Stress and Anxiety

Stress

Stress is simply a fact of nature -- forces from the inside or outside world affecting the individual. The individual responds to stress in ways that affect the individual as well as their environment. Because of the overabundance of stress in our modern lives, we usually think of stress as a negative experience, but from a biological point of view, stress  can be a neutral, negative, or positive experience. In general, stress is related to both external and internal factors. External factors include the physical environment, including your job, your relationships with others, your home and all the situations, challenges, difficulties, and expectations you are confronted with on a daily basis. Internal factors determine your body's ability to respond to, and deal with, the external stress-including factors. Internal factors which influence your ability to handle stress include your nutritional status, overall health and fitness levels, emotional well-being, and the amount of sleep and rest you get.

Stress has driven evolutionary change[the development and natural selection of species over time]. Thus, the species that adapted best to the causes of stress have survived and evolved into the plant and animal kingdoms we now observe.


Anxiety

Anxiety is a feeling of fear, unease, and worry. Every one feels anxious sometimes - worried, afraid of something happening obsessed about something being a certain way. When that fear of anxiety becomes something that gets in the way of your life (relationship, school, ability to cope) and it dose not go away, that is when it could be a more serious anxiety disorder. Wanting to fight or run away from things we are worried about, or afraid of, is normal - it keeps us alive. Having an anxiety disorder means this respond is causing you more problems than good. Around fifteen percent of young people have anxiety disorders, with most having their first symptoms before the age of 15.

Health Benefits of a Good Night's Sleep

A good night's sleep is one of life's real pleasures, and unfortunately a luxury that too few people enjoy on a regular basis. The average adult in the UK has around six hours sleep a night and over 30 % or people regularly battle insomnia or other sleep disorders.

There are lots of health benefits of a good night's sleep. Below have been listed some important health benefits of a good night's sleep.

Keeps your heart healthy: Heart attacks and strokes are more common during the early morning hours. This facts may be  explained by the  way sleep interacts with the blood vessels. Lack of sleep has been associated with worsening of blood pressure and cholesterol, all risk factors for heart related diseases. Your heart will be healthier if you get between 7 and 9 hours of sleep each night.

Provides you with better performance and memory: Remember all that last minute cramming you'd do in school, pulling and all-nighter hoping to squeeze in that last fact of figure? Turns out your mom was right when she told you to kill the lights and get some sleep. Sleep relaxes the brain's frontal cortex. This is where critical decision-making is made. REM sleep is where the brain absorbs and processes all the information we've learned . This vital sleep stage aids memory storage and retrieval, and creating and maintaining an easily accessible database. Think of it as the file clerk of the sleep cycle.

Reduces stress: When your body is sleep deficient, it goes into a state of stress. The body's functions are put on high alert which causes an increase in blood pressure and a production of stress hormones. Higher blood pressure increases your risk for heart attacks and strokes. The stress hormones also, unfortunately, make it harder for you to sleep.

Reduces inflammation: The increase in stress hormones raises the level of inflammation in your body, also creating more risk for heart-related conditions, and cancer and diabetes. Inflammation is thought to one of the causes of the deterioration of your body as you age.

Makes you more alert: A good night's sleep makes you feel energized and alert the next day. Being engaged and active not only feels great, it increases your chances for another good night's sleep. When you wake up feeling refreshed, used that energy to get out into the daylight, do active things, and be engaged in your world. You will sleep better the next night and increase your daily energy level.

Sleep may prevent cancer: People working the late shift have a higher risk for breast and colon cancer. Researchers believe this link is caused by differing levels of melatonin  in people who are exposed to light at night. Light exposure reduces the level of melatonin, a hormone that both makes us sleepy and is thought to protect against cancer. Melatonin appears to suppress the growth of tumors. Be sure that your bedroom is dark to help body produce the melatonin it needs.

Aids with weight loss: Researchers have found that people who sleep less than seven hours per night more likely to be overweight or obese. It is thought that the lack of sleep impacts the balance of hormones in the body that affect appetite. The hormones ghrelin and leptin, important for the regulation of appetiet, have been found to be disrupted by lack of sleep. If you are interested in controlling or losing weight, do not forget to pay attention to getting a good night's sleep.

Helps you live longer: Regularly sleeping less than you should is associated with a shorter lifespan, although it is not clear whether little sleep is the cause, or other illnesses . Studies have found people who routinely sleep for fewer than six hours a night have a higher risk of dying sooner than people of a similar age who sleep for seven or eight hours a night.

Helps your body make repairs: Sleep is a time for your body to repair damage caused by stress, ultraviolet rays and other harmful exposures.  Your cells produce more protein while you are sleeping These protein molecules form the building blocks for cells, allowing them to repair damage.

Reduces you risk for depression: Sleep  impacts many of the chemicals in your body, including serotonin. People with a deficiency in serotonin are more likely to suffer from depression. You can help to prevent depression by making sure you are getting the right amount of sleep, between 7 and 9 hours each night.

Help you have better sex: The better rested you are, the better sex you will have, according to researchers. The 2010 sleep in America poll found about 20-30 per cent of men and women felt their family life and sexual relationships had been affected by their sleepiness.

Kidney Stones - Causes and Symptoms

What is Kidney Stones 

Kidney stone is a hard, crystalline mineral material formed within the kidney or urinary tract. Kidney stones are a common cause of blood in the urine (hematuria) and often severe pain in the abdomen, flank, or groin. Kidney stones are sometimes called renal calculi.

Kidney stones are common five to 10 in 100 people are affected by pain associated with kidney stones at some point in their life. Most people who get  kidney stones for the first time are aged between 20 and 50. You normally have two kidneys, which 'clean' your blood, and filter out water and wast products to make urine. Kidney stones can form when there is an imbalance of salts or minerals in your urine. These minerals form into crystals, which are often too small to notice, and pass harmlessly out of your body. However, over time, they can build up inside your kidney to form a kidney stone. Most kidney stones are made up of calcium salt ( calcium oxalate or calcium phosphate, or both). They can also be made up of other substances, including uric acid, cystine and struvite. They can range in size and may be smooth or jagged in texture.

Causes of Kidney Stones 

Usually men are more likely to get kidney stones than women. About half of people who have had a kidney stone go on to get more within 10 years. In most  people, there is no obvious reason for what causes kidney stones, although you may be more likely to get them if you: 

• Are aged between 30 and 50 
• Have a family history of kidney stones 
• Are taking certain medicines, for example, protease inhibitors ( such as indinavir )and certain diuretics ( such as triamterene
• Are taking too many vitamin C or calcium/vitamin Dsupplements, or antacids 
• Have a condition affecting the shape or structure of your kidney 
• Have a lot of protein or salt in you diet 
• Do not drink enough fluids 
• Have certain conditions like hyperparathyroidism, high blood pressure or Crohn's disease
• Have cystitis - the bacteria that cause this infection can break down the a substance found in urine called urea, which can lead to kidney stones.

Symptoms of Kidney Stones 

While some kidney stones may not produce symptoms ( known as "silent" stones ), people who have kidney stones often report the sudden onset of excruciating, cramping pain in their low back or side, groin, or abdomen.  Changes in body position don't relieve this pain. The abdominal, groin, or back pain typically waxes and wanes in severity, characteristic of colicky pain ( the pain is sometimes referred to as renal colic). It may be so severe that it is often accompanied by nausea and vomiting. The pain has been described by many as the worst pain of their lives, even worse than the pain of childbirth or broken bones. Kidney stones also characteristically cause blood in  the urine. If infection is present in the urinary tract along with the stones, there can/may be fever and chills. Sometimes, symptoms like difficulty urinating, urinary urgency, penile pain, or testicular pain may occur due to kidney stones. 

Sleepwalking - Causes, Symptoms, Diagnosis, Treatment, and Prevention

What is Sleepwalking?

Sleepwalking is a sleep disorder belonging to the parasomnia family. Sleepwalking arise from the slow weave sleep stage in a state of low consciousness and perform activities that are usually performed during a state of full consciousness. These activities can be as benign as sitting up in bed, waking to the bathroom, and cleaning, or as hazardous as cooking, driving, grabbing at hallucinated objects, or even homicide.


Causes 

Sleepwalking has been described in medical literature dating before Hippocrates ( 460 BC-370 BC) is ascribe to her guilt and resulting insanity as a consequence of her involvement in the murder of her father-in -law. Sleepwalking is characterized by a complex behavior ( waking ) occurring while asleep. Occasionally nonsensical taking may occur. The person's eyes are commonly open, but have a characteristic glassy " look right through you" character. This activity most commonly occurs during middle childhood and young  adolescence. Approximately 15 percent of children between 4-12 years of age will experience sleepwalking. Usually, sleepwalking behaviors wane by late adolescence. Approximately 10 percent of all sleepwalkers begin their behavior as teens. It appears that persons with certain inherited genes have an increased tendency toward developing sleepwalking behaviors.

There are 5 stager of sleep. Stages 1, 2,3 and 4 are characterized as non-rapid eye movement (NREM) sleep. Rapid eye movement (REM) sleep is the sleep cycle associated with dreaming as  well as surges of important hormones essential for proper growth and metabolism. Each sleep cycle (Stages 1,2,3,4 and REM) last about 90-100 minutes and repeats throughout the night. The average person experiences four to five complete sleep cycles per night. Sleepwalking characteristically occurs during the first or second sleep cycles, during stages three and four. Due the short time frame involved, sleepwalking tends not to occur during naps. Upon walking the sleepwalking tends not to occur during naps. Upon walking the sleepwalker has no memory of his her behavior.

The sleepwalking activity may include simply sitting up and appearing awake while actually asleep, getting up and walking around, or complex activities like moving furniture, going to the bathroom, and similar activities. Some people even drive a car while actually asleep. The episode can be very brief or can last for 30 minutes or longer than it.

Symptoms

Following are the examples of symptoms of sleepwalking.

• Episodes range from quiet walking around the room to agitated running or attempts to "escape". The person sleepwalking may appear clumsy and dazed in his or her behavior.
• On questioning the person sleepwalking, responses are slow with simple thoughts, contain nonsense phraseology or absent responses. If the person is returned to bed without awakening, they  usually don't remember the event. 
• Typically, the eyes are open with a glassy, staring appearance as the person quietly roams the around the house. They do not, however, walk with their arms extended in front of them as is inaccurately depicted in movies.
• Older children, who may awaken more easily at the end of an episode, often are embarrassed by the behavior. In lieu of walking, some children perform repeated behaviors. 
• Sleepwalking isn't associated with previous sleep problems, sleeping alone in a room or with others, fear of the dark (achluophobia), or anger outbursts. 
• Some studies suggest that children who sleepwalk may have been more restless sleepers between the ages of four and five, and more restless with more frequent awakenings during first year of life. 

 Diagnosis

A person's history usually provides enough information for a doctor to diagnosis sleepwalking. This is particularly true in children. More difficult cases may require a consultation with a sleep specialist. The specialist may recommend overnight sleep test called polysomnography. During this test, various body functions are recorded while the person is sleeping. In rare cases, a brainwave recording may be ordered to rule out seizures.

Treatment 

Some people mistakenly believe that s sleepwalker should not be awakened. It is not dangerous to awaken a sleepwalker, although it is common for the person to be confused or disoriented for a short time when they wake up. Another misconception is that a person cannot be injured  while sleepwalking. Sleepwalkers are more commonly injured when they trip and lose their balance.
Actually, most people do not need any specific  treatment for sleepwalking. Safety measures may be needed to prevent injury. This may include moving objects such as electrical cords or furniture to reduce the chances of tripping and falling. You may need to block off stairways with a gate.
 In some cases, short-acting tranquilizers have been helpful in reducing sleepwalking episodes.

Headache - Causes

Headache:

Headache are extremely common - most of people have a headache at some time in their life. Headache is defined as a pain arising from the head or upper neck of the body.  The pain originates from the tissues and structures that surround the brain itself has no nerves that give rise to the sensation of pain. The periosteum that surround bones; muscles that  encase the skull, sinuses, eyes; and meninges that cover the surface of the brain and spinal cord, arteries, veins, and nerves, all can become inflamed or irritated to cause the pain of a headache. This pain may be a dull ache, sharp, constant, mild, or intense.


Causes of Tension Headache

The cause of  tension headache is not known. WHO ( World Health Organization) estimates that in the developed world, 80 percent of women  and 67 percent of men will experience this type of headache. The most likely cause is contraction of the muscles that cover the skull. When the muscle covering the skull are stressed, they may become inflamed, go into spasm, and cause pain. Common sites include the base of the skull where the trapezius muscles of the neck insert, the temples where muscles that move the jaw are located, and the forehead. There is little research to confirm the exact cause of tension headaches. Tension headaches occur because of physical or emotional stress placed on the body. For example, these stressors can cause the muscles surrounding the skull to clench the teeth and go into spasm. Physical stressors include difficult and prolonged manual labor, or sitting at a desk or computer for long period of time concentrating. Emotional stress may cause tension headaches by causing the muscles surrounding the skull to contract. 

Peptic Ulcer - Causes and Symptoms

Peptic Ulcer 

A peptic ulcer is a break in the inner lining of the esophagus, stomach, or duodenum. A peptic ulcer of the stomach is called a gastric ulcer; of the duodenum, a duodenal ulcer; and of the esophagus, an esophageal ulcer. Peptic ulcers occur when the lining of these organs is corroded by the acidic digestive ( peptic ) juices which are secreted by the cells of the stomach. A peptic ulcer differs  from and erosion because it extends deeper into the lining of the esophagus, stomach, or duodenum and excites more of an inflammatory reaction from the tissues that are eroded. 


This disease is common, affecting millions of Americans yearly. Peptic ulcers are a recurrent problem; even healed ulcers can recur unless treatment is directed at preventing their recurrence. The medical cost of treatment peptic ulcer and its complications runs into billions of dollars annually. Recent medical advances have increased our understanding of ulcer formation. Improved and expended treatment options are available now a days.

Causes of Peptic Ulcer 

No single cause has been found for ulcer. Now it is clear that  an ulcer is the end result of an imbalance between digestive fluids in the stomach and duodenum. Ulcers can be caused by:

• Infection with a type of bacteria called Helicobacter pylori ( H. pylori)  
• Use of painkillers called nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) such as aspirin, naproxen, ibuprofen, and many others available by prescription. Even safety- coated aspirin in powered form can frequently cause ulcers. 
• Excess acid production from gastrinomas, tumors of the acid producing cells of the stomach that increases acid output ( seen in Zollinger-Ellison syndrome) 

Symptoms of Peptic Ulcer 

When symptoms occur, they may include:

• Dark or black stool ( due to bleeding )
• Vomiting blood( that can look like " coffee-grounds")
• Severe pain in the mid to upper  abdomen 
• Weight loss

Heart Attack Risk Factors

 Heart Attack Risk Factors 

Certain factors contribute to the unwanted buildup of fatty deposits that narrows arteries throughout your body, including arteries to your heart. You can improve or eliminate many of these risk factors to reduce your chances of having a first or subsequent heart attack. Heart attack risk factors include:


Age: In men who are 45 or older and women who are 55 older are more likely to have a heart attack than are younger men and women.

Obesity: Being overweight, and especially having a big belly, has been associated with an increased risk of heart attack.

Smoking: Smoking and long-term exposure to secondhand smoke damage the interior walls of arteries including arteries to your heart allowing deposits of cholesterol and other substances to collect and slow blood flow. Smoking can increase the risk of deadly blood clots forming and causing a heart attack.

Hypertension: High blood pressure is a major risk factor for the heart attack, and especially stroke. Hypertension is very common in Americans over age of 55, but is commonly inadequately treated.

High blood cholesterol: Cholesterol is a major part of the deposits that can narrow arteries through your body, including those that supply your heart. A high level of the wrong kind of cholesterol in your blood increases your risk of a heart attack. Low-density lipoprotein (LDL) cholesterol (the "bad" cholesterol ) is most likely to narrow arteries. A high level of triglycerides, another type of blood fat related to your diet, also ups your risk of heart attack. However, a high level of high-density lipoprotein (HDL) cholesterol ( the "good" cholesterol), which helps the body clean up excess cholesterol, is desirable and lowers your risk of heart attack.

Diabetes: Diabetes is the inability of your body to adequately produce insulin or respond to insulin need properly. Insulin, a hormone secreted by your pancreas, allows your body to use glucose, which is a form foods. Diabetes, especially uncontrolled diabetes, increases your risk of  heart attack.

Lack of physical activity: An inactive lifestyle contributes to high blood cholesterol levels and obesity. People who get regularly aerobic exercise have better cardiovascular fitness, which decreases their overall risk of heart attack. Exercise is also beneficial in lowering high blood pressure. 

Acid Reflux Disease

Acid Reflux Disease 

Acid reflux is a  condition in which stomach acids rise up into the esophagus because the valve that separates the stomach contents from the esophagus is faulty. If acid reflux symptoms happen more than twice a week, you have acid reflux disease, also known as gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD).


Causes of Acid Reflux Disease 

One common cause of acid reflux disease is a stomach abnormality called a hiatal hernia. This occurs when the upper part of the stomach and LES move above the diaphragm,  a muscle that separates your stomach from chest. Normally, the diaphragm helps keep acid in our stomach. If you have a hiatal hernia, acid can move up into your esophagus and cause symptoms of acid reflux disease. Below are some more common causes of  acid reflux disease:

Large meals:  Those who have large meals will usually find that their acid reflux will improve if they cut down portion sizes. Patients who kept a food diary, noting down everything they ate and linking certain foods to incidences of acid reflux, have experienced a reduction in acid reflux.

Pregnancy: More commonly found during the third trimester of a pregnancy. As the growing baby presses on the stomach, contents may back up into the esophagus. Doctors say antacids won't relieve acid reflux caused by pregnancy. Patients find that if they eat smaller meals but eat more meals per day, it helps. In the vast majority of cases the acid reflux will disappear soon after the baby is born.

Peptic ulcers: Peptic ulcers and not enough digestive enzymes in the stomach may slow down the digestive process, causing an accumulation of gastric acids that back up into the esophagus.

Smoking: Smoking also stimulates the production of bile salts from the intestine to the stomach, [making the acids more harmful], and slows down digestion [making stomach pressure last longer because it takes more time to empty].

Alcohol: Patients have commented that quitting alcohol, or cutting down consumption significantly improved their symptoms. 

Drink more water

Water is essential for human health, over 60 percent of human body consists of water. We know that water is good for us, but often the reasons are a little fuzzy. And even if we know why we should drink water, it is not a habit that many people form. But there are some powerful reasons to drink lots of water every day, and forming the habit is not hard, with a little focus. Thing about it is, we do not often focus on this habit. We end up drinking coffee, and lots of soda, alcohol, not to mention fruit juices and teas and milk and a bunch of other possibilities. Or just as often, we do not drink enough fluids, and we become dehydrated--and that is not good for your health.

Below have been discussed about some health benefits of drinking more water.

weight loss: People who have over weight, they have tension with this over weight, because it me be the causes of heart diseases, diabetes,or other disease. But good news is that water is one of best tools for weight loss, first of all because it often replaces high-calorie drinks like soda and juice and alcohol with a drink that does not have any calories. But It is also great appetite suppressant, and often when we think we are actually just thirsty. Water has no fat, no carbs, no sugar. Drinking plenty to help your weight-loss regimen.

Skin care: Drinking water is good for our skin, that can clean up our skin and people often report a healthy glow after drinking water. It will not happen overnight, of course, but just a week of drinking a healthy amount of water can have good effects on your skin.

Good for your heart: Drinking a good amount of water could lower your risks of a heart attack. A six-year study published in may 1, 2002 American journal of Epidemiology found that those who drink more than 5 glasses of water a day were 41 percent less likely to die from a heart attack during the study period than those who drank less than two glasses.

Reduce the risk of cancer: Drinking a healthy amount of water has been found to reduce the risk of colon cancer by 45 percent. Drinking lots of water can also reduce the risk of bladder cancer by 50 percent and potentially reduce the risk of breast cancer.