Food Allergy

Please click here to view video

Food allergy is an immune system reaction that occurs after eating a certain food. Even a tiny amount of the allergy causing food can trigger signs and symptoms of allergic.The protein in food is the most common allergic component. Allergies occur when the body's immune system mistakenly identifies a protein as harmful. Some proteins or fragments of proteins are resistant to digestion and tagged by the Immunoglobulin E (IgE). These tags fool the immune system into thinking that the protein is an invader. The immune system, thinking the organism is under attack, sends white blood cells to attack, and that triggers an allergic reaction.

Symptoms

• Tingling or itching in mouth
• Hives, itching or eczema
• Swelling of lips, face, tongue and throat or other body parts
• Wheezing, nasal congestion or trouble breathing
• Abdominal pain, diarrhea, nausea or vomiting
• Dizziness, lightheadedness or fainting

Causes

• Shellfish, such as shrimp, lobster and crab
• Peanuts
• Tree nuts, such as walnuts and pecans
• Fish
• Eggs
• Milk
• Wheat

Action Plans

• Always read food labels to make sure they don't contain an food allergens. 
• At restaurants and social gatherings, steer clear with the food that may contain allergen.
• Teach the adults who spend time with your child how to recognize signs and symptoms of an allergic reaction.
• Talk with your doctor about prescribing emergency epinephrine. 

Eye Floaters

Eye floaters are spots in  the vision that may look like black or gray specks, strings or cobwebs that drift about when move the eyes. It is mostly caused by the clumping together of cells in the eye fluids. They tend to be more common in short-sighted people and the elderly.If there is a sudden increase in the number of eye floaters, visit an eye specialist immediately especially if seen flashes of light.These can be symptoms of an emergency that requires prompt attention.

Symptoms

• Spots in vision that may look like dark specks or knobby, transparent strings of floating material
• Spots that move when moving the eye
• Spots that are most noticeable when look at a plain bright background
• Spots that eventually settle down and drift out of the line of vision

Causes

• Age related eye changes
• Inflammation in the back of the eye
• Bleeding in the eye
• Torn retina
• Age over 50
• Nearsightedness
• Eye trauma
• Complications from cataract surgery
• Diabetic retinopathy
• Inflammation in the eye

Action Plans

• Try antioxidant vitamins, such as turmeric These antioxidants, in concert with other vitamins, are proven to be effective in treating macular degeneration, but not in reducing floaters.
• Protecting eye with food that rich in nutrients such as omega-3 fatty acids, lutein, zinc, and vitamins C and E may help ward off age-related vision problems such as macular degeneration.
• Find ways to reduce stress which is another potential irritant for eye floaters.So practicing stress management techniques may reduce the visibility of them. Meditation, prayer or spending time in nature are some options people find helpful to lower stress levels.
• Take supplements that increase blood flow such as ginkgo biloba, lysine and  bilberry that will help eyes to better flush out the gelatinous protein from the vitreous.
• Avoid  fatty meats,yeast, margarines, processed foods, sugar and refined carbohydrates.

Diarrhea

Please click here to view video

Diarrhea is loose, watery stools that  passing for three or more times a day. Acute diarrhea is a common problem that usually lasts 1 or 2 days and goes away on its own.Diarrhea lasting more than 2 days may be a sign of a more serious problem. Chronic diarrhea will lasts at least 4 weeks which may be a symptom of a chronic disease. The symptoms may be continual or they may come and go.


Symptoms

• Increased frequency of bowel movements
• Loose, watery stools
• Urgency (having to go right away)
• Incontinence (leakage of stools)
• Bloating, wind
• Rectal pain
• Lower abdominal pain or cramping
• Nausea, vomiting
• Fever
• Blood or flecks of mucus in the stool
• Loss of appetite, weight loss

Causes

• Food poisoning
• Certain antibiotics
• Chemotherapy drugs for cancer
• Laxatives containing magnesium
• Celiac disease
• Inflammatory bowel diseases
• Irritable bowel syndrome (IBS)
• Lactose intolerance 
• Malabsorption syndromes
• Carcinoid syndrome
• Nerves disorder of the intestines
• Gastrectomy
• Radiation therapy

Action Plans

• Drink plenty of water every day. Avoid caffeine and alcohol
• Add semisolid and low-fiber foods gradually as bowel movements return to normal
• Avoid certain foods such as dairy products, fatty foods, high-fiber foods or highly seasoned foods for a few days
• Take probiotics supplement as it contain strains of living bacteria that are similar to the healthy bacteria normally found in digestive system. Probiotics may boost the number of healthy bacteria present to fight germs in digestive tract. 
• Wash hands before and after preparing food
• Wash work surfaces frequently to avoid spreading germs from one food item to another. 

Common Cold

Please click here to view video

The common cold also known as nasopharyngitis, rhinopharyngitis or simply a cold is a viral infectious disease of the upper respiratory tract which primarily affects the nose. A common cold is usually harmless, although it may not feel that way at the time.Common cold normally causes by one of the 100 over viruses which the signs and symptoms tend to vary greatly. Most people recover from a common cold in about a week or two.

Symptoms

• Runny or stuffy nose
• Itchy or sore throat
• Cough
• Congestion
• Slight body aches or a mild headache
• Sneezing
• Watery eyes
• Low-grade fever
• Mild fatigue

Causes

• Poor immune system
• Lack of zinc
• Poor diet
• Too much added sugar and sweetener
• Chronic stress
• Spreads by hand-to-hand contact with someone with cold 
• Sharing contaminated objects, such as utensils, towels, toys or telephones.

Action plans

• Drink lots of fluids to help replace fluids lost during mucus production or fever. Avoid alcohol and caffeine, which can cause dehydration.
• Try chicken soup as an anti-inflammatory and temporarily speeds up the movement of mucus through the nose for helping relieve congestion 
• Soothe throat by gargling salt-water can temporarily relieve a sore or scratchy throat.
•  Take vitamin C at the onset of cold symptoms may shorten the duration of symptoms.

Bronchitis

Please click here to view video

It is an inflammatory disorder which may start as a dry cough followed by catarrh,phlegm and a rattling cough. Inflammation in the bronchial is a sign that the immune system is struggling to keep things in balance.Bronchitis may be either acute or chronic. Acute bronchitis is very common and usually improves within a few days without lasting effects. However, if bronchitis recurrence is repetitive will lead to chronic bronchitis, which requires medical attention. Chronic bronchitis, a more serious condition, is a constant irritation or inflammation of the lining of the bronchial tubes.

Symptoms 

• Cough
• Production of sputum with clear, white, yellowish-gray or green in color
• Fatigue
• Slight fever and chills
• Chest discomfort
• Shortness of breath

Causes

• Smoking
• Weakened immune system
• Viruses
• Allergies
• Asthma
• Bad colds
• Hospital stays

Action plans

• Avoid lung irritants by wearing mask when the air is polluted or exposed to irritants, such as paint or household cleaners with strong fumes.
• Use a humidifier which warm, moist air helps relieve coughs and loosens mucus in airways. 
• Avoid cigarette smoke as it increase the risk of chronic bronchitis and emphysema.
• Many cases of acute bronchitis result from influenza, a virus. Getting a yearly flu vaccine can help protect from getting the flu. 
• To reduce risk of catching a viral infection, wash hands frequently and get in the habit of using hand sanitizers.
• Eat immune supportive foods that rich in antioxidant to help repair damage in body.
• Water is vital for immune function and healthy lungs which need to drink 2-2.5 L of water daily.

Acute kidney failure

It is also called acute renal failure or acute kidney injury. These occurs when the kidneys suddenly unable to filter waste products from blood. When the kidneys lose of filtering ability, dangerous levels of wastes may accumulate and the blood chemical will become imbalance. The condition develops rapidly over a few hours or a few days. It is most common in people who are already hospitalized, particularly in critically ill people or those with intensive care. It can be fatal and requires intensive treatment. However, acute kidney failure may be reversible which recover the normal kidney function.

Symptoms

• Bloody stools
• Breath odor
• Slow, sluggish movements
• Swelling (fluid retention)
• Fatigue
• Pain between ribs and hips
• Hand tremor
• Bruising easily
• Changes in mental status or mood, especially elderly
• Decreased appetite
• Decreased sensation, especially in hands or feet
• Prolonged bleeding
• Seizures
• Nausea
• Vomiting
• Hiccups
• Elevated blood pressure
• Metallic taste

Causes

• Blood or fluid loss
• Blood pressure medications
• Heart attack
• Heart disease
• Infection
• Liver failure
• Use of aspirin, ibuprofen (Advil, Motrin IB, others), naproxen (Aleve, others), or related drugs
• Severe allergic reaction (anaphylaxis)
• Severe burns
• Severe dehydration
• Condition that slows blood flow to kidneys
• Direct damage to kidneys
• Kidneys' urine drainage tubes (ureters) become blocked and wastes can't leave body through urine

Action Plans

1. Try to choose lower potassium foods for instance the apples, cabbage, green beans, grapes and strawberries. High-potassium foods include bananas, oranges, potatoes, spinach and tomatoes. 
2. Lower the amount of sodium intake each day by avoiding products with added salt, including many convenience foods, such as frozen dinners, canned soups, fast foods, salty snack foods, canned vegetables, processed meats and cheeses.
3. Limit phosphorus which found in foods such as milk, cheese, dried beans, nuts and peanut butter. Too much phosphorus in blood can weaken bones and cause skin itchiness. 
4. Exercise most days of the week, avoid tobacco and alcohol
5. Have regular check-ups with doctor

Warts

Please click here to view video

Warts are benign (not cancerous) skin growths that appear when a virus infects the top layer of the skin.  It is cause by the virus from human papillomavirus (HPV) family. Wart viruses are contagious which can spread by contact with the wart or something that touched the wart.Sometimes, it is sexually transmitted and appear in the genital area, but most warts affect the fingers, hands, and feet.Children and young adults are more likely to develop common warts, as are people who have weakened immune systems. Common warts usually disappear on their own, but many people choose to remove them because they of bothersome or embarrassing.

Symptoms

• Small, fleshy, grainy bumps
• Flesh-colored, white, pink or tan
• Rough to the touch

Action plans

• Don't bite fingernails as warts occur more often in skin that has been broken. 
• In order to avoid spreading the virus, don't brush, clip, comb or shave areas that have warts. If ytouch a wart, wash hands carefully afterwards.
• The virus that causes warts can contaminate nail files or pumice stones that may be using to reduce the size of  warts. So don't use these tools on areas of  body that don't have warts.
• Don't pick at warts as it may spread the virus. Consider covering warts with an adhesive bandage to discourage picking.
• Keep hands dry because warts are more difficult to control in a moist environment.