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Serotonin is a hormone that is technically called 5-hydroxyterpitamine and is produced and found in the pineal gland, blood platelets, the digestive tract, and the brain. Seroronin acts both as a chemical messenger that transmits nerve signals between nerve cells; and a substance that causes blood vessels to narrow. Changes in the serotonin levels in the brain can alter a persons mood. Serotonin, based on some studies, also cause or trigger migraine headaches.

Migraines occur mainly due to the constriction of blood vessels near the brain. Typically, migraine pain lasts from four to 72 hours. Migraine affects about 15% of the entire U.S. population. Three times as many women as men have migraines. More than 80% of people with migraines (called migraineurs) have other members in the family who have them too. Migraine headaches are the second most common type of primary headache and they can have other symptoms such as nausea, vomiting, or sensitivity to light.

A migraine is caused by the enlargement of the temporal artery, which is the artery that lies on the outside of the skull and under the skin of our forehead. When this artery enlarges, it stretches nerves around it and they in turn release certain chemicals. These chemicals are the cause of the pain that is called a migraine, and they also cause the artery to enlarge even moremore pain, more enlargement. Migraines are just a never-ending circle of agony.

Pre ion-strength non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) can reduce the frequency of attacks in over half of migraine sufferers. Mefenamic acid (Ponstel) and naproxen (Anaprox) are particularly useful for preventing migraines associated with menstruation. Beta-blockers are usually prescribed to reduce high blood pressure. Some, however, are also useful in reducing the frequency of migraine attacks and their severity when they occur. Propranolol (Inderal) and timolol (Blocadren) have been approved specifically for prevention of migraine. Others medications that have been found to be effective include metoprolol (Lopressor, Toprol XL), and nadolol (Corgard).

However, regular headache pain relievers and other oral medications are probably going to do little to help. They are simply not absorbed the way they should be. However, a person with migraine could try some natural remedies such as massage, heat, a hot shower, relaxation techniques or any activity that helps puts aside the worries for the moment and relaxes the body.

Another non-chemical method used by people to treat migraines is called acupuncture, a procedure that helps calm the temporal artery and the sympathetic nerve system. There are a lot of practitioners of Acupuncture. They are licensed, highly trained professionals that can be trusted by patients.

When considering how to naturally prevent a migraine headache, you can try lavender or peppermint oil as a topical solution or inhaler. These can be put in a vaporizer or washcloth. Calcium and magnesium supplements also help relieve muscle tension.

Alternative medicines for migraine headache pain sufferers are available without the risks or adverse effects of the regular pain relief medications. Besides being more conservative than the medical establishment's methods of migraine pain relief, they're often just as effective, if not more so.

Steroids are synthetic hormone drugs derived from testosterone. There are wonderful drugs, if they are used rightly for right purpose, but these drugs are more often abused. According to surveys and steroid graphs, steroids are oftentimes used by young sportsmen, jocks, wrestlers and athletes. Such, without pre ions steroid use for non medical purposes is steroid abuse, which has serious side effects and dangerous consequences.

The steroid graphs on steroid abuse reveal the clear surge in the steroid use among youngsters. The recent steroid graphs show the rise in the trend of steroid use among eighth, tenth, and twelfth graders since the mid-1990s.

The recent steroid graphs on steroid abuse are titling towards rise of the steroid abuse among the high school students and players. It has been noticed that steroids are often abused by young athletes and non athletes to enhance their power, performance and stamina, and for various cosmetic reasons.

The steroid graphs on steroid abuse also show that steroid abuse is higher among males than females. The graphs show that the steroids use is fast on rise among 12-17 year old males, with average youngsters start using steroids at age 15. The proportion of male high school athletes using steroids is 6.6 percent and out of the 6.6 percent, 40 percent are hard-core users.

The Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administrations National Household conducted drug abuse survey on 1,084,000 Americans, or 0.5% of the adult population, and revealed that they had used anabolic steroids. In the 18-34 age groups, about 1% had ever used steroids.

The Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) conducts the Youth Risk Behavior Surveillance Study, a survey of high school students across the United States. A survey conducted in 2001 depicted that 5% of all high school students described lifetime use of steroid tablets/injections without a doctors pre ion. The steroid graphs based on the study also showed that 5.8% of ninth graders, 4.9% of tenth graders, 4.3% of eleventh graders, and 4.3% of twelfth graders reported lifetime illegal use of steroids.

Back Massage is one of the best ways through which you can relive yourself from back pain. You can use various back massage techniques for benefits, such as relaxation, increased body awareness, better blood circulation and improved lymphatic drainage for release of toxins. Selecting a right back massage technique is important for receiving maximum benefits. Typically, during the back massage, a masseur uses massage oil to decrease friction created on the skin and to prevent the pulling of skin hair. The less the quantity of oil applied, the greater is the friction and deeper will be the pressure. Use light stroking movements throughout your massage to move from one area to another, to soothe an area of localized deep tissue or to make a transition to another stroke.

Step By Step Guide for Back Massage

Mentioned below are few steps, which detail a back massage technique for relieving one from back pain.

The person receiving the massage should lie down on his/her belly on a firm, comfortable surface, such as a floor mat or firm bed. Make sure that you the whole back of the massage receiver is comfortably within reach. Stand by the side of the person and place one hand on the lower back and teh other between the shoulder blades, over the heart.

Warm up the back by applying thumb pressure along both sides of the spine simultaneously: Start from the lower back and knead gently with your thumbs up to the neck area. This will also promote relaxation.

Use a smooth, delicate stroke, called "effleurage", to apply massage oil. In one long stroke, slide your palms down either side of the spine to the pelvis; scoop out around the hips and back up the sides to the shoulders. Maintain contact with the back. Move your hands over the back to start a new area. Continue up both sides of the neck to the base of the head.

Starting at the spine, slide your palms in opposite directions outward to the sides of the back, starting with the lower back area, and moving up to the shoulders.

Knead the fleshy muscular areas at the top of the shoulders, the mid-back area and the buttocks to loosen any tight muscles and fascia, which is a connective tissue.

Alternative medicine has grown increasingly popular over the last three decades. It has been defined as any system of healing or treating disease not included in the traditional medical curricula, often based in belief systems at odds with scientific knowledge. Today, even medical doctors have become more open to guiding patients in exploring other treatment options such as acupuncture, massage, aromatherapy, herbal medicines and chiropractic medicine. Many are turning to these alternative treatments to treat chronic illnesses that modern medicine has not been able to help them with or to alleviate symptoms.

One of these chronic illnesses is sexual impotence. It is one of the most common medical conditions afflicting sexually mature men today. Also referred to as erectile dysfunction (ED), the main symptom of sexual impotence is the consistent inability to obtain and/or maintain an erection for successful sexual intercourse. Reasons for sexual impotence include pelvic trauma, neurological problems, smoking, alcohol abuse, conditions such as diabetes and cardiovascular disease, stress, hormonal deficiency, and psychological problems. Treatment will largely be determined by the underlying cause and can range from oral pre ions, direct injections to the penis, psychological counseling, mechanical sex aids or surgery. Among the most popular treatments for sexual impotence are pre ion oral phosphodiesterase type 5 (PDE5) inhibitors such as Viagra (sildenafil citrate), Cialis (tadalafil) and Levitra (vardenafil hydrochloride), which regulates an enzyme the body produces to diminish erections. They also help the penile muscles to relax, allowing the shaft to become engorged and stay firm longer. Unfortunately, these drugs only work in about 75% of sexual impotence cases and are contraindicated for patients taking nitrate-based drugs or alpha-blockers, because interaction with PDE5 inhibitors can be fatal. Patients may also experience a myriad of side effects such as headache, flushing of the face and body, indigestion, runny nose, palpitations, nausea, vomiting, muscle pains and vision disturbances.

It is mostly because of these side effects that men have begun looking for alternative treatments for sexual impotence. Some feel that continuous intake of pre ion medication will have negative effects in the long-term, and surgery is too radical a solution to even consider. To them, alternative medicine seems to be the most holistic way of dealing with this condition. For example, drugs such as Viagra are ignored in favor of horny goat weed, garlic, gingko biloba and yohimbe root as oral supplements for sexual impotence. Horny goat weed is based in traditional Chinese medicine and is a popular aphrodisiac with testosterone-like effects, stimulating sexual desire, and sensory nerves. Garlic has been shown to help the body react to nitric acid, which is important in maintaining an erection. Gingko Biloba improves vascular function in the body, which means it increases blood flow in the penis as well. Yohimbe root is approved by the FDA for the treatment of sexual impotence. Yohimbine, an extract of yohimbe, has proven effective in treating erectile dysfunction in scientific studies.

Some alternative treatments for sexual impotence are complimentary to medical treatments. Massage, aromatherapy and acupuncture have been known to decrease stress and fatigue, two major components in sexual impotence. Another option is chiropractic, a non-invasive and non-drug treatment that involves manipulation of the spine and extremities for mechanical musculo-skeletal dysfunction. Some practitioners believe that manipulation will help impotent men regain their erections by improving the transmission of nerve impulses from the extremities to the brain.

However, contrary to popular belief, some of these alternative treatments have side effects and risks. Yohimbine for example has been known to cause allergic reactions and irregular heartbeats, both of which can lead to serious problems if the patient does not discontinue drug intake. Chiropractic can cause spinal injury. The most important thing for impotent patients to remember is that while alternative treatments can be holistic and effective, consulting with a licensed medical doctor is equally beneficial.

In a People Magazine article, American Idol contestant, Katherine McPhee disclosed that she has secretly suffered from bulimia for the past five years. It was her success in televisions American Idol competition that inspired her to come forward and get help to recover from her life-threatening eating disorder. Katherine, a vocalist who at her worst point was self-inducing vomiting up to seven times a day, claimed that she realized her bulimic behaviors were equivalent to taking a sledgehammer to her throat and brought herself to treatment.

Glamorizing Eating Disorder Illnesses? Or Becoming an Invaluable Role Model?

Some may think when celebrities like Katherine come forward with such problems it only glamorizes the illness and encourages dysfunction in impressionable young people. In reality, some impressionable youngsters may respond by engaging in self-destructive experimentation, but for the most part, the responses of people like Katherine McPhee provide invaluable role modeling for fans.

Though statistics show that 1 percent of young females in this country suffer with bulimia, the numbers most likely do not reflect the enormity of the problem, as bulimia is among the most frequently missed diagnoses, and only a minority of people with eating disorders, especially with bulimia nervosa, are treated in mental healthcare. A problem cannot be solved until it is defined. In coming forward as she has, McPhee has displayed the courage and intention to achieve her dreams, to become proactive in making her life as healthy, gratified and fulfilled as it can be. Despite the widely held misconception that once eating disordered, always eating disordered, eating disorders are fully curable in 80 percent of cases where recognized early and treated effectively. In her forthright and courageous stand, this American Idol contestant has become a true American idol.

Uncovering the Secrets of Bulimia Nervosa and Anorexia Nervosa: The Most Lethal Mental Health Disorders

The most lethal of all the metal health disorders, bulimia nervosa and anorexia nervosa are extremely hard to recognize. Highly secretive diseases, they rarely show up in doctors offices during physical or functional assessments; even laboratory tests do not show evidence of eating disorders until they are in their most advanced stages. By their nature counterintuitive, eating disorders typically give victims a pseudo-sense of power and control, creating the illusion of feeling and becoming better than ever. In actual fact, certain stages of recovery feel more precarious and painful than does the disease itself. Making matters even more confusing, many of the symptoms of these lethal disorders lay somewhere along the continuum of normal human behaviors. Who doesnt overeat, under-eat or engage in emotional or social eating at times?

Eating disorders, which essentially represent an abuse of food in an effort to resolve emotional problems, transcend a dysfunctional relationship with food to represent the tip of a physical, emotional, cognitive, behavioral and social iceberg, with early signs of clinical eating disorders typically evident in diverse life spheres.

8 signs that parents and families may see at home, around the dinner table, in the family bathroom, or the childs bedroom:

Erratic eating, eating too much or too little, too frequently or too seldom.

Dieting and other restrictive eating behaviors (in some instances vegetarianism or skipping meals) that can result in extreme hunger and gorging, irregular menstrual periods.

Fear of putting on weight, with an all-encompassing preoccupation with food and eating that can account for as much as 80 percent of an individuals thoughts

Hiding food, and feeling shame and guilt after eating it. The refusal to eat in the company of others.

Depressive moods

Various forms of purging, including self-induced vomiting, excessive exercising, laxative, diuretic, or Ipecac abuse

Disappearances into the bathroom during or following meals

Impulsive, immoderate and out of control behaviors beyond the realm of eating, that might include shop lifting, promiscuity, cutting, engaging in chaotic relationships, abuse of substances such as drugs, alcohol, nicotine, diet pills, etc.

There is nothing passive about eating disorders. Always on the move, they are either getting better or you can be certain they are getting worse. Eating disorder recovery can be a long-term process, requiring input from a diverse team of professionals including physicians, psychotherapists, family therapists, nutritionists, psycho pharmacologists and school counselors. The course of recovery will be as variable, must be as comprehensive, and in many ways will feel as convoluted as the course of disease, typically combining outpatient and inpatient treatment milieus and diverse treatment modes. Victims of eating disorders, as young as age 5 or as old as 60, male or female, individuals alone or living within the context of a supportive or not so supportive family system need help to recognize, accept and conquer these diseasesto become capable of reclaiming their lives, proactively, with steadfast commitment to fight the good fight for life and life quality.