The New Miracle Treatment for Women in Midlife and Beyond: A True Magic Bullet for Staying Healthy and Feeling Good

Article by Janet Horn, M.D. and Robin H. Miller, M.D.

The New Miracle Treatment for Women in Midlife and Beyond: A True Magic Bullet for Staying Healthy and Feeling Good – Health

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When you first saw the title of this article, you immediately thought it was hogwash, right?

You were a bit disappointed, too, because doctors are supposed to be honest, and discuss only the treatments that have been scientifically proven to work; and everyone knows that there is no such thing as a miracle treatment that keeps you healthy as you age. But, here’s the thing: we are telling you the truth.

First, let us tell you what this miracle treatment can do. It can help you to retain your memory, and possibly even prevent dementia, or at least postpone it for years. It can prevent you from falling, the most common cause of injuries to those of us who no longer even count the number of candles on our birthday cakes. It can, in some cases, keep you from getting arthritis in your knees, and if you already have it, keep you up and moving. It can keep your heart healthy, and if you already have heart disease, it can get you back to feeling great. It can prevent some cancers. If you have diabetes, or high blood pressure, or high cholesterol, it can, in some cases, make them go away, and at the very least, it may allow you to lower your dose of medication for each of these three. It can help you to breathe easy. It can keep you buff and help your sex life. It can help you sleep better, suppress your appetite, and even increase your metabolism. And it can improve your sense of wellbeing, keep your mood positive, and increase how long you live.

We know you’re still doubtful because if such a thing really existed, it would be on TV constantly and all over the internet, and you would’ve probably bought a huge amount of stock in it. But in fact, it not only exists, but all of the effects mentioned above of our miracle treatment have been scientifically proven!

Human beings were meant to move. Every aspect of our bodies’ functioning is geared toward that. On the flip side, movement and mobility are very important to the quality of life. What does this have to do with the miracle treatment? Easy — the miraculous new treatment for all our ills, particularly those accompanying the aging process, is movement. Because of all the negative connotations, we won’t call it exercise or any of those other clinical-sounding names, like “workout” or “physical activity.”

It really does all the things we said it can do. In fact, a recent study that followed more than 2500 people over the age of sixty for an average period of twelve years found that those who were fit from regular and adequate movement, whether they were overweight or not, had a significantly lower death rate at a young age than those who were not fit.

Here are the specifics. The official recommendations, released in 2007 by the American Heart Association and the American College of Sports Medicine, for the amount of physical activity necessary to improve and maintain our health include not one, but three different types of exercise: aerobic activity, muscle-strengthening activity, and balance/flexibility training. These are the recommendations.

1) Aerobic activity of moderate intensity for thirty minutes a day, five days per week — Go for a walk or climb those stairs in your building — anything goes here as long as you do it for thirty minutes;

2) Muscle strengthening activity including eight to ten exercises involving the major muscle groups, with eight to twelve repetitions each, at least twice a week — Use free weights, a barbell, or a machine that simulates weight lifting by resistance;

3) Balance and flexibility activity at least two days a week — do yoga, pilates, or Tai Chi. And be sure to stretch.

So now you know about the magic bullet for staying healthy. But, even though you know you need to stay active, sometimes, the whole idea of getting up and actually doing it is overwhelming. It is particularly hard to find the time when most of us have such a busy lifestyle. But there’s even more good news about our miracle treatment. For those who hate the gym, workouts, jogging and barbells, there is an alternative called “Exercise Lite”.

Several years ago, a very interesting study was done at the Cooper Institute in Dallas, Texas. 255 volunteers were divided into two groups. One group went to the gym regularly for a standard workout. The other group tried to integrate regular physical activities into their usual daily routines. They would walk up stairs instead of taking an elevator, clean their own houses and apartments, work in their own gardens; in other words, they took every opportunity to do the maximum physical activity with their daily activities. After six months, both groups had improved their fitness levels, lowered their blood pressures, and lost fat. But, after two years, only those in the group that had incorporated fitness into their routines were more likely to maintain their fitness level. Exercise lite worked and kept on working!

To receive the full health benefits as we mentioned above, you need to do at least 30 minutes of moderate to vigorous aerobic (cardio) exercise each day. With exercise lite, you can break it down into 10-minute segments so that the cumulative time is still 30 minutes a day. If you only have a couple of 10 minute breaks a day, go walking for those breaks and then take a quick walk before or after work. You want to shoot for 15-20 minute miles, and you want to get your pulse rate up but still be able to have a conversation. If you garden, you need to do it while moving around a lot, in other words, active gardening. Same thing goes for housework. The vacuum can be your best workout buddy! One easy way to do exercise lite is to wear a pedometer, a little meter you wear on your belt that records your steps. With the pedometer you want to aim for 10,000 steps a day.

Most important, make it fun and you’ll keep doing it. Do things you like. Find a class that is fun or start riding your bicycle or swimming. Get some great music and use it for your activity. If you need support, grab your friends and family to do an activity with you. And remember, don’t tell yourself that you are doing the dreaded “exercise”; fool yourself and have it become a normal part of your daily life.

Before starting any exercise program, check with your doctor!

©2008 Janet Horn, M.D. and Robin H. Miller, M.D.

Author Bio Dr. Janet Horn is Board Certified in Internal Medicine and Infectious Diseases, with training in Obstetrics and Gynecology. She spent many years on the fulltime faculty of the Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, where she published articles in medical journals on her research interests, including sexually transmitted diseases, AIDS, and women’s health. She started her solo private practice in 1990 while continuing to teach as an Associate Professor of Medicine on the part time faculty at Hopkins. She has been selected by Baltimore Magazine as one of the “Top Doctors in Baltimore” and by the Maryland Daily Record as one of the “Top 100 Women in Maryland.”

Dr. Robin Miller, in addition to being an experienced Board Certified Internist, is also an Integrative Medicine specialist, having trained with Dr. Andrew Weil as a Fellow at the University of Arizona. She is the founder and medical director of Triune Integrative Medicine, an innovative medical clinic in Medford, Oregon. She is an award winning medical correspondent on regional and national television, radio, and the internet. She is an award winning medical correspondent on regional and national television, radio, and the internet, the author of a health book for children, Kids Ask the Doctor, and a board member of The National Association of Medical Communicators, a society of medical journalists in all media.

About the Author

Dr. Janet Horn and Dr. Robin Miller are the authors of The Smart Woman’s Guide to Midlife and Beyond, which will be available this September from New Harbinger Publications.

Please visit http://www.SmartWomansHealth.com for more information.

Use and distribution of this article is subject to our Publisher Guidelines
whereby the original author’s information and copyright must be included.

Janet Horn, M.D. and Robin H. Miller, M.D.

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Upper Back Pain | Treatment And Care For Upper Back Pain

Upper back pain is less common but can be just as painful as lower back or neck pain. The upper back is designed to support the upper body and neck rather than to twist and turn. You can get pain in your upper back from injury or strain or even from lack of use. Once you have isolated the cause of your upper back pain it will be more easily treated. The root causes of pain in the upper back are muscular irritation and joint malfunction.

What Is Joint Malfunction?

Joint malfunction is most likely caused by strain or injury to the joints between the ribs and the upper back. A chiropractor, an osteopathic doctor or a physical therapist can manipulate the upper back in order to loosen and also strengthen those muscles to relieve the strain and prevent future injury. As part of treatment you may also take anti-inflammatory drugs to cut down on the upper back pain. A steroid shot will probably not be used unless it is injected right at the point where the pain initiates (the trigger point.)

What Is Muscular Irritation?

If you suffer from muscular irritation it is most likely not caused by strain or injury but rather from lack of activity or poor muscle strength in the shoulder girdle which connects the scapula to the thoracic cavity. Upper back pain in this case can be alleviated by chiropractic care, acupuncture, deep muscle massage, physical therapy, and strengthening and stretching exercises.

Are There Other Causes?

A herniated or ruptured disk is one of the less commonly found causes of upper back pain. Of people who come in for a herniated disk treatment only 1 percent have problems in the upper back. Another uncommon cause for pain in the upper back is degenerative disk disease. Those who work long hours at the computer or at a desk are more likely candidates for upper back pain than the general population. Good posture would help to alleviate the problem as well as strengthening exercises.

Suggested Treatment Options:

1) Chiropractic care: Once scorned by much of the medical community, it is now a well-respected profession and may be covered by your insurance.

2) Physical therapy: As you strengthen your back, shoulders, and abdomen, you will suffer from less upper back pain.

3) Acupuncture: This ancient Chinese healing art is also becoming more popular in treatment of chronic pain.

Read about Home Remedies for Backache

4) Deep muscle massage: A massage therapist trained in relieving upper back pain can be very useful.

5) The most serious cases of pain in the upper back may require medication for immediate relief.

Anaerobic Waste – How Anaerobic Digestion Works in Wastewater Treatment

Anaerobic Digestion

Anaerobic waste digestion happens in a closed reactor. Bacteria act upon the organic waste and release plenty of carbon dioxide and methane. The microbial community has only obligate anaerobic and facultative bacteria. As in aerobic chemohetrotrophic metabolism, initially the macromolecules are hydrolyzed. These products are then converted to volatile fatty acids (mainly acetic acid), and alcohols. The organisms responsible for these anaerobic waste reactions are popularly called acid formers.

They obtain energy through oxidation of organic compounds, but do not use oxygen as electron acceptor. Instead, another fragment of the substrate is reduced to anaerobic acids and alcohols through anaerobic processes. These are then metabolized by a second group of obligate anaerobic biomass (the methane formers), and converted to methane gas.

It is estimated that 60 to 70% of methane production in an anaerobic waste reaction is through conversion of acetic acid and the rest through carbon dioxide reduction by hydrogen.

The activities of the methane and acid producing groups of bacteria must be balanced as the former is sensitive to pH changes and works best in pH range 6.8 to 7.5.

Stabilization Ponds

Anaerobic waste stabilization ponds are large and shallow basins with residence times of 12 to 25 days. A variety of microorganisms inhabit such ponds participating in the anaerobic digestion of waste. In addition to the aerobic and anaerobic chemoheterotrophic organisms, a pond has a large variety of photoautotrophic life forms also. Green and blue-green algae are found in abundance in the top layers, maintaining a symbiotic relationship (I am ok, you are ok!) with the bacteria. At times the pond may also have a significant population of sulfur photosynthetic anaerobic waste water organisms.

Treatment For Herniated Disc In Lower Back- 5 Natural Home Remedies To Stop Pain and Swelling

Article by Trish Cannone

Some of the most poignant voices are heard from people who suffer a herniated disc and treatment for herniated disc in lower back is very convoluted.

What Is A Herniated Disc?

Our spine is cushioned by tiny, mushy discs. The main job of these spongy discs is to absorb the shocks endured by our body. Herniated disc is a condition when our discs get damaged or ruptured. It mostly affects our lower back and sometimes the pain can be felt near the neck (cervical spine).

People who are entangled in jobs and sports which require heavy lifting, pushing, twisting are very likely to suffer from this disorder. And with surgeries offering very poor curative results, people are bound to embrace natural remedies.

The Best Natural Treatments:

1) Rest is regarded to be the most effective treatment for herniated disc in lower back. But sometimes, over resting may backfire as it can weaken the surrounding muscles. Therefore, light activities with some rest can bring great relief.

2) Ice or heat treatment can bring great comfort to the patient. Depending on what you are more comfortable with, either of them can be applied to the affected area. They help to numb the nerves, reduces swelling and soothes out the pain. Always remember not to keep both of the either packs on for too long. Apply it for ten minutes followed by a five minutes rest.

3) Back posture is known to be a very important factor for herniated disc since improper posture may exaggerate our condition. Find a relaxing position for rest and sleeping with small pillows can do wonders. Try to use a medium-firm bed with small pillow under your head and knees. Alternatively, sleeping flat on the floor can also bring relief but try not to sleep in one spot for too long.

4) Regular massaging with safflower seed oil, Ignatia and Naja oil with some menthol can bring relief to those who are suffering from herniated disc, as they have their own medicinal values.

– Menthol: Helps in increasing the blood flow and circulation at the affected area which speeds healing.

– Ignatia: Helps to calm the affected nerves which increases the blood flow and gives more mobility to our muscles.

– Naja: Works within the nerves to heal and mitigate pain.

5) Apart from all these home remedies in treatment for herniated disc in lower back ,we must note down a few important tips like:

– Staying at a healthy weight reduces a lot of load on our lower back.

– Always protect your back when you lift any item.

– Try to get mild but regular exercise.

– Avoid smoking.

Is There A Quick Yet Affordable Home Remedy?

The bottom line on herniated disc comes down to getting an appropriate treatment which grinds well without heavy expense and without any side effects. The natural remedies mentioned are very effective but they act slowly. But to our relief, studies conducted by a Health Institute has proven that a cream made from a combined mix of natural herbs like Belladonna, Naja, Lachesis Mutus, Ignatia, etc. has the ability to stop pain and swelling in a short period of time. Even better, it does not come with any side effects. It is a breakthrough which is by far one of the best treatment for herniated disc in lower back.

Related Exercise For Herniated Disc In Lower Back Articles

Anaerobic Waste – How Anaerobic Digestion Works in Wastewater Treatment

Anaerobic Digestion

Anaerobic waste digestion happens in a closed reactor. Bacteria act upon the organic waste and release plenty of carbon dioxide and methane. The microbial community has only obligate anaerobic and facultative bacteria. As in aerobic chemohetrotrophic metabolism, initially the macromolecules are hydrolyzed. These products are then converted to volatile fatty acids (mainly acetic acid), and alcohols. The organisms responsible for these anaerobic waste reactions are popularly called acid formers.

They obtain energy through oxidation of organic compounds, but do not use oxygen as electron acceptor. Instead, another fragment of the substrate is reduced to anaerobic acids and alcohols through anaerobic processes. These are then metabolized by a second group of obligate anaerobic biomass (the methane formers), and converted to methane gas.

It is estimated that 60 to 70% of methane production in an anaerobic waste reaction is through conversion of acetic acid and the rest through carbon dioxide reduction by hydrogen.

The activities of the methane and acid producing groups of bacteria must be balanced as the former is sensitive to pH changes and works best in pH range 6.8 to 7.5.

Stabilization Ponds

Anaerobic waste stabilization ponds are large and shallow basins with residence times of 12 to 25 days. A variety of microorganisms inhabit such ponds participating in the anaerobic digestion of waste. In addition to the aerobic and anaerobic chemoheterotrophic organisms, a pond has a large variety of photoautotrophic life forms also. Green and blue-green algae are found in abundance in the top layers, maintaining a symbiotic relationship (I am ok, you are ok!) with the bacteria.

At times the pond may also have a significant population of sulfur photosynthetic anaerobic waste water organisms.

Avail Back Pain Treatment at Home

Article by AMR Rave

Many people are having back pain without actually understanding how to get the thing treated. It is even possible that these individuals have already tried several treatment methods without any hope in sight. It is not so difficult to come by treatment; provided you know how to make your search.

If you search the internet today, you are sure to come by so many methods that can be used in taking care of your this. In case you have tried swallowing several pills prescribed by your doctor and you have still not gotten the acupressure mat that you seek, you should attempt making further search online.

One of the most helpful solutions to your back pain is acupressure. acupressure mat can give you that highly desired back pain relief. This treatment method can also be so helpful to the extent that it will give you the needed relief under few hours of using it. Some individuals have even referred to is as the best treatment method you can ever apply to your this. Aside acupressure, there are some herbal products that can also be useful in giving you that highly desired back pain relief. There are several herbal treatment researches ongoing on daily basis and several new products are being developed to counter any of the health problems that medical science can’t find solution to.

Back pain treatment that medical science can’t find solution to may be best treated using these herbal products. There is also no toxic substance in the herbal products that may have any contrary effect on you. They will give you the relief without any side effect whatsoever. Many of the other drugs however do come with one form of side effect or the other. It may be better and safer for your heath if you decide to make use of herbal products to get your treatment.

Many of the herbal products are so easy to apply to the extent that you can use them at home without any expert help. This is unlike what you get with many of the pills around. Some of the herbs are also so common to the extent that you can get them over the counter for treating your problems.

Conclusion

Several individuals have been looking into the use of acupressure mat for obtaining Back pain treatment and they had come to the conclusion that it may be in your best interest to get your doctor along.. Your doctor may be able to help with the acupressure mat exercises. With the help of your doctor, you will also be able to know if tour body can easily adapt to the acupressure mat.

Find More Back Pain Exercises At Home Articles

Upper Back Pain Causes And Treatment

Article by Jack Woo

What is Upper Back Pain

Upper back pain is pain that is felt between the bottom of the neck and top of the lumbar spine. The upper back and neck section is a very complex part of our body because there are many joints and muscles working together.

While lower back pain affects our ability to walk and move about, upper backpain affects our ability to carry out simple daily activities like combing our hair orriding a bicycle.

Upper back pain is not as common as lower back pain, which is the most frequent excuse for absenteeism from work.This is because the upper back does not move as much as the spine in the lower back.

To understand how the upper back behaves, you need to have an idea of how it is structured in the spine.

Upper Back Structure

The anatomy of the upper body consists of the torso, arms and back. The torso which is basically the thoracic spine is made up of twelve vertebrae. The upper nine vertebrae are connected to corresponding ribs on both sides at every level and attaches to the breastbone in front. This forms the thoracic cage that provides structural protection for the internal organs of the heart, lungs and liver. This also offers space for the lungs to expand and contract but has limited motion in the spine. The lower three ribs do not join together at the front but still offer some protection to the vital organs, and allow slightly more motion in the spine. Viewing from the side, this part of the spine is a bit concave.

Since there is a lot of stability and little motion at the upper back (thoracic spine), there is less spinal disorder along this section of the spine.

The arms contain muscles such as the triceps brachii, biceps brachii and deltoid.The back contains muscles such as the rhomboids, rotator cuff and lattisimus dorsi.

Upper Back Pain Symptoms

This condition may last for a short duration, or it may last for more than three months, which is considered as chronic.The pain may be dull and throbbing, sharp and piercing, local or radiating. The pain may be constant, or only during certain activities, like lifting heavy things or after sitting for a long time. You may feel weakness and pain in your arms, and stiffness of your upper body.

This may occur in conjunction with other underlying medical conditions.

Symptoms include:

FeverHeadacheNeck painShoulder painStiffness of the backSwelling or redness of the backFatigueStressInsomniaAnxietyDepression

Some people suffering from back pain may also have other medical conditions with the following symptoms:

Chest PainAbdominal painJaw painBreathing difficultySweatingNausea

These symptoms may be life threatening and they should seek emergency treatment.

Causes

This condition can be caused by trauma, sudden injury, strain and poor posture over time. People who work long hours in front of computers or stretching their upper body at an awkward angle is prone to this problem. As their joints and muscles become exhausted their spines are misaligned creating imbalances. People who stretch and swing their upper body frequently during sport activities may also develop this pain. It can also be caused by more serious medical conditions, such as:

• fibromyalgia( a chronic pain in muscles and soft tissues surrounding the joints throughout the body, accompanied by fatigue) • spondylitis (infection or inflammation of the spinal joints)• spinal disc herniation (slipped disc)• Osteoporosis (metabolic bone disease)• Spinal stenosis (a narrowing of the spinal canal that presses on the spinal cord or nerves)

Risk Factors

If you belong to any of the categories listed below, then you are at risk of getting upper back pain:

Congenital (present at birth) Family history of back pain or spine diseaseObesityIncreasing agePoor postureSedentary lifestyleSmokingStress and anxiety

Prevention and Treatment

Most treatments for upper back pain are focused on relieving the pain and do not address the underlying cause, which is normally the spinal imbalances.Unless you address the muscle and joint imbalances, pain relief is only temporary.

It can be treated by one or a combination of the following:

• Ice and/or heat therapy • Deep massage or massage therapy• Joint manipulation, performed by chiropractors, physiotherapists, or osteopathic physicians• Acupuncture• Exercise/Active and passive physical therapy• Analgesics such as non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs• Short rest on bed

Unless the severity of your upper back pain warrants it, surgery should always be your last option.

Find More Upper Back Pain Exercises Articles

Upper Back Pain Treatment

Upper back conditions are not as common as lower back conditions. When problems appear in the upper part of your back, it is usually more serious than a muscle strain or herniated disc. The upper portion of your back is different from the lower part of your back because instead of being flexible and mobile, the upper back is supposed to be strong and provide stability for the body.

This is the part of the body that gives us the strength to stand and walk. The upper part of your back is not very mobile and any bone breakdown is rare; having the strength to stand up protects the muscles and organs in the chest. Most upper back issues are a result of irritated muscles or joint dysfunction.

Mild forms of pain in the upper portion of your back can result from years of bad posture. As the technology age has taken off, more people who work at desks all day are complaining of upper back problems. Slouching in a desk puts great strain on our backs. As with any injury, upper back pain can also be the result of an accident or trauma, but the most common causes of pain stem from the muscles and joints.

Muscular irritation is caused by either the overuse of the muscles in the shoulder area or by a complete lack of use. Not using the muscles in the shoulders and upper back causes them to weaken, resulting in them not being able to support the body as well, causing a strain and pain. Overuse of the muscles is a common problem for athletes or someone with a job that requires repetitive motion affecting the back muscles.

The muscles will get overworked and irritated, causing swelling that results in a back pain that is sometimes very hard to treat. Physical therapists recommend gentle exercise and abundant stretching as the best way to relieve and treat upper back pain. Rest if the exercise becomes painful. Medication may help to bring down the swelling.
Joint dysfunctions focus on the area where the ribs attach to the upper spine.

These two joints are responsible for holding the ribs in place; if they are flawed in any way, upper back pain will result. In addition to pain medication and rest, treatments will include visiting a chiropractor and physical therapist. They will manually manipulate the joints to try and move the joint and relieve your pain.

Stretching is an essential part of recovery from any upper back pain. An exercise and stretching routine at home will help maintain overall back strength. Aerobic exercise is very important as it will help a patient lose or maintain a healthy weight. Extra weight, especially weight that sits in the stomach area, will pull the upper body forward, putting strain on the back muscles.

Upper back pain is usually more serious than lower back pain. If during pregnancy you experience pain in the upper part of your back, it is likely just a result of the additional weight. Rest and speak with a doctor if the pain is unbearable. Upper back pain is typically moderate to serious and requires consulting with a doctor.