Allergic Rhinitis

Alternative Options for Treating Allergic Rhinitis

by: Stacey M Kerr MD

Here in northern California, allergies are a significant health problem leading to fatigue, sick days from work and school, and secondary infections.  Allergic rhinitis is a reaction to seasonal airborne allergens.  It affects about 7 percent of the population of North America and is a risk factor for 88 percent of asthma patients.   We have some excellent prescription medications for treating this, and there are many over-the-counter medications available also. However, BEWARE of the sedating effects of those nonprescription medications!!! Recent studies have shown that an individual on a therapeutic dose of diphenhydramine (Benedryl) is a more dangerous driver than one who is legally drunk on alcohol. 

Fortunately, there are also some effective alternative therapies for allergic rhinitis.
Remember: no matter what method you use to treat your allergies, nasal rinsing to clear the mucus membranes of trapped allergens is essential. It only takes about 30 seconds, doesn't hurt a bit when done correctly, and makes all the difference. I recommend Nasopure®, a product developed by Dr. Hana Solomon, a pediatrician who has put together in one simple kit all you need for successful nasal rinsing. There is an excellent article about this on the Nasopure website (www.nasopure.com).   If you are regularly using your Nasopure®, and still having difficulties, you can try some of the following remedies without significant side effects.
Vitamin and mineral supplements:
*    Vitamin A - 10,000 IU/day
*    Vitamin B6 - 50-100 mg/day
*    Vitamin B5 - 50-75 mg/day
*    Vitamin C - 1,000 mg/day in 3 divided doses
*    Vitamin E - 400 IU/day
*    Zinc - 20-30 mg/day
In addition some herbs and nutrients can help:
Quercetin has anti-allergy and anti-inflammatory effects if you take it 250mg two or three times a day.
Freeze-dried stinging nettles (Urtica dioica) can relieve symptoms of allergic rhinitis at a dosage of 300mg twice a day.
Eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) and docosahexaenoic acid (DHA), also called fish oil, can help asthma patients with allergies by stabilizing the airways.  They come in capsules and the total dose of the combination should be 2-4 g/day.
Acupuncture has given many patients significant relief. The Chinese medicine paradigm is very different than Western medicine, so I can not explain the mechanism of action. But I know that it is effective!
See your doctor about allergy symptoms if you are unable to manage them on your own - the nonsedating antihistamines and anti-inflammatory nasal sprays available today are excellent in treating this significant health problem!

Stacey Marie Kerr, M.D. graduated from the University of California Davis Medical School in 1989 and is currently a board certified family physician. Dr. Kerr is a member of the California and American Academy of Family Physicians. She holds a B.S. in Education/Special Education from the University of Missouri, Columbia Missouri. 
Publisher Note : Please consult your Doctor for further opinion and before taking medicine.Better to avoid self medication
Courtesy: Dr.Stacey Marie Kerr, M.D.

How To Stick To Your Decision To Lose Weight

 Tricks How To Stick To Your Decision To Lose Weight

                                                                                By: Arina Nikitina

So, you've decided to lose weight. You're changing your eating habits, you began to exercise... But do you know what the most difficult part is?

It's ability to stay on track. Here are few tips that will help you to stay on track:

1. Remind yourself about your reasons.
Write down all the benefits of loosing weight and review it on a daily basis. It doesn't take long, and it will keep you motivated through the day.

2. Use affirmations
Repeat the positive phrase to yourself whenever you have chance to or if you need inspiration.

3. Use visualization
Visualize yourself being slim. Imagine how you feel. Imagine what your friends will say. Use the power of your imagination to stay on track.

4. Form a success habit.
First, ask yourself what habits it will take to lose weight. Exercising on a daily basis? Cooking healthy food?

It is the fact that in 30 days you can turn almost anything into a habit. ALL of our habits are formed the same way. By doing something over and over again until it becomes second nature. So all you have to do to form a new habit is to repeat the same action over and over again every day during 30 days. After 30 days it will become a habit.

But here is a catch: you can't afford to skip a single day. If you do you'll have to start over again. During first thirty days, if you miss even a single day of practice reset your 30-day clock to Day One and start from the beginning.

5. Find more time for cooking and exercising
If you think you don't have time for loosing weight, think again. Do you have time for watching TV? Reading newspapers or magazines? Chatting with friends? Well, if "yes" than you definitely have time for weight los s.

You don't have to eliminate all your activities; you can just cut back on them. Just trim by 10% the amount of time you spend on each of your daily activities. And invest the extra time in loosing weight.

6. Fight the temptation.
It is really very easy. All you have to do is prioritize. For example, if you see a pack of delicious cookies in the store and suddenly start craving one, ask yourself: "What do I want more: to eat this cookie or to have a beautiful slim body?" Listen to yourself. Is this cookie really so important to you?

If you're still craving it use the 10 minute rule. Take your mind off food for the next 10 minutes. If you're in a grocery store go to the book section and pick a very interesting book instead. Most of the time your craving will stop.

If not, you can take one serving and give the rest of the cookies to your neighbor. Or put them somewhere where it would be a problem for you to get them.

Weight Loss Tips

Five Ways to Start Losing Weight

Some people find it hard to stick to diets and consistently fail to lose weight. They try nearly every kind of new dieting idea that comes along hoping that one of them would finally work, but the miracle never happens. Naturally, these people tend to overlook their own mistakes and fail to understand what prevents them from losing weight. The human brain displays a remarkable ability of ignoring the things it does not want to face, so it's not hard to understand why some people eat all manner of things and still claim they haven't touched anything but salad for a whole week.

                            But there are ways of working around these problems and if you don't want to become one of these people, then you should stick to these pointers. Their purpose is to make eating a conscious act in order to avoid giving in to compulsions and temptations. The easiest thing to do is to carry around a notebook and a pen and to write down everything you eat. And I mean every little thing. Have you finished that half a slice of pizza that your partner couldn't eat anymore? Write it down. At the end of the day look over the list and you'll be surprised at how many things you actually eat on a regular basis.
                                 Since eating and drinking are, for the most part, acts that bypass rational thinking you should try to bring them out of the twilight zone. So every time you reach out for a drink or some food, stop and ask yourself "Why am I doing this?". You may be thirsty, hungry, bored, lonely, depressed, tired or stressed, but out of this list of reasons only thirst and hunger are legitimate. Put the bottle down if you're not thirsty. Put the food back on the shelf or on the table if you're not hungry. Do you crave sweets because you're tired? Get some sleep instead. Do you feel the need to eat because you're lonely and depressed? Go to the cinema or visit a friend. Read a book, watch a movie or listen to some music. There are options.

                Never starve yourself. This is one of the big mistakes in dieting. Unless you have enough willpower to qualify for Nietzsche's Overman status you will break down sooner or later and eat the first thing that you can get your hands on. Such as snacks or fast food. Starvation also makes the body go into power save mode by limiting your energy levels and hanging on to the existing fat. The body makes no difference between dieting and actual starvation and will behave as if in danger. Therefore you must eat three meals a day, plus snacks consisting of fruit and vegetables. This is the best way to lose weight.
                           Don't try to banish your favorite foods completely because you will only sap your own willingness to stick to a diet. The key to dieting is moderation, not denial. Do you like ice cream? Well, have a couple of spoonfuls of ice cream every Sunday. Take a break from whatever it is you're doing and enjoy this special treat. Don't feel like you're cheating on the diet and keep any guilt pangs away. You're just dieting, not preparing for admission to a convent or monastery. So have a bit of forbidden food every five days or so and enjoy the moment.
                     And, of course, you must exercise. If you're not used to exercising and are a bit scared of all the effort and sweating, then start small. There's no need to rush into hour-long training sessions. Five minutes per day will do for starters. Get a treadmill and a pair of dumbbells and make your own schedule. Two minutes and a half of running and two minutes and half of curls. Every week increase the time spent exercising by another five minutes and add new exercises. Your goal should be to spend at least 30 minutes every day working out your body. Sixty minutes is even better, but it will come in time. It's OK to start small.          Courtesy-John Smitherty

Nutrition Tips for Healthy Life

Massively overweight? Follow THESE nutrition tips

Last updated on: July 25, 2012 20:13 IST

If you're obese, here is what you need to be eating and the exercises you should be taking up.

Individuals are increasingly becoming overweight as they eat more calories than they require and are not active enough to use up the extra energy they've consumed.

It is important, especially for obese individuals, to balance their physical activities with the amount of food they eat.

In the following pages, we tell you how.

Please click NEXT to read more...

Snacking

Last updated on: July 25, 2012 20:13 IST

Include healthy snacks like fresh fruits, high-fibre cereals, multigrain sandwiches, egg whites, fruit yoghurt and nuts or homemade snacks in your daily diet schedule.

Avoid ready to eat fried snacks or processed variety.

Food groups

Last updated on: July 25, 2012 20:13 IST

Obese individuals especially need foods from all basic the food groups, which include carbohydrates, fruits, vegetables, dairy products, proteins, healthy fats and water.

Foods need to be rich in fibre and fatty and sugary snacks or meals need to be limited.

Calcium-rich foods

Last updated on: July 25, 2012 20:13 IST

Research states that mineral calcium plays a key role in how the body burns fat and it's believed that the more calcium that's stored in a fat cell, the more fat that cell is able to burn.

Calcium-rich foods include milk, cheese, yoghurt, green leafy vegetables, cereals, sesame seeds and tofu.

Iron-rich foods

Last updated on: July 25, 2012 20:13 IST

Iron-rich foods are essential, as iron keeps red blood cells healthy.

Iron-rich foods include tofu, sesame seeds, pumpkin seeds, venison, beef tenderloin, kidney beans, garbanzo beans, navy beans, lima beans, olives, mustard greens, green beans, quinoa, thyme and turmeric.

Avoid empty calories

Last updated on: July 25, 2012 20:13 IST

All of us indulge in some junk or processed foods that are rich in butter, oils, sugar and salt, or those rich in unhealthy added fats, oils, butter and sugar.

Just ensure the frequency of eating empty calorie foods is limited and that it is consumed in very small servings.

Make a balanced diet a group effort

Last updated on: July 25, 2012 20:13 IST

An overweight individual needs a balanced diet that provides all the essential building blocks of nutrients for growth and development.

Start by ensuring that the entire family is eating healthily, otherwise it is not likely to work.

Physical activity

Last updated on: July 25, 2012 20:13 IST

Obese individuals need to practice a regular exercise routine plus eat a healthy foods to add muscle mass, strengthen bones, increase metabolic rate and lose weight.

Cardiovascular exercise (walking, cycling, swimming etc) burns calories and boosts your metabolism; and strength training (squats, chest presses, biceps curls, triceps dips etc) is a good way to build lean muscle.

Courtesy Rediff.com