Adjustable beds can alleviate symptoms of obstructive sleep apnea while you sleep at night. The symptoms of obstructive sleep apnea appear at night while you lie on your old flatbed. Obstructive sleep apnea happens when the soft tissue in your throat rolls back blocking the airway, preventing your lungs from getting oxygen. After many seconds without oxygen, your body begins to shake or jerk trying to arouse you to begin breathing again. Unfortunately each time your body jerks to arouse you to breathe, your sleep is interrupted. Those who suffer with obstructive sleep apnea may wake up 80 times or more in an hour. You wake up exhausted, disoriented and you may have trouble communicating properly during the day.

Obstructive sleep apnea has been associated with hypertension, impotence, stroke and motor vehicle accidents. It also occurs in obese persons and it has been linked to angina, nocturnal cardiac arrhythmias. The person who lives with someone who suffers with obstructive sleep apnea usually notices the problem before the person who has the problem because of unusually loud excessive snoring and long periods of holding their breathe during sleep.

Sleeping on an adjustable bed with your head elevated can help keep your airway open at night allowing you to breathe easier while you sleep. Here is the proof, remember the last time you sat in a recliner with your head elevated and your feet up too? Your muscles relaxed and your eyelids got heavy, you wanted to sleep and you were able to breathe. Well sleeping in an electric bed that adjusts is like sleeping on your favorite easy chair. However an adjustable bed is much more comfortable and relaxing than an easy chair. If you can relax enough to sleep and breathe in an easy chair just think how much more relaxing and comfortable an adjustable bed can be at night.

If you are considering buying an adjustable power bed to help you sleep better with obstructive sleep apnea, and you are concerned about having something that looks like a hospital bed in your bedroom you can relax. Adjustable beds have changed and many are luxurious and they fit right into your bedroom decor. Electric bed mattresses look just like the flatbed mattress which you are currently sleeping on except it is made to bend and flex to fit the curve of your spine. Lastly, electric adjustable beds are now made to attach to your existing headboard.

To find out more about how adjustable beds can help you breathe easier and sleep better with obstructive sleep apnea go to www.adjustmybed.com. There is no cost or obligation to receive this free information.

By: Mark Shultz

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High blood pressure is one of the most common health ailments in the United States. Many doctors will try and prescribe you medication to lower your HBP. But, you can lower blood pressure without drugs.

First step to lower blood pressure without drugs is to avoid sodium. So many of today’s processed foods are loaded with sodium and you don’t even know it. Sodium causes you to retain fluids so that your blood has more fluid volume. When your blood has more fluid volume, your heart needs to pump harder which causes your pressure to increase. One important thing to remember is that salt is not the only product that contains high amounts of sodium. Processed foods, canned food and bakery products are loaded with high amounts of sodium.?

The next thing you want to do to lower pressure without drugs is to limit your caffeine intake. Even one cup a day can increase your pressure. Caffeine is a stimulant and stimulants make your heart beat faster which in turns increases our pressure. If you do drink caffeine, it is best to wean yourself off instead of just going turkey because this will give massive headaches.?

Stop smoking? This is not only to help lower your pressure but will increase your overall health as well. Smoking causes your pressure to increase because of the stimulants in the cigarette smoke. So, if you stop smoking, you will not only lower your pressure but can help you prevent other things like lung cancer.

Losing weight is a huge help to lower blood pressure without drugs.?The reason for this is that carrying around extra weight causes your heart to work harder and beat faster. By losing a few extra pounds, your pressure will drop as well as the weight.

A healthy way to lower blood pressure without drugs is to avoid using drugs and alcohol. Extensive use over prolonged periods of time can damage some important organs in your body especially the liver and the kidneys. When these organs are damaged, excess fluid builds up around them making your heart work faster. It is also important to remember that some over the counter medications can cause your body to retain sodium which would cause more stress on your body, and therefore cause an increase in pressure.

The last way to lower blood pressure without drugs is to use natural dietary supplements to lower pressure naturally and maintain a healthy pressure. Supplements like L-arginine, grape seed extract, lycopene and pycnogenol have been clinically proven to help lower pressure. These safe natural supplements will not cause any harmful after effects with the positive benefits of better cardiovascular health. Taking these supplements on a daily basis will be your first step to a healthier lifestyle.

By: Ira Borden

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The kidneys are twin organs that are responsible for filtering the blood to remove all waste products. The kidneys also release hormones that regulate the blood pressure and the number of red blood cells. The blood enters the kidneys, with the waste materials diverted and sent via the ureter to the bladder to be eliminated from the body in the act of urination. The blood that has been filtered goes back to the body. The kidneys process over 18 gallons of blood every hour for a total of 432 gallons of blood filtered every day. The kidneys also filter over half of all fluids taken in by the body and release at least two quarts of urine every single day.

The kidneys can be subjected to a number of different disorders including kidney infections, kidney stones and a serious condition called Chronic Kidney Disease (CKD) any of these can grow worse and may lead to renal failure.

Renal failure can be either acute or chronic in nature and are typically detected with increased serum creatinine and decreased glomerular filtration rate. Renal failure may have several symptoms including:

- Increased levels of urea in the blood

- Vomiting or diarrhea which might be severe enough to cause dehydration

- Nausea

- Weight loss

- Nocturnal urination

- Foamy or bubbly urine

- Increased frequency or increased amounts of very pale urine

- Blood in the urine

- Pressure or difficult urination

Renal failure may also cause phosphates in the blood, itching, bone damage and muscle cramps which are caused by the low levels of calcium. Potassium will build up in the blood stream, a condition called hyperkalemia which may cause abnormal heart rhythms and eventual muscle paralysis (Source: surgeryideas.com/renalfailure )

Some of the risk factors for kidney diseases include hypertension, especially when it is untreated, gout, diabetes, prolonged shock and the use of certain drugs.

Chronic kidney disease affects 26 million Americans with millions more at high risk of developing the disease. Early detection is the key to keeping CKD from progressing to kidney failure. Heart disease is the major cause of death for those who have CKD. Hypertension is a major risk factor of CKD, but CKD is a major risk factor for developing hypertension as well. The two can be called interchangeable because they are so linked with one another. Virtually everyone with CKD will have hypertension and the majority of the people with hypertension are at much greater risk for developing CKD.

In addition to high blood pressure, the risk factors for CKD include: diabetes, family history of kidney diseases, and certain ethnic groups. Those of African-American, Hispanic, Pacific Islander or Native American descent are at increased risk for this and other kidney diseases.

Causes of Kidney Failure:

- Hypovolemia (a low blood volume) can result from extreme blood loss

- Dehydration

- The use of diuretics

- The obstruction of renal arteries or veins.

- Sepsis (an overwhelming infection)

- Rhabodmyolysis (significant muscle break down in the body)

- Trauma or crushing accidents

The diseases that affect the kidneys can be either temporary or potentially fatal. Treatment can be as simple as medications or can be as complicated as needing a new kidney. While you can live with only one kidney if something happens to one of them, it is never a good idea to do so because it puts so much stress on the remaining organ. There are three common tests to check for kidney failure including: blood pressure, urine albumin and serum creatinine. High blood pressure can be a symptom of kidney disease because the kidneys secrete hormones to regulate blood pressure.

Dietary Suggestions

Anyone with a chronic condition of any kind should seek the advice of their doctor regarding nutrition and the need for vitamins and minerals. Certain micronutrients can be dangerous to the system that is already over taxed. In addition, there are also some macronutrients that can be harmful to those with CKD or other kidney problems.

People with CKD should limit their protein intake within reason but only under the direction and guidance of a nutritionist (Source: National Kidney and Urological Diseases Information Clearinghouse). Protein is an important part of a healthy diet, but there are some restrictions for those who have kidney disease. It may be important to limit the amount of protein so the protein that you do get should be of high quality and low fat.

Too much protein in the diet, changes the process of the metabolism to a state of ketosis. Ketosis occurs when the body stops burning carbohydrates for energy and reverts to burning fat instead. The fat is broken down into molecules of carbon that are called ketones. These ketones are released into the blood stream. Ketosis can be problematic because it suppresses the appetite while it increases the urinary output. The combination of the two can lead to dehydration, an electrolyte imbalance and osteoporosis (Source: Osterweil)

The American Heart Association suggests that the amount of protein in the diet be no more than 35% of the daily calories, however this may be too much for those who have beginning or worsening kidney disease. It is important to make sure that the doctors and nutritionists work to find the right amount of all three macronutrients, protein, fat and carbohydrates that will work with the kidney disease. The proteins that are eaten should be of the healthy, low fat variety including plant proteins.

Kidney Stones

In addition to the serious kidney conditions listed above, there are kidney stones as well. One of the most painful urologic disorders is suffering from kidney stones. It is also one of the most common as well. While most of the kidney stones that a person might develop will pass without medical intervention at all, some may actually need to have some treatment.

The most common type of stones are the calcium oxalate or the phosphate oxalate stone with a few other less common types that can develop as well. Kidney stones are most common in Caucasian men between the ages of 40-70. The threat of kidney stones in women peaks at the age of 50. Your chances of kidney stones go up: with family history, frequent UTIs, if you have cystic kidney disease, and certain metabolic disorders. Cystinuria and hyperoxaluria are both rare, inherited metabolic disorders that may often cause kidney stones. Hypercalciuria (high calcium in the blood) is also inherited and may be the cause of half of the kidney stones. Other causes: gout, excess Vitamin D, blockage of the urinary tract and the use of diuretics. (Source: surgeryideas.com/kidneystones)

Symptoms of Kidney Stones — There are a number of symptoms: extreme pain, sharp cramping pain in the back, nausea and vomiting, pink urine, frequent urination, burning upon urination, fever, chills. Most kidney stones are found by X-ray, CT scan or intravenous pyelogram in the course of ruling out other conditions.

References

The American Heart Association

Neil Osterweil The Benefits of Protein WebMd

The National Kidney and Urologic Disorders Information Clearinghouse

surgeryideas.com/kidneystones

surgeryideas.com/renalfailure

By: Jim Duffy

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Millions of Americans suffer from some degree of high blood pressure. As an alternative to prescription medications, many of these individuals have discovered a safe and natural alternative. They have found an herb for blood pressure.

Herbs are used to cure an abundance of health problems. They are jam packed with rich antioxidants, nutrients and phytochemicals that help to balance your body and to naturally support a healthy blood pressure level.

An herbal alternative provides an excellent approach to treat and prevent the development of this health condition. As long as you don’t stop the use of your current medication without speaking with your doctor first, you will soon discover that several herbs are well known for being quite effective in their healing properties.

Hawthorn is an herb for blood pressure that is pretty well known as well as common. It has a long history of anecdotal evidence which is confirmed through modern scientific studies. A controlled study out of the United Kingdom followed seventy-nine people with hypertension. The study administered 1200 mg of hawthorn to half of the group while the rest received a placebo. The group that was receiving the herb had a significant reduction in the signs and symptoms of blood pressure over those receiving the placebo.

Another herb for blood pressure that is receiving a lot of attention is garlic. Garlic’s natural potency has been the focus of scientific studies. These studies have confirmed garlic’s consistency in reducing hypertension. The active ingredient in garlic that works to keep the arteries clear of plaque and other debris is called allicin. It is just this kind of accumulation that forces your heart to pump harder and faster to move blood through the circulatory system. Allicin also widens your arteries and decreases clotting.

Interested in another herb for blood pressure? Some other herbs include valerian, passion flower, limeflower, also known as Tilia Cordata, and lemon balm. If your blood pressure is due to stress and anxiety, these herbs are especially potent and have a sedative effect on your body. For instance, passion flower works by reducing the activity of some of the cells of the brain therefore, calming you down and in turn, reduces your blood pressure.

Although passion flower does its job well, if you need a choice of herb that is a little stronger, valerian might the right choice for you. This herb has the added bonus of offering the ability to relax and smooth the muscles of your artery walls. This aids in preventing constriction and inhibiting the flow of blood and therefore prevents your heart from working too hard.

While using an herb for blood pressure is extremely beneficial, you should always consult your health care provider before you take any kind of herb or herbal supplement. Not all herbs can be taken with certain kinds of medications. You should also look into consulting a professional, licensed herbalist. With the expert advice that you can gain for your specific health conditions, you will be able to find success in using herbs to lower your blood pressure.

By: Jason Cranston

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A large number of adults in the U. S. have hypertension. Many of these people are treated by a physician and take medications to lower high blood pressure. With all of the possible side effects and possible negative effects that many pharmaceuticals are known to have, many people prefer to treat hypertension and other ailments without prescriptions. There are safe and natural methods that work well for many people.

Some people are living with hypertension and do not even realize that they have it. Sometimes the symptoms can be quite subtle. Some of the symptoms of hypertension are dizziness, nose bleeds, and headaches. These are symptoms that can be easily overlooked, but they can be an indication that something is wrong.

One of the most common and most effective natural ways to remedy hypertension is through lifestyle changes. Making simple changes to your daily routine can have a great impact on your wellness. Some simple changes that can lower high blood pressure include exercising, dietary changes, quitting smoking, and reducing stress levels.

There are also a number of natural supplements that can work to lower high blood pressure. These dietary supplements are available at many natural food stores as well as online. Some of the most effective for hypertension include Coenzyme Q10, garlic, hawthorn, fish oil, and folic acid. These herbs and supplements also have positive effects on other aspects of wellness.

No matter which method you decide for you to treat your hypertension, there are numerous options available. Many people take great comfort in knowing that natural treatments are available that work. Using natural methods to lower high blood pressure is a positive alternative to taking chances with pharmaceuticals, but it is always a good idea to talk to your doctor or naturalist before starting any treatment method.

By: Bud Adrian

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