Keep Your Health

 

What is diarrhea?

Diarrhea is an increase in the frequency of bowel movements or a decrease in the form of stool (greater looseness of stool). Although changes in frequency of bowel movements and looseness of stools can vary independently of each other, changes often occur in both.
Diarrhea needs to be distinguished from four other conditions. Although these conditions may accompany diarrhea, they often have different causes and different treatments than diarrhea. These other conditions are:

1. incontinence of stool, which is the inability to control (delay) bowel movements until an appropriate time, for example, until one can get to the toilet


2. rectal urgency, which is a sudden urge to have a bowel movement that is so strong that if a toilet is not immediately available there will be incontinence


3. incomplete evacuation, which is a sensation that another bowel movement is necessary soon after a bowel movement, yet there is difficulty passing further stool the second time


4. bowel movements immediately after eating a meal

How is diarrhea defined?

Diarrhea can be defined in absolute or relative terms based on either the frequency of bowel movements or the consistency (looseness) of stools.
Frequency of bowel movements. Absolute diarrhea is having more bowel movements than normal. Thus, since among healthy individuals the maximum number of daily bowel movements is approximately three, diarrhea can be defined as any number of stools greater than three. Relative diarrhea is having more bowel movements than usual. Thus, if an individual who usually has one bowel movement each day begins to have two bowel movements each day, then diarrhea is present-even though there are not more than three bowel movements a day, that is, there is not absolute diarrhea.
Consistency of stools. Absolute diarrhea is more difficult to define on the basis of the consistency of stool because the consistency of stool can vary considerably in healthy individuals depending on their diets. Thus, individuals who eat large amounts of vegetables will have looser stools than individuals who eat few vegetables. Stools that are liquid or watery are always abnormal and considered diarrheal. Relative diarrhea is easier to define based on the consistency of stool. Thus, an individual who develops looser stools than usual has diarrhea--even though the stools may be within the range of normal with respect to consistency.

Delayed onset muscle soreness (DOMS) describes a phenomenon of muscle pain, muscle soreness or muscle stiffness that occurs in the day or two after exercise. This muscle soreness is most frequently felt when you begin a new exercise program, change your exercise routine, or dramatically increase the duration or intensity of your exercise routine.
Although it can be alarming for new exercisers, delayed onset muscle soreness is a normal response to unusual exertion and is part of an adaptation process that leads to greater stamina and strength as the muscles recover and build hypertrophy).
This sort of muscle pain is not the same as the muscle pain or fatigue you experience during exercise. Delayed soreness is also unlike the acute, sudden and sharp pain of an injury such as a muscle strains or sprain that occurs during activity and often causes swelling or bruising. The delayed muscle soreness of DOMS is generally at its worst within the first 2 days following a new, intense activity and slowly subsides over the next few days.

What Causes Muscle Soreness After Exercise?

Delayed onset muscle soreness is thought to be a result of microscopic tearing of the muscle fibers. The amount of tearing (and soreness) depends on how hard and how long you exercise and what type of exercise you do. Any movement you aren't used to can lead to DOMS, but eccentric muscle contractions (movements that cause muscle to forcefully contract while it lengthens) seem to cause the most soreness. Examples of eccentric muscle contractions include going down stairs, running downhill, lowering weights and the downward motion of squats and push-ups. In addition to small muscle tears there can be associated swelling in a muscle which may contribute to soreness.

What Is the Best Treatment for Muscle Soreness After Exercise?

There is no one simple way to treat delayed onset muscle soreness. In fact, there has been an ongoing debate about both the cause and treatment of DOMS. In the past, gentle stretching was one of the recommended ways to reduce exercise related muscle soreness, but a study by Australian researchers published in 2007 found that stretching is not effective in avoiding muscle soreness. So does anything work to reduce delayed-onset muscle soreness? Nothing is proven 100 percent effective, and although some people have found the following advice helpful, it's best to try a few things to see what works for you. Ultimately, best advice for treating DOMS is to prevent it in the first place.

What is a headache?

A Headache is defined as a pain in the head or upper neck. It is one of the most common locations of pain in the body and has many causes.

How are headaches classified?

Headaches have numerous causes, and in 2007 the International Headache Society agreed upon an updated classification system for headache. Because so many people suffer from headaches and because treatment sometimes is difficult, it is hoped that the new classification system will allow health care practitioners come to a specific diagnosis as to the type of headache and to provide better and more effective treatment.
There are three major categories of headaches:

1. primary headaches,
   
2. secondary headaches, and
   
3. cranial neuralgias, facial pain, and other headaches

What are primary headaches?

Primary headaches include migraine, tension, and cluster headaches, as well as a variety of other less common types of headache.

• Tension headaches are the most common type of primary headache. Up to 90% of adults have had or will have tension headaches. Tension headaches occur more commonly among women than men.
  
• Migraine headaches are the second most common type of primary headache. An estimated 28 million people in the United States (about 12% of the population) will experience a migraine headache. Migraine headaches affect children as well as adults. Before puberty, boys and girls are affected equally by migraine headaches, but after puberty, more women than men are affected. It is estimated that 6% of men and up to 18% of women will experience a migraine headache in their lifetime.
  
• Cluster headaches are a rare type of primary headache affecting 0.1% of the population (1 in a 1,000 people). It more commonly affects men in their late 20s though women and children can also suffer these types of headache.

Primary headaches can affect the quality of life. Some people have occasional headaches that resolve quickly while others are debilitated. While these headaches are not life-threatening, they may be associated with symptoms that can mimic strokes or intracerebral bleeding.

What are secondary headaches?

Secondary headaches are those that are due to an underlying structural problem in the head or neck. There are numerous causes of this type of headache ranging from bleeding in the brain, tumor, or meningitis and encephalitis.

Doctors define a sprain as a tear or a stretching of a ligament and a strain as a tendon or muscle injury. Sprains are common in the knees, wrists and ankles, while strains are common in the hamstring and the back. If you have experienced a sprain or strain, there are several things that you can do to help treat your injury at home. Taking pain medication and following the RICE (rest, ice, compression and elevation) method of care can help.

Instructions
1
Rest your injured body part. Be sure to limit any exercise or activity involving the injured body part for at least twenty four to forty eight hours after the sprain or strain occurred. This will allow your sprain or strain to begin the healing process and help you avoid any further injury.
2
Ice the sprain or strain. Apply an ice pack, preferably one wrapped in a towel, to the sprained or strained hour for twenty minutes at a time. Remember to limit the amount of time in which you apply the ice pack to reduce the risk of frostbite. Apply the ice pack to the injured area every several hours for the first one to two days following your injury. This will help reduce pain and keep swelling down.
3
Compress the injured area. If you have a sprain or a strain, applying compression to the injury will help decrease the swelling you experience. For effective compression, use an elastic bandage or wrap purchased from a drug store on your sprain or strain. Alternatively, your doctor may suggest the use of a splint or an air cast instead. Be sure to follow your doctor's recommendations.
4
Elevate your sprained or strained body part. Keep the injured area above the level of your heart to help decrease the swelling. Use a pillow to help keep your injury elevated.
5
Take medication to help reduce pain and swelling. Over the counter drugs such as naproxen and ibuprofen can help minimize the pain you feel due to a sprain or a strain and help reduce inflammation or swelling of the affected area. Follow all dosage instructions on the packaging of these drugs.

Do you know how to take care of your dandruff? Dandruff is an annoying and embarrassing problem, but is rarely serious. Dandruff can
be triggered by trauma, illness, hormonal imbalances, improper carbohydrate consumption, and the consumption of sugar. It could be also due to deficiencies of nutrients such as the B-complex vitamins, essential fatty acids, and selenium. Dandruff is usually worse in the winter months.

According to the dermatologist, virtually everyone has the problem to some degree. There is no cure for dandruff, but the condition can be minimized and here's how:

Eat soured products such as yogurt. Avoid fried foods, dairy products, sugar, flour, chocolate, nuts and seafoods.

Before washing your hair, add about 8 tbsp. of organic pure peanut oil to the juice of half a lemon and rub the mixture into your scalp.

Leave it for 5 to 10 minutes, then shampoo. Try rinsing your hair with vinegar and water instead of plain water after shampooing. Use 1/4 cup quart vinegar to 1 quart of water. Do not pick or scratch the scalp. Make sure to wash your hair frequently, and use a non-oily shampoo.

To take of your dandruff use natural hair products that do not contain chemicals. Avoid irritant soaps and greasy ointments and creams. Massage your scalp first before washing your hair. Do not use a shampoo containing selenium daily, even if it aids in controlling dandruff.

Some people have found that sun exposure helps clear up dandruffs, but others find that it seems to make the problem worse. So my advice on how to take care of dandruff is to do this:

Thyme is reputed to have mild antiseptic properties that can help alleviate dandruff but you have to make an extra time. You can make an effective rinse by boiling 4 heaping tablespoon of dried thyme in 2 cups of water for 10 minutes. Strain the brew and make it cool. Pour half the mixture over clean damp hair, making sure the liquid covers the scalp. Massage gently and don't rinse immediately- let it stay about 15 to 20 minutes. Save the remainder for another day.

It is best not to use over the counter ointments for dandruff. They can do more harm than good. Nizoral A-D is an antifungal shampoo. Dermatologist usually prescribe a cleansing lotion containing a drying agent with sulfur and resorcinol, or a medicated product called Diprosone from Schering Plough, to clear up dandruff.

If dandruff is persistent or symptoms seem to be getting worse, or if it appears in areas other than the scalp, consult your health care provider- it might be dermatitis.