Daily Health Bits

When I was nine years old, I had my first panic attack.  I remember it vividly.  My family was at a pizza parlor and I started feeling weird and went in the bathroom and started to freak out.  At that time, anxiety disorders weren't as prevalent as they are today, and doctors thought maybe I had epilepsy.  I went through tons of tests, and finally someone figured out that I was having panic attacks.  This went on most of my school life, and even in college, but I learned how to control them, and to recognize which situations sort of trigger them for me.  Today, I still get them once in a great while, but I can keep myself pretty calm using a few tricks.  The most important tip is to control your breathing.  When you feel the beginning of a panic attack, it is crucial to breathe slowly and deeply because most panic attack symptoms can be caused by hyperventilation.  When you force yourself to breathe deeply, you decrease the amount of oxygen in your body, preventing hyperventilation.  Once "symptom" of panic attacks is the feeling that you are going to die.  Well, a doctor once told me that people do not die from panic attacks, and to tell myself that when they come on.  It's sort of a mind game, but it works.  Removing your self from an anxious situation can avoid panic attacks in the first place.  Figure out what triggers them for you and avoid those scenarios or if you find that an attack is coming on, get up and leave and think about something else.  I know firsthand how scary and debilitating panic attacks can be, but YOU are in control of your body and following these tips can really make a difference!

Posted by Cindy Burreson at 08:02 AM | Permalink

Did you know that carrots are one of nature's super foods?  Carrots are filled with carotenoids, antioxidants that may protect against certain types of cancer, heart disease and cataracts.  Carrots also contain beta-carotene which the body converts to vitamin A which is crucial for eyes and skin.  Vitamin A also nourishes the tissues of your respiratory and intestinal tract.  Carrots also include soluble fiber, vitamin C and a little calcium.  When cooking carrots, only cook until they are sort of crisp-tender.  If they are mushy, it diminishes the carotene content.  So, enjoy carrots as a snack and hopefully you won't be saying "What's up, Doc".

Posted by Cindy Burreson at 09:35 PM | Permalink

There has always been debate over whether or not hair dye is bad for your health.  A 1997 Michigan State University study found that hairdressers were at a 2.7 times higher risk of developing salivary gland cancer as compared with the control population. Another study by scientists at the University of Southern California's School of Medicine showed that hairdressers and barbers who have been on the job for more than ten years face a fivefold increase in bladder cancer risk. The FDA also says "several coal-tar hairdye ingredients have been found to cause cancer in laboratory animals." So, what is a girl to do?  To reduce your exposure to these chemicals, dye your hair less frequently. Or try highlights, which are safer because less hair is colored and the dye isn't rubbed into your scalp. Also, lighter dyes are generally made from safer ingredients than darker dyes. And, of course, henna dyes made from the flower, are a classic natural alternative to chemical products. The the Environmental Working Group, a nonprofit environmental research group in Washington, D.C, has created a database where you can check different products for their safety rating.  You can check your products in their database, and remember to use hair dyes in a properly ventilated area and never leave on longer than advised.

 Cosmetics Database

Posted by Cindy Burreson at 08:00 AM | Permalink

It's the time of year when everything is blooming, the weather is changing, and if you are an allergy sufferer, your nose is running and eyes are itching.  Of course, there are many medicinal and OTC rememdies for allergies, but we are going to explore the safer, and more natural herbal remedies. 

• Butterbur- European studies have shown that butterbur leaves can be just as effective as some of the popular allergy drugs.  You can buy butterbur in capsule form at your local health food store or in leaf form at some stores as well. 

• Stinging Nettle- This herb has antihistamine properties and can ease allergy symptoms, especially in its freeze-dried form.  It is useful in hay fever-type symptoms.

• Many studies have proved licorice's ability to reduce allergic symptoms and decrease inflammation.

• Chili pepper, or cayenne, contains capsaicin. This active ingredient helps desensitize the mucosa that line the airways, thus preventing them from secreting excessive fluids and becoming inflamed when exposed to irritants.

  You may be able to find an herbal allergy combination at your local health store, but as always, do your research as to it's ingredients and side effects.
  

Posted by Cindy Burreson at 09:24 AM | Permalink

Don't you love it when someone claims that your yawning is because you "need more oxygen in your brain".  Usually, it's some dumb guy trying to make a reference to your lack of intelligence.  Well, I decided to find out (just in case) if there was any truth to this theory.  Some experts say that we yawn to bring more oxyen into the lungs.  When we're resting we don't use our entire lung capacity and just use air sacs at the bottom of our lungs.  If the air sacs don't get fresh air, they partially collapse and as a result our brain prompts the body to yawn or possibly sigh to get more air into the lungs.  There is no definitive answer but here are some interesting yawning facts I found on www.howstuffworks.com:

Did you yawn while reading this?  I yawned at least twice while writing it!

 

Posted by Cindy Burreson at 08:14 AM | Permalink

Hello everyone!  I wanted to let you know that starting Monday February 18th, I will be back on track with Daily Health Bits.  I have been preoccupied with fighting this darned cold that's going around, and in training for my other job and I can say that running your self into the ground makes it hard to do the former.  Anyway, I am on the mend and eager to share bits of health with you again!

Til tomorrow...

Posted by Cindy Burreson at 10:11 PM | Permalink