Gastritis is basically an erosion of the stomach lining, which can occur suddenly due to certain factors or happen gradually over a longer period of time. Inflammation or irritation of the lining of the stomach is also a form of gastritis.

Gastritis can occur in adults and in children, which when left untreated can give rise to other gastrointestinal problems. There can be a number of different causes that give rise to gastritis. An infection caused by Helicobacter pylori (H. pylori) or other bacteria and viruses living in the mucous lining of the stomach could be one of the causes. A back flow of bile from the bile tract into the stomach, which is known as bile reflux could give rise to gastritis. Pernicious anemia, which is the stomach’s inability to properly digest vitamin B12 could be another cause.

People who are on prolonged pain medication can develop gastritis. Patients who undergo chemotherapy can also develop gastritis. Accurately diagnosing the cause of the condition is therefore essential to prescribe an appropriate treatment plan.

Symptoms Of Gastritis In Children

Some of the most common symptoms of gastritis in children include:

• An upset stomach
• Stomach ache, especially before eating meals or after eating meals
• A bloating of the abdomen
• Nausea and vomiting. The appearance of a coffee ground look in the vomit would indicate bleeding in the stomach
• Indigestion after meals
• A loss of appetite
• Trouble going to sleep
• Disrupted sleep during the night due to stomach pain
• Diarrhea
• Recurrent hiccups
• Melena or black tarry stools which indicate bleeding in the upper gastrointestinal tract.
• A gnawing or burning sensation in the stomach in-between meals or during the night

Different individuals might have different symptoms of gastritis. And some people with the condition may not have any associated symptoms at all. Diagnosing the problem could be more difficult in such instances.

Diagnosis of Gastritis

The doctor will initially review the personal medical history of the patient and their family and perform a complete physical evaluation and then decide on some tests which could include bloods tests, stools test and upper endoscopy.

A blood test can determine the presence of H. pylori infection or pernicious anemia. A stools test is used to check for the presence of blood in the stools, which could be an indication of gastritis. Through endoscopy, the doctor can look down into the stomach and examine the stomach lining by using an endoscope that consists of a tiny camera enclosed in a thin tube.

Have you experienced being exposed to various elements in a day and still feel healthy without feeling any pain or weakness? The very reason why you don’t get sick that easily is because of your immune system. Immune system safeguards you from the attacks of viruses outside your body. It is your defence mechanism but when it bogged down, you are not safe from being sick and your body will be affected.

The immune system is consists of the cells and tissues that act as your protective guards against viruses and pathogens. It counter attacks viruses and harmful agents that try to invade your body because they can cause you damage and weakness. A weak one is sometimes caused by stress. Since the this system needs energy, when it is being weakened by stress and fatigue, the body will not be able to control the invasion of outside agents to your body. Others could be caused of improper diet and less exercise. There are common signs of a weak immune system such as allergies, flu, cold, inflammation, and slow healing of wounds.

Some of your body have parts that act as the system camp meaning these parts are the ones responsible to clear and defend the body from harmful organisms to avoid sickness and infections. Here are some of the body parts that protect and strengthen the function of the this particular system of your body:

• Lymph Nodes are responsible for producing lymph fluids that will filter and destroy harmful bacteria from the body.
• The Spleen removes the abnormal and old red blood cells, microbes, and debris from your blood.
• Thymus shields the body against auto-immunity.
• The tonsils trap the harmful germs and bacteria that are entering in the mouth before it gets throughout the body.

To maintain a healthy immune system, there are dietary supplements designed for such purpose that will help your body especially in times when you are stressed, frustrated, and susceptible for disease. Vitamins and nutrients from the food you eat keep the system healthy. This system is very important as it defend the body against harmful viruses, microorganisms, and germs.

A perfect immune system begins from good healthy habits. You should wash your hands every time you use it and eat foods that have a proper nutrition. Taking vitamin C whether in the form or food or medicine could help you to strengthen your immune system together with other vitamins and minerals. And also, proper exercise and enough rest could also make your system to work properly.

If you’re like several of my patients you may have an overactive bladder which keeps you running to the bathroom to urinate frequently. Some people have smaller bladder capacities than others and therefore naturally have to urinate more. Other people may be eating certain foods that can irritate their bladder causing the need them to urinate. I’d like to explain to you what some of these foods are and what you can do to minimize your “going” issues.

Overactive Bladder – What Is It?

Overactive bladder is a mild to severe condition that can not only become a nuisance in always creating the to find a restroom while you’re out in public, but can also have some embarrassing consequences. It is also a condition that can be accompanied by something called “urge incontinence”, or UI, where you have to go so badly you just can’t hold it and urine leaks into your clothes; or “stress incontinence”, or SI, where you have involuntary leakage of urine through laughing or sneezing. Usually UI and SI are just variant symptoms of overactive bladder syndrome which also can include nocturia (waking up at night to urinate) and frequency, just “going” a lot all day long.

As mentioned above, overactive bladder can be caused by a few things which include:

• A congenitally small bladder that has less holding capacity than most people
• A “neurogenic bladder” – caused by damage, or pressure, pinching of the nerves of the spine that may occur in certain medical conditions like spinal injuries, epilepsy, Parkinson disease, MS, and stroke, that can result in involuntary emptying of the bladder.
• Certain medications used to treat other conditions like diuretics for high blood pressure, or medications that contain caffeine.
• Hormonal. Decreasing estrogen in menopause can cause bladder and urethra muscles to weaken and fall forward, resulting in more frequent urination and leakage. In men, an enlarged prostate can cause frequent urination as well.
• Constipation. Pressure from retained waste in the rectum can aggravate the bladder.
• Obesity. Too much abdominal fat can put pressure on the bladder as well.

However, the most common cause of overactive bladder is simple foods that we eat everyday! These are foods that have certain compounds in them that can irritate the bladder and sometimes result in a chronic inflammatory condition. The bladder attempts to wash these irritants out through triggering frequent urination. Here’s a list of the top bladder trigger foods:

• Tomato products – tomato products generally have a lot of acid in them and can really irritate the bladder. In an attempt to get rid of the irritant, the bladder tries to flush itself out with frequent urination.
• Caffeine – a stimulant present in coffee and tea can really irritate the bladder and make you go more. Decaf varieties can help, but they also have very small amounts of caffeine.
• Chocolate - also contains caffeine plus other compounds like theobromines that can irritate the bladder. White chocolate has less caffeine but still has some. Try to cut down on the amount of chocolate you eat.
• Citrus fruits – also highly acidic, lemons, limes, oranges, grapefruits, can also irritate the bladder like tomatoes. Try to cut down on citrus fruits and supplement with an Ester-C type of Vitamin C to avoid further irritation.
• Beer, wine, hard liquor – “spirits” draw more water out of your body to process it through your kidneys and make you urinate more.
• Carbonation - soft drinks, champagne, tonic water, all contain carbonation that can trigger the bladder and make you urinate frequently.
• Hot spices - like cayenne, jalapeno, especially when combined with tomato, can really keep you hopping to the bathroom. Not only does the spice itself irritate your bladder but they prompt you to drink a lot more cold fluids to wash them down.
• Sweeteners - real sugar, honey, and artificial sweeteners like Equal, Splenda and Sweet N’Low, can over-stimulate the bladder as well.
• Preservatives/Spices - MSG, salt, pepper, other kitchen spices and certain herbs like oregano and dill also have diuretic action that can keep you urinating more frequently.
• Onions, cranberry – like tomatoes, are acidic based, which can irritate the bladder. However, cranberries can also help keep the bladder free of bacteria by neutralizing it with the compounds it contains and flushing them out.

What Can You Do To Slow Your Go?

The best recommendation I give my patients who seem to have overactive bladder symptoms from food sources is to do the following:

• Keep track of your symptoms and what foods seem to irritate them the most. Then, try to reduce the amount, or eliminate, these foods altogether to cut down on your frequency of urination.
• Keep drinking your recommended amount of daily water intake, generally eight 8 ounce glasses a day, or more if you’re sweating a lot. Adequate water intake dilutes your urine so that if you do eat some of these foods, they will be less of an irritant to your bladder.

If you have symptoms of overactive bladder, visit your doctor for an evaluation to determine if there is a medical condition behind it such as those mentioned above. If you’re like my patients, however, most likely foods and drinks that you take in every day are causing over active bladder symptoms. To get your “going” problems under control, try the recommendations noted above, watching what foods you eat and what your symptoms are. Continue to drink your recommended amount of water to flush out any irritants and keep the rest of you healthy as well!

Many times as a therapist I recommend to parents that we reduce the amount of time a child spends in therapy. Naturally, they are concerned that less will be; well, less. To the contrary, sometimes less is more in the world of therapy.

Children need time to process information. Typically, they learn something from a teacher or therapist and will “practice” it over several days to several weeks before they master it. Teachers and therapists present the same information over and over again in both the same and in different approaches with the goal of developing a pattern or schema which will become a foundation for learning more information later. Some children need more time to process the information or are able to build onto these foundations on their own. For these children, spreading out therapy sessions can be beneficial because they can gain the information at a more appropriate pace and they will be more attentive and productive within those sessions.

For other children it is simply too much for them to have several hours of therapy a week. Many young children have physical therapy, occupational therapy, and speech therapy at least once a week, and some also have developmental therapy, social work, music therapy, group therapies, and other interventions. Older children can have all of these in addition to a traditional or modified school day. While each therapist feels they are the pivotal person for that child, sometimes taking a backseat to another intervention or empowering the parents to take the lead in their child’s progress can be more beneficial for the child.

Allowing a child the opportunity to focus on those goals which are most important to them and their family at the time can promote increased progress toward that goal. For example, if the primary goal for a child is mobility adding additional therapies to work on other goal areas can distract a child and cause “burnout” for both the child and the family. The constant parade of therapists can cause a child to be complacent, frustrated, or resistant to interventions. Less work can be accomplished when a child does not wish to engage with any of the therapists on their team. This level of burnout can also frustrate the family and decrease their interest in continuing or engaging in therapy services.

Part of being a member of a therapy team is knowing how to work well with other therapists. A good team will communicate with each other and support each other’s goals and objectives. All members of the team will encourage speech, reinforce motor skills, and promote cognitive development. Because of this overlap within a good team not everyone needs to have “hands-on” time with the child every week. Strong and dedicated parents can follow through with the work of all of their therapists which can also decrease the need for as many therapists in the home.

Finding the right balance in the amount of therapy can be a difficult task for a therapist. For some children, the less is more approach is perfect, but it is not for every child. Working with the other therapists on the team and the parents, the right amount of intervention can be found and children with special needs can reach their goals with less frustration and more enthusiasm. In the end it truly comes down to a difference between quality and quantity. Quality therapy time is truly what our kids need to not only meet their goals but surpass them!

©R. Wellman2011

CHOLESTEROL

There are four types of lipids: neutral fats, free fatty acids, steroids and phospholipids. Cholesterol is a steroid produced within the liver cells and has vital roles in the normal functioning of the human body. Cholesterol is transported in blood via compounds made up of proteins and fats, lipoproteins. Basically, lipoproteins are categorized into three main groups based on density:

- HDL – These are lipoproteins of high density. They transmit cholesterol from blood into the liver. Consequently, they are also termed as good cholesterol.
- LDL – These lipoproteins are of lower density compared to the HDL. They carry cholesterol into the blood from the liver hence called bad cholesterol.
- VLDL – They have the lowest density of all the lipoproteins. They carry triglycerides into adipose tissue through blood from the liver. They are also called blood lipids.

Functions of cholesterol

There are multiple functions related to cholesterol:

• It is an essential element of cell membranes
• It is a precursor substance of estrogen and androgen, sex hormones
• Helps in the synthesis of bile, a substance responsible for digestion of fats
• It’s a nerve fiber insulator
• Synthesize vitamin D from sunshine
• Metabolize vitamins soluble in fats, that is, vitamins E, A, D and K

Nevertheless, cholesterol is harmful when synthesized in excess in the body. It is the causative agent of a number of diseases including hypertension, arteriosclerosis, impaired sight and cardiovascular diseases.

How diseases develop out of cholesterol

People with elevated levels of LDL such as the diabetics and the alcoholics are vulnerable to these diseases. As stated earlier, these lipoproteins release cholesterol into blood. Cholesterol in blood builds onto blood vessels. This reduces the lumen of the vessels. The blood volume however remains the same, and has to be pumped at a much higher force therefore causing high blood pressure.

Cholesterol may combine with calcium in blood and build up onto arteries. This causes the artery to become rigid a condition known as arteriosclerosis. Such an artery looses its ability to pump blood and easily tears off.

Additionally, cholesterol in blood may accumulate in sensitive organs such as in the eyes. Here, they combine with rhodopsin, a pigment for sight. This pigment becomes impaired and cannot allow light to pass through it. Another vital organ where cholesterol may accumulate is on nerve tissues. The tissue becomes damaged in such a way that they can not effectively transmit impulse. This disease is called neuropathies.

Eating disorder recovery is commonly a long and complicated process. It’s a journey characterized by a lot of ups and downs, victories and relapses, hope and defeat. From food related behaviors, to fears, to unexpressed emotions, to accepting yourself, to underlying issues, there is a lot to face. However, there are some things that can help you through the eating disorder recovery process. Use these seven tips for dealing with eating disorders.

1. Be gentle with yourself. Know that it’s normal to get discouraged, slip back into old patterns, and lose hope for recovery. Try your best not to beat yourself up, but to be patient with yourself and learn all you can from what you’re experiencing. Even the steps back can be a learning ground. And make the most of your steps forward. Celebrate each one no matter how big or small.

2. Realize that we are meant to come in all shapes and sizes. And know that when you are not adequately nourished, your perception of your appearance is altered. Do your best to believe the positive things other people say about your appearance. They usually have a more objective opinion. And try your best to find ways to accept and celebrate the creation who is you. This will take time and persistence, but it is well worth it.

3. Learn healthy ways to express your emotions. Journaling is one way to do this. Some people are resistant to try it, but they find it is helpful once they just give it a chance. There are no rules. Just write anything you think or feel. Search for journaling exercises if you get stuck.

4. Recognize that the voice of the eating disorder is fueled by lies and negative thoughts. To combat that voice, find truthful and positive thoughts you can use to replace them. Concentrate on those. This will take time and consistency, but it can be freeing.

5. Pray about any and all aspects of your eating disorder recovery. Your Creator knows you better than anyone, and He knows how to guide, comfort and heal you. You can trust Him with everything you think and everything you feel.

6. Explore your identity in Christ. You have great worth and value in His eyes. Putting your identity in other things means placing it in areas such as your appearance or abilities. These are things that can change, but Jesus never changes. Why not place your identity in a person who is unshakeable? Then no matter what happens, it will not change who you are. Search for Bible verses about identity in Christ and meditate on them.

7. Face your fears. These may be fears related to food or appearance or deeper fears. As difficult as it is to face fears, this can help you conquer them. But remember that you don’t have to face them alone. Rely on the Lord for the strength and courage to do so. He loves you and wants to help you in your eating disorder recovery.

There is so much more to eating disorders than food related behaviors. While they need to be addressed, you will benefit even more by facing underlying issues. Let these seven tips for dealing with eating disorders help you to do just that. Recovery is possible. It can be yours.

What is Emphysema? It is a chronic disease where the air sacs or alveoli become damaged and lose their elasticity so that the exchange of oxygen and carbon dioxide is limited. The body requires the oxygen to survive.

Smoking damages this lung tissue. The duration of a smokers’ habit directly affects the damage caused by smoking, not only to the lungs but also to other organs. This damage from cigarette smoking may become irreversible.

It is a long-term, progressive disease of the lungs which causes a person to have shortness of breath due to the over inflation of the alveoli or the air sacs inside the lung. In people with emphysema, the lung tissues that are involved in the exchange of oxygen and carbon dioxide are destroyed.

Smoking is in fact the major cause for someone developing emphysema; sadly it is also the most preventable cause. Emphysema is triggered by smoking in two ways; One, it destroys lung tissue; secondly it causes inflammation and irritation of the airways. Both of these result in obstruction of airflow within the lungs. Cigarette smoking is a risk factor for developing emphysema; this fact is of such importance it cannot be amplified enough and it can develop at any age.

Lung tissue is destroyed by smoking cigarettes in many different ways. Firstly, the cells in ones airway that are responsible for clearing mucus and other secretions are directly affected by cigarettes. The sweeping action of tiny hairs called cilia lining the airways are on occasion disturbed. Long-term smoking leads to more damage of the cilia, they could also disappear from the cells lining the air passages. This sweeping motion of the cilia is important, without it occurring consistently mucous secretions cannot be cleared from the lower respiratory tract. Now that the mucous is unable to clear itself, smoke then causes mucous secretion to be increased. This is a deadly situation where infection is most likely going to happen, because of the buildup of bacteria and other organisms with a rich source of food.

Infection is prevented and fought by the immune cells within the lungs and they are also affected by cigarettes. These cells cannot fight bacteria as effectively or clear the lungs of particles in cigarettes, such as tar. This is a perfect combination for lung infections small and deadly. The Immune system is therefore always working and attacking bacteria, this releases destructive enzymes from the immune cells and causes inflammation.

Chronic exposure to cigarette smoke leads to the slow destruction of lung function. Enzymes released during this persistent inflammation leads to the loss of proteins responsible for keeping the lungs elastic. Also, the tissues separating the air cells (alveoli) from one another are also destroyed.

Emphysema is caused in many different ways, such as air pollution and breathing hazardous chemicals consistently. However smoking is still the most common and deadly cause of emphysema. If you don’t smoke, don’t start. If you do smoke, stopping today could prevent this deadly disease from attacking you or more importantly from increasing.

What approach do many health practitioners use to arm themselves against the flu and other ‘bugs’ that go around?

In summary, the strategy many use is to support their immune systems carefully during ‘flu seasons.’ Here’s how they do it:

As these seasons also correlate with times when their sun exposure is reduced, they often supplement with vitamin D3. Then, to make certain they both absorb the D3 and convert it to its active form so their bodies can use it, they make sure they have enough saturated fat (yes, saturated fat! It’s not the demon it’s been made out to be – in fact it plays a vital role in the body’s nutritional state and functioning. Good sources are coconut oil, cream and butter.

Then, at the advent of flu season, many start taking a combination of the roots of the herbs Echinacea Purpurea and Echinacea Augustifolia. These add immune strength and support internal cleansing. For many, these two strategies alone are sufficient.

However, health practitioners encounter stresses and can get run down, too. Then if feeling like they’re starting to come down with something, many add the herb Andrographus and the herb St. John’s Wort.

These strategies are non-prescription with no side effects, and available over-the-counter or online.

The only caution is about using St. John’s Wort over a length of time if you are also taking SSRI’s – selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors. These are used to raise serotonin levels, and since St. John’s Wort also raises serotonin levels, these levels may become too high. In certain susceptible individuals (those being treated for bipolar disorder), serotonin levels that are too high can trigger a manic state. But for short term usage such as is described above, there is usually no problem.

But there’s one additional strategy they use that’s absolutely crucial, and one that’s often overlooked. They know to address it because they understand that their immune system functioning and their emotional state are closely linked. In fact a state of emotional stress can virtually shut down the immune system.

You likely already know that neglecting your food diet would make you much more vulnerable to ‘catching’ the flu. Bad eating habits and poor nutrition have lots of negative payoffs, and susceptibility to infection is a big one. That’s why we pay attention to when we eat, how much we eat, and the quality of our food.

Far fewer of us pay attention to another kind of diet – our emotional one. We take in toxic messages from others and feed ourselves negative ones on a regular basis without even thinking about it. We we don’t realize that when we ignore, neglect or abuse our emotional diet, we are instructing our bodies in how to operate.

Attacking yourself (or allowing yourself to be attacked) with emotionally toxic or abusive messages translates to instructions for your immune system: “Attack Self!”

So keep your immune system strong and in top functioning condition by feeding yourself lots of positive, affirming messages, and invite others to do the same.

Have you ever said this to yourself before? “I want to be healthy.” Guess what? People say that plenty of times, but they give up without even trying. It is probably because the idea of being healthy, and leading a healthy lifestyle does sound enticing but the process does not.

But guess what the good news is? It’s really not that hard. You just have to do it enough to where it becomes a habit, a routine. A lot of people say that they are not motivated enough, but you know what? Trust me, after you follow that routine for a few days where it becomes a habit, you will start to see changes. You will feel energized, lighter, cleaner and healthier. That is what is going to motivate you for the rest of your life. There a lot of people trying to lose those pounds and are singing the “I want to be healthy” tune. But the problem is that they are doing it wrong. They are taking pills and going on diets were they keep starving their body off of nutrients. That’s unhealthy and it does not work! It is a temporary fix. Just Temporary! To be healthy and to see permanent results you actually have to lead a healthy lifestyle. This includes mainly two things- eating healthy, and being active. That’s all there is to it. A lot of people think its hard. But seriously it is not. It is all in your mind. They are actually very fun. Once you start doing it and start seeing results, you will actually regret not starting sooner. It is a great feeling. It takes work. I know that. But guess what? You will see results, instantly. Besides, doing something that makes me feel better, and healthier, something that gives me so much more stamina, I am ready to do. You can do it too. Seriously, you can. You can start right now. All you have to do is, stop looking for reasons not to do it. Just do it and don’t give up too easy.

There is this saying, “where there is a will there is a way”. It Never gets old. Push yourself. You are in control of your body. You can make it or break it. Breaking it is easy. You know that too! Making it takes hard work (or at least in the beginning it does), but the results are so much better and life long. You feel better both physically and mentally.

Start right now. I know you can do it. you just have to make the decision and act on it.

In thе past, thе саuѕеѕ оf thіѕ habit ѕееmеd tо bе fаr dіffеrеnt frоm thе modern eating disorder wе hаvе соmе tо knоw аѕ bulimia. It wasn’t untіl 1977 thаt thе term bulimia nervosa entered thе English language. Thе condition іѕ characterised bу а rapid consumption оf food wіth а subsequent, concentrated period devoted tо self-induced vomiting tо remove аll thе food previously consumed. Oftеn bulimics exercise excessively аnd uѕе laxatives tо assist іn thе purging оf food.

Cases оf bulimia nervosa increased rapidly durіng thе late 1970s аnd 1980s. Thе condition wе knоw аѕ bulimia іѕ а rеlаtіvеlу modern disorder. However, thе twо areas characterising thе condition – binging аnd purging – саn bе fоund іn оld texts frоm аrоund A.D. 400 – 500. On religious feasting days, іt states іn thе Hebrew Talmud thаt thоѕе “seized wіth bulimy” оn thе day, ѕhоuld bе treated bу feeding thеm “unclean” things, whісh wоuld supposedly cure thе binge bу putting thеm оff thеіr food. Additionally, thе word bulimia саn bе fоund іn mаnу dіffеrеnt texts frоm thе fourteenth century tо modern times.

As а side note, іt іѕ а popular misconception thаt а vomitorium іѕ а place visited bу thе ancient Romans tо purge thеmѕеlvеѕ оf а meal tо mаkе room fоr mоrе feasting. It асtuаllу means аn entrance оr exit frоm аn amphitheater.

In medieval times, thеrе аrе сеrtаіnlу accounts оf people consuming vast amounts оf food іn times оf plenty. Indeed, thе mоrе consumed, thе richer уоu appeared, ѕо thе act оf binging аnd purging wаѕ related tо showing оff wealth.

During thе Nineteenth century, doctors reported overeating іn patients suffering vаrіоuѕ diseases оf thе brain ѕuсh аѕ epilepsy оr head trauma. However, thіѕ overeating іѕ mоrе lіkеlу tо bе connected wіth thеѕе illnesses rаthеr thаn а desire fоr а thin body.

All іn all, аnу historical accounts оf overeating аnd binging аnd purging dо nоt ѕееm tо bе connected wіth desires fоr thinness оr tо bе manifestations оf thе modern disease wе knоw аѕ bulimia nervosa. Thе emergence оf bulimia nervosa аѕ wе knоw іt happened іn thе 1900s, еѕресіаllу durіng thе 1970s аnd 1980s whеn іt rose іn epidemic proportions thrоughоut Europe аnd thе US. Thе first, nоw famous, case іn thе early Nineteenth century wаѕ thаt оf Ellen West, patient оf Swiss doctor Ludwig Binswanger. Hеr aim wаѕ thinness аnd ѕhе abused laxatives аnd binged аnd purged tо achieve hеr goal.

During thе 1930s, іt wаѕ thought bulimia wаѕ а disease оf immigrants whісh arose frоm emotional deprivation аnd difficulties integrating іntо а nеw society. However, thе fіrѕt proper account оf bulimia саmе іn 1976 bу Marlene Boskind-White. Shе hаѕ written а book аnd organises education programs аnd support groups fоr sufferers оf bulimia аnd thеіr families.

Debbie Williams invites you to claim your free EBook ‘The 7 mistakes binge eaters and bulimics make keeping them trapped forever’ http://www.stopbulimia.co.uk