FitSugar

It Pays to Know How to Blow Your Nose

FitSugar — Tue, 09 Oct 2007 08:45:00 PDT

Having a cold can really put a damper on your daily life. One of the major symptoms of having a cold is a runny and/or stuffy nose, and believe it or not there is a right way and a wrong way to deal with all that leaky congestion. First off, you don't want to sniffle it back into your head, so you are going to need to blow your nose frequently.

According to Web MD, you don't want to blow your nose too hard because this can cause an earache. The best way to blow your nose is similar to how most people put their pants on in the morning, one side at a time. Let me be explicit here: Press a finger over one nostril, and then gently blow to clear the other side. Reverse this action as needed. Also, you should wash your hands after blowing your nose to help prevent spreading germs.

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Sinus Infection or Not?

FitSugar — Wed, 12 Sep 2007 09:30:00 PDT

Every time I get a cold, I spend the entire duration wondering if it is actually a dreaded sinus infection (aka Sinusitis). No one has actually explained the difference in the symptoms between a sinus infection and a nasty cold, so I always just lived in fear that this one could actually be a sinus infection.

However, when I recently came across a list of common symptoms of a sinus infection, courtesy of the U.S. National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, I had to share:

Headache, particularly first thing in the morning.
Pain in the forehead, jaw, teeth and cheeks, or between the eyes.
Swollen or inflamed tear ducts, eyelids, and other tissues surrounding the eyes.
Congestion, sore throat, neck pain or cough.
Fever.
Weakness and fatigue.

So there you have it. If the cold medicines you've been taking to relieve the symptoms of the common cold are not working and you've got a terrible headache, it looks like it's time to see a doctor.

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Allergies and Chronic Sinusitis

FitSugar — Thu, 09 Aug 2007 12:30:00 PDT

Many people suffer from seasonal allergies this time of year, and many people may also suffer from perennial allergies all year round, to pet dander and dust mites.

Allergy symptoms may include itchy, watery eyes, an itchy throat or mouth, or a runny nose. Other people may experience severe sinus congestion. The sinuses are air-filled cavities found in the bones of the head and face. There are 4 pairs of sinuses (8 in all), located on either side of the nose in your cheeks, behind and between the eyes, in the forehead, and at the back of the nasal cavity.

Sinus congestion can be caused by excessive amounts of mucus clogging up your sinuses, or if the mucus is thick and sticky. It can also happen if the lining of your sinuses becomes irritated by allergens. This causes swelling, which narrows down the passages, and make it harder for mucus to get out.

When this happens, mucus gets trapped in your sinuses. Similar to standing water, trapped mucus makes an excellent breeding ground for bacteria, viruses, and fungi to grow. This can cause sinusitis. Acute sinusitis happens if you've had a cold and you have symptoms for more than 2 weeks. Chronic sinusitis will be diagnosed if you're having symptoms that last more than 3 months.

Symptoms of both may include:

fever
persistent nasal congestion, and discharge that is often yellow or green
daytime cough due to post-nasal drip (may be worse at night or when you lie down)
puffy eyes or tenderness around them
headache or pain in the face or behind your eyes

What can you do if you have allergy-induced chronic sinusitis? To find out

Your doctor may prescribe a course of antibiotics, sometimes for several months. If those don't work (and they won't if you continue being exposed to the allergen that's causing your nasal congestion), your doctor may then suggest you get a CT scan so they can take a look at your sinuses. You may have a physical problem, such as nasal polyps (non-cancerous growths inside your nose), or a deviated septum causing mucus to get blocked. Your doctor may even recommend sinus surgery to remove all the mucus and widen your sinuses.

Many people who have allergies and have had this surgery, complain that their symptoms just come back. Well duh - you've got to get rid of what's causing the symptoms in the first place.

Fit's Tips: Talk to an allergist, get tested, and find out exactly what you are allergic to. Sometimes, those tests don't tell you much, so in that case, you can also try taking allergy pills like Zyrtec or Singulair, or nasal sprays like Flonase to alleviate your nasal congestion. Or use a neti pot to flush the allergens out of your nose. If your nose isn't stuffy, it can't clog your sinuses, right? That means you can say goodbye to chronic sinusitis.

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Got Allergies? Don't Get Mad - Get HOT

FitSugar — Fri, 04 May 2007 12:30:00 PDT

Spring has bloomed all over and when I went to pick up my allergy medicine from the pharmacy yesterday, they were actually all out! You know that's because tons of people are suffering and reaching for drugs to deal with their symptoms.

Allergies affect people differently, so if you get a stuffy nose, congestion in your sinuses and fluid in your lungs, you could take decongestants, but they'll end up drying you up everywhere (even your lady business). Plus they can make you feel kind of spaced-out and tired.

Using a neti pot like the Rhino Horn can be really helpful at clearing your nose and sinuses, but if you're majorly plugged up, the water won't be able to flow from one nostril to the other.

You've got to get your heart pumping, girl! Doing any type of cardio consistently for at least 20 minutes (or more) will heat up your body, get you sweating, and get that fluid and congestion in your face and chest moving.

Running, biking, hiking, swimming, Ashtanga Yoga, using cardio machines, or taking cardio classes (like kickboxing) are all great choices.

Fit's Tips: Whatever you do, make sure you pack some tissues so when your nose starts to run; you can blow it (don't sniff it back in). If you've got congestion in your lungs, you'll end up coughing up some mucus too (I know that sounds gross but it's better to cough it up than have it sitting in your chest, right?). Staying hydrating will help too.

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Tips For Practicing Yoga in the Winter

FitSugar — Wed, 18 Jan 2012 15:24:08 PST

When cold, brisk air is blowing outside, I crave practicing yoga in a heated room. Walking around barefoot in a tank top and feeling the warm arm on my skin is incredibly liberating. Practicing yoga in the Winter is a little different than in the summertime, so here are some things you should keep in mind until the thaw.

Don't just head to class in your just your capris. Be sure to wear warm layers over your yoga outfit. A warm body is less prone to injury.
If you live in a very cold climate, try to get to class at least 10 minutes early to sit in the hot room to allow your muscles to warm up before diving into Downward Dog. Do some Sun Salutations on your own to warm up faster.
To avoid getting sick, ask the instructor not to assist you. They touch every other body in the room, so there's a good chance they can pass germs on to you.
If you have a cold, stay home. I know you think a hot, sweaty yoga class is just the thing you need to kick your cold and unclog your stuffy nose, but be considerate of the other yogis in the class. This is a great time to test out your home practice or use your favorite yoga DVDs.
Use your own yoga mat and never borrow studio or gym mats. It's hard to know when they were last washed or what kind of germs may be living them. Along the same lines, don't let anyone borrow your mat either.
Make sure to bring a change of warm, dry clothes. You don't want to stay in your damp yoga outfit and step outside in the cold air. Cold weather doesn't make you sick, but it sure challenges your immune system.

How Pregnancy Affects Exercise: Did These Happen to You?

Jenny Sugar — Wed, 21 Dec 2011 12:51:20 PST

Of course you're all excited about the arrival of your little bundle of joy, but who knew pregnancy could cause so many strange and uncomfortable health issues? Click through and find out why you have shooting pains when you run, wrist pain when you lift weights, or such a stuffy nose that you can't breathe in your yoga class. Share if these things happen(ed) to you during pregnancy.

Lil Links: How to Treat Your Lil One's Stuffy Nose

LilSugar — Thu, 17 Mar 2011 00:05:12 PDT

Stuffy nose? 14 tips for treating kids' colds. - Health
Joey McIntyre has a new PSA about hearing loss – the number one birth defect in the US. - Celebrity Baby Blog
Teen Mom 2 star's best friend is pregnant and due this Summer. - Celebrity Baby Scoop
One mama defends the use of curse words in her home. - The Stir
Loving each child best? Not for this mom – she has a favorite! - Momformation
Nutritious shamrock smoothies for mamas-to-be. - FitPregnancy
Study finds gay parents more accepted than single moms. - Parenting
Cold meds safe for breastfeeding moms. - The Bump
10 best family restaurants - Parents
A chore chart that kids will want to follow! - Cool Mom Picks

Refuse, Refuse, Refuse, Then Reduce, Reuse, Recycle: 10 Tips For Going Zero-Waste With Kids

LilSugar — Thu, 18 Aug 2011 11:31:18 PDT

The average American throws out 550 pounds of paper, 318 pounds of food, and 90 pounds of glass per year, with nearly 80 percent of that garbage ending up in landfills. Transforming the average household into a zero-waste, all-natural, toxin-free utopia is an overwhelming concept if you try to tackle everything at once. Best to go through the house room by room, step by step to see which disposable products can be replaced with more eco-friendly options.

Having children may somewhat complicate the zero-waste transformation, but they in no way make it impossible. If you need a little push in the right direction BeSimpler is an inspiring business where one of the two extremely eco-chic founders (they both have kids and live waste-free!) will actually do a house visit to help mamas simplify and eliminate unnecessary waste. Here are some of their tips to transform a house into a waste-free, kid-friendly, sustainable home.

Babies use a lot of diapers. Most disposable versions go right in the trash along with handfuls of wipes, destined to spend years decomposing at the dump. Reusable cloth diapers and wipes are the best option for a zero-waste home (there are plenty of services who do the pick up and laundry), while compostable diapers are a good second option. Unlike other single-use diapers, compostable nappies are made of ingredients that will compost when put in the proper environment - they contain no petroleum-based plastics that pollute our Earth by remaining un-decayed for hundreds of years.
Babies make messes. Swap paper towels for microfiber cloths.
Rid the home of piles of junk mail by getting yourself off the lists at dmachoice.org and catalogchoice.org.
Treat boo-boos with peroxide, gauze, and paper tape instead of Band-Aids.
Use a neti pot or reusable handkerchiefs for stuffy noses.

Keep reading for more tips for converting a home into a waste-free zone.

Milk, Mucus, and You: The Congestion Connection

FitSugar — Thu, 31 May 2007 08:45:00 PDT

If you suffer from seasonal allergies, and your symptoms involve nasal and sinus congestion 24-7, you may want to take a look at the dairy in your diet.

Dairy products like milk, cheese, yogurt, and ice cream may be making your allergy symptoms worse. Casein, the naturally occurring protein in dairy products, can promote the formation of mucus. It can also make existing mucus thicker in your nose and sinuses, leaving you completely congested. It may also cause a runny nose or the ever annoying post nasal drip.

Of course, conventional doctors may not agree with the notion that dairy promotes mucus (there's no scientific evidence, but maybe because there have been no studies - I don't know), but many people swear that ditching dairy has cured their sinus problems. So if you are curious, you'll have to test the theory yourself. Try eliminating all things dairy for at least 1 to 2 weeks and see how you feel. It's made a world of difference for me, my nose and my sinuses, so I definitely think it's worth a shot.

Here's a cool tidbit of info - casein is also used to make adhesives, like glue, beer bottle labels and wood glue used in furniture. Think about it - if casein can make two objects stick together, imagine what it can do to your sinuses.

Fit's Tips: To help relieve congestion in your nose and sinuses, try using a neti pot. Not only does it get rid of mucus, but it helps to flush dust and allergens out of your nose that can make you stuffy in the first place.

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Healthy Home: Why You Need to Zap Mold

Leta Shy — Fri, 04 Mar 2011 00:45:49 PST

Mold gets a bad rap, and for good reason. That black infestation creeping around your bathroom, basement, or other humid room is not only unsightly but also can be hazardous to your health. If it spreads too much, the spores circulate around your home (including dry areas) and get into your airways. If you have sensitivities or allergies to the stuff, breathing in too much mold can mean stuffy noses, irritated eyes and skin, or wheezing - or, more seriously, fever and shortness of breath. It can also trigger asthma attacks.

Even if you are healthy, however, mold is a problem. A recent study found that healthy people experienced coughing and wheezing when exposed to mold, and it can also cause lung infections or other chronic problems. And while there are several different types of common household molds, there's no need to try to figure out which one you have - if you see mold, you've got a mold problem! So what can you do to make sure your house is healthy and mold-free? Read on for tips on dealing with mold.