Is it true or just plain misconception that acid reflux affects only stressed out adults and not youngsters?

Studies show that the above statement is just a misconception, and that more than 5% of youngsters in the age bracket of 10 to 17 years suffer from acid reflux. And the figure continues to increase in the age bracket of 18-25 years.

The ‘Ashlee Simpson incident’

Doctors knew all along that kids too can suffer from acid reflux, but the general public became aware of this fact only when pop star Ashlee Simpson was reported to be suffering from acid reflux. While performing on Saturday Night Live in October 2004, her condition became so bad that she had to lip-sync her own song on live TV. Ashlee’s representatives claimed that acid reflux had caused damage to her vocal cards. She was all of twenty years old at the time.

Insomnia, a health condition that was earlier only prevalent in adults, is now fast affecting teens too. Recent studies have shown that while teenagers should ideally sleep for 9 hours, many young adults today sleep for just 7 hours and 53 minutes on an average.

Lack of Sleep and Depression

Studies show that lack of sleep and depression are interlinked. Lack of sleep fuels depression in teenagers just as it does in adults.

Studies show that teenagers who sleep less than 5 hours have a 71% risk of developing symptoms associated with depression. Another startling figure that studies report is that teenagers who stay up late after midnight are at a 20% increased risk of getting clinically depressed and having thoughts of suicide. It isn’t without reason then, that the moniker “Early to bed, early to rise, makes a man healthy and wise” is still so prevalent to this day.

High blood pressure or hypertension, as it is commonly known, has no cure. However, with the right treatment and by making positive changes in your lifestyle, this very common health condition can be controlled.

A new surgery to control hypertension

Medical scientists in Britain have shown that the condition of high blood pressure can be effectively controlled by a simple and short surgical process known as the rental sympathetic-nerve ablation.

Mel Lobo, who is a specialist at Britain’s National Health Service, is very upbeat about this new development and believes that this surgery could be a colossal step towards curing high blood pressure- ever since the high blood pressure treatment was developed nearly fifty years ago.

Check out the questionnaire section below to learn more about this wonder surgery.

Until now, LDL or bad cholesterol has been believed to cause most health conditions that occur due to high levels of cholesterol in the blood. But now, it seems LDL has an accomplice. The New England Journal of Medicine has recently published a study which shows that a new constituent of cholesterol also has a damaging effect. The name of this new component is Lipoprotein (LP).

LP plays a significant role in causing cardiovascular diseases.  The reasons for high levels of LDL and LP in the human body are different; while the high LDL levels are typically the result of poor eating habits and lifestyle, the latter is inherited and its levels cannot be managed by altering diet or lifestyle. However, medicines such as CETP inhibitors and Niacin are available and help in reducing the levels of LP.

The bigger culprit

Research shows that LDL is the bigger culprit between the two. Martin Farrall, a leading researcher, states that the risk associated with high levels of LDL is more pronounced than the high levels of LP. He also said that one in every six individuals carry the gene(s) for LP.

The next time your hand reaches out for a sleeping pill because you are unable to sleep, stop it!

Sleeping pills are addictive and are not the answer to your prayers for sound sleep. At some point, we have a problem with sleep, but this does not mean we should pop a sleeping pill to get that much needed sound sleep. Two valid reasons why we should resist taking sleeping pills are:

• Sleeping pills are addictive, and over a period time, the dosage increases; as such, a stage may come where even a heavy dosage will not be able to provide you a good night’s sleep.
• Sleeping pills come bundled with many discomforting side effects, some of which include: drowsiness, slow motor reactions, and lack of focus.

Natural remedies that help you sleep better

When battling with poor sleep, some introspection can be helpful. Your present condition may be the result of anxiety or stress, and tackling those aspects that are causing you stress may help you sleep better. At times, external factors such as a discomforting bed can also cause sleeplessness.

Whatever be the cause of your inability to sleep well, here are some tips that you can use to improve your condition:

• Drink a glass of milk before going to bed
• Take a warm shower or listen to music before bedtime, as they both help in relaxing your nerves.
• Use herbs to relax your tense muscles.

Herbs can help immensely in improving the quality of your sleep, and they don’t have any side effects. You can even grow some herbs such as catnip in your own backyard and use it when required.

Another herb that helps improve sleep is chamomile. Chamomile contains apigenin, which has a soothing effect on our nerves and induces sleep. This herb is a very safe option, as even pregnant or breastfeeding women can use it to improve their sleep.

Other herbs that help in soothing your nerves include: kava, lavender, lemon balm, valeria root, and hops. Most of these herbs can be easily found in any herbal store near your home. All these are beneficial, and you can choose the one that suits you best.

Besides herbs, do some physical activity daily to sleep better. If you’re having trouble sleeping, use some natural remedies to get rid of that morning grogginess. To learn more on how to sleep better, check out our insomnia guide. 

EL331015

Dementia is a condition of progressive deterioration in cognitive function. As dementia is a progressive condition, the condition of the patients deteriorates with each passing day. As of now, there is no cure for this disease.

Gingko Biloba is a natural herb that helps dementia patients by improving their memory. However, various studies conducted so far to determine the efficacy of various herbs in controlling diseases like dementia have produced contradictory results.

Studies that support Gingko Biloba’s claim

Dr. Joe Mercola in 2002 reviewed 33 clinical trials that were conducted by the researchers at Cochrane Collaboration, and stated that Gingko Biloba, along with various dietary supplements, can help in bettering the memory of dementia patients.

Those who suffer from acid reflux know that this health condition typically reoccurs time and again if the root problem is not addressed. Acid reflux is a health condition in which the gastric acid produced by our body regurgitates upwards. The most common symptoms of this health condition include: heartburn, pain in the chest or neck, and vomiting.

Allopathic treatment for Acid Reflux

The stages of acid reflux can be broadly divided into two categories: mild and severe.

Hypertension or high blood pressure is different from other life-threatening health conditions in the sense that unlike other serious health conditions, symptoms of hypertension are not easily noticeable. And due to this specific reason, hypertension is often called the silent killer.

Hypertension can be fatal, as the condition affects various organs, none more than the heart and kidney.

Is conventional treatment best for elderly hypertension patients?

As of now, elderly hypertension patients (patients that are above 80 years) are given the same treatment as younger hypertensive patients. However, recent studies point that current treatment for elderly hypertensive patients may not be in their best interest. In fact, some studies advocate that current treatments are too aggressive for hypertension patients above 80 years.