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If you have obstructive sleep apnea, there’s a good chance you may have been recommended to try a CPAP machine. This is a mask that attaches to a pump at the bedside that blows gentle, positive air pressure through your nose to keep you from breathing stoppages at night. In general, people have a love and hate relationship with their machines. Some people love them, and some absolutely despise them.

What I’ve noticed over the years is that there are 5 common habits and characteristics the successful CPAP users all share.

1. Their top priority is their health. They are open-minded and willing to try strange looking devices and gadgets. What others may think is irrelevant.

2. They are willing to invest in upgrades and devices that regular insurance doesn’t cover for. Most insurances only cover for the basics, and although most people do fine, some need more sophisticated machines or various other masks.

3. They make sure that they are breathing through their nose well all the time. Either they control nasal congestion with allergy medications or use nasal saline routinely. Some even have to undergo surgery to breathe better.

4. They join live or virtual support groups, sharing, learning, and educating within the collective wisdom of these groups.

5. They constantly monitor the data from their machines to work with the sleep doctor and equipment company, making constant adjustments and fine tuning various settings.

6. They surround themselves with a team of doctors and trusted advisors, collaborating with and troubleshooting any issues that may arise.

7. They don’t rely only on their machines for sleep apnea relief. They incorporate other healthy habits such eating early, eating healthy foods, exercising regularly, and finding ways to de-stress and relax on a regular basis.

As you can see, successful CPAP users don’t rely on their machines alone to solve all their problems. They use it as a tool that helps them accomplish their other health goals more effectively. Some people adjust to immediately, whereas others can literally take months to find significant benefits.

Dr. Steven Y. Park

What type of over-the-counter acid reflux drugs can really cure acid reflux or heartburn? Over-the-counter drugs or OTC don’t usually require a doctor’s prescription and can be bought immediately from any drugstores.  Over-the-counter products such as antacids, H2 blockers, bismuth subsalicylate and proton pump inhibitors claim through advertisements that they can provide relief for acid reflux and its symptoms.

But can they really cure the acid reflux or heartburn, or will they bring fatal side effects? Actually, it’s not the matter of the drug being effective. It’s a matter of taking the right kind of medication for the right symptom or disorder. To do this, consulting a doctor is encouraged while self-medication is discouraged. However, it wouldn’t hurt at all if you at least have an idea about each acid reflux drug.

To distinguish one from the other in curing acid reflux or heartburn, herewith are the soothing effects of OTC acid reflux drugs;

1. Antacids provide a fast but short-term relief in reducing the acid in the stomach.

2. H2 inhibitors work to reduce the amount of acid in the stomach. The effect may not be immediately felt but the symptoms can be relieved for a period of time longer than antacids.

3. Bismuth subsalicylate balances the fluid movement through the bowels. They tend to incorporate with bacteria and kill its germs. This medicine is also used to treat nausea and diarrhea.

4. Proton pump inhibitors will stop the production of acid in the stomach. The effect of the drug will be felt within a period of 1 to 4 days.

As always, your doctor knows best. Never take these over-the-counter drugs without proper advice from your doctor as side effects might surface during self medication.

<b>Acid Reflux Drugs – Precautionary Measures</b>

1. Antacids contain a drug called phenylalanine. If a person is suffering from a disease causing mental retardation and seizures, phenylalanine should not be taken in as this will only aggravate the problem.

2. H2 inhibitors and Proton Pump Inhibitors (PPI) should not be used by people taking medicines for asthma, seizures, yeast problems, anxiety and heart problems as this will bar the effectiveness of the other drugs.

3. Proton Pump Inhibitors should be used by persons only if they suffer from heartburn often, at least 2 days in a week.

4. Bismuth subsalicylate should be avoided if you are taking drugs for blood-thinning, gout, arthritis and diabetes as this will lessen the effectiveness of the other drugs.

5. Individuals with allergy to aspirin should not take bismuth subsalicylate or any product that has salicylates.

6. Do not administer bismuth subsalicylate to children who may have the flu or chickenpox since it will only worsen their condition.

7. People who are on a strict low-salt diet should not take drugs with sodium bicarbonate or aluminum hydroxide and magnesium carbonate.

8. If you are on a magnesium restricted diet, don’t take drugs with magnesium hydroxide.

9. Unless the doctor allows it, people with kidney problems should not take drugs with calcium carbonate or aluminum hydroxide and magnesium carbonate.

10. Acid reducers and antacids should not be taken simultaneously without asking advice from your doctor.

11. Ingesting antacid should be stopped if the stomach pain doesn’t get better after 14 days.

12. Make sure you understand all your doctor’s instructions regarding the frequency and dosages of the prescribed acid reflux drugs. 

As an over-all assessment regarding the improper use of acid reflux drugs, acid reflux can lead to esophageal cancer known as Barrett’s Esophagus. Accordingly, the esophagus cannot withstand acid in the stomach that will be produced by the Barrett’s Esophagus disease. This is the classic example of the side effect being more fatal than the disease.

Alvin Hopkinson is a leading health researcher in the area of natural remedies and acid reflux treatment. Discover how you can get rid of your heartburn for good using proven and effective acid reflux natural remedies, all without using harmful medications or drugs. Visit his site now at http://www.refluxremoval.com

Alvin Hopkinson
http://www.articlesbase.com/diseases-and-conditions-articles/acid-reflux-drugs-the-dos-and-donts-699853.html

Nasal polyps are soft, jelly-like overgrowths occurring in the lining of sinuses. They appear as grayish grape-like mass in the nasal cavity. Polyps in the nose and sinuses are rarely malignant. But large polyps can cause nasal blockage, making it hard to breathe. Even so, most nasal polyp problems can be helped.

Nasal polyps occur in around 1 in 200 people. Most of the time, the cause is never known. Some may be a result of swelling from a sinus infection. Other factors like asthma or aspirin sensitivity and allergies may also trigger polyps and make them grow faster. Also, the chance of reoccurrence is greater even after sinus operations.

Polyps block the nose, and in most cases there is a decrease in the sense of smell. Since much of our sense of taste is related to our sense of smell, patients with polyp may describe a loss of both taste and smell.

Nasal obstruction can also occur – the pathways where the sinuses drain into the nose can be blocked by polyp. This would cause the mucous to remain in the sinuses, causing congestion. It can also cause pressure over the forehead and face. When mucous is in the sinuses too long, there is a high risk of infection.

Although most people with nasal polyps have no symptoms and require no treatment, those who do experience symptoms have different treatment options.

If the polyps are a result of a sinus infection, they often will be treated as how sinusitis symptoms are treated. Aggressive medical treatment of sinus infection is helpful to treat polyp growths. Nose sprays are the most effective because they allow easy topical application of medication to the infected areas.

Other treatment options include:

• Surgical removal – the polyp is extracted surgically from the affected area. Removing the polyps with surgery usually allows people to breathe easier through the nose. The surgery lasts approximately 45 minutes to 1 hour. The surgery can be done under general or local anaesthesia, and the polyps are removed using endoscopic surgery. Recovery from this type of surgery is anywhere from one to three weeks. However, there is a risk of re-growth in 50% of patients.
• Cortisone or steroids – the polyp will shrink down temporarily and slow down polyp growth. Cortisone cannot be taken long term because of high risk of side effects.
• Sinus Rinse or Nasal Lavage – Sinus rinses with warm water mixed with a small amount of salt can be very helpful to clear sinuses. This method can also be used as a preventive measure to discourage the polyps from growing back and should be used in combination with a nasal steroid.
• Allergy desensitization injections- sometimes used in allergic patients with hay fever and polyps. While this often helps with hay fever and therefore reduces the fever’s negative effects on the polyps, there is no guarantee that the injections help shrink the polyps directly.
• Although there is no real way to prevent or eliminate nasal polyps completely, therapy aimed at the cause can help.

Carla San Gaspar
http://www.articlesbase.com/medicine-articles/treatment-options-for-nasal-polyps-736684.html

According to the 2006 National Health Survey from the National Center for Health Statistics, it is estimated that about 17.6 million adult Americans suffer from hay fever, with 6.8 children also suffering. Even more, physicians state that more than 11 million office visits are by patients seeking relief from hay fever, which is also known as allergic rhinitis. Symptoms of hay fever include itchy eyes, runny nose, congestion, and an endless amount of sneezing. All of these symptoms are caused by an overacting immune response to a variety of possible triggers, which include pollen from plants, dust, dust mites, airborne pollutants, mold, and pet dander.

Hay fever is marked by inflammation of mucous membranes in the eyes, throat, ears, sinuses, nose, and lungs. Although the development of inflammation in allergies is complex, one of the most influential factors is immunoglobulin E (IgE), which responds to protein allergens. Although there is a genetic component to susceptibility to allergic response to certain triggers, the focus of allergy relief is on the events that occur as a reaction.

Various natural products offer allergy relief by targeting the factors in allergy pathology. Similar to other areas of immune health, fruits and vegetables are suggested for the vitamins, minerals and antioxidants that they provide. Vitamin C is a major antioxidant in the airway surface liquid of the lungs; therefore, it can severely impact allergies and asthma. Low levels of vitamin C have actually been associated with asthma in both adults and children. Also, low levels of vitamin E have been associated with asthma and other wheezing illnesses. Combining antioxidant ingredients also provides additional relief. Therefore, by combining vitamins C and E with the antioxidant NAC, pollen-induced airway inflammation is inhibited by blocking ragweed oxidases which cause oxidative stress and inflammation in the airways.

On its own, NAC reduces mucous viscosity and protects against lung tissue damage. According to scientists, lycopene may also be beneficial. As far as minerals are concerned, both magnesium and zinc have been proven to help. Quercetin has both antihistamine and anti-inflammatory properties, allowing it to inhibit the release of histamine in nasal mucosa of allergic patients. Glucomannan was shown in a study to suppress allergy symptoms, while CLA reduces allergy symptoms such as sneezing.

One of the best natural remedies for allergies is comprised of botanicals such as licorice root, skullcap, pine bark extract, and butterbur. Licorice root offers anti-inflammatory activities along with aide in fighting IgE allergic reactions, while skullcap can restrict inflammatory cytokine production. Pine bark extract blocks the release of allergy troublemakers in the body even better than a known pharmacological histamine inhibitor.

Similarly, butterbur has abilities in blocking histamine release by IgE-sensitized mast cells and relieving allergy symptoms as effectively as drugs without the drowsy side effects. Although allergies are widespread and disrupt the daily lives of many people, they strike one out of every four Americans, affecting six times more than cancer. The mechanisms of allergic reactions in the body, especially those in the upper respiratory system, are becoming more and more well-known.

Natural products are available that can help to address these mechanisms, along with the mediators that produce the inflammation and symptoms that allergies create. Natural vitamin supplements are available at your local or internet health food store.

Darrell Miller
http://www.articlesbase.com/medicine-articles/when-allergies-attack-fight-back-with-natural-remedies-670414.html

Hives are raised, itchy welts on the surface of the skin caused by hypersensitivity to a substance. When the body encounters a substance that it is allergic or sensitive to, it releases histamines and other chemicals into the bloodstream. As a result, the capillaries and tiny veins leak. The leaking fluid gets trapped in the skin and lining membranes, which causes the localized swelling seen with hives. The welts,which are also called wheals, may remain small, or may spread large enough to join together. With hives,the center of the welt blanches, or turns white, when pressed.

   When hives occur around the face, particularly around the lips and eyes, they are called angioedema. Angioedema may also occur on the hands, feet and throat. Hives can come and go suddenly, often without any apparent cause. It is estimated that up to 70% of hives go undiagnosed as to the cause, because they can appear hours after exposure to the irritant.

Symptoms of Hives:

Swelling, itchy and sometimes painful:
    Your skin swells which is covered by small or sometimes large red colored rings or patches. Wheals or welts appear all over your body which is very itchy. Their shapes vary and keep disappearing and reappearing within minutes or hours. You can see raised pink lesions too all over your body in different sizes.

Difficulty in routine activity:
    You may find difficulty in breathing and swallowing. Your level of anxiety increases which causes rapid and irregular heart beat. You may even suffer from loss of consciousness, dizziness or faintness.

Causes of Hives:
 
Allergy:
    Being allergic to medications, nuts, eggs, berries, insect bites, jelly fish, can release the batch of
hives. If you are exposed to animal dander it may also cause an allergic reaction. Wearing tight clothes and jewelry which does not suit you can also be another reason for hives.

Exposure to extreme weather:
    If you are being exposed to extreme temperatures you may suffer from this condition. Presence in extreme heat and extreme cold can create such problems.

Sweat:
    Hives may start developing once you come in contact with sweat or water.

Home Remedies:

Hives treatment by using calamine lotion:
    By applying this lotion it can grant you relief from the itchy feeling.

Hives treatment by using milk of magnesia:
    By dabbing milk of magnesia on the lesions, provides some relief. As milk of magnesia is an alkaline solution it helps in removing the irritating itchy sensation.

Hives treatment by using herbal tea:
    Calming our nerves is one of the important things to do, as stress makes the matter worse. Drinking peppermint or passionflower tea is very good. You can also try chamomile, valerian and catnip which also soothe your nerves.

Hives treatment by using cornstarch:
    To stop the itching get 1/2 a tub filled with warm water, add 1/2 cup cornstarch and 1/2 cup baking soda.Soaking yourself at least once a day can make a lot of difference.

Hives treatment by using cayenne pepper:
    Consume cayenne pepper capsules to help the healing procedure. You can also have vitamin C, vitamin E or zinc for quick relief.

Diet for Hives:

Avoid allergen triggering food:
    Avoid food like eggs, strawberries, berries, peanuts, nuts, chocolates, cheese, tomatoes, soy products, shellfish and many more. Find out the food that is allergic to you and avoid having it.

Other treatment for Hives:

Use of Acupressure:
    By massaging the trapezius points, you can find some relief. This trapezius muscle is found between the neck and the shoulder. By giving the vital pressure it may help you clear the red and white ringed patches of your body.

Reference: <a href=”http://www.healthonclick.com“> HealthOnclick</a>

devika
http://www.articlesbase.com/health-articles/symptoms-and-treatment-for-hives-721398.html