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Controlling PMS Symptoms
Conditions & Treatments

Controlling PMS Symptoms

by Kimberly Johnson
written by Kimberly Johnson

Premenstrual Syndrome (PMS) The Storm Before the Storm

What does a man know about PMS? Let me tell you, being surrounded by women in my office, all day long, I have learned to become the expert spectator; this is by far the best position for a man. Controlling PMS Symptoms
All joking aside, Premenstrual Syndrome (PMS) or the more politically correct Premenstrual Dysphoric Disorder (PMDD), can interfere with many social, family, and work activities. Controlling PMS Symptoms
In looking at the disorder from a physiologic perspective, many women have been found to have high levels of estrogen with low levels of progesterone (Dhar et al. 1991). Other causes or factors associated with PMDD are obesity, diet and nutrition, and lifestyle issues

Classification and Diagnosis

PMS-A – Anxiety
PMS-H – Hyperhydration
PMS-C – Cravings
PMS-D – Depression
Obviously, most women will have a combination of these four classifications. As many women are also aware, many of the symptoms in PMS are related to changes in their hormonal levels; specifically the estrogen to progesterone ratio. A physiologically normal woman will have a Progesterone to Estrogen ration of 120:1. In PMS-A it has been shown to be 48:1 and in PMS-D it elevates to 274:1. It should also be noted that diet plays an essential role and the specific type of fat consumptions is important. Women consuming a majority of Omega-6 fatty acids (American Diets) tend to have more issues with PMS than those women with diets higher in Omega-3 fatty acids (Mediterranean diets).

Treatments Controlling PMS Symptoms

PMS-A (Anxiety) can be treated with diet, mineral supplementation, and a more natural addition of progesterone. With all PMS, I would highly recommend meditation and some other form of Mind-Body techniques that can provide control and regulation.
PMS-D (Depression) there tends to be higher than normal levels of progesterone. Progesterone has a calming effect on the neurological system and it can be helpful in insomnia. Obviously, there can be many issues surrounding depression and women with this type of PMS should seek the help of a health professional.
PMS-C (Cravings) or issues with glucose intolerance. Even though these women tend to have cravings surrounding sugars due to volatile sugar levels in their bloodstreams, they should strive to eliminate simple sugars from their diets. Diets rich in unsaturated fats such as the Anti-Inflammatory or Mediterranean Diets should be considered.

Nutrition and Supplementation

The following supplements may be helpful in reducing the symptoms of PMS.

  • Calcium and Vitamin D (PMS and Calcium)
  • Magnesium (Quaranta, S. 2007)
  • Zinc ( Postgrad Med. 1985 May 15;77(7):32-7)
  • Vitamin B6 (J Womens Health Gend Based Med. 2000 Mar;9(2):131-9)
  • Vitamin E (J Reprod Med. 1987 Jun;32(6):400-4.)
  • GLA (Am J Obstet Gynecol. 1984 Oct 15;150(4):363-6)
  • Chasteberry (Vitex) (J Pharm Pharmacol. 2007 Sep;59(9):1307-12)

Mind-Body Medicine and Practices

Personally, I prefer to combine and therapies with a mind-body connection. PMS and many female disorders have such a strong, and unfortunately, negative psychiatric component. In many cases, this disorder, listed in the psychiatric diagnosis bible DSM-IV and there are physicians that do not feel PMDD is even a legitimate disease process. (See article)
Donna Eden in her book, Energy Medicine,makes a reference to PMS as a gift. “PMS drops you deep into your own being, and your own truth explodes forth. Whatever you have been successful at burying or denying to yourself bursts forth at this time of the month. It is a truth serum from which you cannot escape, and if you carve out space for it, PMS makes you wiser” (Eden, 1998).
I have come up with a simple ceremony geared towards reclaiming your control and to help in establishing ritual. I find it fascinating in our society that we are very ritualistic when it comes to ingesting medications and when we undertake surgical procedures, but we have eliminated daily ritual in our lives. Let us look at a simple ritual for PMDD or PMS that could possibly help a woman regain superiority over her second chakra.
Find a sacred space. That place where you feel the most comfortable and where you will uninterrupted.
Set the stage by filling the room with the scent of bergamot or neroli; fennel, rose, geranium, or citrus fruits will work as well. If you do not have incense or oils you can try filling the bathtub will bath salts.
On the floor of your sacred space, create a sacred geometric shape such as a circle or triangle; whatever appeals to you at the time. It is also important that you create this circle or shape with whatever is pulling you. If you are outside and wish to surround yourself with river rock or are inside and have potpourri it only matters that you create a space for”you”.
Before stepping into your space, set an intention. It may be something simple like “Give me the freedom to control my fears and anxieties”. With the intention, breath deeply and step into the circle.
Sit or lie down in your space, comfortably, but not so that you will fall asleep. Sleep can be a wonderful part of your ceremony, but save that for after the ritual.
Meditate on your intention. Meditate on the word control and only the word control. Feel the colors of control and the smells of control. Open the top of your head (figuratively) to the archetype of the Benevolent Queen. Allow the healing powers of other women to enter your spirit. Claim it as your own. I would recommend this type of contemplative meditation for 15 minutes to start; increase your time as you desire.
When you have truly brought the word control to the point where you feel as though you own it, then bring your focus back to your breathing. Listen to your breath and calm your mind.
Ease yourself out of your meditation and step out of the circle.
Close your ceremony by thanking the sisters that were present with you in your quest and to the power of the moon that influences the cycles of the earth and water.
If your practice becomes more advanced, I have recommended that women try a moonlight stroll in a safe area where they can bathe in the moonlight and focus their meditation while they walk. With every slow step, think the word “control.”
In conclusion, there are many different therapies for help with PMDD or PMS. The goal is to try and find the one that is right for you. For many women, they will start with medications like Prozac and other SSRIs. These may be helpful, but so can chamomile tea and and a nice hot bath with bergamot. Be open to the change that is going on in your body and keep a journal to record the journey. Look back at your journal and see if certain practices help more than others. Share the journey, you’re not alone.

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What Your Doctor Didn’t Tell You About MIGRAINES
Conditions & Treatments

What Your Doctor Didn’t Tell You About MIGRAINES

by Kimberly Johnson
written by Kimberly Johnson

I am a physician and I am a migraine sufferer. Migraines have plagued me since I was a resident about 20 years ago. Since then, I have been on a journey to figure out my own triggers and I have tried every remedy I could find, both traditional and alternative. What Your Doctor Didn’t Tell You About MIGRAINES

I tried acupuncture, biofeedback, not drinking alcohol, elimination diets, and eventually wound up with the fact that I am simply going to have to lived with them and treat myself with sumatriptans for rescue relief when I feel one coming on.
For myself, traditionally autumn is the worst time of year and this year, the migraines came on with a vengeance in September. Again, you hate your life and at some point you feel like it’s time to throw in the towel because it can be impossible to live one’s life with this serious head pain. Obviously I have been to neurologists and physicians and had work-ups including MRI screens and tried methods like botox injections and even hormonal manipulation. Alas, I was given pain meds and triptans and told to come back if things worsened. What Your Doctor Didn’t Tell You About MIGRAINES
This September, as I said, the pain hit me with a vengeance and I had migraines almost daily through the end of October. I even had one day where the triptans did not work and I had to drive myself to the emergency room.
I am writing this article about what doctors don’t tell you about migraines because these two things are simply things we don’t tell you because “we don’t know.” Many of you may already know about these two items, but they were new to me, and they seemed to have saved me from a life of headaches to one where I wake up and feel great. These two items stopped my migraines in their tracks and I am so thankful.
Today I want to talk about Petadolex. This is a specific formulation of purple butterbur. Now, I have tried butterbur in the past with absolutely no results. Pentadolex has been available in Europe since 1972. It has effects on the smooth muscle of blood vessels and stabilizes blood flow through them which decreases the throbbing of these vessels. Petadolex is the only safe formulation of butterbur on the market in my opinion and it has saved my life.
Obviously, go to your physician if you are suffering from severe migraines and make sure there is nothing serious going on and then if you are given the green light, try Petadolex.
If you click the link about and sign-up using code 4466 you’ll get 20% off the order. This has been a life-saver for me both for treatment and prevention of migraines.

What Your Doctor Didn’t Tell You About MIGRAINES

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7 Myths of Physical Therapy
Conditions & Treatments

7 Myths of Physical Therapy

by Andrew Vertson
written by Andrew Vertson

Myth 1: I need a physician’s prescription to see a physical therapist.

Fact: Seventy percent on consumers surveyed think they need a prescription to see a physical therapist but the fact is ALL 50 states allow a patient to be evaluated by a physical therapist without a prescription. In California, physical therapists can evaluate, and treat you for 45 days (or 12 visits, whichever is first), without the need for a prescription. If your physical therapist feels you need to see a physician they will refer you to see one. 7 Myths of Physical Therapy

Myth 2: Physical Therapy is painful!

Fact: Seventy One percent of people who have never visited a physical therapist think physical therapy is painful. That number decreases significantly among those seen by a physical therapist. Physical therapists are trained to work within a patient’s pain threshold. It is never our intention to make you more painful during, or after, therapy.

Myth 3: Physical Therapy is only for injuries and accidents.

Fact: Physical therapy, which became prevalent during World War I to help rehabilitate our injured service people, is a diverse allied health care practice that prevents injury and decreases pain while also promoting increased mobility, health, and wellness. Physical therapists do treat patients post injury, or accident, but also work hard to prevent injuries.

Myth 4: Any health care practitioner can perform physical therapy.

Fact: Although 58% of people believe other health care practitioners can administer physical therapy, only physical therapists (and physical therapy assistants) can legally perform physical therapy. Physicians, Chiropractors, trainers, etc. cannot legally perform physical therapy.

Myth 5: Physical Therapy isn’t covered by insurance.

Fact: Even though 1 in 5 people still believe physical therapy is not covered by their insurance, most insurance policies cover some amount of physical therapy services. The addition of the Affordable Care Act (commonly referred to as Obamacare) actually requires physical therapy to be a part of new health insurance policies.

Myth 6: Surgery is my only option. 7 Myths of Physical Therapy

Fact: Over 79% of people who have been seen by a physical therapist believe it is an alternative to surgery. In fact, research shows in many cases it can be as effective as surgery. If surgery is required, your physical therapist will work in conjunction with your surgeon to provide you the best outcomes.

Myth 7: I can do physical therapist myself.

Fact: Fifty Eight percent of people think they can do, or unsure if they can do their own physical therapy. Licensed physical therapists have specialized education, and experience to perform physical therapy. As a licensed physical therapist, I know my outcome would be poor if I performed physical therapy on myself.

7 Myths of Physical Therapy

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Background Conditions of Liver Disease
Conditions & Treatments

The Background Conditions of Liver Disease

by Jeff Dailey
written by Jeff Dailey

Chronic liver disease, which often leads to cirrhosis (scarring of the liver) saps the body’s vitality. Worse, it can rob someone of their mind. Background Conditions of Liver Disease
For about half of people with liver disease and cirrhosis, the condition progresses into overt hepatic encephalopathy (HE), a disorder that causes confusion, forgetfulness and poor concentration. These impairments accelerate when doctors fail to recognize HE early or when they treat individual episodes instead of managing HE on an ongoing basis to prevent recurrence. Many episodes of HE cause patients to be hospitalized. Background Conditions of Liver Disease
HE occurs when a damaged liver fails to filter toxins in the body. Those toxins then invade the brain, potentially causing long-term mental impairment. In one study, only 26 percent of patients demonstrated an ongoing ability to learn new information once they had been diagnosed with HE.
The problem is growing. Liver disease affects nearly 6 million people in the United States, and many of those people develop cirrhosis and, as a result, HE. More cases of liver disease are reported every year. Patients who don’t know they have liver-scarring hepatitis add to the volume as do people who suffer from non-alcoholic fatty liver disease.

Manage HE as a long-term condition

Recent scientific breakthroughs have made effective HE treatments available to liver disease patients, minimizing the condition’s effect on their lives.
“The key to treating HE is to actively manage it as a long-term condition,” says Dr. Arun Sanyal, chairman of the Division of Gastroenterology at Virginia Commonwealth University Medical Center. “More than anything, it’s about vigilance against recurrence.”
HE does not improve by itself and should be treated continuously with medication. Among the signs to look for in HE patients: Background Conditions of Liver Disease

  • Loss of physical and mental control
  • Changes in personality or mood
  • Lapses in concentration and judgment
  • Shifts in sleep patterns and handwriting quality

People with liver disease, as well as their families and friends, should be on the lookout for mental slowdowns and act swiftly. If liver disease patients or their caregivers recognize early signs of HE, they should consult a doctor immediately.

Few with HE treated outside the hospital

Unfortunately, though experts recommend treating HE continuously with prescription medication, many patients diagnosed with the condition are not receiving treatment. New data shows that outside of the hospital, 64 percent of patients who have been diagnosed with HE are not taking any prescription medication for their condition. This number includes patients who have had to be hospitalized for HE treatment in the past, yet are still not taking any prescriptions to manage HE.
Doctors often prescribe lactulose first when patients are diagnosed with HE because it was the only medication available. However, there are problems with this traditional HE treatment. Many patients who take lactulose experience uncomfortable side effects, such as diarrhea, bloating and sickness, making it difficult to stay on the medication long-term and increasing chances of HE recurrences. These symptoms also contribute to dehydration and may occasionally worsen HE rather than improve it.
When patients return home from the hospital, it doesn’t mean that the battle with HE has ended. Three of every four patients taking lactulose develop recurring episodes of HE after their first episode, and many require additional hospitalization. In addition to the physical and mental toll of these recurring HE episodes, the financial burden is high as well. The average HE-related hospital stay is six days, costing roughly $37,000. Compounded by the fact that many patients can never return to work, HE can be financially devastating to a patient and his or her family.
Your physician can help find the best HE treatment options, including medicine that works over the long-term to manage HE. “If you have liver disease and notice a mental slow down, forgetfulness or changes in your sleep patterns, consult your doctor because these may be signs of HE,” Sanyal says. “The goal is to focus on long-term management, not a short-term fix.”
Provided by: Articles Resource

Background Conditions of Liver Disease

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Alzheimers Reality: Financial and Family Dynamics
Conditions & Treatments

Alzheimers Reality: Financial and Family Dynamics

by Jeff Dailey
written by Jeff Dailey

The Reality of Alzheimer’s in America

Financial Struggles and New Family Dynamics

September is World Alzheimer’s Month, an international campaign to raise awareness and challenge stigma. Alzheimer’s disease has become so prevalent in the country, and the cases of Americans living dealing with the disease will only grow rapidly in the next years. By tomorrow or next week, it could hit any of our loved ones or ourselves, and we need to prepare for what it brings now.

The Individual with Alzheimer’s

According to the Alzheimer’s Association, more than five million Americans are living with the disease. The numbers are quite high, and chances are you know of at least one person dealing with it at the moment. Alzheimers Reality: Financial and Family Dynamics
The organization further illustrates the severity of the situation by sharing that a person in the United States develops the disease every 66 seconds, and that one in three seniors dies with Alzheimer’s disease or some other form of dementia. It is even ranked as the sixth leading cause of death in the United States. Reality of Alzheimers: Financial and Family Dynamics
In addition to this, Alzheimer’s is an expensive disease to have in America. The costs of care could significantly dwindle down a person’s assets. On average, the price tags on care include $6,844 per month for a semi-private room in a nursing home and $7,698 per month for a private room. A person would have to shell out $3,628 per month for basic services in an assisted living facility, $3,861 a month for a home health aide, and $1,473 a month for adult day services.

Family Dynamics after the Diagnosis

However, the diagnosis does not solely affect the individual. Alzheimer’s changes the dynamics in every family, and it takes a massive toll on family members and loved ones. Parents now find themselves leaning on their children for support and assistance; spouses become dependent on their partners for so much more than they ever expected, and children revert to their now aging parents for care. Often, family members are in the situation where they need to sacrifice aspects of their lives to provide the care that their loved ones require. Some leave their chosen careers, put starting a family on hold, and give up social activities to assume the role of primary caregivers to their loved ones. Alzheimers Reality: Financial and Family Dynamics
Family caregivers give up so much more than their time to meet the demands of caregiving. In 2015, more than 15 million caregivers attributed 18.1 billion hours of unpaid care. On average, family caregivers are put behind $5,000 a year for caring for a loved one with Alzheimer’s. While the amount might not seem like much for some families, it could mean going hungry for many struggling to keep up with the costs. Alzheimers Reality: Financial and Family Dynamics
For many individuals, the cost of caring for a person with Alzheimer’s could translate to inevitable bankruptcy. A recent article in News Times features a woman from Connecticut caring for her 80-year-old husband dealing with the disease. While Medicare covers a portion of his medical expenses, they have decided to forgo medications and frequent doctor’s visits for alternative methods. However, she knows that the expenses are heading in a direction that their nest egg will not be able to keep up with.
Their story is just one example of how pressing an issue this disease is in the country. So many Americans are facing the same struggles brought about by Alzheimer’s and the expenses that come with it. Alzheimers Reality: Financial and Family Dynamics

Its Effect on the Nation

The projected care costs this year for Alzheimer’s and other forms of dementia is at $236 billion—a figure that Medicare is expected to fund about half of. If you take into consideration the number of baby boomers turning 65, the number of individuals with Alzheimer’s is expected to grow in the coming years. Plenty of these individuals will have to depend on government programs to assist them in paying for the care that they need. But with the growing demand, Medicare may find itself on the verge of bankruptcy. Additionally, costs will likely increase even more.

How to Avoid the Difficulties

The importance of planning cannot be stressed enough. While it may sound overused to the point that it no longer holds much weight, individuals and families will benefit immensely from early planning.
Not many people realize how necessary having a comprehensive plan truly is until after the disease becomes their new reality. We read the accounts, and we see it happening every day, each person is just one diagnosis away from a completely different life.
Speak with a professional about it, and weigh each of the options presented to you. There is an abundance of long term care information online that you have access to, so learn as much as you can, as well. What matters is that you begin planning as early as you can and as best as you can.

Alzheimers Reality: Financial and Family Dynamics

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Curbing Inflammation
Conditions & Treatments

Curbing Inflammation

by Andrew Vertson
written by Andrew Vertson

The word “inflammation” usually has a negative connotation about it. Good inflammation is an important part of healing and is your body’s natural way of protecting itself when you are injured or sick. It helps your body to defend and stimulate natural healing. Conversely, chronic inflammation can be harmful to your body and it is often linked to diseases such as heart disease, diabetes, or fibromyalgia. Sustained high levels of inflammation have been linked to a number of forms of cancer. Curbing Inflammation
 
Chronic inflammation occurs when the body thinks there is a threat against it and it naturally goes on the defensive, even when there is no threat. This results in the body turning against itself and causing damage to normal, healthy, cells. This can be a cause of chronic pain and limit the bodies normal defense mechanisms. Quite often other side effects for those who suffer from chronic inflammation include not sleeping well, a poor diet and not getting enough exercise. Curbing Inflammation
The typical American “fast food” diet leads to chronic inflammation. In fact, at one point the number vegetable consumed in the United States was French fries! Other dietary choices linked to chronic inflammation are processed foods, excess salt, and saturated fat. These poor diet habits lead to being overweight which is a huge risk factor for chronic inflammation. The fix for this is an anti-inflammatory diet of healthy fats, fruits, vegetables, legumes, grains and a moderate amount of protein.
Studies have demonstrated time and time again that lack of activity and inflammation go hand in hand. More important is the weight gain that results from an inactive lifestyle also causes a negative inflammatory response in the body. Not only does exercise assist in weight loss, it releases chemicals in the blood stream that have an anti-inflammatory response to the body. Weight training and aerobic exercise have been shown to reduce inflammation in a wide variety of populations. Even low-intensity activities, such as walking, have a positive effect. Curbing Inflammation
Two of the most common causes of chronic inflammation are a poor diet and lack of exercise and studies have shown that losing weight can reduce inflammation and improve a number of health-related factors. The key to fighting chronic inflammation is to understand the root cause, as well as how to address it with regards to diet and exercise. Do you have more questions or need help? Your physical therapist is a movement expert and can help you re-gain the life you enjoy.

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Benefits of homeopathy for Elders
Conditions & Treatments

Benefits of homeopathy for Elders

by Kimberly Johnson
written by Kimberly Johnson

Homeopathy is well-known for its holistic approach for health care. It offers some excellent health benefit for seniors. How? Let’s explore. Benefits of homeopathy for Elders

Life is a beautiful journey and ageing is an integral part of this beautiful journey. Ageing refers to a process of becoming older and represents the series of different physical, social and psychological changes in a human being over the time. Nowadays, the elderly population is growing due to advancement in health care facility. We are fortunate enough to have enough sources of information and education regarding elderly health care. Benefits of homeopathy for Elders
Center for disease control and prevention (CDC) has launched a healthy aging program to promote the health and well- being of older people. Apart from preventive measures and conventional treatment, there has been a sudden increase in the use of alternative medicine during recent years. According to the National health interview survey (the year 2002) one-third of the adults using some form of complementary and alternative medicine. Everything from yoga, meditation to ti-chi and herbs are gaining popularity among seniors. Benefits of homeopathy for Elders
Homeopathy is one of them. It is an alternative branch of medical science that works on the basic principle of “like cures like” according to homeopathic principle; a disease can be cured by a substance that produces similar symptoms in a healthy person, but in the lower dose (and diluted form). Homeopathy is well-known for its holistic and gentle approach for an ideal cure. It works on the “individualization” theory that means each individual has some characteristic features which differentiate him from all others of his own kind. A professional homeopath thoroughly interrogates and collects all symptoms of the diseased person in detail to identify his individual or peculiar characteristic which would help him to identify the best individualized and similar remedy for that case. Benefits of homeopathy for Elders
And as a certified homeopathic physician, I had always observed the miraculous result of homeopathy in different old age diseases. Here I am sharing some great benefits of homeopathy for elder persons.

Gentle and permanent cure Benefits of homeopathy for Elders

As we age, our metabolism slows and various destructive and degenerative changes occur in our body. When we use conventional treatment for old age aliments, there is suppression (temporary relief) of symptoms occur while homeopathic medicines work gently , rapidly and helps in permanent restoration of health. Hahnemann (the founder of homeopathy) beautifully explained the highest ideal of cure in the second aphorism . And this is the first and most important benefit of homeopathy for elders because they deserve a gentle and ideal cure.

Chances of side effects are lower than the conventional drugs

Usually, homeopathic medicines are highly diluted and typically contain no active molecules, so there are fewer chances of potentially hazardous and adverse side effects in compared to conventional drugs. Even though homeopathic remedies tend to produce an energetic reaction after the administration of the first dose of indicated remedy and may cause different kind of aggravations means worsening of symptoms (medicinal or disease) in sensitive individuals but conventional medicines causes more severe adverse effects in the form of allergic reactions, gastrointestinal disturbances and dizziness. Here is a complete list of adverse effects that caused by conventional drugs.
According to a scientific study conducted by National institute of health concluded that homeopathic treatment is perceived as a low-risk therapy with fewer side effects than conventional drugs. And this is the second benefit of homeopathic treatment for elders.

Act as a “morale booster” Benefits of homeopathy for Elders

During old age grumbling indigestion, joint pain and cough-cold are common health issues that can affect your body at any time. Wouldn’t it be amazing to have a live-in doctor or natural homeopathic medicine at home, to treat every day aches and pain?
Homeopathic medicines have been regulated in the USA since 1938 and considered as a safe. It can be easily used at home to treat the common old-age aliments at home. And when the elders are able to manage their everyday problems with the help of these tiny globules, it boosts their morale, positivity and confidence. Scientific studies suggest that seniors with high moral had higher survival rate and increase life expectancy.
But it is important to inform your physician if you decide to take the homeopathic medicine for treatment. And for serious health problems medical supervision is compulsory.

It increases immunity and resistance power of body

The immune system is the disease-fighting system of the body, made up of a network of cells, tissues and organs that destroy the disease-causing organism (bacteria, virus) and protect the body from different infection. During old age, our immune system does not work well and tend to catch common infections easily.
According to well-known homeopath Dana Ullman, when we used conventional medicine as a treatment option, they tend to focus on controlling the symptoms and only short-term benefits occur. And by using this therapeutic invention the chances of recurrence are higher, while homeopathic medicines stimulate the body’s own defence to treat the ill people and strengthen the immunity power, so there is an ideal cure happened with less chances of recurrence.
Elderly peoples already had weakened the immune system and tendency to catch various infectious and autoimmune disorders, so for them, homeopathy offers an excellent benefit of increasing resistance power of body and an ideal cure.

Inexpensive and radially available

According to American psychological association (APA), the majority of elder people do not work or have fewer options for regular income, so economic stability is always a matter of concern for them. The expenses of conventional medicines are much higher than the homeopathic medicine. Homeopathic medicine is inexpensive and radially available.
The good news is that according to a research conducted by National center for Biotechnology information (NCBI) concluded that homeopathic therapy has significantly lower cost than conventional drugs, while they are equally effective in the end result.
Apart from that homeopathic remedies are believed to be safe, when used with other medicines. But homeopathic medicines should not replace the conventional drugs for serious health concern. They should be used as an alternative treatment option. Benefits of homeopathy for Elders
So these were some unique benefits of homeopathic medicines for elders. Do you have any experience with homeopathic treatment? Please do share with us. Until then eat healthy and live well! Benefits of homeopathy for Elders
By Dr. Surbhi Prapanna
Disclaimer– the article is for information purpose only. Not intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice, prevention or treatment of any disease.

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How Seniors Can Reduce Joint Pain
Conditions & Treatments

Living With Chronic Pain

by Jeff Dailey
written by Jeff Dailey

When a person is in pain, he or she will seek options to attempt to reduce or eliminate the pain. For minor pains like headaches, muscle aches and small wounds, often over-the-counter drugs can help reduce suffering. But people with chronic pain may have to search for other solutions. Living With Chronic Pain
More than 100 million Americans suffer from chronic pain, at a cost of $600 billion a year in medical treatments and lost productivity, according to a 2011 Institute of Medicine report. As of Jan. 1, 2013, the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) started paying providers without formal training in pain medicine to diagnose and treat chronic pain.
The American Society of Anesthesiologists (ASA) advises against receiving care from providers without training in treating chronic pain because patient safety can be seriously compromised. In addition to jeopardizing patient safety, untrained providers lower the quality of health care and can increase the risk for fraud and prescription drug abuse. Untrained providers lack the sufficient education and training needed to properly prescribe opioids, according to the White House Office of National Drug Control Policy (ONDCP).
Clifton Phillips, 44, of Bowie, Md., has pain throughout his body. He suffers from osteoarthritis, migraine headaches, a herniated disc and a pinched nerve in his lower back, which causes discomfort and burning in his foot. For three years Phillips worked through the pain before he sought help from an orthopedic doctor who prescribed opioid pain medications for him. However, Phillips soon became dependent upon the medication and suffered significant side effects.
Treatment of chronic pain is complex and can be associated with significant complications. This is due to the potential for severe side effects from some of the medications used to treat pain and the anatomy and delicate structure of the spine and nerves upon which many chronic pain interventions are performed. Knowing that he couldn’t sustain a successful lifestyle while taking the highly addictive opioid meds, Phillips looked for alternative treatment options through his neurologist who referred him to a highly trained anesthesiologist pain medicine physician. Living With Chronic Pain
“I encourage others suffering from chronic pain to do your due diligence, research your options and don’t be afraid to ask questions about treatments,” Phillips says. “I feel safe knowing a physician who specializes in pain not only safely administers my pain treatments, but also is able to diagnose and work with me to develop a customized and effective pain treatment plan.” Living With Chronic Pain
Specialized pain physicians have the education and training to accurately diagnose, evaluate and treat chronic pain patients using a comprehensive approach including medications and pain procedures. Treatments can range from medical management, physical therapy and psychological therapy, to interventional therapies and other alternative medical treatments. These therapies can be risky and require the skill of anesthesiologists or other physicians who possess the training and knowledge to provide safe, competent and appropriate care. These physicians complete a one-year multidisciplinary pain fellowship in addition to their post-doctoral training, according to ASA. A pain physician, like an anesthesiologist, is a patient’s best solution to finding a well-trained provider to treat chronic pain conditions, similar to what Phillips was experiencing.
Dr. John F. Dombrowski, an anesthesiologist pain medicine physician and executive director at the Washington Pain Center in Washington, D.C., began giving Phillips steroid injection therapy for a month. Today, Phillips is completely off opioid pain medications and reports the burning in his foot subsided, making him a happier person.
“I look forward to being more spontaneous and enjoying my life – I believe with these treatments, this could become a reality,” he says. Living With Chronic Pain
CFC

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Conditions & Treatments

Dealing with Hearing Loss

by Jeff Dailey
written by Jeff Dailey

Age-Related Hearing Loss Dealing with Hearing Loss

More than any other mark of aging, hearing loss requires that you maintain a sense of humor. A person with impaired hearing says an inappropriate remark in conversation because he or she misheard the discussion only to be the recipient of group laughter at his or her expense. We are embarrassed but try not to show it; maybe even laugh along at ourselves. What Did You Say? Dealing with Hearing Loss
More often than not, hearing loss is a gradual deterioration so that the impaired person may be in denial. This creates a difficult situation for all involved. Fortunately, I haven’t experienced hearing loss yet but my 94 year old father has provided me with a boatload of stories and mixed emotions.
My Dad says background noise makes it difficult to hear a person talking to him. He also has difficulty following a conversation when two or more people talk at the same time. Like most people with hearing loss, he admits to sometimes pretending to follow every word of a conversation that he has trouble following. He also nods and laughs a lot when people talk to him, hoping they don’t ask him a question. People always seem to be mumbling their words. Sound familiar?
According to WebMd, about a third of Americans between the ages of 65 and 74 have hearing problems. That statistic increases to 43 percent with age. Yet only one in five people who could benefit from a hearing aid actually wears one.
At 62, I’m showing signs of hearing loss. There are times when I ask my wife to repeat what she just said. I believe she speaks too softly now. I also have some trouble hearing clearly on a cell phone. These are common signs of hearing impairment; I will soon fall victim to serious hearing loss.
Like many baby boomers, I blame Led Zeppelin, The Who and Bruce Springsteen for my current and future hearing woes. Boomers were the first generation exposed to loud music for hours at a time. My parent’s generation listened to classical music, jazz and Frank Sinatra—all soothing to the ear. Boomers were subjected to between 110 dB and 120 dB and maybe as high as 140 dB if you were in the front rows of the rock concert. The decibel (dB) is a unit to measure the level of sound.
To demonstrate how loud a rock concert is, consider that normal talking is 40 dB to 60 dB. The softest sound that some humans can hear is 20 dB or lower. Headphones have a maximum volume set at 105 dB. I would think Jimmy Page and Led Zeppelin took me beyond 140 dB on more than one occasion.
How Aging effects Hearing
The human ear is like any other body part, aging and overuse can damage it. The inner part of the ear contains tiny hair cells (nerve endings). The hair cells change sound into electric signals. Then auditory nerves carry these signals to the brain, which recognizes them as sound. These tiny hair cells are easily damaged by loud sounds. Over time, aging, repeated exposure to loud noise and music can cause hearing loss.
Aging affects the inner ear which impairs hearing. These include:

  • changes in the structure of the inner ear
  • changes in blood flow to the ear
  • impairment in the nerves responsible for hearing
  • changes in the way the brain processes speech and sound
  • damage to the tiny hairs in the ear that are responsible for transmitting sound to the brain

The most common form of age-related hearing loss is presbycusis, in which the ability to hear high-pitched sounds gradually decreases. Noise-induced hearing loss, the second most common type, occurs when you’re exposed to loud sounds over time. In both cases, the ability to hear high-frequency sounds usually is lost first. You may have difficulty hearing hard, high-pitched consonants like “S” or the voices of women or children.
High blood pressure and diabetes contribute to hearing loss. Medications that are toxic to the sensory cells in your ears (for example, some chemotherapy drugs) can also cause hearing loss.
Most older people have a combination of both age-related hearing loss and noise-induced hearing loss.
Coping with Hearing Loss
The bad news is that no one knows how to prevent age-related hearing loss. The good news is there are remedies to help you hear well. Above all, if you have hearing problems, seek advice from a health care provider such as an otolaryngologist, an audiologist and a hearing aid specialist.
Simply Soft smarttouch 01Hearing aids are electronic instruments you wear in or behind your ear. They make sounds louder. Ask for a trial period with your hearing aid and understand the terms and conditions of the trial period. Hearing aids can be expensive (in excess of $4,000) and your insurance company is likely not to cover the expense. However, Senior.com sells a variety of high quality and economical hearing aids under $1000 you should check out.
Cochlear implants are small electronic devices surgically implanted in the inner ear that help provide a sense of sound to people who are profoundly deaf or hard-of-hearing. If your hearing loss is severe, your doctor may recommend a cochlear implant in one or both ears.
Bone anchored hearing systems bypass the ear canal and middle ear, and are designed to use your body’s natural ability to transfer sound through bone conduction. The sound processor picks up sound, converts it into vibrations, and then relays the vibrations through your skull bone to your inner ear.
Assistive listening devices include telephone and cell phone amplifying devices, smart phone or tablet “apps,” and closed-circuit systems (hearing loop systems) in places of worship, theaters, and auditoriums.
Lip reading or speech reading is another option that helps people with hearing problems follow conversational speech. People who use this method pay close attention to others when they talk by watching the speaker’s mouth and body movements. Special trainers can help you learn how to lip read or speech read.
Final Thoughts
Hearing loss is a frustrating inconvenience of aging. Towards the end of his life, my friend, Fast Eddie had serious hearing issues. He told me he was going to change his voicemail to: “Please hang up and text me.” He died before recording that message.
The thing about hearing loss is that no one can see it. Most people are so impatient they just assume that the person with hearing loss is being rude or slow. Your kids may be (unknowingly) impatient with you because they have easily communicated with you over the years when you were younger and now you’ve disrupted that communicative relationship.
My message for anyone experiencing hearing loss is to put quality of life ahead of stubborn pride. Take the plunge and wear a hearing aid; there is no downside.
By 75 and older, 48% of men and 37% of women experience hearing impairment. It’s cool to wear hearing aids; celebrity singers like Ariana Grande and Madonna wear ear pieces all the time on stage. Get with the program.
Dr. David Lereah
Twitter: @UnitedWeAge
 

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