Fibromyalgia
affects 1-3% of the United States population and approximately the same
percentage of the population is affected by chronic fatigue syndrome,
which is a closely related disease. Up to 18 million adults in any given
year report these symptoms, making them a substantial public health
problem. Women seem to be more affected than men.The [..]
Over the past few decades, chronic migraine headaches
have increased dramatically (up ~60%) among the population in the
United States. Most of this increase has occurred among adults younger
than 45 years of age, and women are slightly more affected than men.One
study showed that 80% of women and 70% of men reporting chronic
migraine [..]
Scientists who have studied the architecture of the spine have
concluded that it is meant for walking. This may come as a surprise
since we humans do very little walking these days. Over the millennia,
our lives have moved from days filled with walking and searching for
food to a largely sedentary existence. A good [..]
Fibromyalgia
is a complex disorder. It is complex because different systems of the
body are affected, and treatments need to be both comprehensive and
specific. Fibromyalgia overlaps with other diseases such as chronic
fatigue syndrome, which shares many of its characteristics. The patient
usually has general fatigue, and due to pain, may be impaired in [..]
Like many health conditions, low back pain
is a chronic problem. Patients with low back pain typically suffer on
and off for years. Back pain seems to come on when we overexert or do
something out of the ordinary, such as moving boxes or when returning to
a sport we have not tried since our [..]
Carpal tunnel syndrome
occurs when the nerve (median), which runs from the forearm into the
hand, becomes compressed between the displaced bones of the wrist. Nerve
signals originate in the brain and follow tracts down the spinal cord
through openings between the neck bones (vertebrae). The nerves then
travel down the arm and into the [..]
Patients diagnosed with fibromyalgia use a variety of different complementary and alternative treatments to help manage their condition. Since medications and surgery are rarely indicated, the use of safer (less toxic) alternatives has become widespread. About 1/3 to ½ of patients report trying different treatments, such as exercise programs, chiropractic, and vitamin supplements.Sometimes patients will [..]
Back problems are commonplace in society. It is important to ask if there might be certain risk factors for back injury
in your life that can be mitigated or avoided, if possible. While we
cannot pick our genetic make-up or even our current occupation (for most
of us), how we interact with our daily tasks [..]