Fitness And Health

Archive for the ‘Diseases, Conditions and Treatments’ Category

How long do hemorrhoids last is a common question. The answer depends on several factors.

1. What symptoms do you have? If you just have itching and maybe a little blood on the toilet paper then perhaps your hemorrhoids are not very far advanced. Sitz bath once a day, cleaning yourself with a little witch hazel on your toilet paper will probably relieve these symptoms in a few days or a week.

2. What is your physical condition, are you over weight? If you are overweight then the hemorrhoids may be caused by the extra pressure around the anus that this brings. If you are a lot overweight then something may need to be done about this if you are to get a lasting end to your hemorrhoids.

3. How is your diet? The typical American diet is one of the big causes of hemorrhoids. Some tolerate this diet better than others but for most people it is a matter of time before the diet catches up with them in some manner or the other by contributing to one of the diseases of civilization such as hemorrhoids..

4. Processed foods, foods and drinks laced with high fructose corn syrup are all part of the problem. You need to get back to a vegetable and fruit rich diet that gives you nutrition as well as fiber. This step in itself will bring you a long way toward a hemorrhoid cure and toward preventing new hemorrhoids.

5. What about your water intake? Most people walk around in a state of semi-dehydration. Sure they drink lots of soda and coffee but what about water? Did you know that the caffeine in these drinks will cause you to lose water? Caffeine is a diuretic which means it increases the rate of urination which takes water out of your system. Reduce caffeine and increase water intake to stop dehydration. By increasing your water intake you are going to help your hemorrhoids, head toward a healthy weight, and toward improving your overall health. How much water? How about an 8oz cup every waking hour. This will not only supply your needs but begin a detoxification of your system.

6. What are you doing to cure hemorrhoids? If you are not trying to do something about your hemorrhoids they probably won’t go away on their own. An exception to this is women who have given birth. The pressure on the anus caused by giving birth was a temporary condition and often hemorrhoids caused by birth will go away in a week or two. This time can be speed up by sitz bath and witch hazel.

How long do hemorrhoids last? The answer could be a lifetime unless you do something about them. I invite you to visit: http://www.NaturalHemorrhoidTreatment.org and learn more.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Renee_Pullman

http://EzineArticles.com/?How-Long-Do-Hemorrhoids-Last?-Natural-Hemorrhoid-Treatments&id=3663216

Technorati Tags: Anorectal, Conditions and Diseases, Digestive Disorders, Health, Hemorrhoid, how long do hemorrhoids last, natural hemorrhoid treatment, Toilet paper, Water, Witch Hazel

By Renee Pullman

Anxiety attacks or panic attacks are some of the most misunderstood conditions. Often people shut themselves away because they also develop a social phobia. Sufferers are often accused of faking the condition because it makes no sense to many around them. This is especially true if the condition has lasted over months or years.

If you suffer anxiety attacks or you are close to someone who does then perhaps you are confused about all of the treatment options. Maybe you have tried various things and yet the problem persists and you don’t know where to turn. With therapy, drugs, and medication behind you perhaps it’s time to turn to a natural cure.

Anxiety attacks can ruin your life, it is an emotional roller coaster. The attacks can cause physical symptoms, physical pain, high blood pressure, tingling sensations, pounding heart, and even heart palpitations. The longer the problem persists the worse it may get you may even fear dying.

The natural approach to anxiety attacks asks you to look at where your fears are coming from, finding what causes panic. What do you think about, what are you doing when they come. Can you find common triggers for the attacks, can you notice when the attacks begin and what is going through your mind as they begin? It also involves learning not to fear the attacks. Regardless of what your mind is telling you, you are perfectly safe and you need to program yourself to remember that in the midst of your attack.

There may be several triggers for your attacks – have problems backed up at work, is something causing you to feel overwhelmed? Are their people you don’t want to face? These things can lead to worry and trigger an anxiety attack.

Worry solves nothing and most of the time the thing you worry about never happens anyway. Worry usually shuts people down and shutting down means any potential problems are not being addressed. Sitting idly by and torturing yourself with your mind will not change anything. To change anything you have to take action. Take note of what’s going on and how it makes you feel but realize that if there is a real issue behind things you will need to do something to fix it.

Finding an anxiety cure that is right for you possibly means trying different methods until you find one that works. That said, you can save a lot of time by doing research and see what effective treatments are working for others, what different methods work to cure panic anxiety attacks.

I invite you to learn more about an anxiety cure and how to stop anxiety panic attacks (it is not always the logical process that we expect).

Get instant access to our Stop Panic Attacks website: http://www.stopapanicattackfast.com.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Renee_Pullman
http://EzineArticles.com/?Anxiety-Cure—Banish-Physical-Symptoms-of-Anxiety&id=3539427

Related Anxiety Attack Information

Watch CBS News Videos Online

• Do you suffer Anxiety Attacks? Know the emotional and physical signs and ways to stop anxiety attacks (slideshare.net)
• Anxiety Attacks – Signs and Ways to stop and Cure the Attacks (slideshare.net)

Technorati Tags: Anxiety, anxiety attack, anxiety cure, Books, CBC News, Health, New Orleans, Pain, Shopping, Support Groups

Hemorrhoids are simply bulging blood vessels around the anus sounds simple but with the work that part of the body does in eliminating waste it is a terrible place to have to treat something.

>> A Natural Hemorrhoid Cure

The best way to deal with hemorrhoids long term is to change your life style a bit.  Most people with hemorrhoids have some sort of constipation problem that causes them to strain when using the toilet.  Adding fiber to the diet is the best way to deal with that.

Still you must deal with what you are facing now with the disease and so we present this article with some information to help you get started dealing with your hemorrhoids.

Hemorrhoids Home Treatment – 3 Ways to Prevent and Cure Hemorrhoids

By Renee Pullman

There are few diseases that are more embarrassing than hemorrhoids. The pain, the smell, and the ick: but it doesn’t have to be that way.

Hemorrhoids come because of strain on the blood vessels around the anus. This can happen during pregnancy, heavy lifting, during a time of constipation, or it can be a chronic condition.

For most sufferers, and we are told that nearly 50% of the adult population will get hemorrhoids at some time, hemorrhoids will come and go without major symptoms. For others it is not so easy – perhaps they will not treat the hemorrhoids soon enough and they will become serious – pain, bleeding, and anal leakage. Embarrassment enters in and the suffering becomes not only physical but emotional. The sufferer may feel he cannot properly clean himself and avoid company.

Always seek medical advice, but here are some tips for you. Practice these early and nip hemorrhoids in the bud.

1. If you are having trouble cleaning yourself, use Witch Hazel and pour a little on your toilet paper. This will not only help clean but Witch Hazel is an astringent which means it will help shrink the hemorrhoids. Witch Hazel is available for a couple of bucks at almost all pharmacy’s.
2. Sitz Baths – get some Epsom Salts and dissolve 2 cups in a shallow bath of warm water (there are also attachments for your toilet). Sit in the water with your knees up to your chest so that your buttocks open and allow the water to soothe the hemorrhoids. Soak 10 to 20 minutes several times a day.
3. Increase fiber in your diet. This means vegetables and fruits – there is no better source. Begin by adding a red apple a day. There is not a truer saying than “an apple a day keeps the doctor away.” Apples are a great source not only of fiber but also of the kinds of nutrients that will reinforce the blood vessels all over your body. The fiber will soften the stools, the nutrition will strengthen the vessels around the anus.

Remember to keep the area dry and clean and get that fiber up. Civilization has brought on many medical conditions in our lives and hemorrhoids is just one. Adding fiber and nutrients back into your diet goes a long way toward prevention of this painful, depressing condition. Seek your doctor’s advice but effective home treatment of hemorrhoids is possible and is done all the time.

Get hemorrhoids out of your life with effective hemorrhoids home treatment. Take action at the earliest symptoms and avoid the pain and embarrassment that hemorrhoid sufferers endure. Visit http://www.NaturalHemorrhoidTreatment.org for more tips and information to cure your hemorrhoids.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Renee_Pullman
http://EzineArticles.com/?Hemorrhoids-Home-Treatment—3-Ways-to-Prevent-and-Cure-Hemorrhoids&id=3514931

How To Cure Hemorrhoids – Sitz Bath And Other Things

Hemorrhoid Removal – Can it Give You Relief From Hemorrhoid?

If you have large protruding external hemorrhoids or internal hemorrhoids that rubber band ligation failed to remove, a hemorrhoidectomy is your last resort. This procedure is done by a surgeon wherein he or she cuts a narrow incision

Hemorrhoids And Pregnancy Problem Causes Factor

tweetmeme_source = ‘articles4author’;ARTICLEURL Author : Jack HaroldHemorrhoids are a serious problem They basically are abnormally swollen veins located in the rectum as well as the anus They can cause pain and bleeding in the anus.

Technorati Tags: Anorectal, Conditions and Diseases, cure for hemorrhoids, Digestive Disorders, Disease, Health, Hemorrhoid, Hemorrhoids home treatment, Pain, Sitz bath, Witch Hazel

Dr. Mark Hyman has produced a series of YouTube videos that are collected here for your convenience.  Everyone should watch these whether diabetic or not.  Dr. Hyman dispels the myths about the disease and how to handle it by a healthy lifestyle that everyone can benefit from.

Part 1: Mark Hyman, M.D. explains how diabesity (diabetes + obesity) is not something we are doomed to get based on our genetics — it’s completely under our control and Dr. Hyman shows you how.

Part 2: Watch as Dr. Hyman explores how toxins hidden inside your body can wreak havoc on your metabolism and trigger diabesity (diabetes + obesity).

Part 3: Want a quick, easy, surprisingly refreshing way to help rebalance your insulin levels and overcome diabesity? The solution is simple: Just learn to relax! Stress makes you fat and contributes to the development of diabesity. Listen as Dr. Hyman explores the connection between stress a diabesity (diabetes + obesity).

Part 4: How can a fork help you prevent, treat, and even reverse diabesity and let you re-gain control of your life? Listen in as Dr. Hyman will also explain the four simple nutritional principles that govern the entire dietary program his patients follow to prevent and reverse diabesity. Follow those four rules and you will go a long way toward recovering from diabesity.

Part 5: Watch as Dr. Hyman reviews how medications do not treat the causes of your diabesity, they just mask the symptoms. While they may be a necessary bridge for some (there are two that Dr. Hyman sometimes find helpful), the only way you are going to heal from diabesity is if you treat the underlying dietary, lifestyle, and environmental causes that are driving your condition.

Mark Hyman, MD: The Diabesity Epidemic

The US is the ONLY country that uses HFCS as the main sweetener in it’s food supply, the incidence of Obesity and Diabetes has NOT increased in other countries like it has here. Your body will thank you with weight loss once you stop …

Sugar substitutes contribute to obesity in children

Sugar substitutes contribute to obesity in children. December 17, 2009 – 11:00 pm. Sugar substitutes contribute to obesity in children. Fructose may increase the risk of diabetes and obesity in children.

Growing Obesity Epidemic Will Double Diabetes Population

And diabetes and obesity will lead the way in driving the country into a total financial wipeout. It doesn’t have to be this way, however. Diabetes costs don’t have to triple. We can turn this whole thing around with some simple, diet changes.

Morbid Obesity on the Rise in Type 2 Diabetes

Morbid Obesity on the Rise in Type 2 Diabetes.

School dinner cuts could lead to diabetes

“There has been a rise in the number of teenagers getting type 2 diabetes and it’s mostly because of obesity. And I can see what will happen if prices go up: children stop buying nutritious food from the school and end up walking out to fast food restaurants.

Other related articles on Diabetes from the web

• A New Treatment Now Available for Type 2 Diabetes (prweb.com)
• Type 2 diabetes cures (doctorrw.blogspot.com)
• Really?: The Claim: Vinegar Can Help Lower Blood Sugar Levels. (nytimes.com)
• Diabetes and Immunity (Immune Causes) (healthhype.com)
• 8 basic diabetes questions answered (cnn.com)

Technorati Tags: Diabetes, Diabetes mellitus, Diabetes mellitus type 2, Diseases & Conditions, dr. mark hyman, Endocrine Disorders, Health, Insulin, obesity, YouTube

Your pancreas makes the insulin and glucagon that keeps your blood sugar at healthy levels, it also makes enzymes that help with digestion.  These enzymes help break down food to make it useful for the body.

Pancreas Symptoms: Tumors can destroy insulin-producing cells, called islet cells and affect the pancreatic functions making big problems.  Problems like diabetes and failure to digest food.  Failure to digest food means weight loss and even starvation.

Pancreas Pain: If you get digestive juices trapped back in your pancreas they will begin to digest pancreatic cells and this can cause inflammation, pain, cysts and even death of the pancreatic tissue.  This is called pancreatitis.

Pancreatitis is a painful swelling of the pancreas that usually occurs suddenly.  Initial pain symptoms are often accompanied by nausea, bloating, fever, and other like symptoms.  You likely will be admitted to the hospital and they will probably turn you loose without much discussion of what to do next.  This is unfortunate because a first attack is a harbinger of worse things to come.

Basic Natural Approach To Pancreas Symptoms and Pain:

This attack of pancreatitis is a signal to change your lifestyle and diet.  If you let the condition go chronic not only will your quality of life suffer but it will turn into a more intense and complicated disease.

As with almost all other diseases of the modern diet… pancreatitis needs to be addressed with a diet based in vegetables, fresh fruit, omega-3 fish, and lean animal protean sources.  Avoid “white” foods, these usually have a high hypoglycemic index which means they will raise your blood sugar quickly and further tax the pancreas and it’s insulin production.  Examples of white foods are: potatoes, rice, break, and dairy

Pancreas Diseases – Natural Therapy

Author: Felix Melamed, LAc, MSTCM, CHt

The pancreas is an elongated and tapered gland that lies across the back of the abdomen behind the stomach in the loop of the duodenum. It secretes digestive enzymes into the duodenum and hormones, such as insulin, into the blood stream.

Digestive enzymes are released from the cells of the pancreas into a network of ducts, including the pancreatic duct. The pancreatic duct joins the common bile duct at the ampulla of Vater also known as the hepatopancreatic ampulla. The sphincter of Oddi (the valve between the ampulla of Vater and duodenum) regulates the flow of bile and pancreatic juice through the ampulla into the duodenum, as well as preventing the entry of duodenal contents back into the ampulla of Vater.

For example, the main reason for development of pancreatic diseases, especially pancreatitis is the problems of liver and gallbladder. Why? When there are the difficulties with secretion or elimination of the bile they can cause back up in the pancreatic duct and predispose to congestion and inflammation of the pancreas. The pancreatic digestive enzymes, which trapped inside, start to digest their own pancreatic cells causing congestion, inflammation, pain, cysts and finally death of the tissue of pancreas. Thus, pancreatitis can result from a failure of pancreatic secretions to drain properly.

The pancreas also secretes large amounts of sodium bicarbonate, which protects the duodenum by neutralizing the acid that comes from the stomach. The sodium bicarbonate also makes alkaline environment for proper function of digestive enzymes and normal function of the sphincter of Oddi.

This area is a central gate to many liver, gallbladder and pancreas problems. Many scientists believe that the Sphincter of Oddi Dysfunction (SOD) is a culprit of the pancreas diseases and opposite, the proper function of this valve is a right way to healing congestion and inflammation of the pancreatic gland.

European doctors have been used healing mineral water preparing from the Karlovy Vary Thermal Spring Salt for pancreas, liver and gallbladder diseases for more than 250 years. Despite its popularity among patients in Europe, this therapy is still largely unknown in the United States and Canada.

How it is work? This healing mineral water preparing from the genuine Karlovy Vary Thermal Spring Salt stimulates the stomach and small intestine (duodenum) for releasing the digestive hormones. These digestive hormones regulate the whole digestion, promote secretion and elimination of bile and the pancreatic juices, and control the proper function of the bile and the pancreatic ducts and valves.

Beside that, Karlovy Vary Healing Mineral Water supplies the pancreas with minerals and bicarbonates, the main ingredients of the pancreatic juices. Healing mineral water preparing from the genuine Karlovy Vary Thermal Spring Salt may help with two major problems -pancreatic pain and pancreatic insufficiency.

Czech scientists found also that the water can promote secretion and increase the activity of pancreatic enzymes in healthy volunteers, people with chronic pancreatitis, and patients after gallbladder removal.

This healing mineral water contains almost all minerals and trace elements which are important for human body. Water prepared from the genuine Karlovy Vary Thermal Spring Salt heals inflammations and repairs malfunctions of the digestion. It promotes energy, immunity and helps with removing harmful substances.

According to hundred-year-old experience of European doctors the most important thing is the drinking of this water under supervision knowledgeable health practitioner.

It can be useful to many different professionals: medical doctors, naturopathic physicians, herbalists, acupuncturists, nutritionists, chiropractors, and colon hydro therapists and for thousands people with the pancreas diseases.

The information on this article is presented for educational, informational purposes only. It is not intended as a substitute for the diagnosis, treatment and advice of a qualified licensed professional.

About the Author:

Felix Melamed, LAc, MSTCM, CHt received a bachelor’s degree in biology and psychology from Notre Dame de Namur University before pursing a master’s degree in Traditional Chinese Medicine from the Academy of Chinese Culture & Health Sciences Medicine in Oakland, CA. Mr. Felix Melamed is the author of a book “Natural European Way of Whole Body Cleansing” and many articles on diagnosis and treatment in Holistic and Traditional Chinese Medicine. He is currently in a private practice as an Executive Director of Biotherapy Alternative Medicine Clinic in San Francisco , California specializing in acupuncture, herbal medicine, clinical hypnosis, healing mineral water and detoxification modalities. Information is available on his web site www.biotherapy-clinic.com

Article Source: ArticlesBase.com – Pancreas Diseases – Natural Therapy

How the Body Works : The Pancreas

Where is the pancreas?

by marty makary md, mph. located directly behind the stomach, the pancreas lies deep in the center of the abdomen. its position corresponds to an area 3-6 inches above the “belly button”, straight back on the back wall of the abdominal cavity.

Autoimmune pancreatitis- a mimicker of pancreatic cancer

Although rare, autoimmune pancreatits, also known as lymphoplasmacytic sclerosing pancreatits, can clinically mimic pancreatic cancer. autoimmune pancreatitis, as the name suggests is a disease that is: 1) characterized by inflammation, pain, and fever.

Technorati Tags: Alternative, Health, medicine, Pancreas Pain, Pancreas Symptoms, Physician, San Francisco, Small intestine, Traditional Chinese Medicine, United States

This post explores the health benefits of cinnamon, which is significant, on the bodies blood sugar.  How your health, whether you are diabetic or not, can be improved by adding common cinnamon to your diet.  26 million people in the US are full diabetics.  Up to 50 million are in pre-diabetic conditions.  Millions more have sugar intolerance and their bodies are in an acid PH imbalance.  Adding cinnamon capsules (which you can get at the local pharmacy) will help you level things out.

Cinnamon can help you re balance your bodies chemistry.  Cinnamon has been called the most significant discovery to control blood sugar.  Taking cinnamon for 40 days can yield significant benefit.  Cinnamon and weight loss have been shown to go together.

Perhaps most interesting is that the health benefits of cinnamon and the affect on blood sugar has been known for thousands of years.  Adding cinnamon to help regulate sugar even in normal people can help you lose weight.  When the sugar level is elevated even for short periods it is a trigger for extra insulin: this is the bodies signal to store fat and so cinnamon and weight loss can go hand-in-hand.

The Effect Of Cinnamon On Blood Sugar (Glucose) Levels And Its Ability To Help Control Diabetes

Author: John Bradstreet

What is the Cause of Diabetes?

In type 2 diabetes, high blood sugar levels occur when glucose is prevented, to a significant degree, from entering cells of the body, notably liver, muscle, and fat cells. This is caused by a “short circuit” in the insulin signaling pathway, a cascade of highly specific chemical reactions that allow insulin to fulfill its role as the facilitator of glucose transport through the cell walls. Insulin is produced by the pancreas in response to elevated blood glucose levels; once it enters the blood, it signals the body’s cells to take up the excess glucose until normal levels are restored.

When insulin molecules bind to the insulin receptors on cell walls, tiny molecular “gates” open up and allow glucose molecules to pass through. If this system is impaired, the gates don’t respond adequately to the insulin signal, thus preventing the glucose from entering the cell. This condition, which is a common consequence of obesity, is called insulin resistance, and it’s both a harbinger and a symptom of diabetes. With insulin resistance, glucose levels in the blood remain high, a very dangerous condition in the long run. The pancreas tries to compensate by making more insulin, but this works only for so long. Eventually, the pancreas becomes overburdened and starts making less insulin. That’s when things go from bad to worse.

Cinnamon and diabetes

One of the most exciting recent discoveries in health is cinnamon and its effects on blood sugar (glucose) levels. The positive effect of cinnamon on blood sugar were discovered by accident at the USDA testing center in Maryland where scientists were testing the effects of various foods on blood sugar (glucose) levels. They were surprised when good ol’ apple pie actually helped lower glucose levels.

Although cinnamon bark and cinnamon flowers are used medicinally, Chinese cinnamon, or Cinnamomum aromaticum, is the form used for diabetes.

Specifically, hydroxychalcone may work on insulin receptors to increase insulin sensitivity and help promote glucose uptake into cells and tissues and promote glycogen (the storage form of glucose) synthesis.

Several Studies Confirm the Positive Effects of Cinnamon

In a December 2003 Diabetes Care study, cinnamon was found to improve glucose and lipids in people with diabetes. Sixty patients with type 2 who were taking a sulfonylurea (glyburide) were given one of three doses of cinnamon (1, 3 or 6 grams per day) or a placebo for 40 days.

Fasting blood glucose declined by 18 to 29 percent after 40 days in all three cinnamon treated groups. Specifically, 1 gram per day decreased glucose from 209 to 157 mg/dl, 3 grams per day decreased glucose from 205 to 169 mg/dl and 6 grams per day decreased glucose from 234 to 166 mg/dl.

Patients then went without any cinnamon for 20 additional days, but their fasting glucose was still lower than at baseline for the previously cinnamon-treated groups, indicating that cinnamon had a sustained benefit. Furthermore, total cholesterol decreased by 12 to 26 percent, triglycerides decreased by 23 to 30 percent, and LDL (“bad”) cholesterol also declined from 7 to 27 percent.

Another study was done by the University of Hannover in Hannover, Germany and published in a recent issue of the European Journal of Clinical Investigation. This was the first study evaluating the effect of a water-soluble cinnamon extract on glycemic control and the lipid profile of Western patients with type 2 diabetes. The results further add to a growing body of clinical evidence demonstrating supplementation with a water-soluble cinnamon extract may play an important role in managing blood sugar levels and improving insulin function.

Cinnamon is not Advised

Benefitting from this discovery may not be as simple as increasing cinnamon intake in your diet. Cinnamon contains volatile oils and when taken consistently in high doses may be toxic. This is why high quality supplements are recommended.

In conclusion, cinnamon reduced serum glucose, triglyceride, total cholesterol, and LDL-cholesterol levels in people with type 2 diabetes. Because cinnamon would not contribute to caloric intake, those who have type 2 diabetes or those who have elevated glucose, triglyceride, LDL-cholesterol, or total cholesterol levels may benefit from the regular inclusion of cinnamon in their daily diet. In addition, cinnamon may be beneficial for the remainder of the population to prevent and control elevated glucose and blood lipid levels.

About the Author:

World Vitamins Online provides it’s readers with pertinent information on vitamins and health supplements, how they work, and why. We feel that a well informed consumer will be one that benefits from this knowledge and will be able to make better decisions about their health and the health of their families. To learn more on this subject and for additional links on this topic at bottom of page please visit us at http://worldvitaminsonline.com/cinnamoncinnulinpf60capules.aspx Or subscribe to our blog for our latest post at http://worldvitaminsonline.blogspot.com/

Article Source: ArticlesBase.com – The Effect Of Cinnamon On Blood Sugar (Glucose) Levels And Its Ability To Help Control Diabetes

More About Diabetes

• Consequences of Diabetes: Complications and Costs (oup.com)
• Mediterranean Diet May Let Diabetics Dial Back Drugs (abcnews.go.com)
• Eight Ways to Keep Your Blood Sugar Lower (losethattyre.co.uk)
• Double Diabetes – Placing Your Kids at Even More Risk (battlediabetes.com)
• The Difference Between Type 1 And Type 2 Diabetes (fitnesstipsforlife.com)
• Exercise alone shown to improve insulin sensitivity in obese sedentary adolescents (scienceblog.com)

Technorati Tags: blood glucose levels, cholesterol, cinnamon and diabetes, exercise, health benefits, Insulin resistance, lose weight, Pancreas, triglycerides, type 2 diabetes

If you have chronic fatigue syndrome it is likely that your doctor or someone in your family has told you that there is nothing wrong with you, acused you of being lazy, or that it is in your head.  You may have gone for years not understanding what is happening to you and beating yourself up for it.  Yet Chronic Fatigue Syndrome (CFS) can shut your life down and take the joy away much like MS, Lupus, and other chronic conditions.

Chronic fatigue syndrome symptoms begins with a profound fatigue that is not improved by sleep or bed rest.  CFS symptoms can be worsened by mental and physical activity; symptoms may include muscle pain, insomnia, and a host of other symptoms like sore throat, tender lymph nodes, and sleep that doesn’t refresh you.

These chronic fatigue symptoms must occur for a period of six months or more for the illness to officially be classed as CFS.  There are other diseases that cause similar symptoms to CFS, these include fibromyalgia, myalgic encephalomyelits (ME), chemical sensitivities, certain types of depression, sleep apnea, and chronic mononucleosis.

There are tens of millions of people who are chronically fatigued but who don’t meet the exact definitions. It affects children and adults (although ages 40-50 are most affected), men and women (women are 4 times more likely to be affected), rich and poor, and does not favor any particular race.

Most who suffer from CFS go into a management of the condition rather than even hoping for a cure.  We are told by the CDC that full recovery comes to only 5 to 10% of those affected.

As time goes by we will be looking at alternative treatments such as diet, breathing exercise, yoga, and acupuncture.

The Time of Year When CFS & FM Symptoms Flare

It’s that dreaded time of year again for us ME/CFS & Fibromyalgia patients.  The fall weather, changes in temperature, and the shortening days tend to make symptoms flare full force.  For about the last week I have been experiencing a very noticeable difference in my body and the season changes are really affecting me.

The Psychological Component of Chronic Fatigue Syndrome

Being sick is hard and having an illness that many doctors still don’t believe in is even harder. If a doctor can’t figure out what is wrong with you, they assume your symptoms are all in your head. You are automatically labeled emotional or depressed.

What is Chronic Fatigue Syndrome?

Chronic Fatigue Syndrome CFS

Related articles about fatigue and chronic fatigue

• Learn About Pathological Fatigue – FightingFatigue.org (killerstartups.com)
• Chronic fatigue `a true human infection,’ study says (healthzone.ca)
• Virus Is Found in Many With Chronic Fatigue Syndrome (nytimes.com)
• ME/CFS Research Abstracts from ProHealth (fightingfatigue.org)

Technorati Tags: fibromyalgia patients, psychological component, season changes, virus

Swine flu continues to be in the news.  Health professionals tell us to expect a flare up in the fall.  You’ll find news here about Walmart, are they a good delivery for the vaccine which is set to be rolled out nationwide in the fall?

Keep in mind the best practices of clean hands and caution around people coughing as the best methods of preventing spread.

Congressman Ron Paul on the Recent Swine Flu Scare. 

Congressman Paul always has a unique perspective – and remember the Congressman is also a Doctor.

Riehl World View: Two New Mothers Succumb To Swine Flu In San Francisco

Well, this isn’t good news. Pregnant Mothers are at risk and they’re recommending vaccination. Unfortunately, I’ll assume the lawsuits from some vaccinated mothers for every conceivable birth defect will likely follow next year.

Thimerosal and the Swine Flu Vaccine

Today at the CDC in Atlanta, health officials are huddled, trying to game plan the best way to dole out a vaccine for swine flu. The race is on to develop a vaccine before the flu season kicks into high…, The World Newser is the daily …

Pregnancy Raises Swine Flu Death Risk

CDC: Healthy pregnant women are at high risk of hospitalization and death from H1N1 swine flu. Tamiflu or Relenza is recommended for pregnant women with flu symptoms.

Swine Flu News & Information: Swine Flu – Has it peaked?

Swine Flu – Has it peaked? The swine flu pandemic appears to have peaked for the moment but the virus will return with “a very big surge” in the autumn, the UK’s chief medical officer said today.

Cobden’s Comments: Swine flu strategy called into question

Now I’m no Doctor, and perhaps this chap is a bit of a maverick who underestimates the danger of swine flu and the effectiveness of the medicine. But if true, it certainly calls into question the way the Government are dealing with the flu.

WalMart and swine flu vaccine: a perfect match?

swine flu At least once a month, the typical American shopper trudges to the local WalMart (NYSE:WMT) to stock up on groceries, dry goods, entertainment, and … vaccines? The company is in talks with the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention about what role it can play in the CDC’s ambitious immunization process for the H1N1 (swine) influenza outbreak.

Technorati Tags: Swine Flu, swine flu and walmart, swine flu preparation, swine flu vaccine

Australia Reports 18th Swine Flu Death as Four Victorians Die …

July 8 (Bloomberg) — Australian health authorities say a 68-year-old Melbourne man who died in hospital after contracting swine flu is the country’s 18th death related to the virus.

World Travel Tips: Stop the Swine Flu Travel Madness!

Let me ask you something: If the media reported this as the H1N1 flu as opposed to SWINE flu, would we have gotten all in a tizzy? Did the word SWINE get people anxious? Was it that the supposed first case came from Mexico? …

Total 1217 Confirmed H1N1 (Swine Flu) Cases in Singapore | Daily …

Singapore has announced 106 new cases of H1N1 flu (swine flu) on 7 July 2009. This brings the total number of people infected in Singapore to 1217.

A/H1N1 Swine Flu (Influenza) Timeline | July 6: Canada (CA): Swine …

source: Critical ventilators to help Canada cope with the swine flu outbreak are being ordered by the federal government amid dire warnings about the severity.

Rupert Kicks Swine Flu for Harry Potter Premiere (E! Online) | PHP …

Online). Rupert Kicks Swine Flu for Harry Potter Premiere (E! Online). Rupert Kicks Swine Flu for Harry Potter Premiere(E! Online) E! Online – Despite catching the swine flu, Rupert Grint is alive and well, and ready to celebrate. …

Swine Flu Song

I felt it was only appropriate to put something up in response to all the coverage of the recent Swine Flu outbreak. Pigs are getting a bad rap on this one. The government is supposedly renaming the virus to H1-N1, but it doesn’t seem to be catching on. SONG LYRICS Miss Piggy, Arnold Ziffle, neither has a little sniffle Porky Pig and Pooh’s Piglet No fever yet Putnam, Gordy, Toot and Puddle Not contagious safe to snuggle Ask Petunia Babe, Noelle All of them feel well Wilbur, Hamm Hogzilla …

H1N1 (Swine Flu)

In this video, Dr. Joe Bresee with the CDC Influenza Division describes swine flu – its signs and symptoms, how it’s transmitted, medicines to treat it, steps people can take to protect themselves from it, and what people should do if they become ill. This video can also be viewed at www2a.cdc.gov

Technorati Tags: H1N1 (Swine Flu), Swine Flu, swine flu myths, swine flu pandemic, swine flu song

Swine flu is still with us and continues to make news.  Numbers of confirmed cases are rising at at reported 1000 cases a day.  Still the common sense methods are the best for preventing the spread of the flu.

Here is a survey of what is being reported around the web:

Swine Flu H1N1 News Update SciScoop Science News

According to WHO (World Health Organization), the total number of confirmed swine flu A(H1N1) cases of human infections stands at 9830, including 79 deaths. The numbers of confirmed cases are rising by approximately 1000 per day, …

H1N1 (Swine Flu) Latest CDC Video

Swine Flu: Illinois Confirms 707 Cases, 519 In Chicago Area

Illinois has 707 confirmed cases of swine flu, according to the Illinois Department of Public Health. The bulk of those cases are from the Chicago region, with 519 in Cook County.

Utah and Arizona report swine flu-related deaths – Kansas City Star

Utah officials reported the state’s first death associated with swine flu and Arizona recorded that state’s third victim, pushing the national death toll to 10 people.

World News Australia – Australia reports four new cases of swine flu

Two primary school classes are in quarantine and parents on alert after three brothers from Melbourne became Australia’s latest swine flu cases.

5 new swine flu cases confirmed in Ky. | Kentucky Enquirer | nky.com

A case of swine flu was confirmed Wednesday at a group home in Madison County for the mentally and developmentally disabled where at least 20 people are ill, state officials said.

Brown University student confirmed as having swine flu – Projo 7 …

The adminsitrators said they have been advised by the Rhode Island Department of Health, which confirmed the swine flu case, that there is no need to adjust any of the weekend events. “The most important thing Brown community members, …

HPA – Update on confirmed swine flu cases

Two further patients under investigation in England have today been confirmed with swine flu bringing the current total number of confirmed UK cases to 109.

“6 Swine Flu Myths Debunked For You And Your Family`s Safety“

When something as unexpected as the Swine Flu shows up and makes headline news within a short period of time, there are bound to be plenty of myths, inaccuracies, and half-truths that pop up with its arrival.

Technorati Tags: cdc influenza division, dr. joe breese, illinois department of public health, Swine Flu, swine flu myths, world health organization