Arthritis Care for Winter Season

Why Winter Season is Bothersome for Arthritic Patient?

Winter is coming! Many people will enjoy the chilled winds and cool breeze of winter season. It is a season that won’t surrender and it comes with cool breeze, chilled winds, cold temperature, low humidity and dry indoor environment which create problematic situation and feeling of annoyance in the mobility of joints. People suffering from any type of arthritis are not able to enjoy this cool and pleasant season of the year as they already are experiencing the reduction in their joint mobility because of the reduction in the muscular strength and winter season makes this condition more debilitating.

Why Arthritic Patients are Weather Sensitive?

Why winter is the most troublesome season for the arthritic patients? Why is it so difficult for them to manage? Why the symptoms of arthritis get aggravated during winter season? Why they are sensitive to weather change? The main reason is that cold temperature during winter season causes muscles, tendon and ligaments present around the joint to contract which result in increased pressure on joint. Arthritis sufferer experience severe pain during mobility because of this increased pressure on joints. According to many clinical studies about 70% people who are suffering from arthritis are affected by climate change. ^{[1, 2, 3]}

Tips for Maximizing Arthritis Cure

No matter how cold the temperature is! You can still manage your arthritis. The key point is to make yourself well-aware about arthritis. The more knowledge you have about arthritis, the better you will be able to tackle it in winter

There are many ways by which one can facilitate his mobility and movement. I am listing here some of them:

• Take proper rest and perform some relaxation exercises which will help in increasing the mobility of joints.
• Take care of your diet. Take a proper and balanced diet rich in Glucosamine sulfate which has a pronounced effect in bones and joint health.
• There are some other nutrients and herbs that have potential to maintain good health of bones and joints like Alfalfa, Shark cartilage, Condroitin, MSM, Boswellia, Calcium, Vitamin C, and Vitamin E. Try to include them in your diet.
• Take your medicines on time.
• Try to increase your fluid intake as it will help you to get rid of toxins.
• Try to stay at home during the coldest part of the season.
• Always try to keep the affected area under wraps.
• Try to keep yourself active by performing regular exercises. Walking is the best exercise to improve mobility
• Try to keep your joint warm either by using hot packs or through warm bath. It will also help in relieving arthritic pain.
• Try to keep your weight under control. Joints of an obese arthritic patient are more vulnerable, and putting extra weight on them will result in greater degree of arthritic pain. ^{[1, 2, 3]}

References:

1.http://arthritis.ygoy.com/2008/11/17/arthritis-care-for-winters/
2.http://4arthritis-rheumatoid.blogspot.com/2008/11/arthritis-treatments-5-tips-for-winter.html
3.http://optimalhealtharticles.blogspot.com/2008/10/arthrits.html

Important Facts about Common Cold

Common cold is a viral infection of upper respiratory tract. Since there is no cure for common cold, the best option is prevention. Once a cold has a firm grip on you, it is hard to stop it.

Here we are listing some important facts about common cold that you need to know:

• There are many over-the-counter medications available for common cold, but none of them can actually cure common cold. They can only be used to alleviate cold symptoms.
• Bovine colostrums, taken in the cold and flu season may help to ward off infection.
• It is unlikely that a vaccine will ever be developed to prevent the common cold because the viruses responsible have the ability to change in shape and size, and have hundreds of different forms.
• The possibility for real cold relief may lie in substances like interferon, natural proteins that the body produces in response to viral infection.
• Interferon seems to improve the respiratory tract’s ability to ward off viruses.
• Vitamin C promotes interferon production.
• Antibiotics are ineffective against viral infections. It is important to understand that penicillin and most other antibiotics work only against bacterial infection and not on viral infections.
• You can catch cold when your immune system is weakened such as during stress and/or because of poor diet, viruses can take hold. These viruses are opportunistic and lie dormant in the body, taking hold when the immune system is at its weakest.
• Allergies can cause symptoms that mimic those of colds and flu. Allergy testing is recommended.
• Anyone who has frequent colds or bouts with the flu should be checked for thyroid malfunction. When you are well, perform the thyroid function self-test. If your temperature is low, consult your health care provider.
• Congestion, cough, and/or sore throat are the signs of a cold, but if these symptoms occur together with fever or fatigue, you may have the flu.
• If congestion develops in the chest, it is best to consult a physician, as chest (lung) infection can be serious.
• If your fever goes above 102^o F for more than 3 days, or experience any other sign or symptom consult your doctor.

Reference:
Phyllis A. Balch, CNC & James F. Balch, M.D. (2000). Prescription for Nutritional Healing. (3rd edition) Page No. 297-300. Penguin Putnam INC. New York: Avery.

Common Cold

Common cold is a viral infection of the upper respiratory tract and is highly contagious. According to estimation, more than $1 billion are spent every year in America on nonprescription treatments for coughs and colds. Many people think that cold weather causes colds. It is not true, although most colds are caught in the season of fall and winter because most cold viruses grow better in colder temperature. ^{[1, 2]}

Causative Virus of Common Cold

There are more than 200 different viruses that can cause the common cold, out of them the most common virus is Rhinovirus. There are more than 110 serologic types of viruses that can cause upper respiratory tract symptoms or cold symptoms. Rhinoviruses are the viruses that contribute about 30% to 50% of all cases. ^[3]

Symptoms of Common Cold

The most common symptoms of common colds are listed below:

• Scratchy throat
• Runny nose
• Watery eyes
• Head congestion
• Nasal congestion
• Cough
• Sneezing
• Headache
• Muscle aches
• Fatigue
• Malaise
• Weakness
• Sometimes Fever

The symptoms of common cold usually last for 7-10 days. ^{[1, 2]}

Economic Impact of Cold

Although common cold is the most common health problem all around the world and sometimes consider as trifling but if we talk about the economic impact of common cold only in United States of America, approximately $2.9 billion are spent on over-the counter medicines and about $400 millions are spent on prescription medicines for common cold.

Mostly people received Antibiotic prescription for the relief of their symptoms. In the United States, an estimated 41 million antibiotics are prescribed annually that contributes to an unnecessary cost of $1.1 billion.

According to estimation, children suffering from common cold and cough miss approximately 22 to 189 million school days annually, due to this parent have to miss 126 million workdays to stay at home to take care of their children. Employees suffering from common cold let pass 150 million workdays annually. When added to 126 million workdays missed by parents, the total of cold-related work loss exceeds $20 billion. ^[2]

Treatment of Common Cold

There is no treatment for common cold, no medically proven medicine that directly targets the virus. The purpose of medicines and supplement in common cold is to maximize the comfort of the patient and to limit the severity of symptoms.

Here we are listing some herbs that are helpful in reducing the severity of symptoms and have favorable effects on body.

• Astragalus
• Boneset
• Catnip Tea
• Cat’s Claw
• Chuan xin lian
• Ephedra
• Echinacea
• Goldenseal
• Elderberry
• Eucalyptus
• Fenu-Thyme
• Ginger
• Pau d’arco
• Slippery elm
• Yarrow tea
• Hyssop
• Mullein
• Red clover ^[1]

References:

1. Phyllis A. Balch, CNC & James F. Balch, M.D. (2000). Prescription for Nutritional Healing. (3rd edition) Page No. 297-300. Penguin Putnam INC. New York: Avery.
2. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Common_cold
3. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rhinovirus

Thanksgiving Day

Celebrations of Thanksgiving Day

Thanksgiving or Thanksgiving Day is celebrated in Unites States on the fourth Thursday in the month of November and in Canada, it is celebrated on the second Monday of October as being a part of Harvest Festival. The time period from Thanksgiving Day to New Year’s Day is also called as Holiday Season. Thanksgiving Day is a Federal Holiday to express thanks, appreciation and gratitude for one's material and mystical belongings. It is a time of being grateful to Lord Almighty and your fellow men. ^{[1, 2, 3]}

Origin of Thanksgiving Day

America's most excellent and premium day - Thanksgiving Day has a very interesting and appealing history. The very first Thanksgiving dinner is said to be served in the 16th century when the pilgrims and the Indians did have their three-day feast in celebration of a good harvest. It was not a holiday, it was simply a gathering.

The well-known pilgrims were crossing the Atlantic in 1620 with great impenetrability due to the dreadful and awful storms, and they were not allowed to go on the desk and were kept in the cargo space of the ship. The pilgrims could not reach to their original destination because of storm and due to extreme weather conditions they decided to stay at Plymouth Rock, where they called for a day for fasting and prayer. God answered their prayers and it rained which saved the corn crops and it helped all of them to survive. The majestic feast or dinner was organized to express thanks and gratitude to God for His favors. This banquet is now known as The First Thanksgiving Feast.

President Lincoln stated publicly the last Thursday of November as Thanksgiving Day in 1863. ^[4]

Tradition of Thanksgiving Day

Thanksgiving Day is the most eye-catching and exulted event. The tradition of Thanksgiving Day celebration is highly manifested with lots of fun, gratification, enjoyment, cavort, gifts, great family banquet and prayers. It is also celebrated as an occasion to thank God for harvest and all the good, high-quality, pleasant and satisfactory things that they have in their lives. ^[5]

Other than ceremonial dinner and feast, community prayers and thanking God, people also show their gratitude for their fellow with immense vehemence and zeal by sending them beautiful and attractive gifts including flowers, jewelry, cookies, chocolates, wines etc. ^[5]

Thanksgiving Day Cards

Many people would like to express their love, care and gratitude by sending an exquisite Thanksgiving Day Card. Sending Thanksgiving Day card is one of the most expressive ways of showing your feeling, you can choose among variety of cards in card shop or can also send your own handmade card, you can also send an e-card to your loved ones.

You can select a beautiful and attractive Thanksgiving Day card from here;

http://www.thanksgiving-cards.net/index.html





Thanksgiving Greeting Cards

It is totally Free! So start sending your Thanksgiving Day card to your loved ones and make them feel touched!

Happy Thanksgiving Day!

References

1. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Thanksgiving_(United_States)
2. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Thanksgiving
3. http://www.thanksgiving-day.org/thanksgiving-day-celebration.html
4. http://www.thanksgiving-day.org/origin-thanksgiving-day.html
5. http://www.thanksgiving-day.org/thanksgiving-day-tradition.html