Influenza viruses attack the respiratory system, from the nose and throat, down through the bronchial tubes, and into the lungs. In the 1918 flu pandemic, victims built up so much fluid in their lungs that they essentially died of drowning. Symptoms of flu are like those of a cold, except much worse, and they come on much faster. High fevers and chills are common, and there may be vomiting and diarrhea. It’s highly contagious.
Because most healthy adults may be able to infect others beginning one day before their own symptoms develop (and up to 5 days after becoming sick), you can be in danger of becoming infected from someone else before you or the other person knows they are sick.
The Flu: A Good Excuse to Stay Home and Sleep
Most people are not in deadly danger from a flu virus (though occasionally a particularly potent virus emerges that puts vast segments of the population in danger, as it did in 1918). The usual treatment is plenty of bed rest, lots of fluids, and aspirin or Tylenol to reduce fever.
There are many flu home remedies:
* Vitamin C, zinc, garlic capsules. These supplements may be of limited value once you’ve got the virus, but they probably can do no harm. Recent studies have said that Vitamin C and zinc supplements show no effect in reducing symptoms.
* Drink tea that’s a mixture of 1 tsp. bayberry bark, 1 tsp. grated ginger root,
Archive for April, 2010
How to Get Rid of the Flu
Swine Flu – Should You Get the Vaccine?
Everywhere you look and everything you hear centers around swine flu lately. There is talk of mandatory vaccinations of school children and health care workers; seniors, pregnant women and very young children are always the prime candidates for vaccinations of this type. But is this the best answer? I am not a doctor nor am I an infectious disease expert. However, I believe it is very important to get as much information as possible in order to make the best decision. I will share some information but the responsibility to seek as much information as possible and the final decision as to whether to get the shot or not is yours, at least for now.
First of all, have you ever asked your doctor whether he or she gets a flu shot every year? The answer may surprise you. Dr. Donald Miller, a cardiac surgeon and Professor of Surgery at the University of Washington, recommends avoiding the flu shot and taking vitamin D instead. According to Dr. Miller, “Seventy percent of doctors do not get a flu shot.” Official health statistics tell us 36,000 people will die from the flu EVERY winter. But the National Vital Statistics Reports compiled by the CDC reveals only 1,138 of those deaths occur due to the flu alone. The balance are caused by pneumonia, heart attacks and other underlying causes such as bacterial infections.
Dr. John Cannell and his colleagues have theorized that the flu is merely a symptom of vitamin D deficiency. Their theory was further proven by researchers who suggested that flu epidemics are the result of a dormant disease which is activated by vitamin D deficiency. It seems logical since our flu season happens in the fall and winter months, when we have fewer hours of sunlight.
All vaccines carry a risk no matter how “safe” they are said to be. The vaccine being produced specifically for the swine flu or H1N1 virus is being “fast tracked.” That means it is being pushed through testing and approval phases and therefore we will not have adequate information as to its long and short term safety. That is a huge concern. Back in 1976 – the last swine flu epidemic – 25 people died – solely as a result of the vaccine. That was more than the actual number who died from the virus itself! And it triggered 500 cases of Guillain-Barre Syndrome, a serious brain disorder that attacks the lining of nerves and can cause temporary paralysis and death. Many experts have similar concerns about this new vaccine.
Many experts are voicing concerns about the long term risks of this fast tracked vaccine in healthy people and whether those risks are justified, particularly when all the evidence shows that this H1N1 flu is a mild strain. The Vaccine Adverse Effect Reporting System of the U.S. Food & Drug Administration receives around 11,000 “serious adverse reaction” reports per year. Serious reactions are defined as death, life-threatening illness, hospitalization, or disability resulting from a vaccine. The FDA admits that in all probability only about 10% of adverse reactions are actually reported.
30-50% of people infected with flu have mild or no symptoms at all and the vast number of people clear it on their own. We have to also keep in mind everyone is biochemically unique and we each react differently to drugs and treatments. The risk-benefit is different for everyone – so one size, so to speak, cannot fit all. Another statistic to consider is this: 436 people have died as a result of swine flu; 200,000 deaths occur annually from medical errors.
If all that was not enough to make your head spin, just how effective are flu shots? Preparing vaccines for the coming flu season is an annual guessing game. There are typically 200 to 300 different flu virus strains, while the vaccine usually contains antigens of only a few. (Antigens are molecules that trigger a specific immune response.) More often than not the vaccine doesn’t contain antigens of the most virulent strains that season.
The most important recommendation I can make right now is this: educate yourself. Once you know the truth you will not be swayed by fear tactics. There will be many voices trying to get you to respond out of fear. We are never to make decisions, or do anything for that matter, out of fear. That is a position of weakness. The Lord tells us repeatedly to fear not. My suggestion is educate yourself and once you understand the facts, dig for the truth of the matter, which may not be obvious. Then whatever decision you make, do it in faith.
Arthritis Therapy Requires Movement and Exercise
You know you need to exercise to build up your body’s strength against arthritis, but your body aches too much to even move. This is the vicious circle of arthritis. You may be unable to take part in the things you used to do, but there’s nothing stopping you from keeping active. The most difficult thing about arthritis therapy is starting it. As with any program, it gets easier the more you do it. Don’t demand too much of your body and start small and work your way up but never compare your own progress with others as everyone’s body is different.
Go for a Swim
You need to give your body exercise with lower stress levels. This can be achieved through non-aerobic exercise or low-impact exercise. Swimming, including water aerobics and water walking is the choice of many as their arthritis therapy. These exercises can be fun and pools are available all over the country. You should check to see if your own YMCA or local health club has a pool and, if you are of appropriate age, discounts for seniors. Senior centres are now a major part of many towns and cities and they offer many activities for seniors, including pool access.
Try some Tai Chi
If you’re not too much into getting wet, there are several easy and interesting arthritis therapies that you can do at home instead. Non-aerobic exercise has been around for centuries. Yoga, pilates and martial arts are a few of the oriental techniques you could use. They promote balance, physical strength, coordination and above all, a peace of mind and opportunity to relax. Of these techniques, Tai Chi is the most gentle and is regularly recommended to people suffering from arthritis. Make sure you let your instructor know of your arthritis condition so that you don’t hurt yourself during lessons.
Get Green Fingered with Gardening
Failing all of the above, getting your hands dirty in your garden is the arthritis therapy of choice for many. This therapy gets you outside, gets you interacting with neighbours and also gives you the freedom to show your creative side. It generally consists of gentle, repetitive movements that can be made even easier with specific arthritis equipment available to gardeners. Gardening is never out of your age range. Because of its nature, it helps you keep your joints moving whilst improving your self-worth. It can fit any home because pots or planters can be used in place of a garden if all you have is a yard. Senior centres also usually contain a communal garden for arthritis therapy.
Arthritis Hates These 3 Exercise Methods
Exercise and arthritis are two bad boys that don’t like each other. Exericise has a way of moving arthritis deposits that are hanging around your joints. As difficult as it may sound, starting some form of exercise program will help you with that arthritis pain you are experiencing. People with rheumatoid arthritis also find a way to exercise to help them take control over their body. We try to focus on blood flow throughout our body and to increase that blood flow you need to exercise.
All of us with joint or arthritis pain have good days and bad days. Sometimes your joints just freeze up and the pain is unbearable. The days you feel better are the days you need to focus on your exercise program. Heck there are days that I don’t feel like tackling my arthritis pain but I do, because I know exercise and arthritis don’t like each other. That blood flow has a way of taking the pain away and it is such a mental boost, because I know the exercises I am doing will benefit way more than my arthritis pain.
WARNING
It doesn’t matter if you have arthritis or not, everyone who is starting an exercise program should consult their health care provider/doctor first.
Never be afraid to ask people about some of the exercises they do for their arthritis pain and never be afraid to give it a try. Unless it’s so darn hard you might hurt yourself. Each area of the exercise model should be used on a weekly basis.
The 3 main components to exercise and arthritis are:
Range of Motion (Flexibility) Resistance (Strength) Endurance (Cardiovascular)
I’d be shocked if your doctor or health care provider would not agree that working on your range of motion, strength and cardiovascular exercises is beneficial. Because they are around arthritis so much they might have learned a few tips they can share with you about exercising with arthritis. You might also want to ask them for recommendations of exercise therapists, personal trainers or physical therapists who have experience with arthritis patients.
Exercise and arthritis in greater details
Range of Motion is a fancy word used in the medical profession to describe flexibility. Arthritis has a way of freezing up your joints so trying to gain greater flexibility is a must. Beating arthritis pain will require doing the things arthritis tries to keep you from. The less you move your joints the better arthritis can take over your joints. If you want to beat arthritis then you should start with a good flexibility program.
Mornings are a tough time to get up, especially if you have a lot of pain. Our muscles have not been used in 6-8 hours and they do get stiff just like our joints. You have probably experienced that awful feeling trying to get out of bed and walking to the bathroom. It’s no fun so what you might want to consider is doing some stretching exercises before you even get out of bed. Something as simple as pulling your knees to your chest can greatly increase your chances of getting out of bed without much arthritis pain. This same movement will also help your hips and stretching your arms above your head is a very simple exercise for arthritis.
My mom loves to sit on the edge of the bed just bending over her knees and letting her arms hang down to the floor. This is beneficial for her back, legs, shoulders and wrists. Something else you can do while sitting on the edge of the bed is trying to straighten your legs out and lift them up. Doing this several times will help the blood flow throughout your body which is something we all need before we get out of bed.
If you are lucky enough to own a hot tub, then you should be in that thing as often as you can. Getting out of bed and into that hot tub is a great way to stretch your body. However, if you don’t want to do that, then whenever you get into the hot tub you should seriously consider doing your stretching exercises.
Any type of bending and stretching is a very good exercise for arthritis. A key teaching point to remember is to hold your stretch and don’t bounce, it is not good for your muscles. Instead move slowly until you cannot stretch anymore and hold it for 10 to 15 seconds. After you stretch relax for a few more seconds and give it another try. You’ll be surprised at how much further you can stretch. Also, I have found that I can stretch farther after lunch than the early morning.
Stretching your hamstring is really good for your lower back and it really helps those people who have lower back pains. Just remember before you do any type of exercises, stretching is the critical first step. Daily stretching routines are most beneficial and it really does prepare your body for the other exercises you are going to do. If you are having a painful day, stretching might be the only thing you can accomplish, but don’t make it a habit. You need both cardiovascular and strength exercises to help combat arthritis pain and arthritis symptoms.
Strengthening exercises is also called resistance exercises. Any type of resistance, including gravity is beneficial. Push ups, sit ups, squats and pull-ups are excellent ways to build muscle strength, without having to pay for a health club membership. Other forms of resistance exercises include riding bicycles, walking up steps and pushing a lawn mower. Be creative and you will surprise yourself at what you an accomplish without the worries of monthly membership fees to a health club. Like I have stated many times already, blow flow is critical and these types of strengthening exercises work well. Another benefit you will realize from strengthening exercises is the muscles around your joints will become stronger and support it your joints much better.
Resistance exercises are what you are looking for. Riding a bicycle is a good resistance exercise. That constant pushing against the pedal will begin to build muscles around your knee joints and many other places. If your knees are bothering you and you have access to a stationary bike, try this.
The cardio exercises that are extremely beneficial for arthritis pain are: walking, biking, swimming. We like to do a lot of walking in water with athletes who are coming off surgeries and progress them to walking on land and biking. If you can try to walk faster than normal for 10 to 15 minutes you will be surprised at how fast you will tire. That constant resistance is draining but it will build up your cardiovascular endurance. As you know, cardio exercises are also beneficial to your circulatory system (heart/lungs).
If you have a great deal of arthritis pain in your lower body you might want to consider removing the seat on a stationary bike and peddling with your hands and arms. You can sit on the floor behind the seat and try to peddle at a constant speed for a few minutes and then stopping to dial it up tighter for greater resistance. By tightening up the resistance you will accomplish a two-fold process of endurance and strength.
We have this very steep and long hill nestled behind our little town. I know every time I reach the top of that hill my back stops hurting. Not exactly sure but I do believe it is related to the increased blood flow through my body. I like because I can get a great workout in less than 30 minutes. What’s funny is no matter how much my lower back or knees hurt, a third of the way up the hill, everything feels great.
One last thing I should mention is the fact that I do supplement all my meals with vitamins, minerals and other products that target arthritis pain.
The following are my personal favorite exercises for arthritis:
Walking up hills General walking around town or countryside Riding my bike Cutting the lawn with a push mower Walking and swimming in pools Pitching batting practice to my baseball teams Hitting fundo’s to my baseball teams
If you are a person who is fighting arthritis, please do not allow this to beat you. Get tough, take action and build a positive self image of yourself.
Make it a pain free week.
Chronic Arthritis Pain
Arthritis is an inflammation of the joints, and for most people brings with it pain and stiffness in the affected areas. Pain is generally defined as either “acute” or “chronic,” with acute pain being the short-term variety. After three months, pain is considered to be chronic. Both of these types of pain can be mild to severe and, for too many people suffering from arthritis, chronic pain is present in their activities of daily living. Indeed, many will be dealing with pain for the rest of their lives.
As stated on WebMD, “Chronic pain is a major health problem in the United States and is one of the most weakening effects of arthritis. More than 40 million Americans suffer from some form of arthritis, and many have chronic pain that limits daily activity. Osteoarthritis is by far the most common form of arthritis, affecting about 16 million Americans, while rheumatoid arthritis, which affects about 2.1 million Americans, is the most crippling form of the disease.” Obviously, arthritis and the chronic pain that so very many are suffering from are not isolated instances.
Unfortunately, these numbers are on the rise as our population ages. Many people may find themselves dealing with arthritic moments along with their senior moments. However, just because a body is aging, it does not follow that that body must have joint pain.
There is hope among all the doom and gloom. Healthcare providers, from primary care physicians to physical therapists and rheumatologists, are recognizing the value of exercise as part of a plan to relieve arthritis pain, even in fairly severe, chronic cases! It is a natural inclination to want to rest and move around as little as possible when we are in pain, when in fact, it can actually make matters worse for those with arthritis pain. This is not to say that just any exercise is recommended; it is definitely a good idea to consult with a professional to ensure that you are choosing exercises that will bring about positive results.
Supplements are also popping up for everything everywhere. Joint pain relief is gaining attention in the supplement aisle. It is probably safe to assume that most people are aware of glucosamine and chondroitin, and the difference that these two substances are making in the lives of joint pain sufferers. One of the newer choices hitting the shelves is made from cetylated fatty acids, and is most commonly found under the brand name of Celadrin. This alternative has been shown to work well all on its own or as an addition to a glucosamine/chondroitin regimen. As with so many supplements it appears to become more effective as use continues. These supplements work to restore lubrication and reduce inflammation in the joints, providing pain relief and better range of motion!
Just as each person has their own pain to deal with, they also have to find a system that works for them. It is possible to feel better and enjoy life! Talk to your doctor about exercise and supplements that may be able to help and go enjoy life!
How to Handle an Itchy Allergic Reaction
Early fall is the ideal time for hikes and camping trips, thanks to milder weather and fewer crowds than during the summer months. Most outdoor lovers go prepared with comfortable shoes, sturdy tents and even first aid kits, but one thing often goes overlooked. If you are one of the 85% of people who will have an allergic reaction when exposed to poison ivy, oak or sumac, you must know how to treat your symptoms quickly and effectively.
Outsmarting the Itch
What actually makes these plants poisonous? Urushiol, a chemical in the sap, is responsible for the common allergic reaction causing a rash, blisters and severe itching. Urushiol can easily be transferred to clothing or equipment, and will retain its potency for years if the items are not washed thoroughly. However, you have a short window of opportunity to take action before urushiol penetrates the skin.
If you spot the notorious 3-leafed ivy stems, and you know your skin has been in contact with this poison plant, you have about 10 minutes to wash the chemical off before an allergic reaction develops. First wipe the exposed area with generous amounts of rubbing alcohol from your first aid kit and rinse well with plain water. I recommend that you don’t use soap right away, as this may spread the chemical over more of your skin. After rinsing, take a shower as you normally would.
Relief for Itching
If poison ivy takes you by surprise, there are many natural ways to treat the symptoms at home. In fact, these methods may also be used to treat itching caused by other factors. The poison ivy rash will generally appear 12 to 48 hours after exposure, and blisters and itching will follow shortly. Although scratching cannot spread the rash, opening the blisters may lead to a bacterial infection, so do your best to keep your hands off.
Calamine lotion, the classic stand-by for poison ivy and itchy rashes, may not be the best solution. Calamine tends to dry out skin, making it even itchier. Keep the skin moist by taking frequent cool baths, using gentle non-deodorant soaps, and applying unscented moisturizer made for sensitive skin.
If calamine doesn’t work, how do you relieve the itch? Cold compresses bring a lot of relief, and should be used as often as you can for 15 to 20 minutes at a time. To make this treatment even more effective, soak the clean cloths in water and vinegar solution or a water and baking soda solution. You can also mix baking soda with a small amount of water to make a paste and apply it to the infected area.
Oral antihistamines, such as Benadryl, also relieve itching. Over the counter hydrocortisone creams, such as Cortaid or Lanacorte, may soothe itching quickly and temporarily. If blisters have already formed, however, these topical itch creams are probably too weak to help much. Products that will help the irritating blisters include kaolin, a clay-like mineral substance, aluminum hydroxide gel, zinc acetate, zinc carbonate, or zinc oxide.
Although the itch is difficult to tolerate, the poison ivy rash should go away in 14 to 20 days. In the meantime, treat your skin gently and try the solutions I outlined above. I hope you never need to treat a case of poison ivy, but knowing what to do if you, a friend or a family member are exposed should provide peace of mind when you venture to the great outdoors this fall.