Read for Your Health. You May be Suffering from this Sickness

This article is a long one.  I tried summarizing but it just won't do.  The whole thing is too valuable, I decided not to cut anything and just share the whole thing

 

How to Treat Arthritis Joint Pain

Learning the Symptoms and Finding Relief

By Edward C. Geehr, M.D., Lifescript Chief Medical Officer

Published November 11, 2012 

 

 Your knees ache and hips creak. Did you do too much over the weekend? Or is it age? If you're a woman in your 40s, you may have osteoarthritis. But what is osteoarthritis? Learn what causes this painful joint disease and how to ease the aches and stiffness...

You feel great after that six-mile hike, those rousing sets of tennis, that morning jog. But lately, there’s an ache in your step. Some days walking feels more like hobbling.

You may be paying for living a longer, more active life than Mom or Grandma. Hobbies like hiking, tennis and gardening keep us fit and youthful into our senior years, but they also conspire against us.

The result of the wear and tear?

Osteoarthritis, a degenerative joint disease that causes pain and stiffness.

Arthritis has many forms, but osteoarthritis is the most common: More than 27 million Americans suffer from it, and women over age 45 are 10 times more likely to have osteoarthritis than men. Researchers don't know why, but it could be blamed on women's bone structure, or even the high heels women sometimes wear.

Former competitive athletes – from runners to divers to gymnasts – are particularly vulnerable.

Aging, excess weight and having a joint injury also increase risk of getting osteoarthritis symptoms. The disease usually targets weight-bearing joints, such as the hips, knees and lower back, but also the neck, fingers and big toe. 

 

The most common osteoarthritis symptoms include:

• Joint soreness after overuse or inactivity
  
• Morning stiffness that improves with activity
  
• Changes in posture or walking because of stiffness

What Causes the Pain?
Osteoarthritis breaks down cartilage, the primary shock absorber covering the joint ends. The subsequent damage occurs in several stages:

• First, the cartilage cushion loses elasticity and is more easily damaged from injury or use.
  
• As the cartilage wears down, the underlying bone thickens and develops growths or spurs. At this stage, bits of bone and cartilage float in the joint.
  
• The joint lining then becomes inflamed and releases irritants that damage cartilage even more. The normal lubricant also deteriorates, further exposing the joint surfaces to injury.
  
• Eventually, the joint becomes so painful and stiff that replacement may be the only option. The procedures are hugely successful: A study published in the journal Arthritis and Rheumatism showed that 77% of 112 knee replacement patients were satisfied or very satisfied with the results; 80% said they would have the surgery again.

Where You Feel Osteoarthritis Symptoms Most Hips: If you have osteoarthritis of the hips, you may feel pain in the groin, inner thigh or buttocks.

The discomfort may radiate to the thigh or knee and force you to limp when walking.

Knees: Osteoarthritis of the knees usually causes pain, grating or catching at the joint as you move, especially on stairs.

Women tend to wear out their knees differently than men. First, women are more likely to tear one of their key knee ligaments, the anterior cruciate ligament, or ACL. (Female college basketball players, for example, are up to eight times more likely to sustain an ACL injury than their male counterparts.)

The resulting knee instability increases the risk for developing arthritis.

Women also are more likely to wear down the outer knees. Our broader pelvis force the legs to angle inward at the knee instead of straight down.

Researchers have developed gender-specific joint replacements for a more comfortable fit.

High-heel shoes also increase osteoarthritis risk. Shoes with three-inch heels, whether stilettos or platform, put at least 22% more pressure on knee joints than low-heeled shoes because they strain muscles and tendons. 

Hands: It’s common in the fingers too, causing joints to ache and swell. They may develop boney outgrowths and your hand may lose its grip strength or fine motor skills that help you pick up small items or hold a pencil.

Back: Repetitive stress on the spinal discs that cushion the vertebrae can cause them to break down. Again, boney spurs may develop, placing pressure on the nerves exiting the spinal canal.

Osteoarthritis of the back can lead to stiffness and pain in the neck, shoulder, arm, lower back and legs. It can also cause pinched nerves, which leads to weakness in arms and legs.

Treatment for Osteoarthritis and Joint PainSo how do you get rid of the pain?

Step 1: See a physician for tests, such as a blood count, joint X-rays and possibly a joint MRI.

Sometimes the doctor will remove some joint fluid to look for deterioration and to rule out other forms of arthritis, which are treated differently than osteoarthritis.

Early diagnosis and getting treatment for osteoarthritis are key to managing the disease. You can’t reverse the clock, but you can minimize joint damage and maintain range of motion.

You can also control pain and swelling, improve function and slow osteoarthritis' progression. Often treatment for osteoarthritis includes weight management (the less weight, the less stress on the joint), exercise, physical therapy and medication.

Traditional medications include:

• Non-steroidal anti-inflammatories (NSAIDs) such as aspirin, ibuprofen (Advil, Motrin) and naproxen (Aleve)
  
• Pain relievers such as acetaminophen (Tylenol)
  
• Topical pain relievers, such as creams and rubs containing wintergreen oil or camphor
  
• Steroids and viscosupplements, such as Synvisc, that a doctor can inject into the knee to supplement its normal lubricating fluid

 Fitted braces can also relieve some stress and reduce damage over time. Arthroscopic surgery may be necessary to clean up the joint, trim worn or torn cartilage and remove debris.

For advanced osteoarthritis, you may need a total joint replacement. Partial replacements (often called joint resurfacing) repair only the damaged area, allowing you to retain more of the original joint.

Relief, Naturally
Alternative treatments like glucosamine with chondroitin sulfate and methylsulfonylmethane (MSM) can help, often in combination with conventional methods.

Among the most popular:

Glucosamine: This sugar seems to play a role in cartilage formation and repair. One study showed that 50% of osteoarthritis patients had less pain when taking glucosamine supplements, particularly among those with mild to moderate symptoms.

But watch out: Glucosamine may upset your stomach and raise blood sugar levels. Also, don’t take it if you are allergic to shellfish. 

  Chondroitin sulfate: This protein part gives cartilage its elasticity. It may improve its shock-absorbing properties and help it retain water. Like glucosamine, chondroitin can upset your stomach.

Glucosamine and chondroitin: They've been used in combination for years in Europe to manage joint pain.

A study published in the New England Journal of Medicine in 2006 showed that the supplements were more effective together. They had little effect on mild pain, but showed a significant benefit in people with moderate to severe pain.

Methylsulfonylmethane or MSM: This naturally occurring sulfur compound found in fruits, vegetables and grains may also reduce pain and inflammation.

A pilot study of 50 men and women with osteoarthritis showed that MSM reduced pain and improved physical function without major side effects, but no controlled trials substantiate the claim.

Before you add a nutritional supplement to your treatment regimen, check with your doctor.

Exercise for OsteoarthritisDoctors are increasingly recommending physical activity as a means for improving joint health.

As tempting as it may be to rest aching joints, structured mobility programs, combined with muscle-strengthening exercise and weight loss, seem to be the best methods of treatment for osteoarthritis.

Besides weight control, a range of exercises are prescribed by doctors to help manage osteoarthritis. Each pound of weight loss reduces pressure on the knee by four pounds. So even modest amounts of weight loss can reduce the risk of osteoarthritis or improve symptoms.

Exercises that improve flexibility can help decrease joint stiffness and improve range of motion. These include hamstring and calf stretches, knee-to-chest flexing and neck and back stretches.

Activities that strengthen muscles are also important, as long as they don’t put undue stress on affected joints. Ideal exercises include cycling, elliptical trainers, Pilates, yoga, swimming and Tai Chi.

For more information and expert advice, visit our Arthritis Health Center.

My Thoughts

One of the reasons I started walking and dancing. Maybe I should do some yoga, too.  I figured, I needed to do something to take care of my health.  This is a sickness I don't want. 

Exercise and Hypertension

High Blood Pressure? Lose Weight With Exercise

By Malia Frey, About.com Guide

Updated August 27, 2012

About.com Health's Disease and Condition content is reviewed by our Medical Review Board

If you’ve been diagnosed with high blood pressure, your doctor may have recommended that you lose weight with exercise. But starting an exercise program and trying to lose weight while managing hypertension can be confusing. Use this article as a starting point, along with advice from your physician, to come up with a plan that works for you.

Exercise Benefits for People Who Have High Blood Pressure

One of the greatest benefits of starting an exercise program is weight loss. Losing even a small amount of weight can bring your blood pressure numbers into the normal range. But even if weight loss doesn’t happen right away, just participating in a regular program of moderate exercise can have a positive effect on hypertension.

But the benefits don’t end there. Increasing your physical activity level can also help to decrease your risk of heart disease, prevent type 2 diabetes, reduce stress, decrease your body fat and improve your cholesterol levels. These are all improvements that will boost your overall health profile.

How to Lose Weight Safely

If you’ve been diagnosed with hypertension, be sure to discuss any new fitness program with your doctor. Mary Moon, M.D., a practicing family physician, counsels many of her patients to lose weight. She explains that many of them have high blood pressure along with other conditions including obesity or type 2 diabetes. While a weight loss exercise program may improve these conditions, she explains that it is important to seek specific guidelines.

“There is no question that exercise is an essential element that will help normalize blood pressure but individuals need to make sure they are doing the right exercises at the right intensity tailored to their particular exercise level or else it may be dangerous for them.”

She recommends that you start off slowly and gradually increase the time and intensity of your workout as your exercise tolerance improves.

Exercise Guidelines for People Who Have High Blood Pressure

When you discuss a weight loss program with your physician, you can use these guidelines as a starting point for setting up goals. Then, tailor a schedule that works for you.

• The National Heart, Lung and Blood Institute recommends 30 minutes of moderate activity most days of the week for treatment of high blood pressure.


• The American Heart Association recommends 150 minutes per week or 30 minutes each day (most days of the week) to achieve heart health.


• The American College of Sport Medicine recommends at least 250 minutes per week of moderate intensity exercise to achieve significant weight loss.

If you are on blood pressure medication, you should also talk to your physician about the best way to monitor your exercise intensity. To lose weight, you want to make sure that you are working at the correct exercise intensity level, but some methods of measuring your level may not be effective if you are on a prescription pill. Heart rate monitors, for example, might not work if your medication keeps your heart beating at a steady rate.

Getting Started with a Program

Whether your goal is to control your high blood pressure, lower your blood pressure or just to prevent hypertension, a weight loss program that includes exercise will help you reach your goals. Get started by talking to your health care team. Then, come up with a plan that you are willing and able to stick to over the long term. 

_{Sources:
High Blood Pressure. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Accessed: August 21, 2012. http://www.cdc.gov/bloodpressure/about.htm
Mary Moon, M.D., Interview. August 21, 2012.
Prevention and Treatment of High Blood Pressure. Title of Page. American Heart Association. Accessed: August 21, 2012. http://www.heart.org/HEARTORG/Conditions/HighBloodPressure/PreventionTreatmentofHighBloodPressure/Prevention-Treatment-of-High-Blood-Pressure_UCM_002054_Article.jsp
Your Guide to Lowering Blood Pressure. National Heart Lung and Blood Institute. Accessed: August 21, 2012. http://www.nhlbi.nih.gov/hbp/bp/bp.htm
American College of Sports Medicine. ACSM Position Stand on Physical Activity and Weight Loss. Accessed: August 21, 2012. http://www.acsm.org/about-acsm/media-room/acsm-in-the-news/2011/08/01/acsm-position-stand-on-physical-activity-and-weight-loss-now-available}

  

My Thoughts

I've been lucky!  I've never experienced high blood pressure. But this doesn't mean I shouldn't be careful.  Put the extra pounds and the age factor together - that makes anyone a candidate for hypertension.

30 minutes of moderate activity everyday - that's not asking much, is it?   I think I'd rather push myself to walk or to clean the house instead of making that trip to the drugstore for maintenance medicine.

Just be careful - remember I do not have hypertension.  I do not need to consult a doctor.  If you've already been diagnosed with this medical condition, you should be guided accordingly.

 

Protect your Joints

Last year, I saw a doctor who gave me a picture of what I could look like 10, 20 years from now - if I don't take care of my joints.  He scared the hell out of me.  He couldn't understand English and I couldn't understand Japanese.  But the picture he showed me was more than enough to get me thinking and to push me to do some research.

 

There's a wealth of resources on how we can take care of our joints.  I found this article most helpful - Managing Your Condition,12 Ways to Protect Your Joints,By Fran Smith, Special to Lifescript

Reviewed By Edward C. Geehr, M.D.,Published May 10, 2012 

 

The article spelled-out 12 ways of how we can keep our joints healthy.  

 

1.  Lose weight - the knee can't handle the extra load.

2.  Get active - physical activity reduces the stress to our joints

3.  Strengthen your abs - gives stability and movement control

4.  Lear Tai Chi - physical and mental exercises, combined, reduces risks t o our joints

5.  Run, but do it moderately

6.  Eat fish, fish, fish

7.  Stand straight, sit straight, walk straight

8.  Avoid high heels

9.  Lighten your handbag

10.  Exercise throughout the week, not just on weekends

11.  Eat healthy - process foods are harmful to the joints

12. When it's painful: stop and rest

 

There's  a lot more to it and you can go on and read the whole article.  But what struck me most was that - there's really nothing new in this list.  The tips are very simple, very easy to understand.  So, why are we not following them?

What To Do With Tummy Aches

 What to Do When Your Tummy Hurts

By Suzy Cohen, R.Ph., Lifescript Pharmacist

Published April 1, 2012 

 

Heartburn? Constipation? When your digestive system is out of whack, you don’t have to suffer. Here are simple tips for squelching 4 common digestive disorders...

Bad food can cause a digestive upset. So can chronic conditions such as celiac disease, irritable bowel syndrome (IBS), Crohn’s disease and ulcerative colitis (UC).

But no matter what the cause, you can ease an assault on your gastric system.

Here are 4 common digestive problems and ways to tackle them:

1. Constipation Do you have fewer than three bowel movements a week?

You’re officially constipated and you have plenty of company: More than 4 million Americans - mostly women and the elderly - are frequently constipated, according to the National Institutes of Health, and that can lead to bigger problems.

Constant straining can cause painful hemorrhoids and, over time, it raises the risk of developing tiny pouches in your colon that can become infected.

Constipation can also be a sign of colon or colorectal cancer, but your age, weight, exercise habits, diet, ethnic background and genetics all play a part in determining your risk.

 

 Medications and supplements that may make constipation worse:

• Allergy pills (antihistamines)
• Painkillers that contain hydrocodone, oxycodone, morphine and fentanyl
• Tricyclic antidepressants
• Parkinson’s medications
• Cholesterol-reducing drugs (statins)
• Iron and calcium supplements

How to fix itTo get things moving down there, first try small lifestyle changes.

Eat more high-fiber foods, such as oatmeal, apples or prunes. Drink eight 8-ounce glasses of water and get at least a half-hour of exercise every day.

Another option?

Take probiotic supplements: The live bacteria will reestablish a healthy ecosystem in your gut.

If you’re still straining or not going at all, try an over-the-counter laxative. The following two remedies may help. 

 

Stool softeners (bisacodyl; brand name Dulcolax® ): Within hours, this popular over-the-counter drug softens waste and stimulates your colon’s muscles to contract and squeeze out its contents.

The tablets must be swallowed whole — don’t crush or chew them because they’re specially coated to minimize gastric irritation and allow the drug’s active ingredient to be released only in the colon. If swallowing pills is troublesome, buy the liquid version or suppositories.

How to use it: Take bisacodyl with an 8-ounce glass of water.

Watch out: Some people feel faint or crampy after using bisacodyl tablets or suppositories. This is more likely if you take antacids, acid blockers or eat dairy products within one hour of taking it; they reduce stomach acidity and prematurely destroy the medication’s coating, causing the side effects.

Aloe vera (brand name Lily of the Desert): Most people use aloe vera gel to heal burns, but you can also buy the juice. Drink 2-4 ounces a day.

Expect more normal bowel movements within a couple of days. It prevents your intestines from absorbing liquid, so feces stay soft and exit easier.

How to use it: Aloe vera juice is virtually tasteless, so drink it plain or add it to tea, smoothies, juice or cereal. It’s also loaded with vitamins and minerals.  

Watch out: Drinking too much can cause diarrhea or cramps.

If these don’t work, ask your doctor for a prescription-strength laxative.

2. Painful cramps and chronic diarrheaThese symptoms point to many digestive disorders, including irritable bowel syndrome (IBS), ulcerative colitis, (an inflammatory condition that produces sores in the lining of the colon) and Crohn’s disease, an inflammatory bowel disease similar to UC.

Chronic diarrhea is dehydrating and robs the body of essential nutrients like B-vitamins and minerals, leaving you weak, tired and without appetite.

Medications and supplements that make cramps and diarrhea worse:

• Antibiotics
• Anti-viral drugs
• Anti-parasitic drugs
• Potassium
• Cough syrups, especially those containing guaifenesin (an expectorant)
• Magnesium
• Thyroid medication
• Antacids containing aluminum
• Acid blockers

 How to fix itProbiotics (Culturelle or florastor): These probiotic supplements can drive out bad bacteria and fungus, such as Candida albicans, a common cause for diarrhea, cramps and other illnesses like IBS. You can take one or both together.

In fact, whether you have diarrhea or not, take a probiotic daily to boost your overall digestive health.

How to use it: Take probiotics whenever you take antibiotics (and for three days afterward) to reduce the risk of a vaginal yeast infection. You can buy them at health food stores.

Watch out: Eating yogurt or kefir — a fermented milk drink available in some health food stores — isn’t a good idea for people with digestive disorders. For one thing, probiotics die in sweetened yogurt. But most important: A protein in dairy foods called casein can exacerbate existing digestive woes.

Ginger: The gnarly-looking roots at your farmer’s market or grocery store are Mother Nature’s best defense against digestive pain, cramps (including menstrual cramps), nausea and inflammation.

How to use it: Grate an inch of the root into pulp and add it to hot water. After 10 minutes, strain and sweeten the tea, if you like. Drink a cup twice daily. Add ginger to smoothies, soups, marinades and sauces.

Watch out: The maximum recommended dose is 4 grams daily. Ginger is a blood-thinner, so if you take aspirin or anticoagulants, talk to your doctor before using it.

Peppermint oil: The herb and essential oil calm the GI tract and may have antibiotic effects. It helps with IBS, indigestion, bloating and gas. It calms stomach muscles, so food passes to the bowel and helps you pass gas. It also improves bile flow, essential to digestion and fat absorption.

How to use it: Try peppermint tea, supplements, add fresh leaves to your salad and smoothies or just eat them raw.

Watch out: Peppermint supplements may exacerbate conditions like reflux (the backup of liquids from your stomach into your esophagus) and heartburn, the burning caused from reflux. Buy supplements with an enteric coating, which prevents them from dissolving until they reach the small intestine.

3. Hemorrhoids
Chronic constipation, IBS and other digestive disorders can lead to problems outside the gut, including hemorrhoids (swollen, painful veins in and around the anus).

Medications and supplements that may make hemorrhoids worse:

• Allergy pills (antihistamines)
• Painkillers that contain hydrocodone, oxycodone, morphine and fentanyl
• Tricyclic antidepressants
• Parkinson’s medication
• Cholesterol-reducing drugs (statins)
• Iron or calcium supplements

Conventional medicine’s answer is often surgery, but first try these non-invasive steps.

How to fix it
Ice packs: Put them on your anus for 15 or 20 minutes - no longer - to relieve inflammation. 

Stool softeners (Docusate sodium; brand name Colace): This stool softener is essential for people with a heart condition or “vagus nerve” disorder because straining can be dangerous for them. Stool softeners make it easier for you to pass bowel movements, so there’s less pressure on touchy nerve endings and sensitive hemorrhoids.

How to use it: Drink lots of water! It makes the drug work better and prevents dehydration, which causes constipation and more hemorrhoids.

Watch out: Side effects include stomach pain, mild cramping and diarrhea.

Silica: Found in seafood, seaweed and horsetail (whose leaves look like a horse’s tail), this crystalline mineral strengthens the delicate blood vessels around the anus.

How to use it: Squirt silica solution on a cotton pad and press it to your rectum to soothe the burn or take horsetail supplements.

Watch out: When you buy horsetail, make sure the ingredient label says Equisetum arvense and organic to ensure that it’s pesticide-free.

If you take too much silica or use an inferior brand, you may get mild digestive upset. The herb also has mild diuretic effects, so long-term use could deplete your body of potassium and other important minerals.

4. Heartburn
Mild, occasional heartburn is the result of reflux, the backup of acidic liquids from your stomach into your esophagus.

If heartburn and reflux accompany other chronic digestive disorders, you may be allergic to gluten, a protein in wheat, or the milk protein casein. See a GI specialist before taking any drugs or supplements.

Medications and supplements that may make heartburn worse:

• Bone-building drugs (brand names: Fosamax, Boniva, Actonel)
• Blood pressure medications
• Nitrates (like nitroglycerin) for the heart
• Breathing medications (theophylline)
• Asthma inhalers (albuterol)
• Some antidepressants and psychiatric medications
• Some sleeping pills

How to fix it
Antacids (Maalox and Tums): These work within minutes to relieve the burning sensation in your chest and throat.

But those symptoms could also mean something more serious, such as a heart attack. If the pain does not subside quickly after taking an antacid, call 911.

How to use it: Take them orally, in chewable, liquid or tablet form, according to package directions.

Watch out: People with kidney conditions should use antacids only under a doctor’s care. Long-term use can rob your body of B-vitamins and minerals.

DGL (deglycyrrhizinated licorice): Found in health-food stores, this natural supplement comes from licorice, but eating the candy won’t help. DGL’s active component is glycyrrhizinic acid, an anti-inflammatory that helps create digestive mucous and relieves ulcers, indigestion, heartburn, gastritis and upset stomach. 

How to use it: Chew a tablet before meals. DGL can help bring up mucus and other material if you have a cough or cold.

Watch out: Get the version marked deglycyrrhizinated. Plain licorice root extract can raise your blood pressure; DGL may lower it or thin the blood.

For more information on tummy troubles, visit our Digestive Health Center.

What’s Your Indigestion IQ?Are you familiar with the lingering discomforts associated with gastrointestinal issues? The good news is that you can take steps to prevent the unnecessary side effects brought on by certain behaviors. Do you know how? Take this indigestion quiz to find out.

Check out Health Bistro for more healthy food for thought. See what Lifescript editors are talking about and get the skinny on latest news. Share it with your friends (it’s free to sign up!), and bookmark it so you don’t miss a single juicy post!

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The information contained on www.lifescript.com (the "Site") is provided for informational purposes only and is not meant to substitute for advice from your doctor or health-care professional. This information should not be used for diagnosing or treating a health problem or disease, or prescribing any medication. Always seek the advice of a qualified health-care professional regarding any medical condition. Information and statements provided by the site about dietary supplements have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration and are not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease. Lifescript does not recommend or endorse any specific tests, physicians, third-party products, procedures, opinions, or other information mentioned on the Site. Reliance on any information provided by Lifescript is solely at your own risk.

 

My thoughts

 

Don't you just hate it when your tummy aches?  I do!  Lucky for me, I rarely experience stomach pains.  

 

I like the tips in these articles, especially the natural remedies recommended.  There's really no need to run to a regular drugstore immediately.

Why Wait for the Doctor?

Do You Need a Wake-Up Call?

Daily Inspiration

John H. Sklare, Ed.D

Published December 19, 2006

 

So you’ve been thinking about starting an exercise routine to feel better and lose weight.  You’ve been thinking about walking every evening, eating healthier and making real changes in the present to lay the groundwork for a healthier future.  The problem is that you haven’t yet moved beyond the thinking stage.  Well, perhaps I can help you do that today because, when it comes to your health, you don’t want the proverbial wake-up call.

 

The kind of wake-up call that I’m talking about is typically delivered by your doctor.  He or she will look you in the eye, get that very serious look on their face and tell you that it’s time to get serious about your health.  They then tell you that you have to lose weight because you have or are on the verge of developing diabetes, hypertension, high cholesterol or some other obesity-related illness.  This is a wake-up call I’d prefer you avoid.  However, even a poor health report from your doctor isn’t enough motivation for some to change, but for the wise, they take action.  So, in an attempt to help you avoid that wake-up call from your doctor, allow me to perform a wellness intervention.  If this scenario strikes too close to home for you, why not use me as your wake-up call and avoid that more serious one from your doctor later!

 

Wishing You Great Health,

Dr. John H. Sklare

 

My Thoughts

 

I know a lot of people who don't want to see doctors.  They keep putting things off until it's too late to do something.  Putting off can be caused by a lot of things:  the expense, lack of time or simply fear of knowing we're in a state of sickness and not in a state of health.

 

The fear of seeing the doctor is magnified when we know we have not been taking care of ourselves: no exercise, lack of sleep, unhealthy food intake, stressful way of life.

 

If we're honest with ourselves, we don't really need our doctors to wake us up.  Who wants to be sick?  I would rather die peacefully in my sleep than in a hospital bed, thin and wasted after a series of radiations.

 

Dr. Sklare is right.  Absolutely. This article should be a wake-up call.  We have the choice between sickness and health.  Better start working on the latter.  Now.  Not soon.

 

Pick your PERSPIRATION DATE to extend your EXPIRATION DATE

Extend Your Expiration Date

Daily Inspiration

By John H. Sklare, Ed.D, Lifescript Personal Coach

Published November 04, 2011

 

We’re all familiar with a certain phrase that appears on perishable items: the expiration date. As you know, that date tells you the item’s expected shelf life. If the item is not purchased by the expiration date, it’s considered no longer safe for consumption and is removed from the shelf. One way that we humans are different from products lies in our ability to extend our expiration dates. With that said, I’d like to offer you a suggestion today about extending your expiration date.

If you’re looking for a way to enhance your health and extend your expiration date, I suggest you begin by picking a perspiration date. In other words, one of the critical keys to enriching your life, enhancing your wellness and extending your time on this planet lies in incorporating exercise into your life. If you’re like most people, you have given a mountain of lip service to starting an exercise program but just never seem to be able to put that thought into action. Pick a perspiration date, and then commit yourself to begin working out on that day. Check with your doctor first if you have serious health problems. I promise you that exercise will bestow physical, mental and emotional benefits that will make you feel reborn, reenergized and full of pride. This is one powerful way to give your old life a makeover, provide your mind and body a healthy wellness inoculation and extend your expiration date at the same time. So let me see a show of hands! Who wants to live a longer and healthier life?

Wishing You Great Health,
Dr. John H. Sklare

www.innerdiet.com  

 

my thoughts

 

i like this!  really! and i really have to squeeze in a perspiration date.  obviously for health reasons.  illness is a no-no.  i don't like hospital bills.  well, i don't like hospitals.  period.  never been confined.  but that's going to change if i don't pick my perspiration date. that's got to be SOON.

366 Million Diabetics: A Sickness and Health Warning

Lifescript.com published an article recently that reported a staggering figure of 366 million diabetics worldwide.  The figure is not only staggering .  It is also disturbing. 


Diabetes is known to cause the death of a person every 7 seconds.  That's scary.  But what is scarier is that majority of those who have the disease have Type 2 diabetes.

Type 2 diabetes is not hereditary.  It's caused by unhealthy lifestyle: poor diet, no exercise, excessive weight, smoking and drinking. These are lifestyles that are very much within our control.  And, yet they continue to lead to a deadly disease.

4.6 million diabetic deaths every year - and we will add up to that statistic if we don't change the way we live.

In Sickness and in Health: PROTECT YOUR JOINTS

In Sickness and in Health:  PROTECT YOUR JOINTS


Ever heard of osteoarthritis? Dictionary.com defines it as "the most common form of arthritis,  usually occurring after middle age, marked by chronic breakdown of cartilage in the joints leading to pain, stiffness, and swelling."  It's a degenerative joint disease that can cause immobility and extreme pain.  It's a health problem. It's a sickness that can be prevented.

Don't you get scared when you see people who look like this?

I do.  I get really scared.  And that's why I read articles about it.  About health.  About sickness.  And how they can be prevented.

Lifescript.com published "12 ways to Protect your joints" and here's a summary of their suggestions:

1. "Lighten your load" - extra weight causes extra stress to our joints and we become more prone to fractures and injury.  A lot of sickness can be avoided when healthy weight is maintained.  Shedding off those extra pounds can do wonders for our health.

2.  "Get Moving" - a sedentary lifestyle increases the risk of osteoarthritis. We need to be physically active to have stronger muscles and to lubricate our joints. Do some housework.  Park a little further away. Go around the block.  Take those stairs.  Dance if you must. (Or you can).  Anything that will get us moving-away from sickness and toward robust health.

3. "Strengthen your Core" - great abs is not only sexy.  It has a lot of health benefits.  Firm abs is equivalent to a firm core. It gives us stability and better control which mean less pressure on our joints.  A firm core is one sure way of staying in good health.

4. Try Tai Chi - This is a form of Chinese Martial arts that requires slow circular and streching movements. The slow, repetitive movements make us more flexible and strong which, in turn, causes less stress on our joints.  Search youtube for some simple tai chi moves if you're not up to spending for a CD.  On the other hand, wouldn't you rather invest on your health rather than spend on medicine and hospital bills because of sickness.

5.  Run Smart - our joints will certainly get more pounding if we prefer running to walking.  But it can be done without getting yourself injured.  Check out this link for some safe running tips.

6.  Load up on fish - Lifescript suggests "at least two servings a week – 3.5 ounces cooked or 3/4 cup canned."  3.5 ounces is almost 100 grams.  That's not much considering the health benefits.  The Omega-3 fatty acids in fish helps in cartilage formation and reduces the risk of joint inflammation.  I'm lucky I love fish.

7.  Do not slouch - this is my biggest problem.  I'm a sloucher.  A big one.  The chiropractor who treated me confirmed this.  As I have slouched all my life, my neck bones and spinal chord are now misaligned.  This causes my perennial headeaches, back pain, hip and knee pains.  So, if you want to stay away from sickness and be healthy, be conscious of your posture.  Slouching "strains our ligaments" while erect posture allows for "even distibution of our weight".  Needless to say,  when you stand and sit erect, there will be less pressure on the joints.

8.  Minimize the use of stilletos - occasional high heels won't do much harm.  But frequent use of shoes with very high heels puts a lot of pressure on knees and hips. In my younger days, I was a stilleto person.  My health was put to risk and I have long ago switched to the comfortable flats.  You don't need to hurt yourself to be stylish.

9.  Go easy on the handbags - those heavy loads are hazardous to your health-to your "joints and wrists.  I know that for a fact.  Raid your handbags and carry only the essentials.  If you must bring a heavy load, go for the backpack.

10. "Don't be a weekend warrior" - What's a weekend warrior?  Someone who does no exercise on weekdays and tries to compensate on weekends.  According to Lifescript, this is damaging to our health and suggests 30-minute exercises on non-weekends.

11. Avoid Processed Foods - Lifescript calls the fats in processed foods destructive.  Do I need to say more?  For obvious health reasons, the best way is to go natural.

12.  Stop when you Have Joint Pain - Pain and swelling is a sign of too much stress.  If you want to have healthy joints, give it some rest.

These are all very sensible reminders.  If you're reading this, you'reprobably at that age where you're starting to feel the pressure on your joints.  I hope we can influence the younger generation to take heed.  Health is not like school exams and reports where we can cram and still, by sheer luck, pass.  Avoiding sickness requires folowing the law of the harvest.  You cannot harvest what you have not planted. 

via Lifescript -

Sore, Stiff and Swollen? It Could Be Rheumatoid Arthritis

Sore, Stiff and Swollen? It Could Be Rheumatoid Arthritis
By Rita Baron-Faust, Special to Lifescript

Provided by the Society for Women’s Health Research
Published April 11, 2011

When you hear “arthritis,” you might think of wear-and-tear joint pain that worsens only as you age. But rheumatoid arthritis (RA) can strike in your 30s and leave arms and legs disfigured. Read on for risk factors, symptoms and treatment of this chronic inflammatory disorder…

More than 2 million Americans – about 70% of them women – are affected by rheumatoid arthritis (RA), a chronic inflammation of the lining of the joints (synovium).

Although it can occur at any age, women typically notice symptoms between the ages of 30 and 50. RA is the most common rheumatic autoimmune disease. It can lead to permanent joint damage and can cause chronic pain, loss of function and disability. RA can also be a systemic disease, affecting other parts of the body.

Risk Factors

RA appears to be caused by a combination of genetic vulnerability, environmental triggers and hormonal influences. People with the genetic marker (a portion of DNA used to identify an individual disease or trait) known as HLA-DR4 appear to have an increased risk of developing RA and of having more severe disease.

Some of the suspected environmental triggers include Epstein-Barr virus and bacteria, including streptococci (which causes strep throat and rheumatic fever), salmonella (which causes food poisoning), Escherichia coli (E. coli, which causes urinary tract infections), Heliobacter pylori (which causes stomach ulcers) and Borrelia burgdorferi (which causes Lyme disease). Cigarette smoking is also linked to RA.

Why Your Sex Matters
While women are two to three times more likely to get RA than men, men tend to be affected more severely.

Studies show that women who have never had a child are twice as likely to develop RA as women who have. The disease often improves during pregnancy (when estrogen levels are high) but worsens after delivery (when estrogen levels drop).

The peak age for RA appears to be after 40, when estrogen levels are fluctuating or declining. Recent research suggests that if RA is diagnosed after menopause, it may progress at a faster rate. This has spurred research into the role that estrogen may play in RA; some scientists are studying whether oral contraceptives might be protective.

Women with RA may have reduced fertility, which can predate their diagnosis. Some drug treatments used for RA can also affect fertility. Menopausal symptoms in women with RA can be treated with low-dose estrogen, but hormone therapy needs to be individualized (as it does for any menopausal woman).

The risk of premature atherosclerosis (thickening of artery walls by cholesterol-laden plaques) and coronary artery disease is greater among women with RA. Some research indicates that women under 50 with RA have three times the risk of death from heart attack and congestive heart failure as healthy women of the same age.

Corticosteroids such as prednisone, one of the mainstays of RA therapy, can also increase cholesterol and the risk of diabetes, infections and osteoporosis. Women taking corticosteroids may need bone-building drugs or cholesterol-lowering medications. In addition, RA has been linked to low bone density independent of corticosteroid therapy.

Symptoms
The first symptoms of RA may include swelling, stiffness (often worse in the morning) and general aching of the joints. RA affects joints on both sides of the body, in contrast to osteoarthritis, a disease of wear and tear that may strike joints in one area.

The joints affected by RA also may be warm or red. Other common symptoms are fatigue, weakness, muscle pain and depression.

In 50% of women, symptoms come on gradually and can wax and wane. As the disease progresses, inflamed cells in the joint release enzymes that can digest bone and cartilage, often causing the joint to lose its shape and alignment and increasing pain and loss of movement.

Early diagnosis and treatment are important in minimizing joint destruction, so it is essential to see a doctor if telltale symptoms persist for a number of weeks.

Around 20% of women with RA may develop raised, firm lumps just under the skin, known as rheumatoid nodules. These nodules often occur in areas where there is repeated pressure on the skin, such as the elbows. Because RA can be systemic, these nodules may arise in the eyes, heart or lungs.

Up to half of women with RA may develop inflammation in the lining of the lungs (pleurisy), making it painful to take a deep breath. Inflammation may also develop around the sac enclosing the heart (pericarditis); symptoms include chest pain, dry cough and fever. Even blood vessels may become inflamed in RA; a sign of this vasculitis can be tiny broken blood vessels in the nail bed.

Diagnosis

Doctors may need to perform several tests to diagnose RA properly. The work-up will most likely include a complete medical history, physical exam, lab tests and X-rays. During the physical exam, your doctor will look for evidence of joint swelling, tenderness, redness, misalignment or loss of motion.

Expect to describe your pain, including the times of day it is most and least severe. Blood tests include a test for an antibody called rheumatoid factor (RF); approximately 70% to 80% of people with RA have positive tests for rheumatoid factor (but it may not be detected early on in RA). It is important to note that RF can be present in other conditions (including lupus and even infections), so testing positive is only one factor in making a diagnosis.

Other blood tests look for evidence of inflammation, including an erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR or SED rate), which measures the speed at which red blood cells fall to the bottom of a test tube, and C-reactive protein (CRP), which is elevated with systemic inflammation. A complete blood count may reveal anemia, a low red blood cell count, which often occurs in RA. X-rays are used to determine the degree of joint erosion, cartilage loss and joint distortion.

Treatment
Your doctor will prescribe treatments to attack RA on several fronts: to relieve pain and reduce inflammation and to stop or slow joint damage. The choice of medications takes into account how severe your symptoms are and how far the disease has progressed.

Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) are commonly used to combat pain. These include aspirin and its chemical cousins, ibuprofen and naproxen, diclofenac, and indomethacin, and newer NSAIDs, called COX-2 inhibitors.

However, COX-2 drugs carry an increased risk of heart attack and stroke and should not be used if you have or are at increased risk for cardiovascular disease. Recent studies show that all NSAIDs also carry slight cardiovascular risks and should not be used at high doses for prolonged periods.

Corticosteroids such as prednisone are used to combat inflammation and modulate immune overreactivity. Disease-modifying antirheumatic drugs (DMARDs), including methotrexate and leflunomide, may be used to slow joint destruction. The newest DMARDs are “biologic” agents that inhibit the cytokines that promote inflammation and joint destruction. These include the TNFα (tumor necrosis factor) blockers.

Joint replacement surgery is often needed for RA patients with severely damaged joints. Just about any joint in the body can now be replaced, and the surgery dramatically improves function and pain.

Exercise and stress reduction are important for RA patients. Patients and their health care providers are turning increasingly to alternative and complementary therapies such as massage and acupuncture.

Future Approaches to RA Treatment
Researchers are looking at agents that block the processes by which arthritis begins. One strategy being tested is the use of cancer drugs, such as rituximab, to selectively destroy B cells that contribute to the disease process of RA. Another biological drug being tested for RA, alefacept, targets specific T cells.

Stem cell transplantation is another novel therapy under study. Stem cells are primitive cells in the bone marrow that can multiply into specific blood cells.

In this experimental treatment, a patient’s immune system is destroyed with high doses of chemotherapy drugs and then reconstituted with stem cells from the person’s own red blood cells (autologous stem cells).

Studies are also being done on new markers that could be used to diagnose RA earlier, before joint destruction has begun (or perhaps in women at high risk before the disease process is fully under way).

One such experimental test looks for autoantibodies, called cyclic citrullinated peptides (CCPs); one study found that 93% of those who tested positive for CCPs went on to develop RA after three years, but only 25% of those who tested negative developed the condition.

Excerpted from The Savvy Woman Patient: How and Why Sex Differences Affect Your Health (Capital Books) by the Society for Women’s Health Research.   

MY THOUGHTS

This is scarier than I thought.

DO YOU HAVE ASTHMA?

Question: How Do I Know If I Have Asthma?
Answer:

While the typical person is diagnosed with asthma in early childhood, you can develop asthma at any age. Anyone with one or a combination of the following symptoms could have asthma:

    Cough - often with symptoms worsening at night
    Wheezing
    Chest tightness
    Decreased ability to perform normal activities
    Frequent nighttime awakenings or symptoms

If you have any of these symptoms, you may want to discuss asthma with your healthcare provider. Asthma can sometimes be difficult to diagnose as the symptoms mentioned above can occur in diseases other than asthma.

MY THOUGHTS

So, do you think you should make a trip to your doctor's office?

CAN JUNK FOOD CAUSE CANCER?

Can Junk Food Cause Cancer?

The new documentary Forks Over Knives claims that a diet of processed foods and junk food is to blame for most major diseases

Jill Provost ON May 4, 2011 at 11:19AM

Just when you think you’re living a healthy lifestyle, a documentary like Forks Over Knives comes along to shatter all of your healthier-than-thou notions. Forget patting yourself on the back for adding more fish, olive oil and low-fat dairy to your diet. If you really want to prevent heart disease, cancer, diabetes and just about every other major disease in the developed world, you should be forsaking meat, dairy, sugar and refined or processed foods, say the doctors and researchers in this documentary, which opens in theaters Friday, May 6.

This isn’t just a matter of opinion, say the filmmakers Lee Fulkerson and Brian Wendel. Like an elaborate (vegan) feast, Forks Over Knives lays out all of the scientific evidence that they say proves our diet is killing us. Among them: A study where researchers could turn cancer on and off by adding or removing animal protein from the subjects’ diets. It’s not your genes, it’s not the BPA in your plastics and it’s not the pesticides in your produce, they say. It’s our love affair with meat, sugar and dairy.

The stats that film assails us with are frightening: Two-thirds of Americans are overweight or obese. Fifty percent of us are on at least one prescription medication. The U.S. spends $2.2 trillion on healthcare -- five times as much as we do on defense. One out of three of us will get diabetes –- the same number will die of heart disease. Men in this country have a 47 percent chance of getting cancer; women have a 38 percent chance.

Forks Over Knives profiles, among others, two renowned experts -- Caldwell Esselstyn, M.D., director of the Cardiovascular Disease Prevention and Reversal Program at the Cleveland Clinic Wellness Institute, and T. Colin Campbell, Ph.D., a pioneering nutrition researcher and author of The China Study. A former cardiovascular surgeon, Esselstyn now focuses on reversing heart disease in his patients through a plant-based, whole foods diet. In the documentary, he claims that heart disease is a toothless paper tiger -- it doesn’t even have to exist. Patients have come to him when, after bypasses failed, they were told they wouldn’t live through the year. By limiting them to whole grains, fruit, vegetables and legumes, Esselstyn not only kept many alive for decades, but halted their heart disease as well.

If this diet sounds too extreme for you, consider Dr. Esselstyn’s retort. “With the Western diet, there are going to be half a million people in this country this year who will have to have the front half of their body divided, their heart exposed. Some people would call that extreme,” he says.

According to Esselstyn, autopsies on 18-34-year-old Americans who died in accidents revealed that everyone over 20 has heart disease -- not enough to trigger a heart attack, but the arteries are already damaged. Compare that to rural China, where residents eat mainly plants. There, heart disease is non-existent.

“We know there are certain foods that every time they pass our lips, they will injure our blood vessels,” says Esselstyn. By eliminating those foods, the body has a remarkable capacity to repair itself and stop, or even reverse, heart disease,” he says. “Everybody who’s been eating the western diet has this disease. So one really is left with the personal decision of, ‘Do I continue to eat foods that will grow my disease, or should I stop the disease now in its tracks?’ Nutrition trumps everything. There is nothing more powerful to our health than food.”

Since watching Forks Over Knives last week, I have been struggling hard with this personal choice. I don’t want to give up meat, fish and oils -- I love sushi and cheese and the occasional slab of steak -- but I do know that I can cut back. Yesterday, I bypassed the meat section of the supermarket and filled my cart with tofu, seitan and quinoa instead. I’ve been eating homemade “oatmeal” each morning, made with wild rice, barley, steel-cut oats and dried fruit. I’ve been snacking on homemade kale and apple chips all week. I enjoy these foods, feel good about my choices and don’t feel deprived. But then again, I haven’t given up meat, and I don’t see myself going vegan any time soon, unless my health demands it. I realize that continuing to eat these foods is a bit like playing Russian roulette. But I like to think that adding as many fruits, vegetables and whole grains to my diet as I can is also a bit like donning an (admittedly untested) bullet-resistant vest.

Read More http://www.ivillage.com/can-junk-food-cause-cancer/4-a-346282#ixzz1LXltrV7t
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MY THOUGHTS

I can live without meat.  I cannot live without bread.  Was there any mention of bread?

AVOIDING ALLERGENS

AVOIDING ALLERGENS

from the article "How to Avoid an Allergy Attack"

Don’t Let the High Pollen Count Bring On Seasonal Symptoms
By Leigh Leveen, Special to Lifescript
Published March 18, 2011

Avoiding Allergens

Here are 10 more things you can do to minimize your pollen exposure and reduce symptoms, according to allergist Tubiolo and UCLA’s Rachelefsky.

1. Don’t track in allergens. They can attach to your shoes. Cut down on indoor particles by parking shoes outside your door.

2. Change often. After spending time outdoors, change your clothes and put the dirty ones in the hamper.

3. Don’t wait till morning to shower. Showering when you get home erases any allergens you brought with you. This also helps keeps pollen out of your bedroom – a prime spot for allergens of all kinds.

4. Clear the air. To remove even tiny particles from the air, use air purifiers with HEPA (high-efficiency particulate air) filters. Keep them running continuously, and change filters according to manufacturer’s instructions.

You should also use high-quality filters in your vacuum cleaner, air conditioner and furnace to keep the air in your home as allergy free as possible.

5. Shut your doors and windows. A HEPA purifier can’t keep up if you’re constantly letting in allergen-filled outdoor air. If you need fresh air, open windows in the evening when pollen counts are lower.

6. Wait to go outside. Schedule outdoor time when the pollen count is lower – cool afternoons and evenings are your best bet. Be careful on hot, windy days and after a rain, when the air may be full of allergens.

And find someone else to mow your lawn or rake leaves, both of which can stir up pollen.

7. Keep track of pollen levels. The AAAAI’s National Allergy Bureau reports on pollen and mold levels around the country. Check it (or sign up for email alerts) to learn about high-allergen days when it’s better to stay indoors.

8. Change your workout schedule. Don’t avoid exercise just because you fear an allergy attack, Tubiolo advises.

But be smart about it: Schedule hikes and other outside exercise late in the day, and check the pollen count first. During peak season, take allergy medication before any outdoor activity, Tubiolo says.

Or find activities you can do indoors, such as swimming, basketball, weightlifting or yoga.

9. Protect your lungs. Pollution, fireplace smoke, dust and tobacco smoke have an adverse effect on your respiratory tract. These irritants will likely increase your susceptibility to seasonal allergies, Rachelefsky says, so avoid them as much as possible.

10. Travel wisely. Don’t let allergies sideline your vacation.

Use a pollen tracker to find destinations with the lowest counts. For example, heading to the beach or taking an ocean cruise probably won’t result in allergy attacks.

If you take a road trip, keep the windows and vents closed and the air conditioning on so that you breathe clean, dry air. (Worried about fuel consumption? Air conditioning gobbles gas, but so does driving with the windows down. And at highway speeds, there isn’t much difference, according to the Stanford University School of Earth Sciences.)

Take Your Medicine

It’s virtually impossible to avoid all allergens – which means you need medications in your allergy arsenal, Rachelefsky says.

“The best, first line of defense for an allergy attack is over-the-counter antihistamines, or an antihistamine/decongestant combination,” he says.

Antihistamines work by blocking your immune-system’s itchy and sneezy reactions, while decongestants reduce swollen tissue in the nose and elsewhere.

“Non-sedating antihistamines, such as Claritin (loratadine) and Zyrtec (cetirizine), offer relief from three of the four major symptoms of allergic rhinitis: sneezing, itching, watery eyes and runny nose,” Rachelefsky says.

Some sufferers also swear by natural remedies, such as saline nasal rinses that wash away allergens. (For more information, read How to Survive Your Allergies.)

After an allergy specialist determines exactly what your triggers are, you get a series of injections with a vaccine containing extracts of those allergens.

Eighty to 90% of patients experience dramatic improvements in their symptoms, Ellis says.
To learn more about seasonal allergies, visit our new Respiratory Health Center.

MY THOUGHTS

that's quite a list. but if i have pollen allergy, i will follow all 10.  plus the meds.  as i said, it can cause a huge amount discomfort. it's good to know there are ways to overcome this medical problem.

BASIC FACTS ABOUT ALLERGIES

BASIC FACTS ABOUT YOUR ALLERGY ATTACKS

from the article "How to Avoid an Allergy Attack"

Don’t Let the High Pollen Count Bring On Seasonal Symptoms
By Leigh Leveen, Special to Lifescript
Published March 18, 2011

The weather’s warming, blooms are bursting – and you couldn’t be more miserable. Find out how to stop sniffling and sneezing this allergy season…

It starts with a runny nose, watery eyes and a tickle in the back of your throat. At its worst, you may feel as if you’ll never stop sneezing.

If this happens every year, you have seasonal allergic rhinitis – otherwise known as hay fever.

It strikes when plants release pollen, usually in spring. When you breathe it in, your immune system thinks it’s being attacked, so it releases chemicals called histamines to fight the invaders. Instead, you wind up sneezy, watery and itchy.

More than 50 million Americans have some type of allergy, according to the American Academy of Allergy, Asthma and Immunology (AAAAI). If you’re one of them, here’s how to stay healthy when pollen count is high:

Allergy Attack Risk Factors

The severity of allergy symptoms depends on season, weather and even your menstrual cycle. Being aware of these factors can help avoid attacks, experts say. Consider:

Time of year: Generally, pollen season lasts from February or March through October. The farther south you live, the earlier pollen – and allergy – season hits, according to the AAAAI.

In warmer places, it can be year-round.

Ragweed, the plant that causes the strongest seasonal symptoms, is most active at the end of summer – so that’s the worst time for nature hikes.

The weather: Shifts in climate can trigger allergies, says Gary Rachelefsky, M.D., professor of allergy and immunology at the Geffen School of Medicine at the University of California – Los Angeles (UCLA).

“Changes in barometric pressure – a drop in humidity and hot air – can worsen symptoms,” he says. “Even moving in and out of air-conditioned rooms can aggravate someone who is sensitive.”

Windy days can be the worst, says Vincent Tubiolo, M.D., an allergy specialist in Santa Barbara, Calif. Breezes carry pollen through the air that you breathe.

Rain washes away some pollen, and may improve things temporarily, he adds. But don’t be complacent; shortly after a rain shower, pollen count rises even higher than before.

Your time of the month: Believe it or not, allergy symptoms can be linked to your monthly cycle.

“Rising and falling hormone levels can affect allergies,” Rachelefsky says.

Over-the-counter allergy medications can help when symptoms arise, he adds. Write down when this happens, so you can predict when to avoid outside activity in the future.

Pregnant or trying to conceive? Many over-the-counter allergy relief medications are safe to take – but consult your doctor first, Rachelefsky cautions.

Other substances: If environmental allergens such as dust mites, pet dander and mold bother you, they could also worsen your seasonal pollen symptoms, says allergist Anne K. Ellis, M.D., director of the Environmental Exposure Unit at Kingston General Hospital in Ontario, Canada.

This phenomenon is called “priming.” Your body’s defenses are already lowered, so it’s harder to fight off new seasonal allergies.

Eliminating or minimizing exposure to these substances helps reduce the risk of an allergy attack. If you’re allergic to pet dander, for example, don’t let “Mr. Tinkles” sleep with you. If dust mites are a problem, clean frequently and use allergy-proof bedding.

MY THOUGHTS

rhinitis, hay fever, allergies - whatever name you attach to it - can be very uncomfortable.  2 kids in the family seem to be suffering from this and it's a cosntant challenge to keep the allergies at bay.  if you or any member of your family are in the same boat, watch out for the next blog.  it will discuss pointers on how to avoid allergies.

OVER THE COUNTER MEDS

Over the Counter Cold and Flu Medications
By Kristina Duda, R.N., About.com Guide
Updated November 28, 2010

About.com Health's Disease and Condition content is reviewed by our Medical Review Board

With so many over-the-counter medications available to treat cold and flu symptoms, it is hard to know which ones to choose. Here, you will find just a sample of over-the-counter cold and flu medications. To decide which one is right for you, figure out what your symptoms are and which medication will provide the most relief from those symptoms.

1. Over the Counter Medications for Runny Noses, Sneezing and Itching

A few medications are available over the counter for runny noses, sneezing and itching. These are known as antihistamines. They will help dry up your runny nose and stop you from sneezing and itching so much.

2. Over the Counter Medications for Pain Relief and Fever Reduction

Several different medications are available over the counter for bringing down fevers and relieving minor aches and pains. They are sold under brand names such as Tylenol, Motrin and Aleve and also come in generic form. Be sure to find out which one is right for you and your family before taking pain relievers and fever reducers.

3. Over the Counter Medications for Congestion

Having a stuffed up head can not only be uncomfortable, but it can also lead to headaches and sinus infections. A few options are available if you are looking for an over the counter medication to get rid of your congestion. They are known as decongestants.

In the US, pseudoephedrine (PSE) is now available only behind the pharmacy counter but still without a prescription. Several drug companies, including the makers of Sudafed, have replaced PSE with a medication called phenylephrine. It is available in the cold and flu aisle.

4. Over the Counter Medications for Cough

A cough is one of those annoying symptoms that is hard to treat. You never know if you need to do something about it or what could be causing it. You may want to evaluate your cough before taking cough medication. If you decide that an over-the-counter cough medication would be right for you, a choice still must be made between one that breaks up your chest congestion (expectorant) and one that stops your cough (suppressant). It is important to be sure you are taking the right over-the-counter cough medication.
5. Over the Counter Medications for Multiple Symptoms

If you have more than one symptom you need to treat, which most people do when they get a cold or the flu, you may want to consider a medication that treats multiple symptoms. Many options are available, just make sure you are taking one that treats only the symptoms you have. Taking medication for symptoms you do not have is not only unnecessary, but it can also be dangerous.
6. Natural and Herbal Medications For Cold and Flu

Many people prefer natural or herbal treatments when it comes to their health. These can be good options, but it is important to talk with your doctor about what herbs you are taking. They can interact with other medications you may be on or be dangerous for people with certain diseases. Because herbal supplements are not regulated by the Food and Drug Administration, they do not always list potential side effects or interactions with other drugs.

MY THOUGHTS

figuring this out is like habit #5- listen first before you can prescribe anything. especially if you are doing self-medication.

4 COMMON HEALTH MISERIES

Best Treatments for 4 Common Miseries
By Naomi Barr
O, The Oprah Magazine  |  From the April 2008 issue of O, The Oprah Magazine

While researchers poke around genes and molecular pathways to find the next great painkiller, what you may want to know right now is which drug to take for a pounding headache—or for cramps, a back spasm, sore joints. There can be vast differences in how individuals respond to a medication, says Scott Fishman, MD, chief of the division of pain medicine at the University of California, Davis, so relief may require trial and error. Still, a few guidelines will help you feel better faster:

1. Headache

Occasional: For a garden-variety tension headache, first try acetaminophen (Tylenol), says Russell Portenoy, MD, chair of the department of pain medicine and palliative care at Beth Israel Medical Center in New York City. "It's the safest of all the over-the-counter pain relievers at recommended dosages," he says. If your headache doesn't disappear, choose a nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug (NSAID) like ibuprofen (Advil) or naproxen sodium (Aleve), Fishman suggests. Aspirin also works, but because it has a slightly higher risk for gastrointestinal bleeding, most doctors don't recommend it for more than a few days in a row, says Portenoy. Aspirin for heart disease prevention is taken at a lower dose.

You need something stronger: If the pain persists, talk to your doctor about a prescription-strength NSAID (Voltaren, Anaprox, Celebrex). For severe headaches, you may be prescribed drugs that contain butalbital (a barbiturate), caffeine, and either aspirin (Fiorinal) or acetaminophen (Fioricet). Migraine sufferers are often helped by triptans (like Imitrex or Zomig). If the headache becomes chronic, your best bet is to work with a doctor or pain specialist to find the right drug cocktail (this is true with any kind of ongoing pain; go to painmed.org/patient to find a specialist). Drug options include short-acting opioids (Percocet, Vicodin), antidepressants such as Effexor or Cymbalta, which double as analgesics, and antiseizure medications like gabapentin (Neurontin) or pregabalin (Lyrica), recently approved as the first drug to treat fibromyalgia.

2. Menstrual Cramps

Regular monthly discomfort: Take an over-the-counter NSAID. "Studies have shown that these are more effective than acetaminophen in reducing this kind of pain," says Portenoy.

You need something stronger: Your doctor may suggest a prescription-strength NSAID. Another option is suppressing your cycle with birth control pills, or—if the pain is bad enough—a short-acting opioid.

3. Back Pain

Flare-up: For the random spasm or ache, grab some Tylenol. "Most acute back pain is not inflammatory, so for many people, taking an analgesic like acetaminophen may be all they need," says Portenoy. When this doesn't work, then try an NSAID.

You need something stronger: When you're in agony, or the discomfort doesn't relent in several days, ask your doctor about a combination drug such as Tylenol with codeine, a prescription NSAID, or a short-acting opioid. Drugs for chronic back pain include antidepressants, antiepileptics, muscle relaxants such as cyclobenzaprine (Flexeril), and long-acting opioids like OxyContin.

4. Joint Pain

Once in a while: For the occasional achy hip or shoulder, either acetaminophen or an NSAID (which may help more if there's inflammation) should do the trick, says Fishman.

You need something stronger: Treatments include prescription-level NSAIDS, muscle relaxants, short-acting opioids, and corticosteroid shots. Chronic pain patients may also be prescribed the new fibromyalgia drug Lyrica, as well as certain antidepressants.

Beyond Drugs

In addition to medication, a number of complementary treatments—including acupuncture, guided imagery, cognitive and physical therapy, massage, and hydrotherapy—can help ease pain. Mindfulness meditation in particular has proven to be incredibly effective, says Jon Kabat-Zinn, PhD, author of Full Catastrophe Living: Using the Wisdom of Your Body and Mind to Face Stress, Pain, and Illness. Begin by simply focusing on your breath. Pay attention to every inhalation and exhalation through your nostrils. Picture the breath circulating all around your body, then imagine breathing specifically through the area where the pain is located. If you have a headache, for example, visualize the breath going through a hole at the top of your head; for menstrual cramps, it would flow through your pelvis. Do this for five to 20 minutes, and you should begin to notice the pressure diminish.

MY THOUGHTS

i think these miseries are too common we fail to realize there could be more to it. if it has become a misery, not a mere occassional pain, it's time to seek professional help.

BEFORE BUYING ANTIHISTAMINES

Before You Buy Antihistamines
By Kristina Duda, R.N., About.com Guide
Updated January 08, 2010

About.com Health's Disease and Condition content is reviewed by our Medical Review Board

Find out everything you need to know about antihistamines. What symptoms they treat, who should take them and who should not.
Check your symptoms

Antihistamines treat:

    * sneezing
    * runny nose
    * watery eyes

    * itchiness
    * scratchy throat

    * Symptoms of Common Cold
    * Symptoms of the Flu

Frequency and Duration for Antihistamines

There are prescription and non-prescription antihistamines. They can last anywhere from 4 to 24 hours. Over the counter antihistamines used for occasional cold symptoms usually need to be taken every 4-6 hours.

Length of Use for Antihistamines

You should not take an over the counter antihistamine for more than 7 days before talking to your doctor. If your symptoms last longer than 7 days, you may have developed something more serious.
Important things to tell your doctor

You should tell your doctor if you have any of the following before taking an antihistamine:

    * asthma or chronic bronchitis
    * high blood pressure
    * glaucoma
    * liver disease
    * kidney disease or difficulty urinating
    * prostate problems
    * ulcers or other stomach problems
    * other chronic illnesses
    * pregnant, trying to get pregnant or breastfeeding
    * ALL medications you are taking, including herbal supplements

Common Antihistamines

Some common names for antihistamines are:
Over the counter

    * Benadryl - diphenhydramine (generic)
    * Claritin - loratidine (generic)
    * Zyrtec - ceterizine (generic)
    * Triaminic - chlorpheniramine (generic) - for children

Prescription

    * Allegra - fexofenadine (generic)

MY THOUGHTS

i must be weird. i love antihistamines.  especially benadryl.  makes me fall asleep in a jiffy.

WORRISOME EFFECTS OF EVERYDAY DRUGS

Everyday Drugs, Worrisome Side Effects
By Catherine Guthrie
O, The Oprah Magazine | From the April 2008 issue of O, The Oprah Magazine

This is a grim trend: A recent report in the journal Archives of Internal Medicine uncovered a nearly threefold surge—between 1998 and 2005—in the number of serious injuries, disabilities, and deaths linked to prescription drugs. Thomas Moore, a senior scientist at the Institute for Safe Medication Practices in Huntingdon Valley, Pennsylvania, and the report's lead author, says neither doctors nor patients want to think about the downside of drug treatment: "People don't want to look at the risks, and physicians don't want to think they may be hurting their patients instead of helping them." But a little awareness could help you avoid troublesome side effects and even save your life, especially with these three frequently prescribed classes of drugs.

Painkillers: To soothe arthritis, headaches, and muscle pain, more than 30 million Americans reach for NSAIDS (nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs) every day. But these medicine cabinet mainstays, such as aspirin and ibuprofen, pack serious perils. Namely, they can weaken the stomach's defenses against digestive juices, leaving it vulnerable to damage. Every year NSAID-related ulcers and gastrointestinal bleeding send upwards of 100,000 people racing to the hospital; the pills contribute to up to as many as 20,000 deaths annually. If you regularly pop NSAIDS, tell your doctor so she can help you minimize the risks; the biggest is a peptic ulcer. If you have a burning pain in your gut that comes and goes, see a doctor.

Antidepressants: The number of Americans on these drugs—roughly 8 percent of adults—has more than tripled in the past 20 years. The class of medications most often used to lift mood are called SSRIs (short for selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors) and act on the brain's chemical messengers. But they can sidetrack these messengers from their other duties, namely sexual arousal. Up to two-thirds of all users report signs of sexual dysfunction, such as low libido, inability to sustain an erection, and difficulty reaching orgasm. "Don't be embarrassed to talk to your doctor about sexual side effects," says Moore. "Changing the drug or the dose might take care of the problem." A switch to bupropion (Wellbutrin) may help; both male and female patients have also reported that Viagra can boost sensation and performance.

Statins: These cholesterol busters are lifesavers for many of the 26 million Americans who live with heart disease, but they aren't risk-free. The drugs can interfere with proteins that help sustain muscle, leaving users feeling sore and achy. In a small percentage of people, those muscle pains indicate rhabdomyolysis, a potentially deadly condition in which muscle tissue is rapidly destroyed. If you experience muscle pain or weakness on statins, talk to your doctor about adjusting the dose or switching to a different brand—both can alleviate symptoms. You may need to be persistent. A recent survey in the journal Drug Safety found that of the 650 statin users who had reported muscle-related symptoms to their doctors, nearly half had their concerns dismissed. Beatrice Golomb, MD, PhD, associate professor of medicine at the University of California, San Diego, led the study and says she was flabbergasted by how many doctors failed to take patients' complaints seriously. "That troubled me a lot," she says.


MY THOUGHTS

i practically inhale pain relievers. i get migraines so often, some of them awfully painful, i gulp down mefenamic acid at the very first sign of a headache. i guess i'm lucky i'm not having any stomach troubles- as this article warns.

WHO'S LIKELY TO GET WEAK BONES?

WHO'S AT RISK FOR WEAK BONES

from the article "Is Exercise Weakening Your Bones?"
By the Osteoporosis and Related Bone Diseases National Resource Center
Published January 24, 2011

Who’s at risk for these problems?

Girls and women who engage in rigorous exercise regimens or who try to lose weight by restricting their eating are at risk for these health problems. They may include serious athletes, “gym rats” (who spend considerable time and energy working out), and girls and women who believe “you can never be too thin.”

How can I tell if someone I know, train with, or coach may be at risk for bone loss, fracture, and other health problems?
Here are some signs to look for:

* Missed or irregular menstrual periods

* Extreme or “unhealthy-looking” thinness

* Extreme or rapid weight loss

* Behaviors that reflect frequent dieting, such as eating very little, not eating in front of others, trips to the bathroom following meals, preoccupation with thinness or weight, focus on low-calorie and diet foods, possible increase in the consumption of water and other no- and low-calorie foods and beverages, possible increase in gum chewing, limiting diet to one food group, or eliminating a food group

* Frequent intense bouts of exercise (e.g., taking an aerobics class, then running 5 miles, then swimming for an hour, followed by weight-lifting)

* An “I can’t miss a day of exercise/practice” attitude

* An overly anxious preoccupation with an injury

* Exercising despite illness, inclement weather, injury and other conditions that might lead someone else to take the day off

* An unusual amount of self-criticism or self-dissatisfaction

* Indications of significant psychological or physical stress, including depression, anxiety or nervousness, inability to concentrate, low levels of self-esteem, feeling cold all the time, problems sleeping, fatigue, injuries, and constantly talking about weight

MY THOUGHTS

4-5 hours of exercise seem to be overboard, right? our bones will definitely crack, especially if there's not enough healthy bone food to mend the bones.

WEAKENING BONES

EXERCISE CAN WEAKEN YOUR BONES

from the Article "Is Exercise Weakening Your Bones?"

By the Osteoporosis and Related Bone Diseases National Resource Center
Published January 24, 2011

Working out and dieting can get you in shape, but overdoing it puts bones at risk. Read on to learn how to stay fit without causing fractures…

Are you exercising too much? Eating too little? Have your menstrual periods stopped or become irregular? If so, you may be putting yourself at high risk for several serious problems that could affect your health, your ability to remain active, and your risk for injuries.

You also may be putting yourself at risk for developing osteoporosis, a disease in which bone density is decreased, leaving bones vulnerable to fracture (breaking).

Why is missing my period such a big deal?

Some athletes see amenorrhea (the absence of menstrual periods) as a sign of successful training. Others see it as a great answer to a monthly inconvenience. And some young women accept it blindly, not stopping to think of the consequences.

But missing your periods is often a sign of decreased estrogen levels. And lower estrogen levels can lead to osteoporosis, a disease in which your bones become brittle and more likely to break.

Usually, this doesn't happen until women are much older. But some young women, especially those who exercise so much their periods stop, develop brittle bones and may start to have fractures at a very early age. Some 20-year-old female athletes have been said to have the bones of an 80-year-old woman.

Even if bones don’t break when you’re young, low estrogen levels during the peak years of bone-building – the preteen and teen years – can affect bone density for the rest of your life. And studies show that bone growth lost during these years may never be regained.

Broken bones don’t just hurt – they can cause lasting physical malformations. Have you noticed that some older women and men have stooped postures? This is not a normal sign of aging. Fractures from osteoporosis have left their spines permanently altered.

Overtraining can cause other problems besides missed periods. If you don’t take in enough calcium and vitamin D (among other nutrients), bone loss may result. This may lead to decreased athletic performance, decreased ability to exercise or train at desired levels of intensity or duration, and increased risk of injury.

MY THOUGHTS

anything excessive is never good. and it pays to take heed while you still can. osteoporosis is,indeed,a debilitating illness. never mind that you look deformed. i know some people suffering from osteoporosis and they claim that the pain is indescribable.

Sugar on your Fingers Affect Blood Tests

Fruit salad and blood sugar meters don't mix
SOURCE: http://bit.ly/hOOp3B Diabetes Care, online January 31, 2011.
Published February 09, 2011

NEW YORK (Reuters Health) - Listen up, diabetics: invisible bits of fruit on your hands can mess up your finger-prick blood tests, making your blood sugar level look higher than it really is.

That's because sugars from fruit will stay on your fingers until you wash them with tap water, a new study shows.

Even alcohol swabs don't solve the problem.

The researchers say that peeling fruit right before you use a blood sugar meter, or eating some juicy fruit with your hands, could lead to an inaccurate reading even if you rub your finger with alcohol first.

Blood sugar meters work by taking a drop of blood from the tip of the finger and testing the sample for how much sugar is in the blood. Many people with diabetes have to use these meters a few times a day to monitor their blood sugar levels and determine how much insulin to take.

Getting an inaccurate reading from sugar on the outside of the finger "could lead somebody to take insulin when they don't need it," Cohen said. "They could run the risk of running a low sugar from having misleading data."

The message, the authors say, is to wash your hands before using a blood sugar meter and not rely on alcohol swabs, especially if you've been handling any fruit.

SOURCE: http://bit.ly/hOOp3B Diabetes Care, online January 31, 2011.

MY THOUGHTS

this is very important information. if you want confirmation, check the website. the research is described in the full article.