The Star Online: Lifestyle: Health
The Star Online: Lifestyle: Health |
- Does the heart burn?
- Getting fit creatively
- Overnight Diet trend claims weight loss while you snooze
| Posted: 10 Apr 2013 12:45 AM PDT The term heartburn indicates a problem in the digestive tract, not the heart. EVERY night for the past three months, I have been waking up with a burning pain in my stomach. I think it's the suppers that I indulge in that may have caused this problem. What does heartburn really mean? Heartburn is a colloquial term for a feeling of warmth or burning in the chest or upper stomach. Although the pain or discomfort is felt in the chest, it is not the heart that is causing it; rather, it's stomach acid. This pain or burning discomfort may spread to your throat, jaw, arms or back. Some people actually think they are having a heart attack. If you are not sure, please go to the hospital immediately. Heartburn usually occurs 30 to 60 minutes after eating a meal. It is a pain that is made worse if you lie down, bend forward or strain at the toilet. The pain is relieved if you stand up, swallow water or your own saliva or take antacids. You may even experience a bitter or sour taste in your mouth. Why does this happen? Is it a common occurrence? It is a very common condition that affects about one third of all people sometime in their lives, or even multiple times in their lives. It is especially common in pregnant women as a result of their expanding wombs. Frequent heartburn is actually a symptom of something more serious called GERD (gastroesophageal reflux disease). Does this mean I have a stomach ulcer? I am scared to go for one of those 'scope' procedures. It does not necessarily mean that, and a "scope" is not scary as you will be sedated while the procedure is being carried out. To understand heartburn, you have to understand the anatomy of your pharynx, oesophagus and stomach. You eat, chew and swallow food. This food travels from your mouth to your pharynx (gullet), and then to a tube called the esophagus (food pipe). This tube connects your pharynx to your stomach. Before entering your stomach, the food must pass through a tight muscular sphincter called the lower esophageal sphincter (LES). This sphincter prevents food and acid from travelling back to the oesophagus. Once the food is in your stomach, stomach acids will digest the food, especially the protein part of it. Since this acid is extremely acidic, your stomach walls have to be protected by a special protective layer of cells with its own mucous. Your esophageal lining does not have this protective layer. Heartburn occurs when the LES does not close properly, thus allowing stomach acid to climb back (or reflux) into the lower part of your oesophagus. This is felt as a "burning" sensation. Why doesn't the LES close properly? There are several reasons: 1. Some types of food and drinks affect the function of the LES. These include coffee, tea, chocolate, soft drinks, peppermint, fatty foods and alcohol. 2. Some foods or drinks irritate the lining of the stomach, contributing to overproduction of acid and heartburn. These include spicy foods, citrus drinks like orange or lemon, tomatoes and tomato sauce, and certain painkillers. Smoking also irritates the lining of the stomach. 3. It is easier for stomach acid to flow into your oesophagus if you are lying on your back, especially after a heavy meal, lying on your right side, or if you are bending over. 4. If you have something that increases the pressure in your abdomen, such as pregnancy or obesity (having a huge abdomen), or some disease which results in a distended or fluid-filled belly. This forces the stomach acid into the oesophagus. 5. If you perform activities that increase the pressure in your abdomen, such as heavy lifting, coughing frequently, and straining, for example, while in the toilet. 6. If you wear very tight clothing, especially around your waist. 7. If you have certain diseases like hiatus hernia, diabetes and autoimmune disease. 8. Certain medicines can cause heartburn, such as some of those used to treat high blood pressure and heart conditions as well as asthma. Is heartburn dangerous? What can I do about it? If the acid reflux goes on for a long time, the oesophagus can be damaged. You may have difficulty swallowing, leading to loss of weight and dehydration because you are so afraid to drink or eat. In rare cases, the oesophagus may tear. You should go to a doctor if heartburn persists despite all your measures to counter it, and if you experience it more than three times a week for more than two weeks. The doctor may refer you to a gastroenterologist for further investigation. The mainstay procedure for diagnosis is the endoscope. Treatment options include antacids, drugs that block acid production and protect the lining of the oesophagus, as well as surgery if it's very serious. > Dr YLM graduated as a medical doctor and has been writing for many years on various subjects such as medicine, health advice, computers and entertainment. For further information, e-mail starhealth@thestar.com.my. The information contained in this column is for general educational purposes only. Neither The Star nor the author gives any warranty on accuracy, completeness, functionality, usefulness or other assurances as to such information. The Star and the author disclaim all responsibility for any losses, damage to property or personal injury suffered directly or indirectly from reliance on such information. |
| Posted: 10 Apr 2013 12:42 AM PDT Move to the beat at The Star Health Fair 2013 with Brazilian Jiu Jitsu and modern dance. I AM too small and too weak to fight off an assailant if I am confronted by one," said a female colleague who weighs less than 42 kilograms over tea. Her comments was immediately echoed by another colleague who is in his 60s. "When I was younger, I practised many different types of martial arts to stay fit, but as I grew older, I had to stop. I could not kick pads anymore and the bruises were getting to me," he said. As the conversation progressed, I asked them if they have heard of Brazilian Jiu Jitsu (BJJ) and all I got in return were blank faces. Jiu Jitsu's roots can be traced back to India, where it was originally practised by Buddhist monks, but "the gentle art" as it is known around the world first, gained popularity in Japan in the early 20th century. By 1915, the Brazilian version was created, and it promotes the concept that size doesn't really matter and one can successfully defend against a bigger, stronger assailant by using leverage and proper technique, taking the fight to the ground – most notably by applying joint-locks and chokeholds to defeat the other person. Jiu-Jitsu became prominent in the martial arts community in the early 1990s, when BJJ expert Royce Gracie defeated much larger opponents who were practising other styles, including boxing, muay thai, karate, wrestling, judo and tae kwon do. One of the fundamental values of BJJ is technique over strength, and it is widely practised around the world not only by young men who want to be professional mixed martial artists, but also by women and senior citizens who would like to stay fit. Second degree BJJ black belt Bruninho Barbosa says the gentle art can help with joint mobility, focus and flexibility even after one's prime. "BJJ gives you a full body workout, from head to toe," explained Barbosa who is currently in Malaysia with Monarchy MMA Combat Fitness Gym in Kuala Lumpur. "Age is just a number as long as you have the right mindset and willingness to learn. You can do BJJ at any age," Barbosa added. BJJ may not be everybody's cup of tea, but it is one of the few martial arts that allow its practitioners to carry on training even into their twilight years. After all, the founding father of BJJ Helio Gracie was still training at the age of 93! Barbosa will be demonstrating the art of BJJ at The Star Health Fair on April 14 at the Mid Valley Exhibition Centre from 5.15pm onwards. In addition to Barbosa, Natsumi Maeda will also be giving a demonstration of modern dance performance and Balletone. Maeda began her foray into dance when she enrolled at the BODY Fit Instructor Training School in Shibuya, Tokyo in 1995. After her graduation, there was no turning back, for she made the bold switch of changing from an office career to be a dance instructor. Never one to stay idle, she started teaching dance classes when she moved to Malaysia in 1997 with her husband. Maeda believes that everyone can dance, and her students range from four to 70 years of age. Each year, she holds a concert for her students, and her recent concert in Publika was a huge success, with a turnout of 400. Currently, she teaches Kids Hip Hop, Kids Street Jazz, Hip Hop, Street Jazz, Balletone, Pelvis Yoga, Senior Class and Pilates. The message is simple. If working out seems too much of a hassle, too tedious or feels too boring, get creative and consider taking up dancing classes. Find out how regular workouts like dancing can help boost your health, both physically and mentally at Great Eastern Life's Live Great Portal on livegreat.greateasternlife.com. Look out for the Live Great Challenge in The Star Health Fair 2013, a contest to test one's physical and mental fitness, financial fitness, nutrition knowledge, and to advocate healthy eating. Total prizes worth more than RM4,000 await you! > This year's theme, 'Let's Live Great!', is to inspire Malaysians to lead a healthy lifestyle by being physically and mentally fit. The Star Health Fair 2013 is organised by The Star with Great Eastern Life as the event partner. It will be held in Halls 1 to 3 of the Mid Valley Exhibition Centre from April 12 to 14. It is open from 10am to 7pm and admission is free. For enquiries or to participate, call 03-79671388 (ext 1243/1529) or visit www.facebook.com/thestarhealthfair. |
| Overnight Diet trend claims weight loss while you snooze Posted: 10 Apr 2013 12:37 AM PDT Dieters are flocking to the latest trend on the scene: the Overnight Diet, a rapid weight-loss plan that claims you can actually slim down while you sleep. American obesity doctor Caroline Apovian, of the Boston Medical Center, just penned a new book, "The Overnight Diet," advising that dieters eat a high-protein diet for six days, followed by one day of a liquid diet. That followed by lots of sleep (with no exercise necessary) equals a slimmer you, up to one kilo per night and four kilos in one week -- at least that's the promise. The book is published April 9 and available internationally. While mounting research suggests that more sleep can help you lose weight, skeptics say the diet is all a little too good to be true. "In order to lose two pounds of body fat overnight you'd have to burn up about six or seven thousand calories and there's just no way to do that by sleeping," Keith Ayoob, director of the nutrition clinic at the college's Rose F. Kennedy Center, told ABC News. "It goes without saying that anything being touted as an 'overnight diet' is complete and total bunk," writes fitness blog Blisstree. "But I'm gonna say it anyway because people still fall for the allure of quick, fast, and easy crash diets." Apovian doesn't entirely disagree that the weight loss is water, at least initially, and the diet does make room for a variety of healthy foods, including some good carbs and plenty of fruit. The liquid diet day consists of all-you-can-drink smoothies that Apovian claims are specifically engineered to produce a reduction in the body's production of insulin. If you're bloated or store fat around your midsection, insulin is to blame, she says, and following the diet can help release that stored water and salt weight -- leaving you slimmer and feeling healthier. To learn more about the diet: http://www.overnightdiet.org -- AFPRelaxnews |
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