted upon swiftly. It is simple to do RLS treatment at home if the condition is still at its early stage. Exercising the legs regularly is the best method. You can also lessen the need to keep your leg moving and put it into a more relaxed mode by doing simple walking and stretching exercises.

Another simple and easy treatment for RLS is to maintain a healthy diet. Load up on protein as it is the nutrient that is responsible in keeping the muscles strong and firm. It is also better to stay away from food or beverages that contain caffeine like coffee, tea, energy drinks, and chocolates. Taking up daily supplements that are rich in iron, magnesium, and folate may be of help too.

One of the most sure treatments for restless leg syndrome is to soak your leg in a warm tub of water for about ten to fifteen minutes each day. For people averse to taking medications, aromatherapy with lavender or other botanical extracts infused in oils has been shown to be effective in reducing RLS. You can also help to ensure yourself of a good night?s sleep and remove the sensation of restless leg by giving them a good massage before you go to bed.

Taking herbal medicines can be an effective RSL treatment too. Ginkgo biloba is probably one of the most effective herbal remedies as it works to increase the blood flow and strengthen the cell membranes. This promotes more effective signal transmissions to the brain. Valerian root may also be effective because of its natural sedating characteristics. It is commonly used as treatment for disorders that may be caused by stress. Ginseng on the other hand, may work as well. Because it is known as a tonic for the whole body, it increases the body's resistance in order to be able to adapt with stressful conditions.

For worse case conditions, you may use certain kinds of drugs like dopamine agonists, anticonvulsants or opioids for RLS treatment. However, these medications should be prescribed only by a doctor and should not be taken without a prescription. Pain relievers can also be taken for temporary relief but one must be careful not to get too dependent. If the pain becomes too unbearable even after taking low doses of medication, the safest way to consult with your doctor for other possible treatments.

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Gout Treatment: Which to Choose?

June 20th, 2011

Gout is actually a particular type of arthritis that comes from an overabundance of uric acid forming in your joints. Gout may come about as either one of two forms namely acute or chronic. Acute gout is where only one joint is typically affected, while chronic gout involves repeated episodes of inflammation and pain and may involve more than one joint.

Many people get gout from high levels of uric acid, but there are many people that never get gout even with a high level of it. How gout is actually contracted is not also clear but it has been proven to run in families, with males and post-menopausal women more susceptible. The risk of developing gout is further elevated by the use of medications which could increase the levels of uric acid in the blood. Individuals who suffer from diabetes, leukemia, and kidney disease are also at an increased risk for gout, and are often in search of effective treatments.

You may be needing gout treatment if you have the following symptoms. If you have sudden pain in your joints and you are unsure as to what is causing it, you might want to check out the gout option. The ankle joints, knees and big toes are the most commonly affected areas. If you have Gout, the pain can be miserable, and many people describe it as a throbbing, crushing, excruciating pain. It is typical during the night that these types of pains will begin. Gout treatment may be needed if the affected joint is warm, red, and tender. Simply laying a blanket over it will lead to a painful sensation. There is fever. There are recurring attacks.

The usual treatment for gout involves anti-inflammatory drugs like indomethacin, naproxen, or ibuprofen as soon as symptoms manifest, with prescriptions scheduled for 4 to 10 days. Once you have any inflammation in check, you may wish to obtain some pain killers to increase your comfort level. For quick relief, corticosteroids may also be injected on the inflamed area. Relief will begin roughly twelve hours after treatment and total relief will be seen after 48 hours.

A big part of treating gout involves dietary restrictions; certain foods are known to cause gout attacks. Some of the food you should keep in moderation or completely avoid depending on the severity of your gout attack include: alcohol, sardines, organ meats, anchovies, spinach, legumes, cauliflower, asparagus, and baked goods - because of brewer's yeast. Watch out for those sugary drinks too since fructose from corn syrup has also been associated with increased gout risk.

By increasing your intake of dairy and carbohydrates, you can prevent gout attacks. You are safe to consume your meats since protein-rich foods have not been show to either reduce or increase risks for gout attacks.

There is nothing that will completely prevent you from ever being effected by gout. You do have control over the risk factors of gout, however. Doing these things will help you to enjoy life and by pass the miseries of gout.

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Sciatica Treatment That May Help

June 15th, 2011

Recent medical developments have led to a massive range of Sciatica treatment options. Long-term relief from pain in your lower back, thighs, ankles, and feet can now be experienced thanks to these treatment methods.

In ancient times, people who experienced incessant periods of lower back pain have been advised to rest in bed. Adequate bed rest was believed to be the best pain reliever for sore bones and joints. However, clinical research has suggested that bed rest alone cannot offer relief for those who suffer from Sciatica nerve pain.

Overall, these studies lead to the inevitable conclusion that nothing is helped by staying in bed and waiting for the pain to stop. Try these effective Sciatica treatment options to heal all those aching joints and bones for good.

Medications for Sciatica: Anti-inflammatory and non-steroidal drugs are used for the treatment of nerve pain. In some cases, drugs that resemble cortisone are also injected into the space surrounding the patients spinal column. However, both of these medications will only provide temporary relief because they fail to attack the root of the problem.

Invasive surgeries: Those who experience Sciatic pain due to herniated discs have the option to undergo laminectomy, an advanced surgical treatment for Sciatica. This procedure involves the removal of a portion of a patient?s posterior arch to decrease some of the pressure that can affect pinched and contracted nerve tissues.

If your Sciatic pain is a result of spinal stenosis, the part of the bone that is causing the pressure will be removed.

Surgery, though, isn't the best choice for everybody. If you are a candidate for surgery, you will meet the criteria of sciatic pain for between 4-6 weeks, and you will exhibit spinal stiffening and disc herniation.

Natural remedies for Sciatica: Patients who do not want to undergo surgery may also capitalize on effective natural remedies. Ice packs, stretching, and increased physical activities are recognized as effective ways to ease the symptoms of Sciatic pain.

Applying ice packs on the affected areas can reduce the inflammation around the nerve. Ice packs can be used for ten minutes at least thrice a day. This can help in stopping the inflamed area from getting much worse.

Improving pelvic balance is also a good way to cure Sciatica for good. A balanced pelvis will ease off all the excessive amount of force applied on the Sciatic nerves. Performing some exercises as well as maintaining a proper posture can drastically enhance pelvic balance.

Keeping active is an important factor in effective treatment of sciatica. If you sit or stay in bed for protracted periods of time, you?ll only worsen your sciatic condition. By gently flexing joints and moving around every now and then, the symptoms of Sciatica can be decreased.

Surgery, medications, and natural remedies are only some of the best known ways to treat Sciatic pain. Monitor all your improvements while undergoing any of these treatment options. The best Sciatica treatment will gradually help you reclaim all the normal activities you were previously able to do.

Before you try any sciatica cure options, it is better to understand more on sciatic nerve exercise here.

Finding A Remedy For Snoring For A Good Night’s Sleep

June 8th, 2011

Snoring is considered a 'benign difficulty' by most people who snore. A bit of a joke really. But it is no joke to people who have to listen to it. No joke at all. Snoring can also be a sign that there is a deeper problem. It is similar to obstructive sleep apnoea, but is not necessarily the same.

It is similar to obstructive sleep apnoea too in that the sufferer is hardly ever aware of the problem - that is left to a sleeping partner or everyone else in the house.

Lack of sleep may sound like bad luck or something that can be caught up on the next day, but in actual fact it goes far deeper than that. Those who have not had a decent night's sleep find it difficult to concentrate and may even nod off. This is naturally not a good concept if you are a driver.

Sleep apnoea causes a loss of quality sleep on a regular basis and so it is no surprise that sufferers of obstructive sleep apnoea run three times more risk of a driving accident or a major accident at work than others. That is horrific enough, but the sleeping partner of a sufferer of obstructive sleep apnoea runs the same increased risk.

Apnoea also puts more strain on the heart and is a major issue in high blood pressure. It also starves the brain of oxygen with whatever effects that may have.

There are a number of methods of treating snoring (apnoea is normally treated with an oxygen mask called CPAP).

There are nose strips which stop the walls of the nose collapsing and reverberating, if that is your problem. There are extraordinary pillows that raise the head decreasing the weight of a heavy neck on the windpipe. There are dental appliances to stop the tongue and other parts slipping back into the airway causing an obstruction. There is acupuncture and there is hypnotism.

However, it is worth noting, that most of the loudest snorers are overweight. For these individuals, the first approach has to be to lose weight, because that will also benefit them in many other ways as well.

Individuals find that switching their sleeping position assists with their snoring. The worst position for snoring is lying on your back. Lying on your side is a good manner of reducing snoring as can lying on your front.

The thing to keep in mind is the weight of your skin and flesh weighing down on your windpipe, especially on your throat. There is also the problem of your tongue and palate falling into the back of your throat and either vibrating or blocking the passage - lying on your side or front stops this happening.

Owen Jones, the writer of this article, writes on several subjects, but is now concerned with obstructive sleep apnea syndrome. If you want to know more, please go to our web site at Sleep Apnea Surgery Techniques

Obstructive Sleep Apnea

June 7th, 2011

Sleep apnea or sleep apnoea is the condition which causes sufferers to stop breathing frequently during sleep. These pauses can last anything from a few seconds to a couple of minutes. There are three types of sleep apnea Central, Obstructive and Mixed or Complex Apnea. Obstructive apnea is by the most common form and it normally comes about in overweight, middle-aged men.

The most frequently recommended method of overcoming obstructive apnea is weight loss, but as this is not simple for most overweight people, the most common remedy is CPAP, which means the wearing of an oxygen mask.

The problem with sleep apnea is that the shortage of breath means that the blood and the brain are starved of oxygen. When the level of oxygen in the brain drops to a certain level, it wakes the body up to do something about it. However, the heart normally beats more slowly at night, giving it a rest, but as the oxygen level in the blood drops, the heart will pump harder to send more blood and oxygen to the areas it is most needed.

Another consequence is that people suffer from fatigue during the day, which leads to falling asleep at the wheel and accidents at the place of work. In fact, sufferers of apnea are three times more likely to have an accident than normal.

Sufferers of apnea rarely wake up when their brain gets them breathing again, but it can be very distressing for their partners. My wife thought that I had died when she first became conscious of my problem with obstructive sleep apnea and the spluttering back to a state of breathing is similar to a drowning man coming up for the second time.

Other problems that can occur after a night of poor sleep are those linked with tiredness: irritability, mood swings, bad concentration, headaches, excessive anxiety, depression, acid reflux, nocturnal sweating, loss of sex drive and elevated heart rate at night.

Most instances of obstructive apnea can be vastly improved by a loss in weight. In fact, a ten percent loss of weight can produce a twenty-five percent improvement in apnea. Moreover, anything that relaxes the muscles should be avoided - especially alcohol. Stopping smoking can help as well.

Mechanical means of improving the condition are raising the head, so that the weight on your neck hangs down towards the chest rather than pressing down on the windpipe. Sleeping on your side can help as well for the same reason.

Black African males and Indian (from India) males are almost twice as much at risk of suffering from apnea as Caucasians. Approximately 4% of Caucasian males and 2% of Caucasian females suffer from sleep apnea. A surprising statistic is that the same percentage of Chinese men and women suffer from apnea as Caucasians. This is startling because the Chinese are not normally as overweight as Caucasians.

The terms 'apnea' and 'apnoea' mean the same; the former being the American spelling and the latter being the English spelling.

Owen Jones, the writer of this article, writes on several topics, but is now concerned with obstructive sleep apnea syndrome. If you want to know more, please go to our website at Sleep Apnea Surgery Techniques

Tell Me About Sleep Apnea

May 23rd, 2011

I wouldn?t bother so much having my bed partner lie on the couch in the living room snoring, as I would if he suffered from sleep apnea, a more serious and harmful disorder. This breathing disorder during sleep that is followed by intermittent and shallow breathing can be treated easily provided it is found out in time and not mistaken for normal snoring.

Hence it is best to understand what sleep apnea and its indications are, so we can help a loved one that is suffering from the disorder of sleep apnea.

You have to know that untreated sleep apnea could hinder you having sound sleep at night and make you feel tired, fatigued, mentally exhausted and least productive on the next day. The breathing pauses could last anywhere between 10 to 20 seconds, take place up to 100 times on the same night. This would reduce the quantity of the deep natural sleep that is necessary for the body to function properly physically and mentally during the daytime.

Most of us know the implications of not having a sound night?s sleep and this is no exception for a person with sleep apnea. He/she would suffer from chronic daytime sleepiness, lack of concentration and slow reflexes that could make one have increased risks for accidents.

In addition the long-term results of sleep apnea are grave health disorders like diabetes, high blood pressure, heart disease, stroke, and weight gain.

Look out for symptoms of sleep apnea like loud and constant snoring, choking, gasping, snorting in sleep and long interruptions in breathing. In addition observe if he/she feels tired and sleepy during the day even after protracted hours of sleep at night.

In addition, watch out for dry mouth or sore throat on waking up, morning headaches, restiveness, insomnia, grumpiness, irritability or even depression. Waking up feeling restless, forgetful, with a lack of concentration power and recurrent trips to the bathroom at night could be other symptoms.

On observing these symptoms consult a specialist. He/she will prescribe an overnight stay in a hospital to observe and diagnose sleep apnea. It is best to know that just snoring or some of these indications does not lead to a diagnosis of sleep apnea.

Snoring could be just ordinary and it does not interfere with the quality and amount of sleep and make one feel chronically tired, sleepy or lack of concentration, all of which could lead to accidents. However the onus of diagnosing rests with the doctor.

It is a good idea to take into account that sleep apnea could be of a variety of types. In an episode of obstructive sleep apnea, the soft tissues on the back of the throat relax and obstruct oxygen from entering the lungs during sleep and it results in a brief disturbance of sleep.

However, central sleep apnea is less well-known but more grave and occurs when the brain fails to signal the breath controlling muscles to breathe and this could make one aware than one has woken up. The most serious of sleep apneas is the combination of both these apnea known as complex sleep apnea.

Believe me, sleep apnea could be readily discovered in the early stages with your bed partner?s help. A sleep diary would help him/her record your snoring, gasping, choking, or other unusual sounds. In addition a video recording of the patient would help you note signs of sleep apnea.

Owen Jones, the writer of this piece, writes on many subjects, but is now involved with obstructive sleep apnea syndrome. If you want to know more, please go to our web site at Sleep Apnea Surgery Techniques

Helpful Gout Remedies to Cure Your Pain

May 18th, 2011

Gout is a result of a buildup of crystallized uric acid, which then becomes stuck in various joints the body including fingers, toes, knees, ankles, etc. Gout is often characterized by discomfort in one's big toe. You may also experience swollen or aching joints that could last hours up to days. People who suffer from this problem often seek gout remedies that can help them combat the pain especially when it starts to flare up.

Various types of gout remedies are available today. Over-the-counter meds are available, but they can cause side-effects after extended use. This is why some gout sufferers turn to age old gout home remedies to help them fight back this painful disease.

When considering gout remedies, go natural! One example of this is cherries, which are high in Vitamin C content that are perfect for removing those crystallized deposits in your joints. Apple has been proven effective in reducing gout pain. If you have gout, you should have one a day.

There are home remedies for gout. One good example can be used for gout affecting the toes. Soak the affected toes in water and one-third cup of ginger for half an hour. Be sure to bathe your body thoroughly in order to wash away the ginger concoction once the thirty minutes are up. This is important especially when you don't want your skin to get irritated.

There is a simple remedy for gout that people often forget and that is drinking water. Lots of people fail to realize that keeping yourself hydrated can help prevent gout from appearing since it washes away the urate crystals from your body. The more glasses of water you drink every day, the more chances you have of being risk free from gout.

You might want to do some exercises as well to keep your joints from tightening and from swelling up aside from these natural gout remedies. You joints and muscles can be helped by stretching exercises. It is more efficient to concentrate only on the muscles and joints used while exercising. See to it that you get to exercise every day for at least 15 minutes.

These gout treatments are as effective as doctor's prescription medications for gout. Natural remedies are the least invasive way of dealing with joint pain.

Treating gout is easy with these quick home remedies. You can help reduce your overall pain and swelling by using some basic exercises and ingredients that you probably have in your home right now.

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Worthwhile Information About Prevent Kidney Stones

May 17th, 2011

The passing of a kidney stone is often regarded as being one of the most agonizing physiological experiences one can have. Kidney stones typically result from bad lifestyle choices. Some suffer from kidney stones because of inherited genes from one or both parents that make them prone to kidney stones. It is easy to treat kidney stones, with an early diagnosis. Kidney stones are usually passed naturally. Larger kidney stones, however, require more care, since they can cause more pain and suffering. So the earlier the kidney stones are treated, the less complicated the treatment has to be. The sooner these symptoms are recognized; the better the chances for treatment will be.

It is unfortunate that you can't diagnose a kidney stone since the pain is only felt after the the kidney stone is there. Normally, the pain is very severe and experienced on the back and under the rib cage. If you have an ache that won't go away, you should be concerned. Before making a decision in passing a kidney stone, make a lifestyle assessment on a few things in your daily habits. Eating too much red meat and drinking little water can be bad for your health. Do you have a low intake of fruits and vegetables? Do you hardly exercise? You have to realize that half of the equation in passing kidney stones should be attributed to your lifestyle. You need to be especially vigilant about preventing kidney stones if they run in your family.

Then that shouldn't be a problem if you are determined in passing kidney stones by yourself. For catching the deposits that come out of your bladder using a urine strainer will invariably help. Put this in a specimen container and take it to the doctor for further examination so the doctor can determine the root cause.

Increased urination will help the passing of kidney stones, so be sure to drink lots of water. The water cleanses the bladder, hopefully taking the kidney stones as well. Do not overdo it. You may get a bladder infection if you hold too much water in that organ which can damage its protective lining.

Expect the process to be really painful when you pass a kidney stone. But if you think about it, this temporary pain is better than undergoing a tedious kidney stone surgery. See if you can ignore the pain by thinking about or doing something else. For severe pain, there are non-inflammatory drugs that are safe for your kidneys. Or, just drink water with a little olive oil and lemon juice. Since the oil lubricates the Kidney stones, it is relatively painless process to discharge kidney stones, in this method.

A beer or two helps stimulate the bladder, as the beer acts as a natural diuretic. However, when passing kidney stones, stay away from coffee and carbonated drinks. The process of passing a kidney stone is more uncomfortable and it can leave you dehydrated.

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Removing Warts: Home Remedies

May 16th, 2011

Millions of people all over the world develop warts. The bottom line is that they are more of an embarrassment - a social issue - than a medical difficulty. Some people just put up with them and others cannot tolerate them and have to have them taken away immediately, if not sooner.

The fact is that warts are non-malignant growths. Non-malignant cancers, if you like, but the operative description is 'non-malignant' which means 'harmless'.

If you want to remove any warts that you have, it is not a problem. Perhaps, it is easier to see warts as flowers or rather weeds flourishing on your skin. You can kill them. There are a number of methods of doing this 'weed killing'.

You can go to a doctor or a dermatologist. This is a sure-fire means of getting rid them, but depending on where you live can be costly. Or you can attempt doing it yourself first. After all, if you do not succeed, it will not have cost you much and you can then go to a doctor later.

One of the easiest methods that I have discovered is the use of Salicylic acid. It sounds terribly dangerous and painful, but I can assure you that it is not. Salicylic acid is an ingredient of many shop-bought home remedies for getting shot of warts. Only check on the labels of wart removal products.

A few moments after applying salisylic acid, the top of the wart will turn white. After a couple of days of application, the wart will look like an open cauliflower and it will reveal itself as the weed that it is. (Not really, obviously). Soon thereafter, it will start to break away - literally to fall offbit by bit - and there will be no scar at all.

I had lots of warts as a child. Mostly on my fingers alongside my finger nails and although my mother wanted to take me to the doctor to have them 'burned' off by frost, I did not like the notion. Salicylic acid was suggested by a neighbour and there was no looking back.

However, as a foot note, I want to add one more home remedy. A few years after the trauma of having loads of warts on my hands as an infant schoolboy, I grew a wart on the tip of my nose. Needless to say, my classmates found that hilarious and some of them tried to make my life a misery.

An aunty of mine, Aunty Lil, came to the house one day to 'get rid of this problem once and for all'. She took a chunk of beef steak out of her bag - it was around two ounces in weight - and she rubbed it on my nose, or on the wart on my nose anyway and then she went out into the garden.

My mother and I watched her through the widow. She carefully dug a shallow hole and laid the steak in it. Then she covered it over, tramped it down and came back inside.

'When the meat has rotted,' she said, 'your wart will fall off'. Five or six days later, my wart fell off whilst I was washing and it has never reappeared - not in fifty years.

If you are interested in home remedies for warts, please go to our website Cures for Warts for more information.