Acid reflux disease often occurs on the premises of physiological abnormalities at the level of the gastro-esophageal tract. In most cases, the disorder occurs due to poor functioning of the lower esophageal sphincter (muscular valve that normally shields the upper esophageal lining from stomach gastric acid), or increased pressure inside the abdomen. However, the occurrence of acid reflux is strongly influenced by diet, eating patterns and lifestyle.

One of the most common symptoms of acid reflux is heartburn. Described by acid reflux sufferers as a radiating pain or pronounced discomfort inside the chest, heartburn occurs due to inflammation of the esophageal tract. Although people who suffer from chronic forms of acid reflux disease may always perceive this symptom, heartburn tends to intensify after meals and during the night. On the premises of a weak lower esophageal valve or low pressure inside the esophagus, acid reflux sufferers commonly have nighttime heartburn. In the case of people with pronounced physiological abnormalities at the level of the gastro-esophageal tract, heartburn intensifies when lying down, as the stomach’s content can easily reflux inside the upper levels of the esophagus. Late meals can also cause heartburn by stimulating the stomach’s production of digestive fluids.

Another explanation for nighttime heartburn is the absence of swallowing. During sleep, the reflex of swallowing is inhibited. This may facilitate the occurrence of heartburn, as swallowing clears the esophageal tract of stomach acid, while saliva acts to neutralize the undesirable effects of digestive fluids. Saliva contains bicarbonate, a substance that helps in normalizing the stomach’s production of gastric acid.

Apart from being very frustrating, perturbing the sleep of acid reflux sufferers, nighttime heartburn is also very dangerous. Intense heartburn indicates that large quantities of stomach acid are pushed inside the esophagus, thus causing serious damage to the lining of the upper esophageal tract. People who suffer from frequent nighttime heartburn are exposed to developing serious complications such as Barrett’s esophagus.

In order to prevent the occurrence of heartburn during the night, acid reflux disease sufferers should make a few lifestyle improvements. Firstly, people with acid reflux should avoid eating right before going to bed. Also, acid reflux sufferers should avoid eating fatty foods, chocolate or citrus fruits at dinner, as they stimulate the production of gastric acid. Furthermore, people with acid reflux disease should also abstain from alcoholic beverages or cigarettes late at night.

A good method of preventing the occurrence of nighttime heartburn is to maintain the head and the thorax in a slightly elevated position during sleep. You can do this by using extra pillows.

Medications can also help in preventing the occurrence of nighttime heartburn. Doctors recommend using a combination of antacids and acid reducers (H2 blockers). These two types of medications should be taken together in order to maximize their effects. Antacids provide rapid symptomatic relief, while acid reducers will prevent the occurrence of heartburn during the night.

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Mortar consists of cement, builders and and water whilst concrete consists of cement, sharp sand, gravel aggregate and wate. It is important to understand the differences between the two as this is the fundamental premise for any major building work you may carry out.Additives can also be included in the mix and these will give special properties to the final mix. I will list the most popular additives and the effects each has below:Plasticizer makes the mortar makes a lot more workable.Waterproofing agents improve the water resistance of either concrete or mortar.PVA adhesive imporves the adhseive qualities of the mortar.For quantities less than a large bucketful it is most convenient to purchase a pre-mixed bag which you can find at most DIY stores. This cuts down on your overall costs and means you are not left with part bag of additives that you may never use or will perhaps degrade over time. Larger quantity means that a trip to the builders merchant will save you money so it’s worth taking a trip out to get your “ingredients”. Most merchants will offer a free deliver service or if it is chargeable, the cost should be more than acceptable to the cost of the overall project. For larger quantities you will also most probably need an electric or petrol mixer which can usually be hired or if you are lucky borrowed. The prospect of hand mixing a large quantity of concrete or mortar is one not often relished by even the hardiest of builders.A final alternative is the increasingly popular pre mix delivery which entails a container with a full mix of cement arriving and the mix being poured directly into situ. This is usually more expensive than a hand mix but obvisouly has the benefits of time saving and not to mention an aching back.Basic mix quantitiesThis is a rough guide to mixing and each job will have it’s own specifics, such as temperature, moisture and location. As a guide 10 Kg of dry ingredients makes about enough mortar to lay somewhere around 15 bricks. Using a standard mix 1:2:4, 2Kg of dry ingerdients (with a low water content and using 20m aggregate) makes approximately 1 cubit meter of wet concrete.A standard bag of cement weighs fifty kilograms add to this 115Kg of sand and 195Kg of aggregate will give you about .17 cubic mreters of aggregate. To help you get a proportion of what 0.17 meters is, it is enough to pour a slab measuring roughly 1mx1mx150mm and 1 cubic meter is enough for a slab measuring 3.3mx3mx100mm.So weigh up (no pun intended) what you need and as with everything, it’s all in the planning. For some the pre-made and delivered is the way while some like to save the money, keep the budget tight and go all out at the builders yard. Either way, it’s not something to be afraid of and most prjects go smoothly - just be patient and take your time and above everything make sure you give it good time to set and keep the pets away from it till it’s set!About the author Paul Disley is an expert at www.powertooldirect.co.uk/makita-m-2.html

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Researchers, scientists and doctors are discovering the importance of the newest emerging field called environmental endocrinology. Doctors are now learning how environmental endocrinology, or the effect of daily stressors like light, food and crowding on multiple endocrine systems’controls the rate of aging and the quality of life.Envronmental endocrinology has roots in the earliest calendars, which historically were lunar calendars, based on the time interval from one new moon to the next, or also known as lunation. Colder climates mandated that a year was determined by the end of winter. But in warmer countries, where the seasons are less pronounced, the Moon became the basic unit for time.Calendars were first developed by women as their natural body rhythms corresponded to observations of the moon. 28 days is not the true average of the female cycle. In ancient mythologies it is clearly related to the full moon, but in the modern world the female cycle is disturbed by what some researchers believe to be the existence of artificial lights and the use of artificial hormones. Many light sources including TV and computer screens, have probably perturbed the female cycle, and shortened it.A woman’s menstrual cycle responds to many subtle environmental cues and one of these is the presence of other women. Those who work closely together, or who live together, can set off each other’s menstrual cycles. It happens via pheromones-chemical substances that are secreted by the skin. After the nasal receptors pick up the scent, the pheromones stimulate their endocrine systems, driving their menstrual cycles towards a similar pattern.There’s also evidence for photoperiodicity controlling estrogen reception along with the obligate melatonin response. Melatonin blocks estrogen receptors. As the light increases with the waxing moon, melatonin secretion diminishes, allowing estrogen full rein.Doctors who are studying environmental endocrinology are in the vanguard of an elite group of forward-thinking physicians and researchers trying to put the scientific method back into medicine, spearheaded by a researcher named T.S. Wiley.The courses focus on the following topics: Insulin and cortisol metabolism over the course of a lifetime; the interplay of insulin, SHBG and estrogen; the effect of declining quality of sleep on sex steroid production and use; the seasonal variation in hormone fluctuation through shunt physiology; the action of sex steroids on immunological, emotional and neurological disorders; how to use and adjust the Wiley Protocol to solve all of the side effects of menopause’hot flashes, migraines, joint pain, incontinence, hemorrhaging, endometriosis, hypo and hyperthyroidism, fibroids, PCOD, insomnia, acid reflux, gall bladder disease, thinning skin, vulvodynia, low libido, IBS, anxiety and depression; the connection of insulin and sex hormones to cancer; C-reactive protein and cardiovascular risk: the eyes of the hippopotamus; non-Genomic actions of steroid hormones in the reproductive tissue; complex actions of sex steroids in adipose tissue; and the cardiovascular system and brain: insights from basic science and clinical studies”Since my involvement with Wiley and environmental endocrinology, I have become more keenly aware of the nuances of hormonal interaction and understanding the molecular aspects of hormonal relationships,” said Courtney Paige Ridley M.D.”It answers the questions being posed regarding cancer and other dysfunction afflicting not only menopausal women but those women with significant alteration of cycle created by interaction with our estrogen toxic environment.”—Kristin Gabriel is the marketing communications director for T.S. Wiley, a medical writer and researcher in chronobiology, environmental endocrinology and circadian rhythmicity. She is the author of “Sex, Lies & Menopause,” and the also the developer of The Wiley Protocol (www.thewileyprotocol.com) For more information about the Wiley Protocol Physicians Training and Certification, email caren@thewileyprotocol.com. *The Medical Educator Consortium (MEC) is accredited by the Accreditation Council for Continuing Medical Education to provide continuing medical education for physicians.

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