Colon Cancer Symptoms

Flu Shot Ingredients

2012-02-10T23:32:00.001-05:00

The major flu shot ingredients are dead influenza viruses. There may be any number of different flu viruses circulating at any one time, but pharmaceutical companies only choose three as annual flu shot ingredients. Even if you take an annual flu shot, you could still contract another flu virus and still come down with the flu. So, it is still important to protect your immune system and practice good health habits. Common flu vaccine side effects include body aches, low grade fever and soreness at the point of injection. There are some rare, but serious flu vaccine side effects that concern many people.

In addition to the major flu shot ingredients, pharmaceutical companies add preservatives. Until recently there were no preservative free flu shots. The addition of the preservative thimerosal to flu shot ingredients has caused illness and injury. Thimerosal is mercury based and is believed to have been the cause of flu vaccine side effects in many people. Of major concern is the increase of autism in recent years and many researchers and doctors believe that thimerosal, a known neurotoxin, used as flu shot ingredients and in other childhood vaccines is the cause.

Some researchers and doctors believe that flu shot ingredients, including thimerosal and aluminum, increases the likelihood of developing Alzheimer's disease. This, of course, is not one of the common flu vaccine side effects and since Alzheimer's does not develop immediately after taking the shot, then the link can not be proven. A prominent physician and researcher showed that people who had five consecutive influenza vaccinations between the years 1970 and 1980 were ten times more likely to develop Alzheimer's than were individuals who had none, one or two.

It is believed that some people cannot shed mercury from their systems and it builds up in their brains causing nerve and brain damage. In addition, some people are allergic to mercury and thimerosal and can experience serious allergic reaction as flu vaccine side effects. Some states have banned mercury from flu shot ingredients intended for use in children and pregnant women. But, while health advocates have petitioned the Food and Drug Administration to ban thimerosal from flu shot ingredients, nothing has been done at this time. Many manufacturers continue to add thimerosal to their flu shot ingredients.

The dead influenza viruses which are the major flu shot ingredients are grown in chicken eggs. So, people who are allergic to chicken eggs could have serious flu vaccine side effects. Some people blame the onset of chronic fatigue on flu vaccine side effects, but there is no scientific research supporting this belief.

The influenza nasal spray vaccine is chosen by some as an alternative to the flu shot. Ingredients in the nasal spray include weakened live influenza viruses. The common nasal spray flu vaccine side effects include runny nose, headache, sore throat and cough. The nasal spray flu vaccine is preservative free, but is only approved for use in healthy people between the ages of 5 and 49.

Concern over flu shot ingredients and flu vaccine side effects raise questions in the minds of some people as to whether or not healthy people, with a healthy immune system even need an annual influenza vaccine. Alternatives include the use of natural immunity boosting products. Some feel that these products may even reduce the likelihood of contracting the flu, the common cold and other viruses. Most natural immune system boosters have no unwanted side effects and carry none of the risks associated with flu vaccine side effects and flu shot ingredients. To learn more about immune system boosters and for more information about the common cold, influenza and other viruses, visit www.immune-system-booster-guide.com.

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How Dangerous Is A Sigmoid Colon Polyp?

2012-02-10T08:43:00.001-05:00

A sigmoid polyp is a mass of cells that grows in the sigmoid colon, which is the s-shaped section of the large intestine near the end of the digestive tract. A sigmoid polyp is a matter of some concern because it can - but doesn't always - become malignant. Therefore, it is described as being pre-cancerous.

Even though polyps don't always result in colon cancer, it's best to remove them if they're detected. This can be done during a colonoscopy. A colonoscopy is a surgical procedure in which a doctor examines the inside of the colon to make sure it's healthy. He or she will use a device known as a colonoscope during this examination. A colonoscope is a long flexible tube with a tiny video camera attached to the front, which enables the surgeon to look for signs of cancer in the walls and lining of the colon.

There are several types of sigmoid polyps. They are sometimes small and flat. These are called sedentary polyps. Or they can look more like a mushroom with a stalk, in which case they're known as pedunculated.

Some sigmoid polyps are tiny - as small as a pea. Other are huge and can become as large as a golf ball. Those that are smaller and mushroom-shaped become cancerous less often than those that are flat and large. Typically, the bigger the sigmoid polyp, the higher the chance that it will become malignant.

The major risk factors for sigmoid polyps include

Aging - they appear much more often after age 50
Obesity
Tobacco use
Eating a lot of low fiber, high fat foods
Heredity - you're more likely to have a sigmoid polyp if there are others in your family who have also had them

Small colon polyps don't present symptoms. This is why it's important to have colon cancer screenings as recommended by your doctor. It's very important to have these screenings after age 50, but your doctor may recommend them sooner if you're at higher risk.

Large colon polyps may present symptoms like

Rectal bleeding or blood in stools
Stools may become noticeably more narrow
Bowel difficulties like diarrhea and constipation, or pain during bowl movements

Sigmoid polyps that are discovered early can generally be removed safely and completely. The first step is to find out if a mass is malignant or not. Your doctor can take a sample during a colonoscopy and have it analyzed.

There is no sure method of preventing sigmoid polyps from developing. You can certainly lower your risk, however, with lifestyle changes and regular screenings.

Getting some exercise and eating healthier food (especially high fiber types) definitely help. Be sure you get enough calcium because it helps protect you against cancer. Broccoli, kale and canned salmon are good calcium sources. Vitamin D also appears to help reduce your risk.

If you smoke, stop. If you consume a lot of alcohol, cut back.

Having a sigmoid polyp doesn't need to frighten you. The most important thing is to find out that you have it before it becomes malignant, so it can be removed and you can remain colon cancer free.

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Symptoms of Parasites in Humans

2012-02-08T00:31:00.001-05:00

A parasite refers to any organism that lives in with or off another organism and that includes in humans. In fact, humans can hosts up to 100 kinds of parasites. These parasites are transferred to humans in a variety of ways. These can be transmitted through contact by air or through water. These parasite targets different parts of the human body and when they are inside and hosted in the human body, these parasites can cost some inconveniences and health issues to the human carrier. The presence of parasites in one human can be confirmed by checking the symptoms of parasites in humans.

One possible symptoms of parasites in humans to look out for is constipation. The worms are the typical culprit for this. Since worms can be large at times, these worms can obstruct some of the organs in the body. And heavy worm infections in the body can block the common bile duct and the intestinal tract, thus the person encounter problems in the elimination of wastes. Diarrhea is another signal of the presence of these parasites. Gas and bloating are possible symptoms as well. This is made possible by the presence of some parasites that live in the upper small intestine. If a person experience irritable bowel syndrome then chances are, parasites are present in the body. Joints and muscle pains are indications as well that the person hosts some parasites in the body. These living things are known to migrate to encyst or to get enclosed in the sac in the joint fluids and worms can encyst in the muscles. When this happens, pain will become evident.

Skin conditions and allergy also are also symptoms of parasites in humans that need to be observed. The worms that are present in the body of a person can cause hives, rashes, weeping eczema and other kinds of skin reactions. Cutaneous ulcers, presence of swellings and sores, popular lesions and that itchy dermatitis are the result of protozoa. If doctors can observe that there granulomas near the colon and the rectal walls, then the presence of these masses signify the presence of these parasites. Other than in colon and rectal walls, these masses can be located as well in the lungs, the liver and in the uterus. Nervousness in one person is an indication as well that the person has parasites in his body. These parasitic metabolic wastes and the toxic substances can irritate the central nervous system of the person.

Restlessness and anxiety are also symptoms of parasites in humans. That is why if a person completes a herbal cleansing, then that person becomes more pleasant and the grouchiness is lessened. Sleep disturbances are indications as well those parasites are taking residence in the body. This multiple awakening usually happens between 2 and 3 AM. These disturbances are the attempt of the body to eliminate the toxic wastes through the liver. Other noteworthy symptoms that people should remember include teeth grinding, chronic fatigue and when the immune system has been depressed.

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Flu Season Is Here! Six Flu Facts You Should Know

2012-02-05T06:49:00.001-05:00

Flu season is upon us once again, with all the fun stuff that goes along with it. If you're wondering exactly what flu is, and if you can prevent it, read these flu facts to learn more.

1. What Is Influenza?

Influenza, or "flu" for short, is a very contagious virus that settles in the nose, throat, and lungs. It's much worse than a cold, with high fevers, headaches, muscle aches, weakness, and tiredness.

Some people fight the bug off quickly, but others aren't so lucky. The elderly, the very young, and folks with chronic health conditions are more prone to developing complications, including life-threatening cases of pneumonia.

2. When Is Flu Season?

It varies from year to year. People may start getting sick as early as October, but the peak months are usually January and February. The season can last into March and April.

3. Is The Flu Contagious?

It sure is. It's spread by people coughing and sneezing, and also by using an item an infected person has touched. You can get it if you're within six feet of someone who has it. It's pretty hard to avoid it if you have contact with people at all, which is why it sweeps through schools, nursing homes, and workplaces, seemingly at the speed of light.

4. How Long Is Flu Contagious?

You can spread it a day before you start feeling sick. Since it takes one to four days for symptoms to start, you can pass it on before you even know you're sick. Feel like Typhoid Mary yet?

After you're sick, you can share it for another five to seven days. Sick kids can spread it for even longer.

5. How To Prevent The Flu

Unless you can move to the middle of the Sahara Desert, you will more than likely be exposed to the virus before winter is over. Washing your hands often is probably the best means of prevention. But it's pretty hard to avoid getting infected during a major outbreak.

6. How To Strengthen The Immune System

A daily walk will boost your immune system. People who get out for a half-hour walk nearly every day are half as likely to get sick during the winter. Regular exercise also lowers stress levels, too, which helps to keep you healthier.

Eat lots of fresh fruits and veggies. They're loaded with the nutrients you need to maintain your health. Add garlic to your diet as well. This pungent bulb has strong antiviral properties. If you can't tolerate it fresh, try a garlic supplement.

Vitamin C is also recommended. If you fall victim to the bug, it will help you fight it off faster.

You may not be able to avoid the flu bug completely, but if it does manage to bite, you'll bounce back faster if you follow this advice.

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Side Effects With Using Hydrocortisone Cream As Eczema Treatment

2012-02-04T14:12:00.001-05:00

In my teens, I was first introduced to using hydrocortisone cream for my eczema treatment. Since then, every time I had an outbreak, I would turn to it. This continued for more than ten years. However, in the last few years, I noticed that increasingly applying hydrocortisone creams on my affected skin is not as effective as before. In fact, it got harder and harder to control my eczema. My affected skin also got thinner and I would get abrasions very easily. I then decided to find out the truth behind the side effects of using hydrocortisone creams.

Hydrocortisone cream (1%) is one kind of topical corticosteroids and is easily available at your local store without prescription. They are packaged in various forms such as creams and lotions and are marketed under different brands.

Corticosteroid creams are topical skin applications which are used for skin itching, redness, discomfort and other skin-related problems. They come in varying strengths. Stronger ones are only available via prescription by your doctor. Corticosteroids are referred to as steroids. The term steroids often have a negative ring to it because of a number of side effects that this drug is known to bring. Corticosteroids for eczema are different from anabolic steroids, which are used by some athletes to increase their endurance.

However, just like any other type of drugs, hydrocortisone cream for eczema treatment also has its own side effects especially if you do not administer it properly. You should always check to see if you are allergic to steroids in the first place. Ask your doctor if in doubt. Secondly, as I have found out, prolonged use can cause skin to thin out. This is a condition known as atrophy. Because your skin is now more sensitive due to thinning out, you are more prone to skin abrasion and infection. That is why if you have eczema and have used hydrocortisone cream for weeks or months, you are more susceptible to a fungi and bacteria infection. With an infection, your eczema symptoms are sure to worsen.

You also get the appearance of stretch marks with prolonged use. Your blood vessels swell and there is loss of skin pigment in the affected areas. Your bloodstream may also absorb the strong steroids and this can affect other body systems. In the worst case scenario, it can also suppress the production of your natural adrenaline, thus causing you to be prone to a lot of illness including Cushing's syndrome.

In all situations, it is in your best interest to minimize the use of hydrocortisone creams or corticosteroids for your eczema treatment. If you need to use them, do so sparingly and use only as directed. If you find that your medication is not working within a week, stop its usage and see a skin doctor right away. You may need a stronger prescription. It is far better to treat your eczema with an appropriate strength medication than to use one that is not effective. A stronger prescription also allows you to get your eczema treated within a shorter period of time. In addition, look for alternative eczema treatment options which are natural and potentially produce fewer or no side effects.

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How to Recognize the Symptoms of Gall Bladder Disease

2012-02-04T00:49:00.001-05:00

Due to inappropriate diet and obesity, many people suffer from gall bladder disease. Gall bladder disease commonly affects overweight people as a result of high blood cholesterol levels. The consumption of foods that are rich in fat also contributes to the development of gall bladder disease and many people suffer from gall bladder affections as a consequence of inappropriate diet.

Gall bladder disease is usually caused by gallstones, solid structures formed from cholesterol, calcium and bile salts. Gallstones can cause cholecystitis (inflammation and swelling of the gall bladder), choledocholithiasis (occurs when gallstones accumulate inside the bile duct) cholangitis (infection of the gall bladder and bile duct) and pancreatitis.

Judging by the seriousness of gall bladder disease and its rate of development, there are two forms of the disorder: chronic cholecystitis (biliary colic) and acute cholecystitis. In the chronic form, the symptoms of gall bladder disease are milder and have a recidivating character. In the acute forms, the symptoms of gall bladder disease are very intense and in some cases suggest the development of complications.

The generalized symptoms of gall bladder disease are: abdominal pain, indigestion, vomiting, nausea, bloating of the abdomen, discomfort and pain when ingesting fatty foods. These symptoms of gall bladder disease are common in patients with chronic cholecystitis. However, apart from gall bladder pain, many patients may have no other symptoms of gall bladder disease. Gall bladder pain is characteristic to all people who suffer from gall bladder disease and it usually occurs after meals. This major symptom of gall bladder disease usually intensifies at night and after physical effort.

Persistent bitter taste in the mouth, bad breath and headaches can also be symptoms of gall bladder disease. Other symptoms of gall bladder disease are constipation and discolored stools.

In its acute form, the symptoms of gall bladder disease are accompanied by fever, sweating and severe pain attacks. Pain attacks are very intense in acute cholecystitis and they may last for a few hours. Pain episodes usually occur after meals and at night. The pain usually occurs in the abdominal region, the mid back region and under the right shoulder. Fever suggests the aggravation of gall bladder disease, occurring due to bacterial infection. Other symptoms of gall bladder disease that may indicate the development of complications are: yellowish aspect of the skin and eyes, chills, sweating and ongoing abdominal pain.

Gall bladder disease can become serious if it not treated appropriately. It is very important to pay attention to the symptoms of gall bladder disease in order to timely spot the presence of the disorder. If the symptoms of gall bladder disease don't ameliorate after medical treatment and appropriate diet, surgery may be the only option left. However, gall bladder surgery is uncomplicated, involves minimal risks and allows patients to recover quickly after the surgical intervention. Many people with recidivating pain often decide to have their gall bladder removed even if their condition is not serious. Gall bladder surgery is a very effective way of overcoming the intense symptoms of gall bladder disease and it is also considered to be very safe and quick to recover from.

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Vitamin B12 Deficiency Symptoms

2012-02-03T06:50:00.001-05:00

Your body requires very little vitamin b12 or cobalamin and most of us get sufficient quantities of it in our normal meals to satisfy our daily requirements. Although it's rare to see vitamin b12 deficiency symptoms it can still be useful to be able to recognise them just in case.

You're most vulnerable to vitamin b12 deficiency if you've vegan and don't use the available dietary supplements containing vitamin b12. Infants breast-feeding from vegan mothers can also be at risk. Vitamin b12 supplements are generally regarded as safe because there are few known adverse effects of overdose.

The main symptom that arises from vitamin b12 deficiency is a type of anemia that causes you to feel tired, weak and lethargic. You might also feel nauseous, constipated and become very flatulent (gas). You may also lose your appetite and suffer weight loss.

More severe cases can give vitamin b12 deficiency symptoms, which include:

Numbness or tingling in the hands or feet
Insomnia
Loss of memory
Dizziness
Lack of balance
Depression
Digestive problems
Dizziness
Liver enlargement
Eye problems
Headaches
Hallucinations
Inflamed tongue
Breathing difficulties
Loss of memory
Palpitations
Neurological damage
Tinitus or ringing in the ears

Vitamin b12 is commonly found in animal products like eggs, dairy, fish, meat and animal organs. B12 is rarely found in vegetables, which is why vegetarians and especially vegans who don't eat dairy products or meat, are especially at risk. If you fall into this category then you should consider using vitamin supplements containing b12.

It's also important to realise that the operation of vitamin b12 is dependent on sufficient quantities of other vitamins being present in your body so you should take care to get a balanced diet to avoid vitamin b12 deficiency symptoms.

Summary:
Your body requires very little vitamin b12 or cobalamin and most of us get sufficient quantities of it in our normal meals to satisfy our daily requirements. Although it's rare to see vitamin b12 deficiency symptoms it can still be useful to be able to recognise them just in case.

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IBS Treatment - What Have Bananas And Apples Got To Do With IBS?

2012-02-02T17:55:00.001-05:00

When someone talks about bananas, one thing comes to mind - energy food. The reason for this is because we often see the tri-athletes gorging on this before and during their race events.

Well, it is a known fact that it contains three natural sugars - sucrose, fructose and glucose - combined with fiber. The sugars give us the instant and sustainable energy. Research has shown that just two bananas can sustain one for a vigorous 90-minute workout. But for an IBS sufferer, it is the insoluble fiber that we are interested in. The abundance of insoluble fibers helps in relieving constipation without the need for laxatives. So keep a banana or two in your daily diet. One banana has 16% of the fiber, 15% of the vitamin C, and 11% of the potassium we need every day for good health. Bananas are unique because it helps in both IBS constipation and diarrhea. A few (no more than 2) large bananas a day provide the fiber to promote bowel movement. Eating more bananas a day can help stop diarrhea. Bananas have other benefits as well. For anemic patients, bananas are high in iron, which helps in the production of hemoglobin - the foundation of blood. This is especially important to women when they have their menses.
For high blood pressure and stroke sufferers, bananas are high in potassium but low in salt. Research, has shown that potassium reduces blood pressure. In one research, keeping bananas as a regular diet can reduce the risk of death by stroke by as much as 40%.
For heart burn patients, bananas have antacid properties. Gulping down a couple of bananas provide relief in heart burn patients.
For ulcer sufferers, bananas coat the lining of the intestines, thus providing relief for over-active ulcers. A banana's antacid properties will reduce acidity in the stomach as well.
For mosquito bites and warts. Forget your creams, just use the banana skin and rub some on the mosquito bite. It not only provides irritation relief, but reduces inflammation as well. Keep the inside of the banana skin on the wart by using plaster and see the wart go away. Tips: Do not take bananas late at night. When you take bananas, also take lots of water after that if you want to prevent constipation. Apples are also unique because they are both beneficial in the treatment of constipation and diarrhea. Uncooked apples are good for constipation. On the other hand, baked apples are good for diarrhea as the cooking process softens the cellulose and provides bulk to stools. For the best IBS treatment, apples should be peeled. The sugars in apples are harder for the body to digest. And what the body can't break down, it pushes out. So apples are a natural laxative. Personally, I find combining bananas and apples into a drink is even more effective as a constipation relief, so here is a recipe for one IBS constipation relief drink. Banana, Apple Lassi (Yogurt drink) Combine two fruits with natural laxatives and digestion booster properties, and you get one of the best IBS constipation treatments. Yoghurt builds 'good' bacteria in the gut. (Caution: if you are lactose intolerant, do not take yoghurt made from milk - then use soya yoghurt)

Recipe

1. Use natural unflavored yoghurt (about 3 tablespoons). if you are milk intolerant, skip this and just use water or soya yoghurt.

2. 2 ripe, peeled bananas. Use 1 banana if you want to reduce the banana fragrance in the drink.

3. Peal an apple and cut into pieces and put in a juicer. Use the apple juice.

4. Add about 1 cup of cold water in a blender. Pour in the yoghurt. Pour in the apple juice and add in the bananas

5. Give the blender a spin so that they are mixed up.

6. Drink immediately. To keep, refrigerate. Drink this on a daily basis either early in the morning. Not only will this drink give you a boost the entire day but it keeps the gut well and bowel movement consistent.

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5 Ways to Promote Positive Mental Health

2012-02-01T15:44:00.001-05:00

Positive mental health is a great way to ensure you lead a long, happy and healthy life. Maintaining your mental health is easier than most people think and will have a significant impact on your everyday life.

Would you like to have more energy? What about a good night sleep? How you would like to go an entire year without catching the flu once? Achieving a positive mental health state will not guarantee these things, but it sure will help.

Here are the top 5 things you can do to help promote positive mental health in you and your children:

1. Eat Healthy. Eating fast food 3 times a week and downing a few cold ones before bed might be easier than making a home-cooked meal and more enjoyable than drinking a cold glass of water but it won't do a whole lot for your health. Eating home-cooked foods (especially fruits and vegetables) and staying away from the fast food joints will help you achieve the healthy lifestyle you desire.

2. Drink Lots of Water. To maintain a healthy lifestyle, average individuals are expected to consume at least eight glasses of water a day. And while this seems like it may be a lot, it's actually not. Eight glasses is almost equivalent to filling up your water bottle a few times between waking up and going to bed. Remember, if you work out, you will need to increase your water intake to compensate for the water you're burning off while exercising. Drinking water will detoxify your body and restore it back to a healthy state - especially after drinking coffee or alcoholic beverages.

3. Kick the Bad Habits. We've already mentioned it a few times but eliminating significant alcohol intake will have positive results on your mental health. Likewise, kicking other bad habits like smoking and drinking considerable amounts of coffee will also help keep your mental health at its best.

4. De-Stress. Stress is one of the leading causes for poor mental health. When you're stressed out, your body has to work harder to keep up and, overtime, it will take its toll on your body and your brain. Next time something stressful happens, try lighting some candles and taking a bath. If that doesn't work for you, try letting off some steam by going to the gym or going for a run. Keeping a positive frame of mind will promote positive mental health and eliminate undue stress on your brain.

5. Book Regular Check-ups. Unfortunately, you can do all of the things listed above and still suffer from mental health problems. In fact, you might have a mental illness and not even know it. Make sure you're mental health is in good condition by booking regular appointments with your doctor. He/she will be able to confirm whether you're lifestyle is healthy or identify where you may need to make some changes.

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Treatment of Flea Bites on Human - What Home Remedies Available?

2012-01-31T21:34:00.001-05:00

Fleas not only bite and live off your pets, they bite people too. The typical human reaction to a flea bite is the formation of a small, hard, red, slightly raised, itching spot with no swelling. Some bleeding can occur, particularly if the bitten area is scratched. A single puncture point caused by the flea is generally apparent in the center of each spot.

Flea bites normally occur on the legs and ankles. Different people have different reaction to fleabites. Some people are totally unattractive to fleas and are not affected by the presence of fleas while others may be "appealing" and sensitive to fleas resulting in severe allergic reaction to their bites.

See some pictures of flea bites on humans

Well, how to treat flea bites on human? Before you run off to your family doctor to seek medical treatment, here are some home remedies for the treatment of flea bites on human.

1. Firstly, it's important to keep the affected area clean. Wash the bites with some antiseptic lotion or soap. Use cold water but avoid the use of warm or hot water as this may tend to stimulate itch

2. Secondly, apply a cold pack over the bites to reduce swelling.

3. Do not scratch the inflamed area as this may lead to open wounds and secondary infections.

4. If the affected area is read and swollen, you may apply a mild steroid cream like 1% hydrocortisone cream. This should be easily available from any pharmacy without the need of a prescription. Hydrocortisone helps in reducing inflammation rapidly. Alternatively, if you have a bottle of calamine lotion at home, this may help too.

5. Very often, the itch caused by the fleabites can be very intense. An oral dose of anti-histamine like Dimetapp, Chlortrimeton is very effective in relieving itch. Once the itch stops, you will stop scratching as well and the healing will take place faster.

Treatment of flea bites using these home remedies should improves within a few days, However, if the condition worsen whereby, they remained red and swollen with discharges, then a trip to your family doctor may be necessary. Your doctor may prescribe a course of antibiotics for you and a jab of steroid may be needed to stop the inflammation.

However, success in treating flea bites is by no means a solution to your problem. To avoid further bites from these little pesky creatures, the only solution is to get rid of them totally. Killing fleas in house, getting rid of fleas on pets is what you need to do as part of your flea extermination plan

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Exercise with Flu or a Cold, or Stay in Bed?

2012-01-31T06:42:00.001-05:00

Most doctors allow their patients to exercise when they have a cold, as long as they don't have a fever and their muscles don't hurt when they exercise. However, it's probably better to stop exercising altogether when you have an infection. You risk injury if you exercise when your muscles hurt at rest or when you start to exercise. When muscles are damaged, they release enzymes from their cells into the bloodstream and they fill with blood from broken blood vessels. One study reported markedly increased muscle damage during relatively minor exercise during an infection, with blood tests demonstrating increases in muscle enzymes and ultrasound tests demonstrating hemorrhage into the muscles.

You also should not exercise when you have a high fever. When you exercise, your heart has to pump blood to your muscles to supply them with oxygen. It also has to pump blood from your muscles to your skin where the heat is dissipated. When you have a fever, your heart has to work extra hard to get rid of extra heat. Furthermore, some viruses that infect your nose and throat can also infect your heart muscle. The combination of the extra work and an infected heart muscle could cause irregular heart beats. You won't lose much conditioning unless you take off for more than a week.

Do you think you will get better faster by staying in bed for a day or two or by going about your normal daily activities? A huge review of the medical literature from 1966 to 1999, published in the British medical journal Lancet, shows that there is no evidence that bed rest helps you to heal faster from any medical condition. They found only 39 studies testing whether bed rest benefitted any medical condition. Twenty-four studies showed that bed rest was of little or no benefit in preventing side effects of medical procedures such as spinal anaesthesia, spinal fluid withdrawal, and multiple x ray procedures. Fifteen studies showed no benefit in treating medical conditions such as low back pain, spontaneous labor, high blood pressure during pregnancy, uncomplicated heart attacks, rheumatoid arthritis or infectious hepatitis.

During World War II, American soldiers were drafted and sent to do their basic training at the Great Lakes Naval Training Center before they were sent to fight in Europe. A major epidemic of flu occurred affecting almost all the troops. Half of the soldiers were kept in bed, while the other half stayed in the vigorous exercise of basic training. Both groups required the same amount of time to recover, although those forced to undergo the rigorous demands of preparing for war complained more.

The next time you feel sick, stay in bed if you like, but it probably won't help you heal faster.

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Is It Really Liver Pain?

2012-01-25T23:59:00.001-05:00

Liver pain is on the right side, mostly right under the rib cage, and up. There can be free fluid around the liver in the abdominal cavity which will produce pain in the right shoulder. It probably hurts to breathe in, or cough. Sometimes people describe the feeling as a swollen full feeling or cramping under the rib cage.

Liver pain symptoms are often dismissed because it is a general belief that organs don't hurt. If you are experiencing any of these sensations, don't give up, and don't think you are making it up. Liver Pain can be real. Rheumatologists, nephrologists, family practitioners, all have been known to dismiss liver pain as patient complainings.

Sometimes it feels like your liver just doesn't fit under your rib cage. One person described it as feeling like a brick was tucked under their right rib. Sometimes the feeling is connected to a pain in the back as well.

Pain caused from a swollen liver is not necessarily sharp. Most of the time 'liver pain' is just a dull ache. Sometimes the sensation is wrongly attributed to fibromyaliga.

The cause of Liver Pain may be more easily identified by identifying other symptoms, such as fatigue, itching, swollen testes, difficulties breathing, eating problems, or even shoulder pain.

There can be many reasons for liver pain. Blood and urine tests help to identify problems in the liver, but don't rule out the effects of barrage of pollutants and toxic substances in today's environment. While the liver was designed to detoxify and rid the body of foreign chemicals, it may not be equipped to handle the barrage of pollutants and toxic substances in today's environment. So, while you are checking for possible causes of the pain associated with the liver, it would be a good idea to check your body for chemical overload as well.

Individual reaction to toxic overload can vary greatly. The most common symptom associated with toxic overload is fatigue. Other symptoms include headache, muscle and joint pain, irritability, depression, mental confusion, gastrointestinal and/or cardiovascular irregularities, flu-like symptoms or allergic reactions including hives, stuffy or runny nose, sneezing and coughing which is not usually associated with liver pain, but can actually be the cause.

Like all other pain symptoms in the body, liver pain should be taken seriously.

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Causes of High White Blood Cell Count

2012-01-25T10:46:00.001-05:00

There are several possible causes for a high white blood cell count. This count is high when there are more disease-fighting cells in your body. The technical term for this condition is leukocytosis.

Different medical practices may have different limits by which they define high white blood cell count. A count of 10,500 leukocytes in one microliter of blood is widely accepted as a high count. The threshold may vary between sex and age.

White blood cells are categorized by five subtypes, and each type has a different activity in fighting disease. When you get the results of your white blood cell count, they will usually specify what the levels are of all the different types. Usually, a high count is only caused by an increase in one type of white blood cells.

A high white blood cell count is indicative of an immune system problem that increases their production; a disease in your bone marrow that causes high blood cell production; a reaction to some drug that is used to enhance cell production; or the increase expected when your body is fighting off an infection.

There are some more specific reasons why your white blood cell count may be high:

Acute lymphocytic leukemia (ALL) is a cancer that lives in the bone marrow and blood. This disease is a rapidly progressive one. Children are more affected by this than any other type of cancer, although adults can develop the disease as well.

Drugs like epinephrine and corticosteroids can affect your white cell count.

Measles is an infection that affects mainly the respiratory tract. It is very contagious. The signs include skin rash, fever, sore throat, inflamed eyes, runny nose and cough. The measles vaccine is an excellent way to protect children against this disease, but outside of the civilized countries, many children are not vaccinated. This disease will spread rapidly among people who have not had the vaccination.

Rheumatoid arthritis is a serious type of arthritis from which you will experience joint damage and pain. It attacks your joints' lining and this causes swelling. In turn, that leads to throbbing, aching pain and possibly eventual deformity. Rheumatoid arthritis, also called RA, can make even the easiest of normal activities hard to accomplish.

Some of the other causes of high white blood cell count include:

Stress, be it emotional or physical
Smoking
Tuberculosis
Tissue damage, like one receives with burns
Acute or chronic myelogenous leukemia
Chronic or acute lymphocytic leukemia
Whooping cough
Severe allergic reactions
Myelofibrosis
Polycythemia vera
Other viral infections
Other bacterial infections

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How To Recognise Asthma Cough Symptoms

2012-01-24T22:10:00.001-05:00

A persistent, chronic cough should not be ignored, particularly in children and could be a common symptom of asthma. Asthma cough is different than a conventional cough and it's important to differentiate between the two.

One of the most difficult things for parents is determining what is asthma cough and what is conventional coughing. There is a distinct difference. In fact, don't guess. The best course of action is to make an appointment to see your doctor. The truth is doctors even have difficulty in establishing the difference between the two.

Identifying Asthma Cough

Let's look at what asthma cough is. Essentially, asthma cough is non productive. By non productive, mucus isn't brought up. In fact, it's unique and has a sound all to it's own. It's very much a dry, wheezing sound and can persist until a child or adult gets to the stage where they are gasping for air. So no mucus and the chances are it's an asthma cough: if their is mucus, then it may be the signs of an impending cold.

The Cause Of Asthma Cough?

The most likely cause are allergens or irritants. The home is a common trigger factor and harbors a number of these symptom producing culprits. When a person reacts to these allergens or irritants the result will be a swelling in the airways causing muscle spasms in and around the bronchial passages. Because it's an irritant and not mucus productive, the obvious reaction is to cough and the reason why it's dry. Trying to force the irritating factor through the bronchial passages means the coughing will usually be prolonged and eventually lead to shortness of breath and dry reaching.

Asthma Cough Treatment

One of the best responsive treatments is the use of bronchodilators. They are effective in loosening the muscles around the bronchial tubes, soothing the cough and providing much needed respite to the sufferer. Lack of air movement when the muscles become tight around the bronchial tubes is akin to a "bear hug" being applied the use of broncodilators eases this restrictive effect, forcing the air back through the passages.

Effective treatment also includes the use of inhaled corticosteroids. This anti-inflammatory treatment has the effect of easing the swelling, usually chronic, around the bronchial area thus making their job of forcing out any irritants a lot easier.

Other Treatment Methods

Herbal specialists have been sought in recent times and recommendations such as tea, black or green, are said to provide some relief against asthma cough symptoms. Honey can also provide relief particularly before going to bed at night. How effective these treatments are compared to more traditional medical treatments shouldn't really be an issue as they are intended more to compliment those treatments.

Eliminating most of the allergens and irritants from the home may not be possible, in fact, it's nigh on impossible however, with good management practice techniques, asthma cough incidence can be kept to a minimum.

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Hand Tremor - Causes and Symptoms of Hand Tremor

2012-01-22T10:38:00.001-05:00

A tremor is an involuntary movement or shaking of any body part (even your head or voice may be involved). It is often most noticeable in your hands. Essential tremor is common in older people. Essential tremor is rarely present when the hands are not being used. It becomes most apparent when the affected person is trying to do something, like reaching for an object or writing. It is not caused by an underlying disease.

Tremors can happen at any age but tend to be more common in older people.You can develop a tremor from fatigue, stress, anxiety, or even rage. However, an ongoing tremor that is not associated with a change in your emotional state may be a sign of an underlying medical condition and should be evaluated. You may learn, as many do, that your tremors are perfectly normal, but eliminating medical reasons for the shaking is important.

Difficulty in making precise finger movements will necessitate enlarged keypads with rests, key-guards or delayed activation. Selection of key operating pressure may be critical to the avoidance of muscular spasm. Both audible and displayed key feedback will be necessary to confirm correct actuation and avoidance of unwanted repeats. Speech-input keying may be desirable, but some conditions giving rise to hand tremor also cause hesitancy in speech.

Causes of Hand tremor

Environmental factors: People with unusual exposure to herbicides and pesticides are more likely to develop Parkinson's disease than are people who don't have this exposure. Researchers haven't yet been able to connect a specific herbicide or pesticide to the disease.

Hyperthyroidism or thyrotoxicosis occurs when the thyroid releases too many of its hormones over a short (acute) or long (chronic) period of time.

Tremors caused by stress, try relaxation techniques like meditation, deep relaxation, or breathing exercises. For tremors of any cause, avoid caffeine and get enough sleep.

Half of the cases are due to gene mutation and transmitted dominantly. There are two main loci: ETM1 and ETM2. The rest are idiopathic. No identifiable and consistent structural abnormality has yet been demonstrated to exist in the nervous system of every person with ET.

Essential tremor is the most common form of abnormal tremor. Although the cause is unknown, new research shows that the part of the brain called the cerebellum does not appear to work correctly in patients with essential tremor. The cerebellum is the part of the brain that coordinates muscle movements.

Symptoms of Hand tremor

Rigid muscles: Muscle stiffness (rigidity) often occurs in your limbs and neck. Sometimes the stiffness can be so severe that it limits the size of your movements and causes pain.

The signs and symptoms of withdrawal appear between six to 48 hours after the patient "stops" drinking alcohol. Some of the most common symptoms include tremors, mild headaches, cold sweat, vomiting, loss of appetite, insomnia, restlessness, rapid pulse, anxiety and auditory hallucinations.

However, some testing may be done to rule out other causes of tremors, such as excessive caffeine or tobacco use, alcohol withdrawal, use of certain medications (for example, asthma drugs, lithium, certain antidepressants and anti-seizure drugs)

Physiological Tremor: This is a very-low-amplitude fine tremor (between 6 Hz and 12 Hz) that is barely visible to the naked eye. It is present in every normal individual during maintaining a posture or movement. Neurologic examination results of patients with physiologic tremor are usually normal.

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Dog Worms: Understand Dog Worms Symptoms and Infestation

2012-01-21T11:02:00.001-05:00

Until a very recent period, dog worms were thought to be of a spontaneous origin, brought about by the influence of heat upon decaying vegetable matter, and it was and still is freely asserted that puppies are born with dog worms inherited from the mother in some mysterious manner while still in uterus. This has been conclusively proven an error and in the minds of all scientists there is no question about dog worms springing from individual eggs and having a complete life history of their own.

The principal worm species with which dog owners have to contend are round worms and tape worms. The first named commonly infest puppies and consequently are most dreaded by breeders. In shape and size these worms resemble common angle worms, but in color are lighter, being almost white or only a pale pink.

In adult dogs these worms, when full grown, are from three to seven inches long. In puppies they are about half that length, and as thick as common white string. Round worms live in the small intestines, sometimes coiled in such masses as to obstruct the passage, and occasionally they wander into the stomach or are passed by the bowels.

It is easy to understand that when one dog in a kennel is infected with worms, millions of eggs will be passed with the feces. These are scattered all over the floors, bedding, feeding and drinking pans. They get on the dog's coat, are licked off and swallowed and in numbers of ways gain entrance to the digestive tracts of other dogs, where they soon hatch out and in ten days are fully developed.

This rapid development account for the popular belief that puppies are born with worms, for breeders who have held post-mortems on puppies scarcely ten days old and have found in their stomachs fully developed round worms could account for their presence in no other way. They overlooked the fact that the prospective mother, confined in a kennel infested with worms, would get these eggs attached to her coat, belly and breasts, and the young, as soon as born, would take these eggs into their stomachs with the first mouthfuls of milk.

Symptoms Of Dog Worms Attack

Dog worms are responsible for so much sickness and so many symptoms that it is practically impossible to mention all of them, but their presence can safely be suspected in all dogs which have not been recently treated for them, as well as in cases where the patient is run down, unthrifty and out of sorts.

Other symptoms are a hot, dry nose, weak, watery eyes, pale lips and gums, foul breath, mean hacking cough and a red, scurfy, pimply or irritated condition of the skin and harsh, dry, staring coat that is constantly being shed.

Wormy dogs sometimes have a depraved appetite and will eat dirt and rubbish. Some days they are ravenously hungry, the next day they will not eat at all; their sleep is disturbed by dreams and intestinal rumbling, the urine is high colored and frequently passed, bowels irregular, stomach easily unsettled, watery mucus is frequently vomited and the mouth is hot, sticky and full of ropy saliva.

Puppies which are full of worms bloat easily and are pot-bellied. After feeding their stomachs distend disproportionately to the amount of food consumed. Their bodies are also subject to scaly eruptions and their bowels to colicky pains; they do not grow as rapidly as healthy puppies should and instead of playing with each other they curl up and sleep hour after hour; they get thinner, weaker and more lifeless from day to day and if they do not waste away or die in fits and convulsions with frothing at the mouth and champing of the jaws, grow up coarse-jointed, rickety and misshapen. Puppies with worms are also liable to paralysis of their rear limbs and on removal of the worms the puppies regain control of the affected parts.

A wormy dog is usually an unhealthy and unhappy dog who leads a miserable life. It could even be deadly, especially so for young puppies. Bring your dog to a veterinarian if you are unsure. Your dog will certainly thank you for that.

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Common Side Effects Of Antihistamines

2012-01-19T16:07:00.001-05:00

As we're in the middle of the spring season and hay fever is running rampant, many allergy sufferers are running to their allergists and filling prescriptions for the most powerful antihistamines they can find. Well, it might surprise you to know that not only do these antihistamines have side effects but they also come with another fact of life that very few people are aware of; something that the drug companies don't want us to know. Well, this article is going to give you the straight facts on antihistamine side effects and that small little detail that your allergist failed to tell you about your favorite hay fever remedy.

For those who aren't quite sure how antihistamines work, it's actually a very simple process. Basically, when your body is affected by an outside substance, like pollen, it reacts to this substance by producing histamines. These histamines are the body's defense against these outside invaders. Unfortunately, in creating this defense, it also creates the symptoms that go with them, such as the watery eyes, sneezing, coughing, and in extreme cases, shortness of breath and even asthma. What antihistamines do is reduce the effects of our body's defense mechanism.

Unfortunately, these antihistamines come with a price tag that goes way beyond the cost of the pills themselves. Common side effects of antihistamines are drowsiness, which is why you should never drive or operate heavy machinery when taking them, dizziness, restlessness, nervousness and upset stomach. Other side effects, which aren't as common are dry mouth, dry nose, irritability, difficulty urinating and blurred vision. In most cases, the side effects from antihistamines are barely noticeable. However, the real problem with taking these drugs is not so much from what they do to you, but from what they don't do.

Over time, as you continue to take a particular antihistamine, you may notice that the drug doesn't seem to be working as well as it used to. The reason is simple. Your body's immune system begins to build up tolerance to these drugs. Usually, within a period of about three months, the drug stops working completely. At the very least, its effectiveness is greatly reduced. That is why a knowledgeable allergist, who doesn't have his pockets filled by the drug companies, will tell you to rotate your antihistamines every three months. So for example, he might have you take Claritin, which contains loratadine, for three months and then have you switch to Benadryl, which contains diphenhydramine hydrochloride, for the next three months. Otherwise, you will find your allergy symptoms getting worse and worse.

This never ending battle against allergies, which is really a no win war with drugs, keeps the drug companies in business and makes them richer and richer. There are cures for allergies and they don't involve taking drugs. You can check out the details in my signature.

You don't have to put up with antihistamine side effects and ultimately lose the war against allergies.

To YOUR Health,

Steve Wagner

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Nose Care

2012-01-15T06:37:00.001-05:00

Nose is one of the body parts which are easily affected by the environment. Its function and shape may be changed if its complex network of bone and cartilage has been damaged by any type of infection. In addition to controlling humidity of the air you take in, it also filters out unnecessary substances. Humidity is controlled by a damp tissue known as mucosal tissue within your nasal cavities. This is the same kind of tissue which lays the inside of your mouth. The nose is good at providing additional moisture to dry air than it is at reducing the moisture in air that is too moist. So we should take care of nose to get an attractive look.

So it's very important to look after your nose. For curing nose from different diseases we need to collect some important information. As bath the nose with cold water and clean it regularly. Leave the bad habits such as nose-picking, massage with hard hand (rubbing); sniffing, blowing the noses hard or stuffing things such as round rings, paper and handkerchiefs up to the nostril can do a lot of harm to your nose. External part of our nose is covered by a layer of skin.

Cold is a common problem that affects everybody at any time .It is mainly caused by infection and viral. The infection causes are dust, pollutions. The main symptoms are runny nose, nasal congestion and sneezing. The seriousness of cold diseases depends on how strong our immune system. There is no cure for that diseases commonly but there are some tips to get better from this problem the infected persons need to keep rest, take a lot of water and some medically treatments. We will take more supplements included vitamins C, Zinc.

Allergies and infection problems are also common problems with nose. Symptoms of the same are becoming red of nose tip and continuous sneezing. The common reasons behind it are dust, pollution in environment and flower smale. Some of the peoples can't take air in the environment of smoke and the animal's area where the animal dandruff exist and it will be the reason of allergy for them.

If you have any of these problems then you should save yourself to go these areas in which dust, smoke and animal dandruff exist. If you suffered by these disease then you should take advise and treatment as soon as possible otherwise it may be a big problem.

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7 Foods To Avoid With Diverticulitis

2012-01-13T20:40:00.001-05:00

The moment you get a diverticulitis attack you should become extremely careful about what goes inside your body. The main reason for diverticulitis is bad eating habits. You can get well only after you stop taking the foods which are hard on your digestive system and prevent its proper functioning. There is a good list of foods to avoid with diverticulitis. If you want your health to improve then you will take the steps to avoid these harmful foods.

Generally the suggested diverticulitis diet is low fiber and liquid diet. This will ensure that your colon and digestive system get the adequate rest which helps you to heal. You can expect improvements in a few days once you start taking the correct diet. Many people become stressed in this condition and it may include you also. This won't help you my friend, it will only make your condition worse because stress directly affects the digestive system. You need to be calm, be patient with the pain and do something which will make you happy. Doing these will have a positive affect on your health and you may improve quickly.

Anyway here is a list of foods to avoid with diverticulitis in general.

1) All the junk food such as burgers, pizzas, fried food and spicy food should be avoided.

2) Refined foods like white flour, white rice etc.

3) All the processed foods.

4) Corn and corn products.

5) Nuts

6) Sesame seeds

7) Pumpkin

You should avoid these foods because they will be hard on the digestive system. Once you are healed you may revert back to the previous food habits. You are just inviting another diverticulitis attack. In order to remain healthy you should change your eating habits.

Many people who got a diverticulitis attack changed their diet to a whole food diet to remain healthy and not to experience the painful situation again. Use the above list of foods to avoid with diverticulitis till you become healthy again. After that you can include a high fiber diet which will prevent the diverticula from getting infected.

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How to Cure or Alleviate Edema, Including Lymphedema

2012-01-13T05:22:00.001-05:00

By edema excessive fluid gather in body parts or greater areas of the body, making the areas swollen. Edema is most often a problem in the legs, but can occur anywhere in the body.

There are several types of edema, and many cases are also a mixture of more than one type. By lymphedema the drainage from the tissues through the lymph vessels are impaired or excessive fluid goes through the blood capillary walls into the spaces between the cells in a tissue. Edema can also occur because of poor drainage of blood through the veins towards the heart. Edema can further be caused by general accumulation of excessive fluid in the body.

The causes of edema are many. Edema is a symptom by most inflammations. Insufficient heart action by congestive heart failure can cause edema. A too high intake of salt can cause general water retention in the body. Sitting and standing long in the same position can cause edema in the lower limbs. A still sitting life without exercise can cause or aggravate edema.

Insufficiencies of the liver or kidneys can cause fluid retention and thereby edema. Edema can be a side effect of antihypertensive drugs, steroids surgery and radiation therapy. Further causes of different types of edema are varicose veins, cancer, hypothyroidism, blood clots, constipation and physical injuries.

To treat edema, it is important to treat the underlying disease or injury. However, medical treatment does not always cure the underlying condition or the cause is wholly or partially lifestyle aspects. Therefore various measures targeted directly against the edema are useful. These are presented here:

Pharmacological treatments: The physician will sometimes prescribe diuretics to reduce fluid retention in the body and thereby reduce edema. This treatment should however be used for serious edema or edema persistent when other measures do not work.

Salt intake restriction: Restriction of salt intake is an important measure by edema. People suffering from edema should avoid adding great amount of salt into their food or consume preprocessed food with a salty taste.

Diet: A good general diet that alleviates chronic inflammation is useful. The diet should especially contain enough sources of omega-3-fatty acids and monounsaturated fatty acids, like: Fat fish, seafood, flax oil, olive oil, almonds, rape oil and canola oil. Also vegetables and fruit in a natural shape are useful.

Avoiding constipation: Constipation should be treated, since a stomach engorged by excessive content can cause impairment of fluid circulation.

Variation of corporeal position: You should avoid sitting or standing still a long time during the day. When sitting during work or rest, you should change position with regular intervals.

Exercise: Every day you should have some exercise adjusted to your health condition. This could be walking, cycling, swimming, running or any other sport activity where you use greater parts of your body. Doing regular stretching exercises or yoga is useful. By severe edema special therapeutic exercises should be prescribed by a professional.

High position of limb: When you are sleeping or resting the swollen body parts can be placed in an elevated position by means of pillows, pads or by resting in an adjustable bed or chair.

Massage: By minor edema yourself, your spouse or a friend can massage the affected body part to alleviate the edema. The massage should be done in the direction of natural flow of blood and lymph that is towards the heart. You should however avoid massaging distinctly injured or distinctly inflamed body parts. By severe edema a professional massager should be engaged to perform the massage type called "manual lymphatic drainage".

Elastic bandaging: You can use elastic gloves, stockings, tapes or bandages around the swollen body parts during the day or during physical activities after instruction from a professional person.

Inflatable garments: There are inflatable garments to be found that can be used around the engorged body parts some times of the day. Also these should be used after professional instruction.

Sequential gradient pump therapy: One can get special electric pumps connected to inflatable garments. The pump inflates and deflates the garments repeatedly. Each garment has several rooms that are inflated sequentially in the direction of the natural fluid stream towards the heart. In this way the fluid is dynamically pumped the right way out of the engorged body part. This type of therapy is used in professional settings or at home after instruction from a professional.

Skin care: The skin on a body part affected by severe edema should attain special care to avoid and treat sores. Proper cleaning, daily use of moisturizing creams, proper rinsing of skin injuries, antiseptic creams by injuries.

Complete decongestive therapy: This is a complete set of edema treatment techniques done by a professional person combined with self-care instructed by the professional. The techniques used are: Manual lymphatic drainage, compression bandaging, therapeutic exercise and skin care.

Herbal and natural products: Many herbs and products composed of a blending of these herbs are used against edema. Such herbs are: Dandelion, Gingko biloba, horse chestnut, buchu, goldenrod, corn silk, horsetail, juniper, butchers broom, cleaver and ginger. Some people have experienced a good effect from using apple cider vinegar.

The flavonide rich product pycnognenol extracted from the bark of the French maritime pine has shown promising effects against edema according to scientific studies. The flavonides hydroxyethylrutosides also seem to have good effect against edema. Other natural substances that may help to treat edema are the flavonids diosmin and hesperidin and vitamin C.

OIL PULLING: The procedure called "oil pulling" may help for edema. It consists of rinsing the mouth with one tablespoon of natural oil for 15-20 minutes and then spitting the oil out. It is done in the morning before eating. Sesame or sunflower oils are usually recommended for this use.

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Black Mold - How To Tell The Symptoms Of Toxicity

2012-01-05T08:44:00.001-05:00

Mold is common in all our homes and doesn't usually cause any severe health problems. It stuffs you up, makes your eyes red, gives you a cough or a headache; it's a pain and should be got rid of, but it's not lethal.

However, there are some varieties of black mold that have toxicity. Prolonged exposure to toxic mold can lead to serious, life-threatening problems. This is why you need to be aware of the symptoms of black mold toxicity.

- Sinus trouble. The most common symptom of exposure to black mold is sinus trouble. This includes nasal congestion, runny nose and sinus headaches. These sinus symptoms are caused by both non-toxic and toxic mold, so with this symptom alone it may be difficult to tell for sure.

- Skin rashes and hives. Your skin doesn't like toxic mold and will do anything it can to resist it. This is why some people experience rashes and other skin problems when they are exposed to toxic mold. It is a natural reaction to the black mold's toxicity, and you should see a doctor immediately.

- Cough and sore throat - If you have a cough or sore throat that just won't go away, you may be suffering from black mold exposure. Regular mold is hazardous to health and can cause some coughing and throat irritation, but if it is ongoing, that is a sign that the black mold contains some toxicity.

- Asthma. The exact causes of asthma are unknown, but studies have shown that exposure to toxic mold, especially in youth, can lead to the development of asthma. If you find yourself developing asthma-like symptoms, it may be an indication that there is toxic black mold present.

- Dizziness or light-headedness. This often goes with the sinus symptoms, and is an indication that the mold in your home contains some toxicity. It means that the mold spores that have entered your body have released toxins that are disturbing your whole system.

- Nausea - Regular mold produces cold or sinus symptoms, but toxic mold may affect your stomach and digestive system. This is because the toxicity can affect any part of your body. If you are experiencing flu-like symptoms, you have been poisoned by toxic black mold and should seek medical help.

- Fatigue - Toxic black mold can make you feel tired and lethargic all the time, even when you've had a good night's sleep. Black mold's toxicity has an effect on your immune system, breaking down your body's natural defenses, and this can lead to excessive fatigue.

- Memory loss or trouble hearing. If spores enter your respiratory system, the toxicity of the mold can work on your brain. Once the toxins are in the bloodstream, they can go to any part of your body. This is why some people who have been poisoned by black mold lose their memory or hearing.

- Bleeding Lungs - In severe cases of toxic black mold poisoning, you may suffer bleeding in the lungs. This is very severe and will require hospitalization. At this point, the toxicity is well inside your system.

If you suffer any of these symptoms, or suspect that you may have toxic black mold, you should hire an inspector to test your home. They can take samples from the mold itself, or test the air for spores. They will send these samples to a lab for analysis and tell you what they find. If you find any mold at all in your house, you should remove it as quickly as possible and remove the conditions that allow it to grow.

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Why Do I Feel Tired All the Time? - The Number 1 Cause of Feeling Tired Revealed!

2012-01-04T15:20:00.001-05:00

Are you often asking the question "why do I feel tired all the time"? If so then today I will reveal to you the #1 cause of feeling tired & fatigued. As well I'll present 2 great tips on how to immediately start reducing fatigue and boost your energy levels up. Best of all if you follow all my recommendations you'll also improve your health in multiple ways in which you couldn't have imagined.

Two Tips to Help Increase Energy

Stop Eating Late: Do you eat within 3 hours of going to bed? If so you're doing more harm than good. Were you aware that many police and firemen are questioned when they apply about their eating habits before bed, those who say they eat before bed are often not accepted as it indicates that they're likely to be less rested and as a result less alert than those who don't eat before bed.

Stop Going to Bed Late: 10-2 is the ideal sleeping time. If you go to bed after 2pm constantly then you're always going to be playing catch-up with your energy levels. So do yourself a favour and get to bed by 10pm!

What Really Makes you Feel Tired All the Time!

It's known as a candida overgrowth. Candida is a yeast which grows inside over 90% of the population and because of the culture we live in now of using drugs for everything and eating dead processed foods, this yeast has now become a threat to our health. All of these modern day factors encourage the yeast to overgrow which causes various problems, the most common of which are brain fog which is like a continual lack of focus or concentration as well as chronic fatigue/exhaustion regardless of what you do.

If these symptoms describe your everyday life then you need to immediately begin eliminating candida from your body and re-balance your health to get your energy back once again!

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The Color of Mucus - Deciphering the Hues

2012-01-02T17:58:00.001-05:00

Whether created to lighten the weight of the head, serve as a "crumple zone," give better resonance to the voice, just simply to produce mucus, or for a combination of all those reasons, the sinus cavities play a vital role in our breathing mechanism and in keeping us healthy. Without the yucky stuff they produce our lives would be miserable.

It is interesting that we do not notice the sinuses' constant production of mucus until it becomes thick or excessive-although normally we produce up to a quart a day--or it creates sinus pressure. Besides giving moisture to the air when needed, mucus acts as gatekeeper warding off viruses, bacteria, foreign particles, pollutants, that otherwise would compromise our breathing mechanism and cause infection and other problems. It does not catch only those elements, but it also washes them away.

What about the colors of mucus? According to some authorities here are the meanings:

Clear and watery- this is the normal, healthy kind; it is constantly being produced and is needed for the protection of our breathing apparatus, digestive organs, etc., by guarding them against contamination and disease. It contains antiseptic enzymes, salts and water, of course. Mucus also serves as a lubricant. Clear, again, is the natural healthy color of mucus.

Yellow- produced when the air is too dry, can also be an indication of a sinus infection, bronchitis--when accompanied by coughing, wheezing, fatigue, chest discomfort, shortness of breath after a mild exertion; not all these signs or symptoms need to be present when having bronchitis.

Green- can be a sign of a sinus infection or bronchitis-see additional signs and symptoms for bronchitis under yellow, above. If there is a green nasal discharge accompanied by a sinus pain or fever and this has been going on for several days it can be a sign or symptom of a bacterial infection and a doctor should be seen.

Brown- if you smoke or have spent some time in a place filled with tobacco smoke chances are that this is the cause of that mucus color. Smoking exacerbates any respiratory health issue and makes much worse any mucus problem in the upper respiratory organs and passages. It pays to quit smoking.

White- this is not a common hue of mucus and it can be caused by the use of dairy products, especially when one is having congestion and pressure in the sinuses and a dairy product, especially milk, is used. It can also be an indication of bronchitis-see additional signs and symptoms for bronchitis under yellow, above.

Blood- whenever blood accompanies any of the above mucus colors or appears by itself it should be taken seriously and a physician should be consulted soon.

Mucus not only helps us detect what is wrong with us, but it aids our body by protecting it, as we have seen, against unwanted elements in our environment. Mucus is a friend.

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Gout Recipes

2012-01-01T22:11:00.001-05:00

A person's diet changes dramatically when he is diagnosed with gout. Red meat, organ meat, shellfish, beans, and legumes are not allowed. The use of salt and oil should be limited. Alcohol intake is discouraged. So what else is there to eat and drink, you may ask. The answer is a lot. It is all just a matter of preparing the food you are allowed to eat into a fantastic and filling meal. Let this article guide you to the food that you can eat and the delicious ways to prepare them.

Gout-friendly ingredients

There are still many foods that a person who has gout can enjoy. Fruits like watermelons, oranges, and grapefruit and foods that are rich in complex carbohydrates like brown rice and whole wheat bread should make up 40 percent of a gout sufferer's diet. Cherries in particular have been said to be very beneficial in lowering uric acid levels in the blood. Aside from red meat, fish, lean meat such as chicken breast, and soy products are also great sources of protein. Vegetable oil instead of animal fat should be used.

Since salt should be used sparingly, other food flavorings should be used. Replace salt with herbs and spices like basil, marjoram, and oregano. Use garlic in particular because it is also known to lower uric acid levels in the blood.

Food preparation

Instead of frying, bake or grill fish and lean meat. Marinate marlin or swordfish with crushed garlic, pepper, and other spices, and grill it over fire. Serve this with brown rice and grilled vegetables like zucchini, bell peppers, corn and squash on the side.

For drinks, water is best but it will not hurt to try something different once in a while. For a refreshing drink, make a smoothie out of bananas, apples, watermelon, and silken tofu. Silken tofu is a great additive to smoothies. To sweeten, add a little honey or maple syrup. These are invert sugars and not simple sugars so they are just fine.

Healthy Weight

The Symptoms of Kidney Stones in Ureter

2011-12-31T23:09:00.001-05:00

What are symptoms of kidney stones in ureter? They arise when a stone turn out to be lodged in the ureter/urethra. Clearly, kidney stones cause unbearable pain when come in a ureter.

If a stone becomes sizeable enough, it may start to depart of your kidney and move forward through the ureters - the tubes that transmit urine from the kidney to your bladder.

If it gets immovable in the ureter, this is able to bring about an infection which can cause enduring kidney harm.

The ureter contracts in response to the stone, producing serious pain in the flank or lower back that frequently radiates to the groin, in men to the testis. Those who with nephrolithiasis commonly cannot get comfortable and will always alter position in an effort to get release from the embarrassment.

In general, the pain comes in waves. A wave could last 20 to 60 minutes and afterward discontinue. The pain stops with no taking up again when the ureter relaxes or the stone passes into the bladder.

Many kidney stones don't move and are too tiny to bring about any symptoms. But, if they cause an obstruction, or enter on the ureter, it could cause some of the following symptoms:

* serious pain in the back

* unexpected spasms of agonizing pain - this typically begins in the back below the ribs, prior to radiate around the abdomen, and occasionally to the groin and genitalia

* bloody, cloudy, smelly urine

* feeling/being sick

* a repeated urge to urinate, or a burning sensation throughout urination

* fever and chills

Kidney stones are generally passed out of the body inside 48 hours, but, on occasion attacks can last for more than 30 days.

These can be symptoms of a urinary tract infection, or cystitis as well, which is much more familiar than kidney stones in young women. If you have one or more of these symptoms you ought to ask for medical advice.

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Natural Ways Of Gout Cure

2011-12-30T02:01:00.001-05:00

Gout is a condition characterized by severe attacks of inflammation in single joints, which come on suddenly (acutely) and rapidly reach a peak of extremely severe pain and then subside. Characteristically, a further attack occurs after a variable period, usually of months or years, usually affecting a different joint, particularly of the lower limb. If gout is not treated, the periods between the attacks become shorter and last longer as the years go by. This will cause the condition to worsen and affect other joints of your body. There are a lot of methods that you can use to cure gout, including using natural remedies.

One of the effective ways to cure gout is by using cherries or cheery juice. Cherries are known for their anti-inflammatory properties may help reduce the amount of uric acid in the body and keep it from settling into joints which will cause the pain of gout. You can use canned cherries or fresh cherries and it does not matter if you use sour or sweet cherries. All cherries have been reported to be a natural gout cure. The recommended amount of cherries to consume a day is between ten cherries and up to one half pound. There are others who prefer to use cherry juice concentrate (1 tablespoon per day) and it is also effective in curing gout.

Diet is important and can be used as a natural gout cure as well. Purines consumed in the diet account for about 50% of the uric acid produced in the body. Therefore, a low purine or modified purine diet may help gout improve and prevent future gout attacks. A low purine diet consists of eliminating the following high purine foods from the diet: organ meats, sweetbreads, brains, kidney, meat gravies, meat extracts, scallops, wild game, mackerel, herring, anchovies and sardines. In addition, only one serving of the following foods are allowed per day in a low purine diet: dried beans and peas, asparagus, cauliflower, spinach, mushrooms, poultry, meat or fish.

Apart from this, you can also consider a purine-modified diet, which consists of eliminating extremely high-purine foods such as liver, brains, kidney and other organ meats as well as sweetbreads. However, in a purine-modified diet, it is alright for some protein foods not to exceed 100 grams per day. In one ounce of meat, there are 7 grams of protein Bread and grains have about 3 grams of protein per serving. One serving is one slice of bread or ½ cup of grain. Protein can be obtained by eating milk, eggs and cheese because these foods are high in protein and low in purines.

Another natural gout cure is increasing the intake of water, which can help to flush out excess uric acid and help prevent kidney stones. As a guideline, it is recommended that you drink at least eight glasses of water or three litres a day. Gout sufferers should also avoid alcohol because it increases uric acid production and inhibits its secretion.

Although it is important to reduce your weight to prevent gout, you should avoid fad diets such as fasting because quick weight loss causes a release of uric acid by the cells as they break down. Instead, you should try a diet that encourages slow and steady weight loss.

Another natural gout cure is charcoal poultice. To make charcoal poultice, mix one half cup activated powdered charcoal with a few tablespoons flaxseed that has been ground in a blender until it becomes meal. Then add enough warm water to create a paste. Put paste on affected joint and cover with cloth or plastic. The dressing should be changed every four hours or it may be left on over night. Be sure to avoid getting the charcoal poultice on clothing or bed linens because it will stain.

A charcoal bath can also be used as a natural gout cure. Using an old basin that you don't mind staining, mix one half cup of charcoal powder with water until a paste is made. Place affected foot into the basin and add water until the foot is covered. You should soak your foot in the charcoal bath for thirty to sixty minutes.

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Breakthrough Cure for a Dry Cough

2011-12-29T01:42:00.001-05:00

Your constant dry cough may not be the result of a sore throat or the onset of the flu. It may respond well to a technique I have used for some time now - with great success.

Many mature males suffer from a constant dry cough which manifests itself in unexpected bouts. It is often worst early morning when you first rise for the day. It's also most noticeable when your body faces sudden changes in temperature.

Your in for an interesting discovery, if the above description fits you.

After putting up with this dry cough for many years I read that the challenge was higher than acceptable levels of carbon dioxide in my system. Based on that I figured I had not been breathing correctly at certain tims of the day.

You're welcome to try my remedy - which works well for me - but remember your doctor will not hold this suggestion in high regard as it will be labeled "anecdotal evidence".

Here's what I do.

At the onset of these coughing spasms I take three deep breaths in through my nose and then exhale deeply once - also through the nose. I figure the deep breaths raise the oxygen level in my blood and the the exhaling eliminates the carbon dioxide from my system.

You be the judge with a simple trial. The result for me is my coughing stops.

I hope it works for you.

This information is presented for general educational purposes only. You should consult a health care professional for the treatment of any medical condition.

Easy Healthy Breakfast

The Meaning of Abnormal EKG Results

2011-12-27T10:07:00.001-05:00

Many physicians recommend EKGs as a preventive-screening tool for those with a family history of heart disease. While a healthy person does not need an EKG as a part of an annual exam, many physicians will recommend an EKG if they have concerns. If a patient complains of chest pain, palpitations or other indicators of heart problems, the physician will likely recommend an immediate EKG test. Depending on the severity of the situation, your doctor may refer you to a local testing center immediately or ask you to schedule the next available appointment.

An abnormal EKG is determined by comparing the results of your EKG graph with a standard or normal heart graph. Spikes and dips within the graph are referred to as P, QR and PR and other similar acronyms. Normal EKG readings show a slight flat-dip in between contractions and relaxations. If these flat-dips are not present, it may be an indication of a more serious problem. Normal EKG readings will have spikes and dips too.

Myocardial defects, heart valve disease, enlargement of the heart, inflammation of the heart, coronary artery disease, and past, pending or impending heart attacks are only a few of the problems that EKG's can help to detect. The conditions in which the EKG is performed can also have an impact on the accuracy of the results. Some heart problems are not present all of the time and therefore may not appear in EKG results. In cases where heart problems are suspected but not detected on the EKG, a Holter monitor may be recommended. This monitor is worn, usually for a period of 24 to 48 hours and serves as a type of mini-EKG test. The patient wears the monitor at home and it continuously records heart activity. Doctors also recommend that the patient be relaxed during the exam because any muscle trembling or contractions can alter the results and produce an inaccurate reading.

Many people are surprised to learn that they have had an abnormal EKG reading. What is even more surprising is that when presented with abnormal EKG results, some doctors do not seem concerned. It doe not necessarily mean they are inadequate or uncaring physicians, it is more likely they believe something else has caused the abnormal reading. Most will want to pursue further testing or another EKG. Sometimes an event as simple as low blood sugar can have an altering affect and produce false EKG readings. Other times, abnormal EKGs require further testing to determine what, if any, problems actually exist.

Regional Medical Hospital

How to Stop Underarm Sweating

2011-12-25T12:39:00.001-05:00

In order to learn how to stop underarm sweating I strongly advise you to read the rest of this article, because I have dealt with the problem effectively myself! Sweating is a perfectly normal bodily function and helps to cool us down when our body overheats. However a few of us just seem to sweat even when we're not moving about and this gets very frustrating!

I wanted to find out how to stop underarm sweating as a teenager, because it was terribly embarrassing sitting in class with great big sweat patches. Kids can be very cruel and it certainly hurt my self-esteem, and it didn't seem fair that I was the only one suffering with this condition because it made me look like I didn't wash!

For as long as I can remember I had sweaty hands, but I thought this would just go away. It was only when I began to excessively sweat under my arms and feet when I realised I needed to do something about it before it completely took control of me. So I decided to consult my doctor for the most effective ways to deal with excessive sweating.

He recommended botox injections, which is basically injecting a small amount of botox into the affected areas, shutting down the sweat glands. This is successful, however it can cost lots of money and you usually have to go back every 6 months for a top up, so the costs can get pretty out of hand and I just couldn't afford this method.

I was determined not to give up learning how to stop underarm sweating so I decided I would perform my own research into the different methods that people in my situation have used in order to control their issues. Unfortunately most websites I visited seem to strongly recommend botox injections or other medical procedures, and I didn't want to do this.

What I wanted was completely safe, natural methods that addressed the root cause of the problem. I didn't just want to block my sweat glands, I wanted to stop whatever it was that was causing me to sweat more. I just wanted to be like everybody else and wear whatever I wanted without worrying about sweat patches!

Whilst I was learning how to stop underarm sweating naturally I came across this awesome technique that isn't that well-known, that literally killed my excessive sweating within 13 days. I want to tell you what it is because I don't want you to suffer for so long like me!

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Herpes Symptoms in Women - How to Identify a Genital Herpes Outbreak

2011-12-24T02:05:00.001-05:00

Herpes symptoms in women can take the form of a range of different outbreaks and conditions, and sometimes both women and men can show no symptoms at all.

Herpes is more common in women than men, with 1 in 4 women in the United States suffering from the condition. Genital herpes is a sexually transmitted disease, and once contracted stays in the body for life, lying dormant until a trigger such as stress or illness causes an outbreak.

After contracting the disease, most women will show symptoms of an initial outbreak in the next 2 to 10 days. Symptoms in the initial breakout and subsequent episodes can last up to three weeks without treatment. Treatment is a very important step for any women who has, or thinks they may have contracted the HSV virus.

Early Genital Herpes Symptoms in Women - Before the Outbreak

Before an outbreak of herpes occurs, you may experience any or all of the following:

Itching or burning in the vagina, labia and surrounding areas, including the anus, upper legs and buttocks
Unusual vaginal discharge.
Swelling of the lymph nodes, combined with a feeling of pressure or bloating in the abdominal area.
Flu like symptoms including headache, nausea, fever, sore limbs (including legs and buttocks), muscle and joint pain.
Urinary pain or burning, or a difficulty urinating

Genital Herpes Symptoms in Women - The Outbreak

When the outbreak begins, you may experience the following:

The appearance of sores or blisters that can range in size from tiny pimple sized dots to large, coin sized sores. These sores will burst and scab over as the outbreak continues. They can appear alone or in lesions, and can appear on the genitals, anus, buttocks and thighs.
A red, itching or burning rash.
Pain when urinating
Vaginal discharge.

Without treatment, these genital herpes symptoms in women can occur on a monthly basis. If you are experiencing any of these symptoms, especially if they are re-occurring regularly, you may have contracted genital herpes.

There are wide range of medical, homeopathic and natural treatments that are very effective, you should immediately seek treatment if you are experiencing any of the above.

Having herpes has a much larger impact than just the physical impact. It can make women feel alone, ashamed, depressed and anxious. If you believe you are suffering from herpes, you should seek treatment, as reducing and controlling outbreaks can go a long way towards restoring your self esteem and confidence. Once the physical aspect is under control, you can then deal with the emotional and mental side of dealing with genital herpes.

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White Spots on Your Throat - What Are They?

2011-12-20T12:15:00.001-05:00

When you look in the mirror do you notice little white spots on the back of your throat?

If so, then you most likely are searching through books and websites trying to self diagnose these white spots, fearing the worst. It could be some sort of strep throat. It could be "thrush"- a yeast infection in your mouth. Or it could be tonsilloliths.

Tonsilloliths or "tonsil stones" are little white or yellow balls of built up food, dead white blood cells and other particles in your mouth.

Ask yourself this: - Do you have a sore throat that accompanies the white spots on your throat? - Do you have trouble swallowing or does it feel like something is stuck on the back of your throat? - And, do you have really bad breath?

If you have answered Yes to any of the above, then those white spots on your throat are most likely tonsil stones. Tonsil stones occur in some people and not in others. Experts suggest that overactive salivary glands, an excess of oral bacteria, larger tonsils and bigger tonsil crypts, or crevices, all play a factor in tonsil stones.

Tonsil stones are not life threatening or even dangerous. They are just annoying as they can be irritable and also cause embarrassment. They have quite a strong unpleasant odour caused by the build-up of bacteria. Tonsil stones, similar to tarter, will continue to grow and harden with time. While some tonsil stones are only the size of a pea, others can grow as big as a marble.

Removing tonsil stones can be quite difficult. Some people simply sneeze or flex their throat and these white spots will remove themselves. Others have to use a toothbrush, a Q-tip or their finger to scrape at the tonsil stones. Others opt to have their tonsils surgically removed or lasered if the problem becomes too much.

If you are prone to these annoying white spots on your throat, then you need to ensure that you practice good oral hygiene. Adding baking soda to your toothpaste can also combat against the bad odour as well as chewing on mint, thyme or parsley leaves during the day.

And keep in mind that those yucky white spots on your throat as more common than you may think. You are not alone.

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Epstein Barr Treatment - 7 Common Mistakes People Make When Recovering From Epstein Barr Virus

2011-12-19T21:51:00.001-05:00

There are 7 common mistakes that people make when treating the Epstein Barr virus that causes mononucleosis or glandular fever. These mistakes can slow your recovery and in some cases lead to secondary infections like strep throat, pneumonia, sinus infection or chronic fatigue syndrome. Let's have a look at each of these mistakes in more detail:

Mistake 1 - Not resting your body

The most common mistake people make is not resting when they are first diagnosed with the Epstein Barr virus. Mononucleosis symptoms can include fatigue, sore throat, swollen glands, muscle aches, headaches, nausea and sometimes fever. Despite these debilitating symptoms some people try and struggle on and keep going to work, school or college, running a household, rushing around after their family. There is no way you will make a fast and complete recovery from Epstein Barr if you don't stop and rest your body.

Mistake 2 - Not getting adequate sleep

Carrying on from this first mistake is the second mistake - not getting enough sleep. Your body specifically needs good quality sleep when recovering from Epstein Barr. When you are asleep your body produces a hormone called growth hormone, which is your body's repair hormone. Lack of sleep and going to bed too late (after about 11 p.m.) will result in your body making less growth hormone.

To ensure you are asleep by 11 p.m. and you get a good night's sleep, make sure you are not watching TV, playing computer, drinking caffeine, doing work or rushing around before bedtime. Get into a routine of relaxing before bed. Having a warm bath, reading quietly in bed, meditating, doing yoga or enjoying a chamomile tea are all good ideas you can try.

Mistake 3 - Lack of adequate water

Now the third mistake, and this is probably the most common mistake I see in my patients, is not drinking enough water to flush out the Epstein Barr virus and toxins from your body. Your aim should be to be drinking at least 8 glasses of fluid a day. Fluids can include pure water, herb teas, lemon in hot water, broths, soups and freshly squeezed vegetable juices. Your fluids should not include tea, coffee, soft drinks or alcohol which will just dehydrate you and make you feel worse.

In some people with mononucleosis, the throat can get really sore and inflamed which makes it hard to swallow. In these cases a hot lemon and honey tea can help soothe the throat and make drinking easier. Alternatively sucking on ice cubes can numb the pain and get the fluids into your body.

Mistake 4 - Eating the wrong foods

One of the cheapest and simplest ways to treat Epstein Barr is with good healthy foods. How well your immune system functions is directly linked to what you eat. If you eat all the wrong foods like sugar, white flour products, processed foods, alcohol, coffee and excess fats then there is no way you are going to make a good recovery from mononucleosis. Your body needs the right vitamins, minerals, enzymes, fibre and essential fats in order to boost your immune system, reduce fatigue and help your body cope with stress.

The best diet for Epstein Barr treatment is based around good quality protein foods like fish, organic chicken, tofu, whey protein, eggs, nuts, seeds and legumes. Every meal should have plenty of fresh fruit and vegetables - cover at least 80% of your plate with leafy greens, salads, vegetables and low carbohydrate fruits. Add to this some essential fats like fish oils, avocado, cold pressed olive oil or flaxseed oil, and you have a good balanced meal that will help you treat mononucleosis effectively.

Mistake 5 - Treating Epstein Barr virus with antibiotics

Antibiotics are of no use in treating Epstein Barr virus. Antibiotics are only effective against bacteria not viruses. In some cases using antibiotics to treat Epstein Barr can result in skin rashes, fungal overgrowth, digestive upsets and suppressed immunity.

Mistake 6 - Not taking the right supplements

One of the fastest ways to treat Epstein Barr is to add some supplements to your regime. I give all my mononucleosis patients vitamin A, C, E, zinc and selenium with great results. The B complex and magnesium are also beneficial to help repair the adrenal glands, improve energy levels and ensure a good night's sleep.

There are also some great herbs for the treatment of Epstein Barr. The best ones are Olive Leaf extract, echinacea, garlic and astragalus. The right amounts of nutrients and herbs for you will vary according to your age, the severity of your illness and how much food you're eating.

Mistake 7 - Resuming activities too early

Getting back into strenuous exercise or daily activities too early is a sure fire way to put you back at square one. Many people start to feel a little better, and rush back to their previous sport or work, only to find they get a relapse and start feeling awful again. The best advice I can give here is too take things slowly. Start off with some gentle walking and monitor how your body responds. Do an hour of housework or shopping and see how you feel. Perhaps go back to work or college for half a day and see how you cope. Build up slowly over a few weeks taking time to rest your body, eat well, take your supplements and drink plenty of water.

The Epstein Barr virus is a latent virus, so once you've had it, it can reappear if you overstress your body or do too much.

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What is Gallbladder Sludge?

2011-12-19T05:26:00.001-05:00

The gallbladder is an organ and it is there to store bile that builds up before it travels further to the small intestine where it plays a role in processing fats and neutralizing acids from foods that have been digested. Bile can build up in the gallbladder and particles can attach to other substances found there, such as calcium, salts or cholesterol from fats. Gallbladder sludge is the result of the combination of bile particles, calcium salts and cholesterol crystals. The sludge also builds up when certain other factors and conditions are present. For example, gallbladder sludge is especially prone to building up during pregnancy, crash dieting with fast weight loss or when certain medications are being taken. In most cases, however, the sludge forms with no particular reason at all behind it.

One problem that is directly caused by a build up of gallbladder sludge is the formation of gallstones. Whereas the sludge itself does not cause many symptoms at all, the gallstones can produce more severe pain and become a problem. The gallstones that form from the sludge that remains in the gallbladder can be small in size or large and the big sizes stones are the ones that cause the symptoms to appear. Other problems caused by sludge include an inflammation of the pancreas, inflammation of gallstones and obstruction of biliary ducts which provide passage for the bile to the small intestine.

For the majority of people that have a build up of gallbladder sludge, they will experience no adverse effects or symptoms at all. The only real symptoms that sludge cause are pains linked to vomiting and nausea. Finding sludge and determining that it is even there can only be done through an ultrasound examination or by testing the contents found in the bile itself. Since sludge and gallstones are usually asymptomatic, no medical treatment is necessary. Sometimes the gallbladder sludge dissolves on its own and disappears for reasons unknown to doctors. If the sludge remains and starts causing symptoms to appear and when large gallstones start developing, then the most effective treatment is to just remove the entire gallbladder.

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25 Health Benefits of Cinnamon - A Miraculous Spice

2011-12-18T05:17:00.001-05:00

Cinnamon is one of the world's oldest known spices. The tree is native to Sri Lanka where it was found thousands of years ago. It is the best spice available in terms of its nutrition and health. It contains unique healthy and healing property comes from the active components in the essential oils found in its bark. Cinnamon has extremely high anti-oxidant activity due to which it has numerous health benefits. Aside from being used as a medicine by other cultures since ancient times, the health benefits may also come from eating it which can be listed as follows:

1. Lowers Cholesterol:
Studies have shown that just 1/2 teaspoon of cinnamon included in a daily diet can lower cholesterol.
Also Cinnamon may significantly lower LDL "bad" cholesterol, and triglycerides (fatty acids in the blood) and total cholesterol.

2. Reduces blood sugar levels and treating Type 2 Diabetes:
Several studies have shown improved insulin sensitivity and blood glucose control by taking as little as ½ teaspoon of cinnamon per day. Improving insulin resistance can help in weight control as well as decreasing the risk for heart disease.

3. Heart Disease:
Cinnamon strengthens the cardiovascular system thereby shielding the body from heart related disorders. It is believed that the calcium and fiber present in cinnamon provides protection against heart diseases.

Including a little cinnamon in the food helps those suffering from coronary artery disease and high blood pressure.

4. Fights Cancer :
A study released by researchers at the U.S. Department of Agriculture in Maryland showed that cinnamon reduced the proliferation of leukemia and lymphoma cancer cells.

Besides, the combination of calcium and fiber found in Cinnamon can help to remove bile, which prevents damage to colon cells, thus prevents colon cancer.

5. Tooth decay and mouth freshener:
Cinnamon has traditionally been used to treat toothache and fight bad breath. Small pieces of cinnamon can be chewed, or gargled with cinnamon water which serves as a good mouth freshener.

6. Cures Respiratory Problems:
Cinnamon is very useful home remedy for common or severe colds. A person suffering should take one tablespoon of honey with 1/4 teaspoon cinnamon powder daily for 3 days. This process will cure most chronic cough, cold and clear the sinuses.

Cinnamon also found to cure flu, influenza, sore throat and congestion.

7. Brain Tonic:
Cinnamon boosts the activity of the brain and hence acts as a good brain tonic. It helps in removing nervous tension and memory loss.

Also, studies have shown that smelling cinnamon may boost cognitive function, memory, performance of certain tasks and increases one's alertness and concentration.
8. Infections:
Due to its antifungal, antibacterial, antiviral, anti-parasitic and antiseptic properties, it is effective on external as well as internal infections. Cinnamon has been found to be effective in fighting vaginal yeast infections, oral yeast infections, stomach ulcers and head lice.

9. Eases menstruation cycles:
Cinnamon has also been found useful for women's health as it helps in providing relief from menstrual cramping and other feminine discomforts.

10. Birth Control:
Cinnamon also helps in natural birth control. Regular consumption of cinnamon after child birth delays menstruation and thus helps in avoiding conception.

11. Breastfeeding:
It is also believed that cinnamon aids in the secretion of breast milk.

12. Reduces Arthritis Pain:
Cinnamon spice contains anti-inflammatory compounds which can be useful in reducing pain and inflammation associated with arthritis.

A study conducted at Copenhagen University, where patients were given half a teaspoon of cinnamon powder combined with one tablespoon of honey every morning had significant relief in arthritis pain after one week and could walk without pain within one month

13. Digestive Tonic:
Cinnamon should be added to most recipes. Apart from adding flavor to the food, it also aids in digestion. Cinnamon is very effective for indigestion, nausea, vomiting, upset stomach, diarrhea and flatulence. It is very helpful in removing gas from the stomach and intestines. It also removes acidity, diarrhea and morning sickness. It is often referred to as a digestive tonic.

14. Reduces Urinary tract infections:
People who eat cinnamon on a regular basis report a lower incidence of urinary tract infections. Cinnamon is diuretic in nature and helps in secretion and discharge of urine.

15. Anti clotting Actions:
A compound found in Cinnamon called as cinnamaldehyde has been well-researched for its effects on blood platelets. [Platelets are constituents of blood that are meant to clump together under emergency circumstances (like physical injury) as a way to stop bleeding, but under normal circumstances, they can make the blood flow inadequate if they clump together too much]. The cinnamaldehyde in cinnamon helps prevent unwanted clumping of blood platelets.

16. Natural Food Preserver:
When added to food, it prevents bacterial growth and food spoilage, making it a natural food preservative.

17. Headaches and migraine:
Headache due to the exposure to cold wind is readily cured by applying a thin paste of powdered cinnamon mixed in water on the temples & forehead.

18. Pimples and Blackheads:
Cinnamon helps in removing blood impurities. Therefore it is often recommended for pimples.

Also external application of paste of cinnamon powder with a few drops of fresh lemon juice over pimples & black heads would give beneficial result.

19. Thinning of the blood and improves blood circulation:
Cinnamon is a blood thinning agent which also acts to increase circulation. This blood circulation helps significantly in removing pain. Good blood circulation also ensures oxygen supply to the body cells leading to higher metabolic activity. You significantly reduce the chance of getting a heart attack by regularly consuming cinnamon.

20. Toning of tissues:
Considerable anecdotal evidence exists to suggest that cinnamon may have the ability to tone and constrict tissues in the body.

21. Muscle and joint pain relief:
Those who eat cinnamon on a regular basis often report that their muscle and joint pain, as well as stiffness, is reduced or even eliminated.

22. Immune System:
Honey and cinnamon paste is good for boosting the immune system, removing regular fatigue and increasing the longevity of an individual. It is also known to have anti-aging properties.

23. Itching:
Paste of honey and cinnamon is often used to treat insect bites.

24. It is a great source of manganese, fiber, iron, and calcium.

25. Healing: Cinnamon helps in stopping bleeding. Therefore it facilitates the healing process.

Indeed, cinnamon has several health benefits as highlighted above that can be used to improve one's health and boost one's immune system. This is a great reason to keep some cinnamon around. Sprinkle it in your tea or coffee, over oatmeal or a sweet potato and, this will do wonders to your health.

[However, there's a word of warning to be taken that over dosage of cinnamon may be unwise. Also it is not recommended for pregnant women.

Also, people who have been prescribed medication to manage their blood sugar should not reduce or discontinue their dose and take cinnamon instead, especially without consulting your doctor.]

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Universal Health Care - Ethical Issues in Health Care Reform

2011-12-17T11:26:00.001-05:00

Universal health care seems to be a hotly debated topic whenever health care reform in the United States is discussed.

Those who maintain that health is an individual responsibility do not want a system that requires them to contribute tax dollars to support fellow citizens who do not act responsibly in protecting or promoting their own health. They argue that they want the freedom to choose their own physicians and treatments, and suggest that government cannot know what is best for them. These people argue that preserving the current system with improvements to provide better insurance coverage for citizens who remain uninsured or under insured for their medical care needs is the only reform that is needed.

Those who believe health care is an individual right support a universal health care system with the argument that every citizen deserves to have access to the right care at the right time and that a government's responsibility is to protect its citizens, sometimes even from themselves.

Two opposing arguments arising from two opposing ideologies. Both are good arguments but neither can be the supporting argument for implementing or denying universal health care. The matter must be resolved through an ethical framework.

Examination of the ethical issues in health care reform would require consideration of much different arguments than those already presented. Ethical issues would center on the moral right. Discussion would begin with not "What is best for me?" but rather "How should we as a society be acting so that our actions are morally correct?"

Ethics refers to determining right and wrong in how humans relate to one another. Ethical decision making for health care reform then would require human beings to act in consideration of our relationships to each other not our own individual interests.

Examination of some of the common ethical decision making theories can provide a foundation for a different perspective than one that is solely concerned with individual rights and freedoms.

Ethical decision making requires that specific questions be answered in order to decide on whether intended actions are good or morally correct. Here are some questions that could be used in ethical decision making for health care reform.

What action will bring the most good to the most people?
What action in and of itself is a good act and helps us to fulfill our duties, obligations, and responsibilities to each other?
What action in and of itself shows caring and concern for all citizens?

As the answer to all these questions, universal health care can always be considered the right thing to do.

The United States is in the most advantageous position there is when it comes to health care reform. They are the only developed country without a national health care system in place for all citizens. They have the opportunity to learn from the mistakes that have been made by all the other countries that have already gone down the universal health care road. They have an opportunity to design a system that can shine as a jewel in the crown of universal health care systems everywhere.

However, all ethical decision making is structured around values. In order for universal health care to be embraced by all citizens in the United States, they will first have to agree to the collective value of equity and fairness and embrace the goal of meeting their collective responsibility to each other while maintaining individual rights and freedoms. That may prove to be the most difficult obstacle of all.

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What is the Difference Between Regular Flu and Swine Flu?

2011-12-16T16:58:00.001-05:00

Are you, like so many, wondering what's the difference between regular flu and swine flu? This article will give you some simple answers.

The Virus: What is the Difference between Regular Flu Virus and the H1N1 Virus?

When we speak of regular (or seasonal) flu, it refers to one of three major types of flu (Influenza type A, B, C) endemic to the human population.

The H1N1 or Swine Flu virus originates with animals. It is a flu which came from a mutation in an animal strain but is transmitted to humans. These animals strains normally come from birds (H5N1) or pigs (H1N1). In this case, the current pig flu appears to have originated this spring near Vera Cruz, Mexico.

Danger Levels: Why is Swine Flu More Dangerous than Regular Flu?

Because no one in the world had been exposed to this new strain of H1N1 (Swine) flu before the first cases appeared in Mexico in April 2009. Therefore, most of the population has no protection against this new virus. That's why it is so important to get vaccinated when the vaccine becomes available.

Vaccinations: Will Vaccination for Regular Flu Protect Against Swine Flu?

No. It does not appear regular flu vaccine will fight off this pig flu.

Vaccine: What is the Difference Between Regular Flu Vaccine and Swine Flu Vaccine?

Regular Flu Vaccine generally is made up of a combination of the 3 common human flu viruses. H1N1 Flu Vaccine is made up of just the H1N1 virus.

Symptoms: What is the difference in Symptoms Between Regular Flu and Swine Flu?

The initial symptoms appear to be the same: Coughing, sneezing, fever, aches and pains and general fatigue. Some people also develop vomiting and diarrhea.

However, with H1N1 within five days it is possible to have the onset of severe respiratory symptoms that progress to pneumonia or other life-threatening complications.

High Risk Groups: Are the People with the Highest Risk Factors the Same in Regular Flu as in Swine Flu?

No. Regular Flu is particularly dangerous to the elderly and anyone with a weakened immune system. Younger, healthier people usually bounce right back from regular flu without any serious side effects.

With the H1N1 pig flu, however, those over age 65 do not appear to be at risk of catching it or having serious complications. This might be because they developed a residual immunity from similar animal flu strains they were exposed in the past.

On the other hand, information analyzed by CDC concludes that the H1N1 flu is likely more dangerous to people younger than 25 years of age.

Diagnosis: How Can I Tell if I have Regular Flu or Swine Flu?

Your doctor or health professional will give you a simple swab test to confirm the infection. It takes a few days to get the results back.

Treatment: What is the Difference in Treatment Between Regular Flu and Swine Flu?

First off, always follow the advice of your doctor. Seek his or her advice to insure you are getting the best, most up to date treatment

It now appears that treatment for most people will be the same. This includes avoiding dehydration by taking in plenty of fluids, use of over-the-counter medications to help relieve coughing and congestion, and getting plenty of rest.

Your doctor may also suggest you take antiviral drugs. It appears the drugs Relenza and Tamiflu are somewhat effective against the swine flu virus, especially if taken within 48 hours from the development of your first symptoms. These antiviral drugs may reduce the severity of the flu which should help prevent serious complications.

If you have a sick child you need to watch him/her very closely. Keep your child hydrated. If he/se seems overly lethargic, or have developed any breathing difficulty, call your pediatrician immediately.

What Symptoms Could Arise that make Swine Flu More Dangerous than Regular Flu?

While the initial symptoms may be the same, if you have swine flu it is possible that within five days to develop the onset of severe respiratory symptoms that progress to pneumonia or other life-threatening complications.

In Conclusion

In April of 2009 the World Health Organization had raised the flu pandemic warning level from 4 to 5, meaning that governments should immediately prepare for the possible emergence of a global pandemic. Infections reported around the world, including the United States, have reminded health officials of previous periods of pandemic influenza that claimed tens of millions of lives. As these earlier episodes loom in the minds, they are determined not to ignore the lessons of history.

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Swine Flu Vaccine - How to Protect Yourself From Nasal Flu Vaccine Side Effects

2011-12-16T03:09:00.001-05:00

Why is it that every night on the news, we see vials of H1N1 vaccine injections rolling down the assembly line, yet when we see video footage of actual vaccination administrations, children are being sprayed with a mist in the nose? Have you ever had a nasal spray vaccine? Probably not, since this is a very new medical technology. The 2009 H1N1 swine flu vaccines finally being shipped out to city health departments across the country consist mostly of the H1N1 spray mist vaccine, known as FluMist. As a parent myself, I want to know what FluMist is and what it's risks are.. So I went digging. Here is my report:

What is FluMist Vaccine and Is It Safe?

The FluMist vaccine contains a living swine flu virus that is modified (attenuated is the medical term) in such a way that it only infects the nose and throat. There are two reasons for this: first, the H1N1 virus only becomes deadly when it works its way into the lungs; second, the nose and throat are cooler than the lungs and the FluMist virus dies under high temperatures. When the flu spray is administered in to the nose, it remains in the nasal area where the body begins to develop anti-bodies to it.

As good as this may seem, the very big concern we all should keep in mind is the fact that a live virus is being spray up our children's noses. Think about this for a minute. A dead virus is relatively harmless, but a live virus is a live virus. And it remains living (contagious) for as much as 21 days. The possible side effects published for the H1N1 nasal vaccine are runny nose, cough, and sore throat, quite similar to the common cold. Cold symptoms may seem like a small price to pay in lieu of getting a full-blown, potentially fatal form of the swine flu.

The essential fact to weigh in on is the infectious nature of the nasal flu spray. Many parents may be tempted to have their kids innoculated with the vaccine spray and then send them out with a feeling of security to their schools and playgrounds, where the virus they have just inhaled can be spread. While it's true and can be argued that the flu virus is only the mild variety -- not the lethal form that requires hospitalization -- it's too soon to say if indeed the modification of this living virus contained in the spray really does stay in the nose and throat, and never makes its way to the lungs. There's no two ways about it, the flu mist does have risks, some of which are untested and unknown.

If you are planning to get a flu vaccine, you will do well to look at these risks. Many of the health professionals I have spoken with, including one at the Mayo Clinic, say that with proper information and precautions, the H1N1 flu spray can be a good idea. Here are the key points they say to keep in mind:

There are 3 forms of the H1N1 vaccine: 1) the vaccine spray mist, 2) single-dose injectable vaccine, and 3) multiple-dose injectable vaccine. Of the 3, the safest is the single-dose flu shot. Because it's a single use dosage, it does not contain the preservative Thiosermal, which contains mercury. The multiple-dose shot does contain mercury, and though it's a relatively small amount and is probably not toxic to most people, it can be harmful to some.

If the swine flu vaccine is available in your town or from your doctor, find out which type of vaccine they are dispensing. The truth of the matter is, you probably won't have a choice of the 3, but if you know in advance which form of the vaccine is available to you, there are precautions you can take to minimize adverse effects of any of the vaccines. Call the clinic that is dispensing the vaccine where you live and ask which type they are giving.

If they are giving the single dose injection, count yourself as lucky. If you get this vaccine, there is not a lot you have to do to minimize side effects other than keep your physical activity, stress and exposure to extreme cold down for several days.

If the multiple dose is available, weigh the fact that a small amount of mercury is contained in the vaccine. This virus is a dead virus, which means it is not transmittable. You might have some mild side effects. To prevent these, minimize your physical activity, stress and exposure to cold for at least a few days. Boost your immune system with additional Vitamin C and antioxidants.

If the flu mist is available, reread this article. If you or your children do choose to get the flu mist vaccine, keep in mind that you will be contagious for as many as 21 days. Keep away from public areas as much as possible, wash your hands regularly and always after blowing your nose or rubbing your eyes, always blow your nose into a Kleenex, and always cough into a Kleenex or into your shirt sleeve. If you start to feel cold-like symptoms, treat it like an illness and not simply a few side effects. Drink lots of fluids, take zinc and Vitamin C throughout the day, rest as much as possible, and don't eat congesting foods (dairy especially) until you feel better.

Finally, talk to other parents and anyone else you know who has or knows someone who has had any form of the swine flu vaccine. Ask them about the side effects and any suspicion of contagion. The swine flu mist vaccine is still in a proving stage, and it was rushed to market. Don't be gullible to the fact that a large-scale use of the flu mist vaccination is a fantastic financial and scientific testing opportunity for the vaccine's maker, Medimmune. It's your choice if you want to participate in the test.

I encourage you to get informed about the swine flu and vaccine.

The Interesting History of the Nasal Spray Flu Vaccine

I spoke to dozens of people, and none outside the health community has ever heard of spray mist vaccine. The production of a spray vaccine has been a quiet process, initiated by the pharmaceutical company Medimmune, who got permission in 2002 to market an inhalable vaccine. FluMist went to market in 2003 when Medimmune made a deal with Wal-Mart to offer a spray mist vaccination right in the store as a convenient courtesy to shoppers with children. Since the dose is pre-measured in a syringe that needs no needle, this vaccination is not painful to give, does not require an alcohol swabbing, and does not have the issue of disposable needles.

This seeming miracle vaccination immediately met with opposition. A little-known feature of the spray vaccine is that it was made with a live virus, not a dead virus, which is used in all flu shots. The worry in 2003 was that because FluMist contained a live virus, it could make vaccinated children sick and carry that infection to others. Both were true.

Use of the nasal flu vaccination on a wide-spread scale in the U.S. was abandoned. Parents rightly expect a flu vaccination to be a preventive measure, not a potentially harmful one. Medimmune took its spray mist vaccine to the third world, where the need for a needle-free inoculation was greater and where the for its safety were lower. In countries and cultures where there is shortage of needles, lack of refrigeration for injectable vaccine serum, and superstitious fears of injection, the nasal mist seemed to be a great idea and a true life-saver. In these communities, the danger of illness from a vaccine spray is much smaller than a lethal contagion where modern medical care is not available The cost-to-benefit ratio of a spray vaccine containing a live virus is much higher in the third world than first world countries.

America should have seen the last of the live virus flu spray, an experiment that didn't meet our medical standards. But because the spray is easy to make and dispense, coupled with the overwhelming demand for vaccinations during the height of the swine flu season, we are seeing the H1N1 FluMist ship out by the truckloads.

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Probiotics Fight Cold and Flu

2011-12-15T11:55:00.001-05:00

Encouraging results from recent studies indicate that probiotics may be beneficial in the prevention of contracting colds and flu, reducing the severity if contracted and boosting the immune system. The word "probiotic" comes from the Greek, "for life."

These live microorganisms are "good" bacteria that promote growth of other microorganisms in the intestinal tract. The United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) and World Health Organization (WHO) define probiotics as: "Live microorganisms, which when administered in adequate amounts, confer a health benefit on the host"

Russian Nobel Prize winner Elie Metchnikoff noted during his work at the Pasteur Institute in the early twentieth century that particular microbes ingested with food helped to replace harmful bacteria with good bacteria in the gut. His study identified live-culture yoghurt as a vehicle for better health and longer life span in Balkan peasants. Other early researchers noted the presence of good bacteria in healthy people and the effect of good bacteria in assisting the treatment of diarrhoea.

More recent scientific studies suggest that the use of probiotics may be of benefit in promoting health, preventing disease and in strengthening the body's immune responses. A stronger immune system helps to maintain heath and reduce occurrence of illness. Several strains of lactobacilli and bifidobacteria available in food products such as yoghurt and as dietary supplements have been shown to have positive effects on immune strengthening.

Consumer demand for natural and safe remedies for ailments such as colds and flu has spurred research to evaluate the effectiveness of using probiotics as a preventative to these illnesses. A double-blind study in 2001 with children in day care centres in Finland demonstrated that consumption of probiotic milk containing Lactobacillus rhamnosus resulted in fewer cases of respiratory tract infections and subsequent need for antibiotic treatment.

Another double-blind study in Sweden in 2005 examined the effects of taking probiotic Lactobacillus reuteri protectis as a preventative for colds and diarrhoea in healthy adults in a work environment. The study showed that individuals taking probiotics took sixty percent fewer sick leave days for respiratory illness and diarrhoea.

A third double-blind study, conducted in 2009 by an international team of researchers, demonstrated that administration twice daily for six months of probiotics Lactobacillus acidophilus, or a combination of Bifidobacterium animalis subsp lactis and Lactobacillus acidophilus reduced the incidence of fever, cough and rhinitis in young children.

A study in 2006 examined the effect on immune system health when fermented foods were removed from the diet of healthy adults. The results indicated that immune responses were lowered, affecting the body's ability to fight infection. The reintroduction of yogurt containing standard probiotic bacteria or non-food lactobacilli counteracted these effects. Researchers are encouraged by these results and recommend continued rigorous studies to substantiate the health benefits of probiotics indicated by these data.

The human intestines are host to more than 400 types of microorganisms. The different strains of probiotics interact with the natural flora of the intestinal tract in unique ways. Thus, no two strains will have the same effect in the body. The International Scientific Association for Probiotics and Prebiotics has identified several species and strains that have proven probiotic microorganisms. They also list a set of guidelines for safe selection of commercial products that include probiotic ingredients. When considering taking alternative treatments such as probiotics, it is recommended to consult a medical practitioner, particularly when being treated for illness.

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Mercury and Aluminum Present in Flu Shots?

2011-12-14T13:33:00.001-05:00

Many people, including some health care practitioners are concerned about mercury and aluminum present in flu shots. This is not a new concern for those who are against flu shots, but it is relevant as the flu season approaches.

The major concern about mercury and aluminum present in flu shots arises from concerns about Alzheimer's and autism. Even among those people who are not against flu shots, some are against mercury and aluminum present in flu shots. Recently, New York State passed a law banning the preservative thimerosal from flu shots and other vaccines meant for children and pregnant women. Thimerosal is mercury based and is known to cause allergic reactions in many people. On top of that, mercury is a known neurotoxin, meaning that it damages nerve cells, and has been linked to autism.

New York State is not against flu shots. In recent years, New York City and other areas of New York have had problems obtaining enough flu vaccine for high risk citizens. The ban came after several studies linked an increase in cases of autism (a condition which is first noted in childhood and is characterized by deficits in communication and social interaction as well as language and learning impairments) to vaccines and flu shots containing thimerosal. Some health care professionals still maintain that the risk of complications from the flu are greater than the risks that may be associated with mercury and aluminum present in flu shots.

Some people are against flu shots, in general, because they or someone close to them had a reaction to the flu shot. Sometimes it is a mild reaction, such as a mild case of the flu. Sometimes it is a more serious condition that may be due to mercury and aluminum present in flu shots. Several people blame the onset of their Chronic Fatigue Syndrome on mercury and aluminum present in flu shots.

It is important to note that these cases are rare. While complications arising form the flu, particularly pneumonia, caused over 60,000 deaths in 2003 in the United States, there were only a few reported cases of complications arising from the flu shot and none of those were life threatening. People who are against flu shots in general focus on the rare, but severe reactions to the vaccine and on the mercury and aluminum present in flu shots. People who are not against flu shots focus on the number of deaths each year that are caused by the flu virus.

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Asbestosis Symptoms

2011-12-13T18:52:00.001-05:00

Asbestos - 'the magical mineral' has been used world-wide as a protective material. However since the early 1900's it became known it presented a clear risk to health.

From exposure a sufferer may be diagnosed with a number of associated asbestos related diseases.
Pleural Plaques, Pleural Thickening, Asbestosis, Lung Cancer and the fatal Mesothelioma.
All present differing symptoms.

Let us take a closer look at Asbestosis

Typically Asbestosis does not tend to show symptoms for many years, often between 25 and 40 years from exposure. The main symptom is difficulty breathing namely a shortness of breath, initially on exertion but later even at rest. Others symptoms may include tiredness, a cough, chest tightness and chest pain.
A less common symptom results in the ends of fingers becoming swollen, misshaped and red due to a fluid build-up, a condition known as finger clubbing.

Diagnosing Asbestosis

Generally a GP will ask a patient about their symptoms including listening to the lungs using a stethoscope. If lungs have been damages by asbestos they will make a distinctive cracking noise. Following, the GP will ask about work history and may well suspect asbestos exposure at this point. Additional testing will help to confirm Asbestosis and include:

Spirometer - used to test how efficient lungs work
X Ray - to detect abnormality in the lung and lining of the lung
CT Scan - offers more detail than x ray
Treatment of Asbestosis consists of four main areas:

Quit smoking if a smoker.
Vaccination against dangerous conditions, such as flu.
Medicines to assist breathing.
Equipment, again to assist breathing, particularly oxygen masks, ventilators etc.
Life expectancy of an Asbestosis sufferer

Life expectancy depends much on whether or not the patient develops a more serious asbestos related disease such as Mesothelioma. It is possible for patients diagnosed with asbestosis to die prematurely, but if the disease mutates into a cancer such as Mesothelioma, a patient's life expectancy is decreased dramatically. Complications that reduce life expectancy for an asbestosis sufferer include:

Asthma
Pneumonia
Heart Disease
Diabetes
In some patients the effect of the disease causes only mild symptoms, whereas in other patients the disease reduces the flow of oxygen which can be fatal in some cases.

In the UK asbestos related diseases are due to peak around 2015 with over 2000 fatalities a year.

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Dog Parvo Symptoms

2011-12-12T19:35:00.001-05:00

Speak of Parvovirus and you will scare any pet lover. This lethal and threatening virus has been the culprit behind the deaths of millions of puppies and dogs. Once a dog is infected with this, you must likely panic and make way to kill the parvovirus. Dogs have to get through survival of the fittest and be parvovirus-free.

Majority of dogs get parvovirus through intestinal infections but you must be aware of dog parvo symptoms and take action at the earliest chance.

Dog parvo symptoms are experienced when your dog has ingested a form a virus that is present in contaminated feces and soil. Once this accumulates in your dog's lymphatic system, it triggers the parvovirus to ruin the physical bodily systems. Some intestinal dog parvo indicators are noticeable when your healthy dog suddenly becomes weak and uninterested to mingle around. This early sign could be enough to alarm you to have your dog checked.

When you see your dog vomiting violently without you being able to control it, then he must be sick. Dog parvo symptoms are also manifested in the severity of diarrhea. Your dog will likely dispose every now and then even if his tract is cleaned already. There are cases when the bowel spasms are mixed with blood.

Generally, dog parvo symptoms are detected earlier than the parvovirus could worsen the situation. These signs include absence of appetite, anxiety and depression and loneliness. All dogs are naturally affectionate and playful with their owners. When you see your little puppy secluding himself in a lonely spot or not eating his favorite food, then he must have been inflicted with parvovirus. So you must seek the advice of your veterinarian.

High fever can also be attributed by high presence of parvovirus in your dog, so you must be alarmed when this thing happens. Before dog parvo symptoms could thoroughly ruin the dog's dividing cells and threaten the rest of the body tissues, you have to give treatments prescribed by your vet. Mostly, puppies are largely inflicted by this virus because of their low immune system. Canine parvovirus is contagious among dogs through contact with feces, so you must be on the lookout of your dog's whereabouts.

Giving your dog's vaccinations can protect him from getting parvovirus and show dog parvo symptoms. Do not wait until your dog's life is endangered. Usually, parvovirus will tend to dehydrate your dog. There are cases when dogs obtain the virus from a bird that lays feces on the backyard. If you don't ensure the cleanliness of your surroundings, there is a chance that your dog could be contacted to the bird's feces that contains the virus. You also have to provide clean water to your dogs from time to time because there are instance when water contains parvovirus.

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Treating Sinus Pressure Symptoms

2011-12-12T01:48:00.001-05:00

One of the most uncomfortable health issues that many people experience every year are sinus pressure symptoms. These can be mild, causing a slight headache and stuffy nose, to severe causing sharp pain throughout the face, head, and neck. Sinus pain is caused when the sinus cavities located on each side of the nose, between the eyes, and the forehead become inflamed and swollen. The swollen and inflamed cavities also prevent mucus from draining properly, resulting in a stuffy nose.

Are Allergies Causing Your Sinus Pressure Symptoms?

There are many causes for sinus pressure, but the most common are allergies and colds. For people with allergies, allergens like pollen, mold or dust will irritate the nasal passages and sinuses causing inflammation. Most people can find relief by simply taking allergy medication like Claritin, Zyrtec or Benadryl. This blocks the body's reaction, histamine, to the irritants. However, these medications will not relieve sinus pressure if it already exists. A medication like Sudafed or Advil should be used to reduce swelling and pain.

Could It Be The Cold or The Flu?

Colds and flus will also cause sinus pressure and pain. They cause the pressure by excess buildup of mucus in the nasal and sinus cavities. When the sinuses are blocked with mucus, they become very susceptible to infection, so it is important to treat these sinus pressure symptoms immediately. Sudafed will relieve the pressure from a cold or flu. Using a saline spray, neti pot, or sinus rinse will help to clear the sinus cavities of excess mucus and irritants.

Could You Have A Sinus Infection?

Sinus infections are extremely painful and will cause severe headaches, nasal discharge and eye or facial pain. Because this is an infection, treatment will often require prescription antibiotics from a doctor. If the infection is from a virus then the only option will be to wait it out. Fungal sinus infections exist as well. Your doctor may have to prescribe you with a prescription anti fungal treatment.

Natural Home Remedies For Sinus Pressure Symptoms

Fortunately, for people who like to avoid medications when possible, there is a new system called The 24 Hour Sinus Infection Breakthrough. This book describes natural remedies and methods to quickly and easily treat sinus infections without medication or even a trip to the doctor. Most people feel relief from the sinus pain and symptoms within minutes and the relief will last.

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The Stomach Flu Diet

2011-12-11T12:59:00.001-05:00

If you have ever had food poisoning or a stomach bug then you understand how much pain you may have to endure and the horrible side effect known as diarrhea. This can really affect your life and I mean immediately. If you are into any fitness regiment the stomach flu puts all this fitness activity on hold. I just came down with a horrific stomach bug and usually they are gone in a couple days.

Sadly, I am now on day 9 and my doctor said they are lasting up to 3 weeks these days. If you eat the wrong thing you will experience tremendous pain in your gastrointestinal tract for a few hours as well as surrender to one more session of diarrhea.

Here is the diet that doctors recommend. It is called BRATT. It stands for bananas, rice, applesauce, toast, and tea. It is very bland and virtually a fat free diet. I would advise that you take a high-quality multivitamin / mineral throughout the time of your illness because your diet will be void of many necessary nutrients. If you do not have much of an appetite and can drink only liquids, you can try boiled starches and cereals (potatoes, noodles, rice, wheat, and oats) with salt. Also recommended for water diarrhea; crackers, bananas, soup, and boiled vegetables may also be eaten.

Occasionally there can be a short-term lactose intolerance after you have these illnesses. For a couple of weeks after the illness you should lessen or avoid lactose containing foods like milk and ice cream, basically all milk products. You could momentarily replace them with some of the lactose free products on the market.

You also should drink plenty of fluids to restore the rapid loss of liquids caused by the diarrhea. The best choice is a watered down fruit juice with a a small number of saltine crackers. If your urine is yellow then you must boost your fluid drinking dramatically.

If you want to evaluate an over the counter anti-diarrhea medication you can try either Loperamide (Imodium) or Bismuth (Pepto-Bismol). These can help coat the stomach and reduce some of the associated pain . For more information and up to date medical articles written by doctors, you can visit UpToDate.Com which is referenced by many doctors and is a very valuable resource. There you will find more in-depth information for stomach illnesses and prevention.

One final note, make sure to wash your hands a lot as it is the solitary way to avoid spreading the illness to your family. Eat BRATT and drink plenty of fluids and you will be back to normal within a couple weeks! You can get back to your normal lifestyle and fitness programs.

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Epstein Barr Syndrome Treatment

2011-12-10T18:18:00.001-05:00

Epstein Barr Syndrome is caused by the Epstein Barr virus - the same virus that is responsible for mononucleosis (mono) or glandular fever.

EBV syndrome is transmitted by direct contact with virus-infected saliva, mainly through kissing, although it can be picked up from sharing drinks, eating utensils, lipsticks etc., or through blood transfusions. The syndrome is most common in teenagers. The majority of people have had it by age 40. Children can pick it up, and in these cases it can go undiagnosed or passed off as a cold or flu virus. When EBV occurs in patients over 40, the symptoms can be more debilitating and prolonged.

Typical EBV symptoms involve a sore throat, fever, swollen glands and tiredness. There may be other viral symptoms like headache, body aches, poor appetite, runny nose, cough, loose stools, sensitivity to light and enlargement of the liver and spleen. Complications of the EBV syndrome are rare but can include rupture of the spleen, pericarditis, hepatitis, anemia, nerve damage, a decrease in blood platelets, pneumonia and Chronic Fatigue Syndrome.

Symptoms usually appear 30-50 days after exposure to the virus, although in some cases the symptoms can take months to manifest. In most cases, the syndrome is self-limiting, lasting only a couple of weeks. However in some people the illness can become recurrent or chronic, lasting months or years. In these cases the most common lingering complaint is fatigue.

Epstein Barr Syndrome is diagnosed according to antibody blood tests, white blood cell levels plus a person's age, symptoms and a physical examination.

The conventional medical treatment is rest and fluids. Painkillers may be recommended if there is a lot of discomfort or disruption of sleep patterns. In severe cases corticosteroids may be prescribed if there is compromised breathing or severe inflammation

The Epstein Barr virus is a member of the herpes virus so can recur when the body is run down or under stress. An Epstein Barr Syndrome cure is focused on eliminating symptoms and ensuring that the syndrome does not return. Fortunately alternative medicine has a lot to offer in terms of boosting the immune system, reducing symptoms and keeping the virus at bay in the long term.

Natural treatments for Epstein Barr Syndrome include high dose nutrients like vitamin C, zinc, selenium, CoQ10, magnesium and the B complex. Herbs like echinacea, oregano, olive leaf extract and astragalus are commonly used to support the immune and lymphatic system. If the liver and spleen are affected then the herbs red root and milk thistle are traditionally used.

Diet for EBV is based around a high protein diet which is low in sugar, alcohol, coffee and processed foods. Anti-inflammatory foods like fish oils, garlic, ginger and turmeric are useful in relieving symptoms. Antioxidant foods including green leafy vegetables, fresh juices, green tea, berries and lemons are a useful addition to a healthy, immune-boosting diet.

In chronic Epstein Barr Syndrome, treatment needs to focus on cleansing the virus from the liver and lymphatic system. This approach requires the combination of a liver tonic or cleanser with a pure diet and plenty of fluids to flush the virus and toxins away from the body. People who have had the virus for months or years also need to work on their adrenal glands. In chronic Epstein Barr Syndrome the adrenals are often exhausted and need to be nurtured and revitalized through correct nutrition, stress management, graded exercise and plenty of rest.

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Common Sinus Pressure Symptoms

2011-12-10T04:51:00.001-05:00

Sinus cavities are a very important part of the body. Infection or inflammation in the cavities can cause immense pain and pressure. Sinus pressure refers to the pressure caused by an inflamed, infected or mucous filled sinus cavity. Sinus pressure symptoms are similar to symptoms of a common cold which do not respond to common medication which is usually given for a cold. Sinus pressure can also be caused due to an allergy of some kind. People living in dusty areas complain of sinus more often.

There are four main sinus cavities in the body. They are located on either side of the nose, behind and in-between the eyes, and in the forehead. Each sinus cavity has an opening into the nose for the exchange of air and mucous. When the cavities get filled with mucous it creates a perfect breeding ground for bacteria.

Some of the most common sinus pressure symptoms include severe nasal congestion and yellowish green discharge which is thick because it contains pus. Pain in the teeth is also very normal. This pain increases when you bend over. Symptoms may vary however, depending on the sinuses involved.

Sinus pressure symptoms normally occur for about ten days and they may carry on for a longer period if a cold or flu occurs. They normally worsen after five to seven days. In some cases fever also occurs. Fever is more common in children than in adults therefore it is not a very reliable way of diagnosing sinus pressure.

Far more severe sinus pressure symptoms are terrible headaches, pain or pressure in specific areas of the face and redness in the eyes. Bulging and painful eyes also occur if the sinus infection occurs around the eyes. In some cases, the patients also have double vision or even temporary vision loss. A persistent cough (especially during the day), fever and fatigue are also symptoms of sinus pressure. The most common symptom of sinus pressure is facial pain.

Rare complications along with sinusitis can produce additional symptoms, which may be severe or life threatening. It is very important to treat sinus pressure symptoms quickly before they get unbearably painful.

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Stomach Flu Symptoms Treated With Homeopathic Medicine

2011-12-09T14:28:00.001-05:00

Stomach flu symptoms include any digestive symptoms, but most commonly are nausea, vomiting and diarrhea. Rather like food poisoning, but instead of bacteria being the (medical view) cause, it's a virus.

Homeopaths don't look upon bacteria and viruses in the same way.

Homeopaths use symptoms, like no other modality, to find the most appropriate homeopathic medicine for you. The closer the medicine is to your unique symptoms, the better the match and so the better the outcome.

Stomach flu symptoms can vary widely. And each combination will probably need a different homeopathic medicine. For example, if you experience some of the following symptoms:

a burning pain in your stomach
vomiting
may have diarrhea at the same time
feel utterly exhausted
can only manage to take small sips of water, even though you're thirsty
your head feels hot, but your body is cold

the chances are that the homeopathic medicine Arsenicum album, available in home prescribing kits as well as at local health shops, is likely to pull you out of the flu completely.

But if you experience some of the following symptoms:

your stomach pain is worse for the smallest movement
you feel nauseous when rising up
your stomach is sensitive to touch
a severe headache is mostly located over your left eye
a huge thirst for large amounts infrequently
you feel faint or dizzy when rising up

then the homeopathic medicine Bryonia is likely to resolve your particular type of flu.

There are many more homeopathic medicines for stomach flu, for flu and for every other imaginable disease you might have. This is because homeopaths don't look at the disease label. Homeopaths need your unique symptoms to work out an effective medicine for you.

Get it wrong and nothing happens. It's not as if the wrong kidney is removed. Or that you had serious side effects to a drug you were allergic to.

Just nothing happens. It doesn't engraft on you. It simply slips over the top.

How safe is that?

At best, you recover so quickly and easily, it's hard to imagine you really were that sick. At worst, nothing happens.

Which is an opportunity to find the really appropriate medicine.

Purchase yourself a home prescribing homeopathic kit or a winter ailment homeopathic kit and you'll be prepared for almost any type of stomach flu symptoms you or your family is likely to experience.

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Staying Healthy During the Cold & Flu Season

2011-12-09T01:12:00.001-05:00

So, in many places here in the U.S., including where I reside here in Northeastern Ohio, it's the dead of winter, and that means more than just blustery cold days, snow and ice. It means the cold and flu season is upon us, full boar, and it's up to us and our immune systems to keep the nasty bugs at bay.

In an interesting discovery recently reported in the news, it was uncovered that the reason for the cold winter months being the worst time for colds and flu viruses to spread is that these respiratory and stomach/digestive viruses actually have a protective coating on them that works best in the cold.

This protective coating that stays intact in the cold, and sort of "melts away" in the heat may explain why viruses are better able to stay intact and infect more people during colder months, and when people tend to stay indoors and spread germs more readily.

A partial explanation may also be the sun's heat and radiation have a destructive effect on this coating, and therefore may destroy them before they can enter bodies and infect the respiratory and digestive tracts of humans.

But can we really increase our odds of NOT getting colds and flu during the season when these germs are most likely to come in contact with us? Well, yes, there are plenty of ways for us to increase our immunity and bone up our defenses against their infiltration.

One surefire way to increase immunity is to be sure you are eating properly. Eating a diet high in fat and sugar can actually help to facilitate the weakening of the immune system by promoting inflammation of cells and making it easier for viruses to disrupt our normal flow of activity within the body.

On of my favorite ways to stay healthy is by increasing my antioxidant intake, by eating more fruits like blueberries, raspberries, and a berry called acai, which is just now being touted as a miracle fruit both for it's high antioxidant count as well as it's natural source of omega 3 fatty acids.

Drinking juices that are derived from citrus fruits like oranges and lemons is also a good way to help boost the immune system. You can also perhaps choose to include an immune boosting supplement such as Echinacea, which many believe enhances the body's natural capabilities in fighting off germs and viruses such as the cold and flu that so often have the opportunity to infect us in the winter.

Many people, including myself, swear by vitamin C as an excellent immune system booster, and consider a part of their daily diet. Guess what, if you believe that anything works, chances are it does, regardless of it's chemical interaction in the body, because the mind is a very powerful thing when it wants to be, and has a huge connection to our actual physical health.

Some also swear by ACV, or Apple Cider Vinegar, in it's pure form, because of something that is found in the organic version of the product called "the mother" which is a substance found in ACV that may have multiple benefits to human health, including immune system enhancement, weight loss, and many other health uses. I once heard someone say that they take a couple teaspoons of organic ACV every day and they never get sick. It's something to think about!

Exercise, believe it or not, is a huge immune system booster, and it has been scientifically proven that active people get sick much less when compared with sedentary people. This is starting to sound like a weight loss article now, but there is a huge connection between exercise and wellness, not just exercise and staying in a size 6 pair of jeans, and for the guys, battling bulging bellies.

It may be in part because exercise increases the amount of feel good chemicals in the brain, called endorphins, and since our bodies are very in tune with how our minds are doing, and depression is linked with actual physical illness many times, this explains why exercise not only fends off depression, but also fends off illness.

A common sense approach to avoiding catching these viruses in the first place is to make sure you minimize your contact with things that many other hands have touched, such as banisters on stairs in public places, door knobs in public places, and especially if you're in a place where there have been a lot of children, be careful what you touch.

Also, be sure to wash your hands fairly often, and if you'd like you can even keep a bottle of hand sanitizer close by in case you can't wash your hands after touching some common area in a public place.

Just taking a few extra precautions in the winter months that are called "cold and flu season", can help ensure that you are both minimally exposed and adequately prepared to handle any "foreign invasions" to your immune system.

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Xylitol and Diabetes Treatment

2011-12-08T13:02:00.001-05:00

When diabetics eat too much refined sugar or refined carbohydrates their bodies respond by releasing too much glucose. Then the pancreas must respond to the increased blood sugar by making more insulin and moving it into the cells where it can be used for energy. When too much glucose is in the cells on a regular basis then the insulin secreted to deal with it is not as effective. This is insulin resistance and many Americans suffer from this problem. Those with diabetes, high cholesterol, hypertension, high triglyceride levels, and other health problems are more than likely dealing with insulin resistance.

Since the mid 1900s we have been consuming more refined sugar and not surprising the percentage of individuals with type 2 diabetes has increased significantly. The higher the sugar content of the diet and the lower the fiber content means that the risk of developing type 2 diabetes is increased by more than 200%. Too much sugar also impacts heart health and is the cause of heart disease in both sexes.

Fortunately, we don't have to give up our sweet tooth just because sugar is bad for us. Instead, we can turn to xylitol. This sweetener is metabolized very slowly, unlike refined white sugar, and xylitol is also very low on the glycemic index. There are no peaks and valleys of blood sugar levels with xylitol. Instead, the blood sugar levels are stabilized. Because of this cravings for refined carbs and sugar are reduced or eliminated altogether. Individual with diabetes will be able to eat foods sweetened with this sweetener because it does not increase insulin levels. In fact, it helps keep insulin levels low, which may help keep you looking and feeling younger longer.

Individuals seeking diabetes treatment should talk to their doctors about xylitol and its benefits. Even ask about xlear and xylitol gum while you are there to get all of the facts. Individuals with diabetes have to suffer enough as it is, why should they have to avoid all of their favorite foods and drinks, too? With xylitol that doesn't have to happen. But, too many diabetic sufferers out there do not know about xylitol so they simply live each and every day maintaining their blood sugar levels with insulin shots and dealing with the negative effects of the disease.

So, while diabetes treatment will still need to continue patients who want to indulge their sweet tooth once in a while may do so with xylitol and suffer no ill consequences. This in addition to a diet low in refined carbohydrates will result in an individual with stable insulin levels and it will reduce the necessity to take so much insulin via injection on a daily basis.

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Swine Flu Virus

2011-12-07T16:05:00.001-05:00

A Swine Flu virus has health officials around the world working to contain the growing outbreak. One out of every five residents of Mexico's most populous city wore masks to protect themselves against the virus as Mexico City seems to be the epicenter of the outbreak. As many as 103 deaths have been attributed to the swine flu so far with many more feared to be on the horizon. The health department of Mexico said an additional 1,614 reported cases have been documented.

So far, however, only 18 of the deaths in Mexico have been confirmed by laboratory tests to be from swine flu virus and reported to the World Health Organization as such.

In the US preparations have been upgraded for a possible swine flu virus outbreak after 20 cases were reported, also the first cases of the virus was reported in Canada on Sunday -- six mild cases.

Swine flu or Swine Influenza is a contagious respiratory sickness that is normally only found in pigs. It is caused by a type-A influenza virus. Outbreaks in pigs occur year-round. The current strain is a new variation of an H1N1 virus, which is a mix of human and animal versions.

Normaly the swine flu virus only spreads from animal to person containing the spread but When the flu spreads person-to-person, it can continue to mutate, making it harder to combat because people have no natural immunity.

The symptoms are similar to the common flu. They include fever, lethargy, lack of appetite, coughing, runny nose, sore throat, nausea, vomiting and diarrhea. Learn more about swine flu and how to treat it in the link below.

The swine flu virus spreads when an infected person coughs or sneezes around another person. People can become infected by touching something with the flu virus on it and then touching their mouth, nose or eyes.

Calling it a "public health emergency of international concern" the World Health Organization (WHO) is very concerned. The WHO also says a public health emergency is an occurrence or imminent threat of illness or health conditions caused by bioterrorism, epidemic or pandemic disease, or highly fatal infectious agents or toxins that pose serious risk to a significant number of people.

Swine Flu Virus Protection?

Advice of health experts is to follow common-sense instructions: Wash your hands, stay home if you're sick and listen to your local health authorities. Advice from the CDC about the situation is, "Very frequent hand-washing is something that we talk about time and time again and that is an effective way to reduce transmission of disease,". They also advise, "If you're sick, it's very important that people stay at home. If your children are sick, have a fever and flu-like illness, they shouldn't go to school. And if you're ill, you shouldn't get on an airplane or another public transport to travel. Those things are part of personal responsibility in trying to reduce the impact. "

Swine Flu Symptoms

It is also noted that swine flu symptoms are relatively general and nonspecific. "So many different things can cause these symptoms. it is a dilemma," says one doctor interviewed by CNN. "It is a challenge that we are wrestling with. There is not a perfect test right now to let a doctor know that a person has the Swine Flu." It has been noted that most individuals with Swine Flu had an early on set of fever. Also it was common to see dizziness, body aches and vomiting in addition to the common sneezing, headache and other cold symptoms.

If you become sick and notice early onset of body aches, vomiting and dizziness you should consult with your doctor immediately. Although it is very unlikely that you have the Swine Flu virus, you should get medical confirmation just to be safe.

This Swine Flu virus outbreak could be a very dangerous epidemic or just another bump in the road. Health officials are still trying to figure out where exactly the virus originated, how transmissible it is and why it is mild in some cases and deadlier in others. In the mean time. Wash your hands, use common sense and be on a heightened alert to signs and symptoms of the Swine Flu virus. See you doctor if any unusual flu like symptoms occur.

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Swine Flu Vaccination Side Effects

2011-12-06T22:36:00.001-05:00

People have to decide if getting the Swine Flu/H1N1 vaccination is for them because, as with most vaccines, unfortunately, there are possible side effects for some people. The more common ones are fatigue, achy muscles and joints. Headaches and nausea may be a mild reaction. A minor side effect is redness, bruising or swelling at the injection site. The vaccination area may be tender. It may have a lump where the shot was administered.

Serious side effects are rare. If there is one, it would occur within minutes or only a few hours after the vaccination was administered. The H1N1 vaccination may cause fainting in teenagers. When administered to young children, it can make them irritable. Their appetites may be diminished, along with fever and drowsiness. The discomfort will usually go away in a day or two. If the symptoms persist, the family doctor needs to be consulted.

Some more common side effects of the vaccination are flu-like symptoms. There may be some swelling in the neck, armpit or groin. Fever and chills may occur. Receiving the flu shot can have some more unpleasant side effects. The patient may vomit, have diarrhea and stomach pain. Tingling in the hands and feet may occur. Sleeplessness may be a problem. These symptoms usually leave in a few days.

The occurrence of Guillian-Barre syndrome is a low risk side effect. This is an auto immune disease that affects the peripheral nervous system. The risk is one in a million people who are vaccinated. The Flu/H1N1 vaccine should not be taken by anyone who is allergic to eggs because those with egg allergies can be subject to a dangerous reaction. If you have any questions about whether you should or shouldn't undergo the flu vaccine, it's always best to talk with your health care provider.

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How is the Swine Flu Transmitted? Human to Human Contact of H1N1 Virus Explained

2011-12-06T09:34:00.001-05:00

How is the swine flu transmitted? That is the question on the minds of many people as the H1N1 virus continues to spread. Currently, the disease is spread through human to human contact. When someone coughs or sneezes, they emit particles that contain the virus. When you touch something that has the particles on it and then touch your mouth or nose, you can pick up the flu yourself.

If someone you know has H1N1, you should be particularly careful to avoid any bodily fluid transfer.

But, you are not going to know whether the people you come into contact with on a daily basis have it. While 5500 Americans have been hospitalized and 363 have died of the illness, the fact is that many people who come down with it think they have traditional influenza. The Centers for Disease Control estimates that 40 percent of Americans will come down with it in the next 2 years, so it is something to be very concerned with.

The problem is that someone with only mild symptoms can pass on the disease to another person who will develop a more serious version. In fact, in one of the earliest deaths in the United States, a vice principle at a school picked up the disease from some students who had traveled to Mexico over spring break. The students had only mild symptoms.

To minimize the chances you will come down with Swine Flu, wash your hands frequently with soap and water. Wash for at least 20 seconds, scrubbing vigorously. You should also avoid touching your eyes, nose or mouth.

Remember, person to person contact is how is the Swine Flu transmitted, so, if possible, minimize contact with people who are affected. If you become sick, you owe it to the people around you and the general public to stay home from work or school. Also, cover your mouth with a tissue when you cough or sneeze and immediately dispose of the tissue. Then, immediately wash your hands. Finally, when you are sick, disinfect surfaces often. That, in a nutshell, answers the question "how is the swine flu transmitted?"

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Educational Basics Of HIV Symptoms

2011-12-04T22:58:00.001-05:00

Discovery of the HIV or Human Immunodeficiency Virus since the 1970s just added to the woes of humans. There is constant rise in the number of individuals suffering from the HIV symptoms or AIDS - Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome. The occurrence of disease is not always visible as the latent period of virus is variable. Treatment is not very effective, precautionary measure is preferred; hence knowledge of the HIV infection is vital.

Around 400 million individuals have been infected with this virus over the last few decades. Approximate statistics show 12 million individuals have lost their life battling HIV disease. Many innocent kids and adults have fallen prey to this dreadful disease and HIV symptoms. The saddening detail is AIDS is a lifelong disease.

Moreover, HIV is transmitted from person to person through the body fluids. Detailed information about the HIV symptoms can help in receiving the immediately required medical attention. Although cure is not available, patients can lead a healthy normal life with the available medication to keep HIV in check.

Which fluids could be causative of HIV?

Semen
Vaginal secretions
Blood
Breast milk

Transmission of HIV occurs, not due to medium of air, water or food; rather it is due to these infected fluids from an infected person to a healthy one. There is wrong perception regarding the infection and dealing with the AIDS illness. Transmission methods can include the following:

Sexual contact may include transfer or exchange of body fluids, though saliva is not a mode of transmission for this virus
Ignorance on part of healthcare industry by use of infected syringes or needles to deliver drugs
Blood transfusion to patient from the infected person with HIV symptoms could pass the virus
Expectant mother who is infected with HIV could pass the disease to the unborn child during delivery and breast feeding

Prior knowledge about all this HIV details can spread awareness and prevent further transmission of the disease. There are few commonly known HIV symptoms that occur in a person with HIV infection. The patients experience diarrhea, rashes, visual changes, swollen nodes of lymph along the neck and groin region. There are flu like symptoms, fever, chills, sweats, fatigue, weight loss and secondary infections.

All is not lost if you have been detected with HIV symptoms. The medicines keep the level of virus in check giving you more scope for a healthy life.

Treatment

Antiretroviral drugs are available for treating the condition. More drugs are being developed to fight the HIV disease. Prognoses are not very promising for the HIV treatment. The average patient will succumb to the disease progress in 10-11 years. Talk to your doctor about preventive measures rather than suffering from HIV symptoms.

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Chronic Fatigue That Developed After the Flu

2011-12-04T04:36:00.001-05:00

There are as many reasons for chronic fatigue as there are people suffering from it. How it started in you is unique to you. It may have started after you recovered from an acute disease. It may have started after a medical procedure, such as an operation or a vaccination. It may have started after you suffered a bad shock, after an accident or after a fright.

One of the most common scenarios for chronic fatigue is after you have recovered from a bad dose of a virus, particularly the flu. It is reckoned that over half chronic fatigue sufferers come from this.

It's bad enough that you had a bad dose of the flu, without complications after wards. Especially complications that seem to drag on and on.

You can be so debilitated that you have to give up hobbies and pastimes or even work. Your social and family life suffers as a result. Your partner may not be very sympathetic, thinking you're putting it on to get those extra hours in bed.

You miss out on your children's activities because you have no energy either to take an interest in them or to muster up the energy to take them out.

The good news is that there is highly effective and totally natural help at hand.

In the form of homeopathic remedies.

Which you can buy over the counter inexpensively and treat yourself.

The homeopathic remedy Gelsemium is a great candidate for resolving your chronic fatigue if it started after a bad dose of the flu. But your symptoms do have to match those of the remedy to affect a healing.

So lets look at some of the most important keynote symptoms you might have or had during the flu for Gelsemium to work for you.

never well since the flu or flu vaccination
a great heaviness, even your head, eyelids and/or tongue feel heavy
trembling of your arms or legs especially after slight exertion
chills down your back or heat alternating with chills
you have no desire to drink at all
headache which is better after you have urinated
dizziness
dullness

For any homeopathic remedy to work, you only need three keynote symptoms. Bearing in mind you already have one, the first one, you only have to pick out another two.

Another symptom you probably have is the heaviness or dullness so typical in chronic fatigue.

If you find you're also dizzy or thirstless, there's your third keynote symptom.

You can buy some common homeopathic remedies from health shops, homeopaths and homeopathic pharmacies.

For home prescribing, you are limited to the potency (or strength) of the remedies you can purchase. So you should only be able to purchase low potencies, such as a 6c or a 30c. 30c is more powerful than 6c.

Directions will be on the bottle, so follow them. As a general rule, take the 6c twice a day or the 30c once every day or every other day.

Within about a week, you should be noticing some change, if only small. The changes may be subtle, but you should be noticing that you have a bit more energy. If this is the case, carry on. Stop when you have reached your old level of energy.

However, if you don't see any changes after about a week to 10 days, then you probably didn't get the symptoms right and Gelsemium is not for you. In which case you should discontinue with the remedy. It won't help every case of chronic fatigue that developed after a virus. But it will (and has) help many.

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Important Advice on How to Not Catch Swine Flu

2011-12-03T05:57:00.001-05:00

Several countries world-wide have numerous suspect cases reported of the new swine flu virus, from as far apart as Canada, France, Hong Kong, Israel and New Zealand. Numerous deaths have been reported in Mexico.

Caused by type A influenza Swine flu, is a respiratory disease. Studies have shown that the swine flu H1N1 is common throughout pig populations worldwide, with 25% of all animals displaying antibody evidence of having the disease. These are scary facts.

Swine flu viruses do not usually affect human beings. However, the current swine flu has a deadly mixture of a gene segment from bird flu, a segment from human flu, plus two genes from pig flu. Pigs are known to be the world's best 'mixing bowls'. This totally unknown virus is causing extreme concern, as humans have no immunity to the disease.

You cannot catch Swine flu through eating pork products, however human-to-human infections are taking place, even without the victims being exposed to animals that are diseased.

Here are a few simple precautions you need to take to provide self-protection against the threat of a global pandemic:

oAlways cover your nose and mouth when you cough or sneeze. Make sure you dispose of the tissue in a rubbish bin immediately. Have a mask nearby if anyone sneezes or coughs close to you.

Just a single sneeze will propel 100,000 droplets into the air, racing at approximately 90 mph, descending onto door knobs, elevator buttons, ATM and computer keypads, escalator railings and grocery cart handles. British researchers have revealed, that in a subway train at rush hour, as many as 10 percent of all commuters may be contaminated with the spray and residue from just one sneeze. Up to 150 commuters could be infected by one uncovered sneeze, or cough. The stream of air forced by from a cough, travels at speeds nearing 600 mph.

oAlways wash your hands frequently, for up to 20 seconds, with soap and water, especially after you cough or sneeze. Always wash your hands thoroughly prior to eating and whenever possible do not eat with your hands.

It is estimated over 80% of all infections are spread by hands. If you are not able to wash your hands, resort to using hand-sanitizers with 60% alcohol content. These are available in handy pocket size containers.

oTry to avoid touching your eyes, nose or mouth and definitely no kissing on the cheeks.
Germs are spread more quickly through that method of transmission.
oTry to avoid contact with sick people. Isolation and evasion are your most effective protective measures.
oIf you happen to get sick, stay home from work or school and limit your contact with others, so as to keep from passing the infection on.
oKeep aware and recognize any abnormal symptoms. If you are in doubt, go and seek professional advice.
oMake sure you eat well, be careful of your sleep habits and take regular exercise. Increase your daily dose of vitamin C and practice good hygiene.

It is possible to treat Swine flu. It is resistant to two of the four drugs approved for treating flu, but two new arrivals, Tamiflu and Relenza have proven to be successful.

Mexico has hundreds of industrial-scale pig facilities, known as 'confined animal feeding farms', where the hogs are packed in tight rows. Thousands of pigs are contained in indoor pens and grain-fed for the market. Breeding sows are baled-up in small metal crates where they spend most of their lives, either pregnant, or nursing a new litter of piglets.

Up to now, infected Mexican hog workers have seldom infected other people, apart for close family members.

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Natural Treatment of Yeast Infection

2011-12-02T17:23:00.001-05:00

Yeast infection, or Candidiasis as it is known medically, can be awful to live with. The vast number of symptoms make it difficult to live your life normally, I know from past experience. The infection itself is caused by the yeast-like fungus, Candida most commonly Candida Albicans. The fungus thrives in warm, moist environments meaning that it is very easy to become infected. In humans it is a normal inhabitant, and it does not normally cause any adverse effects to it's host.However, the trouble comes when there is an overgrowth of the fungus, increasing its numbers within the vagina.

There are a number of reasons why this overgrowth may occur. One of these potential causes is the recent use of antibiotics. These kill other competing cells allowing the fungus to multiply. Clothing such as nylon that prohibits the escape of moisture from the skin surface is also a contributing factor. The symptoms include:
•vaginal itching
•vaginal burning
•vaginal irritation
•vaginal discharge

Experiencing any of these symptoms means it is likely you have the infection. There are many other symptoms of this ailment, a list of which can be found at my blog.

There are a number of drugs and creams on the market that can clear the fungus. Despite this, it is likely that the fungus will return once more. This is the reason a natural treatment of yeast infection is more effective than drugs. you can be taught to get rid of the infection once and for all from other sources.

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Being Aware With Acute and Chronic Lyme Disease Symptoms

2011-12-01T19:46:00.001-05:00

Severe Lyme disease symptoms can resolve all of a sudden anywhere from a only some days to more than a few weeks while Never-ending Lyme disease will little by little engraft into the internal situation of the affected person.

Acute Lyme disease can be treated simply and effectively with a sole or recipe of antibiotics similar to penicillin, doxycycline and amoxicillin.

Lyme disease symptoms regularly begin with flu-like feelings. The Lyme disease symptoms are headache, fever, muscle pains, weakness, and stiff neck. Afterward the tick's bite, about few days or one month after it, around 60% of Light-skinned patients experience an erythema migrans (EM) - an enlarging inflammation. Dark skinned people experience bruise.The flu-like symptoms, which are actually Lyme disease symptoms, can last as long as the treatment, even as there may also be minor emotional and mental manifestations similar to temper swings, sleep problems and concentrating difficulties.

Analgesics can be taken for muscle and joint pain as well as drugs that lessen the body temperature. Treatment lasts from one to two months. First indications should immediately be taken care without hesitation. The first common sign is a bull's-eye rash that goes on flu-like symptoms such as fever, body weakness, joint, muscle pain and chills. Unusual symptoms in acute Lyme disease include palpitations, heart block and neurologic symptoms like changed mental condition and neuroborreliosis, the central nervous system disorder. There is a potential for Lyme disease to go through an out of sight phase in its switch commencing acute to Never-ending disease. Severe symptoms can disappear for weeks, months or even years prior to recurring in extra harsh appearances.

Fractional Lyme disease symptoms:

Physicians are likely to misidentify premature Lyme disease on behalf of flu, and later on, they experience a few non-specific symptoms together with a variety of difficulties with different body organs. This is just a partial listing of Lyme disease symptoms, because there are additional than three hundred signs in the medical glossary implying Lyme disease infection. The previously mentioned report is not a diagnostic tool, but the intention is to submit a base for you to have a dialogue with your personal physician about the immeasurable Lyme disease.

Non-specific Lyme disease symptoms: Sore throat, night sweats, severe fatigue, and inflamed glands

Digestion: Nausea, vomiting, abdominal pain (especially in kids), and diarrheas are several of the leading digestive problems of Lyme disease symptoms.

Heart: some of the main Lyme disease: Vasculitis - inflammation of the wall of blood vessels including veins , arteries and capillaries Carditis, Pancarditis - the inflammation of the heart or its surroundings Myocarditis - inflammation of the myocardium, the muscular part of the heart.

Muscles: Joint inflammation and pain are the most common of Lyme disease symptoms: Arthritis that transfers from joint to joint cause damage to the joints of the body As a result: Loss of muscle tone, muscle ache. Bell's palsy - paralysis of the facial nerve resulting in inability to control facial muscles on the affected side,

Nervous System: Meningoencephalitis - both meningitis (an inflammation of the meninges- the system of cells membranes which envelops the central nervous system), and encephalitis, which is an illness or inflammation of the brain Neurosyphilis - an infection of the brain or spinal cord, Encephalitis - an acute inflammation of the brain, spinal nerve root pain, tremors and shakes. Results: Deficit reflexes, irregular blood flow in brain, confusions, mood swings and speech difficulties - those are the major nervous system difficulties indicating severe Lyme disease symptoms and condition, remembrance loss, sleep problems, dementia, panic attacks, and neurotic disorder.

Skin: People who catch Lyme disease repeatedly get a rash. Usually it shapes a bull's-eye pattern of red and white rings around the tick bite. Later on the might develop Lyme disease symptoms as Paresthesia - A skin sensation, such as burning, prickling, itching, or tingling, with no apparent physical cause. Sensory feeling; Tingling and numbness.

Reproductive System: People who are sick with Lyme disease might have Urine control problems. The might have problem to bring to an end the flow of urine from the bladder. Other signs of Lyme disease are Bowel incontinence - the loss of bowel control, resulting in involuntary passage of stool. Men might to have testicular pain - feeling pain in the testicles. Sexual dysfunction.

Women might have problems all through pregnancy - miscarriage, and delayed baby development. Several of the Lyme disease are indicative of illnesses as the following:

Multiple Sclerosis - Disease that affects the central nervous system.

Parkinson's disease - Central nervous system disorder that impairs the motor skills and speech, as well as other tasks.

Alzheimer- a progressive and fatal brain disease, the most common form of dementia. Alzheimer's destroys the brain cells, causing problems with memory, thinking and behavior.

Chronic Lyme disease:

30-50% of acute Lyme disease patients go on to expand chronic Lyme disease symptoms. Additionally, a few earlier present but without symptoms patients may make active their disease following a variety of anxieties such as trauma, surgery, pregnancy, coexisting illness, antibiotics treatment, or harsh emotional stress.

Never-ending Lyme disease is especially dangerous because the manifestations are much more severe moreover; there is no fixed medicine for it. It cannot be efficiently treated with antibiotics thus there are certain and individualized approaches in caring for patients in the Chronic shape. The effects are calling for long-term antibiotic use plus other therapies.

There is more controversy revolving around the medicinal treatment approach. The interaction of more than a few drugs and the chronic intake of antibiotics can prove to be overwhelming for the liver, kidneys and blood circulation as well.

Chronic antibiotic intake can result to the patient being immune-compromised. Steroid therapy may be indicated. Since the effects and counter-effects of a variety of treatments that are not yet established, a fixed treatment cannot be fully guaranteed only through medicine.

Immune responses due to bacterial invasion are compromised at times making the person vulnerable to acquiring other diseases.

Additional examination is necessary for constant Lyme disease since its pathogenesis, the system by which Lyme disease is caused, is not entirely recognized. In addition, more than a few manifestations suggestive to those of other diseases making it difficult for doctors to diagnose correctly. The person may have acquired a new illness but still show the similar of late phase of Lyme disease symptoms. Currently, Doctors and medical researchers are studying fresh healing alternatives to purposely individualize care plans for Lyme disease patients.

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Angelman Syndrome - Causes, Symptoms And Treatment

2011-12-01T05:40:00.001-05:00

Angelman Syndrome is a genetic disorder caused by a fault in chromosome 15. There are many ways to treat the disorder but unfortunately, there are no proven methods to cure it. However, researchers are continuing to search for ways to permanently cure the disease. Angelman Syndrome, sometimes called AS for short was once known as 'happy puppet' because of the patient's sunny outlook and jerky movements. It was later renamed after Harry Angelman, the physician who pioneered investigation into symptoms of the disease in 1965. AS causes developmental delay and neurological problems, and can affect any person regardless of their race, gender, or age.

Angelman Syndrome is usually not recognized at birth or in infancy since the developmental problems are nonspecific during this time. Parents may begin to suspect the diagnosis after reading about AS or meeting a child with the condition. The most common age of diagnosis is between three and seven years of age, when the characteristic behaviors and features become most evident. A child who has Angelman Syndrome will show many symptoms, some which are omnipresent and others which can remain dormant for long periods of time.

Some symptoms that are always present include severe speech impairment, hyperactive behavior, movement or balance disorders, and developmental delay in sitting, crawling, walking, or mental retardation. Jerky marionette-type movements, stiff-legged walking, hand flapping, and unique behavior with an inappropriate happy demeanor that includes frequent laughing, smiling, and excitability are also some of the usual symptoms in a diagnosed child. Symptoms that are not always evident include having a small head, characteristic EEG abnormalities, tremulousness of the limbs, and seizures onset before three years of age. Many children with this disease will also have a protruding tongue, disturbed sleep, frequent drooling, and feeding difficulty during infancy. Microcephaly and Epilepsy are both common in children with this irreversible disorder.

There is no standard course of treatment for Angelman Syndrome because there is no known way to prevent or cure it. Treatment is mainly focused on providing physical therapy and adaptive devices to assist with gait and balance problems. Early language evaluation and intervention is also recommended. Patients with epilepsy are often prescribed anticonvulsant medications. Parents of children with AS usually find strength, valuable information, and comfort from support groups.

Occupational therapies, communication therapy, and behavioral therapies are important in allowing individuals with Angelman syndrome to reach their maximum developmental potential. Most individuals with AS will have severe developmental delays, speech limitations, and motor difficulties. However, people with this irrevokable disease can have normal life spans and generally do not show developmental regression as they age. Early diagnosis and the tailored interventions and therapies listed above can help improve the quality of life for those who were unfortunately diagnosed with this dire genetic disorder.

Angelman Syndrome is caused by an abnormal expression of a group of genes on chromosome 15. Researchers have found a very small deleted area in this chromosome in patients with AS. This deleted area contains genes that can be either activated or inactivated, depending on which parent the chromosome was inherited from. The gene for this disease is called UBE3A. When this gene is turned on, Angelman Syndrome does not occur. However when it is turned off or missing, Angelman Syndrome occurs. In patients with Angelman Syndrome, a missing UBE3A gene only occurs in the chromosome given by the mother.

For this reason, it seems that the UBE3A gene is turned on only on the chromosome inherited from mother. Researchers have also found that Angelman Syndrome is caused when a child inherits both chromosomes 15 from the father. This condition is called paternal uniparental disomy (UPD). In this case, both chromosomes have their UBE3A genes turned off. There is a control region, called the Imprinting Center (IC), which can control or turn on or off the action of the UBE3A gene. Mutations in the area of the Imprinting Center can also cause Angelman Syndrome, as well as many other genetic disorders.

Some disorders have similar or even the same symptoms as Angelman Syndrome. Therefore, when a doctor is diagnosing a patient, he/she must somehow rule out the other disorders to ensure that they will come up with a precise diagnosis. Some of the other disorders include Prader-Willi Syndrome, Cerebral Palsy, Rett Syndrome, Idiopathic Epilepsy, and Static Encephalopathy. AS is a fairly rare disorder. While an exact count of cases in the United States is not available, the Angelman Syndrome Foundation (ASF) has found around 1000 cases in the U.S. and Canada. However, the most important aspect of this disease has yet to be recognized: a cure.

In the recent years, there has been some beneficial research into the location and identification of the genes causing Angelman Syndrome. Now efforts are being directed towards examination of the precise functions of these genes. There is still much progress to be made in understanding the symptoms of this condition, particularly the communication problems and the seizure disorder. Therefore, the research is divided into two categories. One is Scientific research, which involves using laboratory techniques to find out about the basic chemical, physiological and anatomical abnormalities in the condition and aids diagnosis.

The other is Clinical research, which involves the observation and study of patients themselves. Both types of research will be vital in the quest to cure AS. It is thought to be unlikely that gene therapy will ever be able to cure Angelman Syndrome, due to the fact that some of the effects on early brain development are irreversible. Understanding of the genes involved, however, could be a valuable guide as to which drugs might be used to treat the condition. Quality clinical research can help to teach more about which therapies are particularly useful in the management of AS. There are now many centers all over the world which are involved in researching a cure. With all these ideas from major centers, as well as help from Angelman Syndrome families, researchers should be able to understand more about how the genes on chromosome 15 cause the symptoms of Angelman Syndrome.

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Does Your Health Insurance Cover Flu Shots?

2011-11-30T16:22:00.001-05:00

The flue season is picking up, and if years past have been any indication it is going to be a very tough time on the bodies of many. Do you get a flu shot? If not you may want to consider it to avoid paying the prices that come with getting the flu.

Lost Time

The first thing that you have to keep in mind when it comes to getting the flu is that it will keep you out of work for a few days. If you work for someone else this may not be as big of a concern, but if you work for yourself that means you will not be able to be productive or make money.

Even if you don't work for yourself, it's not only work that loses in this case. Your personal life takes a hit too as you will be too ill to do the things you enjoy.

More Medication

The flu causes you to pick up a lot of things from the pharmacy in an attempt to get through it. From cough syrups to sleep aids and anti-nausea medication, you may rack up a pretty big bill trying to deal with the symptoms of this ailment.

Trips to the Doctor

The flu can get pretty bad. If it does for you that can mean a trip to the doctor's office, or multiple trips. If you have health insurance, you may be able to appreciate that much of this is paid for by the health insurance company. But that does not usually include everything. Most health insurance companies have deductibles you have to pay before they kick in. This will be more money out of your pocket.

Body Impact

Have you ever really considered what the flu does to your body. It's a very violent illness internally, taxing every part of your body. While you will be able to recover after a while, it can have effects that leave you feeling worn down for weeks.

Get the Flu Shot

If you couldn't control the impact of the flu that would be one thing, but you can. Today there are flu shots that can be taken to keep you from getting this illness.

Check if your health insurance policy covers getting the flu shot. Many health insurance companies cover them because they realize they will pay much less for prevention than they would to treat the flu once you get it.

Even if they don't you may want to put out the money to get a flu shot. Even if it is your expense, prevention is much more affordable than paying for the treatment once you are sick.

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Swine Flu H1N1 Virus Early Detection and Treatment Methods

2011-11-29T22:26:00.001-05:00

As swine flu sweeps our nation and rest of the world, public awareness fueled by media, leads to people seeking out early surveillance and intervention on their own, in an effort to head off serious illness. You can't blame them for wanting to protect themselves and their families, as over a million cases have been documented in the U.S. alone; so many that the CDC has quit counting. There are 2 medications on the market that have been shown to be effective against swine flu, Relenza and Tamiflu. These medicines have to be administered within 2 days of the onset of symptoms (which last about a week), and are said to shorten the duration of symptoms by about 2 days. Because early detection is vital for the efficacy of these drugs, rapid detection is necessary. Many manufacturers are currently working on versions of a rapid H1N1 test to allow early detection in minutes, as opposed to days as is with traditional virus testing.

The trouble is, the preliminary results of these types of these tests have been poor. It was determined that too many false negative results, as many as half, occurred on a regular basis. In other words, the test failed to detect known swine flu in laboratory conditions, meaning a negative test at the doctor's office wouldn't actually guarantee that you don't really have the swine flu. This is important because the patients at higher risk that really need the medication, might not be treated due to false negative results.

The bottom line is, at this point we don't have a rapid swine flu test. Plus, the seasonal flu and swine flu symptoms are mostly indistinguishable and similar in duration. Those symptoms include fever, headache, coughing, sore throat, and muscle pains, and sometimes diarrhea or vomiting. If shortness of breath occurs, you may have swine flu. Still however, symptoms of both should only last about a week. Either way, if your going to go to the doctor to get him to write you a prescription for Tamiflu, go the first or second day you get symptoms, otherwise the medication won't be effective.

Keep in mind that the media fuels paranoia and irrational behavior, so use your best judgement before running to the ER or your doctors office. Remember during the first gulf war and after 911 when gas masks were flying off the shelves of U.S. Army surplus stores? People didn't even know what kind of nerve gas or chemical warfare they were trying to protect themselves from, they just felt better having something. For the flu, it may just be better to take a few days off, take a few tablets of ibuprofen and stay in bed, and catch up on your favorite TV shows. Who knows? You might just survive the flu on your own!

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Symptoms of Drinking Contaminated Water

2011-11-29T09:24:00.001-05:00

What are the symptoms of drinking contaminated water? This is a question you may ask if going on a trip overseas to some of the poorer countries whose supplies are questionable. Although, you do not have to travel to have this problem, it can be right on your doorstep.

Water can become contaminated by many things. These things can be protozoal infections which can be like cryptosporidium, which causes a flu, loss of appetite, nausea, diarrhoea, weight loss and bloating with increased gas. Another is Giardia, which causes diarrhoea, bloating, abdominal discomfort and gas. There are three others in this group and they can all display similar symptoms.

Another is the bacterial infection of dysentery caused by a salmonella contamination. This infection causes diarrhoea with blood, fever, stomach pain, vomiting, and an e.coli infection. It also causes loose watery bowel movements and sometimes death from dehydration in the young and very old, as well as those with a low immune system from a prolonged illness. There are twelve others in this group with varying symptoms. They mostly have a feeling of being very unwell to respiratory problems, chills, fevers, muscle aches, pains, tiredness, and in serious cases pneumonia.

There are also the parasites that can get into a person by drinking dirty water. These are mostly caused by the ingestion of eggs or larvae, which hatch inside the human body and can cause all kinds of unpleasant reactions. These can range from such things as nausea, vomiting, loose bowels, liver enlargement and jaundice, as well as fevers. Each has its own particular area where it migrates to and its own set of irritations. World wide there are nine which can be picked up from unclean storage.

The final type is viruses, and there are six of these. These are ones that can cause cold and flu, pneumonia, coughs, tiredness, headaches, sore throat, jaundice, depression and many other things. Each has its own misery and some can also cause death.

When looking at this list it is not hard to see why clean drinking water is a must. Any of the symptoms of these various problems would wear a person down with ruined health, and some would take a great deal of recovery.

Clean drinking water can be obtained in several ways. One way is by using a filter which has been specially designed for this purpose, and another is by boiling water. Boiling may remove all of the so called bugs, but will not remove chemicals or heavy metals as the filters do. If you are interested in these filters try your local plumbing store or the internet for more information.

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Histrionic Personality Disorder - Causes, Symptoms, Information With Treatment

2011-11-28T20:27:00.001-05:00

Many mental health professionals believe that both learned and inherited factors play a role in its development. It seems likely that Histrionic Personality Disorder may be over-diagnosed in women and under-diagnosed in men. Most people are more attuned, for example, to the histrionic flamboyance of Blanche DuBois than to the equally over-the-top macho style of Stanley Kowalski, who shows strong histrionic elements as well. Psychoanalytic theories incriminate seductive and authoritarian attitudes by fathers of these patients.

Other character traits due to a combination of genetics and environment including adverse childhood experiences. Other environmental factors that might be involved include a lack of criticism or punishment as a child, positive reinforcement that is given only when a child completes certain approved behaviors, and unpredictable attention given to a child by his or her parent(s), all leading to confusion about what types of behavior earn parental approval. A pervasive pattern of excessive emotionality and attention seeking, beginning by early adulthood and present in a variety of contexts. In many cases, people with histrionic personality disorder have good social skills; however, they tend to use these skills to manipulate others so that they can be the center of attention.

Causes of Histrionic Personality Disorder

Common Causes and Risk factors of Histrionic Personality Disorder

Genetics factor.

Learned and inherited factors.

Environmental factors.

Sexual abuse.

Signs and Symptoms of Histrionic Personality Disorder

Sign and Symptoms of Histrionic Personality Disorder

Inappropriately seductive appearance or behavior.

Excessive concern with physical appearance

A need to be the center of attention (self-centeredness).

Low tolerance for frustration or delayed gratification.

Rapidly shifting emotional states that may appear shallow to others.

Make rash decisions

Be uncomfortable unless he or she is the center of attention

Dress provocatively and/or exhibit inappropriately seductive or flirtatious behavior

Shift emotions rapidly.

Treatment of Histrionic Personality Disorder

Common Treatment of Histrionic Personality Disorder

Treatment is often prompted by depression associated with failed romantic relationships. Group therapy is not recommended for those with HPD.

Psychotherapy (a type of counseling) is generally the treatment of choice for histrionic personality disorder. The goal of treatment is to help the individual uncover the motivations and fears associated with his or her thoughts and behavior, and to help the person learn to relate to others in a more positive way.

Medication might be used to treat the distressing symptoms, such as depression and anxiety that might co-occur with this disorder.

Dialectical behavior therapy. This type of cognitive behavior therapy focuses on coping skills - learning how to take better control of behaviors and emotions with techniques such as mindfulness, which helps you observe your feelings without reacting. It is most often used to treat borderline personality disorder. Doctors are studying the effectiveness of this type of therapy with all types of personality disorders.

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Retts Syndrome - Causes, Symptoms, Information with Treatment

2011-11-28T04:42:00.001-05:00

Rett syndrome is not a degenerative disorder, but rather is a neurodevelopmental disorder. Rett syndrome affects one in every 10,000 to 15,000 live female births. It occurs in all racial and ethnic groups worldwide. Parents later reflected on how it was nearly impossible to comfort them during their episodes. As many as 75% of all girls with RS had been previously diagnosed with the Autism Spectrum Disorder. Adult women with Rett syndrome show many individual differences in the severity of their disability.All women with Rett syndrome are incapable of living independently and require constant care throughout their lives.

Innovative and flexible living arrangements such as group homes are becoming the norm in many cases. There are several treatments options available treat for rett-sydrome. Occupational therapy , physiotherapy, and hydrotherapy may prolong mobility. Medication may be needed for breathing irregularities and motor difficulties, and antiepileptic drugs may be used to control seizures. Some children may require special equipment and aids such as braces to arrest scoliosis, splints to modify hand movements, and nutritional programs to help them maintain adequate weight. Special academic, social, vocational, and support services may also be required in some cases.

Causes of Retts Syndrome

Common Causes and Risk factors of Retts Syndrome

Spontaneous mutation of the X chromosome.

Gne MECP2.

Signs and Symptoms of Retts Syndrome

Common Sign and Symptoms of Retts Syndrome

Language and growth retardation

Slow head growth.

Seizures.

Bone fractures.

Agitation.

Constipation.

Abnormal Breathing.

Hyperventillation.

Treatment of Retts Syndrome

Common Treatment of Retts Syndrome

Drugs may help control some of the symptoms associated with the disorder - such as epileptic seizures.

Orthopedic surgery may be needed for severe cases of scoliosis.

In some cases, physical therapy can help maintain walking skills, and occupational therapy may improve purposeful use of the hands.

Some children may require special equipment and aids such as braces to arrest scoliosis, splints to modify hand movements, and nutritional programs to help them maintain adequate weight.

Therapy has also included administration of levodopa (L-dopa), a precursor of dopamine, or medications that mimic the effects of dopamine (dopamine agonists).

Physical therapy may help to improve balance and the ability to walk, maintain flexibility, and strengthen muscles

Regular monitoring for scoliosis is important to ensure prompt detection and early.

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Angular Cheilitis Treatment - How to Cure Angular Cheilitis

2011-11-27T16:05:00.001-05:00

There needs to be an Angular Cheilitis treatment (also known as Perleche or Stomitis) which completely eliminates the problem, and not just medicates the outward symptoms. The adaptability and the way that bacteria can constantly evolve, it seems that common antibiotics just have no effect. Other medications, such as the many 1% hydro cortisone products out there, also seem to fall short, which leaves many of us utterly disappointed with today's modern medicine. As a result, many people the world over have been resorting to alternatives like home remedies and natural cures.

For an Angular Cheilitis treatment to work with any effectiveness, we need to have a better understanding of the cause. Many out there confuse this condition as a side symptom of a flu, because these outbreaks often happen during the fall or the winter months - this is just not the case. The condition is actually caused by fungal bacteria, which thrives in moisture caught within folds, creases or wrinkles at the corners of the mouth, and these can be caused by a few things. Perhaps we've gotten overweight, and our face has acquired folds in that area, or age has caused these folds to appear in these places. Maybe we have misaligned teeth, or dentures that don't fit correctly, and we tend to "over-close" the mouth around them, which then creates these folds for the fungal bacteria to take foothold in.

The most important fact to utilize in developing an Angular Cheilitis treatment is this; fungal bacteria absolutely cannot survive without moisture. This is the plain and simple root of the answer here... this is the whole logic behind it. Simply deny the fungal bacteria moisture, and it automatically dies off completely. The problem now, is to try to keep this naturally moist area moisture free, without damaging your skin. Topical home remedies which can dry up and kill off fungal bacteria are the most popular alternative Angular Cheilitis treatment today. Recipes for these usually include natural ingredients that are easily attainable, and can even usually be found in the home. Attacking fungal bacteria with a home remedy of natural ingredients seems the most effective and naturally safe means of Angular Cheilitis treatment.

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Parasite Symptoms

2011-11-26T18:54:00.001-05:00

Parasites live in or on another organism, known as the host, from which they receive nourishment and protection. Some pass successive stages of maturity in hosts of different species, including humans. Parasites are of different types, including protozoa (one-celled animals) and helminths (worms) ranging in size from microscopic eggs to adults up to several feet long. The illnesses they cause range from mild discomfort of short duration to chronic, debilitating disease and death.

People who live in areas where the disease is endemic (constantly present) suffer the devastation most keenly. Hardest hit are developing countries in the tropics, where poor sanitation fosters the parasites and the insects that transfer many of them from one host to another.

Parasite infection may cause many different symptoms, most of which are common to other diseases. Therefore, people with parasites may not suspect them as the culprit. Since parasites disturb the ecology of the intestine, many of their effects are seen in digestive problems, including constipation, diarrhea, gas and bloating, persistent bad breath, and irritable bowel syndrome. Other health problems that may result indirectly from a disturbance in intestinal ecology include joint and muscle aches and pains (fibromyalgia syndrome), anemia, allergies, skin problems, nervousness, depression, sleep disturbances, teeth grinding, persistent fatigue, immune dysfunction, and uncontrolable sugar cravings.

Of course, not every case of ill health can be blamed on parasites. If, however, symptoms persist after you've been treated for some other suspected ailment, or if the symptoms recur at regular intervals, then parasites should be suspected. It is a good idea to keep track of your symptoms and look into the possible cause of a parasite with the help of a qualified health-care provider. Diagnosis usually must be performed by a laboratory that specializes in parasite testing (see Resources).

If you learn you have parasites, you will want to follow a program aimed at eradicating the parasites instead of merely relieving the symptoms of infection. If the parasites are not eliminated, they will continue to reproduce and create problems. Parasites cause harm in part by overrunning the populations of beneficial microflora in the intestine that aid in maintaining proper digestive activity. They also produce toxic byproducts.

When symptoms are severe, as may occur with certain parasites such as Giardia, doctors generally will prescribe drugs like Flagyl, Atabrine, and Vermox, any of which will usually get rid of the parasites. Many individuals, however, experience adverse reactions to these medications, such as nausea or psychiatric disturbances. Therefore, for less serious infections, you may wish to discuss with your doctor a series of simple steps that change the environment in the intestine to make it less amenable to the parasites' survival.

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Candidiasis Treatment in Men

2011-11-26T02:54:00.001-05:00

Yeast infection is not limited to infants and women; there are also men who suffer from Candida infection. Men are believed to be vulnerable to yeast infection because they consume a lot of beer. Yeast is present in beer because of the fermentation process it has to go through. This can eventually lead to infection if there is too much intake of alcohol or any other yeast containing products. Like any other infections, there are Candidiasis treatments that men can do to remedy the disease.

It is important to know the signs and symptoms of yeast infection in men. This could determine whether a medication or diet would be required. It can be acquired during unprotected sex with partner who has the infection. Condom is actually one of the causes of yeast infection; it contains spermicidal lubricant called Nonoxynol-9 which can cause the infection.

The swelling of the glans penis or known as Balanitis is one of the symptoms of yeast infection in men. A burning sensation and severe itchiness is felt particularly after sex. There can also be presence of white substance on the foreskin and glans of the male genitalia. Some men would even experience blisters and dripping in the foreskin; this would indicate that the person is suffering from Candidiasis. Thus Candidiasis treatment should be done immediately.

Fungus may also be present on the blood stream; this condition is known as Candidemia. Treatment should be administered if mucus membranes are seen in the penis, anus and urinary bladder area. The symptoms are similar to genital herpes so professional advice is needed for proper medication and treatment.

Candidiasis treatments for men are usually topical treatment of antifungal medications. Before applying any of these medications, the area should be clean and dry to get the results you wanted. If not, it can further aggravate the infection. Some doctors would prescribe oral drugs. These drugs can only be taken for the longest period of six months. Some yeast infection becomes drug resistant after long medication.

Aside from prescription drugs and over the counter topical ointments, there are also home remedies which are used for Candidiasis treatment. Yogurt is one of the best home remedy. It has the ability to combat the bad bacteria causing the immune system to weaken. But it should be plain and unsweetened; yeast thrive on sweets. Natural oil of oregano and cinnamon or tea-tree oil are effective cure for this kind of infection in men.

You need to visit your doctor if you suspect that you have yeast infection. There are many other options that your health adviser can provide you. You may try one or combination of any of the Candidiasis treatment presented to you. You just need to follow your doctor's advice at all times.

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Black Mold Sickness Symptoms You Need to Know About

2011-11-25T12:00:00.001-05:00

Sometimes, a perfunctory check may reveal several areas of mold growth. We know them to grow under the carpets, behind the wall, inside the ceiling, but black mold is also present in our refrigerators, inside the garbage cans, in the corners of our closets. They thrive practically anywhere that's dark and moist!

Don't be discouraged, though - black mold of the non-toxic type is not too dangerous. It can cause several symptoms, though, that can be quite unwelcome:

Coughing and sneezing. These symptoms will help you locate the mold growth because they'll intensify when you enter he room where they're at. Some people experience having a dry, itchy throat which may induce their coughing.

Clogged nose. As the black mold spores find their way to your nose (the spores, by the way, are airborne, so a messy mold cleanup actually releases millions of spores into the air), your cells react to the foreign organisms, triggering an inflammation reaction inside your nose and lungs.

This could lead to breathing difficulties and sometimes even a runny nose. People with asthma should be especially careful not to come near any black mold cleanup operation because even a mild inhalation of the black mold's spores can cause a severe asthma attack.

Headaches and fatigue. The headaches can be linked to the difficulty in breathing experienced by people with black mold sickness. Because a lot of effort is exerted in trying to breathe, the individual naturally gets headaches. Fatigue is caused by the toxic black mold variety, making you feel tired even after sleeping for hours.

This is because the mycotoxin released by this toxic black mold attacks the immune system, giving you a feeling of general weakness.

Some people with black mold sickness also experience lightheadedness or dizziness which often go hand-in-hand with the sinusitis symptoms.

Memory lapses. Countless studies have been made linking memory loss to black old sickness. As the spores travel through your respiratory system, the mycotoxins they released then attack the nervous system, including the brain. Apart from affecting the memory, many patients also report hearing loss and mood swings.

Nausea and vomiting. If you only experience sinusitis-like symptoms, there's a good possibility that you've only been hit by the non-toxic mold. However, flu-like symptoms are signs that the toxic Black Mold is what's causing the sickness, so you should not delay in having yourself treated once you suspect that you're infected with this toxic mold.

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Treating the Flu, Chronic Ear Infections, and Other Respiratory Infections

2011-11-24T22:05:00.001-05:00

OSTEOPATHIC MANIPULATION TREATMENT (OMT) SAVED LIVES DURING THE FLU EPIDEMIC

Before there were antibiotics and flu shots, many people died of flu and other infections. Osteopathic physicians used OMT to help boost the patient's immune system and to aid the body in fighting off the infection. During the deadly Swine Flu epidemic in the early 1900's, the death rate for patients of osteopathic physicians who used OMT was much lower than those of MDs.

WHY WE NEED THE OSTEOPATHIC APPROACH TODAY AND HOW IT CAN HELP YOU

As concerns mount about antibiotic-resistant super bugs from the overuse of antibiotics, the threat of pandemics including Swine Flu, the risks of flu shots and the long-term effects of chronic ear and respiratory infections in children, maybe it's time to learn about the benefits of this effective, century old treatment, call Osteopathic Manipulation Treatment (OMT) used by osteopathic physicians.

ANTIBIOTIC RISKS

One reason why the osteopathic approach can be helpful is that is provides another effective treatment other than antibiotics. There is a great deal of controversy about the over-use of antibiotics for ear and respiratory infections. Because of this over-use, there are now bacteria in the environment that are no longer susceptible to any antibiotic now available. There are no guarantees that the pharmaceutical companies can develop a new, stronger, more broad-spectrum antibiotic for the next generation of resistant bacteria. If we do not turn around this trend, we may find ourselves back in the pre-antibiotic age. Research shows that 80% to 90% of all ear infections heal on their own, and children who do not receive antibiotics actually heal faster and have fewer recurrences. By treating every ear infection with antibiotics, we only succeed at increasing antibiotic-resistant bacteria and prevent the patient from building up his or her own immunity, thus setting the child up for more infections.

WHAT ABOUT THE FLU SHOT?

My patients often ask me if they should get the flu shot. Getting any vaccine should be a personal decision. In Texas, parents have the right to opt out of having their children vaccinated for everything if they so wish. And if they do opt out, the children can still attend school. There are about 17 other states that allow opting out of vaccinations for personal reasons. Other states usually allow opting out for a medical or religious reason. To my knowledge, the flu shot is not required in any state.

I recommend that people thoroughly educate themselves concerning the risks and benefits to getting, or not getting, any vaccines. However, it may be difficult to get all of the information needed to make a good decision about vaccines. If the doctor has received her information from the pharmaceutical company who is selling the vaccine or from another doctor who is working for the company, that information may be biased to help market the product. The news media may also get their information from sources that have a similar bias. So it can be very difficult to decide what to do.

THE SWINE FLU SHOT DEBACLE OF 1976

In 1976, when the last Swine Flu vaccine was made and administered to the American public, it was found that the public did not get the full truth about the potential side effects of the vaccine. More people died of the flu vaccine that year than died of the flu. According to physician and Congressman Ron Paul, the government suspended the use of the vaccine because there were so many deaths. I feel badly for the families of those who died or were injured from the vaccine before that information was known and its use was suspended.

In addition to the deaths, according to Mike Wallace of 60 Minutes, there were 4,000 injuries resulting from taking the Swine Flu vaccine in 1976. Many of those injuries were neurological and permanent.

The government had a similar response to the flu in 1976 as what they are doing now. In 1976 when one soldier died from the flu after he went on a forced march even though he was ill, the rest of the soldiers were tested. Only four were found to have the Swine flu and they all recovered completely without taking a vaccine according to Wallace's report. Based on this one death, the government called for everyone to take the vaccine. Later the vaccine was withdrawn but much damage had already been done. According to Wallace, the government studies had shown that neurological damage could occur but the government did not warn the public so that they could make an educated choice for themselves. See 60 Minute video at this website.

I think it is important to look at the past to help make decisions in the future. I have to ask the question, if the government kept that information from the public then, could they be doing the same thing now?

It had been reported that this Swine flu of 1976 presented as no worse than a bad cold. If the soldier who died had not gone on the march while ill, would he have died? How do we know that the Swine Flu hasn't been here every summer, but no one has ever been tested for it? We might have thought it was only a "summer cold". One of my patients was sent home from camp when she appeared sick and others at the camp had tested positive for flu. She also tested positive for flu, but her mother remarked that she hardly seemed sick at all, more like a cold. At the time of this writing there have been several deaths attributed to the Swine Flu which is now referred to as H1N1.

This year has been interesting because it appeared that the flu was present in some areas, all spring and summer, not just in the winter as the seasonal flu is thought to be. Because of the deaths in Mexico, a red flag went up, that this could be a significant flu. Doctors and public health departments began testing for the Swine Flu. They found it. Many people tested positive, many schools were closed and much fear was expressed. It seemed that for many people though, the Swine Flu was manifesting itself as nothing more than a bad cold. Why did some people die while others had only a bad cold? Could it be that there were differences in the people themselves? Could it be that the ones who died were already sick with something else or were unhealthy to start with or had stressed themselves physically? I would like to know more about the health condition of those who died and those for whom the flu was only a bad cold. As I was writing this, a woman in my community died from Swine Flu. It was reported that she had other medical conditions that may have put her in the position to have a more serious reaction to the Swine Flu virus. I think the health departments should be looking at those differences and informing the public about them. What kinds of illnesses did the people have who died from the virus? I think they should be telling the public how to be as healthy as possible so if we get sick, we are more likely to fully recover. I think they should also be telling us all the potential risks of taking the flu vaccine.

A few years ago, on The Today Show, a couple from Colorado whose son had died from the flu, expressed to the watching public that they regretted not giving their son the flu vaccine. He had died and they were encouraging everyone watching to not make the same mistake they felt they had made. Four children from Colorado had died from influenza that same year.

Someone from the Colorado public health department was also on the show to discuss this issue. Matt Lauer asked the public health official how many children died who had been given the flu vaccine. The health department person replied, "Several."

If four children died and only one of those four had not been vaccinated, why did they choose the parents of the one child who had not been vaccinated to be interviewed on The Today Show? If three children died who had been vaccinated and only one died who had not been vaccinated, the odds certainly point to not vaccinating, yet the public only heard the plea from the parents who did not vaccinate. Seventy-five percent died who received the vaccine while only 25% died who did not. Why are we not being given that information?

Is the government overreacting and putting fear into everyone over something that may only be a bad cold? The millions who died from the 1918 flu epidemic died mostly from pneumonia that developed secondarily to the flu. There were no antibiotics then as we have now and medical knowledge was very different then as well.

According to Ron Paul, there were 13,000 cases of Tuberculosis (TB) in the US last year alone. Yet no one appears to be panicking about that. Why the scare over an influenza that has not been shown to be much more than a cold for most people?

The virus in each year's flu vaccine is actually a guess. There is no way to know which strain of influenza will appear each year, so the drug companies have to guess at which ones to put into the vaccines. They put several into each vaccine, so it increases the odds that at least one of the strains that actually appears, will be in the vaccine. As we have seen, there are years when the vaccine just doesn't seem to be much benefit.

It is important to have a healthy immune system so that when we are exposed to bacteria and viruses our body's immune system can step in and handle whatever the exposure is.

When my Mother was diagnosed with terminal lung cancer, I knew that the chemotherapy she underwent would lower her immune system and make it harder for her to fight the cancer herself. To offset this, I gave her nutritional IV's, many oral supplements and even shots of some nutrients. She used visualization to make her immune system stronger. Instead of being dead in 2 months, as was predicted, she was cured of the cancer in 4 months and lived 18 more years without a recurrence of cancer. She continued to take nutritional supplements for the rest of her life, she opted to not take the flu vaccine each year and even though she lived in a retirement facility with many other people, she did not get the flu.

Even though there was a death from Swine Flu in my community, I am not going to get the vaccine myself. I don't get a flu vaccine for two reasons. First I am concerned about the levels of mercury used. There is still 25 mcg of mercury in the current flu shots. Second, the body's immune system gets stronger and works better if it has a chance to get sick and recover on its own. I will take nutrients like vitamin C and other anti-oxidants. If I should get the flu, I will use my gentle Osteopathic Manipulation Treatment (OMT) to help get well faster.

HOW OSTEOPATHIC MANIPULATION CAN HELP AND WHY I USE IT

I use gentle manipulation modalities that help drain the fluid from the ears, head and neck and enhance the immune system. In my office, I have measured ear fluid with a tympanogram and then treated the patient with manipulation alone. A recheck of the ears, with the tympanogram immediately after the treatment, has revealed some dramatic improvements in fluid levels in the ears.

I teach parents how to do this treatment at home on their children for ear infections. I also recommend that they use it for all respiratory infections and flu as it can be very helpful for children and adults. This is the same type of treatment that osteopathic physicians used in the early 1900's to treat Swine Flu. It helped save lives.

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Common Symptoms of HIV Seroconversion

2011-11-24T06:34:00.001-05:00

Seroconversion is the first stage of HIV disease which an HIV-positive person has enough antibodies to the virus in their system that a standard screening tests will be able to detect them. This point is significant in detection a diagnosis of HIV infection.

Symptoms are caused by the body's immune response to the infection. Seroconversion refers to the development of antibodies that patient always experience flu-like symptoms and occur shortly after infection.

Flu-like symptoms include fever, fatigue, swollen lymph nodes, sore throat, headache along with aches and pains, digestive troubles and skin rash. The immune system will begin to respond to the infection by producing antibodies to the virus.

Unfortunately, it is the cells of the immune system that are the target of HIV. HIV disease enters a long asymptomatic stage after the symptoms clear. There are no symptoms during this stage which lasts for about 10 years.

Once a large enough number of antibodies to HIV has developed within a person's system that they will occur on a screening test, that individual is said to have seroconverted. An HIV test is necessary to diagnose HIV infection because of the non-specific symptoms.

Most people develop a diagnostically significant level of HIV antibodies within a month after infection while small number of people report that the process at times takes up to 6 months. This illness basically occurs within two to four weeks after an individual contracts HIV.

Tests of blood and oral fluids are most commonly used to diagnose for the presence of HIV seroconvention antibodies. Other tests, which screen for the genetic code (RNA) of the virus directly are not related and can detect infection before it occurs.

Because the diagnose can take up to 6 months, screening tests undergone within this illness after a possible infection may return a false negative. The symptoms of this illness are similar to those of other viral infections.

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What Are the Options For Kidney Cyst Symptoms Treatment?

2011-11-23T14:50:00.001-05:00

Kidney cysts begin to appear on the kidneys due them having a disease known as Polycystic Kidney Disease (PKD). The symptoms of PKD will not start to be experienced for a few years after the onset of kidney cysts. We will go on to discuss kidney cyst symptoms treatment, but first it is useful to get some background on Polycystic Kidney Disease. PKD comes in 3 forms, 2 of which are inherited and the third of which can occur due to a long history of kidney problems, dialysis or just through old age. Around 7million people suffer from the life-threatening condition worldwide.

The most common type of PKD is called autosomal dominant PKD. This affects 9 in 10 of people suffering from PKD and requires the abnormal gene to be transferred from only one parent. This means if someone has one affected parent and one parent who is unaffected they will have a 50% chance of getting kidney cysts in later life. The other form of PKD that is also inherited, is called autosomal recessive form. This is the childhood type of PKD and requires that both parents transfer the mutated gene meaning a 1 in 4 chance for the baby to get the disease. If there is a history in the family, the disease can be detected by an ultrasound before the birth of the child.

Now we know some of the background of the disease, what are the main symptoms and what is advisable kidney cyst symptoms treatment? Sufferers will have headaches, notice blood in their urine, may have a urinary tract infection and should also feel some unpleasant pain and aches in their abdomen and lower back. One of the worst kidney cyst symptoms is the pain that is felt for which over-the-counter drugs including paracetamol can go some way to easing. Patients may also opt to go through surgery to makes the cysts smaller which can also help to reduce the pain in the abdomen and lower back. The urinary tract infections that will often occur can be treated with the use of antibiotics. In order to help slow the effects of PKD, sufferers are recommended to adjust their lifestyle to ensure their blood pressure is kept at normal levels. Ultimately, when kidney failure eventually occurs the patient will need to undergo dialysis or have their kidneys replaced entirely. These are the main kidney cyst symptoms treatment, and it should be advised to visit a doctor if any of these symptoms are felt.

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Incubation Period of Swine Flu

2011-11-22T02:03:00.001-05:00

The course of H1N1 has three parts: incubation, symptomatic, and post-symptomatic periods. The incubation period of swine flu is between 1 and 7 days according to the Centers for Disease Control in Atlanta. They say that they think it is most likely 1 to 4 days. During this time, you can still shed the virus and infect other people.

Once you come down with symptoms, you can expect the aches, pains, sneezing, coughing and other problems to last from 3 to 7 days. During this time, you place other people at the most risk as a result of the coughing and sneezing.

You can protect the people around you by always coughing or sneezing into a tissue and then disposing the tissue. Wash your hands vigorously with antibacterial soap for 20 seconds frequently. And, disinfect surfaces because the virus can live outside your body for up to two hours. But, once the symptoms of H1N1 have passed, it doesn't mean you are in the clear. You can still transmit the virus for up to a week.

There are numerous reasons that Swine Flu has become a concern for health officials and the public at large. One reason is that it spreads so rapidly. Another is that it is killing a disproportionate number of 30 to 50 year old otherwise healthy people which is quite unusual for the flu.

Swine Flu has been labeled a global pandemic. While the number of deaths worldwide to date is under 1000, some health officials are concerned that once the flu season hits in the western hemisphere, those numbers will skyrocket. Additionally, if the virus mutates, there could be serious problems.

So, the incubation period of swine flu is 1 to 7 days, the symptomatic period is 3 to 7 days and the post symptomatic period is up to 7 days. This means you could be spreading the disease for up to 3 weeks.

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Five Dangerous Myths About Antibiotics

2011-11-21T09:13:00.001-05:00

After the anthrax attacks of 2001, thousands of Americans took the antibiotic Cipro (ciprofloxacin) prophylactically in fear that they had been exposed to the deadly anthrax bacterium.

Unfortunately, while fewer than one in 5,000 had actually been exposed to the disease, about one in five users of the antibiotic suffered serious side effects, including hives, swelling of the throat, and difficulty breathing.

Even though many people think that antibiotics are harmless, these potent infection fighters actually can endanger your health and the health of your family if they are not used properly. Here are the top five myths about antibiotics and why not having the facts can cause you harm.

Myth number 1. It's a good idea to stock up on antibiotics in case there is a shortage when you get sick.

The number one fear of survivals is an outbreak of bird flu. Although there undoubtedly would be uses for antibiotics during a bird flu epidemic, antibiotics would do nothing to treat that particular viral infection. Moreover, storing antibiotics past their expiration date causes unpredictable variations in their potency. An antibiotic like Cipro you have had sitting on a shelf at room temperature for 2 or 3 years may be less potent or so much more potent that it costs deadly drug interactions. Antibiotics that are used after their expiration date may even cause kidney or liver damage.

Myth number 2. Antibiotics will help you get over colds or flu.

The only microorganisms antibiotics kill are bacteria (and not every antibiotic is effective against every strain of bacteria). Colds and flu are caused by viruses that are unaffected by antibiotics. Doctors used to accede to patient requests and prescribe antibiotics anyway, but nowadays the problem of antibiotic resistance is so great most doctors will refuse to prescribe them when patients present viral symptoms.

Myth number 3. Antibiotic resistance is itself a myth

Unfortunately, the ability of bacteria to gain resistance to antibiotics is very real. Especially when someone takes just part of their prescribed pills, a few bacteria will survive treatment. These virulent bacteria can then exchange their genetic material with weaker bacteria, creating a superstrain that no antibiotic can handle. That's what has happened with MRSA, methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus, the devastating skin disease that can be spread in locker rooms, hot tubs, hospitals, and jails.

Myth number 4. It's OK to take antibiotics even if you aren't really sick

Any time you take any drug you risk side effects. If you are taking an antibiotic prescribed for someone else that's been on the shelf for an extended period of time, you are risking serious side effects. And if you try to use antibiotics when are not infected with disease-causing bacteria, you (1) kill the symbiotic bacteria that digest fiber and manufacture B vitamins and vitamin K in your colon and (2) potentially create a strain of bacteria that previously was benign.

Myth number 5. It's OK to stop antibiotics as soon as you feel better

If you stop taking antibiotics before you have finished your prescription, you may feel OK for the short term but risk a much more serious infection in the long term. If you take just enough antibiotic to kill 99 per cent of your infection, you will likely have a 99 per cent reduction in symptoms. The problem is, that last 1 per cent of bacteria will have survived the first few days of treatment, and can pass on its offspring so that they too can survive the first few days of treatment. Next time, you or someone you infect will not get relief as quickly from antibiotic therapy, and maybe not at all.

It is not easy for scientists to create newer, stronger antibiotics. Only by using antibiotics carefully and completely can we keep them effective against new infections in the future.

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Lynch Syndrome - Causes, Symptoms and Treatment Methods

2011-11-20T19:49:00.001-05:00

Lynch syndrome is a rare disorder. The condition is named after Henry Lynch, a doctor and authority on inherited cancers. The estimated proportion of all CRCs that are caused by Lynch syndrome depends on how this syndrome is defined, with traditional definitions being based on family history and age of onset. It is also known as hereditary nonpolyposis colorectal cancer syndrome(HNPCC). It is caused by mutations or alterations of particular genes. Lynch syndrome strongly predisposes people who have this inherited defect to develop colorectal cancer as well as several other types of cancer. The genes associated with HNPCC can sometimes cause other cancers, such as stomach, ovary, endometrium (the lining of the womb) and kidney. HNPCC is an inherited cause of cancer of the bowel. The HNPCC syndrome is due to mutation in a gene in the DNA mismatch repair system, usually the MLH1 or MSH2 gene or less often the MSH6 or PMS2 genes. The syndrome is classified as Type I in the absence of extracolonic cancers and Type II if these are present. However, sarcomas have rarely been described in these families. The cancers of the colorectal area associated with the Lynch Syndromes usually develop at a younger age than is normally found in other persons with colorectal cancer.

The syndrome is neither common nor rare, occurring in one or two of every 1,000 people. Women with HNPCC have a 20-60% lifetime risk of endometrial cancer. In HNPCC, the gastric cancer is usually intestinal-type adenocarcinoma. Other HNPCC-related cancers have characteristic features: the urinary tract cancers are transitional carcinoma of the ureter and renal pelvis; the small bowel cancer is most common in the duodenum and jejunum; and the most common type of brain tumor is glioblastoma. When colorectal cancer is associated with Lynch syndrome, it tends to occur at a younger age than in most other colorectal cancer cases. Colorectal cancer associated with Lynch syndrome tends to occur in people at a younger age than for people with the more common nonhereditary forms of colorectal cancer. Family history can provide important clues to the presence of the Lynch syndrome. Different segments of the DNA strands contain genes responsible for different structures and functions in the body. For example, certain segments of DNA carry genes that determine one's eye color, hair color, height, and other physical characteristics. Other DNA segments of DNA carry genes that regulate the duplication and the rate of growth of cells.

Causes of Lynch syndrome

The common causes and risk factor's of Lynch syndrome include the following:

Lynch syndrome is caused by mutations or alterations of particular genes.

Age is the primary risk factor.

If you have a family history of Lynch syndrome, you're at much greater risk of inheriting this condition yourself.

Daily alcohol use (may double the risk).

Eating a high-fat, low-fiber diet.

Genetic disorders such as familial polyposis syndromes and hereditary non-polyposis colon cancer syndrome (HNPCC).

Not having periods, or not having them often.

Smoking is also a risk factor for Lynch syndrome.

Symptoms of Lynch syndrome

Some sign and symptoms related to Lynch syndrome are as follows:

Changes in bowel habits- for example, constipation or diarrhea that persists for longer than several days.

Change in appetite.

Abdominal pain and even an abdominal mass.

Feelings of fatigue or weakness.

Black, tarry stool, which may represent bleeding above the rectum.

Iron deficiency without another identifiable cause.

Rectal bleeding.

Fatigue associated with anemia.

Treatment of Lynch syndrome

Here is list of the methods for treating Lynch Syndrome:

When polyps associated with Lynch syndrome are present, doctors remove them during a colonoscopy.

Chemotherapy, which uses drugs to destroy cancer cells. This approach often follows surgery.

Surgery may also be an option in people who carry the genetic mutation of Lynch syndrome, even if they don't yet have colorectal cancer.

The standard treatment is to give radiotherapy after surgery to women in certain circumstances.

Most people with Lynch syndrome choose frequent colonoscopies over prophylactic surgery.

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To Flu Shot or Not to Flu Shot? That is the Question

2011-11-20T07:25:00.001-05:00

With Avian Flu in the news, parents, seniors, healthcare providers are exploring the question of whether flu shots are appropriate, and if they should be mandated to protect us all from the risk. The fact that many doctors can not get the shots should not be a deterrent for those who are convinced of the benefit. Most drug stores still have stock available.
Flu shots are not a slam dunk. They are controversial. Here are some of the reasons why:

oFlu shots are preserved with thimerisol as the primary preservative. Thimerisol is a nerve toxin, a form of organic mercury. Mercury poisoning is deadly and cause a range of health issues that stay with the patient for life. The effect is cumulative, and if annual flu vaccines become required, the toxic load is sufficient to cause autism-like symptoms, fibromyalgia like symptoms and more. Thimerisol has been banned in many European countries, because of its negative health impacts. I repeat, mercury is a neural poison. Do we really want to inject it directly into our blood streams?

oFlu shots have a more concentrated dose of mercury, than the EPA indicates is safe for a 250-pound man. We give these shots to babies and school children. And we wonder why learning disabilities are rising at alarming proportions in this country?

oFlu shots have viral elements based upon the prior flu season in the southern hemisphere, typically Australia. There is no guarantee that the strain of flu that the vaccine builds resistance to, will be what is needed in the US the following season. There is no double blind, scientific testing with flu vaccines. The more a virus mutates, as a result antibiotic overuse, or a result of genetically modified organisms gone wrong, or as a result of the process of making the vaccine, for example, the more likely the vaccine will be ineffective.

oWhen flu vaccines were first developed they were determined inappropriate for people in fragile health, the elderly and for people with certain reactions, allergies to certain drugs and foods. Unfortunately when these populations were eliminated, the market for these vaccines was less than 20% of the population. Thus these concerns were removed from final warnings for these vaccines.

oWhile flu vaccines were added the government's list of mandatory vaccines for school children under the age of 18 and are recommended for elderly, parents can opt their children out, with a philosophical, health or religious objection. However many parents are unaware of their ability to do this, because schools have incentives to get all their students vaccinated, because the formula for state funding of schools includes incentives for vaccinated school population. It is not in the schools financial interest to inform parents of their rights.

oHealthcare workers were very forceful, in their boycott of federal plans to required healthcare workers to submit to mandatory smallpox vaccines, as part of a bio-war on terror. The program was scrapped. If healthcare workers, who are most aware of the vaccines, refuse them, what should the rest of us be taking from this?

oPeople who got flu vaccines still get the flu. What efficacy is that?

oThere are other ways to protect against the flu, with less potentially lethal side effects. These include using homeopathic anti-flu meds like Occillo. These include making sure you eat healthy, keep your immune system in peak condition, eat your vegetables. If you are concerned about Avian Flu, consider eating only organic, range free chicken. And if you find yourself catching a flu, consider in addition to chicken soup, and drinking lots of liquid, a trip to your acupuncturist, your naturalpath or your chiropractor.

The answer to whether or not to vaccinate would seem to rest upon your trust or lack of it in the vaccine's effectiveness and safety, weighed against the potential for harm if indeed you became sick with the virus.

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Jaundice Treatment With Ayurvedic and Home Remedies

2011-11-19T07:43:00.001-05:00

Jaundice is a disease caused due to vitiation of the pitta dosha. It is called as kamala. When there is an excessive circulation of the bile pigments in the blood, then this disease is caused. Pitta dosha controls the bile pigments.

Hence, jaundice is a disease of the liver. It can occur when there is an obstruction in the bile duct, or if there is destruction of the red blood corpuscles. When a person has jaundice, their skin becomes yellow in color. This characteristic yellowness is seen even in the eyes and the fingernails. Stools and urine also get colored. The yellow color is an indication that the circulation of bile is in excess.

Along with the yellowness of the skin, there are other symptoms associated with jaundice. Indigestion occurs and the person becomes very weak. Jaundice may also cause the body to itch.

(1) Useful Herbs in the Treatment of Jaundice

1. Berberis (Berberis vulgaris)

Berberis is a very effective herb for all kinds of liver ailments, especially jaundice. So effective is the herb that it is nicknamed 'jaundice berry'. It is a bitter tonic which must be given to a jaundice patient several times a day in does of quarter teaspoons. The fluid extract of the fruit also has similar properties.

2. Chicory (Chichorium intybus)

All parts of the chicory plant are useful in the treatment of liver ailments. The flowers, seeds and roots are the most often used. The juice of the chicory can help in the treatment of sluggishness of the liver, obstruction of the flow of bile and the enlargement of the spleen; all of which are associated with jaundice. Chicory can also promote the healthy secretion of the bile.

3. Gokulakanta (Hygrophila spinosa)

The root of the gokulakanta plant is potent in the treatment of liver diseases such as jaundice and hepatitis. An infusion of the root of the herb in water is prepared and is given to the patient twice or thrice each day.

4. Indian Aloe (Aloe barbadensis)

Indian aloe is an excellent remedy for liver problems such as jaundice. For effective treatment, the pulp of one of its leaves is to be taken with black salt and ginger every morning for a period of ten days.

5. Indian Sorrel (Oxalis corniculata)

The herb is useful in treatment of jaundice. It is taken with buttermilk that is prepared from cow's milk.

6. Picrorrhiza (Picrorrhiza kurroa)

Picrorrhiza is one of the two best Ayurvedic remedies for jaundice. It is known as kutki in Ayurveda. Powder of this herb is mixed with hot water and taken twice a day.

7. Snake Gourd (Trichosanthes anguina)

Snake gourd is taken as an infusion of its leaves for the treatment of jaundice. It is generally to be taken with coriander.

8. Turpeth (Operculina turpethum)

Turpeth is the other best Ayurvedic remedy for jaundice. It is known as nisoth in Ayurveda. The powder of this herb is prescribed mixed in hot water twice a day.

(2) Dietary Treatments for Jaundice

1. Sweet foods are suitable for a jaundice patient. For easy digestion, sweet foods in liquid form must be consumed, such as sugarcane juice, orange juice and juices of other fresh fruits. Dry grapes are also beneficial. Pomegranate is good for jaundice, though it has a slight sour taste.

2. Fresh vegetables must be included in the diet. They must be cooked in minimum oil and kept as green as possible. That is, the use of spices should be curtailed. Bitter vegetables like bitter gourd and the bitter variety of drumsticks are suitable to a jaundice patient.

3. The fat intake should be limited. Even curds must not be given to the jaundice patient. Buttermilk can be given if the butter has been carefully removed from it.

4. Alcohol is very dangerous to a jaundice patient. It can seriously complicate the disease, with fatal consequences. Hence, alcohol in any form must be avoided.

(3) Ayurvedic Treatments for Jaundice

Ayurvedic treatments for jaundice begin with a purgation therapy. This helps o remove the toxins accumulated in the liver and the rest of the body. Strong purgatives are avoided.

The drugs of choice for the treatment of jaundice are nisoth and kutki. Their roots are administered to the patient in powder form. The two herbs can be taken either together or individually, depending on the seriousness of the jaundice and the internal strength of the patient.

Avipattikara choorna and Arogya Vardhini vati are the usually prescribed medicines in jaundice. These are to be taken in teaspoonful quantities twice a day with water or with honey.

Another general medicine which can be used in all kinds of jaundice is the Bhumyamalaki. This is a short herb which is very rarely available. Its juice is given mixed with honey in a teaspoonful quantity thrice a day. Vasaka, Kakamachi and Triphala are the other drugs used.

(4) Home Remedies for Jaundice

1. Juices of bitter vegetables like the bitter gourd are very effective in treating jaundice. Mash the vegetable and extract their juices by pressing with a cloth. This juice must be ideally had in the early morning. One glassful of juice per day is recommended.

2. Prepare a cupful of juice of beetroot and lemon in equal proportions. Having this juice for a few days will definitely cure jaundice.

3. Extract juice of amalaki (Indian gooseberry, Emblica officinalis). Have this juice thrice in a day in a teaspoonful quantity. This is a potent remedy for all kinds of liver ailments.

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What Are The Main Kidney Cyst Symptoms?

2011-11-18T11:57:00.001-05:00

Kidney cysts begin appearing on a person's kidney due to the onset of a disease called Polycystic Kidney Disease (PKD). Before we go on to discuss the main kidney cyst symptoms we will first look at what Polycystic Kidney Disease is and who is affected. Polycystic Kidney Disease is primarily an inherited condition, although as we will see this is not always the case. The most common form is known as autosomal dominant PKD. 90% of people with PKD are autosomal dominant. In this form, the person only needs to inherit the abnormal gene from the one of their parents that are affected, giving them a 1 in 2 chance of developing PKD.

The other form of inherited PKD is known as autosomal recessive PKD. This affects children and requires that they inherit the abnormal gene from both of their affected parents. This results in a 1 in 4 possibility of inheriting PKD, with around 1 in 10,000 babies being affected. There is a third type of PKD which someone can get, even if neither of their parents possesses the abnormal gene that causes PKD. This form of PKD is typically brought on as a result of long term kidney problems, dialysis or old age. So, what are the kidney cyst symptoms you should look out for?

Kidney cyst symptoms for the autosomal form will generally start to appear in the sufferer during mid life. However, the afflicted person may not start to experience the symptoms for several years after the cysts have begun to develop. The typical symptoms of kidney cyst problems include:

- Headaches

- Urinary tract infections

- Pain and aches, and sometimes sudden and harsh pain in the abdomen and lower back

- Blood appearing amongst urine

Unfortunately, there is no cure for kidney cyst symptoms so affected people can only take measures to try and relieve the pain and lengthen their lives. If you begin to experience any of the symptoms described above, it is of course strongly advisable to book an appointment with your doctor immediately.

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Treatment of Sacroiliitis

2011-11-17T21:32:00.001-05:00

Sacroiliitis is a disorder that is far more complex than back pain and it is important to seek medical attention early if you develop the symptoms. The condition is complicated with a variety of causes; it may be secondary to an injury or pregnancy but this is not a disorder to gamble with. Delay may lead to joint degeneration or the pain may be a symptom of a larger, inflammatory arthritic condition known as ankylosing spondylitis. This is one of the many forms of inflammatory arthritis, the most common of which is rheumatoid arthritis. Complications of ankylosing spondylitis can be quite serious and include:

Spine Deformities
Difficulty Breathing
Lung Infections
Heart Problems.

Symptoms OF Sacroiliitis

Pain and stiffness in lower back, thighs, buttocks
Pain becomes worse with walking, due to the motion of the hips.
Psoriasis, an inflammatory skin condition, may occur with a type of arthritis and sacroiliitis.
Pain radiating down leg, often mimicking sciatica
Limp
Decreased range of motion
Elevated temperature
Bloody diarrhea occurs with Reiter's Syndrome, which causes painful urination, joint pain, sacroiliac joint pain, and eye inflammation, and accompanies sacroiliitis.
Eye inflammation in one or both eyes, a symptom of Reiter's Syndrome and evident with sacroiliitis.

Diagnosis

History and Physical
When examined, pain localized around sacroiliac joints, can be detected.
Laboratory studies, including blood cultures
X-rays of sacroiliac joints
MRI (Magnetic Resonance Imaging) scan of sacroiliac joints
Culture of fluid from affected sacroiliac joint

It is important that the doctor be informed if there is a history of IV Drug use and whether any antibiotics have been taken recently. Recent antibiotic use can delay the proper diagnosis and identification of the infectious organism if a blood culture is done.

Treatment

The underlying cause and symptoms are considered when implementing a treatment plan.

NSAIDs (Non-Steroidal Anti-inflammatory Drugs) such as naproxyn and ibuprophen reduce inflammation and pain.
Cortiosteroid Drugs, such as prednisone and medrol, reduce inflammation and slow down joint deterioration.
DMARDs (Disease Modifying Anti-rheumatic Drugs), such as Azulfidine and methotrexate, help limit joint damage.
Antibiotics, if an underlying infection is determined by a blood culture or culture of fluid from infected sacroiliac joints. Drug must be specific for that infectious organism.
Rest to relieve strain on sacroiliac joints.
Tumor necrosis factor inhibitor medications, such as Enbrel, Humira, Remicade, can block a cell protein that acts as an inflammatory agent. This helps reduce pain and stiffness. These medications are quite expensive and may not be prescribed unless other medications are not effective.
Physical therapy will be started after the painful, acute phase is under control. Range of motion exercises and stretching exercises to improve muscle strength and joint flexibility.

Decrease or eliminate smoking because nicotine decreases the blood flow to the affected areas and makes it more difficult for the body to fight the disease.

These medications can effectively relieve the painful symptoms of sacroiliitis but they have many side-effects. They may interact with medications you are already taking so it is important that you understand all their side-effects and how to use them appropriately. Some of these drugs increase the risk of bleeding, the risk of a cardio-vascular event or damage to your kidneys, liver or gastrointestinal tract. Complete patient education is vital to the management of sacroiliitis and the effective relief of its symptoms.

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Vaginal Thrush Treatment

2011-11-17T04:43:00.001-05:00

Vaginal thrush, also known as yeast infection or Candida, can be an incredibly irritating, embarrassing and, at times, painful, complaint to deal with.

Irritating, because that itch-scratch-itch cycle can drive you crazy,
Embarrassing, because if you're in public, it's not always appropriate to scratch the itch, and
Painful, because amongst other conditions, thrush can lead to bladder infections and sore, swollen and broken tissue.

Over the years, I must have tried a few dozen thrush treatments. I've used creams, jellies, pessaries, pills, herbal and holistic treatments, most of which gave some temporary relief, but only one of which gave any lasting results.

So, how do you get thrush, what are the symptoms and how can you treat it?

Causes of Vaginal Thrush

We all have the thrush bacteria and Candida Albicans (the yeast that causes thrush) present in our body. Under normal conditions, they hang out together, causing us no problems at all. However, if something should occur to create an imbalance which causes the level of yeast to rise, that's when a thrush infection can occur.

There are many things which can cause this to happen, amongst them:

The level of estrogen in the body being unusually high (e.g.; during pregnancy or menstruation)
Using steroids or medication which contains steroids
Having sexual contact with a partner who has the infection
Diabetes - a high blood sugar level can bring on a bout of thrush
The use of antibiotics
Having a weakened immune system or being generally run down
The use of an IUD (some say that IUD's which contain copper more likely to cause thrush)
The use of the contraceptive pill

Symptoms of Vaginal Thrush

The symptoms of vaginal thrush can literally keep you awake at night.

The maddening itch, which can drive you to utter distraction, is bad enough on its own. However, a really bad case of thrush can be made much worse if the inner and outer lips of the vulva become affected, resulting in sore, swollen and broken skin on the most sensitive of areas.

If this occurs, even the most simple and natural of bodily functions, e.g.; urinating, can cause extreme pain as the acid in the urine comes into contact with raw or broken skin.

It's not unheard of for a person suffering from thrush to develop cystitis as well. If this occurs, a dull ache in the lower-back and an internal burning sensation when urinating are the tell-tale symptoms. These are sometimes accompanied by feelings of being shivery and weak.

Oftentimes, but not always, vaginal thrush is accompanied by a creamy white discharge, which if you've never had it before, can be quite alarming the first time you see it.

Thrush Treatment

If you've ever suffered from thrush, I'm sure you'll agree that it's a condition which, as soon as it develops, the only thing on your mind is how to get rid of it.

For most people, the first port of call is the pharmacy, where numerous over-the-counter treatments can be purchased in pill, cream or pessary form. (Incidentally, applying natural yogurt to the sore areas can bring pretty immediate relief, but unfortunately, it's only temporary).

If none of the above help, or the thrush recurs, a visit to the doctor for an examination and some prescribed medication may be the solution.

However, if conventional medicine isn't your preference, you may wish to investigate an holistic thrush treatment. This will not only treat the symptoms, but work on establishing, treating and eliminating the root cause of the infection.

Personally, this is the treatment that has suited me best, although I have to say that it took some time to get to grips with. Having said that though, it is, without doubt, the only thrush treatment which (so far!) appears to have prevented any recurrences of infection, which in my mind, makes it well worth having persevered with.

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Morphea Scleroderma - Morphea Symptoms, Prognosis & Treatment

2011-11-16T16:09:00.001-05:00

Important Facts about Morphea Scleroderma

Morphea Scleroderma is a medical condition that unlike systemic scleroderma usually only affects the skin in localized areas of the body. The condition normally begins with patches of skin becoming yellowish, somewhat dry and rigid until they eventually harden completely.

The hard skin spots or legions commonly appear as circles and have a yellow color with a purple or deep red center. These manifestations are due to excessive deposits of collagen in the layers of the skin tissue. Morphea does not normally affect any other organs of the body apart from the epidermis which makes the condition far less severe than symptoms of systemic scleroderma.

Common Morphea Symptoms

Generally, any area of the skin can be affected by Morphea, but usually most sufferers experience the formation of hard skin patches on the abdomen or upper body. In the majority of cases and more precisely more than half the cases in which the condition appears Morphea Scleroderma affects the upper layer of the skin only.

Rare Morphea Symptoms

Still, in some cases (rare), the condition may also affect the muscles, tendons and even the joints of a person afflicted with the condition. Generally,the former Morphea Scleroderma that affects the skin only is the most widely spread and even if you notice the symptoms you should not automatically think of the worst case scenario.

Will Morphea Scleroderma Clear Up By Itself?

Morphea Scleroderma skin legions are often described as a plaque and in many cases will go away on their own within tree to five years. This is however a very long period of time to live with the unsightly symptoms so treatment is often sought. Owing to the variations and severity of scleroderma the best solution for any sufferer would be to seek medical help at the first signs of trouble.

Morphea Scleroderma Variations

The other types of Morphea tend to spread to more areas of the body and inside layers and are much harder to treat. In such cases the treatment by a medical professional specializing in this field is absolutely essential. The different types of the condition are determined by its acuteness, spread and persistence in general. Some of the most common of these include Generalized Morphea, Morphea Profunda, Deep Morphea, Guttate Morphea and Bullous Morphea.

What Causes Morphea?

Morphea scleroderma is catagorised the same as the more serious condition systemic scleroderma otherwise known as systemic sclerosis, both conditions are types of autoimmune disorders, that affect the connective tissues in the body. One of the most probable causes of the condition is genetics. Although you may not be born with the condition, studies indicate that many people are born with a gene that predisposes people to autoimmune disease.

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Cellulitis - Causes, Symptoms and Treatment for Cellulitis

2011-11-16T03:40:00.001-05:00

Cellulitis is a common inflammation of the connective tissue underlying the skin. It appears when bacteria occupy broken or normal skin, cuts, burns, insect bites, surgical wounds, or sites of endovenous catheter insertion and start to spread just beneath the skin or in the skin itself. This leads to an infection and inflammation of the cells, erythema, edema, and warmth.

Cellulitis can occur on any part of your body but lower legs or skin on the face are most commonly affected by this infection .Staphylococcus ("staph") is the main bacteria which causes cellulitis. Occasionally, some other bacteria may cause cellulitis as well.

As a spreading infection cellulitis generally
starts as a small region of tenderness, swelling, and skin redness . As this red region starts to increase, the person may result a fever, sometimes with chills and sweats, and swollen glands near the area of infected skin.

Causes

Cellulitis may be caused by many different bacteria but streptococcus and staphylococcus are the most common originator of these bacteria, which are normally exist on the skin but cause no actual infection until the skin is broken.So cellulitis is started by entering by way of a break in the skin. This break can't be visible by naked eye. Predisposing conditions for cellulitis include insect bite, animal bite, pruritic skin rash, recent surgery , athlete's foot , dry skin , eczema , burns & boils , though there is debate as to whether minor foot lesions contribute .Streptococci spread instantly in the skin because they produce enzymes that impede the ability of the tissue to confine the infection.

Pneumococcus may result a specifically malignant form of cellulitis, usually in an immunocompromised host, and frequently is combined with tissue necrosis, suppuration, and blood stream invasion.

There are some reported cases of cellulitis where it appears on areas of trauma, the broken skin, such as the skin near ulcers or surgical wounds. Also some wounds appearing after exposure to fresh water may be lead to Aeromonas hydrophila, a gram-negative rod.

Symptoms

Cellulitis can be occurred anywhere in the body but it most commonly develops on the legs.The main symptoms are skin redness or inflammation that spreads in size as the infection spreads , tight, glossy, stretched occurrence of the skin , tenderness of the area , skin injury or rash, sudden onset ,warmth over the redskin,fever .there are some other signs of infection includes chills, shaking, fatigue, warm skin, sweating, muscle aches, myalgias. Some of the additional symptoms that may be related with this disease are nausea, vomiting & hair loss at the site of infection

In some advanced cases of cellulitis, red streaks may be seen moving up the affected area. The swelling can spread frequently. The infected skin gets hot and slightly swollen and may look slightly pockmarked, like an orange peel.The swelling appears due to the infection blocks the lymphatic vessels in the skin.

Treatments

Antibiotics are used to control infection, and analgesics may be needed to ebb pain. Commonly used oral antibiotics are penicillin, flucloxacillin, cefuroxime or erythromycin. Antibiotics taken are penicillin-based antibiotics (e.g. penicillin G or flucloxacillin) or cephalosporins (e.g. cefotaxime or cefazolin).

Clindamycin and vancomycin are efficacious antibiotics in patients with serious penicillin or cephalosporin allergy.

Amoxicillin and clavulanic acid may be used in the situations where a broader antibiotic cover is required, for example a diabetic patient with a foot ulcer.

It is recommend that person should wear long sleeves and pants in high risk areas e.g. gardening. Maintained proper hygiene& keep skin clean and well moisturized, with nails well tended, avoid having blood tests using from the affected limb , cure fungal infections of hands and feet early, keep swollen limbs elevated during rest periods to cure lymphatic circulation.

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Lupus Symptoms In Women - The Lupus Rash

2011-11-15T11:56:00.001-05:00

Approximately 9 out of 10 lupus patients are women. Lupus symptoms in women are wide-ranging and can affect nearly every part of the human body including the skin, joints, and internal organs. Approximately 85% of lupus patients will experience changes to their skin. One of the most common skin symptoms characteristic of most forms of the disease is a lupus rash.

Cutaneous or discoid lupus, which only affects the skin, is often associated with several different kinds of skin rashes and lesions, but these are also commonly present in people with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE). Most rashes are extremely photosensitive, meaning they are made worse by exposure to ultraviolet light like that from the sun.

Other lupus symptoms in women may include ulcers inside the nose and/or mouth, extreme fatigue, headaches, fever, dizziness, chest pain, hair loss, sleep disturbances, and internal damage to areas of the body such as the brain, kidneys, heart, lungs, and blood vessels.

The poster-child rash of lupus disease is the butterfly rash. This rash occurs on the face and gets its name from the characteristic "butterfly" shape it usually forms in. The body of the butterfly is made by the bridge of the nose and the wings are created by light pink and/or bright red markings that extend across the cheeks underneath each eye.

The areas of red may be large and solid or they may be blotchy. A butterfly rash may also be scaly in texture, and itching is a common complaint from lupus patients with this type of rash.

A second common lupus rash is the discoid rash. The term "discoid" refers to the shape of this rash which is often oval or disk-like. Discoid rashes commonly occur on the scalp, face, and neck along with other areas of the body exposed to sunlight. They are extremely photosensitive and may become very itchy.

Discoid lesions, discoid sores, and subacute cutaneous lesions are also common and may leave scars as they heal. These lesions are generally coin shaped and can cover large areas of the body if the skin becomes exposed to sunlight. Some discoid lesions start out looking like red pimples whereas others start out as flat lesions and get bigger by expanding outward.

Approximately 20% of SLE patients will experience what are known as chronic discoid lupus lesions. With these lesions, the central area becomes depressed and forms a scar which can be very disfiguring. Chronic discoid lesions require immediate and aggressive medical attention.

Many rashes may also be coupled with muscle and joint pain, fever, and overall discomfort. Since virtually all lupus rashes are made worse by sun exposure, sun screen becomes an extremely important prevention measure.

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Do Flu Shots Have Mercury In Them?

2011-11-14T13:09:00.001-05:00

Do flu shots have mercury in them? Yes, says the Center for Disease Control and Prevention, commonly referred to as the CDC, in their facts on the flu shot question and answer guide.

Opinions about whether mercury in flu shots is a threat to human health may vary, but no one can deny the facts on the flu shot. Mercury is used in the manufacturing of and as a preservative in most flu shot vaccines. Even those vaccines that are labeled preservative free have trace amounts of mercury left over from the manufacturing process, but because the content is too low to act as a preservative, they are called preservative free.

Questions like "do flu shots have mercury in them" may be asked for many reasons. Mercury contamination in fish and the environment is of great concern. Mercury poisoning can cause illness and death. Some people have severe allergic reactions to mercury. Mercury is a known neurotoxin, meaning that it damages or destroys nerve tissues. Mercury has been linked to autism and Alzheimer's.

The facts on the flu shot presented by the CDC maintain that there is "no convincing evidence of harm" from mercury in flu shots, but there was sufficient evidence for New York to pass a law in 2006 banning thimerosal (a mercury based preservative) from flu shots intended for use in children and pregnant women. But, even with this ban, the answer to "do flu shots have mercury in them" in New York is still, yes. As previously stated trace amounts of mercury are present even in preservative free flu shots.

In 1999, the Public Health Service agencies, the American Academy of Pediatrics and vaccine manufacturers agreed that mercury should be reduced or eliminated from vaccines as a precautionary measure. But, still the answer to the question "do flu shots have mercury in them" is yes. The facts on the flu shot presented by the CDC maintain that the best protection from influenza is the annual flu shot, but ultimately it is a personal choice.

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Thrush An Embarrassing Ailment - The Causes And Treatment

2011-11-13T20:39:00.001-05:00

What Causes It ?

Most people carry candida in their bodies, but normally it is kept at low levels by the body's own immune system. It can live in the intestines, mouth,skin,and vagina where" friendly" bacteria help keep yeast levels low. An increase of oestrogen caused by pregnancy and the contraceptive pill can encourage candida growth. Antibiotics, which can destroy good bacteria can be another cause

Some women experience symptoms similar to thrush but actually have an allergy to latex condoms, spermicides and the rubber in cervical caps.Thrush can also be passed on to men. Over the counter remedies usually settle the attack in 48 hours, but if does not respond to treatment after two weeks, they should consult their doctor for a swab test to rule out other infections and show which type of candida is causing the infection. The doctor may also want to test for diabetes and dermatitis. In rare cases the tests could indicate cancer of the vulva.

Treatment

Over the counter remedies are anti fungal drugs in the form of vaginal pessaries or creams, these are usually helpful. Foods such as sugar and dairy products, coffee, tea and wine are thought to contribute to the problem by increasing uriny sugar, an environment which candida thrives. Anything that changes the body's natural acidity, such as perfumed soaps, douches and bubble baths can also irritate. Avoid tight trousers, leggings, and synthetic underwear such as tights, as these prevent air circulating and can create the perfect environment for thrush.

Whats New?

Sadly little has developed for thrush in terms of research. One of the newest alternative treatments is Dida, a natural herbal supplement which may help matain a healthy candida balance in the body.

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Deficiency of Vitamin D - Symptoms and Side Effects

2011-11-13T01:41:00.001-05:00

Vitamin D Deficiency Symptoms and Side Effects The article aims to educate you on the severity of not having enough vitamin D and teaches you how to check for the symptoms of vitamin D deficiency.

With more and more office personals going to office in the early morning and leaving only after the sunset, the time exposed to the sun is getting lesser.

Without sunshine, our body is not able to generate enough vitamin D, hence the lack of it, which poses a health risk.

Some Vitamin D Deficiency Symptoms

Muscle pain
Sudden loss of muscle strength
Constant bone pains
Low energy / Moodless

Reasons and causes of vitamin D deficiency can vary accordingly.

Usually seasons such as winter forces people to rest at home, hence the lack of sunshine can be the primary cause for people to have lack of vitamin D.

Dangerous side effect of malnutrition of vitamin D

Osteoporosis
Osteomalacia
Rickets
Dental cativities

Osteoporosis, osteomalacia and rickets are diseases related to our skeletal structure.

As you know, bones are mineralized using vitamin D and calcium.

Shortage of vitamin D prevent the growth of bones, which causes rickets in children. Children suffering from rickets causes knock knees and bone deformation!

For adults, osteomalacia can occur which leads to weak bones which might eventually lead to bone cancer. Without mineralization, bone become frail and simple knock to the bone might even cause a fracture!

Teeth will become brittle and will cause them to chip off. This are part of vitamin D deficiency symptoms.

People who are at risk are

Young children
Working office-bound adults
Pregnant woman
Elderly

When young, the skeleton is constantly growing at a rapid pace. Hence attention must be given to make sure they have their daily requirement of vitamin D.

Office workers too tend to suffer from the insufficient exposure to sunlight, which minimize the body's ability to create vitamin D.

Pregnant woman, too, are at risk to suffer vitamin D side effects as most of their body nutrients are given to the baby.

As our body ages, the body loses its natural ability to create and absorb vitamin D, thus extra care must be given to ensure that the elderly have their requirement amount of vitamin D.

If you or your relatives have any vitamin D deficiency symptoms, it is recommended that you seek a doctor's attention immediately!

Vitamin D Deficiency Treatment Although malnutrition of vitamin D is serious, recovering from malnutrition of vitamin D is easy. Spend an hour for a walk in the park regularly and your body will start to heal by itself.

Another alternative method will be taking supplements to replenish the vitamin D back that is needed by your body.

However, although overdose is rare, check with your doctor for a prescription.

After recovering, remember to maintain a healthy diet of fish and milk with sunlight exposure and you will never face vitamin D deficiency symptoms again.

Read More at Vitamin D Deficiency Symptoms

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