Health

What is autoimmune disease

April 16, 2024 by Team Fitness

What is autoimmune? It is when the immune system malfunctions and starts to see some part of its normal anatomy as a problem, so it creates antibodies that attack your own tissue. The body mistakenly launches an attack on itself which would normally be reserved for pathogens such as bacteria and viruses. This can lead to deterioration and sometimes destruction of that tissue.

Can you name an autoimmune disease? Over 90% of people can’t. Yet, they are the third leading cause of illness and death in the industrialised world, surpassed only by cancer and heart disease. It affects 1 in 20 people and most are women.

Autoimmune is an umbrella term that has over 80 different known states of disease under it. For this reason, there is a huge variation in those affected by autoimmune disease. Autoimmune disease can present in a specific part of the body, like Autoimmune Thyroid Disease. Or it can be systemic where the effects are felt throughout the body, such as Lupus. Some are quite common and others are very rare.

The Pros And Cons Of Fitness Supplements

April 29, 2023March 22, 2023 by Team Fitness

One of the most discussed subjects concerning fitness and sports is supplements. When they are being discussed, fitness supplements tend to split opinions in one of three ways. The first group are those that are for supplements, use them, and swear that they have helped make them fitter, faster, and stronger.

The second group are those who are vehemently opposed to supplements, either because they simply refuse to use them or because they are fearful of possible side effects. The third group are those that are neither opposed nor in favour of supplements, simply because they do not have enough information to make a definitive decision one way or the other.

For that last group, and possibly for some of those opposed to supplements simply because they do not know enough about them, we are going to outline some of the pros and cons of fitness and sports supplements. We do so without any intention of coming down on one side of the argument or the other, as it is up to each individual to make that choice.

How to Care For Yourself After Cataract Eye Surgery

August 10, 2022July 14, 2021 by Team Fitness

Cataract eye surgery is a safe and painless surgery that replaces your naturally clouded lens with artificial ones to restore your vision. Even though the surgery can sound daunting and complicated, thousands of them are performed every day including cataract eye surgery, SMILE laser eye surgery and LASIK surgery.

An eye specialist will take care of all the hard work to put you at ease, but they ask that you do your best to help with the aftercare. Here are some of the things you can expect in the days after cataract eye surgery.

The Day After

The day after cataract eye surgery, you may like to take one to three days off work for your recovery. Fortunately, eye surgery recovery times are relatively quick, which means your life won’t have to change too much in those initial few days.

Still, on the day of surgery and the day after, refrain from driving. This gives your eyes a chance to heal and reach their full vision potential.

Top 7 Fake Tanning Tips

June 18, 2021 by Team Fitness

Fake tan has come a long way since orange palms and streaky ankles (well for most people!) but is our desire for the year-round ultimate sun-free tan actually safe?

The most common ingredient in fake tanners is called dihydroxyacetone (DHA) which is a colour additive that binds to dead skin cells and changes the colour of the skin. As the dead skin cells come off, so does the fake tan.

DHA is regulated as a safe chemical as long as it only touches the skin. It is when ingested that it can be harmful. A study at the School of Public Health and Health Services at George Washington University, USA showed that DHA may cause mutations or changes to the DNA structure in our living cells. The current concerns are not so much the chemical reaction on the skin when ‘tanning’ but if the DHA from the tanning product is ingested how this could affect our lungs and other organs. So, if you’re faking it at the salon, you may be breathing in DHA through your nose and mouth.

The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) in the USA has approved DHA in traditional self-tanning creams and lotions but states that sprays containing DHA have not been approved, due to a lack of data confirming their safety. These recommendations echo a report in 2010 from the Danish Toxicology Centre, which advised using nose filters and eye protection in tanning booths.

However according to the European Commission’s independent scientific committee, which oversees the safety of cosmetic ingredients in Europe, believe that DHA is safe to use in cosmetic products.

Bread Basics: Which is Best?

April 13, 2021April 12, 2021 by Team Fitness

Doing your weekly food shop can be quite stressful when you see how many options there are for each product. Even when you have recipes to follow, you’ve still got to decide on brands.

Just as you would read the labelling of wine you’re purchasing, it pays to consider ingredients and manufacturing processes for bread, too. They are not all the same, and some are better for you than others.

Don’t tie yourself up in knots in the bakery section. If you’re looking for the healthiest bread option for your family, consider these below.

Sourdough

Sourdough may not be your first choice, but it can be a healthy, delicious option that your family loves. Sourdough bread goes through a unique fermentation process, with naturally-occurring yeast allowing the bread to rise.

Due to its prebiotics and probiotics produced during fermentation, sourdough bread can be easier for your body to digest than other types. It also has a low glycaemic index and promotes good gut health.

The best part is, you can buy it in whole wheat and white varieties. Give it a try, and you might be surprised at how it works for you.

7 Sports Nets And Their Array Of Differences

April 7, 2021March 30, 2021 by Team Fitness

Across the array of sports that exist, many of them rely on a net of some kind. These sports nets not only look different within each sport, but their purpose for being there also differs. Some nets are to stop the ball when a goal or point scored, such as in hockey or football, in some sports the ball must pass through the net, as in netball, or basketball, in tennis the ball must go over the next, and in sports, like golf and cricket, the net is used while practicing.

We could add several more sports and sports nets to the ones we have already highlighted, so we thought it would be worthwhile to give you some more detail on the many different types of nets that are used across a plethora of sports. As you read through them you will soon appreciate that sports nets have a variety of uses, are made from an array of materials, and they can be made to a vast number of different sizes, including custom sizes if requested.

Australian Rules Football

The primary purpose of Aussie rules nets is to prevent spectators behind the post from being hit by the ball, but they also make it easier for ball retrieval. They tend to be lightweight and can be made to whatever width and size is needed.

Soccer

The net is obviously there to catch the ball when a goal is scored, and this can also clarify if a goal has actually been scored or not. There are two main designs of soccer net, namely tapered which slopes backward behind the goal, or box-shaped which is what you see used in most major tournaments.

It’s Never Too Late to Start Exercising – and Here’s Why

February 6, 2020January 26, 2020 by Team Fitness

The age-old adage is that you can’t teach an old dog new tricks. This might be why those who don’t exercise or look after their health have no desire to do so when they get older. They might think they are “passed it” or would never be able to keep up. Studies say otherwise.

According to research published in the journal Frontiers in Physiology, your body has the same ability to build muscle mass when you’re older as it could when you were younger. Therefore, if you were put off by the idea of getting fit and working on your health in your later years, then here is some good news: there’s no time like the present to start.

Jim Owen is an example of how starting exercise in later life actually works. He outlined his journey to fitness and wellbeing in Just Move! A New Approach to Fitness After 50. Jim worked on Wall Street in a sedentary position and realised at age 70 that it wasn’t doing his health any favours. He started exercising and was able to build muscle mass just like any other younger person.

A research team at the University of Birmingham also looked into later-in-life exercise and how young and older men build muscle mass. They split the study into groups of two people. The first group consisted of people over 60 who, for the last 20 years, had exercised at least twice per week. The second group didn’t have a consistent workout routine.

Signs Your Wisdom Teeth Are Ready to Come Out

March 24, 2020May 20, 2019 by Team Fitness

No one knows for sure why wisdom teeth exist. After all, all they seem to do is cause pain and discomfort, so why do we need them? Researchers and many dentists seem to think they were helpful for chewing roots, vegetables, and raw meat. Now, however, our food is softer than it used to be, and the only thing we do with them now is extract them.

But, how do you know when you need to extract your wisdom teeth? Do you reach a certain age, or do you get them out when they start to cause problems? Here are many of the ways to tell it could be time to see your dentist about wisdom tooth extraction.

They are Painful

If you are experiencing pain in your mouth around your wisdom teeth region, then it’s time to see a dentist. They may be irritating surrounding teeth, infected, or they may be completely okay. Your dentist won’t be able to tell you until they get a closer look. Don’t delay your appointment, as any pain can end up twice as bad if you put it off.

You Have Problems Eating

Given that these teeth are supposedly for chewing roots, raw meat, and vegetables, you wouldn’t expect them to cause difficulties. However, they do. If food is getting stuck between the top of your teeth and your gums, and you can’t clean it out properly, then you may like to consider asking your dentist about wisdom teeth removal.

Top Reasons People Get Addicted to Drugs

October 18, 2024January 11, 2019 by Team Fitness

Drug and alcohol addictions affect millions around the world, including the families of those who enter a drug rehab facility to try and get clean. For those who are on the outside looking in, you may be wondering what causes someone to become an addict in the first place. Why not just say ‘no’ to drugs? It’s not that easy, especially when the following plays a part.

Family Genetics or History

You might not think that your family plays a part in your addiction, but they could be paving the way. If any member of your family has a drug addiction, then you may have a genetic predisposition to follow down the same path. What’s more, up to 70 percent of risk factors get their association with family drug addicts.

Prescription Drugs

One of the more common reasons for someone to enter a drug rehab facility is that they once had a genuine need for the drugs on which they now rely. Opioid medication is commonly prescribed for those suffering from pain, but not everyone knows how to manage the risks of addiction, or find themselves quickly reliant on those pills to get through the day. In this case, a drug rehab facility can be helpful for someone to get their life back on track.

Feelings

It’s mostly not the drug taking itself that’s addictive, but the feeling you get when you’re high or drunk. You continuously crave that feeling, which means you’re in search of drugs or alcohol to help you achieve it.

Child Care : The Importance of Play

March 13, 2022July 24, 2018 by Team Fitness

Whether your child plays at home or in a child care facility, you will soon learn how beneficial the experience is. Play incorporates many aspects of a child’s life, and the more you encourage it, the more benefits they receive. From the treehouse in your backyard to the swing set and their indoor puzzles, all these items play a part in childhood development.

Of course, children play because they like to have fun, but were you aware of these benefits below?

Literacy

Whether your child plays by themselves or with other children at a child care facility, their literacy levels are improving all the time. Believe it or not, play enables your children to expand their vocabulary, learn new sounds, and get creative with their imagination when playing with other children. Through play, you set a foundation for literacy.

Communication

The more your children play with others, the better it is for their communication. When they take part in activities, storytelling, imagination games and teamwork, they are having to pick up on cues, offer cues, and communicate with all children involved in the game.

Learning

Children never stop learning, and playtime is no exception to that rule. Even from a baby, playtime is another opportunity to learn – with motor skills and overall development. Even when your baby picks up a rattle and shakes it, they’ve learnt that moving something can create sounds. They also learn those new sounds. Have you ever stopped to think why all those toys at your baby’s child care facility are so noisy? They are educational toys.

How to Deal with Sensitive Teeth

November 15, 2024November 8, 2017 by Team Fitness

If you suffer from sensitive teeth, your dentist will most likely inform you that you’re not alone. In fact, it’s thought that around 45 percent of Australian households have at least one person with sensitive teeth. While there’s no defining reason why one person would have sensitive teeth and another wouldn’t, it’s a pain that occurs when you eat something cold, hot, or acidic, or even when you encounter cold temperatures outside as well.

The primary cause of sensitive teeth is exposed dentin – a part of your tooth connected to nerves that trigger pain and sensitivity. Dentin can become exposed if you brush your teeth too hard which wears down your enamel, from gum recession, if you clench or grind your teeth, have plaque build-up, use mouthwash, have cracked teeth, or if you have gingivitis. Acidic food has also been known to wear down enamel as well.

After you have seen your dentist for cleaning, dental crowns, tooth restoration or root planing, you may also find your teeth are more sensitive, but this often disappears after a few weeks.

How to Treat Sensitive Teeth

It’s important to understand that if you have sensitive teeth, you will always have some sensitivity to a degree. However, there are a few ways in which to alleviate the pain, reduce the sensitivity, and desensitise your teeth. You will first need to visit your dentist to help decide on the best course of action for your unique case.

What You Probably Didn’t Know About Root Canals

September 11, 2024September 27, 2016 by Team Fitness

Merely uttering the words ‘root canal’, you’re bound to send a shiver down the spine of at least five people in your general vicinity. For many reasons, the thought of getting a root canal can send people screaming from the room.

However, the truth is, modern dentistry advancements have enabled dentists to become far more skilled in the safe, effective and ultimately painless procedure of root canals of sensitive teeth. While traditionally it was not uncommon for dental work to be performed by a blacksmith, you can now expect a far more refined and comfortable experience – even when it comes to root canals. If you’re not familiar with a root canal procedure, at least not one performed today, then here are just a few things you can expect when it comes time to see your dentist.

The Procedure Is Straightforward

According to dentists many people who have received a root canal, the procedure is no more painful than a tooth extraction. While it may take a little longer in most cases and does require follow-up appointments, it’s not complicated for an experienced dentist or inconvenient for a patient.

Once you arrive at your appointment, you’ll be led to your dental chair where you’ll sit while the dentist works their magic. They will remove infected or inflamed pulp from within your tooth or teeth, clean the tooth, shape it, then fill it. By filling it, they are reducing the risk of infection. This procedure is typically step one.

Why Support with Drug Rehabilitation is Crucial

September 20, 2018April 29, 2016 by Team Fitness

Deciding to quit drugs, book into drug rehab and turn your life around is a courageous first step, but it’s not one without its hardships. Not only do you then have to fight through various withdrawal symptoms, but you have to combat those ever-present urges to start retaking them. Heroin and painkiller withdrawal symptoms can last one or two days, but for benzodiazepines, cocaine, and even alcohol, they can continue into the weeks or months.

Whether you book into drug rehab as an inpatient or outpatient, or you choose to carry on with daily life, we’ve included some of the many reasons why getting support with your journey is crucial.

People to Talk With

Trying to get your life back on the right track while avoiding all temptations is not only challenging, but it can be isolating. If you let people in to travel on the journey with you, they can be around as a listening ear. Rather than bottling up your emotions which can increase the temptation to use, you can talk them through, having someone offer solutions to your problems, or being around when you’re at your weakest point.

Help with Withdrawal Symptoms

When you stop taking drugs, your body goes through a period of withdrawal. You can feel both mentally and physically drained, ready to give up and go back to the life that’s comfortable, and the one you know. However, if you book into drug rehab or surround yourself with a support system, you’re better equipped to deal with those withdrawal symptoms.

Benefits of Sweating While Waist Training

March 13, 2022September 9, 2014 by Team Fitness

When you’re waist training with latex or compression fabric waist trainers, you will find you sweat a lot. In fact, one of the many aims of a waist trainer is to encourage sweat. While, at the time, it might feel uncomfortable, the after-effects of excess sweat can have more benefits than you think. Here are a few of the many below.

You Benefit from an Endorphin Boost

When you experience prolonged sweating while waist training – be it in a group or during a solo work out – you release endorphin hormones at the same time. These hormones offer that feel-good factor which is why when you work out; you typically feel better than when you first started. What’s more, a study published in a 2009 Biology Letters Journal even found that you can increase your endorphin levels even further and with less pain while sweating when you are in a group setting.

You Can Detoxify Your Body

When you begin waist training, you may be looking to improve your overall health and wellness. The more you sweat during your workout, the more toxins your body can release. Sweat can release toxins that typically clog your pores and cause skin problems such as blemishes, acne, and pimples. What’s more, it can even flush salt, cholesterol, and alcohol out of your body for a cleaner, healthier you.

What You Can Expect from Addiction Recovery Programmes

October 21, 2024November 29, 2012 by Team Fitness

If you base your expectation of drug rehab on what you see on TV shows, you’re very likely going to have fears about going. Even if your addiction is controlling your life and you want to make a change, not knowing for sure what drug rehab is all about can hinder your ability to make the call.

However, if you’re ready to turn your life around and believe an addiction recovery programme can help, here’s what you can expect.

More Freedom Than You Thought

This may not apply to all facilities, but a lot of drug rehab centres which offer recovery programmes do not lock their doors. When you attend rehab, you’re free to leave at any time. If you aren’t willing to get clean, then you’re wasting your money and time by being there.

Drug rehab facilities are not prisons. While you may have a court order to attend, the facility itself cannot hold you there against your will. So, if you thought you saw a prison-like scenario on a TV show, it couldn’t be further from the truth.

Help with Detox

Many people try to get clean on their own with varying results. However, one of the hardest parts about removing drugs from your life is the detox and withdrawal process. When you sign up for an addiction recovery programme within a drug rehab facility, you benefit from all the support you could ever need.