Could Your Persistent Cough Have Anything to do With Your Antihistamine?

Do you have a persistent cough that doesn’t want to go away?

Is it driving you nuts?

Lena had sinus issues.

She said her family doctor had made the comment years ago, that her nose was …  “not a white man’s nose”.

Though a funny story, she was at a loss for exactly what that meant, and wondered if the doctor had racial issues.

All Lena knew was that her nose was always stuffed up.

She accepted the daily use of antihistamines as her lot in life.

They seemed harmless enough.  Lena really didn’t notice any side effects, but then she had been using them for so many years she had lost count.

When I began to question Lena about her re-occurring persistent cough, I was actually hopeful that it could be caused by sinus issues.

Lena insisted that the cough was coming from her lungs.

Persistently coughing up clear mucus is indicative of fluid in your lungs. I was hopeful that Lena was wrong.  Fluid in your lungs is a serious issue.

You can often verify fluid in the lungs by listening with a stethoscope, though that fluid will not show up on x-ray early on in the disease process.

In Lena’s case, when I listened to her back over the lowest three ribs on each side for the tell tale popping sounds of fluid, I heard nothing at all.  I heard no air flow in or out.

If Lena had fluid in her lungs it was not audible.

I encouraged Lena to inquire with her doctor about getting an inhaler. Whether or not she had fluid in her lungs, Lena needed to ventilate better.

Lena’s doctor wouldn’t give her an order for an inhaler because she wasn’t wheezing.

After purchasing an over the counter inhaler and giving it a try, Lena was surprised how much more deeply she could breathe.

When I took a listen to her lungs she had little squeaks all over the place, but not necessarily fluid.  This solved the problem of the lack of a prescription inhaler.  Her doctor gave her one right away when she showed up at his office wheezing and squeaky.

However, the persistent cough continued.

I had mentioned to Lena that her daily antihistamine dosing might be problematic many times before.  Shear sleep deprivation and fatigue ate away at her resistance until she was ready to take absolutely any advice and give it a try.

“How can I stop this cough?”

When I brought up the subject of antihistamines with Lena, she protested yet again.  She couldn’t fathom the possibility that her harmless daily antihistamine could possibly be the culprit.

I had to pull out documentation of the side effects to stifle her argument, but that certainly GOT her attention.

She was shocked and in a state of disbelief so I gave her some time to digest the information.

Do you know the side effects of antihistamines? Read more

Water Retention: Is That Bloated and Puffy Feeling Anything To Worry About?

“Everyone gets a little bloated and puffy feeling, right?  It’s a bit annoying to get up and use the toilet all night long, but no worries…..right?”

If your doctor isn’t concerned, why should you be?

It’s just a little water retention.

There Are Reasons YOU Should Be Concerned About Excess Fluid:

1. Your body becomes completely out of balance when it holds on to fluid in an effort to protect you.
2. Any excess fluid interferes with absorption of OXYGEN and NUTRITION!
3. The sooner you achieve a healthy fluid balance, the less damage will be caused to your kidneys, heart and other vital organs.
4. Rapid accumulation of fluids can be life threatening.
5. Not using water effectively stresses your body.
6. If you use water more effectively you will use oxygen, vitamins, minerals, and other nutrients more effectively.

Creating a healthy fluid balance may be as simple as reducing your exposure to toxins, making better food choices, or supplementation with the right amount of the right nutrient.

Feeling better may be within your grasp.

Water, Precious Water!

Your body needs water!  It is an important component of every one of the trillions of cells that makes up your body.

As well as carrying nutrients and oxygen to the cells, water eliminates waste products from your body.

When your body loses the ability to maintain your fluid balance, you are on a slippery slope of deterioration.

• At first you may notice it in your skin and hair
• Then you will start noticing it in your energy level
• Your mental clarity and attitude will suffer as well

The most likely cause of early water retention is foods you eat frequently.

When your daily favorites start to cause an allergy or sensitivity related histamine release, you will retain water.

Do you eat out frequently?

Read more

Do You Use Cough Medicine?

Well doesn’t everybody?

Isn’t it a harmless over the counter cold medicine?

Over the counter cold medicine is ANYTHING but harmless!

The chemical makeup of cough medicine can be very problematic.  When you are coughing up mucus, it is because your body is over loaded with toxicity, and needs to clean house.

Now wait a minute.  I can hear you thinking,

“Are you saying that germs don’t cause the common cold?”

Actually, that is exactly what I am saying.  If your immune system is up to snuff, no “germ” will “attack” you.

If germs caused the common cold, then everyone would get sick EVERY TIME they were exposed to germs.

So if you get a “cold” it is because your immune system is weakened.

In fact, snot and fever are a couple of ways that your body attempts to purify your system and strengthen your immune system.

Cough medicine is more harmful than beneficial to children.

Even if you aren’t a child, your cough is necessary to clear your lungs.  If you suppress your cough, Read more

Food Matters!

Have you seen the trailer for the new movie?  I stumbled across it on You Tube and began jumping for joy.

At LAST an effort to get the message out!

You are what you eat!

You are killing yourself with the food choices you make!

If you aren’t operating out of a victim mentality, you should be able to hear the message.

Listen UP!  The length and quality of your life depend on it!

Food Matters!

Now click on a category in the right had column and find out more information that will change your life.  READ!

Health is about taking care of yourself.

NOW is the time to change your ways and do what is best for yourself and your family.

If you are already putting this information into practice, then reach someone who isn’t and tell them about this new movie.  Let’s hope CHANGE is coming.

Relaxing, breath building, and oxygen with exercise matter!

AND

Food Matters!

The trailer is enough to open your eyes, but the Food Matters DVD is really a learning experience.

You and your family NEED this information!

Get your copy NOW!

Many blessings,

Carrie

Heart Failure Solutions

PS– Remember everyday:

1. Relax and Release tension
2. Take deeep breaths
3. Be active in a way that adds joy to your life

Plus pure water ~whole foods~sunshine~and laughter

What Foods Help Get Rid of Fluid Retention?

One of my clients asked me what they could eat to get rid of fluid retention today.

It isn’t an easy question to answer because there are many causes of fluid retention that will not be healed by eating foods that make you pee.

Some foods can make you retain fluid by slowing down your kidneys, while others can help your kidneys work better.

Some other causes of fluid retention include anemia, protein deficiency, and an abnormally high need for one or more vitamins or minerals.

Keep in mind that fluid retention is NOT  simple to treat, and if you don’t get GREAT results on your own, FIND the help you need.

Cover the simple stuff first

• drink plenty of water everyday even when you are bloated (unless you doctor advises you not to because of kidney failure)
• have your hormones checked

If increasing your water intake doesn’t help, and your hormone levels are normal, experiment with the following tips:

Foods that cause you to release fluid: Read more

Fluid Retention Steals Your Health, Want To Stop It?

Fluid retention is such a big problem because the extra water in your system is in the way!  Oxygen and vital nutrients can’t get where they need to go!

When oxygen and other vital nutrients cant’ get where they need to go, you deteriorate!

If you don’t want your health to fade, watch for signs that you may be retaining water:

• When you press your fingernail firmly into your thumb-pad, does it stay deeply dented for more than a second or two?
• When you press the tip of your finger into the inside of your shinbone, does your nail make a dent?
• Do your ankles ever swell?
• Does your shoe size increase as you get older?
• Do your rings sometimes not fit?
• Is your tummy ever tight and swollen?
• For women, do you suffer from breast tenderness?
• Does your weight fluctuate by several pound within the space of only twenty-four hours?

You should be concerned if you recognize water retention symptoms, even if your doctor isn’t!

If your symptoms are mild, make sure you pay close attention to: Read more

Next Page »