Thursday, April 2, 2009

Influenza - its Symptoms and Causes

Influenza - its Symptoms and Causes
 by: David Chandler
Know more about Influenza
Influenza better known as the "flu" is an infection of the respiratory tract that can affect millions of people. The influenza virus can be spread from person to person through coughing and sneezing of an infected individual.
Statistics show about 20,000 Americans die from influenza or influenza related pneumonia each year. Pneumonia and influenza are the sixth common cause of death in the United States. Elderly (65+) make up more than 90% of the 20,000 Americans who die from this illness each year.
A person may contract the influenza virus and not experience any symptoms for a few days. The incubation period for the influenza virus ranges from 1-4 days.
Is there more than one type of Influenza virus?
What is influenza?
There are three different kinds of Influenza viruses: Influenza A, Influenza B, and Influenza C. Influenza A can attack animals and humans, the remaining two (Influenza B and Influenza C) can only attack humans. Influenza C causes a very mild infection and does not provoke epidemics.
When observed through an electron microscope, influenza viruses are figured like filaments or spheres. Immunity to one strain of the influenza virus will not protect you against newly born strains of the virus, which has undergone minor changes or mutations.
The Influenza B and Influenza C virus may infect only human beings while Influenza A may infect several different types of animals. Influenza A virus can sicken many various types of animals, including humans, aquatic mammals, birds, horses, swine, and others.
At times when two different strains of viruses combine in humans or animals, they result in a new unique strain of virus with more immunity. The modern 2004 Influenza Vaccine is made of three strains, which include two strains of influenza A and one strain of influenza B.

Could Drinking Water Cure Your Ailments?

Could Drinking Water Cure Your Ailments?
 by: Royane Real
Yesterday I was supposed to have lunch with my friend Margaret, but she told me in the morning that she didn't want to walk to the restaurant where we were supposed to meet because she had painful arthritis in her foot.
I asked her, "Do you want to hear what helped my arthritis go away?" and of course she did.
Then I told her about a strange little book I had read a few years titled "Your Body's Many Cries for Water" by F. Batmanghelidj, M.D. The theory that Dr. Batmanghelidj proposes is that almost all bodily ailments, no matter where and how they manifest in the body, are usually caused by our body cells being chronically dehydrated, and that the cure for almost all illness is simply to get our cells properly hydrated again.
At the time I read this book, I had arthritis in my fingers so bad that I could not hold a cup in my hands, or turn a door knob. I often had very little energy.
Within a few weeks of trying Dr. Batmanghelidj's recommendations, my arthritis went away. Now whenever I get a few twinges, I simply step up my water intake, and the pain disappears in a couple of days. I have more energy now than I had twenty years ago, and I haven't really changed anything except my water intake.
Dr. Batmanghelidj had been a medical doctor living in Iran when he was arrested and thrown into jail on trumped up political charges. He was scheduled to be executed.
One night a prisoner in the same jail was brought to him for treatment. This prisoner was suffering terribly from an acute ulcer, and Dr. Batmanghelidj had nothing to give the man for his pain except water. To his great surprise, after a few glasses of water, the pain went away.
Over the course of treating other prisoners with nothing but glasses of water, Dr. Batmanghelidj found that he was able to help many serious conditions using water as therapy. When he was eventually released from prison, he conducted many experiments and found many conditions improved with this treatment.
He came to the conclusion that many physical ailments are simply a result of dehydration.
Among the many ailments that Dr. Batmanghelidj believes are really a result of the body being dehydrated are such varied conditions as allergies, asthma, lupus, arthritis, back pain, ulcers, high blood pressure and high cholesterol.
The book is somewhat hard to read because Dr. Batmanghelidj is not very skilled in writing in English, and he uses a lot of medical terminology, so it can be difficult for a lay person to understand some of it.
According to Dr. Batmanghelidj, only water counts as a hydrating beverage. Other drinks such as juices, milk, coffee, and soft drinks do not have this miraculous ability to reverse disease.
Dr. Batmanghelidj has developed a formula to figure out how much water a person should be drinking each day. According to him, a person should drink one fluid ounce of water for every two pounds of body weight.
Here is a quick summary of his proposed schedule:
About two glasses of water taken upon waking.
Then, one to two glasses of water taken half an hour before meals.
A glass of water two and a half hours after a meal.
Other glasses of water as needed.
Dr. Batmanghelidj also recommends adding a pinch of unrefined sea salt to each glass of water to help the body cells absorb the liquid.
Of course, not all people agree with Dr. Batmanghelidj's recommendations, especially not all other medical doctors. Some people think he is a medical quack, while others think his theory about dehydration being the cause of many ailments is not only simple, but correct.
It is very fascinating to read the letters to Dr. Batmanghelidj from people who say that following his regimen helped cure them of all sorts of longstanding medical problems.
The book "Your Body's Many Cries for Water" is available at various on-line sellers, as well as in some bookstores.
If you wish to try Dr. Batmanghelidj's recommendations, please keep in mind that he says that it takes months for the body's cells to become dehydrated to the point of illness, and it can take months for the cells to become properly hydrated again.

Treadmills - Get Fit Stay Fit

Treadmills - Get Fit Stay Fit
 by: Martin Smith
Your exercise program could benefit from the use of treadmills. Using a treadmill provides a wonderful cardiovascular workout for your heart, your lungs, and your circulation. There low impact on your joints, which makes it easier and less painful to workout.
Pregnant women will get an excellent workout. Its low impact and cardiovascular nature it builds endurance which will no doubt help during labor. The lower end models are not expensive and treadmills are easy to use. Using a treadmill could help you lose weight and even body fat.
That they don't take up a lot of space is a non-physical benefit. There are some that could take up a whole room almost but if space is the issue, than you can find manual treadmills that fold and are powered by your movement only. Talk to professionals and do your research to find out which one might be appropriate for you.
Comparing different models is best. Do you know what features you're looking for on a treadmill? You should look at certain things when you are comparing various models. All you really want to do is workout so this can all be overwhelming.
The size of your machine can be affected by the type of the motor. The most important things to look at are the belt trackers. This is the type of movement of the belt and the placement of the running belt as you work out. You don't want a belt that's jerky you want it to move as smoothly as possible over the rollers.
Have you seen the check out belts that move and then jump and move again etc.? There can be more impact than is necessary on your joints and injury can result if the movement on your treadmill is like that. Something else to look at is the length and the width of the belt.
A belt that is too short can cause you to "run-off the end of the belt. A narrow belt might not necessarily support your stance. If possible try out the machine you want or one that is very much like it. The type and percentage of the incline will affect your joints and your workout.
As you progress, on most treadmills you can adjust the incline to be as if you were climbing a steep hill. How fast the belt moves should also be adjustable also. Do you know what the minimum speed and maximum speed is? This knowledge will help you plan your workout routine and make it more effective.
Your treadmill console should a heart rate monitor as one of its main features. If you know your resting heart rate and your target heart rate which is the highest number you can reach for maximum benefits from your workout, your workout will be more beneficial. Your speed, your time and your distance should also be displayed on the console.
Before you attempt to use your treadmill it is of the utmost importance that you learn to properly use your treadmill. The display on the control panel should be clear and easy to read. Is the software program necessary to be able to use the control panel?
A noisy treadmill is something you don't want. There will obviously be some noise but you don't want it to be overwhelming. What is the acceptable level of noise for you? Is the belt thick enough? If a belt is too thin it could wear out too soon, so you would want an appropriately thick belt so it will last.
Stretching can occur with some belts. Checking to see that your belt isn't cracked anywhere or stretched, Make sure the monitor is functioning properly. Consider the weight of the machine. A few of the delivery companies will bring your machine to your door but it's up to you to get it in the house and set it up.
The look of the machine is important because if it doesn't appeal to you, you will be less apt to use it. How easy will it be to store it when you aren't using it? Before you bring it home, consider the probability that it will stay in the same place when it's not in use, then you need to decide if this is ok with you.
Don't put your treadmill near walls to prevent injury. You should put it approximately eight feet away from walls, ledges or windows. You should put the wires and the power supply out of walking areas or it should be taped down to prevent someone from tripping while getting off the treadmill. There are a few tips about how to use your new treadmill.
Before getting on the belt, straddle it and make sure it is set at the proper speed. Your feet will follow your eyes so keep them straight ahead. Staying in the center of the belt will help prevent slips and falls.