What causes airborne allergies, hayfever and allergic rhinitis?

With every breath we take, we breathe in millions of microscopic particles such as dust, pollen, plant spores, viruses, bacteria and even pollutants in the form of chemicals in the air.

Many of these particles are filtered and removed by the nose and respiratory system, while others enter the body. If the immune system is strong and healthy, it can ward off infection against pollutants, viruses and other harmful airborne substances that may enter the body.

Normally the immune system will ignore harmless airborne particles entering the body such as pollen, house dust, animal dander, etc. In some people, however, the immune system misinterprets these harmless particles and identifies them as being dangerous to the system.

This triggers a release of a substance called histamine, as well as other inflammatory compounds in the body, which cause a condition called ‘allergic rhinitis’ and hayfever.  Read more...

Asthma is a condition that involves swelling of the bronchioles or constriction of the muscle fibers around the bronchioles and alveoli (tiny air sacs). Many asthmatics describe the event as having a metal band squeezing their chest. Asthma is a chronic condition that cant be cured but can be managed and controlled with medications and preventative measures.

People who suffer from asthma have greater positive results when they use asthma self management tools. More people are learning that living with asthma is controllable and doesn’t have to impede their lifestyle.

There are several asthma self management tools that help the asthma sufferer to adequately control their asthma so they can lead active lifestyles. One such tool is asthma coaches. These coaches or disease management specialists are employed by insurance companies to decrease their costs and the patients distress from asthma attacks.

The goal of asthma self management is to have easy access to the information, skills and support sufferers need to manage their asthma. Asthma self management is a fundamental component of asthma guidelines.  Read more...

Food allergies are becoming more and more common across America. Whether that’s because children are being exposed earlier to allergens or because the gene pool is getting weaker and weaker with each passing generation the reasons aren’t clear. What is clear is that each year millions of Americans have allergic reactions to food.

Most food allergy reactions are mild. Symptoms are easily managed at home and families may not even report them to their doctor, especially if they don’t recognize that their symptoms are a result of a food allergy. But, some food allergies cause severe reactions that can be life-threatening and definitely require a doctors care and hospitalization.

People who suffer from food allergies shouldn’t be fooled by an initial mild reaction to a food allergen. This early reaction can be followed quickly by a much more severe food allergic reaction such as anaphylaxis.  Read more...

Description
Learn about attention deficit/hyperactivity disorder and learn what factors are thought to contribute to the development of this disorder. Other disorders that commonly co-exist with ADHD will be identified. The impulsivity and risk-taking behaviors of ADHD teens will be focused upon and tips that ADHD students can use to succeed academically will be provided. Laws that require schools to make special accommodations for ADHD students will be reviewed, and viewers will le… More >>

Dealing with ADHD: Attention Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder DVD

Congestive heart failure is a condition in which the heart can’t pump enough blood to the body’s organs to supply oxygen and nutrients necessary to sustain life. This condition can result from a number of diseases or illnesses including coronary artery disease, high blood pressure, cardiomyopathy, infection of the heart muscle and heart valve disease.

Although the heart continues to work it isn’t as efficient or effective as it should be which results in a number of different symptoms including shortness of breath, fatigue, fluid build up in the ankles, feet or abdomen or decreased ability of the kidneys to function.

Once the physician has diagnosed the problem they will initiate different forms of treatment to alleviate the symptoms. It is also important to treat the underlying condition so further damage doesn’t occur. And the treatment recommended for the congestive heart failure will also rely upon the treatment of the causative factor and any other underlying medical conditions.  Read more...

The term “attachment parenting” is credited to Dr. William Sears, a pediatrician, and his wife, Martha Sears, a nurse. Attachment parenting, or AP, is a natural form of parenting, which means it will look different in different families.

Because AP is more about a state of mind than a parenting method, it is not a “one size fits all” approach to parenting. Nonetheless, there are some trademarks and characteristic of AP that help define and clarify what it is. But even these traits will vary among families.

1. Gentle birth
AP advocates believe that attachment begins at birth – actually, before birth. Attachment parenting begins with research about birth, infant development, and as much information about how the process works as possible. AP parents try for a natural birth, with emphasis on the mother-infant bond.  Read more...