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If you’re seeking acid reflux help, one of the first things to realize is that being overweight or obese, even by few pounds, can increase your risk of acid reflux; increase the number of attacks you experience, increase the number and severity of symptoms, add to your risk of developing a hiatus hernia, and can make acid reflux generally a more debilitating condition. But how do you know if you are overweight or obese?  How do you know how much weight you need to lose to receive meaningful acid reflux relief?

The first thing you should understand is the difference between being overweight and being obese and what each of these terms really means.  Overweight is a term used by doctors and health professionals in order to identify if a person has excessive body weight including fat, muscle, water, and bone.  On the other hand, obesity is a condition that refers specifically to an excess amount of fat in the body.  It is therefore possible to be overweight without being obese, such as in the case of bodybuilders and some muscular athletes.

In terms of getting acid reflux help for your symptoms, obesity is what needs to be avoided, as it is the excess of fat in your body that has shown to cause the heightened risks and acid reflux symptoms.  Obesity is measured by determining the amount of fat in your body.  Keep in mind that body fat is a natural part of our makeup, and is required to survive.  Fat is vital for many functions such as storing energy, absorbing shock, and insulating for temperature regulation.  Women, as a rule, have a larger percentage of body fat than men.  Generally speaking, the majority of health professionals consider a man with more than 25 percent body fat, or a woman with over 30 percent body fat to be obese.

It isn’t easy to measure the precise amount of fat in a person’s body.  The most accurate ways to determine this is by weighing you underwater and measuring water displacement, or by using a special form of X-ray test called a Dual Energy X-Ray Absorptiometry (DEXA). Clearly, these are not techniques that you will be able to apply at home whenever you want to check your body fat level.

Some doctors measure the thickness of the fat layer beneath the skin in specific body parts often using specially designed calipers.  Others use a harmless electrical current that runs through your body to judge the amount of body fat.  Some gyms and health clubs, as well as some weight loss programs also offer these forms of measuring fat body.  However, should they be performed by an inexperienced or poorly trained individual, the results can vary widely and be quite inaccurate.  Furthermore, if you are severely obese, these tests are less likely to be accurate.

Therefore, it is useful to have a tool of your own for judging your level of body fat.  This measure is referred to as the body mass index (BMI) and is based on weight-for-height tables that provide an acceptable range for an adult of a given size.  Though this is not as accurate as some of the other tests previously mentioned they are much more practical to the average person.  Keep in mind that these tables don’t distinguish between increased levels of fat and muscle, so a very muscular person could easily appear obese according to BMI tables.

That being said, the BMI is the current standard used to measure the amount of fat in the body of an adult.  The higher the BMI, the greater your risk of obesity and the higher your risk of increased problems with acid reflux.  The BMI formula can be calculated as follows:

- Your current weight (lbs) multiplied by 703 = X
- X divided by your height (inches) = Y
- Y divided by your height (inches) again = Your BMI

If your BMI is below 18.5, you are typically considered to be underweight.  If your BMI is between 18.5 and 24.9, you’re within your healthy weight range.  If your BMI is between 25 and 29.9, you may be overweight.  If your BMI is greater than 30, you are at risk of being obese.
 
If you are overweight or obese, some of the best acid reflux help you can get is to start an acid reflux diet and exercise program to lose weight and reduce your symptoms and risks of greater GERD problems.

Grab your free copy of Kathryn Whittaker’s brand new Acid Reflux & GERD Newsletter - Overflowing with easy to implement methods of natural acid reflux help , plus useful suggestions for successful acid reflux weight loss that include delicious acid reflux foods. 

Gout uric acid is one of the primary contributing factors to the painful symptoms experienced by gout sufferers. Therefore, controlling the production of this substance is key to getting symptoms under control. One of the techniques that are now being used to accomplish this is by changing the pH level of the body in order to manipulate its uric acid production.

pH stands for the power of hydrogen and refers to the acidity level in the body. That is, when the pH levels of the body are raised, it becomes more alkaline, while lowering pH levels makes the body more acidic.

Therefore, by raising the pH levels in your body, you are effectively putting into practice a natural gout treatment. The theory behind this is that by making the body more alkaline, the uric acid levels will be reduced. This is because uric acid can be diluted by drinking water, and the more alkaline the body is, the more water-soluble uric acid becomes. And so, the higher the ratio of alkaline to acid in the body, that is, the higher the pH level of the body (or the number on the pH scale) the more alkaline your body will be, and the more uric acid will be dissolved into the water you drink.

If the uric acid level of the body is kept below a certain level (6.0mg/dL for men and slightly less than that for women) then gout crystal formation will be much less likely to occur.

In order to make your body more alkaline, the most commonly recommended technique is to drink alkaline (ionized) water. This is water that has additional OH oxygen as opposed to O2. You can drink it or cook with it.

Alkaline foods and beverages can also be eaten in order to increase the pH level of the body. This is trickier for some people, though, since the pH level of foods is not mentioned on the nutrition labels on food product packaging. However, there are some foods that are known for their alkalinity, as well as being good for helping to control gout symptoms for other properties such as anti-inflammatory. These include:

- Cherries (the darker, the better)

- Celery

- Strawberries

Alcohol, which is highly acidic, as well as other acidic foods should be avoided as they rapidly decreases the pH level of the body, negating the impact that the alkaline foods would have.

If you want to know more about increasing the pH level of your body in order to help treat your gout, you should speak to your doctor. He or she will be able to advise you as to whether this is the right kind of treatment for you, and will be able to assist you in choosing the right foods and finding a supplier for ionized water.

You may find that in addition to changing the pH level of the body, gout uric acid can also be reduced with the application of certain herbs, but be sure to consult you doctor first to ensure there are no interactions with any prescribed medications.

Grab your free copy of Lisa McDowell’s brand new Gout Newsletter - Overflowing with easy to implement methods to help you find out about ways to lower gout uric acid and for information on uric acid diets please visit Cure Gout Now. 

An increasing number of people today are choosing to treat gout using natural and herbal remedies as opposed to relying fully on medication to ease the pain and discomfort that it can cause.  Among the natural treatments currently gaining a great deal of attention is Juniper. 

Juniper berries from the evergreen plant Juniperis communis are also known as gin berries.  They are relatively small, bluish-purple berries that vaguely resemble blueberries.  They are about ¼ inch in diameter, and have a surprising, spicy flavor with subtle pine undertones.

There are many benefits to taking juniper berries, including their use to help ease gout.  The juniper berry encourages the flow of urine and detoxification of the bladder, kidneys, and prostate.  It is also becoming celebrated as an effective preventative and treatment for urinary infections. Of course, juniper berries are probably most commonly known for the flavor they provide when making gin.

Juniper berries contain many compounds, including camphene, cineole, alpha and beta pinene, myrcene, and terpinene volatile oils.  Additionally, juniper barriers also contain active ingredients such as lignin, gum, resin, sugar, beta-carotine, wax, betulin, catechin, borneol, glycolic acid, linalool, limonene, rutin, menthol, calcium, tannins, chromium, B-vitamins, vitamin C, Iron, as well as many other valuable vitamins and minerals.  There is even a compound with potential anticancer and antiviral properties called deoxypodophyllotoxin in juniper berries.

As an antiseptic and a diuretic that promotes a healthy urine flow and urinary tracts, excess water and toxins are expelled from the body when juniper berry is taken.  Even more important to gout treatment is the fact that juniper berries help to prevent uric acid crystallization and aids in the expulsion of sediment.  As gout is a result of buildup of this uric acid crystal sediment in joints, the ability of juniper to inhibit this process is critical to its effectiveness when attacks occur.  Instead of having a buildup of these crystals in the joints, they are harmlessly passed in the urine.  This also helps to prevent gall stones and kidney stones.

When a gout attack occurs, it is not too late to take juniper as it also contains helpful and effective anti-inflammatory properties, easing the pain and pressure of gout as well as arthritis in the joints. This may be why gin was once recommended to treat gout and arthritis (though it is now known that the alcohol in gin can actually negate any of the benefits of the juniper so don’t go rushing to the nearest store for a bottle).

Overall, the humble juniper berry is considered to be an effective herbal treatment for purifying the blood and cleansing the body of toxins and undesirable buildups, allowing the body to better fight off infection and disease.

Juniper is easiest to take in the form of capsules, which you can get from most health shops and may be taken several times every day. 

Before beginning treatment with juniper to treat gout, make sure to talk to your doctor to ensure that there aren’t any other conflicts or issues of which you should be notified.  You should always make it a habit to review gout medications and discuss your options before beginning new treatments.

If you’ve suffered from a gout attack or two now is the time to take action to stop the attacks in their tracks and discover effective preventative steps before your uric acid levels get out of hand.

Grab your free copy of Lisa McDowell’s brand new Gout Newsletter - Overflowing with easy to implement methods to help you find out about how to treat gout naturally and for information on gout home treatment please visit Cure Gout Now. 

Gout disease is most common in people between the ages of 30 and 50 years of age.  The reason for this is that it takes a build up of about twenty years to cause a first gout attack.  Uric acid levels will usually begin to increase at least that far ahead of the onset of gout. However, this does not rule out gout in people younger than 30 years old.   Therefore, just because you’re under 30, it doesn’t mean that you can’t develop gout.

Although not common, gout disease can occur in those younger than 30 years old; usually as a result of an enzyme problem or kidney disease.  However, when not a result of another problem in the body – for example, when gout is simply hereditary in your family – there are steps you can take to prevent the early onset of gout.

The first step is to make sure that you are always adequately hydrated.  Of course, this is a good piece of advice for your health regardless of gout, but it is especially important when you are trying to prevent the condition. This is because hydration is the primary step for helping to flush uric acid from your body.  The buildup of uric acid on the joints is the primary cause of gout and therefore the main goal of gout prevention is to stop that from happening.

Your next step is maintaining a healthy body weight.  If you are overweight – especially if you are obese – it is important for you to speak to your doctor about losing weight gradually and in a healthy way so you achieve a healthy body mass and maintain it.  Though being overweight doesn’t directly cause gout, it can put you at higher risk of having attacks. However, take care not to lose weight too quickly as crash dieting can actually increase uric acid levels and lead to a gout attack.

Even if you are already at a healthy body weight, you should examine your diet and make healthy dietary changes to include optimum nutritional choices, and low quantities of foods that are both high in purines and in proteins.  These foods, such as meat, fish, and beer, are the primary causes of increased levels of uric acid in the body and should therefore be avoided.

Reduce your alcohol consumption, especially if you tend to binge drink or drink to excess.  Alcohol is not a cause of gout, but it can negate all of your other efforts to prevent gout disease from acting up.  Alcohol will dehydrate your body and it causes uric acid to form.  Therefore, it not only builds your uric acid levels, but it discourages your body from eliminating that uric acid.  So it is best to avoid alcohol altogether when you are working to prevent gout disease.

If you have hyperuricemia, you are at a higher risk for gout disease.  Hyperuricemia means that you already have high uric acid levels in your blood.  If this is the case, your doctor may prescribe medications to help control that condition.  By keeping hyperuricemia under control, you can also help to slow the onset of gout and prevent gout disease occurrences.

By taking these basic healthy precautions, you will be able to minimize the impact gout has on your life, and delay its onset for several years.

Grab your free copy of Lisa McDowell’s brand new Gout Newsletter - Overflowing with easy to implement methods to help you find out about gout disease and for information on overcoming gout symptoms please visit Cure Gout Now. 

When a child has special learning needs, it is important to make the right modifications in the classroom, at home, and during other times of learning and education.  Keep in mind that learning isn’t just something that happens at school with teachers and textbooks.  Learning and understanding come from every part of life, and with the right autism modifications, it can be at its most effective for your child. 

There are five primary autism modifications that can help your autistic child get the most out of his or her own potential.  These include:

- Visuals – as autistic children commonly achieve their best learning when visual aids are used, they should be among the modifications made to ensure an effective learning environment.  Visuals can include:
- An individually tailored visual daily schedule that illustrates the day’s activities.
- Visual highlighting of important points made throughout lessons through the use of cards of picture books etc.
- Color coding for relevant and important information i.e. Red for work time and blue for playtime.
- Directions and sequencing through visual cues such as picture cards
- Visual signs for making activity endings obvious.

- Assessment and evaluation of sensory needs – Once an evaluation has been completed, suitable sensory activities should be scheduled into each day.  Such sensory activities may include:
- Chair push ups
- Swing-sets and monkey bars
- Carrying heavy objects and light objects to different designated locations via designated routes
- Biting, crunching, sucking, chewing, and blowing with food, bubbles, etc.
- Fidget toys
- Always making appropriate modifications for temperature, lighting, sounds, and smells
- Exercise every day

- Environmental modifications could include:
- Limiting potential for distractions in work areas and at home
- Having close proximity to instruction area and materials
- Setting visual boundaries where necessary with screens or curtains etc
- Learning areas made obvious through seating and furniture arrangements, masking tape, carpet squares, etc.

- Consistency – Make sure any modifications, techniques or teaching strategies are consistent between the classroom and home.  This includes methods of scheduling the day’s activities, and forms of communication.  This consistent approach should be applied to as many different environments as possible, so children know what is expected of them at any given time.

- Build Social and Emotional Strength – Give the autistic child activities that are specifically designed to support social and emotional skills.  These skills should be a serious focus at home and at school.  These are the skills that will be essential for your child’s daily life and functioning throughout childhood and adulthood.  It will likely be among the most challenging subjects for your child so it is important not to underestimate the impact social and emotional development and skills can have.

Beyond autism modifications in the classroom, there are many other things that you can do to help your child to function and adapt to life’s demands. However, no matter what you choose for your child, you must make sure that the decision is based specifically on your child’s unique symptoms of autism and their needs.  Discuss any decisions with your doctor, specialist or therapist for further expert advice.

Grab your free copy of Rachel Evans’ brand new Autism Newsletter - Overflowing with easy to implement methods to help you and your family find out about autism modifications and for information on autism resources please visit The Essential Guide To Autism. 

Openly talking to your doctor about medication and other facts of gout, will help you avoid letting your gout cause other issues in addition to the painful attacks you’re already experiencing.  The reason why it is important to be able to freely talk about your gout condition is because gout can cause depression.

Feeling depressed or down is a normal part of life and is experienced by most people from time to time.  Everyone goes through bouts of apathy, despair, and exhaustion, a case of the blues that takes hold and doesn’t let go.  Depression can occur for many reasons, and poor health is one of the major causes.  Therefore, if you’re not careful, you can let your gout get you down.

How can gout cause depression? 
- Painful attacks
- Not being able to use the affected joint during an attack
- Not being able to enjoy certain activities
- Avoiding foods you love eating because they can cause gout
- Knowing a gout attack can recur

How will you know if you are depressed?  Signs and symptoms of depression include:
- Feeling helpless and/or hopeless – feeling that a situation with never become better or change
- Loss of interest in everyday activities - no longer participating in hobbies and activities once enjoyed
- Significant weight loss or weight gain (a 5% increase or decrease in body weight in one month)
- Insomnia or hypersomnia (oversleeping)
- Feeling restless or sluggish
- Feeling exhausted and physically drained, even when doing simple tasks
- Self-loathing
- Difficulty concentrating
- Irritable – easily frustrated, annoyed or angered
- Feeling aches and pains – having headaches and gastrointestinal complaints (I.E. constipation, abdominal pain, diarrhea, etc.)

How can you treat depression related to gout?  If you are feeling depressed, the following are a few self-help tips to aid you in eliminating the blues gout cause.  Just remember that in order to successfully self-treat depression you need to want to recover from your condition and give it everything you’ve got.  Therefore, you need to be practical, open-minded, and above all, be yourself!

Talk to someone supportive – Talk to a good friend, or talk to your doctor about any concerns or questions you may have about your condition.

Research gout – Find out how you can treat and prevent gout attacks so you don’t let gout cause symptoms that are painful or depressing.

Enjoy the food you eat – Just because you have to avoid certain foods rich in purines, doesn’t mean that you can’t enjoy eating anymore.  Find out what foods are low in purines and are considered gout-friendly.  Some examples include, chocolate, carbonated beverages, eggs, sugar, milk products, bread, grains cereals, rice, pasta, cheese, milk products, tomatoes, fruit, and some green vegetables.  Use these foods to create healthy new recipes.

Exercise – Exercise helps blood flow thorough your body and improves circulation.  Exercise also releases endorphins which make you feel better, improves your sense of well-being, and can help you avoid the negative feelings gout cause.

Take time to relax and avoid stress – You may be overworking yourself and your body.  Tell yourself you deserve a break and take the time to do something you enjoy and focus on clearing your mind.  For instance:
- Take a hot bath
- Listen to music
- Get a massage
- Spend time with a pet
- Read a book
- Write in a journal
- Take a walk and enjoy nature
- What a comedic movie or T.V. show

Finally, always remember that if you are suffering from prolonged depression (depression that lasts for months) due to a gout cause, or another issue, you should seek immediate medical attention before your depression moves beyond your control.  Major depression is a mental illness that needs to be taken serious and treated.  Therefore, you may be required to take medication such as antidepressants to help you overcome depression so you can move on with your life.

Grab your free copy of Lisa McDowell’s brand new Gout Newsletter - Overflowing with easy to implement methods to help you find out about gout causes and for information on gout remedy options please visit Cure Gout Now. 

Autism diet recommendations can be many and varied.  Some experts will suggest gluten-free and casein-free diets.  Gluten is a substance found in breads and other grains and casein appears in milk and dairy products.  The belief is that some people with autism have trouble digesting such substances, resulting in a decreased, foggy state of consciousness.

Other autism diet suggestions include cutting out yeast and sugars, and concentrating on consuming larger quantities of fresh fruit and vegetables.

Each of these theories have solid research to back them up, but while adults may be able to make dietary decisions for their children, it is not always as easily applied as they may wish.

Kids are still kids whether they have autism or not!  They have individual tastes, and will prefer some foods to others.  It is not always easy to remove the foods that they enjoy, and introduce those that don’t typically appeal.
 
So the following are practical tips for parents who are aiming to introduce a healthy autism diet.

Turn it into finger food.  Some small children can be more likely to eat something when they know what’s in it, and often enjoy vegetables raw rather than cooked.  A healthy diet should include generous servings of vegetables in at least two meals a day so try slicing up a selection of vegetables like carrots, broccoli and sweet red pepper into little sticks and serve them plain or with a dip for dunking.

Offer berries.  Almost all types of berries are nutritious and rich in antioxidants so keep strawberries, blueberries, raspberries – and any other berries that you can find and that your child enjoys – on hand for snacks. They can satisfy a sweet tooth and don’t break the rules of most autism diets.

Sugar-free sweetening.  You can still give your kids sweet things without loading them down with sugar. Stevia can be an effective solution for this problem.  Readily available in health food stores, Stevia is a South American herb that’s sweeter than sugar and is an excellent alternative, as long as it is used in moderation.  In most autism diets, other sweetening agents – sugar, honey, molasses, maple syrup, jelly etc – should be kept to an absolute minimum. Stevia can be used in many of a child’s favorite recipes such as in lemonade and cookies.

Use supplements.  If you are worried that your child’s diet isn’t giving them all the nutrition they need, speak to your doctor or naturopath about supplements. When kids are off dairy products, they may need calcium, magnesium and Vitamin D.  Enzyme supplements can help aid digestion.  And there are a host of other beneficial supplements from fish oil to amino acids, Vitamin B12 to calcium, magnesium and zinc.  Many come in child-friendly chewable forms but always check with a health expert first, as many of these chewable vitamins come with a high dose of sugar.

As with any dietary change, make certain that any decisions made are discussed with a qualified doctor, first.

Grab your free copy of Rachel Evans’ brand new Autism Newsletter - Overflowing with easy to implement methods to help you and your family find out about autism and diet and for information on autism resources please visit The Essential Guide To Autism. 

Not all children with autism have sensory problems among their symptoms, but when present they are among the first to become noticeable. Sensory issues can range from being hypersensitive or, at the other end of the scale, having a lack of response to many types of stimulation. However by employing sensory integration and autism therapy these issues can be managed.

The range of sensory integration (SI) issues children with autism face varies dramatically from child to child. Some children are unable to tolerate any loud or unusual noise. Textures of foods and fabrics may be extremely irritating. Something as simple as a clothing label can feel to an autistic child like insects crawling over their skin. For these hypersensitive children anything remotely out of the ordinary, such as a loud family gathering with lots of hugging and kissing, can be too much for senses to manage.

On the other end of the spectrum, some autistic children show practically no response to anything at all. Loud noises are ignored, events or actions that might have an impact on anyone else will pass seemingly unnoticed.

Though it is not always the case, some classic autistic behaviors can be attributed to the sensory issues themselves.

Some children will deal with feelings of over-stimulation by flapping hands, rocking their bodies, and even walking in different ways. Those behaviors may seem odd, however when you consider that their senses are overloaded, those actions make a great deal more sense.

It is somewhat logical if an autistic child is over-stimulated, he or she might alter how they do things in order to try to deal with whatever it is that is proving to be overwhelming. These same actions might also be carried out in order to seek sensations that are desired, but not present.

The main objective of sensory integration and autism therapy is to make their environment tolerable and even pleasant for the child if at all possible. Most sensory integration therapy is incorporated within occupational therapy.

There are many types of activities that are integrated into the therapy to expose the child to sensations of all types; including brushing the skin, motions and movements, music or other auditory stimuli.

The child is exposed over and over again in a controlled environment in the hope that this exposure will help them learn to process the information without becoming startled or overwhelmed. If ST therapy is successful, the child usually becomes calmer and more in control of their actions and other problems, such as tantrums, may also be diminished.

There is debate over how effective SI therapy can be. There are several studies that demonstrate the therapy works well and just as many have illustrated that the therapy has no positive impact and in some case a negative effect.

Some of the controversy with this therapy may lie with unspecialized health care professionals attempting to provide the therapy without enough experience or training. Another point to bear in mind that as each child and each case of autism is different, so the outcome will never be the same for any two children, therefore it is very hard to compare outcomes between two or more children.

When considering sensory integration and autism therapy for your child it is important to speak to a qualified doctor about the potential benefits and setbacks that may occur. Some children with autism simply don’t need this form of therapy, while others will not respond to it at all. It is the individual situation that will dictate the final result.

Grab your free copy of Rachel Evans’ brand new Autism Newsletter - Overflowing with easy to implement methods to help you and your family find out about symtoms of autism in children and for information on autism group support please visit The Essential Guide To Autism.

Prescription medications can work well for acid reflux, but they are not for everyone, either due to side effects, cost or because of a reluctance to take medications long term. While modifying your diet and adapting your sleeping position can be very helpful steps in keeping this condition under control, there are times when they might not be enough. When that is the case, some turn to natural forms of indigestion treatment to see if they can help keep acid reflux symptoms and pain at bay.

One of the best natural types of indigestion treatments is a modification of lifestyle. If you are overweight, losing just ten percent of your body weight can help. Many acid reflux sufferers report a significant improvement and even elimination of symptoms simply by losing excess weight. It is thought that being overweight places pressure on the stomach, especially when lying down, which forces the Lower Esophageal Sphincter (the muscle at the top of the stomach) open, allowing acid and stomach contents to easily reflux into the esophagus.

Smoking is another lifestyle factor that can actively encourage acid reflux symptoms. Smoking relaxes the LES and slows down digestion speed, meaning that food sits in the stomach for longer, promoting the likelihood of acid reflux to occur.

A third lifestyle factor is alcohol consumption. Alcohol is bad for acid reflux for a number of reasons. It relaxes the LES, encourages stomach acid production and can lead to indigestion. If you’re suffering with acid reflux it is best to avoid all alcohol, especially the carbonated drinks. However, if you do want to have a drink keep the quantity small and make sure you have plenty of water alongside it.

Modifying diet was mentioned at the beginning of this article as being a beneficial way of controlling acid reflux. Along with what you eat, it is just as important to be aware of when you eat and in what quantities. Eating smaller meals more often throughout the day is the best approach. The traditional large 3 meals a day we’re all used to is not good for acid reflux sufferers. Large meals place the stomach under stress and will often trigger symptoms to flare. Also, be aware of when you eat and try to make the last meal of the day 3 hours before your retire to bed at night so foods have been digested and moved out of the stomach.

For some people a natural indigestion treatment that works well is probiotics. Probiotics are good bacteria that are naturally present in your stomach that aid digestion. Should these get out of kilter, you can have problems with digestion. Probiotics are available in food or supplement form that helps aid digestion and keep your system moving. Having sufficient quantities of probiotics can cut down on the amount of acid your stomach has to make, lessening your chance of developing problems with indigestion and acid reflux. As an added benefit, Probiotics also help boost your immune system too.

Other natural indigestion remedies can be found in the home. Ginger has long been used as a digestive aid and to reduce nausea. Ginger can be taken as tea, either using tea bags or steeping shavings of fresh, peeled ginger root You can also find it in capsule form or as a syrup. Ginger seems to absorb or neutralize acid in your stomach, and also has a calming affect.

Should you wish to try any type of natural indigestion treatment, it is advisable to consult with your doctor to be sure they are safe and that they will not adversely react with any type of medication you may be taking.

Grab your free copy of Kathryn Whittaker’s brand new Acid Reflux & GERD Newsletter - Overflowing with easy to implement methods to help you find out about acid reflux disease diet and for information on acid reflux syndrome please visit Stop Acid Reflux Now.

You’re certain you have gout, but are you really sure that is the correct assumption? You may not have heard of pseudo gout, but it might just be the root cause of your problem. Unlike gout, pseudo gout effects people across a broad range of ages and is also more common in both sexes when compared to gout. If left untreated, both gout and pseudo gout can have long term effects that lead to disability and a lot of pain. You should know the difference between the two so you know what treatments and lifestyle changes you should make in your particular situation.

Gout is caused by having excess levels uric acid in the blood that the body struggles to process. As a result the uric acid is deposited as crystals in the joints, most commonly the big toe joint, but it can affect any joint within the body. If gout is left untreated, the pain and swelling can become more frequent and over time damage can be done to the joints.

Pseudo gout, on the other hand, can occur in any joint at any time. This condition is not the result of uric acid crystals like gout, but comes from a build up of crystals that are formed from calcium pyrophosphate. The most common areas affected by this condition are the wrists, elbows, shoulders, and the knees, though not exclusively.

The cause of gout is partially hereditary and is also due to the body’s inability to remove excess uric acid. This can happen due to liver damage brought on by heavy drinking or a large variety of other problems.

Genetics can also play a role in pseudo gout, and the calcium pyrophosphate crystals formed will cause the same type of pain as gout, and can lead to a lot of cartilage damage within the affected joints. For the most part, it is not known why these crystals develop, but they do happen more frequently with age. Some suggest conditions such as hypothyroidism, an overactive thyroid gland, low magnesium levels, and high calcium levels in one’s blood may be partially to blame.

Gout is generally a condition that strikes men who have passed their fortieth birthday, with women becoming more at risk once they reach the menopause. One of the biggest indicators that you may be at risk of developing gout is if it runs in your family.

With pseudo gout, heredity may play a role, but both men and women are susceptible as they age. As many as 50 percent of people in their 90s may have this condition with only two or three percent of people fifties or sixties being affected.

While these two conditions have very different causes, and the reasons why some get pseudo gout are largely unknown, treatment options are somewhat similar. You don’t have to worry about purines in foods when it comes to pseudo gout, but you do have many of the same other options when it comes to treatments. NSAIDs are recommended for those who can safely take it to help with pain and swelling, and a shot of cortisone for especially bad attacks may help. You can lower uric acid levels by watching what you eat in regards to gout by avoiding purine-rich foods, but information on lowering the amount of or dissolving the crystals in regards to pseudo gout is not something that is possible or known at this time.

Grab your free copy of Lisa McDowell’s brand new Gout Newsletter - Overflowing with easy to implement methods to help you find out about gout joint symptom and for information on natural cure for gout please visit Cure Gout Now.