Conditions

Angina, also known as Angina Pectoris which means squeezing of the chest in Latin, is a symptom of ischemic heart disease. The chest discomfort, pressure and pain are caused by the coronary arteries delivering an inadequate amount of oxygen-rich blood to the heart. The two main causes of angina are artherosclerotic plaque buildup and coronary artery spasm. If left untreated, angina can result in total blockage of the arteries and cause a heart attack.

The risk of heart disease and heart attack increases with the number of risk factors you have and their severity. Some heart disease risk factors can develop within the first ten years of life. Risk factors include hypertension, coronary artery disease, high blood fats or cholesterol, family history of premature ischemic heart disease, smoking, high blood pressure, obesity and diabetes. Angina occurs more frequently in men than in women. The most frequent cause of angina is coronary artery disease. The risk factors you cannot control are family history, age and gender.

Four Different Types of Angina.

Stable Angina

Stable angina is chest pain or discomfort that usually occurs with stress or physical activity. It begins slowly and intensifies before going away but reoccurs with additional activity or stress. The pain usually lasts from one to 15 minutes and is relieved with medication or rest. The frequency and severity of the pain does not change much.

Symptoms of Stable Angina include pain that occurs behind or slightly to the left of the breastbone and a feeling of tightness, pressure, squeezing or crushing pain in the chest. Stable Angina can be treated with medication, angioplasty or stenting. Medications require no recovery time and are much less expensive than angioplasty and stenting.

People who take only medications to relieve their angina may not have quick chest pain relief, but if you choose to take medications to treat your angina, it’s important that you take them exactly as your doctor instructs you so that you get the maximum benefit from your medications.

Angioplasty and stenting may have earlier and better symptom relief, such as reduced chest pain but research has shown the chest pain relief was about the same between those who have angioplasty and stenting and those who only take medication after five years.

Unstable Angina

Unstable angina is chest pain that occurs suddenly and gets increasingly worse. It is the most serious form of angina and requires immediate medical attention. The chest pain lasts longer than 15 – 20 minutes, may occur along with a drop in blood pressure or significant shortness of breath, occurs without cause and responds poorly to nitroglycerin.

Calcium channel blockers are extremely effective in preventing the coronary spasms of variant angina. These drugs, along with nitrates, are the most common treatment. If you have unstable angina, you most likely will be admitted to the hospital and given medicines, including heparin, aspirin and other antiplatelet medicines.

Unstable angina requires close monitoring and testing. If you are at high risk for heart attack and chest pain continues after the above treatment, your doctor may decide to perform coronary catheterization and plan for possible angioplasty and stent placement to prevent a heart attack.

Variant Angina

Prinzmetal’s or variant angina is caused by spasm of one of the coronary arteries. It is usually the result of severe coronary atherosclerosis in at least one major vessel. The spasm normally occurs very close to the blockage. It mostly occurs spontaneously and unlike typical angina, it nearly always occurs when a person is at rest. It doesn’t occur with physical exertion or emotional stress.

Attacks can be very painful and usually occur between midnight and eight a.m. Treatment helps to control chest pain and prevent a heart attack. Nitroglycerin is frequently used to relieve an episode of pain. Nitrates, beta -blockers or calcium channel blockers may also be prescribed.

The medication dosage can be gradually reduced after six to 12 months of treatment. In some cases surgery is used when blockages exist along with spasm.

Microvascular Angina

Microvascular angina is caused by inadequate blood flow through the tiny cardiac blood vessels. Microvascular angina symptoms include chest pain or discomfort, a crushing or burning sensation in the chest, and pain or numbness in the arms, shoulders or jaw.

Microvascular angina usually occurs during routine daily activities and times of mental stress. It may be more severe or last longer than other types of angina pain. Symptoms include shortness of breath, sleep problems, fatigue, and lack of energy.

Treatment for microvascular angina includes nitroglycerin, calcium channel blockers or beta blockers and lifestyle changes. Since microvascular angina is not caused by significant arterial blockages, it is harder to recognize and diagnose.

Diagnosis

Laboratory tests can help the physician identify angina and conditions that may contribute to its development.

Urinalysis may reveal underlying conditions such as diabetes mellitus or renal disease, both of which are associated with atherosclerosis.

A chest x-ray may show an enlarged heart or other signs of possible heart failure.

Blood tests may show elevated CPK (creatine phosphokinase) level. When heart tissue dies it causes the enzyme CPK to be released into the blood. Blood tests to check for inflammation, high cholesterol and glucose levels are also used to diagnose angina. Stress tests are commonly used to evaluate coronary artery disease.

EKG

During a stress test an electrocardiogram (ECG or EKG) is taken before, during and after exercise on a treadmill or stationary bicycle. Patients who are at risk for a coronary event with exercise are given a drug to increase the heart rate instead of exercising on the treadmill. A normal ECG could indicate a patient’s chest pain is caused by something other than a blocked coronary artery.

A coronary angiogram consists of injecting contrast material into the bloodstream and taking x-rays of the coronary arteries. This enables the physician to see malformations, blockages, and stenosis in the vessels. In variant angina, spasm of an artery may be induced during angiography and would help confirm a diagnosis of that form of angina.

Echocardiography is a procedure used to evaluate the valves, function, and size of the heart. This diagnostic test uses soundwaves to take a detailed picture of the heart. A nuclear heart scan shows the level of blood flow to the heart by providing moving pictures of the blood flowing through the heart and arteries.

Medication Side Effects

All medications used to treat angina have similar side effects which should be reported to your physician immediately if they worsen or persist. They include headache, dizziness, flushing and restlessness. Blurred vision, dry mouth, nausea, pale skin or rapid heartbeat are serious side effects that should be reported immediately.

If the medication is working you will experience headaches which can be treated with aspirin or non aspirin pain relieve unless they become severe. Rash, itching, swelling, severe dizziness or trouble breathing are signs of an allergic reaction to the medication and require immediate attention.

Natural Herbs can help control angina symptoms. The following herbs are the most commonly used to relieve the symptoms of angina.

Garlic

Garlic contains substances that discourage platelets from sticking together and helps prevent blood clots. It also lowers total cholesterol and triglycerides while increasing HDL, the good cholesterol. Include one clove of garlic in your daily diet or take 10 milligrams per day.

Ginkgo

Ginkgo’s antioxidant properties neutralize harmful molecules called free radicals. It increases blood supply to the extremities and makes heart cells more efficient. It keeps platelets from sticking together and has a tonic effect on blood vessels. Take 40 to 80 milligrams of capsules three times per day.

Hawthorne

This traditional European herb used in treating heart disease dilates coronary arteries, which increases blood supply to the heart. Hawthorne improves oxygenation and energy metabolism and helps decrease lactic acid which is the waste product of exertion that causes heart muscle pain.

Hawthorne contains antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties that help strengthen artery walls and reduce cholesterol. Take 100 to 250 milligrams three times per day or drink one cup of tea three times per day. The tea can be made by simmering one teaspoon of dried berries or steeping one teaspoon of leaves and flowers in a cup of hot water for ten to 15 minutes.

Coleus

Coleus keeps platelets from sticking together, relaxes arterial muscles, and improves heart function. Take 50 milligrams two or three time per day. Use coleus carefully if you take blood pressure medication or if your blood pressure is already low. Coleus may also increase the effects of antihistamine drugs.

Khella

This herb improves exercise tolerance and normalizes heart rhythms in patients with angina. It also help to dilate coronary arteries. Take 250 to 300 milligrams per day. Reduce the dosage if you experience nausea, dizziness or decreased appetite.

Ginger

This aromatic herb works best if eaten fresh and on an empty stomach. It lowers cholesterol and keeps platelets from sticking together. Take 250 milligrams per day. At higher doses, ginger may cause upset stomach.

Lifestyle changes can also help to relieve and control the symptoms of angina. If heavy meals trigger angina then avoid large meals and rich foods that leave you feeling stuffed. Try to avoid situations that make you upset or stressed if that is what triggers your angina. Eating a healthy diet is also important and can help to prevent or reduce high blood pressure and cholesterol. Quitting smoking along with avoiding alcoholic beverages will also help to control angina and reduce the frequency of symptoms.

Heart Attack

Angina does increase your risk of a heart attack. It’s very important that you know how and when to seek medical attention. An emergency action plan is important and will improve the chances of surviving cardiac arrest.

The plan should include making sure you as well as your family members know the location of the nearest hospital that offers 24-hour emergency heart care. Make sure you know the signs and symptoms of a heart attack, how to reach emergency medical services in your community and how to use aspirin and nitroglycerin when needed.

If your chest pain becomes severe, lasts longer than a few minutes, or is not relieved by rest or medicine seek immediate medical care. It can be difficult to tell the difference between unstable angina and a heart attack. Both are emergency situations, so you should call for an ambulance right away.

Prognosis

A diagnosis of angina at least gives you some warning that you have coronary artery disease. Undiagnosed angina can lead to a heart attack or sudden cardiac death. If you are at high risk for a heart attack, you need to find out early so that you can get the best treatment right away. Getting the appropriate treatment combined with lifestyle changes can result in living a normal, full and healthy life.

Canker sores are also known as aphthous ulcers or aphthous stomatitis. They are characterized by small, shallow lesions found on the inside of the mouth. Eating or drinking can be difficult and very painful with canker sores, depending upon the size and location of the lesions.

Contrary to the beliefs of many people, canker sores are not an infection of the herpes virus. They are not the same thing as fever blisters or cold sores, which are usually found on the outside of the mouth. Unlike cold sores, canker sores are not contagious, and canker sores are also generally caused by bacteria, whereas cold sores are caused by a virus.

Additionally, if a cold sore is located on the inside of the mouth it will usually be found on the roof of the mouth, which is not a location that canker sores will be found.

Causes of Canker Sores

The exact cause of canker sores is not known, but doctors believe they are triggered by a number of different factors. Allergies are one possible cause. Some health professionals believe that the sores can be brought on due to an allergic reaction to certain foods, or due to an allergy of a type of bacteria that is typically found inside the mouths of humans.

A variety of other foods have been identified by health professionals as possible triggers of canker sores, including chocolate, shellfish, soy, walnuts, oats, mustard, and dairy products.

Immune system and nutritional deficiencies are also possible explanations for outbreaks. British doctors have concluded that a lack of folic acid, iron, and vitamin B12 are found in about 20 perfect of patients with canker sores.

Associations have also been found between vitamin C deficiencies and the presence of canker sores. It is also possible that a problem with the patient’s immune system leads the body to attack normal cells in the mouth.

Hormones

Hormones can also play a role in the development of canker sores. Many women feel that their outbreaks occur during their menstrual period, and others notice that they go into a remission stage while they are pregnant. Currently there is not enough research into this area to be able to make any definitive conclusions as to whether hormones play a major role in canker sore outbreaks.

Injuries to the mouth can also be causes of canker sores. Biting the side of your cheek while chewing food or having sharp, metal braces rub against the inside of the patients mouth may develop a sore. They also may be caused by a person brushing their teeth too hard with a toothbrush.

Trauma may also come from food, such as a jagged edge of a potato chip rubbing against the inside of a person’s mouth. In one study it was determined that about four out of ten participants with canker sores believed that their lesions were caused by some sort of trauma or abrasion that occurred before the sores developed.

Although the presence of canker sores does not necessarily indicate an underlying medical condition, there are some diseases that present them as symptoms. In patients with Crohn disease, canker sores indicate a relapse or flare-up. Behcet’s disease is characterized by canker sores as well as eye inflammation and genital sores. Additionally, they have also been linked to the AIDS virus.

Medications

Certain medications have also been suggested to have possible connections with canker sore outbreaks. Beta blockers, anti-inflammatory medications, and chemotherapeutic agents have all shown some sign of being related to canker sores. Individuals with persistent or recurring sores should consult their physician if they are taking one of these medications.

Canker Sore Risk Factors

Anyone can develop a canker sore, as it is suggested that 80% of the population between the ages of 10 and 20 have experienced them. There are, however, some groups that are more susceptible to them than others. Canker sores are more common in women, especially in cases of clustered lesions.

Having a family member that has had canker sores can also make a person more likely to get them. A study has shown that of all the people that have recurrent canker sores, about a third of those individuals have a family history of them. It is not know whether this trend is due to genetics or the fact that individuals of the same family are more than likely exposed to the same foods and environmental factors.

Canker Sore Symptoms

To discuss the symptoms of canker sores, it is first important to differentiate the three types of sores, which are minor, major, and herpetiform canker sores. Minor canker sores are generally oval shaped and less than 1/2 inch in diameter. Generally they heal within a couple of weeks and do not result in any scarring.

Major canker sores are less common and more severe than minor canker sores. They have irregular edges and are larger than 1/2 inch diameter. Extensive scarring is usually observed with this type of sore, and they can take up to six weeks to heal.

Herpetiform canker scores typically develop later in life and occur in clusters of up to 100 sores. They have irregular sides, but they are typically smaller than 1/8 inch diameter. Like the minor sores they will heal within a couple of weeks with relatively no scarring.

Canker Sore Color

Most canker sores are white or yellow in color with a red border. Typically they are round or oval in shape, and they are found on the inside of the patient’s mouth. Generally they can be located on the gums, on or under the tongue, or inside the patient’s cheeks.

Some slight burning may be experienced at the site of the canker sore a couple or days before it appears. In some cases, patients may complain of other symptoms along with the actual sores. These include swollen lymph nodes and fever.

Treatment of Canker Sores

Minor canker sores typically do not need treatment, as they tend to heal on their own within a week or two, but treatment action may be taken in order to relieve some of their symptoms. Major or persistent sores often need medical care, as they tend to be very painful. There are a variety of treatment options available, including mouth rinses, topical pastes, oral medications, Debaceterol, and nutritional supplements.

Mouth Rinses

Mouth rinses are typically prescribed if a patient has multiple unpleasant sores. Rinses containing steroid dexamethasone can help to reduce inflammation and pain in the affected area. Patients are instructed to rinse with the product for a predetermined amount of time and then spit it out completely. Homemade rinses of hydrogen peroxide and water can also provide temporary relief and can prevent the sores from infection.

Rinses containing tetracycline help to reduce the painful symptoms of sores and also have been found to speed up the heal process, as the rinse prevents bacterial infections within the sores. When this type of rinse is used several times a day, it can relieve pain for 24 hours and can result in complete healing within 4-7 days.

The drawback of tetracycline is that it can make a patient more susceptible to the fungal infection oral thrush. This can cause painful lesions within the mouth, and it can permanently stain the teeth of children.

Mouthwashes containing chlorohexidine gluconate, like Peridex, area also especially effective in relieving the pain of canker sore patients. A study determined that when used three times a day, this mouth washed reduced the number of days that they lesions lasted in approximately 20 percent of users.

Topical Pastes

Topical pastes or gels are usually obtained with a prescription over the counter. Orabase is one possible paste that could be prescribed, and it contains benzocain, which can help to ease pain and speed up the healing process if it is applied as soon as the sores appear. Other possible recommendations may be Aphthasol, which contains amlexanox, and Lidex or Vanos, which contain fluocinonide.

There are other over-the counter products that people battling canker sore pain may find useful, as they contain a numbing agent that can help to relieve the painful symptoms of the lesions. Anbesol and Orajel are both recommended for canker sores, and both of these medicines can easily be obtained from a local pharmacy or grocery store.

Oral Medications

Oral medications may also be prescribed if the canker sores are severe and if they have developed into secondary infections. Zovirax, which is an antiviral drug, may be required if there are multiple and very painful lesions.

Some medications that are typically not intended specifically for canker sores are sometimes helpful in reducing their symptoms, including Tagamet, which is generally a heartburn drug, and colchicine, which is usually used to treat gout.

Corticoid steroids such as dexamethasone and prednisone may also be prescribed for treatment, although their usage is fairly rare. Steroid treatments are usually considered a last resort due to their serious side effects.

Debacterol

Debacterol is another topical solution, and it was created specifically to treat canker sores as well as gum problems. It works by chemically cauterizing the lesions, which reduces the time it takes for the sore to heal.

Nutritional Supplements

If a patient consumes a low amount of important nutrients, a physician may prescribe some supplements that will help the immune system to heal the affected area. Some possible prescriptions would be zinc, folic acid, vitamin B6, or vitamin B12.

Home Remedies

For people afflicted with canker sores that want to take a natural approach to symptom relief, there are many ingredients from their own cupboard that can be used. Baking soda and water can be mixed together to form a paste, and after it is applied to the sore it can provide some pain relief. One teaspoon of honey mixed with 1/4 teaspoon of turmeric can be dabbed on the sore as well.

The patient can also moisten a tea bag and apply it directly to the sore, causing it to be dried about by the tannic acid. Dabbing milk of magnesia onto the sore area has also been suggested as a method to relieve the pain caused by canker sore lesions.

When looking for relief in the freezer, ice is the most logical solution. This won’t make the sore go away, but it will certainly make it feel better and will numb the affected area.

It has been suggested that when taking this approach, the most relief will come from allowing the ice chips to melt over the affected area. From the spice rack, a person can create a combination of water and sage and rinse their mouth with it several times a day. Cayenne pepper also contains capsaicin, which temporarily desensitize nerves that carry pain.

When to See a Doctor

A patient should consult with a medical professional when canker sores become unusually large or if sores are recurring and new ones develop before old ones go away. If sores are persistent and do not go away, or if the pain is so severe it can’t be controlled with home care, a patient should also see their physician. Other red flags are high fever or extreme difficulty in drinking or eating, and these symptoms would definitely warrant a trip to the doctor’s office.

When preparing for a medical appointment regarding canker sores, there is some information the patient will want to gather before entering the doctor’s office. The patient will want to go over all of their symptoms, and they should write them down if necessary in order to not forget to mention something during the appointment.

The patient should bring in a list of their previous medical history as well as a list of all the medications they are taking. Personal information, including if any major changes have recently occurred in the patient’s life, should also be considered. Bringing all of this information into the physician’s office will help to save time and will ensure that the patient is properly diagnosed so the most effective treatment can be started.

The Actual Appointment

During the appointment, the patient’s doctor will also ask them a number of questions regarding their canker sores. In addition to the information discussed previously about what information to bring into the appointment, the doctor may ask about the patient’s daily diet, when they first noticed the lesions, if the patient has had any recent dental work done, and if the patient has ever had, or been treated for, similar sores in the past.

Generally with canker sores, a physician does not need to run any other tests to make a diagnosis. The patient’s doctor should be able to do this solely by looking at the lesions. If the physician feels that the sores are the result of another underlying medical condition, then he or she may perform other tests to determine if something else is the cause.

Canker Sore Prevention

People with a history of canker sores should avoid toothpaste with sodium lauryl sulfate in order to prevent new sores. This ingredient is irritating to mouth tissue, and avoiding it can be helpful for some patients. When the person brushes their teeth and gums with this type of toothpaste, or with any type of paste for that matter, they should be sure to brush gently so they do not irritate the areas where canker sores can develop. Toothpastes without foaming agents, like TheraBreath, may also be considered.

In order to prevent future canker sore flare ups, individuals should also watch what they eat and monitor their diet. Salty or spicy foods that can irritate a person’s mouth should be avoided, such as grapefruit, oranges, pineapple, or any other acidic fruit, as well as salty nuts, potato chips, or pretzels. The individual should also continue to eat healthy foods to maintain appropriate levels of nutrients within their body. Acidophilus, which is found in yogurt, contains beneficial bacteria that may fend off canker sores before they even begin.

Foods high in vitamin C should also be consumed, as long as they are not overly acidic and irritating to the oral cavity, as this vitamin helps to protect a person’s body against viruses.

Stress Causing Canker Sores

Canker sores have also been linked to stress, so eliminating as much stress from your life as possible can help to ward off future canker sore flare ups. Many people that report a canker sore outbreak also report that they are going through a period of emotional or psychological stress.

Studies have shown that patients with increased anxiety traits that are traced back to hereditary deficits also have higher rates of canker sore outbreaks. When a person is experiencing excessive stress, their body’s immune system is compromised, and their ability to fight off foreign bacteria or germs is inhibited.

Because stress is a possible trigger of canker sores, a way to prevent these outbreaks is to make sure that the individual gets plenty of exercise. Exercise promotes health and well being in the individual’s body as well as clears the mind. All of these components are important in fighting of canker sores and other types of illnesses or diseases the individual might face.

Underweight individuals are often ridiculed for their appearance and are regularly accused of being underweight as a result of something they have done wrong or because they are suffering from an eating disorder.

While this is the case for certain people, it is an unfair and unwarranted stereotype that can be psychologically damaging and hurtful to the person being assessed. The underweight are more likely to have their condition openly discussed in front of them because society does not have the same taboo associated with commenting on the underweight as they do for those that are obese.

Symptoms of Being Underweight

Symptoms of being underweight can vary depending on the cause of the condition. Two of the most common illnesses which lead to people being underweight are anorexia nervosa and bulimia nervosa.

Symptoms of anorexia nervosa can include:

• An unnatural obsession with calories and fat intake
• Extreme self criticism of one’s physical appearance
• Denial of being too thin and attempts to disguise true appearance
• Compulsive exercise
• Pretending to eat or lying about eating
• Compulsive exercise
• Use of diet pills, laxatives or diuretics

Symptoms of bulimia nervosa can include:

• Binge eating
• Frequently checking weight
• Abuse of diet pills, laxatives or diuretics
• Self-induced vomiting, most notably following a binging episode

Many underweight people will have a weakened immune system as a result of poor nutrition, leading them to become ill much more often. Those that are underweight tend to feel tired quite often and may also experience dizziness and fainting spells. Women that are underweight may suffer from irregular periods, miss their periods from time to time or may not even menstruate at all.

Causes of Being Underweight

There is an extensive list of potential causes for someone suffering from being underweight. Some of the more common causes are:

• Poverty – the homeless, the lower class, and those from impoverished third world countries are very susceptible to being underweight for the simple fact that they are often unable to properly nourish themselves. The lack of healthy food, whether a result of unavailability or not having the means to procure it, can lead to malnourishment and other diseases
• Anorexia nervosa – an eating disorder identified by the stark refusal of the afflicted individual to maintain a healthy body weight. Most often, those suffering from this disease have an unnatural fear of weight gain and getting fat revolving around a distorted image of themselves. This is a severe psychological illness with major physiological side effects.
• Bulimia nervosa – another eating disorder denoted by periods of binge eating followed by self induced vomiting, use of laxatives and diuretics, and excessive exercise to counteract the out of control eating that took place.
• Genetics – an individual’s genetic makeup can play a significant role in their physical appearance. Some people are simply programmed to be thinner than others as a result of their biological composition.
• Hyperthyroidism – this condition results in an overproduction of thyroid hormones. These hormones help to stimulate metabolism and can over stimulate the process if there is an excess supply introduced to the body.
• Drug use – illegal narcotics and overexposure to over the counter medications can cause severe problems, including weight loss. Drug users may become so disconnected from the world that they either forget to eat or lose their interest in doing so. For others, they may choose to use all available resources to secure more drugs, thus eliminating their means to acquire food to properly keep themselves nourished.
• Anxiety and depression – those who are nervous, stressed, or severely depressed can easily struggle to maintain proper weight. They may be too upset to eat properly or may have lost their desire or ability to keep themselves healthy.
• Other underlying diseases –illnesses such as cancer, tuberculosis, and ulcers can cause feelings of pain and nausea to patients when they try to eat. Constant suffering can lead people to avoid eating properly in an effort to circumvent these side effects which can lead to significant weight loss.

Risk Factors for Being Underweight

Rick factors for being underweight are not necessarily causes of the condition, but rather seem to be associated in one way or another. Having certain risk factors may increase the likelihood that someone will suffer from being underweight, but it does not necessarily mean they will become affected. Also, the absence of certain risk factors does not eliminate the possibility of becoming underweight.

Genetics plays a big role in determining whether someone is at risk of being underweight. Offspring of small statured, thin, and underweight parents are at greater risk of being underweight themselves.

Certain families seem to carry a set of genes that simply program their bodies to remain thin no matter what type or amount of food they eat. High levels of metabolism can carry from generation to generation, causing those affected to break down, burn, and dispose of the foods that they consume at a much more rapid pace than most.

Environmental Issues & Diseases

Environmental influences can also factor in to the likelihood that someone will become underweight. A society that stresses the importance of physical beauty, and gauges it based upon people’s body type and weight, can lead to an underweight population. Poor food supplies, both in volume and nutritional value, can also have an impact on weight.

Disease can have a tremendous impact on an individual’s weight. Serious illnesses such as cancer and HIV can wreak havoc on the body and have a significantly negative impact on healthy weight. Those suffering from chronic diseases often do not feel well enough to eat or are unable to keep their food down when they do feel hungry. A body fighting an infection burns more calories than normal, and failure to replenish essential nutrients can cause a person to lose a significant amount of weight.

Prevention Tips for Being Underweight

One of the most obvious sets of tips for preventing unhealthy weight loss is to follow the same guidelines that are recommended for just about everyone seeking a healthy lifestyle: eat healthy foods, exercise regularly, and get plenty of rest. Proper exercise and rest allow the body to recover from the rigorous day to day activities it is put through and help to increase the flow of nutrient rich blood to the vital organs. Healthy food provides the fuel needed to keep a body strong and functioning properly.

Regular physicals and medical checkups can help to identify developing diseases; diseases which can have a tremendously adverse affect on overall health, often leading to severe weight loss. Early detection can often prove to be advantageous to effective treatment of the illness and may prevent drastic and dangerous weight loss.

Testing and Diagnosis

Body Mass Index is the most common method used to diagnose someone as being underweight. BMI takes into account a person’s height in relation to their weight in order to calculate their body mass index.

This number is figured out by using the following formula: weight (in pounds) multiplied by 703, divided by the square of the height (in inches). It can also be calculated by dividing the weight (in kilograms) by the square of the height (in meters). A BMI below 18.5 is considered underweight, 18.5 to 24.9 is normal, 25 to 29.9 is overweight, and 30 and higher is considered obese.

The Eating Attitudes Test (EAT-26) is one of the most widely used tests used to help evaluate symptoms and potential characteristics of those that may suffer from eating disorders. The test is not intended to take the place of a professional diagnosis or counseling, but rather as a starting point to help identify those that may be in need of further assistance. Individuals scoring 20 or above on the EAT-26 are instructed that they should be interviewed by a medical professional to see if they meet the diagnostic criteria for an eating disorder.

Treatment Options for Being Underweight

There are a myriad of treatments available for underweight individuals. There are herbal and home remedies as well as pharmaceutical remedies. Surgical remedies do not exist for those that are underweight since the only outcome would be purely cosmetic and offer no true health benefits to the patient.

Herbal and Home Remedies

Musk melon is a popular choice as a natural remedy for being underweight. It is recommended that three melons be taken per day for forty days. It is customary to start with three kilograms daily and slowly increase the amount by one kilogram per day until the proper amount has been identified to satisfy hunger.

A steady diet full of essential vitamins and minerals is essential to maintaining a healthy weight.

Vitamin D, vitamin B6, magnesium and calcium are all vital for relaxation and can help to relax you and conserve essential energy. Milk, cod liver oil, and green leafy vegetables can provide a healthy and delicious dose of these basic nutrients.

Exercising to increase energy levels, thus increasing the desire to eat, can help to achieve necessary weight gain. Exercise can also lead to relaxation and better sleep, promoting a better overall level of health.

Stress and sleep deprivation can often instill a fear of eating because of the possibility of vomiting up the food that is consumed.

Proper Dieting

A diet rich in fruits and milk can also provide a healthy and relatively fast paced option for gaining weight. While both are good for you, they also provide a heavy dose of sugar, calories, and proteins to the diet which can help to pack on additional pounds.

A mango milk diet has been shown to improve weight in undernourished individuals and is one of the more popular home remedies used today. Consumption of two mangoes followed by a glass of milk, repeated three times daily for at least one month has been successful for many. Three to four dried figs, soaked in water, eaten twice per day has shown promising results for a number of people suffering from being underweight as well.

Pharmaceutical Remedies

In cases where being underweight is a result of serious illness like cancer and AIDS, a substance called megestrol acetate is administered to generate proteins that cause appetite and weight gain. It has been shown to generate an average weight gain of approximately 6.6 pounds during an eight week regimen.

Oxandrolone, an anabolic steroid which acts as an appetite stimulant and helps to generate muscle growth, is often used in elderly people suffering from being underweight.

Dronabinol is a derivative of cannabis and has been approved for use by the US Food and Drug Administration to stimulate appetite in patients with AIDS and to curb nausea in patients being treated with radiation and chemotherapy. Its use in the elderly to stimulate weight gain is in its preliminary stages, but has shown promising results thus far.

What is a Throat Obstruction?

There are many medical conditions or traumas which may cause throat obstruction. The results of having a throat obstruction can range from mild irritation to life threatening medical events. Internal throat obstructions are quite different from throat obstructions caused by a foreign, or swallowed, object.

Each type of throat obstruction requires a different level of care, ranging from easily administered home remedies to an emergency visit to the hospital. Internal throat obstructions can be caused by swollen tissue in the esophagus which is often a result of illness, disease or injury. Foreign object throat obstructions can be much more hazardous to a patient’s health and normally need to be treated by medical personnel.

Causes of Throat Obstruction

Internally occurring throat obstructions are usually caused by a swelling of the soft tissue surrounding the esophagus. Swelling can be caused by fever, infection or disease such as cancer.

Some internal throat obstructions are not noticeable unless the patient is lying down in a sleeping position. These types of throat obstructions occur when the uvula or soft palate is in a relaxed position and causes a partial blockage of the patient’s airway; the tongue may also slide backwards and cause a partial throat obstruction if the patient is lying on their back.

The effects of these types of internal throat obstructions can be generally be heard while the patient is sleeping and can range from a soft snoring all the way to a loud and rather unpleasant buzzing sound. Snoring is rarely fatal but can become a serious health issue if the patient stops breathing in their sleep, experiences sleep apnea, and is awakened several times per night.

Snoring

Severe snoring, such as the type which causes sleep apnea has been known to cause severe sleep deprivation in patients and has been reported as the cause of discord in many marriages. The daytime effects of internal throat obstructions can be characterized by drowsiness, lack of focus and irritability. Each time the patient descends into deep sleep at night, the muscles of the throat relax and partially block the airway. This repeats the cycle of snoring and, in severe cases, sleep apnea. Sleep deprivation can also lead to other health problems, including heart disease and stroke.

External Causes

Externally caused throat obstructions are much more severe and the effects can be immediately life threatening. Blunt force trauma injury, applied externally, can cause the muscles and soft tissue in the throat to swell to the point of complete airway blockage. Throat obstructions due to a swallowed object can also be immediately life threatening.

These types of throat obstructions can be partial or complete and are more commonly called choking. Choking prevents the adequate normal flow of air into the lungs and can be caused by a partial blockage or a full blockage. Partial throat obstructions do allow some air to flow into the lungs, though in a seriously decreased quantity. Complete throat obstructions can lead, if not treated immediately, to asphyxia and death.

Children and Throat Obstructions

Children are often the most susceptible to throat obstructions caused by a swallowed object. In their explorations of the world, they are more likely to place an inedible object in their mouths than a knowledgeable adult.

When a foreign, inedible, object encounters the soft tissue in the airway, it can become lodged where the patient cannot remove or expel the object by coughing. Throat obstructions in adults are most commonly encountered while eating food. Either the patient attempts to swallow a bite of food which is too large and becomes lodged in the esophagus. Another hazard adults encounter while eating is bones from meat, such as chicken or fish.

Treatments for Throat Obstructions

The most common internal throat obstructions cause snoring and require one or more of many treatment options. The most common low or no cost treatments for snoring require a change in diet, behavior and sleeping habits in order to effectively work. The first step to treating snoring is to analyze the patient’s behaviors and eliminate activities, food or drink that may make the throat obstruction worse.

Medications, foods or drinks which have drowsiness as a side effect tend to make snoring worse. Sleeping pills, depressants and decongestants relax the muscles beyond normal sleeping relaxation. The excessive relaxation of muscles can cause the soft palate, uvula or tongue to slide further back in the throat than normal sleeping and makes snoring worse for the patient and louder for those near the sleeper.

For Snorers

Those snoring patients who tend to sleep on their back often experience more severe snoring. There are two common methods for patients to ease snoring when they usually sleep on their back. The first is to modify the patient’s sleeping position so they sleep on their side. While the patient may find it uncomfortable at first to sleep in this position, using pillows may assist the patients in maintaining a side-sleeping posture.

Body pillows are especially good for this method of position modification and are relatively inexpensive. Another treatment is for the patient, if they find it impossible to sleep on their side, is to elevate either their head or the head of their bed. Phone books or spare wood placed under the frame of the bed can elevate the head position enough to allow the patient to sleep without throat obstructions. Adding pillows of varying firmness direct under the patient’s head can also serve to free any airway restrictions during sleeping.

Severe Snoring

For patients with severe snoring, which causes sleep apnea and sleep deprivation, surgery is often the only effective option. Physicians who specialize in treating snoring will usually conduct a sleep study on the patient to determine the extent of the apnea. Sometimes surgery is not necessary; however, a constant positive airway pressure, or CPAP, device may be prescribed to maintain air pressure in the airway and keep it open while the patient sleeps.

CPAP devices can be uncomfortable at first and do require an adjustment period. In cases where CPAP devices are ineffective, or the patient is not experiencing any significant relief from prescription appliances, surgery may be an option. Surgery for throat obstructions which cause snoring generally includes the removal of any offensive soft tissue which blocks the patient’s airway while sleeping. The extent of the surgery depends on the patient’s weight, specific soft tissue obstruction and overall physical health.

Serious Emergencies

Throat obstructions caused by an external source, either swallowing of an inedible object to swallowing food that is too large for the throat, are serious emergencies and can be immediately life threatening. Partial or complete airway blockage can cause asphyxia or death and needs to be attended to immediately.

Partial throat obstructions can sometimes be dislodged by the patient’s coughing. If the patient is coughing and drawing in any amount of air, one should not interfere with the Heimlich maneuver, but should keep a close eye in case the object causing the throat obstruction becomes further lodged in the airway. Previously, slapping a choking person on the back was thought to be a dangerous way to dislodge an airway obstruction.

This has been found to sometimes make the situation worse by possibly lodging the object further down the throat and completely obstructing the throat. Back slapping to clear an obstruction should be done with some amount of force, but should be discontinued if the patient’s choking symptoms worsen.

Emergency Procedures

If someone is choking or has another throat obstruction that is mostly to completely blocking their airway, call 911 immediately. Some obstructions can be cleared via the Heimlich maneuver, which should be done with care. There are different methods of delivering the Heimlich maneuver, depending on the patient’s age and weight.

Direct abdominal thrusts should never be used on women who are pregnant, obese patients and small children. Delivering sharp abdominal thrusts to an average size adult who is choking is intended to compress the lungs and forcefully expel air and dislodge whatever object is lodged in the throat. Even in the best of circumstances, the Heimlich maneuver can sometimes cause rib injuries, especially to the xyphoid process. The xyphoid process is the bone protrusion directly in the center of the front of the rib cage.

Abdominal Thrusts

Abdominal thrusts should never be used if the choking patient is conscious and is still drawing air into their lungs. If the patient is coughing, and continues to cough, this is a good indication they are still able to draw air into their lungs. Not all throat obstructions that cause choking are due to solid or food objects. Sometimes swallowing liquid and having it travel down the airway instead of the throat can cause coughing.

The patient should be allowed to cough to try to clear the airway as long as they are conscious and still able to cough. If a choking person falls unconscious, the rescuer should switch from abdominal thrusts directly to CPR, or Cardio Pulmonary Resuscitation. CPR with chest compressions and assistance breathing is often enough to dislodge a foreign object from the airway and allow air to enter the lungs again.

Throat Obstruction Prevention

Taking the time and care to chew food completely before swallowing is one of the best ways to prevent food from becoming a choking hazard. In order to better prevent foreign objects from becoming a choking hazard for children, parents and caregivers should invest in a small plastic cylinder that is available in the baby care section of most major stores.

The plastic cylinder is sized very closely to the size of a toddler’s airway. For safety, parents and caregivers can take an object and insert it into the plastic cylinder. If the object fits into the cylinder it will generally fit into a child’s mouth and pose a choking hazard. Keeping small game pieces and toys away from small children is one of the only ways to prevent objects from becoming a life threatening choking hazard.

Internal throat obstructions are much more difficult to prevent and can sometimes pose as serious a health hazard as foreign object throat obstructions. Patients who candidly speak with their physicians regarding any type of difficulty they are having in swallowing or breathing often have a better chance at preventing serious internal throat obstructions.

If the obstruction is being caused by a sinus or throat infection, physicians can prescribe anti-inflammatory or antibiotic medications to prevent the infection from becoming worse. Gargling with peppermint mouthwash or salt water can often ease the discomfort and pain of an infection caused throat obstruction.

Effectiveness of Treatment

While some internal throat obstructions can easily be treated, at little or no cost, in the home, some require expensive machinery, appliances or surgery. The type, cause and severity of a throat obstruction will dictate the expense of the treatment. In cases of externally caused throat obstructions, prevention is the simplest cure.

In any case of foreign object throat obstruction, rescuers should not hesitate at all to call medical professionals or emergency services for assistance. Sometimes even the best trained rescuers cannot dislodge the object causing an obstruction and the patient must be treated in a hospital with emergency surgery. Above all else, staying calm for the patient is of utmost importance.

Body odor

Definition

Body odor is a very common problem that everybody has heard of or at least had the chance to smell! Most people understand that body odor and sweat are linked together but they do not know exactly how. According to dictionary.com, body odor is defined as an unpleasant odor from a perspiring or unclean person. There are many different names for body odor, including:

• B.O.
• Molodorousness
• Osmidrosis
• Bromhidrosis
• Ozochrotia
• Fetid sweat

Symptoms & Causes

Sweating and body odor are inexplicably linked to one another. Body odor is most likely to be caused by sweat, and sweating is a key reason for body odor. A few things that trigger sweating are exercise, a hot environment or hot weather, and nervousness. These are things that are very normal to most people and so they should be familiar with them.

Exercise involves exerting the body and causes the body to sweat in an effort to stay cool. The more the body undertakes strenuous activity, the more sweat that is produced.

If the weather outside is hot, those who have to be in the hot area will sweat. Exercise in a hot environment can produce even more sweat than normal.

Anxiety and nervousness are also major reasons for sweating, but cause sweating in specific places such as the face and the palms of the hands.

Sweat Effects

Sweat in and of itself has nearly no smell. It is very faint and can change depending on a person’s mood, diet, hormone levels, or drugs and medical treatments. What this leaves most people asking is this: If sweat is nearly odorless to human beings, why do sweating people always smell so bad?

The answer is that while sweat has no smell, as soon as it is released it comes into contact with bacteria on the skin. These bacteria begin to multiply quite rapidly in the presence of sweat and they cause the smell as well as explaining why it gets worse over time if not properly washed away.

This is especially true of sweat that is the result of nervousness, anxiety, or stress. The body contains two types of sweat glands: eccrine glands and apocrine glands. Eccrine glands are the usual type and are distributed over the entire body. Apocrine glands tend to occur in places where hair grows such as the scalp, groin, and armpits. Eccrine glands secrete sweat when the body temperature rises and their job is to regulate body temperature.

Eccrine gland sweat is composed of water and salt for the most part and does not have an odor detectable to most humans. However, apocrine glands have no role in regulating temperature and instead control pheromones. They secrete a sweat that is fatty and gets pushed directly up onto the surface of the skin. Bacteria then begin to break it down, and the bacteria multiply. It is the breakdown of the bacteria that causes an odor, and this is what is most commonly referred to as body odor.

Risk Factors

Those most at risk for body odor are thus those who are more prone to sweating than others may be. Many studies show that the type of body odor a person has and how it is contrived is genetic. Major histocompatibility complex (MHC) molecules are what largely influence a person’s specific body odor, and they are 100% genetically determined.

How often a person sweats can also be largely influenced by the role of genetics. One study finds that East Asians sweat far less than most others, perhaps in adaptation to their colder climates. Though the studies show interesting results for different groups, one thing is clear for everybody: sweating is a genetic trait passed down and some people have the misfortune of inheriting genes which cause them to sweat heavily in noticeable areas such as the palms of the hands and soles of the feet.

It is also relevant to note that body odor is purely an adolescent and adult problem. Bromhidrosis (an alternative name for body odor) does not occur in humans until they hit puberty, so children do not ever have to worry about body odor.

This can cause confusion in teens who are experiencing puberty and do not realize that they are now at risk for body odor. Body odor is a very easily handled problem once these teens do realize that they must deal with it, but many cultures frown upon unpleasant body odor and so it may be quite embarrassing for them when they do realize this.

When to See A Doctor

Because the tendency of a person to sweat is a genetic trait, it is nearly impossible for doctors to define a “normal” sweating range to use for determining what is abnormal and medically problematic. For this reason, it is important for individuals to know what is normal for them.

Others may judge the amount one person sweats as irregular based on the amount that they sweat, but this would be an uneducated judgment. Instead, individuals should keep in mind what their normal amount of sweating and body odor is and use this to decide if there are any unusual changes or abnormalities occurring.

A change in the amount of sweating or in body odors may signal a problem, and so a doctor’s appointment should be made when this happens. Sweating more or less than the usual amount or randomly having night sweats are both causes for concern.

Body odor changing can be a sign of medical conditions such as diabetic ketoacidosis or kidney failure. Those who sweat excessively may also be interested in seeking medical attention for their problem, as sweating often and in large amounts can be extremely inconvenient and even embarrassing.

Preparing for the Appointment

An appointment can be made with the regular family physician or primary care doctor, or with a dermatologist. It is a good idea to call the primary physician first, as s/he will usually have a good idea of the individual background and might be able to pinpoint things that may be causing the abnormal sweating more easily than a dermatologist who does not have a personal history with a person.

Sometimes the primary physician will immediately refer skin questions to a dermatologist anyway, but it is still good to get a good recommendation from a trusted doctor, and the primary physician can provide this.

Playing the Waiting Game

Most doctors cannot see patients immediately and set up appointments, and once the appointment is set, it would seem that there is not much to do except wait. However, the staff at the Mayo Clinic came up with a list of a few things that people should consider doing while they are waiting for their appointment dates.

The first is to realize that appointments are often brief and time is limited, so a list of questions should be made to ensure that the patient does not forget any important questions that s/he feels need to be asked.

Remember that the doctor does not know everything about the problem the way that an individual does and can only take the information given to try and come up with a solution.

In order to help the process, the patient can write down the symptoms s/he is experiencing, when they first began, and any developments that occurred. Things that seem to worsen the symptoms or help them should be noted on the list as well as how frequently the symptoms occurred.

Tests & Diagnosis

Upon arrival at the doctor’s or dermatologist’s office for the appointment, the physician will usually conduct a physical exam and inquire about the patient’s medical history.

There are a few simple causes of a change in the amount of sweating or body odor. They are the presence of an overactive thyroid also known as hyperthyroidism or low blood sugar commonly referred to as hypoglycemia. Simple blood or urine tests can determine whether these are the cause of the symptoms and separate courses of action can be taken if they are.

Treatment & Dugs

For most people, a doctor’s appointment will never be necessary in order to solve the problem of body odor. The very simple solutions of over the counter deodorants work for most. Deodorants do not do anything to stop the bacterial breakdown that is the cause of the body odor, nor do they stop the body from sweating.

They are alcohol-based products which help to control the odor by masking it with a more pleasant smell.

For a person whose average day does not involve much physical exertion or one who does not sweat often throughout the day, deodorants regularly applied to the underarms and possibly the hands and feet will be the only solution needed.

Though deodorants solve the problems of those with light sweating, many people exercise on a regular basis or just sweat more throughout the day, and deodorant is not enough to keep them from experiencing unpleasant body odor (and sharing it with everybody around them!).

For these people there are antiperspirants available that will help control body odor in a different way. Antiperspirants do exactly what they say; they help stop perspiration.

Aluminum Compounds

Most antiperspirants contain aluminum-based compounds that block the pores that secrete sweat for as long as the antiperspirant stays on the skin. In this way, less sweat reaches the skin and thus fewer odors is produced. Most antiperspirants contain a deodorant as well to help mask any odor that may still persist.

There are several special brands of deodorants and antiperspirants that strive to offer advanced protection against sweat and body odor. Secret and Gillette are two popular brand names that offer such products. As a personal aside, if you are looking for one such product that will help control body odor and sweating, I highly recommend that you should go online and see how actual users of the products have rated them. There are so many products available that it seems it would be quite difficult to choose one without research!

Most people put on a deodorant or antiperspirant at the beginning of each day and do not worry about the problem of body odor because this solves it effectively for them. For others, more is needed to help control sweating and body odor, and a doctor can suggest and prescribe these special treatments. The most commonly used is an aluminum chloride based antiperspirant such as Drysol or Xerac.

Usage of Antiperspirants

The antiperspirant is usually applied to sweat-prone areas before bedtime and then washed off completely in the morning to help control sweating throughout the day. A normal deodorant and antiperspirant combination usually costs no more than $5 for a stick that will last a few weeks or more.

Special aluminum chloride antiperspirants will cost $17-$25 comparatively and can be bought at drug stores and even Wal-Marts in some places, making them more costly but still relatively quite affordable and easily attainable for the average person.

Risks associated with treatment

Though the risks associated with most normal forms of treatment are small, they should not be ignored. Larger problems than excessive sweating or unpleasant body odor can arise from such ignorance. One very common problem with antiperspirants is that they do their job and block sweat, but nobody really thinks of where this sweat is going. Put simply, think of it this way: The body does not perspire to embarrass people or cause odors. Most of the time it does so because it needs to in order to regulate temperature and it is a natural occurrence.

Antiperspirants block sweat from coming through pores which stops sweat and body odor but can cause a number of other problems. The ingredients of antiperspirants can cause skin irritation which usually manifests itself as a slight burning or stinging that goes away. With the clinical-strength antiperspirants that are obtained from a doctor, this skin irritation tends to be much worse.

Skin Problems

The skin can become red, swollen, and itchy where the antiperspirant is applied. In addition to this, the sweat that was excreted from glands but not allowed to flow onto the skin because of antiperspirant-blocked pores can be trapped and cause cysts and infections. These are all very common problems associated with usage of antiperspirant products to control body odor and sweating.

Very few people have problems with deodorants and thus it is a safer solution, if less effective. Those who do experience skin irritation due to deodorants can usually solve their problems by selecting another deodorant that uses a different ingredient than the one that irritated their skin.

Alternative Treatments & Methods

Hyperhidrosis is the medical term that refers to excessive sweating. Excessive sweating is often the cause of excessive body odor because the two are inexplicably linked together; if the sweating can be solved, the body odor is then also solved. There are many herbal substances that are said to be effective in treating hyperhidrosis and the solutions to it range from these naturally-occurring herbal substances to botunlinum toxin (Botox) injections and surgery.

One such example of a natural herbal treatment is the administration of several herbs in tea form. There are various products available to those familiar with searching the Internet and purchasing products online. One such tea is called Hushed Tea and claims to be able to solve the problem of excessive perspiration through use of such herbs as valarian root, St. John’s wort, and sage. Sipping tea twice a day is much less invasive than botox injections or surgery and is also much more cost effective, and this may be a direction that many sufferers of hyperhidrosis can try for themselves.

Botox Injections

If natural remedies do not work, the next step on the ladder is botox injections. These are quite invasive and can be both painful and costly. Botox injections must be used in all of the places where excessive sweating occurs and the results do not last for very long, typically anywhere from four months to a year at maximum.

Several injections are usually required to obtain the desired results. Even with all of these downfalls, many people turn to botox injections to help deal with their hyperhidrosis because they are actually effective. The botox does not actually solve the problem though; it simply blocks the nerves that trigger the sweat glands and is a temporary fix.

Surgery Options for Body Odor

The final alternative for sufferers of hyperhidrosis is surgery to either remove the sweat glands causing the problems or interrupt the nerve signals to these sweat glands permanently. The Mayo Clinic is a well-known place to have the procedure done and its staff is very experienced with handling this type of surgery.

The success rates for surgery recipients are relatively high depending upon the problem area. For those with overly-sweaty palms, the chances of success are 95-98%. The armpits area has a 75-80% chance of success, and the feet show about a 25% chance of an improvement. Surgery of this type is never done solely to solve the problem of hyperhidrosis if only the feet are affected.

Those who undergo surgery to solve area-specific sweating problems will often notice more sweating on the torso area than they had before as a compensatory means to make up for the sweat that is not being excreted through the former problem area.

Most say that this is not a major problem for them as the compensatory sweat is not nearly as much as was excreted in the original problem area. The only other major difference is the realization that without sweat glands, areas such as the hands can actually become too dry and will need better care.

Prevention

In all reality, there is not much that anybody can do to prevent the fact that all people sweat. Some individuals may do so more than others. However, everybody does it. For most, sweating and body odor are very small problems if they are problems at all and they can be easily solved using the techniques listed above.

For a smaller percentage of people, hyperhidrosis is a problem that causes much stress and anxiety as well as accompanying body odors that can have a substantial effect on the lives of the sufferers. Sweating is a natural occurrence that causes body odor for most and bigger problems for some.

Ear infections are very painful and are one of the most common complaints to primary care physicians. In children, ear infections are usually caused by bacterial or upper respiratory infections. Ear infections in adults are often secondary to other medical problems, such as sinus infections or dental disease. Understanding what ear infections are, how they are treated and ways to prevent them is important in preserving hearing.

Types of Ear Infections

Acute otitis media (AOM) is an infection of the fluid in the middle ear or ear drum. This type of infection is commonly referred to as a middle ear infection. Acute otitis media is caused by bacteria such as streptococcal pneumonia or haemophilus influenzae. This is the most common type of ear infection and predominately affects children.

Otitis externa (OE) is an infection of the ear canal. This type of infection can be caused by bacteria or fungal organisms. Otitis externa is commonly known as swimmer’s ear, as it frequently occurs in the summer months as a result of swimming.

Labyrinthitis is an infection of the inner ear that is commonly known as Meniere’s disease. There is an increase of fluid and pressure in the labyrinth in this type of ear infection.

Symptoms of Ear Infections

Pain is the most common symptom of ear infections and is normally present in patients with both acute otitis media and otitis externa. Patients with ear infections also commonly have other respiratory symptoms, such as a cold, nasal congestions or sinus infection.

People with acute otitis media will often have a high fever that can develop rapidly, and have intense, sharp pain. Children will often pull or tug at the effected ear and will cry and be fussy. Ear infections can cause pain when swallowing, so children will often refuse to eat or drink. As the infection of acute otits media causes increased pressure in the ear drum, the ear drum can rupture. Once the ear drum ruptures, thick drainage that can be bloody will drain from the ear. It is interesting to note, however, that pain subsides once the ear drum ruptures. Due to the fluid in the ear drum hearing can be diminished with this type of ear infection.

The most common symptoms of otitis externa are pain, especially when the ear is touched or moved, and itching. The ear canal will be red and swollen, at times to the extent that it swells completely together. Otitis externa can cause drainage and often causes a foul odor in the ear.

People who have labyrinitis or an inner ear infection will have dizziness, ringing in the ear and hearing loss. This type of ear infection can also cause nausea and vomiting and make the person unable to carry out activities of daily living.

Causes of Ear Infections

The causes of ear infections vary with each type. Acute otitis media is caused by bacterial or upper respiratory infections. In children, the eustachian tube is short and curvy, which allows fluid to back up into the ear drum. The warm, moist environment of the ear canal is the perfect place for bacteria to grow and multiple.

Otitis externa is caused by either bacterial or fungal infections. Swimming, especially swimming underwater or in rivers, lakes or streams, allows the bacteria or fungus to enter the ear canal. Trauma from cleaning the ear canal with objects like cotton swabs or hair pins also can lead to otitis externa.

The cause of labyrinthitis is unknown, although it is known to occur after a viral or bacterial infection. Colds, upper respiratory infections, influenza and acute otitis media have also been known to proceed labyrinthitis.

Risk Factors

There are many risk factors for developing acute otitis media. Some of the risk factors or modifiable, or can be changed, while others are not. Modifiable risk factors for acute otitis media include being around cigarette smoke, drinking from a bottle or cup while lying down and group day care. Second hand smoke and smoke fumes in the clothing and hair are a major risk factor for ear infections. Never smoke around or in the house of a child and take special care when holding a child after smoking.

Children who are put to sleep with a bottle are also at an increased risk of ear infections. The liquid from the bottle or cup often rolls into the ear canal when a child is lying down. Children who stay in a group day care environment are also more likely to develop ear infections. This is due to the increased exposure to upper respiratory infections that spread easily from child to child.

There are some risk factors for acute otitis media that cannot be prevented or modified. This type of ear infection occurs more often in children. As a person ages, the incidence of acute otitis media decreases. This type of ear infection also occurs more frequently in males.

There are two major risk factors for otitis externa. Swimming is the top risk factor for this type of ear infection.

Swimming in rivers, lakes, oceans and streams carries an increased risk because multiple organisms live in this type of water.

Swimming pools are still a risk factor for otitis externa, but the number of organisms in the water is reduced by chemical treatments. Children who lay in the bath tub are also at an increased risk of developing otitis externa.

The second major risk factor for developing otitis externa is cleaning inside the ear canal with a foreign object. Many people routinely clean their ears with cotton swabs or other objects like hair pins. Not only can cleaning the ears this way scratch the ear canal and make it susceptible to infections, it can also burst the ear drum.

The only known risk factor for labyrinthitis is a recent viral or bacterial infection.

Preventing Ear Infections

There are many strategies to prevent ear infections. To prevent acute otitis media, avoid the modifiable risk factors of smoking, putting a child to bed with a bottle or cup and group day care. Keeping your child current on vaccinations can also reduce the incidence of this type of ear infection.

Otitis externa can be prevented by limiting the amount of water that gets into the ear canal. Ear plugs can be worn while swimming and hair can be rinsed using a cup instead of lying down in the bath tub. Some people advocate placing a few drops of alcohol into the ear canal after swimming to aid in the evaporation of any water that gets into the ear canal.

One should also avoid cleaning the ear canal with any foreign object. Generally, the ears are self-cleaning and do not require cleaning beyond wiping the visible areas with a damp wash cloth. Over the counter ear wax removal products can be used to help remove excessive wax. As a general rule, nothing smaller than the end of the pinkie finger should be inserted into the ear canal.

Tests to Diagnose Ear Infections

The most common way to diagnose acute otitis media is by a physician looking into the ear with an otoscope. With this type of infection, the ear drum will be red and dull. At times, the ear drum will appear bulging as the pressure of the fluid increases. If the ear drum has busted, the physician will see yellow or bloody drainage from the ear. This drainage can be cultured to identify the exact organism causing the ear infection. In fact, in some instances the physician will open an ear drum that has not ruptured by cutting a small hole into it to culture the fluid.

The pressure or fluid in the ear drum can be measured by a non-invasive test called a tympanogram. Sound waves are administerd into the ear to calculate the movement of the ear drum. This is not a definitive test to diagnose ear infections, but can aid the physician in determining the effects of the increased fluid and pressure on the ear drum.

Otitis externa is normally diagnosed by the presence of swelling in the ear canal and drainage. The drainage can be cultured to determine the infecting organism. Pain upon touching or moving the ear is also a diagnostic tool for otitis externa.

Labyrinthitis is normally diagnosed based upon its symptoms. A MRI will normally be ordered to rule out other conditions that mimic the symptoms of this type of ear infection.

Treating Ear Infections

The treatment for ear infections vary depending on the type of ear infection a person has. There are both medical and home treatments to help alleviate the causes and symptoms of all types of ear infections.

Although there is some debate on the most appropriate treatment of acute otitis media, antibiotics are generally prescribed to treat this type of infection. First generation antibiotics such as amoxicillin are normally effective in treating acute otitis media. Many physicians will also treat the respiratory or cold symptoms that are also present to aid in relieving the increased fluid and pressure that contribute to this type of infection. The medications commonly used to treat acute otitis media are generally inexpensive.

There are two surgical procedures that can be used with this type of infection. Tympanocenteis, or opening the ear drum with a small incision, can help relieve the pain and pressure of otitis media and also allows the physician to obtain a sample of the fluid for a culture. Ventilation tubes can be placed in the ear drum to relieve pressure and allow fluid to drain off of the ear drum. Ventilation tubes are normally used after recurrent ear infections in children.

Home Remedies

There are home remedies that will not cure the infection, but can help with the related symptoms of pain and increased pressure. Applying heat to the ear can help reduce pain. Placing a warm wash cloth or heating pad on the ear generally provides pain relief. Tylenol or Ibuprofen (if the child is over 6 months of age) can also help reduce the fever and pain associated with acute otitis media. Placing a few drops of warmed mixture of pure almond carrier oil, lavender essential oil, chamomile essential oil and tea tree essential oil into the ear can also help relieve pain. Finally, chewing gum can help open the eustachian tubes, reducing the amount of fluid and pressure in the ear.

Many people feel that acute otitis media will get better without treatment. This is generally not recommended as untreated ear infections can cause serious, life-threatening complications.

The treatment for otitis externa is normally limited to antibiotics and keeping the ear dry. The ear drainage may be cultured to determine the most effective antibiotic to use. Swimming is normally restricted until the ear infection completely resolves.

Labyrinthitis will normally get better without treatment. An antibiotic may be prescribed if the cause is thought to be bacterial in nature. Medications can also be given to help the accompanying symptoms of nausea and vomiting.

Complications of Ear Infections

As with most diseases, ear infections can cause serious complications if left untreated. Recurrent ear infections can cause hearing loss in children. Children who have multiple ear infections are at a greater risk of developing speech delays or problems. Due to the close proximity to the brain, untreated ear infections can also cause meningitis, a serious, deadly infection of the brain.

Otitis externa can cause a temporary hearing loss if the canal is extremely swollen. If untreated, this type of ear infection can also spread to the mastoid bone, located behind the ear.

The most common complication of labryinthitis is a disruption in the daily life of the patient. Severe dizziness, nausea and vomiting cause many people with this disease to stay in bed. They are unable to work or meet other responsibilities.

Introduction to Foxglove (Digitalis Purpurea)

In the millennia that mankind has been on earth, uncounted millions of people have died from heart ailments. One type of malfunction is now called congestive heart failure, but once it was called dropsy. Some, but not all, of the symptoms of this problem are: fatigue, edema of the abdomen, legs and ankles, inability to sleep, shortness of breath, increased urination and nausea.

It is interesting that some medications are derived from plants that grow naturally in the environment. These medications can be called natural remedies, because they grow in nature and are also effective in treating ailments. One such plant is foxglove.

The foxglove plant is covered with large blossoms, often in shades of purple or pink. It is a beautiful plant that has some unusual characteristics, including being poisonous when it is eaten.

Foxglove is native to both western and eastern Europe, but it can now be found in all parts of the world. It grows in the wild, often in mountainous and forested areas and also along roadsides. While it grows in the wild, it is now also grown and harvested as a crop so it can be processed for medical purposes.

The History of Foxglove

Foxglove has been called by many different names in different times and at different places. Some of the more common names applied to foxglove include: deadmen’s bells, common foxglove, fairy’s glove, witch’s bell, purple foxglove, folk’s glove, virgin’s glove, bloody fingers and fairy’s caps. It can be noted that all of these names refer to the appearance, size, shape and color of the blossoms. People have long admired this plant because of its long, beautiful, purplish or pinkish bell-shaped blossoms that grow up and down long, slender stalks. The plants can be from three feet to six feet high. The fact that it is poisonous also tends to get people’s attention.

Modern medicine owes a great debt of gratitude to the early doctors and researchers who studied and learned the healing properties of so many herbal natural remedies, including foxglove. The first time that foxglove is mentioned in relation to being used as a medication was in the 13th century. It was first used and written about in Ireland and then later in Scotland. It was utilized in the attempt to treat a number of unrelated illnesses.

The credit for developing foxglove into an effective medication goes to Dr. William Withering. He was a British physician, who lived from 1741 to 1799. Dr. Withering became aware that people were using foxglove to treat what was then called dropsy and that it was an effective treatment for that condition. No one understood the “why” of the healing properties of this plant, so he made it his life’s work to discover why it worked and how to use foxglove more effectively. In 1785, he published his findings.

Dr. Withering discovered digitalis, an active ingredient in foxglove. After isolating and identifying this substance, he continued to study and learn the properties of this medication that has been such a boon to mankind. On a personal note, Dr. Withering was a genuinely good man. Each year, he treated 2000 to 3000 poor patients who could not afford to pay him. This limited his income to about 1000 British pounds per year, while his peers were earning about 5000 British pounds per year. After years of suffering from tuberculosis, he died in 1799 at the age of 58.

Myths that Relate to Foxglove

Foxglove has been associated with magic and mystery for centuries. Perhaps the fact that even though it is the source of a powerful, beneficial medication, it is also highly poisonous when eaten is a reason for the interest shown in it. One legend says that fairies used to give the blossoms to foxes to use as gloves.

This enabled them to move quietly, so they would not be caught stealing a farmer’s chickens. Connecting the foxglove flowers and foxes made sense, because foxgloves grow on the forested hillsides where foxes have their dens. Another story says that medieval witches cultivated foxglove to use as an ingredient in potions created to cast spells on people. These plants were sometimes grown in medieval gardens and dedicated to the Virgin Mary. Those were appropriately called “virgin’s glove.” Even today, some who practice paganism and similar religions use foxglove in some rituals.

Digitalis, Called Digoxin, Is Extracted from Foxglove

Digitalis, more often called digoxin, is a purified cardiac glycoside used to treat a variety of heart conditions, including: atrial fibrillation, atrial flutter and sometimes even heart failure. It can be effective when other medications are not. Lanoxin, Digitek and Lanoxicaps are names under which digoxin is commonly marketed.

It is usually administered by mouth but can be injected in critical situations. When conditions exist for digoxin to be used in the treatment process, myocardial efficiency improves, because hemodynamics and the ventricular function curve both improve. Digoxin is available only with a doctor’s prescription. It is primarily eliminated in the kidneys, so dosage must be reduced for those with a kidney problem.

Growing Digitalis Purpurea Commercially and Producing Digoxin

The process used today to produce digoxin is very similar to that used by Dr. Withering in the 18th century. Approximately 1000 kg of dried foxglove leaves are required to make 1 kg of pure digoxin. The process of extracting relatively small amounts of digoxin is not complicated, but it is expensive.

Commercial farming of foxglove to obtain digitalis in the USA began during World War II, when it was not possible to secure a sufficient amount from Europe. The plant grows best in the northern part of the United States and in Canada. At first, there was sufficient wild foxglove to meet the demand, but greater amounts than what could be harvested from plants growing wild were soon required.

Early efforts to grow foxglove commercially were unsuccessful. In the area where foxglove grows best, the roots of the plants had to be removed from the soil in the fall and stored through the winter. That was an expensive process. Also, the seeds of the foxglove plant are very small and sometimes are not viable.

The best method for growing foxglove plants involves the plants spending the first few weeks in a greenhouse. That is not economically feasible, because labor costs are so high in the United States. The result of all this is that, even now, most digitalis purpurea is imported.

Side Effects with the Use of Digoxin

In adults, every medicine can cause side effects, but no common side effects have been discovered due to usage of this drug. However, a person should seek medical help right away if he experiences a severe allergic reaction including: difficulty breathing, tightness in the chest, hives, fever, irregular heart beat or swelling in or around the mouth.

Digoxin and Children

Digoxin is also an effective medication for use in infants and children with slight to moderate congestive heart failure or irregular heartbeat due to atrial fibrillation. As with adults, dosage must be determined by careful clinical assessment of the individual and monitored carefully.

The daily dose for children should usually be divided, not given all at once in one dose. Once past the immediate newborn stage, children under 10 years of age usually need doses that are proportionally larger than those given to adults, but adjusted according to their body weight or surface area.

Children over 10 years of age need to be given adult dosages, but, again, the doses must be in proportion to the child’s body weight.

Pets Can Also Develop Congestive Heart Failure

Not only humans, but also their pets, can develop the symptoms of congestive heart failure. For the person who dearly loves his dog or cat and considers it part of the family, this is a vexing problem. When this kind of illness affects a dog or cat, it is for basically the same reasons that humans develop this disease.

The key to helping your pet is to take him to a veterinarian. The vet will use all the same techniques to diagnose and treat your furry little friend that are used with humans. If you want to learn more about congestive heart failure in animals, you can learn a lot by reading about heart disease in humans.

It may be encouraging to pet owners to know that the drugs used to treat pets are also approved by the FDA. It will be helpful financially if the pet owner has purchased pet health insurance before such a dire event occurs in his pet’s life.

What Should Treatment for Congestive Heart Failure Include Besides Medication?

The one who suffers from congestive heart failure should receive prescriptions for the proper medication, but there are other considerations to properly treat this condition. The first, and perhaps most important, is lifestyle modification. There are seemingly small changes that the patient must make. Sodium causes more fluids to accumulate in body tissue. Limiting the amount of both sodium and fluids consumed is very important. The slogan about drinking eight classes of water per day is certainly not intended for those suffering from congestive heart failure.

Aerobic exercise is now considered beneficial in helping a patient to function physically and have a higher quality of life. Sometime surgery is required to restore an adequate flow of blood through the heart. A doctor will often have other suggested changes for his patients’ lifestyle.

What Causes Congestive Heart Failure?

Congestive heart failure is an ailment in which the heart is unable to pump sufficient oxygen-rich blood to allow the body to function in a normal way. The condition can be caused by 1) diseases that increase a body’s demand for oxygen, 2) diseases that adversely affect the heart muscles, or 3) diseases that stiffen heart muscles. Any disease that inhibits the heart’s pumping by limiting the pumping action of the ventricles is a basic cause for congestive heart failure. Diseases such as hemochromatosis or amyloidosis can do that.

Users of Digoxin Can Experience Digoxin Toxicity

Physicians have long been aware of a potential problem that can arise when digoxin is prescribed. It is a complex reaction called “digoxin toxicity.” This syndrome was originally described by Dr. Withering in 1785. Approximately 0.4% of those admitted to hospitals, 1.1% of those not hospitalized, and 10 – 18% of nursing home residents who receive digoxin develop this toxicity.

In 2006, 2610 cases of toxic digitalis exposure were reported by the American Association of Poison Control Centers. The number of cases reported is declining because of increased awareness of dangerous drug interactions and for other reasons, including a decreased use of digoxin. Internationally, 2.17% of those on digoxin, who are hospitalized, develop digoxin toxicity.

The Cost of Digoxin

The national average cost of digoxin for a 250 mcg (0.25 mg) Tab is $7.00. Many people buy from online and Canadian pharmacies, as well as in local drugstores.

Tips for Helping Digoxin Work as Effectively as Possible

Here are some things the person who takes digoxin can do to help this medication work as effectively as possible:

• Some foods may prevent the absorption of digoxin. It is helpful to take this medicine either one hour before eating or two hours afterward.
• Do not take any new medicine, either prescription or over-the-counter, without checking with your doctor first. Many medicines should be avoided because of possible drug interaction.
• There is no standard amount of digoxin that should be prescribed. Your doctor will need to determine what amount is best based on body weight, other prescribed medicines and how well you respond to this drug.
• A patient should take digoxin at the same time each day and drink a full glass of water with it.
• It is important for the patient to keep all scheduled appointments, both with his doctor and for lab work.
• In the event of an accidental overdose of digoxin, emergency treatment must be sought immediately.
• If you miss a regular dose, do not take an extra dose to make up for it if it is less than 12 hours until time for your next dose.

The Danger of Drug Interactions

Other prescription drugs, such as verapamil, guanidine, itraconazole, spironolactone and indomethasin can increase digoxin levels. This brings the danger of toxicity. There are other drugs that can cause a serious slowing of heart rate when taken with digoxin.

Digoxin Recalls

On March 31, 2009, there was a major recall of Caraco brand digoxin. This Class 1 Recall was made, because tablets were made and sold that differed in size and in the amount of digoxin they contained.

About a month later, in late April of 2009, all digoxin pills with the Digitek brand name were found to contain twice as much digoxin as they should. There were lawsuits filed for personal injury and wrongful death against Mylan Pharmaceuticals as a result.

On May 11, 2009, there was still another recall of digoxin by a company that repackages Caraco tablets. There have been numerous other recalls of this product through the years. The person who takes this medication should try to stay abreast, as much as possible, with whatever recalls are taking place.

The Value of Digitalis

A quotation concerning this medication, found on the web page here, tells the extent of the value of digitalis:

“Digitalis” is without question the most valuable cardiac drug ever discovered and one of the most valuable drugs in the entire pharmacopoeia. The introduction of digitalis was one of the landmarks in the history of cardiac disease.”(1)

This quotation is written here exactly as it is found on the website. Even though the (1) implies a footnote to give the credit for the quotation, there is no such footnote or other reference given.

The health condition known as constipation can also be called “costiveness,” “dyschezia,” or “dyssynergic defaecation.” It is a topic many people have difficulty discussing. However, almost everyone experiences constipation at least once during his or her lifetime. It is a common gastrointestinal problem that can be both painful and frustrating. However, with some time, effort, and little cost, you can effectively treat your constipation.

Symptoms

Constipation is characterized by the presence of four key symptoms:

1) Infrequent bowel movements – You may be experiencing constipation if you have three or less bowel movements per week.
2) Difficulty passing bowels – more specifically, if you strain during 25% or more of your bowel movements, you may be constipated.
3) Feeling like you didn’t completely evacuate your bowels.
4) Hard stools.

Constipation can also include abdominal pain, vomiting, and a swollen abdomen. Most of these symptoms are not serious and do not require you to see a doctor. Most people deal with minor constipation on their own. However, you should seek the help of your doctor if you exhibit any of these more serious symptoms:

• Blood in your stool
• Your constipation alternates with diarrhea
• Pencil-shaped, thin stools
• Your constipation continues, regardless of corrective changes in your diet and exercise
• Intense abdominal pain
• Unexplained onset of constipation
• Constipation symptoms persist longer than three weeks

Causes

Constipation occurs in your body when your colon, or large intestine, contracts too slowly to propel your stool through. Your colon may also absorb too much water, causing your stool to become hard and dry. This bowel dysfunction in the body can be caused by many different factors. They include:

• Not drinking enough water, or dehydration
• Not eating enough fiber
• Constipation is common in newborn babies after switching from breast milk to formula, or from formula to solid foods.
• Eating too much dairy
• Side effect of medications, which include diuretics, codeine, morphine, and others containing iron, calcium, or aluminum. Some antidepressants can also lead to constipation.
• Psychological causes—some children fear that their stools will be painful, so they withhold them deliberately. Others may feel embarrassed or shy about having a bowel movement.
• Metabolic causes—certain metabolic and endocrine problems can lead to constipation, including hyperglycemia, diabetes mellitus, and hypothyroidism.
• Structural problems in the body, including pelvic floor dysfunction, colon cancer, Parkinson’s disease, and spinal cord lesions.
• Frequent use of laxatives
• Lack of exercise
• Hormonal imbalance
• Changes in routine, including pregnancy, travel, or aging

Risk Factors

Although the majority of people will experience constipation in their lifetime, certain risk factors increase the likelihood you will have it. You are more prone to constipation if you:

• Are elderly
• Don’t get enough exercise
• Are confined to your bed
• Don’t eat enough fiber
• Don’t drink enough water
• Take certain medications, including anti-depressants, sedatives, narcotics, or medications to treat Parkinson’s disease.
• Are undergoing chemotherapy

Constipation in Children

Constipation is a common problem in children. There are several reasons your children may be experiencing constipation.

Make sure your child is eating enough fiber. If she consumes primarily fatty foods and foods high in sugar, she probably isn’t taking in enough fiber. Try getting her to eat healing foods, like barn cereal, prune juice, and other fruits and vegetables to promote bowel movements.

Children typically experience some constipation when switching from breast milk to cow’s milk, then again when switching from baby food to solid food. Symptoms are usually temporary during these periods.

Your child’s constipation symptoms may worsen, if she resists the urge to pass her bowels. Often, children will fear the next bowel movement because it will hurt. Avoid this harmful cycle by encouraging bowel movements and offer positive reinforcement when your child has successful bowel movements.

If changes in diet aren’t effective in treating your child’s constipation, you doctor might recommend a laxative. Consult with him to determine which type to use and the proper dosage amount for you child.

Prevention Tips

There are many effective strategies to prevent constipation, most of which are completely natural. Following a few simple tips on a daily basis can keep your gastrointestinal system moving as it should.

Drink plenty of water. Dehydration can lead to constipation, so drink six to eight glasses of water each day. You need fluid to move waste matter through the colon properly. Eat plenty of fiber. Fiber helps promote healthy digestion in your body. Foods that are rich in fiber include whole grains, fruits, and vegetables.

Avoid dehydration by reducing your intake of dehydrating beverages, such as soda, coffee, and tea. Limit your consumption of alcohol and dairy products, as they can also dehydrate you.

Exercise on a regular basis. Research suggests that regular exercise helps prevent constipation. Walking after dinner can be especially beneficial. Natural remedy solutions to prevent constipation are available at your health food store. Natural Moves is one such product, which helps to relax your bowel, ease tension, and promote regular bowel movements.

Tests & Diagnosis

Doctors usually diagnose constipation based on a patient’s description of symptoms, including difficulty passing a bowel movement, hard stools, and a feeling of incomplete emptying of the bowels. You doctor will also inquire about your habits, such as dietary intake of fiber and level of daily physical activity. He will consider which medications you are taking, since some drugs can contribute to constipation. In certain cases, however, your doctor may conduct further testing. These procedures can include:

Physical examination. Your doctor examines your abdomen, feeling for substantial lumps of stool in the colon. Rectal examination so your doctor assesses the tone of the anal sphincter and checks for stool in the lower rectum.

Constipation itself is relatively simple to diagnosis, but your doctor may conduct further testing to determine the underlying cause of your constipation and to rule out a more serious condition. These can include:

Blood tests to see if a hormone imbalance is contributing to your constipation. Barium testing, during which your doctor coats the intestine with a dye so that he can clearly see your colon on an X-ray.

With this test, your doctor can tell if you have a more serious bowel obstruction.

Colonoscopy will be done to look for any obstruction in the colon. Your doctor examines the colon with a long, flexible tube equipped with a camera.

This procedure allows him to look for obstructions, tumors, or other abnormalities. You are typically put to sleep under general anesthesia during this procedure.

Anorectal manometry is when your doctor inserts a flexible tube into your rectum that has a small balloon on its tip. He then inflates the balloon and pulls the device back through the sphincter muscle. Your sphincter is the muscle you use during bowel movements, and this procedure enables your doctor to measure its coordination.

Doctors find that patients suffering from constipation usually exhibit one of two conditions:

• Colonic Inertia is a physical condition in which your colon doesn’t contract properly, retaining stool.
• Obstructed defecation is a condition in which you strain more than you need to during a bowel movement.

If you experience chronic constipation and pain for several days each month, lasting three or more months, your doctor will typically diagnosis your condition as Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS).

Treatment Options

Most people can relieve their constipation with simple changes in diet and lifestyle. The following options should be the first step in treating your constipation. They are the least expensive methods, carry no risks or side effects, and are completely natural. These changes include:

• Increasing your fiber intake. Eat more high-fiber foods like grains, fruits, vegetables, and beans. Limit your intake of foods low in fiber, such as meat, dairy, and processed foods.
• Exercising. Regular physical activity will promote a healthy intestinal system.
• Allowing time for bowel movement. Give yourself the time for undisturbed trips to the restroom, and don’t ignore the urge to have a bowel movement.
• Drinking more water. Adequate fluid intake will help keep your stools soft.

Another natural option for the treatment of your constipation includes a variety of alternative approaches. These treatments have not been tested extensively by the medical community, but you might find them worth a try. They include:

• Homeopathic remedies. A holistic doctor might recommend using the herb bryonia to soften your stools or sulfur for difficult or painful bowel movements. Other herbs that may help with constipation include euphorbia kansui, castor oil plant, morning glory seeds, and cistanche.
• Healing supplements, which include sodium sulfate, agar, and Irish moss.
• Acupuncture. It’s a traditional Chinese medicine that involves inserting needles into various parts of the body. Some say it helps stimulate the colon and relieve pain caused by constipation.
• Massage. Manipulating and rubbing the abdominal area can help relax the muscles around the intestines and help promote healthy bowel movements.

You could also use over-the-counter laxatives to help treat your constipation. Be careful, though, because they can be habit-forming. There are several different types of laxatives.

• Fiber supplements are your safest option for laxatives. Start with them, and if they don’t work, move on to other types of laxatives. Examples include FiberCon, Metamucil, and Citrucel.
• Saline laxatives should be your next option. They are relatively safe and carry a lower cost than other laxatives. Examples include milk of magnesia and Haley’s M-O.
• Stool softeners do just that—soften your stool. Examples include Colace or Surfak.
• Osmotics help move fluid through your colon. Examples include Cephulac and Miralax.
• Stimulant laxatives cause contractions in your colon and include Dulcolax and Senokot. Use these only if necessary, since they can be very habit-forming and can aggravate your symptoms.

If lifestyle changes and over-the-counter laxatives aren’t relieving your constipation, your doctor might prescribe something more potent.

• Chloride channel activators contain the ingredient lubiprostone, which increases the amount of fluid in your stool. Amitiza is one example.
• Prucalopride is a 5-HT-4 agonist, which increases fluid secretion in your intestine and decreases transit time through the colon.

If medication still does not relieve your constipation, your doctor might use a physical intervention. He may use an enemaa or manual disimpaction, during which he would physically remove impacted stool from your colon using his hands.

If you are still suffering with constipation after medical treatment, your doctor might recommend surgery. He would remove part of your colon, including the parts of your rectum and anal sphincter that are causing the problems.

Medical professionals estimate that everyone will experience constipation at some point during his or her lifetime. It typically isn’t serious and can be treated with minimal cost, time, and effort. If you do experience significant constipation lasting several weeks or longer, be sure to consult with your doctor.

Interstitial cystitis (IC) is a disease that manifests as recurrent pain or discomfort in the bladder and the region of the pelvis that surrounds the bladder. The symptoms are usually different for every patient and one patient can have different symptoms with each flare up. Approximately 1 million people are affected by the condition – mostly women.

How severe the symptoms are may be different for each person as well. Some people with IC do have periods where it goes away as if in remission. Because of the differing symptoms and the fact that the symptoms are often more severe in some people than in others, it is thought that IC is actually several diseases.

It may help to understand better how the bladder functions in order to fully understand what interstitial cystitis is. The bladder is a hollow organ in which the urine is stored until you are ready to empty your bladder.

When the bladder is full, signals are sent to the brain using the pelvic nerves indicating that it is time to empty. This is what produces the urge to urinate. With IC, these signals are confused and the patient may feel the need to urinate more often but smaller volumes of urine are actually emptied from the bladder.

Having interstitial cystitis can cause a number of complications:

• It can make the walls of the bladder become stiffer, resulting in smaller capacity of the bladder.
• Pain and the increased need to urinate can inhibit work, social activities, and other things in the patient’s daily life.
• The constant need to urinate along with the pain can sometimes lead to emotional issues that can eventually lead to depression. Depression can worsen symptoms of any disease, including interstitial cystitis.

Alternative Names

Interstitial cystitis is sometimes called IC. It is more simply referred to as painful bladder syndrome (PBS). Scientists who research this condition also call it bladder pain syndrome (BPS). Depending on the symptoms a patient has, doctors may use the term IC/PBS. They normally do this for all cases of urinary pain that aren’t connected to any other issue like an infection of kidney stones.

Causes

There is really known definitive cause of interstitial cystitis. Much research is done and focuses mostly on the lining of the bladder (the epithelium). This layer is there to protect the wall of the bladder from toxins in the urine. According to the research, in 70 percent of patients with IC this lining contains leaks. This suggests that these leaks may be allowing substances like chemicals from beverages or food that are in the urine to enter the bladder. These substances may irritate the bladder wall, triggering the IC.

The lining of the bladder wall is made up of protective substances. Researchers who study IC also believe that some people with the condition may have lower levels of these substances. This can be another reason for the damage to the wall of the bladder found in so many cases of IC.

A substance called antiproliferative factor (APF) has also been discovered that may block the normal production of the cells that make up the lining of the bladder. Nearly all of the time that APF is found in the urine it is with people who have interstitial cystitis.

There is another theory that suggests that IC is an autoimmune disorder or that infection may be the cause of the symptoms and the bladder damage.

Symptoms

As mentioned earlier, the symptoms of interstitial cystitis may differ from patient to patient. Someone with IC may also discover that his or her symptoms change with time. The symptoms can come on or become worse with certain physical or emotional triggers like menstruation, allergies, sexual activity, or anxiety and stress.

The symptoms of IC include:

• The continuous and pressing need to urinate.
• Urinating frequently in small amounts. Those who have severe cases of IC may urinate as much as 60 times in a day.
• Pelvic pain. In women the pain is between the vagina and the anus and in men it is between the scrotum and the anus.
• Pelvic pain during intercourse.
• Constant pain in the pelvis.

Some patients may have only the pain and others the urination symptoms. It is most common to have both the pain and the frequent urination.

Pain from interstitial cystitis can get worse if there is a urinary tract infection.

Risk Factors

There are a few factors that can put people at a higher risk of interstitial cystitis:

• Sex – Women are diagnosed with IC considerably more often than men or children of either gender. Men can have similar symptoms that are normally associated with prostatitis.
• Age – This disease most often occurs between the ages of 30 and 40.
• Other chronic conditions – People who suffer from other chronic conditions like irritable bowel syndrome and fibromyalgia may be more prone to IC, however there is no known connection between these conditions.

Prevention

Any preventative measures that can be taken against a recurrence of interstitial cystitis are based on the theory that it is caused by the damage done to the bladder wall. The advice is to avoid any continuing irritation of the bladder. One way to do this is by boosting the immune system:

1. Visit an integrative internist. These doctors focus on your overall health and the concept of preventing disease as well as treating chronic illnesses. This type of doctor will do an in-depth study of your health history. This is important since IC can occur after another serious illness like fatigue, stress, or some type of infection that may have required antibiotics.
2. This doctor can give you suggestions for boosting your immune system. These doctors practice both traditional and alternative medicine and can give advice regarding the proper vitamins and other supplements to take for the immune system. Probiotics are often recommended.
3. Diet is especially important. If you eat the types of food that support gastrointestinal health, this can lead to a stronger immune system. This type of diet should include plenty of proteins, vegetables, and foods that are high in fiber. Organic food is better that non-organic and processed foods.

Another way to prevent IC is to keep the pH level in the body balanced.

1. You should have the pH in your body tested regularly. “Potential of Hydrogen” is the amount of acidity or alkalinity in any solution. By testing the body’s pH you will know if you are more alkaline or more acidic. If the pH is not balanced properly, the body is considered to be toxic. The cells in a body that is toxic are not capable of absorbing the nutrients from food or oxygen.
2. Eat the foods that will provide a healthy pH balance. The foods you eat should be 75 percent alkaline and 25 percent acidic. Too much acidic food can make the entire body too acidic, which can cause inflammation, irritation, lower energy, weak immune systems, and interstitial cystitis.

Test and Diagnosis

Since the symptoms of interstitial cystitis are so similar to those of things like urinary tract infections, bladder cancer, endometriosis in women, and prostatitis in men, the first thing that doctors will usually do is tests to rule those things out. The diagnosis of IC is generally based on pain in the bladder combined with frequent urination and the absence of other diseases that have the same symptoms.

To rule out the other diseases, a doctor may do a urinalysis to look for the presence of bacteria; a culture of prostate secretions to determine if there is a prostate infection; or an exam to rule out bladder cancer that consists of taking a sample of the bladder and urethra for biopsy.

The doctor will also perform a complete pelvic exam and what is known as a potassium sensitivity test. In this test a solution of water and one of potassium chloride are placed into the bladder one at a time. The patient is asked to rate his or her pain and need to urinate after the placement of each solution. If the pain and urgency is significantly higher with the potassium chloride, the doctor may diagnose IC.

Treatment

There is no one treatment that works for interstitial cystitis in every patient. There are a number of treatments, including medications that can offer some relief but what works for one patient may not work for the next. This often results in trying several treatments before hitting on the one that is successful.

Herbal and Home Remedies

Besides following the dietary advice given in the section on Prevention, there are some other home remedies and herbal treatments that my help with interstitial cystitis.

1. Supplements and herbs

• Calcium Citrate – Taking a calcium citrate supplement adds alkaline to urine. This can reduce the bladder irritation.
• Gotu kola – This herb stimulates the production of the substances that make up the lining of the bladder.
• Buchu – This is a diuretic and antiseptic for the bladder and should be taken as a tea.
• Cornsilk – This also has diuretic properties and should be made into a tea.
• Horsetail – This herb has properties that heal tissue as well as acting as a diuretic.

When used correctly, supplements and herbal treatments don’t usually have any side effects and can be purchased for reasonable prices at drug stores or health food stores.

2. Bladder training – This involves teaching yourself to urinate according to the time on the clock rather than when you feel the need. Start at certain intervals, like every 30 minutes whether you feel the need to or not. You can gradually up the time by 30-minute increments. This technique can help you reduce the frequency of urination.

3. Loose clothing – Don’t wear anything that put pressure on your stomach.

Pharmaceutical Remedies

There is only one prescription drug approved as a treatment for interstitial cystitis. This drug is Elmiron and it is not entirely understood how it works, but it is thought that the drug may restore the inner lining of the bladder. It can take anywhere from two to six months for you to notice a decrease in the frequency of urination. There are some minor side effects, which include slight gastrointestinal issues, and hair loss that stops when you are through taking the drug.

There are other oral medications that may help:

1. Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs like ibuprofen can relieve the pain.
2. Antihistamines may sometimes help with the urgency to urinate.
3. Tricyclic antidepressants can aid with relaxing the bladder to block pain.

Any minor side effects of these drugs can be found on the labels.

Surgery and Non-Surgical Options

There are some non-surgical procedures that can be done to help relieve the pain of interstitial cystitis:

1. Electrical Nerve Stimulation – With the use of special devices either attached to the skin by wires or inserted into the vagina, electrical pulses can be sent to stimulate the nerves that go the bladder. This is known as transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation (TENS) and is used to treat chronic pain for many conditions. It is thought that the electrical pulses enhance the blood flow to the bladder as well as make the pelvic muscles stronger that control the bladder. This treatment may also signal the body to release substances that block pain.This procedure is not very costly and takes about three to four months to produce results. Most insurance providers cover the procedure.
2. Bladder Instillation – This procedure is also called a bladder wash and involves filling the bladder with a solution of a prescription medication called dimethyl sulfoxide. A local anesthetic is sometimes mixed with the solution. The solution is left in the bladder for about 15 minutes and then it is expelled when the patient urinates. This treatment can reduce inflammation and may even stop the muscle contractions responsible for pain as well as urgency and frequency of urination.This procedure has one side effect and it is not serious. It can cause a garlicky taste in the mouth and odor on the skin for several hours. Most insurance providers cover the procedure.

Interstitial cystitis is very rarely treated with surgery because the procedures do not necessarily relieve pain. Some of the procedures are very invasive and most of them can have complications. Surgery is usually only the option when all other treatments have failed.

The options for surgery include:

1. Bladder augmentation – The damaged portion of the bladder is removed and replaced with a section from the colon. This makes the bladder larger. The pain usually remains. Women may often need to use a catheter to empty the bladder several times a day. The IC can also reoccur on the section of the colon that was used to make the bladder larger.
2. Cystectomy – This is a removal of the entire bladder. There are several different methods used to reroute the urine when this is done, one of which involves attaching the ureters to a piece of the colon and cutting an opening in the abdomen so that the urine can empty into a bag outside the body.
3. Fulguration – This procedure uses lasers to burn away ulcers in the bladder that may be causing the IC.
4. Resection – This is similar to fulguration, but the ulcers are cut out rather than burned with a laser.

Fulguration and resection don’t always work and have been known to make symptoms worse.

A cystectomy or bladder augmentation can cost between $6,500 and $11,000. The other procedures are less invasive and cost less.

Respiratory Diseases are ailments and conditions that impair our respiratory system. The respiratory system is responsible for proper delivery of oxygen throughout the body, removal of carbon dioxide and toxic waste, ample regulation of the body temperature and the stabilization of the body’s pH level. Respiratory diseases are those that affect the lung, bronchial tubes, pleural cavity, trachea, upper respiratory tract and all muscles and nerves involved in the breathing process.

There are many reasons why respiratory diseases occur. They could result from an infection, accident or from inhaling some toxic products. It could also be genetic or a byproduct of unhealthy habits such as smoking. Genetics also play a part in contributing to the occurrence of respiratory diseases.

Types of Respiratory Diseases

There are several types of respiratory diseases. Let us briefly define them and look at some examples of each type.

Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD)

Lung diseases that result from a severe obstruction of airflow Mto the lung are termed as a chronic obstructive pulmonary disease or COPD. These diseases would damage and narrow the airway and block airflow in the lungs.E.g.: Emphysema

Obstructive Lung Diseases

This is a form of lung disease that occurs when the airflow in the bronchial tubes get narrowed, restricting airflow to the lungs.

E.g.: Asthma, Silicosis

Restrictive Lung Diseases

Lung diseases of this form occur where there is a reduction in lung volume either because they cannot stretch enough to alter its volume according to the pressure applied, or due to diseases affecting the pleura or chest wall.

E.g.: asbestosis, Sarcoidosis and pulmonary fibrosis

Respiratory Tract Infections

Upper respiratory tract infection

Essentially, these are infections that occur to the upper portion of the respiratory system. Some examples are common cold, sinusitis, tonsillitis, otitis media, pharyngitis and laryngitis.

Lower respiratory tract infection

The most common example of an infection affecting the lower portion of the respiratory tract is pneumonia.

Respiratory Tumors

Respiratory tumors are either malignant or benign. While the benign ones such as pulmonary hamartoma rarely cause respiratory diseases, lung cancer caused by malignant tumors pose a significant health problem. Lung cancers accounts for 15% of all cancer reports and 29% of all deaths due to cancer.

Pleural Cavity Diseases

Pleural cavity diseases occur when fluid gathers in the pleural cavity during pleural effusion or when a hole in the pleura, called pneumothorax causes the affected lung to collapse.

E.g.: Emphysema and Mesothelioma

Pulmonary Vascular Diseases

Diseases are regarded as pulmonary vascular diseases when they impact the pulmonary circulatory system of our body. They could occur from a pulmonary embolism, pulmonary arterial hypertension, pulmonary edema and damage to the capillaries in the lung that results in blood leaking into the alveoli.

Symptoms

Respiratory diseases can be detected with some of these many symptoms. One should definitely seek medical consultation and help if they find themselves suffering from one or more of these symptoms.

1. Shortness of Breath with or without exertion
2. Breathing Difficulties or Dyspnea
3. Rapid Breathing
4. Dizziness and Fainting
5. Chest Pains
6. Accelerated Heart Rate of more than 100 beats per minute. This is also known as Tachycardia.
7. Fatigue
8. Loss of Appetite
9. Weight Loss
10. General uneasy feeling
11. Bluish discoloration of the lips, tongue and/or fingers, also known as cyanosis.

Risk Factors

There are many factors that could contribute to the increase in occurrence of respiratory diseases. Constant exposure to these factors could increase the chances of respiratory diseases occurring.

1. Tobacco smoke
2. Indoor air pollutants such as those that could come from open stoves, mold, dust mites, and pollen.
3. Outdoor air pollutants that can arise from exhaust fumes from cars and factories, smoke, dust and smog.
4. Allergens that can comes from pets, pollen, dust mites, mold, smoke, formaldehyde and volatile organic Compounds (VOC).
5. Occupational hazards such as exposure to toxic fumes, chemicals and harmful substances
6. Unhealthy Lifestyle such as smoking.

Tests and Diagnosis

To determine if one is suffering from any type of respiratory disease and to determine which type, several tests could be ordered by the physician. The type of test that would be administered on a patient depends on their medical history, family history, symptoms and the diagnostic procedure physicians are expected to follow.

Some of the tests are

1. 1. Chest X-Ray

Chest X-ray is a radiograph projection of the chest that helps physicians analyze and diagnose respiratory diseases. It uses ionizing radiation to create images of the chest. X-rays are used to determine conditions that involve the chest wall, thorax bones, lungs and heart. The occurrence of pneumonia is commonly determined through an X-ray.

2. Pulmonary Function Tests (PFTs)

The most common PFT that is used to measure lung function is spirometry or the measurement of breaths. This is a tool that is used to create pneumotachographs that can be used to determine respiratory conditions like asthma, pulmonary fibrosis, cystic fibrosis and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD).

3. Computed Tomography Scan

Also known as a CT scan, this is a medical imaging procedure that uses tomography to create a three-dimensional image of the body part. High resolution computed tomography scan is used to diagnose respiratory diseases like emphysema and fibrosis. A general purpose image reconstruction technique is sufficient to check for pneumonia and cancer.

4. Examination of microorganism cultures derived from secretions like sputum

A microbiological culture is created when microbial organisms are allowed to multiply in a controlled environment and then tested to determine the cause of an infectious disease. In some cases, a chemical test is conducted on the culture to determine and eliminate certain causes of infection or diagnosis and could be vital information to determine the form of treatment that needs to be administered to the patient.

5. Bronchoscopy

This technique allows the insides of the airway to be viewed. Bronchoscopy also helps to provide therapeutic relief. The bronchoscope is inserted into the airway through the nose, mouth or a tracheostomy. It helps physicians analyze the airways for abnormalities like blood, tumors and inflammations.

6. Biopsy of the lung or pleura

This medical test involves the examination of cells or tissues that are removed from the patient. These are examined through a microscope by a pathologist and could be chemically analyzed.

7. Ventilation/Perfusion Lung scan (V/Q lung scan)

This form of medical imaging that uses scintigraphy to assess the blood and air circulation within the lungs. The ventilation part of the scan allows on to determine how air reaches all parts of the lung and the perfusion part assesses how blood circulates within the lungs.

8. Ultrasound

Ultrasounds are especially useful to determine the effect of pleural effusion. Pleural effusion occurs when excess fluid gathers in the pleural cavity of the ling. This could limit the expansion of the lungs and affect their breathing ability. The four types of fluid that could accumulate and cause pleural effusion are serous fluid, blood, chyle and pus.

These tests would help determine the exact type of respiratory disease that has occurred and would allowed doctors to determine the type of treatment that needs to be administered.

Treatment Options

Many factors affect the type of treatment that would be administered for respiratory diseases. These factors are the type of respiratory disease, its intensity and the medical history of the patient in concern. Here are some possible treatment options that would be suggested to help manage one’s respiratory disease.

1. Medication

Patients could be prescribed with corticosteroids, bronchodilators, antibiotics, anticoagulants, cancer chemotherapy and immune suppressants to help them with their respiratory diseases.

Side effects of these medications vary from one medicine to another. All patients must ensure that doctors know their full medical and family history to determine which form of medication is the safest and would be most suitable for them. Patients would also be warned of any specific side effect that could occur from the consumption of the medication and they should understand them clearly and comply as needed. Cost of these medications would vary based on the location, availability of medical facilities and how the insurance of the patient covers the medicinal cost.

2. Physiotherapy

Physiotherapy is most used when one has had a pulmonary surgery or has been diagnosed with cystic fibrosis, COPD or pulmonary fibrosis. Physiotherapy helps clear lung secretions and certainly help those who have suffered from respiratory diseases.


3. Oxygen Therapy

This is helpful when one is unable to inhale in sufficient oxygen due to the respiratory disease that their body is suffering from.

This form of treatment is primarily administered when patients suffer from emphysema, pneumonia and any respiratory disorder that impacts the oxygen intake of the body.

This form of treatment is flexible and can be administered in the hospital, at home and could be made portable as well.

4. Mechanical Ventilation

This process involves the mechanical replacement of the natural breathing process with ventilators. This method involved a ventilator and a trained individual who compresses the bag as required. This could be used as a short term measure during an operation or for chronic illnesses as well. Possible side effects are complications such as pneumothorax, injury of the airways and alveola, and ventilator associated pneumonia.

5. Radiotherapy

This process utilizes high energy rays to kill some or all cancer cells. In early stages of cancer, it could completely remove the cancer. In other cases, it can be supplemented with chemotherapy or surgery. In more advanced lung cancer, radiotherapy treatments could keep the illness under control by shrinking the cancer cells, providing some symptomatic relief for the patient.

6. Surgery

Surgical procedures like lobectomy and pneumonectomy could be performed to remove the cancer. Pleurodesis is a procedure that artificially eliminates the pleural space. Lung Volume Reduction Surgery where the damaged portions of the lung could help with COPD and emphysema patients. A patient’s damaged lung could be partially or completely replaced through lung transplantation. Surgery also allows for an artificial lung to be implanted into the body.

Home Remedies to Treat Respiratory Diseases

While there are many treatment options, there are some natural home remedies that one could take to control their respiratory diseases. These natural remedies could be consumed to provide relief from the symptoms of the respiratory diseases, cure the diseases to some extent and keep them in control. Needless to say, these natural remedies do not replace the doctor’s advice and prescription. When one intends to undergo a strict natural regimen, they should consult their doctor and do it as a supplement to the medications and treatments that is being administered to them.

Ginger

Ginger is a perennial herb that belongs to the rhizome family. The medicinal values possessed by gingers have been recognized for a long time by ancient Indians, Chinese and Greek physicians. Ginger is also used as a spice in many cultural dishes. The vitamins and minerals found in ginger are phosphorus, calcium, iron, carotene, thiamine, vitamin C, niacin and riboflavin. Ginger provides a great remedy for coughs and colds. When consumed with honey, ginger could provide relief from dry cough. Ginger tea is also a great remedy for colds and fever.

Fever resulting from influenza could be reduced from a mixture consisting of ginger juice, fenugreek and honey. It also works as an expectorant in asthma, bronchitis, whooping cough and tuberculosis.

Chicory

Chicory is a perennial herb that has long tap roots, round stems and several light or dark green leaves and pale blue flowers. This herb is native to the Mediterranean region and was known to the ancient Greeks and Romans. Its ability to create better skin was discovered a long time ago. Chicory is helpful for asthma and hay fever recovery. Juices of chicory, carrot and celery after eliminating starches and sugars help with these respiratory conditions. Powder derived from the dried chicory roots mixed in honey is a great remedy and expectorant for chronic bronchitis.

Celery

This salad plant consists of green leaves, stem and bulbous roots. The celery roots and seeds are popular in Unani and Ayurvedic treatment and medicines. The Chinese and English have used celery as a medicine since the fifth century B.C. Celery contains a well balanced proportion of nutrients, vitamins and minerals. Its antispasmodic properties help in treatment of respiratory diseases like asthma, bronchitis, tuberculosis and pleurisy.

Tumeric

Tumeric is a perennial herb that has short stems and raised branches. This rhizome has been used by those who practice Unani and Ayurvedic medicine since ancient times. The antiseptic properties of turmeric make it a good remedy to treat chronic cough and infected throats.

When fresh turmeric powder is mixed in warm milk, they make a good remedy concoction that would help increase the discharge from the nose and provide relief from cough and cold. It is also used as a great in house remedy for bronchial asthma.

Prevention Tips

One could prevent the occurrence of respiratory diseases by adhering to at least some of the prevention tips that are mentioned here. While these prevention tips may not entirely eliminate the chances of suffering from a respiratory disease, they would at least reduce the chances of respiratory diseases from occurring. It could also help with the healing process and ensure that the infectious respiratory diseases do not spread across the population. These measures are also good for general health of all within the family and society.

1. Do not smoke. If you are, work on quitting soon. Smoking would damage your lungs and the lungs of those surrounding you, especially close family and friends. Smoking is the primary cause for many respiratory diseases and you and your loved ones are succumbed to.
2. Educate the young children about the hazards of smoking. It would be better to educate them at an early age to ensure that they can stay protected from this unhealthy habit and protect their lung health.
3. Avoid inhaling second-hand smoke. Being a passive smoker by inhaling smoke also affects your lungs and increases your chances of being affected by a respiratory disease.
4. Be more proactive and protect your family from passive smoking. You could divert from smokers who are in your way. You could also instruct visitors to your home that smoking would not be tolerated.
5. Always be clean and thoroughly wash your hands. Fight germs by maintaining your hygiene. The spread of infection reduces when everyone does their part to remain clean and germ free.
6. Cover your coughs and sneezes to prevent the spread of flu, cold and other lung diseases.
7. Contribute to limiting outdoor air pollution. Do your part to ensure that everyone breathes in cleaner air.
8. Find out how you could reduce the amount of indoor air pollutants within your house.
9. Ensure that you exercise regularly to build stronger lungs and immune system.
10. Avoid occupational hazards such as inhaling toxic fumes from chemicals, paints and other solvents. If needed wear a protective mask and ensure that good air quality is maintained at your work place at all times.
11. Ensure that you have taken the necessary vaccinations to protect yourself from respiratory diseases that are prevalent in your area.

Conclusion

Respiratory diseases come in many forms and severities. Learning more about them, how they occur, how they can be treated and prevented would certainly help us manage our lung health better. This is vital information whether you or a loved one is currently managing a respiratory disease.