Archive | June 2020

QUOTE FOR MONDAY:

“Legionellosis is not contagious, meaning it is not spread from person-to-person. Disease transmission primarily occurs through inhaling Legionella-contaminated, aerosolized water. While rare, exposure is also possible from breathing in (i.e., aspirating) Legionella contaminated soil or while drinking water.”.

Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA)

QUOTE FOR THE WEEKEND:

“Symptoms usually begin 2 to 10 days after being exposed to the bacteria, but it can take longer so people should watch for symptoms for about 2 weeks after exposure.

If you develop pneumonia symptoms, see a doctor right away. Be sure to mention if you may have been exposed to Legionella, have used a hot tub, spent any nights away from home, or stayed in a hospital in the last two weeks.”

Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC)

QUOTE FOR THURSDAY:

“Mal de debarquement means ‘sickness of disembarkement’ which refers to an illusion of movement felt as an after effect of travel. Sea travel is the most common starting point for the disorder. Symptoms can last for weeks, months or even years.”

Meniere’s Society

QUOTE FOR WEDNESDAY:

Photosensitivity is an extreme sensitivity to ultraviolet (UV) rays from the sun and other light sources. Most people are at risk of developing sunburn during long exposure to sunlight. Exposure to UV rays can also lead to skin damage and skin cancer.

Healthline.com

Photosensitivity

Sunlight exposure part III

Sunlight exposure Urticaria Part III Urticaria

photosensitivity drug inducedchemical photsensitivity                   Both pictures above are drug chemically induced Photosensitivity Reactions.

Sunlight can trigger immune system reactions.

People develop itchy eruptions or areas of redness and inflammation on patches of sun-exposed skin.

These reactions typically resolve without treatment.

Photosensitivity, sometimes referred to as a sun allergy, is an immune system reaction that is triggered by sunlight. Photosensitivity reactions include solar urticaria, chemical photosensitization  (Ex. from drug reactions), and polymorphous light eruption and are usually characterized by an itchy eruption on patches of sun-exposed skin. People may inherit a tendency to develop these reactions. Certain diseases, such as systemic lupus erythematosus and some porphyrias, also may cause more serious skin reactions to sunlight.

Solar Urticaria

Hives (large, itchy red bumps or welts) that develop after only a few minutes of exposure to sunlight are called solar urticaria. The hives typically last for minutes or hours. This disorder can be difficult to treat, but doctors may prescribe histamine (H1) blockers, antimalarial drugs, corticosteroids, sunscreens, or ultraviolet (UV) light therapy. A person can be prone to developing solar urticaria for a very long time, sometimes indefinitely. People with large affected areas sometimes have headaches and wheezing and feel dizzy, weak, and nauseated.

Chemical Photosensitivity

Over 100 substances, swallowed or applied to the skin, are known to cause sun-induced reactions on the skin. A limited number cause most reactions ( Some Substances That Sensitize the Skin to Sunlight). To treat chemical photosensitivity reactions, corticosteroids are applied to the skin and the substance that is causing the reaction is avoided. There are two types of chemical photosensitivity: phototoxicity and photoallergy.

In phototoxicity, people have pain and develop redness, inflammation, and sometimes brown or blue-gray discoloration in areas of skin that have been exposed to sunlight for a brief period. These symptoms resemble those of sunburn, but the reaction differs from sunburn in that it occurs only after the person has swallowed certain drugs (such as tetracyclines or diuretics) or chemical compounds or has applied them to the skin (such as perfume and coal tar). Some plants (including limes, celery, and parsley) contain compounds called furocoumarins that make some people’s skin more sensitive to the effects of UV light. This reaction is called phytophotodermatitis. All phototoxic reactions appear only on areas of skin that have been exposed to the sun. They usually develop within hours after sun exposure.

In photoallergy, an allergic reaction causes redness, scaling, itching, and sometimes blisters and spots that resemble hives. This type of reaction can be caused by aftershave lotions, sunscreens, and sulfonamides. Substances that cause photoallergy are capable of doing so only after the person has been exposed to both the substance and sunlight (because sunlight is what makes the substance capable of triggering photoallergy). Photoallergic reactions can affect areas of skin that have not been exposed to the sun. They usually develop 24 to 72 hours after sun exposure.

Diagnosing this condition:

There are no specific tests for photosensitivity reactions. A doctor suspects a photosensitivity reaction when a rash appears only in areas exposed to sunlight. A close review of the person’s medical history, skin symptoms, any diseases, drugs taken by mouth, or substances applied to the skin (such as drugs or cosmetics) may help a doctor pinpoint the cause of the photosensitivity reaction. Doctors may do tests to rule out diseases that are known to make some people susceptible to such reactions (such as systemic lupus erythematosus).

When a rash occurs on an area of skin that has been exposed to the sun and the diagnosis is not clear, doctors may do skin patch tests and reaction reproduction tests that involve exposure to UV light (phototesting) when the person is not using any drugs that cause photosensitivity reactions. These tests may help clarify which type of photosensitivity reaction may be the cause.

Prevention and Treatment:

All should avoid excessive sun exposure, but people who are sensitive to sunlight due to any cause should be especially careful and wear protective clothes, avoid sunlight as much as possible, and use sunscreens regularly. If possible, any drugs or chemicals that could cause photosensitivity should be discontinued after consulting with a doctor.People with polymorphous light eruption or photosensitivity caused by systemic lupus erythematosus should be seen by a doctor and sometimes benefit from treatment with corticosteroids applied to the skin or hydroxychloroquine or corticosteroids taken by mouth. Occasionally, people with this problem can be desensitized to the effects of sunlight by gradually increasing their exposure to UV light.

QUOTE FOR TUESDAY:

“Healthy tips are stop smoking since nicotine may relax the lower esophageal sphincter which will make the GERD worse.  Sleep on an incline especially only 2-3 hrs after eating.  Avoid acidic foods, and eat slowly with smaller meals “.

Harvard Health Publishing

Part II How to stay healthy with acid reflux-GERD.

 

Understanding what GERD is, its causes, its symptoms, the effects it has on your body and the way your body responds to specific treatments is necessary to help you devise a plan with your activities of daily living, including diet, to help manage the condition. If you haven’t seen my Part 1 just click on it onto my webpage than read yesterday’s article part 1 than read this. All you can do is apply your own GERD diet experimentation to the suggestions of others and try available treatments until you find what works for you. Also, there are foods that have a reputation for being ‘safe’ (foods to avoid acid reflux) in most cases, as well as others that are known for being main contributors to acid reflux.

I recommend you go tohttp://www.gerd-diet.com which helps explain about foods and how they work with GERD. They do state the following:

Armoring Yourself with Patience and Willingness to Experiment (meaning this takes time in finding out what exacerbates your GERD and what helps it heal—Like an open wound, it takes time.) Sorry,There Is No One-Size-To-Fit-All With-A-GERD Diet (for relief or resolution)

Your Own Trigger Foods.
Given the complex nature of GERD, this one has to be added. I know it is repetitive, but everyone has certain foods that irritate their condition and causes severe symptoms. Make a list of these foods and avoid them in the future. This means make a journal for the next 2 weeks or more and see what caused your GERD symptoms to remember them with not eating fast which can cause GERD also (habit change).

GERD Diet FoodsA List of Food Groups and What Is Safe and Best to Avoid The following lists are comprised of foods that are typically known to be ‘safe’ or to ‘trigger’ symptoms.

Again, just because something is on the “avoid” list does not mean that you cannot eat it. Similarly, something appearing on the “safe” list does not guarantee that it will not cause a problem for you. This is simply provided as a guideline to give you a place to start and to make it easier for you design your own personal GERD diet.

 

 

FOOD GROUPS

 

SAFE

 

AVOID

FRUITS Apples (fresh and dried), apple juice, bananas, pears, peaches, melons, strawberries, grapes Oranges and orange juice, lemons and lemonade, grapefruit and grapefruit juice, tomato and tomato juice, cranberries and cranberry juice
VEGETABLES Baked potato, broccoli, cabbage, carrots, green beans, peas, asparagus, lettuce, sweet potatoes Raw onions, peppers, radishes, french fries, mashed potatoes
MEAT Extra lean ground beef, steak (London Broil), skinless chicken breast, egg whites or substitute, fish (with no added fat), white turkey meat Fatty ground beef, marbled sirloin, chicken nuggets, buffalo wings, fried meat
DAIRY Feta or goat cheese, fat free cream cheese, fat free sour cream, low fat soy cheese Whole milk, chocolate milk, ice cream, high fat cream cheese or sour cream
GRAINS Cereal (bran or oatmeal), corn bread, graham crackers, pretzels, rice (brown or white), rice cakes, millet, quinoa High fat grain products (cheese bread or products made with whole milk)
BEVERAGES Water, herbal teas, non-citrus drinks, skimmed milk Caffeinated beverages, whole milk, alcohol, carbonated beverages
FATS/OILS/CONDIMENTS Low fat salad dressing, herbs ( basil, thyme, sage, oregano), hummus, mild sauces Mustard, chili sauces, creamy salad dressing, black pepper, vinegar, curries, pickles, mint

 

At this point, there is no alternative medicine therapies that have been accepted as proof for treatment(s) or 100% resolution for GERD.

However, like every other aspect of the disease, it really is an individual decision. Some people have reported natural remedies that have given amazing results with their GERD diet (healthier approach) while others find that prescription medications have little effect (meds can cause side effects temporary or permanently, depending on what it is).

GERD can be due obesity, lifestyle (unhealthy habits) and diet.

**It is recommended to see an MD first before making any decision on your own in treatment with a combination of or just one of the following: meds, diet or even health habit changes, especially for those people with disease/illness (s) present (Ex. Diabetes, cardiac disease, etc…).** 

 

 

QUOTE FOR MONDAY:

“A muscle that controls the passage of foods and fluids we eat is between the esophagus and stomach, and when it doesn’t close completely, stomach acid and food flow back into the esophagus. The medical term for this process is gastroesophageal reflux (GERD); the backward flow of acid is called acid reflux=digestive acids coming back during digestion, the acids should normally stay in the stomach.”.

Harvard Health Publishing

QUOTE FOR THE WEEKEND:

“The pancreas is an organ located in the abdomen. It plays an essential role in converting the food we eat into fuel for the body’s cells. The pancreas has two main functions: an exocrine function that helps in digestion and an endocrine function.”

ColumbiaSurgery.org

QUOTE FOR FRIDAY:

QUOTE FOR FRIDAY:
“Get minimal! An ambitious goal for any person with MG is to get to a place called “minimal manifestation status.” This means you will not be limited in any way from doing the ordinary activities of everyday living. There may be some muscle weakness and maybe still some drooping eyelids. But your ordinary physical activity won’t be restricted. MG is not preventing you from walking, eating, driving, or doing a job involving light physical activity–in fact, light exercise can help improve your condition. This implies you’re able to tolerate the medication you’re taking.”
MG United