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MIND-BODY CONNECTION

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Studies show that good nutrition and exercise help us to achieve optimal mental health and life satisfaction.

  
Website Article: Exercise and the Immune System Website Recipe: Root Vegetable Stew With Beef and Barley


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HEADACHE CURES

During some point in your life, you would have suffered from a headache. A headache is a symptom of a number of different conditions that impact the head and sometimes extending towards the neck and is one of the most common pain complaints in people. Whether it is a small or severe headache they can occur more frequently in some people than others. There are various reasons of frequent headaches which are sparked off in different means for every person. The point to which the headache lasts and the intensiveness of the pain will also alter on every individual.


Viral infection, sinusitis, musculo-skeletal conditions, migraine, fatigue and headache, stress and other forms of tension are the most common causes of headaches. However meningitis, blood pressure, strokes and brain tumors are also linked to causes of regular headaches.

Tylenol, ibuprofen, aspirin or pain relieving medications that contain caffeine are the most effective types of medications used to relieve pain from headaches. The misuse of these medications can actually cause frequent headaches to occur. Once the medication wears off for the pain a withdrawal reaction may occur, making you want to take more medication thus leading to another headache and the need to take more medication again. As the cycle continues, headaches will occur more often and might extend the harshness of the pain thus leading to regular headaches.

The most common symptoms that come with frequent headaches are nausea, vomiting or the feeling that light bothers the eyes or sound bothers the ears. Some people are more stooped to a special type of headache such as cluster headaches, migraine headaches or tension headaches which occur more often than other types of headaches, however anyone who suffers from a headache, suffers from the same thing which is agony. The only way of diagnosing the type of frequent headache one suffers through would be through the description of symptoms felt by the sufferer.

Yes there are ways to prevent frequent headaches. Limiting the use of pain relievers when headaches occur such that the intake is limited to only twice a week and avoiding products that contain caffeine whilst taking the pain relievers. Sometimes frequent headaches occur because of the type of foods consumed so a good diet is always the best way to go about it. Regular form of exercise to avoid the buildup of stress and tension that is a common cause of frequent headaches as well. It is always best to understand the cause of frequent headaches so one can take the right treatment.

http://ahcalliance.com/headache-cures/

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Anxiety and Panic Help, Understanding Feelings Of Unreality/Depersonalization

 by: Paul David

Depersonalization

In the process of writing this book I covered the feeling of detachment from oneself, otherwise known as depersonalization: an emotional disorder in which there is loss of contact with your own personal reality accompanied by feelings of unreality and strangeness, also a sensation of ones environment looking or feeling "strange" and unusual.

This one question kept coming up more and more as I was writing this book, so I decided to add an extra chapter on this annoying, yet harmless, symptom.

D.P., as I will refer to it, is a common and understandable offshoot of the anxiety condition. I can also tell you that it is in no way a mental illness. It is not serious or harmful in any way and has a totally logical explanation. It is temporary and, with patience and understanding, eventually passes like any other symptom.

The key to recovering from this feeling of detachment is to surrender to this strange feeling, to pay it no respect and realise it is just the product of an over-tired mind, fatigued by your constant worrying thoughts and the constant checking in to how you feel. This symptom relies on your fear of it to keep it alive.

When people are caught up in the worry cycle, they begin to think deeply and constantly. They study themselves from deep within, checking in and focusing on their symptoms. They may even wake in the morning only to continue this habit, "How do I feel this morning? I wonder if I will be able to get through today". What's this new sensation I feel?" This may go on all day, exhausting their already tired mind further. This constant checking in and constant assessing of their symptoms then becomes a habit, but like all other habits this one can also be changed.

All this worry is bound to make your mind feel dull and unresponsive. Is it any wonder you have come to feel so distanced from your surroundings? Is it any wonder you find it so hard to concentrate? Some people, when studying for exams for hours on end, get to the point where they can no longer take information in, so they take a break and carry on the day after. For you, there are no breaks and no time outs.

As I have already mentioned earlier, your body has a safety mechanism that protects it from all this worry and slows the mind down to safeguard itself. It takes a step back from this onslaught, which can then produce your feelings of detachment and the world around you may become hazy or out of focus.

Once you understand this symptom as being caused by an over-tired mind, exhausted through worry, that you are not going mad and these feelings can't harm you in any way, it makes sense. With the fear factor taken out of this symptom, it can start to hold less power over you and affect you less than it did before. Although still annoying, you now know why you feel these feelings. Once you learn to accept them and stop adding worrying thoughts to the mix, this is another symptom that you will be able to overcome in time. Taking a step back and giving up the worrying thoughts, gives your mind the chance to rest, rejuvenate and refresh.

When it happened to me, I recognized and understood what was causing it. I realized that I was checking in and worrying about it and I did fear this sensation, so I just stopped doing it. I also learnt to get busier and stop brooding on this and other symptoms. Being active gives you another focus. Having too much time on your hands can open the door to too much needless thinking. With less worry and fear of this harmless but upsetting symptom, I was eventually able to overcome it. It merely became a nuisance and because I knew the reason for its existence, it no longer held any power over me.

When a worry or fear loses its importance, it loses its power and that is why it is essential to realize these symptoms are neither harmful nor serious. Gradually, without all the checking in and worrying, this symptom that so dominated my life began to diminish and eventually disappeared completely.

This symptom is like any other all symptoms are still being fuelled by your fear of them. As long as the fear continues, so will the symptoms. When we start to understand why we feel like we do, we automatically fear them less and they start to lose their edge and importance, this is when symptoms gradually start to fade.


Paul David spent years after his own recovery studying the whole subject in full so he could go on to dedicate his life to helping others. He then went on to write a book entitled "At Last a Life" telling his own story of recovery and what took him there. For more information and better understanding of the subject visit his website at: www.anxietynomore.co.uk


To find other free health content see www.e-healtharticles.com

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EXERCISE AND THE IMMUNE SYSTEM

Although the H1N1 flu virus seems to have lost its punch, the cold and flu season is still far from over.  There is often a second peak or spike in illness in late January and February, so it is not time to let your guard down just yet.  I have devoted articles in the past to dietary changes and supplements that can strengthen your immune system and help you ward off those nasty viruses, but there is one additional tool you have to strengthen your immune system, and that is good old exercise.  I know, there is that dreaded “E” word again, but the fact remains it is one of the most powerful tools you have to keep you immune system strong and able to keep the cold or flu from gaining a foothold and making you miserable.

Although very intense or prolonged exercise such as running a marathon can actually weaken your immune system, moderate to high intensity exercise that is performed on a consistent basis has been shown to improve the function of the immune system.  Research looking at the duration and frequency of upper respiratory infections asked people to rank themselves as high, medium or low fitness level.  Those in the high fitness levels tended to be regular exercisers and most were normal weight.  The medium level consisted of periodic exercisers and most were overweight, while the low fitness level consisted mostly of overweight or obese individuals who were sedentary.  When comparing the three groups, researchers found that the high fitness level individuals averaged 7.5 days of illness in a 12 week period, the medium fitness group 8.5 days, and the low fitness group 10.6 days during the 12 week period.  Compared to the low fitness individuals, the high fitness individuals had 38% fewer symptoms and rated them 37% less severe, while the medium fitness individuals had 29% fewer symptoms and rated them 28% less severe.  According to the Tamiflu fact sheet, taking the drug at the firs sign of flu symptoms can provide a 38% reduction in the severity of the flu and a 37% reduction in the duration of the illness.  The boost to the immune system from exercise is roughly equal to having that prescription of Tamiflu filled and ready to take of you start to get sick, but I do concede it is easier to just swallow the Tamiflu.   It definitely requires more time and diligence to maintain an exercise routine, but it is an effort that provides a whole host of benefits.  One more thing to consider would be side effects.  Here is the list of possible side effects from the fact sheet for Tamiflu:

Possible side effects: Common: nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, stomach pain, and headache. In children, in addition to above, ear problems or infection, nose bleeds, discharge from eyes and breathlessness or wheezing. Rare: Sudden signs of allergy such as rash, swelling of face, lips or tongue. Chest infection with fever, chills and shortness of breath. Yellowing of the skin, dark colored urine or severe stomach pain. Diarrhea with blood. Patients or their caregivers should look out for signs of abnormal behavior (convulsions, delirium, severe confusion).

Now let’s look at the side effects for exercise:

If you are overweight, losing weight is a probable side effect, enhanced well being and confidence, stronger heart and lungs, improved muscle tone and balance, 27% lower risk of stroke, approximately 50% less risk of type 2 diabetes, approximately 40% less risk of high blood pressure, approximately 50% reduction in mortality from breast cancer, more than 60% lower risk of colon cancer, almost 40% risk of Alzheimer’s or dementia, and it is as effective as anti-depressants in lessening depression 

Even if you can only manage to exercise a few days a week, spending 45-60 minutes doing something will put you in the medium fitness group and more than likely you will pick a few (or more!) of the side effects of exercise.  Additional research showed that walking briskly (3,000 steps in 30 minutes) for 45 minutes 5 days a week resulted in a 25-50% reduction in sick days compared to sedentary controls. 

Your body does not like to be sedentary…it was never designed for long periods of sitting or lying around.  When you treat it in that manor, it breaks down and ceases to function properly, as is evidenced by the dramatic increase in so many chronic (and common) diseases in sedentary individuals. 

Make this the year that you start giving your body what it really needs:  Activity.

 

MEET THE DOCTOR - Dr. Keith Weaver

Some of you may know me, but for most, this will be our first introduction. First off, I am a doctor who is fairly new to the area, now living in Hixson with my wife and three children. I recently opened up a new Primary Care office and in doing so, I met someone associated with this website and they asked me to do a blog about medical issues. So that’s why I’m here! Some of the things I will talk about will be more “textbook” type things, while others will be some good home remedies and more story like. This is my first blog, so please bear with me and if you have any questions or topics you would like me to discuss, please just let me know!

Now, a bit about myself, just so you can get a better feel for who I am. I was born in Rochester, NY so yes, I’m a Yankee and have been told that many times (mainly by my in-laws lol) and grew up in Canandaigua, NY, graduating high school from Canandaigua Academy in 1989. I began college at the University of Rochester but after two years with no clear career path in mind, I left college and joined the work force. I found a job working with Developmentally Disabled Adults and it was there that I really found my passion for medicine. After 4 years of caring for the handicapped and with this new found dream in mind, I moved to North Carolina and I finished my undergraduate degree at UNC-Chapel Hill where I earned a BS in Biology in 2000. Next, I moved to Pennsylvania where I attended Lake Erie College of Osteopathic Medicine, earning my Doctorate of Osteopathic Medicine in 2004.

I went to medical school on a full scholarship from the US Navy, so after graduating I moved to Virginia and did my internship at Naval Medical Center Portsmouth. After that, I spent 5 years in the Navy including time working at the Norfolk Naval Base - Substance Abuse and Rehabilitation Center, then on to the SeaBees where I was in Naval Mobile Construction Battalion SEVEN (NMCB SEVEN) and served in Operation Iraqi Freedom in the Middle East. When I got home from the Desert, I was in the Gulfport, Mississippi Base Medical Clinic and then moved over to the Pensacola Naval Hospital's Family Practice Clinic. In August 2009, I left the military with an Honorable Discharge and moved to Hixson, TN to begin trying to be a civilian and finally be able to live with my family.

As I said earlier, I am married to a wonderful woman who was born and raised in the area and together we have 3 children. The oldest are both girls and are 7 and 6 years old, and the youngest is a boy, age 3. My wife and I started our own business earlier this year, Compassionate Health Care. It’s small but growing thanks in large part to our friends and patients spreading the word. If you live in Hixson or are just passing through, feel free to come on by and meet me and the staff, check out our website at www.CompassionateHealthCareLLC.com or follow us on Facebook at http://www.facebook.com/CompassionateHealthCare.
 

 

  ChattanoogaCounselor.com, Inc. makes nutrition, fitness,
and herbal life the focal point of its Mind-Body Section.
Other alternative therapies will generally fall outside the scope of what
ChattanoogaCounselor.com, Inc. offers at this time.
 

ALTERNATIVE THERAPY

For more information on alternative counselors
and practitioners in the area, please visit the website for
Complementary Health Education Organization

CHEO

 

DEVELOPMENT AND DESIGN  :: DBGRAPHICS :: 2009