Perhaps one of the greatest advantages of living in America is that we don’t want for much; we have good public schools, excellent health care professionals, and are well fed. But with every good comes it’s bad. Due to our increasingly sedentary lifestyles, high levels of obesity, and fast food culture, diabetes is on the rise and is now the sixth most common cause of death.
While there are several types of diabetes, types one and two diabetes mellitus are the most common. Both involve excessive levels of sugar in the blood. While type one is caused by pancreatic dysfunction leading to insufficient production of insulin, in type two, the body no longer responds to the insulin the pancreas does produce. In both cases the body is no longer able to process sugar, the bodies major source of energy. Unable to process sugar the body eats its own fat, protein, and eventually muscle, leading to a host of side effects.
People with diabetes may suffer from heart disease, edema (swelling), ulcers, kidney disease, impaired sensation, and neuropathy. The treatment for diabetes largely depends on which type of diabetes is present. Type one is typically treated with insulin injections to supplement the bodies lack of insulin. Type two diabetes is largely treated through diet and exercise, and less commonly insulin.
No matter which type of diabetes the client has massage may be helpful. First and foremost, it is imperative the client be healthy enough to receive treatment. Ulcers, heart disease, kidney failure, and loss of sensation all rule out massage. If the client is healthy enough, massage can aid in maintaining tissue health, and can help lower blood sugar.
Tuesday, September 29, 2009
Tuesday, September 22, 2009
You Asked Our Esthetician
Q. I have dark circles underneath my eyes. I feel like I get enough rest, so why are they there and what can I do about them?
A. Contrary to popular belief, sleep habits have nothing to do with dark under eye circles. They actually may be caused by allergies and a simple OTC antihistamine may the answer. Another factor is that under eye skin is thin and there are numerous veins in this area so the color beneath can give a darker hue. Increased pigmentation caused by sun exposure could be another cause.
Many people have dark under eye circles and there is no real cure. Using an eye cream that contains peptides and retinoids will help build collagen and thicken the skin over time, making the dare circles less noticeable. Also, using an eye cream that contains an SPF will help prevent further sun damage to this delicate area. Finally, invest in a good concealer that is a half shade lighter than your skin tone and use it regularly.
Have a skincare or beauty question? Visit FACES online BeautyBoutique to Ask Our Esthetician NOW.
A. Contrary to popular belief, sleep habits have nothing to do with dark under eye circles. They actually may be caused by allergies and a simple OTC antihistamine may the answer. Another factor is that under eye skin is thin and there are numerous veins in this area so the color beneath can give a darker hue. Increased pigmentation caused by sun exposure could be another cause.
Many people have dark under eye circles and there is no real cure. Using an eye cream that contains peptides and retinoids will help build collagen and thicken the skin over time, making the dare circles less noticeable. Also, using an eye cream that contains an SPF will help prevent further sun damage to this delicate area. Finally, invest in a good concealer that is a half shade lighter than your skin tone and use it regularly.
Have a skincare or beauty question? Visit FACES online BeautyBoutique to Ask Our Esthetician NOW.
Monday, September 14, 2009
A Massage Minute
Who among us hasn't sprained a knee, a wrist, or some other joint. As a child I spent so much time in the ER getting x-rays I used to say I was testing the limits of my Dad's health insurance. Like most people the treatment for those injuries was RICE; Rest, ice, compression, elevation. This is very important to reduce inflammation and prevent further injury. Along with traditional treatment massage significantly aid the healing process.
To understand how massage can help a sprain heal, it's important to know a little about tendons. A sprain is a tear in a tendon, the tissue that connects muscle to bone, or a ligament, the tissue that holds two bones together. Tendons and ligaments are composed primarily of collagen fibers that line up parallel to each other along the length of the tendon. In a first degree sprain a few of these fibers rip. In a second degree sprain the tendon is torn but not all the way through. In a third degree sprain the tear goes through the entire tendon, severing the muscle from the bone.
In the acute phase, twenty four to forty eight hours, of the injury, it's important to focus on controlling inflammation and preventing further injury. RICE therapy is ideal for this. Massage applied directly to the joint should be avoided. However, derivative friction can help to reduce inflammation. Derivative friction is light massage applied towards the body above the injured joint, and away from the body below the injured joint; this helps to encourage the movement of fluid.
In the sub-acute phase, after forty eight hours, massage can slowly be applied closer to the joint as client pain tolerance allows. The intent of massage is to help the tendon heal as effectively as possible. When the body heals a sprain it lays down scar tissue in the tendon in a haphazard way; these adhesions can interfere with tendon function. By working along the length of the tendon massage can help this scar tissue to line up parallel with the tendon fibers. Range of Motion exercises can also help with this.
Obtaining an accurate diagnosis from a doctor is important before starting massage. Before beginning treatment the therapist needs to know that the injury is in fact a sprain and not something more serious, a fracture for example. It's also imperative to know the extent of the injury. With a severe, third degree, sprain surgery may be necessary followed by physical therapy and massage.
To understand how massage can help a sprain heal, it's important to know a little about tendons. A sprain is a tear in a tendon, the tissue that connects muscle to bone, or a ligament, the tissue that holds two bones together. Tendons and ligaments are composed primarily of collagen fibers that line up parallel to each other along the length of the tendon. In a first degree sprain a few of these fibers rip. In a second degree sprain the tendon is torn but not all the way through. In a third degree sprain the tear goes through the entire tendon, severing the muscle from the bone.
In the acute phase, twenty four to forty eight hours, of the injury, it's important to focus on controlling inflammation and preventing further injury. RICE therapy is ideal for this. Massage applied directly to the joint should be avoided. However, derivative friction can help to reduce inflammation. Derivative friction is light massage applied towards the body above the injured joint, and away from the body below the injured joint; this helps to encourage the movement of fluid.
In the sub-acute phase, after forty eight hours, massage can slowly be applied closer to the joint as client pain tolerance allows. The intent of massage is to help the tendon heal as effectively as possible. When the body heals a sprain it lays down scar tissue in the tendon in a haphazard way; these adhesions can interfere with tendon function. By working along the length of the tendon massage can help this scar tissue to line up parallel with the tendon fibers. Range of Motion exercises can also help with this.
Obtaining an accurate diagnosis from a doctor is important before starting massage. Before beginning treatment the therapist needs to know that the injury is in fact a sprain and not something more serious, a fracture for example. It's also imperative to know the extent of the injury. With a severe, third degree, sprain surgery may be necessary followed by physical therapy and massage.
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