A migraine is a severe headache that is recurring. You may experience migraines monthly or once or twice a year. Migraines can be accompanied by extreme sensitivity to lights and sounds, nausea and vomiting. A severe migraine will be disabling to most people. Migraines have long been a sort of medical mystery. Researchers are not sure of the exact cause of migraines, but over the years have constructed a few theories. This article is going to look at the possible causes of migraine headaches.
A lot of researchers think that migraines are caused by an imbalance in the complex systems of nerves in the brain and neurotransmitters. Neurotransmitters are chemicals in the brain responsible for pain perception and emotions.
Serotonin is one of the neurotransmitters that researchers have studied. It has been proven that when you have a headache, your levels of serotonin drops. This in turn will cause the trigeminal nerve in your brain to release neuro peptides. These chemicals will cause the blood vessels on the outside covering of your brain to swell and the resulting pressure will produce a headache. This is the assumed mechanism of how a headache develops, but what causes this to happen.
Your headaches may be the result of certain triggers. The triggers that can produce a migraine are:
- Certain foods can trigger a migraine in a lot of people. Common food triggers are alcohol, chocolate, caffeine, aged cheeses, monosodium glutamate and other canned or processed foods.
- Sometimes skipping a meal can bring on a migraine also.
- Intense physical activity, including sex, can trigger a migraine. Too much sleep or too little sleep can also be a trigger.
- Stress is a big factor in triggering migraines. If you have worked hard all week and are starting to relax on the weekend, it may be ruined by a weekend migraine headache.
- Any type of change in your environment such as, the weather, temperature, barometric pressure and even a change in the time zone, can trigger a migraine.
- Some people are overly sensitive to all types of sensory stimulus such as, bright lights and certain smells. Certain perfumes or flowers have been known to trigger migraine pain.
- Women who are going through hormonal changes will be more at risk for developing a migraine. Researchers aren’t sure why the fluctuations of hormones will trigger a migraine, but the incidences of migraines seem to increase right before or during a woman’s period.
- Certain medications have been know to trigger migraine headaches.
If you are having frequent migraine headaches, try to pinpoint the trigger for them. Try keeping a journal of everything that you eat or do that’s out of the ordinary each day. When you have a migraine read back through your journal and try to identify a possible trigger. If you haven’t started treatment for migraines, see your doctor. He can prescribe medicine that will decrease the migraines or make them less intense. Don’t suffer in pain anymore, find the cause of your migraine headaches.
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If you have acid reflux disease, you may want to try to use alternatives before you get into taking harsh medications. First, try making some lifestyle changes to see if they work for you. Your doctor can give you some information and help with that. A change in diet is the first thing that can help reduce your acid reflux symptoms. An acid reflux diet is usually simple to follow and easy for you to make the changes with. This article is designed to help you understand some ideas for the acid reflux diet.
Losing Weight Helps
Losing weight is a good idea for anyone who is overweight whether he or she has acid reflux or not. If you can loose up to 10% of the weight you have now, you may see a difference in the acid reflux symptoms. In an acid reflux diet, you will practice eating less calories and start exercising each day as they can help you lower your weight faster.
No Large Meals, Especially Before Bed
Many of the acid reflux diets available will tell you to start eating more frequently and keep the meals small. You do not want to eat a lot of food at bedtime either. Your stomach is likely to produce more acid when it is digesting a meal so you do not want to lie down to sleep and wake up with acid reflux. The acid is more likely to come up when you lie down so you may want to prop yourself up while you sleep.
Stay Upright After Meals
Lying down is a bad thing when you suffer from acid reflux disease. The gravity from being down can help the acid to come back up into the esophagus. Sit or stand for at least one hour after you finish eating.
High Complex Carbohydrates
High complex carbohydrates are the ones that everyone has been told to avoid, it can help help if you eat foods such as bread and pasta that have complex carbohydrates as they will actually help to soak up the acid and keep it down where it belongs.
No Fast Foods
The fat content in fast foods is an absolute no for acid reflux sufferers. An acid reflux diet requires that you stay clear of high fat foods as they cause the stomach to produce more acid because of the high fat content. You are more apt to gain weight with fast food, giving your acid reflux symptoms an added boost.
Get Rid of the Alcohol
If you consume any amount of alcohol, you will need to reduce or stop it altogether. Alcohol actually encourages the stomach to produce more acid. It also relaxes the esophagus muscles (esophageal sphincter) so they can not close properly. The esophageal sphincter is located at the top of the stomach and the bottom of the esophagus. When the muscles of the esophageal sphincter do not work right, the stomach contents are able to leak back up toward the mouth and cause irritation.
Acid Producing Foods
Acid reflux diets are designed to help you stay away from foods that make stomach acid rise. Some of these foods are coffee, citrus foods, tomatoes, spicy food, alcohol and chocolate. Thus, you need to avoid eating these foods as much as possible.
Hopefully, the acid reflux diet tips can help to start you off on the right track in managing your acid reflux condition. Don’t forget to visit your doctor and discuss more treatment options for you.
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Gall Stones are stones that form in the gallbladder in which bile is stored. Bile is a watery liquid that is made by the liver cells (hepatocytes) and it is used to help the process of digestion. When bile liquid solidifies, it forms the gall stones. The gall bladder is involved in releasing bile for digestion.
There are two types of gall stones - cholesterol gall stones and pigment gall stones. Cholesterol gall stones are the most common type of gall stones and are primarily made up of cholesterol, which is one of the substances that instigates the liver cells to secrete bile. Pigment gallstones are the second most common type of gallstone. Pigment is a waste product of haemoglobin which is found in the blood. Old haemoglobin is transformed into a chemical called bilirubin and released into the blood. It is then the liver’s job to transport the bilirubin out of the blood and it does this by changing it into modified bilirubin or bile. When changed into bile, pigment gall stones can form.
When diagnosed with gall stones, you may want to try the five ways below to help you relieve the gall bladder from pain.
1. Avoid eating fatty and greasy foods for a few weeks and thus follow a high-fibre, low-fat diet.
2. Increase the amount of soluble fibre’s you consume as they bind to bile salts and thus reduce the amount that forms gall stones. Soluble fibres are found in carrots and apples.
3. Avoid eating raw shellfish as it can have bacteria that causes severe infection in the liver.
4. Have walnut oil to help balance out the body’s cholesterol.
5. Exercise regularly and drink plenty of water (preferably purified or still mineral water).
Source: http://gallstones.wordpress.com
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The World’s 7 Most Potent Disease-Fighting Spices
by www.SixWise.com
Spices can add much more than flavor, color and variety to your favorite foods; many also have unique health-promoting properties. So if salt and pepper are the only spices in your kitchen, you’re missing out on a host of interesting flavors and some potentially potent health benefits.
“There have been many recent studies validating the historic habit of using spices for health benefits,” says Donna Tainter, a food technologist and author of “Spices and Seasonings, A Food Technology Handbook.”
If you’re looking for the most health bang for your buck, these seven spices top the list in terms of taste and disease-fighting capabilities.
Ginger
Health Benefits: The active ingredient in ginger is gingerol, a compound that’s thought to relax blood vessels, stimulate blood flow and relieve pain. It’s commonly used as a digestive aid and contains compounds that ease motion sickness and nausea and inhibit vomiting. This makes it a helpful spice for morning sickness or for people suffering from the side effects of chemotherapy.
Ginger is also an anti-inflammatory, which means it may be useful in fighting heart disease, cancer, Alzheimer’s disease and arthritis. Plus, it’s high in antioxidants that fight all kinds of diseases.
How it’s Used: Ginger can be used freshly ground from the root (see picture) in Asian dishes, as well as in any type of meat, seafood or vegetable dish. Ginger is commonly served along with sushi. Dried ground ginger is typically used in desserts and baking (gingerbread cookies, etc.), and it’s also available candied and pickled. Fresh ginger root can also be used to make a soothing ginger tea.
Interesting Tidbit: The health benefits of ginger were documented over 2,000 years ago!
Oregano
Health Benefits: Two of oregano’s compounds, thymol and carvacrol, have potent antibacterial properties. In fact, a study in Mexico found that oregano was more effective against an amoeba than a common prescription drug called tinidazol.
Oregano is also a potent antioxidant, rich in phytonutrients. On a per gram basis, fresh oregano has:
- 42 times more antioxidant activity than apples
- 30 times more than potatoes
- 12 times more than oranges
- 4 times more than blueberries
How it’s Used: Fresh or dried oregano can be added to Italian dishes, salad dressings, egg dishes, vegetables, meats and more.
Interesting Tidbit: Oregano means “mountain joy” and is sometimes called wild marjoram in Europe. It’s closely related to the herb sweet marjoram.
Cinnamon
Health Benefits: Cinnamon is an anti-microbial food that can stop the growth of bacteria, fungi and yeast. A study in the August 2003 International Journal of Food Microbiology also found that a few drops of cinnamon essential oil added to carrot broth was able to effectively preserve the food and fight pathogenic organisms–all while improving the flavor of the broth.
It also has anti-clotting and anti-inflammatory properties, which help prevent unwanted clumping of blood platelets. And, it may help boost brain function.
People with diabetes should also take note that cinnamon is a useful tool to help control blood sugar. A study in the December 2003 Diabetes Care found that eating one to six grams of cinnamon daily significantly reduced blood sugar levels in people with type 2 diabetes. Meanwhile, it also reduced their triglyceride levels, LDL (bad) cholesterol and total cholesterol levels.
Plus, a study in the February 2004 Hormone Metabolism Research found that this tasty spice appears to prevent insulin resistance even in animals eating a high-fructose diet.
And that’s not all. Cinnamon is a powerful antioxidant. A study in the Journal of Nutrition found that out of all spices, cinnamon is one of the richest sources of disease-fighting antioxidants.
How it’s Used: Cinnamon comes ground and in sticks, and can be used in Mexican, Middle Eastern and other ethnic dishes, curries, vegetables, tea, beverages, and of course, desserts.
Interesting Tidbit: In traditional Chinese medicine, cinnamon is used in a tea along with ginger to fight the onset of colds and flu.
Turmeric
Health Benefits: Curcumin, which gives turmeric its bright yellow color, is thought to be the active ingredient in this spice. It’s a potent anti-inflammatory that studies have found is just as effective as drugs like hydrocortisone, phenylbutazone and Motrin. This spice has been found to be helpful in fighting inflammatory bowel diseases, including Crohn’s disease and ulcerative colitis, rheumatoid arthritis, cystic fibrosis, cancer and Alzheimer’s disease. It’s also shown promise in offering cardiovascular and liver protection.
How it’s Used: Turmeric powder can be added to rice dishes, egg salad, salad dressings, curries, beans and sauces. It has a warm, peppery flavor similar to ginger and orange.
Interesting Tidbit: Turmeric is the spice commonly used in curries that gives them their yellow color. It’s also what makes traditional mustard yellow!
Sage
Health Benefits: Sage is an anti-inflammatory and antioxidant. It contains flavonoids, phenolic acids and oxygen-handling enzymes, all of which give it a unique ability to prevent oxygen-based damage to cells. Sage may be useful in fighting rheumatoid arthritis and other inflammatory conditions, bronchial asthma and atherosclerosis.
Sage also appears to promote better brain function. A study in the June 2003 Pharmacological Biochemical Behavior found that people given sage essential oil extracts had significantly improved recall abilities compared to those given a placebo.
How it’s Used: Sage’s subtle, sweet flavor makes it a very versatile herb. It can be added to soups, sauces, salad dressings, meat dishes, casseroles, vegetables, eggs, salads and more.
Interesting Tidbit: Sage means “to be saved.” Because sage is so effective in protecting oxygen-based damage, several companies have been conducting experiments using sage as a natural additive to cooking oils to extend shelf life and prevent the oils from going rancid.
Red Chili Peppers
Health Benefits: These peppers, which include the popular cayenne pepper, contain capsaicin, an anti-inflammatory compound that helps with pain relief. Chili peppers have been found to help:
- Clear congestion by clearing mucus from the lungs and nose
- Boost immunity
- Prevent stomach ulcers by killing bacteria
- Help with weight loss
- Reduce blood cholesterol, triglyceride levels and platelet aggregation
- Prevent cancers, including stomach cancer
- Relieve pain
How it’s Used: Chili peppers are, of course, great in Mexican dishes, but that’s not all. Try them with other vegetables, tuna salad, chili, corn bread, dips, curries, soups, sauces and more.
Interesting Tidbit: The hotter the pepper, the more capsaicin it contains. Some of the hottest chili peppers out there are the habañero, Scotch bonnet, and jalapeño peppers.
Parsley
Health Benefits: Chief among parsley’s beneficial properties is its ability to fight cancer. Animal studies have shown that it can inhibit tumor formation, particularly in the lungs. It’s also known to neutralize carcinogens including those found in cigarette smoke and charcoal grill smoke.
Parsley is also a rich source of antioxidants and heart-protective nutrients including vitamin C, beta-carotene and folic acid.
How it’s Used: Parsley comes in two popular varieties, curly and flat leaf. Fresh parsley is more flavorful than the dried variety. The curly version tends to have a more intense flavor than the flat-leaf variety. Use it in soups, salads and casseroles, or to top fish, meat, potatoes, vegetables and more.
Interesting Tidbit: Parsley is a great breath freshener at the end of a meal.
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The Symptoms Of Asthma
Asthma is a malady that for the severely afflicted can be lethal if not properly addressed. It is especially difficult for the parent of a child with asthma. Asthma symptoms can rob a child of many things that are part of being a child. Having to constantly be on guard for an asthma attack is a never ending problem for the parent of child with asthma. The problem is no less worse for an adult with asthma. An asthma attack can be fatal in the severely afflicted. Every asthma attack is cause for alarm and has to be immediately addressed and treated.
Asthma attacks have early warning signs. It is important to recognize these signs so that you can begin treatment of an attack as early as possible. The sooner you begin treatment the better the results you can expect from the treatment given. Some typical warning signs of an oncoming asthma attack are coughing with a runny nose and headache.Other signs that can appear are moodiness and sneezing and also breathing changes can be the sign of an oncoming attack. Other signs are dark circles under the eyes, fatigue and throat and chin itches. Trouble sleeping, difficulty at physical tasks like exercise and a downward trend in peak flow number.
Asthma symptoms can be mild or severe for the asthma sufferer. Airflow is obstructed during an asthma attack caused by changes in the air way that channels the air to the lungs. This causes difficulty in breathing can get progressively worse and in extreme cases can result in death. Wheezing is a sign if an oncoming attack, so is coughing and tightness in the chest. Close attention has to be paid to children due to the fact that a child can sometimes have a tendency to ignore the initial symptoms during play and can delay treatment by doing so.
Severe asthma symptoms are a serious issue as a severe asthma attack can be fatal. It is absolutely imperative that the severe asthma sufferer have a plan in place for addressing these attacks. This plan should be designed by a medical professional and be ready to be implemented at a moments notice. The signs of a severe asthma attack are as follows. Severe coughing and wheezing with shortness of breath and tightness in the chest. A grey or blue tint to the skin brought on by lack of oxygen in the blood stream. Fast and shallow breathing can be sign of an oncoming severe attack. A severe decrease in the peak flow numbers.
Any of these symptoms should never be ignored. Even mild symptoms if ignored can develop into more severe symptoms. It is important that emergency medical care be prompt in the severe asthma sufferer if these symptoms appear. Paying close attention to your symptoms and their frequency and severity should be part of the asthmatics treatment plan. Doing so will help your physician more accurately direct his or her plan of action in your treatment. Merely telling your doctor about the symptoms is not enough A written log or record of the symptoms is what is required to properly develop and make adjustments in an ongoing treatment plan.
This log should be as detailed as possible. It should include the following. The asthma symptoms and their severity when they occur. The number of night time awakenings or sleep disruptions. This would include when they occur and how often they are spaced apart. Any changes of the use of quick relief medicines. This would include any increase or decrease in their effectiveness and their frequency of use. The number of school days or work days missed and hospital visits. Peak flow numbers should be recorded so that any patterns can be recognized and established. In the end it is you who are responsible for you or your childs treatment plan.
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Asthma in Children
Asthma is the leading cause of chronic illness in children. It affects as many as 10%-12% of children in the U.S. and, for unknown reasons, is steadily increasing. It can begin at any age, but most children have their first symptoms by age 5.
What Makes a Child More Likely to Develop Asthma?
There are many risk factors for developing childhood asthma. These include:
- Presence of allergies
- Family history of asthma and/or allergies
- Frequent respiratory infections
- Low birth weight
- Exposure to tobacco smoke before and/or after birth
- Being male
- Being black
- Being raised in a low-income environment
Why Are More Children Getting Asthma?
No one really knows why more and more children are developing asthma. Some experts suggest that children are being exposed to more and more allergens such as dust, air pollution, and second-hand smoke. These factors all are triggers of asthma. Others suspect that children are not exposed to enough childhood illnesses to build up their immune system. It appears that a disorder of the immune system where the body fails to make enough protective antibodies may play a role in causing asthma.
And still others suggest that decreasing rates of breastfeeding have prevented important substances of the immune system from being passed on to babies.
How Can I Tell If My Child Has Asthma?
Signs and symptoms to look for include:
- Frequent coughing spells, which may occur during play, at night, or while laughing. It is important to know that cough may be the only symptom present.
- Less energy during play
- Rapid breathing
- Complaint of chest tightness or chest “hurting”
- Whistling sound (wheezing) when breathing in or out
- See-saw motions (retractions) in the chest from labored breathing
- Shortness of breath, loss of breath
- Tightened neck and chest muscles
- Feelings of weakness or tiredness
Keep in mind that not all children have the same asthma symptoms, and these symptoms can vary from asthma episode to the next episode in the same child. Also note that not all wheezing or coughing is caused by asthma.
In kids under 5 years of age, the most common cause of asthma-like symptoms is upper respiratory viral infections such as the common cold.
If your child has problem breathing, take him or her to the doctor immediately for an evaluation.
How Is Asthma Diagnosed In Children?
Asthma is often difficult to diagnose in infants. However, in older children the disease can often be diagnosed based on your child’s medical history, symptoms, and physical exam.
- Medical history and symptom description. Your child’s doctor will be interested in any history of breathing problems you or your child may have had, as well as a family history of asthma, allergies, a skin condition called eczema, or other lung disease. It is important that you describe your child’s symptoms — cough, wheezing, shortness of breath, chest pain or tightness — in detail, including when and how often these symptoms have been occurring.
- Physical exam. During the physical examination, the doctor will listen to your child’s heart and lungs.
- Tests. Many children will also have a chest X-ray and pulmonary function tests. Also called lung function tests, these tests measure the amount of air in the lungs and how fast it can be exhaled. The results help the doctor determine how severe the asthma is. Generally, children younger than 5 are unable to perform pulmonary function tests. Thus doctors rely heavily on history, symptoms and examination in making the diagnosis.
Other tests may also be ordered to help identify particular asthma triggers. These tests may include allergy skin testing, blood tests and X-rays to determine if sinus infections or gastroesophageal reflux disease (a gastrointestinal condition that causes reflux of acid stomach contents into the esophagus or even into the lungs) is complicating asthma.
How Is Asthma Treated In Kids?
Based on your child’s history and the severity of asthma, his or her doctor will develop a care plan, called an “asthma action plan.” The asthma action plan describes when and how your child should use asthma medications, what to do when asthma gets worse, and when to seek emergency care for your child. Make sure you understand this plan and ask your child’s doctor any questions you may have.
Your child’s asthma action plan is important to successfully controlling his or her asthma. Keep it handy to remind you of your child’s daily asthma management plan, as well as to guide you when your child develops asthma symptoms.
In addition to following your child’s asthma action plan, you want to make sure exposure to asthma triggers is limited, and preferably avoided.
What Asthma Medications Can Children Take?
If an infant or child is experiencing symptoms of asthma requiring treatment with a bronchodilator medication more than twice a week, most doctors recommend daily anti-inflammatory medication.
Most asthma medications that are given to adults and older children can also safely be prescribed to toddlers and younger children. Medications that are approved for younger children are given in doses adjusted for their age and weight. Specifically, children 4 years and up may be prescribed the asthma inhaler Advair. Advair treats both airway inflammation and bronchoconstriction. Another antiinflammatory medication called Pulmicort Respules has been approved for children ages 12 months and up. In the case of inhaled medications, a different delivery device based on the child’s age and ability may be required. (Many children aren’t able to coordinate their breathing well enough to use a standard inhaler.)
How Do I Give My Child Asthma Medication?
You will probably give your child asthma medications using a home nebulizer, also known as a breathing machine. A nebulizer delivers asthma medications, usually bronchodilators, by changing them from a liquid to a mist. Your child gets the medicine by breathing it in through a facemask. These breathing treatments usually take about 10-15 minutes and are given several times a day. Your child’s doctor will tell you how often to give your child breathing treatments, based on the severity of his or her asthma.
Your child may be able to use a metered dose inhaler (MDI) with a spacer. A spacer is a chamber that attaches to the MDI and holds the burst of medication. Talk with your child’s doctor to see if an MDI with spacer is right for your child.
How Do I Know When My Child’s Asthma Is Well Controlled?
You know your child’s asthma is well controlled if, with medications, your child:
- Lives an active, normal life
- Has few troublesome symptoms
- Attends school every day
- Performs daily activities without difficulty
- Has few urgent visits to the doctor, emergency department, or hospital for asthma
- Has few medication side effects
By learning about asthma and how it can be controlled, you take an important step toward managing your child’s disease. We encourage you to work closely with your child’s asthma care team to learn all you can about asthma, how to avoid triggers, what medications do, and how to correctly give them. With proper care, your child can live free of asthma symptoms and maintain a normal, healthy lifestyle.
Will My Child Outgrow Asthma?
Once a person’s airways become sensitive (asthma), they remain that way for life. However, about 50% of children experience a noticeable decrease in asthma symptoms by the time they become adolescents, therefore appearing to have “outgrown” their asthma. About half of these children will develop symptoms again in their 30’s and/or 40’s. Unfortunately, there is no way to predict whose symptoms will decrease during adolescence and whose will return later in life.
What Do I Do When My Child Has an Asthma Attack?
If your child is showing symptoms of an asthma attack:
- Give your child his/her reliever (bronchodilator) medicine according to the asthma action plan.
- Wait five to fifteen minutes. If the symptoms disappear, your child should be able to resume whatever activity they were doing. If symptoms persist, follow your child’s asthma action plan for further therapy. If your child fails to improve or you are not sure what action to take, call your child’s physician.
- Danger signs are severe wheezing, severe coughing, trouble walking and/or talking or blue lips and/or fingernails. If any of these are present go to the emergency department or call 911.
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Headache
- Seven in 10 people have at least one headache a year
- The majority of headaches last for only a few hours, but some can persist for weeks
- Forty-five million Americans suffer from chronic headaches
- Headaches cost billions of dollars in lost productivity every year
With a headache, pain may occur in only one part of the head, such as above the eyes, or it may involve the entire head. The type of pain experienced varies; it may be constant and dull or sudden and sharp. And sometimes other symptoms, such as nausea, occur at the same time depending on the type of headache.
Three main types of headaches
Tension headaches typically feel like a tightening on both sides of the head. They can last for minutes or days, and can happen frequently. Tension headaches are often the result of stress or bad posture, which causes tightening of the muscles in the neck and the scalp. Tension headaches often worsen with noise and hot, stuffy environments. This type of headache occurs mostly in women over age 20.
Migraine headaches are intense and throbbing, often involve one side of the head, and can make you sensitive to light or noise. Migraines last from hours up to three days and are more common in women. Some sufferers have an “aura” (a group of visual symptoms) just before an attack. In the U.S. each year, about 25 million people experience a migraine. Migraine sufferers usually have their first attack before age 30, but they can also occur in children as young as age three. Migraines recur at intervals of varying length. Some people have attacks several times a month; others have less than one a year. Most people find that migraine attacks occur less frequently and become less severe as they get older. There are two types of migraine: migraine with an aura and migraine without aura. An aura is a group of symptoms that develop before the onset of the main headache.
Cluster headaches are non-throbbing and usually are felt on one side of the head behind an eye. Cluster headaches affect about 1 million people in the United States. More common in men, they can happen over several days and usually last 30 to 45 minutes. They generally occur between one and four times a day. Like migraines, cluster headaches are likely to be related to an increased blood flow as a result of the blood vessels in the brain widening.
What are the causes?
There are many possible causes of headache that determine the site and nature of the pain. About three in four of all headaches are caused by tension in the scalp and neck muscles. Very few headaches have serious underlying causes, but those that do require urgent medical attention. For example, a severe headache may be a sign of meningitis. In elderly people, a headache with tenderness of the scalp or temple may be due to temporal ateritis, in which blood vessels in the head become inflamed.
If you have a headache that lasts more than 24 hours and is severe, or accompanied by other symptoms, such as problems with vision or vomiting, medical help should be sought immediately.
What might your doctor do?
Your doctor may do a physical examination if he/she suspects an underlying disorder causing your headache. You may require tests such as a CT scan or a MRI of your brain.
 Source: http://www.doctorsforadults.com
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Planning on international travel?
Whether you are traveling for work or for pleasure, be sure to contact your internist if your journey will take you outside of the United States. You may require immunizations to protect you from infectious diseases common in the areas that you plan to visit, especially if your plans take you to developing countries.
As soon as you know your destinations, schedule an appointment with your internist. Timing is important because some vaccinations need time in your system before they reach full protection, or may require two or more shots administered over a couple of weeks.
Information your internist will need:
- Destination(s)
- Departure date
- Expected lengths of stay
- If you are, or may become, pregnant during your travel or within three months afterward
- If you are, or will be, breastfeeding during your travel or shortly after
- If you are under treatment for a chronic health condition, particularly HIV infection or other condition that compromises immune systems
- If you have already received the recommended “domestic” vaccinations:
- measles mumps rubella (MMR) at some time in your life
- tetanus and diphtheria (Td) booster within the past 10 years
- influenza (in the fall of each year)
- pneumococcal (for those at risk, every 10 years)
- varicella/chicken pox (two doses if you have never had chicken pox)
- Whether you have already received vaccinations for travel to this or other destinations during your adulthood.
In addition to providing the recommended immunizations, your internist can discuss other health concerns for travelers as well as provide a basic physical before your departure.
What immunizations might you need?
The immunizations you need depend on where you are going and what infectious diseases are prevalent in those areas. This information can change monthly, so it is important to talk to your internist even if you have traveled to your destination before. Some common immunizations include:
- Polio: one dose of the inactivated polio vaccine (IPV) for travelers over 18 who already received the oral polio vaccine or inactivated polio vaccine at some time in their lives. Needed for developing countries in Africa, Asia, Middle East, Indian subcontinent, and the majority of the new independent states in the former Soviet Union.
- Measles: for persons born after 1957. (This should be their second dose in a lifetime.)
- Yellow fever: needed for certain parts of Africa and South America.
- Hepatitis A and/or immune globulin: recommended for travelers to all areas except Japan, Australia, New Zealand, Northern and Western Europe, and North America (excluding Mexico).
- Hepatitis B: recommended for those spending more than six months in areas with a high rate of hepatitis B and who will have frequent close contact with local people.
- Typhoid: recommended for areas where food and water precautions are indicated, such as in developing countries.
- Meningococcal: needed for sub-Saharan Africa during the dry season (Dec. - June).
- Japanese encephalitis or tick-borne encephalitis: recommended for long-term travelers to areas of risk.
All of these vaccines can be safely administered at one physician visit except for yellow fever and cholera. (Immune globulin diminishes the effectiveness of live-virus MMR and varicella vaccines if given simultaneously.)
Remember: everyone is different. Be sure to talk to your internist for recommendations for your specific circumstances.
General health tips for travelers:
- Make sure you have an adequate supply of all your prescriptions, with enough for several extra days in case your return home is delayed. It’s also a good idea to leave the medications in their original containers (with labels) and to carry medications in your carry-on baggage
- Avoid uncooked foods while traveling (except for fruits and vegetables you have peeled yourself)
- Use bottled water - even to brush your teeth
- Bring:
- a spare pair of prescription glasses and/or contact lenses (or your written prescription)
- powdered Gatorade or oral rehydration salts (for diarrhea)
- insect repellant
- sunscreen
- hand sanitizer (moist wipes or liquid)
- Carry a list of allergies, medications and dosages, and health conditions in your wallet or purse
- Find out if you need proof of immunizations before being able to return to the United States from your destination (travel agents should have this information for you)
- Keep a personal record of the immunizations you get and when you received them. If you are a frequent traveler, this can save you from having to repeat immunizations unnecessarily.
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Source: http://www.doctorsforadults.com/
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I find myself a lot of times that I need to eat something, but I know I’m not hungry because I’ve just eaten an hour ago and I shouldn’t eat something else if I’m smart and I’m aware of my goal to lose fat. Sometimes I can win over this false hunger, but sometimes I don’t and I try to eat at least something that will bring valuable nutritions to my body. This is my top 15 fruits I have in mind when this is happening:
- Apples - 1 medium apple (80 calories, 0 g fat): An apple’s 3 g of fiber help you meet your fiber goal of 20 g to 30 g daily. High-fiber diets can lower heart disease risk;
- Apricots - 3 apricots (51 calories, 0 g fat): A good source of beta-carotene (which is converted to vitamin A by the body), providing the equivalent of 35% of the RDA for vitamin A;
- Bananas - 1 medium (105 calories, 0 g fat): Bananas are a great source of potassium, which plays a key role in heart health and muscle function. Plus each one has 2 g of fiber;
- Blackberries - 1 cup (74 calories, 0 g fat): This fruit boasts a whopping 10 g of fiber in a single cup;
- Blueberries - 1 cup (81 calories, 0 g fat): Blueberries help prevent and treat bladder infections by making it hard for bacteria to stick to urinary tract walls;
- Cherries - 1 cup (84 calories, 1 g fat): A good source of perillyl alcohol, which helps prevent cancer in animals. Heart-protective anthocyanins give cherries their color;
- Grapefruits - 1/2 fruit (39 calories, 0 g fat): A good source of vitamin C and a compound called naringenin, which helps suppress tumors in animals;
- Kiwi - 1 medium (46 calories, 0 g fat): Just one little fruit packs a mean vitamin-C punch (74 mg) and an impressive 2.8 g fiber;
- Mangoes - 1 mango (135 calories, 1 g fat): A single mango has enough beta-carotene to cover your RDA for vitamin A while racking up 57 mg of vitamin C;
- Oranges fruits- 1 orange (61 calories, 0 g fat): One orange provides an impressive 50 mg to 70 mg of vitamin C, 40 mcg of folic acid and 52 mg of calcium;
- Papayas - 1 cup, cubed (55 calories, 0 g fat): Loaded with vitamin C (86 mg per cup), a healthy dose of fiber (2.5 g) and a sprinkling of beta-carotene and calcium;
- Purple grapes - 1 small (113 calories, 9 g fat):Offer three heart-guarding compounds: flavonoids, anthocyanins and resveratrol (green grapes are not rich in them);
- Prunes - 1/3 cup, stewed (87 calories, 0 g fat): Prunes’ famed laxative effect is no mystery: There are 5 g of fiber (both soluble and insoluble) in just 1/3 cup;
- Raspberries - 1 cup (60 calories, 0 g fat): Teeming with 8 g of fiber per cup, they also boast vitamin C, ellagic acid and anthocyanins;
- Strawberries - 1 cup, sliced (50 calories, 0 g fat): Strawberries have high levels of ellagic acid and anthocyanins, and are rich in vitamin C (95 mg per cup) and fiber (3.8 g per cup).
Reference : http://dietmotion.com/top-15-healthiest-fruits.html
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52 Proven Stress Reducers
1. Get up fifteen minutes earlier in the morning. The inevitable morning mishaps will be less stressful.
2. Prepare for the morning the evening before. Set the breakfast table. Make lunches. Put out the clothes you plan to wear, etc.
3. Don’t rely on your memory. Write down appointment times, when to pick up the laundry, when library books are due, etc. (”The palest ink is better than the most retentive memory.”- Old Chinese Proverb)
4. Do nothing you have to lie about later.
5. Make copies of all keys. Bury a house key in a secret spot in the garden. Carry a duplicate car key in your wallet, apart from your key ring.
6. Practice preventive maintenance. Your car, appliances, home and relationships will be less likely to break down “at the worst possible moment.”
7. Be prepared to wait. A paperback book can make a wait in a post office line almost pleasant.
8. Procrastination is stressful. Whatever you want to do tomorrow, do today; whatever you want to do today, do it now.
9. Plan ahead. Don’t let the gas tank get below onequarter full, keep a well- stocked “emergency shelf” of home staples, don’t wait until you’re down to your last bus token or postage stamp to buy more, etc.
10. Don’t put up with something that doesn’t work right. If your alarm clock wallet, shoe laces, windshield wipers-whatever-are a constant aggravation, get them fixed or get new ones.
11. Allow 15 minutes of extra time to get to appointments. Plan to arrive at an airport one hour before domestic departures.
12. Eliminate (or restrict) the amount of caffeine in your diet.
13. Always set up contingency plans, “just in case.” (”If for some reason either of us is delayed, here’s what we’ll do…” Or, “If we get split up in the shopping center, here’s where we’ll meet.”)
14. Relax your standards. The world will not end if the grass doesn’t get mowed this weekend.
15. Pollyanna-Power! For every one thing that goes wrong, there are probably 10 or 50 or 100 blessings. Count ‘em!
16. Ask questions. Taking a few moments to repeat back the directions that someone expects of you, etc., can save hours. (The old “the hurrieder I go, the behinder I get” idea.)
17. Say “No!” Saying no to extra projects, social activities and invitations you know you don’t have the time or energy for takes practice, self-respect and a belief that everyone, everyday, needs quiet time to relax and to be alone.
18. Unplug your phone. Want to take a long bath, meditate, sleep or read without interruption? Drum up the courage to temporarily disconnect.
(The possibility of there being a terrible emergency in the next hour or so is almost nil.)
19. Turn “needs” into preferences. Our basic physical needs translate into food, water, and keeping warm. Everything else is a preference. Don’t get attached to preferences.
20. Simplify, simplify, simplify.
21. Make friends with nonworriers. Chronic worrywarts are contagious.
22. Take many stretch breaks when you sit a lot.
23. If you can’t find quiet at home, wear earplugs.
24. Get enough sleep. Set your alarm for bedtime.
25. Organize! A place for everything and everything in its place. Losing things is stressful.
26. Monitor your body for stress signs. If your stomach muscles are knotted and your breathing is shallow, relax your muscles and take some deep, slow breaths.
27. Write your thoughts and feelings down on paper. It can help you clarify and give you a renewed perspective.
28. Do this yoga exercise when you need to relax: Inhale through your nose to the count of eight. Pucker your lips and exhale slowly to the count of 16. Concentrate on the long sighing sound and feel the tension dissolve. Repeat 10 times.
29. Visualize success before any experience you fear. Take time to go over every part of the event in your mind. Imagine how great you will look, and how well you will present yourself.
30. If the stress of deadlines gets in the way of doing a job, use diversion. Take your mind off the task and you will focus better when you’re on task.
31. Talk out your problems with a friend. It helps to relieve confusion.
32. Avoid people and places that don’t fit your personal needs and desires. If you hate politics, don’t spend time with politically excited people.
33. Learn to live one day at a time.
34. Everyday, do something you really enjoy.
35. Add an ounce of love to everything you do.
36. Take a bath or shower to relieve tension.
37. Do a favor for someone every day.
38. Focus on understanding rather than on being under stood, on loving rather than on being loved.
39. Looking good makes you feel better.
40. Take more time between tasks to relax. Schedule a realistic day.
41. Be flexible. Some things are not worth perfection.
42. Stop negative self-talk: “I’m too fat, too old, etc…”
43. Change pace on weekends. If your week was slow, be active. If you felt nothing was accomplished during the week, do a weekend project.
44. “Worry about the pennies, and the dollars will take care of themselves.” Pay attention to the details in front of you.
45. Do one thing at a time. When you are working on one thing, don’t think about everything else you have to do.
46. Allow time every day for privacy, quiet and thinking.
47. Do unpleasant tasks early and enjoy the rest of the day.
48. Delegate responsibility to capable people.
49. Take lunch breaks. Get away from your work in body and in mind.
50. Count to 1,000, not 10, before you say something that could make matters worse.
51. Forgive people and events. Accept that we live in an imperfect world.
52. Have an optimistic view of the world. Most people do the best they can.
Reference : Here
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