Discover How to Cure Acid Reflux Naturally with a Heartburn Home Treatment Remedy. Acid reflux: A common condition and an abnormal one in which acid in the stomach rises.
http://acid-reflux-cure.org/
Saturday, 19 November 2011
Parenting a Child With Special Needs
There's Something About Daniel: A journey with my son through complexity, life and love, written by Robyn Stecher, is both candid and compelling - a story of a mother's love and how she embraces the unexpected arrival of a child with special needs. Stecher never allowed the...
Free Winter Screensavers
According to the American Academy of Family Physicians, Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD), also commonly referred to as winter depression, affects approximately 4-6% of the U.S. population. It is estimated that another 10-20% may suffer from a more mild form of the disorder called the “winter blues.” It is hard to believe that a condition that only came to light in the public eye in the early 1980’s is now affecting up to 30% of U.S. citizens. Rates are said to be even higher in other parts of the world, like northern Europe and Australia.
So, what exactly is SAD? Seasonal Affective Disorder was first named and defined by Dr. Norman Rosenthal and colleagues at the National Institute of Mental Health. In an article written for the Archives of General Psychiatry in 1984, Dr. Rosenthal defines SAD as a syndrome characterized by recurrent depressions that occur annually at the same time each year. Most people with SAD experience these symptoms at the onset of winter. As the days get colder and shorter, SAD sufferers deal with symptoms such as sadness and depression, lack of energy and fatigue, cravings for starches and sweets, difficulty concentrating, anxiety, and irritability.
The most popular and proven treatment for SAD is bright light therapy. As light enters the eyes and is registered by the brain, the chemical serotonin is released. Serotonin is a neurotransmitter that helps nerve cells work together. When light is diminished, due to the shortened winter days, serotonin levels can drop. For some people, this can result in a variety of symptoms including drastic changes in mood.
Further complications come from changes in melatonin levels. Melatonin is a hormone that is released at night and is believed to help regulate sleep. Naturally, as the daylight hours decrease during winter, more melatonin may be produced by the body causing lethargy and fatigue.
To overcome a decrease in serotonin and an increase in melatonin, the simple answer is to introduce more bright light. Sunlight is the best source of therapy, but what happens if you suffer from SAD and spend 8 or more hours a day in an office or cubical with little or no access to windows and daylight?
Two natural solutions are to add a SAD light therapy lamp to your environment and surround yourself with things of beauty. While these are no replacement for true sunlight, the lamp will help physically, and creating an area of beauty will help mentally. Both can lighten your mood and help manage the stress that leads to melancholy feelings.
According to Dr. Gila Lindsley, if you “establish a mental set” to enjoy the winter time, it helps to control the sadness. In other words, trying to keep a positive spirit will help to reduce SAD symptoms. It is important, then, that you create a revitalizing environment that will bring you a degree of happiness. You must discover the beauty in winter in order to take some pleasure in this season you dread.
One way to discover winter’s wonders is through the calming effects of free winter screensavers. Screensavers like 3D Snowy Cottages and Majestic Winter Screensaver can help lift the mood and reduce stress by adding something bright and beautiful into your world.
There are many things you can do to add beauty to your cubical or office area, but the benefit of the screensavers at Screensaver.com is that they are free, quick, and easy. Adding a winter screensaver allows you to experience the extraordinary wonder of winter without ever setting foot in the snow or frigid temperatures.
If you suffer from SAD or just a case of the winter blues, add a low cost light therapy lamp and a free winter screensaver to your workspace to help you get through the long winter days and experience joy in the season.
7 Things
Many of the patients that I see in consultation have small breasts that they want enlarged. They also may have a problem with sagging of what little breast tissue they have. This is more common in women who have had children and in women who had had significant fluctuations in weight.
Evaluation of these patients includes looking at the texture of their skin, to see if there are stretch marks, noting significant underlying damage to the skin's ability to tighten . In addition, it's important to look at the shape of the breast, the areolar size, the asymmetry of the breasts, and the age of the patient.
1. The truth about implants. Contrary to what you may think, the majority of plastic surgeons would choose silicone over saline for patients. This prevailing opinion is agreed upon by 9 out of 10 plastic surgeons.
Currently, the implant manufacturers are using gel that is even thicker. They call it "cohesive gel" because it is designed not to leak out in case of a disruption in the outer shell.
As the size of the implant increases, it becomes more difficult to disguise it. Women are selecting larger implants than ever before and they need to know that their body can only camouflage a certain size implant before it becomes obviously "un-real". My consultation with every patient includes a discussion that specifically compares their body and breast type with the implant size that they choose.
2. "What happens to my breasts with age?" Breast tissues age just like other tissues of the body. The skin stretches out, the fibers that hold the internal tissues together weaken, the milk-producing gland tissue enlarges and shrinks with each menstrual cycle and pregnancy, and the fatty tissue varies with weight changes.
Insertion of a small or moderate breast implant behind these tissues will be accommodated well and will improve the shape of the breast in most cases; however, larger implants are also heavier, and they will produce a greater degree of stretch to the tissue, thereby causing it to weaken over time.
Brassiere sizing is not constant. Although the brassiere manufacturers set up a standard sizing system, they do not adhere to it. A 34C bra bought from Victoria's Secret is much smaller than a 34C bought from Target. We are, however, accustomed to describing breast size in terms of bra size.
It is better to discuss your desires with a surgeon based on the look that you want rather than the bra size. Bring in photographs of topless models, ask to place sample implants inside a bra that gives you the look that you are hoping for, or visit websites that show examples of patients that have undergone breast augmentation.
3. "Is the surgeon peer reviewed?" Peer reviewed means that the surgeon has privileges to do breast augmentation at a hospital or surgical center where other surgeons also operate at. To obtain those privileges, the surgeon must submit an application that is reviewed by other qualified surgeons. These other surgeons have been selected to give privileges only to new surgeons that perform skilled surgery.
A board certified plastic surgeon can only be certified in America by the American Board of Plastic Surgery. Other boards exist that certify dermatologists, facial plastic surgeons, cosmetic surgeons, gynecologists etc. They are not truly plastic surgeons although they may perform plastic surgical procedures and may call themselves plastic surgeons.
"Should a non-plastic surgeon do my surgery?" If you decide to work with a non plastic surgeon, you should check up on the surgeon's qualifications.
How many years has the surgeon been in practice? It is always reassuring to know that the surgeon has been practicing for some time, and that he performs a considerable amount of surgery. How many cases does the surgeon do per year? If the surgeon is using his own operating room, you must ask if it is certified by one of the accepted certifying agencies. These organizations maintain standards that ensure safety, quality and experience.
4. "Who puts me to sleep?" There are several methods used for administering anesthesia. If an anesthetist is supervised by an anesthesiologist (M.D.) on the premises, you have nothing to worry about. If the anesthetist is supervised by the surgeon or by an anesthesiologist that is not physically present, you should think twice about surgery performed in that location.
You want your surgeon to focus on your surgery and not to be distracted by the responsibility of the anesthesia. Some rural hospitals allow anesthetists to provide anesthesia without supervision. Personally, I would not allow an unsupervised anesthetist to give me anesthesia, unless it was a dire emergency.
Anesthesia is a drug induced mental state that allows surgeons to work without you experiencing pain. These drugs can and often have other effects. Some drugs may cause postoperative nausea and vomiting. Usually this will resolve in a day or two, although occasionally patients say that they remain mildly affected for up to two weeks after surgery.
Newer drugs and techniques are developed every year, usually because they do the job better and with fewer side effects. It is the sole job of the anesthesiologist to keep up with these drugs and techniques, so that your anesthesia goes as smoothly as possible.
5. "Why do prices vary?" The cost of the surgery is a combination of three charges. The first of the charges is the surgeon's fee. The surgeon's fee will include the operation and all of the office appointments. Do not underestimate the office appointments.
Most surgeons will allow you to return annually at no charge to check up on your implants and to examine your breast tissue. Take advantage of this benefit. If you go out of town for your surgery, you are giving up that benefit. The surgeon's fee will also include the price of the implants. Some surgeons include medications while others ask you to fill a prescription. This can amount to $100-200.
The second charge is the operating room fee. Surgeons that use a surgical center or a hospital will tell you that fee, and you will usually pay it directly to the facility. Surgeons that use their office for the surgery will not usually describe this fee specifically; it will be part of the "inclusive fee".
Food for thought: Surgeons that run their own operating room have been tempted to cut corners to save expenses. Again, be sure that the operating room has been certified.
The third charge is the anesthesia fee. Usually the same billing methods apply as for the operating room.
Why is the cheapest quote definitely not the best? There are some things that add cost to the surgery, which are well worth the extra expense. Yes, you can have a breast augmentation surgery without these things, but you will be sacrificing something. The sacrifice may be a safety feature or it may be a less optimal appearance of your breasts.
Allow me to give some examples. There are many types of implants. Silicone implants cost more than saline implants. Some implants have a separate saline and silicone compartment. Implants are shaped differently. These are for special situations. They are more expensive to produce and therefore they sell for a higher price.
Your surgeon should tell you about these special implants if he feels that they will be a better choice for your particular situation. Your surgeon should also tell you if your breasts will require additional work, such as a breast lift, to obtain the optimal result. This additional work will add more time to the surgical procedure and therefore the cost of the surgery will increase.
An anesthetist is not as costly as an anesthesiologist. Some surgeons cut costs in their own operating room by using anesthetists. Always consider the "what ifs", because surgery is not without risk. Be comfortable that your surgeon is well trained and strives to have as few complications as possible. Complications do occur and will often lead to additional expenses.
If you go out of town for your surgery, you will have to travel again to treat a complication should it develop. Or you will have to go to another surgeon closer to home to treat the complication. It is the best policy to choose your surgeon wisely. Try to avoid shopping for the lowest price surgeon.
6. "Do I want to buy the extended warranty?" Did you know that all of the implant manufacturers have a warranty for their implants and that they sell an extended warranty for an additional fee? As I have said above, no medical devices including breast implants last forever. Breast implant manufacturers offer a very generous warranty.
They realize that their product is chosen as a lifestyle luxury. You will not see this type of warranty from any other type of medical device manufacturer. The breast implant manufacturers will replace the implants, if anything goes wrong with them, for your entire lifetime.
In addition, for several years after implantation they will also reimburse some of your expenses for the other costs of the second surgery. The extended warranty that can be purchased increases the amount of reimbursement and lengthens the period of time that the reimbursement is available to you. So how do you decide if it is worthwhile to buy the extended warranty?
Most consumer advocates will agree that extended warranties are generally not worth the expense, and merely serve to make greater profit for the seller. However, there are always certain situations that can make it worthwhile. I will tell you my personal opinion regarding the extended warranty for breast implants.
Most plastic surgeons want to have happy patients that will return to them in the future. If one of our patients has an implant problem, such as a leaky implant, also called a deflation, we will usually perform the second surgery, even if it is many years later, for a minimal fee. However, if another surgeon performed the first operation, the surgical fee for the second surgery can be higher than the original surgery.
Therefore, if you think that you may not be able to return to your original surgeon in the future, e.g. you have plans to move elsewhere, it may be prudent to purchase the extended warranty. Conversely, if you traveled a distance to an outside surgeon, you may want to consider purchasing the extended warranty.
Remember the warranty only applies if there is a problem with the implant. If in the future, you wish to change implants for a larger size, you will have to pay for the new implants.
7. "Do I like the surgeon?" Answer this question immediately after your consultation. You may have gone to the consultation because of a recommendation by a friend. Do not let that influence you. You should feel comfortable with the surgeon. You need to be able to openly discuss exactly what you want. You need to feel that you can ask as many questions as you desire. You should not feel as if you are on an assembly line or that the surgeon is too busy to give you adequate time and consideration.
Many surgeons are busy and often run late with their patient appointments. However, if the surgeon gives you all of the time that you want when you are in the initial consultation, you should be reassured that you will not be shortchanged at your following appointments.
If the surgeon treats all of the patients equally well, there will be other patients that need more time or have more questions for him than his schedule has allowed for. If he is running late because of spending extra time with another patient, you can be assured that he will give you extra time when you need it.
Do I like the surgeon's staff? Many of your interactions will be with the other members of the staff. Be sure that they are friendly, knowledgeable and sincerely want to help you. The type of staff in a medical office also speaks volumes about the personality of the surgeon.
If you have made it this far, you must truly be interested in having a breast augmentation. Doing your homework will bring you to the day of surgery with a comforting feeling that the surgery will give you a new figure that will last you a lifetime.
Evaluation of these patients includes looking at the texture of their skin, to see if there are stretch marks, noting significant underlying damage to the skin's ability to tighten . In addition, it's important to look at the shape of the breast, the areolar size, the asymmetry of the breasts, and the age of the patient.
1. The truth about implants. Contrary to what you may think, the majority of plastic surgeons would choose silicone over saline for patients. This prevailing opinion is agreed upon by 9 out of 10 plastic surgeons.
Currently, the implant manufacturers are using gel that is even thicker. They call it "cohesive gel" because it is designed not to leak out in case of a disruption in the outer shell.
As the size of the implant increases, it becomes more difficult to disguise it. Women are selecting larger implants than ever before and they need to know that their body can only camouflage a certain size implant before it becomes obviously "un-real". My consultation with every patient includes a discussion that specifically compares their body and breast type with the implant size that they choose.
2. "What happens to my breasts with age?" Breast tissues age just like other tissues of the body. The skin stretches out, the fibers that hold the internal tissues together weaken, the milk-producing gland tissue enlarges and shrinks with each menstrual cycle and pregnancy, and the fatty tissue varies with weight changes.
Insertion of a small or moderate breast implant behind these tissues will be accommodated well and will improve the shape of the breast in most cases; however, larger implants are also heavier, and they will produce a greater degree of stretch to the tissue, thereby causing it to weaken over time.
Brassiere sizing is not constant. Although the brassiere manufacturers set up a standard sizing system, they do not adhere to it. A 34C bra bought from Victoria's Secret is much smaller than a 34C bought from Target. We are, however, accustomed to describing breast size in terms of bra size.
It is better to discuss your desires with a surgeon based on the look that you want rather than the bra size. Bring in photographs of topless models, ask to place sample implants inside a bra that gives you the look that you are hoping for, or visit websites that show examples of patients that have undergone breast augmentation.
3. "Is the surgeon peer reviewed?" Peer reviewed means that the surgeon has privileges to do breast augmentation at a hospital or surgical center where other surgeons also operate at. To obtain those privileges, the surgeon must submit an application that is reviewed by other qualified surgeons. These other surgeons have been selected to give privileges only to new surgeons that perform skilled surgery.
A board certified plastic surgeon can only be certified in America by the American Board of Plastic Surgery. Other boards exist that certify dermatologists, facial plastic surgeons, cosmetic surgeons, gynecologists etc. They are not truly plastic surgeons although they may perform plastic surgical procedures and may call themselves plastic surgeons.
"Should a non-plastic surgeon do my surgery?" If you decide to work with a non plastic surgeon, you should check up on the surgeon's qualifications.
How many years has the surgeon been in practice? It is always reassuring to know that the surgeon has been practicing for some time, and that he performs a considerable amount of surgery. How many cases does the surgeon do per year? If the surgeon is using his own operating room, you must ask if it is certified by one of the accepted certifying agencies. These organizations maintain standards that ensure safety, quality and experience.
4. "Who puts me to sleep?" There are several methods used for administering anesthesia. If an anesthetist is supervised by an anesthesiologist (M.D.) on the premises, you have nothing to worry about. If the anesthetist is supervised by the surgeon or by an anesthesiologist that is not physically present, you should think twice about surgery performed in that location.
You want your surgeon to focus on your surgery and not to be distracted by the responsibility of the anesthesia. Some rural hospitals allow anesthetists to provide anesthesia without supervision. Personally, I would not allow an unsupervised anesthetist to give me anesthesia, unless it was a dire emergency.
Anesthesia is a drug induced mental state that allows surgeons to work without you experiencing pain. These drugs can and often have other effects. Some drugs may cause postoperative nausea and vomiting. Usually this will resolve in a day or two, although occasionally patients say that they remain mildly affected for up to two weeks after surgery.
Newer drugs and techniques are developed every year, usually because they do the job better and with fewer side effects. It is the sole job of the anesthesiologist to keep up with these drugs and techniques, so that your anesthesia goes as smoothly as possible.
5. "Why do prices vary?" The cost of the surgery is a combination of three charges. The first of the charges is the surgeon's fee. The surgeon's fee will include the operation and all of the office appointments. Do not underestimate the office appointments.
Most surgeons will allow you to return annually at no charge to check up on your implants and to examine your breast tissue. Take advantage of this benefit. If you go out of town for your surgery, you are giving up that benefit. The surgeon's fee will also include the price of the implants. Some surgeons include medications while others ask you to fill a prescription. This can amount to $100-200.
The second charge is the operating room fee. Surgeons that use a surgical center or a hospital will tell you that fee, and you will usually pay it directly to the facility. Surgeons that use their office for the surgery will not usually describe this fee specifically; it will be part of the "inclusive fee".
Food for thought: Surgeons that run their own operating room have been tempted to cut corners to save expenses. Again, be sure that the operating room has been certified.
The third charge is the anesthesia fee. Usually the same billing methods apply as for the operating room.
Why is the cheapest quote definitely not the best? There are some things that add cost to the surgery, which are well worth the extra expense. Yes, you can have a breast augmentation surgery without these things, but you will be sacrificing something. The sacrifice may be a safety feature or it may be a less optimal appearance of your breasts.
Allow me to give some examples. There are many types of implants. Silicone implants cost more than saline implants. Some implants have a separate saline and silicone compartment. Implants are shaped differently. These are for special situations. They are more expensive to produce and therefore they sell for a higher price.
Your surgeon should tell you about these special implants if he feels that they will be a better choice for your particular situation. Your surgeon should also tell you if your breasts will require additional work, such as a breast lift, to obtain the optimal result. This additional work will add more time to the surgical procedure and therefore the cost of the surgery will increase.
An anesthetist is not as costly as an anesthesiologist. Some surgeons cut costs in their own operating room by using anesthetists. Always consider the "what ifs", because surgery is not without risk. Be comfortable that your surgeon is well trained and strives to have as few complications as possible. Complications do occur and will often lead to additional expenses.
If you go out of town for your surgery, you will have to travel again to treat a complication should it develop. Or you will have to go to another surgeon closer to home to treat the complication. It is the best policy to choose your surgeon wisely. Try to avoid shopping for the lowest price surgeon.
6. "Do I want to buy the extended warranty?" Did you know that all of the implant manufacturers have a warranty for their implants and that they sell an extended warranty for an additional fee? As I have said above, no medical devices including breast implants last forever. Breast implant manufacturers offer a very generous warranty.
They realize that their product is chosen as a lifestyle luxury. You will not see this type of warranty from any other type of medical device manufacturer. The breast implant manufacturers will replace the implants, if anything goes wrong with them, for your entire lifetime.
In addition, for several years after implantation they will also reimburse some of your expenses for the other costs of the second surgery. The extended warranty that can be purchased increases the amount of reimbursement and lengthens the period of time that the reimbursement is available to you. So how do you decide if it is worthwhile to buy the extended warranty?
Most consumer advocates will agree that extended warranties are generally not worth the expense, and merely serve to make greater profit for the seller. However, there are always certain situations that can make it worthwhile. I will tell you my personal opinion regarding the extended warranty for breast implants.
Most plastic surgeons want to have happy patients that will return to them in the future. If one of our patients has an implant problem, such as a leaky implant, also called a deflation, we will usually perform the second surgery, even if it is many years later, for a minimal fee. However, if another surgeon performed the first operation, the surgical fee for the second surgery can be higher than the original surgery.
Therefore, if you think that you may not be able to return to your original surgeon in the future, e.g. you have plans to move elsewhere, it may be prudent to purchase the extended warranty. Conversely, if you traveled a distance to an outside surgeon, you may want to consider purchasing the extended warranty.
Remember the warranty only applies if there is a problem with the implant. If in the future, you wish to change implants for a larger size, you will have to pay for the new implants.
7. "Do I like the surgeon?" Answer this question immediately after your consultation. You may have gone to the consultation because of a recommendation by a friend. Do not let that influence you. You should feel comfortable with the surgeon. You need to be able to openly discuss exactly what you want. You need to feel that you can ask as many questions as you desire. You should not feel as if you are on an assembly line or that the surgeon is too busy to give you adequate time and consideration.
Many surgeons are busy and often run late with their patient appointments. However, if the surgeon gives you all of the time that you want when you are in the initial consultation, you should be reassured that you will not be shortchanged at your following appointments.
If the surgeon treats all of the patients equally well, there will be other patients that need more time or have more questions for him than his schedule has allowed for. If he is running late because of spending extra time with another patient, you can be assured that he will give you extra time when you need it.
Do I like the surgeon's staff? Many of your interactions will be with the other members of the staff. Be sure that they are friendly, knowledgeable and sincerely want to help you. The type of staff in a medical office also speaks volumes about the personality of the surgeon.
If you have made it this far, you must truly be interested in having a breast augmentation. Doing your homework will bring you to the day of surgery with a comforting feeling that the surgery will give you a new figure that will last you a lifetime.
Top 5 Causes of Snoring
What is snoring?
As you breathe in while sleeping certain parts of your mouth and throat can vibrate and cause the sound called snoring. So why don't we make this sound while we are awake? When you are sleeping all the muscles in your body relax, this includes your upper airway muscles. When your upper airway muscles relax they can decrease the size of the airway passage and cause airflow limitation and disturbance. It is the combination of your muscles being relaxed and the airflow disturbance while breathing in that causes the snoring sound while you sleep.
Why do men snore more than woman?
Have you ever wondered why a man is more likely to snore than a woman? This is mainly due to our build or the shape of our bodies. Women tend to put weight on around the stomach and thigh area, whereas men tend to put it on around the neck and waist. The thicker your neck is the more likely you are to snore, as it puts extra pressure on your airways causing airflow limitation and disturbance during sleep. However, once a woman starts to go through menopause this does often change. As women get older their muscle tone tends to reduce and they can start putting on extra weight. So that by the time a woman reaches 70 she is just as likely to snore as a man of the same age.
It is said that snoring is often caused by over indulging in life's pleasures. With this in mind let's take a look at the top 5 causes of snoring and you can decide for yourself.
1 - Being overweight - overeating or lack of exercise
If you are overweight and have a collar size of 16 1/2 inches or more, then you may not have the muscle tone in your upper airway to allow you to breathe normally while sleeping. For example a person with a long thin neck is less likely to snore than a person with a short fat neck. Being overweight by a small amount can affect how you sleep. The extra build-up of fatty tissue in your neck area can cause disruptions to how you breathe and lead to snoring.
By taking measures that lead to a healthy weight you will reduce your chances of snoring, and by reducing your snoring you will sleep better. A diet alone will not give you all the results you desire when it comes to getting a good night's sleep; you must also include exercise on a regular basis. Exercise improves your breathing and increases your muscle tone thereby reducing your risk of snoring and improving your overall health.
2 - Smoking
The smoke from a cigarette causes irritation to the nasal cavity and throat which leads to area swelling and inflammation. When you have inflammation or swelling in your nasal passages it can be very difficult to breathe through your nose. This is due to the reduction in size of your upper airway and can lead to snoring. With every cigarette that you smoke you increase your chances of snoring; or if you already snore, your snoring can get progressively worse. One of the most concerning things about smoking is that it is not only the person who chooses to smoke that is effected, passive smoke is also inhaled by children and adults alike and can lead to them snore as well as having other smoking related health issues. To improve your health and sleeping pattern of both yourself and those around you the best thing to do is quit smoking.
3 - Alcohol
When alcohol enters your body it travels around the blood stream to all areas and slows your brains response time, this causes your muscles to relax. By relaxing your air muscles you are increasing your chance of snoring and you will therefore have poor sleep. If you already snore then drinking alcohol can lead to the life threatening condition of sleep apnea. Sleep apnea is a disruption in your breathing while you sleep that disturbs your sleep cycle. This usually makes you wake-up with a start and then go back to sleep, a lot of the time without even realizing it has happened. If you can't stop drinking alcohol all together try to limit the amount of alcohol that you drink, as well as making sure that you stop drinking alcohol at least 4-6 hours before bed. By doing this, you will allow your body time to start processing the alcohol in your system and greatly improve your quality of sleep.
4 - Sleeping position
Your sleeping position can greatly affect the quality of your sleep. By sleeping on your back you increase the likelihood that you will snore. This is due to your muscles relaxing and gravity putting downward pressure on them. This impedes the airflow and increases your chances of snoring as well as having sleep apnea. Sleeping on your back also puts your spine into an un-natural position - straight. Our spine is naturally curved and should not be straight for long periods of time. To enable you to have the best night's sleep, sleeping on your side with your knee slightly bent is the recommended position. A handy tip that has been used to stop you from sleeping on your back is to sew a small ball into the back of your night ware, that way when you roll over onto your back you are uncomfortable and will change your position back to your side.
5 - Nasal congestion
When you have any type of nasal congestion, whether it be from cold, allergy or flu you increase your possibility of snoring. When your nasal passages are blocked you will automatically breathe through your mouth, when you breathe through your mouth you are increasing the likelihood that you will snore. If this a problem for you, you have to first identify why you have nasal congestion and then take measures to prevent it.
In this article I have looked at the top 5 reasons that can cause you to snore. Snoring is a much overlooked issue that is often laughed about. Snoring is a serious problem for a lot of people and can lead to the life threatening condition of sleep apnea as well as causing you sleep disruption. By taking the time to identify what is causing you to snore and changing your habits you can reduce your snoring and give yourself a better night's sleep.
If you want more information on how you can get a great nights sleep, please visit All Natural Insomnia Remedies: All Natural Insomnia Remedies!
Causes of Reflux
When it comes to reflux many of us understand what it means. This is the problem where acid begins to increase in our stomach and begins to burn its way up through our body. It can quickly turn into a burning sensation in the chest, and even the throat and when left untreated can have serious health consequences that can lead up to cancer and even death.
To begin the process in finding a solution for the problem, we must determine the causes of reflux. There are many problems that can contribute to it, and this makes it important that we take the time to find solutions as they are possible.
The first thing we can do to help determine these causes of reflux, is to create a food journal of the foods we eat. When we find that there is an increase in symptoms we can directly link it back to certain foods that we have consumed, and remove them from our diets.
Stress also plays a strong role in reflux problems. When we become nervous and upset, we begin to find that there is a general feeling of unease that can lead to the burning sensation and pain that we feel. If you have a regular battle with stress it can be helpful to learn techniques and natural methods to reduce it and begin to have fewer symptoms from your reflux problems.
Acidic foods are among the worst causes of reflux and they are found everywhere. From tomatoes to chili peppers, foods that increase your acid production will cause you to become uncomfortable and lead to reflux problem.
The final thing you should try to cut out is carbonated beverages. While they might taste great they will increase acid production dramatically. When you reduce your consumption of these beverages, you will not only feel a reduction of pain from reflux, but your enamel on your teeth will suffer less damage and you will begin to lose weight as well.
These are the main causes of reflux, but not a complete list. Take the time to explore other items that will increase this problem, and learn about the solutions that are available as well.
To find out more about a guaranteed natural Acid Reflux Treatment visit his website here: http://heartburnfree.net
Anti-Aging Tips
Give your skin a fighting chance with these ten anti-aging tips, commonly believed to be effective in reducing the physical signs of aging. 1. Eat healthy. Stick to a low fat diet that is high fruits and vegetables and lean meats and fish. Then enjoy a moderate intake of carbohydrates, especially complex carbohydrates, such as whole grains. 2. Engage in a regular exercise routine. 3. Reduce your stress. Stress is one of the primary causes of premature aging and the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles. When you are experiencing too much stress, your body simply does not function at its highest level. Starting slowly, eliminate those facets of your lifestyle that are contributing to too much stress. 4. Drink water. Water helps hydrate skin and helps your body form healthy cells. It also helps your body remove waste products. 5. Supply your body with antioxidants, such as vitamin C, Vitamin A, and Vitamin E, from vegetables and fruits, as well as nutritional supplements. These vitamins help your skin fight the damage of free-radicals that your skin is exposed to via environmental factors (such as pollution). 6. Protect yourself from the sun's damaging rays. Apply sunscreen each morning on your face, even in the wintertime. And slather sunscreen on exposed parts of your body when going outside. Wear protective clothing, such as long-sleeved shirts, long pants, and wide brimmed hats. Wear sunglasses to protect your delicate eye area, too. This is one of the most important things you can do to reduce the signs of aging, particularly on your face. Try not to go outside during the times of the sun's most intense and damaging rays (from 10 am to 2 pm) 7. Avoid smoke. If you are a smoker, quitting will greatly help in your efforts to reduce your physical signs of aging. Studies say nicotine accelerates the skin's aging process. 8. Take time to wash your skin (gently). When you clean your skin, you reduce the risk of skin disorders that may come from pollutants in the environment. Make sure that you aren't drying your skin with irritating soaps or additives, such as dyes and perfumes. Remove your makeup carefully, paying special attention to the delicate eye area. Use a gentle eye makeup remover, instead of using harsh soaps around your eyes. Pat your skin dry gently and use moisturizers as needed. 9. Shave carefully. If you shave often, try applying a warm washcloth on your skin before shaving to soften the hair. Then use a moisturizing shaving cream or lotion to lubricate and protect your skin. 10. Moisturize. When you moisturize regularly, you will help your skin maintain its youthful glow. Apply a moisturizer that is suited for your specific skin type as often as needed throughout the day. |
Painful Back Problems
Our back is made up of small bones called vertebrae. The vertebrae are stacked on top of each other to form a column. Between each vertebra is a cushion known as a disc. The vertebrae are held together by ligaments, and muscles are attached to the vertebrae by bands of tissue called tendons. This is what constitutes our back.
Openings in each vertebra line up to form a long hollow canal. The spinal cord runs through this canal from the base of the brain. Nerves from the spinal cord branch out and leave the spine through the spaces between the vertebrae.
The lower part of the back holds most of the body's weight. Even a minor problem with the bones, muscles, ligaments, or tendons in this area can cause pain when a person stand, bends, or moves around. Less often, a problem with a disc can pinch or irritate a nerve from the spinal cord, causing pain that runs down the leg, below the knee called sciatica.
Back Problems
Even with today's technology, the exact reason or cause of back problems can be found in very few people. Most times, the symptoms are blamed on poor muscle tone in the back, muscle tension or spasm, back sprains, ligament or muscle tears, joint problems.
Sometimes nerves from the spinal cord can be irritated by "slipped" discs causing buttock or leg pain. This may also cause numbness, tingling, or weakness in the legs.
People who are in poor physical condition or do work that includes heavy labor or long periods of sitting or standing are at greater risk for back problems. These people also get better more slowly. Emotional stress or long periods of inactivity may make back symptoms seem worse.
Back problems are often painful. But the good news is that very few people turn out to have a major problem with the bones or joints or the back or a dangerous medical condition.
What to do when you have back problems
Many people who develop mild low back discomfort may not need to see a health care provider right away. Often, within a few days, the symptoms go away without any treatment. A visit to your health care provider is good idea if y our symptoms are severe; if the pain is keeping you from doing things that you do every day; and the problem does not go away within a few days.
While Your back is getting better, tt is important to remember that even though you are having a problem with your back now, most likely it will begin to feel better soon.
It is also important to keep in mind that you are the most important person in taking care of your back and in helping to get back to your regular activities. It may also help you to remember that most low back problems last for a short amount of time and the symptoms usually get better with little or no medical treatment.
Low back problems can be painful. But pain rarely means that there is serious damage to your back. Exercise can help you to feel better faster and prevent more back problems. A regular exercise program adds to your general health and may help you get back to the things you enjoy doing.
Openings in each vertebra line up to form a long hollow canal. The spinal cord runs through this canal from the base of the brain. Nerves from the spinal cord branch out and leave the spine through the spaces between the vertebrae.
The lower part of the back holds most of the body's weight. Even a minor problem with the bones, muscles, ligaments, or tendons in this area can cause pain when a person stand, bends, or moves around. Less often, a problem with a disc can pinch or irritate a nerve from the spinal cord, causing pain that runs down the leg, below the knee called sciatica.
Back Problems
Even with today's technology, the exact reason or cause of back problems can be found in very few people. Most times, the symptoms are blamed on poor muscle tone in the back, muscle tension or spasm, back sprains, ligament or muscle tears, joint problems.
Sometimes nerves from the spinal cord can be irritated by "slipped" discs causing buttock or leg pain. This may also cause numbness, tingling, or weakness in the legs.
People who are in poor physical condition or do work that includes heavy labor or long periods of sitting or standing are at greater risk for back problems. These people also get better more slowly. Emotional stress or long periods of inactivity may make back symptoms seem worse.
Back problems are often painful. But the good news is that very few people turn out to have a major problem with the bones or joints or the back or a dangerous medical condition.
What to do when you have back problems
Many people who develop mild low back discomfort may not need to see a health care provider right away. Often, within a few days, the symptoms go away without any treatment. A visit to your health care provider is good idea if y our symptoms are severe; if the pain is keeping you from doing things that you do every day; and the problem does not go away within a few days.
While Your back is getting better, tt is important to remember that even though you are having a problem with your back now, most likely it will begin to feel better soon.
It is also important to keep in mind that you are the most important person in taking care of your back and in helping to get back to your regular activities. It may also help you to remember that most low back problems last for a short amount of time and the symptoms usually get better with little or no medical treatment.
Low back problems can be painful. But pain rarely means that there is serious damage to your back. Exercise can help you to feel better faster and prevent more back problems. A regular exercise program adds to your general health and may help you get back to the things you enjoy doing.
Food That Causes Eczema
You can be wondered that food that we have to take daily either to boost our sustenance or to coin fun to offer the tongue the taste of a palatability. But from my part caution goes to you before taking food halt a bit, brood what you are going to intake, and then gulp without paying heed to my warning. You are aware of a skin Disease Eczema that is too some extent incurable and takes a long span of time to offer you complete relief. Again the particular disease keeps you detached from your known relatives and friends and constantly irritates you to some extent. According to medical classification there are two types of Dermatitis known to cause Eczema after thorough to medical investigations. It may seem to you dubious that Eczema that occurs on the skin how can be related with food? Yes the food is the unknown invader that allures you and goads you to suffering of Eczema. Some dieticians have hinted that some milk whether it is dairy product or cow or buffalo milk that is regarded the most potent food for everyone causes Eczema. Besides eggs, the marine fish, food preservatives and color additives cause Eczema to a great extent. Actually it depends on your immune system. What food you can withstand, what you fail. It is the Allergen that is the root factor to make you a patient of Eczema. Hence to bid good bye to Eczema you have to make your food list short. Make a clinical note of what food items are the root causes of your suffering. Eliminate them without brooding of their deliciousness. it is suggested that after the elimination of some food items you keep constant vigil if you are again attacked with the irritant Eczema. You may watch for a month. If no symptom of Eczema bounces back you are not be too worried. But if after the in take of some item you seem that you are suffering from rash, irritation, and rhinitis, asthma you without any fail discard the food item and go on finding some alternative. Some item you quite intake unknowingly. You have no prior idea of the deadly elements that is there in those items. Here go my tips for you. Never hurry to have an egg daily on your dish. Try to avoid some specific sea fish, oysters, mushrooms. Avoid the sweets or food items that are too much colorful. Make sure that where there is color there is suffering. |
Can You Heal Most Back Pain with Your Mind?
In this article, I discuss the theory and practice of legendary – and controversial – mind-body doctor, John Sarno, MD. He’s helped thousands of followers permanently rid themselves of chronic pain, all without drugs, surgery or exercise. Dr. Sarno’s book about his treatment plan, Healing Back Pain: The Mind-Body Connection, has become one of the all-time most popular books on mind-body health since its publication in 1991 and remains as one of the best sellers in the category. If one takes a look at the customer book reviews on Amazon, and they number in the hundreds, the vast majority of them demonstrate a cult-like devotion to him. The extremely small number of negative reviews express an equally strong, though highly negative, opinion of his approach, calling it “dangerous” and “unscientific”. He is openly mocked by doctors who have posted comments on various websites.
I am not an unbiased author of this article. In 1999, after about 15 years of excruciating lower back pain, I saw Dr. Sarno on “Larry King Live” and called to make an appointment the next day, though it ended up being scheduled for several months later because he was so booked. I spent those 15 years seeing several orthopedists, chiropractors, massage therapists, physical therapists and others and I probably received five different diagnoses. After I read Dr. Sarno’s books and went to my appointment with him, my back pain disappeared after practicing his program for one month.
It was amazing, even convincing me that I should pursue a career in mind-body health and wellness, which I have done to an extent. For a decade, I told everyone who would listen that they should not get surgery for their back pain until they read Dr. Sarno’s books (and because of the published studies that questioned whether disc fusion surgery is effective or not). Then last year I practically shattered a disc in my neck and all of Sarno’s lessons combined couldn’t take away the unbearable pain or prevent the nerve damage that was occurring in my right arm. I had disc fusion surgery and that treatment also felt like a miracle. I haven’t had pain since then either. So I’m no longer so anti-back surgery, but I’m still a strong believer that Sarno’s program works for many people. It is also generally known that stress, on which Sarno does not focus, can create tense muscles and pain.
So is Dr. Sarno’s pain treatment program a miracle cure or simply “all in one’s head”? You decide.
John Sarno’s Mind-Body Prescription
She endured, fought and ultimately capitulated to the searing pain. What began as an ankle injury from a simple fall while jogging ultimately landed Jeanette Barber, comedy producer for the former “Rosie O’Donnell Show” in a wheelchair. The agony led her on a three year odyssey, visiting every specialist she could think of, from orthopedists to faith healers. She was told she had incurable tendonitis. “Get used to the pain,” doctors advised, “It will only get worse.”
Unable to accept this dire diagnosis, Rosie placed her producer on the air, asking viewers to call in names of doctors who might help. Thousands of calls came in, some crazy, some credible. One doctor was named most often, a physician with a long list of credentials and cured patients: Dr. John Sarno.
As professor of clinical rehabilitation medicine at New York University School of Medicine and an attending physician at NYU Medical Center in New York City, Sarno has devoted over 35 years to curing patients with persistent, stubborn pain. Frustrated by the growing epidemic of Americans suffering from pain in the back, muscles and tendons and traditional medicine’s inability to provide long-term cures, Dr. Sarno developed his own diagnosis and treatment plan. While orthopedists generally blamed disc abnormalities for back pain, Sarno noticed a growing body if authoritative stories indicating there may be no such link.
Cause of Pain
The brain, not injuries and abnormalities, is the primary source of persistent pain, Dr. Sarno claims. It is a “mind-body” or psychosomatic physical reaction tricking people into focusing on pain rather than understanding their hidden rage and emotional issues. Accepting this diagnosis, even without completely understanding the rage’s cause, cures patients, the physician states.
Talk-show host Howard Stern, actress Anne Bancroft, “20/20” co-anchor John Stossel (whose journalistic focus has been on sniffing out frauds and gimmicks for years) – add them to the list of patients, now numbering in the thousands, whose long-time pain ended when they visited Dr. Sarno or read one of his books. As for professional followers, however, Dr. Sarno has attracted few. Most disregard his work. Others say his counsel could be dangerous. But supports and detractors agree that incidence of back pain has escalated to epidemic proportions during the past several decades, yielding a number of diagnoses but few long-time solutions.
The Epidemic Problem of Persistent Pain
About nine out of ten adults experience back pain at some point in their life. Almost half of working adults experience back pain every year. (1) This condition is responsible for health care expenditures of more than $20 billion annually and as much as $50 billion per year when indirect costs are included. (2) Professionals have come up with a plethora of possible solutions: surgery, physical therapy, massage, and pain killers. Yet people’s pain persists.
“The brain will not be defeated,” Dr. Sarno says in his office at the Rusk Institute of Rehabilitative Medicine at New York University Medical Center. If you take a patient away from one outlet [for the pain], the brain will just find something else.”
Since 1965 when he began as the Institute’s director of outpatient services, Sarno has seen a rapid increase in the number of patients with persistent pain in the neck, shoulders, back or buttocks, and the inability of traditional medical models to cure them. He ran CAT scans looking for spinal abnormalities, arthritis and disc disorders and, like fellow doctors, injected a local anesthetic into the painful area and prescribed physical therapy. The treatment often provided only short-term relief or, perhaps worse, stopped the pain in one place only to migrate to another. Eighty-eight percent of these patients had a history of tension or migraine headaches, heartburn or stomach ulcers, colon disorders, allergies and other tension-related conditions, Sarno determined from a survey of his patients he completed in 1975.
While physicians blamed disc deterioration and abnormalities for back pain, statistical studies did not support this conclusion. Aging is the primary cause of deterioration, yet people in the 25-50 year age bracket, not the elderly, comprise the greatest percentage of back pain patients. Such abnormalities may have little to do with back pain, studies indicate. For example, in 1994 researchers used magnetic resonance imaging tests (MRIs) to example the lumbar spines of 98 volunteers. Although they were asymptomatic, or without back pain, almost two thirds of the MRIs revealed disc abnormalities, including disc herniations and degenerative disease, according to the study, published in the New England Journal of Medicine. So while orthopedists use MRIs to document disc problems and justify surgery, disc abnormalities, according to the researchers, may not be causing the pain.(3)
TMS – An Overview
Tension is the most common cause of chronic pain, Sarno surmised. It is the culprit, he says, for a host of ailments in addition to lower-back pain, including carpel tunnel syndrome, fibromyalgia, most chronic pain in the neck and shoulder areas, knee tendonitis, and tennis elbow. Tension inhibits blood circulation to the involved area, depriving oxygen to surrounding muscles and nerves and causing the sensation of pain. (Figure 1, available on our website).
Sarno coined the name “Tension Myositis Syndrome,” or TMS, to describe this condition involving muscles, tendons and nerves. Myositis refers to the physiological alteration of muscles, a painful but harmless state.
Since the brain controls the nervous system, the process of TMS begins in the mind. The sensation of pain is real. The mind, according to Sarno, uses the pain to divert attention from unpleasant, unconsciously repressed emotions.
“As with Freud’s patients, I found my patients’ physical symptoms were the direct results of strong feelings repressed in the unconscious,” Sarno wrote in his book, “The Mind-Body Prescription.”(4)
“Physical disorders allow sufferers to avoid frightening repressed feelings of rage,” Sarno said. There are numerous triggers for rage, including childhood trauma, certain personality traits such as perfectionism, low self-esteem, and stressful life events like death and divorce.
“The brain is fearful of accumulated rage inside, fearful it will come out,” Sarno said. “This creates a paradox. A person is experiencing pain, but in reality the pain exists to protect from the possibility of overt rage.”
To be cured most patients need to accept that rage causes their pain but do not need a complete understanding of the rage’s underlying cause. “Acknowledgement of an emotional role in the genesis of symptoms somehow banished those symptoms,” Sarno wrote.(5)
Sarno’s Treatment
Since the mid-1970s when he first developed his mind-body prescription, Dr. Sarno has treated approximately 500 new patients each year. Treatment begins with a personal phone interview. Because the belief that one’s emotions are the root cause of the pain is integral to the cure, Dr. Sarno only accepts prospective patients willing to acknowledge this possibility, approximately 50% of those who call. Patients then visit the doctor for a 45-minute physical and psychological work-up. If the pain’s genesis appears emotional the doctor refers patients to a two hour 10 – 12 patient group session. During the session’s first hour, Dr. Sarno lectures on pain’s various physical manifestations. During the second hour, he directs patients to disregard their pain, resume their normal lives, and meditate daily on the emotional connection.
“Daily morning and evening meditations should follow a specific pattern,” Dr. Sarno said. Meditations are approximately 15 minutes in the morning and 30 minutes at night, and include re-reading the psychology-related treatment sections in the doctor’s books. Patients are then directed to make list of possible causes of unconscious rage (Figure 2, available on our website).
I am not an unbiased author of this article. In 1999, after about 15 years of excruciating lower back pain, I saw Dr. Sarno on “Larry King Live” and called to make an appointment the next day, though it ended up being scheduled for several months later because he was so booked. I spent those 15 years seeing several orthopedists, chiropractors, massage therapists, physical therapists and others and I probably received five different diagnoses. After I read Dr. Sarno’s books and went to my appointment with him, my back pain disappeared after practicing his program for one month.
It was amazing, even convincing me that I should pursue a career in mind-body health and wellness, which I have done to an extent. For a decade, I told everyone who would listen that they should not get surgery for their back pain until they read Dr. Sarno’s books (and because of the published studies that questioned whether disc fusion surgery is effective or not). Then last year I practically shattered a disc in my neck and all of Sarno’s lessons combined couldn’t take away the unbearable pain or prevent the nerve damage that was occurring in my right arm. I had disc fusion surgery and that treatment also felt like a miracle. I haven’t had pain since then either. So I’m no longer so anti-back surgery, but I’m still a strong believer that Sarno’s program works for many people. It is also generally known that stress, on which Sarno does not focus, can create tense muscles and pain.
So is Dr. Sarno’s pain treatment program a miracle cure or simply “all in one’s head”? You decide.
John Sarno’s Mind-Body Prescription
She endured, fought and ultimately capitulated to the searing pain. What began as an ankle injury from a simple fall while jogging ultimately landed Jeanette Barber, comedy producer for the former “Rosie O’Donnell Show” in a wheelchair. The agony led her on a three year odyssey, visiting every specialist she could think of, from orthopedists to faith healers. She was told she had incurable tendonitis. “Get used to the pain,” doctors advised, “It will only get worse.”
Unable to accept this dire diagnosis, Rosie placed her producer on the air, asking viewers to call in names of doctors who might help. Thousands of calls came in, some crazy, some credible. One doctor was named most often, a physician with a long list of credentials and cured patients: Dr. John Sarno.
As professor of clinical rehabilitation medicine at New York University School of Medicine and an attending physician at NYU Medical Center in New York City, Sarno has devoted over 35 years to curing patients with persistent, stubborn pain. Frustrated by the growing epidemic of Americans suffering from pain in the back, muscles and tendons and traditional medicine’s inability to provide long-term cures, Dr. Sarno developed his own diagnosis and treatment plan. While orthopedists generally blamed disc abnormalities for back pain, Sarno noticed a growing body if authoritative stories indicating there may be no such link.
Cause of Pain
The brain, not injuries and abnormalities, is the primary source of persistent pain, Dr. Sarno claims. It is a “mind-body” or psychosomatic physical reaction tricking people into focusing on pain rather than understanding their hidden rage and emotional issues. Accepting this diagnosis, even without completely understanding the rage’s cause, cures patients, the physician states.
Talk-show host Howard Stern, actress Anne Bancroft, “20/20” co-anchor John Stossel (whose journalistic focus has been on sniffing out frauds and gimmicks for years) – add them to the list of patients, now numbering in the thousands, whose long-time pain ended when they visited Dr. Sarno or read one of his books. As for professional followers, however, Dr. Sarno has attracted few. Most disregard his work. Others say his counsel could be dangerous. But supports and detractors agree that incidence of back pain has escalated to epidemic proportions during the past several decades, yielding a number of diagnoses but few long-time solutions.
The Epidemic Problem of Persistent Pain
About nine out of ten adults experience back pain at some point in their life. Almost half of working adults experience back pain every year. (1) This condition is responsible for health care expenditures of more than $20 billion annually and as much as $50 billion per year when indirect costs are included. (2) Professionals have come up with a plethora of possible solutions: surgery, physical therapy, massage, and pain killers. Yet people’s pain persists.
“The brain will not be defeated,” Dr. Sarno says in his office at the Rusk Institute of Rehabilitative Medicine at New York University Medical Center. If you take a patient away from one outlet [for the pain], the brain will just find something else.”
Since 1965 when he began as the Institute’s director of outpatient services, Sarno has seen a rapid increase in the number of patients with persistent pain in the neck, shoulders, back or buttocks, and the inability of traditional medical models to cure them. He ran CAT scans looking for spinal abnormalities, arthritis and disc disorders and, like fellow doctors, injected a local anesthetic into the painful area and prescribed physical therapy. The treatment often provided only short-term relief or, perhaps worse, stopped the pain in one place only to migrate to another. Eighty-eight percent of these patients had a history of tension or migraine headaches, heartburn or stomach ulcers, colon disorders, allergies and other tension-related conditions, Sarno determined from a survey of his patients he completed in 1975.
While physicians blamed disc deterioration and abnormalities for back pain, statistical studies did not support this conclusion. Aging is the primary cause of deterioration, yet people in the 25-50 year age bracket, not the elderly, comprise the greatest percentage of back pain patients. Such abnormalities may have little to do with back pain, studies indicate. For example, in 1994 researchers used magnetic resonance imaging tests (MRIs) to example the lumbar spines of 98 volunteers. Although they were asymptomatic, or without back pain, almost two thirds of the MRIs revealed disc abnormalities, including disc herniations and degenerative disease, according to the study, published in the New England Journal of Medicine. So while orthopedists use MRIs to document disc problems and justify surgery, disc abnormalities, according to the researchers, may not be causing the pain.(3)
TMS – An Overview
Tension is the most common cause of chronic pain, Sarno surmised. It is the culprit, he says, for a host of ailments in addition to lower-back pain, including carpel tunnel syndrome, fibromyalgia, most chronic pain in the neck and shoulder areas, knee tendonitis, and tennis elbow. Tension inhibits blood circulation to the involved area, depriving oxygen to surrounding muscles and nerves and causing the sensation of pain. (Figure 1, available on our website).
Sarno coined the name “Tension Myositis Syndrome,” or TMS, to describe this condition involving muscles, tendons and nerves. Myositis refers to the physiological alteration of muscles, a painful but harmless state.
Since the brain controls the nervous system, the process of TMS begins in the mind. The sensation of pain is real. The mind, according to Sarno, uses the pain to divert attention from unpleasant, unconsciously repressed emotions.
“As with Freud’s patients, I found my patients’ physical symptoms were the direct results of strong feelings repressed in the unconscious,” Sarno wrote in his book, “The Mind-Body Prescription.”(4)
“Physical disorders allow sufferers to avoid frightening repressed feelings of rage,” Sarno said. There are numerous triggers for rage, including childhood trauma, certain personality traits such as perfectionism, low self-esteem, and stressful life events like death and divorce.
“The brain is fearful of accumulated rage inside, fearful it will come out,” Sarno said. “This creates a paradox. A person is experiencing pain, but in reality the pain exists to protect from the possibility of overt rage.”
To be cured most patients need to accept that rage causes their pain but do not need a complete understanding of the rage’s underlying cause. “Acknowledgement of an emotional role in the genesis of symptoms somehow banished those symptoms,” Sarno wrote.(5)
Sarno’s Treatment
Since the mid-1970s when he first developed his mind-body prescription, Dr. Sarno has treated approximately 500 new patients each year. Treatment begins with a personal phone interview. Because the belief that one’s emotions are the root cause of the pain is integral to the cure, Dr. Sarno only accepts prospective patients willing to acknowledge this possibility, approximately 50% of those who call. Patients then visit the doctor for a 45-minute physical and psychological work-up. If the pain’s genesis appears emotional the doctor refers patients to a two hour 10 – 12 patient group session. During the session’s first hour, Dr. Sarno lectures on pain’s various physical manifestations. During the second hour, he directs patients to disregard their pain, resume their normal lives, and meditate daily on the emotional connection.
“Daily morning and evening meditations should follow a specific pattern,” Dr. Sarno said. Meditations are approximately 15 minutes in the morning and 30 minutes at night, and include re-reading the psychology-related treatment sections in the doctor’s books. Patients are then directed to make list of possible causes of unconscious rage (Figure 2, available on our website).
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