Cause of Fibroymyalgia

The causes of fibromyalgia have yet to be precisely identified, yet it continues to leave patient’s who are learning to live with this painful and frustrating condition with often more questions than answers.

New research has helped shed more light on the understanding of the basics of fibromyalgia. One current theory as to the causes of fibromyalgia is that patient’s suffering with fibromyalgia have a lower threshold for pain because of an increased sensitivity in the brain to general pain signals. It is thought that the disorder is a problem with the regulation of the neuroendocrine / neurotransmitters, which leaves the patient with a more amplified sensation of pain.

What is Fibromyalgia?

What is fibromyalgia?

That’s a great question and one that if you are learning to live with this painful condition, that I am sure you would like to have answered. Unfortunately, right now, the precise cause of fibromyalgia is still unknown. Even though both men and women are known to contend with fibromyalgia, current statistics seem to indicate that women suffer with the condition significantly more than men.

According to the Arthritis Foundation, fibromyalgia, one of the most common diseases affecting the muscles, is considered to be an “arthritis related condition” that does not attack the joints of the body, but rather the soft tissues of the body. Soft tissue rheumatismis a broad group of conditions that include the disorders which cause pain and stiffness around the joints and in the bones and muscles and the diagnosis of fibromyalgia is included in this group.

Even though it impacts the body’s muscles and tissues, it does not cause internal inflammation and so there is no damage to the body’s joints and internal organs. This is one of the key differences between fibromyalgia and many of the well known rheumatic conditions, such as rheumatoid arthritis, polymyositis, and even systemic lupus.

In those rheumatology conditions, it is the inflammation of the tissue that is the major cause of pain, stiffness and tenderness of the joints, tendons and muscles. It is this inflammation that can lead to joint deformity and damage to the internal organs or muscles. Fortunately, fibromyalgia does not leave similar destruction in its wake.

This condition causes widespread muscle pain, incredible fatigue and can often leave you with difficulty performing the basic activities of daily living. Many suggest that they feel as if their body is aging
at a much faster pace than their chronological age defines.

Fibromyalgia is also understood to be a chronic condition causing pain, stiffness, and tenderness of the muscles, tendons, and joints. Fibromyalgia, formerly known as fibrositis, is also characterized by restless sleep, awakening feeling tired, fatigue, anxiety, depression, and disturbances in bowel function.

What is fibromyalgia? Well, medical literature from the early 1900s were also trying to answer the question and even though it didn’t have a name, they described the condition of fibromyalgia. However, it was only in the early 1980s that the medical community actually began to recognize the condition and work towards developing treatments to aid patients suffering from the symptoms of fibromyalgia.

The American College of Rheumatology (ACR) developed a specific set of criteria for the diagnosis of fibromyalgia which include the hallmark symptoms of a history of widespread pain on both sides of the body, both above and below the waist, which has been present for at least three months as well as pain in at least 11 of 18 “tender point” sites. These “tender points” are sites throughout the body that are painful when they are pressed. Fibromyalgia is thought to be the culprit when these conditions are met.

For patients dealing with Fibromyalgia, tender points can include many places, such as the base of the skull, above and between the shoulder blades, below the elbows, in the lower back, on the hips, and behind the knees. Fibromyalgia tender points typically occur on both sides of the body and are similar to other common muscle and muscle-attachment disorders, like tennis elbow. These areas can be quite tender to touch and can leave the patient with a generalized soreness that is often described as feeling like the worse case of the flu ever… ok, now that’s a flu I don’t want to get!

Some researchers believe that they have determined what is fibromyalgia by discovering a genetic component. It seems that some who are diagnosed with this condition genetically react much more to
things that others would not find bothersome or painful at all.

What is fibromyalgia? It is a complex condition that has many in its grip. Learning to live with it can certainly be a challenge, but once you understand the definition of fibromyalgia, you have a better chance and successfully learning the skills needed to actively regain control of your health.

Sore Feet

Sore feet, oh the agony of sore feet… yes, that pain trailing through your feet can certainly get your attention like none other. Foot pain is something that can develop for a variety of reasons, but the bottom line is that when your feet hurt, your entire body hurts.

Your feet take a beating throughout your life… think about the wear and tear they endure just in the course of a normal day. Seriously, there are days that I come home from my job and cannot believe the sore feet that are carrying me, ever so slowly in the door. When your feet hurt, your ankles, knees, and even your back hurts. And at the end of the day, all I want is something that will give me a sore foot remedy… the problem is that some days I just don’t know what the best source of pain relief is…

So your feet hurt… why? Well, that is a great question and unfortunately one that is not easily answered. If you are experiencing foot pain nearly every time that you put on a pain of shoes, then you must ask yourself, if you might be suffering from a bunion, a corn or even a hammertoe. Each one looks differently and impacts the anatomy of your feet differently but the bottom line is that each one can cause a significant amount of pain leaving you with incredibly sore feet.

Let’s look at each of these three foot conditions… a foot corn is simply an area of thickened skin that develops in pressure areas of the foot and can cause you pain. A bunion can leave you with painful feet because it changes the structural anatomy of the foot because the bunion or the hallux valgus forces the big toe to angle toward the other toes and by doing this, you may experience significant discomfort and pain in your feet.

A hammertoe leaves you with sore feet because it also changes the anatomy of the foot since a hammertoe creates a deformity in which the toe bends in a claw-like position. A hammertoe can be found in the second, third or fourth toe; however, it is most common in the second toe.

Ok, three different problems, but all resulting in painful foot conditions.

Experiencing foot pain that lights up your world when you take that very first step out of bed in the morning or even when you take that first step after you’ve been sitting for awhile, well, then it is probable that you have a painful foot condition known as plantar fascitis.

This foot condition occurs when inflammation develops anywhere along the plantar fascia, which is a thick fibrous band running along the bottom of the foot which attaches to the heel and to the ball of the foot. Plantar fasciitis pain most commonly occurs in the heel, at the point where the fibrous band attaches to the heel. It is the inflammation of this fibrous band that causes the pain of plantar fasciitis.

Want to develop a sore foot condition that will make you think that your toe is going to throb so much that it simply falls off your foot? Well, just wait until you develop an ingrown toenail… this ratty little nuisance can leave you with tears in your eyes. The skin of your toe can become very red, inflamed, swollen and tender when the edge or corner of your toenail grows down and cuts into the skin of your toe.

So, frankly, it does not matter the cause of your foot pain, rather what matters the most when your feet are aching is that you get to the root of the problem and search for pain relief for your sore feet. No one should live with sore feet that are distracting and irritating, so take the time to determine the cause of your foot pain and then research what you can do about it. There is no need to suffer in silence…find one of the many sore feet treatments that might be right for you.

Salmonella Bacteria

Well, it’s official, the salmonella bacteria that has been allegedly plaguing the tomato crop has been quelled.  The FDA lifted it’s warning on tomatoes yesterday, though we may not be out of salmonella bacteria woods yet. While the tomato crops were initially prime suspect in the salmonella Saintpaul (the strain of salmonella) outbreak it appears that true culprit may hot peppers. A vegetable tomatoes are often combined with in preparation of various sauce mixes.

Investigators still don’t know what caused the outbreak, which has now sicked over 1200 people in 42 states. While the FDA is not ready to clear the tomatoe crop 100% of salmonella bacteria they have cleared all recently harvested crops. So any fresh tomatoes at your local grocery store should be safe to consume.

Tomatoes harvested during the spring crop could still be tainted with salmonella bacteria. So be wary of canned tomato based products, as they could be contaminated. Additionally, be wary of all hot peppers. While investigator’s haven’t officially issued a warning on peppers yet, they have said they are the top suspect in this continuing investigation.

The Low Carb Diet Prevails!

Low-carb diet beats other diets in study.

In one of the longest and largest studies conducted, the low carb and the Mediterranean style eating habits resulted in more people losing more weight than the more traditional ‘low fat’ diets.

Like a lot of people, I was surprised to see the result that the low-carb diet even actually improved the cholesterol more so than the other two types of diet… big surprise there.

I think it should also be noted that all three of the eating style approaches (low carb, Mediterranean, low fat) all achieved weight loss along with improving the cholesterol numbers.

This study is unlike most in two areas… in the fact that it has lasted about two years… which is much longer than most studies… and that an impressive 85% of the participants stuck with the diets.

The actual research for this study was done was done in Israel with 322 participants. The participants got their primary meal for lunch at a centralized cafeteria. At the cafeteria, the three eating styles’ food was identified by colored dots.

When it came to the breakfast and the dinner meals each of the participants were coached on how to stick to their particular eating plans and were asked to keep records of what they ate.

The low-fat diet consisted of no more than 30 percent of calories from fat. It restricted calories and cholesterol and focused on low-fat grains, vegetables and fruits as options. The Mediterranean diet had similar calorie, fat and cholesterol restrictions, with emphasis poultry, fish, olive oil and nuts.

The low-carb diet on the other hand, set the limits for carbohydrates, but did not for calories or fat. It urged the dieters to choose vegetarian sources of fat and protiens.

Although most of the participants were men, both genders got about the same amounts of exercise.

Let’s look at some of the numbers:

Average weight loss after two years:

Low-Carb = 10.3
Mediterranean = 10.0
Low Fat = 6.5

Still, even to me is the surprising measures of their cholesterol. If you’ve done any type of dieting research over the past couple of years, you would know that the critics haven’t been overly kind to the low-carb Atkins style diet concerning the impact of the diet on one’s cholestrol levels… this study would seem to disprove those fears.

In fact, within this study the low-carb approach appeared to facilitate the most improvement in multiple cholesterol measures, including the ratio of total cholesterol to HDL, the “good” cholesterol. For example, someone with total cholesterol of 200 and an HDL of 50 would have a ratio of 4 to 1. The optimum ratio is 3.5 to 1, according to the American Heart Association.

Although the heart association does not recommend the low-carb Atkins diet, Dr. Robert Eckel, the association’s past president who is a professor of medicine at the University of Colorado-Denver indicates a low-carb approach is consistent with heart association guidelines so long as there are limitations on the kinds of saturated fats often consumed by people on the Atkins diet.

And the last part of that statement is really a key factor to keep this in perspective. One of pitfalls for people on a low-carb eating regime is the saturated fats that are consumed. But all in all many experts agree that this study (which will be published in the New England Journal of Medicine) was highly credible.

Healthy Heart Diet

What you eat and keeping yourself on a healthy heart diet is always important. However, if you’ve had a heart attack… important is a large understatement.

So what are the guidelines for a healthy heart diet?

• Eat your veggies! Work those vegetables into every meal and don’t forget your fruit either.
• Whole grain breads… easy on the whites.
• Work on eating more cereals and other grains and legumes such as beans and peas.
• Change what you base your meals around. For example, instead of making a meat the main part of the meal with rice and beans… reverse the portions… rice and beans with just a small side of the meat.
• Speaking of meat… lean and skinless.
• Dairy products - make them low-fat
• Greatly reduce or all but eliminate fast foods, desserts, soft drinks and all those high in fat and sugary decisions.
• Small amounts of margarine and vegetable oils… olive oil is better.
• Any cooking process other than frying (grilling, steaming, baking, or even microwaving.)
• Cut back on the salt.
• Change your grocery shopping habits to the perimeter aisles and stay away from those middle aisles and re-discover cooking at home with your new healthy heart diet.

When it comes to a heart healthy diet, reducing the amount of fat you consume is a must. This is particularly true if you are already overweight or have high blood cholesterol levels. So, get with your doctor and talk about an appropriate, long term, and graduated form of exercise and physical activity to help hasten the loss of that excess fat.

Alcoholic beverages should only be consumed in moderation… not more than a few drinks at any one time and during any given week.

What about smoking?

What about NOT!

Smoking is the number one risk factor contributing to heart disease. And by the way… it’s NEVER too late to quit. If you try to quit and fail… then try again… and again… and again… no matter how many times you have to quit… quit you must.

What role does high blood pressure play?

If high blood pressure (hypertension) isn’t controlled it can certainly add to the load of the heart and in effect accelerate you on the road to having another heart attack… or even other problems such as a stroke. And the scary part about high blood pressure is that you can’t feel it… there are no warning signs. So, if high blood pressure doesn’t sound too healthy… it’s because it isn’t… get yourself checked by your doctor.

While we’re on the subject… when it comes to controlling your blood pressure, allow me to show you a very familiar list:

• maintain a healthy weight
• get regular exercise
• follow that heart healthy diet above
• moderate your alcohol intake
• and did I mention not smoking!

Changing your lifestyle to a heart healthy diet, getting regular physical activity, and not smoking are excellent ways to reduce your risk of a heart attack… or even a second one.

When it comes to the risk of a heart attack, there are contributing factors that we can’t control… so let’s be sure you take control those risk factors that you can.

Heart Attack - The Aftermath

I’ve discussed with you previously that heart attacks cause a certain amount of damage to the heart muscle itself.

So the question becomes… how much of my heart has been damaged?

Well… this varies from person to person, but generally the amount of the heart muscle that comes under damage or injury isn’t extensive and the heart will, indeed, continue to function well… and, of course, there are tests that can be performed that will give your physician some idea of the extent of the damage.

The positive aspect to remember is that the majority of people make a decent recovery. Although the actual healing process for your heart muscle will take some time, the heart is a resilient muscle; it will will begin to heal soon after the attack.

As far as the heart muscle itself goes, the aftermath is an area of scar tissue that is left behind. Even though your heart won’t contract quite normally around the areas of the scar tissue, for many this does not affect the function of the heart or even how they feel. In fact, many times, the biggest hurdle is getting past the fear and anxiety related to having had a heart attack.

The fear and anxiety factors of a post heart attack aren’t to be taken lightly and how you handle these will greatly effect how quickly you can get your life back to normal.

Once you get back home after a heart attack, what sort of recovery and activity plan should be on?

Of course the absolute answer is exactly what your physician instructs you to do.

Generally speaking, of course, you’ll want to initially get your rest and just quietly move about. You’ll want to learn to recognize when you get tired and should take a break. Realize that even little activity early on will get you tired. One of the big keys to get back on track mentally is to make sure that you get about each day as your doctor allows, get up and get dressed and take on the routine that you’ve been asked to follow by your health care provider.

Ultimately through your regular routine you’ll will gradually regain your physical and your mental strength.

Down the road on your recovery, you’ll want to work with your doctor on getting your physical activity back up to par.

Remember, physical activity has the benefits of keeping your weight down and keeping your blood pressure and your cholesterol in check… which reduces the risk factor of you having a subsequent heart attack.

Getting back to your ‘usual’ activities will vary from person to person and will be under the direction of your doctor. Many cardiologist will schedule their patients to follow up after a heart attack with a cardiac rehabilitation or cardiac rehab program during which you work with specially trained instructors who will help you to regain your strength in a safe and effective manner.

In many cases, walking is the recommended activity to work toward when getting your physical activity level back. If not walking, you’ll want to discuss with your doctor activities that you not only enjoy doing, but also activities that you will do consistently.

Do it for you… and your heart.

With your doctor’s approval, consistently making physical activity a part of your life is not only a big part of your recovery, it is also a big part of you staying healthy long term. You should work to gradually increase your activities that you engage in, and be thinking long term from this point forward. Remember, little changes in your daily lifestyle, can help you to overall be more active.

Getting your life back after a heart attack is not only very doable, but is a requirement for not only your physical health but your mental state as well.

CardioScan Healthy Heart Picture

A cardioscan is one of the latest advances of medical technology that many cardiologist are employing today in order to get a better idea of what is going on inside the blood pumping muscle that works so hard to keep us all alive.

There is no longer any need to wait until that fateful day that you land flat on your back in the middle of a busy emergency room, writhing in pain and terrified that you are in the midst of a full blown heart attack! No need to worry that you simply must sit and wait for the “big one” to drop you to your knees. No need at all, since medical technology has left many a cardiologist dancing in the hospital hallway because they can now help their patients by intervening sooner, even before there are major symptoms of heart disease… they can intervene after obtaining a cardioscan to take a look at the anatomy of the heart and particularly after they look at the calcium score of the heart. The heart’s calcium score, determined through the cardioscan, is calculated by the amount of heart plaque that has built up in the vessels of your heart.

Fortunately, a cardioscan is much less invasive than one of the traditional methods of looking at the heart’s vessels, such as a cardiac catheterization. In the much utilized cardiac cath, your cardiologist can thoroughly examine your heart’s valves, arteries, and chambers by using a contrast dye and a catheter inserted into your groin or arm. Because the heart scan is a much less invasive procedure, it makes it much more likely that patients are willing to undergo the testing procedure.

Recently I was given the honor of sitting down for a conversation with Dr. Steven P. Marso. Dr. Marso is a world renowned Cardiologist and was kind enough to share his thoughts on prevention, healthy living, and taking small steps to get your life back on track. Check out the full interview here, Dr. Steven P. Marso Interview.

The cardioscan is a screening heart scan that is used to detect calcium deposits found in atherosclerotic plaque in the coronary arteries of the heart. Research indicates that the caclium score has a strong predictive value for evaluating the risk for future coronary artery disease. Cardiologist appreciate the heart scan method because it is one of the most effective ways to detect coronary calcification from atherosclerosis, or hardening of the arteries, even before symptoms develop.

Think about it this way… the higher the calcium score, the more coronary calcium is present in your heart’s vessels… and the more heart calcium found in the vessels means more coronary atherosclerosis… and the more coronary atherosclerosis that is present, the higher the possibility is that you will develop a significant narrowing somewhere in the coronary system and, of course, this leads us to the saddest news of all… and that is… a higher calcium score, leads to more hardening of the arteries and ultimately an increased risk of future cardiovascular problems.

Wouldn’t you want to reduce or even avoid that increased risk and intervene earlier if the technology is there to help you? I certainly would!

One of the most powerful benefits of the cardioscan is that this test is one of the better options for finding small blockages in coronary arteries. It is also a pro at quickly detecting congenital abnormalities and other issues with the heart’s anatomy. The scan allows your health care team to take a look at your heart in any dimension, including a three-dimensional view. And one of the most encouraging benefits is that the cardioscan is over 95% accurate… now, that’s an impressive rating.

However, it is important to remember that the cardioscan is in no way an absolute predictor for future cardiac events, including life-threatening ones. It is not a crystal ball that can tell you that you will or will not have a heart attack in the years to come. Invent a medical technology that works at 100%, my friend, and you can retire tomorrow and spend your leisure time on a yacht in the middle of your choice of majestic seas. So for now, I feel pretty good about 95% accuracy.

Once your painless cardioscan is completed, a full report is sent to your primary care physician. This report will tell your physician the number and density of calcified coronary plaques in your coronary arteries and your total calcium score. By looking at this report and then reviewing your other cardiac risk factors, your physician may have other suggestions for you to implement, such as lifestyle changes, like increasing your exercise, eating a more heart healthy diet, and quitting smoking. Your doctor may also suggest certain medications or even additional cardiac testing.

A cardioscan can most certainly give you a leg up when you are looking to achieve your healthiest life. The more information you have about your heart health can help you to intervene and change your lifestyle now instead of waiting till you are holed up in an ER with a team of physicians and nurses leaning over you shaking their heads.

Talk with your health care provider and then make an informed decision… a cardioscan may be the right decision for you.

Audio Interivew with Cardiologist, Dr. Steve P. Marso

Recently I had the honor of sitting down with Dr. Steven P. Marso for an hour long conversation on heart health, how your fitness level directly correlates to your heart health, and of course, getting your life back on track, particularly when it comes to your health!

The 7 Risks of Sun Exposure

In the summer, many people find themselves meandering over to neighboring pools or vacationing to beaches to escape the heat. You have just entered into the risky territory of sun exposure. The problem is that you forgot the sun block or you simply stay out too long in very sunny conditions. Either way, skin conditions may begin to develop. In today’s culture, the tanned skin is all the rage, but is it worth risking your life? Is it worth the chemotherapy and horrid treatments you must endure when you are diagnosed with skin cancer? Is it worth the painful blisters and burns? What is it worth to you? Let’s take a closer look at the dangers of those sunny skies.

1. Sunburns

A sunburn is actually a first-degree burn. Although it does lead to that “natural glow” that everyone seems to want, burning the epidermis (top layer of your skin) is not always the best way to go. Reach for the aloe cream and remember sun block next time. Sunburns leave you at risk for developing skin cancer, melanoma.

2. Blisters

Blisters are second degree sunburns. They are more severe and instead of just redness and peeling, these burns tend to leave blisters when they heal. It is important that you don’t try to pop these blisters for they are providing your body with necessary moisture and protection. Enjoy those big blisters; they are protecting your skin when you don’t…and remember next time, use sun block!

3. Age Spots

Visible skin damage can occur and stay much longer than the usual burn of blister. Age spots, for example, do not occur because of old age. It is because of excessive sun exposure.

4. Uneven Skin Tone/Freckles

Uneven skin tone and freckles are due to the different pigments in your skin reacting differently to the sun. While all of these may seem very innocent, it is a harsh reality that skin cancer can easily hide in an age spot or one misshapen freckle. You must be very careful and see you dermatologist for a full skin care screening.

5. Wrinkles

Wrinkles are mainly due to sun damage. In fact, over 80% of skin damage in later years is because of the tans you received before you even hit the young age of 18. The less you protected your skin back then, the more you’ll regret it now. I’m sure now you’d give anything for a little bit of good sense and SPF 30 back when you were a teenager.

6. Cataracts

Looking directly into the sun with no protection is a great way to develop cataracts. Cataracts occur over the lens of your eye and cause double vision, blurred vision, or glares from light. It can be surgically fixed, but a pair of protective sunglasses will be a lot cheaper. Invest in a pair.

7. Skin Cancer

Skin cancer is obviously the largest concern from sun damage. Any time you are out in the sun, unprotected, you are at risk for contracting any of the many forms of skin cancer. Wouldn’t it just be easier to lather up in sunscreen and take on the fall, pale but knowing that you will be safe?

Yes, a sunburn is painful but most of all it puts you at significant risk for the development of skin cancer…treatment of skin cancer is no walk in the park so if you can do your part and protect your skin in the first place, then you will be a much happier camper!

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