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#Post#: 247--------------------------------------------------
Strengthening the Immune System to More Effectively Fight Infect
ion
By: AGelbert Date: November 2, 2013, 6:06 pm
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[img width=640
height=380]
HTML http://www.kingofhomeremedies.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2011/05/yeast-infection-olive-leaf-extract.jpg[/img]
Olive tree leaves
[img width=640
height=380]
HTML http://www.nyrnaturalnews.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/06/olive-leaves-218x145.jpg[/img]
[img width=640
height=460]
HTML http://guardianlv.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/05/AIDS-patients-can-benefit-from-olive-leaf-extract.jpg[/img]
[color=green]Olive tree branch end with leaves, flower buds, a
flower and a friendly ant. ;D
[img width=214
height=380]
HTML http://www.vitacost.com/Images/Products/1000/Solgar/Solgar-SFP-Olive-Leaf-Extract-033984041301.jpg[/img][img<br
/>width=214
height=380]
HTML http://s2.hubimg.com/u/2243953_f260.jpg[/img][img<br
/>width=214
height=380]
HTML http://www.onlynaturalinc.com/media/catalog/product/o/l/oliveleaf_btl.jpg[/img]
[img width=640
height=380]
HTML http://www.pqfitness.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/06/Olive-Leaf-Extract-Oleuropeoside10.jpg[/img]
HTML http://www.picgifs.com/graphics/s/smilies/graphics-smilies-166731.gif
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o/dcda0e08e538cb37431314e6bd49279b.gif
[move]When the weather changes, opportunistic bacteria attack
people with weak immune systems[/move]
Treating respiratory tract infections in the age of resistance
by Jodi Gelfand, PA
Antimicrobial resistance is an issue well known to the medical
community at large. It is, however, of paramount importance
within the realm of holistic medicine; in addition to having the
potential to further aggravate resistance to various
antibiotics, resistance has numerous potential neurological and
gastroenterological ramifications.
Initially confined to hospitals, antimicrobial resistance is
becoming a common problem in primary care settings.
As upper respiratory infections move down through the
respiratory tract, they can progress from the common cold to
bronchitis and finally, pneumonia. Three specific bacteria are
almost exclusively responsible for all of the bacterial
components of these infections: Streptococcus. pneumoniae,
Haemophilus influenza and Moroxella catarrhalis.
These same three bacteria are responsible for most throat, ear,
tonsil and sinus infections. The consequences of increasing drug
resistance are far reaching since bacterial infections of the
lower respiratory tract are the major cause of death
HTML http://www.freesmileys.org/emoticons/emoticon-object-015.gif<br
/>
HTML http://www.pic4ever.com/images/dying.giffrom
infectious disease
in the United States :o (fn1)
Certain upper respiratory infections can be self-limited, even
when primarily bacterial in origin. Additionally, many of these
infections may be viral in origin in which case, treatment with
antibiotics is superfluous. Judicious use of antibiotics and
careful selection of appropriate medications (a narrow spectrum
drug), when they are in fact indicated, can help ameliorate
resistance.
Even exacerbations of acute exacerbations of chronic bronchitis
(AECB) are usually viral in origin. In cases where the infection
is indeed primarily bacterial, it usually resolves without the
traditional course of antibiotic therapy. Patients who have
received antibiotics in the past for acute bronchitis may insist
on the same prescription, not realizing that the previous
episode would have run its course, often in about 14 days,
without the drug. (Fn2) However, in the case of elderly
patients, diabetics, smokers or patients with COPD (Chronic
Obstructive Pulmonary Disease), antibiotic therapy is usually
indicated.
Here are some guidelines that can be helpful in determining
appropriate treatment protocols:
- When possible, obtain a culture before treating. Resist
routine requests for antibiotics unless the infection is
longstanding.
- Use narrow-spectrum antibiotics
- Implement careful hand-washing protocols ( most of these
bacteria are transmitted via skin contact, not via inhalant
mechanisms)
- Our focus, however, is largely on prevention. Particularly at
this time of year, when the weather changes precipitously from
day to day, enhancing the immune system can obviate the need for
treatment or at least lessen the severity of an infection.
Typically, we add some of the following immune enhancing
supplements to Vitamin C, EPA/DHA and Foundation Formula:
Olive Leaf Extract:
HTML http://www.drhoffman.com/page.cfm/333
Elenolic acid is an
extract from olive leaves that can act as a potent bactericidal
agent it can kill pathogenic microbes. It works by interfering
with the pathogenic amino acid sequences by preventing them from
reproducing. (It also may have anti-viral properties).
Transfer Factor: Bovine colostrum extract.
Culturelle: Lactobacillus GG helps control overgrowth of
harmful bacteria by increasing the relative number of normal
intestinal flora. This specific lactobacillus adheres to the
intestinal tract and can sustain its growth there for up to 5
days. Healthy intestinal flora can provide a physiologic barrier
that helps prevent the spread of pathogens into the bloodstream.
ARA-6: Arabinogalactans from the western larch tree are
high-molecular weight polysaccharides (sugars) capable of
upregulating critical aspects of the immune system. It can be
particularly effective prophylaxis for children with chronic
upper respiratory infections.
Footnote 1) Treating Respiratory Tract Infections in the Age of
Resistance, JAAPA Supplement, fall, 2001, p. 3.
Footnote 2) ibid. p.10.
HTML http://www.drhoffman.com/page.cfm/123
#Post#: 251--------------------------------------------------
Re: Strengthening the Immune System to More Effectively Fight In
fection
By: AGelbert Date: November 2, 2013, 10:57 pm
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What Happens in the Brain During Sleep?
In 2013, studies proved for the first time that sleep is
biologically fundamentally necessary for animals to clear away
neurotoxic waste that builds up in the brain while awake.
Research also shows that failing to adequately clear away these
toxins plays a significant role in developing certain brain
disorders.
The system through which the cleanup takes place is called the
glymphatic system and research has shown that it is 10 times
more active while an animal is sleeping.
HTML http://m.chfi.com/files/brain-cleaning.jpg
;D
More about sleep:
•The record holder for going the longest without sleep held out
for almost 19 days.
•Extreme sleep deprivation leads to hallucinations, paranoia,
and blurred vision, as well as memory and concentration lapses.
•The brain commits memories from short-term to long-term storage
while sleeping.
HTML http://www.wisegeek.com/what-happens-in-the-brain-during-sleep.htm
[move]And OF COURSE, a healthy amount of sleep is VITAL for
maintaining a strong immune system.
HTML http://www.pic4ever.com/images/34y5mvr.gif
[/move]
#Post#: 276--------------------------------------------------
Japanese knotweed
By: AGelbert Date: November 7, 2013, 1:06 am
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Japanese knotweed has resveratrol to fight degenerative diseases
but has other medicinal too. ;D
HTML http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Uf3N0biKrjQ&feature=player_embedded<br
/>
The Cure Is Never Far Away
It is said that in nature, the cure is never far away from the
injury. For example if you are bitten by a snake, there will be
some plant nearby to counter the poison. This was of course much
more relevant when people knew what to look for right there in
the forest!
Japanese knotweed, an invasive plant that grows all over the
US, may be one of the most important plants in treating symptoms
of Lyme disease. Interestingly, it has become even more invasive
in the northeast US, in tandem with the rise of Lyme disease.
The compounds found in the root have been used for thousands of
years in Far East medicine. The most notable one is resveratrol,
an anti-oxidant credited with preventing heart disease, also
found in red wine.
Now it's widely sought after in the West. Herbalist /
acupuncturist Timothy Scott, author of "Invasive Plant Medicine
The Ecological Benefits and Healing Abilities of Invasives"
shares his enthusiasm and knowledge of the plant here.
It is always a good idea to consult a specialist before any new
herbal regimen. Knotweed should not be taken in pregnancy except
in small doses and should not be used with other blood thinners.
--Bibi Farber
- See more at:
HTML http://www.nextworldtv.com/videos/health-and-wellness/invasive-plant-medicine.html#sthash.NhwSyolC.dpuf
#Post#: 288--------------------------------------------------
Re: Strengthening the Immune System to More Effectively Fight In
fection
By: Surly1 Date: November 9, 2013, 6:01 am
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Terrific thread, AG.
#Post#: 294--------------------------------------------------
Re: Strengthening the Immune System to More Effectively Fight In
fection
By: AGelbert Date: November 10, 2013, 2:03 pm
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Surly, Than you sir. ;D
#Post#: 390--------------------------------------------------
Re: Strengthening the Immune System to More Effectively Fight In
fection
By: AGelbert Date: November 18, 2013, 9:51 pm
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5 Places to Sneak Hemp Into Your Diet
Magda Rod
November 17, 2013
Hemp is on my list of top superfoods. Hemp is high in protein
and healthy fats, and is very low in cholesterol and sodium. It
is also a good source of zinc, and a very good source of
magnesium. Hemp contains all the essential amino acids and
essential fatty acids necessary to maintain healthy human life.
No other single plant source has the essential amino acids in
such an easily digestible form, nor has the essential fatty
acids in as perfect a ratio to meet human nutritional needs.
Available in concentrated protein, shelled seeds, or oil, there
are unlimited ways to include hemp in your everyday diet. I
consume it just about every day in one form or another. Here are
my top 5 ways to eat hemp:
1. Salad
Adding raw organic hemp seeds to any salad gives it a
nutritional as well as flavor boost. Try my favorite Creamy Kale
Salad Recipe. Also consider switching your salad oil to hemp oil
instead of whatever you’re using now.
2. Smoothies
Hemp is a prime plant based protein alternative to whey, which
can acidify the body and create extra strain on your kidneys.
You can use concentrated hemp protein or for a creamier smoothie
use the shelled hemp seeds. Here’s my favorite smoothie recipe.
3. Breakfast
Many people start their day with a bowl of heart healthy
oatmeal. Sprinkle in a couple tablespoons of hemp seeds to up
the nutritional value even more, and add a subtle nutty taste.
You can also sprinkle hemp seeds in yogurt or any other
breakfast cereal.
4. Dairy Substitute/Ice Cream/Milk
Did you know you can easily make your own raw hemp milk at home?
Skip the cartons that have the questionable added carrageenan,
and make your own by blending 2-3 tablespoons of raw organic
hemp seeds with 4-8 ounces of water. The water to seeds ratio is
for you to decide, based on if you prefer a thinner milk, or
thicker cream (to replace that unhealthy half and half). Add a
sprinkle of cinnamon and a few drops of liquid stevia and
vanilla to bring the taste closer to a store bought brand. Make
sure to blend the mixture on high for 45 seconds to a minute,
preferably with a high speed blender, to fully blend the seeds
for a smooth finish. If it’s still too lumpy for you, strain it
through cheese cloth or a nut milk bag.You can try adding flax
seeds (1/2-1 tablespoon) and even some soaked brown rice. A good
rule of thumb to make a quart of milk is 1 cup hemp seeds to 4
parts water. Experiment and see what mixture and consistency you
personally like. Store in a mason jar and make fresh every few
days and shake it up before pouring. If you’re lucky enough to
live in the vicinity of Omega Creamery’s limited distribution
area like I am, you can enjoy not only their hemp milk but also
their low glycemic vegan superfood ice cream!
5. Pesto
That’s right! You can make a superfood vegan pesto with hemp
seeds! Here’s the recipe. I add this to gluten free pasta, use
it as a pizza base instead of tomato sauce, or spread it on flax
crackers.
Adding more hemp to your diet will not only improve your health,
but can help create more demand for this sustainable crop which
requires no fertilizers or pesticides, and help the call for
(re)legalization. The hemp plant (Cannabis sativa) is one of the
earliest known cultivated crops, and it has many uses including
textiles, fiber, wood, plastic and fuel alternatives. And no, it
won’t get you high or make you test positive for drugs, but it
will make you and our precious planet a whole lot healthier.
Read more:
HTML http://www.care2.com/greenliving/5-places-to-sneak-hemp-into-your-diet.html#ixzz2l3lGBvi0
#Post#: 463--------------------------------------------------
Re: Strengthening the Immune System to More Effectively Fight In
fection
By: AGelbert Date: November 27, 2013, 9:53 pm
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[quote author=Surly1 link=topic=559.msg37396#msg37396
date=1385608772]
Ahhh-- couldn't help myself.
The Historical Uses of Silver
HTML http://colloidal-silver-solution.blogspot.com/2008/04/historical-uses-of-silver.html
While silver's importance as a bactericide has been documented
only since the late 1800s, Silver has been reported to have
therapeutic value throughout the ages.
Early records indicate that the Phoenicians used silver vessels
to keep water, wine and vinegar pure during their long voyages.
The ancient Greeks discovered the health benefits of silver when
they noted that in battle the upper class, who had silver
canteens, never got dysentery but the regular troops often did.
Consequently, they also lined their eating and drinking vessels
with silver, as did many other cultures throughout the world.
Herodotus (79 A.D.) wrote that Cyrus the Great, King of Persia
(550-529 B.C.), a man of vision who established a board of
health and a medical dispensary for his citizens, had water
drawn from a special stream, had it boiled and placed in silver
vessels. These vessels of water were placed on four wheeled
wagons drawn by mules, to accompany the king where ever he went.
Around 400 B.C., Hippocrates, the "Father of Medicine," taught
that silver healed wounds and controlled disease".
The Romans used silver nitrate therapeutically, and in 69 B.C it
was described in the contemporary Roman pharmacopoeia. Pliny the
Elder, in his survey of the world's knowledge, Natural History
(78 A.D.), states that the slag of silver "... has healing
properties as an ingredient in plasters, being extremely
effective in causing wounds to close up...".
The popularity of medicinal silver rose from 702 A.D. through
980 A.D. throughout the Middle East where it was widely used and
esteemed for blood purification, heart conditions, and
controlling halitosis. Paracelsus (circa 1520) extensively
incorporated silver medicinally and speaks of the virtues of
silver as a healing substance in his hermetic and alchemical
writings.
Through the centuries, royal households carried on the practice
of storing their provisions in silver containers. Privileged
family members used silver eating utensils; had their meals
served on silver plates and their drinks served in silver cups.
It is believed that this is one reason the upper class did not
succumb to the many plagues which almost wiped out villages.
Churches did, and still do, use cups made of silver for
communion, where one goblet is passed from person to person.
Interestingly, the term “Blue Blood”, used to indicate royalty,
arises from the reportedly bluish tinge of the skin of royal
family members, caused by the minute traces of pure metallic
silver they regularly consumed from the use of silver utensils.
It is also interesting to note that the expression, "born with a
silver spoon in his mouth", is not a reference to wealth, but to
health. In the early 18th century, babies who were fed with
silver spoons were healthier than those fed with spoons made
from other metals, and silver pacifiers found wide use in
America because of their beneficial health effects.
American pioneers found that a silver dollar put in a jug of
milk would delay spoilage. They also found that if they kept
their silverware "hidden" in their water barrel the water would
not go bad. Therefore, pioneers moving west put silver and
copper coins in their water barrels to keep them clean.
During the wars with Napoleon, the armies of Tsar Alexander used
water casks lined with silver to store clean drinking water from
rivers and streams. This practice by the Imperial Russian army
was common through World War I and continued to be incorporated
by some units in the Soviet Army during World War II.
Through the middle-ages right up to the early part of the 20th
century, pure silver wire was inserted into battle wounds and
hunting accident wounds to keep the wound clean of infection and
accelerate healing.
It was not until the late 1800's that Western scientists were
able to prove what had been known in Eastern medicine for
thousands of years...that silver was a proven germ fighter!
Several physicians discovered the antibacterial qualities of
silver and applied them to their practice of medicine. They used
silver nitrate successfully in the treatment of skin ulcers,
compound fractures and draining puss wounds. In 1881, the German
obstetrician, Dr. F. Crede, began to administer 1% silver
nitrate solution in the eyes of newborn infants. This virtually
eliminated the incidence of disease causing blindness in
newborns, such as gonorrheal ophthalmia. This technique has been
used effectively up to the present.
In 1901, a Prussian chemist named Hille and Albert Coombs Barnes
discovered a method of preparing a true colloid by combining a
vegetable product with a silver compound and patented it as
Argyrol, the only non-toxic antibiotic available at the time.
By the turn of the century, scientists had discovered that the
body's most important fluids were colloidal in nature. Upon this
discovery, the endless possibilities for the use of colloids in
medicine were recognized. As a result, a silver solution known
as Colloidal Silver became widely used in medicine. The first
electro-colloidal silver was produced in 1924 and became widely
used in medicine as one of the mainstays of anti-microbial
treatment. It proved to be enormously effective against
infectious organisms and extremely safe to use, without the
negative side effects associated with many drugs.
In 1910, Dr Henry Crooks, a pioneer in colloidal chemistry, (Use
of Colloids in Health-Disease) wrote that: "… certain metals,
when in a colloidal state, have a highly germicidal action but
are quite harmless to human beings...it may be applied in a much
more concentrated form and with better results... no microbe is
known that is not killed by this colloid in laboratory
experiments in six minutes, [and] the concentration of the
[silver] does not exceed twenty-five parts per million.”
[/quote]
#Post#: 653--------------------------------------------------
Make an Excellent Calcium Supplement CHEAP from Eggshells!
By: AGelbert Date: January 3, 2014, 9:11 pm
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[img width=640
height=380]
HTML http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_9jy6WCFwnmk/TJZInPhb9dI/AAAAAAAAKGU/4CV_ABddOqA/s1600/IMG_3870-2.JPG[/img]
Calcium supplements from eggshells are not just good for dogs!
;D
Eggshell calcium in the prevention and treatment of
osteoporosis.
Rovenský J, Stancíková M, Masaryk P, Svík K, Istok R.
Author information
Abstract
In this paper the most significant biological and clinical
aspects of a biopreparation made of chicken eggshells are
reviewed.
Eggshell powder is a natural source of calcium and other
elements (e.g. strontium and fluorine) which may have a positive
effect on bone metabolism. Experimental and clinical studies
performed to date have shown a number of positive properties of
eggshell powder, such as antirachitic effects in rats and
humans.
A positive effect was observed on bone density in animal models
of postmenopausal osteoporosis in ovariectomized female rats. In
vitro eggshell powder stimulates chondrocyte differentiation and
cartilage growth.
Clinical studies in postmenopausal women and women with senile
osteoporosis showed that eggshell powder reduces pain and
osteoresorption and increases mobility and bone density or
arrests its loss.
The bioavailability of calcium from this source, as tested in
piglets, was similar or better than that of food grade purified
calcium carbonate.
Clinical and experimental studies showed that eggshell powder
has positive effects on bone and cartilage and that it is
suitable in the prevention and treatment of osteoporosis.
HTML http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/15018022
HTML http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/11281164
[img width=640
height=380]
HTML http://mamanatural.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/09/eggshell-calcium-mamanatural1.jpg[/img]
How to Make Eggshell Calcium
High-quality eggshells contain 27 essential microelements but
they’re mostly composed of calcium carbonate, a form and
structure that’s very similar to our bones and teeth.
Ingredients and equipment: 1 carton of organic pastured chicken
eggs
If you can get fresh from the farm, even better and try to get
eggs from chickens that don’t eat soy. Pay the extra price since
this will serve as a supplement and is much cheaper than buying
calcium tablets. Confused how to find or know if eggs are good
quality? Here’s a tip… the thicker the shell, the more
nutrients.
I don’t have a good source close to where I live, so I order
mine from Tropical Traditions and their farms in Wisconsin. I
love theirs because they are SOY-FREE, something very hard to
find in store bought, even organic eggs.
You will also need: 1 stock pot, 1 coffee grinder, 1 small
Mason jar with secure and clean lid
Directions Use up your eggs as you normally would, keeping the
shell in the carton to make your supplement When you have your
dozen shells, rinse them well in water. Remove any whites that
might be stuck but don’t remove membrane as these have extra
nutrients.
Fill a stock pot with approximately 6 cups of filtered water and
bring to a boil. Carefully put your eggshells into water. (This
will kill any harmful pathogens) Let cook for 10 minutes. Drain
shells.
Spread the shells on glass or stainless steel baking sheet and
let dry overnight. In the morning, put in a 200 degree
(Fahrenheit) oven for about 10 minutes to completely dry out.
Once completed, put a few shells into a coffee grinder and run
until they are pulverized into a granular form. Continue until
all of your shells are powder. Store in a tightly sealed Mason
jar in the cupboard away from heat or moisture.
How to Consume 1 tsp. contains approximately 800-1,000 mg. of
calcium. Consume by mixing in a small amount of water with a
meal. Consume 3/4 to 1 tsp daily, divided in 3 servings with
meals. Don’t consume more than 1 tsp a day as it can irritate
sensitive digestive tracks.
See more at:
HTML http://mamanatural.com/how-to-make-eggshell-calcium/#sthash.d3eQWiYn.dpuf
#Post#: 745--------------------------------------------------
Light Lowers Blood Pressure
By: AGelbert Date: February 1, 2014, 11:34 pm
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Light Lowers Blood Pressure
UVA exposure reduces human blood pressure by releasing nitric
oxide metabolites from storage in the skin.
By Tracy Vence | January 20, 2014
For years, researchers have reported predictable seasonal
variations in human blood pressure. Both systolic and diastolic
blood pressure tend to be greatest during the winter months and
lowest in the summer. Many have attributed this variation to
changes in temperature, but according to a study published in
the Journal of Investigative Dermatology today (January 20),
variations in sun exposure may be the answer.
“This study . . . provides suggestive evidence that skin-derived
NO metabolites may have a role in modulation of blood pressure
upon UV exposure,” Thomas Michel, a professor of medicine and
biochemistry at Harvard Medical School who was not involved in
the work, told The Scientist in an e-mail.
The University of Southampton’s Martin Feelisch and his
colleagues first began to suspect that sunlight could affect
blood pressure nearly two decades ago. At that time, the
researchers were investigating the vasodilative effects of
nitric oxide (NO), a signaling molecule that circulates in the
bloodstream at low concentrations, typically by hitching a ride
on proteins, like albumin or hemoglobin.
It was more than 10 years ago that Feelisch and his team first
exposed healthy individuals to short periods of high-intensity
sunlight, and observed subsequent decreases in circulating
nitrate and increases in nitrite, both metabolites of NO. The
researchers also recorded significant reductions in blood
pressure. At that time, “metabolites of NO were long considered
to be biologically inert,” said Feelisch. “We started to look at
the possibility to bioactivate this molecule.”
Meanwhile, other groups were reporting reductions in blood
pressure as a result of dietary nitrate supplementation, which
Feelisch and his colleagues had not controlled for. Temperature
was another potential confounding variable. Were the effects
Feelisch and his colleagues observed due to light exposure or
elevated temperatures? How might dietary nitrate come into play?
In 2009, a team led by the University of Edinburgh’s Richard
Weller showed that human skin and the dermal vasculature contain
significant stores of NO—much more than can be found circulating
in the blood—and that these stores could be mobilized by UVA
(long-wave UV) irradiation.
For the present study, Feelisch, Weller, and their colleagues
investigated the effects of UVA exposure—equivalent to 30
minutes of sun exposure at noon on a clear day in Southern
Europe—on 24 healthy volunteers, controlling for both
temperature and dietary nitrate. The researchers found plasma
nitrate and nitrite changes, as well as reductions in blood
pressure, that were consistent with the release of NO from skin
storage. “These observations support a mechanism for the
modulation of systemic NO bioactivity and a possible role of the
skin in cardiovascular homeostasis,” he and his colleagues
wrote.
“The strength of this study is the methodology,” said the
Karolinska Institutet’s Eddie Weitzberg, a professor of
physiology and pharmacology who was not involved in the work.
“It is well-performed with adequate control experiments.”
One lingering question is the source of the cutaneous NO stores.
Another is how, exactly, NO metabolites are released into the
bloodstream. “From a mechanistic angle, it’s important to
understand what contributes to determining the concentration of
this storage material in the skin, and whether there is anything
[else] that would facilitate translocation from the skin to the
circulation,” said Feelisch. “It’s a complete black box at the
moment.”
Clinically speaking, tests to evaluate blood pressure response
to repeated UVA exposure with respect the age, gender, and
disease states—such as hypertension—are needed. But if the blood
pressure-reducing effects of UVA light hold up in larger trials,
Feelisch suggested that a reevaluation of the risks and benefits
associated with sun exposure might be in order. “Avoidance of
sunlight may be a new risk factor for cardiovascular disease
that’s never been on the map,” he said.
Still, this work is early-stage. For now, Michel said, “I
certainly wouldn’t take these findings as any mitigation against
the well-founded recommendation by dermatologists to avoid
excessive sun exposure.”
D. Liu et al., “UVA irradiation of human skin vasodilates
arterial vasculature and lowers blood pressure independently of
nitric oxide synthase,” Journal of Investigative Dermatology,
doi: 10.1038/jid.2014.27, 2014.
HTML http://www.the-scientist.com//?articles.view/articleNo/38915/title/Light-Lowers-Blood-Pressure/
#Post#: 814--------------------------------------------------
Compassion fatigue
By: AGelbert Date: February 27, 2014, 2:53 pm
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Compassion fatigue -- a.k.a. caregiver burnout -- is what
happens when a well-intentioned caregiver crosses a hard-to-see
line from One-Who-Helps to One-Who-Needs-Help. And it can happen
to anyone. It happens precisely because you care so much.
Are you at risk of caring "too much"? Here are ten warning
signs:
1.You use words like "always" and "never" with regard to
caregiving.
Beware falling into absolutes: "I promised Mom we'd never put
her in a nursing home." "I'm sorry I can't go to lunch because I
always feed Sam by myself."
Being overly rigid can put you at risk for burnout.
2.Your friends seem to have stopped calling.
You may be feeling isolated or annoyed that your old circle no
longer seems to check up on you and how you're faring. But is it
possible that you've turned them down so often because of your
caregiving duties, or that caregiving concerns so dominate your
life and conversation, that they got the message you're just not
interested in them?
A social life is a two-way street.
3.The last time you felt happy was. . . uh. . . um. . . let's
see. . . Nobody ever said looking after a sick or aging loved
one was a romp in a field of wildflowers. But if your everyday
life has lost even its grace notes, so that you find no pleasure
in it, you're at risk.
Every day needs at least one happy petal or two.
4.Everyone assumes you'll step forward; nobody asks.
Have you become the default go-to girl (or guy) in your family?
When the sick person is your spouse, this is logical. (Even
then, you need a support system to pitch in.) But it's a
different matter when the family member being cared for is a
parent, grandparent, or other relative -- and the entire burden
of responsibility seems to have settled on your shoulders
whether you've volunteered or not.
As caregiving expert Carol O'Dell is fond of saying, "People
take as much advantage of you as you let them."
5.You're overweight or out of shape.
True, it may not be your caregiving that's to blame. We could
sit around and make a long list of culprits for poor health that
includes everything from our car culture to a conspiracy of corn
syrup to unfortunate genes. But the fact remains that poor
self-care is a big red flag for caregiver burnout. Being
selflessly focused on others by definition means you're not
focused on yourself. And yet you need to be the #1 person you
look after, in order to be shipshape (or at least functional!)
to look after others.
If you don't like what you see when you look in the mirror (or
sit listening to the doctor's concern in the exam room), give
yourself permission to be selfish.
6.You can't remember the last time you took a vacation.
Vacations are really hard when you have a disabled or impaired
person to consider. And not being able to even remember the last
break you had is a sure sign you're due for one. It doesn't have
to be three weeks in France. Start small if you must: a simple
overnight at a friend's house or a local B&B. Just do something.
To stop caregiving stress, stop caregiving sometimes.
7.All conversations turn to caregiving.
Maybe you remember when your kids were babies and you'd hire a
babysitter -- and proceed to talk about the kids all evening?
Not a great idea. Or worse, you call home to check up! If every
conversation with your partner or other family members concerns
one subject, it's a warning sign that topic is monopolizing your
life.
Diversify!
8.You have no hobbies.
You say you have no time for hobbies? Your hobby doesn't have
to be a conventional one like stamp-collecting or bird-watching.
It just needs to be an outlet away from caregiving. Reading
trashy novels uninterrupted, taking up knitting, joining a book
club, taking adult ed courses, being a matinee-movie addict, or
enjoying your children and grandchildren all count, too "“
anything that takes you away from caregiving for bursts of time.
Bonus points if it takes you out of the house, too.
9.You can't sleep through the night.
Two common causes: You're up tending to a sick person (or
Alzheimer's wanderer, or someone else who gets by on just a few
hours of sleep a night) or you're sick with stress or a physical
problem yourself. A sleepless night or two go with the territory
of caregiving -- but if it's become your lifestyle, it's a
problem you need to correct.
Sleep isn't optional!
10.You dread waking up in the morning.
We all have this experience, usually when we're in the midst of
a health crisis that seems like a bad dream (but isn't). Health
nightmares can go on for years, unfortunately. But when the
crisis has passed and you've sunk into a new routine "“ and you
still feel heavy-hearted and hopeless, your body is crying out
for you to enlist some support.
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Nobody "“ not even the most well-intentioned, big-hearted, and
selfless among us -- is meant to endure a tough situation all
alone, day after day, year after year.
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If three or more of these warning signs are flashing for you,
what can you do? Start here:
Use the Caring.com local senior care directory to free up time
for you.
Find a support group of like-situationed others to vent to.
Congratulate yourself for having taken the first step toward
improving the situation: Realizing the problem, and deciding
you're worth a fix.
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