My Heart Life

A herniated disc can happen anywhere in the spine, and can take you completely by surprise. One minute you are playing ball with the kids, and the next, you’re floored by debilitating back pain. There are several things that can contribute to a herniated disc, some of them include: ” being elderly
” a sedentary lifestyle
” overdoing strenuous exercises
” being obese
” degenerative health conditions
” smoking
” previous back surgery ” working a job that requires heavy lifting, repetitive motions, and frequent bending and twisting movements
” sitting for prolonged periods of time
” poor flexibility in the spine
” weak core muscles
” poor postural alignment Treatment Options for Herniated Discs If you are one of the unfortunate people suffering from a herniated disc, take it easy, and avoid doing anything to aggravate the condition. But being sedentary too long will weaken the muscles in your midsection, and make back problems worse. Obviously, you won’t be turning cartwheels after a herniated disc, but to prevent further back problems, get up and move around as soon as possible. Over-the-counter (OTC) pain reliever and anti-inflammatory drugs such as acetaminophen, naproxen, and ibuprofen work well to manage the pain associated with a herniated disc. Some OTC pain relievers can cause dangerous drug interactions, so if you are taking medications to manage other health conditions, talk to your doctor before mixing meds. Drug treatments aren’t the only option for treating a herniated disc. Acupuncture, massage therapy, chiropractic care, and hydrotherapy can also be used to treat this condition. Most of the time, a herniated disc will resolve own its own, but in rare instances, this condition can be serious, and surgery may be required. How to Prevent a Herniated Disc Some factors that can contribute to herniated discs can’t be helped, but there are some things you can do to reduce your risk of this type of back injury. Regular exercise and stretching can help strengthen the muscles in the midsection, and improve flexibility in the spine. Eating a diet that’s rich in calcium, magnesium, and vitamin D can keep bones strong, and make the spine less prone to injuries. Dairy products such as milk, yogurt, and cheese are excellent sources of calcium. Magnesium is found in foods such as mustard greens, lentils, broccoli, halibut, collard greens, celery, cucumbers, and strawberries. Enriched milk and orange juice are good sources of vitamin D. It’s hard to get the recommended daily amount of vitamin D from food alone, so talk to your doctor about using supplements to help. Some other things you can do to prevent a herniated disc include maintaining good posture when sitting, standing, walking, and sleeping. Investing in a quality mattress, and avoid lifting heavy objects. If you must lift things that are too heavy, find someone to help. A herniated disc doesn’t have to ruin your life as there are several ways to treat this condition. Talk to your doctor or chiropractor to determine which treatment option is right for your situation.

Article Source:http://www.articlesbase.com/health-articles/healthsource-chris-tomshack-the-best-treatments-for-a-herniated-disc-1567068.html

My Heart Life Heart Health Fitness Acupuncture, Anti Inflammatory Drugs, Back Injury, Back Pain, Back Surgery, Dangerous Drug Interactions, Health Conditions, Healthsource, Herniated Disc, Massage Therapy, Midsection, Naproxen, Otc Pain Relievers, Pain Reliever, Poor Flexibility, Prolonged Periods, Rare Instances, Repetitive Motions, Sedentary Lifestyle, Turning Cartwheels

Is it possible to achieve a high level of fitness and shape your body the way you would like to see it without having to have a permanent presence at the local gym? Can you reach your goals without having to sell your soul to the weight room? I believe it is, and have managed to do so myself. While there is certainly work to be done to get us where we’d like to be in our physical conditioning, as well as in shaping our physique, that doesn’t mean we have to live there! Let’s examine some of the ways you can enhance both your fitness and your looks without sleeping in the locker room! First of all, let me say that if your goals are to become as big as you possibly can, to achieve a high muscle mass with bulging, bodybuilding type muscles making it difficult to find shirts, then this probably isn’t going to be what you want to hear. For that type of training, you will definitely need to spend long hours in the gym and then some. That kind of bulk comes at a price, and the price includes long hours. No, the guys I’m talking to are the ones who hope to build strong core strength, lose excess fat, and make themselves generally fit and altogether more attractive and socially impressive. These guys want to become stronger, but also to find more attraction from women, as well as become more dominant when it comes to social and professional situations. (It’s amazing what this kind of workout can produce in the business arena!) This can be accomplished without having to spend endless hours at the gym, if you are working with a good plan. The plan I’m most fond of for these purposes is called ‘The Adonis Index’ workout. This is a total plan designed to get men to achieve a classic ‘V’ shape physique, consisting of a set of broad, muscular shoulders, tapering down to a trim waist, with a well-defined chest and midsection in between, and no excess fat visible. This is the form that has been revered through the ages as the ideal male shape, and is even rendered by a mathematical formula called ‘The Golden Ratio’, which is expressed as 1:1.618. This plan uses a variety of exercises and a sensible eating plan designed to maximize fat loss, build muscle, all pointing to creating this classic form. It doesn’t take forever to implement, and with the specific direction it gives it can make the process of achieving these kinds of goals much more doable. It meets every man where he is, and gives specific measurement goals depending on your height and starting measurements. For the guy seeking to build a great form and not have a wing enshrined for you at the gym, then The Adonis Index may well be worth checking out!

Jackie Burgmann is a Registered Weight Trainer and Registered Personal Trainer who also runs a popular fitness-oriented video blog using the pseudonym Girlwithnoname at Girlwithnoname.com.

Jackie is also a partner in the exciting new website concept FlabLabs – The True Source of Fat Loss Case Studies. Come visit for all the latest fat loss information or to volunteer to be part of a Case Study.Article Source:http://www.articlesbase.com/health-articles/how-to-get-fitness-and-form-without-living-at-the-gym-1371879.html

My Heart Life Heart Health Fitness Adonis, Bodybuilding, Business Arena, Core Strength, Endless Hours, Fit, Fitness, Local Gym, Locker Room, Lose Fat, Midsection, Muscle Mass, Muscles, Physique, Presence, Professional Situations, Reach Goals, Shape, Shoulders, Workout

According to the Mayo Clinic, fat distributes itself differently if you gain weight as an adult than if you gain it as a teen or adolescent. You can actually experience redistribution of fat even if you don’t gain weight. In women in particular, fat that once seemed to accumulate on the hips and thighs may decrease, while abdominal fat increases. Aging and hormones are two reasons for this shift.

Aging and Belly Fat

As you grow older, your metabolism tends to slow down, and the amount of body fat you carry around tends to increase. Accumulation of extra fat isn’t a certainty. Some middle aged and older adults are able to keep fat levels low through diet and exercise. But for many, fat increases, and targets the midsection as you age. Menopause also increases the likelihood that you will gain weight in the mid-section.

Because a slowing metabolism is often accompanied by a drop in physical activity, the problem is often compounded. But regular vigorous physical activity coupled with a healthy diet will keep abdominal weight gain in check.

Hormones, Heredity and Belly Fat

Some people come from families that tend to accumulate fat in the midsection. Heredity is a strong predictor of belly fat accumulation. Hormonal changes after menopause sometimes alter the way the body breaks down and stores fat, causing fat cells in the abdomen to expand. Hormones such as cortisol, which is present in both women and men increase under stressful lifestyles, and high cortisol levels are also associated with accumulation of belly fat.

Why Belly Fat is Unhealthy

While you may find it more of an aesthetic problem, the belly fat that you can grab easily with your hand – subcutaneous or under the skin fat – is not as unhealthy as the fat that lies deeper within the abdomen, around your abdominal organs. This type of fat is known as visceral fat. Increasing levels of visceral fat are associated with heart disease and diabetes.

Slowing metabolism and lack of exercise can indirectly increase levels of visceral fat, as can shifting post-menopausal hormones, but heredity is the main determinant of whether you accumulate this deep level fat.

Visceral fat is unhealthy for several reasons. Too much of it increases your risk of heart disease, diabetes, breast cancer, colon cancer, high blood pressure, and gallbladder disease. The reason for many of these increased risks is that visceral fat cells, rather than lying dormant, produce hormones that can cause insulin resistance, which can eventually lead to type II diabetes. Some fat cells still produce estrogen after menopause, and while some estrogen eases the transition into menopause, too much of it is associated with increased heart disease.

Summary

While you may lament a thickening waistline as you age, the problems of increasing belly fat are more serious than just aesthetics. Fat located beneath the abdominal muscles secretes hormones that make conditions like type II diabetes and heart disease more likely. But you don’t have to simply accept this change as a normal part of aging. Just like when you were younger, regular exercise coupled with a healthy diet can help you keep belly fat under control and will have the side benefit of keeping you trim.

Belle is a health and fitness researcher and author. Make sure to visit her site for the best weight loss product on the market and learn how to get into better shape quickly for a Stronger and Healthier YOU. For more Info visit: http://www.brazilianemagrecesim.netArticle Source:http://www.articlesbase.com/health-articles/why-you-have-belly-fat-and-why-it-is-unhealthy-810940.html

My Heart Life Heart Health Fitness Abdomen, Abdominal Organs, Accumulation, Aesthetic Problem, Diabetes Exercise, Fat Cells, Gain Weight, Healthy Diet, Heart Disease And Diabetes, Heredity, High Cortisol Levels, Hips And Thighs, Lack Of Exercise, Mayo Clinic, Mid Section, Midsection, Older Adults, Slowing Metabolism, Stressful Lifestyles, Subcutaneous, Vigorous Physical Activity