Stiff neck March 12, 2010
Posted by simplyanswer in Uncategorized.Tags: Ask a Doctor, online medical guide, prevention, stiff neck, treatment
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A stiff neck refers to a tightness or rigidity in the muscles supporting the neck. The muscles and bones of the neck have to support the weight of the head and every turn the head makes. Neck stiffness can occur by itself or with neck pain. Any type of injury or illness can result in a stiff neck. A person with a stiff neck may move the neck more slowly and carefully. This can lead to painful muscles spasms.
Not all stiff necks are the same. While most of the time a stiff neck is caused by whiplash, ergonomics, wear and tear, or just sleeping in a funny position, there are those instances where it can be the sign of something systemic. Meningitis, an infection of the lining of the brain, is one such instance, and can be quite serious.
A common cause of neck pain is muscle strain or tension. Usually, everyday activities are to blame. Such activities include bending over a desk for hours, having poor posture while watching TV or reading, placing your computer monitor too high or too low, sleeping in an uncomfortable position, or twisting and turning the neck in a jarring manner while exercising. Traumatic accidents or falls can cause severe neck injuries like vertebral fractures, whiplash, blood vessel injury, and even paralysis.
Yoga is a holistic and natural form of exercise that originated in India thousands of years ago. Yoga helps to alleviate ailments because it balances the body and helps to promote health and fitness. Nauka Asana (Boat pose): This yoga pose is very effective for your stiff neck. Lie down on the yoga mat with your face and chest facing upwards. Extend your feet and arms forward. While inhaling, raise the arms, head, neck, shoulder, back and legs as high as possible. Focus on balancing your weight on the navel. Try to maintain this posture for long. While exhaling, bring down the legs, hands and forehead to the ground. Repeat the exercise, and perform all the steps very slowly. Bear in mind that this asana is not for beginners and should be done under the supervision of a yoga instructor initially.
Relaxing the muscles with a hot shower, massage, or gentle stretches can help relieve a stiff neck as well. A hot water bottle or hot compress, made by soaking a towel in hot water, can also be applied to a stiff neck to aid relaxation. The pain of a stiff neck does not usually go away immediately with the above methods, so over-the-counter painkillers such as aspirin or ibuprofen can be useful. They can also reduce swelling and make relaxation easier, as it can be difficult to consciously relax the muscles when one is in pain. For persistent neck pain, it is always ideal to contact the physician to rule out serious underlying problems.
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Insomnia February 16, 2010
Posted by simplyanswer in Uncategorized.Tags: Ask a Doctor, insomnia, prevention, sleep apnea, stress, treatment
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According to a study by the Harvard medical school, if people usually wake up groggy and grumpy, they’re probably not getting enough sleep and increasing their risk of disease. A lack of sleep can put a person at risk for heart disease, diabetes, obesity and other health problems. In most of cases the culprit is insomnia or sleep apnea, a condition in which the airway closes and breathing stops or becomes shallower hundreds of times each night. Some of the more general effects of lack of sleep include blurry vision, depression, dizziness, dramatic weight loss or gain, hallucinations, heart disease, hypertension (high blood pressure), irritability, memory loss, nausea, tremors & slurry speech.
Insomnia is a condition in which a person regularly experiences the inability to fall and/or stay asleep through the night, which causes them to feel tired in the mornings and drowsy throughout the day. About 32 million people in the United States (about 11 percent of the entire U.S. population) suffer from some type of insomnia.
One of the pre-requisites for getting a good night’s sleep is ensuring your bedroom is completely dark. Light from street lamps, alarm clocks, computers etc could be keeping you awake. Studies suggest that a small amount of light is strong enough to enter your retina when your eyes are closed and will signal your brain to wake up. Draw your curtains if needed. Similarly, certain people are more sensitive to sounds and can be kept awake by traffic noises, loud neighbours, television sounds etc. Believe it or not, but a messy bedroom can reduce your sleep. If there’s a pile of stuff on your desk or floor, the cluttered environment will make for a cluttered mind. Stress is the number one reason of sleep problems. Spend a few minutes sorting out your mess. Also keep your computer or laptop in another room. Try shifting your bed to the quietest room in the house and see if it helps.
There are certain home remedies that work well for Insomnia. An effective way to treat insomnia would be to have milk form the poppy seeds. Extract 30 grams of milk from poppy seeds and add some sugar to it. Have this mixture everyday after dinner. Another option is to grind four nutmegs to make a fine powder out of it. Have this powder every night before going to sleep. Hot fomentations help to solve the problem of insomnia. Apply hot packs to the spine and have hot footbath before going to bed. The intake of a cup of milk with honey maybe useful too.
Other simple things that can help include regular sleeping time, avoiding coffee / stimulants before bed, having a fixed sleep routine and regular physical exercise, preferably 2-3 hours before bedtime.
Incase the insomnia persists, it is advisable to seek medical help at the earliest. You can look for online medical help or call your medical practitioner for more information.
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Hair Loss and Reasons February 9, 2010
Posted by simplyanswer in Uncategorized.Tags: Ask a Doctor, hair loss, prevention, stress, treatment
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The common causes of hair loss include:
1. A stress like surgery, severe illness etc. For example, about 3 or 4 months after an illness or a major surgery, you may suddenly lose a large amount of hair. This hair loss is related to the stress of the illness and is temporary. This is also known as Telogen Effluvium.
2. Hormonal problems like low thyroid, elevated testosterone, and diabetes and PCOS (Polycystic Ovaria Syndrome) can lead to hair loss.
3. Several inflammatory skin conditions, such as eczema, seborrhea, and psoriasis, cause patches of hair loss with red and scaly skin underneath. Fungal scalp infections (also called ringworm) and bacterial infections of the hair roots (folliculitis) can also cause similar problems.
4. Tight hairbands can cause local trauma & thinning simply by breaking off the hairs at their base. Some chemical hair treatments damage the follicles or the hair itself. Insects that attack the hair (like lice or scabies) can cause hair loss either by directly breaking the hair or by causing the person to scratch, which in turn damages the hair.
5. In male- and female-pattern baldness, the time of growth shortens, and the hairs are not as thick or sturdy. With each growth cycle, the hairs become rooted more superficially and more easily fall out. Heredity likely plays a key role.
6. Having inadequate protein or iron in your diet or poor nourishment in other ways can cause you to experience hair loss. Fad diets, crash diets and certain illnesses, such as eating disorders, can cause poor nutrition.
7. Certain drugs used to treat gout, arthritis, depression, heart problems and high blood pressure may cause hair loss in some people. Taking birth control pills also may result in hair loss for some women.
8. Psychological problems may lead to a condition called Trichotillomania in which people pull out their hair, leading to hair loss.
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Eye flu February 3, 2010
Posted by simplyanswer in Uncategorized.Tags: Ask a Doctor, eye flu, infection, online medical guide, online medical help, prevention, treatment
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Conjunctivitis, commonly known as pink eye, is an infection of the conjunctiva (the outer-most layer of the eye that covers the Conjunctivitis ( pink eye sclera). Eye flu or pink eye is caused by an infection which can be bacterial or viral. The viral type is often associated with an upper respiratory tract infection, cold, or sore throat. Bacterial conjunctivitis is often caused by bacteria such as staphylococcus and streptococcus. The severity of the infection depends on the type of bacteria involved.
Symptoms of viral conjunctivitis are watery discharge, Irritation, Red eye etc. Infection usually begins with one eye, but may spread easily to the fellow eye. Symptoms of bacterial conjunctivitis are Stringy discharge that may cause the lids to stick together, especially after sleeping, Redness of the conjunctiva, Redness, Watering, Irritation and/or a gritty feeling, Usually affects only one eye, but may spread easily to the fellow eye.
Bacterial conjunctivitis is usually treated with antibiotic eye drops or ointments that cover a broad range of bacteria. Like the common cold, there is no cure for viral conjunctivitis; however, the symptoms can be relieved with cool compresses and artificial tears (found in most pharmacies). For the worst cases, topical steroid drops may be prescribed to reduce the discomfort from inflammation. Viral conjunctivitis usually takes longer to resolve than bacterial conjunctivitis.To avoid spreading infection, take these simple steps. Disinfect surfaces such as doorknobs and counters with diluted bleach solution. Don’t swim (some bacteria can be spread in the water). Avoid touching the face. Wash hands frequently or use hand sanitizer. Don’t share towels or washcloths. Preferably use tissues than handkerchief to wipe eyes. Avoid shaking hands. Avoid going to work or public places till the infection is active.
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Swine Flu Treatment & Tips January 13, 2010
Posted by simplyanswer in Uncategorized.Tags: Ask a Doctor, H1N1, prevention, swine flu, Swine Flu Causes, Swine Flu Symptoms, Swine Flu Treatments
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The symptoms of swine flu are very similar to the common flu that occurs in humans. The symptoms are mostly fever, cold, cough, runny nose, body aches, diarrhea, vomiting, headache etc. In swine flu the symptoms might be more severe like breathlessness, very high grade fever, loss of appetite and fluid intake, listlessness etc.The important fact is to prevent the spread of this infection. Since it spreads through fomites i.e. through air, infected articles like tissue, paper, pen etc, the preventive measures are very important.
Preventing swine flu from spreading –
* Cover your nose and mouth with a tissue when you cough or sneeze.
* Throw the tissue in the trash after you use it.
* Wash your hands often with soap and water, especially after you cough or sneeze.
* You can also use alcohol-based hand sanitizers.
* Avoid touching your eyes, nose or mouth. Germs spread this way.
Self care tips regarding swine flu –
* Avoid crowded places
* Try to avoid close contact with sick people.
* Stay home from work or school if you are sick.
* Consult a doctor
immediately when in doubt about your symptoms.
What is H1N1?
The present outbreak in humans, known as “swine flu”, is due to a new strain of influenza A virus subtype H1N1 that contained genes most closely related to swine influenza. The origin of this new strain is unknown. However, the World Organization for Animal Health
(OIE) reports that this strain has not been isolated in pigs, hence can be transmitted from human to human and cause the normal symptoms of influenza.
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