BREAST CANCER: Six Steps to Reduce Your Risk of Breast Cancer.

There is no known cure for breast cancer. More than 1.5 million people will be diagnosed with breast cancer this year worldwide. Scientists don't know why most women get breast cancer,yet breast cancer is the most frequent tumor found in women the world over.

Six Steps to Reduce Your Risk of Breast Cancer

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Breast Cancer

WOMEN BREAST CANCER

1. Check your Body Mass Index (BMI) to determine if weight has become health risk.
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 60% of Americans are overweight, defined as having a BMI (a ratio of height to weight) over 25. Of those, nearly half (27%) qualify as obese, with a body mass index of 30 or more. In 1980, just 15% of Americans were considered obese.

2. Match your diet to your body's requirements. If you eat and drink more calories than your body requires you will put on weight. Learn to control calories and portion sizes, make recipes leaner, and eat infrequently from fast food restaurants. Also learn how to snack        with healthful choices.

3. Color your diet with a large variety of colorful, cancer-fighting fruit and vegetables. There are seven different color ranges of both fruit and vegetables and by choosing between 5 to 9 daily serves from a wide range of fruit and vegetables, we are extending our consumption of cancer (and other disease) fighting nutrients.

4. Eat lean protein with every meal. Protein provides a powerful signal to the brain providing a longer sense of fullness. The right source of protein is essential to controlling your hunger with fewer calories and necessary to maintain your lean muscle mass. Choices of protein should be flavored soy shakes with fruit; the white meat of chicken and turkey, seafood such as shrimps, prawns scallops and lobster and ocean fish or vegetarians may prefer soy based meat substitutes.

5. Rev up your metabolism with activity. If you want to enjoy a lifetime of well-being, exercise is a key ingredient. Colleen Doyle, MS, RD, director of nutrition and physical activity for the American Cancer Society (ACS), says adults should do something for 30 minutes each day that takes as much effort as a brisk walk. Children should be active for an hour each day. We are more likely to develop habits around things we enjoy, so seek activities which you enjoy doing. It is also helpful to build physical activity into your daily routine: use the stairs instead of the escalator or lift at work, park your car in the parking bay furthest from the super marketing and don't use the remote
control to change TV channels.

Breast Cance

WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW ABOUT BREAST CANCER

6. Get support to ensure you develop a healthful eating plan and reach your goal weight. Whilst a small percentage of people possess the discipline to lose weight, many obese people have developed strong thoughts and habits concerning the food they eat. In order to establish new habits, most people respond well to some form of consistent encouragement and coaching. A study, "Effects of Internet Behavioral Counseling on Weight Loss in Adults at Risk of Type 2 Diabetes" shows that participants who had the support of weight loss coaching lost more weight than those who didn't. The study
concluded that the support of a weight loss coach can significantly improve weight loss results.

Being overweight or obese has been identified next to smoking, as the most preventable major risk to developing cancer. Even small weight losses have been shown to have beneficial health effects.
So it's never to late to start and you can never be too young or too old to be concerned about your health and do something about achieving a more healthy weight.

Lung Cancer

ALL ABOUT LUNG CANCER

HEALTH AND FITNESS - PREVENT HEART DISEASE

You should always keep in mind that whatever actions you do today can either help to prevent, delay or minimize the effect of heart disease or worsen it. The key is to control risk factors. Granted that you cannot control every risk factor for heart disease such as family history but you can definitely do something about your behavior. Age and gender also influence your risk of
 heart disease.


Cholesterol Levels
 Cholesterol is a type of a lipid, a soft, fatlike substance that serves as a source of fuel. Excessive cholesterol can cause buildup of atherosclerotic plaque. Accumulation of plaque in arteries can block blood flow and lead to a heart attack. LDL cholesterol, the so-called "bad" cholesterol, is transported to sites throughout the body, where it's used to repair cell
 membranes or to make hormones. LDL cholesterol can accumulate in the walls of your arteries. HDL cholesterol, the so-called "good" cholesterol, transports cholesterol to the liver, where it's altered and removed from the body.

Blood Pressure
 Normal blood pressure level is defined as less than 130 millimeters of mercury (mm Hg) for systolic blood pressure and less than 85 mm Hg for diastolic blood pressure. The higher the
 blood pressure, the more likely it is to take a toll on the heart and on the brain. Blood pressure should be checked whether or not your levels are high. For normal, check once every two
 years. For high-normal, check once a year. If extremely high, you should get immediate care. Then get multiple measurements to know if a high level is sustained over time.



Diabetes
 Another risk factor for heart disease is diabetes, a chronic disease of insulin deficiency or resistance. Type 2 diabetes, the most common type, is associated with obesity and may be prevented by maintaining ideal body weight through exercise and balanced nutrition.

Tips For Controlling Risk of Heart Disease 

Stop Smoking.
 The effect of smoking on your lungs can cause almost every other medical condition.

Limit Alcohol Consumption
 Limit daily alcohol intake to three ounces or fewer to prevent heart disease. People who drink large amounts of alcohol (six to eight ounces a day) tend to have higher blood pressure.

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MORE INFORMATION VIDEO :  KEEP YOUR HEART HEALTHY

HEALTH AND FITNESS - 12 SECRETS TO A VIBRANT HEALTH!

1. Keep a water bottle with you at all times and drink from it often. Water is the drink of  choice, but if you don't enjoy it (I admit it. I don't), drink Propel, Diet Ice, Reebok Water, Vitamin Water or some other form of healthy fluid intake.
 2. Think twice before deciding what to eat and why, making sure that it is healthy and will provide you good nutrition.

3. Measure intake based on activity, not how you "feel." Need should mandate intake, not  mood.

 4. Eat well-balanced meals and remember that excessive calories, even if they are fat-free and high protein will turn to excess weight!

5. If your diet is unbalanced, try a daily vitamin and mineral supplements for total health. 6. Limit caffeine and exposure to even second hand smoke.

6. Focus on short-term fitness goals with an emphasis on completing daily exercise.

 7. Keep a daily log of what you're actually eating. this includes grabbing a handful of chips here, the crust of your kids sandwich, and all your snacking.

 8. Stick with eating plans you can maintain indefinitely. Remember that no matter how hard  you're working out, if you're consuming too many calories, you'll never see the muscles that lie beneath layers of fatty tissue.



9. Enjoy an occasional (once a week) "unhealthy" treat, but never an "unhealthy" week or  "unhealthy" vacation.

10. Limit alcohol intake to special occasions.

11. See fitness and health as a privilege, not something to take for granted.

12. Enjoy contributing to the health of others by having a partner or friend to exercise with, as well as recruiting others who desire to feel better and have more energy.

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 12 SECRETS TO A VIBRANT HEALTH!

Herbal medicine for cold

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WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW ABOUT BREAST CANCER

Many people on the hunt for nutritional supplements are concerned about what kind of herbal medicine for cold sicknesses are offered. From the period of November until March, cold
 season sets in and it can really ruin your day. While there isn’t too much of a clear determinant about how to cure a cold, your best bet is to try to ward it off before it even strikes you.

 Once you already have the flu, there are herbal remedies, supplements, and vitamins that can
 help to curb the effects of the bug or hasten its departure, but there’s no surefire cure for the common cold. One of the best ways to avoid getting the flu would be to keep the healthiest immune system you possibly can. The stronger your immune system is, the better chance your body will merely brush off pesky bugs. This can be accomplished through the use of many different substances.
 Vitamin C is one solution commonly referred to when colds abound. Also, Echinacea has seen much popularity as a cold aid. Beta Glucan is one herbal remedy that helps to boost your
 immune system to superhuman levels. Beta Glucan stimulates macrophages, which your body uses as a ‘first line of defense’ against bodily invaders. Beta Glucan is naturally found in grains and oats. Maitaki mushroom extract is another substance that has seen some popularity. It is rumored to raise your white blood cell count, which can be enormously helpful in fighting off foreign bodies. Black Cumin extract is yet another solution, which has many healing and anti- viral properties. It helps to protect healthy cells and produces an enzyme called interferon which fights infections.
 Last, but not least, is Aloe Vera. Certain sources of it can be powerful in boosting immune
 function. Liquid Aloe Vera doesn’t offer anywhere near the effects of the concentrated, solid form. Of all of these natural remedies, all are classified as herbs with the exception of Beta Glucan.
 Take your choice of these (although a combination has been proven more effective) to help ward off the next flu that comes your way.

FAMILY ALBUM ENJOY!

What Causes Cold Sores?

Cold sores are caused by a virus, the herpes simplex virus or HSV. There are two kinds of herpes simplex virus, called type 1 and type 2. While both types can cause cold sores, type 1 is
 the variety usually responsible. Type 2 HSV is found in genital herpes and is much more rare than type 1 HSV.

 HSV-1 is the most common cause of cold sores. Most people are exposed to HSV-1 between
 the ages of three to five. There are many ways that a person can become infected by HSV-1, including among them coming into close contact with a person who has a cold sore, ingesting contaminated fluids that have been sneezed or coughed into the air, or by coming into contact with objects that a person with a cold sore touched or used. Although most people are first
 infected with the HSV-1 virus early in life, they do not get their first cold sore until after puberty. Once someone is infected with HSV-1, the virus remains with them for the rest of their lives.
 HSV-2 is much less common than HSV-1. It primarily causes genital herpes. HSV-2 usually only
 affect body parts that are below a person’s waist, but in rare cases, it can cause a person to get cold sores.
 Once a person is infected with HVS-1, a number of things can cause cold sores. A bad cold, a
 case of the flu, or any sort of disease that affects the immune system can lead to the appearance of cold sores. Extremely chapped or sunburned lips can increase the chance of a cold sore outbreak. Women who are pregnant or menstruating also have an increased risk of cold sores.
 But cold sores are not just caused by physical factors. Emotional stress or prolonged upset is another factor that can bring about a cold sore outbreak. Another factor that has been seen to increase the risk of an outbreak is physical stress or fatigue. All of these stress factors weaken the immune system, making it more difficult for the body to fight the outbreak.
 Many people experience cold sores only a few times in their life, while others have them much
 more regularly. There is no cure for cold sores. And with so many different causes that people have no control over, treatment and therapy by trained professionals are often the best ways to
 manage troublesome outbreaks.

FAMILY ALBUM!

5 Keys to Naturally Better Vision

DIABETES - The Common Myths Revealed!

Our vision is our primary means of relationship to the world around us. Of the five physical senses, vision is the most dominant and useful sense.

 Yet, over half the people in the world wear glasses or contacts. Needing corrective- lenses to see clearly is now considered normal, though there are ways to have better vision naturally without the use of any artificial means and complicated procedures like surgery. In this
 article, I will disclose 5 keys to naturally better vision that has been tried and tested by thousands of individuals over years.

 Key1
 Blink Regularly:
 Blinking is a natural preserver of your better vision. Blinking cleanses and lubricates the eyes. When there is no tension, your eyes blink 10-12 times every minute, or about once every 5
 seconds. But people who do not see clearly tend to stare and unconsciously hold their eyes
 open, which causes strain as well as the feeling of dry and tired eyes. Consciously remind yourself to blink every 3-5 seconds. The more you blink the better it is for your eyes. Your eyelid is controlled by only one muscle. By having proper relaxation in that muscle, it can promote relaxation throughout the entire body.
 Flutter Blinking: To practice Flutter Blinking, blink your eyes lightly and rapidly 10 to 20 times. Do not strain or squeeze your eyes shut and relax your face as you blink. Then close your eyes and relax. Repeat this 2 or 3 times. Flutter Blinking will help to keep your eyes moist, relaxed and free of strain.

 Key 2
 Use your Peripheral Vision
 Your eyes may be offering you more than you realize. At the same time that you are focusing on one object, images are also coming into your eyes from your peripheral awareness – from the
 left and the right, and from the front of and behind what you are directly looking at.
 But unfortunately, people with poor vision have trained their minds to so intently focus on just
 one thing that they block out their peripheral awareness. This “putting on of blinders” breeds mental fatigue and a tense style of concentration.
 Whatever you are looking at, always remind yourself to be aware of your peripheral vision. Consciously remember to be aware of everything at the same time that you are looking at one point.



 Key 3
 Keep your Eyes Moving and Change your Focus
Staring is the most commonly practiced bad habit in regards to poor vision. Keeping your eyes moving and changing your focus is the most direct and powerful way to break the staring habit.
 Normally, the eye moves slightly 50-60 times every single second, constantly changing what it is looking at. This subtle movement is essential for clear vision; you can unlock tension in your

visual system by remembering to change your focus frequently. This encourages your eyes to become more relaxed. Whatever you may be doing with your eyes, you should always
 remember to shift your focus and keep your eyes moving.

Key4
 Avoid Daydreaming
 The word daydreaming is used to mean any mental activity – whether or not it involves images, that captures a person’s focus while their eyes are open. There isn’t anything wrong with the
 creative use of the imagination, but when daydreaming becomes a habit it can have a negative effect on your vision.
 Here’s why:
 If you close your eyes and imagine looking at a distant scene, your eyes respond to that, and
 change their focus, as they would if they were actually looking at that distant scene.
 So, if you’re driving down the road and you’re thinking about something else, your eyes are caught in a dilemma – what should they be seeing? On the one hand, they are trying to bring the road into focus and on the other hand, are trying to focus on what’s in your mind. This
 causes you to stare, creates visual tension and sends mixed messages to your brain.

 Key 5
 Look with the “Eyes of a Child”
 Engage in your world as a child would – with excitement, freshness, awe and wonder – as if you are seeing everything for the first time.
 If you are remembering to blink, to move your eyes and shift focus, to use your peripheral vision and to avoid daydreaming, you can get stuck in the trap of just mechanically using your eyes.
 There’s a big difference between seeing and actively looking. There’s always something new and different to notice.
 Apply these 5 tips consciously and regularly and you’ll find that not only will your eyes start to
 feel more relaxed but your seeing will become clearer.

What is Acid Reflux Disease?

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Acid reflux disease, also known as Gastro-esophageal Reflux Disease, or GERD, is a common ailment, affecting between 5%-7% of the population. In order to understand what GERD is it is important to be familiar with how the esophagus works. A long muscular tube, the esophagus carries food and liquid from the mouth to the stomach. The average adult esophagus is around ten to thirteen inches long and approximately an half an inch in diameter. GERD is caused by the backflow of acid from the stomach into the esophagus, usually because the lower esophageal sphincter does not close properly. When this happens over a long period of time, the lining of this tract becomes eroded, causing discomfort and pain.

Symptoms of the disease are fairly straightforward and are very similar to the symptoms of heartburn. GERD often include a frequent burning sensation, right behind the breastbone, which sometimes worsens when lying down for extended periods of time. While most cases of heartburn turn out to be non-life threatening, it is important that you visit your doctor at the onset of symptoms. Unfortunately, the symptoms of both indigestion and GERD can also imitate those of heart disease, so it is very important that you seek medical attention to make sure that you get the correct diagnosis.

There are a number of medical tests which your doctor can perform which will confirm the diagnosis of GERD. After your doctor or healthcare professional has taken your medical history, he or she will most likely conduct an test using an Endoscope, a long flexible imaging instrument. This will allow the doctor to visibly exam your esophagus.  If you are diagnosed with Acid Reflux disease, there are a number of treatment options available to you, such as making changes to your diet, reducing stress, and taking over the counter antacids. Serious cases of GERD may require a prescription drug to reduce the acid being produced by your stomach, but lifestyle changes are often enough to control symptoms successfully.

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What Causes Acid Reflux?

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Though the root causes are often unclear, perhaps the most prevalent acid reflux cause is a poor diet. Acid reflux occurs during digestion, when the stomach churns up acid or refluxes it into the esophagus, causing a burning sensation in the chest or throat.

So if you eat too many highly acidic foods like tomato sauces and/or fatty, fried foods, the stomach has to process an overabundance of acid. Too much acid can push back through a valve between the stomach and the esophagus called the lower esophageal sphincter (LES). Acid reflux culprits include but are not limited to tomato based sauces, fried and fatty foods, chocolate, alcohol, citrus fruits, peppers, and caffeinated beverages.

Along the same lines as diet, overeating also causes reflux. When you overeat, the stomach can’t keep up with the demand to process all the acids. So food gets backed up, and digestive acids infiltrate the esophageal valve to cause that unpleasant burning feeling centered in the chest.   Also diet-related, another acid reflux cause is being overweight. There is a clear correlation between being overweight and a notable increase in the occurrence of acid reflux. Many believe this is because the extra weight puts more pressure on the stomach and esophagus.

This pressure has been known to open the lower esophageal sphincter (esophagus valve), when the valve should be closed. This allows acid to escape into the esophagus.   Other factors that create a predisposition for acid reflux include smoking, use of alcohol, food allergies, certain medications, and lying down after meals. As you can tell, most of these factors can be overcome by practicing some behavioral modifications. In fact, in many cases of recurrent acid reflux, lifestyle changes are all that is necessary in preventing heartburn from becoming a chronic disease. Remember to consult a physician before embarking on any treatment strategy.

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Do you have an acid reflux problem?

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Most people have digestive problems that create a variety of illnesses that we see as they age. The main problem is with the food that they eat. As has already been said many times, we eat more junk, processed, and packaged food than our stomach can digest. We eat more meat and protein then we should. We drink more unusual drinks that are mainly sugar.

You need to eat more live vegetables and fruits. This will minimize any acid reflux problems you might have.   Your body is designed to be electrically balanced. This is done by eating both acid and alkaline foods. If you eat too much acid food or alkaline food you move towards illness. Acid reflux is one of these illnesses.   When too much acid food is eaten, the stomach can’t digest it completely. The excess undigested food turns into acid waste. This waste causes stomach spasms or twitching that causes an increase in stomach gas that pops open the valve between the esophagus and stomach.   Acidic stomach content is sucked into the esophagus causing a burning sensation in the chest and throat. This is acid reflux or heartburn.

Acid Reflux Remedies   Here are three acid reflux remedies that you can start using right away to decrease the effects of acid reflux

* Digestive enzymes – Just before you eat, take some digestive enzymes. There are a variety of types that you can buy in a health food store – cost is about $15.00. Digestive enzymes will help you digest your food in the stomach and lessen the work the stomach has to do. But don’t take enzymes if you have an ulcer.

* Drinking water – When eating your meal, don’t drink any cold liquid. Cold liquid in the stomach decreases the digestive activity and your food will take longer to digest. It is best not to drink any water with your meal since this decrease the strength of your hydrochloric acid. If you have to drink water to clear your throat, drink water at room temperature.

* Vegetables – Eat vegetables with lunch and dinner and decrease the amount of meat and protein you eat. Don’t over eat since this puts an extra load on your stomach and you may not be able to digest all this food. Try eating your vegetables raw when possible since this gives you extra enzymes and plenty of minerals. Any time you eat bread eat it with some vegetables. Bread is hard to digest and the added fiber helps its digestion and helps to move it through the colon faster.

 Just doing these three suggestions will help you improve your digestion and help to relieve your acid reflux. Concentrate on changing your eating habits and the types and quantities of food that you eat, if you want to stop the effects of acid reflux.

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Dealing with Acid Reflux

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Heartburn, as acid reflux is commonly called, is a very unpleasant and annoying condition. Chronic acid reflux problems are commonly associated with symptoms such as laryngitis, sore throat and swallowing difficulties. A constantly upset stomach and a frequent sensation of vomiting and belching are also among the common acid reflux symptoms. Other problems caused by acid reflux are as follows: bad breath and tooth erosion, gum inflammation and chest pains caused by the acid.

Although heartburn is not considered to be a severe condition, it can cause permanent damage to the esophagus and can also lower the quality of life for acid reflux patients.   In order to eliminate the negative aspects of acid reflux you should try to follow some of the following tips. Begin by leading a healthier lifestyle. For starters, introduce a light exercise in your daily routine. However, do not exercise right after eating, as this might cause your abdominal muscles to contract because of the effort and to push food up on the esophagus. If the exercise is carried out before meals, you will improve your blood flow and reduce the chances of acid reflux problems. Exercising regularly will also help you reduce the body fat levels.

This will have a direct effect on acid reflux, as abdominal body fat puts even more pressure on your stomach.   Your actions and behavior after meals may help reduce the chances of acid reflux. Keeping an upright posture relieves the abdominal muscles of some pressure, which means that digestion goes smoothly and chances of heartburn are diminished. One of the most active acid reflux triggers is lying down right after a meal. Try to stand up or sit for at least one or two hours after a meal, allowing your stomach to complete digestion. If you are having problems with acid reflux at night, you might want to use a larger pillow that will keep your head raised or to tilt the head of your bed by a few degrees in an upward direction.   Tight clothing and any other element that puts pressure on your stomach may trigger acid reflux. Also, try to avoid emotional disturbances because stress induced acid reflux is also a common condition.

A rising temper will have your muscles contract – including the abdominal muscles, which will soon turn into acid reflux. Your diet is the next important thing to watch. Eating smaller meals at intervals of 3-4 hours is better than having larger meals. You should also try to have your main meal of the day at lunch, not at dinner. This will allow you to go to bed without having to worry about digestion time, as a smaller dinner will be easier to digest.   Some people respond negatively to some food items while others don’t. When you experience heartburn make sure to write down a list of all the items you consumed and identify the ones causing the problem. In general, here are the things you want to avoid as much as possible: spicy foods, fatty foods, alcoholic drinks, coffee, chocolate and peppermint. As you would expect, the higher the quantity of the troublesome food the more acid reflux you will have.

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Alternative Therapies for Acid Reflux Disease

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Acid Reflux Disease, or GERD, is a common disease which affects approximately 5-7% of the population. It occurs when acid from the stomach backs up into the esophagus, a long, thin, muscular tube, which connects the mouth and the stomach.

This often causes a constant burning sensation behind the breastbone, which is commonly known as heartburn. Long-term or persistent heartburn should be evaluated by a doctor, as heartburn can imitate the symptoms of heart disease.   Once you have been properly diagnosed as having Acid Reflux Disease, there are a variety of treatment options available to you. Many doctors recommend over the counter medications, developed to reduce stomach acid, such as antacids or prokinetic agents. Some patients who are unable to control their symptoms with non-prescription medication may either choose prescription antacids or surgery, or opt for a combination of the two.

There are other options available, however, to help you manage your symptoms. Many patients are able to control their disease by simply by making lifestyle changes. Here are a few tips, to get you started.   Probably the most important lifestyle change that you could make to help you manage your GERD symptoms is the simplest- avoid the foods and drinks that make you uncomfortable! While this may sound like common sense, many sufferers find it difficult to make dietary changes. Try replacing fatty, deep-fried foods with healthier options, such as tasty summer salads and steamed vegetables. You should also try to limit your intake of caffeinated beverages, as caffeine is a known contributor to GERD, so opt for decaf teas and coffees instead.

Stress reduction is also key to the management of acid reflux disease. The body manufactures more stomach acid when under stress, so it is important to learn to relax. Meditation is a very useful tool for effectively reducing stress levels, so incorporating one or two short meditation sessions into each day can help you to relax. Likewise, yoga is also recommended as being an effective way to manage stress, so try to find a class near you.   By incorporating simple changes into your life, you can not only better manage your GERD symptoms, but also enhance the overall quality of your life.

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A Look at Acid Reflux and Your Diet

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There is an undeniable connection between the occurrence of acid reflux and diet. Everything in your body has a delicate balance. The human body is a miracle of systems that maintains just the right conditions to keep everything running smoothly. Therefore it’s the healthiest when there is an acidic balance or equilibrium.

The stomach regulates acidic digestion with enzymes that convert acids into manageable alkaline or basal substances. However, when there is an over-production of acid, usually helped along by lifestyle choices like overeating or smoking, acid reflux is likely to occur, and if it goes unregulated, acid reflux disease can develop.   Fortunately, acid reflux and diet can be effectively improved by launching a few lifestyle changes. One of the most important things you can do to cool heartburn down is to avoid certain foods. In many cases, just changing the diet is all that is necessary to control acid reflux.

Most health care professionals recommend a low-acid diet consisting of more alkaline or basal foods. Foods such as chocolate, foods with a lot of extra cheese, tomato sauce or catsup based foods, onions, chilies, caffeinated beverages, fatty or fried foods, alcohol, mint, and citrus fruits have been known to aggravate digestion, acting as catalysts for acid reflux.   So what foods are safe to eat? The key qualities in heartburn-friendly foods, for most people, are low fat and non-spicy. So, with that in mind you can probably guess that leafy greens and broccoli, lean cuts of grilled meat, egg whites, low-fat cheeses like feta, apples and bananas, multi-grain breads, and low-fat salad dressings are good choices.

Junk food? Occasionally, but with caution, choose fat free cookies, baked potato chips, or red licorice. A good exercise to do if you suffer from heartburn regularly is to create a food diary and log your meal intake for 2 or 3 weeks. Then note each time you experience heartburn in order to target the foods you need to avoid.   In addition to making better food choices, consider changing your portion perception. Overeating is another acid reflux aggravator.

Exercise caloric conscientiousness and choose to skip that second helping or fatty side dish, eat slow and drink plenty of water. Living without heartburn is within anyone’s grasp, and shouldn’t require drastic medical treatment. Simple, reasonable modifications in your eating habits can do wonders for quelling acid reflux, not to mention improving overall health. 

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Acid Reflux – Symptoms and Treatment

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Acid reflux (also known as GERD or heartburn) is a common condition -- Over 60 million Americans experience it at least once a month.   For some, acid reflux is a temporary phenomenon experienced only when eating too much, or eating particular types of food e.g. spicy foods. But for many others, acid reflux can be a painful and persistent condition.

What Is Acid Reflux?

Acid reflux occurs when the lower oesophageal sphincter (that normally closes after swallowing to prevent stomach contents from escaping) malfunctions and allows stomach acid to travel up the oesophagus. When this occurs, a painful sensation is felt.

What are the Symptoms of Acid Reflux?

The symptoms of acid reflux are a painful “burning” sensation in the upper chest and/or regurgitation of acid into the mouth. Some patients will even develop nausea although this is less common. Although often called “heartburn”, the pain should not be mistaken for that associated with a true heart attack or cardiac arrest which would be accompanied by tightness of and pounding in the chest, weakness and feeling faint.

What are the Treatments for Acid Reflux?

Fortunately there are many treatments available for acid reflux.   Antacids are usually the first port of call for many acid reflux sufferers. For short term and infrequent attacks of acid reflux, these provide much needed temporary relief. However, as a long term solution they are not suitable and alternatives should be sought.   Any sufferer of regular acid reflux should keep a diary of everything they eat and drink. Over time, patterns can be established and many people report elimination or reduction of acid reflux symptoms after changing their diet accordingly to eliminate problematic food or drink.   If dietary changes have little or no effect, there are various families of drugs that are available over the counter and on prescription.   PPIs, or proton pump inhibitors, are often prescribed and successful drugs. These work by inhibiting production of the stomach acid that causes acid reflux. They have relatively limited side effects. H2 blockers are a different family of drugs that have the same effect but work in a different way. For the vast majority of long term acid reflux sufferers, PPIs and H2 blockers are a successful drug therapy. Some people, however, fail to respond to treatment with PPIs and H2 blockers and their only option are more radical drugs known as promotility agents.

Unfortunately, these can have very severe side effects and are therefore rarely prescribed.   Lastly, for those who fail to respond to drug treatment, or simply want an alternative to the daily inconvenience of taking drugs, surgery is an option. New techniques are constantly being developed, some of which include procedures such as Enteryx Procedure, Stretta Procedure, Nissen Fundoplication and Endocinch. Your doctor will be able to give you more advice on these surgery options.

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Acid Reflux/Heartburn - Simple Steps to Relief

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Acid reflux is a horrible disease that can cause damage to the  oesophagus and lead to cancer. Are these claims realistic, or simply exaggerated to sell over  the counter medications? The fact is that doctors don't even agree on the causes, treatments,  and long-term risks related to heartburn.

Heartburn is the uncomfortable feeling resulting from acid reflux, or GERD, gastroesophageal  reflux disease (try saying that out loud a few times). It can feel like a burning sensation  (hence, the name), but can also feel like pressure in the chest, which is why it is sometimes  confused with feelings associated with heart attacks.

Acid reflux occurs when the muscle between the stomach and the oesophagus gets weak or relaxes  at the wrong time. The result is that the stomach contents, including the acid, move up into  the oesophagus. Because the oesophagus doesn't have the protective lining that the stomach  does, the acid literally burns the oesophagus.

What Works?   Several non-prescription drugs may be effective for mild to moderate acid reflux,  such as antacids, which neutralize stomach acids. These include well-known over the counter  medications such as Tums and Rolaids. Another option is H2 receptor antagonists, which reduce  the production of stomach acids. These include Axid AR, Pepcid AC, Tagamet HB, and Zantac 75.  Pepcid complete is the only of these that combines an antacid with an H2 receptor antagonist.  Which is the best treatment? One study found that Pepcid complete performed better than either  an antacid alone or an H2 receptor antagonist alone.

Prescription drugs prescribed to treat acid reflux are called proton-pump inhibitors. These  include Aciphex, Nexium, Prevacid, Prilosec, and Protonix. While these are equally effective,  one study did find that Nexium may heal esophageal sores faster.   Homeopathic Remedies   Combined with homeopathic remedies, heartburn may be treated effectively  with less reliance on over the counter or prescription medications. Together, these solutions  may provide the answers where just one solution fails to deliver on the promise.

Natural options that may help reduce GERD include deglycyrrhizinated licorice (DGL), which may  bring fast relief and help heal damaged lining. Aloe Vera juice may also act quickly to bring  relief. For those with chronic problems, Gamma-oryzanol (rice bran oil) may be useful, as could  choline, pantothenic acid, and thiamin. These natural solutions may provide more effective  short-term relief as well as provide long-term dietary benefits.   Why Try a Homeopathic Remedy?   The benefits of natural solutions is that they are often less  costly and reduce the chances of becoming reliant on a particular solution. Natural solutions  include treating the cause as much as the affect, and experimenting with diet and alternative  treatments may help lessen the cause of the problem. Additionally, all of the homeopathic  remedies mentioned above can be used along with over the counter or prescription medications.

Does Acid Reflux Cause Cancer?   Studies on acid reflux and cancer vary. One study showed that  chronic acid reflux increased the chances of oesophageal cancer by as much as eight times.  Another study determined that the risk of cancer is not nearly as much as was once thought.  Chronic acid reflux can lead to Barrett's oesophagus, or BE, which has been thought to lead to  an increase in cancer. A study conducted by a group of medical doctors found that the risk of  cancer from BE is not as much as previously thought, stating that BE will not cause cancer for  most people.   What is not questioned is whether or not acid reflux is uncomfortable. Chronic GERD is  difficult to live with, and experimenting with both traditional medications and natural  remedies may be the best solution. As research continues on the causes and affects of GERD,  additional options are likely to come along.

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Acid Reflux Drugs and Antacids Are Killing You

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Doctors and Pharmaceutical giants know that their drugs and antacids do not cure heartburn or acid reflux. They have known for a long time that their drugs simply suppress the condition and continue the cycle of heartburn, acid reflux, and drugs.

If you have fallen prey to this medical cycle, for sure you are headed toward serious malnutrition. The inability to feed your body the nutrients it needs will result in the diseases that you now see in most elderly people.   Because your mouth and stomach are the first step in getting nutrients into your body, you don't want to get this step wrong.

If you are taking Prevacid, Prilosec, Aciphex, Protonix, Nexium, or even antacid, its time you re-evaluated the use of these drugs.   Fact1: Your stomach is designed to have a pH of 3.0 or less, more acidic   Fact 2: When you stomach pH is consistently higher than 3.0, more alkaline, you create disease   Fact 3: Taking heartburn or reflux drugs or antacids raises and keeps your stomach pH above 3.0 and higher.

When your stomach has the proper pH, it digests your food so that,   The meat you eat is broken down into amino acids that you absorb later   Vitamins are created from the food you eat   Vitamins are separated out from the food you eat   Minerals are kept in solution for later absorption   Stomach digested food moves into the duodenum at the proper pH level and triggers digestive juices from the pancreas and gallbladder.

Bacteria overgrowth is prevented and eliminates their interference with the absorption of vitamin B-12   When your stomach pH gets higher than 3.0, It secretes more acid to keep its pH below 3.0. When heartburn or acid reflux medication interferes with stomach acid by raising it pH above 3.0, the stomach is no longer functioning like a stomach. It is now creating chemical combinations that are not usable by your body. What it now produces is affecting the function of subsequent processes in the duodenum and colon. It causes these body organs to malfunction and they fail to digest and absorb the nutrients from the food you ate.   The cascade effect of a stomach with a high pH over a long period of time results in numerous ill conditions that are not traceable to an inefficient stomach.   So it's your job is to keep your stomach's pH at the proper level and look to solve your heartburn and acid reflux issues using natural remedies. If your condition, has evolved into GERD then you may have to consult a doctor or an alternative practitioner to recover from this disease.

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Acid reflux and heartburn natural remedies part II

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If you have acid reflux or heartburn, using natural remedies to rebalance your stomach is what nature intended. Listed are four natural remedies that you can use to rebalance the acid in your stomach   Cinnamon.

Cinnamon has many medicinal uses aside from being great for various pastries. It has an antiseptic effect and has been historically used for colds and flu’s. It has fighting power against Candida albicans and has the ability to settle acidic stomachs.

Here’s how to use cinnamon for an acid stomach or heartburn:
· Toast raisin bread
· Butter the raisin bread
· Sprinkle cinnamon on the bread
· Sprinkle cardamon on the bread

When you eat this toasted bread, chew slowly and completely before swallowing to allow the digestive juices in your mouth to start breaking down this food.

Cardamon, which is found in India, has been used successful in treating Celiac disease, which is an intolerance to gluten found in most breads

Grapefruit Skins

Here is a way to settle your acid reflux stomach with grapefruit. Use only organic grapefruit for this remedy. Here’s what to do:

· Grate the entire outer skin of an organic grapefruit
· Spread them out on a flat dish to dry
· Allow them to get crinkly dry
 · Store them in a glass jar or zip lock bag

 Whenever you get an upset stomach, acid reflux or heartburn start chewing and eating these strips of dried grapefruit. These strips will settle out your stomach. Eat only a few of them and test to see how many you need.  Romaine Lettuce   Romaine lettuce can be used to eliminate an acid reflux or heartburn condition. This lettuce is high in minerals and is highly alkaline.

Here’s what you need to do:
· Buy an organic romaine lettuce head
· Wash in distilled water
· Cut up the leaves and place them in a blender
· Add cold distilled water to make a slurry
· Add a slight amount of honey to give it taste   Drink a 4-8 oz to get relief from your acid reflux or acid stomach   Mace, Nutmeg, and Slippery Elm   Here is a natural remedy that uses mace and nutmeg, which has a history of treating indigestion, acid stomach, heartburn, acid reflux, stomach gas, and vomiting.

Here’s how to use it with half and half and slippery elm root herb. Slippery elm herb can be purchase in any herb store in powder.   · 1 teaspoon of slippery elm bark  · a pinch of nutmeg  · a pinch of mace  · add distilled water to make a smooth slurry  · heat a pint of half and half to boil  · pull half and half from stove and add herb slurry  · stir in herb slurry   Allow this mixture to cool. Drink up to ½ cup at a time. Store the unused portion in the refrigerator. When drinking the next cup, warm this mixture up.   Acid reflux and heartburn require alkaline nutrients to provide relief. These 4 natural remedies, when prepared properly, will give you the relief you need from these conditions. Try them; you will be surprised on how well they work.

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Acid reflux and heartburn natural remedies

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Here is a list of natural remedies that you can use when you have acid reflux or heartburn. No need to use antacids, which have unwanted side effects and contain aluminum, which has been associated with senility and Alzheimer’s disease.   Anise, peppermint, and lavender  

Here’s a tea that you can make to help you with acid reflux or heartburn. It will help you reduce the amount of acid you have in your stomach.

Mix together equal amounts of aniseed, peppermint and lavender. Make an infusion of this tea:  

* boiling 2 ½ cup distilled water 
* pour this water over a teaspoon of the herbal mixture 
* let this tea sit for 3- 5 minutes 
* strain the tea and add a little bit of honey if you like. 
* place this tea in a thermos   Drink up to 8 oz in the morning and 8 oz in the evening to get relief of acid reflux.   Aniseed or anise – is a powerful herb that helps in digestive conditions and has many other benefits for your body.

Use only the ash-colored anise called green anise, European anise or sweet anise. There are two other types of anise, star anise and caraway, which should not be used here.   Peppermint – is another powerful herb for stomach conditions or heartburn. It helps in digestion, stomach distension, cramps, ulcers, and gas.   Lavender – known for it scent has enormous healing activity for your body. Is also an excellent stomach aid. It is useful in reducing acid in the stomach.   Betain, Pepsin, and Papaya digestive enzymes  

As you get older, your stomach weakens in its ability to produce hydrochloric acid to digest protein. It is undigested protein that leads to acid reflux or heartburn. Use digestive enzymes that contain Betain, pepsin, or HCl with each meal to make sure you digest all of your protein.   Papaya digestive enzymes, which contain papain, are also excellent for protein digestion and you can use them with each meal. Use 500mg or more of papaya enzymes per meal.   Pineapples   Pineapples are a store house of enzymes and contain bromelain, an enzymes that reduces protein.

Pineapples support digestion, reduce inflammation, and supports wound healing. The fresh juice has a high level of enzymes that will help you stop your acid reflux.   You can also buy bromelain as tablet and take 200 – 500mg per meal.   Chicory Root   Chicory comes from a family of bitter herbs that contain endive and escarole. Boil 1 ½ cup of chicory root for 5 - 10 minutes. After it colds to room temperature, drink this tea to correct acid reflux or heartburn.   Adding these herbs to your salad will also have benefits in preventing acid reflux. Eating those foods that are alkaline is the best way to avoid acid reflux and heartburn.   Using the remedies listed here will give relief from your acid reflux. But more importantly add a salad to your diet everyday and you will have less acid reflux in your life.

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Acid Reflux.....In My Day it Was Indigestion!

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When I was young, we had indigestion, now we discuss heartburn, acid reflux and that great mouthful known as gastro esophageal Reflux Disease (thankfully described as GERD)   Whatever you call it, if you are suffering from belching, gas or a bloated stomach lets consider the cause.   Its been a hard and stressful day at work.

You race home, gulp down a quick meal and collapse into bed for a well earned rest....But wait.  Suddenly you experience a burning sensation in the top of your stomach.  You may belch and probably feel bloated.  This is the beginning of acid reflux, and can cause acid and stomach content to wash back into the oesophagus creating a burning sensation.

This is often an indicator that something is wrong in your digestive system.  When we eat or drink, the digestive process begins in the mouth with enzymes in saliva beginning the task by starting to break down the food to promote easy digestion.  The food continues down the esophagus, passing through a valve prior to entering the stomach where it comes in contact with stomach (hydrochloric) acid to further break down the food.

If the valve relaxes , or if an excess of acid is produced, acid may be forced back into the oesophagus causing the reflux or heartburn.   (Incidently, I recall cleaning cement from bricks with a commercial hydrochloric acid preparation which indicates the strength of this acid.!)   Occasional reflux is normal, but when it occurs regularly and disrupts daily life, it is described as a disease - Gastro esophageal Reflux Disease, or GERD and can contribute to cancer where the stomach and esophagus meet.   If you are suffering from heartburn the first thing you should do is take a good look at what you are eating.  Over consumption of fatty foods and refined carbohydrates including biscuits, cakes and white bread can affect digestion and and cause reflux symptoms.

Other irritants include salt, spices, sugar, curries, coffee, fizzy drinks and alcohol.   Before you take drastic action to treat heartburn lets look at suitable supplements to aid digestion.  As well as supplements that contain digestive enzymes and hydrochloric acid, there are a number of specific formulas to relieve indegestion.  these contain ingredients such as active herbs including Globe Artichoke Leaf, Gentian Root, Fennel Seed and Ginger.  These natural herbs have been used for years in treating stomach complaints.

Swedish Bitters is another possible treatment well recommended.  Probiotics such as Lactobacillus Acidophilus and Bifidacterium lactis are beneficial for digestion by maintaining the friendly bacteria in the gastrointestional tract.   If you feel that you are not over indulging in any of these foods, and reflux symptoms persist, see your doctor, as untreated gastric reflux can damage the esophagus and even lead to cancer.  Doctors can now conduct an impedance pH test which determines whether your reflux is acid or not.

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Acid reflux disease

Acid reflux disease can and often is mistaken for heartburn. But the heartburn symptoms of acid reflux disease usually occur 2 or more days a week for at least 3 months and can damage your esophagus. At the top of your stomach is a muscle called the lower esophageal sphincter (LES), which normally opens and closes allowing food to enter. It also prevents the acid in your stomach from backing up into your esophagus. The trouble begins when the LES opens at inappropriate times, allowing acid from the stomach to get into the esophagus, where it doesn't belong. Acid reflux disease can also lead to more serious medical conditions that may require hospitalization. Acid reflux in the throat can cause sore throat. If acid reaches the mouth, it can dissolve the enamel of the teeth. Millions of people have the disease and suffer from its most common symptom - frequent and persistent heartburn. Acid reflux disease can be treated and controlled.

How do you get Acid Reflux?

Factors contributing to acid reflux include fatty foods, cigarettes, chocolate, caffeine, alcohol, obesity, pregnancy and delayed stomach emptying. Obesity and pregnancy increase pressures within the abdomen (body trunk), pushing the stomach contents back into the esophagus. Some patients have stomachs that empty their contents into the intestines very slowly.

How serious is Acid Reflux?

The lining of the esophagus may become ulcerated and can result in narrowing, making swallowing of food and, sometimes, liquids, painful and difficult. In people with esophagitis, there may also be an increased risk of cancer of the esophagus.

How long does Acid Reflux last?

Acid reflux can last several months or longer if not treated.

How is Acid Reflux treated?

Antacids are medicines that are commonly used to treat acid-related symptoms, like heartburn or indigestion, and work by neutralizing acid in the stomach. However, they are not usually recommended to treat the frequent heartburn suffered by people with GERD.

1. What is Acid Reflux Disease?

2. What Causes Acid Reflux?

3. Do you have an acid reflux problem?

4. Dealing with Acid Reflux

5. Alternative Therapies for Acid Reflux Disease

6. A Look at Acid Reflux and Your Diet

7. Acid Reflux – Symptoms and Treatment

8. Acid Reflux/Heartburn - Simple Steps to Relief

9. Acid Reflux Drugs and Antacids Are Killing You

10.  Acid reflux and heartburn natural remedies part II

11. Acid reflux and heartburn natural remedies

12. Acid Reflux.....In My Day it Was Indigestion!

13.  5 Simple Signs to Tell if it is Acid Reflux or Heart Pain

Put Old on Hold

  Basic Science Of Arthritis       Flu Information

More than once it’s been suggested that my efforts to Put Old on Hold are frivolous, vain and ultimately futile. “Why spend all that money on vitamins, supplements and anti-aging therapies – everybody gets old sooner or later. Just let nature take its course”

While it is undeniable that the aging process cannot be stopped, “getting old” – which means exhibiting traditional signs, symptoms and behaviors usually associated with advancing years is definitely controllable.

Most anyone able to envision the benefits of a youthful healthy old age and have the will to make a commitment can do it. It takes having an understanding that old age is not a TV mini- series over in 5 nights, but a long running show that may last longer than expected.

Not only is “old age” a long running show, it’s not prime time if there are daily re-runs of pain, depression and debilitation.

Putting Old on Hold means being free of chronic pain, mental and physical deterioration. It means being able to enjoy at an advanced age an incredible level of wellness conventional wisdom says is only for the young.

The deterioration and behaviors associated with or recognized as “old age” are not just the result of the aging process. Much of what is recognized as “old age” is learned behavior.

 In our society, we don’t just let old age happen. We help it along with a mix of tradition/custom; observation/emulation and expectation/exhortation. We learn how to “get old” from the influence of family members, other role models and social influences. We learn how to get old by observing and emulating behaviors, beliefs and attitudes of others because it’s accepted. We listen to the exhortations of well-meaning family, friends and peers.

A diet quite different from the accepted, conventional “healthy diet” is the foundation of putting old on hold and it’s shored up by exercise and a mental attitude that marches to an unconventional drummer. In Put Old on Hold I discuss the significance and substance of a non- traditional diet, the value of exercise, and the ingredients and benefits of a carefully cultivated mental attitude that puts you in charge of your aging process.

What You Need to Know about Age-related Macular Degeneration

 Basic Science Of Arthritis       Flu Information

ARA) - Age-related macular degeneration (AMD) is a disease that blurs the sharp, central vision you need for "straight-ahead" activities such as reading, sewing, and driving. AMD affects the macula, the part of the eye that allows you to see fine detail. AMD causes no pain.

In some cases, AMD advances so slowly that people notice little change in their vision. In others, the disease progresses faster and may lead to a loss of vision in both eyes. AMD is a leading cause of vision loss in Americans 60 years of age and older.

What is wet AMD?

Wet AMD occurs when abnormal blood vessels behind the retina start to grow under the macula. These new blood vessels tend to be very fragile and often leak blood and fluid. The blood and fluid raise the macula from its normal place at the back of the eye. With wet AMD, loss of central vision can occur quickly. An early symptom of wet AMD is that straight lines appear wavy.

What is dry AMD?

Dry AMD occurs when the light-sensitive cells in the macula slowly break down, gradually blurring central vision in the affected eye. As dry AMD gets worse, you may see a blurred spot in the center of your vision. Over time, as less of the macula functions, central vision in the affected eye can be lost gradually. The most common symptom of dry AMD is slightly blurred vision. You may have difficulty recognizing faces. You may need more light for reading and other tasks.

Which is more common -- the dry form or the wet form?

The dry form is much more common. More than 85 percent of all people with intermediate and advanced AMD combined have the dry form. How is dry AMD treated?

Once dry AMD reaches the advanced stage, no form of treatment can prevent vision loss. However, treatment can delay and possibly prevent intermediate AMD from progressing to the advanced stage, in which vision loss occurs. The National Eye Institute's Age-Related Eye Disease Study (AREDS) found that taking a specific high-dose formulation of antioxidants and zinc significantly reduces the risk of advanced AMD and its associated vision loss. Slowing AMD's progression from the intermediate stage to the advanced stage will save the vision.

How is wet AMD treated?  

There are two treatments for wet AMD: laser surgery and photodynamic therapy. Neither treatment is a cure for wet AMD. Each treatment may slow the rate of vision decline or stop further vision loss. The disease and loss of vision may progress despite treatment

 What can I do if I already have lost some vision from AMD?

 If you have lost some sight from AMD, ask your eye care professional about low vision services and devices that may help you make the most of your remaining vision. Ask for a referral to a specialist in low vision. 

For more information - visit the NEI website at www.nei.nih.gov

Arthritis Pain Relief

 Basic Science Of Arthritis

Coming of age equals coming of a variety of body pains. And do you know what most of our oldies would complain about regarding this issue? Arthritis. An estimate of over 50 million Americans suffer from osteoarthritis, rheumatoid arthritis and other conditions related conditions.

The most common form of arthritis is osteoarthritis. It is the kind of arthritis that usually affects nearly three-quarters of those over 50. At the onset of arthritis, pain is not a part of the major system yet. Morning and after rest stiffness and crackling joints are usually the first few symptoms that confirm the diagnosis of the condition. Upon the development of the disease, patients are expected to suffer from more discomfort, disability and pain.

If left untreated, it can become progressively distressing and painful crippling can result. This is particularly true with rheumatoid arthritis. Rheumatoid arthritis usually affects women. It is prevalent with age group of 20 to 45.

Arthritis is not only caused by the wear and tear the joints undergo. There are other factors that aggravate this condition. Rheumatoid arthritis is considered an immune deficiency syndrome where antibodies develop against components of joint tissue, and mistakenly and aggressively attack the joints. Misdirected neovascularization leads to displacement of water while decreasing the volume and viscosity of synovial fluid (fluid between joints), further lessening the flexibility and cushioning power of the joint, until the surfaces of raw unprotected bone painfully begin to wear against each other, as it happens in conditions of Osteoarthritis. Inborn recessive genetic errors may also predict the inclination of a person to develop arthritis

Dealing with the chronic pain of arthritis can be frustrating. Pain from arthritis is often caused by inflammation, a localized protective reaction of tissues to irritation or any kind of injury and is often characterized by pain, redness, swelling and even disability. Crepitation is a process that can also cause the pain that is felt by an arthritis patient. It is the rubbing together of two bone fragments that cause a crackling sound. Muscle tension and fatigue can also cause the pain.

The usual treatment for arthritis is through the use of painkillers. Non-steroidal Anti-Inflammatory Drugs (NSAIDs) like aspirin can help relieve the pain of arthritis. But they only target the symptom and not the disease itself. Studies even show that the continual use of these NSAIDs may even cause joint deterioration thus making arthritis worse. Modern medicine does not have much to offer for the cure of this disease.

The traditional temporary arthritis pain relief medications available leave a lot to be desired. Other pain solutions can be relied on to achieve arthritis pain relief. Massage therapy, hydrotherapy and cold packs are a few of the simple methods of pain management. Herbal remedies such as ginger, willow bark and fish oils and the well-known cartilage constituents glucosamine sulfate and chondroitin sulfate are also promising a lot in revolutionizing the treatment of arthritis. Aside from the symptomatic relief they offer, they actually interfere with the origin of the disease. They are also being considered to help the body rebuild functioning joints. Also reported to be fast acting,in cream form, they increase mobility and optimal repair of joint structures as they help reinforce the body's protective linings and lubricating fluids by recovering cell stability and function to stop further damage.

Those discovered treatments among many might just be the best among the elusive arthritis pain relief that are commercially available. But above all, no matter how clichéd it may sound, an ounce of prevention is better than a pound of cure.

Treat Cold, Flu and Ear Infection the natural way

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With or without medication, the cold or the flu can give you real trouble. You can choose from a variety of medications that can give you some relief in symptoms or you can take the natural approach that may prevent, speed your recovery and help you to feel better along the way.   When is coming to children a cold or flu or other upper respiratory infection can also ends in an ear infection - acute otitis media - that appear in the space behind the eardrum, that is called the middle ear.

This is very common in children younger than age 8, as their immature ear can be easily infected. Their Eustachian tube (the tube that connects the throat and the middle ear) is shorter, softer and more horizontal which is more easily blocked by secretions than those of older children or adults. Also, very exposed could be infants because of their sucking habit. Always keep a breast or bottle feeding baby under an angle to prevent entering the liquid into theirs immature ear.

During a cold, throat infection, allergy or other upper respiratory infection, the Eustachian tube swells and prevents air from entering the middle ear, leading to allowing the secretions to enter to the middle ear and be trapped there. This leads to viruses and bacteria to grow and cause infection.   Using salt therapy you can prevent or reduce the symptoms in cold, flu or ear infection. If your baby has a stuffy nose and has difficulty breast- or bottle feeding or seems to be short of breath, the Salin device is the best. Using Salin during the night, while sleeps, your baby won’t wake you up because of the stuffy nose. He or she will be able to breathe normally, the inhaled saline will open the airways, will clean secretions and kill bacteria, reducing the duration of cold or flu and preventing an ear infection.

In the range of 0.1-2.5 microns - the same size as the most damaging micro particles from auto and industrial pollution, and invisible to the human eye -- the micro particles of salt penetrate into every corner of the bronchi, bronchioles and alveoli and deposit upon the surface, cleaning secretions, killing microbes and bacteria, leading in turn to a reduction in inflammation. Acting as a mucokinetic, they restore the normal transport of mucus and unclog blockages in the bronchi and bronchioles and upper respiratory tract. The inhaled saline (NaCl) is hydrophilic, so it absorbs the edema from the mucosa lining the airway passages.

In the bronchial tree: Absorption of the inflammatory edema from the mucosa lining the bronchial tree, causing asthma, will be diminished, leading to widening of the airway passages. Also, it humidifies and fluidizes the bronchial secretions in the bronchial tree leading to the relief of the broncho- spasm assisting and improving the treatment of asthma.

In the nose and para-nasal sinuses, edema of the nasal mucosa, causing nasal obstruction, will be diminished, leading to widening of the airway passage in the nose and the tubes of the sinuses and improves the sinuses drainage.

In the auditory tube: Edema of the Eustachian tube mucosa, causing obstruction and otitis media, will be diminished, leading to widening of the airway passages, better drainage of the inflammatory secretions & better aeration behind the tympanic membrane (drum).   The hygiene of the respiratory tract has a very important place in treating an preventing a respiratory infection or ear infection. Here are some tips:

1. Use Salin device and Salt Pipe to clean all the respiratory tract.

2. Correctly blow your nose often - don’t blow your nose hardly as the pressure can carry secretions back into your ear passages. Press a finger over one nostril while you blow gently the other.

3. Clean your nose with saline solution: mix 1.25 g salt in 1 cup warm water (body temperature) or you can also add in half-half quantities salt and baking soda. Put few drops in every nostril.

4. Place an extra pillow under your head creating an angle. The best way is to place it under the mattress to create a smooth slope. This will help with nasal congestion and also prevent ear infection.

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Bird Flu: Who Is at Greatest Risk of Dying?

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Avian influenza or “bird flu” has now caused more than 60 deaths worldwide, with the most recent epidemic in Indonesia, where four people have died. On a global basis, 60 deaths are not very many. So why are health experts becoming alarmed about the H5N1 (“bird flu”) virus? People are concerned because the virus has demonstrated the ability to kill a high percentage of the humans it infects. In addition, it has spread from birds to many other species, which is very uncharacteristic of viruses.

The spread of infection in birds increases the opportunities for direct infection of humans. If more humans become infected over time, the likelihood also increases that humans, if concurrently infected with human and avian-influenza strains, could serve as the “mixing vessel” for the emergence of a novel subtype—with sufficient human genes to be easily transmitted from person to person.   Once the virus acquires the capability to “go human,” an influenza pandemic (that is, a worldwide epidemic) would likely ensue in a matter of weeks. To date, the vast majority of infections of bird flu in humans have been acquired by close contact with domestic poultry.

However, there is one documented case of human-to-human transmission in Thailand. It remains a curious fact that most people who have worked with poultry infected with the bird-flu virus, culling infected birds for example, have not become infected—a fact that no one seems able to adequately explain.   The antigenic changes (that is, changes in the exterior proteins—Hemagglutinin and Neuraminidase) in bird and human influenza viruses go on year after year.

Annual influenza outbreaks typically do not cause severe illness and death, because people have built up natural immunity to the viruses over a period of years. Rapid spread of H5N1 viruses between humans, on the other hand, will led to explosive global expansion in which everyone is at risk for infection, illness, and death because of a complete lack of natural immunity to the virus.   Because avian influenza or “bird flu” is much more deadly than the regular annual flu in humans, coupled with the high infectiousness of influenza viruses in general, a bird-flu pandemic is potentially very deadly, causing many tens—or even hundreds—of millions of deaths across the globe.

In September 2005, Dr. David Nabarro of the World Health Organization (WHO) stated, “A new pandemic would claim between 5 million and 150 million people.”   Once a flu pandemic starts, everyone will be at risk of getting pandemic flu, because no one has natural immunity to the virus. However, certain groups may be at greater risk of dying than others.

There are strong indications that the coming bird-flu pandemic may be similar to the influenza pandemic of 1918 and, if so, healthy adults would be most at risk of dying, along with pregnant women and the elderly.   Why are healthy adults at greatest risk? It appears that the H5N1 bird-flu virus causes a massive immunological response against the virus in those with the strongest immune systems.

Unfortunately, this causes the release of human enzymes called “cytokines,” which destroy lung cells along with viral particles. This, in turn, causes a deadly outpouring of fluids into the lung, which interferes with the exchange of oxygen and carbon dioxide. This reaction is frequently fatal. There are few effective treatments—one of the only treatments available is to place the patient on a ventilator, a mechanical respirator. Even with this treatment, patients often die from complications.

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Bird Flu: Personal Preparedness Must Include These 4 Critical Areas

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Bird flu is a viral contagious disease, just like the regular seasonal flu, but it might turn out to be 70 times more deadly. And, because of the nature of the virus, it might be most deadly for healthy children and adults, and pregnant women—just like the so-called Spanish flu of 1918-19 was.

The report of the U.S. National Intelligence Council’s 2020 Project, Mapping the Global Future, identified a global pandemic (an epidemic that is worldwide) as the single most important threat to the global economy. According to Shigeru Omi, regional director of the World Health Organization,

“The world is now in the gravest possible danger of a pandemic.” And according to Dr. Robert Webster, a world-renowned influenza researcher at St. Jude’s Children’s Research Hospital in Memphis, Tennessee, “We could be heading for a global catastrophe.” Infectious-disease experts have repeatedly warned that it’s not a question of whether a bird-flu pandemic is coming; it’s only a question of when.

There are four essential areas that you must address to prepare for the bird-flu pandemic:

1) “social distancing”;

2) commodities—including food,

3) personal protective equipment (PPE), and

4) financial preparation.

Social distancing refers to your living and work situations when the pandemic strikes. Without going to extremes, you want you and your family to be as far away from other people as possible. Bird flu is just like the regular seasonal flu in that you become infected from other people, not birds.

(Although it might be possible to acquire the viral infection from birds, it is much more likely that, if you do become infected, you will have acquired the virus from another person, not a bird.)

The bird-flu virus is extremely contagious; it is transmitted though casual contact with a contagious person (who might not have any symptoms during the first 24 hours of infection), through touching contaminated objects, and through the air. Because of this, you want to stay away from people as much as possible, and that means spending more time at home.

The same principle applies to your work setting. If you can telecommute, that is the best scenario. If you don’t telecommute now, but because of the type of work you do it might be a possibility, discuss it with your employer. If you will have to continue to work closely with others at your job site, what can be done there to help protect you and others from infection?

How can policies and procedures be amended to minimize contact with coworkers or customers? Are there hand-washing stations available? What are your employer’s plans for dealing with the coming pandemic? Discuss these and related issues with your employer and coworkers.

The second area that must be addressed is “commodities—including food.” There will be sporadic difficulties manufacturing or producing goods—because workers around the globe will be sick or otherwise absent from work. There also will be supply chain disruptions—both because workers will be sick or otherwise absent from work, and because of regional, national and/or international restrictions on travel.

These problems will cause a decrease or the unavailability of most or all of the products we easily have access to now.   Commodities such as soap, toothpaste, toilet paper, and virtually everything you can buy at stores  will be difficult or impossible to obtain—for periods of weeks or months at a time. This includes the most important commodity—food.  In addition, stores are places you want to avoid anyway, because potentially contagious people might be there. Stock up now so that you have sufficient commodities, including food, for a period of months.

The third area to address is so-called personal protective equipment (PPE), which you will have to use, depending upon circumstances. PPE includes special face masks, called N95 respirators, which help prevent infection through inhalation of the virus.

Remember that avian influenza (“bird flu”) is a very contagious disease that can be transmitted through the air. The only way to counter this source of infection is through the use of special N95 respirators. These are disposable face masks that can be worn for up to eight hours.   N95 masks were the type of masks worn by hospital workers during the 2003 severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS) pandemic that struck a number of cities around the world, including Toronto, Canada.

Surgical masks or other common face masks, sometimes used when sanding or painting and so forth, are not effective.  Other elements of PPE include disposable latex or vinyl gloves, eye goggles or face shields, gowns impervious to liquids, and sometimes disposable booties or disposable head caps.

Keep in mind that during the pandemic, most people who become infected will have to be cared for at home, not in crowded and overwhelmed hospitals. This means that caregivers taking care of loved ones at home need to be protected from the virus, just like hospital workers working in hospitals. The only way to be protected is to wear PPE.

Once the pandemic starts, demand for PPE will be huge and supplies will be in very short supply—or nonexistent. Buy now or suffer the consequences later.

The last area that must be addressed before the bird-flu pandemic strikes is personal finances. This is an area that governments at all levels have been mute on. However, preparing your finances to sustain yourself and your family during (and after) the pandemic could prove to be the most important area of preparation. Although the bird-flu virus is deadly and many of us will fall ill, most of us will not die from it—only one to two percent of the population will likely die. The vast majority will live—but under what circumstances?

Businesses around the world will not be able to make or distribute products or provide services. There will be layoffs and some companies will go out of business altogether. At a minimum, people will be out of work for periods of weeks or months. Your child or children, if you have any, will be at home—not in school or day care. Will that force one parent to stay home from work to care for them? How will you pay your rent or mortgage and your bills under these circumstances?

At Benjamin Franklin said, “An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure.” When it comes to bird-flu preparation could make the difference between life and death, how much you and your family eat, and whether or not you can pay your bills, including your rent or mortgage. The government will not resolve these issues for you. Just like Smoky the Bear’s admonition, “Only you can prevent forest fires.” Only you can take stock of this situation and do something about it. Think about it—and then do something about it.  

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