Health & Wellness

Do you know the golden rule of hair care? A clean, healthy scalp = healthy hair [10]

Itching scalp can be caused by a number of conditions, including dandruff, seborrhoeic dermatitis and psoriasis. Medicated shampoos can be used to treat dandruff and relieve itchy scalp.

Itch has been classified into four different clinical categories.

These include neurogenic, psychogenic, neuropathic, and pruritoceptive.[1]

Irritation and allergic reactions. Wool, chemicals, soaps and other things can irritate the skin and cause rashes and itching. Sometimes a substance, such as poison ivy or cosmetics, causes an allergic reaction. Also, reactions to certain medicines, such as narcotics to treat pain (opioids) can cause itchy skin.[13]

What vitamin deficiency causes itchy scalp?

Vitamins D, B2, B3, B6, B7 are usually associated with a flaky scalp.[4]

Our skin produces sebum, which coats and protects the hair and hair follicles. Over time, sebum gets accumulated in the hair, making the hair strands to stick together and giving it a dull and greasy appearance. Pollutants like dust and dirt also get attracted to sebum and stick to it. However, sebum and oil in the hair cannot be washed away with water. Shampoos help to cleanse the hair of oil and sebum.[8]

Itching scalp

Hormones and Itchy

Scalp A lack of collagen and natural oils can result in an irritated, itchy scalp. Hormonal shifts during the menstrual cycle, namely the sudden decrease in oestrogen, can lead to an oilier scalp, which in turn can produce flaking and itching, especially if one is predisposed to scalp conditions. [12]

Itching scalp, with or without scaling, is very common. It may occur in middle-aged people, for no obvious reason. The usual response is to scratch, and this will often cause scratch marks and little crusty sores throughout the scalp. Dandruff can cause itching scalp. There are also a number of less common skin conditions that can present as itching in the scalp.

Seborrhoeic dermatitis

Seborrhoeic dermatitis is the name given to a red, itchy, scaly reaction in the scalp. It can be considered a more severe form of dandruff, except the scale is more marked and the scalp is often inflamed. It can be very itchy and can affect other parts of the body, including the face, eyebrows, beard and central chest area.

Symptoms of seborrhoeic dermatitis

Symptoms of seborrhoeic dermatitis develop gradually and may include:

• dry or greasy diffuse scaling of the scalp. This is the most usual presentation.
• yellow-red scaling on those areas of the body that are generally affected in severe disease – along the hairline, behind the hair, on the eyebrows, on the bridge of the nose, in the creases between the nose and the lips inside the ears, over the sternum (middle of the chest), on the underarms and groin areas.

Causes of seborrhoeic dermatitis

What type of allergy causes itching?

Pruriceptive itch is due to an allergic reaction, inflammation, dryness or other skin damage. It is seen in atopic dermatitis (eczema), urticaria (hives), psoriasis, drug reactions, mites and dry skin. This type of itch is often treated with antihistamines and other drugs that alter the immune reaction. [11]

Seborrhoeic dermatitis affects areas with high densities of large oil glands. The inflammation is caused by the body’s reaction to a yeast on the scalp and to products that break down oil produced by the oil gland.

Various underlying conditions can cause an itchy scalp without dandruff. Examples include head lice, hives, and dermatitis. The scalp may also be sore, dry, or tender. Treatment can depend on the cause.

Scalp pruritus, or an itchy scalp, is a common health issue that many people experience. In many cases, dandruff may cause scalp itchiness. However, many different conditions may cause a person’s scalp to itch. eResearch by Navid Ajamin

Can anxiety affect your scalp?

Second, an increase in stress can make your scalp produce more oil. This may disrupt your scalp's microflora balance, which often causes flaking and itching. (This is the same physiological reaction that can cause your skin to break out when you are stressed.) [9]

Itching in childhood is mainly associated with skin diseases. Systemic disease and drug reactions are rare compared to adults. Itchy skin conditions in children include eczema (particularly atopic dermatitis), rashes, infections/infestations, urticaria/mastcytosis, autoimmune disorders, and hereditary dermatoses.[14]

easy home treatments

No.1

1. Try to use shampoo with warm water, not hot or cold.
2. It's best to dilute and use your shampoos in 1:3 ratio, where 1 is shampoo and 3 is water. Dilution enables good spreadability of the product on the scalp & thus increases efficacy ! [5]
3. Note, (Apple Cider Vinegar) ACV helps balance the pH of your scalp, which can relieve itchiness and dandruff. It also has antimicrobial properties that can combat scalp infections and promote a healthier scalp environment. Additionally, ACV can remove product buildup and excess oil from your hair, leaving it cleaner and more manageable. [6]
4. Home remedies such as coconut oil, an apple cider vinegar rinse, and Tea tree oil، rosemary or peppermint oil may help ease symptoms of an itchy scalp. [7]
5. cleaning your scalp is more important than shampooing your hair. [10]
6. Good Nutrition Matters for Great Hairs

Reference:

1. pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC3696473
2. medicalnewstoday.com/articles/itchy-scalp-no-dandruff
3. betterhealth.vic.gov.au/health/conditionsandtreatments/dandruff-and-itching-scalp#rpl-skip-link
4. headandshoulders.co.in/en-in/healthy-hair-and-scalp/dandruff/dandruff-causes/can-vitamin-deficiency-cause-dandruff
5. instagram.com/secrethairoil/reel/CtG7oOspXJk/?hl=en
6. quora.com/Do-we-need-to-use-a-conditioner-with-Wow-Apple-cider-vinegar-shampoo
7. healthline.com/health/home-remedies-for-itchy-scalp
8. pediaa.com/what-is-the-difference-between-shampoo-and-conditioner
9. philipkingsley.co.uk/hair-guide/hair-science/hair-facts/how-does-stress-affect-your-hair.html
10. ipsy.com/blog/how-to-clean-your-scalp
11. aaaai.org/tools-for-the-public/conditions-library/allergies/what-makes-us-itch
12. monpure.com/blogs/news/causes-of-dry-and-itchy-scalp-conditions
13. mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/itchy-skin/symptoms-causes/syc-20355006
14. pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC8389554

See also:

• Hair loss and itchy scalp
• What may cause an itchy scalp with no dandruff?
• Foods That May Cause Itching as an Allergic Reaction

Enamel

The enamel is the hardest tissue in the human body. It is the only ectodermal derivative of the tooth. Inorganic constituents account for 96% by weight and they are mainly calcium phosphate in the form of hydroxyapatite crystals. These apatite crystals are arranged in the form of rods. All other hard tissues of the body, dentin, cementum and bone also have hydroxyapatite as the principal inorganic constituent. Hydroxyapatite crystals differ in size and shape; those of the enamel are hexagonal and longest.

Enamel is the only hard tissue, which does not have collagen in its organic matrix. The enamel present in the fully formed crown has no viable cells, as the cells forming it—the ameloblast degenerates, once enamel formation is over. Therefore, all the enamel is formed before eruption. This is of clinical importance as enamel lost, after tooth has erupted, due to wear and tear or due to dental caries, cannot be formed again. Enamel, lacks not only formative cells but also vessels and nerves. This makes the tooth painless and no blood oozes out when enamel is drilled while making a cavity for filling.

Dentin

The dentin forms the bulk of the tooth. It consists of dentinal tubules, which contains the cytoplasmic process of the odontoblasts. The tubules are laid in the calcified matrix—the walls of the tubules are more calcified than the region between the tubules. The apatite crystals in the matrix are plate like and shorter, when compared to enamel. The number of tubules near the pulp are broader and closer and they usually have a sinusoidal course, with branches, all along and at their terminus at the dentinoenamel or cementodentinal junction.

The junction between enamel and dentin is scalloped to give mechanical retention to the enamel. Dentin is avascular. Nerves are present in the inner dentin only. Therefore, when dentin is exposed, by loss of enamel and stimulated, a pain-like sensation called sensitivity is experienced. The dentin forms throughout life without any stimulation or as a reaction to an irritant. The cells that form the dentin—the odontoblast lies in the pulp, near its border with dentin. Thus, dentin protects the pulp and the pulp nourishes the dentin. Though dentin and pulp are different tissues they function as one unit.

Why do teeth lose enamel?

Several factors can contribute to tooth enamel loss, including: Environmental factors like friction, stress and everyday wear and tear. Teeth grinding or clenching (bruxism). Drinking soda, fruit juice and other sugary drinks.

How do I know if my enamel is gone?

As the enamel continues to erode, your teeth might turn a gray or yellowish color. If your teeth change shape, it's a good indicator that you have enamel damage. Your teeth may begin to appear rounded, develop ridges, and often the gaps between teeth will become more substantial.

Factors That Trigger Enamel Erosion

Although the human body cannot restore the enamel on its own, most factors that begin or hasten enamel erosion can be avoided or mitigated through healthy lifestyle choices.

Easily preventable factors include:

• Soft drinks: Soft drinks threaten enamel directly due to their acidic content. They also damage teeth indirectly because the sugars in sodas promote bacterial growth.
• Fruit beverages: Many fruit beverages are as acidic as sodas. Some fruit beverages are more acidic than battery acid.
• Starches: Starchy foods frequently leave food particles between teeth. The starchy food particles allow bacteria to thrive and spread, especially when the patient does not apply oral health care to remove the food particles.
• Sour foods: The acids that give foods their sour flavoring also wear away enamel.
• Alcohol: Excessive alcohol usage inflicts several health complications on a patient. One of the negative consequences of excessive alcohol usage is vomiting, which creates a hostile oral environment that can ruin teeth.

Factors that may be difficult to avoid – yet still possible to be mitigated – include:

• Acid reflux disease: This gastrointestinal disorder causes the patient to regurgitate stomach acid, severely damaging enamel, especially with consistent exposure.
• Dry mouth: Saliva acts as a natural defense mechanism, washing away bacteria and food particles and regulating the mouth’s pH levels. A dry mouth deprives the mouth of saliva, increasing the chances of damage due to bacteria and dietary acids.
• Genetics: Many genetically inherited medical conditions can complicate a patient’s oral health, including gastrointestinal diseases that render the patient’s mouth acidic.
• Medications: Both prescription medications and over-the-counter medications have side effects. Oral medications can expose the patient’s teeth to hostile oral environments that promote enamel erosion.
• Physical damage: Accidental injuries – such as sports injuries or any external impact – and medical conditions such as bruxism can cause complications ranging from wearing down teeth to severe chips and cracks.

Reference:

• anydifferencebetween.com/difference-between-enamel-and-dentin
• my.clevelandclinic.org/health/body/24798-tooth-enamel
• drbraverman.com/blog/tooth-erosion-restoring-enamel

Drinking hot water regularly can provide numerous benefits for your body and mind.

Hot water helps to

• increase blood flow,
• improve digestion,
• reduce inflammation,
• and flush out toxins from the body.

It can also help to reduce stress and fatigue, while aiding in weight loss and boosting immunity. Drinking hot water can even help to relieve congestion, sinus pain and headaches.

Benefits of Drinking Hot Water

Relieve nasal congestion

Drinking hot water can be a great way to help relieve nasal congestion. Hot liquids help naturally thin and cut down on mucus buildup, leaving you breathing easier. This process helps to keep your nasal pathways clear, allowing for unrestricted airflow. Additionally, the vapor that rises when drinking or inhaling the steam of a cup of hot water can act as an inhalant and provide a decongesting effect. The benefits of drinking hot water are such that they should be considered when trying to find relief from nasal congestion.

Aid Digestion

Drinking hot water benefits digestion and can help people feel more comfortable after consuming a meal. The heat of the water can encourage relaxation of the muscles in your intestines, facilitating the movement of food through your digestive system. Studies have shown that this simple behavior is beneficial for those who suffer from occasional constipation and may even reduce symptoms associated with IBS and other gastrointestinal illnesses. Keeping hydrated is also essential to aid digestion, so you may consider sipping hot water throughout the day. This can be especially helpful after large meals as it helps encourage proper nutrient absorption from food. Drinking hot water certainly comes with benefits and can help keep digestion running smoothly.

Improve Central Nervous System Function

Hot water is an effective way to improve our central nervous system function. The benefits of consuming hot water can be increased mental clarity, improved sensory functions, better circulation and even enhanced levels of energy. Not only does drinking hot water help to promote a healthy state of being, but it has also been known to improve digestion and keep inflammation in check as well. Drinking 8-12 glasses a day can be helpful for increasing the benefits experienced from consuming hot water. As an additional bonus, drinking hot water is relatively inexpensive too!

Helps Weight Loss

Drinking hot water can have benefits for those looking to lose weight. The benefits of this simple but often overlooked practice include improved digestion, increased metabolism, and appetite suppression. Hot water helps to break down large pieces of food in the stomach more easily which can lead to quicker digestion and uptake of key nutrients in our body. Additionally, it aids in raising the metabolic rate temporarily giving a boost that can aid in burning calories over the long run. Finally, drinking hot water can act as a natural appetite suppressant by making you feel fuller with fewer calories consumed.

Cures Cold and Cough

Cold and cough season has arrived, and many of us are searching for ways to find relief. One oft-repeated home remedy to consider is drinking 8-10 glasses of hot water each day. It's safe, inexpensive, and benefits our bodies in multiple ways -- helping to break down mucus and reduce inflammation to soothe a sore throat or stuffy nose. Hot water with lemon or honey can add an additional layer of benefits for those who want to get better even faster. Keeping the body hydrated is key for proper hydration and boosts defense against infections. So if you're feeling under the weather, reach for a mug of steaming hot water and give your immune system its best chance at recovery!

Helps to Detox

Drinking hot water benefits the body in many ways, especially when it comes to detoxification. Not only is hot water a great way to keep hydrated and flush out toxins that can build up in the body, but it's also thought to help stimulate circulation, reduce bloating, and improve digestion. Increasingly, people are experimenting with adding lemon or other ingredients to hot water for additional benefits. Lemon juice helps increase alkali-acid balance, while other ingredients like herbs, garlic, spices and fresh fruit offer improved benefits related to detoxification. Whatever your preferences are, adding hot water into your daily routine offers impressive benefits when it comes to cleansing the body from impurities.

Enhances Circulation

Drinking hot water has long been known to have benefits for our physical and mental health, with one of the most beneficial effects being an increase in circulation. Hot water encourages improved blood flow throughout the body, allowing oxygen-rich blood to reach every organ and extremity. Hot water also helps heal wounds faster and can even reduce the chance of colds and flus by speeding up the immunological functions of white blood cells. Drinking warm to hot water on a regular basis yields benefits over time such as increased energy levels, improved metabolism, and reduction in cardiovascular issues. If you want to get more out of your days, enhance your circulation by drinking hot water!

Relieves Menstrual Cramps

Experiencing menstrual cramps can be incredibly disruptive, but luckily, there are solutions! One of the easiest and most effective ways to reduce discomfort is by drinking hot water. Doing so can help to alleviate painful symptoms such as cramping and muscle spasms, as well as improving general body aches and pains. Additionally, benefits may include increasing blood flow, thus decreasing fatigue. This simple and natural method is a worthwhile approach for those looking for quick relief from the pain-causing effects of menstruation with minimal effort.

Relieve Constipation

Constipation is an uncomfortable condition that affects countless people and can cause cramping, bloating, straining, and overall discomfort. Fortunately, there are various lifestyle changes you can make to relieve constipation and promote regular bowel movements. One of the most effective methods to ease constipation is drinking hot or warm water. Not only does the warmth of the water stimulate your digestive system by generating more saliva which helps with digestion, but it also helps relax abdominal muscles which encourages food waste to move out of the body more easily. Additionally, drinking at least 8 cups of water per day will help ensure your body has enough liquids required for optimal digestion!

Keeps You Hydrated

Staying well hydrated is essential for overall health and wellbeing. Drinking plenty of water can help your body stay healthy and functioning properly. One of the benefits of drinking hot water is it can help improve digestion, aid in weight loss, boost immunity and decrease inflammation. Additionally, it may increase blood circulation, reduce stress levels and pamper your skin with a moisturizing effect. It has been known to also soothe sore throats in wintertime and have calming benefits on both the mind and body. Turning up the temperature on your next drink of water is easy to do – simply heat it until it’s comfortable and enjoy!

Decrease Stress Levels

Practicing daily self-care is an excellent way to reduce stress and promote overall wellbeing. One great way to do this is to drink hot water regularly. In traditional Chinese medicine, hot water benefits the digestive system due to it's ability to increase circulation and aid in hydration, among other benefits including flushing out toxins. Drinking hot water has also been linked to decreased levels of stress hormones like cortisol, which can contribute positively to mental health. As such, adding a cup or two of hot water into your daily routine can help naturally reduce stress!

Relieve Symptoms Of Achalasia

Achalasia is a medical condition that affects the lower esophageal sphincter, and can make it difficult to swallow food and drink. People suffering from achalasia can find relief by drinking hot water. Hot water will help relax the affected muscles of the lower esophageal sphincter, allowing you to better digest food and improve swallowing ability. Additionally, hot water has benefits for your overall health such as eliminating toxins stored in fat deposits, promoting healthy skin, balancing pH levels in your body, boosting circulation and improving sleep quality. If you suffer from achalasia symptoms, consider making drinking hot water part of your daily routine for its benefits both on digestion and overall wellbeing.

Conclusion

Hot water has a plethora of benefits that range from improving circulation to promoting weight loss. If you're looking for a delicious and healthy way to start your day, try adding some hot water to your morning routine. You just might be surprised at how much difference it makes.

Reference:

• instacare.pk/blog/benefits-of-drinking-hot-water

Tooth decay is a common dental problem and can affect both children and adults. Taking care of your child’s milk teeth as soon as they come through can help to minimise the chances of your child developing tooth decay.

Getting into a good dental care routine from the moment that your little one’s milk teeth erupt, and continuing through the toddler years, and beyond is essential to keep their teeth healthy and clean.

Taking your toddler for regular dental check-ups is also vital and will help to spot the early signs of tooth decay.

WHAT IS TOOTH DECAY?

Knowing what tooth decay is and how it damages the teeth can help you understand how to protect your toddler’s teeth from decay.

Tooth decay can develop as a result of the sugar. When we eat sugary food and consume sugary drinks, the sugar content causes the bacteria in the mouth to produce acid. This acid then attacks the surface of the tooth, and damages the enamel that coats the tooth.

This causes holes to form in the tooth enamel, known as cavities. Bacteria and plaque in the mouth can then enter the cavities and lead to the start of tooth decay. Tooth decay gets progressively worse, so the earlier it can be caught and treated, the better. In some cases, children need to have teeth extracted because tooth decay has made it impossible to save the tooth.

Knowing the signs of tooth decay can help you to spot it early and to get your toddler’s teeth treated. Early detection can lead to a better outcome, as the teeth should be less damaged.

SIGNS OF TOOTH DECAY IN TODDLERS

If you are concerned that your toddler may be experiencing tooth decay, there are a few signs to look out for:

• They may react to hot or cold foods
• Eating sweet foods may cause them discomfort
• Discoloured spots developing on their teeth - these spots may appear as either a grey or brownish colour

You should always visit a dentist if you notice the signs of tooth decay, or any other changes in your toddler’s teeth. Acting fast will ensure that treatment can start as early as possible.

FOODS THAT CAUSE TOOTH DECAY

Brushing your toddler’s teeth twice each day using a suitable fluoride toothpaste is crucial to help avoid tooth decay. However, it is also essential to be aware of the foods that can contribute to tooth decay. Consuming drinks and food which are high in sugar is a leading cause of tooth decay, and you may be surprised to discover some of the unexpected foods that contain hidden sugars.

Below are some of the foods and drinks that may contain high levels of added or naturally-occurring sugar, both of which can cause tooth decay.

Processed foods that may contain added sugar:

• Cakes
• Biscuits and cookies
• Chocolate
• Sweets
• Milkshakes
• Soft drinks such as lemonade and cola
• Squash and cordials
• Yoghurts
• Jams
• Cereal bars and breakfast biscuits
• Syrups
• Ice cream

Foods containing naturally-occurring sugar:

• Dried apricots
• Dates
• Raisins, sultanas, currants
• Fresh, frozen and tinned fruit
• Milk
• Honey
• Fruit juices
• Smoothies

Unexpected foods that are often high in added sugar:

• Breakfast cereals
• Packaged fruit snacks aimed at kids
• Ketchup
• Pasta sauces
• Baked beans
• Canned soups
• Salad cream

Knowing which foods contain high levels of sugar will help you to remove or reduce them from your toddler’s diet. This will help you to minimise the chances of them developing tooth decay, and will keep their teeth strong and healthy.

Reference:

• emmasdiary.co.uk/baby/teeth/foods-that-cause-tooth-decay-in-toddlers

How Kidney Disease Affects Your Skin: Managing Rashes, Sores, and Itches

Dry and itchy skin, sometimes referred to as cutaneous manifestations, is common among people living with chronic kidney disease (CKD). These symptoms vary from person to person and can range from irritating to unbearable. Some people may experience itchy skin in one centralized location while others may feel itchy all over their body. Learn about common ways kidney disease can affect your skin as well as tips for keeping your skin healthy.

Why Does Kidney Disease Affect the Skin?

Kidney disease can bring about certain physical changes, including changes to your skin. When living with CKD, your kidneys aren’t able to filter your blood as healthy kidneys would, causing waste and toxins to build up, which can leave your body feeling extremely itchy. The kidneys also have trouble balancing certain minerals including phosphorus. When your phosphorus levels get too high, it can cause your skin to be dry and irritated. In addition, kidney disease can lead to changes in your sweat glands, causing your skin to dry out.

8 Common Ways Kidney Disease Can Affect Your Skin

If you are living with CKD, you may experience one or more of the following changes to your skin.

1. Rashes—can develop when your kidneys aren’t able to remove waste from your body. These rashes can present themselves as small, dome-shaped bumps and can be extremely itchy. The bumps can also form together, creating rough, raised patches on your skin.
2. Dry skin—may occur causing your skin to feel extremely tight. Your skin may start to crack.
3. Itchy skin—a common side effect of kidney disease that can range from irritating to life disrupting. If your skin feels itchy all or most of the time, consult with your doctor and dermatologist.
4. Blisters—sometimes people living with kidney disease will develop blisters on their hands, feet, and/or face.
5. Calcium deposits—damaged kidneys have trouble maintaining a healthy balance of minerals in your blood. Due to this imbalance, some people may develop calcium deposits under their skin. They typically appear near joints and are not painful unless they form within one of your fingertips.
6. Swelling—a healthy kidney removes extra fluids and salt from your body. When your kidneys are damaged, fluids and salt can build up in your body, causing swelling in your legs, ankles, feet, hands, and/or face.
7. Changes to skin color—the buildup of toxins in your body, when your kidneys aren’t filtering your blood as they should, can cause color changes to your skin. You may notice a gray or yellow hue to your skin, areas of darkened skin, or an unhealthy pale tone. If you’ve had itchy skin for a long time and scratch often, you may also see yellowish, thick skin with bumps or cysts.
8. Discolored nails—kidney disease can affect the look of your fingernails and toenails. You may notice what is called “half-and-half” nails, meaning the top part of your nails is white and the bottom part is a reddish-brown color. You may also see a white band across one or more of your nails.

7 Tips for Keeping Your Skin Healthy

Changes to your skin can be frustrating and, if left untreated, can impact your quality of life. Review the following tips and start incorporating them into your daily routine to help keep your skin healthy.

1. Monitor your calcium phosphate intake. It is important to take your phosphate binders as prescribed by your doctor to ensure your calcium phosphate levels stay in check.
2. Follow a kidney-friendly diet. What you eat and drink—and how much—can affect your health. In addition to other benefits, eating a kidney-friendly diet can help you feel your best and keep your phosphate levels down, reducing skin irritation.
3. Avoid scratching your skin. Scratching may provide short-term relief, but it often makes the itching worse and can damage the skin or cause an infection.
4. Steer clear of products with strong perfumes. The perfumes in certain products can cause allergic reactions or skin irritation, so it is best to use unscented products.
5. Wear comfortable clothing. Clothing made from cotton or other natural fabrics can be more soothing on your skin. Wearing loose-fitting clothes can also help because they don’t rub against your skin.
6. Moisturize. Putting cream on at least once a day can help combat dry skin, relieving some of the itchiness you may be feeling.
7. Avoid hot baths. Hot water can leave your skin feeling dry and irritated. It is also recommended to take showers instead of baths.

When to Talk to a Doctor

The above tips can help you keep your skin healthy, however, it is still important to discuss any concerns you may have about your skin with your doctor. If your skin is feeling itchy or irritated all or most of the time, talk to your doctor about possible medications or treatment options. If you wait too long to contact your doctor and seek help, your symptoms may get worse, and it may be difficult to reverse the progression.

In fact, it is never too soon to talk to your doctor. Early detection of kidney disease can help prevent the progression of CKD and associated complications such as rashes, sores, and itchy skin. Discovering kidney disease in the early stages can help you take control of your health sooner and keep your skin healthy. By partnering with your doctor, you can develop a treatment plan to ensure you stay healthy and feel your best.

Reference: freseniuskidneycare.com/thrive-central/kidney-disease-skin-conditions

A distended abdomen is abnormally swollen outward. You can see and measure the difference, and sometimes you can feel it. A distended abdomen can be due to bloating from gas, or it can be due to accumulated fluid, tissue, or digestive contents. It can be chronic or acute.

If you have occasional bloating that is not accompanied with more severe symptoms, such as blood in the stool, nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, or pain, you can minimize your bloating systems by eliminating certain foods or minimizing your intake of them. Lactose intolerance can certainly be a factor when it comes to bloating for some; while you should see your physician, you can try eliminating dairy for a week or so to see if it makes a difference. Fizzy and carbonated drinks can also make you feel “gassy” and bloated.

Simple tricks to get rid of isolated cases of bloating include:

• Over-the-counter gas remedies. These can calm the lining of the digestive tract and are usually taken before a meal.
• Walking. Going for a low-impact, short walk can help relieve bloating.
• Peppermint oil or capsules. Many patients swear by this natural remedy to help “cure” bloating.
• Probiotics. This is another over-the-counter solution that works well for many people.
• Avoiding gum. Chewing gum allows air to get into your stomach, offering a bloating feeling.
• Adding more fiber to your diet. This is optimal for many reasons but can help minimize bloating.

Bloating is a common early symptom of menstruation that many women experience. It may feel like you've gained weight or like your abdomen or other parts of your body are tight or even swollen. Bloating generally occurs well before your period starts and will go away once you've been menstruating for a few days.

Why do periods cause bloating?

The short answer is hormones. PMS occurs during the luteal phase of your menstrual cycle. That’s when the hormones estrogen and progesterone can fluctuate. It’s also when the lining of your uterus gets thicker. If you become pregnant, the fertilized egg attaches to your thickened uterine lining. If you’re not pregnant, the thickened lining leaves your body, and you have a period.

Hormones may not be the only reason you have physical symptoms leading up to your period. Other causes for your symptoms may relate to:

- your genes

- the type and amount of vitamins and minerals you take

- your diet, especially if it’s high in salt

- the number of drinks and foods you have with caffeine or alcohol

There are a few other ways to prevent bloating as well. Other than avoiding chewing gum, habits such as smoking, drinking beverages using straws, and eating too quickly can all contribute to bloating. It’s also a good idea to avoid foods known to cause gas if you are already susceptible to bloating, such as brussels sprouts, beans, and lentils.

1. هر روز صبح یک لیوان آب ولرم با چند قطره لیمو میل کنید. 15 تا 30 دقیقه قبل از صبحانه نوشیدن آب و آبلیمو باعث تنظیم ترشح اسید معده ،کاهش سوزش معده ،کاهش تورم معده و روده می شود .علاوه بر آن لیمو حاوی مقدار زیادی ویتامین C است.
2. در صبحانه قهوه و شیر مصرف نکنید. شیر بر روی اسید معده تاثیر گذاشته و باعث سوزش معده می گردد.شیر را به عنوان یک نوشیدنی در نظر نگیرید.شیر یک ماده غذایی سنگین است.به جای شیر از ماست یا دوغ استفاده کنید.این محصولات حاوی پروبیوتیک های لازم برای بدن هستند. و زمانی که با قهوه مخلوط می شوند باعث آسیب به معده می شوند.
3. در حین غذا نوشیدنی ،ننوشید. هنگام خوردن غذا مصرف نوشیدنی ها باعث کاهش اسید معده و آنزیم های گوارشی می شود. و هضم غذا و تخمیر آن به کاهشی صورت می گیرد.در نتیجه سبب افزایش گاز و تورم شکم و معده می شود.
4. از نوشیدن مشروبات الکلی خودداری کنید. الکل باعث افزایش ترشح اسید معده می شود.و باعث کاهش فعالیت معده و جرم بستن دیواره معده می شود.در اثر مصرف زیاد فلورهای معده و روده را از بین می برد.
5. نوشیدن چای زنجبیل باعث آرامش معده و افزایش فعالیت روده و کاهش گاز و تورم شکم می شود.هم چنین باعث رقیق شدن خون و افزایش گردش آن می شود.
6. غذاهای چرب مصرف نکنید. زیرا به دلیل سنگین بودن آنها هضم آنها برای معده سخت خواهد بود و به مدت زیادی در معده باقی می مانند.و سبب افزایش باد در معده می گردد.
7. هوا نخورید. با عجله غذا خوردن ،صحبت هنگام غذا،درست نجویدن غذا ،نوشیدن مایعات گازدار ،مصرف سیگار یا جویدن آدامس سبب وارد شدن هوا به معده می شود و باعث افزایش باد و تورم شکم می شود.

Reference:

• healthline.com/health/womens-health/period-bloating
• gastrosav.com/blog/abdominal-bloating-causes-symptoms-and-diagnosis
• my.clevelandclinic.org/health/symptoms/21819-abdominal-distension-distended-abdomen

The Benefits of Walking

1. Improve Circulation: Walking wards off heart disease, brings up the heart rate, lowers blood pressure and strengthens the heart. Post-menopausal women who walk just one to two miles a day can lower their blood pressure by nearly 11 points in 24 weeks. Women who walk 30 minutes a day can reduce their risk of stroke by 20%, and by 40% when they stepped up the pace, according to researchers at the Harvard School of Public Health in Boston.

2. Shore Up Your Bones: Walking can stop the loss of bone mass for those with osteoporosis, according to Michael A. Schwartz, MD, of Plancher Orthopedics & Sports Medicine in New York. In fact, one study of post-menopausal women found that 30 minutes of walking each day reduced their risk of hip fractures by 40%.

3. Enjoy a Longer Life: Research finds that people who exercise regularly in their fifties and sixties are 35% less likely to die over the next eight years than their non-walking counterparts. That number shoots up to 45% less likely for those who have underlying health conditions.

4. Lighten Your Mood: Walking releases natural pain­killing endorphins to the body – one of the emotional benefits of exercise. A California State University, Long Beach, study showed that the more steps people took during the day, the better their moods were.

5. Lose Weight: A brisk 30-minute walk burns 200 calories. Over time, calories burned can lead to pounds dropped.

6. Strengthen Muscles: Walking tones your leg and abdominal muscles – and even arm muscles if you pump them as you walk. This increases your range of motion, shifting the pressure and weight from your joints to your muscles.

7. Improve Sleep: Studies found that women, ages 50 to 75, who took one-hour morning walks, were more likely to relieve insomnia than women who didn’t walk

8. Support Your Joints: The majority of joint cartilage has no direct blood supply. It gets its nutrition from joint fluid that circulates as we move. Movement and compression from walking “squishes” the cartilage, bringing oxygen and nutrients into the area. eResearch by Navid Ajamin

9. Improve Your Breath: When walking, your breathing rate increases, causing oxygen to travel faster through bloodstream, helping to eliminate waste products and improve your energy level and the ability to heal.

10. Slow Down Mental Decline: A study of 6,000 women, ages 65 and older, performed by researchers at the University of California, San Francisco, found that age-related memory decline was lower in those who walked more. The women walking 2.5 miles per day had a 17% decline in memory, as opposed to a 25% decline in women who walked less than a half-mile per week.

11. Lower Alzheimer’s Risk: A study from the University of Virginia Health System in Charlottesville found that men between the ages of 71 and 93 who walked more than a quarter of a mile per day had half the incidence of dementia and Alzheimer’s disease than those who walked less.

12. Do More for Longer: Aerobic walking and resistance exercise programs may reduce the incidence of disability in the activities of daily living for people who are older than 65 and have symptomatic OA, a study published in the Journal of Clinical Outcomes Management found.

However, excessive walking can cause physical strain, joint stress, and other health issues. Recognize signs of overwalking like fatigue, pain, and swelling. Proper footwear, rest, and posture are essential. Maintain a balanced walking routine and incorporate cross-training for overall fitness.

Negative Effects of Walking Too Much -- https://www.verywellfit.com/how-much-walking-is-too-much-3975564

• Decreased performance.
• Depression.
• Elevated resting heart rate (RHR)
• Increased irritability.
• Loss of appetite and weight loss.

  

• Nagging, chronic injuries.
• Persistent fatigue.
• Persistent heavy, stiff, and sore muscles.
• Recurrent infections, colds, and headaches

Reference:

• arthritis.org/health-wellness/healthy-living/physical-activity/walking/12-benefits-of-walking
• verywellfit.com/how-much-walking-is-too-much-3975564
• andrewsinstitutesc.com/foot-pain-chart-what-your-pain-location-might-mean

See also:

• Can You Walk Too Much?
• Knee pain - Symptoms and causes - Mayo Clinic
• Understanding Foot Pain: Causes, Symptoms, and Treatments

Download: Step Counter - Pedometer - Apps on Google Play

What do pimples behind the ear mean?

A pimple will form in your ear if the oil is unable to escape or bacteria grows in a clogged pore. A buildup in bacteria can be caused by a few things, such as sticking your finger in your ear or using earbuds or headphones that aren't cleaned often. Other causes of acne include stress and a hormonal imbalance.

Acne lumps behind the ear

Sebum is an oily substance secreted by units at the base of hair follicles. The sebum mixes with dead skin cells and can form a layer called a comedone. A pimple might then become infected and inflamed if certain bacteria enter the comedone.

In most cases, lumps or nodules behind the ears are harmless. They may signal a need for medication, as in the case of an infection, but they are rarely a sign of a dangerous or life threatening problem.Lumps can vary in size but are generally small- to medium-sized bumps, which may occur anywhere on the back of the ear and can be either hard or soft. In some cases, these lumps might be painful or tender, while other bumps cause little to no pain.

Causes of Ear Pimples

Pimples generally form as a result of clogging of pores with dead skin cells and sebum.

Specifically, the following factors can trigger pimple formation in the ears:

• Excessive stress
• Hormonal changes associated with puberty
• Inflamed hair follicles
• Use of oily gels or pomades
• Increased sebum production
• Occlusion
• Bacterial infection
• Use of tight headbands or hats
• Sharing earbuds
• Allergy
• Piercings
• Keloid bump
• Swimmer’s ear (otitis externa)

Pimples occur when the skin pores get clogged by dead cells and are infected by microbes.

Other factors that may contribute to this condition include:

• Poor hygiene habits
• Excessively dry or humid weather conditions
• Friction due to spectacles
• Ingrown hair
• Ear piercing
• Comedogenic cosmetics
• Diet (sugary foods, especially, which can aggravate acne)

Pimples are a common skin problem that can form on any part of the body, including the ear.

A pimple forms due to the accumulation of dead skin cells, oil, and debris in the pores. This blockage increases oil production and gives way to bacterial growth, therefore causing pain and inflammation. This process can also occur inside the ear, giving rise to a pimple.

Pimples in the ear are comparatively more discomforting and painful than those on other body parts due to a lack of fat in the ear. Moreover, the ear is a delicate, sensitive body organ that contains several sensory nerve endings.

Prevention Tips

• Do not pop the pimple as this will aggravate the infection.
• Follow good hygiene.
• Scrub your skin once a week to prevent ingrown hair.
• Drink plenty of water.
• Quit smoking.
• Follow a well-balanced diet.
• Reduce your intake of sugar and processed foods.

These prevention tips can help promote overall skin health. The remedies discussed in the article may offer relief, but none of them are backed by concrete scientific research.

Reference:

• stylecraze.com/articles/simple-ways-to-take-care-of-pimples-behind-ears
• healthline.com/health/causes-lumps-behind-ears#1
• medicalnewstoday.com/articles/324866

Your body’s like a little furnace. It puts out heat all the time. It comes from your body doing the work that keeps you alive. When it puts out a lot more or a lot less heat than usual, it’s trying to tell you there’s a problem.

Normal body temperature varies by person, age, activity, and time of day.

The average normal body temperature is generally accepted as 98.6°F (37°C).

Some studies have shown that the "normal" body temperature can have a wide range, from 97°F (36.1°C) to 99°F (37.2°C).

A temperature over 100.4°F (38°C) most often means you have a fever caused by an infection or illness.

Body temperature normally changes throughout the day.

• درجه ی حرارت بدن می تواند بین ۳۶٫۴ تا ۳۷٫۶ درجه ی سانتیگراد باشد. این درجه در طول روز نوسان دارد و ثابت نمی ماند.
• دمای بدن در ابتدای صبح در پایین ترین میزان خود قرار دارد و معمولا در اواخر بعد از ظهر به بالاترین درجه ی خود یعنی ۳۷٫۷ درجه ی سانتیگراد می رسد.
• درجه حرارت بدن نشان دهنده شدت بیماری نیست، یعنی اگر دمای بدن به 40درجه برسد به این معنی نیست که بیماری فرد شدیدتر از کسی است که تب 38درجه دارد.

آیا هرچه درجه حرارت بدن بالاتر باشد، بیماری وخیم‌تر است؟
درجه حرارت بدن نشان دهنده شدت و وخامت بیماری نیست، یعنی اگر دمای بدن به 40درجه برسد به این معنی نیست که بیماری فرد شدیدتر از کسی است که تب 38درجه دارد.
خوشبختانه تب به محض اینکه بدن بر بیماری غلبه کند از بین می‌رود.
بهترین روش برای اندازه‌گیری درجه حرارت بدن از طریق مقعد و آن هم یک بار در روز است.
مهم‌تر از همه اینکه باید حواستان به علائم دیگری مانند خواب‌آلودگی و سنگینی سینه فرد تب کرده باشد. چون تمام این علائم نشان دهنده مشکلات جدی در داخل بدن هستند.
آیا شرایط بدنی همه در برابر تب یکسان است؟

تب در همه افراد یکسان نیست. برخی افراد به راحتی و با سرعت تمام تب می‌کنند و درجه حرارت بدن آنها به 40درجه می رسد.
در حالی که در برخی دیگر زمان زیادی طول می‌کشد تا دمای بدن به این درجه برسد.
در برخی موارد نیز فرد به هیچ عنوان تب نمی‌کند. بنابراین بدن افراد مختلف نسبت به افزایش درجه حرارت واکنش متفاوتی نشان می دهد.
آیا درجه حرارت بدن خیلی بالا خطرناک است؟
اگر تب کنترل شود، خطرساز نخواهد بود. در بیشتر موارد نیازی به تلاش برای کاهش درجه حرارت بدن نیست.
چنانچه احساس درد می‌کنید یا واقعاً مریض هستید، می‌توانید از استامینوفن استفاده کنید. این مراقبت ها باعث کاهش تب می شود.
اما تب ناشی از گرمازدگی قطع نمی‌شود و اگر با کم‌آبی بدن همراه باشد، خطرآفرین خواهد بود. در نتیجه بهتر است با مشاهده علائم تب به پزشک مراجعه کنید.
توجه داشته باشید که تب در نوزادان و کودکان باید جدی گرفته شود و فوراً به پزشک متخصص اطفال مراجعه شود.
توجه داشته باشید که برای کودکان صرفاً باید از شربت استامینوفن یا بروفن استفاده شود و هرگز از آسپیرین استفاده نکرد
آیا درجه حرات پایین بدن خطرناک است؟
افت غیرعادی درجه حرارت بدن می تواند خطرناک و حتی مرگبار باشد.
کاهش درجه حرارت بدن می‌تواند در اثر قرار گرفتن طولانی مدت در سرما، شوک، مصرف الکل یا مواد مخدر و همچنین بیماری های متابولیکی مانند دیابت باشد.
افت دمای بدن زمانی رخ می‌دهد که دمای مرکزی بدن به شدت افت کند و ارگان‌های حیاتی بدن تحت تأثیر قرار بگیرد.
کاهش درجه حرارت بدن همچنین می‌تواند نشان دهنده وجود عفونت در نوزادان، سالمندان و افراد ضعیف باشد.
توجه داشته باشید که عفونت خون نیز می تواند منجر به کاهش دمای بدن شود.

تب‌برهای رایج
در صورت بروز تب، استفاده از تب‌برهای معمول روش مناسبی برای کاهش درجه حرارت بدن محسوب می شود.
معمولاً استامینوفن و داروهای ضدالتهاب غیراستروئیدی مانند آسپیرین و بروفن برای این کار استفاده می شود.
توجه داشته باشید که برای کودکان صرفاً باید از شربت استامینوفن یا بروفن استفاده شود و هرگز از آسپیرین استفاده نکرد.
بهتر است با مشاهده علائم تب بخصوص در کودکان به پزشک مراجعه کنید.

Normal Range

Not everyone’s “normal” body temperature is the same. Yours could be a whole degree different than someone else’s. A German doctor in the 19th century set the standard at 98.6 F, but more recent studies say the baseline for most people is closer to 98.2 F.

For a typical adult, body temperature can be anywhere from 97 F to 99 F. Babies and children have a little higher range: 97.9 F to 100.4 F.

Your temperature doesn’t stay same all day, and it will vary throughout your lifetime, too. Some things that cause your temperature to move around during the day include:

• How active you are
• What time of day it is
• Your age
• Your sex
• What you’ve eaten or had to drink
• Where you are in your menstrual cycle

Your temperature reading changes based on where on your body you measure it. Underarm readings can be a degree lower than what you’d find from your mouth. Rectal temperatures usually are up to a degree higher than mouth readings.

A body temperature higher than your normal range is a fever. It’s hypothermia when the body temperature dips too low. Both need to be watched.

Fever

Fevers during pregnancy are never normal, so an exam is always recommended. Luckily, if the fever was caused by a viral illness, hydration and Tylenol are usually enough for recovery. But if the cause is bacterial, an antibiotic is often needed. Pregnant women should not take aspirin or ibuprofen...

What symptoms usually accompany a fever?

Expecting mothers should pay attention to and tell their doctors about symptoms accompanying a fever. These include:

• shortness of breath
• back pain
• chills
• abdominal pain
• neck stiffness

How high is too high when it comes to your temperature? Anything above 100.4 F is considered a fever. You may feel terrible, but on the whole, a fever isn’t bad for you. It’s a sign your body is doing what it should when germs invade. It’s fighting them off.

However, if your temperature is 103 F or higher or if you’ve had a fever for more than 3 days, call your doctor. Also call if you have a fever with symptoms like severe throat swelling, vomiting, headache, chest pain, stiff neck or rash.

For children, fevers are a bit more complicated. Call your pediatrician if your child is:

• Under 3 months and has a rectal temperatures of 100.4 F or higher
• Between 3 months and 3 years and has a rectal temperature over 102 F
• Older than 3 years and has an oral temperatures above 103 F
• Between 3 and 6 months and -- along with a fever -- is fussier or more uncomfortable than usual, or doesn’t seem alert
• Sick enough for you to be concerned, regardless of what the thermometer says

Hypothermia

If your body loses too much heat, it can be very serious, even fatal. Hypothermia is when your body temperature goes below 95 F. You might think of hypothermia as something that only happens when you’re exposed to extremely cold weather for a long time. But it happens indoors, too.

Hypothermia is a special concern for newborns and the elderly.

Babies may not be good at regulating their temperature. They can lose heat quickly. It’s important to keep them warm. A temperature below 97 F is considered too low for babies.

Older adults can also struggle to keep their body temperature in a normal range if they’re somewhere with intense air conditioning or there’s not enough heat.

For both the elderly and young children, a below-normal body temperature can be a sign they’re sick.

Other things can also make you more likely to get hypothermia. They include:

• Alcohol or drug use
• Hypothyroidism (an underactive thyroid)
• Anorexia
• Stroke
• Sepsis (overwhelming infection)
• Parkinson’s disease
• Nerve damage
• Malnutrition
• Medicines such as antidepressants, antipsychotics, or sedatives
• Anesthesia

Here are some of the factors that affect body temperature:

• Our bodies tend to warm up throughout the day.
• Older adults have lower body temperatures since our ability to regulate body temperature lessens as we age.
• Younger people have higher body temperatures.
• The level of physical activity affects temperature because the more you move your body, the warmer your core body becomes.
• Hotter and colder weather can also mirror your body temperature — it rises when in a warm environment and lowers in the cold.
• Temperature readings from the armpit are lower than the thermometer read from the mouth.
• Thermometer readings from the mouth are lower than if taken in the ear or rectum.
• Hormone levels can affect body temperature.
• Excess weight can also be associatedTrusted Source with lower body temperatures.

MEDICINES TO REDUCE FEVER

Remember that fever is helping your child fight the infection. Fevers only need to be treated with medicine if they cause discomfort. That usually means fevers above 102°F (39°C).

These medicines start working in about 30 minutes, and 2 hours after they are given, these drugs will reduce the fever 2°F to 3°F (1°C to 1.5°C). Medicines do not bring the temperature down to normal unless the temperature was not very high before the medicine was given. Repeated dosages of the drugs will be necessary because the fever will go up and down until the illness runs its course. If your child is sleeping, don't awaken him for medicines.

Acetaminophen: Children older than 3 months of age can be given acetaminophen (Tylenol). Give the correct dosage for your child's weight every 4 to 6 hours. Never give more than 5 doses in any 24 hours.

Ibuprofen: Ibuprofen (Advil, Motrin) is approved for infants over 6 months of age. One advantage ibuprofen has over acetaminophen is a longer lasting effect (6 to 8 hours instead of 4 to 6 hours). Give the correct dosage for your child's weight every 6 to 8 hours.

Caution: The dropper that comes with one product should not be used with other brands.

Caution: Do not use acetaminophen and ibuprofen together unless recommended by your child’s healthcare provider. Mainly, it’s unnecessary and can be confusing.

Avoid aspirin: Doctors recommend that children (through age 21 years) not take aspirin for fevers. Aspirin taken during a viral infection, such as chickenpox or flu, has been linked to a severe illness called Reye's syndrome. If you have teens, warn them to avoid aspirin.

Reference:

• lakeareapediatrics.com/patient-information/fever-instruction-and-medication-dosing-charts.html
• healthline.com/health/what-is-normal-body-temperature#whats-considered-a-fever
• healthline.com/health/pregnancy/could-fever-harm-my-baby
• webmd.com/first-aid/normal-body-temperature#2
• medlineplus.gov/ency/article/001982.htm
• med-hot.com

دهانتان را باز کنید و نگاهی به زبانتان بیندازید، شاید عجیب به نظر برسد، اما زبان شما می‌تواند موارد زیادی درباره سلامت شما بازگو کند.

برای مثال زبان سیاه و پرزدار ممکن است بیانگر بهداشت بد دهانی یا دیابت باشد.

اگر زبانتان مانند توت‌فرنگی قرمز شده است، ممکن است دچار کمبود اسید فولیک، ویتامین B۱۲ یا آهن باشید. البته زبان قرمز ممکن است نشانه‌ای از عفونت استرپتوکوکی گلو یا تب باشد. اگر زبانتان کاملاً قرمز بود و روی آن لکه‌ای سفید دیده می‌شد، چه؟ این وضعیت نشانه‌ای واضح از این است که جوانه‌های چشایی‌ زبانتان تحلیل رفته‌اند. اگر یک قطعه پیتزا را به محض بیرون آمدن از اجاق خورده‌اید ممکن است دچار زبان قرمز و سفید شوید.

این عارضه نسبتا شایع است و خوشبختانه جوانه‌های چشایی توان باززایی دارند. بنابراین دفعه بعد که زیر دوش رفتید، آینه را پاک کنید، دهانتان را باز و زبانتان را معاینه کنید. ممکن است از دیدن آنچه که می‌یابید شگفت‌زده شوید. زبان شما می‌تواند بازگوکننده وجود شماری از بیماری‌ها باشد که به اشکال متفاوت از لکه‌های سفید گرفته تا برآمدگی‌های سرخ خودشان را روی زبان نشان می‌دهند. در ادامه ۹ مورد از تغییرات ظاهر زبان را می‌آوریم که ممکن است بیانگر وجود بیماری‌ در شما باشند.

۱. زبان به رنگ قرمز توت‌فرنگی

این ظاهر زبان ممکن است به علت کمبود ویتامین باشد. زبان به رنگ سرخ درخشان و روشن ممکن است نشانه‌ای از کمبود آهن یا ویتامین ۱۲‌B باشد. ویتامین ۱۲‌B و آهن برای بالغ شدن پاپیلاها یا جوانه‌های چشایی زبان (برآمدگی‌های کوچک در سطح زبان) ضروری هستند. اگر شما دچار کمبود این مواد باشید، جوانه‌های چشایی‌تان را از دست می‌دهید، درنتیجه زبان ظاهر بسیار صاف و درخشانی پیدا می‌کند. از بین رفتن جوانه‌های چشایی در موارد شدید ممکن است باعث درد هنگام مصرف مایعات داغ یا غذاهای تند شود.

افراد گیاهخوار، به‌خصوص به کمبود ویتامین ۱۲‌B حساس هستند چراکه این ویتامین عمدتا در گوشت‌ها یافت می‌شود. اگر متوجه شدید که زبان به رنگ قرمز توت‌فرنگی درآمده و گیاهخوار هستید، از پزشکتان بخواهید مکمل ویتامین برایتان تجویز کند. از طرف دیگر، کمبودهای عمده ویتامین می‌تواند با بیماری‌های خودایمنی در دستگاه گوارش هم همراه باشد که به‌نوبه خود ممکن است جذب ویتامین‌ها را مختل کند.

۲. زبان با پرزهای قهوه‌ای یا سیاه

این شکل زبان می‌تواند به معنای آن باشد که شما بهداشت دهانی خوبی ندارید. زبان پوشیده شده با پرزهای تیره ممکن است ظاهری ناخوشایند داشته باشد، اما پزشکان می‌گویند لازم نیست بیش‌ازحد نگران باشید.

پاپیلاها یا جوانه‌های چشایی در تمام طول عمر ما رشد می‌کنند. در شرایط معمول جویدن و نوشیدن باعث ریزش آنها می‌شود و جلوی رشد بیش از حد آنها را می‌گیرد.

اما گاهی این جوانه‌ها بیش‌ازاندازه رشد می‌کنند و جایگاه باکتری‌ها می‌شوند یا درنتیجه تاثیر غذا تغییر رنگ می‌دهند. این مساله ممکن است باعث بوی بد دهان یا ناهنجاری‌های چشایی شود.

معمولا زبان پرزدار در افرادی که سیگار می‌کشند، قهوه و چای سیاه می‌نوشند یا بهداشت دهانی بدی دارند، دیده می‌شود. برطرف کردن عامل زمینه‌ساز و مسواک زدن زبان یا استفاده از پاک‌کننده مخصوص زبان ممکن است تنها کار لازم باشد.

۳. زبان سفید پنیری

ظاهر سفید زبان شما ممکن است به معنای ابتلای شما به عفونت مخمری باشد. اگر زبان با یک لایه ضخیم سفیدرنگ پوشیده شده، ممکن است دچار برفک دهانی باشید که یک عفونت مربوط به تکثیر بیش‌ازحد قارچ مخمر کاندیداست. این عارضه در اغلب موارد با مصرف آنتی‌بیوتیک‌ها ارتباط دارد. زبان به‌طور طبیعی جایگاه گروهی از باکتری‌ها و مخمرهاست. هنگامی‌که آنتی‌بیوتیک مصرف می‌کنید که به‌طور انتخابی باکتری‌ها را می‌کشد، مخمرها که آنتی‌بیوتیک‌ها آنها را نمی‌کشند، امکان رشد پیدا می‌کنند.

برفک که می‌تواند باعث اختلال چشایی یا اندکی درد شود، در افرادی که دستگاه ایمنی‌شان ضعیف است نیز بروز می‌کند. برفک دهانی که به‌طورمعمول در کودکان کم‌سن دیده می‌شود، در افراد دچار بیماری خودایمنی، مبتلایان به دیابت به‌خوبی کنترل‌نشده، بیماران تحت شیمی‌درمانی و سالمندان هم دیده می‌شود. اگر مشکوک هستید که برفک دهانی دارید، نزد پزشکتان بروید زیرا نمی‌توان آن را برخلاف سایر بیماری‌های مخمری با فراورده‌های بدون نسخه درمان کرد. eResearch by Navid Ajamin -- autumn 2020

5 Things Your Tongue Is Trying to Tell You About Your Health

1. Dehydration
2. Changes in Your Oral Microbiome
3. Immune System Alert
4. Nutritional Deficiencies
5. Excessive Stress

The tongue is a muscular organ in the mouth. The tongue is covered with moist, pink tissue called mucosa. Tiny bumps called papillae give the tongue its rough texture. Thousands of taste buds cover the surfaces of the papillae. Taste buds are collections of nerve-like cells that connect to nerves running into the brain.

The tongue is anchored to the mouth by webs of tough tissue and mucosa. The tether holding down the front of the tongue is called the frenum. In the back of the mouth, the tongue is anchored into the hyoid bone. The tongue is vital for chewing and swallowing food, as well as for speech.

The four common tastes are sweet, sour, bitter, and salty. A fifth taste, called umami, results from tasting glutamate. The tongue has many nerves that help detect and transmit taste signals to the brain. Because of this, all parts of the tongue can detect these four common tastes; the commonly described “taste map” of the tongue doesn’t really exist.

۴. ترک‌خوردگی و شیارهای زبان

ترک‌خوردگی‌ها و شیارهای زبانی ممکن است به معنای پیرتر شدن شما باشند. این ترک‌ها و شیارها بی‌ضرر هستند، اما مشکل هنگامی بروز می‌کند که بهداشت دهانی بد باعث ایجاد عفونت درون آنها می‌شود. ممکن است عفونت قارچی درون این شیارها ایجاد شود. در این صورت ناگهان احساس درد، بوی بد دهان و گاهی احساس سوزش می‌کنید. اغلب این عفونت‌ها با داروهای ضدقارچی موضعی درمان می‌شوند.

برخی از تجهیزات دندانی مانند دندان‌های مصنوعی نیز ممکن است باعث شیاردار شدن زبان شوند. اطمینان حاصل کنید که تجهیزات دندانی‌تان به‌درستی نصب شده‌اند، به مقدار کافی آب بنوشید و رفتارهای مناسب بهداشت دهانی مانند مسواک زدن زبان را انجام دهید.

۵. لکه‌های سفید کوچک

بروز این لکه‌ها بیانگر این است که عاملی دهان شما را تحریک می‌کند. لکه‌های سفید بدون درد که «لوکوپلاکیا» نامیده می‌شوند، ناشی از رشد بیش‌ازحد سلول‌ها هستند. این لکه‌ها که اغلب در سیگاری‌ها مشاهده می‌شوند، در ۵ تا ۱۷ درصد موارد ممکن است به سرطان تبدیل شوند.

اگر سیگاری هستید، بروز این لکه‌ها درواقع هشدار بدن شماست که به این ضایعات پیش‌سرطانی مبتلا خواهید شد. در بسیاری موارد ترک سیگار باعث برطرف شدن لکه‌های لوکوپلاکیا می‌شود. اگر سیگاری نیستید، بروز این لکه‌ها ممکن است ناشی از خراشیدگی به علت سایش مداوم دندان به زبان باشد، اما اگر این لکه‌ها در طول یک یا دو هفته برطرف نشدند، حتما باید به دندان‌پزشکتان مراجعه کنید تا از آنها نمونه گرفته شود.

۶. ضایعات مداوم قرمز

ضایعات مداوم قرمزرنگ ممکن است نشانه‌ای از سرطان زبان باشد. نباید این ضایعات را با آفت‌های دهانی اشتباه بگیرید. آفت‌های دهانی در طول دو هفته به‌خودی‌خود رفع می‌شوند، اما لکه‌ها یا ضایعات قرمزرنگی که پس از این مدت ادامه پیدا می‌کنند، ممکن است وخیم باشند. شما باید فورا آنها را به پزشک نشان دهید. شاید تصور کنید سرطان زبان فقط در افراد بیمار و سالمند ایجاد می‌شود، اما حتی اگر سالم و جوان باشید، لزوما به معنای عدم ابتلای شما به سرطان نیست.

گرچه سرطان زبان را با مصرف دخانیات ارتباط می‌دهند، سرطان دهانی ممکن است به‌وسیله ویروس «پاپیلوم» یا «زگیل انسانی» (HPV) هم ایجاد شود. حتی اگر ضایعه دردی ندارد برای بررسی نزد پزشک بروید چراکه بسیاری از سرطان‌های دهانی در مراحل اولیه‌ دردی ندارند.

۷. احساس سوزش

احساس سوزش ممکن است پس از دوران یائسگی یا به علت استفاده از خمیردندان نامناسب ایجاد شود. اگر در زبانتان احساس سوزش دارید، انگار که زبانتان تاول زده است،‌ اما در ظاهر زبانتان موردی مشاهده نمی‌شود، ممکن است تغییرات هورمونی علت این قضیه باشد. گرچه نشانگان سوزش زبان ممکن است در هر کسی بروز کند (تا ۱۵ درصد افراد دچار آن می‌شوند)، زنان با احتمال ۷ برابر بیشتر نسبت به مردان ممکن است به آن مبتلا شوند. در برخی از افراد علت سوزش زبان مشخص نمی‌شود و در بعضی افراد ادامه می‌یابد و در برخی دیگر به‌خودی‌خود رفع می‌شود.

۸. ناهموارهای سطح زبان

این ناهمواری‌ها که اصطلاحا به آنها «زبان جغرافیایی» می‌گویند، مشکلی ایجاد نمی‌کنند. این وضعیت بی‌ضرر بین ۱ تا ۱۴ درصد افراد مشاهده می‌شود. گرچه علت این وضعیت دقیقا معلوم نیست، ممکن است مربوط به جوانه‌های چشایی باشد. جوانه‌های چشایی گاهی به‌طور تصادفی تحلیل می‌روند. این جوانه‌ها همچنین ممکن است باززایی پیدا کنند. به‌این‌ترتیب برخی از قسمت‌های زبان فرورفته و برخی از قسمت‌ها برآمده می‌شود. زبان جغرافیایی به‌طورمعمول به درمان یا بررسی نیاز ندارد، اما اگر دردناک شود، پزشک ممکن است ضمادهای کورتونی ضدالتهابی یا دهانشویه آنتی‌هیستامینی برای درمان تجویز کند.

۹. زخم‌های دردناک

زخم‌های دردناک ممکن است در مواقع استرس بروز کنند. بسیاری از افراد تجربه ناخوشایند آفت‌های دهانی دردناک را داشته‌اند. این نواحی برآمده و دردناک ممکن است روی زبان یا داخل گونه دیده شوند. آنها معمولا در ۵-۴ روز اول بیشترین درد را دارند و درنهایت در طول ۲ هفته ناپدید می‌شوند.

علت بروز آفت‌های دهانی دقیقا معلوم نیست، اما ممکن است ویروس‌ها در ایجاد آن نقش داشته باشند. افرادی که دچار استرس یا اندوه هستند بیشتر دچار زخم‌های دهانی می‌شوند. خبر خوب این است که این زخم‌ها به همسرتان منتقل نمی‌شوند. البته باید مطمئن شوید که دچار تبخال نیستید که یک ویروس بسیار مسری آن را ایجاد می‌کند و معمولا روی لب‌ها ظاهر می‌شود.

Reference:

• webmd.com/oral-health/picture-of-the-tongue#1
• visiblebody.com/blog/anatomy-and-physiology-the-terrific-tongue
• en.wikipedia.org/wiki
• askthescientists.com/tongue
• bcbstwelltuned.com/2018/03/28/the-science-of-taste

انواع مختلف گلو درد معمولا در اثر عفونت یا عوامل محیطی مانند خشکی هوا ایجاد می شود . اگرچه تحمل گلو درد می تواند یک فرآیند ناخوشایند باشد، اما معمولا به مرور زمان از بین می رود.

بر اساس محل عفونت می توان گلو درد را به سه نوع تقسیم کرد:

• فارنژیت در ناحیه درست پشت دهان به وجود می آید. فارنژیت یا گلودرد التهابی (Pharyngitis)
• تونسیلیت با ورم و قرمز شدن لوزه ها همراه است. تونسیلیت یا التهاب لوزه‌ها (Tonsillitis)
• لارنژیت با ورم و قرمز شدن حنجره همراه است. لارنژیت یا التهاب حنجره (Laryngitis)

علائم گلو درد بسته به نوع بیماری می تواند متفاوت باشد: خارش،سوزش،خشکی،خلط گلو،درد جزیی

در بیشتر موارد، غذا خوردن و حرف زدن می تواند باعث افزایش درد شود. در این حالت گلو و لوزه قرمز و ورم کرده به نظر می رسد.

گلو درد گاها با لکه های سفید یا چرک روی لوزه ها همراه است. این لکه های سفید معمولا در گلو دردهای میکروبی شایع است.

گلو درد می تواند با علائم دیگر هم همراه باشد:

گرفتگی بینی،آبریزش بینی،عطسه،سرفه،تب،لرز،غدد متورم در گردن،عوض شدن صدا،درد بدن،سردرد،مشکل در بلعیدن،از دست دادن اشتها

ویروس ها عامل 90 درصد موارد گلو درد هستند.

از جمله ویروس هایی که باعث گلو درد می شوند عبارتند از:

• سرماخوردگی
• انواع آنفولانزا
• (Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19
• مونونوکلئوز، یک بیماری عفونی که از طریق بزاق منتقل می شود
• سرخک، بیماری که باعث ایجاد بثورات و تب می شود
• آبله مرغان، عفونی که باعث تب و خارش پوست می شود
• اوریون، عفونی که باعث تورم غدد بزاقی در گردن می شود

عفونت های باکتریایی نیز می توانند باعث گلو درد شوند. شایع ترین آن گلو درد استرپتوکوکی است (عفونت لوزه و گلو ناشی از باکتری های گروه A استرپتوکوک).

این باکتری عامل تقریباً 40 درصد از موارد گلو درد در کودکان است. تونسیلیت و عفونت های مقاربتی مانند سوزاک و کلامیدیا نیز می توانند باعث گلو درد شوند.

هنگامی که سیستم ایمنی بدن نسبت به عوامل حساسیت زا مانند گرده گل، پوشش گیاهی و موی حیوانات خانگی واکنش نشان می دهد، مواد شیمیایی را آزاد می کند که باعث ایجاد علائمی مانند احتقان بینی، آبریزش چشم، عطسه و سوزش گلو می شود.

مخاط بیش از حد در بینی می تواند به بخش پایین گلو وارد شود. به این پدیده اختلال آبریزش از پشت بینی گفته شده و می تواند گلو را تحریک کند.

هوای خشک باعث کاهش رطوبت در دهان و گلو شده و حس خشکی و خارش را به وجود می آورد. این نوع اختلال در ماه های سرد و با روشن بودن بخاری تشدید می شود.

بسیاری از مواد شیمیایی مختلف و موجود در محیط اطراف، گلو را تحریک می کنند.

برخی از این مواد عبارتند از:

• محصولات بهداشتی و سایر مواد شیمیایی
• سیگار و سایر دودهای دخانیات
• آلودگی هوا
• ...

داروهای خانگی برای گلو درد eResearch by Navid Ajamin -- autumn 2020

بیشتر گلو دردها با درمان خانگی بهبود پیدا می کنند. تنها باید برای مدتی استراحت کافی داشته باشید تا به سیستم ایمنی بدنتان فرصتی برای مقابله با عفونت بدهید.

برای تسکین درد گلو می توانید:

• مخلوط آب گرم و نیم تا 1 قاشق چای خوری نمک را غرغره کنید.
• برای کاهش درد، مایعات گرم مانند چای داغ یا با عسل، سوپ یا آب گرم با لیمو بنوشید. چای های گیاهی هم تسکین دهنده های بسیار خوبی برای درد گلو هستند.
• از دستگاه بخور برای افزایش رطوبت هوا استفاده کنید.
• برای کاهش درد کمتر صحبت کنید.

A sore throat is pain, scratchiness or irritation of the throat that often worsens when you swallow. The most common cause of a sore throat (pharyngitis) is a viral infection, such as a cold or the flu. A sore throat caused by a virus resolves on its own.

Strep throat (streptococcal infection), a less common type of sore throat caused by bacteria, requires treatment with antibiotics to prevent complications. Other less common causes of sore throat might require more complex treatment.

However, it’s especially common in children between the ages of 5 and 15.

Sneezing and coughing can spread the infection from one person to another.

Symptoms of a sore throat can vary depending on the cause. Signs and symptoms might include:

• Pain or a scratchy sensation in the throat
• Pain that worsens with swallowing or talking
• Difficulty swallowing
• Sore, swollen glands in your neck or jaw
• Swollen, red tonsils
• White patches or pus on your tonsils
• A hoarse or muffled voice

Infections causing a sore throat might result in other signs and symptoms, including:

• Fever
• Cough
• Runny nose
• Sneezing
• Body aches
• Headache
• Nausea or vomiting

When to see a doctor

Take your child to a doctor if your child's sore throat doesn't go away with the first drink in the morning, recommends the American Academy of Pediatrics.

Get immediate care if your child has severe signs and symptoms such as:

• Difficulty breathing
• Difficulty swallowing
• Unusual drooling, which might indicate an inability to swallow

If you're an adult, see your doctor if you have a sore throat and any of the following associated problems, according to the American Academy of Otolaryngology — Head and Neck Surgery:

• A sore throat that is severe or lasts longer than a week
• Difficulty swallowing
• Difficulty breathing
• Difficulty opening your mouth
• Joint pain
• Earache
• Rash
• Fever higher than 101 F (38.3 C)
• Blood in your saliva or phlegm
• Frequently recurring sore throats
• A lump in your neck
• Hoarseness lasting more than two weeks
• Swelling in your neck or face

Causes

Viruses that cause the common cold and the flu also cause most sore throats. Less often, bacterial infections cause sore throats.

Viral infections

Viral illnesses that cause a sore throat include:

• Common cold
• Flu (influenza)
• Mono (mononucleosis)
• Measles
• Chickenpox
• Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19)
• Croup — a common childhood illness characterized by a harsh, barking cough

Prevention

The best way to prevent sore throats is to avoid the germs that cause them and practice good hygiene. Follow these tips and teach your child to do the same:

• Wash your hands thoroughly and frequently, especially after using the toilet, before eating, and after sneezing or coughing.
• Avoid sharing food, drinking glasses or utensils.
• Cough or sneeze into a tissue and throw it away. When necessary, sneeze into your elbow.
• Use alcohol-based hand sanitizers as an alternative to washing hands when soap and water aren't available.
• Avoid touching public phones or drinking fountains with your mouth.
• Regularly clean telephones, TV remotes and computer keyboards with sanitizing cleanser. When you travel, clean phones and remotes in your hotel room.
• Avoid close contact with people who are sick.

Reference:

• mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/sore-throat/symptoms-causes/syc-20351635
• kristinmoonscience.com/why-you-shouldnt-ignore-strep-throat
• healthline.com/health/strep-throat
• darmankade.com/blog/sore-throat

Who is most at risk for the coronavirus disease?

People of all ages can be infected by the new coronavirus (2019-nCoV). Older people, and people with pre-existing medical conditions (such as asthma, diabetes, heart disease) appear to be more vulnerable to becoming severely ill with the virus.

• - People in nursing homes or long-term care facilities
• - Chronic kidney disease being treated with dialysis
• - People aged 65 years and older
• - Serious heart conditions
• - Hemoglobin Disorders
• - Immunocompromised
• - Chronic lung disease
• - Severe obesity
• - Liver disease
• - Diabetes
• - Asthma
• ...

WHO advises people of all ages to take steps to protect themselves from the virus, for example by following good hand hygiene and good respiratory hygiene.

Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) symptoms can vary widely. Some people have no symptoms at all, while others become so sick that they eventually need mechanical assistance to breathe.

The risk of developing dangerous symptoms of COVID-19 may be increased in people who are older and also in people of any age who have other serious health problems — such as heart or lung conditions, weakened immune systems, severe obesity, or diabetes. This is similar to what is seen with other respiratory illnesses, such as influenza.

Older age

People of any age, even children, can catch COVID-19. But it most commonly affects middle-aged and older adults. The risk of developing dangerous symptoms is higher in people age 65 and older. The highest rate of mortality from the disease is in people age 80 and older. Risks are even higher for older people when they have underlying health conditions.

Nursing home residents are at high risk because they often have multiple underlying health problems, combined with advanced age. And germs can spread very easily between people who live in close proximity to each other.

Lung problems, including asthma

COVID-19 targets the lungs, so you're more likely to develop severe symptoms if you have preexisting lung problems, such as:

• Moderate to severe asthma
• Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD)
• Lung cancer
• Cystic fibrosis
• Pulmonary fibrosis

While some medications for these conditions can weaken your immune system, it's important to stay on your maintenance medications to keep symptoms as controlled as possible. You may want to talk to your doctor about obtaining an emergency supply of prescription medications, such as asthma inhalers.

It may also help to avoid the things that make your asthma worse. These asthma triggers can vary from person to person. Examples include pollen, dust mites, tobacco smoke and cold air. Strong emotions and stress can trigger asthma attacks in some people. Others are bothered by strong odors, so make sure the disinfectant you're using isn't an asthma trigger for you.

In addition to being an asthma trigger, smoking or vaping can harm your lungs and inhibit your immune system, which increases the risk of serious complications with COVID-19.

Heart disease, diabetes and obesity

People with diabetes, high blood pressure or severe obesity are more likely to experience dangerous symptoms if infected with COVID-19. This may be of particular concern in the United States, which has seen increasing rates of obesity and diabetes over the years.

Obesity and diabetes both reduce the efficiency of a person's immune system. Diabetes increases the risk of infections in general. This risk can be reduced by keeping blood sugar levels controlled.

Because COVID-19 is so new, experts have been looking at information from older diseases caused by similar types of viruses, such as severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS) and Middle East respiratory syndrome (MERS). SARS and MERS have both been linked to heart attacks and heart failure, so the same may be true of COVID-19.

Weakened immune system

A healthy immune system fights the germs that cause disease. But many conditions can weaken your immune system, including:

• Cancer treatments
• Smoking
• Bone marrow or organ transplants
• HIV/AIDS
• Prolonged use of prednisone or similar drugs

If you have a weakened immune system, you may need to take extra precautions to avoid the virus that causes COVID-19. Routine doctor appointments may be delayed or happen via phone or video conference. You may want to have your medications mailed to you, so you don't have to go to the pharmacy.

Protect yourself; prevent unnecessary risk

Although there is no vaccine available to prevent infection with the new coronavirus, you can take steps to reduce your risk of infection. The World Health Organization (WHO) and the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recommend following these precautions for avoiding COVID-19: eResearch by Navid Ajamin -- spring 2020

• + Avoid large events and mass gatherings.
• + Avoid close contact (within 6 feet, or about 2 meters) with anyone who is sick or has symptoms.
• + Keep distance between yourself and others if COVID-19 is spreading in your community, especially if you have a higher risk of serious illness.
• + Wash your hands often with soap and water for at least 20 seconds, or use an alcohol-based hand sanitizer that contains at least 60% alcohol.
• + Cover your mouth and nose with your elbow or a tissue when you cough or sneeze. Throw away the used tissue.
• + Avoid touching your eyes, nose and mouth.
• + Avoid sharing dishes, glasses, bedding and other household items if you're sick.
• + Clean and disinfect high-touch surfaces daily.
• + Stay home from work, school and public areas if you're sick, unless you're going to get medical care. Avoid taking public transportation if you're sick.

In addition to these everyday precautions, if you are at higher risk of infection or of developing serious COVID-19 symptoms, you might also want to:

• Make sure you have a 30-day supply of your regular prescription and over-the-counter medications. Most people recover from COVID-19 at home.
• Check to see if your vaccinations are up to date, particularly for influenza and pneumonia. These vaccines won't prevent COVID-19, but becoming ill with influenza or pneumonia may worsen your outcome if you also catch COVID-19.
• Establish an alternate way of communicating with your doctor if you have to stay at home for a few weeks. Some doctors are doing appointments via phone or video conference.
• Arrange for delivery orders of restaurant meals, groceries or medications so you don't have to leave your home.

Reference:

• cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/need-extra-precautions/groups-at-higher-risk.html
• who.int/emergencies/diseases/novel-coronavirus-2019/advice-for-public/myth-busters
• mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/coronavirus/in-depth/coronavirus-who-is-at-risk/art-20483301

See also:

• Home care for patients with COVID-19

Why is this medication prescribed?

Azithromycin is used to treat certain bacterial infections, such as bronchitis; pneumonia; sexually transmitted diseases (STD); and infections of the ears, lungs, sinuses, skin, throat, and reproductive organs. Azithromycin also is used to treat or prevent disseminated Mycobacterium avium complex (MAC) infection [a type of lung infection that often affects people with human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)]. Azithromycin is in a class of medications called macrolide antibiotics. It works by stopping the growth of bacteria.

Antibiotics such as azithromycin will not work for colds, flu, or other viral infections. Using antibiotics when they are not needed increases your risk of getting an infection later that resists antibiotic treatment.

Other uses for this medicine

Azithromycin is also used sometimes to treat H. pylori infection, travelers' diarrhea, and other gastrointestinal infections; Legionnaires' disease (a type of lung infection); pertussis (whooping cough; a serious infection that can cause severe coughing); Lyme disease (an infection that may develop after a person is bitten by a tick); and babesiosis (an infectious disease carried by ticks). It is also used to prevent heart infection in people having dental or other procedures, and to prevent STD in victims of sexual assault. Talk to your doctor about the possible risks of using this medication for your condition.

This medication may be prescribed for other uses; ask your doctor or pharmacist for more information.

Before taking this medicine

You should not use azithromycin if you are allergic to it, or if:

• you have ever had jaundice or liver problems caused by taking azithromycin; or

• you are allergic to similar drugs such as clarithromycin, erythromycin, or telithromycin.

To make sure azithromycin is safe for you, tell your doctor if you have ever had:

• liver disease;

• kidney disease;

• myasthenia gravis;

• a heart rhythm disorder;

• low levels of potassium in your blood; or

• long QT syndrome (in you or a family member).

This medicine is not expected to harm an unborn baby. Tell your doctor if you are pregnant or plan to become pregnant.

It is not known whether azithromycin passes into breast milk or if it could harm a nursing baby. Tell your doctor if you are breast-feeding a baby.

Azithromycin is used to treat a wide variety of bacterial infections. It is a macrolide-type antibiotic. It works by stopping the growth of bacteria. This medication will not work for viral infections (such as common cold, flu).

Azithromycin is a macrolide antibiotic which inhibits bacterial protein synthesis, quorum-sensing and reduces the formation of biofilm. Accumulating effectively in cells, particularly phagocytes, it is delivered in high concentrations to sites of infection, as reflected in rapid plasma clearance and extensive tissue distribution. Azithromycin is indicated for respiratory, urogenital, dermal and other bacterial infections, and exerts immunomodulatory effects in chronic inflammatory disorders, including diffuse panbronchiolitis, post-transplant bronchiolitis and rosacea. Modulation of host responses facilitates its long-term therapeutic benefit in cystic fibrosis, non-cystic fibrosis bronchiectasis, exacerbations of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) and non-eosinophilic asthma.

Initial, stimulatory effects of azithromycin on immune and epithelial cells, involving interactions with phospholipids and Erk1/2, are followed by later modulation of transcription factors AP-1, NFκB, inflammatory cytokine and mucin release. Delayed inhibitory effects on cell function and high lysosomal accumulation accompany disruption of protein and intracellular lipid transport, regulation of surface receptor expression, of macrophage phenotype and autophagy. These later changes underlie many immunomodulatory effects of azithromycin, contributing to resolution of acute infections and reduction of exacerbations in chronic airway diseases. A sub-group of post-transplant bronchiolitis patients appears to be sensitive to azithromycin, as may be patients with severe sepsis. Other promising indications include chronic prostatitis and periodontitis, but weak activity in malaria is unlikely to prove crucial. Long-term administration of azithromycin must be balanced against the potential for increased bacterial resistance. Azithromycin has a very good record of safety, but recent reports indicate rare cases of cardiac torsades des pointes in patients at risk.

Reference:

• drugs.com/azithromycin.html
• webmd.com/drugs/2/drug-1527-3223/azithromycin-oral/azithromycin-250-500-mg-oral/details
• sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S0163725814000552
• medlineplus.gov/druginfo/meds/a697037.html

See also:

• Azithromycin: Uses, dosage, side effects, and warnings
• داروی آزیترومایسین چیست؟ کاربرد و عوارض مصرف آزیترومایسین
• اثر درمانی مثبت آزیترومایسین روی بیماران کرونا
• بریلاسیدین Brilacidin
• رمدسیور Remdesivir
• فاویپیراویر Favipiravir

What are functional gastrointestinal disorders?

Functional disorders are those in which the gastrointestinal (GI) tract looks normal but doesn't work properly. They are the most common problems affecting the GI tract (including the colon and rectum). Constipation and irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) are two common examples.

Many factors may upset the GI tract and its motility (or ability to keep moving), including:

• Eating a diet low in fiber
• Not enough exercise
• Traveling or other changes in routine
• Eating large amounts of dairy products
• Stress
• Resisting the urge to have a bowel movement
• Resisting the urge to have bowel movements due to pain from hemorrhoids
• Overusing laxatives (stool softeners) that, over time, weaken the bowel muscles
• Taking antacid medicines containing calcium or aluminum
• Taking certain medicines (especially antidepressants, iron pills, and strong pain medicines such as narcotics)
• Pregnancy

Constipation

Constipation means it is hard to have a bowel movement (or pass stools), they are infrequent (less than three times a week), or incomplete. Constipation is usually caused by inadequate "roughage" or fiber in the diet, or a disruption of the regular routine or diet.

Constipation causes a person to strain during a bowel movement. It may cause small, hard stools and sometimes anal problems such as fissures and hemorrhoids. Constipation is rarely the sign of a more serious medical condition.

You can treat your constipation by:

• Increasing the amount of fiber you eat
• Exercising regularly
• Moving your bowels when you have the urge (resisting the urge causes constipation)

If these treatment methods don't work, laxatives are a temporary solution. Note that the overuse of laxatives can actually make symptoms of constipation worse. Always follow the instructions on the laxative medicine, as well as the advice of your doctor.

Irritable bowel syndrome (IBS)

Irritable bowel syndrome (also called spastic colon, irritable colon, or nervous stomach) is a condition in which the colon muscle contracts more often than in people without IBS. Certain foods, medicines, and emotional stress are some factors that can trigger IBS.

Symptoms of IBS include:

• Abdominal pain and cramps
• Excess gas
• Bloating
• Change in bowel habits such as harder, looser, or more urgent stools than normal
• Alternating constipation and diarrhea

Treatment includes:

• Avoiding caffeine
• Increasing fiber in the diet
• Monitoring which foods trigger IBS (and avoiding these foods)
• Minimizing stress or learning different ways to cope with stress
• Sometimes taking medicines as prescribed by your healthcare provider

What are structural gastrointestinal disorders?

Structural disorders are those in which the bowel looks abnormal and doesn't work properly. Sometimes, the structural abnormality needs to be removed surgically. Common examples of structural GI disorders include hemorrhoids, diverticular disease, colon polyps, colon cancer, and inflammatory bowel disease.

Anal disorders

Hemorrhoids

Hemorrhoids are swollen blood vessels that line the anal opening. They are caused by chronic excess pressure from straining during a bowel movement, persistent diarrhea, or pregnancy.

There are two types of hemorrhoids: internal and external.

Internal hemorrhoids

Internal hemorrhoids are blood vessels on the inside of the anal opening. When they fall down into the anus as a result of straining, they become irritated and start to bleed. Ultimately, internal hemorrhoids can fall down enough to prolapse (sink or stick) out of the anus.

Treatment includes:

• Improving bowel habits (such as avoiding constipation, not straining during bowel movements, and moving your bowels when you have the urge).
• Your doctor using elastic bands to eliminate the vessels.
• Your doctor removing them surgically. Surgery is needed only for a small number of patients with very large, painful, and persistent hemorrhoids.

External hemorrhoids

External hemorrhoids are veins that lie just under the skin on the outside of the anus. Sometimes, after straining, the external hemorrhoidal veins burst and a blood clot forms under the skin. This very painful condition is called a pile.

Treatment includes removing the clot and vein under local anesthesia and /or removing the hemorrhoid itself.

Anal fissures

Anal fissures are splits or cracks in the lining of the anal opening. The most common cause of an anal fissure is the passage of very hard or watery stools. The crack in the anal lining exposes the underlying muscles that control the passage of stool through the anus and out of the body. An anal fissure is one of the most painful problems because the exposed muscles become irritated from exposure to stool or air, and leads to intense burning pain, bleeding, or spasm after bowel movements.

Initial treatment for anal fissures includes pain medicine, dietary fiber to reduce the occurrence of large, bulky stools, and sitz baths (sitting in a few inches of warm water). If these treatments don't relieve pain, surgery might be needed to repair the sphincter muscle.

Perianal abscesses

Perianal abscesses can occur when the tiny anal glands that open on the inside of the anus become blocked, and the bacteria always present in these glands cause an infection. When pus develops, an abscess forms. Treatment includes draining the abscess, usually under local anesthesia in the doctor's office.

Anal fistula

An anal fistula often follows drainage of an abscess and is an abnormal tube-like passageway from the anal canal to a hole in the skin near the opening of the anus. Body wastes traveling through the anal canal are diverted through this tiny channel and out through the skin, causing itching and irritation. Fistulas also cause drainage, pain, and bleeding. They rarely heal by themselves and usually need surgery to drain the abscess and "close off" the fistula.

Other perianal infections

Sometimes the skin glands near the anus become infected and need to be drained. Just behind the anus, abscesses can form that contain a small tuft of hair at the back of the pelvis (called a pilonidal cyst).

Sexually transmitted diseases that can affect the anus include anal warts, herpes, AIDS, chlamydia, and gonorrhea.

Diverticular disease

Diverticulosis is the presence of small outpouchings (diverticula) in the muscular wall of the large intestine that form in weakened areas of the bowel. They usually occur in the sigmoid colon, the high-pressure area of the lower large intestine.

Diverticular disease is very common and occurs in 10% of people over age 40 and in 50% of people over age 60 in Western cultures. It is often caused by too little roughage (fiber) in the diet. Diverticulosis rarely causes symptoms.

Complications of diverticular disease happen in about 10% of people with outpouchings. They include infection or inflammation (diverticulitis), bleeding, and obstruction. Treatment of diverticulitis includes antibiotics, increased fluids, and a special diet. Surgery is needed in about half the patients who have complications to remove the involved segment of the colon.

Colon polyps and cancer

Each year 130,000 Americans are diagnosed with colorectal cancer, the second most common form of cancer in the United States. Fortunately, with advances in early detection and treatment, colorectal cancer is one of the most curable forms of the disease. By using a variety of screening tests, it is possible to prevent, detect, and treat the disease long before symptoms appear.

The importance of screening

Almost all colorectal cancers begin as polyps, benign (non-cancerous) growths in the tissues lining the colon and rectum. Cancer develops when these polyps grow and abnormal cells develop and start to invade surrounding tissue. Removal of polyps can prevent the development of colorectal cancer. Almost all precancerous polyps can be removed painlessly using a flexible lighted tube called a colonoscope. If not caught in the early stages, colorectal cancer can spread throughout the body. More advanced cancer requires more complicated surgical techniques.

Most early forms of colorectal cancer do not cause symptoms, which makes screening especially important. When symptoms do occur, the cancer might already be quite advanced. Symptoms include blood on or mixed in with the stool, a change in normal bowel habits, narrowing of the stool, abdominal pain, weight loss, or constant tiredness.

Most cases of colorectal cancer are detected in one of four ways:

• By screening people at average risk for colorectal cancer beginning at age 50
• By screening people at higher risk for colorectal cancer (for example, those with a family history or a personal history of colon polyps or cancer)
• By investigating the bowel in patients with symptoms
• A chance finding at a routine check-up

Early detection is the best chance for a cure.

Colitis

There are several types of colitis, conditions that cause an inflammation of the bowel. These include:

• Infectious colitis
• Ulcerative colitis (cause not known)
• Crohn's disease (cause not known)
• Ischemic colitis (caused by not enough blood going to the colon)
• Radiation colitis (after radiotherapy)

Colitis causes diarrhea, rectal bleeding, abdominal cramps, and urgency (frequent and immediate need to empty the bowels). Treatment depends on the diagnosis, which is made by colonoscopy and biopsy.

Can gastrointestinal disease be prevented?

Many diseases of the colon and rectum can be prevented or minimized by maintaining a healthy lifestyle, practicing good bowel habits, and submitting to cancer screening.

Colonoscopy is recommended for average risk patients at age 50. If you have a family history of colorectal cancer or polyps, colonoscopy may be recommended at a younger age. Typically, colonoscopy is recommended 10 years younger than the affected family member. (For example, if your brother was diagnosed with colorectal cancer or polyps at age 45, you should begin screening at age 35).

If you have symptoms of colorectal cancer you should consult your doctor right away. Common symptoms include:

• A change in normal bowel habits
• Blood on or in the stool that is either bright or dark
• Unusual abdominal or gas pains
• Very narrow stool
• A feeling that the bowel has not emptied completely after passing stool
• Unexplained weight loss
• Fatigue

Gastrointestinal disease

• Irritable bowel syndrome
• Inflammatory bowel disease
• Crohn's disease
• Gastroenteritis
• Celiac disease
• Stomach disease
• functional gastrointestinal disorders
• Colitis
• Enteropathy
• Hirschsprung's disease
• Giardiasis
• Enteritis
• Fistula
• Intussusception
• Colorectal polyp
• Ileus
• Stomach cancer
• Parasitic disease
• Intestinal pseudoobstruction
• Angiodysplasia
• Short bowel syndrome
• Small intestinal bacterial overgrowth
• Hookworm
• Gastrointestinal bleeding
• Amoebiasis
• Gastrointestinal perforation
• Adhesions
• Volvulus
• Cryptosporidiosis
• Whipple's disease
• Adenocarcinoma
• Lymphangiectasia
• Ischemic colitis
• Necrotizing enterocolitis
• Meckel's diverticulum
• ...

Reference: my.clevelandclinic.org/health/articles/7040-gastrointestinal-disorders

Dizziness is a term used to describe a range of sensations, such as feeling faint, woozy, weak or unsteady. Dizziness that creates the false sense that you or your surroundings are spinning or moving is called vertigo. Dizziness is one of the more common reasons adults visit their doctors.

People experiencing dizziness may describe it as any of a number of sensations, such as:

• A false sense of motion or spinning (vertigo)
• Lightheadedness or feeling faint
• Unsteadiness or a loss of balance
• A feeling of floating, wooziness or heavy-headedness

These feelings may be triggered or worsened by walking, standing up or moving your head. Your dizziness may be accompanied by nausea or be so sudden or severe that you need to sit or lie down. The episode may last seconds or days and may recur.

When should you worry about dizziness?

Generally, see your doctor if you experience any recurrent, sudden, severe, or prolonged and unexplained dizziness or vertigo. Get emergency medical care if you experience new, severe dizziness or vertigo along with any of the following: Sudden, severe headache. Chest pain.

Dizziness is a common symptom of anxiety stress and, and If one is experiencing anxiety, dizziness can result. On the other hand, dizziness can be anxiety producing. The vestibular system is responsible for sensing body position and movement in our surroundings.

During digestion, the body reroutes extra blood to the stomach and small intestine. In some people, this causes blood pressure to drop everywhere else. Other symptoms of postprandial hypotension include: lightheadedness.

Causes of lightheadedness may be dehydration, medication side effects, sudden blood pressure drops, low blood sugar, and heart disease or stroke.

How to prevent feeling dizzy after eating

There is no surefire treatment for postprandial hypotension, but these four lifestyle changes can help you prevent low blood pressure:

1. Water before meals. Drinking 12 to 18 ounces of water 15 minutes before eating can blunt a fall in blood pressure.
2. Smaller meals. Larger meals are more likely to trigger postprandial hypotension than smaller ones. Try switching from three square meals a day to six or seven smaller meals.
3. Fewer rapidly digested carbs. White bread and other foods made with highly refined flour, white rice, potatoes, and sugary beverages pass quickly from the stomach to the small intestine. This rapid transit contributes to postprandial hypotension. Cutting back on these foods in favor of slowly digested whole grains, beans, protein, and healthy oils may keep your blood pressure up after a meal.
4. Easy does it. Blood pressure usually hits bottom 30 to 60 minutes after a meal. Sitting or lying down for an hour or so after eating is another way to cope with postprandial hypotension. If you need to move around, be careful and be alert for signs that your blood pressure is low.

Various medications and supplements have been tested against postprandial hypotension. These include caffeine, guar gum (a water-soluble fiber), acarbose (a diabetes drug that slows the digestion of carbohydrates), midodrine (a blood pressure booster), and others. But none of them has performed well in clinical trials, and side effects of these therapies can sometimes be worse than postprandial hypotension.

Reference:

• health.harvard.edu/heart-health/eating-can-cause-low-blood-pressure
• mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/dizziness/symptoms-causes/syc-20371787

an·thro·pom·e·try ˌanTHrəˈpämitrē/ noun

1. the scientific study of the measurements and proportions of the human body.

2. Anthropometry (from Greek άνθρωπος anthropos, "man" and μέτρον metron, "measure") refers to the measurement of the human individual. An early tool of physical anthropology, it has been used for identification, for the purposes of understanding human physical variation, in paleoanthropology and in various attempts to correlate physical with racial and psychological traits.[1]
4. 

6. Leonardo Da Vinci y Su Influencia en La Antropometría

7. Leonardo da Vinci was an Italian polymath of the High Renaissance who was active as a painter, draughtsman, engineer, scientist, theorist, sculptor and architect

8. painter, sculptor, architect, musician, mathematician, engineer, inventor, anatomist, geologist, cartographer,botanist, and writer.

Today, anthropometry plays an important role in industrial design, clothing design, ergonomics and architecture where statistical data about the distribution of body dimensions in the population are used to optimize products.

eResearch by Navid Ajamin -- spring 2014

Changes in lifestyles, nutrition, and ethnic composition of populations lead to changes in the distribution of body dimensions (e.g. theobesity epidemic), and require regular updating of anthropometric data collections.

تناسب اندام امری است که تمام افراد برای رسیدن به آن تلاش می کنند، برخی از هنرمندان و معماران قرن بیستم شامل لوکوربوزیه و سالوادور دالی، آثارشان را در تناسب تقریبی با نسبت طلایی قرار داده و معتقدند که این مسئله موجب بالارفتن جنبه زیباشناختی آثارشان می‌گردد. این‌گونه کاربردها اغلب به فرم مستطیل طلایی ظاهر شده که در آن نسبت طول بزرگتر به کوچک‌تر برابر با نسبت طلایی (golden ratio) است.

همه موجودات در ساختار خود دارای نسبت طلایی هستند. بدن انسان نیز دارای نقاط طلایی بسیاری می باشد. مثلا نسبت سر تا ناف با ناف تا نوک پا (البته بدن انسان در زمان تولد یعنی جنین تازه متولد شده از سر تا ناف کاملا مساوی هست با ناف تا نوک پا که با رشد انسان نسبت بدن او به نقطه طلایی نزدیکتر می شود تا به بلوغ جسمی کامل برسد)

هر چند بدن زیباتر باشد نسبت طلایی دقیق تر می شود مثلا وقتی بینی کسی به نظر زیبا تر از بقیه به نظر می رسد نسبت طول بینی به پهنای آن دارای نقطه طلایی نزدیکتری می باشد. انسان های معمولی نقطه طلایی دقیقی ندارند و چند درصد تداخل دارد.

می دانیم حضرت یوسف(ع) زیبایی بی نظیری داشته و زنان با دیدن او دستان خود را می بریدند و مردم با دیدن او محو او می شدند. دلیل آن این بود که تمام اعضای بدن او نقطه طلایی کاملا دقیقی داشته است.

علت زیبایی هنر نقاشی برخی از هنرمندان معروف نظیر لئوناردو داوینچی و پیکاسو رعایت نسبت طلایی در خطوط می باشد، برای همین اثرات پیکاسو با این همه سادگی، زیبایی و گیرایی خاصی دارد.

تک تک اعضای بدن انسان با همدیگر دارای ارتباط و هماهنگی هستند و نقطه طلایی در آن رعایت شده که برخی از مردم بدون نداشتن اطلاعات کافی دست به عمل های جراحی سنگین می زنند و تناسب و تعادل بدن را به هم می زنند و تاثیرات منفی بر جا می گذارند.

به عنوان مثال نقاطی از بدن که دارای نسبت طلایی هستند:

- نسبت قد انسان به فاصله ناف تا پاشنه پا

- نسبت فاصله نوک انگشتان تا آرنج به فاصله مچ تا آرنج

- نسبت فاصله شانه تا بالای سر به اندازه سر

- نسبت فاصله ناف تا بالای سر به فاصله شانه تا بالای سر

- نسبت فاصله ناف تا زانو به فاصله زانو تا پاشنه پا

اینها تنها چند مثال از وجود نسبت طلایی در بدن انسان بود که بدن انسان را در حد کمال زیبایی خود نشان می دهد.

The history of anthropometry includes and spans various concepts, both scientific and pseudoscientific, such as craniometry, paleoanthropology, biological anthropology, phrenology, physiognomy, forensics, criminology, phylogeography, human origins, and cranio-facial description, as well as correlations between various anthropometrics and personal identity, mental typology, personality, cranial vault and brain size, and other factors.

At various times in history, applications of anthropometry have ranged from accurate scientific description and epidemiological analysis to rationales for eugenics and overtly racist social movements. One of its misuses was the discredited pseudoscience, phrenology.

Reference:

• en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Anthropometry
• en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Leonardo_da_Vinci

See Also:

• bmi chart for children by age
• bmi chart for women by age
• bmi chart for men by age

همه ساکنان شهرهای بزرگ و البته شهرهای صنعتی کشورمان به نوعی دچار مسمومیت شده و قربانی آلودگی هوا می‌شوند. منوکسید کربن، اکسید نیتروژن، اکسید سولفور، ذرات معلق در هوا و هیدروکربن‌ها از جمله همین مواد آلوده‌کننده است که بدن انسان را در برابر عفونت‌های بیماری‌زا حساس‌تر کرده، مشکلات تنفسی، تحریک چشم و ناراحتی‌های قوه بویایی را افزایش می‌دهد که همه این عوارض به شکل پررنگ‌تری در کودکان بروز می‌کند.

 البته برای حفظ سلامت بدن می‌توان نکاتی را در نظر گرفته و با رعایت‌شان از بروز شرایط اضطراری پیشگیری کنیم.

The great number of high-emission cars and motorcycles, old clunkers, heavy vehicles of poor standards which mostly operate on diesel engines on one hand and pollutant industries located on the outskirts of the capital on the other hand coupled with poor infrastructure for development of public transport are among the main causes of severe and choking air pollution of Tehran.

Tehraners who may experience better air quality during spring and summer face their worst nightmare during cold, dry, and rainless days of autumn and winter.

As responsible citizens, it is our duty to find a solution for the worsening air pollution by using public transportation, carrying out vehicle inspection tests or even planting trees in front of our houses.

But we are also responsible for our health. How can we counter the harmful effects of air pollution with a healthy diet? Here is a guide!

Store antioxidants as far as you can!

Antioxidants include selenium, and beta-carotene will be your best friends during days of pollution.

Cantaloupe, mango, pumpkin, bell pepper, spinach, cabbage and apricot are rich in beta-carotene.

Selenium is found in sea food, chicken, bread, nuts and whole grains.
The foods, which are rich in antioxidants, are the best enemies of free radicals.

But what are free radicals? Free radicals are highly unstable molecules that are naturally formed when you exercise and when your body converts food into energy.

However your body can also be exposed to free radicals from a variety of environmental sources, such as cigarette smoke, air pollution, and sunlight. 

They can cause “oxidative stress,” a process that can trigger cell damage. Oxidative stress is thought to play a role in a variety of diseases including cancer, cardiovascular diseases, diabetes, Alzheimer’s disease, Parkinson’s disease, and eye diseases such as cataracts and age-related macular degeneration.

Vitamins E, C: Best enemies of air pollution 

Don’t forget eating celery, spinach, tomato, sweet lemon, orange, tangerine and lettuce wherever you are, inside your car, at your home or in the office!

They are rich in vitamin C and according to studies such foods lower the harmful effects of air pollution.

You can find vitamin E in wheat germ, vegetable oil, walnut, almond, olive and vegetables with green leaves.

Milk, butter and yolk are also good sources for Vitamin E.

An apple a day keeps lead toxicity away!

Eat an apple a day and its pectin protects you against lead toxicity in the air!

Don’t forget dairies!

During air pollution, consume milk, yoghurt and other dairies as much as you can. They contain phosphorus, magnesium and calcium, which help you fight effects of air pollution on your body.

The protein in the milk can combine lead into soluble compound, which can prevent the body from absorbing lead as well as removing it from the body.

Calcium and iron decrease the absorbed dose of lead and in this way they protect you from air pollution.

Garlic and onion are your smelly friends!

Garlic and onion help you to keep your lungs healthy. Allicin in garlic acts as a powerful natural antibiotic agent in the body and can help kill off respiratory infections that can clog your lungs. 

Junk food, fast food prohibited!

Junk food negates all your efforts to protect yourself from air pollution damages. Replace such foods with dairies and vegetables to improve your health.

چی نخوریم؟

چرب و چیلی‌ها ممنوع!
در روزهایی که آلودگی هوا بسیار زیاد است، از غذاهای چرب به‌خصوص چربی‌های جامد حیوانی و گیاهی استفاده نکنید که مصرف چنین غذاهایی فقط باعث تشدید کاهش توان بدنی و ذهنی شما در طول روز خواهد شد.
پس استفاده از تنقلات کم ارزش مثل چیپس، پفک و نوشابه‌های گازدار را بی‌خیال شوید که باعث اختلال جذب عناصر مفید در بدن می‌شود و می‌تواند اثرات منفی آلودگی هوا را تشدید کند.
مصرف موادی مثل سوسیس و کالباس هم به دلیل داشتن مواد شیمیایی و نگهدارنده، علاوه بر این که به خودی خود مضر و سرطان‌زاست، برای ساکنان شهرهایی که هوای ناسالم دارد، به هیچ‌وجه توصیه نمی‌شود.

خرید از وانتی ممنوع!

در روزهای آلودگی هوا نباید از وانتی‌هایی که میوه و سبزیجات تازه را در کنار خیابان‌ها می‌فروشند یا مغازه‌هایی که سبزیجات خود را بیرون از مغازه و در مسیر عبور خودروها می‌گذارند، میوه و سبزی بخرید.

 چی بخوریم؟
در هوای آلوده باید برخی مواد غذایی را مصرف کرد که خاصیت خنثی‌کنندگی مواد سمی موجود در هوا را داشته باشند.

- از اسفناج تا ماهی!
مصرف غذاهایی که حاوی آنتی‌اکسیدان‌های سلنیوم و بتاکاروتن هستند هم توصیه می‌شود؛ هنگام آلودگی هوای استنشاقی، مقدار زیادی رادیکال آزاد در بدن تولید می‌شود که سبب کاهش توان فرد در انجام کارهای روزمره زندگی شده و حتی در دراز مدت می‌تواند بیماری‌های مزمن مانند بیماری قلبی- عروقی و انواع سرطان را ایجاد کند.
برای به حداقل رساندن عواقب ناشی از تجمع رادیکال‌های آزاد در بدن مصرف آنتی‌اکسیدان‌ها را در رژیم غذایی افزایش دهید. سبزیجات و میوه‌هایی مثل طالبی، انبه، کدو تنبل، فلفل،اسفناج و کلم بتاکاروتن دارند. سلنیوم را هم می‌توانید در غذاهای دریایی، مرغ، نان، آجیل و غلات سبوس‌دار پیدا کنید.

- E + C + D= ضد آلودگی
چه در خانه هستید، چه در محل کار و چه پشت فرمان، از مواد غذایی مثل: کرفس، اسفناج، گوجه‌فرنگی، لیمو شیرین، نارنگی، پرتقال و برگه سبز کاهو استفاده کنید که غنی از ویتامین C هستند.
البته مصرف جوانه گندم، روغن‌های گیاهی، گردو، بادام، زیتون، جگر و سبزیجات دارای برگ سبز که منابع ویتامین E هستند را هم فراموش نکنید. به خصوص اگر شغل‌تان طوری است که باید بیشتر در هوای آزاد باشید؛ این ویتامین می‌تواند مسمومیت ناشی از آلودگی هوا را خنثی کند.
از سوی دیگر در زمان آلودگی هوا، ساخت ویتامین D از طریق پوست به شدت کاهش می یابد. به همین دلیل در شهرهای بزرگ که معمولا هوای آلوده دارند، کمبود ویتامین D در میان مردم شیوع بالایی دارد. منابع مناسب ویتامین D هم شیر، کره و زرده تخم‌مرغ هستند که باید در برنامه غذایی روزانه‌تان باشند.
- پکتین بخورید!
مواد غذایی که سرشار از پکتین هستند، سرب موجود در هوا را می‌گیرند و مانع از نفوذ سرب به سلول‌های بدن می‌شوند؛ مصرف روزانه یک عدد سیب می‌تواند عوارض ناشی از آلودگی هوا را کاهش داده و میوه‌هایی مانند پرتقال و توت‌فرنگی نیز سرشار از پکتین بوده و برای کاهش عوارض آلودگی هوا مفید هستند.

- لبنیات کم‌چرب میل کنید

در هوای آلوده باید بیشتر از همیشه شیر، ماست و دوغ بنوشید، زیرا فسفر، منیزیم و کلسیمی که در لبنیات یافت می‌شود، همگی خنثی‌کننده سموم هستند و برای کاهش صدمات دستگاه تنفسی و التهاب دستگاه گوارش ناشی از آلودگی هوا، باید مصرف شیر و لبنیات بیش از پیش شود.
مصرف شیر و فراورده‌های آن باعث نرم‌شدن مخاط تنفسی فوقانی، مری و معده می‌شود و به‌دلیل وجود ترکیبات مناسب برای رشد و نمو باکتری‌های مفید که عمل دفع ادرار و مدفوع و مواد آلاینده را تنظیم می‌کنند، التهابات و بیماری‌های دستگاه گوارش را کاهش می‌دهد.

- کمبود کلسیم = جذب سرب بیشتر!

افرادی که کمبود کلسیم دارند، بیشتر در معرض خطر آلودگی با سرب قرار می‌گیرند. چون گیرنده‌های فلزات 2 ظرفیتی در بدن انسان به‌صورت رقابتی عمل می‌کنند و در صورتی که این گیرنده‌ها، قبلا با فلزات مورد نیاز بدن مانند آهن و کلسیم اشباع شده باشند، بدن کمتر در معرض آلودگی با سرب قرار می‌گیرد برای جلوگیری از آلودگی زیاد با سرب بهتر است لبنیات بیشتری مصرف کنید که منبع غنی کلسیم هستند.

- سیر و پیاز بخورید

سیر، پیاز و تره فرنگی، هر قدر هم که بوی آزاردهنده‌ای داشته باشند اما حاوی مقدار زیادی گوگرد هستند که می توانند از مخاط دستگاه تنفسی محافظت کنند.

- نوشیدن آب زیاد

نوشیدن زیاد آب به کلیه‌ها کمک می‌کند تا املاح اضافی از بدن خارج شود و ذرات آلودگی مدت کمتری در بدن باقی بماند.

Reference:

• salamatnews.com
• tehrantimes.com/news/418411/Air-pollution-what-to-eat-what-not-to-eat

Oral health refers to the health of the teeth, gums, and the entire oral-facial system that allows us to smile, speak, and chew. Some of the most common diseases that impact our oral health include cavities (tooth decay), gum (periodontal) disease, and oral cancer.

Cavities (Tooth Decay)

Cavities are caused by a breakdown of the tooth enamel by acids produced by bacteria located in plaque that collects on teeth, especially along the gumline and in the crevices on the chewing surfaces of the teeth. Eating and drinking foods high in carbohydrates cause this bacteria to produce the acids that can cause the outer coating of the tooth (enamel) or root surface to break down (demineralize).

Although cavities are largely preventable, they are one of the most common chronic diseases throughout the lifespan.1 Untreated tooth decay can lead to abscess (a severe infection) under the gums which can spread to other parts of the body and have serious, and in rare cases fatal, results.

• More than half of children aged 6 to 8 have had a cavity in at least one of their baby (primary) teeth.
• Up to 10% of children aged 2 to 5 have untreated cavities.
• More than half of adolescents aged 12 to 19 have had a cavity in at least one of their permanent teeth.
• One quarter of adults aged 20 to 64 have untreated cavities.
• More than 90% of adults have had a cavity.

Community water fluoridation and school dental sealants programs are both cost-saving, proven strategies to prevent cavities.

4 Tips to Prevent Toothaches.

Do you want to know how to prevent toothaches and tooth pain?

Try following these tips for proper oral care:

1. Brush regularly with a fluoride-containing toothpaste.
2. Floss at least once a day.
3. Visit your dentist regularly.
4. Eat a healthy diet and reduce your intake of sugary foods.

Reference:

• orajel.com
• cdc.gov/oralhealth/conditions/index.html