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What is Fibromyalgia?   We have heard the term but do we really know what it is and what are some of the causes and symptoms. Fibromyalgia  is to be the result of overactive nerves.  A condition that is the result of widespread chronic pain and tenderness all over the body.

Fibromyalgia has affected over five million people in the United States alone which is about one in every sixty people.  Some people have it and do not realize they have it until later on in their lives.  Fibromyalgia occurs mostly in women but some men do have it as well.

What can cause Fibromyalgia?

Some researches  suggest that having changes in the central nervous system (ex. brain, spinal cord and the nerves) may be the main cause of Fibromyalgia. These factors listed below working together can also be causes:

• Trauma-  Fibromyalgia  has been linked to having a physical or emotional trauma
• Family History-  Fibromyalgia can be heredity and be in your genes
• Infections-  certain illness that you may have had can trigger Fibromyalgia
• Autoimmune diseases-  if you suffer from rheumatoid arthritis you are likely to develop Fibromyalgia

Fibromyalgia is so complex it can be difficult to diagnose.

Your nerves with Firbromyalgia are overactive and that can explain why there is so much chronic pain and tenderness in a persons body.

What are some symptoms of Fibromyalgia?

Along with the chronic pain and tenderness one may have these pain symptoms as well:

• Deep muscle pain and soreness
• Stiffness in the morning
• Aching like that of the flu
• Pain radiating thru the body
• Very sensitive to the touch

Some other symptoms that occur with Firbromyalgia are

• Having problems sleeping
• Fatigue
• Having difficulty thinking clearer than normal
• Having problems performing simple tasks
• Stress and anxiety levels are high
• Depression may set in
• Migraine headaches can occur

As with each illness or disease Fibromyalgia  can affect each person differently.  Some days may be worse than others and the pain can be worse than other days.  If you have one or more of the symptoms listed it is a good idea to check with your doctor to be diagnosed.  There are treatments for Fibromyalgia but only your doctor can help with the treatment that is right for you to help you live and function in life on a daily basis.  Do not let the pain keep you from doing the things that you enjoy.

Have you ever been semi- depressed or lack of energy in the winter time and thought it was what some people refer to as the winter blues?  Has snow on the ground or real cold weather keep you inside all winter for the most part?  There is actually a name for this disorder – it is called Seasonal Affective Disorder ( SAD).

Seasonal Affective Disorder is more than the winter blues.  SAD is a form of clinical depression that usually occurs in the winter time.  Seasonal Affective Disorder has been linked to daylight savings time because the days get shorter and darker sooner. On average 14 million people suffer from SAD and may not even know they have it.

Physical, emotional and cognitive symptoms can be experienced if you have Seasonal Affective Disorder.  Even the simplest task can be overwhelming like household chores or just paying bills.  A person with SAD is unable to think clearly, and may have these problems as well:

• Decreased concentration
• Productivity suffers
• Interest in enjoyable things declines
• Creativity is lost
• Your inability to complete tasks
• Have an increased interpersonal difficulties in the workplace
• Increased absences from work
• Not working at all

Some of the physical symptoms that a person  with SAD may experience are:

• Having trouble sleeping
• Fatigue
• Eating a lot or more than usual
• Loss of interest in activities you once enjoyed
• Relations with partners diminishes

Some treatments of Seasonal Affective Disorder include light therapy and cognitive  behavioral therapy and taking antidepressants. All three have been proven to treat SAD effectively.

If you think that you may have or been suffering from SAD it is always a good idea to check with your doctor and not try to self-diagnose or self-treat yourself.  Here are some signs that you may have Seasonal Affective Disorder:

Your daily function is impaired.  Tasks are difficult to  complete, you fall behind on household chores, make frequent mistakes and tend to withdraw from being around family and friends.

You feel depressed.  You feel sad all the time, the future seems hopeless, you are thinking negative about things that you normally would not other times of the year.

Your physical functions are greatly disrupted.  You find yourself sleeping more and can not get up in the mornings , your eating habits have changed for the worse.

So if you find yourself with one or more of these symptoms check with your doctor and try to get help for Seasonal Affective Disorder.  SAD is highly treatable  so do not let it take over your life in the winter time.  Work thru SAD and don’t suffer thru SAD- because there is always hope.

Did you know that  foods that we eat can put us in a certain mood?  Certain foods can develop levels of neuotransmitters which can affect your mood.    Foods than can change your mood will be mentioned and we all can learn what to eat to be in a better mood.

The foods that can have a negative impact on our moods are:

• Soy – Try to stay away from products that contain goitogens which can  affect the thyroid.  Soy contains goitogens and it interfers with thyroid function and will affect your mood as well.
• Diet Soda – Diet soft drinks are loaded with chemicals which have artificial sweeteners that can cause headaches and potential mood swings.
• Sugar – Sugar can lead to a rise in your blood glucose and then your body will produce insulin to safe levels.   An energy dip can occur and also affect your mood.
• Coffee – Caffeine  works on the adrenaline centers of the brain which may trigger anxiety and cause irritability and mood swings.

Now that we have mentioned the negative foods let us go on to the positive foods that can make you feel good and be in a great mood.

• Complex carbohydrates – The level of serotonium in your brain and your mood enhanced by eating complex carbohydrates like guinoa, millet and brown rice.
• High selenium foods – Foods high in selenium, like brazil nuts, crimin mushrooms, support thyroid function and can really boost your mood.
• High folate foods-  Eating foods that are high in this B vitamin boost your mood.  Spinach, lentils or kidney beans are some foods that are high folate foods.
• Foods that contain  omega -3 fats like flax seeds, walnuts, chia seeds are high in this fat and can greatly improve your mood.
• Eat foods that are high in Vitamin D.
• Eat  fatty plant foods like avocado, coconut oil and nuts.
• Spicy, warming foods can increase circulation which causes your brain to release endorphins.
• Eating foods like artichoke, beet greens, almonds, kidney beans that are high in magnesium can cause your muscles  to relax and help to reduce stress and improve your mood.
• Eating iron rich foods like pumpkin seeds, legumes, sea vegetables help keep your red blood cells pumped with oxygen which can put you in a great mood as well.
• Eating a good breakfast is very important to our health. Eating foods that give you lots of energy but will not slow you down is essential.

In this article lots of foods were listed that either were a negative or a positive impact on our moods.  No one wants to feel down and out we all want to be at the top of our game.  So be careful what you eat or drink that it does not bring you down.  Eat what is healthy for your body and what will enhance your daily life. Remember we are what we eat.

We all have had the  flu at one time or another and we know  how sick we can become,  some worse that others.  In this article things will be discussed on how you can boost your immune systems against the flu.

Feed your system and keep it strong with certain foods and drinks.  Eat before to help prevent getting the flu bug.

1. Eat or drink plenty of citrus because vitamin C increases the production of white blood cells, which fight off infection.  Our  bodies do not store vitamin C so we need a daily intake for our good health.
2. Eating red bell peppers have twice as much flu fighting as vitamin C and also are a rich source of beta carotene.
3. Broccoli which is packed with vitamins A,C and E as well as antioxidants.  Broccoli is full of vitamins and minerals that help fight off any germ or infection.
4. Garlic can help fight off infections and can also lower cholesterol and can prevent the hardening of the arteries.  A heavy dose of sulphur-containing compounds, such as allicin, will help boost your immune system against the flu.
5. Eating ginger can help prevent you  from being sick from the start if eaten frequently in foods.  Ginger can help decrease chronic pain and also can lower your cholesterol as well.
6. Spinach which is high in vitamin C also contains antioxidants and beta carotene, which can fight off infections in your  immune system .
7. Eating yogurt that contains “live and active cultures” and is high in vitamin D will boost our immune systems to help our fight against certain diseases.
8. Having  almonds which are full of vitamin E, a fat soluble vitamin, is the key to a healthy immune system.
9. High concentrations of circumin, that are found in turmeric, is a bright-yellow bitter sauce used as an inflammatory treatment for  both osteoarthritis and rheumatoid arthritis, has been proven to fight off strong flu symptoms and the common cold.
10. Drinking both green and black tea, which contain flavonoids, a type of antioxidants, are a good source of amino acids L-theanine that are a germ fighting compound in our T-cells.

Eating right and getting plenty of rest and exercise  and just taking care of our bodies in general are good ways to stay healthy.  These foods and drinks can help boost your immune systems against the flu if eaten or taking before we feel ourselves becoming sick.  Take care of yourself and hope that you do not get the flu or anything else .

Are you living with a lot of stress and finding no relief?  Stress can take all of our energy and effect the quality of our lives.  A solution my be to relieve tension by using acupressure and gain back control of your life.   Stress can make things worse than they really are.  Acupressure points can resolve hundreds of stress syndromes- a problem that we all deal with on a daily basis.

What is acupressure and how does it work?  Acupressure therapy was developed in Ancient China over 5000 years ago.  They discovered that there are energy pathways that go all over our bodies which are called meridians.  Acupressure uses the power and sensitivity of our hands instead of needles like acupuncture, and is effective in relieving  stress related ailments, self treated and in preventive health care.

Acupressure points uses the fingers and various parts of the body to press key pressure points on the surface of the skin which stimulates the bodies own natural self-curative abilities.  When the trigger points are pressed, muscular tension is released and this promotes  better circulation of the blood and the body begins to heal itself.  Acupressure points are the most effective body spots to help relieve stress and tension.

Acupressure points and acupuncture points are the same except acupuncture uses needles and acupressure uses gentle but firm finger pressure to relieve the tension and stress.  Acupressure points will relieve pain, trauma and help a person with burnout.  This technique can be done by you at anytime or anyplace.

When our muscles are tensed, muscle fibers contract due to the secretion of lactic acid caused by fatigue, trauma, stress factors, chemical imbalances, or poor circulation of the blood.  When a acupressure point is held finger pressure releases the muscle tension, muscle fibers relax and the blood flows more freely.  As the blood and the bio electrical energy circulates, a greater sense of harmony, health and well being takes on and you can continue with your day without the tension that was once felt.   We feel better and want to do more to go out and enjoy life again pain free after relieving the pain from the acupressure points. It really works so give it a try today.

Have you ever wondered about the benefits of drinking water?  Is is good to drink a lot of water or not?  Our bodies need an adequate amount of water on a daily basis because water helps us to maintain good health by aiding in our digestion, circulation, absorbing and even excreting. Drinking a lot of water is  important for our skin and body.

Did you know that our skin is an organ made up of cells?  Those cells are made up of water.  The organs would not function properly without an adequate amount of water.

Without water our skin can become dry, tight and flaky.  Dry skin can be prone to become wrinkled if the resilience in the skin is lost.

Most of  spend our days in a mild dehydration without even knowing it.  Water makes up about 60% of our body and we need water for survival.  We can go longer without food than we can water.

Drinking an adequate amount of water will enhance our health, increase our energy, help us to have brighter and clearer eyes and have a more radiant complexion.  Water is also good for our muscles.  Water helps maintain proper muscle tone and helps to prevent muscles cramps.  Water can help reduce the prevention of kidney stones.   Water can also be used to help lose weight because after all a zero calorie drink and is better for us than sodas and it helps elevate blotting.

Water also

• carries nutrients to every cell in your body
• flushes out nasty toxins
• can improve circulation and blood flow
• lubricates our joints

As discussed in this article we have learned that drinking an adequate amount of water is important to maintaining and keeping our bodies and skin healthy.  Whether you drink water all day or just part of the day it is important to supply our skin with the water that is lost on a daily basis.  Drink water and be healthy and your body and skin will thank you.  So drink up.

It is no secret that sleep habits change as we get older.  Sleep is a problem for the elderly.   More than half of our seniors 65 or older suffer from some form of chronic sleep disturbances.  This is due to the fact that sleep disturbances often result from a disruption of the body’s circadian rhythms which are biological cycles that repeat every 24 hours.  The most effective way of stimulating the circadian system is  when blue lights are delivered directly to the eyes.  Light therapy can remedy early rising syndrome in the elderly by shifting the body clock to a normal nighttime sleeping schedule.

Light and dark pattens are the major synchronizer of  circadian rhythms to the twenty-four hour solar day.   Light stimulus travels through the retina, which is the light-sensitive nerve tissue lining the back wall of the eye.  Also a combination of age related changes in the eye and a more slow downed lifestyle can reduce the amount of light stimulus  reaching an older persons retina, which in turn reduces the amount of light for the circadian system.

A person with Alzheimer’s disease, the circadian system may require a stronger light stimulus due the deteriorating neural processes in the brain.  Muted signals to the circadian system can occur from these physical and neural changes.  Light therapy can help older people stay more alert during the day, as well as preventing the “night wandering” the inhibits the care of many elderly people with Alzheimer’s or other types of dementia.

A higher increase in daytime light levels can conteract the age dependent losses in retinal light exposure by providing a stronger signal to the circadian system.   The color and intensity of commercially available  lighting systems, like those used in senior residences, assisted living facilities, and nursing homes, are designed for only visual effectiveness and only minimal energy and not effective for generating light to stimulate an older circadian system.

Aging brings physiological changes to our eyes.  Changes in the lens and cornea cause increased glare from “Bright Light” therapy lamps.  Extensive exposures to the bright light therapy lamps, especially the blue wavelengths of light from these bright light or blue light therapy lamps increases the risk of  light – induce retinal damage and blindness in our population.  Hazards from these bright lights is added because most elderly people have some form of retinal damage.  Studies have shown that by the age of 75, more than one in every three people have vision problems form Age-Related Macular Degeneration or AMD and this number increases to over one half by the age of 85.

So why we are young or young or heart our eyes or important to us – take care of them we only have one set.