What Can Abdominal Pain Be?

If you have abdominal pain it could be a simple stomachache, it can be due to heartburn, a heart attack, menstrual cramps or even kidney stones.

The two common conditions are: appendicitis and ulcers.

Ulcers: Pain in the upper,central abdomen. It may be a few hours after eating or during the night. It may be relieved by taking antacids. An ulcer can bleed or rupture at which time it is a medical emergency.

Appendicitis: Inflammation of the appendix starts with pain in the center of the abdomen around the belly button. As the pain becomes worse, it moves to the right lower abdomen.An inflamed appendix can rupture at which time it becomes a medical emergency.

Seek emergency assistance for your pain immediately if:

• You have a fever
• You are vomiting blood
• You are constipated
• You also have chest, neck or shoulder pain
• You are dizzy or light headed
• Your abdomen is rigid and tender to touch

Contact your physician if the pain is accompanied by:

• Loss of appetite
• Weight loss
• If you may be pregnant
• Diarrhoea
• Burning or pain when urinating
• If pain becomes worse with antacids
• Nausea
• Bloating for more than two days

Your doctor will ask you specific questions such as:

• When did it start?
• How long does it last?
• What makes it feel better?
• Is the pain sharp or dull
• Is it cramps.
• Does the pain come and go? ____________________________________________________________________________

Workout Tips For Seniors

Physical activity is at the top of the list of healthy habits. When combined with healthy eating, being physically active lays the foundation for health, vitality and longevity.

The two lifestyle habits are also necessary for any weight management. Experts recommend 30 minutes 0f moderate-intensity aerobics exercise 5-7 days per week.

Here are some tips from the American Council on Exercise(ACE) on how seniors can make the best use of exercise and workout.

The tips include:
1-Cardiovascular exercise
2-Flexibility
3-Safety
4-Resistance training
5-Strength training

Click on the ACE link below for more details on how seniors can incorporate these tips into their exercise routine. TheSpec - Five workout tips for seniors.

The Social Side Of Giving For Health

Involving family, friends  and loved ones in health decisions may be more important than you think.

This post has placed an emphasis on giving for health to communicate the social side of managing one's health at home.

Giving for health is important to both the giver and person needing help.

There are many good reasons why giving for health is important.  Firstly, when you give for health, those who give get involved in health decisions that could affect them.

Because persons are connected, their health is also connected.

Other reasons for giving could be:
-For support and encouragement
-To prevent the breakdown of a relationships when lifestyle changes are necessary
-For success in accomplishing  better health outcomes
-For financial support because of related financial needs
-For an improvement in the person's wellbeing.
-For better recovery from illness
-To protect health
- To preserve family life affected by illness

Family and friends can a be a source of health information when they give gifts of health. 
Family and friends can also be a source for health awareness. Family and friends can foster feelings of wellbeing and instill hope instead of despair.

In one study researchers found that patients recovering from a heart attack had poorer quality of life, more likely to suffer from angina and be depressed if their level of support was low.
Read about this study.

Both individuals and their support network can contribute to healthier outcomes. Individuals can do so by asking for their health's sake; family and friends can contribute by giving and supporting in times of  health needs.

Giving for health can be done in many ways, for example by giving:

• Products that promote health and wellbeing 
• Devices and equipment for self care.
• Medical coverage or payment for medical intervention.
• Support not abandonment 
• Encouragement, not redicule
• Help with lifestyle changes
• Monetary help
• Giving for health research
• Giving gifts of health instead of another

An example of a time when  giving is especially valuable is with smoking cessation. Smoking is a major cause of diseases and premature deaths. It is not easy to quit especially without  help.

If a friend's or family's life is already physically challenge, quitting can save it. Help from family and friends makes quitting easier.

Researchers have found that alcohol consumption behaviour within one's social network can affect their own alcohol consmption behaviour. They found that the behaviours of family and friends were significantly associated with a person's drinking.


These are times when giving for health can be especially helpful.

• To improve the person's quality of life
• Elder care
• During temporary ill-health
• For smoking cessation help
• When lifestyle changes are necessary
• Surviving mental illness
• Assistance with daily living at home
• When weight loss is crucial
• To support cancer other health research

Giving for health can be done for special occasions such as anniversaries, birthdays and Christmas but one can give each and every day.

Remember when you give for health, your gifts can last all year round and all lifelong, remember family and friends with health needs.

Walking To Prevent Heart Disease

Every year the World Heart Federation hosts World Heart Day on September 29. This year the organization joined forces with BUPA, a leader in health care, to organize a world walking event.

 If you are a walker, walk for a healthy lifestyle,or use a pedometer, there is an opportunity for you to donate your walking distances to prevent heart disease.

If regular exercise is not yet part of your lifestyle, it is a good time to start by walking and participating in a healthy cause.

The World Heart Federation has teamed up with BUPA to host the Ground Miles Challenge. This is a global event in which the world is invited to walk for the release of funds  for the prevention of heart disease. The funds will be released by BUPA for the protection of children from heart disease and early death.

The aim is to get the world waking 5 million miles by the end of 2013, once it has been accomplished BUPA will release funds to prevent heart disease in children.

These are ways to get involved:
1-By downloading a free App from BUPA
   Download here.

2-Signing up with the World Heart Federation to record your miles manually.
   Sign up here.

For more information on the challenge Click Here.

Every year 1.35 million babies are born with congenital heart disease; while rheumatic heart disease is a leading problem among children. You can help to release the funds for protecting children from heart disease when you participate. It costs nothing to get involved, just walk , count your miles and submit the totals.

Anit-Depressants May Not Help With Autism

A clinical trials report done in 2010 found anti-depressants not to be effective in treating autism.

Although anti-depressants are used to treat the disorder, according to a clinical trials report, there is no evidence to support their usefulness.

Autism is an autism spectrum disorder-ASD), characterized by difficulties with communication and social and developmental problems.

Selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors(SSRI) are antidepressants commonly used to help with the symptoms.

Researchers reviewed the findings of a study done on celexa with six other clinical trials and found there were differences between the use of SSRI's and a placebo.

For the largest study 149 children were given either a placebo or an SSRI medication for three months. One third of the children in each group showed improvement in repetitive behaviour.

Read more about this report.

Due to the side effects of SSRI's,  experts are advising against recommending them for children with autism.