Updating the Flu Shot

The flu vaccine is new every year. The influenza virus evolves quickly, and the vaccine has to change every year to keep up. This year’s flu shot is getting some attention in the news lately. It seems like the flu shot did well protecting people for the first part of the flu season, but now cases of influenza are on the rise. Why? Because the strains that are very active this year aren’t strains that were covered in the 2008 flu shot. The U.S. Centers for Disease Control say that only about forty percent of the people who got vaccinated … Continue reading

Alternative Flu Remedies

Last week I thought I had the flu. Actually, I thought I had strep throat, but it turned out to be a severe cold, sore throat, and upset stomach (at least that’s what “Ask-A-Nurse” decided it was). Prior to calling the nurse (I was convinced it was the flu and diagnosed myself with such) I sought out treatments to combat the flu. Do you have any idea how many different products there are that claim to prevent and treat flu-like symptoms? Tons. Let me be clear, it’s never a good idea to self-diagnosis your maladies (that’s what doctors are for). … Continue reading

Getting the Flu When Pregnant

Flu season is here again. If you are pregnant, there is still a chance you may get the flu. For some women, pregnancy lowers resistance to illness, including the flu. For this reason, pregnant women may be at higher risk for developing the flu when exposed to the virus. The symptoms of flu are: fever, headache, muscle aches, sore throat, nausea, diarrhea, vomiting, cough and stuffy nose. You may not have all of these symptoms and still have the flu. If you are running a fever, it’s important to treat it right away. Your baby can get overheated when you … Continue reading

Make Your Own Homemade Cleaners

Home remedy cleaners are nothing new. In fact, home owners have been crafting their own cleaners for decades, and these old recipes have been proven over and over again. At the same time, there is a call for new types of cleaners, such as dishwasher rinse aids. Making your own cleaners is much less expensive than spending money on the cleaners that you purchase at the store. Try the following home remedies and see which ones you like. Toilet Bowl Cleanser The nice thing about this toilet bowl cleanser is that not only is it cheap, but it is also … Continue reading

Health: Should You Exercise When Feeling Under The Weather?

Many health experts feel that the answer to this question is a big NO. However, sports enthusiast experts claim otherwise. When facing this exercising dilemma you need to establish just how ill you are and what areas of the body are affected. If you are afflicted with your basic, run of the mill type cold, you can and should do some light to moderate exercising to help prevent the loss of muscle. It will not hurt you to do this, but do so with caution and with a less than normal routine. If you find that you cannot handle it … Continue reading

Why My Husband Didn’t Force Me to Go to the ER

Yesterday I shared why Wayne almost forced me to go to the hospital on Saturday morning. Later in the weekend, he told me what a conundrum he’d been in. As he held me while I bawled because I was alternating between coughing so hard and gasping for breath that I almost passed out, he debated whether he should just sling me over his shoulder, haul me downstairs, toss me in his truck and drive me to the ER. Instead he opted for the bargaining approach. (He feared I’d jump out of the car and get myself killed in traffic if … Continue reading

Treating Mild BHP at Home

Benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH) is a gradual enlargement of the prostate that can put pressure on the urethra. That pressure leads to increased urination. Often, BPH is treated with medication that relaxes inflamed muscles. Some cases are treated with surgery that removes part of the prostate. If your benign prostatic hyperplasia is mild or moderate — the symptoms do not bother you or interfere with daily activities — you may be able to treat your BPH at home. That doesn’t mean you shouldn’t see your doctor regularly to check symptoms and see if your BPH has worsened! But you may … Continue reading

Let’s Talk About Safe Herb Usage in Pregnancy

Many women use herbs during pregnancy in a supplemental way, as well as to prevent mild complications such as edema (swelling due to fluid retention). It is important to understand that the quality of your herbs depends on two things: Freshness and Source. The source of your herbs should be reliable, which involves doing research not only on the herb itself, but the manufacturer as well. Freshness is obvious: the fresher the herb, the better the quality. Which is why growing your own herbs is always the freshest option (and then you will also know the source). Here I would … Continue reading

Who Am I And Why Am I Here?

I ask myself that question a lot. But I’m only going to answer it for Here being the Families.com Health Blog. The rest, you can figure out for yourself, and if you find an answer, let me know! I’ve spent a good portion of my life struggling with various health problems. At the age of five, we had to give up our family dog Sparky because my brother (age three) and I had developed severe allergies. And not just to dogs. Cats, trees, dust, mold, pollen… if it grows, we were allergic to it. I used to have a horrible … Continue reading