Information – Health +
Floating best stress and pain buster
Floating best stress and pain buster
ANI news
WASHINGTON: A recent study has found that relaxing in large, sound –and –light proof tank with salt water-floating is an effective way of easing long-term stress-related pain.
The study was conducted at the Human Performance Laboratory at Karlstad University and was carried out in collaboration with the health authorities under the Varmland County Council.
It was authored by Sven-Ake Bood, who recently completed his doctorate in psychology, with a dissertation from Karlstad University in Sweden.
The research project took under four years for concluding and included 140 individuals, all with some form of diagnosis involving stress-related long-term pain.
The recent research also agrees with an earlier thesis that improved sleep patients feels more optimistic, and the content of the vitalizing hormone prolactin increases. Anxiety, stress, depression and perception of pain declines.
The research comprised four studies that involved the treatment of pain and stress-related disorders with the aid of a floating tank. A control group that was not treated in a floating tank experienced no improvement in their health. After a period of treatment lasting a total of seven weeks, 22 percent of the participants in the floating group were entirely free of pain, and 56 experienced a clear improvement. Nineteen percent felt no change and 3 percent felt worse. And the effect persists after the treatment is completed.
“Through relaxing in floating tanks, people with long-term fibromyalgia, for instance, or depression and anxiety felt substantially better after only twelve treatments. Relaxing in a weightless state in the silent, warm floating tank activates the body’s own system for recuperation and healing,” said Sven-Ake Bood.
“The stress hormone decreases, as does blood pressure. The findings confirm and reinforce our earlier studies on the effects of relaxing in a floating tank
“The treatment method can be used for several groups, such as people with whiplash injuries, fibromyalgia, depression, and long-term stress-related pain.
“We can also see that a combination of treatment in a floating tank and traditional therapy can be effective. We are now moving on in our research and will be monitoring blood circulation in the capillaries, the oxygen uptake of the blood, and how the body’s reflexes are affected,” he added.
The study has been published in the prestigious American publication International Journal of Stress Management .
French health report smokes out shisha’s deadly secret
French health report smokes out shisha’s deadly secret
By Nina Muslim, Staff Reporter GULF NEWS
Dubai: Efforts to ban shisha-smoking in public, included in the UAE draft anti-smoking law, have got a boost from a French report which found one shisha was equivalent to smoking 70 cigarettes.
The French anti-tobacco agency (OFT), citing a national laboratory report, said one session with shisha produced 70 litres of smoke, which had 27 to 102 times the carbon tar of a cigarette, and 15 to 52 times more carbon monoxide, depending on the type of shisha smoked.
Dr Wedad Al Maidoor, head of the Anti-Smoking Committee responsible for drafting the law, told Gulf News that the study confirmed their suspicions.
“It gives a boost to our efforts. We always knew that shisha was dangerous, but we did not know by how much,” she said.
“Shisha is a very new field so there have been very few studies done on it,” other than studies done in Saudi Arabia and Egypt, she added.
Claims rubbished
Shisha, deeply associated with Arabic culture, is popular in the UAE and a draw with tourists. Shisha cafe operators have protested the proposed ban, which will only allow shisha-smoking at home.
They said the ban would adversely affect their business, the tourism industry and the economy. The proposal drew a mixed response from the public.
Dr Wedad said pooh-poohed businesses’ claims, saying the public shisha ban in Sharjah and GCC countries have shown no adverse impact on their economy. “Their economy is growing despite the ban. [In fact] we are behind them in implementing the ban,” she said.
She said the committee was working on an in-depth study on the draft law, requested by the Cabinet, addressed the possible effects of the ban on businesses, tourism industry and economy.
It also addresses increasing taxes and displaying bigger warning signs on tobacco products, limiting advertisements of tobacco products and reducing exposure to tobacco smoke.
Dr Layla Al Marzouqi, cardiologist at Dubai Hospital, hoped the findings would finally nail the health myths surrounding shisha.
“People think it is less dangerous to smoke shisha, because the water is supposed to filter the smoke. But that’s not true,” she said.
Anti-smoking: Draft law nears ratification
The draft law is close to becoming law, with only one step left. It is currently at the Cabinet level, which has to endorse it before going to President His Highness Shaikh Khalifa bin Zayed Al Nahyan for ratification.
“After that, the law will pass,” said Dr. Wedad Al Maidoor, head of the Anti-Smoking Committee.
As a signatory to the World Health Organisation Framework Convention of Tobacco Control (WHO-FCTC), the UAE is required to pass legislation and implement the minimum requirements agreed upon to reduce access and limit exposure.
Beat cancer with onions, garlic
Beat cancer with onions, garlic
PTI News
NEW YORK: Better load up on the breath mints – a new study has found that eating lots of onions and garlic may help prevent cancers.
International researchers have carried out a study and found that people whose diets are rich in onions, garlic, and other alliums have a lower risk of several types of cancer than those who avoid the pungent herbs, ‘WebMD’ reported.
According to lead researcher Carlotta Galeone of the Istituto di Ricerche Farmocologiche in Milan, “The health benefits of onions and garlic have been touted for centuries, but few studies have been able to prove the benefits.
“Onion and garlic consumption could simply be a marker for a healthier lifestyle and a diet high in a variety of potentially cancer-fighting herbs and vegetables.”
In fact, in their study, the researchers used data from several Italian and Swiss cancer studies to look at the relationship between onions and garlic consumption and cancer at several body sites, including mouth, larynx, esophagus, colon, breast, ovary, and kidneys.
Overall, consumption of onions ranged from 0-14 portions per week among cancer patients and 0-22 portions per week among those without cancer. Garlic use was also lower among people with cancer, except for those with cancer of the breast, ovary, or prostate. The researchers found moderate consumption of onions appeared to reduce the risk of colorectal, laryngeal, and ovarian cancers.
The protective effect was even greater among those who ate the most onions compared to those who ate the least. People who ate the most onions also had a lower risk of oral and esophageal cancers than those who ate the least.
Again, the anticancer effect increased with the more garlic they ate. People who ate the most garlic had a lower risk of all cancers except breast and prostate cancers, which are mainly associated with hormonal and reproductive issues, the researchers found.
How to de-stress
How to de-stress Tejaswi Rathore for BUSINESS TODAY
Stress is an integral part of today’s corporate life. It can bog you down, and if left unattended, cause permanent physical and psychological damage. But it’s never too late to relax and rejuvenate… so let’s begin.
What is stress?
Stress is the emotional and physical strain caused by our response to pressure from the outside world. Common stress reactions include tension, irritability, inability to concentrate, and a variety of physical symptoms that include headache and a fast heartbeat.
What are the different types of stress?
Stress can broadly be divided into two categories: distress and eustress. The former is self-evident. Eustress has its roots in the Greek word eu, meaning good; thus, eustress is good stress and arises from positive events like marriage, promotions, windfall gains, birth of a child, etc. Thus, both negative and positive factors can lead to stress.
Some common stimuli are: pain, bright light, births, deaths, marriages, divorces, financial windfalls and losses, unemployment, conflict (at work, at home and socially), heavy drinking, lack of sleep, etc.
Is it a medical condition?
Yes. Stress is the disruption of homeostasis through physical or psychological stimuli… Hold your expression there… and check it in the mirror. What you see is a confused look, a frown and knitted brows… So much stress for not understanding an 11-word sentence. Shorn of medical jargon, it means, any physical or mental situation or activity that disrupts your peace of mind and leads to worry and stress.
What are the signs of stress?
Stress can cause both mental and physical symptoms. The effects of stress are different for different people.
The mental symptoms of stress include:
Tension
Irritability
Inability to concentrate
Feeling excessively tired
Trouble sleeping
The physical symptoms of stress include:
Dry mouth
A pounding heart
Difficulty in breathing
Upset stomach
Frequent urination
Sweating palms
Tight muscles that may cause pain and trembling
How does stress affect the body?
Under a stressful situation, the body prepares for either fight or flight. That is, either you will face the situation or look for an escape. Under sudden stress, you will get a burst of exceptional strength and endurance, as your body pumps out stress hormones:
Your heart rate speeds up
Blood flow to your brain and muscles increases by up to 400 per cent
Your digestion stops (so that your metabolism doesn’t use up energy that’s needed elsewhere)
Your muscle tension increases
You breathe faster, to bring more oxygen to your muscles
How does stress affect us adversely?
Stress can cause chronic fatigue, digestive upsets, headaches and back pain.
Stress can affect the blood cells that help you fight off infection, so you are more likely to get colds and other diseases.
Constant stress can increase blood pressure and can increase the risk for stroke.
Stress can increase the danger of heart attacks, particularly if you are often angry and mistrustful.
Stress can make an asthma attack worse.
Stress triggers behaviours that contribute to death and disability, such as smoking, alcoholism, drug abuse, and overeating.
Stress can lead to diminished sexual desire and an inability to achieve orgasm.
Stress makes it harder to take other steps to improve health, such as giving up smoking or making changes in diet.
How can you manage stress?
Fit in fitness every day: Getting regular physical activity helps you cope with stress. Give your stress to the pavement or the treadmill and let it go from your body. Staying active in winter elevates your mood and reduces stress.
Enjoy natural sunlight: Just going to the gym is not enough. You need to spend time in natural light and fresh air. About 15-20 minutes in the morning or evening is enough.
Indulge: Don’t deprive yourself of the foods you love; this only leads to bingeing. Instead, plan to eat a small portion of the desired foods, eat it slowly, and savour every mouthful.
Relax: Give yourself 15 minutes each day of peace and quiet; reflect, meditate and unwind. Soaking in a hot bubble bath can help release your troubles into thin air. Breaking free from the family, a breath of fresh air, or escaping to a quiet room will energise and empower you.
Clear the office desk clutter: Keep your desk neat. Don’t pile up paper and files; that will only make you irritable and stressed. Keep pictures of good times with friends and family on your desk. This will help you de-stress.
Take note of your water intake: A lot has been said about how you should drink water and all, but water does remain the elixir of life and helps you stay happy and cool.
Spend time with family: This does not mean that you have to go on a picnic or vacation. But just cook with your better half or help your child with his home work, believe us, these things work.
Check that ring tone: If the ring tone makes you jump out of your skin, change it NOW. Your ring tone should be soothing, that makes you reach for your phone, not lunge at it.
Dance your way out of stress: If your life is ruled by an overactive brain, dance could be the perfect way to de-stress and relax. If you’re switched on 24/7 and often find yourself feeling stressed, try dancing.it will use up your excess energy, help you to relax and leave you happier and calmer than before.
Take a vacation: If none of the above works, then we suggest, take a nice vacation!
How to de-stress now?
Deadlines swishing past you… colleagues not delivering… boss behaving impossibly… stress, stress and more stress. Take these quick steps to de-stress at work.
Take a deep breath.
Relax your tongue.
Take one minute vacations. Mentally visit places where you find peace.
Picture yourself there soaking up the beauty and solitude.
Just exit the situation that is leading to all the stress.
Discuss the problem that’s stressing you out with your team and your boss.
Can different colours help you de-stress?
Remember when, as a child, opening a new box of crayons or dipping your brush in a cup of water made you feel inventive and alive with possibility and choice. You could break free of pre-existing lines, combine colours, elongate familiar shapes or create surprising curves. We, as adults, have forgotten about colour, opting for basic black or the safe monochromatic look.
Colour has a powerful sensory appeal. Change your colours periodically to open yourself up to other people as well as your own disposition and energy levels. Here are some colours and what they might mean to you:
Orange is the colour of cheerfulness
Red is bold and energetic
Blue is calming and soothing
Yellow is intellectually stimulating
Green is healing
Brown is earthy
Silver is spiritual
How can you use colour to de-stress?
Try this quick colour centering exercise in the morning or whenever you need to regain your balance and empower yourself. Imagine that the centre of your forehead is deep blue. This is where your creativity and inspiration reside. Next, your heart, no matter what you have done in life, is pure white. Your belly is golden, because you are a confident, golden child. Now align the three colours in a straight vertical line, like a traffic light: blue, white and gold. Practise this for a few days and you will see how this little exercise “lifts” you up.
Beer after workout better than water
Beer after workout better than water
PTI
LONDON: When you reach for an ice cold mug of suds after playing a game of football, cricket or a long run, you’re not just quenching your thirst, you’re actually doing something healthy for your body — seriously!
Researchers in Europe have carried out a study and found that a glass of beer is far better at re-hydrating the body after exercise than water as the sugars, salts and bubbles in a pint help people absorb fluids more quickly.
“The carbon dioxide in beer helps quench the thirst more quickly, while beer’s carbohydrates replace calories lost during physical exertion,” the ‘Daily Mail’ reported on Friday, quoting lead researcher Prof Manuel Garzon as saying.
In fact, the researchers at the Granada University in Spain came to the conclusion after examining 25 students who were told to do strenuous exercise in temperatures of around 40C until they were close to getting exhausted.
Half of the students were given a pint of beer to drink, while the others received the same volume of water after the workout. Subsequently, the team measured their hydration levels, motor skills and concentrationability.
Prof Garzon said the re-hydration effect in the students who were given beer was “slightly better” than among those given only water. Based on the studies, the researchers have recommended moderate consumption of beer — 500 ml a day for men or 250 ml for women — as part of an athlete’s diet.
It may be mentioned that past studies have revealed that sensible drinking of one or two units of beer a day could help reduce the risk of heart disease, dementia, diabetes and Parkinson’s disease.
Team 1 Dubai comments:
So, shall we re-write the old saying and make a new one ” A beer a day, keeps the doctor away”
Do you have any, please post here or reply by email at team1dubai@gmail.com:
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