What is abdominal pain?
Any discomfort which a person feels anywhere between the lower portions of the chest to the distal groin or the pelvis is supposed to be abdominal pain. Pain in the diaphragm, pelvis (and genitals) and the retroperitoneal space can also be associated with abdominal pain. Abdominal pain occurs all of a sudden and may require immediate medical assistance.

In most cases, the abdominal pain is bearable. The pain may occur due to indigestion or muscle strain but it can also be a sign of a serious illness.

Causes of abdominal pain
Common causes which might initiate pain in abdominal portion:

Viral gastroenteritis
Viral gastroenteritis is also known as the stomach flu. Stomach flu leads to inflammation of the stomach and intestines. It can be caused by many different viruses, such as rotavirus, adenovirus, norovirus, etc

PMS (Premenstrual Syndrome)
Premenstrual syndrome leads to various emotional and physical symptoms. Menstrual pain causes discomfort and inflammation or swelling in the abdomen. PMS leads to bloating, cramps, constipation, etc. Women with endometriosis also go through severe or chronic inflammation and pain in the abdomen.

Food poisoning or indigestion
Dyspepsia or indigestion causes problems in the digestive system. Food poisoning can be one cause of indigestion. Vomiting, bloating, gases, etc during indigestion also leads to abdominal pain.

In cases of food poisoning, harmful organisms can produce toxins that cause irritation in the lining of stomach and intestines. This can also result in pain. But the actual symptoms of food poisoning can vary. The exact symptoms and their severity will depend on the kind of bacteria or virus or parasite that’s responsible for the infection and for how much time it is in your system, and how well your immune system is fighting it with. In most cases, food poisoning pain will be associated with nausea or vomiting and diarrhea. Cramps and pain or discomfort in the stomach and gut, diarrhea, and vomiting can start as early as 1 hour after eating the food and as late as 10 days after the food with bacteria is taken.

Stomach or peptic ulcers
Ulcers are wounds which lead to persistent abdominal pain. Bacteria H. pylori is the most common cause of ulcers. In some cases, overuse or continued use of non-steroidal anti-inflammatory medications (NSAIDS) also leads to ulcers in the stomach.

Irritable bowel syndrome (IBS)
A very common sign of irritable bowel syndrome is abdominal pain. IBS also leads to constipation and diarrhea. Women may feel symptoms of IBS during menstruation which may lead to cramping. The cause of irritable bowel syndrome isn’t fully understood. A diagnosis is often done based on the symptoms. It is a common, long-term condition of the digestive system, which can cause bouts of stomach cramps, bloating, diarrhea.

Some Other Causes
Urinary tract infection, acid reflux, appendicitis, fibroids, H. pylori Infection, crohn’s disease, Celiac disease, hepatitis, etc are some common causes which cause pain in the abdomen.

Everything throughout your day, from the way you sleep to what you eat, can have some sort of effect on the condition of your back. Making poor choices while you are young, could lead to back pain, later on in life. This can wind up being a serious condition that could put someone in the hospital or make them unable to work. That is why you should follow simple guidelines throughout your life, in order to help prevent an injury, later in life.

To avoid having back pain, make sure you’re lifting properly and safely. A lot of back pain is caused by not lifting heavy objects properly. Make sure you’re bending your knees, keeping your abs tight, and keeping the object close to your body. This will help take a lot of the strain off of your back.

Lifting things that are too far away is commonly due to laziness and time constraints. People tend to take shortcuts daily that can have negative effects on their backs. When you are far away from an object that you are reaching for, get as close as you can. You will also want to take some time to execute things in the right way.

Consider extenuating health concerns. Being overweight is especially hindering to your back as the extra pounds cause strain on your lower back. A good diet needs to be implemented and a healthy weight in order to protect your back from physical harm due to obesity or extra weight. Additionally, your back pain could be the result of one or more underlying medical conditions such as a Tarlov cyst (which would require specialized Tarlov cyst treatment) or a herniated disc and pinched nerve near the spine (which is less specialized, yet still requires an orthopedic surgeon to diagnosis and treat.)

If you are constantly frustrated and worried about your back pain, your condition will not improve. Learning helpful techniques of relaxation, or smart ways to stretch the affected muscles will go much further in relieving your back pain and releasing tension. Make sure you rest, and apply heat to your back to ease the pain that you are feeling.

During bouts of back pain, it’s essential to relax the muscles that are in spasm. The fastest, easiest way to accomplish this is by laying down and applying some heat directily to the tense, spasming muscles. You can also drink many fluids and reduce your sodium until the pain goes away. If you get dehydrated, the muscle spasms will worsen.

Buy a bag, purse or backpack with a long strap that can be worn on the opposite shoulder as the item. This allows the weight of the bag to be distributed more evenly across both sides of your body. It also helps keep the shoulders aligned, which helps keep your back from injury.

Stretches and flexibility exercises can go a long way in preventing and even getting rid of back pain. If these stretches are done properly and according to guided direction you will see the results. Yoga is a good idea for certain situations, and especially for preventative measures. Talk to your doctor, and do all that you can for prevention of back pain.

If you have to be in the sitting position for a large portion of your day, be sure that your chair has a comfortable pad in the back. This will help give your back the support that it needs, which in turn, will help to prevent any unnecessary back pains.

Massage therapy has been proven a very effective method for alleviating lower back pain as well as helping with other problems. It can help improve sleep and lessen anxiety and depression which may also be causing the back problems. Overall massage therapy has many positive benefits and is great to use in combination with heat or ice therapy.

When working at your desk or computer, make sure you sit in the proper posture or purchase an ergonomic chair. Be sure to get up and walk around and loosen your muscles. It is easier to keep them from getting cramped rather than trying to get out the cramps in your back.

Making small changes throughout your daily life to better adjust for the back, is not as hard as it may seem. These little improvements, when applied routinely, will have a positive influence on the strength and support of your spinal column. A spine with more support is less likely to develop issues, thus, will keep you free from back pain.

Rarely do we recognize our teeth as the strongest parts of the human body. Yes, they are the toughest bones we have, ranking 5 on the Moh’s Scale and in our eyes, they’re indestructible. Well, sort of.

We use our teeth for numerous things beyond chewing our food. We use them for opening up stubborn packaging, holding onto items when our hands aren’t enough and it’s a convenient bottle opener. All of these things we put our teeth through are major factors causing periodontal disease, tooth decay and tooth loss. Sure, you can go to your dentist when these problems arise, but there’s only so much they can do to help your case. In fact, dental implants are the number one solution for those missing one or more teeth. However, we want to help you out before it ever gets to that point. Check out these 5 tips for great oral health care.

Stick with a Good Oral Hygiene Routine
You’ve been brushing your teeth from a very young age, which is great! Those who learned the art of toothbrushing in their childhood have a greater chance of keeping up with it throughout their whole lives. However, there may have been a point in your teen years where oral hygiene wasn’t your entire focus. There may have been days where you skipped on brushing your teeth and that slowly grew into a bad habit. A result of that is the beginning of tooth decay, and it follows you forever.

If you’ve skipped out on brushing your teeth more than once, now’s the time to break that habit. Just think, every time you miss out on brushing your teeth, you’re slowly letting the effects of gingivitis, staining and tooth decay settle in and tear your oral health apart. Don’t let that happen to you. Start practicing oral hygiene habits today – including toothbrushing, flossing and using mouthwash – and your future self will be very thankful.

Visit Your Dentist Even if You Don’t Want To
Here at Atlantic Dental Group we urge you to visit your dentist at least once every six months. It’s not to our benefit, it’s just the right thing to do for a lifetime of strong, healthy teeth. Even just one cleaning a year can go a long way in comparison to not going at all. Your dentist is able to give your teeth a full cleaning that you can’t reach with just a toothbrush and provide you dental tips that are specific to your case. Here in our office, our dentists will treat you like a friend. We’re not going to let you go home without educating you on your own oral health.

For some people, they don’t visit their dentist because their limited financially. Lucky there are some alternatives that you can look into if you fall into this category. Plenty of dental schools offer free or reduced services if your willing to have a student work on you. There are also free community-based clinics that offer basic services to qualifying patients. Your dentist may also offer payment plans to choose from, stretching your payment over a period of time. Essentially, there’s no reason for you to ignore a trip to the dentist.

You Can Never Drink Enough Water
Drinking water is only second to brushing your teeth when talking about good oral hygiene. Water flushes out food particles that get stuck in between your teeth, your gums and you tongue. It’s the only things you can swish around in your mouth (besides mouthwash) that won’t cause massive damage to your teeth. Get at least 8 cups of water in everyday, not only to stay hydrated, but to swig out any lingering sugars and bacteria.

While you’re at it, go ahead and avoid too many sugary drinks. You’re an adult, we can’t stop you from drinking soda, even if you’re one to dip your food in it, However, you’ll eventually pay the price for drinking too much soda with tooth loss and gum disease. Plus, sugary drinks actually dry out your mouth and cause dehydration. One of the safest ways to ensure you have all of your teeth for a lifetime is to simply give up on sodas and the like.

Make a Quality Investment in Dental Hygiene Products
There’re no cutting corners when it comes to taking care of your teeth. If you want strong and healthy teeth, you have to invest in them. It’s vital you replace your toothbrush at least once every three months, sooner if you’ve overcome a sickness spell. Toothbrushes aren’t even that expensive, the least expensive brand does as good of a job as professional-level brands. You can also invest in an electric toothbrush that aids in removing food particles and getting between your teeth before you even get to flossing.

Don’t forget about your floss and mouthwash! Flossing is important because it helps clean the half of your teeth that’s unreachable by a toothbrush. With the right technique, it can take as little as a minute to do every day. You can even use a Waterpik if you’re scared of bleeding gums. Another thing to add to your shopping list is medicated mouthwash. In comparison to regular mouthwashes, which only masks the smell of bad breath, medicated mouthwashes tackle and prevent periodontal disease and tooth decay thanks to special formulation. Remember, investing now into your oral hygiene will pay off in the long run.

Keep a Balanced Diet Rich in Vitamins and Minerals
The thin layer of enamel that protects your teeth goes under a ton of strain every single day. It fights off a never ending attack of acids that result from bacteria breaking down food on the surface of your teeth. That’s why your enamel needs backup in the form of a healthy diet. Make sure to consume plenty of foods that are rich in Vitamins A-E, calcium, magnesium, potassium and iodine. These help strengthen enamel and remineralize your teeth as they prepare for contact with your next meal.

If you’re having trouble locating foods that contain these essential vitamins and minerals, you have one other option, supplements. You can easily find supplement tablets at the pharmacy, and it never hurts to have a supply of them even if you do have an already balanced diet.

Atlantic Dental Group is Here to Help
These tips make it easy for you to take care of your teeth. So long as you use them to develop good habits, you’ll have strong and healthy teeth for a lifetime. Atlantic Dental Group will be here for you whenever you need us, even if you lose a tooth. Oral hygiene is important, and we’ll do our very best to make sure the 32 teeth that grow in during your teen years is the same 32 teeth you have going into retirement.

Acupuncture is one of the techniques of traditional Chinese medicine to treat various health conditions. It is a thousand years old practice and has been in China and some Asian countries for long. But in recent decades, it has become popular in European countries as well and is observing an increased number of people turning to it every year. Acupuncture can treat common body pain, headache, respiratory conditions, gastrointestinal issues, stress, anxiety, depression, and much more. But one thing which is still known to fewer people is acupuncture for weight loss in Houston, TX. It might be surprising and unbelievable for some, but acupuncture does help in reducing weight.According to TCM, the reason behind the weight gain is the malfunctioning various organs involved in the digestion process. This malfunctioning causes the imbalance in body functioning causing the weight gain. Therefore, acupuncture for weight loss in Houston, TX, targets the endocrine system, kidney, and try to regain the hormonal and nerve balance of the body. Pressing some specific points on the skin increases the level of serotonin (5-HT) hormone in the body. The hormone is not only known to induce calmness and relaxation but also improves the intestinal motility. This help in releasing the toxic material body that may produce stagnation and internal heat causing fat deposits and weight gain. The overall digestive functioning is also improved by acupuncture, allowing the complete breakdown of the food that provides energy and reduces unnecessary fat accumulation. The acupuncture needles also stimulate the release of another happy hormone, Endorphin. This relaxes the body from post workout stress and tiredness that generally induces the need to eat extra and often.Another acupuncture practice of Chinese medicine for weight loss is ear stapling. It has been used for many years to treat people suffering from drug addiction and cigarette smokers. In this technique, various points in the ear are identified as the points that control food craving and are pressed during the procedure. Ear stapling is combined with other exercises and diet plans for complete weight loss. Ear stapling also restores the natural balance of hormones and neurotransmitter levels that stimulate the release of endorphin that helps in fighting against the stress and anxiety caused by weight gain. Though acupuncture is a natural healing process and has no side effects, but ear stapling has some physiological effects such as fatigue, muscle spasm, and soreness. With proper rest, complimentary diet, and regular gaps between the therapies, these are easily overcome.So, for all those who are looking for the natural solution for their weight gain, acupuncture for weight loss in Houston, TX is the answer. It is advised that one must always visit the trained and certified therapists and practitioners of Chinese medicine and acupuncture.