Can Some Bacteria be Good for You?

Bacteria. The word alone makes us think of infection, disease, and illness. We hate all bacteria, right?

ThinkstockPhotos-482096272Actually, there is such a thing as GOOD bacteria. They are called probiotics and they help you maintain a healthy digestive system. They do this by lowering “bad” bacteria that can cause infections and other problems. Sometimes we don’t have enough good bacteria in our systems (for instance, like when we are on antibiotics). A lack of good bacteria can cause a variety of digestive issues. By taking probiotics, we are replacing those good bacteria which are sometimes lost.

Probiotics are most commonly taken to help prevent or improve common digestive problems such as irritable bowel syndrome and diarrhea. Others have suggested that they are also beneficial in treating skin conditions, such as eczema, improving urinary and vaginal health, and preventing colds and allergies.

Your body naturally generates probiotics, but if you want to increase your good bacteria levels, you can take probiotics in supplement form or get them by eating certain foods, most notably yogurt and other fermented products.

Probiotics are natural so they are generally considered safe to take, even in supplement form. It is recommended that you speak to your doctor about the best way of incorporating probiotics into your diet.

All content of this newsletter is intended for general information purposes only and is not intended or implied to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis or treatment. Please consult a medical professional before adopting any of the suggestions on this page. You must never disregard professional medical advice or delay seeking medical treatment based upon any content of this newsletter. PROMPTLY CONSULT YOUR PHYSICIAN OR CALL 911 IF YOU BELIEVE YOU HAVE A MEDICAL EMERGENCY.

Have You Ever Heard of Face Blindness?

Prosopagnosia, also known as face blindness or facial agnosia, is a rare neurological disorder characterized by the inability to recognize faces. The condition is often accompanied by other forms of recognition impairments such as a failure to recognize objects or places but sometimes it is just restricted to facial identity.

Depending upon the degree of impairment, some people with prosopagnosia may only have difficulty recognizing a familiar face. Others might be unable to discriminate between unknown faces while others may not be able to distinguish a face as being different from an object. In some cases, people with the disorder are unable to recognize their own face.

Prosopagnosia is not related to memory dysfunction, memory loss, impaired vision or a learning disability. Most of the documented cases of prosopagnosia are linked to an event that resulted in damage to the brain, such as a stroke, head trauma or a degenerative disease. In these cases, the condition is referred to as acquired prosopagnosia. In other cases however, the condition occurs in the absence of brain damage. These cases are considered developmental prosopagnosia and can occur at birth or at a very young age. In most cases, developmental prosopagnosia is genetic in nature.

There is still very little know about prosopagnosia and there is no cure for prosopagnosia. To compensate, those with the disorder are encouraged to develop strategies to help them identify individuals, such as recognizing voice cues or other unique physical attributes.

All content of this newsletter is intended for general information purposes only and is not intended or implied to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis or treatment. Please consult a medical professional before adopting any of the suggestions on this page. You must never disregard professional medical advice or delay seeking medical treatment based upon any content of this newsletter. PROMPTLY CONSULT YOUR PHYSICIAN OR CALL 911 IF YOU BELIEVE YOU HAVE A MEDICAL EMERGENCY.

Allergic to the Cold Temperatures? It’s Real For Some

Everyone is aware of seasonal allergies. They are very common beginning in the spring and lasting through fall – and many are affected by them. While these types of seasonal allergies are not prevalent in the winter months, there is another, much less common form of allergic reaction that affects some when the thermometer dips.

Urticaria

Cold urtcaria is an allergic reaction to cold temperatures. The skin of those with this condition will break-out into welts or hives when exposed to cold temperatures. No one knows exactly what causes cold urticaria. Certain people appear to have very sensitive skin cells, due to an inherited trait, a virus or an illness. In the most common forms of this condition, exposure to cold triggers the release of histamine and other chemicals into the bloodstream. Cold urtcaria is most common in young adults and it usually clears up within a couple of years.

Cold urticaria signs and symptoms include:

• Temporary reddish, itchy welts (hives) on the area of skin that was exposed to cold
• A worsening of the reaction as the skin warms
• Swelling of hands when holding cold objects
• Swelling of the lips and throat when consuming cold food or drink

In rare cases, a reaction could be more severe and may result fainting, a racing heart, swelling of the limbs or torso, and even shock.

There is no cure for cold urticaria, but treatment can help. Your doctor may recommend over-the-counter antihistamines to treat the condition. If they do not help, talk with your doctor about finding a prescription drug or combination of drugs that works best for you.
It is recommended that you see a doctor if you have skin reactions after cold exposure, even if the reactions are mild. Your doctor will want to rule out underlying conditions that may be causing the problem.

Seek emergency care if after sudden exposure to cold you:

• Feel dizzy
• Have trouble breathing
• Feel your tongue or throat swelling

All content of this newsletter is intended for general information purposes only and is not intended or implied to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis or treatment. Please consult a medical professional before adopting any of the suggestions on this page. You must never disregard professional medical advice or delay seeking medical treatment based upon any content of this newsletter. PROMPTLY CONSULT YOUR PHYSICIAN OR CALL 911 IF YOU BELIEVE YOU HAVE A MEDICAL EMERGENCY.

Trypanophobia- A Fear of Needles

Asian nurse giving vaccination injection to patientStudies show that a remarkable 20 percent of the population has some degree of fear of needles or injections and 10 percent within that number suffer from what is known as Trypanophobia.  This is an excessive or irrational fear of injections or needles which can be learned or inherited. Many with Trypanophobia avoid getting medical treatment that involves the use of needles, which can prove dangerous for those with chronic medical conditions such as diabetes.

The fear of needles can manifest in one of three ways:

1: A vasovagal reflex reaction-where a person may faint or go into convulsions during or after a needle procedure.

2:  Classic phobia- which results from traumatic events with symptoms involving feeling anxious, experiencing nausea or difficulty breathing when needles are present.

3: Hypersensitivity to the pain caused by a needle- the skin’s surface becomes extremely sensitive making procedures that involve needles uncomfortable.

There are a few things that can be done to minimize the symptoms of Trypanophobia. They are, using topical anesthetics to numb the skin or avoiding the sight of needles by using covered caps. Diabetics can ask their doctor for products such as inhalable insulin or jet injectors.

All content of this newsletter is intended for general information purposes only and is not intended or implied to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis or treatment. Please consult a medical professional before adopting any of the suggestions on this page. You must never disregard professional medical advice or delay seeking medical treatment based upon any content of this newsletter. PROMPTLY CONSULT YOUR PHYSICIAN OR CALL 911 IF YOU BELIEVE YOU HAVE A MEDICAL EMERGENCY.