Pain In The Pool

Nothing beats swimming when it comes to over-all bodily exercise. It provides a lot of benefits such as improving ones agility, flexibility, muscle strength, blood circulation, as well as reducing body fat.

However, swimmers are not immune to pain. Problems usually associated with swimming are shoulder ailments due to its wide range of motion. The stress of repetitive motion can bring gradual wear and tear to the group of muscles in the rotating cuff, leading to the inflammation of the tendons. This is called the rotator cuff syndrome. Treatment includes anti-inflammatory medicines and injections of steroids. Sometimes, surgery is necessary for severe and chronic cases.

The neck is also prone to pain and injury due to the repetitive motion of the head while executing different swimming strokes. If you have a history of back problems, refrain from doing the dolphin kick to avoid low back pain.

Always make sure that you engage in proper stretching exercises before diving into the pool. Should you be in pain, apply ice on the affected area and rest. If pain persists and becomes chronic and recurring, consult your physician, specifically a rheumatologist, to find out if you have arthritic problem.

Stretch First To Keep On Dancing

Dancing can be a lot of fun, but it can also lead to a lot of pain. The time spent in spirited swirling can cause a lot of impact in the neck that if you don't take a break, you are surely setting yourself up for muscle strain.

Without proper stretching, you can be prone to muscle pains in the shoulders and the neck area. Dancing with your arms held above shoulder level can lead to the cramping of rotator cuff tendons, a common problem among dancers known as impingement syndrome.

Dancing that requires repetitive arm motion can hurt your elbows and may lead to a type of tendonitis affecting the outer part of the elbow. This painful condition is known as lateral epicondylitis.

Another part of your body that is greatly affected by dancing is the hand. Any form of dancing that requires interaction with a partner's hand may cause the median nerve to get tweaked and can result to carpal tunnel syndrome. Lifting a heavy partner can put a toll on your back as well as your knees. So make sure you do proper stretching before doing a routine to avoid hurting yourself.

Dulling The Pain With Hot Chili Pepper

Over the years, chili peppers have been used for various pain remedy while the heat-inducing capsaicin creams are well-known for soothing muscle spasms. Today however, the spice is hot due to the research showing how capsaicin targets key pain-sensing cells in a unique way.

Pain is one major reason why many people shun surgery. And while anesthesia can do wonders in keeping a patient asleep, immobile, and out of pain during complicated surgeries, as soon as the patient wakes up, it can't do anything to curb the pain caused by cutting into the body.

Recently, scientists are experimenting to find out whether the ingredients for hot sauces can also tame surgical pain. Surgeons tried to use the substance from chili peppers straight into the affected areas such as open wounds and lacerations during painful procedures. The experiments made use of a highly concentrated form of capsaicin to avoid infection. Volunteers were placed under anesthesia so that they don't feel the initial burn.

-Ramon Bravante

Winter Woes

It's winter season with record-breaking snowfalls that can bring visual spectacles that are sights to behold.

One way to combat all these winter ailments is to get a good massage. Besides the benefit of relaxation, massage can also be therapeutic by promoting blood circulation and boosting the immune system. It allows the body to release more endorphins to fight stress.

In case the weather does not permit you to go to your favourite spa for that much needed therapeutic massage, you may try the following tips at home:

Stretching – this may seem simple, but it can warm up the “sleeping” muscles before doing any activity to avoid injury.

Stress ball – lie face up in bed and place a tennis ball in the crook of your neck. By applying pressure to it, it can help relieve tense muscles.

Foot therapy – While sitting on a chair, roll your foot on a golf ball for 10-15 minutes to relieve nerve tension.

Cold compress – use ice or frozen vegetables for strains or sprains.

- Ramon Bravante

A Pain In The Rectal Area

We always hear the expression pain in the as. The truth is, there are health conditions that is literally painful down there. Patients describe this condition as a sudden, sharp, gripping pain in the rectal area. It usually subsides and recurs every now and then. It may occur any time of the day and affects more women than men.

Doctors may be aware of the existence of this condition, but until now, they still don't know its cause. In general, the rectal area may have conditions that can be considered serious such as infections and malignancies. For those of you who may have been feeling something down there, it is advised to have a complete examination with your physician. You may likely to have colonoscopy or sigmoidoscopy.

-Ramon Bravante

What A Girl To Do With Menstrual Cramps

Most women have dealt with the pain of menstrual cramps – that throbbing cramps in the lower part of a woman's abdomen. It usually occurs either at the start or end of a menstrual period. The pain varies among different women. Some can take it as mere annoyance. Others consider it as a curse for interfering with their usual daily functions. Some may even end up bedridden for a few days.

That is why many women resort to all kinds of pain relief medications available. However, for those who are afraid of the risk involved in taking medications such as getting addicted or having serious side effects, here are some remedies to relieve menstrual cramps pain:

a warm compress using a bottle of warm water on the abdomen

an aromatherapy microwave heated pillow

warm baths

massage

yoga

walking

swimming

drink herbal teas

But the key to reducing menstrual cramps pain is to find out its cause and treat it. For it could be a symptom of endometriosis or uterine fibroids. Otherwise, menstrual cramps that are not caused by other health problems will eventually disappear on its own once a woman gives birth or when she gets older.

-Ramon Bravante

Labor Pain Blues

Many women worry about getting pregnant because of labor pains during birth delivery. However, you can ease down labor pains by making preparations and coming up with plans on how to cope with it when the big day arrives. Not being anxious and paranoid about labor pains can go along way.

You must understand that labor pains occur due to the contraction of the muscles in the uterus. It is characterized by abdominal cramps, pain in the groin, and back pain. The head of the unborn child can also bring pressure on the bladder and bowels. When the birth canal and vagina get stretched, it will surely bring about pain.

The pain of labor differs from one woman to another. Most likely, first-time moms will find it more painful compared to those who've given birth before.

Here are some quick tips to help reduce labor pains:

Exercise regularly – light exercises on a regular basis can help strengthen your muscles and prepare your body for the rigors of child birth.

Attend childbirth sessions – the Lamaze technique and the Bradley method are designed to strengthen your uterine muscles.

Practice yoga and meditation – these two can promote calmness and ease anxiety.

-Ramon Bravante

Different Approaches In Migraine Treatment

Are you experiencing a painful, pounding headache? Do you feel like vomiting, nauseated, and becoming sensitive to light? Chances are you have a migraine headache. Frequent migraine can be frustrating and can affect the quality of your life. It ruins your mood and productivity.

There are two approaches available in treating migraine: abortive and preventive approaches. Abortive treatment approach aims to pre-empt a migraine attack or once it starts. Doctors usually prescribe a drug that hampers a migraine during its prodrome stage or when the headache has occurred. Medication comes in the form of melt-in-your-tongue wafers or by self-injection. Those who vomit during migraine attack can benefit from these approach since the medications work fast. T

For people whose migraine attacks occur more than once a week, a preventive treatment approach is prefered. The purpose of this approach is to reduce the frequency and lessen the severity of each attack. The prescribed medication to be taken on a daily basis are:

- By : Ramon Bravante