Balance Your Health

Sick with 2 Colds at a Time is Possible!

Something you always wanted to know, right? But that's what a team of researchers are telling us.

First keep in mind there are 99 different strains of the rhinovirus that causes most of our colds. In a study published in the journal Science researchers showed that when two strains of the virus infected a person, they could link up together. Not only that but they could also exchange genetic material in a process called recombination which was once thought to be impossible in the rhinovirus.

The researchers also theorized that this recombining could start a new strain of cold.

In a study on children in China evidence was found of triple infections, children carrying a cold strain and other respiratory viruses such as influenza. However, only a few carried multiple strains of the rhinovirus.

No one knows how this happens but they do know that so far, at least, there's no evidence that carrying two cold strains results in more severe symptoms. Which is a good thing because I don't think there would be enough chicken soup.

To your success at a balanced health.

Ruthan Brodsky

Echinacea: Can It Prevent Colds and the Flu?

 

It seems as if the flu season is all year round these days and colds happen when ever the weather changes. Echinacea has been among the top selling drugs in the US as a remedy to treat colds and to prevent colds and the flue. The thought is that the herb stimulates the immune system to help fight infections.

 

Science has arrived at another conclusion, however. Two recent studies funded by  NCCAM, National Center for Complimentary and Alternative Medicine,  did not find a benefit from Echinacea either as treating colds in children or in adults.  What's more most studies indicate that Echinacea does not appear to prevent colds or other infections.  However, there is one study which reports that Echinacea may be beneficial in treating upper respiratory infections.

 

Then there is the word of caution about the side effects. Usually Echinacea has no side effects when taken orally. However, people allergic to related plants in the daisy family which includes ragweed and marigolds may have an allergic reaction. There is also some question to how effective it is because of the lack of regulation in the U.S. herbal market. In other words, you may not be getting what you paid for.

 

Research in German, on the other hand, reports Echinacea is effective when compounded in liquid formulations. Even so it should not be taken for more than eight weeks at a time.

 

Part of the problem in studying a botanical such as Echinacea is figuring out which part of the plant was used in the supplement and determining which species of the plant was used.

 

My conclusion: Save your money. Have chicken soup to help you get through your cold and adopt a healthy lifestyle which includes lots of hand washing to prevent a cold.

 

Let us know your opinion.  What do you think about Echinacea?

 

To your success at a well balanced life.

 

Ruthan

 

Understanding Sinus Inflammation

The weather changes, your nose is stuffed, your head feels heavy as if you can hardly keep holding it up. You think it's the start of a cold but it doesn't go away. In fact, when the barometer takes a big jump either up or down you feel even worse.

Chances are you are experiencing some type of sinus inflammation or infection. When the inflammation is severe you may be diagnosed with acute sinus inflammation or sinusitis. The treatment for that is antibiotics and feeling better in about 10 days.

On the other hand, the problems start when your infection is not acute. Now you need to become a detective and figure out the causes of your sinus problem and how you can treat it so you do feel better. Besides, inflammation isn't good for you no matter the degree.

The responsibility of your sinuses is to make mucus which cleans and moisturizes your nasal passages. Trouble begins when those passages get blocked primarily due to sinus inflammation. That inflammation causes swelling, and the swelling narrows the passages for the mucus to drain. Once drainage is blocked, mucus builds and becomes a perfect place for bacteria to grow.

Your body can usually fight off the virus that is triggering the sinus inflammation. However a secondary bacterial infection can also take place.

You can maintain good sinus hygiene by drinking plenty of fluids to keep nasal secretions thin. Also avoid air travel if possible. If not, then use a nasal decongestant spray before you leave to make sure you keep you sinus passages open. The use of saline nasal sprays, which are available at drugstores, also help keep the nasal passages moist which helps remove infectious agents. Inhaling steam from a bowl of boiling water or in a hot steamy shower may also help.

Sinusitis or sinus infections usually clear up when treated early and appropriately. However, people who have allergic or structural causes for their sinusitis may have recurring attacks of acute sinusitis or may develop chronic sinusitis. But that's another post.

In the meantime, if you have allergies, you need to be more vigilant about checking for early symptoms. For the rest of us, be aware and get to your sinus problems early so you can treat them with the same remedies your mother used. They work and they are safe.

I know you'll find this information useful for you and your family.

To your successful balanced life,

Ruthan Brodsky

Resources: National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, Sinusitis

Sinusitis - Getting Help

Acute sinusitis can get you in real trouble. That's why I'm posting more about this health condition that runs the gamut of – it will go away by itself to see your doctor now.

Your sinuses are air-filled hollow cavities around your nose and nasal passages. Whey they become inflamed, fluid accumulates and interferes with normal mucus drainage.

Most sinus inflammation is caused by a virus, something like the common cold. Sinus infections can also be caused by bacteria or something fungal which triggers an allergy. When bacterial infections take place they're usually a secondary infection that is the bacteria grow in the mucus filled sinuses.

Another trigger of sinusitis is an allergy that causes inflammation and blocks your sinuses. Or you may have broken your nose and have a deviated septum and that could be blocking the sinuses.

If you have sinusitis several times in a year it's a good idea to contact your physician, especially if mucus stays deep yellow or green for some time. You may need to be tested for allergies. It may be that you need nasal surgery to remove a polyp that's causing nasal blockage. Some physicians use a new procedure balled balloon sinuplasty. It's less invasive than sinus surgery and opens the sinuses by inserting and then inflating a balloon inside the sinus openings. Reports aren't in on the long term results from this treatment.

Some people confuse sinus headaches with migraines. It's true that headaches are often part of a sinus infection but for many people they are actually suffering from migraines. It's easy to get the two headaches confused because the symptoms overlap. The major difference is that sinus headaches aren't triggered by noise or bright light and they don't include nausea.

Overuse of antibiotics with sinuses is a problem. Antibiotics only work with bacterial infections and only a small percentage of acute sinusitis cases are bacterial. Antibiotics should only be considered when the symptoms get worse or don't improve after 10 days.

And keep in mind, long-term use of decongestants and antihistamines in not good. They may offer temporary relief for a few days but if they're used continually they can actually make your symptoms worse. They can increase your congestion and make your nose too dry.

Ivite your friends and family members to subscribe to this blog for valuable information about staying healthy.  Send them to the link below. And let me know what topics you'd like me to cover.

Ruthan Brodsky

www.balanceyourhealth.com

Sinusitis - Why You're Suffering and How to Feel Better

The remedies for stuffy nose and blocked sinuses will start their ads on TV in a day or two. It’s November… it’s the season. Walk into any drugstore and there are shelves of over the counter meds for nasal congestion, facial pain, achiness, headache and fatigue – all symptoms of sinusitis.

These same symptoms are also common during a cold or flu, but in most of these cases the sinus problems are due to the effects of the infecting virus and go away when the infection does. Sneezing, sore throat, and muscle aches may be present, but they’re usually not caused by sinusitis itself. Muscle aches may be caused by fever, sore throat by post-nasal drip, and sneezing from cold or allergies.

Sinusitus, on the other hand, is usually caused by bacteria and sometimes symptoms may be so severe that your teeth hurt. When the symptoms last longer than 12 consecutive weeks its referred to as chronic sinusitis. Some people become very fatigued during this time and they don’t respond to decongestants or antihistamines. They may have ear pain, and they have constant nose drainage usually a thick yellow or greenish discharge.

If your doctor suspects the cause of your problem is bacterial, changes are you’ll be given an antibiotic. Other treatments that help ease the symptoms are corticosteroids to reduce inflammation, decongestants and antihistamines for temporary relief of nasal congestion.

Sore Throat Home Treatments

So many people are getting sick these past few months – strep throat, respiratory problems, pneumonia, coughs that sound like they hurt. A few weeks ago my husband was short of breath and his ribs hurt from coughing. He’s being treated as if he had bronchial asthma because there’s no fluid in his lungs and he didn’t have a fever. He’s still not doing very well.

Everyone with some kind of respiratory issue fatigues so easy. It’s a struggle to make it through the day – even with chicken soup.

And who can think of balancing one’s life when you’re nose is running and your eyes watering> The irony of it all is that having a bad cold does balance a lot of our lives just because it does slow us down. Things we felt compelled to do at one time don’t seem so important during a coughing spell.

But I’m here to help and knowing that a lot of this stuff often begins with a sore throat caused by a virus, there are treatments you can do at home to prevent your sore throat from getting worse. At least they should help you feel better.

· Gargle with warm salt water about once every hour or two.
· Gargle often to prevent more throat irritation if you have postnasal drip.
· Drink lots of fluids to prevent dehydration. Hot fluids, like tea and soup, can also sooth your throat.
· Use a vaporizer or cool air humidifier in your bedroom to relieve hoarseness.
· Use a shallow pan of water to provide moisture in the air through evaporation if you don’t have a humidifier.
· Use nonprescription throat lozenges. Most are safe and effective with some medication that numbs the throat.
· Regular cough drops may also help sooth your throat.
· Take a decongestant to shrink swollen mucous so you can breathe better.
· They also help relieve postnasal drip which can give you the sore throat.

Be sure to read and follow the directions on the bottle and box.
Don’t take more than the recommended dose.
If you’re pregnant, don’t take anything before calling your doctor.

If you’re feeling worse after a day or two, contact your physician. Please.
Do you have a home remedy for sore throats that I didn’t mention?
Let me know and we’ll add them to the list. Scroll down to comments and write your remedy in the window.

Warm regards,

Ruthan Brodsky