Can a Magnetic Connection Cure Pain?

Posted on 08:00 No Comments
Labels: , ,
Alternative Medicine
By: Lara Endreszl
Published: Sunday, 14 December 2008

As a kid, I had a bunch of little round magnets that were supposed to be glued onto the back of homemade refrigerator magnets. Instead I used to stack them up on the kitchen table and turn them around and around attracting and repelling the little discs for the sheer wonder of the power they held. Little did I know magnets have been widely used as an alternative method of treating pain from headaches and motion sickness to joint pain.

For centuries magnets have been used for various health purposes and were first used in stone form. Called lodestones, ancient Greeks used the magnetized stones as a way to cure certain ailments. To keep patients from bleeding, physicians used amber pills that were magnetized, as well as magnetic rings, to ease arthritis suffering. The Middle Ages found magnets being used against poison, gout, and the threat of baldness, as well as for pulling out objects containing iron (like arrowheads) and as an antiseptic for cleaning wounds.

Ancient healers thought that the blood contained magnetic energy and when it became low or displaced, the patient became ill. After the Civil War, magnets were put into clothing in order to reduce the need for doctors, which were hard to find. In the United States, magnets are still in use today, not so much in clothing to replenish deficiencies in the body, but for shoe insoles to stabilize painful foot symptoms, inside a mattress pad for general body well being, and inside discreet elastic bands to wear against pressure points (most common on the inside of your wrist) to ward off sickness from the sea, from altitude, or motion in genera—like a long car ride in the backseat.

Multiple conditions are said to be fought by manipulating the magnetic fields coursing through your body. Liver and kidney problems, back pain, and fibromyalgia are some of the major health concerns people look to magnets to solve.

Popular, yes, but healthy? No one can say for sure. Dr. Andrew Weil—renowned alternative medicine doctor and famous for being a specialist in giving practical health advice related to his field to public figures such as Oprah Winfrey—says the jury’s still out. Weil addresses their popularity and widespread use on multiple causes, but isn’t sure spending money on gimmicky magnets are worth your while in the long run, especially because there have been no previous studies confirming their positive results.

Weil says there are two main types of magnets, static and electromagnetic. Static magnets are like the ones I used to play with on my kitchen table which don’t change their magnetic field. These are the types that are usually associated with small adhesive patches and the elastic bands for cabin pressure and motion sickness and inside shoes and key rings and other devices said to “balance” out the body. Some people have claimed that these types of magnetic fields are able to help temporarily relieve pain associated with chronic back symptoms and can even give you a boost of energy throughout daily wear, but concrete research has yet to back those theories up.

On the other hand, electromagnets are often used in hospitals in devices like MRI machines using magnetic fields with an active electrical current, using radiation to help doctors see inside the body and sometimes speed up the bone-healing process. As recently as March, a medical journal published a paper that touts researchers’ findings that electromagnetic technology was able to reduce depression in people who didn’t respond to other methods of treatment. With all of these methods, more research always has to be done.

The National Center for Complementary and Alternative Medicine (NCCAM) cites that science may find a way to propose the worth of magnets for the body and have conducted small trials using animals instead of humans. Possibilities are that magnets may be able to change nerve cell functions and block pain signals from getting to the brain, blood flow and oxygen transport can be increased thereby inducing body temperature to ailing areas of the body, and by balancing the rate of cell growth and death. With every type of medicine there are risk factors involved and a consultation from a doctor or natural healer would always be wise before starting any type of radical therapy.

Whatever type of medical theory you subscribe to, doctors and researchers alike warn to use your own judgment when applying magnetic fields to what ails you. Talk to your physician and rate the pros and cons. Whether or not this type of magnetic manipulation appeals to your common sense, I think we all have learned that magnets aren’t just for the refrigerator anymore.

Can a Magnetic Connection Cure Pain?

Posted on 08:00 No Comments
Labels: , ,
Alternative Medicine
By: Lara Endreszl
Published: Sunday, 14 December 2008

As a kid, I had a bunch of little round magnets that were supposed to be glued onto the back of homemade refrigerator magnets. Instead I used to stack them up on the kitchen table and turn them around and around attracting and repelling the little discs for the sheer wonder of the power they held. Little did I know magnets have been widely used as an alternative method of treating pain from headaches and motion sickness to joint pain.

For centuries magnets have been used for various health purposes and were first used in stone form. Called lodestones, ancient Greeks used the magnetized stones as a way to cure certain ailments. To keep patients from bleeding, physicians used amber pills that were magnetized, as well as magnetic rings, to ease arthritis suffering. The Middle Ages found magnets being used against poison, gout, and the threat of baldness, as well as for pulling out objects containing iron (like arrowheads) and as an antiseptic for cleaning wounds.

Ancient healers thought that the blood contained magnetic energy and when it became low or displaced, the patient became ill. After the Civil War, magnets were put into clothing in order to reduce the need for doctors, which were hard to find. In the United States, magnets are still in use today, not so much in clothing to replenish deficiencies in the body, but for shoe insoles to stabilize painful foot symptoms, inside a mattress pad for general body well being, and inside discreet elastic bands to wear against pressure points (most common on the inside of your wrist) to ward off sickness from the sea, from altitude, or motion in genera—like a long car ride in the backseat.

Multiple conditions are said to be fought by manipulating the magnetic fields coursing through your body. Liver and kidney problems, back pain, and fibromyalgia are some of the major health concerns people look to magnets to solve.

Popular, yes, but healthy? No one can say for sure. Dr. Andrew Weil—renowned alternative medicine doctor and famous for being a specialist in giving practical health advice related to his field to public figures such as Oprah Winfrey—says the jury’s still out. Weil addresses their popularity and widespread use on multiple causes, but isn’t sure spending money on gimmicky magnets are worth your while in the long run, especially because there have been no previous studies confirming their positive results.

Weil says there are two main types of magnets, static and electromagnetic. Static magnets are like the ones I used to play with on my kitchen table which don’t change their magnetic field. These are the types that are usually associated with small adhesive patches and the elastic bands for cabin pressure and motion sickness and inside shoes and key rings and other devices said to “balance” out the body. Some people have claimed that these types of magnetic fields are able to help temporarily relieve pain associated with chronic back symptoms and can even give you a boost of energy throughout daily wear, but concrete research has yet to back those theories up.

On the other hand, electromagnets are often used in hospitals in devices like MRI machines using magnetic fields with an active electrical current, using radiation to help doctors see inside the body and sometimes speed up the bone-healing process. As recently as March, a medical journal published a paper that touts researchers’ findings that electromagnetic technology was able to reduce depression in people who didn’t respond to other methods of treatment. With all of these methods, more research always has to be done.

The National Center for Complementary and Alternative Medicine (NCCAM) cites that science may find a way to propose the worth of magnets for the body and have conducted small trials using animals instead of humans. Possibilities are that magnets may be able to change nerve cell functions and block pain signals from getting to the brain, blood flow and oxygen transport can be increased thereby inducing body temperature to ailing areas of the body, and by balancing the rate of cell growth and death. With every type of medicine there are risk factors involved and a consultation from a doctor or natural healer would always be wise before starting any type of radical therapy.

Whatever type of medical theory you subscribe to, doctors and researchers alike warn to use your own judgment when applying magnetic fields to what ails you. Talk to your physician and rate the pros and cons. Whether or not this type of magnetic manipulation appeals to your common sense, I think we all have learned that magnets aren’t just for the refrigerator anymore.

Can a Magnetic Connection Cure Pain?

Posted on 08:00 No Comments
Labels: , ,
Alternative Medicine
By: Lara Endreszl
Published: Sunday, 14 December 2008

As a kid, I had a bunch of little round magnets that were supposed to be glued onto the back of homemade refrigerator magnets. Instead I used to stack them up on the kitchen table and turn them around and around attracting and repelling the little discs for the sheer wonder of the power they held. Little did I know magnets have been widely used as an alternative method of treating pain from headaches and motion sickness to joint pain.

For centuries magnets have been used for various health purposes and were first used in stone form. Called lodestones, ancient Greeks used the magnetized stones as a way to cure certain ailments. To keep patients from bleeding, physicians used amber pills that were magnetized, as well as magnetic rings, to ease arthritis suffering. The Middle Ages found magnets being used against poison, gout, and the threat of baldness, as well as for pulling out objects containing iron (like arrowheads) and as an antiseptic for cleaning wounds.

Ancient healers thought that the blood contained magnetic energy and when it became low or displaced, the patient became ill. After the Civil War, magnets were put into clothing in order to reduce the need for doctors, which were hard to find. In the United States, magnets are still in use today, not so much in clothing to replenish deficiencies in the body, but for shoe insoles to stabilize painful foot symptoms, inside a mattress pad for general body well being, and inside discreet elastic bands to wear against pressure points (most common on the inside of your wrist) to ward off sickness from the sea, from altitude, or motion in genera—like a long car ride in the backseat.

Multiple conditions are said to be fought by manipulating the magnetic fields coursing through your body. Liver and kidney problems, back pain, and fibromyalgia are some of the major health concerns people look to magnets to solve.

Popular, yes, but healthy? No one can say for sure. Dr. Andrew Weil—renowned alternative medicine doctor and famous for being a specialist in giving practical health advice related to his field to public figures such as Oprah Winfrey—says the jury’s still out. Weil addresses their popularity and widespread use on multiple causes, but isn’t sure spending money on gimmicky magnets are worth your while in the long run, especially because there have been no previous studies confirming their positive results.

Weil says there are two main types of magnets, static and electromagnetic. Static magnets are like the ones I used to play with on my kitchen table which don’t change their magnetic field. These are the types that are usually associated with small adhesive patches and the elastic bands for cabin pressure and motion sickness and inside shoes and key rings and other devices said to “balance” out the body. Some people have claimed that these types of magnetic fields are able to help temporarily relieve pain associated with chronic back symptoms and can even give you a boost of energy throughout daily wear, but concrete research has yet to back those theories up.

On the other hand, electromagnets are often used in hospitals in devices like MRI machines using magnetic fields with an active electrical current, using radiation to help doctors see inside the body and sometimes speed up the bone-healing process. As recently as March, a medical journal published a paper that touts researchers’ findings that electromagnetic technology was able to reduce depression in people who didn’t respond to other methods of treatment. With all of these methods, more research always has to be done.

The National Center for Complementary and Alternative Medicine (NCCAM) cites that science may find a way to propose the worth of magnets for the body and have conducted small trials using animals instead of humans. Possibilities are that magnets may be able to change nerve cell functions and block pain signals from getting to the brain, blood flow and oxygen transport can be increased thereby inducing body temperature to ailing areas of the body, and by balancing the rate of cell growth and death. With every type of medicine there are risk factors involved and a consultation from a doctor or natural healer would always be wise before starting any type of radical therapy.

Whatever type of medical theory you subscribe to, doctors and researchers alike warn to use your own judgment when applying magnetic fields to what ails you. Talk to your physician and rate the pros and cons. Whether or not this type of magnetic manipulation appeals to your common sense, I think we all have learned that magnets aren’t just for the refrigerator anymore.

Driving While Using the Cell Phone

Posted on 07:53 No Comments
Labels: , ,
Natural Health
By: Nicki
Published: Friday, 26 December 2008

As a blind individual, one thing I will never be able to do is drive. However, I do ride with my mom and also with my friends at times. Mom is a very safe driver; she watches the road and never eats or talks on the cell phone while driving. But many other people do drive while distracted. One estimate held that cell phone distractions alone cause 2,600 deaths and 330,000 injuries in the United States every year. And, among teens, motor vehicle accidents are the leading cause of death. That is why I am an advocate for a new device I read about recently that is aimed at cutting down on road deaths by preventing teenagers from talking on cell phones or text messaging while driving.

The device, invented by researchers at the University of Utah, is called Key2SafeDriving. It encloses an automobile key—one for each teen driver, or for any family member, and then connects wirelessly with each key user’s cell phone either through Bluetooth or RFID (radio-frequency identification) technologies.

To turn on the car engine, the driver must either slide the key out or push a button to release it. Then the device sends a signal to the driver’s cell phone, which places it in “driving mode” and a “stop” sign is displayed on the phone’s screen. While in the driving mode, the driver cannot use their cell phone to talk or send text messages, except for calling 911 or other pre-approved numbers, such as family members’ numbers. Incoming calls and texts are automatically answered with a message saying, “I am driving now. I will call you later when I arrive at the destination safely.”

Studies by other researchers at the university have shown that driving while talking on a cell phone is as dangerous as driving drunk. Several states have banned cell phone talk and texting while driving, especially for novice drivers. Co-inventor, Xuesong Zhou says that “at any given time, about 6 percent of travelers on the road are talking on a cell phone while driving. Also at any given time, 10 percent of teenagers who are driving are talking or texting.”

The university has obtained provisional patents and licensed the invention to a private company that is currently working to manufacture and commercialize it. If things go as planned, the company hopes see it on the market within six months and says the technology may be licensed to cell phone service providers to include in their service plans. The cost is estimated to be less than $50 per key, plus an undetermined monthly service fee.

Not only could this device improve driving safety, it could help parents get lower insurance rates. By using the system, you could prove that teen drivers are not talking while driving, which could significantly reduce their risk of getting into an accident.

The marketing company hopes to get automobile and insurance industry backing so that Key2SafeDriving data on cell phone use and non-use while driving can be collected and compiled into a “safety score” of sorts and sent to insurance companies monthly, which then could provide discounts to motorists with good scores.

I personally think it’s a wonderful idea and if I were a parent, I would want one for my teen. Actually, it wouldn’t be a bad idea if everyone in the family had one—just to keep things fair!

Driving While Using the Cell Phone

Posted on 07:53 No Comments
Labels: , ,
Natural Health
By: Nicki
Published: Friday, 26 December 2008

As a blind individual, one thing I will never be able to do is drive. However, I do ride with my mom and also with my friends at times. Mom is a very safe driver; she watches the road and never eats or talks on the cell phone while driving. But many other people do drive while distracted. One estimate held that cell phone distractions alone cause 2,600 deaths and 330,000 injuries in the United States every year. And, among teens, motor vehicle accidents are the leading cause of death. That is why I am an advocate for a new device I read about recently that is aimed at cutting down on road deaths by preventing teenagers from talking on cell phones or text messaging while driving.

The device, invented by researchers at the University of Utah, is called Key2SafeDriving. It encloses an automobile key—one for each teen driver, or for any family member, and then connects wirelessly with each key user’s cell phone either through Bluetooth or RFID (radio-frequency identification) technologies.

To turn on the car engine, the driver must either slide the key out or push a button to release it. Then the device sends a signal to the driver’s cell phone, which places it in “driving mode” and a “stop” sign is displayed on the phone’s screen. While in the driving mode, the driver cannot use their cell phone to talk or send text messages, except for calling 911 or other pre-approved numbers, such as family members’ numbers. Incoming calls and texts are automatically answered with a message saying, “I am driving now. I will call you later when I arrive at the destination safely.”

Studies by other researchers at the university have shown that driving while talking on a cell phone is as dangerous as driving drunk. Several states have banned cell phone talk and texting while driving, especially for novice drivers. Co-inventor, Xuesong Zhou says that “at any given time, about 6 percent of travelers on the road are talking on a cell phone while driving. Also at any given time, 10 percent of teenagers who are driving are talking or texting.”

The university has obtained provisional patents and licensed the invention to a private company that is currently working to manufacture and commercialize it. If things go as planned, the company hopes see it on the market within six months and says the technology may be licensed to cell phone service providers to include in their service plans. The cost is estimated to be less than $50 per key, plus an undetermined monthly service fee.

Not only could this device improve driving safety, it could help parents get lower insurance rates. By using the system, you could prove that teen drivers are not talking while driving, which could significantly reduce their risk of getting into an accident.

The marketing company hopes to get automobile and insurance industry backing so that Key2SafeDriving data on cell phone use and non-use while driving can be collected and compiled into a “safety score” of sorts and sent to insurance companies monthly, which then could provide discounts to motorists with good scores.

I personally think it’s a wonderful idea and if I were a parent, I would want one for my teen. Actually, it wouldn’t be a bad idea if everyone in the family had one—just to keep things fair!

Driving While Using the Cell Phone

Posted on 07:53 No Comments
Labels: , ,
Natural Health
By: Nicki
Published: Friday, 26 December 2008

As a blind individual, one thing I will never be able to do is drive. However, I do ride with my mom and also with my friends at times. Mom is a very safe driver; she watches the road and never eats or talks on the cell phone while driving. But many other people do drive while distracted. One estimate held that cell phone distractions alone cause 2,600 deaths and 330,000 injuries in the United States every year. And, among teens, motor vehicle accidents are the leading cause of death. That is why I am an advocate for a new device I read about recently that is aimed at cutting down on road deaths by preventing teenagers from talking on cell phones or text messaging while driving.

The device, invented by researchers at the University of Utah, is called Key2SafeDriving. It encloses an automobile key—one for each teen driver, or for any family member, and then connects wirelessly with each key user’s cell phone either through Bluetooth or RFID (radio-frequency identification) technologies.

To turn on the car engine, the driver must either slide the key out or push a button to release it. Then the device sends a signal to the driver’s cell phone, which places it in “driving mode” and a “stop” sign is displayed on the phone’s screen. While in the driving mode, the driver cannot use their cell phone to talk or send text messages, except for calling 911 or other pre-approved numbers, such as family members’ numbers. Incoming calls and texts are automatically answered with a message saying, “I am driving now. I will call you later when I arrive at the destination safely.”

Studies by other researchers at the university have shown that driving while talking on a cell phone is as dangerous as driving drunk. Several states have banned cell phone talk and texting while driving, especially for novice drivers. Co-inventor, Xuesong Zhou says that “at any given time, about 6 percent of travelers on the road are talking on a cell phone while driving. Also at any given time, 10 percent of teenagers who are driving are talking or texting.”

The university has obtained provisional patents and licensed the invention to a private company that is currently working to manufacture and commercialize it. If things go as planned, the company hopes see it on the market within six months and says the technology may be licensed to cell phone service providers to include in their service plans. The cost is estimated to be less than $50 per key, plus an undetermined monthly service fee.

Not only could this device improve driving safety, it could help parents get lower insurance rates. By using the system, you could prove that teen drivers are not talking while driving, which could significantly reduce their risk of getting into an accident.

The marketing company hopes to get automobile and insurance industry backing so that Key2SafeDriving data on cell phone use and non-use while driving can be collected and compiled into a “safety score” of sorts and sent to insurance companies monthly, which then could provide discounts to motorists with good scores.

I personally think it’s a wonderful idea and if I were a parent, I would want one for my teen. Actually, it wouldn’t be a bad idea if everyone in the family had one—just to keep things fair!

Coconut, Not Your Average Oil

Posted on 07:34 No Comments
Labels: ,

Natural Health
By: Lara Endreszl
Published: Sunday, 28 December 2008

When I have a little time on my hands, whether I am feeling stressed or bored or just in need of a task, I bake. One of my favorite ingredients to use is coconut. The rich sweet flavor, the soft chewy texture if it’s inside a baked good, and especially the nutty toasted crunch after it’s been baked and sprinkled over cakes, ice creams, or just about anything else you can think of. There are a lot of varieties of coconut sold at stores: flaked, whole, shredded, flour (good for people with wheat flour allergies), raw, unsweetened, dried, milk, and the most unusual type which I have been hearing about recently: coconut oil.
Claiming to be a “miracle cure” everyone has seemed to be raving about it from a new diet to an unbeatable moisturizer, Jennifer Aniston has supposedly been known to swear by it as well as professional international sports teams for multiple aspects of the oil's promising effects. Coconut oil promises a lot, but is it enough to withstand the dangers to your diet?

According to the Coconut Research Center based in Colorado, scientists are aware of the saturated fat content but are also aware of the more substantial positives found in the oil, like fiber, minerals, and vitamins. Used for centuries in Asian and Pacific cultures, they call it the “Tree of Life” for its many remarkable uses. Both food and medicine, coconut oil goes beyond what Americans describe as “dietary oil,” used to prepare foods and for taste without all the calories, dietary oil is a type of oil used for its natural fatty acids and often marketed as a weight loss supplement.
 The researchers from the Center urge us to take another look at coconut oil, beyond its dietary purposes. Around the world, traditional alternative medicines have been using this oil to treat a myriad of symptoms and conditions, “asthma, baldness, bronchitis, bruises, burns, colds, constipation, cramps from menstruation, dysentery, earache, fever, flu, gingivitis, gonorrhea, jaundice, kidney stones, lice, malnutrition, nausea, rash, scabies, skin infections, sore throat, swelling, syphilis, toothache, tuberculosis, tumors, typhoid, ulcers, upset stomach, and wounds,” among others. In Western medicine, however, studies have shown that scientists have had some luck in proving coconut (in certain forms) may be a healing substance in the lab.
The possibilities are endless, from killing bacteria and parasites, to boosting the immune system and the body’s energy, acting as an antioxidant, as well as having a lower cholesterol content than other oils, it seems science knows something we don’t. A new study recently conducted and presented by Drs. Gilda Sapphire Erguiza, from the Philippine Children's Medical Center and Daniel Rauch, from the New York University Langone Medical Center, found that children diagnosed with community-acquired pneumonia healed faster while on normal antibiotics when also given a dose of coconut oil according to their weight, though researchers have more to investigate as to why this effect took place.
On the opposite side of the crowd, nutritionists and the health-conscious weigh in on why coconut oil shouldn’t be a part of a regular diet. Just look at the numbers: Coconut oil has a whopping 117 calories per tablespoon and with the artery-clogging qualities of a saturated fat to boot. Coconut oil on its own has 87 percent saturated fat compared to a juicy burger that contains merely 38 percent. With most American diets already high in fats and saturated fats, adding additional oil on top of all the rest probably won’t be good for your overall health.

The fatty acids in foods are measured in length that tells of the danger to our bodies: short, medium, and long. Most fatty acids we consume are of the long variety and essentially it takes our bodies longer to break them down and metabolize within our system. Most of the long-chain varieties are what we consume—98 to 100 percent—from plants and animals daily. Coconut oil is medium-chain or known as MCFA. Some nutritionists warn about the high saturated fat content of coconut oil but advise to use caution and think about what we are substituting it for within our diet in order to keep a balance and keep our heart in check.

Whatever your choice, for or against the “miracle cure” of coconut oil, remember that everything even supplements and natural remedies should be used in moderation no matter how healthy they may seem and to always consult a doctor before trying anything new so as to prevent future complications. I always knew I loved coconut, but I didn’t know it could be for more than just taste.

Coconut, Not Your Average Oil

Posted on 07:34 No Comments
Labels: ,

Natural Health
By: Lara Endreszl
Published: Sunday, 28 December 2008

When I have a little time on my hands, whether I am feeling stressed or bored or just in need of a task, I bake. One of my favorite ingredients to use is coconut. The rich sweet flavor, the soft chewy texture if it’s inside a baked good, and especially the nutty toasted crunch after it’s been baked and sprinkled over cakes, ice creams, or just about anything else you can think of. There are a lot of varieties of coconut sold at stores: flaked, whole, shredded, flour (good for people with wheat flour allergies), raw, unsweetened, dried, milk, and the most unusual type which I have been hearing about recently: coconut oil.
Claiming to be a “miracle cure” everyone has seemed to be raving about it from a new diet to an unbeatable moisturizer, Jennifer Aniston has supposedly been known to swear by it as well as professional international sports teams for multiple aspects of the oil's promising effects. Coconut oil promises a lot, but is it enough to withstand the dangers to your diet?

According to the Coconut Research Center based in Colorado, scientists are aware of the saturated fat content but are also aware of the more substantial positives found in the oil, like fiber, minerals, and vitamins. Used for centuries in Asian and Pacific cultures, they call it the “Tree of Life” for its many remarkable uses. Both food and medicine, coconut oil goes beyond what Americans describe as “dietary oil,” used to prepare foods and for taste without all the calories, dietary oil is a type of oil used for its natural fatty acids and often marketed as a weight loss supplement.
 The researchers from the Center urge us to take another look at coconut oil, beyond its dietary purposes. Around the world, traditional alternative medicines have been using this oil to treat a myriad of symptoms and conditions, “asthma, baldness, bronchitis, bruises, burns, colds, constipation, cramps from menstruation, dysentery, earache, fever, flu, gingivitis, gonorrhea, jaundice, kidney stones, lice, malnutrition, nausea, rash, scabies, skin infections, sore throat, swelling, syphilis, toothache, tuberculosis, tumors, typhoid, ulcers, upset stomach, and wounds,” among others. In Western medicine, however, studies have shown that scientists have had some luck in proving coconut (in certain forms) may be a healing substance in the lab.
The possibilities are endless, from killing bacteria and parasites, to boosting the immune system and the body’s energy, acting as an antioxidant, as well as having a lower cholesterol content than other oils, it seems science knows something we don’t. A new study recently conducted and presented by Drs. Gilda Sapphire Erguiza, from the Philippine Children's Medical Center and Daniel Rauch, from the New York University Langone Medical Center, found that children diagnosed with community-acquired pneumonia healed faster while on normal antibiotics when also given a dose of coconut oil according to their weight, though researchers have more to investigate as to why this effect took place.
On the opposite side of the crowd, nutritionists and the health-conscious weigh in on why coconut oil shouldn’t be a part of a regular diet. Just look at the numbers: Coconut oil has a whopping 117 calories per tablespoon and with the artery-clogging qualities of a saturated fat to boot. Coconut oil on its own has 87 percent saturated fat compared to a juicy burger that contains merely 38 percent. With most American diets already high in fats and saturated fats, adding additional oil on top of all the rest probably won’t be good for your overall health.

The fatty acids in foods are measured in length that tells of the danger to our bodies: short, medium, and long. Most fatty acids we consume are of the long variety and essentially it takes our bodies longer to break them down and metabolize within our system. Most of the long-chain varieties are what we consume—98 to 100 percent—from plants and animals daily. Coconut oil is medium-chain or known as MCFA. Some nutritionists warn about the high saturated fat content of coconut oil but advise to use caution and think about what we are substituting it for within our diet in order to keep a balance and keep our heart in check.

Whatever your choice, for or against the “miracle cure” of coconut oil, remember that everything even supplements and natural remedies should be used in moderation no matter how healthy they may seem and to always consult a doctor before trying anything new so as to prevent future complications. I always knew I loved coconut, but I didn’t know it could be for more than just taste.

Coconut, Not Your Average Oil

Posted on 07:34 No Comments
Labels: ,

Natural Health
By: Lara Endreszl
Published: Sunday, 28 December 2008

When I have a little time on my hands, whether I am feeling stressed or bored or just in need of a task, I bake. One of my favorite ingredients to use is coconut. The rich sweet flavor, the soft chewy texture if it’s inside a baked good, and especially the nutty toasted crunch after it’s been baked and sprinkled over cakes, ice creams, or just about anything else you can think of. There are a lot of varieties of coconut sold at stores: flaked, whole, shredded, flour (good for people with wheat flour allergies), raw, unsweetened, dried, milk, and the most unusual type which I have been hearing about recently: coconut oil.
Claiming to be a “miracle cure” everyone has seemed to be raving about it from a new diet to an unbeatable moisturizer, Jennifer Aniston has supposedly been known to swear by it as well as professional international sports teams for multiple aspects of the oil's promising effects. Coconut oil promises a lot, but is it enough to withstand the dangers to your diet?

According to the Coconut Research Center based in Colorado, scientists are aware of the saturated fat content but are also aware of the more substantial positives found in the oil, like fiber, minerals, and vitamins. Used for centuries in Asian and Pacific cultures, they call it the “Tree of Life” for its many remarkable uses. Both food and medicine, coconut oil goes beyond what Americans describe as “dietary oil,” used to prepare foods and for taste without all the calories, dietary oil is a type of oil used for its natural fatty acids and often marketed as a weight loss supplement.
 The researchers from the Center urge us to take another look at coconut oil, beyond its dietary purposes. Around the world, traditional alternative medicines have been using this oil to treat a myriad of symptoms and conditions, “asthma, baldness, bronchitis, bruises, burns, colds, constipation, cramps from menstruation, dysentery, earache, fever, flu, gingivitis, gonorrhea, jaundice, kidney stones, lice, malnutrition, nausea, rash, scabies, skin infections, sore throat, swelling, syphilis, toothache, tuberculosis, tumors, typhoid, ulcers, upset stomach, and wounds,” among others. In Western medicine, however, studies have shown that scientists have had some luck in proving coconut (in certain forms) may be a healing substance in the lab.
The possibilities are endless, from killing bacteria and parasites, to boosting the immune system and the body’s energy, acting as an antioxidant, as well as having a lower cholesterol content than other oils, it seems science knows something we don’t. A new study recently conducted and presented by Drs. Gilda Sapphire Erguiza, from the Philippine Children's Medical Center and Daniel Rauch, from the New York University Langone Medical Center, found that children diagnosed with community-acquired pneumonia healed faster while on normal antibiotics when also given a dose of coconut oil according to their weight, though researchers have more to investigate as to why this effect took place.
On the opposite side of the crowd, nutritionists and the health-conscious weigh in on why coconut oil shouldn’t be a part of a regular diet. Just look at the numbers: Coconut oil has a whopping 117 calories per tablespoon and with the artery-clogging qualities of a saturated fat to boot. Coconut oil on its own has 87 percent saturated fat compared to a juicy burger that contains merely 38 percent. With most American diets already high in fats and saturated fats, adding additional oil on top of all the rest probably won’t be good for your overall health.

The fatty acids in foods are measured in length that tells of the danger to our bodies: short, medium, and long. Most fatty acids we consume are of the long variety and essentially it takes our bodies longer to break them down and metabolize within our system. Most of the long-chain varieties are what we consume—98 to 100 percent—from plants and animals daily. Coconut oil is medium-chain or known as MCFA. Some nutritionists warn about the high saturated fat content of coconut oil but advise to use caution and think about what we are substituting it for within our diet in order to keep a balance and keep our heart in check.

Whatever your choice, for or against the “miracle cure” of coconut oil, remember that everything even supplements and natural remedies should be used in moderation no matter how healthy they may seem and to always consult a doctor before trying anything new so as to prevent future complications. I always knew I loved coconut, but I didn’t know it could be for more than just taste.

Millions of older Americans use risky drug combos

Posted on 23:31 No Comments
Labels:

By LINDSEY TANNER, AP Medical Writer (yahoo news 24, Dec. 2008)

CHICAGO – At least 2 million older Americans are taking a combination of drugs or supplements that can be a risky mix — from blood thinners and cholesterol pills to aspirin and ginkgo capsules — a new study warns.

Among older men, the numbers are particularly alarming — one in 10 are taking potentially harmful combinations, according to the study.

The results aren't always disastrous, but older people are more vulnerable to side effects and drug-to-drug interactions. And patients need to know that just because lots of medicines and supplements don't require prescriptions doesn't mean they're harmless. Nor are some of these safe to take when you're prescribed other medications.

Experts say the take-home advice is to ask about any side effects of prescription drugs, and tell your doctor before taking other medicines.

The report showing just how many older people are using risky combinations comes from a study of nearly 3,000 interviews with people aged 57 to 85. The research, funded by the National Institutes of Health and University of Chicago, appears in Wednesday's Journal of the American Medical Association.

It's well-known that as people age, their medication use goes up. But the study highlights the potential problems with some sobering statistics.

Ninety-one percent in this age group use at least one medication, often for heart disease and related problems. That translates to more than 50 million people. More than half use at least five remedies, including prescriptions, over-the-counter medicines or supplements.

Virtually every medicine can have side effects, and with so many being used by so many older adults, the potential for harm is high.

For example, warfarin, a potent prescription clot-fighting drug, was often taken with aspirin. Both increase the risk of bleeding, so the odds are even higher when both drugs are taken. The researchers said these risks also occur when warfarin is taken with garlic pills, which some studies have suggested can benefit the heart and help prevent blood clots.

Signs of bleeding problems include bruising easily, hard-to-stop bleeding from the gums or from cuts and blood in the urine.

Other commonly used and risky combinations included:

_Aspirin taken with over-the-counter ginkgo supplements, increasing chances for excess bleeding.

_Lisinopril, a blood pressure drug, taken with potassium, which combined can cause abnormal heart rhythms. Potassium is often prescribed to restore low levels of this important mineral caused by certain blood pressure drugs.

_Prescription cholesterol drugs called statins taken with over-the-counter niacin, a type of vitamin B that also lowers cholesterol. This combination increases risks for muscle damage.

"Patients need to know that while medications are often beneficial, they're not always safe," said lead author Dima Qato, a University of Chicago pharmacist. "If they need to self-medicate with over-the-counter or dietary supplements, they should definitely consult with their physicians or pharmacists."

The study relied on data from in-person interviews with 2,976 adults questioned about which medications they routinely used. The nationally representative survey was done between June 2005 and March 2006, and results were extrapolated to the general population.

The researchers assessed how many people routinely used at least two medications of any type known to have dangerous or even fatal interactions. The number totaled at least one in 25, corresponding to 2.2 million nationwide.

Those interviewed weren't asked if they'd ever had a bad reaction from taking those combinations. And the study didn't assess whether patients were taking medications inappropriately.

Dr. Jerry Gurwitz, chief of the geriatric medicine division at University of Massachusetts Medical School, said taking multiple medications, despite possible bad interactions, isn't necessarily a bad idea as long as patients are in close contact with their doctor.

"There are definitely many instances where if they're monitored carefully and there's good reason for using them, that they could be used safely," said Gurwitz, who wasn't involved in the study.

Prescription drugs were the most commonly used and nearly one-third used at least five prescription drugs.

Michael Cohen, a pharmacist and president of the Institute for Safe Medication Practices, called the study an important snapshot of medication use in older Americans. But as someone who takes at least five medications himself, Cohen said the widespread prevalence isn't surprising.

Cohen said his group recently launched a new Web site, http://www.consumermedsafety.org that will allow consumers to enter names of their medications to check for any potentially dangerous interactions.

___

On the Net:

JAMA: http://jama.ama-assn.org

Institute for Safe Medication Practices: http://www.ismp.org

Millions of older Americans use risky drug combos

Posted on 23:31 No Comments
Labels:

By LINDSEY TANNER, AP Medical Writer (yahoo news 24, Dec. 2008)

CHICAGO – At least 2 million older Americans are taking a combination of drugs or supplements that can be a risky mix — from blood thinners and cholesterol pills to aspirin and ginkgo capsules — a new study warns.

Among older men, the numbers are particularly alarming — one in 10 are taking potentially harmful combinations, according to the study.

The results aren't always disastrous, but older people are more vulnerable to side effects and drug-to-drug interactions. And patients need to know that just because lots of medicines and supplements don't require prescriptions doesn't mean they're harmless. Nor are some of these safe to take when you're prescribed other medications.

Experts say the take-home advice is to ask about any side effects of prescription drugs, and tell your doctor before taking other medicines.

The report showing just how many older people are using risky combinations comes from a study of nearly 3,000 interviews with people aged 57 to 85. The research, funded by the National Institutes of Health and University of Chicago, appears in Wednesday's Journal of the American Medical Association.

It's well-known that as people age, their medication use goes up. But the study highlights the potential problems with some sobering statistics.

Ninety-one percent in this age group use at least one medication, often for heart disease and related problems. That translates to more than 50 million people. More than half use at least five remedies, including prescriptions, over-the-counter medicines or supplements.

Virtually every medicine can have side effects, and with so many being used by so many older adults, the potential for harm is high.

For example, warfarin, a potent prescription clot-fighting drug, was often taken with aspirin. Both increase the risk of bleeding, so the odds are even higher when both drugs are taken. The researchers said these risks also occur when warfarin is taken with garlic pills, which some studies have suggested can benefit the heart and help prevent blood clots.

Signs of bleeding problems include bruising easily, hard-to-stop bleeding from the gums or from cuts and blood in the urine.

Other commonly used and risky combinations included:

_Aspirin taken with over-the-counter ginkgo supplements, increasing chances for excess bleeding.

_Lisinopril, a blood pressure drug, taken with potassium, which combined can cause abnormal heart rhythms. Potassium is often prescribed to restore low levels of this important mineral caused by certain blood pressure drugs.

_Prescription cholesterol drugs called statins taken with over-the-counter niacin, a type of vitamin B that also lowers cholesterol. This combination increases risks for muscle damage.

"Patients need to know that while medications are often beneficial, they're not always safe," said lead author Dima Qato, a University of Chicago pharmacist. "If they need to self-medicate with over-the-counter or dietary supplements, they should definitely consult with their physicians or pharmacists."

The study relied on data from in-person interviews with 2,976 adults questioned about which medications they routinely used. The nationally representative survey was done between June 2005 and March 2006, and results were extrapolated to the general population.

The researchers assessed how many people routinely used at least two medications of any type known to have dangerous or even fatal interactions. The number totaled at least one in 25, corresponding to 2.2 million nationwide.

Those interviewed weren't asked if they'd ever had a bad reaction from taking those combinations. And the study didn't assess whether patients were taking medications inappropriately.

Dr. Jerry Gurwitz, chief of the geriatric medicine division at University of Massachusetts Medical School, said taking multiple medications, despite possible bad interactions, isn't necessarily a bad idea as long as patients are in close contact with their doctor.

"There are definitely many instances where if they're monitored carefully and there's good reason for using them, that they could be used safely," said Gurwitz, who wasn't involved in the study.

Prescription drugs were the most commonly used and nearly one-third used at least five prescription drugs.

Michael Cohen, a pharmacist and president of the Institute for Safe Medication Practices, called the study an important snapshot of medication use in older Americans. But as someone who takes at least five medications himself, Cohen said the widespread prevalence isn't surprising.

Cohen said his group recently launched a new Web site, http://www.consumermedsafety.org that will allow consumers to enter names of their medications to check for any potentially dangerous interactions.

___

On the Net:

JAMA: http://jama.ama-assn.org

Institute for Safe Medication Practices: http://www.ismp.org

Millions of older Americans use risky drug combos

Posted on 23:31 No Comments
Labels:

By LINDSEY TANNER, AP Medical Writer (yahoo news 24, Dec. 2008)

CHICAGO – At least 2 million older Americans are taking a combination of drugs or supplements that can be a risky mix — from blood thinners and cholesterol pills to aspirin and ginkgo capsules — a new study warns.

Among older men, the numbers are particularly alarming — one in 10 are taking potentially harmful combinations, according to the study.

The results aren't always disastrous, but older people are more vulnerable to side effects and drug-to-drug interactions. And patients need to know that just because lots of medicines and supplements don't require prescriptions doesn't mean they're harmless. Nor are some of these safe to take when you're prescribed other medications.

Experts say the take-home advice is to ask about any side effects of prescription drugs, and tell your doctor before taking other medicines.

The report showing just how many older people are using risky combinations comes from a study of nearly 3,000 interviews with people aged 57 to 85. The research, funded by the National Institutes of Health and University of Chicago, appears in Wednesday's Journal of the American Medical Association.

It's well-known that as people age, their medication use goes up. But the study highlights the potential problems with some sobering statistics.

Ninety-one percent in this age group use at least one medication, often for heart disease and related problems. That translates to more than 50 million people. More than half use at least five remedies, including prescriptions, over-the-counter medicines or supplements.

Virtually every medicine can have side effects, and with so many being used by so many older adults, the potential for harm is high.

For example, warfarin, a potent prescription clot-fighting drug, was often taken with aspirin. Both increase the risk of bleeding, so the odds are even higher when both drugs are taken. The researchers said these risks also occur when warfarin is taken with garlic pills, which some studies have suggested can benefit the heart and help prevent blood clots.

Signs of bleeding problems include bruising easily, hard-to-stop bleeding from the gums or from cuts and blood in the urine.

Other commonly used and risky combinations included:

_Aspirin taken with over-the-counter ginkgo supplements, increasing chances for excess bleeding.

_Lisinopril, a blood pressure drug, taken with potassium, which combined can cause abnormal heart rhythms. Potassium is often prescribed to restore low levels of this important mineral caused by certain blood pressure drugs.

_Prescription cholesterol drugs called statins taken with over-the-counter niacin, a type of vitamin B that also lowers cholesterol. This combination increases risks for muscle damage.

"Patients need to know that while medications are often beneficial, they're not always safe," said lead author Dima Qato, a University of Chicago pharmacist. "If they need to self-medicate with over-the-counter or dietary supplements, they should definitely consult with their physicians or pharmacists."

The study relied on data from in-person interviews with 2,976 adults questioned about which medications they routinely used. The nationally representative survey was done between June 2005 and March 2006, and results were extrapolated to the general population.

The researchers assessed how many people routinely used at least two medications of any type known to have dangerous or even fatal interactions. The number totaled at least one in 25, corresponding to 2.2 million nationwide.

Those interviewed weren't asked if they'd ever had a bad reaction from taking those combinations. And the study didn't assess whether patients were taking medications inappropriately.

Dr. Jerry Gurwitz, chief of the geriatric medicine division at University of Massachusetts Medical School, said taking multiple medications, despite possible bad interactions, isn't necessarily a bad idea as long as patients are in close contact with their doctor.

"There are definitely many instances where if they're monitored carefully and there's good reason for using them, that they could be used safely," said Gurwitz, who wasn't involved in the study.

Prescription drugs were the most commonly used and nearly one-third used at least five prescription drugs.

Michael Cohen, a pharmacist and president of the Institute for Safe Medication Practices, called the study an important snapshot of medication use in older Americans. But as someone who takes at least five medications himself, Cohen said the widespread prevalence isn't surprising.

Cohen said his group recently launched a new Web site, http://www.consumermedsafety.org that will allow consumers to enter names of their medications to check for any potentially dangerous interactions.

___

On the Net:

JAMA: http://jama.ama-assn.org

Institute for Safe Medication Practices: http://www.ismp.org

Advices from Medical Specialist for Those Who Have Nasal Problem

Posted on 22:58 No Comments
Labels:
Alexander Chong

Aaron had a bad sinus infection after returning from oversea. He said he always had a sinus problems and rhinitis, but never asked advices from any medical specialist. This time, the infection was so bad that he had to consult ear, nose and throat specialist. This trip to the specialist is very valuable because the specialist gave him a lot of daily useful tips, which help him to recover from his infection and also teach him how to prevent infections in the future. According to him, the specialist not only gives him antibiotics but also advices how to avoid habits that will further irritate his nasal membranes. Added by Aaron are fragile and sensitive nasal membranes may be irritated by simple things such as sniffing and blowing the nose too hard, coughing too hard, rubbing nose and stuffing things such as tissues and hand�kerchiefs up to the nostrils. Other good habits that had been recommended by his specialist are getting enough sleep and emptying half the stomach before sleep to avoid refluxing (back up) stomach acids, which will irritate the nose membranes. Besides these, his specialist also told him that for a person who had flu (infection) should not dive and swim. This is because diving and swimming may cause the infection in the nose traveling up to the sinuses through the water, where this person swim in.

Nasal and sinus diseases caused by infections or allergies are the common symptoms that lead people to the consultation of ear, nose and throat specialist. According to ear, nose and throat specialist, airborne particles or air pollution from the environment can cause nasal and sinus diseases. However, for those who have family history of an allergic nose, they have higher possibility inheriting allergic disorders. Ear, nose and throat specialist noted that the people who came to see him mostly had symptoms such as runny nose, blocked nose, sneezing and sensitive nose, eyes and throat. Some of them may come with loss of smell. Specialist explained that if nose infections were left untreated or poorly handled, it can cause problems to the sinuses, eyes, throat and lungs. Cavities surrounding the nose are known as sinuses. Your sinus can be infected from a simple nose infection. Since the eyes are located close to the sinuses, it can be infected too. Specialist added that the lungs infection caused by the nose infection was the excessive mucous secreted from the nose flown into the throat and further gone deep into the lungs. However, by staying away from the allergen, which is a substance that triggers allergy, one person's nose allergies can be reduced.

According to specialist, to clean your nose by sniffing, blowing or picking your nose is not the right way when you had a flu or allergy. The following tips have been given by the specialist for you to care for your nose. The most common cause of nasal problems is allergy, which medical term is allergic rhinitis.

To get rid of the allergic triggered substances is the best way to prevent these symptoms. One of the allergic triggered substances is dust mites. Due to their occupying in mattresses, carpets and pillows, runny nose and sneezing in the morning are caused by them. Nevertheless, medications such as acaricides can be used to destroy dust mites. Besides this, dust mites can be kept away by using medication impregnated bed sheets. Once a week, put your bed sheets and pillows under that sun is a more economical way. Your bedroom has to be mopped and cleaned it using vacuum regularly. The load of dust mites can be reduced using these simple methods; however, it is not an easy task to totally eradicate dust mites. To check whether some of the common allergens out there are the cause of your allergy, you can take blood and skin tests to confirm it. Prevent the foods that cause your allergy for a period of time before retry them again if you have allergy to foods. Sometimes, some people allergies can be got over with time. If pets cause your allergy, try to remove them. Allergic reactions may be caused by fungus in the air-conditioning and ventilation vents. To solve this problem, just use fungicides, which are the chemicals that can kill fungus to clean the systems.

Bad habits such as sniffing, blowing or picking your nose will exasperate or extend the infection to surrounding organs during an infection period. Your symptoms may aggravate if you drink cold drinks. Therefore, you should take warm drinks instead of cold drinks. You should not blow your nose too hard when you have runny nose. Nose blocked is due to the swollen lining tissue inside the nasal cavity. Hence, blowing your nose hard is not going to clear the mucous. Moreover, it will cause the infection to go to the surrounding areas such as sinuses and ears. The proper way is sniffing gently to bring the mucous down to the throat and after that spit or cough it out from the mouth. You should not teach your children how to blow their nose if they don't know how to do it. So, if they have any discharge, just use handkerchief or tissue to wipe their nose gently. Mucous or phlegm should not be swallowed because it may cause irritation to your stomach.

Anybody can have nosebleeds at any age. Nosebleeds in children are mostly due to the damage of the blood vessels in the anterior part of their nose. This is due to their bad habit - like to pick at their nose. Apply pressure on the bleeding nostril for a few minutes and use the other nostril or mouth to breathe temporarily if you have nosebleed. Don't hold your head back because this will cause the blood drip down into your throat. Instead hold your head up straight and sit up. You may unaware that you are actually still bleeding if you hold you head back. This is because the blood dripping down through your throat but not trickling down from your nostrils. Consequently, it may cause a breathing difficulty because your airways may be blocked by the bleeding. Ice can be used to apply on your nose if the nosebleed doesn't stop. Nosebleeds in adults can be caused by infection or tumors in their nose. Other factors that will cause nosebleeds are high blood pressure and the hardening of the blood vessels in the nose. Both diseases are due to ageing. Therefore, you need to check with doctors to double confirm what is the problem with your nose if it is bleeding.

Alexander Chong Author of "How to cure your incurable nasal allergy without using any synthetic drugs, herbs and expensive devices". http://www.cure-nasal-allergy.com/article9.htm

Advices from Medical Specialist for Those Who Have Nasal Problem

Posted on 22:58 No Comments
Labels:
Alexander Chong

Aaron had a bad sinus infection after returning from oversea. He said he always had a sinus problems and rhinitis, but never asked advices from any medical specialist. This time, the infection was so bad that he had to consult ear, nose and throat specialist. This trip to the specialist is very valuable because the specialist gave him a lot of daily useful tips, which help him to recover from his infection and also teach him how to prevent infections in the future. According to him, the specialist not only gives him antibiotics but also advices how to avoid habits that will further irritate his nasal membranes. Added by Aaron are fragile and sensitive nasal membranes may be irritated by simple things such as sniffing and blowing the nose too hard, coughing too hard, rubbing nose and stuffing things such as tissues and hand�kerchiefs up to the nostrils. Other good habits that had been recommended by his specialist are getting enough sleep and emptying half the stomach before sleep to avoid refluxing (back up) stomach acids, which will irritate the nose membranes. Besides these, his specialist also told him that for a person who had flu (infection) should not dive and swim. This is because diving and swimming may cause the infection in the nose traveling up to the sinuses through the water, where this person swim in.

Nasal and sinus diseases caused by infections or allergies are the common symptoms that lead people to the consultation of ear, nose and throat specialist. According to ear, nose and throat specialist, airborne particles or air pollution from the environment can cause nasal and sinus diseases. However, for those who have family history of an allergic nose, they have higher possibility inheriting allergic disorders. Ear, nose and throat specialist noted that the people who came to see him mostly had symptoms such as runny nose, blocked nose, sneezing and sensitive nose, eyes and throat. Some of them may come with loss of smell. Specialist explained that if nose infections were left untreated or poorly handled, it can cause problems to the sinuses, eyes, throat and lungs. Cavities surrounding the nose are known as sinuses. Your sinus can be infected from a simple nose infection. Since the eyes are located close to the sinuses, it can be infected too. Specialist added that the lungs infection caused by the nose infection was the excessive mucous secreted from the nose flown into the throat and further gone deep into the lungs. However, by staying away from the allergen, which is a substance that triggers allergy, one person's nose allergies can be reduced.

According to specialist, to clean your nose by sniffing, blowing or picking your nose is not the right way when you had a flu or allergy. The following tips have been given by the specialist for you to care for your nose. The most common cause of nasal problems is allergy, which medical term is allergic rhinitis.

To get rid of the allergic triggered substances is the best way to prevent these symptoms. One of the allergic triggered substances is dust mites. Due to their occupying in mattresses, carpets and pillows, runny nose and sneezing in the morning are caused by them. Nevertheless, medications such as acaricides can be used to destroy dust mites. Besides this, dust mites can be kept away by using medication impregnated bed sheets. Once a week, put your bed sheets and pillows under that sun is a more economical way. Your bedroom has to be mopped and cleaned it using vacuum regularly. The load of dust mites can be reduced using these simple methods; however, it is not an easy task to totally eradicate dust mites. To check whether some of the common allergens out there are the cause of your allergy, you can take blood and skin tests to confirm it. Prevent the foods that cause your allergy for a period of time before retry them again if you have allergy to foods. Sometimes, some people allergies can be got over with time. If pets cause your allergy, try to remove them. Allergic reactions may be caused by fungus in the air-conditioning and ventilation vents. To solve this problem, just use fungicides, which are the chemicals that can kill fungus to clean the systems.

Bad habits such as sniffing, blowing or picking your nose will exasperate or extend the infection to surrounding organs during an infection period. Your symptoms may aggravate if you drink cold drinks. Therefore, you should take warm drinks instead of cold drinks. You should not blow your nose too hard when you have runny nose. Nose blocked is due to the swollen lining tissue inside the nasal cavity. Hence, blowing your nose hard is not going to clear the mucous. Moreover, it will cause the infection to go to the surrounding areas such as sinuses and ears. The proper way is sniffing gently to bring the mucous down to the throat and after that spit or cough it out from the mouth. You should not teach your children how to blow their nose if they don't know how to do it. So, if they have any discharge, just use handkerchief or tissue to wipe their nose gently. Mucous or phlegm should not be swallowed because it may cause irritation to your stomach.

Anybody can have nosebleeds at any age. Nosebleeds in children are mostly due to the damage of the blood vessels in the anterior part of their nose. This is due to their bad habit - like to pick at their nose. Apply pressure on the bleeding nostril for a few minutes and use the other nostril or mouth to breathe temporarily if you have nosebleed. Don't hold your head back because this will cause the blood drip down into your throat. Instead hold your head up straight and sit up. You may unaware that you are actually still bleeding if you hold you head back. This is because the blood dripping down through your throat but not trickling down from your nostrils. Consequently, it may cause a breathing difficulty because your airways may be blocked by the bleeding. Ice can be used to apply on your nose if the nosebleed doesn't stop. Nosebleeds in adults can be caused by infection or tumors in their nose. Other factors that will cause nosebleeds are high blood pressure and the hardening of the blood vessels in the nose. Both diseases are due to ageing. Therefore, you need to check with doctors to double confirm what is the problem with your nose if it is bleeding.

Alexander Chong Author of "How to cure your incurable nasal allergy without using any synthetic drugs, herbs and expensive devices". http://www.cure-nasal-allergy.com/article9.htm

Advices from Medical Specialist for Those Who Have Nasal Problem

Posted on 22:58 No Comments
Labels:
Alexander Chong

Aaron had a bad sinus infection after returning from oversea. He said he always had a sinus problems and rhinitis, but never asked advices from any medical specialist. This time, the infection was so bad that he had to consult ear, nose and throat specialist. This trip to the specialist is very valuable because the specialist gave him a lot of daily useful tips, which help him to recover from his infection and also teach him how to prevent infections in the future. According to him, the specialist not only gives him antibiotics but also advices how to avoid habits that will further irritate his nasal membranes. Added by Aaron are fragile and sensitive nasal membranes may be irritated by simple things such as sniffing and blowing the nose too hard, coughing too hard, rubbing nose and stuffing things such as tissues and hand�kerchiefs up to the nostrils. Other good habits that had been recommended by his specialist are getting enough sleep and emptying half the stomach before sleep to avoid refluxing (back up) stomach acids, which will irritate the nose membranes. Besides these, his specialist also told him that for a person who had flu (infection) should not dive and swim. This is because diving and swimming may cause the infection in the nose traveling up to the sinuses through the water, where this person swim in.

Nasal and sinus diseases caused by infections or allergies are the common symptoms that lead people to the consultation of ear, nose and throat specialist. According to ear, nose and throat specialist, airborne particles or air pollution from the environment can cause nasal and sinus diseases. However, for those who have family history of an allergic nose, they have higher possibility inheriting allergic disorders. Ear, nose and throat specialist noted that the people who came to see him mostly had symptoms such as runny nose, blocked nose, sneezing and sensitive nose, eyes and throat. Some of them may come with loss of smell. Specialist explained that if nose infections were left untreated or poorly handled, it can cause problems to the sinuses, eyes, throat and lungs. Cavities surrounding the nose are known as sinuses. Your sinus can be infected from a simple nose infection. Since the eyes are located close to the sinuses, it can be infected too. Specialist added that the lungs infection caused by the nose infection was the excessive mucous secreted from the nose flown into the throat and further gone deep into the lungs. However, by staying away from the allergen, which is a substance that triggers allergy, one person's nose allergies can be reduced.

According to specialist, to clean your nose by sniffing, blowing or picking your nose is not the right way when you had a flu or allergy. The following tips have been given by the specialist for you to care for your nose. The most common cause of nasal problems is allergy, which medical term is allergic rhinitis.

To get rid of the allergic triggered substances is the best way to prevent these symptoms. One of the allergic triggered substances is dust mites. Due to their occupying in mattresses, carpets and pillows, runny nose and sneezing in the morning are caused by them. Nevertheless, medications such as acaricides can be used to destroy dust mites. Besides this, dust mites can be kept away by using medication impregnated bed sheets. Once a week, put your bed sheets and pillows under that sun is a more economical way. Your bedroom has to be mopped and cleaned it using vacuum regularly. The load of dust mites can be reduced using these simple methods; however, it is not an easy task to totally eradicate dust mites. To check whether some of the common allergens out there are the cause of your allergy, you can take blood and skin tests to confirm it. Prevent the foods that cause your allergy for a period of time before retry them again if you have allergy to foods. Sometimes, some people allergies can be got over with time. If pets cause your allergy, try to remove them. Allergic reactions may be caused by fungus in the air-conditioning and ventilation vents. To solve this problem, just use fungicides, which are the chemicals that can kill fungus to clean the systems.

Bad habits such as sniffing, blowing or picking your nose will exasperate or extend the infection to surrounding organs during an infection period. Your symptoms may aggravate if you drink cold drinks. Therefore, you should take warm drinks instead of cold drinks. You should not blow your nose too hard when you have runny nose. Nose blocked is due to the swollen lining tissue inside the nasal cavity. Hence, blowing your nose hard is not going to clear the mucous. Moreover, it will cause the infection to go to the surrounding areas such as sinuses and ears. The proper way is sniffing gently to bring the mucous down to the throat and after that spit or cough it out from the mouth. You should not teach your children how to blow their nose if they don't know how to do it. So, if they have any discharge, just use handkerchief or tissue to wipe their nose gently. Mucous or phlegm should not be swallowed because it may cause irritation to your stomach.

Anybody can have nosebleeds at any age. Nosebleeds in children are mostly due to the damage of the blood vessels in the anterior part of their nose. This is due to their bad habit - like to pick at their nose. Apply pressure on the bleeding nostril for a few minutes and use the other nostril or mouth to breathe temporarily if you have nosebleed. Don't hold your head back because this will cause the blood drip down into your throat. Instead hold your head up straight and sit up. You may unaware that you are actually still bleeding if you hold you head back. This is because the blood dripping down through your throat but not trickling down from your nostrils. Consequently, it may cause a breathing difficulty because your airways may be blocked by the bleeding. Ice can be used to apply on your nose if the nosebleed doesn't stop. Nosebleeds in adults can be caused by infection or tumors in their nose. Other factors that will cause nosebleeds are high blood pressure and the hardening of the blood vessels in the nose. Both diseases are due to ageing. Therefore, you need to check with doctors to double confirm what is the problem with your nose if it is bleeding.

Alexander Chong Author of "How to cure your incurable nasal allergy without using any synthetic drugs, herbs and expensive devices". http://www.cure-nasal-allergy.com/article9.htm
Posted on 14:17 No Comments
Labels: ,
Many people will walk in and out of your life,
but only true friends will leave footprints in your heart.

Posted on 14:17 No Comments
Labels: ,
Many people will walk in and out of your life,
but only true friends will leave footprints in your heart.

Posted on 14:17 No Comments
Labels: ,
Many people will walk in and out of your life,
but only true friends will leave footprints in your heart.

Deep As The Rose Is Red

Posted on 14:08 No Comments
Labels: ,
I'll give you my heart; I'll open it up,
Will you listen to its small still voice?
For soft and quiet my heart will speak
To the one I'll call my wife.

Did you hear it dear? Did you listen well?
Do you understand what it said?
For deep is the love that it speaks to you,
Deep as the rose is red.

So, take my heart and treat it well
And forever in this life,
Come walk with me, your hand in mine,
The one I'll call my wife.

- Melvin D. Sharrar -

Deep As The Rose Is Red

Posted on 14:08 No Comments
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I'll give you my heart; I'll open it up,
Will you listen to its small still voice?
For soft and quiet my heart will speak
To the one I'll call my wife.

Did you hear it dear? Did you listen well?
Do you understand what it said?
For deep is the love that it speaks to you,
Deep as the rose is red.

So, take my heart and treat it well
And forever in this life,
Come walk with me, your hand in mine,
The one I'll call my wife.

- Melvin D. Sharrar -
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