Wednesday, May 8, 2013

7 easy ways to keep headache at bay without taking a pill!


7 easy ways to keep headache at bay without taking a pill!Each one of us experiences headaches, be it a mild irritation or skull-crushing distractions. And to get rid of headaches is something that everyone wants. They can be treated in different ways depending on the kind of pains you have. However, you can still cure headaches naturally by different methods, without having to pop a pill.

Take lots of water: Drinking plenty of plain and crystal pure water can give you a big relief since dehydration can lead to headache. You should avoid sugar-loaded drinks like alcohol, coffee as that can dehydrate you.

Drink herbal tea: Teas like peppermint and chamomile work wonders in relieving one of a headache. Make sure that you drink a cup of herbal tea for soothing your headache.

Try Exercise: Since physical exercises such as jogging, brisk walk, swimming, etc. boost your blood circulation, it will help you in overcoming a headache and fatigue in addition to allowing your whole body to relax. So you should try to incorporate exercise in your daily routine.

Try using a cool compress: You can wet a soft washcloth with cool water and lay it over your forehead as it might ease some of the pain. Refresh it with cool water again when it starts to feel uncomfortably warm.

Laugh your heart out: Since most headaches result from stress, laughing therapy is an effective tool in calming the same. Hence, watching a comedy or reading a comic book can be a real relief.

Get enough sleep: Most of us do not care about our sleeping schedule or do not get adequate sleep. It is actually bad for our health. In fact, lack of sleep may be the cause of headaches in some people. Hence, people who often suffer from headaches are advised to get sufficient sleep daily. Also, maintaining a good sleep routine can help in reducing stress.

Try light massage: You can give yourself a light massage on the head, neck and ear lobes as it can disseminate the pain. Also, gently press your fingers over your temple, eyebrows and move them in slow circles for a quick feel-better. Light massage also helps in improving blood circulation and relieving tension.

Apart from the above methods, try consuming foods that are high in magnesium and calcium as these two minerals are believed to be helpful in reducing the symptoms of tension and other stress-linked headaches. Foods like broccoli, beans, soy milk, nuts, spinach, etc. are rich in magnesium.

Monday, May 6, 2013

Seven heart-healthy tips that can cut cancer risk




Washington: The American Heart Association`s seven steps for a healthy heart- dubbed Life`s Simple 7 - can also help keep cancer at bay, a new study has claimed.

Laura Rasmussen-Torvik, a professor of preventive medicine at Northwestern University`s Feinberg School of Medicine, said that following even six of the steps can cut cancer risk in half.

She said that she and her colleagues had a hunch that following healthy-heart guidelines would also decrease the risk of cancer and their findings confirmed it.

According to the study, following four of the steps in `Life`s Simple 7` resulted in a 33 percent cancer risk reduction, and following six or seven of the steps led to a 51 percent cancer risk reduction.

The American Heart Association had developed the seven steps in 2010 with the goal of reducing heart attack and stroke deaths by about 20 percent by 2020.

Rasmussen-Torvik and her fellow researchers examined two decades of data from the Atherosclerosis Risk in Communities study, going through the health records of 13,253 patients from 1987 to 2006 and discovered that the more steps the patients followed, the more they cut down on cancer risk.


Here are the steps in the Life Simple 7:

1. Get active - AHA recommends at least 150 minutes of exercise a week.

2. Control cholesterol - Cholesterol should be lower than 200 milligrams per deciliter.

3. Eat better - This means foods high in whole grain, fruits, vegetables and lean protein such as fish. Limiting sodium, added sugars, trans and saturated fats is also important.

4. Manage blood pressure - It should be less than 120/80.

5. Lose weight - body mass index should be below 25.

6. Reduce blood sugar - Fasting blood sugar level should below 100, which can be achieved by avoiding soda, candy and other desserts, as well as getting exercise.

7. Stop smoking - AHA says do "whatever it takes."

The researchers also found that the steps are cumulative, but quitting smoking was especially helpful.

There`s also a considerable amount of overlap in the steps, considering that getting active and eating better - steps 1 and 3 - also help with cholesterol, blood pressure, weight and blood sugar - steps 2, 4, 5, and 6.

The study has been published in the journal Circulation.