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How To Get Rid of Cold Sores - No More Cold Sore?

How to get rid of cold sores fast? This article you will show you how to get rid of cold sores, fever blisters and oral herpes using medically sound and well proven home remedies.

Understanding how to get rid of cold sores before an upcoming event is really a blessing. But, we have all seen those crazy claims about some potion or lotion that is supposed to be the answer to how to get rid of cold sores.

You give it a try and, again, you find it does not work.

To really understand how to get rid of cold sores, your first step is to know what causes them. Once you do this, then you will see how these proven methods work. You will get much better results this way.

The cause of all oral herpes outbreaks - whether you call them cold sores or fever blisters - is the herpes simplex virus. It could be either the type 1 or type 2 variety. They both create identical sores.

The herpes virus is extremely contagious and tough. Nearly everyone in the world carries it. When you first are infected, the virus chooses a nearby nerve fiber as a lifetime home.

Usually the herpes virus stays hidden and inactive. Only two-thirds of those infected will have outbreaks. The other third will never have a single cold sore.

When you feel stress, your immunity will fade. This gives the herpes virus the opportunity to become active. From its hiding spot in the nerve roots, the virus will go to the surface, enter cells there, and create new virus.

As the cells fill up with new virus, swelling occurs. Then the cells explode releasing a hoard of new virus. Tons of exploded cells close together form the oral herpes cold sore ulcer.

Now healing requires your body to create new cells to replace the ones that were burnt out.

Your energy level will determine how quickly the cold sore will completely heal. Also, the correct building materials - such as proteins, vitamins and minerals - are needed in high amounts.

Right now, I would like to show you how to get rid of cold sores that you are suffering with right now. Also, you will discover what it may take in your life to prevent them altogether.

1. INITIAL COLD SORE SIGNS

When a new cold sore is just hours away, you will feel the virus moving to the surface as a tingling or itching. Treating the area quickly could delay or discourage the oral herpes sore from developing.

Do not delay. As soon as you feel these signs, apply ice cubes to the area. This discourages the herpes virus from reproducing. Sometimes, the herpes virus just gives up and goes back into hiding. Beautiful.

2. CLEANING THE COLD SORE AREA IS YOUR FIRST PRIORITY

Our bodies understand how to get rid of cold sores efficiently. Once the sore breaks open, your body creates a fluid that washes tons of cold sore virus out of the wound.

You can really help to speed up the healing process here.

Continually cleanse the cold sore using alcohol or hydrogen peroxide. Not only will you remove much of the virus this way, you will also help prevent spreading the sore to another location or person.

3. REPAIRING THE COLD SORE DAMAGE

Here is a little known tactic. Once the sore has burst open, no longer use ice if possible. It will slow healing. Instead, start applying heat. This will cause more healing blood to rush to the area.

Warm, black tea bags are wonderful for this treatment. They are cheap and convenient. Tea also provides micro-nutrients that aid in cell protection and repair. Discard each tea bag after use.

For best results, do not heat the bags in a microwave. The radiation reduces the effectiveness of the healing properties of tea. Use hot water to heat the bag. Applying for 10 to 20 minute sessions are the best therapy.

These methods have proven very effective for those seeking to learn how to get rid of cold sores, fever blisters and oral herpes. But you may need or want to learn even more tips, tricks and tactics.

If so, feel free to go to my web site where you will find a ton of free articles to help you understand exactly how to get rid of cold sores now, and in the future.

July 17th, 2008 Posted by Denny Bodoh | Disease & Illness | no comments

Reducing the Effects of Diabetes

Without proper treatment, diabetes can have negative short-term and long-term health effects. With care it is possible to nearly avoid most effects.

The most common short-term effect is sudden dips and spikes in blood sugar. These can cause dizziness, confusion, upset stomach, and other problems. While some diabetics seldom have this problem, most will occasionally experience mild episodes. Routine self-care can help minimize episodes.

Regular and careful monitoring is a must. It’s no picnic to endure a finger prick three times a day. For those who simply can’t muster the will, it is worthwhile to look into some of the newer glucose monitoring devices that don’t require it.

Some contain tiny, powerful lasers that create a hole through which blood oozes. They produce only a mild tingling sensation. One recent device senses glucose level through the skin using an infrared beam, requiring no blood sample at all.

The intent of monitoring is to keep the glucose-insulin balance near normal. In people without diabetes, the fasting blood glucose level is under 99 mg/dL. Eating a big meal may cause the level to rise to above 200 mg/dL, but normal functioning releases enough insulin to bring the level down within a few hours. So a little variation in the glucose reading is normal; keeping the proper balance is the goal.

Monitoring must include periodic doctor visits. An A1C test should be taken every three months. Many tests can measure the blood glucose level at a certain time; the A1C gives an average over a several months. HbA1C (glycated hemoglobin) gives the test its name.

Hemoglobin molecules transport oxygen to the tissues from the red blood cells. When the blood has extra glucose, hemoglobin becomes glycated. Since this a long-term effect the A1C test can obtain an average of the glucose levels over time.

Long term the effects will accumulate, good or bad. Over 10-15 years or longer, many diabetes patients of the past would endure blindness, kidney damage, nerve damage and other ill health effects. That no longer has to be the case. With contemporary understanding of the disease and modern technology it’s possible to reduce the odds of those effects nearly to those without the disease.

Much of this management is disciplined exercise and diet. Many diabetics can keep their glucose-insulin balance nearly normal through diet and exercise, without medicine.

Keeping body fat low through proper diet and exercise will help. Body fat plays a role in how the body reacts to glucose levels, as well as affecting hormone production and release. While the mechanisms are still being investigated, many studies show there is a clear correlation between body fat and the severity of diabetes effects, as well.

Proper weight and body fat maintenance will also help keep blood pressure at the right level. Chronic high blood pressure is one of the major elements in increasing the risk of common diabetes problems: heart attack and stroke, eye and nerve damage, and others.

With a well-disciplined self-management routine, a diabetic can achieve a practically normal life. The pain of monitoring the disease is minor compared to the enormous benefits that result from doing so.

July 16th, 2008 Posted by Julia Hanf | Disease & Illness | no comments

Crohn’s Disease: How To Tell If You Have It

Crohn’s disease causes inflammation along the walls of the digestive system, most often in the small and large intestines. It is a chronic condition with periods of flare ups and remissions. Although the exact causes of the disease are unknown, it is thought to have some genetic factor and is found more often in women and in smokers. The symptoms of the illness can vary greatly among people, both in the frequency and severity of attacks.

In Crohn’s disease the lining of part of the digestive tract becomes swollen and painful. Ulcers may form which can then bleed, or on healing, can leave scar tissue that narrows the tract and cause a complete blockage. Sufferers will often experience pain, its location depending on the exact site of the inflammation. If the intestine is affected the pain will occur in the lower right abdominal area and is sometimes mistaken for appendicitis.

Diarrhea is a common symptom, although not universal. It varies from mild to severe and can be mixed with blood, pus or mucus. You may feel an urgent need to go to the toilet. It is common to feel you want to go to the toilet but have nothing to pass (tenesmus). The disease also causes a general feeling of being unwell, with a loss of appetite, weight loss, fever and extreme tiredness. If blood loss is heavy, anemia can occur and if large parts of the bowel are affected, you may not be able to absorb food properly leading to vitamin and nutrient deficiency. Sometimes the skin of the anus may become cracked, bleeding and painful.

Crohn’s disease is suspected in people who have displayed its most common symptoms for more than three weeks, these include weight loss, diarrhea and pain. Various tests are then performed to confirm the diagnosis. These will include blood and stool samples, examination of the small or large intestine be endoscope , barium X-rays and biopsies taken from the area affected.

Once Crohn’s disease has been identified, treatment normally begins with medication. A group of drugs known as 5-aminosalicylates are the mainstay of treatment for people with mild symptoms. However, these may be ineffective in people with moderate or severe symptoms, and often steroids are then given, on a short term basis, to reduce inflammation and calm the condition. These are not used over the long term, because although highly effective, they do have unwanted side effects. In addition, other medication may be required on an ad hoc basis. For example antibiotics are sometimes needed to fight a secondary infection, or iron supplements used to treat anemia.

If medication fails to alleviate the symptoms or if complications have occurred, surgery may be required to remove the affected part of the gut or other obstructions. Indeed some 80% of all sufferers with moderate symptoms will require some surgery during the course of their treatment. In addition a diet of easily digestible food may be prescribed for a few weeks during a flare up to give the body a chance to rest, after which a normal diet is slowly re-introduced.

At present there is no cure for Crohn’s disease and no known way to prevent it, but the symptoms can be treated and the periods of remission can be stretched to last several years. Most people are able to lead normal lives. The research and development of new medications for Crohn’s disease is continuing, and it seems likely that there will be a number of new treatments available in the near future.

July 14th, 2008 Posted by Alex Morgan | Disease & Illness | no comments

The How-To Guide to Quitting Alcohol

You can take steps today to stop drinking. Your first step might be to see your doctor, contact a support group, or set a date in the near future to stop. While some people can stop drinking on their own, others need medical help to manage the physical process of withdrawal.

If you think you have an addiction to alcohol, talk to your doctor about whether you need to withdraw from alcohol under medical supervision. Your doctor can give you medicine that will help you safely withdraw from alcohol. Other medicines might be prescribed later to help you stay sober. With a doctor’s help, withdrawal from alcohol is safer.

Quitting alcohol use can: Avert or decrease health problems that are compounded by alcohol use, such as liver damage. Prevent harm to your unborn baby if you are pregnant. Reduce associated family concerns or relationship troubles. Boost your capability to be productive at work, school, and home. Lessen legal problems that you might have as a result of abuse of alcohol.

You need education and emotional support when you stop drinking, especially if you abuse alcohol or are alcohol-dependent. Some resources that can help you stop drinking include:

Alcoholics Anonymous (AA). Alcoholics Anonymous manages meetings around the world to help those who have a wish to stop drinking. These groups are made up of people who have had alcohol use issues, and you may stay anonymous.

Alcoholics Anonymous (AA) is a well known and established program relying on a 12 step program toward sobriety for life. Each day is dealt with ‘one day at a time’ and has experienced excellent results since its beginning. Most communities have an AA organization and it is a great resource offered at no cost.

Alcoholics Anonymous (AA) organizes meetings all over the world to help those who have a desire to stop drinking. You can also receive education, information, and support to help you stop drinking by asking your doctor, calling an alcohol treatment hotline, or asking your local hospital or alcohol treatment facility.

In addition to Alcoholics Anonymous (AA), if you want to stop drinking, you can seek help with any of the following: your family doctor or counselor, a local hospital or alcohol treatment facility, or a local or national alcohol treatment hotline, which you can find information in your local phone directory.

Quitting alcohol use can improve your overall health and quality of life. It can also increase the quality of life of the people you live with and those who care about you. You reduce your odds of developing severe health problems linked with alcohol abuse or dependence. You decrease your chances of injuring yourself or others in alcohol-related accidents. You might also improve relationships with your parents, children, and spouse or other close loved ones. Not drinking also is a good way for you to model responsible behavior for younger people, particularly children and teens.

You can take steps today to stop drinking. Your first step might be to contact a support group, see your doctor, or set a date in the near future to stop. While some people can stop drinking on their own, others need medical help to manage the physical process of withdrawal.

Do know that you do not have to do this alone. Should you still be concerned about if you have the ability to go through withdrawal, again, talk to your doctor about whether you need to withdraw from alcohol under medical supervision. Remember that there are medications that will help you safely withdraw from alcohol and others to help you stay sober once you reach that point.

Continuing to drink alcohol, even if you do not frequently do so, can lead to problems with your relationships, job performance, and health and to possible legal consequences (such as being arrested for drinking and driving). If alcohol has interfered with your ability to perform daily tasks or with daily function, even if you only drink occasionally, you might need to stop drinking.

Continuing to drink when alcohol use has caused even minor problems in your relationships or job performance or has caused legal problems (such as being arrested for drinking and driving) usually leads to additional and possibly more severe problems in your life. By quitting drinking altogether, you should considerably improve the quality of your life and the lives of those who care about you.

Know your reasons. Create a list of the reasons you want to stop drinking alcohol. You might want to ask a trusted friend or family member to help you make the list complete. Keep this list so that you can renew your commitment from time to time.

Make a plan. Set a date to stop drinking. Complete a plan to stop drinking alcohol. Post it in a place where you can see it often, such as on your refrigerator door or bathroom mirror. You might want to put it in more than one place. You also might want to put it on a card and keep it in your purse or wallet.

Share your plan with others. Talk with your family members and trusted friends about your plan. Let them know how they can help you to be successful.

Evaluate your progress. In your plan, identify when you will evaluate your progress. Try a plan for 30 days so that the new behavior becomes a habit. Review your reasons for stopping alcohol use. Write down the benefits that you are seeing. If you drank after successfully stopping (relapse), it does not mean that you have failed. Relapse is common. Begin again, using your experience to help you learn how to stick with your plan this time.

Continue your new behaviors. After trying this plan for 30 days, try it for another 30 days. Like anything else in life, it is not easy to change behavior, even when it might be in your best interest. But the more you practice new behaviors, the more likely it is that they will become habits. If you try this plan but are not successful, talk with your doctor about other ways to stop drinking alcohol.

Avoid stumbling blocks. Many things can interfere with meeting your goal to cut down on or stop drinking. You might need to choose new friends or a new lifestyle if your present life revolves around alcohol use. To stay focused on your goal and succeed, seek ideas to help you stop using alcohol on your own.

Attend a self-help group. Some people attend self-help groups to help them stick to their plan to cut down on or stop drinking. If you are not sure whether a self-help group is for you but would like to try, go to a group at least 3 times before you make your decision. There are different types of groups (such as men or women only, discussion, and speaker). Go to another group if the first one does not fit your needs.

Reward yourself. Use the money you once spent on drinking to do something fun with your family or friends. Go out to eat, see a movie, or play sports or a game.

Identifying your reasons for stopping is the first step. You might want to improve your health, relationships, or job performance. You might want to stop because you have risk factors for alcohol abuse or dependency. All answers are correct.

Making a plan is the second step in stopping. Decide when you are going to stop drinking. Set a time to evaluate your plan to see whether it is working and whether you are able to stop drinking on your own. Help from organizations such as Alcoholics Anonymous (AA) or individual therapy is often needed to help you reach your goal. All answers are correct.

It is very important to schedule a time period to evaluate your plan. At frequent intervals, evaluate how well your plan is working and whether your goals need adjusting. Participating in structured group counseling or individual therapy often helps you reach your goal of stopping drinking. All answers are correct.

If you have questions about this information, take it with you when you visit your doctor or other health professional. You might want to mark areas or make notes where you have questions.

If you try this plan to stop using alcohol and are not successful, talk with your doctor about other ways to get help.

July 14th, 2008 Posted by Ed Philips | Disease & Illness | no comments

Acid Reflux: What are the signs

The meal was delectable, to die for even, and you ate as much as you could. Clearly you just couldn’t bring yourself to say no to that tantalizing beef dish with its savory cream sauce.

After such a delicious meal, you couldn’t help but curl up in your most comfortable position on the couch and watch your favorite television show. Naturally, there were peanuts available to snack on, sweet chocolate to satisfy your sugary cravings with, and a glass of fine wine to sip at your leisure.

Welcome to the signs of Acid Reflux.

Sometimes, these dreamy reveries can be interrupted with a nasty feeling in the chest, that feels as if there is some sour acidic fluid rising up behind your breastbone. Sometimes things really get unpleasant with all the great stuff you ate coming back as sour fluid, right back into your throat. You wish you could vomit it, but it just stays there.

Some people also experience further unpleasant sensations when dizziness sets in as a result of a reaction by the Vagus nerve to stomach problems. All these symptoms are part of the body’s typical reaction to acid reflux.

Ignoring the symptoms mentioned can further lead to feeling like there is food stuck inside your throat. Another feeling sometimes described by people is that of food not traveling comfortably down the food pipe.

Such an experience is commonly associated with Gastroesophageal Reflux Disease (GERD) or acid reflux.

Completely unrelated to age, race, nationality, or genetic disposition, acid reflux is experienced as a result of habits that involve nutrition, eating, and health. People of any age, such as senior citizens, teenagers, and even very young children can suffer from acid reflux. Children tend to develop this problem because of issues with their physiological development. For other individuals, however, their own overuse and abuse of the body’s digestive system is what causes them to suffer from acid reflux.

July 13th, 2008 Posted by Frank Robson | Disease & Illness | no comments