What can help carpal tunnel syndrome?
Previously, I discussed what carpal tunnel syndrome is and how desk based workers have an increased risk. So what can you do to help youself:
- Vitamin B6 – Carpal tunnel syndrome has been linked to low levels of vitamin B6, so suplementing with the vitamin may help. In fact, several trials have found B6 may alleviate the symptoms, even in people who are not deficient in the vitamin.
- Yoga – In one study a yoga based therapy was more effective at easing carpal tunnel syndrome than improving grip strenght than wrist splints or no treatment.
- Acupuncture – In one radomised control trail, acupuncture was just as effective as steriod treatment,and it was also better at reducing sleep disturbance and improving never conduction than the drugs and came with minimal side-effects.
Reference
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/19590482
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/15098856
https://apb.tbzmed.ac.ir/Article/APB_571_20130114180051
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Eating to help reduce anxiety
We can all feel anxious from time to time. While individuals with anxiety disorders require therapy and/or medication, for individuals with milder cases of anxiety changed to your diet may help. 1. Omega-3 Increase your intake of omega-3 fatty acids found in oily fish. Omega-3 acids protect you against inflammation and have been show to improve your overall mood and ability to cope with stress. Click here for more information. This study shows a 20% reduction in anxiety levels amongst medical students taking omega-3. While this study shows how omega-3 acts as an anti-depressant. 2. Drink chamomile tea. See studies for evidence of how it helps with anxiety. 3. Eat dark chocolate. There's actually a chemical reason called anandamide, a neurotransmitter produced in your brain that temporarily blocks feelings of pain and depression. It's a derivative of the Sanskrit word "bliss," and one of the great things about chocolate is that it not only produces this compound, it also contains other chemicals that prolong the "feel-good" aspects of anandamide. In addition there is a scientific study which shows that it helps you feel calm - so eat dark chocolate without feeling guilty! See scientific study for evidence. 4. Protein snacks. If like me you are the king of person who needs snacks between meals, then choose a high protein snack like an organic egg, cheese or macadamia nuts as these will stabilise your blood sugar level which means your energy levels don't slump and your mood doesn't either. 5. Eat bananas. Bananas contain dopamine, a natural reward chemical that boosts your mood. They're also rich in B vitamins, including vitamin B6, which help soothe your nervous system, and magnesium, another nutrient associated with positive mood.

Is slouching that bad for you? – part 4
In previous blog posts I have explored the following reasons for not slouching
So finally I would like to focus on how slouching affects your breathing. You’ll notice that people don’t sigh when they sit slumped — they have to sit up to take a deep breath,’ observes Professor Stephen Spiro of the British Lung Foundation. ‘That’s because the lungs work best when we’re vertical. If you’re slumped forward you don’t fully breathe and ventilate the lungs, because they’re compressed and the diaphragm is coming up into the chest — so you won’t breathe as easily and efficiently.’ This can cause particular breathing problems for anyone with asthma or lung disease. ‘If you’re an asthmatic you probably don’t have bad posture because people are quite clever at correcting themselves,’ says Professor Spiro. Physiotherapist Sammy Margo adds that slumping can mean less oxygen gets to the brain. ‘Slumped or C-shaped people complain of being tired and fatigued all the time and it’s because the lungs are squashed and cannot get enough air in, and the brain needs plenty of oxygen to function at its best.’ In addition, if you slumped you are breath with be short and shallow from your upper chest. In order to relax and digest food your body needs the parasympathetic nervous system to be dominant. A quick way to do this is to sit up right and take deep breaths and this simulates the parasympathetic system. So slumping may be contributing to you feeling anxious and finding it hard to relax and switch off when you leave work!
How to prevent gallstones
Although no definite preventive technique for gallstone development has been discovered yet, research shows that there are ways people can lower their risk for these stones.
Refrain From Taking These Medications
If you are taking any of these medications, remember that the following can increase your risk for gallstones:Cholesterol-lowering drugs: Medicines like gemfibrozil (Lopid) and fenofibrate (Tricor) can increase your gallstone risk. Although they may decrease your blood cholesterol levels, these medicines can also increase the amount of cholesterol released in bile. Hormone therapy: HRT is a general term referring to the administration of estrogen or a combination of estrogen/progestin therapy. Increased estrogen levels can cause the body to produce more cholesterol and raise the levels of it in bile. As such, if you are a woman who is undergoing HRT or is taking high-dose birth control pills, talk to your doctor about your gallstone risk and ask if there are other hormone-related medications that are better for you.A Healthy Lifestyle Can Lower Your Gallstone Risk
Decreasing your risk for gallstones begins with a healthy lifestyle, specifically by following these habits:Maintaining a healthy weight: People who are overweight or obese have a higher risk of gallstones. Boost your diet with these foods:ReferencesThe following common practices can also raise your gallstone risk, so it's best to avoid them:- Unlimited amounts of fresh, organic and vegetables, especially fiber-rich options (just make sure to introduce these foods slowly into your diet, since they can prompt digestive discomfort, especially in those who have had gallbladder surgery).
- Moderate quantities of high-quality protein from meat ideally organic.
- High portions of healthy fats from sources like avocados, coconut oil, organic butter, pastured egg yolks and raw nuts like macadamias, pecans and pine nuts.
• Exercising regularly: Research shows that moderate physical activity can help with increasing the body’s levels of high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL) or “good” cholesterol.- Skipping meals or fasting for long periods of time. As much as possible, try to stick to your usual mealtimes.
- Following diets that promote rapid weight loss. By rapid I mean aiming to lose more than 1 to 2 pounds, or 0.5 to 1 kilogram, per week.
“What to Do About Gallstones,” Harvard Health Publications Harvard Medical School, March 2011 Marks and Bass, “4 Ways to Prevent Gallstones,” Everyday Health, January 26, 2010 Stöppler and Shiel, “Hormone Therapy (Estrogen Therapy, Estrogen/Progestin Therapy),” MedicineNet, August 23, 2016 “Gallstones,” National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases, November 2013 Mayo Clinic Staff, “Gallstones Self-Management,” Mayo Clinic, August 18, 2016 Mayo Clinic Staff, “Top 5 Lifestyle Changes to Improve Your Cholesterol,” Mayo Clinic, June 19, 2015

