Health Bits

What is Sciatica?

The longest nerve in your body, the sciatic nerve runs from your pelvis through your hip area and buttocks and down each leg. It divides into the tibial and peroneal nerves at the level of your knees. The sciatic nerve controls many of the muscles in your lower legs and provides feeling to your thighs, legs and feet.

The term sciatica refers to pain that radiates along the path of this nerve, from your back into your buttock and leg. The discomfort can range from mild to incapacitating, and may be accompanied by tingling, numbness or muscle weakness. Rather than a disorder in and of itself sciatica is a symptom of another problem that puts pressure on the nerve. Read the rest of this entry »

Acid reflux and heartburn are words used to express the same symptom - a burning sensation in your chest by your heart or right up the chest middle. This acid reflux symptom can also be experience much higher along the esophagus or throat. Over time, stomach acid can continue to dissolve esophagus tissue and this can lead to a bleeding ulcer with severe pain.

Another acid reflux symptom can be bad breath or consistent dry coughing.

Still, when esophageal tissue is eaten away, scar tissue can form which can narrow the esophagus making it difficult to swallow.

Poor eating habits

Heartburn or acid reflux doesn’t happen when you eat a healthy diet. And when I say a healthy diet, Read the rest of this entry »