Oct 29
RSI is not CTS
Posted by admin in Uncategorized on 10 29th, 2009| icon3No Comments »

Repetitive strain injury or RSI is a disorder by chronic misuse or repetitive movements of some body parts such as the hands, arms, neck and upper back. Patients, who are diagnosed with RSI, usually complain of unspecific or diffuse pain in the tendons and nerve distribution in the area. The pain usually tends to worsen especially during activities accompanied with weakening or numbness.
CTS or carpal tunnel syndrome on the other hand affects specific nerves on the wrist. The cause and symptoms may be similar but some misdiagnose CTS with RSI.
Although these are not life threatening, they can create discomfort. There are lots of factors to consider in the development of such that puts everybody at risk. Repetitive tasks such as driving or simply using the computer can trigger RSI or CTS. Poor posture, cold temperatures and rapid movements can be causes as well.
To prevent RSI or CTS you can do the following:
1. Take short breaks if you start to feel pain or fatigue from a repetitive activity.
2. Regularly exercise by stretching or bending.
3. Have a proper and cozy posture.
4. Use proper and comfortable techniques in completing a tediously repeating task.
5. Use ergonomically designed tools, devices or equipments.
6. Do not use forceful movements.
7. Keep yourself warm if you are in a cold environment.
8. Eat healthy and nutritious food to supplement and strengthen your body.

RSI and CTS maybe work related injuries. But you can have these conditions even during leisure activities such as swimming, biking, dancing or by just simply watching TV.

Oct 15
Good and Bad Cholesterols: What Are They?
Posted by Lemuel Asibal in Diet, Nutrition on 10 15th, 2009| icon3No Comments »

There are two kinds of cholesterols that are naturally present in our body system and are known as good and bad cholesterol.

Bad cholesterol, which is known as LDL or low density lipids, is the common culprit of heart diseases or fatal heart attacks. High cholesterol concentration in our body is sometimes genetic and so, proper care for your overall health condition is the only combating tool to prevent health disruptions from happening.

The only way to fight health risks is to have better understanding about cholesterol, its functions and effects on the body.

Good cholesterol is also known as HDL or high density lipids. Unlike LDL which may get stocked on the walls of your blood vessels because of its density, HDL easily floats along with the blood cells and plasma. As a result, it promotes better blood circulation and nutrient distribution throughout the body, lessening blockages in heart arteries.

When LDL levels get higher, you will start feeling pain that takes place within the heart cavity. This is due to the spasm of artery which results to the abnormal functioning of the heart. The worse thing that can happen is when the heart will stop working. When the arteries fail to function, this can cause death eventually. Imagine how fatal LDL cholesterol is; it directly strikes the heart (which is considered as the main switch of human life) and damages the arteries around so that they will stop working.

Oct 13

Like a large number of individuals my age, I am also a fitness buff - doing five kilometer runs at least three times a week and swimming on weekends. Cardio exercises are on top of my daily routines. When I have time and money, I also play tennis and badminton. As of this time, I am saving up for a lightweight bike I can use for training rides, mountain trailing and just plain reconnoitering.

These activities have been a part of me for many years. But if you think that I have that athletic physique by now, that’s when things start to show less of me. My body does not reflect my active lifestyle well. That’s because my metabolism happens to be rather slow. Five kilometer runs and two hour non-stop badminton games do not always make me sweat out. Too often, I would just end up panting and feeling sticky but not as drenched as the others.

Through all these activities, supplements such as essential oils help me stay fit. Food supplements make up for nutrients that are denatured over time through improper food handling, care and cooking. Essential oils help aid in loss fat loss and eventually improve our skin, hair and nails. It hydrates the skin and keeps it smooth with fewer wrinkles. And it allows hair and nails to grow healthier and more rapidly.

Essential oils are mainly comprised of flaxseed oil, pumpkin seed oil, sesame oil and sunflower oil. Other essential oils include coconut oil, evening primrose oil, soy lecithin, oat bran and oat germ oils and rosemary extract among others. These oils are taken orally and may also be added on salads, fish, protein shakes and veggies. However, these oils should not be used in cooking; otherwise you break its nutrient contents. These should also be kept cold.

Oct 5

A lot of people have made the morning walk as a daily routine. This is actually good since you can gain a lot of benefits in terms of wellness and health. Because of the new technology and the irritatingly fast-paced world, our body movements are getting reduced day by day. With life becoming more relaxed and stagnant, the need of exercise is very vital for our health.

Most of the time, our movements are restricted at home and in the office. That’s why the only time available for us to have some decent exercise is in the morning. We are so lucky that the morning can give us enough oxygen that can supply energy to our joints. This makes morning walks one of the best form of exercise. It actually increases our metabolism and blood circulation, which subsequently helps to reduce sugar level. Now to extend your interest in engaging morning walk, I bring to you its benefits and advantages.

Morning walk is a natural curative activity. Not only does it strengthen our body and our immunity, it allows us to get a good night sleep and will reduce the pain in most diabetic patients.

Morning walks can additionally reduce stress and the addictive feeling of laziness. The morning breeze helps to soothe muscles and nerves as well as reenergize the body.

Morning walks help you to think and act more clearly and rationally. It tones up your stomach and improves the digestive system. It also activates the brain cells to make you more active and responsive.

Its undeniable that the best advantage of taking a morning walk is that it helps you reduce fat and helps burn calories.

To sum it up, morning walking gives us a lot of benefits and it is definitely worth trying.

Sep 24

Gout is a disease that develops along with the high levels of uric acid in the body. The pains usually occur in the cartilage of joints or tendons where the monosodium urate (uric acid) crystals are deposited. Symptoms include the excruciating pain together with the swelling of the infected joint. Oftentimes, a low grade fever can be present. Sources of pain can be from the crystal deposits in the joints or the inflamed tissues around the joints. Approximately, 75% of the first major attacks of gout occur in the big toe. The rest can occur in the heel, ankle, knee, wrist or even the spine.

The development of gouts can be the accounted as a complication from other medical conditions or the result of too much uric acid in the body itself. Causes can also be traced with heredity factors like the imbalance of purine-pyrimidine metabolism during the infancy period. However, this kind of disease is common on individuals who enjoy lobsters or crabs and other foods made from various animal organs. Thus higher percentage of developing gout is often associated with the kind of lifestyle that one is embracing. That is why obese and diabetic people are also prone to developing gout.

The diagnosis of gout is supported with the presence of plasma urate at a level greater than the specified normal value. In males, the value of urates must not exceed 420 ?mol/L (7.0 mg/dL) and 380 ?mol/L for females. The most common clinical sign for gout is the presence of podagra or the tophi.

There are various treatments available for gout related health issues but later creates severe side effects. However, reducing the risk factors can be practiced before any major complications can occur. This includes maintaining the ideal body weight, exercising, and the intake of the recommended daily water requirement.

Sep 24
The Importance of Chest Physiotherapy
Posted by admin in Treatment on 09 24th, 2009| icon3No Comments »

Chest physiotherapy also known as CPT is the process of removing the excess secreted sputum in the respiratory system especially those contained in the lung area. This is done so as to improve the breathing process of a patient wherein the airway obstructions are cleared. In such way, the respiratory muscles are enhanced in order to receive more oxygen.

Mucus secretion is normal as long as it moistens the lungs, however as the mucus thickens the risk of chest infection may be possibly occur. Such abnormalities can prevent the expulsion of mucus and that the CPT is prescribed. The procedure is considered effective regardless of the age of the patient.

Chest physiotherapy is commonly recommended to patients with cystic fibrosis in order to eradicate the sputum present in the airways. Respiratory diseases such as bronchitis, COPD, and pneumonia also needs the CPT. Usually the procedure includes the postural drainage, controlled deep breathing exercises and the vibration of chest or the percussion. These procedures are often performed with various treatment methods such as suctioning and nebulization therapy.

One of the most important methods in CPT is the postural drainage wherein the body is being positioned that the mucus in the lungs can be drained towards the throat. After the postural drainage, it is advisable to do the assisted coughing to provide cough pressure in order to expel the mucus.

Although CPT is considered as an effective means of mucus removal, it is not recommended for people with tuberculosis, acute asthma, fractured ribs or those who have undergone recent surgery. Before CPT is applied, the overall health of the patient must be taken into consideration.

Sep 24
Stress Management For High Level Leaders
Posted by admin in Tips on 09 24th, 2009| icon3No Comments »

Getting rid of stress is basically the best thing that one would like to consider. Some would have it the easy way like taking medicines while others consider the traditional spa and massage. However, these are only some ways about dealing with the symptoms without diagnosing the real cause of the stress. In order to get the desired result to effectively get rid of stress, determining the root cause of everything is the best way to do it.

If in case the stress is not properly managed, one is likely to experience loss of composure. As revealed by the Center for Creative Leadership, effective leaders who are highly skilled are often confronted with situations that are often beyond their control. Results showed that out of the 36,000 high level managers, 88% associated work as the leading cause of stress. Leadership often requires a lot of responsibility and that is why they are prone to stress. You may not be able to get rid of it completely but at least learn how to control it.

Here are some ways on how you can reduce stress.

1.    Always include a daily physical activity in your regimen. A short distance walk before taking off to work might help. Endorphins produced during exercise can help reduce stress.
2.    Instead of stress, try getting rid of the negative thoughts that has been bothering you. As much as possible, try entertaining the positive ones.
3.    Delegate tasks as much as possible. There are jobs that are meant for you and there are those that can be delegated. Make it a habit to ask for assistance from time to time if necessary. Support group is a must where you can vent out your concerns.
4.    Take mini vacations. Staying at home with the family or visiting relatives that are living nearby will do. Try to do what is more relaxing and rejuvenating.

These are suggestions that might help you deal with stress at work or at home. The best thing is always working on with the root cause of stress. Once identified, stress management can be quite easy.

Sep 22

Fire dancing is also known as “fire twirling,” “fire spinning,” “fire performance,” or “fire manipulation” performed within a group or an individual. To perform such dance, it needs discipline. This is art on manipulation of objects on fire. Typically, wicking is the trick here.  Objects can contain several wicks, which have been soaked in fuel. These are ignited to product the effects needed in fire dancing.

Fire dancing is related to juggling or baton twirling, and it has a likeness between fire dancing and gymnastics. So since it is similar to gymnastic, fire dancing as a form of exercise, is often performed with music. Fire dancing has been practiced as a tradition. Cultures from around the world do fire dancing. In modern fire performances, they often include added visual and more style using the same kind of elements that have been used for years. Fire dancing is a famous workout or exercise nowadays. There are a lot of people who want to learn how to do fire dancing. However,  fire dancing is a risky stuff, where you can be scorched or burned while doing it. Still a lot of people are interested to dance with fire and practice this art.

Fire dancing is made of a number of beautiful movements, many of which involve fire twirling. As long as you can light something, you can dance with it. This is the principle behind the fun found in fire dancing! Just be careful not to set the house or building on fire. Even the cat can be cause for arson when you mistakenly light its tail with fire.  Other forms of fire dancing can be seen in these activities:
•    Fire Eating
•    Fire Breathing
•    Fire Poi/ Fire Chains
•    Fire Staff / Fire Staves

Sep 22

Moringa, or commonly called Malunggay in Philippines, has been discovered to possess significant nutritious value as a bio-food. But recently, its seed was also recognized to be a most promising alternative source of bio-fuel. In Philippines, the Moringa plant is normally found in backyards and vegetable gardens of houses, particularly in the rural and countryside areas. The Moringa leaves are usually seen as garnish to ”tinola” and ”sinabawang isda” and a main component of “law-uy”, a viand which mainly consists of assorted vegetables. The latter viand is believed to be ideal for breastfeeding mothers, for the elderly and for malnourished children because it provides several helpful micronutrients.

The Moringa oleifera is a tree, with a gnarly trunk and tousled head of foliage that makes it appear like a cypress that just rolled out of bed.  It is a plant that commonly grows either in barren or fertile lands. It produces leaves, pods, seeds and flowers that contribute numerous benefits individually.

Recently, the department of science and technology introduce Moringa as an excellent source of nutrition and a potent energy booster. Research shows that its miracle leaves contain four times the calcium and twice the protein of milk, seven times the vitamin C of oranges, four times the vitamin A (beta-carotene) of carrots, thrice the potassium in bananas, three times the iron content in spinach, with a full complement of minerals and all the amino acids of meat. Three spoonfuls of moringa leaf powder contains 272 percent of all a typical toddler’s daily vitamin A requirement; along with 42 percent of the protein, 125 percent of the calcium, 71 percent of the iron and 22 percent of the vitamin C he/she needs.

Furthermore, the leaves are also effective in treating headaches, wounds, insect bites, bacterial or fungal skin problems, gastric ulcers and diarrhea. The pods are also useful in the treatment of worm, liver and spleen problems, joint pains and they also have the uncanny ability to rebuild weak bones. The Moringa also helps to reduce blood pressure and assure a good night’s sleep.

Sep 20
Spa and Pampering Services
Posted by admin in Therapy on 09 20th, 2009| icon3No Comments »

Spa gift vouchers have invaded the list of most potential gifts for various occasions. A lot of people now prefer giving these instead of material things. In the first place, choosing spa gift vouchers eliminates the need to scout around shops for what could be the most fitting gift for a chosen recipient. Spa gift vouchers also eradicate the need for gift wrapping, in case of tangible items, which could be yet another expense on your part.

Spa gift vouchers are advantageous not only to the generous giver. In fact, it provides more advantages to the recipient of such gift who could be your parents, brother or sister, a close friend or a colleague at work. For one thing, it offers these recipients the chance to experience a potential one-of-a-lifetime pamper weekend breaks at a chosen destination health and wellness spa.

Spa and Pampering Services

Spa and Pampering Services

Destination health and wellness spas provide a wide range of spa and pampering services such as massage therapy and day spa. Some of these spa providers have special programs for specific clients such as pregnant women and babies who require special touch due to their fragile bodies. Destination health and wellness spas also offer spa and pampering services to brides-to-be. These spa services are guaranteed to nurture and relax individuals.

Among the spa and pampering services an individual can take advantage of using spa gift vouchers include not just the traditional, ordinary massage you knew. Instead you get to experience Swedish massage, Shiatsu massage, Thai massage and aromatherapy among others. Health spa resorts also offer body treatments not only for the face but for the entire body. Body treatments typically involve the use of a variety of herbal wraps, masks and scrubs using a range of ingredients.

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