Arthritis is a disease of the joints that strikes millions of people worldwide every year. Although it is most commonly associated with aging, it can appear in young people as well. Being afflicted with arthritis is inconvenient and discomforting, to say the least. To minimize loss in quality of life, you should be aware of the many avenues of arthritis help that are available to you. With the rapid development of medical technology as well as the growth of information technology, you can learn more about the disease than ever and get the right help to manage it better. Arthritis help and treatment comes in many forms, but one of the most important things for the early management of the disease is to recognize the symptoms. There are many, many variations of this disease, but they share some things in common. Joint pain, stiffness, tenderness, and swelling are the most prominent signs of the disease. In addition, many patients experience fatigue, weight loss, and a condition called crepitus -- a cracking sound that is also called popping joints. It may or not be painful, and it usually indicates that something is wrong with one's soft tissue or joint. Relief from pain and preventing the disease from getting worse are the main goals of arthritis treatment. Even though arthritis is a very common disease, the way people experience it can differ, with some experiencing more pain and others less. It's important to resist the urge to self-medicate -- seek immediate medical help from your primary care physician, who will be able to prescribe the best treatment for your particular condition. Medical experts also recommend that patients take a proactive part in the management of their disease. In addition to possible concerns about medication, such as side effects and contraindications, patients should feel free to ask their doctors questions that will help them understand the disease better because doing so will help them help themselves even more. Apart from pharmaceutical formulations, there are alternative or holistic arthritis help options that patients can consider. Acupuncture, yoga, hypno-therapy, ayurveda, and aromatherapy are just some of the many natural treatment choices available. These therapies were used by ancient cultures hundreds and thousands of years ago to treat a variety of ailments, and they have been passed down us and more and more people are reaping their benefits. Be careful, though, and make sure that you are seeking holistic treatment from a qualified or certified practitioner; going to quacks will definitely not bring you any pain relief. A healthy diet is an essential part of arthritis help programs. Making sure you get a diet that is rich in vitamins and minerals in order to keep the body as healthy as possible. There should be a healthy balance of foods that are rich in protein, phytochemicals, fiber, and other nutrients, and these are most often found in whole foods -- not in the junk food, fast-food, and foods rich in saturated fat and refined carbohydrates that many of us have become accustomed to. However, individuals with certain types of arthritis, such as gout, osteoarthritis, psoriatic arthritis, and rheumatoid arthritis are advised to know about whole foods that can aggravate their condition. Again, consultation with a medical professional or nutritionist should not be neglected in order to learn which foods could help or worsen the disease's symptoms. Proper rest is important, especially when joint pain is at its worst. But this doesn't mean shouldn't neglect physical activity. There are exercises that are appropriate for arthritic patients; these are non-impact activities that can benefit aching joints and reduce the loss of range of motion. Certain water and stretching exercises and walking are just some of the activities that help keep arthritis patients in better health both physically and psychologically. Patients can also take comfort in the fact that there are many arthritis help products available in the marketplace, all of which are designed to make living with the disease easier. Gardening paraphernalia, arthritis-friendly clothes and dress accessories, and house furnishings modified for easy operation -- all these and more are bestsellers because they help individuals with arthritis live as much of a normal life as they possibly could. Having a positive mindset and a healthy style of living are in themselves major factors in arthritis help. Add them to the abundance of relief and treatment options available today and you will find that life is still good -- even with arthritis. Health & Wellness Blog Did you know that Green Tea is one of the most effective weight loss supplements that you can consume to help you lose weight? Well, it is. According to recent studies, when combined with sensible lifestyle changes green tea can help dieters lose weight, burn fat, increase metabolic rate and suppress their appetites. Unlike black tea which is highly processed and fermented, green tea is made by slightly steaming the freshly gathered leaves, which prevents them from becoming fermented or changing color. After steaming, the leaves are dried by lightly pan frying them in a wok, baking them in an oven or heating them with hot air until they are crispy. The resulting beverage is a greenish-yellow tea with a slightly astringent flavor. More and more often you'll find extracts of green tea being included in a lot of popular weight loss products today. One of the main reasons for this is because of one of green tea's chief ingredients. Polyphenols, which are responsible for the color of the leaves of some plants, are a group of substances found in green tea. These polyphenols benefit weight loss by helping the body to burn fat naturally by increasing body heat and energy expenditure. Green tea also causes carbohydrates to be released slowly, preventing sharp increases in blood-insulin levels. This promotes the burning of fat. Another of the main ingredients in green tea is antioxidants. Antioxidants are organic substances, like vitamins A, E and C which are thought to be effective in helping protect the body against the harmful effects of free radicals - which cause the destruction of living cells, cancer, stroke and heart disease. One of the most extraordinary characteristics about green tea is that studies have shown it is about 200 times more potent an antioxidant than Vitamin A, Vitamin C, E or curcumin in some instances. Additionally, just one cup of green tea has more antioxidant effect than a serving of strawberries, spinach or carrots. Caffeine is another component in green tea which scientists think plays an important role in green tea's ability to help people lose weight. Green tea contains less caffeine than coffee. There are approximately 30 to 60 mg. of caffeine in 8 ounces of tea, compared to more than 100 mg. in 8 ounces of coffee. Combined with Polyphenol compounds, caffeine in green tea acts as a stimulant to the body to help promote fat loss. In a recent study, participants taking green tea extract and still following normal diet experienced a significant increase in their energy expenditure. The researchers concluded that participants using green tea extract had increased fat oxidation beyond what could be attributed to the caffeine they consumed. This indicates that green tea contains beneficial components that affect the body's metabolism in such a way that favors weight loss. Additionally, scientists observed that participants in a study on green tea did not show any increase in heart rate, which suggests that green tea may be an excellent alternative to many stimulant-based diet aids. If helping people to lose weight was not enough, green tea provides additional health benefits far and beyond weight loss, including: - Protects against Parkinson's disease and Alzheimer's - Fights cavities and helps stop tooth decay and gum disease - Prevents osteoporosis - Protects against ovarian cancer, breast cancer, liver cancer, lung cancer, stomach cancer and prostate cancer - Lowers cholesterol - Helps the body to fight viruses - Controls high blood pressure - Normalizes healthy bacteria in the intestines - Helps prevent heart disease Thus far, no harmful side effects have been found in drinking green tea or taking green tea extract capsules. This makes green tea one of the best health supplements available for weight loss and overall health. Drs. Christiaan Janssens CRO Akwa Beauty & Wellness Dry Eye Syndrome is a very common phenomenon causing lots of problems to millions of people all over the world. It is caused due to the deteriorating quality of the tear lining. A physically fit and healthy eye would be covered by a tear film. It is that fluid which remains between the blinks making your eyes wet. The tear lining helps to keep your eyes free from infection and bacteria. It gives the eye a clean and clear vision without any irritation. The tear lining removes the dirt and any other dust particles that cause friction in your eyes. When the productivity of fluid from your tear glands gets lessened, it leads to irritation and dry spots on the cornea - a reason for a weakened vision. It can easily be induced by various polluting factor in the environment. Old age is also one of the factors leading to dry eye syndrome. Due to the increasing age factor our body produces less oil resulting in less fluid production. A very common phenomena among women who tend to have drier skin than men. This oil deficiency affects your tear film. Other reasons like hot, dry or windy climate, high altitude, air-conditioning, cigarette smoke and air pollution can cause dry eyes. You can face this problem while reading or working in front of the computer for long hours. A good relief would be by blinking your eyes to keep in wet and healthy. Wearing contact lenses also creates dryness in your eyes. Some particular medications, thyroid problems, Vitamin A deficiency, diseases like Parkinson's and Sjogren's can also be reason for dry eyes. A hormonal change during the time of menopause creates issues for women. You can keep an 'eye' on certain signs and symptoms, which can be easily detected if suffering from dry eye syndrome. Itching, burning, irritation, redness, tiredness of eye, mucus surrounding your eye and many more can are the known signs. Fatty acids are very important for our eyes as well as body. It helps in producing the right amount of energy for your body as well as maintaining good mental health. This deficiency of fatty acids can be taken through your diet. Essentially there are two categories Omega 3 and Omega 6 which should be taken in 4:1 ratio. Consumption of almonds, walnuts including their oil, seeds of sesame, sunflower and their oil is very good. A diet which has borage oil, grape seed oil, primrose oil, soybean oil, whole grains can be very useful to avoid dryness in your eye. Omega 3 can be found in cold water fish like salmon, mackerel, sardines and herring. Fresh vegetables, flaxseeds, walnuts and canola oil would help to prevent any dry eye syndrome. Simple Remedy Dip a small towel in warm water, wring it. While lying down keep this towel on your eyelids for 15 minutes. Do this at least three times a day. Drs. Christiaan Janssens CRO Akwa Beauty & Wellness Belgium Warning: The reader of this article should exercise all precautions while following instructions on the home remedies from this article. Avoid using any of these products if you are allergic to it. The responsibility lies with the reader and not with the site or the writer. There are a multitude of anti-aging techniques and methods offered by experts, and many anti-aging skin care products available on the market. However, the key to avoid undesirable wrinkles and aging of the skin is to follow a strict personal routine related to your nutrition, exercise, and hygiene etc. Some of these basic steps and practices will be useful while taking care of your skin in order to prevent aging. Creams and lotions are quite helpful in moisturizing the outer skin but they hardly penetrate the pores. Water naturally hydrates the skin from within and prevents drying of the skin. Therefore, you need to drink at least eight to ten glasses of water in order to maintain supple and well-hydrated skin. When handling detergents, do not use products containing harsh chemicals such as Lauryl Sulfate, as they can strip oil and moisture from the skin. Chlorine, as found in tap water, can also cause oxidative damage on your skin. The best way to avoid harm from chlorine is to avoid washing your face more than once a day, take less frequent showers, and decrease the temperature of the water. Premature skin aging can also be the result of excessive exposure to ultraviolet light from the sun. Always apply sunscreen lotion on your face and body when exposed to the suns rays, this can be highly effective in protecting your skin from sunburn, skin aging and serious conditions such as skin cancer. Sunglasses will protect the skin around your eyes from harmful UV light so always remember to wear them when out in the sun. Regular exercises of the face stabilize the flow and circulation of blood and oxygen in the skin. They also assist in the regeneration of collagen (fibrous protein constituent of bone, cartilage, tendon, and other connective tissue) giving the skin its elasticity, thereby preventing wrinkles and revitalizing your facial skin. Lack of sleep often results in the creation of dark circles and puffiness around the eyes, eventually leading to wrinkles. Sleep helps you to relax and naturally revitalizes the skin, so you should aim for a minimum of eight hours of sleep per day. Remember to remove all makeup thoroughly before going to bed, and always sleep with the face up thereby minimizing the stretching effect of gravity on your skin. Do not smoke. It contributes to premature wrinkling and sagging of the skin. One study showed that some forty to fifty year olds who smoked only during their teens and twenties, later experienced excessive wrinkling. Smokers who quit did regain the color on their cheeks but never lost their wrinkles. It is also believed that smoking activates genes involved in the destruction of collagen. Pascale Loveniers Akwa Beauty & Wellness What is common to the age group between 12 and 17 apart from teen tantrums and high school crushes? The answer has to be acne. All teenagers have it in some form or the other and some even carry it over into adulthood, with consequences severe enough to merit a visit to the physician. Americans spend an astronomical amount on acne treatment. Acne is the generic term for clogged skin pores, pimples and deep-seated cystic or nodular lumps occurring mainly on the face, neck, chest, back, shoulders and upper arms. Knowing its requisite cure also involves knowing the causes of acne. Over-productive oil glands and clogged pores are the main reasons behind these skin lesions. This is why they are common during puberty or during hormonal fluctuations. Now clogged pores, which are caused by dirt and dust, result in the glandular oil not being able to escape. There is thus swelling in the area leading to the skin lesions. Acne manifests itself in various forms of skin disorders. Blackheads (open comedones) and whiteheads (closed comedones) are amongst the most common and the least severe forms of skin scar. With bacterial infection, these may progress to skin inflammations like the raised papule, the pus-filled pustule or the hardened nodule. There are several forms of medication, some preventive and others curative. Preventive medication stresses on keeping the skin squeaky clean to prevent the incidence of clogged pores. Antiseptic liquid cleansers like Cetaphil cleanse the skin without causing any irritation. In fact, these should form an integral part of your daily skin care regime. Taking care of your skin also involves going slow on the make-up and also religiously removing any traces of make-up when retiring for the night. You should not prick a pimple as this leads to scar and the possibility of further infection. Topical creams and lotions like those containing Benzoyl Peroxide, antibiotics like tetracycline and Vitamin A-based tretinoin and adapalene are considered effective for acne. In fact, Benzoyl Peroxide is a highly recommended and widely prescribed cream, which gently exfoliates the skin and prevents bacterial infection. However these creams have a drying and itching effect and should be started in low doses. Isotretinoin is commonly given as a medicine for the severe nodular and cystic cases. But recent research has shown that isotretinoin causes birth defects if taken during pregnancy and has even been linked to alarming side effects like psychological ailments, depression and suicidal streaks. Popular medication also includes oral antibiotics that work well in advanced cases. However, these should be taken under strict medical supervision, as they are known to cause harm during pregnancy. By far the best remedy for such skin disorders is the TCA Peel. A favorite with dermatologists around the world, this form of medication is the safest, easiest and doesn't involve any side effects. The TCA Peels also work towards making the skin radiantly supple and thus younger-looking. With the right treatment, acne aches will no longer pain you. Drs. Christiaan Janssens CRO Akwa Beauty & Wellness Brussels A great smile can prove to be a valuable asset, particularly when you first meet someone. However, people who have brown or yellow stained teeth are very conscious of this shortcoming. It may also cause social insecurity. One of the best treatment methods available to gain back that white perfect smile is teeth whitening. The basic methodology of teeth whitening is that it reverses the process of discoloration of teeth, bleaching them to reveal the white enamel again. Teeth generally darken over a period of time. This may be due to consumption of caffeine-containing drinks (like tea, coffee and cola) or tobacco products. Also, excessive fluoride production and use of antibiotic medication can also lead to teeth discoloration. However, the biggest factor contributing to the loss of whiteness is age. Teeth whitening, to counter the process of discoloration, is one of the safest and the most popular procedure in cosmetic dentistry. Studies indicate that almost 96% of the people who undergo this treatment experience visible benefits. There are three options available to those considering this procedure - you can either undergo professional bleaching, try home bleaching or use whitening toothpastes. Of the three listed, the quickest and the most effective is professional bleaching. It is also referred to as In-Office or Chair-side bleaching. It usually requires two or more visits to a dentist. However, the effects are much long lasting than any other procedure. The dentist will apply a bleaching agent to your teeth. The gums, however, are not harmed. The most common mouth guard is a gel or rubber shield. After the dentist has carefully applied the bleaching agent to your teeth, he might want to use additional heat or light procedures to make the agent work faster. A usual treatment sitting might last from 30 minutes to an hour. The second option that is available to you is that of home bleaching. You can buy a kit from any certified pharmacist or dentist. This kit would usually contain a hydrogen peroxide based bleaching gel or solution. This is meant to be applied to the tooth enamel. As a rule, a mouth guard is also included in the kit. You are supposed to place the solution or gel in the mouth guard and then follow the directions given with the equipment. The frequency of use and the duration of treatment for home bleaching vary. Overnight treatments work for a much shorter period. However, if you are, say, required to use the kit twice a day, the treatment might be effective for a longer period of time. Whitening toothpastes work in a different way from bleaching techniques because they do not aim towards a permanent alteration of teeth color. They usually contain polishing agents. They work to remove some of the deeper stains, which a regular toothpaste might not effectively dislodge. You should always consult your dentist before going forth with any of these procedures - he is the best person to guide you and can advise you on the most effective treatment plan suited to your needs. The risk of tooth whitening The risks of tooth whitening include tooth sensitivity and damage to the roots of teeth. Your dentist may be able to predict if you will have problems with or sensitivities to the procedure. She or he also may be able to help you alleviate sensitivity by recommending certain procedures and toothpastes designed to treat sensitive teeth. Your dentist can also check for signs of root damage caused by tooth whitening and treat the condition if detected in time. Drs. Christiaan Janssens CRO Akwa Beauty & Wellness Unlike third degree burns that require immediate medical attention, small everyday household burns are easy to handle. No matter how you burned yourself, the key to quick relief is quick relief. What you do in the first few minutes after being burned makes a whole lot of difference in how well your skin heals. First of all, stop the burning to prevent a more severe burn with water Milk is an excellent compress of minor burns. Simply soak the burned area in the milk for 15 minutes or so or apply a cloth soaked in milk to the affected area. The fat content in the milk soothes the burns and promotes healing. After 24 hours or so, wash the burned area gently with soap and water daily. Keep the burn dry and clean and covered with bandage between washings. Using too much of ice or extreme ice cold water can make the burn worse. Cool, not cold, water will stop the burning from spreading through your tissues and will act as a temporary painkiller. Aloe Vera shortens the healing process. Two or three days after the burn, simply open a leaf and smear its liquid directly on the burn, the coolness of its "juice" brings welcome relief from the pain. Reapply four to six times daily, with or without a bandage covering. Eat plenty of citrus fruits, potatoes and broccoli that are rich in vitamin C as it helps in healing process for burns and other wounds. Like Vitamin C, vitamins A & E too speed up the healing process for burns. Green fruits and veggies, cereals and nuts are high in vitamins A & E respectively. Apply vitamin E from capsule directly to the burn to experience faster healing and prevent scarring. For quick recovery time and healthier skin after burns, consume foods rich in zinc. Apply white Colgate toothpaste liberally over the wound. Keep it overnight. Next morning, there will hardly be any pain or burning sensation. Cut potato slices and put it on the burns. The starch in the potato neutralizes the burn, pain and prevents scarring. Honey applied over burns cools, removes pain and aids fast healing. A salve and antibiotic, bacteria's cannot exist in honey. Cover the area with some gauze. Lavender oil takes the sting out of the pain, speeds up the healing process and prevents scarring. First clean the burn with mild soap and water, combine lavender oil with almond or olive oil in the ratio of 1:3. Apply this mixture liberally over the burn at least 3 times a day leaving the wound uncovered. Calendula, an antiseptic & anti-inflammatory, which is applied topically to speed healing and prevent infection. Coat the burned skin with egg white as it helps keep the wound from drying out. For minor burns, rub some mustard on the burned area. Despite stinging, it takes the pain away and reduces blisters and scarring. The reader of this article should exercise all precautions while following instructions on the recipes from this article. Avoid using if you are allergic to something. The responsibility lies with the reader, not the site, and the writer. C. Janssens CRO Akwa |
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