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According to official figures, only between 5-10% of breast cancer is caused by genetic influences. But even though the percentage is relatively low, the numbers are high enough to warrant many women and men seeking regular checkups. Yes, men get breast cancer, too. Only about 0.7% as often as women, but it does occur, killing about 12,000 men per year.

Being female alone increases one’s odds of contracting breast cancer relative to men by 133:1. A leading theory indicates that the most likely cause of this is due to the higher percentage of estrogen and progesterone in females. These hormones play a role in cell growth and reproduction, and seem to have an effect with the growth occurs uncontrollably- for instance, breast cancer.

One genetic factor that may not seem genetic at first blush is the increased risk that comes with aging. Growing older, at what rate and in what way, is heavily influenced by genetics. Genetics determines the kind of physiology we have and that in turn plays a prominent role in aging, as researchers in the field are finding out.

About 17% of invasive breast cancers occur in women in their 40s. But, a whopping 78% of those who contract the disease are in their 50s or older. That shouldn’t be surprising by now. It’s commonplace to observe that cancers are more likely the older one gets. Take care not to turn the statement around, though. It’s not correct to say that 78% of women 50 or older get breast cancer. In fact, the number is about 1 in 12 or only 8%.

One huge genetic risk factor doesn’t come from normal genes, rather comes from genetic mutations. The most common gene mutations are labeled BRCA1 and BRCA2. These genes usually assist in manufacturing proteins that assist in the prevention of abnormally growing cells. Mutations or change in them that alter that ability cause an increase in the odds of breast cancer development. According to some studies, having these particular gene mutations raises an individual’s odds of developing breast cancer to 80%.

Typically those mutations are inherited and not produced by an individual’s environment, diet or any other factors that could be controlled. Women whose mother’s have had breast cancer are at a greater risk for developing the condition themselves. Obviously women do not inherit genes from siblings, but having a sibling that has contracted the disease does increase one’s risk.

Another gene mutation that may play a role is the ATM (ataxia-telangiectasia mutation), involving a gene which plays a role in repairing DNA strands. Breast cancer risk is doubled when yet another, the CHEK-2 gene, mutates. Mutations in a gene called the p53 increase the odds, since it works to suppress tumor growth. Fortunately, these are all fairly low likelihood occurrences.

Until gene therapy becomes more advanced, there’s nothing a woman or man can do to alter the genetic endowment they’ve received. But knowing the risk factors can provide information that is helpful in prompting diagnosis. Knowing you have a family history that contains an individual with Cowden Syndrome, for example, provides incentive to seek early and frequent checkups.

A natural by product of red wine has been discovered to increase life expectancy. It is called Resveratol, and comes from the skin of red grapes. It may now be possible to age gracefully. And all without the reliance on harsh chemical treatments or surgery. The French have enjoyed the fruits of resveratrol for decades, by enjoying the company of red wine.

Resveratrol supplements are hastily been manufactured by several pharmaceutical companies. Currently resveratrol studies have only been performed on mice, flies and worms. Worms where shown to have an iincreased life span by 60%, flies by 30% and fish by about 60%.

Dr Rafael de Cabo, from the National Institute of Aging at Harvard Medical School, US said that after six months, resveratrol essentially prevented most of the negative effects of a high calorie diet in mice. In essence the mice who where over eating actually did not damage their life expectancy. They actually increased it.

Other studies have also shown resveratrol to be useful in the battle against cancer and diabetes. It is promising to think that accelerated aging, diabetes and cancer could one day be treated with this natural compound.

When you look at the research in more detail, reservatrol may actually treat a common burden to society. All the mice in the study where fed highly saturated fats. In essence they were obese. It did not damage their life expectancy at all.

Another study by the University of Rochester revealed that the natural antioxidant resveratrol can help destroy pancreatic cancer cells from reaching the cell’s core energy sources called mitochondria. As the cancer has nothing to feed on, it therefore cannot grow.

There has been a lot of hype surrounding new wonder supplements and their claims. Most of them have just alluded to slightly promoting their cause. Resveratrol really hit the headlines after statistics revealed that a large percentage of France’s occupants eat a highly saturated fat and high calorie diet, yet the instance of heart disease is lower than that of America’s.

Is resveratrol the elixir of life? It remains to be seen, or exploited even, without more substantial research. At least it sounds promising so far. In an era where the boundaries of medical science are delving into unethical territories, such as the human genome, it’s refreshing to think that resveratrol, a compound found naturally in red grapes could provide many benefits to human existence.

Lifestyle and environmental risk factors for breast cancer are still an area of active research and many have been identified. Lucky for most people, all of these risks are controlled simply by making proper changes to optimize one’s health. Even men can get breast caner, though it occurs at 1/133 the rate of women.

Women who have had no children prior to age 30 are at a slightly higher risk. The cause of the increase is likely to be twofold: the number of menstrual periods experienced and the related factor of the amount of estrogen in the body. Hormones, particularly estrogen and progesterone, play a role in cell growth and cancer is a condition in which cells grow in abnormal shapes and numbers.

Having had multiple pregnancies prior to the age of thirty reduces an individual’s risk of contracting breast cancer. Pregnancy itself carries its own risks even in the modern medical settings offered today. Using this method to offset the risk of breast cancer is not recommended. But, if you intend to bear children, it should be comforting to know about this side benefit.

The risk of cancer from taking oral contraceptives has yet to be determined. Women who have stopped using birth control for more than ten years show no increased risk. Because most women who contract breast cancer don’t do so until their 50’s or later, it is hard to isolate the contribution.

Diet has been determined to be a more direct contributor. But since research is still ongoing no conclusive evidence exists to prove anything. What is known is that maintaining a healthy diet in general is a factor. Because of the ability of fat cells to store estrogen obesity definitely raises the risk of breast cancer. Fat cells are also responsible for producing a small amount of estrogen on their own even though most estrogen in the body is generated by the ovaries.

The exact contribution of an individual’s diet has yet to be determined. It was popular for a time period for people to claim that a high fiber diet acted almost as a preventative. The research, however, does not support that notion rather it has determined that a high fiber diet is healthy for many reasons. Even if diet cannot prevent the onset of breast cancer, having good health in general is extremely important and helpful when it comes to having to get any type of treatment and diet is a significant part of that effort.

In addition to diet, utilizing age and body type appropriate exercise methods will contribute to an individuals overall health. Simply spending an hour a day doing moderate activity is a major benefit. It keeps the muscles tone and the body in overall good shape. The amount of exercise needed to reduce the risk of breast cancer is unknown. One study was able to correlate a 1-2 hour brisk walk per week with an 18% lower risk.

Unbelievably, there are many factors that are commonly believed to increase the risk of breast cancer. These risks are not supported by contemporary research finings according to the American Cancer Society. Smoking is one of the risks. No link has been made between cigarette smoking and breast cancer. Lung cancer however, is a completely different story. In general, no environmental pollutants have been deemed to cause breast cancer.

Because these lifestyle choices are not healthy, the goal of maintaining good health and well-being should strongly weigh against them.

Consuming alcohol in moderation has been determined to be healthy. Using alcohol heavily has been correlated with an increased risk of contracting breast cancer. The risk increases by about 10% for every daily hard alcohol drink one consumes. Because it also damages the liver it is contributing to overall poor health. Drinking heavily therefore is an unsafe and unwise decision.

Maintain a good attitude and a good health program and your odds of breast cancer will be as low as you can make them.

If you are suffering from acne problems, you may be wondering where you can find the best acne skin care products. Can these products be found online or are the best acne skin care products only found in drugstores, doctors’ clinics or from exclusive dealers? There are actually quite a large number of acne skin care products in the market today, and finding the best acne skin care products that will work for you is all a matter of finding the one that suits you best.

The best acne skin care product that is good for you may not be as good for somebody else. What is good for Jack may not be good for Jane; therefore, finding the best acne skin care product and routine is a matter of finding what suits your particular skin type, acne situation and budget. Most skin care products that are geared towards acne sufferers can be found on the internet, and products that promise results in a week, a month or a few months are all dependent on how the users respond to the effects of the substances used in the products.

One way you can find the best possible acne product for yourself is to do a little research on the products you feel may benefit you the most. There are a lot of acne product makers that state that they are the best acne skin care manufacturers around and that they can prove this with the celebrity endorsements and customer testimonials that they have. While their claims may be true, you cannot be too sure whether your skin type or your particular acne problem is going to be solved with these products that they call the best acne skin care products ever to be made.

Last but not least, tip number three for proper skin care for acne prone individuals is to choose the right kind of makeup or cosmetics to use on your skin.

For men, it is important that you use a shaving cream that is skin friendly when you shave. Women who use cosmetics should try to get cosmetics that are hypo-allergenic and non-comedogenic. You should also avoid oil-based cosmetics since oil does aggravate acne and pimple problems.

If people think that the term acne skin care products refers to products that are used to get rid of acne, they are only half right. Acne skin care products can mean products for taking care of skin that may be acne prone, products that are made to prevent the skin from developing acne or products that are used to keep acne from coming back. Acne skin care products can also be products for the treatment of skin that has been damaged by acne, such as scars that are caused by careless touching or experimentation of medications on acne ravaged skin.

Approaching a skin doctor to find out whether or not a particularly popular acne product is going to work for you is probably a wise recourse since such a doctor will know what medicinal components can work for your particular type of skin, acne problem and age. A skin doctor has studied extensively about the human skin and he or she is well qualified to tell you whether or not an acne care treatment will work on you. There may be an acne care product skin doctors recommend online that may not work for you since there are certain cases that do need the personal attention of your local skin doctors. These special cases require the special care of a dermatologist, and they are usually those that are not just simple acne problems brought about by puberty or excess oil and dirt on a person’s skin.

You should treat your acne problems with a careful scrutiny of the products and procedures involved, and you should do proper research to find out what acne can do to your skin, what some acne treatments can do for you and what a lot of skin doctors consider the best acne care products you can use on your skin. With an acne care product skin doctors recommend, you can be fairly certain that your acne problems will soon be solved.

These are just examples of the kinds of acne skin care products you can expect to get or buy when you are faced with an acne problem. You may get professional help from someone like a dermatologist to help you determine whether you need all these products for your particular acne problem or whether you will be fine with only one or two of these products and product types.

These are just a few of the things you will have to take into account when choosing an acne care product, and you should listen to the advice of skin doctors about these to get the best possible results for your skin.

You might be wounding how a Diagram and back pain are related. Sickness absence is mostly caused and commonly caused by back pain. Not really considered a serious illness but certainly painful. Lower back pain or ‘Lumbago’ affects around 70% or more people globally it may affect a person at least once a lifetime. Low back pain is a stiff pain starting from the back right from the bottom of the ribs and up to the top of the legs. It’s also considered a probable symptom of damage incurred by the muscles or ligaments.

Back pain may have its special patterns. It can either be a sudden pain or it can be gradual, it may come at times or it may be chronic and persistent. It’s also known to show up at a particular time of the day. For the doctor to diagnose the pain properly the doctor should know the type of pain felt by the patient and the pattern so the doctor could monitor your progress. The pain that you feel in the neck or the back is a good indicator of the type of pain occurring in the spine.

Stabbing, burning or electrical sensations down one arm or leg could be caused by an irritated nerve or also a muscle sprain also a ligament sprain because pain due to a stiff nerve could be caused by either a postural problem or an injury. The location of the pain may or may not have any relevance to where the damage or injury to the spine occurred. In the case of an affected nerve pain travels down the arm or leg as it occurs in sciatica.

It’s a possibility that the pain is in more that one part of the body. In this case a diagram of the body or body diagram is very useful to map and track down the location of where the pain is as it changes or moves. The diagram can also be used to relay you’re symptoms and location of the pain accurately to your doctor.

Most common incidences of seeking medical treatment arise due to back pain and neck pain. For some patients back pain might remain as one time inconvenience during their life time whereas some patients suffer episodic back pain throughout their life time.

Lumbar facet joints are bilateral and have two joints per level. Joints are prone to decay due to ageing and may well cause back pain. Decay of the joints cause joints to rub against bony surface that could cause inflammation. Inflammatory joints could further lead to joint decay and back pain. Muscle imbalances could be the causes for number of muscles, metabolic and postural dysfunctions and syndromes. Studies have proved that a very high percentage of people with back pain suffer due to tight muscles or muscle imbalances. If muscle imbalances are left untreated, it may lead to degenerative spinal conditions. Excessive forces exerted on spinal joints, ligaments and discs due to over active or under active muscles causes degenerative spine.

The latest advances in medical science has managed to increase longevity and expanded the quality of life. Hence a specialist in spine care should be consulted. They are many specialists Orthopedic spine surgeons who have taken added advanced training in order to treat spinal disorders, osteoarthritis, osteoporosis, herniated disc, bulging disc, ruptured discs, vertebral fracture, deformity, tumor, infection and congenital abnormalities. This type of treatment is given out in special clinics, facilities and institutes that perform advanced tests and minimal invasive surgeries to correct such conditions. For a great number of cases the treatments given are simple and outpatient procedures that minimize stress and minimize bleeding of the patient drastically and also shorten the time a patient gets well.

A very useful diagnostic tool to determine the causes of back pain, location of back pain and patters is Diagram and Back pain - Diagram or body diagram or diagram or nervous system and spine. Doctors use the diagram and other various visual assessment methods and a questionnaire to come up with an exact diagnosis of back pain.

Many people struggle with how to get rid of acne. It is often a hassle and something that millions struggle with daily. How to get rid of acne is a two step process. You have to lay the foundation or clear skin through a good skin care regimen and then you have to treat already existing acne.

Defining Acne

Dirt and oil are the two biggest culprits that lead to acne. Freeing your skin from dirt and oil is essential in your fight to be acne free. Acne is caused by clogged pores. It can be visible on the skins surface as white heads, black heads or cysts. In order to be completely acne free a person has to make sure their skin is as free from dirt and oil as possible.This can be difficult because you skin actually produces oil to help keep it healthy. However, it is excess oil that is the problem and must be handled. Dirt is easier to keep from the skin since that is an external problem, not internal like oil.With these things in mind your road to acne free skin can be easier.

Baby Steps

Basically, pimples, whiteheads and other blemishes occur when the skins pores are clogged and oil and bacteria are trapped within the pores.The body sends white blood cells to the clogged pore resulting in inflammation.

Additional Advice

There are many treatments on the market and finding the right one to use will involve some trial and error. Whichever treatment that you find works for you, can be made more effective with these simple tips: gently wash your face with a mild cleanser, do not touch, pick, squeeze or otherwise play with the blemishes and, use cosmetics labeled noncomedogenic. Also, whichever treatment you choose needs to be used as directed and for enough time to determine if it works. If you do not see an improvement in about 8 weeks, it is time to look for a different solution.So, now that you know what really causes acne and how to get the most from your skin treatment you can look forward to clear beautiful skin.

No other sector of oncology is considered more controversial and complex than the relationship between cancer and one’s diet. Everyone wants to believe that there is some miracle diet which can dramatically affect the likelihood of cancer, or better yet, a diet that can actually cure cancer once it has been contracted. But as of right now, there is no conclusive evidence of the effect diet can have on cancer.

All reputable sources are in agreement that no diet can cure cancer. There also is no evidence strong enough to support the idea that any diet in particular can prevent an individual from contracting it. However, there have been many studies conduct that strongly suggest that the occurrence, recurrence, and even one’s survivability rate might be affected by the foods that they consume.

Though far from certain, many studies examined by researchers at Cornell University were able to correlate lower death rates - an increased five or ten year survivability, with certain dietary choices.

The Nurses Health Study which examined 1,982 women who had already developed breast cancer. These women were followed for an average of 13 years. Of those women 1200 had breast cancers that had not yet metastasized (spreading of a primary tumor to other areas of the body thus producing a secondary tumor of the same type). If an individual’s cancer has spread then typically their survival rates are known to be much lower.

Some of the women studied ate fish and poultry in higher quantities. These items contain protein and omega-3 fatty acids. These women had a much lower risk of death than women in the group who did not consume similar quantities. It was also determined that women who ate greater amounts of hydrogenated oils had a much higher rate of death.

Another study was carried out by the National Cancer Institute of more than 2,400 individuals. A subset, 975 women, who had contracted breast cancer consumed a low fat diet (33.3g per day) for five years. Another 1,462 consumed 51.3 g per day. The low fat group experienced a 42% reduction in recurrence.

The difficulty with all these studies is they are looking only at associations, not causation. It’s unclear from the data what is relevant. Do these dietary choices reflect only the fact that women who focus on maintaining a healthy diet are making healthier lifestyle choices overall? Or, are the foods themselves actually helpful or harmful, and to what degree?

As with many studies that involve fruits and vegetables the answer remains unclear. Aside from those foods which contain antioxidants, and effects deemed beneficial are not done so with confidence. In this case however, the evidence is strong. Foods high in antioxidants can and do aid in reducing the chances of contracting breast cancer.

Free radicals within one’s blood stream are ionized atoms that are capable of harming cells. Antioxidants assist in ridding the body of these atoms. They combine with the free radicals causing them to be rendered harmless.

Fat studies, however, are less clear. The leading theory states that since high estrogen levels are known to highly correlate with a greater risk of breast caner, and since fat efficiently stores estrogen, then reducing your fat intake lowers the risk.

Some individuals believe that eating fat will make you fat, this conclusion is flawed. Consuming fat doesn’t necessarily cause a higher body fat content. Rather, eating more calories than one expends can cause the body to store excess fat. This causes the body to have a higher body fat percentage. Fat also contains more calories per unit weight than other foods. The route is not direct.

The evidence is not conclusive, but experts do agree on one thing: maintaining a healthy lifestyle and diet is an excellent decision. Whether these items lower the risk of contracting breast cancer or not for the 1 in 12 women who will contract it at some stage in their life, being in optimal health will aid in combating the disease before, during and after.

If you live with a chronic illness or chronic pain, the odds are that you have at least tried a support group once since your diagnosis. Did the situation go something like this?

You feel exhausted and not very motivated to attend the meeting but you decided to go anyway. Find the meeting place, a parking spot and the right room leaves you wiped out. At last you locate a hard, sticky seat. A few people smile at you, but there is a discussion going about now aggravating doctors can be. Soon the topic moves to people comparing how many milligrams and pain killers they need and it feels like your pain is minimized because you are on less than most people. Two people try to convince you to try their juice remedy and you want to run screaming. It’s so depressing!

Aren’t support groups supposed to be valuable in learning how to cope with illness and encourage one another?

The answer is yes! Studies completed by Dr. David Spiegel have concluded that support groups do in fact improve the quality of life of those who are willing to attend. Recent studies (CANCER, Sept 2007) have show that support groups do not actually increase the lifespan of one who lives with cancer. But regardless, by having one’s feelings about her illness validated, her skills of coping with chronic illness are definitely more improved.

Whether you are looking for leadership program ideas for your small group, or you’re just thinking about attending one, you may have cause for concern about how fast a group can go from being a friendly, honest place to a time of complaints and even bickering. Would you like some fresh icebreaker games for small groups to perk people up?

Here are 10 tips to help you make your chronic illness support group include some laughter as well as just the discussion of challenges. And these ideas will work for any groups, from a Dementia support groups in Dallas to an Ebsteins Anomaly support group. And these ideas are perfect to have when you are creating a proposal for starting up a support group.

1. Cut out some smiley faces and sad faces and glue them back-to-back to a stick or plastic knife. As you go around the circle sharing have each person make sure they are able to hold up both sides of the faces when they are talking about their illness. For example, Mary could hold up the sad face and say, “Preparing for a joint replacement and all the therapy involved afterwards is a bit scary.” (Then flip it over) “But the upside is my family and friends are already volunteering to come over and help me out around the house.”

2. Rethink your concept of what counts as indoor games for small groups. For example, have everyone bring things for a JOY box and then have everyone choose something to take with them out of it at each meeting. It could be a rubber frog, a favorite poem, a note someone sent, an encouraging book, a silly or sentimental DVD. Have everyone return them by the next meeting to share again.

3. Be goofy together with ice breakers for small groups. Make up a fun, corny theme song to start each meeting, or pick a tune everyone knows and make up new lyrics. Check out comedian Anita Renfroe’s website for some terrific examples that will leave you in stitches.

4. Find some goofy props to bring to your meeting. Don’t make anyone feel they must use or wear them. (Forcing someone to wear bug antennas may scare them away for good.) But make sure they are available to encourage light-hearted moments before discussing the depressing reasons you are there. You can find hundreds of items for a reasonable price at Oriental Trading Supply.

5. Though it can be a challenge, don’t let your group tune into a platform for any member to talk continuously about his or her disease, the treatments, alternative treatments and even complaints. If someone tends to dominate the conversation, let your group know you are implementing the use of a timer to make sure everyone has equal opportunity to share. Set whatever guidelines you wish, for instance, you could allow people to vent for sixty seconds on any topic. Or they could share about an alternative treatment they’ve found useful, but when the timer rings, time is up!

6. Have everyone bring something to put into a basket of encouragement for someone else. It may be someone who is having surgery from your group or a friend of someone in the group who has just been diagnosed. Brainstorm together about what items people would like, and be sure to remember sometimes the personal notes mean the most. If it’s appropriate consider including family members.

7. Go out for one evening just for fun. If everyone want to act their age you may consider a sit down restaurant, or you can head on over to Chuck E. Cheese’s or Build-A-Bear. It’s a terrific icebreaker for small groups since people who haven’t opened up in the group may find this is a more relaxed environment. Consider including family members to participate.

8. Provide handouts or items that encourage people to thrive with illness. For example, National Invisible Chronic Illness Awareness Week always has fun items like bumper stickers, static clings, stickers, pins, mugs, etc. with the different themes like, “My illness is invisible but my hope shines through!”

9. When you schedule guest speakers, remind them that you want to provide the most positive outlook as possible, while still being practical. Invite them to pass out props, encouraging articles. Listen to your speakers before scheduling them. Some illness speakers are quite depressing.

10. The people in your group are quite amazing and able to make a difference. This is important for them to remember since they often feel so out of control. Your group may not be able to actually walk for charity, but they can likely work at a registration table, pass out bottles of water for a walk/run, or even just hand out presents to kids at the children’s hospital. Teens with chronic illness often get support groups can be great motivators for these kinds of outings. Find a project people are passionate about where they can see they are making a difference in the lives of others.

Support groups can provide some of the most influential relationships that can help one live successfully with chronic illness. The environment of the group, however, can make or break its usefulness. With these few simple tips, your group can be a refuge and a place of true relaxation, creating an special group for people to create friendships that could just last as long as the illness, perhaps indefinitely.

Have we not heard the word back pain so often that it is as common as influenza affecting most Americans and individuals everywhere? We stretch, bend, jog or swim to keep fit and healthy. But we seriously consider visiting a doctor or chiropractor when our daily routine becomes a hurdle. Bulging disc is a common condition affecting young and aged population in our country.

Neuro physicians recommend stretching exercises to ease Bulging disc. We first need to go over the anatomy of the back to comprehend how herniated discs affect the back and cause chronic pain. The backbone is a curved bone ‘S’ shaped structure. Vertebrae are stacked one on top of the other starting with the S1 to Lumbar L1 discs and concluding at the sacchrum and coccyx. The vertebrae are lined as building blocks of the back cushioned by soft-jelly like material that enables the back to absorb shock and injury to the back. The jelly like mass is in-between each vertebrae, it covers the circumference of each vertebrae.

When the jelly like substance protrudes out of the vertebrae it results in a condition called a bulging disc. Bulging disc affects young and old individuals and results in chronic pain on the left or right side of the back. This condition affects the lower lumbar region or low back and occurs over a time period. Pain or sciatica occurs when the bulging disc is herniated meaning the bulging disc is pinching a nerve surrounding the spinal cord. Bulging disc can be diagnosed by modern imaging techniques like MRI.

Physicians prescribe heat or cold therapy along with cortisone injections to treat bulging disc. Stretching exercises, physical therapy or yoga can be used for treating Bulging disc. Pseudo gout is considered to be inherited and affects the parathyroid glands. Rheumatoid arthritis is sometimes misdiagnosed in place of pseudo-gout. A bulging disc is defined by the soft material moving away from the nucleus and protruding into the nerve region of the spiral column. Thus pain is caused and later results in sciatica affecting the left side of the back.

Deposits of uric acid between the joints results in a medical condition called Gout. Pseudo gout or gout can cause severe back pain. Rheumatoid arthritis rarely affects the back but it does affect the spine resulting in a condition known as myelopathy. It weakens the tendons and ligaments that are the connections for the vertebrae and eventually leads to neck and back imbalance. This can get very serious; at times even life threatening for the patient.

Relief can be found from a bulging disc condition by performing stretching exercises and yoga. Simple stretching exercises are known to have cured people suffering from chronic back pain. Yoga exercises such as knee rolls, knee lifts, pelvic twists, and sit ups can help low back pain. These exercises cause the stomach muscles to stretch and hence strengthen which compensates for the loss of function of the vertebrae. Commonly performed yogasanas are recommended which stretch the back to improve circulation to the vertebrae. A therapeutic or trained yoga expert should be consulted and good caution should be taken before performing such stretching exercises.