Viral Infection or Bacterial Infection? Know the Difference
You are feverish with a wicked sore throat, stuffed up nose, and body aches. Last time you had a sore throat and fever, the doctor prescribed you an antibiotic and you felt better after two or three days of taking the medicine. This time, however, after the examination, she simply instructs you to take ibuprofen […]
Stomach Virus versus Food Poisoning: Symptoms and Guidelines
FOOD POISONING Symptoms of food poisoning include stomach cramping, fatigue, diarrhea or constipation, fever, chills, muscle aches, headaches, sweating, thirst, general malaise. Symptoms usually appear 2 to 6 hours after initial exposure. Symptoms usually resolve within two days. Food poisoning occurs most commonly in babies, young children, and the elderly. Food poisoning is more common […]
The Flu and You: Symptoms, Prevention, and Recovery
INFLUENZA OVERVIEW About the influenza virus. The flu, short for influenza, is caused by two main types of virus: Type A and Type B. Both types of flu routinely spread in people, causing flu epidemics each year, but new strains of Influenza A can emerge and cause an influenza pandemic. Current subtypes of influenza A […]
Newly Discovered Dysfunction in T-cell Development Sheds Light on Multiple Sclerosis
Autoimmune diseases are caused by immune system over-activity, which is when the body attacks and damages its own tissues. In the autoimmune disease, multiple sclerosis (MS), the immune system attacks myelin, the fatty substance that coats and protects nerve fibers in the brain and spinal cord. While the exact causes of autoimmune disease remain unclear, […]
Nutrition and the Immune System
Our nutrition has a significant impact on the strength of our immune system. Disruptions in nutrition or inadequate nutrition can result in increased susceptibility to infections as a result of nutrient deficiency or chronic inflammation. Clinical research supports the connection between immune strength and nutrition, with studies monitoring nutrition and modulation of immune function in […]
Lyme Disease: Overview and Prevention
What is it? Lyme disease is an infection caused by the bacteria called Borrelia burgdorferi and is transmitted to humans through the bite of infected black-legged ticks (also known as deer ticks). Where are deer ticks most prevalent? In the United States, deer ticks live in wooded areas of the Northeast, from Virginia to Maine; […]
Exercise and the Immune System
In theory, exercise should help strengthen our immune systems. The National Institute of Health (NIH) explains that while science isn’t clear on how and why exercise might improve our immune function, research has suggested that physical activity flushes bacteria from lungs and airways, reducing the chance of cold, flu, and other respiratory illnesses. Exercise might […]
A Guide to the Human Immune System
The human immune system is a complex interconnected network of bodily structures, organs, and processes that work together to protect the body from foreign invaders, or pathogens. From Day 1 of life, the immune system protects the body from multiple pathogenic invaders, continually adapting to new threats throughout the developmental years of life. By adulthood, […]
Willing and Able! Achieving Your Healthy Lifestyle Goals
According to data pulled from Google by iQuanti, 41 percent of Americans made New Year’s resolutions this past January, and of those who did, the majority made losing weight and/or having a more healthy diet one of their priority goals for 2017. Unfortunately, data show that only about eight percent of those individuals will actually […]
Will This Be the Year You Finally Quit?
WebMD’s 13 Tips on Quitting Smoking Find Your Reason. To get motivated, you need a powerful, personal reason to quit. It may be to lower your chance of getting lung cancer, heart disease, or other conditions, or to look and feel younger. Choose a reason that is strong enough to outweigh the urge to light […]
Watch Out for Winter Dehydration
You might enjoy outdoor activities and staying active in cold weather doing things like hiking, running, skiing, or snow shoeing, for example—but be aware of maintaining your body’s ideal ration of water. If you’re out in the cold for hours, the combination of heavy clothing and high- intensity exercise can lead to sweating, which contributes […]
Want to Lose Weight? Keep a Food Journal, Don’t Skip Meals, and Avoid Going Out to Lunch
Women who want to lose weight should faithfully keep a food journal and avoid skipping meals and eating in restaurants—especially at lunch— suggests research from Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center. In a study by McTiernan et al, investigators looked at the impact of a wide range of self-monitoring and diet-related behaviors and meal patterns on […]
