Friday, October 30, 2009

Allergy Remedies

Whether it’s the long-awaited change of winter into spring, or the quiet fading of summer into fall, for many folks the changing of the seasons means more than just vacation plans and a new wardrobe — it signals the start of seasonal allergies.
Sneezing, wheezing, runny nose, and itchy, watery, red eyes — these are just some of the symptoms that more than 35 million Americans face each year as the pollen from trees, grass, flowers, and plants makes it way into the air.
For many, relief is just a drugstore counter away — with a wide array of traditional medications available to help. However, for an increasing number of allergy sufferers the road to relief is best paved by Mother Nature, with a variety of all-natural treatments that studies show can help — often without many of the troubling side effects ascribed to traditional care.
“Using nature-based products can be a very useful way to handle mild allergies and a useful adjunct for more significant allergies, and there are many types of treatments you can safely try,” says Mary Hardy, MD, director of integrative medicine at Cedars Sinai Medical Center in Los Angeles.
Among those generating the loudest buzz right now is the European herb butterbur (Petasites hybridus), which, says Hardy, “has had some very impressive clinical trial results.”
In one study, published recently in the British Medical Journal, a group of Swiss researchers showed how just one tablet of butterbur four times daily was as effective as a popular antihistamine drug in controlling symptoms of hay fever — without the traditional symptom of drowsiness that sometimes occurs. In a second study, presented at the 60th annual meeting of the American Academy of Allergy, Asthma, and Immunology (AAAAI), a group of British researchers put their stamp of approval on butterbur’s effectiveness in quelling symptoms of grass allergy.
Other herbal supplements proving helpful, says Hardy, include freeze-dried nettles and a tonic made from the herb goldenseal, which she recommends adding to still one more natural treatment — a saline (salt water) nasal spray.

Blood Pressure Monitor


Research into the "high blood pressure headache" phenomenon began as early as 1913, when physician Theodore Janeway identified "morning headaches" as a common symptom of high blood pressure. These headaches, he noted, seemed to decrease in severity as the day wore on. Janeway was a man of considerable credibility, one of the first professors of medicine at John's Hopkins University. Yet that didn't necessarily make him right. Recent research seems to indicate that there is actually no causal link between high blood pressure and a high blood pressure headache.
A Polish study for the Journal of Human Hypertension, for example, hooked 150 high blood pressure patients up with portable monitors that worked continuously. At the end of the study, 43 reported having headaches -- but when those instances were compared with the blood pressure readings at the time, there seemed to be no correlation.
Far more extensive was a month-long high blood pressure headache survey conducted by the Journal of Neurology, Neurosurgery and Psychiatry, which extended to 22,000 adults and also found no connection.
The one frightening exception, apparently, is a condition called "malignant hypertension," in which extremely high blood pressure swells the optic nerve behind the eye and can cause a blinding headache. This occurs in only 1 percent of people with high blood pressure, with young African-American males most at risk.
As for the other 99 percent, yet another study (from Norway) found that those with high blood pressure may actually have fewer headaches than a control group. That's because beta-blockers, a popular family of drugs for lowering blood pressure, are also a primary clinical weapon against migraine headaches.
Part of the supposed headache/high blood pressure link could be also be coincidental. People with severe headaches are more likely to visit a doctor or hospital, where their blood pressure is taken. There is even speculation that the anxiety of being diagnosed with high blood pressure could cause a "high blood pressure headache." Finally, some of the same diet and lifestyle factors can cause both.
Nevertheless, Malcolm Law isn't completely convinced. A professor of epidemology at the University of London, he told WebMD: "My best guess is that high blood pressure does cause headaches -- but that's just a guess."

Gastrointestinal Causes


Pains originating from the digestive tract often can mimic heart pains. Acid produced in the stomach can sometimes reflux, or back up into the esophagus, the long tube that connects the mouth to the stomach. This can cause discomfort in the upper stomach or around the breastbone. Acid reflux can irritate and inflame the esophagus, a condition known as esophagitis. It occurs after a meal or when one lies down. One clue that acid reflux may be the cause of chest pain is that the discomfort often is relieved by the use of an antacid such as Maalox® or Mylanta®.
Another cause of pain originating from the digestive tract is an ulcer, an erosion of the lining of the stomach or duodenum, the first part of the small intestine. Ulcers can result from heavy alcohol consumption, or chronic use of nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory agents (NSAIDs), and pain medications, such as ibuprofen (Motrin®) and naproxen sodium (Aleve®, Naprosyn®). Due to potentially severe gastrointestinal and cardiovascular side effects, NSAIDs should only be used as instructed.
Ulcers may also develop without a clear cause. As with acid reflux, the ulcer pain can cause discomfort in the upper abdomen, can be triggered by eating, and is sometimes relieved with antacids.
Musculoskeletal Causes The chest contains many muscles, bones, tendons, and cartilage (the rubbery tissue that connects muscles and bones). Strains or sprains to any of these can cause chest pains. Chest pains associated with musculoskeletal injury are typically sharp and confined to a specific area of the chest. They may be brought on by movement of the chest and/or arms into certain positions, and often are relieved by changing position. These pains can be triggered by pushing on part of the chest and often become worse when taking a deep breath. These pains usually last only seconds, but can persist for days.
Pulmonary Causes Pneumonia is an infection that develops in the lungs. It can lead to inflammation of the lung tissue or the tissue that surrounds the lung, a condition called pleuritis. Both conditions can cause chest pains. The pains of pneumonia and pleuritis are often made worse by deep breaths or coughing.
A rare but life-threatening condition that affects the lungs is pulmonary embolism, a blood clot that develops in a vein in the pelvis or legs. If part of the clot breaks free, it can travel through the bloodstream and into the lungs, where it may block the flow of blood in part of the lung. This can cause sudden chest pains and shortness of breath. Although blood clots can develop in people with no obvious risk factors, people considered to be at increased risk include those who remain immobile for long periods (e.g., bed-bound patients, people who sit through long-distance plane trips), cancer patients, and women who use birth control pills and smoke. Pulmonary embolism is a serious condition that requires immediate medical attention

Chest Pain Causes


A heart attack is caused by coronary heart disease, or coronary artery disease. Heart disease may be caused by cholesterol buildup in the coronary arteries (atherosclerosis), blood clots, or spasm of the vessels that supply blood to the heart.
Risk factors for a heart attack are:
high blood pressure
diabetes
smoking
high cholesterol
family history of heart attacks at ages younger than 60 years, one or more previous heart attacks, male gender
obesity
Postmenopausal women are at higher risk than premenopausal women. This is thought to be due to loss of the protective effects of the hormone estrogen at menopause. It was previously treated by hormone supplements (hormone replacement therapy, or HRT). However, research findings have changed our thinking on HRT; long-term HRT is no longer recommended for most women.
Use of cocaine and similar stimulants.
Angina Causes
Angina may be caused by spasm, narrowing, or partial blockage of an artery that supplies blood to the heart.
The most common cause is coronary heart disease, in which a blood clot or buildup of fatty material inside the blood vessel (atherosclerosis) reduces blood flow but does not completely block the blood vessel.
Angina can be triggered by exercise or physical exertion, by emotional stress, or by certain heart rhythm disorders (arrhythmias) that cause the heart to beat very fast.
Aortic Dissection Causes
Aortic dissection may be caused by conditions that damage the innermost lining of the aorta.
These include uncontrolled high blood pressure, connective-tissue diseases, cocaine use, advanced age, pregnancy, congenital heart disease, and cardiac catheterization (a medical procedure).
Men are at higher risk than women.
A similar condition is aortic aneurysm. This is an enlargement of the aorta that can rupture, causing pain and bleeding. Aneurysms can occur in the aorta in the chest or the abdomen.
Pulmonary Embolism Causes
Pulmonary embolism risk factors include:
sedentary lifestyle,
obesity,
prolonged immobility,
fracture of a long bone of the legs,
pregnancy,
cancer,
history or family history of blood clots,
irregular heartbeat (arrhythmias),
heart attack, or
congestive heart failure.
Women who use birth control pills and smoke cigarettes are at higher risk than women who have only one or neither of these risk factors (especially over the age of 35).
Spontaneous Pneumothorax Causes
Spontaneous pneumothorax (collapsed lung) occurs when the pressure balance between the sac that contains the lung and the outside atmosphere is disrupted.
Injury to the chest that pierces through to the lung sac is the most common cause of this condition.
This can be caused by trauma, as in a car wreck, bad fall, gunshot wound or stabbing, or in surgery.
Some very thin and tall people may suffer a spontaneous pneumothorax due to stretched lung tissues and abnormal air sacs in the upper portions of their lungs. It is possible for these abnormal air sacs to rupture with even a sneeze or excessive coughing.
Other risk factors for pneumothorax include AIDS-related pneumonia, emphysema, severe asthma, cystic fibrosis, cancer, and marijuana and crack cocaine use
Perforated Viscus Causes
Perforated viscus may be caused by direct or indirect injury. Irritation to the diaphragm in this case comes from below the chest. The diaphragm is the muscle that allows us to breathe. It is located up under the ribs and separates the chest and abdominal cavity. Any irritation to the diaphragm, even from below it, can cause pain to be felt in the chest.
Risk factors not related to trauma are:
untreated ulcers,
prolonged or forceful vomiting,
swallowing a foreign body,
cancer,
appendicitis,
long-term steroid use,
infection of the gallbladder,
gallstones, and

Diseases and Treatments Alphabetically

Below are links to pages that summarize medical services available at Mayo Clinic for specific topics. We are continually adding to this list, but not all of the diseases we treat or services we offer are included at this point.
A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z ALL
A
Abdominal Aortic Aneurysm
Abnormal prostate (See Prostate Cancer)
Accessory pathway (See Wolff-Parkinson-White Syndrome)
Achalasia
Acid reflux (See Gastroesophageal Reflux Disease (GERD))
Acinic cell carcinoma (See Salivary Gland Cancer)
Acoustic Neuroma
Acral lentiginous melanoma (See Melanoma)
Acupuncture
Acute bilateral obstructive uropathy (See Urinary Obstructions)
Acute idiopathic polyneuritis (See Guillain-Barré Syndrome)
Acute inflammatory demyelinating polyneuropathy (See Guillain-Barré Syndrome)
Acute intermittent porphyria (AIP) (See Porphyria)
Acute Leukemia
Acute lymphoblastic leukemia (See Acute Leukemia)
Acute lymphocytic leukemia (See Acute Leukemia)
Acute MI (See Heart Attack)
Acute myelogenous leukemia (See Acute Leukemia)
Acute myeloid leukemia (See Acute Leukemia)
Acute myocardial infarction (See Heart Attack)
Acute unilateral obstructive uropathy (See Urinary Obstructions)
AD (See Alzheimer's Disease)
Addiction Services (See Chemical Dependency)
Adenocarcinoma of the bladder (See Bladder Cancer)
Adenocarcinoma of the colon (See Colon Cancer)
Adenocarcinoma of the prostate (See Prostate Cancer)
Adenocarcinoma of the rectum (See Rectal Cancer)
Adenoid cystic carcinoma (See Salivary Gland Cancer)
Adenoma hyperplastic nodules (See Thyroid Cancer)
Adjustment disorder (See Depression)
Adnexal mass (See Adnexal Tumors)
Adnexal Tumors
Adolescent scoliosis (See Scoliosis)
ADPKD (See Polycystic Kidney Disease)
Adrenal Cancer
Adrenocortical carcinoma (See Adrenal Cancer)
Aerospace Medicine
Age-associated memory impairment (AAMI) (See Mild Cognitive Impairment)
Age-related macular degeneration (See Macular Degeneration)
Aggressive fibromatosis (See Desmoid Tumors)
Agnogenic myeloid metaplasia (See Myelofibrosis with Myeloid Metaplasia)
AIDS-related Kaposi's sarcoma (See Kaposi Sarcoma)
Akinetic-rigid HD (See Huntington's Disease)
ALAD porphyria (ADP) (See Porphyria)
Alcoholism (See Chemical Dependency)
Allergic Diseases
Allergic esophagitis (See Eosinophilic Esophagitis)
Alopecia (See Hair Loss)
Alpha-1 antitrypsin deficiency (See Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease)
ALS (See Lou Gehrig's Disease (ALS))
Alveolar rhabdomyosarcoma (See Rhabdomyosarcoma)
Alveolar soft part sarcoma (See Soft Tissue Sarcoma)
Alzheimer's dementia (See Alzheimer's Disease)
Alzheimer's Disease
AMD (See Macular Degeneration)
Ameloblastoma
Ampullary Carcinoma
Amyloidosis
Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (See Lou Gehrig's Disease (ALS))
Anal Cancer
Anal Fissure
Anal Fistula
Anaplastic anemia (See Anemia)
Anaplastic carcinoma (See Thyroid Cancer)
Anemia of chronic disease (See Anemia)
Anemia
Anesthesiology
Aneurysms
Angiosarcoma (See Soft Tissue Sarcoma)
Ankle Surgery
Anorectal Abscess
Anorectal fistula (See Anal Fistula)
Anterior two-thirds of tongue cancer (See Oral Tongue Cancer)
Aortic Aneurysm
Aortic Root Surgery
Aortic Valve Disease
Aphthous stomatitis (See Canker Sores)
Arnold-Chiari malformation (See Chiari Malformation)
ARPKD (See Polycystic Kidney Disease)
Arrhythmia
Arterial insufficiency of the legs (See Peripheral Arterial Disease)
Arteriosclerosis obliterans (See Peripheral Arterial Disease)
Arteriovenous Malformation
Arylsulfatase A deficiency (See Metachromatic Leukodystrophy)
Asbestos-related cancer (See Mesothelioma)
Askin's tumor (See Ewing Sarcoma)
Asthma
Astrocytoma (See Glioma)
Asymmetrical septal hypertrophy (ASH) (See Hypertrophic Cardiomyopathy)
Atherosclerosis of the extremities (See Peripheral Arterial Disease)
Atherosclerosis
Atrial fibrillation ablation (See Cardiac Catheter Ablation)
Atrial Fibrillation
Atrial Flutter
Atrial Septal Defect
Atrioventricular (AV) reentrant tachycardia (See Wolff-Parkinson-White Syndrome)
Atypical lipoma (See Liposarcoma)
Atypical lipomatous tumors (See Liposarcoma)
Audiology
Auditory Brainstem Implant
Autoimmune liver disease (See Primary Biliary Cirrhosis)
Autoimmune Pancreatitis
Autosomal Dominant Polycystic Kidney Disease (See Polycystic Kidney Disease)
Autosomal Recessive Polycystic Kidney Disease (See Polycystic Kidney Disease)
AVM (See Arteriovenous Malformation)
Awake Brain Surgery