Health Articles

If you live in the north, then you are no doubt aware that fall and winter bring the flu season.Most recently, the Swine flu has gotten the spotlight. It is so famous that the vaccine is sold out as soon as it arrives in the medical centers. Health officials claim that 5 to 20% of the US get the flu and 200,000 of them are hospitalized; 36,000, they say, will die from it this year.

But when the hype dies down, the medical community has to admit that the Swine flu is no worse than other flus. Even the above statistics may not be fully honest. For example, many of the 36,000 who die from the flu were already weakened by other health issues. No doubt the possibility of catching the flu is a much greater fear to these.
Common cold virus
Recently I was sent a link giving 9 reasons why not to give your children to flu vaccine. These included, a) prior flu vaccination programs have proved to be worthless; b) Swine flu is just another flu, not something unusually lethal; c) the consequences may be more dangerous than getting the flu itself; d) The vaccine has not been proved that it works; e) over-vaccinating children is a common problem. But in spite of misleading statements about Swine flu, no one wants to get sick.

Let’s consider some common sense measures anyone can take to greatly reduce their chances of getting the flu. Wash your hands thoroughly using liquid soap and running water. (Antibacterial soap does not work better than regular liquid soap.) A dishwasher is good because it washes the dishes in water too hot for hands to handle and this kills more germs. If someone does get the flu, isolate them and keep your family away from others who show flu-like symptoms.

Drinking water is a common way for bacteria and viruses to spread. No doubt your source of drinking water has been tested for purity. City water has a minimum standard and is tested often, and well water should also be tested. However, especially during this season, additional filtering is highly recommended. It is surprising how viruses can spread, even in drinking water and a little contamination goes a long way. By filtering your drinking water, you can be sure pathogens are not present.

For example, the Black Berkey water filters were tested by adding more than 10,000 times the concentration of pathogens per liter than would be used in standard testing. Normally the result would include 100,000 or more pathogens per liter present. The report is here quoted verbatim: “Incredibly the purification elements removed 100% of the pathogens. Absolutely no pathogens were cultured from the effluent or were able to be detected, even under an electron microscope, setting a new standard in water purification.” This amazing result might nudge many into taking the step of filtering their drinking water to be safe.

These activated charcoal filter rods have been tested to remove Klebsiella, E. Coli, Pseudomonas, Giardia, Aeriginousis, and Cryptosporitium resulting in non-detectable levels. That list may not mean anything to you, but suffice it to say that any have the ability to cause serious illness if found in drinking water. The promise of removing them to non-detectable levels is certainly reassuring.

The flu season won’t go away. Many options face us as to how we can avoid getting sick. Hopefully these simple suggestions will keep you and your family healthier as you follow them carefully.

Head lice are parasitic insects that live in the hair on the head and neck. The belief that the cause of head lice is dirty hair is a myth. One generally gets lice from someone who already has it in their hair and is most commonly transmitted through the use of the same comb, but that is not the only means by which it is transmitted.

Head lice can be really exasperating but fortunately they are not harmful nor do they cause any sort of infections. They are more of a bother because they make you feel itchy in the scalp and when you scratch too much you tend to bleed in the scalp, but generally this condition can be quite easily remedied.

Trying to get rid of an excessive growth of head lice can be time consuming, but it definitely can be done provided you make use of the right treatment. Many pharmaceuticals have come up with different products to get rid of it.

The mechanical method of eliminating these parasites involves ridding the head of lice and nits by combing the hair with the use of fine toothed combs that trap the lice as you comb the hair right from the roots to the tip. Done regularly and consistently this helps to eradicate head lice.

Chemical products are also used to rid the head of lice, but these have to be used cautiously as they can damage the hair and scalp. Such products generally have insecticide as a primary ingredient.

The best treatment to get rid of these parasitic insects is the use of natural remedies that are safe to use and are capable of really cleansing the head of the menace. Special shampoos consisting of natural ingredients to eradicate head lice are very commonly used these days as they are very convenient. Vinegar is said to be one of the best and most preferred cures for getting rid of lice in the head. A good search on the internet can give you any number of remedies for head louse treatment.

If numbness and tingling occurs in the feet for no apparent reason, it’s a pretty good indication that something is wrong. And, while some of the causes might only be temporary, these symptoms can indicate some serious problems that, if not addressed in a timely manner, may require neuropathy surgery. This makes it vital that anyone who experiences a numbness or tingling foot seek the help of a professional such as a neuropathy doctor.

Temporary Causes

Limited blood flow is one of the most common causes of tingling or numb feet. This can occur any time the feet are elevated for a long period of time, wrapped too tightly with a bandage or clothing, or weighed down. Instead of neuropathy surgery as treatment, however, the patient simply has to remove whatever is restricting blood flow or move his feet to a lower position.

A neuropathy doctor also cannot do much in terms of treating systems caused by temperature. In this instance, fluids have difficulty flowing through cold tissue. The patient just needs to warm the flesh up slowly to eliminate the symptoms.

Diabetic Peripheral Neuropathy

Diabetes can take a toll on anyone’s body, particularly if they suffer with it for a long period of time. This condition can also cause serious damage to the nerves in the body and feet including the sensory nerves, which allow the body to feel pain, temperature, and touch; motor nerves, which control muscle movement; and autonomic nerves, which control involuntary functions like sweating.

This condition starts out as numbness, tingling, pain, and general discomfort in the feet as well as muscle weakness, balance problems, and changes in the foot’s shape as well as dry and cracked skin. Neuropathy surgery is ineffective in this instance, but medications in conjunction with a program to control blood sugar methods have shown great results. A neuropathy doctor may also recommend physical therapy to help treat balance and muscle problems.

Peripheral Neuropathy

While being similar to the diabetic condition, this form of nerve damage is caused by a number of different conditions including toxins, cancer, broken or injured bones, malnutrition, uremia, and AIDS. Sometimes, even the medications used to treat conditions such as cancer or AIDS can cause this problem.

Patients with this condition often notice that the numbness, tingling, and strange sensations such as burning start in the feet and gradually works upwards. The treatment of the condition may vary, however, depending on the cause. A neuropathy doctor might only be able to help ease the symptoms with therapy, acupuncture, or massage if the cause is medications, cancer, or similar illness. If the cause is broken or dislocated bones, however, the physician will need to repair the damage and may also perform neuropathy surgery. Transcutaneous nerve stimulation has also been proven to be effective in some instances.

If there seems to be no apparent reason for the symptoms, it’s important to see a neuropathy doctor as soon as possible. This will help determine the cause of the sensations and help prevent the need for neuropathy surgery and the chance of permanent damage.
A tingling or numb foot might not seem significant at first, but it can actually be a sign that something is seriously wrong and that neuropathy surgery may be necessary. This article looks at three causes of these symptoms, all of which require the expertise of a neuropathy doctor.

Herbal relief for colds and flu are numerous and very effective.

When you feel as if a cold is starting you should immediately take a dose of five drops of Echinacea as per dosage instructions on the bottle and you should increase your vitamin C intake.
Cold virus
Our bodies cannot hold or manufacture Vitamin C so increasing your daily intake can immediately help to improve your immune system. Your body will flush out any excess it does not need. If you find your bowels are loose reduce the amount you are taking. Ideally take 1-2 grams of Vitamin C twice a day with meals.

For a soothing effect you should make a steam bath containing Tea Tree oil, Eucalyptus and Peppermint oil and inhale the steam. This will help ward off the cold and prevent congestion.

Drink lots of fluids but try to avoid milk as this can suppress your immune system.

If breathing problems persist consult your medical practitioner.

Herbs can work more effectively to combat flu than even the latest flu vaccines.

New Olive Leaf Extract is a strong antibacterial/antiviral capable of countering bacteria and viruses that even modern medicines cannot tackle. Recently the processing methods for this extract have changed and the potency of the resulting product is vastly improved.

Olive Leaf extract fights amongst other things retroviruses and is very effective in fighting the rhinovirus – the most common cause of the common cold.

Another weapon in the herbal relief arsenal against colds and flu is the elderberry.

Elderberries make a fantastic drink and this drink can help you recover from a cold more quickly and help to build your strength before another illness of infection catches you in a weakened state.

Elderberries will hasten your recovery from a cold or flu in a very interesting way. When flu cells attack the body they break into your healthy cells by attaching to the surface using spikes on their own surface. Elderberry works by making these spikes ineffective in a way that is not yet understood but by doing this the flu virus is defeated before it can cause any damage.

An effective fight against the flu virus is to add half to one teaspoon of Elderberry Tincture to a little water and take every four hours as soon as you feel the first symptoms. Continue this for three days.

There are countless ways herbal relief for the symptoms of a cold of flu can be gained. The results are quick and effective and herbal remedies can also be taken alongside traditional medicines but should never be regarded as a total replacement or in place of a visit to your medical practitioner.

With the onslaught of H1N1, the seasonal flu, and even just the common cold virus, we all need to do a better job at keeping germs at bay. There are some very simple steps we can take to keep the spread of these germs under control and to stay healthy and safe. The CDC (Center for Disease Control) offers several suggestions to make this task easier.

1. Keep your hands clean. Wash them with hot water and soap, several times a day. Or, use hand sanitizer if soap and hot water are not available. It’s a great idea to keep a bottle of hand sanitizer in your car, purse, at work, and at home. Having it handy and right there in front of you will make it harder to forget.

2. Sneeze and cough into your elbow. Don’t use your hand to cover your mouth and nose when you cough or sneeze. Lift your arm up and cough and sneeze into the bend of your elbow. Then the germs won’t transfer to anyone else or anything you touch with your hands.

3. Don’t touch your face. Pay particular attention to your eyes, nose, and mouth. These areas are where the germs enter your body and make you sick. If you have germs on your fingers and your rub your eyes, you’ve just almost guaranteed that you will get sick. So keep your hands away and your risk of catching anything will go down.

4. Stay home when you get sick. Don’t go to work. Don’t go to school. Don’t run errands. Staying home will keep the germs from spreading to others.

A little common sense can go a long way when it comes to stopping the spread of the cold and flu viruses. Everyone needs to take precautions and if you do get sick, be courteous to others and do all you can to prevent it from spreading to them as well.

Heartburn may be the most common physical problem known to man, at least in America where we eat just about anything at anytime. This article will take a brief look at the symptoms and treatment of acid reflux disease and hopefully it will help you to gain victory over your suffering. I believe if you follow what is here you can achieve relief.
Natural Remedies for Heartburn
For the severest acid reflux cases, or the more serious GERD, these over-the-counter remedies will not work. You need to look out for any side effects that may occur if you have been using antacids for a long period of time.

If your physician has diagnosed you with acid reflux then it’s recommended that you visit him on a regular basis even if you think that the problem is gone. Also, it’s very important that you tell your healthcare provider what herbal treatments you were using to cure your condition because this will help make a correct evaluation.
Gerd information
The treatment of acid reflux may be dependent on if the stomach acid is volatile. Sometimes it ends up volatile, for whatever reason, and you need to calm it down. I’ve found that vinegar works well because of the natural enzymes. Just add more vinegar based food to your diet and you’ll be all set.

One can always deal with the gastric acid reflux disease in an effective manner, that is to say, if the disease has not reached a very bad stage. If you remain aware of yourself and employ proper measures to tackle this problem, you will get well soon.

As well as using herbal teas, another well known herbal treatment for acid reflux is chicory root which can also help to treat other digestive problems as well. This particular herb can easily be found in either your local health food store or grocery store as well as being available for purchase online.

The most common heartburn and acid reflux symptoms in women are the same for men, other than those found during the pregnancy. These would include, but not limited to, a burning sensation behind the chest plate that intensifies when bending over or stooping down, problems swallowing, an irritated throat and a scratchy sounding voice, a gassy feeling coupled with burping and an upset stomach.

Another option of treatment for acid reflux disease is vinegar. It has natural enzymes that calm the stomach acid. Obviously you can’t just drink bottles of vinegar, you need to add it into your diet. The vinegar based products like salad dressing and ketchup that you add in, the less likely you’re going to experience any form of acid reflux.

Creating home remedies for acid reflux is easy if you have the required ingredients. Things like cabbage, pineapples, papaya and vegetables are usually important elements that are used to make ginger root, apple cider vinegar and things like that. It should be reminded that these home remedies may only fix your problems temporary. If you are still facing acid reflux issues, then you are suggested to seek doctors’ advice for long term treatment.

Heartburn is a very unpleasant condition but if you’re patient, you can forget about the symptoms very fast. I recommend you try these herbal acid reflux remedies but as always, make sure you consult your doctor first before proceeding.

I. DSM-IV Diagnostic Criteria

A. At least one week of abnormally and persistently elevated, expansive or
irritable mood (may be less than one week if hospitalization is required).
B. During the period of mood disturbance at least three of the following have
persisted in a significant manner (four if mood is irritable):
1. Inflated self-esteem or grandiosity.
2. Decreased need for sleep.
3. The patient has been more talkative than usual or feels pressure to
keep talking.
4. Flight of ideas (jumping from topic-to-topic) or a subjective sense of
racing thoughts.
5. Distractibility.
6. Increased goal-directed activity or psychomotor agitation.
7. Excessive involvement in pleasurable activities with a high potential for
painful consequences (ie, sexual indiscretion)
C. Does not meet criteria for a mixed episode (see page 27).
D. Symptoms must have cause marked impairment in social or occupational
functioning, or have required hospitalization to prevent harm to self or
others, or psychotic features are present.
E. The symptoms cannot be caused by a medical condition, medication or
drugs.

II. Clinical Features of Manic Episodes

A. The most common presentation is excessive euphoria, but some patients
may present with irritability alone. These patients seek out constant
enthusiastic interaction with others, frequently using poor judgment in
those interactions.
B. Increased psychomotor activity can take the form of excessive planning
and participation, which are ultimately nonproductive. Reckless behavior
with negative consequences is common (eg, shopping sprees, excessive
spending, sexual promiscuity).
C. Inability to sleep can be severe and persist for days. Lability of mood and
grandiose delusions are common.
D. Speech is pressured, loud and intrusive, and it is often difficult to interrupt
these patients. Flight of ideas can result in gross disorganization and
incoherence of speech.
E. Patients frequently lack insight into their behavior and resist treatment.
Patients may become grossly psychotic most frequently with paranoid
features. Patients may become assaultive, particularly if psychotic.
Dysphoria is common at the height of a manic episode, and the patient
may become suicidal.

As you know, Acid Reflux, also known as GERD or more commonly Heartburn occurs when a weakening of the muscle valve between the stomach and the esophagus allows stomach acid to reflux into the esophagus. This stomach acid inflames and irritates the esophagus, giving us the symptoms of a burning sensation rising up your chest and/or an unpleasant, sour and acidic taste in the mouth. In severe cases, the sufferer may have difficulty in swallowing and sleeping, however there are self-help measures, which you can take in the first instance to alleviate the symptoms and gain relief:
Acid reflux treatment
* The first tip is possibly easier said than done, but healthcare professionals have stated that if you are overweight, losing weight often reduces some of the severity of the symptoms and the frequency of them occurring, because when you are overweight, this adds pressure to your stomach.

* It is generally agreed that you should eat smaller meals on a frequent basis rather than the traditional three meals per day, as this reduces the amount of stomach acid required at any on time to digest the food.

* You will probably not be surprised to read that smoking is also on the list of things you should avoid, again not easy for everyone. The smoke from cigarettes and cigars can further irritate the esophagus, thereby aggravating the condition and making the symptoms worse.

* Each person will be a little different, but you will often find that certain foodstuffs act as triggers for the onset of a bout of acid reflux, and these are usually such things as coffee, chocolate, spices like Chilli, Paprika, and Cayenne Pepper amongst others, also alcohol, tomatoes and fatty foods – in fact most of the things I like! It may take some trial and error, but try gradually removing some or all of these from your diet and you may well see improvement.

* Due to the fact that the condition is usually at its worst, when you are horizontal, you may find relief from raising the head-end of your bed ( making sure that it is still stable of course). This allows gravity to help in allowing the acid to flow back down to the stomach. The common mistake here is to use extra pillows to raise the head, but you should avoid this, as it also increases the pressure on your abdomen.

Hopefully, these tips will help you if you suffer from this very uncomfortable digestive disorder – however, of course, if they do not, then you should seek help from a medical professional.

There are a lot of people, however, who are convinced that to really ‘cure’ acid reflux, you need a holistic and natural approach, which will provide lasting relief from digestive disorders.

Chlamydia complications among men are uncommon, but may include pain, fever, and, in rare cases, sterility. They are preventable if diagnosed and treated early, but have the potential to create a very serious public health issue if ignored. So don’t ignore it any longer – get yourself tested and always use a condom. Chlamydia complications among men are rare.

What To Do

Screening for chlamydia in incarcerated adolescents has been shown to be a cost-effective strategy for preventing adverse health consequences. Syphilis prevalence in incarcerated adolescents is relatively low. Screening for chlamydia is critical because 75% of women and 50% of men with chlamydia have no symptoms, or symptoms that are so mild they do not seek care. If left untreated in women, chlamydia can lead to pelvic inflammatory disease, infertility, and potentially fatal tubal pregnancy.

Untreated chlamydia leads to pelvic inflammatory disease (PID) in women. This is an infection of the reproductive organs of women. Untreated chlamydia leads to Pelvic inflammatory disease (PID) in women.
Pelvic inflammatory disease (PID) is an infection of a woman’s reproductive organs that can be caused by sexually transmitted bacteria such as chlamydia and gonorrhea.

This infection can lead to serious consequences including infertility. Pelvic inflammatory disease is the single most frequent serious infection encountered by women. The disease afflicts more than 1 million women each year and generates annual health care costs of approximately 4.2 billion dollars. Pelvic inflammatory disease (PID) is an acute infection in the organs of the pelvis. It can affect the uterus, fallopian tubes and/or ovaries.

Untreated chlamydial infections can also cause inflammation of the bladder. In women who have anal sex with a partner who has chlamydia, the bacteria can cause proctitis (an infection of the lining of the rectum).

What Not To Do

Persons being treated for Chlamydia should not have sexual intercourse for seven days after single dose therapy (azrithromycin) or until completion of all seven days of antibiotics (doxycycline). Patients can be re-infected if their sex partners are not treated. Persons with a chlamydia infection have an increased chance of getting other infections such as gonorrhea or HIV.

A gum disease treatment is something that your doctor will do in-office. It may involve minor surgery, the use of lasers or in-office ‘deep cleanings’. However, these in-office treatments by themselves – may not provide the results your are looking for or the problem may recur later.

This is because there is a critical component to gum disease treatments that you should be aware of. Namely, you need to take care of your gums at home. This requires knowledge and daily work. Failure in this area will limit the success of your doctor’s in-office treatment.

You can ask your doctor or any dental professional. The key to improved gum tissue health revolves more fully around what you do at home. Without this work at home on your part, it is very possible that more expensive and possibly painful (during the recovery) treatments will be on the horizon.

The good news is that most people can improve their gum health at home and even avoid expensive treatments through good oral care maintenance at home. The bad news is that like an ostrich with its head buried in the sand, your unprotected end is exposed to whatever may happen next.

Unfortunately, even your doctor and other professionals in the office may not tell you what you can do at home, beyond basic brushing and flossing, to improve your gum health. Some do, but many do not.

This creates a puzzle for patients that many are not even aware of. This puzzle must be solved. Having the right tools and right understanding about combating gum disease is crucial to your success.