Causes of Upper Back Pain

It is uncommon to hear someone complaining of upper back pain as compared for the numberless people who seek medical help due to excruciating lower back pain. This may be due to the fact that the lower back is much more susceptible to injuries and muscle strain rather than the more protected upper back. However, this still does not negate the fact that every year millions of patients are diagnosed of upper back pain.

What causes upper back pain is still an argument until these days. Not that the medical community is divided into what should be believed in but because there are too many and complicated reasons underlying a simple upper back pain. Often the physician finds no abnormalities concerning anatomy so he deems the pain only as psychological. As such diagnosis is not thoroughly taken and neither the cause nor the symptoms are identified.

The pain is usually felt on the upper back between the shoulder blades. Though the pain felt in this location, the actual anatomical cause may probably be situated somewhere else. Or they may be no actual anatomical cause only defaults on the trigger points. The trigger points re normally located nearest to the muscles covering the bones. This is why patients don't normally recognize the exact sites of pain and consequently feel them on another site. This case is normal and is known as referred pain.

The most common cause of upper back pain is postural problems. The upper body needs to be properly associated with the lower section of the body. And the components of the upper body themselves must have precise coordination. This can be achieved by placing the parts on their normal positions using proper postures. With this, not only the overall posture is severely affected but also the state of each component, especially the framework.

With improper posture often arises the problem of herniated or degenerated discs. Some may also experience displaced discs. With this, pressure may be put on the nerve roots since bulging may occur. This will result to agonizing pain and may last for a number of months.

The majority of people undergoing pain in the upper back due to displaced discs are women and office workers. For obvious reasons, females are more susceptible to this cause as compared with the male population, recent studies support the statistics that the number of upper back pin causes is more prevalent in females in as much as four times than that of male.

The causes of upper back pain vary from person to person and sometimes even gender to gender. However, the underlying truth still remains to be the same- the actual cause or causes are often not diagnosed properly due to the nature of the ailment itself.

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Proper Causes of Back Pain

Back pain may strike anyone. It can affect younger people but is more prevalent during adulthood especially those aged between 45 and 59 years old.

The spine is comprised of small bones known as vertebrae. These are normally good structures, which are separated by discs that allow free mobility. Muscles and ligaments further support these vertebrae.

Close to one hundred percent of all complaints with regards to back pain is directly linked to improper coordination and workings of these components. The cause of back pain may be sudden rather than what is usually perceived as the result of overworking for a single period of time. However, during tests abnormal conditions on the back may not be identified using x-rays and typically, nothing in the back is mildly or severely damaged.

The majority of cases of back pain documented occur to people aged 55 and above and nearly all of them show signs of being with good health. So this means that the cause of back pain is not or may be minimally affected by the health of the sufferer. This pain is often felt in the lower section of the spine and cases of upper and middle back pain is rare. Additionally, some people may also experience coexisting pains such those felt at the thighs and the legs. These are separated cases that may be triggered by several sets of complex sets symptoms.

Simple back pain may be caused by the following:

• poor posture

• lack of exercise

• long periods of bending and standing

• sitting on a chair that lacks supports for the back, especially for the lumbar area

• sleeping on a mattress that lacks support for the back

• lifting, pushing or pulling loads, carrying objects that are typically heavy or doing tasks the wrong way

• a trip or fall

There are other causes that may be associated with back pain but cases like these appear on minimal basis. Around 5% of all sufferers experience back pain due to nerve root problems. The compression of the nerve root, which is triggered by the bulging, or displacement of the vertebral disc normally brings about the pain. This irregularity of the vertebral disc is called a slipped disc.

It must be noted that the back bone structure is especially adopted to carrying loads and carrying the whole body weight if need be. But there are certain conditions that may affect its performance. These generally cause back pain and the intensity of the pain produced depends on the rigidity of the activity.

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Its Causes and How it can be Prevented

Bad breath is a topic which most people may find unpleasant to discuss but it must be discussed nonetheless. Why? Simply because as least 30 million Americans have it and no one is immune to it. This explains why Americans spend $3 to $4 billion each year for oral care products. Therefore it is important to know what causes bad breath so that from these causes, we would learn the ways on how to prevent it.

The primary cause of bad breath is poor oral hygiene. Dentists and even commercial ads recommend that we should brush our teeth 2 times a day for at least 2 minutes (some say 3 minutes). This is not enough, though. We still have to use other dental products such as dental floss and mouthwash. Why? Tooth brushing may still leave food particles in our mouth especially in between our teeth since toothbrush cannot clean the entire surface area of the teeth especially the cavities. These food particles will decompose. And like other decomposing matter on earth, food particles inside our mouth emit unpleasant odor. Food particles that remain in between teeth can lead to plaque buildup and tooth decay.

Plaque buildup emits bad odor. Tooth decay can open some spaces around the dentures that will accommodate more food particles that can cause bad breath, not to mention the odor the decaying teeth emits.

Another cause of bad breath is the food we eat. There are certain vegetables and spices containing pungent oil (cabbage, garlic and onion are some of these) that when digested will mix to our bloodstream. It will then go to different parts of our body including our lungs. The pungent oil is released to our mouth. Bad breath caused by these foods will disappear when the oil is completely removed from our system.

On the opposite note, skipping meals and dieting can as well trigger bad breath. This is because chewing increases the production of saliva in the mouth. Saliva helps wash away and cleanse bacteria inside our mouth thus it helps keep our breath fresh.

The production of saliva stops when we sleep; the reason why we wake up in the morning with the "morning breath" even if we brush our teeth and use oral antiseptic the night before.

Smoking tobacco and other medication also contribute to the occurrence of bad breath. Nasal, throat, and mouth conditions such as nasal discharge, canker sores, upper respiratory infections, bronchitis, mononucleosis, tonsillitis, strep throat, and sinus infection can also become the reason for bad breath. Medical condition such as liver failure, lung infection, kidney failure, gastroesophageal reflux disease and hiatal hernia can cause bad breath.

Learning the causes of bad breath, it is now easy to determine how it can be prevented. First, a practice of good oral hygiene is very important. This will keep our mouth clean and fresh; free from food particles that can destroy the teeth and create bad breath. It is also important to keep a relatively new dental supply. Replace toothbrush every 3-4 months.

Drinking water will help cleanse the mouth and wash away bacteria that can cause bad breath.

Visiting the dentist regularly will keep our dentures healthy and well-maintained.

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The Common Causes Bad Breath

The causes of bad breath or halitosis range from improper oral practice to severe medical condition. Details are discussed below.

Improper/poor oral hygiene and dental problems – Dental problems are the result of improper or poor oral hygiene. When a person does not brush his teeth and tongue as often as he should, floss at least once a day, and use an oral antiseptic, food particles that remain in the mouth and in between teeth will emit hydrogen sulfur vapors and bacteria. Hydrogen sulfur vapors produce a rotten-egg like odor which causes bad breath. Bacteria (plaque) also form on the teeth and cause tooth decay and gingivitis. The unclean dentures will harbor unwanted food particles and bacteria that causes odor.

The food we eat – There are certain types of food that cause bad breath. Some of the most popular are garlic, onion, and cabbage. Several other types of spices and certain vegetables also can cause bad breath. It happens when these types of food are digested and the oil they contain enters in the body's bloodstream. It goes throughout the body including the lungs. When the person exhales, the pungent oil is released to the mouth which is the reason for bad breath. The odor expires when the oil is completely emitted out of the body.

Dry mouth – "Morning breath" is natural to many. This is because during sleep, the salivary glands stop producing saliva which makes the mouth "dry". (Saliva moistens and cleanses the mouth.) Dry mouth invites bacteria to breed on the dead cells around the mouth particularly on the areas of the cheeks, gums, and tongue; this produces that familiar bad breath in the morning. Morning breath is even worse to people who sleep with their mouth open since the air can dry up the mouth easily.

Smoking and other medications can cause problems to salivary glands which can lead to chronic dry mouth.

Tobacco products – Aside from the effect to salivary glands, smoking tobacco products itself can cause bad breath. And since tobacco can cause periodontal disease, bad breath is more likely to smokers than the non-smokers.

Disease – GERD or gastroesophageal reflux disease and hiatal hernia can cause bad breath. Diabetes can produce bad odor. Several other illnesses can cause bad breath. These include liver failure which can cause a distinctive fishy odor, kidney failure which can give off odor that is urine-like, and chronic lung infection which also produces a bad-smelling breath.

Throat, nasal, and mouth conditions can also cause bad breath. Canker sores, upper respiratory infections, bronchitis, mononucleosis, tonsillitis, strep throat, nasal discharge, and sinus infection are all associated to bad breath.

Skipping meals and severe dieting or fasting – Since chewing stimulates the production of saliva, eating helps the mouth to be cleansed normally. When a person skips meal, the salivary glands cease to work, thus, the increase in bacteria which cause bad breath. When a person does is dieting, he produces a chemical known as keto acids. High concentration of keto acids is called ketoacidosis. This has a distinctive fruity odor which is as well considered as bad odor.

Knowing these causes will lead to the prevention of bad breath. Take note that most of these causes can be prevented by practicing a good oral hygiene and a healthy lifestyle. Bad breath is a condition that is common to millions of Americans. But it does not have to be present to you as well.

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Acne – Types, Causes And Treatments

Acne Vulgaris, commonly referred to as pimples, is an inflammatory disease of the skin. This condition is very common in puberty. As one reaches their early twenties, it either disappears or decreases. Acne begins because of the comedo, an enlarged hair follicle plugged with oil and bacteria. The comedo is invisible to the naked eye and is present beneath the surface of the skin. When it gets the right condition, it grows into an inflamed lesion. The oil produced from the skin helps bacteria to flourish within the swollen follicle.

Non-inflammatory acre are of two types – Closed comedo or white head, and Open comedo or black head. There are 4 types of inflammatory acne –

Papule – It is the mildest form that appears on the skin as a small, firm pink bump.

Pustule – They are small round lesions containing visible pus. They may appear red at the base and yellowish or whitish at the center.

Nodule or Cyst – Large and painful, they are pus-filled lesions lodged deep within the skin. The nodules may persist for weeks or months with the contents hardening into a deep cyst. Both nodules and cysts often leave deep scars.

Acne Conglobata – This severe bacterial infection develops mostly on the back, buttocks and chest.

The chief causes of acne are hormones like androgen, production of extra sebum, follicle fallout, bacteria and inflammation. For controlling acne, you can carry out the following steps –

- Avoid excessive washing of your skin. It can leave the healthy skin dry, thus irritating the acne prone areas. Over-washing may also stimulate extra oil production.

- Avoid alcohol products to tone your skin. Alcohol is a strong astringent that strips the top layer of the skin causing sebaceous glands to produce more oil.

- Do not squeeze or pick the acne with fingernails, pins or any other thing. It forces the bacteria deeper into the skin and often leaves a permanent acne scar.

- A wash is required after exercise. The heat and moisture trapped against the skin creates an ideal breeding ground for the spread of bacteria.

- Consume food rich in Vitamin A, Vitamin B-2, Vitamin B-3, Vitamin E and Zinc like eggs, nuts, liver, milk, fish and leafy green vegetables.

- Proper sleep and a life without stress and emotional anxiety can reduce acne.

- Wear little make-up while exercising. Avoid garments that are made exclusively with nylon.

Laser surgery is often used to reduce the scars left behind by acne. Treating acne with azelaic acid, salicylic acid, tropical retinoids and benzoyl peroxide is also common. A large number of people started trying herbal acne treatments over the traditional medications by using teas, oils and herbal creams.

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