Tag: Stress

Chew Gum to Reduce Stress

[amazon_link asins=’B0789GHXCR,B01IB6TTVA,B00DDU2NZ4,B074MYB4Y8,B01DL6KUGI,B078VYZLQF,B0789N91JS,B0752BLQ2X,B01MQP80JX’ template=’ProductCarousel’ store=’finmeacur-20′ marketplace=’US’ link_id=’5b8c72e4-18ad-11e8-ae23-a9433d0470b3′]

Chewing gum was found to help relieve anxiety, improve alertness and reduce stress among individuals, according to a new study.

The study, led by Andrew Scholey, professor of Behavioural and Brain Sciences, Swinburne University, Australia, was done on the Defined Intensity Stressor Simulation (DISS), a multi-tasking platform which reliably induces stress and also includes performance measures, while chewing and not chewing gum.

While chewing gum, participants reported lower levels of anxiety. They showed a reduction in anxiety as compared to non-gum chewers by nearly 17% during mild stress and nearly 10% in moderate stress.

Participants experienced greater levels of alertness when they chewed gum. The improvement in alertness over non-gum chewers was nearly 19% during mild stress and eight per cent in moderate stress.

Stress levels were also lower. Levels of salivary cortisol (a physiological stress marker) in gum chewers were lower than those of non-gum chewers by 16% during mild stress and nearly 12% in moderate stress.

Chewing gum resulted in a significant improvement in overall performance on multi-tasking activities. Both gum-chewers and non-chewers showed improvement from their baseline scores.

However, chewing gum improved mean performance scores over non-gum chewers by 67% during moderate stress and 109% in mild stress.

You may click to see:->Chewing Gum May Help After Surgery

Sources: The Times Of India

Chewing gum speeds up bowel recovery, British researchers find

Tags Chewing gum, Confectionery, Mastication, Oral hygiene, Stress, Times Of India, Tooth, Toothbrush

Ailmemts & Remedies

Adrenal Fatigue

Definition:
One common condition that frequently accompanies thyroid problems is adrenal exhaustion, also known as adrenal fatigue. It is claimed by alternative medicine practioners to be a condition of the body in which the adrenal glands are exhausted and unable to produce adequate hormones, notably cortisol, the stress hormone of the body.

click & see the pictures

This so-called condition is unrecognized by the medical community. However, this fact accompanied by the suffering of many people gave rise to an industry of supplements and treatments for this supposed syndrome. General practitioners and psychologists routinely ascribe other causes for the claimed symptoms of adrenal fatigue, especially mental.

There is large confusion regarding the relation of this supposed syndrome to another very misunderstood syndrome, chronic fatigue syndrome. The two may have common symptoms and it is difficult to distinguish.

About Adrenal Glands: Your two adrenal glands are small, triangular-shaped endocrine glands located on the top of each kidney. Each adrenal gland is approximately 3 inches wide, and a half inch high.

Each gland is divided into an outer cortex and an inner medulla. The cortex and medulla of the adrenal gland secrete different hormones. The adrenal cortex is essential to life, but the medulla may be removed with no life-threatening effects.

Symptoms:
Persons claimed to be suffering from adrenal fatigue often suffer from chronic fatigue, sleep disorders, trouble getting out of bed in the morning, depression, low energy, cannot recuperate/regain energy levels, lack of endurance, decreased libido, weight gain/loss,feeling rundown or overwhelmed, craving salty and sweet foods, low stamina, slow to recover from exercise, slow to recover from injury, illness or stress, difficulty concentrating, brain fog, poor digestion low immune function, food or environmental allergies, premenstrual syndrome or difficulties that develop during menopause, consistent low blood pressure, extreme sensitivity to cold and trouble handling stress(physical/emotional).

Causes:
Adrenal fatigue is not typically said to be caused by one source, rather a host of lifestyle factors that supposedly contribute to adrenal fatigue as a whole. Such contributing factors include: stress (physical and emotional), poor diet, lack of exercise, significant use of stimulants (caffeine, nicotine, amphetamines), lack of refreshing sleep, lack of relaxation, illness, being overworked, being post-surgery, as well as other stressors.

Adrenal stress is claimed to tend to occur suddenly after a serious illness or stressful point in life.
Diagnosis:
Adrenal insufficiency can be difficult to diagnose. Your doctor will begin by asking about your medical history and about any obvious symptoms you are experiencing.

Tests that measure the levels of cortisol and aldosterone are used to make a definite diagnosis and include the following:

*ACTH Stimulation Test — This is the most specific test for diagnosing adrenal insufficiency. Blood cortisol levels are measured before and after a synthetic form of adrenocorticotrophic hormone (ACTH), a hormone secreted from the anterior pituitary, is given by injection.

*Insulin-Induced Hypoglycemia Test –– The insulin-induced hypoglycemia test is used to determine how the hypothalamus, pituitary and adrenal glands respond to stress. During this test, blood is drawn to measure the blood glucose and cortisol levels, followed by an injection of fast-acting insulin. Blood glucose and cortisol levels are measured again 30, 45 and 90 minutes after the insulin injection. The normal response is for blood glucose levels to fall (this represents the stress) and cortisol levels to rise.

Other Tests:
Once a diagnosis of adrenal insufficiency has been made, a computed tomography (CT) scan of the abdomen may be taken to see if the adrenal glands are diminished in size, reflecting destruction, or enlarged, reflecting infiltration by some independent disease process. The scan also may show signs of calcium deposits, which may indicate previous exposure to tuberculosis. A tuberculin skin test may be used to address the latter possibility.

A number of imaging tools may be used to examine the size and shape of the pituitary gland. The most common is the magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) scan, which produces a series of images that provide a cross-sectional picture of the pituitary and the area of the brain that surrounds it.

In addition, the function of the pituitary and its ability to produce other hormones are tested. Typically, measurements of ACTH — the pituitary hormone most relevant for maintenance of normal adrenal function — along with thyroid stimulating hormone (TSH), follicle stimulating hormone (FSH), luteinizing hormone (LH) and prolactin are made under resting conditions and following provocative simulation, such as following the administration of corticotrophin releasing hormone (CRH), which leads to an increase in ACTH levels under normal conditions.
Treatment:

Naturopathic Treatment:
According to various “specialists”, usually naturopaths, adrenal fatigue can be treated and reversed with proper lifestyle changes and dietary considerations. By leading a lifestyle more conducive to a healthy lifestyle, avoiding stressful situations, and eating a balanced diet, the adrenal glands can supposedly repair themselves and return to proper functioning. There is wide acceptance among the supplement-makers for adrenal fatigue that the most important nutrient deficiencies are vitamin C, pantothenic acid, vitamin B5. Of the claimed herbal remedies it is worth mentioning licorice, that has a claimed effect of slowing down the breakdown of cortisol. This is said to keep more cortisol in the body, thus relieving some symptoms of adrenal fatigue.

The naturopathic treatment is known as a “long road”, with lots of ups-and-downs, and the way to recovery is said to long and difficult. However, naturopaths consider this more “healthy” since it is based on “healing the body”, rather than simply replacing the missing hormones.

You may click to see:->Articles about “natural thyroid treatments”

Drug Treatment:
Of great supposed importance to treatment of adrenal fatigue is the adrenal hormone cortisol. It is generally recommended by alternative medicine practitioners that in severe cases of adrenal fatigue, the patient should consume low-doses of cortisol for quick relief of symptoms. This also supposedly (never proven) allows the adrenal glands time to heal themselves, and then the person can wean himself off cortisol.

If there are other hormonal deficiencies, they should be corrected as well using either HRT or supporting nutrients (this includes a malfunctioning thyroid gland, and the sex hormones). The medical treatment (using cortisol mostly) is claimed to be quick and efficient, with no noticeable side effects. However most medical doctors tread this treatment as dangerous. This results from the fact that cortisol is usually given in very high doses (~300mg/day) to relief various serious illnesses, resulting in very serious side effects. The doctors believe that giving low dosages (~20-30mg/day) would bear the same side effects, only taking longer. However, in one research paper it has been shown that low dosages of cortisol (<15mg/day) or low dosages of prednisone (<10mg/day) bear no long-time or short-term side effects in the patients, even at long term treatment.

Click on this for some tips that may help

Herbal Treatment:
YOU can protect against adrenal stress with symptoms that include blood sugar swings, low energy, weakness, lethargy, dizziness, headaches, memory problems, food cravings, allergies, Addison’s disease and Cushing’s syndrome with the herbs like:Milk thistle guaranteed-potency extract, licorice root, eleuthero root, suma root, astragalus.

Criticisms:
As of 2008, adrenal fatigue is not an accepted medical diagnosis. It has gained popularity primarily through alternative-medicine books which claim to offer cures for this “disorder”, which is allegedly ignored by the mainstream medical community.

The term adrenal fatigue may also refer to:->

Addison’s Disease
Hypoadrenia
chronic fatigue syndrome

Disclaimer: This information is not meant to be a substitute for professional medical advise or help. It is always best to consult with a Physician about serious health concerns. This information is in no way intended to diagnose or prescribe remedies.This is purely for educational purpose.

Resources:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Adrenal_fatigue
http://herbnews.org/adrenaldone.htm

http://www.ucsfhealth.org/adult/medical_services/hormone/adrenal/conditions/insufficiency/diagnosis.html

Tags ACTH Stimulation Test, Adrenal gland, Blood pressure, Chronic fatigue syndrome, Conditions and Diseases, Health, Mental Health, Neurological Disorders, Pantothenic acid, Stress

Healthy Tips Positive thinking

Start Good New Habits

4 smart ways to simplify the family schedule to make room for healthy habits……..CLICK & SEE

How is it possible to eat dinner together and exercise more when both parents work and kids are overscheduled? It can be done, says William Doherty, co-author of Putting Family First

Schedule it. Make time for meals together just like you do for soccer practice or dentist appointments. Plan meals in advance, shop for groceries on weekends and freeze what you can.
Make it fun. Benefits from a family meal don’t happen just by sitting and eating together; it’s what you do with that time. First, turn off the TV and talk to one another. But avoid stressful subjects like report cards or work, or power struggles over food. Keep conversation light.
Go out and play. Remember that swing set in the backyard, the basketball hoop at the end of the driveway, the bikes in the garage? Even 15 minutes of fun together burns calories, reduces stress and promotes family bonding.
Take a break. Limit passive computer and TV time. Get up every 20 minutes and do some stretches, tackle a household chore or go out for a walk. It clears your mind and helps burn off lunch!

From:Reader’s Digest

Tags Biological Psychiatry, Calorie, Comfort food, Mental Health, Obesity, Stress, Weight gain, William Doherty

Ailmemts & Remedies

Hair Fall is disgusting

[amazon_link asins=’B079RDR8ZD,B01MUEMC2A,B00C33XN7O,B004X1SSJW,B014EDIXSO,B01CUGDW24,B078TMJXD1,B00I32AN4K,B00KNRN9EY’ template=’ProductCarousel’ store=’finmeacur-20′ marketplace=’US’ link_id=’11e4228b-7f8d-11e8-8b02-5fbe23327e83′]

Hairs are an integral part of the vanity in men and women. Hair gives frame to face,complements your life- style and accentautes fassion-apeal.Almost all people at one stage of life suffer from some hair problems like graying of hair,hair-fall,dandruff and baldness.Heridity determines characteristics of colour,thick or thin,straight or curly,Premature greying and baldness is most of the times determined by genes.But unusual hair fall is a matter of real botheration….....CLICK & SEE
.
CAUSES AND SYMPTOMS:
Normal hair loss is 50 to 100 hairs daily.They are contineously falling out and are re growing . This hair loss and hair growing cycle repeat itself between 10 to 20 times in a life time.But the loss of more than 100 hairs daily for a period of months is excessive, and can lead to even ALOPECIA (total or partial bladness).In this case Doctor should be consulted.
You may have more than just one factor involved with this particular condition and
Some of them are:
Malnutrition and deficiency of essential elements like zinc and iron are the usual causes of hair loss.Patchy baldness is a common manifestation of severe seborrhoeic dermatitis.Dandruff occurs as a result of unclean habits, hard shampoos,emotional problems,exposure to severe cold and excessive intake of oily,heavy and sweet foods.
There are two different types of hair loss, medically known as Anagen effluvium and Telogen effluvium. Anagen effluvium is generally due to internally administered medications, such as chemotherapy agents, that poison the growing hair follicle. Telogen effluvium, is due to an increased number of hair follicles entering the resting stage.

The most common causes Telogen effuvium are:

Physical stress:.Surgery,illness,anemia,rapid weight loss.

Emotional Stress: mental illness like death of loving one.

Medications:High dose of vitamin A– Blood pressure medications– Gout medications.

Hormonal causes: pregnancy,birth control pills,menopause.
Thyroid abnormalities,

Itching is a common symptom of dandruff. There are no obvious signs of graying of hair except whole gray hairs.Premature graying is usually due to lack of essential nutrients like magnesium,copper,iron and zinc.Folic acid and vitamin B6 play an important role in preventing hair loss and graying of hair.Hair dyes and hair dryers promote hair loss.Instead of chemical hair dyes,herbal hair dyes are very safe and effective.Heredity is the most common factor of baldness.Often hair loss is a symptom of some major diseases like diabetes,typhoid,sinusites and anaemia.

Envirnmental pollution may be a great cause for all types of hair problem.

In AYURVEDA imbalance of vata,pitta and kapha causes various hair problems.
Plenty of Homeopathic remedis are there to stop hair loss.
Some very useful home remedies to stop hair falling

( Help taken from:http://www.aavigen.com/index.htm and http://www.onlyhairloss.com/women/hairlosscauses.htm)