Showing posts with label CURE right. Show all posts
Showing posts with label CURE right. Show all posts

Ouch! My nail is hurting me
Friday, August 12, 2016 - Posted by SunnyHealth - 0 comments

Do you feel that the tips of your toes hurt even when you’re wearing reasonably comfortable shoes? Hell, maybe they’re even throbbing when you’re wearing flip flops. It can’t just be that short walk you made to the supermarket, can it?

Ingrown toenails are a huge source of annoyance, and they occur when growing into your flesh (usually one or both sides of your nail bed) instead of growing outwards. Depending on the severity, they can range from a mild discomfort to bleeding and pus. These ingrown nails, which usually affect the large toes, are so sneaky that most people aren’t even sure how they happen, and how to prevent them. Some people have gone as far as to get their nail partially or even completely removed.

Before you do something drastic, if your ingrown toenail is not very deep, some people swear by a simple and effective method to guide the nail to grow away from the skin.

First of all, make sure you cut your toe nail straight across. Do not clip the sides downwards. That gives the skin allowance to grow over the nail and is a common cause of ingrown toenails. However, you can round the sharp edge to prevent it from digging into your skin. Then take a very small ball of cotton and slip it under the nail to create a buffer between the nail and the skin. This doesn’t work for very short nails, so do grow out your nail a bit to be able to fit anything under that. This should not hurt you at all. If it does, you are probably using too thick a wad of cotton and you should thin it. Change the cotton every day. In a few days’ time, the nail should start growing away from the skin.

There are a few typical causes of ingrown toenails:

The way you cut your toenails
Cutting them too short, or in a manner such that they encourage your skin to fold over your nail and eventually grow into your skin.

Wearing very tight socks, stockings and shoes.
These press against the skin around your toenail, and could result in your skin getting pierced. Personally, my mildly ingrown nail does not really bother me, but when I wear pressure stockings, my toe really hurts! Consider getting stockings / tights that stop at the ankle or before the toes to avoid this problem.

Sweaty feet
When your skin is wet, it gets soft, and it becomes easier for your nail to grow into it and embed itself within.

Stubbing or dropping something on your toe
The force could affect the toenail, causing it to become ingrown.

Shape of your nail
If your nails are curved at the sides or fan-shaped, they tend to press into the skin surrounding the nail.

Fungal nail infection
These could alter the thickness and size of your nail. If it is bigger and thicker, the likelihood of it becoming ingrown becomes greater.

Genetics
If someone in the family has it, it will likely happen to you too.


To prevent ingrown toenails from forming, coming back, or to reduce their impact, be sure to take care of your feet:

If you can’t stop your toenail from growing inwards, you can do the following to reduce the impact and chances of infection:

Clip the sharp edges of your toenails, just enough to prevent the piercing feeling, but not too much to encourage growth of skin over the nail.

Wear comfortable footwear that do not press against your toes. For shoes that encase your feet, you might want to consider buying them one size larger, adding cushioned soles to prevent the shoes from being too loose (cushioned soles make walking more comfy too!), while at the same time giving your toes more buffer space.

Wear clean socks and stockings everyday.

Clean your feet with soap and water every day, including every part of your toes.

If the problem is so severe that it’s red and inflamed, there’s blood and/or pus, or it’s affecting your daily life, do see your GP who may be able to recommend a minor operation, or refer you to a medical facility that does. Usually, a partial or total nail avulsion (removal of toenail) is recommended. In such operations, a local anaesthetic is typically used to numb the toe. The toenail is then partially cut away or completely removed. Phenol is applied to the affected area to prevent the nail from growing back.

The toe will be bandaged. You may be expected to keep your foot rested and raised for one to two days time after the surgery, and then stick to open-toe or soft shoes for about a week.

There will be an indent on your toe where your nail used to be, but your toe will not be affected otherwise.


“Do you mind if I sit back a little? Because your breath is very bad” – Donald Trump
Friday, August 21, 2015 - Posted by SunnyHealth - 0 comments

It is very embarrassing when someone tells you that you have a bad breath. With the end of the year coming round, bad breath is bad news in this peak season of socialising. Bad breath is no joke. It can ruin a first impression. break a business deal, even damage relationships!. The poor victim of this condition may develop poor self-esteem and depression as a result.

Bad breath is also known as Halitosis. It is mainly caused by the occurrence of the bacteria in our mouth. It affects lots of people in all over the globe. The problem is that most people aren't aware that they have bad breath until someone tells them so.

Many often associate bad breath with consuming garlic or onion. While these cause momentarily bad breath, they can be gotten rid of by brushing one's teeth, Halitosis is here to stay for awhile. Some causes of it include oral problems such as tooth decay and dry mouth or other health problems such as diabetes, gastro-intestinal disease and respiratory system problems. Most causes of bad breath can be prevented if we adopt proper oral hygiene. If bad breath is due to medical conditions, one should consult a doctor and get the required treatment.

The following list tells you where you can get help for bad breath!
http://www.whatclinic.com/dentists/singapore/bad-breath

Besides getting the appropriate treatment, here are some ways to prevent bad breath:

Store toothbrush in mouthwash – Store your toothbrush bristles-down in a glass of mouthwash. This will minimise the germs you put in your mouth. Don't forget that like everything else, exposed tooth brushes come into contact with germs too!

Change toothbrushes often – Well-worn brushes host bacteria and yeast associated with stomach ulcers, strep throat, upset stomach and diarrhoea.

Scrap tongue – Using a toothbrush or a tongue scraper, scrap your tongue to clean bacterial build-up, food debris and dead cells from the surface of the tongue.

Floss, Floss, Floss – Flossing is ten times more important than brushing. The areas between your teeth (which are unbrushable) are loaded with garbage. If you can’t floss after every meal, at least do it once a day.

Rinse After Lunch – If you haven't got toothbrush or toothpaste with you, at least rinse your mouth with water after lunch. This will reduce the bacteria in your mouth, which significantly cuts your risk of cavities. Rinsing flushes away sugars and food particles, and wets the mouth and throat.

Keep An Apple Handy – If you don’t have any mints or oral strips around, chomp on an apple. Fresh fruits and vegetables are effective in cleaning your tongue. Crunchy fruits like apples or pears also get in between the cracks of your teeth to give you a bonus clean-up job.



The Benefits of Acupuncture
Thursday, February 21, 2013 - Posted by SunnyHealth - 0 comments


Are you a long-suffering victim of allergies leading to watery eyes and stuffy noses that even prescriptions from the doctor can’t treat? Watery eyes and stuffy noses are often caused by dust particles and poor air quality. Given how air pollution is becoming more rampant, a German study about how acupuncture may bean effective treatment is certainly timely.

Detailed research still needs to be conducted for more definite results, but this certainly gives allergy sufferers hope, as acupuncture gains more popularity and recognition as legitimate treatment. Furthermore, it has no chemical side effects. Acupuncture has been widely recognised for effectiveness in easing back aches, soothing indigestion, migraines, and obesity (accompanied with a healthy lifestyle of course).

For those who are still unfamiliar with Acupuncture, About.com explains it well. Acupuncture is a traditional Chinese medicine practice based on the belief that to be healthy, there must be a balance of yin and yang in the body. If an imbalance occurs, the normal flow of energy (qi) is disrupted and disease may occur. During an acupuncture session, practitioners use needles placed along the energy fields of the body to re-balance the body’s energies.

While its effectiveness has not been recognised for more severe diseases, it is able to boost effects of medication when used alongside western prescriptions, according to a study in China where acupuncture therapy combined with Prozac has helped to reduce anxiety in patients, while leading to a reduced dosage of Prozac and subsequently the side effects of the drug.

The use of acupuncture as a supplementary treatment to conventional cancer treatments is also growing in popularity. However, there is a frequent misconception that acupuncture is an alternative treatment to radiation treatments. The truth couldn’t be further than that. Acupuncture cannot quite completely replace conventional cancer treatments at this point of time, but it can be used in conjunction with treatment to alleviate the side effects such as nausea, pain and depression. It helps to improve sleep quality, hence boosting the patient’s immunity system and overall wellbeing and speed up recovery process. Several hospitals in Singapore like Singapore General Hospital and Tan Tock Seng Hospital offer acupuncture as well.

Acupuncture is a specialised practice and not just about anyone is qualified to deliver it! Before you rush to your nearest TCM clinic to try its effects on your allery, check the TCM practioners board http://www.healthprofessionals.gov.sg/content/hprof/tcmpb/en.html to ensure that you’re seeing a qualified TCM practitioner!


Ridding a pesky cough
Friday, January 18, 2013 - Posted by SunnyHealth - 0 comments


Researchers in Georgia recently published the results of their study which revealed that cough usually takes about three weeks to clear up. I thought that was odd that they did a study on it and only published it recently. For many of us who have caught the cold, it is no news to us that the hacking continues to torment us even after our colds and throat inflammations are gone. As the study rightly points out, getting additional or even stronger medication to clear the cough does not improve matters much, but only incurs more medical expenses and may have side effects. This is because antibiotics only affect bacteria, but has no effect on viruses, which are the main causes of coughs.

Coughs persist because your respiratory tract and the air passages in your lungs remain sensitive and inflamed even after your cold has gone away. This requires time to heal. In the meantime, let your body have ample rest and adopt certain habits to prevent the aggravation of your cough:

- Avoid cold water and gassy drinks. Drink lots of water, preferably warm water
- Avoid spicy food
- Ensure that your living environment is airy and has fresh air. Avoid air-conditioning and don’t expose yourself to cigarette smoke.
- In an air-conditioned room or in cold weather, wrap up warmly. Use scarves and turtle necks to protect your throat from the cold.
- Get more rest
- Wear a face mask to prevent the spread of the germs. You wouldn't want them coming back to you while you're still vulnerable!

Although coughs are stubborn, you can make your condition more manageable, and possibly eliminate the coughs quicker.

In cosmopolitan Singapore, we are fortunate to have access to a myriad of medications, including herbal and natural remedies, from different cultures. With increased faith in Traditional Chinese Medicine, more people are subscribing to a fusion of Western and Chinese treatments – get a quick cure for their inflammation with antibiotics, and then resort to Chinese medicine and herbal teas to get rid of the cough.

Pi Pa Gao and Hui Ji Herbal Mint Cough Syrup are tried and tested remedies for coughs. They exhibit no side effects, and they actually taste nice. Having a sweet and minty taste, they offer temporary reprieve for sore and irritated throats.

Warm green tea is a comfort beverage for coughs. Its detoxification qualities are already widely known. Adding honey to green tea will make the drink sweeter and smoother.

Natural news has published a few home remedies for coughs that with detailed recipes and easily accessible ingredients: http://www.naturalnews.com/035323_home_remedies_colds_coughs.html

Is it all right to eat bananas when I’m coughing?

Bananas are nutritious, filling, delicious and convenient! It would be a bummer to have to abstain from bananas for three whole weeks while your cough goes away. The good news is, bananas do not cause or aggravate colds when consumed at night like the old wives’ tale suggests, or any time of the day in fact.
A cold is a contagious viral infection, and cannot be caused by any particular sort of food. In fact a 2010 study by American scientists revealed that eating a slightly unripe Cavendish banana (those big long bananas often sold in our local supermarkets) can increase immunity against the cold as it contains an enzyme that inhibits the cold-causing bacteria.

However, bananas do increase mucus and phlegm production, which could make you cough more when you are sick. If your cough is not very serious, you can still eat bananas, but down it with warm water or tea. In addition, it is not just bananas that increase phlegm production. Some fruits and vegetables like cabbage, potatoes and corn have a similar effect. Livestrong.com recommends celery, pickles, unsaturated oils, lemon, parsley, onion, garlic, watercress, horseradish, mustard and rose hips tea in your diet if you’re coughing.

Sources:

http://www.diethealthclub.com/askquestion/8056/banana-common-cold-is-it-true-that-if-you-eat-bana.html

http://www.healthywaymagazine.com/issue35/05_.html

http://www.livestrong.com/article/496916-foods-that-encourage-phlegm/


Haze: more than meets the eye
Friday, August 31, 2012 - Posted by SunnyHealth - 0 comments

It’s doubly hazy days ahead in Singapore as the Chinese burn offerings in public in light of the Hungry Ghost Festival, and forest fires blaze away in Indonesia.

Having been neighbours to countries that experience huge forest fires at least once a year, most of us are all too familiar with the effects of haze and the precautions we should take to protect ourselves from the haze. These topics have been discussed in this blog here and here.

Most people are aware of, and have experienced for themselves, the irritation that smoke causes to the eyes. But the effects of smoke and haze may not stop there. Smoke can cause swollen eyes that result from allergy or inflammation. My poor colleague has just received a 3-day MC from the doctor to stay at home because she woke up one fine morning with a mysteriously swollen right eye that wouldn’t open. The doctor attributed it to the smoky environment.

Tiny foreign particles in smoke may enter your eyes, and cause an infection if not removed in a timely manner. People with dry eyes may be more vulnerable to such infections as their eyes do not produce sufficient moisture to remove the particles. If your eyes are often dry, bring along a bottle of eye-drops with you which you can use whenever your eyes feel irritated. Do also wear shades or glasses when you’re outdoors as they will help to limit direct exposure to foreign particles in the air.

Environmental allergies may be more challenging to fight. Some of us have very sensitive eyes. They get itchy the moment we take out a stack of clothes from the cupboard to pack. Usually, our bodies are able to keep the allergens at bay, but when there are too many stressors or triggers in the environment, the body cannot cope, and this results in allergic conditions.

What you should do is to get plenty of rest and make sure you’re getting ample Vitamin C. These will help to boost your body’s immunity against infections and allergies.

You should also avoid being around second-hand smoke, or cut down on the cigarettes if you’re a smoker.

What to do if my eyes are swollen?

There is a difference between puffy eyes and swollen eyes. Puffy eyes are a common occurrence due to lack of rest, constant exposure to computer work and fluid retention. Most of the time, they aren’t even particularly noticeable unless you’re really fussy about your appearance.

Swollen eyes on the other hand are a different matter. You would find that your field of vision is restricted due to difficulty with opening your lids. Your eyelids may also exhibit unnatural redness. The whites of your eyes may not be red, but that doesn’t mean it’s not serious.
 

Do not resort to home remedies, but see a doctor immediately.You will typically be prescribed eye drops, oral medication and / or ointment with antibiotic purposes and to bring down the swelling. You’ll probably also be requested to take a break from school or work so that you can rest at home while the swelling clears up. Swollen eyes take up to one week to be completely healed. In that time, stay indoors as much as possible. If you must go out, wear sunglasses or an eye patch to protect your eyes. You should also avoid seafood, peanuts and other heaty food for about ten days or the swelling may be aggravated.


Don't lose your eyes to diabetes!
Friday, April 20, 2012 - Posted by SunnyHealth - 0 comments
But if he didn't pay for his diabetes meds, he could be a blind millionaire.

Recently, a friend of mine in her twenties expressed shock on Facebook about the possibility of blindness in a diabetic patient, having read about it in the newspapers. Someone teased her in a tongue-in-cheek manner, saying that he was more shocked that she didn’t know diabetes could lead to blindness.

Indeed, thanks to plenty of health resources in the mainstream media and online, the dangers of diabetes are now common knowledge among the educated, but there are still those who are not in the know, especially the fortunate ones who have had absolutely no contact with the illness and hence, no need to read up about it. Nevertheless, diabetes is becoming more commonplace, as observed in my previous article. Diabetes will not cause too much impact on a patient’s life if it is treated with proper care and understanding. However, if the condition is not kept under control, a patient could end up losing essential body functions, such as sense of sight.

There is a group of eye problems that diabetic patients may face as a complication of diabetes. These problems include:

- Diabetic retinopathy, where blood vessels in the retina are damaged. This condition occurs when blood sugar levels fluctuate in the body over time.
- Cataract – While common in old age, cataracts develop at an earlier age in people with diabetes.
- Glaucoma – increased fluid pressure in the eye causes damage to the optic nerve and leads to loss of vision. While not unique to diabetic patients, some with diabetes has nearly twice the probability to contract it compared to other adults.

These conditions will lead to partial or total blindness. Fortunately, they can be treated in their early stages. If you have diabetes, you should have an eye checkup every year. If your vision is blurred or you’re seeing dark spots and shadows, seek an

Ophthalmologist immediately. In the meantime, control your condition by taking medication as advised by your doctor and leading a healthy lifestyle. 

Laser treatments are commonly used to treat the above-mentioned eye problems. They are usually painless and recovery is very quick. For more complex problems, however, surgery may have to be done. Retinotherapy can also be treated with medicines that help to slow down the occurrence of damaged blood vessels in the retina.

Of course, prevention is still the best cure and can save you lots of time, money, effort and pain. So don’t scrimp on that yearly check-up or necessary visits to the doctor, or you may find yourself sacrificing much more.  

Written by: Ng Mei Yi
Sources:

http://www.nei.nih.gov/health/diabetic/retinopathy.asp

http://www.ehow.com/how-does_4567456_diabetes-cause-blindness.html

http://www.diabetes.co.uk/news/2007/Mar/Diabetes-causes-blindness.html

http://www.findmedicaladvice.com/diabetes/why-does-diabetes-cause-blindness.html


Beating the queue at the doctor's
Friday, January 27, 2012 - Posted by SunnyHealth - 0 comments

It’s back to work or school after a very long weekend of Chinese New Year celebrations, a rather stressful point of time as we attempt to readapt and deal with work that has piled up over the holidays. Contributing to post-holiday blues are ailments like cough and sore throats that prey on us while we let our guard down with the feasting and late nights. The erratic weather isn’t helping matters.

According to a news report on Channel News Asia, clinics saw a spark in patient load on Wednesday. Upper respiratory tract infections including cough and sore throat are among the most commonly treated ones.

The symptoms of cough and sore throat are easily identified. They usually start off with itchy dry throats, some phlegm and a bit of coughing. In the early stage, cough and sore throat can actually be prevented from escalating, and you can avoid a visit to the doctor and his nasty sleep-inducing cough syrup if you take the right steps to care for your health (Of course, if you need an MC, that’s another story).

Cough and sore throat are caused by the drying New Year goodies and alcohol, rich, heaty foods, and lack of rest and exercise. It is essential to get back to your daily routine of getting up early and going to bed early to ensure that if you have ample amount of sleep. Getting up early is probably no issue for those who have work and school. For those who plan to do late nights to finish your work from over the holidays, bear in mind that working with a tired mind reduces productivity and may lead to more mistakes in your work, slowing you down instead.

Drink lots of water throughout the day to replenish your body fluids, and soothe your throat. Avoid cold water and soft drinks as these could irritate your throat and aggravate your cough. Warm water is best for your throat, or at the very least, go with water at normal temperature.

Dislike the tastelessness of water? Whether you prefer Western or Chinese medical remedies, almost everyone who has tried the lemon honey water home remedy would agree that it works for throat discomforts.

Honey helps because it has antibiotic properties. It releases hydrogen peroxide (H2O2), an antibacterial, antimicrobial, and antiseptic compound, disinfecting the infected area and killing germs. Before antibiotic was invented, honey was used as an antiseptic on wounds to prevent infection and hasten healing. It was even used as medicine for other ailments, including diarrhoea, stomach upset, and of course, coughs and sore throats. Lemon is also an antiseptic, and taste-wise, it complements the sweetness of honey.

Best of all, the recipe is very simple. Fill a mug with water. Stir in a table spoon of honey and heat it in the microwave for about one and a half minutes. Remove the mug and stir in a teaspoon of freshly squeezed lemon. You can drink it immediately!

Warning: If the sick person is diabetic, regular honey may be detrimental to his condition. Be sure to choose organic honey instead. Honey should also not be consumed by babies below one year old. Honey may contain spores of a bacterium that can grow in the baby’s immature digestive system, causing infant botulism which is a fatal illness.

Another fuss-free method to supplement this home remedy is to gargle with warm salt water a few times a day. Salt is a natural disinfectant and it can help to reduce the germs in your mouth.

Ginger tea also brings quick relief to coughing symptoms. While it may be tedious to prepare it from fresh ginger, traditional Chinese medical halls sell them ready-made, and supermarkets sell instant ginger tea in the form of powder and teabags.

Bear in mind that depending on the severity of your cough or sore throat, such home remedies may have limited effects. If your condition is serious or does not improve, you will still need to seek medical treatment.

Last but not least, abstain from heaty New Year goodies like shrimp crackers and bak kwa until your throat gets better, and when it does, consume these goodies with lots of water and ample rest!


Little things
Tuesday, December 16, 2008 - Posted by SunnyHealth - 0 comments
Nanotechnology is the way of the future. These particles are so miniscule that they can be used to build pretty much anything we want, from biological constructs to space elevator ropes.

As you might imagine, this new technology is also being used on the cancer frontier and research is currently being carried out with it in this aspect.

For example, recently MIT engineers have found a way to turn carbon nanotubes into sensors for cancer drugs and other DNA-damaging agents inside living cells.

Sensors like these could be used to gauge the effectiveness of chemotherapy treatments, a measure which can prove to be useful in providing a greater degree of control of these treatments as chemotherapy makes use of extremely potent drugs, which kills both cancerous and healthy cells alike.

These sensors are safe because they are wrapped in DNA, which makes them living cell-friendly. The interaction between the DNA and DNA disruptor changes the intensity and/or wavelength of the fluorescent light emitted by the nanotube.

On top of being programmed as sensors, nano-organisms are also being used to deliver cancer drugs more effectively to deal with cancer cells, going by the research being performed at Penn State's Hershey Medical Center and University Park campus in Pennsylvania.

Scientists there have reported success in using nanoparticles 1/5,000 the diameter of a human hair encapsulating an experimental anticancer agent, to kill human melanoma and drug-resistant breast cancer cells growing in laboratory cultures. Going further down this avenue could see the development of new anti-cancer drugs that are more specific in their anti-cancer drug delivery, thus being safer and more effective.

However, the research still has some way to go in-terms of seeing practical results as many of the nanoparticles used are unable to dissolve in body fluids and are toxic to cells as well.

Source: CancerNews, http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2008/12/081215151147.htm,
http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2008/12/081214190951.htm