Nutrition. Vitamins. You.
According to the American College of Allergy, Asthma & Immunology (ACAAI), 8.3 million American children have respiratory allergies, 9.5 American children have skin allergies and nearly 6 million children in the U.S. have food allergies. Though the organization reports that early identification of childhood allergies …
Photo by Soroush Karimi on Unsplash It’s a fact that some of us are able to tolerate physical pain much better than others. A lot of factors come into play here, including genetics, body chemistry, and past exposure to pain. But now, a new study …
Arthritis – stiff, painful, swollen joints – is not a single disease. There are more than 100 arthritis-related conditions. The most common is osteoarthritis – “wear-and-tear”. Nearly 27 million Americans have osteoarthritis, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Osteoarthritis, in which joint cartilage is broken down and lost, largely affects the spine, weight-bearing joints and shoulders.
Rheumatoid arthritis is an autoimmune disease, in which the immune system mistakenly attacks the body. It starts by affecting the lining of the joints, but can move on to damage bone, cartilage, muscles and ligaments around the joints, which in return can be painful. Although, inflammation (a hallmark of rheumatoid arthritis) is not always seen in osteoarthritis. Inflammation has five cardinal signs – redness, swelling, warmth, tenderness and loss of function. Fluid in the joint space, called an effusion, is a sign of rheumatoid disease activity. Rheumatic joints can be accompanied by nodules in the elbow and loss of the muscles at the top of the hands. With rheumatoid arthritis, more aggressive treatment moves to pills known as disease-modifying anti-rheumatic drugs.
New Study: Devils Claw’s Effects in Treating Arthritis – Click to read more!
These DMARDs, used to slow the progression of joint damage, include methotrexate, hydroxychloroquine (Plaquenil) and sulfasalazine (Azulfidine). Then, Krant says, after at least six weeks, biologic drugs such as Enbrel, Humira and Remicaide (used to reduce inflammation) may come into play. Most biologics are given by injection or intravenously. DMARDs can cause significant side effects, such as lung and liver damage and reduced ability to fight off infections. Biologics, among other side effects, increase the risk of infections, notably tuberculosis. None of these treatments is a cure.
Whether you occasionally take a pharmaceutical like an antibiotic, or count on a drug long term such as a cholesterol health lowering statin, your need for specific nutrients increases. You must be aware that many prescriptions, as well as commonly used over-the-counter drugs, cause potentially serious nutrient depletions. For your convenience, we here at InVite® Health have devised a Drug-Induced Nutrient Depletion Chart with a list of drugs and non-prescription medications and the nutrients they deplete. This in turn will give you an idea of the nutrients your body needs, which can be found in our high-quality InVite® Health supplements. Click here to view the chart!
Rheumatoid arthritis is an extremely painful and disabling form of arthritis affecting many joints at once. Recently there has been a new clinical trial performed by the Rheumatology Unit at Royal Adelaide Hospital and the University of Adelaide in Australia, where patients who suffered with a recent onset of rheumatoid arthritis had an increased rate of remission (total absence of symptoms) and a lower rate of failure by the drugs used to treat the disease if on a high dosage of fish oil in capsules.
The randomized trial compared the effects of high-doses of fish oils versus low-doses and found that with every measurable increase in the level of fish oils in the plasma there was an accompanying 12% increase in the probability of remission anytime during the study. The study is published online in the British Journal of Nutrition on August 18, 2015
Photo by Carolina Heza on Unsplash Depression symptoms often include certain digestive problems. Research has shown that the makeup of bacteria in your gut can influence your emotional health. However, not all gastric issues are due to a mental health condition. Depending on your symptoms, …
Photo by Moses Vega on Unsplash It’s becoming a well-known fact that texting can ruin your posture and ultimately take a toll on your body. Spinal doctor Kenneth Hansraj recently published a paper in the journal Surgery Technology International about the hunched-over position we often …
In the world of loud cities, headphones, and loud concerts, tinnitus is becoming a bigger issue. Too often, young adults listen to loud music using head or ear phones, not realizing that continuous exposure to loud noises can damage nerve cells and increase the risk of hearing loss. I interviewed Dr. Millie Lytle, Naturopathic Doctor at our InVite® location in New Hyde Park and this is what she had to say about your hearing!
This sound is the result of cellular damage to the inner ear. It can happen at any age but is more associated with conditions of aging. It is brought on by several known factors, including frequent exposure to loud noises. It is generally exacerbated by stress, insomnia, depression and certain medications and food additives.
Tinnitus is a condition by which a person experiences an abnormal sound in their ear. It can be perceived as high pitched ringing, clicking, low buzzing, roaring or whooshing tones in the ear. It can be continuous or intermittent, coming and going on a daily or hourly basis.
Tinnitus is caused by several factors such as persistent or frequent exposure to loud noises, acute viruses or chronic medical conditions which cause damage to the inner ear. Less commonly, tinnitus is brought on by conditions of the auditory nerve itself, or damage to the hearing center of the brain.
In many cases of tinnitus, sound waves put pressure on the cells of the inner ear, causing the tiny hairs that conduct sound, to move. Permanent bending and breaking of these hairs can occur over time. Once this damage has been done, irregular electrical impulses escape and signal the brain to perceive abnormal and irritating sounds. Continual exposure to more than 80 decibels may be dangerous. The longer the ear is exposed to loud noises, the more damaging it may be. Also, the closer to the source of intense noise, the worse the tinnitus may become.
We know that loud and persistent noises lead to tinnitus. However, there are many other causes of tinnitus ranging from ear and respiratory infections, aging, blood vessel and blood pressure disorders, ear-bone changes, inner ear disorders such as Meniere’s disease, head and neck injuries, post-traumatic stress disorder, ear wax build-up, nutrient deficiencies, conditions related to aging, to certain medications and food additives.
Tinnitus is strongly associated with chronic illness, depression, insomnia and stress. Though they may not be the direct cause, correcting these problems may also help relieve tinnitus. A common list of medications that may result in tinnitus are as follows; antibiotics, cancer medications, diuretics/water pills, quinine/chloroquinine and Aspirin in high doses. Certain food additives are also linked to tinnitus. The four main culprits are refined sugar, salt, monosodium glutamate (MSG) and Aspartame (Equal, Nutrasweet, Spoonful, etc.).
Dietary Supplements
Diet:
Since tinnitus usually comes hand-in-hand with other illnesses, many supportive courses of supplementation, as well as diet and lifestyle changes may be advised by a knowledgeable health practitioner for best treatment.
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DECIBEL RATINGS AND HAZARDOUS TIME EXPOSURES OF COMMON NOISES |
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Typical Level (Decibels) |
Example |
Dangerous Time Exposure |
|
0 |
Lowest sound audible to human ear | — |
|
30 |
Quiet library, soft whisper | — |
|
40 |
Quiet office, living room, bedroom away from traffic | — |
|
50 |
Light traffic at a distance, refrigerator, gentle breeze | — |
|
60 |
Air conditioner at 20 feet, conversation, sewing machine | — |
|
70 |
Busy traffic, office tabulator, noisy restaurant. At this decibel level, noise may begin to affect hearing if you are constantly exposed | Critical level begins |
|
80 |
Subway, heavy city traffic, alarm clock at 2 feet, factory noise. | More than 8 hrs. |
|
90 |
Truck traffic, noisy home appliances, shop tools, lawn mower. As loudness increases, safe time exposure decreases. | Less than 8 hrs. |
|
100 |
Chain saw, boiler shop, pneumatic drill Exposure may be dangerous at 100 dB, and with every 5 dB increase, the “safe time” is cut in half. | 2 hours |
|
120 |
Rock band concert in front of speakers, sandblasting, thunderclap. At 120 dB, exposure can injure the ear. | Immediate danger |
|
140 |
Gunshot blast, jet plane. Noise at 140 dB may cause actual pain in the ear. | Any length of exposure time is dangerous |
|
180 |
Rocket launching pad. Without ear protection, noise at this level causes irreversible damage. | Hearing loss inevitable |
Permission to reprint by: American Academy of Otolaryngology – Head and Neck Surgery, Inc. 1101 Vermont Avenue, NW, Suite 302, Washington, D.C. 20005