CHRONIC DRINKING INCREASES STRESS

Introduction

It seems paradoxical. Most people drink to relax. But chronic drinking increases levels of cortisol, the stress hormone, in your bloodstream.

Over time, increased levels of cortisol can damage your brain cells. According to researchers, this can put you at risk of losing memory functions. The authors of the study which was published in the journal Alcoholism: Clinical & Experimental

Research believe that this finding may shed light on drinking behaviours, the effects of alcohol on cognition and memory and the likelihood of relapse for recovering alcoholics.

Unfortunately, once a chronic drinker stops drinking it takes time for cortisol levels in the brain to decrease. However, the presence of cortisol in the blood is decreased after quitting.

Speak to your doctor to see if you need to cut down on your drinking.

Here are some tips that may help you cut down:

• Keep a small amount or no alcohol at home. This will help you to avoid temptation.

• Drink slowly. When you drink, sip your drink slowly. Take a break of 1 hour between drinks. Drink soda, water or juice after a drink with alcohol.

• Do not drink on an empty stomach. Eat food when you are drinking.

• Take a break from alcohol. Pick a day or two each week when you will not drink at all. Think about how you feel physically and emotionally on these days. When you succeed and feel better, you may find it easier to cut down for good.

• Learn to say NO. You do not have to drink when other people drink. You do not have to take a drink that is given to you. Practice ways to say no politely. For example, you can tell people you feel better when you drink less.

• Stay active. What would you like to do instead of drinking? Use the time and money spent on drinking to do something fun with your family or friends. Go out to eat, see a movie, or play sports or a game.

• Get support. Cutting down on your drinking may be difficult at times. For example ask your family and friends for support to help you reach your goal. Talk to your doctor if you are having trouble cutting down. Get the help you need to reach your goal.

Most importantly – avoid temptation

Watch out for temptation. Watch out for people, places, or times that make you drink, even if you do not want to. Stay away from people who drink a lot or bars where you used to go. Plan ahead of time what you will do to avoid drinking when you are tempted. Don’t drink when you are angry or upset or have a bad day. These are habits you need to break if you want to drink less.

Conclusion

If you do not reach your goal the first time, try again. Remember to get professional support if you feel you need it.

In conclusion if you suffer from chronic drinking or increased stress, see your doctor. It can be a dangerous condition.

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You wake in the night, sometimes with a fright, and aren’t clear about what woke you. Perhaps you have sleep disorder called sleep apnoea.

Introduction

Sleep apnoea is a disorder characterised by a reduction or stopping of breathing during sleep. There are two types of sleep disorders, the more common obstructive sleep apnoea and the less common central sleep apnoea. There are several tests that may be used to confirm the diagnosis and treatment can be surgical or nonsurgical.

An apnoea is a period of time during which breathing stops. Alternately breathing is markedly reduced. In simplified terms, an apnoea occurs when a person stops breathing for 10 seconds or more. So, if normal breath airflow is 70 percent to 100 percent, an apnoea is if you stop breathing completely, or take less than 25 percent of a normal breath (for a period that lasts 10 seconds or more).

Apnoeas usually occur during sleep. The apnoea disrupts sleep. Sometimes you wake up completely, but sometimes you just come out of a deep level of sleep and into a more shallow level of sleep.

Effects of sleep apnoea

If left untreated, sleep apnea can increase the risk of health problems, including:

• High blood pressure
• Stroke
• Heart failure, irregular heart beats, and heart attacks
• Diabetes
• Depression
• Worsening of ADHD
• Headaches

There is a strong correlation between overweight/obesity and sleep apnoea, and many men find that once they reach a normal body weight, the apnoea disappears.

In conclusion if you suffer from sleep apnoea, see your doctor. It can be a dangerous condition and – at best – it can cause you many hours of accumulative lost sleep.

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Introduction

Fat stored under the abdominal muscles and around intestines and organs contributes to pushing out the abdominal muscles and fat, causing the “beer belly”. There are many myths and facts about that beer belly. Sadly, you can ignore what you see on TV and in magazines – there’s no such thing as “spot” weight reduction that targets only the belly.

Causes

Genetics, gender, hormones and age are the major factors that determine the pattern of fat storage and its loss. Reducing fat in any one area of the body requires total body fat reduction. For many men and women, the first place to gain and the last place to lose fat is the tummy. Exercises like sit-ups, crunches, hip and leg raises only exercise muscles beneath fat – and it’s the fat that has to go.

Risks

Belly fat in the midsection does more than reduce your chances of winning the swimsuit competition. It’s linked to a variety of health problems, from type 2 diabetes to high blood pressure and cardiovascular disease.

Treatment

The only real way to healthy weight loss is to use more energy than you’re consuming. In other words, eat less and move more! If you aren’t sure about a healthy food plan, see a nutritionist. Then check with your doctor and if he or she gives you the heads-up, get to gym and lose that paunch.

Conclusion

In conclusion there are many myths and facts about that beer belly. However innocent it may seem, there are potential serious consequences associated with beer bellies. If you have one it is best to do something about it.

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Introduction

We all like to smile. Most of us find our teeth aren’t as white as they used to be and we may not smile that much. Caffeine, fizzy drinks, black tea, red wine, coffee and smoking can take their toll on your gleaming smile.

Causes

Aging, along with and some prescription drugs such as tetracycline antibiotics, can also dull the color of your teeth. There’s not much you can do about that in the way of home treatments. Your dentist can certainly work wonders these days.

Treatment

To get back that sparkle, ask a dentist to recommend the best over-the-counter whitening product best suited to your teeth. Remember that yellowish teeth, which have changed colour because of beverages or smoking, usually lighten well. Your teeth may have a brownish or greyish tint from taking antibiotics at a young age. In this case commercial whiteners may not help.

The budget-friendly teeth whiteners usually contain hydrogen peroxide. In addition they come in the forms of gel or paste. The paste is applied to the teeth. The process can take a period of days or weeks.

A more expensive way to lighten teeth is to have a dental treatment. This is the most effective treatment. This treatment usually uses higher levels of chemicals in the controlled environment of your dentist’s rooms. If all else fails, you may want to consider porcelain veneers. Porcelain veneers are manufactured in a dentist laboratory. The cost is more substantial but a big advantage here is that you can choose sparkling white “new teeth”. The new teeth will last you for the rest of your life! It’s vital that you choose a reputable dentist, though. If possible, talk with another of his patient’s and take a good look at their results before putting yourself through a big procedure and a big expense.

Conclusion

In conclusion if you find it difficult to smile because your teeth are no longer white there is help available. This ranges from over the counter teeth whiteners to professional help from dentists.

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Halitosis is commonly known as bad breath. Take a deep breathe now . . .

Introduction

As the joke goes, halitosis is better than no breath at all! Except, of course, for the people you get close to. Unpleasant smelling breath, or halitosis, is quite common in healthy people, especially when waking up in the morning. However, for some people bad breath is a chronic problem, affecting their personal, business and social life.

Causes

The usual cause of halitosis is the breakdown of food remains, saliva and blood, by bacteria. This process of breakdown is that same as what causes food left out of the fridge to “go off”, and is known as putrefaction. The mouth contains large numbers of bacteria, which are even more common in dental plaque.

Other infections in the mouth, particularly gingivitis (infection of the gums), produce more bacteria and make halitosis worse. People with diseases of the liver or kidneys, diabetic complications or digestive problems may also have unpleasant breath as a result of their disease, but this is unusual.

Treatment

The best way to treat and prevent halitosis is to clean your teeth and mouth thoroughly and often. This prevents plaque building up and to removes tiny food particles. Dental floss is a good way of cleaning the hard to reach places. Note, though, that mouthwash and breath fresheners are no substitute for good dental hygiene.

If you have halitosis also known as bad breath it may take a close friend to tell you. Visit your dentist and sort it out. If you dont the dental work needed can get out of hand.

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