Many respiratory problems are the result of temporary problems. This can be a cold, or even some forms of the flu. Such infections are caused by bacteria or viruses, and they usually need to be combated by medications. We call these viruses and bacteria “germs,” and they can be caught from other infected people. Sometimes you have to touch the person directly, and other times all you need to do is breathe in the air that has germs in it. In any cases, it can cause very unpleasant symptoms, including fever, sweats, chills, and inflammation. Plenty of rest and fluids are needed, in addition to prescribed medications, to cure such respiratory problems.

Other respiratory problems are of a more permanent nature. Asthma is one of the most common respiratory problems. This usually shows up in youth, and affects the way that you breathe. Strenuous activity can cause the airway to close, making it difficult to breathe. Most people who have asthma have inhalers that distribute steroids, or they take them orally. This helps the airway open back up so that the person with asthma can breathe more easily. Many people learn to control their asthma well enough to play sports. One of the Olympic gold medallists in swimming is asthmatic.

Other respiratory problems are the results of carcinogens getting into the lungs. One of the emerging problems of this nature involves asbestos. This type of poisoning ruins the lungs and makes them inoperable. People who worked with buildings back in the 50s and 60s are just now finding out that this dormant carcinogen is awakening to wreak havoc with their lungs. Another carcinogen caused disease is emphysema. While this disease does exist without smoking, most people who develop it either smoked at one point, or were around smoke, especially cigarette smoke, a great deal.

Now we are finding out that air pollution can aggravate any of the above respiratory problems. What we have done to our air, especially in the more polluted cities, is actually causing higher instances of asthma and could possibly contribute to increased rates of emphysema in non-smokers. It is important to be careful when it comes to going outside in air pollution.

Depending on where the hypersensitivity reaction takes place and how many antibodies or lymphocytes are involved, the consequences may vary from sudden, life-threatening episodes to delayed ones that cause inflammation in just one part of the body.

In dogs and cats, most hypersensitivity reactions that result from eating foods cause either skin disease (characterized by scratching) or various gastrointestinal (GI) signs such as diarrhea and/or vomiting. Sometimes both the skin and the GI tract are affected in animals that have a food allergy, but many animals with food hypersensitivity have either skin or GI signs but not both.

The GI signs of food allergy sometimes occur immediately after eating (i.e., immediate-type hypersensitivity reactions). However, food allergy in pets is more commonly a . ‘delayed” hypersensitivity reaction, meaning that the consequences arise hours or days after eating the food and then persist for hours or days after each exposure. Because most pets eat the offending antigens every day, GI signs tend to be more or less constant.

There is seldom a clear-cut association between eating and the onset of signs, making it hard to determine that eating a particular food is causing the disease. To help diagnose this problem, we can look for microscopic changes on small pieces of intestine obtained by doing surgery or by passing a long instrument from the outside into the stomach. However, changes that suggest allergy (i.e., eosinophilic inflammation) are usually a form of inflammation.

Inflammation caused by food allergies usually resembles that caused by other diseases. The best way to diagnose a food allergy is to feed the pet a hypoallergenic diet (i.e., a therapeutic dietary trial) and see if the problems disappear.

When performing a therapeutic trial for a food allergy, the diet must be carefully chosen. Because there is no one diet that is hypoallergenic for all pets, one must design or find a diet that is appropriate for each animal.

The pet may be allergic to almost any component of its current diet; therefore, we want foodstuffs that the pet has not eaten before. We usually choose a diet that

(1) contains as few ingredients as possible,

(2) contains foodstuffs that we know the pet has not eaten in the past (and hence is unlikely to be allergic to), and

(3) contains foodstuffs that we know hardly ever cause allergic reactions (e.g., potato, rice).

Because some patients that are allergic to multiple antigens require a strict hypoallergenic diet, homemade diets are sometimes needed. Although inconvenient and restrictive, they are often the most successful in treating the allergy. Most homemade diets are not balanced but are adequate for use in mature animals for the 2 to 4 months when the animal is having the trial. We have to make many assumptions when we choose these diets, and it is possible that the pet is allergic to something unexpected.

When such a dietary trial is begun, it is imperative that absolutely nothing else be fed. Even flavored pills or toys can contain enough antigens to cause signs of food allergy to persist. The dietary trial must be performed long enough to allow the clinical signs of delayed-type hypersensitivity to disappear.

Some patients evidence improvement within a day of dietary change, whereas others require 4 to 8 weeks before improvement is seen. If a patient has a dietary allergy, it may have a genetic predisposition to allergy and may eventually become allergic to the ingredients of the hypoallergenic diet that it responded to well at first.

Thus when it combines with Echinacea it should called Echinacea & Goldenseal

Echinacea & Goldenseal Description:

Vcaps Wild countryside echinacea purpurea root and echinacea angustifolia root plus goldenseal root. Including e - d - s, an enzyme delivery system from 100% plant sources. Available in easy-to-swallow vegetable capsules for maximum assimilation and absorption.

Echinacea is a Native American plant, occupying the number one spot as the most popular herb in the United States with an almost 10% market share. This herb has a reputed ability to increase the immune system response and thereby ward off colds, flu and other infectious respiratory problems.

Health Benefits of Echinacea

Goldenseal has long been valued for its ability to soothe inflamed or infected mucous membranes. It is found in popular herbal blends for taming intestinal and gallbladder inflammation. Traditional Chinese healers give goldenseal (berberine, specifically) to cancer patients whose immune systems are weakened as a result of chemotherapy treatments. Its even being explored as a treatment for liver disorders.

Goldenseal may help to:

* Curtail colds, flu and other respiratory infections. If you feel that you may be developing a cold or the flu, take some goldenseal at once. The herb has both anti-infective and immune-system stimulating properties that may shorten the course of the illness. Goldenseal is often combined with echinacea for this purpose. In addition, because goldenseal can soothe mucous membranes, gargling with a tincture (diluted in warm water) or drinking the tea may relieve a sore throat.

* Combat infections of the urinary tract and vaginal area. Goldenseal may help in controlling urinary tract infections if taken at the first signs of infection. Along with reducing inflammation, drinking goldenseal tea can also help to flush bacteria away from the urinary tract. In addition, a goldenseal douche may be useful for vaginal yeast infections. There are also goldenseal vaginal suppositories commercially available.

* Treat eye complaints. Historically, goldenseal has been used for a variety of eye infections, including conjunctivitis (pinkeye). The eyes mucous membranes respond particularly well to an eyewash made of cooled goldenseal tea.

Control canker sores. These painful sites of viral infection–often the result of stress or local trauma–may resolve more quickly under the influence of goldenseals anti-infective and soothing actions. The herb can be taken internally or dabbed directly onto canker sores.

Forms

Tincture, Tablet, Suppository, Softgel, Powder, Ointment, Liquid, Dried herb/tea, Cream, Capsule,

General Interaction

There are no known drug or nutrient interactions associated with goldenseal.

Many respiratory problems are the result of temporary problems. This can be a cold, or even some forms of the flu. Such infections are caused by bacteria or viruses, and they usually need to be combated by medications. We call these viruses and bacteria “germs,” and they can be caught from other infected people. Sometimes you have to touch the person directly, and other times all you need to do is breathe in the air that has germs in it. In any cases, it can cause very unpleasant symptoms, including fever, sweats, chills, and inflammation. Plenty of rest and fluids are needed, in addition to prescribed medications, to cure such respiratory problems.

Other respiratory problems are of a more permanent nature. Asthma is one of the most common respiratory problems. This usually shows up in youth, and affects the way that you breathe. Strenuous activity can cause the airway to close, making it difficult to breathe. Most people who have asthma have inhalers that distribute steroids, or they take them orally. This helps the airway open back up so that the person with asthma can breathe more easily. Many people learn to control their asthma well enough to play sports. One of the Olympic gold medallists in swimming is asthmatic.

Other respiratory problems are the results of carcinogens getting into the lungs. One of the emerging problems of this nature involves asbestos. This type of poisoning ruins the lungs and makes them inoperable. People who worked with buildings back in the 50s and 60s are just now finding out that this dormant carcinogen is awakening to wreak havoc with their lungs. Another carcinogen caused disease is emphysema. While this disease does exist without smoking, most people who develop it either smoked at one point, or were around smoke, especially cigarette smoke, a great deal.

Now we are finding out that air pollution can aggravate any of the above respiratory problems. What we have done to our air, especially in the more polluted cities, is actually causing higher instances of asthma and could possibly contribute to increased rates of emphysema in non-smokers. It is important to be careful when it comes to going outside in air pollution.

If you like to have the latest in state-of-the-art technology, then an ionic air purifier might be a good choice for an air purification system in your home.

The ionic air purifier first took center stage with a huge marketing effort by the large cataloger and retailer Shaper Image, with their Ionic Breeze Air Purifier.

While similar technology for air purification had existed before, Sharper Image made some advancements in design and had the marketing muscle to make their purification systems a household name in no time.

Since the Sharper Image brand of ionic purification systems was introduced, there are now other companies as well that market similar air purifiers which operate on the same basic premise.

Unlike the more traditional and common HEPA air cleaners, the ionic purifiers do not use filters as the main way of removing particulates from the air.

Instead, ionic purification technology relies on the use of electrostatic plates to apply charge to the pollutants in the atmosphere of the home. When the charged particles pass through the unit, they are electrostatically attracted to collector blades inside the unit. Then the indoor pollutants can be simply wiped off the collection blades for easy disposal of the contaminants.

Another difference between the ionic purification technology and the typical HEPA ones is that these units do not depend on fans to circulate the air, but instead use the electrostatic technology to pull air through the device.

This allows the air purifiers to operate virtually in silence. They can run continuously without adding to the noise level in the home and consequently, cause no interference with sleep.

Because of the lack of fans in the ionic purification systems, these machines are also extremely energy efficient, using much less electricity to operate on a daily basis than their counterparts with blowers.

This helps to greatly lower the cost of operating these units and since air purifiers must be run everyday around the clock, this can add up to significant savings over the course of a year.

Another area of savings that you will enjoy by using an ionic air purifier, is that no replacement filters will ever be needed. With HEPA purification systems, the filters must be replaced on a regular basis in order to maintain a high level of efficiency and effectiveness in pulling the dangerous pollutants from the air. This cost can add up greatly over the life of the machine.

The ionic air purifier units are more expensive than the HEPA filtered units, but over time, you will save money in ongoing operation and maintenance costs.

There are some refurbished units available that can save you some money, as well as smaller units that are less expensive that could be used in the area of the home where you spend the bulk of your time. There are also other ionic purification systems on the market that claim to offer better value, such as the Ionic Pro purifier.

In order to enjoy the best effectiveness from the ionic air purifier that you have in your house, you should always be sure to keep the house closed up, leaving doors and windows sealed. What this does is help the purifier to be able to remove the most contaminants from the trapped air.

Of all the muscles in the body, the muscles we use to breathe are the only ones over which we have dual control; that is, they can work both automatically and voluntarily. In healthy people, breathing in and out happens automatically but, when necessary, we can also control it. We do this, for example, to avoid inhaling smoke and fumes, when singing, or when swimming under water.

How We Breathe

The respiratory system is made up of the rib cage and intercostal muscles, the diaphragm - a sheet of muscle between the chest and stomach - and the respiratory tract, which comprises the airways and lungs.

When we breathe, the muscles in the thorax that link the ribs contract, pulling the ribs up and out. The diaphragm pulls the chest cavity down, and together these two processes cause the lungs to expand. Cold air is drawn in through the nose where it is warmed and then taken down into the lungs. When enough air has been inhaled successfully (which is called inspiration), the muscles and diaphragm relax and the air is exhaled as the lungs compress (called expiration). Then the diaphragm contracts once more and the cycle begins again.

When the air passes through the nose it enters the trachea (the windpipe) and the bronchi, Which are small airways that run through each lung.These bronchi become smaller and smaller, eventually taking the form of bronchioles, which end as tiny air sacs called alveoli. The alveoli are linked to blood capillaries, which exchange oxygen and carbon dioxide at a very quick rate.

On average we take about 12 breaths per minute, and that rate is controlled by the body according to its needs at a particular point in time. If there is too carbon dioxide and too little oxygen, the rate of respiration will increase and the body will gulp or gasp for air. This may, for example, occur during strenuous exercise, an asthma attack, or in fright. When the levels of oxygen and carbon dioxide return to normal, breathing returns to its normal rate of respiration.

When we are stressed, we may breathe at an accelerated rate. Rapid breathing is a general response to stress, and it leads to overall tension of the muscles and eventually dizziness, faintness, and a sensation of pins and needles caused by metabolic changes in the body. Overbreathing causes the concentration of carbon dioxide in the alveoli of the lungs to fall, leading to a buildup of alkali in the bloodstream and tissue fluid. This alkalosis produces the symptoms outlined above.

When we breathe normally, and efficiently, we use our diaphragm, which contracts and becomes flat, increasing the space in the chest into which the lungs can expand. When lungs are able to expand to their full capacity, all residual carbon dioxide is expelled and more oxygen can be inhaled. Many adults have to relearn breathing because of lifelong bad habits.

A variety of disorders - physical injury, infections, viruses, allergies, and diseases - can disrupt and endanger the normal breathing processes.

Sneezing/nasal discharge Sneezing and nasal discharge is common in Labrador Retrievers as well as other breeds. It may be caused by minor conditions like hay fever, a foreign object lodged in the nose or by major problems like canine nasal tumors. Dogs also sneeze when they wake up or if they are just laying on their backs. Sneezing itself is not an illness but could be a sign of an illness. A blood coming out of your dog’s nose may be a sign of canine nasal tumor or may be just a foreign object lodged in his nasal cavity. Seek veterinary help immediately to diagnose the underlying cause.

Breathing problems There are some circumstances wherein a dog may experience difficulty in breathing. There are various reasons for this predicament. Reasons for this breathing difficulties include physical obstructions preventing normal air intake, chest injury, pneumonia, tumors, heart failure, poisoning, an allergic reaction, pain, smoke inhalation, heatstroke and damaged lung or diaphragm. Rapid and shallow breathing may just be a response to conditions like shock whereas labored breathing may be a sign of heart failure or tumor. Noisy breathing may indicate that there may be an obstruction or foreign object present.

Coughing Cough is not unusual to dogs. It could be caused by allergy, pollution, infection or foreign material in the air passages. Other causes include inhalation or ingestion of poisonous substances, fluid in the chest cavity, worms, heart conditions, chest diseases or injuries. If the coughing gets worse, visit your vet for help. Cough in dogs may be contagious if it is caused by the bacterium Bordatella bronchiseptica. This condition is referred to as canine cough or kennel cough. Canine cough is characterized by a harsh, dry cough that lasts for about five days after contact with a carrier of the disease. This cough causes loss of appetite, depression and nasal discharge as well. Vaccine against Bordatella should be administered to prevent your dog from acquiring this disease.

If you suspect that your dog is having problems related to breathing or respiratory, consult your vet immediately for diagnosis and proper treatment.

Irritable bowel syndrome is not to be classified as a disease. Doctors refer this disorder as functional. This means that the bowel ceases to work or function in correct order.

The colon muscles operate to eliminate the toxins or waste elements of the body via contracting and relaxing as they push the undigested food via the large intestine. In order to function well, all these muscles are supposed to work well and in conjunction with other muscles inside the body so as to push out the waste out of the anus. In case the colon muscles don´t function at a proper pace for digestion or the coordination with muscles inside the pelvis or the rectum is interrupted, the colon contents would not move smoothly. Once the function of colon is interrupted, one can feel a lot of discomfort in the form of bloating, diarrhea, constipation and abdominal cramps.

According to a research, it has been proved that about 6% to 14% of all teenagers show signs of irritable bowel syndrome. The condition is more common in girls than guys. The good news is that this condition is not fatal. The condition also does not have a risk of permanent damage to the intestines.

Irritable bowel syndrome is also often referred to as the following:

a) Irritable colon

b) Spastic colon

c) Mucous colitis

d) Nervous stomach

As far as the actual cause of irritable bowel syndrome is concerned, it is not known yet. Some people with irritable bowel syndrome tend to show signs of abnormal movements of the lower and greater part of the large intestine or the colon. The movements can either be too last or too slow.

Symptoms of irritable bowel syndrome may vary from person to person. Some people may feel discomfort in the form of pain and cramping inside the abdominal area of the bowel movements or irregular and painful periods of diarrhea and constipation. However, the most common conditions are either diarrhea or constipation. In some cases, people may show signs of both.

Irritable bowel syndrome is the most common gastrointestinal disorder observed by doctors.

Irritable bowel syndrome is also referred to as a multi-faceted condition. The condition is due to the disturbance in the interaction between many components of body. These components are the guts the intestines and the automatic nervous system of the body that´s responsible for controlling voluntary muscles including the living as well as the components of the intestinal tract and the brain.

The condition can be easily treated by making some changes in lifestyles and medication. All one requires to do is to meet a well experienced health care practitioner.

When should one take a potassium supplement? That depends on the type of potassium you have been prescribed, as the dosages and how often you take it varies greatly. That said, however, potassium supplements are often taken 2 - 4 times per day, and often with food. Your local druggist can help you if you should have any question or concern in relation to your supplements.

How should somebody best take a potassium supplement? You should always read the label of your prescription bottles for specific to that supplement, instructions. Tablets and capsules should be taken in original form; breaking should be avoided, if at all possible. That will not be an option for every one. Individuals who have trouble swallowing medicine may have that as an obstacle to overcome, that is alright. Do what you normally would do. If your potassium supplement is in the form of a powder, liquid, granule, or fizzing tablet be certain to mix your potassium in water, before you drink it. Drinking in cold water can help in masking less than ideal flavor, or including your favorite fruit juice to your glass helps make your potassium much easier on your tongue. Whichever form your potassium supplement is in, taking them with a full glass of water is what is most recommended.

Normally GERD in babies is due to a gastrointestinal tract that is not functioning properly. However, most of the infants who have GERD are in good health condition. Overeating, some food items and certain beverages are also factors that cause GERD. It can also be partly caused by hereditary factors.

Bringing a newborn baby home can be a devastating prospect and many first time parents, as well as experienced ones, can feel out of their comfort zone. Many parents find that they have a newborn that seems to show signs of repeat symptoms, like being particularly picky. Most parents have heard the term “colic” before, and point this to their baby’s fussiness.

GERD or gastro esophageal reflux disease is a disease that occurs when there is a progress or reflux of stomach contents back up into the throat. Since there are usually lots of acids contained in the stomach contents, there tends to be a swelling and irritation when this occurs.

Gastro esophageal reflux in infants is usually caused by the break down of a muscle that is between the stomach and the esophagus. This muscle is similar to a door that needs to be closed when the food passes through on its way to the stomach. Occasionally this door gets jammed, resulting a reflux reaction in the stomach and the food to be unnatural back up.

At times the root of gastro esophageal reflux in infants is just an undeveloped muscle that needs time to become fully operational. Once this happens, infants with gastro esophageal reflux are no longer bothered with the symptoms.

On occasion the problem is more serious and gastro esophageal reflux in infants needs to be taken seriously because of the risk of other problems. This can consist of a problem with the intestenial tract that may have to do with an abnormality that will need surgery to repair. Or the infant may perhaps have an allergy to milk or even an ulcer. It is important to get rid of all possibilities when looking at gastroesophageal reflux in infants.

The common symptoms of GERD in infants consists of frequent coughing, recurring vomiting, heartburn, stomach pain or showing signs of colic such as persistent crying or fussy behavior. They will often reiterate their food and then proceed to swallow it. You might notice them gagging or having some problems in breathing. Some experts believe that a poor growth rate is a indication of GERD in infants as well as habitual bouts of pneumonia.

Several of the most regular symptoms of gastro esophageal reflux in infants are, throwing up after every feeds. Frequently this can be projectile vomiting as it is a strongly forced vomit.

Another symptom is of the unvarying crying and the infant can also show signs of symptoms of arching the back and writhing. The infant may also like better to be in an upright position. Be sure to be observant of when the infant is having these symptoms to share with a doctor.

An analysis is made by inserting a small tube down the esophagus and taking measures of overnight levels of acid within the stomach. This is very uncomfortable for the infant but the only best way to conclude if the infant has gastro esophageal reflux.

In usual information provided by the parents is adequate for a pediatrician to realize if the baby has GERD. In some cases tests are required to be completed in able to come up with the correct diagnosis. The tests for GERD in infants consist of an upper GI series, a ph probe, an upper GI endoscope and what is referred to as a gastric emptying study.

If this is resolute to be the cause of the discomfort and other symptoms, your doctor may recommend some medication or other alternative treatments for the baby. Most infants will out grow this circumstance at around seven months.

Gastroesophageal reflux in infants is certainly a distressing condition, but the infant will mature and the symptoms will abate.

Treatments for GERD

Doctors usually recommend that the first things parents should do is make some lifestyle changes for their infant. Parents can try elevating the portion of the crib where their baby’s head is placed. Parents should hold the infant upright for approximately thirty minutes after the baby has been fed. Check with your doctor to learn if feeding your infant solid foods might be an appropriate and safe procedure for preventing GERD symptoms in your baby. If these easy changes in lifestyle don’t eliminate or reduce GERD in your infant your doctor might recommend medication.

Antacids reduce acid in the stomach and antacid products which are considered safe for children are Mylanta and Maalox. Your doctor might recommend acid blockers such as Pepcid, Zantac or Tagamet. Proton pump inhibitors decrease the amount of acid that is produced in a baby’s stomach. High dosages of antacids, acid blockers and proton pump inhibitors can produce harmful side effects for babies. Using these products for too long of a time period can also produce harmful side effects. Serious side effects from using these types of medications are rare but make sure you check with your pediatrician before give your infant any of these medications. Discuss with your doctor the various treatments that are available for treating GERD in infants.

The Relationship Between Diet and GERD in Infants

Diet and GERD in infants is particularly important because infants have a much thinner and more delicate stomach lining than adults. Therefore they will not only tend to suffer from much more pain but as well are more likely to have permanent damage done to their bodies.

Diet and GERD in Infants

When it comes to the topic of diet and GERD in infants, the most important thing is to understand what foods should be avoided. Certain foods can aggravate the symptoms associated with the condition and should not be eaten at all, if possible.

Orange juice, tomatoes, mashed potatoes, fresh fries, onions, ground beef, marbled sirloin, buffalo wings, cottage cheese, spaghetti, and chicken nuggets, all of these are foods that can aggravate your GERD symptoms and so you should avoid them completely if you can or at least limit how much you eat of them and how often.

When it comes to diet and GERD in infants it is also a good idea to keep a food diary, because this way you can keep track of what you are feeding the infant and notice whether they are making any improvement, particularly when you remove the aggressing foods from their diet.

Exercise is also important here and plays a major role in terms of your success in dealing with the condition.

If you have an infant suffering from GERD it is important that you get them in to see the doctor as soon as possible and make sure that they get appropriate treatment as soon as possible.