General Health Articles

In the News: What Am I Suffering From? – Part I

It’s that time of year again and no we aren’t talking about when our furry friend brings us baskets of chocolates and goodies. We are talking about the “perfect storm” of maladies where many play the guessing game of, “What Am I Suffering From?” From new variants of COVID-19 to the common cold, to seasonal allergies and the flu, how are we supposed to figure out how to remedy what ails us, when we don’t even know what it is?

Here are some common symptoms and treatments so we can end the guessing game once and for all.

General COVID-19 symptoms

• Headache
• Sore throat
• Runny nose
• Fever
• Loss of Taste and Smell
• Body aches

Omicron COVID-19 symptoms

• Cough
• Fatigue
• Runny nose and congestion
• Night sweats
• Less likely to have a loss of taste or smell 

Common cold symptoms

• Runny or stuffy nose
• Sore throat
• Cough
• Congestion 

Common Seasonal Allergies symptoms

• Itchy or watery eyes
• Itchy throat
• Itchy ear canals
• Stuffy or runny nose
• Tiredness or fatigue

(Continued in part II…)

In the News: April is Parkinson’s Disease Awareness Month

During this month, millions of people all over the world take part in and recognize April as Parkinson’s Disease Awareness Month.

It is a very common disease, but many people are unclear about what Parkinson’s is and how it affects those with the condition. 

According to American Parkinson’s Disease Association (APDA), “Parkinson’s disease (PD) is a type of movement disorder that can affect the ability to perform common, daily activities. It is a chronic and progressive disease, meaning that the symptoms become worse over time. It is characterized by its most common of motor symptoms—tremors (a form of rhythmic shaking), stiffness or rigidity of the muscles, and slowness of movement (called bradykinesia)—but also manifests in non-motor symptoms including sleep problems, constipation, anxiety, depression, and fatigue, among others.”

Some interesting statistics about Parkinson’s include:

• Nearly one million Americans are living with Parkinson’s.
  • Approximately 60,000 Americans are diagnosed with Parkinson’s disease each year, and this number does not reflect the thousands of cases that go undetected.
  • Seven to 10 million people worldwide are estimated to be living with Parkinson’s disease.
  • Incidence of Parkinson’s increases with age, but an estimated four percent of people with Parkinson’s are diagnosed before the age of 50.

Unfortunately, the cause of Parkinson’s is unknown and presently, there is no cure. Current research is showing that exercise can improve brain function and may slow disease progression, especially if early onset. The earlier the intervention, the better effects exercise can have on the individual.

Healthy Skin 101: Food to Give Up for Clear Skin

Everyone wants to find the Fountain of Youth and keep their skin looking fresh, healthy, and clear of blemishes. 

Since there is no magical fountain, the best way to keep your skin looking clearer health experts suggest  is by   watching what you eat. What we eat effects our skin more than we realize, so here are a few foods to avoid and/or give up entirely for that youthful glow. 

• French Fries
• Fried Chicken
• Processed pastries
• White Bread
• Packaged sweets
• Pasta

Cold and Flu 101: Ways to Feel Better Soon

We are well into the cold and flu season and unfortunately everyone knows someone that has been down and out with cold and flu symptoms this year. Or even worse, COVID.

Fortunately, there are some simple ways to help you stay healthy throughout the winter. Here are five simple ways to stay cold and flu-free:

1. Load up on garlic. It contains allicin, which has antiviral properties.
2. Sweat it out in the sauna. Sweating helps to release toxins in the body.
3. Get the proper amount of sleep. Sleeping helps you to be feel more energized and helps your immune system fight off germs.
4. Eat your chicken noodle soup. It contains anti-inflammatory deliciousness that strengthens disease-fighting cells.
5. Have your yogurt. The probiotics help strengthen your immune system by increasing the number of white blood cells in your body.

Healthy Living: Choosing the Best Hand Sanitizer

Since the beginning of the global pandemic, there is one product that has literally become “man’s best friend”… hand sanitizer.

Everyone knows that washing your hands with soap and water is the most effective way to fight germs and harmful bacteria on our hands, but if you can’t get to soap and water, hand sanitizer is a good stand in. But with so many out on the market nowadays, it is hard to decipher which hand sanitizer is best.

Experts suggest the following when choosing the best hand sanitizer that cleans and moisturizes:

Check the alcohol type and concentration. Experts say that you should always look for ethyl alcohol which is more effective than isopropyl alcohol killing microorganisms. Sanitizers with an alcohol concentration of 60 to 95 percent are more effective at killing germs than those with a lower concentration, but very high concentrations are more drying to your skin.

The CDC says that all you really need is 60 percent ethyl alcohol. Also, you want to label read and avoid potentially hidden methanol content in some sanitizers.

If you have sensitive skin, you might want to choose an alcohol-free sanitizer. Benzalkonium chloride is one option. It doesn’t kill as many infectious microorganisms as alcohol-based sanitizers, but it is known to deactivate COVID-19.

When choosing a sanitizer that also moisturizes, then you need to look for these ingredients - squalene, glycerin, and coconut oil - all of which help attract water and maintain moisture.

Lastly, when choosing the best sanitizer, especially if you have dry skin, you should avoid fragrances in your sanitizer. Fragrances can be irritants and can also exacerbate other skin conditions, like eczema.