Arthritis: What Are The Most Affected Parts Of The Body

Ask the elders around you what conditions they suffer from the most. They will probably mention arthritis a couple of times. Arthritis is a condition that is most evident in old people because it affects the bones and the joints. However, it affects more body parts that those mentioned. To understand the condition better, let us talk about the most affected parts of the body.

Let us start with the joints. The joints are the parts that are mainly affected by the condition. It starts from these bones and cartilages especially those which are located on the lower part of the body. It is best to have the condition diagnosed at once by medical experts. This way, you can get medications that will ease the pain and the swelling. You should also know the foods that you should eat and avoid.

Another body part that is affected is the heart. According to recent findings, the heart is more likely to fail in patients suffering from arthritis. This is because the condition affects the blood vessels gradually. When the arteries and veins become affected, this can increase the risk of heart attack. The condition may also harm the heart directly by inducing inflammation on the pericardium.

The lungs can also be affected by arthritis. Studies have shown that there is a slight correlation between lung problems and the inflammation of the joints. Specifically, it increases the risk of developing pleurisy. This condition makes it harder for one person to breathe and it can lead to emphysema in the long run. This does not only happen to people who smoke tobacco. It can happen to anyone.

Arthritis can affect the nerves in the body. This is the reason why a lot of patients are experiencing sharp pain and numbness in affected areas. The pain usually comes from the inflammation of the joints. On the other hand, the nerve comes from the insufficient blood supply that is triggered by the affected blood vessels in the body. When the blood circulation is stopped or is slowed down, the nerves do not get the supply they need hence numbness occurs.

Another body part that is affected is the eye. The condition can lead to blindness is not treated immediately. Most patients who have arthritis also experience having blurred vision and sensitivity of the eyes. Some researchers have also shown that arthritis can be a risk factor to glaucoma, a serious eye condition.

Arthritis is definitely alarming. It affects more body parts than you think. It does not only affect your bones and your joints like most people say. In can affect vital organs such as the heart and the lungs as well. It can affect your vision and your nerves. It is important to treat the condition as soon as possible.

Hi. I'm Karen. Ever since my friend introduced me to osteopathy, I've been a huge fan. My osteopath from Inlign Osteopathy helps me get back on track when I visit. This has inspired me to understand more about my body and how I can get the best from it.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Karen_Wentworth

Read More

Reducing Reading Induced Headaches

Even though people do not read quite as much as they used to, a number of people continue to read on a regular basis. Many have even switched over to Kindles and Nooks, reading their books through e-readers rather than in physical copies. According to Web MD, this has led to an increased rate of reading induced migraines and headaches.

If you're one of those readers who finds yourself in pain after reading for a few hours, don't despair. You don't have to give up reading online. You just have to be prepared to take certain steps to avoid the headaches and reduce their effective.

Avoid Monosodium Glutamate
One of the more surprising accelerators linked to reading induced headaches is good old MSG. According to Web MD, MSG, a common additive in most packaged foods from the coffee shops to the little Chinese restaurants, increases the effects of a reading induced headache. It causes constriction of the blood vessels and dilation alternatively, increasing the throbbing rate in many individuals.

If you're planning on spending an evening reading, you'll want to pass on anything with MSG and just enjoy something a little healthier. If you're snacking on something in the book stores, make sure that you purchase something from them that is either a whole food or that is certified as MSG free.

Decrease the Contrast
Another reason for the increase in headaches comes from the screens of the e-readers themselves. While the screens are adjustable, many people just read their books in the same setting. Take the time to adjust it. You will want the screen to be as dim as possible so that you don't have the eye strain that comes from staring at it. Don't make it so dim though that you can't see. That will cause another kind of headache. It should be comfortable enough for you to look at and then look away without your eyes hurting.

Take Regular Breaks
One of the primary reasons that eye damage occurs among individuals using e-readers and computers comes from the fact that they do not take breaks. The Natural Health Society warns that long and unbroken periods of online reading can result in permanent eye damage. Headaches are just one of the first symptoms. To avoid the pain that comes with them, you should take a break every 15 - 30 minutes to look at something else entirely. Focus on something across the room for a full minute. Then close your eyes and let them rest. You can start reading again afterward. This helps to prevent eye strain and eye damage.

Keep Your Posture in Alignment
Not all headaches come from staring a screen. Sometimes they come from the way that you sit in front of the screen. According to Prevention, people who read online tend to slump while they are reading. It's generally because the screen is lower than their range of vision, meaning that they have to lower their heads to be able to read comfortable. This causes strain on the spine and can result in compression. For many people, this equals nasty headaches. To avoid this, you will need to make an effort to use proper posture when sitting and reading. If you are already having problems with severe migraines related to reading online, you may need to visit a chiropractor to get your back into alignment once more. Remember that your spine should be straight, not slouched. Even your shoulders need to be in alignment to remove the tension and help keep those reading induced headaches from striking.

The author is associated with half, which is a leading retailer of books and caters to a wide variety of readers and covers an extensive list of genres to choose from. For more information on books; please visit http://www.half.eBay.com.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Albert_Methew

Read More

Reduce Eye Strain With These Essential Tips

In today's modern world technology has become an integral part of our daily lives. People are spending an increasing amount of time on their laptops, iPhones, computers, iPads and tablets. Excessive close-up work has resulted in an increase in eye strain, tension and stress in the eyes. Therefore, if you are concerned about eye strain and are searching for solutions to alleviate this vision problem, here are a series of stress relieving eye care tips to help you accomplish this goal.

One of the major concerns that computer users have is how to deal with a condition called CVS, (Computer Vision Syndrome). According to The American Optometric Association, this condition is characterized by symptoms such as eye strain, headaches, blurred vision, dry eyes and neck and shoulder pain.Consult your eye care physician to determine the correct diagnosis. Here are some solutions to reduce this problem:

Reduce The Lighting: The lighting in your environment may be too bright. Reduce the lighting in your environment to a level that is more natural and more tolerable to your eyes. A simple change that you can make is to replace high wattage bulbs with lower ones.

Practice Eye Relaxation Techniques: Increase the amount of time that you devote to looking around at distant objects in the room instead of just focusing on just one particular near point object for a long period of time. Take 30 minute periodic breaks to do this. The benefit of eye strain relieving techniques is that there is a relationship between distant vision and a reduction in eye strain. This is due to the fact that distant vision is the natural state of the eyes which is also a state of relaxation.

Scientific research suggests that people who spend a longer period of time staring at a near point object such as a computer, have a tendency to blink less. Blinking is important as it stimulates the production of natural tear fluid and moisture in the eyes. This can reduce the symptoms of both dry eye and eye strain. Try this Slow Blinking technique: Focus on a distant object, for example, a window or a picture on the wall and blink your eyes slowly as you maintain your focus on that object. Then, pause for a few seconds with your eyes open as you inhale and exhale deeply. Keep alternating and repeating this process a few times, (distant object, slow blinking), (open eyes, inhale/exhale). Perform this technique whenever you are engaged in close up activities. This is an effective technique that can reduce eye strain.

Nutritionists recommend a high quality Omega - 3 Fatty Acid supplement. The benefits of this vitamin include a stimulation of the eye's natural tear production fluid and eye moisture throughout the day. This in turn can reduce the symptoms of dry eye.

We live in a digital world that predisposes us to engage in visual habits that lead to eye strain. This requires a natural solution to address the root causes of vision problems such as CVS and it's associated symptoms such as eye strain, headaches, dry eyes and blurred vision. By incorporating simple changes into our lifestyles conducive to our eye health, in addition to the right nutrition, we can alleviate the vision problems associated with eye strain.

My name is Joel King and I am a City College Broadcasting graduate and internet marketer. I enjoy sharing my knowledge and experience about natural vision improvement alternatives to glasses and contacts. Take your eye health to the next level with this quick, fun and easy vision improvement program that shows you how to reduce eye strain and relieve dry eyes today! Visit http://betternaturalvision.com

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Joel_Travers_King

Read More

Why Use Anti Fatigue Mats?

When it comes to workplace flooring - especially flooring where workers stand for prolonged periods - anti fatigue mats are mats worth their weight in gold. Anti fatigue mats, often known as ergonomic mats are products that help improve the welfare of the worker who stands for the majority of their working life.

So what are they and how do they work?

They are mats made from a variety of materials - the main materials being rubber, nitrile, closed cell PVC. These mats are designed in such as way that forces the body to make constant adjustments, thus improving blood supply and weight distribution. The wight distribution also help relieve the joints and eliminate the amount of swelling that may be caused by standing for prolonged periods without these mats.

Why should I buy an Anti Fatigue Mat?

These mats are not a fad, however they are surprisingly unknown considering their importance and role within the workplace. Without the use of these mats, you are risking potential serious health concerns to yourself or your workforce. The short term impact from not using these mats is that when people stand for longer than 40 minutes, their body becomes fatigued. Fatigue then leads to a lack of concentration, and that is the last thing you want for your workforce because A) It will slow down productivity, and B) They could be operating heavy machinery, and a lapse in concentration could lead to disastrous effects. Short term concerns are also swelling of joints, back pain and bad posture.

Long term results of standing for prolonged periods can include to varicose veins and poor blood circulation.

Anti fatigue mats are a great solution to help reduce these health risks and boost concentration.

There are a large range of ergonomic mats and each serve a different application. Mats for use in the home are often made of gel or memory foam, and are available on the high street. People tend to use these in the kitchen when standing for a long time cooking or preparing food. While these do work to provide some benefits they do not work in quite the same way as those designed for workplaces, and are also less durable, however they are definitely worth the small investment.

Anti fatigue mats for the workplace come in a wide range of shapes, sizes, designs and materials and make areal difference to your workforces welfare and productivity. There is a great overview of a scientific study of anti fatigue mats, which discusses the impact of standing for a long time on hard floors, and how anti fatigue mats work with your body to reduce the stresses of fatigue.

As mentioned previously, anti fatigue mats tend to be manufactured from rubber, nitrile or closed cell PVC. Nitrile is known to give extremely strong resistance, and is hardwearing - perfect for challenging environments. Nitrile is also very resistant to grease, oils, animal fats and other chemicals so will perform well in all environments. It is the most expensive material out of the 3 but it will guarantee a long life in all situations. Closed cell PVC and rubber are often combined to produce high performing, hard-wearing mats which are commonly used in production lines and at workstations. The rubber surface usually has a a design such as a ribbed pattern which helps to give added traction to help reduce slips and trips as well as reducing fatigue.

Mat Centre are specialists in providing anti fatigue mats to industrial, commercial and leisure industries. We operate throughout the UK, but are able to offer products and services worldwide. We are happy to offer free advise on products to best suit your needs. Please get in touch if you are considering ergonomic matting, or would simply like more information how how they work. Take a look at Mat Centre's range of anti fatigue mats here.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=John_Charles_Francis

Read More