Lifestyle Choices and Pain Management
There are some who deal with pain on a day-to-day basis. Chronic pain can result from numerous types of illnesses and conditions, and those suffering are always searching for ways to take the pain away. Despite what type of pain you are experiencing, whether it be from an injury or a degenerative condition, most of us are willing to take any steps necessary to feel better and return to normalcy. For those who are dealing with conditions that present painful symptoms every day, the path to recovery may involve more than simply treating the symptoms. Conditions like arthritis, joint and bone deterioration, fibromyalgia, gout, sciatica, and other such disorders may take a different approach to preventing their painful symptoms. When we visit our physician, we often hear two words that may mean everything when it comes to you feeling better: lifestyle choices. (Continue Reading)
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Is your normal office chair causing you pain, discomfort, or improper posture? Any chair that you sit in long enough can have negative effects from long-term use if the chair doesn’t support and align the body properly. Even high-tech ergonomic chairs can create certain posture problems that you may not notice until it’s too late. This is one of the main reasons millions of people are switching to stability balls while they work or sit for long periods at a time. These are simple inflatable balls that you sit on, which force you to use correct posture to balance yourself.
In the world of healthy beverages, there’s a new kid in town. Rooibos Tea (pronounced “Roy-boss”) has been around a while, but the facts about its legendary benefits are fairly recent. Why are experts dubbing this tea the king of all healthy potables? For starters, researchers have detected 50 times more antioxidants in Rooibos Tea than in Green Tea (more on why that’s a good thing later in the reading). Rooibos Tea is also filled with Vitamin C and other essential minerals that help with a number of conditions and promote health in numerous areas of the body. But where did Rooibos Tea come from? You can only find it from the leaves of the Aspalathus Linearis in Cape of Good Hope, South Africa. Locals have been drinking the tea for centuries, but heavy commercial trade only began in the early 20th century.
Goji Berries are the sweetest superfood on the block. Delicious in flavor, no one would have guessed they would be so good for you. China has been using Goji berries for centuries to treat a variety of illnesses and medical conditions, but lately this fruit has been all the rage in the United States. So what’s so great about these tiny, red berries? The beauty is found within. 
For those who work at a desk, in front of a computer, or on an assembly line, an organized workstation can save you from unnecessary pain, stress, and injury to the body. A workstation is any area where you spend most of your occupation time using tools, and completing tasks with your hands. For office workers, it may mean using a keyboard, mouse, and a monitor. For carpenters, it may mean standing at a workbench using various tools. Whatever your workstation may look like, it is important that you maintain proper posture while you work, and that you do not have to strain or add stress to the body while performing your job.
Did you know that your posture could be the root cause of a lot of your aches and pains? Researchers have performed numerous studies and found that the way we hold our bodies drastically affects how we feel. They have linked poor posture habits to high stress, depression, circulation issues, increased risk for diabetes and cardiovascular diseases, and slowing of intestinal activity, which leads to lots of other problems.
There are signs and symptoms that stem from the lack of vitamin D; one of them is depression. Serotonin, the neurotransmitter that regulates mood elevation rises with more exposure to light. There are many determining factors that place you at risk for a deficiency in Vitamin D. For instance, those with darker skin are more at risk for Vitamin D deficiency. The darker your complexion, the more exposure you need from the sun; almost 10 times more exposure than what you would consider as enough for a pale person. Someone may also have a deficiency in Vitamin D if they are 50 years or older. The older you get, the less your skin responds to sun exposure, resulting in less production of Vitamin D in the body. The kidneys also become less efficient at converting Vitamin D into something usable by your body. Those who are over 50 (especially if they are retired) may also spend more time indoors compared to a younger adult. Sometimes those who come into the doctor’s office complaining of aches and pains in their bones, often end up being misdiagnosed with fibromyalgia or chronic fatigue syndrome, but what they may be experiencing is a Vitamin D deficiency. Ten to fifteen minutes of direct sunlight per day can help the body produce an adequate amount of vitamin D. Some researchers have concluded that Vitamin D helps to relieve pain by aiding in the absorption of calcium, which aids in bone repair and growth. Research has estimated that a majority of people with unexplained sources of pain were found to be deficient in vitamin D levels. There seems to be a correlation between Vitamin D and living with pain. A physician or nutritionist should know enough about Vitamin D, and if they believe you may have this deficiency, they should work with you to develop a treatment plan that includes regular sun exposure and possibly Vitamin D supplements.
Suffering from pain? Did you know that menthol is one of Nature’s Natural Ingredients that can provide relief? Numerous studies have validated this information. In fact, one study discovered that menthol is so effective that it relieves pain by 95%. Menthol’s analgesic properties come from the ligands that absorb into the skin and activate k-opioid receptors, producing a numbing effect in the area it was applied. Menthol stimulates the skin’s receptors, which interpret the sensation as a cooling experience.
