Treatment For Arthritis

Treatment of arthritis depends on the particular cause, which joints are affected, severity, and how the condition affects your daily activities. Your age and occupation will also be taken into consideration when your doctor works with you to create a treatment plan.

If possible, treatment will focus on eliminating the underlying cause of the arthritis. However, the cause is NOT necessarily curable, as with osteoarthritis and rheumatoid arthritis. Treatment, therefore, aims at reducing your pain and discomfort and preventing further disability.

It is possible to greatly improve your symptoms from osteoarthritis and other long-term types of arthritis without medications. In fact, making lifestyle changes without medications is preferable for osteoarthritis and other forms of joint inflammation. If needed, medications should be used in addition to lifestyle changes.

Exercise for arthritis is necessary to maintain healthy joints, relieve stiffness, reduce pain and fatigue, and improve muscle and bone strength. Your exercise program should be tailored to you as an individual. Work with a physical therapist to design an individualized program, which should include:
* Low-impact aerobic activity (also called endurance exercise)

* Range of motion exercises for flexibility

* Strength training for muscle tone

A physical therapist can apply heat and cold treatments as needed and fit you for splints or orthotic (straightening) devices to support and align joints. This may be particularly necessary for rheumatoid arthritis. Your physical therapist may also consider water therapy, ice massage, or transcutaneous nerve stimulation (TENS).

Rest is just as important as exercise. Sleeping 8 to 10 hours per night and taking naps during the day can help you recover from a flare-up more quickly and may even help prevent exacerbations. You should also:
* Avoid holding one position for too long.

* Avoid positions or movements that place extra stress on your affected joints.

* Modify your home to make activities easier. For example, have grab bars in the shower, the tub, and near the toilet.

* Reduce stress, which can aggravate your symptoms. Try meditation or guided imagery. And talk to your physical therapist about yoga or tai chi.

Other measures to try include:
* Apply capsaicin cream (derived from hot chili peppers) to the skin over your painful joints. You may feel improvement after applying the cream for 3-7 days.

* Eat a diet rich in vitamins and minerals, especially antioxidants like vitamin E. These are found in fruits and vegetables. Get selenium from Brewer's yeast, wheat germ, garlic, whole grains, sunflower seeds, and Brazil nuts. Get omega-3 fatty acids from cold water fish (like salmon, mackerel, and herring), flaxseed, rapeseed (canola) oil, soybeans, soybean oil, pumpkin seeds, and walnuts.

* Taking glucosamine and chondroitin -- these form the building blocks of cartilage, the substance that lines joints. These supplements are available at health food stores or supermarkets. While some studies show such supplements may reduce osteoarthritis symptoms, others show no benefit. However, since these products are regarded as safe, they are reasonable to try and many patients find their symptoms improve.

How To Avoid Snoring?

As kids, many would have watched their elders breathing in and out like a grizzly bear. Kids no more, many of them become victims of a similar fate. Snoring is a common disorder among men. While it can leave your wife/partner exasperated

and your kids giggling, it’s unwise to ignore the practice of doing a full-throttle Harley-Davidson.

Generally, mild snoring does not pose a health risk. However, if the problem gets aggravated, it’s time to ring the alarm bells. Do not hesitate from seeking sound medical advice. It is not embarrassing at all. Snoring is like any other disorder of human body and is curable.

From our side, we have compiled a few easy-to-follow tips for you to silence the monster of snoring:

Quit Puffing that Cigarette:

If you’re grappling with the problem of snoring you’ve got yet another reason to quit smoking. Cigarette smoke greatly irritates the tissues of nasal passages and upper airway, causing them to inflate and hinder airflow.

Eat Light:

Don’t eat a large meal just before retiring to the bed. Try and avoid midnight snacks. The process of digestion causes the muscles of all parts of the body – including throat – to relax.

Avoiding Alcohol:

Try not to consume alcohol for four hours prior to hitting the bed. Muscles in the airway get over-relaxed after drinking of alcoholic beverages. Same goes for tranquilisers and sedating medications.

Shed Some Pounds:

Snoring is three times more prevalent in obese men.

Get Rid of the Nasal Congestion:

Stuffed nose can obviously obstruct the flow of air. Use a nasal spray to clear that clogged nose. It helps you breathe better and avoid snoring.

Get off Your Back:

Sleeping on your side may stop your tongue and the fleshy lobe that hangs from the

roof of your mouth from falling back into your airway, suggest doctors.

How To Avoid Bad Breathe?

“Halitosis” is the medical term used for bad breath that comes out of your mouth and nose.It is a fairly common problem and once you realize that you have bad breath; it can lead to embarrassment, social anxiety, or even isolation in worst case scenarios.

It’s hard to identify if you are suffering from bad breath or not all by yourself. Usually it’s your friends, family members, or colleagues who notice it at the first place. Generally people remain ignorant of the fact that they have bad breath until a person who means a lot points it out. Once they know, you can start expecting weird or conscious behavior from them including checking their breath continuously, staying too far away while speaking, etc.

What causes bad breath? 

Poor oral hygiene tops the list of the causes of bad breath. The bacteria in your mouth break down proteins in food which releases sulphur compounds and it’s these compounds that cause the smell.

In many cases it’s caused by illness, especially ones related to throat and tonsils.

• Many believe that it can be caused due to indigestion.

• Eating a lot of food containing garlic, onions and spices can cause temporary bad breath, which is often referred as morning breath.

• Excessive drinking and smoking can cause persistent bad breath.

• The ones afflicted by gum diseases and dental decay are on a higher risk of having bad breath.

• If you have healthy teeth and gums then it’s the collection of bacteria at the back of your tongue that is causing bad breath.

• Those who have chronic sinus infection or post-nasal drip are at a higher risk of having bad breath.

• Too much stress or lack of exercise and not drinking sufficient amount of water during the day also contributes to bad breath.


What can you do to stop it?  

What you can do is try and refrain from eating smelly, sugary, and spicy food too often. Moreover, you should stop smoking, drink less alcohol and caffeine. Drinking at least 2 litres of water per day has proven to be beneficial in stopping bad breath problems. Along with all that, do the following to improve your overall oral hygiene:

• Go to your dentist for regular dental check-ups.

• Brush and floss your teeth at least twice a day.

• Always use a non-alcoholic based mouthwash.

• Use a tongue scraper to remove the collection of bacteria from the back of the tongue.

• Try and identify the area that’s causing the bad breath. For instance, is it your throat, tonsils, sinuses, etc? You need to identify and take adequate measures to solve the issue.

• If it is not possible for you to clean your teeth after every meal then chewing sugar-free gum can solve the problem, but it only works for a short span of time.

• You can keep a mouth-freshener spray with you all the time to temporarily mask the problem.

However, if the bad breath persists even after trying all the above measures then you must consult a dentist for further treatment. A dentist usually does the following:

• He would firstly discuss your eating habits, health history, special circumstances, and other preliminary information.

• He may test concentration of sulfides in the breath using a clinical device called the halimeter.

• Assess your specific area of problem.

• The dentist will possibly test with bad breath detective kit.

• He would than train you in using the oxygenating formulas that are to be applied on your particular area of problem.

• At last he would re-test with the halimiter or bad breath detective, which will show you the reduction in your VSC levels.

Cure For Common Cold

The common cold is a viral infectious disease of the upper respiratory system. While it gives you ailments like cough, sore throat, runny nose, and fever, it can also lead breathing problems as there are good chances of the nasal passage getting congested.

We understand what a horrible experience it is to have a stuffed nose and keep gasping for breath every other minute.

You can easily pick up cold by inhaling somebody else's germs or touching someone who has a virus and then touching your eyes and nose, thereby allowing the germs to enter your body. Once the virus has invaded, it opens its account in your throat and starts producing baby viruses by hundreds. These viruses then traverse all around your body and trigger those hateful symptoms like: a stuffy/drippy nose, sore throat, aches, breathing problems and cough.

The common cold is the most infectious disease in humans. An average adult is most likely to catch cold at least three times in a year. There are no medicines available as such which can cure cold. It is said time is the sure cure for cold. The principle of “prevention being better that cure” is totally apt here. The best way to stay away from cold is maintaining a distance from the people who are infected, and the places where they have been. Regular hand washing is also helpful in getting rid of the virus.

Try these to deal with the symptoms of cold:

Nurture your Throat: Suck the over-the-counter lozenges (Vicks, Honitus, Strepsils etc.) to soothe that wounded throat. You can also go for a medicated spray.

More and More Zinc: Studies in the US have indicated that zinc tablets can cut the duration of a cold by 42 percent. Zinc may also inhibit virus replication and reduce inflammation. But seek medical advice before taking any sorts of zinc supplements.

Steam your Nose: Sip soups or take a steamy shower. This will help dilate the mucus in your nose and upper throat to help make breathing easier. You can also use over-the-counter decongestant sprays and inhalers.

Apart from this try drinking a good quantity of water and take adequate rest. Vitamin C may help but only to an extent. Don't expect it to do magic.

Healthy Foods To Eat At Work Station

We've all heard it times and again that sitting all day long at the desk isn't really good for the health. Sadly, there aren't any feasible alternatives to this mode of working. While you can't just leave your job, you can surely do something which is beneficial for your health. Eating the right kind of fruits can help you overcome the negative effects of sitting like a robot all day.

Here are five power foods you can enjoy while sitting at your desk. They can work wonders for your heart, blood pressure, and can even improve your memory and concentration.

Walnuts:
Some new researches have pointed out that walnuts have more (and better quality) antioxidants than almonds, peanuts, pistachios and many other nuts. All nuts have been found to improve lipids and can reduce the risk of heart diseases. Walnuts have also been found to enhance cognitive and motor function in animals with Alzheimer's. Experts recommend seven walnuts a day.

Cup of Green Tea:
Polyphenols, one of the major ingredients of green tea, is known to help repair the damaged DNA and stimulate the immune system. Besides, research shows that green tea also helps in reducing the risk of cancers, including skin cancer and prostate cancer.

Popcorn:
If there ever was a list of healthy snacks, this is definitely going to be on the list. In fact, many say that popcorn is the healthiest snack available. It is 100 percent whole grain and is big on fiber and antioxidants. If you can air-pop your popcorn and add a minimal quantity of salt, you'd have the best popcorn, say experts. If your office has a microwave, just make sure you bring a pack of low sodium popcorn to work.

Dark Chocolate:
This, too, contains those powerful antioxidants called Polyphenols which combat the risk factors (like oxidation of LDL cholesterol) for heart diseases and also inhibit clotting. Studies have also indicated that consuming a small bar of dark chocolate daily can reduce blood pressure in people with mild hypertension. Caffeine, another active ingredient of dark chocolate, can give you that much-required kick and a boost in concentration levels.

Fruits:
Not only they help you conquer that “false hunger”, they are also brimming with nutrients which are needed to keep you going all day. You can choose between apples, bananas, mangoes, oranges, papayas etc. but make sure you carry some fruits to the office on a daily basis.