What is Bronchitis?

Bronchitis is an inflammation of the lining of your bronchial tubes, which carry air to and from your lungs.  Bronchitis can be broken down into acute or chronic and differ in the following way:  Acute bronchitis is very common and commonly results from a cold, while chronic bronchitis, is defined as a productive cough that lasts at least 3 months for 2 consecutive years, and is often due to smoking.

What are the symptoms of bronchitis?

·       Cough

·       Production of mucus

·       Fatigue

·       Slight fever and chills

·       Chest discomfort

When should you go see a doctor?
You should see your doctor if your cough does any of the following:

·       Lasts more than 3 weeks

·       Prevents you from sleeping

·       Is accompanied by fever over 100.4 F

·       Produces discolored mucus

·       Produces blood

·       Is associated with wheezing or shortness of breath

What causes bronchitis?

Acute bronchitis is usually caused by viruses, usually the same ones that cause common colds and the flu.  On the other hand, chronic bronchitis is most often caused by smoking cigarettes, or air pollution, dust or other toxic gases in the environment.

There are also several risk factors which increase the likelihood of getting bronchitis such as:

·       Cigarette smoke

·       Low immune resistance

·       Exposure to irritants on the job

What treatments are available for bronchitis?

Although doctors may prescribe antibiotics for a bronchitis infection, these are not usually effective as bronchitis is more often caused by a viral infection, not a bacterial one. Treatment of bronchitis therefore usually consists of relieving the symptoms of the infection and making breathing easier.  Some of these treatments include:

·       Getting more rest

·       Taking over-the-counter pain medications or cough medicine

·       Drinking fluids

·       Breathing in warm, moist air

You can also do a number of things in your everyday life to reduce your risk of bronchitis.  These measures include:

·       Avoiding lung irritants: wear a mask when the air is polluted or if you're exposed to irritants, such as paint or household cleaners with strong fumes

·       Using a humidifier: warm, moist air helps relieve coughs and loosens mucus in your airways

·       Wearing a face mask outdoors in cold weather: cold air aggravates a cough and causes shortness of breath

·       Getting vaccinated:  many cases of acute bronchitis result from the flu virus, so get your yearly flu vaccine to help protect against the flu

·       Washing your hands: washing your hands frequently can reduce your risk of viral infection, including bronchitis.

Suffering from back pain?

Back pain is one of the most common complaints. Fortunately, most back pain can be resolved. On the other hand, back pain can also be one of the most difficult and frustrating problems to treat. It is important to understand what causes back pain to get the proper treatment.

What causes back pain?

·       Lumbar muscle strain. Muscle strains are the most common cause of low back pain.

·       Ruptured disc. A ruptured intervertebral disc, also called a herniated disc, is another common cause of back pain.

·       Discogenic back pain. Cause of low back pain; result of damage to the intervertabral disc, but without having a disc herniation.

·       Spinal stenosis. Causes back pain in older people. As we age, the spinal canal can become constricted, due in part to arthritis and other conditions.

·       Lumbar spine arthritis. Arthritis of the spine can cause back pain with movement.

·       Spondylolisthesis. Causes back pain because adjacent vertebra become unstable. Caused by degenerative changes causing loss of the normal stabilizing structures of the spinal column.

·       Osteoporosis. Most commonly related to compression fractures of the vertebra.

See a doctor if:

• Your back pain persists beyond a few days
• Your back pain awakens you at night
• Your have difficulty controlling your bowels or bladder
• You have a fever, chills, sweats, or other signs of infection
• Any other unusual symptoms

Treatment for back pain

·       Nonsurgical treatment

·       Alternative treatment

·       Spine surgery

How to treat low blood sugar

Low blood sugar is also known as hypoglycemia. Hypoglycemia is a condition that causes an abnormally low level of blood sugar, or blood glucose. This is the body's main source of energy. People with diabetes get hypoglycemia when their bodies do not have enough sugar to use as energy. There are a number of things that can cause people to develop hypoglycemia. Some people may develop it as a result of their diet, exercise regimen, or as a result of being on certain medications. The symptoms of hypoglycemia usually begin when people’s blood sugar drops to 70 milligrams per deciliter or lower.

You are at risk of having a low blood sugar reaction if you:

Skip or delay a meal or snack

Take too much insulin or eat too few carbohydrates

Exercise

Drink alcohol, especially without eating carbohydrates

Check your blood sugar if you have any of these symptoms:

Weakness and/or fatigue

Headache

Sweating

Anxiety

Dizziness

Shaking

Increased heartbeat

If your blood sugar is less than 70 milligrams per deciliter (mg/dl):

Eat 15 to 30 grams of carbohydrate

Wait 15 minutes and then recheck your blood sugar

If your blood sugar is still less than 100 mg/dl, take another 15 grams of carbohydrate and retest your blood sugar in another 15 minutes. Repeat if necessary.