Exercise, an Excellent Way to Lower Bad Cholesterol

Cholesterol is something that every human body produces for its normal functions. It is when individual eat food or drink beverages with too much sugar or high fats that damage is done to the body. Because of unhealthy eating practices, many people suffer from heart problems, hypertension, diabetes, or stroke. The good new is that these can be prevented from happening.

Aside from making the necessary diet changes, exercising is an excellent way to lower bad cholesterol. Exercise increases metabolism of the body, which in turn expels toxins and harmful oils that are detrimental to health.

Individuals who have not been physically active for a period of time should consult with their doctor before engaging in any exercise program to get the recommended fitness regimen for their body’s needs. Those who suffer from heart problems may do low-impact exercises such as walking, low-impact aerobics, and yoga.

Some doctors allow their patients to participate in high-impact exercises such as jogging, running, swimming, cycling, and high-impact aerobics.

Exercises are being recommended depending on a person’s health condition, age, gender, and weight. The physicians devise a plan which a person should present to the fitness instructor who will formulate an exercise program. All the individual needs to do is follow it.

In one or two weeks, noticeable changes will occur in the levels of good and bad cholesterol, including loss of weight.

Even if a person does not have time or the resources to go to a fitness gym, there are other ways in which one can follow an exercise program. With strong will and discipline,

it can actually be done at home. Some can do brisk walking either in the morning before going to work or in the afternoon after office hours. Many buildings have signs that encourage people to use the stairs instead of the elevator when going up or down a floor or two. People may also utilize a wide parking area for health purposes. Parking far from the entrance will force an individual to walk more.

It is also important to drink water during exercise to prevent the body from dehydrating which leads to exhaustion. It is best to keep a glass or a bottle of water nearby while exercising.

The saying that “health is wealth” is still very true. Exercising is an excellent way to reduce bad cholesterol in order to live a long and healthy life. It is better to do something good for your body now for health’s sake, than to do nothing at all and be sorry later.
© 2011 Athena Goodlight

Back Pain Relief Products Are Within Reach

There are a lot of things that can be done to bring about back pain relief, but back pain relief products have been obtained by millions to assist in bringing comfort and a break from the pain they feel daily. They come in many different modes and sizes and can agree with all budgets. If you’re struggling with back pain, relief can be within your reach. They can take the form of a cushion, massager, brace, or some type of exercise equipment. It can also come as a cream or gel. You can get relief with heat therapy or an ice pack. Others even find magnets useful. There is no shortage of alternatives available.

Keep in mind that although these products can and have been recognized to bring about comfort, the information you read here is not medical advice and shouldn’t be used as anything more than for educational purposes. Back pain can be a very severe problem and should be checked by a physician of pain is unbearable or nonstop.

A back brace can offer support for your back and bring in other benefits as well. They can steady the back, provide compression, and help give better posture. All of this can bring around pain relief. Back braces can typically be worn under a jacket and all day if necessary.

A back cushion that offers lumbar support can give a lot of comfort if you are lying down or sitting for a long period of time. They push forward the lumbar area or lower back and your stomach area. This will also help your shoulders to go rearwards leaving you with correct posture which not only helps bring quick relief, but likewise helps prevent or decrease future pain.

Back massagers can be either manual, electric, or battery operated. They are capable of relaxing and soothing muscles or bring intense relief based on the size or setting. Massage as a means of relief for back or muscle pain is an age old method, but bears a long history of success.

There are kinds of exercise equipment that are configured to help strengthen and stretch your back. This equipment can decompress your backbone and release pressure.

Several people find heat therapy very helpful in moderating their back pain. This is a highly suggested means of getting relief. It helps blood flow, relaxes muscles,, and brings comfort. Common heat therapy products are heat wraps, heating pads, or hot packs.

Analgesic gels or creams can be used effectively to curb back pain. You can spread this directly on top of the pain area and find immediate relief. There are also sprays and patches which can be worn that will give the same results. Some will offer strictly heat relief while others will bring relief from heat that is mixed with a cooling down sensation.

Back ice packs can be used to lessen inflammation. They can soothe and release tautness which can make the pain even worse. It also helps with sharp strains and back spasms. You can use this in junction with heat therapy switching between the two to bring long-term relief.

Back magnets are reputed to work with your body’s electrical activity improving circulation and cutting stress. Back magnets come in the form of patches, seat cushions, and belts.

First Aid Wound Treatment to Prevent Infection

 Infection is prone to happen whenever a break on the skin occurs. Be careful not to touch the open would with your fingers or with any thing else that may be carrying bacteria. Do not cough or breathe heavily over the wounded area. The germs from your own nose and throat may find their way into the wound and cause more trouble.

If the wound looks somewhat clean and the bleeding has ceased, cover the area with a sterile dressing and patch it firmly in place. Small wounds need only a small adhesive bandage tape over the dressing. Leave the wound alone until the it has been examined thoroughly by doctor. It will probably heal without any additional complications.

If the wound is soiled or mudded and the patient can’t be brought to a clinic for several hours,something must be done to prevent further infection. Wash the whole area with care using gentle soap and clean warm water. Gently take out all the surface dirt while running the soapy water into the deeper parts of the wound. Then apply the dressing over the wound and bandage it securely in place.

A slight bleeding is often good for healing, for it helps remove some of the causes of infection. But if there is much bleeding, heavy pressure should be applied over the wound to allow the blood to clot. Wait for about 15 minutes while applying steady pressure over the wound. Don’t remove the dressing every few minutes just to find out what is happening. This hinders the blood from clotting.

If after fifteen minutes the bleeding has not stopped at all, try applying pressure on the nearest “pressure point.” If this does not work, then a tourniquet may be necessary. This is seldom needed.

© 1/3/2011 Athena Goodlight - Healthmad

Herbal Remedies for Pain Relief

There are natural remedies that people have been using for many centuries to treat the pain caused by burns, bee stings, back aches, carpal tunnel syndrome, canker sores, and a lot more.

image via Wikipedia

There comes a point where you are fed up of putting more chemicals into your body in order to help relieve an incessant and lingering pain.  It is during these times that you may seek herbal pain relief remedies. There are natural remedies that people have been using for many centuries to treat the pain caused by burns, bee stings, back aches, carpal tunnel syndrome, canker sores, and a lot more.

Take note that pain is a sign of another problem. Some causes of pain are easy to pinpoint while others may need a doctor’s diagnosis. Treating a symptom may help in the immediate relief but it is good find the deeper cause and treat it, too. If the pain is severe or it does not seem to go away, you need to have it checked by a doctor.

Also, be mindful that some herbal remedies may not be the best solution for your condition or may react negatively when combined with other treatments you may be going through. Consult your doctor if this will not hinder with your recovery or other treatments. Also remember that there is no perfect treatment and while one treatment may be effective for some, others may have little or no success.


For treating back aches, eucalyptus and peppermint oils can be used. This can either be applied on your skin directly combined with a massage or poured into water for a hot bath. The oils will loosen up stiff muscles as it gets absorbed into the skin.

For burn relief, try sandalwood paste is known for its cooling and soothing attributes.  A plant that has been used for ages to treat burns is aloe vera. Not only is it known for its soothing properties, it can also heal the skin faster.
A bee sting can be treated using a paste made from papaya. An enzyme in papaya called papain can dissolve the venom from the bee sting.  You may also, use a paste made from baking soda. An acid in the venom of a bee sting causes the itching. Baking soda can neutralize that acid and brings pain relief.

Mouth or canker sores can make eating and drinking an awful experience.  Sometimes, pain can be felt throughout the day. Green leafy vegetables have anti-canker sore properties while clove oil applied on the sores can help lessen the amount of pain.
 

Carpal Tunnel Syndrome afflicts a lot of people and the best way to remedy it is through surgery.  However, there are some things that you could do to help ease the pain.  Willow bark, which is also known as nature’s aspirin, may help reduce the pain through its anti-inflammatory and analgesic properties. Drinking chamomile tea is known to calm the nerves that are causing the pain. Also, bromelain, a substance found in pineapples can reduce and prevent inflammation and the capsaicin in red peppers helps lessen the pain and bring relief.
There are a lot of other remedies that can be found in plants and natural products that help bring relief for a variety of ailments.  The secret to relieving the pain may just be in one of the herbal remedies.

© 12/15/201 Athena Goodlight on Healthmad

The Medicinal Properties and Health Benefits of Violets

Violets have been known throughout history as a healing herb. Hippocrates, in the ancient times, classified the violet as a “moist” plant, which is best used for treating liver disorders as well as bad tempers. In the 16th century, the English used syrups made from violets for their laxative properties. Violet remedies were also used for pleurisy, epilepsy, and jaundice. Culpepper, a 17th century herbalist states that “All the violets are cold and moist while they are fresh and green, and are used to cool any heat or distemperature of the body.” He personally recommends the use of violet concoctions to treat various skin and eye disorders, as well as congestion and constipation.

As science advanced through time it has been it has been theorized that that a lot of these known medicinal powers of violets in the history of folklore have been exaggerated and could not merit enough scientific evidence. However, further advancement in medical studies of the present period has found that the flowers, as well as the leaves and the roots of violets in fact do contain various healing compounds.

An example that was proven by research was that Viola odorata contains phenolic glycosides, flavonoids, saponins, alkaloids, mucilage, and tannins among other things. These compounds work in several ways to cure ailments.

For example:

• The flavonoids act as diuretics to help treat individuals who suffer from elevated blood pressure.

• The alkaloids have vasolidating effects, causing blood vessels to relax, allowing the blood to flow easier; thus, it helps decrease blood pressure.

• The mucilage and saponins are soothing expectorants that help relieve coughs and other bronchial ailments.

• The salicylic acid in violets acts as painkillers and as an anti-inflammatory compound similar to the active ingredient in aspirin which helps people reduce arthritis discomforts or other discomfort felt in the joints.

• James A. Duke, an herbalist and a plant expert, states that the significant amounts of rutin, a compound that strengthens capillaries, are found in violet flowers. This compound prevents “leakage” from the blood vessels resulting in less swelling in pain, which benefits people who suffer from inflammation.

• Violets contain rich anti-oxidant compounds in the form of beta carotene and ascorbic acid. A 140 ml serving of violet leaves provides as much vitamin C equivalent to 4 oranges.

Commision E, a group of experts based in Germany which judges the effectiveness and safety of herbal medications, has approved violet tea as a solution for several skin problems. Herbalists worldwide also attest to the efficacy of violets as treatment for various illnesses.


© 10/2010 Athena Goodlight

Natural Treatment for Constipation

Although many people may feel a little embarrassed to talk about it, constipation is something many of us can resolve any point in our lives. A regular bowel movement is very essential to help maintain good health. It's good to know that there are natural remedies for constipation, which is a great alternative for those who prefer not to take synthetic medicines to alleviate this problem.

One of the most popular, as well as nutritious ways to help keep the body’s digestive system functioning well, is by taking prunes. Prunes are among the effective, safe, and inexpensive natural remedies for constipation. It is easy to enjoy eating prunes and they can easily be incorporated into anyone’s diet. For those who are not fond of eating prunes they may choose to drink a glass of prune juice every other day to regulate bowel movement.

Another remedy is Licorice. Not only is licorice a favorite candy of many children but it can also be among the most effective natural remedies for constipation. Anyone who has tried over indulging in black licorice may have already found out about this. Some parents sometimes use licorice to cures children’s constipation. It’s a lot easier than convincing a child to take a synthetic medicinal drug. In fact, since this is one of the most flavorsome natural cures for constipation, parents must keep watch over the amount of licorice their children are eat up. Too much licorice may actually result in numerous trips to the toilet.

Another very gentle way of assisting the body to regulate bowel movement is by increasing the amount of water intake. Water is known as one of the most natural remedies for constipation. It is also a fact that a lot of people simply do not drink enough liquid in throughout the day. By increasing their daily liquid intake to at least eight glasses of water, they could regularize their bowel movement in a short period of time.

There are herbal remedies available for nearly anything that can potentially afflict a person and constipation is not an exception. There are several herbal concoctions that are believed to be natural cures for constipation. It is recommended that if a person is already under prescriptive medication for a certain medical condition, they must consult their doctor before they start taking any herbal supplements as natural cures for constipation. Herbal products may interact with synthetic medications and the effects can be severe.
By taking good care of yourself, drinking lots of water, by eating a well-balanced diet, and staying physically fit will most likely help your body functions normal. If you do need some extra assistance in moving your bowels, consider herbal cures for constipation. They will get the job done with lesser side-effects.

© 10/12/2010 Athena Goodlight on Factoidz

 

Shiatsu Massage Towards Total Body Wellness

Shiatsu is a type of Asian Oriental acupressure treatment only with the words that were derived from the Japanese. As the practice of shiatsu became known around the world, its name has evolved.  Now it goes by the names Zen shiatsu, oha shiatsu, barefoot shiatsu, namikoshi shiatsu, and macrobiotic shiatsu.

Although Shiatsu may be known at present with various names and techniques, it still uses the same fundamentals that were used from its origins, although occasionally, it may have some modifications depending upon the perception of the shiatsu experts worldwide.

In the literal sense, Shiatsu stands for, finger pressure, from the Japanese terms, shi = finger, and atsu = pressure. For over thousands of years, it has been a massage technique used by both ancient and modern people for healing and as relief a method.

In the precepts of shiatsu, the human body is made up of passage channels called meridians. Each meridian matches with a particular organ of the body.  It is through these meridians that the energy, or qi (chi), flows. A balanced and continuous flow of this energy translates to wellness.

When any irregularity happens in the energy flow, the body may suffer from an illness because either the chi is depleted or it is overflowing in certain points in the body.  When this happens to your body, this is where shiatsu massage therapy enters the scenario.

 

The goal of the shiatsu massage therapy is to take away any blockades or hindrance that keeps the chi from flowing freely in any of the 14 meridians of the body. It is also employed to reestablish the natural balance of the chi or energy. By applying the acupressure technique, all these goals are accomplished , which is attained by the pressure of the fingers, elbows, knees, toes, and feet, on particular affected acupoints, or pressure points throughout the meridians of the body . Besides pressing, the shiatsu practitioner manipulates the adjacent areas of the acupoints in order to stimulate your body to enhance health and heal illnesses.

 

Shiatsu can provide an intense effect that can sometimes make clients who receive the treatment exhibit emotions such as crying, laughing, wanting to scream, or just calm. This is not something to be afraid of because it is not a negative side effect.  It is actually a good and normal reaction which signifies the restoration and balance of the chi or energy within the body where it is intended to be.

 

Because the world of established medical practice is still not fully convinced about the existence of the chi flowing in particular areas of the body, shiatsu continues to be regarded as one of the alternative treatments that is merely a possible complementary healing method. However, with centuries of existence, it has been proven by the experience of many that shiatsu really significantly helps the human body combat diseases and improves total body wellness.

It has been found to be helpful in dealing with various health conditions, such as muscular pain, digestive ailments, and even emotional pain. Many other benefits are attested by the people who have received and continue receiving the shiatsu massage treatment, specifically improvement of blood circulation, total relaxation, balanced menstrual cycles, removal of wastes and toxins,  prevention of diseases,  increased energy, spiritual, and mental well-being, and  increased flexibility and mobility in the body.

© 10/8/2010 Athena Goodlight on Factoidz