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Archive for November, 2009

Wheat Allergies – What Are The Symptoms?

11 Nov



Wheat allergies unfortunately seem to be on the rise in recent years and can be a particularly hard allergy to live with. However, once you get into the habit of living wheat free, it becomes much easier.

Wheat allergy is often diagnosed when you are a child, but may not be diagnosed until you are in your adult years. Some of the symptoms you may experience if you are allergic to wheat are:

Dizziness

Vomiting or nausea

Skin rash

Bloating

Mood changes

Arthritis

Swelling of tongue or throat

Eye irritation

Coughing

Stuffy nose

Diarrhea

These symptoms are quite common of other allergies as well as some illnesses, so if you are experiencing these symptoms you may want to consult your doctor to help with a diagnosis.

Wheat allergy may often be related to other diseases such as arthritis and hypothyroidism. Wheat products may cause changes in the gut structure, which in turn promotes arthritic development in people that may be prone to the disease.

With some allergies your symptoms may come and go as your exposure to the allergen changes. With wheat allergy your symptoms will be fairly constant and a very high percentage of our foods have some wheat in them so you will be exposed to wheat possibly on a daily basis.

Often a person with a wheat allergy may feel like they have a constant gastroenteritis infection as the diarrhea may become a daily symptom, making life quite difficult.

As wheat allergy has been on the rise, there has become a greater need for wheat free products. You will find that most supermarkets will have a health food section which will contain a lot of wheat free products. For any food products that you purchase you will need to check the labels to make sure that there is no wheat used as an ingredient in the product.

Many restaurants will be quite happy to cater for you also if you specifically request a wheat free dish. If you are booking ahead it would pay to mention your allergy so they will be prepared and have a nice wheat free meal for you. You will soon get to know which restaurants are good for catering for your needs and which ones to avoid.

As with most types of allergies, wheat allergy symptoms may be mild for some people and more severe for others. It is always important to remember that once you begin your wheat free diet you will more than likely need to continue with it for the rest of your life. Wheat allergy is not an allergy that people tend to grow out of. You will need to adjust your life around your allergy and soon you will learn to live with it and you will manage just fine.

 
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Green Tea Health Benefits

09 Nov



Green tea has been around for many years now, but just until recently has it found it’s mark on the western civilization. The benefits of green tea are amazing. It has anti cancer nutrients and it is better than coca cola, coffee or other black teas. Epigallocatechin gallate (EGCG), an antioxidant found in green tea, is at least 100 more times more effective than vitamin C and 25 times more effective than vitamin E at protecting cells and DNA from damage believed to be linked to cancer, heart disease and other serious illnesses. This antioxidant has twice the benefits of resveratrol, found in red wine.

Bottled green tea has a lot of sugar so if you make it yourself you have control of how much sugar you put in it. Brewing tea yourself is better than purchasing bottled. The quality and potency is that much more. Decaffeinated brewed green tea contains only 56 milligrams, less than half of the catechins found in an original brew. Flavored brewed green tea has 43 milligrams. Disappointingly, instant green tea has only 12 milligrams.

Here are just a few known health benefits of drinking green tea:

Lowers cholesterol

Aids in weight loss by burning calories

Reduces high blood pressure

Prevents arthritis

Boosts your immune system

Lowers blood sugar

Helps prevent cavities and tooth decay

Slows the aging process

Reduces the risk of heart disease

Reduces the risk of stroke

Lowers the risk of blood clot

You can use either tea bag or dried leaves. It also helps our body to eliminate waste and toxins. This will then promote a prolonged life with less entire body complications.

Have you noticed green tea being an ingredient in facial products? It’s a natural antiseptic that relieves itching and swelling. It’s great for sunburns, rashes and puffy eyes. You find it in sunblock, lotions, facial cream and the sorts. If you’re not applying it to your skin in cream form you could even try the used teabags. Just like you would a cucumber on your puffy eyes. Make two batches and squeeze out the teabags. Wait for them to cool off and apply them to your eyelids. Oolong tea is good for blood circulation and skin.

Green tea may be fine for preventing aging in skin, but will do nothing to help your acne. It has antioxidants which will slow down collagen breakdown, hence it will help to keep skin young looking and delay the onset of wrinkles. The caffeine in tea perks up your skin and tightens it so it does appear for a few hours that the wrinkles are diminished. Green tea helps block sun-triggered skin cancer, whether you drink it or apply it directly to the skin.

I know we can all agree on the health benefits of green tea. It’s a beverage that could be enjoyed hot or cold and could be ingested all day long if you wanted to. Our neighbors in the east have enjoyed this beverage for centuries and have prospered from its benefits. Small healthy choices are positive steps towards a happy and healthy life.

 
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Obesity and Arthritis

09 Nov



Arthritis, in general terms, is wearing out of the lining of the joint, which is called cartilage. Every joint- knee or hip joint, which moves has a layer of about 8 to 12mm of cartilage, which is as smooth as a billiard ball. If cartilage is injured or eaten away or goes through natural wear and tear, it leads to arthritis.

Osteoarthritis is a form of arthritis which can affect any joint, including the spine. It is the form of joint disease and is more pronounced in the case of elderly persons. Wear and tear of joints, due to aging leads to osteoarthritis. But this is not the single reason for the disease. There are other contributing reasons such as genetic factors, lack of nutrition and vitamins, (Vitamin A, C and E have the potential to protect against tissue damage. Vitamin D plays an important role in bone mineralisation). Female hormonal deficiency in the case of post menopausal women, leading to estrogen deficiency is also considered a risk factor and women are more susceptible to osteoarthritis.

In most of the cases, increased body weight contributes to the increased load transmitted across the weight bearing knees by a factor of three to seven times the body weight and leads to accelerated damage of the cartilage.

Obesity is a potential risk factor for the onset and deterioration of musculoskeletal conditions of the hip, knee, ankle, foot and shoulder. Majority of research have focused on the impact of obesity on bone and joint disorders, such as the risk of fracture and osteoarthritis. However, evidence indicates that obesity may also have a profound effect on soft-tissue structures, such as tendon, fascia and cartilage. Although the mechanism remains unclear, the functional and structural limitations imposed by the additional loading of the locomotor system in obesity have been accepted to unduly raising stress within connective-tissue structures and the potential for musculoskeletal injury. Considering the global increase in obesity and the rise in musculoskeletal disorders, there is a need to determine the physical consequences of loading of major structures of the locomotor system in the obese people and to establish how obesity may interact with other factors to potentially increase the risk of musculoskeletal diseases. Besides, the relationship between obesity and osteoarthritis is stronger for the disease and is greater in women. The load transmitted to the knees varies with increased body weight.

Increase in life expectancy, coupled with overweight/ obese conditions of the population shall lead to a larger number of patients with knee problems due to osteoarthritis . Several changes, metabolic as well as functional, connect obesity with Osteoarthritis. Random trials show substantial and clinically relevant disability and symptoms – relief in obese patients with knee osteoarthritis following moderate weight loss. While exercises are good for the functional status in general, it is advisable initially to prescribe weight loss as therapy for patients with a combination of obesity and osteoarthritis.

Treatments / Tips to avoid Osteoarthritis:

1. Avoid being obese/ overweight, with weight management diet schedule and proper exercise.

2. Ensure intake of vitamins A and C, through food and nutrient supplements.

3. Ensure muscle strength in quadriceps (thigh muscles).

4. Increased activities of kneeling, squatting, climbing stairs and lifting heavy loads cause abnormal loading across the knee joint and cartilage damage. To the extent possible, this may be reduced.

5 Emu oil is considered to provide relief for joint pains and arthritis.

7. Liberal intake of orange juice, sweet lime juice or Vitamin C enhance the efficacy of any anti-rheumatic drug, since Vitamin C can reduce skeletal pain.

8. Body massage with sesame or mustard oil helps to reduce the pain. The joints affected by pain can be massaged for longer time for pain relief.

9. Guggul, as a medicine for traditional Ayurvedic treatment is prescribed for osteoarthritis and obesity. However patients electing to undergo this treatment should be closely monitored and counseled about the need for dietary modifications and exercise.

 
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Fighting Flu Symptoms and Ways to Protect Yourself This Flu Season

07 Nov



It is far easier to prevent the flu than it is to treat the symptoms. Basic hand washing and common sense can prevent many cases of both seasonal flu and H1N1 flu. There are vaccines available for both flu varieties and there are other steps individuals can take to both avoid getting the flu in the first place and then to significantly reduce the severity and duration of symptoms, once infection occurs.

Cleanliness, avoidance of those who are ill and physical barriers can protect your body from becoming infected. Staying hydrated, eating a healthy diet, and maintaining a good body weight can all work to provide better immune support. Vitamins, minerals and other supplements can also help build immune support. Since the only way to guarantee that you won’t become infected with either flu virus is to live the life of a hermit, you are far better off to practice basic hygiene, build strong immune support, and know how to treat the flu if you should become infected.

Physical Barriers To Use When Fighting Flu

Physical barriers, such as surgical masks, disposable gloves, safety glasses and goggles, and, in extreme cases, respirators, can all prevent the flu virus from entering the body. When the H1N1 flu virus was first identified and made public, nations hardest hit implemented the use of masks and gloves to prevent the spread of the disease.

Once the H1N1 virus was publicized, schools, bus stations, train depots, and airports were closed. Since the flu virus is spread from person to person through particles in the air and on surfaces, creating physical barriers and avoiding contact with others can be very effective. These high traffic areas were then disinfected to kill any lingering viruses. Viruses can be destroyed with direct sunlight, detergents, and disinfectants. Disinfecting your home, car, school, and work place are important preventative measures one should take during the flu season.

Most People Can Use Vaccines To Help Fight Flu Viruses

Flu shots and nasal spray vaccinations are excellent preventative measures against both varieties of flu. Flu shots are made using killed flu viruses, whereas the nasal sprays use live, weakened viruses. Pregnant women should not use the nasal spray. Flu vaccines should be used by children aged two to five and their caregivers, adults over the age of 65, healthcare providers, and individuals with chronic medical conditions.

Flu vaccines should not by used by individuals who are allergic to chicken eggs or other vaccine ingredients. Flu shots should also not be used by individuals who have had adverse reactions to flu vaccines in the past. Individuals with Guillain-Barre Syndrome should also not use the flu vaccine.

Good Hygiene Helps To Prevent Contracting Flu Viruses

Hand washing is, by far, the best prevention when fighting flu season. Hands should be washed frequently and thoroughly, for at least 20 seconds. Since viruses can live for hours on countless surfaces, you never know where they might be. Hand sanitizers are also effective at fighting flu viruses. Other preventative measures to practice when fighting flu include:

a. Avoid people who appear ill.

b. Use a tissue or the crook of your elbow when you cough or sneeze.

c. Disinfect your home, car, school, and workplace.

d. Avoid crowded, public areas.

e. Wash fresh fruits and vegetables with soap and water.

f. Avoid ordering fresh fruits and vegetables restaurants during flu season.

g. Drinks plenty of fresh, clean water.

h. Avoid touching your eyes, nose, mouth, and ears.

i. Wipe down your pets with a damp towel after they have been outside.

Using Immune Support Products When Fighting Flu

Vitamin C and Zinc are both well-known immune support products. Without the proper tools, your body cannot protect itself. Recent scientific research has provided us with yet one more tool to use when fighting flu season: elderberry extract. Elderberry extract has been used for hundreds of years, both as food and medicine. Traditionally, elderberry extract has been used to make syrups, wine, cordials, marmalades, and many other tasty treats. It has also been used for its immune support properties to treat vision and respiratory problems.

At the 15th Annual Conference on Antiviral Research, the results of research conducted at the prestigious University of Oslo were made public and published in the Journal of Alternative Complementary Medicine. This research into the effectiveness of elderberry extract demonstrated that products that contain elderberry extract prevent the influenza virus from attaching to host cells, thereby preventing infection.

In addition, the scientific research demonstrated that elderberry lozenges and other products containing elderberry extract have a profound effect on reducing the severity and duration of flu symptoms, once an individual is infected. Fighting flu means avoiding becoming infected in the first place with good hygiene, physical barriers, disinfectants, and the immune support provided by elderberry extract.

 
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The Myriad Benefits of a Healthy Lifestyle

07 Nov



You know how you feel when you’re sick as compared to when you’re not. And even though catching something contagious like a cold or flu is sometimes unavoidable, having the wisdom that feeling healthy is a better way to live should have you asking yourself why you’re not taking action to live each day as beneficially as possible?

A healthy lifestyle can greatly increase a person’s longevity. And the best way to ensure good health is by taking care of yourself. Yes, we’ve all heard how eating right and exercising are so important – because it’s true which is why we hear about it on a constant basis.

The issue with a lot of people nowadays is that they’re so busy working and/or taking care of everyone around them, that they neglect their own health. If you fall into this category, make a decision right now to change this circumstance. You are as important as everyone around you and if you want to be at your best so that you can take care of your family, start taking care of yourself first.

Experts say a healthy breakfast is the most important meal of the day because it is. It wakes up our metabolism and gives us the energy we need to move through the rest of the day. So a daily regimen of a healthful breakfast, light but fulfilling lunch and satisfying but not overly fat-filled dinner – and even snacks and a nice dessert from time-to-time, in addition to just one-half hour of exercise, three times a week, will have you feeling better and experiencing positive results not only related to your overall health, but your energy level as well.

And even though exercise is great for burning fat and keeping in shape, it’s also a great stress reliever. Yoga, aerobics, kick-boxing, a brisk walk – all of these actions are fantastic for the cardio-vascular system and muscle groups as well. And make sure you get enough sleep! Sleep deprivation is a major reason why people become unfocused and forgetful. And actually, exercising on a regular basis will help you sleep better!

So do yourself and those you love a favor and start taking care of yourself – today.

 
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Spider-Man – The Unlikely Super Hero

06 Nov



It is very difficult in today’s commercialized world not to be familiar with Spider-Man. And it doesn’t matter whether you have young school age children, you’re in college or like me… you’re as “old as dirt”, we have all been exposed to this most unlikeliest of all “Super Heroes”.

But if he is not a great super hero then why has his popularity grown ever since he was first introduced back in 1962? It seems as though we just can’t get enough of him. Don’t get me wrong, I am also a great fan of his, but Spider-Man (real name: Peter Parker) is not your typical super hero. I would even go so far as to say that he even challenges the definition of what a super hero really is.

Spider-Man does possess “special powers” – like being able to cling to any surface, “spider-quick” reflexes that operate up to 40 times faster than those of any normal person and an uncanny spider-sense, a tingling sensation in the back of his neck, which warns him of danger. But he also is very human.

What other super hero do you know that talks to himself, misses appointments, catches the flu – when he has to fight, forgets to put film in his camera (Peter is a photographer by trade) and he even has trouble paying his rent. And I

 
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How to Survive a Run-In With H1N1-Swine Flu at College

05 Nov



Has Swine Flu Hits Your College Campus Yet? It’s barely two weeks into the new semester, and already college campuses across the country are reporting record numbers of students down for the count with Swine Flu. Or is it H1N1? Whatever name you use, it’s making the first few weeks of what should be an exciting experience – the first weeks of a new school year – a disappointing, miserable mess.

So why is it spreading so quickly among the college population? Quite a few reasons…

Close Quarters. Living in dorms and being penned up in classrooms and lecture halls all day, provide the perfect breeding ground for H1N1 to spread from one or two sick students or teachers to everyone else in close proximity. When was the last time you washed your hands? You can’t really avoid touching the same surfaces that hundreds of other people before you have already touched. And it isn’t just door handles and your roommate’s duffel bag, but, buttons on vending machines and ATMs, bats and balls in the gym, the surface of your desk and the utensils in the dining hall. It’s midnight. Do you know where your dorm is? College-age people aren’t the best at getting proper sleep and nutrition. Late nights, junk food, and too much alcohol weaken the immune system and make it more vulnerable to viruses it would normally ward off. Close Quarters Revisited. Lots of physical activity, hugging, sharing sodas, using each others toothbrushes, or towels, increase chances that you’ll pick up a virus.

There is a lot of material out there about how to avoid the H1N1 virus. Flu shots, if you want to go that way, are fine, but the immunity they provide can take four or five weeks to kick in. By that time the first quarter will be over and you’ll be back at home. The best way to avoid getting sick is to take care of yourself. Get adequate rest, eat healthy foods, avoid people who are ill (if possible), wash your hands often, use hand sanitizer and use paper towels to open doors or touch surfaces, at least until the virus abates.

But life being life, stuff happens. You might just get sick no matter what you do, especially if you’re new to the university and still getting acclimated to your new surroundings and classmates. That’s when prevention mode, morphs into survival mode.

If you do come down with symptoms, go to the clinic and get the treatment your doctor feels is most effective. Then go to bed and stay there, until you are feverless for at least 24 hours.

Even though the strains have lessened in intensity, and the flu will probably only be a three or four day inconvenience for you, keep one thing in mind. The H1N1 virus has already killed people – a lot of people – and not just young children or the elderly. It’s taken out young, healthy, vital people who were not in that “at risk” category – not by a long shot. That’s why we used the word survival. The people who died from H1N1 didn’t expect to end up in the hospital. And they certainly didn’t expect to end up fighting for their lives.

Which brings up another important point.

Most colleges don’t have the time, personnel or information to send a medical history or emergency contacts to the emergency room along with a student, every time one of them ends up in the hospital. So if you or your friends end up in the hospital, it’s up to YOU to make sure that the doctors treating you know your medical history, including allergies, sensitivities and past illnesses. If you’re allergic to a certain medication, or to a certain food or plant (which can also be an ingredient in a medication), a doctor treating you needs to know about it. And if you’re too sick to tell them, who is going to do the talking for you? Wouldn’t it be terrible to hospitalized for the flu, only to become critically ill from a reaction from a medicine you were allergic to? Those things happen every day – more than most people realize.

The easiest way to keep that from happening is to write your medical history, allergies and emergency contacts (parents, nearby relatives, people who could make medical decisions for you if necessary) down on piece of paper. Then instruct your roommate or a close friend that if you ever end up in the hospital, it’s their job to bring that piece of paper with you. In fact we have a special set of forms, wallet cards and tools for college students in our Safe Student Action Plan, that gives you a place to store all that info, ready to Grab and Go whenever necessary.

But the point is, flu epidemic or not, you never know what can happen, so the trick is, to ALWAYS be prepared. A few minutes of work now, can save a lifetime of regret. When you have the information you need at your fingertips, a doctor treating you will be able to take care of you with your history and needs in mind. And just in case things get serious, the hospital will know who you want called in an emergency.

Just remember that you’re an adult now. Making sure you’re taken care of in an emergency isn’t up to your university, it’s not up to your parents and it’s not even entirely up to the hospital. It’s up to you to do what it takes not just to survive, but to thrive.

 
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Allergies and Allergy Treatment

05 Nov



Allergies are becoming more common today, and the medical professionals aren’t sure why this is so. Most people aren’t affected by allergies, allergies are an abnormal immune system reactions to things that are typically harmless to most people.

Food allergies are most common in infants and often disappear as a child gets older. There could be a marked improvement when a child received the proper allergy treatment. This improvement is noticed in their behavior as far as school is concerned. There can be hidden or delayed reactions to allergies and this makes it more difficult to identify as the symptoms may not appear until anything form two hours to five days and can range from unexplained fatigue to physical pain. Often migraine headache suffers are also people who suffer from allergies.

Allergy Symptoms

The most common form of allergies are hay fever, eczema, asthma and food. Food allergies can present themselves as irritation and swelling of the throat, digestive problems and in some rare cases anaphylactic (allergic) shock. More common symptoms of food allergies involve the skin and appear as hives, rashes, eczema and itching. Food allergies can also cause vomiting and diarrhea.

Food allergies and food intolerance are often confused. Intolerance to lactose or MSG can cause similar symptoms to an allergic reaction. While food allergies can be serious, by simply eliminating these foods from the diet, there may be no need for medication or allergy treatments.

Allergy Reactions

Reactions often vary, this can be in the strength and ranges from very mild to sometimes fatal. There can be a reaction on the skin if there is an allergen, which is normally encountered in the airways or in food. With the life threatening allergy reactions, a person may be unable to breathe, this could cause a drop in blood that would be dangerous, causing the blood flow to decrease and rob the brain, lungs and heart of this vital supply. Severe cases of food allergies can happen by the person simply coming in contact with the food in question.

Allergy Treatments

There is ongoing research by doctors and scientists to understand allergies and in doing so provide better allergy treatments. Your doctor will test you to make sure that you have an allergy and find out which allergens are causing your symptoms. It is advisable to contact your doctor when the allergy outbreak occurs, so he can provide the best allergy treatment for you. That sinus headache you get could be a migraine and allergy treatments are helping migraine sufferers.

Allergies have become more common today, one theory by a leading allergy specialist is as he says “too clean”, the fact that we live in such clean environments and as allergies are an abnormal response by our immune system, our immune systems are not building up the immunity our bodies need to protect us.

The majority of things that cause an allergic reaction and require allergy treatment are not obviously harmful and those who are not allergic will have no problems.

 
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Allergies and Skin Rashes – Chemicals and Foods to Avoid

05 Nov



There are a number of responses which indicate an allergic reaction including wheezing,

 
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Oral Bird Flu Vaccine; Does it Really Work?

04 Nov



Having an oral Bird Flu vaccine for the H5N1 human strain could be a godsend for the human race and a potentially profitable situation for Rouche Pharmaceuticals, which produces the Tamiflu vaccine. Recently however this subject came up in an online think tank where one individual states:

“One of my friends who is also incidentally pursuing a career in the medical field confirmed me that the Tamiflu oral suspension in the recent times have not been that effective in treating the bird flu patients, so does this suggest that the H5N1 virus has already developed mutation to the Tamiflu oral suspension?”

Now this indeed is a scary thought, as we are all counting on this vaccine to work. Especially in Africa right now as the H5N1 is already there with minor breakouts. Still it does not appear to be easily spread from human to human, but scientists say, well that is only a matter of time. Another think tanker responded to this comment and asked;

“Where is additional information on this subject? I question the source and information. It is possible the H5N1 is dissimilar to the original Tamiflu vaccine for the other strains and thus may not be effective in defeating it. Or it could also be that we have only been giving out the vaccine after the fact and by then it is too late to help and the human immune system is already activated full tilt trying to defeat it itself.”

The theory of vaccines is to help the body build immunity prior to the exposure. In fact there may have been many more people with H5N1 who defeated the virus them selves and never got sick enough to be noticed. If you only give the vaccine to those who have it already how would you know? Unless like in China it appears that they have been testing it on peasants in the Southern provinces, although no one will admit that. They would know if this is the case. Consider all this in 2006.

 
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