First Person: 'We're Going Down'
July 27th 2008 04:23
Bernadette
LPC, PHILIPPINES
Joined April 29th 2007
Number of Posts:
407
Number of Comments:
51
Karma:
7
Recent Posts Simple Home Treatments for the Common ColdJuly 27th 2008 04:11
The common cold is caused by any one of some 200 viruses, so there is really very little that is common about this malady. And while colds do afflict most people in the fall and winter, cold weather itself isn't always the culprit. It is, rather, the greater amount of time people spend indoors during those chillier seasons that increases the risk of the virus spreading. As if by reflex, people reach for one of the over-the-counter medications on their shelves to treat their illness. However, even at recommended dosages, these over-the-counter medications can have side effects. At higher dosages, they can cause serious problems. Forget about antibiotics - they can't kill cold viruses.
Before turning to decongestants, expectorants, or antihistamines to cure your cold, there are actually a number of simple home treatments that can be of great help in your recovery: 1) Stay at home. Preferably, stay in bed and have a good rest. Going to work with a bad cold will make it worse and last longer. Your colleagues at work will appreciate it more if you keep your illness to yourself. Again, colds are caused by a virus that can spread easily by sneezing, coughing, or merely talking. 2) Get lots of sleep. If possible, stay in bed the whole day and sleep. Give your body a chance to fight the cold and recover from weariness or exhaustion from labor, exertion, or stress. You might have over-worked your self, and so this is your opportunity to catch up with your rest. There is a great probability that if you stay in bed for a day at the start of a cold, you will be up and about the next day. 3) Avoid over-eating. While you are at home, don't over-eat. Have light meals with plenty of fruits, fruit juices and soups. Stay away from sweets such as chocolates, cakes, ice cream and pastries. Sugar in the blood lowers your resistance to infections. 4) Drink plenty of water. This means at least 10 glasses of water to wash out the virus in your system. When awake, drink a glass of water or fruit juice every hour. Two glasses of water before breakfast can help in your excretion. 5) Gargle with hot salt solution. Usually, colds have three phases and your body may start on any one of them: the head cold, the chest cold, and the sore throat. If your body starts with the sore throat, gargle with a hot salt solution at least 3 times a day. Put half a teaspoon of salt into a glass of hot water; stir until dissolved. Allow the water to roll in the throat for a few seconds while you gargle. It is clear that cold drinks are a no-no for the time being. 6) Apply heating compress on the throat after the evening gargle and just before retiring to bed. Wet a handkerchief with tap water and wrap it around the throat. Cover the wet handkerchief with flannel material completely and wrap the neck. 7) Have a hot foot bath. If your body starts with a head cold, there certainly is head congestion accompanied by headache and stuffy or runny nose. These symptoms have to be addressed right away or the colds will go down to the chest and you might start a fever. A hot foot bath, given twice a day (once in the morning and once in the evening), will help you rid your head of that nasty congestion. The hot foot bath draws the blood from the head, thus relieves the clog on the head. 8) Use a vaporizer if necessary. Steam inhalation will soothe and open the stuffy nasal passages. This is most ideal after a hot foot bath. 9) Apply fomentation on the chest. If your luck goes down further and your colds progress to chest colds with cough and fever, an application of hot, moist substance on the chest with steam inhalations will relieve the tightness of the chest and lower the fever. 10) Go visit your doctor. If your colds persist for more than a week inspite of your having applied all these measures, see your family physician for further treatment. Remember, too, that you really do not have to set out to cure the common cold. Whether or not you take medicine, you will get better in about the same amount of time (probably in a week or so). Cold and flu treatments can relieve certain symptoms, but the virus will not be affected. Address your primary symptom and keep medication to a minimum.
Raw Foods are a Raw Deal to HealthJuly 20th 2008 04:33
The adventurous palate is always looking for new taste sensations. But it may find more than it bargained for when it takes on the delights of uncooked cuisine. Eating raw foods, such as sushi, oysters and steak tartare, poses an increased risk of food-borne illness. How? Let's take a look at each of these three situations:
1. Uncooked food. Health experts are one in saying that many foods, including meat, seafood, fruits, and vegetables, can harbor disease-causing microbes. Yet they become a health threat only when handled or cooked improperly. Cooking food thoroughly and with sufficient heat kills most microbes. Raw foods, of course, are uncooked. For produce like fruit and salad greens, rinsing thoroughly under running water (use a vegetable brush and discard outer leaves) minimizes exposure to disease-causing microbes. But raw animal foods cannot simply be made safe by washing, and the bacteria they may contain can cause such symptoms as nausea, stomach cramps, and diarrhea. Medical experts warn that these illnesses are especially dangerous, even fatal, among the young, the old, and anyone with a weakened immune system. 2. Frozen sushi and chilly oysters. Raw fish is a delicacy in many countries and is very popular in the form of Japanese sushi and sashimi. But that doesn't make it safe. Even if the fish has been frozen below -18 degrees Celsius (0 degree Fahrenheit) to kill potential parasites, freezing will not kill bacteria. For those who love sushi, be warned that your health risk may be determined by the reliability and cleanliness of your chef. Eating raw oysters, on the other hand, can send you to the hospital, and, in rare cases, can even be fatal. Medical experts point to the common saltwater bacterium, Vibrio vulnificus, as the culprit which can cause fever, muscle aches, blackened or reddened skin, and a drop in blood pressure in susceptible people. V. vulnificus breeds best in warmer waters, so oysters from the Gulf of Mexico are potentially more dangerous than those from the colder waters of New England, Nova Scotia, and the Pacific Northwest. Here's an expert's tip to lower risk: "Eat oysters only in months with an R. They are harvested in colder months: September through April." 3. Steak tartare. Knowingly eating raw meat, in the form of ground steak tartare or thinly sliced carpaccio, is less common than unknowingly eating undercooked meat. However, experts say that the dangers - from E. coli, campylobacter, and salmonella bacteria - are the same. To be safe, stick with thoroughly cooked meat dishes. Keep in mind that there is also a risk of salmonella poisoning from raw eggs. To increase food safety, many restaurants have cleared their menus of such items as soft-boiled eggs, custards, and authentic Caesar salad which includes raw egg in the dressing. Here's a final caution: Restaurant chefs may intentionally undercook some fish dishes, such as pan-seared tuna, to preserve its fresh flavor. Don't be afraid to ask ahead of time about the rawness of a dish. Order undercooked fish at your own risk.
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Painless Facts about AnesthesiaJuly 8th 2008 12:34
Pain accompanies almost every one of the many medical procedures. But with anesthesia, the sensation of pain is magically blocked during such medical procedures.
Although many drugs (and combinations of drugs) are used for anesthetic purposes, doctors say they are generally used in four ways
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News Stories for Today (6-18-08)June 18th 2008 12:15
Not so Cool Truths About Soft DrinksJune 18th 2008 12:05
They are cool and refreshing, quench thirst, and it always feels right to indulge in them especially during the hot summer days or right after a strenuous physical activity. They are soft drinks (sodas to some people, colas to others), and they almost always seem to be the natural first choice in soothing parched mouths and throats. When consumed in moderation, soft drinks are harmless beverages. Too much of them, however, can disturb your nutritional stability. This possibility becomes even more pronounced when soft drinks restrain you from drinking water and other, more nourishing beverages.
How can something as good as soft drinks be so bad when taken in excessively? For a lot of reasons, actually: Soft drinks are known to contain several artificial food colors, some of which are deemed to be possible carcinogens that can cause cancer. The syrups used in soft drinks, which are high in fructose, can cause irritable bowel syndrome. Soft drinks are exaggeratedly sweet (from sugar) and, therefore, can cause tooth decay. The caffeine in soft drinks is like a diuretic that can cause dehydration. Soft drinks are also known to be rich in phosphate which, in excess, can cause osteoporosis
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Is the Antilock Brake System Really Effective in Avoiding Vehicle Crashes?June 13th 2008 11:48
The antilock brake system (ABS) was introduced by car manufacturers in the 1980s. Immediately, it was hailed as a major safety feature because of its ability to help drivers avoid crashes that result from skidding on wet roads. Today, the brakes are standard equipment on most new vehicles - but at a cost of over $1,000. Which leads you to ask if you are getting your money's worth. Maybe not. When antilock brakes are needed the most - during emergency stops - many drivers do not use them correctly.
Antilock brakes are activated when the system senses that one or more wheels are about to lock up - usually, as you apply firm and continuous pressure to the brake pedal. If your car has ABS, you should not pump your brakes when stopping suddenly
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How to Keep Your Life BalancedMay 12th 2008 03:40
Can you really have a balanced life? A satisfying job, a happy home life, good health, beauty, peace of mind? Do you think it is impossible? Not if you follow this guide.
1. Set goals for every area of your life. Family, career, health and fitness, spiritual life, personal growth, and finance. Write them down, mark the most important ones, and give yourself deadlines
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Health Tips on Cutting Your Exposure to Pesticide Residues Found in ProduceMay 2nd 2008 05:57
A portion of a recent news report by the New York Times regarding the stoppage by US food inspectors of import shipments of contaminated or defective foods from China, Denmark, and Mexico reads: "Produce from the Dominican Republic was stopped 817 times last year, usually for containing traces of illegal pesticides." At one point a few years back, tests done on fresh and processed foods and vegetables by the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) found nine foods with the highest levels of pesticide residues, listed below from most to least:
1) Oranges from Israel
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Guidelines on Investing in a Mutual FundApril 20th 2008 13:24
In the new millennium, mutual funds have grown at a pace which will make the industry a stronger one to deal with in the near future. The industry has helped in maintaining investor confidence despite the prolonged crisis, say, in Asia. It has minimized capital flight and has brought new perspectives in terms of the investment and savings maturity, even in third-world countries. Given the need for these countries to compete in the global market, mutual funds will certainly serve as a vital ingredient for their current and future development.
What is a mutual fund? How does one invest in it? When you invest in a mutual fund, your money is combined with the money of many other investors. Professional fund managers use this pool of money to create a portfolio of investments, which may include
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Just kiddin' I still remember when I used to watch Beverly Hills 90210 and Melrose Place. My fave characters for BH were Shanen and Luke. I even asked my dad to buy me....o well I forgot what was that thing called again.??? It looks like a teen planner. 
Comment by Bernadette
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LOL! Nice one! Thanks Ruby for sharing!