Placid Health Firm

                                                   Osteoarthritis is a form of arthritis that causes pain, swelling, and reduced motion in your joints. This can happen in any joint but it usually affects the hands, knees, hip or spine. Osteoarthritis breaks down the cartilage (slippery tissue that covers the ends of bones in a joint) in your joints. Healthy cartilage absorbs the shock of movement, when cartilage is lost, bones rub together and this can parmanently damage the joint. Risk factors for osteoarthritis include being overweight, aging or injuring a joint. Let's look at ways to manage osteoarthritis ; Choose wise medications          There are wide variety of medications used to manage osteoarthritis pain, options ranges from pills and syrup to lotion and injectables. Always consult a doctor before using any me...

                                                Emphysema is a type of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) that affect millions. This disease destroys the air sacs and reduces the lung capacity giving rise to the hallmark symptom of emphysema (shortness of breath). Emphysema can limit one's ability perform certain activities. In our last post we exposed different ways  one can prevent developing emphysema but if it turns out that you already developed emphysema, that's no reason to panic. Let's look at ways one can manage this disease and live much longer than expected ; Limit your exposure to irritants         This is one among the pertinent steps one can take to prevent emphysema or slow the progression if you've already been diagnosed with the condition. Irritants can be attributed to smoking, air pollution and ma...

                                                    Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is a term used in describing progressive lung diseases and  Emphysema  falls under this COPD. Emphysema is a type of COPD involving damage to the air sacs in the lungs and as a result your body does not get the oxygen it needs. Emphysema causes perpetual breathing problems and makes it hard to catch your breathe. Emphysema can make you develop a chronic cough and have trouble breathing during exercise. As the disease increases, your alveoli swell up and trap air inside making it difficult to breathe normally or engage in activities that require respiration. To prevent emphysema, you will need to avoid substances that damage the lungs. Let's look at pertinent measures to prevent emphysema ; Quit smoking         T...

  Caffeine is a bitter substance that occurs naturally in plants. Caffeine can be found in more than 60 plants,  including coffee beans, cacao pods,  tea leaves and kola nuts. In the recent years, there has been a production of synthetic (man-made) caffeine which is being added to some medicines, foods and drinks. Some medicines for pain relief and cold contain synthetic caffeine, and so do energy drinks. Energy boosting gums and snacks also contain synthetic caffeine. Caffeine can have many effects on the body either in a positive or negative way. Caffeine can stimulate the central nervous system, it provides the body with energy  and can help your body get rid of extra salt and water by urinating more. Caffeine can also increase your blood pressure and can as well increase the release of acid in your stomach which can in turn cause stomach upset or heartburn, and caffeine can equally interfere with the absorption of calcium in the body. Most individ...

           As the body ages, the brain also ages. Sometimes as a result of aging our brain seems not to be active, we tend to forget things quickly, and sometimes we suffer a memory loss entirely. Deterioration of the brain usually sneaks up on us. By the time we realize it, it may be too late. As we get older, we more frequently start asking questions like “Where did I put the car keys?” “What was it I was supposed to get at the store?” “What’s your name again?”.  Most of us have had to ask questions like this, and it seems to happen more often as we get older. We can’t turn back our biological clock, but there are things we can do to reduce the rate of their mental decline. Let's look at some physical activities you can indulge in to reduce the mental effects of aging. Try solving puzzles         To help avoid the deterioration of your mental faculties as you age, you should do mentally stimulating activities. Me...

                                                                     Every human body is meant to age, yes, but there are things you can do to slow down the aging process. There are things you should incorporate into your daily activities that can help you keep your body young and strong. Let's look at some of these activities Stay active          To keep your heart healthy as you get older, include physical activity in your daily routine. Regular moderate activity will help you stay fit, reduce arterial stiffening in the heart, and lower your blood pressure. Exercise helps keep your bones, joints and muscles strong and healthy. Exercise also lowers your blood sugar levels and cholesterol. Good physical activities include walking, jogging, swimming, cycling, climbing and we...