Primarily caused by infection or allergy, conjunctivitis, better known as "pink eye," is the most common form of eye irritation. It is an inflammation of the white of the eye and eyelid lining, or, technically, inflammation of the conjunctiva, the transparent membrane that lines the inner eyelids and sheaths the globe of the eye. When the eye becomes irritated or infected, the tiny blood vessels dilate and turn red.
Symptoms
• redness in the eye
• a burning sensation
• sensitivity to light
• dryness
• grittiness sensation
• pain
• itchy, scratchy feeling
• watering of the eyes
• sometimes a sticky discharge that may cause eyelashes and eyelids to become stuck together while you are asleep
The eyes are red and swollen and seem to be filled with sand. Before you treat conjunctivitis, rule out other eye problems with similar symptoms, such as allergies, irritation from chemicals (especially chlorine in pools), and exposure to cigarette smoke and smog. Generally, mild cases of conjunctivitis should go away in several days without treatment; however, it may be uncomfortable, so the remedies discussed below should prove helpful.
Causes
• Bacterial (staph or strep), usually from hand-to-eye contact, and viral infections associated with a cold, sore throat, cold sore or measles, are causes for most conjunctivitis. Viral conjunctivitis tends to clear up of its own accord. Bacterial conjunctivitis produces a yellowish discharge that becomes crusty when you sleep. If the bacterial infection doesn't clear up after four days of using the compresses and other remedies listed below consult your doctor.
• Overuse of nonprescription eyedrops used to soothe your eyes has recently been discovered as one of the triggers of conjunctivitis. Many over-the-counter eyedrops contain decongestants that help shrink swollen blood vessels in the eyes. Allergic reaction to these ingredients can trigger conjunctivitis. With continued use, you may experience a "rebound" effect, where your eyes will get redder and sorer - just the opposite of what you are trying to do. Look for an alternative without the decongestants, preferably saline drops, also known as "artificial tears."
• A deficiency of vitamin A may leave you more susceptible to infections and other eye problems.
• Allergies can cause persistent eye irritation. If you get conjunctivitis frequently, it is most likely an allergy, usually from certain foods. Modifying your diet will help both conditions. Conjunctivitis caused by allergies will cause puffy eyelids and leave the eyes red, with a gritty feeling, but there will be no discharge.
• Allergic rhinitis, can be seasonal (hay fever), due to pollen, or year-round, due to house dust, molds or pets. Having itchy, watery eyes, and stringy (clear, not crusty) pus are common symptoms. The eyelids are often swollen. In this case, use an antihistamine and a cool compress to relieve the itching.
• Contact lens use may be a cause of infection. The lenses may trap particles in the eye or the lenses may be worn too long, causing irritation. Poor hygiene may cause infection, so make sure you follow proper storage procedures and clean your lenses very well and wash your hands before touching your lenses. Some people are allergic to contact lens cleaning solutions, especially those containing the preservative Thiomersal.
• Certain illnesses, such as measles, may trigger conjunctivitis.
• Some sexually transmitted diseases can cause conjunctivitis.
• The inside of the eyelids may develop bumps which cause irritation and the eyes will become bloodshot. There may be a feeling that there is a foreign body in your eye.
• Foreign substance in the eye.
• Cosmetics, such as mascara.
• Injury to the eye.
Tips
• Conjunctivitis is highly contagious, so don't share towels, pillows, or washcloths with someone else.
• Change your pillowcase frequently.
• If you get conjunctivitis or other eye irritations frequently, we suggest you boost your immune system to help ward off infections.
• Wash towels and bedding frequently.
• Needless to say, keep your fingers out of your eyes!
• Wash your hands before and after touching your eyes, preferably with antibacterial soap.
• If the conjunctivitis comes at the same time as a cold sore, check with your doctor to make sure the herpes virus has not infected your eye. This is very important.
• If you use makeup, discard any you were using when you got conjunctivitis, as it is probably contaminated and is an easy way to spread it to your other eye.
• Look for berberine as an ingredient in herbal or commercial eyewashes. It is antibacterial and is quite effective against both staph and strep infections, two major causes of conjunctivitis.
• If you normally wear contact lenses, switching to glasses will help the infection clear up faster. The contacts hold the germs in the eye and are also irritating to the eye.
• If you go out in bright sunlight, wear sunglasses. Sunlight irritates pink eye.
Supplements and the Immune System
As with any infection, you will need to enhance your immune system to fight the infection. You may want to take the following supplements:
PCO, also known as OPC, (oligomeric proanthocyanidin) is a very powerful antioxidant derived from pine bark needles or grape seeds. It works as an anti-inflammatory and against allergic reactions. When taken with vitamin C, the PCO enhances its effectiveness. The PCO will enhance healthy tissue growth. Take 100 mg 2x daily.
Vitamin A 100,000 IU daily for up to a month (do not exceed 10,000 IU if you are pregnant). This will enhance your immune system.
Vitamin C 2-6,000 mg daily in divided doses. Vitamin C promotes healing.
Zinc 50 mg daily. Also enhances the immune system.
The best approach to treat conjunctivitis is to keep the eye as clean as possible and wash the infection away using one of the eyewashes mentioned below. It may take a few days, but following these tips should clear it up.
Making Eyewashes
Boil the water for 10 minutes to sterilize it, then follow the directions for making an eyewash. Be sure to sterilize the eyecup or eyedropper for 10 minutes in boiling water before each use. Also, do not use either the eyecup or the eyewash in both eyes; use fresh eyewash and sterilize the eyecup again. Conjunctivitis is very contagious, so you must take all precautions to keep from spreading it. Using one of the eyewash remedies below, strain the mixture through a coffee filter, a gauze pad or cheesecloth. Put the eyewash into the eyecup and lower your eye to the cup; roll your eye around and blink so that the wash will coat the entire eye. Keep the eye immersed for a minute.
Using Compresses
• Using a compress will soothe the eye. To make a compress, use a cotton pad or very clean cloth. Choose a remedy discussed below and apply a compress for at least 10 minutes as often as needed.
• One of the easiest remedies to use is the warm or cold water compress. Put a warm compress over the eyes to soothe them and prevent the sticky discharge from drying on the lashes, and a cold one to shrink the swelling and reduce the itchiness. Do this for five minutes three or four times a day.
• Many of the bacteria that cause conjunctivitis don't like heat, so a hot compress will be helpful. Use a hot compress three to four times a day, but test the temperature before putting it over the eye to make sure it isn't too hot.
CAUTION: You may have an eye condition called iritis or uveitis, an inflammation of the iris. Do this simple test to see if you have conjunctivitis or iritis: cover the inflamed eye with your hand and shine a penlight or flashlight directly in to your good eye for three seconds. If you do not feel any pain, you probably have pinkeye. If you do feel pain in your covered eye, you probably have iritis and should see your doctor at once. By shining the light in to your good eye, the pupils of both eyes will contract, and pain will generally indicate that you have iritis.
See Your Doctor
• If you don't have iritis and your problem continues for three or four days with little improvement. Conjunctivitis can lead to potentially serious eye damage.
• If you have severe pain or blurred vision, go to your doctor at once.
• If the discharge becomes worse.
• If the redness is due to an eye injury.
Conjunctivitis should clear up by itself in a few days to two weeks, depending on the cause and severity. The remedies listed below will soothe the pain and itching and speed the healing process.
source:health911.com
To be continued..............
Monday, January 26, 2009
Friday, January 23, 2009
HEADACHE HOME REMEDIES-2
You don't necessarily need a doctor's prescription to treat your headaches. Here are some ways you can find relief, without medication:
Apply an ice pack to the painful area of your head. Try placing it on your forehead, temples, or the back of your neck.
Take a warm bath or shower; take a nap; or take a walk.
Ask someone to rub your neck and back, or treat yourself to a massage.
Apply gentle, steady rotating pressure to the painful area of your head with your index finger and/or thumb. Maintain pressure for 7-15 seconds, then release. Repeat as needed.
Rest, sit, or lie quietly in a low-lit room. Close your eyes and try to release the tension in your back, neck, and shoulders.
If you have excessive muscle contractions in the neck, physical therapy exercises performed daily are often helpful.
Headache home remedy treatment is quite effective. Following are some head ache cure home remedies. Read on for home remedy for headache:
Apples are beneficial in curing headache problem. Eat an apple with a little salt on an empty stomach everyday and see its wonderful effects.
In case of headaches caused by sun radiations, flowers of henna are found effective. Rub the henna flowers in vinegar and apply it all over your head. This home remedy will give instant relief.
When headache is caused by cold winds, cinnamon works best in curing headache. Make a paste of cinnamon by mixing in water and apply it all over your forehead.
source:webmd.com and iloveindia.com
Apply an ice pack to the painful area of your head. Try placing it on your forehead, temples, or the back of your neck.
Take a warm bath or shower; take a nap; or take a walk.
Ask someone to rub your neck and back, or treat yourself to a massage.
Apply gentle, steady rotating pressure to the painful area of your head with your index finger and/or thumb. Maintain pressure for 7-15 seconds, then release. Repeat as needed.
Rest, sit, or lie quietly in a low-lit room. Close your eyes and try to release the tension in your back, neck, and shoulders.
If you have excessive muscle contractions in the neck, physical therapy exercises performed daily are often helpful.
Headache home remedy treatment is quite effective. Following are some head ache cure home remedies. Read on for home remedy for headache:
Apples are beneficial in curing headache problem. Eat an apple with a little salt on an empty stomach everyday and see its wonderful effects.
In case of headaches caused by sun radiations, flowers of henna are found effective. Rub the henna flowers in vinegar and apply it all over your head. This home remedy will give instant relief.
When headache is caused by cold winds, cinnamon works best in curing headache. Make a paste of cinnamon by mixing in water and apply it all over your forehead.
source:webmd.com and iloveindia.com
Wednesday, January 21, 2009
HEADACHE HOME REMEDIES-1
Your Uncle Joe has headache home remedies. Your Mom has headache home remedies. But what if you could ask every Uncle and Mom in the world?! That's what we've done as we bring you 5 categories of the best remedies out there.
If you want relief from your migraine, headache from migraine, or other headache, experiment. Try combinations. Remember, nothing works for everyone - you're an individual! :) Let's get started to soothe your headache pain...
* Below are some of the best home remedies for headaches from migraine and other types, but we've collected even more for specifically for tension headache. Check out these home remedies for tension headache too...
Headache home remedy #1 - Aromatherapy
This is one of the most powerful of the headache home remedies. It's somewhat different for everyone, because everyone associates different types of smells with different things. However, there are some aromas that stand out from the crowd as headache killers: peppermint, sandlewood (my favourite), lavender, and eucalyptus. Try each of these, and combinations. Use essential oils for massage, or use candles or soaps.
Be careful – many companies sell products with these names now that are cheap and may only make your headache worse. Start with quality items, which means the purest essential oils you can find.
Try this – make a compress by putting 5 drops of lavender essential oil in cold (or warm) water. Swish around a soft cloth, then put it on your head or neck.
Headache home remedy #2: Exercise
We all know that regular exercise helps us cope with pain. It's especially effective for people with migraine. Some even find that mild exercise during a migraine helps alleviate the pain. Remember, though – ease into it! Sudden changes can make your migraine worse, and that isn't what we're going for here! :-)
Try: 1/2 hour walk a day, or a brisk walk outdoors when you get a headache.
Exercise can also help release the body's natural painkillers, endorphins.
Headache home remedy #3: Massage
Now that you've got your essential oils, this is another great thing to do with them! Not only does massage stimulate and relax, touch itself is one of the greatest healers.
Try this: with or without peppermint, eucalyptus or lavender oil: Have someone kneed across your shoulders and the back of the neck. Next, have them press on the base of your skull with their fingers, and slowly release.
This you can even do yourself: rotate your fingers over your scalp. Put pressure on the webbed part of your hand between your finger and thumb (really). Also great for migraine, believe it or not, is foot massage. Massage is a skill that may change your life. There are some excellent books out there, and one of the best is Massage Made Easy (one of the best headache home remedies) by Mario-Paul Cassar, which contains excellent self-massage too.
What about reflexology for migraine?
Headache home remedy #4: Heat and cold
For some people with headache it's one, with some it's another. Experiment, but avoid extremes, which can make things worse! Try a cold pack wrapped in a couple layers of towel on your neck. One of my favourites is putting your hands in hot water, which seems to pull the pressure out of your head. It's also a good excuse to do the dishes before your headache gets much worse! :-)
Headache home remedy #5: The other stuff
Much has been said about diet and herbs, which are important to migraine and various types of headache. Read about herbs for headaches here, and more specifically feverfew, as well as food headache home remedies. Magnesium has been linked to migraine, so you may want to check out ways to boost your magnesium levels.
DLPA is another remarkable new supplement which may be ideal for those suffering from chronic pain of many kinds.
Another headache home remedies theory is all about magnetism and ions, but suffice to say that a room with a humidifier or a walk on a bridge over troubled water provides relief for many people. Giving up smoking is a good (but hard!) one. Getting up at the same time every day is VERY important for people like me ("weekend headaches" often attack those who sleep in on weekends). Buckwheat pillows for many people (including me) go a long way toward relieving the pain, because they cool things off and provide much needed support. I like eye pillows with flax seed as well.
One treatment that can be either done in a clinic or at home is biofeedback. Click the link for more!
You can find information about coping with migraines at HealingWell.com.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
For a good overview of migraine natural treatment, try the book 25 Natural Ways to Relieve Headaches : A Mind-Body Approach to Health and Well-Being by Romy Fox. It's a great handbook to have on your shelf when you need a quick description of a natural treatment.
source:relieve-migraine-headache.com
If you want relief from your migraine, headache from migraine, or other headache, experiment. Try combinations. Remember, nothing works for everyone - you're an individual! :) Let's get started to soothe your headache pain...
* Below are some of the best home remedies for headaches from migraine and other types, but we've collected even more for specifically for tension headache. Check out these home remedies for tension headache too...
Headache home remedy #1 - Aromatherapy
This is one of the most powerful of the headache home remedies. It's somewhat different for everyone, because everyone associates different types of smells with different things. However, there are some aromas that stand out from the crowd as headache killers: peppermint, sandlewood (my favourite), lavender, and eucalyptus. Try each of these, and combinations. Use essential oils for massage, or use candles or soaps.
Be careful – many companies sell products with these names now that are cheap and may only make your headache worse. Start with quality items, which means the purest essential oils you can find.
Try this – make a compress by putting 5 drops of lavender essential oil in cold (or warm) water. Swish around a soft cloth, then put it on your head or neck.
Headache home remedy #2: Exercise
We all know that regular exercise helps us cope with pain. It's especially effective for people with migraine. Some even find that mild exercise during a migraine helps alleviate the pain. Remember, though – ease into it! Sudden changes can make your migraine worse, and that isn't what we're going for here! :-)
Try: 1/2 hour walk a day, or a brisk walk outdoors when you get a headache.
Exercise can also help release the body's natural painkillers, endorphins.
Headache home remedy #3: Massage
Now that you've got your essential oils, this is another great thing to do with them! Not only does massage stimulate and relax, touch itself is one of the greatest healers.
Try this: with or without peppermint, eucalyptus or lavender oil: Have someone kneed across your shoulders and the back of the neck. Next, have them press on the base of your skull with their fingers, and slowly release.
This you can even do yourself: rotate your fingers over your scalp. Put pressure on the webbed part of your hand between your finger and thumb (really). Also great for migraine, believe it or not, is foot massage. Massage is a skill that may change your life. There are some excellent books out there, and one of the best is Massage Made Easy (one of the best headache home remedies) by Mario-Paul Cassar, which contains excellent self-massage too.
What about reflexology for migraine?
Headache home remedy #4: Heat and cold
For some people with headache it's one, with some it's another. Experiment, but avoid extremes, which can make things worse! Try a cold pack wrapped in a couple layers of towel on your neck. One of my favourites is putting your hands in hot water, which seems to pull the pressure out of your head. It's also a good excuse to do the dishes before your headache gets much worse! :-)
Headache home remedy #5: The other stuff
Much has been said about diet and herbs, which are important to migraine and various types of headache. Read about herbs for headaches here, and more specifically feverfew, as well as food headache home remedies. Magnesium has been linked to migraine, so you may want to check out ways to boost your magnesium levels.
DLPA is another remarkable new supplement which may be ideal for those suffering from chronic pain of many kinds.
Another headache home remedies theory is all about magnetism and ions, but suffice to say that a room with a humidifier or a walk on a bridge over troubled water provides relief for many people. Giving up smoking is a good (but hard!) one. Getting up at the same time every day is VERY important for people like me ("weekend headaches" often attack those who sleep in on weekends). Buckwheat pillows for many people (including me) go a long way toward relieving the pain, because they cool things off and provide much needed support. I like eye pillows with flax seed as well.
One treatment that can be either done in a clinic or at home is biofeedback. Click the link for more!
You can find information about coping with migraines at HealingWell.com.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
For a good overview of migraine natural treatment, try the book 25 Natural Ways to Relieve Headaches : A Mind-Body Approach to Health and Well-Being by Romy Fox. It's a great handbook to have on your shelf when you need a quick description of a natural treatment.
source:relieve-migraine-headache.com
Friday, January 16, 2009
COLD AND COUGH HOME REMEDIES FOR ADULTS
Pharmaceutical companies don't have the market cornered on all cures for that which ails you. Grandma did her part long before dextromethorphan was supposedly stopping coughs. What we didn't understand until now was that Grandma was getting it right more often than we thought. Doctors are expensive, and Grandma's cures are back en vogue.
Granny didn't always get right, though. Here are some favorite home remedies for cough and cold, along with whatever we've learned about them since Granny first gave honey (or brandy) to dear old Dad.
Honey for coughs
First point goes to Granny. Honey turns out to be better than cough medicine for quelling the hack of winter (or summer). Of course, since the cough medicines don't actually do anything, the bar wasn't set too high. Still, honey helps a little. Just don't give it to the littlest coughers.
Hot Peppers for Stuffy Noses
Sniff ... hold on, I'm eating chili ... sniff ... sure makes my nose run ... sniff ... may be good for a stuffy schnozz. As it turns out, capsaicin (the stuff in red chile peppers) is indeed good for opening up the sniffer and clearing out the gunk. Now if I can only manage to mix honey and chile peppers in an edible dish.
Vitamin C to Beat the Common Cold
This one's hard to pin down. Grandma was right in one sense: you should take your vitamins every day. Taking vitamin C every day seems to reduce the length of a cold once you get it; however, taking big doses of vitamin C after you already have a cold gets mixed results. It wasn't studied in kids, and it worked sometimes in adults. Moral of the story: try it. One things for sure, taking a daily vitamin C helped, so listen to your Granny and chew your orange-flavored cold-beater.
Steam for Croup
Ask almost any emergency department nurse or ambulance paramedic how to treat croup and I'll put up a hefty bet they'll tell you to take your tyke in to the bathroom and run a hot shower. We've all been under the impression that humidity from the steam -- or even the cool night air -- will fix Junior's barking croup faster than Sea Biscuit ran the Belmont. Of course, they will all be wrong. Humidity doesn't do a darn thing for croup
Echinacea for Colds
It's not a home remedy as much as an herbal remedy, but Echinacea has gotten lots of press for being the way to truly beat a cold. As is often the case with herbal cures, the evidence is weak at best and nonexistent most of the time. It's one of those recommendations that basically says, "If it makes you feel better...."
source:firstaid.about.com
Granny didn't always get right, though. Here are some favorite home remedies for cough and cold, along with whatever we've learned about them since Granny first gave honey (or brandy) to dear old Dad.
Honey for coughs
First point goes to Granny. Honey turns out to be better than cough medicine for quelling the hack of winter (or summer). Of course, since the cough medicines don't actually do anything, the bar wasn't set too high. Still, honey helps a little. Just don't give it to the littlest coughers.
Hot Peppers for Stuffy Noses
Sniff ... hold on, I'm eating chili ... sniff ... sure makes my nose run ... sniff ... may be good for a stuffy schnozz. As it turns out, capsaicin (the stuff in red chile peppers) is indeed good for opening up the sniffer and clearing out the gunk. Now if I can only manage to mix honey and chile peppers in an edible dish.
Vitamin C to Beat the Common Cold
This one's hard to pin down. Grandma was right in one sense: you should take your vitamins every day. Taking vitamin C every day seems to reduce the length of a cold once you get it; however, taking big doses of vitamin C after you already have a cold gets mixed results. It wasn't studied in kids, and it worked sometimes in adults. Moral of the story: try it. One things for sure, taking a daily vitamin C helped, so listen to your Granny and chew your orange-flavored cold-beater.
Steam for Croup
Ask almost any emergency department nurse or ambulance paramedic how to treat croup and I'll put up a hefty bet they'll tell you to take your tyke in to the bathroom and run a hot shower. We've all been under the impression that humidity from the steam -- or even the cool night air -- will fix Junior's barking croup faster than Sea Biscuit ran the Belmont. Of course, they will all be wrong. Humidity doesn't do a darn thing for croup
Echinacea for Colds
It's not a home remedy as much as an herbal remedy, but Echinacea has gotten lots of press for being the way to truly beat a cold. As is often the case with herbal cures, the evidence is weak at best and nonexistent most of the time. It's one of those recommendations that basically says, "If it makes you feel better...."
source:firstaid.about.com
Wednesday, January 14, 2009
COLD AND COUGH HOME REMEDIES FOR CHILDREN
Contd... from previous post
Congestion
Saline nasal drops can help relieve congestion, especially in an infant’s small nasal passages. Because babies breathe through their noses and not their mouths, breaking up nasal congestion can make it easier to breathe, allowing a baby to nurse or drink from a bottle more comfortably.
Place a few of the salt water drops in each nostril to thin mucus, wait at least 60 seconds, then use a blue bulb syringe to gently remove discharge. For infants, try this before feeding.
Saline drops or spray also can relieve stuffy noses in older children. Have children wait 60 seconds after using the spray before gently blowing their noses.
Resting with the head elevated might make children feel more comfortable by improving drainage. If you want to raise a baby’s head slightly, try placing a rolled-up towel underneath the crib mattress. Do not place any soft bedding or pillows on the mattress itself because of the risk of sudden infant death syndrome, Dodge cautions. For older children, place a folded towel between a mattress and box springs to elevate the head and chest. Choose a slight angle so a child doesn’t slide down the mattress.
A cool-mist humidifier or vaporizer in a child’s room can add moisture to the air, helping ease breathing through dry, congested nasal passages. Some pediatricians and children’s hospitals, as well as the AAP, recommend them. After each use, empty water from the machine. Make sure to follow manufacturer’s instructions on keeping machines clean and disinfected. Do not use hot water in a vaporizer because of the risk of burns.
Geraghty advises against using a humidifier. Most aren’t cleaned between each use, she says, resulting in mold and mildew spreading through the air in a child’s room, worsening their condition.
When to Call 911
If an infant is making grunting noises while trying to breathe.
If a child stops breathing for more than 10 seconds.
If a toddler can’t complete a sentence because he is struggling to breathe.
If there is a blue or dark purple color to the nail bed, lips, gums, or mucous membranes.
When to Call a Doctor
A child is so weak and tired he doesn’t respond well.
A child doesn’t play for at least a few minutes in a four-hour period while he is awake.
If a child complains of a tight feeling in his chest, or that his chest hurts.
If, after seeing a doctor, a child starts wheezing or having more difficulty breathing.
If an infant can’t be calmed by methods that usually work, like singing, rocking, or giving a pacifier.
A child tugs at her ear or shows sign of ear pain.
Fever of 100.4 degrees Fahrenheit or higher in a child 3 months or younger.
Fever for more than three days in an older baby or child.
If the child appears dehydrated. For babies younger than 12 months, that means a dry diaper after six to eight hours. For older children, that means no urination for more than eight hours. No tears when crying, sunken eyes, and dry lips are also indicators of dehydration.
A child has bloody mucus or saliva.
source:webmd.com
Congestion
Saline nasal drops can help relieve congestion, especially in an infant’s small nasal passages. Because babies breathe through their noses and not their mouths, breaking up nasal congestion can make it easier to breathe, allowing a baby to nurse or drink from a bottle more comfortably.
Place a few of the salt water drops in each nostril to thin mucus, wait at least 60 seconds, then use a blue bulb syringe to gently remove discharge. For infants, try this before feeding.
Saline drops or spray also can relieve stuffy noses in older children. Have children wait 60 seconds after using the spray before gently blowing their noses.
Resting with the head elevated might make children feel more comfortable by improving drainage. If you want to raise a baby’s head slightly, try placing a rolled-up towel underneath the crib mattress. Do not place any soft bedding or pillows on the mattress itself because of the risk of sudden infant death syndrome, Dodge cautions. For older children, place a folded towel between a mattress and box springs to elevate the head and chest. Choose a slight angle so a child doesn’t slide down the mattress.
A cool-mist humidifier or vaporizer in a child’s room can add moisture to the air, helping ease breathing through dry, congested nasal passages. Some pediatricians and children’s hospitals, as well as the AAP, recommend them. After each use, empty water from the machine. Make sure to follow manufacturer’s instructions on keeping machines clean and disinfected. Do not use hot water in a vaporizer because of the risk of burns.
Geraghty advises against using a humidifier. Most aren’t cleaned between each use, she says, resulting in mold and mildew spreading through the air in a child’s room, worsening their condition.
When to Call 911
If an infant is making grunting noises while trying to breathe.
If a child stops breathing for more than 10 seconds.
If a toddler can’t complete a sentence because he is struggling to breathe.
If there is a blue or dark purple color to the nail bed, lips, gums, or mucous membranes.
When to Call a Doctor
A child is so weak and tired he doesn’t respond well.
A child doesn’t play for at least a few minutes in a four-hour period while he is awake.
If a child complains of a tight feeling in his chest, or that his chest hurts.
If, after seeing a doctor, a child starts wheezing or having more difficulty breathing.
If an infant can’t be calmed by methods that usually work, like singing, rocking, or giving a pacifier.
A child tugs at her ear or shows sign of ear pain.
Fever of 100.4 degrees Fahrenheit or higher in a child 3 months or younger.
Fever for more than three days in an older baby or child.
If the child appears dehydrated. For babies younger than 12 months, that means a dry diaper after six to eight hours. For older children, that means no urination for more than eight hours. No tears when crying, sunken eyes, and dry lips are also indicators of dehydration.
A child has bloody mucus or saliva.
source:webmd.com
Monday, January 12, 2009
COLD AND COUGH HOME REMEDIES IN CHILDREN
Cold and Cough Home Remedies for Children: What Works?
Is honey OK for a cough? Should children with a cold avoid thick fluids like milk?
Concerns about the safety of over-the-counter cold medicines for children have left many parents searching for alternative remedies for children's cold and cough symptoms.
Popular over-the-counter cold and cough remedies for infants have been withdrawn from the market after the FDA warned in January 2008 against giving those types of medicines to children younger than 2 because of the possibility of serious harm or death.
While the FDA is considering whether to change the guidelines for children ages 2 to 11, the Consumer Healthcare Products Association in October 2008 said they would voluntarily change the labels on cough and cold medications to say they should not be used in children younger than 4. An FDA advisory panel made a similar recommendation in October 2008, saying that nonprescription cold medicines should not be given to children ages 2 to 5.
The nonprescription remedies include antihistamines for runny noses, decongestants for stuffy noses, cough suppressants, and expectorants for loosening mucus to relieve congestion.
Children get six to 10 colds a year on average, according to the National Institutes of Health. And as surely as children get the sniffles, parents want to ease their symptoms.
The bad news for parents: No home remedies or cold medicines will make a cold go away faster; they usually run their course in seven to 10 days. At best, some medicines will relieve symptoms. But even that is in question, says Sheela R. Geraghty, MD, an assistant professor of pediatrics at Cincinnati Children’s Hospital Medical Center in Ohio. She recommends fluids, reducing fever to make a child comfortable, and keeping noses suctioned so babies can eat comfortably.
“To be honest with you, that’s about it,” Geraghty says. “Time is what helps with colds.”
For more specific guidance on soothing coughs and other cold symptoms, WebMD talked to the American Academy of Pediatrics, the FDA, Johns Hopkins Children’s Center, Geraghty, Rachel Dodge, MD, MPH, a pediatrician with Johns Hopkins Children’s Center in Baltimore, and Joyce Allers, RN, clinical program manager of the School Health Program at Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta. Here are their suggestions:
Fluids
Make sure children stay hydrated, and give them what they’re accustomed to drinking. For babies, stick to breast milk or formula for those younger than 6 months. An oral electrolyte solution designed for infants, such as Pedialyte, also can be given. Don’t give straight water to babies younger than 6 months; their kidneys can’t process it correctly and an electrolyte imbalance may occur.
For children older than 12 months, try water, diluted juice, and milk.
Sometimes parents hear that they shouldn’t give milk because it promotes mucus building. That’s an old wives’ tale with no scientific evidence to back it up, Geraghty says. It’s especially important for babies to continue drinking breast milk or formula
Fever
For a baby younger than 3 months, check with a doctor.
For babies ages 3 to 6 months, talk to your child’s doctor about using infant acetaminophen and ask for the correct dosage. Make sure to use the measuring cup or spoon included with the medicine. Household measuring spoons may not measure accurately, resulting in an overdose.
For children 7 months and older, try acetaminophen or ibuprofen. Check with the doctor for the right dosage. Read bottles and packages carefully to make sure you’re giving the right dose. Infant drops and children’s liquid fever reducers come in different strengths. Make sure you’re giving the correct amount.
Aspirin should not be used because of the risk of developing Reye’s syndrome, a serious illness that can damage the brain and liver.
If an infant younger than 3 months has a temperature, taken rectally, that is higher than 100.4 degrees, check with your doctor or go to an emergency room immediately. In young infants, this could be a sign of a serious infection. Also, consult a doctor if a child older than 3 months has a temperature higher than 104 when taken rectally.
Coughing
Give a half-teaspoon of honey to children ages 2 to 5; 1 teaspoon to children ages 6 to 11; and 2 teaspoons to those 12 and older, the American Academy of Pediatrics recommends. Do not give honey to babies younger than 1 because of the risk of infant botulism.
Smoke can irritate already inflamed airways. Don’t smoke in a home with children, advice that extends beyond cold season. While children have colds, keep them away from smoke from other sources, too, such as grills and wood-burning fires.
If the coughing is so severe that it keeps a child from sleeping, or if the cough lasts beyond 10 days, discuss it with a doctor.
Scratchy Throat
Soft foods such as puddings, Popsicles, chicken soup, gelatin desserts, and ice cream can feel good to a scratchy throat, Allers says. If a child doesn’t feel like eating their usual diet, try some of these foods.
to be contd.................
source:webmd.com
Is honey OK for a cough? Should children with a cold avoid thick fluids like milk?
Concerns about the safety of over-the-counter cold medicines for children have left many parents searching for alternative remedies for children's cold and cough symptoms.
Popular over-the-counter cold and cough remedies for infants have been withdrawn from the market after the FDA warned in January 2008 against giving those types of medicines to children younger than 2 because of the possibility of serious harm or death.
While the FDA is considering whether to change the guidelines for children ages 2 to 11, the Consumer Healthcare Products Association in October 2008 said they would voluntarily change the labels on cough and cold medications to say they should not be used in children younger than 4. An FDA advisory panel made a similar recommendation in October 2008, saying that nonprescription cold medicines should not be given to children ages 2 to 5.
The nonprescription remedies include antihistamines for runny noses, decongestants for stuffy noses, cough suppressants, and expectorants for loosening mucus to relieve congestion.
Children get six to 10 colds a year on average, according to the National Institutes of Health. And as surely as children get the sniffles, parents want to ease their symptoms.
The bad news for parents: No home remedies or cold medicines will make a cold go away faster; they usually run their course in seven to 10 days. At best, some medicines will relieve symptoms. But even that is in question, says Sheela R. Geraghty, MD, an assistant professor of pediatrics at Cincinnati Children’s Hospital Medical Center in Ohio. She recommends fluids, reducing fever to make a child comfortable, and keeping noses suctioned so babies can eat comfortably.
“To be honest with you, that’s about it,” Geraghty says. “Time is what helps with colds.”
For more specific guidance on soothing coughs and other cold symptoms, WebMD talked to the American Academy of Pediatrics, the FDA, Johns Hopkins Children’s Center, Geraghty, Rachel Dodge, MD, MPH, a pediatrician with Johns Hopkins Children’s Center in Baltimore, and Joyce Allers, RN, clinical program manager of the School Health Program at Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta. Here are their suggestions:
Fluids
Make sure children stay hydrated, and give them what they’re accustomed to drinking. For babies, stick to breast milk or formula for those younger than 6 months. An oral electrolyte solution designed for infants, such as Pedialyte, also can be given. Don’t give straight water to babies younger than 6 months; their kidneys can’t process it correctly and an electrolyte imbalance may occur.
For children older than 12 months, try water, diluted juice, and milk.
Sometimes parents hear that they shouldn’t give milk because it promotes mucus building. That’s an old wives’ tale with no scientific evidence to back it up, Geraghty says. It’s especially important for babies to continue drinking breast milk or formula
Fever
For a baby younger than 3 months, check with a doctor.
For babies ages 3 to 6 months, talk to your child’s doctor about using infant acetaminophen and ask for the correct dosage. Make sure to use the measuring cup or spoon included with the medicine. Household measuring spoons may not measure accurately, resulting in an overdose.
For children 7 months and older, try acetaminophen or ibuprofen. Check with the doctor for the right dosage. Read bottles and packages carefully to make sure you’re giving the right dose. Infant drops and children’s liquid fever reducers come in different strengths. Make sure you’re giving the correct amount.
Aspirin should not be used because of the risk of developing Reye’s syndrome, a serious illness that can damage the brain and liver.
If an infant younger than 3 months has a temperature, taken rectally, that is higher than 100.4 degrees, check with your doctor or go to an emergency room immediately. In young infants, this could be a sign of a serious infection. Also, consult a doctor if a child older than 3 months has a temperature higher than 104 when taken rectally.
Coughing
Give a half-teaspoon of honey to children ages 2 to 5; 1 teaspoon to children ages 6 to 11; and 2 teaspoons to those 12 and older, the American Academy of Pediatrics recommends. Do not give honey to babies younger than 1 because of the risk of infant botulism.
Smoke can irritate already inflamed airways. Don’t smoke in a home with children, advice that extends beyond cold season. While children have colds, keep them away from smoke from other sources, too, such as grills and wood-burning fires.
If the coughing is so severe that it keeps a child from sleeping, or if the cough lasts beyond 10 days, discuss it with a doctor.
Scratchy Throat
Soft foods such as puddings, Popsicles, chicken soup, gelatin desserts, and ice cream can feel good to a scratchy throat, Allers says. If a child doesn’t feel like eating their usual diet, try some of these foods.
to be contd.................
source:webmd.com
Friday, January 9, 2009
Contd....
HEALTH WRECKER: Feeling Ill
11 KEEP YOUR HANDS CLEAN.
What the other guys do: Shake hands with some local Typhoid Marty, catch his cold or flu, and set back their fitness routines for days or weeks of recovery.
What you'll do: Wash your hands well with hot water and soap, especially before touching your own eyes, nose or mouth if you've just touched any person or public object that could be infected. Use a moisturizer to keep your digits from drying out after all that washing. Of course, we're talking about rational behavior, not obsessional cleansing.
The benefits: Since viruses are often transmitted by touch, keeping your hands clean may be the single best thing you can do to avoid getting sick.
12 WORK TOWARD IMMUNITY.
What the other guys do: Further weaken their immune systems by giving up on exercise during cold season.
What you'll do: Get plenty of moderate cardio.
The benefits: A recent study at the University of South Carolina in Columbia found that adults who get regular moderate exercise have significantly fewer colds. If you already have a cold, moderate exercise probably won't make it worse, but consult your doctor if you have possible flu symptoms such as fever, muscle aches or heavy coughing.
13 GET HEALTHY SHUT-EYE.
What the other guys do: Miss out on needed sleep as stress and time demands grow, resulting in fewer virus-fighting "natural killer" immune cells.
What you'll do: Go to sleep and wake up at about the same time every day, and don't eat heavy food or drink alcohol within a few hours of bedtime.
The benefits: Maintaining a consistent sleep/wake cycle and avoiding lots of food or alcohol before bed are key to preventing insomnia.
14 VEG IT UP.
What the other guys do: Consume more junk and fewer vegetables at a time when they most need better nutrition. What you'll do: Eat plenty of carotenoid-laden vegetables, including winter squash, carrots and even pumpkin.
The benefits: According to a U.S. Department of Agriculture report, a diet high in carotenoids can raise your immune-cell count by a third, which will help ward off illness and keep your fitness level intact.
15 BREATHE EASIER.
What the other guys do: Choke on indoor air.
What you'll do: Get a high-quality air cleaner with a "HEPA" filter (approximately $100 to $200) for your home; vacuum often; make sure your heating ducts are clean; and open some windows to air out your place whenever the weather permits it.
The benefits: What seems like winter cold symptoms can often be allergic reactions to dust and fungus in stale, heated indoor air. (If you experience flulike symptoms when you start using a gas heater or fireplace, have them checked out right away--you might have carbon-monoxide poisoning.)
HEALTH WRECKER: Losing Energy
16 FEAST LIGHTLY.
What the other guys do: Stuff themselves at meals, either because it's a special holiday gluttonfest or because Grandma's piling food on the plates faster than they can keep up with it, and end up too logy to do anything afterward but lie on the couch for a few hours.
What you'll do: Plot your strategy early: Eat the healthiest foods first, then nibble on the treats. Hold off on seconds by saying you're full, but that you'd love to take some leftovers home.
The benefits: Pace yourself and you won't end up feeling like a canned lox. You'll also prevent the artery damage that can result from overeating fatty foods.
17 SOAK UP THE SUN.
What the other guys do: Get the cloudyday blues.
What you'll do: Go out in the sunshine every day, especially in the morning. If there isn't any to be found, consider using a light-therapy lamp (available from Web sites and healthy-gadget stores).
The benefits: You've probably heard of seasonal affective disorder, a general lethargy and low-grade depression thought to be caused by diminished sunlight during the fall and winter months. But even a single day without sunshine may affect your mood: In a study at Wagner College in Staten Island, N.Y., students were found to have almost four times more anxiety and irritability on cloudy days. Just a few daily minutes of real or artificial sunshine may give you a much-needed boost throughout the winter. (For more on SAD, see "Winter Blues" in next month's issue of MEN'S FITNESS.)
18 REST UP ON VACATION.
What the other guys do: Take a vacation to "relax," and come back more exhausted than they were before their time off.
What you'll do: Plan to keep up your regular health habits when you're away. Get plenty of sleep both before and during the trip; pack comfortable clothes and a good pillow; stay in a quiet place away from busy streets; and allow yourself a recovery day before returning to work. As soon as possible after arriving at your destination, get in a workout, which will help you get over your jet lag quickly.
The benefits: One recent study found that more than half of American adults feel fired when they return from a trip. If you plan your vacation carefully, you can make sure it's rejuvenating rather than exhausting.
19 HALT WORK HASSLES.
What the other guys do: Overdose on year-end work stress.
What you'll do: Prioritize all your projects so you get the most important things done first. Take care of the majority of your work early in the day, when you and your colleagues have the most energy and the fewest distractions.
The benefits: Factoring year-end deadlines--as well as parties, vacations and distracted coworkers--into your planning can prevent a lot of headaches.
20 SELECT YOUR SIDE EFFECTS.
What the other guys do: Take cold remedies loaded with antihistamines, caffeine, or other ingredients that knock them out during the day or keep them awake at night.
What you'll do: Instead of popping a multisymptom remedy whenever you get the sniffles, only take what you need to function until the virus leaves your system. Drink plenty of water to help flush out toxins.
The benefits: With some experimentation you can find a remedy that helps blunt your symptoms without adding to them.
Of course, your buddies may deride you for attempting to stay healthy, happy and fit this time of year while they go down that long road toward gluttony and sloth. But in January, when you're still a hardbodied bundle of pep and they're just starting to lug their pudgified selves back to the gym, you'll have too much class to mention it--too often, anyway
source:findarticles.com
HEALTH WRECKER: Feeling Ill
11 KEEP YOUR HANDS CLEAN.
What the other guys do: Shake hands with some local Typhoid Marty, catch his cold or flu, and set back their fitness routines for days or weeks of recovery.
What you'll do: Wash your hands well with hot water and soap, especially before touching your own eyes, nose or mouth if you've just touched any person or public object that could be infected. Use a moisturizer to keep your digits from drying out after all that washing. Of course, we're talking about rational behavior, not obsessional cleansing.
The benefits: Since viruses are often transmitted by touch, keeping your hands clean may be the single best thing you can do to avoid getting sick.
12 WORK TOWARD IMMUNITY.
What the other guys do: Further weaken their immune systems by giving up on exercise during cold season.
What you'll do: Get plenty of moderate cardio.
The benefits: A recent study at the University of South Carolina in Columbia found that adults who get regular moderate exercise have significantly fewer colds. If you already have a cold, moderate exercise probably won't make it worse, but consult your doctor if you have possible flu symptoms such as fever, muscle aches or heavy coughing.
13 GET HEALTHY SHUT-EYE.
What the other guys do: Miss out on needed sleep as stress and time demands grow, resulting in fewer virus-fighting "natural killer" immune cells.
What you'll do: Go to sleep and wake up at about the same time every day, and don't eat heavy food or drink alcohol within a few hours of bedtime.
The benefits: Maintaining a consistent sleep/wake cycle and avoiding lots of food or alcohol before bed are key to preventing insomnia.
14 VEG IT UP.
What the other guys do: Consume more junk and fewer vegetables at a time when they most need better nutrition. What you'll do: Eat plenty of carotenoid-laden vegetables, including winter squash, carrots and even pumpkin.
The benefits: According to a U.S. Department of Agriculture report, a diet high in carotenoids can raise your immune-cell count by a third, which will help ward off illness and keep your fitness level intact.
15 BREATHE EASIER.
What the other guys do: Choke on indoor air.
What you'll do: Get a high-quality air cleaner with a "HEPA" filter (approximately $100 to $200) for your home; vacuum often; make sure your heating ducts are clean; and open some windows to air out your place whenever the weather permits it.
The benefits: What seems like winter cold symptoms can often be allergic reactions to dust and fungus in stale, heated indoor air. (If you experience flulike symptoms when you start using a gas heater or fireplace, have them checked out right away--you might have carbon-monoxide poisoning.)
HEALTH WRECKER: Losing Energy
16 FEAST LIGHTLY.
What the other guys do: Stuff themselves at meals, either because it's a special holiday gluttonfest or because Grandma's piling food on the plates faster than they can keep up with it, and end up too logy to do anything afterward but lie on the couch for a few hours.
What you'll do: Plot your strategy early: Eat the healthiest foods first, then nibble on the treats. Hold off on seconds by saying you're full, but that you'd love to take some leftovers home.
The benefits: Pace yourself and you won't end up feeling like a canned lox. You'll also prevent the artery damage that can result from overeating fatty foods.
17 SOAK UP THE SUN.
What the other guys do: Get the cloudyday blues.
What you'll do: Go out in the sunshine every day, especially in the morning. If there isn't any to be found, consider using a light-therapy lamp (available from Web sites and healthy-gadget stores).
The benefits: You've probably heard of seasonal affective disorder, a general lethargy and low-grade depression thought to be caused by diminished sunlight during the fall and winter months. But even a single day without sunshine may affect your mood: In a study at Wagner College in Staten Island, N.Y., students were found to have almost four times more anxiety and irritability on cloudy days. Just a few daily minutes of real or artificial sunshine may give you a much-needed boost throughout the winter. (For more on SAD, see "Winter Blues" in next month's issue of MEN'S FITNESS.)
18 REST UP ON VACATION.
What the other guys do: Take a vacation to "relax," and come back more exhausted than they were before their time off.
What you'll do: Plan to keep up your regular health habits when you're away. Get plenty of sleep both before and during the trip; pack comfortable clothes and a good pillow; stay in a quiet place away from busy streets; and allow yourself a recovery day before returning to work. As soon as possible after arriving at your destination, get in a workout, which will help you get over your jet lag quickly.
The benefits: One recent study found that more than half of American adults feel fired when they return from a trip. If you plan your vacation carefully, you can make sure it's rejuvenating rather than exhausting.
19 HALT WORK HASSLES.
What the other guys do: Overdose on year-end work stress.
What you'll do: Prioritize all your projects so you get the most important things done first. Take care of the majority of your work early in the day, when you and your colleagues have the most energy and the fewest distractions.
The benefits: Factoring year-end deadlines--as well as parties, vacations and distracted coworkers--into your planning can prevent a lot of headaches.
20 SELECT YOUR SIDE EFFECTS.
What the other guys do: Take cold remedies loaded with antihistamines, caffeine, or other ingredients that knock them out during the day or keep them awake at night.
What you'll do: Instead of popping a multisymptom remedy whenever you get the sniffles, only take what you need to function until the virus leaves your system. Drink plenty of water to help flush out toxins.
The benefits: With some experimentation you can find a remedy that helps blunt your symptoms without adding to them.
Of course, your buddies may deride you for attempting to stay healthy, happy and fit this time of year while they go down that long road toward gluttony and sloth. But in January, when you're still a hardbodied bundle of pep and they're just starting to lug their pudgified selves back to the gym, you'll have too much class to mention it--too often, anyway
source:findarticles.com
Thursday, January 8, 2009
WINTER HEALTH CARE TIPS
It happens every year around this time: Woolen clothes start appearing everywhere, wooden sitcoms start dropping from network schedules, and everyone in your general vicinity enters that prehibernation mode, storing up extra body fat for the frozen months ahead. They guzzle calorie-rich foods and drinks, cocoon in the evenings because it's too cold and dark to go running or biking, and skip workouts because there just isn't enough time for them in days that are already jam-packed. By the time the new year rolls around, they feel compelled to make resolutions about regaining the fitness they've just squandered.
INDUSTRY CANANDA: Feature -- Health reports -- Winter 1998.
Health reports -- How healthy are Canadians? -- Winter 1999. You, of course, don't want to be like that--not this year, at any rate. But faced with all the peer pressures, time pressures and family pressures of the fall and winter seasons, how exactly can you stand up to this onslaught of yule hogs and keep your training habits on track? Follow our 20 suggestions, and you'll keep your own fitness ethic going while the people around you are finding reasons to lose theirs.
HEALTH WRECKER: Slowing Down
1 KEEP PUMPING.
What the other guys do: Without realizing it, they start skipping workouts (or stop exercising entirely) in the fall, then struggle to get back in condition in January, devoting the first three months of the year to regaining their preholiday condition.
What you'll do: Decide now that you aren't going to turn into a slob just because it isn't shirt-off season. Make steadfast rules for when you're going to hit the gym or hop on your home equipment, and stick to them. If you end up missing a session for any reason, make it up immediately.
The benefits: It's easier to stick to a fitness program than it is to start up again after months of inactivity; and you'll start the new year improving on an already tight physique.
2 DON'T STAND STILL FOR TIME.
What the other guys do: Suddenly discover that in the midst of holidays, family visits, vacations and other time devourers, they simply can't squeeze in that day's workout.
What you'll do: Make a schedule for the next few months that includes all your work, home and family obligations, and pencil in exercise sessions just like any other appointment. If you have to, go on a "maintenance" schedule: Work out, say, three times a week instead of five so that while you may not build new strength, you won't be losing ground, either.
The benefits: You won't be tempted to fall out of the habit of exercising after missing a workout or two.
3 MOVE IT OUTSIDE.
What the other guys do: Stop their usual outdoor-exercise routines due to bad weather.
What you'll do: Get into cross-country skiing, snowshoeing or other winter activities. Learn to appreciate winter power walking.
The benefits: These are great leg and cardiovascular workouts, burning as much as 800 calories per hour--and they may also allow you to buy groceries in a blizzard.
4 TRAVEL RIGHT.
What the other guys do: Put their entire workout routines to rest when they go on vacation or visit the family. What you'll do: Stay in a hotel with a well-stocked gym--and use it. If that's not possible, switch to a calisthenics routine of push-ups and crunches (see "Push-Up Intensity" on page 58). Pack a jump rope and exercise bands to make it more effective.
The benefits: You'll keep your training on track with an easy-to-do maintenance plan, and lessen the risk of jet lag and stiffness from traveling.
5 PROTECT YOUR FLUID CONTENT.
What the other guys do: Become dehydrated because they don't feel thirsty.
What you'll do: Remember to drink plenty of water all day long, and especially before and during workouts.
The benefits: Everyone realizes that you need plenty of [H.sub.2]O to perform well in the summertime, but a lot of guys forget the same applies when the weather turns cold. Since dry, heated indoor air can be even more dehydrating than warm sunshine, drinking enough is still a must.
HEALTH WRECKER: Pigging Out
6 EAT HOT AND HEALTHY.
What the other guys do: Throw their nutritional guidelines to the winds and chomp down on platefuls of macaroni, mashed potatoes and other comfort foods to get them through the chill of winter.
What you'll do: When you want something hot and comforting, start your meal with a bowl of chicken-vegetable soup.
The benefits: Not only does chicken soup contain proven illness-fighting chemicals, a study at Penn State University found that people who ate it as an appetizer consumed fewer calories over the entire meal.
7 GO FOR NUTS.
What the other guys do: At parties or office gatherings, graze on large amounts of baked goods, candies and chips.
What you'll do: Grab a handful of mixed nuts and nosh on them slowly. You will not, however, go back and eat the entire serving plate.
The benefits: Nuts are loaded with protein and healthy fats, and tests have found that they make you fuller and less likely to overconsume later on.
8 DRINK LIGHTER.
What the other guys do: Use up half a day's supply of calories and saturated fat on two glasses of eggnog, cream liquor or sweetened martinis.
What you'll do: If you're going to drink alcohol, make it a real drink, not a dessert in a glass--preferably antioxidant-rich red wine or dark beer. Don't overimbibe, and sip a glass of water between each shot of booze, which will help keep you hydrated (dehydration from alcohol can slow fat metabolism).
The benefits: Significantly fewer calories, reduced hangover risk, and less chance that you'll accidentally call the boss by the nickname everyone uses behind his back.
9 SIP SOMETHING TO CONTROL CRAVINGS.
What the other guys do: Give in to their pangs for empty-calorie snacks they wouldn't touch during warmer months.
INDUSTRY CANANDA: Feature -- Health reports -- Winter 1998.
Health reports -- How healthy are Canadians? -- Winter 1999. What you'll do: When you get a yen for something you know you shouldn't have, occupy yourself with a hot beverage.
The benefits: A cup of java, green tea or low-sugar cocoa will help keep you warm on a cold day--and will also keep you busy for the 20 minutes or so nutritionists say it takes for a food craving to pass.
10 AVOID OVERFILL.
What the other guys do: Go out to eat with friends and family; profess to be surprised by the restaurant's huge portions but devour the whole plate anyway.
What you'll do: Knowing that many establishments serve Shrek-size meals these days, order yourself a low-fat appetizer or two, or offer to split a salad and entree with someone else.
The benefits: You eat less, pay less, and don't end up with leftovers that will just sit in your fridge for a month.
To be contd..........
source:findarticles.com
INDUSTRY CANANDA: Feature -- Health reports -- Winter 1998.
Health reports -- How healthy are Canadians? -- Winter 1999. You, of course, don't want to be like that--not this year, at any rate. But faced with all the peer pressures, time pressures and family pressures of the fall and winter seasons, how exactly can you stand up to this onslaught of yule hogs and keep your training habits on track? Follow our 20 suggestions, and you'll keep your own fitness ethic going while the people around you are finding reasons to lose theirs.
HEALTH WRECKER: Slowing Down
1 KEEP PUMPING.
What the other guys do: Without realizing it, they start skipping workouts (or stop exercising entirely) in the fall, then struggle to get back in condition in January, devoting the first three months of the year to regaining their preholiday condition.
What you'll do: Decide now that you aren't going to turn into a slob just because it isn't shirt-off season. Make steadfast rules for when you're going to hit the gym or hop on your home equipment, and stick to them. If you end up missing a session for any reason, make it up immediately.
The benefits: It's easier to stick to a fitness program than it is to start up again after months of inactivity; and you'll start the new year improving on an already tight physique.
2 DON'T STAND STILL FOR TIME.
What the other guys do: Suddenly discover that in the midst of holidays, family visits, vacations and other time devourers, they simply can't squeeze in that day's workout.
What you'll do: Make a schedule for the next few months that includes all your work, home and family obligations, and pencil in exercise sessions just like any other appointment. If you have to, go on a "maintenance" schedule: Work out, say, three times a week instead of five so that while you may not build new strength, you won't be losing ground, either.
The benefits: You won't be tempted to fall out of the habit of exercising after missing a workout or two.
3 MOVE IT OUTSIDE.
What the other guys do: Stop their usual outdoor-exercise routines due to bad weather.
What you'll do: Get into cross-country skiing, snowshoeing or other winter activities. Learn to appreciate winter power walking.
The benefits: These are great leg and cardiovascular workouts, burning as much as 800 calories per hour--and they may also allow you to buy groceries in a blizzard.
4 TRAVEL RIGHT.
What the other guys do: Put their entire workout routines to rest when they go on vacation or visit the family. What you'll do: Stay in a hotel with a well-stocked gym--and use it. If that's not possible, switch to a calisthenics routine of push-ups and crunches (see "Push-Up Intensity" on page 58). Pack a jump rope and exercise bands to make it more effective.
The benefits: You'll keep your training on track with an easy-to-do maintenance plan, and lessen the risk of jet lag and stiffness from traveling.
5 PROTECT YOUR FLUID CONTENT.
What the other guys do: Become dehydrated because they don't feel thirsty.
What you'll do: Remember to drink plenty of water all day long, and especially before and during workouts.
The benefits: Everyone realizes that you need plenty of [H.sub.2]O to perform well in the summertime, but a lot of guys forget the same applies when the weather turns cold. Since dry, heated indoor air can be even more dehydrating than warm sunshine, drinking enough is still a must.
HEALTH WRECKER: Pigging Out
6 EAT HOT AND HEALTHY.
What the other guys do: Throw their nutritional guidelines to the winds and chomp down on platefuls of macaroni, mashed potatoes and other comfort foods to get them through the chill of winter.
What you'll do: When you want something hot and comforting, start your meal with a bowl of chicken-vegetable soup.
The benefits: Not only does chicken soup contain proven illness-fighting chemicals, a study at Penn State University found that people who ate it as an appetizer consumed fewer calories over the entire meal.
7 GO FOR NUTS.
What the other guys do: At parties or office gatherings, graze on large amounts of baked goods, candies and chips.
What you'll do: Grab a handful of mixed nuts and nosh on them slowly. You will not, however, go back and eat the entire serving plate.
The benefits: Nuts are loaded with protein and healthy fats, and tests have found that they make you fuller and less likely to overconsume later on.
8 DRINK LIGHTER.
What the other guys do: Use up half a day's supply of calories and saturated fat on two glasses of eggnog, cream liquor or sweetened martinis.
What you'll do: If you're going to drink alcohol, make it a real drink, not a dessert in a glass--preferably antioxidant-rich red wine or dark beer. Don't overimbibe, and sip a glass of water between each shot of booze, which will help keep you hydrated (dehydration from alcohol can slow fat metabolism).
The benefits: Significantly fewer calories, reduced hangover risk, and less chance that you'll accidentally call the boss by the nickname everyone uses behind his back.
9 SIP SOMETHING TO CONTROL CRAVINGS.
What the other guys do: Give in to their pangs for empty-calorie snacks they wouldn't touch during warmer months.
INDUSTRY CANANDA: Feature -- Health reports -- Winter 1998.
Health reports -- How healthy are Canadians? -- Winter 1999. What you'll do: When you get a yen for something you know you shouldn't have, occupy yourself with a hot beverage.
The benefits: A cup of java, green tea or low-sugar cocoa will help keep you warm on a cold day--and will also keep you busy for the 20 minutes or so nutritionists say it takes for a food craving to pass.
10 AVOID OVERFILL.
What the other guys do: Go out to eat with friends and family; profess to be surprised by the restaurant's huge portions but devour the whole plate anyway.
What you'll do: Knowing that many establishments serve Shrek-size meals these days, order yourself a low-fat appetizer or two, or offer to split a salad and entree with someone else.
The benefits: You eat less, pay less, and don't end up with leftovers that will just sit in your fridge for a month.
To be contd..........
source:findarticles.com
Tuesday, January 6, 2009
DEHYDRATION - HOME TREATMENT
In the early stages, you may be able to correct mild to moderate dehydration with home treatment measures. It is important to control fluid losses and replace lost fluids.
Adults and children age 12 and older
If you become mildly to moderately dehydrated while working outside or exercising:
Stop your activity and rest.
Get out of direct sunlight and lie down in a cool spot, such as in the shade or an air-conditioned area.
Prop up your feet.
Take off any extra clothes.
Drink a rehydration drink, water, juice, or sports drink to replace fluids and minerals. Drink 2qt of cool liquids over the next 2 to 4 hours. You should drink at least 10 glasses of liquid a day to replace lost fluids. You can make an inexpensive rehydration drink at home. But do not give this homemade drink to children younger than 12. Measure all ingredients precisely. Small variations can make the drink less effective or even harmful. Mix the following:
1 quart (950 ml) water
½ teaspoon (2.5 g) baking soda
½ teaspoon (2.5 g) table salt, or ¼ teaspoon (1.25 g) salt substitute (such as "Lite Salt," which is potassium-based)
3 to 4 tablespoons (45 to 60 g) sugar
Rest and take it easy for 24 hours, and continue to drink a lot of fluids. Although you will probably start feeling better within just a few hours, it may take as long as a day and a half to completely replace the fluid that you lost.
Children ages 1 through 11
Make sure your child is drinking often. Frequent, small amounts work best.
For children with dehydration, an oral rehydration solution (ORS), half-strength orange juice, or plain water (if the child is eating food) may be used to replace lost fluids.
Allow your child to drink as much fluid as he or she wants. Encourage your child to drink extra fluids or suck on Popsicles. Children between the ages of 4 and 10 should drink at least 6 to 10 glasses of liquids to replace lost fluids.
Cereal mixed with milk or water may also be used to replace lost fluids.
Newborns and babies younger than 1 year of age
Don't wait until dehydration develops to replace lost fluids. Offer fluids to your baby often.
If you breast-feed your baby, nurse him or her more often.
If you use a bottle to feed your baby, feed him or her more often.
Use an oral rehydration solution (ORS) if mild or moderate dehydration develops. The amount of ORS your baby needs depends on his or her weight and how dehydrated he or she is. You can give the ORS in a dropper, spoon, or bottle.
If your baby has started eating cereal, you may replace lost fluids with cereal. You also may feed your baby strained bananas and mashed potatoes if your child has had these foods before.
Symptoms to Watch For During Home Treatment
Use the Check Your Symptoms section to evaluate the symptoms if any of the following occur during home treatment:
More serious dehydration develops.
Decreased alertness develops.
You become dizzy, lightheaded, or feel like you might faint when you rise from lying to sitting, or from sitting to standing.
Decreased urination develops.
Symptoms become more severe or frequent.
source:webmd
Adults and children age 12 and older
If you become mildly to moderately dehydrated while working outside or exercising:
Stop your activity and rest.
Get out of direct sunlight and lie down in a cool spot, such as in the shade or an air-conditioned area.
Prop up your feet.
Take off any extra clothes.
Drink a rehydration drink, water, juice, or sports drink to replace fluids and minerals. Drink 2qt of cool liquids over the next 2 to 4 hours. You should drink at least 10 glasses of liquid a day to replace lost fluids. You can make an inexpensive rehydration drink at home. But do not give this homemade drink to children younger than 12. Measure all ingredients precisely. Small variations can make the drink less effective or even harmful. Mix the following:
1 quart (950 ml) water
½ teaspoon (2.5 g) baking soda
½ teaspoon (2.5 g) table salt, or ¼ teaspoon (1.25 g) salt substitute (such as "Lite Salt," which is potassium-based)
3 to 4 tablespoons (45 to 60 g) sugar
Rest and take it easy for 24 hours, and continue to drink a lot of fluids. Although you will probably start feeling better within just a few hours, it may take as long as a day and a half to completely replace the fluid that you lost.
Children ages 1 through 11
Make sure your child is drinking often. Frequent, small amounts work best.
For children with dehydration, an oral rehydration solution (ORS), half-strength orange juice, or plain water (if the child is eating food) may be used to replace lost fluids.
Allow your child to drink as much fluid as he or she wants. Encourage your child to drink extra fluids or suck on Popsicles. Children between the ages of 4 and 10 should drink at least 6 to 10 glasses of liquids to replace lost fluids.
Cereal mixed with milk or water may also be used to replace lost fluids.
Newborns and babies younger than 1 year of age
Don't wait until dehydration develops to replace lost fluids. Offer fluids to your baby often.
If you breast-feed your baby, nurse him or her more often.
If you use a bottle to feed your baby, feed him or her more often.
Use an oral rehydration solution (ORS) if mild or moderate dehydration develops. The amount of ORS your baby needs depends on his or her weight and how dehydrated he or she is. You can give the ORS in a dropper, spoon, or bottle.
If your baby has started eating cereal, you may replace lost fluids with cereal. You also may feed your baby strained bananas and mashed potatoes if your child has had these foods before.
Symptoms to Watch For During Home Treatment
Use the Check Your Symptoms section to evaluate the symptoms if any of the following occur during home treatment:
More serious dehydration develops.
Decreased alertness develops.
You become dizzy, lightheaded, or feel like you might faint when you rise from lying to sitting, or from sitting to standing.
Decreased urination develops.
Symptoms become more severe or frequent.
source:webmd
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