19.08.2010
Lifestyle Coaching: Changing Your Path, Pain Management: Controlling Your Life, Stress Management: Maintaining Balance
An intriguing article discusses a new study in the New England Journal of Medicine that indicates the practice of Tai Chi may improve symptoms of Fibromyalgia (a global pain condition that may include significant symptoms of fatigue).
According to the article, 66 people with Fibromyalgia were divided into two groups. One group did hour-long sessions of Tai Chi twice a week for 12 weeks while the other had twice-weekly wellness education classes followed by gentle stretching.
The Tai Chi group experienced “decreased pain and increased ability to do daily tasks without pain; less fatigue, depression and anxiety; and an overall better quality of life. Furthermore, they reported better sleep quality and improved physical conditioning.”
Although the article stated that the study had no definitive answer as to exactly how Tai Chi had generated these improvements, principle investigator Chenchen Wang, M.D., an associate professor of medicine at Tufts Medical Center, Boston noted, “the physical component of Tai Chi can improve aerobic capacity, strength and muscle function. But in my opinion, the most important part is mental. You see lots of patients improve their depression and become good friends with each other.”
These results are very promising and yet another indication of the value of non-pharmacological techniques and practices to help increase well-being and quality of life.
Article available at: http://consumer.healthday.com/Article.asp?AID=642242
Study abstract available at: http://www.nejm.org/doi/full/10.1056/NEJMoa0912611
Dr. Schwartz
San Diego Psychologist
www.integrative-health.net
15.03.2010
Lifestyle Coaching: Changing Your Path, Pain Management: Controlling Your Life, Reinforcing Relationships
A recent study suggests that childhood behavioral problems may predict chronic pain issues later on in life. “The study of nearly 20,000 people born in 1958 found that those with “severe behavior disturbances” between the ages of 11 and 16 were about twice as likely to have chronic widespread pain (CWP) by the time they were 45 as those who didn’t have behavioral problems as children.” http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/news/fullstory_96346.html
Dr. Schwartz
San Diego Psychologist
www.integrative-health.net
13.01.2010
Pain Management: Controlling Your Life
Chronic pain involves continued pain symptoms typically lasting longer than 6 months in which either (1) the bodily damage appears to be completely healed, (2) the origin is unknown, or (3) the cause is not sufficient for the duration, intensity, and frequency of the pain. Acute pain involves pain symptoms that, in general, last the duration of an event and a brief time afterward.
13.01.2010
What is Biofeedback?
Biofeedback is one of many tools that Dr. Schwartz utilizes to treat health conditions and improve quality of life. It is a very basic, yet extremely effective physiological monitoring tool. It is a non-invasive “treatment” in which patients are connected to a computer via electrodes to obtain information such as temperature, sweat gland activity, muscle tension, breathing, and heart functioning [NOT for treating or diagnosing heart conditions]. These measurements represent common physiological reactions to anxiety, stress, chronic pain and discomfort; even depression and trauma. This data is then “fed back” to the individual via information displayed on a computer monitor. This information can be monitored while performing relaxation exercises, hypnotherapy sessions, during psychotherapy, etc; thus making it an outstanding learning and awareness tool.
13.01.2010
Headaches: A Big Pain in the Neck
Headaches generally include discomfort and pain around the neck, shoulder, skull, eyes, scalp, jaws, and/or forehead. Types of headaches include migraines (vascular), tension headaches (muscle contraction), cluster headaches, sinus headaches, and what we call “Atypical Migraines” or “Painless Migraines”
13.01.2010
Services Posts
Chronic pain involves continued pain symptoms typically lasting longer than 6 months in which either (1) the bodily damage appears to be completely healed, (2) the origin is unknown, or (3) the cause is not sufficient for the duration, intensity, and frequency of the pain. Acute pain involves pain symptoms that, in general, last the duration of an event and a brief time afterward.
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13.01.2010
Services Posts
Headaches generally include discomfort and pain around the neck, shoulder, skull, eyes, scalp, jaws, and/or forehead. Types of headaches include migraines (vascular), tension headaches (muscle contraction), cluster headaches, sinus headaches, and what we call “Atypical Migraines” or “Painless Migraines”
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13.01.2010
Services Posts
Heart disease is a general term that describes a wide variety of diseases that affect you heart and you blood vessels. These conditions include coronary artery disease; heart rhythm problems (arrhythmias); and heart defects you’re born with (congenital heart defects). The most common cause of heart disease is cardiovascular disease — a condition involving the narrowing or blockage of the coronary arteries (blood vessels that supply the heart) that can lead to chest pain (angina), heart attack, or stroke. Other forms of heart disease may include infections and conditions that affect your heart’s muscle, valves, or rhythm.
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