Nature Creation Blog

Health, Pain, Therapy, Remedies

Posts Tagged ‘stress’

Nature Creation Neck Wrap — $10.00 only

August 2nd, 2010

You also will be eligble to get FREE SHIPPING,
if the total amount of purchase is above $50.00

(Customers must select “FEH — FedEX Ground Service (USA Only)“
shipping method during checkout to receive FREE SHIPPING)

Introduction

Many people experience a stiff neck once in a while. Although a stiff
neck is usually nothing to worry about, the discomfort can make it
difficult to concentrate on anything else. Some people may experience
more frequent neck pain. It can be caused by stress, injury or by
other health problems. Chiropractors may offer relief, such as a
simple massage to alleviate pain caused by muscles spasms or other
injuries. Unfortunately, this service can be quite costly and is not
always available at the time of need.

Nature Creation® is offering simple to use products, which can be
applied instantly with immediate results. Our natural packs, filled
with a blend of 9 herbs can help alleviate any discomfort and pain in
your shoulder and neck area:

Nature
Creation® Neck Wrap

This pack has a simple “U” shape design, which can be used either hot
or cold. This anatomically designed wrap will precisely follow the
contour of your neck and upper back area to provide excellent supports
and comfort. The Nature
Creation Neck Wrap can also provide support for your neck while
sleeping or resting. If you heat it up, the pack will help relieve
muscle tension, stress, minor headaches and pain around the neck area.
It can help with sprains, stiffness, neck injuries, and other traumas
to the area. The natural scents produced by the herbs are also very
soothing and relaxing. as the pack’s cold application can help reduce
muscle stiffness and inflammation in the neck.

Product Details:

Box Contains	1 Set of Neck Wrap 1 Piece of plastic ziplock, 1 Booklet of Retail Catalog
Available Colors	Black, Blue, Green, Purple, Red.
Product Size	Approximately 12.0″ x 12.0″ x 1.50″ (U-Shape)
Product Warranty	1 Year Craftsmanship Warranty
Application	Hot, Cold, Moist

Materials/ Fabrics	100% Cotton
Filling Ingredients	100% Natural Herbs (Chamomile, Cinnamon, Lemongrass, Peppermint, Rosemary, Spearmint, Yarrow, Yellow-Dock Root, White Willow), Flax Seeds, Wheats.
Manufacture	Made in USA

Share and Enjoy:

No comments »

Posted in General Topics

Tags: back cold application fedex feh l nature creation nature creation contour neck wrap nature creation for neck nature creation neck wrap nature creations neck nature creations neck wrap nature neck wrap nature therapy neck wrap naturecreation neck naturecreation.com natures creation should wrap pregnancy neck neck wraps by nature creations pain promotion shoulder special special offer stress where can buy nature creation neck support products? where can i purchase nature creation neck wrap in denver wrap

Habits to worsen your back

June 24th, 2010

back care

Back pain sends more patients to doctors than any condition other than the common cold.
It’s the fifth most common reason for hospitalizations and third most common cause of surgery. And 56% of people with lower-back aches say symptoms disrupt their daily routines, including sleep and sex. Talk about a pain in the…back.

There are many possible causes of back pain, which means there are also many non-invasive solutions, according to Todd Sinett, a chiropractor and coauthor of The Truth about Back Pain. “Back pain is rarely one catastrophic event,” he says in the book, “but several situations combining to create pain.” And it turns out that some seemingly insignificant everyday habits can take a big toll on your back over time. Here, the top 14 mistakes that may be causing your aches and how to correct them.

1. You’re Chained to Your Desk
Did you know that sitting puts 40% more pressure on your spine than standing?
Let’s be honest: Maintaining proper posture is probably the last thing you’re thinking about when under a major work deadline. And on a jam-packed day, regular stretching breaks may not seem like a wise way to spend your time. But skipping these habits may cause your back to suffer. That’s because back muscles will weaken if you don’t use them; inactive joints lose lubrication and age more quickly.

Fix It: Sitting at a 135-degree angle can reduce compression of the discs in the spine, so lean back slightly every now and then. Do it when you take a phone call or a coworker stops by to chat, Sinett recommends. Make sure your office chair supports the curve of your spine, he says: Your lower back should be supported, and your head should be straight—not lurching forward—when you look at your computer screen. Get up and walk around for a couple of minutes every half hour—take trips to get water, use the bathroom, or grab papers off the printer.

2. You Have a Long Commute
Just like at your desk, hunching over a steering wheel can tighten chest muscles and cause your shoulders to round.
Slumping posture can zap energy and make you look heavier, not to mention cause back and neck problems. Back pain is the number one complaint of the patients of Darran W. Marlow, DC, director of the chiropractic division at the Texas Back Institute, and he advises them to first think about their driving posture.

Fix it: “Be sure you sit at a 90-degree angle, close to the wheel so you don’t have to stretch,” he says. “Extending your leg puts your back in a compromised position, but many people don’t even realize they’re doing it.”

3. You’ve Been Ditching the Gym
Get moving to alleviate aches and pains and fix back pain faster.
New research shows that 40% of people become less active after back pain strikes—a strategy that’s likely to delay healing or even make their condition worse.

Fix it: In fact, most sufferers would benefit from more exercise—particularly frequent walks, which ease stiffness, says spine surgeon Raj Rao, MD. For instant relief, he recommends stretching your hamstrings and hips.

4. You Don’t Do Yoga
By improving circulation and lowering stress, just about any kind of exercise promotes back pain recovery. But yoga may be best.
University of Washington researchers say yoga eases lower-back pain faster than conventional exercises. In a different study, 101 patients were randomly assigned to one of three groups. The first group took weekly yoga classes and practiced at home; the second group participated in weekly exercise sessions developed by a physical therapist, plus practiced at home; and the third group received a self-help back care book. After 3 months, the yoga group had better back-related functioning, compared with the other two groups. And after 6 months, patients who took yoga reported less back pain and better back-related functioning. Because it promotes deep breathing and relaxation, as well as stretching and strength, yoga may help with both emotional and structural triggers of back pain.

Fix it: You can find yoga classes everywhere—at gyms, YMCAs, and local studios. Make sure to tell the instructor about your pain so she can help modify certain moves for you.

5. You’re Addicted to Crunches
Sit-ups and crunches may actually cause more back pain than they prevent, according to Sinett.
We hear all the time how a strong core protects your back, which is true. But crunches don’t work the ab muscles that stabilize your back. In fact, they can contribute to pain by causing what Sinett calls core imbalance, “a condition of excessive compression, which results in the spine curving forward in a C-like shape.”

Fix it: You don’t have to ditch crunches entirely, but you should do them slowly and use proper form. Include them as part of a broader core workout that also strengthens your transverse abdominus. This muscle is particularly important for a strong, steady core that supports your back, and the best way to strengthen it is with (noncrunch!)

6. You’re Not the Healthiest Eater
Research shows that eating habits that are good for your heart, weight, and blood sugar are also good for your back.
Finnish research found that people who suffered from back pain were more likely to have clogged arteries to the spine than healthy control subjects. Healthy circulation brings nutrients to the spine and removes waste, says Sinett. If this doesn’t happen, inflammation can result, and inflammatory chemicals in the back can trigger nerves to send pain signals to the brain.

Fix it: A back-healthy diet is one that reduces inflammation, according to the The Truth about Back Pain. The book’s plan advises avoiding excess caffeine and processed foods (read ingredient labels for the following: hydrogenated or partially hydrogenated oils, enriched wheat flour, words ending in –ose, and additives that end in –ates or –ites), and eating more whole grains, soy, nuts and seeds, protein (chicken, fish, lean meat), vegetables, and fruit.

7. You Carry Your Entire Life in Your Purse
A stuffed-to-the-gills handbag may cause back damage that’s comparable to a sports injury!
When you tote a heavy bag, your shoulders become imbalanced, says Sinett. Your body elevates the shoulder carrying the bag, which throws your spine off-kilter. Doing this every day can cause back muscles to ache over time.

Fix it: First, carry the lightest bag possible. (Some of today’s styles—with chains, studs, and other hardware—are heavy even when empty!) The American Chiropractic Association recommends that your bag—when fully loaded—weighs no more than 10% of your body weight. Alternate which shoulder you carry the bag with from day to day, and consider splitting your stuff between two bags (one for each arm), which will pain-proof your load by distributing it more evenly.

8. Your Mattress Is from Another Decade
Can’t remember the last time you replaced it? Your back may be in trouble.
A good mattress lasts 9 to 10 years, according to the National Sleep Foundation, but consider replacing yours every 5 to 7 years if you don’t sleep well or your back throbs. A study at Oklahoma State University found that most people who switched to new bedding after 5 years slept significantly better and had less back pain.

Fix it: When you do replace your mattress, take a Goldilocks approach: Pick one that’s not too squishy or too hard. Very firm mattresses can increase pressure on the spine and worsen pain, say Spanish researchers. A study of 313 people revealed that those who caught Zzzs on medium-firm mattresses were more likely to report pain improvement than those on firmer ones. To help ease nighttime discomfort even more, tuck a pillow under your knees if you sleep on your back, between your knees if you’re a side sleeper, or beneath your stomach and hips if you snooze on your belly.

9. You Have a Thing for High Heels
Or flip-flops. Both lead to foot instability, which can in turn affect your back.
High heels force you to arch your back, making your spinal muscles work harder. Backless shoes like sandals cause your feet to move from side to side, according to Sinett, which distributes your body weight unevenly and can cause pain.

Fix it: You don’t have to forgo trendy footwear—just don’t walk long distances in them. Commute in comfy flats or supportive sneakers, and consider adding cushioning inserts to uncomfy shoes. When Lehigh University researchers gave back-pain sufferers lightweight, flexible shoes with simple cushions, 80% reported significant relief within a year.

10. You Ignore the Pain
Trying to block out pain could make it worse, finds research from the Rosalind Franklin University of Medicine and Science.
A better approach: Let yourself consciously experience the hurt. In a standard pain test, psychologists had 68 back-pain sufferers plunge their hands or feet into ice water. When the volunteers were instructed to suppress the shock of the icy water, a key muscle in the back clenched. In contrast, the muscle didn’t tense up when volunteers thought only about the shock. Over time, an increase in muscle tension intensifies pain, says lead researcher John W. Burns, PhD.

Fix it: Accepting pain may be the best way to mentally cope. “Try thinking about the sensory details of the experience, not the negative emotions,” says Burns. “If you have a back spasm, describe the pain to yourself—if it’s burning or throbbing—and remind yourself that it will pass.”

Overall, if you are looking for temporary natural back pain reliever, there is Nature Creation. Nature Creation is made of 9 essential herbs, which can be used as wrapper for hot or cold pain relief therapy. There are many sizes and designs to fit comfortably to your body and ergonomically sculpture to wrap around the pain area. Please visit the company site at http://www.naturecreation.com or call 1–888-250‑2010 to learn more of this amazing product

Note: Article was quoted from Prevention Magazine

Share and Enjoy:

No comments »

Posted in Back, Abdomen & Waist Pain Topics

Tags: back back pain back treatment cold application knee l lower back lower back pain nature creation naturecreation.com pain shoulder sports injury stress www.naturecreation.com

Stress & Back Pain

May 26th, 2010

There is a strong connection between stress and back pain. Stress causes a release of stress hormones. Stress hormones increase the perception of pain.

Stress hormones also cause the muscles to tighten up. The muscles may tense up so much they go into painful spasms. Back and neck muscles are particularly sensitive to the effects of stress.

Muscle tension reduces blood flow to the tissues (reduced oxygen and nutrients to the tissues). Reduced blood flow delays healing. Adequate circulation is also necessary to flush acidic waste products (byproducts of muscular activity) from the tissues. A build up of acidic waste products in the tissues can cause fatigue and pain.

Stress in itself can cause back pain. A person with a ‘bad back’, e.g. a person who has scar tissue from an old injury or degenerative changes in the spine due to aging, may notice the effects of stress triggering back pain even more than someone with a healthy back. The slightest muscle tension may be ‘the straw the broke the camel’s back.’ For instance, if spinal nerves are already restricted by scar tissue or calcium deposits it may take minimal muscle tension to compress nerves and cause pain. Sciatica may flare up when one is feeling stressed.

Tense back muscles increase back pain and pain increases tensing of muscles — a vicious cycle of stress and back pain can be created.

The back is less capable of tolerating even mild abuse (lifting something slightly heavy, poor posture, a sudden twist, sitting too long, etc) when a person is under stress. Stress causes the muscles to tighten up, leaving them vulnerable to injury.
Reducing Stress

Relieving stress can reduce pain that is aggravated or caused by tense muscles. Managing stress on an ongoing basis may also help prevent back pain from occurring in the first place.

Relaxation Techniques
Relaxation techniques invoke the “relaxation response”, muscles relaxation and blood pressure, heartbeat, and respiration decrease. This is the opposite of the “stress response” where muscles tense and blood pressure, heartbeat, and respiration increase. Nature Creation is the natural pain and stress relief herbal packs, which may help you to achieve your relaxation objectives while relieving pain naturally. Each pack is filled with 9 essential natural herbs which you may use it as hot or cold pain treatments and/ or relaxation therapies. There are more than 18 different designs which each will comfortably fit onto the contour of your body.

Exercise
Stress can be relieved through exercise. Aerobic exercise is a particularly effective form of exercise for relieving stress –aerobic exercise burns off stress hormones and increases the body’s production of endorphins — naturally occurring chemicals that relieve pain and improve mood. Stretching exercises also can relieve stress and loosen tight muscles. Yoga incorporates poses that increase strength and flexibility with breathing techniques to relieve stress.

There are many relaxation techniques, from simple deep breathing exercises that are easy to learn on one’s own to self-hypnosis that must initially be taught by a qualified professional. Other relaxation techniques include meditation, progressive muscle relaxation, guided imagery, biofeedback.

Share and Enjoy:

No comments »

Posted in Back, Abdomen & Waist Pain Topics, Mental Health

Stress Therapies Through Natural Remedies

May 10th, 2010

If stress is not handled properly, more serious illnesses may result.

How Serious a Threat to Your Health is Stress?

Many believe that practically every illness has stress reaction as a contributing factor. Someone who handles stress well just simply doesn’t get sick.

How often are the times you have caught a cold or flu also been times when you were worried or stressed about something more than normal, or even dealing with some kind of trauma?

This is why it is wise to remember whatever remedies you choose for temporary relief, there must in addition be conscious work toward releasing stress patterns and habits that keep the worry mode, or anxiety in place.

Here’s something to think about. Is stress different today than it was a few decades ago? Contemporary stress tends to be more pervasive, persistent and insidious because it stems primarily from psychological rather than physical threats. It is associated with ingrained and immediate reactions over which we have no control and were originally designed to be beneficial such as:

* The heart rate and blood pressure soar to increase the flow of blood to the brain to improve decision making.
* The blood sugar rises to furnish more fuel for energy as the result of the breakdown of glycogen, fat and protein stores.
* The blood is shunted away from the gut, where its not immediately needed for purposes of digestion. It goes to the large muscles of the arms and legs to provide more strength in combat, or greater speed in getting away from a scene of potential peril.
* Also clotting occurs more quickly to prevent blood loss from lacerations or internal hemorrhage.

These and myriad of other immediate and automatic responses have been exquisitely honed over the lengthy course of human evolution as life saving measures to facilitate primitive man’s ability to deal with physical challenges.

However, the nature of stress for modern man is not an occasional confrontation with a saber-toothed tiger or a hostile warrior but rather a host of emotional threats like getting stuck in traffic and fights or misunderstandings with customers, co-workers, or family members, that often occur several times a day.

Unfortunately, our bodies still react with these same, archaic fight or flight responses that are not only usefulness but potentially damaging and deadly. Repeatedly invoked, it is not hard to see how they can contribute to hypertension, strokes, heart attacks, diabetes, ulcers, neck or low back pain and other “Diseases of Civilization.“

Feeling a Bit Stressed These Days?

You’re not alone! Traffic jams, deadlines, bills to pay, job changes, endless chores and errands, relationships, family problems, it’s always something and of course we are on the brink of war.

Stress is experienced by everyone at one time or another. It requires the body to make physical and chemical adjustments in order to maintain the necessary physiological balance for survival. A racing heart, a burst of energy, and muscle tension are the body’s physical responses to stress. When faced with danger, some of the first stress reactions are a rise in blood pressure, quicker breathing and heart beat, and dilated pupils. Sight and hearing become more alert.

This reaction is an instinctive response that protects us from threats to our survival. Physiological changes are part of the “fight or flight” response, which prepares and energizes a person to confront or flee from danger. After the threat has passed or a change takes place, the “alarm” signs disappear. The body is still aroused but is adapting to the change.

When you “gear up” under stress, your body begins to do more of some things and less of others. For example, blood circulation increases, but digestion slows down or even stops. First symptoms of these digestive orders may be Persistent Indigestion or Colitis.

Once the stress ends, your body goes to work to restore the balance. However, if stress returns too soon, your body will never have time to get back on an even keel. Eventually, this can lead to major health problems. Exhaustion occurs, causing damage to the person’s physical and emotional well-being. If the stress is short-term, chances are good that it can be dealt with. It is long-term stress that causes the body to break down and has many real physical effects.

Some of the disorders associated with stress are:

* Anxiety
* High blood pressure
* Headaches
* Depression
* Weakened Immune System
* Higher Cholesterol Levels
* Sleeplessness
* Impotence
* Migraine Headaches
* Diarrhea
* Loss of Appetite
* Increased Appetite

If stress is not handled properly, then more serious illnesses will result.

There is no escape from stress. You must learn how to handle it.

Relaxation is often difficult. But necessary to alleviate the stress. Nature Creation (www.naturecreation.com) is one company who manufactures natural herbal therapy packs. The products are filled with 9 essential natural herbs, which the essence of scents will bring natural relaxation stimulation to your brain. In addition, the products can also be used as hot or cold therapy. These are excellent if you have muscle stiffness, body pain, headache, cramps or awkward twist of your nerves.

The design of Nature Creation products are ergonomically fit comfortably to the contour of your body. There are 18 patented shapes and sizes and five unique colors to choose.

Please visit the company website to learn more of the products and all the benefits.

Share and Enjoy:

No comments »

Posted in General Topics, Mental Health

Tags: back back pain flu heart attack illness inflammation l nature creation naturecreation.com pain stress what is the physical nature of stress in english www.naturecreation.com

The Best Ways To Feel Better

April 2nd, 2010

There are many ways to reduce tension and relax. Here are the ten stress relievers I believe are most effective for the amount of work and time involved. Some can be learned in the time it takes to read this page, while others take a little more practice, but there’s something here for everyone!

1. Breathing Exercises
Deep breathing is an easy stress reliever that has numerous benefits for the body, including oxygenating the blood, which ‘wakes up’ the brain, relaxing muscles and quieting the mind. Breathing exercises are especially helpful because you can do them anywhere, and they work quickly so you can de-stress in a flash. The Karate Breathing Meditation is a great exercise to start with, and this basic breathing exercise can be done anywhere!
Also, Nature Creation is offering Mint Pillow, a small pack contains 100% natural spearmint and peppermints for refreshing breath, sinus congestion, and relaxation therapy.

2. Meditation
Meditation builds on deep breathing, and takes it a step further. When you meditate, your brain enters an area of functioning that’s similar to sleep, but carries some added benefits you can’t achieve as well in any other state, including the release of certain hormones that promote health. Also, the mental focus on nothingness keeps your mind from working overtime and increasing your stress level. Here’s an article on different types of meditation to help you get started.

Nature Creation is offering Shoulder Wrap and Upper Body Wrap, which are designed to create warmness around your body, to relax and relief stiff muscles due to stress.

3. Guided Imagery
It takes slightly more time to practice guided imagery, but this is a great way to leave your stress behind for a while and relax your body. Some find it easier to practice than meditation, as lots of us find it more doable to focus on ‘something’ than on ‘nothing’. You can play natural sounds in the background as you practice, to promote a more immersive experience.

4. Visualizations
Building on guided imagery, you can also imagine yourself achieving goals like becoming healthier and more relaxed, doing well at tasks, and handling conflict in better ways. Also, visualizing yourself doing well on tasks you’re trying to master actually functions like physical practice, so you can improve your performance through visualizations as well!

5. Self-hypnosis
Self-hypnosis incorporates some of the features of guided imagery and visualizations, with the added benefit of enabling you to communicate directly you’re your subconscious mind to enhance your abilities, more easily give up bad habits, feel less pain, more effectively develop healthier habits, and even find answers to questions that may not be clear to your waking mind! It takes some practice and training, but is well worth it. Learn more about using hypnosis to manage stress in your life.

6. Exercise
Many people exercise to control weight and get in better physical condition to become more healthy or physically attractive, but exercise and stress management are also closely linked. Exercise provides a distraction from stressful situations, as well as an outlet for frustrations, and gives you a lift via endorphins as well. This article can tell you more about the stress management benefits of exercise, and help you get more active in your daily life.

7. Progressive Muscle Relaxation
By tensing and relaxing all the muscle groups in your body, you can relieve tension and feel much more relaxed in minutes, with no special training or equipment. Start by tensing all the muscles in your face, holding a tight grimace ten seconds, then completely relaxing for ten seconds. Repeat this with your neck, followed by your shoulders, etc. You can do this anywhere, and as you practice, you will find you can relax more quickly and easily, reducing tension as quickly as it starts!

Nature Creation offers variety products to help you relax and relieve muscle tensions. There are Ultimate Set, which contains the most comprehensive package to ultimately relax your mind and body from the head to back. There is also Full Set, which is similar to Ultimate Set, but offer with smaller back belt design and non-enclosed shoulder wrap.

8. Sex
You probably already know that sex is a great tension reliever, but have you officially thought of it as a stress-relieving practice? Perhaps you should. The physical benefits of sex are numerous, and most of them work very well toward relieving stress. Sadly, many people have less sex when their stress levels are high. Learn how to avoid this trap!

9. Music
Music therapy has shown numerous health benefits for people with conditions ranging from mild (like stress) to severe (like cancer). When dealing with stress, the right music can actually lower your blood pressure, relax your body and calm your mind. Here are some suggestions of different types of music to listen to, and how to use music in your daily life for effective stress management.

10. Yoga
Yoga is one of the oldest self-improvement practices around, dating back over 5 thousand years! It combines the practices of several other stress management techniques such as breathing, meditation, imagery and movement, giving you a lot of benefit for the amount of time and energy required. Learn more about how to manage stress with yoga.

Share and Enjoy:

No comments »

Posted in Healthy Life

Tags: aroma arthritis back depression energy l nature creation naturecreation.com pain relax sex shoulder stress tension therapy treatments yoga

Nature Creation Products Presentation

March 22nd, 2010

Nature Creation is committed to provide comprehensive information of the benefits and usages of our products. On the following video presentation, you will learn the benefits and application of our popular products designs.

Nature Creation products are known to relief pains associated to muscle discomforts, body discomforts, stress, menstrual pains, headache, fever and many more. These products can be used as hot or cold treatments and can be used repeatably.

Please watch the following presentation. If you need more information, visit http://www.naturecreation.com

Share and Enjoy:

No comments »

Posted in General Topics

Tags: l nature creation naturecreation.com pain presentation products stress video www.naturecreation.com

Nature Creation — The Ultimate Natural Therapy Solution

March 11th, 2010

Introduction

Nature Creation® was established in 1996 and started out as a simple herbal pack business. In 2004, it evolved to become the leading manufacture of natural hot & cold herbal therapy pack in USA.

Nature Creation® products are easily found in major shopping malls and our exclusive website, www.naturecreation.com. Our manufacturing facility is located in Chatsworth, California and we have two strategic distribution facilities in USA to support fast delivery to our clients.

Why is Nature Creation®?

If you’re nursing limb or joint problems ranging from sports injuries to arthritis, conventional flat hot or cold packs miss the mark — literally. They provide only partial coverage of the traumatized area because of their rectangular construction and inability to bend when frozen.

The herbs pack therapy from Nature Creation® conquers those flaws with a patented comfort design that completely encircles the area with heat or cold for faster and better treatment. Nature Creation® is a manufacture of family of reusable herbal pack that fit over the shoulder, wrist, knee, thigh or other body parts. These innovative packs wrap the limb or joint in a flexible, cushion-like padding that stays in position with straps & wraps for rapid hands-free use. The total coverage allows the entire circumference of the injured area to be treated at one time instead of in stages as required with a flat pack. The proprietary of 9 essential natural herbs filling stay soft when frozen or heated to allow the pack to mold to the body, ensuring deep hot or cold penetration of soft tissues. Together, these features reduce treatment time, provide faster pain relief, keep swelling to a minimum, and increase overall effectiveness.

Used hot, the Nature Creation® herbal packs provide soothing surround-the-limb relief for arthritis, carpal tunnel syndrome, muscle aches, post-operative pain and more. They heat in the microwave in about one minute or two, and their ability to be used repeatedly can save hundreds of dollars over expensive one-time-use hot packs.

Used cold, Nature Creation® herbal packs provide first aid for acute soft tissue injuries, tennis elbow and other conditions that require cold applications to combat swelling, pain and bruising. The insulating protective cover solution that is offered as a an option with each pack will protect the skin from extreme temperatures also supplies slight compression, allowing the herbs to address two of the four steps in the RICE (rest,

ice, compression, elevation) method of injury treatment.

Nature Creation® Hot/Cold Therapy herbal packs are natural solution of pain therapy and can go from freezer to microwave and back over and over again.

Nature Creation® Commitment to Quality & Values

The ideal design of Nature Creation® products is to provide natural soothing therapy in the comfort of your daily life. Through out the years, we had many compliments and suggestions on what to expect and how to improve the designs and the execution of our products.

We did all the researches and experiments, which finally came out in details as followed:

Perfect Balanced of Blended Formula from 9 Essential Natural Herbs

Unlike the previous blend, the new blend contains smaller particles of high quality natural herbs. They will not harsh or absurd the skins, which allow the users to put the packs on almost any parts of the body or to walk comfortably, while maintain the heat and cold effect on the product. The hand-selected herbs include Chamomile, Cinnamon, Lemon grass, Peppermint, Rosemary, Spearmint, White Willow, Yarrow, Yellow-Dock Root. In addition, we add Flax Seed and Wheat as the heating and cooling elements to the blends.

Extended & Improved Sewing Methods

Durability and comfort are two main reasons of this improvement. We experimented extensively with various durable, but soft materials for the inner sole, padding, and outer fabrics. Yet, we always put the priority of comfort to the users. As the final designs revealed, we discovered new method of sewing patterns to strengthen the joints and combined to better fabrics, which eventually improved the users’ experiences of excellent heating & cooling effects. This new multi layers Zigzag sewing patterns and new fabrics will guarantee to improve the durability of all Nature Creation® products.

Easy Opening and Sealed of Protective Covers

It is now easier to remove or replace the protective covers onto the packs. The improved design of the protective covers extends the flexibility, while the new sewing systems allow the covers to open wider to take-in & out of the packs easily

Colors of Synergy

The thicker, but soft outer fabrics will enhance the durability & comfort, yet they match the marble colors of other Nature Creation® products. Now, you can use the complete sets of Nature Creation® collections and be in harmony of perfect synergy with your favorite colors.

1-Year Craftsmanship Warranty

We are confident to the quality, comfort and soothing therapy of our new & improved products, which we back it up with 1-year craftsmanship warranty. If you find any workmanship defects or issues within the first year of purchase, we will replace your products and extend the warranty on the replacement for an additional 1-year.

Nature Creation® Features Products

Upper Body Wrap

This is a special patented design of Nature Creation® collections. This ultimate Upper Body Wrap will cover the upper back, shoulders, neck and chest area in one convenient wrap! The Upper Body Wrap measures approximately 18”x11” and the Velcro straps make it easy to wrap around your neck and shoulders, holding the pack comfortably in place.

The 9 essential filling natural herbs will work simultaneously to reduce stiffness and relive muscular pain in the upper back and shoulders on hot application. It also will promote muscle relaxation, relieve pain due to sprains, injured muscles and minor headaches on cold application.

Shoulder Wrap

Shoulder Wrap is our best seller, since it was incepted in 2004. The design will conform easily around the neck, shoulders, and upper back. The Shoulder Wrap can be used as hot or cold application. If you use it hot, the filling of the natural herbs will elevate muscle aches, stiffness around the neck/ shoulder area and upper back. If used as cold application, it will relief minor headaches, reduce swelling and shoulder cramps.

Shoulder Wrap is also available as unscented product. It is filled with 100% natural grains.

Neck Wrap

The Neck Wrap is designed for the base of the neck. It is very supportive and very suitable for most travelers who likely to sleep in the car or on the airplane. The Neck Wrap is also very gratifying for most people who love to read books or watch television. The natural herbal seeds inside the pack may adjust to the proportion of the neck to provide excellent grab for ultimate treatments. If you heat it, it will relieve neck stiffness, muscle pain and shoulder tension. If you use it cold, it may reduce swelling, fever, and promote muscle relaxation.

The aroma of inside herbs is soothing and refreshing. It may rejuvenate your mind and body, in addition to relief minor headaches. The Neck Wrap is available in multiple colors, such as Black, Blue, Green, Purple, Orange and Red.

Spine/ Back Pack

The Spine/ Back Wrap is Nature Creation® original multi-purpose design intended to relive lower and upper back pain. This long pack is measured approximately 16.5” x 8” and can be placed around your lower back or along your spine. It is effective to relief aches and pain or to reduce stiffness.

Wrap your abdomen with the pack to relieve menstrual cramps and muscle pain. Secured with two Velcro straps, the Nature Creation® Back/ Spine Pack is so comfortable; you are free to walk around with it at anytime.

Back/ Abdomen Pack

Nature Creation® Back/ Abdomen Pack is measured approximately 15.5” x 5” and can be placed comfortably around your lower back to relieve menstrual pains, back aches and stomach pain or other muscular pain issues within the area.

Eye Lavender Wrap

The Eye Lavender Wrap is packed with 100% natural Lavender flowers seeds. Lavender has strong enchanting smell, which is great to relieve migraines, headaches, stress and depression. The design is very comfortable for your eyes, while it will reduce puffiness and sore eye muscles.

The Eve Lavender Wrap is designed for cold temperature. Please do not heat the pack. The Eye Lavender wrap comes in multiple colors, such as Black, Blue, Green, Grey, Orange and Red.

Herb Pack

This is Nature Creation® Multi-Purpose Herb Pack. It is multi– purpose because it is very adaptable and flexible, which can be applied to most part of the body. It can be used as a heating pack to relieve common muscle aches and pain. Some women also applied it to relief menstrual cramps or commonly used by both male and female to relief stomach pain. When the pack is cold, it is suitable to reduce fever; swelling, minor burns/ bruises and muscle sprains/ join pain. The application is almost endless and the herb pack is always reusable.

Some people just love the smell of the herb pack. The enchanting smell is proven to relief minor headaches or aromatherapy.

The Herb Pack comes in multiple colors, such as Black, Blue, Green, Grey, Orange and Red.

There is no doubt that you are purchasing products from a company with excellent customer services and quality in mind. We understand your high expectations and always work hard to pursuit of perfection to satisfy your needs. We are not only looking for one transaction to fulfill our commitment to excellence. Yet, we are always looking absolute satisfaction of your clients and our business relation in the future.

Please visit http://www.naturecreation.com/wholesale to learn more of our other products designs and updates of our company. If you have questions, please do not hesitate to contact us at info@naturecreation.com

Share and Enjoy:

No comments »

Posted in General Topics

Tags: back back pain cold application cold applications cold herbal therapy pack creation herbal pack herbal packs improved knee l natural hot and cold packs nature nature creation nature creation stages naturecreation.com pain products promotion shoulder stress swelling www.naturecreation.com

Knee Pain — Comprehensive overview covers symptoms, causes, treatment of this common joint condition

March 10th, 2010

Knee Explanations

Almost one in three Americans older than age 45 reports some type of knee pain, and it’s a common reason that people visit their doctors or the emergency room.

Knee pain may be the result of an injury, such as a ruptured ligament or torn cartilage. Or, certain medical conditions, including arthritis, gout and infection, may be at the root of your knee pain.

Many relatively minor instances of knee pain respond well to self-care measures. More-serious injuries, such as a ruptured ligament or tendon, may require surgical repair.

Although every knee problem can’t be prevented — especially if you’re active — you can take certain steps to reduce the risk of injury or disease.

A knee injury can affect any of the ligaments, tendons or fluid-filled sacs (bursae) that surround your knee joint as well as the bones, cartilage and ligaments that form the joint itself. Because of the knee’s complexity, the number of structures involved, the amount of use it gets over a lifetime, and the range of injuries and diseases that can cause knee pain, the signs and symptoms of knee problems can vary widely.

Some of the more common knee injuries and their signs and symptoms include the following:

Ligament injuries. Your knee contains four ligaments — tough bands of tissue that connect your thighbone (femur) to your lower leg bones (tibia and fibula). You have two collateral ligaments — one on the inside (medial collateral ligament) and one on the outside (lateral collateral ligament) of each knee. The other two ligaments are inside your knee and cross each other as they stretch diagonally from the bottom of your thighbone to the top of your shinbone (tibia). The posterior cruciate ligament (PCL) connects to the back of your shinbone, and the anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) connects near the front of your shinbone. A tear in one of these ligaments, which may be caused by a fall or contact trauma, is likely to cause:

* Immediate pain that worsens when you try to walk or bend your knee
* A popping sound
* An inability to bear weight on the injured knee
* A feeling that the knee might buckle or give way

Tendon injuries (tendinitis). Tendinitis is irritation and inflammation of one or more tendons — the thick, fibrous cords that attach muscles to bones. Athletes, such as especially runners, skiers and cyclists, are prone to develop inflammation in the patellar tendon, which connects the quadriceps muscle on the front of the thigh to the larger lower leg bone (tibia). If your knee pain is caused by tendinitis, some of the signs and symptoms include:

* Pain, in one or both knees
* Swelling in the front of the knee or just below the kneecap
* Worsening pain when you jump, run, squat or climb stairs
* An inability to completely extend or straighten your knee

Meniscus injuries. The meniscus is a C-shaped piece of cartilage that curves within your knee joint. Meniscus injuries involve tears in the cartilage, which can occur in various places and configurations. Signs and symptoms of this type of injury include:

* Pain
* Mild to moderate swelling that occurs slowly, as long as 24 to 36 hours after the injury
* An inability to straighten the knee completely; the knee may feel locked in place

Bursitis. Some knee injuries cause inflammation in the bursae, the small sacs of fluid that cushion the outside of your knee joint so that tendons and ligaments glide smoothly over the joint. Bursitis can lead to:

* Warmth
* Swelling
* Redness
* Pain, even at rest
* Aching or stiffness when you walk
* Considerable pain when you kneel or go up and down stairs
* Fever, pain and swelling if the bursa located over your kneecap bone (prepatellar bursa) becomes infected

Loose body. Sometimes injury or degeneration of bone or cartilage can cause a piece of bone or cartilage to break off and float in the joint space. This may not create any problems unless the loose body interferes with knee joint movement — the effect is something like a pencil caught in a door hinge — leading to pain and a locked joint.

Dislocated kneecap. This occurs when the triangular bone (patella) that covers the front of your knee slips out of place, usually to the outside of your knee. You’ll be able to see the dislocation, and your kneecap is likely to move excessively from side to side. Signs and symptoms of a dislocated kneecap include:

* Intense pain
* Swelling
* Difficulty walking or straightening your knee

Osgood-Schlatter disease. Primarily affecting athletic teens and preteens, this overuse syndrome causes:

* Pain, usually worse with activity, especially running and jumping
* Swelling
* Tenderness at the bony prominence (tibial tuberosity) just below the kneecap

The discomfort can last a few months and may continue to recur until your teen or preteen stops growing.

Iliotibial band syndrome. This occurs when the ligament that extends from the outside of your pelvic bone to the outside of your tibia (iliotibial band) becomes so tight that it rubs against the outer portion of your femur. Distance runners are especially susceptible to iliotibial band syndrome, which generally causes:

* A sharp, burning pain on the outer side of the knee that usually begins after longer distance runs
* Pain that initially goes away with rest from running, but in time may persist when you walk or go up and down stairs

With this type of knee injury, there usually isn’t swelling and you’ll likely have normal range of motion.

Hyperextended knee. In this injury, your knee extends beyond its normally straightened position so that it bends back on itself. Sometimes the damage is relatively minor, with pain and swelling when you try to extend your knee. But a hyperextended knee may also lead to a partial or complete ligament tear, especially in your ACL.

Septic arthritis. Sometimes your knee joint can become infected, leading to swelling, pain and redness. There’s usually no trauma before the onset of pain. Septic arthritis often occurs with a fever.

Rheumatoid arthritis. The most debilitating of the more than 100 types of arthritis, rheumatoid arthritis can affect almost any joint in your body, including your knees. Common signs and symptoms of rheumatoid arthritis include:

* Pain
* Swelling
* Aching and stiffness, especially when you get up in the morning or after periods of inactivity
* Loss of motion in your knees and eventually deformity of the knee joints
* Sometimes, a low-grade fever and a general sense of not feeling well (malaise)

Although rheumatoid arthritis is a chronic disease, it tends to vary in severity and may even come and go. Periods of increased disease activity — called flare-ups or flares — often alternate with periods of remission.

Osteoarthritis. Sometimes called degenerative arthritis, this is the most common type of arthritis. It’s a wear-and-tear condition that occurs when the cartilage in your knee deteriorates with use and age. Osteoarthritis usually develops gradually and tends to cause:

* Varying degrees of pain, especially when you stand or walk
* Swelling
* Stiffness, especially in the morning and after you’ve been active
* Creaking or popping sounds
* A loss of flexibility in your knee joints

Gout and pseudogout. Gout, a type of arthritis, is likely to cause:

* Redness.
* Swelling.
* Intense knee pain that comes on suddenly — often at night — and without warning. The pain typically lasts five to 10 days and then stops. The discomfort subsides gradually over one to two weeks, leaving your knee joints apparently normal and pain-free.

Another condition, pseudogout (chondrocalcinosis), which mainly occurs in older adults, can cause:

* Severe inflammation
* Intermittent attacks of sudden pain and swelling in large joints, especially the knees

Chondromalacia of the patella, or patellofemoral pain. This is a general term that refers to pain arising between your patella and the underlying thighbone (femur). It’s common in young adults, especially those who have a slight misalignment of the kneecap; in athletes; and in older adults, who usually develop the condition as a result of arthritis of the kneecap. Chondromalacia of the patella causes:

* Pain and tenderness in the front of your knee that’s worse when you sit for long periods, when you get up from a chair, and when you climb or descend stairs.
* A grating or grinding sensation may be present when you extend your knee.

When to see a doctor
If you have new knee pain that isn’t severe or disabling, a good rule of thumb is to try treating it yourself first. This includes resting, icing and elevating the affected knee, and sometimes using nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs to reduce pain and inflammation. If you don’t notice any improvement in three to seven days, see your doctor or a specialist in sports medicine or orthopedics.

Some types of knee pain require more immediate medical care. Call your doctor if you:

* Can’t bear weight on your knee
* Have marked knee swelling
* See an obvious deformity in your leg or knee
* Have worrisome pain
* Have a fever, in addition to redness, pain and swelling in your knee, which may indicate an infection

In the simplest terms, a joint occurs wherever two bones come together. But that definition doesn’t begin to convey the complexity of joints, which provide your body with flexibility, support and a wide range of motion.

You have four types of joints: fixed, pivot, ball-and-socket and hinge. Your knees are hinge joints, which, as the name suggests, work much like the hinge of a door, allowing the joint to move backward and forward. Your knees are the largest and heaviest hinge joints in your body. They’re also the most complex. In addition to bending and straightening, they twist and rotate. This makes them especially vulnerable to damage, which is why they sustain more injuries on average than do other joints.

A closer look at your knees
Your knee joint is essentially four bones held together by ligaments. Your thighbone (femur) makes up the top part of the joint, and two lower leg bones, the tibia and the fibula, comprise the lower part. The fourth bone, the patella, slides in a groove on the end of the femur.

Ligaments are large bands of tissue that connect bones to one another. In the knee joint, four main ligaments link the femur to the tibia and help stabilize your knee as it moves through its arc of motion. These include the collateral ligaments along the inner (medial) and outer (lateral) sides of your knee and the anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) and posterior cruciate ligament (PCL), which cross each other as they stretch diagonally from the bottom of your thighbone to the top of your shinbone.

Other structures in your knee include:

* Tendons. These fibrous bands of tissue connect muscles to bones. Your knee has two important tendons, which make it possible for you to straighten or extend your leg: the quadriceps tendon, which connects the long quadriceps muscle on the front of your thigh to the patella, and the patellar tendon, which connects the patella to the tibia.
* Meniscus. This C-shaped cartilage, which curves around the inside and outside of your knee, cushions your knee joint.
* Bursae. A number of these fluid-filled sacs surround your knee. They help cushion your knee joint so that ligaments and tendons slide across it smoothly.

Normally, all of these structures work together smoothly. But injury and disease can disrupt this balance, resulting in pain, muscle weakness and decreased function.

Some common causes of knee pain and injuries include:

* A blow to the knee, either from contact during sports, a fall or a car accident
* Repeated stress or overuse, which may occur from playing sports or if your work or hobby requires doing the same activity over and over again
* Sudden turning, pivoting, stopping, cutting from side to side, which happens frequently during certain sports
* Awkward landings from a fall or from jumping during sports, such as basketball
* Rapidly growing bones, which are especially prone to injury during sports
* Degeneration from aging

patellofemoral

A number of factors can increase your risk of having knee problems, including:

* Excess weight. Being overweight or obese increases stress on your knee joints, even during ordinary activities such as walking or going up and down stairs. It also puts you at increased risk of osteoarthritis by accelerating the breakdown of joint cartilage.
* Overuse. Any repetitive activity, from cycling a few miles every morning to gardening all weekend, can fatigue the muscles around your joints and lead to excessive loading stress. This causes an inflammatory response that damages tissue. If you don’t allow your body time to recover, the cycle of inflammation and microdamage continues, putting you at increased risk of injury. It’s not repeated motion itself that’s to blame, but rather the lack of adequate recovery time. That’s why current strength training guidelines advise against working the same muscle group on consecutive days.
* Lack of muscle flexibility or strength. A lack of strength and flexibility are among the leading causes of knee injuries. Tight or weak muscles offer less support for your knee because they don’t absorb enough of the stress exerted on your knee joints.
* Lack of neuromuscular control. Studies have shown that some people who have abnormal movement patterns of the leg during activities such as squatting and stepping off a step may be predisposed to knee injury.
* Mechanical problems. Certain structural abnormalities, such as having one leg shorter than the other, misaligned knees and even flat feet, can make you more prone to knee problems.
* High-risk sports and activities. Some sports and activities put greater stress on your knees than do others. Alpine skiing with its sharp twists and turns and potential for falls, basketball’s jumps and pivots, and the repeated pounding your knees take when you run or jog all increase your risk of injury.
* Previous injury. Having a previous knee injury makes it more likely that you’ll injure your knee again.
* Age. Certain types of knee problems are more common in young people — Osgood-Schlatter disease and patellar tendinitis, for example. Others, such as osteoarthritis, gout and pseudogout, tend to affect older adults.
* Sex. For reasons that aren’t entirely clear, your sex may increase your risk of some types of knee injuries. Teenage girls are more likely than are boys to experience an ACL tear or a dislocated kneecap. Boys, on the other hand, are at greater risk of Osgood-Schlatter disease and patellar tendinitis than girls are.

Not all knee pain is serious. But some knee injuries and medical conditions, such as osteoarthritis, can lead to increasing pain, joint damage and even disability if left untreated. And having a knee injury — even a minor one — makes it more likely that you’ll have similar injuries in the future.

Share and Enjoy:

No comments »

Posted in Joint Pains Topics

Sleep Apnea, What is it?

February 17th, 2010

What Is Sleep Apnea?

Sleep apnea is a common disorder in which you have one or more pauses in breathing or shallow breaths while you sleep.

Breathing pauses can last from a few seconds to minutes. They often occur 5 to 30 times or more an hour. Typically, normal breathing then starts again, sometimes with a loud snort or choking sound.

sleep_apnea

Sleep apnea usually is a chronic (ongoing) condition that disrupts your sleep 3 or more nights each week. You often move out of deep sleep and into light sleep when your breathing pauses or becomes shallow.

This results in poor sleep quality that makes you tired during the day. Sleep apnea is one of the leading causes of excessive daytime sleepiness.
Overview

Sleep apnea often goes undiagnosed. Doctors usually can’t detect the condition during routine office visits. Also, there are no blood tests for the condition.

Most people who have sleep apnea don’t know they have it because it only occurs during sleep. A family member and/or bed partner may first notice the signs of sleep apnea.

The most common type of sleep apnea is obstructive sleep apnea. This most often means that the airway has collapsed or is blocked during sleep. The blockage may cause shallow breathing or breathing pauses.

When you try to breathe, any air that squeezes past the blockage can cause loud snoring. Obstructive sleep apnea happens more often in people who are overweight, but it can affect anyone.

The animation below shows how obstructive sleep apnea occurs. Click the “start” button to play the animation. Written and spoken explanations are provided with each frame. Use the buttons in the lower right corner to pause, restart, or replay the animation, or use the scroll bar below the buttons to move through the frames.
The animation shows how air flow to the lungs can be blocked, causing sleep apnea.

The animation shows how air flow to the lungs can be blocked, causing sleep apnea.

Central sleep apnea is a less common type of sleep apnea. It happens when the area of your brain that controls your breathing doesn’t send the correct signals to your breathing muscles. You make no effort to breathe for brief periods.

Central sleep apnea often occurs with obstructive sleep apnea, but it can occur alone. Snoring doesn’t typically happen with central sleep apnea.

Untreated sleep apnea can:

* Increase the risk for high blood pressure, heart attack, stroke, obesity, and diabetes
* Increase the risk for or worsen heart failure
* Make irregular heartbeats more likely
* Increase the chance of having work-related or driving accidents

Lifestyle changes, mouthpieces, surgery, and/or breathing devices can successfully treat sleep apnea in many people.

Other Names for Sleep Apnea

* Sleep-disordered breathing
* Cheyne-Stokes breathing

What Causes Sleep Apnea?

When you’re awake, throat muscles help keep your airway stiff and open so air can flow into your lungs. When you sleep, these muscles are more relaxed. Normally, the relaxed throat muscles don’t stop your airway from staying open to allow air into your lungs.

But if you have obstructive sleep apnea, your airways can be blocked or narrowed during sleep because:

* Your throat muscles and tongue relax more than normal.
* Your tongue and tonsils (tissue masses in the back of your mouth) are large compared to the opening into your windpipe.
* You’re overweight. The extra soft fat tissue can thicken the wall of the windpipe. This causes the inside opening to narrow and makes it harder to keep open.
* The shape of your head and neck (bony structure) may cause a smaller airway size in the mouth and throat area.
* The aging process limits the ability of brain signals to keep your throat muscles stiff during sleep. This makes it more likely that the airway will narrow or collapse.

Not enough air flows into your lungs when your airways are fully or partly blocked during sleep. This can cause loud snoring and a drop in your blood oxygen levels.

When the oxygen drops to dangerous levels, it triggers your brain to disturb your sleep. This helps tighten the upper airway muscles and open your windpipe. Normal breaths then start again, often with a loud snort or choking sound.

The frequent drops in oxygen levels and reduced sleep quality trigger the release of stress hormones. These compounds raise your heart rate and increase your risk for high blood pressure, heart attack, stroke, and irregular heartbeats. The hormones also raise the risk for or worsen heart failure.

Untreated sleep apnea also can lead to changes in how your body uses energy. These changes increase your risk for obesity and diabetes.

Who Is At Risk for Sleep Apnea?

It’s estimated that more than 12 million American adults have obstructive sleep apnea. More than half of the people who have this condition are overweight.

Sleep apnea is more common in men. One out of 25 middle-aged men and 1 out of 50 middle-aged women have sleep apnea.

Sleep apnea becomes more common as you get older. At least 1 out of 10 people over the age of 65 has sleep apnea. Women are much more likely to develop sleep apnea after menopause.

African Americans, Hispanics, and Pacific Islanders are more likely to develop sleep apnea than Caucasians.

If someone in your family has sleep apnea, you’re more likely to develop it.

People who have small airways in their noses, throats, or mouths also are more likely to have sleep apnea. Smaller airways may be due to the shape of these structures or allergies or other medical conditions that cause congestion in these areas.

Small children often have enlarged tonsil tissues in the throat. This can make them prone to developing sleep apnea.

Other risk factors for sleep apnea include smoking, high blood pressure, and risk factors for stroke or heart failure.

What Are the Signs and Symptoms of Sleep Apnea?

One of the most common signs of obstructive sleep apnea is loud and chronic (ongoing) snoring. Pauses may occur in the snoring. Choking or gasping may follow the pauses.

The snoring usually is loudest when you sleep on your back; it may be less noisy when you turn on your side. Snoring may not happen every night. Over time, the snoring may happen more often and get louder.

You’re asleep when the snoring or gasping occurs. You will likely not know that you’re having problems breathing or be able to judge how severe the problem is. Your family members or bed partner will often notice these problems before you do.

Not everyone who snores has sleep apnea.

Another common sign of sleep apnea is fighting sleepiness during the day, at work, or while driving. You may find yourself rapidly falling asleep during the quiet moments of the day when you’re not active.
Other Signs and Symptoms

Others signs and symptoms of sleep apnea may include:

* Morning headaches
* Memory or learning problems and not being able to concentrate
* Feeling irritable, depressed, or having mood swings or personality changes
* Urination at night
* A dry throat when you wake up

In children, sleep apnea can cause hyperactivity, poor school performance, and aggressiveness. Children who have sleep apnea also may have unusual sleeping positions, bedwetting, and may breathe through their mouths instead of their noses during the day.

How Is Sleep Apnea Diagnosed?

Doctors diagnose sleep apnea based on your medical and family histories, a physical exam, and results from sleep studies. Usually, your primary care doctor evaluates your symptoms first. He or she then decides whether you need to see a sleep specialist.

These specialists are doctors who diagnose and treat people with sleep problems. Such doctors include lung, nerve, or ear, nose, and throat specialists. Other types of doctors also can be sleep specialists.
Medical and Family Histories

Your doctor will ask you and your family questions about how you sleep and how you function during the day. To help your doctor, consider keeping a sleep diary for 1 to 2 weeks. Write down how much you sleep each night, as well as how sleepy you feel at various times during the day.

You can find a sample sleep diary in the National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute’s “Your Guide to Healthy Sleep.”

Your doctor also will want to know how loudly and often you snore or make gasping or choking sounds during sleep. Often you’re not aware of such symptoms and must ask a family member or bed partner to report them.

If you’re a parent of a child who may have sleep apnea, tell your child’s doctor about your child’s signs and symptoms.

Let your doctor know if anyone in your family has been diagnosed with sleep apnea or has had symptoms of the disorder.

Many people aren’t aware of their symptoms and aren’t diagnosed.
Physical Exam

Your doctor will check your mouth, nose, and throat for extra or large tissues. The tonsils often are enlarged in children with sleep apnea. A physical exam and medical history may be all that’s needed to diagnose sleep apnea in children.

Adults with the condition may have an enlarged uvula or soft palate. The uvula is the tissue that hangs from the middle of the back of your mouth. The soft palate is the roof of your mouth in the back of your throat.
Sleep Studies

A sleep study is the most accurate test for diagnosing sleep apnea. It captures what happens with your breathing while you sleep.

A sleep study is often done in a sleep center or sleep lab, which may be part of a hospital. You may stay overnight in the sleep center.
Polysomnogram

A polysomnogram (poly-SOM-no-gram), or PSG, is the most common study for diagnosing sleep apnea. This test records:

* Brain activity
* Eye movement and other muscle activity
* Breathing and heart rate
* How much air moves in and out of your lungs while you’re sleeping
* The amount of oxygen in your blood

A PSG is painless. You will go to sleep as usual, except you will have sensors on your scalp, face, chest, limbs, and finger. The staff at the sleep center will use the sensors to check on you throughout the night.

A sleep specialist reviews the results of your PSG to see whether you have sleep apnea and how severe it is. He or she will use the results to plan your treatment.

How Is Sleep Apnea Treated?

The goals of treating obstructive sleep apnea are to:

* Restore regular breathing during sleep
* Relieve symptoms such as loud snoring and daytime sleepiness

Treatment may help other medical problems linked to sleep apnea, such as high blood pressure. Treatment also can reduce your risk for heart disease, stroke, and diabetes.
Specific Types of Treatment

Lifestyle changes, mouthpieces, breathing devices, and/or surgery are used to treat sleep apnea. Currently, there are no medicines to treat sleep apnea.

If you have sleep apnea, talk to your doctor or sleep specialist about the treatment options that are most appropriate for your specific condition.

Lifestyle changes and/or mouthpieces may be enough to relieve mild sleep apnea. People who have moderate or severe sleep apnea may need breathing devices or surgery.
Lifestyle Changes

If you have mild sleep apnea, some changes in daily activities or habits may be all that you need.

* Avoid alcohol and medicines that make you sleepy. They make it harder for your throat to stay open while you sleep.
* Lose weight if you’re overweight or obese. Even a little weight loss can improve your symptoms.
* Sleep on your side instead of your back to help keep your throat open. You can sleep with special pillows or shirts that prevent you from sleeping on your back.
* Keep your nasal passages open at night with nose sprays or allergy medicines, if needed. Talk to your doctor about whether these treatments might help you.
* Stop smoking.

Mouthpiece

A mouthpiece, sometimes called an oral appliance, may help some people who have mild sleep apnea. Your doctor also may recommend a mouthpiece if you snore loudly but don’t have sleep apnea.

A dentist or orthodontist can make a custom-fit plastic mouthpiece for treating sleep apnea. (An orthodontist specializes in correcting teeth or jaw problems.) The mouthpiece will adjust your lower jaw and your tongue to help keep your airways open while you sleep.

If you use a mouthpiece, it’s important that you check with your doctor about discomfort or pain while using the device. You may need periodic office visits so your doctor can adjust your mouthpiece to fit better.

Breathing Devices

Continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) is the most common treatment for moderate to severe sleep apnea in adults. A CPAP machine uses a mask that fits over your mouth and nose, or just over your nose. The machine gently blows air into your throat.

The air presses on the wall of your airway. The air pressure is adjusted so that it’s just enough to stop the airways from becoming narrowed or blocked during sleep.

Treating sleep apnea may help you stop snoring. But stopping snoring doesn’t mean that you no longer have sleep apnea or can stop using CPAP. Sleep apnea will return if CPAP is stopped or not used correctly.

Usually, a technician will come to your home to bring the CPAP equipment. The technician will set up the CPAP machine and adjust it based on your doctor’s orders. After the initial setup, you may need to have the CPAP adjusted on occasion for the best results.

CPAP treatment may cause side effects in some people. These side effects include a dry or stuffy nose, irritated skin on your face, sore eyes, and headaches. If your CPAP isn’t properly adjusted, you may get stomach bloating and discomfort while wearing the mask.

If you’re having trouble with CPAP side effects, work with your sleep specialist, his or her nursing staff, and the CPAP technician. Together, you can take steps to reduce these side effects. These steps include adjusting the CPAP settings or the size/fit of the mask, or adding moisture to the air as it flows through the mask. A nasal spray may relieve a dry, stuffy, or runny nose.

There are many different kinds of CPAP machines and masks. Be sure to tell your doctor if you’re not happy with the type you’re using. He or she may suggest switching to a different kind that may work better for you.

People who have severe sleep apnea symptoms generally feel much better once they begin treatment with CPAP.

Surgery

Some people who have sleep apnea may benefit from surgery. The type of surgery and how well it works depend on the cause of the sleep apnea.

Surgery is done to widen breathing passages. It usually involves removing, shrinking, or stiffening excess tissue in the mouth and throat or resetting the lower jaw.

Surgery to shrink or stiffen excess tissue in the mouth or throat is done in a doctor’s office or a hospital. Shrinking tissue may involve small shots or other treatments to the tissue. A series of such treatments may be needed to shrink the excess tissue. To stiffen excess tissue, the doctor makes a small cut in the tissue and inserts a small piece of stiff plastic.

Surgery to remove excess tissue is only done in a hospital. You’re given medicine that makes you sleep during the surgery. After surgery, you may have throat pain that lasts for 1 to 2 weeks.

Surgery to remove the tonsils, if they’re blocking the airway, may be very helpful for some children. Your child’s doctor may suggest waiting some time to see whether these tissues shrink on their own. This is common as small children grow.

Key Points

* Sleep apnea is a common breathing disorder in which you have one or more pauses in breathing or shallow breaths while you sleep.
* Sleep apnea usually is a chronic (ongoing) condition that disrupts your sleep 3 or more nights each week.
* Sleep apnea often goes undiagnosed. Doctors usually can’t detect the condition during routine office visits. Also, there are no blood tests for the condition. Most people who have sleep apnea don’t know they have it because it only occurs during sleep.
* The most common type of sleep apnea is obstructive sleep apnea. This most often means that the airway has collapsed or is blocked during sleep. This may cause shallow breathing or breathing pauses.
* Sleep apnea can cause daytime sleepiness, increase the risk for or worsen some medical conditions, and increase the chance of having a work– or driving-related accident.
* It’s estimated that more than 12 million American adults have sleep apnea. More than half of the people who have this condition are overweight.
* The most common signs of sleep apnea are loud snoring and choking or gasping during sleep and being very sleepy during the day.
* Doctors diagnose sleep apnea based on your medical and family histories, a physical exam, and results from sleep studies.
* Treatment is aimed at restoring regular breathing during sleep and relieving symptoms. Treatment also may help other medical problems linked to sleep apnea.
* Lifestyle changes, mouthpieces, breathing devices, and/or surgery are used to treat sleep apnea. Continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) is the most common treatment for moderate to severe sleep apnea.
* Sleep apnea can be very serious. However, following an effective treatment plan can often improve your quality of life quite a bit. Follow up with your doctor regularly to make sure your treatment is working. Tell him or her if the treatment causes side effects that you can’t handle.
* Family members can help a person who snores loudly or stops breathing during sleep by encouraging him or her to get medical help.
* Treatment may improve your overall health and happiness as well as your quality of sleep (and possibly your family’s quality of sleep).

Share and Enjoy:

No comments »

Posted in Healthy Life

Tags: apnea back chronicly tired backache has untreated high blood pressure and sleep apena and enlarged heart heart attack l naturecreation.com pain sleep sleep aid sleep apnea and mem sleep disorder stress stress hormones www.naturecreation.com

Mammogram: When should I start getting mammograms and how often should I have one?

February 12th, 2010

The U.S. Preventive Services Task Force (USPSTF) is a group of health experts that reviews published research and makes recommendations about preventive health care. The USPSTF has issued new mammogram guidelines. These recommendations include:

* Screening mammograms should be done every two years beginning at age 50 for women at average risk of breast cancer.
* Doctors should not teach women to do breast self-exams.
* There is insufficient evidence that mammogram screening is effective for women age 75 and older, so it’s not recommended for this age group.

Differing mammogram guidelines

mammogram

Meantime, the ACS says the breast self-exam is optional in breast cancer screening.

According to the USPSTF, women who have screening mammograms die of breast cancer less frequently than do women who don’t get mammograms. However, the USPSTF says the benefits of screening mammograms don’t outweigh the harms for women ages 40 to 49. Potential harms may include false-positive results that lead to unneeded breast biopsies and accompanying anxiety and distress.

A three-tiered approach is used which includes:

* Breast self-exam to identify breast abnormalities and allow a woman to become familiar with her breasts so that she can tell her doctor about any changes
* Clinical breast exam performed by a health care provider and recommended annually beginning at age 40
* Screening mammography beginning at age 40

Screening mammograms have detected abnormalities in women in their 40s. These women have then had biopsies and learned they had invasive breast cancer. There are many stories about younger women who have found cancer early as a result of screening. And it’s important to remember that most women who get breast cancer have no family history or other risk factors for the disease.

Screening mammography is not a perfect exam. There will be a lot of new data published in the coming months, and it will take time to analyze the results and see what information can be gained to determine how best to use mammography as a screening tool.

In the meantime, women should meet with their health care providers to discuss the benefits, risks and limitations of screening mammograms. If you’re concerned about screening mammograms, talk to your doctor and learn what’s right for you based on your individual risks. It’s important that the two of you work together to develop a screening plan.

from Sandhya Pruthi, M.D.

Share and Enjoy: