Health Heitamag: September 2008

Wednesday, September 24, 2008

Update Your Living Space with Comforters and Bed Pillows

People look forward to unwinding after a hard day of work right in their own homes. Typically the main rooms of the home get decorated first; these are the places that get the most visitors after all. We should remember the importance of decorating the bedrooms with soft bedspreads and fluffy pillows for each member of the family, offering a sublime sleeping experience. Making a few adjustments to the bedroom décor can turn them from old to elegant in a very short time!

What many people miss is the fact that decorating the bedroom is really something that can be done relatively easily. If more people knew that updating bedspreads and adding attractive down pillows on the bed would make such an enormous difference in the feel of the room, such a huge number of people would do this that sales for such items would skyrocket! When you find bedspreads that are designed with colors that calm you, the bed becomes a beacon of rest for the weary. Coordinating decorative pillows that can be thrown atop the bedspread brings life and personality to the space. Going one step further and hanging window drapes that also coordinate with what you have placed on the bed brings everything in the room together for a cohesive appeal. You will be surprised by the difference that new bedspreads and window curtains can make in a room .

Given that we tend to rejuvenate ourselves in our bedroom, it is important that the space be one that really speaks to your senses. One should choose bedding that appeals to them; decorative pillows should be such that they induce a restful slumber. Everyone has a different type of pillow that would induce the most restful sleep; that’s why there are so many choices on the market. Support pillows offer cervical support in multiple sleeping positions. Memory foam pillows are becoming more and more popular. Made from shredded memory foam, this type of pillow actually helps relieve back and neck pain.

In children’s rooms, they love all the latest and greatest styles on their cotton bedspreads, of course. Looking online or in stores is the easiest way to accomplish this; or it can be accomplished with just a little imagination. If your child craves a specific style that isn’t readily available for store purchase, you could try your hand at creating something unique. Add your child’s favorite animal or theme to a decorative pillow. Simply print a photo onto the transfer paper and then iron on to a pillow case or on fabric that you will use to make a bedspread. Even in the kids’ rooms, you should coordinate the window curtains with the bedspreads and accent pillows.

A bedroom that is put together with coordinating pieces does not require dreary and chaotic painting projects. Colorful bedspreads, curtains, and pillows can really change the look and feel of a bedroom all on their own.

Fran Swift's blog is a perfect way to get homemaking tips and advice for a happy family and a comfortable home, including reviews of shower curtains and comforters.

posted by Healthy Life @ 8:40 PM

Wednesday, September 17, 2008

Sunset Malibu, a Luxury High End Drug Treatment Center Above the Rest

After deciding to admit yourself into drug addiction or alcohol rehab or after deciding to admit a family member or friend, finding a reputable and successful drug treatment centers can be a daunting task. With a large variety of programs available across the country and world, discovering one that fits the needs of your loved one is important.

However, the professionals at Sunset Malibu have experience working with various addictions. These addictions include (and are not limited to): gambling, cocaine, heroin, Methamphetamine, porn, alcohol, eating disorders, pharmaceuticals and more. Because of their immense knowledge on addiction, their team of professionals can properly help any addict that walks in their doors.

After admittance to their drug treatment facility, a interview occurs. This interview includes questions about their current addiction, drug use, past family history and more. All of these components go into the process of deriving a customized addiction treatment plan. This plan will be monitored and adjusted by their therapists and/or counselors during their stay at Sunset Malibu.

Their family members and friends can also endure family counseling and/or therapy. This allows the road to recovery to have even more success as their family is an important part to the puzzle. Since they must live with them for a lifetime, it's important that all family issues are resolved during this recovery process as well.

After achieving addiction recovery, an extended care program is also available for those seeking guidance from first living sober once more. This program allows the patient to live in a facility where their life is monitored. This often is because the patient is afraid of falling to their addiction once more after leaving the drug treatment center.

Ultimately, Sunset Malibu has an extensive success track record. Their team of professionals fully understand the addiction and recovery process. They are committed to success and helping patients that enroll in their drug treatment center. No matter the drug or situation, each patient is given a chance at a new life. Their family and friends are counting on their success due to the expertise of this program. Sunset Malibu is dedicated to not letting them down.

posted by Healthy Life @ 8:40 PM

Wednesday, September 10, 2008

Knowing More About Shin Splints Can Help Your Performance

Over-Pronation, Sports, and Shin Splints

If you love to run or participating in team sports, you’re at risk for shin splints, pain in the knees, Achilles tendonitis, and other lower body injuries. Medial tibial stress syndrome, as it is called by the Mayo Clinic, is a pain that runs down the length of the shin bone and is caused by excessive pressure on the bones, muscles, and ligaments of the lower extremeties. This stress can be brought on by running activities in any setting and can be made worse by flat feet and insufficient arch support.

Many leading sports therapy experts suggest using ice, temporarily ceasing running or sports, and using more comfortable shoes, preferably together with sport insoles. Icing the shin and adjacent structures of the lower leg help relieve pain while lessening the amount of inflammation promptly after an injury. Relaxation is always advised because it allows for the repair of tendons, muscles, and bones. Finally, using more comfortable shoes can dramatically help prevent re-injury to the lower legs and feet by providing sufficient cushioning and support for the arches. This allows for correct foot arrangement and resists shock. Sport insoles can significantly enhance endurance and performance because they supply arch support and additional cushioning. For people with flat feet, these specialized sport insoles support the arch ideally and realign the feet.

Overpronation caused by flat feet can cause more than just shin splints to occur. Heel spurs and plantar fasciitis, knee, ankle, and low back pain, as well as Achilles tendonitis can all be brought on by flat feet. If sport insoles are not worn during physically stressful activities, reinjury and serious foot problems can persist. The workings involved in these problems are linked to the plantar fascia tendon, which is the main structure supporting the foot arch. It is a band-like structure that lengthens to absorb the shock triggered when the foot carries our body weight during sports activity. In people with flat feet, this tissue has been over-stretched and has lost its ability to elongate. Its capability to absorb shock has been severely diminished. This condition also causes over-pronation of the foot, or the propensity for the ankles to roll toward the center of the body. The weight of the body is then incorrectly focused on one place rather than being evenly distributed over the full area of the foot. This is the reason why insoles for sports can be of significant help in cases of flat feet and other foot conditions; they provide stability and softness in the right places.

Footminders orthotics were developed by a group of podiatrists after years of research to correct posture and body biomechanics by providing longitudinal and metatarsal support. They greatly reduce over-pronation often caused by flat feet, and provide unmatched walking comfort. You can find more information and treatment for many types of foot pain at www.footminders.com.

posted by Healthy Life @ 8:40 PM

Wednesday, September 3, 2008

Sciatica Treatment for Sciatica Nerve Pain

Lumbar discectomy is the most common surgical procedure performed for back and leg symptoms in the USA. However, is this really the best option?

What is the best option for sciatica treatment?

A recent study (JAMA November 2006) found that immediate surgery (Group 1) appeared to relieve pain, with most patients eventually recovering, but that there were no adverse repercussions from delaying having the diskectomy (Group 2). Patients who had prompt surgery often reported immediate relief, but patients in both groups reported marked improvements within three to six months. About 70% of the patients in the two groups said they had major improvement in their symptoms after 2 years.

These are the results of a large trial study involving 2,000 patients from 13 spine clinics in 22 states that took place over the course of two years comparing patients who had immediate surgery, to patients who delayed surgery.

Disk surgery is usually the last resort in relieving pain associated with sciatica. This is a pain that runs along the sciatic nerve, a large nerve extending from the lower back and down the back of each leg. One of the nerve roots is usually impinged by a ruptured disk. This pressure results in sharp, intense pains down the buttocks and leg. Sciatica usually affects only one side of the lower body. Dr. James Weinstein, a professor of Orthopedic Surgery at Dartmouth University who led the study, said that as many as a million Americans suffer from sciatica, and that an estimated 300,000 have surgery on a yearly basis to relieve the symptoms.

In addition to pain, sciatica sufferers may also experience numbness or muscle weakness along the nerve pathway in the leg or foot, as well as tingling or a ‘pins and needles’ feeling in the toes or part of the foot.
If the disk herniation is severe, the patient may experience a loss of bladder or bowel control. This is serious and a sign
of ‘cauda equina syndrome’, a rare but serious condition that requires immediate surgery.

To diagnose sciatica, the doctor will examine the low back, hips and legs for strength, flexibility and reflexes. A postural
evaluation is also necessary for leg length inequalities. X-ray, MRI, CT scans and nerve conduction studies are also required.

Back pain is made worse by:

* being overweight
* not exercising regularly (having weak back muscles)
* wearing high heels
* sleeping on a mattress that is too soft
* and sitting daily for extended periods.

There are a variety of treatment options for back pain/sciatica, but the main proven ones are simple to incorporate into
your lifestyle.

* Begin walking daily—at lunch time and in the evening. Walking is very beneficial for the entire body, especially the
low back muscles.
* If you have a soft mattress or one more than 7 years old, purchase a firm one for support, and sleep either on your
side or back.
* Drinking 6 glasses of water per day will help the muscles function better.
* Finally, specific exercises recommended by your Chiropractor to strengthen your low back will be very beneficial
for your back, posture and overall health.

By making these critical changes to your life, you’ll see significant improvement in your back pain and there will be no need for surgery.

posted by Healthy Life @ 8:40 PM

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