HIGH cholesterol is a common condition in the UK and the rest of the world. Often, it lies dormant until levels have become dangerously high sparking a host of possible life-threatening health risks. Pain on various parts of the body are symptoms to be aware of.
High cholesterol rarely causes ongoing symptoms, but it is common for those suffering from high cholesterol to experience a sudden onset of side effects like a heart attack or stroke, which is caused by the damaging excess of lipoproteins.
Cancer is the second most common cause of death. It's more curable when detected earlier.
Although some cancers develop completely without symptoms, some do have signs you are likely to ignore.
1. Unexplained Weight Loss
Weight loss for no known reason, not through exercise or changes in diet is a common sign of cancers related to lung, stomach or pancreas.
2. Fever
Fever may be a sign of early cancer in the blood like leukemia and lymphoma. Fever may also reveal kidney and colon cancer at an early stage.
3. Fatigue
Extreme fatigue that cannot get better after rest can be a symptom of several cancer types such as leukemia, colon cancer, and stomach cancer.
4. Pain
Sometimes bone cancer or testicular cancer can cause pain. A headache that doesn't get better after a long-time treatment may be a symptom of a brain tumor. Back pain may be a sign of cancer in the ovary or colon.
5. Unusual Bleeding
Coughing up blood may be a sign of lung cancer. Blood in the stool or urine can forecast colon cancer or kidney or bladder cancer. A bloody discharge from the nipple can indicate breast cancer.
6. Lump
A lump that is usually hard, not painful, irregularly shaped or firmly attached deep in the soft tissue or under the skin is often caused by cancer.
7. Nagging Cough
More than half of people who have a cough that just wouldn't go away are diagnosed with lung cancer. Excessive coughing is also common signs of laryngeal and thyroid cancer.
8. Shortness of Breath
Cancer in or near the lungs may cause a blockage of the tubes that carry air. Breathlessness is also common with breast cancer tumors, ovarian or liver cancer.
9. Difficulty Swallowing
Mouth or throat cancers can make the swallowing difficult. It's also a common sign of various head and neck cancers such as esophageal, oropharyngeal cancer, thyroid, and laryngeal cancers.
10. Heartburn
Heartburn that doesn't go away or gets worse could mean cancer of the throat, stomach, or ovaries. Excessive food, alcohol, or stress can cause serious heartburn.
11. Belly Pain and Depression
It rarely happens, but belly pain plus depression can be a sign of pancreatic cancer. But you don’t need to worry unless this disease runs deep in your family.
12. Skin Changes
Any freckle, mole or wart that changes color, shape, or size should be examined for skin cancer. Besides, darker looking skin, reddened skin, itching, yellowish eyes, and skin may also be linked to cancers.
13. Change in Bowel or Bladder Habits
Long-term diarrhea, constipation or a change in the size of the stool can be a symptom of rectal or colon cancer. Pain when passing or blood in urine can be related to bladder or prostate cancer.
14. White Patches Inside the Mouth
White patches inside the mouth can be leukoplakia, which is pre-cancerous and can become mouth cancer if it's not treated early.
15. Continued Itching
Precancerous conditions of the genital or anal areas can cause persistent itching. If the itching continues with over-the-counter topical medications, consult your doctor.
16. Non-healing Sores
Common sores usually heal quickly. If you have persistent sores in areas like your mouth, you may have cancer and should raise concerns and see a doctor.
This is known as pressure point therapy (acupressure). Ancient, traditional medicine used pressure points to improve blood and energy flow and bring relief to patients. It has been used to relieve tension, nausea and pain, improve digestion and sleep and help people heal faster.
“Science says there are thousands of pressure points. New pressure points are being discovered day by day,” he said. “Pressure point treatment began in China, but we Muslims have also been working on it since the beginning. Hijama therapy is based on pressure points.”
He said that in order for treatment to be effective, it’s important that you go to a consultant who knows what the pressure point connects to in the body.
Pressure points for back pain relief
A sedentary lifestyle or incorrect posture can lead to back pain. Tabrez demonstrated a pressure point on the arm that can be massaged to provide relief from upper and lower back pain. You can feel an improvement within three days.
Extend your right arm in front of you and locate the point on the middle of your forearm. Massage the point for 40 seconds on the first day, 30 seconds on the second day and 10 seconds on the third day. Then, massage using oils such as sesame oil.
Another point for back pain lies close to the wrist, in the centre of the forearm. Massage the point gently first and then press it three times. During the fourth press, hold for 10 seconds and then let go.
Pressure points for stress and migraine relief
Headaches, stress and migraines can be treated by massaging pressure points at the back of the neck. The first point is located at the base of the skull. Massage the two bony prominences on either side to relieve tension and improve blood flow to the brain.
Then, massage the point behind your ear. Press lightly between the two points three times to make your head feel lighter.
PETALING JAYA: A miraculous treatment for cancer has been found and it apparently involves the simple act of swinging one’s arms repeatedly for prolonged periods of time.
If science could only prove this to be true, it would certainly spread like wildfire across the world.
For now, the supposed cancer-curing capabilities of Ping Shuai – literally meaning ‘swing hand’ – Qi Gong are only believed to be fact by the most hardcore proponents of the exercise.
Whether one believes in the effectiveness of Eastern medicine and health practices or otherwise, it is undeniable that some people swear by them.
However, the possibility of the placebo effect being hard at work is always lurking in the background. Then again, scientists have discovered the medicinal properties of several herbs that are traditionally used in Chinese medicine.
Thus, it should be with an open mind when one considers the benefits of Ping Shuai.
The exercise is said to have been introduced to the East by Master Da Mo, also known as Bodhidharma, a 5th/6th century Buddhist monk.
It is a rather simple exercise that can be done by both the young and old.
This is how to do it:
• Stand with legs shoulder-width apart.
• With palms facing downwards, raise both arms to chest level.
• Swing arms in a pendulum-like motion.
• After every five swings, bend knees slightly and spring up quickly.
The exercise demands little use of actual strength and on the contrary, encourages relaxation of the body.
On the surface level, it appears that this exercise does help provide the body with a level of physical activity, and it is simple enough for even the most unfit of persons to do.
Practitioners of Ping Shuai are encouraged to maintain a healthy, preferably vegetarian diet and avoid acidic foods such as meat.
Ping Shuai explained
Qi Gong master, Lee Feng San, expressed his hope that the exercise would become more widespread among the public.
According to him, the exercise, “improves qi (life energy) and blood circulation through the theory of ’10 fingers connecting the heart.’”
Ping Shuai, he said, opens all the meridian points (the path through which qi flows) and stimulates the bone marrow to rid toxins from the body.
The energy flows to the fingertips, then on to the body’s internal organs and brain; opening and unblocking arteries and veins along the way.
Many have since claimed that their practice of Ping Shuai has cured them of a variety of ailments including eczema and backache.
There has even been a fantastical but contested claim about the exercise curing a man of cancer.
The term “correlation does not imply causation” applies quite a bit to the benefits of Ping Shuai.
It is not necessarily the exercise of arm swinging in particular that brings about a healthy life.
It is more likely that the combination of physical exercise and a healthy diet simply leads to a stronger immune system; a medically known fact.
The type of physical exercise, be it running, swimming, jogging or aerobics, would ultimately not matter, as long as it is done consistently and in a safe manner.
By its nature, Ping Shuai is not harmful and is indeed probably a good form of exercise due to how easy it is.
Until the day its cancer-curing capabilities are proven, it would not hurt to swing your arms for a bit to try knocking some chub off them.
We all know that having sex has lots of benefits: it's great for our skin, for our mood, for reconnecting with our partners and it can burn lots of calories.
There's one position in particular though that has some unexpected health benefits and might have you feeling healthier, and in better shape, in no time.
Doggy style, or from behind, is a brilliant position for many reasons but did you know that it also helps to straighten your back and work your core?
For lots of us it's a pretty comfortable position so it doesn't necessarily feel like we're doing all the hard work, like girl-on-top sometimes can, but our body is actually really working in this position.
This position is particularly good if you sit at a desk or don't have brilliant posture as we tend to naturally straighten our spine and core while catching some action in doggy style.
Does this mean we can cancel that early morning Pilates class?
About 80 percent of US adults are affected by pain at some point in their lives. While the underlying causes may include fractures, infection, poor posture and stress, there is one technique that has proven to be successful with long-term improvements.
October 28, 2016
Story at-a-glance
The Alexander Technique is a method that teaches you how to recognize inefficient and harmful habits of movement that are likely contributing to your back and neck pain
Once you recognize them, you’ll learn how to move in a healthy, easy way that relieves tension in your body and promotes ease of movement
In one study, receiving 14 Alexander lessons led to significant reductions in neck pain and associated disability compared with usual care; the improvements in pain were still there six and 12 months later
By Dr. Mercola
Back pain is incredibly common, affecting about 80 percent of U.S. adults at some point in their lives. At any given time, it's estimated that 31 million Americans are experiencing low back pain, which is also the leading cause of disability worldwide.1
While serious underlying conditions, such as fractures, infection, arthritis and cancer, can cause chronic pain in your back, most back pain is the result of mechanical problems that have resulted from years of repetitive movements, poor posture and other physical (and even emotional) stresses.
Americans spend at least $50 billion every year on back pain, including on medications, surgery and other treatments that often do not relieve the pain.2 An alternative therapy that's been growing in popularity, and for good reason, is the Alexander Technique.
It's got a devoted following of people because it's remarkably simple and non-invasive — and, most importantly, it works.
What Is the Alexander Technique?
The Alexander Technique is a method that teaches you how to recognize inefficient and harmful habits of movement that are likely contributing to your back pain. Once you recognize them, you'll learn how to move in a healthy, easy way that relieves tension in your body and promotes ease of movement.
The method was created by F.M. Alexander (1869-1955), an Australian actor who suffered from chronic laryngitis that was hindering his performances. Conventional medicine couldn't help him, but he recognized extra tension in his neck and elsewhere in his body that was creating problems.
He developed ways to speak and move with greater ease, which led to significant health improvements. They were so dramatic that others began to ask him about his methods, and he began teaching the techniques to others.
According to New York-based movement professional and certified teacher of the Alexander Technique, Joan Arnold:3
"We all have unconscious movement habits. Without realizing it, we put undue pressure on ourselves. We use more force than we need to lift a coffee pot or a weight bar. We slouch as we sit, unaware that our way of doing things gives our bodies a certain look.
We blame body problems on activities — carpal tunnel syndrome on computer work, tennis elbow on tennis. But often it is how we do something that creates the problem, not the activity itself.
An Alexander Technique teacher helps you see what in your movement style contributes to your recurring difficulties — whether it's a bad back, neck and shoulder pain, restricted breathing, perpetual exhaustion or limitations in performing a task or sport.
Analyzing your whole movement pattern — not just your symptom — the teacher alerts you to habits of compression in your characteristic way of sitting, standing and walking. He or she then guides you — with words and a gentle, encouraging touch — to move in a freer, more integrated way."
The Alexander Technique Relieves Persistent Back Pain
Many people have been helped by the Alexander Technique, but it's not only anecdotal reports that back up its merit. In 2008, a study was published in BMJ that evaluated therapeutic massage, exercise and lessons in the Alexander Technique for treating persistent back pain.4
After one year, those who received massage had no improvement, while those who received 24 Alexander lessons had significant improvement, going from 21 days of pain to about three.5 Those who received six Alexander lessons also showed improvement, and BMJ reported:6
" … [T]he Alexander technique performed better than exercise on the full range of outcomes. A combination of six lessons in Alexander technique lessons followed by exercise was the most effective and cost effective option."
Separate research published in the journal Family Practice also found the Alexander Technique to be effective in managing low back pain.7
In this case, patients who had learned the Alexander Technique felt they could manage back pain even better than those who had received an exercise prescription. The researchers explained:8
"Whereas many obstacles to exercising were reported, few barriers to learning the Alexander Technique were described, since it 'made sense,' could be practiced while carrying out everyday activities or relaxing, and the teachers provided personal advice and support."
The Alexander Technique for Chronic Neck Pain and Other Health Conditions
In people suffering from neck pain lasting at least three months, along with associated disability, receiving 14 Alexander lessons led to significant reductions in neck pain and associated disability compared with usual care.9 The improvements in pain were still there six and 12 months later.
Lead study author Hugh MacPherson, Ph.D., a senior research fellow at the University of York in the United Kingdom, told NPR, "Most trials looking at neck pain show the benefits wear off after a time, but we were finding these sustaining benefits."10 This may be because the Alexander Technique teaches patients self-care approaches that they can use for the rest of their lives. Once you've learned how to adjust your posture and body movements to a more natural state, you can practice it for a lifetime.
Meanwhile, research published in the International Journal of Clinical Practice added even more support of the Alexander Technique for chronic back pain, noting that "strong evidence exists" for its effectiveness in "long-term reductions in back pain and incapacity caused by chronic back pain."11
Beyond this, the study found moderate evidence that Alexander Technique lessons may lead to improvements in disability related to Parkinson's disease. Further, the researchers noted the technique shows promise for treating a wide range of other health-related conditions:12
"Preliminary evidence suggests that Alexander Technique lessons may lead to improvements in balance skills in the elderly, in general chronic pain, posture, respiratory function and stuttering … "
Focus Is Placed on the Relationship Between Your Head and Neck
The Alexander Technique places emphasis on the way you hold and position your head in relation to your neck. A foundation of the program is that a compressed head/spine relationship will have ramifications for the rest of your body. The goal is to free this relationship so your head balances lightly at the top of your spine and your neck muscles do not overwork. Arnold continued:13
"Our neuromuscular system is designed to work in concert with gravity. Delicate poise of the head sparks the body's anti-gravity response: a natural oppositional force in the torso that easily guides us upward and invites the spine to lengthen, rather than compress, as we move.
Instead of slouching or holding ourselves in a rigid posture, we can learn to mobilize this support system and use it wherever we go — in the car, at the computer [or] in the gym.
... With the Alexander Technique, you come to understand much more about how your body works, and how to make it work for you. You can tap more of your internal resources, and begin on a path to enhancing your comfort and pleasure in all your activities."
What Does an Alexander Technique Lesson Consist Of?
What should you expect if you're considering taking lessons in the Alexander Technique? The process involves teaching you to release tension and harmful habits that may be contributing to your pain. A certified Alexander Technique teacher will first observe your posture and movement patterns. She will place her hands on your neck, shoulders and elsewhere on your body to gather more information about your patterns of movement.
She may gently guide you to help you release muscular tension, but there are no aggressive manipulations performed. A typical lesson lasts 30 to 45 minutes, and most students take between 20 and 40 lessons over a period of a few months.14 In the beginning, you may take two or three lessons a week as you learn the new approach to movement. As you progress and are able to carry on the new ease of movement to your daily activities, the lessons become more widely spaced.
Re-Learning the Way You Moved as a Young Child
It's possible to learn the Alexander Technique on your own, but working with a certified teacher is recommended initially. If a teacher is not available in your area, you may be able to conduct some lessons using Skype or other distance-learning methods.
You can find an Alexander Technique Teacher at AlexanderTechnique.com.15 Ultimately, you will be able to apply subtle shifts in movement to make lasting changes to your damaging postural habits, such as while you're sitting at a computer, picking up your child or driving a car.
Interestingly, much of what you'll learn is actually re-teaching your body to move the way you probably did naturally as a child. Arnold explained:
"Young children have this natural poise. If you watch a toddler in action, you will see an erect spine, free joints and a large head balancing easily on a little neck. A healthy child walks and plays with regal posture. Barring birth defects, we all began that way. But over the years, we often lose that spontaneity and ease.
Using the Alexander Technique, you can learn to strip away harmful habits, heighten your self-awareness and use your thought process to restore your original poise. In a way, you are learning something that, deep down, your body already knows."
The Alexander Technique: Useful for Musicians, Pregnant Women and Many More
The Alexander Technique has quite a following among musicians, including instrumentalists who often struggle with pain as a result of performing the same muscular movements over and over. Singers also benefit from the Technique by helping to release tension and create a more fluid performance.
The Alexander Technique is taught at the Juilliard School of Performing Arts in New York, The Royal College of Music in London and at many other schools of music, and it's also been endorsed by prominent musicians including Paul McCartney, Sting and the conductor Sir Adrian Boult.16
However, it is by no means a technique only useful for performance artists. Virtually anyone who struggles with chronic pain may benefit, including during pregnancy and childbirth or for those who use computers often. It has an incredibly wide range of applications, which explains why such a diverse group of prominent individuals — from actor Julie Andrews to Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis and author Roald Dahl — have endorsed it.17
Additional Steps to Remedy Back Pain
Once you understand that back pain is typically the result of poor posture and improper or inadequate movement, the remedy becomes clear. However, You can also try:
Vitamin D and K2
Optimize your vitamin D and K2 levels to prevent the softening of the bones that may lead to lower back pain. Low vitamin D levels are common in people with chronic low back pain.18
Mind-Body Techniques
As your mind is flooded with negative emotions, one of the ways your brain may cope is by substituting physical pain for emotional pain. As such, mind-body techniques, like the Emotional Freedom Techniques (EFT) or mindfulness meditation, can be very helpful in relieving back pain.
Grounding
Grounding yourself to the earth, also known as Earthing, decreases inflammation in your body, which may help quiet back pain. Your immune system functions optimally when your body has an adequate supply of electrons, which are easily and naturally obtained by barefoot/bare skin contact with the earth.
Research indicates the earth's electrons are the ultimate antioxidants, acting as powerful anti-inflammatories. Whenever possible, take a moment to venture outside and plant your bare feet on the wet grass or sand.
K-Laser Treatment
Infrared laser therapy treatment helps reduce pain, reduce inflammation, and enhance tissue healing — both in hard and soft tissues, including muscles, ligaments or even bones.
These benefits are the result of enhanced microcirculation, as the treatment stimulates red blood cell flow in the treatment area. Venous and lymphatic return is also enhanced, as is oxygenation of those tissues.
The infrared wavelengths used in the K-Laser allow for targeting specific areas of your body. The K-Laser is unique in that it is the only Class 4 therapy laser that utilizes the appropriate infrared wavelengths that allow for deep penetration into the body to reach areas such as your spine and hip.
Stay Hydrated
Drink plenty of water to enhance the height of your intervertebral disks. Because your body is composed mostly of water, keeping yourself hydrated will also keep you fluid and reduce stiffness.
Avoid Smoking
Smoking reduces blood flow to your lower spine and promotes degeneration of your spinal disks.
Pay Attention to How — and How Long — You Sleep
Studies have linked insufficient sleep with increased back and neck problems. Also pay attention to your sleep position. Sleep on your side to reduce curving of your spine and stretch before getting out of bed. A firm bed is recommended.
