Health and Diet Blog

Tiffany Doggett asked:


As pet owners, one of the most frequent problems we have to deal with is diarrhea, especially with dogs. While dog diarrhea is not an illness in itself, it’s a symptom of another underlying problem. In many cases, canine diarrhea is not a sign of a serious condition, but in some circumstances diarrhea can indicate the presence of a more severe and dangerous medical problem.

What is Diarrhea?

Typically, healthy adult dogs will defecate once a day if fed once a day or twice a day if fed twice a day. Puppies, on the other hand, tend to defecate more frequently. In either case, normal stools are firm; however, when a dog is suffering from diarrhea, its stools will be loose and soft due to the presence of excess water. Diarrhea also often increases the frequency of ********** as well as urgency. Dog diarrhea may also be accompanied by additional symptoms such as flatulence, a bad odor, abdominal pain, and matted hair beneath the animal’s tail.

Causes

One of the reasons that dog diarrhea is such a common and frequent problem is that it can be caused by numerous different factors and conditions. Canine diarrhea can be triggered by problems originating within the digestive tract or from another part of the dog’s body. For instance, ulcers, cancer, food allergies, toxins, foreign bodies, and worms are examples of problems within the digestive tract that can lead to diarrhea. On the other hand, liver disease, kidney disease, Addison’s disease, and anxiety are problems not related to the digestive tract that can trigger diarrhea. Clearly, the potential causes of dog diarrhea are extremely numerous and also range in severity from relatively minor problems to life-threatening ones.

Puppies versus Adults

The common causes and frequency of canine diarrhea tend to vary somewhat between puppies and adult dogs. First of all, puppies typically experience diarrhea more often than adult dogs do. A major reason for this is related to the difference in common causes of diarrhea in puppies versus those that are common for adults. Puppies are more likely to eat garbage, swallow foreign objects, and experience intussusception, which involves the bowel folding been back upon itself. In contrast, adult dogs are more likely to experience diarrhea as a result of diseases such as liver or kidney disease. Since the latter triggers of diarrhea are less common, puppies tend to suffer from diarrhea more often than adult canines.

Chronic Versus Acute

When your dog is suffering from diarrhea, it’s important to keep in mind that there are two different types of diarrhea — acute and chronic. Acute diarrhea involves sudden onset and resolves quite quickly while chronic dog diarrhea is an ongoing problem that can last for weeks or even months. While most cases of canine diarrhea are acute and non-severe, in some circumstances veterinary care is necessary. With respect to acute diarrhea, a veterinarian should be consulted immediately if the stools contain blood or are accompanied by other troubling symptoms such as fever, vomiting, or abdominal pain. With regards to chronic dog diarrhea, veterinary care should be sought out in all cases.

Diagnosis

Since there are more than a hundred potential causes of dog diarrhea, pinpointing a trigger in a specific case can be quite difficult. However, there are a number of different diagnostic tests that can be conducted in order to narrow down and hopefully identify the underlying cause. These tests include fecal analysis, blood tests, x-rays, and abdominal ultrasounds. While fecal and blood tests can reveal the presence of parasites, infections, or allergic reactions, imaging tools such as x-rays and ultrasound can reveal the presence of foreign bodies or of physical abnormalities suggestive of diseases such as cancer.

Treatment

When an adult dog or puppy is suffering from diarrhea, the necessary treatment will depend upon the underlying cause. More severe cases of canine diarrhea will often require hospitalization and intravenous fluids. Also, more specific treatment steps will be required to deal with the underlying condition or problem. However, for mild cases of dog diarrhea that can be treated at home, certain dietary changes can be very helpful. In some cases, reducing food intake or providing a bland diet for a few days can help relieve diarrhea. Also, it’s important to provide the dog with plenty of fresh water in order to prevent dehydration. There are also several natural supplements and homoeopathic remedies available that can help relieve diarrhea. These natural products are particularly popular with pet owners who prefer a more holistic healthcare approach for their canine companions.

Prevention

Although dog diarrhea is a very common problem, there are ways to lower the chances of your dog suffering from it. To begin with, it’s important to ensure that your dog has a clean living environment and clean water in order to prevent infections. It’s also important to be aware of any food allergies that your dog may have and to prevent your dog or puppy from eating garbage or rancid food as much as possible. Other good prevention techniques include reducing stress and anxiety and promoting your dog’s overall health and strength through the use of natural supplements, regular exercise, and a healthy diet. When your dog is happy and healthy, diarrhea will cause fewer, less frequent problems for your beloved canine companion.

Ravi Kuwadia asked:


IBS is a very common bowel disorder. Anyone can be afflicted with this above age 15. The symptoms of Irritable Bowel Syndrome are very common with other diseases and hence are often mistaken for other diseases. If diagnosed that the patient suffers from IBS symptoms there are few Irritable Bowel Syndrome treatment methods available. You should always consult your physician before using any of the treatment methods as you could be worsening your condition unknowingly.

Medicines:

Your doctor can recommend medicines that can counteract the symptoms you are experiencing. But be aware of the side effects of the medicines before pursuing this route for Irritable Bowel Syndrome treatment. There may even be times when the medicines can worsen the side effects you are experiencing. Also the effect of medicine is just temporary. Medicine is one method of treatment but is not permanent solution. It cannot cure IBS symptoms permanently.

In fact your body can become immune to these medicines over long run and the same dose may not have the same effect anymore. It is also possible you take an overdose to cure constipation which may end up causing diarrhea. So in using this method of treatment for IBS symptoms one should be aware of it’s side effects and one should definitely keep long term relief in mind.

Anti Depressants:

Some patients go into depression because of Irritable Bowel Syndrome. In such cases anti-depressants can be prescribed by the doctor, as well as psychotherapy. Such methods will cover up the symptoms of the condition rahter than deal with them effectively. One should always employ to natural treatment methods first before medicinal route for curing IBS symptoms, or at least lower the symptoms.

Herbs and Natural Remedies:

Peppermint is a herb that can smoothen out your intestinal muscles. Slippery elm and aloe are effective herbs to use for abdominal pain.

There are also essential oils that can help relieve the IBS symptoms. Essential oils should always be used with base carrier oils for safety. Pure essential oils by themselves are very potent and can be harmful. One should always consult a professional for these alternate treatments.

There are also different food products that you should avoid. Take help from a dietitian or a nutritionist. Certain food products can cause constipation. But too much avoidance of these food items can also cause diarrhea. Thus, professional help is needed to establish a delicate balance. Keeping food data sheets can help in determining which foods trigger the IBS symptoms.

Large meals should be avoided as they produce much compaction and strain on your stomach and other organs playing vital roles in the digestive system. Thus, it is advisable for any patient afflicted with irritable bowel syndrome to take smaller meals. This may mean you would have to take more meals in smaller portions. This can effectively reduce the strain your stomach would experience when processing the three large meals you have become accustomed to.

The symptoms can also be reduced by eliminating fatty foods from ones diet. Fatty foods are harder to digest slowing the digestion process. Your stomach can feel more strain which can trigger the symptoms of IBS.

In general, fiber rich food is recommended. Many people experience significant relief in their symptoms by adding fiber to their diet. Fiber can help in constipation as well as diarrhea. Fruits and Vegetables are excellent source of fiber. So there are dietary changes one can make to cure IBS symptoms.

There are many more Irritable Bowel Syndrome treatment methods that you can choose from. Whatever method you choose, just make sure to refer them to your physician first, so that you can be sure you are on the right track.

Groshan Fabiola asked:


Dancing with the Stars began its tour at Seattle on Tuesday, but one show favorite wasn’t able to make it to the show. Cheryl Burke, a two-time winner in the celebrity dance competition, wasn’t present at the show’s opening night and on the Thursday show in Sacramento , due to her abdominal pains. TV Guide went on to interview the 23-year-old professional dancer, who said that she was “cramping and in pain” during the rehearsals and “couldn’t even stand up straight.” She then headed to the hospital, where she was told that she may have a case of appendicitis. On Wednesday, Burke headed home to San Francisco to meet her family physician whose diagnosis was good.

“She does not have appendicitis,” Susan Madore, Burke’s publicist, confirmed to the Associated Press. “They told her to take it easy for a couple of days.”

Burke’s absence was indeed felt during the Dancing with the Stars tour, as the program had to be rearranged. Choreographer Louis van Amstel even deemed her sudden absence as a disaster. In fact, some numbers were removed, while partners were changed. Tuesday also saw a new dress rehearsal for a made over show.

“We had a couple of moments when we ran onto the floor at the wrong time, in the wrong place, in the wrong direction,” Karina Smirnoff, who filled in to dance with Drew Lachey, Cheryl Burke’s celebrity partner and season 2 winner, revealed.

However, despite the sudden changes, the show went smoothly with Cheetah Girl and Dancing with the Stars season 5 alum Sabrina Bryan giving an impressive performance despite having Derek Hough as her new partner. Hough was also filling in for another ailing dancer, Mark Ballas, who unfortunately had to cancel out on the show for the rest of the Christmas season as he dislocated his left arm.

“At first it was weird to do the new numbers with someone else,” Bryan, who is dating Ballas, said of her new partner. “And when Derek and I do the cha cha [the most memorable number she did with Ballas], it’s just hard.”

For more resources about Dancing with the Stars or for the full story of Cheryl Burke Misses Dancing Tour Shows Due to Abdominal Pain please review http://www.buddytv.com

Kevin Pederson asked:




Some Home Remedies for the usual and unusual bites we face in our daily lives.

- Mosquito Bites

• For mosquito bites apply lime juice diluted with water over the bite.

• You can also apply calamine lotion for mosquito bites.

• Apply a salt water solution or paste over the bite, this helps in relieving the itching problem.

• Mix one teaspoon baking soda in one glass of water and rub the solution with a cloth over the bite for 15 to 20 minutes.

• You can apply an antihistamine cream which relieves the itchiness from the bite.

• Applying rubbing alcohol over the bite helps to soothe the itch.

• Apply fresh damp mud on the bite. This can be used for bites similar to this like bug bites, chigger bites and others.

• Take an oat meal bath this will help to reduce the swelling and itchy feeling.

• Rub dry soap over the mosquito bite. It reduces the itchy feeling and the swelling.

• You can also use a banana peel which is to be used inside out. This provides relief from the bites.

• A mixture of pure olive oil and vinegar also helps in relieving the mosquito bite problem.

- Chigger Bites

• Apply clear nail polish on the bites, it provides you quick relief.

• You can rub bacon grease on the affected area as this provides quick relief from the chigger bites.

• Vicks Vapor Rub is another way to cure this problem. The petroleum chokes the chigger and methanol helps in relieving the itch.

• The mixture of camphor and phenol in mineral spirits also helps in shedding this problem.

• A hot water bath is an excellent way of dealing with this problem.

• Rubbing the affected area with Listerine also helps in alleviating this problem.

- Wasp bite

• First thing first, the bitten area should be cleaned with soap and water solution.

• You can apply a poultice of meat tenderizer or salt over the sting as soon as possible. You can use half a teaspoon of any of the products with water and leave it over the bite for 30 minutes.

• You can use this remedy for wasp itch or fire ant bite. Household ammonia can be use as it helps to minimize the sting produced due to the bite.

- Other bites

• You can use make a paste by mixing water with cornstarch. Apply this paste if you have been bitten by any poisonous insect like a spider. The paste helps in drawing out the poison from your body.

• You can wash the area with mild soap and water to remove the germs and other allergy provoking substances. This can be done for most of the bites like bug bites.

• A paste of baking soda and water works great for most bites.

Warning: The reader of this article should exercise all precautionary measures while following instructions on the home remedies from this article. Avoid using any of these products if you are allergic to it. The responsibility lies with the reader and not with the site or the writer.

Dr.Varburg asked:






Percocet is a trademarked, potent compound painkiller used to treat moderately severe to severe acute (short-term) pain. The main ingredient of Percocet is oxycodone, a potent opioid agonist; in addition, the drug contains paracetamol, also known as acetaminophen. It is notable for its potential for drug abuse.

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration first approved Percocet in 1976, under application ANDA 085106.

Pharmacology

Endo Pharmaceuticals currently manufactures Percocet, as well as Percodan which contains oxycodone and aspirin. Percocet tablets are available in six combinations of oxycodone hydrochloride and acetaminophen, with different appearances and maximum daily doses:

* 2.5 mg oxycodone HCl & 325 mg acetaminophen: pink oval tablet, maximum daily dose 12 tablets

* 5 mg oxycodone HCl & 325 mg acetaminophen: blue round tablet, maximum daily dose 12 tablets

* 7.5 mg oxycodone HCl & 325 mg acetaminophen: peach oval tablet, maximum daily dose 8 tablets

* 7.5 mg oxycodone HCl & 500 mg acetaminophen: peach capsule-shaped tablet, maximum daily dose 8 tablets

* 10 mg oxycodone HCl & 325 mg acetaminophen: yellow capsule-shaped tablet, maximum daily dose 6 tablets

* 10 mg oxycodone HCl & 650 mg acetaminophen: yellow oval tablet, maximum daily dose 6 tablets

For the 2.5 mg oxycodone HCl tablet, the usual dose is 1-2 tablets every six hours as needed for pain; for the other tablets, the usual dose is 1 tablet every six hours as needed for pain.

Watson Laboratories manufactures generic versions of five of the six types of Percocet tablets (with 5, 7.5, and 10 mg oxycodone HCl).

Tom alter asked:


When there is a problem with the digestive system, then the stools may be voided in extremely watery form. This indicates the presence of water in the stools, which leads to dehydration. This condition is known as diarrhea.

In Ayurveda, diarrhea is known as Atisara. Vitiation in any of the three doshas can cause atisara. However, the vitiation of vata dosha is particularly responsible as it brings more water to the intestine and lowers the digestive fire which causes diarrhea.

The vata type of diarrhea is characterized by abdominal cramping and gas in the abdomen. The stools contain more water and less fecal matter. The pitta type of diarrhea show yellowish stools which have an offensive odor. The kapha type of diarrhea is whitish in color with copious water and little mucus.

(1) Useful Herbs in the Treatment of Diarrhea

1. Arjuna (Terminalia arjuna)

The bark of the arjuna tree is useful in the treatment of diarrhea. The bark is taken as a decoction in dosages of 15 to 30 grams per day.

2. Babul (Acacia arabica)

The babul tree is very useful in preventing diarrhea. Each part of the babul tree is useful. Its leaves can be taken as a mixed dose with black cumin seeds, its bark can be taken as an infusion with water and even its gum can be taken as a syrup.

3. Bael (Aegle marmelos)

Bael is very effective for the treatment of diarrhea which is not accompanied by fever. The unripe or half-ripe fruit is eaten for best results.

4. Banyan (Ficus bengalensis)

The buds of the banyan trees are the beneficial parts. These must be soaked in water overnight and the infusion must be taken in the morning.

5. Belleric Myroblan (Terminalia belerica)

Known as bahera in Hindi, this is one of the ingredients of the extremely useful Triphala. The pulp of its fruit is taken to cure most stomach problems, including indigestion and diarrhea.

6. Bishop’s Weed (Trachyspermum ammi)

The oil extracted from the seeds of the Bishop’s weed is useful in the treatment of diarrhea. Just two to three drops of this oil per dosage is sufficient.

7. Black Nightshade (Solanum nigrum)

Black nightshade leaves are used in the treatment of diarrhea. The leaves are taken in the form of an infusion with the juice of other liquids.

8. Butea (Butea monosperma)

The butea tree yields a gum which is beneficial in the treatment of diarrhea. It is especially useful in women and children that are suffering from diarrhea.

9. Chebulic Myroblan (Terminalia chebula)

Known as harad in Hindi, it is the second ingredient of Triphala. The pulp of the unripe fruit of this plant is given along with honey for better results.

10. Dill (Anethum sowa)

The oil obtained from the dill is used for the treatment of diarrhea. Dill oil is so mild that it is also an ingredient used in the medicines for treating baby colic.

11. Fenugreek (Trigonella foenum graecum)

Fenugreek seeds are useful in the treatment of digestive problems including diarrhea.

12. Indian Gooseberry (Emblica officinalis)

Known as amalaki in Hindi, this is the third ingredient in the preparation of Triphala. It is the richest source of vitamin C in the world.



(2) Dietary Treatments for Diarrhea

Fasting is the first step in the Ayurvedic treatment of diarrhea. At this time warm water should be drunk throughout the day. This helps to flush out the toxins in the bowels as much as possible.

(3) Ayurvedic Treatment for Diarrhea

Once the causative dosha is identified, the treatment is done according to type.

1. For vata type of diarrhea, the medicine of choice is Kutajarishta. It is taken in quantities of 15 ml thrice a day for fifteen days.

2. For pitta type of diarrhea, the medicine of choice is Bilwadi choorna. It is taken in a teaspoonful amount thrice a day for fifteen days.

3. For kapha type of diarrhea, two medicines are usually prescribed. One is the Gangadhara choorna, which is taken in 1 gram amount twice a day for fifteen days. The other is Jatiphaladi vati, which is taken in 250 milligrams amount twice a day for fifteen days.



(4) Home Medications

1. Mix equal parts of the babul tree with black cumin seeds. Take this in dosages of 12 grams thrice a day.

2. Prepare an infusion of cinnamon in water and boil it. This must be taken half an hour after meals. It takes care of almost all digestive problems and also relieves flatulence.

3. Mix some tender curry leaves with honey and take them early in the morning. If there is vomiting, then the bark of this tree must be taken.

4. Grind the seeds of the Indian plum (jamun) and mango into a fine powder. Take two teaspoonfuls of this powder mixture in a glass of buttermilk. This treatment gives quick results.

5. Boil raw bananas and peel them. Put some ghee in a vessel and put some pieces of cloves in them. Put the bananas in them. Then introduce curds, coriander, turmeric and salt. This will be a very tasty banana dish which has special effects on the treatment of diarrhea.

Bertil Hjert asked:


Irritable bowel syndrome is a condition that can be characterized with several symptoms. Hence, it is very important to reach to the root cause of the problem in order to determine better treatments to improve the condition.

First, it is very important to start on with a diet that’s meant to improve the condition. Understand that there are certain problematic foods that can trigger off symptoms such as bloating, constipation and diarrhea.

There is absolutely no standard diet that can be used by all those with irritable bowel syndrome. The problem and symptoms vary from person to person. Hence, the diet prescription varies accordingly.

However, there are certain common guidelines and food groups one needs to focus on in order to steer clear of irritable bowel syndrome. In case, a diet plan does not seem to work at all, you need to consult a health care practitioner.

Certain lifestyle change and the way one takes his or her meals should be altered. Usually people are accustomed to take three large meals in a day. This is where the problem arises.

Large meals have the tendency to cause strain and compaction inside the stomach. Hence, it is advisable to take 4-5 small meals in a day as compared to the traditional three regular meals. This habit will help in eliminating the root cause that’s responsible to trigger off irritable bowel syndrome.

One should also reduce the in take of fat-based foods. The fat is hard to digest. In fact, it gets digested in a slow pace. Poor digestion is one of the major causes of irritable bowel syndrome. When the food is not digested properly, it may cause gas inside the intestine. This results in the rise of many symptoms, thereby, aggravating the problem.

Dietary fat restricts the movement of gas slower from the stomach to small intestine. People may suffer from discomfort due to this interruption of a primary function of the body.

Doctors usually prescribe increased consumption of fruits and vegetables, wheat- based products and beans. All these food items work towards providing relief from gastrointestinal tract vices. Fiber intake improves the bulkiness of the stool. This further helps in easy and better removal of the stool.

An adequate fluid intake of at least 1.5 liters on a daily basis is very important. The major source of fluid intake must be derived from plain water. You may also opt for some amount of dilute tea or juices. One should steer clear of carbonated soft drinks and coffee.

Regular and light exercises are important for reducing symptoms. Here are certain food items you should avoid when on a diet for irritable bowel syndrome.

- Caffeinated drinks such as tea, coffee and soda

- Alcohol

- Wheat

- Carbonated drinks such as soda

- Dairy products

- Fried foods

- Citrus fruits

- Artificial sweetness

- Fatty food items

- Red meats

- Chocolate

- Gluten

You must take special care of including foods rich in fiber such as kidney, beans, lima beans, whole-grain breads and cereals

Also include a lot of fruits and vegetables in your irritable bowel syndrome diet.

Shelon Pounds asked:


Diarrhea… who wants to talk about such a terrible subject? Probably not you unless you or someone you know has it. If so, knowing what is causing your diarrhea is the first step to getting rid of it and getting your freedom back… For good!

Most of the time we know what caused our diarrhea, right? You had a meal and within 2 hours you were stuck on the toilet. Or you had some ice cream and an hour later the diarrhea hit you. Or maybe it was the next morning. But what is it about that meal or that ice cream that has you screaming, “I **** diarrhea!”? Or what about other times when diarrhea seems to come out of nowhere? What caused it then?

I’m going to share with you a number of causes of diarrhea. Once you know the different ways diarrhea can happen, you’ll be able to more easily identify the exact source in your particular situation.

On the surface, diarrhea isn’t a complicated condition. There’s a simple explanation for every case of diarrhea. That’s right… a very simple explanation. Want to hear it? Here’s the cause… Diarrhea happens because not enough water is extracted from your stool in the large intestines (colon). Hurray! We figured it out! Well, not exactly because this leads us to another question… Why wasn’t enough water extracted from your stool in the large intestines?

There are 3 common causes that interfere with the proper amount of water getting extracted from your stool in the large intestines. They are a bug, a foreigner, and a bug killer.

The bug that causes diarrhea is bacteria. There are many different types and strands of bacteria, and a couple of examples of these bugs are E. coli and Salmonella. Have you experienced what I’m about to describe, or do you know someone who has… You know someone that is very nice and then meet his or her cousin only to find out that the cousin is a jerk? Well, now you understand E. coli. If you’ve heard of E. coli before, you may be imagining a very harmful bacteria. But that’s only half of the story. You see, E. coli lives in our large intestines and it’s a good thing. This version is “very nice” and helps us digest our food. Yes, it’s true! But then there’s another E. coli with the same name, but a much different result. This is the “jerk” cousin.

The “jerk” version of E. coli can be found on unwashed vegetables or contaminated meat. If we eat food that is contaminated with this version of the bug, we let the “jerk” loose in our digestive tract. Not a good idea! This bad bacteria will reek havoc and disrupt the normal digestion process and result in… you guessed it… diarrhea.

Another cause of diarrhea is a foreigner. You may have invited a diarrhea causing foreigner to dinner with you and not even known it. The foreigner I’m talking about is a substance that is foreign to your body that causes an allergic reaction, or allergy. You might be wondering what I’m talking about. Here’s the bottom line… food allergies can cause diarrhea. One well-known food allergy that can cause diarrhea is lactose, found in milk and diary products. Our ability to digest lactose typically decreases as we get older. So lactose can become a foreign object to the small intestines and result in methane or hydrogen gas being produced. This gas, in addition to causing bloating and other conditions (I’ll discuss these in another article), disrupts the digestion process and… you got it… results in diarrhea.

Lactose is just one example of a foreign substance that can cause diarrhea. There are many other foreigners that can cause diarrhea in people that are sensitive to them, including wheat and gluten.

What does a bug killer have to do with diarrhea? If your diarrhea wasn’t caused by either of the previous two causes, then another possibility is that it was caused by a bug killer. The bugs I’m talking about are the billions or trillions of bacteria that are in your intestines right now. Don’t be alarmed! These are the “nice” guys. They are the good bacteria that help digest food and are essential for normal digestion and normal stool.

Normal digestion is disrupted by the bug killer. The bug killer is anything that kills these good bacteria such as antibiotics or chemotherapy. It’s hard to believe at first, but it’s true. The treatment that you’re given by your doctor can have negative side effects. One side effect that has become more widely talked about in recent years is the killing of the good bacteria by treatments that are given to you. Your doctor prescribes an antibiotic to kill the jerk E. coli or another type of infection, and the antibiotic does its job. The infection is gone. But at the same time, many of the good bacteria that live in your intestines are also killed. Know what happens next? Without enough good bacteria in your intestines, the digestion process is disrupted and causes… diarrhea.

We have gone over 3 common causes for diarrhea. Keep in mind there are other more serious causes such as Celiac disease or Chron’s disease that have to do with narrowing of the intestines or deterioration of the intestine walls. For all types of diarrhea, dehydration is a big concern especially with kids and the elderly. When in doubt if your situation needs medical attention, ask your doctor.

Ann Monahan asked:




Most people suffer from occasional Heartburn or Acid reflux. It’s a pain to say the least!

I know this condition all too well and needed to find an All-Natural Alternative to put an end to the constant discomfort. If you are like most sufferers you want to rid yourself of this condition as well.

So what is Acid Reflux?

It results when a valve located at the end of the oesophagus malfunctions. When this valve relaxes inappropriately, it may allow stomach acid to splash up and irritate the lining of the oesophagus, creating the sensation called heartburn. This is a very common disorder experienced by both children and adults.

Because of this abnormal acid production, digestive processes are affected and causes burning sensations in the stomach.  As the condition worsens, other symptoms of this disease include chest pain, difficulty swallowing, a sour taste in the month, frequent belching, and hoarseness.

In severe cases some people even feel like they are having a heart attack! Scary!

What Causes Acid Reflux?

Eating certain foods can promote acid reflux disease such as: coffee, soda pop, citrus fruits, chocolate, high fat and spicy foods.

Eating before bedtime may cause night-time heartburn or acid reflux, which can interfere with sleep and cause other problems.

Eating large meals or eating too quickly.

Being overweight; however, Acid reflux disease is a problem not only in obese people, but also thinner people and even children.

During pregnancy, the chances of acid reflux increases significantly due to the baby pushing on the stomach.

The good news is, there are All-Natural Remedies that can eliminate these symptoms for good. Let’s take a look.

# 1. The most common way to prevent acid reflux is changes in eating patterns. Specific modifications may include: eating small meals; reducing coffee and alcohol; losing weight; eating frequent, lighter meals; and eating a diet high in water soluble dietary fibre (raw fruits and vegetables).

# 2. Beginning an exercise program to reduce weight and increase overall well-being.

#3. Sleeping with the head and shoulders elevated will reduce the chances of acid reflux disease.

#4. Waiting at least three hours after your last meal of the day to go to sleep. This allows the stomach enough time to digest your food.

One should always check with their Doctor before undertaking any lifestyle changes; especially an exercise program.

Why Treat Acid Reflux Naturally?

Generally speaking, Diet and Lifestyle changes can significantly reduce the symptoms of Acid Reflux Disease without the need for medications which may cause other complications. Getting to the root cause of this condition and pinpointing the specific triggers will provide the opportunity to make the necessary changes to eliminate symptoms.

While this may seem like a common symptom that is experienced by a lot of people, the discomfort that it brings is certainly NOT something that one might wish to live with or deal with for a very long time. Esophagitis can develop into oesophageal bleeding; erosion of the lining in the throat, and is one of the known risk factors for oesophageal cancer.

Caroline Miller asked:




So you have decided you want a bit of a challenge in buying your next house. You are going to invest on a fixer-upper home but you still want to save on renovations. Here are a few tips:

Tip # 1.Ask your contractor for inexpensive materials. Some contractors have left over materials and parts from previous jobs they have handled and you can ask if they you could use those scrap materials in renovating your fixer-upper home. Left over materials aren’t all in bad condition and won’t hurt your home’s sturdiness and functionality plus they are cheaper than buying new materials at home supply stores.

Tip # 2.Choose reliable materials. Just because you are saving up on fixing your fixer upper doesn’t mean you should go cheap on everything. There are some materials that can be bought cheaply and there are some that are a little bit pricey but worth it. Investing in good quality, sturdy materials that will last you almost a lifetime is the wisest thing. It will save you money in the long run, it will also save you from consuming time and effort fixing things all over again.

Tip # 3.Take it down yourself. You can demolish some of the parts of your fixer-upper home yourself. The harder and more dangerous parts to be demolished can be done by a contractor. This way you save up on hiring costs.

Tip # 4.Sell reusable materials. While in the process of taking down some parts of your fixer-upper home, there may be some scrap materials that you won’t need but will be very useful for some other people. Scrap wood, metal, fixtures and other things could be sold to other people who, just like yourself are looking forward to saving a great deal of money.

Tip # 5.Save up on architect fees. Naturally you are going to need an architect to map out the design plan for your fixer upper. Hiring an architect usually doesn’t come cheap but you can minimize costs by contracting an architect for a one time visit and consultation and the architect will then design the renovation plan for your fixer-upper home. This will cost less rather than hiring your architect for multiple visits and meetings.

Tip # 6.Leave the sink and the toilet. Moving the sink or toilet will cost big bucks because plumbing prices aren’t cheap. As much as possible leave the toilet and sink alone.

Renovating a fixer upper home isn’t easy and inexpensive but you can use some of these tips to save a few bucks.