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Natural Remedies For The Common Cold

October 27, 2006

Let’s face it, getting a cold stinks. And chances are, most of us will get at least one this winter.

People complain of being tired and weak, and suffering from a sore throat and itchy eyes.

The saying goes that you can’t cure the common cold, but research is showing that there are some simple natural remedies that can boost your immune system, like eating garlic and yogurt. Other research is showing some some natural products can also lessen the symptoms.

Maureen Spencer, Infection Control Manager at the New England Baptist Hospital, went over a number of products for us. She says andrographis contains flavonoids which are really strong antioxidants. She says 7 randomized clinical trials show this supplement will alleviate upper respiratory infections.

Another product to look out for is elderberry. It can be found in a syrup called Sambucol. A study from Israel found that it suppresses the influenza virus.

Another similar product is Umka Cold care which contains pelargonium.

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“It actually reduces the severity of the respiratory symptoms and there are two really good randomized clinical trials that document that,” said Spencer.

Astragalus is an ancient Chinese herb being embraced by western science. Spencer said it enhances the immune system.

What about Vitamin C and zinc? Some research recommends a high dose of each at the first onset of a cold.

Spencer says there are indications this approach can work if “you want to decrease the severity of your symptoms and modify them.”

The verdict is more mixed on Echinacea. One study showed some promise, but Spencer says you need to make sure you get a brand marked “purporea.”

Dr. Guy Pugh, an internist, agrees that some of the herbal remedies that go way back can be very effective. He does have this caution however. “These are not generally tested rigorously for harmful side effects or effectiveness.”

The best advices is to do you homework before trying anything new, and then see what works for you.

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Ask Dr. Gott

October 25, 2006

DEAR DR. GOTT: I am a 70-year-old male Caucasian with a long history of back problems dating back to the mid-1980s. I had a partially herniated disc, and I spent a week in traction. I still have back problems. Chiropractic manipulation was no help. The chiropractor finally suggested trying an epidural shot to quiet a pinched nerve.

I went to my orthopedic surgeon to get a referral, but he said shots wouldn’t help. My regular doctor said there’s no surgeon that will touch my back. So, where does that leave me? With a sore back the rest of my life? It won’t let me do much walking, and standing motionless is out of the question. What do you suggest?

DEAR READER: I choose to avoid criticizing the discrepant advice offered to you by your various health professionals. The basic problem is a disc herniation that is compressing one or more spinal nerves, leading to chronic pain.

I disagree with your regular doctor. Perhaps, as he said, no surgeon will touch your back, but how does he know?

My patients with disc problems often discover that their pain levels rise over the years because the back ailment worsens. Where do things stand with you at present? Have you had an MRI within the

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past six months? These and other questions need answering. While you are unraveling this problem, I urge you to have a neurosurgeon review your case. If he or she agrees that surgery is not an appropriate option, then go to a pain clinic. Most teaching hospitals have such a resource available. Don’t delay. You are probably running out of options. You need expert help.To give you related information, I am sending you a copy of my Health Report “Managing Chronic Pain.” Other readers who would like a copy should send a long, self-addressed, stamped envelope and $2 to Newsletter, PO Box 167, Wickliffe, OH 44092. Be sure to mention the title.

DEAR DR. GOTT: If my spouse is sick with a common virus or infection, such as a cold, sore throat, flu, etc., can that be passed on through sexual intimacy? When either of us is sick, we are careful about kissing and wash our hands frequently so as not to transfer the “bugs” to each other, but what about other physical contact?

DEAR READER: Upper-respiratory viral infections are passed on by respiratory droplets, such as coughing and sneezing, not by sexual intimacy. However, most patients with such infections put sex on hold.

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Dermatologists Give More Than Lip Service To Common And Uncommon Lip And Mouth Problems

October 22, 2006

Our lips say a lot about us even before we say a word. Full, smooth lips showcase inner health just as lips that are chapped, cracked or sore can be a sign of more serious problems.

Speaking today at the American Academy of Dermatology’s (Academy) SKIN Academy, dermatologist Bruce P. Robinson, MD, FAAD, assistant clinical instructor and volunteer attending at Mount Sinai Medical Center in New York City, discussed common and uncommon lip and mouth problems and their solutions.

“Not only are healthy lips attractive, but they are very important to a person’s overall well-being,” Dr. Robinson said. “Anyone with a problem or concern about his or her lips should visit a dermatologist to get a proper diagnosis and effective treatment.”

Cold Sores

A cold sore, or a “fever blister,” usually appears on the outside of the lips or mouth. They are extremely common, affecting between 80 to 90 percent of the population in the United States by the time they are 50 years old. Cold sores are caused by a virus, either the herpes simplex virus type 1, or herpes simplex virus type 2. The type of virus does not affect the treatment.

Cold sores may appear just once in a person’s life, or return again and again. Although experts still don’t know all of the ways a cold sore can be triggered, some of the things that can cause a cold sore include:

– Stress, tiredness or being “run-down”
– A cold, fever or the flu
– Exposure to the sun
– Hormonal changes, such as from menstruation or pregnancy
– Trauma, such as shaving, cuts, dental work or facial/cosmetic surgery
“Cold sores are extremely contagious,” said Dr. Robinson. “If you have a cold sore, do not kiss anyone until it is completely healed. Even a light peck can spread the virus.”

There currently is not a cure for cold sores, but there are many effective treatments. Antiviral medications, such as acyclovir and valacyclovir HCI, speed the healing process which eases the pain and discomfort of the sore by slowing the reproduction of the virus. In August 2006, the United States Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approved the use of another antiviral medication, famciclovir, making treatment easier than ever because the patient only needs to take one dose to ease his or her symptoms. To be most effective, these medications need to be used right at the start of an outbreak.

“Not only are cold sores painful, they can be embarrassing, too,” said Dr. Robinson. “People who suffer from repetitive occurrences may want to make sure that they have a prescription for one of these medications on hand so that they can get fast relief.”

Cheilitis

Cheilitis, or inflamed lips, can have many causes. The most common form, called angular cheilitis, presents as cracking at the corners of the mouth and can be brought on by an infection, excessive saliva or dental trauma. It is frequently seen in children who suck their thumbs and in elderly people who have ill-fitting dentures.

Other forms of cheilitis include actinic cheilitis, a condition in which the lip becomes puffy, blotchy red and pale pink, and may develop occasional white plaques and chronic ulcers. It typically shows up in people over the age of 59, who have had many years of sun exposure. Because this can be a precursor to the development of skin cancer, it should be treated by a dermatologist to ensure that it does not progress.

Less commonly, cheilitis can signal an underlying disease. Granulomatous cheilitis, a lumpy swelling of the lips, can be a symptom of Crohn’s Disease, an inflammatory disease of the intestines. Chronic cracking of the corners of the mouth can be a sign of Sjogren’s syndrome, a condition in which the body’s immune system attacks its moisture glands.

“Because there are a variety of causes, any person experiencing soreness or cracking at the corners of the mouth should be examined by a dermatologist to obtain the correct diagnosis and effective treatment,” Dr. Robinson said.

Chapped Lips

One of the most vexing lip problems is dry, chapped lips. Because lips do not contain oil glands, they tend to dry out very easily and become chapped.

Chapped lips have many causes and can occur in any season. Dry winter air or hot summer sun can contribute to the problem as can dryness in the home. People who lick their lips frequently may find that the more licking they do, the drier their lips get.

To keep your lips moist, use a petroleum- or beeswax-based product, or plain petroleum jelly. Avoid flavored products because they can tempt you to lick your lips more often. Dr. Robinson recommends that people whose lips are especially chapped use a plain balm because medicated balms often contain menthol which can potentially be drying.

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The following tips can help prevent chapped lips:

– Increase the moisture. Keep the air in your home moist with a humidifier, which can be purchased in any drug or discount store. Make sure you clean the humidifier often and place it out of the reach of young children.

– Don’t lick. The constant wetting and drying that occurs with licking quickly causes chapped lips. Instead of licking, apply lip balm.

– Cover your face. In the winter, especially on windy days, make sure you have a scarf or hat with a mask that covers your lips.

– Use lip balm with sunscreen. Because the sun can cause chapped lips and make already chapped lips worse, use a product that has sunscreen with a Sun Protection Factor, or SPF, of 15 or higher.

“Contrary to popular myth, lip balm is not addictive,” said Dr. Robinson. “People find that they like the smooth feeling they get from it and tend to reapply it more often to keep getting that feeling. There is nothing inherently addictive in lip balm nor is using a lot of it a bad thing.”

Lip Enhancement

In addition to treating lip problems, dermatologists also can help enhance the look of a person’s lips, making them fuller and more symmetrical and reducing wrinkles and lines around the sides of the mouth.

“Injecting a filler is frequently done to enhance lips by adding volume,” Dr. Robinson said. “These fillers also may be used to fill in fine lines around the mouth.”

Approved by the FDA, purified collagen from cattle (bovine collagen) and humans is most often used to treat very fine wrinkles around the mouth, or classic “smoker” lines, and to add volume to thin lips. Collagen products help add structure back to the skin and the results often last three to four months.

Another FDA-approved filler is hyaluronic acid gel. A natural component of skin, hyaluronic acid gel holds the collagen and elastin of the skin together. When injected into the skin, hyaluronic acid gel binds to water and provides volume to plump lips and fills larger folds of skin around the mouth and cheeks. Results can last from three to six months, or even longer.

Other fillers, such as calcium hydroxyapatite and poly-L-lactic acid, often are used for enhancement of the lips’ surrounding areas. While these fillers are not placed directly in the lips, they add to the overall effect by filling and supporting the lines and hollows around the lips. They can soften a down-turning mouth and restore fullness to the larger folds of skin around mouth. Botulinum toxin also may be placed in key areas around the lips to minimize muscle movement that contributes to wrinkles such as frowning and pursing.

Regardless of which filler is used, the effect is temporary and multiple treatments are required for a long-lasting effect.

“Because there are so many options available, anyone who is interested in lip enhancement should consult a dermatologist to discuss the best options for treatment,” Dr. Robinson said. “Your dermatologist also is your best resource for any other concerns you may have about the health of your lips.”

Headquartered in Schaumburg, Ill., the American Academy of Dermatology (Academy), founded in 1938, is the largest, most influential, and most representative of all dermatologic associations. With a membership of more than 15,000 dermatologists worldwide, the Academy is committed to: advancing the diagnosis and medical, surgical and cosmetic treatment of the skin, hair and nails; advocating high standards in clinical practice, education, and research in dermatology; and supporting and enhancing patient care for a lifetime of healthier skin, hair and nails.

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Strep Not Always a Reason To Stress

October 18, 2006

School is in full swing, it’s fall and strep-throat season is about to begin.

All physicians and most parents by now know the importance of recognizing and adequately treating a throat infection caused by Group A streptococcal bacteria.

These organisms, if not stopped in their tracks by appropriate antibiotics, can result in rheumatic fever and permanently damaged heart valves, among other serious complications.

Thanks to penicillin, which readily kills strep bacteria, rheumatic fever has all but disappeared in countries like the United States.

Now physicians are worried about overtreatment - the prescription of antibiotics for children whose sore throats are caused not by bacteria but by viruses that do not cause long-term damage and are not susceptible to antimicrobial therapy.

Some children and adults are healthy carriers of strep bacteria; the organisms reside in their throats but do not make them sick. They rarely, if ever, spread the infection to others. But when such carriers develop a sore throat for any reason, a positive test result for strep typically leads to treatment with antibiotics, which is often needless and possibly hazardous.

Complicated Decision

Symptoms of a strep throat and a sore throat caused by a virus can overlap. Children may experience stuffy noses, coughs and sneezing with a strep infection as well as with a cold, further complicating a doctor’s decision on whether to treat the illness or to let nature take its course. Nationally, 70 percent of children with sore throats who are seen by a physician are treated with antibiotics, though at most 30 percent have strep infections. And as many as half who are treated with antibiotics because a throat culture was positive for strep are healthy carriers and actually have a cold or some other viral infection, says Dr. Edward L. Kaplan, a pediatrician at the University of Minnesota in Minneapolis and an expert on streptococcal illness.
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Antibiotic treatment is best reserved for illnesses in which it is likely to be effective. Overuse of antibiotics can give rise to dangerous antibiotic-resistant bacteria. Kaplan and Dr. Alan L. Bisno, an internist at the University of Miami School of Medicine and the Veterans Affairs Medical Center in Miami, say there are usually good ways for physicians and parents to distinguish between sore throats caused by a strep infection and those caused by a virus or some other bacterium.

Group A strep causes 15 percent to 30 percent of sore throats in children, Kaplan and Bisno reported in the September issue of Mayo Clinic Proceedings. The illness is most common in school-age children as old as 15.

Strep infections are less common in adults, who are also far less likely than children to develop a serious complication like rheumatic fever if a strep infection goes untreated.

Strep bacteria are shed from the nose and throat of infected people and easily spread to others. This is why strep often makes the rounds in classrooms and day-care centers. Occasionally, strep infections

“ping-pong” among family members.

In a small proportion of children, strep infections occur repeatedly during the course of several years. Jennifer L. St. Sauver and colleagues at the Mayo Clinic in Rochester, Minn., analyzed cases of strep throat occurring at least one month apart among children ages 4 to 15 in Rochester between Jan. 1, 1996, and Dec. 31, 1998.

They found that 1 percent of the children (2 percent of those from 4 to 6 years old) had repeated episodes.

Kaplan and Bisno point out, however, that as thorough as the Rochester study was, in all likelihood the incidence of repeated strep throat infections is lower than what the researchers found. In only about a third of the cases counted as strep were data available that showed the cases met the accepted clinical profile of a strep infection.

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Simple Home Remedies For Cold Sores

October 11, 2006

The virus Herpes simplex primarily causes cold sore or the fever blisters. This virus is known to be naturally present in human bodies but will infect it if some elements may trigger this condition. This disease is characterized by the eruption of tiny blisters around the mouth when a person has a fever or colds. Cold sore is most prevalent during winter and cold weather. Many patients claim that this is the resultant of stress however, no scientific studies have yet established this view. Yet, this remains true for some sufferers.Also, other known causes of cold sores are excessive fatigue, menstruation in women, and too much exposure to sunlight and a number of respiratory infections. Calcium and Vitamin B12 are also pointed out as one of the main cause of cold sores eruption, which in effect leads to poor vitamin intake and diet. Legumes, cereals, whole grain products and other food items with high arganine contents are known to trigger the production of herpes virus in the body. It is essential that a cold sore sufferer must avoid the intake of such foods.

Cold sore is a transmittable disease, this is why it is important that the disease is treated right away as to prevent the infection of the individuals surrounding the patient.

Home remedy for cold sore must be first applied on the prodome (tingling) stage of the disease. The actions taken in this period will determine the outcome and the duration of the sore. It is important that it is in her that effective measure be employed.

If you are sufferer, change your toothbrush frequently. This is not a home remedy for cold sores but may prove effective in lessening the chances of more severe infections.

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In addition to this, some cold sores patient recommend that use of nail polish remover. This may seem a bit farfetched but has proven effectivity on some. This home remedy for cold sore works by applying small amount of nail polisher remover on the affected area. This will smell and burn a bit but after leaving the polisher on your lips for ten minutes, the swelling will subside and so does the soreness. This method must be combined with Nyquil as this product soothes the skin after the immediate effects of the nail polish remover.

If nail polish remover don’t appeal to you, you may apply toothpaste, ice cubes or abreeva as alternative solutions. These have the same effect of eliminating the virus on the sores. Once you were not able to prevent the blisters from forming, you can count on the possibility that your sold sores will complete its full cycle. From macule form to papule form, inflamed stage and bump stage respectively.

A housewife related that her cold sores usually occur when she feels that something stressful will arise. She specifically gave the example- not being able to find her family for hours. When she feels the initial symptoms of the cold sore, she immediately applies ice around her mouth. This she claims is effective in preventing the cold sore bigger. After quite some time, she would apply carmax on the affected area. She recommends that it is not wise to apply moisturizer on the lips as this may bring about several little cold sores the following day. This is a simple home remedy for cold sores she use herself.

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