Every year one billion people come down with the dreaded “cold”. This annoying and debilitating sickness can linger for weeks if not treated properly. Back to school season is prime time for colds. This is directly correlated with the temperatures, as when the air gets dryer, viruses can stick around better. Add that to children sharing drinks and getting messy and it’s no wonder that it’s the season for sickness.

Some people believe in fasting for colds, and some say you should eat in excess. There are some scientific thoughts on your favorite cold remedies. Many home concoctions can be just as useful as over the counter cold medication. Ilyse Schapiro, R.D., C.D.N. She came up with the top foods to eat if you have a cold, and a few to avoid.

Foods To Have: Drinking tea may not have any medical effects, but the heat can help clear congestion. Add ginger to it for its anti-inflammatory effects. Ginger is both delicious and healthy, so make sure to add it to your chicken dishes. Eating protein when you’re sick is a great way to keep your body working properly and your energy levels up. Make a nice chicken soup with ginger and lots of garlic. Garlic can help block infections and it’s packed with flavor. If you’re living without a person to care for you when you’re sick, a great idea is to make some soup ahead of time. Freeze it in two-cup portions and you’ll always have some on hand when you don’t feel well.

Foods To Avoid: Stay away from sugary drinks like orange juice and ginger ale. While you might think that the vitamin C in orange juice is good for you, the sugars are not. Schapiro says, “ Extra sugar hinders white blood cells from fighting infection.” She recommends eating the whole orange instead and skipping the juice. Staying away from alcohol is also a wise decision, because of it’s dehydrating abilities. If you’re throat is sore and infected, a good idea would be to gargle with the alcohol and not drink it. This will help disinfect your throat.

Source: Huffington Post

Officials from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention are scrambling to identify how many of the steroid shots, that has already infected 105 people, are contaminated with these deadly fungus.  Almost 13,000 people have received the shots, but it is believed that only the ones who received the injections in their backs are at the greatest risk.

The states most affected by the outbreak at Tennessee, Indiana, Florida, Maryland, North Carolina, and Ohio.  The meningitis fungus inflames the linings of the spinal cord and brain which results in extreme pain.  Symptoms of this infection can include dizziness, stiff neck, nausea, and high fever.  The onset of symptoms after receiving the steroid shot can vary take between one to four weeks.

The fungal version of meningitis is not contagious and cannot be spread between people.  17,000 vials of potential infected steroid shots were shipped by New England Compounding to 23 states across the US. Inspectors from the CDC have found one sealed vial that was contaminated with the fungus and is currently testing additional sources.  New England Compounding has been under fire since the first case was discovered last month and has now recalled all of the product line.

Patients who have received the shot should meet with their doctors to review their records.  This infection is treated through hospitals that will administer high dose anti fungal medications.  This medication is delivered through an IV in the hospital.

Source: National Post

The Center of Disease Control has located the source of the deadly fungal meningitis that killed 14 people to date and infected another 170. The fungus has been linked to a steroid shot produced by New England Compounding which had shipped the shots to 23 states.

The shots which have been recalled by New England Compounding have so far produced cases in Florida, Indiana, Michigan, Minnesota, New Jersey, Ohio, Tennessee, Virginia, and Idaho. New England Compounding has recalled all off their production line as a precautionary measure.

Symptoms of fungal meningitis can include dizziness, severe headache, fever, nausea, and neck pain. While this fungus is not contagious anyone showing symptoms should go to the hospital.

Source: montrealgazette.com

A new study from Denmark has shown a possible connection between autism and a mother combating the flu during pregnancy. The study, published in the online journal American Academy of Pediatrics, looked at 96,736 children born between 1997 and 2003 in Denmark. 1%, or 976 children in the participant pool, were diagnosed with autism spectrum disorder.

The researchers collected information from the mother through her pregnancy and early postpartum life. They looked at antibiotic use, infections including respiratory infection, urinary tract infections  and genital infections, and cold and flu rates.

The results were surprising. For pregnant women who used antibiotics through pregnancy, there was a small risk of autism in the children. In women who were infected with influenza through pregnancy, the child had twice the risk of autism. Additionally, if a mother had a fever that lasted for 7 days or longer, the risk of an autism diagnosis was tripled. The researchers found no correlation between infection rates and autism in children.

The study is titled “Autism After Infection, Febrile Episode, and Antibiotic Use During Pregnancy: An Exploratory Study”. Read the full study at the Official Journal of the American Academy of Pediatrics.

The authors of the study note at the end that they found correlation and not causation. Further research must be done on the topic.

Source: AAP

Most of us know when we’re too sick to go to work—that or our doctors will tell us. And for the most part, no one wants us to show up for work ill just to get sent home anyway. However, do you know when you’re too sick to exercise?

Getting in a workout when you’re feeling under the weather may seem harmless, but you could end up making yourself even sicker. You can also injure yourself if you’re doing strenuous exercises like lifting weights. If you’re not sure if you’re well enough to push yourself physically, then it may be best to take a knee, or just go to bed. Here are five ways to determine if your body is not up for your workout routine demands…

1. You Feel Dizzy

Popular lifestyle magazine, Cosmopolitan recalls a tennis match when top-seeded competitor, Serena Williams, seemed disoriented and was off her game. Turns out she had a viral illness. The illness caused her difficulty in simple tasks, like bouncing a tennis ball.

She was eventually removed from the match after the doctor was called in. If you’re feeling light-headed or dizzy, it’s not going to help to force your body into performing, even if the stakes are high. Also, the last thing you want is to have a 200-pound barbell over your head while having a dizzy spell.

The Mayo Clinic defines leukemia as “cancer of the body’s blood-forming tissues.” The disease most commonly affects white blood cells, which mutate and become cancerous. These cells are are primarily produced in the bone marrow, but certain types are also made in the lymph nodes, spleen and thymus gland.

Each of the seven subtypes of leukemia are classified based on how quickly the disease progresses—suddenly (acute) or slowly (chronic)—as well as which specific cells are affected. Although certain symptoms are very specific to the subtype of leukemia, there are several common signs of the disease—including these six.

1. Fever or Chills

As leukemia compromises the body’s blood cells, which are essential to a well-functioning immune system, those affected by the disease may become ill more often.

Symptoms of a cold or flu—such as a fever, chills or infections—are among the most common indicators a person may be battling leukemia. Because these symptoms resemble common illnesses, however, they can be easily overlooked.

Fevers – they can come out of nowhere, during any season, and can hit kids especially hard (kids tend to spike higher temperatures than adults). You can always dose up with over-the-counter drugs as per the standard procedure for many parents, or you can turn to some gentler alternatives.

If you don’t have the right medications in the house to curb a fever, or prefer natural solutions, you can still tackle a fever head-on. Here are seven natural fever remedies to try the next time you’re feeling under the weather…

1. Take Warm Baths

Because your internal temperature is off the scale, when you sit in a lukewarm bath, it’ll feel nice and cool, notes BestHealthMag.ca. The source warns against plunging yourself into a cold tub, as this can cause bloodflow to your organs and actually end up raising your temperature even more.

The site notes to use a sponge to rinse areas that are especially helpful in cooling you down – such as the armpits and groin. The evaporation if the cool water will make you feel better. When you’re out of the tub, place cold and damp washcloths on your forehead and back of the neck, it adds.

While this disease is considered mild, at least by the Mayo Clinic, it doesn’t make it pleasant. The contagious condition is common in children (especially when they’re regularly in a social setting like a daycare), adds the source, and is most commonly caused by a coxsackie virus. In fact, some doctors will refer to the illness as the virus name.

The clinic says symptoms can vary depending on what stage the disease is on, but it usually doesn’t last very long overall (about a week or so usually). In some rarer cases, symptoms can become more severe, so keep an eye on them. Here are seven things to know about this disease, which can be more common in the fall…

1. Fever First

The Mayo Clinic says that the first sign of hand, foot and mouth disease is often a fever, followed by other symptoms such as a sore throat and a loss of appetite or general feeling of not being well.

The clinic notes that the other symptoms will usually show up 1 or 2-days after the fever starts, and that the fever itself generally will last a few days. Of course, a fever can be tied to many other illnesses, so perhaps consult a doctor if symptoms don’t improve.

Bladder cancer is among the most common types of cancer, with approximately 79,000 new diagnoses in the United States each year—the vast majority of which are in males. According to the American Cancer Society, this accounts for “about 5% of all new cancers in the US.”

Despite how common it is, bladder cancer is challenging to identify in its early stages, as it may not show any signs and symptoms. Typically, “symptoms appear once the tumour grows larger or into the deeper layers of the bladder wall,” says the Canadian Cancer Society. Because of the late onset of symptoms, it’s important to identify them quickly so as to begin treatment right away. Here are the five most common ones to be mindful of.

1. Blood in the Urine

Blood in the urine, medically known as hematuria, is the most common symptom of the disease, occurring in “8 or 9 out of 10 people who have bladder cancer,” says WebMD. Hematuria isn’t always a consistent issue, though. According to the Canadian Cancer Society, “blood may always be in the urine, or it may come and go.”

And even when it is present the source says it may cause the urine to vary in color, “from pale yellow-red to bright or rusty red.” In some cases, the blood may not even be visible to the naked eye; this is known as microscopic hematuria, as it is only identifiable under a microscope.

When it comes to our own health, it’s kind of like driving a car – you might ignore some of the minor creaks and groans, but at some point you have to bring it into the garage for a checkup. The same goes for health symptoms – while you may have minor illnesses here and there, sometimes a visit to the doctor’s office is in order.

But how do you know when you should walk it off, or book an appointment with a medical professional? Well, usually it’s because you’re suddenly dealing with something that wasn’t there a couple of days before, and in some cases it can be serious. Here are eight health symptoms you shouldn’t try to ignore…

1. Chest Pain

In some cases it may just be gas, but if you’re experiencing “extreme discomfort” that feels like there’s weight on your chest, then you should be concerned. UC San Diego Health explains you should be even more concerned if the pain if accompanied by other symptoms such as pain radiating down your arm, or nausea/vomiting.

You actually might be having a heart attack, definitely not something you can let pass as it’s life threatening. Another possible cause is acid reflux, which isn’t overly serious, but you should probably let a doctor make that call.

There are many types of headaches, and they’re all a pain. However, in the case of a sinus headache, you may mistakenly think you have a sinus infection – as the symptoms are pretty similar.

Even if you’ve been diagnosed with sinusitis (a sinus infection), your headache may not be related to the sinuses at all, notes the Mayo Clinic. It’s good to be able to distinguish between them, so you can best address the headache. Here are six signs and symptoms of a true sinus headache…

1. Sinus Infections

While stress can literally give you a headache in some cases (think tension headaches), sinus headaches aren’t commonly associated with this trigger. The University of Maryland Medical Center says sinus headaches are caused by sinus congestion and inflammation (from an infection including cold or flu).

Other possible causes of a sinus headache include seasonal allergies like hay fever, says the source. “Although a cold is the most common culprit, sinusitis can be caused by anything that prevents the sinuses from draining,” it adds.

Your gallbladder, a small organ that sits just below your liver, has an important function—it releases bile (produced by the liver) into the intestines and helps break down fats. However, many Americans experience problems with their gallbladders, which leads to a change of diet or the removal of the organ altogether.

Depending on risk factors such as gender (females are more likely to have these problems), age and lifestyle, you can develop gallstones that block the flow of bile, or you can develop a range of gallbladder diseases. In any case, you will experience symptoms that are less than pleasant. Here are 14 signs to watch for…

1. Acute Pain

If you have pain in the upper right side or middle of your abdomen directly after consuming a meal, then you may have acute cholecystitis, which HealthLine.com describes as the most common gallbladder disease.

This condition is usually caused by gallstones (from calcium buildup or cholesterol), but it can also result from tumors, notes the source. The pain can be sharp twinges to dull aching that extend all the way up your right shoulder, it adds. This condition can lead to a chronic version, which will lead to your gallbladder losing its function.

Initially, the flu may be shrugged off as just a common cold due to similar symptoms—such as a seem runny nose, sinus congestion, sneezing, and sore muscles and throat.

However, a prime differentiator between cold vs. flu is that similar symptoms will come on and worsen gradually with a cold, compared to a flu which hits suddenly and hard with the following symptoms…

1. Fever

The initial sign that you have the flu, and not just a routine cold, will be a high fever that soars between 102- and 106-degrees Fahrenheit (or 38-degrees Celsius). Typically, children’s fevers will be higher than adult fevers and can last 3 to 4 days before breaking.

Pneumonia is a type of lung or respiratory infection that often begins with an innocent cough and turns suddenly into a high fever accompanied by labored breathing. For most people, pneumonia is treatable with prescription medication (in the case of walking pneumonia) with all symptoms vanishing in a few weeks time. However, babies, seniors, and those with other medical conditions, a bout of pneumonia can put you in the hospital with serious symptoms.

Here are the 15 most common symptoms of pneumonia…

1. Cough

Pneumonia is a type of lung infection that can strike one or both lungs. The source of the infection can be bacterial, fungal, or viral in nature, but fluid will typically settle into the lung’s air sacs, or alveoli, in the lungs, causing breathing difficulties and inevitably a severe cough. This is why a flu- or cold-like cough is often noticeable in the beginning stage of pneumonia, and that cough is typically accompanied by thick green mucus, which indicates infection.

Untreated pneumonia will worsen and so will the related cough. The severity of the cough and mucus will depends on the cause of the inflammation (meaning if the organism causing the infection is bacterial, fungal, or viral in nature). Other factors will also play into the severity of pneumonia for different individuals. For instance, immune strength can differ due to age (elderly and young children are usually more at risk for severe symptoms and hospitalization). Also, general health can impact pneumonia severity with those with compromised immunity most at risk.

They might not sound very life threatening, but a blood clot that develops in the deep veins of your leg, if left untreated and unable to dissolve of its own volition, may detach and travel to your lungs, causing a pulmonary embolism (or PE). In most cases, a leg blood clot will form due to lengthy periods of travel, for example if you remain immobile in cramped spaces—such as an airplane or bus—with few opportunities to stretch your legs or get up and walk around. Here are 15 signs that you may have a dangerous blood clot in your leg…

1. Redness

A slight discoloration of the skin in the area of the clot is often one of the first signs of the formation of a thrombus (or clot) deep in a vein. The cause of the skin discoloration is pretty straightforward: dense collections of blood beneath the surface of the skin become visible as they grow in size.

If you experience persistent patches of red skin in the legs, particularly after an injury or surgery, you should bring them to the attention of your doctor. The hallmark of deep vein thrombosis skin redness is that it does not go away over time, or intensifies for no immediately detectable reason.

Flu season is most prevalent during the cold months of winter, though no one is guaranteed to avoid an influenza infection when the weather starts to warm up. In fact, the temperature fluctuations of spring and fall can contribute to the development of the flu, much to the surprise of many people.

To provide the best counter to an emerging flu infection, it’s important to clearly understand the absolute earliest signs that it may be settling in. And while we often associate the flu with upset stomach and vomiting, there are a number of other symptoms that tend to make their presence known far earlier. By understanding some of these early symptoms of the flu, you can take appropriate action — such as visiting your family doctor — and work towards limiting the infection’s impact on your personal and professional lives.

1. Fever

Arguably the earliest sign of a flu taking hold of your body is the development of a fever. And not your typical, moderate fever, either: most flu sufferers will have more serious fevers, with their body temperature rising above 101 degrees.

That sets the flu apart from the common cold, which rarely comes with a high fever. Should that fever refuse to go down — even when you get rest, fluids, and take medication designed to reduce inflammation — you may continue to experience a high fever. That’s a good sign you’re dealing with a flu rather than the common cold.

Tuberculosis, which is commonly referred to as TB, is an infectious disease that primarily affects the lungs, although it can spread to other areas of the body such as the kidneys, brain, and spine.

Tuberculosis is considered an airborne pathogen, as the bacteria that cause the disease can spread from person to person through the air, infecting an estimated nine million people worldwide each year. Although certain individuals are more at risk of developing tuberculosis than others (as we’ll discuss later), anyone can get it. So it’s important to recognize the symptoms in order to seek appropriate medical treatment.

Symptoms

1. A Cough that Lasts Three or More Weeks

There are two types of tuberculosis: latent tuberculosis and active tuberculosis. With latent tuberculosis, people become infected but do not actually develop the disease, and therefore have no symptoms. Those with active tuberculosis, however, do become sick after being infected with the disease.

One of the primary symptoms of active tuberculosis is a bad cough that persists for a period longer than three weeks. With this cough, the Government of Canada indicates it may cause you to sometimes cough up blood or phlegm, “thick liquid that comes up from your lungs or airways.”

According to the most recent statistics from the American Cancer Society, approximately 48,960 men and women will be diagnosed with pancreatic cancer in 2015. Pancreatic cancer has the highest mortality rate compared to all other major cancers and results in roughly 7-percent of all cancer deaths.

Sadly, the majority of pancreatic cancer patients show only vague symptoms of the disease, meaning most are only diagnosed in the advanced stages when chances of survival are quite reduced. However, recognizing a combination of these early warning signs can help save your life if you suspect pancreatic cancer…

1. Jaundice

Jaundice, or the yellowing of the skin and eyes, is common to those suffering from pancreatic cancer. Jaundice develops when there are excessive levels of bilirubin in the bloodstream, or when a liver bile duct becomes blocked by a tumor. Even though jaundice creates relatively little physical discomfort, it’s important to seek immediate medical attention if it occurs. Jaundice can also be caused by numerous other factors, including infectious diseases and liver problems. Your doctor will likely begin by investigating and ruling out these more common causes before doing any cancer tests.

One of the major complications of jaundice is inflammation of the pancreas, which can lead to nonspecific but persistent and potentially severe abdominal pain. Your doctor may suspect pancreatic cancer if your jaundice is accompanied by these types of pain symptoms. Sepsis, liver failure, renal failure and problems with coagulation can also result from extended and severe cases of jaundice.

When sepsis, a condition that results when infection enters the bloodstream, occurs the immune system is greatly compromised when the body attempts to put the proper defenses in place.  However, if existing health concerns are an issue (i.e., such as cancer, a recent surgery, AIDS, or immune deficiency due to advanced age) a blood infection can be life threatening.

That’s why it’s vital to recognize the top 15 signs of blood infection…

1. Skin Spots

Oftentimes, the first sign of a blood infection will show itself in reddish or spotted patches on extremities—hands, legs, arms, feet—as well as other parts of the body.

Cancer can present itself with many symptoms, and having 1-of the symptoms we’re about to list doesn’t mean it’s cancer – only a doctor can confirm that. However, there are particular signs unique to women that shouldn’t be ignored, as early treatment could make the difference.

Reader’s Digest says many of the upcoming symptoms are usually attributed to other health problems and it’s “easy to brush them aside,” but knowing your baseline health and what seems unusual is key. Here are 14 possible symptoms of cancer that women shouldn’t ignore…

1. Changes to the Breasts

Reader’s Digest notes that when it comes to self-scanning for breast cancer, the focus is usually on finding a lump. However, there are other oddities that may occur in the breasts that can give you a clue there’s a problem.

For example, dimpled skin on the breast, an inverting nipple, as well as swelling and tenderness could be a red flag, notes the source. You may even notice “slight discoloration of the skin to a deeper red or pink,” which could also indicate trouble, it adds.