by admin | May 4, 2022 | Health Awareness
You know how important it is to stay hydrated, but do you know all of the ways your body is trying to tell you it needs more water? Feeling thirsty is the most obvious sign, but there are other important signals that you need to increase your fluid intake.
1. Bad Breath
Dehydration can lead to a lack of saliva, and a dry mouth is the perfect environment for bacterial overgrowth. That’s why morning breath can be so unpleasant. If you feel like morning breath stays with you all day long, forget the mints and reach for a glass of water.
2. Muscle Cramps
A lack of fluid causes the body to heat up and the muscles to work harder. Changes in electrolyte levels can also lead to muscle cramps. If you’re experiencing cramping, especially after workouts, consider rehydrating with sports drinks that have added electrolytes.
3. Food Cravings
You may blame it on your sweet tooth, but those cravings for sweet or salty snacks may be caused by your body’s difficulty breaking down glycogen. Dehydration makes it hard for your organs to release glycogen which, in turn, sends signals to your brain that more glycogen is needed.
4. Headaches
Before opening the aspirin bottle the next time you have a headache, try drinking a glass of water. Even mild dehydration can trigger headaches, including migraine headaches.
5. Fever and Chills
Heat illness, which is caused by dehydration, may present as fever and chills. Cooling down as quickly as possible is crucial, and increasing fluids is the best way to accomplish that. In addition to getting out of the heat and applying ice packs or cool cloths, drink extra water to help cool your organs and internal systems.
6. Dry Skin
Dry skin can be the result of unlucky genetics, but it is also a symptom of dehydration. If you’ve noticed your skin is feeling dry and itchy, increase your water intake and schedule a consultation for a regenerative medicine facial.
Staying Hydrated
Most adults should drink at least eight glasses of water per day, not including coffee, tea, or other caffeinated beverages. Remember that sports drinks and other flavored drinks may include sugar and other ingredients that can be harmful to your health if overconsumed. Try adding fresh herbs like mint or slices of citrus fruit to your water for variety.
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by admin | Apr 27, 2022 | Health Awareness
Traveling should be a time for relaxation and enjoyment, but for people with chronic illnesses, it can bring stress and uncertainty. From ensuring you’ve packed necessary medications to managing your symptoms in changing environments, exploring new places isn’t always easy when you have a chronic condition. Here, we discuss some tactics for navigating the challenges of traveling with success.
Check-In With Your Doctor
Prior to your trip, schedule a visit with your doctor to discuss any pre-vacation medical arrangements to be made. Some people with chronic illnesses like to travel with a note from their doctor that details all of their prescriptions and dosages. If you should find yourself without medications or needing an unexpected refill, this information will be helpful to have on hand.
Another good practice is to ask your doctor if there are any preventive medications you should consider bringing on your trip. Some chronic illnesses make individuals more prone to developing infections, so having antibiotics at your disposal could also help you ensure a healthy, stress-free trip.
Set Medication Reminders
Your medications may be some of the last items you pack, so set a reminder on your phone or put a note on your door to make sure you’ve packed these critical essentials. Also, because your daily routine will be altered when you’re in transit and at your destination, you should set a daily medication reminder on your phone to avoid missing any doses.
Here’s another helpful tip for packing medications: put some in your carry-on and some in your checked luggage. Should either get lost, you won’t be entirely without your supply.
Take Breaks as Needed
When planning a trip, it can be tempting to jam-pack an itinerary with sightseeing and other activities. Just be sure to pencil in some break times to prevent exhaustion. Consider making restaurant reservations to hit pause during your adventures, or map out excursions strategically so you can take breaks at nearby restrooms, benches, and other facilities. If you’re feeling great and don’t need to take breaks, that’s fine – but knowing they’re scheduled if you need them can give you peace of mind.
Research Your Destination
Some chronic illnesses require certain accommodations that restaurants and hotels may or may not have. If you have celiac disease or another condition with dietary restrictions, for instance, you’ll want to do a little research on the local eateries to ensure there are menu options available for you to enjoy. Likewise, if you have any medical or mobility equipment which may require special accommodations, make sure your public transportation options and hotel are able to accommodate your needs.
Purchase Travel Insurance
Unforeseen circumstances can derail anyone’s travel plans. For individuals with chronic illnesses, however, flare-ups and fluctuations could increase the likelihood of last-minute changes in plan. Luckily, trip insurance can help you recover some of the costs should you need to cancel your trip, or provide you with the option of rescheduling for a better time.
Whether you’re planning a relaxing beachside getaway or an adventurous outdoor retreat, these tips can help prepare you for whatever could come your way on vacation. Although it may require a bit more planning upfront, people living with chronic illnesses can have an enjoyable travel experience, too.
For more health awareness blogs, please visit www.stemedix.com/blog.
by admin | Apr 20, 2022 | Health Awareness
Fibromyalgia affects up to four million adults in the U.S. alone. Unfortunately, fibromyalgia has no cure, and those who suffer from this chronic condition are only offered treatments that work to reduce symptoms to improve their quality of life.
As researchers continue to study this perplexing condition, they discover new connections between fibromyalgia and the immune system.
What Is Fibromyalgia?
Fibromyalgia is a chronic condition that healthcare providers still struggle to understand. Symptoms of fibromyalgia are similar to many other illnesses and include:
- Muscle and bone pain
- Fatigue
- Sensitivity and tenderness
- Sleep disruptions
- Brain fog
There are no tests to diagnose fibromyalgia definitively, so the condition is often misdiagnosed.
What Causes Fibromyalgia?
While the cause of fibromyalgia is unknown, researchers are getting closer to understanding the condition through its connection to the immune system.
Patients with rheumatoid arthritis and lupus, both autoimmune diseases, are more likely to have fibromyalgia. Autoimmune diseases occur when the body mistakenly unleashes its immune response against the healthy cells of organs and tissues.
Fibromyalgia can occur in conjunction with other autoimmune diseases. Additionally, fibromyalgia symptoms like fatigue and brain fog often overlap with autoimmune disorders.
These factors led researchers to theorize that fibromyalgia may be an autoimmune disorder, even though it doesn’t cause inflammation, a common symptom of autoimmune diseases.
In a recent study, mice injected with auto-antibodies from people with fibromyalgia began to experience fibromyalgia-like symptoms. This new development may lead to new tests to diagnose fibromyalgia and new treatments for those suffering from the condition.
Living with Fibromyalgia
Patients with fibromyalgia suffer from the pain, fatigue, and other symptoms associated with the condition, in addition to common social misconceptions. While fibromyalgia doesn’t have a cure, symptoms are often well-managed through diet and exercise, medications, alternative therapies, and stress relief.
Patients are exploring regenerative medicine, also known as stem cell therapy, to help manage their symptoms experienced with fibromyalgia or an autoimmune condition. Stem cells are the building blocks and, specifically, mesenchymal stem cells have the regenerative properties to differentiate into any cell type while also addressing pain and inflammation within the body.
by admin | Apr 13, 2022 | Health Awareness, Multiple Sclerosis
Muscle spasticity is one of the most challenging symptoms of Multiple Sclerosis (MS). Patients with MS often experience a tightening or stiffening of the lower body muscles in the legs, groin, buttocks, and back.
Muscle spasticity can affect the ability to stand, walk, and balance and is one of the biggest detriments to a patient’s quality of life. Muscle spasticity can worsen during quick stretches or movements. However, when done correctly, gentle stretches can help patients manage spasticity effectively.
Hip Crossovers
While lying on your back, bend your knees at a 45-degree angle, draw them together, and gently let both knees lower to one side, holding for 30 seconds. Then pull the knees back to the center and slowly lower them to the other side.
In this hip stretch, your goal is to decrease tightness, not get your knees to the floor, so only lower them as far as it feels okay. Keep your arms out to the side in a “T,” palms down. Move slowly.
Hip Flexor Stretches
Lying on your back, rest on the lower half of your bed with your knees and lower legs hanging off the edge. You should feel a stretch in your hip flexors located at the front of your hip. Aim to build up to a 30-second, then 60-second hold.
Calf Stretches
Placing a rolled-up towel on the floor, step on the towel with the ball of your foot, keeping your weight on the back of the foot. Then, step the opposite foot slightly forward, still maintaining the weight on the back of the foot, stretching the calf.
Foot Rolls
When seated, place a rubber ball on the floor and roll your foot over the ball, paying particular attention to places on your foot that lack feeling or feel disengaged.
Ankle Stretches
While seated, hold a rolled towel at both ends, wrapping the towel under one foot. Lift the foot and towel with both hands and try to keep the leg extended for up to 30 seconds.
Tips for Exercising with Muscle Spasticity
Muscle spasticity affects everyone differently. If you experience muscle spasticity when extending your legs, avoid stretches that straighten the knee and hip to that point. Also, patients who incorporate stretches regularly see the most benefits and better movement.
If you take an anti-spasticity drug, exercise about an hour after taking your medication, and have your dosage checked regularly as spasticity changes.
If your spasticity worsens, or you’re not finding relief from the suggested exercises, schedule time with a physical therapist to learn about the best exercises for your needs.
by admin | Apr 6, 2022 | Health Awareness
Most people understand what collagen is, but many are not yet familiar with liposomal vitamin C. Both of these substances are beneficial for improving gut health and reducing the inflammation that can cause stiff, swollen joints.
Benefits of Collagen
Collagen is a protein found naturally in the human body. In fact, it is the most abundant protein in the body. It is located in the musculoskeletal system, in blood vessels, and also in the digestive system.
It is often thought of as the “glue” that holds the body together. Even before the age of 30, most people have started losing their collagen stores. By 40, it is depleting more quickly than we can produce it.
Though it is mostly known for keeping skin youthful, collagen is vital in maintaining a healthy digestive system. It helps repair leaky gut by sealing the intestines and protecting them from toxins in the digestive tract.
Collagen is necessary to “heal, seal, and repair” the gut lining and return the digestive system to its natural balance.
Benefits of Liposomal Vitamin C
Liposomes are “nano-sized” transporters. They are responsible for carrying nutrients directly from the blood to the body’s cells. Liposomal vitamin C is a type of vitamin C that is more easily absorbed by the body. Microscopic droplets of fat-soluble liposomes encapsulate the vitamin C, making it easier to transport and access.
Nearly 80% of water-soluble vitamin C is excreted from the body, but almost 90% of liposomal vitamin C is directly absorbed into the digestive tract cells.
Liposomal vitamin C is easier on the gut and may help reduce the GI symptoms related to taking high doses of water-soluble vitamin C. Vitamin C is an important supplement for reducing inflammatory markers. It has effectively reduced the inflammatory symptoms associated with colds, flu, and seasonal allergies.
For more health awareness blogs, please visit www.stemedix.com/blog.
by admin | Mar 30, 2022 | Health Awareness
Scientists researching the human gastrointestinal tract’s microorganisms continue to find significant connections between the gut and patients’ overall health.
The gut microbiome, which is the name for these microorganisms, has inspired many studies as researchers continue to understand their impact on everything from brain disorders to joint pain.
While initial studies linking the gut microbiome to cognitive function showed connections, those studies used animal experiments and small clinical studies. On a larger scale, scientists examining the gut microbiome’s relationship to cognitive function recruited middle-aged participants from another study in four U.S. metropolitan areas.
Previous Studies
Previous studies looking at connections between the gut microbiome and cognitive function found links for short-chain fatty acids produced in the microbiota to influence cognitive health.
In animal experiments, rodents with reduced diversity in their gut microbiome showed cognitive defects, including reduced memory, impaired working memory, and changes in their brain.
Small-scale human studies also showed associations between the gut microbiome and cognition, including improvements when comparing controls to people treated with probiotics to increase their gut microbiome.
The Newest Results
In scientists’ newest study, they analyzed the cognitive function and microbiomes of 597 participants between 48 and 60 years old, with a mean age of 55. The study focused on participants’ gut microbiome diversity in connection with six cognitive tests.
The studies concluded a significant association between participants’ microbial composition and cognitive function. All of the conclusions drawn were in line with the previous small-scale human studies and animal studies.
Conclusions
While researchers carefully note that this study needs replication in larger human samples, some of the initial findings support short-chain fatty acids playing an instrumental role in regulating the interaction between the gut and the brain, known as the gut-brain axis.
Short-chain fatty acids are one of the main byproducts of the microbiome and may have neuroactive properties.
Animal studies found short-chain fatty acids protecting the brain against vascular dementia and cognitive impairment. Recent results support a strong connection between nutrition, microbiome composition, and cognitive function.
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