Finding natural ways to combat common medical problems is always exciting. Many of us prefer to get away from drugs as they are costly and can cause their own side effects. Sometimes plant-based supplements are useful; other times, particular foods provide the nutrients we need to help fight illness. You will find with beta sitosterol different treatment uses providing a varying degree of effectiveness. Use your own judgement as a consumer and make your choices depending on personal health concerns.

For example, prostate enlargement is prevalent among all men of a certain age. Though often benign, the consequences can be uncomfortable, such as having to pee frequently with little flow. Beta sitosterol, a phytosterol or phytochemical naturally occurring in plants, has been proven in clinical trials to reduce prostate enlargement and restore flow.

Researchers continue to study the use of this antioxidant on cancer patients as more research needs to be done before a definitive statement can be made as to its effectiveness. Still, some promising results see benefits to patients with breast or colon cancer. This plant based nutrient could given help to prescribed medicines given to fight tumors while protecting healthy cells from damage.

Another example applies to cholesterol levels, a topic of great concern to those worried about developing heart disease. There is a chance that beta sitosterol will reduce cholesterol absorption. Phytosterols generally do, in spite of the fact that they are plant oils. This news is of particular importance to those at risk of or currently experiencing atherosclerosis and is ironic, too, since the plant based supplement resembles cholesterol in its make up.

For those looking to supplement their diets with this compound, look to a menu rich in plant-based proteins and fats. For example, wheat germ and rice bran contain it. Other natural sources include peanuts and soy beans. One way to keep your food nutritionally whole is to resist over-processing it. Do not overcook food and purchase items which have not been modified or only very little. Freezing can also alter the composition of foods, so try to eat fresh or consume the phytosterols in your freezer quickly.

Consumers who dislike these natural sources might look to their health food store or pharmacy for advice. Natural supplements like saw palmetto contain the compound. With so many antioxidants on the market, just read your labels and you are likely to find beta sitosterol listed among some of the ingredients.

Chronic Fatigue Syndrome is a common but poorly understood illness that can cause a wide range of symptoms. CFS is widespread in the United States. Although it can occur at any age, it usually hits between the ages of 20-40. Chronic Fatigue Syndrome mainly affects women but can affect men as well. It can come and go and ranges in severity of symptoms. Depending on the symptoms, Chronic Fatigue Syndrome can make living a normal life very difficult.

There are a wide range of symptoms one can have when they suffer from CFS. The most common symptom and hallmark of this illness is severe, disabling fatigue and exhaustion. This symptomm is one of many that can occur with chronic fatigue syndrome.

Other common symptoms often found in CFS suffers are: all over weakness, sleep disorders, aching muscles and joints, loss of appetite, headaches, swollen lymph nodes in neck or armpits, sore throats, mild fever, intestinal problems, anxiety, depression and mental confusion.

No one knows the exact cause of chronic fatigue syndrome but it commonly shows up after a viral illness. There are common theories as to the cause of CFS including; prior contraction of Epstein-Barr Virus. Other experts believe that CFS is related to a problem with immune function in one’s system. Blood pressure, chemical sensitivities and other theories are also being studied.

In Chronic Fatigue Syndrome, there are many variables that can contribute to the severity of symptoms one experiences. Some sufferers are laid up in bed for weeks at a time, some just a few days and then there are some who lead their normal lifestyle. However difficult or cumbersome your symptoms are it is important to remember that there are steps you can take to improve your symptoms.

The important factor for CFS sufferers to focus on is to remember that there is good treatment to relieve fatigue and suffering. There are many natural treatments and supplements you can take to increase energy, decrease pain, reduce anxiety and depression. There is hope.

Chronic Fatigue Syndrome sufferers find great relief when implementing a natural treatment plan that incorporates a detoxification, rejuvenation, and maintenance system. These three components work together to build an environment where your body can heal itself. You can relieve the exhaustion and pain associated with chronic fatigue syndrome.

Chronic Fatigue Syndrome is a mysterious illness but there is good help out there to help you cope with your condition. Research the treatment options available to you and start experiencing life with much more energy and less pain.

Copyright (c) 2007 Hailey Harris

Morning Stretches

Stretch-1: 5-10 times

• Lie on your back with your knees bent so that your feet can rest flat on the floor.
• Grip the underside of your thighs with your hands.
• Pull your legs to your chest, or as close as you comfortably can.
• Hold this stretch for 15 seconds before returning to a resting position.

Stretch-2: 10 times

• Lie on your stomach, supporting your upper body with your elbows and forearms.
• Stretch your elbows and arms so that your back is extended and stretching.
• Hold at a gentle stretch for 15-20 seconds before returning to a rest.

Stretch-3: Once

• Start the same as Stretch-1: flat on your back, legs bent with feet flat against the ground.
• Lift your upper back off the ground using your abdominal muscles.
• Hold for a long 10 seconds if you can, then gently lower yourself back down.

Stretch-4: Until tired

• Sit in a chair, feet resting flat on the floor.
• Bend the back and neck until your chest rests again your thighs.
• Hold for 10 seconds before returning to the initial position. You should feel the stretch.

Good Posture

Posture might be the most important thing for backs. Short of walking around with a yard-stick in the back of your trousers, here is what you can do to fix your back.

When standing, hold your chest high, shoulders back (not tense), abs and butt tight, with your feet an even distance apart and sharing the weight. Your head should be looked straight ahead and your knees should never lock.

When sitting, rest your feet flat on the floor, back flat against the chair, chin tucked in a bit, shoulders relaxed, and back straight. Try to imagine a line shooting from your neck and head directly to the ceiling. It might help to cushion your lower back also.

What to Eat and Drink

There are some basic principles when deciding what to eat. High protein, high fiber, and high in minerals like magnesium, iron, and copper. With that in mind, here are some perfect foods for sufferers of back pain:

• Avocados
• Nuts, specifically Almonds and Pecans
• Soy Beans and Tofu
• Spinach, which is better for you cooked

You should also take a multivitamin.

Doing these stretches and taking good care of your back is really hard to do when your have near crippling pain preventing you from even thinking straight, never mind standing or sitting straight. That’s why so many people turn to Carisoprodol to ease their pain. It’s important to remember that you have to keep working at it once you’re on Carisoprodol in order to keep back pain at bay. And take it easy. You can’t be on Carisoprodol forever, but you can make your back feel at peace.

So can hair loss drugs beat heredity? As always, the answer needs a little explanation. It starts easily enough. No drug on the market can prevent you from losing hair. Your body is designed to shed hairs everyday. Under normal circumstances, they grow back. Worse, as we age, more hair will drop out. That’s also unstoppable. So it does not look good for the drugs. Unlike heart disease where there are drugs to prevent the first symptoms from developing into the disease, nothing beats your body clock’s determination to shed hairs every day as you age.

What’s the genetic reality? As you probably know, men are XY and women are XX. When babies are made, each parent contributes half the genetic make-up of the child. Mothers can only give one of their X chromosomes so it’s the man who decides on the sex of the baby by either contributing an X or Y chromosome. Because of the work to analyze genes, we now know the genes controlling hair loss come in the X chromosome. That means whether you get to lose your hair early is decided by your mother’s family line. If there’s a bald maternal grandfather hiding just out of focus in old photographs, that’s probably going to be you.

How is this helping? Well, if you have the wrong genes, your hair follicles are going to react to the arrival of dihydrotestosterone (DHT) by slowing down the growth of hair. What does grow will emerge thinner and more likely to fall out of the roots. That’s why you start going bald. Hair that drops early tends not to regrow. DHT is produced in the adrenal gland and this is what keeps men male, i.e. it reinforces the usual male “characteristics”. With the wrong genes, this triggers hair loss on the scalp – not the rest of the body. This is where Propecia comes in. It prevents your adrenal gland from manufacturing DHT out of “ordinary” testosterone. Without there being the same level of DHT in your bloodstream, your hair keeps on growing. So Propecia does not beat heredity. Rather it carefully gets round it and lets you keep your hair. This makes the advertising so clever. It’s not unfair to claim a drug like Propecia can beat heredity. You beat someone or something by going around it. Winning is not always a battle to the death where one side batters the other into submission. Winning can be sneaky. That does not make the ads deceptive either. They are just elegantly playing with words to make you want to buy. Better still, the drug works so, if you buy, you are a winner!

For the African-American community, sickle cell disease is a major health issue. Sickle cell disease can also affect Mediterranean, Middle Eastern, and Asian Indian ancestry, and there is a growing segment in the Latino-American population particularly those of Caribbean, Central American, and South American ancestry. In the United States one out of every 400 births has this disease. The most common type of sickle cell disease is sickle cell anemia.

Definition and Description of Sickle Cell Disease

Sickle cell disease is a group of inherited blood disorders that center on red blood cells which can function abnormally resulting in small blood clots, chronic anemia, painful events, and potential complications associated with tissue and organ damage. These blood disorders include sickle cell anemia, Mediterranean blood disease, the sickle beta thalassemia syndromes, and hemoglobinopathies in which the sickle cell hemoglobin is in association with other abnormal hemoglobin in sufficient concentration to cause the red blood cell to sickle.

All types of sickle cell disease are caused by a genetic change in the hemoglobin portion of the red blood cell. Hemoglobin is the oxygen-carrying protein inside the red blood cell. Normal red blood cells are oval and flexible. Red blood cells in sickle cell disease have a tendency to reshape themselves into rod-like structures that resemble the curved blade of a sickle; thus, the term sickle cell. Sickle cells have a shorter life span than normal red blood cells. This results in chronic anemia and reduced oxygen to the tissues of the body. Sickle cells are less flexible and more sticky than normal red blood cells. This presents a problem since they can become trapped in the small blood vessels preventing blood flow to the body’s tissues. This compromise in the delivery of oxygen to the tissues results in pain and potential damage to the associated tissues and organs.

Carriers of the sickle cell gene are referred to as having sickle cell trait. Most of the time sickle cell trait does not cause health problems. In fact, sickle cell trait can be beneficial because it provides protection against malaria, a disease caused by blood-borne parasites transmitted through mosquito bites. It is estimated that one in 12 African-Americans has sickle cell trait.

The Cause of Sickle Cell Disease!

The hemoglobin molecule of a red blood cell is made up of three components: heme, alpha or alpha-like globin, and beta or beta-like globin. Sickle cells contain a genetic change in the beta globin component of the hemoglobin molecule. This is caused by a change in the genetic coding on chromosome 11. One small change in a single DNA nucleotide results in a different amino acid being inserted into the beta globin protein of the hemoglobin molecule resulting in the unique properties of sickle cells. For simplicity we will call this altered gene the “sickle cell gene” and the regular gene the “normal red blood cell gene.”

For most individuals, they have two copies of the “normal red blood cell gene” to produce normal beta globin resulting in typical red blood cells. Individuals with sickle cell trait have one “normal red blood cell gene” and one “sickle cell gene” so they produce both normal red blood cells and sickle cells in roughly equal proportions. Because of this they do not usually experience significant health problems as a result of having sickle cell trait. Those with sickle cell anemia have two “sickle cell genes.”

Genetics plays a significant role in both the disease, symptoms, and in family planning. If both members of a couple have sickle cell trait then there is a 25% chance in each pregnancy for the baby to inherit two sickle cell genes and the resulting child will have sickle cell anemia. Correspondingly, there is a 50% chance the baby will have sickle cell trait and a 25% chance that the baby will have the “normal red blood cell genes”. If both members of a couple have sickle cell anemia then the baby will have sickle cell anemia 100% of the time. If one member of the couple has sickle cell anemia and the other has both “normal red blood cell genes”, then the resulting child will have sickle cell trait 100% of the time. Finally, if one member of the couple has sickle cell trait and the other has both “normal red blood cell genes”, then the resulting child has a 50% chance of have normal red blood cell hemoglobin or a 50% chance of having sickle cell trait.

The Need for Oxygen!

Oxygen is necessary for life and the optimal function of all cells. Red blood cells transport oxygen from the lungs to the tissues throughout your body. It is the hemoglobin molecule that binds oxygen to itself in the lungs and then releases oxygen to the tissues for proper cell respiration. However, once the oxygen is released by the sickle cell hemoglobin it can cause the red blood cell to alter its normal oval shape into the rigid, sickle shape characteristic of sickle cells. Low oxygen can be a trigger for this change. Studies also seem to indicate that cold temperatures and dehydration can be factors in triggering this change.

Normal red blood cells can survive for approximately 120 days where as sickle cells typically last 10-12 days. This is an important factor because it leaves the bloodstream chronically short of red blood cells and hemoglobin which leads to anemia. This creates its own shortage of oxygen which could trigger a shape change in the red blood cell to the sickle shape. This rigid, sickle shape does not allow the sickle cell to fit well through small blood vessels. In addition, there are altered chemical properties that develop which increases the cells’ “stickiness”. That is why sickle cells tend to adhere to the inside surfaces of small blood vessels and other blood cells resulting in blockages in these blood vessels. These blockages prevent oxygenated blood from reaching tissue areas resulting in pain and possibly organ and tissue damage if kept without oxygen long enough.

Common symptoms include the following:

o Bloody urine, frequent urination

o Bone and/or abdominal pain, chest pain

o Delayed growth and puberty

o Excessive thirst

o Fatigue, breathlessness, rapid heart rate

o Increased susceptibility to infections, fever

o Pain which can vary from moderate to intense

o Paleness, yellow eyes and/or skin, jaundice

o Poor eyesight or blindness

o Ulcers on the lower legs usually in adolescents and adults

The severity of symptoms varies widely and cannot be predicted solely on genetic inheritance. Some with sickle cell disease develop health and life threatening problems in infancy while others only have mild symptoms throughout their lives. Others experience various degrees of health issues as they age. Certain variations of sickle cell disease tend to have less severe symptoms on average than other types of sickle cell disease.

Organs and Body Systems Affected by Sickle Cell Disease

Various organs and body systems can be effect by sickle cell disease. As you will see from this list, sickle cell disease has a wide range of effects on the body. Bottom line is that any tissue that needs oxygen and adequate blood flow can be at risk.

o Acute Chest Syndrome – Acute chest syndrome or ACS is a leading cause of death for those with sickle cell disease. It takes place in the lungs and rapid diagnosis and treatment is very important. ACS can occur at any age. It is similar to pneumonia in symptoms but distinct in its damage.

o Anemia – As we learned early, sickle cells have a life span of 10-12 days resulting in a deficiency of red blood cells in the bloodstream. It is the hemoglobin of red blood cells that carry oxygen so with this deficiency there is a reduction in oxygen to the tissues. Common symptoms of anemia include fatigue, paleness, and a shortness of breath. The heart rate will increase to try to circulate more blood to make up for the lack of oxygen to the tissues.

o Delayed Growth – Because of the short life span of sickle cells, the energy demands of the bone marrow to produce more red blood cells compete with the demands of a growing body. Children with sickle cell anemia may experience delayed growth and reach puberty at a later age. However, by early adulthood, they catch up on growth and height but may still remain below average in weight.

o Infections and the Spleen – Children under the age of three with sickle cell disease are particularly susceptible to life-threatening bacterial infections especially from Streptococcus pneumoniae. Unfortunately, 15% of these types of cases result in death. Since your spleen helps to fight bacterial infections, it is particularly vulnerable to the effects of sickle cells. It is not uncommon to see the loss of spleen function by late childhood for those with sickle cell anemia.

o Jaundice and Gallstones – Jaundice is indicated by a yellow tone in the skin and eyes due to increased levels of bilirubin which is the final product of hemoglobin degradation when red blood cells are destroyed. Bilirubin is removed from the bloodstream by the liver and elevated levels can increase the chance for gallstones.

o Joint Problems – The blood supply to the connective tissue, especially in the hip and shoulder joints, can be blocked by the sickle cells resulting in bone damage and poor healing. This complication can affect an individual’s physical abilities and result in substantial and chronic pain.

o Kidney Disease – Kidneys are particularly prone to damage from sickle cells. Adults with sickle cell disease often experience reduce functioning of the kidneys which can progress to kidney failure.

o Painful Events – This is the hallmark symptom of sickle cell disease. The frequency and duration varies tremendously from individual to individual and over an individual’s lifetime. These painful events are also the most common cause for hospitalization. The hallmark symptom results when the small blood vessels become blocked by the sickle cells preventing oxygen from reaching the tissues. Although pain can affect any area of the body, the most frequent sites are the extremities, chest, abdomen, and bones.

o Priapism – Only males have to deal with this since it is a condition characterized by a persistent and painful erection. Blood vessels become blocked by sickle cells so that blood is trapped in the tissue of the male’s organ. It is extremely painful and can result in damage to this tissue causing impotence.

o Retinopathy – The blood vessels that support the tissue at the back of the eye may be blocked by sickle cells resulting in a condition called retinopathy. Regular ophthalmology evaluations and effective treatment can help a person avoid permanent damage to their vision.

o Stroke – This is one of the most concerning complications of sickle cell disease since approximately 11% of individuals with this disease will have a recognizable stroke by the age of 20. Typically, a stroke in a person with sickle cell disease is caused by a blockage of a brain blood vessel by the sickle cells. This results in lack of oxygen to the affected area of the brain. The consequences are far ranging from undetectable effects to apparent or subtle learning disabilities to severe physical or cognitive impairment to life-threatening.

Diagnosis and Treatment

The inheritance of sickle cell disease or sickle cell trait cannot be prevented but it can be predicted so screening is recommended. If you exhibit symptoms, then contact your physician so that accurate tests can be done to determine if you carry the “sickle cell gene” and what level of risk you are at. For newborns, more than 40 states include sickle cell screening as part of the battery of blood tests. However, don’t just assume the test is done. You must always be proactive.

Hemoglobin trait screening is always a good choice for any person of a high-risk ethnic background especially if you are considering having children. If you and your partner are found to have sickle cell or other hemoglobin traits, then you might want to receive genetic counseling to better understand the risk of sickle cell disease for your offspring and various testing options available to you.

Treatment options are intended to prevent some of the symptoms and complications of sickle cell disease. These treatment options can include:

o Access to comprehensive health care

o Adequate nutrition

o Avoiding stresses and infection

o Blood transfusions

o Bone marrow transplantation

o Getting proper rest

o Good hydration

o Hydroxyurea

o Pain management

o Proper immunizations

o Supplementation with folic acid

o Support groups

o Surgery

o Use of preventative antibiotics

As with any disease condition, you want to always work with a qualified health professional to develop a course of action that best fits your individual situation.

There is new research that shows a direct correlation between nitric oxide deficiency and symptom severity for those with sickle cell anemia. Please see our companion article “14 Steps to Help Those With Sickle Cell Disease!” This article discusses the latest research and provides 14 suggestions you can use to help those with sickle cell disease.

In order to get a proper treatment, you should first be diagnosed with a particular sleep disorder affecting the quality of your sleep. The most common symptoms of sleep disorders are daytime drowsiness, concentration issues, irritability, mood swings, trouble staying awake while performing monotonous tasks, and eye discomfort among many others.

Some symptoms of sleep disorders can be really dangerous, such as drowsiness or falling asleep while performing hazardous activities, such as driving or operating machinery. Heavy consumption of caffeine throughout the day in order to stay awake can also be a sign of sleep problems.

People who suffer from sleep disorders usually have problems with getting asleep or staying asleep during the night, as well as a hard time staying awake in the daytime. Some of the commonly prescribed forms of treatment are addressing insomnia, sleep apnea, narcolepsy and restless leg syndrome.

Insomnia is virtually the most common type of sleep disorders, which can be both occasional and chronic. There is a wide range of causes for insomnia starting with stress and irregular sleep schedule to serious health conditions and medication side effects. There are some measures you can take to address insomnia without medications:

• Employ relaxation and special breathing techniques
• Practice yoga
• Be more physically active throughout the day

By avoiding certain food substance you can also improve the quality of your sleep:

• caffeine
• alcohol
• sugar

These measures can help if you experience occasional sleep disturbance. However, if the problem persists you may require serious medication treatment and prescription for drugs such as Ambien. Consult with your doctor concerning your insomnia problems and ask about forms of treatment you can benefit from.

Other types of sleep disorders usually require medication treatment form the start. Sleep apnea, another common sleep disorder is characterized by heavy snoring that causes sleep fragmentation and decrease in the quality of sleep. This is a serious condition that may lead to heart disease or stroke. Sleep apnea is often caused by blocking of the air passage, which makes the person choke literally during sleep.

Narcolepsy (excessive sleep) can also significantly reduce the quality of life of the person. Being an opposite of insomnia, this sleep disorder is characterized by occasional sleep attacks during the daytime. Imagine that happening while you’re driving a car – it’s a very serious health concern that should be addressed as soon as you experience the first symptoms.

Remember that any sleep disorder requires adequate diagnosis and treatment. It’s not bright to buy Ambien and use it just because you suspect having insomnia. Only a doctor can assess the problem and prescribe you with an adequate treatment. So as soon as you observe any signs of sleep disorders, go to your physician and discuss the problem with a professional.

Acne is not purely a skin issue

Dermatologists characterize acne breakouts as an inflammatory skin condition. External factors such as skin rich with oil (which is produced by the oil glands within the skin) are only contributing to the inflammation processes in the lower levels of the skin.

The most common consequence of increased oil production is the blockage of pores, which is the primary factor for acne formation. When the pore gets blocked with oil, the oil accumulated inside provides favorable conditions for bacterial activity and inflammation, which leads directly to the appearance of pimples on the skin.

So as you may see, acne is caused not only by bacterial activity, but has a combination of factors in its roots: activity of oil glands, skin type, pores, and certain internal processes that make the skin more prone to inflammation. That’s why it is hard to say that acne is only an external problem.

Why acne bacteria are important?

You are not mistaken, acne bacteria are important, just like any other kinds of bacteria you will find within your body. In fact typical acne bacteria can be found in just anyone’s skin, and not having them at all is more serious than having to deal with acne. The main purpose of these organisms is to protect the skin cells from other more aggressive types of bacteria that may cause harm to the body, and maintain the right chemical balance on the surface and within the skin.

Even if you don’t have acne breakouts, you still have plenty of acne bacteria on your skin, which feeds with the oil produced by the oil glands. This type of bacteria doesn’t spread on its own and cause inflammation when everything is OK. However, when numerous factors such as increased oil production and decrease immune levels combine, this harmless type of bacteria starts playing an important role in the formation of acne.

So, as you may guess, fighting acne by eliminating bacteria with antibiotics can be not only ineffective but also harmful, since you’re killing the useful bacteria and leave your skin unprotected from more virulent types of microorganisms.

What should be done?

The most obvious solution would be regulating the production of oil in the skin and improving the immune system. The firs goal can be achieved by using drugs like Accutane. Accutane is believed to be one of the most effective medications for treating even the most severe forms of acne. It works by regulating the activity of oil glands and decreasing the production of oil in the skin. The immune system can be strengthened by eating more fruits and vegetables, consuming dietary supplements containing vitamins and minerals. However, pay attention when using Accutane with vitamins (especially Vitamin A). Since this drug is a synthetic form of Vitamin A, combining it with additional supplements may result in Vitamin A overdose, which may cause serious side effects.

Consistent panic attacks are the marker of panic disorder, and panic attacks will vary from one individual to the next. In fact, panic attacks are so different that they will even vary from one to the next within the same individual. Many people that have experienced panic attacks in their life time, may not even be sure when they are experiencing one again, that’s how different they are. At the heart of every panic attack however is an extreme sense of fear, a sense of going crazy, or a feeling that one is going out of control completely. Attacks generally peak within the first ten to fifteen minutes, and rarely last longer than half an hour, but can continue for several hours depending on the trigger event. Shortness of breath and chest pains are also common during a panic attack, and many people will seek emergency care during these symptoms, particularly if they are not sure what is happening.

Panic Disorder is a very common disorder, but many people avoid treatment or seeking help because they don’t know much about it, and may feel embarrassed or abnormal for their intense symptoms. It is important to understand the facts about panic disorder, as this information alone will get you the treatment you need, and the quality of life you deserve. In America, 2.4 million people suffer from Panic Disorder, and women are two times more likely than men to suffer. Panic Disorder starts around mid-teens, and sometimes in early or mid-adulthood, and will start depending on when life begins to get more stressful. Research shows us that the earlier Panic Disorder begins, the more severe it has a tendency to be. Research also tells us that early diagnosis and treatment is critical in order to avoid suffering from depression or additional anxiety disorders.

The best news about Panic Disorder is that it is one of the most treatable types of anxiety disorders. Panic Disorder is frequently treated with medication such as Xanax in combination with other therapies such as cognitive or behavioural therapy. In addition, relaxation methods are taught to help individuals cope with their illness and find ways to relax and de-stress on their own. For many people, Panic Disorder is extremely debilitating, but with treatment combinations such as Xanax and cognitive therapy, you can resume a healthy and active high quality of life again.

The researcher took two groups of women aged between 43 and 80, lowering their daily intake by 750 calories a day over a period of 12 weeks. In the first group, half were given a diet without meat, relying on a vegetarian and diary diet (with eggs) to supply protein. The others ate higher amounts of protein in a diet containing lean meats like chicken and pork (the meat representing 40% of the food eaten). Interestingly, both groups an average of 19 pounds, but the meat-eaters lost bone density faster than those on a vegetarian diet. So, given there was no significant difference in the amount of weight lost, the vegetarian diet was safer over the longer term.

In the second group, the women all ate a diet of 1,250 calories per day for 9 weeks. Everyone had the same 1,000 calories as a vegetarian diet. One quarter took the additional 250 calories as chicken breast, the second as 250 calories of lean tenderloin beef, the third as shortbread cookies and sugar-coated chocolates, the remainder added 250 additional calories of vegetarian food. Again, all the women lost weight, but the three groups lost bone density against the low-protein vegetarian group.

Both studies suggest the need to look carefully at the source of the proteins you eat. This is not something you should aim to decide yourself. Discuss with a nutritionist how best to lose weight while maintaining the quality of muscle and bone. This is not to say this research is conclusive. In fact, it’s quite controversial. The problem with the studies is the short period of time and the small numbers of participants. The limit of twelve weeks does not give a reliable guide. All it shows is a trend that might not last and represent a danger. Equally, although it’s interesting a small number of women had this problem, it’s no guide the same will happen to large numbers of women. Nevertheless, safety first. Take supplements if you have a high meat content in your diet. If you feel hungry when you start reducing the calorie intake, Phentermine is the ideal partner in your weight loss program. It suppresses your appetite and keeps your motivation high while your body is adjusting to a lower food intake. Always remember never to take Phentermine for too long. Although it’s excellent moral support for short periods of time, you do not want to grow dependent. The price of losing weight should not be problems with Phentermine.

Compartment syndrome is a condition that develops when the pressure inside the fascia surrounding the muscles and bone increases without relief and can cause destruction of the capillaries and nerve cells inside. Compartment syndrome can develop in any of the compartments in the body but is most common in the lower leg. This may develop acutely, from an injury or other cause of immediate swelling, or chronically, as a result of overuse or other chronic swelling.

Pain, numbness, a feeling of pressure, and some swelling usually accompany this condition. Acute compartment syndrome is a medical emergency whereas the chronic syndrome, although still painful and a danger to the blood vessels and nerves, can be treated more conservatively. Both conditions must be treated, however, to prevent permanent damage to the injured area and those distal to the injury as well.

Athletes involved in high impact collision and contact sports, such as football and rugby, are more susceptible to acute compartment syndrome, while those involved in repetitive activities, such as running and jumping, may be more vulnerable to chronic compartment syndrome.

What is Compartment Syndrome?



Muscles are covered by tough fibrous tissue called fascia. This tissue wraps around the muscles and accompanying bone and holds it all in place, forming a compartment. The fascia is large enough to accommodate the bone, nerves, blood vessels, and muscle at its current size. There is just enough stretch in the fascia to allow the normal expansion of the muscle from increased blood flow due to exercise. If the muscle swells or blood collects inside the compartment the pressure will rise. If the pressure exceeds that of the capillaries (usually around 30 mmHG) they will begin to die. This in turn will cause death to the nerve and muscle tissue around them due to loss of blood supply.

Compartment Syndrome Types: Anterior and Posterior. Acute and Chronic.



Compartment syndrome is most common in the lower leg, although it can happen along any long bone, especially with a fracture. The quadriceps muscle is another likely candidate for this condition but due to its size and the lesser incidence of injury it is still far less common than lower leg compartment syndrome.

In the lower leg, compartment syndrome usually involves either the anterior compartment, over the front lateral side of the shin, or one of the posterior compartments, behind the tibia. The posterior area consists of the superficial compartment and the deep compartment. The lateral compartment is the fourth compartment in the lower leg. The anterior compartment is the most commonly injured of the four compartments.

Acute compartment syndrome results from trauma to the muscle or bone in the compartment. This trauma leads to bleeding inside the compartment. As the blood builds up in the compartment, with nowhere to go, the pressure increases. Because this happens at a fairly rapid rate (sometimes within minutes, other times over a period of hours) the pressure can build to a high level and cause serious damage to the nerves and blood vessels.

Chronic compartment syndrome is usually the result of overuse. The muscle becomes inflamed and swells over time and with rest returns to near normal. This causes pressures that are high at times and this high pressure over time can cause damage to the blood vessels and nerve tissue. The longer the pressure is elevated the more damage results.