Although colds and flu are not uniquely travel-related hazards, they can be especially unpleasant during vacation. Dozens of remedies, both mainstream and complementary, are available. So what works, and what’s a waste of your money? Here, the experts from the National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health (NCCIH), offer suggestions for the best ways to… Continue reading Avoiding Colds and Flu on Vacation
Tag: cold
The Yucky Stuff that Keeps You Healthy
Mucus has several names. Snot, the sticky goo that pours from your nose during a cold. Or phlegm, the gunk that can clog your lungs and make you cough. You probably aren’t a fan of the stuff. But mucus is so much more than a runny nose. Your body is making mucus all the time.… Continue reading The Yucky Stuff that Keeps You Healthy
What You Need to Know about Sinus Infection
The fall months are upon us, and that means that the potential for seasonal allergies, runny noses and sinus infections increases. Sinus infections happen when fluid builds up in the air-filled pockets (sinuses) in the face. This allows germs to grow. Viruses cause most sinus infections, but bacteria can also be the culprit. However, Jessica… Continue reading What You Need to Know about Sinus Infection
The Six Hidden Hazards of Tailgating
Tailgating is one of the best parts of football season — but nothing quashes team spirit quite like food poisoning. Understanding different types of bacteria and the ways they can be transmitted, plus a plan to keep your food safe, is key to enjoying your tailgate and keeping guests healthy, says Rachael Lee, M.D., assistant… Continue reading The Six Hidden Hazards of Tailgating
How to Battle Rosacea Flare-Ups
Rosacea is a common skin condition that causes redness to form across the nose and cheeks. According to dermatologists from the American Academy of Dermatology (AAD), a number of factors — including sunlight, stress, and many foods and beverages — can play a role in worsening rosacea symptoms. In addition to seeing a dermatologist for… Continue reading How to Battle Rosacea Flare-Ups
Winter Health Myths, Busted
How many of these winter health myths do you believe? Myth: Allergies go away in the winter. Actually, allergies might the real source behind your stuffy nose and scratchy throat. According to the Asthma and Allergy Foundation of America, one in five people suffer from indoor/outdoor allergies, and the indoor variety can be worse in… Continue reading Winter Health Myths, Busted
Cold and Flu: Prevention, Symptoms, Treatments
Cold and flu viruses are always around. So why do we seem to be especially vulnerable during the fall and winter months? For the most part, it’s because we spend more time indoors, and the viruses that cause the sniffles, congestion, and body aches of a cold or the flu can spread more easily… Continue reading Cold and Flu: Prevention, Symptoms, Treatments
Lonely? Your Cold May Feel Even Worse
People who are lonely are likelier to feel that their cold symptoms are more severe, when compared with those who have a social network, according to Rice University researchers. The conclusion, published in the journal Health Psychology, comes from a study led by Rice psychologist Chris Fagundes and graduate student Angie LeRoy. “Loneliness puts people… Continue reading Lonely? Your Cold May Feel Even Worse
Toward a Universal Flu Vaccine
Flu vaccines must be given yearly, but there has been no guarantee that the strains against which they protect will be the ones circulating once the season arrives. Now research by Rockefeller University scientists in New York and their colleagues suggests it may be possible to harness a previously unknown mechanism within the immune system… Continue reading Toward a Universal Flu Vaccine
Food Safety for Hikers and Campers
Getting out into nature to hike or camp is one of summer’s great pleasures. You’ll get the most out of your expeditions, though, if you know how to prepare and cook your food correctly. Here, the experts from www.foodsafety.gov, a division of the U.S. Department of Agriculture, show you the best ways to avoid the… Continue reading Food Safety for Hikers and Campers
Have a Healthy Grilling Season
We’re well on our way to summer – and the great American tradition of barbecuing. But don’t spoil the party with unsafe food-preparation and cooking practices. Here, the experts from www.foodsafety.gov, a division of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, share what you need to know to avoid food poisoning (also known as foodborne… Continue reading Have a Healthy Grilling Season
A Novel Way to Avoid Pain?
Crossing your fingers could help reduce your feeling of pain, according to new research. According to UCL, London, the finding, published in the journal Current Biology, used a variation on an established pain experiment, known as the “thermal grill illusion.” A news release from UCL said that In the thermal grill illusion, a pattern of… Continue reading A Novel Way to Avoid Pain?
Should You Keep Your Dentist Appointment or Stay Away?
Spring is headed our way, along with hay fever, allergies, and occasionally even that last winter cold. If you are due for your six-month dental checkup but have come down with the sniffles, how do you know whether or not it’s best to skip your dentist appointment? Knowing the difference between an allergy and a… Continue reading Should You Keep Your Dentist Appointment or Stay Away?
Watch Out for Hypothermia: The “Indoor Cold”
Almost everyone knows about winter dangers for older people such as broken bones from falls on ice or breathing problems caused by cold air. But not everyone knows that cold weather can also lower the temperature inside your body. This drop in body temperature is called hypothermia, and it can be deadly if not treated… Continue reading Watch Out for Hypothermia: The “Indoor Cold”
Don’t Get Bitten by Frostbite
When the temperature dips below freezing, it’s critical to protect your skin from cold-weather health risks. Frostbite occurs when the skin – and sometimes the tissue beneath the skin – freezes due to prolonged exposure to cold temperatures. Depending on how long and how frozen the tissue, frostbite can result in severe, sometimes permanent, damage.… Continue reading Don’t Get Bitten by Frostbite