Healthy Tips For Better Live

Archive for April, 2009

Before I get started on this article I want to ask you where it hurts. During the third period of a game what is aching? My guess is that more than 50% of you have an aching back as the game goes on. Many hockey players come to the gym and ask for some exercises to strengthen their back because it gets fatigued and sore as the game goes on.

Although some players may have weakness in their back extensors, more often this discomfort is related to muscle imbalances. Muscle imbalance in hockey players may also result in sore or tight hips. The most common muscle imbalance in hockey players is tightness in the hip flexors. Hip flexors are the muscles in the front of the hip you can see them in action if you stand tall and lift your foot off the floor bringing your knee up in front of your body. There are a couple of hip flexors that have slightly different actions, but we won’t worry about that right now.

Although being a hockey player contributes to this muscle imbalance, it is not the only cause. Think about your daily life. Are you a student? Do you work in an office? If you spend a good portion of your day in a seated position, you are sitting with your hips in a flexed (or bent) position. This places the muscles in a shortened position. Then we leave school or work and hit the ice where we skate from a nice low athletic position with the hips and knees flexed. Since our body only learns by reinforcement, if you put your hip flexors in a shortened position for the majority of the day, then they will take that shortened position to be the normal resting position.

I hope you understand how we get an imbalance of flexibility in the hip flexors. Now let’s look at why that is important. One of the hip flexors attaches just below the knee and to the front of the hip bone. Another hip flexor attaches to the thigh and the anterior aspect of the lumbar spine. So if the hip flexors are tight they pull the athlete into a hyper-extended position in the lower back. Next consider the skating stride where you are trying to take your hip into more extension as you stride which will try to pull the hockey player into even more low back hyperextension.

Now to complicate things a little bit think about your back position as you play, your preferred position is likely skating with a flat or slightly rounded lower back. Can you now see how this muscle imbalance can create a tug-of-war between the hips and the lower back? This tug-of-war creates your feelings of discomfort in the most vulnerable link. I want to make sure you understand that this is not just about your back feeling tired or your hips feeling tight. Without doing something to improve muscle imbalances in hockey players, you are just waiting for your next injury to occur.

To improve your hip flexibility there are two very easy stretches to do. Make sure you do both because they target the two different hip flexors in a specific way.

Half Kneeling Hip Flexor
Kneel on one knee with the other foot flat on the floor in front of your body (the front knee should be bent to 90 degrees, not more). Stay tall in your torso; do not lean forward at the hips as this will negate the stretch. Maintain your tall torso position and push your hips forward while tucking your butt underneath a little bit. If you have trouble feeling the stretch try flexing the muscles in your butt. You should feel this stretch in the front of your hip. You may add a sidebend to increase the stretch slightly. If your left knee is on the floor then try side-bending your torso to the right. Hip Flexor & Quad
Set up exactly as described above. If your left knee is on the floor, you will reach back and grab your left ankle with your left hand and bring your heel up toward your butt (just like you are doing a quadriceps stretch). Maintain your tall torso position. You will feel this more in the front of your thigh. Hold each stretch for 30 seconds and complete two repetitions on each side. Make sure you do both variations of this stretch, they target different areas. Incorporate these two flexibility exercises into your daily training and reduce some of your muscle imbalances. This small investment of time will help improve your skating stride and reduce the stress on your hip and lower back.

Causes of Iron Deficiency Anemia:

Causes are divided into 4 major categories which include:

Decreased intake of iron (not common): e.g. in infancy as breast milk is poor in iron Defective absorption of iron (not common): e.g. malabsorption syndrome Increased requirements for iron (common cause): e.g. menestruating females, pregnancy and labour Chronic blood loss (The commonest cause): e.g. Menorrhagia which means excessive menstrual blood or hemorrhagic blood disease and may be bleeding varices or peptic ulcer.

Clinical Manifestations of the disease includes:

Easy fatiguability, stunted growth in children, lack of concentration, headache, blurring of vision, dyspnea, palpitation. Angular stomatitis (inflammation of mouth) and red glazed tongue Nails are brittle, striated with loss of lustre and in severe cases there maybe spooning of nails .

Investigations for diagnosis:

Complete blood picture Bone marrow examination Serum iron level Total iron binding capacity Transferrin saturation Serum ferritin Occult blood in stool to diagnose GIT bleeding Investigations for malabsorption ( if there are clinical manifestations to suspect it )

Treatment of this disease:

1- Treatment of the cause: e.g. Treatment of bleeding varices

2- Specific treatment ( Iron administration):The aim here is to treat anemia and replenish iron stores in the body

There are 2 forms of iron preparations:

Oral iron Parenteral iron (ie by injection): indicated in patients not tolerating oral iron, malabsorption syndrome and the need for urgent response .

3- Transfusion of packed RBCs: Indicated in Haemoglobin less than 8gm/dl , anaemic heart failure or severe symptoms of anemia .

4- Treatment of complications: e.g. Anemic heart failure .

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Although there are over 400 types of anemia, many are rare with only about a dozen being routinely seen in the United States. Even so, over 3.5 million Americans are affected by anemia. Medically speaking, anemia is not a disease on its own but rather a symptom of other disorders. Anemia is defined as the condition that develops when your blood does not contain enough healthy red blood cells. The symptoms of anemia are caused by the blood not receiving enough oxygen through the red blood cells. Teens, pregnant women and the elderly are at the highest risk for developing anemia.

There are three main ways anemia is developed: blood loss, reduced or dysfunctional red blood cell production or the destruction of red blood cells in the blood. In this article we will discuss the most common types causes by each of the three main factors are well as the treatments for each type mentioned.

Blood Loss

Anemia caused by blood loss can occur over time and is usually very mild to start. As the blood loss continues or reoccurs and the anemia isn’t treated, the anemia becomes more severe and the symptoms may become more apparent and disruptive. Ulcers, certain types of cancer and the inflammation of stomach known as gastritis can cause anemia and may go undetected for a long time before being diagnosed. The anti-inflammatory medications known as NSAIDS, such as aspirin and ibuprofen, can also lead to anemia whether by overuse or sensitivity to such products. That is why it is very important to follow dosing instructions and only use medications when needed or by doctor’s recommendation. Finally, excessive menstruation and blood loss from childbirth (particularly when there are more than one baby) are responsible for causing anemia in some cases. The only treatment for this type of anemia is to reduce or eliminate the cause of the anemia as much as possible.

Reduced Or Dysfunctional Production

The most commonly seen types are caused by decreased or dysfunctional red blood cell production in the bloodstream. This can happen from abnormal blood cells or from a lack of the proper nutrients for red blood cell production. The most common forms of anemia caused by decreased or dysfunctional blood cell production are sickle cell, iron-deficiency, and vitamin deficiency.

Sickle cell is an inherited condition affecting only African-Americans. The shape of the red blood cells in a person suffering from sickle cell is crescent shaped. These crescent shaped cells break down more quickly than normal blood cells, therefore greatly reducing the amount of oxygen they provide. These abnormal blood cells also cause pain in their victims due to clogging of the blood vessels. Currently there is no cure for sickle cell anemia but treatment options are available and getting more beneficial everyday.

Iron deficiency is the most common type of anemia and the one most people are talking about when they mention anemia. Obviously, iron-deficiency is caused by too little iron in the blood. Iron is needed in the bone marrow for the production of hemoglobin, a part of the red blood cell, which is responsible for carrying the oxygen through the blood. Without enough iron, the blood doesn’t get enough oxygen. This causes all sorts of problems for the anemia individual including fatigue, paleness, rapid heartbeat, trouble focusing or remembering, and shortness of breath, headaches and even nosebleeds. Poor diet and certain medical conditions can result in iron-deficiency anemia. The treatment usually consists of iron supplements and healthy diet recommendations.

Vitamin deficiency anemia occurs when the body is lacking the vitamin B-12 or folate. Both minerals are necessary for the production of red blood cells. Vitamin deficiency anemia is caused in much the same way as iron deficiency, poor diet or medical conditions. Pregnancy, alcohol abuse and specific medications can also interfere with the levels of B-12 and folate in the body. This type of anemia is also treated in the same way as iron-deficiency anemia.

The Destruction Of Red Blood Cells

Anemia that is caused by the destruction of the body’s red blood cells is also known as hemolytic anemia. Whenever the red blood cells rupture more quickly than normal, anemia can result. Sometimes hemolytic anemia occurs for no known reason called spontaneous hemolytic anemia. However, many times the cause can be established. Known causes include inherited disorders; the presence of stressors, such as infections, venom in the blood stream, or drugs; or the inappropriate attack of the immune system against the red blood cells.

The treatment for hemolytic anemia varies according to the cause. If the cause were a substance, such as alcohol or drugs, then the treatment would include eliminating the substance from the person’s lifestyle. Surgery may be necessary to remove or repair damaged tissues. Steroids can stop the immune system from attacking the red blood cells and pain medication is often given along with IV fluids to provide support to the other treatments. In some cases, no treatment is needed at all. Usually this is the case when the anemia is very mild.

In summary, anemia is a common problem that affects millions of Americans. Anemia itself is not a disorder but rather a symptom of another condition. Each type of anemia is caused by different factors and requires different treatments. If you suspect that you or someone in your family is suffering from anemia, it is important to schedule a visit with your doctor right away.

The course of treatment for ovarian cancer is normally determined by the stage of the disease. We here classify the stages from I to IV based on the cancer’s specific characteristics, and find out which course is suitable for which stage.

By stage I, we mean the cancer is confined to a single ovary (stage IA) or both ovaries (stage IB). In stage IC, one or both ovaries can be affected, but the tumors are on the surface, or the capsule is ruptured, or tumor cells are found in abdominal fluid.

Treatment for patients with stage IA and IB includes surgical removal of the uterus and both ovaries and fallopian tubes, partial removal of the omentum, and surgical staging of the lymph nodes and other tissues in the pelvis and abdomen. Patients with stage IA or B disease may not require further therapy after surgery. Higher risk patients with stage IC are generally treated with platinum-based chemotherapy to prevent a relapse.

Stage II means the cancer has spread to the uterus or fallopian tubes (stage IIA), or other areas within the pelvis (stage IIB), but is still confined to the pelvic area. Stage IIC means capsular involvement, rupture, or positive washings. Surgical management for patients in this stage involves a total hysterectomy, bilateral salpingo-oophorectomy, and removal of as much cancer in the pelvic area as possible, known as tumor debulking. Post-surgery chemotherapy is generally needed to eliminate residual cancer and prevent relapse.

Stage III means the cancer has spread beyond the pelvis to the omentum and other areas within the abdomen, or to the lymph nodes. Most patients in this stage undergo a total hysterectomy, and tumor debulking. Here again, post-surgery chemotherapy is needed to eliminate residual cancer.

Stage IV, the most advanced of all, means the cancer may have spread to the inside of the liver or spleen. In this stage, tumor debulking before chemotherapy may be occasionally performed.

In the case of recurrent ovarian cancer, chemotherapy is the mainstay of treatment, although it might not prevent subsequent relapses.

When her husband Mark Beggs offered to pay for her bridge work, Lisa Hewer, 38, was excited. But the high cost of dental treatment in Britain was too much for them.

Lured by the growing popularity of dental tourism, Hewer decided to have her teeth fixed in another country. That would enable her to save money and give her the opportunity to travel at the same time. It was an offer that was hard to resist.

The couple decided to travel to Hungary, one of the many travel destinations of people seeking affordable dental care. Other popular destinations for dental tourism include India, Africa, Mexico, Thailand, and Costa Rica.

The dentist there charged Hewer

Teenagers are at a higher risk for iron deficiency anemia due the rapid rate at which they are growing during these years. As the body grows, it requires larger amounts of nutrients, including iron, which it receives from the blood. If the blood is not replenished with iron, anemia can set in. So combine teenage growth spurts with a diet lacking iron-rich foods and you could have a case of teenage anemia to deal with.

There are other risk factors for teenage anemia mostly targeting teenage girls. Teen girls are at a higher risk for anemia since the body loses iron during menstruation and girls usually do not compensate for that loss by eating more iron-rich foods. Anemia is more likely to develop in teen girls who become pregnant also. Lastly, becoming a vegetarian or dieting to lose weight can cause anemia to develop since the present of red meat, which is a prime source of iron, is lacking in these lifestyles.

Symptoms Of Iron Deficiency Anemia

The symptoms of iron deficiency anemia can be mild and hard to notice. Often, if the anemia is mild, there may be no symptoms at all. Even when there are noticeable symptoms, frequently they are dismissed as a bug or even just due to the fact that teens often don’t eat as well as they should or sleep as much as they should. The most common symptoms of iron-deficiency anemia are fatigue or weakness, pale skin color caused by fewer red blood cells in the blood, and trouble concentrating or remembering most likely caused by less oxygen in the blood flowing to the brain. As you can see, many normal teens without anemia can display these symptoms for any number of reasons.

Other, more noticeable, symptoms of iron-deficiency anemia in teens are a faster pulse caused by the heart beating harder to pump more oxygen into the blood, shortness of breath when running or climbing stairs (or any type of exertion), and frequent or severe headaches. The most disturbing symptoms can be sudden severe nosebleeds that may or may not accompany the headaches. Unfortunately, many of these symptoms can also be explained by other causes.

The best advice is to watch your teen. If you notice a combination of these symptoms lasting for more than a couple of days, you should schedule a visit with your teen’s doctor. The doctor will ask a series of questions to determine whether or not your teen should be tested for anemia. Luckily, a simple blood test is all that is needed to diagnose iron-deficiency anemia.

Treatment For Iron Deficiency Anemia

If your teen is diagnosed as having iron-deficiency anemia, an iron supplement will most likely be prescribed once or twice a day for a time depending on how severe the anemia is. Your doctor may also recommend, and it is a good idea to, making some lifestyle changes involving a healthier diet consisting of dark green vegetables, legumes and small amounts of red meat as well. Your teen should also try hard to get at least eight hours of sleep a night, which is the minimum amount recommended for children growing at the speed that adolescents are. With the proper diet and sleep, as well as the iron supplements, the anemia should subside within a couple of weeks.

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