It’s better not to brush your teeth immediately after meals and drinks, especially if they contained a lot of acid. Examples are citrus fruits, tomatoes, and fizzy drinks. The abrasive action of brushing can cause the acid to attack the tooth enamel and the layer underneath. It is best to wait at least half an hour before brushing.
A kilogram of muscle weighs the same as a kilo of fat, but muscle is more compact and takes up less space than fat. This explains why a muscular person who weighs the same as a chubbier one will likely fit into a smaller pair of jeans.
3. Eat more calories to lose weight
Carbohydrates on their own may do nothing but spike your blood sugar, leaving you even hungrier than before. Adding proteins and fats like peanut butter and cheese will increase the calorie count of your meal, but will help you get full more quickly and stay satisfied for longer, which will lead to ingesting fewer calories in the long run.
4. Drink a hot beverage to help you cool off
In India it is the norm to drink hot tea in hot weather. It sounds crazy, but according to a study, a hot drink on a hot day will cool you off faster than a cold drink. When you drink a hot beverage, your body produces more sweat which, when it evaporates, cools you off.
5. Exercise to increase your energy levels
After a long day at work, exercise is probably the last thing you want to do, but getting moving can actually energise you. Through exercise, we recharge tired cells by giving them more oxygen. Physical activity that builds muscle strength also improves the efficiency of the mitochondria that produce the energy in the cells.
6. ‘Freeze’ cardiac patients to save their life
Cooling a cardiac arrest patient’s core temperature to below 32.2 degrees Celsius – a process called “induced hypothermia”, either by injecting them with a cold saline solution or placing ice packs on them increases their chances of complete recovery.
Hypothermia – when your core body temperature drops so low that normal metabolism and bodily functions cease – can lead to death, but can also radically slow down the dying process.
7. Close the lid when you flush the toilet
You should always flush the toilet with the seat down. If you don’t, water particles from the toilet will float around your bathroom and finally land on surfaces like your toothbrush.
Experts say flushing creates an invisible cloud, called “toilet plume”, that’s expelled into the air by the force of the flush.
The toilet plume may contain faecal bacteria and other microorganisms like viruses.
If your hands are cold, it may be the result of the temperature. It may also mean you’re totally stressing out.
Fact: If you’re experiencing heightened stress or anxiety, it can overextend your nervous system, which causes blood vessels to constrict and inhibit your circulation.
So instead of reaching for a pair of mittens, you might work on taking a few deep breaths and putting that anxiety on ice.
You Have an Aching Jaw = You Could Have Lyme Disease
It’s one of the more difficult diseases to diagnose. But if you fear that you have Lyme Disease, take note of your jaw. If you’re suffering from chronic pain that comes and goes, the cause may indeed be this tick-borne disease.
Though a medical professional may see this jaw pain as TMJ—or “temporal mandibular joint disorder”—your body may be trying to tell you it’s something more serious, so be sure to ask about it, specifically.
You’re Blinking a Lot = You Have a Crush
According to body language expert Blake Eastman, our blink rate tends to jump when we’re emotionally excited. When you’re feeling attracted to a potential partner, your blinking goes crazy, exceeding the average of 10 blinks per minute.
Your Index Finger Is Shorter Than Your Ring Finger = You Should Get Your Prostate Checked
A study published in 2011 by the British Journal of Cancer looked at 1,500 prostate cancer patients and 3,000 healthy control subjects over the course of 15 years and found that the risk of cancer for guys with index fingers longer than their ring fingers were reduced by 33 percent. So if your index finger is shorter—get to the doctor for that checkup!
You Prefer Your Eyebrows Longer = You’re Better at Managing Stress
Jean Haner, a facial reading expert, told Cosmo that those who rock long eyebrows “tend to deal better with stress and typically have a lot of friends that they don’t mind listening to and helping out with their problems.”
On the flip-side, those who trim their eyebrows short “are typically a sign of someone who doesn’t deal with stress very well,” and that “these people usually don’t like having to deal with their friend’s dramas as well.”
You Instinctively Turn Your Feet Away from Someone = You Dislike Them
According to retired FBI agent and body language expert Joe Navarro, the direction we point our feet—even when we aren’t thinking about it—says much about our feelings about the person in front of us.
“If you’re in a room with someone you don’t like, you won’t scowl or make faces because you don’t want to come off as insensitive or mean,” he tells Prevention. “But your feet will almost immediately turn away from that person.”
On the flip side, pointing your toes directly at someone can mean you’re very much into them.
You Have A Desire to Chew Ice = You Need Iron
If you love nothing more than chugging an iced beverage so you can get to the ice cubes left at the bottom, it might be time to splash out for a bottle of multivitamins.
Research published in the journal Medical Hypothesis has found that these two things are connected. Your body needs iron to help carry oxygen to your brain and your muscles, and people who are lacking in iron have less oxygen in their blood. Researchers believe that the act of chomping down on ice triggers a response in which your body sends more blood to the brain, which may produce feelings of greater alertness.
If this sounds like you and you’re iron deficient, the best sources for getting more iron are meat, poultry, and fish. However, according to Eat This, Not That!, other great non-meat iron sources include pumpkin seeds, black beans, broccoli, and more.
You Have Red Hair = You’re More Sensitive to Pain
Pity the redhead. Those 152,656,386 souls on planet earth who are genetically disposed to having red locks may often be the butt of jokes, but there’s another downside to sporting strawberry-tinged hair: according to research, redheads are also more sensitive to pain.
The study, published in the journal Anesthesiology, found that redheads requiring higher levels of anesthesia during surgery than those who don’t have red hair.
This plant is very useful in the air purification process. Areca palm helps to remove toluene and xylene from the air inside and it can also help to increase the overall air purification. It’s very useful and beneficial for people who have asthma and need effective air purification.
Money Plant
This plant is also very useful in increasing the overall air quality and the air purification process. The money plant helps to reduce the toxins: benzene, formaldehyde, toluene and xylene from the air. This amazing air-purifying plant is great for people who have asthma, for people who have other lung problems and for people who are exposed to high city smog living conditions.
Spider Plant
This remarkable plant promotes high air purification. Spider plant is suitable for decreasing the levels of formaldehyde, toluene, and xylene in the air. This plant is also very useful and great for placing in homes that have been painted recently. We can also mention that this plant is suitable for apartments or homes, which are exposed to city chemical air pollutants
Purple Waffle Plant
Do you have this plant in your home? Well, if your answer is no, then you definitely should. This remarkable plant will help you to eliminate the toxic compound – formaldehyde from the air. We can also mention that this plant will help you to increase overall air purification and it’s very useful and effective for increasing the quality of the air within any house or apartment. This plant is very good for people who live in the city, and they are exposed to high amounts of toxic smog and car fumes. People who live near the industrial factories should definitely get one of these.
Bamboo Palm
This plant is very effective in removing the formaldehyde toxic compound from the air indoors and it’s also very useful for acting as a natural humidifier – for most areas inside the house. This amazing plant can help you remove xylene and toluene – two toxic compounds from the air inside. It’s also great for people who live in high polluted areas and where car fume exposure is at high levels. Bamboo palm is suitable for homes and shops, which may be exposed to gasoline
Variegated Wax Plant
Variegated wax plant will help you to improve the overall air quality in your home, by removing and eliminating benzene and formaldehyde from the air inside. You should also know that this plant will increase the overall air purification levels. The variegated wax plant can help people who suffer from lung diseases, such as: emphysema or asthma. This amazing plant is also very useful and beneficial for people who are exposed to car fumes, petrol, paint fumes, industrial or city smog, or heavy cleaning products.
Lilyturf
Have you ever heard of lilyturf? Well, if you haven’t, then you should definitely read this – this amazing plant will help you to remove ammonia, toluene, xylene and formaldehyde from the air inside your house or apartment. This remarkable plant is capable of increasing the oxygen levels and it can help to improve the air quality. We can also mention that the lilyturf plant is also great for people who are exposed to cleaning products, paint fumes, city or industrial smog, or vehicle fumes. The lilyturf plant can help you clean the air for people who suffer from lung diseases, including asthma and emphysema.
Boston Fern
You should definitely get one of this plants in your home, because it will help you remove the formaldehyde from the air. You should also know that this plant also works well as a natural type of air humidifier. This plant is very good in removing xylene and toluene from the air as well. Some people say that this plant is one of the best air-purifiers in the world. This remarkable plant is perfect for people who live in areas where exposure to gasoline exists. Boston fern is the best plant for homes that are exposed to city smog. And we can also mention that this plant is very useful for purifying the air for people who have asthma or other breathing problems.
Dwarf Date Palm
This plant is absolutely amazing. It will help you reduce the toxins: xylene, toluene and formaldehyde from the air inside your house or apartment. You should also know that this plant will increase the oxygen levels in your home and it’s very useful in improving the air quality in highly exposed areas. The dwarf date palm is great for placing in homes that may be exposed to paint fumes, factory smog, car fumes, or heavy cleaning solvents. This amazing air-purifying plant is very useful for improving the air quality for asthmatics and people who have other lung problems.
Moth Orchids
This plant is your best choice if you want to purify the air inside your house. We can also say that this plant is also very effective in removing xylene and toluene. The moth orchids plant can increase the air quality in your home significantly. It’s suitable for homes and apartments that are exposed to factory or city smoke, smoke or fumes. You should also know that this plant is very useful and beneficial for purifying the air in homes, which are freshly painted or where paint fumes exist.
Barberton Daisy
Barberton daisy – it works great in removing benzene, formaldehyde and trichloroethylene from your home. This amazing plant is the best plant if you want to increase the oxygen levels in your house or your apartment. It will help you purify the air as well. This remarkable plans it very useful and beneficial for homes that are exposed to fuel fumes, car fumes, factory or city smog, smoke, etc. This plant is also very useful for people who are exposed to heavy cleaning solvents.
As you can see, these amazing plants will purify the air in your home, increase oxygen levels and remove all the toxic compounds from the air inside your house or apartment. And they are completely safe for you, your family and your pert. So, you should definitely get one of these plants. Thanks for reading and don’t forget to share with your friends and family.
As with any information, seek medical help and answers before trying something new on your own. I did not write this nor do I agree or disagree with the article. I am just passing along information so you can make a informed decision on your own.
MwsR
Metformin vs Berberine for Diabetes (Plus this yellow herb lowers blood pressure, fights parasites, and more)
By: Cat Ebeling, co-author of the best-sellers: The Fat Burning Kitchen, The Top 101 Foods that Fight Aging & The Diabetes Fix
Type 2 diabetes is fast becoming a real epidemic in civilized countries. The statistics show an ever-increasing trend of obesity, diabetes and its related complications like heart disease, kidney disease and peripheral neuropathy. Many experts are convinced that this fast-growing tidal wave of diabetes is the result of the global expansion of sugar, sugary soft drinks and major food corporations getting people addicted to terrible processed foods that are cheaper than most healthy foods and are heavily advertised to the masses.
However, type 2 diabetes has the potential to be completely reversed following dietary and lifestyle changes that dramatically reduce or eliminate sugar and starches.
Relying on lowering blood sugar with medication or insulin will not improve one’s health, nor will it counteract the effects of diabetes. In fact, relying on medications to lower blood sugar actually does NOT reduce the risk of death from any of the related health complications of diabetes of stroke, heart attacks, infections, and kidney disease. Aside from the fact that diabetes drugs do not actually do anything positive for a diabetic’s health, there are many negative side effects, many of which can be downright deadly.
In one large study, called the ACCORD study, that was published in the New England Journal of Medicine in 2008, the 10,000 patients who were being treated with insulin or blood sugar-lowering drugs were monitored and evaluated for their risk of heart attack, strokes and death. The National Institutes of Health ended the study early because the medical intervention was leading to MORE deaths, heart attacks, and strokes.
Many of the conventional medical methods for lowering blood sugar actually increase insulin levels, which in turn causes more harm overall. Avandia, one of the world’s best-selling diabetes drugs, has over 50,000 lawsuits filed in the United States alone, because the drug makers failed to inform patients about possible life-threatening side-effects that include stroke, heart failure, heart attack, bone fractures, vision loss and death.
While many of these drugs do lower blood glucose levels, there seems to be no real evidence that any of the diabetes drugs actually reduce the risk of the complications of diabetes.
Most diabetes medications aim to increase insulin in the body to counteract the ever-rising levels of glucose. One of the big issues with this conventional treatment is the negative side effects that actually seem to exacerbate the complications of diabetes. Below is a list of most used diabetes meds and their primary side effects:
Metformin — Metformin increases insulin sensitivity. Metformin also lowers glucose production in the liver. Side effects include nausea and diarrhea, and weight gain. Another significant, documented side effect of Metformin is Vitamin B12 depletion, further increasing the chances of neuropathy.
Sulfonylureas—This class of medications help your body secrete more insulin. Side effects include low blood sugar and weight gain.
Meglitinides – These medications stimulate the pancreas to secrete more insulin. Side effects include low blood sugar and weight gain.
Thiazolidinediones – Like metformin, these medications make the body’s tissues more sensitive to insulin. This class of medications has been linked to weight gain and increased risk of heart failure and fractures. Rosiglitazone (Avandia) and pioglitazone (Actos) are examples of thiazolidinediones.
SGLT2 inhibitors. They prevent the kidneys from reabsorbing sugar into the blood. Instead, the sugar is excreted in the urine. Side effects may include yeast infections, urinary tract infections, increased urination and hypotension.
Insulin therapy. Some people need insulin therapy as well. Insulin lowers blood glucose and is a fat storing hormone, so it causes weight gain. Insulin promotes inflammation in the body when used in excess, causes hormone imbalance and increases body fat storage.
Keep in mind, however, that while most of these diabetes medications may lower blood sugar levels, increase insulin, or make the body more sensitive to insulin, they still do not prevent the serious and life-threatening complications of diabetes: High blood pressure, high LDL cholesterol, high triglycerides, poor sex drive, infertility, blood clots, kidney failure, infections and amputations, cancer, depression, heart disease, strokes, and Alzheimer’s, and more.
Insulin treatment also creates a greater susceptibility to cancer. The connection between diabetes and cancer is fairly clear—in fact, several studies have shown up to a 30% great likelihood that diabetic patients on supplemental insulin can develop colon, breast or prostate cancers.
Berberine for Type 2 Diabetes Shown to be as Effective as Diabetes Medication
There are a few natural solutions to helping to treat type 2 diabetes, and berberine is one that has a strong background of being especially effective for type 2 diabetes.
Berberine is a powerful plant extract with several impressive health benefits. It can effectively lower blood sugar, help with weight loss and improve heart health—two things that most pharmaceutical diabetic medications cannot do. It is also anti-inflammatory and antimicrobial and is effective against diarrhea, intestinal parasites, Candida albicans, and possibly Methicillin-resistant staph aureus.
Berberine works to:
Decrease insulin resistance, making the blood sugar lowering hormone insulin more effective.
Increase glycolysis, the breakdown of glucose inside cells.
Decrease glucose production in the liver.
Slow the digestion of carbohydrates.
Increase the number of beneficial bacteria in the gut.
Berberine is a bioactive plant extract that comes from several different types of plants, including goldthread, Oregon grape root, barberry, tree turmeric and goldenseal. It has been used in both Ayruvedic and Chinese medicine for more than 2500 years and is now being used and studied extensively in the modern world.
Several impressive studies show that berberine can lower blood glucose as effectively as the drug metformin, without the negative side effects. Two of the best-known peer-reviewed studies published in the journals Metabolism and the Journal of Clinical Endocrinology compared berberine in one group to metformin (Glucophage) in another group. The berberine group had very similar blood sugar-lowering effects as the metformin group. In addition, the berberine also effectively reduced the patients’ A1C, triglycerides, LDL cholesterol, and blood pressure… Three things that metformin cannot do!
Hemoglobin A1c decreased from 9.5% to 7.5% (about a 21% reduction)
Fasting blood glucose (FBG) decreased from 190.8 to 124.2 mg/dl
Postprandial blood glucose (PBG) decreased from 356.4 to 199.8 mg/dl
Triglycerides from 100.5 to 79.2 mg/dl
Berberine works by stimulating uptake of glucose into the cells, improves insulin sensitivity, and reducing glucose production in the liver. This review published in the International Journal of Endocrinology further expanded on berberine’s role in treating type diabetes:
“BBR [berberine] is used to treat diabetic nephropathy (DPN), diabetic neuropathy (DN), and diabetic cardiomyopathy due to its antioxidant and anti-inflammatory activities.”
How does berberine work?
Berberine works by activating a metabolism-regulating enzyme within the body’s cells called AMPK (adenosine monophosphate activated protein kinase). Yes, that’s a mouthful! AMPK regulates a variety of biological activities that normalize lipid, glucose, and energy imbalances. Think of AMPK as your metabolic master switch. Definitely something you want to keep switched to ‘ON’!
Metabolic syndrome, a precursor to diabetes, occurs when these AMPK pathways are switched off. This triggers high blood sugar, high cholesterol, high triglycerides and energy issues. AMPK shifts energy to cellular repair and maintenance. Activating AMPK produces similar benefits for diabetes and metabolic syndrome as exercise, dieting and weight loss.
Berberine and Weight Loss
When overweight adults took 500mg of berberine 3 times daily for 12 weeks, they easily lost an average of 5 pounds. The researchers note that,
“…berberine has potential clinical application in reducing visceral fat and controlling obesity.”
Berberine has the ability to inhibit fat storage and also improves insulin function, leptin and adiponectin. Leptin is a very powerful hormone produced by fat cells. It tells your brain whether you should eat or not. Leptin is the way your fat cells speak to your brain. If Leptin signaling is working, when fat stores are full, they cause a surge in leptin which tells your brain to stop eating and storing fat. The problem is of course, when this signaling goes awry, it causes excessive eating and fat storage.
Adonipectin is a hormone secreted by fat cells that helps control glucose regulation and fatty acid oxidation. Obese people are often low in adonipectin, but berberine helps to increase adonipectin which helps to normalize metabolic function.
So, the bottom line here is that berberine could reduce the size of your fat cellsand cut down on the number of them as well.
Berberine is also thought to enhance brown fat, which is a heat-generating special type of fat that burns energy instead of storing it. It is loaded with active mitochondria cells that convert this fat into energy which produces heat. This animal study shows how berberine increases energy expenditure, helps burn fat, improves cold tolerance and enhances active brown adipose tissue.
Berberine for Memory and Cognitive Function
Blood sugar levels, insulin sensitivity and diabetes go hand in hand with memory and cognitive dysfunction. In fact, it is now thought that high blood sugar and diabetes are connected to an increased risk of Alzheimer’s disease. Berberine has been found to enhance memory function in some animal studies, by preserving a brain chemical, acetylcholine, that is important for memory, focus and cognition. The result for berberine was improved learning and memory, along with lower oxidative stress.
How to take Berberine
According to Dr. Josh Axe, berberine should be taken two to three times a day. Generally, most studies have used safe dosages starting at 500 mg a dose. So, 500 mg two to three times a day is a good place to start. Take berberine with a meal or on a full stomach to avoid any stomach upset and to take advantage of the post meal glucose and lipid spike that often occurs. It is best to start with just one dose/day and increase slowly to ensure they can stay in control.
When you take berberine, please note that insulin may need to be cut back significantly, so monitor blood sugar frequently. Many diabetics have been able to totally stop their other pharmaceutical diabetes medications, with the inclusion of berberine. Be sure to monitor blood sugar regularly and consult your physician. Look for a berberine product with a standardized berberine extract so that the dosages and strength are consistent.
Berberine Side Effects
If you have a medical condition or are on any medications, including antibiotics, then it is highly recommended that you speak to your doctor. This is especially important if you are currently taking blood sugar-lowering medications, so that your physician can monitor your blood sugar and current medication levels.
Diabetics who are using other medications must use caution when using this supplement to avoid dangerously low blood sugar levels. People with low blood pressure should also be careful when using it since it can naturally lower blood pressure. Pregnant and nursing women should not take berberine.
Overall, this natural compound has an outstanding safety profile. Primary side effects are minor, but could result in some cramping, diarrhea, flatulence, constipation or mild stomach pain. Stay with the smaller dosages — spread out through your day and after meals — to avoid most of these side effects.
In addition to its huge benefits for diabetes, berberine is helpful for other health issues as well including:
The World Health Organization reported that zinc deficiency has become quite common in the recent years. It is a widespread epidemic that affects the well-being and health of many populations.
The average American goes on with their daily routine surrounded by multivitamin supplements and fortified foods at every supermarket in the country. As a result, they have become stranger to various global health problems that affect millions of people on a daily basis.
Studies show that zinc deficiency is actually a common micronutrient deficiency. It is associated with intellectual impairments, poor growth, perinatal complications and increased risk of mortality and morbidity.
As the name suggests, zinc deficiency is a condition when the body does not have the recommended amount of zinc for proper functioning.
Zinc is critical to maintaining our body’s immune system. It is essential for gene transcription; apoptosis, which is responsible for killing dangerous bacteria in our body; the growth of T cells and other protective functions of our cell membranes.
Poor Neuropsychologic Performance
An individual that has low zinc levels will most likely experience motor disorders and poor neuropsychologic performance. In order to experience growth in the neurological function, one must have to balance the consumption of zinc and other nutrients.
Thinning Hair
Zinc deficiency has been associated with hair loss in the past. According to researchers, low zinc levels can cause hypothyroidism, which is the thinning of hair. There have been studies in India that claim thyroid hormones play in important role in the successful zinc absorption of the body.
Rashes and Acne
Various skin issues can also be linked to low zinc levels in the body. Those who do not consume enough zinc on a daily basis may develop skin rashes and acne. This is because the wound healing process is affected and delayed due to the lack of zinc in the body.
Intestinal Permeability
Intestinal permeability also referred to as a leaky gut, is a sign that your body is not consuming enough zinc. There have been clinical studies showing how zinc can tighten the gut.
1. Histamines – You may have heard of histamines. They are what cause allergy symptoms. People take antihistamine drugs during allergy season to fight the effects of pollen in the air.
But histamines are in foods too, and if you are sensitive to them, they may be causing your brain fog. Foods high in histamine include shellfish, legumes, and nuts.
2. Alcohol – Impaired thinking is obvious when it comes to drinking too much, but it can be true with a little alcohol, too. Alcohol contains lots of brain fog triggers, including gluten and histamines.
Instead try: Switching to sparkling water with a squeeze of lemon or lime. If you want to fancy it up, add some fresh fruit.
3. Artificial sweeteners – Those handy little packets of aspartame can give you headaches and brain fog. It stops the production of dopamine and can cause inflammation in the brain that leads to long-term damage.
Instead try: Skipping the sweeteners entirely, or use stevia. It’s a natural sweetener that doesn’t have negative side effects.
4. Gluten – We all know about the health problems that gluten can cause. But did you know that the inflammation that gluten causes can have an effect on your brain?
Instead try: An alternative flour like almond flour or oat flour.
5. Coffee and Caffeine – You may find it odd that caffeine could cause brain fog. After all, don’t we drink our coffee to wake us up and clear our heads? The problem with caffeine is that once you get used to having it, you become dependent upon it.
That leads to brain fog hitting any time that you go without caffeine for too long. Plus, there is a greater risk of missing out on sleep because the caffeine is keeping you up.
Instead try: Breaking the caffeine cycle by cutting back slowly. Drink plenty of water and switch to decaf or herbal teas. Turmeric tea may give you the energy you miss from caffeine without the brain fog problem.
Brain fog often comes on slowly, so you don’t always recognize you feel it until you remove the foods that cause it from your diet.
Coughing is one of those irritating symptoms that usually indicates a deeper health concern. Often, it can be hard to isolate the cough and figure out exactly why you are experiencing this uncomfortable condition. Many people simply reach for the cough syrup without a second thought, searching for some measure of relief. However, it is essential that you understand what different coughs mean and what they reveal about your health.
Any kind of cough is merely the body’s natural defense mechanism. When you cough, your body is trying to remove foreign or unwanted objects from your airway. In short, it is the final protective barrier between your mouth and lungs and is an essential tool for keeping a healthy airway.
Though it is difficult to pinpoint the source of a cough without medical intervention, these common conditions are often directly related to distinctive coughs that can help you narrow down an underlying cause.
Pneumonia
Identifying factors: Usually a dry cough at first and turns into a wet cough with green, yellow, red, or rust-tinged mucus. The wet cough usually develops after a few days.
This is a bacterial or viral infection of the lungs and will be treated accordingly by your primary care physician. If it is bacterial, your doctor will usually prescribe antibiotics. Viral pneumonia is treated simply with rest and time. Keep in mind that you should always spit out extra mucus, as swallowing it can lead to an irritated stomach lining.
If you have pneumonia you may also experience fever, chills, trouble breathing, and pain when breathing in deeply or coughing.
COPD
Identifying factors: This is usually a hacking cough that produces excessive amounts of mucus in the morning and often gets better as the day progresses.
COPD, or chronic obstructive pulmonary disease is usually caused and exacerbated by smoking. This is a disease that includes both chronic bronchitis and emphysema. Emphysema causes the air sacs in your lungs to lose elasticity while chronic bronchitis is due to swelling in the lining of the lungs. COPD is usually treated with medication such as bronchodilators and inhaled steroids. It is also essential to stop smoking and depending on the severity, you may need oxygen therapy to restore lung health.
If you have COPD you may also notice persistent shortness of breath that is worsened with physical activity, chest tightness, wheezing, and fatigue.
Asthma
Identifying factors: An asthmatic cough is usually a dry cough with a rattling or wheezing sound present in the lungs. It usually worsens with exercise or at night.
Asthma can be a serious condition and should not be taken lightly. If you suspect asthma, it is important to get a diagnosis from your doctor and begin to focus on taking deep, full breaths as soon as possible.
This condition causes inflamed airways and may be accompanied by fatigue, shortness of breath, and chest tightness.
Postnasal Drip
Identifying factors: This can be either a wet or dry cough and is caused by mucus trickling down the back of the throat and irritating nerve endings.
Postnasal drip is due to allergies or a cold and is the most common type of cough. A cough related to allergies may also be accompanied by sneezing or itching while cold symptoms may cause congestion and a sore throat. You may also notice that your cough gets worse at night.
Time and patience will usually remedy the common cold, and a spoonful of local, raw honey before bed can help you sleep. If you suspect an allergy, try avoiding the source and consider taking an over the counter antihistamine.
GERD
Indicating factors: Dry, spasmodic cough that usually starts or becomes worse when you are lying down or eating.
GERD, or more commonly known as acid reflux, occurs when acid from your stomach backs up into your esophagus. This condition is the second most common cause of chronic coughing, comprising about 40% of cases. When food passes through the esophagus into the stomach, a valve, known as the lower esophageal sphincter (LES) closes, which prevents food or acid from coming back up the throat. GERD is caused by an untimed relaxation of the LES which causes acid to flow backward from the stomach.
In 75% of cases, chronic cough is the only symptom of acid reflux, so it is vital to be aware of this condition. Treatments vary, so it is best to consult your doctor for an appropriate diagnosis and course of action regarding GERD.
