How to Treat Anxiety Disorder

If someone is experiencing symptoms such as fear, constant panic, panic attacks, insomnia, sleep disturbances, dry mouth, fast heartbeat, indigestion, difficulty in breathing, headaches, excessive perspiration, chest and bodily pain, and uncontrollable obsessive thoughts, it could be possible that the person is suffering from some kind of anxiety disorder as all these are anxiety symptoms.

There are a number of anxiety disorders such as generalized anxiety disorder, panic disorder, social anxiety disorder, obsessive-compulsive disorder, post-traumatic stress disorder, etc. which a person can suffer from. Anxiety cures and treatment for all of these are more or less the same i.e. a combination of therapy, medicines and self-care.

Advice on Treating Anxiety Disorder

There are a number of reasons that can lead to anxiety disorders such as stress, imbalances in your brain chemicals, inability to sleep or insomnia, any trauma or accident that you might have faced and illnesses like asthma, hypoglycemia and thyroid problems. In some cases, anxiety is believed to run in families and is hereditary.

Therapy
Once the cause is determined, your doctor will suggest you to opt for a behavioral therapy depending upon the kind of anxiety disorder you have. For example, cognitive-behavioral therapy helps you to focus on both your thoughts as well as behavior and identifies the relation between the two. The therapist will ask you in detail about your life and personal history. At this juncture, the onus lies on you to be totally honest with your therapist so that he can suggest you some effective behavioral and lifestyle changes to get over your anxiety. Another option is exposure therapy in which you will be made to come face to face with your fears in a controlled environment, either in reality or imagination. Facing your fears and learning that they cannot harm you in any way will help you cope with them and gain control over your situation. Besides these, some other psychotherapy for anxiety disorder treatments that may be used are "Acceptance and Commitment Therapy", "Interpersonal Therapy", "Dialectical Behavioral Therapy" and "Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing".

Medication
Along with therapy, your doctor may recommend certain medication like antidepressants, tranquilizers, antianxiety drugs and benzodiazepines to overcome the physical symptoms that you might be experiencing. Here, you should consult your doctor and know all the pros, cons, possible side-effects of the medication, before starting the medicinal treatment.

Natural Cures
To treat anxiety disorder naturally, taking a healthy diet and exercising regularly is the key. Your diet should be particularly rich in vitamins for anxiety cure such as vitamin B, C, D and E as well as zinc, calcium and magnesium. So eat lots of fresh fruits and vegetables which are rich in these nutrients. As far as exercises are concerned, certain relaxation techniques like undertaking meditation, aerobic exercises and breathing exercises for anxiety can prove to be really effective. Some other treatments for overcoming anxiety naturally that you can consider are massage therapy, aromatherapy, acupressure, hypnosis, color therapy and Reiki.

Some doctors suggest their patients to only rely on therapy, while some suggest a combination of therapy and medication. So, in order to know what suits you, maintain a journal to keep a track on how the therapy as well as medicine is affecting you. Communicate regularly with your doctor and convey him any negative or positive changes in your situation that you might be experiencing due to the medication and therapy. This will help your doctor in arriving at the best possible treatment for your anxiety disorder.

Workout Schedule for Men

Every individual have their own fitness goal. The workout routine can be for weight loss, weight gain, for endurance training or for bodybuilding. Also, every individual's body is different and responds differently to working out. Hence, whenever following a workout schedule, it is important that you keep in mind these two factors. As they will help you form a perfect workout. This article is aimed at workout routines for men. Also, given below are tips on modifying the workout routine according to your individual fitness goals. If you are a total beginner at exercising, then having an instructor around to avoid injuries is recommended.

Best Workout Routine for Men

Weight Gain Workout Tips
If you are aiming at weight gain, then you must be having a fast metabolism which doesn't allow you to put on weight. By following some effective diet, workout and other healthy tips you can put on weight. Along with following workout plans to gain weight, eat foods which are very rich in calories, that doesn't mean junk food but foods like dry fruits and nuts or peanut butter sandwich, etc. Eat 5 - 6 meals a day. Having a little snack half an hour or 45 minutes before workout will help to put on weight. Also, get enough rest, to avoid burning off all calories. Do a cardio of 15 - 20 minutes, and a lot of strength training for fast weight gain. As muscle mass weighs more than fat, so putting on muscles will help you weigh more on the scale.

Workout for Weight Loss
If you wish to lose weight fast, and have enough time, then consider working out twice a day. This will help to cut weight faster. Also, focus on intense cardio workouts for men like jump rope, elliptical trainer workout, running and swimming, as they help to burn calories faster. A bit of strength training is also a must as it will help to tone up. Also, cut down on junk foods and follow a nutritious diet.

Endurance Training
For endurance training, you need to do circuit training. This means you need to perform more sets of exercises without taking too many breaks. This will increase your stamina and muscle power. To increase your stamina following swimming and running workouts is recommended. Strength training using medium-sized weight without too many breaks is advised. Make sure you follow a healthy diet too, which provides you enough fuel for workout.

Bodybuilding Workout
If you are aiming at bodybuilding, then you need to have healthy proteins. Casein protein can be found in milk and milk products and stays in your body for a long time. Lean protein sources like chicken and turkey are good too. You can also use whey powder, for protein source. Also, for bodybuilding you need to aim at heavyweight lifting exercises.

Sample Workout
Here is a sample workout schedule. To make it perfect you can modify it using the above mentioned tips.

Week	Monday	Tuesday	Wednesday	Thursday	Friday	Saturday	Sunday
1st Week	cardio exercise for 45 minutes (5 minutes walk + 10 minutes jogging + 30 minutes cardio exercise)	an hour of cardio exercise 15 minutes of shoulder workout 5 minutes of stretching	cardio exercise for 45 minutes (5 minutes walk + 10 minutes jogging + 30 minutes cardio exercise)	an hour of cardio exercise 15 minutes chest workout 5 minutes of stretching	cardio exercise for 45 minutes (5 minutes walk + 10 minutes jogging + 30 minutes cardio exercise)	Rest
2nd Week		an hour of cardio exercise 15 minutes of abdominal workout 5 minutes of stretching		an hour of cardio exercise 15 minutes of lower body workout 5 minutes of stretching
3rd Week		an hour of cardio exercise 15 minutes of triceps and biceps workout 5 minutes of stretching		an hour of cardio exercise 15 minutes back workout 5 minutes of stretching

To modify the above sample workout for men, make sure you keep in mind the above tips, and other useful tips like following a good diet, stretching after a workout and getting adequate rest of 8 hours daily, to maintain optimum health.

Gastric Ulcer Symptoms in Women

Peptic ulcers are those open sores or lesions that develop on the inner lining of the stomach, duodenum and the lower parts of the esophagus. Otherwise known as stomach ulcers, peptic ulcers are classified into three types, based on the location. Those of the stomach are gastric ulcers and those found in the duodenum are duodenal ulcers. Ulcers of the lower esophagus (esophageal ulcers) are uncommon, whereas duodenal ulcers are said to be the most common form of peptic ulcers. It is said that duodenal ulcers are more common in men and women are more prone to develop gastric ulcers. But, this observation is viewed as baseless, by some health experts. As per this group, both men and women are equally prone to develop these ulcers and even the symptoms are found to be almost similar.

Signs and Symptoms of Gastric Ulcers

So, gastric ulcers are open sores or lesions that develop on the inner lining of the stomach. Such sores are said to occur due to the erosion of the mucosal lining of the stomach. This happens when the natural balance between the stomach acids and the amount of mucus that coats the inner lining gets disturbed. Such imbalance can be triggered by various factors. But, the most common among them is Helicobacter pylori infection. Another cause is regular use of NSAIDs, which is said to be mostly done by women, who are more prone to develop aches and pains, like migraine. Stress, regular smoking and excessive alcohol consumption, are said to be among the contributory factors for gastric ulcers. Even though, the symptoms of gastric ulcers may not be the same for everyone, there are some common ones. But, there is no clear-cut distinction between gastric ulcer symptoms in women and men.

• The most common symptom of gastric ulcers is abdominal pain, that may be experienced anywhere from the navel to the breastbone. But, it is mostly felt under the left ribcage.
• The pain can be episodic in nature and the duration may vary from a few minutes to a few hours. It is often described as a gnawing or burning pain.
• It has been noticed that most of the gastric ulcer patients develop abdominal pain, soon after meals, whereas, in case of duodenal ulcers, the pain usually starts when the stomach is empty. So, food can relieve the pain in duodenal ulcers, but, increase the discomfort in case of gastric ulcers.
• In some cases, the pain (caused by gastric ulcers) may radiate to the back and this is mostly seen in those people, whose ulcers have eroded the stomach wall and also affected the nearby organs like pancreas.
• Those with gastric ulcers may also have other symptoms like belching, indigestion, heartburn and bloating. The affected person may also experience nausea, loss of appetite, weight loss, dizziness and fatigue.
• If you have a bleeding ulcer, it may happen that you have no symptoms at all. But, in some cases, black tarry stools and anemia may develop. Some people may also vomit red blood or digested blood that may appear as coffee grounds.
• Another complication of gastric ulcer is perforation. This condition is caused by the ulcer eroding the stomach or the duodenal wall. It is a medical emergency and may be accompanied with symptoms like vomiting blood, sudden and sharp abdominal pain and tarry stools.

While it is true that each and every person with this type of ulcer may not develop all the above said symptoms. In case you develop any of the above said symptoms, then, contact your doctor and get the condition diagnosed and treated. Treatment for gastric ulcers depends on the underlying cause, its severity and location. Antibiotics, along with acid suppressant and antacids, are usually prescribed in case of Helicobacter pylori infection. If these ulcers are caused by other factors, then, medication like acid suppressant and antacids are used for treatment. If the ulcers do not respond to medication, then other techniques like endotherapy and surgery, may be suggested. Surgical treatment for gastric ulcers includes vagotomy (removal of parts of vagus nerve that controls production of acid in the stomach) and antrectomy (removing the lower part of the stomach, where, acid is produced). Usually, surgery is the last option, when all other methods of treating ulcers fail to relieve the condition. It is said that a healthy lifestyle may prove beneficial for preventing gastric ulcers to a large extent. You must go for a nutritious as well as fiber-rich diet and adopt a suitable exercise regimen. Avoid taking NSAIDs, unnecessarily. Beat the stress with techniques like breathing exercises, meditation and yoga.

Disclaimer: This article is for informational purposes only and should not be used as a replacement for expert medical advice. Visiting your physician is the safest way to diagnose and treat any health condition.

Is Burping a Sign of Ulcer?

Ulcers are open infections that can affect any part of the body. However, usually the stomach or the intestine is the place of ulcer formation. To be more precise, the mucus layer lining the inner stomach wall is affected. Ulcers are classified depending upon where they occur. You may be wondering what is a peptic ulcer, and gastric ulcer. Well, gastric ulcers affect the stomach, whereas peptic ulcers are seen in the small intestine. On the other hand, one is diagnosed with duodenal ulcers when the infection is observed in the area between first 30 cm of the small intestine. Although stomach and peptic ulcer disease symptoms cause discomfort, it is the location of pain that distinguishes these two types of ulcers. Pain in the abdomen is one of the most common stomach ulcer symptoms. Burping can occur as a consequence of ulcer formation but the doctor also checks for other symptoms to confirm whether ulcers are present in the gastrointestinal tract.

What are the causes of stomach ulcers? Doctors are of the opinion that ulcer formation in the stomach or the intestine is because of the body's response to excessive intake of spicy foodstuffs on a daily basis. However, Helicobacter pylori infection is the primary factor responsible for the development of ulcers. The bacteria erode the stomach lining, which leads to the formation of hole-shaped ulcers. Besides, excessive use of drugs like, NSAIDS, smoking, excess consumption of alcohol are some of the causes of stomach ulcer.

Is Burping a Sign of Ulcer?

Ulcers in the stomach or intestine are likely to cause burping. However, burping alone cannot indicate the presence of ulcers. Indigestion also gives rise to persistent burping, and is one of the common burping causes. So it would be foolish to assume that the person is having stomach ulcers only on the basis of burps. Of the many ulcer symptoms, burping is one of them. Ulcers typically cause abdominal pain that usually occurs intermittently. This abdominal discomfort worsens on an empty stomach and reduces considerably after meals. Also, the pattern of burping associated with peptic or stomach ulcers is different from the one that we usually experience. It is loud and doesn't stop even after trying all sorts of burping remedies. This kind of involuntary burping is simply annoying and to add to the patient's woes, stomach bloating may also occur.

As we all know, burping is a way of getting rid of the excess gas accumulated in the stomach. During meals, along with food, air also goes inside the stomach. In order to release air containing gases likes nitrogen, carbon dioxide and oxygen, we burp. Also soft drinks contain a high amount of carbon dioxide and so we often burp loudly after consuming these beverages. Gas producing bacteria are already present in our stomach but due to H. pylori bacteria that cause ulcers, there is too much build up of gas in the stomach. So, to relieve the stomach from excess gas, a lot of burping may occur.

The abdomen hurts when doing mundane tasks and is accompanied by too much burping. Ulcer symptoms are not limited to stomach pain and frequent bouts of burping. Some people experience nauseating feeling and may even vomit. In such circumstances, the desire to eat food vanishes. Many a time, excessive burping is followed by excretion of stools that are covered with blood. This is an indication of bleeding ulcers, which is a serious issue and may require urgent medical intervention. Intense stomach pain, loss of appetite accompanied by frequent burping also points towards serious complications.

Antibiotics such as amoxicillin are commonly prescribed to treat ulcers of the stomach and the intestines. It is observed that the stomach releases a fluid, also known as gastric acid, when food is consumed, for better digestion. However, production of stomach acid can aggravate the discomfort associated with ulcers. In order to minimize stomach acid production, acid blockers are prescribed. It is the combination of antibiotics and antacids that work to relieve ulcer symptoms.

Acupressure Points for Anxiety

Nowadays people are looking for alternative treatment methods to alleviate conditions like anxiety, and one of the treatment methods that is proving effective is acupressure. Lot of people have experienced that by stimulating certain points, they get relief from the symptoms. This ancient Chinese therapy uses simple massage techniques on certain points in the body to provide relief from a number of illnesses and conditions. The Chinese believed that our bodies have a life force within us known as 'chi' and the body can heal itself if we learn to manipulate this energy.

There are different energy points on the body which can be massaged with fingers, hands, elbows and other devices to treat a variety of problems. Acupressure points are the same points used in acupuncture, but instead of needles, fingers and hands are used to treat problems. Acupressure has been a part of traditional Chinese medicine since time immemorial and the best part is once you know the pressure points you can stimulate them to treat yourself.

If you are looking for anxiety treatment and are fed up of taking pills, one of the treatment options you could try is acupressure. All you have to do is massage certain points on the body to find relief from the anxiety symptoms. Here are some of the acupressure points for anxiety and nervousness.

P6 - Inner Gate
This pressure point is located just below the inside of your wrist. Hold your right hand in front of you palm facing the ceiling, now place the 3 fingers located between the thumb and the little finger on the wrist crease. Place your thumb next to your index finger right between the two tendons and massage this point in a circular motion. Repeat the motion on the left hand and massage the point for 1-2 minutes.

BL2 - Third Eye (YinTang)
The third eye is one of the pressure points of the body which needs a delicate touch to be stimulated. This point is located between your two eyebrows right above the bridge of the nose. Use the tender touch of your fingernail to apply pressure on this point for relief from anxiety and stress.

H7 - Spirit Gate
One of the easier acupressure points to find it is located on the crease of your wrist on the side of the little finger. Apply pressure on this point with your thumb nail so that you feel a slight bearable pain. Massage the point in a circular motion for 1-2 minutes all the while maintaining the pressure.

K1 - Yong Quan
If you refer to the acupressure points chart you can find this point which is located at the base of your foot. The K1 point is located right in the middle of the sole just behind the ball of the foot. You can massage this point with your thumb or massage it with your palms for quick anxiety relief.

LU5 - Foot Marsh
This point is located on the radial side of the biceps brachii tendon on the cubital crease, in layman terms this point is on the inner arm at the crease of the elbow. Apply pressure with your thumb on this point and massage it for about 1-2 minutes, repeat the procedure of the other arm.

Stimulating certain points of the body by massaging them 2-3 times a day is one of the best natural treatments that you could try. Other pressure points that you could use are massaging your scalp with your fingertips and pulling your ear with your thumb and index finger. There are no specific points on the ear or the head but they have reflexology points that provide anxiety relief.