As a mom, I know I have uttered that sentence thousands of times.  Maybe millions.  As my kids have gotten older, there has been less need to say it, except when someone in our house is sick.

While washing hands is not a guarantee that the illness will be contained to one person, it definitely helps.  In our household, it usually is one of the kids who gets sick.  So, once there is a fever or a stomach ache or headache present, I usually begin to remind everyone to wash their hands.  Additionally, the sick person is given a towel specifically for him or her in one of the bathrooms.  No one else uses that towel, it is the designated “Sick Person Towel”.  Although this method is not perfect, there have been very few illnesses that have spread beyond one person in our house.

Of course, just running your hands under cold water won’t satisfy the mom request of “Wash Your Hands.”  As I am not a medical professional, I decided not to deliver an unofficial lecture on proper handwashing, but rather decided it would be best to share the advice given by the Centers for Disease Control:

• Wet your hands with clean running water and apply soap. Use warm water if it is available.
• Rub hands together to make a lather and scrub all surfaces.
• Continue rubbing hands for 15-20 seconds. Need a timer? Imagine singing “Happy Birthday” twice through to a friend.
• Rinse hands well under running water.
• Dry your hands using a paper towel or air dryer. If possible, use your paper towel to turn off the faucet.*
• Always use soap and water if your hands are visibly dirty.

*In your own home a fabric towel is fine.

Ever heard of this stuff? It is called Airborne, and my roommate swears by this “stuff” whenever she thinks that she is about to get sick. Airborne is a drug-free formula that was developed by a second grade teacher at Spreckels Elementary School near Carmel, California. With all of the sick elementary kids around all of the time and her busy lifestyle, she wanted to make something that would support her immune system. After talking to herbalists, specialists, nutrition experts and more, she was able to come up with a formula that eventually would become the leading herbal supplement in retail drugstores, supermarkets and mass merchant retailers nationwide.

The Airborne that my roommate uses comes in a tablet format that you are supposed to dissolve in 4-6 ounces of hot or cold water. I personally think they taste good without the water (I will admit that I have licked the tablet before putting it in a glass) but that the taste is a little weak when it is dissolved–as if it were water with a small squeeze of lime. However, there are different flavors such as Zesty Orange, Lemon-Lime, Pink Grapefruit, and Very Berry.

What is in Airborne that makes it such an immune system booster? Well this dietary supplement has so much packed into one tablet that I do not even know where to begin. It is a special blend of zinc, ginger, echinacea and 13 other vitamins, minerals and herbs. Some of the vitamins it contains are vitamin A, vitamin C, and vitamin E. It also contains selenium, manganese, magnesium, riboflavin, amino acids, and more.  It has also been studied by scientific studies and medical journals and has been shown to support the immune system. It is safe and meets the rigorous safety standards of the Dietary Health and Supplement Act (DSHEA) and the Federal Food, Drug and Cosmetic Act.

You can get Airborne at a variety of stores such as Walgreens, Walmart, CVS, BJ’s, Costco, Trader Joe’s, and more. The average price for a pack of 12 tablets is seven dollars. It may be mental, but I do believe that Airborne is a great natural way to help boost your immune system when you are starting to feel sick.

A hangover, that sick feeling you get in the morning after a night of partying and drinking, is a natural consequence of having consumed too much alcohol. What is the best way to handle it? There are a lot of myths about how to get rid of a hangover, which do not really help and may even worsen the condition of the person suffering from hangover, so it is important to learn about the myths and understand why they don’t work.

The best way to handle a hangover is to understand its nature. The sick feeling, the nausea, the vomiting, the thirst, and the splitting headache that a person having a hangover experiences is caused primarily by dehydration. The ethanol in alcoholic drinks has a dehydrating effect on the body. Alcohol also causes a lower than normal level of blood glucose, which contributes to the bad feeling during the hangover.

The first step in getting rid of a hangover is to address the primary cause–the dehydration. Drink a lot of water to help replenish the water in your body. Do not take pain relievers because they won’t help you; some medications like acetaminophen may even worsen the bad feelings and cause damage to your liver.

Contrary to what you’ve seen in movie scenes and what other people say, never consume coffee. Why? Coffee is a diuretic, it contributes to  dehydration–the last thing that a person suffering from a hangover needs. Eat fruits instead, like bananas, which help in replenishing the lost electrolytes and potassium in your body. Banana is rich in potassium and other nutrients. Drinking natural fruit juice will help also. Eat eggs, poached, hard-boiled,etc. The cysteine in eggs helps in breaking down acetaldehyde, the toxin associated with alcohol metabolism and hangovers.

Take a hot shower, it has a relaxing effect on the body and will help you sleep through the worst of the hangover period.

But, of course, the best cure is prevention. If you can prevent a hangover (by not consuming too much alcohol), then do it. If it is unavoidable during a night of partying, you can use the previous tips.  Also, before you go to sleep after partying and drinking, try to drink a lot of water, it will help lessen the dehydration that’s caused by the alcohol you’ve ingested.

Most of us have heard about the swine flu outbreak in Mexico that has killed dozens, and now we are hearing about reports of swine flu cases in the United States. As reports of swine flu infection continue to rise, we can not help but be alarmed. The World Health Organization even called the swine flu outbreak in Mexico a “public health emergency of international concern.” What is swine flu? How do we protect ourselves from being infected with swine influenza? How is it transmitted? These are just some of the questions that are playing in our heads right now.  So here are some quick facts about swine flu:

Swine flu, or swine influenza, is a disease that affects the respiratory system; it is caused by the Orthomyxoviruses or a certain strain of the type A influenza virus. Although  endemic in pigs, Orthomyxoviruses can be transmitted to humans. Those who are in contact with pigs with the virus are most likely to get the disease.  There are also cases of human-to-human transmission, which was the case in Mexico.  The severity of swine influenza in humans could vary: it could be mild, or it could be severe and could lead to death.

A person who has swine flu can infect other people through coughing and sneezing. Experts also believe that it is possible to be infected just by touching a contaminated surface. The symptoms of swine flu are very much like that of the common influenza: cough, fever, fatigue, sore throat, headache, and chills. Diarrhea and vomiting also can be experienced. Swine flu can lead to pneumonia and respiratory failure, which can lead to death.

Experts recommend antiviral drugs like oseltamivir or zanavimir as treatment for swine flu. Antiviral drugs work by keeping the virus from reproducing inside the body. Antiviral drugs can be most effective when taken by the patient 48 hours after symptoms are experienced.

Even though the common cold and the flu may have similar symptoms they are two very different conditions. It is very easy to mistake one from the other. However, the cold is much milder than the flu. Although the common cold is mild, it is the leading cause of doctor’s visits, missed days off from school and work.

The common cold is an upper respiratory infection caused by a virus. You can catch a cold from another person (members of your family, friends, co-workers, people you have never meet before in a restaurant or supermarket) or objects such as a keyboard, mouse, doorknob, or eating utensils.

The symptoms of a cold develop slowly, usually two or three days after a person has been infected with a cold virus. Colds, which usually about two weeks, include these symptoms:

• Stuffy, runny, sneezing nose (secretions can be yellow or green)
• Sore throat
• Cough

The flu is a very contagious respiratory illness caused by influenza A or B viruses. You can catch the flu during the winter months and early spring. The flu virus attacks both upper and lower respiratory tract.

Flu symptoms might be similar to that of a cold, but with the flu you are more likely to run a high fever for several days. Usually, complications from colds are minor, but with the flu they can become a life-threatening illness, such as pneumonia. Flu symptoms can appear suddenly and can include:

• Fever over 102 degrees
• Stuffy nose
• Nausea
• Chills and sweats
• Extreme fatigue, your body aches
• Cough
• Headache
• Loss of appetite

The common cold and flu are both contagious viral infections of the respiratory tract, but the flu is worse than the cold. The cold can drag you down but with the flu you don’t even want to get out of bed!

It seems as if fall only just started, but most of the leaves already have fallen and winter is just around the corner. Temperatures will continue to drop, and most of us will be seeing more snowfall in the upcoming weeks. With the many tidings of winter come the proneness of ailments. As many of us know, the common cold is not directly caused by cold temperatures, rather the spread of the germs, yet the temperature is what really drives the quick spread of germs. Our immune systems become weaker in the cold, and as a result, we frequently stay indoors, meeting and greeting with other germs. This winter, fight the cold weather, and stay on top of your health by keeping your immune system strong:

• Bundle up. The cold beats down upon your immune system and the easiest way to counter this is simply to stay warm. Don’t hesitate to put on the extra layers, and add your scarf and mittens!
• Be more alert of getting the right vitamins and minerals to help your immune system. Keep many fruits and vegetables in your diet. If you’re having trouble eating that cold apple or carrot on a cold day, try to think of warmer recipes. Vegetable soups are great, and baked apples can make magnificent desserts. Taking vitamin and mineral supplements isn’t a bad idea, but you should not use them to replace healthy fresh foods.
• Improve your hygiene habits. Covering your coughs and washing your hands more often will be the best way to prevent the spread of germs. When you use a tissue, throw it out immediately.
• Overlooked ways to keep your immune system strong are to stay active and get enough sleep. As long as you put on some extra layers and be extra careful on the road, running is a good option, but you may want to consider indoor alternatives. Dust off that treadmill or perhaps take up dancing! Being active keeps your immune system at its peak, but don’t forget, you need rest as well. Missing out on sleep attacks your immune system just as much as cold weather.
• Let the fresh air in. Even if it’s cold outside, open your windows each day to freshen up the air in your home.

It’s about that time again–flu season.

Did you know that every year (on average), 5%-20% of the United State’s population gets the flu while more than 200,000 people are hospitalized, and 36,000 people die from the flu.

What is the flu? The flu is a contagious respiratory illness caused by the influenza virus. It can cause mild to severe illness, and it can cause death. In order to protect yourself from this serious disease, you need to take certain precautions.

One of the most effective ways to prevent the flu is by getting a flu vaccination. You should get your yearly flu vaccination around September or whenever your hospital first offers it. There are two types of vaccination. One is called the flu shot. This is an inactivated vaccine that is given with a needle. The other is the nasal-spray flu vaccine which is made with live, weakened flu viruses that can be given to people 2-49 years old who are healthy and not pregnant.

You should not be vaccinated if you are allergic to chicken eggs, if you have had reactions to influenza vaccinations before, if you have the Guillain-Barre syndrome, if you are less than six months old, or if you are sick.

Being vaccinated is important because it is fairly easy to catch this disease. It is spread person to person via coughing and sneezing. People can infect others even one day before the symptoms develop and even 5 days after you become sick–so you must be careful. For instance, maintain healthy habits, such as washing your hands frequently.

Some of the symptoms of the flu include: fever, headaches, extreme tiredness, dry cough, sore throat, stuffy nose, muscle aches, or various stomach symptoms. Should you be experiencing any of these symptoms, you should contact your doctor as soon as possible.

Garlic has long been prized as a natural remedy. Garlic contains allicins, which have natural antibiotic properties. It doesn’t just ward off vampires, it can kick out a cold and cure an ear infection! It’s tasty, cheap, and generally safe for home use. Health Eagle has discussed garlic and heart health before, and now we offer you some old fashioned home remedies, as well.

Can garlic cure the common cold? Many researchers are now saying chicken soup will help you survive a cold, and garlic has been fingered as the reason why. An old home remedy for coughs is to crush one clove of fresh garlic into a spoonful of honey or vinegar. Take in the morning, and then again at night. You should be sniffle free in a day or so.

The honey does a good job of masking the taste, but you still shouldn’t try it on an empty stomach. The vinegar will take some of the bite out of garlic. Take your pick – sweet or sour!

Another effective home remedy, supported only by decades of anecdotal evidence, is garlic oil. To make garlic oil, simply put some olive oil in a pan, and crush a few cloves of garlic into it. Gently heat the mixture and cook for a few minutes, then let it cool and steep for several hours. Strain the oil and keep it in the fridge. Garlic oil is used topically on fungal infections, such as athlete’s foot, or as ear drops to cure an earache. It’s pretty potent stuff, so don’t use it on broken skin or if you have eczema!

Eating garlic seems to be helpful as well, so if you do get a scratchy throat or drippy nose, make some garlic bread, a plate of pasta, and feel better soon!

]]> http://www.healtheagle.com/garlic-natures-remedy/feed/ 4 http://www.healtheagle.com/common-headache-types/ http://www.healtheagle.com/common-headache-types/#comments Tue, 16 Sep 2008 13:00:06 +0000 Rosanne Lorraine http://www.healtheagle.com/?p=139

Headaches are a common health problem in any part of the world. It is likely that every single person will experience a headache at one time or another during the course of his life. But it is important to realize that not all headaches are the same. Some headaches are mild while some are painful enough to make a patient bang her head against a wall.

Anything that stimulates the body’s pain receptors in the neck and head can cause a headache to occur. Some causes include:

Injuries to the neck

Muscle tension

Dental problems

High blood pressure

Eye strain

Disorders in the nose, ears, or throat.

Basically, headaches can be categorized in two groups: primary and secondary. Primary headaches include cluster headaches and migraines. Meanwhile, secondary headaches usually are caused by another disorder, such as injury or infection. Pain is felt when some structures in the head, like the nerves at the head and neck, the muscle and skin, the arteries that leads to the brain, or the sinuses, become inflamed.

Primary Headache

Tension headache – this is noted to be the most common form of headache. It feels like pressure is being pressed around your head. Tension headaches can be caused by both physical and emotional stress associated with lifestyle changes.

Migraine headache – it occurs more frequently in women compared to men. Hormones are observed to play a crucial role in its occurrence. You will feel a throbbing sensation in your head when you have a migraine headache. In addition, it has been associated with the spasms of blood vessels that go to your brain.

Secondary Headache

Some people break out into hives if they have to go to see their dentist in Manchester.

They are red unsightly raised area’s on the skin that itch. They can also cause swelling to different area’s of the body such as the lips and hands. Hives, also referred to as urticaria generally occur after an allergic reaction has been triggered. These triggers can be caused by almost anything from plants to pets, mold, mildew and food. Foods such as eggs, milk, shellfish, nuts, aspirin and food preservatives are high on the list of things that can cause a reaction. Other factors like detergents, latex gloves, perfumes and pet dander can also trigger an allergic reaction that often leads to hives if the person is exposed to the allergen again and again. For the majority of people it is not anything in particular that causes the chronic hives. Roughly about 95% of chronic hives cases, the hives are idiopathic, this is a term (a medical term meaning that there is no discernible cause for the hives. Because many of the remaining 5% of cases that have a cause, it is worthwhile to see a physician to determine if any underlying disease is present. This can be accomplished with a physical, as well as a few blood and urine tests. Antihistamines like Benadryl will often help ease the allergies. In many cases a person may have to receive shots and cortisone treatments. The danger in hives is that if they reach a persons throat, breathing becomes labored and death can occur without proper treatment. It is always best to discuss with your physician the best treatment for you as no two hive sufferers are alike.

To learn more about hives you can also look in a health directory.