REASONS BEHIND BLOATED STOMACH.

Stomach bloating is so common these days it’s been called an “epidemic”.

While a bloated stomach is certainly uncomfortable — even embarrassing when it comes along with gas or the need to run to the bathroom — it might be a bigger problem than you think. Stomach bloating can sometimes signify serious health problems. It’s one of the most common candida symptoms and leads to other issues like a digestive disorder, autoimmune reaction, allergy or even cancer in some.

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Bloating is the feeling of having built-up gas in your digestive system that makes your stomach protrude uncomfortably. Some people term it “looking pregnant” when their bloating becomes very bad. Having a bloated stomach is different from gaining actual fat mass around your stomach, since bloating is temporary and mostly caused by air becoming stuck around your abdomen, making it distend outward.

Luckily, in some cases stomach bloating isn’t anything to be alarmed about. It can usually be cleared up by making some simple changes to your diet and routine, although not always. Along with feeling full, gassy and having pain in your abdomen, you should check if your bloated stomach occurs simultaneously with other symptoms throughout the body. This can clue you in on what’s causing the problem and whether it might be serious enough to warrant a doctor’s visit.

When you’re feeling bloated, check for other symptoms, including:

·         A fever

·         Skin rashes or hives

·         Watery eyes, itchy throat and other signs of allergic reaction

·         Constipation or diarrhea

·         Vomiting or nausea

·         Blood in your urine or stool

·         Unintentional weight loss

·         Trouble going to the bathroom

·         Pain around your lymph nodes, including in your groin, throat or armpits

·         Fatigue

·         Irregular periods

·         Hemorrhoids

Bloating itself is usually a problem with digestion. Making it more confusing, many different things can affect gut health, the ability to metabolize food properly and our body’s way of naturally eliminating waste. Because so many different factors can contribute to stomach bloating — including some that seem totally unrelated, like sleep or stress.

For many people, the cause of excessive gas in the intestines boils down to: inadequate protein digestion (causing some foods to ferment), inability to break down sugar and carbohydrates fully (certain complex sugar compounds need the presence of enzymes to be digested fully, yet people can be lacking these), and imbalances in gut bacteria. In the digestive tract, there are trillions of healthy and unhealthy bacteria that compete, and when “bad bacteria” outweigh the good for one reason or another, an imbalance can lead to a bloated stomach and excessive gas.

POSSIBLE CAUSES OF BLOATING

 DIGESTIVE DISORDERS:

Most people dealing with various functional gastrointestinal disorders like IBS, ulcerative colitis and celiac disease have bloating, gas, distension and other symptoms.

 FLUID RETENTION ( Edema ):

Sometimes bodily fluids can be stored around the body, including near the abdomen or pelvis area, which causes excess bloating and temporary weight gain. You might also notice jewelry and clothes becoming tighter, extra swelling, and pain around joints or tightness in the skin. This can be due to a liver disease in some cases or rarely even from cancer. Check for other signs of liver failure or hepatitis, including yellowing of the skin (jaundice), changes in the white color of your eyes or pain in the abdomen.

DEHYDRATION:

Ever notice the day after you’ve been eating salty foods or drinking alcohol that you become dehydrated and bloated as a result? It might seem counterintuitive, but the more water you drink (or consume in water-heavy foods) and better you stay hydrated, the less bloating you’re likely to deal with. Dehydration and electrolyte imbalances both halt digestion and make it hard to “stay regular.”

When your body tries to recover from you being dehydrated, it holds on to excess water to prevent the situation from happening again.

CONSTIPATION:

This might be the most obvious reason you have a bloated stomach. Constipation can cause stool to remain in the intestines, leaving you with a hard-feeling stomach, pain, discomfort and gas. The biggest reasons for constipation include eating too little fiber, not drinking enough water, being too sedentary/avoiding physical activity and stress.

FOOD ALLERGIES OR SENSITIVITIES:

Often, food allergies, intolerances (like lactose intolerance) are common reasons for gas and bloating. The foods that cause gas include dairy products, gluten-containing foods (most bread, pasta, rolls, cereals, etc.) and certain kinds of carbohydrates called FODMAPs. An elimination diet can help you pinpoint which foods might cause bloating (like apples or avocados, for example) because they’re not being properly broken down and digested.

SIB:

Small intestinal bacterial overgrowth (SIBO) is caused by high levels of abnormal bacteria living in the digestive tract, usually in the bowel (dysbacteriosis), where they can accumulate after taking antibiotics or due to inflammation and poor digestion. Normally, different strains of bacteria are in proper balance in the colon, which helps with absorption of essential nutrients, but when harmful bacteria invade and take over, damage of the stomach lining can occur along with numerous symptoms. Some foods are capable of causing SIBO symptoms and related sensitivities in the digestive tract, including FODMAPS in some cases that can ferment abnormally during digestion.

INFECTION:

You can become bloated and swollen if you’re dealing with an infection because this triggers inflammation levels to rise, caused by an elevated white blood cell count around the pelvic, urinary and gastrointestinal organs. Check for signs of a fever, redness and pain, and swollen lymph nodes, which usually accompany a serious infection.

BOWEL OBSTRUCTION:

Sometimes a severely bloated stomach — along with constipation, nausea and vomiting — is due to a bowel obstruction, which is caused by scar tissue or a tumor. When these grow and press against the bowel, the bowels become blocked and hold in fluid and stool. You’ll likely know this is what you’re dealing with since it’s usually very painful and stops you from going to the bathroom normally.

HORMONAL CHANGES:

PMS is known to cause a bloated stomach and digestive issues, since it makes you prone to constipation and fluid retention. This is common and not too much of a concern unless you notice other serious symptoms like an irregular menstrual cycle, fibroids or severe cramping. Having a bloated stomach before or during your period can differ depending on your cycle, and some women experience severe water retention for up to two weeks.

 CANCER:

While it’s not the cause of most people’s bloating, one sign of cancer in the colon or uterine is bloating. This is why it’s important to talk to a doctor if you’ve tried all other ways of reducing bloating and digestive issues but still can’t seem to pinpoint what’s causing your symptoms.

THAT BUZZING SOUND, ITS TINNITUS.

What is Tinnitus? Tinnitus is noises in the head, not related to any psychiatric condition. The noise can be heard anywhere in the head or in one or both ears.

Tinnitus involves the annoying sensation of hearing sound when no external sound is present. Tinnitus symptoms include these types of phantom noises in your ears:

·         Ringing

·         Buzzing

·         Roaring

·         Clicking

·         Hissing

The phantom noise may vary in pitch from a low roar to a high squeal, and you may hear it in one or both ears. In some cases, the sound can be so loud it can interfere with your ability to concentrate or hear actual sound. Tinnitus may be present all the time, or it may come and go.

KINDS OF TINNITUS

·         Subjective tinnitus is tinnitus only you can hear. This is the most common type of tinnitus. It can be caused by ear problems in your outer, middle or inner ear. It also can be caused by problems with the hearing (auditory) nerves or the part of your brain that interprets nerve signals as sound (auditory pathways).

·         Objective tinnitus is tinnitus your doctor can hear when he or she does an examination. This rare type of tinnitus may be caused by a blood vessel problem, a middle ear bone condition or muscle contractions.

CAUSES

A number of health conditions can cause or worsen tinnitus. In many cases, an exact cause is never found.

A common cause of tinnitus is inner ear cell damage. Tiny, delicate hairs in your inner ear move in relation to the pressure of sound waves. This triggers ear cells to release an electrical signal through a nerve from your ear (auditory nerve) to your brain. Your brain interprets these signals as sound. If the hairs inside your inner ear are bent or broken, they can "leak" random electrical impulses to your brain, causing tinnitus.

Other causes of tinnitus include other ear problems, chronic health conditions, and injuries or conditions that affect the nerves in your ear or the hearing center in your brain

COMMON CAUSES OF TINNITUS

In many people, tinnitus is caused by one of these conditions:

·         Age-related hearing loss. For many people, hearing worsens with age, usually starting around age 60. Hearing loss can cause tinnitus. The medical term for this type of hearing loss is presbycusis.

·         Exposure to loud noise. Loud noises, such as those from heavy equipment, chain saws and firearms, are common sources of noise-related hearing loss. Portable music devices, such as MP3 players or iPods, also can cause noise-related hearing loss if played loudly for long periods. Tinnitus caused by short-term exposure, such as attending a loud concert, usually goes away; long-term exposure to loud sound can cause permanent damage.

·         Earwax blockage. Earwax protects your ear canal by trapping dirt and slowing the growth of bacteria. When too much earwax accumulates, it becomes too hard to wash away naturally, causing hearing loss or irritation of the eardrum, which can lead to tinnitus.

·         Ear bone changes. Stiffening of the bones in your middle ear (otosclerosis) may affect your hearing and cause tinnitus. This condition, caused by abnormal bone growth, tends to run in families.

Cure for tinnitus

Many offer a cure or a treatment for tinnitus and some offer products against tinnitus, but so far there are no scientific proven treatment or cure for tinnitus. You can only create coping strategies for tinnitus.

Tinnitus is common in people over the age of 40, but is becoming increasingly prevalent in younger people, as well, because of increased daily noise levels, including those caused by the unrestrained use of MP3s, headphones, iPods and other personal stereos.

PREVENTION

(1)  Reduce constant exposure to noise.

(2)  Reduce constant loud sounds on headphones / earphones.

(3)  Go for ear checkups.

(4)  Avoid use of hard objects into your ear canals.

(5)  Avoid been hit on your ears, this can damage the ears.

WHAT YOU DIDN'T KNOW ABOUT COCONUT OIL

Coconut oil has a multitude of health benefits, which include but are not limited to skin care, hair care, improving digestion and immunity against a host of infections and diseases. The oil is used not just in tropical countries, where coconut plantations are abundant, but also in the US and the UK. People are discovering the wonders this oil can create and it is again gaining popularity throughout the world. Let us see how many of these benefits you are aware of.

HEALTH BENEFITS OF COCONUT OIL

Skin care: Coconut oil is excellent massage oil that acts as an effective moisturizer on all types of skin, including dry skin. Unlike mineral oil, there is no chance of having any adverse side effects on the skin from the application of coconut oil. Therefore, it is a safe solution for preventing dryness and flaking of skin. It also delays the appearance of wrinkles and sagging of skin, which normally accompany aging. It helps in preventing degenerative diseases premature aging due to its well-known antioxidant properties. It also helps in treating various skin problems including psoriasis, dermatitis, eczema and other skin infections. For that exact reason, coconut oil forms the base ingredient of various body care products like soaps, lotions, and creams that are used for skin care.

Hair care: Coconut oil helps in healthy growth of hair and gives your hair a shiny quality. It is also highly effective in reducing protein loss, which can lead to various unattractive or unhealthy qualities in your hair. It is used as hair care oil and is used in manufacturing various conditioners and dandruff relief creams. It is normally applied topically for hair care.

Heart diseases: There is a misconception spread among many people that coconut oil is not good for heart health. This is because it contains a large quantity of saturated fats. In reality, it is beneficial for the heart. It contains about 50% lauric acid, which helps in actively preventing various heart problems like high cholesterol levels and high blood pressure. Coconut oil does not lead to increase in LDL levels, and it reduces the incidence of injury and damage to arteries and therefore helps in preventing atherosclerosis. Study suggests that intake of coconut oil may help to maintain healthy lipid profiles in pre-menopausal women.

Weight loss: Coconut oil is very useful for weight loss. It contains short and medium-chain fatty acids that help in taking off excessive weight. Research suggests that coconut oil helps to reduce abdominal obesity in women. It is also easy to digest and it helps in healthy functioning of the thyroid and endocrine system. Further, it increases the body’s metabolic rate by removing stress on the pancreas, thereby burning more energy and helping obese and overweight people lose the weight. Hence, people living in tropical coastal areas, who use coconut oil every day as their primary cooking oil, are normally not fat, obese or overweight.

Immunity: It strengthens the immune system because it contains antimicrobial lipids, lauric acid, capric acid and caprylic acid, which have antifungal, antibacterial and antiviral properties. The human body converts lauric acid into monolaurin which research has supported as an effective way to deal with viruses and bacteria that cause diseases like herpes, influenza, cytomegalovirus, and even HIV. Coconut oil helps in fighting harmful bacteria like listeria monocytogenes and helicobacter pylori, and harmful protozoa such as giardia lamblia.

Digestion: Internal functions of coconut oil occur primarily due to it being used as cooking oil. It helps to improve the digestive system and thus prevents various stomach and digestion-related problems including irritable bowel syndrome. The saturated fats present in coconut oil have antimicrobial properties and help in dealing with various bacteria, fungi, and parasites that can cause indigestion. It also helps in the absorption of other nutrients such as vitamins, minerals and amino acids.

Healing and Infections: When applied to infected areas, coconut oil forms a chemical layer that protects the infected body part from external dust, air, fungi, bacteria and viruses. Coconut oil is highly effective on bruises because it speeds up the healing process of damaged tissues.

According to the Coconut Research Center, coconut oil kills the viruses that cause influenza, measles, hepatitis, herpes, SARS, and other serious health risks. It also kills bacteria that cause ulcers, throat infections, urinary tract infections, pneumonia, and gonorrhoea. Finally, coconut oil is also effective in the elimination of fungi and yeast that cause ringworm, athlete’s foot, thrush, and diaper rash.

Go out there, get Coconut oil today. Your skin deserves it.

For info / Coconut oil orders, call: 08054467588

DANGERS OF CODEINE USE

Codeine is a short-acting narcotic prescribed by physicians most often used for the treatment of pain relief. Codeine can be highly addictive and provides the user with an overall sense of calm and feelings of pleasure. When codeine is used it enters the brain and causes the release of neurotransmitters that stimulate the reward center of the brain, leaving the user feeling intense feelings of wellbeing and pleasure. This kind of pleasure can lead to both psychological and physical dependence.

Some individuals use Codeine for legitimate medical purposes, but over time develop an addiction problem. After prolonged use, an individual develops a tolerance for this substance and needs to take  more of the drug in order to feel the effects. Someone who is addicted to codeine can begin to feel symptoms of withdrawal if they go even a short time without using the substance.

Other individuals become addicted to codeine and begin to use it to manage other problems in their lives, such as emotional pain or stresses due to the euphoric feelings it causes. Many who become addicted to codeine will use it with other substances – polysubstance abuse – such as benzodiazepines or alcohol to increase the calming sense of wellbeing these substances cause. This can lead to major health risks such as respiratory depression and coma if taken in high quantities. Other people may take codeine with stimulants like cocaine or methamphetamines in order to reduce the severity of unwanted side effects of the stimulants. This combination of uppers and downers can lead to cardiovascular failure and myocardial infarction (Heart Attack).

As codeine is one of the less concentrated narcotics, individuals who develop an addiction to codeine may seek out more powerful prescriptions narcotics such as OxyContin so that they experience even greater feelings of euphoria. If prescription narcotics are not available, an individual may opt to use heroin (a morphine derivative and illegal narcotic) to achieve an even more powerful high.

CAUSES OF CODEINE ADDICTION

Addiction to codeine and other substances is thought to be a combination of a number of factors working together. These include:

Genetic: Individuals who have relatives – especially a parent – who are addicted to substances are more likely to develop an addiction problem later in life.

Brain Chemistry: Codeine works by interacting with the neurotransmitters in the brain. One theory is that individuals who abuse codeine do so in order to make up for a lack of the naturally-occurring neurotransmitter. Codeine may be used as a form of self-medication in order to make up for the deficiency.

Environmental Effects: Another hypothesis is that children who grew up in an unstable home environment may be exposed to drug abuse by watching their parents or older siblings use. Through modeling, they learn that drug abuse is an acceptable way of coping with emotional problems and stressful life events.

Psychological: Sometimes individuals who become addicted to substances such as codeine are self-medicating in order to deal with an untreated mental disorder. Codeine is used in an attempt to control unpleasant side effects of the underlying mental disorder.

CODEINE ABUSE SYMPTOMS

Symptoms of codeine abuse will vary among users depending upon the amount used and the length of drug abuse. Symptoms of codeine abuse include:

Mood symptoms:

·         Euphoria

·         Calm

·         Depression

·         Anxiety

·         Mood swings

Behavioral symptoms:

·         Drowsiness

·         Increase in amount of sleeping time

·         Decreased appetite

·         Apathy

·         Increased hospital visits

·         Prescription forgery

·         Stealing prescriptions or opiates from friends and family

·         Lying to cover-up amount used

Physical symptoms:

·         Constipation

·         Blue tinge to lips and fingernails

·         Muscle twitches

·         Dizziness

·         Fainting

·         Nausea and vomiting

·         Dry mouth

·         Itching

·         Rashes

·         Urinary retention

·         Hypotension

·         Seizure

·         Respiratory depression

·         Decreased libido

·         Seizures

EFFECTS OF WITHDRAWAL

Someone who is physically dependent upon codeine should not attempt to stop using without the supervision of a trained medical professional. The immediate cessation of codeine can cause a number of withdrawal effects. These effects may include:

·         Craving for the drug

·         Runny nose

·         Intense sweating

·         Chills

·         Goosebumps

·         Stomach cramps

·         Nausea and vomiting

·         Spasms of the muscles

·         Agitation and irritability

·         Psychosis

·         Suicidal thoughts

·         Homicidal thoughts

·         Racing thoughts

·         Hallucinations

Constant use of Codeine is dangerous to health and should ONLY be used based on Doctors or a qualified medical practitioners orders.

For Counseling info, send a mail to richmondmez@gmail.com

DRUG ABUSE AND ADDICTION

Many people don't understand why or how other people become addicted to drugs. They may mistakenly think that those who use drugs lack moral principles or willpower and that they could stop their drug use simply by choosing to. In reality, drug addiction is a complex disease, and quitting usually takes more than good intentions or a strong will. Drugs change the brain in ways that make quitting hard, even for those who want to. Fortunately, researchers know more than ever about how drugs affect the brain and have found treatments that can help people recover from drug addiction and lead productive lives. The use of drugs to cope with life’s problems only makes the existing problems worse and likely causes new problems to develop, leaving feelings of isolation, helplessness, or shame.

People experiment with drugs for many different reasons. Many first try drugs out of curiosity, to have a good time, because friends are doing it, in an effort to improve athletic performance or ease another problem, such as stress, anxiety, or depression. Use doesn’t automatically lead to abuse, and there is no specific point at which drug use moves from casual to problematic. Drug abuse and addiction is less about the amount of substance consumed or the frequency, and more about the reasons people turn to drugs in the first place as well as the consequences of their drug use. If your drug use is causing problems in your life—at work, school, home, or in your relationships—you likely have a drug abuse or addiction problem.

WHAT IS DRUG ADDICTION?

Addiction is a chronic disease characterized by drug seeking and use that is compulsive, or difficult to control, despite harmful consequences. The initial decision to take drugs is voluntary for most people, but repeated drug use can lead to brain changes that challenge an addicted person’s self-control and interfere with their ability to resist intense urges to take drugs. These brain changes can be persistent, which is why drug addiction is considered a "relapsing" disease—people in recovery from drug use disorders are at increased risk for returning to drug use even after years of not taking the drug.

HOW DRUG ADDICTION AND ABUSE DEVELOPS

There is a fine line between regular use and drug abuse and addiction. Very few addicts are able to recognize when they have crossed that line. While frequency or the amount of drugs consumed do not necessarily constitute drug abuse or addiction, they can often be indicators of drug-related problems.

A WAY TO SOCIALLY CONNECT: Commonly, people try drugs for the first time in social situations with friends and acquaintances. A strong desire to fit in to the group can make it feel like doing the drugs with them is the only option.

YOU MAKE DRUG A VALUABLE NEED: You may find yourself increasingly relying on it. You may take drugs to calm or energize yourself, or make you more confident. You may start using prescription drugs to cope with panic attacks or relieve chronic pain. Until you find alternative, healthier methods for overcoming these problems, your drug use will likely continue. If you are using drugs to fill a void in your life, you’re more at risk of crossing the line from casual use to drug abuse and addiction. To maintain a healthy balance in your life, you need to have positive experiences and feel good about your life without any drug use.

AS DRUG ABUSE TAKES HOLD: You may miss or frequently be late for work or school, your job performance may progressively deteriorate, and you may start to neglect social or family responsibilities. Your ability to stop using is eventually compromised. What began as a voluntary choice has turned into a physical and psychological need.

IS ADDICTION CURABLE?

As with most other chronic diseases, such as diabetes, asthma, or heart disease, treatment for drug addiction generally isn’t a cure. However, addiction is treatable and can be successfully managed. People who are recovering from an addiction will be at risk for relapse for years and possibly for their whole lives. Research shows that combining addiction treatment medicines with behavioral therapy ensures the best chance of success for most patients. Treatment approaches tailored to each patient’s drug use patterns and any co-occurring medical, mental, and social problems can lead to continued recovery.

TREATMENT

Successful treatment has several steps:

·         detoxification (the process by which the body rids itself of a drug)

·         behavioral counseling

·         medication (for opioid, tobacco, or alcohol addiction)

·         evaluation and treatment for co-occurring mental health issues such as depression and anxiety

·         long-term follow-up to prevent relapse

A range of care with a tailored treatment program and follow-up options can be crucial to success. Treatment should include both medical and mental health services as needed. Follow-up care may include community- or family-based recovery support systems.

 More good news is that drug use and addiction are preventable. Education and outreach programs are key in helping people understand the possible risks of drug use. Teachers, parents, and health care providers have crucial roles in educating young people and preventing drug use and addiction.

FOR ASSISTANCE, SEND A MAIL: richmondmez@gmail.com for counseling services.