Best Home Remedies Blog

Living a healthy life is not always easy and getting into a new, healthy routine can take a lot of energy. However, you can alter your lifestyle with small changes to improve not only your health but also help you to feel better about yourself.

We found 5 simple ways to live a healthier life.

1. Exercise more often

By now everyone knows that exercise is vital for living a healthy life. But in the busy world that we live in, hitting the gym isn’t always an option. In your daily routine, try to incorporate some form of exercise. Instead of taking the elevator or escalator, use the stairs and try to walk instead of catching a cab. In the office, try walk around instead of sitting down the whole time (this is also good for blood circulation and might help you think clearer!). Of course if you have the time you can join a gym, fitness class or sports team but aim to participate regularly. Joining fitness activities will not only keep you in shape, it will also keep you social.

2. Eat more good things

Fresh fruit and vegetables are always essential for a healthy body. Try incorporating your greens into your diet everyday—even if you blend them into a juice or smoothie and have them on the go. Likewsie, remember to drink a lot of water and avoid drinking too much alcohol and caffeine. It is important to have a lot of protein in your diet so if you are a vegetarian, ensure that you eat plenty of high protein foods or even consider a protein supplement. Eating healthily will not only help you stay in shape, it will also keep your hair, nails, bones and teeth healthy. If you your diet is balanced, you will have more energy and less cravings.

3. Supplement where necessary

It is difficult to always get the right nutrition, the necessary vitamins and essential minerals so you might want to look into high quality supplements. The most important ones to think about are daily multi-vitamins and then perhaps other basic supplements such as calcium, fish oil or iron boosters. Luckily supplements are quite affordable these days and very easy to get hold of. Remember to shop around and look for good quality products. Your GP or local pharmacist should be able to advise you on the best products for you.

4. Quit bad habits

Old habits die hard, but it might be in your best interest to give up some of your dirty pleasures. If you are a smoker, try quitting or at least reducing the number of cigarettes that you smoke. Also think about switching over to a healthier nicotine fix like electric cigarettes. If your guilty-pleasure is eating fast food, try to reduce the amount that you consume or choose healthier options. Not only will you be healthier by ditching junk food, you might also save money! Binge drinking is also harmful to your body so try to moderate your alcohol consumption.

5. Relax

Being stressed is a big contributing factor to an unhealthy body. It is always easier said than done, but reducing stress in your life will make you a healthier and happier person. Take time to consider what things in your life causes you to stress and try to reduce it. Effective time management could help ease stress levels and make you fell more in control of your life. It might be in your best interest to take a few minutes every day to meditate or set aside the necessary you-time. Furthermore, listening to calming music, watching your favourite television show or spending time with friends could reduce stress.

Cavities are often the result of poor oral hygiene due from not properly brushing and flossing your teeth on a regular basis and can damage the look and feel of our teeth. Over time, the cavities will begin to decay your tooth and can even start to cause problems with your gums and nerves. You will be able to notice that there is a problem with trouble with your gums, sensitive teeth, bad breath, and even a toothache. Here are some of the methods that your dentist and you can discuss in order to get rid of the cavities that you have.

Fluoride Treatment

In some cases, you may be able to get rid of your cavities by doing a fluoride treatment. This kind of treatment is great because it helps the tooth enamel get stronger and will therefor prevent against more cavities in the future. If the cavity is in the early parts of forming, then you can talk to your dentist about which kinds of fluoride treatments and foams will work the best for your needs.

Crowns

While a filling is the most common method that will be used by your dentist in order to deal with the cavities that you have, a crown may be necessary if your tooth has become really decayed and won’t be able to deal with a feeling. In this process, your dentist will remove the weakened and decayed part of your tooth before replacing that part with a cap. The cap consists of porcelain and will look just like your natural tooth.

Root Canal

When the cavity has gotten really bad, usually to the point of damaging the root or the pulp of your tooth, then your dentist will want to discuss putting in a root canal to help you out. When you get a root canal, the dentist will get rid of any part of the tooth that is decayed along with the tissues and nerves that have been affected in the process. All of the parts that have been removed will then be replaced with a filling made of porcelain and sometimes the final product will have a cap also placed over it all for extra protection.

Tooth Extraction

There are some extreme cases where your dentist may discuss the option of completely getting rid of the decayed tooth. This option is usually saved as the very last resort and will only be chosen if the tooth is so decayed that the other options will not really do any good or if the tooth is really causing you a lot of pain. In addition to getting your decayed tooth taken out, your dentist will give you all of the options necessary for deciding how to replace the decayed tooth. It is often not recommended that you leave the gap in your teeth there because it can cause the remaining teeth to move away from each other and will cause even more dental problems down the road.

Have any of you readers ever had a cavity? Tell me all about it in the comments below.

Jenifer is a writer for Greenspoint Dental, a dental practice in Houston, Texas.  She hopes to never have a cavity.

To begin with, let’s understand what hydrotherapy is. In simplest of words, hydrotherapy means treatment of ailments using only water. Different aspects of water, for example, pressure, buoyancy, stream, speed, force, weight etc., are deployed to treat different physical conditions.

Hydrotherapy has been a part of alternative medicine since quite a long time. Even today, hydrotherapy and innovative techniques that make use of hydrotherapy are used for curing various medical issues. In fact, hydrotherapy is extremely effective in curing the following three chronic illnesses:

Migraines: The terrible symptoms of migraine can be fairly simply being treated using hydrotherapeutic techniques at home. Now, one should definitely not give up on the medicines; however, side by side, incorporating these techniques in daily lifestyle can help in curing migraine. Cold compresses and hot tub baths are two age old remedies for migraines.

Osteoarthritis: To treat Osteoarthritis, hydrotherapy is deployed in a manner different in comparison to how it is used in treating migraines. Water exercises and aerobics are the focus of this treatment. The buoyancy of the water makes sure that too much weight does not cause pain in already weak bones and joints.  A physically compatible environment means more effective treatment. Spas and hot tubs are therefore the best hydrotherapy that one can schedule for curing osteoarthritis.

Fibromyalgia: An illness like fibromyalgia is one condition that is more effectively treated with hydrotherapy than with medicines. Because hot tub or Master Spa remedy ensures that the toxins from your body are removed, there are lesser chances of inflammation and allergies. Once your body becomes toxin free, the body stays Fibromyalgia free.

Obesity: Another chronic illness to which a number of people today are exposed to the risk of is obesity. Hydrotherapy, specially hot tub therapy has quickly gained a popular place in the heart of weight watchers. Even obese people love this one form of exercise. Hot tub therapy helps in shedding weight as well as inches. The best thing is that burning calories in a Master Spa does not require you to exercise rigorously.

There are a number of big and small medical problems that can be treated with hydrotherapy. Many people also vouch by the beauty benefits of hydrotherapy. A good mix of hydrotherapy techniques can help you live a happy and stress-free life. Yes, you read that right. Hydrotherapy also helps in brings down stress levels drastically.

Apart from that, hot tub or spa sessions can help you maintain blood pressure. Hot tub or spas are also the best alternative medicine for increasing metabolism. All in all, Hydrotherapy is a multipurpose therapy that aids in treat many critical physical as well as mental conditions. The various aspects of hydrotherapy if properly utilized can bring incredible improvements in the health of those who suffer from a chronic illness. This is the reason why hydrotherapy has become an important part of alternative medicine.

Meggie Haneckow is a writer and blogger who loves to write about hot and trending topics. She is currently writing for Master spa.

Almost everyone experience a certain degree of stress at some point in their working years. In fact, 31% of women suffer from continued and long-term work-related stress while it affects 24% of men. Although occasional stress can be considered as a natural part of living, chronic and intense stress can become a substantial health problem. If you or you know someone who suffers from chronic work-related stress, you might be entitled to claim compensation for it.

Is Work-Related Stress A Serious Problem?

Based on the Labour Force Survey conducted by the Government’s Health And Safety Executive back in 2010, there were about 400,000 reported cases of work-related stress in the country. Stress accounts for over a third of all work-related illnesses.
Stress in the workplace arises where work demands of different types exceed the individual’s capacity and capability to cope. This problem can be caused by different events. Say, for example, a person might feel stressed out if the demands for their job are greater than what they could manage. Other sources of stress in the workplace include constant changes in management, conflict with the boss or colleagues, and threats to job security.

This problem is very serious. In fact, more than $133.9 million served as payment for compensation to workers who filed claims related to workplace stress, says the worker’s compensation attorney at Pulgini & Norton. In addition, the National Health and Safety Commission states that stress in the workplace is the number cause of absenteeism at work.

Symptoms Of Work-Related Stress

Physical Symptoms

• Muscular tension
• Heart palpitations
• Headaches
• Diarrhea and constipation
• Insomnia
• Dermatological problems
• Fatigue

Psychological Symptoms

• Depression
• Anxiety
• Difficulty concentrating
• Inability to cope
• Irritability and mood swings

Behavioral Symptoms

• Aggression
• Increase absenteeism
• Isolation
• Family and co-worker relationship problems
• Frustration and impatience
• Lower work performance

What Causes Work-Related Stress?

There are various stimulants that can trigger stress in the workplace. Here are a few of the biggest catalysts:

• Work demands need unreasonable and unrealistic time schedule
• Working for more than one supervisor and expected to please everyone’s demands
• Sexual harassment
• Skipping breaks to meet deadlines
• Personal family relationships
• Personality conflicts among colleague

Can I Claim Compensation?

Although work-related stress lawsuits are on the rise, it doesn’t mean that you can file a lawsuit if you’ve just had a busy day at work trying to meet deadlines. In addition, if the reason why you are so stressed at work is because of family problems or because your child is keeping you up all night, you can’t claim work-related stress. However, if you are suffering from chronic stress which is directly related to your work, then you may have a valid claim for worker’s compensation.

However, proving that your stress is work-related can be very challenging to prove. Here’s what you need to do when claiming compensation:

• You need to talk to your co-workers and supervisors since they have been working alongside you. These people may have witnessed the symptoms of your chronic stress.
• You should also try to get them to sign an affidavit of witnessing how you were affected by your claims.
• Finally, you should employ a credible and experienced compensation attorney who can work on your behalf. Let the lawyer take the case from there.

Kris Bennette is a professional writer who writes about work-relates stress topics. In this article, she discusses the symptoms of work-related stress and how to claim compensation.

Zinc deficiency is common in the developing world today. Even in the United States, about 12 percent of the population, and perhaps as many as 40 percent of the elderly, are probably at risk for zinc deficiency. Other affected regions include South Asia (Bangladesh and India in particular), Africa, and the Western Pacific.

According to the Linus Pauling Institute, clinical zinc deficiency in humans was first described in 1961, when the consumption of diets with low zinc bioavailability due to high phytic acid content was connected with “adolescent nutritional dwarfism” in the Middle East. Since then, zinc insufficiency has been recognized by a number of experts as a significant public health issue.

There are many causes and many high-risk groups for zinc deficiency, including:

• Pregnant and lactating mothers – Since a developing fetus requires higher amount of nutrition, the mother’s supply of zinc and other minerals become depleted. Similarly, there is also a generous amount of zinc lost through breastfeeding after giving birth.

• Infants older than six months – Babies older than six months who are still exclusively breastfed are most likely deficient in zinc. This is because the zinc they get from breast milk is no longer sufficient to meet their nutritional needs. In this case, age-appropriate solid foods should be slowly introduced into their diet.

How Much Zinc Does Your Child Need?

It is important to understand that RDA refers to the daily average intake that is enough to meet the nutrient requirements of most healthy individuals.

The current recommended daily allowance (RDA) of zinc for children is 11 milligrams for adult men and eight milligrams for adult women. Lactating or pregnant women need about three milligrams more. Children need about five milligrams, while nine- to 13-year-olds need eight milligrams. Infants need only about three milligrams.

Nutrition – The Best Form of Zinc Supplement

Although there are many commercially available zinc supplements that you can conveniently give your child, you need to understand that this conventional approach to nutrients is oftentimes not the best to take. Taking zinc supplements indiscriminately is not advisable, especially for children due to risks of toxicity.

The thing to do is to simply increase foods rich in zinc and other beneficial minerals in your child’s diet.  Fortunately, improving your child’s zinc levels through food is not difficult, since there are many dietary sources. These include veal liver, grass-fed beef, crimini mushrooms, roasted pumpkin and squash seeds, chickpeas (garbanzos beans), and morel mushrooms.

How to Keep Zinc in Your Greens

Broccoli, spinach, and asparagus are among the many vegetables that are high not only in zinc, but other essential nutrients as well.  However, according to experts, zinc is better absorbed from animal sources than plant sources. This is because the way you cook, store, process, or prepare food plays an important role in maintaining vegetables’ nutritional value.

To keep your vegetables in their best shape, follow these techniques:

• Steaming – When steaming vegetables, use a steamer and do not use a lot of water. A half cup of water is all you need. It would be best to bring the water to a boil before putting your greens in. This way, nutrient or mineral loss is minimized. Steam your vegetables for about five to 10 minutes. Do not overcook. You can also save the water used in steaming for future soups and stocks.

• Blanching – In blanching you have to boil your greens briefly, chill them in ice-cold water, and then drain. This easy cooking technique stops the cooking process to prevent sogginess. It’s also a good way to keep your vegetables’ color, texture, flavor, and nutritional value.

• Juicing – Studies suggest that nutrients are more bioavailable and easily consumed in beneficial quantities when vegetables are juiced. Juice vegetables with your kids and turn it into a fun bonding activity. Since kids are attracted to colors, carrots, broccoli, and spinach will surely make good starters. You can use honey or yogurt to make the taste more appealing to them, too.
  

• Eating veggies raw – Teach your kids to eat their vegetables raw. Pair these raw vegetables with delicious but nutritious dips made with creamy kefir and yogurt that your kids will surely love. Serve carrots, cucumbers, and zucchini slices during snack time.
  

Note: Frying, grilling, or roasting vegetables are the worst ways to cook vegetables, because they involve high heat, which destroys most of the nutrients.

Additional tips:

• Keep vegetables refrigerated until use to slow down nutrient degradation.
• Put chopped or juiced vegetables in secured airtight containers to prevent oxygen exposure from destroying vitamins.
• Choose only organic and pesticide-free vegetables from trusted sources.

Sources:

http://www.whfoods.com/genpage.php?tname=nutrient&dbid=115

http://lpi.oregonstate.edu/infocenter/minerals/zinc/#food_source

http://www.fitday.com/fitness-articles/nutrition/vitamins-minerals/keeping-the-vitamins-nutrients-in-cooked-veggies.html#b

http://ods.od.nih.gov/factsheets/Zinc-HealthProfessional/

Arrianne Nellaine Hernandez is a writer for Mercola.com. She has written health and fitness content and has also transcribed many in-depth interviews with several natural health experts.  Arrianne is currently writing and researching about the most common nutritional and mineral deficiencies in kids today like zinc deficiency.

This time of year can be tough for even the brightest of souls. The days are getting shorter, the mornings colder and our immune systems are taking a battering from a multitude of office viruses!  Faced with the prospect of another endless UK winter, it can be hard to stay positive. And, as the grey days roll into weeks, it’s those closest to us who are most likely to get the brunt of our bad mood (and us of theirs)!

Are the autumn blues in danger of affecting your relationship?

Here are some top supplement recommendations to give your relationship a much needed boost through the coming months. Especially important if you’re not lucky enough to be escaping abroad for some winter sun & romance…

1)    5HTP – our bodies use 5-HTP to make serotonin, known as the “happy hormone” because it greatly influences our overall sense of well-being. Serotonin helps to regulate mood, relieve depression and help sleep. Low serotonin levels have been associated with low mood, anxiety, carbohydrate cravings and low sex drive.

2)    B vitamin complex – we need the B vitamins for energy production in every cell of our body. Not only this but low levels of vitamins B6, B12 and folic acid have shown to be a predictor of low mood -. The B vitamins all work in cooperation with each other, so best taken in a complex form.

3)   CoQ10 – 95% of our body’s energy demands requires the aid of CoQ10. It can be thought of as the body’s spark plug- just as a car can’t run without that initial spark; the human body doesn’t get going without CoQ10!

4)    Vitamin C – one of the biggest challenges through the winter months is to keep the immune systems in tip top condition. If you’re full of a cold, romance is going to be just about the last thing on your mind!  As a powerful antioxidant, vitamin C is the ultimate immune booster.

5)    Magnesium – sometimes referred to as “nature’s tranquillizer” some research has suggested that this calming mineral can aid relaxation & sleep and may help you to avoid those hot-headed, tired arguments at the end of the day!

6)    Zinc – not only is zinc important for mood and mental health, it is also the ultimate, ahem, sex mineral. Yes, known to be a libido-booster, zinc may just recharge your sex drive! It’s one reason why oysters- which are high in zinc-have long been considered a powerful aphrodisiac. And an extra piece of good news for the boys…zinc has been shown to increase sperm motility.  .

7)    Vitamin D – “the sunshine vitamin”, a large majority of people in the UK are lacking in, as many as 90% in fact according to recent reports – And this is not good news for our mood and well-being.  At least one study has reported benefits from vitamin D in treating seasonal affective disorder (SAD), a form of depression that occurs during the winter months.

8)    Omega-3 fatty acids – quite simply these are the building blocks of a happy brain! A study reported in Psychology Today found that that after a daily dose of the omega-3 EPA, a group of patients with stubborn depression reported a 50% reduction in their symptoms, particularly feelings of sadness, poor sleep and low libido

And don’t forget, with winter comes also cosy nights in, roaring fires, red wine & ahem… reason for an early night?!

Naomi Mead is a nutritional therapy’s at Food First, a London based nutritionist consultancy, and contributes to Healthspan’s Nutrition Expert site. She has a particular interest in the areas of weight management, female health, sports nutrition, and digestive disorders.  If you would like to follow Naomi you can follow her on Twitter or read her other expert articles on Nutrition Expert from Healthspan.

As you age you start noticing certain changes in your vision. Sometimes age brings certain change that weakens your eyes. The most common problems of vision starts after you turn 40; you find it difficult to read and to do close concentration requiring tasks. Newspaper prints, or a menu card in the restaurant seems very difficult to read. You might require glasses to read and you might find it difficult to view in a normal glare.

But one should not get disappointed as these changes cannot stop you from enjoying the life or from maintaining your independent lifestyle.  But it is true that as you age you are at a higher risk of getting or developing age associated eye problems.

A number of common eye diseases or problems that may arise as you age are as follows:

• Cataract
• Glaucoma
• Low vision
• Presbyopia
• Diabetic eye disease
• Dry eyes
• Floaters or tiny spots or sparks that you see when you move your eyes
• Tearing
• Conjunctivitis
• Corneal disease etc.

There are a number of warning signs that you must keep in check like fluctuating visions, floaters and flashes, seeing distorted images and headache etc. along with this certain lifestyle changes and dietary changes can also help you boost your eye health and prevent permanent vision loss.

Healthy diet for eyes:

1. Take a good amount of protein diet: eggs, nuts, beans, and other non-meat protein sources are good for those who don’t eat fish or meat. Fishes like tuna, salmon and other oily fishes are good source of natural proteins. Green leafy vegetables like kale, spinach, broccoli are full of lutein which a powerful antioxidant that helps to protect against age related cataract. Sweet corn, peas also contain large amount of eye protecting antioxidants.
2. Lower down the sodium intake: high amount of sodium in diet increases the risk of cataract in the ageing people. Instead one can choose fresh foods over high sodium high calorie crispy snacks. Try to limit the sodium intake to 2000mg a day.
3. Drink lots of water and remain hydrated: drinking large amount of water or other non-aerated drinks like fruit juices, vegetable juices and herbal tea is good for eyes and also protect from the dry eye irritation or dry eyes.
4. Eat cereals and grains: choosing 100 percent whole grains bread over sugars and refined white flour may decrease the risk of age related eye problems.
5. Include vitamins like vitamin: A to your diet: orange colored fruits and vegetables like oranges, pumpkin, squash and carrots are enriched with beta-carotene. Beta carotene (provide orange color to these foods) is converted in vitamin A in our body. Vitamin A is good for our eyes and immune system.

Sport injuries tend to be a very common nightmare for many athletes, whether your at the specialist level, a student or highschool player or just a weekend warrior, large numbers of sports injuries are just not caused by a single strain to the body, such as most would presume, but predominantly by frequent overuse of a muscle over prolonged period of time.

A time tested and highly encouraged treatment program for sports traumas is the use of a steam shower or steam sweat room. Sufferers are encouraged to make use of this kind of solution if they are struggling with exhaustion, arthritis, sports injuries, or similar problems and require relief and re-energizing.

Steam Treatments

Such is the high demand for these units and additionally their level of popularity both in local gyms and health spa’s, that it was certainly not going to be a long time before this growing demand turned into the innovation of the home steam sauna shower solution. The Home Steam Shower gives you a wide range of options to choose from, specifications today may consist of: whirlpool bathtub, infrared and steam room sauna, acupressure therapeutic massage, foot massager, aromatherapy, chromo-therapy, music and even in the more substantial units a LCD flat screen tv with DVD.

A never ending stream of customers are rushing to retailers or viewing the Web to find the correct home steam shower. A multitude of time-tested steam shower/hydrotherapy procedures used at expensive healthcare and spa establishments can be put to use in the comfort and ease of your home and this is the biggest benefit and reason behind their popularity. For a fraction of the fee, you can feel re-energized day-after-day with your home steam shower equipped to be deployed when you wish to help aid you back to full health.

• A home steam shower can help you repair from that injury:
• increased circulation, to supply the injured muscle or joint with all the aid it requests
• amplified white blood cells, antibodies to resist off just about any nasties required
• reduction of aching or rigid muscles and joints, this is a remedy used in every area of sport injury
• treatment, Ice to take down swelling, heat to aid in recovery
• raised immune mechanism, produced by the sauna’s climate telling the internal system that you must have a flu infection which therefore sets off the immune system, making it stronger
• enhanced skin complexion, sauna therapy and heat treatment rinses out the surface of the skin and also improves the blood flow
• body cleansing, induced by the sweat delivered in the steam shower
• breakup of congestion, as the sauna operates to work and start to improve many of the bodies
• processes, a couple you would not expect are also propelled into work by a type of chain reaction
• sore throat reduction, steam intake cleans out the lungs, throat and any mucus in the airways of the lungs
• relaxation method, ever felt tranquil on the beachfront or on the sun bed in the sunshine and heat, a steam shower produces results just the same

In saunas and steam rooms, maybe the most efficient way to look at its benefits, is to relate it with acquiring a fever. A fever is not a diseases, its in reality the human body’s organic and natural tool and defence strategy for repairing itself. In a multitude of ways, heat treatments reproduce your body’s very own natural condition of fever, and promotes the same extra benefits. The significant difference of course is that steam rooms and saunas are a relaxing experience, and you don’t have to be ill to use them!

Heat works down into the muscle to relax and alleviate it, stimulating your circulation, elevating your immune system and promoting your body to repair itself of viruses and aches. Heat treatments can also help eliminate calcium deposits from the blood vessels and so break down scar tissue formation, ease back, rheumatic and muscular pain.

Eczema is a medical term that is attached to a vast amount of skin conditions. It is also often referred to as dermatitis. Many medical terms derive from Greek words. “Eczema” is Greek, and it simply means an eruption. When applied to define a skin condition, it is referring to the rashes, redness, bumps, crusting and flaking commonly associated with this condition. “Derma” means skin. The suffix “itis” means inflammation. Together, it simply means inflamed skin.

Common Symptoms of Eczema

Any irritation of the skin that manifests as a rash, redness, dry area, cracking skin, bumps, blisters, crusty areas, flaking of dead skin cells and areas that seep clear fluid are lumped in the medical category of eczema. However, the cause of the eczema, or dermatitis, helps to further define the condition so that proper treatment options may be pursued.

One trait common to most any type of eczema, regardless of cause, is that it is very likely to be very itchy. A problem with the itchiness is that it usually leads to incessant scratching. The act of scratching then often leads to a secondary infection of the skin.

Acute or Chronic Eczema

Eczema can range from a temporary condition to a chronic one. For example, eczema caused by exposure to something that one is allergic to will likely resolve once the allergen is removed. When an external allergen such as a new laundry soap or poison ivy triggers eczema symptoms, it would be diagnosed as contact dermatitis, and it be expected to resolve once exposure to the allergen ceases.

Chronic eczema would be associated as a symptom of other disease conditions such as an infection with the herpes simplex virus that causes eczema herpeticum. Celiac disease as well as some other digestive problems can also manifest with chronic eczema symptoms. Mutation in the genes that produce filaggrin (a protein) can predispose individuals to getting a severe form of eczema known as ichthyosis vulgaris.

Eczema Treatment Options

The most commonly prescribed treatments for symptoms of eczema are corticosteroid creams as well as ointments and moisturizers. Steroid creams and ointments are available in strengths from the mild over-the-counter hydrocortisone to the potent prescription clobetasol propionate. Doctors may even prescribe oral steroid medications to get severe eczema under control. Some forms of chronic eczema may be treated with a daily immunosuppressant therapy medication to control and lessen the severity of symptoms.

Eczema is treated depending on the location of the outbreak and the cause. Seborrhoeic dermatitis (eczema) that manifests as flaking on the scalp is dandruff. It is often treated with shampoos that contain zinc or coal tar. Hand eczema, an often chronic condition, that causes splitting of the skin at fingertips and knuckles is often treated with steroid ointments and creams initially. It then responds well to barrier creams that contain dimethicone.

Other forms of eczema may respond well to light therapy where the affected skin is exposed to specific wavelengths of light for specific amounts of time. Those with eczema that responds well to light therapy may get relief with just a little controlled exposure to sunshine.

Eczema may be mild and temporary to a lifelong condition that flares in severity from time to time. Eczema may be caused by something that is touched, something in the diet, an underlying disease condition, or even miscoded genetics. It is therefore important to get a proper diagnosis of what the cause of the eczema is. It is not uncommon to need blood testing or even skin biopsies to rule out other causes in the effort to determine the actual cause of eczema.

Imagine being on stage in front of your co-workers, about to give a presentation that will make or break your career. You will probably feel your heart pounding, butterflies in your stomach, and maybe even short of breath or shaky. These symptoms of anxiety are common when people are about to do something major, such as give a public speech or performance of some kind, take a big test, or participate in an important event like a wedding.

When people exhibit such signs of anxiety, the advice most often heard is to relax and calm down. It seems to make sense, and numerous studies have shown the efficacy of meditation, yoga, and other mindfulness activities on appeasing anxiety issues. However, a new study has decided to take a different approach to helping people deal with anxiety: get excited.

The Studies

Dr. Alison Wood Brooks, PhD, from Harvard Business School performed a few experiments to see how well saying the phrase “I am excited” can help people overcome the fear and anxiety common before a big performance. The experiments have been published in the American Psychological Association’s Journal of Experimental Psychology: General.

There were three initial studies, one focusing on singing, one on public speaking, and one on math. In the first study, a group of 113 university students were asked to sing a song using the “Karaoke Revolution: Glee” game on the Nintendo Wii. The next study focused on 140 students who had to prepare a public speech in two minutes. The third had 188 students complete a difficult math exercise within a time limit. There was a fourth study that analyzed the other three studies to determine why being excited rather than anxious changed how one performed.

Public Speaking Test

In the public speaking test, the students’ natural anxiety about public speaking was increased by being told that their speech would be taped by a researcher and the results were to be judged by a committee. One group of students was told to say “I am excited” prior to the speech, another group was to say “I am calm,” and a control group said neither phrase.

Independent evaluators provided ratings evaluating how well the students spoke. Overall, those who used the word excited rather than calm had better speeches that were longer and more persuasive, and the person was more relaxed and confident while speaking.

For the math test, participants were again divided into three groups and given different sets of instructions. One set of instructions said to “try to get excited,” one to “try to calm down,” and a control group had no such instructions. The group that was told to try and feel excited had an average 8 percent higher score than those who were trying to remain calm.

The Karaoke Experiment

The karaoke singing experiment was slightly different. Each student who played the game was randomly assigned an emotion that included anxious, excited, calm, angry, and sad. The students were to say they felt that particular emotion prior to their performance, and there was a control group whose members made no statement.

In order to judge a person’s anxiety level, the heart rate was monitored by a pulse meter on a finger. The video game measured performance through its built-in rating and scoring system. Those who said they were excited had an average rating score of 80 percent for their rhythm, pitch and volume.

Those who were calm, angry or sad only had an average of 69 percent, and those who were anxious scored an average of 53. Additionally, those assigned to be excited said they actually felt more excited and more confident in their ability to sing.

The State Of Arousal

Dr. Brooks developed her experiments on the idea that the state of arousal that occurs due to performance anxiety is closer to what people feel when excited rather than when calm. Excitement taps into the same stress response associated with fight or flight that occurs when a person is anxious or afraid.

Therefore, the physical response in the body when one is excited is butterflies in the stomach, nausea, a pounding heart, shortness of breath, and other physiological arousal symptoms. The body feels these two emotions so similarly that people often confuse excitement over something new with anxiety or fear.

Change Anxiety To Excitement

Therefore, it is easier to change feelings of anxiety to excitement rather than trying to calm the body down. Saying you are excited, particularly saying it aloud, appears to make people feel excited rather than anxious. This may be a case of guiding the brain’s perception of physical symptoms, but even if the feeling is not true at first, it will become authentic.

Your brain will easily believe that you are excited because the body is having the right physiological response. Dr. Brooks also says that another way to try to be excited rather than calm down is to focus on the potential opportunities rather than the potential threats and remain positive.

Next time you have a big test, have to speak in front of an audience, or feel anxious or fearful about a performance, just tell yourself you are excited. You just might find yourself not only feeling better but also performing better.