Tag: Immune System

Common Types of Arthritis and Treatment Options

Do you or someone you know suffer from arthritis? It is a common disease, you likely do. What type? Only a doctor can tell, but there are over 100 different types of arthritis. Despite this large number, they typically fall into two categories.

1 Osteoarthritis

This disease is most commonly found in men and women over the age of 65. It is also known as degenerative arthritis. This name comes from the progression of the disease. It beings with cartilage breakdown. The cartilage covering the bones degenerates and wears away. Essentially, sufferers have exposed bones. These bones then rub against each other, causing severe pain and discomfort. Many also experience difficultly moving.

The most noticeable symptom of osteoarthritis is joint pain. Stiffness is common the morning and after movement. All joints can be impacted by osteoarthritis, but the most common are the hips, feet, back, knees, and fingers. Those with arthritis problems in the hands and feet may find it difficult to walk without a limp and grasp otherwise easy objects.

As with most types of arthritis, there is not just one cause for osteoarthritis. There are many contributing factors. These include body weight, previous injuries, and genes. Although osteoarthritis typically affects the elderly, athletes who repeatedly use the same joints and suffer injury are at an increased risk. As for body weight, the joints and muscle surrounding them carry most of the bodys weight; more weight applies more pressure. Although rare, there are defects that can lead to osteoarthritis. These include a lack of protein that makes up cartilage and the poor fitting of bones and joints.

2 Rheumatoid Arthritis

Rheumatoid arthritis affects over one million people in the United States. It does not discriminate, as individuals of all ages are susceptible to the disease. In fact, there are three types of rheumatoid arthritis for juveniles alone. The cause? The immune system is supposed to protect our body, but in some cases it does the exact opposite. With rheumatoid arthritis, it attacks the joint lining membrane.

The most noticeable symptom of rheumatoid arthritis is pain. If untreated, other complications can arise. The most common is disability. To prevent this from happening, all patients are urged to exercise their joints and muscles, even though it may be painful at first. Another common symptom of rheumatoid arthritis is inflammation. The swelling can be mild to severe. In most instances, this is what separates rheumatoid arthritis from other forms. Swelling and inflammation is likely, but it is much more prominent and debilitating.

Luckily, rheumatoid arthritis suffers rarely experience constant pain. The disease flares up from time to time. These flare ups are trigged by joint overuse and certain foods. As for the cause, it is currently unknown. There are however many theories. One being genes.

3 Fibromyalgia

Although not always classified as a form of arthritis, fibromyalgia is an arthritis related condition. This disease affects over three million people in the United States. That number is actually higher, but some patients are misdiagnosed.

The most noticeable symptom of fibromyalgia is muscle pain. There are also tender spots in the muscle and body that are more susceptible to pain and pressure. Additional symptoms include headaches, bladder problems, difficulty thinking, fatigue, and sleep difficulty.

While researchers have yet to determine a connection, a good percentage of those who suffer from rheumatoid arthritis later develop fibromyalgia. It wasnt bad enough that your joints hurt, but now the muscles in your body too? Additional causes may be related to prior injuries. Some studies have shown that those with previous injuries are more likely to develop the disease. Many experts believe the change in muscles, due to injury, can later lead to chronic pain and fibromyalgia.

Now that you are familiar with some of the most common types of arthritis, what comes next? If you or someone who you know suffers from arthritis, medical care is important. A proper diagnosis is important to developing the best treatment option. Low impact exercise can loosen the joints and strengthen the surrounding muscles. This not only eliminates joint stiffness, but it can later prevent disability and deformities.

Finally, some pain can be treated, but it will reoccur. Those suffering from arthritis need to learn how to manage their pain. This involves not focusing too much on it, eliminating stress, asking for help, getting a good night sleep, and learning how to calmly relax.

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Antibiotics For Sinus Infections

Antibiotics for Sinus Infections

Are there really effective antibiotics for sinus infections? Antibiotics are used for patients who are suffering from certain infections like that of the sinus. The medicine kills the bacteria inside the body which is responsible for the infection. Doctors dont prescribe antibiotics for viral influenza and common cold because it is ineffective for fighting viruses.

A healthy body can easily fight bacterial infections but this is not the case all the time. Some individuals are not that healthy and this means that their immune system is not working at its best, in short, the immune system is impaired. The white blood cells and the antibodies in some unhealthy individuals are not enough to fight the illness. The most commonly used antibiotics these days are penicillin, ,macrolides, cephalosporins, and flouroquinolones.

Antibiotics can be narrow-spectrum and broad-spectrum. In most cases, doctor prescribes the former kind of antibiotic because it is much cheaper but very effective in treating the bacterial infection. On the other hand, the latter often promotes antibiotic resistance and so it is given when badly needed.

Penicillin and macrolides are both narrow-spectrum antibiotics while the cephalosporins and flouroquinolones are noth broad-spectrum antibiotics.

Penicillin

Bacteria can easily reproduce, thereby multiplying at a fast rate especially when they have entered the hosts body. Penicillin can interfere with the building functions of the bacteria thereby stopping the infections. Amoxicillin is a very good example for treating sinus infections.

Macrolides

This antibiotic blocks or slows down the bacterias protein formation. This medicine does not eliminate the bacteria since its primary function is to curb the multiplication of the bacteria. By using the medicine, the immune system will be the one to eliminate the said bacteria. When this antibiotic is administered in large doses, it can also kill certain kinds of bacteria. Clarithromycin and erythromycin are very good examples of this kind of antibiotic. ENT specialists often prescribe clarithromycin for sinus infections.

Cephalosporins

This is already a broad-spectrum antibiotic and it works by inhibiting synthesis in the bacterias cell walls. Individuals who have a penicillin allergy are often given ceftibuten dehydrate which is a 3rd generation cephalosporins. Most ENT experts prescribe this antibiotic for those with penicillin allergic reactions.

Fluoroquinalones

Like the cephalosporins, this is another broad-spectrum antiobiotic and it is among the newest class. This antibiotic interferes with the bacterial DNA replication process. For sinus infections, Moxifloxacin is often given to patients.

Doctors cant just prescribe any antibiotic for the patient suffering from sinus infections. There are certain factors to consider like the cost of the medicine, the allergies of the individual, the possible side effects or serious reactions to the medicine, the illness severity and nature, and the rate at which the medicine is eliminated by the body.

Mild infections can be given narrow-spectrum antibiotics such as amoxicillin. Broad-spectrum antibiotics are given to patients with chronic sinus infections. Oftentimes, medical practitioners cant prescribe the same line of antibiotics because the effects vary from one individual to another. Having a personal doctor is an advantage because he or she is familiar with your medical history.

You cant use a certain antibiotic without the prescription of your doctor because it can only worsen your condition. Consult your doctor right away if youre having a sinus infection. That way, your current condition can be assessed thoroughly and a new line of medicines can be prescribed.

Body Detox Herbs Can Do Wonder in Your Lives

It is a fact that some pesticides, chemicals, and certain fumes are present in the environment that is affecting your immune system and jeopardizing your health. Moreover, the foods that you eat can lead to a toxic atmosphere lowering your overall immunity. Toxic load is the condition of tissues and cells where internal terrain is developed after food consumption of highly processed foods. Your body needs to be cleansed from these unwanted toxins. The process is called detoxification.

Although you have the kidney and liver which are organs considered as natural detoxifiers filtering out the impurities of the bodies, you need to consider other ways to detoxify your body from toxins. Some of the methods can be extreme like long fasting from juice drinks or dialysis.

Take note, your immune system is the defense mechanism of your body. So, disease and infections should be prevented before it affects your whole body through toxins removal. As you could observe, the illness frequency of a person is dependent on the immunes system strength which is composed of complex networks of nodes and lymph channels.

There are detox herbs that are beneficial in making your immune system strong. These herbs are the perfect and natural way of removing toxins from your immune systems to minimize acquired illnesses and to develop your general well-being.

Several herbs for detoxifying are much better for improving your immune systems than others. However, there are specific considerations for the detoxification program that you choose. But the following detox herbs can be used according to your needs.

-Psyllium seeds promote healthy bowel movement generally maintaining its good condition. It could be used in helping bowel related problems like diarrhea. This herb is good because it has an absorption property similar to a sponge where it helps in removing the toxins inside your body.

-Cascara Sagrada is generally a good natural laxative flushing the toxins out of your system. It also helps in strengthening your colon and other related muscles. This herb is used together with psyllium seeds.

-Milk thistle is also a very valuable substance used often to simulate the protein synthesis in the liver. It is used effectively in soaking different types of toxins found in drugs and alcohols that can damage your body.

-Nettles are used as a portion of the detox herb mixture in cleansing the urinary systems as well as any part of the body.

-Burdock roots are also perfect for stronger cleansing needs. It is helpful in reducing the heavy metals build-up within your body which causes immune system problems.

-Dandelion roots are detox herbs having strong cleansing properties appropriate for your liver. It is good for removing the gall bladder wastes and also works well for kidneys if used with other compatible detox herbs.

People would really need to detoxify themselves due to the presence of toxins in processed foods and in polluted air. Using herbs is not new in detoxification programs because its cleansing and healing properties have been known for so many years. Thus, it is now being accepted in the detoxification concept treating patients worldwide.

These herbs can effectively flush out unwanted toxins from your immune system allowing you to look and feel great. It can save you from acquiring severe illnesses. Brilliant detox herbs can really do wonders in a person’s life.

What Really Causes a Yeast Infection?

Yeast: A Necessary Fungus

Yes, you read that correctly. Yeast is necessary for our bodies, and is always present in a small concentration. However, too much of this fungus will lead to an infection. It is important to understand what causes a yeast infection in order to avoid this painful condition in the future.

Shut Down Yeasts Habitat

Yeast lives in warm, damp areas of the body. If you want to really slice your chances of getting a yeast infection, you should make sure you always wear clean, dry underwear. Tight panties made of synthetic materials are the absolute worst choice if you want to avoid yeast infections. Instead, wear cotton; it breathes much better. You should wear clean panties each day.

Women who do not control their diabetes well enough are more likely to get this condition. This is directly related to the sugar in the urine. Even if you do not have diabetes, it is a good idea to cut back on your sugar intake.

Scented toilet paper, tampons, and feminine deodorant sprays can also cause yeast infections. After exercising or swimming, it is a good idea to change out of the wet or sweaty clothing.

Dont Kill the Yeast-Fighters

This is the tricky part. If you take antibiotics for another kind of infection, you will kill not only the offending bacteria, but the bacteria that would ordinarily get rid of much of the yeast. If you use some types of soap, such as the antibacterial kind, you may be killing these good germs in your quest to deodorize. Do not use soap on your vaginal area; the dyes and perfumes can really mess up your pH balance and harm the sensitive tissues. Clothing detergents can cause the same kind of problem, so choose your detergent with care. Do not use douches, as they get rid of the good bacteria. Every time you use antibiotics or antibacterial deodorants, you are clearing the way for yeast to take over and cause an infection.

Other Causes

HIV can also allow yeast infections to occur because it weakens the immune system. If a womans vagina is injured, a yeast infection may follow. Taking steroids can also heighten your risk of getting this irritating condition.

A woman who has taken chemotherapy can also get a yeast infection. Immunosuppressive drugs are sometimes useful, but they will contribute to your chances of getting a yeast infection. Drugs that belong to the cortisone family will also put you at a greater risk of getting a yeast infection.

Women who are pregnant or on their period are also more likely to get a yeast infection than they are at other times. Whether you wear pads or tampons during your period, you should change them frequently. Stress and sickness can also have a marked impact on your chances of getting this infection.

While some of the factors that can cause a yeast infection cannot be prevented, many of them can be eradicated or reduced.