Nutrition. Vitamins. You.
Joint Health written by: Noreen Kodula, Certified Natural Health Professional (CNHP) Joints are the connection between two bones. They allow you to bend your elbows, knees and back, wiggle your hips, turn your head, wave your fingers and give your skeleton its shape. Joints support …
Winter Back Pain from Cold Temperatures and Shoveling Dr. Claire Arcidiacono, ND If you are in New York and look out the window or go for a walk you will notice the snow. While snow may look pretty when it falls after the snowfall is …
Pneumonia
Dr. Claire Arcidiacono, ND
Pneumonia is one topic that seems more complicated than it is. Part of the confusion is because of the vaccine. But what even is pneumonia? How do I know if I have it? And who are the people that should talk to their doctor about getting vaccinated. Before I start, I do want to mention that this topic will be broken into 2 parts so that it’s easier to digest. It is a large topic to cover so let us get into it, shall we?
To start at the beginning what is pneumonia? Pneumonia is an infection in the lungs. It can be a bacterial, viral, or even fungal infection. This infection triggers inflammation in the lungs which results in the air sacs filling with fluid or even pus. Please see the attached diagram for what this looks like.
Pneumonia can vary from mild to severe. Certain factors such as cause of infection, your age and your overall health can impact the severity of illness you experience. In fact, newborns and infants may not show any signs of the infection. Symptoms of pneumonia that infants may experience include vomiting, fever, cough, restlessness, fatigue and difficulty breathing or eating. Adults may experience shortness of breath, cough, and chest pain when you breathe or cough. There may also be fatigue, nausea, vomiting or even diarrhea. While some people may have a fever with sweating and shaking chills other people aged 65 and over may find their body temperature may be lower than normal. In those 65 and older they may also experience confusion or even changes in mental state.
For some individual’s pneumonia may present in a comparable way to a cold or even the flu and be mild in its severity. In other people, however, it can lead to more severe complications. How do you know when and if you should see a doctor? Anyone who is under 2/o or over 65 years old is considered high risk when it comes to pneumonia. Additionally, anyone with a comprised immunity for any reason, anyone with heart or lung concerns would also be considered a high-risk group. For these individuals it’s important to see a doctor if you suspect pneumonia. For other people without these risks, it is important to see a doctor if you notice difficulty in breathing, chest pain, fever of 102 or higher and a persistent cough with mucus.
Now I know I said some individuals are more at risk of complications. But what are some of these complications? To start there is the risk of bacteremia. This is basically when the bacteria that is causing the pneumonia enters the blood stream. From the lungs the bacteria can spread to other organs and cause damage. Pneumonia may cause fluid to build up in your chest. In some cases, the bacteria can trigger the fluid that builds up to become infected. If this occurs the fluid must be either drained or even removed surgically. In some cases, an abscess may form in the lungs. This abscess has to be treated with antibiotics. If the abscess leads to a buildup of pus surgery may be needed to remove it! Lastly for some at risk induvial the breathing difficulty experienced may be so severe you need to be hospitalized and use a breathing machine. (1)
In our next blog we will review the risk factors for developing pneumonia. We will also do a small review on who the vaccine is and is not intended for. I also mention who should talk to their doctor about whether the vaccine is the right choice. But health is not just about the things that conventional medicine can offer. In our next blog I will be reviewing the nutrients that are most beneficial for our lungs, immunity, and even overall health! Some things we will discuss include Glutathione, Nucleotides, Quercetin and even Aged Garlic! I will even mention some of the differences in use between Glutathione and NAC! In case you were wondering, NO, NAC and Glutathione are not identical supplements!
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Managing Diabetes during the Holidays Dr. Claire Arcidiacono, ND Managing diabetes during the holiday time may seem to be an insurmountable task. But with a little twist to some classic recipes and a little help from classic invite supplements, eating healthy during the holiday is …
Bug Bites and other Outdoor Irritants to the Skin Dr. Claire Arcidiacono, ND Camping is a popular and fun summer activity! But camping and other outdoor activities can put you at an increased risk of skin concerns such as mosquito bites and poison Ivy! There …
Hemorrhoids and Veins Hx
Dr. Claire Arcidiacono, ND
Many people call telling me they have hemorrhoids and/or anal polyps. I always ask people to be specific as to exactly what is going on in their digestive tract. While to most people, hemorrhoids might seem to be the same as polyps, they are not actually the same thing. Hemorrhoids are swollen veins in the lower part of the rectum and anus. Polyps are a growth of cells in a clump. While both hemorrhoids and colon polyps can cause rectal bleeding, hemorrhoids are the Number 1 cause. Hemorrhoids can be either internal or external. Symptoms of hemorrhoids include blood in the stool or when you wipe, swelling, pain and itching. It is important to note that even though hemorrhoids are usually not dangerous, if bleeding continues for more than a week it is important to see a doctor. In this blog I will concentrate on hemorrhoids. I will also be concentrating on one of our best products for supporting veins, Veins Hx. My reason for highlighting this product is that in my clinical experience when working with hemorrhoids it is especially important to support our blood vessels. There is much to cover so let us get into it, shall we?
The risk factors for hemorrhoids include having an unhealthy lifestyle. Unhealthy lifestyle habits that can increase the risk of hemorrhoids include being obese, smoking, alcohol intake and low water/fiber intake as well as diet high in fat and meat consumption. Low physical activity is also a risk factor. Constipation is the most common cause of hemorrhoids. Other risk factors can include anal sex, and pregnancy. (11) Having a colonoscopy and or sigmoidoscopy to rule out hemorrhoids. (6) One of the best ways to treat a hemorrhoid is to remove it. However, there are ways to strengthen our veins if hemorrhoids are a concern for you! The best product for this is Veins Hx!
Veins Hx is a formula made of vitamins and herbal extracts that studies have found to be helpful for circulation. What exactly is in Veins Hx? Veins Hx contains Vitamin C, Citrus Bioflavonoids, Horse Chestnut, Horsetail Rush Silica, Gotu Kola and Bilberry! Herbal formulas studied and found to be helpful for hemorrhoids include, Gotu Kola, Horse chestnut and bilberry. (17) As you can see Veins Hx contains all these things!
Let’s start with Vitamin C! What does Vitamin C do for our circulation? To start with studies have found Vitamin C may help to slow down the buildup of atherosclerosis. This is important as it is a risk factor for poor circulation. Additionally, other studies have found that Vitamin C can help keep our arteries flexible, which is important for circulation. Vitamin C also appears to help protect our arteries via its anti-inflammatory properties. (18) Vitamin C has also been found to boost nitric oxide which leads to vasodilation or the “opening up” of the blood vessels. This allows the blood to flow easier through the vessels. (19)
The next item is called Citrus Bioflavonoids. What is a Citrus Bioflavonoid? These are powerful antioxidants that come from citrus foods and have specific benefits to our health. (20) Bioflavonoids are important for circulation because in studies they help to strengthen blood vessel walls. (21) Bioflavonoids are also helpful because they are anti- inflammatory! (22)
Next is Horse Chestnut. Horse Chestnuts are a very well-known therapy for poor circulation. Studies show that after using Horse Chestnut there is an improvement in circulation! (23) Lastly studies have also shown that Horse Chestnut is anti-inflammatory, which is always good for circulation and overall health. (24)
Horsetail Rush Silica, contrary to what you may be thinking, does not actually come from a horse. It comes from the leaves of the horsetail plant and is rich in silica. Recent studies have found that silica can help with circulation. Studies have also recently found that silica can help form collagen, which is a building block of skin, cartilage, blood, connective tissues and even our muscles and ligaments all of which make up our circulatory system. (26)
Gotu Kola may have you squinting for a moment since most people associate it with brain and memory. But think for a moment – why is associated with brain and memory? Because it helps with circulation! Studies have also shown gotu kola to increase overall circulation and blood flow. (27)
Lastly we have Bilberry extract. Bilberry has amazing benefits for our health. According to studies bilberry can help with cholesterol, atherosclerosis, and even reduce the risk of blood clots! Additionally, Bilberry can also help with our blood pressure. Bilberries have also been found to help circulation. And of course we can’t forget the other benefits of Bilberry including our eye health, liver health and even our overall digestive health! (28)
What else can you do to help with hemorrhoids?
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