COLITIS

The symptoms are uncomfortable and more than a little scary: abdominal pain, blood or mucus in the stool, diarrhea, cramping, urgent bowel movements, weight loss and more. When you have colitis, a serious inflammation of the colon, you may feel as if you’ll never be comfortable again.

Doctors aren’t sure what causes colitis, although they think it may steam from infection or problems with the immune system. There also appears to be a genetic link-if your parents have colitis, you’re at a higher risk of getting it, too. One of the worst things about colitis is that it’s so unpredictable. In some cases it goes away for weeks, months, or even years at a time then comes roaring back.

There are things you can do at home, however, to reduce the symptoms and make this painful condition a little bit easier to live with.

Keep eating well. It’s hard to keep up your appetite when your insides are acting up, but it’s critical for people with colitis to eat plenty of vegetables, whole grains, and other nutritious foods. This condition can cause the body to lose enormous amounts of nutrients. Eating well as often as you can will help keep your body strong and able to cope with the discomfort.

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WHEN TO SEE THE DOCTOR
There isn’t a cure for colitis, and it’s not a simple problem you can treat at
home. People with colitis or who suspect they might have it should always be
under a doctor’s care. In many cases they will need drugs or surgery to keep it
under control.
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But keep track of what you eat. For many people, certain foods appear to trigger colitis flare-ups, or to make the symptoms they’re already suffering worse. There is not one food that is right-or wrong-for everyone, so it’s up to you to discover if certain foods are causing your problems. Doctors often recommend that people with colitis keep a food diary, in which they write down everything they’re eating. That way, when your symptoms return, you’ll be able to look back and see what may have contributed to the problem-and what you’ll want to avoid next time.

Use fiber wisely. Research suggests that eating fruits, vegetables, and other fiber-rich foods can help prevent colitis flare-ups. On the other hand, eating fiber when you’re
already having symptoms may make you feel worse instead of better. Doctors usually recommend that people with colitis get plenty of fiber in their diets when they’re feeling well, then cut back on it during bad times. During flare-ups, many people still eat fruits and vegetables, but peel them to remove a lot of the fiber. This is one time when you may want to use canned fruits and vegetables. They have less fiber than fresh.

Go easy on dairy. Many people with colitis have difficulty digesting lactose, a sugar in milk and other dairy foods. You may find that giving up dairy-or at least eating less of it-will help relieve your symptoms.

COLDS

There’s a good reason it’s called the “common cold.” Adults get colds an average of two times a year, and children usually come down with them a lot more often. Yet in some ways, the common cold is unique. Experts have identified more than 200 viruses that can cause colds, and the viruses are changing all the time. Even when your immune system learns to recognize one virus, there’s always a different strain waiting to take its place.

Doctors have been trying for years-without success-to find a cure for the common cold. In the meantime, there’s a lot you can do to reduce the symptoms and help your body get well.

Take some Echinacea. Echinacea is an herb that’s renowned for its ability to strengthen the immune system. In fact, doctors in Europe recommend Echinacea as much or more than some prescription drugs. You can buy Echinacea in capsule, liquid, or even tea form at health stores. Follow the directions on the label and take it as needed. Make sure you take it at the onset of a cold, however, it’s much more effective in preventing colds that are “on their way in” than colds “on their way out.”

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WHEN TO SEE THE DOCTOR

Colds by themselves are rarely serious ad will go away on their own. When
you’ve been sick, however, the immune system may have a hard time
protecting you against other infections. That’s why people with colds will
sometimes develop other, more serious conditions, like bronchitis or
pneumonia. If your cold is lasting much longer than usual, or if your phlegm
is thick and discolored, you may have picked up a “secondary” infection,
and you should call your doctor.
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Put vitamin C to work. This powerful vitamin has been shown to help neutralize the effects of harmful oxygen molecules in the body that can weaken the immune system. Studies suggest that getting lots of vitamin C can help relieve cold symptoms and shorten the length of time colds stick around. You can get a lot of vitamin C in your diet, but when you’re sick you may want to take a supplement. For colds, experts re commend taking 500 milligrams (or more) of vitamin C a day.

A chicken in every pot. For years, people have sworn that chicken soup helps relieve congestion and other cold symptoms. Modern research suggests it really can make a difference-and what a wonderful, comforting home remedy it is! When you feel the sniffles coming on, make a big pot of chicken soup and enjoy it all day long. (Canned soup may help, but the homemade kind probably works better.) As an added benefit, sipping the hot liquid will help loosed congestion in your nose and throat, which will help you breathe more easily.

Some like it hot. Research has shown that eating spicy foods, like chili, hot peppers, or cayenne, can help break up congestion so you can breathe more easily. Even if you aren’t in the mood for Mexican, Indian, or other spicy cuisines, you can get quick nose relief by mixing about a quarter-teaspoon of hot pepper powder in a glass of water and drinking it down. You can also buy cayenne capsules in health food stores.

Keep the fluids flowing. To ease the scratchy throat and dry eyes that often accompany colds, it’s a good idea to drink plenty of water-a least eight to twelve glasses a day. Getting more fluids-not only water but fruit or vegetable juices too-will help thin mucus in your nose and chest, so you’ll feel more comfortable.

Keep your hands clean. The viruses that cause colds can live on the hands for a long time. Washing your hands several times a day is one of the best ways to prevent colds. Even if you’re already sick, washing your hands will help prevent cold virus from reinfecting you and prolonging the misery.

Take a long shower. A long, steamy bath or shower can work wonders for sore, crampy muscles that often accompany colds. And, the steam will help thin and loosen secretions in your airways, so that you can breathe more easily.

Think about zinc. Research has shown that zinc lozenges can help sore throats heal more quickly and reduce the amount of time that you’re sick-in some cases by as much as several days, doctors say. Ask your pharmacist about where you can obtain these pain-tamers.

CARPAL TUNNEL SYNDROME

It’s only in the last few years that we’ve begun hearing a lot about carpal tunnel syndrome, a potentially serious condition in which the hands and wrists get tingly, numb, or sore. It’s not a new condition, exactly, but the things that cause it-long hours spent doing repetitive tasks, like typing on a keyboard or working a cash register-have become increasingly common in our ever more high-tech, hands-on world.

Carpal tunnel syndrome gets its name from a channel in the wrist called (what else?) the carpal tunnel. When you use your hands and wrists a lot, tissues lining the carpal tunnel may get inflamed and swollen. If they start to press on a nerve in the wrist, you may have pain, numbness, or other symptoms.

Experts estimate that millions of people around the world have carpal tunnel syndrome and the incidence is on the rise. People who make the same motions over and over again, like computer programmers, butchers, cashiers, and professional musicians, are those who have the highest risk of getting this painful condition. It can be serious because, once you get it, without proper treatment it may last a long time and prevent you from doing the things your job or daily life requires.

Fortunately, there are ways both to prevent and treat the pain of carpal tunnel syndrome. Here’s what experts advise.

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WHEN TO SEE THE DOCTOR
Because carpal tunnel syndrome involves the nerves, you should see
A doctor at the first sign of problems. If you suspect you have it, here’s a
simple test: Hold the backs of your hands together in front of your body, with
the fingers pointing down. Hold this position for about a minute. If your wrists
begin to ache or you experience shooting pains in your hands or fingers, you
should call your doctor right away.
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Take a mini-break. Since carpal tunnel syndrome is caused by repetitive motions, it makes sense that giving your wrists a break fro work will help prevent problems. Studies have shown, in fact, that simply taking “mini-breaks” from your usual job-by taking a few minutes to make phone calls, for example, or simply stretching your hands and wrists and wiggling your fingers-can relieve pain and protect the wrists from long-term harm.

Give your hands a shake. Many people with carpal tunnel syndrome have found that giving their hands and arms a quick shake will provide quick and effective temporary pain relief. Even dangling your arms for a few minutes can relieve painful pressure on the nerve.

Seek diversity. Just as taking a vacation can make you feel refreshed and relaxed, giving your hands a break from their usual tasks can have a similar effect. If you work on a computer all day, for example, you may not want to play the piano every night. Instead, look for activities that don’t put additional stress on your hands and wrists-like taking walks in the evening or going dancing a few nights a week.

Consider a splint. The hands and wrists simply weren’t designed for the constant pounding many of us give them every day. To provide additional support and protection, doctors often advise people with carpal tunnel pain to wear special splints that help stabilize the wrists and provide relief from pain. The splints, which are available in pharmacies, come on and off as easily as putting on a glove, and you can use them as often-or as rarely-as you feel is necessary. Some people don the splints only for tough jobs-when they’re typing a long report, for example-and then take them off.

Get a grip. Whether your hobby is cooking carpentry, or working in the garden having tools with the proper handles can dramatically reduce the strain on your wrists. Simply placing foam rubber over the handles of brooms or hammers can make them much easier to grip. You can even buy can openers and kitchen knives that have thicker handles, which will make tasks like opening cans, slicing, and chopping a lot comfortable.

Try hot and cold. Many people with carpal tunnel pain get quick relief by putting ice in a washcloth and holding it on their wrists for fifteen or twenty minutes. Conversely, putting a heating pad on your wrist can quickly relax the muscles and help ease the pain.

Check your weight. Researchers aren’t sure why, but people who are overweight appear to have a higher risk of developing carpal tunnel syndrome-possibly because fatty tissue can pt additional strain on nerves and tendons in the wrists. Losing even small amounts of weight can help “open up” the carpal tunnel, reducing pain and helping prevent future problems.

Take some over-the-counter relief. When wrist pain is flaring, one of the best things you can do is take a few aspirin or ibuprofen. Often, these medications will quickly relieve pain as well as swelling.

BURSITIS AND TENDINITIS

May be you’re starting to have trouble reaching high shelves. Or perhaps your tennis serve is getting a little stiff, or your elbows are feeling sore and creaky. When you can’t move as easily as you used to, there’s a good chance you have bursitis or tendinitis – conditions that can make your joints feel as stiff and rusty as the Tin Woodsman in the rain.

Bursitis occurs when one or more bursae – small, fluid-filled sacs that cushion the joints – get irritated and inflamed. Tendinitis also causes joint pain. Unlike bursitis, however, the irritation and inflammation caused by tendinitis affect the tendons, those sinewy fibers that connect muscles to bones.

Although bursitis and tendinitis are different problems, it really doesn’t matter which you have, because the treatments recommended for both are virtually the same.

Do some quick first aid. When your joints first start aching, taking quick action will help prevent pain and swelling and speed your recovery time. Doctors recommend following a four-point plan called RICE: It stands for Rest, Ice, Compression, and Elevation, and it’s the best way to quickly ease tendinitis and bursitis.

Resting your joints is the best way to help them recover. This is not the time to ignore the pain. Staying active when you’re having tendinitis or bursitis will make the joints get worse in a hurry. Try to avoid the repetitive motion behind your condition for awhile, especially.

Once you’re off your feet, it’s time to start the next step of the program: ice. When you first start having pain, put ice packs (or ice cubes wrapped in a towel) on the painful areas for fifteen to twenty minutes at a time. This will slow blood flow, which will help prevent swelling. After applying cold, wrap the painful area with bandage. Using compression will also help stop swelling, as well as reduce additional stress to the area.

Finally, you want to elevate the joint. If your shoulder is hurt, for example, sit up in bed for awhile. If it’s your knee, prop your leg up with pillows. Elevating the area makes it harder for fluids to flow into the injured joint, which will reduce swelling and help ease the pain.

With the RICE approach, you can expect bursitis to start getting better within a seek or two. Tendinitis is a bit more tenacious, however, and it may be a month or more before you’re feeling entirely strong again.

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WHEN TO SEE THE DOCTOR
Although bursitis and tendinitis can be very painful, they’ll usually
Clear up on their own. If the pain doesn’t get better within a few weeks,
however, you should call your doctor, who may recommend using powerful
anti-inflammatory drugs such as steroids to stop the swelling, or some physical
therapy you can try at home. For very severe cases of bursitis, you may need
surgery to remove the troublesome bursa.
There’s one other danger sign to watch out for. If you’re having joingpain and
the area is warm, red, and tender, you should call your doctor immediately.
You could have a condition called septic bursitis, in which an infected joint
spreads infection throughout your body.

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Keep moving. Even though you don’t want to put a lot of stress on already-sore joints, it’s a good idea to stay somewhat active even when your joints are aching. Keeping the joints and muscles moving will help them helps lubricate the joints, so that they move more easily. Doctors usually recommend taking several days to a week of complete rest-to five your “tennis” elbow a break, for example, or leaving your running shoes in the trunk of your car-until the worst of the pain is over. Then slowly begin resuming your normal activities, being careful not to push yourself too hard. Gradually moving your joints through their full range of motion will help speed healing as well as prevent problems in the future.

Try some soothing heat. After the initial pain has gone away and you’re starting to feel a little better, you may want to put some heat-hot, moist towels, heat packs, or simply a heating pad-on the sore joints. The heat will improve circulation and can be very soothing for aching joints. As with cold, apply heat for about twenty minutes at a time. You can repeat this every few hours, or as often as is necessary to relieve the pain.

Block the inflammation. A lot of the pain caused by bursitis and tendinitis is due to inflammation. To stop swelling fast, doctors usually recommend taking some aspirin or ibuprofen. These over-the-counter medications block the effects of chemicals in the body called prostaglandins that cause both pain and inflammation.

BURNS

If you’ve ever brushed your arm against a hot oven rack or spattered your hand with hot drops of cooking oil, you know how painful even small burns can be.

Fortunately, the most common kind of burn, called a first-degree burn, isn’t too serious. This is the sort of burn you get when you accidentally touch a hot iron or the handle on a cast-iron skillet. The surface of the skin gets red and sore, and there may be a little bit of swelling. Unlike the more serious second and third-degree burns, most simple burns can be treated at home.

Get the water flowing. Make that a lot of water. When you’ve burned youself, the heat quickly passes into the skin, possibly damaging tissues deeper inside. To cool the heat on the skin as well as below the surface, flood the area with cool, running water for at least fifteen minutes. Anything less and the cool temperatures won’t get to where the problem is. If you don’t have access to running water – or if the burn is in an area that’s hard to get to – you can apply a cloth that’s been soaked in cold water. Ice wrapped in a towel is also very helpful. (Don’t apply ice directly to a urn because it can cause further skin damage).

Once the burn is cool, gently pat your skin dry and apply an antibiotic ointment. In most cases, this is all you’ll need to do to prevent blisters or swelling later on.

Spread on the aloe. People have been using the juice from aloe vera plants for centuries – not only for burns, but for relief from all kinds of skin injuries. Aloe vera contains a compound called allantoin, a substance that has been shown to speed wound healing. Better yet, it’s a lot cheaper than over-the-counter drugs. Many people keep a plant on their windowsill-just in case!

Before using aloe vera, clean the burn thoroughly with soap and water. Then break off a piece from a leaf of he plant and cut it lengthwise. (You don’t have to pick off the leaf-it will “heal” its own cuts and can be used again another time). Squeeze out the gel and apply it liberally to the burn several times a day.

Try a milk compress. If you don’t have aloe, you can also treat a burn with a milk compress. Like water, cool milk will quickly put out a burn’s fire. In addition, the fat in milk may help the burns heal more quickly. Leave the compress in place for five to ten minutes. Then rinse your skin well and pat the area dry.


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WHEN TO SEE THE DOCTOR

When you have a second or third-degree burn, it’s essential that you
see your doctor right away. You have second-degree burn when the skin
is oozing and blistering. Third-degree burns will leave the skin charred,
turning it white or gray. Both types of burns can easily get infected and are
potentially very serious. Even if you have what seems like a mild burn,
you should call your doctor if it seems unusually painful or if it covers an
area larger than two or three inches in diameter.
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Get some vitamin C. Your body uses this power-house nutrient to help repair damaged tissues, including those damaged by burns. For extra help in healing wounds, doctors often recommend getting 500 to 1000 milligrams of vitamin C a day.

Put on some infection protection. Because even small burns can expose large areas of sensitive skin, there’s high risk of infection. To protect yourself, it’s a good idea to apply and antibiotic burn cream, which will add moisture to the wound and also prevent infections from taking hold. As an added benefit, antibiotic creams seal off the burn from the air, which can irritate exposed nerve endings.

Put aspirin to work. This all-purpose remedy is very effective stopping the pain from burns. In addition, aspirin (as well as ibuprofen) can help stop inflammation, which will relieve pain and may help the area heal faster.

Let the burn breathe. It’s a good idea to bandage burns, but you don’t want to wrap the area so tightly that no air gets in. Doctors recommend dressing burns with sterile pieces of gauze. Don’t wrap the gauze tightly in place, since this will only irritate the burn. Instead, wrap it lightly, to protect it while allowing air to circulate.

Ban the butter. For years, people “treated” burns by smearing on butter or grease. Doctors now advise that this old-fashioned practice actually makes burns worse because it locks in heat rather than allowing it to escape. Plus, putting butter or grease on a burn can promote infection.

BRITTLE NAILS

Every day, your fingernails put in hard labor – tapping on desktops, opening envelopes, digging in the garden, or scratching of the peel on instant-win lottery cards. Fingernails are incredibly strong and can usually withstand all the abuse we give them. After about age thirty, however, people’s nails get weaker and more brittle. This can cause them to break or splinter, or simply look a little more ragged than they used to.
You can’t prevent brittle nails entirely, but there are ways to make them a little stronger. Here’s how.
Put some vegetables and beans on your plate. Lentils and peanuts, along with cauliflower, are rich sources of biotin, a vitamin B that has been shown to strengthen and thicken nails. But you need quite a bit of biotin – more than you can get from foods along – to get the benefits. So when you’re eating for nail strength, you may also want to supplement your diet with a multivitamin.

Add some fish to the menu. Salmon, Mackerel, and other cold-water fish contain fatty acids, which the body uses to strengthen the nails. Eating fish several times a week will help keep your nails worry-free.

Keep them moist. Your fingernails naturally get hard and brittle whenever they dry out. To keep them moist, doctors recommend rubbing moisturizer around the nails once or twice a day. A little bit of petroleum jelly will also help keep the nails flexible and strong.

Don’t let them soak. Your fingernails can absorb tremendous amounts of water. This sounds like it would be helpful for brittle nails, but it’s actually just the reverse. Your nails expand when they absorb water, then contract when they dry. The more this cycle is repeated, the weaker the nails become. So it’s worth keeping them dry whenever you can.

Enjoy a little elegance. Even if you don’t go for rainbow colors, it’s worth applying a little nail polish to strengthen nails and help them retain their natural moisture.

Avoid harsh chemicals. The problem with using fingernail polish is that you’ll also be using fingernail polish remover, which usually contains acetone. Acetone quickly removes moisture from the nails. Whenever possible, use fingernail polish removers that do not contain acetone.

Treat them with respect. Fingernails are tough, but you didn’t purchase them in a hardware store, so you shouldn’t expect them to do double-duty as tools. Scissors, Screwdrivers, staple removers, and tweezers were all invented for a reason. Use them, and give your fingernails a break. The less you use (and abuse) your nails, the stronger they are likely to be.

Cover them up. One of the best ways to protect brittle nails is to wear gloves whenever you’re putting your hands to work in rough environments – in a sink full of hot, soapy water, for example, or in mound of garden soil.

Keep them trimmed. Long nails are more fragile and break more easily than short ones. This is one reason to keep your nails short. To make the job easier, soak your hands in water for a few minutes first. Or trim your nails right after you’ve had a relaxing shower or bath.

BREAST TENDERNESS

For many women, breast pain hits them like clockwork – or at least as regularly as their menstrual periods. Doctors aren’t sure why it occurs, but a woman’s shifting levels of estrogen, progesterone, and prolactin may be accompanied by painful changes in the breasts. The breasts often retain fluids, causing them to swell. During the menstrual cycle the breasts add new cells to the milk-producing ducts and glands, which also makes them swell and get tender.

Since breast pain often occurs so regularly for so many years, many women simply resign themselves o feeling uncomfortable every month. But you don’t have to put up with tender breasts. Here are some easy, effective strategies for keeping the discomfort under control.

Wear the right bra. The most effective way to control monthly breast pain is to wear a comfortable bra that provides good support. Doctors usually recommend that women wear a support bra rather than an underwire bra when their breasts are most tender. You may even want to wear the bra while you sleep. The bra should cup the breasts firmly, without binding or biting.

Try some cold comfort. You can take the same approach for tender breasts that you would for a sore back or a pulled shoulder muscle. Fill a plastic bag with ice cubes and wrap a towel around it. Then apply it to your tender areas for ten to fifteen minutes at a time. (You can also use commercial cold packs or the re-freezable packs that come with coolers). This will slow the flow of fluids to the breasts, which will help reduce the swelling.

Add more fiber to your diet. Research has shown that eating foods high in dietary fiber, like fruits, vegetables, whole grains, and legumes, can help lower the amount of estrogen circulating in the bloodstream. For many women, this can help control monthly breast pain.

Cut back on salt. When you get a lot of salt in your diet the begins retaining fluids, causing the breasts to swell. Eating less salt when your period is approaching will help reduce swelling as well as tenderness.

Trim fat from your diet. A diet that’s high in fat isn’t only bad for your heart – it can increase breast pain, as well. Experts believe that eating large amounts of fat can interfere with the production of chemicals in the body that are responsible for reducing breast pain. In addition, dietary fat has a way of turning into body fat, and fatty tissue has been shown to interfere with the body’s ability to regulate estrogen. Doctors recommend getting no more than 20 to 25 per cent of your total daily calories from fat. The best way to reduce fat in your diet is to cut back on the worst offenders – high fat foods such as mayonnaise, red meats, margarine, butter, ice cream, and cheeses.


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WHEN TO SEE THE DOCTOR

Most monthly breast pain begins a few days to a week before menstruation,
Then goes away when the period starts. If the pain lasts longer, though, you
should call your doctor. This is especially true if your breasts feel hot or lumpy,
or if they’re red or blotchy. You should also see a doctor if there’s a discharge
from the nipples, shether or not it occurs around the time of your period.
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Cut back on coffee. If coffee is your favorite eye-opener it may not be doing your breasts any good. There’s little scientific evidence that drinking coffee increases monthly breast pain, but many women have found that when they cut back on caffeine, the pain gets better.

Sip some herbal tea. As a substitute for coffee, you may want to try some uva ursi tea. Available in health food stores, this tea is a mild diuretic that can help ease breast pain by removing excess fluids from the body.

Try to stay active. Exercising regularly has been shown to reduce the amount of fluids in the body, which can be very helpful for easing breast pain. You don’t have to join a soccer team or run a marathon to get the benefits. Walking or riding a bike for twenty or thirty minutes three times a week, especially in the week before your period, can make a real difference in preventing (and relieving) breast pain.