SelfHelpMe.Net

Low Jeremy asked:


Before taking in any medication or undergoing any treatment to bring relief to your aching head, make sure that you know first what are the different types of headache and possible causes of the common illness.

HOW ARE HEADACHES CATEGORIZED

Studies show that 90 percent of all types of headaches are classified as tension and muscle contraction. However, there most experts would agree that headache could be further classified into two broad categories: the primary and the secondary.

Primary headache includes migraine, cluster, and tension headache. Migraine headache are usually characterized by throbbing pain on one side of the head, queasiness, over sensitivity to light and sound especially to bright lights and loud noises. Statistics say that 18 to 28 million Americans suffer from migraines and majority of which is women.

Aside from throbbing or pulsing pain, migraine is also characterized by visual disturbances, numbness of the face, nausea, and heavy vomiting. Usually triggered by food, stress, heat or cold temperature, strong smells, emotions, fatigue, or hormonal fluctuations, experts say that people who are anxious and depressed are more prone to migraine.

Tension headache, on the other hand, is considered as the common type of headache people suffer from. Characterized by a tight band of pressure around a person’s head, heavy throbbing of temples, light and sound sensitivity, vomiting, general muscle aches, difficulty in falling asleep and staying asleep, chronic fatigue, irritability and disturbed concentration, tension headache is said is traced from physical or emotional stress.

Major lifestyle adjustments like having a regular physical activity or exercise, proper and balanced diet, proper stress management and maintaining good posture can help a person a lot to avoid tension headache.

If tension headache is the most common type of headache, cluster headache is the least common of all types. Greatly affecting men instead of women, cluster headaches are characterized by severe pain usually centered in one eye that leads to swelling and watering of the affected area and severe and unbearable pain in the head.

Triggered by alcohol and cigarettes, experts say that there is no concrete cause of this type yet. Treatment may include taking in medications similar to those used for migraine like sumatriptan, triptans, and the like.

The other classification of headache is called secondary headaches. Usually triggered by an underlying or existing disorder like infection, injury, or tumor, secondary headaches are known to be results major illnesses.

Secondary headaches are also considered as side effects of various disorders like a recent head injury, meningitis, sinus infection, brain tumor, eye diseases, spinal injury, arthritis, and the inflammation of the arteries or temporal arteritis.

In order to treat any type of headache, experts advise that you must know the possible causes first. Studies show that all types of headaches are usually chemical, emotional, or structural related problems.

1. Dental problems. One of the most common reasons of headaches is dental problem. Findings prove that if the teeth of a person’s upper and lower jaw fail to meet properly, this can result to muscle tension that leads to headache.

Another dental-related cause of headache is the grinding or clenching of the teeth at night or bruxism. Because of the strain caused by heavy chewing or grinding, certain bones and muscles in the jaw are greatly stimulated that triggers headache.

What you can do is to increase your calcium and magnesium intake or use a plastic mouthpiece to reduce clenching and grinding. Aside from bruxism, another headache-related dental problem is known as temporomandibular disorder (TMD) cycle of pain, muscle spasms, and joint imbalance that involves the jaw and the skull and results to interruption of bones, cartilage and muscle activity. You can ask your dentist to evaluate this situation and recommend treatment options to solve the problem.

2. Chemical sensitivities. Chemicals found in different gadgets such as computers are one of the major triggers of headaches such as migraine.

Caffeine that is usually found in sodas, coffee, tea, chocolate, and some over the counter painkillers can also cause headaches. Try to eliminate all the sources of caffeine from your diet.

3. Magnesium deficiency. If a person suffers from magnesium deficiency, he/she may likely suffer from headaches compared to those who are not.

In order to maintain enough magnesium supply, avoid too much mental stress, drinking lots of coffee, eating sugary foods, a high sodium, carbohydrate and calcium diet, alcohol intake, drinking sodas, cigarette smoking, diuretics, and taking in drugs of all types.

4. Infections and bacterial disease. Infections in the different areas of the body such as the nose, throat, and ear can cause major headache.

Characterized by fever, nausea, muscle aches, chills, and diarrhea, Bacterial disease such as ehrlichiosis can be a major cause of headache. Make sure that you visit your physician to get proper treatment.

5. Muscle tension caused by stress and anxiety. Tensioned muscles usually cause headaches. What you can do is to veer away from things that can cause you stress and anxiety in order to avoid recurrent muscle tension.

6. Musculoskeletal system problems. Misalignments of a person’s spine and neck can greatly affect his/her poor posture and muscle tension that lead to headache. Try chiropractic, osteopathy, and physiotherapy treatments to solve this problem.

7. Eye problems. Various eye problems greatly contribute to headache. Visit your optometrist or ophthalmologist is your eyes need glasses or contact lenses already.

8. Lack of sleep and bad sleeping habits. Without enough sleep, your body is always tired. Muscle tension can build up which leads to headaches. Try to get enough hours of sleep and make sure that you eliminate bad sleeping habits such as using too many pillow or pulling a blanket over your to avoid having a headache.

9. Menstruation. Fluctuations of female’s hormone levels can also cause a great deal of headache. You can ask your doctor for helpful vitamins and supplements to solve this cause.

10. Neurological problems. Although it is a rare cause of headache, ask neurologists to examine you for possible brain tumors.

By conducting a series of tests such as CT or MRI, you can trace the possible cause of your recurrent headache. Other causes include migraine, sinusitis, fevers, glaucoma, and neuralgia. Other serious causes of headache may include meningitis, sub-arachnoid haemorrhage, stroke, blood pressure, brain tumor, and temporal arteritis.

Eddy Kong Ww asked:


Asthma kills thousand every year. Millions of people are severely plagued by this dreaded chronic illness every day of their lives.

Doctors around the world, have no idea how to prevent this disease, and its cause has remained one of medicine’s modern mysteries.

No one knows for sure how a person contracts asthma. There are logical guesses given the scientific information that medical professionals are working with, but there is no actual set doctrine of how asthma develops or whom if affects.

However, what they do know is that once you get asthma your lungs will begin to react to things that will cause an asthma attack.

For example if you are suffering from asthma, you might get an asthma attack when you get a cold or you might have an attack when you breathe in something that irritates your lungs, such as cigarette smoke, pollen or even dust.

When an asthma attack occurs, there are three things that can happen to your lungs:

1. The cells in your air tubes are producing much more mucus that normal and this particular production of mucus is sticky and thick and it will clog up the tubes making it difficult to breathe. 2. The skin in your air tubes begin to swell. 3. The muscles in your air tubes constrict and prevent you from breathing easily.

An Asthma attack can be sudden or it may take a long time to develop. An attack is measured simply by sever, moderate or mild.

A Severe Asthma Attack

When a person suffers from a sever asthma attack the first thing you need to do is call 911, get medical emergency help immediately because a person can die from a sever asthma attack.

With that said when a person is having a severe attack they become breathless, they may have trouble talking and their neck muscles may become tight.

Their lips and fingernails might have a grayish or bluish color and the skin around the ribs and/or chest may be ****** in. This type of severity mostly occurs in children.

Mild Attacks

The mild asthma attack is more common than a severe. During a mild attack a person may feel tightness in their chest, they might start to cough and/or spit up thick mucus.

At night a person might feel restless or have trouble sleeping, they might make a wheezing or whistling sound while sleeping which means they are trying to breathe in and out through narrowing air tubes.

If you feel you are suffering from a mild asthma attack you should take your medication. This will usually resolve a mild attack as the medication will open up the air passages, making it easier to breathe.

Your lungs are not who you are?

When an asthma attack comes, short of breath, tightness in the chest, can’t breathe, and very hard to focus on anything else.

But in actual reality, all your organs, brain, heart, lungs, liver, kidneys, stomach, glands are connected. Disharmony creates the imbalances that lead to illness. My question for you: are you living in harmony with your body and environment?

There are more free articles relating to asthma at my site. Therefore, I strongly urged you to start your journey and start taking a look at my site and to get your asthma treated as soon as possible, if you are serious of getting back your asthma free life again.

Low Jeremy asked:


Headaches, depending on its intensity, can be so severe that it becomes debilitating. Chronic attacks of these types of headaches can result in a greatly compromised quality of life. Chronic headache attacks can cause one to miss important days from school or work and may also impede individuals from spending precious time with loved ones and can even hinder social obligations. It is very important to get the correct diagnosis for the cause of the headaches and get the proper treatment and headache cure.

In cases like these, it is extremely helpful to acquire the habit of taking note of one’s headache with the use of a headache diary. The importance of correctly diagnosing the root cause of the headache cannot be stressed enough because it is not only important to get the right treatment and cure but sometimes, headaches are symptoms of much more serious health problems.

Although headaches are pretty common and millions upon millions of individuals worldwide actually suffer from chronic to occasional headaches, there is no reason to take this lightly. There a few severe headache causes out there that are pretty common, like cluster headaches, sinus headaches and migraine. While all these are benign or are headaches that are not fatal, the chronic attacks from these produce episodes of debilitated lives and this not need be the case.

There are a number of very effective headache cures out there for even the most stubborn and severe chronic headache. More often than not, the reason why headache cures don’t work is that an individual may be taking incorrect medication.

For instance, studies have proven that countless individuals complain that sinus headache cures don’t work on them and this is clearly because most people who think they suffer from sinus headaches are actually suffering from migraine. This is why the headache cure they are taking do not work.

Taking note and logging details about your headache attacks can help you relate and recall your headaches better for proper physician diagnosis. What’s more is that a headache diary is a wonderful way for you to be able to notice patterns that you may not have noticed before.

Furthermore, keeping a headache journal can help the individual become more aware of things that are happening that he or she may not take note of if not for the headache diary. Keeping a headache diary handy is the first step to the very important headache cure and treatment because this will help you and your doctor correctly diagnose what the problem really is.

There is a wealth of ingredients that you can find around your own home that can help you get rid of a nasty headache. Home remedies for your headache help you make use of more natural methods of treating your headaches. Here are some home remedy examples that you can use to treat that headache.

Ginger

The ordinary ginger can help you get rid of your nasty headache. It inhibits a substance known as thromboxane A2 that prevents the release of chemicals that make your blood vessels expand. With this effect, ginger is useful for treating migraines as well as other types of headaches. Eating crystallized ginger or adding some grated ginger in your drink will be enough as a home remedy for your headache. Using fresh or powdered ginger when cooking your food will do just as well.

Essential Oils

Peppermint oil is also a well known home remedy for headache. Just put a couple of drops of this aromatic oil into a carrier oil or lotion and rub around your temple, neck and forehead. But make sure that you do not get any of the oil too close to your eyes as its vapors can be very overwhelming.

You can also place a drop or two of peppermint oil on your handkerchief and sniff it to help you get rid of your headaches. Peppermint oil has been known to relieve headaches caused by too much tension. Rosemary Oil can also be just as effective as a home remedy for headaches. Rosemary oil helps relieve your headaches by helping keep the blood vessels dilated.

Herbal Teas

Herbal teas have also been known to provide headache relief. Peppermint tea and rosemary tea are examples of popular home remedy beverages for your nagging headache. Drinking a cup or two of your favorite peppermint tea will do wonders for your headache. Preparing a teaspoon of rosemary in a cup of hot water and steeped for about 10 minutes will also do as well. Drinking this wonderful concoction three times a day will help you get rid of that headache.

Bjorn Gutter asked:


Asthma is a chronic lung condition that is characterized by difficulty in breathing. People with asthma have extra sensitive or hyper-responsive airways.

During an asthma attack, the airways become irritated and react by narrowing and constructing, causing increased resistance to airflow, and obstructing the

flow of the air passages to and from the lungs.

There are two main types of medicines for the treatment of asthma:

1. Quick Relief Medicines: also called relievers, give rapid, short-term treatment and are taken when you have worsening asthma symptoms that can lead to

asthma episodes or attacks. You will feel the effects of these medicines within minutes.

2. Long-Term Control Medicines: also called preventers, are taken every day, usually over long periods of time, to control chronic symptoms and to prevent asthma episodes or attacks. You will feel the full effects of these medicines after taking them for a few weeks. People with persistent asthma need

long-term control medicines.

Drugs, such as those resembling two of our hormones, can help treat asthma. These two hormones are adrenaline (epinephrine in the USA) and hydrocortisone (a steroid).

There are also other drugs which help treat asthma. Whilst drugs can remove all your symptoms if you have mild asthma, people with more severe or long-standing asthma don’t get nearly such good results, so alternate medications are required.

Adrenaline (epinephrine) is pumped into our bloodstream when we have a sudden fright or emergency. It is the quick-acting hormone from the middle of the adrenal glands near our kidneys. It makes your pulse race, makes your heart thump, and readies your body for emergency action. In asthma, the medicines which resemble adrenaline quickly relieve asthma for a short time, and are called relievers.

Hydrocortisone comes from the outer part of our adrenal glands, called the ‘cortex’. It is also partly an “emergency hormone” but it works much more slowly, for much longer, and in a completely different way to adrenaline. Medicines which resemble hydrocortisone slowly allow the lining of air tubes in an asthma sufferer to become normal. As a result, your asthma becomes less severe and you are less likely to get asthma attacks. So these steroid medicines are called preventers. There are other asthma ‘preventers’, but the steroids are the most powerful.

Most people who have asthma should have both of these kinds of medicine – preventers and relievers.

Usually the best way to take these medicines is to breathe them in. That is, you inhale them, through your nose or mouth. The reasons you inhale them are :

because you need less of the medicine, you won’t suffer as many side effects, and, the medicine works more quickly,

The final point is particularly important with the adrenaline-like, fast-acting relievers.

Another advantage is that the hydrocortisone-like steroid preventers you breathe in can be chosen to be biodegradable inside the body. As a result, then can

do their work in the lung, but don’t get much of a chance to produce any side effects in the rest of your body, because your liver breaks them down.

Quick relief medicines are used only when needed. A type of quick relief medicine is a short-acting inhaled bronchodilator. Bronchodilators work by

relaxing the muscles that have tightened around the airways. They help open up airways quickly and ease breathing.

They are sometimes called “rescue” or “relief” medicines because they can stop an asthma attack very quickly. These medicines act quickly but their effects only last for a short period of time. You should take quick relief medicines when you first begin to feel asthma symptoms like coughing, wheezing, chest tightness, or shortness of breath.

Anyone who has asthma should always have one of these inhalers in case of an attack. For severe attacks, your doctor may use steroids to treat the inflammation.

Long-term control medication include:

The most effective, long-term control medication for asthma is an inhaled corticosteroid because this medicine reduces the swelling of airways that makes asthma attacks more likely. Inhaled corticosteroids (or steroids for short) are the preferred treatment for controlling mild, moderate, and severe persistent asthma. They are safe when taken as directed by your doctor. Inhaled medicines go directly into your lungs where they are needed. There are many kinds of inhalers that require different techniques, and it is important to know how to use your inhaler correctly. In some cases, steroid tablets or liquid are used for short times to bring asthma under control. The tablet or liquid form may also be used to control severe asthma. Long-acting beta-agonists are another kind of long-term control medication. They are bronchodilators, not anti-inflammatory drugs. These medicines are used to help control moderate and severe asthma and to prevent night-time symptoms. Long-acting beta-agonists are taken together with inhaled corticosteroid medicine. Leukotriene modifiers (such as montelukast, zafirlukast, and zileuton) are long-term control medicines used either alone to treat mild persistent asthma or together with inhaled corticosteroids to treat moderate persistent asthma or severe persistent asthma. Cromolyn and nedocromil are also long-term control medicines used to treat mild persistent asthma. Theophylline is a long-term control medication used either alone to treat mild persistent asthma or together with inhaled corticosteroids to treat moderate persistent asthma. People who take theophylline should have their blood levels checked to be sure the dose is appropriate.

If you stop taking long-term control medicines, your asthma will likely worsen again.

Many people with asthma need both a short-acting bronchodilator to use when symptoms worsen and long-term daily asthma control medication to treat the

ongoing inflammation. Over time, your doctor may need to make changes in your asthma medication. You may need to increase your dose, lower your dose, or

try a combination of medications. Be sure to work with your doctor to find the best treatment for your asthma. The goal is to use the least amount of

medicine necessary to control your asthma.

At a Glance … Asthma Treatments – Relievers and Preventers

Asthma is a chronic inflammatory disease that makes airways (bronchial tubes) particularly sensitive to irritants, and this is characterized by difficulty in breathing. There two main types of medicines for the treatment of asthma:

• Quick Relief Medicines: also called relievers, and,

• Long-Term Control Medicines: also called preventers.

Quick Relief Medicines give rapid, short-term treatment and are taken when you have worsening asthma symptoms that can lead to asthma episodes or attacks.

You will feel the effects of these medicines within minutes.

Long-Term Control Medicines are taken every day, usually over long periods of time, to control chronic symptoms and to prevent.

Cindy Heller asked:


Over 20 million people in the united states cant take breathing for granted because they are suffering from a chronic respiratory ailment called asthma.

The lungs are made up of hollow tube like structures which divide into branches which further divide into smaller branches. The branches get smaller and smaller till they end is small pockets where the blood takes the oxygen from and leaves carbon dioxide. But the hollow tubes swell up in the asthma patient making it difficult and very uncomfortable for them to breath. Exercise, stress, humidity, pollution, medication and allergens may trigger the asthma due to this inflammation.

Though asthma has no cure proper medication and changes in environment and way of living may help suppress the symptoms and help those affected have a near normal life. Some of the most common symptoms of asthma are coughing, chest congestion, wheezing, lack of breath, fatigue and anxiety. The symptoms may be varied for different persons. While the asthma initiated by allergens shows the symptoms well before the age of 35 the non allergic asthma starts in the middle age. The non allergic asthma can be initiated or aggravated by factors like stress, climatic changes, exercise and other illness.

Managing asthma becomes a very critical and integral part of the lives of the people suffering from it. To do this one has to be careful to keep away from things that affect the respiratory organs and take proper medication or home remedies as advised by the physician.

An asthma episode is the aggravation of the asthma symptoms and a severe case of asthma episode in called an asthma attack. The smooth muscles along the bronchial tubes start contracting during an asthma attack constricting the air passage resulting in less flow of air. This further increases the inflammation causing swelling and constriction in the air passage. Due to lack of air the cells in the air passage produce more mucus which compliments further constriction in the air passage. This lack of air causes the asthma symptoms.

Asthma attack may vary from very severe to not so severe. In severe asthma attack the air passage constriction may be so effective that a medical emergency condition may result due to lack of oxygen reaching the vital organs. Severe asthma attacks can be fatal. The sensation during an asthma attack has been described similar to that of drowning by some sufferers.

Knowing the warning signs or mild symptoms of asthma can be life saving as it will caution the sufferer in time to take preventive measure. An inhaler or medication can be used in time to control the symptoms before aggravation. There may be long phases of time between two attacks where a sufferer doesn’t notice any symptoms or very few mild symptoms. But sometimes the symptoms may get aggravated and stay so for long periods of time.

Asthma can be passed on from generation to generation genetically. Children of parents with asthma history are 40 percent more likely to develop the ailment than kids without genetic history of asthma. The genetic factor for asthma cannot be removed but the ailment symptoms are highly treatable. The rising numbers of asthma sufferers among children has become a cause of concern for many. There is a wide belief that exposure to allergens in early childhood initiates asthma.

Change in environment and lifestyle is the best possible way to counter asthma. Prevention is better than cure applies more to asthma than anything else. Its better to avoid the triggering elements that initiate the symptoms of asthma. Various methods may be used to avoid specific allergens. House should be kept clean to avoid dust mites, pollen and animal dander triggered asthma. Keeping pets, smoke and other sprays away is also helpful. Stay indoors as much as possible and when outside ride with windows up in a car. Use dehumidifiers and air conditioners on hot humid days if possible.

Medications prescribed by physician are an important weapon in defense against symptoms of asthma. Combination of medications becomes a critical issue. To decrease the swelling in the lungs tissue lining steroids are used while bronchodilators are used to relax the air passage ways of the lungs to open them up. Steroids are long acting while the bronchodilators are short and fast acting. These medicines can be used in the form of pills or inhalers. These can be used in combination with other medicines to get custom combinations for individual patients.

Though asthma symptoms vary from moderate to serious and asthma attacks can be fatal it is also highly treatable. Proper action plan and correctly complimenting environmental and lifestyle changes with medication can make a healthy6 active life possible for a person suffering from asthma.

Matthew Hick asked:


It’s a nice summer day and you’re relaxing in your yard. Suddenly, you feel something bite you. You may begin to itch, when another bite takes place, and then another. It’s those pesky mosquitoes again. Why do these insects annoy us and what can we do about it?

Mosquitoes have been around for millions of years. These insects have many sensors on their tiny bodies, which enable them to seek out humans for their attacks. Mosquitoes hatch from eggs, which need water to develop. When they complete the stages of their life cycle leading them into adulthood, they leave the water. Interestingly enough, it is only the female mosquito that bites, because she depends on blood for protein for her eggs. The male mosquito feeds on plant nectar.

The first line of defense against these pesky creatures is avoidance. Since mosquitos are attracted to smells, you should avoid wearing perfumes and strong hairsprays in the summer. Insect repellents such as DEET are also very effective. Wearing long sleeves and pants when possible and limiting your outdoor activities between dusk and dawn helps as well. The time between dusk and dawn is the peak time for mosquitoes. It is also wise to drain standing water on your property, as mosquitoes need the water for their life cycles. Also, repair or install screens in your home’s windows and doors. Some recommend taking one tablet of vitamin B-1 twice a day as a use to repel these nasty creatures.

If you do fall victim to mosquitoes, there are a number of remedies you can use to help with the discomfort of their stings. Instead of scratching, try hitting the bite. It is the scratching that will cause swelling. You can also apply an ice pack to deal with the symptoms or use cool compresses. Calamine lotion or anti-itching lotions such as a 1% hydrocortisone cream will help to relieve the itching. Anti-inflammatory drugs and antihistamines can control your symptoms as well.

Among the remedies found in your home, mint toothpaste is probably the best known. By applying this to the infected area, the itching and swelling will be relieved. Putting rubbing alcohol or vinegar on the area is also effective. Mixing meat tenderizer with water or vinegar to form a paste, and spreading it over the swelling is something else you can try. Some claim a deodorant or antiperspirant rolled over the area will do the trick. Visine or plain old lemon juices are also some remedies. If all else fails, you can always try an oatmeal bath.

Another remedy is to try rubbing a wet bar of soap over the bite until a paste forms. Sometimes wetting the bite and putting salt on it will work. Dabbing witch hazel on the bite will also help the itch. Some suggest painting the bite with clear nail polish to relieve your symptoms. If you happen to be at work, try putting a piece of scotch tape over the bite for a while.

The main reason for these remedies, beside relief, is to control the itching so it doesn’t lead to bleeding, scabbing, or possible secondary infections. Just keep in mind that although we might view mosquitoes as pesky creatures, in rare instance they can be dangerous. They can transmit fatal diseases such as mosquito borne encephalitis, malaria, and West Nile virus. Protection goes a long way.

Stephen Becker asked:


The current population exceeds 300 million people and 150 million domestic cats and dogs! Drug stores are popping up everywhere. The computer models that project human and animal health over the next 50 years must reveal great opportunity for the pharmaceutical industry.

People and their pets are already on more medication then ever before: Many are on multiple medications. Yet medications do not cure. Oddly, they are designed to treat the symptom instead of the actual cause. That hardly seems scientific.

Today, not only are people and their pets are getting the same diseases; they are transferring them to each other. According to The Royal Society of Medicine of Great Britain, “Fully 90% of all disease is caused by an unhealthy digestive system”.

Why have American doctors and veterinarians not picked up on this fact? Why, indeed!

Gastro-intestinal (GI) diseases usually starts out as relatively simple conditions. Symptoms might include eczema, eating disorders, foul smelling gas, loose stools, diarrhea, vomiting, and light constipation.

Advanced GI diseases like IBS, Crohns Disease, and chronic constipation are the result of GI imbalance combined with severe intestinal wall inflammation.

Contrary to popular medical opinion, most human and animal disease is reversible! The steps to make sure that you, and your pets, get healthy and stay healthy are relatively simple, and far less costly than doctor visits, medications, and health insurance!

The intestinal wall is the gatekeeper. This is where blood picks up the nutrients from the digested food, and takes them to feed every cell, tissue and organ in you or your pets body. The degree of illness is directly related to the degree to which the intestinal wall is compromised.

In extreme cases, the intestinal wall is so inflamed that nothing can pass through. Advanced GI and Immune disease soon follows. Until the inflammation is addressed the benefits of improved diet, or medications will be negligible!

Sadly, prednisone is the medical professions anti-inflammatory of choice. Like antibiotics, this is case where the treatment needs a remedy.

When GI and immune disease is treated with natural anti-inflammatories, healing soon follows. Simple GI disorders can be quickly remedied with just a few doses of SBOs.

SBOs are all natural non-dairy probiotics. They are more effective than dairy based probiotics. They are essential to maintain or restore intestinal balance. If inflammation is involved, it must first be resolved before the SBOs can be effective.

Ann Stewart asked:


Some people, it seems, are endowed with a healthy immune system. They never seem to get sick and, if they do get the odd cold, they continue their daily routine and snap out of it in no time flat. Then you see others who barely have to hear the word ‘flu or see someone blowing their nose and bam, they’ve got it!

Is it all in the head? Are you born with a strong immune system to fight off disease? Can you do something about it, if you’re not? Anyway, what does it mean to have immunity? Well, a very simple explanation is that there are basically two types: active and passive immunity.

The definition of “immune” is that your body is so strong and resistant to any disease that you will not succumb to it.

Active immunity is considered to be long-lasting and tends to be life-long. If you’re in this category then, whenever you’re exposed to a disease organism, your immune system will instantly start to produce antibodies to that disease. Furthermore, if you should come into contact with that disease in the future, your immune system will identify it and immediately fight it off with the stored antibodies.

Passive immunity is not inherent in your system. It is when you cannot produce enough antibodies to fight off disease, and get an external boost by injection, medication or nutritional supplements.

Healthy people with an active, innate immunity are usually referred to as being resistant to disease in general. The term immunity is usually applied to general protection against a specific organism. Even if you are generally healthy, you may from time to time need a boost in order to help fight off a virulent strain of a specific infection or virus. The more severe the disease producing organism, the more the passive immunity is applied.

The medical profession recommends boosting your inherent immunity with specific antibodies to fight off a potentially dangerous infection or virus.

A good digestion and healthy appetite are indicators of a strong immunity. “Getting better quickly is a better indicator of immune health,” says Dr Dennis Alexander, head of molecular immunology at the Babraham institute in Cambridge.

Immune globulin can be administered to provide immediate protection from specific health threats to those who have a severely impaired or suppressed immune system. For instance, some who may normally have fairly good resistance to disease suddenly realize that their system cannot handle the sudden onslaught of germs in the hospital.

Likewise, the body under stress, i.e. disease or sudden accident, is often not capable to fight off multiple vaccines in one shot.

Judging by the large numbers of people coping with disease, the human system is inherently fragile and cannot handle multiple onslaughts, like the ones discussed above.

Many believe that if you are generally healthy and look after your health, you will only have a mild version of what’s going around. “In truth, there’s no such thing as a normal immune system,” says Angus Dalgleish, professor of oncology at St George’s Hospital, London, who researches cancer vaccines. He says the system is naturally very variable.

The rise of allergies, auto-immune diseases (where the body attacks itself) and inflammatory bowel disease are all indicators of immune resistance performing under par.

Both types of acquired immunity respond to peptide sequences called antigens. Antigens help the acquired immune system recognize invading bacteria, viruses and other harmful organisms (pathogens).

Leftovers, non-organic foods, and foods laced with preservatives can severely tax the digestive system. This can, in turn, clog your circulation, and create a sluggish, compromised immune system.

Going to be late, working at night, irregular eating habits, sleeping during the day, and exposing the body to stress and fatigue can all affect the digestion and body rhythms and thus compromise your resistance.

Therefore, be good to yourself. Eating nutritiously and keeping an active, happy lifestyle will go a long way to boosting your immune system. Don’t worry; be happy because “a merry heart doeth good like a medicine: but a broken spirit drieth the bones.” (Prov. 17: 22)

Kevin Pederson asked:


Some Home Remedies for the usual and unusual bites we face in our daily lives.

- Mosquito Bites

• For mosquito bites apply lime juice diluted with water over the bite.

• You can also apply calamine lotion for mosquito bites.

• Apply a salt water solution or paste over the bite, this helps in relieving the itching problem.

• Mix one teaspoon baking soda in one glass of water and rub the solution with a cloth over the bite for 15 to 20 minutes.

• You can apply an antihistamine cream which relieves the itchiness from the bite.

• Applying rubbing alcohol over the bite helps to soothe the itch.

• Apply fresh damp mud on the bite. This can be used for bites similar to this like bug bites, chigger bites and others.

• Take an oat meal bath this will help to reduce the swelling and itchy feeling.

• Rub dry soap over the mosquito bite. It reduces the itchy feeling and the swelling.

• You can also use a banana peel which is to be used inside out. This provides relief from the bites.

• A mixture of pure olive oil and vinegar also helps in relieving the mosquito bite problem.

- Chigger Bites

• Apply clear nail polish on the bites, it provides you quick relief.

• You can rub bacon grease on the affected area as this provides quick relief from the chigger bites.

• Vicks Vapor Rub is another way to cure this problem. The petroleum chokes the chigger and methanol helps in relieving the itch.

• The mixture of camphor and phenol in mineral spirits also helps in shedding this problem.

• A hot water bath is an excellent way of dealing with this problem.

• Rubbing the affected area with Listerine also helps in alleviating this problem.

- Wasp bite

• First thing first, the bitten area should be cleaned with soap and water solution.

• You can apply a poultice of meat tenderizer or salt over the sting as soon as possible. You can use half a teaspoon of any of the products with water and leave it over the bite for 30 minutes.

• You can use this remedy for wasp itch or fire ant bite. Household ammonia can be use as it helps to minimize the sting produced due to the bite.

- Other bites

• You can use make a paste by mixing water with cornstarch. Apply this paste if you have been bitten by any poisonous insect like a spider. The paste helps in drawing out the poison from your body.

• You can wash the area with mild soap and water to remove the germs and other allergy provoking substances. This can be done for most of the bites like bug bites.

• A paste of baking soda and water works great for most bites.

Warning: The reader of this article should exercise all precautionary measures while following instructions on the home remedies from this article. Avoid using any of these products if you are allergic to it. The responsibility lies with the reader and not with the site or the writer.

Brue Baker asked:


Sleep disorders are frustrating problems for many people. A lack of sleep, beyond making you tired, can cause other disorders as well, such as depression and anxiety.

Many people don’t recognize sleep disorders as a major problem so they try to take over the counter sleep medicine to do the trick. Sleep disorders are serious and will not be remedied by over the counter medicine.

If you toss and turn each night before you are finally able to fall asleep, you are not alone. Altogether, approximately 60 million Americans suffer from sleep disorders. Forty million suffer from chronic sleep disorders, while another 20 million suffer from occasional, milder sleep irregularities.

Distinguishing The Types Of Sleep Disorders

There are three distinct categories that sleep conditions are typically categorized by. These categories are:

* lack of sleep,

* disturbed sleep

* excessive sleep.

Each category describes the amount of good rest the person affected gets in relation to how much they need. The average adult needs six to nine hours of sleep a night. I have found that the amount of sleep required depends on the individual and what amount of rest makes them feel and function their best every day.

The first category of sleep disorders, lack of sleep, is also commonly known as insomnia. It is not uncommon to experience insomnia occasionally; however, if it occurs often, then it may be a sign of a chronic sleep disorder. Failing to get the proper amount of sleep can disrupt daily life in many ways. Many people who suffer from insomnia worry during the day about not being able to fall asleep, which can contribute to the problem.

There are many consequences of insomnia. Lack of quality rest is known to impact judgment, memory, hand-eye coordination, well-being, and reaction-time. Additionally, sleep deprivation can damage the immune system.

Disturbed sleep is the second classification of sleep disorders, and it describes the disruption of normal rest. The most common type of sleep disorder classified in this category is obstructive sleep apnea. Obstructive sleep apnea is caused either by a problem with the windpipe or a neurological disorder, and it results in loud snoring and blocked airways. This sleep disorder can cause a stroke.

Other types of sleep disorders that can be categorized as “disturbed sleep” include Restless Leg Syndrome and Periodic Limb Movement Disorder. Both are genetic disorders that cause involuntary movement in the arms and legs throughout the night.

Excessive Sleep

Finally, sleep disorders can be classified in the category “excessive sleep.” This is also known as narcolepsy. Narcolepsy causes patients to have sleep attacks, lasting for as little as a few minutes to as long as half an hour.

Complications of narcolepsy include cataplexy and hypnagogic hallucinations. Cataplexy is weakness or paralysis of the muscles, and hypnagogic hallucinations are vivid dreams that occur during the stage in between being awake and being asleep.

If you suffer from any type of sleep disorder, you should consult with your doctor to determine what form of treatment would be best for you. Inquire about natural treatments as there are natural remedies for sleep disorders as well as prescription medication.

Doctors can determine whether you need medication or not for your sleep disorder. They can also recommend discussion groups that you can turn to for support from others who suffer from sleep disorders.

Verlyn Ross asked:


This article is written to take some of the mystery (and hopefully, some of the fear) from the words, “heart disease.”

Although there are many different types of heart disease when someone mentions the words “heart disease” most people think of coronary heart disease first. Coronary heart disease is a “narrowing of the arteries that lead to the heart” however it is important to stress that coronary heart disease is only one form of heart disease.

Cardiovascular disease is one of the most common types of heart disease. In fact, it is the number one cause of death for both men and women in the United States. Heart disease affects both the structure of the heart and the functioning of it or sometimes both. A number of conditions fall under the category of heart disease and these include coronary heart disease (which takes into account heart attacks), heart failure, heart valve disease, abnormal heart rhythms (or arrhythmias), congenital heart disease, pericardial disease, aorta disease and Marfan syndrome, heart muscle disease (or cardiomyopathy), and vascular disease (blood vessel disease).

Coronary artery disease (or abbreviated to CAD) is another name for atherosclerosis or simply hardening of the arteries. It is the arteries that make it possible for nutrients and oxygen to make it to the heart. This is also one of the more common types of heart disease.

The average heart beats 60 to 100 times per minute in a steady even manner. This works out to be approximately 100,000 each and every day. However for reasons unknown to the medical community, sometimes the heart falls out of rhythm. This leads to an abnormal heartbeat or an irregular heartbeat, which is known as arrhythmia. Also known as a dysrhythmia, in this cause a change takes place to the rhythm of the heart, which can lead to a heartbeat that is too fast, too slow or uneven in how it beats. This is one of the more unusual types of heart disease.

The term “heart failure” is somewhat misleading. Heart failure does not mean that the heart has failed or that it has ceased to work properly. Instead it means that the pumping action of the heart is not as good as it should be. Heart failure affects an average of five million Americans every year and is the number one cause of hospitalization for individuals over the age of 65.

The heart has four chambers and heart valves lie at the exit of each one and allow one-way blood flow to make its way through the heart. Heart valve disease takes place when there is a problem with any one of these heart valves. Some examples of heart valve disease include aortic stenosis, mitral valve insufficiency and mitral valve prolapse.

Congenital heart disease is a problem that occurs before a baby is born and is a defect in the way the heart is structured or else in the structure of the blood vessels. Congenital heart disease sometimes does not show itself until a person is a child and in some cases, until they become an adult. Congenital heart defects affect an average of 8 out of every 1,000 babies born on an annual basis.

Cardiomyopathies are diseases that occur to affect the muscle of the heart. Generally this includes heart muscles that are enlarged or else have become stiff or thickened over a period of time. Heart muscle disease makes it difficult for the heart to adequately pump blood. If it is left untreated, a cardiomyopathy will get worse as time progresses and can very often lead to both heart failure as well as abnormal heart rhythms.

Pericarditis is a condition that involves the lining of the heart becoming inflamed. This is one of the more unusual types of heart disease. This condition is actually rather rare and is most often caused by one type of infection or another.

The aorta is the biggest artery in the heart and a number of conditions can cause it to either tear or to widen (or dilate). Thee include the genetic condition known as Marfan Syndrome, high blood pressure, atherosclerosis, connective tissue disorders and injury. This is one of the types of heart disease that is somewhat rare.

Greg Lietz asked:


Cryoglobulinemia is a disorder in which cryoglobulins are found within a person’s bloodstream. Cryoglobulins are a type of protein that tend to be precipitated when you are exposed to cold temperatures, generally around 36 degrees F. Typically cryoglobulins are found in those that possess other types of illnesses or disorders such as specific types of autoimmune diseases or leukemia, pneumonia and myleoma. Additionally Cryoglobulinemia has been found to have a direct link with some viral infections and diseases such as the hepatitis C infection.

What are the symptoms of Cryoglobulinemia?

Typically, a person who is affected with Cryoglobulinemia generally experiences some sensitivity when it comes to cold weather and typically cannot handle severe cold. When outside, people will generally begin to feel some numbness or pain within their toes and fingers, during colder weather. Because the disorder causes the blood to thicken in an abnormal way, the risk of creating blood clots increases within the heart, eyes, and brain. This means those experiencing Cryoglobulinemia are at a greater risk for heart problems and stroke. Furthermore, this disorder causes the blood vessels to become inflamed, also known as vasculitis; this causes an increased risk of artery blockage.

One type of cryoglobulinemia is called EMC (Essential Mixed Cryoglobulinemia). This condition is when the cryoglobulins are mixed with a variety of antibodies that mix for reasons that are unknown. Typically, a person with this condition will experience joint pains, arthritis, spleen enlargement, kidney, heart, or nerve disease.

What are the classifications of Cryoglobulinemia?

There are three classification groups of Cryoglobulinemia, they are Types I, II, and III. Type 1 Cryoglobulinemia is of the single type and anywhere from 10 to 15% of people who are affected with the disorder is affected with Type 1. Type 1 Cryoglobulinemia is typically found in those who have disorders such as lymphoproliferative disorders.

Type II and III are both of mixed types and both of these are the most common types. Type II will affect anywhere between 50-60% of those affected with the disorder and Type III affects 30-40%.

Treatments for Cryoglobulinemia

Typically, a physician will treat cryoglobulinemia with different types of medication. These medications are often used to treat instances of inflammation, as well as suppression of ones immune system. In extreme cases, a physician will require that the serum within the blood be replaced with a solution made up of salt water, also referred to as saline.

Because cryoglobulinemia can be a “side effect” of another disease present within the body, the physician will need to test for any other disease and treat them accordingly. Sometimes cryoglobulins are found with no other symptoms exist for the patient and the physician will need to conduct further testing to determine if any other diseases exist.

Maintaining a strong and balanced immune system

One of the best ways to combat and prevent cryoglobulinemia or other autoimmune disease is to maintain a strong and balanced immune system. There is a variety of products available all over the internet that is specifically made to help you obtain and maintain a balanced immune system. By having a strong immune system you will create a combative method of fighting off a variety of ailments and diseases.

Ken Black asked:


Did you know that approximately a quarter of all Americans are suffering from full blown Type 2 diabetes or pre-diabetes (syndrome X)? Diabetes has become an epidemic that allopathic (traditional western) medicine has been unable to halt. Ninety percent of diabetic patients have difficulty managing glucose levels using drugs that can have serious side effects.

The Diabetes Diet, created by Dr Richard Bernstein, may well be the best diet for everyone, not just diabetics. The reason for this is that it has the potential to not only control diabetic symptoms, but also to reverse them.

The Diabetes Diet has had enormous success – without side effects!

One of the major difficulties people have in recognizing they have the symptoms of diabetes is that they occur gradually. In fact, for the first couple of years, there may be no symptoms at all. Yet, once a person has Type 2 diabetes, they are at serious risk of life threatening complications if they do not carefully follow the low-carbohydrate Diabetes Diet prescribed by Bernstein.

Type 2 diabetes is largely a lifestyle disease and, unfortunately, far too few people understand how extremely dangerous it is. Consequently, patients are often far too casual about getting regular medical check ups to check on blood sugar levels and general health.

Not only do many sufferers find it extremely difficult to radically alter their diet from western convenience foods to the Diabetes Diet containing whole nutritious foods, avoiding sugar and fat as much as possible, they often become depressed and anxious and paralyzed by negative emotions. This can keep them from taking the very actions required to improve their health and keep them alive. It also suppresses the motivation necessary to undertake a regular exercise program.

This diet for Diabetics was created to control blood sugar levels in diabetics, however it clearly benefits everyone. The diet focuses on eating protein, good fat and complex carbohydrates found in whole grains and fruit and vegetables.

By eating this way, people can avoid the fluctuating blood sugar levels caused by a high carbohydrate (simple carbohydrates). Bernstein describes the modern Western diet as SAD (standard American diet) and claims it has directly caused a massive increase in obesity, high blood pressure and damage to the lining of the blood vessels.

Dr. Bernstein, who has Type 1 diabetes, did not experience a healthy life until he devised his own diet to regulate his blood sugar levels. Many diabetics, both Type 1 and Type 2, have experienced a balancing of blood sugar levels and an overall improvement in health and well being after going on The Diabetes Diet. In fact, Bernstein claims that sticking to this diet for as little as two weeks can provide an enormous benefit. Once you have experienced this, he believes you’ll never want to go back to SAD.

While Type 2 diabetes can be caused by some medications, it is usually a direct result of poor nutrition, inadequate exercise and a diet high in sugar and fat. Therefore, it is probably unrealistic to expect that a person can change the habits of a lifetime overnight.

Yet, this is what must happen to improve the lives and futures of type 2 diabetics. Health must become the top priority. The Diabetes Diet provides an excellent map to reclaiming health.

Change is necessary and must not be avoided. However, neither should it be so overwhelming that the patient can’t cope with the thought of it. The answer is to make gradual, but consistent, changes in lifestyle.

For example, the first step might be to start walking every day. Just go as far as comfortable and try for a little more the next day. Drink more water. Cut out all fast foods. These changes would be radical enough for most Type 2 diabetics but, in fact, they don’t go far enough.

However, doing them will improve health and mood and put the patient in a more positive and hopeful frame of mind so they can take further steps. If they continue, eventually, the patient’s lifestyle will be completely overhauled and internal resistance to these changes will have been limited. It is certainly possible to eat according to this weight loss program without undue suffering.

The answer to positive lifelong change in a person’s lifestyle lies in their own motivation. It is possible to encourage that motivation through gradual, supportive change. The Diabetes Diet provides the guidance and support a lot of people need.

Brooke Hayles asked:


Diabetes affects as many as sixteen million Americans. The inability to use the glucose in the food is a hallmark of diabetes. Because of this, the glucose causes damage to organs including kidneys, hearts, nerves, and eyes because it gathers in their bloodstream. It is important to note that while diabetics can lead to life threatening complications; it is possible to lead a normal life if you keep an eye on a few obvious diabetes symptoms.

Diabetes comes in three ways, type I, Type II and Gestational diabetes. Being hereditary and most commonly in children is Type I. With this condition, the body has begun to fight the cells that produce insulin due to a failed immune system. This means that the body cannot function properly in a Type I diabetic person.

Nearly ninety percent of people who have been diagnosed with diabetes have Type II. This usually sets in later than Type I, the average age is around forty years. The link between being obese and Type II diabetes is very strong. The two keys to preventing Type II diabetes is proper diet and exercise. If you do get diagnosed with Type II, treatments can be diet, medicine, exercise and possibly insulin shots.

Diabetes that occurs during pregnancy is called gestational diabetes. This will, in most cages go away once the baby is born. Some side effects of gestational diabetes are an over sized baby, or it may have low blood sugar at the time of birth. If diagnosed with this, it is extremely important that the pregnancy be monitored closely. A diet can usually control it, but in some rear cases, insulin may have to be used.

Subtlety is another symptom of diabetes. Type I and Type II often have very similar systems. These can include blurry vision, dry mouth, increased thrust and frequent *********. Other diabetes symptoms include flu like ailments and rapid weight loss or gain along with sores that are slow to heal and tingling hands and feet, as well as red or swollen gums. It is very important to not ignore these diabetes symptoms. They maybe harder to pin point because they don’t hit you all at once like a cold, they will sneak up on you and are generally more difficult to recognize.

It is so important to watch and be aware of diabetes symptoms because sometimes they can be signs of other illness. Fructosuria and Zylulsuria, for example, will make the urine test positive for sugar, as does diabetes. Pancreatitis is another example because the pancreas releases insulin and glucagons, which can appear to be diabetes.

You may be wondering when the right time is to see your doctor. That is a very simple question to answer. When you first notice diabetes symptoms, call your doctor. The sooner you get treatment, the better. Proper diagnoses and treatment you can go on to have a normal every day life.

Summary:

Anyone can be affected with diabetes. Kidneys, heart and nerves as well as eyes can be severely damaged. But with proper diagnoses of the diabetes symptoms and its consequent treatment, you can keep it under control.

C R Ellsworth asked:


Candida may be an underlying cause of poor health and obesity.

Studies are beginning to indicate that candida may be an underlying cause of many chronic illnesses, related to many seemingly unrelated symptoms and syndromes many of which are extremely hard to diagnose when viewed separately. Candida may be passed between people, so diagnosis and treatment should be considered for the whole family.

Candidiasis or candida overgrowth can effect personality and social interactions, causing depression and anxiety, sleeplessness, or forgetfulness and confusion by upsetting the balance between bacteria and yeasts in the digestive tract. Changes in the immune system caused by candida overgrowth can interfere with memory and learning as with ADD and ADHD. Candida may in part have a relation to autism. Bacteria and yeast/fungi normally balance each other with neither allowing the other to over populate the bowel.

Candida also may well contribute to leaky gut syndrome, a condition that allows partially digested proteins to reach the blood stream. This relates to gluten intolerance or Celiac Sprue, Casein Intolerance and food allergies. Casein Intolerance is a condition caused by the allergy to milk proteins as opposed to lactose intolerance.

Specifically, introduction of gluten or casein proteins to the blood stream can be a result of leaky gut syndrome and contribute to food allergies. Occasionally, the candida yeast/fungus itself may invade the blood-stream, reproducing in parts of the body using spores. There is also a danger of life-threatening fungemia.

The candida population of your bowel may increase after antibiotic treatment, chemotherapy, or heavy alcohol use. This can decrease normal levels of bacteria in the mouth and digestive tract leading to an imbalance.

Symptoms

Some of the more common symptoms related to candida overgrowth are cystitis and fungal infections of the skin or nails, thrush or yeast infections.

Candida can also effect the endocrine system. Some symptoms of this pathology may be PMS, weight gain or weight loss, asthma, hay fever, muscle fatigue, chronic tiredness, joint pains or menstrual irregularities.

Candidiasis or Candida overgrowth may exhibit an astounding variety of symptoms which can vary greatly from person to person, even within the same household. Some have their own labels, Chronic Fatigue Syndrome, Fibromyalgia, insomnia, dyslexia to name a few.

Continuous fatigue, often more intense after eating, and low levels of energy even though sufficient sleep and rest are maintained can be Chronic Fatigue Syndrome. This is often considered in conjunction with Fibromyalgia, another mystifying collection of symptoms which is hard to diagnose.

Food Allergies

During an allergic reaction of any kind you may become allergic to unrelated compounds ingested or absorbed during the allergic reaction thereby increasing your sensitivities to everyday substances. Allergies to food products containing or manufactured with additives made from corn, wheat, rice or other normal everyday nutrients can trigger allergies to many foods in general. It is hard to find modern processed foods that do not use additives made from corn and wheat.

Allergies to normal foods and additives made from food such as corn and wheat additives can trigger a starvation mode in which the body doesn’t recognize the foods you eat as nutrients causing it to store fat because it believes you are ‘starving’. This can cause ‘unexplained weight gain’.

Allergies to airborne chemicals can be unpredictable and again may cause reactions to chemicals that were not allergens previously. Even exposure to perfumes in public areas has been known to elicit reactions. After a few of these domino style reactions it may seem that you’ve become ‘allergic to everything’, a ‘universal reactor’. Studies show no significant difference in these situations between people with normal immune systems and those with compromised or damaged immune systems.

In recent years ‘colonics’, alternately known as colon hydrotherapy, colonic irrigation or colon irrigation have been becoming more evident as an alternative approach to health maintenance. While this may be beneficial, moderation is the key. If someone has more colonics than is prudent without replacing friendly bacteria that lives in the colon, candida colonies may grow enough to overpower the colonies of friendly bacteria.

Practitioners of Alternative or Homeopathic medicine may be able to diagnosis these symptoms effectively as related to the state of the digestive tract or organ groups and body systems. Acidosis may be an indication.

A candida overgrowth which overpowers the offsetting bacterial colonies may result in chronic fatigue, chronic yeast infections, or IBS along with excessive gas and bloating.

Some probiotics or friendly gut bacteria which help balance intestinal flora are lactobacillus acidophilus, bifidobacterium. The following probiotics can even help stabilize the balance by helping to bring candida under control, Bacillus Subtillis – A Spore Forming Bacteria (Bacillus Subtilis), Bacillus Coagulans – A Spore Forming Lactic Acid Bacteria (Bacillus Coagulans) and Enterococcus Faecalis – A Lactic Acid Bacteria (Group D [non-toxic] Enterococcus Faecalis).

Working on your health from an inner understanding of the relationships between your body, mind and the world around you will tune you up for a long healthy enjoyable life. Paying attention to your overall health, physical, mental and spiritual instead of concentrating on isolated symptoms will lead to a healthier body and lifestyle.

Mike Herman asked:


For the diabetic, knowing what to eat, what foods to avoid, and how to achieve and maintain a healthy weight can seem very difficult.

To complicate matters even worse, there is no specific diet for diabetics. Help is available to make sure you have the information you need to learn and understand about diabetes diet guidelines.

Not following diabetes diet guidelines, is a common mistake made by most diabetics. Many diabetes don’t understand the needs of diabetes diet guidelines…or how closely tied to good diabetic control the food you eat can be.

The American Diabetes Association has what’s called the Diabetes Food Pyramid. Designed much like the revised (2005) version of the USDA’s Food Pyramid, this pyramid provides excellent information and diabetes diet guidelines to help you gain control of your blood sugars, your weight, and your diabetes.

Gain Better Control Of Your Diabetes Today Using Diabetes Diet Guidelines

The diabetes food pyramid is divided into six groups. The size of the groups varies. The larger the group, the more servings per day of foods within that group should be consumed.

Grains and starches (carbohydrates) is the largest group. This includes foods such as rice, pasta, breads, and cereals, potatoes, corn, peas, and some beans. The recommended number of servings per day is 6-11. Most people should use the lower number of servings.

The next group is vegetables. Vegetables are naturally low fat. This makes them a good food choice for everyone. Spinach, broccoli, cabbage, cauliflowers, carrots, tomatoes, lettuce, and cucumbers are examples of vegetables in this group. Please note the more starchy vegetables like potatoes, corn, and others are in the grains and starches group. The recommended number of servings per day for this group is 3-5.

The middle layer of the Diabetes Food Pyramid is fruit. This group also contains some carbohydrates. Berries, melons, apples, bananas, peaches, grapes, and other fruits are found in this group. The recommended number of servings is 2-4 per day.

Following the fruits is the milk group. This includes milk and milk products. For those trying to reduce their weight and cholesterol choose low-fat dairy products. Recommended servings are 2-3 per day.

Almost at the top of the pyramid is the meat group. The meat group includes chicken, beef, turkey, fish, eggs, dried beans, cheese, and peanut butter. You only need 4-6 ounces servings per day.

At the top of the pyramid are the fats, sweets, and alcohol group. This group should be avoided. Most recommend keeping your portion sizes small and only having these foods on special occasions.

While diabetes diet guidelines do have some basic principles the best meal plan for you can only come by consulting with a nutritionist, with diabetes experience. Nutritional needs of diabetes vary from person to person. For example, a thin type 1 diabetic with kidney disease won’t have the same needs as an overweight type 2 diabetic

By evaluating your needs individually, diabetes diet guidelines can be established especially to meet your specific health and weight needs. A nutritionist will also be able to help you learn to make good choices when dining out, during holidays, and other “special times.” The nutritionist will also be able to factor in your likes and dislikes to create the best diabetes diet guidelines for your particular situation.

Don’t think of the diabetes diet guidelines as a diet. Think of it as your ticket to better control…and a healthy and happy life.

C R Ellsworth asked:


Candida may be an underlying cause of poor health and obesity.

Studies are beginning to indicate that candida may be an underlying cause of many chronic illnesses, related to many seemingly unrelated symptoms and syndromes many of which are extremely hard to diagnose when viewed separately. Candida may be passed between people, so diagnosis and treatment should be considered for the whole family.

Candidiasis or candida overgrowth can effect personality and social interactions, causing depression and anxiety, sleeplessness, or forgetfulness and confusion by upsetting the balance between bacteria and yeasts in the digestive tract. Changes in the immune system caused by candida overgrowth can interfere with memory and learning as with ADD and ADHD. Candida may in part have a relation to autism. Bacteria and yeast/fungi normally balance each other with neither allowing the other to over populate the bowel.

Candida also may well contribute to leaky gut syndrome, a condition that allows partially digested proteins to reach the blood stream. This relates to gluten intolerance or Celiac Sprue, Casein Intolerance and food allergies. Casein Intolerance is a condition caused by the allergy to milk proteins as opposed to lactose intolerance.

Specifically, introduction of gluten or casein proteins to the blood stream can be a result of leaky gut syndrome and contribute to food allergies. Occasionally, the candida yeast/fungus itself may invade the blood-stream, reproducing in parts of the body using spores. There is also a danger of life-threatening fungemia.

The candida population of your bowel may increase after antibiotic treatment, chemotherapy, or heavy alcohol use. This can decrease normal levels of bacteria in the mouth and digestive tract leading to an imbalance.

Symptoms

Some of the more common symptoms related to candida overgrowth are cystitis and fungal infections of the skin or nails, thrush or yeast infections.

Candida can also effect the endocrine system. Some symptoms of this pathology may be PMS, weight gain or weight loss, asthma, hay fever, muscle fatigue, chronic tiredness, joint pains or menstrual irregularities.

Candidiasis or Candida overgrowth may exhibit an astounding variety of symptoms which can vary greatly from person to person, even within the same household. Some have their own labels, Chronic Fatigue Syndrome, Fibromyalgia, insomnia, dyslexia to name a few.

Continuous fatigue, often more intense after eating, and low levels of energy even though sufficient sleep and rest are maintained can be Chronic Fatigue Syndrome. This is often considered in conjunction with Fibromyalgia, another mystifying collection of symptoms which is hard to diagnose.

Food Allergies

During an allergic reaction of any kind you may become allergic to unrelated compounds ingested or absorbed during the allergic reaction thereby increasing your sensitivities to everyday substances. Allergies to food products containing or manufactured with additives made from corn, wheat, rice or other normal everyday nutrients can trigger allergies to many foods in general. It is hard to find modern processed foods that do not use additives made from corn and wheat.

Allergies to normal foods and additives made from food such as corn and wheat additives can trigger a starvation mode in which the body doesn’t recognize the foods you eat as nutrients causing it to store fat because it believes you are ‘starving’. This can cause ‘unexplained weight gain’.

Allergies to airborne chemicals can be unpredictable and again may cause reactions to chemicals that were not allergens previously. Even exposure to perfumes in public areas has been known to elicit reactions. After a few of these domino style reactions it may seem that you’ve become ‘allergic to everything’, a ‘universal reactor’. Studies show no significant difference in these situations between people with normal immune systems and those with compromised or damaged immune systems.

In recent years ‘colonics’, alternately known as colon hydrotherapy, colonic irrigation or colon irrigation have been becoming more evident as an alternative approach to health maintenance. While this may be beneficial, moderation is the key. If someone has more colonics than is prudent without replacing friendly bacteria that lives in the colon, candida colonies may grow enough to overpower the colonies of friendly bacteria.

Practitioners of Alternative or Homeopathic medicine may be able to diagnosis these symptoms effectively as related to the state of the digestive tract or organ groups and body systems. Acidosis may be an indication.

A candida overgrowth which overpowers the offsetting bacterial colonies may result in chronic fatigue, chronic yeast infections, or IBS along with excessive gas and bloating.

Some probiotics or friendly gut bacteria which help balance intestinal flora are lactobacillus acidophilus, bifidobacterium. The following probiotics can even help stabilize the balance by helping to bring candida under control, Bacillus Subtillis – A Spore Forming Bacteria (Bacillus Subtilis), Bacillus Coagulans – A Spore Forming Lactic Acid Bacteria (Bacillus Coagulans) and Enterococcus Faecalis – A Lactic Acid Bacteria (Group D [non-toxic] Enterococcus Faecalis).

Working on your health from an inner understanding of the relationships between your body, mind and the world around you will tune you up for a long healthy enjoyable life. Paying attention to your overall health, physical, mental and spiritual instead of concentrating on isolated symptoms will lead to a healthier body and lifestyle.

Scott White asked:


Celiac disease, or celiac sprue, officially known as “gluten intolerant enteropathy” is a genetic auto-immune disorder, this means that a gene carries a physical trait, and that trait can be passed down from one family member to another.

“Auto-immune” describes the way that the disease does damage; “auto” means “to oneself” so it is saying that the immune system of a celiac mistakenly does damage to the celiac rather than to the supposed invader. What happens is that the immune system believes that a portion of the food eaten needs to be attacked, and as a side-effect of the attack, the lining of the small intestine gets damaged.

It appears as though the gene for celiac disease may ride on the same gene as diabetes, and like diabetes, you can carry the gene but not have the disease. It takes some “triggering event” to start up the process (little is known about this mechanism, but suspected “events” include physical or emotional stress, pregnancy, over-exposure to wheat, other diseases, and even antibiotics); and, of course, the celiac must be exposed to wheat in the first place.

Dermatitis herpetiformis (DH) is another form of celiac disease. Anyone who has DH is a celiac. In this form of the disease, lesions that look like a herpes sore appear on the skin, usually in very symmetrical ways: on the hands, arms, head, elbows, knees, buttocks, etc. They are often extremely itchy. (Please note that the name of this disease is misleading, it has absolutely nothing to do with herpes.

A very common wheat allergy happens when your body sees wheat as an invader and attacks it. Symptoms of a wheat allergy could be eczema (different from dermatitis herpetiformis), sneezing, increased acne, or if you have a very serious allergy to wheat, you might have an anaphylactic reaction in which your throat can swell up to the point where you can no longer breath. However, these are not typical symptoms of celiac disease.

The main effect of celiac disease is the damage that is done to the small intestine; if you have symptoms that are caused by damage to the small intestine (for example, flattened villi as seen in a biopsy, or any form of malnutrition that is caused by the damaged villi) then what you have is not a wheat allergy, but rather celiac disease.

Traditionally, experts have seen very few people with a simple “wheat allergy”, and many more with celiac disease, so many experts predict that celiac disease is more common than wheat allergies. If you have problems with wheat, you should visit with a gastroenterologist and get tested for celiac disease.

Unfortunately, at this time, there is no cure, and no hope for a cure any time soon. Once the disease has been triggered there is no way to turn it off, though in the far future there might be hope for gene therapies or other mechanisms which might work; none of these are likely in the near future. However, while there is no actual cure, a gluten-free diet solves most of the problems associated with the disease.

“Gluten-free” is another slight misnomer, since it’s probable that “gluten” isn’t the problem, and it certainly isn’t the whole problem, however this term has come to represent the celiac diet and so we define what we eat, or what we don’t eat, by this term. A gluten-free diet just means strict avoidance of wheat, rye, barley and oats, even in the tiniest of amounts. This is more easily said than done, but once one becomes familiar with the diet it becomes routine.

According to experts, celiac disease is known as “The Great Mimic” because patients who ultimately end up diagnosed with the disease come to the doctor’s office with such a wide variety of symptoms that it can be very hard to diagnose. What this means is that there is no typical set of symptoms. There is a classic set of symptoms (diarrhea, thinness, malnutrition, pot belly) that is associated with the disease, but classic is not the same as typical. People with celiac disease who are not following a gluten-free diet may have just one symptom (maybe just anemia, or feeling run down, or behavioral problems) or they may have several.

That said, here is a list of possible symptoms which can include short term symptoms such as: diarrhea, constipation, steatorrhea (fatty stools that float rather than sink), abdominal pain, excessive gas, fuzzy-mindedness after gluten ingestion, burning sensations in the throat, irritability, inability to concentrate, pale, malodorous, bulky stools, frequent, foamy diarrhea, and an itchy rash (in dermatitis herpetiformis).

Longer term symptoms can include: any problem associated with vitamin deficiencies such as; iron deficiency (anemia), chronic fatigue, weakness, weight loss, bone pain, easily fractured bones, abnormal or impaired skin sensation (paresthesia), including burning, prickling, itching or tingling, and edema, as well as, white flecks on the fingernails, failure to thrive (in infants and children), paleness, wasted buttocks, pot belly with or without painful bloating, and persistent itchy rashes (in dermatitis herpetiformis).

Celiacs who are not following a gluten-free diet will suffer from damage to the lining of their small intestines (specifically, to the “villi” the little hair-like growth that helps process food in the small intestine). This damage slows and even prevents the digestion of food, which can lead to malnutrition (anemia, osteoporosis, vitamin deficiencies, and more).

Over the long term, the constant damage to the small intestine can cause enough wear to lead to intestinal cancers. In the short run, many annoying symptoms can also make life downright uncomfortable. Following a gluten-free diet reduces the risk of cancer down to that of the general population, and will improve digestion enough to sustain the body normally, as well as getting rid of the usual short-term side effects.

The primary indicator test for celiac disease involves three biopsies (one before going on a gluten-free diet, showing damage to the villi; one during a gluten-free diet, showing healed villi; one after going back to eating gluten, again showing damage), but many knowledgeable physicians now accept one biopsy, an antibody blood test, and improvement of symptoms while on a gluten-free diet (the biopsy showing damage to the villi prior to a gluten-free diet; the antibody test showing elevated antibodies to gluten while still eating a gluten-filled diet). A less formal diagnostic process would just involve the blood tests, and improvement on a gluten-free diet.

It should be noted that the blood tests look for elevated IgA antibodies as an immune response to gluten, but a fair percentage of people with celiac disease are IgA deficient, and so their tests would give a false negative. There is another test now being manufactured (Tissue Transglutaminase Testing or tTG) which looks at IgG antibodies, instead of IgA antibodies, that is proving very reliable for diagnosing celiac disease.

Although the disease itself has been around for quite some time, it gets the name “sprue” from the similarity of symptoms to “tropical sprue” which is an older known disease, the cause of the disease was not recognized until the middle of this century, when war-time limited supplies of wheat to local populations, and a physician noticed after the war, that several of his “sprue” patients who had improved during the war, were now ill again. It was not long before he realized that wheat was the culprit.

From that point, continued investigation added rye, barley, and oats to the list of grains that made celiac sprue patients sick. Still, for quite a while it was thought of as a childhood disease that would be outgrown, so it was not that long ago that the medical community recognized that adults suffered from the disease as well. Until very recently, it was thought of as a “rare” disease in the United States, and most medical practitioners are still unaware of the growing evidence that celiac disease is actually quite common.

Brooke Hayles asked:


Are you finding yourself battling dizziness? Do you have the need to wake up and use the bathroom in the wee hours of the morning? Is you weight yo-yoing for no apparent reason? These are symptoms that have been associated with diabetes. If you answered yes to more than one of these diabetes symptom questions, you should see your doctor. But, if you answered yes to these questions, don’t automatically assume that you are diabetic. Following are some things to keep in mind when waiting to talk to your doctor.

There are two types of diabetes; Type one or Type II that show different symptoms. Blood sugar levels in the body that are elevated is a hallmark of the disease. And insulin production, or rather how it is used, is what differentiates the two types.

Type I diabetes is where there is not enough insulin made by the body to balance sugar levels in the blood. Teenagers and young children are more common like to have this which is why this is also known as Juvenile Diabetes.

When the body struggles to produce insulin is the Type II diabetes. This is the more common form of the ailment. Between the ages of 35-45 is when this will usually show itself. Also, three to five percent of pregnant women will experience gestational diabetes. The hormonal imbalance during pregnancy is the reason for this to occur during the 24th to 28 week of pregnancy.

There are a few major considerations when checking to see if the given symptoms and some minor ones as well. However, it is important to know that even minor diabetes symptoms, if left untreated can cause major problems. Amputation and loss of eyesight are some problems that can happen when major diabetes symptoms are ignored.

Excessive thirst is one of the minor diabetes symptoms. Even after a full meal, some people will still feel hungry. Frequent urination, particularly in the middle of the night is another sign that you may have diabetes. Fatigue is another thing that may point to diabetes as well as a sudden change in weight. I large weight gain, or more commonly, weight loss, is something to talk your doctor.

Blurred vision is an example of a major diabetic symptom that can lead to blindness if not treated. Tingling and numbness in the hands and feet can also occur as well as a weaken immune system. Dry or overly itchy skin can result from a reduced sweat gland and decreased circulation.

Additional problems can happen with any major or minor diabetes symptoms are ignored. Diabetics, for example, suffer from foot problems and poor circulation; these are urgent things to be taken care of. When your feet aren’t happy, generally speaking, the rest of you aren’t happy either.

Performing a self check on the internet before you go to your family doctor will help you determine whether or not you are experiencing more than one diabetes symptom. You find checklists and quizzes on line that may help you detect the aliment. You will want to make an appointment when ever you fell it is necessary to do so, but if the list gets too long, make the appointment whether or not you feel like it is a must.

Summary:

There are several symptoms associated with diabetes. If you suspect this is what has been bothering you, go on line and look for checklists and quizzes. Major and minor diabetes symptoms to look for are dizziness, nerve damage, blurred vision and excessive thirst and hunger.

Sam Chim asked:


Celiac Sprue Disease has many names. It is also known as Celiac Disease, Coeliac Disease and Gluten Intolerance.

Like many others, I am currently affected by Celiac Sprue Disease. Although there are no known treatments, I have been able to manage it quite well and can still have a normal life.

Celiac Sprue Disease is a digestive disorder that causes damage to the small intestine and interferes with the absorption of nutrients from food.

The main cause is the abnormal reaction in the body to the nutrient, gluten. Gluten is present in many foods and can be found in wheat products and grains such as rye, barley and oats.

Diagnosis of Celiac Sprue Disease can be very difficult. Some people do not show any symptoms at all until there has been severe damage to the small intestine.

This condition can be identified if the patient shows signs of anaemia, bloating, diarrhea, cramps, weight loss and fatigue. If you experience these symptoms consistently then you may have it.

The best way to make sure you do not have this condition is to get tested. Home tests are available from the internet but the most effective method is a bowel biopsy which can be carried out by an expert in the gastrointestinal field.

The cause of this disease is not known and experts warn that it could be a result of stress, pregnancy, a genetic susceptibility to the illness or exposure to gluten as a child.

I’m not sure how I developed Celiac Sprue Disease as no-one else in my family has it.

Unfortunately, if you are diagnosed with Celiac Disease there is no known cure. The only solution is a strict adherence to a gluten free diet – which is the method I use to manage my condition.

Fellow celiacs need to be vigilant about the foods they buy at supermarkets at restaurants to avoid gluten. They should always read the labels when shopping for food as gluten is present in many foods. Some examples are soups, luncheon meats and sausages from the supermarkets.

The good news is that it is very possible to lead a happy, normal life even if you sufferer from Celiac Disease. The solution is to stay away from gluten by following a strict gluten free diet.

I have been leading a gluten free life for 10 years and it has become second nature to me now. At first, it was difficult – but after you get used to scanning food labels for gluten and get used to a healthy routine of gluten free food, it becomes easier.