Selasa, 10 Mei 2011

Makan 3 Buah Pisang Sehari Turunkan Risiko Stroke


STROKE merupakan penyakit nomor tiga yang mematikan setelah jantung dan kanker. Karena itu, menjalani hidup sehat merupakan solusi jitu untuk mencegah penyakit berbahaya ini. Salah satu cara yang dapat ditempuh ialah makan tiga buah pisang untuk menurunkan risiko terkena stroke.

Sebuah pisang untuk sarapan, satu untuk makan siang, dan satu di malam hari akan memberikan cukup kalium untuk mengurangi kemungkinan darah beku di otak sekitar 21 persen.

Pasalnya, pisang adalah buah yang banyak mengandung potasium, yaitu mineral yang berfungsi menstabilkan detak jantung, otak, dan proses fisiologi penting lainnya.

Penemuan yang dilakukan oleh para peneliti Inggris dan Italia itu menyarankan, stroke dapat dicegah dengan konsumsi makanan kaya kalium lain seperti bayam, kacang-kacangan, ikan bandeng, dan kacang-kacangan.

Meskipun beberapa studi sebelumnya telah menyarankan pisang sebagai buah pencegah stroke, namun hal penting lainnya ialah mengendalikan tekanan darah, sebab hasilnya tidak selalu konsisten.

Dalam penelitian terbaru, yang diterbitkan dalam Journal of American College of Cardiology, para ilmuwan menganalisis data dari studi yang berbeda, kembali ke pertengahan tahun 1960-an, dan digabungkan hasilnya untuk mendapatkan hasil keseluruhan.

Mereka menemukan orang hanya mengonsumsi kurang lebih 1.600 mg potasium per hari, kurang dari separuh jumlah kalium harian yang direkomendasikan untuk orang dewasa yaitu 3.500 mg. Jika seseorang sudah cukup mengonsumsi kalium dengan jumlah tersebut, dijamin akan mendapat risiko stroke yang lebih rendah.

Pisang rata-rata mengandung kalium sekira 500 mg, yang membantu untuk menurunkan tekanan darah dan mengontrol keseimbangan cairan dalam tubuh. Terlalu sedikit kalium dapat mengakibatkan cepat marah, mual, denyut jantung tidak teratur, dan diare.

Peneliti dari Universitas Warwick dan Universitas Naples mengatakan, asupan kalium di kebanyakan negara jauh di bawah jumlah harian yang disarankan.

Tetapi jika konsumen mengudap makanan kaya kalium yang lebih banyak, dan mengurangi konsumsi garam, maka angka kematian pengidap stroke secara global per tahunnya bisa dikurangi lebih dari 1 juta tahun.

Para peneliti mengatakan dalam laporannya, "Ini akan menerjemahkan ke dalam pengurangan sebanyak 1,15 juta kematian akibat stroke per tahunnya pada skala dunia."

Stroke, suatu kondisi yang terjadi ketika pasokan darah ke suatu bagian otak tiba-tiba terganggu, membunuh sekira 200 orang setiap hari di Inggris.

Mengobati dan merawat 100 ribu orang yang terkena stroke setiap tahun di Inggris membutuhkan biaya 2,3 miliar poundsteling.

Seorang juru bicara untuk Asosiasi Stroke mengatakan, "Penelitian ini menunjukkan makan banyak makanan kaya kalium, seperti pisang, tanggal dan bayam, dapat mengurangi risiko Anda mengalami stroke. Tekanan darah tinggi adalah faktor risiko terbesar untuk penelitian stroke dan terakhir telah menunjukkan bahwa kalium dapat membantu menurunkan tekanan darah. Ini bisa menjelaskan efek positif dari kalium ditunjukkan dalam penelitian ini."
by:Chaerunnisa-okezone
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Home Therapy Helps Stroke Patients Recover

Having a stroke can be a very big deal indeed. The heart is so important to so many functions in the body that any glitches -- however temporary -- can

cause major consequences. A stroke, for example, can create a number of troublesome symptoms, including problems with physical mobility. Millions of stroke survivors experience difficulty in walking. But now here's some ood news: for those recuperating after a stroke, more expensive, high-tech therapy isn't necessarily superior to intensive at-home strength and balance training.

In a massive stroke rehabilitation study, patients who had physical therapy at home improved their ability to walk just as well as those who were treated in a training program that required the use of a body-weight supported treadmill device followed by walking practice (called "locomotor training").

The National Institutes of Health study randomly assigned 400 patients into three study groups who participated in 36 90-minute sessions over 12 to 16 weeks. All patients had either severe or moderate walking impairments. The average age of the patients was 62 years old.

At the end of one year, 52% of all the study participants had made significant improvements in their ability to walk.

All groups achieved similar gains in the speed and distance of their walking, their physical mobility, motor recovery and social participation, resulting in improved quality of life.

The researchers found that the at-home group was the most likely to stick with the program, however. Only three percent dropped out of this arm of the study, compared to 13% of the more high-tech locomotor training groups.

And some more good news: patients made significant improvements in walking speed long-term, despite widely held beliefs in the medical community that most improvements after stroke are complete by six months. The researchers noted that, based on these results, recovery beyond six months could be helped with continued therapy.

The home exercise program in this study requires less expensive equipment, less training for therapists, and fewer clinical staff members. The researchers suggest another benefit, too: this intervention may help keep stroke survivors active in their own homes and community environments.
by: Cate Stevenson
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Minggu, 10 April 2011

Heartburn and Acid Reflux Relief During Pregnancy!


Heartburn is a common condition for many, unfortunately, is even more common for women during pregnancy. The acidity is caused by stomach acid to escape and move into the esophagus. It can create pain, pressure and burn the women during pregnancy and naturally women would like a natural and effective solution that will not affect your growing baby.

There are two reasons why the heartburn becomes a particular issue for pregnant women;

First, the growing baby restricts a woman's organs. The stomach, in particular, is pushed up and restricted. This physical pressure can force stomach acid into the esophagus causing pain and can damage the esophagus.

Secondly, during pregnancy, progesterone levels rise.Progesterone serves many beneficial functions to protect the growing fetus and the strengthening of the placenta. The disadvantage is the high level can also cause swelling and relax the esophageal sphincter allowing acid to escape the stomach. Progesterone also may slow the digestion process.

Resources are available over the counter, but pregnant women should really take the advice of your doctor before taking any of these remedies. A better approach might be to adopt some simple lifestyle changes.

The following steps should be helpful...

Try to eat smaller meals and eat 5-6 meals a day instead of the traditional three large meals. To distribute food in this way you are allowing your stomach to digest food more efficiently and are avoiding creating more pressure than necessary.

Try eating more slowly. Chewing food thoroughly is also compatible with your digestive system. One way to curb your power is to put your fork down between mouthfuls.

Avoid spicy foods and foods high in acidity.. Also note any food that seems to be a trigger for heartburn.

Foods high in fat, particularly animal fats, can be difficult to digest. Eat in moderation

Drink plenty of water, as it will help your digestive system. A glass of water will also provide very fast, unfortunately temporary, acid wash solution into the stomach.

Wear comfortable clothing that does not restrict the stomach.

Never go to bed with a full stomach. . Staying vertical will allow gravity to help keep the acid in the stomach.

You can use pillows to support the upper body to help you sleep.

Finally, if you have not stopped smoking to protect your growing baby , then here's another good reason to quit smoking as well make heartburn less common.

The good news is that the symptoms of acid reflux is likely to ease after the birth of your baby...

Using the methods I have described will also help control symptoms during pregnancy.
by: Obadiea Jones
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Head Sweating And Your Social Life


Three percent of people in the world suffer from head sweating. This is a staggering statistic. If one suffers from this medical condition one need not feel alone. The entire surface of the body is covered in millions of sweat glands that control the body temperature and allows the skin to perspire to cool down when hot. When this intricate system gets out of sink excessive head sweating of a primary or secondary form takes place.

Primary hyperhidrosis (head sweating), affects ninety-five percent of suffers and can be controlled to a certain degree by natural herbal homeopathic remedies. These medications have been known to help in the reducing and sometimes in certain cases completely stopping the sweating. These natural substances may also be able to treat the underlying causes of excessive sweating. With the wide variety of herbal solutions now available on the market one should always consult a reputable herbal consultant for optimum results, when seeking a remedy for this problem.

Secondary hyperhidrosis is endured by five percent of afflicted people. This small group may have excessive head sweating problems as a result of an underlying medical condition and it is advisable to consult a doctor.

It is an embarrassing dilemma that can often create severe psychological problems in a person's life. Wet hair and an itchy scalp, clammy face ruining makeup, forever feeling untidy and self-conscious about one's appearance all leave one insecure. Together with all these problems one still has the underlying fear of unpleasant odors resulting from the perspiration.

There are a number of helpful tips that can go a long way to helping lessen the chances of a head sweat. Loose clothing made from natural fibers, avoiding nylons and other synthetic materials will help one feel cooler. Keeping one's feet cool also allows the whole body to be cooler.

Hot, peppery foods and stimulants should be avoided at all costs. One should endeavor to use natural shampoos and not to wash one's hair too often. A well balanced nourishing diet is also recommended to prevent unnecessary sweating.

Emotional stress, anxiety levels and fits of rage can also bring one severe sweating. One is encouraged to find ways to bring these feelings under control and to work towards lessening these fits of emotion that increase the possibility of undue facial perspiration.

To cope with head sweating one needs to determine into which of the two categories, primary or secondary, one falls in to and then decide on how to deal with this unattractive disorder. Little is known of the exact cause except that the problem is focused around an overactive sympathetic nervous system that in some cases my benefit from natural homeopathic remedies.
Primary hyperhidrosis (head sweating), affects ninety-five percent of suffers and can be controlled to a certain degree by natural herbal homeopathic remedies. These medications have been known to help in the reducing and sometimes in certain cases completely stopping the sweating. These natural substances may also be able to treat the underlying causes of excessive sweating. With the wide variety of herbal solutions now available on the market one should always consult a reputable herbal consultant for optimum results, when seeking a remedy for this problem.

Secondary hyperhidrosis is endured by five percent of afflicted people. This small group may have excessive head sweating problems as a result of an underlying medical condition and it is advisable to consult a doctor.

It is an embarrassing dilemma that can often create severe psychological problems in a person's life. Wet hair and an itchy scalp, clammy face ruining makeup, forever feeling untidy and self-conscious about one's appearance all leave one insecure. Together with all these problems one still has the underlying fear of unpleasant odors resulting from the perspiration.

There are a number of helpful tips that can go a long way to helping lessen the chances of a head sweat. Loose clothing made from natural fibers, avoiding nylons and other synthetic materials will help one feel cooler. Keeping one's feet cool also allows the whole body to be cooler.

Hot, peppery foods and stimulants should be avoided at all costs. One should endeavor to use natural shampoos and not to wash one's hair too often. A well balanced nourishing diet is also recommended to prevent unnecessary sweating.

Emotional stress, anxiety levels and fits of rage can also bring one severe sweating. One is encouraged to find ways to bring these feelings under control and to work towards lessening these fits of emotion that increase the possibility of undue facial perspiration.

To cope with head sweating one needs to determine into which of the two categories, primary or secondary, one falls in to and then decide on how to deal with this unattractive disorder. Little is known of the exact cause except that the problem is focused around an overactive sympathetic nervous system that in some cases my benefit from natural homeopathic remedies.
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Exercise for Stomach Fat


With all the fast food we eat, only the fortunate few avoid a flabby gut without doing some sort of exercise for stomach fat. Two of the simplest types are planks and crunches. Before you start on either, bear in mind that pregnant women shouldn’t do these exercises. Also, if you have back problems, doing crunches on a hard surface can aggravate those problems, so don’t do that. As always, warm up before and stretch afterward. Never stretch cold muscles.

Planks

For the ab plank, lie on the floor face down with your weight on your forearms and toes. Straighten your body, as rigid and straight as possible, from neck to ankles for a 30-second holds (use the old “one-Mississippi, two-Mississippi” method for counting the seconds). Do three sets of 20 (or however many you can do to begin with and work up to three sets). Thirty-second holds are a starting point. Gradually increase your hold time as you grow more accustomed to the exercise. If this becomes too easy, do the exercise with a stability ball under your feet. The more you do the more stomach fat you will burn.

Another intense exercise for stomach fat is the side plank, start in the basic plank position (weight on toes and elbows), and roll to one side, placing all your weight on one forearm and placing your upper foot on your lower foot (the weight is now on the side of your foot), and extend your free arm straight upward. Hold that for 30 seconds, and then reverse, holding that for 30 seconds. This exercise can also be done with straight arms, weight resting on the palm of the hand. That’s a little more challenging balance-wise, but like anything else, it gets easier with practice. Again, the goal is three sets of twenty.

Crunches

For a more old-school exercise for stomach fat, do some crunches. Lie on your back with your knees bent and your feet flat on the floor. Position your feet as wide as your hips, hands behind your head, and tuck hands behind your ears. Use your stomach (not your hands) to lift your head, neck and shoulder blades off the floor. Don’t pull your head forward with your hands. Keep your chin off your chest. Hold that position until it starts to burn, and then count to five before lowering. Do three sets of however many you can do, and keep going until failure (i.e., until you can’t do anymore).

An oblique crunch adds rotating slightly with your shoulders, moving one of your elbows toward the opposite knee, while doing the crunches. To increase the intensity of your stomach fat exercise, add a stability ball to the mix.

Stomach fat exercise should be part of your daily routine. It not only makes you look better, but it also remedies back pain caused by extra weight imposing on weak muscles in your stomach and back. You don’t get as tired because you aren’t hauling around extra stomach fat. Working your abs helps your posture and eliminates stress. All in all, you couldn’t do yourself a bigger favor.
by: James Taylor
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Senin, 21 Maret 2011

Mendengkur Bisa Diatasi dengan Cara Ini!

MENDENGKUR, suara nyaring yang keluar dari saluran pernapasan bagian atas sebagai hasil getaran atap lunak rongga mulut dan uvula, sepotong daging kecil yang menggantung di belakangnya. Sederhana, namun dapat menjadi perhatian khusus pasangan ataupun tetangga penderita kebiasaan buruk ini.

Dr Ralph E Stanley FRCS, konsultan senior Stanley Ear Nose Throat & Sinus Centre, Gleneagles Medical Centre, Singapura, mengatakan diagnosis dapat ditegakkan melalui pemeriksaan telinga, hidung, dan tenggorokkan secara saksama menggunakan laringoskop hidung untuk menelaah apakah terdapat sumbatan di hidung dan sinus-sinusnya hingga saluran tenggorok. Kasus yang paling banyak ditemukan adalah infeksi sinus hidung, pembesaran konka hidung, polip hidung, dan pembesaran tonsil. Bagian dasar lidah pun tak luput dari pengamatan.

“Pemeriksaan lain yang dilakukan adalah polisomnografi semalam (pembelajaran tidur), yang dapat dilakukan di mana saja. Pemeriksaan noninvasif ini menggunakan sensor atau elektroda yang diletakkan pada kulit dan dihubungkan ke monitor yang memuat skala parameter semua gelombang otak (EEG), ketegangan otot, gerakan dada dan mata, aliran napas hidung/mulut, kadar oksigen dalam darah, dan rekaman dengkuran. Keseluruhan paramater ini ditangkap oleh komputer, disimpan, dan diinterpretasikan oleh dokter pemeriksa. Pemeriksaan ini merupakan ‘standar emas’ penegakkan diagnosis dan derajat keparahannya,” jelasnya.

Dr Ralph mengatakan bahwa informasi yang didapatkan dari dua jenis pemeriksaan di atas, membantu dokter untuk menentukan apakah penderita memiliki permasalahan dalam mendengkur atau sindroma apnea tidur atau keduanya dan derajat keparahan sindroma tersebut. Sindroma tahanan saluran napas bagian atas terkadang sulit ditegakkan dan ditengarai sebagai akibat dari peningkatan gairah dengan riwayat mengantuk berlebihan di kala siang.

“Penyeimbangan berat badan dan olahraga teratur adalah dua langkah dasar yang dapat dilakukan penderita untuk mengatasi dengkuran kala tidur dan sindrom apnea obstruktif. Hindari konsumsi obat-obat penenang atau sejenisnya, serta kurangi asupan alkohol. Apabila dengkuran memburuk dalam posisi terlentang, hendaknya penderita mengubah posisi tidur menjadi miring, agar lidah tidak jatuh ke belakang, dan menghalangi jalan napas. Tangani infeksi dan alergi pada hidung dan sinus secara medis dengan baik untuk membuka sumbatan saluran nafas, khususnya pada hidung,” sarannya.

“Penderita sindrom apnea tidur dengan dengkuran dan/atau sindroma tahanan saluran napas bagian atas, saya anjurkan menjalani terapi penekanan positif saluran napas pada hidung secara berlanjut atau CPAP (Continuous Positive Airway Pressure). Dalam hal ini, penderita harus tidur dengan masker wajah/hidung yang dihubungkan dengan tabung fleksibel untuk sebuah mesin kecil yang berfungsi untuk memampatkan udara ambien, kemudian udara ini ditransfer ke dalam hidung pasien untuk membuka saluran nafas, sehingga dengkuran berkurang dan meningkatkan kualitas tidur penderita. Kendati menunjukkan angka keberhasilan terapi yang cukup memuaskan, sepertiga penderita menolak karena kurang nyaman tidur dengan mesin dan masker. Sedangkan pada penderita sindroma apnea tidur ringan dengan dengkuran, dapat melebarkan jalur tenggorok dengan peralatan gigi khusus yang mendorong maju rahang, sehingga meningkatkan aliran udara tenggorok dan mengurangi dengkuran. Peralatan ini harus digunakan dengan hati-hati karena menekan sendi rahang,” paparnya.

Beberapa terapi pembedahan spesifik bisa pula dilakukan sesuai dengan kondisi penderita.

“Karena itu, waspadai gaya tidur Anda. Segera konsultasikan diri Anda ke dokter, apabila merasa menderita sindroma apnea tidur. Mengorok sama sekali bukan suatu aktifitas yang patut ditertawakan, karena erat kaitannya dengan penekanan kuat sistem kerja jantung serta syaraf tubuh. Mengorok bukan suatu bagian dari humor kehidupan, dan dapat ditangani dengan atau tanpa operasi,” tutupnya.
by:Tuty Ocktaviany
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How To Find the Best Stop Snoring Solution for You


When you start researching stop snoring solutions you begin to realize just how many different approaches are available for you to try. They range from stop snoring sprays to mouthpieces which are designed to keep your airways open to pretty drastic surgeries. You can be forgiven for feeling that you need to be a qualified MD to work out which snoring solution would be most appropriate for you.

But it is extremely important to take a very logical approach to work out which is the best solution to your individual and unique snoring issues. We are all different. We are all individual. There is not one single stop snoring product which will work for everyone. All of these solutions do work for some people. And so you do have to do your research thoroughly and then make an informed choice to find your snoring cure.

Fortunately, thanks to the internet, the process of research is far easier than it was in the past. One has to be aware however that it is necessary to also check out the credentials of the person who is promoting a particular snoring cure online. It's worth checking also to see what kind of success rate a snoring aid has or if there are real testimonials from satisfied customers.

At the end of the day it is your health which is affected by snoring and perhaps your relationship as well. And so taking the time to diligently research the possible stop snoring solutions is time well spent. I know what I would do. I would start by making a list of every single stop snoring aid that I could find mentioned anywhere at all. Then I would take each one and list the pros and cons in terms of simplicity to use, comfort, invasiveness, apparent success rate, strength of testimonials, suitability and, last of all, cost.

Where your health and relationship are affected, cost should be the last factor to be considered. Some stop snoring cures are undeniably simple, like losing weight or training yourself to sleep on your side. All they require is a little effort on your part. And so you have to weigh up in your own mind whether stopping snoring is more important than eating some of those favorite foods, or worth the effort involved in training your brain to make sleeping on your side a habit.

Some snorers decide that surgery is the easiest answer; but although it may require less effort on your part, you subject yourself to the inherent risks implicit in any form of invasive surgery. One has to think very, very carefully before deciding that this is the best stop snoring solution for you. You have to weigh up the health and lifestyle risks which are caused by snoring against the risks or effort required in the method of stopping.

Ultimately, everyone who snores wishes that they didn't; nobody likes knowing that they keep their partner awake or drive them into the spare bedroom. Nobody likes waking up with a sore throat, sore ribs (from being elbowed) and a frosty atmosphere.

In fact most snorers are frustrated by being subjected to something which they seemingly cannot control. But you can take control of your snoring issues. There are many possible cures and solutions to snoring; it's just a matter of taking the time to research and find the right one for you.

Roseanna Leaton, specialist in self hypnosis mp3 downloads which provide a non-invasive stop snoring solution.

P.S. Discover how easily you can train your brain with hypnosis; grab a free hypnosis download from my website now.

by: Roseanna Leaton
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