Musculoskeletal Conditions 101
We all experience musculoskeletal pain because of a lot of different reasons. Some people attribute it to strenuous physical work and some to excessive amounts of stress. Whatever the case may be, we have become more prone to having these painful muscle and bone conditions because of the way we live. And now is the time to learn and understand more about this debilitating condition that affects our lives.
What are the most common musculoskeletal conditions?
Musculoskeletal conditions involve different muscles and components of the skeletal system. These components include: muscles, tendons, ligaments, and the sacs of fluid containing lubrication for joint movements.
The four most common musculoskeletal conditions are:
1. Arthritis. Literally derived from the Greek arthro- which means joint, and –itis which means inflammation, this painful musculoskeletal condition is characterized by a painful swelling of the joint.
2. Back pain. This painful musculoskeletal condition is concentrated on the body’s main source of structural support – the spine. Eight of 10 American adults experience this condition which is mostly attributed to poor posture.
3. Foot problems. This musculoskeletal condition is concentrated on the different components that make up the foot. We spend at least four hours on our feet with nothing but our foot to carry the entire weight of the body. Our feet are not just the body’s weight bearer, but these also act as the shock absorber for every step and jump we take. It’s not a surprise that our feet experience pain and discomfort every so often.
4. Shoulder conditions. These are injuries affecting the different parts of the shoulder – the collar bone, the shoulder blade, and the upper arm bone. Studies showed that approximately four million American adults seek consult every year for shoulder conditions such as frozen shoulder syndrome and rotator cuff syndrome.
How can these painful musculoskeletal conditions be remedied?
Thanks to our ever improving medical sciences, we now have a lot of options in treating these common muscle and joint discomforts. These options include:
1. Medications.
A lot of doctors suggest the use of a prescription muscle relaxer or pain reliever like Carisoprodol for painful musculoskeletal conditions. Carisoprodol works by intercepting pain sensations before they reach the brain. It also doubles as a muscle relaxant for tense and rigid muscles.
2. Diet.
One of the most common factors that contribute to developing musculoskeletal conditions is a poor eating habit. Supplying the body with proper nutrition can keep the body’s connective tissues and bones healthy.
3. Exercise.
Very little and too much exercise can cause the body to develop painful muscle and bone conditions. Little to no exercise makes your body’s connective tissues lose flexibility, while excessive exercising can put too much stress on your muscles. Exercising should be done in moderation to maintain a healthy muscle tone.
4. Alternative treatment.
Acupuncture has been administered to a lot of people with painful musculoskeletal conditions. Although it isn’t part of the conventional treatment means, it is fast becoming popular to Americans. This treatment involves the insertion of thin needles to strategic points in the body to release negative energy and create a sense of well-being.
The writer, Abbey Grace Yap, is an active advocate for health consciousness and disease awareness. buy tramadol online or buy fioricet online at DrugStoreTM.com
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What is Charcot's Foot
Charcot's foot is a condition that is often identified with diabetes, is used to describe the effect of bone softening that happens within the foot internally. The trigger for Charcot's foot is almost always your loss of ability to feel or sense pain. This occurs as a result of neuropathy or extreme nerve damage. The bones become very fragile and eventually become very likely to be fractured. Because the nerves have become too damaged, stimuli are no longer being transmitted such as feelings of pain. In addition, muscle movement is also hampered. Charcot's foot is highly dangerous without early and proper treatment.
As the person continues to use his or her feet for walking despite the condition, the foot begins to change its shape. In its developed stage, the arch of the foot will probably collapse, therefore giving the foot a rocker-bottom shape. Due to that reason, even normal walking can become very painful and difficult.
Charcot foot is a very serious degenerative condition which can lead to disability and if not treated immediately, can result to foot amputation.
Charcot's foot is highly prone to patients with diabetes. This is because diabetes is highly associated with neuropathic occurrences which are the primary factor for exhibiting Charcot foot. Preventive measures are thereupon enforced and immediate medical attention is sought upon the occurrence of any symptoms.
So what are the signs and symptoms of Charcot foot?
Initial signs may begin to appear after the foot suffers from repeated trauma. This trauma may be caused by lengthy walking or any other high-impact activity which puts great pressure on the feet. Even accidents-causing objects to be dropped on the foot or fractures can also lead to foot trauma.
Once Charcot foot becomes triggered, the following symptoms may be observed: - The affected area becomes warmer than the other foot.
- A recurring redness can be seen on the foot area.
- Swelling becomes evident.
- Sore pain begins to happen.
- Joint dislocation is evident upon X-ray results
- A strong pulse suddenly develops.
- The bones become misaligned.
- The affected foot suddenly becomes numb and insensitive to any form of sensation.
If you see these signs and symptoms, you must seek immediate medical help. The GP would start performing survey on your foot and background checking prior to occurrence of the symptoms. A test for diabetes will also be conducted to rule out any possible effects brought by the illness.
X-rays may also be done periodically to monitor the development of the bones. Additional, laboratory tests may also be conducted depending on the severity of the condition.
In general, the treatment of Charcot foot aims to stabilize the condition of the joint once more so that the foot can take its original form and normal walking can be facilitated again. Rest is the primary form of treatment.
For patients diagnosed with diabetes, foot restraints may be applied within a minimum of eight weeks so that further damage can be prevented. Casts or crutches would be needed to help the patient walk without having to move the affected foot. Casts and crutches may also be used by other non diabetic patients to help speed up recovery.
However extreme conditions, like when the joint can no longer do self-healing, surely need surgical attention. Various procedures are being conducted according to the severity of the damage.
Allan Tan is the creator of http://www.foot-care.org/ . He provides more helpful information on ingrown toenails, charcot's foot, heel pain, and foot calluses that you can read up on his website. He setup this helpful website to help people understand more about their foot conditions and pain.
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Colitis - Treatment for Irritation
By: Ricky Hussey
Colitis is a sharp or constant irritation of the casing lining the colon - our large intestine or bowel. They cause swelling and painful, called ulcers, in the top coating of the inside layer of the large intestine. Ulcerative colitis hardly ever has an effect on the small intestine apart from for the inferior part, called the ileum.
It is a provocative bowel illness, the all-purpose name for illness that causes irritation in the small intestine and colon. It can be easier said than done to identify for the reason that their indications are comparable to additional intestinal chaos and to one more type of provocative bowel illness called Crohn's sickness. Crohn's sickness is different for the reason that it causes irritation deeper inside the intestinal partition and is able to take place in other division of the digestive system as well as the small intestine, mouth, esophagus, and abdomen.
Colitis Reasons
Genetics: For the reason that we're more probably to expand it, if we have a parent or sibling with the illness, scientists believe that hereditary structure may take part in a causal role. Investigating into which inherited metamorphosis might enhance vulnerability to this is continuing.
Even though there is a great deal of scientific confirmation that patients with provocative bowel sickness have irregularity of the impervious system, doctors do not know whether these irregularities are the source or a consequence of the sickness. Doctors consider that there is little foundation for the thought that Crohn's infection and ulcerative colitis is caused by pressure or go on a diet.
Surroundings: Quite a lot of environmental reasons, such as pollution, are alleged of activating this in people who have a hereditary vulnerability. On the other hand, no solitary issue has been constantly recognized to be the most important trigger. The microorganisms that usually live in the colon also have a significant role in the improvement of the sickness. This disease does not increase when elevating in a bacteria-free surroundings.
Contagious agents or ecological toxins: No solitary agent has been connected time after time with either form of provocative bowel sickness. Viruses have been description in tissue from populace with provocative bowel sickness; excluding there is no convincing confirmation.
Surgical procedure is essential in an urgent situation such as perforation, harsh bleeding, or poisonous mega colon, causing an individual to become sternly unwell with a lofty fever.
Get more information on Colitis and Ulcerative colitis.
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Blood Circulation Problems and a River in Drought, Similar Causes and Effects
What possible similarities could there be between blood circulation problems, and a river in times of drought? Quite a few in fact!
Have you ever spent any time observing a river system during a long drought? If you have you'll have noticed the health of the river system is poor compared to times of normal rainfall. During normal conditions a river is "Alive"; the water flow is healthy; the plant life and fish within the river are healthy and active; and the birdlife that live off the river are plenty. Compare this to a river in severe drought time; water flow ceases and only small pools of water remain; water life such as fish and insects are few and less active than normal; Birds that live off the river system are fewer; water plants die and are replaced by slime, silt and algae, and the river lacks the feel of vibrant energy that it would otherwise exude.
Now what does this have to do with blood circulation problems I hear you ask? Plenty in-fact. A river system dies to an extent during drought because there is a lack of water to flow through it to clear away debris, keep the river pathways open, and supply oxygen into the system; in effect it has a blood circulation problem, but in this case the "blood" is water, which is the lifeblood of a river system.
While your body may not have a shortage of blood volume like a river in drought as such, it does suffer blood circulation problems for the same reasons, as the flow of blood in most people rarely gets fast enough to clear the debris (byproducts from your body processes and diet), keep the pathways open (in our case smaller blood vessels), and feed a healthy oxygen supply to the cells of the body.
Without regular surges of blood flow to perform these tasks, our circulatory system starts to:
- Silt up - In our case the silt takes the form of fatty deposits or plaque on the walls of the blood vessels. This is known as PVD (Peripheral Vascular Disease) or (Peripheral Artery Disease) depending on the type of blood vessel.
- Reduced ability to keep the pathways (small blood vessels) open. In this case blood supply to the extremities recedes gradually over time. As the smaller blood vessels close off more, the resting blood pressure increases because the same volume of blood exists within a smaller network of blood vessels. Smoking has the effect of further constricting blood vessels adding to the problem.
- The system as a whole becomes less capable of supplying adequate oxygen supply to the cells under the stress of any infrequent short bursts of activity.
One of the main reasons blood circulation problems develop is because the majority of people are relatively inactive and so there is rarely a high demand on the blood supply system; this leads to the smaller blood vessels closing off or becoming less efficient. The body adjusts its circulatory system in response to the demands placed on it; with the demands of an inactive person being low for the majority of the time the system has no need to develop an efficient blood supply system. Add to the sedentary lifestyle the popularity of high fat, and high cholesterol eating habits that introduce more pollutants to a circulatory system which is already inefficient and unable to handle these pollutants effectively, it is no wonder that blood circulation problems and all the associated health risks are at such high levels.
Indications of blood circulation problems are:
- Cold feet or hands
- Cramping, pain, or fatigue in the legs and feet
- Tired or aching legs
- Pins and needles in the feet
- Swelling in the lower legs
The Good News
The good news about blood circulation problems is that it can be reversed and improved by doing the exact opposite to the things that caused the problem in the first place. Firstly, start doing some regular activity such as a short walk every day. At the start of every week increase the distance or amount of time that you walk, this will kick start the training response in the body and the circulatory system will slowly adjust to the new higher demand and become more efficient. After a while your walks should have increased to a point that you are receiving a good training effect and sufficient enough to begin reversing your blood circulation problems.
To further improve your poor circulation it is also important to make some dietary changes to reduce your cholesterol and fat intake. Also drink more water to help the circulatory system eliminate waste products. Add this to your walking routine and after a while you should notice some pleasant improvements to your blood circulation problems. There are also several extremely effective natural herbal supplements that can greatly improve blood circulation problems; however it is important to start getting active as a first step. Give your blood river a regular surge in flow through exercise and you'll clear out and strengthen your circulatory system and put your blood circulation problems behind you.
© 2006 Colin L Wolfenden
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Sitting On The Job A Sure Way To Get Hemorrhoids
Sitting may be a relaxing way to do one's job. But too much time on the chair may also encourage the growth of hemorrhoids which are not only annoying but painful as well. Those who suffer from this occupational disease include bus drivers, judges and writers.
Sedentary occupations, however, are not entirely to be blamed for the disease. Constipation, straining and being overweight are other factors that contribute to the condition. Doctors say a third of adults have or have had hemorrhoids. Other high risk groups are pregnant women and those who have just given birth.
"A sometimes embarrassing topic of discussion, hemorrhoids are common. By age 50, about half of adults have had to deal with the itching, bleeding and pain that often signal the presence of hemorrhoids," according to the Mayo Clinic.
It all starts when there is too much pressure in the veins in the rectum or anus. When these veins are strained and interfere with the normal circulation of blood, they become swollen, causing blood clots to form in the surrounding area. These swollen or varicose veins can be found either inside or outside the muscular ring or sphincter that closes the anus.
Eventually internal hemorrhoids will find themselves pushed outside the ring of the anus through the action of the bowels. These protruding hemorrhoids may later break and bleed as a result of scratching or strain. But don't be alarmed since bleeding actually helps treat hemorrhoids. The anal sphincters partially strangle them to prevent their return.
If bleeding is internal, you should consult your doctor to be sure the condition is not caused by other serious ailments.
The itching sensation that accompanies hemorrhoids is caused by fungal infections. Violent scratching and over treatment with commercial oint¬ments won't help and may help spread the infection. Hemorrhoids can be cured by identifying and eliminating the factors responsible for the disease.
A simple remedy is to place a soft cushion on a hard chair. If you are overweight, get some exercise to keep in shape and improve circulation. There is much to gain by drink¬ing plenty of water and eating a lot of fruits and vegetables to correct constipation. Itching can be relieved by rectal suppositories and mild skin anesthetic ointments.
"If your hemorrhoids are producing only mild discomfort, your doctor may suggest over-the-counter creams, ointments or pads containing witch hazel or a topical anti-inflammatory agent containing hydrocortisone. This local treatment, in combination with daily warm baths, may relieve your symptoms," said the Mayo Clinic.
Those bothered by painful hemorrhoids may turn to surgery or other procedures. The swollen veins are either tied with rubber bands or exposed to infrared light to cut off circulation until the hemorrhoids fall off or they are injected with a chemical solution that shrinks them.
"If other procedures haven't been successful or if you have large hemorrhoids, your doctor can remove tissue in a procedure called hemorrhoidectomy. The surgery is done with either a local anesthetic combined with sedation, a spinal anesthetic, or a general anesthetic. Surgery can be performed on an outpatient basis or you may require an overnight hospital stay. While you may experience discomfort after the procedure, medications can be used to relieve your pain. Soaking in a warm bath also can ease your discomfort," concluded the Mayo Clinic.
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Sharon Bell is an avid health and fitness enthusiast and published author. Many of her insightful articles can be found at the premier online news magazine http://www.HealthLinesNews.com
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Transmission of Hepatitis C
By: Rashmi Sharma
A virus with an RNA genome is responsible for causing Hepatitis C in the body. The disease is transferred from one body to another through blood contact.
According to a recent estimation about 90% of the total populations of the developed countries of the world are suffering from Hepatitis C which is transferred through different ways. However, the main means through which this disease is found to spread in the developed countries is through the use of unsterilized needles and infusion of infected blood without proper screening.
A person can be exposed to the Hepatitis C virus through different activities and practices which are known to be potential sources responsible for the spread of the disease. You should get yourself checked for Hepatitis C in the following cases:
• Use of injection drugs: People who use injection drugs or have used them in the past are at a high risk of getting infected with Hepatitis C virus due to sharing of infected needles.
• Nasal inhalation of drugs: Some researchers suggest that inhaling drugs, such as cocaine and crystal methamphetamine, using infected straws can lead to transmission of Hepatitis C Virus.
• Blood Products: Blood transfusion, blood products and organ transplantation without proper screening for infection is also one of the risk factors for spreading of hepatitis C. However, the cases of spreading of the disease through this method are decreasing.
• Infected medical equipments: Hepatitis C virus can spread from one person to another through the use of medical equipments such as needles, syringes, hemodialysis equipment, oral hygiene instruments, jet air guns, etc., which are contaminated with infected blood and are not properly and adequately sterilized. However, use of the latest sterilization techniques and use of disposable equipments have reduced the risk factor of getting infected through medical equipments to a great extent.
• Accidental Exposure to infected blood: People in professions like army, can get infected by HCV due to accidental exposure to infected blood through needles, open wounds etc. Taking precautions to protect against accidental exposures can reduce the risk of being infected.
• Sexual exposure to infected blood: Transmission of HCV through sexual exposure is very rare. But sexual exposure cannot be ruled out as a method of transmission of HCV.
• Tattoos and body piercing: If proper sterilizing techniques are not used, equipments used for piercing and tattooing can transmit HCV from one person to another.
• Sharing items of personal use: Sharing items of personal use which can be contaminated with infected blood, like razors, scissors etc., can lead to exposure and spread of HCV.
Casual physical contacts like hugging, kissing, using the same utensils etc. does not lead to spread of HCV
In certain studies which were conducted, it was found that, patients with hepatitis C have a reduced level of glutathione in their bodies. It was also found that glutathione levels were significantly low in their liver. Due to low levels of glutathione in the body, the immune system of the patients weaken and in a way become responsible for the further development of the disease.
In researches it was found that glutathione, the body's master antioxidant, detoxifier and immune booster, can help patients suffering from hepatitis C if a good level of glutathione is present in their bodies.
Studies also show that higher levels of glutathione will help the patient to achieve a much higher quality of like overall.
MaxGXL is known to help patients with HIV /AIDS by helping the body cells of the infected persons to accelerate the glutathione production as much as up to 400%, thus improving the glutathione level in the body in a natural manner.
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Hysterectomy - A Quick Introduction
By: Linda Parkinson-hardman
Up to 40,000 hysterectomy operations are carried out by the NHS on women in the UK every year. It can and does help to ease many gynaecological complaints, including heavy and/or painful periods and endometriosis.
Hysterectomy is the surgical removal of the womb (uterus). It is one of the most common of all surgical procedures and can also involve the removal of the fallopian tubes, ovaries, cervix and part of the vagina to cure or help a number of gynaecological complaints. Following this operation you will no longer have periods, you will not be fertile and you will not be able to have any more children.
There are two main ways to perform a hysterectomy. The most common way is to remove the womb through a cut in the lower abdomen. The second, less common, way is to remove only the womb through a cut in the top of the vagina, the top of vagina is then stitched.
The reasons for having a hysterectomy may include heavy bleeding, fibroids, cancer, Endometriosis, prolapse of the womb, pelvic inflammatory disease.
There are many effects of having a hysterectomy and they may be physical, sexual and/or emotional. However, there are also a number of long-term health implications, which may include osteoporosis and heart disease.
If you have your ovaries removed you may be prescribed Hormone Replacement Therapy. As with any long term drug treatment there are implications that should be considered and these may include breast cancer and thrombosis. However, current research seems to indicate it may have beneficial effects on osteoporosis, heart disease, memory loss and of course menopausal symptoms.
Hormone Replacement Therapy comes in various forms, tablets, patches, implants and creams, gels or pessaries. The type you decide to take will be based on a number of factors including the one you are most comfortable using.
If you don’t want to take HRT, you may decide that you would like to try an alternative form of treatment that is not prescribed by doctors, this may include a progesterone cream, nutritional therapy to replace hormones or diet.
What to expect in the first few days after surgery – one patients experience
Day 1
* It is normal during the first 24-36 hours after surgery to feel many aches and pains all over your body. It is usual to experience backache, shoulder pain and a stiff neck as well as abdominal pain. While you have been under the anaesthetic your body will have been handled by several medical personnel and have become quite stiff.
* You may find you are attached to a Patient Controlled Analgesia device, this is usually morphine. This means you will be in control of your own pain medication and you should receive information on this from the ward staff; if you don’t, then ask for it. You cannot give yourself too many pain killers, as there is a built-in timer. So if you feel pain at any time, do not hesitate to press your button, you do not have to wait hours between each dose and it is important you feel as comfortable as possible.
* During your operation, you may well have been catheterised. It means that straight after the operation when you are at your most uncomfortable you do not have to worry about going to a toilet to pass urine; this will be simply passed into a bag at your side and emptied regularly by the nurses. It will be removed after the first 24 hours and is painless.
* Don’t plan any visits, except by those nearest to you. You will be drifting in and out of sleep and will not feel like talking much to anyone
* You will be attached to a saline drip. This is because you will be dehydrated from having nil by mouth and the anaesthetic. Drink plenty of water, you can’t get enough. And the more you drink, the sooner your drip will be ready to come out.
Day 2
* Ask for advice about suitable painkillers for your post-operative pain. I was told to immediately stop taking the strong pain medication that I had been regularly taking for abdominal pain prior to the hysterectomy and switch to a pill for surgical pain. But it can also work the other way round and you may need to take stronger painkillers than before.
* You may have some slight vaginal bleeding; this is normal and should soon clear up.
Day 3
* If you’ve not yet had one, a warm, gentle shower will do you the world of good. Do not be afraid of getting your wound wet but try not to get soap directly onto it. When you have finished, showering, simply pat the wound dry with a towel.
* If you have not yet opened your bowels, ask for a mild and gentle laxative. Once you have opened your bowels you should feel more comfortable. You may also experience slight pain from trapped wind and indigestion due to lack of movement; if so, do not hesitate to ask for something to help with this too.
Day 4
* If it has not been done ask for a blood count. This is a simple and painless exercise. The tip of your finger will be pinpricked and a few drops of blood taken. It can be done on the spot. My count was below 10 and so I needed some iron tablet supplements.
* At some point during your stay in hospital, you may feel low and quite weepy. This is perfectly normal and is nothing to be ashamed of you have been through a very traumatic event.
Day 5
* If all has gone well and depending upon the policy of your hospital, you should be allowed to go home around this time. Make sure you have someone who can come and collect you and carry your bags. You should not lift anything heavy.
Linda is Director of The Hysterectomy Association She is an Information Scientist specialising in health information Linda has written several books, including 101 Handy Hints for a Happy Hysterectomy, The Pocket Guide To Hysterectomy and Losing The Woman Within. You can find more information about hysterectomy on the website: http://www.hysterectomy-association.org.uk
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Dry Eye Syndrome
Dry eye syndrome is an ongoing condition affecting your eyes. Dry Eyes may not be fully cured (always depending on the cause), but the accompanying dryness, scratchiness and burning of the eyes can eventually be managed and improved. What causes dry eyes at all? When being affected by dry eye syndrome, your eye doesn't produce enough tears. It could also be the case that the tears have a chemical composition that allows them to evaporate too quickly. Since tears “bathe” the eye, washing out dust and debris and keeping the eye moist, the fast evaporation stops or reduces the effectiveness of this process. Tears also contain enzymes that neutralize the microorganisms that colonize the eye – therefore the risk for eye infections can increase with dry eyes. As you can tell - tears are essential for good eye health.
Dry eye syndrome can have several causes. The dry eye syndrome occurs as a part of the natural aging process. Women are especially affected during during menopause – cause unknown at this point. Dry eyes can also be caused as a side effect of many common medications. Some of those medication connected to possibly causing dry eyes are antihistamines, antidepressants, a few blood pressure medicines, medication treating Parkinson's. Some birth control pills also seem to cause dry eyes among younger women. More natural causes are if you live in a dry, dusty or very windy climate. Air conditioning or forced air heating systems can also increase the dryness in your eyes. Computer workers are more often affected with having dry eyes than people only using a computer occasionaly.
If you are wearing contact lenses you could also suffer from dry eyes. However, contact lenses are also known to protect the surface of the eye from drying out too fast. As no eye is the same this might work for you, but not your spouse (just as an example). In general people with dry eyes have more problems wearing contact lenses. The industry has responded by making contact lenses that release a fluid or gel to the eye and therefore effectively reducing the dry eye syndrome. Restasis eyedrops are another option. These eye drops help your eyes to increase tear fluid production. If you wear contact lenses, be aware that many “normal” eye drops, especially artificial tears, cannot be used while your contacts are in your eyes. If you live in hot and dry climates it is also an option to wear sunglasses to protect the eyes a little more. Some sunglasses are more protective by ‘trying’ to seal off the area around your eyes. One of the last options to reduce the impact of dry eyes is to move into a geographical area with high humidity. Usually the warmer climates with high humidity work better than colder areas.
Conclusion: There is no final solution to cure dry eyes in most cases. Most options however help to reduce the impact and help to improve your overall eye health. It is highly recommended to talk your optometrists about your eye health.
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Easy Living - Good or Bad for Brain Fitness?
If you talked to a person from the 1950s about all the modern marvels we have today they'd likely drool at the mouth. What? You don't have to get up to change the TV channel? You can reheat leftovers in 1 minute? You can access any information at any time without leaving your house? No way!
Be Careful What You Ask For
But are our lives really getting any easier? Do all these time saving devices allow us to work less? Well, sort of. It certainly takes less work to do any specific task. When I was in graduate school writing my thesis, I thought of the poor slobs who had to do that without the aid of a computer or the internet. It must have taken people an entire day to go to the library to find references that I can now get in 10 minutes (God bless Google). The trade-off is that we are expected to do a lot more tasks as part of our normal day.
I was reading an interesting paper by Kelly Lambert recently that put some of this into perspective as it may relate to rates of depression in our modern society. Even with all our modern conveniences, high-end medical care and plethora of designer drugs, we have a huge mental health crisis. In fact, today mental health accounts for about 15% of disease burden worldwide. So why are we so unhappy?
The Thrill is in the Chase
Dr. Lambert argues that one factor in our overall societal unhappiness is the fact that we have it too easy, especially when it comes to feeding ourselves. Years gone by, dinner was more than a phone-call away. We actually had to track our food across the tundra and risk death by saber-toothed tigers or violent weather, in order to feed ourselves. Even if we were successful, we had to do it again the next day. As time drew on, we learned it was much easier to plant food in the ground. But this still required intensive labor and patience to bring our sowing efforts to the fruition of harvest.
All of this effort made the reward that much more enjoyable. The magnitude of the reward may actually depend on the magnitude of the effort required to achieve it. Meaning the harder we have to work for something, the more we enjoy it when we are successful. Since successfully finding food is a major factor in our survival, and we used to work very hard to stay fed, we had ample opportunity for regular high intensity rewards.
Appreciate What You Have
Today, however, we take for granted this major facet of our lives. Finding food does not require much effort at all, at least for most of the lucky people living in our society. Because we don't need to put out effort, we don't activate reward centers in our brains that our ancestors activated on a regular basis. We are essentially robbing ourselves of a major 'happiness factor', and this, argues Dr. Lambert, may be a problem. It may be that today's lack of regular reward, due to lack of necessary effort, may be a factor in high rates of depression.
Whether or not she is right, I don't know. She provides many examples and scientific studies to back up her argument and I thought it was a very interesting point worthy of a post. In fact, I have two cats that seem to agree with her. They are not content just eating their chow out of a dish. Instead, they enjoy scooping out one nugget at a time, batting it across the kitchen floor and then pouncing on their prey before eating it.
There's not really much we can do about this unless you want to pull a Grizzly Adams and drop out of society, move to the hills and live off the land. Alternatively, you could do all your grocery shopping in full camouflage, crawling around on your belly through the frozen food aisle. Or, maybe we can be more appreciative of what we have and not take all our modern conveniences for granted.
Reference: Lambert, K.G. Neuroscience and Biobehavioral Reviews 30 (2006) 497'510
Copyright (c) 2008 BrainFit For Life
Learn to control stress, improve your metabolism and boost your intelligence with the four cornerstones of Brain Fitness. Visit http://www.BrainFitForLife.com for FREE Brain Fitness resources.
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