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In fitness, some people are confused about the topic of upper abs exercises and lower abs exercises, so here is some information to set the record straight.  The main muscle, that people talk about when they discuss the upper abs and lower abs, is the rectus abdominus.  Rectus means straight, and abdominus refers to the abdomen.  So simply put, the rectus abdominus runs straight down the abdomen.  The rectus abdominus is also the muscle that gives a lean person that six pack look.

The rectus abdominus is 1 muscle, but it has tendinous intersections that separate muscle fibers forming distinct sections.  Many people argue that because the rectus abdominus is one muscle you cannot isolate certain parts of the muscle, but I think the conversations around this topic get confusing because of semantics.  You cannot isolate only one section of the rectus abdominus while the other sections are not working, but you can emphasize one area over another.  So the problem comes with people using the terms isolate and emphasize interchangeably.

Our nervous system is so intricate.  Each nerve has thousands of nerve cells and each muscle has thousands of muscle fibers.  This allows us to move with accuracy, precision, agility, and grace.  The rectus abdominus is supplied by multiple nerves that work in a coordinated fashion to create a variety of movements.  The multiple nerve supply helps us move in different ways, and the upper abs and lower abs are emphasized when we do different movement.

The upper abs (upper part of the rectus abdominus) are emphasized when the trunk moves forward like in a crunch or sit up.  Ball crunches are also a good upper abdominal exercise, and crunch machines and ab machines will also emphasize the upper abs.  Even though the upper abs are emphasized during crunches, crunches also work the lower abs.  The entire rectus abdominus will work during any abs exercise when your trunk bends forwards or flexes.

1. There is just more emphasis on the lower abs when the legs are moving.

Now, one thing that I must mention is that abs exercises do not magically melt away stomach fat.  Doing upper abs exercises will not magically get rid of the fat on the upper part of your stomach, and doing lower abs exercises will not magically get rid of the fat on the lower part of your stomach.  This is known as the spot reduction myth.  If you want to lose stomach fat, you should use a comprehensive approach to fitness and healthy eating.

In regards to your ab workout, try to exercise your abdominal muscles 2-3 times a week, and include both upper ab and lower abs exercises to work your body from a variety of directions.  By using different forms of exercises, you will have a more balanced body.

Charles A. Inniss, Jr. has a Doctorate Degree in Physical Therapy and is a Certified Personal Trainer. He is dedicated to helping people to live healthier happier lives.

Visit his website for Free Ab and Tummy Exercises and stomach and tummy toning exercises

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O.K. So what are they?

Uterine Fibroids (leiomyomas) are common noncancerous (benign) tumors that occur within the muscle walls of the uterus (womb). Uterind fibroids can be the size of a pinhead and show no signs or symptoms that they are there, or they can be very painful and grow to a 10 inch diameter.

There are four types of uterine fibroids:

Subserosal Fibroids, develop under the outside uterine covering. Intramural Fibroids, develop within the uterine wall. Submucosal Fibroids, develop under the uterus lining. Pedunculated Fibroids, develop on a “stalk” or stem-like structure attached to the inside or the outside of the uterus.

Fibroids may grow as a single nodule or in clusters. They may range in size from 1 mm to more than 20 cm (8 inches) in diameter. Fibroids in the uterus are a common cause of heavy menstrual bleeding and pelvic pain and pressure in women. During pregnancy, fibroids can greatly increase in size.

What are the Symptoms?

Some women with uterine fibroids experience no symptoms at all. Symptoms may include excessive and prolonged menstrual bleeding, pain, abdominal mass effect, frequent urination or urgency or constipation and many others.

When symptoms appear, they can vary greatly, depending on the size and exact location of the fibroid tumors. Women sometimes underestimate the impact of their symptoms because they have become accustomed to the excessive bleeding, pain and the pressure that fibroids can cause. Also, for some reason African-American women develop symptoms faster and with greater severity than other women.

What does one do about them?

Uterine fibroids often do not require treatment, but when they are problematic, they may be treated surgically, non-surgically, with medication or with alternative treatments. The very heavy menstrual bleeding, clotting and pelvic pain, that fibroids sometimes cause leads many women to seek treatment.

What about treatment?

There are several different types of treatments:

Hormonal: Uterine fibroid tumors require estrogen and progesterone to grow, and without these hormones, fibroid tumors usually shrink in size. Hormonal treatments (such as birth control pills) may help control excessive menstrual bleeding caused by fibroids in some patients.

Non-surgical: Uterine Fibroid Embolization, UFE – Known medically as uterine artery embolization, approaches the treatment of fibroids by blocking the arteries that supply blood to them causing them to shrink or disappear. Uterine fibroid embolization is a more permanent solution than hormone therapy. When hormonal treatment is stopped the fibroid tumors usually grow back. UFE (Uterine Fibroid Embolization) isn’t considered to be surgery, but it is generally done at a hospital or specialized clinic. This uterine fibroids treatment procedure usually takes between 1 and 3 hours, depending on how long it takes to position the catheter and how easily the catheter can be positioned in the arteries to the uterus.

Although uterine artery embolization has been in use for two decades to treat bleeding after childbirth, it wasn’t until early 1997 that the technique was introduced as a potential treatment for uterine fibroids.

Follow-up studies have shown that nearly 90 percent of women who have their fibroids treated by uterine fibroid embolization experience either significant or complete resolution of their fibroid-related symptoms.

Surgical: Surgery for uterine fibroids involves either removing the fibroids (myomectomy) or the entire womb (hysterectomy). Surgery has risks, including bleeding and infection. About a third of the more than 500,000 hysterectomies done in the U.S. each year are done because of fibroids. Most of the women having these operations are said to be unaware of the non-surgical options.

Alternative treatment: Alternative treatments for uterine fibroid tumors also abound. Naturopaths, homeopaths, acupuncturists, chiropractors, and other alternative health care providers have treatments to offer as well. While some of these are not as well supported by scientific studies that prove effectiveness, the treatments are usually safer and provide a less invasive alternative than surgery.

Remember that some medical treatments for uterine fibroid tumors can affect your fertility. For this and other reasons it is very important to seriously investigate and consider alternative treatments for uterine fibroids.

Always seek the advice of your physician or other qualified health provider prior to starting any new treatment or with any questions you may have regarding a medical condition.

Jorge Chavez is a researcher, writer and student of natural health. For more information about dealing with uterine fibroids treatment and what to do about fibroids in uterus, follow the link in this sentence.

Article Source:http://www.articlesbase.com/health-articles/uterine-fibroids-here-are-the-basics-1382852.html

When most people think about exercise, they think of strength training and cardiovascular activities, e.g. lifting weights and running on the treadmill.  A good fitness program definitely involves doing both of these sorts of exercise, but it also includes a third often overlooked type of exercise – stretching.  Most people think of stretching as something you do for sore muscles or as a quick supplement for cardio or lifting.  However, these people fail to recognize the importance that stretching has on being fit.  Stretching provides you with a half dozen serious benefits; and anyone who wants to maximize their health should take stretching seriously.

Stretching initially promotes a greater range of movement and circulation through the joints.  This is excellent because it allows you to maximize your regular exercise.  By promoting good range of muscle movement through joints, you will be ensuring that your muscles can move in the ways needed to lift weights or cycle.  Often people injure themselves with their muscles are too tight to perform a motion the way it ought to be done, and stretching can help prevent problems like this.  

Stretching is one of the easiest ways to promote blood flow and circulation to the muscles that need it.  Increased blood flow provides a two-way street that helps muscles perform better with less effort.  On the one hand, the increased blood flow is able to bring oxygen and nutrients to the muscles in order to provide them with the energy they need to function properly.  On the other hand, the blood flow is there to flush out waste products that build up when muscles work out, including lactic acid.  Stretching also provides a low impact way to condition muscles and tendons.  The better conditioned your muscles are, the less prone to injury and soreness they are.  

By stretching before you engage in cardio or weight training, you will be warming up muscles and promoting blood flow and circulation; which is a definite way to enhance your workout.  However, just as important as stretching before running or lifting, is stretching after the exercise.  Post-exercise stretches help develop new flexibility and strength in muscles and tendons, and provide better conditioning to prevent injury.  Post-exercise stretches are also a good way to even out blood circulation and flush out the damaging lactic acid buildup.

One thing that everyone serious about stretching should know is that protein is a needed nutrient to promote healthy stretching.  Protein helps repair torn muscle fiber and can maximize the benefits that come from stretching.  One of the easiest ways to get added protein into your diet is through a whey protein supplement.  Whey protein is easier for the body to digest than soy protein, and provides better utilization and absorption into the body.  The reason you want to take protein in supplement form is for this reason, you want your body to quickly absorb the nutrients and get the nutrients to the parts of the body that need them.

For more info on tasty whey protein, visit My Top Form Protein

Article Source:http://www.articlesbase.com/health-articles/why-stretching-matters-and-how-to-maximize-your-stretches-1383345.html

All too often we ignore aches and pains and carry on as normal. Most of us have minor aches every now and again and most of us just carry on with life regardless. If we stopped work each time we had a pain the world would soon grind to a stop.

But don’t ignore a painful shoulder, especially if it is consistent. A Rotator Cuff Problem will|Rotator Cuff problems} often give us plenty of warning before they get bad and stop us in our tracks. If you notice weakness,stiffness, pain or swelling in your shoulder it may be time to take it easy and start the healing process.

There are someshoulder problems that begin as the result of a knock or fall, most begin because of simple |wear and tear on the joint, either as we age or caused by a repetitive stressful movement. Okay, You can’t always do anything to stop the accidental injury but we can take early measures to cut down the damage from wear and tear. As we age our rotator cuff gets weaker through lack of use. We hold ourselves differently to how we did as youngsters, our {posture|shape gradually changes over the years. I only need to look at my waist to confirm that.

As the rotator cuff gradually gets weaker we become more prone to shoulder injuries. The right sort of physical therapy done early on to strengthen the rotator cuff can go a long way towards stopping shoulder injuries. Although these are a small group of muscles {they are key to having strong shoulders and once we get past fifty we ignore them at our peril.

So prevention is definitely better than cure, but just in case you’ve left it too late, what are the rotator cuff symptoms? Firstly, weakness and pain in the damaged shoulder. This might only occur when you use your shoulder joint. The commonest causes of discomfort are reaching up, or reaching for an object. Whenever you reach up or out the rotator cuff starts to work at its hardest. If you are having problems getting to sleep because of a painful shoulder, this is yet another classic sign. Lying on your bad shoulder can be painful, but lying on the other side so that your painful arm drops in front of you can be equally uncomfortable.

If the pain is continuous, it might well be telling you that you have a badly torn rotator cuff.

Most rotator cuff problems can be treated with rest followed by physical therapy but don’t rush out and sign up for a gym. These are a small group of muscles that need very specific exercise to build them up using either no weights or very small weights and physical therapy that are designed specifically for group of muscles.

So whether it’s simply shoulder pain or a full blown rotator cuff injury, you will almost definitely end up exercising the rotator cuff as part of your therapy. Whether that is before or after surgery really depends on whether or not you listen to your body and heed the warning signs.

If you found this article interesting check out my full story at
www..myrotatorcuffcure.blogspot.com

My name is Nick Bryant and I tore my rotator cuff lifting something that was too heavy. Despite being told that I needed surgery I have fully recovered with just phyical therapy. Check out one of my other articles on rotator cuff injury

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Often, when we feel run down or just don’t have the energy to feel like doing something productive, it is common place nowadays to go for the most convenient food available to satisfy those cravings. Sound familiar? The problem here isn’t that the body doesn’t have enough food, although you feel hungry. Instead, often your body is telling you that it is lacking nutrition, which most convenience foods do not have. The solution is to get that nutrition through supplementation, particularly with Organic Vitamins because they are the purest form of concentrates from a variety of essential nutrients. The fact of the matter is that most of the food we eat today is processed, and as a result it is stripped of all the pure organic vitamins and minerals that it once had.

Turning to organic vitamins have also been shown to release natural energy stores within the body, which has been shown to help people stay active. As a result, of staying active and having the energy to maintain that activity, many people begin to lose weight or tone their bodies as a beneficial side effect. There are some other non organic vitamins that also have a lot of potential. However, as a result of research with regard to how they are manufactured and processed, often the body will not utilize all the minerals and nutrients in those types of vitamins. The unused portion of those non organic vitamins is quite literally flushing money down the toilet, especially if they claim to be time released because when they are done releasing, it is in a part of the intestines that cannot utilize all the benefits. This fallacy leads people to believe they are getting all the benefits on the label, where in fact they are actually absorbing only a very small amount of the nutrients available in the vitamin.

Contrary to what a lot of people believe, not all organic vitamins are created equally. For example, there is a reason someone can spend the same amount on a bucket of vitamins and someone else can spend the same amoutn on a month’s supply. This is because, like with most things in life, you get exactly what you pay for. When most people talk about vitamins these days, they are typically referring to a multivitamin because they have the most benefits to the body. However, there are vitamins that contain nutrients which target specific parts of the body. For example, most sports nutrition organic vitamins are quickly absorbed by the blood and carried out to the joints or muscle fibers which allows for faster recovery and more energy to those parts of the body when it’s needed. Similarly, there are a lot of weight management organic vitamins that can affect different parts of the body, such as increasing the heart rate or preventing absorption into the stomach or digestive track for example. Whichever organic vitamin is right for your particular needs, it is important to realize that getting enough nutrition into your diet is critically important to live a long and happy life.

For a long time I put health and fitness on the back burner in my life for until a doctor’s visit made me realize I was severely shortening my life with bad eating habits. After trying several different things, I chose to go with organic vitamins. I found that they quite literally changed my life by giving me the energy I needed to turn things around for the better. Organic Vitamin ReviewArticle Source:http://www.articlesbase.com/health-articles/why-organic-vitamins-are-the-solution-to-obesity-and-help-us-live-happier-healthier-and-longer-lives-1378727.html

H1N1 (swine flu) was initially detected in mid April of 2009 in people in the U.S. It was called swine flu because a number of the virus’ genes were similar to the virus which is normally found in pigs. As further studies progressed, it showed that it was, after all, very different from those found in pigs in North America. It is called a “quadruple reassortant virus” because it is linked to bird and human genes and its virus’ genes are similar to the virus which is found in pigs in Europe and Asia. As of October 11, 2009, the World Health Organization was able to record 4,735 deaths from different countries because of swine flu.

1. Some people believe that H1N1 is worse than seasonal flu. It isn’t. In the U.S., only one percent from all those infected with the virus die. This is around 300 people. There are thirty six thousand Americans who die annually because of the seasonal flu. Authorities were only worried because H1N1 has a strain which was never seen before.
2. Healthy people need not worry about getting the swine flu. This is wrong. It is just like seasonal flu because it can affect anyone. It only happens that those people with underlying health conditions are more prone to get the virus compared to healthy people.
3. Some people believe that the swine flue vaccine will only give them the flu. This is not possible because the virus found on the flu shot was killed already. Some people mistakes the common fever experienced as the flu itself. Fever experienced after the vaccine is actually the result of the body’s immune system fighting off a foreign substance. Also, some people think that the common cold they have is already the flu. What many people aren’t aware of is that flu season happens at the same time as cold season.
4. Some people believe that vaccines are harmful. The best way get immunity to the virus is by direct contact. This isn’t the right way to get immunity. This is in fact very dangerous. While you believe that you can get immunity when you are in direct contact with the virus itself, you are actually most likely to get the disease yourself rather than being healed.
5. People should stop eating pork since the virus is linked to that of the pigs’. This is absolutely wrong. The spread of the virus is only between humans. It comes from a sick person to a host’s mucous membranes such as the eyes, mouth and nose. There have been no proof yet that the virus is passed from a pig to a person.

These are some of the myths being tossed around regarding the swine flu virus. One good way to avoid this is through getting oneself educated. There are agencies such as the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, World Health Organization, U.S. Food and Drug Administration and hospitals which are active in promoting information about the H1N1. In order to be better informed and protected, it is best that these health authorities are contacted.

Brent McNutt is actively involved in the subject of Landau Scrubs such as landau scrubs free shipping and landau nursing shoes and enjoys networking with healthcare professionals online.

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Warts can occur in any part of the body. They do not occur spontaneously (as stated by many websites). When warts start materializing on the genital regions (of males and females) the condition is termed as genital warts. It is a sexually transmitted disease (in fact, it is the most commonly transmitted STD). The condition can occur to males and females regardless of their age, cast or culture! Ample insight into the condition along with the treatment methods will be outlined in the coming passages.

Genital warts are caused by the transmission of a virus from the host to the donor. The name of the virus is HPV (human papilloma virus). Ironically researchers are still working on deriving a connection between the transmission of a virus and the occurrence of warts on the genitals. Sexual promiscuous nature is spreading among the common generation. There was a time when people used to exercise discretion when it came to choosing their sexual partners. These days literally anyone will be able to “hook up” with a person of the same or opposite sex and indulge in all types of activities. Sadly, they are gifted with genital warts!

It is not necessary to outline the symptoms of this medical condition. The warts will be present on the sexual organs. Sometimes, it might spread to other regions also. The warts will be moderately painful. Talk about being presented with the condition, when you were craving for pleasure! The use of protective materials while indulging in sexual activities with a stranger is recommended to contain the condition. Sometimes, the warts are known to propagate even in the presence of protective measures. The number of warts will increase eventually – this will accelerate the pain levels greatly!

The treatment options are as follows. There is no specific treatment for the condition. Before you think that I am playing tricks with your mind, please do read on. Physicians are known to treat the condition according to the symptoms displayed. By all probabilities, they will prescribe skin creams that will remove the warts – in due course of time. In fact, this is the common treatment method that is opted for by the doctors all over the globe. If you are ina hurry, and if you have ample cash to burn, surgeries are available that will aid in the faster removal of the genital warts.

The latest treatment technology is to freeze the warts initially by using liquid nitrogen and removing them subsequently. The sensation of the region will be nullified (this will help in localized surgical procedures) and the wart cells will be destroyed in the process, likewise. A common gripe of the situation is the recurrence of the warts. It has been noted that one some people, the genital warts might resurface again (at a later stage). According to researchers, the presence of sparse, remnant HPV on the body will lead to recurrence. Practice safe sexual activities and choose your partner with discretion (like you used to do).

Visit our site to get all the information that you need to know about genital warts and genital warts treatment.Article Source:http://www.articlesbase.com/health-articles/an-insight-into-genital-warts-with-emphasis-to-preventing-them-1370002.html

The day or two after a workout, you will almost certainly feel some muscle soreness.  This dull ache and pain is natural, and isn’t something you should be worried about.  However, just because you shouldn’t worry about it, doesn’t mean you ought to just put up with it.  Nobody needs to feel uncomfortable after a workout.  There are two surefire ways to avoid muscle soreness: stretching and providing your body with protein.  Best of all, both of these are natural, not chemical.  

In order to understand how to avoid the aches and pains of muscle soreness, it’s important to understand where it comes from.  Many people think that muscle soreness is the result of lactic acid buildup around the muscles.  However, recent research has shown that this isn’t actually true.  Your muscles do produce lactic acid during strenuous activity; but that lactic acid typically drains and dissolves within thirty minutes to one hour after ceasing the workout and activity.  So what causes the soreness if it isn’t lactic acid?  Most experts agree that during strenuous activity your muscles become damaged.  One way is that your muscles can get inflamed and swollen because of the increased blood flow during strenuous activity, thereby exciting the pain receptors nearby.  Another way is that muscle fibers are torn and damaged when the muscle is doing the work.  This tear and inflammation is what causes most of the muscle ache that people feel after their workouts.  And it is something that you can prevent.  

While many people deal with the ache and pain of muscle soreness using chemical anti-inflammatory drugs like acetaminophen, aspirin or ibuprofen.  These drugs can help reduce pain caused by inflammation and swelling, but they don’t do anything to strengthen muscles or repair the damage muscle tissue.  Instead of resorting to a chemical “band-aid” fix; stretching and proper nutrition can deal with the problem head on.

The importance of stretching to maintaining a healthy lifestyle is immense.  Most importantly, stretching does three things that help deal with muscle ache.  First, stretching increases joint flexibility and range of motion; this helps avoid wear and tear on ligaments and tendons in joints.  Second, stretching is a great way to reduce muscle tension.  Flexible and elastic muscles aren’t as easily torn or damaged as stiff and static muscle.  The most important benefit of stretching is that it increases circulation (blood flow) which helps increase energy output on the muscles.  Stretching before exercising will help maximize the exercise by warming up muscle groups and moving the blood to make sure muscles are well oxygenated.  Post-exercise stretching helps to remove the lactic acid buildup, and also to maintain healthy blood flow to the muscle groups.  This blood flow is how the body delivers amino acids to the damaged muscle tissue; amino acids are what repair the damage.  

The best way to get amino acids into the body is through protein in your diet and the easiest way to get protein after a workout is through a whey protein shake.  Whey protein shakes have two benefits: they are whey-based, and they are shakes.  Whey protein is easily digestible and soft on the body compared to other supplemental protein sources.  And getting protein in the form of a shake provides the added benefit of hydrating a sore body, which helps flush out impurities and promotes healing.  Good stretching and whey protein can make muscle ache disappear: reducing the need for chemical pain relievers and helping you get back in the gym.

For more info on whey protein, visit My Top Form Protein

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