Possible Causes For Carpal Tunnel Syndrome

Carpus is derived from the Greek word "karpos" which means wrist. Our wrist is supported by fibrous connected tissues. The space between these fibrous tissues and the wrist bone is the carpal tunnel and the median nerve passes through this tunnel and signals are passed from the brain to the wrist through this nerve. If swelling occurs at the fibrous tissues, it can irritate the median nerve and disrupt nerve communication which will result in numbness of the fingers, medically known as "carpal tunnel syndrome".

The main causes of carpal tunnel syndrome is split up into 2 groups namely the biological causes and the working causes. Although there are 2 groups of causes, it is not easy to determine the exact cause of carpal tunnel syndrome as there are no specific tests that can be conducted.

Biological causes

Biological causes such as inflammation can cause carpal tunnel syndrome. Inflammation can occur either through injuries, existing medical problems or insufficient rest between intensive usage of the hand.

Working causes

Preliminary studies have shown that most of the causes are due to working causes. Repetitive usage of the wrist may increase the pressure acting on the median nerve and increasing the chances of getting carpal tunnel syndrome. Constant repeated motion such as swinging a tennis racquet or golf club as well as typing on the keyboard for long period of time may aggravate the condition.

Medical conditions

Some medical conditions may increase the risk of contracting CTS. Some examples of them are diabetes, arthritis, osteoarthritis, obesity and pregnancy. One of the complications of diabetes is CTS. Diabetic patients are prone to neuropathy and this can affect basic sensations. Patients who rely on kidney dialysis are also prone to contracting CTS. A damaged kidney will result in the build up of beta 2-microglobulin, a type of protein. This protein will increase the risk of getting CTS.

Genetics

Genetic factors may also increase the risk of CTS. If you have family members who have CTS, you are at a higher risk. CTS can run in the family.

Pregnancy

During pregnancy, there is an increase in fluid retention and swelling. This will increase the pressure build up in the wrist bone and compress the median nerve, causing CTS.

Leading a healthy lifestyle will decrease the risk of Carpal Tunnel Syndrome. Ensure that your work space is ergonomic and you do frequent stretches to relieve pressure off your hands.

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Parakeet Pros and Cons of Owning This Energetic Little Pet Bird

Pluses and Minuses of Owning a Parakeet

Before deciding that a parakeet (also known as a budgie) will be a perfect pet you need to do some homework. Talk to people that own one, visit pet shops and go online to get more information on the pluses and minuses of owning these cute little birds. They are full of energy and their activities and chirping will make you smile and feel good.

Pros:

The Parakeet is a smaller member of the parrot family. They are very friendly and like to be handled, stroked and talked to. Most of them can be taught to say a few words but you often have to listen hard as they normally talk very quietly. When you are shopping at a pet store or from a breeder, you want to make sure that the parakeet that you are interested in is an active bird that is socializing with other birds.

You should always get a Parakeet that is young and the way to do this is by looking at the marks on their beaks. Look for a Parakeet that has bar markings in order to determine the age of the bird. A young one will still have its marks and by adopting a young one, you can expect your Parakeet to have a long and fruitful life.

A big plus is that a Parakeet is a pet that requires very little maintenance. You will likely have to care less for for this pet than you would have to for other types of animals. A pet Parakeet won't require daily walks or need to be taken to the park. This is a big plus if you aren't very active or just don't have the time to devote to your pet.

Parakeets are very intelligent birds that like to learn tricks and while it would be good to devote 30 minutes a day to them you can leave them to entertain themselves as long as their cage has a lot of toys in it along with another Parakeet.

If you are looking for a pet and your apartment or landlord does not permit a larger pet, the Parakeet maybe the answer to your problem. This pet can keep you company and will interact with you while you're not breaking your contract with your landlord.

Cons:

There aren't many reasons to for not owning a pet Parakeet. If you let them out of their cages to fly around the house you will find feathers along with droppings around your home. If you forget to cover them at night you will be entertained even if you don't want to be.

Your Parakeet will need a fairly large cage so they will have room to fly around a little bit. There also needs to be room enough for lots of toys and places for them to perch.

Another problem with owning a pet Parakeet is that you have to be concerned with chemicals that you are using within your home. The Parakeet is very sensitive to chemicals in the air as well as to pots and pans that you may be using to prepare and cook your meals on a daily basis. Always make sure to keep the Parakeet a good amount of distance away from the kitchen in your home.

Cleaning your pet's cage everyday may be another problem if you are pressed for time, but it's something that should be done. It doesn't really take much time but it may be more time than you want to put in every day.

Another thing that may be a problem is that it is almost mandatory to have at least a pair of parakeets. They are very social birds and don't do as well when you only have one. It isn't that much trouble to have two instead of one so get a pair. In fact you would have to spend more time entertaining just one instead of a pair as they will entertain each other.

As you can see the pros really outweigh the cons when you think about adopting Parakeets. If you have children, they could be the ideal pets as they are not very hard to care for and the kids can interact with them. Another good thing about these pet is taking care of them will teach your kids responsibility. All in all parakeets are a good pet for the whole household, especially a busy one without an abundance of room.

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Why Do Parrots Sneeze?

Parrots have very sensitive respiratory systems and like humans, sneeze when something "gets up their nose" or cere, in their case!

There are many different reasons why your bird may sneeze and I will list some of the more common ones below along with possible remedies.

Artificial fragrances:

Air fresheners are very dangerous to birds due to their sensitivity. These should be avoided at all costs. Scented candles can also cause respiratory problems and sneezing. Instead, try to fragrance your home with some fresh flowers, mint leaves or a small dab of essential oils on a cotton pad behind a radiator. I personally make my own "freshener" by putting fragrant flower petals such as rose and mint leaves into some distilled water and spraying it on my curtains.*WARNING* May attract parrot to curtains LOL

Furry pet hair:

Just like humans, birds can find pet hair uncomfortable and if it reaches high levels then the sneezing will commence! Vacuum as often as you can.

A change in the season:

Wet to dry, dry to wet....your birds nostrils could be affected by either! At the turn of the season it is quite normal to find your bird with a nail up it's nostril itching away! If the weather is warm and the air is dry, try taking him into the bathroom with you while you bath or shower to give him some humidity. Regular baths will help also. The same is true for the reverse and a dehumidifier can work wonders!

Dust:

Again, dust will get right up your birds cere if he is sensitive! Birds create their own dust also, especially birds such as the African Grey. When your bird moults, the sheaths that contain his new feathers will be disintegrating and causing dust continuously. Vacuum and dust as often as you can, air your home and quickly wipe over your birds cage daily with a damp cloth to help alleviate this. Air purifiers can be bought to help filter the air.

As I have said, there are many causes for sneezing and only you can be observant in your home to get to the source!

If there is nothing obvious and your bird is fluffed up, losing balance, has unusual droppings, nasal discharge or isn't eating or drinking, then you must get him to an avian vet immediately.

It is worth remembering that we all sneeze and as long as your bird is perfectly normal in every other way, then this should pass as quickly as it came on! It is also normal to find your bird releasing a small amount of CLEAR fluid from time to time during a sneeze is nothing to worry about either!

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Building Your Own Bird House

If you are a bird lover, you would most definitely enjoy the company of birds, be it as your own pet or luring the wild ones to your home. From being charmed by their sweet chirps to just gazing at their beauty, complexity and colors. Instead of buying one, it is even better to take some time and invest some effort into building your own avery house. Contrary to public belief, its not actually that hard to build one. I dont consider to be myself to a woodworking expert but with good plans and careful instruction, you can knock something up with relative ease and basic tools. Quite often the plans can be put together with scrap materials found around the house and could save you lot of money over the expensive pet shop versions

Whether you plan to build a full blown birdhouse, or a bird feeder to lure in the wild birds to your place, there are plans that would able to help you build your own. There are some aspects that should be considered when building one, only a true bird lover would know. However, if you want to build your own bird house, it is very important to follow a greatly constructed plan using particular techniques for you to be able to achieve a good one. There are so many do-it-yourself bird house plans on the internet that are designed by amateurs, ending up having many problems like the use of harmful materials to the birds, accumulation of water, and so on. A good bird house plan should be designed by a real bird lover who knows deeply about bird houses.

You might find it surprising that most of the great plans are actually very easy to follow. Most provide intricate details with step by step instruction, even a beginner who had never done any carpentry would be able to build their first own working birdhouse. You only need to put in time and effort to study the plan, and pay attention to the details of the step by step procedures, and you should be able to complete your own bird house.

Once you see the plans, you would also find out that building your own birdhouse is actually low cost, and much cheaper compared to the fancy ones you see sold in stores. The materials are of high quality, and are quite easy to get your hands on.

In fact, you would actually feel much better building a bird house from scratch rather than buying a readymade one. Imagine the satisfaction of seeing your birds, or the wild birds attracted to the houses or bird feeder that you invested your time, money and effort into building it.

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4 Best Places to Buy a Budgie

Budgies are quite beautiful and lovely pets to have. With time, they can grow into lifelong companions, learning your language and sometimes cheering you up. Finding the best places to buy a budgie however can be quite difficult considering that there are many things you have to consider in order to get a decent, healthy one.

Some bird sellers or breeders typically sell unhealthy budgies and unless you are familiar with them, you might not know that there is something wrong with them. This is even more common among budgies as they are tough, resilient and hardly show any sign that they are ill. So, by the time they usually start exhibiting the symptoms, there is need for quick medical intervention. So, if you are looking for the best places to buy a budgie/budgies, the following will help you.

1. Buy From a Reputable Breeder

One of the best places to buy a budgie from would be a reputable budgie breeder or from a pet shop. This is particularly important as a good budgie generally has good temperament and is most likely in great health. Finding a reputable breeder can be a little difficult considering the many options available. But a good rule of thumb is look for someone who has some experience, who has a clean aviary. You may need to pay the person a personal visit if possible.

2. Pet Shops

You can also get your budgies from a pet shop. While pet shops can be one of the best places to buy a budgie from, it is equally important for you to check out the pet shop's breeding practices and procedures. Pet shops are generally known to be shoddy in their breeding of budgies and all pets generally.

3. Check Animal Rescue or Shelter

Some people swear that animal rescue or shelter can be one of the very best places to buy a budgie from. This is because they have strict quarantine policies and vet testing procedures. You are more likely to find that budgies from these places tend to be in overall good health.

4. Check Online

You can also find budgies for sale in online bird marts, websites and classified ads by people willing to sell their budgies. While buying from people online, be careful as the birds may not in such a great shape. If you can, pay a visit to the aviary to see if the budgies were bred in a good and healthy environment.

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Macaw Cages - Make Your Pet Happy

There are no small macaw cages, just as there are no small macaws. Beautiful, boisterous, sassy, flamboyant - and very smart - he'll need lots of stimulation to keep him interested as well as plenty of time with you as he is a social bird. The largest of the macaws is the stunning Hyacinth Macaw which can reach forty inches long, including his tail! So, his cage is going to have to be spacious - search online for information about macaw cages as there are many sites devoted to macaws. All of them agree that the biggest of the macaw cages should be the one you choose; it should be a minimum of five feet in height, three feet deep and four feet wide. For easy movement, consider getting one with wheels - portable and really convenient for cleaning as macaws can be pretty untidy. How much should you pay? A good quality macaw cage is around $2,000 - get the best you possibly can because this is not something you want to replace frequently.

Your choice of macaw cages is super-important - some of the cheaper ones are made of galvanized steel which is extremely toxic to macaws, so ensure that when you research your macaw cages, it's made of solid stainless steel. Check the hinges and locks too - and make certain that the cage has double welds. That powerful beak with up to 1,000 psi bite pressure can break single welds in a heartbeat. There should be a removable tray at the bottom, making it easier to clean up after him. The bars should be an inch and a half apart so that when climbing, he can grab the bars with his beak without the risk of getting his head stuck. Check the thickness of the perches which come in all macaw cages - these should be thick enough for his big feet to curl around. Four to six inches around is not too much for a big macaw and you might consider replacing them with bark-covered ones to keep his talons well groomed.

There's so much to consider when viewing the variety of macaw cages online. If there's a breeder in your area, you can get all the information and tips you need first hand. He or she will tell you that your macaw will also need toys. Untreated wooden blocks to chew on - chewing is his favorite occupation and you can get these at your local lumber yard. And if you wish, you can color them by soaking them in Kool-Aid (the sugar-free kind) and letting them drip-dry. He'll need some strong, braided ropes to climb up and down and some "parrot puzzles." These come apart and you can hide a treat inside for him to discover and figure out how to get at it. When shopping for toys, choose the extra-large size for your macaw - they can play pretty rough.

Some macaw cages come with a "play-top." A ladder, a hook to hang toys on, perches and food bowls. Good-quality ones have a removable tray under the play-top for easy cleaning and your macaw will perch up there for hours enjoying the family interaction as well as taking part in it.

Where's the best place for the cage? With the family - for meals, watching TV, playing games or music. It's stimulating for him, keeping him amused and occupied. A bored macaw will shriek - very loudly - to get your attention and believe me, there's no ignoring that sound.

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