Tag Archives: pain

Yoga: Yeah, It’s Honestly Good for You

Posted by michael on

Does anyone really think that yoga is just some hippie fad that’s simply not died out yet? Come on, guys! It’s the 21st century, and living fit is definitely in.

However, if you did need more proof of the benefits of this ancient physical, spiritual, and mental discipline, researchers at York University in England have found that practicing yoga for 75 minutes twice a week can significantly reduce pain and promote the release of stress-relieving hormones.

Now, the study was done specifically on women, but this is one of those times when you can trust that the research results do indeed translate to men as well.

Ouch! It’s the Miserable Return of Gout

Posted by michael on

Gout presenting in the metatarsal-phalangeal joint of the big toe. Note the slight redness of the skin overlying the joint.

Gout has long been a joke medical affliction aligned with members of royal families past. Typically producing extremely inflamed and painful ankles, knees, etc., gout is a form of arthritis caused by a buildup of uric acid in skeletal joints.

Even though the specific cause is unknown, it’s commonly believed to associated with a life of excess, such as a diet hearty in meats and alcohol.

But now the ailment is showing up in modern-day Americans, especially those who might indulge to dietary excess.

Researchers from Boston University School of Medicine, reporting in the journal Arthritis & Rheumatism, took a look at U.S. health surveys to compare rates of gout in the periods of 1988–1994 to 2007–2008 and found the disease had increased 44% over those two intervals. In addition to what they call the current “obesity epidemic,” researchers also attribute gout’s likely return to related health problems of diabetes, high blood pressure, and high cholesterol.