What Can We Do With High Fever ?

What Can We Do With High Fever ?

When we have chronic allergies, our immune system has been shifted away from a response that deals more with bacteria and viruses towards a response that causes more allergic tendencies. This is usually due to our bodies being over-stimulated by exposure to multiple irritants and becoming hypersensitive to different agents. With a shift in the immune response, our immune system is hypersensitive to things such as dust, pollen, grasses, pet dander, or allergic foods, and allergies can often be found in a triad with asthma and eczema. The most important thing to do at this point is to try and avoid things we are sensitive to, whether they are food or environmental offenders, to try and decrease the burden to our immune system. Besides avoiding offending factors, there are many other natural treatments that can be helpful, which are described below.

Vitamin C and quercetin are both very helpful in decreasing histamine and the inflammatory response seen in allergies. Other treatments that are very helpful for decreasing hay fever include grape seed extract, Petasites hybridus, or butterbur, and Urtica dioica, or nettles. Because low stomach acid can cause problems in digestion and lead to the development of allergies, supplementing with hydrocholoric acid may be useful. Fish oil and probiotics can also help with stabilizing membranes and the healing of the gut, which will decrease allergic symptoms.

A method for directly clearing our nasal passages during bouts of hay fever is the use of a neti pot. Howto use a neti pot is described in my blog post on treatments for sinus infections. A neti pot can help to wash away any airborne allergens we may have inhaled during the day, as well as rinsing away any bacteria or other microbes that can build up and eventually cause sinus infections. The neti pot can thus directly decrease the allergic load in our nose and sinuses.

Along with using a neti pot to clear nasal passages, another way of decreasing congestion and thinning mucus secretions can be accomplished by eating spices or pungent foods. As long as the spices do not cause reflux (spicy foods are an easy trigger for people that are prone to having heartburn), the most frequently recommended spices for this purpose include cayenne pepper, hot ginger, and fenugreek, as well as the traditional onion and garlic.

One key to success with allergies is to try and start treatment before symptoms kick in - starting three weeks before allergy season begins is a great way for preventing or decreasing allergy symptoms. As always, there are many treatments that can be beneficial for allergies. It is therefore important to seek professional medical advice for moderate to severe allergies to find the underlying causes for each case and to get treatments specific to each individual.

Dr. Corrine Wang is a licensed Naturopathic doctor that graduated from Bastyr University in Seattle, Washington. As a Naturopathic doctor, she is committed to assisting others achieve balance and wellness in their lives. She believes in treating the whole person and supports each individual's healing process with the most effective, least invasive methods possible. Dr. Wang treats a variety of conditions using therapies that include clinical nutrition and dietary therapy, herbal and nutritional supplements, homeopathy, detoxification, and physical medicine including craniosacral therapy. She believes in mind-body medicine and supporting mental health along with physical health and also has experience with biofeedback, meditation, and other counseling techniques. She has a practice at Pacific Naturopathic in Mountain View. To learn more about Dr. Wang and how she can be of service, please visit her website at http://www.drcorrinewang.com.

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Help Yourself To Relieve Allergies And Sinusitis

Help Yourself To Relieve Allergies And Sinusitis

Painful sinusitis often accompanies a blocked nose (whether caused by allergies or colds - or both). Sinusitis is the congestion of your sinus passages which normally produce mucous for your nasal cavity. Mucous has a natural defence role to play by preventing bacteria entering your body. Unfortunately allergies or viruses can trigger excess production of mucous leading to blockage and build up of pressure which can cause pain, especially headaches.

A sinus medicine containing decongestant is one of the most effective ways of tackling the excess mucous. Some will also contain pain relievers (to ease sinus pain) and antihistamines (to reduce the body's mucous-producing reaction to the allergen). Although such medicines can't affect viruses such as cold or flu, they will reduce the symptoms of congestion and make life more comfortable.

Keeping up a healthy immune system - eating good foods, exercising and dealing with stress - can also help to prevent the cold or flu in the first place.

Common Causes of Sinusitis

• Infections - bacteria, viruses.
• Allergies - pollen, dust, food, chemicals etc.
• Atmospheric irritants - smoke, gasses.
• Other factors - serious illness, inadequate drainage of the nasal passages, extremes of humidity or temperature, emotional upsets, dental abscesses.

Symptoms of Sinusitis

Headaches, pain and congestion can be accompanies by the following:

• Blocked nose.
• HIghly irritated, runny nose.
• Sneezing.
• Itchy eyes, nose.

How to reduce the risk of exposure to allergy causes

• Keep windows in cars and building shut, consider a pollen filter.
• Wear glasses or sunglasses, preferably wrap aroun
• Avoid open grassy places, particularly in the evening and at night when pollen counts are highest so no picnics, grass-cutting or camping.
• If you have been exposed, shower and wash your hair when you return.
• Check pollen counts in the media.
• If you are allergic to animals such as cats, avoid spending prolonged periods in their homes even if they've been put outside for your visit. The allergens - contained in the dried particles of cat saliva - will be whenever they have been ie sofas, carpets, owner's clothing.
• Is your home dust-mite friendly? If you suffer perennial rhinitis, this could be a problem.

For more information on Allergy causes, symtpoms and treatments and other issues like these see Family Health Guide

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Common Cold.Causes, Symptoms, Prevention and Treatment

Common Cold.Causes, Symptoms, Prevention and Treatment 

Viral infectious disease of the upper respiratory system is known as common cold by common folk. Medical term for this disease is acute viral nasopharyngitis. Among human diseases, this is the most common and contagious disease that affects adults and its recurrence rate is average of two to four times per year. Recurrence rate can go up to twelve times in a year if it attacks school children. When weather changes from one season to another season in tropical countries, common cold will become widespread, and it usually occurs after school holidays. November to January and March to August are the two alarming periods. Common cold in bodies can be aggravated by haze, which is released from the open burning of biomass such as paddy and wheat straws. A weakened immune system, which is mostly due to not enough sleep or rest, can do the same harm as the haze. Secondary bacterial infection of the sinuses, pneumonia and asthma is due to the untreated prolonged cases of common cold.

Most common colds are caused by the infection of virus known as rhinovirus. Coronavirus, human parainfluenza viruses, or human respiratory syncytial virus are the other types of viruses that also can cause a common colds. Types of viruses that can cause cold can go up to 200 types and most of them are already present in the environment. A resistance is never built up against to these viruses in our body is due to the variety of these viruses and also the development of new viruses. Because of this, cold quite often recurs. Before the body's immune system defeats the cold virus, it can infect the next person.

Sneezing or coughing can spread virus particle through air and when a person breathes in these particles, it can cause that person catches cold. The second ways, where a person can catch cold is through person to person contact such as shake hand, hug and etc. A cold can also be spread by accidentally touching the mouth or nose with a rhinovirus contaminated hands. Nevertheless, the most threatening is sneezing because a significantly high concentration of virus can be expelled from sneezing. The falling rate of the virus cloud expelled from sneezing can last for hours in air. The virus cloud is invisible because parts of the droplet nuclei evaporating in air. Due to the evaporating of parts of the droplet nuclei and leaving much smaller and invisible droplet nuclei in the air, the virus cloud is unable to be visualized with bare eyes. Droplets from turbulent sneezing or coughing, which have been spat on any surface, can last for hours. Surface that has been contaminated by droplets through hand contact also can last for a few hours. When the virus enters the cells of the lining of the nasopharynx , which is the area between the nose and throat, it will multiply rapidly.

One to three days is the incubation period, which is the time between becoming infected and developing symptoms. About one day before symptoms begin, that is the infectious period begins. During this time, the infected person can infect others and the infectious period will continue for the first five days of the illness. In a crowded room with the close proximity of an infected person will cause the virus spread more rapidly. That's why children get infected easily in class-rooms or playgrounds.

Sore, scratchy, and phlegmy throat together with congestion and runny nose, sneezing and coughing is the first indication of cold. Side symptoms such as muscle aches, fatigue and weakness may accompany sometimes. Heavy fever or headache, which leads to extreme exhaustion is rarely caused by colds but mostly caused by influenza, a very virulent virus. Cold in severe and rare cases may accompany symptoms of conjunctivitis such as red, itchy, or watery eyes. If infants or young children catch cold, the symptoms mentioned above may be more severe. For a sufferer who has recovered from common cold will develop immunity in his or her body to the particular virus. However, different kind of cold virus still can easily infect this person. Generally, cold usually will end after five to seven days, but residual symptoms such as coughing and sneezing can last up to one to fourteen days depending to infected person health condition.

When someone with a cold coughs or sneezes, the virus particles can travel up to 12 feet (3.7 meters) through the air. Hence, to prevent ourselves from contracting a cold from this person, the best way is to avoid contact with such person and also stay far from this person. Moreover, we should not share towels or eating utensils such as glass, bottle with someone who has a cold. If you are the one who catches cold, try to practise good hygiene such as washing your hands thoroughly and frequently after blowing your nose. Besides, you should try to avoid touching your mouth and face in order that your hands will not contaminate with droplet. To prevent from transmitting the disease to other unaffected people, you should cover your nose and mouths with handkerchief when coughing or sneezing.

However, there are medications we can take to relieve the symptoms of the cold. For the last 50 years, herbal formulation to treat common cold already available in Europe. This herbal formulation can help to ward off viral attacks and relieving the symptoms by strengthening the body's immune system. The key components of this formulation are Herba Thujae Occidentalis (white cedar leaf herb), Radix Baptisiae Tinctoriae (wild indigo root), and two Echinacea extracts, which are Radix Echinaceae Purpureae (purple coneflower root) and Radix Echinaceae Pallidae (pale coneflower root). Thujae and Baptisiae can stimulate our immune system, while Echinacea possesses antiviral properties. Our body immune system can be activated with the help of this unique herb combination. Activated immune system can increase its resistance to disease and viral or bacterial infections. This medication has been going through many clinical trials and 20 of them already published. Currently, this combination of herbs is the only phytomedicine, which is able to treat common cold. Two scientists in Germany, Erich Schaper and Albert Brummer, developed this formulation in 1923, which has been used to treat millions of patients throughout the world. There is no side-effects and safe for consumption for both babies and adults.

By Alexander Chong

Author of "How to cure your incurable nasal allergy without using any synthetic drugs, herbs and expensive devices. http://www.cure-nasal-allergy.com/article10.htm.

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Upper Respiratory Infection Pathophysiology - Manifestation and Remedy

Upper Respiratory Infection Pathophysiology - Manifestation and Remedy

Upper respiratory infection, or URI, is an acute illness also known as the common cold. It is most often due to a bacterial or viral invasion of the body, that enters through the respiratory system.

Pathophysiology:

URIs characteristically attack the mucosal lining the upper respiratory airway. It is spread by coming into contact with secretions from an infected person, or by the water droplet nuclei produced when a person coughs or sneezes into the environment. This is why covering your mouth when coughing, and covering the face when sneezing is important to prevent the spread of upper respiratory infections to others.

Once a pathogen enters the body, it must overcome particular barriers before causing disease. These barriers include:

- Nose hair

- Mucus

- Cells with cilia located in the lower part of the respiratory tract

- Stomach acids

The purpose of these barriers is to trap the foreign invaders to reduce your chances of getting a cold or the flu. The cells in the lower respiratory tract have cilia that capture and bring pathogens to the pharynx, where they can be swallowed and taken to the stomach where they can be destroyed by digestive juices in the stomach.

Your adenoids and tonsils:

The adenoids and tonsils help to defend against disease causing pathogens due to their immune cells that respond to foreign invaders. These cells include: Macrophages, Monocytes, Neutrophils and Eosinophils.

The general scope of nasopharyngeal passage that comprises of staph and strept even defend from pathogens. People with defective immunity, like AIDS, are in grave danger of contagion factor as their immunity is found grossly deficient.

In return, pathogens are equipped to struggle. Through genesis of toxins and proteases, and by creating capsules, they manage to keep choking of phagocytic cells at bay.

Incubation periods vary among the types of pathogens. Rhinoviruses and flu can take up to 5 days to incubate. Others, such as pertussis and take up to 10 days or as long as three weeks before symptoms present themselves. Epstein-Barr incubation period can be up to 6 weeks.

What kinds of symptoms are witnessed during upper respiratory infection?

People who have never suffered from URIor upper respiratory infection are affected by following manifestations:

- Runny nose

- Head congestion - Feels like there is a hug cork jammed into the middle of your face

- Nasal congestion - Caused by swollen nasal passages that have slammed completely shut

- Chest congestion - Bronchial airways clogged with mucus

- Coughing

- Sneezing

- Sore, scratchy throat

- Hoarseness

- Fever

Treatment

Treatment for URI is to reduce symptoms. Most colds and flu are caused by viruses, against which antibiotics have no power. Antibiotics work against bacterial infections only. If you have a URI, there are over-the-counter medications for cough, runny nose, congestion, and fever to help minimize symptoms and help you to feel better.

Jared Wright is the webmaster of Clivir.com, the well-known free learning community site. You can find information on free learning community and asthma medication side effect.

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