Archive for February, 2009

Managing Vertigo and Ménière’s Disease

Friday, February 27th, 2009

I’ve received phenomenal feedback from my Vertigo and Dizziness program, which is really wonderful to hear. I have received a few inquiries, however from people who suffer from Ménière’s disease, not vertigo and they want to know if my program will help.

In order to answer that question, I’ll first clear up some confusion. Vertigo is not a disease – it’s a symptom of another illnesses, Ménière’s included. Vertigo is the sensation of spinning or whirling that occurs as a result of a disturbance in balance, or equilibrium.

People often think that vertigo is a disease because vertigo can’t always be linked back to any particular disease.

Named after the physician Prosper Ménière, Ménière’s disease is a disorder of the inner ear which causes episodes of vertigo, nausea and/or vomiting, ringing in the ears (tinnitus), a feeling of fullness or pressure in the ear (generally right before an attack and fluctuating or progressive hearing loss (generally in one ear but over time it can spread to both ears).

The average attack lasts between 2 to four hours. Following the attack, one usually fees exhausted and must sleep for several hours. One may feel fine between attacks, or hearing or balance problems may continue between attacks.

Occasionally, the sufferer will experience “drop attacks.” This is a sudden fall that occurs without warning. Sufferers feel that they are tilted or falling, even when standing straight. They attempt to reposition themselves and severe injury can occur.

Ménière’s is almost always idiopathic – there is no specific cause for the disease can be determined. Ménière’s does not have a cure; however, it can be managed. The majority of people who experience Ménière’s are over 40 years of age.

Your doctor can diagnose Ménière’s by obtaining a medical history, performing hearing tests and excluding other conditions which are causing symptoms. Your doctor will likely perform blood tests and an MRI to rule out these other conditions.

Traditional treatments for this disease include:

Dietary changes - adopt a low sodium diet (a buildup of fluid in the inner ear is thought to cause the vertigo attacks), avoid alcohol, don’t smoke and avoid caffeine

Stress reduction – while stress doesn’t cause Ménière’s, it is certainly a known trigger. Relaxation and deep breathing exercises and exercises such as yoga are generally prescribed.

Medication – Diuretics, antihistamines and steroids are commonly prescribed, however these all contain side effects, some of them severe, so talk to your doctor about these in detail.

Surgery – For drop attacks that can’t be helped through the above other means, inner ear surgery is sometimes performed. The surgery does not cure the Ménière’s condition, however, and any surgery is risky.

Regardless of the reason for your vertigo, my all natural Vertigo and Dizziness program will help you including if you suffer Ménière’s. My clients have achieved amazing results and because of this are now living much more productive, happy lives!

EL331002

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Chronic Fatigue Syndrome - Part 2

Monday, February 23rd, 2009

In my previous CFS post, I defined CFS (an extremely complex disorder which has been described as fatigue lasting longer than 24 hours that is not improved from bed rest and which can also be worsened by physical or mental activity) and its symptoms (tender lymph nodes, sore throat, short-term memory loss, lack of concentration, joint pain without swelling or redness, headaches (new or a new pattern), unrefreshing sleep, muscle pain/weakness, and insomnia).

This week’s post will focus on the theory that this is a psychological condition and list some of the treatments available.

CFS affects over one million people of every race, age group and gender; although women are diagnosed about 4 times as much as men and the median age affected seems to be between 40-50 years of age.

Social stigma can also accompany this condition because even physicians have been known to “bully” the patient into thinking it’s all in his/her head or, in fact, another condition. While CFS in children and teens is rare, these groups have reported the most difficulty in gaining acceptance from doctors, parents and peers.

It’s also difficult to diagnose because there is no known cause. Theories have been developed as to what causes CFS with some professionals who see it as either physiological condition (information on this is provided in the previous CFS post) or a psychological condition.

Diagnosing CFS is difficult as its symptoms can be the same for many other conditions. Psychological disorders with similar symptoms include: neurasthenia, drug or alcohol abuse, depression, bi-polar disorder, anxiety or other psychological disorders, eating disorders and schizophrenia.

Based on the theory that this is a psychological disorder, treatments include: depression medicines, anti-anxiety medications, cognitive behavior therapy (working with a therapist to overcome a psychological condition by identifying and changing dysfunctional thinking, behavior, and emotional responses) and exercise in moderation (too much could actually exacerbate CFS).

Many people with CFS have also found it beneficial to contact support groups and talk/chat with others going through the same illness. They provide current information on treatments and for many, the relief that others understand what the sufferer is going through.

One very common theme I have noticed while researching CFS studies, support group websites and other related forums on the web exist because of the elusive nature of CFS. Many deep breathing and relaxation programs seem to benefit the sufferer.

If stress or anxiety is thought to exacerbate your CFS condition, I encourage you to try my High Blood Pressure program, which is all natural. The High Blood Pressure Program is designed to ‘normalize’ blood pressure therefore you do not have to be afflicted with hypertension to benefit from it. I encourage feedback to let me know how my program has worked for you!

EL331002

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Chronic Fatigue Syndrome - Is It All in Your Head? Part 1

Friday, February 20th, 2009

I recently heard from a client who believed she suffered from Chronic Fatigue Syndrome. I say “believed,” because she had been suffering symptoms for years, diagnosed with several diseases, treated with several medications and referred to more than one psychiatrist - all with varying opinions as to her condition.

Finally, she found a physician who listened to her symptoms, read the misdiagnoses in her medical history and was current on Chronic Fatigue Syndrome research. Since she had already tried the medicine her current physician prescribed for CFS (the medicines were prescribed to treat other misdiagnosed conditions), she wrote to me asking if my program could help.

What is Chronic Fatigue Syndrome? Also known as CFS, this is an extremely complex disorder which has been described as fatigue lasting longer than 24 hours that is not improved from bed rest and which can also be worsened by physical or mental activity.

While accepted in 1988 as a legitimate disease, health care professionals are often hesitant to diagnose CFS because of the fact that there is: 1. No known cause so treatment options appear to be limited. 2. The symptoms are so many and so varied that they can either mask another disease or accompany it. 3. Even within the medical community that has accepted this illness, there is a split in opinion as to whether this is a physiological issue or a psychological issue.

In order to give this elusive disease the attention it deserves, I’ve decided to break this up into two posts. This post will focus on the theory that CFS is a physiological illness, while my next CFS posting will focus on the theory that CFS is a psychological illness.

In order to be considered as suffering from CFS, one must meet two criteria: 1. One must have had severe chronic fatigue for at least six consecutive months, unexplained by other illnesses. 2. One must have at least 4 of the following accompanying symptoms to the fatigue: tender lymph nodes, sore throat, short-term memory loss, lack of concentration, joint pain without swelling or redness, headaches (new or a new pattern), unrefreshing sleep, muscle pain/weakness, and insomnia.

Other accompanying symptoms can include: night sweats, chills, dizziness, bloating, chronic cough, nausea, diarrhea, shortness of breath, chronic cough, visual disturbances, allergies or sensitivities to foods, irregular heartbeat or palpitations and jaw, eye, or mouth pain and unexplained weight loss or gain.

Physiological conditions which have similar symptoms and therefore make CFS diagnosis difficult include: fibromyalgia, myalgic encephalomyelitis, chronic mononucleosis, sleep apnea, narcolepsy, cancer, obesity, Lyme disease or an adverse reaction to certain drugs prescribed to treat the above illnesses.

While there is no known cause, some theories suggest that it could be caused by an inflammation of the pathways of the nervous system but with nothing measureable in the blood like one would see with conditions such as rheumatoid arthritis or lupus.

It is also theorized that CFS may be caused by an unknown viral illness, low blood pressure or even high blood pressure.

Based on the belief that CFS is a physiological disease, treatments include: Various high or low pressure medications (these have major side effects and their effects should be strictly monitored), moderating daily activity and regular exercise (but MODERATION is to be stressed, as symptoms can worsen with overexertion).

While improvement with medication proved beneficial for some, most did not find relief enough to justify the harmful side effects and equal improvement has been shown using alternative therapies such as deep breathing exercises, muscle relaxation, massage, acupuncture and yoga.

While a “cure” at this point is unknown, if you or your doctor feel high or low blood pressure is a cause or contributor, I encourage you to try my all natural High Blood Pressure program. It’s been proven to be extremely beneficial for those suffering from both high and low blood pressure.

I would also encourage you to try my Fibromyalgia program if your symptoms seem to mimic those of fibromyalgia, even though diagnosed as CFS.

EL331002

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TMJ Syndrome and TMJ Disorders

Friday, February 13th, 2009

I was recently at a friend’s house who likes to occasionally indulge in sweets – specifically, chocolate. He was excited because he recently discovered that eating a Snickers bar after it’s been in the freezer is even more enjoyable than a Snickers bar at room temperature.

He mentioned that his wife doesn’t love this new discovery since she suffers from Temporomandibular Joint (TMJ) syndrome. Apparently, the cold of the candy affected her condition. Becoming interested, I continued to ask my friend questions about her condition and symptoms she was experiencing.

Many of the symptoms my friend’s wife experienced with TMJ disorders were ones I expected, given that I have already performed massive research on the condition in order to create my TMJ program. A few of her symptoms and triggers though, were surprising.

TMJ actually refers to the temporomandibular joint. Many people mistakenly refer to TMJ itself as a disorder, however, TMJ syndrome, and TMJ disorders are synonymous terms which describe disorders of this joint.

The TM J is extremely important because it allows us to eat (chew), talk and yawn. It is made up of blood vessels, muscles, nerves and bones. TMJs are located on each side of the face, in front of the ears. The TMJ is what connects the jawbone to the skull.

This joint can be felt if you place your finger in front of your ear and then open and close your mouth. The jawbone has two movements – opening and closing the mouth or acting as a hinge and a gliding action which allows the mouth to open wide.

A disorder is caused when the joint becomes eroded and it slides out of its alignment. Certain medical conditions like arthritis can damage the cartilage which helps make up the joint. An injury or trauma to the joint can also cause the disorder.

Sometimes, the condition can be caused from overusing the joint. This is why when your dentist tells you it’s not healthy to grind or clench your teeth, he or she is not just referring to eroding your teeth, but also causing a TMJ disorder. Some people are born with the condition due to improper development of the joint.

Triggers include grinding or clenching your teeth repeatedly (mentioned above), posture (many of us lean forward when staring at the computer), direct exposure to air-conditioning on the face, eating cold foods or cold drinks, lack of sleep and stress.

Women are more likely to suffer from TMJ than men and the condition affects 5-15% of the population, although experts in the disorder argue that many cases go undiagnosed so the number is likely higher.

Symptoms include: Pain or tenderness of the jaw, pain in the face (40% of sufferers complain of this), difficulty opening and closing the mouth, headache (80% of sufferers complain of this), uneven bite, difficulty and/or pain in chewing, earache or pain around the ear, and neck pain. Some sufferers even experience a clicking sound when they open their mouth, although a clicking sound unaccompanied by pain my not necessarily indicate TMJ disorder.

The great news though is that in MOST cases, surgery is not required. If you know the cause of your TMJ disorder is from habitually grinding your teeth (most of us do it in our sleep and don’t know it), your dentist can take a mold of your teeth and create what is known as a bite guard – a plastic mouthpiece designed specifically for your mouth, which keeps the teeth from coming into contact and grinding.

In my friend’s wife’s case, though, extremely cold food or drink or direct exposure to the air-conditioning in car rides was the trigger (the cold temperature increases muscle contraction). I suggested she try my TMJ program. The results were “immediate and wonderful” for my friend’s wife.

In fact I’ve received incredible reviews of my TMJ program, many of which indicated that they tried repeated products and treatment methods and were only trying my program as a last ditch effort to avoid surgery. If you are one of these people, or you simply prefer an all natural program, please give mine a try! I also strongly recommend my Natural Migraine and Headache Program.
EL331002

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Raise Your Glass to Wine and Your Health

Monday, February 9th, 2009

I recently had the pleasure of dining out with a couple that my wife and I have known for years. I noticed that “Jane” was drinking red wine, which is completely out of character for her. The few times I’ve noticed Jane drinking wine, it was white wine only. In fact, she complained of an “after taste” with red wines and the fact that she doesn’t like to drink anything at room temperature.

Jane is easily susceptible to anything fad related (i.e., diets, exercise equipment, fashion, etc.), so it came as absolutely no surprise that Jane had recently read an article about the benefits of red wine to one’s health, specifically, lowering heart disease.

I’ve known for years about studies and research related to red wine and there is, in fact, a basis for my friend’s claims. Studies have shown that those drinking red wine in moderation (one glass of wine per day for women and two glasses for men because they tend to weigh more and have more of the enzymes that metabolize the alcohol than women).

There have been specific studies of Mediterranean countries in which those in the study ate a high fat diet but had very low LDL (bad) cholesterol, higher levels of HDL (good) cholesterol and lower blood pressure. Why was this? Findings suggested that the participants in the study all drank red wine on a regular basis.

Researchers think that there are two antioxidants in the seeds and skin of the red wine grape – resveratrol and flavonoids. Unlike white wine, red wine is fermented with the skin and seeds and therefore the red wine retains more of these antioxidants.

It is believed that resveratrol raises HDL cholesterol, which in turn helps to prevent blood clotting. Flavonoids also prevent blood clots but also help to prevent plaque from forming in arteries.

Recent studies focused on white wine and other types of alcohol have started to produce similar results. In fact, one study suggested that the molecules in white wine are smaller than in red wine, and can be more easily absorbed.

This is all very fascinating but what is of even more fascination to me is how excited we all get when we read promising research on the newly discovered benefits of bad habits. It’s like the study about smoking cigarettes and the belief that it may prevent Parkinson’s disease – great, but where’s the research on the cancer or emphysema that replaced the Parkinson’s?

Once again, it boils down to moderation. Yes, there is definitely evidence that wine (especially red wine) can produce heart healthy benefits including lowering blood pressure. Every promising research article I read, however, stated that alcohol is addictive and that drinking to excess caused much more devastating health effects than the benefits of drinking one to two glasses per day.

Drinking to excess can lead to obesity (due to the empty calories), increase high blood pressure and damage major organs like the heart and liver. If you don’t already drink alcohol, experts suggest that it’s healthier for you if you don’t start. If you drink in moderation, stick with that.

If you have high blood pressure and are considering taking up red wine to lower your blood pressure, please let me first suggest my High Blood Pressure program. The results are achieved through all natural, non invasive means. The results have been amazing for my clients – all of whom wanted to lower their blood pressure without medication, or alcohol. I also recommend my Weight Loss Breeze Program if you need to achieve a healthy weight.

EL331002

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Cluster Headaches – Are Natural Remedies Available?

Monday, February 2nd, 2009

Over ninety percent of us will experience some type of primary headache in our lifetime. Primary headaches are headaches which do not have an underlying medical condition associated with them, causing the headaches. There are three types of headaches in this group: tension, migraine and cluster headache.

Based on the feedback I’ve received from my clients, they have achieved phenomenal results for their tension and migraine headaches without the need for drugs, using my all natural Migraine and Headache Relief program.

Recently, though, I’ve been asked if my program will help with their cluster headaches. In order to answer that question, I’d like to provide some information on each of the different primary headaches in order for those reading to be able to better assess which type of headache they are experiencing.

Tension Headache – this is the most common type of headache. In fact, over 80 percent of headache sufferers fall into this category. A tension headache is described as pain or discomfort in the head, scalp or neck and usually associated with muscle tightness in these areas. Sufferers describe the pain as that of a rubber band squeezing the head and sometimes neck.

Women are twice as likely to suffer from tension headaches as men. Although the pain can sometimes be severe, for most it’s not debilitating and most sufferers are able to complete their daily tasks uninterrupted.

Symptoms include: Triggers or stressors for tension headaches include: Emotional or mental stress, depression, anxiety, fatigue, bad posture, lack of sleep and over exertion. These headaches can last from 30 minutes to an entire week. They are either episodic (lasting 15 days or less per month) or chronic (lasting over 15 days per month).

While some doctors do prescribe medications for tension headaches, relaxation exercises including deep breathing exercises, have provided long term relief for most sufferers.

Migraine Headache – this is the second most common type of headache. Unlike a tension headache, these headaches are considered vascular, meaning they involve abnormal sensitivity of the arteries in the brain and abnormal blood flow in certain parts of the brain.

The abnormal flow of blood results in the artery rapidly constricting, causing other arteries to dilate. This results in moderate to severe throbbing pain on one side of the head, sometimes spreading to both sides of the head.

Women are three times as likely as men to develop migraine headaches. For some, the attacks are infrequent but for others, they happen frequently and can be debilitating, hindering daily activities. These headaches generally last from 4 to 72 hours but can sometimes persist for weeks.

Symptoms include: Nausea, vomiting, sensitivity to light, sound or smell and pain that worsens with physical activity. About 15-20% of sufferers experience an “aura,” meaning some sort of visual distortion.

Triggers for migraine headaches include: Foods (red wine, certain cheeses, chocolate, aspartame, MSG and processed meats), changes in weather (temperature, atmospheric pressure, humidity, etc.), smells or fumes, loud noises, lack of sleep or poor sleeping habits, emotional or mental stress, and certain headache medication. Traditional painkillers have been known to cause rebound headaches – these are more similar to tension headaches.

Many migraine sufferers have responded well to oxygen treatments after the fact but relaxation and breathing exercises as a preventative have proven extremely effective for many sufferers. Most migraine sufferers have found relief by eliminating certain food triggers.

Cluster Headache – also known as the “suicide” headache, this type of headache is by far the most painful and debilitating known. Its ominous nickname came about because historically, people have actually committed suicide just to get relief from this headache. Women have described this pain as worse than childbirth.

Cluster headaches have been so named because they occur in groups or clusters. They tend to happen several times a day for several weeks. For most, they will subside for a few months but then recur again with the same frequency and intensity.

Cluster headaches are the least common of the three primary headaches. They tend to come on without warning. The headache is described as intense unilateral (one-sided) non-throbbing pain usually located behind one eye. The attacks tend to last less than an hour and although they can happen several times a day, they tend to happen at the same time each day.

Unlike migraines, the sufferer gets no relief from lying motionless and will oftentimes pace or even bang their heads. The intense pain is caused by the dilation of blood vessels which creates pressure on the trigeminal nerve. Like migraines, the cause of the abnormal blood flow is unknown.

Unlike the other two headaches men are five times as likely to suffer from cluster headaches as women. In addition to the above mentioned pain, other symptoms can include: a drooping eyelid on the affected side, watery eyes and blocked nasal passages. Cluster headaches are often misdiagnosed as sinus infections.

Triggers include: Lack of sleep (even though many who suffer the attacks during REM sleep will often avoid sleep in order to avoid an attack), sleep apnea, snoring, Nitroglycerin (glyceryl trinitrate),stress, alcohol, smoking and certain food allergies. Like tension headaches, cluster headaches are either episodic or chronic.

Cluster headaches follow a seasonal rhythm and most are affected during spring or fall. In fact, the headaches, while typically occurring several times a day, tend to happen at the same time each day. For many, the attacks start just as the sufferer enters REM (rapid eye movement) sleep.

Studies have shown that sufferers with sleep apnea or excessive snoring where much more likely to experience cluster headaches than those without the disorders. When these conditions were treated, the cluster headaches subsided.

This condition is diagnosed with a medical history (including family history since cluster headaches are partly genetic) and physical examination. A CT or MRI may be performed to rule out other conditions. A diagnosis is usually generated based on the above and the description of the pain.

Treatment for cluster headaches include, pain medication but most of these medications are not preventative – they only treats symptoms once they appear. Certain other medications which, help to prevent symptoms but carry with them severe side effects including high blood pressure, angina and liver conditions.

Oxygen therapy has proven the most effective – the sufferer directly breaths in oxygen for 10-20 minutes. This is not convenient though, as the user must always carry an oxygen tank and, it once again only treats symptoms after they appear.

Recently, studies have shown that deep breathing exercises (like my Migraine and Headache Relief Program) have proven beneficial toward preventing an attack. Oxygen is the key and my program works to get the body and the brain the oxygen it’s starving for. Additionally, if you suffer from snoring (a trigger for cluster headaches), my Stop Snoring Program could also help treat this problem.

EL331001H

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