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Green Tea Health Benefits

Posted on : 17-02-2010 | By : admin | In : Health and Fitness

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Scientists and nutritionists have found that this wonderful brew does indeed have medicinal properties that can help in preventing several types of illnesses, which even includes cancer. In fact, there are even doctors who recommend green tea and even endorses that this particular tea plays a great role in maintaining good health. Health professionals all over the world recommend that people should drink 3 to 4 cups of green tea a day in order to help in protecting the body against various ailments. So, just what are the benefits of this so called miracle brew that it even baffled health professionals from all over the world?

Antioxidants in green tea are one of the main reasons why people are being enticed by it. By reducing incidences of increased cholesterol level in out body, it therefore reduces the body to experience hypertension and cardiac diseases. Studies also show that green tea can help minimize thrombosis formation which is also an associated factor to heart disease. When thrombosis goes into blood circulation, there will come a time when the thrombus will block the way of the blood that is supposed to go to the heart and this will compromise the heart with blood supply. Preventing thrombus formation is one very important effect of green tea.

Some say it’s impossible for green tea to affect bone diseases but the tea have proved them wrong because reports have it that green tea can prevent arthritis. Not only can green tea prevent arthritis from occurring but also eliminate the painful symptoms being contributed by the problem too. According to research on the
health benefits of green tea
, it has a component that has the ability to reduce inflammation. Research also suggests that antioxidants have the capacity to delay any arthritic process that might occur and minimizing irritable symptoms as well.

There is some evidence that a regular consumption of green tea could alleviate the pain and suffering from rheumatoid arthritis. Many people are affected by high cholesterol, and there is some evidence that the regular use of green tea could help to lower bad cholesterol and increase the good cholesterol. Some people claim that green tea consumption could help people ward off infections while others believe that green tea has beneficial effects for protecting people from heart disease. These claims are based on the presence of certain substances in green tea including catechin polyphenols.

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Most Popular Way To Take Valerian As A Pill

Posted on : 17-02-2010 | By : admin | In : Health and Fitness

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Are you looking for help in sleeping?  Perhaps this article can provide you with some tips to cure insomnia.

A sleep disorder (somnipathy) is any disruption in the sleep patterns of an individual. While some sleep disorders may leave you feeling unrefreshed, a number of symptoms are more severe including excessive sleepiness, snor¬ing, difficulty falling asleep during normal sleeping hours and abnormal be¬haviors such as restless leg syndrome. There are even disorders that cause you to get too much sleep.

Sleep medicine has become a recognized medical subspecialty. Doctors who specialize in sleep medicine help people who are unable to sleep well. Sleep doctors are able to detect and treat both common and rare sleep disorders. Some common sleep disorders are insomnia, jet lag, sleepwalking, snoring and obstructive sleep apnea.

Insomnia is a sleep disorder characterized by chronic problems  falling asleep, staying asleep or only sleeping for several hours and being wake unable to fall back to sleep. It is typically followed by functional impairment while awake.

It can be caused by another disorder, by changes in the sleep environment, by the timing of sleep, or by stress. Researchers do not know exactly why people need sleep, but we do know that lack of sleep can kill. Humans deprived of sleep for long periods begin hallucinating and develop other mental problems.

The best way to fall asleep is to have good sleep habits or to use natural sleep aids. These include reducing stress by using visualization or relaxation techniques, making lifestyle changes such as no-smoking, no caffeine, no daytime naps, or getting more light during the day.  Other natural or best sleep aids are changing to a healthier diet and starting an exercise program.   But, if after making these changes to try to reduce problems with sleep, and after visiting a doctor to make sure there are no medical reasons for the insomnia; then there are other sleep aids that a person can consider using.

Many herbs are available that are beneficial to people suffering from sleeping problems.  One common herbal sleep aid is Valerian which has been recognized for years in Europe as being helpful with insomnia. It is sold in the United States as a dietary supplement.  There is no agreement on how this sleep aid works, but studies have shown that it does help with insomnia, as well as stress. There are side effects that have been reported, so before taking this herbal aid, a person should discuss taking Valerian with a pharmacist, especially if they are taking any prescription medications.  The root is the part that is used in herbal sleep aids, and side effects of headaches and night terror, have been reported.  The oil of this root is reported to have the odor of cat urine, so the most popular way to take Valerian is as a pill, rather than a tea made from the liquid.

Melatonin is a sleep aid to help people fall asleep — especially people who suffer from the insomnia caused by shift work or jet lag.Melatonin is found naturally in the body when another hormone serotonin is exposed to decreased light at night.   It has side effects and most of the literature recommends it not being used by people with depression, schizophrenia, autoimmune diseases, or other serious illness. Pregnant and nursing women and children should also not use melatonin.

Other common over-the-counter (OTC) sleep aids such as Sominex, or Nytol can also be tried by adults but, again, a person should discuss with a doctor before taking any of these sleep aids especially if the person suffers from and is being treated for depression, or other mental health problems as well as persons being treated for Parkinson’s disease. Most of the OTC sleep aids contain antihistamines which are known to cause some lingering side effects such as dry mouth, and excessive drowsiness.

There are many herbal teas for sleep presently on the market.  But the best way to fall asleep is naturally with correction of bad sleep habits.Hundreds of natural sleep aids are available to reset your sleeping cycle.

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Important Facts About Natural Herbal Teas

Posted on : 17-02-2010 | By : admin | In : Health and Fitness

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The market is not lacking in a variety of herbal teas for sleep problems like insomnia. Insomnia is a sleep disorder characterized by chronic problems  falling asleep, staying asleep or only sleeping for several hours and being wake unable to fall back to sleep. It is typically followed by functional impairment while awake.

It can be caused by another disorder, by changes in the sleep environment, by the timing of sleep, or by stress. Researchers do not know exactly why people need sleep, but we do know that lack of sleep can kill. Humans deprived of sleep for long periods begin hallucinating and develop other mental problems.

Valerian (Valeriana officinalis) is an herb that has been long used as a remedy for insomnia. Some studies suggest that like conventional sleeping pills, valerian may affect levels of the calming neurotransmitter GABA.

Valerian is believed to neither cause addiction nor grogginess in the morning like other medications. But valerian doesn’t work for everyone. Side effects of valerian may include mild indigestion, headache, palpitations, and dizziness.

Kava is an anti-anxiety herb that may be helpful for anxiety-related insomnia. However, the United States Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has issued an advisory to consumers about the potential risk of severe liver injury resulting from the use of dietary supplements containing kava. To date, there have been more than 25 reports of serious adverse effects from kava use in other countries, including four patients who required liver transplants.

Professional herbalists do not prescribe herbs simply to treat symptoms such as insomnia but aim to correct the imbalances within the body that cause those symptoms. For example, sedative herbs such as hops and valerian are used to relax the nervous system so that you enjoy natural, restorative sleep. Each herb contains a variety of active constituents and has a main action and several subsidiary actions which determine the conditions for which it is most appropriate.

Numerous plants have sedative action. Plants commonly prescribed as aids in promoting sleep include: passionflower (Passiflora incarnata), hops (Humulus lupulus), valerian (Valeriana officinalis), skullcap (Scutellaria lateriflora), and chamomile (Matricaria chamomilla).

Unless otherwise specified, for insomnia, take one or two cupfuls of an infusion or decoction in the evening about 30-60 minutes before bedtime. If you wake up at night, you can go ahead and take an additional cup. Where a remedy that will not make you drowsy is indicated for conditions associated with insomnia, you can take it three times a day.

There is also a tea made with favor mint, lemonbalm, chamomile, and some herbalist put in catnip.

Reduce the dosage of herbs taken by mouth by a quarter for children under five years old and by a half for children under twelve. One must consult a professional herbalist and also his doctor before administering any herbs to children.

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Surgical Patient Information About Obstructive Sleep Apnea

Posted on : 17-02-2010 | By : admin | In : Health and Fitness

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Normally during sleep, air moves in and out of the lungs as the upper airway (throat), chest muscles, and diaphragm move in a coordinated fashion.  In a person with sleep apnea, air movement is periodically disrupted or reduced.

Sleep apnea is a serious condition that can affect a person’s ability to safely perform normal daily activities. It is thought that approximately 25 percent of adults are at risk for sleep apnea. Men are more commonly affected than women; other risk factors include middle and older age, being overweight or obese, high blood pressure, and type 2 diabetes mellitus.

The throat is surrounded by muscles that open and close the airway while speaking, swallowing, or breathing. The airway can be narrowed if these throat muscles relax inappropriately during sleep or if the throat is abnormally small. This can result in snoring and decreased air flow into and out of the lungs, which is called an obstructive hypopnea. Complete closure of the airway results in cessation of all air movement, and is called an obstructive apnea. A person may have apneas and hypopneas during sleep.

Changes in blood oxygen and carbon dioxide levels occur when breathing is abnormal during sleep. Even if these levels change only slightly, the brain recognizes that there has been an interruption in normal breathing. The brain also recognizes when more work is required to get air into the lungs, as may occur when the throat is completely or partially blocked.

This causes partial awakening (arousal) from sleep. Although the brain may be partially awake, the person may not sense that he or she is awake. When these arousals occur, the throat muscles contract, the airway is reopened and normal breathing resumes. This is often, though not always, associated with a loud snore or snort. The person often goes back to sleep quickly, usually without being aware of the episode. Alternately, some patients with OSAH awaken suddenly and completely with a sensation of gasping, smothering, or choking.

Once sleep resumes, the throat muscles relax, the airway closes, and the pattern repeats itself. This cycle of abnormal breathing, disruption of sleep, resumption of sleep, and recurrence of abnormal breathing can occur many times throughout the night. In this way, OSAH can cause significant sleep disruption and deprivation as well as notable episodes of reduced blood oxygen levels. This is true even if the person is not aware of the frequent interruptions. In addition to poor quality sleep, OSAH may be associated with an increased risk of or worsening of common heart problems.

The primary symptoms of OSAH are severe daytime sleepiness and loud snoring. However, some people have no symptoms. For example, if the person does not have a bed partner, he or she may not be aware of the snoring. Sleepiness can also develop gradually over time to the point that the person accepts it as normal.
Other symptoms may include one or more of the following:

• Restless sleep
• Awakening with choking, gasping, or smothering
• Awakening with chest pain or discomfort
• Morning dry mouth or sore throat
Confusion in the morning
• Morning headaches
• Personality change
• Memory impairment, difficulty concentrating
• Impotence
• Frequent awakenings to urinate

Surgery is generally reserved for patients who cannot tolerate or do not improve with non-surgical treatments such as CPAP or oral devices. Upper airways can get reshaped and jaw repositioned after some surgical procedures whic some patients find helpful. Uvulopalatopharyngoplasty (UPPP) is one of the most commonly performed surgical procedures; it removes the uvula and excessive tissue in the throat, including the tonsils if present. Other surgical techniques include genioglossus advancement, maxillary-mandibular advancement, and radiofrequency ablation (RFA), alone or in combination. In general, it is hard to predict how effective a surgical treatment will be in reducing or eliminating sleep apnea. Thus, such treatments should be considered with caution.

Tracheostomy causes a permanent opening in the neck after the surgical procedure. It is reserved for patients with severe disease in whom less drastic measures have failed or are inappropriate. Although it is always successful in eliminating sleep apnea, tracheostomy requires significant lifestyle changes and carries some serious risks (eg, infection, bleeding, blockage).

Click in the link to get more information about sleep related problems and insomnia.

Tips on falling asleep if you have insomnia

Posted on : 17-02-2010 | By : admin | In : Health and Fitness

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In this article, we’ll review some helpful tips on helping a person fall asleep. How long does it take for a given individual to fall asleep?This depends on a number of factors, including what the person ate before they went to bed, how tired the person is, and numerous other factors.If you have sleep problems, a person could take what seems like hours to fall asleep.

insomnia Information:

Insomnia means you are having a hard time going to sleep.It also can mean that you are having a difficult time staying asleep. Most people who suffer from insomnia say that they remember tossing and turning all night long, or remember being awake at night. Nights when I have insomnia I just can’t seem to turn my mind off; often I can’t even close my eyes. It generally takes me about a half hour to fall asleep, but my son is asleep as soon as his head hits the pillow.

The TV helps me fall asleep — I have it on a timer to shut it off after a half hour.I also need total darkness, and my bedroom needs to be ice cold – even in summer. Of course, this will not help save energy!

There are treatments for insomnia referred to as natural, or behavioral. One relaxation technique is effected by tensing different muscle groups and then relaxing them. Repeating a set of visualizations to produce a state of relaxation is another strategy. My favorite visualization is simple — lying in the sun on a beach in the Bahamas.

It is also good to be able to manage the stress in your life; this can allow you to more easily relax at night and when it’s time to go to bed. Another helpful method is to associate the bedroom with just sleep, by limiting the time spent in the bedroom for non-sleep activities.So take your TV, computer, and office out of the bedroom. Also avoiding large meals just before bed, and reducing the use of stimulants, such as caffeine, can help reduce insomnia. A person can also try soaking in a hot bath to relax or listening to some soft music before going to bed.

Melatonin is a widely-available sleep aid. It is especially helpful for people who suffer from insomnia caused by jet lag or shift work. Melatonin occurs naturally in the body when serotonin is exposed to a lowered quantity of light.

Sominex

Other common over-the-counter sleep aids such as Sominex or Nytol can also be tried by adults but, again, one should consult with their doctor before taking any of these sleep aids, especially if you suffer from Parkinson’s disease, or are being treated for depression or other mental health problems. But it is also buying into the mindset of turning to a pill to solve a problem, which can create problems in other areas of a person’s life. More insomnia info at bestinsomnia blog and how to stay asleep during the night.

It is advised that if you have trouble falling asleep and have tried all the natural tips in this article, then perhaps you should see a sleep therapist. So many people have sleep issues, there is now a sub-specialty in medicine for such problems. Since insomnia may be a symptom of another medical problem, it is best to get a consultation with your doctor and discuss your sleeping problems with him.

Even with all these tips on falling asleep, each person must discover their own best way to fall asleep.

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