It’s September, and the nights are drawing in so quickly it’s reminded me that this is the critical time to put measures in place if you have or are at risk of Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD) Winter depression is the other name for SAD; it’s a type of depression triggered by the change of seasons,… Read More Seasonal Affective Disorder, and light therapy
Physical pain is an essential part of the human experience; it’s the body’s protective alarm system. Its a subjective experience and one which is challenging to convey to other people. Especially if there are no obvious outward clues, our ability to tolerate pain is as individual as our fingerprints and shaped by many factors: genetics,… Read More Pain, does it need to hurt so much?
Where do you live? In your head, body or both? The reason I ask is that, as a health professional and movement teacher, I meet many people who live in their heads, and their body is just this thing hanging below their lower eyelashes, I kid you not!
The word “core” and “core stability” sit deep in a sea of myth and inadequate understanding about human movement, even in health and fitness spaces. I say this as a comprehensively trained Pilates teacher, osteopath and clinical educator with lived experience managing a severe spinal injury.
The previous post; “Pain what’s really going on?” Discussed pain from a medical and scientific point of view. It aimed to give you an understanding of how pain can be categorised, the variety of words to describe pain, and the normal healing times, which may help people avoid slipping into persistent or chronic states. This… Read More Pain management, ways forwards
Fibromyalgia is a mysterious long-term condition that involves widespread chronic pain without a known cause; it’s more of a frustrating label than a diagnosis. Some people will eventually discover a specific reason, but in many cases; the condition appears to be triggered by a physically stressful event, such as an injury, infection or having a… Read More Fibromyalgia explained
Pain can a useful and potentially life-saving protection mechanism. You only have to touch something unexpectedly hot to appreciate that the resulting OUCH was helpful because it made you pull your hand away and prevent possible further injury.
A variety of techniques can help our nervous system back into balance. The relaxation response is one of the simplest because it works like a braking system to brings our body and mind back into a state of equilibrium.
Pressure and stress are omnipresent; they touch every aspect of our everyday life, affecting our body, thoughts, our feelings, and our behaviours too. Interestingly, although most people believe that all stress is harmful, it has some essential benefits.
As an osteopath, it’s routine to be talking with patients about sleep, especially if discomfort or pain is making it difficult to get to sleep. Any joint-related problem or health concern can be a factor that influences our choice of sleep position. The question that comes up most often is what position is best?
Did you know that the body contains more calcium than any other mineral? Alongside it’s a vital role with bones, it helps with heart health, and is needed for the nervous system to work efficiently.
Do you get bloating and abdominal pain after drinking a large cappuccino, or eating ice cream? If the answer is yes, you could have Lactose deficiency, which causes Lactose intolerance.
Restless leg syndrome is a nighttime condition of unpleasant sensations in the legs. This could be cramps, aching, pain, tingling or burning. Restless legs syndrome is also known as Willis-Ekbom disease, a common condition of the nervous system that causes an overwhelming, irresistible urge to move the legs.
Helicobacter pylori is a common bacterium that grows in the digestive tract (gut). It is also known as H. pylori, the “H” in the name is short for Helicobacter. “Helico” means spiral, which shows that the bacteria are spiral shaped. H. pylori attack the stomach lining, many infections are usually harmless, but they are also responsible for most stomach and… Read More Helicobacter Pylori
Getting enough fibre in the diet is essential for health as research has shown that besides reducing constipation, it can help with weight management, may lower cholesterol levels and reduce the risk of diabetes, heart disease and bowel cancer. Dietary fibre is a type of complex carbohydrates found in plant-based foods that our digestive system… Read More Dietary fibre, explained.
Irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) is a long-term condition of the digestive system that causes episodes of abdominal cramps, bloating and changes in bowel movements. IBS is the name doctors give to a collection of otherwise unexplained symptoms relating to a disturbance in the digestive system and bowels habits. IBS is an illness that has no… Read More Irritable bowel syndrome
Coeliac disease is a lifelong autoimmune disease caused by a reaction to gluten. It affects one in 100 people. However, it is estimated that nearly half a million people are living with this condition undiagnosed.
Often described as a ringing in the ears, Tinnitus is the name for perception or sensation of hearing any sound in the ears or head not created from the outside environment.
Potassium is a mineral and one of the body’s essential electrolytes, and it has many vital roles in maintaining our health. Found in all body tissues and required for normal cell function helping to regulate fluid balance, the electrical activity of the heart and the control of other muscles. Potassium is present in many foods… Read More Potassium, why do we need it?
Sitting below the sacrum at the lowest part of the spine is the coccyx, also known as the tailbone. It is a small triangular bone resembling a shortened tail and made up of 3 to 5 spinal bones or coccygeal vertebrae with disc-like ligaments.
Mindfulness and meditation are everywhere; it’s being offered as a cure-all for everything from IBS and low-self esteem to help pain management and depression. There is good science to confirm the benefits, and growing research shows that when people train to be more mindful, they are rewiring the physical structure of their brain, but what… Read More Calming the monkey mind
We need a steady daily supply of Zinc to stay healthy as it also has an anti-inflammatory and antioxidant role. It also has a significant impact on hormonal balance for both men and women, even a small deficiency can cause an increased risk of diabetes or infertility. Are you getting all you need?
Welcome to 2019! I wanted the first entry of this new year to be about something significant, meaningful and potentially life-changing. This entry is about the benefits and power of touch.
One in four adults in the UK is estimated to have high blood pressure without realising it. Hypertension the medical term for high blood pressure, untreated it increases the risk of severe health problems. It can go unnoticed as it rarely has any signs or symptoms.
Do you struggle to get through the day? Or get breathless, sluggish and weak doing everyday activities? These could be signs of anaemia. Anaemia leads to poor circulation of oxygen around the body and sometimes causes complications, although it’s rare, anaemia that remains untreated can even become deadly.
Serotonin is sometimes called the happy chemical because it contributes to wellbeing, mood and happiness. Serotonin is widely believed to be a neurotransmitter although some scientists think it is a hormone.
The changes in seasons can affect us in profound ways, some people report feeling more cheerful when the days are longer, and the sun is shining. While others crave carbohydrates during the long, often grey UK winters.
Gout is an excruciatingly painful condition caused when uric acid levels build up in the body. It’s a complex form of arthritis and the most common inflammatory arthritis. Approximately 2.5% of adults in the UK will get Gout, with men being more susceptible than women.
The vagus nerve is the leader of our inner nerve centre, also known as the 10th cranial nerve or cranial nerve X. It’s the longest of the 12 cranial nerves in the body, and has the most extensive distribution because it passes through the neck and chest into the abdomen. The vagus nerve controls the… Read More The vagus nerve, explained
Sitting below the sacrum at the lowest part of the spine is the coccyx, also known as the tailbone. It is a small triangular bone resembling a shortened tail and made up of 3 to 5 spinal bones or coccygeal vertebrae with disc-like ligaments.
Thriving, inside and out 