FitSugar

Home Remedies: Digestive Issues

FitSugar — Sun, 30 Nov 2008 03:00:00 -0800

If the four days of feasting over Thanksgiving weekend have taken a toll on your tummy, you might be interested in trying some home remedies. Prevention has created a list of tummy tamers and here are the highlights.

Ease nausea: Give frozen ginger chips a try. Make your own by infusing slices of fresh ginger in hot water. Strain the ginger and place them in an ice cube tray. When you're feeling queasy, crush the cubes and suck on the frozen pieces.

Curb flatulence: Three times a day, take two enteric-coated peppermint capsules (500 mg each). They must be coated so the peppermint can make it to your intestines. This herb will kill the bacteria in your digestive system that's causing your bloated feeling. It also has relaxing effects on your gastrointestinal muscles.

Constipation: Boil 10 grapes in six ounces of milk. Before bed, drink the milk separately and then eat the grapes.

Diarrhea: Mash bananas in white rice and eat in small amounts. The two have binding effects.

Source

Kid Has Extreme Camera Fright

GiggleSugar — Thu, 23 Aug 2007 09:28:08 -0700

This has to be the worst case of the jitters I've ever seen. It's so bad that the poor kid has to do an endless number of takes to make his single sentence announcement and by the time he's done, I'm still confused. And why'd he have to go and drop the F-bomb at the end there? Kids these days...

Waiters Who Are Nauseated By Food

GiggleSugar — Fri, 29 Jun 2007 09:30:00 -0700

Two of my favorite funny guys, Steve Carell and Stephen Colbert, team up to play a couple of waiters in this short skit. What's the catch? They're waiters who double over at the mere mention of "chicken" because food makes them sick to their stomachs. Oy vey. Watch what happens when a customer asks to hear the daily specials. Big mistake!

PSI Bands: Stop Tossing Your Cookies

FitSugar — Fri, 02 Mar 2007 16:30:00 -0800

Been tossing your cookies a lot lately? Maybe morning sickness or maybe sitting backwards on that bus ride to work is just not working for you?

Psi Bands ($19.99 for two), quite simply, are acupressure wristbands for women and men who suffer from nausea (commonly caused by pregnancy, motion sickness, anesthesia, or chemotherapy). Psi Bands are worn at the same time on both wrists at the Nei-kuan point -- the area that provides nausea relief. Numerous scientific studies support the use of wrist acupressure in the prevention and treatment of nausea and vomiting. This therapy is popular because it is noninvasive, easy to self-administer and affordable (ding, ding). Unlike the other products on the market, they are adjustable at two points (around the wrist and at the acupressure point), stylish, drug-free, comfortable and waterproof.

My favorite part about the bands is that two moms looking for a natural way to treat their ongoing morning sickness created them. Determined to feel better without using drugs, they discovered the benefits of acupressure, an ancient healing art developed more than 5000 years ago that uses pressure to stimulate the body's natural self-curative abilities. Get them directly from PsiBands.com.

Who knew an anti-vomit bracelet could be so chic! To see all the cute styles, read more

View 4 Photos ›

You With a Hangover

FitSugar — Mon, 01 Jan 2007 04:22:43 -0800

It happens to us all at some time or another, but with an expected frequency on New Year's Eve. We drink too much and then we pay for it the next day. Are you hung up by your hangover?

Well let me explain what is going on with your body.

Your throat and mouth are dry due to dehydration, which is caused by the diuretic properties of alcohol. The dehydration also affects your muscles making them feel weak.

The excessive alcohol irritates the lining of the stomach causing nausea and sour stomach. The inflammation delays digestion, which in turn, contributes to the feelings of nausea.

Your liver gets backed up trying to metabolize all the alcohol so you might be experiencing symptoms of hypoglycemia, meaning you are highly irritable and moody.

Your central nervous system becomes chemically over excited causing sensitivity to light, sound and touch.

Blood vessels in the brain dilate and that is what is causing that throbbing headache, which is only exacerbated by your dehydration mentioned above.

Your pituitary gland becomes confused and releases the wrong amounts of the hormones that regulate sleep. So while you may want to sleep it off, your sleep pattern is severely disrupted.

The kind of good news is that it is not clear whether hangovers affect cognitive abilities. But fear not, the after effects of your partying should only linger about for about 24 hours. Tomorrow is another day.

My friend YumSugar wants to know what you eat when you're hungover. So go vote on her poll.

Source

Dextrose/fructose/phosphoric acid (By mouth)

admin — Thu, 04 Sep 2008 20:11:36 -0700

Overview

Introduction
Brand Name(s)
When This Medicine Should Not Be Used
How to Use This Medicine
How to Store and Dispose of This Medicine
Drugs and Foods to Avoid
Warnings While Using This Medicine
Possible Side Effects While Using This Medicine

HEALTH GUIDE REFERENCE FROM A.D.A.M

Introduction

Dextrose (DEX-trose), Fructose (FRUK-tose), Phosphoric Acid (fos-FOR-ik AS-id)

Relieves nausea.

Brand Name(s)

Emetrol, Health Care America Nausetrol, Kalmz, Nausea Control, Formula EM, Especol, Nausea Relief

There may be other brand names for this medicine.

When This Medicine Should Not Be Used

You should not use this medicine if you have had an allergic reaction to dextrose, fructose, or phosphoric acid.

How to Use This Medicine

Solution

Your doctor will tell you how much of this medicine to use and how often. Do not use more medicine or use it more often than your doctor tells you to.
If you are using this medicine without a prescription, follow the instructions on the medicine label.
Measure the oral liquid medicine with a marked measuring spoon, oral syringe, or medicine cup.

If a dose is missed:

If you miss a dose or forget to use your medicine, use it as soon as you can. If it is almost time for your next dose, wait until then to use the medicine and skip the missed dose. Do not use extra medicine to make up for a missed dose.

How to Store and Dispose of This Medicine

Store the medicine in a closed container at room temperature, away from heat, moisture, and direct light.
Ask your pharmacist, doctor, or health caregiver about the best way to dispose of any leftover medicine after you have finished your treatment. You will also need to throw away old medicine after the expiration date has passed.
Keep all medicine away from children and never share your medicine with anyone.

Drugs and Foods to Avoid

Ask your doctor or pharmacist before using any other medicine, including over-the-counter medicines, vitamins, and herbal products.

Warnings While Using This Medicine

Make sure your doctor knows if you are pregnant or breast feeding.
Make sure your doctor knows if you have hereditary fructose intolerance (HFI).
Make sure your doctor knows if you have diabetes.

Possible Side Effects While Using This Medicine

Call your doctor right away if you notice any of these side effects:

Allergic reaction: Itching or hives, swelling in your face or hands, swelling or tingling in your mouth or throat, chest tightness, trouble breathing.

Review Date: 8/4/2008

A.D.A.M., Inc. is accredited by URAC, also known as the American Accreditation HealthCare Commission (www.urac.org). URAC's accreditation program is an independent audit to verify that A.D.A.M. follows rigorous standards of quality and accountability. A.D.A.M. is among the first to achieve this important distinction for online health information and services. Learn more about A.D.A.M.'s editorial policy, editorial process and privacy policy. A.D.A.M. is also a founding member of Hi-Ethics and subscribes to the principles of the Health on the Net Foundation (www.hon.ch).

A.D.A.M. Copyright

The information provided herein should not be used during any medical emergency or for the diagnosis or treatment of any medical condition. A licensed medical professional should be consulted for diagnosis and treatment of any and all medical conditions. Call 911 for all medical emergencies. Links to other sites are provided for information only -- they do not constitute endorsements of those other sites. © 1997-2010 A.D.A.M., Inc. Any duplication or distribution of the information contained herein is strictly prohibited.

adam.com

Source Doc: 45_5450

DrSugar: What Will Going Off the Pill Do to My Body?

FitSugar — Tue, 16 Mar 2010 08:00:49 -0700

DrSugar is in the house! This week she's answering a question about going off of birth control.

Dear DocSugar,
I have been taking birth control pills for 10 years and things have shifted in my personal life and I no longer need to worry about getting pregnant. I want to go off this pill, but am worried what will happen to my body and my cycle. Can you tell me what I should expect when I stop taking the pill? Will I gain weight? Will I break out? Will my period be just awful? Also, how long will it take for my hormone levels return to normal?
- No More Pill For Me

Let me take off my lady doctor cap for a moment and share with all of you that I went through this very same issue last year. After years on the pill, I stopped taking it, and will give both some professional and personal advice on this matter when you read more.

To begin, the birth control pill works by preventing ovulation. Once you stop taking the pill, the hormones are out of your body quickly, usually within a couple of days (this is why women who miss a couple days of pills on birth control have a chance of ovulating and getting pregnant!). Another important point to make is that it does not matter how long you were on the pill, from 10 weeks to 10 months to more than 15 years, your body will still be rid of the hormones within a couple of days!

Once the hormones are out of your system, your body will begin to start producing hormones to initiate menstrual cycles. Some women will begin to ovulate in a couple of weeks, whereas it may take several months for other women to begin to ovulate. Generally speaking, your body should be back to "normal menstruation mode" within two to three months after stopping the pill. It is important to emphasize that if you had problems with ovulation prior to starting the pill, you may continue to have irregular ovulation/periods after stopping the pill. Most women with normal ovulation/periods prior to starting the pill will continue to have normal ovulation/periods after stopping the pill. But, some women who had regular periods prior to starting the pill may have irregular ovulation after stopping the pill. The key point here is that everyone’s experience with ovulation/periods after stopping the pill is different!

There is a condition called post-pill amenorrhea (or lack of menstruation) that can occur after stopping the birth control pill. According to the Mayo Clinic, the reason for lack of menstruation in these women is that the body is just taking longer to produce the hormones necessary for ovulation and menstruation. If you still haven’t had a period after three months, they recommend taking a pregnancy test. It would be prudent to also schedule an appointment with either your primary care physician or gynecologist for evaluation. Some women never get a period after they stop taking the pill because they ovulate and conceive right away after the discontinuation. If you do not want to become pregnant, use another form of contraception such as condoms or a diaphragm.

Many women take certain birth control pills to regulate their acne. Once you stop using birth control, you may notice an increase in acne on your face or on other parts of your body. When your body’s hormone levels regulate again, the acne can subside in some cases. As far as weight fluctuation is concerned, it has been shown that birth control pills that are higher in estrogen may cause weight gain and water retention. Therefore, your body may adjust after stopping the pill and some weight loss may occur due to a decrease in water retention. Again, each woman’s experience may be different. Case in point, I did gain some weight after I stopped the pill, but it may have been because of other factors due to the stress of trying to conceive, which is why I stopped taking the pill. Many birth control pills are designed especially to help treat exaggerated premenstrual syndromes or in certain women, premenstrual dysphoric disorder. Thus, some women will notice increased breast tenderness and other premenstrual symptoms such as nausea, headaches and fluctuating emotions.

I'll finish by telling you more about my experience with stopping birth control. I had regular menstrual cycles before I started the pill, but this was not the case after I stopped the pill. It took approximately two months to get my first period off the pill and they were very irregular after that (ranging from 5 weeks to 12 weeks between periods). After seeking consultation with my gynecologist after one year of irregular cycles, I was diagnosed with oligo-ovulation, which basically means I ovulate very infrequently. They could not find any medical cause for this problem after an extensive workup. At first, I felt like something was wrong with me or that I had done something in my lifetime to cause this. But, I now realize I am not alone and that there are many women out there going through the same problems I am going through! Hopefully, if any of my readers are going through the same problem as me, they can feel better knowing that there are many women out there (including myself) that are going through it as well!

Have a question for DrSugar? You can send to me via private message here, and I will forward it to the good doctor.

DrSugar's posts are for informational purposes only and should not be considered medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment recommendations. Click here for more details.

Nausea and vomiting

admin — Thu, 04 Sep 2008 19:05:38 -0700

Overview

Definition
Alternative Names
Considerations
Common Causes
Home Care
Call your health care provider if
What to expect at your health care provider's office
Prevention
References

Illustrations

Digestive system

HEALTH GUIDE REFERENCE FROM A.D.A.M

Definition

Nausea is the sensation of having an urge to vomit. Vomiting is forcing the contents of the stomach up through the esophagus and out of the mouth.

Alternative Names

Emesis; Vomiting; Stomach upset; Upset stomach

Considerations

Your body has a few main ways to respond to an ever-changing, wide variety of invaders and irritants. Sneezing ejects the intruders from the nose, coughing from the lungs and throat, diarrhea from the intestines, and vomiting from the stomach.

Vomiting is a forceful action accomplished by a fierce, downward contraction of the diaphragm. At the same time, the abdominal muscles tighten against a relaxed stomach with an open sphincter. The contents of the stomach are propelled up and out.

You may have more saliva just before vomiting.

Vomiting is a complex, coordinated reflex orchestrated by the vomiting center of the brain. It responds to signals coming from:

The mouth, stomach, and intestines
The bloodstream, which may contain medicines or infections
The balancing systems in the ear (motion sickness)
The brain itself, including unsettling sights, smells, or thoughts

An amazing variety of stimuli can trigger vomiting, from migraines to kidney stones. Sometimes, just seeing someone else vomit will start you vomiting, in your body's effort to protect you from possible exposure to the same danger.

Vomiting is common. Almost all children will vomit several times during their childhood. In most cases, it is due to a viral gastrointestinal infection.

“Spitting up,” the gentle sloshing of stomach contents up and out of the mouth, sometimes with a burp, is an entirely different process. Some spitting up is normal for babies, and usually gets gradually better over time. If spitting up worsens or is more frequent, it might be reflux disease. Discuss this with your child's doctor.

Most of the time, nausea and vomiting do not require urgent medical attention. However, if the symptoms continue for days, they are severe, or you cannot keep down any food or fluids, you may have a more serious condition.

Dehydration is the main concern with most vomiting. How fast you become dehydrated depends on your size, frequency of vomiting, and whether you also have diarrhea.

Common Causes

The following are possible causes of vomiting:

Viral infections
Medications
Seasickness or motion sickness
Migraine headaches
Morning sickness during pregnancy
Food poisoning
Food allergies
Brain tumors
Chemotherapy in cancer patients
Bulimia
Alcoholism

These are possible causes of vomiting in infants (0 - 6 months):

Congenital pyloric stenosis, a constriction in the outlet from the stomach (the infant vomits forcefully after each feeding but otherwise appears to be healthy)
Food allergies or milk intolerance
Gastroenteritis (infection of the digestive tract that usually causes vomiting with diarrhea)
Gastroesophageal reflux
An inborn error of metabolism
Hole in the bottle nipple may be wrong size, leading to overfeeding
Infection, often accompanied by fever or runny nose
Intestinal obstruction, evidenced by recurring attacks of vomiting and crying or screaming as if in great pain
Accidentally ingesting a drug or poison

Call the doctor immediately or take the child to an emergency care facility if you suspect poisoning or drug ingestion!

Home Care

It is important to stay hydrated. Try steady, small amounts of clear liquids, such as electrolyte solutions. Other clear liquids -- such as water, ginger ale, or fruit juices -- also work unless the vomiting is severe or it is a baby who is vomiting.

For breastfed babies, breastmilk is usually best. Formula-fed babies usually need clear liquids.

Don’t drink too much at one time. Stretching the stomach can make nausea and vomiting worse. Avoid solid foods until there has been no vomiting for six hours, and then work slowly back to a normal diet.

An over-the-counter bismuth stomach remedy like Pepto-Bismol is effective for upset stomach, nausea, indigestion, and diarrhea. Because it contains aspirin-like salicylates, it should NOT be used in children or teenagers who might have (or recently had) chickenpox or the flu.

Most vomiting comes from mild viral illnesses. Nevertheless, if you suspect the vomiting is from something serious, the person may need to be seen immediately.

If you have morning sickness, ask your doctor about the many possible treatments.

The following may help treat motion sickness:

Lying down
Over-the-counter antihistamines (such as Dramamine)
Scopolamine prescription skin patches (such as Transderm Scop) are useful for extended trips, such as an ocean voyage. Place the patch 4 - 12 hours before setting sail. Scopolamine is effective but may produce dry mouth, blurred vision, and some drowsiness. Scopolamine is for adults only. It should NOT be given to children.

Call your health care provider if

Call 911 or go to an emergency room if you think vomiting is from poisoning or a child has taken aspirin.

Call if the person has:

Vomiting longer than 24 hours
Blood or bile in the vomit
Severe abdominal pain
Headache and stiff neck
Signs of dehydration

Signs of dehydration include:

Increased thirst
Infrequent urination or dark yellow urine
Dry mouth
Eyes that appear sunken
Crying without tears
Loss of normal skin elasticity (if you touch or squeeze the skin, it doesn't bounce back the way it usually does)

You should also call if:

A young child is lethargic or has marked irritability.
An infant vomits repeatedly.
A child is unable to retain any fluids for 8 hours or more.
Vomiting is recurrent.
An adult is unable to retain any fluids for 12 hours or more.
There is a decrease in urination (including a baby who is not wetting the normal amount of diapers).
Nausea persists for a prolonged period of time (in a person who is not pregnant).

What to expect at your health care provider's office

Your health care provider will perform a physical examination, particularly to look for signs of dehydration.

To help diagnose the cause of the nausea or vomiting, your doctor will ask medical history questions, such as:

Are you vomiting fresh blood? Do you have repeated episodes of vomiting blood?
Are you vomiting material that looks like coffee grounds?
Are you vomiting undigested food?
Are you vomiting greenish material?
Is the nausea or vomiting severe enough to cause unintentional weight loss?
Is the vomiting self-induced?
Have you been traveling? Where?
What medications do you take?
Did other people that ate at the same location as you have the same symptoms?
Are you pregnant or could you be pregnant?
When did the vomiting begin? How long has it lasted?
Does it occur several hours after meals?
What other symptoms are also present -- abdominal pain, fever, diarrhea, poor skin turgor, other signs of dehydration, abdominal swelling, headaches?

The following diagnostic tests may be performed:

Blood tests (such as CBC with differential and basic electrolytes)
Urinalysis
X-rays of the abdomen

If dehydration is severe, you may need intravenous fluids. This may require hospitalization, although it can often be done in the doctor's office. The use of antivomiting drugs (anti-emetics) is controversial, and they should be used only in severe cases.

Prevention

A number of medicines are effective at preventing vomiting. In some situations, preventing the vomiting makes life much better.

References

Koch KL. Nausea and vomiting during pregnancy. Gastroenterol Clin North Am. 2003; 32(1): 201-234, vi.

Quigley EM. AGA technical review on nausea and vomiting. Gastroenterology. 2001; 120(1): 263-286.

Review Date: 7/25/2007

Reviewed By: Jenifer K. Lehrer, MD, Department of Gastroenterology, Frankford-Torresdale Hospital, Jefferson Health System, Philadelphia, PA. Review provided by VeriMed Healthcare Network.

A.D.A.M. Copyright

adam.com

Source Doc: 1_003117

Nausea and acupressure

admin — Thu, 04 Sep 2008 18:51:55 -0700

Illustrations

Nausea acupressure

HEALTH GUIDE REFERENCE FROM A.D.A.M

Alternative Names

Acupressure and nausea

Information

Question:

Can nausea be cured by pressing a spot on your arm?

Answer:

Sometimes mild nausea, even morning sickness, may improve by using your middle and index fingers to press firmly down on the groove between the two large tendons on the inside of your wrist that start at the base of your palm.

Special wristbands to help relieve nausea are sold over the counter at many stores. When the band is worn around the wrist, it presses upon the same or similar pressure points just described. The bands are not expensive and are reported to work for at least some people

Also, acupuncture (using needles) is often used for nausea or vomiting related to chemotherapy for cancer.

Review Date: 12/14/2007

Reviewed By: David Zieve, MD, MHA, Medical Director, A.D.A.M., Inc. Also reviewed by Stephen Grund, M.D. Ph.D., Chief of Hematology/Oncology and Director of the George Bray Cancer Center at New Britain General Hospital, New Britain, CT. Review provided by VeriMed Healthcare Network.

A.D.A.M. Copyright

adam.com

Source Doc: 1_002117

How to Beat a Stomach Bug

FitSugar — Mon, 01 Mar 2010 10:00:35 -0800

When I recently asked which is worst: pink eye, stomach bug, or the flu, over half of you voted that a stomach bug is the absolute worst. And I must agree. This awful illness is responsible for all the worst symptoms: nausea accompanied by vomiting, abdominal cramps, the runs, headaches, and a fever. Ugh, I feel sick just thinking about it.

Although the actual getting sick in the bathroom part usually only lasts a day, but sometimes up to three, when you have a stomach virus you can end up feeling tired, achy, and with tummy troubles for up to 10 days after. A stomach bug really wrecks a person, and I know the last time I had one, it took me almost a week until I could go back to eating my normal diet. If you're unlucky enough to contract a stomach bug, you'll want to know how to feel better as soon as possible so read more.

I hate to say it, but the best thing you can do is let nature take its course and let your body do what it needs to do. You probably won't feel much like eating, so stick to clear fluids such as ginger ale, ginger tea, water, and ice chips. If you do feel like munching a little, stick to bland foods such as bread, crackers, broth, or white rice. Avoid dairy products, caffeine, and alcohol, since they'll just aggravate your tummy. Rest as much as you can (between visits to the bathroom), and if you're really feeling awful, taking some Pepto Bismol, Tums, or other over-the-counter stomach-easing remedies may help.

What you do need to watch out for is dehydration caused by losing too much fluid. Not only will this make you feel worse with symptoms including dizziness, dry mouth, and fatigue, but it could also lead to seizures or permanent brain damage if left untreated. So be sure to drink those clear fluids often. Sip small amounts, so they're more likely to stay down. And just keep in mind that with time, you'll be back to your old self.

Once you experience a stomach virus, you want to do everything in your power to prevent it from happening again. Since it's highly contagious, wash your hands often, especially when you're touching public items such as door handles and elevator buttons. Also, keeping up with your healthy diet and regular exercise routine will strengthen your immune system, so if you come in contact with a bug, your body can fight it off.

Tell me, what makes you feel better when you have a stomach bug?