Pain causes Sleep problems.
Acute and chronic pain are linked to problems with sleep. When your body is in pain, your body's energy is directed toward healing whatever is causing the pain. And this shift in physical processes leads to sleep disturbance.
People in pain report having difficulty falling asleep and staying asleep, sleeping fewer hours, and waking up at night.
Dr. James C. O'Brien MD, became involved in sleep medicine when he began to notice that many of his patients, with undiagnosed sleep disorders, were not responding to conventional medical treatments. When sleep disorders were diagnosed and treated, a patient's condition improved, and they reported a new sense of well-being.
Dr. O'Brien describes some of the physical changes that our bodies feel when we are in pain, and how it impacts sleep. In an interview for Medical News Today, about the affects of pain on sleep, he shares how pain can affect the body's ability to "shut down".
When you are in pain, your hormones change. Adrenalin, our body's hormonal response to pain, can be in "overdrive" mode. When we have extra adrenalin surging in our bodies, it is difficult to relax and prepare for sleep. "Pain is clearly the nemesis of getting good sleep", says Dr. O'Brien.
Distinguishing acute pain (due to a recent injury or muscle strain) from chronic pain (long-term symptoms like arthritis pain, and when pain persists after the injury has healed) can help sleep treatment. Acute and chronic pain can influence sleep differently, so they may require different treatment.
Dr. Ellen Miller tells how medications can further complicate sleep problems. The medications have ingredients that stimulate the body and the nervous system. Some include caffeine, which stimulates the nervous system and inhibits sleep.
Medications may also have discomforting side effects. So, then sleep can be disturbed due to the initial pain and due to medications' side effects.
If you have difficulty sleeping, or if you have pain which may affect your sleep, here are some of the sleep experts' most common tips for improving sleep quality:
*Avoid caffeine late in the day
*Exercise early in the day
*Avoid drinking too much liquid in the evening
(author's note: hydrate early in the day, because dehydration can increase pain symptoms and inhibit sleep)
*Minimize alcohol consumption, especially in the evening
*Avoid spending time in bed except for sleep time
*Practice meditation and relaxation methods
*Establish an "unwinding ritual" around bed-time
*Go to sleep at the same time each night
*Awake at the same time each day, even if you did not get a good night's sleep
Basically, Prevention and lifestyle habits are key to a good night's sleep. And understanding the connections between pain and sleep can help treat problems with both!
For more articles and video on this topic, visit the Higher Lifestyle blog at www.higher-lifestyle.blogspot.com.
source:http://www.articlealley.com/article_537384_23.html
Saturday, May 17, 2008
Why Green Tea Has More Antioxidants Than Black Tea
Processing green tea differs from the way black tea is processed. Antioxidants in the tea leaves are nearly exhausted after black tea is processed whereas in green tea, almost all of its antioxidants are left in the leaves after processing.
Antioxidants in an apple
Antioxidants are active when an apple is sliced. You must have noticed that after slicing an apple, its flesh slowly turns into brown. That is because the apple's flesh is reacting to oxygen when it is exposed to air. This reaction produces free radicals and could create a chain reaction.
All fruits have antioxidants. Different types of fruits have different types of antioxidants. This is nature's defense for the fruit from oxidizing.
Let's get back to the apple. When free radicals are formed in the exposed flesh, the antioxidants in the apple quenches these free radicals to prevent a chain reaction. All of the exposed area of the flesh reacts to oxygen and therefore all these areas forms free radicals which are then quenched by the apple's antioxidants. Chain reaction cannot continue to the inside flesh as antioxidants quench these free radicals.
The discoloration you see in the exposed flesh are the result of molecules which reacted to oxygen. Scrape off that layer and you will see what the antioxidants in the apple has accomplished. It stopped the oxidation from going further inside the flesh.
Black Tea Processing
The following are the basic processing of black tea.
1. Harvesting
2. Withering - the leaves are spread and left to dry.
3. Rolling - the leaves are twisted and rolled either by hand or machinery. This process breaks or cracks the surface of the leaves exposing it to oxygen.
4. Oxidation or fermentation - the leaves are left to dry for several hours until it is about 80% dry.
5. Drying - the leaves further dried by applying heat without burning the leaves. This stops the oxidation process.
Just like the apple when the membranes of the leaves cracked in the rolling process, it exposed the insides of the leaves to oxygen. The free radicals produced are quenched by the antioxidants inside the tea leaves. Therefore those antioxidants that quenched the free radicals are already spent and will not be available in the finished product.
Green Tea Processing
This process differs a little bit from the way black tea is processed.
1. Harvesting
2. Withering
3. Drying
As you can see, the steps that can oxidize the leaves, rolling and oxidation, are omitted leaving the antioxidant content of the leaves almost intact.
Which do you prefer?
Now that you have seen the difference in processing and the final outcome of antioxidant content, what do you prefer? Tea with more antioxidant content? Others prefer the stronger taste of black tea against the milder taste of green tea. Others prefer green tea because of its healthful benefits.
How to get more antioxidants from tea
Our body can absorb only a small percentage of the antioxidants in tea. By combining it with citrus juices or vitamin c, our body's absorption of the antioxidants in tea can multiply more than 5 times.
The author has more health info on herbal green tea, antioxidants in green tea and green tea for weight loss.
source:http://www.articlealley.com/article_537498_23.html
Antioxidants in an apple
Antioxidants are active when an apple is sliced. You must have noticed that after slicing an apple, its flesh slowly turns into brown. That is because the apple's flesh is reacting to oxygen when it is exposed to air. This reaction produces free radicals and could create a chain reaction.
All fruits have antioxidants. Different types of fruits have different types of antioxidants. This is nature's defense for the fruit from oxidizing.
Let's get back to the apple. When free radicals are formed in the exposed flesh, the antioxidants in the apple quenches these free radicals to prevent a chain reaction. All of the exposed area of the flesh reacts to oxygen and therefore all these areas forms free radicals which are then quenched by the apple's antioxidants. Chain reaction cannot continue to the inside flesh as antioxidants quench these free radicals.
The discoloration you see in the exposed flesh are the result of molecules which reacted to oxygen. Scrape off that layer and you will see what the antioxidants in the apple has accomplished. It stopped the oxidation from going further inside the flesh.
Black Tea Processing
The following are the basic processing of black tea.
1. Harvesting
2. Withering - the leaves are spread and left to dry.
3. Rolling - the leaves are twisted and rolled either by hand or machinery. This process breaks or cracks the surface of the leaves exposing it to oxygen.
4. Oxidation or fermentation - the leaves are left to dry for several hours until it is about 80% dry.
5. Drying - the leaves further dried by applying heat without burning the leaves. This stops the oxidation process.
Just like the apple when the membranes of the leaves cracked in the rolling process, it exposed the insides of the leaves to oxygen. The free radicals produced are quenched by the antioxidants inside the tea leaves. Therefore those antioxidants that quenched the free radicals are already spent and will not be available in the finished product.
Green Tea Processing
This process differs a little bit from the way black tea is processed.
1. Harvesting
2. Withering
3. Drying
As you can see, the steps that can oxidize the leaves, rolling and oxidation, are omitted leaving the antioxidant content of the leaves almost intact.
Which do you prefer?
Now that you have seen the difference in processing and the final outcome of antioxidant content, what do you prefer? Tea with more antioxidant content? Others prefer the stronger taste of black tea against the milder taste of green tea. Others prefer green tea because of its healthful benefits.
How to get more antioxidants from tea
Our body can absorb only a small percentage of the antioxidants in tea. By combining it with citrus juices or vitamin c, our body's absorption of the antioxidants in tea can multiply more than 5 times.
The author has more health info on herbal green tea, antioxidants in green tea and green tea for weight loss.
source:http://www.articlealley.com/article_537498_23.html
Friday, May 16, 2008
Sources of Vitamins and Minerals
Vitamins and minerals are found in fruits, vegetables and other food items in abundance. Below are the natural sources of vitamins and minerals that are essential for the proper growth and development of our body.
Vitamin A – The main sources of Vitamin A are milk, cheese, butter, green leafy vegetables, cabbages, carrots, red and yellow fruits and vegetables. Large amounts of Vitamin A are also found in fish liver oils (eg Cod liver oil).
Vitamin B – The main sources of Vitamin B are milk, yeast, wheat bran, fresh vegetables and fruits, germinated wheat, leafy vegetables, pulses, etc. are the usual sources. It is also present in eggs, meat (especially liver), and fish.
Vitamin C – The main sources of Vitamin C are sweet-sour fruits, myrobalan, tomatoes, watermelons, pears, cabbages, pineapples, potatoes and green leafy vegetables.
Vitamin D – Sunlight is the best source of Vitamin D. It also occurs in milk, eggs and some fish liver oils.
Vitamin E – The main source of Vitamin E are milk, germinated wheat, green leafy vegetables, vegetables oils, nuts and eggs.
Vitamin K – The main sources of Vitamin K are wheat bran, green leafy vegetables, tomatoes, cauliflower, soyabean oil, vegetable oils, and livers of animals.
Calcium – The main sources of calcium are milk and milk products, fenugreek, drumsticks, and other green leafy vegetables, beetroots, figs, grapes, watermelons, millets, seasame and black grams. Some fish and oysters also contain plenty of calcium.
Phosphorous – The main sources of phosphorous are milk, cheese, yeast, dry fruits, soyabeans, dates, carrots, guava etc. It is also present in eggs, fish and meat.
Chlorine – Carrots, milk, potatoes, common salt, spinach, eggs, meat, salt-water, cabbage, tomatoes, bananas, dates etc. are the major sources of chlorine.
Potassium – Fresh fruits, milk, garlic, radishes, potatoes and meat are the main sources of potassium.
Iron – Fenugreek, mint, green leafy vegetables, seasame, millets, eggs, meat, animal livers, oysters, grams, green grams, black grams, soyabeans, dates, mangoes, etc.
Sulphur – The main sources of sulphur are beetroots, cabbage, radishes, garlic, onions, meat and milk.
Sodium – The main sources of sodium are milk, common salt, beetroots, carrots, radishes, eggs, meat and fish.
Magnesium – Milk, green vegetables, cereals, dry fruits and meat are the main sources of magnesium.
Iodine – It is present in sea foods and green vegetables.
Know more on Hair loss remedy. Visit an extensive section of Home remedies at Natural cures guide – a health guide to make you and your family live better, fit and healthy.
Disclaimer: This article is not meant to provide health advice and is for general information only. Always seek the insights of a qualified health professional before embarking on any health program.
source:http://www.articlealley.com/article_538825_23.html
Vitamin A – The main sources of Vitamin A are milk, cheese, butter, green leafy vegetables, cabbages, carrots, red and yellow fruits and vegetables. Large amounts of Vitamin A are also found in fish liver oils (eg Cod liver oil).
Vitamin B – The main sources of Vitamin B are milk, yeast, wheat bran, fresh vegetables and fruits, germinated wheat, leafy vegetables, pulses, etc. are the usual sources. It is also present in eggs, meat (especially liver), and fish.
Vitamin C – The main sources of Vitamin C are sweet-sour fruits, myrobalan, tomatoes, watermelons, pears, cabbages, pineapples, potatoes and green leafy vegetables.
Vitamin D – Sunlight is the best source of Vitamin D. It also occurs in milk, eggs and some fish liver oils.
Vitamin E – The main source of Vitamin E are milk, germinated wheat, green leafy vegetables, vegetables oils, nuts and eggs.
Vitamin K – The main sources of Vitamin K are wheat bran, green leafy vegetables, tomatoes, cauliflower, soyabean oil, vegetable oils, and livers of animals.
Calcium – The main sources of calcium are milk and milk products, fenugreek, drumsticks, and other green leafy vegetables, beetroots, figs, grapes, watermelons, millets, seasame and black grams. Some fish and oysters also contain plenty of calcium.
Phosphorous – The main sources of phosphorous are milk, cheese, yeast, dry fruits, soyabeans, dates, carrots, guava etc. It is also present in eggs, fish and meat.
Chlorine – Carrots, milk, potatoes, common salt, spinach, eggs, meat, salt-water, cabbage, tomatoes, bananas, dates etc. are the major sources of chlorine.
Potassium – Fresh fruits, milk, garlic, radishes, potatoes and meat are the main sources of potassium.
Iron – Fenugreek, mint, green leafy vegetables, seasame, millets, eggs, meat, animal livers, oysters, grams, green grams, black grams, soyabeans, dates, mangoes, etc.
Sulphur – The main sources of sulphur are beetroots, cabbage, radishes, garlic, onions, meat and milk.
Sodium – The main sources of sodium are milk, common salt, beetroots, carrots, radishes, eggs, meat and fish.
Magnesium – Milk, green vegetables, cereals, dry fruits and meat are the main sources of magnesium.
Iodine – It is present in sea foods and green vegetables.
Know more on Hair loss remedy. Visit an extensive section of Home remedies at Natural cures guide – a health guide to make you and your family live better, fit and healthy.
Disclaimer: This article is not meant to provide health advice and is for general information only. Always seek the insights of a qualified health professional before embarking on any health program.
source:http://www.articlealley.com/article_538825_23.html
Top Ten Eating Habits
Good eating habits results in healthy digestive system that will improve your overall health. It also makes you free from a number of ailments. Below are top ten eating habits that are very beneficial for maintaining a good health.
- Always be mindful of the wholesomeness of the food combinations – Even alkali-genic and nutritious foods, when taken without regards to the rules of food combinations, can generate toxins in the body.
- If you are not hungry, don’t eat – It is advised by health experts that eating food without hunger is not good for health and may create many digestive disorders.
- Chew your food properly – Thorough chewing mixes saliva with the food. Digestion starts off in the mouth itself with the action of the enzymes present in the saliva. Moreover, well-chewed food is easily digested.
- Do not drink water with meals – Water requires only 10 minutes to be absorbed from the stomach, and in the process it carries the enzymes away. This reduces the digestive process, which may result in the loss of appetite. You can drink water 15 minutes before a meal, half an hour after taking fruits, and two hours after a full meal.
- Do not eat when you are under physical or mental tension – If the body or the mind is exhausted or under tension, the secretion of the digestive juices will not be adequate.
- Do not eat or drink anything that is too hot or too cold – Ideally the temperature of any food should be around 37 ºC (98.6 ºF), the temperature of the body. The enzymes in the mouth and the stomach act best at such temperatures.
- Do not overeat – Overeating is always harmful. The stomach is a flexible bag made up of muscles. Its rhythmic contractions and expansions are responsible for the efficient mixing of digestive juices and enzymes with food. These movements are hindered if the bag is stuffed with excessive food. The enzymes are not mixed properly with the food, which begins to decay. Most people fail to exercise discretion in the amount of food they take. Overeating makes one lethargic and dull. This is a constant feeling of thirst. With time the belly gets enlarged, and one fall victim to disorders of the digestive system. In fact, to keep healthy it is necessary at all times to remain slightly hungry.
- Rest for a while after meal – The body vessels of the stomach dilate just after meals. This stimulates the secretion of enzymes, and thus helps digestion. If work requiring any kind of physical or mental exertion is taken up just after a meal, blood will be diverted from the stomach to other parts of the body like the hand, feet or brain, slowing down digestion.
- Eat only one meal, or take only fruits, one day every week – Giving occasional rest to the stomach is as necessary as giving it its usual assignment of digestion, for maintaining its efficiency. Moreover, when the body is not occupied in the task of digestion, it is free to tackle the poison that has been accumulated in it.
- Do not take any food while suffering from fever or any other ailment – This is essential. It is a fact that we never do feel hungry when we indisposed, and actually feel averse to taking any food. During an illness, the secretion of digestive juices is greatly reduced. As a result, the digestive processes are almost at a standstill.
Know more on Triphala. Visit an extensive section of Home remedies at Natural cures guide – a health guide to make you and your family live better, fit and healthy.
Disclaimer: This article is not meant to provide health advice and is for general information only. Always seek the insights of a qualified health professional before embarking on any health program.
source:http://www.articlealley.com/article_538824_23.html
- Always be mindful of the wholesomeness of the food combinations – Even alkali-genic and nutritious foods, when taken without regards to the rules of food combinations, can generate toxins in the body.
- If you are not hungry, don’t eat – It is advised by health experts that eating food without hunger is not good for health and may create many digestive disorders.
- Chew your food properly – Thorough chewing mixes saliva with the food. Digestion starts off in the mouth itself with the action of the enzymes present in the saliva. Moreover, well-chewed food is easily digested.
- Do not drink water with meals – Water requires only 10 minutes to be absorbed from the stomach, and in the process it carries the enzymes away. This reduces the digestive process, which may result in the loss of appetite. You can drink water 15 minutes before a meal, half an hour after taking fruits, and two hours after a full meal.
- Do not eat when you are under physical or mental tension – If the body or the mind is exhausted or under tension, the secretion of the digestive juices will not be adequate.
- Do not eat or drink anything that is too hot or too cold – Ideally the temperature of any food should be around 37 ºC (98.6 ºF), the temperature of the body. The enzymes in the mouth and the stomach act best at such temperatures.
- Do not overeat – Overeating is always harmful. The stomach is a flexible bag made up of muscles. Its rhythmic contractions and expansions are responsible for the efficient mixing of digestive juices and enzymes with food. These movements are hindered if the bag is stuffed with excessive food. The enzymes are not mixed properly with the food, which begins to decay. Most people fail to exercise discretion in the amount of food they take. Overeating makes one lethargic and dull. This is a constant feeling of thirst. With time the belly gets enlarged, and one fall victim to disorders of the digestive system. In fact, to keep healthy it is necessary at all times to remain slightly hungry.
- Rest for a while after meal – The body vessels of the stomach dilate just after meals. This stimulates the secretion of enzymes, and thus helps digestion. If work requiring any kind of physical or mental exertion is taken up just after a meal, blood will be diverted from the stomach to other parts of the body like the hand, feet or brain, slowing down digestion.
- Eat only one meal, or take only fruits, one day every week – Giving occasional rest to the stomach is as necessary as giving it its usual assignment of digestion, for maintaining its efficiency. Moreover, when the body is not occupied in the task of digestion, it is free to tackle the poison that has been accumulated in it.
- Do not take any food while suffering from fever or any other ailment – This is essential. It is a fact that we never do feel hungry when we indisposed, and actually feel averse to taking any food. During an illness, the secretion of digestive juices is greatly reduced. As a result, the digestive processes are almost at a standstill.
Know more on Triphala. Visit an extensive section of Home remedies at Natural cures guide – a health guide to make you and your family live better, fit and healthy.
Disclaimer: This article is not meant to provide health advice and is for general information only. Always seek the insights of a qualified health professional before embarking on any health program.
source:http://www.articlealley.com/article_538824_23.html
Thursday, May 15, 2008
Homemade Honey Beauty Recipes
This sweet, sticky substance is made by Honeybees from various types of flower nectar. Honey has the natural ability to attract and retain moisture Honey can be a great beauty product, especially when used for a facial mask. It is used in cosmetics for its emollient properties as well as for coloring and flavoring. Honey's natural antioxidant properties help to protect the skin from the damage of the sun's rays and also help support the skin's ability to rejuvenate should damage occur. Cleopatra was famous for her milk and honey baths, and Poppea, wife of Roman Emperor Nero, used a honey and milk lotion on her face to keep her looking youthful.
Honey Mask Recipe - The best facial mask is honey. Place a cloth in warm water and apply to your face to open the pores. Smear on honey, and leave on for 15 to 30 minutes. Rinse off with warm water, then use cold water to close the pores. Use once a week.
Yogurt-Honey Mask - 1 T Yogurt, 1 T Honey. Add the two ingredients together and apply to a clean, moist face. Pat this mask onto the skin for a moisturizing, penetrating, hydrating, soothing application that will also help to clear up skin problems.
Mix 1 teaspoon honey with 1 teaspoon vegetable oil and ¼ teaspoon lemon. Rub into hands, elbows, heels and anywhere that feels dry. Leave on for 10 minutes. Rinse off with water.
Smoothing Skin Lotion-Mix 1 teaspoon honey with 1 teaspoon vegetable oil and 1/4 teaspoon lemon juice. Rub into hands, elbows, heels and anywhere that feels dry. Leave on 10 minutes. Rinse off with water.
Make a homemade beauty facial mask with honey and bananas. Make sure the bananas are not overripe. Mash 2 teaspoons of mashed banana, 2 teaspoons of rolled oats, 1 teaspoon of milk and 1 teaspoon honey. After 10 minutes, massage it into your face. Allow it to sit for 5 more minutes and then rinse with warm water.
Honey Cleansing Scrub - Mix 1 Tablespoon of honey with 2 Tablespoons finely ground almonds and 1/2 teaspoon lemon juice. Rub gently onto face. Rinse off with warm water.
Lavender- Honey Milk Bath - 3 T dried Lavender flowers, 1 1/2 cups whole mild, cream, or combination, 1/3 cup Honey Process lavender flowers in a blender until they become a powder, turning off the blender and scraping down the sides as necessary. Whisk together lavender powder, milk and honey in a glass bowl, then pour into a jar. Before each use, shake the jar and pour half of the mixture into the bath. Store covered in the refrigerator for up to 1 week. Makes enough for 2 baths.
Honey Soap - Mix 2-3 tbs honey with lemon essential oil and a little oil together. At tracing, add and mix thoroughly before pouring.
source:http://www.articlealley.com/article_536514_23.html
Honey Mask Recipe - The best facial mask is honey. Place a cloth in warm water and apply to your face to open the pores. Smear on honey, and leave on for 15 to 30 minutes. Rinse off with warm water, then use cold water to close the pores. Use once a week.
Yogurt-Honey Mask - 1 T Yogurt, 1 T Honey. Add the two ingredients together and apply to a clean, moist face. Pat this mask onto the skin for a moisturizing, penetrating, hydrating, soothing application that will also help to clear up skin problems.
Mix 1 teaspoon honey with 1 teaspoon vegetable oil and ¼ teaspoon lemon. Rub into hands, elbows, heels and anywhere that feels dry. Leave on for 10 minutes. Rinse off with water.
Smoothing Skin Lotion-Mix 1 teaspoon honey with 1 teaspoon vegetable oil and 1/4 teaspoon lemon juice. Rub into hands, elbows, heels and anywhere that feels dry. Leave on 10 minutes. Rinse off with water.
Make a homemade beauty facial mask with honey and bananas. Make sure the bananas are not overripe. Mash 2 teaspoons of mashed banana, 2 teaspoons of rolled oats, 1 teaspoon of milk and 1 teaspoon honey. After 10 minutes, massage it into your face. Allow it to sit for 5 more minutes and then rinse with warm water.
Honey Cleansing Scrub - Mix 1 Tablespoon of honey with 2 Tablespoons finely ground almonds and 1/2 teaspoon lemon juice. Rub gently onto face. Rinse off with warm water.
Lavender- Honey Milk Bath - 3 T dried Lavender flowers, 1 1/2 cups whole mild, cream, or combination, 1/3 cup Honey Process lavender flowers in a blender until they become a powder, turning off the blender and scraping down the sides as necessary. Whisk together lavender powder, milk and honey in a glass bowl, then pour into a jar. Before each use, shake the jar and pour half of the mixture into the bath. Store covered in the refrigerator for up to 1 week. Makes enough for 2 baths.
Honey Soap - Mix 2-3 tbs honey with lemon essential oil and a little oil together. At tracing, add and mix thoroughly before pouring.
source:http://www.articlealley.com/article_536514_23.html
Teen Insomnia How Big of a Problem is It?
Teens need 8½ to more than 9 hours of sleep a night. One complete sleep cycle lasts about 90 to 100 minutes. So during an average night's sleep, a person will experience about four or five cycles of sleep. The sleep problems and sleep disorders are becoming commonplace among teenagers. This change in the circadian rhythm seems to be due to the fact that the brain hormone document.write melatoninmelatonin is produced later at night in teens. In fact, as many as 30 percent of all teens suffer from a sleep disorder. The Associated Professional Sleep Societies 17 percent of teens ages 13 to 17 suffer from insomnia.
Mothers rated their sons' early childhood (aged 3 to 5) sleep problems, problems such as overtiredness and having trouble sleeping. Good sleep (approximately eight hours) restores brain function and helps our ability to analyze, so it's easier to remember more from class and do better in school. Most teens with problems sleeping actually have something called Delayed Sleep Phase Syndrome. But a teen’s bout with insomnia may have more serious consequences in the long term as they continue to mature and grow. Teenagers have many things to worry about: school, friends, social activities, etc.
Causes of Teen Insomnia
Mental-health problems
Study tension
Excessive tiredness
Depression
Symptoms of Teen Insomnia
Difficulty waking in the morning
Psychiatric disorders
Start feeling drowsy
Lower concentration
Lowers the quality of work
Prevention for Teen Insomnia
Do exercise regularly.
Don't allow children to watch television or video tapes that are too stimulating, especially before bedtime.
Make your room as dark, comfortable, and quiet as possible.
Maintain a reasonable bedtime and wake time, make this consistent throughout the week
Don't go to bed hungry but don't overstuff yourself either.
Avoid the caffeine consumption.
Limit extracurricular activities. Sometimes teens are overextended and participate in too many after-school activities. This might leave them too stimulated to fall asleep.
Downshift your brain. Put down your homework or get off the phone an hour or two before you fall asleep.
Make an appointment with a pediatrician. Write down your teen's sleep patterns. Include when he is awake, sleeping and when he seems most tired during the day. Your doctor may use this to determine if he has insomnia.
Treatment for Teen Insomnia
Different sleep problems are treated differently. Some can be treated with medications.
Doctors also encourage teens to make lifestyle changes that promote good sleeping habits.
Serenite Jr. is a 100% natural, safe, effective specially formulated herbal remedy for child and baby Insomnia and Sleeping Disorders.
From helping a teen prioritize sleep and maintain good sleep hygiene to seeking help from a qualified physician.
Native Remedies Serenite Jr. Drops for Child and Teen Insomnia this may be useful for the treatment of the teen insomnia.
source:http://www.articlealley.com/article_536621_23.html
Mothers rated their sons' early childhood (aged 3 to 5) sleep problems, problems such as overtiredness and having trouble sleeping. Good sleep (approximately eight hours) restores brain function and helps our ability to analyze, so it's easier to remember more from class and do better in school. Most teens with problems sleeping actually have something called Delayed Sleep Phase Syndrome. But a teen’s bout with insomnia may have more serious consequences in the long term as they continue to mature and grow. Teenagers have many things to worry about: school, friends, social activities, etc.
Causes of Teen Insomnia
Mental-health problems
Study tension
Excessive tiredness
Depression
Symptoms of Teen Insomnia
Difficulty waking in the morning
Psychiatric disorders
Start feeling drowsy
Lower concentration
Lowers the quality of work
Prevention for Teen Insomnia
Do exercise regularly.
Don't allow children to watch television or video tapes that are too stimulating, especially before bedtime.
Make your room as dark, comfortable, and quiet as possible.
Maintain a reasonable bedtime and wake time, make this consistent throughout the week
Don't go to bed hungry but don't overstuff yourself either.
Avoid the caffeine consumption.
Limit extracurricular activities. Sometimes teens are overextended and participate in too many after-school activities. This might leave them too stimulated to fall asleep.
Downshift your brain. Put down your homework or get off the phone an hour or two before you fall asleep.
Make an appointment with a pediatrician. Write down your teen's sleep patterns. Include when he is awake, sleeping and when he seems most tired during the day. Your doctor may use this to determine if he has insomnia.
Treatment for Teen Insomnia
Different sleep problems are treated differently. Some can be treated with medications.
Doctors also encourage teens to make lifestyle changes that promote good sleeping habits.
Serenite Jr. is a 100% natural, safe, effective specially formulated herbal remedy for child and baby Insomnia and Sleeping Disorders.
From helping a teen prioritize sleep and maintain good sleep hygiene to seeking help from a qualified physician.
Native Remedies Serenite Jr. Drops for Child and Teen Insomnia this may be useful for the treatment of the teen insomnia.
source:http://www.articlealley.com/article_536621_23.html
Why Muscles Get Sore
As people age, they begin to complain more of pains in their muscles and joints. They seem to stiffen up with age, and such commonplace activities as bending over for the morning paper can make them wince.
Such pain can grip so fiercely that they are sure it begins deep in their bones. But the real cause of stiffness and soreness lies not in the joints or bones, according to research at the Johns Hopkins Medical School, but in the muscles and connective tissues that move the joints.
The frictional resistance generated by the two rubbing surfaces of bones in the joints is negligible, even in joints damaged by arthritis.
Flexibility is the medical term used to describe the range of a joint's motion from full movement in one direction to full movement in the other. The greater the range of movement, the more flexible the joint.
If you bend forward at the hips and touch your toes with your fingertips, you have good flexibility, or range of motion of the hip joints. But can you bend over easily with a minimal expenditure of energy and force? The exertion required to flex a joint is just as important as its range of possible motion.
Different factors limit the flexibility and ease of movement in different joints and muscles. In the elbow and knee, the bony structure itself sets a definite limit. In other joints, such as the ankle, hip, and back, the soft tissue-muscle and connective tissue-limit the motion range.
The problem of inflexible joints and muscles is similar to the difficulty of opening and closing a gate because of a rarely used and rusty hinge that has become balky.
Hence, if people do not regularly move their muscles and joints through their full ranges of motion, they lose some of their potential. That is why when these people will try to move a joint after a long period of inactivity, they feel pain, and that discourages further use
What happens next is that the muscles become shortened with prolonged disuse and produces spasms and cramps that can be irritating and extremely painful. The immobilization of muscles, as researchers have demonstrated with laboratory animals, brings about biochemical changes in the tissue.
However, other factors trigger sore muscles. Here are some of them:
1. Too much exercise
Have you always believed on the saying, "No pain, no gain?" If you do, then, it is not so surprising if you have already experienced sore muscles.
The problem with most people is that they exercise too much thinking that it is the fastest and the surest way to lose weight. Until they ache, they tend to ignore their muscles and connective tissue, even though they are what quite literally holds the body together.
2. Aging and inactivity
Connective tissue binds muscle to bone by tendons, binds bone to bone by ligaments, and covers and unites muscles with sheaths called fasciae. With age, the tendons, ligaments, and fasciae become less extensible. The tendons, with their densely packed fibers, are the most difficult to stretch. The easiest are the fasciae. But if they are not stretched to improve joint mobility, the fasciae shorten, placing undue pressure on the nerve pathways in the muscle fasciae. Many aches and pains are the result of nerve impulses traveling along these pressured pathways.
3. Immobility
Sore muscles or muscle pain can be excruciating, owing to the body's reaction to a cramp or ache. In this reaction, called the splinting reflex, the body automatically immobilizes a sore muscle by making it contract. Thus, a sore muscle can set off a vicious cycle pain.
First, an unused muscle becomes sore from exercise or being held in an unusual position. The body then responds with the splinting reflex, shortening the connective tissue around the muscle. This cause more pain, and eventually the whole area is aching. One of the most common sites for this problem is the lower back.
4. Spasm theory
In the physiology laboratory at the University of Southern California, some people have set out to learn more about this cycle of pain.
Using some device, they measured electrical activity in the muscles. The researchers knew that normal, well-relaxed muscles produce no electrical activity, whereas, muscles that are not fully relaxed show considerable activity.
In one experiment, the researchers measured these electrical signals in the muscles of persons with athletic injuries, first with the muscle immobilized, and then, after the muscle had been stretched.
In almost every case, exercises that stretched or lengthened the muscle diminished electrical activity and relieved pain, either totally or partially.
These experiments led to the "spasm theory," an explanation of the development and persistence of muscle pain in the absence of any obvious cause, such as traumatic injury.
According to this theory, a muscle that is overworked or used in a strange position becomes fatigued and as a result, sore muscles.
Hence, it is extremely important to know the limitations and capacity of the muscles in order to avoid sore muscles. This goes to show that there is no truth in the saying, "No pain, no gain." What matters most is on how people stay fit by exercising regularly at a normal range than once rarely but on a rigid routine.
source:http://www.articlealley.com/article_536809_23.html
Such pain can grip so fiercely that they are sure it begins deep in their bones. But the real cause of stiffness and soreness lies not in the joints or bones, according to research at the Johns Hopkins Medical School, but in the muscles and connective tissues that move the joints.
The frictional resistance generated by the two rubbing surfaces of bones in the joints is negligible, even in joints damaged by arthritis.
Flexibility is the medical term used to describe the range of a joint's motion from full movement in one direction to full movement in the other. The greater the range of movement, the more flexible the joint.
If you bend forward at the hips and touch your toes with your fingertips, you have good flexibility, or range of motion of the hip joints. But can you bend over easily with a minimal expenditure of energy and force? The exertion required to flex a joint is just as important as its range of possible motion.
Different factors limit the flexibility and ease of movement in different joints and muscles. In the elbow and knee, the bony structure itself sets a definite limit. In other joints, such as the ankle, hip, and back, the soft tissue-muscle and connective tissue-limit the motion range.
The problem of inflexible joints and muscles is similar to the difficulty of opening and closing a gate because of a rarely used and rusty hinge that has become balky.
Hence, if people do not regularly move their muscles and joints through their full ranges of motion, they lose some of their potential. That is why when these people will try to move a joint after a long period of inactivity, they feel pain, and that discourages further use
What happens next is that the muscles become shortened with prolonged disuse and produces spasms and cramps that can be irritating and extremely painful. The immobilization of muscles, as researchers have demonstrated with laboratory animals, brings about biochemical changes in the tissue.
However, other factors trigger sore muscles. Here are some of them:
1. Too much exercise
Have you always believed on the saying, "No pain, no gain?" If you do, then, it is not so surprising if you have already experienced sore muscles.
The problem with most people is that they exercise too much thinking that it is the fastest and the surest way to lose weight. Until they ache, they tend to ignore their muscles and connective tissue, even though they are what quite literally holds the body together.
2. Aging and inactivity
Connective tissue binds muscle to bone by tendons, binds bone to bone by ligaments, and covers and unites muscles with sheaths called fasciae. With age, the tendons, ligaments, and fasciae become less extensible. The tendons, with their densely packed fibers, are the most difficult to stretch. The easiest are the fasciae. But if they are not stretched to improve joint mobility, the fasciae shorten, placing undue pressure on the nerve pathways in the muscle fasciae. Many aches and pains are the result of nerve impulses traveling along these pressured pathways.
3. Immobility
Sore muscles or muscle pain can be excruciating, owing to the body's reaction to a cramp or ache. In this reaction, called the splinting reflex, the body automatically immobilizes a sore muscle by making it contract. Thus, a sore muscle can set off a vicious cycle pain.
First, an unused muscle becomes sore from exercise or being held in an unusual position. The body then responds with the splinting reflex, shortening the connective tissue around the muscle. This cause more pain, and eventually the whole area is aching. One of the most common sites for this problem is the lower back.
4. Spasm theory
In the physiology laboratory at the University of Southern California, some people have set out to learn more about this cycle of pain.
Using some device, they measured electrical activity in the muscles. The researchers knew that normal, well-relaxed muscles produce no electrical activity, whereas, muscles that are not fully relaxed show considerable activity.
In one experiment, the researchers measured these electrical signals in the muscles of persons with athletic injuries, first with the muscle immobilized, and then, after the muscle had been stretched.
In almost every case, exercises that stretched or lengthened the muscle diminished electrical activity and relieved pain, either totally or partially.
These experiments led to the "spasm theory," an explanation of the development and persistence of muscle pain in the absence of any obvious cause, such as traumatic injury.
According to this theory, a muscle that is overworked or used in a strange position becomes fatigued and as a result, sore muscles.
Hence, it is extremely important to know the limitations and capacity of the muscles in order to avoid sore muscles. This goes to show that there is no truth in the saying, "No pain, no gain." What matters most is on how people stay fit by exercising regularly at a normal range than once rarely but on a rigid routine.
source:http://www.articlealley.com/article_536809_23.html
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