Category: Health

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Back neck pain, what may be the causes?

back neck pain

Though cases of cervical back neck pain is more infrequent as compared to lumbar pain, a large portion of western population still undergoes neck pains that often come with arm pain,like muscle strain and overtraining.

The majority of such cases may be healed in time without the need of medical interventions.

Yet there are a number of symptoms that may prove to be indications of more serious cases and need immediate medical help.

Acute Back Neck Pain

The most common causes of acute neck pain are muscle strain, neck strain and strain experienced by other softer tissues such as ligaments and tendons. Neck strain is due to stiff neck caused by wrong bed position and partly due to carrying too many loads. A sudden jolt and pressure on the other hand may cause muscle strain.

 

Majority of minor injuries on the soft tissues usually heals a couple of days after the pain. There is good blood supply in this section of the body, which allow the circulation of protein and essential nutrients that trigger fast healing. To alleviate the pain and symptoms of back neck pain, the sufferer may use conservative methods such as physical therapy, ice or heat, osteopathic manipulation and medications.

 

Chronic Back Neck Pain

This form of neck pain is very much the same in effects with acute back neck pain. However, they largely differ on the symptoms. Listed below are some of the symptoms of chronic back pain:

  • Neck back pain that goes down to the arms
  • Neck pain that may be linked to certain activities
  • Arm pain due to lack of coordination
  • Neck back pain that may be felt for much longer duration of time
  • Neck pain that may go worse by the end of the day and in the morning

Other than these, there are a number of common symptoms that may be associated with cervical conditions. These may bring other cervical problems like wrist pain, shoulder pain, headaches and elbow pain.

One overlooked symptom is the progressive neurological degeneration, which may manifest as weakening of the arms or loss of sensitivity and coordination of the limbs. Another sign is the sustained pain that is accompanied with unplanned weight loss, fever, shakes and chills, loss of appetite, nausea and vomiting that might be signs of spinal infection.

While the majority of back neck pain does not have identifiable anatomical roots, most are closely linked to general conditions such as muscle strain and herniated vertebral disc.

Always consult a professional care takers when in doubt.

Image courtesy of stockimages at FreeDigitalPhotos.net

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What is the cervical vertebrae?

cervical vertebrae

In order to understand our back better, we need to get through some medical term. Bare with me as we work our way to answer this question: What is the cervical vertebrae ?

As seen on the photo the cervical vertebrae are the first 7 bones that make the spine a whole. From top to bottom they are C1, C2, C3, C4,C5, C6 and C7. No surprises there.

The cervical vertebrae’s main functions are to carry the skull and give the head and neck mobility.

To be more specific:

  • C1 and C2 control the head.
  • C3 and C4 help control the diaphragm. Those are the  muscles that go to the bottom of the rib cage and play a part in breathing and respiration.
  • C5 controls upper body muscles like the deltoids (which shape the shoulders with that sexy rounded contour) and the biceps, which allows the flex of the elbow and rotation of the forearm.
  • C6 is in charge of the wrist extensors. Muscles like the extensor carpi radialis longus, extensor carpi radialis brevis, and extensor carpi ulnaris that control wrist extension and hyperextension.
  • C7 controls the triceps. The large muscle on the back of the arm that allows for straightening of the elbow.

Mobility can be decrease due to  muscle strain, neck strain and strain experienced by other softer tissues such as ligaments and tendons. Neck strain is due to stiff neck caused by wrong bed position and partly due to carrying too many loads. A sudden jolt and pressure on the other hand may cause muscle strain.

A whiplash may harm the muscles group called Longus Colli. It’s the one protecting the cervical vertebrae.

Other neck pains are often described as tightness  of the Trapezius Muscles. This is the muscle connecting your neck, shoulders and back. It’s function is to lift with your arms, keep the neck balanced.

 

 

 

Source: Wikipedia

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Back pain, an exploration into causes and prevention

Woman Back Pain

As I write this, it has been 3 months that my back pain started. It is a simple strained muscle. An muscle that is obviously very up set with me because after taking a rest from sports for one month all seemed fine. Until I started picking up my sports regime, within in 2 days the spasms in my back were well..back.

This made me realize  that although my little injury is a pain in the back, there are way more sincere injuries that can happen overnight or by simply lifting something.

 

On my journey into healing my own back I read and learned more and more about back problems. You need to know and understand I’m not a doctor nor do I have any medical background, yet I did not want to have my efforts into understanding back pain go only into my personal journal. I want to share what I learned here with you!

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7 Causes of Back Pain

7 Causes of Back Pain

Back pain may strike anyone. It can affect younger people but is more prevalent during adulthood especially those aged between 45 and 59 years old.

The spine is comprised of small bones known as vertebrae. These are normally good structures, which are separated by discs that allow free mobility. Muscles and ligaments further support these vertebrae.

Close to one hundred percent of all complaints with regards to back pain is directly linked to improper coordination and workings of these components. The cause of back pain may be sudden rather than what is usually perceived as the result of overworking for a single period of time. However, during tests abnormal conditions on the back may not be identified using x-rays and typically, nothing in the back is mildly or severely damaged.

The majority of cases of back pain documented occur to people aged 55 and above and nearly all of them show signs of being with good health. So this means that the cause of back pain is not or may be minimally affected by the health of the sufferer. This pain is often felt in the lower section of the spine and cases of upper and middle back pain is rare. Additionally, some people may also experience coexisting pains such those felt at the thighs and the legs. These are separated cases that may be triggered by several sets of complex sets symptoms.

7 Causes of Back Pain:

  1. poor posture
  2. lack of exercise
  3. long periods of bending and standing
  4. sitting on a chair that lacks supports for the back, especially for the lumbar area
  5. sleeping on a mattress that lacks support for the back
  6. lifting, pushing or pulling loads, carrying objects that are typically heavy or doing tasks the wrong way
  7. a trip or fall

There are other causes that may be associated with back pain but cases like these appear on minimal basis. Around 5% of all sufferers experience back pain due to nerve root problems. The compression of the nerve root, which is triggered by the bulging, or displacement of the vertebral disc normally brings about the pain. This irregularity of the vertebral disc is called a slipped disc.

It must be noted that the back bone structure is especially adopted to carrying loads and carrying the whole body weight if need be. But there are certain conditions that may affect its performance. These generally cause back pain and the intensity of the pain produced depends on the rigidity of the activity.

 

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Ultimate guide on the pH miracle diet by Robert Young

ph miracle diet robert young

ph diet

The pH miracle diet is an innovative way to interact with food. The diet stresses the need for balance in the diet of alkaline and acid. By lowering destructive acid levels with more alkaline exciting benefits can happen, like sustainable energy and optimum health. It might reduce discomfort-able health issues. Later in this series we will get into those.

This balance of alkalinity will help maintain a healthy flow through the bloodstream and keep cellular growth and development working at optimum levels. By following a simple regimen of balanced eating along with testing saliva for pH levels, one can achieve better health.

The primary proponent of this alkaline pH miracle diet is a man by the name of Dr. Robert Young.

Dr. Young heralds that a lifestyle that is made up of 80% alkaline producing foods and 20% acid producing foods will allow you to achieve a healthier body and healthier live, hence the name pH miracle diet.

Through his research Dr. Young has stated that the best pH level of the human body is 7.35.

The pH spectrum is from 1 to 14 with 1 being highly acid and 14 being highly alkaline. With the body leaning toward moderately alkaline he contends that people can supplement their diets with more alkaline. Dr. Robert Young stresses that a body that is ravaged by excess acid will be more prone to serious health problems. He also says avoiding caffeine and alcoholic beverages to maintain vitality. Out goes the wine.

Dr. Robert Young began is studies in the early 70s at the University of Utah, where he studied biology and business. He earned as MS in nutrition, a DSc in science, a PhD in nutrition, and a ND from Clayton College of Natural Health during the 90s.  The impact of his teachings is undeniable, he has helped many people obtain better health through a regimen of increased fruits and vegetables and more water consumption.

He is also a staunch supporter of pleomorphism, the belief in the ability of bacteria to morph shape dramatically or to mutate into many morphological forms. This idea has firmly split the microbiologist community into two schools of thought, the pleomorphists who support the claims; and the monomorphists who vehemently dispute them. In the current scientific community the monomorphic perspective of microbiology has emerged as the dominant theory. Modern medical science supports the monomorphic theory of cell development in which cells derive from previously formed cells of the same size and shape.

Dr. Young holds retreats where he educates the patrons on the Alkaline Diet as well as a live red blood cell examination in an in-depth microscopy seminar. According to the National Council Against Health Fraud (http://www.ncahf.org/digest05/05-14.html#young) Dr. Robert Young pleaded guilty in 1996 to a misdemeanor charge of attempted medicine without a license. He was promised that the charge would be dismissed if he stayed clear for 18 months. Young allegedly had examined blood samples from two women who were seeking nutritional advice.

Critics of his live red blood cell examination conclude that his test have no scientific validity. Dr. Young counters his critics citing many papers and sources validating his claims including Understanding Acid-Base by Benjamin Abeloh, M.D., a lecturer of medicine at Yale school of Medicine and Clinical Physiology of Acid-Base by Burton David Rose, M.D., a Clinical Professor of Medicine at Harvard Medical School.

According to his website (http://www.phmiracleliving.com), Dr. Young is a member of the American Society of Microbiologists, the American Naturopathic Association, and an honorary member of the Connecticut Holistic Health Assocations, the Presidents Council at Brigham Young University. He is also a consultant for InnerLight, Inc. and an advisor to Dean Lawrence Carter at the Martin Luther King Chapel, Morehouse College. He was also honored by Professor Lawrence Carter at Morehouse College with an induction into the collegium of scholars as well as placed on the advisory board. He has been praised by Professor Carter for his efforts in understanding the balance of body chemistry and the effects of this balance on health.

For more information ont the pH miracle diet, klik here

 

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Ebook Meditation Basics aka Meditation for beginners

meditation for beginners

  Meditation for beginners

At some point all of us have experienced some type of stress. It’s hard to live in today’s world without it! If that does not describe you, then you probably don’t need to read any further. Congratulations, you are that rare individual who never gets stressed!

However, if you are like the majority of people, not a day goes by without some kind of stress in your life. We rush to work or school and we hurry through our meals.

Finally you usually fall into bed exhausted at the end of the day, unless you don’t get that far and zone out in front of the TV.

Stress triggers surround us every day. Rush hour traffic, standing in line after line, the boss, co-workers, deadlines, kids and we know you can compile a list of your triggers in a few seconds!

And then there’s Eve. Or Tracy. Or Bob. Those people you would sometimes like to strangle. Nothing ever seems to faze them.

Trapped in freeway traffic they are likely to say, “oh well, I have more time to listen to a motivational recording.” Caught in a line, they are apt to say, “what a great opportunity to make a new friend.”

No matter what is going on around them, they don’t appear to be concerned at all. Nothing ruffles their feathers!

So what gives? How can they be up and positive all the time? It’s disconcerting and downright abnormal, isn’t it?

It would appear that way, on the surface. However, if you dig a little deeper you just might discover a secret weapon – a very powerful secret weapon.

It really doesn’t matter how THEY do it. What matters is HOW you can do it too, right?
3 Things You Should Know!

1. There multiple causes for stress.
2. There is a way to treat it.
3. Symptoms can vary from person to person.

You’re in the right place to get some answers about stress and how to end or at least diminish the symptoms. Learn about how to use meditation to deal with it. This is the first step toward preventing stress altogether and become a better you.

Learning about meditation can be a challenge. That is why Meditation Basics was created. It’s a introduction into  meditation for beginners.

It’s simple to read and understand.

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Meditation for beginners

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Did you know that there are multiple types of meditation?
Read in depth descriptions on different types of meditation. Learn what they are and how they may help you.
Meditation is no longer a specifically religious activity. Learn how meditation for beginners has evolved to a point where the benefits are recognized not only by mainstream religions but also as a therapeutic tool within the medical community.

There is much more about Meditation Basics that you will access inside. Learn how to implement the correct type of meditation to suit the relieve you need.
This is a “must have” for everyone’s digital bookshelf but especially crucial if you have or a loved one experience stress.
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Meditation for beginners

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Vitamin B12 Food Source

Vitamin B12 Food Source

Vitamin B12 is a truly exceptional vitamin, unique even among all the other B vitamins present in nature.

The reason for this uniqueness lies in the fact that only smaller amounts of this vitamin is required and the body already makes full use of it. For instance, ten micrograms of B12 spread over a day seems to be able to provide adequate supply for the body to use.

 

Vitamin B12 is also called cobalamin owing to the fact that it contains the metal, cobalt. The main benefit of vitamin B12 appears to be promoting and maintaining the normal function of healthy nerve cells and red blood cells. Vitamin B12 is also needed to help make DNA, the genetic material in all cells.

 

Vitamin B12 is bound to the protein in food so the most likely vitamin B12 food sources are foods rich in proteins and amino acids, which are the building blocks of proteins. When you consume vitamin B12 food sources, the vitamin is released from the food through a reaction caused by the hydrochloric acid released by the stomach. During digestion and once it is released from the vitamin B12 food sources, the vitamin combines with a substance called gastric intrinsic factor (IF). This complex can then be absorbed by the intestinal tract.

 

What other foods contain vitamin B12?

Specific examples of vitamin B12 food sources include animal foods such as fish, meat, poultry, eggs, milk, and milk products. Another good vitamin B12 food source is fortified breakfast cereals, which is a particularly valuable source of vitamin B12 for vegetarians. Because plants and vegetables can never be considered as vitamin B12 food sources, vegetarians stand more chance of suffering from deficiency of this vitamin. To compensate for the loss, vitamin B12 food sources fortified with the vitamin are made available for them.

 

Other vitamin B12 food sources are mollusks and clams (mixed species, cooked). Three ounces of these contain as much as 84.1 micrograms of vitamin B12, equivalent to 1400 Daily Value (DV).

 

One slice of braised liver or beef is also a good vitamin B12 food source, containing as much as 47.9 micrograms of vitamin B12, equivalent to 780 DV. Trout, rainbow, salmon, sockeye, and fortified breakfast cereals have vitamin B12 ranging from 6.0 to 2.4 micrograms.

 

Even fast food, such as cheeseburger and taco, contains a good amount of vitamin B12. And yogurt, haddock, tuna, milk, pork, egg, American pasteurized cheese food, and chicken contain vitamin B12 as well.

 

Image courtesy of Apolonia / FreeDigitalPhotos.net

 

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7 Positions for Meditation

positions_meditation

7 Positions for Meditation

During the ancient times until now, people practice meditation because of its provided advantages. In all this time a view positions for meditation are developed. Here I show the most used ones. Incorporating meditation as part of your daily life can make a big difference regarding your attitude and perception in life. But because meditation is a procedure, it involves several steps as well as postures when doing it.

 

1. Cross legged posture.

Various spiritual traditions and meditation teachers suggest or prescribe various meditation physical postures. One of the most popular postures is the cross legged position which includes the lotus position. It is taught in most meditative traditions that the spinal cord must be kept straight. So, slouching is not a good idea. This is because, when you sit straight, it encourages good circulation of what they call as spiritual energy, which is the life force and vital breath.

 

2. Seated posture.

You can sit on the chair with his or her bare feet, as what the New Thought is teaching. In Orthodox Christianity method, you can sit on the stool. You sit up keeping your back straight holding the spine and head in alignment without leaning and the thighs are parallel to the floor. The hands are rested comfortably on the arm’s chair or on the knees.

 

3. In the kneeling posture,

you kneel with both knees on the floor keeping your buttocks resting on your toes and heels which are almost touching. The hands rest on your thighs.

 

4. Lying down posture

also known as corpse posture or savasna in yoga. You rest on the carpet keeping your legs straight and relaxed. Nevertheless, this is not used more often since it mimics the natural posture of sleeping. You can sometimes fall asleep. This is effective in reducing stress rather than a meditation.

 

5. Incorporating mudras or hand gestures.

There is a theological meaning behind these gestures. Based on Yogic philosophy, these can affect consciousness. One example is the common hand-position of the Buddhist. The right hand rests on the top of the left hand with touching thumbs similar to the begging bowl of Buddha.

 

6. While in Theravada Buddhism, you are walking in mindfulness.

In Sukhothai, Thailand, walking meditation of the monks is called bas-relief. Walking in mindfulness can bring you somewhere

 

7. Incorporating various repetitive activities in stillness such as humming, chanting,

or deep breathing to help in inducing a state of meditation. The Soto Zen practitioners do their meditation in front of a wall with open eyes. However, most mediation schools are assuming that the eyes are half-open or closed.

The duration and frequency of meditation also vary. There are nuns and monks who vow for a lifetime meditation. In our day to day life however, the broadly accepted duration is 20 or 30 minutes. This length may increase as the process goes on as you reveal more and better experience. To obtain the benefits of meditation, it is advisable to follow the advices and instructions of a spiritual teacher. Most habits work when you practice daily. But do not feel guilty when you fail to do so, what is the complete opposite of what we are trying to accomplish. Sometimes, you complain about your knees especially during a kneeling meditation on or sitting with legs crossed.

Keep in mind that perseverance and acceptance are needed to become successful in any skill. This can help you during prolonged hours of meditation and increase focus on your everyday live.

So, which one works for you? Tell us in the comments below.

Image courtesy of Ambro / FreeDigitalPhotos.net

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Vitamin B12 Side Effects

Vitamin B12 Side Effects
The largest and most complex of all the vitamins, Vitamin B12 is considered unique among all vitamins since it the only one that contains a metal ion, called cobalt. Because of this, compounds that have B12 activity are sometimes called cobalamin.

The forms of vitamin B12 used in the human body are methylcobalamin and 5-deoxyadenosyl cobalamin. These are also the two forms of cobalamin that cyanocobalamin, common in most vitamin B12 supplements, is converted to.

How does Vitamin B12 function?

The enzyme, methionine synthase is dependent on folate and for this reason, its enzymatic function require methylcobalamin. Methionine synthase, for its part, is also required in the synthesis of several important substances found in the human body, specifically amino acids and methionine. Both these substances work in a number of sites within the DNA and RNA (2) of the cell. Because of this, scientists believe that vitamin B12 may play an important role in cancer prevention and decreasing the risk of cardiovascular diseases.

Vitamin B12 Side Effects

There has never been any toxic or adverse vitamin B12 side effects associated with large intakes of the vitamin. Whether from food or supplements vitamin B12 side effects are nonexistent in healthy people. In fact, doses as high as 1mg (1000 mcg) daily by mouth or 1 mg monthly by intramuscular (IM) injection have been used to treat patients with pernicious anemia and not a single one of them ever complained of significant vitamin B12 side effects.

The reason behind the low level of toxicity or vitamin B12 side effect may have to do with the fact that the body can only absorb small amounts of vitamin B12, even if taken in large doses. Because of this low risk of vitamin B12 side effects, no tolerable upper intake level (UL) was set by the Food and Nutrition Board in 1998 when the RDA was revised.

As far as drug interactions are concerned, or vitamin B12 side effects when taken in conjunction with other drugs, only a few number of drugs can affect the vitamin intake, but only as far as the rate of absorption is concerned. One vitamin B12 side effect seems to be that when the vitamin is taken with proton pump inhibitors, such as omeprazole and lasoprazole which are used for therapy of Zollinger-Ellison syndrome and gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD), stomach acid secretion required for the release of vitamin B12 from food decrease.

Another such drug that has vitamin B12 side effect is nitrous oxide. The drug is commonly used anesthetic and it inhibits both vitamin B12 dependent enzymes. It can also produce many of the clinical features of vitamin B12 deficiency, such as megaloblastic anemia or neuropathy. But other than that, there are no known vitamin B12 side effects that are adverse enough to cause undue alarm.

Image courtesy of Maggie Smith / FreeDigitalPhotos.net

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Meditation technique for a beginner

Beginner Meditation

Beginner Meditation
In the fast and busy pace of life, we tend to lose focus on the more simple things. And because of the self inflicted needs that we are trying to meet, we tend to neglect the importance of peace of mind. The lack of his quietness  makes a person feel overwhelmed , exhausted and unfulfilled no matter how much goals are achieved. This is the primary concern of meditation. It allows the person to watch the flow of his thoughts as he retires to the dictates of his senses. And more significantly, it provides new energy in the monotony of the daily routine.

Meditation is something that can not hurt be one of your daily habits. In its simplest form, there is satisfaction and renewal of your mind to a more vigorous and active one. With the little time that meditation requires, you learn more about yourself. This understanding can even lead you to promising achievements especially in the field of socialization. While you learn to focus and concentrate, meditation gives a clearer sense of direction.

For staring meditators, here is a simple meditation technique that will nurture your consciousness to the realms that go beyond the scientific domain. This is the way out to convolution and exhaustion.

The first step in this meditation technique for a beginner is to find a quiet and comfortable place to reflect on. Sit in a comfortable position. You can cross-leg in a carpet or sit in a chair. The exact position of meditation doesn’t matter, as long as this makes you feel relaxed and focused. Then gently close your eyes. This is an essential technique of shutting yourself from the world. Closing the eyes directs the attention to the internal awareness, the main goal of meditation. It is because the sense of seeing greatly consumes the energy which in turn takes away the sense of focus. In other techniques, there are also open-eyed meditations. However, the efficacy of those can be low compared to closed-eyed meditations.

Relax. This is another important factor when meditating. Watch the space and the darkness. Put your attention to the flow of your thoughts that passes your mind. Watch how these thoughts rise and fall. This time, your subconscious becomes more vibrant and aware.

Repeat the mantra. This will keep you focused. An effective mantra that goes along the internal consciousness is the Sanskrit Sloka, amaram hum madhuram hum. This means “I am immortal, I am blissful”. The space which you are looking into is reigned by the Knower. The Knower of the space is characterized by immortality and bliss.

After the meditation, rub your two hands and give warmth to your face. This will help you return to your other activities. Do this meditation for at least ten minutes, twice a day. Preferably, at the start and in the end of the day recharge your spirit through meditation. This is also helpful to alleviate your worries and get you ready to more challenges of life. If you practice process of meditation on a regular base, observe how it changes your life, perception and feeling of purpose.

Image courtesy of photostock / FreeDigitalPhotos.net