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Archive for January, 2010

Easy Exercise for Arthritis

23 Jan



Osteoarthritis affects 21 million Americans and is caused when cartilage is damaged by injury, overuse, obesity, or muscle weakness. We are all at risk; over half the population age 65 and older has some form of diagnosed arthritis. Whether you want to manage symptoms or are working on prevention, you can take steps to nourish your joints and help them last longer.

Smooth movement is the best thing for your joints. Let me explain why. Arthritis occurs when cartilage, the protective covering on the ends of bones, is damaged. Its major function is to absorb and release synovial fluid, which cushions the impact so bones don’t bear the brunt of movement. Cartilage does not receive direct blood flow, so it depends on movement to circulate fluids. As a matter of fact, cartilage will atrophy and degenerate unless used regularly.

Typical exercise does not address the needs of joints and many times makes things worse. Excessive loading of the joints (for example, pounding on a treadmill) damages cartilage and that can lead to osteoarthritis. Also, most exercise focuses on arms and legs and does not include the spine or hands.

There are many joints in the body to nourish, over 100 in the spine and more than 20 in each hand. Look around you at the gym. Do you see smooth movement in the spine and hands? I suspect that most people are creating stiffness instead.

The Arthritis Foundation has created several exercise programs designed specifically to increase mobility without undue strain. The Aquatics Program includes gentle exercises in warm water that are designed to increase flexibility and strength. Tai Chi from the Arthritis Foundation(R) includes 12 movements, six basic and six advanced, which improve agility and relaxation. For more information, visit http://www.arthritis.org.

Another option is therapeutic yoga, which gently brings movement to the body in a low-pressure, high-awareness environment. You can search for a therapeutic yoga instructor near you at The International Association of Yoga Therapists, http://www.iayt.org. Most people think of ultra-flexible, touch your toes to the back of your head moves as yoga. However, yoga has expanded to encompass a broad range of abilities. Therapeutic yoga can be done in a class setting with extra attention from the instructor or in private sessions where the teacher creates a program specifically for your body.

Undulation can be used as a specific exercise, especially for those whose activity is limited by pain, or incorporated into every day activities, which is good for everyone. Undulations are small and mild and focus on one simple movement at a time. Believe it or not, you can lubricate your spine simply by swaying back in forth as you sit as long as you move within your pain-free range. Octopus is an undulation that soothes the joints in the hands. You can learn more about Undulations at http://www.undulationexercise.com.

A bit of proactive exercise now will make it easier for you to move in the future. Remember: smooth movement is better than jarring movement for your joints. Take care to include your spine and hands in your workouts. A new form of exercise may be just what you need to reduce your chances of developing arthritis.

 
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Posted in Arthritis

 

Influenza of the Future

22 Jan



Ever since the Swine Flu scare of 2009, governments all over the world aren’t pulling any punches in the inevitability of a real pandemic event. The potential public-health risk posed by a real pandemic event would be altogether catastrophic in many parts of the world, especially in third world countries. The only hope for governments to stand any chance against a serious influenza outbreak would be to have a multitude of vaccines already available to the public, to fulfill their needs if the worst were to happen.

However, for governments all over the world to have the financing for all that this would entail, as well as be able to prepare for an ever-changing and evolving virus, would be pretty much impossible. So what are the governments’ plans around the world for such an outbreak, but more importantly, are there any plans at all?

Governments around the world do have standing procedures to follow if an influenza outbreak, like the one of this magnitude, would break out. Their standard procedural plans include trying to quarantine as many sick people as possible, and try as fast as they can to administer a working vaccine. However, in pandemic cases like these, the new virus could spread so quickly that much of the population could be infected in a matter of weeks. This is why it is so vital to your health care options to be able to have vaccines in place that can take on the viruses of the future.

Scientists all over the world are scrambling everyday to advance viral biology in such a way that pandemic outbreaks like these could be things of the past. Scientists today are developing wide ranging viral technology that could help increase infection response vaccinations, if a large event were to break out. Scientists hope in the next 20 years to have enough viral technology that in the case of any large viral outbreak, they would be ready for it. But is this even a possibility concerning the wide variety of diseases and viruses that could break out at any time? Some experts aren’t so sure.

Experts in the pharmaceutical industry don’t necessarily feel the same enthusiasm. They know for a fact that for the process of any vaccine to be created at such a wide scale, it could take months to years in testing and production, especially at that magnitude. Any pharmaceutical consulting firm will tell you, it’s just not a feasible plan. The only hope for such an event would be for the pharmaceutical industry and governments around the world, to have an active and ready plan with vaccines already made and ready to be distributed.

The only problem with this is being able to have enough different varieties of vaccines available, to be able to have the right vaccine needed, already in stockpile. This is, however, unlikely. But with the latest breakthroughs in modern science, and a new attitude towards disease preparedness, governments and the public may have reason to be hopeful as we move into a new technological age.

 
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How To Control Your Asthma Allergy Symptoms

20 Jan



If you suffer from asthma, or know someone who does, then learning effective strategies to control asthma symptoms is very important and could even save your life.

Asthma symptoms can range from just annoying to life threatening, and anywhere in-between, and it is on the rise.

More and more people yearly are being diagnosed with asthma, and it continues to be one of the most common respiratory conditions in America and Europe.

However, the good news is there are both medical and natural ways to relieve the symptoms of asthma, and scientific studies are discovering new ways of preventing or relieving the symptoms.

There are a number of studies that have been taking place looking at the role diet has in the development and treatment of asthma.

In a recent study, focused on the diet of young children with asthma, it was found that those children who regularly ate dairy products like full fat milk were less likely to develop asthma.

They also experienced less wheezing when compared to other children who did not eat such foods. The results of the research indicate that dairy products are one food that can reduce the symptoms of asthma in children.


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Another food group that has been used to reduce the symptoms of asthma are foods that contain whole grains, like whole wheat bread.

The same study found that fresh vegetables, fresh fruit and fruit juice also seemed to have a beneficial role in reducing the levels of asthma in the children.

Aside from these interesting and very promising results, it is still unclear what triggers asthma. Food allergies have been cited in a number of studies, and so children should be checked for allergies if there are signs of asthma when they are younger.

If an allergy is found, then it is much easier to tailor the diet to avoid the foods that trigger an allergic reaction, and switch to foods that have been shown to have a beneficial effect on reducing asthma.

In this way, not only is the cause of the asthma being removed from the diet, but also the body is being given every chance to fight the onset of the condition.

There are some other triggers that are easier to control. Asthma symptoms can sometimes come about when food that is either too hot or too cold is consumed, and also if someone overeats.

Worth noting is that some food preservatives and additives can trigger some peoples asthma symptoms also, and this includes sulphites that are added to many of the processed foods available today, and in meat products.

Changing your diet to help alleviate or reduce asthma symptoms is a strategy that can be easily incorporated into your own or your child’s life. However, always seek the advice of a medical professional before considering any changes to medication that has been prescribed.

Working with your medical advisor to introduce natural ways to control asthma allergy symptoms to work alongside conventional medication can often be a very effective approach in relieving symptoms.

 
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Posted in Allergy And Sinus

 

Book Review of "Sinus Relief Now" by Dr. Jordan Josephson- Part 1

19 Jan



When I first started seeing an ENT specialist years ago for my sinus problems, I purchased a couple of books on the subject of sinusitis. When I mentioned this to my doctor and asked a couple of questions that showed a bit more knowledge of the subject than most people had, he frowned and had a worried look on his face. He then commented that having only “a little bit of knowledge was dangerous”. I therefore appreciated the comments by Dr. Josephson in his new book entitled “Sinus Relief Now- The Groundbreaking 5 Step Program for Sinus, Allergy, and Asthma Sufferers”. He stated: “If your physician responds negatively to your newfound knowledge or is obviously uncomfortable working with a patient who is well educated about his or her disease, it’s another clear signal that it’s time to move on” (and find another doctor). I wish I had had this advice at that time, as the doctor eventually performed my first sinus surgery, caused me immense pain, and he didn’t improve my situation at all.

It should be mentioned at this point that Dr. Josephson is a well known and highly regarded ENT specialist and surgeon. He has several times been on New York magazine’s “Best Doctors” list. He has been an expert commentator on many local and national television programs, and he is the Director of the New York Nasal and Sinus Center. I personally believe this book should be part of the home library of anyone who suffers from what Dr. Josephson calls CAID, or Chronic Airway-Digestive Inflammatory Disease.

In the U.S. alone this includes about 70 million people who suffer from sinus disease, asthma, allergies, reflux diseases GERD and LRPD, as well as sleep problems like snoring and sleep apnea. Dr. Josephson believes that all these problems can be related for the simple reason that they all are associated with parts of the body which are directly connected together in the upper and lower respiratory and digestive systems. This is an interesting concept and is explained clearly and thoroughly in the early chapters of the book. Dr. Josephson discusses the symptoms of all these maladies and then offers a CAID test, which helps the reader understand which branch of CAID is causing his problems. He explains symptoms and possible treatment options in great detail for the various “limbs” of CAID, sinus disease, allergies, asthma, GERD and LPRD, and sleep disorders such as snoring and sleep apnea.

One point is made clear throughout the book: like high blood pressure, sinus disease cannot be “cured” in the sense that it is gone once and for all, but it can only be controlled. But with this awareness and being knowledgeable about one’s problem, it is possible to control these health issues, and one can improve his or her life and not be forced to “just live with it”.

There are a number of things I was pleased to see in “Sinus Relief Now”:

1. Dr. Josephson is a sinus sufferer himself. He has undergone sinus surgery, uses the therapies he recommends, and “knows the feeling”. I got the feeling when reading the book that this person has gone through some of the same pain I have experienced.

2. Dr. Josephson strongly emphasizes the use of nasal irrigation. He uses a sinus irrigation device every day, as do I. He also talks about using a neti pot for sinus irrigation, but I’ve used both and find the irrigator much more effective. I personally would not even recommend the neti pot method.

3. Dr. Josephson is a surgeon, and he pushes for a very conservative approach regarding turbinates. In the past many surgeons routinely cut out parts or even most of the turbinates in people. In recent years it is becoming apparent that this can have disastrous effects on patients over time, and there are many horror stories to read at the forum of the ENS Association web site. ENS stands for Empty Nose Syndrome, which is the term coined for this condition.

4. Dr. Josephson says that smokers with CAID problems simply must quit. He has some appreciation of the difficulty of quitting, however, and offers some guidelines for that as well.

 
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Posted in Allergy And Sinus

 

Fatigue And Joint Pain: Common Arthritis Symptoms

17 Jan



The symptoms of fatigue and joint pain, are associated with a great deal of illnesses and diseases, ranging from the common flu to serious autoimmune diseases like lupus or thyroid disorders.

And…..

The symptoms that are most associated with arthritis are those of fatigue and joint pain.

So if you are experiencing any problems that you think to be arthritis, consult your primary health care provider before making any attempts at self medication.

Although a diagnosis of arthritis may be troubling, know that although there is no cure known today for the disease, there are a great many treatment options available to deal with the fatigue and joint pain so that you can reclaim your life.

Generally speaking, arthritis is a condition of inflammation around the joints in a sufferer’s body.

Any joint is open to being affected by arthritis, but the usually affected areas include the hands, knees, shoulders, and back.

When the area becomes inflamed, the joints swell, causing a great deal of pain and often an overall feeling of stiffness.

Usually, arthritis causes an individual to lose a certain amount of mobility, whether it is an inability to grasp items or complete a given task due to a restricted range of motion.

Quite often, individuals who suffer from fatigue and joint pain are forced to give up favorite activities simply because their bodies are unable to perform tasks they once enjoyed.

This can include hobbies that require fine motor work, such as needlework, gardening, or painting.

Instead of letting arthritis rule your life, take a stance and fight back. There are many over the counter and prescription medications that can reduce inflammation and restore lost mobility.

Consult your primary health care provider to ensure any medications–including those that are advertised as all natural–will not interact with any current medications or medical issues that you may be experiencing.

Another way to ward off the affects of arthritis is to ensure your body is in proper health.

Work to maintain a healthy, well balanced diet that includes all necessary vitamins and nutrients.

Exercise at least twice a week and consider taking ancient forms of exercise like yoga or Tai Chi.

 
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How to Get Sinus Relief Now

16 Jan



When someone has a sinus infection they want relief NOW, not the next hour or day but NOW!!
Well, we will tell you how to get relief right now, in this article. I know that you don’t want to read a bunch of stuff about sinus cavities or how you get sinus infections. It doesn’t really matter at this point, you just want relief. After you get well then you can find out about all that other stuff.

Lets get right to it shall we?

There are several things you can do to relieve sinus pressure.

1. You’ve heard about boiling water in a pan and breathing in the steam with the help of a towel around your head to catch the steam? Well it works. Do this first. It may be a little uncomfortable, especially in the summer so we have a few more ideas.

2. Listen up because this works INSTANTLY. You need to get to a store that carries essential oil, it is probably a health food store. If you don’t have a health food store in your area, then you will have to get these essential oils online. Get essential oils of lavender, peppermint and eucalyptus, put several drops of each one, one on top of the other, on a tissue, hold the tissue up to your nose and inhale deeply. Continue this until the sinuses are open. You may have to do it several times a day. This works very well. You will feel better in seconds.

3. This remedy is sort of a combination of the other two. Bring a couple of quarts of water to a boil, then turn off the heat. Mix 12-18 drops of eucalyptus and peppermint essential oils into the water. Cover your head and the pot of water witha towel and breath through the nose and mouth several times. Do this as often as needed throughout the day.

Use one or all of these remedies to relieve your sinus congestion. At the same time as you are working on these remedies, drink some peppermint tea with a little lemon in it. Use some of this tea to make a compress to your sinus areas. You may need to cover your eyes or keep them shut while using these remedies to keep them from being irritated. These remedies are time tested, give them a try.

 
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Posted in Allergy And Sinus

 

Reasons to Invest in Whole House Water Filters

14 Jan



More and more people already have a water filter attached to their kitchen sink or at least a portable one that can provide enough purified water for drinking. However because of the increased level of pollution, environmental accidents, and other environment problems caused mostly by us, the tap water is more and more contaminated. Thus we are recommended to invest in a water filter system.

Depending on your needs and possibilities there are cheap water filters that work only at the faucet they are installed at or more expensive whole house systems that provide purified water in the entire house no matter what the water is used for. A whole house water filter is indeed more expensive than other water filters, but in the long run you might be better off with such a filtering system because apart from providing purified water in the entire house, it also adds value to your house.

Because of its complexity and the fact that it has to be installed at the main pipe before entering the house, such a filtering system requires professional plumbing. Another reason for investing in such a water filter is that it is completely out of sight, thus it will not occupy space in the house and you do not have to install several water filters in the same house. Whole house water filters are a good way to replace the top counter or under counter water filters that provide you drinking water and the shower filters that let you take care of your body by providing purified water.

The advantage of these whole house systems is that by providing purified water for the entire house, they are actually helping you maintain your appliances, like your washing machine or your dishwasher, as well as the sinks, basins, and hot tubs. With such a system installed you do not have to worry remembering the faucet that has the filter installed. Also with a whole house water filter you do not have to worry about not having enough filtered water to drink or even worse enough water to take a shower.

Whole house water filters are the best solution to help us get healthier by having filtered water not only to drink, but also to cook and wash fruits and vegetables, and to take showers. There are several bacteria in the water as well as heavy metals and pesticides. Research also shows that the chlorine put in water to purify it, is actually not safe at all for the body, however it kills other dangerous bacteria that is in the water. The good news about the water filters is that while they keep some of the bacteria and heavy metals out, they still let you have the good minerals from the water. Also the filtered water does not have any smell, it is not cloudy, but instead is clean and pure.

Because the cost of such a filtering system is higher than the other water filters, they are intended to offer maximum performance and filtration with as little maintenance as possible. There are also several models of whole house water filters to choose from, but first you need to know the approximate amount of water you and your family use. Furthermore one of the things to keep in mind while selecting such a system is that the more filters the system has the cleaner and safer your water will be.

 
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Posted in Allergy And Sinus

 

How Your House Is Making You Sick And What To Do About It

14 Jan



Indoor air pollution is like something out of an Orwellian Sci-Fi novel. Everywhere around you, insidious enemies pursue; poisoning your water, air, and food. You escape to your home, your safe haven, shut the door behind you and take a deep breath of relief. But, you aren’t safe, the enemy lives where you sleep. This scenario may not cause mass hysteria if broadcasted from TV and radio, but it is true, and it is happening. Outside your home, pollution worsens by the day, as scientific and medical communities uncover more evidence and publish more studies indicating the air we breathe and what surrounds us is slowly poisoning us.

The affliction is known as MCS, or Multiple Chemical Sensitivities. Throughout the day, in the air we breathe, the water we drink, food we eat, even the clothes we wear, we are exposed to thousands of chemicals. These chemicals don’t effect us at once. Instead, they act like water filling a glass. Once a certain level is reached, the glass (the body) overflows, and a reaction occurs. Over-exposure to chemicals is hard to diagnose. Sometimes symptoms look like the flu, others symptoms include sleeplessness, depression, diarrhea, or general muscle and body aches. Aside from moving into the woods, it’s hard to avoid chemicals outside the home, but our home should be a haven, and it makes sense to protect ourselves as much as possible.

Our homes are full of sources for chemicals and pollutants, making our indoor air toxic. The biggest indoor pollutant is formaldehyde. Yes, a chemical used to preserve the dead is used in our homes, and we wind up breathing it in. The most common sources include, flooring, particle board, and insulation. Formaldehyde is especially prevalent in mobile homes. Vapor barriers meant to stop the transfer of moisture actually trap moisture in the walls and cause mold and rot. Paints covering your walls contain formaldehyde and toluene. New carpets, the finish on your cabinets, and the spackle in your wall joints can contain chemicals including formaldehyde, alkylphenols, brominated flame retardants, organotins and perfluorinated compounds, which can make you sick. The way you heat your home can also have an effect on how you feel in it. Most systems, including forced air and radiators increase dust and dry air. Ductwork can harbor mold and mildew, while electric baseboards create electromagnetic fields.

Not all is lost, though. There are plenty of things you can do to increase the indoor air quality of your home. The market for chemical free products and building practices is growing every year, and you can take advantage of the great amounts of information available. One of the most important and easiest things you can do is to read the warning labels of products you buy. Avoid known carcinogens, and if possible, purchase products with less chemicals than others. There are paints, woods, insulations, and building methods that take indoor air quality very seriously. Robert Laporte and his wife Paula, run the company EcoNest, (www.econest.com) based in the Southwest, and specialize in healthy homes using mud and straw insulation to build homes as beautiful as they are livable. Visit http://www.bioshieldpaints.com for great resources on healthy paints and stains, http://www.healthyhome.com is a site for all your home concerns, and visit, http://www.usgbc.org for the United States Green Building Council.

If you’re building a new home you can get healthy from the start. Orient the home to take advantage of southern exposure. Put most of your windows at the south end of the home, to take advantage of low, winter sun, and install overhangs to block out high, hot, summer sun. Using east and west air currents you’ll also be able to cool your home more efficiently. Make sure there is plenty of ventilation, and considered using a gas-powered, hot-water, radiant heating system which runs under the floors, eliminating ductwork and forced air problems. If you already have ductwork in place, you can install ultra-violet lights to kill mold and pathogens. Consider putting a humidifier unit right on your furnace to keep the air moist in drier climates. Using stone, tiles (with the proper sealants), cork, bamboo, and recycled-glass carpet all cut down drastically on pollutants.

It is estimated that 80% of the pesticides we’re exposed to occur indoors. Changing building practices to increase indoor air quality is a start, but you can do more by making healthy choices in other areas. Clothes and bedding are treated with chemicals, in addition to the more obvious culprits such as cleaning products, deodorants and deodorizers. Visit your local health food store, and you may be surprised by the number and effectiveness of the products available to make your everyday life healthier. The final link to increase your health is in the food you eat. Buying organic can drastically effect your overall health. Most of the food a person buys on a daily basis is loaded with pesticides, buying organic ensure you’ll have food which was processed less, grown closer to your home, and has a higher nutritional content. Start with one of these areas and work on the rest. Changing just one thing can have a great impact on your quality of life. To your health!

 
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Why Getting Too Much Sun Is Bad For You

13 Jan



As we all know, there are various forms of cancer that exist today and are ongoing problems. Every year many people alone in America suffer from cancer. The reason is due to a lack of understanding and knowledge on the people’s part. When a person knows enough about a particular thing, they improve their chances of living a healthy life. Making smart choices in what you eat and what you choose to participate in are good examples.

Skin cancer is one of many forms of cancers that people seem to neglect. People may want to go outside to play ball or walk around the beach all day. They may not want to skip doing something fun and interactive for a reason that they do not really know about. However, it is the fastest growing cancer in the United States. Over a million people were diagnosed with skin cancer in 2007. Skin cancer is actually a malignant growth on the epidermis (the outermost layer of the skin). This is caused by UV (ultra violet) rays from the sun and can be caused by burns. Some types of skin cancer include Merkel cell carcinoma and Kaposi’s sarcoma. Fortunately, there are ways to detect the formation of skin cancer.

When looking at your skin, you should look for brown or black lesions, or a thicken patch of red. If you have skin cancer, certain treatments such as cryotherarpy, which freezes the cancer off, can be used. Remember, that the most effective way to avoid these problems is to exercise smart actions. Avoid staying in the sun too long, use sun block and wear protective clothing when you can. There are some clothes that are UV protected which means they can provide further protection.

Like other forms of cancers such a lung cancer, it can be avoided, just like the many that die every year. It becomes vital that people learn about issues that they do not know about because they can get themselves into bigger trouble that will ruin their life. This can relate to many things in life, when people do not know enough about something, they will not be able to help themselves and others around them. They cannot contribute to causes that affect the world and will only hamper those with problems. Being aware gives you something to use, to spread. So, while you’re having fun in the sun this summer, remember that you can be putting yourself at risk for death.

 
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Posted in aids & hiv

 

Eating The Right Food To Fight Allergies

09 Jan



One of the most simple and effective ways to improve your allergy condition is by changing your daily diet. By eating the right kinds of food, your immune system can be dramatically regulated and improved. For this reason, you won’t be that sensitive to allergens. On the other hand, if you eat unhealthy foods, you can only expect your allergies to get worse. This article will show you what kinds of food you should consume so that you could dramatically improve your allergies.

1. The right fats.

Yes, fatty acids, but only the beneficial ones such as Omega 3. Omega 3 fatty acids would include eicosapentaenoic acid(EPA) and gamma-linoleic acid(GLA). For your information, allergies are inflammatory diseases. These two fatty acids are beneficial to your allergy condition because of their anti inflammatory properties. By suppressing the production of inflammatory chemicals such as histamines and prostaglandins, eating foods that contain these three fatty acids will directly improve your allergies, in the most dramatic way.

You can find EPA in flaxseed oil and salmon, and GLA in evening primrose oil and borage oil.

2. Colored Fruits and Vegetables.

People with allergies should really eat more fruits and vegetables. Colored fruits and vegetables indicate that they contain antioxidants. In addition to antioxidant properties fruits and vegetables have, they also contain anti-inflammatory substances. So by eating fruits and vegetables, your immune system will be restored and balanced.

One good example is apple. The red skin of apples contains quercetin, one of the many kinds of flavonoids. Flavonoids are widely used in treating and preventing allergies. And they work really well.

3. The Secret Weapon, Yogurt

Eating lots of yogurt is one of the best ways to improve your allergy condition by changing your diet. But this method is only suitable for those people without milk or dairy allergies. Researchers in University of California found out that by eating more yogurt, patients were able to reduce their allergic symptoms by 90%! The active cultures and beneficial bacterias in yogurt is not only good for your colon, it can also aid in skin allergies, especially childhood eczema.

I have just shared with you some great tips on foods you should eat to improve your allergy condition. By following the tips I have shown you, you should be able to improve your allergy condition quite dramatically. If it is possible, you should stop taking fatty foods in your diet, and start eating more fruits and vegetables. Also, it is better for you to eat your meals regularly.

 
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Posted in Allergy And Sinus

 
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