What is Sciatica?
What is Sciatica?
Sciatica is an inflammation of the sciatic nerve, the largest nerve in the body. The nerve can become trapped by a bulging disc and cause severe pain in the lower back, buttocks and lower legs.
You may have heard your granny complain about having sciatica. It sounds like a foreign food dish but it is actually a painful condition of the body. Here, the mystery is unraveled.
Actually, the mystery is not so complicated. Sciatica is a condition of the sciatic nerve in the body. The sciatic nerve is the largest nerve in the body and it runs from the lower (lumbar region) spine down through the buttocks and the lower leg. When a person feels pain or discomfort in their sciatic nerve it can radiate from the lower back all the way to their toes.
Have you ever been walking and it seems like your leg just gives out? That is a problem with your sciatic nerve. It is a strange phenomenon that happens a lot when a woman is in the later months of pregnancy and the baby is getting very big.
Sciatica has a number of causes. The most common cause is a problem with the vertebral column. A disc herniation can occur at the level of the spine where the sciatic nerve originates. The disc then presses on the nerve and traps it. The nerve becomes irritated and inflamed causing all kinds of symptoms. The sciatic nerve can also become inflamed because of other conditions: tumor, bleeding, infections or injury – to name a few.
When the sciatic nerve is caught, you experience symptoms. The main symptom is pain. The pain can run through your entire leg. You might feel it everywhere or just in your lower back, the buttocks, or in your thigh. Some people complain of numbness, tingling or burning in these areas as well.
Just like with a pregnant mother, too much pressure on the sciatic nerve impairs your ability to walk. If you have sciatica you shouldn’t walk carrying heavy objects or a small child, as there’s a danger of your leg giving way and you could fall. Sitting down can be painful for a person suffering from sciatica. Lying straight seems to bring the only relief.
Most don’t go to the doctor at first. Pain in the leg could have a number of causes. But, when the pain persists in the same area it’s time to see someone. Be sure to tell the doctor everything you have been experiencing so that they can diagnose you correctly. The doctor will also examine you and do a medical history. X-rays might be required.
Once the sciatica is diagnosed you have treatment options. Medication will alleviate the pain and inflammation but the misalignment of the spine has to be dealt with so you don’t experience a lifetime of painkillers. This could be a chiropractic intervention or a surgical one if that doesn’t help.
Categories: Health Tips Tags: back pain, leg pain, sciatica
What are Strokes and Why Do They Happen?
What are Strokes and Why Do They Happen?
Strokes can affect anyone at anytime. There are risk factors for a stroke that can be tracked to see how much at risk you really are. To put to rest any fears you have that you could be the next stroke victim, keep reading to learn about what happens when you have a stroke and also why they occur.
A stroke occurs when an area of the brain is deprived of oxygen. The brain actually requires 20 percent more oxygen than other tissues in the body. Without oxygen, the brain tissue begins to die. Depending on the area of the brain that is affected by the stroke, a stroke victim may lose their sight, control of their voluntary muscles, hearing, sense of taste, language skills and memory. This covers a lot of ground but the brain controls various functions throughout your entire body.
What causes a stroke to occur in the first place? Strokes have two main causes: ischemia and hemorrhage. Ischemia refers to a lack of blood flow to an area. Hemorrhage is when there is an abundance of blood in one location.
Ischemic strokes occur when a blood clot blocks a blood vessel in the brain totally or partially. The blood flow is reduced and the brain doesn’t get the oxygen it needs. That part of the brain dies and you’ll see notable changes in behavior. This is the most common cause of a stroke.
Hemorrhagic strokes are caused by pressure on the brain tissue due to bleeding on the brain. This can happen when someone sustains a blow to the head in an accident. Subdural hematomas can lead to a hemorrhagic stroke. The blood will flow through the path of least resistance. It will fill the spaces between the skull and the brain, compressing the tissue and causing injury to the brain.
But, strokes don’t happen all at once. Very often there are warning signs that a stroke is in your future. These “warning signs” are called TIAs or transient ischemic attacks. Some people refer to them as mini strokes. For less than 24 hours, you may feel the effects of a stroke. The symptoms usually subside in 24 hours and you return to normal.
Who is at risk for a stroke? A family history of stroke may predispose you to that condition. You can’t do anything about your family history, but you can influence the other risks:
* Obesity
* High blood pressure
* High cholesterol
* Diabetes
* Smoking
* Heart disease
* Oral contraceptives (increases risk of blood clots especially in combination with smoking)
Are you at risk for a stroke? Now that you know what a stroke is and why it happens, you can work to reduce your risk factors for this debilitating condition.
Categories: Health Tips Tags: strokes
