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Mamuna Arshad
WITH A REPUTATION FOR RESULTS
COMPLEMENTARY THERAPY CLINIC

Massage Therapy is essential during the Winter Months

Winter will be upon us before we know it! During winter time is when I see the most injuries and muscle related complaints in my Complementary Therapy Clinic.

Massage Therapy can be a very important part of your health care routine all year round, but during winter it is especially important. Below are some of the reasons why winter can be hazordous ......Look out for the following :

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SNOW! Shovelling driveways, exercising outdoors, walking in slippery conditions. These are all things that put extra stress on our bodies and on our muscles. Regular Massage Therapy all year round can help to maintain your muscle flexibility and decrease the chances of injury during the cold season. It can also be of great benefit if you have over done it and pushed your body to the limit!? leaving you with a sore lower back and limbs.

SPORTS As much fun as sports can be, it is also very important that you have a maintenance plan in place to prevent muscular injuries or strains and sprains from happening. There are times when injuries cannot be avoided and if you are unfortunate enough to experience an injury, Massage Therapy can be a crucial part of your rehabilitation and recovery.

SAD: Seasonal Affective Disorder ("winter blues"). During the colder months lots of people suffer from SAD which is caused by the sudden season change. There are also those who may not have SAD but feel more lethargic and gloomy in the winter months. Massage Therapy and/or Reflexology can help to relax your nervous system and give you an overall sense of well-being. Because Massage Therapy also decreases stress and anxiety levels, it is very helpful for panic attacks and anxiety disorders and generally brightening your mood.

COLDS and FLUS Winter is usually the time when everyone gets sick with colds and flus. Massage Therapy can boost your immune system naturally and decrease the chances of getting sick. Another reason to make Massage Therapy a regular part of your health care routine year round! After recovering from a cold or flu, getting a massage can be helpful to eliminate toxins and clear sinuses.

JOINT PAINS One needs to take extra care of joint pain and stiffness. As the temperatures drop arthritis has a tendency to flare up because cold weather make the joints feel stiffer than usual. The wide changes in temperature can cause the swelling around inflamed joints, causing more irritation to the surrounding nerves.These are just a few of the reasons why Massage Therapy is essential during the winter. However, getting a massage is great no matter what the season. It gives us a chance to be quiet and still and have someone take care of us for a change. It allows the mind to be silent so that the body can heal from the inside out and it feels great!During the winter when its cold outside, try a Aromatherapy Massage, Indian Head Massage and Reflexology! DON'T FORGET that if you have extended health benefits that cover Massage Therapy, they usually expire at the end of the year and you lose whatever hasn't been used. Your benefits are there for your well-being so do use them!!

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Raise Awareness, it's Movember!  

Move over November, because this month marks the beginning of a charity event all about growing moustaches to raise awareness for men's health!

Movember is amedley of the words 'moustache' and 'November', Movember is an annual month-long event involving men all around the world growing moustaches. The rules are simple – men start Movember 1st clean shaven and grow a moustache for the entire month. Movember is for a great cause, raising awareness and funds for cancers that affect men. 

With men continuing to be unhealthier than women, it's important that we're all aware of men's health issues. According to figures from the Office of National Statistics, on average, women live longer than men - 81.5 years compared with 77.2 years. What's more, recent studies show that men don’t get regular health checks because they are scared it will lead to a hospital visit, embarrassed to discuss their health issues, just can’t be bothered making an appointment or find it too hard to see a GP because of limited opening hours.

The Movenber Foundation works with various organisations to better enable men to identify issues, seek effective treatments and look out for one another for years to come. Although it is interested in raising awareness around all men’s health issues, in the UK they specifically focus on prostate cancer and the campaign benefit the The Prostate Cancer Charity (TPCC), the UK’s leading prostate cancer charity.

Get involved!

Men are encouraged to grow moustaches, but there are still plenty of other ways to get involved in Movember by donating funds or holding Mo Parties to celebrate the event and raise money

"Get the Balance right !"

Given our education and social conditioning, it is not something that we have ever had to think about..........

We have not considered whether our energy needs balancing when we are feeling down or a bit unwell. Instead we are told to take a tablet, have a day off work, or pull ourselves together!

We all need to get back that feeling of being in control of our health and feeling good about ourselves and our lives.

Getting back in balance starts with a healthy flow of energy. Energy which is stuck, blocked, negative or badly-flowing is unbalanced and can make us feel tired, lethargic, irritable, depressed, stressed, unenthusiastic, unmotivated, unable to concentrate or remember things .

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Our self-esteem and confidence may begin to suffer too, with small persistent health problems; which may appear. There may be a general feeling of disharmony, and relationships may begin to suffer. All of which has a knock-on effect and, very soon, other things may start going wrong for us, so we begin to feel worse and then things around us begin to get worse.

At some point we are forced to stop and think about why all this has happened to us. It is possible that it all started with being out of balance!?

Making yourself feel better is easy when you know how........,and then things don't look so bad. After a while, little things begin to improve, then big things, and then one day you wake up feeling brilliant. Even though some of your life's challenges are still there, with your newly balanced energy, they suddenly don't seem so difficult, in fact some of them don't even exist any more.

Getting back in balance brings with it improved health and well-being, energy, enthusiasm, motivation, self-esteem, confidence and many other positive qualities. It regenerates and rejuvenates every part of your body, mind and life and makes you 'come alive'.

What to do next........You could eat and drink healthily, breathe in fresh air, move your body, challenge your mind. But when you are at an all-time low, this is not easy. Something needs to inspire you to get moving. Perhaps you could change your attitude, stop being negative and get some positive thinking going. But how can you do this without help? You can turn to a doctor or therapist, go to the hairdresser or down tools and have a cup of tea. Everybody has there own coping strategy! It s about finding what works best for you.

Have you tried Complementary Therapies yet?

It is very difficult to find the time to find ‘balance and harmony of the mind and body’. Complementary Therapies can help release tension and stress and enable you to boost your immune system whilst improving your energy levels and general well-being.

Aromatherapy Massage and Indian Head Massage incorporates the use of “trigger points” or localised areas of tenderness and tightness in our neck, shoulders, and upper back that serve as red flags or reminders that we are entering into a cycle of muscle tension due to stress. Almost everyone has specific, localised areas that seem to flare up in these areas when they are tired, overworked, or experiencing negative emotions.

Reflexology is a massage and pressure therapy applied to the feet or hands, it treats the whole person and not just the symptoms helping the body return to its natural state of ‘homeostasis’. Reflexology can improve energy levels and promote a feeling of well-being. It is also believed to encourage the release of endorphins, the body's natural feel-good hormones, well documented in their ability to relieve stress.

Why not give it a try...............? You never know, it just might be the answer!

Lupus & Reflexology

Lupus is an auto-immune disease that affects thousands and millions of people. It's predominantly a younger woman's disease - it strikes about nine times more women than men, and about 80 percent of these women are between the ages of 15 and 45. However, it can develop in anyone, at any age.

In lupus and other auto-immune conditions, the immune system goes into overdrive. It starts attacking some of the person's own tissues in the same way it would fight an infection. Unfortunately, there's no cure for lupus, but the right combination of medications may control your immune system.

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Lupus appears in different ways in different people, so it can be difficult to recognise. Most commonly, a person with lupus will show various symptoms, often a combination of rashes, fatigue, painful or swollen joints, low-grade fever, loss of appetite, and weight gain or loss.

If your primary care doctor thinks you may have lupus, you'll probably get a referral to a rheumatologist/specialist. The treatment plan will depend on how severe your symptoms are, and which organs are affected.

As is true for other auto-immune diseases, there isn't an easy quick fix treatment. Your doctor may prescribe one or some combination of the following:

Anti-inflammatories . These drugs lower fever, ease headache, reduce joint and muscle pain, and relieve inflammation. Anti-inflammatories include common over-the-counter drugs such as aspirin and ibuprofen.

Anti-malarials.  Drugs used to treat malaria, act as mild stimulants, reduce inflammation, block ultraviolet light so it doesn't damage skin, lower bloodstream cholesterol, and change the acidity in cells.

Steroids. These drugs are commonly used when symptoms don't respond to anti-malarials, or when the lupus is the organ-threatening type. Your body naturally produces these hormones, but in high doses they interfere with the inflammation and joint pain triggered by an overactive immune system. Steroid ointments such as hydrocortisone are useful for treating skin rashes.

Chemotherapy drugs (immuno-suppressives).This class of drugs is used to treat serious cases of lupus in which major organs are affected. They're also useful in cases of severe muscle inflammation or stubborn arthritis.

Complementary Therapies- There are no proven alternative ways to treat lupus, although many complementary therapies can give your immunity a boost and lower your stress level. Mind-body techniques such as yoga and meditation may help you relax and feel more positive.

Reflexology is a non-invasive treatment suitable for all ages, reflexology is a safe and natural way to relax tension and help balance the whole body. Despite its soft touch Reflexology can induce profound levels of healing and is effective at addressing a wide range of conditions.

Reflexology is a specific pressure technique administered with fingertips, which works on precise reflex points on the feet. These reflex points correspond to every part of the body so stimulating these reflexes properly can help many health problems in a natural way, a type of preventative maintenance. Reflexology is a serious advancement in the health field.

Reflexology releases blocked energy and toxins, stimulates the circulatory system, relieves stress and tension and improves nerve function. It strengthens the immune system and restores and maintains a healthy balance in mind and body.

For those of you who suffer joint and muscle pain and fatigue with lupus, reflexology can help to reduce the pain a little and aid mobility within the joints, gently boosting energy levels giving a feeling of well-being.

If your medications aren't controlling all of your signs and symptoms or if you're frustrated by lupus flares, you might turn to complementary and alternative medicine for solutions.

If you're interested in trying complementary and alternative medicine therapies, discuss these treatments with your doctor first. He or she can help you weigh the benefits and risks and tell you if the treatments will interfere with your current lupus medications.

Complementary Therapies and Fertility Treatments

There are more natural ways to help boost a couple's fertility to help them conceive.

Complementary therapies have become a popular choice for treating a broad range of ailments, as well as improving general health and wellbeing. But many people are unaware of the significant role they can play in improving fertility.

Here at Conncet Physical Health Centre, as well as tackling fertility problems,Complemenatry/Alternative Therapy Treatments can be used before,during and after pregnancy to reduce such ailments like, morning sickness, muscular tension and labour. These Therapies can also help both men and women who have problems associated with pregnancy, including infertility.

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Reflexology is increasingly being used to help couples to conceive, and studies are taking place which show just how effective it can be. This is more of an issue these days, as women are deciding to postpone having a family until the mid-thirties or even later, when fertility levels have decreased significantly.

There are things you can do to help the process along. Reflexology is one option and invaluable in this area.

Reflexology is an excellent therapy for helping to balance the hormones involved and to cope with the emotional ups and downs of the process; it helps to optimise your health potential at this very important time. Hormones play a key role in fertility and pregnancy and can be affected by stress.

In a Reflexology treatment; pressure is applied to precise points on the feet which correspond to the different organs and parts of the body. Reflexology can detect imbalances in the body and bring them back into balance. By keeping your body in prime condition you can reduce the possibility of fertility issues. Reflexology brings you back into a balanced, healthy status quo, reducing stress through relaxation.

Complementary therapies; also focuses on nutrition, basic exercise and relaxation techniques to enhance couples fertility naturally. We find this combination works to give our patients an understanding of the fertility process on an emotional and physiological basis.

It can work alongside conventional medicine or other complementary therapies to help the body functions work more effectively.Fatigue and sleep disturbance is relieved through our other associated Complementary Therapies including Aromatherapy Massage. And it goes without saying that the whole session brings relaxation and a sense of well-being.

Give yourself Peace of Mind and book a treatment today!

Complementary & Integrative Therapies

Sometimes referred to as Manual Therapy Techniques are used within our Manchester Central Clinic. Although techniques may differ, most forms of manual therapy practiced are aimed at restoring balance and optimal functioning of the Neuro-muscular System.

Thesetherapies can help you become more aware of your body and help you learn strategies to support healing. As you and your therapy work together to understand your symptoms, you may begin to experience a reduction of your pain problem, or greater freedom from the limitations that have led you to seek treatment.

The relatively new science of mind/body medicine tells us that there is an intricate relationship between our thoughts and emotions and our physical bodies.

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Research reveals that mental/emotional information is communicated within the body via the release of neuro-chemicals. Cells in the body have receptor sites for these neuro-chemicals, thus allowing many systems of the body to "listen in" on our inner conversations. These thoughts and experiences may become "imprinted" into our muscle system, the largest organ system in the body.

Most of us have gone through stressful periods in our life, perhaps noticing too that our bodies have become tense and our muscles tight. Complementary Therapies are an excellent way of influencing the mind/body connection to promote relaxation and support the healing process.

Complementary Therapies such as Aromatherapy, Reflexology and Indian Head Massage are used within the Clinic to promote overall well being for the Mental, Emotional and Physical stresses. However, the following Manual Techniques are also used.

Rehabilitation Massage often uses a technique called soft tissue mobilisation to loosen restricted areas. The body can also develop very sensitive and tender points or trigger points, which can originate from or be made worse by physical overload or emotional stress. Pressure points may be used to help ease the pain associated with these sensitive areas. For problems lying deeper in the joint structures, gentle joint mobilisation may be applied. It is important to remember, however, that most forms of bodywork are not intended to just treat the symptoms but to help address the underlying causes of our discomfort. Sometimes pain in one area may be initiated by a problem in another area or it may represent disharmony in the system as a whole.

To gain a more global perspective on your condition, I will ask questions about your activities and life style, and observe your body movements and posture.

Trigger Point Therapy is a technique whereby pressure is directly applied for a short period of time until the pain lessens. Knots arise from painful, irritated areas in muscles caused by accidents/injuries, everyday stress and tension; where lactic acid builds up causing decreased circulation, inflammation and pain. The pressure helps break up muscle fibres and releases toxins that have built up. Trigger Point Therapy has immediate pain relief.

Most forms of Compression Techniques and Postural Balancing are used at the centre of the Therapy sessions, this involves a light pressure application of the therapist fingers or hand on the muscle. As your muscle sensory receptors detect the pressure, they send signals to the central nervous system which in turn sends a message to reduce the tension in the muscle. As the tension releases, the muscle softens and the hand sinks deeper, finding the next layer of tension.

Exercise improves the overall functioning of the body and quality of life. Exercise therapy may decrease stress, pain, fatigue and depression. Staying active keeps joints, tendons and ligaments flexible, allowing you to move more easily and avoid injury. Regular work outs contribute to your mental well-being.Working out is a great way to help relieve stress and anxiety therefore, increases more energy and endurance for every day life.

Whilst every intention has been made to make this article accurate and informative it is intended for general information only. The information given in this article is not intended as a substitute for the advice of your doctor or a qualified medical practitioner. If you have any concerns regarding your health you should seek the advice of your doctor immediately.

Cleanse your Mind,Body & Soul

Get your mental mop and duster out. It’s time to give your head an airing

Are you losing sleep over your ever-growing list of chores? Are you sick of losing your temper in queues, and spending days filled with anxiety? If so, you are probably suffering from brain overload and it’s time to sort out what’s going on in your head. One of the easiest ways to clutter up your mind is to put off tasks that have to be done. They just sit in your head and niggle away so that you can never quite concentrate on the task you are doing at the time. So, just do whatever it is you need to do as soon as possible. That way, you can get it out of your mind and focus on the next task

There are many ways to reduce stress and anxiety in our lives. Spring is a time to brush the cobwebs off our New Year’s resolutions and kick-start our bodies and minds into shape. The trick to any new start is realistic aims.

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Worrying is a Waste of Time,yet we all do it. Ask yourself if you can actually change something by worrying about it. If you can take positive action, then do it. Plan at least one activity to look forward to each day – whether it’s a chat with a friend or go out for the evening.

‘No’ doesn’t have to be negative. If your habit is to say ‘Yes’ to everything and then drown under the stress of it all, spring-cleaning your mind is all about learning to take on less. Start by saying ‘No’ to someone at least once a day. Know your limitations.

Your mind will often be full of thoughts, which can sap your mental energy if they build up too much. To avoid this, you should try to be as organised as possible. There’s nothing more infuriating than misplacing an item, so always put important items in the same place. If your head is swimming with things to be done and you’re getting interrupted frequently, you’ll probably be getting nowhere and feel like your mind is in overload. Interruptions can cause your productivity to plummet, so try to avoid them.

Are you holding onto negative feelings,It’s you and you alone who is in charge of what goes through your mind. And yet, somehow, many of us allow ourselves to become bogged down with all manner of negative thoughts. If you go around thinking negative thoughts the whole time, then you’re never going to be in a particularly good mood. So it’s best, whenever possible, to let go of them as it will relieve your mind of excessive stress.

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Can’t stop the static in your head,Some people seem unable to give themselves a break – yet by working non- stop they become more and more bogged down, so that eventually they can’t think straight and end up making mistakes. Taking a few minutes away from your current task or activity will help you clear your head and come back more refreshed and with greater clarity and a clearer vision. Sometimes it can be a case of missing the obvious. A solution to a problem may be staring you in the face, yet you’re unable to see it – and, typically, the more you wrestle with it, the more your mind gets bogged down and cluttered with potentially unproductive thoughts.

Fix It.....! Change your Lifestyle....and Clear the Clutter.........Clutter can build up around us slowly over time, steadily compromising our ability to concentrate, be creative, and get down to business. Re-evaluate the clutter in your home: is it at a manageable level or is it getting in your way? Does it interfere with your ability to relax, to sleep, or to work? Start to reduce your clutter and see how much better you will feel mentally – you will be surprised.

Rearrange Your Routine – If you are feeling bored by your daily winter routine, consider shaking things up a bit this spring to revitalise your energy levels and bring new excitement to your daily activities. Get up a few hours earlier to go to the gym or join a new social group.. Adding in some new activities and changing your routine can help keep your mind alert and your energy high.

Fix-Up Your Health – Everyone things that January is the time to start a new weight loss program or join a gym, but really the best time to join is March or April when meetings and gyms are less crowded. Spring is a time of new beginning and new life, why not breath some new energy and health into your body by taking better vitamins, getting more exercise, or eating better? A healthy body yields a healthy (and productive) mind!

Cleanse Your Spirit – Consider adding in some meditation, yoga, or other calming exercise into your life to help you cleanse your spirit and let go of negativity. Winter is always a time of padding insulation (of the physical or emotional kind) around ourselves; this spring, open your mind and your spirit with some type of soulful activity.

Complementary Therapies- If you are looking for a natural way of lessening the risks of the Mental/Emotional and Physical ailments and conditions, Complementary Therapies provide an alternative to stress relief. The individual treatment you receive will be determined by the type of stress you are feeling & the effect it has on you. Generally speaking, All Complementary Therapies work by stimulating the body to basically “heal itself”. The stimulation releases ‘endorphins’ or ‘happy hormones’ which make you feel much calmer and more relaxed. In addition you may also be treated with an “immunity boost” which will help counteract the damage that the effects of stress can have on you .

Aromatherapy is the perfect antidote! It smells great and makes us feel wonderful! Aromatherapy can help reduce nervous anxiety, uplift your spirits, and increase the defenses of your immune system -- preventing and minimising colds, flu, headaches, and other common winter problems. Stress is implicated in most illnesses. is a natural healing technique that can if assist the body in reducing stress, increasing circulation, and re-balancing its systems .

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Wake up, wake up ...........

A good night's sleep can make everything look brighter. But if you're having trouble nodding off, try these tips to help you sleep tight all night.

We've all been there. Listening to every second slowly tick by, building into minutes and then hours and then all of the sudden it's time to get up .........

Lack of sleep maybe due to Mental or Emotional anxiety or from a physical tension such as Muscular aches and pains .

Stress can get too much and can manifest its self in a number of ways...... your aim is to recognise and tackle the root causes of stress in your life, then find ways of managing the pressures without causing harm to your health .

Sleep should be such a simple thing for us to get enough of. Along with air and water it's the thing we need most as humans. And for some it's like that. Easy. They're the people who can fall asleep on the plane before it's even taken off or slumber through the craziest of thunderstorms! But for the rest of us who have trouble getting those valuable eight hours, here are some tips to help you get a better nights sleep.

Complementary Therapies ........... Try soothing smells ... There's no scientific reason for why some smells seem to help people get to sleep,certain aromas do seem to help when you're having trouble settling down for the night. Lavender seems to be the favourite with seasoned insomniacs. Try a few drops of the neat oil (available from most pharmacies) on your pillow, or adding them to a warm bath before bedtime. Once you stop focusing on the anxiety, you'll soon fall asleep.

The use of essential oils (highly concentrated plant extracts) in a carrier oil, specifically blended for an individual person’s needs.You can apply it to the body through massage or inhalation;working on both a physical and emotional level.

Aromatherapy Massage and Indian Head Massage incorporates the use of “trigger points” or localised areas of tenderness and tightness in our neck, shoulders, and upper back that serve as red flags or reminders that we are entering into a cycle of muscle tension due to stress. Your body gets your attention by sending signals of pain and you recognise and respond to this warning sign by applying pressure to specific areas, often without even being aware that you are doing it.

Reflexology is a massage and pressure therapy applied to the feet or hands, it treats the whole person and not just the symptoms helping the body return to its natural state of ‘homeostasis’. Reflexology can improve energy levels and promote a feeling of well-being. It also helps stress related disorders such as tension , insomnia and feelings of anxiety/depression.

Take a warming bath... This age-old helping-you-get-to-sleep remedy is particularly useful if you suffer from cold hands and feet or you're getting on in life. Studies have shown that hot baths before bedtime will definitely help to improve your sleep, It's all down to the warmed-up blood making blood vessels expand, which helps your muscles to relax

Go from dark to light...The ideal environment for the best night's sleep is starting with complete darkness when you want to fall asleep, and then coming into natural light as it's time to get up.

Take more exercise... Yes, getting active, really is the cure for all our modern ailments. Regular, moderate exercise such as swimming or walking can help relieve the day's stresses and strains ; try not to work out too close to bedtime or it may keep you awake.

Breathe right...One way of relaxing is by practising the correct type of breathing. Breathe in through your nose and out through your mouth, nice and deep. Focus on each breath and you'll find it starts to slow down, which slows down your heart rate too, and you'll feel less wound-up about not being able to sleep.

Don't overindulge right before bedtime...Change caffeine-laden drinks such as tea, coffee and cola for milky drinks or herbal tea in the evening.. that's not all you should be cutting out if you want to catch your zzzs. Too much food or alcohol late at night can play havoc with sleep patterns. Alcohol may help you fall asleep intially, but will interrupt your sleep during the night.

Buy the right bed ... There's no right or wrong bed. It's really about individual choice. memory foam mattresses, They're a great compromise in the hard vs soft mattress debate as they give a good level of support where it's needed but at the same time, mould to the shape of your body, giving a very high level of comfort.

And try these too...

Keep your alarm clock out of sight so you can't watch it during the night.

Find a herbal remedy that works for you.

Avoid eating bacon, cheese, ham, aubergines, pepperoni, raspberries avocado, nuts, soy sauce and red wine too close to bedtime. They all contain tyramine, which triggers the release of norepinephrine - a brain stimulant.

Take the TV and computer out of the bedroom, as both stimulate your mind too much. And try and avoid using both for at least half an hour before you sleep.

Use indirect lighting, such as side lamps to create an ambient mood in your room, rather than harsher, direct lighting.

Whilst every intention has been made to make this article accurate and informative it is intended for general information only. The tips given in this article are not intended as a substitute for the advice of your doctor or a qualified medical practitioner. If you have any concerns regarding your health you should seek the advice of your doctor immediately.

To book a Complementary Therapy treatment; call Connect Physical Health Centre on 0161 434 6664

> January 2010

Time for a Health MOT ?

The majority of New Year's resolutions revolve around health and fitness. Good Health is something that most of us, myself included, take for granted until we are forced to take stock. You never know what’s round the corner, even if you're doing all you can to stay fit and healthy.

As we hit our forties and fifties most of us will have made some kind of health resolution, whether it's improving our diet or giving up smoking – it is also the perfect time to undergo a few basic health checks.....

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Health check 1 -Your stomach. As a guide, if your waist is more than 33in (women) and 37in (men) then you are getting into the obese range. More than 40in across the belly button is dangerously obese. For a more accurate guide, check your Body Mass Index (BMI). To calculate this, simply divide your weight in kg by your height. If the figure is between 25 and 29.9 you're overweight, if it's over 30 then you are obese. GP Surgeries, Healthcentre's and Pharmacy's can help you with this.

Get healthy;Half of all women are overweight or obese compared with two-thirds of men. Obese people of all ages are at risk of serious problems, including heart disease and diabetes. The risk can be reduced by weight loss through exercise. In some cases all it takes is a brisk 15-minute daily walk to lift you right out of the high-risk group for heart disease.

Health check 2- Your bowel.Look for changes in your bowel habits. If you have constipation one minute, then diarrhoea and/or blood in your stools, you must see your GP straight away.

Get healthy;These may be symptoms of bowel cancer, the second-biggest cancer killer in Britain. But the symptoms are often indications of less sinister conditions, such as Crohn's disease, irritable bowel syndrome, colitis, or piles. If you notice anything wrong see your doctor as soon as possible.

Health check 3- Your Blood Pressure.This is one check you'll have to go to your GP or Pharmacist for. Have your blood pressure checked every three years if you're under 40 and yearly if you're over. (At the same time you could ask your doctor for a cholesterol test.)

Get healthy- Hypertension (high blood pressure) is a major cause of heart disease. It blocks arteries and is a huge killer. Serious symptoms include tunnel vision and blood in your urine. Men are three times more likely to suffer from this under the age of 65 than women. A lot of people mistake cardiac pain for indigestion. But if indigestion remedies don't work or the pain comes on with exercise or you feel sick, it's more likely to be your heart. Regular examinations for men and women and essential checks for people aged over 40.

Go for a Smear Test - Most women should be going for regular cervical smear tests. They are important because there's no other way of knowing whether there are any changes to the cervix. Smear tests detect abnormalities in the neck of the womb that could lead to cancer. A smear test is not a test for cancer itself but a way of spotting abnormal cells. Under the NHS's cervical screening programme, women between 20 and 64 are called for smear tests every three to five years.

Check your Breasts - Health experts advise that women perform regular breast examinations, to understand how they change over the menstrual cycle.

Being breast aware doesn't mean following a strict, complicated routine. You simply need to be aware of changes in your breasts and to consult your GP if you find anything unusual or are worried. Remember that early detection greatly increases your chances of surviving breast cancer. Get to know what your breasts look and feel like normally. Do this by looking and feeling in the way that makes you feel most comfortable - in the bath, shower, when dressing, standing or lying down.

Men - be prostate aware-Monitor how often you go to the toilet at night and whether you have trouble passing water or have blood in your urine. This may be a sign that the prostate is enlarged. If it is, it may be cancerous. Prostate cancer can be detected with a simple prostate specific antigen (PSA) test at your local surgery. Prostate cancer claims 10,000 men a year - four times as many deaths as women with cervical cancer.

If your health does take a knock, how do you find the best person to put you back on the road of recovery - fast?As with most things, you should go see your doctor and consult with him/her about any Orthodox Medicine treatment or Alternative Methods you may be considering.

Complementary Therapies can help improve your levels of fitness, energy and well being. A great addition for the New Year! Mind and body are inseparable and our physical health is very important for our overall sense of wellbeing. Our mental health can be affected by our physical health and vice versa and this is why it is vital that we take a holistic approach to recovery.

There are many ways we can all promote and protect our physical and mental health: Aromatherapy, Reflexology, Indian Head Massage(to name a few) are wonderful treatments to boost your motivation and commitment for the year ahead.

Whilst every intention has been made to make this article accurate and informative it is intended for general information only. The medical conditions in this article are not intended as a substitute for the advice of your doctor or a qualified medical practitioner. If you have any concerns regarding your health you should seek the advice of your doctor immediately.

To book a Complementary Therapy treatment; call Connect Physical Health Centre on 0161 434 6664

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