Health Tips for Seniors


Archive for August, 2012



Why am I getting acne on my neck?


Acne is caused by the excess sebum produced by the sebaceous glands. This oil-based substance accompanied with dead skin cells clogs the pores, with bacteria getting trapped inside the pores. These bacteria multiply and cause swelling and redness. Perspiration and hot weather conditions could cause the neck that is the most vulnerable area to be prone to acne, with touching and friction aggravating acne conditions.

The dirt and oil from your hands could aggravate bacteria conditions and acne breakouts. In addition, people who wear helmets, tight collars or frequently carry packs with shoulder straps may develop acne on the neck because of the friction these items create against the skin.




Tackling Habit Disorders In Children


A bird eye view of habit disorders in children

You would find that most of us build habits as a behavior that is learnt and repeated often so that we then start continuing to do it even without thinking whether it is right or wrong, and this is the very thing that our children do and then it turns into a disorder for life. You may find that children just like adults may build certain habits that are positive in nature like brushing ones teeth first thing in the morning and before going to bed, but may also cultivate certain habits as a reaction of certain stimuli or triggers until it develops into a habit disorder.

It is significant to note that certain bad habits or habit disorders like sucking of ones thumb may have started as a reaction to being sick, tired, being insecure or even afraid. Other habit disorders could include twirling of the hair, biting of nails, chewing the end of the pencil, or even biting of nails could have also begun as stimuli to stress and anxiety, but may continue well into adulthood and could prove annoying, distressing, and harmful and could also be a point of being teased by other.

Habit disorders in children need to be tackled tactfully. You could wait patiently till your child is 4 years and make do with only parental counseling before you start earnestly. Strict enforcement it is to be understood only makes children revolt and not cooperate.

How habit disorders in children need to be tackled

It proves very effective for you as a parent to first ignore certain habit disorders at first and allow time for your kids to outgrow it. Never give a lot of attention to encourage the behavior, but at the same time make it very important to praise good habits and behavior in your child. When your child does not repeat the habit for some time, just show that you have noticed it and praise the child showing that you have noticed and appreciate his/her not doing a certain thing that is annoying and disgusting. Appreciation and praise has done wonders to all of us and it could do it to your child also.

Next it is best for you to realize as a parent that motivation to follow or break habits comes out of an inner motivation that you want to do a certain thing because it is good, so it is very essential that the child becomes interested in breaking the habit because he/she wants to do it as it will benefit him/her. It would help a lot in telling children as they grow that biting nails stops them from having good looking nails that they can paint or that hindered them from opening boxes. However it is best for you to realize that habit disorders in children are overcome one at a time without being overwhelmed.

Most of us as adults know that stress is the main reason for habit disorders whether it is an adult or a child, so it would help to be a conscientious parent and try to figure out why and when your child gets stressed, and then teach them how to overcome the stress with a proactive attitude. Many parents have helped their children with habit disorders with their empathic and patient listening maintaining eye contact with them. Developing decision making powers in your children with giving them acceptable choices has helped many children to feel good, less stressed, frustrated and happy, helping them break bad and unacceptable habits.

Teaching children and helping them get over habit disorders requires you to be patient. This would require your being patient with giving very practical and logical solutions and consequences for their behavior. Habit disorders in children do not turn for the better overnight, but a firm and understanding attitude helps bring about positive results in the long run. Set rules that are easy to follow, and clearly set up the consequences of breaking the rules that could be something small, but may not be liked by the child.

Thats to great parenting and tackling habit disorders in children.




What to take for acid reflux when pregnant?


The safest medicines are H2 receptor blockers like Pepcid AC and Zantac that work to shut off production of acid in the stomach and are effective in mild acid reflux symptoms. They are less expensive and provide longer-lasting relief. It is best to take them about 30 minutes before a meal and at bedtime. It is fine to take antacids like Rolaids, Tums and Maalox, however taking antacids with magnesium should be avoided in the last trimester of pregnancy. Oral suspension medicines like Pepto Bismol should be avoided.

Consuming apple cider vinegar and eating licorice that is flavored with anise also helps in acid reflux. Doctors advice going to bed a few hours after dinner and avoiding triggers like chocolate and caffeine helps many suffering from acid reflux symptoms.




Symptoms of Swollen Glands in Throat


Swollen glands are nothing but the enlargement of the lymph nodes or just the lymph glands. The lymph nodes are generally a small and bean shaped group of lymphatic tissues. They are just a subsystem of the lymphatic system which carries the lymph fluid and nutrients throughout the body between blood and body tissues. This system is a main part of the immune system and acts as bodys defense line. The swollen glands of the throat are a result of the inflammation at local and widespread area of the body. The swollen glands in throat may be referred as lymphadenopathy.

Symptoms of Swollen Glands in Throat

The symptoms of the swollen glands in throat vary widely depending upon the environment and other factors. A person can get freed of the symptoms and be asymptomatic only after a physical examination of the general Doctor. The swollen glands can create extreme pain, tender and disfigure feeling to the person. Also, some symptoms of the swollen glands can also be an indication of some other underlying diseases. The major and minor indications and symptoms of swollen glands in throat are listed below:

1.In the beginning, the person will suffer from a general ill feeling, sore throat, fatigue and headache. The sore throat will then get worsen. Then the lymph nodes in the throat will get swollen and become painful.

2.Chills and a white or yellow spots or coating can be observed on the tonsils in certain cases. If it is found then the person will be more prone to tonsillitis.

3.Funny sounding voice can be observed.

4.Fever, bad breath, weight loss, night sweats and the occurrence of local infections such as sore throat and toothache are the major symptoms of the swelling
of glands in the throat.

5.Pain at the throat can start to progress and it will lead to difficulty in swallowing. This pain can even spread to ears after some time.

6.High temperature and loss of appetite can be noticed.

7.Vomiting sensation can be felt at rare times.

8.At rare cases, the swollen glands which occurred due to the enlargement of the lymph nodes can be an indication of cancer condition. Hence if the lymph nodes are detected with greater than 3 cms in size, a consultation with the Doctor is compulsory. The nodes can then be surgically removed or biopsy can also be done.

9.Some other minor and rare symptoms such as cough, chest pain, and nosebleed, shortness of breath, neck stiffness, hives and sensitivity to light might also occur.




Swollen Throat with White Spots


The swollen throat with white spots can be most commonly referred as tonsil stones which are also known as Tonsoliliths. This may also be an indication of tonsillitis, tonsilith, tonsil debris and some other throat infections. This condition is commonly not a serious case but the patient having this problem will feel a lot of discomfort. In general, the white spots that form in the throat are made up of calcium and mucus layers. When the mouth is watched with the help of some flash lights, the swollen throat with white spots can be identified easily. In some cases the white spots will spread at the roof of the mouth also. .

Symptoms of Swollen Throat with White Spots

1.Bad breath and more smelly.

2.Cough occurring without any cause and patient could not relieve from that.

3.Small ear aches, ear odd pressure and sore throat.

4.The person will feel that some thing has caught and struck at the back side of the throat and not coming out.

5.A development of white and yellowish colored tiny balls at the tonsils and back edges of the throat which keeps their finding of way back.

How does the Swollen Throat with White Spots Occur

The tonsil surface consists of numerous tiny pockets known as tonsil crypts that were made up of soft tissues. This is meant for trapping materials such as bacteria, mucus and dead cells. This tissue lining also gets mixed up with saliva of the mouth. The broken starch and carbohydrates obtained are combined with the bacteria and mucus which gets hardened up. This debris thus concentrates and forms as the white spots at the tonsils and at throat some times.

This occurs mostly in the people who suffer from chronic tonsil inflammations and tonsillitis. The white spot mostly contains salts like calcium carbonate apatite, hydroxyapatite, oxalates and some other magnesium salts and ammonium radicals. The swollen throat with white spots is also referred as tonsil crypts or cryptic tonsils.

Main Causes for the Swollen Throat with White Spots

The main factors that causes swollen throat with white spots are:

1.Bacterial presence in the mouth.

2.Secreted mucus deposits and residues of food materials.

3.Hyper activity in the salivary glands that will result in the enzyme action.

4.In certain cases, the contribution of white blood cells also will result in the forming of swollen glands with white spots.

Removal of White Spots

To remove white spots, certain natural treatments can be undergone at home. Brush the tonsils with toothbrush to remove to spots. Some medicine droppers can also be used with a curved tip for the removal. One of the best methods to remove white spots is irrigating the white spots with some amount of salt water. For permanent removal, a surgery known as tonsillectomy can be performed.




What to do to get rid of acid reflux?


Get rid of acid reflux with natural and fast acting natural remedies like peppermint oil, baking soda, honey and apple cider vinegar and fennel. Peppermint oil acts a powerful antacid, while baking soda in water helps to acid reflux. Apple cider vinegar taken with 2 teaspoons of unfiltered honey in a cup of warm water soothes heartburn, especially when taken at bedtime, while fennel improves digestion to cure heartburn.

Antacids work well to neutralize stomach acids, but need to be taken only occasionally, with their effect being short-term. Both natural remedies and medications only mask the symptoms and are short term. Getting rid of acid reflux effectively involves following a strict and tested plan that lies in avoiding those things that actually cause the problem in the long run.




Signs and Symptoms of Respiratory Problems


Why Respiratory Problems Occur

When the natural defenses of human respiratory system are disturbed it leads to many disorders and diseases. These diseases may affect organs like throat (pharynx), nasal cavities or windpipe, the bronchi, tissues in the lungs and the respiratory muscles in the cage of the chest. These disorders occur mainly due to prolonged exposure to environment where you inhale micro organisms, dusts or gases (pollution) and allergic phenomena.

Common Causes for Respiratory Problems

SThe major respiratory problems like sudden shortness of breath, sudden and acute chest pain, allergies are results of the conditions of lungs and heart, emotional imbalance, accident and injury. Chronic bronchitis asthma and Infections like pneumonia are common ailments which also cause respiratory problems. The other common respiratory problems include difficulty in breathing (dyspnea), shallow breathing (hypopnea), rapid breathing (tachypnea), absence of breathing (apnea) and deep breathing (heperpnea).

In grave cases, congestive cardiac failure (heart conditions) can be the reason for respiratory problems. Panic attacks and anxiety are other such problems which involve rapid breathing and it can result in fainting and hyperventilation. Sometimes injury of lung because of chest trauma also causes respiratory problems.
In few cases the respiratory conditions can show serious symptoms and become life-threatening issues.

Medical care should be sought instantly in case of serious symptoms like sweating, sharp and acute pain in chest, difficulty in breathing normally, faster and higher rate of heart-beat, high fever, lethargy, lack of consciousness and fainting. Shortness of breath or breathlessness occurs while performing high level activity like heavy exertion, sometimes in natural environmental conditions involving high altitude or very cold and warm temperatures.COPD Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease is also one of the reasons for respiratory problems.

General Signs and Symptoms of Respiratory Problems

1.Sudden shortness of breath

Sudden shortness of breath can be the result of a patients chronic lung disease, infection like pneumonia, onset of heart failure or critical bronchitis.

2.Sudden and acute chest pain

Usually an instant short of severe pain in chest indicates a problem of heart or a lung; it can be a blood clot or a collapsed lung.

3.Allergies or Asthma

Allergies or asthma which can be often triggered due to dust mites, molds and other pollutants are also signs of breathing problems.

4.Other Reasons

Hiccups, continuous cough, frequent sighing and insufficient air are also few signs of respiratory breathing problems.




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