FitSugar

What Causes Hiccups?

FitSugar — Fri, 27 Jul 2007 03:30:00 -0700

Everyone and their mother seems to have a unique cure for a bad case of the hiccups, but what I want to know is, what causes them in the first place?

A hiccup is an unintentional contraction of your diaphragm, the muscle that separates your chest from your abdomen. It plays an important role in breathing, and when it contracts, it makes your vocal cords close briefly and that's what causes the sound of a hiccup.

Hiccups are actually triggered by many things:

Eating spicy foods - It can cause irritation to the nerves that control normal contractions of your diaphragm.
Eating a large meal, eating too fast (swallowing air), or drinking carbonated beverages - These can cause your stomach to expand, which pushes up your diaphragm, making hiccups more likely.
Drinking alcohol - Alcohol can relax your diaphragm and vocal cords, making it easier for other factors to trigger hiccups.
Tobacco use - Tobacco use may irritate the nerves that control the diaphragm.

Want to know what else can cause hiccups? Then read more

Sudden temperature changes - Whether the change occurs inside your body (like drinking hot tea), or outside your body (when you go outside in the snow), it can cause hiccups.
Excitement or emotional stress - It's not clear why this can cause hiccups, but it may have to do with one of the nerves involved in the hiccup reflex being startled.

As annoying as hiccups can be, even if you don't sip water through a straw while pinching your nose, or hold your breath while saying the word "hippopotamus" in your head 5 times, hiccups will eventually go away on their own. Very rarely do hiccups last for more than 20-30 minutes. If they do, like this poor girl who had them for 3 weeks straight, there could be an underlying medical problem such as nerve damage. If this is the case, someone should definitely seek medical attention pronto.

Source

What Causes Heartburn?

FitSugar — Wed, 14 Mar 2007 11:45:00 -0700

I'm sure you've all experienced heartburn once in your life, some unfortunately more than others. Maybe you ate a spicy meal, a huge meal or a huge spicy meal and got that overwhelming burning sensation in your lower chest. But it doesn't stop there, it can start to creep up into your esophagus and into your throat.

You may know this already, but heartburn doesn't actually affect the heart at all. When you eat, food passes from your mouth down a tube called the esophagus. In order to enter the stomach to be digested, the food must pass through an opening between the esophagus and the stomach.

This opening is like a gate, and soon closes after food passes into your tummy. Sometimes it doesn't quite close, and stomach acid can get through that opening and move into your esophagus. This is called reflux and it's what causes that burning sensation.

Heartburn can be affected by being overweight, smoking cigarettes, drinking coffee or other beverages that contain caffeine, alcohol, citrus fruits, tomatoes, onion, chocolate, mints, fatty or spicy foods, or taking aspirin or ibuprofen.

If you do get a sudden case of heartburn, try to keep yourself upright. If you are lying down, prop yourself up with some pillows since this will prevent more acid from seeping into your esophagus.

Taking an antacid can help (it neutralizes the acid in your stomach). Take ones that contain both magnesium hydroxide and aluminum hydroxide (one causes constipation while the other causes diarrhea so they counteract each other) like over-the-counter brands include Maalox and Mylanta.

Want to know how you can prevent it? Then read more

Don't overeat.
Stop eating 2-3 hours before lying down for bed.
Lose excess weight.
Don't wear belts or clothes that are tight fitting around your waist - this will squeeze your stomach and force food and acid back up towards the esophagus.
Eat high-protein, low-fat meals.
If you've eaten something in the past and it's given you heartburn - don't eat it again.

Do Bras Cause Breast Cancer?

FitSugar — Tue, 20 Feb 2007 04:00:00 -0800

So recently I heard an astonishing statement from someone in my yoga class. "Wearing a bra causes breast cancer. And under-wires are the worst."

What? This can't be true. Every woman I know wears a bra. And what about men who get breast cancer? I'm sure they don't wear bras. As soon as I got home, I searched for some facts to back this up.

I did find a lot of info "claiming" the same statement, but none of these sites could back it up with science.

I was happy to find this tidbit from the Canadian Cancer Society that said, "At this time, there is no reliable, scientific evidence that shows a link between wearing a bra and developing breast cancer."

Want to know what else I found? Then read more

CancerHelp UK agreed and said:

No, there is no scientific evidence to prove this. There are a number of rumors that have suggested that bras cause breast cancer by obstructing the lymphatic system. The emphasis has generally been on under-wired bras. These sources claim that bras squash the fine tubes of the lymphatic system. The idea is that this stops the normal drainage of the breast tissues, causing toxins to gather in the breast and resulting in cancer. You would need to wear a bra that was painfully and unbearably tight to have any effect on your lymphatic system.

Oh good. I didn't really like the idea of blowing free in the breeze. So go ahead and support 'em if you got 'em.

Don't Touch That Wart

FitSugar — Thu, 18 Jan 2007 01:59:00 -0800

No - you can't get warts from touching toads, but I just read that warts can be passed from one person to another.

Warts are caused by a human papillomavirus (HPV), and there are more than 100 types. Warts can grow on all parts of your body (and I mean ALL). Some viruses can cause warts to grow on your hands or feet, while others can cause warts to grow on your genitals and rectal area (not fun).

Some people are naturally resistant to the HPV virus and never get warts, while others seem to get warts more often than the snow falls in winter.

Warts should be treated because it'll decrease your chance of spreading more warts to the rest of your body (and to other people). Plus, warts can be painful if they're in an area where they get bumped a lot. They can also be a little embarrassing, like if they're on your face.

Warts will often go away on their own, but it may take several months or years even. If they get to be too annoying, you can get an over-the-counter treatment (these should NOT be used for genital warts). Or you can go see a dermatologist to have them removed.

There are a few choices in how to treat warts. Want to hear about them? Then read more

Apply salicylic acid: This is good for warts that appear on the hands, feet, or knees - apply the acid daily for many weeks after a bath or shower.
Duct tape treatment (this is for real): Cover the wart with duct tape for up to a week - this irritates the skin and causes your body to attack it. Repeat this for up to 2 months - if it doesn't work, see a doctor.
Liquid nitrogen: Your doctor may use this to freeze the wart, which may hurt a little. This may need to be repeated up to 4 times to remove the wart.

If none of the above work, your doctor may have to resort to other treatments such as burning the wart, cutting the wart off, or removing it with a laser. These work really well, and quickly, but often leave a scar.

Migraine Triggers

FitSugar — Thu, 28 Feb 2008 10:15:00 -0800

So I recently told you about five surprising things that may cause a headache, so I figured we may as well take it a step further and look into what causes a migraine - headache's evil brother - too. If you suffer from migraines then you may be interested to learn these simple migraine triggers:

Not getting enough to eat.
Not getting enough sleep.
Exposure to bright lights or loud noise.
Fluctuating hormone levels, such as during your period.
Changes in the weather.
Emotional factors, such as stress or anxiety.
Chocolate, alcohol, nicotine, or foods with additives such as MSG.

Source

What's Your Major Cause of Stress?

FitSugar — Mon, 16 Jul 2007 07:30:00 -0700

Most of us have something that is the leading cause of stress in our lives, but it is interesting to me that it can be so different for everyone. Me, I get stressed out when I've skipped the gym for more than a week -- So what does it for you?

Source

Soothing Stretches to Ease Digestion

FitSugar — Mon, 23 Nov 2009 07:00:58 -0800

With Thanksgiving coming up, I'm sure many of you are looking forward to chowing down on some delicious foods. Most of us end up eating way more than usual, and since many of the dishes may be richer or sweeter than you're used to, it can cause some major discomfort in the tummy department. Here are some gentle stretches you can do to ease digestion.

Don't see your favorite yoga pose here? Then write about it in our Yoga Stretch and Tell group. I am sure all of our digestive systems could benefit from a wide variety of stretches.

View Slideshow ›

You Asked: Burning Lungs From Running in the Cold

FitSugar — Thu, 19 Nov 2009 05:50:49 -0800

Hi Fit,
I recently started running outdoors and am really enjoying it. It's started to cool off, and breathing in the cold air really burns my throat and lungs when I jog. Is there anything that can be done to prevent this?
- Winter Runner

Ahhh, the cold weather is moving in, and I give you credit for continuing your outdoor runs even though the temps have dropped. Running in the crisp air can be so exhilarating to your body and your mind, but your lungs are another story. I have some ideas about how to make your respiratory system happier, though, so continue reading

When Winter Rolls In, Don't Give Up on Working Out

FitSugar — Wed, 18 Nov 2009 13:30:52 -0800

It isn't hard to explain why our workouts get a little lackadaisical when Winter rolls in - 'cause, baby, it's cold outside - and it's pretty understandable that a lot of us lose our motivation to get outdoors for a run or a bike ride. So, how actually do people who work out through the Winter do it? An article from The New York Times reveals exactly that - and how some people manage to get up "the high activation energy" required to stay committed to fitness during the bitter Winter months.

Turns out, if you're new to fitness, you're more likely to give into a little workout hiatus when it gets colder and darker out. According to Janet Buckworth, an exercise physiologist at Ohio State University, it's the opposite for exercise veterans. “If you are beyond the point that you are learning how to exercise, you can’t imagine not running in bad weather,” she says. In fact, some exercise enthusiasts relish the challenge of an outdoor workout in Winter, even going on "epic" bike rides during snow storms and blizzards.

Regardless, you don't have to be an extremist to keep up a Winter workout routine. The key? Just get into something you could really stick with long-term. Choose a form of exercise that you're excited to do, and can keep up when Winter arrives. Group classes are great, and Buckworth recommends finding something you can do indoors, getting a friend to go with you, and even something as simple as updating your playlist with music you love to keep exercise fun and help you stay committed to your fitness regime.

Another Plastic Health Risk - Erectile Dysfunction

FitSugar — Tue, 17 Nov 2009 18:13:34 -0800

While there have been previous studies, linking bisphenol A (BPA), found in hard plastics, to health problems, including precancerous tumors, prostate cancer, and brain damage, a new study, conducted in China, substantiates its claims with results in humans. In one of the first studies of its kind to be conducted on humans, researchers are finding that much of what they've previously seen in animal studies holds true - men exposed to significant amounts of BPA are at greater risk of sexual health problems.

The study compared the levels of sexual dysfunction in two groups of male factory workers - one group, which was exposed to high levels of BPA, while the other was not. The overall findings of the research reveal that when BPA enters the body, it may mimic estrogen, and block male sex hormones from functioning. In the males who were exposed to high levels of BPA, researchers observed that the risk of erectile dysfunction was four times that of a man not exposed to the chemicals.

According Dr. Rebecca Sokol, the director of the andrology program at the University of Southern California's Keck School of Medicine, and specialist in the effects of toxins on the reproductive system, these are some "compelling results." She notes that, "It's not cause and effect, but when you have the kind of ambient air quality assessment that they made, it comes pretty close to cause and effect."

To learn more about the study keep reading