Medical Information Center

According to a new study, listening to music may help reduce an individual’s response to chronic pain.

Music has been used as a tool for healing since ancient times. Music therapy can involve both listening and touching, and has been used to improve the quality of life as well as the physical, emotional and cognitive development of people of all ages.

Researchers looked at 153 healthy volunteers who performed tasks that involved listening to tones or background music. Participants received three levels of stimulus intensity during the task. Scientists collected data on dilation of the pupil, the potential evoked by the stimuli and responses driving the skin to determine its net commitment to music.

Dilation of the pupil and the steering response of the skin varied with the demands of work, as well as anxiety levels and absorption (attention) of the participants. The scientists noted a greater effect of participation in those with higher levels of anxiety and absorption.

The team concluded that music therapy can help reduce an individual’s response to pain, but that personality factors such as anxiety can modulate this effect. The results suggest that people who are more anxious and is easily absorbed in the activities may experience reduced pain harder to listen to music.

For more information on music therapy, please visit our Dictionary of Remedies and Natural Treatments developed in collaboration with Natural Standard, or use the search box at the top right.

Popularity: unranked [?]

Prevention

Acne can not be prevented. It is useful to remember that acne develops in most people and is a normal part of maturation. However, some are more prone to acne than others.

When To Call a Professional

Call your doctor if you or your child has acne that is not controlled by cleaners or jellies for sale without a prescription. Remember that in teenagers, the amount of acne may not truly indicate the impact of the problem in the youth’s life. Sometimes a mild case of acne can become embarrassing and cause psychological problems for young people. Read the rest of this entry »

Popularity: 18% [?]

Duration

Acne outbreaks can occur at any time after puberty, but are most common during adolescence.

Treatment

Acne can be treated with:

* Cleaners with salicylic acid, help to empty comedones of sebum.

* Benzoyl peroxide Jellies: These products are applied as a thin layer on the skin. Dry and exfoliate (peel) skin, fight the growth of bacteria and help clear blocked hair follicles. Some are available in softer lotions that do not require a prescription. If not, your doctor may prescribe the more concentrated gels are more effective. Read the rest of this entry »

Popularity: 12% [?]

Symptoms

Acne can cause:

* Pimples or white with black spots (blackheads) comedones are enlarged hair follicles filled with sebum. Blackheads are comedones that have opened to the surface of the skin. The color of the sebum makes them look black. The white dots are comedones that are closed to the surface.

* Barros (pustules): These are inflamed hair follicles. The bacteria multiply in the follicle, which attracts infection-fighting cells, which release substances that cause irritation and redness. Then the follicle bursts, spilling its contents onto the surrounding skin, and this causes more inflammation. Read the rest of this entry »

Popularity: 5% [?]

Acne is a common skin disease caused by inflammation of hair follicles and oil producing glands (sebaceous) of the skin. Hair follicles are tiny structures that make the hair grow on the scalp. The sebaceous glands produce sebum, which moisturizes the hair and skin. Each hair penetrates the skin surface with sebum.

Acne may begin during puberty and affects approximately 80 percent of adolescents. It occurs when the skin’s sebaceous glands are stimulated to produce excess sebum. The skin cells shed normally and not sticky cells block the hair follicles, while retaining the fat. The blocked follicles filled with sebum, cause bacteria to multiply normally found in hair follicles. This causes swelling, redness and pimples (pustules). Read the rest of this entry »

Popularity: 16% [?]

Prevention

Because no one knows the cause of achalasia, there is no way to prevent it.

Treatment

The choice of treatment method depends on your overall experience of your doctor, your personal choice and previous treatments. Options include: Read the rest of this entry »

Popularity: 5% [?]

Symptoms

Most people with achalasia develop symptoms between 25 and 60, but the condition can occur in children. It is not hereditary. Symptoms appear gradually and may take years to progress. These may include:

· Difficulty swallowing solid foods

· Regurgitation or vomiting of undigested food

· Chest pain, discomfort or fullness under the breastbone Read the rest of this entry »

Popularity: 10% [?]

Achalasia is a rare disorder of the smooth muscles of the esophagus, the muscular tube that carries food from the mouth into the stomach. Normally, the food moves through the esophagus by coordinated contractions of the smooth muscle, known as peristaltic waves.

Between the esophagus and the stomach is a special muscle called the esophageal sphincter (LES). The muscle around the esophagus to keep it closed and prevent food and acid reflux into the esophagus from the stomach. Read the rest of this entry »

Popularity: 6% [?]