Health Tips » Therapy

Diagnosis of Hepatitis B and C..The Do’s and Dont’s of Hepatitis B and C

ashish — Wed, 25 May 2011 10:02:57 +0000

Hepatitis B and C are difficult to get diagnosed and they are often referred as silent diseases. Initially, for the first six months there may be no symptoms. Acute viral hepatitis results in fatigue, fever, nausea and vomiting but these are common symptoms so additional tests are needed. Hepatitis C is diagnosed in chronic stages when it starts affecting liver. A typical cycle of disease from infection to liver damage may take very long.
Hepatitis B makes people sick especially children and symptoms may include tiredness, loss of appetite, stomach ache, nausea, vomiting, jaundice or joint pain. More serious complications may include cirrhosis or liver cancer.
Hepatitis B and C can prove to be more dangerous than HIV because of the absence of vaccine for hepatitis C, low level of awareness, difficulty in predictability of response to therapy. Improving the identification and public health management like screening of persons with hepatitis B and C infection can help prevent chronic liver disease.
Screening is recommended for people who are born in eastern Europe, Asia, Africa, Middle East and Pacific Islands, homosexual men, donors of blood and plasma, pregnant women, infants born to HBsAg positive mothers, persons on immune suppression therapy etc.

A person suffering from Hepatitis B or C should do:
- Check Hepatitis B or C status.
- Promote vaccinations.
- Be careful so that no one is accidentally exposed to blood.
- Discard materials used during injury.
- Wash hands.
- Avoid unprotected sex.
- Hepatitis status of spouse or sexual partner should be checked.
- Individuals who are at higher risk should be vaccinated.
- Monitor your liver functioning regularly.

A person suffering from Hepatitis B or C should not do:
- Don not share chewing gums, toothbrush, razor, needle or anything that comes in contact with blood.
- Do not share syringe.
- Do not donate blood, plasma, tissues, sperm.
- Do not panic and fear the worst.
- Do nor chew food before giving it to babies.
- Do not neglect follow up.
- do not try unproven therapies.

Strategies and Reasons to treat Extreme Strain on the Largest Joint i.e. Knee or Arthrosis…

ashish — Thu, 17 Mar 2011 15:05:42 +0000

Major percentage of skeletal pains occur in the knee, the largest joint. Women are affected more than men. Important cause is arthritis, an inflammatory joint disease that causes knee pain in every third person. Artificial knees are increasingly sued now-a-days. Since a large part of our weight is borne by the knee, its insides have a double or triple protection. Kneecaps, ligaments, tendons, muscles and cartilage enable us to walk upright.

- When cartilage dwindles: A person in their 50s, the cartilaginous tissue can no longer store much water. The lubricant loses its elasticity and cartilage coating on bone-ends become thinner, stiffer and less resilient. Tissue densification narrows the transit paths for the supply of nutrients an washing out of debris. The cartilage uses a suction and squeezing out process to sustain itself on the synovial fluid which irrigates the knee joint in the articular capsule. If the synovial tissue is inflamed, severe pain results. The knee becomes swollen and joint becomes stiff.

- The process by which arthrosis spreads is complex and involves interplay of mechanical and biochemical factors. Excess weight or heavy physical work are major causes of chronic overuse and early damage of joints. The degree of cartilage loss does not correlate with the severity of pain. Gap between the bones of knee joint is an important factor. Smaller is this gap, more serious is the problem. Doctors recommend an arthroscopy in addition to imaging procedures, for diagnostic as well as therapeutic purposes. Sodium hyaluronate injections seem to reduce the pain but without addressing the real cause. Cortisone can be injected into knee joint into knee joint if pain is prolonged. However, frequent injections are not recommended.

- Acupuncture also provides some relief.
- Treatments involving leeches work better than any standard therapy.
- Experts recommend low risk activities such as yoga, Tai Chi, hiking, cycling and swimming.
- Weight reduction and cushioning shoe insoles can bring relief.

How to keep laughter flowing in this hectic lifestyle?

ashish — Thu, 10 Mar 2011 13:39:45 +0000

Life is complicated and messy and very hectic. Sometimes laugh-out-loud moments are not always accessible but there are some tips that be used to bring laughter in your life.
- One should determine humor profile. Figure out what makes you laugh and do it more often. As different people have different taste in music, in the same manner we also laugh at different things.
- Spend more time with people who make you laugh.
- Invite your friends over to see funny movies together, you will find yourself laughing harder and longer than if you had seen it all by yourself.
- Suppose your car breaks down in the middle of traffic and you have no cell phone or spare tyre, instead of kicking yourself, laugh at your own incompetence. Laugh at the absurdity of the situation. It requires a certain amount of detachment – one can laugh at a situation if you are above it, not within it and with that kind of detachment, you can see things as funny and not frustrating.
- Laughter and tears are both responses to frustration and exhaustion. Prefer laughing in such situations as there is less cleaning up to do afterwards.
- Hang around with kids more. Kids are constantly discovering the world around them, and a lot of what goes on seems ridiculous and surprising, which strikes them as funny. Few things which may not seem to be funny to you, but when a child is laughing over something, you will find his spontaneous bubbling contagious.
- Laugh at yourself. Recognize how funny some of your behavior is really, especially your shortcomings and mistakes. Sense of humor is the ability to laugh at oneself. Laughing at others can be hurtful and mean but laughing at yourself in alight hearted way can be a great way to perk yourself up.
- Inject humor anytime it is appropriate as people love to laugh.
- Do not run scared from dark humor as the laughter that arises from such humor is not an insensitive reaction, rather it makes the statement that life is not something to be affirmed ecstatically so much as acknowledged comically.
- A smile is not the same as laughter but they are part of the same family. If you are feeling so low that you cannot remember when you last smiled, know that this could be a warning sign of clinical depression.

Laughter Therapy – how is it useful and in what ways…

ashish — Wed, 09 Mar 2011 12:13:30 +0000

Humor is not the same as laughter. Humor is a technology for provoking laughter. Laughter is the physiological response to humor. One of the common misconception is that laughter is unique to human species. Actually, it is not the case. Virtually, all mammals laugh, in one form or another. Laughter did come to us from animals, as a matter of natural selection, indeed a survival tool.
- Laughter is inborn, in fact it is the first social vocalization emitted by infants. It seems that laughter has a biological basis, rooted in our genes, and although different cultures have their own norms concerning the types of situations in which laughter is considered appropriate, as the sounds of laughter are themselves indistinguishable from one culture to another.
- Laughter is not about jokes though the two may appear inseparable. Laughter is primarily a social lubricant, not a response to funny situations. The fact that laughter works as a glue, holding people together.
- Laughter is as contagious as a yawn. Our brains respond to emotive sounds, this response occurs in the area of the brain that is activated when we smile, as though preparing our facial muscles to laugh. Our laughter and the other person’s laughter tend to become intertwined and antiphonal.
- Laughter lowers the levels of stress hormones and thereby reducing the risk of heart attacks. Stress is associated with damage to the inner lining of blood vessels which encourages inflammation and plaque which with resulting arterial stiffening can lead to heart attack.
- Laughter is a coping mechanism in cancer.
- Laughter is an immune system booster. It rev up the body’s production of antibodies and enhance the activation of the body’s protective cells that destroy tumor cells and viruses.
- Laughter helps along weight loss as you burn more calories when you laugh. By reducing levels of stress hormone, laughter helps you grapple with that bogey.
- Laughter improves the appetite eve as it helps you burn calories. The appetite boosting seems to occur via the effect that laughter has on the levels of the appetite hormones.
- Laughter acts as a survival tool. If laughter underlies intimacy, it can also facilitate distance from emotional pain. To laugh in a painful or distressing situation is not to avoid emotional reckoning, but to gain perspective needed to make the experience productive.

Hands-On Therapies : The Feldenkrais Method and The Alexander Technique

ashish — Fri, 25 Feb 2011 07:21:55 +0000

THE FELDENKRAIS METHOD
The chief goal of the hands-on therapy called feldenkrais method is to help you become more aware of your posture and movement patterns, explore how you limit yourself, and enhance learning of new patterns. This approach does not seek to treat specific medical conditions, but instead helps you to respond differently to them. It is based on the theory that people over a period of time develop patterns to compensate for pain or injury, but these patterns can become obstacles to healing and optimal functioning. Subtle changes to these habits can improve flexibility, balance, breathing and coordination, easing tension, pain and strain.
The program is offered in two ways:
- First, you are verbally guided through gentle movements, typically while lying on the floor or sitting in a chair.
- Second, it uses a hands-on contact to address individual needs. The practitioner may move your arms, legs, head or trunk in ways that enhance your awareness of movement patterns.
- With both forms, the practitioner may draw attention to elements such as your breathing or the differences between the two sides of your body.
Because the movements are gentle and involve no pain or strain, most people can participate and possibly benefit from this method. People who use this method often notice changes in thought patterns when they change their movement patterns. This method is most often used for increased flexibility, coordination and balance, neck, back and joint pain relief, headache, neuromuscular disorders and physical rehabilitation.

THE ALEXANDER METHOD
The hands-on Alexander technique focuses on unlearning detrimental patterns of movement. It is not a set of exercises, but a conscious change in mindset that supports better physical movement. Its basic principles emphasize balance, ease, lightness and flow to counteract rigidity, stress and tension. Other purpose of the Alexander method is to restore overall expansiveness to the body. Alexander method is most often used for improved coordination and balance, pain relief and improvement of conditions caused by chronic misalignment, such as muscle tension and pain in the lower back and neck.
During a typical session, the practitioner uses a hands-on approach to guide you. You may lie on the table while the practitioner gently guides your limbs. During your daily activities, the practitioner can give you verbal suggestions like “the back lengthens and widens” or “head forward and up” to help you shed harmful movement habits.

Hands-On Therapies : Massage and Spinal Manipulation

ashish — Thu, 24 Feb 2011 07:19:26 +0000

Hands-on therapies work towards more efficient, relaxed movement and proper alignment of the body in order for your body to function properly. Rather than relying on the manipulation of energy, hands-on, or manual, therapies work by applying pysical forces to the body. Hands-on therapies include:
MASSAGE
Research has proven that massage is effective especially for chronic lower back and neck pain. It is defined as hands-on manipulation of soft tissues through touch, movement or pressure, massage therapy ranges from gentle stroking and kneading to deeper, manual techniques. Positive effects that have resulted from massage therapy include easing muscle tension, increasing range of motion, improving blood and lymphatic circulation, lessening depression and anxiety, enhancing sleep and, in some cases, lessening dependence on medication. Massage is often used for tension and anxiety, neuromuscular conditions such as neck or back pain, muscle soreness, fibromyalgia.
Sessions may vary depending on the massage technique used. A massage therapist begins by taking your medical history and discussing health concerns and any goals that you have. Therapy may be done partially or fully unclothed with a towel or sheet covering you. Often, oils or lotions are used to avoid uncomfortable friction on your skin.
Some complications like discomfort for a day or two especially with deep tissue massage. Massage therapy is generally not recommended on areas where you have had recent surgery or fractures or where you have received radiation therapy. Massage therapy is not recommended at an open wound or open skin infection or if you are having acute signs of infection, such as fever, chills, or gastrointestinal or respiratory symptoms, and cation is advised if you have osteoporosis.

SPINAL MANIPULATION
During spinal manipulation, the practitioner applies a controlled amount of force to a spinal joint, moving it outside of its usual range of motion. Alternatively, a rhythmic force is applied to improve joint motion in the neck, spine and pelvis. The practitioner may use a special table to better help perform adjustments. Evidences show that spinal manipulation can help to cure low back pain, tension headaches and neck pain.
Spinal manipulation is generally considered safe though it is not for everyone. Common side effects are discomfort in the treated area, headache and tiredness. Generally, though these problems clear up within one or two days. Spinal manipulation is most often used for lower back pain, other pain conditions, overall well-being.

How is ozone therapy useful in diabetic foot management and in what areas is ozone therapy useful?

ashish — Wed, 23 Feb 2011 07:20:25 +0000

Diabetes is a disorder of metabolism and of the circulation. Chronic metabolic irregularities linked to poor circulatory perfusion and nerve damage can affect a number of organ systems, including skin tissues. The conditions include infected wounds, skin ulcers and gangrene. These wounds, in the context of diabetes, are notoriously difficult to resolve. Healing resistance is thus a well recognized element of frustration in their clinical care.
In case of diabetic ulcer conditions, multiple factors play into healing resistance. Among them are circulatory impairments, neurological deficits, tissue injury, and immunological compromise. A central factor is the proliferation of infectious microorganisms that, by the variety of their families, their toxin-producing capacities, and their resistance to antibiotics, offer daunting obstacles to standard treatment regimes.

Ozone therapy is useful in following areas:
- Circulatory disorders: microangiopathies, stroke, angina, varicose veins.
- Infections and inflammation: herpes, hepatitis, burns, non healing wounds.
- Chronic diseases: diabetes mellitus and its complications, hypertension, parkinson’s disease.
- Cancers
- Asthma, Sinusitis, Allergic Rhinitis.
- Rheumatoid arthritis, chronic fatigue syndrome.
- Osteoarthritis knee joint, back aches.
- Dermatology acne, herpes, burns, psoriasis, eczema.
- Gynecological infections.

Major benefits are noted in:
- treatment of circulatory disorders.
- cerebro-vascular accidents.
- varicose veins.
- microangiopathies.

How ozone helps?
- Ozone has powerful bactericidal, fungicidal and virostatic propertis widely used in disinfecting infected wounds.
- Ozone attacks PUFA in the bacterial cell membrane causing alteration of the membrane. It increases the porosity leading to cell damage, cell rupture and death. Indirectly, by activating macrophages and T cells, it leads to antibody production; effectively killing bacteria.
- Ozone in higher concentration attacks fungi.
- Ozone increases blood circulation and tissue oxygenation.
- Ozone increases and activates body’s own antioxidants and radical scavengers.
- Ozone helps in healing and repairs.

Energy Based Therapies – Acupuncture, Qi gong (Chee-gung), Reiki

ashish — Sun, 20 Feb 2011 06:37:26 +0000

Energy based therapies influence and optimize the flow of energy that surrounds and permeates your body in order to maintain or restore health. Illness could result when the energy flow is blocked or insufficient. The goal of energy therapy is to correct this energy flow and restore health. Energy therapies include:
Acupuncture Therapy
- Acupuncture originated in China and other parts of Asia.
- Acupuncture seeks to influence pathways of energy, called qi(chee) that flow through he body and help maintain vitality and balance.
- Acupuncture aims to correct the flow, to restore balance and harmony in your body.
- Acupuncture affects regulation of the body’s nervous system, encouraging the release of chemicals that act as natural painkillers and adjusting immune cell function.
- Acupuncture may alter brain chemicals and hormones that control blood pressure, blood flow and body temperature regulation.
- Acupuncture replies on 2,000 acupuncture points on body that access the meridians of qi.
- The practitioner penetrates your skin at these points with thin, solid, metallic needles.
- The practitioner manipulates it with hands or stimulates them with electrical impulse.
- Generally, no pain or very minimal pain is felt.
- Once the needles are in place, you may rest for a while before the practitioner gently removes the needles.
- Acupuncture is most often used for post-surgical or chemotherapy related nausea, pain management, fibromyalgia, irritable bowel syndrome, stroke rehabilitation, sports injuries, mood disorders, chronic fatigue, insomnia, stress management, migraines, tension headaches, anxiety, tinnitus, infertility and menstrual irregularities.

Qi gong Therapy
- This is an ancient Chinese practice.
- This therapy uses physical postures, breathing techniques and mental focus to maintain health, promote healing and increase vitality.
- Many forms of qi gong exist but all fall into three common categories – martial, medical and spiritual.
- These forms can range from internal and meditative to the more external and physical.
- Movements in qi gong are rhythmic and gentle, making them easily adaptable for all age groups, even if you are physically impaired.
- Qi gong takes a holistic approach, incorporating changes in diet, exercise and lifestyle.
- Qi gong is most often used for lowering blood pressure, stress relief, improving immune system function, pain relief and increasing flexibility, balance and strength.

Reiki
- It is derived from Japanese words for universal life energy.
- Reiki practitioners believe they can channel healing energy by placing their hands just above or lightly on you when you are receiving treatment.
- The goal is to access your healing energy and use it to facilitate your own healing.
- The practitioner uses a series of 12 to 15 different hand positions that are related to energy centers in your body.
- Each position is held for 2-5 minutes or until the practitioner senses the flow of energy slow or stop.
- The number of sessions depends on your health needs.
- Trained practitioners claim an ability to perform reiki from a distance if you are not in office or clinic.
- Reiki is often used for a state of relaxation, balance and well being, certain health conditions such as fibromyalgia, disease progression and nerve pain.

Characteristics of Inner Relationship Focusing Therapy…

ashish — Sat, 19 Feb 2011 18:07:23 +0000

Inner relationship focusing goes beyond “getting in touch with your feelings” and is said to enable those who who use it to forge a totally different kind of relationship with their emotions. Through this process, you become your best listener. The goal is not to solve your problems or challenge your emotions but to allow forward moving change to happen on its own through inner listening and sensing. Inner relationship focusing typically starts with an individual session. Ultimately, with these sessions, you learn to do inner relationship focusing by yourself.

- Fist session introduces you to inner relationship focusing process, what it feels like and how to apply it.
- It begins with discovering “felt sense” which means a body sensation in response to an emotion or situation.
- Next, attention is paid on these felt senses, observe it , get curious about it and refrain from making judgements.
- Through this acknowledgement and acceptance, you allow your felt sense to become whatever it needs to be.
- This process can lead to pathways of growth as you gain access to information about yourself that has otherwise been beyond your awareness.
Inner relationship focusing therapy is most often used for personal growth and understanding, pain management, stress relief, depression, weight loss, smoking cessation, addictions and enhancing creativity.

The option to pick and choose among alternative, complimentary and conventional treatments provide great opportunities to maintain health and well-being. Consider the options carefully. When choosing any practice, follow these steps:
- Gather all the information that is necessary about the therapy that you intend to use. Educate yourself about the therapy. Talk to people who have used it. Ask your doctor. Gather information about the therapy from Internet.
- Consider the cost and find out exactly how much the therapy will cost you. Many therapies are not covered under health insurance.
- Be an open minded skeptic and stay open to various treatments but evaluate them carefully.
- Check credentials when considering a practitioner of that particular therapy. Make sure the person is from a reputed organization and has adequate training and experience.

How does ozone therapy activates cellular metabolism and modulates immune system?

ashish — Thu, 17 Feb 2011 07:15:23 +0000

Red blood cells are the mot abundant cells in the blood.They are ozone’s favorite target. To protect itself from oxidants from ozone, a powerful anti-oxidant enzyme system is stimulated in red blood cells. To support the increased functioning of this anti-oxidant defense system, glucose is metabolized. This causes increase in glucose uptake and decrease in blood glucose level. It is beneficial in diabetes mellitus. Increase in glucose metabolism in RBC leads to increase in a compound causing more release of oxygen at tissue level. Ozone increases glucose metabolism and production of high energy compounds. This energy is used to improve the elasticity of the RBC cell membrane. Thus, greatly improving circulation in microangiopathies. Increase production of high energy compounds following ozone therapy is responsible for rejuvenation and energetic feeling. It is an excellent therapy for not only old people but also for over-stressed, tired young people.

Ozone stimulates pro-inflammatory as well as anti-inflammatory lymphocytes in a very controlled fashion. Thus maintaining immune system in an alert state, without any imbalance between activation and suppression. After ozone therapy, activated lymphocytes home in several organs. Activated lymphocytes, in lymphoid tissues and parenchymal micro-environment, stimulate entire immune system. This is very useful in fighting chronic infections and cancer. ozone induces production of PDGF, TGF-beta which helps in healing and repairs. This property is useful in treatment of chronic ulcers, bed sores, non healing wounds, burns etc. Ozone when comes in contact with inner lining of vessels produces nitric oxide which causes relaxation of vessel walls, effecting dilatation of vessels and improving circulation. Stoppage of ozone therapy does not cause abrupt cessation in improvement which persists for 3-4 months corresponding to RBC life span. Therefore, ozone therapy is repeated twice or thrice a year to treat chronic conditions. In general, its biological properties are:
- wide spectrum germicidal properties.
- improves oxygen metabolism.
- regulates oxidative stress.
- improves RBC rheology and micro-circulation.
- stimulates immunity.
- promotes healing.