Friday, December 21, 2007
Thursday, December 20, 2007
15 Hair Care Myths
15 Hair Care Myths
Everyone has a favourite myth about hair care – and we usually never let the truth get in the way of a good legend! This article examines some of the most widely known - and the reality behind the myths.
1. Excessive washing of hair causes hair loss/dryness
FALSE: Frequency of washing doesn’t harm hair. Wash it as often as you like, although the recommendation is three times a week. The right shampoo for your hair type and texture will actually add moisture, body and beauty to your hair.
2. More shampoo = cleaner hair
FALSE: Don’t waste your shampoo! A dollop of shampoo, about the size of a quarter is usually enough for long hair. Very long hair may take a little more.
3. Conditioner helps repair split ends
FALSE: No conditioner can "repair" damaged hair. What it can do is smooth down the cuticle and make hair seem in better condition. A good conditioner can also prevent damage from occurring in the first place.
4. Blow-drying produces hair loss
FALSE: Blow-drying can damage, burn or dry hair, which can cause it to fall, but the hair will grow back immediately. This is not permanent hair loss.
5. Sleeping with wet hair causes scalp fungus
FALSE: Scalp or fungal diseases can’t be caught from sleeping with wet scalps. Scalp infections require prior involvement with infected sources such as humans, tainted hair care tools or animals. Scalp fungus (tinea capitis) mainly affects children, whose immune systems make them more susceptible to skin infections.
6. To get your hair to grow, brush 100 strokes each day
FALSE: Brushing that much can damage the hair cuticle. NOT recommended! Actually, your hair reacts better to a comb than a brush. Brushing it will only lead to split ends and hair breakage.
7. Sharing combs and brushes can spread scalp diseases
TRUE: Lice and other parasites can be transported from scalp to scalp through the sharing of combs, brushes and other hair care tools.
8. Cutting hair makes it grow faster and/or thicker
FALSE: This common misconception comes from the fact that hair is thicker at the base than it is at the tip, so shorter hair appears thicker at first. Cutting your hair does not affect its normal biologically determined growth rate or overall texture. Thin, limp or fine hair will not ever grow thicker in response to a haircut. Plump up your hair by using volume enhancing hair care products, experimenting with a hair fattening blunt cut or getting a texturizing perm or color treatment.
9. Color treatment causes hair loss
FALSE: Most hair coloring products contain chemicals that can do serious harm to the hair itself if not properly used, but it wont instigate hair loss.
10. Salon products are identical to drugstore products
FALSE: Although there are exceptions, salon products generally contain higher quality, more expensive ingredients that are designed to consistently provide more intensive cleansing, moisturizing and conditioning results. The quality ingredients found in salon products are not usually found in drugstore brands. If in doubt – read the labels.
11. Long sun exposure favors hair loss
FALSE: Your hair acts as a shield against the sun. Hair loss appears at the follicle level and so the sun would have to penetrate at this depth to do any damage.
12. Diet is related to hair loss
TRUE: it's important to eat right in order to be generally healthy. However, no individual food has been proven to be beneficial or detrimental to hair.
13. Stress causes hair loss
TRUE: Severe stress (e.g. surgery or a death in the family), can shut down hair production, causing temporary hairloss (alopecia areata). The scalp usually recuperates, though, and hair grows back
14. Wearing tight braids, ponytails or buns causes baldness
TRUE: Traction alopecia is a very real hair loss condition that is quite common amongst older African American women. It results from wearing tight ponytails, cornrows or buns over an extended period of time. Over time, hair breakage or loss as the result of tight, stressed styles, can become permanent. Avoid this potential problem by opting for looser styles that minimize scalp tension.
15. Smoking causes gray hair
TRUE: According to J. G. Mosley of the Leigh Infirmary in Lancashire, England in an article in Science News (January 11, 1997) smokers are four times more likely to have gray hair than non-smokers. Even worse, smoking has been conclusively linked to accelerated hair loss.
SUMMARY
Heard another myth about hair? Do your research – ask an expert! This doesn’t include your grandmother, best friend or local barmaid. Instead, talk to an experienced hairdresser or a trichologist. Always get the real facts before you act on any hair myths – you owe it to your hair.
Everyone has a favourite myth about hair care – and we usually never let the truth get in the way of a good legend! This article examines some of the most widely known - and the reality behind the myths.
1. Excessive washing of hair causes hair loss/dryness
FALSE: Frequency of washing doesn’t harm hair. Wash it as often as you like, although the recommendation is three times a week. The right shampoo for your hair type and texture will actually add moisture, body and beauty to your hair.
2. More shampoo = cleaner hair
FALSE: Don’t waste your shampoo! A dollop of shampoo, about the size of a quarter is usually enough for long hair. Very long hair may take a little more.
3. Conditioner helps repair split ends
FALSE: No conditioner can "repair" damaged hair. What it can do is smooth down the cuticle and make hair seem in better condition. A good conditioner can also prevent damage from occurring in the first place.
4. Blow-drying produces hair loss
FALSE: Blow-drying can damage, burn or dry hair, which can cause it to fall, but the hair will grow back immediately. This is not permanent hair loss.
5. Sleeping with wet hair causes scalp fungus
FALSE: Scalp or fungal diseases can’t be caught from sleeping with wet scalps. Scalp infections require prior involvement with infected sources such as humans, tainted hair care tools or animals. Scalp fungus (tinea capitis) mainly affects children, whose immune systems make them more susceptible to skin infections.
6. To get your hair to grow, brush 100 strokes each day
FALSE: Brushing that much can damage the hair cuticle. NOT recommended! Actually, your hair reacts better to a comb than a brush. Brushing it will only lead to split ends and hair breakage.
7. Sharing combs and brushes can spread scalp diseases
TRUE: Lice and other parasites can be transported from scalp to scalp through the sharing of combs, brushes and other hair care tools.
8. Cutting hair makes it grow faster and/or thicker
FALSE: This common misconception comes from the fact that hair is thicker at the base than it is at the tip, so shorter hair appears thicker at first. Cutting your hair does not affect its normal biologically determined growth rate or overall texture. Thin, limp or fine hair will not ever grow thicker in response to a haircut. Plump up your hair by using volume enhancing hair care products, experimenting with a hair fattening blunt cut or getting a texturizing perm or color treatment.
9. Color treatment causes hair loss
FALSE: Most hair coloring products contain chemicals that can do serious harm to the hair itself if not properly used, but it wont instigate hair loss.
10. Salon products are identical to drugstore products
FALSE: Although there are exceptions, salon products generally contain higher quality, more expensive ingredients that are designed to consistently provide more intensive cleansing, moisturizing and conditioning results. The quality ingredients found in salon products are not usually found in drugstore brands. If in doubt – read the labels.
11. Long sun exposure favors hair loss
FALSE: Your hair acts as a shield against the sun. Hair loss appears at the follicle level and so the sun would have to penetrate at this depth to do any damage.
12. Diet is related to hair loss
TRUE: it's important to eat right in order to be generally healthy. However, no individual food has been proven to be beneficial or detrimental to hair.
13. Stress causes hair loss
TRUE: Severe stress (e.g. surgery or a death in the family), can shut down hair production, causing temporary hairloss (alopecia areata). The scalp usually recuperates, though, and hair grows back
14. Wearing tight braids, ponytails or buns causes baldness
TRUE: Traction alopecia is a very real hair loss condition that is quite common amongst older African American women. It results from wearing tight ponytails, cornrows or buns over an extended period of time. Over time, hair breakage or loss as the result of tight, stressed styles, can become permanent. Avoid this potential problem by opting for looser styles that minimize scalp tension.
15. Smoking causes gray hair
TRUE: According to J. G. Mosley of the Leigh Infirmary in Lancashire, England in an article in Science News (January 11, 1997) smokers are four times more likely to have gray hair than non-smokers. Even worse, smoking has been conclusively linked to accelerated hair loss.
SUMMARY
Heard another myth about hair? Do your research – ask an expert! This doesn’t include your grandmother, best friend or local barmaid. Instead, talk to an experienced hairdresser or a trichologist. Always get the real facts before you act on any hair myths – you owe it to your hair.
Can Vitamin E Cure Almost Everything?
Can Vitamin E Cure Almost Everything?
Vitamin E is an absolutely vital nutrient in your body, but it probably can't do half the things you heard it can.
What does vitamin E do?
To begin, it is an antioxidant. It tames dangerous free radicals and helps prevent blood clots and blockages in coronary arteries. Research points to its ability to reduce the risk of chronic diseases, such as heart attacks and some cancers.
Vitamin E is also believed to slow the aging process and to help nerve conduction. Most importantly, it works to enhance and even protect vitamin C and Vitamin A.
There is also promising research that vitamin E might help prevent or slow the onset of cataracts in the eyes.
Vitamin E has been touted as a cure for just about everything but a broken heart. I am sure that's coming, though. Here are just a few of the diseases and conditions vitamin E has been credited with curing or preventing:
• Parkinson's disease
• Infertility in both men and women
• Alzheimer's disease
• Hepatitis
• eye tissue inflammation
• fibromylagia
• hair loss
• PMS (pre-menstrual syndrome)
• heavy menstruation
• healing wounds
• diabetes
• atherosclerosis
• menopause
• osteoarthritis
• even restless leg syndrome!
It might well prove that vitamin is helpful in some of these and other conditions, but probably not in many or even most of them.
As with many vitamins, there is a raging debate over how much vitamin E you need. The US recommended daily allowance (RDA) is 8-10 milligrams per day. But most people in the nutrition field believe that to capture the long-term benefits, people need 10 to 20 times that quantity, which is well short of the maximum recommended 1,000 milligrams.
Vitamin E is found in many foods in small quantities. The good news is that almost everyone gets sufficient vitamin E to avoid a deficiency, with a few exceptions noted below. The bad news is that most people do not get the RDA. This is definitely a vitamin that should be supplemented.
Be careful about what supplements you choose, since the synthetic version of vitamin E is not even half effective as in its natural form. Look for nutritional supplements containing natural vitamin E, preferably in liquid form.
People on low fat diets need supplements the most, since fats and oils are the largest sources of vitamin E. Nuts and green, leafy vegetables are also good sources, as are egg yolks and liver. So are whole grains.
Vitamin E probably will never cure your broken heart, nor live up to half of the claims people make about it. But it is an important vitamin for maintaining good health and it is needed in quantities above what most people take in their diet.
Vitamin E is an absolutely vital nutrient in your body, but it probably can't do half the things you heard it can.
What does vitamin E do?
To begin, it is an antioxidant. It tames dangerous free radicals and helps prevent blood clots and blockages in coronary arteries. Research points to its ability to reduce the risk of chronic diseases, such as heart attacks and some cancers.
Vitamin E is also believed to slow the aging process and to help nerve conduction. Most importantly, it works to enhance and even protect vitamin C and Vitamin A.
There is also promising research that vitamin E might help prevent or slow the onset of cataracts in the eyes.
Vitamin E has been touted as a cure for just about everything but a broken heart. I am sure that's coming, though. Here are just a few of the diseases and conditions vitamin E has been credited with curing or preventing:
• Parkinson's disease
• Infertility in both men and women
• Alzheimer's disease
• Hepatitis
• eye tissue inflammation
• fibromylagia
• hair loss
• PMS (pre-menstrual syndrome)
• heavy menstruation
• healing wounds
• diabetes
• atherosclerosis
• menopause
• osteoarthritis
• even restless leg syndrome!
It might well prove that vitamin is helpful in some of these and other conditions, but probably not in many or even most of them.
As with many vitamins, there is a raging debate over how much vitamin E you need. The US recommended daily allowance (RDA) is 8-10 milligrams per day. But most people in the nutrition field believe that to capture the long-term benefits, people need 10 to 20 times that quantity, which is well short of the maximum recommended 1,000 milligrams.
Vitamin E is found in many foods in small quantities. The good news is that almost everyone gets sufficient vitamin E to avoid a deficiency, with a few exceptions noted below. The bad news is that most people do not get the RDA. This is definitely a vitamin that should be supplemented.
Be careful about what supplements you choose, since the synthetic version of vitamin E is not even half effective as in its natural form. Look for nutritional supplements containing natural vitamin E, preferably in liquid form.
People on low fat diets need supplements the most, since fats and oils are the largest sources of vitamin E. Nuts and green, leafy vegetables are also good sources, as are egg yolks and liver. So are whole grains.
Vitamin E probably will never cure your broken heart, nor live up to half of the claims people make about it. But it is an important vitamin for maintaining good health and it is needed in quantities above what most people take in their diet.
Vitamins and Minerals You Need To Reduce Hair Loss
Vitamins and Minerals You Need To Reduce Hair Loss
Some common myths have arisen concerning hair loss. Because of medical advancements many of these myths are being corrected. For starters, although androgenetic alopecia, pattern baldness, is genetic and can be hereditary, it is not passed down through only your mother's side of the family. Either side of the family can pass down the genetic disposition toward baldness. Also, contrary to old family tales, wearing hats does not cause baldness either.
Most common hair loss comes under what has been commonly known as Male Pattern Baldness (MPB). Although referred to as MPB, females also suffer from MPB, so it is better to call MPB androgenetic alopecia.
Although hair loss is not life threatening, it is an indication of your internal health and it can cause you serious problems with an image and self-confidence. There has been no absolute cure found for hair loss, and many factors of hair loss are hereditary, however there are several preventative measures you can take to maintain healthy hair and scalp.
Diet, Nutrition and Hair Loss
Keeping your body healthy reflects on the health of your hair. If your lifestyle is not healthy, it will eventually reflect on your head. You will start to lose your hair and fulfill your genetic coding. To keep healthy, as a reminder, you need to eat in the proper fashion, exercise, and stay away from any kind of drugs - both medical and recreational.
To define what a healthy diet is, to preventing hair loss, can be individual and quite complex. But the main vitamins, minerals, and nutrients that you need to take or eat to maintain healthy hair are:
* vitamin A
* all B vitamins-particularly vitamins B-6 and B-12, folic acid, biotin
* vitamin C
* vitamin E
* copper, iron, zinc, iodine, silica
* essential fatty acids
* protein
* four - 6 glass of water.
The best way for you to maintain a healthy vitamin and mineral intake is a good diet. Vitamins and minerals are abundant in raw fruits and vegetables. Eat them in the morning or as in between meal snacks. A good mineral supplement would be an electrolyte liquid mineral product.
It is not necessary or advisable to go out and buy a bunch of over-the-counter vitamin supplements in order to achieve your suggested nutritional levels. Many over-the-counter vitamins are chemically processed and are not completely absorbed.
It is also easy to overdose yourself with over the counter vitamins, particularly when taking supplements of fat-soluble vitamins and minerals, causing toxicity and adverse reactions. The likelihood of doing this is far less with food; therefore it is always best to obtain the bulk of your vitamin and mineral requirements from whole organic raw foods.
Some common myths have arisen concerning hair loss. Because of medical advancements many of these myths are being corrected. For starters, although androgenetic alopecia, pattern baldness, is genetic and can be hereditary, it is not passed down through only your mother's side of the family. Either side of the family can pass down the genetic disposition toward baldness. Also, contrary to old family tales, wearing hats does not cause baldness either.
Most common hair loss comes under what has been commonly known as Male Pattern Baldness (MPB). Although referred to as MPB, females also suffer from MPB, so it is better to call MPB androgenetic alopecia.
Although hair loss is not life threatening, it is an indication of your internal health and it can cause you serious problems with an image and self-confidence. There has been no absolute cure found for hair loss, and many factors of hair loss are hereditary, however there are several preventative measures you can take to maintain healthy hair and scalp.
Diet, Nutrition and Hair Loss
Keeping your body healthy reflects on the health of your hair. If your lifestyle is not healthy, it will eventually reflect on your head. You will start to lose your hair and fulfill your genetic coding. To keep healthy, as a reminder, you need to eat in the proper fashion, exercise, and stay away from any kind of drugs - both medical and recreational.
To define what a healthy diet is, to preventing hair loss, can be individual and quite complex. But the main vitamins, minerals, and nutrients that you need to take or eat to maintain healthy hair are:
* vitamin A
* all B vitamins-particularly vitamins B-6 and B-12, folic acid, biotin
* vitamin C
* vitamin E
* copper, iron, zinc, iodine, silica
* essential fatty acids
* protein
* four - 6 glass of water.
The best way for you to maintain a healthy vitamin and mineral intake is a good diet. Vitamins and minerals are abundant in raw fruits and vegetables. Eat them in the morning or as in between meal snacks. A good mineral supplement would be an electrolyte liquid mineral product.
It is not necessary or advisable to go out and buy a bunch of over-the-counter vitamin supplements in order to achieve your suggested nutritional levels. Many over-the-counter vitamins are chemically processed and are not completely absorbed.
It is also easy to overdose yourself with over the counter vitamins, particularly when taking supplements of fat-soluble vitamins and minerals, causing toxicity and adverse reactions. The likelihood of doing this is far less with food; therefore it is always best to obtain the bulk of your vitamin and mineral requirements from whole organic raw foods.
Several tips to Stop Baldness
Several tips to Stop Baldness
Technically known as alopecia, baldness means thinning
or loss of hair as a result of illness, functional disorder, or
hereditary disposition.
There could be many types of baldness, major among
these are patches of baldness getting usually grow back,
rapid shedding after childbirth, fever, or sudden weight
loss and thinning from tight braids or ponytails. baldness
can be found in males and females both, but men are
more susceptible to this phenomenon. This has been
attributed to male sex hormone called testosterone.
Some of the other culprits causing baldness are scalp
infection, oiliness or dirtiness of the scalp and hair, and
excessive lacquering of hair.
Alopecia areata is yet another cause of hair loss or
baldness, this dermatological disease is caused by
person's own immunity attacking the hair follicles.
Hair loss is not a quick fire phenomenon. Hair loss or
baldness takes a long time, unless otherwise because of
chemotherapy. Not every male will experience baldness,
but for sure, he will have thin hair over a period of time.
Although lot of research has taken place in this area,
nothing exact has been found to arrest hair loss or stop
balding process. It is estimated that around 100 hairs are
lost in a 24-hour cycle. This doesn't mean baldness.
For years wiser people have been discussing effect of
diet on baldness. Wholesome silica, calcium & iron rich
diet can reduce hair loss or arrest baldness. Studies in
the past have shown that silica therapy slowed baldness.
Shampoo containing organic silica was found to help
prevent baldness, stimulate hair growth and assure
beautiful shine, luster and strength. Outer coverings of
potatoes, green & red peppers and cucumbers contain
silica. Bean sprouts are also high in silica. Eat whole
foods including sprouts.
Good intake of vegetables can improve your vitamin C
score leading to higher iron absorption. Vitamin E is
important for healthy hair growth. Eat avocados, nuts,
seeds, and olive oil on a regular basis. If thyroid
dysfunction is the cause of baldness vitamin A and iodine
food can help prevent baldness. Eat vegetables such as
carrots or spinach in unrefined, cold-pressed seed oils
such as flax, walnut or pumpkin seed and sea salt. Take
turnips, cabbage, mustard, soy beans, peanuts, pine nuts
and millet if there is a deficiency of iodine. Dried fruits,
green & leafy vegetables, cherry juice are good sources.
Diet should avoid these - cold foods & drinks, sugary
foods, fatty foods, animal protein, fruit, especially citrus,
tomatoes, tofu, millet, salt and dairy products.
Gastrointestinal tract can be the culprit for female
baldness. It could be a sign of insufficient stomach acids;
It could also mean a deficiency of protein, zinc and other
nutrients. Taking two acidophilus tablets after or between
meals (four to six tablets per day) for two months will
help. Females are greatly affected due to anemic
conditions, leading to accelerated baldness.
Technically known as alopecia, baldness means thinning
or loss of hair as a result of illness, functional disorder, or
hereditary disposition.
There could be many types of baldness, major among
these are patches of baldness getting usually grow back,
rapid shedding after childbirth, fever, or sudden weight
loss and thinning from tight braids or ponytails. baldness
can be found in males and females both, but men are
more susceptible to this phenomenon. This has been
attributed to male sex hormone called testosterone.
Some of the other culprits causing baldness are scalp
infection, oiliness or dirtiness of the scalp and hair, and
excessive lacquering of hair.
Alopecia areata is yet another cause of hair loss or
baldness, this dermatological disease is caused by
person's own immunity attacking the hair follicles.
Hair loss is not a quick fire phenomenon. Hair loss or
baldness takes a long time, unless otherwise because of
chemotherapy. Not every male will experience baldness,
but for sure, he will have thin hair over a period of time.
Although lot of research has taken place in this area,
nothing exact has been found to arrest hair loss or stop
balding process. It is estimated that around 100 hairs are
lost in a 24-hour cycle. This doesn't mean baldness.
For years wiser people have been discussing effect of
diet on baldness. Wholesome silica, calcium & iron rich
diet can reduce hair loss or arrest baldness. Studies in
the past have shown that silica therapy slowed baldness.
Shampoo containing organic silica was found to help
prevent baldness, stimulate hair growth and assure
beautiful shine, luster and strength. Outer coverings of
potatoes, green & red peppers and cucumbers contain
silica. Bean sprouts are also high in silica. Eat whole
foods including sprouts.
Good intake of vegetables can improve your vitamin C
score leading to higher iron absorption. Vitamin E is
important for healthy hair growth. Eat avocados, nuts,
seeds, and olive oil on a regular basis. If thyroid
dysfunction is the cause of baldness vitamin A and iodine
food can help prevent baldness. Eat vegetables such as
carrots or spinach in unrefined, cold-pressed seed oils
such as flax, walnut or pumpkin seed and sea salt. Take
turnips, cabbage, mustard, soy beans, peanuts, pine nuts
and millet if there is a deficiency of iodine. Dried fruits,
green & leafy vegetables, cherry juice are good sources.
Diet should avoid these - cold foods & drinks, sugary
foods, fatty foods, animal protein, fruit, especially citrus,
tomatoes, tofu, millet, salt and dairy products.
Gastrointestinal tract can be the culprit for female
baldness. It could be a sign of insufficient stomach acids;
It could also mean a deficiency of protein, zinc and other
nutrients. Taking two acidophilus tablets after or between
meals (four to six tablets per day) for two months will
help. Females are greatly affected due to anemic
conditions, leading to accelerated baldness.
5 Simple Signs to Tell if it is Acid Reflux or Heart Pain
5 Simple Signs to Tell if it is Acid Reflux or Heart Pain
Chest pain can be a very scary, serious issue. If you are one of many Americans at risk for heart disease, it can be even more frightening. But sometimes chest pain isn't heart related, it is a digestive issue.
Heartburn, or it's more serious cousin acid reflux, affects millions of people everyday. The symptoms of both heart problems and acid reflux are very similar, but the treatment is obviously very different. It's easy to mistake one for the other because the esophagus is located behind the heart in the chest cavity.
Identifying the real problem when you have chest pain is very important. Here's a few things to look out for. But remember, when in doubt see your health care provider.
1. Burning in the throat due to stomach acid. This is an extension of the heartburn pain caused by acid reflux. Pain caused by stomach acid regurgitating into the esophagus and mouth is due to acid reflux, not heart problems.
2. Chest pain that begins or increases with exercise is more likely due to a heart problem. Acid reflux symptoms don't change with physical exertion. The heart experiences stress during physical exercise that can manifest potential problems within.
3. Coughing, wheezing, breathing problems, acid regurgitation, bitterness in the mouth: these are all signs of acid reflux disease. The acid entering the esophagus is to blame for each of these symptoms, some of which can be very pronounced. Pregnant women seem to be prone to heartburn during the last two trimesters where a growing fetus crowds the space the stomach normally occupies. For these women, and others in high risk groups, understanding their propensity to heartburn is also important. For example, some pregnant women with chest pain find themselves in the hospital thinking they are having heart attacks, when in fact they are having very serious acid reflux. Again, knowing you are susceptible to acid reflux can help you identify the cause of your symptoms.
4. Numbness or tingling in the arm or arms can be a symptom of a heart attack, and is generally not a symptom of acid reflux. Obviously these symptoms are serious and should be treated immediately by a health care professional.
5. Increased pain after meals is usually a symptom of acid reflux disease. Overeating or bending over after eating can exacerbate the problems, which are not heart related. The extra acid a stomach releases to digest food is to blame for the increased discomfort after meals. While these acids are effective in helping the digestive process, they can be very detrimental for those who suffer from acid reflux disease.
Acid reflux disease and heart disease do share some of the same symptoms, but with careful attention and the help of a health care professional, you can determine which of these issues is causing your chest pain.
Chest pain can be a very scary, serious issue. If you are one of many Americans at risk for heart disease, it can be even more frightening. But sometimes chest pain isn't heart related, it is a digestive issue.
Heartburn, or it's more serious cousin acid reflux, affects millions of people everyday. The symptoms of both heart problems and acid reflux are very similar, but the treatment is obviously very different. It's easy to mistake one for the other because the esophagus is located behind the heart in the chest cavity.
Identifying the real problem when you have chest pain is very important. Here's a few things to look out for. But remember, when in doubt see your health care provider.
1. Burning in the throat due to stomach acid. This is an extension of the heartburn pain caused by acid reflux. Pain caused by stomach acid regurgitating into the esophagus and mouth is due to acid reflux, not heart problems.
2. Chest pain that begins or increases with exercise is more likely due to a heart problem. Acid reflux symptoms don't change with physical exertion. The heart experiences stress during physical exercise that can manifest potential problems within.
3. Coughing, wheezing, breathing problems, acid regurgitation, bitterness in the mouth: these are all signs of acid reflux disease. The acid entering the esophagus is to blame for each of these symptoms, some of which can be very pronounced. Pregnant women seem to be prone to heartburn during the last two trimesters where a growing fetus crowds the space the stomach normally occupies. For these women, and others in high risk groups, understanding their propensity to heartburn is also important. For example, some pregnant women with chest pain find themselves in the hospital thinking they are having heart attacks, when in fact they are having very serious acid reflux. Again, knowing you are susceptible to acid reflux can help you identify the cause of your symptoms.
4. Numbness or tingling in the arm or arms can be a symptom of a heart attack, and is generally not a symptom of acid reflux. Obviously these symptoms are serious and should be treated immediately by a health care professional.
5. Increased pain after meals is usually a symptom of acid reflux disease. Overeating or bending over after eating can exacerbate the problems, which are not heart related. The extra acid a stomach releases to digest food is to blame for the increased discomfort after meals. While these acids are effective in helping the digestive process, they can be very detrimental for those who suffer from acid reflux disease.
Acid reflux disease and heart disease do share some of the same symptoms, but with careful attention and the help of a health care professional, you can determine which of these issues is causing your chest pain.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)