Indoor air quality: How important is it? April 2, 2008
Posted by google in : health , add a commentSome of the major allergens are actually not encountered outdoors, but indoors! Indoor air can include airborne allergens and triggers such as pollen, house dust mite droppings, dust, animal dander, moulds, tobacco smoke, and strong odours.
Since we spend up to 90% of our time indoors than outdoors, the risk of exposure to these allergens is greater. Furthermore, individuals who are most likely to be exposed to indoor air pollutants for the longest periods of time are more often than not the most susceptible to the effects of indoor air pollution. These include children, the elderly, and those who are chronically ill, particularly those suffering from respiratory or cardiovascular disease. As such the quality of indoor air is of great importance. Air purification is one of the main strategies for maintaining clean indoor air, and for the reduction and prevention of allergy symptoms, asthma and other respiratory diseases.
Air purifiers come in various shapes, sizes, prices, and features, with a wide variety of technology, which helps to purify or sterilize indoor air by eliminating different types of airborne pollutants, chemicals, odours or allergens. For those who suffer from allergies such as rhinitis, dust mite allergy, pet allergy, hay fever and multiple chemical sensitivity, it is crucial to inhale purified air. The majority of air purifiers have been proven to filter out 99.7% of all particles from indoor air. Chemical fumes, tobacco smoke and dust can be absorbed by an air purifier filter. High Efficiency Particulate Air Filters (HEPA filters) often used in air purifiers are very efficient in filtering out most allergens that can be related to allergic and asthma attacks from within indoor air. They can remove 99.7% of all particles that are 0.03 microns & larger. With the use of an air purifier, allergens or airborne pollutants are removed from indoor air so they are unable to continue circulating through the air.
Why are air purifiers good for you?
1. Air purifiers will greatly improve the quality of the air in you home.
2. Dangerous pollen and other allergens will be removed.
3. Unpleasant odours will be eliminated.
4. Pet and human hair will be removed.
5. Symptoms of allergies and respiratory diseases will be reduced.
6. Cigarette smoke will be filtered particularly if an air purifier specifically designed to deal with particles and gaseous pollutants of tobacco smoke is used.
Recommended products
What air purifier?
Seeing that there’s a wide variety of air purifiers to choose from, we have done the hard work for you by selecting the best air purifiers to suit your need. Click on the link that best suits your needs.
Dust Mite Allergy
Asthma
Hay Fever
Clean Air in Style
Start shopping from our range of dehumidifiers and air conditioners.
References
1. Albertini R, et al. Air purification and indoor biologic pollutants. Allergy 2000; 55: 780-782.
Visit our Learning Centre for more on Asthma, Dust mite Allergy and Hay Fever.
Disclaimer
This article is only for informative purposes. It is not intended to be a medical advice and is not a substitute for professional medical advice. Please consult your doctor for all your medical concerns. Kindly follow any information given in this article only after consulting your doctor or qualified medical professional. The author is not liable for any outcome or damage resulting from any information obtained from this article.
Smoke Free Life is Beautiful April 2, 2008
Posted by google in : health , add a commentEverybody knows how hard it is to quit smoking. But you find it impossible to do that? In fact, you have spent many-many years of your life looking for how to quit?
So, we often need quit smoking aids to assist quitting smoking cigarettes. But the most important thing that you must remember when you want to quit is that any method, whether it is hypnosis methods or any other methods will work only if you have the will power to say no to cigarettes. Though hypnosis do appear to travail in the short term, there is still much debate pertaining to the long-term effects of the treatments.
There has been a lot of debate on whether hypnosis work in the long run. Whether you have been smoking since your adolescence or if you just became genuinely addicted, hypnosis treatments can assist you get on top of the intense cravings that most persons experience when they try to quit smoking.
Lets take a look at what all of the factors are that cause such weight gain in people who quit smoking and see if maybe this weight gain may be able to be controlled to where it does not have to be a factor when you decide to put the cigarettes down for good. With a little effort on your part to keep your eating habits in check and incorporate some exercise into your daily routine, weight gain can and will be at least kept down to a minimum when you quit. There are also a variety of free methods that you can use to help cut down on your cigarette cravings.
In addition to alternative medicine methods of quit smoking help, there are also a variety of smoking free videos and aid groups for men and women trying to stop. As far as the ‘quit smoking’ claim is concerned, there are in fact, a number of bonafide and medically proven prescription and herbal or natural compounds that can and do often help people to achieve their goal to be ’smoke free’.
Combining acupuncture with more traditional approaches to quitting smoking can be an effective strategy, especially if you have tried and failed at simply using willpower to quit in the past. Acupuncture as a method for quitting is best for those individuals that are heavily addicted to the nicotine, but have clearly made the commitment to quit. Most of these NRT medicines are available over-the-counter, but you should see your GP for professional advice prior to deciding on the best aids.
If you are not convinced to quit smoking then maybe if you knew how your smoking affected others, including your children, you might just change your mind. The first and quit likely the most important ingredient is personal commitment, if you are not completely convinced that you want to quit, your chances of complete and total success are limited, however if you are completely committed, your chances for success are greatly enhanced. There’s no doubt that developing a concrete action plan to quit will increase tremendously your chances of success.
It’s unfortunate that it takes such dramatic measures till a smoker is ready to take action and look for an easy way to quit smoking. Stop smoking will make you feel better and also people around you.
Weight Control April 2, 2008
Posted by google in : health , add a commentGenetics does play a role in obesity or weight control, of course, but not as big a role as you do. Most health experts say that the concept of genes compelling you to be heavy is a myth.
For the vast majority of us, genes may set the lower limits of our weight, but we set the upper limits by our food choices.
We all know that most of us tend to put on weight as we age. In addition, if there is one thing we cannot prevent, it is the aging process. But we can prevent eating more and exercising less as we get older. And first of all, you have to have surgeries for food control in your life, strategies that work.
Here are few tips for your weight control:
Eat more fibers for it makes a person full sooner and stays in the tummy longer, slowing down the rate of digestion, A single serving of whole grain bread moves fat through the digestive system faster, Grains turn into blood sugar that spikes the body’s insulin level, Thus, making the body more energized and ready to tell the body when it should stop burning fats or start storing.
Set realistic approaches. The ability to focus and have proper mindset enables someone on a diet to quickly lose those extra pounds. With discipline and proper mind set, a dieter will never be discouraged and lose focus.
These weight control programs have been found effective:
The Pritkin Principle. Focused on trimming the calorie density in eating by suggesting watery foods that make one feel full. Eating vegetables, fruits, oatmeal, pasta, soups, salads and low-fat dairy is okay. Although limits protein sources to lean meat, pseafood and poultry. Although it is healthy by providing low amounts of saturated fats and rich amounts of vegetables and fruits, it is also low on calcium and limits lean protein sources.
Choose to Lose by Dr. Goor. Restrains fat intake. One is given a “fat” budget and he is given the liberty on how to spend it. It does not pressure the individual to watch his carbohydrate intake. Eating meat and poultry as well as low-fat dairy and seafoods is okay. A go signal is also given on eating vegetables, fruits, cereals, bread and pasta. This weight control plan is fairly healthy, good amounts of fruits and vegetables as well as saturated fats. Watch triglyceride levels though; if high, trim down the carbohydrates and tuck in more of the unsaturated fats.
The DASH Diet. Advocates moderate amounts of fat and protein intake and high on carbs. Primarily designed to lower blood pressure, the diet plan follows the pyramid food guide and encourages high intake of whole wheat grains as well as fruits and vegetables and low-fat dairy. Some dieters think it advocates too much eating to procure significant weight loss or weight control.
Weight Watchers. High carbohydrates, moderate on fats and proteins. A very healthy diet plan and very flexible too. it allows the dieter to plan his own meal rather than give him a set to follow.
Carbohydrate Addict’s Diet by Drs. Heller. This weight control diet plan advocates low carbohyrate eating. Approves on eating meats, vegetables and fruits, dairy and grain products. however, warns against taking in too much carb. “Reward” meal can be too high on fats and saturated fats.
Laxatives for weight control:
One should be wary because the labeling of slimming teas in the market today can be absolutely misleading. For instance, they commonly refer to the laxative qualities as “natural bowel cleansing properties” and not specifically use the word “laxative”.Some even use the term “low-calorie” on their labelling. These products in fact, contain essentially no calories nor nutrients whatsoever; unless of course, if they are sweetened.
One of the effects of drinking dieter’s tea is frequent bowel movement. This gives people the feeling of body cleansing. These people may get toxins out of their body but it isn’t exactly the only thing that slimming tea actually does to the body. Slimming tea contains herbs which are natural laxatives. These include aloe, senna, rhubarb root, cascara, buckthorn and castor oil. These are products which are derived from plants and are used since the ancient times because of their potency in treating constipation and to inducing bowel movement.
Tiresome, troublesome acne and its causes. April 2, 2008
Posted by google in : health , add a commentDoctors believe acne results from several related factors but the exact cause is unknown. One important factor is the increase in hormones called androgens (male sex hormones). The increase in hormones during puberty causes the enlargement of sebaceous glands thus making more sebum. In addition, the hormonal changes related to pregnancy and starting, or stopping birth control pills can cause acne. Hereditary or genetics is another factor that may cause acne. Others believe that the tendency to develop acne is inherited from the parents. (This certainly happens to be a myth because my mother at her whole family suffered terribly from acne, but her two kids never had it even though my cousins could have been safely called spotty!)
Certain drugs including lithium and androgens are known to cause acne. Likewise, greasy cosmetics may alter the cells of the follicles and make them stick together thus producing a plug.
Moreover, there are many myths about what causes acne. People often blame chocolates and greasy foods but foods seem to have little effect on the development and course of acne in most people. Dirty skin is as well believed to cause the skin disorder; however, blackheads and other acne lesions are not caused by dirt. Lastly, stress does not cause acne. Obviously, several factors can make the acne worse. The changing hormone levels in the adolescent girls and adult women 2 to 7 days before their menstrual period starts affect the worsening of the acne. Leaning on or rubbing the skin, environmental irritants, squeezing or picking at blemishes and hard scrubbing of the skin are other factors that could worsen acne conditions.
Aside from the dermatologist who specializes on skin problems, there are doctors who treat all kinds of acne, particularly those of severe cases. Family practitioners, pediatricians or internists may treat individuals with milder cases of acne. It is always the goal of the treatment to heal existing lesions, stop new lesions from forming, prevent scarring as well as minimize the psychological stress and embarrassment caused by the disease. The drug treatment is to reduce several problems playing a part in causing acne; abnormal clumping of cells in the follicles, increased oil production, bacteria and inflammation. The doctor will recommend one of several over-the-counter (OTC) medicines or prescription medicines either topical (applied to the skin) or systematic (oral medication) depending on the extent of the person’s acne.
For more free knowledge about acne, its causes, prevention, scientific and natural treatment, please browse about on these web sites.
