Welcome to WordPress. This is your first post. Edit or delete it, then start blogging!
Archive for June, 2010
Take Good Care Of Your Hearing Aid
10
Jun
Hearing aids are expensive and contain some very sensitive circuitry that should be taken great care of. Cleaning your hearing aid on a regular basis helps to ensure that it lasts as long as it possibly can. A dirty hearing aid can also cause ear infections, which is another good reason to clean it properly!
The process of cleaning a hearing aid varies from type to type because different types of hearing aids have different structures and different degrees of delicacy. You should consider certain precautions before attempting to clean your hearing aid. Make sure your hands are washed and dried, remember not to get the electronic parts wet, so be careful! It is advised that you use a soft, cotton cloth to clean the entire device, you can use cleaners, but try not to go overboard.
- Cleaning Behind-The-Ear Hearing Aids: BTE aids are sufficiently big enough to hold in your hand while you’re cleaning them. They consist of an ear mold (the casing that fits behind the ear) and tubing. Dirt can accumulate behind the ear especially if you’re wearing something over there. When you take off the hearing aid at night, make sure to wipe it off with a dry cloth and examine it carefully to find any dried spots or earwax. BTE hearing aids can be washed occasionally using soap and water, however make sure not to soak them for too long. Also make sure you dry them completely before putting them back on.
- Cleaning In-The-Ear Hearing Aids: The procedure for cleaning ITE aids is almost the same as the procedure for cleaning other hearing aids. They are more sensitive and smaller than other aids, so you need to take extra care while cleaning them. Like BTE aids, you should inspect them daily after taking off at night to look for any dried earwax on them, especially on the area that goes directly into the canal. After looking for wax use a soft cloth to clean it. If there is earwax found on any of the parts, sometimes it can be quite stubborn, in this case you can use some hard material.
Many manufacturers provide necessary cleaning tools along with the device and instructions on how to clean them.
Cleaning Products
It’s not very difficult to clean most hearing aids as long as you remember to take the necessary precautions. Hearing aids can also be taken care of by cleaning your ears and preventing any earwax accumulating in the first place. There are many ear cleaning products available out there, don’t use dry cotton buds, try some wipes.
Other cleaning products are dri-aid, sanitized spray and ear cream. Dri-aid is a tool to keep your ears dry and so in theory they shouldn’t have as much wax. Spray tools work like cleaning wipes in a way that ensures germ control for longer periods of time, these spray products are very effective and easy-to-use.
In addition to individual products, you can also purchase cleaning kits that are quite inexpensive when compared to the individual costs of all the tools combined. These kits also contain all the necessary tools that you will require.
Ear candling is a technique of ear cleaning in which a candle is made by folding a piece of paper like a tube. One end is ignited and the other is put into the ear to naturally remove wax and other dirt. Although the process is simple and totally natural, it’s not always very effective. Furthermore, you need to take extra care and know exactly when to extinguish the flame, otherwise it can prove to be painful, for both the patient and the lighter of the candle! Therefore, it’s highly recommended that you buy some form of sanitized spray along with some other tools to clean your ears on a regular basis.
Seniors Knee Pain – You Can Stop Arthritis Joint Pain Without Taking Those Dangerous NSAID Drugs
08
Jun
As seniors, we may find that the “Golden Years” might not be quite as golden as we expected. One of the most common problems affecting seniors is osteoarthritis-a wearing away of joint cartilage. Osteoarthritis is found in over 75% of the senior population and we are the most vulnerable group.
Sometimes, injury can cause this problem, but it’s most likely to be a wear and tear type of condition, that only gets worse if not treated. Over many years, we just use our joints a lot and the protective cartilage that we need, keeps wearing down.
As we continue to lose cartilage, the pain only gets worse. If it gets to where there is no cartilage left, then the only options available are painful joint replacement surgery, or more years of limited mobility.
What other treatment options do we have? Usually, most doctors offer a NSAID type of drug to help with pain control- and they can do that. However, they only work on the symptoms, but not the cause. So, while you may think this is beneficial, your vital cartilage keeps disappearing and you’re getting close to your last options.
If you’re not familiar with the NSAID type of drugs, they are heavily advertised, as they bring in huge profits for the pharmaceutical companies who manufacture them. The next time you see one of their ads, pay particular attention to all the deadly side effects they have. Some, such as potential internal bleeding, fatal heart attack or stroke, are just a few. They can also even speed up your joint deterioration. Think about all that for a minute. Is that “treatment” something you want to risk?
Fortunately, there is a much better way to deal with osteoarthritis. You can experience knee joint regeneration when you use a good natural supplement. You can stop the pain and begin to bring back the cartilage you need, without the use of any NSAID drugs
You’re getting a real treatment, instead of a band aid approach that only stops the pain. And, you don’t have to fear any negative side effects, as you would with the prescription drugs. A natural treatment has no side effects at all and will not interact with any medications you may now be taking. Get the knee relief you need.
In addition to the natural approach, try to work in some low impact exercise such as walking and also take another look at your diet. Walking can help build muscle around the joint and help provide additional support.
Your diet is important too. If it’s like the typical Western diet, some simple changes can make a big difference, not only in how you feel, but improving your general health as well. Also, if you have any extra pounds to lose, diet and exercise can help there too.
Arthritis and Joint Pain – Little Known Causes Of Pain In Your Joints And Arthritis
07
Jun
Each of us will experience muscle or joint pain at some time in our life. Is it arthritis?
Most of us have no idea what causes pain or why we have pain. This is not something we learned growing up. We will blame old age or arthritis as the culprit. We may have no clue that something we are doing, or not doing, may be causing our discomfort.
What if people knew the true cause of their pain?
It is exciting to know that almost all joint and muscle pain, including other pains like sciatica and migraines, is caused in full or in part by muscle imbalances.
There are natural laws which govern how our bodies work. These laws state that if something occurs in one part of our body, something must happen elsewhere to compensate for the first event.
For example, we cannot have one high shoulder and the other shoulder in neutral. If one is high, the other must be low. If one hip is forward, the other must be in a more rear position. Not only does this happen, it happens often.
And when we have pain, almost all health care practitioners and massage therapists will treat the hurting area. If the pain is new, only a day or two old, then the cause of the pain may be where the hurt is.
But when the pain is longstanding, the hurting area is only a symptom. The cause of the pain is elsewhere. This is where the natural laws come in. Equal and opposite stresses are occurring.
Most medical practitioners and massage therapists offer treatment for the symptom, even though the painful area is generally not what caused the pain. Understanding the cause and effect of pain, and the roles that muscles play, is something most of us did not learn in school.
And beside physical treatments such as massage which are occasionally offered, drugs and surgeries are routinely offered.
Drugs address symptoms and can have side effects.
Surgeries may or may not reduce the pain, which is why fewer back procedures are performed now. Surgeries also may have detrimental long term effects. Surgeries may treat the symptom without treating the cause. An example would be a hip replacement, when the initial cause of the pain was an anatomical leg length difference, which was not addressed.
When we were little, we had perfect balance.
When we grew up, due to school and work and lifestyles, we lost some of our balance. Some of us lose a lot of it. We have over 600 muscles, and most of us only use the same sixty or so. So we develop pain.
We get out of balance and into pain.
But, what if people understood the causes of their pain?
What if they knew simple, self help movements, tools and tips which can easily be implemented by most people to bring balance back?
What if they could reduce or eliminate their arthritis and joint pain?
Symptoms of a Food Allergy
07
Jun
Food allergies are among the most dangerous, which is why it’s important to understand the symptoms of a food allergy. As with other types of allergies, you experience a reaction when your body’s immune system responds incorrectly to a particular food or a particular ingredient within a food. The most common food allergies are nuts, milk, shellfish, wheat, soy, and eggs.
The most common symptoms of a food allergy include irritation of the skin which may involve hives, eczema, and a simple rash. In more severe cases, symptoms may also include swelling of the tongue, lips, throat, face and other body parts, abdominal pains, vomiting, diarrhea, nausea, lightheadedness, and tingling inside the mouth.
The following symptoms are often more difficult to directly associate with a food allergy because there could be numerous other reasons for these symptoms. However, in those situations where these become persistent you should definitely visit with your physician and see if you can isolate what’s going on …
Trouble Sleeping Moodiness Fatigue Heartburn Constipation Symptoms Similar To Those of Arthritis Canker Sores Bed Wetting Inflammation Of The Face And Lips Rhinitis Migraine Wheezing
Eczema or atopic dermatitis, which is a swelling and drying of the skin, can be seen in allergies to citrus fruits, eggs, and tomatoes. Hives or urticaria is also a form of skin irritation which is represented by elevated skin welts that are reddish. Hives are a common reaction to tomatoes, eggs, shellfish, mangoes, pork meat, nuts, and strawberries.
Simple headaches are usually symptoms of an allergic reaction to chocolates and wheat. Migraines, on the other hand, are typically caused by an allergy to cheese, nuts, citrus fruits, tomatoes, milk, eggs, and MSG or monosodium glutamate. Monosodium glutamate is a chemical used for seasonings in a lot of foods but only those which have excessive amounts can cause allergic reactions.
In severe conditions known as anaphylaxis, can result in life-threatening symptoms such as rapid pulse, loss of consciousness; airway constrictions that lead to loss of breathe and shock with a significant drop in the blood pressure levels. When any of these symptoms occur, immediate medical attention is required.
As mentioned, food allergy symptoms are not unique. Therefore, when these symptoms do appear it can be difficult to know if they’re related an allergy or if there’s another cause. Even if you’re able to identify a symptom as belonging to an allergy, you’ll also need to determine if food is the culprit or if there’s another allergen involved.
There is one consideration that can help … did you eat recently? If so, what did you eat? Mild food allergy symptoms often appear within minutes of consuming the food allergen (severe cases of a food allergy will result in an almost instantaneous reaction). So if you’re experiencing a reaction, simply think back to your last meal. Of course, the trigger could be hidden within a food item, a hidden ingredient that you may overlook. For example, a peanut sauce may not readily identifiable.
Once you have a clear understanding of the potential symptoms of a food allergy, not only will you know what to be watching for, you’ll be prepared to help your physician or allergist further define those foods that are troubling for you.
Bird Flu Origins
06
Jun
I am often asked, “where did Bird flu come from.” There really isn’t a definitive answer, a variation of bird flu has probably been around since the dawn of humankind in one form or another. The first known avian influenza virus was identified in Italy in 1878 as a “serious disease of chickens”.
In Hong Kong 1997, the H5N1 strain of avian influenza virus was first documented, when it caused severe respiratory problems in 18 humans, of whom six died. A total culling of all chickens and removal of chicken meat from all markets in the area was supposed to put a stop to the virus, however less then 6 years later in February of 2003 another outbreak of H5N1 killed 1 person and sickened another in Hong Kong.
Recent research suggests that the Spanish flu of 1918 was a mutated form of the H1N1 virus, the name associated with the then current Bird Flu mutation. Two teams of scientists conducted this research.
One led by Sir John Skehel, director of the National Institute for Medical Research in London and another by Professor Ian Wilson of the Scripps Research Institute in San Diego.
They used a sample of lung tissue collected from the remains of an Inuit woman, in Alaska, who died during the 1918 Spanish flu and DNA samples from the remains of solders who died during world war two of the disease.
The two teams analyzed the structure of the gene and discovered how subtle alterations to the shape of a protein molecule had allowed it to move from birds to humans with such devastating effects.
Since the Hong Kong strain of the bird flu in 1997 was reported, tens of millions of birds have died of H5N1 influenza and hundreds of millions of birds were culled (slaughtered and disposed of).
All evidence suggests that if in fact the H5N1 virus were to mutate into a human transmittable disease, somewhere around 150,000,000 human deaths directly due to H5N1 infection (or two to three percent of the world’s human population) would occur.
Medical Marijuana – Where Would One Find a Doctor?
03
Jun
If a patient has a health condition that would benefit from the use of cannabis, where would he or she find a list of medical marijuana doctors? There are thirteen states that have legalized the use of cannabis for medicinal purposes.
These states are Alaska, California, Colorado, Hawaii, Maine, Michigan, Montana, Nevada, New Mexico, Oregon, Rhode Island, Vermont and Washington. These states have voted in laws that make the plant use legal with certain guidelines and restrictions. If a person lives in one of these states, searching the internet for physicians who practice in their locale would be a good place to start.
A patient would first need to obtain an evaluation from a participating doctor to see if it is a good option for their health difficulties. The physician and/or clinic would write a recommendation, a treatment plan with details specific to the patient, provide an identification card and offer support. A physician’s recommendation usually lasts for one year.
A patient would need an evaluation of their medical history in order to obtain a physician’s recommendation. It is helpful to provide the doctor with all records, healthy history and prescriptions at the consultation appointment.
Medical cannabis has been shown to help with anxiety, HIV/AIDS, arthritis, discomfort related to cancer treatments such as chemotherapy and radiation, fibromyalgia, migraine headaches and more. Recent studies have shown it to help with Alzheimer’s disease, intestinal problems and to slow tumor growth in brain and lung cancers.
It may be taken in various forms, including being smoked, eaten, taken in THC pill or liquid form and vaporized into a spray application. It may be obtained from dispensaries, collectives and cooperatives. The exact locations can be found on the internet or from organizations within each state.
There is still quite a bit of controversy within the medical community regarding the legalization of medical marijuana. Many physicians are in favor of it and are strong proponents of the drug’s efficacy while others are on the other side of the fence. If you live in a state or country where the drug has been legalized, it becomes an individual choice to be made with the help of a physician.
If a person with health concerns lives in Alaska, California, Colorado, Hawaii, Maine, Michigan, Montana, Nevada, New Mexico, Oregon, Rhode Island, Vermont or Washington, he or she should seek the consultation of one of the region’s reputable doctors to see if cannabis and its chemical ingredient of THC is the proper course of action for them.
Herbal Allergy Treatment
03
Jun
Many medicines common to us today were originally discovered in their natural state and then synthesized in the laboratory. Penicillin is one that we have all heard of and there are so many others. Pharmaceutical research scientists to this day explore places like the Amazon Jungle, still looking for more beneficial substances to take back to the laboratory for study. Their goal is to make discoveries, learn to synthesize and then patent to protect their profits. Their is and always has been medicinal substances in their natural state available for those who choose to use them. Commonly known as herbal medicines.
The Food an Drug Administration has consistently worked with drug companies to enact laws and regulations that make it difficult and sometimes illegal for allergy sufferers to obtain alternatives to the drugs distributed by the corporate drug cartels. It is up to you to educate yourself about herbal allergy relief products. Allergy sufferers have to rely on each other in this area of research and discovery. There are many traditional pharmaceutical products out there on the market that work well. The problem for us is that pharmaceutical companies have share holders who have profits in mind. They don’t want us to theirs and only their products.
Herbal allergy relief products have always been here and have always been used. They are nothing new. Long before modern medicine pushed herbal medicines aside, people everywhere relied on herbal medicines. They are in fact are being rediscovered in a way and are now available for anyone who wishes to obtain the benefits they can give. Your allergies are, with the exception of chemical intolerance, caused by natural substances, with a few exceptions. Mold, pollen, dust, and the list goes on and on, are all natural substances. It only stands to reason that if a natural substance is causing the problem then natural herbal allergy relief products can provide relief.
It is not recommended that you start experimenting on yourself. Herbal medicines can and many times do have a high level of potency. Just because something doesn’t come in a pill does not mean it cant contain powerful substances. Always consult an expert before you begin using herbal allergy relief products or any other herbal medicine for that matter. What works for someone else may not necessarily work for you. So picking up and trying something that someone has told you has worked for them could only increase your suffering. So do your own research, consult an expert on homeopathy and find out what is best for you before you begin using herbal allergy relief products.
So in the end the choice is your own. You are the one doing the suffering. If you are not entirely satisfied with your treatments in the past. Or if you would just like to see more improvement in your allergy relief. Then look into the option of herbal allergy relief products. It is not recommended that you throw down your prescription medicine and stop using them. Most work very well and are a necessity for many allergy sufferers. But used in conjunction with your other allergy medicines, herbal allergy relief products can provide that extra relief you have been hoping for. Many people have found complete relief with herbal allergy relief products and have been able to say good-bye to chemically synthesized drugs for good.
Psoriasis Affects More Than Just the Upper Layer of Your Skin
02
Jun
Psoriasis is a disease that affects both skin and joints. It is mainly called a skin disease because it causes swelling and scaling of skin. This disease is known to be chronic recurring. Psoriasis causes thick, red spots or plaques with silvery – white scales. These can be often found on lower back, knees, elbows, soles of feet and on palms and are frequent in fingernails and toenails. Psoriasis is one of the longest known disease or illness of humans. The cause of the disease is not yet well known, but it affects both males and females at same rate. There are different types of psoriasis:
Plaque psoriasis: It appears as raised areas of skin which is inflamed.
Flexural psoriasis: It appears as smooth inflamed plaques on skin.
Guttate psoriasis: Numerous red spots over a large area.
Pustular psoriasis: Appears as raised bumps on pustules which are non-infectious
Nail psoriasis: Appears as discoloring nail plates or thickening of skin under nails.
Psoriatic arthritis: Is a connective tissue inflammation which affects joints.
These are some of the type of psoriasis found commonly. This disease is hard to be diagnosed. Treatment is done based on severity of the disease, size of psoriatic plaques and reaction of the patient on the disease.
Topical treatment of this disease is done with different ointments and creams. Bath solutions, moisturizers and lotions also give better results for the treatment of this disease. One treatment which is more effective on this disease is PUVA. It is combination of Psoralen and UltraVioletA light. Sometimes, combination therapy is used for the treatment of this disease. In combination therapy, two or more drugs are combined to form a new drug which reduces the red spots on the skin.
Some triggers such as stress, injury to skin, infection or scratches that can cause psoriasis. People who suffer from psoriasis develop lesions or red colored plaques on raised skin of dead skin cells. There are some natural remedies for the treatment of this disease such as usage of Aloe vera, primrose oil in cream or lotion form, fish oil and turmeric can also be used to relieve psoriasis.
Many times diagnosis of this disease is done through biopsy of the skin or by scraping. This disease is known to increase the chance of myocardial infarction, congestive heart failure or hyper tension.
Psoriasis sometimes is treated by taking it as excessive growth and reproduction of cells of skin and sometimes as immune – mediated disorder. Psoriasis is a type of idiosyncratic disease which includes bacterial or viral infection, any allergy due to weather or material, some medicines used or lack of Vitamin D, excess drinking of alcohol, and other liquids or the body is infected with cancer, AIDS or any other incurable disease.
An antibiotic, cream, lotion, or a moisturizer is prescribed to you by the dermatologists to prevent further spreading. Other measures such as taking more bath, usage of anti dandruff shampoo or moisturizers are also employed by dermatologists for the treatment of this disease.