Acupressure - Alternative to the Medical World

The Chinese have given us various techniques and alternate medicine for treatment on different diseases and disorders.  One of the most common and important technique is that of Acupressure.  This is a branch of acupuncture which is practiced all over the world.  While acupuncture uses puncturing of skin by needles, acupressure deals with finger pressure on specific points of the body.  This is a technique of alternate medicine which is fast gaining popularity as it gains recognition from the medical fraternity. 

As discussed above, Acupressure deals with finger pressure on some specific points.  These points are known as potent points and are sensitive to bioelectric impulses and in the Chinese culture are known to be energy points.  This energy is called as Chi.

According to the technique of acupressure, while pressing the potent point energy in the form of endorphins is released which are connected to the brain’s pain relieving parts.  By blocking or pressing the pain, acupressure helps in relieving the person from the disorder.  As a result of blocking, the flow of blood and oxygen to the affected part is improved resulting in relaxation of the muscles and promotes healing.  In short acupressure sets in motion a body’s own energy to help fight the illness and pain.  Acupressure helps a person to relieve pain as well as decrease stress, aches and menstrual cramps.

How is Acupressure Given?

Acupressure is given by way of massage wherein the specific points of the body are rubbed by fingers and thumbs.  Medium to slight pressure is applied to the parts as the massage is given in a circular motion.  An Acupressure massage can last from 5 to 15 minutes depending on the ailment.

Along with massaging certain other body parts such as elbows, knees and even feet are used to put pressure on the potent points.  Sometimes even a blunt object is used.

Benefits of Acupressure:

There are various benefits that can be received through a session of Acupressure.  These can range from relieving pain, migraine, depression, toothaches, menstrual pain and dizziness.  Also other disorders and diarrhea or constipation related problems, motion sickness or stress can be treated by acupressure.

Different individuals and age-groups can benefit through this natural healing process.

i)  Children – Various children problems such as bed wetting, chest congestion, constipation which are common in children can be treated successfully by way of Acupressure.

ii)  Women – Acupressure helps out women in relieving pain during PMT, pregnancy or menopause. Also other women problems such as mood swings, period pains, back pain, pubic symphysis and irritability can be relieved to a great extent by using acupressure techniques.

iii)  Old Age Persons – Most of the old age seniors have a number of health problems relating to pain such as arthritis, joint pains or recovery from surgery.  All these problems can be treated with acupressure as it has been found quite useful in these cases.

As seen above, acupressure can be practiced on a number of disorders and as such has proved to be a valuable alternative to the medical world.  It is a way to maintain a good health and relieve the body of pain arising from various disorders.  It is also used to improve blood circulation and due to its proper use in relieving stress and tension, can be a boon to the human race.

Acupressure is a technique that needs no extensive study and can be tried out on self as well as on others.  As surgery is not needed in this technique, it is a harmless procedure which has no side-effects.

The other benefits of acupressure can be in the treatment of sinus problems, eyestrains, ulcer pain, backaches and lower backaches.  As the only equipment used are your hands it is virtually free from any expenses.

Some tips for performing Acupressure:

·        Acupressure can be performed sitting, standing or even lying down on the floor.

·        Always try to use the thumb while pressure and let the thumb face the body.

·        Don’t press lightly or press hard.  The massage should be medium and consistent.

·        Press the point for 10-12 seconds, then release the pressure and perform the operation again.

·        Go on a fast ½ hour before and after the session.

·        Each session should be followed three times a day with a minimum interval of 3 hours.

·        Don’t perform the acupressure session after a heavy exercise session.  Also acupressure should not be practiced after a meal or a bath.

The Best Diet during Gestational Diabetes

Gestational Diabetes is the diabetes that is found in pregnant women who doesn’t have any previous history of diabetes.  This is a type of diabetes which occurs in almost 5% of all pregnancies and according to surveys it is found that Gestational Diabetes affects 2,00,000 patients every year in the United States alone.

In Gestational diabetes the blood sugar levels rise during pregnancy coming back to normalcy after birth.  This is due to the fact that sometimes during pregnancy, the spread of hormones block the action of insulin which is needed for the production of that extra glucose needed for the baby’s growth.  This shortage in insulin gives way to Gestational Diabetes.  This disease normally occurs during the 2^nd half of the pregnancy period and stays till the mother has given birth to the child.

Testing for Gestational Diabetes:

There are two methods for testing of Gestational Diabetes.  The first is called as Oral Glucose Tolerance Test in which the woman is told to fast for 6-8 hours and then tested for blood sugar, after which a sugar drink is given and test is performed again.

The second type of testing is blood sugar levels after an hour of sugar drink intake.  If found that the blood sugar levels are high, than a tolerance test is conducted to diagnose the diabetes.

Diet during Gestational Diabetes:

Proper Diet is the most important factor while dealing with Gestational Diabetes.  Choosing the right foods that provide proper nutrition to the mother and the baby is required.  It is required for the overall development of the baby.  This diet can improve the cholesterol levels, the blood pressure as well as the blood glucose. 

The first step in this direction should be to choose the right dietician.  Speaking with your Obstetrician for recommending the right person should be the perfect choice. 

The best diet for a Gestational Diabetic patient should include green leafy vegetables, fresh fruits, skimmed milk and low fat foods.  These foods include the proper amount of proteins, vitamins, carbohydrates and calories.  Raw food is the best food for this disorder but one can use light cooking. 

There are some precautions that have to be followed during the diet:

·        Keep your carbohydrate levels balanced as they may bring about a spurt in your blood sugar levels.

·        Excessive amount of Meat and Dairy products should be avoided.

·        Processed food like sweets, sodas or bread should be cancelled off the list.

Green vegetables can be eaten by way of smoothies made of spinach, parsley, kale or lettuce.  Along with these, whole grains, nuts, seeds or beans can make up your everyday diet.  Excessive amount of dairy products or meat should be avoided as it may raise the calories which can affect the blood sugar levels.

The Ideal Daily Diet may consists of –

·        Breakfast – A fresh fruit (gapes can do), 1 boiled egg, a slice of bread (wheat) with low fat margarine.

·        In-between – A glassful of skimmed milk along with whole grain bread topped with peanut butter.

·        Lunch – Black beans (cooked), tomatoes, some low-fat cheddar cheese along with salsa.

·        In-between – A fresh fruit (Apple can do) along with skimmed milk.

·        Dinner – Grilled or boiled chicken (skinless), a fruit (Pineapple), cooked beans and some sesame seeds.

This is just a sample of the diet and one can make the necessary alterations keeping in mind the nutrients collected from the diet.

Complications:

Always see to it that your control you diet during the period.  Gestational diabetes normally does not create any complications during pregnancy.  But some disorders may arise.

·        A disorder known as hypoglycemia whereas the baby’s blood sugar level is low.

·        Macrosomia in which the baby’s body is larger than normal size.

·        Jaundice is a normal phenomenon in some babies.

·        Respiratory Distress Syndrome which occurs due to respiratory disorders.

·        Low mineral levels in blood.

Common Symptoms of Uterine Fibroids

Uterine Fibroids are benign tumors that are found mostly in the uterus of a woman.  These tumors are found in almost 50% of the women and are not so serious to cause any major problems.  They mostly go unnoticed.  It has been found that women under the age of 20 rarely get affected by Uterine Fibroids. 

There are basically four types of Fibroids that are found in uterus – Myometrial, submucosal, subserosal and penduculated.  They are present in various parts of the uterus.

As stated above, there are very less symptoms to diagnose Uterine Fibroids.  But the symptoms which are most common are as follows –

·        Bleeding between periods.  There is abnormal bleeding if the tumors are near the uterus lining.  This bleeding is painful and causes prolonged periods.  This excessive bleeding can cause anemia.

·        Frequent Urination.  This is another symptom of Uterine Fibroid.  A woman has the urge to go to the toilet quite often and at times this frequency is intolerable leading to embrassement.

·         Pelvic cramping is quite commonly associated with Uterine Fibroids.

·        Pain is also felt at the time of intercourse and sexual activity.

·        There is a pressure on the rectum during defecation leading to severe pain.

These are the common symptoms that can be seen in Uterine Fibroids but at times even these are not felt.  A Uterine Fibroid is normally diagnosed only at the time of physical examination or some non-related test.

For diagnosing this disorder, a pelvic examination can be conducted to view the shape of the uterus or womb.  At times ultrasonic examination is preferred.  In the final testing, an endometrial biopsy can be prescribed.

Uterine Fibroids normally does not pose any serious problems to the woman.  But a close watch has to be kept on the growth of these fibroids as they may grow at a faster rate thus causing some complications, especially during pregnancy.  Normally, these fibroids are treated with medications and at times surgery is prescribed if they grow out of control.  At such times, it is required to remove these tumors.

The exact causes of Uterine Fibroids are still not known, but factors such as Genetic abnormalities, hereditary factors, growth and abnormalities in the blood system as well as Race of the person can be some causes of Uterine Fibroids in women.

Causes and Symptoms of Migrane

A lot of people suffer from migraine.  But what is Migraine? 

The simple definition regarding a migraine can be ‘A condition in which the person has tremendous headache which is generally on one side of the head and body.  It is mostly associated with people who work under stress or are workaholics.’

A migraine affects every one in seven adults in UK alone.  It is a very common disorder which is faced by many.  In US around 30 million people are affected by migraine.

Migraine is related directly to the nervous system of the body.  It is caused due to enlargement of blood vessels.  Almost 75% of the migraine patients are women.

Causes of Migraine –

·        Triggers play a very important part in being the cause for migraine.  Triggers such as Hunger, fatigue or stress are related to migraine.  Also the hormonal buildup of the person influences the extent of the migraine.

·        Another cause of migraine can be that of genetics.  It is found out that migraine is common to about 30% of the people if they have a family history of migraine.

·        Low serotonin levels can also cause migraine.  Serotonin keeps the brain from functioning properly by keeping the blood flow in check.  Low serotonin level may imbalance the blood flow resulting in migraine.

·        Certain hormonal changes in women can bring about severe headaches which can result in migraine.  This can happen during periods or before periods due to the drop in estrogen level.  Menopause or pregnancy are other factors which may result in migraines.

·        Fasting, skipping meals or effects of certain foods and beverages like alcohol, beer, caffeine, chocolate or salt, among other food may trigger migraine in certain people.

·        Another cause of migraine can be sensory stimuli which may consists of sun glare or bright lights or even pleasant smells like scents or perfumes.

·        Sleeping disorders or over-sleeping may also trigger off migraines in certain cases.

·        A change in environment or effect of certain medications such as birth control pills can also result in this disorder.

As such, there are a number of factors which contribute towards the stimulation of migraines.

Symptoms of Migraine:

Migraine can be identified easily by a number of symptoms, the most common among them are:-

·        Pain on one side of the head and body, starting from behind the eye.

·        Nausea and vomiting feelings are the other indicators.  A person feels sick and has a feeling of nausea and vomiting all the time along with severe headaches.

·        Digestive problems are mostly seen during a migraine attack.

·        All these problems create difficulty in concentrating and as such disturb the regular routine.

·        Migraine may at times trigger off short period of depression.

·        Difficulty in speaking and numbness in neck and head portion.

·        High sensitivity to light and sound.

·        Loss of appetite.

·        Problems in co-ordination.

Treatment of Migraine –

·        The most important part to reduce migraine is to keep a journal and noting down the daily symptoms and the period of your migraines.  This can make a difference in knowing what the causes are and how to deal with them.

·        The local remedies may consist of sleeping in a dark room or cold bag compression to your face and neck.  Try putting pressure on the pulse points of the forehead or neck.

·        Pain-killers can be taken to stop severe headaches but this should not form a habit as it may reduce the overall effect of pain-killers in the long run. 

·        Other over-the-counter medicines like aspirin or anti-emetic medicines may be taken to reduce sickness feeling.

·        A medicine known as triptans (SHT agonists) is a known prescription for migraine.  But these are to be taken under medical guidance only.

·        As the main cause of migraine is relating to stress, certain stress relieving techniques such as CD’s and books relating to stress relief can be referred to. Yoga and meditation also helps to reduce stress and anxiety which are the main causes of migraines.

·        A new technique known as Cognitive behavioral Therapy can be tested out with a trained therapist which tries to remove the negative feelings and stress that may cause migraines.

·        Acupuncture and Acupressure are other treatments that can be referred to.

Prevention of migraine is the best treatment for migraine.  For this regular exercise and physical activity can be carried out as this relieves the stress and anxiety.  Also, preventive medicines can be referred to while dealing with migraines.

(Source : http://quality-answers.blogspot.com/) 

Invisalign - A new concept in Dentistry

For many years, braces have been used and are still used to rectify problems of teeth dislocation and straightening.  These metal braces and the small rubber bands which surround them are the cause of embarrassment to many people, especially teenagers.

Now a revolutionary method in dental stream known as Invisalign has made it possible for people to do away with these braces and rubber-bands.  This is a new concept which creates the perfect smile without any disturbance of braces.  Invisalign was first founded by Zia Chishti in 1997.  Later companies like Orthoclear and Ormco followed with their versions of Invisalign.

So What is Invisalign?

Invisalign is an invisible set of moulds or aligners made of clear plastic which are virtually invisible and as such are preferred by many patients.

An Invisalign procedure consists of a set of aligners which are changed every two weeks after taking into account the amount of correction required at each stage of the teeth alignment.  The total period of treatment may vary according to the correction that may be required.  Normally this period may range from 5 to 7 month.  There is a small dot on the side of these aligners which fade off as one uses them and reminds the user the time for new set of aligners to be put on. 

These aligner trays are manufactured using computer generated images taking into consideration what the teeth would look life at every stage of alignment.

Advantages of Invisalign :

·        The main advantage of this type of treatment is that the trays are almost invisible.  As such people prefer them over the traditional metal braces which are unattractive and hard to maintain.  On the other hand, invisalign trays are made from hard and clear plastic which perfectly fits on the teeth as well as they are not visible.  Invisalign is mostly preferred by older teens and adults.

·        Invisalign braces are very comfortable and easy to wear in comparison to metal braces.  There is only a mild soreness at the time of first set of braces.

·        Invisalign trays are easy to take off and put on again.  Due to this, a person feels comfortable while eating or drinking,  and enjoying his lunch in the normal way.

·        Another advantage of Invisalign braces are due to their removable quality, they pose less danger to gums and other soft tissues surrounding the teeth.

·        Lastly, Invisalign treatment is faster than the traditional braces which take a longer time for rectification.

Disadvantages of Invisalign :

·        The main disadvantage of invisalign is that they are far more expensive than traditional braces and as such are not preferred by budget-conscious people.

·        These braces have to taken off before eating and put back on after the meal is over.  This requires a lot of maintenance as one has to brush the teeth each time after eating, also taking precautions as not to have any food stuck in the teeth before putting on the trays.

·        Certain types of tooth movements or malocclusions need traditional braces only, and as such Invisalign treatment is not suited for such teeth alignment.

·        Invisalign braces should be worn for a certain time period each day (about 22 hours/day) and one has to comply with this period.  Non-compliance may lead to extension in time of treatment which may slow off.

·        Another disadvantage of invisalign is that any new dental restoration during the process of treatment may require a totally new set of braces to be made to accommodate the new development.  As such it is expensive and time-consuming.

Taking the above pros and cons into consideration, one has to choose the right method for going in for traditional braces or invisalign treatment.  But invisalign is, no doubt, a revolutionary step in the field of dentistry as more and more teenagers and adults are opting for this new technology for the main reason of having an option for the unattractive metal braces which seems to make a person face a kind of  discomfort in front of other people.  Invisalign is, indeed, the right choice for a dazzling smile instead of the metal hardware that keeps the mouth shut.  They give the wearer an added confidence to move in society.