As you mop your brow following no doubt another interrupted night’s sleep, it may come as little consolation to learn that many cultures believe that menopause should be celebrated as a new era in a woman’s life. Menopause generally occurs between the ages of 45 and 55 but in some women it can begin much earlier. In others menopause begins as late as 65. For most women there are three phases: peri-menopause or menopause transition, where you still have periods but they may be heavier or lighter than usual; menopause, when ovarian function declines, oestrogen levels drop off and periods…
Author: Jay Thankey - Natural Health
Sleeplessness has become one of society’s biggest problems. At any given time, up to 40% of adults and 50% of children in the UK are struggling with their sleep, a problem which is often made worse during the summer months when the warmer weather can make it harder to sleep. The ideal temperature for a bedroom is between 16 and 18°C. When your body is cool and rested, it triggers the production of melatonin, the sleep-promoting hormone. During the evening, your body temperature naturally drops, and as morning approaches it rises again, getting ready for the day. This is all…
According to the Met Office, April was the sunniest April for the UK since records began in 1910. What better time then, to don those walking shoes, dust off the pedals and get back into the garden? Whatever your activity of choice, exercise is important for both our physical and mental health. But for those of us with some form of arthritis, gardening and other such activities may not be as enjoyable as they once were. That said, joint paint needn’t stop you from being physically active – there is plenty you can do to reduce pain and inflammation. Diet…
If you suffer with hayfever, any enthusiasm for the soaring May temperatures we’ve been promised, may be somewhat dampened. An allergic reaction such as hayfever can be explained as an excessive reaction to a normally harmless substance, in this instance, pollen. The immune system identifies pollen as dangerous, and produces an antibody called IgE, which triggers the production of histamine. Histamine is an inflammatory chemical that causes an array of unpleasant symptoms, including running nose and eyes, itching and burning in localised areas such as in the throat, nose and eyes, puffiness, swelling and mucus formation. Altogether not much fun…
From back and lower abdominal pain, to bloating, breast tenderness, irritability and mood swings, the symptoms of PMS are varied, but help is available – and it doesn’t necessarily require you popping a pill. Help with PMS cramps Possibly the most common symptoms of PMS are menstrual cramps around your abdomen and lower back pain. These happen when the muscles of your womb contract and relax to help shed built-up lining. Some women experience intense abdominal cramping, for others the pain is much milder. Factors associated with more intense pain include having a heavy menstrual flow, being under…
Prostate disorders affect many men as they get older, making their presence felt in around 50% of men in their 50s and almost all men over the age of eighty. The prostate is a walnut-sized gland located below the bladder. It surrounds the urethra which drains the bladder. With age the prostate gland starts to enlarge, slowly squashing the urethra and reducing the amount of space available for urine to pass through. What is Benign Prostatic Hyperplasia or BPH? Benign Prostatic Hyperplasia (BPH) occurs when the prostate grows to an unhealthy size, causing difficulty and discomfort when urinating. Symptoms include…
According to Scleroderma & Raynaud’s UK, up to 10 million people in the UK suffer with Raynaud’s Syndrome or Cold Hands Complaint. Raynaud’s prevents blood from reaching the extremities, fingers, toes and sometimes the ears and nose, and can cause numbness and tingling, not to mention quite a lot of pain and a burning sensation for many sufferers. Skin can turn white and blue, before turning red. The lack of blood is caused by spasmodic contractions of the arteries, which can be triggered by temperature changes, exposure to the cold or even just by touching cold objects. Emotional stress can…