World of Health

Botox injections help reduce wrinkles creating a smoother face by relaxing the facial muscles.  On average the effects of Botox last for three months, after which time the muscle relaxant effect wears off and the facial muscles start to effectively slouch again.

Botox is best on wrinkles that are the result of facial movement such as frown lines, crow’s feet, and forehead wrinkles.  The injections on their own do not cause much pain and only take about 15 minutes.

Even better, the effects of Botox are completely reversible and are generally safe.  Despite this fact, there are some media reports of people facing bad results from cosmetic treatments so here are the five tips you should consider before picking a Botox clinic to ensure an effective treatment.

First of all, a Botox injection is something that involves skill and should only be performed by a trained practitioner and is best if that person is a doctor.

Second, check the doctor or practitioner that you choose to see if their registration comes with the proper regulatory authority.  In the UK this means registration with the General Medical Council, you can even check this online.

Third, before you go under the knife make sure that the doctor has proper insurance cover which will protect you in the case something does not go correctly.

Fourth, you need to know that there are many official clinics that offer Botox treatment, but many other premises now offer them such as hairdressers, salons, and department stores.  Before heading to any of these it is very important that you check the credentials.

Fifth, you need to look for signs that the clinics regularly offer treatment on a regular basis, if they do then this is a good sign that they offer effective treatments since their clients return.

A study that took place over the course of 17 years discovered that out of 1,000 elderly people 22% of those that were depressed at the beginning of the study later developed dementia, compared to 17% of those who developed dementia but were not depressed.

However, the study results do not mean that depression is the cause of dementia, and the actual association between the two diseases is not immediately clear.  It is still unclear if depression is an actual risk factor, or if it simply may be an early sign of impending cognitive decline.  It also potentially could be that changes in the brain are present in both conditions.

Lifestyle factors were also not measured in the study including social interaction, poor diet, and lack of physical activity all of which may increase the risk of dementia and depression.  It is also important to note that this study looked at elderly people with an average age of 79 years, which does not clearly link to depression that begins earlier on in life.

The study was performed by researchers from Boston University and the University of Massachusetts both in the United States and was funded by many US medical institutes.

The study mentioned previously began in 1990 with 1,166 study participants out of which 949 were determined to be dementia free at the time of the studies’ beginning.

There are many factors that can cause low back pain. These include excessive riding of two-wheeled vehicles, jerking movements, bad posture and lifting heavy objects.

Some people have a tendency to slouch since it is a comfortable position for relaxing, but such people are more vulnerable to experiencing back pain as a result. Likewise, people who have desk jobs and do not get a great deal of exercise are also prone to this problem.

Slouching is one of the main things that contribute to such pain and because of this; it is a good idea to keep a healthy posture, most especially when sitting down. Exercises can also help to treat low back pain, specifically exercises that stretch the lower back. They are also easy and can be practiced anywhere.

Low back pain is also a cause of excessive flexion thus it is important to make sure that the back is stretched in the right manner and only the correct exercises are practiced. These exercises can help to treat the pain and getting into a more rigid routine of exercise will make it less likely that the back pains will return once you go back to your desk job.

Another popular remedy for back pain is lying down on the front while pulling the chest arm and arching the back by straightening the elbows. During this exercise, hips should be flat on the floor. This exercise gives the back muscles a good stretch and should be done frequently to keep back pain away.

Placing a hot or cold compress on the area of pain can also be an effective method of treating back pains for those less willing to take up exercises. This method helps to relax the muscles and let loose the tension. Cold packs are not as effective but can also be a good relaxant for the muscles. It largely depends on the person’s individual preference whether they use a cold or hot pack.

Massages are also effective in relaxing and stretching the muscles in the area of pain. Finding a trained masseur is a good start and can make the world of difference.

Over-the-counter medicines are often used to get temporary relief from back pain but they are less effective and offer no permanent benefits. If the pain is particularly intense, going to the doctor and seeking a prescription medicine is strongly advisable

Walking is one of the most popular recreational activities in England. It is also regarded as the nearest activity to perfect exercise and, due to its numerous health benefits, is prescribed by GPs to help with a whole range of health conditions. The other great news for slimmers, is that walking can help you lose weight!

Walking is the easiest, cheapest and lowest impact form of exercise to introduce into everyday life. During these testing times a gym membership is a luxury many cannot afford; walking is a great recession proof solution for losing weight. Walking alters fat metabolism so that fat is burned up, instead of sugars, helping to reduce weight.

Walking for just one mile (1.6km) can burn at least 100 calories and walking two miles (3.2km) a day, three times a week, can help reduce weight by one pound (0.5kg) every three weeks.  To maximise weight loss through walking, step up the pace. If you can walk a mile in under 13 minutes you are using and building more muscle groups increasing the number of calories burned.

Millions of people in the UK are affected by frequent headaches, which in the worst cases can be severe enough to be very debilitating and may require medical attention. Such headaches are usually described as migraines but may be caused by a large number of reasons, most commonly, stress. Other types of headaches can arise due to other medical conditions in the individual.

Many people are tempted just to take aspirin or some other painkiller since they provide quick and effective relief. The problem with this is that the benefits are only temporary and do nothing to address the root cause of the problem. In this respect, preventatives are usually better than temporary cures.

Since many headaches are related to stress, this can be prevented by getting rid of the tension. Breathing exercises can make a world of difference and they are extremely simple.

One traditional method is to get a cold pack and place it over the forehead and eyes, which help to relax the tension and relieve the pressure that is causing the headache.

Stress and allergies, eye strain caused by staring at computer screens, not enough sleep and bad diets are all things that can cause headaches to come about. Sometimes, however, sufferers do not want to take over-the-counter medication and seek easy, natural remedies to solve the problem.

A hot bath or, less effectively, a shower can help a great deal in relaxing the muscles and relieving the tension thus ridding you of the headache. A warm pack placed on the forehead will help to reduce pressure and optimize the blood flow around the head.

Aromatherapy is another popular method to treat headaches. Peppermint or lavender oils placed in the bath or placed in a few drops straight onto the area of pain help some people. Herbal tea, especially chamomile or peppermint, is also effective in relieving headaches and will help you to feel calmer.

With the onset of a headache, there are some things that should be avoided, which can exacerbate the problem. This includes eating ice cream, chewing gum or drinking anything that is very cold.

Getting a decent amount of sleep will also help to alleviate the problem as does avoiding drinking too much caffeine.

It is important if your headaches are more severe and frequent to consult a doctor since it could be a sign of an additional medical problem or an allergy. Luckily, however, most headaches are simple and easily solvable ailments by studying the methods mentioned above.

An abdominal migraine is a very painful condition that involves severe pains in one’s abdomen. This is an especially harmful condition that children suffer from but it can also be experienced by adults. There are many signs of one of these types of migraines. When these indicators are found certain treatments should be applied right away.

With one of these migraines the pains that are present in the abdomen will be located in the central part of the area. The pains will be very dull in intensity and they can last for up to three full days if they are not treated properly.

When the pains are being felt various unpleasant symptoms can occur. Nausea and vomiting are among the most common side effects, as well as a loss of appetite that can occur in some people.

In many cases these episodes will be isolated events. However, if a person has five or more of these episodes over time that person can be diagnosed as someone who has these debilitating migraines.

It should be noted that while adults can suffer from this condition most people who endure it are children. They will become more likely to experience regular migraine headaches in the future if they experience these abdominal migraines as a youngster.

There are many medications that can be used as treatments for this condition. Wellbutrin SR is a common drug that is used for some of the most severe pains. However, for children who are younger and may not be able to handle higher levels of medicine like the 400mg Wellbutrin SR a lower dose medicine such as 75mg Elavil can be used.

While a migraine can be very painful to the abdomen it can be treated through medications. It will be very important to identify the symptoms of this condition so that treatments can begin without delay.

Breastfeeding – what you should know

Breastfeeding is natural and has benefits for both mums and babies. It should be easy and trouble-free, and a good start helps to ensure that is a happy experience.  Here are some tips to help both you and baby get the most from breastfeeding.

To establish breastfeeding, the early days are crucial and when it comes to technique, you may need guidance from a midwife or breastfeeding counsellor. Also, there is a lot of information available from reliable sources like Bounty, the UK’s favourite parenting club.

In this close-up video clip, we offer guidance with latching-on and positioning tips for both you and baby as well as highlight the signs that help you know that all is going well to make that special time a happy one for you both.

To watch our guide to breastfeeding, click here.