Fight Fibromyalgia and Chronic Fatigue Syndrome With Natural Supplements
Chronic fatigue syndrome (CFS), which is also called chronic fatigue and immune dysfunction syndrome (CFIDS), and myalgic encephalomyelitis (ME), is known for its symptoms associated with extreme fatigue that cause a substantial reduction in activity level. Triggered by viral illnesses or stressful events, CFS has symptoms including general pain, mental fogginess, flu-like symptoms, gastrointestinal problems, headache, muscle and joint aches, allergies to food and medications, anxiety and depression, and a decreased sex drive. CFS patients also are victim to frequent infections, which suppress the hypothalamus and lead to a decrease in the functioning of all glands and their hormones, triggering sleep dysfunction because the body confuses day and night cycles. Therefore, people with CFS have trouble staying in a deep, restorative sleep. 800,000 people nationwide of all ages, racial, ethnic, and socioeconomic groups have CFS at any given time. Although the severity of these symptoms may differ among people, they will hang on or reoccur frequently for more than six months and most commonly continue for three to five years.
Another cause to chronic fatigue symptom is fibromyalgia syndrome (FMS). FMS, which is found in about 80% of CFS patients, is a painful shortening of muscles throughout the body, causing many tender knots in the muscles, and leading to a sleep disorder. The tender knots, which are also called trigger points, are the source of the aches and pains that people with fibromyalgia and CFS feel.
Although treating chronic fatigue syndrome is a significant challenge, an integrated treatment approached, individualized to each patient, can improve patients dramatically. The first line of treatment is medications that provide symptom relief, including medications for pain, sleep disturbances, digestive problems, depression and anxiety and flu-like symptoms. However, these medications only put a bandage on symptoms instead of addressing the root problems. As a result, medications need to be supplemented by other supportive treatments such as counseling for emotional and mental health, cognitive behavioral therapy, sleep management therapy, and massage.
There are also several vitamins, minerals, and amino acids that can have powerful positive effects on a person with CFS. Each of these minerals in a chronic fatigue/fibromyalgia formula should work together to improve energy levels and overall health. Some key nutrients to look for in an energy formula include: Vitamin A, Vitamin E, Vitamin C, Vitamin D, Magnesium, Inositol, Malic Acid, Betaine, Amino Acids, Zinc, Selenium, and Fructooligosaccharides. Each of these is important to ensure recovery from chronic fatigue syndrome and can be found in a powdered drink mix. In addition to the powdered energy drink mix, it is important to also take a vitamin B-complex supplement that is specifically formulated for people with CFS/FMS, which should include niacinamide, thiamin, riboflavin, vitamin B6, folic acid, vitamin B12, pantothenic acid, and choline. This B-complex supplement can help fight against the symptoms of fatigue and mental �fogginess.� Along with a B-complex supplement, people with CFS/FMS should also take an adrenal extract. Because many CFS/FMS patients are suffering from adrenal burnout, which occurs when adrenal glands constantly produce cortisol in response to chronic stress resulting in an exhausted adrenal reserve, it is important to use a glandular therapy regimen to ensure healthy cortisol levels and adrenal function. Be sure to buy an adrenal extract supplement that contains both whole adrenal and adrenal cortex extracts as well as vitamin C, vitamin B6, L-tyrosine, betaine, pantothenic acid and licorice.
Because of continued sleep interruption is the main cause of the symptoms of CFS/FMS, the most effective way to eliminate pain is to get seven to nine hours of sleep each night. However, this can be very difficult; the muscle knots of FMS make it uncomfortable to lie in one position for an extended time, which keeps the patient from getting the adequate amount of deep sleep needed to recharge their �batteries.� Herbal products can be used to help promote good quality sleep. A combination of wild lettuce, hops, Jamaica dogwood, L-Theanine, valerian, and passionflower is specially formulated for those people with CFS/FMS because each herb addresses a different aspect of sleeplessness and muscle tension. Together, these four interventions against CFS/FMS: sleep formula, morning energy drink, energy B-complex, and an adrenal complex can make a noticeable difference in CFS/FMS patients.
Fibromyalgia and chronic fatigue can affect ones life for a long time, stop into your local health food store or visit one online for all the above mentioned items to help ease your pain and suffering.
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Visit VitaNet Health Foods at http://vitanetonline.com/ VitaNet sells high quality supplements like Fibro Response for a healthy body. Please link to this site when using this article.
Go Ahead: Take the Plunge
Are you ready for something totally different? Then try water workouts. Aquaexercise is a great low impact activity that almost anybody can participate in. Here are the facts:
* The buoyancy factor of water lessens the weight of an individual by about ninety percent. That's why there's less stress on the joints, muscles and bones during water training. Thus there is less perceived trauma and less injury.
* Water workouts don't seem as hard but you're still getting a great workout. Aquaexercise improves cardiovascular fitness, muscular strength and endurance and reduces body fat.
* Aerobic workouts in the pool are perfect for those who find the same land movements jarring and painful. Because water creates resistance as you move the overall energy expended is similar to that on land.
* Heart rate will drop as much as 17 beats per minute when compared to land exercise. It's therefore important to pay attention to how you feel when judging intensity. Heart rate checks will not be accurate.
* The resistance created by the water as you move creates strength. There are special hand paddles and other devices you can purchase to furthur increase this resistance.
* The effects of gravity are lessened in water which allow you to move your joints through their full range of motion promoting flexibility.
Water has an unprecedented effect of leaving you refreshed and calm rather than out of breath and exhausted. There are hundreds of types of water exercise classes offered today both for healthy populations and for those with specific chronic health conditions. Check with your local health club to find out which one is best for you. Go ahead. Get you feet wet!
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Dr Lanny Schaffer is an Exercise Physiologist and the President of The International Fitness Academy. For more cutting edge information on fitness and wellness go to http://www.aerobic-exercise-coach.com
New Discovery May Lead To More Effective Acne Treatments
New Discovery May Lead To More Effective Acne TreatmentsScientists Discover Genetic Make-up of Acne BacteriumScientists have long known that the bacterium Propionibacteriumacnes (P. acnes) plays a leading role in the development of acnevulgaris, the scourge afflicting some 80% of teenagers and manyadults as well. A normally harmless microbe that lives in thehair follicles of every person, P. acnes helps cause acne whenthe follicles become plugged with sebum, a natural oil producedby the body.Recently a team of German scientists, led by microbiologist Dr.Holger Brueggemann, mapped the genetic code of the P. acnesmicrobe. They discovered that it has a circular chromosome with2,333 genes, many of which had surprising destructive abilities."We were astonished to see how many genes were involved indegrading the human tissue," said Dr. Brueggemann.For example, the researchers found that P. acnes containsenzymes similar to those in so-called "flesh-eating" bacteriathat destroy human tissue. It also has enzymes that break downthe skin and use it as its food supply. It contains genes thatsecrete substances that kill competitors, like harmful bacteriaand fungi, in much the same manner as pathogens liketuberculosis and diphtheria. And it uses a defense tactic knownas "phase variation" that helps it escape attack by the humanimmune system.New Acne Treatments May Be PossibleWhat does this mean for acne sufferers?Scientists have long believed that acne results when poresbecome plugged by bits of dead, flaking skin and sebum. Theseplugged pores fill with oil, which the P. acnes microbe thenfeeds on while releasing certain chemicals and enzymes. Theseenzymes attract white blood cells, causing inflammation, rednessand pimples we call acne. Adolescents are more often afflictedby acne because during that age period more of this oil isproduced, thanks to hormonal changes in the body at that time.Most traditional acne treatments today are designed to eitherkill bacteria or to prevent pores from becoming plugged.However, P. acnes has developed resistance to many of theantibiotics used to treat acne, leading scientist to seek newer,more effective treatments.This new discovery by Dr. Brueggemann's research team will leadto a better understanding of the P. acnes bacterium and how itoperates in causing or aiding the outbreak of acne. Thisknowledge may well lead to new approaches to treating acne bybetter targetting the enzyme systems of P. acnes and relievingthe pain and suffering of teens and adults with acne.=================================================Diane Darling, COTA/L, is a licensed and certified occupationaltherapy assistant who works with learning-challenged children.She also has a keen interest in issues of skin care and acne,and maintains the Treating Acne website located athttp://www.treating-acne.com=================================================
