Erectile dysfunction warning – sex issue could be a symptom of dangerous heart condition

Source:Medindia

Erectile dysfunction can be well-sprang by high blood pressure.

Erectile dysfunction is very common – uncommonly among older men – and it is estimated that half of all men between the ages of 40 and 70 ordain have it to some extent.

High blood pressure occurs when the strength of blood flowing through blood vessels is too high.

This can impair the lining of the arteries and cause a build up of plaques in the arteries – a condition nicknamed atherosclerosis.

The British Heart Foundation said: “Having atherosclerosis expands your risk of heart attack and stroke.

“Because the arteries in the penis are so strict, erectile problems can be one of the first warning signs of atherosclerosis.”

Erectile dysfunction: Sex issue could be caused by high blood pressure

This can make the arteries stiffer and reduce blood glide.

If blood flow to the to the pelvis – and therefore the penis – is affected, it can impact a man’s sex lan vital and contribute to erectile dysfunction.

Source: skworldnews.com

Experts believe as many as four in every four in the flesh in the UK suffer with ED.

Erectile dysfunction: Sex issue can be a symptom of high-class blood pressure – known as a ‘silent killer’

There are different life threatening medical conditions and diseases caused by high blood persuade. Often they do not have any symptoms so it is a good idea to regularly correspond your blood pressure and keep it under control.

Source: Manipal Fertility

(Organic Facts) Cucumber, (Cucumis sativus), is a fruit from the Cucurbitaceae family. Scientifically known as Cucumis sativus, it belongs to the same family as zucchini, watermelon, pumpkin, and other types of summer squash. The plant where cucumber grows is a creeping vine that develops these cylindrical, edible fruits throughout the year.

There are dozens of different cucumber varieties grown around the world, and they are usually eaten fresh or pickled, but three main varieties of cucumbers are most widely available today:

1. Cucumbers, typically for slicing and  eaten fresh, are called slicing cucumbers.

 Slicing cucumber Image credit: Organic Facts

2. Specially produced to make pickles are called pickling cucumbers (Gherkin cucumber or kirbys) These are much smaller in size than the slicing ones. Slicing cucumbers are available throughout the year, but they are at their best between May and July.

Pickled cucumber Image credit:Going Evergreen

3. And the so called seedless cucumbers.

Seedless cucumber Image credit: Sunbelle – “The finest produce under the sun”

(Dr. Axe) Cucumbers have been studied most in regard to their diuretic effects. This has earned them a reputation as a healing food in both traditional folk medicine and modern medicine.

You may have always assumed that cucumbers were full of water but offered little nutrients. Well, think again. More than just a way to make pickles or reduce puffiness around your eyes, cucumbers have some impressive benefits when it comes to fighting free radical damage and inflammation thanks to the impressive cucumber nutrition profile.

What’s there to love about cucumber nutrition? Cucumbers contain very few calories but supply powerful polyphenol compounds that can help naturally slow aging caused by oxidative stress.

 Cucumber is a creeping plant of the gourd family (Cucurbitaceae), widely cultivated for its edible fruit.Image credit: Produce Bites

Known among researchers for their anti-diabetic, lipid-lowering and antioxidant activity, cucumbers have a detoxifying, cleansing effect on the body. They’re also naturally “cooling” and a great way to prevent dehydration, constipation and overheating.

(Organic Facts) Cucumbers are extremely beneficial for overall health, especially during the summer since they are mostly made of water and important nutrients that are essential for the human body. The flesh of cucumbers is rich in vitamin A, vitamin C, and folic acid, while the hard skin is rich in fiber and a range of minerals including magnesium, molybdenum, and potassium.

Additionally, cucumber contains silica, a trace mineral that contributes greatly to strengthening our connective tissues. They are known to heal many skin problems, under eye swelling, and sunburn. Cucumbers also contain ascorbic and caffeic acids which prevent water loss, therefore they are frequently applied topically to burns and dermatitis.

NUTRITION FACTS

Cucumbers are rich in various nutrients, vitamins, minerals, energy, and water. According to USDA cucumbers are a good source of potassium, phosphorus, vitamin C, niacin, and vitamin K. They also provide iron, sodium, zinc, riboflavin, and vitamin B-6.

Eating cucumbers with the peel provides the maximum amount of nutrients.

One-half cup of sliced cucumbers has just 8 calories.

Healthline: IS IT GOOD TO EAT CUCUMBER EVERYDAY? 

 Image credit: Feeding My Kid

YouTube: Eating just one cucumber every day will result in numerous positive health changes and beauty benefits! Cucumbers might be low in calories, but they are extremely rich in minerals and vitamins. … – Since cucumbers contain so much water, they’re great at cleansing your body of harmful toxins.

WHY WE SHOULD EAT CUCUMBER AT NIGHT?

Maria Marlowe: A few veggie sticks, such as carrots, celery, or cucumber, can be an easy to digest late night snack. It’s better to eat them on their own, but if you want to use a dip, choose one without a lot of sodium, as too much salt can leave you bloated and dehydrated. A homemade hummus can work well. 

NUTRITION FACTS: 

Cucumbers are rich in various nutrients, vitamins, minerals, energy, and water. According to USDA cucumbers are a good source of potassium, phosphorus, vitamin C, niacin, and vitamin K.They also provide iron, sodium, zinc, riboflavin, and vitamin B-6.

Image credit: Dr. Axe

HEALTH BENEFITS:

The health benefits of cucumber are not widely known in many cultures. The taste of fresh cucumber is somewhat bland in comparison to other squashes, but the thirst quenching and the cooling qualities of this squash are truly refreshing. Cucumber benefits range from preventing acidity to keeping skin well-toned.

 Image credit: YouTube

> Cucumbers contain antioxidants, including flavonoids and tannins, which prevent the accumulation of harmful free radicals and may reduce the risk of chronic disease.

Antioxidants are molecules that block oxidation, a chemical reaction that forms highly reactive atoms with unpaired electrons known as free radicals.

The accumulation of these harmful free radicals can lead to several types of chronic illness.

In fact, oxidative stress,  an imbalance of free radicals and antioxidants in the body, which can lead to cell and tissue damage, has been associated with cancer and heart, lung and autoimmune disease.

Fruits and vegetables, including cucumbers, are especially rich in beneficial antioxidants that may reduce the risk of these conditions.

One study measured the antioxidant power of cucumber by supplementing 30 older adults with cucumber powder.

At the end of the 30-day study, cucumber powder caused a significant increase in several markers of antioxidant activity and improved antioxidant status.

However, it’s important to note that the cucumber powder used in this study likely contained a greater dose of antioxidants than you would consume in a typical serving of cucumber.

> Halitosis.. Bad breath be gone! Take a slice of cucumber and press it to the roof of your mouth with your tongue for 30 seconds. The phytochemicals will kill the bacteria that are responsible for causing bad breath!
s contain Vitamins B1, B2, B3, B5 and B6, folic acid, Vitamin C, calcium, iron, magnesium, phosphorus, potassium and zinc.

Not to mention crunchy vegetables help remove plaque on teeth and gums, which bacteria can feed on!

> Rich in silica, which is an essential component that aids in developing strong and healthy connective tissues in the muscles, ligaments, tendons, cartilage, and bones.

> Doctors often recommend cucumber juice because of the silica content for a healthier and brighter skin. Dr. Barry Popkin, an American food science researcher and a professor at the University of North Carolina, in his study, highlights the importance of fluids and hydration and cucumber’s high water content makes it naturally hydrating.  It is also well known that moisture is the best friend to healthy skin.

> The extract of cucumbers is often used topically for treating various types of skin ailments like sunburn and swelling under the eyes. Ascorbic and caffeic acid are the two vital compounds in cucumbers that prevent water loss from the body. These are some of the reasons why cucumbers are applied topically for various skin problems.

> Promotes healthy hair growth and can treat skin ailments like psoriasis, eczema, and acne.

> Prevent constipation and kidney stone. Cucumbers are a perfect blend of both fiber and water. Therefore, they help to protect your body from constipation and kidney stones. Reports say that a majority of Americans prefer to have a cucumber rich salad regularly as it is a great way to increase the fiber intake. Cucumber is also a good source of vitamin C, silica, potassium, and magnesium; all of which have their own health benefits. These fruits have an extraordinary amount of water (about 96%) that is naturally purified, thus making the water content much higher in quality than ordinary water. Cucumber skin contains high levels of vitamin A, so you will gain more nutrition if you eat the entire thing.

> Control blood pressure. The studies done at DASH (Dietary Approaches to Stop Hypertension) consisted of people consuming foods high in magnesium, potassium, and fiber. The results were clear; their blood pressure lowered to normal levels. The group eating a diet rich in these complexes along with the other foods on the diet like seafood, low-fat dairy items, lean meat, and poultry saw their blood pressure falling by 5.5 points (systolic) over 3.0 points (diastolic). Cucumber, therefore, regulates blood pressure and contributes to the proper structure of connective tissues in our body, including those in the muscles, bones, ligaments, cartilage, and tendons.

> Manage diabetes. A study published in the Journal of Ethnopharmacology throws light on the anti-hyperglycemic effect of cucumber. Cucumbers have been used for diabetic patients for many years. They possess a hormone required by the beta cells during insulin production. The glycemic index (GI) of cucumbers is actually zero. The presence of carbohydrates and their result on the body is measured by the quantity of glycemic index (GI). Every food item contains essential nutrients in different percentages. The carbohydrates contribute to raising the glucose level, however, the ones present in the cucumber can be easily digested by diabetic patients. Thus, consumption of this cool fruit keeps the glucose level in check. Nowadays, most commercial stores have cucumber supplements as spiny sea cucumber extract powder, which is very effective in combating the effects of diabetes.

> Maintain overall health.(Organic Facts) Cucumbers have excellent cleaning properties, and they actively remove accumulated waste and toxins from your body. These fruits are very good for optimizing urinary bladder, kidney, liver, and pancreatic functions. Cucumber juice along with carrot juice is extremely effective for rheumatic conditions caused by excessive uric acid in the body. Drinking cucumber juice on a regular basis also helps cure gout and eczema. If you are having lung or stomach problems, be sure to add it to your diet. It also promotes muscle flexibility, while the magnesium content of cucumbers ensures proper blood circulation and relaxed nerves. Since cucumbers are rich in minerals, they even prevent splitting of the finger and toenails. Cucumbers often act as antioxidants when you consume them with barbecued and fried foods. As per a study published in The Journal of Nutrition, Health, and Aging, month-long consumption of cucumber powder shows significant improvement in body’s antioxidant activities. 

> High alkaline levels, thus regulating the body’s blood pH and neutralizing acidity. People with gastric issues should consume cucumbers frequently.

> Help normalize body temperature during summer. Cucumber juice is a diuretic, so it is able to prevent kidney stones too. It can also counter the effects of uric acid, which prevents inflammation from conditions like arthritis, asthma, and gout.

> Headaches: If you suffer from headaches from chasing your babies all day (or pets or your husband), or had a little too much wine with dinner and want to avoid a hangover, eat half of a cucumber before bed. Cucumbers are high in B vitamins, sugar, and electrolytes, and they replenish the nutrients missing in your body to help you avoid a hang over or to beat that headache that’s been threatening to take over. The Magnesium Present in Cucumbers Have Significant Benefits for Treating Migraines

> Suppress the growth of cancer cells in the body  because of its bitter taste.

> Energy booster. If you’re feeling tired in the afternoon, grab a cucumber. There are just enough carbohydrates and B vitamins to give you a longer-lasting and healthier boost of energy.

> Facial. Slice up a cucumber and boil it in a pot of water. The chemicals inside of the cucumber will mix with the steam. Remove the pot from heat and lean over it, letting the steam hit you. Your skin will be more radiant and healthy, and you will feel relaxed and rejuvenated.

> Fat busting: Do you ever wonder why women put cucumbers on their eyes to relieve puffiness? The photochemical in cucumbers makes the collagen in your skin tighten, thus the lack of puffiness.
Did you know that you can rub a cucumber on a problematic spot of cellulite anywhere on your body to lessen the visibility of it?
Did you also know that it has the same effect on wrinkles?
Wow, it makes purchasing those expensive creams seem a little silly, doesn’t it? You can also rub a little bit under your kiddo’s eyes after a long bout of crying to avoid that puffy ‘I cried for an hour straight’ look.

 Cellulite treatment Source: Glamrada

OTHER CUCUMBER BENEFITS:

> Crayon on the walls. Take an unpeeled cucumber and rub the crayon off of the walls in the event that your kiddo left you some art. You can also use this technique to erase a pen mistake.

> Tarnish remover. If you’re finding tarnish on your stainless steel kitchen faucets and appliances? Rub it off with a cucumber slice. Not only will it remove years of tarnish, it will leave it streak free and your hands will thank you, and your kids won’t be put at risk from a dangerous chemical.

> Shoe polish. Cut a slice off of your cucumber and rub it on your shoe. It will not only shine it up, but it will repel water.

> Pest control. Put three or four slices of cucumber in a small pie tin and place them in your garden. The chemicals in the cucumber have a reaction that pests hate. You won’t smell it, but it will drive them from your garden all year long. Replace them periodically.

ABOUT CUCUMBER

(Organic Facts) Cucumbers originated in India almost 10,000 years ago, but are now cultivated in many countries. Different varieties of cucumbers are traded in the international market and you will find them in abundance all year long.

In the ancient civilizations of Egypt, Greece, and Rome, the cucumber was very popular, and its uses were not limited to just being food. It was also praised for its beneficial effects on the skin. Louis XIV cherished cucumbers greatly and the process of cultivating them in greenhouses was invented during his time to make sure he was able to have a steady supply of the enjoyable fruit during any season. The American colonists also took this variety of crunchy and healthy squash to the United States.

It is still unknown when cucumbers began to be used for pickling, but researchers have speculated that the gherkin variety of cucumber was developed from a native African plant. Spain was one of the countries, during ancient times, that started pickling cucumbers since Roman emperors imported them from this Mediterraneancountry.

FEATURES AND VARIETIES OF CUCUMBERS

You are probably familiar with the phrase “cool as a cucumber”, which speaks directly to the soothing and cooling nature that cucumbers have when eaten. These fruits are grown mainly to be eaten fresh, and in India, you will often find sliced cucumbers being sold on sunny afternoons. They are usually cylindrical in shape and vary in length from about six to nine inches. However, the size of cucumbers varies according to a variety of cultivating factors as well.

The skin of the cucumbers can vary in color from green to white, and sometimes it may be smooth or ridged depending on the variety. Inside the cucumber skin, you will find pale green flesh that is thick yet aqueous and crispy at the same time. The interior core of cucumber has numerous, edible fleshy seeds.

Many cucumber varieties are also grown in greenhouses; they are seedless with thinner skin and a longer length, usually between 12 and 20 inches. Often known as “burpless”, this variety of cucumber is bought by a majority, since it is easier to digest than the other kinds of cucumbers.

Some of the more common cucumber varieties include:

• Gherkin
• English
• Armenian
• Diva
• Green Burpless
• Boston Pickling
• Lemon
• Marketmore
• Persian
• Suyo Long

CUCUMBER FAQs

HOW TO BUY CUCUMBERS?

Cucumbers are very sensitive to heat, so try to select the ones which are displayed in the refrigerated cases in the stores. Look for firm ones and check if the color is bright medium green to dark green. Avoid the yellow, puffy cucumbers that have water-soaked areas or wrinkled tips. You will find fewer seeds in the thinner cucumbers.

HOW TO STORE CUCUMBERS?

Storing cucumbers in the refrigerator will help retain their freshness for a longer time. If the entire fruit is not used in one meal, then wrap the remainder tightly in plastic or place it in a closed container so that it does not get dried out. Try to eat cucumbers within one or two days of buying them or else they will become limp, especially if kept for more than a week.

HOW TO CUT AND EAT CUCUMBERS? 

Cucumbers can be cut into various shapes and sizes and can be sliced, diced or cut into sticks. Cucumber seeds are edible and very nutritious, but some people prefer not to eat them. You can cut them lengthwise and use the tip of a spoon to gently scoop the seeds accordingly.

Cucumbers are commonly used in a number of recipes. You can use half-inch thick cucumber slices and serve them with chopped vegetable salads. Cut the cucumbers into a dice shape, mix them with sugar snap peas, mintleaves, and pour rice wine vinaigrette into the mixture.

You can also make an excellent purée with cucumbers, tomatoes, green peppers, and onions. Add salt and pepper for some extra flavor. Cucumbers give a fresh taste to tuna fish or chicken salad preparations. They can be eaten alone in their sliced form or with sprinkled salt and pepper. No matter how you eat cucumbers, you are sure to get a whole lot of nutrition from these truly “cool” foods.

TIPS FOR GROWING CUCUMBERS

(Dr. Axe) 

• Believe it or not, cucumbers are a tropical fruit/vegetable that thrive when the weather is hot. They also do well in humid climates where water is plentiful.
• Plan to grow cucumbers during times of the year when there’s warmer weather and rain. They are sensitive to frost and shouldn’t be planted until the soil temperatures is in the 70-degree range. Wait at least two weeks after the last frost date to plant cucumbers.
• Cucumber plants grow in two forms: vining (more popular) and bush. Vines scramble along the ground or clamber up trellises, while bush types form a plant lower to the ground. Bush types are suited to containers and small gardens, but vining types produce more crops.
• Plant cucumber seedlings 36 to 60 inches apart, depending on variety. For vines that you plan to have grow upward, space plants one foot apart.
• You can help to keep the plants warm and moist by using pine straw, wheat straw, chopped leaves or your favorite organic mulch shortly after planting the seedlings.

CUCUMBER PRECAUTIONS

(Dr. Axe) Cucumbers seem to be pretty harmless and very rarely cause allergies. As mentioned earlier, it’s best to buy organic (ideally unwaxed) cukes whenever you can to avoid high levels of chemicals.

Another thing to consider is the potential for contamination if you make your own fermented pickles. Complex microbiota are responsible for the changes observed during cucumber fermentation, and it’s possible that if your equipment or jar is contaminated with bacteria, you can become sick once eating them. Use sterile equipment whenever fermenting veggies, and buy organic produce to further limit this risk.

You can consume cucumbers raw, in salads, crushed, spiralized, or blended. They keep you healthy and active inside out.

(Organic Facts) CUCUMBER WATER RECIPE: THE POPULAR DETOX

(MedlinePlus) WHAT IS MAGNESIUM IN DIET? 

Magnesium is an essential mineral for human nutrition.

FUNCTION: 

Magnesium is needed for more than 300 biochemical reactions in the body. It helps to maintain normal nerve and muscle function, supports a healthy immune system, keeps the heart beat steady, and helps bones remain strong. It also helps regulate blood glucose levels and aid in the production of energy and protein. There is ongoing research into the role of magnesium in preventing and managing disorders such as high blood pressure, heart disease, and diabetes. However, taking magnesium supplements is not currently recommended. Diets high in protein, calcium, or vitamin D will increase the need for magnesium.

(Office of Dietary Supplements – NIH) Magnesium, an abundant mineral in the body, is naturally present in many foods, added to other food products, available as a dietary supplement, and present in some medicines (such as antacids and laxatives). Magnesium is a cofactor in more than 300 enzyme systems that regulate diverse biochemical reactions in the body, including protein synthesis, muscle and nerve function, blood glucose control, and blood pressure regulation . Magnesium is required for energy production, oxidative phosphorylation, and glycolysis. It contributes to the structural development of bone and is required for the synthesis of DNA, RNA, and the antioxidant glutathione. Magnesium also plays a role in the active transport of calcium and potassium ions across cell membranes, a process that is important to nerve impulse conduction, muscle contraction, and normal heart rhythm .

An adult body contains approximately 25 g magnesium, with 50% to 60% present in the bones and most of the rest in soft tissues. Less than 1% of total magnesium is in blood serum, and these levels are kept under tight control. Normal serum magnesium concentrations range between 0.75 and 0.95 millimoles (mmol)/L. Hypomagnesemia is defined as a serum magnesium level less than 0.75 mmol/L. Magnesium homeostasis is largely controlled by the kidney, which typically excretes about 120 mg magnesium into the urine each day. Urinary excretion is reduced when magnesium status is low.

Assessing magnesium status is difficult because most magnesium is inside cells or in bone . The most commonly used and readily available method for assessing magnesium status is measurement of serum magnesium concentration, even though serum levels have little correlation with total body magnesium levels or concentrations in specific tissues. Other methods for assessing magnesium status include measuring magnesium concentrations in erythrocytes, saliva, and urine; measuring ionized magnesium concentrations in blood, plasma, or serum; and conducting a magnesium-loading (or “tolerance”) test. No single method is considered satisfactory. Some experts but not others consider the tolerance test (in which urinary magnesium is measured after parenteral infusion of a dose of magnesium) to be the best method to assess magnesium status in adults. To comprehensively evaluate magnesium status, both laboratory tests and a clinical assessment might be required.

(Wikipedia) MAGNESIUM DEFICIENCY

Magnesium deficiency is an electrolyte disturbance in which there is a low level of magnesium in the body. It can result in numerous symptoms. Symptoms include tremor, poor coordination, muscle spasms, loss of appetite, personality changes, and nystagmus. Complications may include seizures or cardiac arrest such as from torsade de pointes. Those with low magnesium often have low potassium.

Causes include low dietary intake, alcoholism, diarrhea, increased urinary loss, poor absorption from the intestines, and diabetes mellitus. A number of medications may also cause low magnesium, including proton pump inhibitors (PPIs) and furosemide.The diagnosis is typically based on finding low blood magnesium levels (hypomagnesemia). Normal magnesium levels are between 0.6-1.1 mmol/L (1.46–2.68 mg/dL) with levels less than 0.6 mmol/L (1.46 mg/dL) defining hypomagnesemia.Specific electrocardiogram(ECG) changes may be seen.

Treatment is with magnesium either by mouth or intravenously. For those with severe symptoms, intravenous magnesium sulfate may be used. Associated low potassium or low calcium should also be treated. The condition is relatively common among people in hospital.

SIGNS AND SYMPTOMS

(NaturalNewsBlogs) 80-90% of us are deficient in magnesium, and millions have this health problem even without knowing it, as the magnesium deficiency is easy to be misdiagnosed as it doesn’t show up in the blood tests because only 1% of the whole amount of magnesium in your body is stored in the blood. While magnesium is even more important than other minerals such as potassium, sodium and calcium, lack of magnesium may lead to several health disorders and affect the overall health.

Deficiency of magnesium can occur in people who abuse alcohol or in those who absorb less magnesium including:

• People with gastrointestinal disease or surgery causing malabsorption
• Older adults
• People with type 2 diabetes

Symptoms due to a lack of magnesium have three categories.

Early symptoms:

• Loss of appetite
• Nausea
• Vomiting
• Fatigue
• Weakness

Moderate deficiency symptoms:

• Numbness
• Tingling
• Muscle contractions and cramps
• Seizures
• Personality changes
• Abnormal heart rhythms

Severe deficiency:

• Low blood calcium level (hypocalcemia)
• Low blood potassium level (hypokalemia)

OTHER SYMPTOMS OF  Magnesium Deficiency (NaturalNewsBlogs)

1. Asthma
2. High blood pressure
3. Anxiety and Depression
4. Blood clots
5. Bowel issues
6. Confusion
7. Calcium deficit
8. Potassium deficit
9. Constipation
10. Muscle cramps
11. Headache, Migraines
12. Cystitis
13. Difficulty swallowing
14. Dizziness
15. Physical and Mental Fatigue
16. Hypertension
17. Insomnia
18. Kidney issues
19. Liver issues
20. Bad Brain Function
21. Nausea
22. Osteoporosis
23. Feeling Low
24. Respiratory problems
25. Tooth decay
26. Diabetes
27. Tension in neck, shoulders and upper back

(Wikipedia) Further more,deficiency of magnesium can cause tiredness, generalized weakness, palpitations, low potassium levels in the blood, hypoparathyroidism which might result in low calcium levels in the blood, chondrocalcinosis, spasticity and tetany, epileptic seizures, basal ganglia calcifications and in extreme and prolonged cases coma, intellectual disability or death.Magnesium plays an important role in carbohydrate metabolism and its deficiency may worsen insulin resistance, a condition that often precedes diabetes, or may be a consequence of insulin resistance.

People being treated on an intensive care unit (ICU) who have a low magnesium level may have a higher risk of requiring mechanical ventilation, and death.

CAUSES: 

Magnesium deficiency may result from gastrointestinal or kidney causes. Gastrointestinal causes include inadequate dietary intake of magnesium, reduced gastrointestinal absorption or increased gastrointestinal loss due to rapid gastrointestinal transit. Kidney causes involve increased excretion of magnesium. Poor dietary intake of magnesium has become an increasingly important factor, as many people consume a diet that is low in magnesium content with refined foods, such as white bread or polished rice, remove the parts of plant foods that are rich in magnesium.

Magnesium deficiency is not uncommon in hospitalized patients. Elevated levels of magnesium (hypermagnesemia) are nearly always caused by a medical treatment. Up to 12% of all people admitted to hospital, and as high as 60–65% of people in an intensive care unit, have hypomagnesemia.

About 57% of the US population does not meet the US RDA for dietary intake of magnesium.The kidneys are very efficient at maintaining body levels; however, if the diet is deficient, or certain medications such as proton-pump inhibitors are used, or in chronic alcoholism, levels may drop.

(RESET Wellness Edmonton) Lower back and hip pain are common complaints among older adults with a wide range of underlying causes. Legs aside, the hips are the most important weight-bearing parts of the body that provide support and allow us to stand upright and move in all directions. However, lift something that is too heavy, twist the wrong way, strain your back muscles and you are in a world of pain. The pain can be simply a dull throbbing, a burning sensation or tingling that continues over a period of time. Or it could be sharp waves of pain pulsating upon movement. When looking for a way to treat the momentary pain on the spot, many people consider alternative medicine.

(Hearty Minds) Among the most usual causes of lower back pain are twisting the wrong way, strained back muscle, lifting a heavy object, or just the genetics. The severity of the pain that you could feel may vary from mild to intense. You might feel tingling or burning sensation in one or in the both of your legs.

(RESET Wellness Edmonton) According to WebMD, acupressure is the ancient Chinese medical practice used “to promote relaxation and wellness and to treat disease.” It is often thought of as simply acupuncture without the needles. Acupressure is the application of pressure, or massage, of key pressure points on your body to help restore health and balance. Hundreds of acupressure points exist within the human body, and although some of the benefits of the points overlap, each point accomplishes something unique, too.

(Hearty Minds) As the conventional pain killers are only able to temporarily reduce the pain, the lower back pain sufferers are constantly seeking for some solution for their uncomfortable pain, in the alternative medicine.

A very effective and natural way to promote relaxation and wellness, and to treat diseases is the ancient Chinese medical practice which is known as acupressure. This practice helps restore health and balance to the body by just applying pressure, or simply massaging specific pressure points on the body. Our body has hundreds of acupuncture points, and while many of them provide the same benefits, pressing every point gives something unique too.

Today, we will tell you which acupuncture points are able to help reduce the pain in the lower back, besides helping in numerous other health conditions.

TWO ACUPRESSURE POINTS THAT WILL HELP YOU RELIEVE YOUR LOWER BACK PAIN

These are the two acupressure points help eliminate lower back pain B48 or Bladder 48  and GB30 or Gall Bladder 30 as they are shown on the image.

Massaging the first acupuncture point is going to reduce hip pain, sciatica, and pain in the sacral area.

However, you have to make sure you massage very carefully because B48 could be very sensitive and inflamed in those people who already suffer from back pain.

Massaging the acupuncture point which is called GB30, will reduce the pain in the lower back, buttocks, hip, sciatica, hip joint, and muscle spasms.

LOCATING THE GB30 AND B48 POINTS ON THE BODY

(RESET Wellness Edmonton) GB30 is also known as the Jumping Round point. This point can be located by moving three-quarters into gluteal muscles from the middle of the sacrum. It is located between the sacrum and greater trochanter.

B48 is a local acupressure point for hip pain. In some literature it is mentioned as B53. This point is also known as the Bladder Vitals and it is located 3.0 chon to the side of the sacrum, right in the middle of the gluteal muscles of the buttocks.

(Hearty Minds) WHAT ELSE COULD THESE POINTS HELP WITH?

Massaging the B48 spot is also helpful in treating diabetes and diarrhea. On the other hand, the GB30 point is able to help with leg pain and also with hemiplegia (which is a complete paralysis of half of the body).

WHAT ELSE TO DO TO REDUCE LOWER BACK PAIN? 

Besides this amazing and simple acupuncture method, there are also some other things that you can do in order to relieve your lower back pain.

You can apply ice pack on the affected area, move around and avoid sitting position in order to prevent tightening of the muscles and muscle spasms.

TRICKS TO BEAT THE SCIATIC PAIN WITHOUT TAKING HARMFUL PAINKILLERS AND DRUGS!

(HealthStar Clinic) sciatica is a sympton 

It’s important to understand that sciatica is not a diagnosis, but simply a set of symptoms indicating a bigger problem. In a study by the University Medical Center in Rotterdam, it was determined that over 90% of cases of sciatica are caused by a disc herniation with nerve root compression, and it’s the pressure on the nerve in the lower back that is causing symptoms like burning, stabbing, aching, prickling, tingling, numbness, or muscle weakness further down, into the buttocks and leg. Some postures and positions may put additional torque or pressure on already compromised structures or nerves.

Moreover, doing exercises that have the ability to strengthen the muscles around the sore area could help in reducing and also in preventing the lower back pain. You should avoid wearing high heels (above an inch) because this could improve your posture and your lower back condition.

Finally, when it comes to treating and preventing lower back pain, maintaining a normal weight is also recommended.

So, you can significantly improve your health condition by doing some not so difficult massage and regular exercising. The important thing is to be persistent, to not give up and you will definitely see positive results.

(RESET Wellness Edmonton) Stretching and exercising the muscles around the sore area, like we demonstrate in this article, is a great way to strengthen them and can help in reducing and preventing lower back pain. Avoid wearing high heels (above an inch) as this will improve your posture and your lower back condition. Tummy sleeping and lifting incorrectly may also contribute to your back pain.

Sometimes light stretching and a little massage may be all that’s necessary to alleviate the discomfort you experience.

(addinfographic.com) Having sciatica pain is a big problem for most people. Imagine having your normal lives hampered by nagging pains around your back, butt and legs. It will attack at random, frequently when you least expect it.   While doctors and chiropractors are the ones we turn to with this problem, it will cause problem to some due to its cost. In actuality, curing sciatica pain does not really need to be expensive. The important thing is to tackle the root cause of sciatica pain from inside out.   Here is the 17 best and highly effective sciatica home treatment that you can do. It’s easy to do, and best of all it’s free! 

(Modern Reflexology) In addition, here are other 12 Effective Acupressure Points to Relieve Hip and Lower Back Pain

Causes of Hip Pain

There are a number of concerns that contribute to pain in the hip region and some factors can also worsen the pain that already exists.

• Age – One of the major factors that increase the risk of serious hip pain due to injuries is growing age. With progressing age, the self-healing powers of the body slacken and acupressure can be a welcome way of pain relief for back pain and hip pain in such as case.
• Strenuous physical activity – If you are an extremely active person or there has been a recent increase in the level of your physical activity; then it can put strain on your hips and legs and promote hip pain.

• Accidents and injuries – In many cases hip pain is a result of accidents and injuries. A sudden fall can lead to a fracture in the bones and lead to severe hip pain. Such conditions call for serious medical treatment. But recovery and improvement can be speed up with the help of acupressure.
• Health conditions – Certain health conditions such as chronic diseases like arthritis, lupus and diabetes or sprains and strains can also lead to hip pain. It is essential to find out the underlying cause of the pain in order to bring forth improvements in the condition and ensure lasting relief.
• Genetic conditions – Certain rare genetic conditions such as congenital deformities and muscular dystrophy can also increase discomfort in the hips and lower back.

6 ACUPRESSURE POINTS FOR RELIEVING HIP PAIN

In most cases, hip and lower back pain are caused by an injury or fall, any chronic medical condition like arthritis or incorrect bio-mechanisms caused by problems with the foot, knee or pelvis alignment. Because hips and legs from a complex structure of bones, muscles, joints and ligaments, so the pain can spread quickly to other body parts. Here, we have mentioned 6 healing acupressure points for healing pain in the hip region.

GB 29

GB29 or Gallbladder 29 is a local acupressure point for relieving hip pain. It is also known as the Squatting Bone Hole and is located in the hip region, at the centre of the line connecting the great trochanter of the femur and the anterior iliac spine. This is the crossing point of the Gallbladder Meridian and the Yang Qiao Vessel. Administering pressure on this point is useful for treating inflammation in the hip joint, sciatica, muscle sprain, weakness and numbness of the hips. In addition, this point also aids in treating shoulder pain, spasms in thighs and lower abdominal pain.

GB30

GB30 or Gallbladder 30 is also known as the Jumping Round point is another local acupressure point for hip pain relief. This is the crossing point of the Gall Bladder and the Urinary Bladder meridians. This point can be located by moving three-quarters into gluteal muscles from the middle of the sacrum. It is located between the sacrum and greater trochanter. Stimulating this point on both the hips helps in relieving pain in the buttocks, useful for sciatica, lower back pain, hip joint inflammation, muscle pains and spasms. It also helps in relieving leg pain, lumbar pain and hemiplegia.

GB31

The GB31 or Gall Bladder 31 is an important acupressure point located on the thighs that are useful for relieving upper leg pain and hip pain. This point is also known as the Wind Market and it can be found on the side of the thigh, halfway between the hipbone and the knee. Stimulating this point on both thighs can help in balancing leg qi and relieve hip pain caused by sciatica and weakness and numbness of the hips. It is also useful for relieving skin disorders, leg muscle issues, post-stroke symptoms in lower limbs and ear problems.

GB34

GB34 or Gallbladder 34 is another leg acupressure point that is extremely beneficial for relieving hip pain. It is also called the Yang Mound and it is situated on the side of the leg, right below the knee, slightly in front of the tip of the outer leg bone. Applying pressure to the point on both legs stimulates the leg qi, strengthens the weak hip muscles and reduces the pain caused by sciatica and inflammation of the hip joint. This point is also useful for treating shoulder pain, nausea and vomiting, jaundice and knee pain.

B28

B28 or Bladder 28 is a local acupressure point for hip pain that is located two chon apart on both sides of the spine, in level with the fifth lumbar vertebrae. This acupressure point is also known as the Bladder Shu and it is useful for alleviating sacral back and hip pain and sciatica. This point also aids in treating digestive disorders like constipation and diarrhoea, leg pain and stiffness in the lower back region.

B48 or Bladder 48 is a local acupressure point for hip pain. In some meridian charts, this point can be numbered as B54. This point is also known as the Bladder Vitals and it is located three chon to the side of the sacrum, right in the middle of the gluteal muscles of the buttocks. This point can be very tender during hip pain, so stimulate it with care. This point is useful for relieving pain in buttocks and sacral region. It is also helpful for treating diabetes, diarrhoea and sciatica.

CAUSES OF LOWER BACK PAIN

The back covers a large area of the body and there are a number of problems that can cause back pain. Here are some of the common causes of back pain.

• Accidents and injuries – In some cases the patient is not able to recall the exact cause of back pain and in may be an after-effect of some past injury or accident. The injury may lie dormant for several months or even years and suddenly show its presence due to some extra exertion.
• Impairments and abnormalities of the back – Back pain may also be caused due to certain health issues such as herniated discs, pinched nerves, arthritis, muscle spasms or an abnormal curvature of the back. Medical treatment and even surgery may be required to correct these problems, but acupressure and reflexology for lower back pain can alleviate the pain to a great extent.
• Problem in other areas of the body – In certain cases the source of the pain may not the back at all. Organ dysfunction such as liver problems and gall bladder stones can promote back pain as an associated symptom. In such cases, medical diagnosis and treatment are extremely necessary.

6 ACUPRESSURE POINTS FOR RELIEVING LOWER BACK PAIN

Lower back pain is a common problem faced by almost all of us. But thankfully in most cases, it is a temporary problem caused by overexertion or some strenuous activity. But for others, it can be a long-lasting problem caused by herniated discs, arthritis or abnormal curvature of the back. Whatever might be the reason; these 6 healing acupressure points will surely provide relief for back pain.

B23

Acupressure point B23 or Bladder 23 is also known as the Kidney Shu and this is one of the vital points of acupressure lower back pain. This point can be found on the inner bladder line, at the middle of the waist, the intermediate point between the rib cage and the hipbone, on the inner edge of the muscle group called erector spinae. Stimulating this acupressure point provides lasting relief from lower back pain by reducing muscle tension. It is also useful for treating all kidney-related issues, male and female sexual problems, earache and ear infections, cough and asthma.

B47

B47 or Bladder 47 is called the Will’s Chamber and this is yet another significant local point for acupuncture and acupressure treatments for lower back pain. This point is also numbered as B52 in some meridian charts. This point can be found on the outer bladder line, right at the middle of the waist on the other edge of the erector muscle group. Stimulating this point helps in relieving tension in the quadratus lumborum muscles which in turn reduces lower back pain. It is also a useful pressure point for treating depression and anxiety, breathing problems, vomiting and diarrhoea.

B18

B18 or Bladder 18 is an important acupressure point on the upper back which is useful for relieving the back pain that radiates to the upper part of the body. This point is also known as the Liver Shu and it is located on the inner bladder line, two chon below the inferior angle of the scapula, on the inner edge of the erector spinae muscle. This point works effectively in relieving muscle spasms in the lower traps and the muscle group present in the erector spinae. This is also the main point of all liver related conditions such as jaundice, hepatitis, cirrhosis, etc. It is useful for treating eye disorders, depression, irritability and nausea.

B54

The B54 or Bladder 54 acupressure point is also numbered B40 in some meridian charts. This point is also called the Middle Crook and it is located in the middle of the crease in the back of the knee. Stimulating this point on both legs helps in relieving stiffness and lower back pain caused by herniated discs, and sciatica. It is also useful for controlling muscle spasms, knee pain and stiffness, leg pain, skin problems and heat conditions like heat stroke and heat exhaustion.

B60

B60 or Bladder 60 is a leg acupressure point for lower back pain that is located at the midpoint between the Achilles tendon and the outer anklebone. This point is also called the Kunlun Mountains and applying pressure at this point on both legs helps in relieving stiffness and upper and lower back pain. It is also beneficial for treatment of neck pain, swelling and pain in the heels, headache and dizziness. This point can also induce labor; therefore, pregnant women should refrain from stimulating this point.

GV4

GV4 or Governing Vessel 4 is another important acupressure point for lower back pain which can be found between the vertebrae at the waistline at the same level as acupressure point Bladder 23. This point is also known as the Life Gate and it is most effective in relieving lumbar back pain. It is also used to treat weakness of knees, male sexual problems, diarrhoea, chronic fatigue, stress, earache and epilepsy.

Try to use these acupressure points for relieving hip and back pain and use it for your loved ones to provide deep and lasting relief in a natural and holistic way.

FURTHER MORE, WE CAN RID OF BACK PAIN WITH THIS OLD TRICK

(healthious.org) We can prevent back pain successfully only with a feet massage. An European study, with 50 nurses, showed that this massage significantly reduces spine pain.

Our feet are formed from lots of points related to the spine, and when back problems appear these points become painful. All you have to do is to massage your feet, and the results will appear immediately.

How to do a foot massage

First, you need to identify the connection points between the spine and foot. Sit down on a chair cross-legged because it’s easier to massage those points that way.
The line between the heel and big toe of the interior arch foot is spine projection. Use your fingers and press from the sole to the heel and big toe. This massage reduces back pain and spine tension.

 Image credit: healthious.org

We can prevent back pain successfully only with a feet massage. An European study, with 50 nurses, showed that this massage significantly reduces spine pain.
Our feet are formed from lots of points related to the spine, and when back problems appear these points become painful. All you have to do is to massage your feet, and the results will appear immediately.

How to do a foot massage

First, you need to identify the connection points between the spine and foot. Sit down on a chair cross-legged because it’s easier to massage those points that way.
The line between the heel and big toe of the interior arch foot is spine projection. Use your fingers and press from the sole to the heel and big toe. This massage reduces back pain and spine tension.

Image credit:  calling the world back to allaah  ( However, taking nutritional injections does break the fast.)

Image credit:  calling the world back to allaah  

Image Credit:  calling the world back to allaah  .. ( Kidney dialysis, in which blood is extracted, cleaned and then returned to the body with the addition of chemical substances such as sugars and salts etc. is regarded as breaking the fast. )

Image Credit:  calling the world back to allaah  

Image Credit:  calling the world back to allaah  

Image Credit:  calling the world back to allaah  

Image credit:  calling the world back to allaah  

Image credit:  calling the world back to allaah  

Image credit:  calling the world back to allaah  

Image credit:  calling the world back to allaah  

Image credit:  calling the world back to allaah  

Image credit:  calling the world back to allaah  

Image credit:  calling the world back to allaah  

Image credit:  calling the world back to allaah  

Image credit: WOMEN IN ISLAM Lying or swearing does not break your fast but it does reduce the reward of fasting. BUT LYING, SWEARING, USING BAD SPEECH is prohibited even in regular days I guess, its better to avoid doing these.

Image credit: calling the world back to allaah

IMAGE CREDIT: calling the world back to allaah  

Image credit:  calling the world back to allaah  (Using Miswak during fasting does not invalidate fasting.)

Image credit:  calling the world back to allaah  

Image credit: WOMEN IN ISLAM

Image credit: WOMEN IN ISLAM

Image credit: WOMEN IN ISLAM

Image credit: WOMEN IN ISLAM

Image credit: WOMEN IN ISLAM

Image credit:  WOMEN IN ISLAM  No proof that make up is haram. Overdoing it what we called as tabarujj. In fact islam said it is okay to wear make up. Just dont overdo it. Get your facts right.

Image credit: WOMEN IN ISLAM

IMAGE CREDIT: Deskgram

Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) said:

“HE who gives iftar to another fasting person shall earn reward equivalent to a fasting man without detracting from the reward of the latter” (Nisai and Tirmidhi)

Image credit: UltraUpdates

Rajab is the month of sow the seeds.

Shaban is the month of irrigate the crop.

And Ramadan is the month of reap the harvest.

Image credit: UltraUpdates

In the final days of Ramadan, may Allah answer your secret prayers, wipe away your secret tears, erase your secret fears and lift you to the position you so dearly desire. Ameen

Image credit: UltraUpdates

Alopecia areata is not medically disabling; persons with alopecia areata are usually in excellent health. But emotionally, this disease can be challenging, especially for those with extensive hair loss.

GMA Network: Thousands of netizens gushed over the beauty and drive of a student with alopecia who is set to graduate from the Polytechnic University of the Philippines (PUP) this month of May.

Marketing major Patricia Apuli Banzuela, who conquered years and years of bullying because of her appearance, used her now-viral graduation photo as an opportunity to send a special message to people going through a hard time in school for being different.

lifestyle.inquirer.net: Despite suffering from suspected alopecia disease, a student from Polytechnic University of the Philippines (PUP) in Manila is set to graduate from college this May with a degree in Bachelor of Science in Business Administration major in Marketing Management.

Baring her complete hair loss, which she bore since birth, 24-year-old Patricia Banzuela proudly posted on Facebook her graduation photos.

She is set to receive her diploma in Bachelor of Science in Business Administration major in Marketing Management.

“Be inspired. Ang kapansanan ay hindi hadlang para ‘di makapagtapos ng pag-aaral,” she wrote with the hashtag #NaBullyNagAyosNagAralNakaPagTapos.

She added she is also a volunteer student at the university’s Scholarship and Financial Assistance Services office and a recipient of the Commission on Higher Education’s scholarship program.

In a brief interview with INQUIRER.net, Banzuela said she is a “woman of strength” in spite of having been bullied in school because of her condition.

“Napaka-jolly ko po and strong woman kapag ako ay nakikita niyo po parang walang sakit. Physical lang parang may sakit but mentally, I am normal,” she said.

“Ito iyong naging inspirasyon ko para makapagtapos ng pag-aaral. My situation ay hindi hadlang para ‘di ko maabot mga pangarap ko sa buhay,” she concluded. /jpv

GMA Network:, who flaunted her beauty with and without her wig in her stunning college graduation photos, also thanked her family and friends whose support helped her reach the milestone.

Image credit: Patricia Apuli Banzuela 

SOME OF PATRICIA’S QUOTES:

Nothing is more impressive than a person who is secure in the unique way of God made Her. #BeautifulInsideAndOut #iampatH_16

For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future. Jeremiah 29:11 Thank you Lord! ‍ -Well done, good and faithful servant! #mylifeverse #7daystogopicc#degreeholder

The beauty of a woman is not in a facial mode but the true beauty in a woman is reflected in her soul. It is the caring that she lovingly gives the passion that she shows. The beauty of a woman grows with the passing years. ‍⚕️‍ -Audrey Hepburn #mycreativegradpic#gragraduateontime50819 #relansphotography

*****

 IMAGE CREDIT: www.naaf.org

www.naaf.org: WHAT IS ALOPECIA AREATA?

Alopecia areata is a common autoimmune disease that results in the loss of hair on the scalp and elsewhere. It usually starts with one or more small, round, smooth patches. It occurs in males and females of all ages and races, but onset most often occurs in childhood. Approximately 6.8 million people in the United States and 147 million worldwide have or will develop alopecia areata at some point in their lives. In alopecia areata, the affected hair follicles are mistakenly attacked in groups by a person’s own immune system (white blood cells), resulting in the arrest of the hair growth stage. These affected follicles become very small, drastically slow down production, and grow no hair visible above the surface for months or years. The scalp is the most commonly affected area, but the beard or any hair-bearing site can be affected alone or together with the scalp. Some people develop only a few bare patches that regrow hair within a year. In others, extensive patchy loss occurs, and in a few, all scalp hair is lost (referred to as alopecia totalis) or, hair is lost from the entire scalp and body (referred to as alopecia universalis). No matter how widespread the hair loss, the hair follicles remain alive and are ready to resume normal hair production whenever they receive the appropriate signal. In all cases, hair regrowth may occur even without treatment and even after many years.

  ” People of all ages and both sexes can develop alopecia areata, but it usually first appears during childhood and can be different for everyone who has it.” SOURCE: futureofpersonalhealth.com

HOW WILL ALOPECIA AREATA AFFECT THE DAILY LIFE?

Alopecia areata is not medically disabling; persons with alopecia areata are usually in excellent health. But emotionally, this disease can be challenging, especially for those with extensive hair loss. One of the purposes of the National Alopecia Areata Foundation is to reach out to individuals and families with alopecia areata and help them live full, productive lives. There are thousands of successful, well-adjusted, contented people living with this disease. The emotional pain of alopecia areata can be overcome with one’s own inner resources, sound medical facts, and the support of others. Sometimes professional counseling from a psychiatrist, psychologist, or social worker is needed to develop one’s self-confidence and positive self-image.

 IMAGE CREDIT: naaf.org

WHAT IS THE SIGNAL THAT TRIGGERS THE DISEASE TO START OR STOP?

Current research suggests that something triggers the immune system to suppress the hair follicle. It isn’t known what this trigger is, and whether it comes from outside the body like a virus, or from inside. Recent research indicates that some persons have genetic markers that increase both their susceptibility to develop alopecia areata, as well as the degree of disease severity.

 IMAGE CREDIT: National Alopecia Areata Foundation 

IS ALOPECIA AREATA HEREDITARY?

Yes, heredity plays a role. Alopecia areata is a ‘polygenic disease’ which requires the contribution of many genes to be inherited from both parents to bring about the disease, as well as a contribution from the environment.  However, most children with alopecia areata do not have a parent with the disease, and the vast majority of parents with alopecia areata do not pass it along to their children. There is no way to accurately calculate the risk of passing it on to your children because alopecia areata is a complex disease, with contributions to risk from several genes. Scientists believe that there may be a number of genes that predispose certain people to the disease. It is highly unlikely that a child would inherit all of the genes needed to predispose him or her to the disease.

Even with the right (or wrong) combination of genes, developing alopecia areata is still not a certainty. In identical twins, who share all of the same genes, the concordance rate is only 55 percent. In other words, if one twin has the disease, there is only a 55-percent chance that the other twin will have it as well. This shows that other environmental factors besides genetics are required to trigger the disease. That’s why one twin develops alopecia areata and the other twin does not. The exact environmental factors that contribute to alopecia areata are still being worked out.

 IMAGE CREDIT: www.naaf.org

WHAT OTHER PARTS OF THE BODY ARE AFFECTED?

In some people, the nails develop stippling that looks as if a pin had made rows of tiny dents. In a few, the nails are severely distorted. However, other than the hair and occasionally the nails, no other part of the body is affected.

DOES THE HAIR EVER GROW BACK?

Yes, the hair definitely can grow even after years of extensive hair loss. It can also fall out again.

  “I AM NOT MY HAIR”, KALIKA BLAKE SOURCE:  7thandLotus

IS ALOPECIA AREATA DUE TO NERVES?

No, it is not a nervous disorder. Those who have alopecia areata have not caused in and have no control over its course.

IS THERE A CURE FOR ALOPECIA AREATA?

At present, there is no cure for alopecia areata, although the hair may return by itself. There are various treatments, which are most effective in milder cases, but none are universally effective.

 IMAGE CREDIT: Twitter

ARE TREATMENT AVAILABLE? 

There are several available treatments; choice of treatment depends mainly on a person’s age and the extent of their hair loss.

Alopecia areata occurs in two forms: a mild patchy form where less than 50 percent of scalp hair is lost, and an extensive form where greater than 50 percent of scalp hair is lost. These two forms of alopecia areata behave quite differently, and the choice of treatment depends on which form is present.

Current treatments do not turn alopecia areata off; they stimulate the follicle to produce hair again, and treatments need to be continued until the disease turns itself off. Treatments are most effective in milder cases.

 IMAGE CREDIT: twitter.com

WHAT TREATMENTS ARE AVAILABLE FOR EXTENSIVE ALOPECIA AREATA WHERE GREATER THAN 50%HAIR IS LOST?

Cortisone injections. The most common treatment is the injection of cortisone into the bare skin patches. The injections are usually given by a dermatologist who uses a tiny needle to give multiple injections into the skin in and around the bare patches. The injections are repeated once a month. Both the needle prick and the slight tingling are usually well tolerated and there is no discomfort after leaving the doctor’s office. If new hair growth occurs, it is usually visible within four weeks. Treatment, however, does not prevent new patches from developing. There are few side effects from local cortisone injections. Occasionally, temporary depressions in the skin result from the local injections, but these “dells” usually fill in by themselves.

Topical minoxidil. Five percent topical minoxidil solution applied twice daily may grow hair in alopecia areata. Scalp, eyebrows, and beard hair may respond. If scalp hair regrows completely, treatment can be stopped. Two percent topical minoxidil solution alone is not effective in alopecia areata; response may improve if cortisone cream is applied 30 minutes after the minoxidil. Topical minoxidil is safe, easy to use, and does not lower blood pressure in persons with normal blood pressure. Neither 2 percent nor 5 percent topical minoxidil solution is effective in treating those with 100 percent scalp hair loss.

Anthralin cream or ointment. Another treatment is the application of anthralin cream or ointment. Anthralin is a synthetic, tar-like substance that has been used widely for psoriasis. Anthralin is applied to the bare patches once daily and washed off after a short time, usually 30 to 60 minutes later. If new hair growth occurs, it is seen in eight to twelve weeks. Anthralin can be irritating to the skin and can cause temporary, brownish discoloration of the treated skin. By using short treatment times, skin irritation and skin staining are reduced without decreasing effectiveness. Care must be taken not to get anthralin in the eyes. Hands must be washed after applying.

 IMAGE CREDIT: Pinterest 

SCIENTIST SUGGEST THAT CANCER IS MAN-MADE DISEASE

(The University of Manchester) Cancer is a modern, man-made disease caused by environmental factors such as pollution and diet, a study review by University of Manchester scientists has strongly suggested.

Aggressive cancer cells. Image credit: Medical News Today

“

The important thing about our study is that it gives a historical perspective to this disease. We can make very clear statements on the cancer rates in societies because we have a full overview. We have looked at millennia, not one hundred years, and have masses of data.

Professor Rosalie David)

(Cancer Research UK – Science blog) It might be more prominent in the public consciousness now than in times gone by, but cancer isn’t just a ‘modern’, man-made disease of Western society. Cancer has existed as long as humans have. It was described thousands of years ago by Egyptian and Greek physicians, and researchers have discovered tell-tale signs of cancer in a 3,000-year-old skeleton. It’s even been discovered in dinosaur bones.

While it’s certainly true that global lifestyle-related diseases like cancer are on the rise, the biggest risk factor for cancer is age.

The simple fact is that more people are living long enough to develop cancer because of our success in tackling infectious diseases and other historical causes of death such as malnutrition. It’s perfectly normal for DNA damage in our cells to build up as we age, and such damage can lead to cancer developing.

We’re also now able to diagnose cancers more accurately, thanks to advances in screening, imaging and pathology.

Yes, lifestyle, diet and other things like air pollution collectively have a huge impact on our risk of cancer – smoking for instance is behind a quarter of all cancer deaths in the UK – but that’s not the same as saying it’s entirely a modern, man-made disease. There are plenty of natural causes of cancer – for example, one in six worldwide cancers is caused by viruses and bacteria.

HISTORY OF CANCER BY AHMED SOHAIB , MSc

Ahmed Sohaib, MSc
Assistant lecturer of clinical oncologyMenoufia University

(SlidePlayer) CANCER AT THE ANCIENT EGYPTIANS

Some of the earliest evidence of cancer is found among fossilized bone tumors in human mummies in ancient Egypt, and references to the same has been found in ancient manuscripts.Bony skull destruction as seen in cancer of the head and neck has been found, too.Although the word cancer was not used, the oldest description of the disease is from Egypt and dates back to about 3000 BC.

Edwin Smith Papyrus is a copy of part of an ancient Egyptian textbook on trauma surgery. It describes 8 cases of tumors or ulcers of the breast that were treated by cauterization with a tool called the fire drill. The description adds that there is not treatment for the condition.

Image credit:  SlidePlayer 

ORIGIN OF THE WORD CANCER 

The disease was first called cancer by Greek physician Hippocrates ( BC). He is considered the “Father of Medicine.”Hippocrates used the terms carcinos and carcinoma to describe non-ulcer forming and ulcer-forming tumors. In Greek this means a crab.The description was named after the crab because the finger-like spreading projections from a cancer called to mind the shape of a crab.

Later Roman physician, Celsus (28-50 BC) translated the Greek term into cancer, the Latin word for crab.It was Galen ( AD), another Roman physician, who used the term oncos (Greek for swelling) to describe tumors. Oncos is the root word for oncology or study of cancers.

BETWEEN 15th AND 18th CENTURIES

During the beginning of the 15th Century scientists developed greater understanding of the workings of human body and its disease processes.Zacutus Lusitani (1575−1642) and Nicholas Tulp (1593−1674), doctors in Holland, concluded that cancer was contagious. Throughout the 17th and 18th centuries, some believed that cancer was contagious.The first cancer hospital in France was forced to move from the city in 1779 because people feared cancer would spread throughout the city.

Giovanni Morgagni in regularized autopsies to find the cause of diseases. This laid the foundation for the study of cancer as well.It was Scottish surgeon John Hunter (1728−1793) who suggested that some cancers might be cured by surgery. It was nearly a century later that development of anesthesia prompted regular surgery for “movable” cancers that had not spread to other organs.

  Image credit: SlideServe

HISTORY OF CANCER CAUSES

There have been numerous theories of causes of cancer throughout ages. For example, the ancient Egyptians blamed Gods for cancers.Hippocrates believed that the body had 4 humors (body fluids): blood, phlegm, yellow bile, and black bile. He suggested that an imbalance of these humors with an excess of black bile in various body sites could cause cancer. This was the humoral theory. 

  Power point Greek Medicine: The history of Greek medicine. The Greeks were known for there very odd method, the Greeks thought that when a person was ill it was a punishment from the gods and would pray to the gods and ask for a cure, they would pray in the special heeling temples called asclepeia. Another from of cure for the patients was when the priest thought the patient was ready for treatment, he would lead them into the temple where put to sleep and the skins of the animal that was sacrificed To the gods, the cure was that while they Slept, snakes could slide across their body. And touch them with their tongues. The Hippocratic Oath:The Hippocratic oath is where a doctor swears to treat their patients to the best of their ability and judgment. The Hippocratic oath dates back to the 4th century B.C. when the Greek teacher and doctor Hippocrates practiced medicine on the island of Cos. Hippocrates believed that diseases had natural causes and not supernatural ones.Today most of the doctors who graduate take a modern version of the Hippocratic oath. Source: SlideShare

Stahl and Hoffman theorized that cancer was composed of fermenting and degenerating lymph, varying in density, acidity, and alkalinity. John Hunter, the Scottish surgeon from the 1700s, agreed that tumors grow from lymph constantly released from blood.It was it 1838 that German pathologist Johannes Muller showed that cancer is made up of cells rather than lymph. Muller proposed that cancer cells developed from budding elements (blastema) between normal tissues.

Rudolph Virchow (1821−1902), suggested that all cells, including cancer cells, are derived from other cells. He proposed the chronic irritation theory. He believed that cancer spread like a liquid.In the 1860s, German surgeon, Karl Thiersch, showed that cancers metastasize through the spread of malignant cells and not through a liquid.

DEVELOPMENT OF CANCER SURGERY

It was quite early in the history of knowledge of cancers that surgery was considered a modality of treatment of cancers.Roman physician Celsus had noted that despite surgery the cancer seems to come back.Galen wrote about techniques of surgery for cancers. Surgery then was very primitive with many complications, including blood loss.Surgery for cancers flourished in the 19th and early 20th centuries after advancement of anesthesia.

William Stewart Halsted (1852-1922) a pioneer in surgical therapy and father of modern breast surgery (A). Halsted and his medical team at Johns Hopkins University Hospital in Baltimore, performing a radical mastectomy (B)  SOURCE:  ResearchGate

William Stewart Halsted, professor of surgery at Johns Hopkins University, developed the radical mastectomy during the last decade of the 19th century for breast cancers.Stephen Paget, an English surgeon during this time found that cancers did spread via blood circulation. This understanding of metastasis became a key element in recognizing patients who might and might not benefit from cancer surgery.

DEVELOPMENT OF CHEMOTERAPHY

It was seen that during the World War II, soldiers exposed to mustard gas during military action developed toxic bone marrow suppression.Soon a similar chemical nitrogen mustard was found to work against a cancer of the lymph nodes called lymphoma.

  Image credit: SlidePlayer

DEVELOPMENT OF HORMONE THERAPHY

In the 19th Century, Thomas Beatson discovered that the breasts of rabbits stopped producing milk after he removed the ovaries.He tried removal of the ovaries in advanced breast cancer.His work provided a foundation for the modern use of hormone therapy, such as tamoxifen and the aromatase inhibitors, to treat or prevent breast cancer. 

 Image credit: SlideShare

A PREVIOUS OBSERVATIONS ABOUT HORMONES

In 1713, Bernardino Ramazzini, an Italian doctor, reported the virtual absence of cervical cancer and relatively high incidence of breast cancer in nuns and wondered if this was in some way related to their celibate lifestyle.

  Image credit: SlidePlayer

DEVELOPMENT OF IMMUNOTHERAPHY

With the understanding of the biology of cancer cells, several biological agents have been developed in treatment of cancers. These are called biological response modifier (BRM) therapy. Notable among these are the monoclonal antibodies.The first therapeutic monoclonal antibodies, rituximab (Rituxan) and trastuzumab (Herceptin) were approved during the late 1990’s to treat lymphoma and breast cancer, respectively.Scientists are also studying vaccines that boost the body’s immune response to cancer cells. 

 Image credit: Roswell Park 

THE HORROR OF CANCER

Galen was a 2nd-century Greek doctor whose books were preserved for centuries. He was thought to be the highest medical authority for over a thousand years.Galen viewed cancer much as Hippocrates had, and considered the patient incurable after a diagnosis of cancer had been made.

 Image credit: SlideShare

Even though medicine progressed and flourished in some ancient civilizations, there was little progress in cancer treatment.The approach to cancer was Hippocratic (or Galenic) for the most part. To some extent the belief that cancer cannot be cured has persisted even into the 21st century.This has served to fuel the fear people have of the disease. Some people, even today, consider all cancer incurable and put off seeing a doctor until it’s too late for optimal treatment.  

ADVANCEMENT OF CANCER SURVIVORSHIP

Only a few decades ago, the prognosis (outlook) for people facing cancer was not nearly as favorable as it is today.During the 1970s, about 1 of 2 people diagnosed with cancer survived at least 5 years. Now, more than 2 of 3 survive that long. Today there are more than 14 million cancer survivors in the United States alone.Because more people are surviving cancer, more attention is focused on the quality of life and long- term outcomes of these cancer survivors.

 Image credit: AZ Quotes

Cancer was once a word that people were afraid to speak in public, and people rarely admitted to being a cancer survivor.Now, many celebrities and national leaders very openly discuss and share their cancer experiences.The view that cancer cannot be cured and the fears that have historically been attached to the disease are slowly changing.

Dedication

By the end of this talk and after all these names of great doctors, I would like to dedicate this talk to the soul of Dr. Abou Alkasim Alzahrawy –internationaly known as Abulcasis-He is considered the father of surgery just like Hippocrates is the father of Medicine.ابو القاسم الزهراوي936 – 1013 م

  Abu Al-Qasim Al-Zahrawi is the Father of Modern Surgery

 (Wikipedia)   Abū al-Qāsim Khalaf ibn al-‘Abbās al-Zahrāwī al-Ansari (Arabic: أبو القاسم خلف بن العباس الزهراوي‎;‎ 936–1013), popularly known as Al Zahrawi(الزهراوي), Latinised as Abulcasis (from Arabic Abū al-Qāsim), was an ArabMuslim physician, surgeon and chemist who lived in Al-Andalus. He is considered as the greatest surgeon of the Middle Ages, and has been described as the father of surgery.

Al-Zahrawi’s principal work is the Kitab al-Tasrif, a thirty-volume encyclopedia of medical practices. The surgery chapter of this work was later translated into Latin where it received popularity and became the standard text book in Europe for the next 500 years. Al-Zahrawi’s pioneering contributions to the field of surgical procedures and instruments had an enormous impact in the East and West well into the modern period, where some of his discoveries are still applied in medicine to this day.

He was the first physician to identify the hereditary nature of haemophilia, as well as the first physician to describe an abdominal pregnancy; a sub type of ectopic pregnancy which in those days was a fatal affliction.

The city of Shebin El Kom during rain
Thank YouThe city of Shebin El Kom during rain.

(Breaking Muscle) The hip is a major contributor to all core work. In fact, when we first learn to sit up as babies, we rely on our hip muscles rather than the muscles of our trunk to do this. Repetitive motion like cycling, running and squatting can irritate the muscles in and around the pelvis, leading to chronic pain or limitation. Sciatica and piriformis syndrome are two conditions often presenting with similar symptoms. Here is a guide to the difference between the two as well as treatment for each.

Sciatica

Description: Often, when a person complains of hip and back pain, the go-to diagnosis is sciatica. Sciatica is actually a very specific source of pain. The sciatic nerve’s origin point is just at the top of the gluteal muscle in the L4 and L5 vertebrae. When inflammation occurs in this area, it can compress the sciatic nerve and send a radiating pain down the back of the leg, typically ending at the knee but potentially carrying all the way to the calf.

 Image credit: Breaking Muscle

Common Causes: Sciatica is always caused by inflammation around the sciatic nerve. The source of this inflammation may be low back pain, including a bulge in the L4 or L5 vertebra. Pregnancy can also cause sciatica if the position of the baby or shape of the uterus presses on the nerve. Inflammation of portions of the hips and glutes can also cause sciatic pain, but because the sciatic nerve is deep, the inflammation is typically also in a deep rather than superficial part of the anatomy.

Contraindications and Treatment: Sciatica is made worse by forward bending or deep flexion of the hip joint. In fact, you may know you have sciatica because the pain shoots down the leg when you bend over. For this reason, in yoga, sciatica is often treated with gentle back bending and mild external rotation of the hip. For example, bridge pose is often prescribed. Cobbler’s pose, often called butterfly (pictured right), is also beneficial for sciatica treatment. If you suffer from bad sciatic pain, you may even consider sleeping with the affected leg in the butterfly position.

 Image credit: Styles At Life

If sciatica is caused by a bulging disc in the lumbar spine, it will be critical to work with a doctor to know when motion can be reintroduced to this area of the body. Forward folding is contraindicated for any lumber bulge. Working to properly engage the muscles of the core will be essential in healing this injury. Even those with “strong abs” may need to reevaluate the use of the transverse abdominis, the deepest layer of the core, to reinforce the strength of the back. Strengthening the low back, opening the hamstrings and reducing tightness in the outer hips will also help restore the spine’s natural curvature and function.

Piriformis Syndrome

Description: The piriformis is a deep stabilizer muscle within the iliac (pelvic) crest. (Bright red in the image to the right.) It originates at the very base of the spine and inserts at the top of the femur bone. It is often confused with the psoas, but the piriformis is smaller, deeper, and more specialized. When you feel the muscle at the front of your hip, you are likely touching the psoas as the piriformis is more on the posterior portion of the hip. Piriformis syndrome is the result of an inflammation in this muscle that presses on the sciatic nerve. The pain is often more localized in the hip and buttock where general sciatic pain tends to radiate more down the leg.

 Image credit: Breaking Muscle

Common Causes: Repetitive motion is the most common cause of inflammation in the piriformis. Distance runners and soccer players are often more subject to this issue. Interestingly, nearly twenty percent of all people have a condition where the sciatic nerve goes through the piriformis; these people will be predisposed to sciatica caused by piriformis syndrome.

Contraindications and Treatment: When sciatica is caused by inflammation of the piriformis, treatment of this specific inflammation is the best course of action. All inflammation can be helped with a course of rest, ice, compression, elevation (RICE) as prescribed by a doctor. Anti-inflammatory medication may also help. Stretching the piriformis and getting blood flow to this area through yoga can ultimately decrease symptoms, but this should only be taken on once the pain has subsided to manageable levels. Classical sun salutations (not series A salutations) and moon salutations open the hips quite well and may be performed daily.

 Image credit: Breaking Muscle 

As the piriformis is in charge of laterally rotating and abducting the hip, all poses or lifts that require this action should be approached mindfully. In yoga, these poses include the Warrior II family, such as Warrior II, extended side angle, triangle, and balancing half moon. A better approach would be to laterally rotate and abduct the hip while in a supported supine position. Pigeon with the support of bolsters, gomukasana while seated on a block, or wide leg forward bend with the torso resting in support can all help increase blood flow and ultimately allow the body to heal.

Ultimately, sciatica and piriformis syndrome are both disorders caused by inflammation. The best treatment for any inflammation is – sorry, athletes – rest. After rest has helped manage the sensations, light yoga with a therapeutic focus can be used to reintroduce movement to the muscle groups that were inflamed. Once you’ve had sciatica, it is very likely you will experience it again in the future; certain people are simply predisposed to this condition because of their anatomy. Learning to listen to your body and know the signs of inflammation before intense pain sets in will help stop the cycle of injury in your body.

In addition:

Holistic Family Tips:  One of the most agonizing health issues is to experience sciatic nerve pain. There are many reasons that cause sciatica, such as spinal stenosis, ruptured disk, body injury, etc.

The first things that need to be checked if one experiences a sciatic nerve pain, are the hips and the lower back.

A lot of people, in order to relieve this pain may use muscle relaxants, antidepressants, aspirin, ketoprofen, acetaminophen, and other painkillers.

However, the best solution to get rid of the sciatic nerve pain is if you perform regularly certain exercises, and by managing this you’ll avoid many side effects that could cause more problems than the pain.

According to Dr. Mark Kovach, stretches could allow hip rotation to get relief, and combine them with walking as a warm-up before exercises.

Our bodies work in mysterious ways. In the instance of tight hips, you may find hip pain leads to back and knee pain, too.

(curofy.com) SYNDROME: Piriformis syndrome is a condition in which the piriformis muscle, located in the buttock region, spasms and causes buttock pain. The piriformis muscle can also irritate the nearby sciatic nerve and cause pain, numbness and tingling along the back of the leg and into the foot (similar to sciatic pain). Sometimes,constipation is present.

 Image credit: slideplayer.com

 Image credit: slideplayer.com

Differential Diagnosis: Diagnosis of piriformis syndrome is based on a review of the patients medical history, a physical examination and possibly diagnostic tests. Piriformis syndrome is often a diagnosis made through a process of ruling out other possible conditions that may be causing the patients symptoms, such as alumbar disc herniation or sacroiliac joint dysfunctiom.

 Image credit: curofy.com

 Image credit: slideplayer.com

(Shine365 – Marshfield Clinic) What causes tight hips?

“There are a number of factors that can contribute to hip tightness,” said Gregor Wenig, a Marshfield Clinic Health System physical therapist. “Likely causes are a sedentary lifestyle or muscle imbalance.”

Sitting too much is detrimental to more than your hips. A sedentary lifestyle negatively impacts your overall health.

Muscle imbalance may come from strengthening specific areas of the body more than others.

“Many people forget to include hip strengthening or stretching into their fitness routines,” Wenig said.

Image credit: BetterMe.tips

(curofy.com) SYNDROME: Piriformis syndrome is a condition in which the piriformis muscle, located in the buttock region, spasms and causes buttock pain. The piriformis muscle can also irritate the nearby sciatic nerve and cause pain, numbness and tingling along the back of the leg and into the foot (similar to sciatic pain). Sometimes, constipation is present.

Differential Diagnosis: Diagnosis of piriformis syndrome is based on a review of the patients medical history, a physical examination and possibly diagnostic tests. Piriformis syndrome is often a diagnosis made through a process of ruling out other possible conditions that may be causing the patients symptoms, such as alumbar disc herniation or sacroiliac joint dysfunctiom.

 Image credit: curofy.com 

(Shine365 – Marshfield Clinic) How to fix tight hips

Exercise and stretches focused on your hip area – hip flexors and glutes – can help fix tight hips.

This article provides health information and is not intended to be medical advice. Talk with your provider before beginning a program of regular physical activity.

You should not experience any pain during the following stretches, only a pull or stretch. If you experience pain, you may have an underlying orthopedic condition. See your provider.

1. Supine Piriformis Stretch

Image credit: Shine365 – Marshfield Clinic

2. Modified Thomas Strech

Image credit: Shine365 – Marshfield Clinic

3. Supine Single Knee To Chest Stretch

Image credit: Shine365 – Marshfield Clinic

4. Butterfly Groin Stretch

Image credit: Shine365 – Marshfield Clinic

5. Seated Hamstring Stretch

Image credit: Shine365 – Marshfield Clinic 

6. ITB Stretch at Wall

Image credit: Shine365 – Marshfield Clinic

7. Piriformis Chair Stretch

Image credit: Verywell Fit 

8. Advanced IT Band Stretch

Image credit: verywellfit.com

9.  Butterfly pose

Image credit: Top 10 Home Remedies

 Great way to relief your sciatica pain with these sciatica stretches:

1 Minute Sciatica Exercises By: sciaticatreatments Source: YouTube

1 Minute Sciatica Stretches By: 1MinuteExercises Source: YouTube

blog.paleohacks.com: Does your joint pain and stiffness seem to get worse with bad weather? If so, you’re not alone. Many people claim to be able to predict incoming cold weather by the stiffness and pain in their joints.

One of the main theories as to why cold weather would cause stiffness in the joints has to do with barometric pressure – the weight of the atmosphere that surrounds us. Before cold weather sets in, barometric pressure often drops, pushing less against the body and allowing tissues to expand. When our tissues expand, they put extra pressure on the joints, thus causing stiffness and pain. People who have chronic pain often develop more sensitized nerves over time, making them more sensitive to changes in pressure or feelings of pain.

Whether you have arthritis or general joint pain and stiffness, if you find yourself experiencing winter stiffness, it is important to keep moving (1). Evidence shows that exercise and stretching helps to:

• Increase blood flow to the area
• Increase the flow of oxygen to the stiff areas
• Increase range of motion
• Improve physical function
• Improve physical and mental relaxation and wellbeing

If you are feeling stiff and achy this winter season, use these eight easy stretches to loosen up.

SEATED SIDE STRETCH : HOLD 30 SECONDS PER SIDE

This easy stretch helps to open up the hips, back, shoulders, and triceps.

1. Begin in a seated position on the ground with your legs crossed.
2. Sit up tall and inhale to reach both arms above your head.
3. Exhale and place your left hand on the ground. Bend slightly into the left arm and reach your right arm up and over your head. Keep both of your sitting bones on the floor and you should feel a stretch through your right side. Hold for 30 seconds and then rise back up to center. Switch sides.

CAT COWS : 8 REPS 

These two classic yoga poses help to warm the spine and activate the core.

1. Start kneeling down on your hands and knees in a tabletop position. Line up your wrists under your shoulders and your knees under your hips. Engage your abs.
2. Cow pose: Inhale to arch your back, lowering your belly towards the ground and pointing your tailbone up. Squeeze your shoulders down your back and keep your neck long.
3. Cat pose: Exhale to round your spine, tucking your pelvis under and drawing your chin into your chest. Continue alternating between your cow and cat pose for eight full rounds of breath.

THREAD THE NEEDLE : HOLD 30 SECONDS PER SIDE

This stretch helps to release tension in the upper back and shoulders.

1. Begin on the floor on your hands and knees in a tabletop position.
2. Lift your right hand up off the mat and thread your right arm underneath your left arm, bringing your right shoulder and cheek to the mat.
3. Walk your left fingers towards the top of the mat and feel a stretch between your shoulder blades. Stay for 30 seconds and then slowly come back up to your tabletop position. Switch sides.

DOWNWARD FACING DOG: 30 SECONDS 

This yoga pose is great for warming the body. It stretches the hamstrings, calves, back, and shoulders while also strengthening the arms, shoulders, and back.

1. Start kneeling down in your tabletop position. Walk your hands forward a couple of inches and tuck your toes under.
2. Press into your palms and lift your hips towards the ceiling to make a V-shape with your body. If your lower back is tight, keep a bend in your knees.
3. Press your chest back towards your thighs and engage your abs to lift up through your tailbone. Feel a stretch through the back of your body. Hold for 30 seconds.

BOUND STANDING FORWARD FOLD: HOLD 30 SECONDS

This stretch helps to release the shoulders, lower back, and the hamstrings.

1. Start by standing up with your feet slightly wider than hips-width distance.
2. Take your hands behind your lower back and interlace your fingers. Bring your palms together to touch if you can.
3. Bend your knees and inhale to find a long spine. As you exhale, keep your hands interlaced and fold your chest over your thighs. Allow the hands to lift away from your lower back, stretching the shoulders. Keep your knees bent enough so that your chest can rest on your thighs and let your head hang heavy. Hold for 30 seconds and then slowly rise back up to stand.

TOE SQUAT WITH WRIST STRETCH : 10 REPS PER SIDE 

This stretch works wonders for tight feet, ankles, and legs. Plus the extra wrist stretch relieves stiff and achy hands and wrists.

1. Begin on the floor in a tabletop position. Tuck your toes under and slowly walk your hands back towards your legs to lower your hips onto your heels.
2. Sit your hips onto your heels and walk your hands up your thighs to lift your chest. You should feel the stretch through your feet, ankles, and quadriceps.
3. Take your hands in front of your chest and interlace your fingers. Begin to circle the wrists around clockwise 10 times. Then, circle them counterclockwise 10 times. When you are finished, release your hands back down to the mat. Walk your hands back out to your tabletop position and untuck your toes.

SEATED FIGURE 4 : HOLD 30 SECONDS PER SIDE

This stretch helps to relieve pressure and tightness in the hips, quadriceps, and lower back.

1. Begin in a seat on the floor.
2. Bend your left knee and place your left foot on the floor. Then, bend your right knee and cross your right ankle over your left thigh.
3. Flex both of your feet and sit up with a tall spine. Hold for 30 seconds and then switch legs.

*Tip: To feel more sensation in your hips, use a hand to press on the thigh of the crossed leg to open up the hip even more.

GENTLE SUPINE TWISTS : 30 SECONDS PER SIDE

This relaxing stretch relieves stiffness in the spine.

1. Start by lying down on the floor with your knees bent and your feet down.
2. Cactus your arms so that your elbows are in line with your shoulders. Then, keep your knees bent and pick your feet up off the ground. Parallel your shins to your mat and draw your navel up and in towards your spine to engage your core.
3. On an exhale, lower your knees towards the right. Make sure to keep your left shoulder down and use your right hand to deepen the twist. Close your eyes and hold for 30 seconds. Then inhale to lift your knees back to center and exhale to switch sides.

Cancer Research UK: There’s a lot of confusing information and advice out there around sugar.

It’s been made the villain of our diet, but where does the consensus lie between how sugar and cancer are linked?

Does it cause cancer? Does sugar feed cancer cells, making them grow more aggressively? And how does the sugar we consume through food and drink affect our health, and what can be done about this?

In this post we’re taking a long hard look at sugar.

We’ll focus specifically on sugar and cancer, busting some myths and covering what researchers are studying in the hopes of finding new ways to treat people with cancer.

And we’ll cover why the amount of sugar in our diets is cause for concern. A high-sugar diet can be bad news when it comes to cancer risk, but not for the reasons that often appear in the headlines.

But first the basics, what our bodies need sugar for and where it comes from in our diet.

GLUCOSE – THE FUEL OF LIFE

Search for sugar and cancer on the internet and it doesn’t take long to find alarming warnings that sugar is the “white death” and “cancer’s favourite food”.

But this idea that sugar is responsible for kick-starting or fuelling a cancer’s growth is an over-simplification of some complicated biology. Let’s start with what sugar actually is.

Sugar comes in many different forms. The simplest form is just as a single molecule, such as glucose and fructose. These molecules of simple sugars can also stick together, either in pairs or as longer chains of molecules. All of these combinations of molecules are carbohydrates, and are our body’s main source of energy.

The form of sugar most of us will be familiar with is table sugar, which is a simple sugar that dissolves in water and gives things a sweet taste. Its proper name is sucrose, and it’s made up of crystals of glucose and fructose. Table sugar is refined, meaning it’s been processed to extract it from a natural source (usually sugar beet). Unprocessed foods can be high in simple sugars too, for example honey (also made mostly of glucose and fructose) is nearly pure sugar.

As chains of sugar get longer, they lose their sweet taste and won’t dissolve in water anymore. These chains are called polysaccharides and form a large component of starchy foods. Starchy foods such as rice, bread, pasta and vegetables like potatoes might not taste sweet, but they are high in carbohydrate too.

Sugar, in some form, is in many things we eat. And this is good, because our bodies rely heavily on it to work.

Nearly every single part of our body is made of living cells. And it’s these cells that help us see, breathe, feel, think and much more.

While their jobs in the body may differ, one thing all these cells have in common is that they need energy to survive and perform their duties.

Cells somehow need to turn nutrients in our diet into a form of energy that they can use, called ATP. It would take a long time to explain this (if you’re interested you might want to read more), but simplistically the process starts with glucose.

Glucose is the basic fuel that powers every single one of our cells. If we eat or drink things that are high in glucose, such as fizzy drinks, the glucose gets absorbed straight into our blood ready for our cells to use. If a starchy food, such as pasta, is on the menu, the enzymes in our saliva and digestive juices break it down and convert it into glucose. And if for some reason there’s no carbohydrate in our diet, cells can turn fat and protein into glucose as a last resort, because they need glucose to survive.

It’s here that sugar and cancer start to collide, because cancer is a disease of cells.

SUGAR AND CANCER

Cancer cells usually grow quickly, multiplying at a fast rate, which takes a lot of energy. This means they need lots of glucose. Cancer cells also need lots of other nutrients too, such as amino acids and fats; it’s not just sugar they crave.

Here’s where the myth that sugar fuels cancer was born: if cancer cells need lots of glucose, then cutting sugar out of our diet must help stop cancer growing, and could even stop it developing in the first place. Unfortunately, it’s not that simple. All our healthy cells need glucose too, and there’s no way of telling our bodies to let healthy cells have the glucose they need, but not give it to cancer cells.

There’s no evidence that following a “sugar-free” diet lowers the risk of getting cancer, or boosts the chances of surviving if you are diagnosed. 

And following severely restricted diets with very low amounts of carbohydrate could damage health in the long term by eliminating foods that are good sources of fibre and vitamins.

This is particularly important for cancer patients, because some treatments can result in weight loss and put the body under a lot of stress. So poor nutrition from restrictive diets could also hamper recovery, or even be life-threatening.

A STICKY END FOR SUGAR RESEARCH?

Although there’s no evidence that cutting carbohydrates from our diet will help treat cancer, important research has shown that understanding the abnormal ways that cancer cells make energy could lead to new treatments.

Back in the 50s, a scientist called Otto Warburg noticed that cancer cells use a different chemical process from normal cells to turn glucose into energy.

Healthy cells use a series of chemical reactions in small cellular ‘batteries’ called mitochondria. The Warburg Effect, as it was dubbed following Otto’s discovery, describes how cancer cells bypass their ‘batteries’ to generate energy more rapidly to meet demand.

This shortcut for making energy might be a weakness for some cancers that gives researchers an advantage for developing new treatments.

Firstly, it opens up the potential for developing drugs that shut down cancer cells’ energy-making processes but don’t stop healthy cells making energy. And researchers are testing drugs that work in this way.

Secondly, the abnormal processes in cancer cells can also leave them less able to adapt when faced with a lack of other nutrients, like amino acids. These potential vulnerabilities could lead to treatments too.

But these approaches are still experimental, and we don’t know yet if treatments that starve cancer cells are safe or if they work.

It’s certainly not grounds for cancer patients to try and do it themselves by restricting their diet during treatment – and going back to our earlier point, it could be dangerous to do so.

IF SUGAR DOESN’T CAUSE CANCER, WHY WORRY ABOUT IT?

Cutting out sugar doesn’t help treat cancer, and sugar doesn’t directly cause cancer. Why then do we encourage people to cut down on sugary foods in our diet advice?

That’s because there is an indirect link between cancer risk and sugar. Eating lots of sugar over time can cause you to gain weight, and robust scientific evidence shows that being overweight or obese increases the risk of 13 different types of cancer. In fact, obesity is the single biggest preventable cause of cancer after smoking, which we’ve written about many times before.

It’s added sugar we’re mainly concerned with when it comes to weight gain, not sugar that is naturally found in foods like fruits and milk or healthy starchy foods like wholegrains and pulses (which people should be eating more of*).

HOW CAN I CUT DOWN ON ADDED SUGAR?

One of the easiest ways to lower your added sugar is to cut down on sugary drinks, which are the largest source of sugar in the UK diet.

Some sugary drinks, such as fizzy drinks and energy drinks, can have more than the recommended daily maximum amount of added sugar in one serving alone. And while these extra calories promote weight gain, they offer no other nutritional benefits.

Multiple cues push us as customers to stack junk food into our shopping baskets, even if we weren’t planning to

– Professor Linda Bauld, Cancer Research UK

Other obviously sugary foods such as sweets, chocolate, cakes and biscuits are all best kept as treats too. But some foods that have hidden high amounts of added sugar may surprise you. Some breakfast cereals, ready meals (including ‘healthy’ ones), pasta sauces and yoghurts can have shocking amounts of sugar added to them. Reading nutrition information labels and checking the ingredients list can help you choose lower sugar options.

While there are steps you and your family can take to cut down on added sugar, making these changes can be easier said than done. And it’s here that governments need to lend a hand.

“Multiple cues push us as customers to stack junk food into our shopping baskets, even if we weren’t planning to,” says Professor Linda Bauld, our cancer prevention champion based at the University of Edinburgh. “That’s why we want the Government to help create a better food environment where the healthy choice is the easy choice for everyone.”

We’re delighted that the sugar tax, which came into effect in April 2018, has already had an impact, with some of the biggest drink companies changing their recipes to reduce sugar. The tax could prevent millions of cases of obesity, and obesity-linked cancers in the future, by reducing the amount of sugar the nation consumes in fizzy drinks.

But the Government hasn’t made much progress in its plan to reduce the amount of sugar in the types of foods that are very popular with children. One year into the programme, industry has failed to meet the voluntary targets set by Government, showing that a voluntary approach just isn’t as effective.

NO SWEET ENDINGS

The story about sugar and cancer is complicated.

On the one hand, sugar itself doesn’t cause cancer, and there’s no way (at the moment) of specifically starving cancer cells of glucose without harming healthy cells too.

There’s also no evidence that adopting a diet very low in carbohydrate will lower your cancer risk or help as a treatment. And for patients, getting adequate nutrition is important for helping their bodies cope with treatment.

But we’re concerned about the amount of added sugar people are consuming because it’s promoting weight gain. And being overweight or obese increases the risk of least 13 types of cancer.

So the take home message is that although banishing sugar won’t stop cancer in its tracks, we can all reduce our risk of getting cancer by making healthy choices, and lowering the amount of added sugar in our diets is a good way to help maintain a healthy body weight.

Emma

*While foods like fruit, milk and healthy starchy foods are high in carbohydrate, they have other important nutritional benefits. We should all be eating more whole fruits, vegetables, wholegrains and pulses as these nutritious foods are also high in fibre – this not only helps your body digest the natural sugar more slowly (which helps you keep a healthy weight), it also reduces the risk of bowel cancer.

Image credit: SlideShare 

POPULAR MYTHS ABOUT THE CAUSES OF CANCER

(Cancer Research UK – Science blog) Google ‘cancer’ and you’ll be faced with millions of web pages. And the number of YouTube videos you find if you look up ‘cancer cure’ is similarly vast.

The problem is that much of the information out there is at best inaccurate, or at worst dangerously misleading. There are plenty of evidence-based, easy to understand pages about cancer, but there are just as many, if not more, pages spreading myths.

And it can be hard to distinguish fact from fiction, as much of the inaccurate information looks and sounds perfectly plausible. But if you scratch the surface and look at the evidence, many continually perpetuated ‘truths’ become unstuck.

Mayo Clinic: Misconceptions about cancer causes can lead to unnecessary worry about your health. Find out whether there’s any truth to these common myths about the causes of cancer.

Scary claims circulate on the internet that everyday objects and products, such as plastic and deodorant, are secret cancer causes. Beyond being wrong, many of these myths may cause you to worry unnecessarily about your own health and the health of your family.

Before you panic, take a look at the facts.

Here, Timothy J. Moynihan, M.D., a cancer specialist at Mayo Clinic, Rochester, Minnesota, takes a closer look at some popular myths about cancer causes and explains why they just aren’t true.

MYTH: PEOPLE WITH CANCER SHOULDN’T EAT SUGAR, SINCE IT CAN CAUSE CANCER TO GROW FASTER

Fact: Sugar doesn’t make cancer grow faster. All cells, including cancer cells, depend on blood sugar (glucose) for energy. But giving more sugar to cancer cells doesn’t speed their growth. Likewise, depriving cancer cells of sugar doesn’t slow their growth.

This misconception may be based in part on a misunderstanding of positron emission tomography (PET) scans, which use a small amount of radioactive tracer — typically a form of glucose. All tissues in your body absorb some of this tracer, but tissues that are using more energy — including cancer cells — absorb greater amounts. For this reason, some people have concluded that cancer cells grow faster on sugar. But this isn’t true.

However, there is some evidence that consuming large amounts of sugar is associated with an increased risk of certain cancers, including esophageal cancer. It can also lead to weight gain and increase the risk of obesity and diabetes, which may increase the risk of cancer.

MYTH: ANTIPERSPIRANT OR DEODORANTS CAN CAUSE BREAST CANCER

Fact: There’s no conclusive evidence linking the use of underarm antiperspirants or deodorants with breast cancer, according to the National Cancer Institute and other research.

Some reports have suggested that these products contain harmful substances such as aluminum compounds and parabens that can be absorbed through the skin or enter the body through nicks caused by shaving. No clinical studies have yet given a definitive answer to the question of whether these products cause breast cancer. But the evidence to date suggests these products don’t cause cancer.

If you’re still concerned that your underarm antiperspirant or deodorant could increase your risk of cancer, choose products that don’t contain chemicals that worry you.

MYTH: MICROWAVING PLASTIC CONTAINERS AND WRAPS RELEASES HARMFUL, CANCER-CAUSING SUBSTANCES INTO FOOD

Fact: Microwave-safe plastic containers and wraps are safe to use in the microwave.

But plastic containers not intended for use in the microwave could melt and potentially leak chemicals into your food. So avoid microwaving containers that were never intended for the microwave, such as margarine tubs, takeout containers or whipped topping bowls.

Check to see that any container you use in the microwave is labeled as microwave-safe.

MYTH GOOD PEOPLE DON’T GET CANCER

Fact: In ancient times, illness was often viewed as punishment for bad actions or thoughts. In some cultures that view is still held.

If this were true, though, how would you explain the 6-month-old or the newborn who gets cancer? These little ones haven’t been bad.

There’s absolutely no evidence that you get cancer because you deserve it.

MYTH: CANCER IS CONTAGIOUS

Fact: There’s no need to avoid someone who has cancer. You can’t catch it. It’s OK to touch and spend time with someone who has cancer. In fact, your support may never be more valuable.

Though cancer itself isn’t contagious, sometimes viruses, which are contagious, can lead to the development of cancer. Examples of viruses that can cause cancer include:

• Human papillomavirus (HPV) — a sexually transmitted infection — that can cause cervical cancer and other forms of cancer
• Hepatitis B or C — viruses transmitted through sexual intercourse or use of infected IV needles — that can cause liver cancer

Cancer.Net: MYTH: IF YOU HAVE A FAMILY HISTORY OF CANCER. YOU WILL GET IT TOO

FACT: Although having a family history of cancer increases your risk of developing the disease, it is not a complete prediction of your future health. An estimated 4 out of 10 cancers can be prevented by making simple lifestyle changes, such as forming healthy eating habits, maintaining a healthy weight, exercising, limiting alcoholic beverages, and avoiding tobacco products. Additionally, if you have inherited certain cancer genes that put you at high risk for cancer, your doctor may recommend surgery or medications to reduce the chance that cancer will develop.

MYTH: CANCER TREATMENT IS USUALLY WORSE THAN THE DISEASE 

FACT: Although cancer treatments, such as chemotherapy and radiation therapy, can cause unpleasant and sometimes serious side effects, recent advances have resulted in many drugs and radiation treatments that are much better tolerated than in the past. As a result, symptoms like severe nausea and vomiting, hair loss, and tissue damage are much less common. However, managing side effects, also called palliative care, remains an important part of cancer care. Palliative care can help a person feel more comfortable at any stage of illness. In fact, people who receive both treatment for the cancer and treatment to ease side effects at the same time often have less severe symptoms, better quality of life, and report they are more satisfied with treatment. 

Mayo Clinic: Dr. Timothy Moynihan, an emeritus Mayo Clinic oncologist, explains the facts surrounding five widespread myths about the causes of cancer.

Dealing with anxiety after non-Hodgkin lymphoma 
As you recover from treatment for non-Hodgkin lymphoma, it may take some time to find your new sense of normal. You may be eager to return to your life as it was. But you also may feel anxious. It’s common for cancer survivors to feel many emotions, including anxiety — especially anxiety about cancer coming back. This is a reasonable response to a big health change. Know that there are things you can do and support services available to help you cope. Here are some suggestions that may help you manage your anxiety.

Treating chronic lymphocytic leukemia 
Chronic lymphocytic leukemia is a type of cancer of the blood and bone marrow that most commonly affects older adults. Complications include frequent infections, increased risk of other cancers and immune system problems. People with early stage chronic lymphocytic leukemia typically don’t receive treatment. Treatment for the intermediate and advanced stages may include chemotherapy, targeted drug therapy, immunotherapy and bone marrow transplant. Learn more about these treatment options and what your health care provider may recommend for you.

Talk to your doctor about ways to protect yourself from these viruses.