Define Asthma

For those who don't have it, asthma can seem like a disease that should be able to be conquered. After all, it is just breathing. And for those diagnosed with it later in life, you may also not understand the potential severity of asthma. Perhaps you feel a little tightness in the chest when you strain yourself, or you cough a little too much, a little too often. The actual diagnosis of asthma is something much greater than just a little coughing and should be taken very seriously.

There are many types of asthma but the medical definition is "a disease of the windpipe (bronchial tubes) which carry air to and from the lungs." Asthma has no set diagnosis; the journey from first warning sign symptoms to a full blown diagnosis of asthma is long and complicated. Symptoms usually:

1) Vary from person to person.

2) Vary from episode to episode.

3) Flare up and get very severe, then disappear for long periods.

4) Symptoms can be mild, moderate, or severe for extended periods of time.

The cause of asthma is not actually known; sometimes it appears genetic, but then identical symptoms pop up in a vacant gene pool of non-asthma sufferers. The sad truth is that, even with all our advanced knowledge of how things work and why, there is still not even any known 'cure' for asthma suffers. However, once diagnosed, there are many smart things you can do to remain symptom free or at least manage the symptoms so your treatment is just a task in your daily life.

Breathing: Someone with normal lung function, air comes in the nose and mouth. It passes the windpipe before moving to the bronchi that then pass on to smaller and smaller tubes, ending in a small sac called alveoli. That small sac is where oxygen is passed to the blood. The body needs this oxygen. Carbon dioxide, which the body does not need, is then removed.

People with asthma have trouble breathing in the presence of 'triggers.' Symptoms of asthma mean the flow is obstructed as air passes out of the lungs. This happens either because airways become irritated, swollen, or reddened producing mucous. The greater the inflammation, the more sensitive the air passages, the worse and more intense the symptoms. The other cause of symptoms is that the muscles surrounding the airway twitch and tighten, causing the air channel to narrow. The muscle tension is usually caused if inflammation is not treated.

Airways of someone with asthma are inflamed all the time to a degree. The greater the inflammation, the more sensitive the airway is, leading to increased breathing difficulty.

Asthma is chronic condition, meaning it needs to be controlled over time. Anyone is susceptible to asthma, though it's usually diagnosed in early childhood.

Most people living with asthma live healthy, fully active lives. You just need to monitor your symptoms, communicate with your doctor, and keep up to date on your current status, so that you too can enjoy a happy, productive life.

COPD - Definition, Symptoms, Diagnosis And Treatment

What does COPD mean? COPD stands for Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease. It encompasses two types of disease processes namely chronic bronchitis and emphysema. Quite often, people who suffer from COPD show a combination of features of both disease processes. In lay person's term, COPD means persistent lung disease with features of airway narrowing. To be more specific, bronchitis means inflammation of the bronchi or the larger airways of the lungs whereas emphysema means destruction to the smaller airways and alveoli or airsacs of the lungs. Thus COPD is commonly used to describe chronic bronchitis, emphysema, or both.

Is COPD a common condition? It is one of the commonest conditions that require hospital admission during period of flare-ups. According to one epidemiology study in the US, approximately eight million people have chronic bronchitis whereas 2 million people have emphysema. As we can see, chronic bronchitis is more common than emphysema.

What are the causes of COPD? Smoking. Smoking is the number 1 cause of COPD. More than 90 percent of COPDs are caused by smoking, cigarette or otherwise. About 30 percent of long term smokers will eventually show symptoms of COPD of varying degrees. Other causes include air pollution and inherited enzyme deficiency namely alpha-1 antitrypsin deficiency.

How does smoking cause COPD? Smoking inadvertently damages the lining of the airways. As with any other part of the body in response to injury, inflammation occurs. Inflammation stimulates the damaged lining to secrete mucus in an abnormal amount and also causes the airway to constrict (narrow).

What are the symptoms of COPD? The two main symptoms are cough and breathlessness. COPD sufferers commonly complain about breathlessness and cough that develop gradually over a long period of time. The cough that COPD sufferer gets are usually productive which means they commonly cough up phlegm. The cough usually comes and goes initially but tends to become persistent as time passes. Breathlessness is usually intermittent and only occurs with exertion in the beginning, however if you continue to smoke, the breathlessness persists even when you are at rest, this can be quite distressing! Other symptoms are chronic sputum production, where you constantly cough up phlegm all day and recurrent chest infection. People with COPD are more prone to chest infection for obvious reasons, as the lining in the lung looses its normal defense mechanism against intruding bugs.

COPD sounds like asthma, are they any different? Yes. Both COPD and asthma cause similar symptoms, however, they are different in certain ways. COPD causes permanent damage to the airways. The obstruction is 'fixed', hence it is irreversible in general terms. However, airway narrowing in asthma is intermittent and reverses quite easily with medication. Having said that, both COPD and asthma is common, people who suffer COPD can have an asthmatic component and vice versa.

What tests are needed to diagnose COPD? A test called spirometry is often performed to diagnose COPD. Bronchodilators (drugs that cause the airway to dilate) are usually added to confirm the diagnosis. If the test result does not show improvement with bronchodilators, then COPD is very likely.

What are the treatments of COPD? First of all. Stop smoking. This cannot be stressed enough. Smoking cessation is the first thing you have to do if you want to get better. As the underlying mechanism of COPD is irreversible, medications are used with an aim to slow down it's progress. Drugs that are commonly used to treat COPD include short-acting bronchodilator inhalers (i.e. salbutamol), long-acting bronchodilator inhalers (i.e. tiotropium), steroid inhalers and tablets are all available drugs for treatment of COPD. Again, no treatment is more important that stop smoking. Lung transplant is the last option and should be reserved for people with severe COPD.

Short Definition of Asthma

There are a lot of children and adults who always experience difficulty of breathing. This can get worst of not treated immediately. It is important to know the simple and short definition of asthma. This is actually an inflammation disorder wherein the passage or air from the mouth into the lungs is blocked. This is the reason why the person experience chest tightness, wheezing, coughing and dizziness. Actually, airway is the primary thing that you should be focusing.

Keep in mind that a person who has difficulty of breathing has difficulty in coping with the situation, some even became disoriented because there is no longer enough oxygen that is circulating inside the brain. If you have a family member which has difficulty in breathing, the first thing that you will be doing is to place the person into an upright position.

Expansion of the lungs should be adequate so that air can pass easily. Tell the person to do deep breathing exercise. In here, the person will be inhaling through his nose and exhaling through the mouth.

For children most especially infants, they rely on a nebulizer machine because it is very easy to use. Unlike with adults wherein you can give them instructions that they can follow. This short definition of asthma may be simple but reliable.

You should know the initial things that you should do if in case you experience having any respiratory problems. In fact, the interventions are very common and usually done by the people who have respiratory problems.

The Definition of Chronic Asthma

Asthma is a disease of the lungs where the there is widespread inflammation or saddening narrowing of the bronchial tubes.

Asthma currently can be divided into 4 types according to the National Institute of Health. The 4 types are mild intermittent, mild persistent, moderate persistent and severe persistent. Asthma sufferers that fall into the severe persistent range category have chronic asthma.

So let's talk about the peak flow rate. For mild intermittent and mild persistent asthma, their peak flow rate is more than 80 percent of normal. Moderate persistent is between 60 to 80 percent. Chronic asthma has a peak flow rate of below 60 percent. Chronic asthma is a severe form of asthma.

The symptoms for this type of asthma also differ from the other three categories. Unlike people who fall into the first three categories, people that suffer from this type of asthma have daily recurrent symptoms of asthma which is characterized by breathlessness, sudden tightness of the chest and wheezing sounds. Sometimes wheezing sounds cannot be heard at all if the bronchial tubes have been almost sealed completely and air can't even pass through the lungs.

Many people that suffer from this type of asthma have been hospitalized before with the required assistance of a respirator. Whereby people suffering from mild and moderate asthma can reverse their symptoms on inhaled medications alone, asthmatics requires the need of preventive medication like oral corticosteroid courses.

Even the inhaler that severe asthmatics use is different. Asthma sufferer sometimes requires the need of nebulizers. A nebulizer is a device that is used to rapidly deliver aerosol medication containing beta adrenergic agonist. Unlike a metered dose inhaler (MDI), a nebulizer does not require good inhaling techniques and all it requires is normal breathing. A nebulizer also delivers a greater quantity of medication compared to a MDI. However, a nebulizer is more expensive than a MDI.

The treatment strategy for chronic asthma differs from age to age. The purpose of a treatment strategy so that the sufferer can lead a normal lifestyle and make the lungs function properly. Most physicians will usually take a step by step approach to treat severe asthma.

First step is to always to control the symptoms and to stabilize the lungs. This will often require a high dosage of inhaled corticosteroids and long acting beta agonist. After the patient condition has stabilized, the next step will to be slowly reduced the dosage of the medication used so as to reduce the side effects of the medication.

Asthma Definition

Asthma is a disease that affects the respiratory system. This system is in charge of breathing in the human body. It is the second most important system in the body after the heart. The airways that carry air in and out of the lungs swell when irritated and therefore cannot carry air as required and this brings about the shortage of air. This will result in the symptoms of asthma being seen.

These symptoms are coughing, wheezing, shortness of breath, tightness of chest and heavy breathing. These symptoms of asthma are usually triggered by different conditions that one is exposed to. They are animals, fungi, molds, emotions, vigorous exercise, sex, hormones, house dust mites and air pollution. These conditions when exposed to one, reacts to it and thus causing the symptoms of asthma that lead to an attack.

Therefore, it is important to avoid what triggers asthma in one's case as they vary from person to person. Asthma definition can be characterized by its causes which include hereditary, eczema, allergy, smoking and environmental pollution. These are the major causes. Some like smoking and environmental pollution can be avoided. Asthma is a disease that affects all ages from infants, children, adults and old people. This disease is wide spread throughout and cannot be said to dominate only a particular part of the world.

Asthma can turn out to be a fatal disease if not controlled. There are various categories of asthma such as mild, severe, and chronic. Most cases begin as mild but tend to progress, this could be due to lack of proper treatment or could also be unavoidable. Asthma is a disease that does not have a permanent cure. Treatment available is only to control the condition and enable the patients to live comfortably with this situation and reduce chances of it getting worse.

Asthma Attack Treatment

Asthma attack treatment is a condition whereby an asthma patient gets a sudden bout of an asthmatic condition. This condition is usually triggered by different sorts of situations. These are called the causes that trigger an asthmatic condition. These causes differ from person to person. They include weather, viral infections, cold, fungi, molds, animals, among others. A patient should be able to know what affects or triggers his condition and take precautions.

Once one has been able to identify the causes of their asthmatic condition, treatment can be administered. The various forms of treatment available include, tablets, inhalers and therapy. Asthma attack treatment are different; preventer inhaler and reliever inhalers are used to give relieve during an attack. This helps by relaxing the airways and allowing a free flow of air into and out of the lungs.

Preventer inhaler is used for prevention purposes and is therefore not used during the attack. It is however used on a frequent basis as it is not known when the attack may occur. This inhaler is used as a mode of reducing the chances of an asthmatic attack. This is because an attack can turn out to be very serious and can end up being fatal.

Asthma attack treatment tablets are vast and also include relievers, preventers that help the swelling of the airways to go down so that air can flow in and out freely. These various forms of steroid tablets that have different combination of ingredients. To work for the different kinds of asthma attack treatments for various forms of groups of people. Other forms of treatment are therapy given to ease the muscle that transport the air for much more effective breathing. Breathing machines are also used as a mode of treatment for this.

Acute Asthma Attack - Symptoms And Management

There have been many victims of acute asthma attack and the intensity of these attacks can be frightening. Asthma is a chronic disease that has many sufferers around the world. Respiratory impairment occurs due to the fact that the airways are inflamed and narrow. There is bronchial constriction and mucus may also cause further discomfort. The body is unable to ventilate the air sacs in the lungs which may cause distress. The patients suffer from shortness of breath and may also have wheezing. A person is said to suffer from an acute asthma attack when the symptoms flare up necessitating medical intervention most of the time.

Symptoms Of Acute Asthma Attack

• rapid breathing
  
  


• physical exhaustion
  
  


• difficulty in talking
  
  


• wheezing (which is quiet)
  
  


• coughing
  
  


• marked recession
  
  


• paradoxical pulse where the pulse is strong during expiration and weak during inhalation
  
  


• constriction and pain in the chest
  
  


• turning blue due to lack of oxygen
  
  


• lack of consciousness
  
  


• numbness in limbs
  
  


• sweating of the palms
  
  


• feet may turn icy
  
  


• peak respiratory flow is less than 50% of the mean value
  
  

These patients can avoid acute asthma attack by paying attention to the signs and symptoms that indicate that their condition is not improving. Many people have made the mistake of neglecting to get medical aid as the wheezing and the gulping appears to have got better. If this occurs with lips turning blue and lack of consciousness, the condition is very serious demanding immediate medical intervention in order to avoid death.

People suffering from asthma may prevent acute attacks by making sure they take the necessary medication to prevent the situation from aggravating. They can make use of a peak flow meter to monitor their condition. It is required that they get their baseline measurement by inhaling and then exhaling into the meter when they are feeling fit. If their peak flow measurement is 50%-80% lesser than their baseline peak flow measurement, it may indicate they are at risk of an acute asthma attack if they do not take immediate action. If the peak flow reading is lesser than 50% of their normal reading it is time they sought medical intervention as a severe attack can become life threatening in some cases.

It will help if patients carry a card or wear a medical alert bracelet that can be useful if medical intervention is needed. The patients need to have worked out a plan on what has to be done during an attack. The patients may also keep a card with the name of their physician, his number as well as the number of an ambulance, and the relative or friend who has to be contacted. If the inhaled reliever is not working, it is time you sought immediate medical help. Make it a point to inform them that you have an acute asthma attack and are not responding to treatment. Till help arrives continue to use the reliever taking 6-8 puffs every 5-6 minutes. Make sure to use a spacer as it will be of great help. The best way to manage asthma and to prevent an acute asthma attack is to monitor the symptoms, take medication promptly and ensure that the condition does not get aggravated.

Asthma Attack Symptoms

The symptoms of asthma vary greatly among individuals; and at times, attacks can vary, even for the same person. Your ability to recognize the early signs and symptoms that initially appear prior to an attack is critical if you wish to avoid an emergency room visit. When you notice these signs, you should heed the advice of your Doctor and follow a professionally directed action plan.

Before a full-blown asthma attack, there are usually early signs and symptoms you should be able to easily recognize. Irritation of the nose and throat, thirst, and the increased need to urinate are all common symptoms that may occur before an asthma attack. Each person has his or her own peculiar pattern of early symptoms, and most often, these symptoms progress to a severe respiratory distress episode if not properly treated.

The classic symptoms of an actual attack include coughing, wheezing, and shortness of breath. Wheezing when exhaling is very common during an attack. Often the attack begins with wheezing and rapid breathing and, as respiratory airways constrict and tighten, all breathing muscles become visibly active.

Some people first experience this chest tightness or pain. Chest pain occurs in about 75% of asthmatics; it can be very severe and its intensity is unrelated to the severity of the attack itself. The neck muscles may tense and talking may become difficult or impossible. The end of an attack is often marked by a cough that produces a thick, stringy mucus. After an acute attack, inflammation can persist for a few days up to several weeks. This inflammation is most often left untreated since it is usually symptomless. But, it is this asymptomatic inflammation that must be treated in order to prevent long term respiratory damage or relapse.

The most common asthmatic symptoms are:

Shortness of breath (dyspnea)

If you experience breathlessness after laughing or speaking long sentences, you could have asthma. In rare instances, you may find that you feel the need to inhale before you have finished breathing out.

Wheezing

This is the whistling sound sometimes heard when you breathe. It indicates airway narrowing and it could be present on inhalation or exhalation. (Please recognize that not all asthmatics wheeze and not all wheezing indicates an asthmatic condition.)

Exercise induced breathlessness

If physical exertion (playing a sport, walking up a flight of stairs, rapid physical exertion, etc.) makes you short of breath, then this could be an indication of asthma.

Tight chested feeling

This sensation feels like a tight band across your chest - like an elastic band or a heavy weight resting on your chest. Your ability to fully inhale is limited and, in advanced situations, painful. Sometimes this tightness is exacerbated in cold weather.

Excessive mucus production

Gurgling or rattling during inhalation or exhalation plus coughing up a lot of white frothy mucus is common in asthmatic individuals. Sometimes this mucous will be thick in consistency and yellow or green in color.

Cough

A recurring, irritating cough is frequently a sign of asthma. This persistent cough usually occurs in the cool air, at night, or after exercise.

Chest pain

When air is trapped in the airways due to inflammation, the surrounding membrane stretches, and causes pain. Advanced cases can often lead to complicated situations involving conditions similar to emphysema.

Nasal Congestion and drainage Nasal congestion and a runny nose are often accompanying features of asthma. Rhinitis (inflammation of the nasal passages) is often called asthma of the nose.

Disturbed Sleep Patterns

An inability to sleep due to snoring or repeated awakening during the night could be an asthma symptom. Other conditions also display this condition, so this symptom alone should not be considered conclusive.

Lethargy

Feeling very tired is quite usual for asthmatics. It is often the result of interrupted sleep patterns, diminished oxygen supply to the blood and availability to the body tissues, plus the build up of muscular lactic acid which results in generalized muscle fatigue.

The Early Warning Signs:

Even mild asthmatics can have severe attacks and therefore it is important to recognize the early signs so that you can take appropriate action.

• Your reliever (puffer) is no longer as effective and you need to use it more frequently than every 3-4 hours.


• The wheeze improves or even disappears but there is no improvement in your ability to breathe.


• You have real difficulty in speaking complete sentences without stopping to take a breath.


• You start to turn a blue to gray color, especially around the lips and fingertips. This is a condition called cyanosis and indicates that you have insufficient oxygen levels in your circulating blood.


• You become anxious to the point of being frightened.


• Thinking clearly becomes difficult.


• Every breath becomes increasingly difficult.

The best advice we could possibly give you is, Never ignore an asthma attack in the hope that it will get better or go away. If problems persist, seek qualified medical attention and follow a professionally directed recovery and treatment plan.

Asthmatic Care For Asthmatic Children

If you are caring for someone you love who suffers from asthma and especially if that someone is your child, you undoubtedly understand what it is like to live with the anxiety of knowing that at some point something will trigger an attack. It is not an 'if' situation. And while you personally may be doing all that you can to learn about and improve their circumstances, it is important to remember that you can only go so far. Some circumstances will be beyond your control, despite all the preparations you make ahead of time on asthmatic care.

When your child starts to go to school and looks to act more independently it will become apparent that he or she will have to take more responsibility for his or her health and condition. However, as a parent most of the responsibility falls upon you to care and to help your child to learn on how to manage his or her asthma.

Before you can effectively care for your child, it is very important for you to understand what happen to his or her body during an asthma attack. Your doctor will be the best person to explain to you all you need to know about asthma, asthmatic care and what you can do to help your asthmatic child. With this knowledge in mind, you are better prepared to cope and manage your child's asthma.

As a start, it is vitally important for you to seek out and take note of anything that seems to create discomfort for your child and try to eliminate these irritants from him or her. It may be necessary to consistently explain the cause and effect to you little ones to make him or her understand your action. As an example, some children can be extremely reactive to pet dander and dust mites. While you may be able to create a hypo-allergenic environment in your home, it will be necessary to help your child understand the reaction that follows being close to certain animals - no matter how lovable they may be.

Foods can be an issue for many asthmatics children and it will be helpful, if they are too young to remember all the details, carry with them a list of foods that need to avoid.

Another important issue in your care of asthmatic children is that if they require inhalers, make sure that they have it with them at all times. Especially, of course, their blue puffer inhaler, that has the rescue medicine and that may be required during an asthma attack. Along with this, it is good to have in place an "asthma action plan" which detailed down what symptoms to watch for, what they mean, how to adjust the medicine in line with the symptoms, and when the symptoms become serious enough to call 911. If possible, have this information printed and laminated on a card so that they can carry it with them at all time.

Your child will need to learn how to properly use the inhaler. If they have any difficulty in getting the hang of it, you, your doctor or a trained asthma specialist should teach them how to use the inhaler effectively.

Ultimately it is good to realize that children can be wonderfully adaptable. When parents demonstrate a calm and sometimes matter-of-fact forthrightness, children will then often respond calmly and reassured as well. This can be so important especially when an attack is under way.

Pillows Types and Their Differences

When searching for pillows, you will find that there are so many styles to choose from that you may get overwhelmed. Pillow styles range anywhere from body pillows, neck pillows and even sleep disorder pillows that help with sleep disorders like sleep apnea. There are pillows that address snoring, injuries, side sleeper pillows, pillows for stomach sleepers and so on.

With chiropractic and orthopedic specialists continuously warning us about taking care of our spinal cord, more and more people are taking to heart the seriousness of taking care of our bodies. This would happen to be while we are in the most susceptible time of not knowing when weare hurting our bodies...when we are sleeping. When discussing these issues with a specialist, pillows are the first thing that we are told to choose wisely. When it comes to traditional pillows, a back sleeper is best suited with a firm pillow, and a stomach sleeper is best suited with a softer pillow. Making the best choice of pillows for these two types of sleepers, are two totally different styles from one another.

The most popular pillow nowadays is memory foam. These pillows form to fit the persons head, and adjust itself as the person changes position. Memory foam pillows seemed to have worked miracles in some cases. They have even been linked to reducing snoring. They correctly align the neck and back, allowing the airway to fully open. This way oxygen passes in and out of your nose and mouth, actually reducing snoring. People who have bought memory pillows rant and rave on how they enjoy sleeping much more and that they feel much more rested too. What makes these pillows different than the other types of pillows is that they are made for all sleeping types. They create a perfect spine alignment, no matter which way he or she sleeps. They can range from moderate prices to very expensive. They have become so popular that this is why you can find various sizes and brands in your local stores.

Orthopedic pillows, also recognized as a memory foam pillow, again, are specifically designed for all types of sleepers. They come with gaps to put your arms and shoulders underneath or to put your arms over the pillow for side sleepers. They are specialized for sleepers who are prone to allowing their head to be pointing upwards while sleeping, which causes strain on your neck and back. These pillows also provide firmness and spine balance to the 'face up' type of sleepers. While also being ideal for the toss and turning sleepers.

Another wonderful thing about these contour pillows is that they are hypoallergenic, they are an easy to wash material for allergic or asthmatic people, and they do not absorb smell or warm up the head during summer time, like synthetic fiber pillows do.

Even though these special contour pillows are in a higher price range than what other normal pillows are, you get the benefits from them actually helping you sleep. Plus they are protecting you from spinal injuries that occur while you are asleep and also provide help for sleep disorders and allergies. If you have ever heard that statement 'you get what you pay for', well this could not be any truer than with choosing the correct pillow. A cheap lumpy pillow will only do damage in the long run, hurting you more than helping you.

Tired? Cold Hands and Feet? Do Contrast Hydrotherapy in Your Shower

Waking up tired and expecting to be revived in minutes does not seem realistic; especially for those who aren't addicted to the most common drug: caffeine.

Want to wake up without caffeine? Or just wake up in general?

Take a Contrast Shower. That will do it. Not only will it wake you up, but it will wake others in the house as you let out a wail once the cold water hits you.

It's not that bad.

How did I stumble across this crazy natural treatment for fatigue and lethary? It was prescribed to me by my naturopathic medical doctor years ago. I did it and it worked amazingly.

Who cannot take a contrast shower? If you are asthmatic, have active autoimmune disease, inflammation, cardiovascular issues, pregnant, temperature insensitive, weak feeling or otherwise do not feel that you should, do not take a contrast shower. Seek the advice of your physician if you have any questions about the safety of this procedure.

How does one take a contrast shower:

• Drag out of bed


• Get into the shower and turn the water as hot as you like. Hotter the better as the blood flow is stronger - obviously don't burn yourself. Hot water for about 3 minutes.


• You may wash during this time - may as well as you're likely late to work.


• At the 3 minute mark, I turn the water up higher for a brief moment until I'm just begging for a cool down. Then turn the nob.


• Turn the shower all the way to cold for 30 seconds


• Then turn it back to as hot as you can for another 3 minutes.


• Then repeat cold for 30 seconds


• Then hot for 3 minutes


• Then end with cold for 30 seconds.


• Basically 3 sets of 3 minutes hot and 30 seconds cold.

That's it! You're done! How do you think it sounds? You going to do it?!

Let me say a bit more.

When you get really hot water on you for 3 minutes, you do crave cold. I recommend that you have something colorful in the shower to stare at while you're getting blasted with cold water. Reminds me of the tropics. Or close your eyes while in the cold water part and imagine you're walking down the beach gazing at palm trees.

An easy way to ease into the cold part is to only put your head into the water. Once your head has adjusted, let the water go down your back. Ease into it. You'll get it.

When you finish with cold for the last time, you end up extremely hot and sweating. This is a good sign that you did the procedure correctly. Why do you sweat? Your body does not want you cold. When ending with cold for 30 seconds, your surface temperature gets cold because the blood rushes away. As soon as you stop the cold, your blood comes screaming back in to warm you. This sudden rush of blood makes you hot.

The trick is not keeping the cold on for too long and making sure you have the hot water on long enough. If you have the cold water on for say 1 minute and hot water on for 1 minute, you're going to be cold. So make sure you do the 3 sets of 3 minutes hot and 30 seconds cold.

If you want, do what I do - just do one set. I don't have time every day for a 10 minute procedure so I cut it short. I still feel super charged afterwards.

Enjoy it! It really does make you feel refreshed, full of energy and hot as heck after you are done.

I'll get into the mechanics of hot cold showers and also why they are beneficial - besides just feeling good afterwards.

An important note that needs to be addressed is what hot water does to chlorine. Chlorine is a gas and when hot becomes very volatile. Chlorine is a lung-irritant and destroys proteins. Proteins are everywhere - your hair, eyes, skin, inside you. I say inside you as one typical shower in chlorinated water is equivalent to drinking 8 cups of chlorinated water. If you are asthmatic, have acne, winter skin, dry eyes, dandruff, eczema or other skin conditions, I highly recommend getting a shower chlorine filter [http://www.healthegoods.com/shower_water_filter_new_wave_enviro_products.htm].

Questions, ask the med student!

In health,

Ben

(c) 2005 Benjamin Lynch of HealthE Goods

Danger In Dust Mite

Dust mites are a microscopic relative of spiders that live in our furniture and carpet. They thrive in our bedrooms because of the heat and warmth we give off. Dust mites feed off our dead skin cells. Unfortunately their droppings have a protein that many people are allergic to. Dust Mite does most of their attacking at night while you are asleep.

Studies show that over 45% of homes in the United States have concentrations of dust mites that are considered to be dangerous enough to cause asthmatic conditions. Ten percent of American today have asthma which is the leading cause of children missing school. Dust mites are possible the number one cause of asthma problems in the home.

Dust mite live about six weeks and female dust mites lay between 60 to 80 eggs during their lifetime. Dust mites have no natural predator so they just keep multiplying. A full size mattress has approximately two million dust mites in it. In one gram of dust from a carpet, a little over 10,000 mites were found. Old pillow may have as much as 10% of their weight made up of dead dust mites and droppings. Makes you think, huh?

Walk into a dusty room and one is bound to sneeze. It is probably the mildest form of allergic reaction to dust. People with pre-disposed ailments rhinitis, also known as hay fever, will react more severely to dusty conditions. Sometimes a fairly clean environment can also trigger off allergic reactions. It is simply because there are house mites dead and alive, present in the environment. According to Dr M. Nadchatram, the former head of studying sticks and mites division at the Institute mites are hardly visible to the naked eye. They are white in color and are not parasitic.

Although the existence of mites was discovered centuries ago, the relationship between mites and house dust allergies was only established in 1964 by western and Japanese. They found that mites were responsible for triggering off bronchial asthma allergic rhinitis, allergic dermatitis and other allergic related ailments like sinusitis. "Today, allergies caused by house dust are regarded as the most important after pollen induced allergies. Eighty percent of house dust allergies are said to be mite-induced," says Dr Nadchatram. In Malaysia, the skin clinic of the General Hospital have been conducting joint research on house dust mites and its association with respiratory allergies. Dr Nadchatram himself has been actively involved in research related to house dust mites not only in Malaysia but also in Singapore when he was lecturing at the National University of Singapore and then in Hawaii where he went to do his research fellowship in studying sticks and mites.

Studies have shown that the infestation level of mites is higher in the tropical region. The tropical climate has no sudden temperature changes and is humid - these two factors are favorable for mites, enabling them to live longer and reproduce on a larger scale. Can effective housekeeping reduce the mites' population? One important factor to remember is that both dead and live mites are allergenic.

Regular vacuuming is strongly recommended. Air conditioning the bed room is also important in controlling the mites' population. "Sweeping is not effective in removing fine particles of dust which include mite eggs and faeces." says Dr Nadchatram. "Sweeping actually causes the mites to be air bone and tribute within the house." Therefore, sweeping should be followed by mopping the floor with a detergent or vacuuming. "One other effective way of eliminating house mites is by employing in the age old practice of sunning carpets, bed linen and mattresses followed all dust containing dust mites."

When you have allergies it is important to be very selective when looking for the right pillow. Cotton pillows tend to collect dust mites rapidly - a big no-no for those with allergies. Instead, look for OCA Water Pillow. It can anti dust mites and provides you a healthier life.

By keeping to these methods, housewife would be keeping dust and mites at bay.

Pediatrics - Understanding the Role of a Pediatrician

Pediatrics is all about children and making sure that they get the best care possible when it comes to their health and well-being. Pediatricians are specialized doctors who provide youngsters what they need in a medical sense from the time they are born until they reach adulthood.

Pediatrics is about keeping children healthy and also about helping children who have health problems to become healthy and overcome their health and medical issues. Pediatricians have all different types of patients and see children of all ages. They also see children who have special needs. Some children's medical specialists work alone while others work as a part of a larger medical team. This team may include other physicians, nurses, assistants, therapists and various other medical specialists.

The job duties of a child physician are many. They perform these duties time and time again with the various patients they see. They examine their patients and determine the state of their health, as well as their growth and development. They are capable and well trained when it comes to diagnosing medical problems. These problems can rage from diagnosing a common cold and sore throat to an ear infection to other types of infections. They can also diagnose diabetes, asthma, cancer and communicable diseases. Developmental problems can also be assessed accurately by a pediatrician as can congenital abnormalities. The doctor can then decide the course of treatment that is necessary and/or whether the young patients should be referred to a specialist.

Pediatrics is such an important realm of the medical field because children have health considerations that are not the same as adults. As well the way they must be treated as patients does not mirror that of adults. Besides having the appropriate training and skills, doctors who specialize in babies and children's medical needs must be good with these age groups. They must exhibit kindness, compassion, understanding, patience and a sense of humor. They also must know how to get their patients to relax and to put a smile on their faces. Most pediatricians' waiting rooms and examination rooms have colorful pictures on the walls and an ample supply of toys and books for children to enjoy. This helps put frightened and nervous little minds at ease.

Child doctors also commonly prescribe treatments and write prescriptions for medications for their patients. They also can order tests to be done as they see fit. Examples of these include laboratory tests such as blood work and urine analysis, x-rays and other kinds of diagnostic procedures. Pediatrics is about the communication between doctor and patient but also about the communication between the doctor and the parents. Pediatricians will do their part to teach parents what they need to know about how to keep their kids healthy, and how to prevent sicknesses, as well as how to treat them when they do take place.

Some doctors who work with young children will act as consultants for other doctors in the same medical discipline. It is also common for child medical specialists to educate others in the health care profession as well as to teach medical students and residents interested in a career in pediatrics.

Problems With Artificial Grass

AstroTurf was first patented in 1967 under the name "ChemGrass", and later re-branded as AstroTurf after its iconic use at the Houston Astrodome stadium. Since then, artificial turf has seen widespread use in all kinds of sports fields and stadiums. Lately however, artificial turf is becoming increasingly touted as a substitution for real grass in front yards and parks and it's easy to see why. After all, it's low-to-no maintenance and green all year round.

Sounds perfect, right? Well not so fast, because there are a few things you should know before committing to artificial turf that might change your mind.

Injuries

Firstly, artificial turf is a lot harder than real grass. If you or your children do a lot of working or playing in the yard, the odds of receiving a bone or head injury are much higher. There's also the issue of abrasions and "rug burn" after falling on it and we're not just talking about minor scrapes. These AstroTurf abrasions are known to lead to an increased risk of a super bug known as methicillin-resistant staphylococcus aureus.

Bacteria

Such artificial grass is made of polyethylene plastic which can be a breeding ground for all kinds of bacteria. These fields are rarely washed and cleaned, meaning that anything from blood and sweat to insect remains and spills will be left sitting for months and develop into all kinds of germ-filled nastiness.

Toxic Run-Off

These turfs contain lead, zinc, and even high-risk chemicals like arsenic, cadmium and selenium. When it rains, some of this residue is inevitably going to run off with the water which is horrible for the environment and your health.

Environmentally Unfriendly

In addition to the matter of toxic run off, they are environmentally unfriendly in the sense that it takes a lot of natural resources and fossil fuels to produce, and it doesn't contribute to the production of oxygen like real plants. Indeed, it's thought that mass use of plastic turf is actually a big contributor to the greenhouse effect.

Breathing Problems

Some people switch from grass to artificial turf in hopes that it will eliminate breathing problems and asthmatic complications thanks to the lack of pollen but in reality, the opposite is true. Artificial turf collects massive amounts of dust from the environment and plastic residue which can actually be even worse for you.

Once You Go Plastic, It's Hard to Go Back

If you choose to install artificial turf and later change your mind once you realize these problems, it's almost impossible. Plastic turf kills virtually any living organism under, on, and around it meaning that it will take years' worth of soil remediation before any type of grass or plant can grow on it again. It might seem like a good idea, but it probably won't later and at that point, it will be too late to do anything about it.

COPD - Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease at a Glance

Everyone knows someone who smokes. The odds that you know someone who has COPD is then rather high. COPD you're saying, I never heard of that before? Learn more in this brief article.

The disease is not a new one, but the term COPD is most likely not familiar to most of us. But you might as well get used to the term right away, because according to the WHO they reckons that within the year 2020 Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease will be on of the most common causes of death in the world.

Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease is a chronic asthmatic disease distinguished by the permanent reduced lung capacity caused by changes in the airways and lungs.

Most people don't know that they are effected. Smoking is the most important cause of COPD. Between 15 - 20% of smokers are developing COPD.

Tobacco use is the number one cause of COPD - Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease and quitting smoking is considered the best way to halt further damage.

It's estimated that as many as 10 million Americans suffer from COPD, with possibly as many as 14 million others who have it but have not been diagnosed. In the United States, it was the 4th leading cause of death in 2000 and projections put it at the 3rd leading cause by the year 2020.

Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease can not be cured, only treated. Stop smoking is the most important treatment.

COPD symptoms includes a strong cough, wheezing, tightness in the chest, recurrent respiratory infections, impaired exercise tolerance and phlegm production.

COPD is also tightly connected with the feeling of shame, because the cause is in most cases connected to heavy smoking. Coughing and heavy wheezing patients are often faced with the accusation that they have them self to thanks for the condition. Due to this, a lot of people with this diagnosis is ashamed and are trying to hide their problems.

Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease patients are more affected by a cold and flue than others. Infections can be prevented by getting rid of as much as possible of the phlegm in the airways, by drinking lots of water and trying to keep moving around.

5 Reasons to Become a Respiratory Therapist

If you are in the middle of choosing a career, then you must also be at the receiving end of sometimes-unsolicited advice from friends, family, and well-wishers. Their constant stream of advice may be making the already difficult decision-making process seem a thousand times harder.

Take solace in the fact that you are not alone! At this moment, hundreds and thousands of people are probably in the same quandary as you.

To help you and others who are having trouble deciding on a career, we offer one option to consider: respiratory therapy. Let's look at the top five reasons why you should consider enrolling in a respiratory therapist school.

Reason to become a respiratory therapist #1

Less schooling required: As compared to most other healthcare careers, the training requirements for becoming a respiratory therapist (RT) are much less extensive. A two-year Associate in Respiratory Therapy degree from an accredited university, college, or technical-vocational school is the basic requirement to pursue a career in respiratory therapy.

Respiratory therapist programs usually include courses in life and health sciences such as microbiology, chemistry, anatomy and physiology; topics that deal with respiratory care and management such as pulmonary anatomy and physiology, cardiopulmonary pharmacology, airway management, and ventilation theory; and clinical experience that includes supervised hands-on patient care.

All the U.S. states except Alaska require respiratory therapists to have either the Certified Respiratory Therapist (CRT) or the Registered Respiratory Therapist (RRT) license. For both these credentials, applicants must graduate from an accredited respiratory therapist program and meet other licensure requirements above and beyond the degree.

Reason to become a respiratory therapist #2

Excellent job outlook: According to the U.S. Department of Labor, the employment of RTs is expected to grow at a faster-than-average pace for all occupations: 28 percent through 2020.* The growing numbers of elderly folk in the country who are more vulnerable to respiratory ailments, plus an increased awareness of and focus on disease prevention, has led to this growth in the demand for RT.

This means individuals employed as RTs should enjoy excellent employment prospects over the next decade.

Reason to become a respiratory therapist #3

Options for professional growth: Once you graduate from respiratory therapist school and get some experience under your belt in direct patient care, you may start thinking about taking the next step in your career path.

Advancement to roles like shift manager, department head, hospital administrator, educational program lead, etc. is possible with experience and additional training. If this is the direction you'd like to grow your career, pursuing an advanced respiratory therapy degree should be a part of your career development plan.

RTs can also explore the option of branching out into business roles with equipment manufacturers, or join the world of research and academics.

Reason to become a respiratory therapist #4

Average income: The Department of Labor reports that the median annual wages of respiratory therapists was $54,280 in May 2010, depending on geographic location, education, and experience.**

The income of a RT also varies with the type of healthcare facility they are employed in. For example, RTs employed with nursing care facilities earned an average annual wage of $57,450, while those working in offices of physicians earned an average of $52,500 per annum (depending on location, education, and experience). ***

Reason to become a respiratory therapist #5

Rewarding work: This may be the most important of all the reasons to consider a career as a RT. At the end of a hard working day, there is nothing quite like the feeling of knowing you have worked to heal your patients, and that's what a career in respiratory therapy promises.

Through all the emergency cases of heart failures and severe asthmatic attacks; the drowning accidents; the heart-wrenching cries of premature infants; and the helplessness of patients on respiratory support equipment, the feeling you're most likely to remember is the joy of seeing them breathe life once again.

Sources:

* bls.gov/ooh/Healthcare/Respiratory-therapists.htm#tab-6

** bls.gov/ooh/Healthcare/Respiratory-therapists.htm#tab-5

*** Ibid.

The Masked Allergy and Symptoms

These differ from the conventional allergy as they are frequently exhibited in a masked form. For this reason, clinical ecology has been slow in gaining medical acceptance. However, these days the doctor specializing as a clinical ecologist is gaining recognition in Europe and the United States. Speaking on the situation in Australia, Professor Ian Lewis of the University of Tasmania says that the current medical training is not geared towards producing doctors that can solve problems. He feels that doctors should be taught to consider alternatives to drug therapy, rather than be over crammed with factual knowledge. This may lead, in time, to a resumption in use of the physician's greatest historical tool - a thorough investigation of the patient's diet and environment.

In effect, ecological illness is one large allergy. Most people today have it, to varying degrees. Within this general malaise, more specific allergies or sensitivities occur. Invariably however, exposure to the allergen does not produce an immediate or detectable response. Symptoms tend to be masked and therefore very difficult to trace back to a specific cause. For this reason most doctors are not able to diagnose a food or chemical sensitivity occurring as a masked allergy. Their lack of training, understanding and interest in this area compounds the difficulty in obtaining a correct diagnosis. Time and time again masked allergy symptoms are diagnosed as something quite different. The symptom is then treated by the doctor and the cause remains undetected. This approach will quieten the symptom for a while but it will continue to flare up regularly until the individual is classified as a chronic sufferer. The sufferer is then often placed on the strongest drug available, on a semi-permanent basis, and told to live with it. Meanwhile, the allergy remains undetected, and the build-up in toxins causes further suffering and damage to an already weakened system. In the words of Drs Kenyon and Lewith -

"Masked allergy may exhibit itself by a patient being exposed to a common food such as wheat, daily. No clear reactions to the wheat are shown in the patient's symptoms; for instance the patient does not exhibit an acute asthmatic wheeze after eating a slice of bread, or urticaria after eating biscuits. But a symptom complex which may involve asthma, accompanied by general malaise and depression, or osteoarthritis accompanied by headaches, may be the presenting complaints. The patient avoids wheat for a period of five days then, if the wheat is the major allergen, the symptoms will usually disappear. Re-exposure after this period of time will often induce an acute recurrence of the symptoms. This recurrence may occur immediately or twenty-four hours after re-exposure."

It is easy to see why masked allergies and symptoms continue to baffle the modern doctor. It would not be an exaggeration to claim that many doctors do not understand this process and, as a result, many of their patients are being treated for asthma, skin problems, lethargy, irritability, digestive problems and a whole range of symptoms whilst the real cause, the masked allergy, goes undetected.

Viral & Bacterial Bronchitis - The Differences

Environmental factors can cause illness, just as much as viruses and bacteria can. When you become ill, quality of life is affected. Relationships with family and friends can suffer. A healthy lifestyle may help you to prevent illnesses. Get into a regular routine of hygiene and immunizations and exercise and diet, and this will go a long way towards staying as healthy as you can be. Do some research into this and formulate you plan for good health. If you do show some signs of possible bronchitis, see your doctor as soon as you can.

Bronchial tube inflammation may be caused by viral or bacterial infections, or allergens. There are differences between viral and bacterial infections. A professional will be able to advise you, if you have one of these two illnesses. The most common cause of bronchitis is viral. Your symptoms may include wheezing, burning pain, difficulty in breathing, headache and other symptoms. This type of bronchitis is not that serious and an disappear without taking any meds. Home remedies may be enough. Virus caused bronchitis may give you a mild fever, and a cough with little or no mucous.

With bacterial bronchitis, it can get serious if you also have asthma, cystic fibrosis or COPD. You may have a high fever and discoloured mucous. After a visit to your doctor you'll know what kind you have and how to treat it. You may need a chest x-ray if your symptoms are fairly severe. Treatment is different with the two forms of bronchitis. If you have the viral kind, you can drink more liquids. Rest, and if you have muscle pain, take acetaminophen. Over the counter medications may help, too. A steamy shower will open up your airways and help you to cough up mucous.

An antibiotic may be prescribed by your doctor if you have the bacterial form of bronchitis. You may experience side effects like nausea, vomiting, abdominal pain and diarrhea. Certain bacteria are resistant to drugs. The FDA recently approved a new drug, gemiflaoxacin mesylate which is a new drug and could help outwit this bacteria. Viral bronchitis is not affected by antibiotics. Never use a prescribed medication without consulting a doctor first. Make expectoration of mucous as easy as you can by getting plenty of rest. Get immunizations and practice good hygiene. This will help guard you against infections. Avoid cigarettes, smoke, fumes and other triggers. Your lungs will be able to filter out normal amounts of these triggers. Be as healthy as you can.

I Am Having A Cold - Can I Do Something About It?

A cold is an infection of the airways, especially the throat, nose and sinuses. Most colds are accompanied by a runny nose, cough, sore throat and a headache. It can cause a runny and stuffy nose and a sore throat. A cold can sometimes hold on for a few weeks. There are no medicines to prevent it. However, there are several products available from chemists and pharmacies for getting rid of this disease faster.

If you have a chronic cold, it may indicate a reduced resistance, an allergy or an asthmatic condition. When there are other symptoms, such as a persistent fever of 5 days or longer, it is better to ask a doctor for advice.

What causes colds?

Colds are caused by a virus and are highly infectious. The cold virus can be transmitted through the air (coughing, sneezing) or by skin contact (shaking hands, kissing). It is easily transmitted in places where many people are close together and where the fresh air is limited. Think of a crowded train or bus or a well-stocked classroom.

The period from infection until the first symptoms arises from 2 to 3 days. Colds often start with a sore throat. This is usually followed by sneezing, coughing, headache and runny nose.

But what exactly happens inside your body? A cold virus causes inflammation of the mucosa, causing a decrease of the protective effect of the membrane. The inflamed mucous membrane swells and produces a lot of mucus. This will cause a stuffy and runny nose. Because the inflammation irritates the mucous membrane, it causes tickling. This will result in a sneeze in the nose and a cough in the throat. A sore throat can be caused by an inflammation of the throat and hoarseness by mucosal inflammation of the vocal cords.

Especially if your resistance is low, the cold virus can easily get a hold over you. Because the resistance of small children is not yet fully developed, they have more colds than adults. Also, elderly and sick people have more colds due to a low resistance. You can get a better resistance from:

• No smoking

• Move a lot

• Healthy eating and drinking

• Go out every day

What are the symptoms?

Cold symptoms include: a stuffy or runny nose, watery eyes, Coughing, a sore throat, headache and a loss of smell and taste. Adults have colds from 2 to 5 times a year and children have colds from 6 to 10 times a year. The symptoms usually occur 2-3 days after infection with the cold virus. A cold is not the same as the flu. If you have a cold you may feel feverish, but a real flu often begins suddenly and has more symptoms such as chills, fever and muscle aches.

Treatment of colds

There are no medicines to prevent a cold. Also, you don't have to go to the doctor for a cold. This is only required if a cold has other symptoms such as:

• drowsiness

• wheezing

• shortness of breath

• long lasting fever (longer than five days) or recurrent fever.

Do you have a cold right now? Don't worry; it will probably go away in a few days.

What Makes Cat Dander a Problem?

Cat dander is a carrier mechanism for cat allergens, which is bad enough. But there are several additional aspects to be considered.

First, even one cat produces enough dander to be a plentiful food source for dust mites. Dust mites serve as a secondary source of allergens through their droppings and their dead, dried up carcasses. Not only should the impact of cat allergens and dander be considered, but also the effects of increased dust mites.

If you've ever noticed dust in a shaft of sunlight the particles you were seeing were typically in the 50-micron size. Under ideal conditions the unaided human eye might be able to see particles as small as 10 microns.

Approximately 75% of cat dander particles are 5 to 10 microns and 25% are 2.5 microns or smaller. Particles that size do not readily settle out of the air. They are also easily disturbed and become airborne.

Cat Dander and House Cleaning are Dangerous

This is a real problem when doing house cleaning or when actively seeking to remove dander. Studies show that vacuum cleaners easily aerosolize cat allergen on floors and carpets to critical levels. In clinical studies of asthma, a nebulizer may be used to provoke an asthmatic response of a 20% Fall in Expiratory Volume (FEV). The quantity of allergen aerosolized would be on the order of 40 nanograms per cubic meter of air. Studies have shown that cleaning and vacuuming produced this same level of contaminant per volume of air.

For asthmatic persons, exposures to cat allergen during household cleaning could result in a trip to the emergency room, or the morgue, depending on their control of their asthma. It is recommended that any household with a cat use a high quality HEPA vacuum.

Effectiveness in controlling cat allergen can vary widely depending on the HEPA vacuum. The best HEPA vacuums keep airborne allergen to a bare minimum.

Cat Dander Damages Lungs

The size of cat dander particles puts them in the category of lung penetrating particles, particles that easily transport to the innermost recesses of the lungs. Since they are not just particulate irritants but immunological irritants, they can do significant cumulative damage.

Chest X-rays of allergic individuals have found that long-term exposure to cat dander results in nodules forming inside the lungs. Reduced lung function and permanent lung damage result from this kind of long-term exposure to an allergenic lung-penetrating particle.

This should be of special concern to parents of cat allergic children, because children's lungs are still growing and are even more sensitive to airborne contaminants. Children also consume larger volumes of air per body weight than do adults, so contaminants have a more pronounced effect on children due to the higher concentrations that accumulate in their bodies.

The particle size of cat dander also presents a challenge because at that size range particles tend to stick to surfaces by molecular adhesion. Molecular adhesion renders particles especially sticky. For this reason, once a surface or clothing is contaminated with cat allergen it tends to stay contaminated until vigorous cleaning has been performed. More than light dusting is required; scrubbing and using chemical cleaners is the best way to remove them.

The stickiness of cat allergen has resulted in cat allergen being found in homes, schools, offices, and government buildings where cats have never been. Riding in on the clothes of cat owners, cat allergen constitutes an all-pervasive background that may be sufficient to cause allergic reactions.

What is the Best Air Purifier for Cat Dander?

A HEPA filter air purifier is the best choice for reducing airborne dander. HEPA's 99.97% filtration at 0.3 micron makes them the perfect air purifiers for pet dander.

The possibility of increased adhesion to lung tissues of lung penetrating particles that have been negatively charged should dissuade the consumer from purchasing a negative air ionizer air cleaner.

Ionic air cleaners that generate ozone and ozone generators should be avoided. Ozone causes increased sensitivity to allergens and makes airborne cat allergen all the more potent to the unwary consumer. Ozone will not clean particles from the air.

Electrostatic precipitators are about 80% efficient with clean, unloaded plates. Efficiency can drop to below 20% in as few as three days due to plate loading, thus requiring constant maintenance cleaning. An allergic person should not perform this maintenance cleaning. Concentrated allergens could provoke a severe reaction if inhaled while trying to clean the plates. Cat allergen can also cause skin rashes in allergic persons who come in physical contact with it.

The only air purifier to remove pet dander safely and effectively is a HEPA filter air purifier.

Steam Bath Healing And Health Benefits Fully Explained

The positive effects of steam bathing have been understood for thousands of years. Hippocrates found that fever could cure many diseases, and steam baths and saunas have been producing 'simulated' fevers ever since that time and maybe even earlier than that.

There are excellent healing attributes of both saunas and steam baths but the steam bath is especially good for respiratory troubles like bronchitis, asthma, and allergies the since it offers an elevated moisture content. The steam bath is also useful for cleaning and toning the skin surface. The increased volume of sweat that is induced by the steam bath and sauna leaves the skin soft and supple while the bathers are left feeling re-energized and recharged.

Steam Baths - Special Benefits

As previously discussed, a steam bath is excellent for respiratory ailments since steam can remove allergens and mucus from the lungs. Doctors have been advising that patients breathe steam for various respiratory problems for a long time now. The steam bath allows the user to inhale a larger concentration of steam than by using a vaporizer. This allows maximum benefits to those with breathing problems.

Steam has a soothing quality for the breathing passages since it raises the moisture level in the lungs, throat and nose. People that suffer from the problems of asthma or the common cold will find they feel much better after indulging in a steam bath.

No matter how good the sauna bath might feel by relieving symptoms it is not cure for respiratory diseases. The temporary benefits of relief from the symptoms are good enough that many sufferers go back to the steam bath again and again.

Skin Benefits

A good sweat is excellent for healthy skin. Dermatologists understand the benefits of steam to create a beautiful, healthy glow. Serious sweating washes the skin better than soap and water since it unlocks the pores and lets deep-seated grime along with dead cells to be washed out. Also a steam bath increases the blood circulation to the skin contributing to a healthy, glowing manifestation, you will glisten!

Pain Relief Benefits

Heat is a useful tool for management of muscular pain. Taking a steam bath after a substantial bodily workout is an excellent method of speeding up the healing progression of hurt tissues and muscles. Heat allows the blood vessels to enlarge which boosts the blood circulation, letting increased oxygen to arrive at injured parts of the body. This has the twofold effect of pain reduction and improving the healing speed.

Relaxation Benefits

Deep sleep is one of the best medicinal ways to heal the body. Our contemporary life is filled with daily stresses, and these stresses will build up over time and can induce stress linked illnesses such as high blood pressure and hypertension. A sauna bath is a excellent method of unwinding and help relieve the daily stresses. The heat of the sauna allows the muscles to loosen up, and the steam makes available a comforting atmosphere for calming the mind.

You will discover that a steam bath ahead of bedtime is an excellent method of promoting a deep restful sleep. You come out of the steam bath experiencing a relaxed and calm state. When you take a steam bath on a regular basis, you will reap remarkable benefits for your health and your state of mind.

So, go ahead and indulge yourself and reap the rewards of a sauna bath. You will be pleased with the results of regular sauna baths for your overall health and mental state.

Understanding Stress - A Basic Outline

Stress is that physiological state in which the body is aroused, strained, or taxed beyond the state of rest.

There are two basic kinds of stress: 1) physical stress (e.g. walking up stairs or carrying bags of groceries); 2) psycho-emotional stress (e.g. being late for an appointment or being stuck in traffic).

Both physical and psycho-emotional stress make the same demands upon the body's resources, reserves, and defenses. (The emphasis in the outline here is on psycho-emotional stress).

We can define stress as the physiological state in which demands are put upon the body's energy production, distribution, and supplies in order to deal with a stressor. A stressor, which gives rise to stress, is some precipitating event, situation, or state of affairs (e.g. being stopped by a police officer for speeding; or arguing about family finances with a partner; or being harassed by relentless guilty thoughts).

There is good stress (e.g. athletic competition) and there is bad stress (e.g. stewing over a job interview). Without the stress system and responses of the body, we would die (e.g. Addison's disease). The experience of stress, and responding to it, ensures our personal (and even another's) survival (e.g. responding to a child's asthmatic attack). Thus, we have a double-edged sword: Stress responses help us to survive, but stress itself must often be survived.

The potential problem is not necessarily stress, but chronic stress.

When stress becomes chronic stress, then the body is distressed. Distress is that physiological state in which the demands put upon the body's energy production, distribution, and supplies exceed what the body is normally, comfortably, and healthily capable of generating.

Here is the general process of decline: DISTRESS/CHRONIC STRESS (e.g. persistent worry over finances)-->DETERIORATION/DISINTEGRATION (e.g. palpitations, fibrillation, high blood pressure)-->DISEASE (e.g. coronary thrombosis)-->DEATH (e.g. myocardial infarction)

Psycho-emotional stress begins with personal perception (e.g. failing to identify the aircraft as air-worthy and failing to accept the pilot as adequately trained). Perception is informed and shaped by personality/temperament, imagination, and environment. For example, in walking through a notorious section of the city late at night, one may seemingly "perceive" many dangers.

The critical point is: controllability (i.e., being and feeling in control) determines the intensity and efficacy of stress. Controllability entails predictability (i.e., one can anticipate and influence the outcome) and successability (i.e., one believes they can achieve the desired goal) (e.g. having an assigned text to read at a social function, as opposed to speaking extemporaneously).

Physiological process of stress: Perception-->(signals)-->Amgydala (Surveillance or Warning System)-->(signals)-->Hypothalamus (Control Centre, releasing CRF)-->(signals)-->Pituitary gland (Chief Commander, releasing ACTH)-->(signals)--> Adrenal glands release and trigger: Glucocoritcoids (including cortisol), Catecholamines (Special Forces)

Cortisol

1. Releases glucose (glycogen) and lipid (triglycerides, fatty acids) supplies.


2. Catabolizes protein


3. Communicates with liver to produce more glucose.


4. Suppresses the immune system.


5. Stimulates the cardio-vascular system (e.g. increase in heart rate and arterial blood pressure)


6. Stimulates anti-inflammatory responses

Sustained cortisol production results in elevated glucose and lipid levels (precipitating diabetes, obesity, heart disease), as well as in the depletion and malfunction of other hormones and neurotransmitters (precipitating depression, sleep deprivation, mental confusion).

Stages of Chronic Stress

1. Release of Energy Stores (resulting in increased heart rate and blood pressure, rapid breathing, sweating, decreased digestive rate, etc.)


2. Consumption of Energy Stores (if no escape from stage one, the body releases stored sugars and fats--using and depleting valuable resources. One then feels driven, pressured, tired, and fatigued, typically accompanied by an increase in smoking, coffee drinking and/or alcohol consumption, memory loss, acute illness, such as cold or influenza due to immune system compromise.


3. Depletion of Energy Stores (if not resolved at stage 2, then one may feel chronically stressed-the body's need for energy resources exceeds its ability to produce them).

Chronic Stress Syndrome

• Irritability


• Lethargy (involving errors in judgement)


• Anxiety/depression (mental illness, personality changes)


• Increased heart rate and blood pressure (heart disease)


• Increased fat metabolism (obesity)

Strategies to Manage Chronic Stress

Physical Skills

1. Breathing exercises (Exhalation breathing - 10 min.; deep breathing - 3-5 min. for extra oxygen; and release of endorphins)


2. Relaxation exercises (e.g tai chi, yoga)


3. Physical exercise (e.g. walking, cycling)


4. Healthy diet (e.g. good fats, like omega 3 fatty acids; reduction of sugars; balanced and moderate diet; vitamins and minerals, like the B Complex and D and calcium/magnesium; herbs, like licorice and siberian ginseng)


5. Recreation/leisure (e.g. fishing, gardening)


6. Massage therapy


7. Rest/sleep


8. Retreats/vacations

Mental Skills

1. Adjusting/monitoring perception


2. Meditation/'now' thinking/mindfulness training


3. Bio-feedback (self-awareness/self-talk)


4. Diversion techniques


5. Optimistic outlook


6. Self-acceptance


7. Humour


8. Social interaction

Spiritual Skills

1. Talking to the higher Being


2. Simplifying life


3. Helping others

Practical Skills

1. Acquiring time management skills


2. Having fun


3. Having hobbies/personal interests

Differences of Commercial Soap and Handmade Soap

Most people do not know the difference between commercial soap and handmade soap. Some people have not even heard of handmade soap, much less, know the benefits of natural handmade soap.

Most of us have been buying commercial soap from the supermarkets all our lives, and choosing products merely based on the fragrance and after a few times of usage, we choose the ones with the most lather for a creamier bath. Little did we know that all these are merely chemicals that we are putting on our skin and bodies. These harsh soap cause very dry, scaly skin, peeling and even cracking skin. We tend to blame it on the weather, our hormones, or even on our genes, without ever knowing the real reason behind our skin problems.

Some people stop using commercial soap bars to bathe, hoping that the skin allergies would stop, and they replace the commercial soap with shower cremes, hoping for a more moisturized skin result. However, they find that their skin starts itching instead! Shower cremes are also just chemicals in liquid form. And the result is, some people with sensitive skin develop blemishes and eczema on their bodies, especially on the skin on their backs, arms and legs.

Desperate, they turn to medical doctors for a solution to their skin problems. Mostly they are given steroid creams as topical application to dry up the blemishes and eczema. But most of these leave behind unsightly scars and marks which may take months, or even years to heal and slowly fade away.

All these problems can be avoided only if they start using handmade soap, made using only natural ingredients from herbs, plants and spices, without any harmful chemicals.

It is very important to realise that commercial soap and handmade soap is vastly different, although both is called "soap", and falsely implying that both are of the same thing. Although they may look alike, and even almost smell alike, but beyond that, everything else inside is so different!

Most commercial soap have added "fragrance" or "parfum", which are made synthetically. This is the most common cause of skin ailments and disorders. Those with sensitive skin or asthmatic conditions should avoid buying products with these labels.

In handmade soap, essential oils from flowers, herbs and spices are used to give a natural aromatherapy that soothes your body. Almost all natural soap is hypoallergenic and is safe for use all over the body, including face and hair!

Childhood Snoring - Is There a Remedy?

It is not uncommon for the average infant or young child to snore occasionally. In fact there are several reasons as to why your child may be periodically snoring. Some of the most common reasons are when the child has been highly active during the day causes them to snore from being overly tired during the night, or the onset of seasonal allergies will also cause your child to be more apt to occasionally snore. There is also the average yearly colds that so many children tend to catch will too be one of the most common snoring contributors for both children and adults.

One of the more serious childhood health concerns is snoring. It may be possible that your child may be showing the warning signs of being asthmatic. But do not panic because in many circumstances of childhood snoring, this is usually not the case. It can be a direct correlation for some children who have a family history of asthma. If asthma is of a strong parental concern in your child's life because there are signs of excessive nightly snoring and a family history of asthmatic issues, it is highly recommended to talk this through with your child's pediatrician.

But some of the less known reasons in knowing why your child may have suddenly started snoring may even be attributed to problems such as early childhood respiratory ear infection, or even a current ear infection in your child that you maybe unaware of. If you are suspecting such a problem in your child, again just as the childhood asthma concerns, your child must be seen immediately by their pediatrician so to best resolve the problem as quickly as possible.

If your child has the misfortune of being overweight or even worse, extremely obese, he or she will also most likely be nightly snorers. This is a two-fold health risk issue due to excess weight puts tremendous strain upon the heart and the rest of the organs, but the chronic snoring also causes the child's heart and body to be damaged. Along with the immediate need for the child to lose the excess weight, there may also be a temporary need for one of the many safe anti snoring remedies to be used during the weight loss duration.

Childhood snoring has now been discovered to be one of the reasons for a child to be mimicking the many signs of what is referred to as Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder or better known as ADHD. When children are not getting the best quality of sleep and required 8 to 10 hours of sleep during the average night, a good number of them have been discovered to be somewhat hyper during the day hours.

They have concentration and memory problems, along with many daily carrying out daily defiance and other types of behavioural problems. So instead of putting these children on ADHD drugs, the consistency of high quality sleep, regular exercise and the best daily diets are more often than not the best answer in ending the snoring, and the mimicked signs of ADHD.

Medical Analysis of Tropical Eosinophilia (Weingartein Syndrome, Pulmonary Eosinophillosis)

This condition which is common in the tropics is characterized by an absolute eosinophil count and associated with respiratory symptoms. The disease is prevalent in India, Sri Lanka, Malaysia, Pakistan, Bangladesh and west-central Africa.

Etiology
Microscopically the lesion is essentially inflammatory cell infiltration of several tissues. Lymphocytes and histiocytes are the initial invaders. Later to be replaced by eosinophilic bronchopneumonia, histiocytic infiltration of the interstitium and interstitial fibrosis. In some cases the lesions resemble granulomas with foreign body giant cells surrounded by mononuclear cells. The extent of lesion is probably related to the duration of the disorder. The histological changes are not pathognomonic for tropical eosinophilia, since similar lesions may result from allergy to several other allergens.

Clinical features
In the majority the onset is insidious and the patients come for treatment several months after the onset. Males are affected more than females. The severity of symptoms does not correlate with the eosinophil counts. Many patients with high eosinophilic counts may remain asymptomatic. In some cases the onset may be acute resembling influenza, bronchial asthma or gastro intestinal disturbances. The chronic form may present with exertional dyspnea, Vague ill health or asthmatic symptoms. Mild hemoptysis may occur. Auscultation over the chest may reveal evidence of bronchospasm with crepitations. Some cases present with mild fever, loss of weight, generalized lymphadenopathy, mild splenomegaly, and rarely bleeding tendencies. The absolute eosinophil count ranges from 2000-10,000/cmm. In some cases the total leukocyte count may go as high as 30-40,000/cmm and the eosinophils may form 70-90% of the total. All of them are mature eosinophils. The bone marrow shows infiltration by eosinophils and their precursors.

Skiagram of the Chest reveals diffuse fine mottling bilaterally in about 50% of cases. Rarely the radiological features may be unilateral or even localized is one lung. Pulmonary function tests show restrictive and obstructive features.

Diagnosis
Tropical eosinophilia should be suspected in all cases of respiratory disorders presenting with asthmatic symptoms of short duration. An absolute eosinophil count above 2000/cmm is essential for making the diagnosis. Tropical eosinopphilia has to be distinguished from other parasitic infections which cause lover degrees of esosinophilia. Loeffler's syndrome, aspergillosis, allergic alveolitis, bronchial asthma, and pulmonary tuberculosis. In bronchial asthma also the eosinophils may be increased but the counts seldom reach the levels seen in tropical eosinophilia. In the latter, treatment is curative whereas in the former it is only palliative. Helminthic infections also cause lower levels of eosinophilia. These may be associated with respiratory symptoms. The eosinophilia clears up with de-worming.

The course of tropical eosinophilia is benign with remission and exacerbation extending over several months or years. Death is rare, though a few cases have been reported.

Treatment
Drug of choice is diethyl carbamazine given in a dose of 4-12 mg/kg/day for 10-14 days. In most of the cases the eosinophil count and symptoms subside promptly. Side effects are mild. These include headache, joint pains, anorexia, nausea, and vomiting. In few cases there may be slight aggravation of respiratory symptoms at the start of treatment. Such cases respond to bronchodilators or corticosteiods. Prolonged follow up is necessary, since the condition is likely to recur.

Who Else Wants Portable Nebulizers?

A nebulizer or atomizer is a gadget used to medicate people through a liquid mist inhaled into the air passages. It is commonly used by asthmatic people as well as those with other respiratory diseases. It is different from an inhaler although both are effective at rescuing those who are experiencing an asthma attack. Doctors have been known to prescribe the use of inhalers over nebulizers because the former are cheaper and handier. Nebulizers, on the other hand, are often easier to use, at least, for very young children. They also carry a more positive visual effect because of the mist. Patients tend to feel that they are more effective than inhalers.

Standard nebulizers are cumbersome to transport around, but it is best to have them around all the time. To address this need, manufacturers have come up with portable versions. Unlike inhalers, portable versions still require an energy source and naturally, not all places carry electrical outlets. Fortunately, there are now battery-operated portable ones that are also handy although not necessarily as compact as inhalers.

Portable versions are perfect for the active, outdoorsy type of person as they obviously can be taken anywhere, even in places without electrical outlets. They allow for the same benefits as standard ones, but are more ideally used while staying somewhere else whether on business or vacation, during school or work, and while on the road. It is better to purchase ones that use rechargeable batteries to avoid the constant purchase and eventual discard of batteries. Disposable battery-powered ones arguably give more breathing treatments per set, but in the long run rechargeable batteries and an alternate set are a better investment.

These products may also come as either portable pneumatic or ultrasonic versions. Pneumatic ones create mist with gas or compressed air as the driving force. They usually have a concentric or a fixed cross-flow design. Ultrasonic ones, on the other hand, use sound or vibrations instead of gas as the energy source for turning liquid into mist. Ultrasonic versions are generally more expensive and difficult to use, but they have considerably lower detection limits. They allow more medication into the patient's lungs and are able to use up more of the liquid you put into it than other versions.

Just like with standard nebulizers, if portable ones bore steroids, the user must rinse his or her mouth after use to prevent the onset of a possibly yeast infection or thrush. Also be aware that nebulizing may cause vibration in the head during use.

Offering Circular For Real Estate - Investors Will Be Begging Your to Be Part of Your Company

Real estate investors are constantly on the lookout for innovative ways to raise the capital needed to get the job done. Lack of funds to the investor or rehabber is like an asthmatic without an inhaler, it's a near impossible existence. Access to cash is king for the investor and sadly this need is often like the scent of blood to the wolves as hard money lenders and greedy cash rich investors will lend to the investor for such a high interest rate, the real estate investor's profits evaporate before they can materialize.

It's a depressing reality to be faced with when months of hard work in bird dogging and going through the ups and downs of purchasing a property with decent profit margins results in actually owing money at the end of the transaction. With all this said, there is good news. Imagine the ability to raise massive amounts of capital without dealing with the red tape of banks or the greed of hard money lenders. This solution is so powerful that it can transform your real estate investing business overnight. This process allows you to raise unlimited amounts of capital fast and easy.

This process is a Real Estate Private Placement Memorandum which is a PPM engineered to cater to the needs of a real estate investment firm while simultaneously helping the investor raise capital within the guidelines set forth by the SEC. There are few other structures available that can help one raise capital in such a rapid and streamline manner. If you are involved in any level of rehabbing or investing look into getting set up with a real estate private placement memorandum to put your business on steroids.

The Hoover Vacuum Cleaner

An invention is sometimes created because of a need or by accident and believe it or not, the vacuum cleaner is a very good example.

Murray Spangler was a janitor cleaning the office using a dustpan and broom. Since the person was asthmatic, a little ingenuity was needed to prevent an attack from happening. This involved using a fan and broom handle that sucked up dirt as the individual cleaned.

When Mr. And Mrs. Hoover saw this, the couple decided to get a patent and the rest is history. The company has been making vacuum cleaners for close to a hundred years now and is still working hard to keep the business growing.

One of the upright models that Hoover is selling is the Bagged Tempo Widepath. This is designed to capture dust mites, dirt and common grass pollens with its powerful 12-ampere motor offering excellent cleaning performance.

The person may get one of these in the favorite store for $60 to $80 a unit, which is light and very easy to use. This can be stored in the closet and brought out again whenever the person chooses to do so.

The newest vacuum cleaner in the Hoover product line is known as the Windtunnel. It comes with a self-cleaning filter and a headlight so that the user can reach underneath the couch or cabinet.

The nice thing about this model is that the person doesn't need to buy replacement filter bags anymore. Once the unit is full, the contents that are in a cup are transferred into the trashcan and used again to capture more dirt.

Most vacuums can only reach a certain distance so the user has to pull it a little closer. With the Windtunnel, the person doesn't have to do this because it also comes with an 8-inch hose.

This comes with other accessories allowing it to clean almost any surface and has a one-year warranty on parts and services.

Hoover is available in almost any appliance store. The person can check out the Internet to know more about the other models it has especially if the entire product line is not being offered in a retail outlet.

If people want value for money, getting a vacuum cleaner from Hoover is the way to go. With the years of experience and number of patents under its belt, no one can go wrong in using this household appliance over other brands in the market.

Self Forgiveness is Essential for Healing

In the waiting room in my clinic, there is a poster that says "Self Forgiveness is Essential for Healing". A patient once asked me what it means and why I put it up there.

There are two main reasons why I put the poster up.

Firstly, I want my patients to realise that some physical illnesses are just manifestations of unresolved emotions and conflicts. Most times, these unresolved emotions have to do with anger and self blame. Both emotions are actually two sides of the same coin. The difference is that with anger, we direct the negative emotion outward at an external object or person while we direct it inwardly at ourselves in self blame. Both emotions are harmful to ourselves and may actually lead to physical illnesses. Some researchers believe that there is a strong link between such negative emotions with cancer.

In my own practice, I see some patients whose physical symptoms are actually caused by such negative emotions. One particularly noteworthy case was of a lady in her mid-thirties who suddenly developed asthma after a recent miscarriage. We initially treated her with anti-asthmatic medications with very little improvement. After about a month on medications, she came one afternoon looking rather sad. When I enquired further, she burst out crying. She disclosed that she had been feeling guilty about her miscarriage and blamed herself for the lost. To make matter worse, she could not discuss her feelings with her husband because he refused to talk about the matter.

I spend about an hour listening to her sorrows, allowing her to grieve for her lost. As she described her pain, she cried but I could see that it was good for her to discharge her pent up emotions.

After this visit, I did not see her for some time. Several months

later, she came by to see me again. This time it was to thank me for the last consultation. Apparently, ever since that consultation, her asthmatic symptoms disappeared and never came back.

This demonstrates the negative effects of self blame and guilt, and the power of self forgiving.

There is another reason why I put that poster up, and it is to remind myself sometimes to be kind to myself. As a doctor and a human being, I am sometimes faced with difficult decisions and choices. Sometimes, the decisions I made may turn out to be detrimental to my patients, resulting in unpleasant consequences. Fortunately, such incidents are rare and far in between, but they are a reality of life as a doctor. No doctor with a conscience can continue to provide quality healthcare to his patients if he allows such guilt to haunt him indefinitely. Self blame in such a case is not only harmful to the doctor himself but to the patients he has to treat everyday.

Thus, as a doctor, one has to learn to accept responsibility for his choices, both good and bad. If the decisions happened to be bad, he has to allow himself to grieve and move on as quickly as he can. He does not have the luxury of prolonged griefs.

A healthy way to handle such situations is to consciously accept

responsibility for his choices, even if he does not openly admit it to others, learn from it so as not to repeat the same mistake, and then to focus on the immediate task at hand. This can only be achieved with a lot of self forgiving.

As the saying goes, "To err is human, to forgive divine." While

forgiving is indeed divine, self forgiving can be the most difficult thing to do. It is often much easier to blame someone else instead of accepting responsibility for one's choices. It takes a person of courage and integrity to own his actions.

Child Allergies - Causes and Symptoms

Children of all ages are very prone to allergic reactions from a number of sources. Hay fever, in particular, seems to be suffered by children all over the world. This makes perfect sense if you think about it. Kids don't have the same respect for just how dirty our environment can be. They'll gladly stick their nose in a flower or go for a roll in the hay without even considering the consequences. Pets, as well, seem to love children and this can be bad. If your child suffers from pet allergies, he'll probably want to play with your cat or dog even more!

So what are some common symptoms of allergies in children? Well, if you see any of the following traits, there is a good chance your child is suffering from an allergic reaction. The most common symptom to look for is sneezing. If your kid constantly sneezes or complains about having itchy eyes, chances are you should look into getting him or her some medication. In more serious cases, a child can even experience asthmatic type symptoms. He could be short of breath or even wheezy. Reactions to allergens found on pets can produce some different symptoms in your child. The most common one of these is probably the nettle rash. Look for this especially if your kid has been scratched. Cats seem to be worse than dogs for this...

A lot of children suffer from different allergies so it's not something that you should be too worried about. That said, we all want our kids to lead a healthier, more enjoyable life so it's worth learning more about child allergies.

Allergic Reactions to Wool Carpets and Rugs?

The natural performance of a wool fiber and it's durable qualities have protected man for over 25,000 years. Wool is actually a hypoallergenic fiber. Those who say they are allergic are most often referring to the prickle and tickle effect of an old wool sweater. Sitting or laying on wool carpets and rugs rarely, if ever, can cause the same effect. No one has ever been treated or diagnosed for anaflactic shock when coming into contact with wool.

Allergies are widespread in the developed world and that problem is increasing for two main reasons:

A great number of synthetic substances and petroleum based products are being used in the home.

The improved diagnosis of allergic conditions are now available to those suffering from allergies.

There is no reason why asthmatic or allergy sensitive people should not enjoy the comfort and good looks of carpets and/or rugs. Wool is non-allergenic and does not promote the growth of dust mites or bacteria. Wool carpet fibers are too long and too coarse to be inhaled and therefore do not affect asthma sufferers. In fact hard surface floors allow airborne particles to be disturbed and whirl into the air causing more irritation for hay fever and asthma sufferers.

Recent data from Swedens Central Statistics Bureau, Army, and Flooring Association shows that over the past 20 years while the installation of carpet went down with the increase of hard surface installations, the number of allergic people increased dramatically over the same period.

Wool fibers actually purify indoor air by absorbing air pollutants and gases. Wool fibers absorb common contaminants in indoor air like formaldehyde, nitrogen dioxide and sulphur dioxide, while not releasing VOC's (Volatile Organic Compounds). This is one of the reasons why the LEEDS (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) environmental program accepted wool carpets as the only soft surface floor covering in the initial testing of accepted floor covering products. The approved products are rubber, bamboo, linoleum, cork, and, of course, wool. All of these products are also rapidly renewable, biodegradable, and carbon neutral.

Not only does wool keep the air free of many harmful pollutants, it will not release them, even when heated. It has been estimated that wool carpets can continually purify indoor air for up to 30 years. What a natural and beautiful way to help the earth and improve the comfort in your own home.

If you hear someone say "I'm allergic to wool", just keep in mind that another man made myth is now explained and hopefully put to rest.