A recent study has show Cognitive behavioral therapy to be effective in the treatment for insomnia in older people who suffer pain from osteoarthritis. 60 percent of people with the disease report pain during the night. As a sufferer of chronic pain syndrome, brought about by sleep deprivation during a time of chronic pain, I have sympathy with such persons so found the study interesting. I am also aware of Sleep Anxiety – where one becomes so desperate to get to sleep, that it makes falling asleep even more difficult
Pain perception may decrease when people sleep better. In turn, improved sleep leads to improvement in coexisting medical or psychiatric illnesses. Once an individual learns how to improve their sleep, the improvement persists for a year or more according to the researchers.
The study included 23 older patients with osteoarthritis who were assigned a stress management and wellness program. Those receiving the cognitive behavioral therapy reported improvements in sleep quality and pain relief measures before and after treatment, and a year later. Those that didn’t receive cognitive therapy showed no significant improvements in sleep quality or pain.
One aspect the study didn’t uncover was whether sleep disturbance preceded or follows pain onset, but researchers believe reciprocal effects are likely.
The study is published in the Aug. 15 issue of the Journal of Clinical Sleep Medicine.
Ever wondered the best time of day for taking your meds, having surgery, getting a bikini wax, going to the Doctor, having a root canal or just a taking a power nap….then this article just might give you the answer: Check it out
Just came across this interesting interactive website that looks at the various toxic elements in your home.
For instance – how safe is food in cans? What ingredient do you need to watch out for in dishwasher powders? What are the three harmful toxins in your soft furnishings.
Wander through this online home and click on the orange dots to see pop up information and videos on the various health considerations you should know about the toxic elements in your home.
How often do you find your Doctor treating your symptoms and not the problem? I regard myself as an intelligent person who can be assertive when appropriate, yet I still fall into the trap of coming out from my Doctors surgery without getting what I really need.
I have quite a troublesome arrythmia. When the heart rythmn is so irregular it causes the body to signal that something is seriously wrong, and it starts pumping cortisol around the show as a natural stress response. In turn, this causes a gastric response, with too much acid being produced. Combined, these symptoms can cause insomnia. During the previous two nights I had no sleep at all. I had hot tingling pain on various parts of my skin that seemed to move around my body throughout the night. It was like my nerve endings were fried. This was unusual, and I had to see my Doctor for another unrelated reason so I discussed this also. My doctor claimed the burning sensations and insomnia were due to stress. What did I come away with – more Losec! The stress was caused by the arrythmia, not the other way around.
I didn’t need Losec – I needed a way to stop the cortisone – a way to get the arrythmia under control. Obviously, the previous treatment is no longer effective. I was frustrated, not only with the Doctor, but also with myself for allowing the focus on the symptom, not the problem. What happens to us when we walk into a Doctors room? I seem to develop temporary amnesia. So next time I am going to write myself a note, just to remind me exactly what I want treated.
Heard the saying ‘food is the spice of life’? Well, it seems we can go one step further and say that ‘spices are the spice of life’. Spices are not only a way to invigorate an otherwise boring healthy meal. It seems that spices can help you burn more body fat.
According to the January 2006 issue of The Journal of Physiology and Behavior, numerous studies on several spices have increased thermogenesis in the body. Thermogenesis is simply heat – and since a calorie is a unit of heat, turn up your body heat and burn more calories.
Burn more calories – burn more fat. How easy is that.
If you want to know more about thermogenesis and is amazing body fat burning properties, get a free copy of a new handbook “The Radical Fatloss Blueprint.” It’s available for the next 21 days to anyone who owns a copy of “The Every Other Day Diet.”
As a sneaky peak – here’s the spices that work the best to help you burn bodyfat:
Capsaicin – the compound gives red chili pepper its heat, increased energy via heat expenditure by up to 23% after ingesting it at breakfast.
Black Pepper- increases body heat (thermogenesis) by bonding to TRPV1 receptors in the brain.
Turmeric – has both anti-cancer and pro-thermogenic support. Two for one!
Combine these three spices: Red chili pepper, black pepper and turmeric, and use them liberally (as you can handle them) on your lunch and dinner meals. Just don’t overdo it and end up with more heartburn than fatburn.
There is such a lot of confusion in the market as to what does and does not contribute to or cause breast cancer. No sooner does one theory emerge than it gets debunked two years later.
The common protection mechanism for women against breast cancer is frequent self examination and mammograms. Personally, I find mammograms a complete waste of time as I know at least 6 women who were diagnosed with breast cancer within 2 months of having mammograms. For that reason I insist on having an ultrasound to follow. This is particularly since I have already had two fibroadenomas removed from my breasts in my 20′s and 30′s, and the scar tissue alone can cause misdiagnosis on the mammograms.
Whilst I am a great supporter on embracing any modern medicine, my first line of defence is always my own health program – diet, fitness, emotional wellness.
In the following Video, Dr Mecola takes a new look at breast cancer and provides some valuable advice as to new tests for breast cancer, and simple everyday things women can do to help prevent breast cancer.
Takeaways
Include tests for Vitamin D and Fasting Insulin in your regular check ups
Optimize natural melatonin production by ensuring you sleep in a complete blackout environment – this is focused on the eyes. So use blackout drapes and an eye mask during the night. If you have to go to the bathroom during the night, use a red light penlight. Balance this night blackout with exposure to bright sunlight during the day. Both of these elements are required to maintain optimal levels of melatonin.
I came across this very good video by triathlete Ben Greenfield on the nutritional requirements for athletes training for the Iron Man. As most of you would know, the Iron Man is the elite fitness event in the triathlon circuit. Whilst most of you will not be training for such an event, you are very likely to be preparing for a hiking holiday, skiing holiday, or other event requiring endurance. Quite frankly, even looking after children during the holidays can be an endurance test to some!!
During preparation for such an event, the body must be correctly nourished to build muscle, not fat, and to ensure that it receives sufficient antioxidants and anti-inflammatories to aid muscle building and damage to joints and muscles - all characteristics we try to achieve with an antiaging nutrition and fitness program.
I urge you to take a look – you can download a powerpoint slide deck to follow along – as the slides in the video are not easy to see, but Ben makes a great job of talking to each point.
Burt Goldman, “The American Monk” admits that the method he used at the prime age of 80 to initiate a renaissance period in his life, is in his own word “a bit whacky”.
Burt leant to focus his mind in such a way to slow down aging, pick up new skills at will, and maintain perfect health. In the last few years of his seventies, Burt:
Published a book
Took up photography
Got his photographs in the International Photography Hall of Fame
Took up painting and set up an art website
Taught himself to sing and released a CD
Set up a new business
So just how did Burt achieve more in his so called ‘old age’ than many people achieve in a whole lifetime. Find out about Burt and his Quantum Jumping technique.
Following on from a recent post on new gene therapy to treat Parkinsons disease I caught up with the latest in stem cell therapy. There is a lot of controversy around stem cell replacement therapy – largely due to misinformation as to the source of embryonic stem cells.
Putting that aside, stem cell therapy not only is one of the greatest pathways to future treatment of age related conditions, but also poses a real pathway for the prevention of aging of all human tissue – including the skin.
Are we looking at the new fountain of youth. This short series of videos put together a couple of years ago, provides a great introduction to how stem cells work in various parts of the body. Check them out in our new section on Stem Cell Treatment For Aging
Changing seasons is a great time to detoxify they body. Regardless of whether you are suffering from over indulgence during holidays, or have been loading up on carbs to keep warm during the winter. A detoxification program is a great way to get rid of accumulated toxins and boost your natural detoxification system (your liver, kidneys and lungs).
Not only do your liver and bowel get a good clean, your cells will be leached of built up harmful pesticides, chlorine, bleach and ammonia, and carbon monoxide, all of which can cause disease.
Low Pace
Simply changing your diet can help relieve constipation related to poor diet, and accomplish the same thing that many herbal detoxification products do. It just takes longer. Constipation [ less than one bowel movement a day] means that harmful toxins are held in the bowel longer.
Medium Pace
Moderate your diet by reducing the amount of red meat, coffee and tea, alcohol, wheat and dairy products. Then take a detoxifying herbal supplement for 10-14 days. This speeds up the body’s natural detox process.
Fast Pace
Fasting for 1-3 days is a rapid detoxification and can cause a toxic rush if your body is heavy with toxins. Take medical advice before opting for this treatment. Avoid Fast Cleans detox plans such as those that consists of nothing but lemon juice, maple syrup and cayenne pepper.
Fasting can deny your body specific nutrients to be able to perform its job of detoxification, and can hence work against you.
Try to give your natural detoxification system a boost at least twice a year for a period of 10-14 days. You will be amazed at the results. And you can expect to lose a few pounds as a bonus!