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Free Women’s Spine Health Brochures Are Available

It’s been said that men and women are equals, and I heartily agree…except when it comes to health. Different basic body structure (heavier bones for men, less proportionate muscle for women) along with a different blend of hormones means that the sexes can differ on what health concerns each needs to look out for.

One example is spine health.

Surprised? It may seem unlikely that your spine could be prone to certain maladies simply due to your gender.  It’s true – women need to look out for certain issues, and it may largely boil down to the hormonal cocktail and how it affects calcium, bone density and more.

The Hospital of San Rafael, Connecticut, U.S., is offering free, downloadable brochures on its website that can apply to any woman at any age, and in any current state of health. I checked these out, and they’re brief, to the point and quite complete in all the basics you’ll need to know. Osteoporosis is covered, of course (this is perhaps the first malady that comes to mind when the subject of women’s bone health rears its head). So is pregnancy, with its weight and gravitational challenges on a woman’s body.

In addition to these more well-known issues, one subject addressed by the website is the “female athlete triad,” a collection of risks that includes eating disorders as part of its three-pronged threat. These can lead to a lack of menstrual period which in turn could cause bone to deteriorate even in the relatively young. (Yikes.)

Download the brochures here and check around the site. You may be miles (or even an ocean) away from this hospital, but the advice they’re delivering won’t cost you a dime or a penny!  Check it out!

For people with back problems we always recommend a pressure relieving visco foam mattress from Tempur as these give the best support for your body whilst you sleep.

Be Prepared for Winter Allergies

If winter is the last season you think of when it comes to allergies, you may need to think again, according to health experts.

Winter is prime time for allergy flare-ups – like watery, itching eyes, sneezing and nasal congestion – because the cold weather makes people shut doors and windows, locking in allergy sufferers along with household allergens, health advisors say.

As the freezin’ season looms, be sure you take steps to reduce your risk of allergies. Here are a few tips to keep you healthy and allergy-free this winter:

  1. Keep pets clean and brushed. Pet dander is the number one cause of household allergens in homes that keep animals. Be sure to bathe your pet regularly (for cats, brush in a dry shampoo) and comb the animal’s fur, then dispose of the shed hairs.
  2. Make sure towels stay uber-dry. Indoor heat coupled with dampness can encourage mold growth on your hand, bath and kitchen towels, so toss them into the dryer for a few minutes rather than letting them sit around wet.
  3. Vacuum regularly. Vacuum carpets twice a week and upholstery at least every two weeks to keep irritating particles to a minimum.
  4. Sleep easy. Change your bedding once or twice a week – dust mites, which feed on human skin (yes, we know – yuck!), are a normal occurrence even in the cleanest bedding, but they produce allergy symptoms in a fair percentage of the population, so be sure to launder frequently. You may also want to consider buying a hypoallergenic or allergy-reducing visco elastic mattress to replace an older one that may be causing you nighttime grief.
  5. Exercise. Physical exertion can help move irritants out of the lungs (but be sure to get your doctor’s say-so before embarking on a new exercise routine).
  6. Keep up-to-date on medications. See your doctor and make sure you’re being properly medicated for your current symptoms (or are taking the correct over-the-counter medicines). Even the cleanest of homes will contain some allergens. Particularly if you’re prone to asthma or other lung conditions, you’ll want to make sure you’re playing it safe by following doctor’s orders.

Fibromyalgia and RLS Are Linked Says New Study

Restless Leg Syndrome (RLS) has made the news in recent years as a new (or newly named) malady. Now there’s a possible link to another, more generalized disorder, this report says.

The Journal of Clinical Sleep Medicine found that RLS is notably more common in individuals who suffer from fibromyalgia than among a control group that did not have the condition. In fact, individuals with fibromyalgia were 11 times more likely to have RLS than the non-affected group.

Though the results sound ominous, they could lead to improvements in the sleep quality of fibromyalgia patients, the report stated. That’s because with RLS addressed and treated, sufferers may experience far less discomfort and begin to sleep better.

The study included 172 participants and was undertaken by Dr. Nathaniel Watson and Dr. Mari Viola-Saltzman of Loyola University Medical Center, Illinois, U.S.

Portions of the study were subjective, including questionnaires in which participants identified symptoms of RLS and stated their pain levels. But “the syndromes suggest a logical overlap,” according to the report.

The bottom line: “Since Restless Leg Syndrome is a treatable condition, diagnosing and treating RLS in fibromyalgia patients has the potential to improve their sleep,” Dr. Watson said.

Couples in which one partner is restless during their sleep may benefit from using a visco elastic foam mattress as the movements of one partner are not transmitted to the other

Tempur Mattress Material. What Is It?

You’ve probably heard a lot of taglines for what Tempur (or Tempur-pedic) mattresses are… “space-age,” “NASA-developed,” “doctor-recommended.” Although these descriptions are all true, many people ask, “But what is the material, really? And what makes it superior to other sleeping materials?”

We’re glad you asked! Knowledge is always power, particularly when you’re looking to invest in something you’ll be in close contact with every night for years (and we’re not talking about the husband here).

First things first: Yes, the material was developed in 1971 by scientists for the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA), U.S. The reason? They were trying to find a seating material that would relieve the painful effects of G-force that astronauts experienced during lift-off. They were successful.

The viscoelastic (a combination of viscous, or “fluid,” and elastic, which allows something to spring back to its original shape) material wasn’t originally intended for commercial use, being confined instead to spacebound shuttles. But it quickly became apparent that these qualities could be of good use – and commercially successful – if introduced into the home. 

Initially a proprietary formulation owned by NASA, Tempur has since become available to the public and marketed in a variety of ways – luckily enough for sleepers the world ’round.

Now let’s go back to “viscoelasticity.” It’s not just a scientific word meant to sway buyers; this quality is scientifically backed and can have a number of positive effects on sleepers who use Tempur mattresses.

Viscoelastic materials (interestingly, honey falls into this category, but frankly, we’d recommend not sleeping on honey) conform to the shape of whatever pressure is applied to them, then “spring back” to their original shape after that pressure is gone.

In other words, they support without being too hard, and have give without being too soft.

And that’s just what the doctor ordered – especially if that doctor is an osteopath, chiropractor or spine health specialist. Tempur visco elastic mattresses support the back without producing pressure points on the hips, shoulders or knees. At the same time, they conform to the body’s natural shape with just enough give to cradle the body without allowing it to sink down and put the spine out of alignment during sleep.

Keep asking questions – we love to hear from you!

Remember: if you have a question about mattresses, or bed frames we’ll do our best to answer it for you. Please send in questions about our products and suppliers to us using our Contact Form

Low Back Pain May Be Genetic, Twins Studies Show

Study shows predisposition is a key factor in women’s back pain.

Researchers at London’s King’s College went on the record as saying that lower back pain (LBP) has predisposition as a key risk factor among women. Additionally, “Lumbar LBP is strongly based on the extent of lumbar disc degeneration,” Dr. Francis Williams of the Twin Research and Genetic Epidemiology Unit at King’s College  told guests at EuroSpine 2010 in Vienna. (Here’s http://www.orthosupersite.com/setContent.aspx?sid=820 a breakdown of the topics covered during EuroSpine.)

Dr. Williams’ findings were based on the UK’s twin registry and factored in medical data from 908 subjects. Chances of a given pair of twins’ data increased in monozygotic (single-egg, or “identical,” twins), further emphasizing a genetic link.

Though those with a family or personal history of back pain or lumbar degeneration have an increased risk of problems in the future, there are some things you can do, experts say. Keeping one’s weight at a healthy level, not smoking, minimizing or being protective and careful during manual labor and getting regular exercise can help.

The full article can be read here, http://www.orthosupersite.com/view.aspx?rid=70499

I would aslo add that choosing a pressure relieving visco foam mattress can really help support your back and let you get a good night’s sleep.

Britons are Worrying Too Much, Sleeping Too Little

Work fears keeping you up at night? You’re not alone, according to Private Healthcare UK.

The company reported http://www.privatehealth.co.uk/news/september-2010/work-worries-stopping-millions-from-sleeping-32970/ that a study by Slumberlound found seven out of ten Britons to be suffering from a loss of sleep due to work concerns.

These included unemployment fears, as well as concerns over such longer-term prospects as job promotions.

Unfortunately, such fears could become self-fulfilling prophecy as a lack of sleep could lead to poor job performance, the article went on to say. But before you let that thought keep you up, try these great ideas for relieving worry in the evening:

Write it all down. Before bedtime, make a list of work-related concerns, experts suggest. Next to each one, jot down a potential solution, even if it’s one that can’t be handled immediately. Put the list near your bedroom door. This way, when intrusive work thoughts enter your mind at night, you can tell yourself, “I have a plan and I’ll work on it tomorrow.”

Put work in perspective. Yes, your job is what feeds you and your family – but there are other things in life besides what happens from nine to five. As you drift off, think about a hobby you have going, a future holiday with loved ones or anything else non-work-related that brings you personal happiness.

Laugh it up. An hour or so before bedtime, watch a funny movie or TV program. Laughter can ease stress and can potentially break the cycle of worry-insomnia-worry, experts suggest.

Turn off the Smartphone. Sleep time is your time. Turn off your cell phone (yes, really), the computer and any other electronic devices that may interrupt you during the evening. Make turning off the technology part of your nighttime routine so your body begins to respond by getting sleepy. It really works – try it!

Ohh and of course consider getting a visco elastic mattress that gently supports your body.

See our blog Studies Show Lack of Sleep Could Aggravate Certain Conditions for more tips on how to get a good night’s rest.