FitSugar

Avoid Sun Poisoning

FitSugar — Mon, 28 May 2007 02:30:00 -0700

When you're out in the sun, which is bound to happen with all this gorgeous warm weather we're having, you've got to be careful not to get sun poisoning, or Photodermatitis, as it is scientifically called. Sun poisoning is a condition that develops when your skin over reacts to UV rays from the sun.

What causes it? Sometimes certain medications like antibiotics, certain skin products such as soap, sunscreens containing PABA, or certain fragrances may cause photosensitivity (increased sensitivity to UV rays). You should also be aware that just plain ol' overexposure to the sun is one of the main causes, so avoid staying out in the sun all day.

Symptoms of sun poisoning are fever, nausea, vomiting, fatigue, dizziness, chills, headache, swelling, a burning sensation, a red itchy rash, small blisters, or peeling of the skin. When you're out in the sun for a long time, keep an eye out for these symptoms.

To avoid a skin reaction, stay out of the sun during the brightest sun hours, from noon to 3pm. Remember that just because it's cloudy, doesn't mean you are protected - so always wear sunscreen with an SPF of at least 30 when you are outdoors. Apply it to cool, dry skin 20-30 minutes before you go outside, and reapply it every 2 hours.

If you can stand being hot, you could also wear lightweight long sleeves, pants, and a hat to protect your skin from harmful UV rays. Definitely avoid any chemicals that may trigger your reaction.

Fit's Tips: If you think you may have sun poisoning, definitely consult your doctor. If you know you have it, a cool shower or bath can help relieve symptoms. When you get out, lube yourself up with some aloe (I like to keep mine in the fridge for more of a cooling effect). Taking an anti-inflammatory such as aspirin may also reduce swelling, and help with nausea or headache.

Source

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

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 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.

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

Meditate For a Healthy Heart

FitSugar — Mon, 23 Nov 2009 15:00:31 -0800

My father introduced TM (transcendental meditation) to me my senior year of high school as a way to unwind, relax, and fight stress as I headed off to college. Since then, I've always felt lucky to know a kind of secret way to recharge my batteries, without needing a nap. But I was surprised to learn that practicing meditation has another heath benefit for your heart.

It turns out regular practice of TM doesn't just help your psychological well-being; it has also been shown to have significant therapeutic effects on people at high risk for heart attacks. A recent study, which followed 200 patients for five years, reveals that "the high-risk patients who meditated cut their risk of heart attacks, strokes and deaths from all causes roughly in half compared with a group of similar patients who were given more conventional education about healthy diet and lifestyle."

According to Dr. Robert Schneider, director of the Institute for Natural Medicine and Prevention, who presented the study's findings, TM's ability to help reduce blood pressure is essential to helping prevent heart attacks and heart complications, “We found reduced blood pressure that was significant – that was probably one important mediator," claims Schneider.

TM is also easy to learn and practice - it doesn't require specific education, and from my own experience, I totally agree with Dr. Schneider - "it's a straightforward technique for getting deep rest to the mind and body."

Don't Let Traveling Get You in a Bind

FitSugar — Mon, 23 Nov 2009 13:30:31 -0800

The stress of traveling and being away from home can really mess with your bathroom schedule. Changing times zones, eating foods you're not used to, and skipping out on exercise doesn't help either. To prevent tummy issues, here are some tips on how to stay regular when traveling.

Drink water whenever you can as your choice of beverage. Not only will it keep you hydrated, but it'll also keep things moving.
When traveling, bring your own snacks that are high in fiber. Nibble on carrot sticks, apples (with the peel), trail mix with dried fruit and nuts, granola bars, and high fiber cereal. Having healthy snacks on hand will prevent you from eating processed foods that can tie the digestive system in knots.

For more helpful tips keep reading.

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