FitSugar

How to Kick a Nighttime Cough Naturally

Jenny Sugar — Fri, 03 Feb 2012 03:05:23 PST

Whether it's because of a cold or allergies, coughing at night is not only annoying, it prevents you from getting the sleep you need to stay healthy. Before you down cough medicine (which often just masks the cough), you might want to relieve your nighttime cough with one of these natural remedies.

Steam up: Before hitting the hay, create a steam room in the bathroom. Shut the door, don't turn on the fan, and take a hot shower. Let the water gently run on your face, or if that's too intense, place a warm washcloth on your sinuses, allowing the heat and steam to help relieve sinus congestion. You can even use a neti pot in the shower - just be sure to fill it with warm distilled or sterilized water, not the shower water. Using a neti pot after you've breathed in steam can make it more effective.
Get moist: Since dry air can often cause a dry cough (especially in the Winter months when we crank up the heat), moisten the air you breathe by running a cool-mist humidifier on low throughout the night (I'm a fan of this humidifier from Crane). In the morning, be sure to wipe down your windows and windowsills as condensation tends to form, and you don't want this moisture to encourage mold growth, which can also aggravate a cough. Follow the directions that came with your humidifier when it comes to cleaning it, and disinfect it thoroughly at least once a week to avoid mold growth.

Keep reading for more natural ways to beat your nighttime cough.

Must-Know Tips For Neti Pot Newbies

Jenny Sugar — Wed, 07 Dec 2011 00:03:57 PST

Whether it's a nasty cold or allergies causing your congestion, it may be time to give a neti pot a whirl. This teapot-looking device may seem a little odd at first glance, but it's recommended by ear, nose, and throat doctors to relieve nasal congestion and pain. To a newbie, using a neti pot may seem torturous, but with a few helpful hints, you'll be a neti-pot know-it-all in no time. Watch this video showing how to use a neti pot and keep these important tips in mind.

Go for plastic: Metal and ceramic pots might be pretty, but they tend to break or warp when dropped. A plastic neti pot (I like Rhino Horn neti pots) is lightweight, easy to travel with, a cinch to clean, and you don't have to worry about it shattering if it accidentally drops on your bathroom floor.
Type of salt: There's no need to splurge on special salt to use with a neti pot. Regular table salt works fine, but be sure it's not iodized, as that can cause irritation. Follow the directions that your neti pot came with and measure out the salt exactly rather than eyeballing the amount. Typically the ratio is one teaspoon of salt to 16 ounces of water.

Keep reading for more neti pot newbie tips.

Achoo! How to Relieve Allergies in Your Bedroom

Jenny Sugar — Wed, 19 Oct 2011 13:35:57 PDT

If you suffer from allergies to dander, dust mites, or mold, it's time to take a closer look at the place where you spend one-third of your day - your bedroom. Here are some things you can do to reduce your allergy symptoms.

Evict the Offenders
Looked under your bed lately? To prevent a colony of dust mites from becoming squatters in the apartment below where you sleep, vacuum under your bed at least once a week. And don't be lazy about it - move the bed and other furniture to suck up the disgusting fluffs hiding in all the nooks and crannies. If your bedroom isn't carpeted, be even more ~~anal~~ thorough and mop the floor. Aside from washing your sheets weekly, take time to wipe down the tops of your dressers, nightstands, the blinds, and windowsills. Not to make you crazy for cleaning, but the curtains and your comforter can get dusty too, so don't forget to wash them once a month. If your bathroom is connected to your bedroom, check the bathtub or shower for mold and mildew.

Keep reading to find out other ways you can relieve allergy symptoms in your bedroom.

What's Making You Sneeze This Fall

Susi May — Wed, 07 Sep 2011 17:03:30 PDT

Autumn may not officially begin for another couple of weeks, but Fall allergy season kicked off back in mid-August. The bummer is that this season lasts until the first frost. Spring sneezes are usually set off by pollen in trees, plants, and weeds, but the main Fall culprit is ragweed, although mold and dust mites may be tickling your nose too. And thanks to climate change, ragweed season is longer than it was 30 years ago - as much as 27 more days a year.

If, as Summer blends into Fall, you find yourself wiping an endlessly runny nose and rubbing irritated eyes, you might just be battling a ragweed allergy. One plant produces upwards of one billion far-traveling pollen grains. Most common in rural areas, pollen levels of this plant peak between 10 a.m. and 3 p.m. in urban areas. The King of Pollen Allergies, as ragweed is sometimes called, also flourishes in vacant lots, roadsides, ditches, riverbanks, and construction sites. More prolific on the East Coast and in the Midwest, your best bet for relief is to avoid the pollen by staying indoors and keeping windows closed (running A/C with a HEPA filter) especially when sleeping. Try over-the-counter antihistamine or prescription nasal spray to relieve the troublesome symptoms.

Does ragweed make you suffer? How do you deal with the symptoms?

Flickr User Ian Muttoo

DrSugar: Could I Be Allergic to Exercise?

DrSugar — Mon, 01 Aug 2011 11:42:42 PDT

DrSugar is in the house! This week she's tackling a reader suffering from an allergic reaction to exercise.

Dear Dr. Sugar,
I work out regularly, but I have had a sort of reaction during my last two intense cardio workouts. My face turns bright red; I wheeze slightly, cough, and my eyes and nose itch. I have to stop and rest, but the symptoms go away after about 30 minutes. The symptoms seem to be similar to a food allergy, however I work out first thing in the morning and only have coffee before starting. What could be the cause of this reaction and how can I avoid it?
- Not Seeking a Workout Excuse, I Swear

Thank you for asking such an interesting question! Your symptoms that are brought on by exercise are actually quite concerning (especially the respiratory symptoms - cough and wheezing). I am glad that you stop and rest when these symptoms appear, as they could be a sign of possible allergic reaction to exercise. Yes, that's right, although rare, some people have an allergic response to exercise or physical exertion and their symptoms can range from a hives-like rash to a life-threatening anaphylactic reaction.

Allergic symptoms from physical exertion are called "exercise-induced anaphylaxis," according to Medscape. The most common symptoms present with this condition are itching, hives, angioedema (swelling of the eyes, lips, throat, hands, or feet), flushing, shortness of breath, difficulty swallowing, chest tightness, passing out (syncope), profuse sweating, headache, gastrointestinal symptoms (nausea, vomiting, abdominal pain), and choking, throat constriction, or hoarseness of the voice. Symptoms may occur at any stage of exercise, and stopping the exercise typically resolves the symptoms. However, Medscape does note that some people continue to have serious symptoms even after they stop exercising.

Learn more about an exercise-induced allergic reaction after the break!

What Do You Know About Cat Allergies?

PetSugar — Mon, 11 Jul 2011 08:09:01 PDT

Achoo! A kitty allergy is no joke to those who have it. Did you know about 20 to 30 percent of people with allergic asthma flare up after meeting with a cat? See what else you know about this ailment by taking my quiz!

Take the Quiz

A FitSugar Reader on Living With Food Allergies

Fit Community — Thu, 23 Jun 2011 03:06:48 PDT

Food allergies can be hard to live with. Between reading every ingredient list at the supermarket and being extra careful at restaurants, eating can get complicated. FitSugar reader Mandygm tells us how life has changed since she first found out she had food allergies on her OnSugar blog Allergy A-Go-Go.

I am watching and listening to the rain fall and wind gust between claps of thunder right now. The power has flickered off a few times now. My first severe allergic reaction occurred in a storm just like this one five years ago. In order to have an allergy to a food, you must eat it or be exposed to it at least once. The day before my first allergic reaction I tried sugar snap peas for the first time. The next day I couldn't stop eating sugar snap peas. I loved them - for a short time. Then my mouth, lips, and throat started to itch. My eyes swelled up and watered like I was sobbing. I was sneezing, and my nose and eyes were really itchy. I started vomiting right when the power went out during the storm. A year later, I was enjoying Ethel M chocolates - the almond coated toffee variety to be exact. My lips swelled up Angelina Jolie-style and my throat was really itchy. Shortly after this, I went to the allergist, and discovered that I am allergic to peanuts, tree nuts, soy, peas, and environmental allergies I already knew about.

Read about how Mandygm copes with her allergies after the break.

Do You Let Your Pet Sleep in Your Bed?

Leta Shy — Mon, 20 Jun 2011 10:25:10 PDT

Pets are part of the family, but does that mean they should be able to sleep in your bed? While some people may not have a problem with it, others get slightly grossed out by the thought.

There's good reason. Letting your pet sleep in your bed can worsen your allergies, since they'll be shedding pet dander and dust mites, not to mention the fact that they can track dirt and bacteria into your bed. And then there's the problem of fleas. Summer is prime-time flea season, and if you aren't careful, your cat or dog can introduce those little pests into your bedroom before you know it.

I have to admit, though, that I let my cat sleep at the foot of my bed, although I am having second thoughts about whether I should. What about you; do you let your pets sleep with you?

The Skinny on Xanthan Gum

FitSugar — Thu, 16 Jun 2011 01:48:07 PDT

If you read labels to steer clear from any sketchy sounding ingredients, you've probably come across xanthan gum in random items from ice cream to salad dressings, from toothpaste to gluten-free desserts. Xanthan gum sounds artificial, but what is it really, and why is it in so many products?

Without getting too scientific, xanthan gum is a carbohydrate created through fermentation. The process begins with a sugar from a soy, wheat, dairy, or corn source. A strain of bacteria, called Xanthomonas campetris, is added to the sugar to create a gum, or a slimy substance, which works as a colorless and tasteless thickener, stabilizer, and emulsifier.

With the ever popularized gluten-free dessert craze, many famous bakeries, like Babycakes NYC, depend on xanthan gum to give wheat-free cakes and cookies that gummy, "gluten-y" quality. Erin McKenna, founder of Babycakes, diligently chooses all of her ingredients because her bakery is devoted to offering sweets free of wheat, gluten, dairy, casein, and eggs. She recommends Bob's Red Mill Xanthan Gum, which is certified gluten- and dairy-free and made from a combination of non-GMO corn and soy sugars. If you're attempting some gluten-free baking of your own, it is recommended that when converting a flour-based recipe to gluten-free, add one to two teaspoons of xanthan gum for cakes and up to one teaspoon of xanthan gum for cookies.

If you have any sensitivities or allergies to soy, wheat, dairy, or corn, be sure to play detective and figure out the original source of the xanthan gum before ingesting it. Some gluten-free folks claim that xanthan gum causes intestinal distress. And according to Web MD, xanthan gum can work as a laxative; it swells in the intestinal tract and activates digestion. If you experience uncomfortable bloating after eating products that contain xanthan gum, try substituting guar gum, which is made from powdered guar beans and produces a comparable gummy texture - hopefully without any side effects.

What's your favorite gluten-free product or recipe?

The Link Between Birth Order, Birth Month, and Your Health

Heather Dale — Wed, 11 May 2011 00:12:00 PDT

In the last two months alone, we've learned that firstborn children are more likely to suffer from food allergies, and those born in the Spring and Summer months are more likely to have celiac disease. So what happens if you are a firstborn and you were born in July? Are you predisposed to other health conditions as well?

Interestingly enough, this isn't the first time we've heard of such associations being made. In terms of birth order, research has looked at the role your birth order plays in intelligence, citing that firstborn children may score higher on IQ tests compared to their younger siblings.

And when it comes to your birth month, some scientists believe there are specific illnesses and behavioral disorders that are more prevalent among people born during certain months or seasons of the year. Although celiac disease in individuals born during Summer months wasn't mentioned, other conditions such as asthma, epilepsy, multiple sclerosis, leukemia, dyslexia, diabetes were. What's the connection? Scientists believe that there's an environmental component, as fetuses exposed to seasonal viruses may suffer in the womb. Despite the fact that these correlations are being made, there still hasn't been a study to date as of yet that has proven a definitive cause-and-effect relationship between illness and your birth month. Do you think there are ties between birth order or birth month and health?