Why Muscle Hurts After Exercising for the First Time

Many people experience muscle pain when they exercise for the first time. Because of this reason, many people tend to avoid working out in the gym. So what actually causes the pain when you exercise for the first time.

Pain or discomfort that arises is an adaptation period to make the muscles become stronger and able to perform the next task. Therefore, one should not be discouraged or even stop exercising.

“When a person is exercising the first time, the muscles will experience less physical stress. Pain or tenderness is a natural thing of all kinds of physical activity and most commonly occurs in the early stages of a person to start a program,” said Professor Rick Sharp, exercise physiologist from Iowa State University in Ames, according to WebMD.

The pain and discomfort occurs between 24-48 hours after exercise. This condition is normal and is known as delayed onset muscle soreness or DOMS.

When people exercises that means they are testing the strength of their body and muscles that cause tension in the muscle fibers. Then the body will respond by triggering new muscle synthesis that makes muscles grow stronger and make people able to face a greater burden.

Each time work load increases, the muscles are encouraged to survive. As a result the muscles become stressed and it causes pain. This condition occurs when people exercise for the first time or is starting a more heavy exercise.

If the body is sore after exercise, there are some things you can do to reduce its pain:

1. Compress with ice
2. Take a break
3. Take anti-inflammatory drug
4. Have a massage
5. Do some stretching.

Before the first exercise, do some stretching because it can reduce the pain.

Start by doing lite exercise, then gradually increase the intensity and frequency. Perform cooling just before the exercise ends (10 minutes before it finishes) can also relieve pain.

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Fish Spa Have Risks of Spreading Diseases

Fish Spa or fish bite therapy is quite popular because it is believed to be able to relieve fatigue and stress and can make the skin smooth. But enthusiasts of this therapy should be wary of some things.

Health experts warn that fish spa contains some risk of spreading diseases. Especially if the fish used is not Garra rufa or known as doctor fish.

Many fish spas today uses Chinchin fish because it is much cheaper than the Garra rufa fish.

Garra rufa fish have been used for years as a natural spa in Asia and Turkey, and over time this fish  spa grows and had reached several countries.

Garra rufa fish likes to eat the dead skin cells of humans. These fish are used for feet beauty treatments (pedicure) and treat the symptoms of psoriasis.

But it turns out that these fish are difficult to clean, so some countries have issued regulations that say there is no way to ensure the cleanliness of this fish.

It should be noted that the Garra rufa fish should not be used repeatedly. Consumers should be sure first that the bowl or place used had been cleaned with disinfectant, basins and fish are used only for oneself and uses Garra rufa fish.

Researcher Martin Grassberger, MD from the Medical University of Vienna says that many fish spa in America uses Chinchin fish. Presumably this fish is also widely used in other countries.

“In addition there are fears of other health risks, some spas are known to use various types of fish known as chinchin, which is more aggressive than Garra rufa,” he said, according to MSNHealth.

Chinchin Fish actually has teeth which, as they get older, will potentially become more dangerous because it can damage the skin which makes it easier for the spread of infections.

Chinchin fish is known to draw blood and spread infectious diseases through blood such as hepatitis B which transmitted by the fish and water on open wounds, particularly in public pools.

This makes health experts worry that the fish could spread infections to customers through an open wound from customers who could become infected. This concern arises because most of the fish spa uses fish ponds that are used together or on turn between customers.

Now there are 14 states in the United States which prohibits the use of fish for spa treatments, including Texas and Florida.

Here are some things to consider when you want to do a fish spa:

1. The fish are kept in a water tank with ultraviolet filters
2. Providing separate basins for each customer
3. Not using the fish repeatedly.
4. Customers’ feet should also be cleaned, and spas should not accept people who have yeast infection.

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Common Causes Of Allergies

Are you often bothered by a runny nose, watery eyes, headaches, fatigue, itchy throat, and similar symptoms? Then you are probably suffering the effects of an allergy.  There are several causes of allergies, ranging from food to insect bites.  Oftentimes allergies can be misdiagnosed as the common cold.  However, when these symptoms persist, it is important to try to identify the allergen, or the cause of the allergic reaction.

No one knows for sure why one person has an allergic reaction to a particular substance, while another person does not.  However, it has been found that children, whose parents have allergic reactions, tend to be predisposed to allergies.  Of interest, is the fact that a child will not necessarily be affected by the same allergen that has an effect on their parent.       

Allergens can enter the body by various methods, they can be breathed in, touched, eaten, or injected.  However they enter, they are viewed by the body as being harmful, and as a result, the immune system produces histamines and other chemicals, to combat the invasion.  These are the early stages of an allergy.  The response will be the same, each time you are exposed to the allergen in the future.

Allergies can be triggered by breathing in certain irritants.  Some of the more common ones are pollen, animal dander, mold, and dust mites.  These airborne allergens are very difficult to battle because they are all around in the atmosphere.  In the case of pollen, these are constantly released into the air by trees, flowers, and grasses, and are especially prevalent during the summer, spring, and fall seasons. 

In terms of touch, substances like latex can cause allergic reactions.  Latex is made of rubber, which contains high levels of protein. Latex products include rubber bands, gloves, and balloons.  The allergic reaction is due to the response of the immune system, when an individual comes in contact with the natural rubber latex.  Symptoms of this type of allergy can include runny nose, sneezing, hives, and an itchy throat.  

Certain foods can trigger allergies.  Some of the more popular ones are: eggs and milk, peanuts, wheat, soy, shellfish, and tree nuts.  It is the proteins in food that is usually the cause of allergies. These are generally not broken down during cooking, or by digestive enzymes, and as a result, they precipitate allergic reactions in the body.  Common symptoms of food allergy include nausea, vomiting, abdominal pain, and diarrhea.

An allergic reaction to medication can also occur.  One of the drugs that persons tend to be especially allergic to is penicillin, or antibiotics which are penicillin based. Painkillers such as codeine and morphine are also known to cause allergic reactions.  Reactions can range from mild symptoms like rashes, to life threatening symptoms that can affect vital organ systems. 

Insect stings can also cause an allergic reaction when the body overreacts to the insect venom.  The insects that commonly cause this response are honeybees, ants, and wasps.  These all have a venom sac on their tail, which they use to inject the venom into a victim.

In rare cases, a serious allergic reaction known as Anaphylactic shock can occur, this can lead to dizziness, unconsciousness, difficulty breathing and sometimes death, and therefore requires immediate treatment. As we have noted, the causes of allergies are various.  However, once identified, every effort should be made to either avoid the allergen, or treat the symptoms of the condition.

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Know The Signs Of Asthma

Asthma is an inflammatory disease of the lungs.  It compresses the airways of the lungs, causing shortness of breath and difficulty breathing.  Asthma can be detected by paying attention to a few specific signs or symptoms.  Because of the possibility of confusing the symptoms of asthma with other illnesses, it is recommended that proper medical tests be conducted.  Four notable signs of asthma attacks include coughing, wheezing, and tightness of the chest, and shortness of breath. 

The effects of asthma in children or adults can be diminished by the quick recognition of its signs and symptoms.  Therefore, recognizing the signs of asthma is essential in stopping asthma attacks before they start or alleviating the effects of asthma after the onset of an attack.

Most often, the first warning sign of a pending asthma attack is usually tightness of the chest.  Asthmatics describe this tightness of the chest as feeling like a rubber band being squeezed around the lungs.      

Although asthma is described as an inflammatory disease, it is also a protective mechanism used by our bodies in that the upper part if the respiratory system recognizes the danger and restricts the airway in an effort to protect the vulnerable lungs.  Additionally, early recognition of the signs and symptoms of asthma is pertinent to avoiding death, in some instances.  One prominent signs of an asthma attack is coughing.  There is a difference between an asthmatic cough and a regular one.  In the case of an asthma attack, the cough becomes more prominent at night and at dawn.  Unlike a regular cough, an asthmatic cough is severe and usually results in the inability to keep still or actually sleep.

Shortness of breath is, yet, another very important symptom of an asthma attack.  It is, often times, the second sign of the onset of an asthma attack.  You can tell this is happening because the asthmatic individual’s breaths are short rapid breaths. 

Another definitive sign of asthma is wheezing.  Wheezing is an audible whistle that occurs when breathing.  Unlike an asthmatic cough, asthmatic wheezing occurs any time of the day or night.  It is usually a sign of obstructive breathing and basically means that the bronchial tube tightens and starts to fill with fluid, which causes restrictive breathing.

While asthma is responsible for some 175,000 deaths annually, proper treatment can, in most cases, help death to be avoided.  Asthma attacks are triggered by environmental and/or genetic factors.  An asthma attack is usually caused by a trigger, which is usually something that causes an individual’s airways to produce bronchospasms.  Some environmental factors include tobacco smoke, viral respiratory infections, psychological stress, and even the use of paracetamol.  Over twenty-five genes have been associated with genetic asthma.  However, there are scientific studies whose results indicate that these genes cause asthma under specific conditions. 

Being familiar with asthma’s symptoms and signs can help to alleviate the effects of asthma to include death.  Not to mention, avoiding or limiting exposure to individual triggers of asthma is another process of alleviating an asthma attack.  There are mild cases and life-threatening cases of asthma.  However, the use of the proper drugs, inhalers, and changes in lifestyle can help to control the signs of asthma along with the effects of asthma.

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Just What Is Diabetes?

The pancreas islet cells that produce insulin and glucose hormones work together to help regulate the correct levels of blood glucose. When the pancreatic islets cells, alpha (A cells) and beta (B cells) cannot regulate glucose and insulin properly, diabetes forms in the pancreas and other major organ systems. The pancreas is positioned behind the stomach, in the concavity that is produced by the C-shape of the duodenum. The duodenum curves around the head of the pancreas and handles acid from the stomach.

Pancreatic acid is also dumped into the duodenum and eventually exits through the ducts of the duodenum. The duodenum is also responsible for bile and secretions exiting into the duodenum from the liver. Inadequate insulin levels in the pancreas cause a decrease in the body’s ability to regulate blood sugar acidity in glucose, thus a risk factor for diabetes is developed throughout the body.      

Alpha and beta cells are called antagonists, because they work off their levels of hormones against each other, for proper concentrations of insulin and glucose. Insulin decreased and depletes organs from maintaining proper concentrations of glucose levels in the body. The alpha cells are responsible for the production of glucagon, and the beta cells are responsible for the production of insulin. As glucagon accelerates the process of glycogenolysis in the liver, it is then converted to glucose.

Glucagon is responsible for the increase of blood glucose concentrations. Playing a key role in removing the excess glucose from the blood and storing it as glycogen, the liver cells are very important to the proper function of the heart, kidneys and pancreas. Normal homeostasis is the result of the blood leaving the liver, containing normal blood glucose concentrations. Liver malfunction or any disorder of the pancreas can produce diabetic responses in the body.

Insulin is an agent of the blood sugars that is used as a source of energy throughout the body. Although the liver uses insulin for the storage of glycogen, a processed form of glucose, the insulin is the only hormone in the body that can decrease the levels of glucose concentration. Kidneys also need proper organ functions from the liver and pancreas to stay functioning under normal homeostatic conditions.

Urine is processed through the kidneys, and if an accumulation of ketone bodies, forms of acids, form in the kidneys, the results will be diabetic ketoacidosis. Diabetic ketoacidosis is dangerously high acidity in the blood. When insulin decreases in production, as it does with a pancreatic disorder, the cessation of proper hormones used by the body will also result in a form of diabetes.

Diabetes is a pathological condition that results from the imbalance of homeostasis of the body. Any deviance or variation from the normal homeostatic balance of the body signifies a pathological condition, like diabetes. Homeostasis is the body’s way of internally regulating a stable environment. Reaction and interaction of the body’s major organ systems rely on homeostasis for proper function. The key factors that help maintain proper homeostasis include salinity, acidity, concentrations of waste and nutrients and the temperature of the body and its organs.

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Tips To Lose Water Weight

Water weight is symptomatic of the body striving to retain water for a healthy balance.  The body is said to consist of 70% water content with the muscles containing 75% water and fat consisting of approximately 50% water.  H2O is essential to the health of the body, but at times water weight can become a physical problem and cause a number of undesirable symptoms such as swelling of hands and feed or the abdomen.  There are a number of simple measures that can be taken to eliminate this particular physical malady and help you to lose water weight.      

Before attempting any method of weight loss a visit with your physician is highly recommended.  Water weight may be a simple result of water retention, but it could also be symptomatic of a condition that only a medical professional can diagnose. If no particular other physical problem is found then your water weight may easily be lost by simply drinking more water. You might argue how is that going to help?

Often when the body is not getting enough water it will attempt to retain water by hoarding what water there is in the joints and stomach area, thus causing bloating and the other physical problems associated with water retention.  Drinking more water balances out the volume of water that the body needs.  Most people do not drink enough water on a daily basis as it is so consuming more H2O can be the very thing that will eliminate the symptoms and take care of water weight. 

Another common cause of water retention is the result of having high sodium content in the system.  Consuming foods with too much salt or foods with high sodium can induce water retention and thus create water weight.  Eating foods with less sodium content will reduce water retention.  The water we drink helps to flush our bodies of excess sodium, but the more sodium we take in the more water we need to keep the process in balance.  Loss of water weight can simply be the result of less sodium for the body to have to deal with.

The use of diuretics is also a means of losing water weight.  Some diuretics are only prescribed by physicians, but these can be costly and have some very undesirable side effects.   A more suitable alternative is natural diuretics that may be found in your local grocery store produce section.  Vegetables like cucumbers, cabbage, lettuce and tomatoes all add water to the system as well as assisting certain organs in processing water in the body.  Beets are said to help eliminate fatty body tissue.  Different kinds of fruit juices and herbal teas can also be a means of assisting thsi type of weight loss. 

One final measure that may be one of the best to help lose water weight is by implementing a simple exercise program.  Combine exercise with drinking more H2O, being careful with high sodium foods, and eating healthier foods can go a long way in defeating water weight.

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Eating Trans Fats Linked to Depression

But Study Shows a Diet That Includes Olive Oil Can Cut Risk of Depression By Kathleen Doheny
WebMD Health News Reviewed by Laura J. Martin, MD

Jan. 26, 2011 -- Eating too much trans fat, long known to raise heart disease risk, can also boost your risk of depression, new research suggests.

Eating a heart-healthy diet with olive oil can lower the risk of depression, says researcher Almudena Sanchez-Villegas, PhD, associate professor of preventive medicine at the University of Las Palmas de Gran Canaria in Las Palmas, Spain. The study included more than 12,000 people.

"The participants with an olive oil consumption higher than 20 grams a day (about 0.7 ounces) had a 30% lower risk of depression than those without consumption or with a very low consumption of olive oil," Sanchez-Villegas tells WebMD.

Those who took in the most trans fats, however, had up to a 48% increased risk of depression.

The unhealthy fats, says Sanchez-Villegas, are believed to lead to biological changes in the body linked with both heart disease and depression.

The study is published online in PLoS ONE.

Slideshow: Foods to Boost Mood and Energy

Diet and Depression

The researchers evaluated 12,059 men and women, with an average age of 37. All were free of depression at the start of the study.

The men and women completed a food frequency questionnaire, describing their intakes of various types of fat. After a median follow-up of 6.1 years (half were followed longer, half less) 657 new cases of depression had been diagnosed.

The researchers then looked at the type and amount of fat intake to see if it played a role. It did.

Those who ate a high amount of trans fat -- the fat type found in fast food, industrially produced pastries, and certain whole milk products -- had an increased depression risk, while those who ate the most olive oil had a lower risk than those with a low consumption of olive oil or no olive oil.

The trans-fat intake in the participants was fairly low, Sanchez-Villegas says. Those in the highest intake group took in about 1.5 grams daily, and it was in that group the researchers found the 48% increased risk of depression.

In the study, both good fats and bad showed what scientists call a ''dose-response'' relationship. "More consumption, more protection