Using Sleep To Help You Lose Weight

Do you find that you have been struggling to shed some of
those pounds? If you have, you have probably also been
having a go at some of those weight loss pills, a bit of
dieting or maybe even a trip down the gym a few times for
that dreaded exercise routine. But none of them seem to do
the trick, do they?

The problem there doesn't really have anything to do with
the things you are trying while you are awake, more like
the fact that you are awake.

Research has shown that the more sleep that you get, and
also the better quality of sleep that you get, can help you
melt away some of those unwanted pounds, without having to
shell out on some of those expensive faddy diet regimes.
The pointer there for you is, if you want to shed some of
those extra pounds at last, instead of wasting your time
counting those calories; spend a little more time in bed.

The number one reason that having more sleep can help you
get that weight off, is probably fairly obvious to you. The
more time that you spend in bed asleep the less time you
are going to be down raiding the fridge or tucking into the
biscuit tin. Another reason to bear in mind is, we all get
a certain craving now and again for a snack or something
similar that is not good for us, and the less time we are
asleep the more time we have to succumb to those cravings.
Also bear in mind that being deprived of sleep actually
lowers our reasoning skills, therefore when we are met with
those food cravings our power to resist is much lower.

When you get a good night's sleep you get up the following
day feeling vibrant and full of energy. By feeling like
this you are more likely to get up and have your self a
workout, which will in turn further your weight loss
efforts.

The way in which our bodies metabolise carbohydrates is
another effect that being deprived of sleep has on us. Many
people have a problem with digesting carbohydrates if they
do not have a sufficient amount of proper sleep. What
happens is, instead of the food being used up as energy the
calories are kept in the body and are stored as fat. It is
also worth noting that by having an excess of carbohydrates
in your system it could cause a rise in your blood sugar
level and resistance to insulin which both happen to be
symptoms of type two diabetes.

So there we have it, if you would really like to melt off a
few of those pounds, apart from the little bits on the side
you are working on, like a bit of exercise and cutting down
on those crispy cream cakes, make it one of your missions
to get a full and proper nights sleep every night.

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Alex Wilson is currently one of the article writers and
editors for http://www.help-with-sleep-problems.com where
you will find lots of useful sleep related information,
reports, articles and tips.

How To Get Rid Of Catarrh

Catarrh is a mucus discharge, which may be thick or thin
and can become infected. Catarrh is a symptom of a disease
or infection. If the catarrh is chronic it may be a
symptom of an allergy. The best way to get rid of catarrh
is to understand its underlying cause.

The conventional drug treatment is decongestants which
should only be used for the short term. There are non-drug
catarrh remedies that are safer for adults and children.
These include homeopathic, home and natural remedies. They
can be helpful in easing the symptoms of runny nose, stuffy
nose or swollen sinuses.

The air can be very dry in the winter. Be sure to increase
the humidity level at home or in the office. This will help
to keep the mucus thin so that it can drain from the nasal
passageways, thus preventing sinus headaches. A small
humidifier works well when you don't have a full house
humidifier. Alternatively, boil some water to add humidity
into the air. If the bout of catarrh is particularly bad,
try running the hot water in the bathroom and sit in the
steam in with bathroom door closed. This may provide
immediate relief.

Using saline drops or spray can effectively help ease the
symptoms of catarrh by hydrating the nasal passages.
Another method to keep the mucous membranes clear is to use
nasal irrigation. Similar to saline drops, nasal
irrigation uses a warm saline solution poured into the
nasal cavities to rinse them and provide hydration.
Regular cleansing helps keep the sinuses and nasal passages
clear.

When the catarrh is particularly thick and is blocking the
nasal passages or causing pain, a warm compress may be
applied to the face. Heat a wet cloth and place onto the
face, over the nose and cheeks. Apply as often as needed.
This will help loosen the thick phlegm that is stuck in the
passageways. Alternatively, use a facial steamer or steam
inhaler. The steam warms up the air in the nasal
passageways, thus loosening the mucus and preventing
inflammation.

If the catarrh is caused by allergies such as dust, pollen,
mould, smoke or animal dander, a room-sized air cleaner can
help filter the air. This will eliminate the irritant and
help clear the catarrh more quickly.

Drink plenty of water to keep the mucus loose and the
membranes moist. Avoid caffeinated beverages, as caffeine
tends to further restrict the membranes.

Try to avoid medicated nasal sprays, as these may cause
over drying. The sprays only provide temporary relief and
they can become habit forming. There may be long term
adverse effects in using medications to dry the sinuses.
Once the medication wears off, the sinuses can become too
dry or swollen.

If you suffer from chronic catarrh, you should seek medical
attention to determine the underlying cause. Left
untreated, catarrh can lead to more serious problems.

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Why Taking Aspirin For Headache May Be Prolonging A Bigger Problem - 3 Things You Need To Know

Headaches can range from annoying to downright
debilitating. Many people reach for the aspirin bottle as
soon as a headache starts. Most headaches are not serious
but some can be. However, if you have recurrent headaches
there are 3 things you should know before taking aspirin.

1. A headache is a symptom

A headache is usually a symptom of an underlying problem.
The headache itself is not a disease or disorder. If you
continually mask the symptom (headache) by taking pain
relief medication such as aspirin, it will be much harder
to determine the cause.

There are many possible causes for a headache. In order to
find out the cause of your headaches, your doctor will need
to know the type of headache, the feeling of pain, whether
it is a stabbing or dull ache, and the duration of a
typical headache. Keep a diary of when headaches occur,
what foods you ate and what you were doing prior to the
onset of the headache. Many headaches are stress related
and may come on stronger once the stress is removed.

2. Headache pain relief medications can cause headaches

Over the counter pain relief medications should not be
taken too frequently. They can actually lead to more
headaches if taken more than two or three times a week.
This means that chronic headache sufferers may actually
start to feel better once they stop taking a pain relief
medication such as aspirin.

According to a recent study, untreated headaches went away
as quickly as those that were treated with medication more
than 50% of the time. The body is able to develop tolerance
to pain that is not treated. Taking daily pain medications
interferes with the body's natural release of endorphins,
the natural pain killers.

It can take several days or more for your body to remove
the remaining medication from the system. You can aid your
body by drinking more water than usual to help flush the
system. In many instances you will no longer experience
the headaches with the amount of frequency or intensity
that you once did. Sometimes the headaches will go away
entirely.

3. Prevention is better than cure

Herbal remedies have been used for centuries to cure many
mild illnesses. They can be effective in preventing
headaches without the negative side effects associated with
drug medications.

Feverfew can be taken as a tincture or tea to prevent
headaches. It has a cumulative effect in the body when
consumed daily.

Lavender is beneficial for stress-related headaches and is
often taken as a tea. Drink a cup of tea each morning to
help prevent the onset of a headache.

Chamomile is used to help calm nerves and can prevent
tension headaches. It is most readily available as a
soothing tea.

Many headaches are brought on by dehydration. It is
important to consume plenty of water daily to stay
hydrated. Avoid caffeinated beverages like tea, coffee,
chocolate and soft drinks.

Stress is a common cause of headache. Keep stress under
control through meditation, yoga and regular exercise.

If you have recurrent or severe headaches you should
consult a doctor to rule out any underlying problem that
requires medical attention.

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Headache is a common cause of suffering in most people.
There is no need to live with the pain of headache. For
more revealing facts and resources about causes of
headaches and natural headache pain relief, visit
http://www.relievemigraineheadache.com/art-aspirin1

Low Back Pain - Physician Advice on Relief and Causes

Low back pain is one of the most common reasons for
visiting a primary care physician. People may experience
back pain after lifting heavy objects, twisting and turning
their backs during exercise or household chores, or after a
period of inactivity. Acute low back pain is often caused
by muscle inflammation and spasm and may start suddenly or
increase gradually over time. It may occur in the center of
the low back or next to the spine on either side. The pain
from muscle strain and spasm is often achy and crampy with
periods of sharpness that occur because of "stressing" the
involved muscle. Laying down usually relieves the pain. The
pain is often accompanied by stiffness when moving the
lower back and very tender muscles. It will usually get
better with regular use of rest, heat, massage and/or
anti-inflammatories and/or muscle relaxants for two to four
weeks. Moist heat applied for 20 minutes three to four
times daily and taking 200 to 800 mg per day of ibuprofen
helps relieve the contracted and inflamed muscles. People
can hasten recovery by continuing to be as active as
tolerated and not to lift heavy objects or move in ways
that aggravate the pain.

Low back pain which lasts more than 6 weeks and/or begins
to change in character needs to be evaluated by a
physician. If the pain becomes sharp and begins to radiate
into the buttocks or down the legs, a nerve may be pinched.
The most common nerve affected by muscular spasm, spinal
stenosis or a herniated disk is the sciatic nerve. The
sciatic nerve is a combination of nerve roots which come
from the lower spinal cord (L4-S3) and form the largest
nerve in the body. When a combination of the nerve roots or
the whole nerve is pinched, one experiences pain, tingling
or numbness in the buttock or the backside of the leg past
the knee to the foot. One may notice the affected leg is
weak and have foot drop or the inability to extend the
great toe. Although pain caused by a pinched sciatic nerve
(sciatica) can be very painful and debilitating, there is
no risk of permanent nerve damage or paralysis. Sciatica is
treated with physical therapy, massage, anti-inflammatories
and manipulative treatments.

A herniated disk or narrowed spinal column (spinal
stenosis) can also cause low back pain. The pain is achy or
sharp and can worsen suddenly if nerves are compressed,
leading to the symptoms discussed above. A primary
difference between these conditions is that the pain from a
bulging disk is made worse from bending forward and
decreased by leaning backward. The opposite is true for
spinal stenosis pain. The pain from both of these
conditions gets better with laying down. Thee pain caused
from sciatica is usually is not relieved by laying down (it
may even get worse). The development of sudden leg
weakness, lack of sensation in the pelvic area and
involuntary leakage of urine or stool are signs of cauda
equina syndrome. The cauda equina is a "tail" of nerves at
the end of the spinal cord. If these nerves are pinched, it
produces the cauda equina syndrome. In addition to the
conservative treatments for a pinched nerve, surgery may be
an option to reduce the impingement by removing the disk or
fusing the vertebrae to widen the spinal column.

Other non-muscular and non-neurologic causes of back pain
are infection and cancer. Warning signs that these
conditions may be a cause of acute or chronic low back are
fever, chills, lack of improvement with regular use of
anti-inflammatories and exercise, and pain that worsens
with laying on the back. It is important to inform a
physician about these symptoms so that blood tests and
imaging studies can be ordered to diagnose and treat these
conditions before complications arise.

The injury associated with low back pain can be prevented
by regular exercise (such as walking and low back
exercises), maintenance of a healthy body weight and using
correct body mechanics when lifting heavy objects.

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Roger Hutchison, with his wife Dawn Hutchison, D.O. offer
more articles, tips, online videos and downloadable reports
at http://www.greatimmunity.com . This project focuses
their background in sports nutrition and athletic
performance on ways to boost the immune system for
workouts, training and long term health.