Today, chemotherapy treatment is one of the most dependable ways to treat cancer. It involves various medicines and drugs for the treatment. These drugs not just remove cancer but can also remove chunks of hair from your head. In your childhood and teenage, you try hundreds of products to make your hair shiny, soft and long. When you grow up as an adult, you like to show your hair. However, when you fall prey to cancer and the doctor tells you that now you have to undergo chemotherapy treatment then you are be more worried about your hair fall than the treatment procedure.
During chemotherapy, there is a high chance of losing hair because the chemicals that you take during the treatment procedure not just affect your cancer cells but even the other body cells like your hair cells. Your hair cells are easily sensitive to those drugs because they multiple rapidly just like the cancer cells. Hair loss is not caused by all types of chemotherapies it does not depend on your hair but on the drug that you take.
Unfortunately, hair fall cannot be completely stopped during chemotherapy, as of now no such medicine or remedy has been invented but you can surely reduce the amount of hair loss. It may be a sudden hair loss or it can occur slowly. Earlier people tried to tie tight bands or ice caps to their heads. In this way, they avoided the blood flow to the hair follicles and avoid chemotherapy exposure and chemotherapy side effects. However, this gave rise to a new problem of headache.
Here are some tips that may not avoid hair fall completely but will surely reduce the amount of hair fall and the depression that is caused due to it:
Cut your hair short: If you cut your hair short, then there will be less hair fall for sure. This will relieve you from looking at the big chunks of hair falling off which is more distressing than seeing the bundle of little hairs falling away. Purchase a wig: Buy a wig before you loose any hair. This will even allow you to buy the wig of your style and color. Buy two; so that you can wear another if one is washed. Consult a cosmetologist: Many people consult a cosmetologist about how to manage their eyelashes and eyebrows. You are taught to draw eyelashes or fix false ones while applying makeup.
After the chemotherapy, your hair will grow back normally but it may be of a different color or texture. The density may also be affected.
Have you ever experienced lower left side back pain? What is it an indication of? According to some medical reports it is indicative of colon cancer. It is reported that when the tumor in this region grows, it tends to place some pressure on a nerve which is located in the lower left side of the body. Often doctors may not be able to identify it as colon cancer.
Pain on the lower left side is common and may result even from exercise. Try to get a colonoscopy performed to rule out colon cancer. After you have ascertained that the pain has resulted from a muscle injury, you should start following some exercise routine to allow the muscle to heal. Consult a good physio-therapist. Once you start on a good exercise program your muscles will gain strength and also you’re your abdomen will lose any fat deposits it may have.
Any kind of back pain results from four factors: tightening or weakening of muscles, incorrect movement of the joints and improper pelvic balance.
If you want to ease the pain you feel in the lower right back then you will have to work on the muscles where the pain is caused. This pain will manifest itself in lower leg back pain or lower back abdominal pain or side lower back pain. When people try to move the joints in jerky motions to improve their flexibility they end up feeling more pain, the reason is without identifying the correct source of the problem they try to rectify it.
Identify the problem area with the help of a good physio-therapist will enable your to root out the problem of lower left side back pain.
Sore-Throat Definition: A sore throat is a disease primarily located in the area around the tonsils. It is also known as pharyngitis or tonsillitis.The pharynx is the part of the throat that lies between the mouth and the larynx or voice box. It is associated most commonly with the common cold or influenza. While most sore throats heal without complications, in some cases, they develop into a serious illness.
Pharyngitis is a painful inflammation of the mucous membranes lining the pharynx, and is referred to as a sore throat. Infection of the tonsils, tonsillitis may occur simultaneously .
A “sore” throat is discomfort, pain, or scratchiness in the throat. A sore throat often makes it painful to swallow.
Sore throats are common, especially in children. Most of the time the soreness is worse in the morning and improves as the day progresses.
Uncomplicated sore throats usually last up to 3 days and a severe sore throat, that lasts over 3 days could be a symptom of a more serious condition like tonsillitis or laryngitis.
Causes for Sore Throat:
Sore throats are normally caused by either a viral or bacterial infection. The most important difference between a virus and bacteria is that bacteria respond well to antibiotic treatment and viruses do not. A sore throat is commonly spread by: sharing drinks, kissing, coughing, nose blowing, and sneezing.
Common Causes:
Bacterial infection: Strep throat is the most common bacterial infection. It is mainly caused by streptococcal bacteria. Strep throat can lead to rheumatic fever which can trigger heart valve problems or inflammation of the kidney. Other bacteria can cause sore throats – e.g. gonorrhoea is an example of a sexually transmitted infection. Viruses: The majority of sore throats are due to an infection with a virus; there is a large variety of viruses which cause the common types of sore throats. A well-known virus is the Epstein-Barr virus, which causes glandular fever and glandular fever tonsillitis. Tonsillitis It is an inflammation of the tonsils. Chronic tonsillitis occurs when there is so much damage to the tonsils. In this condition, the throat is sore most of the time, often accompanied by bad breath Glandular fever and tonsillitis: Glandular fever may cause sore throat problem. The tonsils and the glands in the neck are often very large and may cause severe breathing difficulties.
Other Possible Causes:
Measles may causes the sore throat under some circumstances. Breathing through the mouth can cause the throat to dry and become painful. In some cases a sore throat could be a sign of throat cancer (usually in smokers) or AIDS Allergies. Allergies do not cause sudden sore, painful throats. They can, however, cause chronic mild throat irritation. Sore throat could occur due to infectious mononucleosis. Fish, chicken bone, or other foreign substance increases the risk of throat problems. Surgery such as tonsillectomy and adenoidectomy may lead to the condition of sore throat. Sinus drainage may cause a sore throat.
Symptoms for Sore Throat:
It may include:
If there’s pain in the throat, it may be due to occurance of sore throat. In the sore throat symptom, pain may spread to the ears. The lymph nodes under your jaw and in your neck get swallow in sore throat cases. If the sore throat is due to the Coxsackie virus, small blisters may develop on the tonsils and in the soft palate. If the sore throat is due to a streptococcal infection, the tonsils often swell and become coated and the throat is sore. An injury to the back of your mouth may increase the chances of get affected by sore throat. Headache may occur in this condition. Vomiting may lead to sore throat problem. White patches in your throat or on your tonsils There will be problem in breathing during sore throat. You will have a problem in swallowing the food.s Difficulty opening the mouth Joint pain may occur due to throat problem. Rash There will be high fever during sore throat. Blood in saliva or phlegm Lump in neck Hoarseness lasting over two weeks
Home Remedies for Sore throat:
Here are a few tips to get rid of the common sore throat:
Eat garlic: Garlic contains a antiviral and antibacterial agent. So eat garlic, it’s good for you. You can also get garlic pills. Gargle with warm salt water is very beneficial for the treatment of sore throat. Ginger tea: It is very effective for the fastest treatment of throat problems. Lime juice: Mix 1 tsp. lime juice and 1 Tbls. honey. Swallow tiny amounts slowly 2-3 times a day. Marjoram: Drink marjoram tea with a little lemon and honey to relieve throat pain and reduce coughing.
Herbal treatment for sore throat:
Some important herbal remedies are:
Licorice root (Glycyrrhiza glabra) is another good sore throat remedy, however it should not be used by people with high blood pressure, heart, kidney or liver disease, pregnant or nursing women, or people who are taking diuretics, blood pressure drugs. Marshmallow (Althaea officinalis) , a herb found in Europe and North America, has been used for centuries as a sore throat home remedy. Marshmallow may also slow the absorption of other drugs if they are taken at the same time. Honeysuckle Flower , a sweet-tasting and smelling herb, is one of the most commonly used sore throat remedies in traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) as a remedy for sore throats. Slippery elm: This helps for the treatment of respiratory illness. Balloonflower: This plant’s root is used as a remedy for sore throat and cough. You can take it as either a tea or a tincture.
You might be wondering why you have Back Pain because you take care of yourself to be subjected to this level of discomfort. About thirty-one million people suffer from chronic back pain and about fifty percent of them report their discomfort annually to their doctors. So what exactly causes chronic Back Pain and what can you do about it?
Chronic Back Pain is characterized by a sharp and lingering sensation of pain usually in the area starting at the back of your neck, down the spinal column and at the lower back. The pain can stay with you for a few days or weeks, disappears and then resurfaces again in a matter of months. Analgesic medication just do not work for you anymore and so you are forced to investigate the real reason behind your chronic Back Pain. This can be explained generally by three major factors that contribute to its cause which are exercise, nutrition, and psycho-emotional stress.
Living a sedentary or inactive lifestyle can contribute to Back Pain. Exercise can greatly help the body to remember its normal function. Like the muscles, if you do not do the right activity, can lead to muscle disintegration that is called atrophy. The muscles at the back and neck, particularly should be reminded how they should function by repetitive exercise or stretching done regularly or on a schedule basis. When the back and neck is suddenly subjected to work or any amount of physical stress, the back cannot cope and muscles strain. Also, the way you inappropriately use or not use these sets of muscles at work or play can also cause strain in the muscles. Improper body mechanics or wrong use of muscles in this area can gradually strain the back muscles and consequently cause Back Pain.
Nutrition is also an important factor to prevent Back Pain. Most people who think they should loose fat and engage in zero fat or low protein can wreck havoc to their health. The body is build up with muscles who needs fats and proteins to function well. Also too much consumption of fat can add up levels of cholesterol in your body and too much proteins can actually cause ketoacidosis which is the disintegration of muscles and leads not only to Back Pain but arthritis and many other muscle related diseases as well. So balance your diet and watch out for too many salt and sugar in your diet too.
Emotional or psychological stress can really break your back, so to speak. Due to the stressful condition you might be bearing, you will more likely loose sleep or forget to rest thinking about your problems. You might not be aware of it but you are slowly contributing to the inevitable Back Pain in the coming months. Stress hormones can cause pain sensation just as studies have shown and happy hormones are natural analgesic. So avoid feeling low, depressed, or frustrated so your back would not have to bear the painful consequences.
So how do you manage a chronic Back Pain? Simple, live a healthy lifestyle. Think about it.
You might be wondering why you have Back Pain because you take care of yourself to be subjected to this level of discomfort. About thirty-one million people suffer from chronic back pain and about fifty percent of them report their discomfort annually to their doctors. So what exactly causes chronic Back Pain and what can you do about it?
Chronic Back Pain is characterized by a sharp and lingering sensation of pain usually in the area starting at the back of your neck, down the spinal column and at the lower back. The soreness can stay with you for a few days or weeks, disappears and then resurfaces again in a matter of months. Analgesic medication just do not work for you anymore and so you are forced to investigate the real reason behind your chronic Back Pain. This can be explained generally by three major factors that contribute to its cause which are exercise, nutrition, and psycho-emotional stress.
Living a sedentary or inactive lifestyle can contribute to Back ache. Exercise can greatly help the body to remember its normal function. Like the muscles, if you do not do the right activity, can lead to muscle disintegration that is called atrophy. The muscles at the back and neck, particularly should be reminded how they should function by repetitive exercise or stretching done regularly or on a schedule basis. When the back and neck is suddenly subjected to work or any amount of physical stress, the back cannot cope and muscles strain. Also, the way you inappropriately use or not use these sets of muscles at work or play can also cause strain in the muscles. Improper body mechanics or wrong use of muscles in this area can gradually strain the back muscles and consequently cause Back Pain.
Nutrition is also an important factor to prevent Back throbbing. Most people who think they should loose fat and engage in zero fat or low protein can wreck havoc to their health. The body is build up with muscles who needs fats and proteins to function well. Also too much consumption of fat can add up levels of cholesterol in your body and too much proteins can actually cause ketoacidosis which is the disintegration of muscles and leads not only to Back Pain but arthritis and many other muscle related diseases as well. So balance your diet and watch out for too many salt and sugar in your diet too.
Emotional or psychological stress can really break your back, so to speak. Due to the stressful condition you might be bearing, you will more likely loose sleep or forget to rest thinking about your problems. You might not be aware of it but you are slowly contributing to the inevitable Back ache in the coming months. Stress hormones can cause soreness sensation just as studies have shown and happy hormones are natural analgesic. So avoid feeling low, depressed, or frustrated so your back would not have to bear the painful consequences.
So how do you manage a chronic Back Pain? Simple, live a healthy lifestyle. Think about it.
It can be quite upsetting when you start noticing the first signs of deafness in your dog. Although most canines are affected by congenital deafness, some become deaf through old age, an accident or certain types of medication, namely antibiotics. As upsetting as this may be there are hearing aids for dogs that work the same as hearing aids for humans.
You may notice that your dog does not respond to you the same way it used to, (you may think it is because your pet has become suddenly stubborn, but somehow his behaviour just doesn’t seem to add up somehow). You may also notice that he becomes uneasy when you touch his ears. He may sometimes shake his head around or he doesn’t wake up or respond when you call his name, only when you touch him. These are the first signs that your dog may have a hearing problem or is suffering from some hearing loss.
If you suspect that your dog may becoming deaf there are some home tests that you can do to ascertain this condition. If he/she is unilaterally deaf then home tests are not good enough to detect this particular kind of hearing problem. In this event I would recommend the BAER test. This is carried out by a specialized clinic. You can contact me for a comprehensive list of BAER test centres around the world.
One of the home tests that you can do is to squeeze a squeaky toy behind your dog when he is not looking (making sure that no air from the toy reaches him as he will sense the vibrations in the air and will turn around anyway which may fool you into thinking he can hear).
Another home test can be carried out by placing coins in a tin box and shaking it fairly close to your pet; dogs hate this sound and if you get a delayed or no response to this unpleasant noise then you can be fairly certain that something is wrong with your dog’s hearing.
If your dog becomes deaf it can be confusing for him at first as he notices changes in his everyday world. Do not forget that dogs adapt quite quickly and that you will most likely have to re-train him/her with a deaf dog sign training system.
The first question that deaf dog owners ask is whether or not the dog can be fitted with a hearing aid. The answer is usually yes however there are exceptions. It is not possible to use a hearing aid when the dog is born with a pigment- associated hearing impairment. The reason for this is that hearing aids acts as sound amplifiers and this method is of no use in cases of congenital deafness. For dogs who are going deaf for reasons other than genetics though and still have partial auditory function then hearing aids do provide one practical solution.
Dog hearing aids are custom made by your vet. He will take a mould of your dog’s ear canal. This is sent to a lab where a suitable and comfortable device will be built for your dog. The hearing aid will then be fitted in your dog’s ear(s) after the necessary tests have been carried out. This type of hearing aid is similar to the ‘behind the Ear’(BTE) hearing aids; in fact dog and human hearing devices are exactly the same.
You need to be aware that purchasing a dog hearing aid is a risky expense, since not all dogs react well to the sensation of having an object close to the ears and some will not want to wear it. It has been reported that smaller dogs do fairly well with these devices, whilst larger breeds do not tolerate them as well.
Dog hearing aids have become quite sophisticated, not to mention expensive but there are pet insurances who do cover such costs, assuming that you already have your dog insured
Other (expensive) options include cochlear prostheses or cochlear implants. These are the same devices that are implanted in deaf people. They are stimulating electrodes that are surgically inserted into one of the coils of the nerves is the cochlea. This is possible because these nerves, which connect to the brain, usually remain undamaged after the loss of the cochlea hair cells and therefore they may still be capable of responding to sound. These devices were tested on deaf Dalmatians. The device costs between $ 20,000 to $25,000 in addition to the cost of the surgery and post-surgery training. Because of the high cost of this procedure, even though cochlear prostheses in dogs are feasible, they are not practical.
I would always recommend dog owners to teach their dog to respond to hand signs, regardless. Hand signals are part of a clear dog training system that can benefit both hearing and non-hearing pets. If a dog is properly trained then they will find it easier to adjust to any changes to their hearing as they get older.
Remember that pets are very different from humans because they have no emotionally driven thought processes that can dis-empower them. By treating your dog with love and patience he/she will quickly adapt to their hearing impairment by naturally relying more on their other senses.
A recent Federal Court decision in Antsis v The Commissioner of Taxation was an unexpected win for the taxpayer and a loss for the Tax Office.
The taxpayer was a full time student completing a teaching degree. During the 2005-06 tax year the taxpayer derived assessable income of $14,946 working as a part time sales assistant and $3,622 from Youth Allowance. The taxpayer claimed expenses of $1,170 consisting of travel, administration fees, stationery and depreciation of a computer.
In order to be eligible for the Youth Allowance the taxpayer was required to satisfy certain conditions, which were: (a) The person must be enrolled in a course at an educational institution; (b) must be studying at least 75% of the normal full time program, and (c) must be making progress towards completing the course. It was also mentioned that no income was derived from working as a teacher.
At the hearing, the applicant was represented by her father, Mr M Antsis, a legal practitioner. Mr Antsis argued, in essence, that the applicant had expended money on her education in order to ensure that she continued to make satisfactory progress towards completing her teaching course and remained eligible to receive assessable income in the form of Youth Allowance. Therefore, it was submitted, the applicant was entitled to a tax deduction pursuant to s 8-1 of the Income Tax Assessment Act.
The Commissioner of Taxation argued that:” – the expenditure incurred by the taxpayer was not “relevant and incidental to” the receipt of the Youth Allowance income; – the primary motive of the taxpayer in undertaking study activities was to gain employment in the future as a teacher; – the expenditure was incurred by the taxpayer at a “point too soon” to the derivation of assessable income as a qualified teacher and – as the youth allowance was a fixed payment from the Government, the expenditure incurred by the taxpayer could not be seen as being incurred with the prospect of increasing the income earning capacity of the taxpayer or to improve or maintain the taxpayer’s skill and knowledge.”
Following arguments by both sides, Justice Ryan, of the Full Federal Court, agreed that there was a nexus between the Youth Allowance income and the self-education expenditure:
“The outlay of fees to enrol in a course to qualify for Youth Allowance and incurring other expenses to satisfy the activity test and so preserve the qualification is not akin to the travelling expenses discussed in cases like Lunney. The claimed expenses in this case were not outlaid to put the applicant in a position to receive Youth Allowance, rather, they were incurred as a necessary incident of pursuing a particular course of study.”
Later in the judgement, Justice Ryan went on to conclude:
“The derivation on income in the form of Youth Allowance is one of the alternative ways in which the occasion of the outgoing is to be found in what is productive of the assessable income.”
In regard to the taxpayer’s motivation to studying and incurring expenditure, the taxpayer conceded that the primary purpose for undertaking the course was to become a teacher. However. The taxpayer stated that while the primary purpose of undertaking study was not to gain Youth Allowance, the primary purpose of the self education expenditure was to meet the satisfactory progress requirement. Mr Antsis went on to argue that the connection of the expenditure to future teaching income does not deny the fact that the expenditure was also relevant to gaining the youth allowance, which itself represented a form of assessable income.
Following on from this Justice Ryan concluded that “The taxpayer’s ultimate purpose or motive in undertaking their course was to acquire a qualification leading to future employment as a Teacher is irrelevant to the characterisation of the expenditure. It is sufficient to say that the expenditure was incurred as a necessary incident of deriving Youth Allowance.
Full facts of the case can be found on the ATO Website at ato.gov.au, Antsis v Federal Commissioner of Taxation 2009 ATC 20-098 or on my Blog.
Cervical disc disease is a chronic condition of the spine, in which one of the spinal discs in the neck deteriorate over time. This article will discuss the details of what cervical disc disease is, the causes of the condition, symptoms associated with it, as well as the most effective treatment options available for relief.
But before we discuss all of that, we need to have a basic understanding of what the discs of the spine are, what their purpose is, and how they function.
The spinal discs are cushions that separate each set of bones in the spine. Their primary function is to absorb shock with movement, which prevents the bones from the spine from breaking and deteriorating.
Each spinal disc is composed of two parts – a strong outer covering called the annulus, and a soft jelly center called the nucleus. When discussing cervical disc disease, it is very important that we talk about the nucleus in a little more detail, because this is actually where this condition occurs.
The nucleus, or jelly center of the disc, is very important, because this is where the disc will store oxygen and nutrition in order for the disc to stay healthy. One of the biggest problems with disc conditions is that they are very stubborn to heal.
The reason for this is that the spinal discs do not receive very good blood flow, which is the body’s normal way of transporting oxygen and nutrients to the body for proper healing. Because the spinal discs do not receive a lot of blood, they tend to be very difficult to heal, and usually develop into chronic conditions that create long term pain for the person suffering with it.
So, why are we discussing this? Well, because the discs of the spine do not receive a very good blood supply, the body depends on the jelly in the center of the disc to remain healthy so the disc can have enough oxygen and nutrients for healing.
This is where we can begin to discuss cervical disc disease in more detail, because what actually happens with this condition is that the jelly in the center of the disc will start to dehydrate. When the jelly begins to lose water, there is less jelly in the center of the disc, and the disc will begin to flatten, or become shorter.
This is a very serious problem for the spine, because these discs are absorbing shock, so if they start to lose their height, they are not as effective at this job. So, the brain will begin to perceive that there is a problem developing in the disc where this is occurring, and what it will do is start to add extra calcium to the edges of the bone above and below the involved disc.
The reason this occurs is because the brain is trying to stabilize this unstable condition, and the way it does that is be eventually fusing these bones together. So, the brain will cause the bones to develop “spurs,” which are just bony extensions coming off the edges of the bones. These spurs will eventually come together and fuse the bones above and below the degenerating disc to provide some stability.
Although this process makes sense to the brain, if you actually get to a point where these bones fuse, your spine will actually begin to deteriorate much more quickly because the other joints of the spine above and below this fusion have to work extra hard to make up for the lack of movement in the problem area.
The cause of cervical disc disease is most often some form of trauma. You have to realize that it takes many years for this condition to develop, so typically what happens is that you have an injury to your neck earlier in life (whether it be from a car accident, a sports injury, a fall, etc.), which causes the disc in the injured area to start the degenerative process.
This condition can also be caused by poor health habits, which leads to toxins building up in the body. For example, we know that smokers are more likely to develop cervical disc disease (and other deteriorating conditions of the spine) because of the levels of toxins in their bodies.
There is also a genetic component with this disease – if you have a family history of arthritis of any kind in your family, you are more likely to develop this problem because cervical disc disease is simply a special type of arthritis that develops in the spine.
The symptoms that are most commonly associated with cervical disc disease are neck pain and stiffness, shoulder, arm and hand pain (which can be experienced as sharp pain, burning, pins and needles, or even numbness), weakness in the arms or hands, headaches, chest pains, fatigue, blurred vision, ringing in the ears, among other symptoms.
What’s interesting about this condition (and any condition related to the spine) is how the pain can travel away from the problem area (in this case, the neck). The reason this happens is because the spinal nerves are exiting the spine right behind the spinal discs. These nerves control everything in the body, and if a disc starts to flatten, it will apply pressure on the nerve directly behind it.
When this occurs, whatever the nerve controls will begin to malfunction, because the spinal nerves are very sensitive to this type of pressure.
So, the ultimate question is, what can you do about this? Well, most doctors will recommend medications (usually anti-inflammatory medications, muscle relaxers, and pain relievers), physical therapy, pain injections (such as cortisone or epidurals), and surgery (as a last resort).
Unfortunately, many of these treatments only provide temporary relief, at best. One of the things I’ve learned after working with thousands of patients suffering with this condition is that it usually requires a combination of treatments to provide the best results, and most doctors are not aware of this.
As parents we want our children to grow up with every advantage in life. We bring them home from the hospital and begin the teaching of life’s lessons, but if we aren’t paying attention, we might miss signs pointing to subtle hearing loss. A child with unnoticed hearing loss may not be able to develop normal language and speech or obtain the cognitive abilities (knowing, thinking, and judging) needed for learning. However, with early identification and treatment, the impact can be lessened. Current technology now permits the accurate assessments of hearing in children starting within a few hours of birth. Brainstem evoked response audiometry (BERA), is a physiological screening test designed to detect hearing loss or deafness, and is safe for use with newborn infants. Since approximately 1-6 of every 1000 children is born deaf, the evoked response test provides a safe and painless method of detection.
The brainstem evoked response audiometry test assesses the functions of the ears, cranial nerves, and various brain functions of the lower part of the auditory system. The procedure involves headphones being placed on the infant’s head and a tiny tone (or click) being released into the ear, eliciting an evoked response. Similar to electroencephalography (EEG), surface electrodes are placed on the earlobes and scalp and the signals (in microvoltage) are averaged and charted against the time (in milliseconds). This information is recorded simultaneously for use by the audiologist.
The evoked response method tests the integrity of the hearing system from the ear to the brainstem. Audiologists and doctors have begun evaluating the results to track differences between normal children and children with learning problems, proving that information from the BERA can serve as a biological marker for auditory function in children with language-based learning problems, like dyslexia.
Back pain is a chronic problem for many people around the world, especially those of us who are “30something” and over. But there are noninvasive ways to reduce and even eliminate back pain — without going under the knife.
Of course, it is up to each individual to take care of their back, and to be aware of any stress they may be adding to the back muscles as they go through their daily life. But in this article, we’ll discuss some natural ways to alleviate chronic back problems before your situation becomes critical and you wind up in a hospital bed.
Step number one is to see your family doctor and talk to them about your back problem. If the pain in your back began after an accident or other injury, your physician may elect to run tests to determine the exact cause of the problem.
But for many people, back pain is the result of stress, poor posture, and lack of exercise, in these situations, one of the most common remedies is also the simplest: rest. It is important to note that the time to rest your back is before the situation becomes severe.
When you begin noticing soreness or sharp shooting pains in the back, especially the lower back, it is important to rest your back as soon as possible by getting bed rest. It may be necessary to stay off your feet for a few days, but you are much better off doing this when the pain is minor than waiting until the problem is severe.
Bed rest is nature’s way of healing the body, and simply staying off your feet and avoiding any unnecessary movement is one of the most reliable and easy-to-implement cures for back pain.
As an alternative, you can also rest your back by a lying on the floor with pillows tucked underneath your knees to straighten out your spine. Using an exercise or yoga mat can make this position more comfortable, and you can even adjust the television so you have something to occupy your mind while you remain in this position for an extended length of time.
Other than getting plenty of rest, another thing that can help ease muscular spasms in the back is applying heat. Using a heating pad is ideal for this. Simply situate the pad comfortably on the area of your back that is sore and remain lying still with the heat applied as much as possible throughout the day. Remember, when you’re back hurts, any movement has the potential to exacerbate the problem, so remaining still is important.
Finally, one of the most overlooked ways to calm a chronic sore back is through stretching. It is important to note, however, that you must consult your physician before beginning any program of stretching or otherwise exercising your back muscles.
Yoga is one low impact exercise regimen that can benefit the back by gradually stretching and strengthening the muscles. When beginning any program like this, even if it is approved by your physician, it is always sensible to start out very easy, and resist the temptation to try to over-stretch or exercise too much too soon.
It is up to you to take care of your back in your day-to-day life. An awareness of how you are moving and lifting objects is important in order to avoid aggravating the muscles, tendons and disks of your back in the first place. Using these commonsense tips can help reduce or eliminate minor back pain in many situations.
I was in my 9th month of pregnancy and I had to spend full two weeks in bed because of the sever lower back pain in late pregnancy. It was so unbelievable, and it was not even labor… Let me tell you what happened!
It was my very first pregnancy.
