Archive for August, 2008

Rotator Cuff Exercises

Written by ehealth on Thursday, August 21st, 2008 in Exercise.

 - By: Guido8 Jongbloed8, 2008-08-19

Rotator Cuff Injury Exercises

Most rotator cuff injuries are the result of insufficient stretches and warm ups before strenuous sport or exercise. There are however, some exercises that especially designed to warm up the rotator cuff and help prevent it from sustaining further injuries. These exercises may also be of use in preventing the wearing down of those muscles that usually comes with age.

Rotator cuff exercises not only strengthen those particular shoulder muscles and tendons, they are also effective as part of the healing process following an injury to the rotator cuff. One of the reasons people may sustain injury in this area is the fact that the rotator cuff tendons get squeezed between two other parts of the shoulder, specifically, the homerus and the scapula when there is no warm up. The rotator cuff tendons are on top of the homerus and it is these tendons that allow for the movement of the rotator cuff. If you are engaging in strenuous exercise or sports activities and you have injured your shoulder then one of the best ways to remedy that injury is through rotator cuff exercises.

There are a number of different exercises that help in repairing damage to the rotator cuff, and to start with these should really be carried out under the guidance of a professional in this area. One exercise that is particularly useful in repairing the rotator cuff is achieved by standing up and holding a weight in the hand that is on the injured side of the body, you then have to stretch out the arm in front of you and move it in a 90 degree angle. The weight is meant to stand out from your side and back while you maintain your arm at the 90 degree angle. The aim of this exercise, when it is part of a regular routine, is to restore the rotator cuff back to its previous rate of movement.

Most of the recommended exercises for repairing the rotator cuff are remarkably similar – this is largely because all of them are focused on restoring the movement of the rotator cuff. One of the problems with this part of the shoulder is that people tend to sustain repetitive injuries there as the injuries weaken those muscles. Another benefit that the rotator cuff injuries have is that they help to prevent the risk of further, repetitive injuries in that area.

As previously mentioned the best and safest way to carry out rotator cuff exercises is to do so under the guidance of a physical therapist as they will know the pace you should work at in order to avoid further injury in that area. In addition to this a therapist will be able to work out an exercise program that will be the most effective and is the most suited to your particular needs. As a general rule, such a program would contain a mix of the different exercises that would be most beneficial in preventing further strain and injury to your rotator cuff.

Guido Jongbloed is author of this article on Rotator Cuff Exercises. Find more information about Rotator Cuff Injury Exercises here.

Colon Cancer

Written by ehealth on Wednesday, August 20th, 2008 in Conditions.

Are you suffering from persistent constipation or diarrhea? Have you noticed a tinge of blood in your stool lately? Are you always tired and feeling fatigued? Are you experiencing weight loss, but have not been dieting or engaging in exercise routine? These and many other symptoms should necessitate a visit to a doctor.

Colon cancer is regarded as the second leading cause of most cancer deaths in the United States. Colon cancer is a long-standing disease, which starts as a polyp or a small non-cancerous growth. This small non-cancerous growth will slowly transforms itself into a malignant tumor over a period of 5 to 10 years. People in their thirties and forties are most often predisposed to colon cancer, amounting to about one-quarter of all colon cancer patients.

Colon cancer doesn’t show any visible symptoms during the early stages. During the later stages however, a person suffering with colon cancer may exhibit any or all of the following symptoms:

1. Diarrhea or constipation that persists for a long time.

2. Unusual abdominal gas, or cramping.

3. Episodes of physical fatigue without known reasons.

4. Apparent loss weight and appetite.

5. Stools that are narrow, almost the diameter of a pencil.

6. Bloody stools.

7. There is pain and tenderness felt in the lower abdomen.

8. Changes in fecal diameter, color and frequency of movement lasting more than two weeks.

Although colon cancer claims to be second among the causes of cancer deaths, the frequency rate can be lowered if only its detection is done early. The polyps and early stage cancer that are discovered before any symptoms are produced most often offer a cure rate as high as 100 percent.

Your doctor should annually test your stool for hidden blood. A procedure called sigmoidoscopy can also be done to diagnose colon cancer. Sigmoidoscopy utilizes a flexible lighted tube with a camera that sits on its tip. This instrument is then inserted into the lower third of the colon. Observations reveal that almost half of all cancers in this area are found in the lower third portion of the colon. Another procedure called colonoscopy is done to check for growths throughout the entire length of the large intestine. An x-ray can also be an alternative diagnostic procedure. A barium enema is given to a patient. An opaque liquid fills the colon, which then becomes visible on X-ray film.

Colon cancer treatments may include chemotherapy and surgery. Those suffering from the advanced form of colon cancer may require chemotherapy. If surgery is the form of treatment, your surgeon will usually remove any polyps found during colonoscopy. If the detection of the tumor is done early, part of the colon affected with the tumor is removed surgically, the colon is restored back to its normal function, and complete healing is expected. However, if the cancer has already reached a wide area including the colon wall, lymph and blood vessels, chemotherapy is thus required. If the cancer involves a large tumor, temporary or permanent colostomy may be required. Re-routing the colon through an opening in the abdomen does this. The wastes pass through the opening and into a pouch outside the patient’s body.

Michael Russell
Your Independent guide to Colon Cancer

What Exercises are good for My Lifestyle?

Written by ehealth on Friday, August 8th, 2008 in Exercise.

By: Eric Minden, 2008-08-05

There are several different types of exercise you can do and it doesn’t matter your age, health, gender, or physical status. All you really need to do is find one that is right for you and your physical needs. Most exercise routines you can do in the privacy of your own home or you may go to the gym if you would like to join an aerobics class or just to be around others who are doing the same thing you are.

If you are someone who likes to work out alone, you can. You shouldn’t feel obligated to join a gym just because someone you know goes there. If you don’t have any idea what you like to do (run, walk, jog, or lift weights) then when you make your next trip to the store grab an exercise video. This video will show many different ways to one exercise and will also help you stay off the floor, keeping you up, active, and most of all make sure you are having fun.

If you want to try something simple, you may want to try Yoga or Pilates. These exercises don’t require a lot of jumping around, kicking and screaming, they are simple and also very relaxing. Yoga and Pilates will help stretch and relax your muscles while giving you the work out you need, also while helping your blood pressure stay where it needs to be, not letting your blood pressure go through the roof is hard at time when you get stressed or do too much during your exercise routine. Yet it is also very important to keep it down to lower your risk of more health problems later on. Also, you may want to purchase an exercise ball and an exercise mat. The ball will help you stay balanced and the mat will help you keep traction, you don’t want to be stumbling all over the place and risk getting hurt.

If you would rather join a gym or fitness center, you may do so at any time. Fitness centers offer a wide variety of equipment and classes you may enroll in. Fitness centers also have personal trainers on the floor at all time, just in case you may have a question about your routine.

Finally, if working out at home or going to a fitness center, are not right for you, you may like to try tennis, basketball, or other physical sports. The most important thing for you is to become more active in your everyday life. Although you may walk around at work or chase you kids around when you get home, this usually is not enough exercise to help you get in shape and stay in shape. So find a routine that is right for you and your schedule, something that will help you stay fit, happy, and let you have fun.

http://celluleanworks.com

A Guide to the B Complex Vitamins

Written by ehealth on Friday, August 1st, 2008 in Vitamins.

There is a lot of discussion about the B complex vitamin and how it is essential for the body to perform a multitude of functions. However, the B complex vitamin is not simply one very complicated vitamin, as the name might suggest.

There are actually eight B vitamins that are in the B complex vitamin as well as a few other related substances. The eight vitamins that make up the B complex vitamin are thiamine or vitamin B1, riboflavin or vitamin B2, niacin or vitamin B3, pyridoxine or vitamin B6, cobalamine or vitamin B12, folic acid, pantothenic acid and biotin. The other related substances that are also in the B complex vitamin include choline, inositol and para-aminobenzoic acid.

Every part of the B complex vitamin performs its own individual function within the body but it is when they work together as the B complex vitamin that they provide essential maintenance for the body to remain healthy. The B vitamin complex comprises B vitamins which are water soluble and it is essential that enough of these vitamins are consumed on a daily basis. The body cannot store water soluble vitamins such as the B complex vitamin and this leads to a regular intake being required.

The B complex vitamins are extremely beneficial for a number of conditions and may be needed in additional quantities at certain times in a person’s life. Of course, there is a recommended daily allowance for the B complex vitamins that varies according to the sex and age of a person. However, doctors and other health professionals have discovered the benefits of increasing the intake of the B complex vitamin to help overcome certain illnesses.

Many people suffer from anxiety and stress at one time or another and research has found that the B complex vitamin can be beneficial in helping alleviate the symptoms of anxiety and stress. If a person has been unwell the B complex vitamin can be extremely valuable in aiding the recovery process. Fatigue can be a symptom of a multitude of illnesses as well as simply overdoing things but the B complex vitamin can help alleviate general tiredness and lethargy.

Interestingly, some skin conditions, such as dermatitis, can also benefit from addition B complex vitamin intake. In fact, a number of creams and other skin preparations contain added vitamin B complex that can be absorbed by the skin to alleviate the condition. The condition of a person’s hair will also be greatly improved with sufficient B complex vitamin intake.



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