Someone with jaundice is likely to have a yellow look to their skin and the whites of the eyes.

Many newborn babies develop jaundice, but the condition can affect people of all ages. Jaundice in adults is caused by a build-up of bilirubin in the blood and body tissue. That build-up is often due to conditions affecting the liver, such as cirrhosis, hepatitis or gallstones.

When red blood cells break down naturally in a 120-day cycle, bilirubin is produced as a waste by-product. The journey bilirubin takes out of the body’s waste disposal systems takes it carried by blood to the liver. There is it combined with bile (digestive fluid) from the gallbladder. This mixture exits the body through faeces and urine. If everything is working well, faeces should be brown and urine light yellow. Infections or damage can disrupt this process, leading to jaundice.

If an infection or medical condition makes the red blood cells break down sooner than usual, bilirubin levels rise. This is known as pre-hepatic jaundice. Conditions which may trigger this include malaria, sickle cell anaemia, thalassaemia, Gilbert’s syndrome, hereditary spherocytosis and Crigler-Najjar syndrome.

The yellowing of skin and eyes are likely to be the main clues a doctor will use before confirming a jaundice diagnosis. A person will be asked about other symptoms and risks, such as foreign travel or illegal drug use. A physical examination will be carried out to look for signs of swelling of the liver and legs, ankles or feet which might indicate cirrhosis of the liver. Urine can be tested for urobilinogen, which is produced when bilirubin is broken down. Finding high or low levels can help pinpoint the type of jaundice. Blood tests may be used to check for conditions like malaria or hepatitis. A liver function blood test may indicate hepatitis, cirrhosis or alcoholic liver disease. Sometimes a liver biopsy – removal of small tissue sample – is needed to confirm or rule out conditions such as cirrhosis or liver cancer. Doctors may also need to look inside the body for problems with the liver or bile duct using ultrasound, X-ray with contrast, MRI or CT scans.

The treatment given to someone with jaundice will depend on what type they have, how serious it is and what caused it. It may include tackling an underlying condition such as malaria and bothersome symptoms, such as itching. For genetic conditions that don’t get better, like sickle cell anaemia, a blood transfusion may be given to replenish red blood cells in the body. If the bile duct system is blocked, an operation may be needed to unblock it. During these procedures measures may be taken to help prevent further problems, such as removal of the gallbladder. If the liver is found to be seriously damaged, a transplant may be an option.

As many things can cause jaundice, it is hard for doctors to give specific prevention advice in all cases. General tips include avoiding hepatitis infection, staying within recommended alcohol limits, maintaining healthy weight and managing cholesterol.

Ingredients
1 Garlic Clove Chopped finely
1 Jalapeno Chopped finally with seeds
1 Cup Chopped Cilantro
1 Small White Onion Diced
2 Tbs Lemon Juice
2 Tbs Lime Juice
8 Roma Tomatoes
Add Salt to taste

Directions
1. Add garlic, jalapeno, cilantro, onion, lemon, lime and salt into a bowl and mix. Chop 5 of the tomatoes and add.

2. In a blender, puree 3 of the tomatoes. Add to the mixture.

3.
Enjoy

Foot drop, sometimes called “drop foot,” is the inability to lift the front part of the foot. This causes the toes to drag along the ground while walking.

To avoid dragging the toes, people with foot drop may lift their knee higher than normal. Or they may swing their leg in a wide arc.

Foot drop can happen to one foot or both feet at the same time. It can strike at any age.

In general, foot drop stems from weakness or paralysis of the muscles that lift the foot. It can have many different causes. Treatments for foot drop vary according to the cause.

Drop foot is a symptom of an underlying problem, rather than a disease itself. It can be temporary or permanent. Causes of foot drop include:
• nerve injury
• brain or spinal disorders
• muscle disorders

Here’s some more detail on these causes:

Nerve injury. Most commonly, foot drop is caused by an injury to the peroneal nerve. The peroneal nerve is a branch of the sciatic nerve that wraps from the back of the knee to the front of the shin. Because it sits very close to the surface, it may be damaged easily.

An injury to the peroneal nerve may also be associated with pain or numbness along the shin or the top of the foot.

Some common ways the peroneal nerve is damaged or compressed include:
• sports injuries
• diabetes
• hip or knee replacement surgery
•spending long hours sitting cross-legged or squatting
•childbirth
•large amount of weight loss

Injury to the nerve roots in the spine may also cause foot drop.

Brain or spinal disorders. Neurological conditions can contribute to foot drop. These include:
• stroke
• multiple sclerosis (MS)
• cerebral palsy
• Charcot-Marie-Tooth disease

Muscle disorders. Conditions that cause the muscles to progressively weaken or deteriorate may cause foot drop. These include:
• muscular dystrophy
• amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (Lou Gehrig’s disease)
• polio

Treatment for foot drop will depend on the cause. Early treatment may improve chances of recovery.

Treatments may include:
• lightweight braces
• shoe inserts (orthotics)
• physical therapy
• surgery

Lightweight braces are the most common treatment. They’re used to support the leg.

Physical therapy is used to strengthen foot and leg muscles. It may improve a person’s ability to walk. In some cases, electronic devices that stimulate the leg nerves during walking may be appropriate.

Surgery may be recommended to try to repair or decompress a damaged nerve. In cases where foot drop is permanent, surgery to fuse the foot and ankle joint or to transfer tendons from stronger muscles may help improve gait and stability.

From my family to yours, Happy Thanksgiving!

Have a safe and fun holiday!

Monica Bemus, CMT
Essential Therapeutic Bodywork
5778 Blackshire Path, Suite 200
Inver Grove Heights, MN 55076

Communicating with Your Massage Therapist

Written by: Sharron Leonard

People get massages for a variety of reasons. Perhaps you’re seeking stress relief from the weekly work commute or your wanting to cleanse your body of toxins. Or maybe massage is helping you recover from a sports injury or surgery. Whatever your reasons, it’s absolutely important that you explicitly communicate to your therapist the reason you made the appointment. Otherwise you run the risk of not getting what you want.

In addition to explaining any wellness requirement, you also need to clarify your comfort needs during the session so that you feel completely at ease. Most practitioners work to create an appropriate environment with elements such as the temperature, music, aromatherapy, and table setting. But if anything makes you uncomfortable, feel free — or rather, feel responsible — to say as much. Your therapist is as interested as you are in making sure you get what you want from the massage, and building a communicative partnership is key. Remember, communication is a two-way street.

The Body
Sandy Anderson, owner of Relaxing Moments Massage in Reno, Nevada, asks at the beginning of each appointment, “What is the focus of our session today?” — whether it’s the client’s first or 21st appointment with her. The therapist needs to know your wellness context. Even if she has your health history, circumstances — and bodies — are always changing. Perhaps you were traveling for the last two months spending significant time in cramped seats on airplanes. Maybe you’re training for a marathon race, logging numerous miles each week. Or, a more likely scenario, you’re stressed and feeling emotionally tapped.

Furthermore, it’s important she or he knows about your massage preferences that just make your massage more pleasurable, such as getting extra work on your feet or ending the session with a face massage. Perhaps it’s important to you to have the therapist “stay connected” by keeping her hands on you rather than, for example, going from your feet to your shoulders. By simply letting her or him know of any such information can vastly improve your session.

The Setting
“I have designed my treatment room to offer a basic comfort level based on my professional experience,” Anderson says. “But I need the client to tell me if something is not to her liking. For example, I have provided a small fountain that I thought provided soothing background sounds, but two of my clients have requested that it be turned off because it made them feel as though they needed to run to the restroom.”

One important amenity issue that should be discussed by the client and the therapist is massage-table comfort. “I use a heated table covered with a sheet and a blanket because as the active therapist I need the room temperature lower than what is comfortable for the client,” Anderson says. “Then I ask the client what adjustments she might want me to make.” Even if your therapist doesn’t specifically ask about the temperature, background sounds, aromas or whatever other subtle amenities in the room, if there’s something that’s making your massage less than great, be sure to discuss it with your practitioner.

The Conversation
Conversation can sometimes be a point of contention. Because some clients like to talk during a session while others prefer silence, Anderson believes it’s up to the client to dictate this aspect. She does not inhibit talking nor does she initiate conversation if the client is silent. If you want to tactfully make certain your therapist is not overly conversational, it is appropriate to say something like, “You will find that I am not very talkative. I just like to totally relax during this time.” While your practitioner may communicate aspects of the massage, don’t necessarily take this for her trying to make conversation.

Angie Parris-Raney, owner of Good Health Massage Therapy in Littleton, Colo., believes it’s very important for the therapist to explain her actions so the client is not surprised. “Whether I’m easing a first-time massage client’s apprehension by explaining I will only be uncovering one part of the body at a time or I’m doing a rehabilitation treatment for injury, illness or surgery, I have learned from experience the client wants detailed information on what is going to happen,” Parris-Raney says. “It is also helpful if she tells me how she feels about what I am doing. Is the stroke too deep or too light? Does she want me to use a slower or faster pace?” If you are unclear about an expectation or a procedure, even if it is something as simple as, “Where is the safest place to put my jewelry?” feel free to ask.

Massage client Andrea Scott explains her frustration with one massage session where she wishes she’d been more vocal. “I like deep tissue massage, and the practitioner was giving me a very light Swedish massage,” she says. “I just didn’t feel like I was getting anything out of it and found myself looking forward to the session just being over. For some reason, I thought it would be rude to say anything, but in retrospect, I’m sure she would’ve appreciated it.” Instead, notes Scott, she left disappointed and the massage therapist never had a chance to address the issue.

Your goal as the client is to get what you are specifically seeking in each session. Your practitioner wants the experience to meet your expectations and will appreciate you verbalizing your wellness requirements and personal comfort needs. Your massage therapist is your partner for healthy living, but you need to speak up.

1 Tbsp Olive Oil
2 Large Leeks, Trimmed, green and white parts chopped
1/8 tsp Ground Cinnamon
1/8 tsp Ground Nutmeg
1/2 lb Butternut squash, peeled and cubed (about 4 cups)
2 Large Carrots, grated
3 Cups Chicken Broth

Directions
1. Coat large stockpot with cooking spry, and add oil. Heat over medium-high heat. Add leeks and sauté until translucent and soft. About 6-7 minutes. Add cinnamon and nutmeg and cook 1 minute longer. Add squash, carrots and broth, bring to a boil.

2. Reduce to a simmer and cook for 20 to 25 minute. Puree soup in food processor or blender. Season with salt and black pepper to taste.

Massage Can Ease Adolescent Angst

While teens may be less likely than their parents to go to a massage therapist, there are plenty of reasons why this age group should be encouraged to give it a try. The benefits of massage are well documented, among them relief of muscle tension, lowered stress hormones, increased sense of relaxation, improved immune function, and even a heightened ability to concentrate, according to studies conducted by the Touch Research Institute at the University of Miami School of Medicine. But for teenagers, there’s an additional payback.

The teenage body is in the midst of transformation — exponential growth and development in a rapid period of time. On the physical side, teens may be at increased risk for aches, pains, and injury. Many teens strain their bodies with competitive sports, get erratic sleep, and consume a less-than-optimal diet. Massage can help muscles recover from overuse, and help balance the body and maintain that stability.

Perhaps even more crucial, teen massage can help improve body image and sleep patterns, and contribute to decreased depression, anxiety, and stress. This keeps a teen connected to her body, even as it morphs in confounding ways. “Many teens are self-conscious, and not happy with their bodies,” says Eeris Kallil, massage therapist and shiatsu instructor at the Boulder College of Massage Therapy, in Colorado. “Massage can help teens stay grounded.” Bodywork has also been reported to help mediate eating disorders, a growing concern among teens.

Another potential plus: A beneficial, therapeutic relationship can develop between bodyworkers and teenagers during the years when adolescents need adult confidantes, but keep parents at a distance. The practitioner can become a supportive, trusted adult in a teen’s life. And the session itself, according to Kallil, can be a way to deal with all the physical and emotional turmoil of this tender age.

Don’t let your diet get you down. If you’re looking for a quick pick-me-up that will boost your mood but go easy on your calorie count, consider these “superfoods” recommended by Mehmet Oz, MD, vice-chair and professor of surgery at Columbia University and contributor to Oprah.com.

Kefir Milk
Try it if: you’re looking to calm down. Made by fermenting more traditional milk with kefir grains, this drink is high in the amino acid tryptophan, which produces a relaxing effect on the nervous system. As a bonus, the drink also contains a healthy amount of B vitamins.

Asparagus
Try it if: you’re feeling low. This vegetable is loaded with folic acid, which is good news for your mood, as low levels of the vitamin have been tied to depression. In fact, one 5.3-ounce serving contains 60 percent of your recommended daily folic acid allowance. Plus, asparagus is low in calories and contains no fat or cholesterol, so it won’t ruin your diet.

Oranges
Try it if: you’re stressed out. Why? Vitamin C. This powerhouse nutrient can help support your immune system, skin, and more, but its stress-fighting powers come from its effect on your blood pressure. Studies have shown that consuming 500 milligrams of vitamin C daily can dramatically lower cardiovascular and stroke risk. One orange contains about 80 milligrams.

Massage Improves Quality of Life

Almost 35 million Americans are age 65 or older, and about 2,000 more reach this age every day. As the U.S. demographic shifts to an older population, it’s important to find ways of helping our elders maintain their health and vitality. Massage for seniors is gaining importance as an alternative therapy to increase quality of life, and many massage therapists are getting special training to better serve this growing population.

Seniors’ Special Needs
While similar in technique to other forms of massage, geriatric massage considers the special needs of the elderly. The specialty trained practitioner knows about positioning for greatest comfort and will often have the client rest in the same position for the entire massage. Mobility challenges may dictate the massage be done in a bed or wheelchair. The therapist may also work both sides of the body at the same time to enhance body awareness, or only work hands and feet, if the client prefers. Sessions may be limited to 30 to 45 minutes, as older clients often do better with shorter, more frequent, massages.

The geriatric massage therapist is aware of health issues associated with aging and how to safely work with this type of client and with associated physicians. Consequently, the practitioner is able to individualize the massage service based on the client’s health, mobility, and comfort level.

Benefits of Geriatric Massage
A recent study conducted at the Weaver’s Tale Retreat Center in Oregon looked at the effects of massage for elderly clients. The results of the two-year study showed that participants experienced a decrease in breathing rate of 50 percent and an improvement in range of motion, posture, body awareness, skin color, and muscle tone. Furthermore, it is well documented that caring touch benefits emotional well-being in seniors — a population at greater risk of suffering from depression.

Massage therapy can add to the quality of a senior’s life, both physically and emotionally. Consider booking a session for someone you love, and make a difference in their life.

People with restless legs syndrome have uncomfortable sensations in their legs (and sometimes arms or other parts of the body) and an irresistible urge to move their legs to relieve the sensations. The condition causes an uncomfortable, “itchy,” “pins and needles,” or “creepy crawly” feeling in the legs. The sensations are usually worse at rest, especially when lying or sitting.

The severity of RLS symptoms ranges from mild to intolerable. Symptoms can come and go and severity can also vary. The symptoms are generally worse in the evening and at night and less severe in the morning. For some people, symptoms may cause severe nightly sleep disruption that can significantly impair a person’s quality of life.

In most cases, doctors do not know the cause of restless legs syndrome; however, they suspect that genes play a role. Nearly half of people with RLS also have a family member with the condition.

Other factors associated with the development or worsening of restless legs syndrome include:
• Chronic diseases. Certain chronic diseases and medical conditions, including iron deficiency, Parkinson’s disease, kidney failure, diabetes, and peripheral neuropathy often include symptoms of RLS. Treating these conditions often gives some relief from RLS symptoms.
• Medications. Some types of medications, including antinausea drugs, antipsychotic drugs, some antidepressants, and cold and allergy medications containing sedating antihistamines may worsen symptoms.
• Pregnancy. Some women experience RLS during pregnancy, especially in the last trimester. Symptoms usually go away within a month after delivery.

Other factors, including alcohol use and sleep deprivation, may trigger symptoms or make them worse. Improving sleep or eliminating alcohol use in these cases may relieve symptoms.

Massage is frequently recommended as a way of providing relief from RLS. Other recommendations include regular exercise, hot or cold baths, weight loss and quitting smoking. But massage has additional benefits.

Massage improves circulation. The National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke theorizes that poor circulation may be related to Restless Leg Syndrome. Massage is known to boost circulation, because the pressure provided by your therapist helps move blood through congested areas.

Releasing that pressure makes new blood flow in, while also improving circulation of the lymph fluid that removes metabolic waste from your muscles and internal organs. It adds up to improved body function as well as lower blood pressure.