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Overview

Tuberculosis (TB) is a deadly, highly contagious disease cause by the gram positive bacterium Mycobacterium tuberculosis. The history of tuberculosis and humans has been intertwined since ancient times. There is evidence than Neolithic aged, prehistoric humans had contracted TB as early as 7000 years ago. TB can also infect animals.

Evidence of TB has also been found in bison dating back 18000 years. TB was widespread in antiquity, with evidence of the disease being found in Egyptian mummies, dating back several thousands of years. TB was also known to the ancient Greeks who called the disease phthisis. Until TB was found to be bacterial in origin, the disease was commonly referred to as consumption.

TB has been responsible for millions of deaths throughout history, taking the lives of many famous individuals including the Bronte sisters, Frederic Chopin, George Orwell, Anton Chekhov, John Keats, and Elenore Roosevelt. TB continues to be a threat to this day, even with modern medical advances and treatments.

The German bacteriologist and physicist Robert Koch isolated Mycobacterium tuberculosis, the bacterium that causes TB, in 1882. At the time, despite the efforts of Louis Pasteur and other leading scientists, it was common knowledge that infections happened spontaneously in humans. The idea that bacteria, viruses, or other microscopic organisms could cause disease was incomprehensible for the layman. However, as germ theory gained more proponents, and as medicine has advanced, today that line of thinking has given way to modern theories of infectious disease. Koch was awarded the 1905 Nobel Prize in medicine and physiology.

Alternate Names

Tuberculosis has several alternate names. It’s most common alias is consumption. The term consumption was coined in the 18th and 19th centuries as a way to describe TB’s wasting away effect on the human body. People stricken win the disease were consumed with coughing and fatigue during the disease’s terminal stage, leading to the common name. Tuberculosis infections often leave victims with a pale, ghost-like complexion. Because of this, TB has also been nicknamed the White Plague. In humans, the primary form of TB infection is pulmonary tuberculosis.

Symptoms

In three quarters of the cases of tuberculosis, infection occurs primarily in the lungs. This is called pulmonary tuberculosis. Symptoms include:

• Productive cough lasting over three weeks
• Chest pain
• Coughing up blood or bloody sputum
• Fever
• Chills
• Fatigue
• Weight Loss
• Pale appearance
• Loss of appetite
• Night sweats

Tuberculosis can also infect other areas outside of the lungs including the bones, blood, and central nervous system.

Causes of Tuberculosis and Means of Infection

Tuberculosis is an airborne disease, meaning that it can spread from person to person by inhaling tiny droplets of mucus and sputum. These droplets get into the air for people it inhale when an infected person coughs, spits, sneezes, or even talks. It has been shown that one sneeze or cough can release tens of thousands of microscopic droplets of bacteria-rich sputum into the air. Infection by the TB bacterium can occur by less than ten of the bacteria, so the potential for widespread infection is tremendous. The incubation period for tuberculosis is between 2-12 weeks. This is the time that it takes for a TB test to detect the disease.

Tuberculosis can lie dormant in a person’s bodies for several years. In one out of ten patients, latent TB can develop into an active TB infection. A person is only contagious if he has an active form of TB infection. Latent TB carriers cannot transmit the TB bacterium to other people. Even though infected with the tuberculosis bacterium, nine tenths of those afflicted will have latent tuberculosis. Out of those 90% of people, 10% will develop active TB in their lifetimes.

When a person inhales aerosol droplets of infected mucus, the infection begins when the bacteria reach the alveoli of the lungs. Infection usually occurs between the upper part of the lower lobe or the lower part of the upper lobe of one of the lungs. Once infection has set in, TB can spread throughout the body through the lymphatic system and blood stream.

Bacterium

Tuberculosis bacterium can cause the immune system to produce what is called a granulomatous inflammatory response. Put simply, this is method employed by a person’s immune system in which it attempts to build a wall around pathogens it is unable to destroy. This is done in hopes that isolating the pathogen from the other cells will cause it to die. In the case of tuberculosis, when a TB bacterium is “walled off” it forms a structure called a granuloma. These granulomas can cluster together to form nodules called tubercles or tuberculosis nodules. The TB bacterium can cause necrosis (cell death) in the tubercles, causing tissue damage to the lungs.

Tuberculosis bacteria can also spread through the body via the blood stream and/or the lymphatic system. When it does this, it can produce a systemic infection of the body, including the brain and bones. This is an extremely dangerous form of TB called miliary tuberculosis. Most often, this strikes the immune suppressed, elderly, and children.

Patients with tuberculosis can go through periods where the disease changes in its severity, shifting between good and bad periods for the patient. In this time, tissues can be destroyed and repaired although scarring occurs.

Risk Factors

A condition called silicosis may increase the risk of tuberculosis infection by a factor of 30 in people suffering from the affliction. Silicosis is an occupational hazard disease that is the result of inhaling too much silica. Silica dust is crystalline and rough in texture, which can cause inflammation and scarring in the lungs. Silicosis inhibits the function of white blood cells in the lungs. In a human, when a foreign body is detected by the immune system, specialized white blood cells are released to kill the invading pathogens.

Another risk factor for being infected with tuberculosis is being on dialysis. Because people on dialysis are generally in worse health than the rest of the population and because their immune systems may be compromised due to this weakened state, the risk of developing a TB infection increases by 10-25 times that of the normal population.

Having a low body weight in relation to height may increase the risk of becoming infected by TB by a factor of 2 to 3.

Another group that is at a higher risk of developing TB than the general population is diabetics. Diabetes, especially in patients with poorly controlled glucose and insulin levels can elevate the chances of getting a TB infection by 2-4 times.

Certain drugs may also put a person at increased risk for being infected with TB. Immunosuppressants and some rheumatoid arthritis drugs may increase the chance of infection.

Tests and Diagnosis

When confirming a case of tuberculosis, several steps are taken to develop an accurate diagnosis because many of the symptoms of TB resemble those of less serious diseases.

When a patient first presents with symptoms consistent with a diagnosis of tuberculosis, a physician will take a detailed medical history of the patient. This allows the doctor to gain an overall picture of the person’s health. A patient’s medical history may include known instances of exposure to TB, prior TB infections, and any medical conditions like silicosis that may increase the chances of being infected by tuberculosis.

Although a physician may suspect tuberculosis from the symptoms, it is impossible to make an absolute conclusion without bacterial cultures being taken. Sputum cultures are taken and smeared onto growth medium in Petri dishes. The samples are allowed to incubate for a period of time, during which the bacteria can grow and multiply. After several hours or days, the dishes are examined under a microscope by a pathologist who can determine what bacteria are present in the sample. If tuberculosis bacteria are found, that is a definitive sign that the patient is indeed infected with TB and may have an active form of it.

Chest X-rays

Chest X-rays are often helpful to chart the progression of tuberculosis but not enough on their own to make a definitive diagnosis. When an abnormal chest X-ray is obtained from a patient, a radiologist may look at the film and find indications that suggest an active case of tuberculosis. These include:

1. Patches that may indicate foreign matter

2. Holes without irregular margins

3. Nodules with hazy edges

4. Fluid

5. Enlarged lymph nodes

Evidence of inactive tuberculosis can also be found on a chest X-ray. These signs include:

1. Scar tissue

2. Nodules with distinct edges

Tuberculosis Skin Tests

The Mantoux test is a skin test that is used for screening for tuberculosis. In this test, a patient is injected with a small amount of a protein derived from the TB bacterium called tuberculin. Although the injection of tuberculin into a patient will not cause a tuberculosis infection, the body’s immune system will take action and react to the foreign agent. The test can take 2-3 days before results can be seen. In a negative test, there will be no swelling at the injection site. For a positive result, a small bump ranging in size from 5 to 15 mm will appear at the spot of the injection.

A positive result means that a person has been exposed to TB. The size of the bumps in different groups of people determines a positive result. In immune suppressed persons, a 5 mm bump is enough to be considered a positive result. A 10 mm bump is required for a positive result in person who have been exposed to high risk environments or in those who have chronic diseases that put them at a higher risk of developing TB. Finally, to obtain a positive result in people with no known risk factors for TB, a bump greater or equal to 15 mm is required.

Interferon gamma release assay tests are new blood tests that can detect the presence of TB bacterium. In these tests, a sample of blood is drawn from the patient and mixed with antigens. Antigens are molecules that produce a response from the immune system. The test is based on the fact that white blood cells that are active during the immune response will release a chemical called interferon gamma when exposed to particular antigens — in this case for TB. After a period of 12-16 hours, the amount of interferon gamma is measured to determine whether or not a person is infected.

Treatment Options

Without treatment, tuberculosis has a mortality rate of between 50% and 66%. Treated, the mortality rate for TB drops to 5%. Standard treatment of tuberculosis depends heavily on antibiotic regimens. The TB bacterium is very hardy and poses difficulty for antibiotics to gain entry into its cells. Unlike other bacterial infections, which can take a matter of days to clear with standard antibiotic therapy, tuberculosis treatments require periods of 6-24 months of antibiotic treatment to full rid the body of the bacteria. For active TB, the antibiotics of choice are rifampicin and isoniazid. In latent TB, only isoniazid is required.

The main problem with standard treatment options is the duration of treatment time, over the course of up to 2 years, can lead to patients who become non-compliant. Non-compliant patients are those who do not follow the course of treatment as prescribed and skip doses of antibiotics. A number of reasons may contribute to patient non-compliance including:

• The size of the pills
• The fact that some pills must be taken with food
• Forgetfulness
• Lack of motivation because the treatment lasts so long
• Prematurely assuming they are cured

It is very important to maintain a proper regiment when undergoing antibiotic treatment for tuberculosis because TB may not be fully eradicated or antibiotic resistant strains of TB may develop.

In recent years, drug resistant tuberculosis has become a major health issue. Drug resistant tuberculosis is TB that has mutated in such a way that rifampicin and isoniazid are no longer effective. Drug resistance can develop when patients skip doses of their medications. While the medications may kill off most of the bacteria, there are always some that survive the first doses.

When a person skips doses, these hardier bacteria survive and multiply. The person may restart the treatment, again killing all but the strongest bacteria. They may stop taking the drugs again, and the cycle repeats until eventually, fully drug resistant bacteria are born. These can be very difficult to treat since they have immunity against the most effective TB antibiotics.

To treat drug resistant TB, other, less effective and less efficient antibiotics may be used, however they may not be enough to stem the attack. In these cases, surgery to remove an infected part of the lung may be the only option.

Prevention

Preventing the spread of tuberculosis can be accomplished by treating those who are infected and those who have come in contact with the infected. Also, proper sanitation techniques such and hand washing, not touching one’s face, and wearing masks in high risks areas can help to prevent infection. A TB vaccine is available for children in high risk areas. Vaccinations of children for TB are common in developing nations that have a high rate of TB infection. Although the vaccine prevents TB in up to 80% of children, it is ineffective in protecting adults from pulmonary tuberculosis which is the most common form found in the world today.

Conclusion

Tuberculosis has been with human kind since antiquity and remains a problem to this day. In fact, tuberculosis is the most widespread disease in the world, infecting 1/3 of the world’s population. With the population of the earth nearing 6 billion people, that means that 2 billion are infected with TB. Most of these cases are latent TB, but active TB will develop in 10% of those infected. Without treatment, TB is often fatal, however, with modern antibiotics, the mortality rate of treated TB is less than 5%.

Many efforts are being made in TB research to create a vaccine that can be used universally to prevent TB in all groups. With any luck, in the near future, tuberculosis may finally be a distant memory with advancements in modern biochemistry and medicine. Until then, it is important to get screened for TB and to recognize its symptoms. Treated early and decisively, TB can be tamed, but waiting too long can lead to a less favorable outcome.

Definition of Dry Skin

The skin is the essential covering for the body, offering physical, thermal and moisture protection against the environment. The skin weighs more than twice the weight of the brain; and during a normal year sheds 1.5 pounds (0.68 kilograms) of dead cells. Alternative names, for the skin, are “dermis” or “dermal.”

There are multiple layers to the skin, the outermost layer is called the “epidermis” from the Greek prefix, “epi” which means “upon.” It is also referred to as the “stratum corneum.” Just like a garden, the skin consists of an outer layer of dead or peeling skin, that has the same function as mulch, deflecting harmful ultraviolet rays, drastic temperature changes, retains moisture and provides water-proofing. When this outer layer is damaged, it can lead to dry skin: “Xerosis Cutis” or “Xeroderma.”

Healthy skin is smooth, pliable and soft, moisturized by natural, lipid oils that are secreted by the sebaceous glands; these prevent evaporation, dehydration, and heat loss. Below the dead skin cells are the living skin cells, which include sweat glands, nerve endings and hair follicles.

Symptoms

When the skin is not properly moisturized due to the malfunctioning of the “stratum corneum,” dry skin is the result. Dry skin starts to shrink, like clothes, leading to cracks and fissures. Extreme conditions include pus oozing and bleeding.

Symptoms of dry skin can include the following:

• Acne-like bumps
• Cracking
• Discolouration
• Flaking
• Itchiness (Pruritus)
• “Parched” look
• Peeling
• Powder-like deposits
• Rash
• Redness
• Scaling
• Tightness
• Uncomfortable feeling.

A doctor should be called when the following serious conditions occur with the dry skin:

• Bleeding
• Oozing pus
• Severe cracks.

Causes

Specific

Most normal, healthy, skin is protected by a thin, layer of oil to prevent damage to more sensitive areas below. The most common specific causes of dry skin are harsh, cleaning chemicals (soap and detergents) and environmental factors (humidity, sun, temperature, and wind.) Many chemicals in common cleaning products strip “lipids” (oils, fats and wax molecules) from the top skin layer, leaving more sensitive layers underneath vulnerable. Every day, the weather can cause dry skin; this can be counteracted with normal lubrication via oil, lotion and cream.

Specific causes of dry skin are numerous, including the following:

• Alcohol-based cleansers
• Dehydration
• Dry heat
• Excessive washing
• Harsh chemical cleansers
• Heating systems – Fireplaces, furnaces, and heaters
• Malnutrition, a diet provides essential nutrients for skin growth, repair and recovery
• Medication treatments (like Antihistamines, Antispasmodics, Diuretics, and Retinoids)
• Sand, sun and wind
• Temporary, seasonal condition caused by low air humidity.

B.) General Categories

The following names some general dry skin causes:

• Diabetes – Poor glucose production leads to moisture evaporation
• Hodgkin’s Disease – Red, itchy patches
• Ringworm infection – Red, scaly, rash patches caused by fungus
• Sjogren’s Syndrome – Increases sensitivity to sunlight leading to burnt skin
• Thyroid conditions – Skin colour may change.

4.) Risk Factors

All people can develop dry skin, but some risk factors lead to more recurring dry skin.

Risk factors for dry skin include the following:

• Aging
• Babies, children and women have more sensitive skin
• Dry, dusty summer beach conditions
• Dry, winter climate
• Genetics
• Hormone changes
• Living in unhygienic conditions
• Poor diet – Vitamins A, B, C, E and K are good for skin
• Rough clothing fabrics
• Soking.

Prevention Tips

Moisture levels change every day in the skin, thus, it is wise to have lubricating oils, lotions and creams in constant supply. Especially, after bathing it is wise to use lubrication to re-moisturize the body after soaps and body cleansers dry out the skin. People who are concerned with dry skin should avoid high-alkaline, high-alcohol soaps.

People with more sensitive skin should try milder soaps and body washes, with ultra-moisturizing qualities, like Dove, Neutrogena or Oil of Olay, to see which ones have the best chemical pH balance for helping them retain skin moisture. Saunas and warm moderate temperature bathing can help keep skin pores remain clean and healthy.

Moisturizers, like Eucerin and Cetaphil, are good at helping keep water inside the skin after bathing. Apply baby oil when skin is still moist; moisturizing lotion and an extra layer of cleansing cream can help skin during times when dehydration is an increased threat.

It is wise to keep lotion on-hand always, in case, conditions dry skin out, then you can replenish your skin’s moisture quickly. Dry skin can be a vicious cycle – once skin gets dry, it starts to crack, open skin leads to bleeding or infection – which makes it even more difficult to treat. During harsh seasons, it may be wise to control bathing; constant hand washing quickly strips the body of essential oils.

Avoid drying environmental conditions, like the sun’s ultra-violet (UV) rays. Experts have carefully studied the sun’s light, dividing its ultra-violet rays into smaller segments, like UVA, UVB and UVC:

• UVA – Remains the same strength year-round, can cut through outer epidermis to damage underlying dermis
• UVB – Intensity changes based on hemisphere and season, most sunblocks protect against
• UVC – Most dangerous, usually are absorbed by ozone layer.

Using sunblock (sunscreen) with a Sun Protection Factor (SPF) over 15 can help protect against dangerous ultraviolet rays.

Laundry and Detergents

Using powerful detergent, chlorine chemical cleaning products can also dry skin quickly. Eco-friendly, neutral-pH products are best for washing; using protective, latex, rubber gloves while cleaning with harsh chemicals can also protect skin from dehydration. People should apply extra layers of lubrication before-and-after cleaning.

Those who suffer from dry skin must make sure that their towels, clothing and environment are particularly clean. A rough wash cloth can accumulate mold, mildew or dirt that might dry out the skin. Keeping the cleaning environment clean can help prevent dry skin.

Proper nutrition provides the basic vitamins, nutrients and minerals for nourishing the skin: Vitamins A, B, C, E and K are great for the skin. A good multivitamin can help prevent dry skin. Dietary supplements, like Omega-3, can help dry skin. Foods that are great for the skin include: cantaloupe, carrots, cheese, garlic, milk, nuts, onions, peaches, salmon, sardines, seeds, tuna and vegetables, yogurt, walnuts, and whole grains. Pure, extra virgin oils – coconut, olive and safflower – can also help prevent skin damage.

Stop engaging in negative behaviours that dry out the skin, like smoking, to prevent dry skin. Natural fibres, like cotton, can help the skin breathe better than artificial fabrics. A humidifier can also keep moisture in the air.

Test and Diagnosis Considerations

Testing

The most common tests for dry skin include 1.) “Skin Culture Swab” of the affected area searching for bacteria, fungus or yeast, or 2.) “Skin Lesion Biopsy” looking for serious conditions, like Eczema. These usually are conducted by a dermatologist who will also consider the patient’s family medical history and other risk factors.

Diagnosis Factors

Dermatologists will ask a series of questions in order to gather information that might reveal the source of your dry skin:

• When did you first notice your dry skin?
• Do you have a family history of dry skin?
• Which parts of your body are dry?
• What are your bathing habits?
• Are you taking any medication?
• Do you smoke?

Dry Skin Maladies

Different parts of the body can experience dry skin – face, ears, nose, hands and legs – that require different responses.

The following are the most serious dry skin maladies:

Atopic Dermatitis (Eczema) – This is a common dry skin condition leading to itchy, scales that could be fish-like and could be caused by food allergens. This occurs when skin cells fail to shed away properly; instead, the dry skin cells build up in polygonal shapes. These scales may turn different colours ranging from white to brown. Flaking, fissures and bleeding may occur. Lesions are also possible: “dry, scaly lesions,” “thick, chronic lesions,” and “weeping lesions.”

• Asteatotic Eczema (Eczema Craquele or Xerosis) is the abnormal drying of skin that may lead to cracked or fissured patches.
• Athlete’s Foot is a fungal infection of the foot that leads to dry flaking.
• Dermatitis is reddened round, scaly, skin.
• Ichthyosis Vulgaris sufferers experience fish-like scales on their skin.
• Keratosis Pilaris leads to small, hard, acne-like bumps within hair follicles. This condition may have some genetic characteristics.
• Nummular Eczema is allergy-related, with red, itchy, scaly lesions that have yellow crusts or pus due to oozing.
• Psoriasis is a chronic, recurring condition with red, scaly skin that might crack, ooze or bleed.

Treatment Options

Herbal and Home Remedies

The most basic of all cures for dry skin includes drinking plenty of water. There are many homemade remedies for maintaining skin moisture, including the mixture of organic granulated sugar, honey and extra virgin olive oil. Another skin treatment mixture is made of eggs, honey, olive oil and rose water.

Natural oils – almond, avocado, bitter orange, lemon and lime – are good for treating dry skin. Crisco vegetable shortening can be used to treat dry skin.

Vitamins and mineral supplements can assist in curing dry skin:

• Gotu Kola
• Green tea
• Honey
• Hyaluronic Acid
• Trypsin.

A milk bath is also a common home remedy to moisturize skin.

Holistic herbs for curing dry skin include these:

• Borage
• Calendula flower
• Chamomille tea
• Coltsfoot
• Comfrey plant
• Dandelion tea
• Geranium
• Fennel
• Hyssop
• Lavendar oil
• Oat extract
• Patchouli
• Peppermint tea
• Rose
• Sandlewood.

Pharmaceutical

External creamy, moisturizing cleansers with glycerin or petrolatum, such as, Aveeno Daily Moisturizing Body Wash or Oil of Olay Sensitive Skin Soap are good for treating dry skin.

Follow this step-by-step procedure for using moisturizers after bathing:

1.) Moisten dry skin
2.) Let water soak in
3.) Pat water to retain moisture
4.) Add bath oils,
5.) Cover body with lotions or creams that aren’t washed off easily.

High moisturizing oils include Neutrogena Light Sesame Seed Oil, Hermal Body Oil, and Alpha-Keri Oil. Wonderful dry skin lotion moisturizers include Lubriderm, Keri and Nutriplus. Skin cleansers, like Cetaphil Lotion, Oilatum-AD and Aquanil are also effective. Great, hypoallergenic, cream, moisturizers for dry skin include Carmol, Cetaphil, Nivea, and Nutraderm.

Additional Ointments

Vaseline Petroleum Jelly is a good moisturizing ointment. Oral Antihistimines that might relieve dry skin include Diphenhydramine (Benadryl), Hydroxyzine (Atarax), and Cetirizine (Zyrtec). Dry skin can lead to annoying itching; Anti-itch products containing Praxomine, Menthol, Camphor, Pramosone, Hydrocortisone, Triamcinolone, Clobetasol are safe to use for treatment.

A dermatologist might prescribe the following products for Dermatitis: an Immunomodulator, like Tacrolimus or Pimecrolimus. Antibiotics might be needed to treat bacterial infection from serious oozing lesions.

Common drugs for treating dry skin:

• Accutane
• Bactroban
• Benzoyl Peroxide
• Clobetasol
• Elidel
• Hydrocortisone
• Metrogel
• Nizoral.

When using a combination of Cortisone and moisturizer as a treatment; apply Cortisone first.

Specific Treatments

Eczema can be treated with moisturizing anti-itch oils, lotions, creams, topical Corticosteroids, along with a wet dressing for “weeping lesions.” “Thick, chronic lesions” can be treated with tar-based compounds and anti-inflammatory medicines to lubricate and soften the skin. Antihistamines might attack the allergic problems underlying the symptoms. Dermatologists might prescribe oral Corticosteroids to reduce inflammation or Topical Immunomodulators (TIMs) – Tacrolimus (Protopic) or Pimecrolimus (Elidel) – for hypersensitivity. A cold compress can reduce redness and itchiness.

Keratosis Pilaris has rough patches that can be treated with moisturizing lotions and creams, made of lactic acid, urea, glycolic acid, salicylic acid, and tretonoin, for handling the itchiness. This condition will return if therapy regimen is not continued.

Surgeries

Surgery is an extreme response that isn’t usually used for dry skin problems.

Side effects

Risks

Dry skin that continues as a problem can lead to the following side effects:

• Bacterial infection
• Bleeding
• Cellulitis
• Discoloration
• Disfigurement
• Insomnia
• Lichenification (roughness)
• Mental distress
• Painful cracks
• Wrinkles.

Efficacy

Most oils, lotions and creams are very effective at treating dry skin when combined with good diet, environment control and other pharmaceuticals, like Antibiotics, for extreme conditions, like pus oozing.

Costs

Most treatments are very affordable.

Resources

WebMd.com Tips
MayoClinic.org

When fungi infect a nail, the result can be an infection of nail fungus called onychomycosis. A white or yellow spot appearing under the tip of the nail may be the first sign of a nail fungal infection. The nail may become discolored, thickened and develop brittle crumbling edges as the fungus goes deeper into the nail. The condition is usually not painful and often has no other symptoms, but it is unsightly and can be painful for some people. If the nails become very thick, wearing shoes may be uncomfortable unless you trim down the thickness. However, you must use great care when trimming the thickened nail, because excessive bleeding may occur if you cut into the quick.

When a nail is infected, a condition called onycholysis may also develop, which causes the nail to separate from the nail bed. Onycholysis may cause pain in fingertips or toes and produce a faint odor. Toenail fungus can also cause serious complications for people with diabetes or for people with suppressed immune systems.

Toenail fungus infections are often hard to treat, because it is difficult to reach the infection that embeds itself inside the nail. Nails may clear up for a time after treatment only to have the condition recur later. However, there are various home remedies as well as medications available to treat nail fungus. A complete cure of the condition may take as long as a year and sometimes longer.

Symptoms

• Nails with distorted shapes
• Thickened nails
• Nails with crumbly, ragged or brittle edges
• Nails with a dull appearance
• Debris build up under the nails causing them to become discolored or to darken

After a fungal infection gets started in a nail, it will usually remain indefinitely unless it is treated, so begin to treat the condition at the first sign of nail fungus.

Risk Factors

• Living in a warm climate
• Working in a damp or humid location
• Shoes and socks that do not absorb perspiration and that hamper ventilation
• Walking in damp public shower rooms, gyms and swimming pools without shoes on your feet
• Heavy perspiration
• Family history of the condition
• Older age
• Being in poor health
• Having athlete’s foot or psoriasis
• A weak immune system, poor circulation or diabetes
• An injured nail, injured skin or an infection

Older people usually have reduced blood circulation, and their nails grow slower and get thicker as they age, causing a greater risk for infection. Men tend to be more prone to toenail fungus than women, especially if they have a family history of the condition.

People with immune systems weakened by AIDS, leukemia, cancer treatments or other medication and those who have diabetes or have had an organ transplant should see a doctor immediately if they have symptoms of nail fungus. These infections can spread to other areas of their bodies and cause serious problems. Diabetics frequently have an impaired nerve supply to their feet because of poor blood circulation and have a greater risk of developing a serious skin infection called cellulitis. Even a seemingly minor injury or nail fungal infection can cause potentially serious consequences for people with diabetes.

Even people who do not have weakened immune systems may experience pain and permanent damage to their nails from fungal infections.

Causes

Molds and yeasts or a group of fungi called dermatophytes can cause nail fungal infections. These fungi are microscopic organisms and can survive without sunlight. The warm, moist environments in showers and swimming pools are ideal places for these microscopic organisms to live, and they can attack your skin even through invisible cuts or a tiny separation between your nail and nail bed.

They typically cause infections only when your exposure to warmth and moisture is continuous. Toenail fungus occurs more frequently than fingernail fungus, because shoes provide a perfect warm, moist environment for fungi to flourish, and the blood does not circulate in the toes as well as it does in the fingers, so your immune system does not fight against the infection as effectively in the toes. People over 60 years old usually have a slightly weakened defense against the invasion of fungi, so they are more prone to develop toenail fungus as they age.

Prevention

It is always better and easier to prevent an infection than to attempt to cure it, so here are a few tips to help prevent toenail fungus:

• Always use good hygiene, keep nails clean and wash your hands after touching a nail that has infection to prevent spreading it to other nails.
• Keep nails trimmed short and straight across, and file thick areas of your nails.
• Dry your toes well after swimming or bathing.
• Wear synthetic socks to draw moisture away and to help keep your feet dryer than they would be if you wore wool or cotton socks. During cold weather, you can wear wool or cotton socks over the synthetic socks to keep your feet warm. If your feet perspire, change your socks frequently. Remove your shoes periodically, and wear open-toed shoes occasionally.
• Do not cut or tear the skin around your nails to help prevent germs from invading.
• Wear shoes or flip-flops in public showers and around pools.
• Treat your feet and the insides of your shoes with anti-fungal powder or spray.
• If you get pedicures, either bring your own instruments, or ensure that your nail salon sterilizes their instruments before using them on your toes.
• Do not trap moisture on your nails by wearing polish or artificial nails.

Tests and Diagnosis

Psoriasis, contact dermatitis, yellow nail syndrome, nail bed tumor and other conditions can appear to be a nail fungal infection, so your doctor will need to scrape some of the debris from under your infected nail and analyze it to identify the cause of your infection. Your doctor can examine the debris under a microscope or culture it in a lab. Yeast and bacteria microorganisms as well as fungi can infect your nails, so your doctor can decide on the best treatment when he or she knows what is causing your infection.

Cures and Remedies

Pharmacutical remedies

Toenail fungus is usually hard to heal, and it often recurs after healing. You can get non-prescription ointments and creams to treat it, but they usually are not very successful in curing the infection.

Prescription Lacquer

If your infection is not severe, your doctor may prescribe ciclopirox, an anti-fungal nail polish called Penlac, for you to apply to your nails and skin every day for about a year. You should apply the polish daily for a week, and then use alcohol to wipe off the layers of Penlac and start the process again, keeping it up for a year. It has been effective in clearing some toenail fungus infections when used as directed, and it is usually more effective when used in combination with topical urea cream. Ciclopiroxolamine and butenafine are also used to treat nail fungus and are effective when used every day for a year or longer.

Topical Medications and Lotions

Your doctor may advise you to use other topical anti-fungal medications, and apply them along with a non-prescription lotion that contains urea, which helps them absorb faster. Your doctor may decrease the amount of infected nail to treat with a process called debridement – filing the surface of your nail. That process may increase the topical medications effectiveness. Topical medications normally do not cure the toenail fungus unless you use them in combination with oral medications.

Oral Medications

Your doctor may recommend an oral anti-fungal medication like terbinafine – Lamisil, or itraconazole, – Sporanox. Studies show that these products are the most effective for treating toenail fungus. When you take these medications for six weeks to three months, you should grow a new nail without infection, taking the place of the infected nail. It may take more than four months to get rid of an infection with these medications, and the infection may return if your feet remain in a warm, moist environment. When you use terbinafine in conjunction with amorolfine nail lacquer, it can be more successful and produce more cost effective results.

Oral medication is frequently recommended for people who experience pain or discomfort due to a nail infection, have diabetes or cellulitis and for those who dislike the appearance of their infected toenails and want an effective treatment for it.

Side Effects

Possible side effects of anti-fungal drugs can be as minor as skin rashes or as severe as liver damage. Consequently, doctors may advise people who have liver disease, congestive heart failure or are taking certain medications not to take anti-fungal drugs.

Surgery

If you have a very painful or acute nail infection, your doctor may recommend surgical removal of your nail. You will probably grow a new nail to take its place, but it may be a year long process for it to completely grow back. After removing the infected nail, your doctor may treat the nail bed with ciclopirox to help prevent recurrence of the infection.

Photodynamic Therapy

Photodynamic therapy involves using a laser to irradiate the nail after treating it with an acid. The laser light source kills fungus in the nail bed. Physicians have been using a Noveon-type laser for some types of cataract surgery, and it is now proving to be quite effective at treating toenail fungus with no pain. Even common laser pointers can aid the appearance and growth of an infected nail when they are pointed close to the nail for a few minutes each week.

Home Remedies

Some people prefer to treat toenail fungus with home remedies because they are less expensive, and the medical treatments are not always effective. These home remedies have no controlled clinical trials to prove their effectiveness, but some people have reported that they helped or cured their nail fungus. As with all toenail fungus treatments, it can take a long time six months to a year for any remedy to work, so do not become discouraged and stop the treatment too quickly. If you are persistent, you may find relief for your condition.

Vinegar

Studies have shown that vinegar hampers the growth of certain bacteria. Experts recommend that you soak your feet in a solution of one part vinegar to two parts warm water for 15 to 20 minutes every day. After soaking, rinse and dry your feet well. If the vinegar soak causes irritation, make the solution weaker, or soak for a shorter time or less frequently.

Vicks VapoRub

People with toenail fungus have reported that applying Vicks VapoRub to the affected area has helped with the condition. Your doctor can advise you about how to use this remedy to gain the most benefit from it.

Hydrogen Peroxide

Some people have reported that applying hydrogen peroxide to infected nails daily helps the condition to some extent. The peroxide helps to control the excessive bleeding that occurs if you trim a nail too closely.

Bleach

You may be able to cure toenail fungus with household bleach diluted in water and applied to the toenail.

Use toenail clippers to trim your nails as short as you can without cutting into the quick. This assures that the bleach will reach more of the fungus. File the toenails down from the top, using care not to go through the nails. There are several different methods for treating toenail fungus with bleach.

• Mix one part of bleach with ten parts of water and apply to your infected toenails with a cotton swab. Leave the mixture on your toenails, and apply a fresh coat of the solution twice a day.
• Use a bleach pen to apply bleach to your toenails after bathing, and do not rinse it off.
• Mix one part of bleach to ten parts of water and soak your feet in the solution for 15 to 20 minutes every day. Thoroughly rinse and dry your feet after soaking.
• You may soak your feet in the mixture for 30 minutes one time a week if your condition is less severe, or to eliminate the possibility of recurrence after a cure.

Keep soaking your feet for at least three months to be certain that your fungus is completely eliminated. If you do not see improvement in a few months, continue the treatment for at least a year before giving up. If you are not consistent with the treatment and let it lapse, the fungus may get stronger, and you will have to start over.

HERBAL REMEDIES

Some natural ingredients are successful in helping to heal fungus, but they may not work very quickly or be as effective as you would like them to be. However, there have been some very effective products developed recently, and they seem to produce successful results rather quickly. The following products were tested and proved to remove toenail fungus and improve toenail appearance dramatically.

ZetaClear has proved to be effective in treating toenail fungus with all natural ingredients. The product proved to be 100% effective in tests, and most users reported improvement in about two weeks. Their toenails were free of fungus after about three months, but some people kept using the product for a while longer to ensure that the infection would not recur. They reported clear, shiny healthy looking nails after using the product. ZetaClear uses natural oils in its formula and is extremely potent, but it does not cause skin irritation.

Fungisil is another highly effective product and produces the same results as ZetaClear, but it may take about a month longer for some people to eliminate toenail fungus. Fungisils success rate is also 100% and leaves users with healthy nails after treatment.

Another natural treatment for toenail fungus is Nail-Rx by Native Remedies. It has a 90% rate of success and provides excellent results for most users. The fungal infection was completely gone after only three months of use for 80% of those tested.

ALTERNATIVE REMEDIES

The following remedies have no scientific verification, but have been effective in treating toenail fungus for some people.

• Some people report curing toenail fungus with Australian tea tree oil, but there is no verification of its effectiveness.
• Some studies show that Thyme oil has the potential to be effective in treating toenail fungus.
• Some people believe that grapefruit seed extract is a natural antimicrobial, but studies show that the antimicrobial activity in the extract may be due to contamination with synthetic preservatives that were probably not made from grapefruit seeds.

Cost of Treatment

• The cost of laser treatment can be from $1000 to $2500, and insurance policies usually do not cover the procedure.
• Oral medication may have a cost of around $1000.
• Natural remedies can cost from about $100 to $200, and many of them are highly effective.
• Non-prescription creams and ointments are fairly inexpensive sometimes costing less than $20 – but are usually not very effective.
• Alternative remedies usually cost less than $50, but there are no studies proving their effectiveness.
• Home remedies are very economical and usually use products that you already have in your kitchen.

It does not seem to matter whether you use prescription medication, natural products or home remedies to treat toenail fungus it takes at least a minimum of three months to cure, and sometimes the process takes over a year. Depending on the method of treatment you choose, it can also be quite expensive. Whichever remedy you decide to use, be patient and persistent, use good hygiene and common sense and then finally say good-bye to toenail fungus.

What is a Hangover?

A hangover can be best described as the effect of too much alcohol or drug consumption. Many people can associate with a hangover mainly because it is normally experienced the morning after a long and pleasurable night of drinking. There are two types of hangovers. The first type, which is the most common, is systematic. This means the hangover simply affects the internal body systems. The second type of hangover is a drug related condition that causes adverse reactions, intoxication, and possibly an overdose. Although a hangover can be caused by alcohol, it can also be caused by other types of drugs.

The length of a hangover usually depends on the person. Most hangovers will only last during the morning, while some will last for a full 24 hours. The length of the hangover depends on how many drinks were consumed the night before, the body type of the person experiencing the hangover, and the genetic predisposition of the person experiencing the hangover. Another factor can be the type of drink that was consumed and the food that was consumed.

There are not a lot of alternative words to the hangover condition. However, other countries use certain phrases, such as œkac by the Polish, œbabbelas in South Africa, œkater in Germany, and œcrudo in Mexico. While these terms will not be common in America, you may call a hangover the œIrish Flu or even œthe high cost of low living. In fact, many terms that people use when they have the hangover.

While some of these terms can be quite tasteless, like the term œTechnicolor yawn, some terms can be quite interesting, like the term œdawn damage. No matter what you call it, the hangover is something that many people have experienced. Many people will continue to experience it, simply because alcohol consumption has become a part of today’s society.

Symptoms Of a Hangover

The main reason why a hangover is so disliked is that there are many symptoms. A hangover can completely ruin your day, especially if you have important things to take care of. Symptoms of a Hangover include:

• Headaches
• Nausea
• Photophobia, or the dislike of light
• Irritability
• Bloodshot eyes
• Indigestion
• Thirst
• Noise sensitivity
• Fatigue
• Difficulty concentrating
• Difficulty making decisions
• Lack of sleep
• Dizziness
• Rapid heartbeat
• Shakiness

The symptoms of a hangover can vary from person to person. In addition, the seriousness of your hangover depends entirely on the amount of alcohol that you consumed and the steps that you took to prevent the hangover from happening. A hangover can cause many problems. As a result of the headache, you may become extremely irritable. This could ruin your relationship with others, especially if you consume alcohol on a regular basis.

Hangovers can affect your entire life, especially if you have to go to work the next day. This is because a hangover can affect your ability to function in every day life. It also affects your ability to make decisions and concentrate. Since your body is dealing with so many things at once, you may not be able to function properly. Although it may not seem like at the time of your alcohol consumption, your body will be in havoc the next morning.

Not Sleeping Enough

It is dealing with your dehydration, your upset stomach, and other problems. On top of that, if you have not had enough sleep, your body is not able to cope with your hangover. Because of this, many people often choose to drink the night before they have to do anything important. It has to be planned out. When it is planned out the body can be given a day to cope with the hangover. Of course, this can be stopped if you know how to pace yourself and limit that amount of alcohol that you consume. There is a difference between having fun and drinking to excess.

If you or someone you know is experiencing the following symptoms, you may need to call a doctor:

• Confusion or disorientation
• Persistent vomiting
• Seizures
• Slow breathing or irregular breathing
• Blue tinted skin or pale skin
• Hypothermia or cold skin
• Unconsciousness

This could be a sign of alcohol poisoning. This is a result of too much alcohol in the system. While the hangover is a mild condition, alcohol poisoning can become extremely lethal.

What Alcohol Does To Your Body

Previously in this article, the symptoms of a hangover was mentioned and described. You may be wondering about how the alcohol causes these symptoms. Alcohol does many things to your body, which in turn causes the next morning’s symptoms. If you were to know what alcohol does, you may be able to take preventative measures.

Many people know that alcohol produces more urine, or causes you to urinate more often. This is a result of your body trying to clean out your system. Since you are using the bathroom often, the alcohol is causing your body to suffer from dehydration. Alcohol also causes an inflammatory response from your immune system. Because of this, certain agents can be triggered that can keep you from focusing on certain tasks. This can also affect your overall mood.

Alcohol can irritate the lining of your stomach. It increases the production of stomach acid in your body. This keeps your stomach from fully emptying itself. This may cause abdominal pain, nausea, and of course, vomiting.

Falling Blood Sugar

Your blood sugar can fall because of drinking too much alcohol. This could cause you to feel tired, weak, and upset. Things can annoy you easily and you may be shaking uncontrollably.

Alcohol increases your blood flow. As a result, your blood vessels may expand, causing extreme headaches on your part. Additionally, although alcohol makes you sleepy, it decreases the quality of your sleep. Since you need sleep in order to recharge your body, this could affect you significantly.

Causes of a Hangover

The most common cause of a hangover is alcohol. It can be caused by drinking too much alcohol. For some people, one drink is enough to cause a hangover. Your intoxication level depends on the size of your body. For example, if you do not weigh much, you have a higher chance of being more affected by one drink. Studies have shown that women are likely to have a hangover after three or five alcoholic beverages. Men are likely to have a hangover after five or six beverages. This is because men have more water in their body than women, and their body can soak up the alcohol easier.

Of course, these numbers can change if there are other factors that help or hurt your position.

Risk Factors

Nearly anyone can have a hangover. However, there are certain factors that can change how sever your hangover is. One common risk factor is the type of alcohol that you drink. For example, it is common knowledge that white liquor has less of a chance of causing a hangover than brown liquor. Examples of brown liquor include bourbon, scotch, tequila, brandy, or and red wine. A common example of white liquor is vodka. Even though vodka is less likely to cause a hangover, it can still cause a hangover if too much of it is consumed.

You may be wondering why brown liquor is more likely to cause a hangover. In brown liquor, there is a high level of congeners in brown liquor. This can contribute to hangovers. Congeners are used to change the coloring and the flavor of alcohol.

What you do before you begin drinking also affects your chances of receiving a headache. For example, if you were to drink on an empty stomach, you are more likely to get a hangover the next morning. You are also more likely to become intoxicated more quickly. This is because there is no food in your body to soak up some of the alcohol that you are consuming.

If you use other drugs while you are drinking, your chances of a hangover are increased. The drug that you use could be illegal, but even nicotine can increase your chances of a hangover. In addition, if you do not get enough sleep after you have become intoxicated, you will probably have a hangover. This is because your body needs rest after having gone through so much.

If you have a family history of alcoholism, you may be genetically predisposed to hangovers after consuming alcohol. Your body could absorb alcohol differently than others. Consequently, if you regularly consume alcohol, your body may build up a tolerance. This could keep you from having many hangovers.

Prevention Tips

Many people probably try to find the secret to not getting the hangover. However, there is no real cure to a hangover. There are certain things that you can do that may reduce the pain. The true key is to not over indulge in alcohol consumption. If you follow the following steps, you could possibly prevent a hangover.

• Do not drink alcohol on an empty stomach. In fact, if you were to eat food with fat in them, you are more likely to soak up the alcohol. Pizza is a good example of this.
• While you are drinking, pace yourself. It is important that you do not drink too much. Do not drink everything at once, either. A good idea is to drink maybe once alcoholic drink each hour.
• While you are doing this, you might want to sip on water in between drinks. This can keep your body hydrated and balance the fight between alcohol and water.
• Consistency is what may keep you from a horrible hangover in the morning. For example, if you are drinking brown liquor, do not switch to white liquor. Try drinking only one type of liquor, and do not change brands. If you stay consistent, you reduce your risk.
• As mentioned before, if you want to avoid a hangover, you should watch out for your limit. If you know that you have had too much, you may want to stop drinking. If you are intoxicated and you know that you are starting to lose yourself, this is a sign of having too much to drink.

Tests and Diagnosis Considerations

If you may think that you have a hangover, you might want to take into consideration anything else that may affect your body. For example, other medical conditions may cause the same symptoms. This may include meningitis, which causes photophobia.

Medications can cause symptoms that are mistaken for hangovers as well. These medications include chloral hydrate and Dormel. If you are taking medication, make sure that you are not experiencing any serious side effects. Additionally, if you were exposed to chemicals or a type of toxin, this may be the cause of your symptoms.

Treatment Options

When you have a hangover, there is no doubt that you are in extreme pain. There are certain things that can help with this, however.

Since you are dehydrated as a result of the alcohol, you could try drinking water or fruit juice. Whatever you do, avoid drinking alcohol when you wake up in the morning. There is a myth that drinking alcohol the morning after will cure your hangover. This is not true. It will postpone the hangover, but this is all it does. Remember that alcohol caused the problem in the first place, and more alcohol will make it worse.

Since alcohol is prone to lowering your blood sugar, you might want to try eating a snack. Toast and crackers can raise your blood sugar level. Additionally, you might want to eat foods that can replace the salt and potassium in your body. This may include bananas and the crackers that can raise your blood sugar level. Eating eggs can also help remove the alcohol toxin from your body, since it contains cysteine. Cysteine breaks down the acetaldehyde in your body.

Painkillers

Another easy way to treat your hangover is to simply take painkillers. This can ease your headache and other symptoms. However, if you take painkillers after you have finished drinking, this will not do anything. It could cause possible liver damage, but it cannot prevent a hangover. This is because the painkillers will likely wear off by the time you wake up in the morning. Additionally, by digesting painkillers you are giving your liver something else to digest while it is still trying to handle the alcohol. Pain relievers can be a bad idea if you have consumed too much alcohol. Aspirin has the potential to irritate your stomach, while Tylenol can cause liver damage.

Many people just take painkillers and go back to sleep when they wake up. This is truly a smart thing to do. If you were to eat food, drink water, take painkillers, and go back to sleep, you are essentially trying to give your body everything that it is missing. Proper sleep can heal your body more than anything else can. If your stomach is upset, you may want to take antacids as well.

Take it Easy

If you are suffering from a hangover, your best chance is to take it easy for the rest of day. You need to give your body time to recuperate. Make sure you drink plenty of water in order to keep your body hydrated. Do not drink soda or coffee. Despite contrary belief, coffee can actually dehydrate your body further. Although it gives you the extra energy that you may need, caffeine can actually make your hangover worse.

Head Congestion

There are four pairs of paranasal sinuses. Frontal sinuses are located above the eyes in the forehead bones. Your maxillary sinuses are the largest. They are found in the cheekbones and under your eyes. Ethmoid sinuses are between the eyes and the nose. The sphenoid sinuses are in the center of the head, behind the nose and eyes.

Your sinus cavities have a specific job. They are there to warm, moisten, and filter the air that we breathe. Healthy sinuses will allow your mucus to drain and air to circulate. When they become blocked, they can’t do their job properly. Millions of people suffer from blocked sinuses. This often leads to head congestion.

Symptoms

The symptoms of head congestion are very common. You may notice nasal stuffiness. Pain and/or pressure in your head, face, and eyes. You may have a cough and/or runny nose. Your eyes may water and itch. Some people notice that their ears feel clogged.They have a low sense of smell. You may notice increased fatigue. Some people say they feel dizzy at times.

What causes head congestion? There are a number of possibilities. Check with your doctor for a positive diagnosis. There are some common and well known causes for head congestion. A cold or a flu will often cause congestion. Allergies are on the rise, a vast number of people suffer from nasal symptoms because of an allergic reaction to certain substances.

A deviated septum can cause sinus symptoms. Your doctor can determine if this is the case for you. Certain medications may cause nasal symptoms. If this becomes bothersome, check with your doctor. A sinus infection is a common ailment. People with a sinus infection will notice facial pain and sensitivity. They may notice a yellow or green nasal discharge. A sinus infection is known to cause severe head congestion.

There are other possible causes for head congestion. Some of them can make your syptoms worse:

• Lack of sleep. If you are prone to sinus symptoms, it is important to get plenty of sleep.
• Lack of water. Try to drink plenty of fluids throughout your day. Water, juice, and tea are all good choices. Stay away from caffiene. This can make your symptoms worse.
• Lack of exercise. Believe it or not regular exercise will help with your head congestion.
• Some people have blocked sinuses. Your doctor may order a CT scan or an MRI. This can help determine if there is a blockage in your sinuses. Your doctor can offer you treatment options.
• Food allergies may be the culprit. Most people think that their symptoms come from airborne allergens. They may not realize that the problem could be their diet. If you suspect that your symptoms may be related to your diet, try keeping a food diary. Note any reactions to what you eat.
• Having a cold or flu can cause head congestion. If you have a fever, it is likely to be the flu. If you think you have the flu, see your doctor as soon as possible.
• New research suggests that there may be a link between head congestion and gastroesophageal reflux. If your reflux is severe enough, it can reach the nasal area. Over the counter Proton Pump Inhibitors have been known to relieve congestion.

Treatment

• There are a number of remedies available to treat head congestion. The choice is yours.
• Pseudoral (Sudafed)– This works to shrink blood vessels and swollen membranes in your nasal passages. It helps nasal congestion. Choose a non-drowsy formula. Take 1-2 tablets every 4-6 hours.
• Nasal Sprays Can be effective but if used too often they can lead to rebound congestion which may make your symptoms worse. Use with care.
• Tylenol Cold and Head Congestion is an analgesic, decongestant, and cough suppressant. It helps reduce swelling in your nasal passages. It also helps with pain and ends a dry cough.
• Nasal adheisive strips can be placed on your nose, to make breathing easier. This can be helpful at bedtime.
• You may want to try a gentle saline nasal spray. These are safe and can be used several times a day.
• Increase the humidity in your home. Find a good vaporizer or humidifier. Moist air helps to loosen mucus. You may also find it helpful to take a warm bath or shower.
• Nasal irrigation will help clear your nasal passages. This is a fairly inexpensive option. You can choose from many different brands. Check your local drugstore, many people swear by these products.
• Zinc lozenges are known to help reduce the duration of cold symptoms. However, there is no proof that it can help head congestion.
• Vitamin C– A daily dose can help relieve head congestion and help reduce your risk for a cold.
• Garlic. Many cultures use garlic as a cure all. It is known to have anibacterial and antifungal properties. In order to get the full effect you should make sure that the garlic is chopped or crushed and raw.
• Honey mixed into your tea may help you get over a cough or cold.
• Aromatic and herbal tea, chicken soup, or a salty liquid can help with a dizzy feeling and head congestion.
• Inhale some steam. You can use a pan of water, a tea kettle, or a hot shower. This will help to loosen thick mucus and open your nasal passages. You should plan to do this for ten minutes, 3 or 4 times a day.
• Get plenty of Omega 3 fatty acids. Adding this to your diet can reduce your risk of developing alllergies. You can find Omega 3 in fish, fish oil capsules, flaxseed oil, and walnuts.

Acupuncture

People who suffer from chronic head congestion may benefit fromAcupuncture. There is a school of thought that states that accupuncture can help with a variety of medical conditions. It has been know to help with the immune system and the entire body.

Acupuncture involves the use of very thin needles. They are inserted into specific parts of the body in order to regulate the immune response to allergens. Many people believe that acupuncture can restore the body’s natural balance.

If you suffer from head congestion you are in search of a remedy. It may take some time to find the method that works best for you. You have a lot of options. From over-the-counter medications to natural home remedies, you can find relief for your symptoms.

Anorexia Nervosa Symptoms

Psychological Symptoms

• Restricting or ceasing food consumption
• An intense fear of weight gain
• Weighing under 85% of normal body weight
• Excessive exercising
• Viewing your body as overweight, even when it is thin
• Secretive about eating or only eating when alone
• Abnormal eating habits or rituals

Physical Symptoms

• Constipation
• Low body weight or rapid weight loss
• Dry skin
• Unusually small breasts
• Thinning hair or hair loss
• Lack of menstrual cycle or menstrual cycle abnormalities
• Brittle nails
• Low body temperature
• Slower than normal heartbeat (usually less than 60 beats per nute)
• Low blood pressure
• Increased tolerance for pain
• Swollen hands or feet
• Purplish skin hue
• Yellowish skin hue on hands

Causes

The cause of anorexia is believed to be a combination of emotional, social, and physical triggers, but the exact cause is unknown.

Genetics are believed to be one of the largest factors in developing anorexia. Individuals who develop anorexia are more likely to have a family history of eating disorders, mood disorders, depression, anxiety, and obesity.

Sometimes anorexia can be partially caused by over dieting, which alters the way the body metabolizes food. This causes individuals to become more susceptible to eating disorders.

In some individuals, trauma or personal difficulties can result in the development of anorexia. This is especially common in teens and young adults. External stresses, such as a death, trauma, divorce, or move can trigger the onset of anorexia.
It is also believed that particular personality traits can cause anorexia, such as low self-confidence and perfectionism. This can be due to social or family pressures.

Risk Factors

• Personality traits, such as low self-esteem, and perfectionism.
• Emotional conditions, such as depression, and anxiety.
• A family history of anorexia, bulimia, obesity, depression, or anxiety.
• Family, social, or cultural pressures that emphasise perfection and physical beauty.

Prevention

There are currently no known methods of preventing the development of anorexia. Most doctors recommend early recognition of the symptoms and immediate treatment. If you or someone you know may be suffering from anorexia, visit the doctor immediately and get help.

Prevention for Parents

Parents should educate themselves about the causes and symptoms of anorexia. Most doctors believe that anorexia is caused, at least in part, by social and family pressures. It’s important that parents speak with their children about developing a healthy body image. Parents should also promote positive thinking through compliments and constructive criticism.

Additionally, parents should teach their children how to lead healthy and active lifestyles. Exercise should be fun and an important part of every childern’s life. Parents should educate their children about ways to take care of their bodies and live healthy lives.

Parents should avoid punishing or rewarding children through the use of offering or restricting food. This can create a negative association with eating that may lead to the development of anorexia.

Diagnosis

There is no standard test for determining whether or not an individual is suffering from anorexia. The symptoms of anorexia are usually fairly apparent and can be diagnosed through observation or patient information.

If patients appear to be suffering from an eating disorder, the doctor will usually ask him or her a series of questions. The questions will help the doctor determine whether or not an eating disorder is the cause of the patients symptoms.

Additionally, the doctor will check patients for signs of malnutrition, which is caused by not obtaining the proper level of nutrients from food.

There are several other tests and exams that are commonly administered to patients exhibiting symptoms of anorexia, including:

• A standard physical examination. The doctor will check the patients heart, blood pressure, weight, lungs, skin, and hair. This will help determine whether or not the patient is experiencing malnutrition.
• The doctor will also look through the patients medical history to determine the patients mental, emotional, and physical health. This will help the doctor rule out any other causes of the symptoms.
• A mental health assessment will most likely be performed by the doctor or another trained professional. This will help determine if depression, anxiety, or any other emotional disorder is causing the symptoms of anorexia.
• Blood tests may also be administered to check for signs of malnutrition.
• An x-ray may be performed to determine whether or not the patient has experienced bone weakening as a result of malnutrition.
• Heart or kidney tests are sometimes performed in severe cases of anorexia or weight loss that may have lead to organ damage.

Treatment Options

Individuals suffering from anorexia need to seek immediate medical intervention. Generally, this involves seeing a general physician and a counselor that can work through the emotional issues associated with anorexia. While there is no set treatment plan for anorexia, the disorder is considered to be a treatable condition.

The counselor will help patients work through the underlying causes of anorexia, which are usually emotional issues or pressures from family, friends, or society. Assessing and working through the underlying causes of anorexia is vital to a proper treatment plan. Only treating the issue at its surface will encourage the anorexia to return throughout the patients life.

Anorexia treatment becomes much easier once the body gains weight and is able to heal. Once the body is able to pull itself out of starvation mode, the mind and body begin to work their way back into sync. This allows the individual to think more clearly and make decisions about their physical and mental health.

Behavioural family therapy may also be recommended, especially in cases involving parents, children, or spouses. The therapy will help train the family to deal with the issue of anorexia. Family members will learn how to be more supportive and understanding of the individual suffering from anorexia. This will help develop a support system for the patient that can help lead to a faster and lasting recovery.

Group therapy may also be recommended. Group therapy provides an atmosphere that is comfortable and encourages discussions. Many individuals suffering from anorexia find encouragement in other people battling the disorder. Group therapy can also build a strong support system for the patient.

Parents of children or teens suffering from anorexia may be encouraged to take control over the childern’s eating habits.

This will allow the parents and the doctors to ensure that the child is getting the nutrients that he or she needs to recover and return to a healthy weight.

The child will slowly earn back his or her right to determine when and what he or she eats.

Hospitalization

In severe cases of anorexia, hospitalization may be necessary. Patients may be admitted to a hospital if they are believed to be at risk of suicide, starvation, or a medical crisis. The hospital will ensure that the patient is stable and capable of continuing treatment outside of a medical facility.

Individuals who are not considered high risk are usually treated at an outpatient facility.

Home Remedies

When treating anorexia, the largest concern is nutrition and weight gain. The best home remedy for anorexia is a balanced diet. Individuals suffering from anorexia should start their treatment by eating several small meals throughout the day. Eating as much as possible and as often as possible will result in the stomach slowly stretching to accommodate more food. As more food is consumed, the body is better able to heal and the mind achieves a higher level of clarity. This will improve the Individuals ability to recover from anorexia.

While eating a balanced diet is the best remedy for individuals suffering from anorexia, it can also be a treatment that is difficult to maintain. Many individuals with anorexia have difficulty feeling hungry and may have stomachs that are too small to accommodate large meals.

There are a number of home remedies that can help increase appetite, which will lead to weight gain and adequate nutrition in individuals with anorexia.

Fresh Fruits & Natural Remedies

Fresh fruits can effectively treat anorexia because they promotes an increase in appetite. Those suffering from anorexia should eat 2-3 oranges per day to increase appetite. Apples also effectively increase appetite and provide fiber that encourages proper digestion.

One of the most popular home remedies for the treatment of anorexia is ginger and rock salt. The ginger should be cut into a small piece with the skin removed. A paste should be created by smashing the ginger and adding a few drops of lemon juice, a small pinch of rock salt, and a black pepper. This paste should be eaten once daily on an empty stomach and is said to increase appetite.

A salad eaten before each meal is another effective treatment for anorexia. The salad should have a small sprinkle of rock salt, pepper, and lemon. This will create an appetite in individuals with anorexia and encourage them to eat larger meals.

Garlic is another effective anorexia treatment. Those suffering from anorexia should boil 3-4 cloves of garlic in a mug or bowl. Lime juice can be added to improve the taste or the garlic water can be combined with other ingredients to create a soup. This recipe encourages a strong appetite and should be taken two times a day.

Spicy Foods

Many people believe that spicy foods help create a strong appetite. Individuals suffering from anorexia may benefit from eating several spicy meals per week.

Walnuts

Walnuts and almonds are a good source of nutrients and also help improve emotional health. This can help treat the underlying emotional causes of anorexia.

Yoga & Meditation

Yoga, meditation, and a personal journal can all help combat the emotional causes of anorexia. Good mental health is the key to recovering from anorexia.

In addition to home remedies, there are a number of herbs that have been proven to promote appetite. These herbs can be boiled into a tea or used as dressings for salads.

• Chamomile
• Marjoram
• Hawthorn
• Myrrh
• Gentian
• Hops
• Thyme
• Wormwood
• Sage
• Tarragon
• Lavender
• Yarrow
• Centaury
• Rosemary
• Basil

Pharmaceutical Remedies

There currently are no medications that specifically treat anorexia, however, many doctors will prescribe medications to treat the underlying causes of anorexia. These medications will usually be in the form of an antidepressant medication, which will help the individual return to a normal state of emotional health. Antidepressant medications help with a variety of emotional and mood disorders, which may cause or contribute to anorexia.

It is important that individuals suffering from anorexia talk to their doctor before taking any medications. This includes medications that are not a part of the anorexia treatment plan. Anorexia causes the body to shrink in size, which can result in medications building up in the body in an amount that is too high to process and can be dangerous. Additionally, changes in the body due to anorexia can decrease or increase the effectiveness of various medications.

Patients experiencing malnutrition will be either placed on dietary supplements or sent to a dietitian or health care specialist. Ensuring that the patient is not suffering from malnutrition is an important step towards the recovery process. Malnutrition can cause a number of painful and long term side effects and must be treated immediately and thoroughly.