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Breathing Difficulties? Anxiety & Panic Attacks

Breathing Difficulties? Anxiety & Panic Attacks

By Joanne King

“When I hit a bad time with my anxiety I get a very tight chest and my breathing all goes to pot. My breathing is then all I can think about and it starts to make me dizzy as I know I am breathing wrong.”

It was actually these symptoms that pushed me over the edge and lead me to experiment and finally seek a way out of my anxiety & panic disorder.

A test you can perform on yourself to see if you are breathing correctly is:

Place your hand across your tummy. If you feel your hand rise on inhale and your hand fall on exhale then you are breathing correctly. If you feel little to no movement at all then you are breathing in correctly.

If you own a copy of “How to Overcome Anxiety & Panic Attacks” then refer to chapter 8 – Breathing Techniques – As this is where I go into detail and show a proper breathing exercise specifically for anxiety & panic sufferers.

Another nifty little trick you can try to put it at ease and hopefully stop it before it gets to the extent of dizzy spells is:

Place your hand across your nose and mouth and concentrate on the breath you feel against the palm of your hand. This will reassure you that you are definitely still breathing and will help prevent you from hyperventilating so you can get back into a normal breathing pattern again.

Anxiety Get more information like this for free by joining our free newsletter at: www.anxiety-panic-free.com

Article Source: EzineArticles.com/?expert=Joanne_King

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Manic Depression

Manic Depression

By Steve Valentino

Manic depression, or bipolar disorder, is a type of mood disorder that goes beyond the day’s ordinary ups and downs. It is characterized by periodic episodes of extreme elation, elevated mood, or irritability countered by periodic classic depressive symptoms.

It is a condition in which people have mood swings that are far beyond what most people experience in the course of their lives. These mood swings may be low, as in depression, or high, as in periods when one feels very elated. These high periods are known as “manic” phases. Many sufferers have both high and low phases, but some will only experience either depression or mania.

It is not related to substance abuse, and includes a number of disturbances in behavior and thinking that results in significant life adjustment problems. This usually occurs in stages where at one end there is severe depression, which turns into moderate depression; then becomes the mild and brief mood disturbances that many people call “the blues,” then normal mood returns, then hypomania, and then mania.

Along a continuum it can be described as:

Normal state of happiness, pleasure, joy

Moderate elations of hypomanic or Cyclothymic personality, with heightened self-esteem, increased creativity and work ability, decreased need for sleep

Mania stage wherein disturbances in social and physiological functions takes place and

Delirious or psychotic Mania stage consisting of severe overactivity, hostile attitude, destruction of property, violent behavior, paranoid delusions and hallucinations.

These manic episodes are characterized by extreme irritability and distractibility, excessive euphoric feelings, sustained periods of unusual behavior with significant risk-taking, increased energy, activity, rapid talking and thinking, agitation, decreased sleep, poor judgment, increased or decreased sex drive, substance abuse, provocative or obnoxious behavior, and denial of the problem.

The course of the illness varies from patient to patient. Without treatment, the frequency and severity of this recurring illness can increase over the years.

Depression provides detailed information on Depression, Depression Treatment, Manic Depression, Postpartum Depression and more. Depression is affiliated with Signs Of Clinical Depression.

Article Source: EzineArticles.com/?expert=Steve_Valentino

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Fighting Obesity – An Ayurvedic Way

Fighting Obesity – An Ayurvedic Way

By Dr. Savitha Suri

Definition of Obesity

Excess amount of body fat is Obesity. Excess weight of muscles, bone, fat and water in the body (like body builders and athletes) is Overweight. Over weighted persons are at increased health risk than normal persons. They are more prone to chronic diseases like heart diseases, type-2 diabetes, high blood pressure, stroke, and few types of cancers.

Is fat necessary to our body?

Certain amount of body fat does the following function

1. Heat insulation.

2. Absorption of shock.

3. Storage of energy. Etc.

Ayurveda describes the functions of body fat as

“Medaha sneha swedaudhrudatwam pushtim asthyancha” This means in normal conditions the body fat keeps the body moisturized, causes sweating, gives energy to body (by storing energy) and nourishes bones. (By protecting them from shock)

Distribution of fat

Women have more body fat than men. In women usually the fat accumulates around hips giving them a pear shape. In men it accumulates around belly giving them an apple shape. The obesity related problems start when fat accumulates around waist.

In ayurveda the distribution of fat is described as follows:

Medastu sarvabhutaanamudarenvasthi thishtathi

Ata evodare vriddhihi prayo medaswino bhavet

Fat gets deposited in and around belly in all living beings. It is also present in bone. Hence when a person becomes obese his stomach bulges out.

And also the characters of an obese person are described as “Medo mamsa ativriddhatvaachalasphigudarastanaha” which means the hips, belly and breasts of an obese person sag and sagged parts flap as that person moves. An obese person will not be active.

Causes of Obesity

When a person consumes more calories than he burns then the excess calories get stored in the form of fat causing obesity.

1. Genetic factors–Obesity tends to run in families. If parents are fat then the offspring also show a tendency to accumulate fat. Even the diet and lifestyle habits which are practiced in family also contribute to obesity.

2. Environment. – A person’s eating habits and the level of physical activities a person has also contribute for excess deposition of fat. When a person eats food containing more calories and has a sedentary work then the calories consumed are more than calories burnt. The excess amount calories are stored as fat.

3. Psychological disturbances.- There is a tendency to over eat in response to negative emotions like boredom, sadness or anger. This leads to obesity.

4. Binge eating disorder.

5. Diseases and conditions like Hypothyroidism, Cushing’s syndrome, Depression, and certain neurological problems lead to overeating which in turn leads to accumulation of fat.

6. Medicines such as steroids and some antidepressants may cause weight gain.

Causes of obesity according to Ayurveda

The causes of obesity are very clearly explained in ayurveda. The following reasons which are mentioned in ayurveda increase the deposition of fat.

Avayamadivaaswapnashleshmalaaaharasevinaha | Madhuroannarasaha prayaha snehamedhovivardhati || According to ayurveda the causes of obesity are defined as:

1. Avyayama: Not exerting physically

2. Divaswapna: Sleeping in afternoon.

3. Shleshmala Ahara Vihara: The diet and life styles which increase Kapha

4. Madhura Annaha: Consuming sweetened foods.

Health risks due to Obesity

Obesity leads to the following problems.

1. Type-2 diabetes

2. Heart disease.

3. High Blood pressure.

4. Stroke

5. Few types of Cancers

6. Gall stones

7. Liver diseases

8. Osteo arthritis.

9. Gout

10. Infertility

11. Irregular menstruation in women.

According to Ayurveda the obese persons are more prone to the following diseases.

1. Diabetes.

2. Kidney related problems.

3. Hepatitis.

4. Low libido.

5. Low energy levels.

6. Skin problems.

7. Fistula

8. Piles.

9. Filariasis . etc

Tips to reduce Obesity

1. Determine with the help of your physician how much weight has to be reduced.

2. Set several short term realistic goals .

3. Reward yourself each time you make progress (Not food items)

4. Even small weight losses have shown to be beneficial.

5. Make gradual changes in eating habits.

6. You will lose weight when you burn more calories than you consume. Hence eating less and being more active help in losing weight.

7. Sound eating habits keep you out of putting on weight.

8. Stay motivated to lose weight.

9. Slow weight loss is the safest and most effective. ( one to one and half pound per week).

10. Gradual weight loss, promote long term loss of body fat.

11. A person who is moderately active needs daily, 33 calories per kg of body weight to maintain his weight .

12. Reducing calories intake by 300 per day and increasing the physical activity to burn 200 calories per day results in weight loss of 400 Gms per week.

13. To satisfy basic nutritional needs eat a variety of foods every day. Choose from each of the five food groups milk, meat, fruit, vegetable and cereals. Balanced food plans encourage making wise choices about everyday food choices. This type of diet helps to stay at your proper weight for life.

14. Allow for an occasional treat.

15. Evaluate your eating pattern.

16. Try to cut down on foods high in fats and sugar.

17. Most successful weight – loss plans stress on reduction in both calories and the amount of fat eaten

Physical activity:

1. Determine the type of physical activity that suits your life style.

2. Regular aerobic exercise like brisk walking, jogging or swimming, is a key factor in achieving permanent weight loss and improving health

3. Health experts recommend exercising 30 minutes or more on all, days of the week for maximum benefits. The exercises should be moderately vigorous to be most effective but not exhausting.

4. Incorporate few simple measures to burn calories effectively. Like- taking an after dinner walk, using stairs instead of escalators or elevators, parking the car farther away to have a longer walk etc.

5. Exercises also improve sense of well being ,decreases stress and decreases appetite in some.

Ayurvedic tips to reduce Obesity

Numerous tips to reduce obesity have been mentioned in ayurveda. The following ayurvedic tips help you to reduce the obesity.

1. Very good exercises. Exercises like brisk walking, jogging, playing out door games etc help to reduce weight.

2. Physical and mental exertion. Exerting physically like doing house hold works, walking to distant places to bring groceries, vegetables etc, walking long distances to bring the child back from school, walking to working place, climbing stairs etc are types of physical exertion. Exerting physically as much as you can help to burn more calories. Mental exertion like worrying or involving in finding solutions to problems also restrict food consumption in some and there by reduces the intake of calories.

3. Having sex frequently is also a good physical exertion.

4. Consumption of honey. This is advisable for non diabetic patients. Consuming 2 tea spoon of honey with a glass of herbal tea which includes weight reducing herbs help a lot in weight reduction. Honey along with these herbs scrapes and dissolves the Kapha and medha (body fat).

5. Sleeping for less hours. Avoiding sleeping in afternoons help to increase the burning of calories. This avoids slowing of basal metabolic rate.

6. Avoiding the food and beverages which increase kapha and medha. The foods which increase kapha and medha are sweets, sweetened drinks, large quantities of carbohydrates and oily food.

7. Consuming wheat products than rice products help to reduce obesity.

8. Using Green gram and horse gram help in reduction of kapha and medha.

Biography of Dr. Savitha Suri

Dr. Savitha Suri has been an Ayurvedic Practitioner since 1989. After getting a graduation degree in ayurveda (Bachelor of Ayurvedic Medicine and Surgery) in 1988 from University of Mysore, India, she started practising ayurveda. Her articles about ayurveda have been published in news papers and websites. She is a regular health columnist to a regional news paper.

Dr. Savitha Suri lives in Mysore, Karnataka, India. She gives consultations in Mysore and also in Bangalore, the silicon valley of India. www.ayurhelp.com email doctor@ayurhelp.com

Article Source: EzineArticles.com/?expert=Dr._Savitha_Suri

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Support Breast of Canada – Buy a 2007 Calendar

Good Cause Blogger Sue Richards writes at Performancing

I’m an artist who has been independently publishing a beautiful, educational, fine art photography, breast cancer prevention calendar for 6 years and selling it on-line. For the last year and a half I’ve been blogging about my process.

…

I do not get paid to do this project. Net proceeds go to the Canadian Breast Cancer Network. All money goes toward education. And yes, the calendar does have photos of breasts.

The 6th Annual
2007 Breast of Canada® Calendar

In Support of Women’s Health.
In Partnership with the
Canadian Breast Cancer Network

Breast of Canada is an artistic calendar designed to inspire you to have greater awareness about breast health and breast cancer prevention. Absolutely guaranteed to inspire conversation.

Three great reasons to own a Breast of Canada Calendar.

One. The Breast of Canada calendar is educational. Being proactive and self educated about your health is an important step to take. The 2007 calendar helps you take that step.

Two. The Breast of Canada calendar is about health. Maintaining and improving your health and cultivating a positive body image stimulates a higher quality of life.

Three. The Breast of Canada calendar raises profile and funds. Net proceeds for the 2007 edition will be directed to the Canadian Breast Cancer Network.

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Early schizophrenia clue is found

Scientists have discovered a new method for the early diagnosis of the mental disorder schizophrenia.
The joint study involving Cambridge University found that patients with the condition have high levels of glucose in their brain and spinal fluid.

At present, the diagnosis of the mental disorder is based on interviews and observation and a patient must show symptoms for at least six months.

It is hoped the new method of diagnosis will lead to new and earlier treatment.

….

MORE: BBC NEWS | England | Cambridgeshire | Early schizophrenia clue is found

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Relieving Stress with Exercise… and Losing Body Fat in the Process!

By Jamie Clark

Feeling stressed out lately? Don’t worry, there is a simple and incredibly effective solution — one that will help you lose weight in more ways than you might think!

Relieving Stress with Exercise

Research has proven that relieving stress with exercise is one of the best ways to improve your overall health. Regular exercise provides an amazing array of anti-stress benefits to the human body — including reduced muscle tension, improved cardiovascular functioning, increased blood oxygen levels, and reduced cholesterol and triglyceride levels, just to name a few.

Relieving stress with exercise also, of course, burns calories and helps to reduce body fat. Since most other anti-stress ‘remedies’ (especially pharmaceutical drugs, alcohol, and overeating) cause you to gain weight it’s obvious that exercise is the best option.

Control Cortisol, Lose Weight

But, besides burning calories, there’s another reason relieving stress with exercise helps you to reduce body fat. Exercise produces chemicals that help to lower cortisol production. Cortisol is a “stress hormone” that has gotten a lot of press lately because many new diet products claim to block it.

While the effectiveness of these products has yet to be proven, there is little doubt that controlling cortisol levels is a very important factor in weight loss and long-term weight control — not to mention optimal health and fitness. Relieving stress with exercise is an absolutely fool-proof way to lower cortisol in the body.

Elevated cortisol levels are fully or partially responsible for everything from sugar and carb cravings to overeating to low energy levels… and more. Experts also believe that high cortisol production increases the amount of “toxic fat” stored on your body — this is the abdominal fat that may trigger cardiovascular disease and inflammation-related health problems.

Summary

Relieving stress with exercise is, without a doubt, the best way to deal with your physical and mental tension. Not only will regular exercise reduce stress levels, it will also help you control how much cortisol your body produces. This, in turn, will help you to avoid food cravings, reduce dangerous abdominal fat, and basically feel much better. So, next time you feel stressed out, get up, get out, and start relieving stress with exercise!

About The Author

Jamie Clark is a fitness writer and editor of the popular ‘Really Useful Fitness Blog’ located at: www.fitfaq.com/blog.html

Please feel free to use this article in your newsletter or on your web site. Just be sure to include this resource box as well as a live link to the fitFAQ.com Fitness Guide: www.fitfaq.com

Article Source: EzineArticles.com/?expert=Jamie_Clark

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The Secret Connection Between Stress, Energy and Happiness

The Secret Connection Between Stress, Energy and Happiness

By Stuart Nelson

Let me make it plain right from the start that although I recognise that some stress in our lives is actually good for us, the use of that term in this article is intended to cover the harmful, negative kind.

Hardly anyone is entirely free from stress, but not everyone is unhappy. Yet we know instinctively that stress brings unhappiness. So what is happening here?

The fact is that some people seem able to ride the waves of life’s rocky sea much better than others. They face the same causes of stress as others who succumb to them, but fail to allow them to depress them in any way. They may occasionally feel mildly agitated, but they are able to shrug off troubles, even big ones, so that their sleep is never disturbed and they never display any of the typical signs of stress. They not only understand mentally the fact that stress is a reaction that can be controlled, but they have inwardly accepted it, and now they control their reactions automatically.

This ability to bounce back as if nothing bad had happened is called resilience. It is a quality that I teach others to develop, both in my Stress Management and Resilience Course and in the course of life coaching.

Potentially, if people develop resilience to stress, there is no direct barrier to happiness, and they should be able achieve it.

Paradoxically, I now want to consider an alternative route to happiness.

An alternative route to happiness Last year, I studied a course on developing mental toughness. It occurred to me at the time that the implications of having mental toughness and being resilient to stress are identical. In other words, mental toughness seemed to be a synonym of resilience. Nevertheless, I might easily not have come to that conclusion, for the course focused on things other than the defeat of stress. Indeed, resistance to stress featured in only one of twelve parts to the course.

Seeing stress in this perspective provides a clue to the truth. Either mental toughness is a wider concept than resilience, or else resilience covers much more than stress. Which is right probably doesn’t matter at all. What matters is the underlying truth that there is more to happiness than elimination of stress.

The course on mental toughness concentrated on achieving peak performance. This is where it differs from my own approach in combating stress. But, as with my own approach, it did so by means of an holistic route, taking in physiology, psychology and emotions.

In fact, the road to peak performance was identified as one that involved high positive energy levels, described as energy without tension.

Could there be another way? It is not difficult to imagine how much easier it is to be happy and fulfilled if you achieve resilience. But could there be another way besides focusing on mental toughness? I believe there could be and that there is.

Think for a moment what it felt like when you last experienced being inspired. Have you any idea what caused your inspiration? All sorts of things can inspire people, but it is true that some people are inspired more easily than others.

If you have ever been inspired, you will know that it feels amazing; that you experience being pulled forward with little effort; that you are in the flow and nothing can disturb the positive feelings that you have.

Inspiration is a source of energy that exists in your very core. Recent studies into the connection between the heart and the brain might suggest that inspiration is a product of the heart. But this is of no real consequence to us. What matters is that we experience it. Like electricity, we cannot see it, but we know it when we have it.

It is quite impossible to be unhappy or depressed when we are inspired. Hence, inspiration rules out all forms of stress. However, the advantage of inspiration over all other forms of energy is that it can last for days, weeks, months, years or even for a lifetime.

So we have discovered an alternative route to resilience to stress: focus on finding inspiration.

How do I find it? Inspiration is a recognised outcome of coaching. Many coaching clients experience inspiration during or after a coaching session. Moreover, coaches know how to ensure that inspiration is sustained.

But coaching is by no means the only way. If you are the sort of person who finds inspiration in almost anything, you will know what to do now, but if you are not, there are still steps that you can take to improve your chances.

1. Reflect on when you were inspired in the past Look back at the experiences, people, literature, thoughts, dreams, ideas and other things that inspired you in the past. Be sure that you identify the source of the inspiration and think how you might replicate it now.

2. Clarify what works The source of your inspiration may not be at all sophisticated. Avoid confusing what really works to inspire you with what you think should inspire you.

3. Create environments that support you If free space inspires you, have a blitz on clutter. If liberal thinkers inspire you, surround yourself with them. If beauty inspires you, redesign your living space with photographs, paintings and plants. Be creative.

4. Focus on creation Focus on creating inspiration, not on what is preventing you.

Copyright: StressKill 2006

Stuart E. Nelson (www.LifeCoaching4You.com) specialises in helping stressed and disillusioned nurses to reconnect with their passion for nursing. He does this by concentrating on the elimination of stress, and the building of supportive environments. But Stuart is prepared to help anyone who is stressed. Let the author of “Potential for Harm” and the founder of “Success Story”, the FREE newsletter, help you to find better balance in your life, happiness and fulfilment and to grow the profitability of your business. Request your copy of “Success Story” today! Mail to success-story@aweber.com

Article Source: EzineArticles.com/?expert=Stuart_Nelson

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Teen battles state over cancer treatment

Friday, August 11, 2006 Posted: 1250 GMT (2050 HKT)

Whether 16 is old enough to reject traditional cancer treatment is at the heart of a trial slated to begin next week on the Eastern Shore town of Accomac.

Starchild Abraham Cherrix, a 16-year-old suffering from Hodgkin’s disease, has refused chemotherapy and radiation treatments ordered by his oncologist in favor of an herbal remedy prescribed by a Mexican clinic.

….

Although the right of states to compel medical treatment for gravely ill children over their parents’ wishes is well established, Abraham’s case is noteworthy because he has articulated strongly his own reasons for refusing conventional treatment

…

MORE: CNN.com – Teen battles state over cancer treatment – Aug 11, 2006

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Quit Smoking Lozenges – The Secret to Quit Smoking is Simply Using the Right Supports

Quit Smoking Lozenges – The Secret to Quit Smoking is Simply Using the Right Supports

By Mark Tern

Stop smoking is a difficult task. You are going to encounter any kind of psychological and physical discomfort and this will make you more and more uncomfortable until your decision weakens and you finally restart smoking.

These discomforts can be lightened recurring to appropriate quit smoking products. Quit smoking lozenges are one of such products and a very popular one for many reasons.

A reliable quit smoking product has to satisfy all the following:

* It must be easy to carry with you; quit smoking lozenges are OK as they are in the form of a small candy.
* It must deal with the nicotine addiction symptoms (nervousness, anxiety, sweating, headaches, depression, etc) that make smoking cessation an impossible task for many smokers. Quit smoking lozenges can help you with these. Soon after you start taking the quit smoking lozenges you will discover that your cigarette desire diminishes and so does the nicotine addiction.
* It has to reduce the withdrawal symptoms and especially the cravings. The use of quit smoking lozenges will in fact reduce the cravings (which are may be the hardest part of all).
* It must help you if you are a fast early-day smoker (i.e. you wake up in the morning and then you light up your first cigarette in less than half an hour); quit smoking lozenges are particularly good for these people as most lozenges come in various forms depending on this time-factor.
* Should possibly give you a way to avoid undesired quit smoking effects that are threatening your success. I’m referring especially to weight gain, a typical ex-smokers problem that tends to prevent women to stop smoking. * Quit smoking lozenges are helping you also with this issue, as they will not only keep your mouth busy, but they will reduce your appetite.
* Should be easy to access and buy. The most popular quit smoking lozenges are available at most of the drug stores and in many online shops including Amazon. You can find online promotions to save some money and auxiliary services and support to help you quit smoking.

So quit smoking lozenges are a very good product that supports your quit smoking efforts. You can find a review of other popular quit smoking products at quit-smoking.thesolution2.com/Main/Quit-Smoking-PRODUCT01-W-quit-smoking-product.php.

As usual, remember that quit smoking lozenges (as any other quit smoking products) can help only if you want to match your quit smoking desire with engagement and a change in behaviour. The quick version of this is: “Just decide to stop smoking, do it and stick to it”. Maybe your first week will be terrible but if you survive without your cigarettes, you will discover that it is really not that hard to stop smoking.

Mark Tern is the author of the Quit Smoking Special Report you can get for free at quit-smoking.thesolution2.com/ where you can discover How to Leverage Your 5 Resources to Quit Smoking. Check also his quit smoking blog at quit-smoking-solution.blogspot.com for articles about quit smoking.

Article Source: EzineArticles.com/?expert=Mark_Tern

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Music legend Freddy Fender diagnosed with cancer

Thursday August 3, 2006

CORPUS CHRISTI, Texas (AP): Music legend Freddy Fender has been diagnosed with incurable cancer after tests showed he has several tumors on his lungs.

….

“I feel very comfortable in my life,” Fender told the Corpus Christi Caller-Times. “I’m one year away from 70 and I’ve had a good run. I really believe I’m OK. In my mind and in my heart, I feel OK. I cannot complain that I haven’t lived long enough, but I’d like to live longer.”

Fender started his career in the late 1950s and hit the Billboard charts with “Before The Next Teardrop Falls,” “Wasted Days and Wasted Nights,” and “You’ll Lose A Good Thing.”

….

MORE: Music legend Freddy Fender diagnosed with cancer

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NASCAR’s Parsons Diagnosed With Cancer

Benny Parsons found out two weeks ago that he has lung cancer. (Photo: AP)

07/26/2006

CHARLOTTE, N.C. (AP)- Former NASCAR champion Benny Parsons has been diagnosed with lung cancer and began chemotherapy treatments Wednesday.

Parsons, the 1973 Cup champion and currently a NASCAR commentator on NBC and TNT, was diagnosed two weeks ago after he had trouble breathing.
Read more