Dealing With Sleep Apnea: All About Your Health

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sleep apnea treatment

Sleep Apnea

Sleep apnea refers to a sleep disorder wherein a person’s breathing is interrupted during sleep. In this situation, the breathing of a person may repeatedly stop during sleep. Basically, the brain and the body may not take in enough oxygen due to this disorder. Fortunately, there are ways to treat this disorder; medicines for this type of sleep disorder such as modafinil (check out  https://corpina.com/modafinil/ to know more) are available.

There are two types of sleep apnea and these are the following:

  • Obstructive Sleep Apnea

This is a common type of sleep apnea wherein the airway is repeatedly blocked; thus, causing a limited amount of air to reach your lungs. People suffering this form of apnea may snore loudly. In some cases, they may make choking noises as they breathe and because the body is deprived of oxygen, people who suffer this may wake up a few times at night.

  • Central Sleep Apnea

Unlike the abovementioned type of sleep apnea, central sleep apnea does not deal with a blocked airway. Rather, the brain fails to provide signals for the muscles to breathe because of the instability of the respiratory control center.

  • Complex Sleep Apnea

This is probably the worst type as it refers to the combination of obstructive sleep apnea and central sleep apnea.

Effects

Sleep apnea may lead to serious effects on health such as the following:

  • Heart failure or heart attack
  • High blood pressure
  • Headaches
  • Stroke
  • Diabetes
  • Depression

loud snoring during sleep

Symptoms

In order to know if you or someone you know is suffering from sleep apnea, take note of the following signs and symptoms:

  • Snoring very loudly
  • Difficulty in sleeping
  • Waking up with a choking sensation
  • Waking up with a very dry or sore throat
  • Lacking energy during the day
  • Experiencing morning headaches
  • Experiencing restless sleep
  • Experiencing mood changes
  • Forgetting easily

Risks

Anyone may suffer from sleep apnea. However, the following may have higher risks:

  • Male
  • Overweight
  • Have family history on sleep apnea
  • Over 50 years of age
  • Smokers

Tips

In treating this sleep disorder, it is necessary to do some changes in lifestyle so as to reduce the symptoms. Some suggested changes may be as follows:

  • Maintaining sleeping hours regularly by sticking with a sleeping schedule you should religiously follow so as to help you relax more and sleep better.
  • Exercising regularly has been shown to affect quality and duration of sleep. Aside from this, exercises will also help you lose weight.
  • Losing weight is necessary as people who are overweight are said to have extra tissues at the back of their throat which causes the blockage of air.
  • Avoid smoking since it contributes to sleep apnea systems by increasing fluid retention and inflammation  in your throat.
  • Avoid alcohol since relaxes the throat muscles which contribute to interference with breathing.
  • Avoiding heavy meals especially 2 hours prior to bedtime.

Conclusion

Sleep apnea is no joke. Recent studies have found that those suffering from sleep apnea are more susceptible to alzheimer’s; hence, if you suspect that you or someone you know is suffering from this disorder, make sure you or they get checked by a medical professional.

Strength Training for Female BJJ Athletes

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Four Milwaukee grapplers were able to bring home gold medals from the Arnold Grappling Championships in Columbus, Ohio last weekend.

Every year hundreds of grapplers and thousands of other athletes from across the globe make the trek to America’s largest multi-sport event, the Arnold Sports Festival.

And once again, Wisconsinites made quite the impression as Eric “Red” Schafer, Omar Choudhury, Tony Senner, and Kali Robbins brought gold back home.

In grappling action, Roufusport’s Kali Robbins, who just last fall received her Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu blue belt, competed in the 120-139.9lb women’s blue belt gi division on Saturday submitting all of her opponents.

On Sunday, Robbins followed up on that performance by winning the 120-139.9lb womens no-gi intermediate division going undefeated for the weekend in what was only her second tournament since she began grappling. The video below is of Robbins competing in the finals of her no-gi division for the gold medal where she wins with a triangle choke from mount.

Omar Choudhury, a Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu brown belt from Roufusport competed in the mens 134.9lb and under, purple/brown belt gi division. Choudhury, who received his Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu brown belt from Henry Matamoros, defeated Louis Perna, a Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu purple belt of Ribeiro Jiu-Jitsu in Charleston, South Carolina with a triangle choke to claim his gold medal.

Choudhury also competed in the official ADCC (Abu Dhabi Combat Club) expert portion of the show in the 145.2lbs and under division but was defeated by last year’s expert champion, James Gray of Team SFS (Scorpon Fight Systems) in Howell, Michigan via triangle choke. The video below is of Choudhury submitting his opponent via triangle choke in the finals of the purple/brown division.

Eric “Red” Schafer, a Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu black belt from Red Schafer Mixed Martial Arts, faced off against Sean Bansfield of Ann Arbor Jiu-Jitsu in Michigan in the 205-219.9lb black belt gi division on Saturday. Event organizers decided to stop the action in the other divisions and all four rings were closed off so all grappling contestants and spectators could watch the most anticipated match of the day.

Bansfield, who received his Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu black belt from Saulo Ribeiro, utilized a closed guard strategy for several minutes but was later able to get a hip bump sweep into mount to take a six-point lead at the seven-minute mark. With less than 30-seconds left in the 10-minute match, Schafer used a deep half guard sweep to turn the tables and eventually take the back of Bansfield with the clock inching closer to zero. However, the referee didn’t feel the deep half guard sweep warranted points and only awarded the back points which resulted in a final score of 6 to 4 securing the victory for Bansfield. For more info on her strategy check out US Combat Sport’s Gi review. 

On Sunday, Schafer competed in and won gold in the official ADCC (Abu Dhabi Combat Club) expert portion of the show in the 193.7-217.8lb division. Schafer first squared off against Jake Burroughs, a purple belt from Northwest Jiu-Jitsu Association in Seattle, Washington, utilizing a one-armed kimura keylock at 1:43 in the match to move on to the semi-finals.

In the semi-finals, Schafer faced Marc Yates, Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu brown belt from 3 Elements BJJ in Erie, Pennsylvania. Schafer finished the match at 1:33 with a knee bar to move onto the finals. In the finals, Schafer got to rematch Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu blackbelt, Sean Bansfield, who had defeated him the day earlier in gi and had outpointed his teammate Anthony Senner in the semi-finals.

The match lasted less than a minute as Bansfield attempted a leap frog guard pass but Schafer quickly set up a heel hook and forcing Bansfield to tap at the 57-second mark of the match. Schafer submitted all three opponents, a purple, brown, and black belt all in less than 5 minutes total time and the victories earned Schafer a spot at the ADCC North American Championships later this spring. The video below is of Schafer winning the gold medal in the finals of the official ADCC (Abu Dhabi Combat Club) expert portion of the show.

The Role of the Pharmacist and Its Importance in the Life of a Patient

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misconceptions of a pharmacist

For many of us, we live with a lot of misconceptions about the role of a pharmacist. One of the most common misconceptions is the idea that a pharmacist’s role is only to count the number of pills being being ordered. Indeed, we’ve never been so wrong.

A Pharmacist’s Role

It’s unfortunate that many people treat pharmacists only as mere vendors of medications when in fact, pharmacists know just as much as our doctors do when it comes to prescribed medications, their interactions and their effects.

Although pharmacists cannot diagnose medical conditions, they are qualified to answer questions related to medications. Pharmacists may also recommend different drugs as alternatives and they are also capable of discussing the different side effects that your prescribed drug may have bring.

In other words, when it comes to drugs and medications, you can safely ask your pharmacist as they will have the answers to many or all of your questions as long as it is covered by the scope of their expertise.

Talking to a Pharmacist

Today, many pharmacies have an available private room or a private area wherein patients and pharmacists may have a chat over medication inquiries. If not, you may also call up the pharmacy and talk to a pharmacist about your concerns over the phone.

With digital age, there are also many available online medical stores selling medicine and medical materials; some of these online medical stores even offer a chatting option between the patient and a pharmacist as well in order to address concerns and questions even if they cannot talk to each other face to face.

Unfortunately, even with this knowledge, many people are still quite unsure as to what questions they should or may ask their pharmacists. That being said, here is a list of a couple of inquiries you may address to your pharmacists.

questions to ask a pharmacist

Questions to ask a Pharmacist

  • What does the drug/medicine do?
  • What exactly is the name of the medicine?
  • Is there a generic brand available for this medicine or other alternative drugs?
  • How should I take the medicine?
  • What should I do if I miss a dosage?
  • How long should I be taking the medicine?
  • Are their activities, drinks or food that I must avoid when I take this medicine?
  • What are the possible side effects of the medicine?
  • What should I do if some side effects occur?
  • Where can I find more information about the medicine?
  • How can I safely store this medicine?
  • Are their other special instructions for this medicine?

Other than bringing up the questions listed above, a pharmacist may also do a medication review, once a year,  when requested by a patient/customer. Usually, people who are taking many different types of drugs are the ones in need for this review. During a medication review, you may take your medicines with you and show it to the pharmacist. Here, they will walk you through the medicines, one by one, in order to guide you as to how you should take them. Online pharmacies are also used extensively by dentists throughout the US including those that work in Texas like ATX Dental Specialists. 

Importance of a Pharmacist

The pharmacist, therefore, is definitely important to the life of a patient or a pharmacy customer. They know more about the drugs than anyone else because that is their field of expertise. Moreover, we should trust our pharmacists and we should never be too shy to ask them questions about medicines or to ask help from them; their job, after all, is to help us.

Mental Health: What to Do with Stress in School

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coping up with stress

We can’t hide the fact that we’ve all been there, we’ve all experienced being stressed in school. Indeed, there are so many possible contributors to stress. It could be because of grades, friends, bullies or even teachers.

Stress in School

Regardless of the reason, it is important to address this dilemma as soon as you start feeling it. The biggest mistake most students commit is allowing stress to eat them up. This shouldn’t be; instead, you must find a way to beat stress and get rid of its causes.

In a way, beating stress means finding the best methods of coping with it. And so for this article, we will give you some major tips on how to effectively cope with and get rid of the stress you face in school.

Things to Do

  • Manage your time wisely.

Many students experience stress in school because of unfinished projects and fast-approaching deadlines. Procrastination is also very stressful. This is why time management is extremely important; mark your calendars and plan ahead of time when you should start reviewing for your tests or doing your projects.

You’ll realize that if you’re not procrastinating and if you’re in the right track on time, your mind and body will be much more relaxed.

  • Talk to someone about it.

It is best to talk to someone about what you are going through. Try to open up to your parents about your feelings and worries; they may just provide you with the comfort and assurance you need.

Most importantly, talk to a counselor or, if needed, a psychiatrist about these things. Try to tell them about your feelings; they’ll help you trace the causes and they may even give recommendations as to how you can get rid of the stress contributors as well as how you can de-stress.

  • Take a break.

If one morning, you just want to stay at home and rest, do so. But make sure you use this day off to clear your mind and regain strength and courage to face school and what comes with it. Missing school because of stress is not uncommon; in fact, many students as well as employees opt to get doctor’s notes in order to avoid work when it’s just too stressful.

  • De-stress yourself.

There are many ways to de-stress yourself; some methods to de-stress is by doing yoga, working out, writing your feelings down, doing  karaoke and so many more. You must do this once in awhile in order to get rid of the stress that’s piling up.

reduce stress for mental health

  • Face the causes and get rid of them.

Perhaps, the most important thing to do is to trace the causes of the stress you experience. Once you find out what is causing it, it would be much easier for you to get rid of it.

As previously discussed, there are many possible causes; stress could be induced by parents, grades, friends, etc. Try to ask guidance from your counselor or psychiatrist with regards to how you should confront the causes.

  • Go Fishing

Too much stress? One of the best ways to relax is to head to the great outdoors and do some fishing. You’ll need some quality fishing gear and you’re on the way to relaxing and spending some time getting fresh clean air as well.

Our Top Trending Medical Business News Ideas for 2016

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This year is about to wrap up and MedBloggerCode wants to look back on some of the biggest trends and issues that affect North Americans welfare. The below list reflect some of our top picks as well as our own individual interests.

For any suggestions please email us – info@medbloggercode.com

Our Top Picks

Medical Options for Motorhome Residents

Why Picking the Best Skates is Essential for Good Health

 

Medical Materials You’ll See in the Future

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The modern medical community is constantly changes. New products can changed the landscape and what is considered normal practice.  Anti-bacterial materials and products have taken over the US medical industry with a huge percentage of US medical suppliers opting for high-quality polymers that provide anti-microbial protection.

flowersFrom putties to plastics the future holds some interesting developments.  In a recent report at Medical Plastic News, they described a new flower-based product, “Scientists at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill have created a type of putty that can transform over time because of an internal clock. The university team, led by professor Sergei Sheiko, tweaked the molecular structure of a conventional soft polymer to create a material that could be programmed to change shape.

Polymers feature molecules that lie next to each other and which can uncoil and slide past each other, making the material flexible. Only a small proportion of links between molecules in a polymer are permanent, which allows the material to return to its original form when stretched. The researchers found that they could modify the rate of a polymer’s shape-shifting properties, which allowed them to control how the material changed over the course of several hours. To demonstrate the material’s ability, the researchers created designs that changed shaped over time. They created a delivery box that opened on one side when it reached its destination. More impressively postgraduate student, Qiaoxi Li created a flower out of multiple parts which were activated at different times to create the effect of blooming. The effect is stunning and displays how the material can be programmed to change shape at different times and intervals.

The material could be particularly useful in biomedical engineering. Medical implants could be designed to be easily inserted into the body, before changing shape inside. The result would be a fairly non-invasive surgery.”

While inventions like this are amazing. It’s important to realize that with rapidly expanding nanotechnology, 3-D printing and ever lower barriers to entry for medical printing we have seen more smaller industries enter the once expensive and closed medical product industry.

While shape-shifting properties seem to be a little bit too futuristic to believe, it’s well supported by science. In a recent report by Natural World News, ”

Scientists have developed a new shape-shifting material that transforms into any shape at a given time. To demonstrate this discovery, the researchers created an artificial flower bud made of the same material and programmed it to bloom or change shape at a chosen time. But apart from creating the lab-grown flower bud, the material could also be used in making medical implants that adopt the right shape at controlled rates inside the body. Scientists have long started developing shape-shifting materials. However, they typically require an external trigger to start changing form, such as a change in light levels, temperature or acidity. In certain situations, external triggers are not permissible or are ineffective, especially inside the human body. With this, Sergei Sheiko, a materials scientist at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, created a material that has an internal clock, which allows it to transform at a given time. This allows the transformation to be modified and controlled over time.”

Perhaps changes like this seem a little bit too far fetched.  While it would be great to think that we can have materials that adjust and modify themselves to their surrounding, more simple applications and solutions can be found in combining research and already existing inventions. One area that comes to mind is medical printing known as Tyvek Printers that already produce medical products known as Tyvek Tags.

We’d like to know what you think. What will be the next big materials breakthrough in 2017?

 

How Too Much Screen Time is Damaging Your Health

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The rapidly developing tech world has opened us up to new possibilities. We interact with one another in real-time at the press of a button, or via moving pixelated pictures. The whole world is available to us via a digital screen, and sometimes we are unaware of how much time we spend with our eyes glued to one (or two, or three—who uses just their computer these days?)

Research has shown that too much screen time can have serious effects on one’s health over time. While it is nearly impossible to eliminate one’s screen time entirely (it is the 21st century after all), here are a few reasons you might consider cutting down on how many hours a day you spend looking at your smartphone, tablet, computer, etc.

Screens cause eye strain.

Possibly the most obvious effect of too much screen time, eye strain has become increasingly common over the last decade. Digital screens emit blue light, which has a significant effect on our circadian rhythms, especially if you are exposed heavily to it at night. Aside from keeping you awake (blue light suppresses the hormone melatonin, which is a key hormone needed for sleep), looking at a screen for too long—and especially in the dark—can strain your eyes and can even damage the retina over time.

A good rule of thumb for reducing eye strain is the “twenty” rule. If you have been glued to a screen for twenty minutes, look away and at an object at least twenty feet away, and fix your eyes on that object for at least twenty seconds.

The brain rewires itself according to screen addiction.

This takes longer to happen in adults than it does in children, but studies show that addiction to gadget use and the subsequent screen time can affect the brain’s grey matter. Grey matter is responsible for the transmission of signals from neuron to neuron. The more exposure to screens, the greater the chances for screen addiction, leading to an eventual decrease in grey matter that affects the way signals between neurons are transmitted. This later results in an overall decrease in cognitive performance. (Another way of putting it is: spending too much time looking at screens can, theoretically, make you stupid.)

Too much screen time affects metabolism.

A study in 2008 showed that people who generally spend more time looking at their screens are those who lead sedentary lifestyles. While metabolic syndrome is not strictly caused by looking at screens, the data showed a strong correlation between the amount of screen time and the subsequent development of metabolic syndrome caused by several hours of physical inactivity. The syndrome is a mix of acquired diabetes, high blood pressure, and obesity—all of which you get from sitting still.

Another effect of spending several hours on a computer, tablet, or smartphone is poorer cardiovascular health, which leads to a greater risk for developing fatal heart disease later in life; in 2011, researchers found that adults who had plenty of screen time increased the likelihood of their death by a whopping 52%.

Exercise and a healthy diet—combined with actually logging off the tech—can help significantly reduce that statistic. If you’re going to be spending time in front of a screen, you may as well be outside. Why not try an setting up an outdoor movie theater and let the kids enjoy both nature and a great flick.

 

 

 

Three Legged Mobility: The Importance of Assisted Walking

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mobiilty aids

Needless to say, we are all destined to grow old some day. And in the twilight years of our lives, things, inevitably, start becoming more difficult for us in terms of mobility. When our limbs begin to be less responsive, mobility/walking aids and other such forms of assistance are, therefore, needed to support us. There are numerous disabled and elderly individuals out there who require support from mobility equipment in order to compliment their need to stay independent.

What are Mobility Aids?

These are equipment and devices that are intended to support the elderly or people who experience pain in weight-bearing joints due to disease or injury. In addition, mobility aids also provide users with numerous health benefits as they improve balance and assist the disabled to sit, stand, and keep moving.

Health Benefits of Mobility Aids

  • Improved balance and stability

Whenever the elderly walk over uneven surfaces, various obstacles can make it difficult for them to maintain proper balance. For instance, when they are going uphill, stepping on rocks, or hiking on loose dirt, proper support for balance and stability is essential. Mobility aids thus help in stabilizing body weight and consequently reducing the risk of slipping and falling. They also assist on hilly terrain by providing balance, especially when fatigue sets in and the muscles become less reliable.

  • Joint and back health

Mobility aids also help in the redistribution of the body’s mass by preventing a situation where all your weight comes down on your hips, knees, and back. They displace your body mass from your lower body and back and support it through the walking aid and your arms. This is greatly beneficial in reducing pressure on the muscles and joints and should be particularly helpful to those who suffer from back problems and arthritis.  Additionally, walking aids foster proper body posture, especially in the upper back. Proper posture is crucial as it redistributes mass evenly which improves back health and reduces the risk of injury.

  • Improved mobility

Walking aids drastically improve an elderly person’s mobility as it helps them maintain an active and healthier lifestyle. It is thus little wonder that these devices have gained such immense popularity among the elderly who use them to move around better and for any other things that they need to do. This gives them more confidence as they are likely to be more energized in their day to day activities.

  • Avoid falls and trips

Mobility aids can assist older people to not only maintain balance, but minimize their risk of falling. Falls are a common phenomenon in older people and the risk of falling invariably increases with age. A third of people aged 65 and over, rising to over 40% in those over the age of 80, fall each year, compared with 8% in the middle-aged.  This can be mainly attributed to psychological changes that are associated with the normal aging process which increase reflex times, reduce balance and, consequently, increase the risk of falling.

Undoubtedly, it can be quite depressing going through life feeling like you cannot do everything that active, healthy people around you are doing. With mobility aids such as the highly acclaimed 3 wheeled rollator, the elderly are assured of the best quality of life as simple tasks are made as easy as possible. Check out the 3 wheeled rollator reviews to see how mobility aids are benefitting those in need.