what is chickenpox?

Chicken pox is viral.  it is caused by the virus called varicella zostervaricella zoster.  People who got it often develop a rash of spots that look like blisters all over their bodies.  The blisters are small and sit on an area of red skin that can be anywhere from the size of a pencil eraser to the size of a dime.

what happens when you have chickenpox?

For some, chickenpox may start out seemingly like a cold. But couple ofdays later, the rash begins, often in bunches of spots on the chest and face (my daughter have her in her back this morning).  Then it can spread out quickly over the entrie body – sometimes the rash is even in a person’s ears and mouth (ive experienced he mouth).    The number of pox may vary from one person to anotehr.  Some people get just a few bumps; others are covered from head to toe.

At first, the rash looks like pinkish dots that quickly develop a small blister on of your skin.  After about 24 to 48 hours, the fluid in blister gets cloudy and then begin to crust.

Chickenpox blisters show up in waves, so after some begin to crust over, a new group of spots may appear.  New chicken pox usually staop appearing by the seventh day, though they may stop as early as the third day.  it usually takes 10-14 days for all the blisters to be scabbed over and then one will no longer be contagious.

Besides the rash, someone with chicken pox might also have stomachache, a fever (experienced this), and may just not feel well.

How do they spread?

Chickenpox is contagious and is most contagious during the first 2 to 5 days that the person is sick.  That is usually about 1 to 2 days before the rash shows up.  so one can spread around the virus wihtout even knowing it.

A person who has chicken pox can pass it to someone else by coughing or sneezing.  When he or she coughs, sneezes, laughs, and even talks, tiny drops will come out of the mouth and nose.   These drops are full of the chickenpox virus. (Yuckssss)  It’s easy for someone else to breathe in these drops or get them on his or her hands (possibly this is how my daughter got the virus. grrr)

It’s Itchy

yeah they are and it would be very uncomfortable.  But Dr. Barbara P. Homeier gave out these tips on how to lessen the feeling of itchiness:

• Keep cool because heat and sweat will make you itch more.  You might want to put a cool, wet washcloth on the really bad areas.
• Trim your fingernails, so if you do scratch, they won’t tear your skin.
• Soak in lukewarm bath.  Adding some oatmeal to your bath water can help relieve the itching.
• Have someone help you apply calamine lotion, which soothes itching.

Scratching the blisters can tear the skin and leave scars.  Scratching cal also let germs in, and the blisers could get infected.  If your fever goes higher and an area of your skin gets really red, warm, and painful, tell an adult right away.  You’ll need to see a doctor because you could have a skin infection.

Avoiding the Dots!

Luckily these days, many people can avoid the pox by taking the chickenpox vaccine.   They are given to babies at 12 months.  If these kids will still get pox later in life, it would not be much anymore as it is when you have not taken the vaccine.

If you are not then maybe it’s your friend.  According to the National Association of Anorexia Nervosa and Associated Disorders, more than eight million people in the US have eating disorders.  So for sure that number would doble if we have to include the number of people other countries.  Ninety percent of these are women who began to have this abnormality since they were in their teen years.  Some even started as young as 8!  Imagine at eight years old.  So, how will you know the warning signs of someone who has an eating disorder?  Here are some of them:

• They are obessed with calories and food and are concerned about body weight, though they are thin.

• They won’t eat; lie about how much they ate.

• They faint.

• They get angry if you suggest they have a problem.

• They have calluses on their knuckles (from forcing themselves to throw up).

• They exercise strenuously.

• They eat only food with low to no calories.

For more information, check these websites:

National Eating Disorders Associaton
www.nationaleatingdisorders.org

Eating Disorders Recovery Online
www.edrecovery.com
Toll-free call 1-888-520–1700

Anorexia Nervosa and Related Eating Disorders, Inc.
www.anred.com

Here’s another something i grabbed from the mag i was reading yesterday while the doctoral class is having their class.  I hope this can help.

Correct treatment of an eye injury immediately following an accident can prevent loss of sight. Because it is difficult to determine the extent of damage to the eye, medical help should be sought as soon as first aid is completed. Then call an ophthalmologist, your family physician, or go to a nearby hospital emergency room immediately.

Blows to the eye:
Apply an ice-cold compress immediately for about 15 minutes to reduce the pain and swelling. A black eye or blurred vision could signal internal eye damage. See your ophthalmologist immediately.

Eye and Eyelid Cuts:
Bandage the eye lightly and seen medical help immediately. Do not attempt to wash the eye or remove the object struck in it. Never apply pressure to the injured eye or eyelid. Do not rub the eye.

Specks in the Eye:
Never rub any speck or particle in your eye. Lift the upper lid over the lower lid allowing the lashes to brush the speck off the inside of the upper lid. Blink a few times and let the eye move the particle out. If the speck remains, keep your eye closed and seek medical help.

Chemical Burns:
Flood your eyes with water immediately, using your fingers to keep the eye open as wide as possible. Hold your head under a faucet or pour water into the eye from any clean container for a least 15 minutes, continuously and gently. Roll the eyeball as much as possible to wash out the eye. Do not use an eyecup. Do not bandage the eye. Seek medical help immediately after these steps are taken.

It is important to know that first aid is just first aid and is given until experienced medical help is available. When an accident involves the eye, it is always wise to seek medical help immediately if there is pain or any question of damage or impaired vision. Remember, safety is the best way to save sight, and prevention the most effective treatment for eye injuries.

Check out too:

http://www.eyesite.ca

http://www.stlukeseye.com

http://www.michiganeye.com

Source: health and home magazine

Hey cold time is here and there are some food that we can scarcely eat during the cold season but there are also foods that are of good supply.  Fit Sugar featured the 7 winter foods rich in antioxidants.  So Holidays does not only mean feasting on sumptious fatty foods, but you can also have a choice of healthy foods to kip you fit.

Artichokes Hearts - Artichokes are good for the liver.  They are low in calories and high in vitamins and minerals.   Although they are great fresh, you can find canned artichoke hearts packed in water in any season. Add them to your homemade pizza to make it equal parts gourmet and healthy!

Beans – they are high in fiber and protein and also high in antioxidants.   Kidney and pinto beans are higher in antioxidant levels compared to blacks beans.  We cooked at home dried ones but during the winter if supply is low they are available canned but try to pick those are low in sodium.   I love chilli baked beans.

Cranberries - Cranberries are powerhouses of antioxidant.   They are in good supply this cold season so you can eat lots of them.  They can boost your immune system during the change of climate and weather.   These cranberries protect our heart from disease and can also prevent cancer.

Pecans – They are considered on par with antioxidant superstars cherries and cranberries.  They enchance your antioxidant intake along with other berries.  Naturally sweet, eating a moderate amount of nuts weekly lowers the risk of gaining weight.

Prunes – Being dried fruits, prunes are available all year long. They are high in oxidants that fights off fats and cholesterol.  I love prunes in bits with my oats and porridge.

Granny Smith Apples – I call them “green winter apples”  This type of apple is actually high in antioxidants and provides just slightly less than strawberries. Don’t peel off the skin.  Eat the skin!  Antioxidants give color to foods, and the color of the apple is in the skin. Plus, not every apple provides the same amount of antioxidants.

Cloves – Spices add flavor as well as antioxidants to many dishes and cloves are no exception. They are high in antioxidants and you can use them in most of your winter dishes and desserts.  They also have an anti-inflammatory effect and can help relieve dental pain.

source: www.fitsugar.com

1. Reduce blood cholesterol to less than 160 mg percent with a very lowfat, high fiber vegetarian diet and with cholesterol-lowering medication if necessary.

2. Lose weight by eating more foods-as-grown and less refine foods and animal products.

3. Drop your high blood pressure by cutting salt intake to less than five grams (or 5000 milligrams) a day, and by getting into a daily exercise program.

4. Stop smoking and reduce alcohol intake. Alcohol is toxic to a struggling heart.

Our hear is the most important organ in our body system so let’s take care of it.

photo source: http://www.righthealth.com/Health/The_Human_Heart/-od-definition_wiki_Heart-s

Over one million people suffer from eye injuries each year. Of these, 10-30 percent will be disabled because of temporary or permanent vision loss. Below are some suggestions on how to prevent eye injuries:

AT HOME:

1. Make sure that spray nozzles are directed away from you before pressing down the handle.

2. Read instructions carefully before using cleaning fluids, detergents, ammonia, or harsh chemicals. Wash hands thoroughly after use.

3. Use grease shields on fry pans to decrease spattering.

4. Use opaque goggles to avoid burns from sunlamps.

AROUND CHILDREN

1. Pay attention to age and responsibility level of a child when selecting toys and games. Avoid projective toys such as darts, pellete guns, etc., which can be thrust into the eye from a distance.

2. Supervise children playing with toys and games that can be dangerous.

3. Teach children the correct way to handle potentially dangerous items such as scissors and pencils.

IN THE GARDEN:

1. Don’t let anyone stand beside or before a moving lawnmower.

2. Pick up rocks and stones before mowing the grass. These objects can hurl out of the rotary blade and “rebound” off curbs or walls, causing severe injury to the eye.

3. Make sure that pesticide spray can nozzles are directed away from your face.

4. Be careful when going under low-hanging branches.

AROUND THE CAR:

1. Before opening the hood of the car, put out all cigarette or matches. Use a flashlight, not a match or lighter, to illuminate the battery at night.

2. Keep protective goggles next to your jumper cables.

3. Wear protective goggles when grinding metal, or striking metal against metal, tennis, while doing auto body repair.

IN SPORTS:

1. Wear safety goggles especially for sports such as raquetball, badminton, tennis, baseball, and basketball.

2. Wear protective caps, helmets, or face protectors when appropriate.

3. Avoid wearing contact lenses when swimming.

4. Use safety goggles when playing under the sun for protection from ultraviolet.

AROUND FIREWORKS

1. Do not use explosive fireworks.

2. Never allow children to ignite fireworks.

3. Do not stand near others when lighting fireworks.

——-

http://www.eyesite.ca

http://www.stlukeseye.com

http://www.michiganeye.com

I read today in Yahoo health news that there are 5 ways pets can improve our health.  There are 5 ways which is also supported by WebMD.   For many years long back, we have dog pets until one died in an accident then  we just did not care to have one again.  The pain of separation was felt.  When we moved in to current place, their was  a stray cat that stayed with us until she gave birth to 4 kitties then later many more.  When she had more we have to sent her away, leaving us her 4 first kittens until the three of them got lost and maybe died and only one left.  For now that lone kitten gave bith to 1 baby and it’s our family’s cuddly pet.  We talked to her (she’s a she) hehehe, play with her.

Reading the news today gave me the assurance that it is not really wrong to have hairy pets. Here are 5 reasons why we should let our pets stay:

1. Prevent allergies: Many new studies show that children who grow up in a household with furry animals or on a farm, have less risk for allergies, and asthma and a stronger immune system.
2. Friend magnets: Pets are natural conversation starters so your pet can help you meet people if you have social anxiety or chronic shyness.
3. Benefit the aged: For the elderly, caring for a pet can offer exercise and companionship. Studies have also shown that for Alzheimer’s patients, those who have a pet have fewer anxious outbursts.
4. Good for the mind and soul: Those who have pets are less likely to suffer from depression, are better equipped to handle stressful situations, and they also have lower blood pressure.
5. Good for your heart: Pet owners who suffer from a heart attack will live longer than those who are petless. Studies have also shown that men who own pets have lower cholesterol.

I now conclude that our pet cat is good for a depressed me, and for mom who has high blood pressure and high cholesterol.

JOIN THE FIGHT AGAINST CA-MRSA

Learn more about it so that you will know how to prevent yourself from it.

CA-MRSA stands for community associated – Methecillin resistant Staphylococcus aureus.

Keep your hands clean. Washing with soap and warm water several times a day is the single best way to fight off staph. Teach kids to rub their hands briskly under running water for at least 15 seconds (about the amount of time it takes to recite the alphabet). Carry alcohol-based hand sanitizer for times when soap and water are not available. It’s also helpful to keep kids’ fingernails short and please discourage nose picking.

Cover cuts and scrapes. Any would should be washed with soap and water, then covered with dry, sterile bandages until it heals. Apply a clean dressing daily. Pus from infected sores can contain CA-MRSA, so it’s also important to wash your hands after changing bandages to avoid spreading staph.

Don’t share personal items. Tell your kids not to use friend’s and teammates’ towels, washcloths, clothing, uniforms or razors. People who appear perfectly healthy can still be CA-MRSA carriers. Shared sports equipment, such as helmets and gym mats, should be cleaned with an antibacterial solution after every use.

Sanitarize gym clothing and linens. If anyone in the family has a cut, sore or infection, wash bedding and towels in hot water with added bleach. Wash sports clothing and washable athletic gear with laundry detergent after each use. Drying laundry in a hot dryer, not on a clothesline, also helps kill bacteria.

Remember flu shots. Since the flu lowers resistance to CA-MRSA, getting vaccinated every year helps protect against both diseases. Flu shots are approved for kids over six months of age.

Get tested. If you have skin infection that needs medical treatment, ask the doctor to check for CA-MRSA, which responds only to certain antibiotics. Many doctors prescribed the wrong drugs because they don’t do the test. That can worsen the infection. Normally it takes 48 hours to do the culture and the carrier can continue spreading the infection while waiting for lab results.

Luckily in some countries, they use the DNA technology that results will be available in an hour.

Be sure to take all your prescribed medication even if your skin heals. Bacteria you leave alive today can morph into tomrrow’s superbugs.

Source: RD August 2007
Story: Deadly Superbugs

When I was younger, I had scanty periods but now that am a total full grown adult, I can say that it’s more than scanty. I have steady big flow periods. Those times when I have light ones, I was not alarmed about it nor worried about it. But there are some who does panic. They think that something bad may be going on. According to Dr. David Soper, a professor of gynecology at the Medical University of South Carolina in Charleston, don’t panic if you have shorter and scantier periods because it is not always a sign of trouble. Further he said that the following can be common causes:

- Birth control pills. The hormone progesterone thins your uterine lining, so there’s less tissue buildup and less blood to shed.

- Thyroid conditions may be the cause if you have other symptoms like excessive fatigue and weight loss or gain. You should get a blood test to check your thyroid hormone levels.

- Stress. Stress suppresses estrogen, causing light short periods. Cut your stress and wait three months if your normal flow returns. If not, see your doctor to rule out pregnancy, a benign pituitary tumor, perimenopause, or in rare cases, endometrial cancer.

source: redbookmag.