Monday, April 27, 2015

Fighting Off the Flu, Part 2


(continued from last week)

No cure exists for flu – as with cold, the virus has to run its course. The goal then is to minimize discomfort and prevent complications.  Generally, you can treat the flu on your own. 

However, if you have trouble breathing, a persistent cough , or cough up yellow-green sputum, call a doctor; you may be developing pneumonia. 

The best way to combat flu is to get plenty of bed rest, so your body can marshall all its strength to fight off the virus. Other suggestions include:
  • Drink plenty of hot / warm water liquids. They’ll soothe your throat, relieve nasal congestion, and replace bodily fluids lost through perspiration caused by fever.
  • Gargle with tepid, strong tea or warm salt water.
  • Suck on lozenges or hard candies to lubricate your throat.
  • Don’t suppress a cough that produces phlegm or sputum – it helps rid the respiratory tract of mucus.
  • Avoid drinking milk or eating cheese and other dairy products for a couple of days – they can thicken mucus secretion, making them difficult to expel.
  • Wash your hands frequently, especially after blowing your nose and before handling food.


Used with permission from A Year of Health Hints by Don R Powell, PHD and the American Institute for Preventive Medicine, copyright 2010. www.healthylife.com

Monday, April 20, 2015

Fighting Off the Flu, Part 1


Many people say “it’s just a flu” yet each year, 50,000 people die from pneumonia and other complications of the influenza virus, or flu.

Cold and flu symptoms are similar to each other, but they differ in intensity.  A cold generally starts out with some minor sniffling and sneezing, but the flu hits you all at once. A cold rarely moves into the lungs; the flu can cause pneumonia. You may be able to drag yourself to work with a cold, but with flu you’ll be too ill to leave your bed.

If the following symptoms come on suddenly and intensely, you probably have the flu:
  • Dry cough
  • Sore throat
  • Severe headache
  • General muscle aches or backache
  • Extreme fatigue
  • Chills
  • Fever up to 104 deg.F
  • Pain when you move your eyes, or a burning sensation in the eyes.

To be continued next week - J.P.

Used with permission from A Year of Health Hints by Don R Powell, PHD and the American Institute for Preventive Medicine, copyright 2010. www.healthylife.com 

Monday, April 13, 2015

Sleeping through Insomnia

Have you ever had trouble falling asleep at night? Or found yourself waking up in the middle of the night, or wake up too early and can’t get back to sleep?

An ocassional sleepless night is, well, nothing to lose sleep over. But if insomnia bothers you for three weeks or longer, it can already be a medical problem.

Many old-fashioned remedies for sleeplessness work – and work well. Next time you find yourself unable to sleep, try these time-tested cures:
  • Avoid caffeine in all forms after lunchtime. (coffee, tea, chocolate, colas, and some other soft drinks contain this stimulant, as do certain over-the-counter and prescription drugs; check the labels for content.) This is the last thing a wide-awake insomniac needs.
  • Don’t nap during the day, no matter how groggy you feel. (Naps decrease the quality of nighttime sleep.)
  • Take a nice, long, hot bath before bedtime. (This soothes and unwinds tense muscles, leaving you relaxed enough to fall asleep.)
  • Read a book or do some repetitive, tedious activity, like needlework. Try NOT to watch television or listen to the radio. These kinds of distractions may hold your attention and keep you awake.
  • Make your bedroom as comfortable as possible. Create a quiet, dark atmosphere. Use clean, fresh, sheets and pillows, and keep the room temperature comfortable.
  • Don’t allow yourself to think of the mistakes of the day as you toss and turn. The idea is to associate your bed with sleep.
  • Try counting those sheep! Counting slowly is a soothing, hypnotic activity.  By picturing repetitive, monotonous images, you may bore yourself to sleep.
If, after three weeks, you still have trouble sleeping despite your efforts, see a doctor to rule out any medical or psychiatric problems that may be at fault.


Used with permission from A Year of Health Hints by Don R Powell, PHD and the American Institute for Preventive Medicine, copyright 2010. www.healthylife.com

Monday, April 6, 2015

Defense Against Dandruff


Dandruff is considered harmless. Dandruff (or seborrheic dermatitis, in medical terms) affects the scalp and eyebrows – areas of the skin where oil glands are most active – leaving them oily and flaky. Unchecked, dandruff can collect around your ears and cascade down your neck and back.

While dandruff seems to run in families, no one knows exactly what causes it. Possible contributing factors include:
  • Stress
  • Infrequent shampooing
  • Oily skin in general
  • Extremes in weather (hot and humid or cold and dry conditions)

Whatever the cause of your dandruff, thorough, daily shampooing is the most successful treatment.  To make shampooing more effective:

Scrub thoroughly to loosen scaly skin, but be gentle, taking care not to scratch or irritate the scalp and increase the risk of infection.

Use an antidandruff shampoo. Over-the-counter shampoos that contain selenium sulfide are often effective for mild cases. More severe dandruff may require a prescription medication.


Used with permission from A Year of Health Hints by Don R Powell, PHD and the American Institute for Preventive Medicine, copyright 2010. www.healthylife.com