Successful Allergy Treatment

Allergy is an abnormal, acquired sensitivity to a given substance, including pollen, drugs, or numerous environmental triggers. People who have allergies often are sensitive to more than one thing. Allergic rhinitis (nasal allergies) affects about 35 million Americans, 6 million of whom are children. The number of cases of asthma has doubled over the last 20 years. It is exaggerated because these foreign substances are usually seen by the body as harmless and no response occurs in non- allergic people. Allergic people's bodies recognize the foreign substance and one part of the immune system is turned on. In the United States, an allergist-immunologist is a physician specially trained to manage and treat asthma and the other allergic diseases. Proteins found in the skin, saliva, and urine of furry pets such as cats and dogs are allergens. It can also be found in rotting logs, hay, mulches, commercial peat moss, compost piles and leaf litter. Allergies can cause a runny nose, sneezing, itching, rashes, swelling or asthma. Allergies that occur in the spring are often due to tree pollen. Allergies that occur in the summer are often due to grass and weed pollen.



Allergies that occur in the fall are often due to ragweed. Many allergens, including dust mites, are in dust. Dust mites are tiny living creatures found in bedding, mattresses, carpeting and upholstered furniture. Up to 30% of the population suffers from allergic rhinitis, and this number seems to be growing. The majority of these people are treated by their primary care physician for their allergies. There are two components involved in a true allergic reaction. The first is the production of immunoglobulin E (IgE), an antibody that circulates in the blood attacking things such as germs. The second is the mast cell, a type of cell that is found in the body at places where allergic reactions occur, including the nose, throat, lungs and skin. There have been enormous improvements in mainstream medical treatments developed by allergists. Antihistamines help reduce the sneezing, runny nose and itchiness of allergies. Cromolyn sodium is a nasal spray that helps prevent the body's reaction to allergens. Environmental endotoxin showed a strong protection against hay fever and allergy.



Endotoxin exposure reduces peripheral blood leukocytes release of inflammatory cytokines after lipopolysaccharide, including cytokines such as tumor necrosis factor alpha, interferon-gamma, interleukin-10, and interleukin-12. Shower and wash your hair every day. Pollen from the air can collect on your clothes, skin, and hair. Many families are giving their children safe nutritional supplements, such as Vitamin B6 with magnesium and Di-methyl-glycine (DMG). Many medications used to treat various medical problems are derived from plants and herbs, including theophylline. Various herbal supplements have been used in the treatment of allergies and asthma, some showing benefit. Dry your sheets and clothing in a dryer rather than hanging them outdoors where they can collect pollen and spores. Wash your hands after having contact with your pet. Keep pets out of the bedroom or other rooms where you spend a great deal of time. Avoid using carpeting in your home since allergens will collect there.



Allergy Treatment Tips



1. Endotoxin exposure reduces peripheral blood leukocytes release of inflammatory cytokines after lipopolysaccharide.



2. Shower and wash your hair every day. Pollen from the air can collect on your clothes, skin, and hair.



3. Many families are giving their children safe nutritional supplements, such as Vitamin B6 with magnesium and Di-methyl-glycine (DMG).



4. Many medications used to treat various medical problems are derived from plants and herbs, including theophylline.



5. Various herbal supplements have been used in the treatment of allergies and asthma, some showing benefit.



6. Dry your sheets and clothing in a dryer rather than hanging them outdoors where they can collect pollen and spores.



7. Wash your hands after having contact with your pet.



8. Keep pets out of the bedroom or other rooms where you spend a great deal of time.



9. Avoid using carpeting in your home since allergens will collect there.



10. Some popular calming techniques include: vigorous exercise which would act as a release of their high excitement level, vestibular stimulation.
Article Source: ArticleSoft.com
About the Author: Juliet Cohen writes articles for online medical clinic and skin disorders. For more information visit our site at http://www.diseasestreatment.com.

Herbs for Asthma Treatment

Asthma is an allergic disease that affects the bronchi or air passages. Asthma is a disease that affects your lungs. It causes repeated episodes of wheezing, breathlessness, chest tightness, and nighttime or early morning coughing. Asthma can be controlled by taking medicine and avoiding the triggers that can cause an attack. Asthma and eosinophilic bronchitis can be treated with inhaled corticosteroids, which combat inflammation in the airways to reduce asthma symptoms. Asthma is one of the leading causes of children missing school. Approximately 14 million adults and 6 million children in the U.S. have asthma. In fact, asthma is the most common chronic illness of childhood and a common reason for missed school days. Asthma is more common in boys than in girls. But after puberty asthma is more common in females. Sometimes certain triggers can bring on symptoms. It's sensible to try to avoid these triggers as much as possible, as they will make your asthma worse. During an asthma attack, muscles around the airways tighten up, making the airways narrower so less air flows through. Inflammation increases, and the airways become more swollen and even narrower.



Asthma attacks are not all the samesome are worse than others. Asthma affects the airways, the small tubes that carry air in and out of your lungs. If you have asthma, your airways are sensitive and easily become swollen. A total of 47 patients had high levels of exhaled nitric oxide. Of those patients, 41 started using inhaled corticosteroids, and 36 noted improvement in their cough. In a severe asthma attack, the airways can close so much that not enough oxygen gets to vital organs. Common triggers include house dust mite, animal fur, pollen, tobacco smoke, cold air, viral and bacterial chest infections. Asthma coughs, on the other hand, are most often dry coughs caused by bronchial spasms. Asthma attacks come and go, with wide variation in the symptoms at different times. Many people with asthma have problems only occasionally but others struggle with it every day. Some children grow out of asthma and some people are only affected at different times of the year.



There are several types of medications available for treating asthma. Licorice Root has also been proven as an effective herb for asthma treatment. Licorice Root has been evaluated in the treatment of asthma and scientists have discovered that it assists in defeating the inflammation that constricts the airways in the asthma patient. Some of these herbs for asthma treatment include; seed of lobelia, marshmallow root, garlics and onions and other remedies on the holistic front. Herbal and homeopathic asthma treatment can be extremely effective. Used as part of a wider, holistic lifestyle management, herbal and homeopathic medicines can bring significant relief to sufferers of asthma without the side effects or other complications that often accompany conventional drugs. Biovent asthma remedy is a unique combination of herbal and homeopathic ingredients. It controls and prevents asthma attacks and assists with the management of chronic asthma. Arsen alb is a homeopathic remedy often used to prevent bronchospasm caused by cold air and in the early morning.



Herbs for Asthma Treatment Tips



1. Add Vitamin C, B6 and magnesium to your daily supplements.



2. Avoid products treated with sulphur dioxide and other preservatives.



3. Use ImmunityPlus Immune System Booster regularly to attain optimal immune functioning.



4. Keep an 'asthma diary' to help you to identify triggers.



5. Avoid tobacco smoke and keep your home free from dust, pollen, air fresheners.



6. Wear a scarf over your nose and mouth if you have to go out in cold air.



7. Treat colds and flu in the early stages to reduce the likelihood of an attack.



8. Drink at least 8 glasses of water daily.



9. Keep calm and practice relaxation techniques like meditation and yoga.



10. Regular exercise can help to strengthen lung functioning.
Article Source: ArticleSoft.com
About the Author: Juliet Cohen writes articles for depression clinic and how to treat depression. For more information visit our site at http://www.depression-clinic.com.

How Risky Is Coronary Heart Disease

Since it is becoming a common medical malady, it is important to be aware of the risk factors for coronary heart disease. There are a number of irregular conditions that affect the heart and the vessels supplying the heart with blood. Coronary heart disease is the most widespread kind of heart disease. It is also the most common cause of heart attacks.



Damage that occurs to the heart when the supply of blood is reduced is referred to as coronary heart disease. What normally happens is, deposits that are fatty in nature, build up within the lining of blood vessels whose job it is to supply blood to the heart muscles. This causes narrowing of the blood vessels and the resulting factor is a reduction in the blood supply to the heart muscles. This causes symptoms of pain known as angina.



Causes of Coronary Heart Disease



There are risk factors for coronary heart disease that are considered to be responsible for this disease. The biggest and most well known culprit is high cholesterol. Worldwide cholesterol levels in different populations vary quite dramatically. The Japanese population for instance, has much lower blood cholesterol levels and the rate of heart disease is lower. But in other populations that have similar incidences of blood cholesterol levels often have very varied heart disease rates.



Smoking tobacco is often quoted as one of the major risk factors for coronary heart disease. The smoker has a twice greater chance of developing heart disease than a nonsmoker. Studies indicate that after having given up smoking for five years, the risk factor of developing coronary heart disease lowers to that of a person who has never smoked.



There is a medically proven relationship between smoking tobacco products and coronary heart disease. While smoking is legal and remains a personal choice, it is a dangerous practice and it is necessary for individuals to know that smoking habits play a role in the causes of serious coronary heart disease. Many individuals may be in denial regarding the connection between smoking and coronary heart disease. This denial is often based upon a need to mollify criticism towards smoking and may also stem from those companies who profit from the sale of tobacco products.



Pop Cultural Influences



When watching old episodes of the TONIGHT SHOW with Johnny Carson, it is surprising to see that he casually smokes cigarettes during the greater part of the program. In the classic films made in the 1930's and 40's, many actors puff away on cigarettes during the duration of the film. In one of the most bizarre scenes in the 1973 film THE EXORCIST portrays doctors smoking whilst acting in the examination scene. Fans of classic motion pictures and television programs will notice that the number of people portrayed smoking while acting out their roles as very high by today's standards. It is no wonder that the incidences of coronary heart disease were so high only a few decades ago.



At one time, smoking was so routinely shown in film and television productions worldwide that it acquired a foothold in pop culture. The result of this is that much of the public, close to 50%, was profoundly addicted to tobacco products. This addiction has not been without consequences as coronary heart disease and lung cancer incidences increased to correspond with the huge amount of individuals who enjoyed smoking cigarettes.



How Smoking Contributes To Coronary Heart Disease



Despite various attempts by stakeholders in the tobacco industry to deny the link between smoking tobacco products and coronary heart disease, medical technologists have confirmed the link between the two after numerous research programs over the last two decades. The continuous inhalation of smoke into the lungs over an extended period of time constricts the arteries and leads to coronary heart disease. This limits the blood flow throughout the arteries and the potential for a heart attack becomes very significant. This is a very dangerous situation to be in. Besides coronary heart disease, the smoking of tobacco products can cause various other ravaging effects on the human body. This can include breathing problems and the stunting of growth.



Diagnosis Of Coronary Heart Disease



The only sure way that coronary heart disease can be diagnosed is with a special procedure known as a coronary angiography. An x-ray sensitive dye is introduced to the blood flow to the heart. X-rays are then taken to examine how well the blood is flowing through the heart. This procedure is undertaken in conjunction with cardiac catherization when the patient is under sedation.



Prevention



The best possible way to prevent risk factors of coronary heart disease is to avoid them as much as possible. The most important thing to do is to maintain a healthy lifestyle. This includes eating healthily and ensuring the correct amount of daily physical activity. Only by living as healthily as possible will you be able to protect yourself from any of the risk factors of coronary heart disease.
Article Source: ArticleSoft.com
About the Author: Cindy Heller is a professional writer. Visit heart disease cure to learn more about the causes of coronary heart disease and other heart disease risk factors.

Massage: New York Citys Best Survival Tactic

The life of a New Yorker is not exactly a day at the spa. We spend a big hunk of our lives in transit; waiting in lines, waiting for trains, waiting for the light to change. Sharing this city and these time-consuming commuter lifestyles with approximately 8 million other hasty New Yorkers does not a walk in the garden make. There are ways to deal with this high-stress, high-paced city; they range from yelling at each other to marathon running to just plain giving in to the smog and living with a perpetual cough.




I found a better way. And its so simple, effective, and wonderfully obvious that I feel stupid for not having thought of it before. I started getting massages. A friend bought me a massage gift certificate from a local spa. In typical New York fashion, I forgot about it promptly and it was nearly expired when my friend asked so how was your New York massage experience I ran home and booked an appointment for my massage for the next day.




It was amazing. Like walking into a different world. With the city still running amuck outside, I waited in a softly lit lobby listening to soothing music over the sound system until a friendly masseuse invited me into the bodywork room. She spent the next hour kneading, rubbing, and pressing my tightly wound body and mind into a relaxed, pampered, puddle of joy. Afterwards, I floated home.




The day after, I was sore all over and freaked out. After some internet research I learned this was because of toxins that had been released during the massage, which is also why my masseuse told me to drink a lot of water. I had not listened to her of course, but upon reading that without the water your system doesnt get flushed and the toxins have no where to go but back into your bloodstream, making you sick, I drank three glasses right away. I had no idea my muscles stored toxins, having taken my relative health for granted for so long. What did I have to worry about I dont smoke, hardly drink, and get regular exercise. Isnt that supposed to guarantee you a lifetime of health and vibrancy




Apparently not. Environment has much more to do with our health than we realize. Not only do we breathe in our environment, we eat it, sleep it, drink it; it is impossible not to take in at every turn. And unless youre living on a pristine farm miles away from automotive freeways and contaminated water supply, that means youre taking in toxins. Every breath, every day. And they leach into muscle tissue from the bloodstream, where they remain unless purged. I was shocked upon reading this but the soreness in my newly-massaged muscles assured me it was true.




Ive been getting massaged regularly ever since. My body feels springy and supple, my muscles hardly ever get sore anymore, and I feel good knowing Im consciously taking care of my body. Not to mention (and this is really the best part) that massages feel so good. How refreshing in a world where the healthy thing to do is often so unpleasanteating raw greens, running on treadmills, drinking foul-tasting health drinks, and a score of horse-sized supplements to swallow each morning.




And when looking for somewhere to get a massage, New York City makes it about as difficult as finding a tree in a forest, so if you live in NYC youll have no problem finding a masseuse that gives exactly the type of massage youre looking for. Theres a myriad to choose from; just a few are shiatsu, deep tissue, acupressure, and lymphatic massage. NYC might not be a trip to the spa, but it has plenty of spas to choose from and theres no where else Id rather call home. As long as I can get my massage.
Article Source: ArticleSoft.com
About the Author:
Nancy Shaw, co-founder of In Touch Bodywork in Manhattan . In Touch Bodywork is a derivative company offering massage therapy, prenatal massage and reflexology in NYC. Nancy can be contacted at: In Touch Bodywork, http://www.intouchbodyworknyc.com , 133 East 58th Street , 15th floor New York , NY 10022 Phone: (212) 751-8300

Natural Therapy for Maintaining Healthy Blood Pressure Part 3

While there are many common pharmaceutical treatments for high blood pressure including beta blockers and A.C.E. inhibitors there are some very effective alternatives including pomegranate juice, passion flower and physical exercise.



There is evidence that pomegranate juice offers protection against cardiovascular disease. While pomegranates (punica granatum) have been around for thousands of years, not much research had been done until recently. Most of the research was first conducted in Israel and has been ongoing. One of the first studies to gain attention showed that pomegranate juice had potent antiatherogenic (biologically active substance that prevents atherogenesis, the accumulation of lipid containing plaques on the innermost layers of the arteries) effects in healthy humans and in atherosclerotic mice that may be attributable to its anti oxidative properties. A few months later, the results of a study conducted at the University of California showed an antioxidant activity three times higher than those of red wine and green tea.



Then, another study in Israel showed that pomegranate juice reduced the development of atherosclerosis in mice that already had advanced atherosclerosis. The next month , results of another study showed a 36% decrease in serum ACE activity and a 5% reduction in systolic blood pressure in patients who drank pomegranate juice. The study concluded that pomegranate juice can offer a wide protection against cardiovascular diseases which could be related to its inhibitory effect on oxidative stress and on serum ACE activity.



In the past 5 years, 150+ more studies and publications involving the pomegranate have been indexed at U.S. National Library of Medicine's PubMed database, with findings that suggest many healthy benefits of this fruit. Probably the most significant is in the reduction of cardiovascular disease.



Another exciting study in March, 2005 tested the effects of pomegranate juice on samples of cultured human coronary artery cells exposed to extreme stress in vitro (as they would be in someone with high blood pressure), and also on hypercholesterolemic mice. The study showed that administration of pomegranate juice significantly reduced the progression of atherosclerosis, and that the proatherogenic effects induced by perturbed shear stress can be reversed by chronic administration of pomegranate juice. Implications of this is that chronic administration of pomegranate juice may be effective in both prevention and treatment of atherosclerosis.



The results of another 3-year study suggest that pomegranate juice decreases carotid intima-media thickness and systolic blood pressure in patients with carotid artery stenosis.



In the most recent article about pomegranates, posted at PubMed on January 17, 2007, the authors stated, "The last 7 years have seen over seven times as many publications indexed by Medline dealing with pomegranate and Punica granatum than in all the years preceding them." They noted that the seed, juice, peel, leaf, flower, bark and roots each have pharmacologic activity. They concluded that "the phytochemistry and pharmacological actions of all Punica granatum components suggest a wide range of clinical applications for the treatment and prevention of cancer, as well as other diseases where chronic inflammation is believed to play an essential etiologic role."



Passion Flower has also shows promise of lowering high blood produce by regulating nervous system neurotransmitters that reduce anxiety. (Passiflora incarnata) is accepted for medicinal use in Germany, France, and other European countries for the treatment of nervous anxiety, and was at one time approved as a sedative and sleep aid over-the-counter drug in the U.S. After a review of night-time sleep aids by the FDA in 1978, it was no longer recognized as effective by the FDA since no American company submitted data on safety and efficacy as required by the FDA, so it was dropped as an over-the-counter drug.



Although passion flower is a native American plant, it has been more widely researched and used in Europe than in the United States. In Germany, France, and other European countries, it is accepted for the treatment of nervous anxiety. Standardized passion flower products contain flavonoids as the primary chemical marker. While flavonoids are generally considered among the most active components of the plant, scientists have not been able to pinpoint the single chemical compound or group of compounds responsible for its sedative action.



Passion flower increases levels of a neurotransmitter known as gamma-amino butyric acid (GABA), which decreases the activity of nerve cells in the brain, causing relaxation and relieving anxiety. It contains chemicals known as harmala alkaloids, which are thought to block an enzyme involved in depression.



A pilot randomized controlled trial comparing the efficacy of Passiflora extract to the drug Oxazepam in the treatment of Generalized Anxiety Disorder (GAD) showed that Passiflora extract is effective for the management of GAD, with no significant difference between the efficacy of it and Oxazepam. An advantage seen with the Passiflora extract was that fewer problems relating to impairment of job performance were encountered.



Everyone experiences anxiety. It is the body's normal reaction to uncertainty, trouble, feeling unprepared, or a perceived, anticipated or imagined danger or threatening situation. Normal anxiety can be a good thing. It helps motivate a person who works well under pressure, resulting in an increase in productivity. But when anxiety and worry are exaggerated without cause, it is a sign of anxiety disorder such as GAD.



People with GAD, like those participating in the trial above, experience pathological anxiety, which is excessive, chronic, and typically interferes with their ability to function in normal daily activities, and is not triggered by any specific object or situation. Passion Flower appears to be helpful in relieving stress not only in individuals with normal anxiety, but in those with GAD as well.



Although there are many available blood pressure medications and natural therapy (such as Melaleuca's Prostolic) are both helpful in reducing and maintaining healthy blood pressure, your body's best defense against high blood pressure and the risk of cardiovascular disease begins with a change in lifestyle. The time to change is now, no matter what your age is.



Begin by eating a healthy diet of fresh fruits and vegetables, low-fat dairy products, whole grains, and other heart healthy foods. Lower your salt intake, and avoid processed foods that destroy potassium and generally have high levels of salt added that further robs your body of this vital nutrient. Get plenty of exercise, limit alcohol intake and don't smoke.



Your blood pressure rises as your weight increases, but losing just 10 percent of your body weight over a period of six months can lower your blood pressure and reduce your risk of developing diabetes, which are two major risk factors for heart disease. Those who are overweight and already have hypertension will see the greatest effect of a 10-lb. weight loss.



A February, 2006 Scientific Statement from the American Heart Association:



"In view of the continuing epidemic of BP-related diseases and the increasing prevalence of hypertension, efforts to reduce BP in both non hypertensive and hypertensive individuals are warranted. In non hypertensive individuals, dietary changes can lower BP and prevent hypertension. In uncomplicated stage I hypertension (systolic BP of 140 to 159 mm Hg or diastolic BP of 90 to 99 mm Hg), dietary changes serve as initial treatment before drug therapy. In those hypertensive patients already on drug therapy, lifestyle modifications, particularly a reduced salt intake, can further lower BP. The current challenge to health care providers, researchers, government officials, and the general public is developing and implementing effective clinical and public health strategies that lead to sustained dietary changes among individuals and more broadly among whole populations."
Article Source: ArticleSoft.com
About the Author: RMBarry offers wellness research reports and information about the benefits of melaleuca which also tea tree oil and commonly misspelled as mellaleuca.