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The Natural Way To Losing Weight Fast

August 30, 2008 By: MrMaca Category: Menopause No Comments →

Losing weight can be a frustrating and sometimes depressing endeavor. This is probably why most people don?t follow through with a diet plan. However, for those with the will and determination to lose weight, the rewards are tremendous. A successful dieter will not only look good, but feel good too, and will have learned the value of maintaining a healthy body.

When dieting, you might feel you always feel tempted to eat the wrong kinds of foods or overeat. The answer is not to restrain every urge of hunger; that will only end in failure. Instead, learn how to eat in moderation? and not with diet pills (you can shed those pounds through safe, natural means, without harming your vital organs).

Here are some helpful tips to healthy, natural weight loss:

?Eat small meals and eat frequently

Three meals a day may be what you?re used to eating ? but that is not the way to lose those extra pounds. Every time you eat, your metabolism starts working, burning those calories and instantly breaking down food for energy and nutritional contents.

With a meager three meals a day, your metabolism has plenty of time to slow down and this is not good if you want to lose weight. You want your metabolism to stay on the job.

If you eat five to six small meals a day, you can burn more fats. Likewise, you also tend to feel less hungry as a result and are less likely to overeat. Protein bars are great to snack on, but make sure they are low in carbohydrates and high in protein (read the nutrition label).

?Drink enough water

Our bodies are seventy percent water and they?re supposed to be that way! In order to maintain this balance, it?s important to drink plenty of liquids. Water helps flush out body toxins and waste and also helps your body to properly utilize all the nutrients from you food. This is essential for dieting.

Moreover, water makes your body elastic and thus minimizes stretch marks that normally occur after weight loss. As well, the cushions for your joints (which are usually weakened when you lose body fat) are also strengthened if you drink lots of water. Not to mention, water enhances your complexion!

?Don?t eat before bedtime

A midnight snack or meal before bedtime is something to avoid when trying to lose weight. Because your metabolism slows down when you sleep, any foods you eat up to three hours before you hit the sack are not metabolized well. They will be stored as fat because they are not burned effectively. If eating before bedtime is unavoidable, at least try to eat light.

?Cardiovascular exercises

Cardiovascular exercises play an important role in weight loss. The best diet regimen in the world may not get you to your ideal weight if you don?t also exercise regularly.

If you do cardiovascular exercise at least four times a week, for at least twenty minutes each session, then it will help your weight loss immensely. You may want to increase the time and intensity after you have adjusted to your workout.

The ideal time to exercise is the in the morning before you eat. This way, your glycogen stores are low and later your body will burn carbohydrates and fats more effectively.

?High Protein Diet

A high protein calorie diet is excellent for retaining muscle and maintaining a fast-acting metabolism. The body tends to burn carbohydrates first, because they are its main energy source.

Once it runs out of carbohydrates to burn, it will then burn fats for body fuel. So if you do not have enough protein in your diet, your body will eventually make use of your hard-earned muscle for fuel.

?Lower your carbs

It is important to limit your carbohydrate intake so that your body can burn most of its contained fats. As mentioned before, the body usually burns carbohydrates first before it moves onto burning fats, so simply put, the less carbohydrates burned, the more fat burned.

Carbohydrates, combined with protein, are best to take in the morning, so as to give your body a jump-start. This will give you ample energy for the rest of the day.

?Multivitamins are good for you

While dieting and exercising, it?s also a good idea to take multivitamins. They will help you remain healthy and strong as they provide essential vitamins and minerals to the body. Because certain necessary food groups are often overlooked, these multivitamins can compensate for certain deficiencies. Just be careful when you choose a multivitamin ? you want to take what you are lacking in, not what you already have or don?t need.

About the Author :

Kathryn Whittaker has an interest in Health and Beauty related topics. To access more information on herbal weight loss or on herbal weight loss product,please click on the links.

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Fighting Obesity By Using Hoodia Diet Pills

August 23, 2008 By: MrMaca Category: Menopause No Comments →

Hoodia gordonii is a type of succulent plant that resembles a cactus, and is known to have suppress a person?s appetite and thus help with losing weight. It’s sold in capsule form, and as a liquid or in tea form.

The hoodia cactus is found in the semi-deserts of Africa and grows in clumps of green stems. It usually takes five years before it can be harvested. From the twenty types of hoodia, only the gordonii variety has the appetite suppressant.

To the world, hoodia is a new discovery ? but for the San Bushmen of the Kalahari desert, hoodia has long been part of their food. There really isn?t much published research on hoodia, but one study conducted at Brown University found that the hoodia?s steroidal glycosides fool the brain into thinking that there’s an adequate supply of energy in the form of blood sugar, and therefore doesn?t doesn?t signal the body to eat.

Be careful about some hoodia information in the internet
After the buzz on hoodia, drug manufacturers claiming to sell genuine hoodia has congested the Internet. In fact, fake hoodia diet pills have been found found to contain sawdust, combined with roots of some unknown plants. So be very careful. Also, beware of companies who try to sell hoodia by claimimg that other hoodia products are inferior to their own ? there have been no published reports indicating that one hoodia diet pill product is more effective than the rest.

Hoodia diet pills are effective, but expensive

Hoodia diet pills are expensive for the reasons mentioned above ? it usually takes five years before a hoodia plant can be harvested, and it’s only found in Africa. It’s also quite difficult to grow; in addition to the required four to five years waiting time, it also requires very high temperatures to grow. This explains why it’s so costly.

The proper dose of hoodia

Most companies put a standard recommended dose on the bottle, but there are also cases where people may need more (or less) than the recommended amount to achieve the desired effect. In fact ,some people who are already using hoodia say that they need at least 1,200 milligrams per day to get the result that they want. It would be wise to consult your doctor regarding the correct dosage of hoodia, since factors like weight, diet, lifestyle and metabolism may have an effect on the size dosage that a person needs to take.

About the Author :

Kathryn Whittaker has an interest in Health & Beauty related topics. To access more information on hoodia side effects or on pure hoodia, please click on the links.

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10 Tips On Losing Weight Fast

August 16, 2008 By: MrMaca Category: Menopause No Comments →

Before jumping into a diet, you must determine your ideal weight. This will be your guide on your weight loss journey. ?Fast? weight loss doesn?t imply that you drop 50 pounds overnight; a few pounds can take months to shed and for obese individuals, it can take years to lose the desired amount of weight. How fast you lose weight will depend on how focused you are on your diet.

Here are some simple steps to help you lose weight:

1.Before dieting, you must know how many calories you normally need in a day. If you are sedentary, multiply your weight (in pounds) by fifteen. If you are moderately active, multiply your weight by seventeen; if you are active, multiply your weight by twenty. This will give you the average calorie intake you need per day.

2.Remember to eat your fruits and veggies! You need at least five servings of them per day ? doing this will put you on the right track to a healthy body, because fruits and vegetables have beneficial fibers, vitamins and antioxidants. They also fill up your stomach fast so that you don?t overeat and take into many calories.

3.Monitor the quantity of food you eat. Avoid high-calorie foods and eat in small portions. A helpful tip is to chew your food slowly because this makes digestion easy on your body and you will also be less likely to overeat.

4.Don?t skip meals. When you want to lose weight it may be tempting to starve yourself ? but eating small amounts of food frequently can help you maintain a healthy, balanced calorie intake throughout the day. Also, your blood sugar level will be adversely affected if you don?t eat often. You can even divide the standard allotment of three meals into five or six smaller meals.

5.Fresh fruits and vegetables are ideal ? packaged and processed foods have high sodium and fat content. You are more likely to lose weight if you eat naturally fresh foods.

6.Don?t limit your food intake too much. Go ahead and indulge yourself; eat your favorite treat. It?s okay to have that slice of birthday cake at the occasional party. Just make sure to eat in moderation and use those special desserts as rewards, instead of enemies, to your weight loss experience.

7.Don?t always believe everything you read on a food label. ?Fat free? does not necessarily mean low calories. The same wisdom goes for foods that boast ?low sugar? or ?low carbs.? Glance over the nutrition label ? there you?ll find the calorie count.

8.Try to limit the number of juices and sugary beverages you drink. Instead, drink eight glasses water a day ? this flushes out your body?s toxins and waste.

9.If possible, keep a food journal. This will help you keep track of your calorie intake and will be a daily reminder of the types of foods you need.

10.Don?t forget to exercise! Thirty to sixty minutes of physical activity a day will ensure your health and help you lose weight (and not to mention, firm up those muscles). Weight-bearing exercises are especially great ways to burn those pesky calories.

About the Author :

Kathryn Whittaker has an interest in Health and Beauty related topics. To access more information on quick weight loss or on fast weight loss, please click on the links.

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Natural Diet Tips To Achieve Fast Weight Loss

August 09, 2008 By: MrMaca Category: Menopause No Comments →

Because of the countless diet products lining store shelves and being advertised on television, people forget that the most effective way to lose weight is simply to exercise and eat healthy. Natural diet products, however, can help a person get to their ideal weight and they include green tea and whey.

Whey is a complex milk-based ingredient made up of protein, lactose, fat and minerals. Protein is the best-known component and it is made up of smaller protein subfractions like beta-lactoglubulin, alpha-lactalbumin, immunoglobulins, glycomacropeptides, bovine serum albumin and minor peptides such as lactoperoxidases, lysozyme and lactoferrin. Some of these subfractions are found only in small amounts (less than 1% usually) of cow?s milk.

The benefits of whey have been known for centuries. In fact, in Florence, Italy, it is said that if you want to live healthy and actively, drink whey and dine early.

Whey in weight loss

Many studies conclude that whey plays a significant role in weight reduction. The results of these studies were so astounding that whey was dubbed an adequate weight loss supplement.

Whey has unique effects on food intake. Having whey before a workout helps a person gain and preserve lean body mass. Likewise, whey maintains betaoxidation (or fat burning) during exercise, compared to other foods. If you include whey in your diet, you can increase your muscle mass and decrease your body fat. This is all because whey rapidly delivers amino acids to your body during exercise.

Not only that, but whey has been found to improve blood sugar regulation ? which is another factor in controlling appetite and metabolism.

The benefit of herbal green tea extract

Green tea is famous for its medicinal benefits. Most Asian countries use it and other places around the globe are following suit. Aside from its well-known benefits, green tea can also help a person reduce weight.

Drinking green tea is also a safe way to get rid of those pounds. Unlike other herbal products, it doesn?t contain ephedra (which increases heart rate and blood pressure).

Instead, green tea contains high concentrations of catechin polyphenols, which work with other chemicals to intensify fat oxidation and thermogensis (in which heat is created in the body to burn fuels like fat). Moreover, green tea causes the release of carbohydrates to slow down and thus, prevents sharp increases of insulin in the blood.

One cup of green tea a day, or a supplemental tea extract, can help you burn 78 extra calories ? so imagine if you drink more tea than that! Not only that, but green tea controls leptin, which is a protein produced by fats and it plays a vital role in how the body manages fat storage via brain signals. A lower leptin level decreases a person?s appetite and helps them to eat in moderation.

Green tea is a safe and effective weight loss tool.

About the Author :

Kathryn Whittaker has an interest in Health and Beauty related topics. To access more information on weight loss or on lose weight fast, please click on the links.

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Menopause And Diet

July 30, 2008 By: MrMaca Category: Menopause No Comments →

Many women have found that special menopause diets can minimize the symptoms of menopause and make the change of life transition much easier and smoother. Menopause diets are a good alternative to prescribed medication and are good for those who worry about adverse side effects. Most all gynecologists recommend that women who are in their pre-menopause stages adopt a menopause diet and stay on it throughout the transition to reduce stress, reduce symptoms, and to ensure good health.

Black cohosh is one highly recommended herb to add to a menopause diet. Gynecologists urge that women begin using black cohosh for treatment of hot flashes. This herb is quite powerful and shouldn?t be used any longer than six months. If used any longer than this, although there is no exact effects determined, there could be unknown side effects.

Japanese women intake a greater amount of soy in their everyday diet, and they are only 30% as likely to complain of menopause symptoms as women in the United States and other parts of the world. Soy includes estrogen like substances that are often used in menopause diets to help with hot flashes. The best way to take soy is through soymilk or tofu.

There are some things that, unfortunately, are a large part of most everyone?s diet and are hard habits to break. However, these foods have adverse effects and can make menopause symptoms worse. Some of these are tea, alcohol, coffee, spicy food, soft drinks (with caffeine), and smoking. Try and keep high-calorie, sweet junk food to a minimum and eat as little of these as possible.

The main food experts recommend for menopause diets are fruits and vegetables, basically just eating healthy. Boost your intake of fruits such as melons, oranges, and lemons. Potassium, found in bananas, helps with women who retain water. Good vegetables are dark leafy vegetables like collard greens, spinach, cabbage, broccoli, peppers, and tomatoes. Regular fiber intake is also a healthy part of menopause dieting.

Instead of fried foods, try and stick to food that is broiled or baked. Instead of white bread and white rice eat more whole grains, like oats, rye bread, and brown rice. Try not to eat as many regular potatoes, but rather opt for sweet potatoes or pasta. Other good things to add to your everyday diet include, oily fish like mackerel or salmon, nuts, seeds, dried fruit, and unprocessed oils for cooking. Other foods that are not so conventional but are recommended are different types of seaweed (ask at your local health food store) like Nori, Kombu, Arame, and Wakame.

A well balanced, nutritious, healthy diet will help reduce symptoms and achieve optimum health in women. The key is to incorporate as many natural foods into your menopause diet as possible.

About the Author :

Kathryn Whittaker. To sign-up for a Free Menopause Newsletter please visit Natural Menopause Relief Secrets or for menopause articles click here Menopause Articles.

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Incontinence: A Treatable Disease

July 23, 2008 By: MrMaca Category: Menopause No Comments →

Incontinence does not only affect the elderly. This is an annoying and irritating problem that can embarrass a person whether at home or out and about. Unwanted leaks can lead people to be isolated in their homes in fear of embarrassment. People with incontinence can lose their self-confidence and it can result in emotional disorders in children.

Women who have had multiple pregnancies may experience incontinence easily. Athletes who are running may also develop signs of incontinence because they are prone to having a sensitive bladder. Though these signs may seem difficult to treat, there are things you can do in order to manage this problem.

First thing you must do is to get a medical diagnosis. The doctor will give you a test in order to find out what is wrong with your bladder and what causing the lack of control. The doctor will be the one to decide whether you need medication or surgery. It is important to find out how serious the problem is and discuss your options in respect to surgery. You can ask your doctor for further details and he will explain it to you.

There are some exercises that you can do at home to improve your bladder?s strength and ability to retain urine. By practicing Kegel exercises you will strengthen the pelvic floor and bladder walls in your body. Most women who have incontinence reported that they have regained bladder control just by doing these exercises. If you do not have signs of incontinence, you can practice Kegel exercises to prevent onset. Also, do the exercises if you feel that the signs of incontinence are coming back.

Some people might be eligible for medication in order to improve their bladder control. This works well with younger patients and those who have little or no other health problems. You can find out if you are qualified if you to ask your doctor. Never hesitate to consult a doctor out of embarrassment as they see this kind of thing on a regular basis.

If you can stop drinking fluids after 6 p.m you may experience less leakage overnight. If you plan to go out somewhere for a long period of time, you should not drink a lot of water before leaving the house. If you are staying at home, you should not hesitate to drink water because you will need it. It is important to keep your fluid intake up to the recommended amount of 2 litres a day. Reducing fluid intake can actually worsen incontinence symptoms and will encourage bladder infections.

You can wear special padding if you are going to need it. Incontinence products and pads can be bought in pharmacies, supermarkets, and drugstores. You can wear pads at any time of the day especially when you feel that you are prone to leakage whether you are in the public place or at home.

By following these steps, you may be able to control incontinence when the signs and symptoms are present. Remember that it is important to take these control measures seriously in order for you to prevent incontinence from happening.

About the Author :

Kathryn Whittaker has an interest in Health related topics. To find out how you can get more information please visit this Incontinence related site.

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How To Control Urinary Incontinence

July 16, 2008 By: MrMaca Category: Menopause No Comments →

There are a lot of helpful measures that you can take in order to prevent urinary incontinence. Maintaining adequate hydration is important to controlling incontinence. If you drink approximately two liters of water everyday you can reduce the chances of having a urinary tract infection. Drinking other fluids can also be helpful as long as hydration is maintained. You should avoid drinking alcohol, soft drinks, coffee and tea as these are diuretics and can encourage incontinence.

Incontinence may accompany constipation. You can prevent constipation by taking in adequate fluids and by eating a high fiber diet. The high fiber diet helps your system to be cleansed, including your digestion. This will help prevent constipation. Regular exercise is helpful and it keeps your body in good condition.

It is important to watch your weight. Obesity can increase the pressure in your abdomen and in turn on your bladder. Keeping a normal body weight by exercising regularly and eating a well-balanced diet will reduce the chances of incontinence.

You must practice bladder training. You can do this by emptying your bladder frequently at 2-3 hour intervals. This will improve your control so that you will not have that uncomfortable feeling. Also try exercises when you pee by holding the urine stream for a count of three, urinating for the count of three and then holding again.

Your clothes must be comfortable as well. Wearing simple clothing like trousers that are stretchable or have an elastic waist band will help. Sometimes, the clothes you wear contribute to incontinence. So your choice of clothes must be perfect and appropriate.

Do regular pelvic floor exercises so that your muscle power is strengthened and you will be able to restore voiding control. If you exercise your pelvic muscle group regularly, incontinence may be controlled.

Improve your home?s environment in order to ensure an easy access to the toilet. You can also use a commode inside the bedroom if necessary.

Incontinence is very common in older men and women. It?s a condition that affects women more than men. Controlling the causes of incontinence will reduce the discomfort in your daily life. Drugs and surgery can help treat the condition and people with incontinence can also take some vital steps on their own.

If caffeine intake is reduced, incontinence can be controlled.

Caffeine stimulates and irritates the bladder and it can cause urgent and frequent urination and can also increase the production of urine. Those individuals who drink more than two caffeinated drinks a day should reduce their intake in order to avoid symptoms of withdrawal such as sleepiness and headache.

Remember not to cut your intake of water or other liquids thinking that the urge to urinate will be lessened. This might cause dehydration and may cause future illnesses. The urine may become concentrated which can result in bladder infections, foul-smelling urine, bladder urgency, and more. If you practice this, remember that it will not help. Control and prevent the signs of incontinence so that you have a better life.

About the Author :

Kathryn Whittaker has an interest in Health related topics. To find out how you can get more information please visit this Incontinence related site.

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Tips On Lowering Cholesterol

July 09, 2008 By: MrMaca Category: Menopause No Comments →

Are you looking for ways to lower cholesterol? People these days are very conscious of their weight and their cholesterol level as well. It is not surprising to find people searching for tips and suggestions on how to lower their high cholesterol. Perhaps it is because of the health disadvantages that can result.

Several heart ailments have been connected to high cholesterol level in the body. Some people, for whom the risk of a stroke is high, should not take high cholesterol for granted.

Health is an essential aspect to a happy life, but it must be monitored. Generally, having good health means that a good diet and exercise regime is followed. What you eat plays a significant role in your cholesterol level. So it is essential that one should choose the proper food and nutrition in order to attain the right level of cholesterol that you need. Having cholesterol levels that are too high could result in ill health so lowering cholesterol levels is necessary.

There are two types of cholesterol, the LDL and the HDL cholesterol. Imagine the HDL as the healthy type and the LDL as the non-healthy one. In particular, HDL can eventually aid in carrying cholesterol out of the blood vessels while the LDL permits it to be deposited inside the artery walls. But it is good news that you can do something about it.

So, let us start by discussing it. Eating hot dogs, mayonnaise, bologna and salami may be very pleasing, but these foods could easily increase your cholesterol levels. You don?t want that, so your food choice instead should be replaced with sandwiches made of lean turkey and a whole lot of fresh, green vegetables.

Restrict eating those highly processed foods and those that you know have high fat levels. As much as possible avoid trans fats, for these further raise the LDL cholesterol and advance the lowering of the beneficial HDL.

Moreover, it is advisable that you do not eat foods like shortening, margarine, and especially those which contain partially hydrogenated soybean oil. Furthermore, eat those foods that are rich in Omega-3. Salmon is a really good option so buy red salmon varieties, for they are fantastic sources of Omega-3. Flax seed is also rich in Omega-3. Nuts are also great alternatives to your high-fat cravings.

Try walnuts, almonds, cashews, and pecans. They are high in fat but they are not the kind that causes harm. You should also cut down on rich desserts. Why not try to eat other alternatives like angel food cakes, jelly, crackers or fat-free yogurts?

Fresh, green vegetables are rich in fiber and these will aid in lowering cholesterol. Fruits, vegetables, cereals, beans and oatmeal are nutritious and can trim down your cholesterol levels as well. Try to grill if you are going to eat steak or burgers for a treat. This would lower the intake of fatty grease and it tastes great too. In addition, olive oil is better to use and try to avoid bacon bits, egg yolks, and other like foods. And most of all avoid fast foods.

If you suffer from high cholesterol, you should consult your primary care physician for advice before making any changes to your diet.

About the Author :

Kathryn Whittaker has an interest in Health related topics. To find out how you can lower high cholesterol please visit this Lowering Cholesterol site.

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Living With And Treating Migraine Headaches

June 30, 2008 By: MrMaca Category: Menopause No Comments →

Stress leads the list of all psychological triggers for migraine headaches and may be the most common migraine trigger of all. Understanding stress and how it effects your life could help you cope better with migraines.

Think of specific things you can add to or take away from your daily routine to reduce stress and help avoid migraine headache pain. Keep a note of the results and discuss them with your doctor.

Get enough rest. One of the best ways to do this is set regular bedtime and waking up times each day so that your body clock regulates itself. It may take 2 to 3 weeks for your body to adapt to this new routine, so it is important to set times and stick with them. Gradually, as your body begins to get used to these times your stress levels should reduce along with the frequency of migraine headaches.

Find an exercise you enjoy and stick with it. Exercise not only fortifies your body, but helps with “resting” your mind. You tend to forget all your worries when exercising. Try mild aerobic exercise such as brisk walking, for 20 to 30 minutes, 3 to 4 times a week.

Eat sensibly and have regular meals. Eat foods that are migraine trigger-free for you. Cut down on processed and overly sugary items. To avoid temptation, don?t have them in the house. Keep in mind that processed and sugary foods are not good for your body and can actually increase stress levels.
Headaches can be caused by ordinary foods that most of us eat every day. But cutting out common food triggers from your diet does not mean that you have to sacrifice tasty meals.

When it comes to migraines, decaffeinated coffee, fruit juice and sparkling water are better choices for beverages than caffeinated or alcoholic drinks. If you choose to have an alcoholic drink, stick with single measures and alternate an alcoholic drink with water.

Dairy products can also be common triggers for migraines. Try reducing or cutting out dairy items from your diet for a month to see if this makes a difference to your migraines.

Meats such as corned beef, hot dogs and pickled herring are “cured meats,” and contain an ingredient called sodium nitrate, which can trigger a headache. Instead, consider poultry or freshly purchased and prepared meats.

Identify areas of stress in your life and begin working to improve them. Share your problems, concerns, and thoughts with others. Don?t keep them to yourself. Sharing a problem can provide almost instant relief and you may find that others have constructive suggestions for solving issues. Also, have the courage to say “no” to people who place unwanted demands on your time.

Learn how to relax. If you sit down to rest, do not immediately pick up the phone, read a magazine or turn on the TV. Try out relaxation tapes to help you unwind and relax. You?ll find them at most music or bookstores. You can also search the Internet for tapes specifically designed to help prevent migraine headaches.

If you are suffering with Migraines, you should first consult your primary care physician before taking other steps.

About the Author :

Kathryn Whittaker has an interest in health related topics. To find out how you can get relief from headaches and migraines please visit this headache and migraine site. Source: www.isnare.com

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Relieving Tension Headaches

June 23, 2008 By: MrMaca Category: Menopause No Comments →

What causes tension headaches is not known, however the common assumption is that they are caused by muscle tension in the head and neck. Although muscle tension may be a related cause, there are many forms of tension headaches and recent thinking is that there is more than one cause for this type of headache.

One theory is a malfunctioning pain filter that is found in the brain stem may cause the pain. The thought is that the brain misinterprets information, from muscles, and interprets that signal as pain.

Serotonin is thought to be one of main molecules involved. This is evidenced by the fact that tension headaches can be successfully treated with some antidepressants. Teeth clenching is another theory as a cause for tension type headaches and migraine as it causes chronic contraction of the temporalis muscle.

Nonprescription painkillers such as aspirin, acetaminophen or ibuprofen commonly relieve tension headaches. When severe muscle contraction occurs, stronger prescription drugs may be needed. However, there are side effects associated with these stronger drugs, namely drowsiness and slower reflexes. Therefore, most physicians will only recommend using strong medications for short periods of time and usually not for more than a few days.

Stress management can be very effective. Some people find exercises or meditation to be very relaxing. Biofeedback may improve relaxation exercises and can prove helpful for chronic tension headaches.

Other preventive measures you can try include keeping warm if your headache is associated with the cold. Try using a different pillow or changing your sleeping position. Adopt correct posture when reading, working or doing other activities that may cause headache. Exercise your neck and shoulder muscles when doing prolonged typing, computer work and when doing any close-up work. Getting enough sleep and massaging sore muscles can help reduce a headache occurring. Hot or cold showers or baths may relieve headaches too, so it?s worth experimenting to see if either help you.

Over-the-counter medication such as aspirin, ibruprofen, or acetominophen may relieve pain if the above-mentioned preemptive measures are ineffective. Sometimes antidepressant medication may be advised for the relief of chronic headaches.

Keeping a diary of your headaches can help identify the source of chronic headaches. When you suffer with a headache write down the date and time the headache began. Also write down what you ate and how much sleep you got over the previous 24 hours. If you noticed any unusual symptoms or felt under stress, make a note of it too. Also, keep a record of how long the headache lasted and what made it stop. Having a headache diary available can act as a tracking device and you may find patterns that you should do more to avoid.

Some lifestyle changes may be necessary to reduce tension headaches. This may include getting enough rest and exercise and possibly a change in job or free time activities.

If you are suffering with headaches or migraines, you should first consult your primary care physician before taking other steps.

About the Author :

Kathryn Whittaker has an interest in health related topics. To find out how you can get relief from headaches and migraines please visit this headache and migraine site. Source: www.isnare.com

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