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The Health of Your Back Can be a Sign of Your Overall Health! Does Your Back Hurt? You May Need a Lifestyle Adjustment

By: Dr. Tod Sinett And Dr. Sheldon Sinett

Losing weight, changing dietary and exercise habits, and reducing stress may not seem like common prescriptions for treating those aches and pains that may ail your back — but these things often go hand in hand with successful treatment for back pain. This is why successful treatment for back pain means a patient often ends up with benefits way beyond simply a healthier back!

The connection between health and back pain

It’s always interesting to look at the statistics between other areas of health and back pain. Eighty five percent of Americans do not exercise regularly. Eighty five percent of Americans also suffer from back pain. The truth is, back pain is almost always multi-factorial, and not addressing all pieces of the puzzle means managing back pain rather than treating it! There are three main causes of back pain. They are structural: (muscles and bones), nutritional (diet and hormones), and emotional, (stress, anger, resentment, etc.) This dynamic triad is in constant flux. If one side gets thrown off balance, the other sides will be affected as well.

In treating back pain, I always make sure to address each of these areas because they almost always overlap. For example, overweight people tend to have more back pain because of the pressure on their spine (a structural problem). Even though changes in eating habits, such as reducing refined sugars and caffeine, can have their own positive effects on back pain, these healthy dietary changes can also lead to weight loss. And that weight loss alleviates the structural problem of too much pressure, as well. A similar situation is found in smokers. Smoking cigarettes actually causes a structural problem within the back by dehydrating the spinal discs, resulting in serious pain. However, many smokers also lead less healthful lifestyles, including drinking more caffeine and exercising less.

Additionally, high stress levels (emotional) can cause a rise in a hormone called cortisol, leading to inflammation in the body and increased back pain. Combine this with a tendency to eat foods high in sugar caffeine while stressed and you’re just adding more fuel to the fire.

The back door approach

The great thing about a multi-factorial approach is that you can usually work on one aspect of back pain by taking care of another part of the triad — and wind up solving multiple problems at once. This approach of treating the root cause rather than just the symptom is referred to as the “back door approach”. In other words, it’s not always what hurts that is what needs to be fixed! If someone is suffering from back pain from emotional causes, you can use the back door approach and treat the emotional stress to relieve the back pain without ever touching the back. For example, exercise and stretching is a proven stress reliever. So even though exercise might not seem like the best cure for back pain, in this case it might just do the trick. The results are then cyclic — as you reduce stress, back pain becomes lessened, mood improves, you’re less likely to eat sugary foods or reach for caffeine, and so on.

On the same note, someone who has great difficulty changing their diet might fare better by first focusing on structure and stress reduction. When this happens, their cravings for sugary foods are diminished because the body is in better balance. Once again, an effect of the back door approach — by impacting one aspect of back pain you solved the other two.

Patients often ask me for my favorite strategies for managing back pain. Here are the three things that I tell them:
Keep stress levels under control. This means effectively juggling work, family, and personal needs. Over time I have learned that this is one of the areas that most people neglect most. Finding the right ways to deal with stress (which can be different for everyone) is one of the healthiest things that you do for yourself. And remember, if you don’t take care of yourself, it’s more difficult to take care of the people who depend on you.
Maintain dietary balance and decrease overall portion size: Eat a variety of healthful foods, avoid most processed foods, and choose organic whenever possible. I definitely still enjoy an occasional bowl of ice cream, dessert, or potato chips, but always aim for moderation. You’ll find that filling your body with healthful foods leaves little room for the not so healthy stuff! Overeating the wrong, or even the right, foods causes fluctuations in blood sugar and digestive irritation/overload. Unstable blood sugar can cause irregular moods, which leads to stress and inflammation in the body. Digestive irritation and inflammation causes stomach upset, muscles cramps, body aches, and back pain.
Take care of your structure: Get treated once a week by a chiropractor, stretch and exercise regularly, and see a massage therapist about once a month.
I’d like to leave you with this: If you have back pain, embrace the pain and figure out what your body is telling you. You may not like the message, but you can be sure that if you work on the emotional, chemical, and physical aspects of your health, it will be more than your back that feels better!

© 2008 Dr. Tod Sinett and Dr. Sheldon Sinett

Author Bio
Dr. Todd Sinett is the owner of the Midtown Chiropractic Health and Wellness practice in New York City (www.midtownchiro.com), which provides chiropractic care and applied kinesiology, nutritional and supportive counseling, and physical and massage therapy to thousands of individuals, including noted sports figures and celebrities. The center hosts weekend wellness programs and corporate informational seminars and publishes a periodic online newsletter, Balance in the Body (www.balanceinthebody.com). Sinett has appeared as clinical expert on many television programs including The View, FoxMD, and Good Day New York. Visit his website at www.drsinett.com.

For more than forty years, Dr. Sheldon Sinett was a leading chiropractor and pioneer in combining chiropractic medicine with a variety of cutting-edge, holistic practices.

About the Author:

For more information, visit www.thetruthaboutbackpainbook.com.

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• Reduces inflammation

• Pain  & Joint Stiffness
  

• Cramping

By Thomas Garran

Pain is a common response to various types of conditions in the body. Mostly, people experience pain due to physical injury but pain can be caused by arthritis, shingles, cancer, menstrual problems, and many other diseases. The pain response is generally thought to be a way that the body tells the mind that there is a problem. Unfortunately, the sensation of pain is often very difficult to bear and can lead to a variety of health problems in itself such as loss of sleep, depletion of energy, further illness, and a general loss of well-being. This is, of course, not to mention a person’s inability to perform some basic functions in their life such as work, certain physical movements, and even just sitting can be a challenge. This article will address some of the basic causes of pain and how some herbs from Chinese medicine can help to relieve pain.

In Chinese medicine it is said that when there is pain there is stagnation of blood or qi, or both. This roughly means that there are various biological functions of the body that are not flowing smoothly and can often lead to or be the result of inflammatory conditions. For this reason Chinese herbs are used to encourage (quicken) the blood flow and move the qi. At the same time “clearing heat,” i.e. reducing inflammation is a common strategy used to assist in the relieving pain.

There are a number of herbs is Chinese medicine that relieve pain by encouraging the blood flow and moving qi. Of these, Notoginseng, Red Peony, Curcuma rhizome (Turmeric), Ligusticum (Cnidium), Carthamus (Safflower), and Red Sage are some of the most frequently used herbs for encouraging the flow of blood and relieving pain. Notoginseng is probably the most famous for the treatment of pain and is also used to stop bleeding. Turmeric, Red Sage, and Red Peony are used for relieving pain, especially associated with various types of inflammation including, but not limited to arthritis. Red Sage is also very famous for the treatment of various circulatory conditions and is extremely important in the treatment of impaired circulation due to high cholesterol and diabetes. Ligusticum is used for many types of pain and is used extensively for headaches and menstrual pain. Carthamus is used in Chinese medicine for many different types of pain and is considered a very strong herb for encouraging the flow of blood.

Cyperus is one of the most important herbs in Chinese medicine for moving the qi. It is very effective to relieve pain in the abdomen and breasts associated with menstruation. This herb is very often combined with White Peony for menstrual pain and breast tenderness/pain in premenstrual conditions. It is sometimes also combined with Chinese Hawthorn for the treatment of digestive complaints such as pain in the stomach and intestines.

Chinese Licorice is one of the most frequently used herbs in Chinese medicine and is often combined with many of the above herbs to “harmonize” their action. Also, Chinese Licorice is combined with White Peony in a famous formula to relieve abdominal pain due to digestive problems.

Pain is tiring and Astragalus is well known to increase the strength and endurance of the body. Because healing requires strength, Astragalus is a very good herb to help the body endure pain as well as heal from it.

While pain is inevitable in life, suffering is optional. The above herbs are very effective in the treatment of a variety of conditions caused for resulting from pain. They are generally safe and often effective.

• Reduces inflammation
• Pain  & Joint Stiffness
• Cramping

Thomas Avery Garran is a Chinese medicine practitioner with 17 years of experience, a number of articles, and a book, “Western Herbs According Traditional Chinese Medicine: A Practitioners Guide.” His blog is http://sourcepointherbs.blogspot.com .

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Eezapein
Ease Pain Naturally:Herbal Tea

Secondary Benefits

• Non-addictive
• Stimulates the body’s natural healing response
• Calms the mind and body

ScienceDaily — Many people with fibromyalgia — a debilitating pain syndrome that affects 2 to 4 percent of the population — have faced the question of whether the condition is real.

Fibromyalgia often has been misdiagnosed as arthritis or even a psychological issue. Increasingly, though, the scientific knowledge about fibromyalgia is growing, and a new paper from the University of Michigan Health System says there are “overwhelming data” that the condition is real, is characterized by a lower pain threshold and is associated with genetic factors that can make some people more likely to develop fibromyalgia.

The review paper, in the December issue of the journal Current Pain and Headache Reports, cites recent studies involving pain, genetics, brain activity and more. The paper’s authors hope these findings will lead to a better understanding and acceptance of fibromyalgia and related conditions.

“It is time for us to move past the rhetoric about whether these conditions are real, and take these patients seriously as we endeavor to learn more about the causes and most effective treatments for these disorders,” says Richard E. Harris, Ph.D., research investigator in the Division of Rheumatology at the U-M Medical School’s Department of Internal Medicine and a researcher at the U-M Health System’s Chronic Pain and Fatigue Research Center.

A growing amount of research related to the neurobiology of the condition supports the notion that the pain of fibromyalgia is real. Studies at U-M and elsewhere using two neuroimaging techniques — functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) and single photon emission computed tomography (SPECT) — indicate there is a difference between patients with and without fibromyalgia.

“In people without pain, these structures encode pain sensations normally. In people with fibromyalgia, the neural activity increased,” says Daniel J. Clauw, M.D., director of the U-M Chronic Pain and Fatigue Research Center and professor of rheumatology at the U-M Medical School, and an author of the new paper. “These studies indicate that fibromyalgia patients have abnormalities within their central brain structures.”

In a 2003 paper in the journal Science, a U-M team reported that a small variation in the gene that encodes the enzyme called catechol-O-methyl transferase, or COMT, made a significant difference in the pain tolerance, and pain-related emotions and feelings, of healthy volunteers. Researchers also have found that individual mutations in the COMT gene are related to the future development of temporomandibular joint disorder, also known as TMD or TMJ, a condition related to fibromyalgia.

Together, these studies about COMT and numerous studies with animals suggest that pain sensitivity is determined at least in part by a person’s genetic makeup, Clauw says.

The authors note that there are some legitimate areas of debate regarding fibromyalgia, including disagreements about how precisely it should be defined and whether people with the condition deserve compensation. But none of those disagreements should detract from the acceptance of it as a condition causing real pain, they say.

Reference: Current Pain and Headache Reports, Dec. 2006, pp. 403-7.

Adapted from materials provided by University of Michigan Health System.

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ScienceDaily — Patients with fibromyalgia treated with a synthetic form of marijuana, nabilone, showed significant reductions in pain and anxiety in a first-of-its-kind study, published in The Journal of Pain.

Fibromyalgia syndrome has no cure, is difficult to diagnose, and effective pain management strategies are a must to help patients cope with the disease. An estimated 12 million Americans have fibromyalgia, which is characterized by widespread muscle and joint pain and myriad other symptoms. The condition is far more prevalent in women and the incidence increases with age, reaching 7 percent among women 65 years and older.

Forty subjects were selected for the nabilone trial, conducted by researchers at the University of Manitoba Rehabilitation Hospital. They were divided into nabilone and placebo groups and were treated for four weeks. The authors noted this was the first randomized, controlled-access trial to evaluate nabilone for pain reduction and quality-of-life improvement in fibromyalgia patients. Nabilone is one of two oral marijuana-based compounds, known as cannabinoids, available in Canada and is approved for treatment of nausea and vomiting during chemotherapy.

Results of the Manitoba study showed the nabilone group had significant reductions in pain and anxiety, measured by comparisons with baseline scores on the visual analogue scale for pain, the Fibromyalgia Impact Questionnaire (FIQ) and the FIQ anxiety score. From the data, the study concluded nabilone has significant benefits for pain relief and functional improvement in fibromyalgia patients. Although the improvement was significant, none of the nabilone-treated subjects had complete relief of their fibromyalgia symptoms.

The drug was well tolerated by treated patients, which the authors characterized as reassuring since fibromyalgia patients are sensitive to most medications and have difficulty tolerating side effects. The downside, however, is cost. In Canada, nabilone would cost about $4,000 for a year’s supply.

The authors believe their findings warrant consideration of nabilone as an adjunct to current medical management of fibromyalgia.

Adapted from materials provided by American Pain Society, via Newswise. (Feb. 18, 2008)

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ScienceDaily — Fibromyalgia is a chronic pain condition that causes widespread pain and tenderness throughout the body. A University of Michigan study, published in The Journal of Pain, shows that fibromyalgia is associated with central nervous system abnormalities evidenced by patients’ elevated sensitivity to auditory and pressure sensations.

The Michigan researchers studied 31 subjects to determine if there is a global central nervous system problem underlying sensory processing in fibromyalgia patients. They noted that few studies have employed different stimuli in consistent ways and levels of intensity to measure pain sensitivities in this patient group. In this study, fibromyalgia patients and normal subjects were exposed to random auditory and pressure stimuli.

Consistent with prior research, the fibromyalgia subjects in the study showed greater sensitivity to auditory tones and reported higher sensitivity to daily sounds. Further, significant associations were observed between the auditory and pressure responses and support the claim that such abnormalities maybe related to a common pathophysiological mechanism. They also noted that fibromyalgia subjects perceived auditory stimuli to be of the same intensity as felt by control subjects, even though their actual intensity levels were lower.

The authors concluded their findings show that fibromyalgia is associated with a central nervous deficit in sensory processing. Further research is needed to examine mechanisms governing these perceptual abnormalities.

Adapted from materials provided by American Pain Society, via Newswise. (June 3, 2008)

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Eezapein
Ease Pain Naturally:neck,back, shoulder,arms,menstrual cramping

Secondary Benefits

• Non-addictive hot tea
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• Natural herbal remedies

Dick Aronson

Pain is a massive problem in our society, in fact it is estimated that at any given time, around one third of the population are in pain. Pain of any type is the most frequent reason for physician consultation. It is a major symptom in many medical conditions, significantly interfering with quality of life and general functioning. Pain management is therefore an extremely important part of health care because people forced to continue living with extreme pain often become depressed and have poor treatment outcomes. Some types of pain are still not really understood with as many as a third of cases having unknown origins. Here are some of the things we do know: * Pain is constant for about 20% of people. * Back pain is the most common pain. * Most chronic pain sufferers have had pain for at least 3 years. * As can be expected, the incidence of pain increases with advancing age. * Women report pain more often than men. * Only 70% of sufferers look for professional help. Pain Management Modern pain management programs should be multidisciplinary combining the input of Medical practitioners, Acupuncturists, Physiotherapists, Chiropractors, Clinical psychologists and Occupational therapists, amongst others. 1. Narcotics are often prescribed for severe pain, but narcotics carry with them a potential for side effects and addiction, so patients and caregivers must weigh the level of pain against these dangers in the pain management process. 2. Numerous studies have found that certain complementary therapies are effective in pain management. 3. Massage therapy can hasten pain relief, soothe stiff sore muscles, and reduce inflammation and swelling. 4. Psychological pain management teaches people skills to cope with pain. Research has shown that having realistic, helpful thoughts is an important part of pain management. 5. Natural pain relief is a sought after alternative to medication and drugs based on chemicals and other synthetic medication. Herbs have been used for centuries for pain relief, but many have not undergone extensive study. Some allergic reactions might occur with some patients using natural pain relief, but these can be easily controlled or prevented by doing a skin test before using the natural pain relief. 6. One of the pain management modalities are trigger point injections and nerve blocks utilizing long acting anesthetics and small doses of steroids. 7. NSAID pain relief medication will not only relieve pain, but also reduce fever and inflammation. However there are real disadvantages associated with the long term use of these drugs. 8. Aspirins, Paracetamol, Ibuprofen are other common remedies used for the relief of acute pain. 9. Morphine is the major active substance in opium and a very potent pain relief medication. Morphine will act directly on the central nervous system and is commonly used as a pain relief medication for acute and severe pain caused by surgery or major trauma. Morphine is also used as a pain relief medication for moderate and severe chronic pain, such as pain caused by cancer. 10. TENS machines give short term pain relief to many people. These machines are fairly cumbersome but at least they do not have side effects. 11. Finally there is a new modality which has just been released on to the market and that is the rather unique pain patch which combines nano technology with crystals activated by body heat to produce an energy wave. The waves are transmitted to the origin of the pain where they produce an acupuncture effect which relieves pain. There are reports of pain of 40 year duration being relieved instantly.

Article Source: http://www.articlesbase.com/alternative-medicine-articles/modern-pain-management-techniques-750244.html

About the Author:

The author has 35 years of experience in the pharmaceutical and alternative medicine fields. He has supervised clinical trials in a number of countries and has been responsible for the launch of one of the first low GI meal replacement bars. Visit Medicine for the Future for more information and articles on healthcare.

Article which outlines the massive problem of pain in our society, where at any one time around a third of the population lives with pain and goes on to describe some of the latest pain mPain,pain Mahttp://www.articlesbase.com/alternative-medicine-articles/modern-pain-management-techniques-750244.htmlnagement,pain Relief,pain Patchesanagement techniques.

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Ease Pain Naturally:neck,back, shoulder,arms,menstrual cramping

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by herbalremedies

More people call out sick from work because of chronic pain than call out sick because of the common cold. Chances are you or someone you know suffers from chronic pain.

More people call out sick from work because of chronic pain than call out sick because of the common cold. Chances are you or someone you know suffers from chronic pain. Pain is a necessary part of life. It alerts us when something is wrong with our bodies. It’s normal to experience pain with an illness or injury. Normally, this pain fades as the injury heals or the sickness goes away. This is referred to as acute pain. Pain becomes chronic when it continues after the healing time of the injury. This pain can hang on for months or even years and often causes depression in its sufferers. Chronic pain can also occur as the result of an ongoing condition, like fibromyalgia, arthritis, or cancer. Back injuries, carpal tunnel syndrome, and migraine headaches are some other examples of conditions that cause chronic pain. Some pain can result from injury to the nerves causing them send false signals to the brain. How massage affects your pain is partly dependent on its source. If your pain is caused by a muscle injury massage can not only help ease the pain but also help speed the healing process. Acute or chronic – these are the two words that describe pain. Acute goes away easily and rarely lasts long. Chronic is its exact opposite. Chronic pain can last for six months and is expected to recur at anytime. The main cause of it is very hard to pinpoint. And it doesn’t help if doctors were more interested in addressing the pains rather than knowing what is actually causing it. As such, chronic pain relief can be elusive to patients. But then again, there are certain medicines and therapies that are deemed effective for chronic pain. There are also a lot of medicines sold over-the-counter, which can truly help. While chronic pain is a major problem, patients do have options to treat it. Doctors normally prescribe medicines, antidepressants, and anticonvulsants, to address chronic pain. Chronic pain relief is also possible with physical therapy. Physical therapy corresponds to the low-impact exercises like swimming, walking, and stretching. If done regularly, these simple exercises can help your body a lot. It can help lower the intensity of the pain you’re going through. However, these exercises are best performed along a trained physical therapist. Both occupational and behavioral therapies could also help. In occupational therapy, patients are thought how to pace and condition themselves when doing everyday tasks. Don’t get discouraged if you are one of the chronic pain sufferers for which a cause cannot be found. An unknown source doesn’t make the pain any less real. Fibromyalgia, for example, causes widespread pain in muscles and joints. Yet, a person with fibromyalgia may not know the cause of the pain A healthcare provider may be able to link fibromyalgia to an injury or virus; but in other cases, a specific cause may go unidentified. Irritable bowel syndrome is another example of chronic pain for which the specific cause may not be known. Chronic pain may be related to changes in your nerve signals after a healed injury. Chronic pain may also be related to heightened pain sensitivity when your body produces lower than normal levels of painkilling endorphins. If you suffer from chronic pain do not ignore the warning signals. If you try to tough it out, the disease, illness, or injury may get worse. Left untreated, chronic pain can also mentally wear you down. Making massage therapy part of your treatment routine could help ease your pain and lessen your dependence on pain killing drugs. In the long run this will lead to less drug side effects and better health.

Article Source: http://www.articlesbase.com/diseases-and-conditions-articles/causes-and-complications-of-chronic-pain-how-to-manage-606768.html

Visit Goherbalremedies Herbal Remedies, Natural Remedies Also Read About Natural Laxatives, Natural Detoxification and Cough Remedies, Peptic Ulcers

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P.Bhargav Kashyap

Oh! Pain in the Neck?! Neck pain, at times, can become pain in the neck’ quite literally. People who have experienced neck pain alone know how painful the neck pain can turnout to be. Neck is one of the most flexible regions of the spine, which consists of vertebrae, seven shock absorbing discs, muscles, and vertebral ligaments to hold them in place. The uppermost cervical disc connects the top of the spinal column to the base of the skull. The spinal cord, which sends nerve impulses to every part of the body, runs through a canal in the cervical vertebrae and continues all the way down the spine. What causes neck pain? Most people experience neck pain at some point in their lives. Neck pain can be acute, lasting for few hours or a few weeks, or it can be chronic. Neck pain that lasts several weeks or longer is considered chronic neck pain. Neck pain can be caused by an activity or injury or by a medical condition. Your head and neck region is vulnerable to many different stresses. Bad posture can cause misalignment of your neck, head, and spine. Car accidents can cause whiplash. Age and wear and tear can cause arthritis. Even activities such as chewing gum and reading in bed and cause pain. How do we avoid these potential problems? And if we can’t avoid them, how can we recover as quickly as possible. Non-specific neck pain Many people develop a stiff and painful neck for no obvious reason. It may happen after a minor twisting injury, for example while gardening. Since the underlying cause for this type of neck pain is not fully understood hence it is called ‘non-specific neck pain’ Having non-specific neck pain does not mean that your neck is damaged. Often it happens in people whose necks would appear completely normal under an x-ray. It is the most common type of neck pain and disappears after a few days. Activities that cause neck pain Neck pain mostly is caused by activities that result in repeated or prolonged movements of the neck’s muscles, ligaments, tendons, bones, or joints. This can result in a strain(an overstretched or overused muscle), a sprain (injury to a ligament), a spasm of the neck muscles, or inflammation of the neck joints. 1. Holding your head in a forward or odd position for long periods of time while working, reading, watching TV, or talking on the telephone. 2. Sleeping on a pillow that is too high or too flat or doesn’t adequately support your head, or sleeping on your stomach with your neck twisted or bent. 3. Spending long periods of time resting your forehead on your upright fist or arm. 4. Work that uses the upper body and arms, such as painting a ceiling or other overhead work. Injuries that cause neck pain The Spine consists of interlocking bones(vertebrae) and discs that separate the vertebrae. The portion of the spine that runs through the neck is known as the cervical spine. Muscles and ligaments in the neck hold the cervical spine together. Injury to any of these structures may result in neck pain. Minor injuries may occur from tripping or from excessive motion of the cervical spine. Severe neck injuries may occur from whiplash in an accident, falls from significant heights, direct blows to the face or the back or top of the head, sports-related injuries , a penetrating injury such as a stab wound, or pressure applied to the outside of the neck, such as strangulation. Pain from an injury may be sudden and severe. Bruising and swelling may develop soon after the injury. Sudden (acute) injuries can result in strain and pain in the neck, dislocation of the spin, or a ruptured disc. Medical conditions that cause neck pain 1. Neck pain may be caused by or related to medical conditions such as: 2. Cervical Spinal Stenosis 3. Cervical Spondylosis 4. Illnesses, such as meningitis, which cause inflammation around the tissues of the brain and spinal cord. 5.Chronic conditions such as fibromyalgia, rheumatoid arthritis, or ankylosing spondylitis Torticollis (wryneck): Torticollis is caused by severe muscle tightness or a shortened muscle on one side of the neck, causing the head to be tilted to one side. Referred pain: Referred pain occurs when a problem in one place in the body causes pain in another place. For example, a problem with your jaw or your heart can cause neck pain. Infection or a tumor in the neck area. Signs and Symptoms

Neck pain takes many forms. Signs and symptoms of neck pain may include: 1. Pain in your neck that may be sharp or dull 2. Stiffness in your neck 3. Difficulty going about your daily tasks because of pain or stiffness in your neck 4. Shoulder pain in addition to neck pain, in some cases 5. Back pain in addition to neck pain, in some cases. Help yourself to prevent neck pain. Take frequent breaks: Don’t sit in one place for a long time, such as your car or at your desk. Arrange some of the items in your office that cause inconvenience. This will force you to get up, stretch or walk around. Maintain good neck posture: Adjust the seat of your computer or desk chair so that your hips are slightly higher than your knees. Your head and neck will naturally follow in the correct position. While traveling in a car, airplane or train, place a small pillow or rolled towel between your neck and a head rest to keep the normal curve in your neck. Avoid too many pillows: Avoid sleeping with too many pillows or falling asleep in front of the television with your head on the arm of a couch. Exercise: Treat your body to a consistent regimen of stretching and strengthening to balance your muscle groups. This protects your neck as well as helping your whole body. Walking at any pace is excellent exercise for your neck. The rotation of the spine provides a great natural workout for the neck muscles. Eat smart and Drink water: Good nutrition and staying well hydrated are not only important to stay healthy, but vital in the healing process. For more Health Tips: http://fitnus.blogspot.com/

Article Source: http://www.articlesbase.com/sleep-articles/ouch-pain-in-the-neck-517422.html

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Neck pain, at times, can become pain in the neck’ quite literally. People who have experienced neck pain alone know hhttp://www.articlesbase.com/sleep-articles/ouch-pain-in-the-neck-517422.htmlowNeck Pain painful the neck pain can turnout to be.

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For millions of Americans with cancer, the side effects of chemotherapy and other treatment drugs can be devastating. But new drug-delivery research based on nano- and microtechnology from Tel Aviv University might provide much-needed relief, as well as more effective cancer treatment. New drug delivery technology developed by Prof. Rimona Margalit of Tel Aviv University’s Department of Biochemistry allows drugs to target cancer cells specifically, leaving surrounding healthy cells intact and reducing the painful side effects of chemotherapy. The science utilizes tiny bubbles, visible only through powerful microscopes, that contain payloads of therapeutic drugs.

“This development is on the leading edge of the new frontier of drug delivery and cancer treatment,” says Prof. Margalit. “Bubble technology can also be applied to other medical conditions, including diabetes, osteoarthritis, wounds, and infectious diseases. In twenty years, it could be widespread.”

Target: Cancer

Currently, cancer drugs travel throughout the body delivering powerful medication to all the cells they encounter, both healthy and cancerous. When healthy cells are damaged by unnecessary medication, a patient can experience unpleasant side effects ranging from hair loss to nausea. More worrying are further health risks due to the damage that the medication does to the patient’s immune system.

Called “drug carriers” recent reports of Prof. Margalit’s new technology applied in both cancer and osteoarthritis therapies were published in Nature Nanotechnology, and in the Journal of Controlled Release (2008). The technology allows cancer treatment medication to be placed inside tiny bubbles so small that millions fit along a single inch. The surface of the bubbles contains an agent that allows them distinguish cancer cells from healthy ones. When the bubbles “recognize” a cancer cell, they deliver the medication they’re carrying to that cell.

The positive results are twofold: More of the drug gets directly to the cancer cells, enhancing the effectiveness of the treatment, and healthy cells continue to function normally, protected against the painful side-effects of the medication.

Economics, Not Science, Is Researchers’ Next Challenge

Prof. Margalit’s drug carrier technology has already performed well in animal model studies. The next step is to apply the technology to humans. “Economics is the hold-up, not the science,” explains Prof. Margalit, who is in the process of finding a pharmaceutical company to invest in the research.

Although the technology is still a decade or more from clinical trials, this promising discovery offers new hope in oncology.

Source: American Friends of Tel Aviv University

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