Tea Tree Oil And Treatment Of Boils

A boil is an inflamed area, usually based in a hair follicle, and can be caused by a physical condition such as diabetes, acne, or severe dermatitis and can also result from low immunity, irritations, an illness, stress, food allergy, poor diet, shaving, plucking hairs or poor hygiene. A boil usually starts as a tender area, becoming hard and swelling, and eventually softening and forming a head. The head is filled with bacteria and the white blood cells fighting the infection (pus). Staphylococcus is the bacteria that is usually found in the pus of a boil.

The bacteria involved are those usually present on healthy skin, so the boil is an indication of low resistance to infection.

It is advised not to lance the boil, because bacteria can spread to nearby skin and create new boils. Apply hot packs for up to 20 minutes at a time, throughout the day, as the heat draws more white blood cells, thereby helping to fight the infection. Do not cover with a bandaid. Wash with tea tree oil soap and apply antiseptic cream containing tea tree oil. A drop or two of tea tree oil may also be applied directly to the boil. Dab it on with a piece of clean cotton, do not rub or otherwise irritate the boil.

Procedure to be followed periodically throughout the day:

Dab some tea tree oil onto the boil with a piece of cotton to help bring it to a head, then cover with a piece of gauze. Cover the gauze with a damp washcloth, followed by a dry towel and then apply a heating pad. Leave on a low temperature for about 15 minutes. Change your dressing and reapply the tea tree oil. The oil helps bring the boil to a head while the warm compress helps pull the infection out of the skin; the tea tree oil then acts as an antiseptic and antibiotic on the bacteria in the pus. Be sure to throw away the gauze each time, and wash your hands with tea tree oil soap each time you handle the gauze or touch the boil.

Sometimes a boil’s bacteria can spread to a lymph node that is nearby. If there is a boil on the neck, check the lymph glands for swelling and tenderness. You should visit a doctor if this occurs, also if there is fever or lethargy. It’s important to learn to listen to your body and recognize when tea tree oil treatment will be enough, and when you need the help of a doctor.

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Celiac Disease And Loosing Weight

Many celiacs lose weight before they are diagnosed; indeed it is often one of the reasons people go to their doctors in the first place.

Once on a gluten-free diet the symptoms disappear, and as a result of better absorption or simply eating more, some people gain too much weight.

Losing weight should be based on eating sensibly rather than lurching from one diet to another. Be wary of low carbohydrate diets, as high protein diets can cause acidosis, which in turn can lead to calcium being lost from the bones.

You should always check the ingredients of any low calorie / low fat / low carbohydrate products as they may use ingredients containing gluten to thicken or stabilize the product. These are often wheat based.

Moderation is the key. Don’t deprive yourself but be honest with yourself. Snacking and raiding the fridge can add huge amounts of empty calories.

Consider the relationship you have with food – if you are using it to compensate for feeling unhappy it is better to deal with the underlying problem rather than use food. You end up with both the unhappiness and a weight problem.

It is quite useful to keep a food diary for a week before attempting to change your diet. (This refers to weight loss only, you must stick to your gluten-free diet at all times.) Look for empty calories, hidden fats and sugar. Stop alcohol drinking. Cut down on convenience foods as they are usually high in fat, sugar and salt.

The best way to lose weight is to:

Eat regular meals, particularly breakfast.

Consider your portion control, and use a smaller plate.

Don’t feel you have to eat everything on your plate. Always stop eating when you are full!

Eat lots of fruit and vegetables – at least 5 portions a day,

Fill up on vegetables – if it is green and leafy or red you can eat as much as you like

Eat potatoes, yams, sweet potatoes and parsnips in moderation

The way you cook food is important –

Remember frying, roasting or putting loads of butter on vegetables adds lots of fat and calories – beware

Cut out the snacks – they are often very high in fat and or sugar. If you must eat between meals eat fruit, carrot or celery sticks

Be sensible with carbohydrates -chose wholemeal rather than white bread, rice and pasta as it takes more calories for the body to digest, you feel full for longer and they have a higher level of vitamins and minerals. Eat them in moderation

Trim fat off meat and don’t eat the skin of fish or poultry – there is a high concentration of fat just under the skin

Beware hidden calories in drinks / snacks – a single tin of non- diet fizzy drink contains the equivalent of 7 teaspoonful of sugar

Crisps / biscuits / cakes / chocolate / sweets should be a treat they are laden with fat, salt and sugar

Alcohol is high in calories; approximately 80 calories for a small glass of wine. (1 unit). Stop drinking alcohol.

Cut your intake of salt – sodium can increase blood pressure.

Eating and weight are like the seesaw at the park. One end represents the calories you take in – what you eat. The other end is the calories you use in your daily activities including exercise.

If you eat more calories than you use you will put on weight. The seesaw will go up – as will your weight.

If you eat fewer calories than you use you will lose weight. The seesaw will go down – as will your weight.

Drink plenty of water – it will purify the system and help to make you feel full.

Drinking ice-cold water will burn off more calories than drinking water at room temperature.

It is vital that you follow a sensible balanced diet when you are trying to lose weight, ensuring you get enough vitamins and minerals if you want to remain healthy.

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Fight Prostate Cancer In Its Early Stages With A Prostate Self Test

Prostate cancer is one of the deadliest diseases among men, and yet many men are unaware that they have the disease until it’s too late. Next to heart attacks, prostate cancer is the leading cause of death for men. Though frequent prostate testing can be less than pleasant (as are many exams such as colon testing or heart stress tests), it’s pertinent in the fight of cancer through early detection and treatment.

Early detection through a prostate examination can help you and your doctor determine a course of action to help your prostate potentially heal itself or to surgically remove the prostate gland in time before the disease becomes fatal. Prostate testing reveals if the prostate gland is swollen. Even minimal swelling of the prostate can be a sign that it is getting sick though some prostate gland enlargement often occurs as men age. In some cases, men have been completely healed because early detection of a swollen prostate.

The prostate gland is located just below the bladder, and is normally about the size of a walnut. It surrounds the urethra, and its main function is to carry urine (out of the bladder) and semen through the penis. A man with prostate cancer may experience symptoms such as becoming incontinent or increased urinating frequency, painful ejaculation during sexual intercourse, or pain or a burning sensation while urinating. But with proper testing through a doctor or prostate self test, swelling can be detected before any of these symptoms appear.

Benefits of Prostate Self Tests

Thankfully, there are now prostate self tests that can be performed at home to help in the early detection of this disease. A man who is uncomfortable visiting the doctor may find a prostate self test to be a great solution. The prostate self test works similar to testing in the doctor’s office, and should be completed at least once every six months.

A prostate self test involves drinking a certain given amount of water and then using a special medical tool, which can be obtained at any local pharmacy without a prescription, or it can even be obtained online. It is an easy process that any man can do, and the test results can be read using simple instructions. The prostate self test reveals if the prostate gland is swollen. Though the prostate self test is not meant to replace regular doctor visits, it can be used as an in-between testing method to keep check on the state of your prostate gland. If you detect swelling through a prostate self test, do see a doctor right away for further examination and to determine if treatment is needed.

Prostate self tests can be obtained online, and detailed explanations are provided to help you use the test properly. These tests also make excellent gifts for any man over the age of 25. Give the gift of life to yourself or a friend or loved one.

With a prostate self test, you can avoid having so many unpleasant doctor visits while staying on top of your male health. Frequent testing is one of the primary preventive measures to help you live a longer, healthier life. Take care of your prostate health with a prostate self test today!

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Ankylosing Spondylitis: Treatment And Symptoms

What is Ankylosing Spondylitis?

Ankylosing Spondylitis is a condition which is related to arthritis. Ankylosing Spondylitis affects approximately 1 in every 250 mainly young men so while many may have not heard about it, it is quite common.

The word Ankylosing means inflammation of the spine while Spondylitis means joint which is fixed solid and unable to bend. So, in simple terms, Ankylosing Spondylitis is a condition which involves the spine becoming inflamed and as a consequence becoming fixed and solid. What tends to happen, is that tendons or ligaments attached to the spine become swollen. When the swelling reduces, it is replaced by growths of bone. When this happens a number of times, there becomes more and more bone where there used to be tendons or ligaments until eventually the joint fuses together.

As with many conditions, different people are affected with varying degrees of this condition, with some barely noticing it while others lose their full independence. What is also interesting is that the Ankylosing Spondylitis symptoms can come and go over time.

What are the Symptoms of Ankylosing Spondylitis?

The first time people tend to notice that they have Ankylosing Spondylitis, is when the experience lower back pain and some muscle spasms. This tends to be worse during the night. This pain often spreads to the upper back, neck and buttocks. Also, in the morning, neck pain may be experienced which is relieved during the day through exercise.

Without treatment, it is possible that the symptoms could develop into fever, fatigue and a loss of appetite. There may be some weight loss as well.

As the spine starts to fuse together, you may start to find it more and more difficult and painful to move around. Also, in a number of cases. as the joints start to become more and more affected, it becomes harder to breath as the ribs start to stop moving. This means that breathing is now being conducted using only the muscles of the diaphragm. On top of this, the lungs could be affected by Ankylosing Spondylitis.

Ankylosing Spondylitis in approximately 1 in 3 cases can cause inflammation in one or both eyes.

Causes of Ankylosing Spondylitis

Nobody knows exactly what causes Ankylosing Spondylitis. It is generally thought that the antigen HLA-B27. This may explain why this condition appears to run in families. This is also linked to a condition called Reites Syndrome.

Treatment of Ankylosing Spondylitis

There are no drugs in existence which can slow or stop the condition. However, there are drugs called Non Steroidal Anti Inflammatory Drugs (NSAIDs) which can help to control the inflammation and reduce the pain.

Also, daily exercise consisting of gentle stretching exercises or swimming can help to improve the movement of the spine and help to create a more positive posture. On top of this, hydrotherapy and physiotherapy can also help to relieve the symptoms.

Unfortunately, there are a small number of people suffering from Ankylosing Spondylitis who will require hip replacements. Thankfully, those cases are few and far between.

Interestingly, the symptoms of Ankylosing Spondylitis can be present for a period of time and then they reduce significantly.

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What Food Makes Rosacea Worse

Rosacea is a chronic, lifelong skin condition that affects (most often) the face. The disease is common: approximately 1 in every 20 americans has rosacea. Women are affected more often in the early stages (flushing and erythrosis), but more men progress to the advanced stages and rhinophyma is seen almost exclusively in men over 40 years of age.

Rosacea is characterized by various skin disorders and sufferers must contend with skin flushing, erythrosis (reddish or purplish discoloration of the skin), teleangiectasia (permanent enlargement of small blood vessels), papulopustular rosacea (papules are small, red, raised bumps; pustules are similar but they contain pus) or rhinophyma (enlarged, red, swollen nose) and for many people, some of these signs and symptoms are very common; approximately 94% of people with rosacea have flushing. These attacks last from a few minutes to several hours, and the flushing seen in rosacea is intermittent in nature. The disease, to a greater or lesser degree, is progressive, and the more pronounced skin lesions will usually follow sporadic episodes of flushing.

The exact cause of rosacea has not been determined, but here are many theories. Exposure to the sun may be one factor, and exposure to the sun can precipitate acute episodes of flushing. Another possible cause are skin mites, Demodex folliculorum and Demodex brevis. These tiny insects usually live at the base of hair follicles. They are often found on the faces of people with rosacea, and it has been suggested that they may initiate an inflammatory reaction (Inflammation dilates blood vessels and this contributes to the flush, and it may also damage the blood vessels, causing them to be permanently dilated). Infection with the common bacteria, Helicobacter pylori, has also been suggested as a cause. There may also be genetic defects in the vasculature of the skin that causes them to become easily – and permanently – dilated.

The signs and symptoms of rosacea are not dangerous, but they can be uncomfortable, unsightly, and disfiguring. (However, rosacea can affect the eyes. Approximately 3% to 58% of patients with skin changes will have eye problems and rosacea keratitis can lead to blindness). Yet although there is no cure for rosacea, the disease can be managed. Topical medication, oral medications and laser therapy can all be used to control flushing and to remove some of the skin blemishes, swollen blood vessels and discoloration. However, it would be far more preferable to prevent outbreaks of flushing and the development of erythrosis and papulopustular lesions. It is well known that there are certain factors – sunlight, stress, heat – that can trigger rosacea signs and symptoms, and food has been identified as a trigger.

What foods have been implicated as causes of rosacea signs and symptoms? The list is long, and there is obviously individual variations in susceptibility: Chocolate, tomatoes, hot beverages, hot sausage, red pepper, black pepper, vinegar, paprika, white pepper, garlic, wine, hard liquor, cheese, yogurt, sour cream, milk, citrus fruits, eggplants, avocadoes, spinach, raisins, figs, bananas, high doses of B6 and B12 and marinated meat.

Why do these foods exacerbate rosacea? No one knows for sure, and given the fact that the exact cause of rosacea hasn’t been clearly determined, that’s not surprising. However a look at the pathophysiology of rosacea may provide some clues.

The flush that is so common in people with roseacea is caused by dilation of the small blood vessels of the face. Why this occurs is not certain. The blood vessels may be genetically weak, or they may be damaged by years of exposure to the sun. There may also be an increase in the number of blood vessels, or there may be damage to the walls of the blood vessels. Whatever the cause, the blood vessels (which in the face are very close to the surface) dilate. Many of the foods that trigger flushing attacks most likely do so by increasing body temperature, and in order to lose body heat, blood vessels dilate. Others may cause flushing by stimulating the release of histamine. This is a naturally occurring substance that dilates blood vessels and some foods, e.g. citrus fruits may stimulate the release of histamine.

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Chronic Scleroderma

What is Scleroderma? – Scleroderma is a chronic disease characterized by excessive deposits of collagen. In order to better understand Scleroderma it helps if you have some understanding as to what collagen is.

What is Collagen? – Collagen is a fibrous protein that occurs bone, cartilage and connective tissue. It is a major structural protein that forms molecular cables to strengthen the tendons and vast, resilient sheets that support the skin and internal organs. There is no organ or tissue which does not have collagen. Collagen acts as the important support structure in tissues around which cells live and function. Elements of our body such as bones and teeth are made by adding mineral crystals to collagen.

Scleroderma directly affects the skin, and in sometimes in more severe cases, it can affect the blood vessels and internal organs of the body. The most visible scleroderma symptom is the hardening of skin and associated scarring that goes along with it. This hardened skin will normally appear reddish or scaly in appearance. Often times this will allow blood vessels to be more visible.

The most serious aspect of the disease to take into account are: The total area that is covered, and the the level of internal involvement that is taking place. These are important to consider because a patient that only has minor coverage is much less likely to have damage to internal organs and tissues as someone with larger coverage.

Almost certainly, in cases where an entire limb is affected, future use of that limb will be jeopardized. If the coverage is over the torso, the heart and lungs will be affected which is more severe, than lets say an arm. Often times, internal scarring will occur which is more complicated and cannot simply be seen by the naked eye.

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What Is Rosacea Symptoms And Treatment Options

Rosacea gives dilated blood vessels and inflammation in the skin. The skin is often also infected by bacteria. Most often the face is attacked and especially the convex surfaces of the face. Sometimes also the eyes or other body parts are affected. Rosacea may begin early, but distinct and serious symptoms usually develop as an individual gets older.

WHAT SYMPTOMS ARE SEEN BY ROSACEA

The primary symptoms of rosacea are the following. All the symptoms may not be present always.

- Permanent redness in the skin. This redness can get better or worse periodically.

- Flushing or redness that comes and disappears periodically.

- Telangiectasia – This is a distinct widening of small blood vessels in an area.

- Papules – Small dome-shape spots filled with fluid, often group wise.

- Skin areas with rosasea symptoms often get infected, and the infection worsens the symptoms.

- Pustules or pimples – Sometimes infection makes the papules develop into real pimples. However, if the pimples appear in a hair follicle stuffed with sebum (comedones), they are a symptom of acne, and not rosacea. Pimples from acne and rosacea may exist together.

Rosacea also implies secondary symptoms that are caused by the primary symptoms, or appear later than the primary ones.

- Burning or stinging

- Placks – elevated red areas

- Scaling, often associated with burning or stinging

- Dry skin, often occurring before scaling

- Edema coming in areas that already has been red for some time

- Symptoms from the eyes like: Redness, itching, burning, corneal damage

- Thickening of the skin, or lumps in the skin

- Distended hair follicles

- Rosacea in other places than the face

WHAT CAUSES ROSACEA

The exact causes are not known, but some people seem to inherit the tendency of developing rosacea. Therefore rosacea may be caused by blood vessels that dilate too easily upon stimulation, and eventually become permanently dilated.

The following types of stimulation may cause worsening of the rosacea symptoms: heat, hot baths, strenuous exercise, sunlight, wind, very cold temperatures, hot or spicy foods and drinks, alcohol consumption, menopause, emotional stress.

HOW IS ROSACEA TREATED

Traditional medicine does not have any treatment for the basic processes of rosacea, such as redness and the blood vessel extention.

Laser treatment may be used to take away dilated blood vessels or skin irregularities by rosacea. The laser light heats and destroys the dilated blood vessels.

When infection is a part of the disease, and papules or pustules occur, rosacea is treated with antibiotics, usually applied directly on the skin, for example metronidazole. Oral treatment may also be used by severe rosacea, for example with: Tetracycline, erythromycin, and doxycycline.

By pimple formation, you can also use rinsing skin cleansers in the same way as by acne.

On the market you can find several alternative medicines, mostly topical creams, to treat rosacea. These often contain natural oils, herbal extracts, vitamins, minerals and anti-oxidants that alleviate inflammation and stimulate skin healing. They may also contain mild antiseptic agents to treat bacterial infection.

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What Is Dry Eye Syndrome

Dry eye syndrome, also called Keratoconjunctivitis sicca or xerophthalmia, refers to a lack of lubrication and moisture in the eye. This is mainly due to a decrease in the tear production or an increase in the tear film evaporation. The typical symptoms of dry eye syndrome are burning and a subtle but constant eye irritation. The condition may also lead to inflammation of the frontal eye tissue.

There are several factors that may bring about dry eye syndrome. The condition is more common with older age, since tear production decreases with age. Dry eye as a syndrome may occur as a side effect of many medications. Harsh environmental conditions, such as a dusty or windy climate, may worsen the condition. Even your workplace environment, comprising of air conditioning or a dry heating system, may easily dry out your eyes. Insufficient blinking, such as, when constantly staring at a monitor screen, is another significant cause of dry eye syndrome.

The basic treatment for dry eye syndrome is to replenish the moisture content of the eye surface. To accomplish this, the ophthalmologist typically prescribes artificial tears, which are lubricating eye drops that aid in alleviating the symptoms of irritation and burning sensation in the eyes. Another treatment that goes one step further involves the application of Restasis (cyclosporine) eye drops, which effectively enhance tear production. A healthy diet, comprising of a sufficient amount of omega-3 fatty acids, lowers the chances of contracting dry eye syndrome. Salmon, sardine, herring, and cod liver oils are rich sources of omega-3 fatty acids.

Patients wearing contact lenses need to take an extra precaution prior to the application of artificial tears. Specifically, it is necessary that the patient removes the contact lenses before using the eye drops. Moreover, the patient needs to wait 15 minutes or longer for the medicinal drops to take effect, and only after that can the contact lenses be worn again.

Dry eye syndrome is slightly more common in women than in men. A shocking 10-14 million people in the u.s. suffer from dry eye syndrome. The condition is more prevalent among those older than 40 years. An estimated 75% of the old-aged population shows signs of dry eye syndrome.

If you suffer from any of the above explained symptoms that depict the dry eye syndrome, please visit your doctor as soon as possible to avoid any complications.

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Borderline Personality Disorder Treatment

Borderline Personality Disorder (BPD) is a serious mental illness characterized by the inability to regulate emotions. According to various online sources, this disorder affects women primarily with an onset during adolescence.

Patients with BPD demonstrate constant emotional instability and distress that leaves them in a constant state of despair. The goal of Borderline Personality Disorder treatment is to help patients eventually gain stability over their illness and lead productive lives. Men and women who receive treatment for Borderline Personality Disorder usually require extensive mental health services throughout their lives, including regular psychotherapy sessions and periodic re-evaluation by a psychiatrist and adjustment of psychotropic medications when necessary.

The most significant goal of Borderline Personality Disorder treatment is to help the patient gain control over urges to inflict self-harm or even commit suicide. These patients have great unstable emotional mood swings in response to stress or significant life events and should always be monitored closely during an episode. Often short periods of psychosis accompany the mood swings, and the patient loses touch with reality at this point.

Narcissism is also a cardinal feature of Borderline Personality Disorder, and maintaining interpersonal relationships is difficult and self-esteem suffers greatly. BPD patients are very controlling and are constantly insecure and questioning of people they meet. They are quick to start relationships but soon become disappointed and make great demands, when threatened with abandonment the symptoms accelerate, which can lead to self-injury or suicide attempt. Borderline Personality Disorder treatment attempts to decrease number of episodes and stabilize mood swings and erratic behavior.

The exact cause of Borderline Personality Disorder is unknown, but is thought to be the result of a combination of factors, such as a traumatic life event or genetic influences. Psychotherapy is an absolute for Borderline Personality Disorder treatment, which can be very difficult for the therapist because there is always the threat of self-mutilation or suicide.

Successful Borderline Personality Disorder treatment also involves the right medications to control mood swings. Various anti-depressants have been shown to be effective, and at time, inpatient hospitalization may be required at times during an acute episode. Borderline Personality Disorder treatment can be successful and patients can achieve stability in their lives with better medications and advanced therapies, but they can’t do it on their own.

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When Anxiety Becomes A Disorder

It is absolutely normal to be anxious. When faced with a problem or a situation, we experience anxiety. We tend to worry when we are trying to finish a deadline that seems impossible to beat. We cram during final exams.

Just like other emotions, such as fear, anger, sadness or happiness, anxiety is a normal reaction that helps a person cope and deal with present situation. It is common and plays a significant role in relation to a person’s ability to adapt and survive.

However, when anxiety gets out of hand and leads to an unreasonable fear or worry of daily activities, it has become a disorder.

There are several types of emotional and psychological problems, as shown below:

- Generalized Anxiety Disorder is characterized by a person’s exaggerated view of a certain situation that elicits irrational anxiety or unnecessary worry which becomes alarmingly habitual. A mother who overly anticipates financial and health problems of the family may become a nervous wreck. Or an employee who is extremely concerned about difficulties at work.

- Panic Disorder is describe as a sudden strike of terror associated with rapid heart beats, sweating, weakening, fainting, or dizziness. A person with panic attack experience a feeling of impending disaster and loss of control. Panic attacks may occur at any given time, even while asleep. It usually lasts for ten minutes, though there are some cases that it takes longer before a person comes back to reality. Not everyone who experience panic attacks may develop panic disorder.

- Social Anxiety Disorder, also called social phobia, is a condition when people become overly self-conscious in everyday social situations that leads to intense anxiety. There is an unreal fear of being watched and judged by others and of doing things that will embarrass them. It becomes chronic and persistent, lasting for days or weeks before a dreaded situation. This fear may become so severe that it interferes with work, school, and other ordinary activities, and can make it hard to make and keep friends.

According to the anxiety disorders association of america , “Social Anxiety Disorder (SAD), or social phobia, is characterized by an intense fear of being scrutinized and negatively evaluated by others in social or performance situations. Some people with SAD literally feel ‘sick from fear’ in seemingly non-threatening situations, such as ordering food in a restaurant, signing one’s name in public or making a phone call. Though they recognize that the fear is excessive and unreasonable, people with SAD feel powerless against their anxiety. They are terrified they will act in a way that will be embarrassing or humiliating. The anxiety can interfere significantly with daily routines, occupational performance or social life. It can make it difficult to complete school, interview and obtain jobs and create and maintain friendships...”

In some situations, a person’s Social Anxiety Disorder may be evident only in a particular social activity like making a phone call, talking to clients or giving a speech, but the person can be totally at ease in other social events. In these cases, SAD is selective. On the other hand, a more generalized form of SAD is experiencing anxiety attacks in a variety of routine activities where one’s actions or behavior may be scrutinized such as business meetings, class activities, talking to strangers.

- Phobia is an unreasonable and intense fear of something that brings about little or no real threat and danger. Most common specific phobias are focused on the fear of high places, closed-in spaces, water, flying, dogs, snakes and injuries involving blood. These are not just excessive fear but extremely irrational fear of a particular thing. Most adult patients realize that these fears are unreasonable but discovers that dealing with feared object or situation brings on a dreaded anxiety attack.

- Obsessive Compulsive Disorder is unrelenting and is characteized by disquieting thoughts (obsessions) and the of use rituals (compulsions). People with obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) have persistent, upsetting thoughts (obsessions) and use rituals (compulsions) to control the anxiety these thoughts produce. Most of the time, the rituals end up controlling them.

Normal healthy people also have rituals, such as checking to see if the stove is off several times before leaving the house. The only difference is that people with OCD tend to overdo their rituals to the point that it obstructs with their daily life and they find the routine agonizing. Some would recognize that what they are doing is senseless, but most people, especially kids, may not realize that their behavior is out of the ordinary.

Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) occurs when a tragic event happens involving physical harm or the threat of physical harm. The harm could have happened to the person PTSD or to a loved one, or the person is a witness to a tragic scene that happened to loved ones or strangers.

PTSD was first brought to public attention in relation to war veterans, but it can result from a variety of traumatic incidents, such as mugging, rape, torture, being kidnapped or held captive, child abuse, car accidents, train wrecks, plane crashes, bombings, or natural disasters such as floods or earthquakes.

Treatment of Anxiety Disorders

Anxiety disorders are generally treated with medication or specific types of psychotherapy, or both. Treatment depends on the severity of the case and the person’s preference. Be sure that a doctor is consulted to evaluate the cause of anxiety disorder before treatment begins. Sometimes depression, or other coexisting conditions have such a strong effect on the individual that treating the anxiety disorder must wait until the coexisting conditions are brought under control.

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Beet A Great Fighter Of Diseases

Beetroot is one of the most common ingredients used in a salad. With a hard exterior the sweet mouth-watering interior makes it worthwhile to have this vegetable. There are different types of beet like reddish-purple hue, other varieties like white, golden-yellow or sometimes even multi-colored. It has a good content of sugar in comparison to other vegetables.

Even though they are very high on sugar their calorie content is very low. With the immense number of benefits it protects you from heart disease, birth related short-comings and cancer like colon cancer. It runs a long battle which is fought against this cancer. Beets can be eaten in many forms such as raw, juice, cooked and pickled.

The level of antioxidant increases in liver. The cholesterol level also falls which is one of key areas of concern for many cardiovascular diseases. People suffering from kidney or gallbladder problems should avoid eating beet. People who want to increase their calcium content should also avoid eating beet as it may prove to be a hindrance in building calcium.

Home Remedies from Beet

- It is very useful in fighting anaemia as it contains potassium, phosphorus, calcium, sulfur, iodine, copper, carbohydrates, protein, fat, vitamin B1, B2, B6, niacin and vitamin P.

- Beet gets rid of dandruff. By boiling the top and root of the beet in water and later the water used on your scalp every night makes a huge difference. If you can find white beet it would work even better.

- Having raw beet and even in juice form at least couple a times a day can refresh you and rejuvenate you from a tired day.

- Having carrot and beet juice or cucumber juice has known to work against allergies. A combination of all these juices, in a day is good enough for a daily battle.

- To fight appendicitis you should use the combination of beet and cucumber juice 100 ml, mixed with 300 ml of carrot juice. If this is consumed twice daily, it may just do the needful.

- The beet juice is also known to be very useful to fight arteriosclerosis. It helps to keep the blood vessels and the arterial system in a very sound condition. You can use combination of different vegetables like carrots, spinach and beet to make a great concoction.

- Arthritis is a very problematic condition. You can fight it by having a green juice from any leafy vegetable which is mixed in equal proportion with carrot, celery and beet juice. The presence of alkaline content in the raw juices dissolves the deposits accumulated around the joints and other tissues.

Warning: The reader of this article should exercise all precautionary measures while following instructions on the home remedies from this article. Avoid using any of these products if you are allergic to it. The responsibility lies with the reader and not with the blog or the writer.

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Irritable Bowel Syndrome Explained

Irritable Bowel Syndrome or IBS is a disorder of the gastrointestinal tract that results to recurrent upper and lower gastrointestinal symptoms. The most common symptoms of IBS include abdominal pain and altered bowel movement such as constipation, diarrhea or both.

There is still no clear cause of IBS that is why it is termed as a functional disorder since there are no signs in the bowel and yet changes are observed from its previous functional quality. Irritable Bowel Disorder may cause a great deal of discomfort and distress but will not result in permanent harm to the bowel and does not increase chances of cancer.

The good news with IBS is the fact that it can be cured by means of diet and medication. Irritable Bowel Syndrome can happen during any period of one’s life. The exact cause of IBS is not fully known however similar conditions in children have been observed and are believed to be the portent of adult IBS.

Some factors like emotional conflict or stress tend to aggravate IBS symptoms but research findings have shown contrasting results. Emotional conflicts are no longer accepted as factors that cause IBS.

In addition, studies also show that patients with IBS tend to develop overly sensitive bowels compared to those without IBS. It has been observed that patients with IBS even with minimal stimulation may easily distress their intestinal muscles. Accordingly, patients with IBS may strongly react to a stimulus that does not normally aggravate the bowels of a normal healthy individual.

Ordinary occurrence in the large intestines such as eating or gas production may have adverse effect on the colon of an IBS patient. Certain medications as well as food may trigger IBS symptoms. Most of the foods that trigger IBS symptoms are chocolates, fatty foods, dairy products as well as grain containing products and even alcohol may aggravate and then trigger IBS symptoms.

Caffeine may have laxative effects to some, but for IBS patients it is just one of those products that offend their digestive tract. Likewise, IBS is predominant to women with menstrual periods since reproductive hormones are believed to influence the course of IBS.

There are two types of IBS and these are diarrhea-predominant IBS and constipation-predominant IBS. These two types of IBS suggest that chronic diarrhea and chronic constipation may be examined through the bacteria derived from bowel samples. And since metronidazole and vancomycin (both antibiotics) are effective in reducing diarrhea and constipation IBS, it is a clear indication that an overgrowth of bacteria in the bowel flora may actually cause IBS. Likewise, progressive nerve damage can develop and is exhibited by some patients with chronic constipation.

It is really hard to pinpoint normal a bowel movement since various people have their own normal frequency. There may be some people whose normal bowel movement involves three stools a day while others may move their bowels everyday upon waking up. A healthy bowel movement is one that is formed but not hard, contains no blood and flushes out of the colon without unnecessary cramps or pain.

If you suspect you are suffering with IBS, you should first consult your primary care physician before taking other steps.

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Bacteria How Acne Develops

Many people think they know what causes acne, the inflammation of skin pores that results in problems such as blackheads, whiteheads or pimples, primarily in teenagers. There are a lot of misconceptions about acne though. Officially common acne is known as acne vulgaris. And in explaining it, the answer becomes bit complicated.

Acne is an inflamed disease of the skin, and it has many causes, one of which is bacteria in the pores of the skin. The body in many ways becomes allergic to this type of bacteria. This attracts while blood cells to fight the allergy, and the pores become blocked. Oil secretions will build up and provide a breeding ground for even more bacteria. Then pimples will form. These red bumps resemble small boils, which fill with a nasty puss caused by the body fighting the infection of the bacteria.

There is probably no perfect cure for acne other than outgrowing it but there are a number nothing that can be done to lessen the physical effects.

First, remember that for many years, people thought that acne was caused by poor hygiene and by eating certain foods. Fried foods and chocolate were especially blamed for acne, probably because teenagers eat fried foods and chocolate commonly, but that may have been blaming the messenger for the message. There is no scientific evidence linking diet to acne.

Also, while personal hygiene is important and a good thing, over washing can damage skin and actually make acne worse. But good hygiene and a good diet can’t hurt, and they might just help a little.

Treatments that kill the bacteria that cause acne included the use of antibiotics like tetracycline, doxycycline and minocyclne, which are taken orally. Also topical antibiotics or bactericides like Benzoyl peroxide or erythromycin can help. The bacteria also known as “P. acnes”, does however become resistant to the antibiotics eventually. However Benzoyl peroxide, an oxidizer, does not seem to generate resistance by the bacteria. While the acne will come back, it is a short term and temporary cure and is applied topically.

Exfoliating the skin can also help. This method can be done by using a cloth or a liquid scrub, or by using certain chemicals. Chemical exfoliating substances include salicylic acid and glycolic acid. Both of these agents cause a peeling of the top layer of skin, which prevents a build up of dead skin which blocks pores when combined with oil. This in turn, makes a breeding ground for bacteria.

Another over the counter remedy is salicylic acid, which softens skin and gets rid of dead skin cells, which in turn unclogs pores. Many face wash products contain this ingredient. Also sulfur contained in many over the counter products works well for many people. Another product is glycolic acid, which is found in anti-aging products as well as acne medicines.

There are also a number of natural remedies that can fight acne and the bacteria that causes it. Tea tree oil is gaining in popularity. It kills the bacteria and also reduces redness and inflammation. It works much the same as Benzoyl peroxide but causes less skin irritation and is carried at health food stories.

Acupuncture is used by some and is thought to alleviate hormonal imbalances in the body. Those who use acupuncture also usually suggest lifestyle changes and a change in diet, including cutting back on dairy products.

Light therapy is another natural remedy to fight the bacteria that has many adherents. Many people believe that the bacteria that causes acne insensitive to light in the blue wavelength of the light spectrum. Light therapy means shining blue light onto a patient for fifteen minutes at a time twice a week, usually for four weeks. This treatment can be expenses, running about $150 per treatment. Not all patients have had good results, but some have. Also since light in this wavelength is not harmful to the skin, there are no side effects or after effects.

Fighting the bacteria that causes acne is of major concern for many medical professionals, and surely with time they will find more and better ways to do so. In the meantime, the treatments listed here can help many people.

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Travel tips for people with Crohn's disease

Although Crohn’s Disease is a difficult disorder, you should not keep yourself from living the best life possible because you suffer from this disorder. You should continue in your life as you would without Crohn’s, although a few more precautions may be necessary. When traveling, this will ensure a smooth and enjoyable trip.

The first thing you should do, whether you are traveling abroad or close to home, is locate a doctor in the area you will be visiting. There are several organizations available to utilize in your search or you can simply ask your doctor for referrals.

Also Check: Understanding The Autoimmune Disorder Crohn S Disease


If you are taking prescription medication, you should be sure to take plenty for the duration of your trip. You should also keep it with you when you travel on the plane to avoid it being lost in the heaps of luggage. Always keep your medication in its original container and a typed statement from your doctor regarding what medications you are taking and what they are for. You will also need to get copies of all of your prescriptions, including foreign names, in case you have to refill them abroad. However, you should avoid this by carrying enough medication with you, as filling prescriptions in other counties can sometimes be difficult.

Also Check: Symptoms Of Crohn S Disease: How To Tell If Someone May Have It

A common ailment among travelers to less developed countries is known as “traveler’s diarrhea”. This can be especially dangerous for sufferers of Crohn’s Disease and special care should be taken to avoid it from occurring. Basically, traveler’s diarrhea occurs from the ingestion of water or food that is not as stringently processed. Steps that should be taken include being very careful about what you eat or drink; do not drink water unless you boil it; avoid drinks made from tap water, like tea or juices that may have been mixed from concentrate; use bottled water to drink and to brush your teeth with; avoid ice, ice cream, and uncooked fruits, vegetables, and meat; avoid diary products as they may not be pasteurized; and do not eat any questionable food. If you become affected with traveler’s diarrhea, take an over the counter medication and be sure to intake plenty of fluids to avoid dehydration.

Also watch for signs of a medical emergency, such as high fever or chills, which may be a sign of infection; profuse rectal bleeding; extreme abdominal pain; dizziness; or dehydration. If any of these occur, seek medical attention immediately.

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Coping With Asthma

Managing and controlling asthma is very important for asthma sufferers. Knowing the triggers that affect your airways and learning to avoid these things is key.

Asthma triggers can be any number of things. You should stop smoking or allow smoking in your home. Wash sheets, blankets, and pillows once a week and look into dust-proof covers for mattresses to help control dust mites. If the pollen count is too high, stay indoors.

Asthma sufferers affected by cold air should wear a scarf over the mouth and nose in winter, and should wash their hands often and get a flu shot to prevent colds and the flu. Food triggers should be avoided. If animal dander is a problem, owning a pet can be a major hassle. Keep the pet out of the house, or at least out of your bedroom, and wash your pet often. Keeping humidity levels at a rate beneficial to your health is crucial, but avoid the use of humidifiers.

Once you know what your triggers are and how to control them, you should make a plan of action with your physician. Your doctor will help you figure out if any of your current medications are affecting your asthma, and what asthma medication is right for you. You should follow your asthma plan properly with the correct usage of your medication. If you’re unsure about the use of your medication, consult your doctor, who can teach you how to properly use the inhaler or other treatment methods.

Controlling your asthma is crucial, but if your asthma symptoms are not under control, it can get worse. If your symptoms happen more often and are getting worse, or you have to use a quick-relief inhaler often (every day is too often), you should contact your doctor for a change in medication or other steps to control your asthma.

Asthma affects so many people and should be managed and controlled to keep the dilemma from getting out of hand. Using and sticking to a plan that works for both you and your doctor is the only way to ensure that your asthma is controlled properly.

This article is for information purposes only. It is not intended to treat, diagnose or prevent any health issue or illness. If you have or think you have asthma or any other illness, consult your physician for proper diagnosis and treatment.

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Control Your Diabetes By Vitamin C And Vitamin E

Many of the vitamins like Vitamin B complex, Thiamine or Vitamin B1 and Pyridoxine or Vitamin B6 are great controller of diabetes. Other vitamins like vitamin C and vitamin E also works great in controlling diabetes. Have a look on the benefits how they can help you controlling your diabetes.

Vitamin C – Vitamin C is considered highly beneficial in treating diabetes. Because of stress, urinary losses and destruction by artificial sweeteners, the vitamin C requirement is usually high in diabetics. Large amounts of this vitamin sometimes bring very good results. dr. george v mann in perspective in biology and medicine recommended extra vitamin C for diabetics. Natural insulin output increases in diabetics with supplementary doses of vitamin C.

The intake of vitamin C in the form of dried Indian gooseberry (amla), the richest known source of vitamin C, or tablets of 500 mg or from natural sources of vitamin C besides amla, are citrus fruits, green leafy vegetables, sprouted Bengal gram and green grams.

Vitamin E – This vitamin reduces considerably the devastating vascular damage accompanying diabetes.

A swedish study also supports vitamin E therapy for treating diabetes. Vitamin E helps diabetics decrease their insulin requirements. It would be advisable for a diabetes patient to take a daily dose of 200 IU of this vitamin for a fortnight at a time.

Rich Sources of Vitamin E. Valuable natural foods sources of this vitamin are wheat or cereal germ, whole grain products, fruits and green leafy vegetables, milk and all whole raw or sprouted seeds.

Other rich sources of vitamin E are cold pressed crude vegetable oils, especially sunflower seeds, safflower, and Soya beans oils, raw and sprouted seeds and grains, alfalfa, lettuce, almond, human milk etc.

Vitamin A – Diabetics are unable to convert beta-carotine to vitamin A. A supplement of this vitamin, therefore, becomes necessary.

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Nail Fungus Do I Treat It

Nail fungus is a condition in which fungi get under the nail of the toe or finger and cause an infection in the area. The infection can be of the nail itself or for the underlying skin in the area known as the nail bed. The condition is one in which you will want to have treated, especially if you find that it is painful or embarrassing to have. If you suffer for other conditions, such as diabetes, your doctor may want to take care of the problem as soon as possible so that it does not cause further damage to your skin. While you can have finger nail fungus, it is most commonly a toe nail fungus that will be present. In fact, at any given time, up to 18% of the population will have nail fungus infections.

Nail fungus does not necessary have to be treated. If it is not causing you any pain and you do not have a problem with the way it looks, then you may choose to not treat it at all. But, if you do this, you are increasing the chances for it to spread and worsen which may result in pain. It is also likely that it will take longer to treat at that point. The good news is, though, that you do not need to live with this condition. Nail fungus cures are available to help you.

There are several over the counter medications that can help in this condition. There is not a 100% nail fungus cure, but many people do find relief from these topical treatments. If you do not see any relief from them, you can and should contact your family doctor. He can prescribe medications that are stronger to help. Some of these medications do have side effects though. Nail fungus is something that many people have, yet you do not need to suffer from it when you seek out the help of fungal treatments such as these.

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Goji And Cancer

According to world health organization statistics, more than 10 million new cases of cancer are diagnosed annually. The disease kills more than 6 million people each year, making cancer the second leading cause of death throughout the world.

In the u.s. alone, cancer has just eclipsed heart disease to become the country’s number one killer.

There is much that you can do to decrease your risk of cancer and to help your body to battle it should it strike. With a little education, you can arm yourself against this deadly enemy.

What Is Cancer?

Cancer is a group of many related diseases that begin in cells, the body’s basic building blocks. To understand cancer, it is helpful to know what happens when normal cells become cancerous.

Normally, cells grow and divide to produce more cells as they are needed to keep the body healthy. Sometimes, this orderly process goes wrong. New cells form when the body does not need them, and old cells do not die when they should. The extra cells form a mass of tissue called a growth, or tumor. Not all tumors are cancerous; tumors can be benign or malignant.

Benign tumors are not cancer. They can often be removed and, in most cases, they do not come back. Cells in benign tumors do not spread to other parts of the body. Most important, benign tumors are rarely a threat to life.

Malignant tumors are cancer. Cells in malignant tumors are abnormal and divide without control or order. Cancer cells invade and destroy the tissue around them. They can also break away from a malignant tumor and enter the bloodstream or lymphatic system, which can carry them throughout the body, causing new tumors to form in other organs. The spread of cancer is called metastasis.

Scientists have learned that cancer is caused by changes in genes that control normal cell growth and cell death. Certain lifestyle and environmental factors can damage genetic DNA, causing the genes to mutate and promote cancer growth. The national cancer institute lists five prime causes of cancer-promoting genetic mutations: tobacco use; poor diet; UV radiation from the sun; exposure to environmental toxins and pollutants; and inherited predisposition to cancer.

DNA is the most vital chemical in your body, carrying the blueprint of your entire genetic history. Goji’s betaine and master molecule polysaccharide can restore and repair damaged DNA, protecting your body’s ten trillion cells.

Cancer Prevention and Treatment

You can reduced the risk of getting cancer by not using tobacco products, avoiding harmful rays of the sun, exercising regularly, avoiding obesity and choosing foods with less fat, and consuming more vegetables, whole grains, fruits and juices – especially cancer-preventive, phytonutrient-rich goji.

Goji is one of the only plant species one earth that contains the anti-cancer mineral germanium. Its antioxidants are unique polysaccharides can stop the genetic mutations that can lead to cancer.

Goji increases stamina and endurance, and helps to eliminate fatigue.

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Infants And Acid Reflux

Infant acid reflux is quite common. People of all ages, especially infants because they consume only liquids or soft foods, suffer from mild heartburn or acidic regurgitation on occasion. As in adult cases, infants experience acid reflux when the lower esophageal sphincter (LES) is relaxed. The LES acts as a valve between the esophagus and the stomach. It opens up to allow food into the stomach and then closes in order to protect the esophagus and other organs from acidic reflux. Unfortunately, it is difficult to determine if an infant has developed a chronic form of heartburn called gastroesophageal reflux disease or GERD.

In order to determine if an infant has a chronic form of heartburn (GERD) you should consult your pediatrician. Look for clues such as sleeping problems, coughing, weight loss, lack of appetite, spitting up frequently, and apnea. Acid reflux disease can cause respiratory problems including pneumonia, strictures and ulcerations on the esophageal wall, and malnourishment. Infant acid reflux symptoms usually include recurrent coughing, bad breath, spitting up frequently, unusual irritability and crying, chest pain, and sore throat.

There are several causes of acid reflux in infants. Many of the causes are exacerbated by the fact that infants, much more so than adults, consume mostly liquids and spend a great deal of time on their backs or in a supine position. Combined with the backwash potential of liquids, lying down puts pressure on the LES (esophagus valve) and increases the chances for reflux. Other causes could be attributed to the anatomy of a child’s stomach position, poor eating habits, smoking (second hand), being overweight, and food allergies.

In addition to GERD, infants can be diagnosed with a functional version of acid reflux. This condition can be improved with simple modifications such as changing eating habits, keeping the child upright after eating, and encouragement. GERD, or the chronic disease, requires medical treatment by a physician, prescription drug therapy, as well as lifestyle changes.

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Colon Cancer And Spontaneous Remission

Among the most spread cancers, colon cancer usually occurs in men and women over the age of 50. Two of the best things you can do to reduce the risk of colon cancer from causing your early demise is to eat right and to seek early detection at the first sight of a problem.

Just by increasing the amount of fiber you eat daily by 3 / 4 ounce, you can dramatically change your risk of getting colon cancer and many other colon diseases. Add 3 / 4 ounce of fiber to your daily diet and avoid the misery and devastation that colon cancer brings to you and your family. Most people with underlying hereditary predispositions to colon cancer can’t effectively prevent the occurrence of the disease, healthy people can avoid colon cancer by following a proper diet and by making lifestyle improvements.

According to the factors that lead to the development of colon cancer, there are two main types of the disease: hereditary colon cancer, which occurs due to genetically inherited physiological abnormalities of the large bowel; and acquired (sporadic) colon cancer, which occurs due to inappropriate diet and unhealthy lifestyle. Most cases of colon cancer occur due to formation of polyps in different regions of the large bowel (colon). People who have a family history of colon cancer should pay regular visits to an oncologist, as it is very important to timely reveal the signs of large bowel disease in order to maximize the chances of recovery.

Immediately following diagnosis, a colon cancer patient may want to visit their local library or research the internet for educational resources, of which there are plenty available. After it has spread, colon cancer starts to cause symptoms that can’t be overlooked, like blood in the stool, change in bowel habits, fatigue, vomiting, stomach aches, so in this phase it’s easy to discover and diagnose it, after some clinical tests and trials.

Recurrent colon cancer is the return of cancerous cells that have already been treated. Treatment of Stage 1 colon cancer is usually resection/anastomosis (removal of colon cancer by joining the cut ends of the colon) because the cancerous tissue is usually too large at this stage to be removed by local excision.

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