Overview

An eating disorder is a compulsion to eat, or avoid eating, that negatively affects both one's physical and mental health. Eating disorders are all encompassing. They affect every part of the person's life. According to the authors of Surviving an Eating Disorder, "feelings about work, school, relationships, day-to-day activities and one's experience of emotional well being are determined by what has or has not been eaten or by a number on a scale." Anorexia nervosa and bulimia nervosa are the most common eating disorders generally recognized by medical classification schemes, with a significant diagnostic overlap between the two. Together, they affect an estimated 5-7% of females in the United States during their lifetimes. There is a third type of eating disorder currently being investigated and defined - Binge Eating Disorder. This is a chronic condition that occurs when an individual consumes huge amounts of food during a brief period of time and feels totally out of control and unable to stop their eating. It can lead to serious health conditions such as morbid obesity, diabetes, hypertension, and cardiovascular disease.

Friday, June 5, 2009

Answer Me This - How Long Can Heartburn Last?

Heartburn is a rather common medical condition that affects not the heart, but the stomach and the surrounding muscles. The pain associated with this illness is usually very difficult to bear and can prevent a person from functioning normally. So how long can heartburn last? Some cases fade after a few hours, while some last for several days. If you want to find out how long for you, you should determine the gravity of your situation.

Symptoms may appear as one burst of unbearable pain, or as minor sporadic attacks over several weeks. The gravity of cases can vary widely, and this level of severity will determine how long it will last or when the symptoms will actually stop. Sometimes, the less serious cases will disappear on their own but more frequently, proper treatment is required to get rid of these persistent heartburn symptoms.

One of the first things you have to consider in treating any form of acid reflux is the choice of treatment method that you will use. Most of the time, the symptoms will disappear after taking a few dosages of over the counter medications, which are very effective in eliminating the pain and discomfort that is associated with it. These drugs are called antacids, and they work by bringing down the level of acidity in the stomach. This will then lessen the burning sensation that you might be feeling in your lower chest area, and it also relaxes the muscles around the stomach and esophagus.

Natural treatments methods are also very common, and many of these treatments are simply living a healthier lifestyle. Avoiding unhealthy habits such as smoking and excessive alcohol drinking will not only help you get rid of these symptoms, but reduce your risks of developing other medical problems as well.

Modifications in your diet may also be required and these can affect the question of 'how long can heartburn last?' Acid reflux is frequently caused by overeating so you must exercise more prudence during meals. You should also consume more nutritious foods such as fresh fruits and vegetables, whole grains and other foods rich in fiber. Getting plenty of exercise and adequate sleep are also essential both for improving your overall health and getting rid of irritating symptoms.

You can actually shorten the duration of this condition by practicing these regular healthy habits. For a more intensive treatment program, you can consult with medical professionals. With their help, you can better understand the pros and cons of each method, and you will be able to make a more practical decision.



Autor: C. K. Moore

Heartburn is a problem for many people. Charles Moore offers help to those wanting heartburn relief. For information on heartburn, acid reflux and GERD, visit the 'Heartburn Relief Center http://heartburnreliefcenter.com/


Added: June 5, 2009
Source: http://ezinearticles.com/

Thursday, June 4, 2009

Five Ways to Feel Skinny

I am reading a book about helping children recover from eating disorders and as I read I notice they have almost a whole chapter on "feeling fat". Isn't it interesting that fat isn't a feeling. I mean technically it is NOT an emotion. So why would you feel fat?

*note this is clearly not an article for my anorexic audience

It is hard to explain, but I know exactly what the author is talking about. And I also know that it doesn't matter what your body is accurately like at that time. So what do you do to feel Fat or feel Skinny? Well, feelings are emotions and those are received and interpreted in your brain.

I usually feel fat if I think I am fat, unworthy, the underdog, losing or a series of negative things. So to feel skinny perhaps I just need to think of positive things? Yes, I believe this is true.

Try these five things to feel skinny:

- Wear a piece of clothing that is too big, look in the mirror and say darn I am skinny!
- Write down five things you love about yourself. Once you feel good say darn I am skinny!
- Plan a meal you really want to eat. After savoring every bite. Say that was good and darn I am skinny!
- While brushing your teeth (hopefully twice a day) look yourself in the eye (in the mirror) and say, darn I am skinny.
- Just choose to feel good, feel good and do good, darn I am skinny

My secret number six just in case all of the above fail, and your internal unhappy meter is still arguing. Get a spray tan. I recommend a Mystic Tan. It takes under a minute and you will look like a different person a few hours later. I always feel like a new girl in a spray tan. You just can't stay grumpy when you have that glow.

Finally Free



Autor: Bridget Loves Bridget Loves
Level: Basic
Bridget Loves is Fed Up Girl, an Body Image and Un-Diet Coach and Speaker. She resides in Los Angeles, California where she helps many women ... ...

Bridget Loves
Body Image and Un-Diet Coach
Santa Monica, CA
http://www.fedupgirl.com


Added: June 4, 2009
Source: http://ezinearticles.com/

Tuesday, June 2, 2009

Social Networking and Eating Disorders

Social Networking and eating disorders have teamed up to produce a disturbing new trend for those struggling with this disease. Isolation is a recognized symptom of eating disorder sufferers and a symptom that alerts anyone close that there is a problem. With the advent of social networking anyone can appear to be interacting socially when in reality they are receiving negative support for those behaviors that are dangerous and life threatening. The pain of isolation is gone replaced with a network of afflicted eating disorder sufferers who encourage one another and trade diets that are recipes of malnourishment.

Social Networking and eating disorders combine to produce a worldwide audience. Some of which may not have previous knowledge of disordered eating and are receiving information that glorifies it rather than introducing the devastating effects of this disease. Those viewing a social networking will learn new was to vomit or ways to hide their disease from family or friends that could provide help that might save a life.

Organizations have joined together to remove "Ana Sits" from the internet only to see the use of "Facebook" and "MySpace" replace those banned sites. Some organizations join social networking sites portraying themselves as a positive support system only to be revealed trading pictures of anorexic members and their weight loss diets.

Children are the most susceptible to this new form of peer pressure. It becomes much easier to locate someone with the same negative behavior pattern to identify with receive negative feedback. Eating disorder treatment centers report new clients are talking about their experience with social networking and their eating disorder. All addictive diseases dealing with obsessive behavior are insidious; adding the internet seems to increase vulnerability and speed up the negative progression. Suffering people are looking for acceptance and will continue to use social networking if they can't find that acceptance anywhere else.



Autor: Dan B. Clark

Dan C's career in the addiction field spans twenty-five years. He has held positions in all phases of administration and clinical services in Treatment Facilities throughout the state of Florida. He is currently employed by http://www.recoveryconnection.org


Added: June 3, 2009
Source: http://ezinearticles.com/