RSS
 

Archive for April, 2009

Our Guide to Home Water Filters – Undersink Water Filters

29 Apr



Today’s world is more and more polluted and it should come as no surprise that the water reaching our homes contains more bacteria and debris. Installing a water filter is preferred by more and more people, as its main purpose is to keep all these debris away from your home and to provide you with clear, pure water.

One of the most frequent types of water filters used are those that are installed under your sink and filter the water. In this way you can obtain water with almost the same biological properties as bottled water, but with only one significant advantage: you end up paying very few for this clean water.

The water filters that are installed under the sink have another advantage, as they are very easy to install and the whole operation lasts for a few minutes. All you need to install an undersink water filter is the water filter kit and some basic plumbing abilities.

You will see that the installation process is very straight forward and it should pose no problems to anyone. First, you have to disconnect the sink from the water pipe. The cold water pipe is where the water filter is installed so it is this pipe you should disconnect. To do this you need to loosen the security nuts and the supply line should come off very easily.

After disconnecting the supply line, do not forget to put some Teflon tape around the fittings to ensure the best possible insulation for after you will secure the line back on. Take the water filter and install it between the supply line and the sink on the cold water pipe. The water filter is to be placed where the rigid supply line used to be. Next, you have to install the water filter canister. When installing them, make sure you place the canister so the cold water enters it via its inlet. To finalize the installation, connect the outer fitting of the water filter to the faucet.

After you have installed the undersink water filter, you should have clean, pure water at your faucet. By passing through the filter’s layers, the water gets cleaned from all bacteria and debris (sand, stone and so on).

Before using the cold water again, you should make sure you have properly sealed all fittings and connections. Make sure you have used Teflon tape in all those areas and test the installation for leaks first.

 
No Comments

Posted in Allergy And Sinus

 

Arthritis Gloves

29 Apr



There are many companies, which manufacture arthritis gloves. Generally, the cost of a pair of gloves ranges from $10 to $50, and even more. These gloves are effective in reducing the pain. The gloves are effective against both osteoarthritis as well as rheumatoid arthritis. The gloves must work for increased blood circulation in the micro level; quicker blood flow; supplying sufficient oxygen and nutrients; rejuvenating blood veins, capillaries, and nerves; reducing pain and rigidness in the finger joints; warming up the fingers faster and long lasting; maintaining stronger nails and softer skin; increasing the stretchability of the collagen tissue; reducing bacteria and infections; improving dexterity and flexibility; and increasing the power of hand.

Jobar International Therapy Gloves are specially made for men, which help in a big way to get rid of the pain related to arthritis. A pair of gloves cost around $10. Dome Industries Handeze Therapeutic Gloves help in relieving the pain of: arthritis of hand, carpal tunnel syndrome, fatigue on hand, poor blood circulation, repetitive stress injuries, and tendonitis. They cost around $13. Isotoner therapeutic gloves are very helpful to ease painful swelling of hand and sore joints because of arthritis. The approximate cost of these gloves is $17. Light compression arthritis gloves render therapeutic warmth to decrease the severity of pain and swelling. They cost around $28. Thermoskin Arthritis Gloves are designed to ease the pain on fingers and hands typically of arthritis. The cost of these gloves is around $30. The Swede-O-Inc Thermoskin Arthritic Gloves are anatomically shaped and have been specially designed to alleviate arthritis pain in fingers and hands. These gloves cost around $33. If the severity of arthritis is very high, the Heat Therapy Gloves are very effective in reducing the pain by raising the skin temperature around two to three degrees, which maximizes the blood circulation. These gloves cost around $40. Far Infrared Arthritis Gloves are highly effective in reducing the bedeviling symptoms of arthritis. These gloves are very much useful in mending the pain, stiffness and swelling of the hands and finger joints.

Prolotex(TM) Therapeutic Open Finger Tip Arthritis Gloves are gentle, comfortable, and the people can wear these gloves round the clock. If anyone’s work does not allow gloves then the individual can wear the gloves during night to mend arthritic hands and fingers. The material used to prepare these gloves is impregnated with some special bio-ceramics, which give out and reflect the curing ability of infrared rays deep into the soft tissues of the hands. These gloves can increase the blood circulation at the cellular level, which is the vital action to get rid of the pain and inflammation of arthritis. These gloves help to bring nutrient-rich, oxygenated, fresh blood to the affected areas. These gloves are available in three different sizes. Normally, these gloves cost around $50; however, some stores are offering these gloves for about $40.

 
No Comments

Posted in Arthritis

 

Helpful Warnings and Tips on Using Over-the-Counter Sleep Aids

27 Apr



If it is already way past your bedtime and still, you lie in your bed wide-awake, then there is a possibility that you have insomnia. The same goes if you have problems in achieving sound and deep sleep. It can be quite troublesome and its daytime effects are very undesirable. You might immediately think and find ways in order to immediately resolve your sleeping problem and therefore, be able to fall and stay asleep and achieve a long, deep and refreshing sleep.

Your search for a solution that has immediate effects may lead you to try out over-the-counter sleep medications that are available on drugstores all over. While these drugs can give you the immediate solution to your insomnia and help you to fall asleep quickly, it is best to be cautious about using them.

Insomnia is quite a complex condition and a variety of medical conditions and situations could be its underlying cause. Identifying and determining the root cause of your insomnia is the only way for you to be rid of your sleeping problem, eventually.

For those who have short-term or transient insomnia, the best way to get over it is to establish healthy sleeping habits and sleep/wake cycles to condition the body’s circadian rhythms. For long-term insomnia, it is best to consult with the specialist doctor on the underlying medical condition for proper treatment.

Over-the-counter sleeping medications, even if they indeed have quick effects does not target, whatever is the root cause of your sleeping problem. You can rely on them as one would rely on crutches to support a broken bone, but they are not the cure. They are actually meant only to provide provisional relief from the symptoms of insomnia.

If you need to use such drugs especially if you cannot survive the daytime effects of insomnia, you must first research and know about them. Familiarization with the varied array of over-the-counter sleep aids is the key to make a good, if not best, decision on what type of drugs is suitable for your particular kind of sleeping problem.

The safety of an individual in his or her prolonged use of sleeping pills has not been proven nor established. It is better to establish healthy sleeping habits and great sleep environment, together with undergoing behavioral therapy sessions as natural insomnia remedies, rather than relying on too many over-the-counter drugs.

If you still decide to try out some OTC sleep aids, then it is best to follow these tips in using them:

- Consult your doctor and ask if it is safe for you to try an OTC sleep aids. Make sure that you remember his/her recommendations concerning your decision.

- Follow the directions of use and indications given. You may have to start with relatively small doses and increase them gradually.

- Make sure that you consider the other medications that you are constantly taking. Some over-the-counter sleeping pills may have adverse effects if it has interactions with other medications / chemicals that are taken into the body. Upon consultation with your sleep doctor, make it a point to inform him or her about the other medications you are taking for treatment of some other health condition.

- Remember that your actions and emotions indicate if your medication has side effects.

- Using over-the-counter sleeping drugs must be made sporadically and not regularly or on a nightly basis so that the harmful effects would also be decreased and its effectiveness would increase a bit every time you use them.

- Avoid taking other non-prescription or over-the-counter drugs and substances that may make your sleeping problems worse than it already is.

- If you are just starting on a new OTC sleep aid, you still may not be aware of how it can affect you so do not attempt to drive any vehicle or operate heavy machinery right after taking them.

- Maintain your occasional visits to the doctor.

 
No Comments

Posted in aids & hiv

 

And The Poor Shall Forevermore Be Downtrodden

26 Apr



Question: what is it about governments, big business, institutions, non-profits, charities etc that they want to keep the poor poor? Alright, as generalizations go, this one is one of my better ones. Two articles that made me think this appeared in the media today.

The first one was in the Independent and discussed the farming revolution in Malawi. It described how Malawi has been able to turn around from being a country that needed food aid for five million out of twelve million of its citizens to one that is exporting food.

This was achieved by the new government, led by Bingu wa Mutharika, who supported its farmers by subsidising high-yield seed and fertilisers. With the benefit of state coupons the costs of these two essential ingredients to farming success were lowered dramatically.

The cost of the subsidy system to the state was

 
No Comments

Posted in aids & hiv

 

Arthritis – Fish Oil Connection

26 Apr



For many people, it seems that arthritis is a condition of aging that one simply can not avoid. The aches and pains of life simply catch up with the patient over the course of their lifetimes, resulting in achy and stiffened joints. But what many people do not realize is that arthritis is a condition that can be controlled with various drugs and supplements – leaving the patient to lead a healthy and pain free life.

What is Arthritis?

Though some myths about arthritis seem to still pervade common thought – i.e. cracking one’s knuckles can lead to arthritic joints – science has shown that there is more to the story. Arthritis is a condition in which the joints swell, causing pain, swelling, and stiffness. Some cases of arthritis are linked with the amount of activity that is done over the course of a lifetime, while other cases are the result of trauma to the joint. Aging is another direct cause of arthritis. As the joints begin to weaken from the years of use, the joints can become damaged, leading to the inflammatory response.

The problem with arthritis is that it can lead to a much lower quality of life for those affected. Instead of being able to move around easily, these patients can have bad days in which they area unable to move well, causing them to stay indoors and away from activities they enjoy. Arthritis can also lead patients to avoid certain movements. And this lack of activity can actually make the condition worsened.

There are many forms of arthritis that can affect the patient:

Osteoarthritis

Rheumatoid arthritis

Gout

Juvenile arthritis

Septic arthritis

It’s important to note that some forms of arthritis can affect juvenile patients as well as those not in their later years. Rheumatoid arthritis and juvenile arthritis can affect very young patients, but become a lifelong battle of pain control and mobility problems.

How is Arthritis Usually Treated?

For most patients, arthritis is treated with pain medications as well as medications that help to reduce the amount of inflammation in the joints. By adding physical therapy and other forms of activity as well, you can increase the mobility of the joints without causing more harm to them in the process.

In extreme cases of arthritis in which the joint is severely damaged, the joint may need to be replaced entirely. This is often seen in the case of damaged knees and hips, whether the condition was hereditary to begin with or simply a case of aging.

For more aggressive and painful forms of arthritis, like rheumatoid arthritis, patients may need to have IV medications on a weekly basis to help control the inflammation.

Are There Other Ways to Stop the Inflammation?

This is a question that may have asked in the beginning stages of arthritis. To answer this query, scientists have begun studying the body to see how the inflammatory cycle works and how it can be disrupted. There has been some success with anti-inflammatory drugs like prednisone, but these can have negative side effects that patients do not enjoy. Prednisone especially can cause bloating and excessive weight gain in the patient, which can be uncomfortable as well as damaging to the patient’s mental status.

A team of researchers at Royal Adelaide Hospital found that fish oil might be a good supplement for those suffering from arthritis conditions. Though they were studying the supplement for its effectiveness on cardiovascular diseases, they noticed that not only were patients having fewer arthritis flare ups, but that they were also being protected from heart disease. In addition, they were not experiencing the same side effects as their traditional medications and were able to replace many of their medications entirely.

As an added bonus, these researchers have also indicated that fish oil might work well as a preventative measure against arthritis.

How Can Patients Get Started?

While the benefits of fish oil for arthritis seem to be clear, patients will still want to talk with their physicians before adding this supplement regimen to their life. Fish oil can not always replace other medications, however, but it might be able to increase the effectiveness of the current therapies.

Even if patients are not ready to go for completely supplementation, they can try adding more foods with these essential fatty acids in them. For example, eating more fish and fortified foods can help to boost essential fatty acid levels. You might also want to try other essential fatty acids like those found in flaxseed and nuts and seeds.

Conclusion

While science is beginning to link the benefits of fish oil for arthritis, some patients may still be wary of taking these supplements. However, it is clear that adding a few additional sources of essential fatty acids to the daily diet is a good idea when you have inflammatory conditions. As the benefits become clear to the patient, they can always move onto higher levels of these fatty acids in the supplement form.

 
No Comments

Posted in Arthritis

 

5 Tips to Reduce Arthritis Swelling and Pain

26 Apr



Arthritis swelling is just one of the symptoms of this chronic disease. It’s also one of the ways to find out if you really have arthritis or a related disease. Pain and swelling also result in less range of motion for the limbs affected.

There are several ways to combat this condition:

1. Exercise:
Although exercise can often mean more pain at the beginning, it’s really important because only through exercise can you increase the range of motion of the limbs and joints affected. Otherwise, you will find that you are becoming less and less flexible. If you’re concerned that regular exercise is too painful, then try yoga for starters. This gentle exercise routine is excellent in improving flexibility. Afterwards you can move onto include regular exercise.

2. Warmth (possibly cold too):
Arthritis is a disease that affects people differently. Usually applying a warm pack to the affected area brings relief. However, if this doesn’t work, try an ice pack and see what effect that has. If you have any problems with your circulation, then an ice pack isn’t for you. It’s trial and error but either warm or cold, this could definitely help reduce swelling and pain.

3. Ultrasound:
This produces gentle waves that penetrate deeply into your sore tissues and gives them warmth. It has been known to reduce pain and swelling as it increases blood flow, thus giving your body more oxygen.

4. Diet:
If you are overweight, make an effort to reduce those extra pounds. The more you weigh, the more pressure is put on your joints, so it makes perfect sense to relieve that pressure by reducing your weight. Also have a good look at the foods you eat in relation to your arthritis swelling and pain. Often zucchini, tomatoes, eggplant and even coffee produce more symptoms and pain. Just be more aware of what you eat and drink and how it affects your body and then reduce or eliminate the intake of that particular food or drink item.

5. Get Another Treatment Option – Drugs Or Natural Remedies
Visiting your doctor is always a good idea. He may prescribe a different medication for you to try. You can also visit your health food store and ask them if they can advise any supplements you can take to help with your pain and inflammation.

As you can see, you don’t just have to put up with arthritis swelling and pain, there are often simple ways you can help yourself.

 
No Comments

Posted in Arthritis

 

Foot Pain and Celiac Disease

25 Apr



While celiac disease is a condition of the digestive tract, its implications can be far-reaching. Remember that most experts agree that the immune system resides in the digestive tract. Because of this, celiac disease can lead to complications well beyond the small intestine.

Individuals suffering from celiac disease could find themselves confronting other ailments from diabetes, lupus, osteoporosis, rheumatoid arthritis, to schizophrenia.

This disease can have a negative impact on the nervous system, causing nerve damage to the extremities of hands and feet. Foot pain, burning, and numbness are common symptoms of this disease. The pain in the feet can be sharp or dull. This condition is defined as neuropathy, which causes the individual to feel as though he or she is wearing socks or gloves when, in fact, they are not. People suffering from celiac disease may also experience weakness in their muscles, loss of sensation in the body and face, along with a decreased sense of touch.

Celiac disease is one of the most undiagnosed illnesses in modern medicine because its symptoms mimic so many other diseases that are more easily diagnosed. Often, the only way to confirm the presence of celiac disease is through blood tests, internal biopsy, neurological exam, electromyography, and nerve testing.

To prevent the worsening of this disease, physicians recommend a gluten-free diet. This is the only known effective treatment. After a time of living gluten-free most sufferers experience a dramatic positive change in their health. Foot pain and other symptoms have been known to reduce greatly or disappear altogether. Holistic pain remedies can be sought for problems with the feet or hands like wearing loose shoes and soothing mineral soakings. Small doses of over-the-counter pain relievers can be beneficial, as well.

If you have celiac disease and are suffering numbness in your feet, be careful to care for them earnestly as you recover. Lack of sensation in the feet can cause sores from abrasion or infection from cuts. Pay particular attention to your feet when showering or bathing and be certain that no injury goes unattended.

Note: This article is for informational purposes only and is not intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice.

 
No Comments

Posted in Arthritis

 

Top 7 Tips To Treat And Prevent Arthritis

23 Apr



Arthritis is basically a packaging problem. Your joints, remarkable and elaborate hinges, are cushioned by cartilage. They are held together with various other tissues, including muscles and tendons. Lubrication is in the form of some oily goop called synovial fluid, which is released by the synovial lining of the joints. If you have osteoarthritis, the kind that most frequently coincides with aging, the cartilage around the joints starts to thin down or disappear. That is not your fault. What’s more, it is not always preventable, either. The runner-up, rheumatoid arthritis, is far less common, more mysterious, and equally pain producing. Rheumatoid arthritis is an inflammatory disease. Therefore, here are some ways that you can use to prevent such disease.

1. Move These Joints

To keep the pain of arthritis from getting an even tighter grip on you, get yourself on an exercise program. If you are over 60, start with low-impact aerobic activities such as 20-minute walks or exercises in a swimming pool at least three or four times per week. Any aerobic exercise program should be matched to your physical capacity. If a person has been inactive for a period of time, then start with something like a five-minute walk in a couple of times per week, and then slowly start to increase your distance as you feel more comfortable.

2. Pepper Yourself

You may not like hot peppers on your sandwich, but you might like hot-pepper cream for arthritis relief. Capsaicin cream, made from the active ingredient in hot peppers, has been shown in studies to ease arthritis pain when used regularly. You can buy this cream over the counter. Follow instructions on the label, wash your hands thoroughly after application, and keep this stuff away from your eyes and other mucous membranes. It can really burn.

3. Ease The Burden

Arthritis gets worse more rapidly in overweight individuals. If you lose 5 to 10 pounds, it considerably lightens the load on all of your weight-bearing joints – hips, knees, ankles, and feet.

4. Vary Your Terrain

Walking is always recommended but it is important to not get into a rut. If you walk the same exact path every day, then you are landing on the same part of your foot each and every day and you are putting stress on your knees and hips the exact same way every day. For the sake of interest as well as exercise, seek out new terrain like hills, fields, and pathways as well as flat road or sidewalk.

5. Ask For Alternative Oils

If you are not a fish-eater, you should pay a visit to the nearest health food store. Look for either evening primrose oil, flaxseed oil, or fish oil. All contain the same omega-3 fatty acids found in cold-water fish. If you take one teaspoon of any of these each day, it may lightly ease some of the inflammatory aspects of arthritis. If you decide to take capsules, follow the manufacturer’s instructions on the label.

6. Try A Cold Pack

If you have swelling, especially after any physical activity, put some ice with a thin towel wrapped around it on the area around the affected joint. Ice the area for 15 to 20 minutes after exercise to reduce the discomfort and also minimize the amount of swelling.

7. Give Yourself A Hot Wax

A hot-wax treatment can provide soothing relief if your hands are aching from arthritis. The treatment is available at many hospitals, but it is less expensive to treat yourself at home. A professional therapist should instruct on its appropriate use before you try this at home. For a hot-wax treatment kit, call an orthopedic supply store to check availability. Heat the wax in the heating unit, apply it to your hands, and wrap them in plastic gloves for 10 minutes. You should feel some relief. The beauty of the at-home hot-wax treatment is that the wax can be reused for several weeks. Just be careful when you are using it around children.

 
No Comments

Posted in Arthritis

 

GOUT – Do We Have An Epidemic?

22 Apr



This article is a very personal one for me. I went to my family physician the other day because every joint that I had seemed to hurt. His diagnosis after many tests was that I had a mild form of gout. I thought gout was a disease of the rich from the Middle Ages. Surely not in the 2000s. So I started researching and this is what I found. I thought there might be a few others that would like this information.

IMPORTANT LEGAL DISCLAIMER:

I am not a doctor or health care practitioner. If you even suspect you have any health problem, be sure to consult a doctor or nurse or health care provider as soon as possible. This information is merely meant as info only you need to see a physician for a proper diagnosis.

Gout is a form of arthritis that affects mostly men between the ages of 40 and 50. Gout (also called metabolic arthritis) is a disease created by a buildup of uric acid.

Gout can be triggered by the same agents that cause potassium losses such as fasting, surgery, and potassium losing diuretics. Gout has the unique distinction of being one of the most frequently recorded medical illnesses throughout history. Gout is a kind of arthritis that has been known since ancient times.

Arthritis

What are the risk factors for gouty arthritis? First, Gout is a medical condition that is characterized by abnormally high levels of uric acid in the blood. Next, by

repeated attacks of joint inflammation (arthritis), deposits of hard lumps of uric acid in and around the joints, and decreased kidney function and kidney stones.

Attacks

Attacks usually go away within 3 to 10 days, even without treating them. The next attack may not occur for months or even years. Attacks usually start during the night, and moderate pain in a joint is first noticed. Attacks of gout often occur after indulging in alcohol, particularly wine or beer, or after overeating rich foods such as liver, anchovies, and gravy. Attacks tend to last a few days to a few weeks.

Diet

Increased obesity contributes to the increasing prevalence of gout in the U.S. Diet may be linked to racial dominance since diet has a large influence on gout. Diet guidelines for patients with gout have changed over time, and it is not completely clear which combination of foods is best. Severe dieting such as the all protein, low carb or fasting can cause excess lactic acid, which hinders uric acid excretion by the kidneys. In traditional diet thoughts, we are told that gout is the result of excessive amounts of alcohol, protein, heavy foods, coffee and soft drinks in your diet.

Nsaids

NSAIDs are the preferred form of relief for patients with gout. (NSAIDs – Non Steroidal Anti Imflammatory Drug) NSAIDs such as ibuprofen can reduce the pain and

inflammation slightly, although aspirin should not be used as it can worsen the condition.

IMPORTANT INFORMATiON: I am not a medical physician or giving medical advice. You must consult your family doctor or arthritis specialist for professional advice. I am only passing along research that I have been able to get from pamphlets and other research information.

Weight

Weight loss can help reduce uric acid levels in those people that are overweight. Weight loss is long term more important to the chronic gout patient than the specifics of diet. If you are interested to find out the real reason you haven’t been able to lose weight and suffer from a number of health issues, Dr. Suzanne Gudakunst has created a perfect program to help you understand what is going on in your body and drugs are not the answer. There is a link at the end to her book Top Fat Loss Secret.

Bottom Line: Weight loss lowers the risk for gout. Your chances of getting gout are higher if you are overweight, drink too much alcohol, or eat too much meat and fish that are high in chemicals called purines.

I hope this article has helped you understand the problem that many face with gout. Dr. Gudakunst book can be found at [http://www.wscottbradley.com/gout]

 
No Comments

Posted in Arthritis

 

Best Under Sink Water Filter

22 Apr



Designed to give you the best purified drinking water right out of your own sink’s faucet, under sink filters are one’s that fit nice and neatly under your kitchen sink, bathroom sink, bar sink, as well as many other sink types you can think of. Under sink water filters are not designed for heavy water flows because of the water being filtered right at the source (your sink’s faucet), but they help you to save money instead of going out to the store time and again to buy expensive bottled water or having to find places in your kitchen or the rest of the house to store your drinking water on the whole earth.

That said, you should be able to find the best under sink filter that also suits both you and your family’s needs as well as your economical needs and wants. You should consider your sink’s space underneath and do not mind the fact that your under sink water filter requires a special installation (with help from a hired plumber) so you can achieve the perfect, better tasting water.

The best under sink water filter is perfect for reducing chlorine in addition to getting that better taste and odor, and offers an option of a simple faucet-mount filter if you do not want to flip between regular water and filtered water. Therefore, it is highly advisable that you should do your homework by checking out the Internet and asking questions at the local store that sells sinks and such.

Incoming search terms for the article:

best water filters under sink
 
No Comments

Posted in Allergy And Sinus

 
« Older Entries