Treat Your Pet Without the Vet

January 31st, 2009 | No Comments | Posted in Family Health

If you have a pet, chances are you treat your pet just like it’s a valuable member of your family. You care about your pet and want the best for him. That’s why when your pet gets sick, it is so hard on you and you want to do whatever it takes to make your pet better.

However, it can get pretty expensive to take your pet to the vet each time he gets sick. Avoiding those costly visits can be done, though. You can treat your pet’s simple ailments at home. Here are some information on treating your pet using home remedies.

TREATING FLEAS

Including sulphur weekly or garlic daily in your pet’s food will help get rid of fleas. Black walnut hull capsules, which are available at health food stores in your area, will treat fleas and also help with ticks and mosquitoes.

You can make a flea collar by combining 2 tbsp. peppermint oil, 1/2 c. rosemary oil, 2 tbsp. white cedar oil, 1/4 c. citronella oil and 2 tbsp. eucalyptus oil. After letting a rope sit in the oil mixture, put it on your pet and it will get rid of fleas.

TREATING STOMACH PROBLEMS

Is your pet constipated? Add some canned pumpkin mixed into your pet’s food. Use it until the problem clears up. If pumpkin isn’t something your pet likes, try adding a small amount of milk in their food. If your pet is large, give him about half a cup of milk daily. If your pet is small, an eighth of a cup of milk every day will suffice.

Treat your animal’s diarrhea by switching him to tasteless foods like baked potatoes minus skin, eggs prepared with no oil or fats, or chicken skin that has been boiled until your pet’s diarrhea goes away.

Pepto Bismol can be given to dogs in the small doses of 1 ml per pound of the animal and Kaopectate can be used with dogs or cats in the amount of 1 ml per day. In case of accidental poisoning, give your pet 3% peroxide 15 minutes apart in doses of 10 ml at a time and call for help.

SKIN ISSUES

Use apple cider vinegar (3 parts) and water (1 part) to treat any skin infections on your pet.

Meat tenderizer and water made into a paste can be used to treat stings by bees or other bugs on animals by putting all around the affected area and leaving it to dry.

HAIRBALL PROBLEMS

Just 1 tbsp. of butter a day will help your pet get rid of those pesky hairballs in his system.

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Common Food Allergy Triggers

January 31st, 2009 | No Comments | Posted in Health Research

We all have foods that we don’t react to well. They may give us a stomach ache or cause other mild symptoms. For a few people with true food allergies, much more severe reactions may occur. The following five foods are ones that commonly cause true food allergies.

1. Nuts

Not that many people are allergic to nuts, but those who are may have life threatening reactions if they are exposed to nuts. Not only can the nuts be a problem, just the residue from nuts anywhere food is made can cause a reaction as well in people with a nut allergy.

It doesn’t take much for those allergic to nuts to have a serious problem. Even touching another person who just ate or touched nuts could be enough for a reaction to occur. Nut allergies usually stay with a person his whole life so he always has to be vigilant.

Nut allergies across the board are rare but it can happen. In general, we associate nut allergy to peanut allergy but other nuts can cause an allergic reaction to people. As allergens, nuts differ from each other so a person who is allergic to peanuts may not be allergic to other nuts like almonds, walnuts, pecans and cashews.

2. Milk

Lactose intolerance, which is what causes most people problems, is not the same as food allergy. Instead, lactose intolerance has more to do with your body not being able to process milk causing stomach problems. Children usually display symptoms of milk allergies at a young age. In general, however, children get over milk allergies as they grow. Sometimes soy can be used as a substitute for milk for those with allergies but occasionally there could still be a reaction.

3. Eggs

Like milk allergies, egg allergies commonly children. And again, like milk allergies, egg allergies disappear as children grow up. You can still get that egg flavor in your food if you are allergic to eggs. You can use egg replacement product for baking with good results but not for making scrambled or fried eggs. This substance comes in a powder form so it may take a few tries before you get it right.

4. Seafood (Shellfish, Fish)

People are usually either allergic to fish or to shellfish, not to both of them at once. However, often people will have problems with several different kinds of fish or with several different shellfish. If you have an allergy to one type of shellfish, you may likely have an allergy to two or more types of shellfish, even all types. Once you have this type of allergy, you’ll have it for the rest of your life.

5. Wheat

Wheat allergies and celiac disease, which is the inability to digest glutens like wheat, are not the same thing. Celiac disease is not related to allergies at all. Actual wheat allergies occur in a little less than 10% of the population under the age of 3. Wheat is found in almost everything but usually those with wheat allergies can eat other varieties of wheat than the one they are allergic to.

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Increasing Breast Cancer Awareness

January 31st, 2009 | No Comments | Posted in Family Health

October used to be all about black and orange as Halloween approaches. Butt there is a new color showing up in October now: pink. Why pink? It’s because October has been designated as breast cancer awareness month.

Many women, thousands of them, are diagnosed with breast cancer each years. In fact, breast cancer is the most commonly occurring cancer among women. Thanks to advances in medicine, breast cancer is now highly treatable. Thousands of women are proud to call themselves breast cancer survivors. It is important to get checked out often so breast cancer can be caught early because that is when treatment is the most successful. October is all about educating women about breast cancer.

If you get treatment early, you have a good chance of surviving breast cancer. That’s why you should do everything you can to catch breast cancer early. Here are some ways:

Mammograms are very important in preventing breast cancer. Depending on your risk factors, you should get a yearly or twice a year mammogram. If your family has a history of breast cancer, it’s even more important that you have a yearly or twice a year mammograms.

Breast self exams are important because you need to learn to recognize any changes to your breasts. You should check for lumps as well as note the color, size and shape of your breasts to see if they have changed at all. Do a breast self-exam every month. If you don’t know how to do a breast self-exam, see your doctor or a health practitioner; they can show you how to properly do a breast self-exam.

Go to your doctor for a yearly check up of your reproductive system and a breast exam. Your doctor will do the necessary tests and talk to you about any concerns you may have about breast cancer.

Don’t be afraid to ask questions and share your concerns with your doctor. Ignoring a problem you find in your breasts will only endanger your life. It’s better to let the doctor decide what is a serious problem and what isn’t.

You have to whatever you can to protect yourself by taking the above steps. You also need to protect the women you love by talking to them about breast cancer and what they can do to make sure they stay in good health. Breast cancer is not a subject that you should be afraid of talking about with friends and family members. Remind each other to do your monthly breast self-exams to make those yearly doctor appointments.

Maybe you aren’t a scientist, but you can help out with breast cancer research. You can donate directly to breast cancer organizations or by buying products that donate a percentage to the cause. These products will usually be marked with a pink ribbon. You can find these products at any store including your grocery store.

This October, step up and do something to prevent breast cancer. Talk to your friends and family and educate them on how to prevent breast cancer.

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Quit Smoking Now

January 31st, 2009 | No Comments | Posted in Family Health

If you smoke, you should know that smoking is a dangerous habit. It’s dangerous not only to you, but also to those around you. If you smoke, you are at risk for developing emphysema and lung cancer and you are putting your loved ones in danger as well with your second hand smoke. Most smokers will say they would like to quit smoking eventually. But why put it off? Quit smoking now for you and your loved ones.

The addictive nicotine in cigarettes is what makes it difficult for many to quit. Years ago, if you wanted to quit smoking, you were practically on your own because there were very little support and medications available to help break the nicotine addiction. Today, there are patches and gums that allow you to slowly take in less and less nicotine instead of quitting all at once. You can also get prescription quit smoking products from your doctor.

Cigarette smoking is not only physically addictive because of the nicotine; it is also a habit that is hard to break without replacing it with another habit. Smokers often find it hard to quit smoking because they are used to having a cigarette in their hands and their mouth. They feel the need to do something with their hands and mouth instead. If you have this problem, try snacking on healthy foods like sunflower seeds to replace the habit. You can also keep your hands busy by working on a hand held puzzle. Another idea is to keep a candy cigarette in your hands and pretend to smoke that until you can completely break the habit.

It can be hard to quit smoking if you and your friends all smoke together. If you quit smoking, encourage your friends to join you in a walk or a conversation in the break room instead of taking a smoke break at work or at home.

There are more resources than you probably realize available to help you in your journey to quit smoking. A simple Internet search will turn up endless quit smoking resources such as online support groups, online support chat rooms, local support groups and hotlines for people who are quitting and are in need of a little extra support. You will be able to talk to people who are going through the same thing as you are as well as experts who can give you advice and help make quitting easier for you.

You can quit smoking. It may take a few tries and you will have to take advantage of all the support that is out there from family and friends, experts and support groups. You’ll be proud of yourself for quitting and you will feel so much healthier!

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Understanding Flu Season

January 30th, 2009 | No Comments | Posted in Family Health

We all love the changes that the four seasons bring and the variety in the weather. However, flu season is not popular with anyone! You can catch the flu anytime during the year, even during the warm summer months. The worst time of the year for flu outbreaks is usually during the fall and winter months and sometimes in the spring.

Different countries have slightly different flu seasons due to temperature variations around the world. Countries with warmer average temperatures have less instances of the flu while countries with cooler average temperatures might have more cases due to a longer flu season. In the United States, the flu season is said to run from October through March and is at its worst between December and March.

The majority of flu outbreaks last around 6 weeks. The flu cases will increase for about 3 weeks and then over the last 3 weeks they will diminish as people start to get better and are less contagious. February is usually when this 6-week range occurs in the U.S.

Why the Winter Flu?

We know more cases of the flu develop during the coldest part of the year and rarely occur during the summer months but do we really understand why that is? People tend to spend more time in close quarters and less time outdoors so germs are spread more easily. Another reason is that the sun produces radiation which can kill or damage the virus.

The National Institute of Health has made a new discovery with regard to the flu virus. They think that the flu virus survives by forming a fatty shell of sorts that keeps the virus alive and well during cold weather by insulating it from the cold. In the summer, this fatty shell melts off and then the virus is left unprotected and often doesn’t survive. Also, the virus is able to infect animals and humans by making it into our bodies where it doesn’t need protection so the fatty shell can melt away.

Surviving the Flu Season

Flu shots are much more effective when they are received early in the flu season especially for those who have a better chance of catching the flu. Small children, older people, people who have a weak immune system and women who are pregnant are at a higher risk so they should get a flu shot as early as possible. Also, people who work with children, the elderly or in other group situations or in a hospital have a higher risk.

Not everyone wants to or is even able to get a flu shot but that doesn’t mean you can’t do anything to prevent the flu. Keep yourself healthy by being vigilant about washing your hands, eating a lot of fruits and vegetables and other healthy foods to support your immune system, and taking vitamins if necessary. If you are well rested, your body will be able to fight off the flu more effectively so get enough sleep!

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Will You Have Another Autistic Child?

January 30th, 2009 | No Comments | Posted in Family Health

Although great strides have been made with medical science when it comes to autism, what exactly causes autism still remains a great mystery. Everyone has their own ideas but no one theory has been proven to be the one true theory yet.

It is thought that perhaps there is a gene that makes a person more likely to develop autism. It may be that many people have the gene but only those who encounter an unknown environmental factor develop the disease. It is fairly well accepted in the medical community that there is a genetic link to autism. Not all children who have a genetic link in their family are going to be autistic, though.

Parents who are currently taking care of one autistic child may worry about getting pregnant again. They may not be sure if they will have another baby with autism or if they have a chance of having a “normal” baby. Just because they have an autistic child does not mean that their next child is going to be autistic too.

The risk of having a second child with autism is about 7 times greater than the risk of another person in society having a child with autism. That’s about 1 in 20 compared to 1 in 150. The risk is higher, yes, but that doesn’t mean it will happen to you.

It is possible that parents with bi-polar disorder or poor social, emotional and communication skills are more likely to have an autistic child. It doesn’t have to be just the parents though; it could be other close relatives.

Autism is more common in children who have other disorders including Tourettes, Fragile X syndrome and epilepsy. Also, children whose father was over 40 when they were conceived are more likely to be autistic. This increases their risks to six times that of other children whose fathers were much younger when the children were conceived.

There is no way to tell based on family history or medical history if parents will have an autistic child. There are children who you would think would be born autistic based on their genetic make-up who aren’t and those who have no genetic traits but are still born with autism. Not all children who fit the pattern for risk factors will be born autistic.

Scientists are learning more and more about autism every day. Soon, there will better treatments and therapies that will be a lot more effective and maybe we will even be able to prevent autism.

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Donate Your Organs and Save a Life

January 30th, 2009 | No Comments | Posted in Family Health

The number of people waiting for an organ to be available is around 100,000 right now. Many of these people won’t survive long enough to get an organ. By becoming an organ donor, you can save a life. By agreeing to donate your organs and tissues, you don’t just save one person’s life, you can save as many as eight lives. You can also help at least 50 people live healthier more satisfying lives.

Anyone can sign up to be an organ donor and it is something that is accepted by most major religions. The following information might help you decide if you want to be an organ donor.

*You will not be treated any differently if you are in a hospital if you are an organ donor. Your doctor is not going to be involved with any possible donation of organ and tissue that you may decide on. You will receive all the medical care you need to survive.

*When you donate your organs and tissues upon your death, the expenses of the operations are paid for by the people who get your organs or their insurance. Your family won’t have to pay for anything.

*No matter what organs you donate, your family will be able to honor any funeral wishes you had including an open casket. The organ removal can be done so that there will be no damage to your body that can’t be covered up at the funeral home.

*You don’t have to donate all your organs and tissues unless that is what you want. You can donate specific organs only if you wish.

HOW TO BECOME A DONOR

Most countries want to make organ donation as easy as possible to encourage more people to participate. It is assumed you will donate your organs unless they are told otherwise by your family in countries like Spain and France. In England, a person must make his wishes known prior to his death; the family can’t decide on their own. In the United States, it is generally required that a person also make his wishes known but some states have slightly different variations of this law.

It’s best to make it known that you do want to donate organs if that is your decision. You can do this by finding out how you register for the organ donor list in your state. In some states, your driver’s license indicates that you wish to be an organ donor if you so decide. It is also important to put a clause in your will or living will stating your wishes regarding organ donation. Most importantly, let your family know so they can make sure your wishes are honored.

It is easy and painless to sign up to be an organ donor. Your life won’t be affected in anyway nor will your medical care ever suffer because of your decision. If you decide to be a donor, make sure you register and let your family know your wishes.

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How to Deal with Asthma During the Winter

January 30th, 2009 | No Comments | Posted in Family Health

Asthma is nothing to be taken lightly. An asthma attack can be very serious and even fatal in some cases. You need to take precautions against asthma attacks especially during the winter months when these attacks are more likely to happen.

In the winter, we are all exposed to a lot more germs, which means we become highly susceptible to contracting illnesses like the cold and the flu. Children are sharing germs with each other at school on a daily basis since they are inside more. These common winter diseases often lead to asthma attacks. Taking the steps necessary to prevent diseases will also reduce the chances of an asthma attack. Wash your hands as often as possible and get a flu shot.

If your child has asthma, do not give your child any over the counter medicine for a cold or flu until you check with the doctor. Some medicines could react badly with or reduce the effectiveness of their asthma treatments. The doctor will be able to tell you what you should and shouldn’t give your child.

Asthma symptoms generally improve in the warmer months. Some people think that since they feel better, they don’t need their asthma medicine anymore but this is not true. You never know when you could get sick. If you do go off your asthma treatments in the warmer months, be sure to start them up again before winter gets here. You don’t want to wait to start them until you feel sick.

Sometimes doctors can recommend supplemental treatments during the winter months that will alleviate or reduce asthma symptoms. These can be for both adults and children and can include nebulizer treatments.

Low humidity in the winter can increase the symptoms of asthma. Running a humidifier in your house or even at work is a good idea as the humidifier will produce some moisture in the air. You can even find small ones that are portable. Keeping the air moist will reduce your chances of having an asthma attack. Also, avoid spending too much time outside and always bundle up before going out in the cold.

Indoor allergies like dust and pet dander, which are more common in the winter, can also cause an increase in asthma symptoms. These are just as much of a risk as a cold or the flu. Keep your house dusted and do vacuum often to remove allergens. Keep pets out of your bedroom and consider using allergen-free bed covers. Also talk to your doctor about taking allergy medicine in the winter if you have problems.

Asthma doesn’t have to be a problem in the winter. You just need to understand how to deal with the winter asthma issues so you can take the appropriate steps.

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Beating the Holiday Blues

January 29th, 2009 | No Comments | Posted in Family Health

The holidays are supposed to be a happy and joyous time for celebrating and being with friends and family. Unfortunately, not everyone feels that way during the holidays. Some people feel tired, sad and depressed during the holidays. This is hard when you see everyone being so happy around you. No one wants to feel this way, though, and you don’t have to. You can take some simple steps to improve your mood this holiday season.

Often, the holiday blues come from loneliness. The holidays are supposed to be spent with close friends and family. If you live far away from your loved ones, it is hard to feel happy during the holidays. You are not the only one feeling this way, though. You may not realize it but you know people at work, school or church that are also feeling lonely. Ask around and invite those without family to celebrate the holidays with you. Another way to feel better is to do something for others like serve a meal at a homeless shelter or visit a hospital. Cheering up others will make you feel happier too.

There are so many ways to give back to your community during the holidays. You can give of your time by volunteering to bring a needy family Christmas dinner or read to children at a local hospital. You can give of your resources by donating food to a food bank or buying toys for needy children. What you do may not seem like a lot, but you are making the holidays so much brighter for others and it does not go unnoticed. You’ll feel better about yourself knowing you helped someone else.

A lot of holiday depression comes from the stress associated with a busy holiday season. If you are tired and stressed from all your shopping, cooking and cleaning, take a break and do something for yourself. Take a hot bath, read a book, go for a walk or just watch one of your favorite holiday movies. Taking an hour out of your day to focus on yourself and clear your head will make a big difference in your mood. You are also less likely to get sick if you relieve some of your stress.

If you are feeling down, get out and do something physical. Go sledding, build a snowman with your kids, have a snowball fight, go for a long walk or just run around with your kids. You’ll feel better and have more energy. Exercise can help you get out of the bad mood you are in from the holiday blues. Another advantage is you’ll be burning off calories and avoiding the dreaded holiday weight gain.

The best thing you can do for yourself and others is to make yourself happy. Others will respond positively to you if you are satisfied and happy. Don’t do things you don’t want to do just because you feel like you have to. Learn to say no.

The happier you are, especially around the holidays, the happier everyone around you will be.

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How to Tell if You Have a Common Cold

January 29th, 2009 | No Comments | Posted in Family Health

The common cold is one the most common reasons people miss work. In fact, companies and businesses lose billions of dollars in lost work due to the cold every year. While a cold is not a serious illness, it certainly isn’t any fun to have one. Sometimes it can be hard to tell the common cold from other diseases with many similar symptoms like bronchitis, the flu, strep throat or a sinus infection. What symptoms do you look for to tell if it is a common cold that has you feeling bad?

Below are the common cold symptoms:

  • a hacking cough accompanied by phlegm
  • constant sneezing
  • stuffy of runny nose
  • pain in your throat
  • pressure in your chest
  • feeling tired and weak

Usually with a cold, you start to feel worse and worse over the next few days. However, symptoms like a high fever, chills and headaches are not usually associated with the common cold. Body aches rarely occur with a cold but instead occur with the flu.

You can expect your cold to go away in a week or two. Hopefully, you won’t even have it that long. If you still are having the symptoms of cold after two weeks, it’s best to see your doctor to rule out a more serious illness. You may also need to take antibiotics.

You should watch for symptoms like a high fever, blisters in your throat, or yellow or green discharge from your nose because these could indicate a more serious illness, not a common cold. If you have any of these symptoms, call your doctor.

Treatment for the Common Cold

There is no magic medicine that will make your cold go away. You can try some over the counter treatments and some homeopathic treatments that might help your cold go away faster and be less painful. Zinc is available in many over the counter medicines and is said to be helpful in fighting the common cold. Herbs like Echinacea, garlic and licorice are also said to be good cold remedies. You can treat some of the symptoms of your cold such as runny and/or stuffy nose and the cough with some commonly available medicines so at least you won’t feel as bad.

While you aren’t going to die from the common cold, you’ll sure feel awful when you have one. You can’t go to work, to school or even socialize with your friends and family. Drinking a lot of liquid and taking it easy are two of the best things you can do for the common cold.

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