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Compression in the nerves of the low back can cause a lot of pain. Image Credit: Nicola Katie/E+/GettyImages Nerves branch off the spinal cord at each level between your vertebrae. The L5 spinal nerve, between L4 and L5 vertebrae, and spinal nerves at nearby levels join together and branch off into the sciatic nerve — a large nerve that runs along the back of the thigh. Advertisement What Is Sciatica? Compression of the sciatic nerve can cause a painful condition called sciatica....

There are several exercises you can do to help get back from a pec tear. Image Credit: BraunS/E+/GettyImages A chest muscle tear or pec tear can potentially limit not only your workouts and sporting activities, but also your capacity to perform everyday activities. The good news is, exercises can help. Advertisement According to a study published in the January-February 2017 issue of the journal RadioGraphics, the incidence of pectoralis major injuries has increased significantly over the past 20 years as the bench press exercise has gotten more popular....

Whole grain cereals such as Cheerios can help you meet your daily fiber needs. Image Credit: jupiter55/iStock/Getty Images Fiber is an indigestible form of roughage commonly found in fruits and vegetables. Switching to Cheerios for breakfast is one of the best ways to obtain more fiber in your diet, notes the Mayo Clinic. A diet high in fiber is a key component to all-around health, and can reduce the risk of many diseases....

Fish oil displays anti-inflammatory properties, but not diuretic properties. Image Credit: John Foxx/Stockbyte/Getty Images Fluid retention, also called water retention or edema, occurs when your body retains too much water due to some hormonal imbalance, nutritional deficiency or disease process. Fluid retention looks similar to tissue swelling caused by injury, but it typically does not involve tissue damage, inflammatory reactions or pain. Fish oil displays antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties, and may help combat inflammation from injuries, but it doesn’t have diuretic properties....

Adjusting your diet may help alleviate rectal bleeding. Image Credit: Oliver Rossi/Stone/GettyImages Rectal bleeding is a symptom of a wide range of medical conditions, ranging from hemorrhoids to inflammatory bowel diseases. If you experience it, it can be alarming, but there are a number of things you can do to alleviate the situation, including adjusting your diet. Advertisement Understanding Rectal Bleeding Rectal bleeding may seem like a severe symptom, but the Mayo Clinic notes that the causes can range from mild conditions to severe medical situations....

Most adults should get about 4,700 milligrams of potassium per day. Image Credit: nkeskin/iStock/GettyImages Potassium is an electrolyte that plays a vital role in your health, but it’s possible to consume it in excess, which can be harmful. If you have too much of it in your system, fill up on low-potassium foods. Advertisement Why You Need Potassium Electrolytes are a subset of minerals that your body needs, according to the U....

Eating healthy, immune-boosting foods can help to stop cold sores. Image Credit: Jupiterimages/Pixland/Getty Images Cold sores go by many names, including fever blisters and herpes. They are caused by type 1 or type 2 herpes simplex virus, and approximately 40 to 85 percent of Americans have had a cold sore at some point, according to the National Institute of Dental and Craniofacial Research. Advertisement Foods that speed up the healing of cold sores work by boosting the immune system and stopping the replication, or spread, of the dormant herpes virus....

Storing your protein powder under the right conditions is the key to keeping it fresh over time. Image Credit: iprogressman/iStock/GettyImages In This Article Shelf Life Is Expired Protein Safe? How to Store It Overall Safety Protein powder is a common ingredient in many kitchens, but people often wonder if protein powder expires. The short answer is yes — protein powder can expire and lose potency over time. That being said, if you use it before the date on the container and store it properly, your protein powder will likely retain its potency and stay fresh....

Woman running on the side of the road Image Credit: fatchoi/iStock/Getty Images The amount of calories you burn in a 2.5-mile run depends on many factors, including your age, gender, fitness level and body composition, according to dietitian Ellen Coleman. Other factors include your work intensity and duration of the run. Advertisement Basal Metablic Rate Basal metabolic rate, or BMR, is the number of calories you burn while at rest, according to Coleman....

Burning calories can lead to big results on the scale. Image Credit: y3s0rn0/iStock/Getty Images Kettlebells, an exercise tool that looks like a cannonball with a handle, offer the potential for a dynamic, calorie-burning workout in a short amount of time. The number of calories you burn in a kettlebell workout depends on your intensity level and how you use them. Advertisement Like Any Old Weight Lift a kettlebell like you do dumbbells or barbells and you’ll burn calories like you do in any traditional strength-training workout....

The calories in crab cakes will vary depending on preparation. If you want low-calorie crab cakes, make them yourself instead of ordering them from a restaurant. Stick to one or two crab cakes to keep calories under control. Identification Crab cakes are a dish made of crab meat and various other ingredients, such as butter, onion, salt, eggs, Worcestershire sauce, paprika, black pepper, tartar sauce, bread crumbs, celery, parsley, mustard powder or garlic....

A group exercise during a spinning class. Image Credit: Mark Bowden/iStock/Getty Images You need to burn off a total of 35,000 extra calories to lose 10 pounds of fat. This means you will have to burn off more than you eat by creating a caloric deficit. The maximum you should try to safely lose in a week is 2 pounds, meaning you could be at your target weight in about six weeks....

Bowl of fresh salad Image Credit: Barbara Dudzińska/iStock/Getty Images Salads have long been singled out as the stereotypical diet food, and there’s sound logic behind this label. With light dressing and an abundance of vegetables, salads tend to be filling and satisfying with far fewer calories than heavier meals. Add a glass of calorie-free water and you have a meal that’s ideal for weight loss, as long as you balance it with other low-calorie foods throughout the day....

Be careful when working out with a strained bicep. Image Credit: PeopleImages/E+/GettyImages A pulled biceps muscle can be pretty painful and quite an inconvenience, since it’s an important upper-body muscle and you need it for a lot of day-to-day tasks. Here’s what you need to know about the causes of this injury, as well as some measures and exercises that can help it heal. Advertisement Read more: 13 Exercises to Help You Recover From an Injury Video of the Day Tip Rest, ice, anti-inflammatory medication and physical therapy exercises can help heal a pulled biceps; however, you should also seek medical attention for your injury....

1 of 11 Overview Pure speed is the foundation of all athletic activity. Whether you're keeping up with your kids, running down a soccer field or sprinting to the finish line, speed is absolutely essential. Sure, squats and Olympic lifts are helpful for increasing strength, but both sports and everyday life involve horizontal movement. For all you scientists out there: Speed equals stride frequency times stride length. So how do you increase your speed?...

Because of the flu incubation period, you can be contagious even when you don't show any symptoms Image Credit: Zinkevych/iStock/GettyImages The seasonal flu, or influenza, is a highly contagious infection caused by type A or B influenza viruses. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the best way to protect yourself from contracting the flu is to get an annual flu vaccine and remember to wash your hands frequently....

Rich in volatile compounds, lavender oil is widely used in skincare and aromatherapy. Image Credit: letterberry/iStock/GettyImages Lavender oil has emerged as a natural remedy for pain, anxiety, inflammation, acne and other common health complaints. Thanks to its therapeutic properties, it’s widely used in aromatherapy and skincare. Like everything else, though, this natural cure has its risks. The ​dangers of lavender essential oil​ include nausea, vomiting and allergic skin reactions, among other side effects....

A woman is tracking her weight at the gym. Image Credit: AVAVA/iStock/Getty Images Hopping on the bathroom scale to weigh yourself before and after you have a bowel movement might be tempting, but unless your scale is highly accurate, you won’t likely notice a difference in your body weight. Even if you did, emptying your bowels doesn’t count as true weight loss. Although regular bowel movements are part of your overall health, losing weight depends on your caloric intake and expenditure....

Exercise can trigger an upset stomach and nausea in certain circumstances, such as when you don't properly fuel your body or when your body overheats. Image Credit: Todor Tsvetkov/E+/GettyImages Having an upset stomach during or after exercise may have a variety of causes including lactic acidosis, low blood sugar, dehydration or eating too much before your workout. Generally, nausea will resolve on its own and you can prevent it in the future with adjustments to your routine....

If you have an avocado that shows signs of mold, such as deep brown spots, spores and musty or moldy odors, discard the fruit immediately. Image Credit: F.J. Jiménez/Moment/GettyImages An avocado that’s brown on the outside and slightly soft to the touch means it’s spot-on ripe, but if it’s brown inside, you may have an overripe fruit. Moldy odors and dark patches, on the other hand, are often signs of a rotten avocado....