nomorepanic
21-07-07, 18:41
I recently bought a new book called "Complete Family Health Guide New Medicine" and thought I would type up some of our more common complaints and possible reasons for them.
This is not intended to scare you in any way but is to provide alternate reasons for some symptoms and illnesses - for example a headache could be a simple side effect of dehydration.
So please do have a read if you have any of these problems and consider the alternate reasons for your aches and pains.
I will add more when I get time.
Headaches
Why might I have this?
Predisposing Factors
Tense neck muscles
Depression
Food sensitivities
Low magnesium levels
Prolonged use of painkillers
Noisy, stuffy environment
Poor posture
Trigger points and joint restrictions
Polluted environmentsTriggers
Stress
Caffeine withdrawal
Too much caffeine
Low blood-sugar levels
Dehydration
Sinusitis
Symptoms
Pain and tenderness in the face that may be worse when bending forward
Nasal discharge
Nasal congestion or blockage
Headache and possibly toothache, if the sinuses behind the cheeks are affected.Predisposing Factors
Infection
Allergy
Polyps in the nose
Deviated septum
Food sensitivity
Yeast infection
High levels of histamine in the body
Trigger points in jaw muscles
Upper chest breathingIrritable Bowel Syndrome
What are the symptoms?
IBS involves abdominal pain that is relieved by defecation. Related symptoms may include:
A change in the frequency of stool
A change in the appearance of the stoolThere may also be:
Fewer than three bowel movements in a week or more than three a day
Hard or lumpy stools
Loose (watery) stools
Straining during a bowel movement
Urgency (having to rush to have a bowel movement)
A feeling that the bowel is not emptied completely
Passage of mucus during defecation
A feeling of fullness or bloatingWhy might I have this?
Predisposing Factors
Anxiety
Depression
Food sensitivities
Imbalance of organisms in the digestive tract
Lactose and fructose intolerance
Sorbitol (an artificial sweetener)
Trigger-point activity from muscles of the abdomen or back
Smoking
High Blood Pressure
What are the symptoms?
High blood pressure does not usually cause symptoms but if your blood pressure is very high then you may have:
Headaches
Nosebleeds
Dizziness
Blurred VisionWhy might I have this?
Predisposing Factors
Smoking
A diet high in salt
Lack of exercise
Excess weight
Being over 60
Drinking too much alcohol
Excess caffeine
Nutrient deficiencyTriggers
Stress
Palpitations
What are the symptoms?
Awareness of the heartbeat
Additional symptoms may be experienced, depending on the cause:
Palpitations with panic attacks may be associated with nausea and increased sweating
Palpitations associated with atrial fibrillation may be accompanied by light-headedness and shortness of breathe
Palpitations associated with other rapid arrhythmias may be accompanied by shortness of breathe, fainting and chest painWhy might I have this?
Predisposing Factors
Underlying arrhythmia
Overactive thyroid gland
AnaemiaTriggers
Caffeine
Nicotine
Alcohol
Anxiety
Panic Attacks
Calcium-channel blockers
Back and Neck pain
What are the symptoms?
Pain in the back or the neck which may be mild or severe
The pain may come on suddenly or develop over a period of days or weeks
Persistent numbness in one limb or a persistent weakness of certain movements may reflect pressure on a nerve rootWhy might I have this?
Predisposing Factors
Habitual poor posture
Stress
Certain occupation, such as working on computers
Pregnancy
Joint dysfunction or muscle spasm
Prolapsed disc
Muscle and ligament pain
Degenerative diseaseTriggers
Sports injury
Whiplash
Lifting a heavy object awkwardly
Fibromyalgia
What are the symptoms?
The symptoms of Fibromyalgia usually develop slowly over weeks and may include:
Persistent connective tissue pain affecting almost any part of the body
Fatigue, sleep disturbance and/or unrefreshing sleep
Fibromyalgia is associated with other conditions, particularly migraine and irritable bowel syndrome – many people who have Fibromyalgia also have these
Fibromyalgia is often associated with depression and anxiety
Tenderness to pressure at 11 or more of 18 tender points (base of skull, neck, shoulder, shoulder blade, breastbone, elbow, hip, thigh, knee)
Symptoms may become worse if stress levels increaseWhy might I have this?
Predisposing Factors
Stress
Sleep deprivation
Another disorder, such as rheumatoid arthritis, lupus or hypothyroidism
Being sensitive to paint solvents and other chemicals
Being sensitive to cleaning products, heavy metals, siliconeTriggers
Injury, trauma or major surgery
Infection (bacterial or viral)
Thyroid Problems
What are the symptoms?
Symptoms of hyperthyroidism include:
Weight loss, despite increased appetite
Palpitations
Trembling of the hands (tremor)
Lowered tolerance to heat
Excessive sweating
Anxiety and insomnia
Swelling in the neck (goitre)
Frequent bowel movements
Muscle weakness
Irregular menstruation
Protruding eyes (exophthalmos) in Graves’ diseaseSymptoms of hypothyroidism include:
Tiredness
Poor memory
Weight gain
Constipation
Deepened voice
Swelling in the neck
Lowered tolerance to cold
Puffy eyes and dry, thickened skin
Generalised thinking of the hair
Heavy or less frequent menstrual periods
Weakness and aching of muscles
Joint painsWhy might I have this?
Predisposing Factors
For hyperthyroidism:
Genetic predisposition
For hypothyroidism:
Previous radioiodine treatment or surgery for hyperthyroidism
Autoimmune problems
This is not intended to scare you in any way but is to provide alternate reasons for some symptoms and illnesses - for example a headache could be a simple side effect of dehydration.
So please do have a read if you have any of these problems and consider the alternate reasons for your aches and pains.
I will add more when I get time.
Headaches
Why might I have this?
Predisposing Factors
Tense neck muscles
Depression
Food sensitivities
Low magnesium levels
Prolonged use of painkillers
Noisy, stuffy environment
Poor posture
Trigger points and joint restrictions
Polluted environmentsTriggers
Stress
Caffeine withdrawal
Too much caffeine
Low blood-sugar levels
Dehydration
Sinusitis
Symptoms
Pain and tenderness in the face that may be worse when bending forward
Nasal discharge
Nasal congestion or blockage
Headache and possibly toothache, if the sinuses behind the cheeks are affected.Predisposing Factors
Infection
Allergy
Polyps in the nose
Deviated septum
Food sensitivity
Yeast infection
High levels of histamine in the body
Trigger points in jaw muscles
Upper chest breathingIrritable Bowel Syndrome
What are the symptoms?
IBS involves abdominal pain that is relieved by defecation. Related symptoms may include:
A change in the frequency of stool
A change in the appearance of the stoolThere may also be:
Fewer than three bowel movements in a week or more than three a day
Hard or lumpy stools
Loose (watery) stools
Straining during a bowel movement
Urgency (having to rush to have a bowel movement)
A feeling that the bowel is not emptied completely
Passage of mucus during defecation
A feeling of fullness or bloatingWhy might I have this?
Predisposing Factors
Anxiety
Depression
Food sensitivities
Imbalance of organisms in the digestive tract
Lactose and fructose intolerance
Sorbitol (an artificial sweetener)
Trigger-point activity from muscles of the abdomen or back
Smoking
High Blood Pressure
What are the symptoms?
High blood pressure does not usually cause symptoms but if your blood pressure is very high then you may have:
Headaches
Nosebleeds
Dizziness
Blurred VisionWhy might I have this?
Predisposing Factors
Smoking
A diet high in salt
Lack of exercise
Excess weight
Being over 60
Drinking too much alcohol
Excess caffeine
Nutrient deficiencyTriggers
Stress
Palpitations
What are the symptoms?
Awareness of the heartbeat
Additional symptoms may be experienced, depending on the cause:
Palpitations with panic attacks may be associated with nausea and increased sweating
Palpitations associated with atrial fibrillation may be accompanied by light-headedness and shortness of breathe
Palpitations associated with other rapid arrhythmias may be accompanied by shortness of breathe, fainting and chest painWhy might I have this?
Predisposing Factors
Underlying arrhythmia
Overactive thyroid gland
AnaemiaTriggers
Caffeine
Nicotine
Alcohol
Anxiety
Panic Attacks
Calcium-channel blockers
Back and Neck pain
What are the symptoms?
Pain in the back or the neck which may be mild or severe
The pain may come on suddenly or develop over a period of days or weeks
Persistent numbness in one limb or a persistent weakness of certain movements may reflect pressure on a nerve rootWhy might I have this?
Predisposing Factors
Habitual poor posture
Stress
Certain occupation, such as working on computers
Pregnancy
Joint dysfunction or muscle spasm
Prolapsed disc
Muscle and ligament pain
Degenerative diseaseTriggers
Sports injury
Whiplash
Lifting a heavy object awkwardly
Fibromyalgia
What are the symptoms?
The symptoms of Fibromyalgia usually develop slowly over weeks and may include:
Persistent connective tissue pain affecting almost any part of the body
Fatigue, sleep disturbance and/or unrefreshing sleep
Fibromyalgia is associated with other conditions, particularly migraine and irritable bowel syndrome – many people who have Fibromyalgia also have these
Fibromyalgia is often associated with depression and anxiety
Tenderness to pressure at 11 or more of 18 tender points (base of skull, neck, shoulder, shoulder blade, breastbone, elbow, hip, thigh, knee)
Symptoms may become worse if stress levels increaseWhy might I have this?
Predisposing Factors
Stress
Sleep deprivation
Another disorder, such as rheumatoid arthritis, lupus or hypothyroidism
Being sensitive to paint solvents and other chemicals
Being sensitive to cleaning products, heavy metals, siliconeTriggers
Injury, trauma or major surgery
Infection (bacterial or viral)
Thyroid Problems
What are the symptoms?
Symptoms of hyperthyroidism include:
Weight loss, despite increased appetite
Palpitations
Trembling of the hands (tremor)
Lowered tolerance to heat
Excessive sweating
Anxiety and insomnia
Swelling in the neck (goitre)
Frequent bowel movements
Muscle weakness
Irregular menstruation
Protruding eyes (exophthalmos) in Graves’ diseaseSymptoms of hypothyroidism include:
Tiredness
Poor memory
Weight gain
Constipation
Deepened voice
Swelling in the neck
Lowered tolerance to cold
Puffy eyes and dry, thickened skin
Generalised thinking of the hair
Heavy or less frequent menstrual periods
Weakness and aching of muscles
Joint painsWhy might I have this?
Predisposing Factors
For hyperthyroidism:
Genetic predisposition
For hypothyroidism:
Previous radioiodine treatment or surgery for hyperthyroidism
Autoimmune problems