Recent News About Your Over The Counter Drugs Your Children Should Avoid

Parents have recently been hit with shocking information about the potential dangers to their children.  First it was lead contamination that came from toys that were manufactured by some of our most trusted companies.  Next, it was super antibiotic resistant bugs that may lurk in day care centers and schools.  The latest information is of greatest concern.  Every study performed in the recent years has found that children’s cough and cold remedies are ineffective and may, in fact, be potentially dangerous.  The American Academy of Pediatrics recommended against the use of multi-symptom, over-the-counter, cold medicines in children under the age of three unless the parents are advised by a physician. 

Many parents have depended on these medicines for years to help with runny noses, coughs, and sleep disruptions.  However, our kids are not the first generation to suffer from frequent respiratory troubles.  Herbal and dietary remedies have been the first line of defense for centuries, with Elderberry being rich in flavonoids, essential oils, vitamin C and organic acids.  It reduces mucous secretions, helps ease breathing, and soothes an irritated nose and throat. 

If your child frequently deals with a runny nose, earache, and sinus infection, he or she may have hidden food intolerances.  One doctor states that there are various ways that you can recognize hidden childhood allergies.  A classic symptom is the “allergic salute”, which the child demonstrates when he is constantly rubbing his or her hand across the end of a runny nose. 

Food allergies are difficult to determine with standard allergy testing, but by avoiding common allergic provoking foods like dairy, wheat, corn, and tree nuts, often brings relief to the child.  Changing the family diet is the best way to eliminate offending foods.  Replace all forms of sugar and other refined carbohydrates, as they slow down bowel transit time and increase exposure to toxic bowel contents.  Natural sweeteners, which can be found in most health food stores, can be used instead.  Since dairy products top the list of provoking foods, they should be replaced as much as possible with other beverages.  Inspect labels carefully to determine if they contain casein, which is a milk protein that often causes problems.  A liquid calcium supplement is a good idea to give your children if they are not receiving dairy products.

Allergic children are often prone to digestive problems, which is a condition referred to as intestinal dysbiosis.  Antibiotic use disturbs the microflora in the gut by killing helpful bacteria.  Psychological stress can also impact microflora, which poses the question of whether or not stress is having a negative impact on our children’s health.  Studies in which some children were placed in a stress relieving program showed that treated groups of children increased their levels of secretary IgA, which gives them a greater ability to resist colds. 

Allergic children also have disturbed bowel function, making them constipated, frequently pass gas, be bloated, and have foul smelling hard stools.  A low fiber diet is one cause of constipation, but an imbalance in microflora in the gut is another reason, which causes toxins to enter circulation.  Supplementing with Bifidobacteria and other helpful probiotics can restore normal gut function, alleviate allergic symptoms, restore immune competence, and reduce allied bowel problems.  Supplementing with fiber can also support proper elimination of toxins in children as well as adults.  Acidophilus, fiber, and herbal cold aids can be found at your local herb store.

Dealing With Hangovers

tension headache

A hangover is something that just about all of us have experienced at some point in time.  After spending a night out drinking, you may wake up in the morning with your head feeling heavy and your stomach in knots. At that moment, you probably decided that you would quit drinking, to prevent this awful feeling from happening again. It may happen again no matter how hard you will try.

Even though we all know that alcohol can lead to hangovers, the cause of a hangover is something we don’t know. Alcohol does have some positive effects on the body, although it can also lead to negative effects such as hangovers. Some doctors will actually recommend it, while others will tell you never to drink it.  Even though drinking is good, moderation is the key. The easiest way to avoid hangovers is to drink in moderation - and never get drunk.

As many of us already know, whisky, bourbon, and wine can result in a much harder hangover than vodka or beer.  For many people, chemicals in wines or yeast found in unfiltered beers can result in cluster headaches.  Beer, wine, and liquor can be fun and relaxing to drink, although if you aren’t careful you can easily get a headache or a hangover.

Even though the cause for hangovers is unknown, it has been proven that the tension headache associated with hangovers stem from dehydration.  With alcohol being a diuretic, it will make you urinate quite often.Hence, drinking alcohol on a daily basis will make your body dehydrated on a daily basis.  When you wake up in the morning with a bad headache and turn to coffee, which is also a diuretic, the process of dehydration actually gets worse.

You’ll also need to do something with the alcohol that has been left in your body.  Even though a hangover can make you want to stay in bed, the secret to getting yourself back on track is movement.  To rid your body of the alcohol, you’ll need sweat.  Sweating gets the toxins out of your body, and helps you feel better.  You can exercise or have sex to get over a hangover, as the heat your body emits will be too much for alcohol toxins to handle.

Hangovers can be prevented.  The first rule of drinking any type of alcoholic beverage is to never drink on an empty stomach. To better digest alcohol, it's best to eat a full meal before indulging in this activity. Eat foods that are high in fat such as pizza, to soak up the alcohol and avoid stomach irritation. You can also sip some olive oil or drink some water. The secret to making sure that you don’t get a hangover when drinking is to drink in moderation and never let yourself get too drunk.

Beer is digested very fast by your body, which is why you should always drink beer first if you plan to mix drinks.  Beer is digested the fastest, and will also help your body to absorb any other drinks you have faster.  You should always keep in mind that when you drink alcohol, your body will get dehydrated. Always drink water when drinking alcohol, as the alcohol that is consumed is a diuretic.  Alcohol can dehydrate your body very fast - which is why you’ll need water to ensure that you stay hydrated.

The Effects Of Alcohol Abuse Spreads To Family And Friends.

We all suffer from the pressures of life’s trials and tribulations that we must overcome.. Unfortunately too many of us are now turning to instant relief found in consuming large quantities of alcohol. The problem is that the relief is only temporary. Wwhen you wake up the next day you still have the same problems to face. You will be surprised how many people drink, and become alcoholics, to help them to forget their daily problems or even to ease the emotional pain they are experiencing in their lives. They seek further solace in the blur of alcoholic haze.

Whenever there is any abuse and over indulgence in any substance there are effects that appear unexpectedly The effects of alcohol abuse come in many forms.  Some are emotional, some are physical, and some can even be financial. In reality the negative effects of alcohol abuse far outweigh any supposed benefits you may think that it brings to you.

Even though the alcoholic may not realize it one of the effects of alcohol abuse is the destruction of your emotional well being.  In many cases alcohol abuse brings out the worst in a person. This abuse is often directed towards family and friends who can in most cases be counted on to stand by you in your hour of need. However, there is a limit to the physical and emotional abuse that your family and friends can take before they are forced to turn their back on you.

In most cases your friends and family are your most important support structure; they will stand by you in good times and bad.  Alcohol abuse can easily lead to physically fighting with your friends and family and consequently a loss of trust.  

Ask yourself, would you trust someone that is drunk all the time?  Sometimes the results are that your friends and family are either forced to abandon you to avoid you taking them down into your personal hell or they are forced to seek an intervention.  Either result puts a great deal of strain on your relationship and can cause serious emotional damage.

Do You Want to Lose It All?

When you become alcohol dependent you often find ways to grab a drink during your day at work this will reduce your productivity and in some cases endanger your being as you try to perform your tasks under the influence of alcohol. Most, if not all employers will automatically terminate drunk employees. Therefore loss of income is another effect of alcohol abuse and when you lose your job to the effects of alcohol it unleashes an entire series of terrible events.  At some point you can no longer pay your bills, your home and car are likely to be repossessed, the family you have sworn to support has to leave to find a better way in life, and you are left with nothing.  

Listen, without any exaggeration if you continue to abuse alcohol on a daily basis you stand to lose literally everything that you hold dear in your life and your road to recovery will be long and difficult.  

Alcohol abuse is everywhere, look around you and you will see the suffering that it causes. The road to recovery is strewn with alcoholics whose lives have been ruined, not to mention all the pain and anguish suffered by family and friends. Recovery from alcohol abuse is not as easy as the movies and television portray it to be. It is a long and painful process. Many people try and fail at many times over before they finally do succeed..

Thankfully there is a way out of this terrible scourge but real strength and determination is a prerequisite to fight your way out of this ailment.  

When Does Drinking Turn To Alcohol Abuse?

The consumption of alcoholic beverages dates back to the beginning of time. Unfortunately some of us are affected by the excessive consumption of alcohol in a very negative way. Hence the problem of alcohol abuse which has disrupted lives, societies and civilizations over the generations..

In today’s society consuming alcohol has become the norm and when consumed in moderation, it can be a relaxing tonic. Many people come home from a hard day of work and unwind with a drink. How do you know, though, when that relaxing drink has taken over your life? How do you know when you become dependent on it? Alcohol abuse in today’s society is becoming a serious problem. In the past people used to believe that alcohol abuse was a characteristic of a weak person, but now it is known that it is really a serious disease that has a chance of affecting us all.

Statistics on Alcohol Abuse

A surprising statistic is that 1 in 13 adults is affected by alcohol abuse. The online health guide, WebMD reported that in the United States alone, 12 to 14 million adults suffer from alcohol abuse and each year, around 100,000 adults will die from alcohol abuse. It has also been proven that alcohol abuse is a large factor in contributing to the country’s car accidents, suicides and homicides. Alcohol also affects many other things in daily life, including increased rates of job absenteeism, and increased reports of domestic violence and child abuse.

What are the Signs of Alcohol Abuse?

Occasional drinks at home or with friends does not mean that you have a problem with alcohol. As a guideline:

- in women, a key indication that there is a degree ofalcohol abuse is if you consume more than seven drinks a week and more than three in a social gathering.

- In men, the rate of consumption would have to equal more than 14 drinks per week or anexcess of four drinks while with friends.

Other signs include:

- alcohol cravings,

- a loss of control when drinking, which leads to the person unable to stop drinking. –

-Tolerances built up to alcohol can be another sign of alcohol abuse,

- physical dependence on alcohol, such as nausea, sweating and headaches if no alcohol is consumed.

Scientists are discovering that many other factors are involved with drinking, such as family history of drinking, family genetics toward drinking, stress levels, and social and environmental factors.

Alcohol abuse is a very serious disease that is escalating all over the western world. It is a treatable disease, but is difficult to cure and it can affect anyone. Many factors make people more susceptible to it than others. Whilst many people drink and enjoy themselves in moderation, it is important that we all hear the message and keep our consumption to recognized tolerable levels.

Unfortunately modern society has raised the spectre of alcohol consumption to levels of absurdity as the fashion of Binge Drinking has become the norm amongst many of the young. This bad influence can only lead to more and more of us suffering from alcohol abuse.

The Effects Of Alcohol Abuse Can Be Dramatic

The pressures of life present us all with trials and tribulations that we need to overcome. Unfortunately too many of us are now turning to what is perceived to be an instant relief that is found in consuming copious quantities of alcohol. The problem is that the relief is temporary when you wake up the next day you still have the same problems to face. Many people drink, and become alcoholics, to help them to forget their daily problems or even to seemingly ease the emotional pain they may be experiencing in their lives. They seek further solace in the blur of alcoholic haze.

As with the abuse and over indulgence in anything there are effects that appear unexpectedly the effects of alcohol abuse come in many forms.  Some are emotional, some are physical, and some can even be financial. The reality is that the negative effects of alcohol abuse far outweigh any supposed benefits you may think that it brings to you.

Although the alcoholic may not realize it one of the effects of alcohol abuse is the destruction of your emotional well being.  Sometimes alcohol abuse can bring out the worst in a person. This abuse is often directed towards your family and friends who can in most cases be counted on to stand by you in your hour of need. But there is only so much physical and emotional abuse that your family and friends can take before they are forced to turn their back on you.

Usually your friends and family are your support structure; they will stand by you in good times and bad.  Alcohol can lead to physically fighting with your friends and family and it can also lead to a loss of trust between you.  

Ask yourself how can anyone trust someone that is drunk all the time?  Sometimes the results are that your friends and family are either forced to abandon you to avoid you taking them down into your personal hell or they are forced to seek an intervention.  Either result puts a great deal of strain on the relationships and can cause serious emotional damage.

Losing It All

When somebody becomes alcohol dependent they often find ways to sneak a during their day at work this tends to reduce their productivity and in some cases endanger their being as they try to perform their tasks in an alcoholic stupor. Most, if not all employers will automatically terminate drunk employees. Therefore loss of income is another effect of alcohol abuse and when you lose jobs to the effects of alcohol abuse it unleashes an entire series of terrible events to unfold.  At some point you can no longer pay your bills, your home and car get taken away, the family you have sworn to support has to leave to find a better way in life, and you are left with nothing.  

It is not an exaggeration to say that if you continue to abuse alcohol on a daily basis that you stand to lose literally everything that you hold dear in your life and your road to recovery will be long and difficult.  

Alcohol abuse is everywhere, just look around you and you will see the suffering that it causes. The road to recovery is strewn with alcoholics whose lives have been ruined not to mention all the pain and anguish suffered by family and friends. Recovery from the effects of alcohol abuse is not as easy as the movies and television make it look.  It is a long and painful process. Many people try and fail at many times over before they finally do succeed.

Thankfully there is a way out of this terrible scourge but real strength and determination is required to dig your way out of this quagmire.

The Question Of Teenagers And Drug Abuse Must Have Our Utmost Attention

Drug use among teens has reached tragic levels. No matter how on top of it you are, your teenagers are going to be exposed to drugs at school, the very place you believe to be a safe environment. Mrs. Reagan's 'Just say no to drugs' campaign was a complete failure. The truth is that teens view adults as old stupid people that don't know anything. Parents, try as they may, face an uphill war in safe guarding their young ones from the ravaging effects of drugs.

The challenge is made more difficult by the fact that most of us have prescription medications in our bedroom drawers. When confronting the issue of teenagers and drugs, you have to give them a sound argument that differentiates between necessary prescriptions and street drugs. This isn't easy. Some common prescription medicines are being peddaled in schools as a way to get high. Teens don't know that these prescriptions are issued in duplicate or triplicate, as a method to control the use of certain narcotics. Without having experienced a legitimate need for these drugs themselves, they may well conclude that their parents are experiencing and liking some high that they are somehow being denied.

Another problem with educating kids on the issue of teen drug abuse is that society does not show any differences between drugs. Some pharmaceutical drugs are needed, but when it comes to teens and drugs, we tell them that every drug is bad. This is patently false. Some kids need prescription medication for actual problems. Used improperly, that medicine can get a teen high who doesn't need it. Sometimes, that medication can have fatal consequences when used as a 'recreational' drug.

Children are not capable of making those distinctions. For example, a patient with extreme pain because of arthritis or cancer, could be prescribed codeine or another opiate to help with the pain. Children don't understand that this patient doesn't get high. That med only dulls the pain. However, in the world of teens and drugs, this narcotic becomes an opportunity tocatch a buzz. They don't know the difference.

One huge deception that encourages teenage drug use is the fable of pot. This street drug is posited as the first step to drug addiction, thrown in the same bag as heroin and mescaline. The same houy that middle school child tries marijuana, the child sees that even though it makes them feel good, they can hide this new habit from their parents and it doesn't make them crazy. They conclude that the rest of the warnings issued on teens and drugs are deceptions. That's why they step into the trap of the insidiosly dangerous drugs.

As a world village, we need to educate our teenagers. Teach them the effects of drugs. Ice, crack, heroin and drugs like 'ecstasy' can devastate their lives or kill them. Be honest. We can defend our kids.Addiction is a terrible problem in our society today but with the "proper" education we can teach our future generations the realities of addictions and drug abuse.

Overcomming Heroin Addiction

Please do not delude yourself, heroin addiction is rampant, gone are the days when heroin addiction was restricted to the innercity slums, the reality is that heroin addicts can be found in city law offices, in managerial circles at the big end of town, it is everywhere. Every day, thousands across the country are engaged in the battle against heroin addiction. Methadone clinics have sprouted up all over the around the country and are helping a lot providing many with a chance to quit using this dangerous drug, unfortunately, many others still do not have access to this help. Yet others using these clinics replace their addiction to heroin with an addiction to methadone.

Heroin addiction does not discriminate, it can strike anyone; but with the proper attention, it can be overcome. Heroin addiction not only affects the addict but in most cases draws family and friends into the foray as well.

Finding Drug Rehabilitation

It is usually a fruitless exercise to throw an addict into rehabilitation unless he or she has admitted that they have a major problem that is too big for them to get out of by themselves. This job requires professional drug rehabilitation. It is virtually impossible to combat this terrible addiction on your own without professional help.

If you find yourself in a situation where you are addicted to heroin, realize it and desperately want help, enroll yourself immediately into a rehabilitation program irrespective of your financial situation, there is help ready to assist you. Thankfully, there are many rehabilitation clinics that offer programs for those with little or no income; state medical programs often cover this type of treatment.

It is normal for a rehabilitation program, to last anywhere between 30 and 90 days; this all depends on the individual situation. In most cases, methadone is used as a heroin replacement, which is administered in decreasing doses, so as to wean your body gradually off of the drug.

Under certain circumstances a rapid detoxification program is used to rid the body of all traces of the drug quickly. This is only done under the guidance of professional personnel. Obviously every case is different, this has created several schools of thought pertaining to  which type of detoxification works best; irrespective of the preferred treatment the fact remains that heroin addiction is destructive, dangerous and in often life threatening in nature.

Support Of Family And Friends Is Vital Both during And After The Rehab Program.

Because you have completed a rehabilitation program this does not mean you are out of the woods, far from it, the real battle has only just begun. It is important you own your addiction, and make the conscious choice to never surrender to your cravings. By having a strong support system in place it is much easier to stay in the winning way, this is most definitely needed before you are released from your rehabilitation program. Family and friends are a great comfort, and there are countless support groups available, such as Narcotics Anonymous, where you can find daily support from those who are just like you.

Congratulations, by admitting that you are addicted to heroin you have taken the first most important step along the road to recovery. It is up to you to do whatever it takes to fight this battle – your family, your friends, and, most importantly,  your life will be changed for the best as you overcome heroin addiction.