Looking into the causes of headaches

Everyone has a headache now and then, some people more than others. If you are finding that you are having more and more headaches, or if you believe that you suffer a disproportionate number of headaches, it may be time to look into what you may be doing to exacerbate the problem.

If you rush to take medicine everytime you have a headache, without examining the root causes, you may be only temporarily fixing the problem

A large number of research studies over the past 20 years indicate that between 40 and 50 percent of headaches originate somewhere in the upper back or neck. This obviously is not in the head, and is why chiropractors and other manual therapists have a steady stream of patients who consult for this common problem.

Obviously there are many more causes. The good news is that most of these other causes are lifestyle dependent. Meaning that our choices in either what we eat or what we do are able to offer us help.

We are bombarded with the pharmaceutical industry's drugs for headache symptoms, and as you may know, this is big business for them, to the tune of billions of dollars. This is great for them, but not so good for the individual headache sufferer.

With this in mind, let us consider a different approach to dealing with a headache as a symptom, based on the evidence.

Eye strain can cause headaches. Studies have found that people who spend more than 11 hours per week in front of a computer were 50 percent more likely to suffer from weekly headaches. Solution; try to limit computer time and/or get more active.

Alcoholic beverages, especially red wine and beer are implicated with some headache sufferers who are sensitive to histamines. Cheese, chocolate, refined carbohydrates, Chinese food, coffee and food additives; such as nitrates and aspartame are implicated for others. People with specific food allergies often get a headache with ingestion of the offending food.

Other telltale signs are either a postural mal-alignment; such as, forward head posture, or restricted joint mobility in the cervical vertebrae. These are usually easily corrected through spinal adjustments and corrective postural retraining exercises. Once corrected, many people find that what they originally thought was the problem (such as eye strain), was not the problem after all.

This may surprise some, but many researchers are now warning that one common cause of a headache is called MOH - medication overuse headache. This simply means that a person’s headache is caused from consuming too much medication designed to give relief.
Many medications that are commonly prescribed for functional health problems such as high cholesterol, hormone replacement therapy and depression, list headaches as common side effects.

No amounts of dietary supplements or other drugs can substitute for a healthy lifestyle. Try to get seven hours sleep nightly. Sleep deprivation and snoring are linked with headaches.

Regular exercise is often associated with a decrease in the frequency and severity of headaches. Ask anyone who is regular with cardiovascular exercise and they will tell you that one primary benefit is feeling healthy and energetic; with few headaches, among other positive health benefits.

Runners and others who are very active know that regular participation demands that you take care with your lifestyle choices. You must drink enough water, avoid junk food, eat nutritionally (snack regularly), and not pollute your body with common contaminants such as cigarette smoke, household chemicals, cleaning supplies and garden pesticides.

There is no such thing as having a normal number of headaches. They are all a warning that something is not right. Try the lifestyle approach, taking things one step at a time, and see what changes. Consulting with a more holistic health care practitioner should help figure out what other potential causes might be lurking around.

Be Skin Cancer Aware

Skin Cancer is one of the most common cancers. Approximately one in six people will develop skin cancer. Medical experts unanimously agree that overexposure to sunlight is the main culprit. Other factors include sunburn with blistering especially during childhood, skin creams that contain tar if used over a prolonged period, repeated X-rays, exposure to coal and arsenic, radiation, chemotherapy and family history. Freckles with fair skin that doesn't tan very easily can also put one at risk.

Most skin cancers grow slowly. It is imperative you inspect your body on a regular basis for anything unusual. Stand in front of a full length mirror and with a hand held mirror check out every inch of your skin. Have someone check the top of your head as well. You should know your body in detail, so that when something different rears its ugly head, you notice it immediately!

Watch for any unusual spots. Look for lesions, moles or spots that are asymmetrical in shape. Observe for any colored spot that grows bigger or develops an uneven color or irregular, ragged edge. Look for any nodules or patches that are red and scaly, as this can be a squamous cell carcinoma which can metastasize (spread). Other symptoms to look for are changes in the surface of a mole. If you notice the mole is raised above the skin and has a rough surface, is scaly, oozing, bleeding or there is development of bumps on any mole, seek medical attention. In other words anything that develops that wasn't on your body before should be investigated by your physician.

Skin cancer has a high cure rate if caught early. Excision of the lesion is the most common treatment. Self examination is the key to early detection with a regular visit to your doctor for check ups.

The best methods to avoid skin cancer are to avoid the sun, especially during the hottest part of the day from 10:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. Wear a sunscreen if you are out doors with an SPF of at least 15 or more, applied thirty minutes before going into the sun. Put the sunscreen everywhere the suns rays will hit you. Don't forget your ears and men don't forget any bald areas on top of your head. If you have to be out in the sun, use a wide brimmed hat or cap. Wear sunglasses to protect your eyes from the sun. Choose sunglasses that protect against both UVA and UVB rays. Sunglasses can help prevent cataracts as well. Wear long sleeve shirts and pants if it is not sweltering hot, to better protect your body. Don't use tanning salons as they can damage your skin just like the sun.

Of course there is the controversy that you need some sun in order NOT to be vitamin D deficient. Ask your doctor to prescribe a good vitamin D supplement. Your doctor can advise the proper dose to take. I know it is hard at times to completely avoid the sun. A few minutes of sun occasionally with a good sun screen, should not be too harmful, as long as you watch the time of day and check your body on a regular basis. Also too much sun can contribute to wrinkles. Avoidance is best, but not always possible. Hence, just be very careful and check, check, check your body regularly (monthly if possible). Go to your doctor immediately when you notice any irregularities. Keep healthy!

Dealing with the emotional scars of acne

Acne is widely accepted, as no longer being a physical problem. There can be deep emotional issues that arise from acne irrespective of the severity of the condition. Over the last 5 years or so, doctors have started to look at some of the more serious psychological effects of acne. Some of the most problematic psychological effects of acne include:

1. A feeling of lowered self-esteem
2. A reduction in self-confidence
3. Social withdrawal
4. Feelings of depression
5. Feelings of anger and aggression
6. Feelings of despair.

It is becoming increasing common for one of these feelings leading to another, and another and so on, each new issue re-enforcing the previous in a vicious feedback loop, concluding in feelings of helplessness. Interestingly the degree of impact is rarely proportional to the extent to which acne is present. Sometimes a small number of spots can cause lasting emotional stress, in some individuals, where as others may not be affected at all.

Read the full article, as well as tips on preventing acne at Your Health Magazine.

Removing acne scars

If you have acne scars you may be interested in acne scar removal creams. Where can you find acne scar removal exfoliants? What can you anticipate from acne scar removal exfoliants? You can obtain acne scar removal creams at a pharmacy. You might need to see a doctor or dermatologist for a prescription for acne scar removal cream.

Occasionally people think they need acne scar removal help after they have had treatment for the scars. There are instances when these scars are simply a color change and acne scar removal cream will not help and may not be wanted at all. You may just want to give it more time.

Mederma is a kind of acne scar removal cream medication. It is actually a gel based medication and has been very helpful in a lot of situations. After the acne scars are brown in color you can use bleach with hydroquinone along with the acne scar removal cream. This combination can be really helpful in the removal of acne scars.

Read the full article at Your Health Magazine.

Treating acne with aloe vera

Aloe vera has certain important medicinal qualities that are very effective in the cure of acne. Aloe vera has been exercised in a wide variety of medicinal ways both historically and in recent time. It is used to treat burns, wounds and infections to regenerate skin and provide the building blocks needed to rebuild scarred or injured skin areas. In addition it aids in treating acne by acting as an anti-inflammatory device and an immune booster.

 Aloe vera solutions
 Acne can be treated by either soaps containing aloe vera or aloe vera colloidal gel. Soaps should be utilized at least twice a day and the skin should be patted dry after the wash. A topical gel or cream application of aloe vera can then be applied to the inflamed or infested areas. Acne is not cured by aloe vera but the symptoms of redness, flaky skin, and swelling will be quickly decreased with consistent use...read more on treating acne with aloe vera at Your Health Magazine.

Determine the causes of acne before you begin to treat it.

Acne is one of the oldest skin problems, and troubles young and old alike, not to mention the problems it can cause socially and mentally. Caused by hormonal disorders, overactive glands or bacterial infections, acne causes skin inflammation, pimples, scars and discoloration. This problem is most obvious in people with a fair complexion. It may also lead to it victims losing self-esteem and withdrawing from society due to not wanting to be seen.
Full article online.

Skincare Issue Online Now

Free tips to prevent acne.
I am happy to announce that issue no. 2 of Your Health Magazine has just hit the virtual newstands.
Issue no. 2 is the big "skincare special" with heaps of free tips to prevent acne as well as a whole wealth of information from a number of guest writers. We will delve into various way of removing acne scars as well as home microdermabrasion.
If you have concerns regarding anything to do with skincare, or if you know somebody who could benefit from some free advice on skincare, you will want to catch the Skincare Special online now at Your Health Magazine.