Beat The Itches And Drips

The practice of allergy has become overly complicated and complex, it is essentially a very simple subject, and unfortunately, some of its most effective treatment have all but for gotten. Here are some of treatments, tips, explanations and opinions of a doctor.

Thresholds

When people are allergic to a substance, there is a certain level of exposure they can tolerate before symptoms appear. Exceed that threshold and up pop the symptoms. Most people already understand that the same amount of pollen can bother one allergic person and not another.

Sickness work the same

Allergy injections do not get rid of your allergy to a substance-they raise your threshold, so that you can tolerate more of the substance before you experience allergy symptoms. But a virus has almost the same effect, temporarily. It is not unusual to see allergic skin lotion clear or respiratory symptoms disappear during a virus attack. Surgery or other major trauma, such as breaking a bone, almost invariably shuts down allergy symptomsas well.

Allergy symptoms

All allergic symptoms are a combination of three basic effects. There is welling particularly of the skin and mucus membrane. There is an increase in the secretion of mucus, especially in the respiratory tract. And, less important, there is spasm of smooth muscle where smooth muscle exists.

Alcohol augments allergies

Alcohol is also not an allergen. But it does act to congest the nasal passages. In someone with allergic rhinitis it adds to the edema already present due to allergies. Some people with allergies are unable to drink at all because of the intense nasal congestion that alcohol produces.

Smoke

A lot of people claim to be allergic to tobacco smoke. There are cases of true tobacco allergy, but they always involve physical contact with the raw leaf. Cigarette smoke can make you cough, sneeze, but it is not an allergy andallergy treatments would not prevent it or clear it up.

Pups no problem

Very young animals have no old skin to shed and therefore have no dander. It usually take a couple of months before such pets produce their allergen, which may explain why some people ‘suddenly’ become allergic to a dog or cat they got as a pup or kitten.

Wool worries

Good quality domestic wool is processed to be dander-free; it is not allergenic. How ever, it is irritating to many people-and not just those with allergies. Wool from Third World countries is not treated after it is taken from the animal. This kind of wool can contain a lot of dander and cause serious allergy problems.

Pillow power

All pillows must be synthetic Dacron to be the most comfortable substitute for feather pillow. Forget allergy encasings. They do not work well on pillow unless the zipper is airtight, and that makes the pillow like a balloon, since the air can’t escape.

Blanket protection

Wool blankets are not only irritating, they are notorious dust collectors.Synthetic blankets should be used since they do not collect dust as readily. Down comforters, of course, must be removed.

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Want to Stay Healthy? Don’t Rely on Vitamins

Americans spend nearly $12 billion each year on vitamin supplements, hoping they will steer us away from diseases like cancer and heart attacks. But it turns out they’re just a drain on our wallets.

Should healthy people take supplements to keep them healthy? A panel of experts convened by the government, the U.S. Preventive Services Task Force, says that for most vitamins and minerals, there is not enough evidence to determine whether the pills can lower risk of heart disease or cancer. And when it comes to beta-carotene (found in carrots and tomatoes) and vitamin E, there is no evidence that they can protect against either heart disease or cancer; in fact, beta-carotene use contributed to an increased risk of lung cancer in smokers.

That will come as a surprise to most Americans, who pop pills of omega-3 fatty acids hoping to fend off a heart attack or down vitamins C and E, which are high in antioxidants, to counteract the free-radical damage that contributes to cancer. “In the absence of clear evidence about the impact of most vitamins and multivitamins on cardiovascular disease and cancer, health care professionals should counsel their patients to eat a healthy, well-balanced diet that is rich in nutrients. They should also continue to consider the latest scientific research, their own experiences, and their patient’s health history and preferences when having conversations about nutritional supplements,” task-force member Dr. Wanda Nicholson said in a statement.

(MORE: Vitamin D and Calcium Supplements May Not Prevent Fractures)

The panel based its conclusion on a review of 26 studies, conducted from 2005 to ’13, some of which involved single supplements and others that investigated multivitamins and their relationship to heart disease, cancer and death outcomes. The review built on the panel’s previous report on supplements, in 2003, in which the task-force members said that there was not enough evidence to recommend vitamin A, C or E supplements, multivitamins or antioxidant combinations to prevent heart disease or cancer. At that time, the members also recommended against beta-carotene supplements because of their connection to a higher risk of lung cancer among smokers. In the current review, the members considered additional data on other vitamins and nutrients, including vitamins B and D, as well as zinc, iron, magnesium, niacin and calcium.

The conclusions apply to otherwise healthy people who take the supplements to prevent disease, so it’s not clear how effective, if at all, the pills can be in those at higher risk of heart problems or cancer. There have been hints, however, that the pills might not be the panacea that many people hoped they would be. In 2012, for example, a studypublished in the Journal of the American Medical Association showed that omega-3 supplements, touted as a powerful weapon against heart disease, did not lower risks of heart attack, stroke, or death from heart disease or any cause. Another study published in 2011 even linked vitamin-and-supplement consumption to a higher risk of death, reporting that women who took multivitamins were 6% more likely to die over a 19-year period, compared with women not taking them.

(MORE: Hold the Salmon: Omega-3 Fatty Acids Linked to Higher Risk of Cancer)

Why the takedown of vitamins, especially if they are so prevalent in good-for-you foods such as fruits and vegetables? Experts believe that the benefits of nutrients like vitamins may depend on how they are presented to the body; some may need the help of other compounds found in their natural form that are inadvertently stripped from individual pills that try to concentrate the health benefits of specific vitamins or minerals. “[T]he physiologic systems affected by vitamins and other antioxidant supplements are so complex that the effects of supplementing with only 1 or 2 components is generally ineffective or actually does harm,” write the authors in their report, published in theAnnals of Internal Medicine.

They recognize, however, that their conclusions are based on relatively few studies, since few trials have addressed the question of whether supplements can prevent disease in healthy people. So the results hold only until more data become available to understand the association more completely. In the meantime, the best way to take advantage of any health-promoting effects of nutrients like vitamins and minerals is to get them in their natural state, by eating a well-balanced diet high in low-fat dairy, fruits, vegetables and lean proteins.

MORE: Vitamin E May Increase Risk of Prostate Cancer

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Risks and Symptoms of High Blood Pressure

Who is at risk for high blood pressure?

About 65 million American adults—nearly one in three—have high blood pressure. In the United States, high blood pressure occurs more often in African Americans than in Caucasians. 

Compared with other groups, African Americans:

·         Tend to get high blood pressure earlier in life

·         Usually have more severe high blood pressure

·         Have a higher death rate from stroke, heart disease, and kidney failure

Many people get high blood pressure as they get older. Over half of all Americans aged 60 and older have high blood pressure. This is not a part of healthy aging. There are things you can do to help keep your blood pressure normal, such as eating a healthy diet, maintaining a healthy weight, and getting enough physical activity.

Your chances of developing high blood pressure are also higher if you:

·         Are overweight

·         Are a man over the age of 45

·         Are a woman over the age of 55

·         Have a family history of high blood pressure

·         Have prehypertension (that is, blood pressure in the 120–139/80–89 mmHg range)

Other things that can raise blood pressure include:

·         Eating too much salt

·         Drinking too much alcohol

·         Not getting enough potassium in your diet

·         Not doing enough physical activity

·         Taking certain medicines

·         Having long-lasting stress

·         Smoking (smoking can cause a temporary rise in blood pressure)

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The Easiest Natural Weight Loss Solution

It's a common story for most of us: You eat right, exercise, but still can't seem to lose those extra pounds. Is it genetics, age, or just something unknown that's keeping you looking and feeling heavy?

The surprising truth is that it may be your digestive system.

Many physicians and nutritional experts are pointing to an under-active digestive system as the real culprit behind all kinds of stomach issues. To put it simply, if your gut isn’t doing its job, your stomach can become a breeding ground for nasty bacteria—bacteria that cause painful stomach aches, embarrassing gas, and uncomfortable bloating.

So that expanding waistline you've been unsuccessfully fighting, might actually be your body's reaction to food build up.

And the surprising solution? Specialized probiotics.

For years, health experts have discussed how the healthy bacteria in probiotics can help with digestion, but a new study published in the British Journal of Nutrition links probiotics to fat loss as well. After 12 weeks, people consuming specific probiotic formulas dropped roughly 8 to 9 percent of their visceral fat—a particularly unhealthy type that builds up around your heart and organs — and 1 to 3 percent of their belly fat.

People often think of yogurt when discussing foods containing healthy probiotics, but most brands have tons of calories, carbs and sugars — all of which work against the goal of losing weight. That's why a new product called ProbioSlim is attracting a lot of attention.

Developed by a group of scientists working at a leading Massachusetts nutraceutical company, ProbioSlim contains LactoSpore. This unique and resilient spore-forming probiotic is built to withstand the heat inside your body so that more good bacteria can get into your system and have an immediate impact on your digestive health.

LactoSpore has been shown to promote healthy digestion, help relieve gas, bloating, constipation and diarrhea, and even promote clearer skin by helping to balance the body's pH.

The researchers behind ProbioSlim also added green tea leaf extract, one of the most talked about new ingredients in health and wellness. It contains compounds that help increase thermogenesis and fat oxidation to help burn calories, and caffeine for both improved workouts and appetite supression. There are also healthy fruit extracts that work as prebiotics, providing nourishment for the probiotics that are produced by LactoSpore.

Together, these are some of the most effective weight loss and digestive health ingredients on the market today, all in easy-to-swallow capsules.

If you're tired of never reaching your weight loss goals, and treating your stomach issues with antacids, laxatives, and dietary pills containing unknown chemicals, then maybe it's time to try ProbioSlim. The manufacturers are offering qualified users a free 2-week sample. Try it for 14 days and see for yourself if ProbioSlim works for you.

With a deal like that you've got nothing to lose — except the weight, bloating and embarrassment that comes with an upset digestive system.

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10 High Calorie Foods You Should Never Eat Before Going To Bed

 

We all know that going to bed on a full stomach is a big no. After a hard day at work or school, our body needs a break from performing the functions it performs on a daily basis, and your digestive system should be no exception to this. Also eating fatty meals before bed can trigger heartburn. However, if you really need to eat do your best and eat something light, and eat at lest two to three hours before you go to bed.

Top 10 High Calorie Foods You Should Never Eat Before Going To Bed

1. Pasta

Pasta is one of the fattest foods you need to avoid before going to bed. It may sound like an easy fix if you are hungry, especially since there are many pasta recipes that take less than 30 minutes to prepare, but keep in mind that pasta is a very rich source of carbohydrates that will eventually turn into fat when you hit the bed. Keep in mind the classic pasta toppings full of cheese and oils as well as the high glycemic index of this meal, this is you should steer clear from this fatty food before bedtime!

2. Pizza

Who does not like a big, juicy, delicious pizza? However, this is far from being a light meal and your digestive system would have a hard time processing it during the day: try to imagine how difficult it would be for your digestive organs to do that during the evening, when they should rest. Pizza is very greasy and it has ingredients that contain high levels of acidity, thus increasing the risk for heartburn.

3. Candy

You are what you eat, but did you know that you also dream what you eat? Not necessarily literally, but it is a known fact that fatty foods and sugary products (especially candy) have an impact on your brain waves and they can trigger nightmares. If you want a peaceful and relaxing night, then avoid junk food and opt for substitutes like oatmeal, which are lighter and contain less calories.

4. Red Meat

Although you should not avoid red meat overall given the fact that this is a good and nutritious source of proteins and iron, a big juicy stake will prevent you from achieving that deep, relaxing and refreshing sleep we all need after a long and stressful day. For that deep-state sleep to occur, your body systems all need to be at peace: this is exactly what won’t happen if you eat red meat before bedtime.

5. Chocolate

Dark chocolate is very good for your brain and for your memory, but at the same time it is bad for your waistline: especially if you plan to eat it at night, when all the calories will be stored as fat given the fact that your body is at rest. A small piece of chocolate would serve as a great dessert, but the problem is that most people end up binging on chocolate rather than sticking to just one piece.

One of the reasons why you should avoid chocolate before bedtime (especially dark chocolate) is because it is very rich in caffeine and other stimulants that will put your heart at work and keep your mind focused, rather than allowing it to relax and simply disconnect.

6. Vegetables

Veggies are delicious, nutrient-filled diet foods, but they are certainly not a great choice if you plan to go to bed soon, and for a very simple reason: vegetables such as onions, broccoli or cabbage contain high amounts of insoluble fiber which will make you feel full for a longer period of time. This would be fine if you were on a diet during the day, but during the night the fiber moves very slowly in your digestive system, not to mention that they cause excessive flatulence as well.

7. Alcohol Of Any Kind

Alcohol is definitely a sleep killer, given the fact that it can cause night sweats and cause you to wake up repeatedly during the night. Alcohol (especially wine) not only diminished the quality of the sleep, but it also reduces the nightly sleep time and it is very high in calories as well.

8. Cheeseburgers

Just like any other type of fatty, high-calorie foods, cheeseburgers should also be avoided before you go to bed because they stimulate the natural production of acid in the stomach and cause heartburn during the night, just like some of the other foods mentioned above.

9. Chilly Sauce

Chilly is certainly very healthy and beneficial when mixed with specific ingredients, but chilly sauce is a big no if you plan to go to bed soon. This is a high-calorie food that is filled with proteins and slow-burning carbohydrates.

10. Snacks And Chips

Processed snack foods should be avoided at all times, not just before you go to bed, given the fact that they contain high amounts of monosodium glutamate that is known to be linked to a variety of sleep disorders.

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