My Inner Action

I used to be a smoker and hated smelling and tasting like an ashtray so I switched to e-cigs and I love them so much!!

If you’ve suffered a sunburn, there are a few things you need to know in order to make yourself more comfortable and prevent further damage to your skin. In general, sunburns are mild and do not require a trip to the doctor. Most of the time you can treat them at home, but if you’re wondering how to treat a burn on a very small child, or one that is more severe, you should go to the doctor for more advice.

There are several ways to tell if you need to seek medical attention for your sunburn. If the sunburn blisters, is accompanied by a fever (which indicates infection), or if it does not improve after two or three days, you should consider going to the doctor. If the skin peels to the extent that a raw, bloody area is exposed, this is another sign that the burn is more severe. A sunburn can occasionally be more serious than a minor first-degree burn, especially if there was very prolonged exposure to the sun, or if the victim is very young or fair-skinned.

Assuming you don’t need medical attention, there are several ways to treat your sunburn at home. First, you can take an anti-inflammatory medication such as ibuprofen. This will help with the swelling and redness, and may help ease your pain a bit as well. You should also keep the sunburned area cool, by taking cold showers or baths, or by applying cold compresses.

As for topical treatments, a soothing moisturizing cream or aloe vera gel should be applied. You need to keep the skin moisturized, so avoid products which contain alcohol.

If blisters do form, resist the urge to  pick at them or pop them. This will slow down your healing time, and can actually increase your risk of infection. Peeling skin is another common side effect of sunburns. This is your body’s way of sloughing off the damaged, dead skin, so don’t pick at it and just continue to treat your skin gently with moisturizing creams.

After your skin has peeled, the new layer of skin that will emerge from underneath will be very sensitive to the sun. It will burn much more quickly and severely, so you will not be able to tolerate your usual level of sunlight. Avoid sunbathing altogether after a major sunburn, and when you do start venturing out into the sun again, use a stronger sunblock than you used to use.

Most of the time a sunburn can be treated at home, but if you have any questions or concerns about how to treat a burn, you should call your doctor or schedule an appointment.

In the future, the best medicine is prevention. Always use a sunblock of at least SPF 15, and much higher than that for young children or those with fair skin. Every time your skin is sunburned, your risk of skin cancer increases, so take it easy in the sun and take care of your skin.

If you suffer from frequent illness, or work around small children or in a medical setting, you may be interested in some ways to boost your immune system.  One of the most common things people will do is take vitamins for immune system improvement. There are a wide variety of supplements on the market, from pills for individual vitamins to all-in-one type supplements which include a variety of vitamins important for immune health.

The most important thing to remember is that the best way to get these nutrients into your system is through a healthy and balanced diet. Nature provides all the nutrients essential to good health in foods like fresh fruits and vegetables, nuts, and whole grains. The most important thing you can do for your health is to provide your body with healthy, unprocessed foods that are rich in vital nutrients. However, you may feel it is necessary to supplement your diet with vitamins in pill form, and this can certainly help to maximize your health.

So which vitamins are good for your immune system?  Look for Vitamins A, C, E, and B6 in your supplements. These are the primary vitamins known to be immune system boosters, and they provide other important health benefits as well. These vitamins can be taken in pill form, but there are powders which can be mixed into drinks if you have trouble swallowing pills. There are also some immune-boosting drinks on the market as well. As long as they contain these important vitamins they should be helpful for you.

Another important vitamin for immune health is Vitamin D. This vitamin is primarily obtained through exposure to sunlight, which triggers the body to manufacture it. Studies have actually shown that Vitamin D plays a key role in activating the immune system response to fight disease. Vitamin D can be found in supplement form, which is helpful for those who live in climates which don’t receive much sunlight. If you work a night shift job and rarely get outside during the day, a Vitamin D supplement might be helpful for you.  Generally speaking, however, you can get plenty of Vitamin D simply by spending time outdoors on a regular basis.

Armed with knowledge about vitamins for immune system health, you can choose the supplements that are right for you.

Congenital heart disease is caused by heart defects which occur when a baby is developing in the womb. While these defects are occasionally severe, many are mild and do not cause any symptoms until much later in life. Around half a million adults in the US live with congenital heart disease, and about 8 to 10 babies out of every 1000 are born with some form of heart defect.

The cause of congenital heart disease is often unknown, but there are some conditions or behaviors which can contribute to malformations in the heart. These include Down Syndrome and other chromosomal disorders, Rubella infection in the pregnant mother, and drug and alcohol use during pregnancy. Heart defects are also genetic, and having a parent or sibling with the condition doubles the chance of a baby being born with it as well.

Sometimes heart disease symptoms are detected at birth or early in childhood. Often the defect in the heart is detected when a child’s pediatrician hears a heart murmur during a routine examination. Other symptoms in children may include rapid breathing, difficulty feeding, and slower weight gain than expected. These infants may also exhibit a blue tint to their skin and fingernails, or may suffer frequent lung infections. Other times, symptoms such as shortness of breath and difficulty exercising will appear later in life and warrant an exam. More extensive testing, such as a chest x-ray, MRI, or Electrocardiogram, will be ordered to verify the diagnosis.

If the heart disease is mild, it may require no further treatment. In more serious cases, surgery may be ordered to correct some or all of the defect, or the patient may need certain medications to manage their condition. Endocarditis, an infection of the heart valves, is a primary concern throughout life, but antibiotics can be taken during risky periods to prevent this from happening. Most people with congenital heart disease will need to be monitored by a heart specialist periodically throughout their lifetime. For more information on managing adult congenital heart disease, as well as recognizing heart disease symptoms, contact the Adult Congenital Heart Disease Association.

Alternative treatments have become popular in the management of many health conditions. Many patients wish to reduce their reliance on medications such as painkillers, either due to a fear of addiction or simply a wish to avoid unpleasant side effects. Cervical stenosis is no exception to this trend. This condition causes debilitating pain in the neck, as well as a variety of other symptoms such as pins and needles sensations in the arms and legs,  a loss of balance, and clumsiness. Cervical stenosis is often treated with painkillers and anti-inflammatory drugs, but patients wishing to avoid pharmaceuticals may seek alternative treatments. Even those who are willing to try prescribed medications often find them inadequate. Many patients are discovering the benefits of other treatments such as massage and acupuncture.

Visiting a licensed massage therapist can be beneficial for a variety of health complaints. A massage therapist is trained to recognize, through their own touch as well as the client’s description, places of tension in the body. Pressure is gently placed in the right areas to signal to the muscles that they need to relax and let go of this tension. Touch can also be healing in a more general sense, as it helps a patient relax and reach a better, more peaceful state of mind. According to individual preferences, candlelight, aromatherapy, and soothing music can be added to a massage session for even more relaxing effect.  For someone who suffers significant pain from a health condition, a weekly massage can offer a rejuvenation of the senses and a more open, positive outlook toward their health. This can provide the motivation to keep up with other treatments such as physical therapy exercises.

Acupuncture is another very popular technique for relieving chronic pain. This ancient Chinese form of alternative medicine involves the placing of very thin needles in precise points on the body. Some people shy away from this treatment when they hear the word “needles”, but when done correctly the needles are not felt at all.  Acupuncture has been used for thousands of years to treat everything from infertility to arthritis pain. While science has been unable to prove acupuncture useful for anything other than nausea treatment, many do swear by its effects for pain management.

For most patients with cervical stenosis, one treatment is not going to fully relieve the pain. Generally most will use a combination of treatments until they find what works best for them.

Many people who suffer from generalized anxiety disorder have developed coping mechanisms to help themselves deal with their persistent worry, fear, and nerves. This is a natural response to uncomfortable feelings, but unfortunately many of the most common self-invented coping strategies are harmful, dangerous, and may even contribute to further problems. Rather than letting your mental and emotional health spiral out of control, seek therapy from a qualified professional. In the meantime, try these coping strategies to replace negative behaviors so that you can start feeling better quickly.

Don’t fight it. If you’re prone to anxiety attacks, fighting them when they begin will only cause your body to produce more adrenaline (the “fight or flight” hormone) and prolong the attack. Instead of clenching up and attempting to mentally force the attack away, immediately lie down on your side and begin taking deep breaths. If you’re in the car – a common site for anxiety attacks – pull over on the side of the road and recline your seat while you wait for the feelings to pass.

Identify your triggers. Keep a journal detailing situations in which anxiety seems to worsen. If you haven’t already noticed a pattern of situations or stimuli which trigger your nerves, this may help you to discover them. At the very least, it will be a helpful tool to take to your first therapy session. Most likely an obvious pattern will emerge, and you will realize your feelings are triggered or made worse by crowds, for example, or settings where you feel out of control. While these situations can’t always be completely eliminated, you can try to avoid them as much as possible. Sometimes just acknowledging that an event will be stressful and mentally preparing for it will be helpful.

Don’t abuse substances. Many people who suffer from generalized anxiety disorder abuse alcohol, pain pills, or sedatives. They are only trying to feel better and escape from their constant discomfort. However, substance abuse can not only harm your health, but it can lead to more anxiety. Think about what might happen if you are arrested; this will only lead to considerably more stress in your life. Also using painkillers or sedatives regularly will cause you to build up a tolerance to them. You will need more and more to feel the same effect, and if you’re unable to obtain them for a few days you will likely go into withdrawal, which will kick off major anxiety attacks.

Replace harmful behaviors with healthy ones.  Rather than overeating, trying going for a walk. Not only is exercise good for everyone, but it is particularly useful in reducing anxiety. If you find yourself biting your nails, picking at your skin, or other similar behaviors, find another activity to keep your hands busy and productive, such as knitting or kneading bread dough. It may take some trial and error to find activities that give you the same release you’ve been seeking with negative habits, but you will start to feel better and healthier overall.

Do something nice for yourself. Make it a habit, every day, to do something nice for yourself. This can be as elaborate as a visit with a massage therapist, or as simple as reading a magazine or taking a bubble bath. It is often difficult for people to take time for themselves, amongst all the demands of work and family life. Think of it as your medicine, that you absolutely must take for your health, and you may find your thinking changing to accomodate this new habit.

For more information about coping with generalized anxiety disorder, click here.

Whether you know you’re at increased risk due to a family history or lifestyle factors, or you are just trying to improve your health overall, it is important to be aware of liver disease and its causes. Liver disease can lead to cancer of the liver, so it is not a matter to be taken lightly. Generally speaking, other diseases like heart disease and lung cancer get a lot of attention in the media. The liver, however, is a much more important internal organ than most people realize, and any disruption in its function can cause a variety of very uncomfortable liver disease symptoms. When the liver fails to function correctly, it can cause very serious problems throughout the body, and if the disease becomes too advanced the only solution may be transplant.That is why preventing liver disease is very important.

One of the primary causes of liver disease is alcoholism. Frequently consuming an excess of alcohol damages the liver and forms scar tissue called cirrhosis. This scar tissue cannot be reversed into healthy tissue; once the damage is done, it is permanent. This is why it is very important to watch your alcohol intake or abstain from alcohol altogether.

Another cause of liver disease is infection with a hepatitis virus. While you can get vaccinated against hepatitis A and B, there is no vaccination for hepatitis C. There are a few other, more rare forms of hepatitis as well. Since vaccinations cannot completely protect you from all forms of hepatitis, it is important to protect yourself from exposure to others’ bodily fluids such as saliva, semen, blood, and feces. Since you can’t tell who might carry a hepatitis virus by looking at them, it is best to be vigilant against your exposure to this dangerous disease.

If cirrhosis, or damage, of the liver has already occurred, a liver transplant may be performed if the damage was extensive. This is the only way to prevent the damaged liver from developing cancer or causing further disruption in the body’s digestive functioning. If the damage is not severe enough to warrant a transplant, then the patient will be ordered to quit drinking and eat healthier foods to ward off further damage. It will be important for the patient to recognize liver disease symptoms and report any worsening of symptoms to his or her doctor immediately. With proper management of the disease, the patient can avoid further damage to the liver.

When you’re expecting a baby, the last thing you want is for something to go wrong – and luckily, it rarely does. The current high standard of health care in industrialized nations means it is extremely unlikely anything will go seriously wrong with your pregnancy, as long as you follow a few basic steps.

First of all, you absolutely must make sure to go to all your prenatal doctor appointments. Some women feel as though these visits are a waste of time, because many times it seems as though all you do is get weighed, have your blood pressure checked, and pee in a cup – and then you’re sent home. And let’s face it; most women don’t love being weighed every week, pregnant or not. But these visits are very important, because even something as simple as a sudden weight gain or change in blood pressure can signal the beginning of a very serious complication such as pre-eclampsia.  When caught early, these problems can be treated, and mother and baby should fare just fine. When left untreated, however, the consequences can be dire – so go to all of those prenatal doctor appointments, patiently hold out your arm, and pee in those cups. It may seem annoying, but these simple procedures could be life-savers in many cases.

Another thing to remember is to take your prenatal vitamin every day. This is another simple thing that may seem unnecessary or a hassle, but it is extremely important. First, the extra folic acid can protect your baby against such serious conditions as spina bifida. Second, those vitamins aren’t just for the baby; they’re for you, too. Your body is undergoing a tremendous strain, growing a complete human being inside of you. Remember that nature takes care of reproduction first, for the sake of survival. This means that your baby is getting the best nutrients first, to help ensure he or she will be healthy and thriving. Then you are given the rest. Without prenatal vitamins, you could end your pregnancy and begin motherhood as a very weak, nutrtionally-deprived woman, and that won’t be good for either one of you. So take those vitamins, for your baby and yourself. Eat a balanced diet, too, and don’t depend upon your supplement to give your body everything it needs. Remember it is called a “supplement” because it supplements a good diet; it is not meant to replace healthy eating habits.

The last thing to remember is to check with your doctor before taking any medications, or any time you feel sick. Even over the counter medications can be potentially harmful to you and your baby, so never take anything that is not recommended by your doctor.  Also, even illnesses that seem ordinary could be a sign of another, more serious, problem developing. Keep your doctor informed about any symptoms or discomfort you are feeling. Most likely, the worst thing that will happen during your pregnancy is a bad cold – but if something else does happen, at least you will catch it early, while it is still treatable.

As we age, a variety of aches and pains can crop up. Many people get arthritis in their joints or suffer from problems in their knees and hips due to the “wear and tear” of old age. Another such problem is cervical stenosis, which can cause mild to severe pain in the neck. It is important to differentiate cervical stenosis from other conditions such as arthritis, because the treatment is different and in some cases this condition can actually be alleviated through surgery.

Aside from pain in the neck, cervical stenosis can also cause numbness or a pins and needles feeling in the shoulders, arm, and even legs. Patients with this condition may also have an awkward gait or other balance problems, and may experience clumsiness in their hands. Occasionally in severe cases, the patient may suffer from incontinence or even bowel control problems. In the very worst case scenarios, which are fortunately very rare, paraplegia may result.

Cervical stenosis is caused by a narrowing of the spinal cord. As pressure is placed on the spinal nerves, this results in pain and the other symptoms associated with the condition. This narrowing of the spinal cord is a result of deterioration of the vertebrae due to the natural aging process, and therefore most patients with cervical stenosis are over 50. It can also result from trauma to the neck due to accident or injury which results in compression of the spinal nerves. Sometimes symptoms do not appear immediately after the accident, but evolve over months or even years. A small number of patients are simply born with a narrow spinal cord and naturally suffer this compression due to their anatomy.

Differentiating these symptoms from arthritis is important because surgery can usually relieve the compression of the nerves and therefore alleviate the pain. Usually doctors will try medications such as anti-inflammatory pills and painkillers, and if those are ineffective or lose their effect over time an operation will be considered. Once the pressure is taken off of the nerves, the patient enjoys much better functioning and relief from the pain.

Acne is a very annoying skin condition because it can be difficult and take a lot of time to treat, and meanwhile it is damaging your self esteem and making you feel unattractive. Learning about the underlying causes of acne can help you to understanding what you’re dealing with, and reassure you that you aren’t afflicted with this condition simply because you don’t wash your face often enough (a common misconception). Once you’ve figured out the root cause of your skin problems, you can figure out how to get rid of acne once and for all.

You may already know that pimples develop when excess oils and dead skin clog your pores. This can cause simple blackheads and whiteheads on the surface of your skin. The deeper, more painful acne – the kind that is so hard to treat – occurs when those blocked pores get infected with bacteria.

All of those factors are caused be a few different things. Some people just have oilier skin than others, but hormonal imbalance can make it worse. Your hormones may be unbalanced because of certain foods like dairy products, monthly hormone fluctuations (for women), and excess stress. In order to start drying out your oily skin you will need to get your hormones stabilized.

The pores get blocked because of that excess dead skin, a condition called retention hyperkeratosis. This basically means that your skin does not shed dead skin cells efficiently. To deal with this, regular exfoliation is key, to keep those dead cells from staying on the surface of your skin and blocking pores.

Finally, to deal with the bacteria that invade the blocked pores and cause infection, you may need a prescription for antibiotics. Using a face wash that kills bacteria, such as one with benzoyl peroxide, should be helpful as well. Eating a healthy diet, getting plenty of sleep, and anything else you would normally do to ward off other types of infection is also effective. If you remember that your skin’s appearance is indicative of your health as a whole, you can use it as a guide to help yourself get healthier overall.