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There is no doubt that modern medicines have saved a lot of lives over the years. However, sometimes people are too quick to visit their GP to ask for medication when they get sick. Often, there are natural solutions that can address your health problems as efficiently as any medicine. What's more, most natural remedies do not have a long list of associated side effects. This is not true of many prescription or over the counter medications. Even acetaminophen can be dangerous if you are using it daily.
Do you tend to make an appointment with your general practitioner as soon as you encounter a health issue? Are you worried about the possible impact that taking a lot of medications may be having on your body? Would you like to take control of your own health and rely on your GP less? If so, the following health hacks may be of use to you:
Immunity
Prevention is always better than cure. The best way to avoid having to take prescription medication is to stay well and maintain a strong immune system. You can generally maintain your physical health via regular exercise and a healthy diet. You should also take a good quality multivitamin product suited to your age and gender. Taking a good probiotic each day can do a lot to boost your immune system and promote a healthy gut, too. However, remember that the best sources of probiotic bacteria are fermented food products such as kefir, yogurt, some varieties of cheese, pickles, miso, sauerkraut, tern peh, kirnchi, and sourdough bread.
Hypertension
Taking a prescription hypertension medication can save your life. However, side effects associated with taking medication for high blood pressure include digestive issues such as diarrhea and constipation, dizziness, lightheadedness, nervous agitation, erectile dysfunction, headaches, weakness, drowsiness, lack of energy, nausea, and vomiting. Alternatives To Blood Pressure Medication Do you wish to avoid taking high blood pressure medication because of the associated side effects? Grapefruit and other citrus fruits contain compounds known as citrus bioflavonoids. Citrus bioflavonoids have antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties. They can protect the cardiovascular system, therefore helping prevent or reduce hypertension. Other food that may lower the blood pressure naturally includes bananas, berries, dark chocolate, kiwis, oats, leafy green vegetables, beets, and watermelon.
Pain Management
People who suffer from chronic pain such as that caused by sciatica often rely on medications to manage their discomfort. Medications that people generally take for pain management often include acetaminophen, non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs), and opiates. Each of these types of medication can damage your health if used over a long period of time. Using a lot of acetaminophen pills can damage your kidneys eventually. NSAIDs can cause peptic ulcers, renal failure, and strokes if taken over long periods. Opiates can slow your breathing and weaken your immune system. They are also highly addictive.
Reduce Pain Naturally
If you are experiencing a lot of pain, you should try to manage it before you resort to taking medication. If you are overweight, take the appropriate steps to lower your BMI. This will reduce the stress on your bones and joints. Other things that might help with pain management include massage, physiotherapy, chiropractic adjustment, and acupuncture. You should look at all of these alternatives before you ask your GP to prescribe you medication to manage your pain.
High Cholesterol
If your doctor diagnoses you with high cholesterol, they will probably also try to prescribe you a prescription medication commonly known as statins. Some of the side effects of taking statins include nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, rashes, insomnia, memory loss, headaches, increased risk of type two diabetes, and even liver and muscle damage in more serious cases.
You Are What You Eat
If you would rather not experience any of these side effects, there are other things you can try before taking statins. For example, make time for regular cardiovascular exercise if you don't already. Consider amending your diet as well. You can do this by eating fewer food products that contain a lot of LDL cholesterol, such as butter, cream, sausages, meat pies, ghee, and coconut oil. You should consider adding plenty of food that lowers bad cholesterol to your diet, too. Garlic, oats, red wine, eggplants, barley, beans, apples, grapes, strawberries, citrus fruits, and olive oil are all helpful in lowering bad LDL cholesterol.
Constipation
If you asked your general practitioner for help with constipation, they would likely prescribe you some form of stool softener. Stool softeners are not intended for long-term use. That's because they can dehydrate you. Stool softeners and laxatives generally work by drawing water from other areas of the body into the intestines. Extreme dehydration can be very dangerous. It can cause kidney problems, seizures and, in the most extreme cases, coma.
Natural Constipation Cures
If you suffer from chronic constipation, you can do several things to address the issue without taking a stool softener. First, make sure you drink enough water each day, ingest an adequate amount of fiber, and get plenty of exercise. If you are still constipated, consider taking magnesium citrate in supplement form. Magnesium citrate works only within the intestine. It doesn't draw water from other parts of the body. After taking the supplement, you can expect to produce a bowel movement between thirl minutes and six hours later.
Insomnia
In the United States, general practitioners generally prescribe sedatives called benzodiazepines to treat insomnia. Some people react badly to benzodiazepines. Gastrointestinal issues, low blood pressure, vision problems, dizziness, drowsiness, slurred speech, tremors, jaundice and blood disorders.
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