SkyBlue Cross Alternative Health Blog

Thursday 24 May 2012

Pain Relief for Your Aching Muscles

 By: http://www.skybluecross.com/ 



Soft tissues are vulnerable to injuries, both chronic and acute. The best way to repair injured soft tissues is through hands-on approach. Consult a chiropractic doctor or an osteopath because they know how to manipulate the soft tissues and how to mobilize them. Aside from that, you can also try physical therapy and massage.

Individuals who haven’t tried Massage Therapy are hesitant to try such approach and they get really nervous. Well, you’re not the only person who’s anxious of getting a massage. Oftentimes, patients tend to ask question like if they need to take off their clothes, if they should talk to the massager, or what they would do just in case they get uncomfortable. These are common questions that require immediate answers.

Firstly, you need to look for a massage therapist in your area. You can ask for referrals or you can check out the different massage parlors in your locality. Once you find a massage parlor, it’s now time to talk with the therapist. You will be asked to provide some vital information about your health and your current health concerns. You see, the therapist needs to analyze your condition so that he or she can determine what techniques to use and what not to use. This is important to ensure your safety.

Aside from the personal questions, the therapist will also ask you about your preference when it comes to the actual therapy. The therapist will try to meet all your preferences to ensure comfort. The most commonly used oils are lavender, cajeput, and tea tree oil but you will still be asked to choose scented oils. The reason why therapists prefer these oils is because they soothe inflammations and irritations. The oils also desensitize and penetrate nerve endings, thereby giving pain relief. However, if the therapist doesn’t ask you, you can bring up your concerns and preferences.

The question of getting undressed is another consideration. Therapists prefer to work with a patient who doesn’t have clothes on because they can easily work on the different areas of the body. However, if you’re uncomfortable in such setting, you can talk to your therapist about it. Besides, you will not be asked to expose your whole body because you will use a drape. If you still want to wear clothes, make sure that you wear loose clothes so that the therapist can still work well on the affected areas of your body.

You will simply lie down on the massage table. Some tables have bolsters for more comfort. There are also times when you will be asked to move so that the therapist can better access the area being massaged. If the position makes you uncomfortable, tell the therapist at once.

During the therapy, you can talk to the therapist or you can remain silent. When changing positions, then there is a need to talk but after that, there is no need to converse with the therapist. It is up to you to tell the therapist if you like a conversation during the therapy or if you prefer to be silent.

Don’t worry if your body is oily after the massage. The therapist will help you in removing them so that the oils will not stain your clothes.

Massage is an effective pain relief tool. Why don’t you try it now?



Wednesday 23 May 2012

Getting anxious over Anxiety Depression?

By: http://www.skybluecross.com

A lot of people who are exerting too much of their brain power usually exhaust not only their physical strength when engaging in various multi-tasking activities, they also tend to over extend their brains up to the point when it plainly needs some good old time for relaxation. A lot of busy people who seem to cannot fathom the idea of relaxing and taking time of from work, as well as their worries, tend to actually start having nervous breakdowns, anxiety depression and all sorts of mental illnesses that can cause a person's sanity to go haywire, fortunately, if you're one of those poor unfortunate ones who are unable to distress and is constantly worried and fussing over things, there are actually available cures and various treatments for treating anxiety depression.

Anxiety depression is actually characterized by all sorts of irregularities and erratic behavior from the person who is suffering from it, this is usuallu due to certain stress triggers that may tend to easily cause a person undue jitters and stress. Also, a lot of people who tend to get easily nervous over stressful activities are actually prone to having anxiety depression, its just a matter of being strong-willed when it comes to facing difficult and stress-prone activities. It may be pretty hard to overcome at first, but trying to be calm and cool in times of extreme pressure is what'll actually save your mental health from going totally downward spiral.

When it comes to effectively curing one's self from a mental illness, one must keep in mind that you have to be actually honest with yourself and assess what kind of depression or mental illness you actually have, go to reputable psychiatrist to get yourself diagnosed correctly as well as be able to get the right depression treatment for yourself. Here are the various types of depression:

Manic or Bipolar depression - characterized by sudden and extreme changes in one's mood wherein one minute he or she is in an elevated state of euphoria while the
next minute (day or week) he or she is feeling to be in a personal hell.

Postpartum depression - characterized by a prolonged sadness and a feeling of emptiness by a new mother wherein physical stress during child birth, an uncertain sense of responsibility towards the new born baby can be just some of the possible factors why some new mother go through this.

Dysthimia - characterized by a slight similarity with depression, although this time, it's been proven to be a lot less severe, but of course with any case, should be treated immediately.

Cyclothemia - characterized by a slight similarity with Manic or Bipolar depression wherein the individual suffering from this mental illness may occasionally suffer from severe changes in one's moods.

Seasonal Affective Disorder - characterized by falling in a rut only during specific seasons (i.e. Winter, Spring, Summer or Fall) studies however, prove that more people
actually fall in to a rut more during the Winter and Fall seasons and lastly, Mood swings, wherein a person's mood may shift from happy to sad to angry in just a short time.

But the type of depression that has actually been proven to be quite common among people is anxiety depression, which is actually characterized by the state of being overly anxious about things. Anxiety, a supposedly normal behavior that'll actually help a person adjust more to a certain stressful activity like first date jitters or a grueling exam the following day. Anxiety actually helps you get psyched up towards facing certain "difficult situations"; anxiety therefore is actually a good thing. Anxiety depression however, is simply the opposite, not to be easily dismissed as a "case of the nerves"; Anxiety depression is in actuality an illness that can be caused from the biological makeup of an individual, or in other words, a hereditary illness.

Also, there are actually various types of Anxiety depression, each having its own unique characteristics. Take for example Generalized Anxiety Disorder or GAD, this kind of Anxiety depression is a lot more complicated than the average Anxiety depression, in spite of possibly being a day-to-day habit for those who suffer this kind of Anxiety depression, Generalized Anxiety Disorder actually makes the individual quite more paranoid than usual, anxiety attacks are more frequent, even absurd at times. They can even be anxious even when there's no apparent reason that calls for them to behave in such a way. People suffering from Generalized Anxiety Disorder actually shows a lot of symptoms, from lack of sleep, to being unable to relax, getting tired easily, cannot concentrate on what they're doing and even suffering from depression. This kind of Anxiety depression is still curable; just a little work will actually do the trick.

Consult a reputable cognitive behavior therapist who'll help give the individual the therapy that he or she needs to help him or her loosen up, also prescribed medicines are sort of a must to help these individuals battle anxiety attacks, help them calm down and relax.


Tuesday 22 May 2012

Essential Information on Pain Relief

By: http://www.skybluecross.com


 As you know, too much of anything is not good. This also applies to the use of drugs for pain relief. Being too dependent on drugs is also not good for your body. Because of this fact, many people are now turning to electronic machines or devices for pain relief. If you don’t want to feel any side effects from the use of pain reliever drugs, the best option would be the devices or machines. Such digital machines are convenient because once you wear them the pain relieving action takes effect. Your routine activities are not even affected.

 Have you ever about the effectiveness of TENs? TENs or transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation works through your skin. In order to use it, you will put the patch on the skin area where you feel any pain. This conductive patch will serve as the entry point of the electrical impulses from the TENs machine.

 Your brain tells you that you’re in pain. The electronic impulses from the machine block the sensory nerves of your body so that the pain signals cannot go to the brain. If the pain signals are blocked, you will not feel any pain; thus, resulting to pain relief. The machine generates signals that aid in the release of ‘feel good’ hormones or endorphin.

 Back pain is quite common and if you’re also suffering from it, you can try using the machine. According to a Swedish study, the machine really works. In fact, about 70% of workers were satisfied of the pain relieving results of the TENs.

 The recent TENs kits already comes with an electrical probe which can help in stimulating the acupuncture points of your body. The machines always come with cautions so that users will know where to put the pads. For neck and head pain, you should follow the machine instructions so that you can determine the acupuncture points or the channels. Read the manual carefully so that you won’t encounter any problems.

 For the machine to be effective, you should know how to position the electrode pads. If you’re suffering from joint or muscle pain, the pads should be positioned near the pain source. For those suffering from nerve pain (sciatic), the pads should be placed over the sides of the spinal column and the leg’s top portion. Consult your medical specialist and ask about the machine. There are lots of medical practitioners out there who encourage the use of TENs. They can help you in effectively using the equipment. Proper placement of the electrode pads is vital. Always follow the guideline of the manufacturer so that you can get the best results. Keep in mind that the electrode pads should not be placed over the brain/neck/throat nerves, as well as near your eyes.

 The machine allows users to control the electrical signals received by the body. You should always check for the settings of the machine. Muscle twitching is an indication that the control setting is too high. Make sure that you feel only tingling sensations when using the TENs.

 Don’t use the machine without the supervision of a qualified medical professional. You see, not all pain conditions can be relieved by the machine. Through expert help, you can determine if the TENs is the most suitable pain relief option for you. Ask your doctor now and if he or she recommends the use of the machine, you can always try it out.

Alternative Pain Relief Options

By: http://www.skybluecross.com

Certain drugs have undesirable effects and for this reason, a great number of individuals have second thoughts in using them. Here are alternative pain relief options for you.

Ever since humans existed, pain is already a part of life. Pain also has varying degrees. An individual can suffer from emotional pain, physical pain, etc. It would be impossible to avoid pain all the days of y9ur life. You must accept the fact that pain is part of life but if you don’t want to use conventional medicine, you can always turn to alternative methods.

Famous drugs can indeed help especially in the case of tooth extraction or when there is injury. Trademark medicines are numerous these days and there are also creams to relieve any kind of pain. For common pains, you can also use certain natural treatments and herbal supplements.

What are the alternative options for pain relief? Well, here they are:

Massage – many years ago, ancient civilization was already using massage to get rid of certain body pains. Oriental traditions believe that at the center of the massager’s palm is an energy source that can immediately rid the patient of pain. Its efficacy has long been proven. Have you ever heard about infant massage? Mothers are encouraged to give their babies infant massage to relieve muscular pains. At present, massage therapy is already considered a profession. If you don’t want to take medicines, consider this an effective and affordable pain relief option.

Acupuncture – this ancient science was first used in China. In this method, the acupuncturist inserts tiny needles to the ‘meridians’ found in the different parts of the body. You can find a lot of information about acupuncture on magazines, newspapers, and on the internet. If you want to choose this option, make sure that you contact a real acupuncturist to ensure your safety. Get only the professional.

Herbs – herbs have healing wonders. Depending on the location and nature of the pain, there is always an appropriate herb that you can use. You can now find natural herbal supplements and preparations for ease of use. Minor pains can be effectively addressed using herbs.

Relaxation Therapy - you need to achieve deep relaxation of the mind and body. A therapy is now widely prescribed by some medical experts; examples are Reiki and Yoga.

Even if you plan to use these alternative options, it is still important that you seek medical attention from a qualified professional. If you plan to turn to herbs, you need to consult an herbalist so that you can make the appropriate herbal preparations. The other alternative options also require professional attention so that you can ensure the efficacy and safety of such methods. It may take a while before you can see the effects but you need to be patient especially if you’re learning Reiki and Yoga.

If you exert a little effort in learning the alternative methods, you can achieve desirable results. For centuries, people relied on natural ways to relieve pain. There is no harm in trying and if such alternative methods don’t work, you can always go back to using conventional medicine. Safety should always be your first consideration when using pain relievers. Who would want to worsen their situation right? So what’s its going to be – massage, acupuncture, herbs, or relaxation therapy? Choose now and experience a different way to get rid of pain.

Monday 21 May 2012

Ancient Rituals Of Spiritual Awakening

By: http://www.skybluecross.com/

Spiritual awakening is a goal that everyone seems to be looking for. Ever since the prehistoric period, people seem to be in quest for a divine union and enlightenment. There are different ancient rituals performed by different groups of people worldwide. Indigenous cultures that are still existing until now, shows us a glimpse of how ancient people quest on having a deeper understanding of the earth and the spirits.

Unfortunately, rituals are considered to be of old-world and not accepted in our current times. It is brushed off as an irrational, superstitious and primitive act. The Church have totally rejected these rituals, quoting them as pagan acts and condemned by the Church. Through these rituals, people get to understand and journey towards spiritual awakening.

In the ancient times there were mystery schools dedicated in discovering and exploring the mysteries of life and therefore touching some aspects of spirituality. These schools flourished in Egypt, Tibet and Persia.

Ancient Egyptians have toning of special chants and sounds which took place during midnight in different locations like the sacred man-made lake and the secret chamber below the Great Sphinx. This chanting and sounds stimulates a part of the head that can open up the brain to universal energy and electrical stimulation. This could unleash or release your psychic gifts and abilities. Once it has been opened, more psychic and spiritual gifts will be experienced by the person. Gifts would include intuition, creativity, clairvoyant abilities, and emphatic abilities.

Aside from that ancient Egypt recognizes the end of the year as the time of reckoning, reflection and engendering towards spiritual enlightenment. Ushet Rekhat or Mother Worship starts with a meditation ritual which strengthen the understanding and devotion of the follower. Meditation would also draw wisdom and health to those who share the ritual.

Homa is an Indian ancient fire ritual which is done with the intention of helping you have goof relationships, find a partner, have children and even remove bad karma or negative aspects in a horoscope.

In Buddhist and Hindu traditions, tantra is used to express and advance spirituality. Tantra is not really a tradition but are rituals that maintain spiritual core. Tantra, the word itself, means web and enlightenment. This has been used in ancient India to attain spiritual enlightenment and advancement. Today, Tantra has evolved into a sexual/spiritual phenomenon. Unfortunately, the ritual which is used to be a path to awakening is now used for sexual perversion and scattered among pornography and prostitution.

Ancient Iran also have a unique way of looking at spiritual awakening and enlightenment. To achieve awakening, it is important to attain spiritual perfection and later on immortality of the soul. Spiritual strength is also important in realizing God.

In Tibet, interestingly the making of the thangkas paintings is supposed to lead to developing attitudes like peacefulness, patience, perseverance, concentration, self-development and spiritual enlightenment. Thangkas paintings are similar to the art of pata chitra, which is very much known in India as early as 1st century. The ancient practices are still being used until today.
Whether these rituals are credible and applicable until now, most of the indigenous tribes who have started these rituals are still practicing and believing them until now. Spiritual awakening is not only achievable by undergoing different rituals among different regions, this inner and self-communication should start from the person looking for spiritual awakening.

Saturday 19 May 2012

The Complications of Down Syndrome

By: http://www.skybluecross.com
Down syndrome is a condition that may be bound to stay for life. Patients and health care providers need to understand the risks, as well as detect the early signs to provide the right methods. Complications of Down syndrome can also be life threatening, depending on the response of the patients and the treatment techniques used. Here are more tips.

The Known Complications

Children having the condition can display several complications. One of the problems is heart defect, which occurs in about 50% of patients with Down syndrome. These individuals are already born with a type of heart defect that can be life threatening or cause disability for life. Surgery may be required during the early stages of infancy to alleviate the abnormality. Infectious disease is another complication that can occur due to the abnormal immune systems of patients. Individuals with the syndrome are more prone to getting a variety of diseases and infections. The risk of getting pneumonia is higher compared to people who do not have the problem.

Leukemia can also occur because of the association with the weakened immune system. Dementia can occur later in life. There is a heightened risk for this complication, appearing in patients before the age of 40. Other problems can also manifest although not as common, such as hearing loss, poor vision, gastrointestinal blockage and thyroid problems. At present, the life span of individuals with Down syndrome has increased compared 100 years ago. Down syndrome patients today can expect to live to the age of 50 years or more, depending on the response and severity of the condition. Early detection, interventions and coping mechanisms have helped a lot boost life expectancy.

Statistics of the Complications

40% to 50% of kids with Down syndrome develop congenital heart defects according to the Association for Children with Down Syndrome in the United States. 100% of individuals afflicted with the condition will also develop physical signs of Alzheimer's once they reach the age of 35. Having the problem boosts the risk of developing leukemia 15 to 20 times more. Check for the early signs and other abnormalities that may be displayed by patients for early diagnosis and treatment.

The complications of Down Syndrome are actually secondary symptoms, conditions or disorders that stemmed from the actual syndrome. In several cases, it may be unclear or hard to distinguish the differences between complications and symptoms of Down syndrome. Asking for a second opinion or more tests can help.

List of Complications

Other included complications for Down syndrome include mental retardation, difficulty breastfeeding, enlarged tongue, round facial features, flattened facial features, hypothyroidism, conductive hearing loss, respiratory infections, immune system abnormalities, pneumonia (62 times higher compared to normal individuals), leukemia, Alzheimer's disease, congenital deafness, congenital heart disease, congenital intestinal atresia, vision disorders, cataracts, seizures, constipation, transient myelodysplasia, atlantoaxial instability, dementia, memory loss, impaired judgment or cognitive impairment, reduced sperm count and premature aging.

More Possible Problems

Other possible conditions that may arise include nausea, vomiting, brachycephaly, dizziness, brachydactyly, palmoplantar keratosis, hypotonia, atral septal defect, nystagmus, intrauterine growth retardation, odontoid hypoplasia, abnormal dermatoglyphics, hearing loss, abdominal pain, facies abnormality, tooth eruption delayed, Brushfield's spots, testosterone levels low (serum), uric acid levels raised (plasma or serum), hypothyroidism, bowel obstruction, atlantoaxial subluxation, ventricular septal defect, short stature, bowel obstruction, alpha fetoprotein levels low (serum), tooth loss, macroglossia and perinatal morbidity.


Signs and Symptoms of Down Syndrome

By: http://www.skybluecross.com
 Although the signs and symptoms of Down syndrome are very distinct, there are still others that might confuse both doctors and patients. Knowing the characteristics, nature and triggers can be very valuable for finding immediate alleviation measures. You can also avoid complications by checking for the early signs. Here are the complete details.

 Incidence and Age

 About 1 out of every 1,000 births in the United States results in Down syndrome. There is no link between the condition and ethnic group, socioeconomic status, geographic location and culture. It is a genetic condition primarily, and can display characteristics like cognitive disability, developmental delays and mental retardation. The chances of a person getting Down syndrome is greatly related to the age of his or her mother. Below the age of 25, the incidence is around 1 in every 1,400. At 40 years old, the odds are an estimated 1 in every 100 and about 1 in every 350 at age 35.

 Down Syndrome Types

 There are 3 types of the condition namely Trisomy 21, Mosaicism and Translocation. Trisomy 21 is the first type which occurs in about 95 percent of individuals with Down syndrome. The patient 3 number 21 chromosomes, instead of 2. There are normally 23 pairs of chromosomes, with each comprised of genes. During conception, the man or woman's pair of chromosomes usually split so that there is only one chromosome found in each sperm or egg. In Trisomy 21, the 21st pair of chromosomes does not split. A double-does then goes to the sperm or egg. About 95% to 97% of the extra chromosome comes from the mother.

 Mosaicism is described as a Down syndrome patient having an extra 21st chromosome in only a number of cells, but not in every single one. Other cells usually have the regular pair of 21st chromosomes. The Mosaicism type is the rarest, with only 1% to 2% of patients having it. Translocation happens in about 3% to 4% of Down syndrome patients. The extra part of the 21st chromosome usually attaches to another chromosome. One parent has the extra 21st chromosome material in hidden or balanced form.

 The 24 Symptoms

 The list of signs and symptoms of Down syndrome includes physical anomalies such as a protruding tongue, abnormally shaped ears, flattened face, snub nose, upward slanting eyes, short neck, flattened nasal bridge, deep palm crease, hypotonia, deep transverse crease of the palm, iris white spots or Brushfield spots, the baby not crying a lot, short stubby hands, short stubby feet and slow physical growth. Thyroid symptoms include autonomic disturbances, congenital hypothyroidism and an enlarged thyroid. The patient may also have mental retardation and developmental delay.

 Other Conditions

 Children may also develop other medical conditions associated to Down syndrome like cognitive disability or mental retardation. Several kids with Down syndrome have either moderate or mild cognitive disability. Heart defects may also arise in about half of kids with Down syndrome. The defects are found at birth or shortly after.

 Other diseases can also be present like Celiac disease, eye conditions and hypothyroidism. Parents should be especially careful, since other health problems can also occur like hearing problems, eye infections, dental problems and respiratory infections. Tissue buildup in parts of the eye can happen. Crooked teeth may also be present later on in life, with an irregularly shaped mouth

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