Travel for Vertigo Sufferers

January 4th, 2010

I travel for both personal and business reasons, so that means I travel a lot – mostly by air. I’ve met some very interesting people in my travels and given my profession, my ability to communicate with others has led to some enlightening discussions.

A common topic of discussion that comes up is vertigo. I have heard from many people who say that travel (both air and car) either causes their vertigo or that it makes it worse.

What is vertigo? Vertigo is the sensation of spinning or whirling that occurs as a result of a disturbance in balance, or equilibrium. Vertigo is not a disease; it’s a symptom. The conditions which cause vertigo are varied and not always known.

Vertigo’s symptoms can include dizziness but not everyone with dizziness (lightheadedness) has vertigo. Vertigo is most often caused from a disorder in the peripheral vestibular system (inner ear structures). It can also be a result of a disorder in the central vestibular system (brainstem, cerebellum, vestibular nerve).

Thanks to the Alfred Hitchcock classic, many people confuse vertigo with a fear of heights. This probably happened because symptoms of this phobia and vertigo can be the same – dizziness and nausea. Interestingly, though, most people with a fear of heights have no problem flying.

There are different types of vertigo but the most common type of vertigo is BPPV. The onset is usually sudden and tends to last for less than a minute. It is almost always caused by sudden head movements.

Symptoms can include: nystagmus (shaking of the eye), nausea, vomiting and sweating. The attacks can stop or improve after a few weeks or months. However in some cases, they can persist for longer. Your doctor can correctly diagnose you and recommend special head and neck exercises to help prevent the onset of vertigo.

Most people who have this type of vertigo have no issue with the movement of travel but rather, the positioning of their head on the seat. This is what could bring on symptoms for these types of sufferers.

Alcohol can induce temporary vertigo and should therefore be avoided if flying and especially if driving.

Although not as common, psychogenic vertigo is vertigo caused by a psychological disorder such as anxiety or panic disorder. If suffering from this disorder, traveling could initiate or make symptoms worse.

What most travelers suffer from is motion sickness. The motion of travel can affect the parts of the inner ear that help control balance. This happens most when traveling by boat but can by auto and plane travel.

Like vertigo, the onset of symptoms is quick. They include: nausea, dizziness, headache, cold sweats, hyperventilation (which could lead to faintness) and usually vomiting.

You can help prevent motion sickness by: keeping your gaze steady and head as still as possible, not smoking, not drinking, not reading, and getting fresh air.

There are several drugs available to treat motion sickness, even over the counter; however, they all cause drowsiness and in children and infants can cause agitation.

I recommend my all natural Vertigo and Dizziness program. It has been proven effective for those suffering from vertigo and dizziness (obviously) but also for those suffering from motion sickness. The results are amazing and best of all, drug free.

EL331002

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Fibromyalgia and Infection – Is There a Link?

January 1st, 2010

It seems that every day more information is coming out about fibromyalgia and its underlying cause(s).  The only constant it seems, is that all of the theories seem to be, at least right now, just that – theories.

This isn’t surprising to me, since fibromyalgia was only coined in the 1980s and even today, many supposed professionals in the medical community still don’t recognize this disorder as anything other than “mental” in origin.
 
This never fails to surprise me.  Surely these doctors hear first-hand what many of my clients relay to me.  They have chronic (lasting longer than two weeks) pain, overwhelming fatigue or a combination of both.

This, in turn, affects not just themselves but their families.  Imagine that even the simplest chores around the house have to be well planned out and all that can be disrupted if the sufferer isn’t having a “good day.”

While the cause of the pain and/or fatigue is still in theory state, most professionals believe that the brain becomes extra sensitive to pain signals.  What most of us may not notice or at worst take as an irritation can cause those with fibromyalgia unbelievable pain.

Why is this?  What could cause this chronic widespread condition?  Infection is now making its way to the forefront of theories.  In a recent study on sinusitis, almost ALL chronic sinusitis sufferers also reported symptoms of fibromyalgia.

Other studies on hepatitis C, chronic Lyme disease and HIV also point to a much greater incidence of fibromyalgia.

Even Fifth’s disease has made its way to the table.  This is linked to mothers in close proximity to their children with full blown symptoms.  With women reporting symptoms more than men, it does make one wonder what other infections could be passed from child to parent and then causing fibromyalgia.

Yet another theory is that vaccinations for certain diseases carry their own inherent risk for contributing to fibromyalgia.

If these theories hold true, it’s yet another example of how the body, in attempting to protect itself from disease, actually becomes the enemy in some other form.  Signals get crossed in the brain and the body actually ends up attacking itself to some degree.

The problem is that even if conclusive evidence emerged tomorrow to show that infection is the source of fibromyalgia, the treatment for the initial infection does not alleviate the symptoms of fibromyalgia.

Treatments which have shown promise include exercise (they need to be specific though, as some people with fibromyalgia report exercise to be a trigger to the pain), anti inflammatory drugs, anti-depressant drugs and anti-seizure medications.

Many prefer not to take medicine as even over the counter medication has side effects.

I highly recommend my all natural Fibromyalgia program.  It has delivered relief of fibromyalgia symptoms to many of my clients and my hope is that it can help you as well!

EL331002

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Acid Reflux and Depression – There’s a Link

December 28th, 2009

I have received amazing results based on the new Acid Reflux Relief program!

Along with the overwhelming response to the program, I’ve also been fortunate to hear from some of you first hand to tell me of your experience with acid reflux and how my program has helped.

With any chronic condition such as acid reflux can be, one tends to notice themes when reading through client correspondence. One in particular is the accompanying depression symptoms that accompany chronic acid reflux.

Gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD), also known as acid reflux, is a health condition in which liquid or food comes up from the stomach into the esophagus, causing pain and/or heartburn.

The lower esophageal sphincter (LED) muscles are responsible for closing and opening the esophagus. These muscles act as a valve and when working properly, prevent food and liquids from the stomach from coming back up into the esophagus.

Some sufferers experience chronic acid reflux disease but do not suffer from heartburn. They report pain in the chest, hoarse throat, dry cough, bad breath and difficulty swallowing.

For those who suffer from acid reflux two or more times per week, they are experiencing chronic acid reflux. This is not only inconvenient and painful; it can lead to long term health effects such as tooth enamel erosion, cancer, throat damage and respiratory damage.

As with other chronic conditions, chronic GERD sufferers experience over a thirty percent chance of developing symptoms of depression, compared to roughly ten percent of otherwise healthy people.

It seems that each condition feeds the other. Because of fear of symptoms of acid reflux, people tend not to go out to eat, or socialize as much with friends which can lead to a “shut in” feeling.

Additionally, people often put off doing things they really enjoy because they are spending all their time trying to think up ways to manage their conditions.

As ironic as it seems, some people’s unhealthy lifestyles can lead to depression on their own or be exacerbated by GERD. Take alcohol consumption for example. This is a depressive drug to begin with and can trigger acid reflux.

Whether or not you suffer from depression in addition to your acid reflux disease, I highly encourage you to try the all natural Acid Reflux Relief program. There is no potentially dangerous medication involved and the results are guaranteed!

El331002

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What’s Your New Year’s Resolution?

December 25th, 2009

If you are like me and my family and friends, you’ve all just enjoyed at least one day of merriment and fellowship with those you love this holiday season.

Additionally, you’ve also likely been tempted and even given into over indulging in eating. How often do we cook such a “spread?” Worse, if we aren’t cooking we are obliged to eat whatever “Aunt Sally” has labored over.

It’s also a fact that food isn’t the only problem we face in maintaining health. It’s such a busy and stressful time of year when trying to budget for presents, getting our kids to their extracurricular events and finishing up priorities at work.

Often times, these things take a toll on our health. Are you finding time to exercise each day? Are you remembering to visit your doctor and if he/she has prescribed medicine, have you remembered to take it?

“I can’t afford to be sick.” I hear this so often, but so many people these days really mean it. Whether people can’t afford the time to rest or the money they will miss by staying home to rest, the result is the same – it’s your personal health that suffers.

This is why I truly believe in creating a New Year’s resolution. I also encourage each and every one of you to make a resolution this year!

What I also encourage is a plan. Whether it’s quitting smoking, losing weight or exercising daily, the number one reason people fail at their resolution is that they DON’T MAKE A PLAN.

You don’t decide to take a cross-country trip and then just get in your car and go do you? For the logical person, the answer is “no.” We take our car in to the repair shop and get a health check, repairing any mechanical issues before we start our trip.

Additionally, we request time off from work and ensure our absence isn’t going to create issues for others. We pack accordingly to the weather, which we’ve been watching to ensure we have nice weather for our trip.

This is exactly what we need to do when we are attempting to improve our health. Yes, agreeing that a change is needed is a hugely important step but it’s not the only one. Practicality, while not as much fun, is just as important.

Also important is realizing that change is a process. If you slip and miss a day of exercise or over eat, you don’t have to quit your plan. It’s not ruined – go back over your plan and point out “lessons learned” to help ensure success down the road.

For many, losing weight, stopping snoring, and lowering blood pressure are great examples of New Year’s resolutions. They are important because each of these are considered “silent killers.” Most people don’t see or feel the adverse effects until permanent damage has been done.

Many others though, are currently living in pain. Whether its neck pain, headache and migraine, fibromyalgia, TMJ, acid reflux or vertigo, people with these conditions can’t help but be reminded (every day in some cases) that they have a health issue.

Many of you with these conditions have been told by professionals that it’s in your head (fibromyalgia usually gets this response) or that there is nothing to be done for the condition.

If there is something to be done it usually involves prescription medicines, which can have dangerous and potentially life-threatening side effects. Often times, these medicines don’t treat the condition or the cure is worse than the treatment due to the harsh side effects of the medicine.

This is why I am so proud of my programs. They are all natural – no pills to remember to take. They are easy to do breathing and relaxation exercises which provide, in most cases, near immediate relief. Client feedback from those who have been helped has been overwhelming!

I encourage you to explore my blog site today. There, you can find more detailed information on each of my programs (located on right side of page).

El331002

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Neck Pain Caused by Stress

December 18th, 2009

A friend of mine used to joke about a co-worker. Whenever a particular relative of the co-worker would call, she would develop neck pain which would worsen throughout the day and even cause her to miss work the next day.

My friend and her other co-workers thought at first that the neck pain suffering co-worker was perhaps, overly dramatic or even feigning her pain for attention.

It wasn’t until my friend started suffering from stress induced headaches that she realized how much in common neck pain and headache pain can be and how they can oftentimes intertwine.

Like headaches, most people will experience neck pain at least once in their lives. Also like headaches, for most people, neck pain is temporary and annoying, not debilitating.

The pain is defined as either acute (painful but temporary) but for others the condition is considered chronic (lasting several weeks or longer).

Symptoms can include: sharp or dull pain in the neck, a “stiff” feeling in the neck, dizziness, difficulty swallowing, gland swelling and shoulder, back or headache pain on the same side as the neck pain.

The most common cause of acute neck pain is poor posture and/or overuse of the supporting neck muscles.

Neck pain can also be caused by disease (arthritis, degenerative disc disease) or trauma (whiplash, pinched nerve).

Stress induced neck pain is not so commonly heard of because many people don’t realize what is causing the pain. The cause is less tangible.

With economic concerns, demands on your time from your job, family, friends or a combination of those, it’s no wonder that the body has trouble “letting go.” The muscle tension fails to ease and pain and stiffness become the natural result.

If you don’t find a way to deal with this stress, the condition won’t get better but may in fact become a chronic condition. Add to that additional symptoms of stress such as insomnia and difficulty concentrating and you are just asking for poor posture at work and in bed.

Ways to help reduce the stress which is causing the pain include eating a healthy diet, regular exercise to relax such as yoga, avoid over indulging in alcohol and taking at least 10 minutes for yourself each day. Even if this is simply putting your feet up and telling yourself to “relax.”

Regardless of your reason for neck pain, I highly recommend my Neck Pain Relief program. There is no strain involved, the exercises are simple to do and best of all, they don’t stress the already injured neck muscles.

EL331002

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Acid Reflux and Weight Gain – Are the Two Related?

December 14th, 2009

Gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD), also known as acid reflux, is where liquid or food comes up from the stomach into the esophagus, causing pain and/or heartburn.

Other symptoms in addition to heartburn (pain in the chest) include: nausea, vomiting, sore throat, burping, cough, wheezing, difficulty swallowing, sore throat, hoarse voice and in severe cases, vomiting blood, difficulty breathing and choking.

The lower esophageal sphincter (LED) muscles are responsible for closing and opening the esophagus and when working properly, maintain a pressure barrier against the stomach.

Sometimes these muscles either aren’t working properly due to congenital defects or certain traumas such as hiatal hernia. Although body posture, health and certain foods can trigger reflux on their own, having a preexisting LED muscle condition can be exacerbated by what one eats or drinks.

Historically, foods to avoid included caffeine, chocolate, onions, tomatoes and citrus, although recent research indicates that these may not necessarily be the triggers commonly thought to be.

The real culprits include high fat foods and greasy foods such as found in most fast foods. If you do eat these foods, they should be limited to only one meal a day if any.

Other ways to help avoid acid reflux include: avoid lying in an incline position after eating, elevating the head while sleeping, avoiding alcohol and tobacco and always drinking a full glass of water when taking medications.

A diet high in complex carbohydrates is recommended as foods such as bread, rice and pasta are easier on the stomach and tend to absorb stomach acid more easily.

Eating smaller meals is also very important because when we overeat, the stomach thinks that much more stomach acid is needed to digest the food. When this food or drink comes back up the esophagus, it is coated in stomach acid.

Treatment for GERD can include over the counter heartburn medications and prescription medications but one should be careful as many of these drugs have serious side effects and do not interact well with one another.

In extreme cases, surgery may be required, however, this is still no guarantee that symptoms will not return.

Maintaining a healthy weight is one key way to help avoid acid reflux. People suffering from obesity have an increased abdominal pressure which can trigger reflux.

Recent studies, however, indicate that even gaining small amounts of weight can bring about acid reflux. In fact, those who “yo-yo” with their weight are at an even greater risk than those who are consistently a few pounds overweight.

If maintaining a healthy weight is important to you due to acid reflux or just maintaining health, I highly encourage you to try my Weight Loss Breeze program. The natural exercises are easy to do and results are guaranteed!

EL331002

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Is My High Blood Pressure Medicine Making Me Gain Weight?

December 11th, 2009

Now is the time of year where it is definitely hard to resist temptation to overindulge in food.  For many of my clients however, they have a weight concern all year round due to their high blood pressure (hypertension) medication.

All high blood pressure medications are prescription medicines and should be respected as the potentially dangerous drugs that they are.

Side effects of many high blood pressure medications can include:  marked, weight gain, fluid retention, nausea, vomiting, diarrhea,  (due to vomiting and diarrhea most likely), skin rashes, extreme tiredness, weakness, leg cramps, constipation, bleeding gums, frequent urination (especially at night), low potassium, dry mouth, vertigo (dizziness), headache, excessive hair growth, insomnia, nightmares, cold hands and feed and sensitivity to sunlight.

Because of fluid retention, lethargy, lack of sleep (we compensate by gaining lost energy from food) and depression, it’s no wonder that people reduce or stop exercising and quite frequently turn to food for comfort.  What comes next?  We gain weight of course.

While some only gain a few pounds, many patients have reported gaining in excess of a hundred pounds over the course of a year!  This would, in turn put that person in the obesity category, if he or she weren’t already there, which in turn, would lead to a new risk factor for high blood pressure.

Other serious side effects include:  gout, increased blood sugar (especially bad for diabetics), low blood pressure, slow heart beat, fast heart beat, birth defects and death in fetuses of pregnant women, erectile dysfunction, depression, and get this – risk of heart attack!

In addition to high blood pressure, the patient is now at greater risk for developing diabetes, osteoarthritis, metabolic syndrome and high cholesterol.

If the high blood pressure didn’t make you depressed, weight gain and other associated obesity related diseases certainly would.

What happens quite frequently is that the patient will either stop taking or greatly reduce the amount of high blood pressure medication he or she is taking.  One should never stop taking prescription medications before consulting a doctor.

Believe me when I say I understand how difficult it can be to convince a physician that medicine isn’t the best option for you.  If you are currently taking medicine for high blood pressure, try adding a few natural approaches to lower your blood pressure in order to convince your doctor that you can reduce or eliminate the medicine?

A few ways for you to help lower blood pressure without medication include:  Stop smoking, avoid over indulging in alcohol, maintain a healthy weight, reduce sodium in the diet and reduce stress.

I also highly recommend my High Blood Pressure program.  It’s all natural, easy to get started and easy to maintain consistency.  Best of all, my program works!

If weight loss is your concern, I also recommend my Weight Loss Breeze program.  The simple to do exercises have proven results!

EL331002

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Headache Caused by Neck Pain – It’s a Common Complaint

December 7th, 2009

As a long time neck pain sufferer (more than 10 years before I found relief), I have not only sympathy for my clients who complain of this ailment but also a great deal of empathy.

I’ve always been a positive upbeat person but I will admit that after living with chronic neck pain and associated side affects like headaches, even I wanted to throw in the towel more than once.

If you are frequently experiencing headaches as a result of neck pain, one clear indicator will be stiffness or pain in the posterior neck muscles (back of the neck). 

Generally these types of headaches are mild to severe with no throbbing sensation.  The pain is generally alleviated when pressure is applied to the neck muscles.  Pain generally lasts between a few hours and a few days.

The pain is generally on one side of the head and sometimes the shoulder of the same side but can sometimes spread to both sides of the head.

In some cases, the headache can worsen and symptoms of migraine headache can occur.  The following symptoms have also been reported:  nausea, vomiting, dizziness, blurred vision on the side of the headache, difficulty swallowing and sensitivity to light and sound.

They are most often caused by overuse of the neck muscles, stress and poor posture.  The poor posture is generally a forward extension of the head and rounded back.

Take a moment while you are reading this article and notice your posture.  Is it the very posture I just referred to above? 

This is typical of computer users.  These days, there’s very few of us who don’t spend at least a couple of hours per day on the computer.

How could this be?  Think about positioning a bowling ball on top of your head.  If your posture is perfectly correct, this would be no problem.  Now lean forward just a few inches – it’s now nearly impossible!  Don’t underestimate just how heavy your head is in relation to the neck that’s supporting it.

Neck related headaches account for 20% of headaches, with women are reporting this type of headache 4 times as much as men.  In an effort not to sound gender biased I encourage you to do “people watch.”  How many men compared to women tend to stand with their shoulders straight and head up?

Of course, correcting one’s posture is the simplest answer to correcting neck related headaches along with an ergonomic chair if you sit all day at a computer.

Sometimes though, as in my case, my neck pain was caused by trauma and I was therefore, compensating by using other muscles including jaw muscles and shoulder muscles.

This is why I highly recommend my all natural Neck Pain No More  program.  There is no strain involved,  the exercises are simple to do and best of all, they don’t stress the already injured neck muscles which have cause you to seek relief!

El331002

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Health Benefits of Spinach – It’s a Super Food for Certain!

December 4th, 2009

“Eat your spinach so you can be strong like Popeye!” While still a child, I couldn’t quite put my finger on it but now as an adult, I understand – my mother and the cartoon creator were part of a propaganda conspiracy towards children.

What I also didn’t realize then is just how amazing the health benefits of spinach are. Spinach is at the top of the super foods list for a reason.

Just take a look at all of the nutrients provided in spinach: vitamin K, vitamin A, folate, magnesium, manganese, Vitamin C, iron, vitamin B2 (riboflavin), potassium, calcium, vitamin E, dietary fiber, folic acid, carotenoids, lutein, omega 3 fatty acids, protein, vitamin B1 (thiamin), vitamin B3 (niacin), phosphorus, zinc and the list goes on!

Why are these important for health? Let’s start with vitamins A, C, folic acid, dietary fiber and magnesium. These nutrients have been long known for their abilities to ward off cancer, especially lung, breast and colon cancers.

Additionally, folic acid is also important in that it helps prevent a certain birth defect that happens during the first two weeks of pregnancy - before most women even realize they are pregnant. If one keeps in mind that half of all pregnancies are unplanned, this is especially important.

Vitamin A and C are also excellent antioxidants. They actually help prevent the ability of cholesterol to stick to artery walls, which allows for better blood and oxygen flow to the major organs including the heart and brain, thus preventing heart attacks and stroke.

Lutein in spinach has been found to help prevent cataracts. The riboflavin in spinach has shown promise in preventing migraine attacks. The calcium content in spinach is excellent for bone strength and has shown to help prevent against osteoporosis.

A recent study has shown that ingesting 3 servings of dark leafy greens like spinach (kale, collards, Swiss chard, turnip greens and bok choy are also nutrient rich like spinach) per day helped ward of age related memory loss and mental decline by up to 40%!

The iron in spinach is an excellent source for energy which can in turn lead to more physical activity, which can then lead to weight loss and improved muscle tone. At only 40 calories per cup (uncooked), and with more than twice the fiber than regular lettuce, this is a salad which will fill you up.

Unlike the Popeye cartoon, the best way to retrieve the nutrients in spinach is to consume it uncooked as with a spinach salad. Cooked spinach, however, is full of flavor and is quite versatile – it can easily be added to foods for extra taste and nutritional content.

It can be added to lasagna and other pasta dishes, soups and many other meals in order to easily help fulfill your daily dietary needs.

Spinach is great for heart and health but if you have specific concerns, I highly recommend both my High Blood Pressure program and my Weight Loss Breeze program. These programs are all natural, and easy to get started. Best of all, they work!

EL331002

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Weight Gain During the Holidays – Is This a Certainty?

November 30th, 2009

“Is this going to be enough to feed 10 people?” This is a question my wife asks me at the grocery store each time we host a family event at the holidays. My response (albeit, only in my head) is, “This will be enough to feed 30 people!”

While humorous, I doubt anyone reading this would be surprised by the above story. Thanksgiving seems to be the holiday in which we begin to overindulge. No end is generally in sight until after New Year’s Day.

Why do we overeat during the holidays? One reason is that the holidays, as enjoyable as they are, are also stressful for many. Fretting about all that is needed to be done to accommodate friends and family (time consuming, extra burden financially, appearing to enjoy ourselves every little minute, etc.) can lead to stress eating.

Even if things go seamlessly, the idea of watching one’s calories can just go out the door any time anyone introduces more than 3 courses to a meal. With all the food involved and the need, oftentimes, not to offend anyone, we ingest 3 or 4 times what we should.

Don’t underestimate the power of “group think.” If everyone else at the table is going back for seconds or even thirds, the one person who eats “normal” proportions is the oddball.

I actually had a relative half-jokingly say to me, “I don’t know if I want another helping or if I’m going to be sick.”

What can we do to avoid the temptation of overeating during the holidays? First, find out why you are overeating. Are you overeating because you don’t want to miss out on all of the great foods (many of which you don’t eat any other time of the year)?

If so, don’t feel that you can’t eat all of the foods you want. Just make sure to limit your portions. If there are 10 courses, don’t cram all the food you can onto one plate or go back for seconds because you missed out, just put a couple of bites of each on your plate.

While we’re on the topic, if it is within your control, eat off of a smaller plate and with a smaller fork. I know it may seem nonsensical but it does actually help a lot.

Additionally, limit the amount of food you take home with you. It’s a lot easier to not overeat when the food isn’t around. Keep in mind that yes, it’s wasteful to throw out food but is it worse than abusing your body by eating it?

If your motivation for overeating is fear of offending a loved one who is pushing food on you, politely decline extra portions. For those who are truly offended, they are the ones who have the problem – not you.

If you do happen to “fall off the wagon,” don’t wait for your New Year’s resolution to kick in (most of us don’t keep them). Take a walk after dinner or add a few minutes to your workout. If you don’t regularly exercise, start now.

If you are looking for a way to lose weight with an all natural program, I hope you will try my Weight Loss Breeze program. It’s easy to do and best of all, I guarantee results! Try it now before the holiday overeating madness starts – you’ll just be that much further ahead come New Year’s day!

EL331002

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