If you have pain in the ball of your foot you are not alone. Pain in the ball of the foot is a common complaint. When someone is referring to the ball of the foot they are usually referring to the location of the metatarsal heads. The long bones of the foot are called metatarsals. The metatarsal heads are the knobby ends of the metatarsals that form a joint with the toes. Thus the ball of the foot is the area where the toes form a joint with the long bones of the foot, the metatarsals.
Pain in the ball of the foot can come from a problem with the nerves as seen in conditions such as neuropathy or a neuroma, which will be discussed shortly. Often, pain in the ball of the foot can is the result of one or more of the metatarsals taking more than their share of the load. Metatarsalgia is a general term which simply means pain in the metatarsal bones. For this discussion I am going to be talking specifically about pain in the metatarsal heads.
There are several reasons why one or more of the metatarsal heads can become overloaded.
• Some people gradually lose the fat pad that cushions the area under the metatarsal heads as they age. If there is less cushion the bones feel more of the load and this causes pain.
• Some people were born with a deformity known as Morton’s toe in which the first metatarsal bone (long bone of the big toe) is short. As a result the second metatarsal or second toe is longer than the big toe. This causes most of the body weight to be put onto the second metatarsal head. This overloads this bone and causes pain.
• Some people with high arches have pain in the ball of the foot. In the person with the high arch we often see that they load the foot primarily at the heel and then again in the ball of the foot. The mid-foot does not take its share of the load. This again overloads the metatarsal heads at the ball of the foot.
• Another painful condition felt in the ball of the foot is Morton’s neuroma. This is usually felt between the 3rd and 4th toes. One quick way to tell if you may have this condition is to grab your foot around the metatarsal heads and squeeze your whole foot. If you have a neuroma this squeezing will causes pain at the site of the Morton’ Neuroma.
Although the cause of pain in the ball of the foot is varied, the treatment, at least the initial treatment, is the usually the same. We try to reduce load and if necessary movement of the metatarsal heads. This is accomplished by adding a metatarsal pad to an orthotic or arch support. The metatarsal pad fits in the ball of the foot just behind the metatarsal heads. This allows more of the weight to be taken up by the long shafts of the metatarsals and less on the metatarsal heads. The metatarsal pads can be added to a custom arch support. They can also be purchased over-the-counter from a pharmacy or specialty shoe store. The correct placement of the metatarsal pad is critical so follow directions or ask your physician or podiatrist for help.
For more information please visit Archatomics
Saturday, November 10, 2007
Monday, November 5, 2007
Flat Feet, Foot Pain and a Simple Solution
I love to see patients with flat-feet. In fact sometimes I feel that I should dedicate my medical career to educating people about flat-feet. Flat feet causes so much trouble for people and they just don’t realize that in most case it can be easily corrected with a good arch support. As a family doctor I spend a lot of time treating patients with chronic conditions they will have for the rest of their lives. Therefore I love it when patients come in with problems associated with flat-feet. This is one of the few problems I can actually fix and best of all it doesn’t require a medication to fix it.
Flat-feet in medical terms is known as hyperpronation, meaning over pronation. Pronation is the motion of flattening out of the arch as the foot rotates counter-clockwise (externally rotates). Pronation is important because it allows the foot to absorb shock. In addition, Pronation also allows all the bones of the mid-foot to unlock and become like a “bag of bones”. Being a loose “bag of bones” enables the foot to adapt to uneven surfaces (uphill, downhill, rocky surface, etc.). In moderation, pronation is a good thing. Hyperpronation is a bad thing.
The problem with flat feet or hyperpronation is that the foot remains pronated throughout the step. The foot does not supinate (soup-in-ate) as the foot moves into the later stages of the step. Supination is the opposite of pronation. In supination the foot internally rotates (rotates clock-wise). Supination re-locks the bones of the mid-foot and transforms the foot into a rigid lever arm to provide an efficient push-off and propel the body forward. If the foot cannot supinate it remains essentially a loose “bag of bones” and you are unable to use the foot as an efficient, firm lever arm for push off.
If the foot does not supinate it cannot form an efficient lever arm. As a result, the calf muscles have to work all that much harder in order to propel the body forward. This causes fatigue and ache in the muscles of the lower legs at the end of the day. In addition if the calf muscles are working harder they become very strong and bulky. This sometimes leads to a condition known as shin splints. The term "shin splints" usually refers to pain along the inside-front part of the lower leg. Shin splints is usually caused by an imbalance between the calf muscles on the back of the lower leg (posterior muscles) and the anterior muscles or muscles on the front part of the lower leg. The more powerful posterior muscles overwork the less powerful anterior muscles as the anterior muscles try to decelerate the body at heel strike. This causes excess strain, inflammation and pain where the anterior muscles attach to the shin bone.
Hyperpronation can cause the heel pain known as plantar fasciitis. The typical symptom of plantar fasciitis is severe heel pain when taking the first few steps in the morning or during the first few steps after sitting for a few minutes. Hyperpronation causes excessive flattening of the arch. This causes the ligament called the plantar fascia on the bottom of the foot to stretch out too much. The excessive pulling on the plantar fascia causes inflammation where the plantar fascia inserts into the heel.
In conclusion, someone with flat feet has very inefficient foot function and this can lead to heel pain, muscle fatigue and shin splints. By adding an arch support the foot is prevented from hyper-pronating and this improves the over-all efficiency of the foot function. Occasionally you can buy an arch support off-the-shelf that provides support. In most cases, however, the off-the-shelf insoles only provide cushioning and do not correct the hyper-pronation. Life is too short to suffer in pain, especially when the problem can be easily corrected. If someone is having pain as the result of flat-feet it makes sense to spend the extra money to purchase a custom arch support that will correct the problem once and for all.
For more information please visit Archatomics
Flat-feet in medical terms is known as hyperpronation, meaning over pronation. Pronation is the motion of flattening out of the arch as the foot rotates counter-clockwise (externally rotates). Pronation is important because it allows the foot to absorb shock. In addition, Pronation also allows all the bones of the mid-foot to unlock and become like a “bag of bones”. Being a loose “bag of bones” enables the foot to adapt to uneven surfaces (uphill, downhill, rocky surface, etc.). In moderation, pronation is a good thing. Hyperpronation is a bad thing.
The problem with flat feet or hyperpronation is that the foot remains pronated throughout the step. The foot does not supinate (soup-in-ate) as the foot moves into the later stages of the step. Supination is the opposite of pronation. In supination the foot internally rotates (rotates clock-wise). Supination re-locks the bones of the mid-foot and transforms the foot into a rigid lever arm to provide an efficient push-off and propel the body forward. If the foot cannot supinate it remains essentially a loose “bag of bones” and you are unable to use the foot as an efficient, firm lever arm for push off.
If the foot does not supinate it cannot form an efficient lever arm. As a result, the calf muscles have to work all that much harder in order to propel the body forward. This causes fatigue and ache in the muscles of the lower legs at the end of the day. In addition if the calf muscles are working harder they become very strong and bulky. This sometimes leads to a condition known as shin splints. The term "shin splints" usually refers to pain along the inside-front part of the lower leg. Shin splints is usually caused by an imbalance between the calf muscles on the back of the lower leg (posterior muscles) and the anterior muscles or muscles on the front part of the lower leg. The more powerful posterior muscles overwork the less powerful anterior muscles as the anterior muscles try to decelerate the body at heel strike. This causes excess strain, inflammation and pain where the anterior muscles attach to the shin bone.
Hyperpronation can cause the heel pain known as plantar fasciitis. The typical symptom of plantar fasciitis is severe heel pain when taking the first few steps in the morning or during the first few steps after sitting for a few minutes. Hyperpronation causes excessive flattening of the arch. This causes the ligament called the plantar fascia on the bottom of the foot to stretch out too much. The excessive pulling on the plantar fascia causes inflammation where the plantar fascia inserts into the heel.
In conclusion, someone with flat feet has very inefficient foot function and this can lead to heel pain, muscle fatigue and shin splints. By adding an arch support the foot is prevented from hyper-pronating and this improves the over-all efficiency of the foot function. Occasionally you can buy an arch support off-the-shelf that provides support. In most cases, however, the off-the-shelf insoles only provide cushioning and do not correct the hyper-pronation. Life is too short to suffer in pain, especially when the problem can be easily corrected. If someone is having pain as the result of flat-feet it makes sense to spend the extra money to purchase a custom arch support that will correct the problem once and for all.
For more information please visit Archatomics
Saturday, November 3, 2007
Knee pain? Maybe It Your Feet
There are several painful conditions of the knee that may be caused by problems with your feet. The knee joint is one of the most complex joints in the body. It is a hinge joint, a sliding joint and a rotating joint all at the same time. The proper and pain-free functioning of the knee requires near perfect alignment of the bones, ligaments and tendons that make up the knee joint. Pain in the knee is usually an early warning sign that something is wrong with the alignment. It is important to address these problems early to avoid serious, long term problems such as severe arthritis.
The improper alignment that causes knee pain is often the result of improper alignment of the joints of the foot and ankle. Let me give some examples.
Pain on the inside part of the knee may be caused by bursitis at the location where three of the tendons from the thigh muscles (sartorius, gracilis and semitendinosus) come together and insert into the upper/inner part of the tibia (bone of the lower leg). This condition is known as Pes Anserine bursitis. Pes Anserine is Latin for “goose foot”. I suppose it is called goose foot because these three tendons coming together look somewhat like a goose’s foot. The pain is caused by inflammation of the bursa beneath these three tendons. A bursa is a fluid-filled sac that is found where tendons and ligaments rub against bone. The bursa is designed to prevent the bone from irritating and damaging these tendons and ligaments as the rub back and forth over the bone. When these bursa become inflamed this is known as bursitis. Pes anserine bursitis is inflammation of the bursa beneath the three tendons that form the goose foot. Pes Anserine bursitis can be caused by excessive pronation of the foot. The excessive pronation (see article on normal foot motion) causes excessive stretching of these tendons which over time results in inflammation. The treatment and prevention of this condition involves an arch support to prevent excessive foot pronation.
Pain on the outside of the knee is sometimes caused by a condition known as iliotibial band syndrome. The iliotibial band runs from the pelvis down the outside of the leg and attaches to the outside part of the knee. Problems with the foot together with overuse (such as running or bicycling) can lead to inflammation where the iliotibial band inserts into the outer knee. There are several different foot problems that can cause this inflammation. If the person is flat-footed (over-pronatnor) this causes the tibia (lower leg bone) to excessively internally rotate. This increases the stretch on the iliotibial band and causes inflammation. On the other hand if someone has a high-arched foot, the foot is in a supinated position (see normal foot motion) and this too can cause excessive stretch on the iliotibial band and inflammation. These two very different types of foot problems result in the same painful condition (iliotibial band syndrome). However the two problems require very different treatments. In order to correct the problem it is essential to determine what exactly is causing the problem.
Knee arthritis can be caused or exacerbated by problems with the foot. Someone that has arthritis pain on the part of knee closest to the midline (medial compartment) may have a supinated foot that contributes to a bow-legged type of stance. Someone with pain in the lateral compartment (the outer part of the knee furthest from the midline) may be flat-footed, a hyper-pronator, which leads to a knock-kneed type of stance. Through the proper use of a foot orthotic I believe that we can, over time, reduce the load on the painful knee compartment, reduce the pain and at least slow down the degeneration of the cartilage.
Pain in the center of the knee is often cause by chondromalacia patella, also known as retropatellar (behind the kneecap) pain syndrome. This is often seen in someone with excessive pronation (flat-feet). As the knee straightens and bends the kneecap is supposed to ride smoothly in a cartilage-lined groove on the lower end of the femur (thigh bone). Someone that is a hyper-pronator has excessive internal rotation of the tibia. This excessive internal rotation changes the angle that the kneecap rides up and down in this groove (known as the Q angle or Quadriceps angle). Over time this leads to irritation behind the kneecap and the retropatellar pain syndrome. An arch support or orthotic can be very helpful in treating this condition.
In conclusion I have discussed a few of the common causes of knee pain that can be relieved or at least improved through the use of a simple foot orthotic. The key to treatment however is knowing what is causing the problem in the first place. The techniques we use for diagnosing the problem will be discussed in an upcoming article.
For More Information Visit www.Archatomics.com
The improper alignment that causes knee pain is often the result of improper alignment of the joints of the foot and ankle. Let me give some examples.
Pain on the inside part of the knee may be caused by bursitis at the location where three of the tendons from the thigh muscles (sartorius, gracilis and semitendinosus) come together and insert into the upper/inner part of the tibia (bone of the lower leg). This condition is known as Pes Anserine bursitis. Pes Anserine is Latin for “goose foot”. I suppose it is called goose foot because these three tendons coming together look somewhat like a goose’s foot. The pain is caused by inflammation of the bursa beneath these three tendons. A bursa is a fluid-filled sac that is found where tendons and ligaments rub against bone. The bursa is designed to prevent the bone from irritating and damaging these tendons and ligaments as the rub back and forth over the bone. When these bursa become inflamed this is known as bursitis. Pes anserine bursitis is inflammation of the bursa beneath the three tendons that form the goose foot. Pes Anserine bursitis can be caused by excessive pronation of the foot. The excessive pronation (see article on normal foot motion) causes excessive stretching of these tendons which over time results in inflammation. The treatment and prevention of this condition involves an arch support to prevent excessive foot pronation.
Pain on the outside of the knee is sometimes caused by a condition known as iliotibial band syndrome. The iliotibial band runs from the pelvis down the outside of the leg and attaches to the outside part of the knee. Problems with the foot together with overuse (such as running or bicycling) can lead to inflammation where the iliotibial band inserts into the outer knee. There are several different foot problems that can cause this inflammation. If the person is flat-footed (over-pronatnor) this causes the tibia (lower leg bone) to excessively internally rotate. This increases the stretch on the iliotibial band and causes inflammation. On the other hand if someone has a high-arched foot, the foot is in a supinated position (see normal foot motion) and this too can cause excessive stretch on the iliotibial band and inflammation. These two very different types of foot problems result in the same painful condition (iliotibial band syndrome). However the two problems require very different treatments. In order to correct the problem it is essential to determine what exactly is causing the problem.
Knee arthritis can be caused or exacerbated by problems with the foot. Someone that has arthritis pain on the part of knee closest to the midline (medial compartment) may have a supinated foot that contributes to a bow-legged type of stance. Someone with pain in the lateral compartment (the outer part of the knee furthest from the midline) may be flat-footed, a hyper-pronator, which leads to a knock-kneed type of stance. Through the proper use of a foot orthotic I believe that we can, over time, reduce the load on the painful knee compartment, reduce the pain and at least slow down the degeneration of the cartilage.
Pain in the center of the knee is often cause by chondromalacia patella, also known as retropatellar (behind the kneecap) pain syndrome. This is often seen in someone with excessive pronation (flat-feet). As the knee straightens and bends the kneecap is supposed to ride smoothly in a cartilage-lined groove on the lower end of the femur (thigh bone). Someone that is a hyper-pronator has excessive internal rotation of the tibia. This excessive internal rotation changes the angle that the kneecap rides up and down in this groove (known as the Q angle or Quadriceps angle). Over time this leads to irritation behind the kneecap and the retropatellar pain syndrome. An arch support or orthotic can be very helpful in treating this condition.
In conclusion I have discussed a few of the common causes of knee pain that can be relieved or at least improved through the use of a simple foot orthotic. The key to treatment however is knowing what is causing the problem in the first place. The techniques we use for diagnosing the problem will be discussed in an upcoming article.
For More Information Visit www.Archatomics.com
Friday, November 2, 2007
Leaky Gut Syndrome
The digestive tract is lined with very specialized cells that control the absorption of nutrients. Under ideal circumstances these cells should let in the all the good nutrients and keep out all unwanted substances. For the digestive system to work properly is it critical that there is a “tight junction” between the cells of the intestinal wall to prevent unwanted particles from sneaking in between the specialized barrier cells. Some researchers have described the tight junctions to be like the concrete mortar that holds the bricks of a wall together. If these tight junctions become damaged then large particles of food are able to pass from the digestive tract and enter the blood stream. This is known as the “leaky gut” syndrome.
When large particles sneak through the junctions between the specialized intestinal cells and enter the blood stream they are immediately identified as foreign intruders. Fortunately, your body is equipped with an elaborate defense mechanism known as the immune system to guard against these invaders. There are chemical messengers residing in the blood and in the surrounding tissues that act as sentries patrolling for foreign invaders. When an invader is detected these specialized sentry cells send out signals to call in the cavalry. The cavalry consists of cells that kill and/or engulf the intruder.
The immune system is essential to keep the body healthy and to fight off infection. In general, the immune system works for the benefit of the body as a whole. However, the immune system is very aggressive in its effort to destroy intruders. When the immune system is continually set into action by large particles sneaking thought the junctions between the intestinal cells the immune system is continually in a state of high-alert. As an example, suppose there was a small rural town that had six fires a day. I’m not talking about false alarms I am talking about six real fires each day. The local fire department would be on high alert at all times. After awhile they would get so jumpy that they would hose down a house even if it was a false alarm.
When someone has a leaky gut there immune system is constantly being set off. The immune system is always on high-alert. The immune system may start to set up an immune response against its own, normal tissues. When the body starts to believe that its own, normal tissues are foreign invaders this is know as an auto-immune disease. The leaky gut syndrome has been blamed for causing or worsening of some autoimmune diseases including fibromyalgia, lupus and arthritis.
The best way to prevent leaky gut syndrome is to ensure that specialized intestinal cells of the digestive tract are healthy, the tight-junctions are maintained, the intestinal bacteria (flora) are alive and well and all the food is properly digested.
These statements have not been evaluated by the FDA. These products are not intended to diagnose, treat, cure or prevent any disease. The information provided on this site is for informational purposes only and is not intended as a substitute for advice from your physician or other health care professional or any information contained on or in any product label or packaging. You should not use the information on this site for diagnosis or treatment of any health problem or for prescription of any medication or other treatment. You should consult with a healthcare professional before starting any diet, exercise or supplementation program, before taking any medication, or if you have or suspect you might have a health problem. You should not stop taking any medication without first consulting your physician.
When large particles sneak through the junctions between the specialized intestinal cells and enter the blood stream they are immediately identified as foreign intruders. Fortunately, your body is equipped with an elaborate defense mechanism known as the immune system to guard against these invaders. There are chemical messengers residing in the blood and in the surrounding tissues that act as sentries patrolling for foreign invaders. When an invader is detected these specialized sentry cells send out signals to call in the cavalry. The cavalry consists of cells that kill and/or engulf the intruder.
The immune system is essential to keep the body healthy and to fight off infection. In general, the immune system works for the benefit of the body as a whole. However, the immune system is very aggressive in its effort to destroy intruders. When the immune system is continually set into action by large particles sneaking thought the junctions between the intestinal cells the immune system is continually in a state of high-alert. As an example, suppose there was a small rural town that had six fires a day. I’m not talking about false alarms I am talking about six real fires each day. The local fire department would be on high alert at all times. After awhile they would get so jumpy that they would hose down a house even if it was a false alarm.
When someone has a leaky gut there immune system is constantly being set off. The immune system is always on high-alert. The immune system may start to set up an immune response against its own, normal tissues. When the body starts to believe that its own, normal tissues are foreign invaders this is know as an auto-immune disease. The leaky gut syndrome has been blamed for causing or worsening of some autoimmune diseases including fibromyalgia, lupus and arthritis.
The best way to prevent leaky gut syndrome is to ensure that specialized intestinal cells of the digestive tract are healthy, the tight-junctions are maintained, the intestinal bacteria (flora) are alive and well and all the food is properly digested.
These statements have not been evaluated by the FDA. These products are not intended to diagnose, treat, cure or prevent any disease. The information provided on this site is for informational purposes only and is not intended as a substitute for advice from your physician or other health care professional or any information contained on or in any product label or packaging. You should not use the information on this site for diagnosis or treatment of any health problem or for prescription of any medication or other treatment. You should consult with a healthcare professional before starting any diet, exercise or supplementation program, before taking any medication, or if you have or suspect you might have a health problem. You should not stop taking any medication without first consulting your physician.
Thursday, November 1, 2007
Cortisol is the Stress Hormone
Technorati Profile
When the body is under stress, excess cortisol is produced. Cortisol is part of the "fight or flight" response. If we are threatened we have to immediately prepare our bodies either to face the threat or run for our lives. In order to prepare ourselves, the adrenal gland secrets cortisol to increase our blood sugar for extra energy and increase our heart rate and blood pressure in order to pump more blood to the muscles and brain to prepare us for battle. This stress response or "flight or fight" response is meant to only last for the brief time necessary to get us to safety.
The "flight or fight" response was great for our ancestors when they needed the extra cortisol to protect themselves from the occasional threat of the saber-toothed-tiger. It is also essential today if we have to jam on the brakes if someone runs a STOP sign. If this is only a once-in-a-while event the brief elevation in cortisol does not cause health problems.
In our everyday lives we are facing saber-toothed tigers (real or imagined) all day long. Many of us are over-worked, don't get enough sleep, have demanding bosses, relationship problems, and financial worries. We may also have feelings of guilt or pain from past emotional injuries. All of these issues put us in a constant state of stress. Constant stress, in turn, leads to chronically elevated cortisol levels. Chronically elevated cortisol can lead to adrenal dysfunction.
Effects of adrenal dysfunction " fatigue " suppressed immune system " muscle and bone loss" depression " autoimmune disorders " thyroid dysfunction" weight loss resistance
However if you feel that things are going well in your life, your are spiritually healthy, you eat well, get enough sleep, exercise regularly and maintain a healthy weight (without dieting!) then your adrenal glands are probably functioning as they should.
If you feel anxious most of the time, you feel fatigued, sleep poorly, can't lose weight (even if you diet and exercise), use caffeine and carbohydrates to give you a boost during the day, then your adrenal glands are likely dysfunctional.
In order to reduce your cortisol level you have to reduce your stress. Stress reduction is a critical part of any weight loss program.
In the early stages of adrenal dysfunction the cortisol level continues to rise throughout the day. In the late stages of adrenal dysfunction the adrenal glands actually become exhausted from having to continually pump out all the excess cortisol. In late adrenal dysfunction the cortisol levels may actually be below chronically low resulting in chronic fatigue.
Conventional medicine recognizes only the extremes of either cortisol excess (Cushing' Syndrome ( http://www.niddk.nih.gov/health/endo/pubs/cushings/cushings.htm )) or extremely low cortisol (Addison's Disease ( http://www.niddk.nih.gov/health/endo/pubs/addison/addison.htm )
Conventional medicine does not look for less extreme fluctuations of cortisol as a source for poor health. In the conventional standard of care, any cortisol level within a very broad range is considered normal, and anything outside that range indicates disease.
When the body is under stress, excess cortisol is produced. Cortisol is part of the "fight or flight" response. If we are threatened we have to immediately prepare our bodies either to face the threat or run for our lives. In order to prepare ourselves, the adrenal gland secrets cortisol to increase our blood sugar for extra energy and increase our heart rate and blood pressure in order to pump more blood to the muscles and brain to prepare us for battle. This stress response or "flight or fight" response is meant to only last for the brief time necessary to get us to safety.
The "flight or fight" response was great for our ancestors when they needed the extra cortisol to protect themselves from the occasional threat of the saber-toothed-tiger. It is also essential today if we have to jam on the brakes if someone runs a STOP sign. If this is only a once-in-a-while event the brief elevation in cortisol does not cause health problems.
In our everyday lives we are facing saber-toothed tigers (real or imagined) all day long. Many of us are over-worked, don't get enough sleep, have demanding bosses, relationship problems, and financial worries. We may also have feelings of guilt or pain from past emotional injuries. All of these issues put us in a constant state of stress. Constant stress, in turn, leads to chronically elevated cortisol levels. Chronically elevated cortisol can lead to adrenal dysfunction.
Effects of adrenal dysfunction " fatigue " suppressed immune system " muscle and bone loss" depression " autoimmune disorders " thyroid dysfunction" weight loss resistance
However if you feel that things are going well in your life, your are spiritually healthy, you eat well, get enough sleep, exercise regularly and maintain a healthy weight (without dieting!) then your adrenal glands are probably functioning as they should.
If you feel anxious most of the time, you feel fatigued, sleep poorly, can't lose weight (even if you diet and exercise), use caffeine and carbohydrates to give you a boost during the day, then your adrenal glands are likely dysfunctional.
In order to reduce your cortisol level you have to reduce your stress. Stress reduction is a critical part of any weight loss program.
In the early stages of adrenal dysfunction the cortisol level continues to rise throughout the day. In the late stages of adrenal dysfunction the adrenal glands actually become exhausted from having to continually pump out all the excess cortisol. In late adrenal dysfunction the cortisol levels may actually be below chronically low resulting in chronic fatigue.
Conventional medicine recognizes only the extremes of either cortisol excess (Cushing' Syndrome ( http://www.niddk.nih.gov/health/endo/pubs/cushings/cushings.htm )) or extremely low cortisol (Addison's Disease ( http://www.niddk.nih.gov/health/endo/pubs/addison/addison.htm )
Conventional medicine does not look for less extreme fluctuations of cortisol as a source for poor health. In the conventional standard of care, any cortisol level within a very broad range is considered normal, and anything outside that range indicates disease.
Tuesday, October 30, 2007
What Exactly is Cholesterol Anyway?
What is Cholesterol?
Cholesterol is described by most medical textbooks as a waxy fat-like substance found in some foods and also made by the liver. Although cholesterol gets a lot of bad press, cholesterol is absolutely necessary for life. Cholesterol is used by all living cells.
A Few of the Important Roles Of Cholesterol
All cells need cholesterol to maintain the structure of their cell membranes. Some important hormones are derived from cholesterol. Cholesterol is essential for brain function and protects against depression. Cholesterol is so important that the body actually manufactures cholesterol. The body has a beautiful way of handling cholesterol to keep everything in balance. If there is not enough cholesterol it makes more. If there is too much cholesterol the body removes it. However when our diet contains too much saturated fat our system becomes overwhelmed with cholesterol and the elaborate system that the body uses for keeping cholesterol in check breaks down. Some of you may be old enough to remember “The I Love Lucy” episode where Lucy and Ethel are working in a chocolate factory. They are responsible for boxing up the chocolate as it comes down the conveyor belt. Every thing is fine and fun when the belt is moving at the right speed. However when the conveyor belt goes too fast they can’t keep up with all the chocolate. They start stuffing the chocolate in their mouths, aprons and pants to try to keep the chocolate from falling on the floor. This is what happens when we overload our diet with saturated fats. The cholesterol conveyor belt in our body starts moving too fast. The body is unable to package the cholesterol properly and the body starts looking to places to put the excess. One of the places the body put the excess cholesterol is on the blood vessel walls.Let’s take a little closer look at what goes on in liver which is the cholesterol processing plant of the body. When we eat fats, the fats are absorbed in the intestinal wall. Here the fats are packaged up in little transport submarines called chylomicrons (ky-low-my-crons). The fats cannot travel in the blood stream without these submarines because of the simple fact that oil and water do not mix. The fats are oil and the blood is primarily water. So in order for the fats to travel in the blood stream they have to be transported in submarines. Once in the blood stream the submarines take the fats to the tissues where they are needed. The fats are a good source of energy so if they travel by a muscle that is actively working and in need of energy the muscle snatches up the fats from the submarine. If there is not much activity going on the submarine transports the fats to the fat cells for storage. The fat and muscle cells are interested in unloading only the portion of the fat that they can use.
After the muscle and fat tissue takes off what they can use the sub goes to the liver for repackaging. The empty sub is reloaded with repackaged as a lipoprotein particles. The lipoprotein particles are a combination of lipid and protein. The submarines are then sent back into the circulation. This transport system allows fat molecules to be transported from the place where they are made (the liver) to the place where that are used, namely, fat and muscle tissue. Each time the submarine goes back to the liver to get repackaged, the lipoprotein contains less and less triglyceride. Eventually the LDL (low density lipoprotein, also know as the “bad” cholesterol) gets sent out for delivery. The LDL cholesterol contains very little triglyceride and is mostly cholesterol.
Why is Cholesterol Important?
Please keep in mind that the LDL particles are necessary for health and serve an important purpose. However the problems arise when the system gets overloaded with the LDL particles. If the liver is unable to process all the fats that show up at its door, the orphaned fats are free to roam the streets (blood vessels) looking for trouble. When the roaming LDL particles reach a certain concentration, the LDL starts to stick onto blood vessel walls. This then sets off a whole cascade of bad events that may eventually lead to heart attack and stroke.Once the LDL binds to the blood vessel wall they are susceptible to be oxidized. The oxidized LDL then starts to attract more LDL particles and the LDL cluster gets bigger and bigger. The next event that happens in this sequence of bad events is that the growing LDL cluster which I will call a lesion, sets off the inflammation alarms. The inflammation alarm causes the body to send in the soldier cells to try to take care of the situation. You know as well as I when the soldiers are sent into battle, even though they are well-meaning, the process of the battle causes damage to the area where the battle took place. The soldier cells that are sent in are called macrophages meaning large eating cells ("macro" = large; "phage" = to eat). The macrophages start eating the LDL but because there is so much LDL in these lesions the macrophages become what are know as lipid-laden foam cells. Thus these cells that were initially sent in to help the situation actually make the situation much worse. The growing lesion with the LDL and the foam cells becomes what is sometimes described as a pimple on the blood vessel wall. This gives a wrong picture because these plaques generally do not occur in one little area. These lesions occur more in streaks and cover long areas of the blood vessels. As the lesions get worse and worse they develop areas of calcification and develop into what are know as plaques. These calcium containing plaques make it possible for doctors to detect the presence of the plaques with some of the newer imagining techniques. The plaques are what cause narrowing of the blood vessel and start to cause blood flow problems as the artery becomes smaller and smaller. For many years doctors thought that the blood vessel continued to narrow until it was completely closed and this was what caused the heart attacks and strokes. We know now that these plaques grow slowly enough to allow the body to remodel the blood vessel (the blood vessel bulges out) or grows new blood vessels to by pass the narrow area to maintain blood flow. The greatest cause of heart attacks and stroke is when the blood vessel suddenly gets blocked. This occurs when plaques that are unstable suddenly burst. The contents of the lesion then attracts platelets and other chemicals that rapidly forms a clot which blocks the blood vessels. In summary the stable plaques that narrow the blood vessel wall are not as worrisome as the fragile unstable plaques. The body can compensate for the stable plaques but the fragile clots break off, clots form that break off and suddenly close off the blood vessel. before This is what is know as a heart attack.
What IS HDL? (Good Cholesterol)
The HDL cholesterol is known as the good cholesterol. These lipid particles contain little or no cholesterol. They contain the apolipoproten A. These particles actually serve to remove the cholesterol from the plaques and bring it back to the liver for processing or excretion.
What Should My Cholesterol Levels Be?
When your cholesterol is checked by your doctor the cholesterol that is measured is the total cholesterol, HDL and the triglyceride.
The LDL cholesterol is calculated from these values from the formula
LDL = TC – HDL – (TG/5).
LDL is LDL cholesterol (“bad cholesterol”)
HDL is HDL cholesterol (“good cholesterol”)
TG = triglycerideTC is total cholesterol
LDL Cholesterol (mg/dL)
Opitmal <> 190
HDL Cholesterol (mg/dl)
Low <40>60
Total Cholesterol (mg/dl)
Desirable <200>240
The LDL cholesterol is the cholesterol that attaches itself to the blood vessel walls and can cause heart disease. The LDL cholesterol is what we want to lower. The HDL is the “good cholesterol”. The HDL cholesterol attaches itself to the LDL cholesterol and brings it back to the liver for processing. Triglycerides are the chemical form in which most fat exists in food as well as in the body. Triglycerides in the blood come from the fats eaten in foods or made in the body from carbohydrates. If carbohydrates are not used immediately for energy, the carbohydrates are converted to triglycerides and transported to fat cells to be stored. Hormones regulate the release of triglycerides from fat tissue so they meet the body's needs for energy between meals.
For More Information: www.Cholestsure.net
Cholesterol is described by most medical textbooks as a waxy fat-like substance found in some foods and also made by the liver. Although cholesterol gets a lot of bad press, cholesterol is absolutely necessary for life. Cholesterol is used by all living cells.
A Few of the Important Roles Of Cholesterol
All cells need cholesterol to maintain the structure of their cell membranes. Some important hormones are derived from cholesterol. Cholesterol is essential for brain function and protects against depression. Cholesterol is so important that the body actually manufactures cholesterol. The body has a beautiful way of handling cholesterol to keep everything in balance. If there is not enough cholesterol it makes more. If there is too much cholesterol the body removes it. However when our diet contains too much saturated fat our system becomes overwhelmed with cholesterol and the elaborate system that the body uses for keeping cholesterol in check breaks down. Some of you may be old enough to remember “The I Love Lucy” episode where Lucy and Ethel are working in a chocolate factory. They are responsible for boxing up the chocolate as it comes down the conveyor belt. Every thing is fine and fun when the belt is moving at the right speed. However when the conveyor belt goes too fast they can’t keep up with all the chocolate. They start stuffing the chocolate in their mouths, aprons and pants to try to keep the chocolate from falling on the floor. This is what happens when we overload our diet with saturated fats. The cholesterol conveyor belt in our body starts moving too fast. The body is unable to package the cholesterol properly and the body starts looking to places to put the excess. One of the places the body put the excess cholesterol is on the blood vessel walls.Let’s take a little closer look at what goes on in liver which is the cholesterol processing plant of the body. When we eat fats, the fats are absorbed in the intestinal wall. Here the fats are packaged up in little transport submarines called chylomicrons (ky-low-my-crons). The fats cannot travel in the blood stream without these submarines because of the simple fact that oil and water do not mix. The fats are oil and the blood is primarily water. So in order for the fats to travel in the blood stream they have to be transported in submarines. Once in the blood stream the submarines take the fats to the tissues where they are needed. The fats are a good source of energy so if they travel by a muscle that is actively working and in need of energy the muscle snatches up the fats from the submarine. If there is not much activity going on the submarine transports the fats to the fat cells for storage. The fat and muscle cells are interested in unloading only the portion of the fat that they can use.
After the muscle and fat tissue takes off what they can use the sub goes to the liver for repackaging. The empty sub is reloaded with repackaged as a lipoprotein particles. The lipoprotein particles are a combination of lipid and protein. The submarines are then sent back into the circulation. This transport system allows fat molecules to be transported from the place where they are made (the liver) to the place where that are used, namely, fat and muscle tissue. Each time the submarine goes back to the liver to get repackaged, the lipoprotein contains less and less triglyceride. Eventually the LDL (low density lipoprotein, also know as the “bad” cholesterol) gets sent out for delivery. The LDL cholesterol contains very little triglyceride and is mostly cholesterol.
Why is Cholesterol Important?
Please keep in mind that the LDL particles are necessary for health and serve an important purpose. However the problems arise when the system gets overloaded with the LDL particles. If the liver is unable to process all the fats that show up at its door, the orphaned fats are free to roam the streets (blood vessels) looking for trouble. When the roaming LDL particles reach a certain concentration, the LDL starts to stick onto blood vessel walls. This then sets off a whole cascade of bad events that may eventually lead to heart attack and stroke.Once the LDL binds to the blood vessel wall they are susceptible to be oxidized. The oxidized LDL then starts to attract more LDL particles and the LDL cluster gets bigger and bigger. The next event that happens in this sequence of bad events is that the growing LDL cluster which I will call a lesion, sets off the inflammation alarms. The inflammation alarm causes the body to send in the soldier cells to try to take care of the situation. You know as well as I when the soldiers are sent into battle, even though they are well-meaning, the process of the battle causes damage to the area where the battle took place. The soldier cells that are sent in are called macrophages meaning large eating cells ("macro" = large; "phage" = to eat). The macrophages start eating the LDL but because there is so much LDL in these lesions the macrophages become what are know as lipid-laden foam cells. Thus these cells that were initially sent in to help the situation actually make the situation much worse. The growing lesion with the LDL and the foam cells becomes what is sometimes described as a pimple on the blood vessel wall. This gives a wrong picture because these plaques generally do not occur in one little area. These lesions occur more in streaks and cover long areas of the blood vessels. As the lesions get worse and worse they develop areas of calcification and develop into what are know as plaques. These calcium containing plaques make it possible for doctors to detect the presence of the plaques with some of the newer imagining techniques. The plaques are what cause narrowing of the blood vessel and start to cause blood flow problems as the artery becomes smaller and smaller. For many years doctors thought that the blood vessel continued to narrow until it was completely closed and this was what caused the heart attacks and strokes. We know now that these plaques grow slowly enough to allow the body to remodel the blood vessel (the blood vessel bulges out) or grows new blood vessels to by pass the narrow area to maintain blood flow. The greatest cause of heart attacks and stroke is when the blood vessel suddenly gets blocked. This occurs when plaques that are unstable suddenly burst. The contents of the lesion then attracts platelets and other chemicals that rapidly forms a clot which blocks the blood vessels. In summary the stable plaques that narrow the blood vessel wall are not as worrisome as the fragile unstable plaques. The body can compensate for the stable plaques but the fragile clots break off, clots form that break off and suddenly close off the blood vessel. before This is what is know as a heart attack.
What IS HDL? (Good Cholesterol)
The HDL cholesterol is known as the good cholesterol. These lipid particles contain little or no cholesterol. They contain the apolipoproten A. These particles actually serve to remove the cholesterol from the plaques and bring it back to the liver for processing or excretion.
What Should My Cholesterol Levels Be?
When your cholesterol is checked by your doctor the cholesterol that is measured is the total cholesterol, HDL and the triglyceride.
The LDL cholesterol is calculated from these values from the formula
LDL = TC – HDL – (TG/5).
LDL is LDL cholesterol (“bad cholesterol”)
HDL is HDL cholesterol (“good cholesterol”)
TG = triglycerideTC is total cholesterol
LDL Cholesterol (mg/dL)
Opitmal <> 190
HDL Cholesterol (mg/dl)
Low <40>60
Total Cholesterol (mg/dl)
Desirable <200>240
The LDL cholesterol is the cholesterol that attaches itself to the blood vessel walls and can cause heart disease. The LDL cholesterol is what we want to lower. The HDL is the “good cholesterol”. The HDL cholesterol attaches itself to the LDL cholesterol and brings it back to the liver for processing. Triglycerides are the chemical form in which most fat exists in food as well as in the body. Triglycerides in the blood come from the fats eaten in foods or made in the body from carbohydrates. If carbohydrates are not used immediately for energy, the carbohydrates are converted to triglycerides and transported to fat cells to be stored. Hormones regulate the release of triglycerides from fat tissue so they meet the body's needs for energy between meals.
For More Information: www.Cholestsure.net
Wednesday, October 24, 2007
How I Discovered Gingko and Ginseng
How I Discovered Gingko and Ginseng
Dr J Davies
I was complaining to a doctor friend of mine that I felt like I was getting old. My energy level was low. Going for a jog, which I used to enjoy, now felt like a chore. At the end of the day I felt exhausted. I was trying to eat right, exercise regularly but I still needed 6 cups of coffee to get through the day. I was gaining weight despite exercising and eating right. I knew that I had all the symptoms of adrenal burnout (chronic stress) but I just didn’t know what to do about it.
Conventional medicine has very few answers for the patient suffering from chronic stress. The really forward-thinking conventional physicians may suggest something like massage or yoga to help with stress but more often than not they prescribe an anti-anxiety medicine (benzodiazepine) which only blunts the feeling of anxiety but dose not address the real problem which is abnormal cortisol levels.
So I decided to pay a visit to my doctor (yes doctors do go to the doctor). This particular doctor is very knowledgeable on so-called “alternative medicine” and natural supplements. He suggested that I start taking gingko and ginseng. He told me that there were several studies that showed that gingko and ginseng were effective for the symptoms of stress overload that I was experiencing.
I started taking a liquid supplement with Siberian Ginseng and Gingko biloba.
This product started improving my symptoms right away. I felt noticeably calmer and more in control of my life. The constant chatter in my mind slowed down and I could deal with situations as they arose. I was multitasking was a champ. I had the energy to do the yard work that I was neglecting. I was able to jog with ease and without counting each step. I felt like there was no end to how far I could go. I called old friends that I hadn’t talked to in years. In short I was feeling like my old self again. Actually I was feeling better than my old self. I was felling like an even younger version of my old self.
Now when I see patients in my medical office complaining of symptoms consistent with adrenal fatigue I suggest these products. My patients experience the same relief that I experienced. My patients love these products.
I now offer the Natural Liquids products for sale on my website so I know that this is going to sound like a sales pitch but I am a doctor, not a salesman. Selling great products like these on the internet enables me to afford to provide low cost family medical care to middle class working families that cannot afford health insurance. Your support is greatly appreciated.
Dr J Davies
I was complaining to a doctor friend of mine that I felt like I was getting old. My energy level was low. Going for a jog, which I used to enjoy, now felt like a chore. At the end of the day I felt exhausted. I was trying to eat right, exercise regularly but I still needed 6 cups of coffee to get through the day. I was gaining weight despite exercising and eating right. I knew that I had all the symptoms of adrenal burnout (chronic stress) but I just didn’t know what to do about it.
Conventional medicine has very few answers for the patient suffering from chronic stress. The really forward-thinking conventional physicians may suggest something like massage or yoga to help with stress but more often than not they prescribe an anti-anxiety medicine (benzodiazepine) which only blunts the feeling of anxiety but dose not address the real problem which is abnormal cortisol levels.
So I decided to pay a visit to my doctor (yes doctors do go to the doctor). This particular doctor is very knowledgeable on so-called “alternative medicine” and natural supplements. He suggested that I start taking gingko and ginseng. He told me that there were several studies that showed that gingko and ginseng were effective for the symptoms of stress overload that I was experiencing.
I started taking a liquid supplement with Siberian Ginseng and Gingko biloba.
This product started improving my symptoms right away. I felt noticeably calmer and more in control of my life. The constant chatter in my mind slowed down and I could deal with situations as they arose. I was multitasking was a champ. I had the energy to do the yard work that I was neglecting. I was able to jog with ease and without counting each step. I felt like there was no end to how far I could go. I called old friends that I hadn’t talked to in years. In short I was feeling like my old self again. Actually I was feeling better than my old self. I was felling like an even younger version of my old self.
Now when I see patients in my medical office complaining of symptoms consistent with adrenal fatigue I suggest these products. My patients experience the same relief that I experienced. My patients love these products.
I now offer the Natural Liquids products for sale on my website so I know that this is going to sound like a sales pitch but I am a doctor, not a salesman. Selling great products like these on the internet enables me to afford to provide low cost family medical care to middle class working families that cannot afford health insurance. Your support is greatly appreciated.
Monday, October 22, 2007
Doctor Uses Engineering to Treat Arthritis
Osteoarthritis, also known as wear and tear arthritis, is often caused by unbalanced transfer of body weight across the joint. As a result, one area of the joint is required to take more of its share of the body weight. The uneven load distribution leads to breakdown of the cartilage in the over-loaded area of the joint. The cartilage breakdown is what causes the joint pain known as osteoarthritis.
“This is a biomechanical problem and therefore requires a biomechanical solution”, says Dr Jeffrey P Davies, physician and biomechanical engineer at St Luke’s Health Alliance in South Dennis. The 12 years Dr Davies spent conducting research at the Orthopedic Biomechanics Laboratory at Mass General Hospital and the five years he has spent as a family physician has inspired Dr Davies to research how biomechanical imbalances in joints lead to cartilage overload.
Dr Davies explains, “The cartilage overload sets off the viscous cycle that over-time ultimately leads to joint destruction. “It has always been my belief that if we can correct the biomechanical problems of the joint early on we can prevent the cartilage break-down that ultimately leads to joint destruction.”
“What is fascinating to me is that by making slight changes to the loading patterns of the ankle joint through the use of relatively simple foot orthotics, I can significantly affect the loading patterns of the knee, hip and low back,” says Dr Davies. “By correcting these imbalances we are relieving pain and this, to me, is very, very exciting.”
Dr Davies does caution that the pain relief is often not immediate. Dr Davies explains, “The biomechanical problems have developed over a long period of time. The body adapts to these biomechanical imbalances by lengthening and shortening ligaments and tendons, and by reshaping the bone. Simply putting a foot orthotic into the shoe does not immediately correct the problem. However once the biomechanics are corrected, the body will, over time, re-adapt to the now corrected alignment. The goal is to provide more uniform load transfer across the joint, less overload on the cartilage, less pain and ultimately preserved joint function. This technology gives us the opportunity to help many patients that, up to now, have thought that the only solution to their joint pain was to take acetaminophen and/or anti-inflammatory medication, limit their activity and wait until they were old enough for a total joint replacement.”
S.C is one such patient helped by this new technology. S.C. explains, “When I went to my primary care doctor with my knee pain he told me I had early osteoarthritis. He actually told me that arthritis was something that I would have to learn to live with; it was part of getting old. He suggested that I begin taking regular daily doses of pain medicine. I heard about the work Dr Davies was a doing through a friend. The analysis that Dr Davies performed was fascinating. After Dr. Davies reviewed the results of the analysis with me, I understood what was causing my pain. It made perfect sense. Dr Davies explained the treatment plan which consisted of foot orthotics, exercises and natural supplements. After just a few weeks I am now more active and almost pain free. I feel grateful that I have taken action to relieve my pain rather than becoming a victim to it.”
For more information visit www.Archatomics.com
“This is a biomechanical problem and therefore requires a biomechanical solution”, says Dr Jeffrey P Davies, physician and biomechanical engineer at St Luke’s Health Alliance in South Dennis. The 12 years Dr Davies spent conducting research at the Orthopedic Biomechanics Laboratory at Mass General Hospital and the five years he has spent as a family physician has inspired Dr Davies to research how biomechanical imbalances in joints lead to cartilage overload.
Dr Davies explains, “The cartilage overload sets off the viscous cycle that over-time ultimately leads to joint destruction. “It has always been my belief that if we can correct the biomechanical problems of the joint early on we can prevent the cartilage break-down that ultimately leads to joint destruction.”
“What is fascinating to me is that by making slight changes to the loading patterns of the ankle joint through the use of relatively simple foot orthotics, I can significantly affect the loading patterns of the knee, hip and low back,” says Dr Davies. “By correcting these imbalances we are relieving pain and this, to me, is very, very exciting.”
Dr Davies does caution that the pain relief is often not immediate. Dr Davies explains, “The biomechanical problems have developed over a long period of time. The body adapts to these biomechanical imbalances by lengthening and shortening ligaments and tendons, and by reshaping the bone. Simply putting a foot orthotic into the shoe does not immediately correct the problem. However once the biomechanics are corrected, the body will, over time, re-adapt to the now corrected alignment. The goal is to provide more uniform load transfer across the joint, less overload on the cartilage, less pain and ultimately preserved joint function. This technology gives us the opportunity to help many patients that, up to now, have thought that the only solution to their joint pain was to take acetaminophen and/or anti-inflammatory medication, limit their activity and wait until they were old enough for a total joint replacement.”
S.C is one such patient helped by this new technology. S.C. explains, “When I went to my primary care doctor with my knee pain he told me I had early osteoarthritis. He actually told me that arthritis was something that I would have to learn to live with; it was part of getting old. He suggested that I begin taking regular daily doses of pain medicine. I heard about the work Dr Davies was a doing through a friend. The analysis that Dr Davies performed was fascinating. After Dr. Davies reviewed the results of the analysis with me, I understood what was causing my pain. It made perfect sense. Dr Davies explained the treatment plan which consisted of foot orthotics, exercises and natural supplements. After just a few weeks I am now more active and almost pain free. I feel grateful that I have taken action to relieve my pain rather than becoming a victim to it.”
For more information visit www.Archatomics.com
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