Fitness Tips And Tricks

You don’t just hear about somebody having gout, you hear a person having gout. There is an agonised moaning as of somebody being entertained in one of the torture chambers of the Inquisition. The person is having a gout attack. When you see a person suffering from gout, you know that this is the body rebelling against having too many sharp crystals of uric acid accumulated in the joints, especially the big toe. Those uric acid crystals got there because of continuously excessive levels of uric acid in the blood. If there is too much concentration of uric acid in your blood the kidney can no longer filter out and dispose all of this waste. To get the uric acid out of the blood, needle-like uric acid crystals are formed. These crystals accumulate in the joints, particularly your big toe. And, when even the crystals reach excessive levels, the body will rebel. The gout attacks can be triggered by many factors. Protein-rich foods are the common culprit, since the metabolism of protein prod...

Gout is a rare disease, occurring in less than 1% of the population. Children, young adults and women before reaching menopause rarely develop the disease. Men (between 40 and 50) are the most susceptible to the disease, along with those who have undergone organ transplants. Diagnosis The roots of gout are in that high level of uric acid content in the blood called hyperuricemia. The excess uric acid crystals accumulate in the bone joint spaces, eventually causing gout. You can have hyperuricemia without developing gout; however, you cannot develop gout without having undergone hyperuricemia. Because its symptoms are not distinct, physicians don’t find it easy to diagnose gout. When you get an attack of acute gout, you may not necessarily show a high uric acid reading. To have a better basis for diagnosis, the doctor inserts a needle into your swollen joint and extracts some fluid for microscopic examination. If you have those lumps called tophi (which actually are deposits of uric aci...

Traveling can be an awesome, life-changing experience – and the last thing you want to happen when you’re on foreign land is to get sick. Not only can this ruin your trip, but it could end up having longer term effects as well. What is there to do if you get sick while traveling? We have gathered some tips for you – so read on and find out more. Do your research Don’t leave home without knowing whether or not your insurance company will cover you while abroad, what your options are, and what is the embassy phone number. These things can be complete life-savers when you’re abroad and sick, especially if you’re on a tougher situation than an average cold or anything of the sort. Do your research before you leave and keep your insurance, your ID, and your emergency contact in handy throughout the trip. Ask for local medical assistance In some cases, local pharmacists and doctors know best what to do to help you, especially if you got hurt by something that’s very common at that particul...

Having strong legs can make a huge difference to your stamina and wellbeing. Even if you don’t happen to be training for a race or working towards a specific athletic goal, having strong legs can make it easier to get through life. From climbing a flight of stairs to lifting bags, everything is much easier when your legs are stronger. Fortunately, you don’t have to over-complicate things to benefit from strong, healthy legs. No gym membership is required, as you can achieve great results using bodyweight exercises that can easily be incorporated into any exercise program or slotted into your daily life. In fact, doing leg exercises at home is much more straightforward than you’d think. No leg-press machine or squat bar is required. All you need is maybe a chair, any necessary support clothing such as a newer version of compression leggings and, of course, the motivation to feel the burn in your hamstrings and calves. Bodyweight exercises have the advantage of being functional. For ins...

It begins with a simple hit or two then soon you have developed a dependency to drugs. As scary as it may seem, some people don’t realize this until its too late. Here are 10 sure signs that you need to seek treatment for your addiction to drugs. 1. You Have Lost the Desire To Carry Out Daily Tasks Everything has started to become a burden. Your hobbies are non-existent and the little everyday tasks seem like heavy chores. A person who has an unhealthy attachment to drugs will often neglect their responsibilities and become less affected by the outcomes. 2. You Have Fall into Financial Trouble Perhaps you have fallen behind on bills. Maybe you even have trouble keeping food on the table or gas in the car. The money that was once dedicated to sustaining your lifestyle is now used to secure your next hit. 3. You Feel Ill When You Haven’t Had A Hit Similar to a caffeine-addict who has skipped their morning cup of joe, the body will begin to feel physical effects. There might be headaches...

It’s January, which means most parts of the Northern Hemisphere are deep into winter, and there will be weeks of biting wind and icy precipitation before the temperatures increase. While the cold season is tough for most people, those who experience chronic pain often find low temperatures to be especially troublesome. Here’s the truth of how cold weather can affect chronic pain — and what sufferers can do to relieve it. Dry Air Doctors often advise chronic pain sufferers to relocate from humid regions to drier parts of the country. This is because heat and humidity can intensify inflammation, which worsens chronic pain. However, when winter hits, the air can become so dry that it impacts pain more than humidity. Dry air is harsh on the respiratory system, which relies on moisture to keep the tissues healthy. The biting, dry air of the winter can quickly dry out nasal passages and sinuses, which makes breathing painful and difficult. It can also increase one’s risk of disease because t...

As you age, the balance of hormones in your body begins to change. This is the case for both men and women. The effects this change in hormone levels has on the body for both sexes can be quite drastic. So, unsurprisingly there is a growing interest in Hormone Replacement Therapy (HRT). For many men and women, it proves to be an effective way to counter the worst of the negative side effects of changing hormone levels in the body. Here are some of the signs that you could potentially benefit from hormone therapy. Most of them are experienced by both men and women, although, they often experience them in a slightly different way. Lower libido and poor sexual performance A lack of sex drive is a classic sign. So, are problems with the way your body performs during sex. For men that usually means some form of erectile dysfunction and a dropping sperm count. With women, dryness is often the most noticeable issue. Disturbed sleep and insomnia Hormones have a significant impact on your abili...

Look online or in a magazine, and there’s a wealth of information about women’s health issues. However, the same can’t be said for many of the most common health issues for men, and these are often swept under the rug. Luckily, you can still get plenty of information from LloydsPharmacy and blog posts like this one. Here are a few health issues you may not be used to talking about: Erectile Dysfunction Erectile dysfunction is more common than you may think, and it refers to the inability to keep or get an erection for long enough to have sex. You may have heard it referred to as impotence. Some men get erectile dysfunction occasionally, such as when they’re stressed or anxious. But if you’re experiencing it often, you may need to talk to a professional. There are a number of causes of erectile dysfunction, including diabetes, cardiovascular disease, hypertension, injuries, obesity, age, relationship problems, alcohol use, smoking, and more. It’s important to speak to a medical professi...

From skiing through powdery snow to curling up in front of the fireplace with a hot cup of tea, there is so much to look forward to as the cooler season approaches. But with winter looming, we need to revise our summer skin care routine to conquer the oncoming atmospheric changes such as cool temperatures , harsh winds and dry air. To avoid dry, flaky and lifeless skin this winter, follow our simple guide to loving your skin all season long. Choose cleansers wisely : Cleansing twice a day and double cleansing is essential to keeping our faces healthy and free from pollutants. However, cleansing so often can sometimes stress our skin and zap out the natural oils. When winter hits, this stress is magnified, so it’s important to consider a non-drying cleanser for the cooler months, regardless of whether or not you are naturally oily. Look to active ingredients such as hyaluronic acid which actively binds moisture to the skin’s surface, and avoid foaming cleanser, as they are more drying t...