Beware: Your Fireplace Or Wood Burning Stove May Be Harming Your Health

As the holidays near, and the air is cold, families gather around fireplaces and wood stoves oven, the warm comfort. Unfortunately, for many, especially those who suffer from asthma and allergies-the use of such heating devices can trigger health disasters to unexpected way.

Dr. Leonard Bielory, director of the Asthma and Allergy Research Center at the start-New Jersey Medical School in Newark, said emergency room visits from asthma attacks quadrupled since the fall of the first frost. "There are particles and toxic substances emitted by the burning of wood that, if inhaled, can cause shortness of breath or wheezing and potentially a life threatening asthma attack emergency may require that the health sector."

Wood Smoke Break Down

Wood smoke from fireplaces and wood stoves oven containing fine particles and gases, are a serious threat to health for you and your family. The smoke emitted from burning wood contains the following:

Fine particles: These particles are so small that several thousand of them were on time at the end of a sentence. You can reach the deepest recesses of the lungs and accelerate the hardening of the arteries, heart affected.

Nitrogen Dioxide: This odorless gas that can irritate your eyes, nose and throat and cause shortness of breath. For people with asthma, exposure to low NO2 can cause increased bronchial reactivity and young children more vulnerable to infections of the respiratory tract. Long-term exposure to high NO2 can cause chronic bronchitis.

Carbon monoxide: This odorless, colorless, poisonous gas interferes with the delivery of oxygen in the body and can cause headaches, dizziness and, at higher concentrations, death. People with heart and respiratory diseases may be more sensitive to lower levels of this gas.

Toxic compounds: These include compounds such as formaldehyde, benzene, chlorine and methyl methane (a wide range of compounds, have no color, taste or smell.) Some cause direct and negative impact on the health of penetrating deep into the lungs.

Carbon dioxide: The greenhouse gas contributes to global climate change.

The above particles in wood smoke are too small to be filtered by the nose and upper respiratory tract, so that they end up deep in your lungs. They can remain there for several months, causing structural damage and chemical changes in your body without you even realize.

Not only your household's health at risk

If you do not have a fireplace or wood stove at home and not feel just yet. You are still Heide, the risk of your neighbor fireplaces and wood stoves oven.

Because wood smoke contains such small particles, the smoke is not stopped by locked doors and windows, and seeps into the nearby neighbors' houses. In fact, during the winter months, wood smoke is not rising, and often depends closely on the ground, in yards, houses, schools and hospitals. Then, with valley locations and poor air circulation are most affected.

A recent study by the University of Washington in Seattle and an EPA study, in Boise, Idaho districts found that indoor levels of PM10 (particulate-01 from 06 major air pollutants for which there is a national air quality standard) of wood smoke in the apartment without wood stoves reaching an astonishing 50% to 70% of the level in the open air, when the burning of wood. Neighbors wood fires in May reluctantly be breathing smoky air, even if they are not wood burner.

A higher risk for lung cancer

According to Medical News Today, "Burning wood can be associated with lung cancer, even with people who do not smoke." Scientists from Mexico gathered blood samples from 62 patients with lung cancer, 9 patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), and 9 control group. The patients with lung cancer, 23 were smokers (37.1%), 24 were exposed to wood smoke (38.7%), and 15 were not in a category (24.2%).

Results of the study show that 38.7% of patients with lung cancer were non-smokers who were exposed to continuous wood smoke over 10 years.

A few suggestions

Whether it is a nice romantic evening with a loved one, or the warm toes after playing in the snow, the chances are you will find yourself lighting a fireplace or wood stove in the winter. And you can go on and enjoy it. But before you do so, here are a few suggestions from the University of Medicine and Dentistry in New Jersey, you should follow:

Only with an EPA approved fireplace or wood stove.

Not allow the respiratory disease, such as asthma or allergies to be the fireplace or wood stove too long.

Make sure there is adequate ventilation to a possible smoke, which issued (window open a crack, if need be).

Avoid the use of a chemical accelerant, such as lighter fluid to ignite the fire.

Properly maintain your fireplace or wood stove.

Have your chimney cleaned annually to prevent vapors from backing into the house.

Be sure the room is revealed, and dust and vacuum the area thoroughly after it was used.

Not with a fireplace or wood stove as the only source of heat.

If you have a fireplace or wood stove, or live in an area where neighbors do, it is also very important that your house the surfaces such as furniture and floors clean on the microscopic level. The fine particles from the smoke settle, and then, while running, seats, etc., can kick back up into the air.

It is strongly recommended that you not use the typical tools such as cleaning rags, cotton swabs and sponges for cleaning, as they are unable to effectively eliminate the fine particles.

Perfect Clean equipment ultramicrofiber cleaning tools-like dust cloths, terry towels and more - are the ideal solution because they consist of fibers, the only 3 micrometer size (even smaller than many bacteria, so highly effective removal of fine particles.) They are strong To read about Perfect Clean items in the previous article.

Hidden Dangers From Poison Oak, Ivy & Sumac Plants

According to the American Academy of Dermatology, each year 10 to 50 million Americans develop an allergic rash after contact with Poison Oak, Poison Ivy and Poison Sumac plants. The invisible oily resin called Wilde causes of the harmful effects of these poisonous plants.

Poison ivy, oak or sumac can be found in every state except Alaska and Hawaii. These plants are important for the ecosystems in which they live. The small, white or bluish berries can be found on the illustration feed a number of birds and small animals. The irritants found in pistachio oil not affect most animals, and the nodes of the plants serve as a shelter.

These oily resin can remain on pets, shoes, hiking shoes, clothing, toys, gardening equipment, lawn mowers and other made contact. In fact, the oil stays on any surface, including the dead, for up to 5 years.

Symptoms

After the contact, the reaction (called dermatitis), a rash, followed by bumps and blisters, itching. Scratching not on the outbreak, but can lead to infections, which allows bacteria from dirt on the hands in the skin. Symptoms can last up to 10 days to several weeks to heal.

Mild symptoms

Severe redness
Signs of infection, such as pus
Rash of the mouth, eyes or genitals
Rash on a large part of your body or face
Mild symptoms can be treated with simple and natural home remedies. See below.

Severe symptoms

Swelling of the throat, tongue or lips
Difficulties in breathing or swallowing
Weakness or dizziness
Bläulichen lips and / or in the mouth
Unconsciousness
Severe symptoms need immediate emergency medical care.

Caution

NEVER burn poison ivy. Burning these poisonous plants, the Wilde resin in the air and can be in your lungs and possibly your neighbor's lungs. If you poison ivy in your lungs, you need to go to the hospital.

Pet Alert

The only threat to the resin on our pets, if it rubbed off on other things or people. If your pet is just the bumps and itching, they can not catch from them.

Treatment

As Wilde is an oily resin and no water on the basis of liquid, it will not evaporate, and it may linger for several years.

Use mild soap and cold or cold water to wash the resin. Do not use hot water because it opens your skin pores and thus absorb more of the oil.

You may want to apply rubbing alcohol to the affected area (s) with cotton balls, and then rinse with cold water. You may calamine lotion, zinc oxide ointment, or baking soda paste (3-TL. Soda - to-1 tsp. Water) in the affected areas (s), or in a soft oatmeal bath to relieve the symptoms somewhat.

Generally, the best treatment is time-€ "the rash and itching, they should be in their own in one to two weeks. Try your hands away from eyes, mouth and face, and scratches as little as possible because this is the rash and can irritate the infection.

This article is for general information only and not for or replace any medical advice. Always check with your doctor for treatment of health condition.

Are Allergy Shots Effective?

Itching, watery eyes, runny nose and sneezing are common symptoms, which a vast majority of us experience as allergy symptoms at certain times during the year. Many people do everything in their power to avoid allergies, including changing their diet, stay in the house or taking vitamin supplements. This may contribute to the fight against allergies, but it is a more effective way to do so. Immunotherapy, or allergy shots are gaining popularity. Getting an allergy shot can be frightening for some people, so we thought that it would be best to fully explain, allergy shots and some common concerns.

How do they work?

Allergy shots contain a small quantity of the substance that you are allergic. If you are allergic to pollen, a small amount of pollen would be added to the shot. The amount is small enough so that it is not for you to suffer allergic symptoms, but enough so that your body is used to in the fight against allergens. So the next time your body comes in contact, that the substance, it is with the fight against it, and you will probably not suffer from allergies.

Allergy shots are safe for all?

Although most people have positive results from allergy shots, they are not for everyone. Allergy shots are not recommended for people with severe heart disease, asthma or other respiratory diseases. Also, children under the age of 5 should not be exposed to allergy shots for reasons of security.

What is the procedure?

If you have decided that you want to know, allergy shots, you get a shot 1 or 2 times per week for about 6 months. Then your maintenance shots will require you once a month, the whole year over 3-5 years. Once you have received allergy shots on a regular basis for a few years, you can contact your doctor, and they can tell you his order to stop them getting to that point.

What are the side effects?

While allergy shots are effective for many people for the elimination of the allergic symptoms, it may be that certain individuals some harmful side effects. Some people may be feelings of shock when the first shot is injected, others feel light headed or nauseated. For this reason, doctors are required to patients in their office for at least 20 minutes after every shot to ensure that the patients € ™ s security.

Some people swear by allergy shots, while others criticize the impact, or say they donâ € ™ work effectively. If you consider immunotherapy, contact your doctor to discuss. Your doctor will give you more insight in order for you to determine if what you really want.

What Causes Allergies?

Almost 40% of the human population suffer from allergies at some point in their lives. Itching eyes, stuffy nose, coughing and sneezing are among the most common allergic symptoms, and they can each individual tired and weak. Many people often wonder whether they allergies avoid using things differently in their daily routine. The answer is yes. But before you change your schedule to avoid allergies, you can find out the cause of your allergy. It is a good idea to determine whether it is worth the hassle. The following is a list of things that can trigger allergies in your system to act:

Pollen, dust mites and Mold

These substances are known to cause allergies. Various factors determine the level of these substances on a regular basis. If pollen levels are high, you are more likely to suffer from allergies. The best way to these substances is to stay at home and go to dust and clean often. When you go outside, make sure you shower or bathe as soon as you return home. This will wash off unwanted substances such as pollen or dust, which can be on your clothing and your body.

Genetics

Regardless of how much you are exposed to pollen or other allergy-causing substances, can you suffer from allergies due to genetics alone. When two people are in the exact same conditions in the exact same time, a person may suffer more than the others, because it is in their blood. You can thank your parents for that, and there's nothing you can do to prevent this.

Low immune system

If your immune system is too weak to fight against allergies, you will be at the end of suffering for a good part of the year. My immune system is weak for a number of reasons. First, if you do not get enough vitamins and minerals your immune system loses its strength and will be ineffective in the fight against allergies and other forms of viruses or infections. Also, your immune system may be due to mental stress. Psychological stress can be physically weak and your body to shut down. If this is the case, your immune system is shut down. To strengthen your immune system, make sure that you have many vitamins, eat a healthy diet and avoid stress as much as possible.

Many studies have done, and there is no â € little thingâ €, which is to cause allergies. Allergies can be one of the reasons listed above, or possibly a combination of many different reasons. Nevertheless, it is important that a healthy lifestyle. Ausübt, sleep and healthy food, all play an important role in the prevention of allergic symptoms.

» Home » Conditions Disabilities » Allergies » How to Know If You Have Hay fever

On average, 20% of people in the United States suffer from hay fever. Hay fever is an allergic reaction mainly to different forms of pollen and ragweed. Hay fever has different effects on each individual, depending on how much they suffer from allergies. Some individuals can ease discomfort, while the unbearable pain can be useful for others. How do you know if you have hay fever? The following is a list of categories to be examined to determine whether or not you suffer from hay fever:

When will it come?

Hay fever is a seasonal reaction, which often begins in early June and lasts until the middle of July. Whenever pollen and ragweed season starts (usually at the beginning of the season) is when you are most likely to start the symptoms.

Symptoms

There are many signs that indicate you suffer from hay fever. The most common symptoms are in the following categories:

First Eyes "€" An individual suffering from hay fever, experiencing many difficulties with their eyes. Itching, watery eyes are a sign of hay fever and swollen red eyes. The best way to prevent yourself from scratching your eyes is the use Visine or another form of eye drops. This is also the redness your eyes to experience.

Second Nose "€" sneezing, runny and stuffy nose are usually a good indication that this may have hay fever. Sinus problems (especially a plugged nose) can potentially cause severe headache. The treatment of these symptoms use of any form of a nasal spray for the nose, as best as possible.

Third Breathing - "If you have hay fever, you can get it difficult to breathe. You can also wheezing and tightness in the chest. These symptoms are often the same as symptoms of asthma. You can use the same forms of treatment for asthma sufferers. Possibly a puffer.

Suffer from hay fever can be difficult to work and function on a daily basis. Unfortunately, rather hay fever strikes the most inappropriate times, such as during exams are held for college or university students. It can also greatly affect your appearance and performance at work. There are easy ways to treat hay fever; Perhaps the most appropriate is to visit your doctor to prescribe medications that can help you deal with your symptoms.

How To Get Relief During The Fall Allergy Season

Not only that the temperatures and weather conditions change, as the fall season approaches, but these annoying allergies you receive every year at this time, are likely to meet again. But donâ € ™ only fear there is potential for the fight against the harassment, so you can be as free as possible allergy in this autumn.

Sometimes it is difficult to distinguish whether the symptoms are to be found on a cold or allergies. The clear difference between the two is mostly colds are usually short-lived, while allergies can be for weeks or even months. The most common is pollen allergy (hay fever), the causes for the symptoms flare-up on the pollen grains floating through the air. Allergies occur when the seasons change, and you can save your information allergies approaching almost exactly the same time each year.

There are many things you can do to make sure we do not fall allergies this season, and here are some of the most effective prevention tips:

• Close your windows keep your windows closed in your house and your car, especially in the night. This will prevent pollen and spore of mold in your house and in the air you breathe.

• Stay Indoors-stay in the house (with your windows closed) is probably the best way to ensure that you donâ € ™ t get allergies this season. Most of the pollen is in the open air, so that eliminate allergic element as much as possible.

• Use Air Conditioner - Turn on your air conditioning offers relief through cleaning, drying and cooling of the air in your home. Dehumidifiers or air filters will also help in these situations.

• Use Air ionizers & HEPA filter "€" These products remove particles from the air you breathe.

• Protect Yourself - When it is necessary for you to do outside yard work (or for other reasons), protect yourself by wearing a mask or a cover from one species to keep you from breathing in the â € fact œcontaminated €.

• Take showers and Baden - If you are outdoors for a long time, either a shower or a bath, when you return home. Showers and baths will wash away some of the pollen, which left on your body. Change your clothes when you come from outside, there is also a good idea.

If none of these things work for you and you suffer from allergic symptoms but there are treatments that can help. Nasal sprays, oral antihistamines and decongestants are all big relief for allergies. For itchy and watery eyes, there are many forms of such Visine eye drops, which you can purchase at any pharmacy.

Immunotherapy (allergy shots) is also a good way to deal with your allergies this season. Check with your doctor before taking medications or treatments for some may be possible harmful side effects.

What are AIDS and HIV?

AIDS stands for acquired immunodeficiency syndrome to attach a condition 1st Reported in the United States in 1981, which is now a major global epidemic.

AIDS is HIV (Human Immunodeficiency Virus). By killing or damaging cells of the body's immune system, HIV progressively destroys the body's ability to fight infections and certain cancers. The term AIDS applies to the most advanced stages of HIV infection.

How is the spread of HIV?

There are different ways that HIV can be passed from person to person, including:

* Having unprotected sex with someone who is infected
* With needles or syringes used by the people who are infected
* Receiving infected blood products or organs transplanted (Since 1985, the United States actively testing all blood donations for HIV; Therefore, the risk of HIV in this way in the United States is now extremely low.)
* Transmission from mother to child "€" An infected mother can the virus to their developing fetus during pregnancy, during birth or through breastfeeding.

If you have a sexually transmitted disease may be at higher risk of infection with HIV during sex with an HIV-infected partner.

There is no evidence that HIV is spread through contact with saliva or by casual contact work, such as shaking hands or hugging or the distribution of food dishes, bedding and towels, swimming pools, telephone or toilet seats. HIV is not from biting insects such as mosquitoes or bugs.

What is it for the treatment of HIV / AIDS?

Although AIDS, when for the first time there were only a few treatments, researchers have developed drugs that can help fight both HIV and related infections and cancers associated with. Advances in treatment have improved survival and decreased progression of HIV disease in the developed countries like the United States, where antiretroviral drugs are available.

For more information, please treatment from the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases at NIH. The NIH is currently conducting many clinical studies related to HIV / AIDS testing and treatment therapies. These studies are sponsored and co-sponsored by several institutions, including the NICHD.

The NICHD supports and conducts research related to HIV / AIDS in certain groups of people, including pregnant and non-pregnant women, infants and children, adolescents and young adults. The information below applies to the groups.

How does the fight against HIV / AIDS on women?

According to the Joint United Nations Program on HIV / AIDS (UNAIDS), 19.2 million women with HIV / AIDS live in the whole world. In many countries, the rate of HIV infection among women is rising faster than in any other group.

Worldwide, more than 80% of HIV infections are from heterosexual sex (vaginal sexual intercourse); Women are especially at risk of HIV through this kind of contact. HIV is increasing dramatically the African American and Hispanic women.

Although most of the signs and symptoms of HIV infection are similar in men and women, some are specifically designed for women. For example:

* Vaginal yeast infections can be chronic, severe and difficult to treat, in the women with HIV infection than women who are not infected.
* Pelvic inflammatory disease, an infection of the female genital organs, including more frequent and severe in women with HIV infection.
* Human papillomavirus (HPV) infection, the cause of genital warts, often in HIV-infected women, and can cause lesions before cancer of the cervix or cancer of the cervix.

The NICHD, together with other institutions, supports studies to determine which aspects of HIV, especially for women and the best treatment options for these symptoms.

How does HIV affect pregnant women and children?

Women can HIV to their babies during pregnancy, during birth or through breastfeeding.

But there are effective ways to prevent the spread of mother to child transmission of HIV:

* Taking anti-HIV drugs during pregnancyâ € "either a drug called zidovudine, or AZT alone or in combination with other drugs called highly active antiretroviral therapy (HAART)" € "a mother can significantly reduce the chances that their children get HIV infected.
* Delivering the child by caesarean section, before the mother € ™ s, uterine rupture membranes of course, reduces transmission, possibly during the birth. The use of antiretroviral drugs during pregnancy and delivery, combined with a Caesarean section among women with certain levels of HIV in their blood, the chance that the child will be infected to less than 2%.
* Avoidance of breastfeeding by an HIV-infected mother. HIV can affect babies via breast milk of mothers infected with the virus. The American Academy of Pediatrics recommends that in countries like the United States, where infant formula is safe and is often available and affordable, HIV-infected women their infants commercially available formula instead of breastfeeding.

About one quarter to one half of all untreated pregnant women infected with HIV in the infection to their babies. HIV infection of newborns is very rare in the United States, because women are tested for HIV during pregnancy and women with HIV infection receive antiretroviral drugs during pregnancy, caesarean section, if the supply of HIV in the blood are high, it is recommended, and not to breast-feed their infants and toddlers.

How does HIV affect children and adolescents?

It is estimated that approximately 10,000 children are living with HIV infection in the United States. In the United States, the number of children born with HIV infection has dropped dramatically from about 2,000 per year to less than 200 per year by the identification of HIV infection in pregnant women, and the use of anti-HIV drugs during the pregnancy, caesarean delivery, and the avoidance of breastfeeding.

Unlike the United States, the mother-to-child transmission in developing countries remains a major problem; About 700,000 children newly infected with HIV each year, as most women are not screened for HIV during pregnancy, combating HIV drugs are not available, and safe alternatives to breast-feed is not available.

Before 1985, when screening of the nation's blood supply for HIV started, some children and adults were infected by transfusions of blood or blood products contaminated with HIV, but it is now rare in the United States.

In contrast to the dramatic decline in mother-to-child transmission of HIV infection, the number of cases of HIV infection among adolescents and young adults continue to increase in the United States. Approximately one third to one half of new HIV infections in the United States are among teenagers and young adults.

Most HIV-infected youths and young adults are exposed to the virus through unprotected sex; Some teenagers and young adults are infected through injecting drug use. In addition, an increasing number of children who were infected as infants are now surviving until adolescence.