Asthma and You

There are different ways to cope with asthma especially if you have bouts of it. By this time you’ve already been diagnosed with having it and see your doctor regularly, taking any medications that may be prescribed and having a personal plan writing down what aggravates your situation. Once you do that make sure you stay away from those triggers.

Signs of an Asthma Attack

·         Coughing

·         Wheezing

·         Shortness of breath

What You Can Do

·     Make sure you use allergen-proof covers on your mattresses and pillows. If you have dust mites,   wash your sheets weekly in water above 130F and make sure the humidity inside your house is below 50% using a dehumidifier.

·    All of us love our pets, however they’re NOT allowed in your bedroom; that means no sleeping on the bed. Sorry Boo and Morris time you started sleeping elsewhere. Do you rather have your 4 legged friends sleeping with you or an asthma attack?

·    Get rid of your carpets or vacuum twice a week with a cleaner that’s equipped with an HEPA air filter. I know many people love their carpeting but they have to make sure to vacuum. I’ve noticed more people getting rid of them and putting wooden floors instead.

·    Fix all of your leaks and get rid of water that’s on the bottom of your planters, which adds to mold and makes things worse. Don’t forget to look inside your bathtub where the caulk is and under the standing mat; mold just loves to live there. I usually use Clorox and let it sit on the mold until I get rid of it then I rinse with cold water.

·    If the weather is extremely hot or humid you’re better off staying inside especially during ozone alerts. If you have to go out make sure you have your air conditioner on or go to a place that has one. This is especially important for those who live in states where it’s hot and humid all year round.

·    A person isn’t going to stop exercising but you’re better off doing it indoors and this goes for hot and cold weather. For those of us who have been to the gym have you ever noticed how cold it is and the fans are always going even though the air conditioner is on? There’s a reason for that. Everyone’s perspiring at the same time; just smell those lockers at the end of your workout.

·    Pay attention to the mold and pollen count, if it’s too high stay inside.

·    Make sure you let your child’s teacher know if he or she suffers from asthma and during those days where it’s hot and children love to go out for recess, tell the teacher you rather you child stay inside. Please supply the school nurse with Albuterol or any other medication your child may have to take.

·    Another thing that helps the environment is an air purifier so it wouldn’t hurt to invest in one. You’re not only doing it for the child or person that suffers from asthma, but for the entire family.

Asthma is a serious condition and if not treated can be extremely dangerous. Anyone who suffers from it needs to take the necessary precautions to ensure their health and those they love.

http://www.airnow.gov/

Brushing Your Teeth and Your Heart

All of us have heard that people should brush their teeth to avoid having bad breath such as halitosis but what really goes beyond this? For starters it’s amazing to learn that many people have admitted not brushing their teeth frequently and it’s even startling to see shows such as The Bachelor/Bachelorette kiss one person after another without thinking anything about it. This last season we saw 2 individuals that said they were dentists and I couldn’t believe they could be so careless with their behavior. When it comes to health I don’t care if it’s in the name of love. People have to start being more responsible.

Studies show that a person should brush their teeth twice a day to prevent cardiovascular disease. It also shows that people who brush less frequently are prone to being at a higher risk. What’s exactly behind brushing? When you have poor oral hygiene it can lead to gum disease /gingivitis, which can cause inflammation which contributes to heart disease. Researchers have found fibrinogen and C-reactive protein in the blood of people who didn’t brush frequently.

Dentists recommend you change your toothbrush every 3 months and that’s something I do. I hope all of us have gotten into that habit. When you go to the store to get a new toothbrush have you noticed there are toothbrushes with indicators that show you when it’s time to get a new one?

Many people say that’s just because they want to make money and it’s really not, the bristles in the brush start wearing down and they don’t clean as well as they did in the beginning so if you get a haircut every month  it doesn’t hurt to change your toothbrush every 3 months.

Something else a person should be aware of is brushing your tongue. Have you ever noticed people who open their mouth and their tongue is white? That’s disgusting. When you brush your teeth you should brush your tongue as well and scrape any food that may be on it. We don’t want to scrape too hard but you need to scrape it clean.

I want to bring in another factor of good oral hygiene and that’s flossing. There are a lot of people that don’t floss and they’re bold enough to say it, but they don’t realize why it’s important to floss. I guess if they think they brush their teeth twice a day that’s enough but when you floss you’re actually getting rid of any food that may be stuck between your teeth. If you don’t floss you have yesterday’s meal and today’s in between and you’ve eaten that as well; it affects your heart because what you eat has to do with your heart. You thought today’s meal was deliciously, yesterday’s is also a part of today’s; something to seriously think about.

After you’re through brushing and flossing, finish off with Listerine Antiseptic rinse or a good mouth wash and you’re all set. That’s a must as part of your oral hygiene.

We have to be aware that not only brushing twice a day, flossing and rinsing helps to prevent cardiovascular disease but the diet we have as well as your habits; we certainly don’t want to kiss every person we meet like the  Bachelor without even knowing who they are and their lifestyle. You’ll be defeating the purpose. In keeping your teeth healthy remember your heart.

Studying Abroad

School has already started for a lot of children and many parents are anxious that their son or daughter is at an out-of-state university. For those who decided to study abroad, the following suggestions will definitely come in handy.

It may be a scary feeling to be by yourself in another state but be prepared to adapt and learn as much as possible to your circumstances; always keeping a positive outlook on things.  If you’ve decided to go to school in another country than it would be wise if you learned the culture, after all you may find it interesting to share some of your own and that way both can learn from each other.

It’s normal to be homesick especially if this is the first time you go off on your own and it’s okay to talk to the other person about how you’re feeling, don’t be embarrassed all of us go through that. However, try your best to get into your routine and environment. Keeping in touch with your family is a must but too many calls can hinder your adjustment to your new place.

If you’re living with a host family respect their rules and abide by them, do your chores so that they will see that who they have living under their roof is an exemplary person and one they can trust. If for some reason a misunderstanding occurs be sure to talk things out in a calm and reasonable manner.

Safety Tips

·    Keep your passport and money in a safe place

·    Make photocopies of your passport, entry ticket, return ticket and other important papers; send copies to your parents as well

·    Always have with you telephone numbers of parents or friends at home and of your host family

·    Maintain a good conduct with members of the opposite sex at the host family home, school, work or other places; it will definitely reflect well on you

·    Learn basic words and phrases in that language

·    Get a medical checkup before leaving and if you take medication have an adequate supply

Going to school and learning a different culture is all part of growing up especially when you’re not in familiar surroundings, but if you make the best of it, you will have fond memories to hold on to and guide you along the way.

That’s Entertainment

The other day I was watching TV enjoying the voice of Jackie Evancho from Pittsburgh. If you haven’t heard about her you will; that child whose only 10 years old was on “America’s Got Talent.” I knew when I first heard her she was going to be a hit and she took off.

The story behind her is quite unique; when her parents took her to see “The Phantom of the Opera” that changed everything. There was something about the songs that made her sing them over and over throughout the house. I’ve seen the performance live and can tell you the songs are breathtaking, so to have Jackie who as it is has a beautiful voice sing; it must’ve been quite special. When her parents noticed her voice she started to enter different competitions; she came in second place to a 20 year old opera singer.  Grammy winning producer David Foster took one look at her when she won a regional competition and liked what he saw. Afterwards she sang as he played the piano.

Despite having auditioned twice for “America’s Got Talent” and having been rejected, her parents submitted a YouTube audition; she won the most fan votes; that’s what got her on. They couldn’t pass her by after what they had seen. That just goes to show perseverance pays off.

What I enjoy most about Jackie is her poise; though she knows she has a beautiful voice, she’s not conceited and is extremely modest. This child has embraced classical music which is rare when it comes to children, you would think they go for pop, but that’s not the case with her and the reason is because it really allows her to show her emotions.  Her rendition of Puccini’s “O Mio Babbino Caro” is something to listen to and take in.

Her parents are doing an exceptional job in raising Jackie and they don’t forget that despite her talent, she’s still a child and does things any other child would do with her friends.

http://www.jackieevancho.com/us/home

A Disorder That Has a Name

All of us suffer from it. At one time or another we’ve had to give a speech or speak in front of an audience and our hand freezes, we get tongue tied and start sweating, our heart beats fast, hands tremble and we almost feel like we’re going to throw up or have a heart attack.  It’s more than just being shy. What’s going on?

Social Anxiety

You’re having an anxiety attack and aren’t alone. The truth is it’s the third most common psychiatric disorder; 1 out of 8 Americans suffer from social anxiety disorder. However, there’s good news, this condition is treatable so if you had lost hope, sit back and continue reading. It may not happen overnight but with the right kind of treatment, you can get better. You’ll be confident to know that you can control your anxiety and live the way you want.

Signs and Symptoms

o   Fear of a situation where you have to meet others and be scrutinized by them

o   Intense anxiety of being in the presence of others

o   Physical symptoms such as blushing, sweating, shaking, trembling, tense muscles, shaky voice, stuttering, dry mouth or a fast heart beat

o   Panic attacks

o   Repeated attacks of intense fear

o   Feeling something terrible is going to happen

o   Free of public speaking, giving a speech, going on a date or talking to your boss

o   Standing up for yourself

What Causes Social Anxiety?

It can start as early as childhood and sometimes runs in families, especially when you have close relatives like parents and children. Maybe you experienced something traumatic that scarred you and though it’s not something welcoming, it’s not biased when it comes to men and women; they can both suffer from it.

 Social anxiety disorder is also related to an imbalance of a chemical called serotonin that transports signals between nerve cells in your brain. It’s interesting to know that this same chemical has been linked to other mood and anxiety disorders.

Treatment

Cognitive behavioral therapy, which is talk therapy that teaches people to react differently to situations that trigger their symptoms

Social skills training where you rehearse problematic situations (role playing) where the person learns how to make eye contact, talk louder and slower, greet people, say good-bye, respond to requests, ask for favors and handle criticism. They’re shown to be assertive, not aggressive or passive. In other words not be a push over or someone they can walk over; by knowing what to do the person will have less anxiety.  Keeping a diary of your progress is extremely important. It doesn’t matter if you fall short, keep going.

Something to keep in mind is that people who have this anxiety tend to use alcohol or drugs to self-medicate and cope with their problem. This is NEVER a good thing to do. What may help short-term can become a long-term problem.

Recovery

o   Never let others discourage or make you feel ashamed

o   Learn as much as you can about social anxiety disorder

o   Seek others support; join a group with those who have the same problem

o   Be active in how you’re doing, talk to your doctor

o   Have a goal, no matter how small it may be, whether it’s to speak in front of a group or raise your hand

Always remember, no matter how long it takes, you’ll succeed.

You Are What You Eat

The other day I went to the store and was waiting in the deli line and there was a heavy set man that was ordering all kinds of things, not to mention things that weren’t healthy for him. When I looked inside his cart it was full of things he really shouldn’t be buying because it conflicted with a good diet.

I ordered low sodium turkey and went on my way but I thought about him later that day. People don’t realize the processed food they take into their body or the junk food they eat. All of these fast food places are exactly that, fast. After a while you’re hungry because the nutrient it gives you isn’t doing anything for you; they’re loaded with sodium and fat; studies show that they’re also addictive making the person want to eat that again and again; more than once a week if they usually hit fast food. Another thing that’s extremely bad is sodas. All of that sugar going into your system is doing a number on you and will have consequences sooner or later.

Stop and Think

• When you go out to eat, do you really know the type of oil they use to make the food?
• Are restaurants using leftover food and reheating, or are they making it fresh when you order?
• How clean are the utensils?
• Does every employee really wash their hands?
• Do they use gloves to handle your food or their hands?
• Have you seen the program “Hell’s Kitchen” and think of the restaurants you go?
• How about preparing your own lunch the night before and taking it to work?
• Prepare your own coffee and put some ice in it, isn’t that what you pay at McDonald’s?
• How much would you save if you cooked your food and knew what goes in it?
• Would you be surprised if you wrote down everything you spent at a restaurant or fast food place in the last month?

Whenever I’ve seen “The Biggest Loser” I know they didn’t get like that overnight. A lot has to dowith what they eat and how much. The same goes with everyone that’s heavy. Unless you have some kind of a health problem such as an overactive thyroid, you’re eating a lot of things you shouldn’t; if you really want to lose weight and live a healthy lifestyle; today’s the day to start.