GenInv – Health and Wellness

Six months ago, I tore my left rotator cuff, or to be more accurate I tore one of the muscles in my left rotator cuff.  Rotator cuff exercises helped me to a full recovery despite being told that I needed surgery, so here is my story.

I woke up one morning with shoulder pain.  It hurt whenever I tried lifting my left arm above my shoulder or reaching for anything.  Over the next few days the pain got worse until I had severely restricted movement and was in pain constantly.

The pain that

had started in my shoulder was now radiating down my left arm as far as my elbow and virtually any movement resulted in shooting pains through my shoulder.

I went to the doctor who referred me to a specialist.  Being based in the UK we have the NHS which means that we don’t pay for medical care.  The downside is that you wait for an appointment, so whilst I was waiting for an appointment I acupuncture to help manage the pain.  I was also taking a course of high dosage Ibuprofen and using c

old compresses to try to reduce the swelling.

The specialist diagnosed a torn rotator cuff, which was confirmed by an MRI scan.  I was told that I needed surgery to release a shoulder impingement and given a date for surgery that was three months away.

Having already suffered for three months by then I decided that I would do some research and look for other methods of treatment while I was waiting.  I came across the website of an American Physiotherapist who specialised in shoulder injur

ies and rotator cuff exercises and decided that with nothing to lose I would check out his programme.

He claims to be able to strengthen injured shoulders and return them to a pain free state in around six weeks.  The programme of rotator cuff exercises starts with very simple easy to do exercises that gradually increase in difficulty and length over six weeks.  At no time did I experience any pain simply because the exercises stayed within my comfort zone.  As the weeks progressed I found that I was gradually increasing my range of pain free movement until six weeks later I was pain free and moving my shoulder as normal.

Ten weeks after starting, I was feeling brave enough to risk a game of golf. I decided to start with nine holes just to be on the safe side.  I was a little out of practice but by the end of the game I was consistently hitting the ball as far as before the injury and without any problems.  Next week I am booked for a full round of all nineteen holes.  The nineteenth is just to celebrate my return to health.

So what do I out this down to.  I am in my early fifties and although I keep fairly fit I have definitely changed shape, put on a few extra pounds and am not as active as when I was younger.  My theory is that as we age we change shape, don’t stand as straight, our posture changes and we stop using certain muscles so much.  The rotator cuff exercises woke up some of those lazy muscles  and helped change my posture enough to free up the problem.

Food for thought

Many pregnant women get intense cravings, and studies show that the number one craving is for chocolate. You might be avoiding chocolate because it is “bad for you” or “bad for the baby.” However, chocolate is actually proving to have unexpected health benefits, and these benefits may be doubly important for pregnant women and the development of healthy babies.

We know that chocolate makes us naturally happier. It releases endorphins which act to dull pain and just make us generally fee

l better. It also stimulates the brain and body. Recent research has found that chocolate can also have positive effects on the fetus. The infants whose mothers ate chocolate regularly throughout pregnancy were found more inclined to smiling, laughter, and were more easily soothed. Strangely enough, it seems that chocolate can make both you and your baby happier.

Chocolate also has several health benefits when taken wisely. Chocolate, especially dark, is full of powerful antioxidants that prote

ct against cell damage. This can be important especially when your body is under the stress of pregnancy. It can also help against fatigue and be preventative against future diseases. When you are pregnant you are more prone to exhaustion as your body supports the development of another person.

Gestational hypertension can happen because of the increased blood volume during pregnancy. Theobromine is a natural substance found in chocolate that fights against fatigue by stimulating the heart. It

also increases circulation in the placenta to aid in fetal development. Magnesium is another element in chocolate that is important during pregnancy in the development of the fetus’ brain. Since chocolate has many good substances in it, it may be that when you are craving chocolate you are in fact craving something your body needs.

Obviously chocolate alone is not enough to give you all the vitamins you need during pregnancy. It would be impossible for you to get all you need in your diet alone, and that is why prenatal vitamins are so important. The prenatal vitamin and chocolate have actually now been combined so you have a good tasting prenatal chocolate. These are great because they have been specifically designed for health conscious women during their pregnancy. Taking a chocolate vitamin can allow you to give in to your craving while at the same time monitoring how much chocolate you eat. It is the perfect solution for someone who needs to take a daily vitamin anyway. There are also other “healthy” chocolates you can invest in such as dark chocolate or sugar free, or chocolates to boost energy, creating more ways to ease cravings without having to feel guilty after.

Chocolate has many benefits, but anything in excess is bad for you. Regular chocolate is high in sugar and not good for you in disproportionate amounts. Make smart choices about your chocolates, make sure you are moderate in your intake, and make sure you are taking care of yourself and keeping yourself healthy and then you can let loose and give in to some of those cravings.

Yes, there are natural methods to unblock ears after a flight that will help you release that pressure caused by high altitudes and blocking up your ears. Whenever you travel by a plane your ears will always block up due to the high pressure at high altitudes, to unblock your ears you need to know the natural methods to unblock ears after a flight that actually work and will help you with this problem!

I am a regular traveler and I used to come across this problem very often when, every time I

would catch a plane my ears would really block up when the plane was descending too quickly and there are several things you can do to avoid the intensity of the problem. To try and prevent your ears from blocking up as much as they normally do during a flight try chewing soft mints during the take off up until the seat belt light goes off. Also try yawning at take off and descent, this prevents your ears from blocking up too severely and staying blocked for a long period of time. No one likes

having their ears blocked and sharp pains for several days on.

There are lots of people just like you who are searching for natural methods to unblock ears after a flight so you can get a little relief and be able to enjoy the rest of your day when you arrive at your destination. I decided to do a whole lot of research and write up a very helpful guide full of natural methods to unblock ears after a flight for all of you to read and learn how to unblock your ears safely from the comfort of you

r own home. I also included my own methods that I use every time I travel and whenever I happen to get a blocked ear, it is very convenient to know how to solve this problem easy and fast yourself, no need to go and see a doctor!

Many of the health problems that we face in the west may be attributed to lifestyle choices. We are far too often filling our days with work and leave little time for reflection, meditation, or generally slowing down. Many eastern philosophies have long valued the art of slowing down. Americans would be wise to take note of the health benefits both physical and mental that come from this art.

There are many different ways that one can effectively slow down in Eastern philosophy. Tai Chi is very

well known as a practice that emphasizes slow movements with the body as well as a meditative element. Slightly less known, but still very popular is the Chinese meditative practice called Qigong. This is an internal discipline that uses slow graceful movements (and sometimes breathing techniques) to promote the circulation of “qi” or “life force” in the human body. It is thought to enhance the practitioner’s overall health. Although it is often confused with Tai Chi or martial arts,

it is actually very popular. There are 200 million people that practice Qigong and it has over 10,000 different styles.

The art of Qigong offers many different benefits. The most popular reasons that practitioners begin practicing are to gain strength or improve health, to gain skill working with qi to become a healer, and to become more connected with “Tao” or God for a more meaningful connection with nature and the universe.

The root word “Qi” in Qigong means “air” in Chinese.

Your doctor tells you, you have arthritis. Can he or she tell you what kind of arthritis you have or what is causing it? These are not unreasonable questions, yet you will rarely get answers. This is because arthritis is largely a disorder of symptoms- a syndrome, to be more accurate. As long as physicians lump symptoms into one category, and do not examine the causes of the symptoms, there can be no hope or cure. All is not lost, however, or you would not be reading this chapter!

Causes of art

hritis are: digestive problems, malnutrition, a high fat diet, chemical sensivity, food allergies, and even a little organism known as the limax amoeba.

The allergy Connection

Your body can be its own worst enemy, if you don’t treat it right. Researchers consider arthritis an autoimmune disease because the symptoms are caused by the body’s immune system attacking its own tissues. Just as we have come to identify red, itchy eyes as an allergic symptom, arthritis must be accepted as another.

In getting to the cause of arthritis, we have to look at the possible allergens responsible.

When arthritis patients had their food allergies identified and eliminated, their symptoms ended or were improved.

When it comes to identifying allergens, scratch the conventional test. The food elimination diet and Coca Pule Test are much more reliable. Because allergens can cause the heart rate to soar, taking your pulse in the morning upon rising, and comparing it to your rate after eating certain

foods will help you target offending foods.

Narrow your list down to the following foods suspect for most allergy sufferers: beef, sugar, chocolate, eggs, citrus fruits, coffee, corn, malt, milk, pork, potatoes, soybeans, spices, tomatoes, wheat and yeast.

Consider also eliminating nightshade foods, which many are allergic to. Approximately one-third of those who suffer from rheumatoid arthritis are sensitive to nightshade plants.

Tobacco is a nightshade. Can you imagine rolling up a leaf of poison ivy and smoking it? That’s what people who are allergic to nightshades do when they smoke. Other nightshades are potatoes, tomatoes, eggplant, and peppers, Read you labels! Nightshades can be hidden ingredients in processed foods, Better yet, avoid processed foods altogether. Researchers have found those with allergic symptoms are often sensitive to the 3,000 chemical additives we ingest, plus 10,000 environmental chemical contaminants assaulting our bodies every day.

A lack of hydrochloric acid and digestive enzymes in the stomach, common among people over forty, can also contribute toward food allergies. This slowdown of digestion will also create over-large food molecules, which end up in the bloodstream. The defensive reaction by the body to these molecules creates the allergic response that leads to arthritis symptoms.

It may sound hopeless, considering the sheer volume of chemical antagonists present in our environment today. But I would not be here if there weren’t answers and solutions to the arthritis dilemma.

As with any ailment, disorder or disease, good nutrition is essential. For such an extreme symptom as arthritis, supplementation is the best way to go.

An imbalance of prostaglandins-too much or too many –can be a source of may common diseases, arthritis for one. Borage oil is a good source of prostaglendins and early tests have shown it to be not only a valuable treatment for arthritis, but a substitute for commonly used non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (nsaids. NSAIDS have dangerous side effects. Frequent use causes stomach ulcers and liver and kidney disease. Deaths have even been associates with MSAID use.

A calcium deficiency can actually cause arthritis symptoms. Vitamin C is another arthritis essential. Studies have shown vitamin C, enhanced with bioflavonoids, reduces inflammation and this synovial joint fluid, contributing to easier and greater range of motion.

Breast reconstruction is one of the most popular types of surgeries performed by plastic surgeons. There are many different reasons for this. Women who consider this type of surgery need to be aware of the different types of breast reconstruction surgery options available to them, as well as the advantages and disadvantages associated with each one. Here are some of the things that you may be interested in knowing about breast reconstruction.

Why Women Have Breast Reconstruction Surgery

Breast

reconstruction surgery can be a confidence boosting, mentally uplifting option for many women. The main reason that women consider different breast reconstruction surgery options is to enhance the appearance of their breasts. However, every woman’s reasons for wanting to do so may vary. Some women may simply be unsatisfied with the way that their breasts look. Others may be unsatisfied or unconfident with the way that they look after having breast cancer surgeries, such as mastectomies or lump

ectomies, which may alter the appearance of their breasts.

Breast Reconstruction Surgery Options

If you’ve already decided that you want to enhance the appearance of your breasts, it’s important to talk to your doctor about the different breast reconstruction surgery options that are available to you. Since every woman’s situation is different, the surgery options that are available to her may vary. Here are three of the breast reconstruction surgery options that you may want to know more a

bout:

Breast Implants

Breast implants are, by far, the most well known breast reconstruction surgery option. This procedure involves inserting a saline or silicone implant beneath the skin. Unlike a few of the other breast reconstruction surgery options, implants do require two surgeries. First, a balloon will need to be inflated beneath the skin. This is to ensure that there will be enough room for the permanent implant, which will be inserted at a later date.

Despite the two required surgeries, the implant procedure does offer a few benefits. The operations themselves may only take between 30 and 60 minutes. Only a two-day stay will be required in the hospital. Recovery should take place within two to three weeks, which is relatively short in comparison to many of the other breast reconstruction surgery options.

Although breast implants can be ideal for some people, it’s not the best choice for everyone. It is one of the breast reconstruction surgery options that does not always work effectively and can provide unnatural results. Multiple surgeries, in addition to the two routine parts of the operation, are often necessary for the desired results.

Transverse Rectus Abdominal Musculocutaneous (TRAM) Flap

TRAM Flap is one of the most common breast reconstruction surgery options performed. The procedure works by creating a new breast from the muscle, fat and skin of the abdominal area. There are both pros and cons associated with TRAM Flap.

Of all the breast reconstruction surgery options, TRAM Flap takes the longest amount of time. Four to six hours are required for it to be performed. Additionally, five to seven days will need to be spent in the hospital. Recovery time is about six weeks. Since this is a major surgery, women who choose this breast construction surgery option should be very healthy.

Although TRAM Flap takes a lot of time to perform and recover from, it is known to produce the most realistic appearance. Reshaping is often unnecessary because the results will usually be close to perfect and permanent. One of the reasons that this is also considered one of the most ideal breast reconstruction surgery options is because the tummy will also become flatter.

Latissimus Dorsi (LD) Flap

Another one of the breast reconstruction surgery options that is available to choose from is LD Flap. This procedure usually works through a combination of two methods. Muscle, skin and fat from the back are used to create a new breast. Usually, saline or silicone implants also need to be used in order to create a breast that is large enough.

LD Flap is one of the breast reconstruction surgery options known to produce very good results. If any implants are used, it’s possible that they may need to be fixed in the future. Usually, however, the breast will look very natural because real skin is being used.

In terms of how long it takes to undergo and recover from surgery, LD Flap is the most moderate of the three breast reconstruction surgery o

Autism – Sensing and Intuition

 Sensing shifts in the environment and people, and intuitively ‘reading’ the emotions, personality, temperament (in the moment) and mood of people in close proximity, can be an innate skill, ever-present in an autistic individual.

 Some people believe that children on the spectrum, who perhaps aren’t responding immediately or don’t verbally communicate, and who may seem absorbed in their own ‘world’, are perhaps devoid of feeling and sensing wha

t is going on around them or are unaware of or non-receptive to the emotions, disposition, verbal or physical expressions and requests of another person.

 A traditional upbringing and education may have taught us that one who doesn’t respond to a verbal or physical request, question or action, may not have the capacity to comprehend or understand such. They may presume that this person is not capable of interaction with another and there is some tremendous intellectual ‘wall’ between th

e two. When one perhaps has misinterpreted the non-response or aversion of the autistic child and not recognized the reality of a different style of communication.

 Intuition and sensing are age-old natural abilities inherent in humans and the animal kingdom. Throughout our lives, we are taught how to act, think and behave. We are told the rules regarding many of the environments we find ourselves in. We are conditioned, somewhat, to behave similarly to the next person, so that our communitie

s can function on hopefully a peaceful level and in a law abiding way. Which essentially are reasonable and practical expectations. But, along the way, our natural innate intuition and sensing abilities can be somewhat overridden or suppressed by the need to conform to the norm. 

 An autistic child may not look you in the eyes to reassure you that they are tuning into your conversation with them and focusing on your words. But they may be sensing and intuitively ‘feeling’ your tone of voice, ‘reading’ your body language, gauging your intention of interacting with them and assessing whether they wish to engage, in their own way, with you. Whilst focusing on these elements, the autistic person may be distracted from ‘hearing’ and/or absorbing the meaning and words of the interaction you are attempting to have with them. This can also be because an autistic person can be monotropic (able to focus one action or activity at a time) by nature.

Their lack of eye contact may be because to do so they may feel personally invaded and sensorally overloaded. For some autistic persons, the demand for eye contact can produce an assault on their senses, and processing the efforts to maintain eye contact and gaining meaning from the information (words, intentions, requests etc.) of the other person, can be psychologically taxing.

 An element of sensing is the ability to empathize with another person. Again, some people believe that many autistic individuals aren’t capable of empathy because of their differing, lack of and sometimes unexpected alternative responses to a person who wishes to be the recipient of an empathetic response. Many autistic persons I personally know and those whose writings (on empathy) I have read, keenly challenge that notion (an autistic person’s presumed inability to empathize with another).

I have seen some autistic children (and adults), including my own, display an empathetic response to another who may be injured, feeling sad, happy and so on. The ways they may show this response can differ, depending on the individual. Such responses can range from being subtle gestures (verbal and/or physical) to downright bone-crunching hugs ?

(Soon I will write an article on Autism and Empathy)

 When we discover how and when our autistic children and adults are receiving and interpreting information from their environment (including the people around them) via their sensing and intuition, we are provided with a unique, deeply personal and invaluable opportunity to further understand, respect and honor the personhood of all of the wonderful souls on the spectrum. We are also allowing the autistic person to “be”, and in doing so, we also honor their dignity.

 

www.heartandsoulofautism.blogspot.com/ Heart and Soul of Autism (Australia)