Most of us take breathing for granted. But if you suffer from asthma, the simple act of inhaling and exhaling can be a painful, even life-threatening struggle. Asthma causes dramatic tightening of the bronchial tubes, making breathing difficult or even impossible. It can be triggered by a number of factors, ranging from airborne allergens to exercise and stress or certain foods.
Processed foods and some vitamins and medications may contain food coloring and additives that can worsen asthma; yellow dye #5 (tartrazine), for example, is well known for provoking attacks. Asthma attacks may also be triggered by a high-salt diet, and some studies have shown that reducing salt intake can enhance pulmonary function. Some people are sensitive to foods that trigger mucous production in the body, especially dairy and wheat. Additionally, excess dietary tryptophan can aggravate respiratory conditions. Foods high in tryptophan include turkey, chicken, dairy products, soy and seafood.
Avoiding foods that may lead to an inflammatory condition in the body can also be helpful. These foods include fried and processed foods, which are high in pro-inflammatory omega-6 fatty acids and trans fats; sugar and refined carbohydrates, which can cause the body to increase production of inflammatory compounds and red meat which contains pro-inflammatory arachidonic acid.
Certain foods can help lessen the symptoms of asthma by reducing inflammation, relaxing spasms and acting as natural antihistamines.
1. Salmon. This oil-rich fish is loaded with omega-3 fatty acids that are well known for their ability to reduce the body's production of inflammatory compounds. Studies have shown that fish oil can improve pulmonary function in people with asthma and can protect against exercise-induced bronchoconstriction. Fish oil can also reduce airway narrowing and inflammation. Other good sources of omega-3 fatty acids include tona, mackerel, and other cold-water fish. Flax seeds, hemp seeds, walnuts and canola oil are high in alpha-linolenic acid (ALA) which the body converts to eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA), the form found in fish.
2. Spinach. Spinach is a great source of magnesium, which may improve symptoms of asthma. Studies have found that people with asthma tend to have lower blood and tissue levels of magnesium, and increasing magnesium intake over the long run can reduce the incidence of asthma attacks. In one study, 400mg of magnesium per day significantly decreased asthma symptoms. Researches think that magnesium works by calming asthma's characteristic spasms in the smooth muscles of the upper respiratory tract and it also appears to have a mild antihistamines effect. A diet high in salt can deplete magnesium, as can calcium supplements, soft drinks, refined carbohydrates, and stress, so you may not be getting enough. Also, spinach is high in B vitamins and may help reduce stress-related asthma attacks. Other good sources of magnesium include almonds, cashews, sunflower seeds, pumpkin seeds, tofu and beans.
3. Red peppers. Red peppers are rich in vitamin C, which is especially helpful in treating asthma brought on by exercise. In other studies, a diet high in vitamin C appears to reduce inflammation. Ascorbic acid may also lessen asthma symptoms by acting as an antihistamine. And it appears to inhibit production of an enzyme called phosphodiesterase, which is how common asthma drugs work. Red peppers are also rich in vitamin A, and new research shows a correlation between vitamin A deficiency and asthma attacks. Other great sources of vitamin C include peaches, papayas, strawberries, broccoli, Brussels sprouts, organs and grapefruit.
4. Onions. A number of older studies have found that onions have an anti-inflammatory and anti-asthmatic effect, inhibit the release of histamines, and reduce bronchial obstruction. Onions contain prostaglandins that relax the bronchial passageways. Onions are also high in quercetin, a type of flavonoid that has anti-inflammatory and anti-allergic properties and in vitamin C. And onions contain L-cysteine, an amino acid that factors into the production of glutathione, a naturally occurring antioxidant in the body that is necessary for maintaining immunity. Glutathione production is often compromised in asthmatics. (Note: raw and picked onions may provoke asthma attacks in a small number of sensitive people.)
5. Chickpeas. Chickpeas are rich in vitamin B6, which may help decrease wheezing and asthma symptoms, especially in children. Getting additional B6 becomes especially important if you use the asthma drug theophylline, which seems to depress the liver's metabolism of B6 and can deplete the body's stores of this crucial nutrient. Vitamin B6 also appears to correct abnormalities in tryptophan metabolism, which are common in asthmatics. And since many cases of asthma are stress related, it makes sense to eat adequate amounts of this stress-relieving nutrient. Other good sources of vitamin B6 include fish, chicken, turkey, barley, brown rice, sweet potatoes, sunflower seeds and peas.
Article Source: http://wellnessarticles.net
Wednesday, October 31, 2007
Tuesday, October 30, 2007
The Blind Men and The Elephant
Once upon a time, there lived six blind men in a village. One day the villagers told them, "Hey, there is an elephant in the village today."
They had no idea what an elephant is. They decided, "Even though we would not be able to see it, let us go and feel it anyway." All of them went where the elephant was. Everyone of them touched the elephant.
"Hey, the elephant is a pillar," said the first man who touched his leg.
"Oh, no! it is like a rope," said the second man who touched the tail.
"Oh, no! it is like a thick branch of a tree," said the third man who touched the trunk of the elephant.
"It is like a big hand fan" said the fourth man who touched the ear of the elephant.
"It is like a huge wall," said the fifth man who touched the belly of the elephant.
"It is like a solid pipe," Said the sixth man who touched the tusk of the elephant.
They began to argue about the elephant and everyone of them insisted that he was right. It looked like they were getting agitated. A wise man was passing by and he saw this. He stopped and asked them, "What is the matter?" They said, "We cannot agree to what the elephant is like." Each one of them told what he thought the elephant was like. The wise man calmly explained to them, "All of you are right. The reason every one of you is telling it differently because each one of you touched the different part of the elephant. So, actually the elephant has all those features what you all said." "Oh!" everyone said. There was no more fight. They felt happy that they were all right.
The moral of the story is that there may be some truth to what someone says. Sometimes we can see that truth and sometimes not because they may have different perspective which we may not agree too. So, rather than arguing like the blind men, we should say, "Maybe you have your reasons." This way we don't get in arguments. In Jainism, it is explained that truth can be stated in seven different ways. So, you can see how broad our religion is. It teaches us to be tolerant towards others for their viewpoints. This allows us to live in harmony with the people of different thinking. This is known as the Syadvada, Anekantvad, or the theory of Manifold Predictions.
They had no idea what an elephant is. They decided, "Even though we would not be able to see it, let us go and feel it anyway." All of them went where the elephant was. Everyone of them touched the elephant.
"Hey, the elephant is a pillar," said the first man who touched his leg.
"Oh, no! it is like a rope," said the second man who touched the tail.
"Oh, no! it is like a thick branch of a tree," said the third man who touched the trunk of the elephant.
"It is like a big hand fan" said the fourth man who touched the ear of the elephant.
"It is like a huge wall," said the fifth man who touched the belly of the elephant.
"It is like a solid pipe," Said the sixth man who touched the tusk of the elephant.
They began to argue about the elephant and everyone of them insisted that he was right. It looked like they were getting agitated. A wise man was passing by and he saw this. He stopped and asked them, "What is the matter?" They said, "We cannot agree to what the elephant is like." Each one of them told what he thought the elephant was like. The wise man calmly explained to them, "All of you are right. The reason every one of you is telling it differently because each one of you touched the different part of the elephant. So, actually the elephant has all those features what you all said." "Oh!" everyone said. There was no more fight. They felt happy that they were all right.
The moral of the story is that there may be some truth to what someone says. Sometimes we can see that truth and sometimes not because they may have different perspective which we may not agree too. So, rather than arguing like the blind men, we should say, "Maybe you have your reasons." This way we don't get in arguments. In Jainism, it is explained that truth can be stated in seven different ways. So, you can see how broad our religion is. It teaches us to be tolerant towards others for their viewpoints. This allows us to live in harmony with the people of different thinking. This is known as the Syadvada, Anekantvad, or the theory of Manifold Predictions.
Could the autonomic arousal that accompanies anxiety contribute to cardiovascular instability?
Women with histories of full-blown panic attacks had elevated risks for coronary heart disease.
To find out, these investigators extracted data from the Myocardial Ischemia and Migraine Study, a prospective, community-based study of 3369 generally healthy women (age range, 51–83). Most of the data were obtained from questionnaires, which were supplemented by physical examination and ambulatory EKG monitoring and by individual follow-up or event confirmation of patients who had died or been hospitalized for serious cardiovascular events.
Full-blown panic attacks were defined as sudden fear, anxiety, or extreme discomfort accompanied by four or more DSM-defined panic attack symptoms. A total of 330 patients reported experiencing full-blown panic attacks over the 6 months before the study, and 273 had experienced limited-symptom panic attacks (anxiety plus 1–3 panic attack symptoms).
Researchers determined risk for coronary heart disease (CHD, defined as myocardial infarction or cardiac death) after adjustment for all relevant risk factors, including smoking, hypertension, body-mass index, depression history, and physical activity. The risk for subsequent CHD was 4.2 times higher in women who had experienced full-blown panic attacks than in those without panic histories. Women with limited-symptom attacks did not have significantly elevated risks for subsequent CHD (but did have elevated risks for stroke and all-cause mortality). Depression was not associated with cardiovascular events after adjustment for panic attacks.
Comment: It is not clear whether panic attacks are a manifestation of autonomic instability that predisposes to cardiac events or whether the physiology of panic anxiety brings out latent coronary instability. In either case, panic attacks in postmenopausal women appear to be an independent risk factor for CHD. Patients having panic attacks with or without panic disorder should be evaluated for comorbid CHD. It will take some creativity to explain these findings to patients while working to reduce catastrophic reactions to perceived dangers.
— Steven Dubovsky, MD
Published in Journal Watch Psychiatry October 29, 2007
To find out, these investigators extracted data from the Myocardial Ischemia and Migraine Study, a prospective, community-based study of 3369 generally healthy women (age range, 51–83). Most of the data were obtained from questionnaires, which were supplemented by physical examination and ambulatory EKG monitoring and by individual follow-up or event confirmation of patients who had died or been hospitalized for serious cardiovascular events.
Full-blown panic attacks were defined as sudden fear, anxiety, or extreme discomfort accompanied by four or more DSM-defined panic attack symptoms. A total of 330 patients reported experiencing full-blown panic attacks over the 6 months before the study, and 273 had experienced limited-symptom panic attacks (anxiety plus 1–3 panic attack symptoms).
Researchers determined risk for coronary heart disease (CHD, defined as myocardial infarction or cardiac death) after adjustment for all relevant risk factors, including smoking, hypertension, body-mass index, depression history, and physical activity. The risk for subsequent CHD was 4.2 times higher in women who had experienced full-blown panic attacks than in those without panic histories. Women with limited-symptom attacks did not have significantly elevated risks for subsequent CHD (but did have elevated risks for stroke and all-cause mortality). Depression was not associated with cardiovascular events after adjustment for panic attacks.
Comment: It is not clear whether panic attacks are a manifestation of autonomic instability that predisposes to cardiac events or whether the physiology of panic anxiety brings out latent coronary instability. In either case, panic attacks in postmenopausal women appear to be an independent risk factor for CHD. Patients having panic attacks with or without panic disorder should be evaluated for comorbid CHD. It will take some creativity to explain these findings to patients while working to reduce catastrophic reactions to perceived dangers.
— Steven Dubovsky, MD
Published in Journal Watch Psychiatry October 29, 2007
Monday, October 29, 2007
Halloween Pics
We have seen some pretty creative costumes: Brett and Jermaine-Flight of the Concords, Beckim and Posh Spice
Please send us your pics so we can post them.
Thanks
Please send us your pics so we can post them.
Thanks
Antidepressant Use Rising Among Kids
A November 18, 2004 Reuters News story with the above headline starts off by noting that according to a new study doctors are prescribing more antidepressants for children and adolescents although there is little evidence about their safety or efficacy in youngsters.
Dr. Ian Wong of the Centre for Paediatric Pharmacy Research at the University of London was one of several researchers who conducted the study. They compared prescribing trends in Britain, France, Germany, Spain, Canada, the United States, Argentina, Brazil and Mexico by using information from an international database that contains a representative sample of medical practitioners in each country. Dr. Wong noted that Britain had the highest rate of increase with 68 percent while Germany, with 13 percent, had the lowest. He commented, “The number of prescriptions in different countries for children with mental illness is increasing.”
Dr. Wong did note that the rate of increase in England was higher because the number of children that were taking antidepressants was low compared to the United States. “In England, the number of prescriptions per child for that kind of illness is actually 10 times lower than in America. When you have a very low baseline the increase is much quicker,” Dr. Wong said.
The article noted that earlier this year New York Attorney General Eliot Spitzer accused drug manufacturer GlaxoSmithKline Plc in a lawsuit of fraudulently suppressing information about its antidepressant Paxil, which is sold as Seroxat in Europe. The lawsuit claimed that the drug was broadly ineffective in youngsters and could increase the risks of suicidal behavior.
Wong and his colleagues concluded, “We believe the use of psychotropic medications in children is a global public health issue, which should be studied in partnership with pharmaceutical companies, governments and researchers.”
Dr. Ian Wong of the Centre for Paediatric Pharmacy Research at the University of London was one of several researchers who conducted the study. They compared prescribing trends in Britain, France, Germany, Spain, Canada, the United States, Argentina, Brazil and Mexico by using information from an international database that contains a representative sample of medical practitioners in each country. Dr. Wong noted that Britain had the highest rate of increase with 68 percent while Germany, with 13 percent, had the lowest. He commented, “The number of prescriptions in different countries for children with mental illness is increasing.”
Dr. Wong did note that the rate of increase in England was higher because the number of children that were taking antidepressants was low compared to the United States. “In England, the number of prescriptions per child for that kind of illness is actually 10 times lower than in America. When you have a very low baseline the increase is much quicker,” Dr. Wong said.
The article noted that earlier this year New York Attorney General Eliot Spitzer accused drug manufacturer GlaxoSmithKline Plc in a lawsuit of fraudulently suppressing information about its antidepressant Paxil, which is sold as Seroxat in Europe. The lawsuit claimed that the drug was broadly ineffective in youngsters and could increase the risks of suicidal behavior.
Wong and his colleagues concluded, “We believe the use of psychotropic medications in children is a global public health issue, which should be studied in partnership with pharmaceutical companies, governments and researchers.”
Saturday, October 27, 2007
Monkey See - Monkey Do Not by Steffi Freedman
Aerobics can be challenging and on days when you’re not feeling too coordinated, it’s helpful to have a neighbor you can follow. In classes like step, kickboxing, and even hip hop, it’s extremely helpful. In fact, it’s literally survival of the fittest – and the most coordinated!
Participants in a Pilates classes should approached it differently. You may notice that some instructors forgo music or demonstrating the exercises. These different approaches help you zone in on feeling, not just doing Pilates. We were taught to cue in a very specific and vivid way that helps you connect your mind, body, and spirit. You’re challenging yourself each time you take class to draw your belly deeper, glide the shoulders away from the ears, lengthen just one more inch!
Every once-in-a-while it may help to turn to the left to see if your neighbor is on the right track so you can follow, but honing in on the instructors’ cues and quieting your mind of whatever happened that day can turn your Pilates class into an intense and invigorating experience.
Participants in a Pilates classes should approached it differently. You may notice that some instructors forgo music or demonstrating the exercises. These different approaches help you zone in on feeling, not just doing Pilates. We were taught to cue in a very specific and vivid way that helps you connect your mind, body, and spirit. You’re challenging yourself each time you take class to draw your belly deeper, glide the shoulders away from the ears, lengthen just one more inch!
Every once-in-a-while it may help to turn to the left to see if your neighbor is on the right track so you can follow, but honing in on the instructors’ cues and quieting your mind of whatever happened that day can turn your Pilates class into an intense and invigorating experience.
Friday, October 26, 2007
TOPIC: Finding a Qualified Pilates Instructor by Steffi Freedman
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When starting Pilates, or really any exercise program, it’s important to make sure your instructor is properly trained. The industry is experiencing such a surge in popularity that the number of qualified instructors isn’t keeping up with the growing demand of participants.
Only recently the governing body of Pilates, the Pilates Method Alliance, instituted a national certification exam for instructors. While it’s not required (yet), it helps screen the instructors who have gone through extensive training that includes an overview of anatomy and hundreds of hours of observation, workshops, teaching, and taking Pilates.
At most studios, you can call before hand and set up a ten minute consultation to ask the instructor questions. Whether she teaches Classical, Power Pilates, Stott, or a blend of different approaches, the truth of the matter is this. If your instructor has completed one of those programs and you feel that she can help you achieve your goals, you’re on the right track.
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