The Pros And Cons Of Pain
For those times when you do need a dose of pain relief, you need to make a smart choice. Here’s a rundown of the benefits and risks of some popular pain medications. It should help simplify your choices the next time you’re in the drugstore.
Keep in mind that you shouldn’t use any over-the-counter painkiller on a regular basis. If you’re in that much pain, you need to talk with your health care provider.
ACETAMINOPHEN Tylenol, Panadol, Tempra
ASPIRINBayer, Bufferin, Ecotrin
And Some Excellent Alternatives
It may seem like a no-brainer: You throw your back out, youre going to need some serious medication, right? But research is suggesting that this old guard method might be a dead end when it comes to actually healing back pain and preventing it from returning.
Read on to learn why muscle relaxers may not be your best choice, and for some simple steps you can take instead.
Weve all felt it that all too familiar tweak or spasm in the back, usually resulting from a seemingly benign movement like stooping to tie your shoe or twisting a little as you reached behind you.
You bend and suddenly OUCH. You are hit with a flash of pain that can really knock you out.
This is what I like to call a WTF Injury. Theres no planning for it, and its often hard to even understand what exactly went wrong.
This familiar, flexion-related back pain is so common that an estimated 8 out of 10 people experience it at some point . Eighty percent of us have felt that sudden and disconcerting jerk or pulling along the back of body.
The back can be an area of weakness for many of us something I address in my Bulletproof Back program. And by improperly engaging key stabilizer muscles throughout our daily lives and daily workouts, we can contribute to making this his key and sensitive area more prone to injury and pain.
But, while the pain is oh so real, it is usually not helpful to run to prescription medication like muscle relaxers.
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What Is A Muscle Relaxer
Muscle relaxers, or muscle relaxants, are medications that treat muscle spasms or muscle spasticity by decreasing the bodys muscle tone.
- Muscle spasms, commonly referred to as cramps, are quick and unexpected contractions of a muscle or group of muscles.
- Muscle spasticity is a continuous spasm that causes muscle stiffness or tightness.
- Muscle tone refers to the muscles resistance to stretch in a relaxed state.
Skeletal muscle spasms are the most common type of cramp and come from overuse, muscle fatigue, dehydration, or electrolyte abnormalities. Spasms are usually abrupt, painful, and short-lived.
Causes of Muscle Spasms
Conditions that lead to muscle spasms include:
- Back pain
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Side Effects Of Specific Muscle Relaxants
- Prolonged use of carisoprodol causes either dependence or withdrawal symptoms and abuse.
- Long term use of baclofen causes depression in the activity of central nervous system .
- Tizanidine may reduce blood pressure.
- Cyclobenzaprine produces confusion and lethargy. When taken singly or in combination, it may be toxic.
- Dantrolene causes respiratory problems such as asthma, emphysema, bronchitis, or other lung diseases. It may cause sensitivity to light as well.
Medicines Can Trigger Asthma
Sometimes a medicine or supplement can trigger asthma symptoms. Be sure to tell your health care provider about all medicines, herbs, supplements and vitamins you take.
Make sure all the health care providers you see know you have asthma. Talk with your health care provider before starting any of the following:
- Aspirin
- Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, like ibuprofen and naproxen
- Beta-blockers, which are usually used for heart conditions, high blood pressure and migraines
For example: :
- Corgard®, nadolol
- Visken®, pindolol
- Trandate®, labetalol hydrochloride
ACE inhibitors, which are used for heart disease and high blood pressure, can cause a cough which could be mistaken for an asthma symptom.
For example: :
- Accupril®, quinapril
- Vasotec®, enalapril
- Zestril®, lisinopril
Never stop a medicine before talking with your health care provider. If you currently take any of these medicines, call your provider to discuss the medicine and your asthma.
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What Muscle Relaxants Are Available
Muscle relaxants are medicines that are used to prevent and reduce muscle spasms and tightness . Muscle spasms occur when there is an uncontrolled contraction of a group of muscles. The muscles usually shorten suddenly this is often painful. Spasticity occurs when some muscles contract tightly and can then become stiff and harder to use.
Several muscle relaxants are available to prescribe in the UK. They include:
- Methocarbamol.
- A cannabis extract containing dronabinol and cannabidiol .
Most muscle relaxant preparations are available as tablets, capsules, or liquids. Baclofen is also available as an injection into the back . Diazepam is also available as a liquid that can be inserted into the back passage and there is a diazepam preparation that can be injected into muscle. Cannabis extract is only available as a spray for the mouth. Other treatments sometimes used for muscle spasticity are injections into the affected areas with Botox® and other chemicals.
Medications That Can Cause Urinary Incontinence
Urinaryincontinence, or the loss of bladder control, can be caused by various health conditions and physical changes, such as childbirth, changes in diet, infection, prostate issues, menopause, and neurological disorders. But there are also a number of medications can cause urinary incontinence in both men and women in a variety of different ways.
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Medication |
From Better Bladder and Bowel Control, Harvard Health Publishing
Image: Thinkstock
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It Looks Like Asthma But Sometimes Its Not
Evaluating and treating sinusitis and acid reflux are very important but for different reasons. Another problem linked to more severe asthma is acid reflux, which can also mimic asthma and contribute to vocal cord problems which, unless properly recognized, can lead to asthma overtreatment including excessive oral steroid use. Its worth noting that doctors are taught in medical school all that wheezes isnt asthma.
Hydromorphone May Cause Side Effects Tell Your Doctor If Any Of These Symptoms Are Severe Or Do Not Go Away:
- headache
- difficulty falling asleep or staying asleep
- dry mouth
- muscle, back or joint pain
- stomach pain
- fainting
- lightheadedness when changing positions
Hydromorphone may cause other side effects. Call your doctor if you have any unusual problems while you are taking this medication.
If you experience a serious side effect, you or your doctor may send a report to the Food and Drug Administration’s MedWatch Adverse Event Reporting program online or by phone .
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Diacerein Relaxed High K+
Figure 1 Relaxant effects of diacerein on high K+-precontracted mouse tracheal rings . A representative tension record indicated that high K+ induced a steady contraction which could be inhibited by 0.1~3.16 mg/ml diacerein in a dose-dependent manner. Dose-relaxation curve of diacerein on high K+-precontracted mTRs . High K+-induced precontraction was completely blocked by voltage-dependent L-type Ca2+ channel specific blocker, 10 M nifedipine . 3.16 mg/ml diacerein had no effect on basal tone of mTRs .
Can You Relax Your Asthma Away
Jan. 29, 2002 — Medical research has long sought the link between asthma and the mind. Two new studies of how our psyche can affect our breathing show that a particular type of yoga might help, but the final answer still evades us.
Anxiety and emotions are thought to play some role in asthma. But what role, we don’t know. Several different methods of relaxation — hypnosis, Buteyko breathing, yoga breathing methods — have been shown to benefit people with asthma, according to researchers in the new issue of the journal Thorax.
Guy Marks and colleagues tested the effect of Sahaja yoga in people with asthma. Participants were taking inhaled steroids to calm inflammation and prevent attacks but still had symptoms.
Sahaja meditation aims for practitioners to develop a state of full or heightened mental alertness, without mental “busyness.”
The researchers found that this therapeutic exercise could improve lung function and reduce frequency of attacks, according to the researchers.
Each person in the study attended a weekly two-hour session for four months, in addition to continuing medication. The researchers assigned 21 people to the yoga group. Another 26 people with asthma were trained in general relaxation techniques.
But these improvements did not affect lung function or symptoms. And the benefit seemed to diminish over a two-month period after the yoga was stopped.
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How Should Muscle Relaxants Be Taken
These medicines are usually taken by mouth . In general, your doctor will start off with a low dose and increase this gradually over a number of weeks. This is in order to help your body get used to these medicines. Injections into the back are always started in the hospital.
Cannabis extract is a spray for the mouth. It should be sprayed under the tongue or on to the inside of the cheek once or twice a day. Always change the area in your mouth where you spray, to prevent irritation of the mouth. Like other muscle relaxants you will normally start off with a low dose. The number of sprays used is normally increased over a number of days.
Why Nsaids Are Contraindicated In Asthma
3.9/5NSAIDsasthmaasthmais here
Patients with a history of asthma should be warned of this reaction and to seek medical help if symptoms worsen on initiation of a NSAID. NSAIDs should be used with caution in the presence of asthma and avoided in asthmatics with nasal polyps.
Subsequently, question is, which Nsaid is safe in asthma? If you have asthma, painkillers called nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs can be risky. They include aspirin, ibuprofen, naproxen, and ketoprofen, the active ingredients in medicines like Bufferin, Advil, and Aleve. Other pain relievers are potentially less dangerous.
Also know, why Ibuprofen is contraindicated in asthma?
If you have asthma and are aspirin-sensitive, using these products may cause severe bronchospasm, which can be life-threatening. Ibuprofen and other NSAIDs work by inhibiting a protein called cyclooxygenase. It’s not clear why some people with asthma are overly sensitive to these inhibitors.
What medications should be avoided with asthma?
Asthma
- Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, like ibuprofen and naproxen
- Beta-blockers, which are usually used for heart conditions, high blood pressure and migraines.
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Things To Know About Muscle Relaxants
When you have back pain, your doctor may recommend muscle relaxantsa group of drugs that are typically obtained with a doctors prescription. These drugs have the potential to decrease tension and spasm within a sore muscle, which may reduce pain.
Here are 6 important facts that you must know if you plan to take muscle relaxants for back pain:
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Co: The Best Natural Muscles Relaxant
Grammarly-Daan-Sept-2019
Carbon dioxide is most likely the best natural muscles relaxant since it also provides O2 for the muscles and other body cells. I have seen the powerful effects of breathing exercises on hundreds of my students. Their posture, gait, and many other lifestyle factors change. When people have normal breathing parameters during their basal or automatic breathing, they effortlessly maintain correct posture with a straight spine. It is easy for them to have diaphragmatic breathing 24/7. There are no signs of stress in their gait.
What happens with muscles and posture in modern people?
Since ordinary modern people breathe about twice more than the medical norm, they suffer from the effects of chronic hyperventilation. One of them is a cellular CO2 deficiency , which makes muscles cells tense and irritable since CO2 is a muscles relaxant.
Physiological science accumulated evidence of the adverse effects of low carbon dioxide levels on muscles cells. In his research review paper, Physiological effects of hyperventilation Dr. Brown from the Department of Physiology at the University of Kansas Medical Center analyzed almost 300 professional studies. He stated, Studies designed to determine the effects produced by hyperventilation on nerve and muscles have been consistent in their finding on increased irritability . Muscles cells become irritated or abnormally sensitive and predisposed to spasms and twitching.
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Why Does This Happen
There are a few reasons that someone with asthma might have back pain. One major reason is that your diaphragm and other muscles you use to breathe also help keep your spine stiff. People with asthma who hyperventilate or experience labored breathing can strain these muscles. Another cause is frequent coughing, which can put stress on the muscles in your chest and back, leading to back pain. Additionally,
Muscle Relaxants And Weight Gain
Muscle relaxants slow down many processes that allow your body to function by depressing your central nervous system. For acute diseases, these drugs are typically administered for a five- to seven-day period. As you restrict your activity to heal from your injuries, short-term usage of these medications can cause a minor weight gain of 2 to 3 pounds. Long-term use or abuse of these drugs can lead to a significant increase in weight gain when your general physical activity decreases.
Following your primary care provider’s injury treatment plan will result in faster healing times and fewer side effects, such as weight gain. If muscle relaxer medicine is required for a more extended period of time, be aware that there is a danger of weight gain and the possibility of addiction.
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What Is The Difference Between Laryngospasm And Bronchospasm
bronchospasmbronchospasmLaryngospasmCommon symptoms of bronchospasm include:
- pain, tightness, and a feeling of constriction in the chest and back.
- difficulty getting enough air or breathing.
- a wheezing or whistling sound when inhaling.
- coughing.
- feeling tired or exhausted for no apparent reason.
- feeling light-headed or dizzy.
Prospects For The Future
As stated above, there have not been any substantially new pharmacological advances in the past decade or two with respect to treatment strategies for asthma which target the ASM. Admittedly, there have been newer -agonists or phosphodiesterase inhibitors, but these represent only modifications of decades-old strategies. Any truly new advances have been aimed at controlling inflammation, which is also important but should not eclipse any efforts aimed at controlling bronchoconstriction directly. We have stated repeatedly that a better understanding of the mechanisms underlying ASM contraction and AHR is a prerequisite for any such new advances, and that it would be unwise to base any such understanding solely on work being done in the vascular smooth muscle field, let alone others studying non-muscle tissues.
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When It May Not Be Asthma
Back pain can be connected to asthma. However, asthma isnt the breathing concern thats most likely to cause back pain. Several lung conditions lead to back pain more often than asthma. These include:
- Respiratory infections such as pneumonia or bronchitis. An infection such as bronchitis on pneumonia can cause difficulty breathing, severe coughing, fever, and sharp pain in your chest, back, and shoulders. Its a good idea to seek medical care for these symptoms. Treatment can help heal the infection and relieve your pain.
- Viruses such as the flu or COVID-19. Viral infections such as the flu or COVID-19 can cause generalized body aches including back pain, along with coughing and shortness of breath. Its a good idea to get tested if youve had these symptoms, especially if theres a chance youve been exposed to COVID-19.
- Lung cancer. A chronic cough, shortness of breath, wheezing, and back pain are also symptoms of lung cancer. These symptoms dont necessarily mean you have lung cancer, but its important to make a medical appointment. Your doctor can run tests and determine the cause of back pain.
Diacerein Activated K+ Channels Especially Large
Unlike the well-defined contractile roles of calcium channels, activated potassium channels might also play an important part in regulation of smooth muscle tone by hyperpolarizing cell membrane, then favoring relaxation . Therefore, the role of K+ channel in diacerein-induced relaxation was tested . As shown in Figure 9A, 100 M ACh evoked-contraction could be significantly enhanced by 10 mM TEA, an inhibitor of K+ channels, which indicated that blockade of K+ channel could strengthen contraction. Subsequently, the total contraction was completely abolished by 3.16 mg/ml diacerein, which indicated that blocked K+ channel was activated during diacerein-induced relaxation. Several studies have revealed that BK channel, a classical type of potassium channels, constituted a key physiological feature of regulating smooth muscle tone by affecting cellular Ca2+ mobilization . To identify the role of BK channel in diacerein-induced relaxation, paxilline, a specific inhibitor of BK channels was applied in Figure 9B. It turned out that 100 M ACh-induced contraction was enhanced by 1 M paxilline. Then 3.16 mg/ml diacerein was added. Resultantly, the contraction was completely relaxed, which implied that the blocked BK channel was reactivated. These results demonstrate that K+ channels, especially BK channel, were involved in diacerein-induced relaxation.
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Asthma: To Breathe Or Not To Breathe
Asthma is a chronic disease that makes it hard to breathe. Asthma cannot be cured, but it can be managed. With proper treatment, people with asthma can lead normal, active lives. If you have asthma, your airways are very sensitive to allergens. When you are around certain things, your hypersensitive airways can become red and swollen or become twitchy and go into spasm. Your airways get inflamed inside and fill up with mucus. The swelling and mucus make your airways narrower, making it is harder for the air to pass through.
What causes Asthma?
Symptoms and Diagnosis of Asthma
Different people have different signs and symptoms of asthma. These signs and symptoms can change over time or depending on the situation. People with asthma often experience wheezing, chest tightness, coughing, and shortness of breath. In adults and older children, diagnosis can be made with spirometry or a peak flow meter, which is used to measure the daily variation in airway restriction and any reversibility of airway restriction following inhaled bronchodilator medication.
Treatment of Asthma
In Naturopathic medicine, there are several common treatments for asthma.
The first treatment can include nebulised glutathione. Glutathione is a potent antioxidant and immune system modulator. It improves the antioxidant concentration in the respiratory tract and thus helps prevent damage to lung tissue. It also improves respiratory function by helping to increase total lung capacity .