Saturday 2 February 2013

Abdominal Tightness

Even the slightest disorder in abdomen can leave you with severe discomfort and sleepless nights. Abdominal tightness is no different and is seen as one of those health issues which irritate the most. Amazingly, there is no single reason behind it; abdominal tightness may result from number of reasons. Abdominal tightness or stomach tightening is the state in which the individual experiences uneasiness as a result of stomach pain, stomach cramping and even stomach bloating. Whatever may be the reason, it needs to be handled with full attention and care as the comfort of entire body rests on it. A thorough knowledge about the causes and treatment of abdominal tightness will help you get over it and be at ease. Follow the next sub-section where all the information is provided.

Causes Of Abdominal Tightness


Wrong Eating Habits
Wrong eating habits are the prime factors behind most of the stomach related health problems. Over-eating, intake of very spicy or oily food, and eating at wrong time usually results in abdominal tightness. It may also occur by the excessive intake of alcohol.

Constipation

One of the most common causes for pain and abdominal tightness is constipation. When an individual experiences irregular bowel movements, usually less than 3 times a week, and that too very dry and dark in colour, the person is expected to have problem of constipation. You can be sure about constipation if the patient also experiences headache, bloating and gas along with infrequency in bowel movements.

Acute Gastritis
Caused by the intake of alcohol or certain medications like aspirin, or severe stress, acute gastritis is a rapid inflammation of the stomach lining. It is basically brought by a bacterial or viral infection. Tightening in abdomen, combined with pain, nausea, vomiting, and loss of appetite are some of the major symptoms of acute gastritis.

Appendicitis
In the beginning of the intestine, there lies appendix, in the form of a big pouch. The abdomen tightening may occur due to swelling or inflammation in appendix caused by the blockage of feces. It is a serious medical condition and needs urgent medical action..

Diarrhoea
Diarrhoea can also be one of the possible reasons behind abdominal tightening. When diarrhoea catches an individual, it usually makes the stools very diluted and increases their frequency to a significant level. It also shows signs of fever, headache, nausea, loose stools (sometimes, with blood) along with pain and tightness in abdomen.

Bowel Obstruction
Bowel obstruction, which is directly related to the digestive system, also shows its impact in the form of abdominal tightness and significant pain. The varying types of obstruction in bowel largely depend upon the area of infection: in the large intestine or the small intestine. Usually caused by adhesion, injury, crohn’s disease, volvulus etc, bowel obstruction has abdominal tightness as its foremost symptom.

Lead Poisoning
Lead is known for its poisonous properties. Even a bit of its intake can cause severe health problems. Usually it gets in human system through contaminated water, air and also through utility products like cosmetics and paints. It causes several health problems that include vomiting, loss of appetite, stomach tightness, fatigue etc.

Pregnancy
Pregnant women usually experience tightness in their abdomen. During early stages of pregnancy it occurs as an outcome of the increase in the amount of a hormone named as progesterone. During this period, pregnant women experience nausea, too much burping, headache, stomach bloating and tightened stomach.

Irritable Bowel Syndrome
Generally known as IBS, irritable bowel syndrome is a health problem related with the large intestine whose cause is yet to be identified. More often it is manifested in the form of abdominal tightness, though other symptoms include nausea, bloating, abdominal pain, gas, constipation or diarrhoea.

Strained Muscles
Most sportsmen experience the tightness in abdomen resulting from the severe injuries caused by the excessive physical activities like exercises or sports. It happens when one or more muscles of stomach get pulled or strained during physical activity.

Treatment Of Abdominal Tightness
Avoid oily and spicy food as much as you can. Set a time for meals and refrain from eating at late nights or at wrong times.
Chart a well-balanced diet and follow it properly. Include fibre-rich products which help in reducing gas and subsequent tightening in stomach.
Intake of plenty of clean water really does wonders with the digestive process. Make a habit of drinking 8-10 glasses of water every day.
When suffering from stomach tightening due to constipation or gas formation, take aloe vera juice, prune juice and other such relieving substances like broccoli, potatoes, yogurt, asparagus, flaxseed, almonds, honey, etc.
- Follow BRAT (Banana, Rice, Applesauce, and Toast) diet when abdominal tightness is due to diarrhoea. You should also take high-fluid content for fast recovery.
Take a spastic colon diet enriched in magnesium, folic acid and vitamin B6 abdominal tightness is due to irritable bowel syndrome. For this purpose, consume green leafy vegetables, whole wheat breads and cereals, beans, peas and carrots etc. in your food.
When the patient is pregnant, it is normal to have tightened stomach. In case of severe tightness and its continuation over a period of time, contact a doctor immediately.
The problem of acute gastritis can be easily taken cared of with the help of medication. Acidity and inflammation can be cured with the help of over-the-counter and prescription antacids.
One of the severe ailments causing tightness in stomach is appendicitis. The only way to get it treated is surgery.
If however, in a few days time (having followed the treatment) abdominal tightness, pain and discomfort, doesn’t subside then it is recommended that you get the condition diagnosed from a qualified medication professional.

Lemon Tea

love green tea  but  you can jazz it up by adding a few drops of fresh lemon juice. If you wish to know the different health benefits of lemon tea, then steer through the following section to learn more.
Health Benefits Of Lemon Tea
Lemon tea helps to eliminate harmful toxins from the blood that are produced as end products of different metabolic activities. By removing the toxins from the blood, lemon tea helps keep the body system clean.
Lemon tea acts as a great energy booster. It refreshes the mind and body and helps you get a new start to carry on with your work.
The lemon is loaded with natural antioxidant, antibacterial, and antiviral properties and thus helps to fight different infections and diseases. Lemon tea is particularly good to combat the common cold.
Lemon tea has a soothing effect on the stomach. If you are suffering from digestion problems, then drink a cup of hot steaming lemon tea as it will help you get some relief.
The natural antioxidant property of the lemon helps to eliminate harmful toxins from the blood. This reduces the risk of developing cancer. Plus, it also promotes a clear skin and helps fight off signs of aging.
Lemon tea acts as a purifying agent, and to get maximum benefits from it drink lemon tea early in the mornings.
Drinking lemon tea early in the morning helps you to stay fresh throughout the day, plus it also boosts your metabolic rate.
If you are on any weight loss diet program, then lemon tea is particularly beneficial for you.
Are you feeling weary and tired? If yes, just sip a cup of hot steaming lemon tea. There is nothing like hot lemon tea that provides you energy instantly and refreshes your body.
Iced lemon tea is particularly good during summers. A glass of lemon tea during hot summer months charges you up instantly.
Lemon is rich in vitamin C which has cleansing properties, plus, studies have shown that vitamin C also helps to slow down symptoms of arthritis.
If you are a green tea lover, just add a few drops of lemon juice to it! Not only you will love the taste, but the health benefits you get from lemon green tea are enormous. When lemon juice is added to green tea it boosts its antioxidant property, as the combination of lemon juice with green tea complement each other very well.
Now that you are familiar with the different lemon tea benefits, next time you feel tired just try lemon tea. You are definitely going to love it!

Green Tea Nutrition Facts

Tea, the famous of all beverages, has numerous varieties one of which is the ancient Chinese traditional tea known as ‘green tea’. Green tea originated thousands of years back as a part of early cultivation yields in China and India. It was used in ancient China for medicinal purposes, to ease the feeling of depression and also to treat headaches. This traditional tea has today become quite popular around the globe because of its refreshing and medicinal properties. Green tea goes through minimal oxidation during the processing period, making it one of the healthiest and most popular of all teas available in the market. It has a light and refreshing flavour and is lime yellow in colour. Its herbal taste refreshes a person and takes away all the tensed feeling thereby relaxing and soothing the person. Let us discuss about few major nutritional benefits of green tea and understand the properties in the tea that help provide these nutritional benefits to a regular user.

                             Health Benefits Of Green Tea

Green tea is rich in catechin polyphenols, especially epigallocatechin-3-gallate (EGCG) which is a powerful antioxidant that helps in slowing down the aging process. This particular chemical not only prevents the growth of cancer cells, but also kills cancer cells without any harm to the healthy tissues. EGCG also lowers the bad cholesterol levels thereby eradicating any risk of blocking in the blood vessels. This particular tannic acid in tea also prohibits abnormal blood clotting, known as thrombosis.
Green tea is a rich source of various vitamins like A, D, E, C, B, B5, H and K. Green tea also contains good amount of amino acids, protein, caffeine, folic acid and fluoride.

Green tea is the best beverage for facilitating the weight loss process, since it enhances the fat oxidation and increases the body’s metabolic rate. Green tea provides energy to the body and speeds up the metabolic rate of the body.
Green tea is completely fat free. It is free from any saturated, monounsaturated, polyunsaturated or trans fat.
Green tea contains 27mg of potassium, 3 mg of sodium, 3 mg of calcium, 2 mg of magnesium and small amounts of copper, iron and manganese, fulfilling the mineral requirements for the beverage.
The amino acids present in green tea have excellent tissue repairing quality which also help in the production of antibodies, bile acids, few essential enzymes, haemoglobin, hormones, milk proteins in nursing mothers, glutathione and cytochrome, melanin, plasma proteins, purine and pyrimidine. Amino acid also facilitates the creation of rhodypsin and urea in the body.
Fluorides that prevent dental cavities and decay by eradicating bacteria like Streptococcus mutans are also richly present in the green beverage.

Green tea is prescribed by the doctors for pregnant women because of the presence of folic acid in it. Drinking a cup of green tea before a meal will prove to be beneficial for an expecting mother since it increases the metabolic rate of the body and enhances fat oxidation.

Green tea also helps the immune system fight against various heart complications and cancer. Green tea is even good for patients suffering from rheumatoid arthritis, since it strengthens the immunity of the body.
Research shows that around 70% of people vulnerable to Alzheimer’s disease stop experiencing the symptoms once they started consuming green tea on a daily basis.
Green tea also prevents diabetes and its symptoms. It is also capable of showing 30 per cent reduction in the life-threatening disease and helps the body to create insulin in adequate amount.
Another research reveals that about 85% of chemotherapy patients concluded that a cup of green tea every day provides them the capacity to control the symptoms of nausea and make them feel more revitalized after the chemotherapy and radiation.