Friday, February 20, 2015

Chinese Cupping Therapy



How does cupping work? What does it treat?




How many types of cupping are there?


Is cupping safe? Does it hurt?


Back Muscles spasm

Back Muscles spasm






Changes in muscle responsiveness may be due to or associated with:

Prolonged exercise:
Dehydration and salt depletion:
This may be brought on by protracted vomiting or diarrhea, or by copious sweating during prolonged exercise, especially in high temperatures. Loss of fluids and salts—especially sodium, potassium, magnesium, and calcium—can disrupt ion balances in both muscle and nerves. This can prevent them from responding and recovering normally, and can lead to cramp.
Metabolic disorders that affect the energy supply in muscle. 

Risk Factors

Anyone is at risk for muscle spasms. 


The pain of a muscle cramp is intense, localized, and often debilitating Coming on quickly, it may last for minutes and fade gradually. Contractures develop more slowly, over days or weeks, and may be permanent if untreated. Fasciculations may occur at rest or after muscle contraction, and may last several minutes. 

Abnormal contractions are diagnosed through a careful medical history, physical and neurological examination, and electromyography of the affected muscles. Electromyography records electrical activity in the muscle during rest and movement. 


Most cases of simple cramps require no treatment other than patience and stretching. Gently and gradually stretching and massaging the affected muscle may ease the pain and hasten recovery.
More prolonged or regular cramps may be treated with drugs such as carbamazepine, phenytoin, or quinine. Fluid and salt replacement, either orally or intravenously, is used to treat dehydration. Treatment of underlying metabolic or neurologic disease, where possible, may help relieve symptoms.

Alternative Treatment

Cramps may be treated or prevented with Gingko (Ginkgo biloba) or Japanese quince (Chaenomeles speciosa). Supplements of vitamin E, niacin, calcium, and magnesium may also help. Taken at bedtime, they may help to reduce the likelihood of night cramps. 

The likelihood of developing cramps may be reduced by eating a healthy diet with appropriate levels of minerals, and getting regular exercise to build up energy reserves in muscle. Avoiding exercising in extreme heat helps prevent heat cramps. Heat cramps can also be avoided by taking salt tablets and water before prolonged exercise in extreme heat. 


Sunday, February 8, 2015

What Is Metabolic Syndrome?

  Understanding Metabolic Syndrome

Metabolic syndrome is not a disease in itself. Instead, it's a group of risk factors -- high blood pressure, high blood sugar, unhealthy cholesterol levels, and abdominal fat.

Obviously, having any one of these risk factors isn't good. But when they're combined, they set the stage for grave problems. These risk factors double your risk of blood vessel and heart disease, which can lead to heart attacks and strokes. They increase your risk of diabetes by five times.

The good news is that metabolic syndrome can be controlled, largely with changes to your lifestyle.

Risk Factors for Metabolic Syndrome

According to the American Heart Association and the National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute, there are five risk factors that make up metabolic syndrome.


Large Waist Size
For men: 40 inches or larger
For women: 35 inches or larger

Cholesterol: High Triglycerides
150 mg/dL or higher
Using a cholesterol medicine

Cholesterol: Low Good Cholesterol (HDL)
For men: Less than 40 mg/dL
For women: Less than 50 mg/dL
Using a cholesterol medicine
High Blood Pressure
Having blood pressure of 135/85 mm Hg or greater
Using a high blood pressure medicine

Blood Sugar: High Fasting Glucose Level
100 mg/dL or higher

To be diagnosed with metabolic syndrome, you would have at least three of these risk factors.

What Causes Metabolic Syndrome?

Experts aren't sure why metabolic syndrome develops. It's a collection of risk factors, not a single disease. So it probably has many different causes. Some risk factors are:

Insulin resistance: 

Obesity -- especially abdominal obesity:
Experts say that metabolic syndrome is becoming more common because of rising obesity rates. In addition, having extra fat in the belly -- as opposed to elsewhere in the body -- seems to increase your risk.

Unhealthy lifestyle:
Eating a diet high in fats and not getting enough physical activity can play a role.

Hormonal imbalance:
Hormones may play a role. For instance, polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) -- a condition that affects fertility -- is related to hormonal imbalance and metabolic syndrome.

If you've just been diagnosed with metabolic syndrome, you might be anxious. But think of it as a wake-up call. It's time to get serious about improving your health. Making simple changes to your habits now can prevent serious illness in the future.