Health

Tips on how to live a healthy lifestyle in a toxic environment.

Natural Sunburn Remedies

Some of the best sunburn remedies are natural remedies. As a person who would rather find natural solutions to most every problem at home, I was glad to run into a website that had information on natural sunburn remedies and summarized them below.

Here are ten natural remedies that can be found in your pantry or refrigerator and are sure to bring relief to those suffering from sunburn. Breaking off the leaf of an aloe vera plant and rubbing it on your sunburn can also bring relief.

Sunburn Remedies to Try at Home

Lettuce:

Boil a head of lettuce, throw away the leaves and place the left over water in the refrigerator. After it cools, apply to sunburn with cotton balls. Reapply every couple of hours.

Corn starch:

Lightly dust sunburned area and cover. Leave on until you shower or at least 24-48 hours.

Aloe Vera:

Break off a piece of an aloe vera plant and squeeze juice to surface and rub on the sunburn.

Oatmeal:

For best results, use an Aveeno oatmeal pouch in luke warm bath water and soak for 15-20 minutes. Oatmeal can be added directly to bath water although the Aveeno oatmeal pouches if you have them are best.

Green tea:

Make a cup of green tea, cool it an place it in a spray bottle to be sprayed on sunburned skin.

Dairy products:

Milk baths and yogurt masks are not as good for your burn as a bath of goat yogurt or goat milk, as they tend to be “less apt to have high hormone levels.” If you don’t have any of these dairy items, sour cream is another alternative.

Fresh pickles:

Use fresh pickles to sooth sunburn. Slice thin and lay directly on skin for about 15 minutes.

Eggs:

Eggs can help with inflammation. This is going to sound odd, but crack an egg and throw away the yolk and egg white, pull out the skin membrane from the shell and apply the sticky side to sunburn. Allow the egg skin to dry on your burn and do not get it wet for two days.

Potatoes:

You’ll have to tell me if this one works. It sounds difficult to do, but was part of this list, so I’m going to pass it along. It is said that sunburned skin can be soothed by taking a raw potato and mashing it with the potato skin still on. Experts say it helps heal burns, reduces inflammation and prevents infection.

Strawberries:

It’s no surprise to me that strawberries are in this list, since it is used in many cool summer recipes. Applying them to sunburn can cool the skin as well because they have anti-inflammatory properties.

Mold Illness in Children, What to Know

Did you know that mold growing in your home may be more likely causing an allergic reaction rather than a toxic one? Could your children be having symptoms or possibly an allergic reaction? What can you do if your children have been or are being exposed to mold?

Many articles online focus more on the toxicity of the mold, rather than the daily allergic reaction you may be experiencing from the mold. Yes, mold can be toxic, but you are more likely to have a toxic reaction from ingesting food containing mold than inhaling it. The more probable reaction you have will be an allergic reaction from inhaling the mold.

Mold contains spores that are easily released into the air and inhaled, thereby causing an allergic reaction. You can find mold in dark, musty places such as closets, attics and basements. It is also found in bathrooms, kitchens, in areas filled with clutter, leaves and grass piles. There are 80 different types of molds that can cause respiratory symptoms or distress. Asthma is a common reaction to inhaling molds, as well as sneezing, itchy eyes and possible sinus infections.

If you think the mold in your home is toxic, bring in a professional to make that determination. There are also test kits you can order online that will tell you if your mold is toxic. Most likely, your mold is just “plain old regular mold,” and can be causing you and your family allergic symptoms that are preventable. Clean your showers with a combination of bleach and water. Open your shower curtain or door and allow daylight to shine in from the window if at all possible. Remove clutter from your home – especially in closets and tight spaces. If you find mold or mildew, wash it with a mild solution of bleach and water. Allow to air dry, and then spray some Lysol on it for good measure. Keep all areas well ventilated, clear and dry.

What is Eczema

Do you have dry, itchy or scaly skin? Then you may be suffering from eczema, pronounced EK-zeh-ma. Eczema is a group of skin conditions that can cause your skin to be itchy, red, dry, scaly or inflamed. If you have exogenous eczema, you have most likely come in contact with a chemical or substance that has inflamed your skin. If you have atopic eczema (endogenous eczema), then it may be inherited or caused by an environmental or food allergy.

Atopic eczema is the most common form of eczema. It can be caused by food allergies or allergies to pet dander, rough fabrics, dust, pollen or mold. Some people who have eczema may have asthma or hay fever as well. Some inexpensive costume jewelry will cause irritation in sensitive areas such as on the earlobes, neck or wrists.

Contact eczema, or exogenous eczema, is caused by something that has touched your skin and irritated it. Some sufferers receive it from chemicals they are exposed to on the job, such as beauticians or lab workers. If you are one of these, be sure to wear gloves to protect your hands from exposure to these chemicals. If you normally don’t suffer from eczema and experience a breakout, immediately stop any new soaps, shampoos or other products you have come in contact with. You may also be reacting to a new blanket, couch or carpet.

There are many triggers for atopic eczema. If you have food allergies or environmental allergies, avoid these completely. Be sure to see your doctor, who will be able to help you manage your allergies. Stress can also trigger eczema, so do everything you can to remain calm, including allowing yourself daily breaks from your normal routine. Exercise will also help you to remain relaxed, healthy and stress-free.

Hospitalization is sometimes necessary for the most severe cases of eczema. During the hospital stay, the affected skin will be wrapped in bandages that have been soaked with a diluted potassium permanganate solution.

If you suffer from eczema, be sure to avoid exposure to water for long periods of time. Water will dry out your skin and make your eczema worse. Cotton clothes are a better choice than rougher fabrics, which will irritate your skin. Be sure to moisturize your skin with hypoallergenic lotion or petroleum jelly. If you are itching, do everything you can not to scratch, which will make matters worse. Finally, try to keep your body at a normal temperature, avoiding sudden changes in temperature. And always use any medications your doctor has prescribed.

Facts About Chickenpox

Chickenpox is an infection caused by the varicella virus. Chickenpox is still a common infection with most cases occurring in children up to age 10. While Chickenpox may be a mild illness in most children, some children and adults can have serious complications.

Chickenpox is very contagious and a person can catch it by coming into contact with someone who has it or by breathing the air when an infected person coughs or speaks. A person infected with the Chickenpox virus is contagious from the day before the rash begins until all the blisters have scabbed over and dried up. You should always keep a child with Chickenpox home from school or daycare and away from persons who have not had Chickenpox. You should also avoid contact with pregnant women as it can harm the fetus.

Chickenpox infection usually starts as a rash on the chest and rapidly spreads to the rest of the body. The rash tends to begin on covered areas of the body and appears to be little red bumps. The little red bumps then turn into fluid filled blisters. The blisters will crust over and fall off in about one to two weeks.

Since some children get as many as 300-500 blisters per infection, the child may have blisters, bumps and scabs at the same time. Since the rash usually itches badly, cool soda baths may help. To make a soda bath, add a half a cup of baking soda into a tub of tepid water. Some claim oatmeal baths do the same and offer similar relief. Scarring can occur if scabs are scratched off and children should be encouraged not to pick at them.

Your doctor might be able to recommend other medications if itching becomes severe. It is also important to keep your child’s fingernails short and hands clean to avoid the rash from becoming infected. Your child may also have a slight fever.

You want to give your child plenty of water to drink to avoid dehydration. The average duration of the illness is about 7 days and may produce a headache in your child. If your child develops a bad cough, stiff neck, high fever or any of the blisters become infected, you should call your health care provider immediately.

Most people gain immunity from chickenpox after contracting once. Usually in 90% cases it gives lifelong immunity. The rest of the 10% get the chickenpox more than once due to a weak immune system.

The virus may remain inactive in nerve cells lifelong causing Shingles. Shingles, a skin rash with painful symptoms, may occur several decades later due to reactivation of the chickenpox virus from a latent state within a person’s body.

Does Your Child Have Food Allergies?

Food can affect both children and adults alike in a surprising variety of ways. Food allergy symptoms can include rashes to dark circles under the eyes to stomach pain or nausea – even hyperactivity. The problems you are experiencing may be your body telling you that you are suffering from a food allergy or intolerance.

Recognizing a food allergy can significantly change your health and life for the better. Detection and avoidance of these specific foods will leave you feeling healthy and ready to take on the world.

If you suspect your body is reacting to milk, peanuts or any other food, make an appointment with your primary care physician to discuss the possibility. After all, food allergies can be serious, if not life threatening to some.

Four out of every 100 Children Suffer From Allergies

The National Center for Health Statistics has release new statistics on children with food allergies. About 3 million children under the age of 18 were reported to have either a food or digestive allergy in 2007. Unfortunately, from 1997 to 2007, food allergies have increased by 18% among children.

Also, these children with food allergies are 2 to 4 times more likely to develop related problems such as eczema, asthma or other food allergies, as opposed to children with no food allergies. Bottom line? Four out of every one hundred children suffer from a food allergy. Among these, 0-5 year olds have the highest food allergy rate, evenly dispersed between boys and girls.

Genetically Modified Foods

Even if you don’t have allergies, it is important to know exactly what is going in to your body. But do we really know what we are eating? Find out more about how your food is genetically modified, and how to avoid genetically altered food

Over 90% of food allergies are caused by the following:

Dairy
Soy
Shellfish
Wheat
Tree Nuts
Peanuts
Eggs

How to Avoid Migraine Triggers

As I sit here looking at my computer screen, I realize that I am not seeing the letters clearly, I think maybe I need new glasses. It’s been a couple years, yes it is time. Then I remember that this has occurred before and the computer screen is one of my migraine triggers. I should probably get off the computer.

As an at-home web developer, I am on my computer all day so when things are difficult to read, I know I need to take a break to avoid getting a migraine that can take me off-line for days. The lighting on my screen is a trigger for me. My work load is high right now, so that would not be a good thing. It’s better to take the rest of the day off and restart tomorrow well rested without having to deal with a headache that makes you put your head under a blanket because light and sound are almost impossible to bear.

For triggers that can set off a migraine, see below. Some I didn’t know but at this moment a few of these are apparent, lacking sleep, overly tired and so busy with work that I have forgotten to eat and probably haven’t had enough water. This is a terrible pattern I know but when a client has malware on their website and Google blacklists it, you may need to stay up all night to fix it. Not that I did that, no not at all!

I didn’t realize that exercise could trigger a migraine, good reason to not go to the gym, ever, lol. The last one looked like “Certain Smiles” so I think it’s time to turn off the computer and hope to avoid this headache. Bye for now. Things may be clearer tomorrow.

Common Migraine Triggers

Stress
Menstrual periods
Changes in your normal sleep pattern
Extreme fatigue
Certain foods and drinks
Too much caffeine or withdrawal from it
Skipping meals or fasting
Dehydration
Changes in the weather
Exercise
Smoking
Bright, flickering lights
Certain smells

How to Avoid Migraine Triggers

Eat regular meals and don’t skip any.
Reduce caffeine. Doing so too fast can cause a migraine in some people so slowly decrease it.
Get enough sleep and set up a good sleeping pattern.
Decrease your stress levels and spend more time with people you care about. Meditate or pray more and exercise, unless it is one of your triggers.
Drink more water!
Give up smoking. Again do so slowly.

Identifying your triggers is the first step. Writing down the foods you ate and what you were doing when your migraine began can be an important factor in avoiding them. Asking yourself questions like, have I gotten enough sleep, have I been stressed and so on. WebMD has some good suggestions to help treat migraines and is a good read.