Posts Tagged ‘Sore Throat’

Know The Difference Between Swine Flu And Normal Flu

Tuesday, January 5th, 2010

Swine Flu is a number one health concern the world over. The HI1N1 flu or Swine Flu was first detected in US in April 2009. The worst affected areas initially were Canada and Mexico before H1N1 flu cases began to emerge in other areas of the world. In a short span of four months, the disease has spread to almost all regions in the world. World Health Organization has called H1N1 as pandemic which means a big epidemic that involves the entire country or perhaps the world. Usually, the signs of a pandemic are when a virus without any immunity to stop it, spreads across various parts of the world. Swine Flu spreads from person to person in the same way as regular seasonal influenza viruses spread. People with high risk for seasonal flu are also at high risk for H1N1 flu. For example, people above 65 years of age, pregnant women, children below 5 years of age and those with chronic medical conditions and lifestyle diseases like diabetes are at high risk. The symptoms of H1N1 is similar to the ones that people get in regular, seasonal flu and so things like fever, sneezing, cough, body ache, head ache, shivering, sore throat and fatigue are common. Diarrhea and vomiting are also symptoms that have been associated with some cases of this flu, also known as Influenza A. H1N1 is transmitted the same way like seasonal flu. Flu viruses are spread usually from person to person through sneezing or coughing by people who have influenza. Some people may become infected with the deadly H1N1 by touching something that has virus on it and then bringing to their nose or mouth. Infected people can actually infect others from the first day itself, even before they themselves get any symptoms. This means there are also chances that one can pass on the swine flu symptoms even before she or he knows that she or he is sick. If you live in places where people have been infected with H1N1 virus or have influenza like symptoms mentioned above, then you should stay home and avoid contact with these people. If you develop flu like symptoms, do not leave things to chance and take instant medical care. Your health care provider or doctor will be able to tell you whether H1N1 flu testing is required.

Sore Throat Causes And Treatment

Saturday, January 2nd, 2010

A sore throat can be caused by either a bacterial infection or by a virus. This is quite an important distinction to make from the point of view of treatment. The infection can be present by itself or it may be part of a wider range of symptoms from a condition such as glandular fever. Strep throat is an infection and inflammation of the throat caused by Group A Streptococci bacteria. There are many strains of these bacteria and some of them have been associated with rheumatic fever, a complication that develops if strep throat is not treated or if it is treated inadequately. Sore throat though occurs most commonly in children than in adults can be a threat to your life sometimes. It can get real bad that it might even block your air passage. Sore throat is the inflammation of the mucous membrane in the pharynx. The inflammation may be due to either bacterial or viral infections. Sore throats are normally caused by either a viral or bacterial infection. The most important difference between a virus and bacteria is that bacteria respond well to antibiotic treatment and viruses do not. A sore throat is commonly spread by: sharing drinks, kissing, coughing, nose blowing, and sneezing. A sore throat can also be caused by bacteria. The two most common bacteria to cause a sore throat are Streptococcus (which causes strep throat) and Arcanobacterium haemolyticum. Arcanobacterium causes sore throats mainly in young adults and is sometimes associated with a fine red rash. Garlic although garlic may not help your social status and can work wonders for your sore throat. Garlic helps to fight throat infections by killing the virus, bacteria or fungus that may be causing the problem. This herb will even avert future infections by increasing and strengthening the immune system. Recommended dosage is 2-5 cloves per day. Take dietary supplements and many doctors recommend the papaya enzymes as a natural remedy as papaya is high in Vitamin C and a powerful antioxidant. They assist in stuffy sinuses, swollen throat and if your swollen tonsil is not clearing even with antibiotics, the papaya tablet can shrink the tonsil. Excessive coughing can also cause a sore throat. Since cough medications are ineffective in battling the cough, reach for honey. Any honey will do, however, researchers studied buckwheat honey and announced that it is more effective in cough control than dextromethorphan, the DM component of over-the-counter cough suppressants. Sea salt and cayenne pepper gargle To cleanse the throat and ease the pain, gargle with a quarter of a teaspoon of salt in one quarter cup of warm water. Add a pinch of cayenne pepper to help numb the nerves of the throat. Gargle every hour or as needed. Excellent remedies for a sore throat is gargling with thyme tea which is a powerful antiseptic, disinfectant, antibacterial, anti this and that, or using lemon juice. If you can handle neat lemon juice, so much the better, but a lemon tea or lemonade will work well. It may sting, but it works. You can always add a little honey to it, which will also help the throat.

Cold vs Swine Flu – The Differences And Their Natural Treatment

Thursday, December 24th, 2009

The differences of a cold vs swine flu are in how serious they are. A common cold is normally located at your head level. It doesn’t affect you systemically, so it is just a mild illness. The swine flu, which simply has a different strain of virus to the normal flu, is more serious, as fever always accompanies the flu. If you have a fever, it means the illness is systemic, so is more serious. But having a fever is also the body’s way of preventing a virus from taking hold. As long as you are strong enough to withstand a fever, it should never be brought down by the use of suppressive drugs. A fever also has some form of body ache, which a cold doesn’t. Again, body aches show something systemic. A flu can also have all or some of the normal cold symptoms, such as sneezing, coughing, runny nose, headache, restlessness, stuffed up feeling, sore throat. So the symptoms of a cold vs swine flu, or any flu come to that, is a question of location. Cold symptoms are limited to your head region. Flu symptoms are systemic, with body aches and a fever. And possibly some cold symptoms, as well. Both cold and flu symptoms can last from a day or two to weeks, depending on how healthy you are. What you choose for the solution of either, will determine when you get your next dose. Treating yourself holistically will start to take you towards better overall health. Treating yourself with drugs will make you more sick overall. Apart from eating lots of fresh fruit and veggies, getting out into the sun and exercising, as a preventer for future colds and flus, diving into the wonderful world of homeopathy and home prescribing for yourself, may open new doors for you. A simple kit which focuses on winter aliments is not expensive. It will come with instructions. And you might find a home study course, a book or a magazine helpful, too.