Asthma can literally take your breath away. This condition results often when the body is hypersensitive to certain elements like food, dander, pollen, dust mites, weather, and even exercise. The result of exposure to these elements triggers an asthma attack, or the narrowing of the airways. This constriction leads to over production of mucus that leads to wheezing and/ or paroxysm of coughing that just won’t stop, which makes breathing very difficult. Each asthmatic patient is different because their asthma flare-ups are caused by various triggers that the immune system reacts to. Some are more sensitive to certain elements than others (i.e., temperature, foods, etc.). In general, there are often certain foods that can trigger an asthma attack, so it is best to avoid them. Also, always be sure to have your asthma inhaler nearby to relieve any issues from sudden exposure. Consider avoiding the following food items below: 1. Eggs Eggs are one of the well-known allergies causing foods, especially in children. The protein in the eggs are touted for triggering an allergic reaction, which can lead to skin hives or asthma. In fact, eggs are considered so potent that you are advised to delay giving these to babies less than 12 months old.

The distinction between having the blues and clinical depression is the latter requires psychotherapy and medication. Patients experience the following forms of depression: clinical depression, postpartum depression, bipolar depression, manic depression, dysthymia, and cyclothymia. Risk factors for all types of depression are genetics, and trauma, such as ongoing abuse, relationship or job loss, diagnosis of a chronic disease, or the loss of a loved one. Knowing the early warning symptoms of depression is key to a proper diagnosis: 1. Insomnia The connection between depression and insomnia is not clear. It could be an inability to calm down enough to enter a restful state. Prolonged sleep deprivation contributes to developing diabetes. There is an increased risk of developing hypertension. In turn, high blood pressure increases the risk of stroke and heart attack. 2. Overeating Some people try to manage depression by overeating. Foods high in sugar and fat are mood elevators. Not only are these foods unhealthy, but upon reflection, consuming such foods exacerbates other depression symptoms like guilt and feelings of worthlessness. There are also the potential physical consequences of being overweight, like an increased risk of coronary artery disease. 3. Guilt Guilt can be both a symptom and a cause of depression.

Migraines are among the leading causes of health-related problems, especially in American females. A form of primary headache disorder, migraines are often marked by moderate to severe headaches that are pulsating in nature. Symptoms of migraine may include pain on one side of the head; sensitivity to sound, smell and light; nausea, vomiting, and pain that may last between a few hours to 3 days in duration. Migraines are often caused by environmental factors such as noise or bright lights. They can also be the result of underlying health conditions such as hormonal imbalances (i.e., menopause). However, in some cases migraines may also be triggered by the foods we eat: 1. Alcohol According to data from the American Migraine Association, roughly one-third of migraine sufferers reported alcohol as a migraine trigger. Alcohol can trigger migraines in one of two ways. For example, drinking red wine may trigger a migraine attack within a few hours or it may cause a delayed migraine, due to a hangover. Red wine does contain high levels of nitrates, which are also commonly associated with migraines. 2. Chocolate According to other patients, chocolate is a common migraine trigger. Neurologists suggest that chocolate causes migraines due to an amino acid, known as tyramine.

HIV, or human immunodeficiency virus, is an infection that causes damage to the body’s immune system. This limits the body’s ability to fight other infections and disease. HIV is spread through contact with infected blood and bodily fluids from other individuals that have HIV. HIV can lead to a person developing AIDS. HIV is incurable but there are FDA approved HIV medicine and treatments that can keep HIV from progressing and lessen any impact to a person’s life. Some patients remain asymptomatic until the infection has grown severe, so the following FDA-approved treatments are vital to slow or stop the virus’ spread in the body: 1. NNRTIs and NRTIs Non-nucleoside reverse transcriptase inhibitors (NNRTIs) and Nucleoside or nucleotide reverse transcriptase inhibitors (NRTIs) prevent HIV from replicating and spreading throughout the body. HIV spreads through reverse transcriptase which means that it converts its RNA into DNA (called reverse transcription). NNRTIs/NRTIs block this process, prohibiting replication and avoiding further damage to the body’s immune system. 2. Integrase inhibitors Integrase inhibitors like dolutegravir and raltegravir are HIV treatment medicines that are designed to stop the spread of HIV in the body. Similar to NNRTIs and NRTIs, integrase inhibitors act by blocking HIV integrase, an enzyme required for HIV to complete transcriptase replication.

Giving up smoking takes more than a desire to quit. It takes a solid game plan, and people that have given thought to quitting are going to benefit greatly from things like nicotine patches and gum that can curb the desire for a cigarette. Some people stop smoking simply because of their health while others are encouraged by family members to stop out of health concerns. Here are fives methods to quit smoking for good: 1. Smoking cessation programs Smoking cessation programs are a great way to put things into perspective when it comes to establishing reasons for giving up cigarettes. So many people have that desire for nicotine but listing reasons to stop smoking can reinforce the desire to make a change. In many instances people are conflicted because they have been smoking for so long unconsciously. There are people that smoke cigarettes by the pack and they never think about issues with their health or the large sums of money that they’re spending. When smokers take a conscious approach with smoking cessation programs they can connect with a group. They can get with more people that are going to be able to provide insight on how you can stop smoking.