Home treatments for Back Pain

As individuals reach middle age, they are more likely to suffer from episodes of low back discomfort. Indeed, according to the Harvard Special Health Report Men’s Health: Fifty and Forward, around four in five Americans will have back discomfort at some point in their life, and men and women will experience it equally.

Age is frequently to blame. Joints and bones in your lower back tend to deteriorate over time. Your discs (the structures that act as cushions between the bones in your spine) will eventually wear out and fragment. These structural changes might occasionally result in pain.

Another less common cause of low back discomfort is a herniated disc. Occasionally; a disc protrudes beyond the gap between the bones and compresses a neuron at its branching point from the spinal cord. Sciatica is a term that refers to discomfort that originates in the sciatic nerve that runs through the buttocks and leg.

However, the majority of occurrences of low back pain are caused by strain or sprain as a result of simple overuse, unfamiliar activity, excessive lifting, or an accident. Generally, the best course of action is to wait and see whether the discomfort subsides on its own. If the discomfort persists after three to four days, it is time to consult a physician.

Depending on the cause and degree of your back pain, you may wish to give a few home remedies a try to assist alleviate the discomfort until your back returns to normal. Consider the following options:

Both cold and heat therapy are effective. It is preferable to apply cold compresses or an ice pack immediately following a back injury rather than heat, as this helps alleviate pain by numbing the area and preventing or reducing swelling. However, putting heating pads or a hot-water bottle to your back 48 hours after the onset of back discomfort may be beneficial. The heat helps to soothe and relax painful muscles and stimulates blood flow, which aids in the healing process. Bear in mind that heat therapy is beneficial only during the initial week.

Restriction on bed rest. Bed rest, once the basis of back pain treatment, has gone out of favor. Doctors now understand that it is preferable to maintain movement in order to avoid muscle stiffness. Bed rest can still be beneficial for relieving low back pain, particularly if your pain is severe enough that sitting or standing causes agony. However, try to keep it to a few hours every day and no longer than one or two days.

Physical exertion. Exercise contributes to the development of strong, flexible muscles that are less prone to injury. Additionally, it can aid in the healing process of an ailing back, prevent something similar happening in the future, and improve function. Develop an exercise plan with your doctor or get a referral to another health expert who can. A well-designed exercise program will often incorporate all three major types of exercise: aerobic activity, strength training, and flexibility exercises.

Alternative remedies. Numerous forms of complementary therapy may be beneficial in relieving low back pain. These include the following:

  • Acupuncture, in which therapists insert sterilized hair-thin needles into specific places on the body to unblock energy
  • Spinal manipulation, in which chiropractors apply direct pressure to the body in order to realign the spine
  • Massage therapy to soothe sore muscles
  • Yoga and tai chi are both movement therapies that can help stretch and strengthen back muscles.

Although the evidence for these therapies is mixed, when they do work, it is frequently in conjunction with other home remedies for lower back pain.

For more information regarding lower back pain as well as other types of pain, visit Pain Help for resources.

What is a Dental Hygienist

Dental hygienists are professionals who help evaluate a dental patient’s oral health. They can also make recommendations to help protect and promote good oral hygiene. They are the first line of defense against many of the most common dental diseases such as gingivitis or other types of gum disease. Dental hygienists can help dental patients develop better dental habits which can, in turn, help protect their teeth and allow them to keep their natural teeth for a longer time. Dental hygienists almost always work in a dental office but they are not dentists. Dental hygienists are somewhat similar in the dental world to nurses in the medical world, meaning they don’t require the same level of education as dentists but provide invaluable support to them.

EDUCATIONAL AND LICENSING REQUIREMENTS

Dental hygienists generally need an Associate’s Degree in dental hygiene. Unlike most Associate’s Degree programs, however, those for dental hygienists generally take three years to complete rather than two. Dental hygienists also need to be licensed by the state. While specific licensing requirements will vary from state to state, they generally require both clinical and written examinations as well as a degree from an accredited institution. In many cases, dental hygienists may also be required to have CPR certification.

SALARY

According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, the median income for dental hygienists was just under $75,000 a year or around $36 an hour.

JOB GROWTH

The demand for dental hygienists is expected to increase by 11% between 2018 and 2028, which is significantly faster than most occupations. This is largely due to two factors. The first is that as research shows a stronger and stronger link between good oral health and good overall health, more people are becoming aware of the importance of maintaining good oral health. This creates an increased demand for dental hygienists.

The second reason for the expected growth is due to the aging population of baby boomers. While people of all ages are becoming more aware of the importance of dental hygiene and its impact on overall health, as people age they become even more keenly aware of the need to care for their teeth if they want to keep them. Baby boomers represent one of the largest populations of the last century and as they head into their golden years they also represent one of the largest populations in need of services like dental hygienists.

Abdominal Pain

Abdominal pain is experienced between the chest and the pelvic region. This pain can range in severity and type and is often described as being dull, sharp, or achy. Abdominal pain may be intermittent or steady.

What Causes Abdominal Pain?

There are numerous conditions that can lead to abdominal pain. Some of the more common causes of abdominal pain include:

  • Obstructions
  • Inflammation
  • Intestinal disorders
  • Abnormal growths

Abdominal pain may be the result of an infection in another part of the body. For example, a person suffering from a throat infection may have blood and bacteria from the infection in their abdomen, leading to abdominal pain. Intestinal infections may produce a similar result. In addition to pain, these conditions may bring about changes in indigestion, including constipation or diarrhea.

The stomach flu, stress, acid reflux, and vomiting are other common causes of abdominal pain. There are diseases that attack the digestive system and lead to chronic abdominal pain, including:

  • IBS- Irritable Bowel Syndrome
  • GERD – Gastroesophageal Reflux Disease
  • Lactose intolerance
  • Crohn’s disease

A person may experience severe, intense abdominal pain if they have gallbladder stones, a kidney infection, kidney stones, a burst appendix, or another condition affecting organs inside the abdominal cavity.

Understanding the Different Types of Abdominal Pain

Abdominal pain is described as colicky, localized, or cramp-like.

When a person is experiencing localized pain, the pain is only in one part of the abdomen. In these cases, pain is usually caused by an issue with a particular organ located in that part of the abdomen. One of the more common sources of localized abdominal pain is stomach ulcers. A stomach ulcer is where a sore appears in the inner lining of the stomach.

Colicky pain is described as a sharp pain. It may be a localized pain. Colicky pain comes on suddenly and then disappears. It may feel like the pain is happening in spasms or in waves. Colicky abdominal pain can happen repeatedly and sporadically over the course of weeks, months, or years. It is more commonly seen in the hollow organs of the abdomen. These would include the rectum, the gallbladder, and the small and large intestines.

Cramp-like pain is often temporary and usually does not reflect a serious long-term health condition. Cramp-like pain is associated with menstruation, constipation, diarrhea, bloating, and flatulence. This pain comes and goes on its own and in most cases will subside without requiring additional treatment.

The location of the abdominal pain may give an indication of the source of the pain.

  • Pain located in the center of the abdomen may be an indication of appendicitis, gastroenteritis, or an injury.
  • Pain located on the lower left of the abdomen may indicate appendicitis, kidney infection, Crohn’s disease, an ovarian cyst, or cancer.
  • Pain in the upper left of the abdomen could be an indication of fecal impaction, cancer, injury, heart attack, or an enlarged spleen.
  • Pain in the lower right of the abdomen may indicate a kidney infection, flu, appendicitis, a hernia, or cancer.
  • Pain in the upper right abdominal region may indicate appendicitis, pneumonia, hepatitis, or injury.

In most cases, mild abdominal pain will subside on its own. However, severe abdominal pain, abdominal pain that results from trauma, and abdominal pain accompanied by pressure in your chest, fever, vomiting, or bleeding may require a trip to the doctor.