Asthma Relief at Home

When it comes to asthma inhalators are a must have for anyone suffering its effects, however there are ways to avoid some of what this condition deals to the human body. While asthma care centers exist and they are very good at what they do the bulk part of the asthma relief is usually done in domestic conditions since our lives need to go on as seamlessly as possible. You will need to find ways to avoid stress as well as knowing how to deal with the onset and asthma triggers which lead to attacks since this is a condition which so far requires a lot of care. We have prepared some tips with which we hope to alleviate your situation:

1. Peak Flow Meters

When it comes to asthma these are cheap and useful devices used to measure the exhaled air through your lungs. It is a simple construction which allows you to measure the peak expiratory flow also known as PEF. This small device allows you to have a relatively accurate understanding of the condition of your asthma and whether its worsening or getting better by measuring and monitoring your PEF.

2. Developing a plan

When it comes to asthma you should be aware that special care is needed which will help you prevent and manage your asthma attacks. You should speak to your doctor or health care provider regardless of what country you live in for ways your condition can be alleviated. You will need to provide them with as much personal information as you can to allow your doctors a better chance to understand what is causing your asthma attacks.

3. Keep track

There is a reason for that since it will allow you understand and keep a record of when the attacks occur. You should record the initial time when the attack starts and you should measure your PEF as well as other details which will allow you to collect this data for an accurate understanding and information which your doctor will be able to use to deduce ways to find solutions.

4. Controlling possible asthma triggers

This is a crucial step when it comes to attacks since knowing what onsets the attack will help you prevent it in the future. Most often it is stress and this can help, though sometimes the reasons for an attack are certain allergens of which you will need to be aware so you can treat the problem effectively.

5. Air filtration

This can be very useful in cases of allergens being the prime reason for asthma attacks. They are relatively cheap and they offer a good way of keeping most of these out of the air around your home. There are multiple technologies out there currently being used for air filtration from small, stationary units to larger ones which offer better quality of air. You should consider those if you know the reason for your asthma attacks are airborne allergens such as pollen and other substances.

This guest post has been written on behalf of: www.handymoves.co.uk

In Thailand, prepare a strict anti-smoking law to protect teenagers

The age limit for the sale of cigarettes to be raised to 20 years, and teenagers up to 18 years will be punished for selling tobacco products

Before the end of this year the Thai health experts are planning to submit to the government a new anti-smoking law, which will replace the relevant legislation in 1992.

How to tell the bill's authors, scientists from Mahidol University, Thailand, in the new edition of the strict limits laid addressed primarily to local teens. In particular, it will be totally banned trade in tobacco products by persons under 18 years of age, and the age limit on the sale of cigarettes to be raised from 18 to 20 years. Appears and the ban on online sales of cigarettes over the Internet.

For offenders in the law will be clearly spelled out the penalties, however, exactly what the author does not specify.

Director of the Centre to organize controlled studies of tobacco products in Thailand Sirivan Pitayarangsan said that in recent years the Thai teenagers started smoking significantly more than in the past. Thus, according to the center for the past year, 9.2% of teenagers between the ages of 15 and 18 are regular smokers. Moreover, the number of adherents of this habit in the country is growing annually by 300 thousand people.

According to another study conducted by the Thai social scientists, about 56% of the two thousand respondents sophomore who formed a task force, acknowledged that the school bought cigarettes from their underage friends. Another 79% of them claim that bought cigarettes in a store near their schools. In this case, according to 74% of teenagers, no one had ever asked them, proof of age.

Mahidol University representatives expect that the proposed measures in the bill will help reduce the number of smokers among teenagers, especially taking into account the fact that adolescents are more likely to buy cigarettes just from their peers. "This ban on the sale of tobacco to minors in any way will not violate their rights" - they say.

However, as experts admit, even such a serious intensification of restrictions may not be sufficient for the southern provinces. Now the number of smokers in this part of Thailand reaches a "record" 26 percent of the population. The root of the problem, experts say, lies in the fact that "adolescent smokers here have too easy access to the abundance of cheap cigarettes smuggled goods."

Recall, now in Thailand smoking is banned in all public places, including government offices, shops, rooms of bars, restaurants and cafes. For smokers, the streets are special ashtray with sand, and at the entrances to some of the larger supermarkets have smoking rooms with extractors. In this case, on packs of cigarettes sold in Thailand, require manufacturers to print horrifying pictures related to smoking illnesses psychological impact on the adherents of this bad habit.

By Alexander Semenov

HPV vaccination Girls may not have riskier sex after HPV vaccine

Girls who had been vaccinated against human papillomavirus (HPV) weren't more likely to get other sexually transmitted infections or to become pregnant, in a new study from Georgia.

That goes against worries on the part of some that getting the vaccine - which is supposed to ultimately help prevent cervical cancer - would encourage girls to become sexually active or engage in riskier sex than they otherwise would.

The vaccine, which has been recommended for 11- and 12-year-old girls in the U.S. since 2006, is still controversial, and only about half of girls start the series of shots.

One of the arguments against it has been that vaccination will make pre-teens feel a false sense of security when it comes to sex.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention now calls for boys to get vaccinated as well.

For the new study, Omer and his colleagues analyzed databases from Kaiser Permanente Georgia, a managed care organization covering the Atlanta area. Out of 1,398 girls who were 11 or 12 when they saw their doctors in 2006 and 2007, 493 got at least one dose of the HPV vaccine.

Based on records of their primary care visits, 107 of the girls included in the study were given a pregnancy test through 2010, and 55 were tested for Chlamydia.

Girls who did or didn't get the HPV vaccine were equally likely to be tested for both.

Two girls in each group got pregnant during the study. One girl who'd been vaccinated was diagnosed with Chlamydia, compared to three unvaccinated girls, according to findings published Monday in the journal Pediatrics.

Omer's team didn't have any data on how many of the girls were sexually active during the study period. The researchers also couldn't tell if the STI and pregnancy tests were part of standard clinical procedures or if girls were tested because they were sexually active or had symptoms.

Looking at pregnancy tests from primary care doctors' offices is also limiting, she said, because girls might be more likely to go to school health clinics, or buy a test off the shelves, in those situations.

She said future studies like this one, but in different locations and in older girls, will be needed to help piece together what's going on.

The researchers agreed that there are other issues limiting the popularity of the HPV vaccine besides concerns about a spike in sexual risk-taking.

By Genevra Pittman

Toxic Shock Syndrome

Toxic shock syndrome can happen to anyone men, women, and children. Although it can be serious, it's a very rare illness. If you're concerned about toxic shock syndrome, the smartest thing you can do is to read and learn about it, then take some precautions.

What Is Toxic Shock Syndrome?
If you're a girl who's had her period, you may have heard frightening stories about toxic shock syndrome (TSS), a serious illness originally linked to the use of tampons. But TSS isn't strictly related to tampons. The contraceptive sponge and the diaphragm, two types of birth control methods, have been linked to TSS. And, sometimes, the infection has occurred as a result of wounds or surgery, where the skin has been broken, allowing bacteria to enter.

TSS is a systemic illness, which means that it affects the whole body. It can be caused by one of two different types of bacteria, Staphylococcus aureus and Streptococcus pyogenes although toxic shock that is caused by the Streptococcus bacteria is rarer. These bacteria can produce toxins. In some people whose bodies can't fight these toxins, the immune system reacts. This reaction causes the symptoms associated with TSS.

When people think of TSS, they often think of tampon use. That's because the earliest cases of the illness, back in the late 1970s, were related to superabsorbent tampons. Research led to better tampons and better habits for using them such as changing tampons more often. The number of TSS cases dropped dramatically. Today about half of all TSS cases are linked to menstruation.

Aside from tampon use, TSS has been linked to skin infections that are typically minor and can be associated with the chickenpox rash. TSS has also been reported following surgical procedures, giving birth, and prolonged use of nasal packing for nosebleeds although all of these are rare.

By: Larissa Hirsch, MD

Virginity: Why Some Teens Wait

Some teens are waiting longer to have sex - they are thinking more carefully about what it means to lose their virginity and begin a sexual relationship.

For these teens, there are many reasons for abstinence (not having sex). Some don't want to worry about unplanned pregnancy and all its consequences. Others see abstinence as a way to protect themselves completely from STDs. Some STDs (like AIDS) can literally make sex a life-or-death situation, and many teens take this very seriously.

Some teens don't have sex because their religion prohibits it or because they simply have a very strong belief system of their own. Other teens may recognize that they aren't ready emotionally and they want to wait until they're absolutely sure they can handle it.

When it comes to sex, there are two very important things to remember:

1. that you are ultimately the person in charge of your own happiness and your own body
2. you have a lot of time to wait until you're totally sure about it.

If you decide to put off having sex, it's OK - no matter what anyone says. Being a virgin is one of the things that proves you are in charge, and it shows that you are powerful enough to make your own decisions about your mind and body.

If you find yourself feeling confused about decisions related to sex, you may be able to talk to an adult (like a parent, doctor, older sibling, aunt, or uncle) for advice. Keep in mind, though, that everyone's opinion about sex is different. Even though another person may have useful advice to share, in the end, the decision is up to you.

By: D'Arcy Lyness, PhD

Virginity: Feeling Curious

You might have a lot of new sexual feelings or thoughts. These feelings and thoughts are totally normal - it means that all of your hormones are working properly. But sometimes your curiosity or sexual feelings can make you feel like it's the right time to have sex, even though it may not be.

Though your body may have the ability to have sex and you may really want to satisfy your curiosity, it doesn't mean your mind is ready. Although some teens understand how sex can affect them emotionally, many don't - and this can lead to confusion and deeply hurt feelings later.

But at the same time, don't beat yourself up or be too hard on yourself if you do have sex and then wish you hadn't. Having sexual feelings is normal and handling them can sometimes seem difficult, even if you planned otherwise.

Just because you had sex once doesn't mean you have to continue or say yes later on, no matter what anyone tells you. Making mistakes is not only human, it's a major part of being a teen - and you can learn from mistakes.

By: D'Arcy Lyness, PhD

Virginity: Boyfriend or Girlfriend

Although some teens who are going out don't pressure each other about sex, the truth is that in many relationships, one person wants to have sex although the other one doesn't.

Again, what matters most differs from person to person. Maybe one person in a relationship is more curious and has stronger sexual feelings than the other. Or another person has religious reasons why he or she doesn't want to have sex and the other person doesn't share those beliefs.

Whatever the situation, it can place stress and strain on a relationship - you want to keep your boyfriend or girlfriend happy, but you don't want to compromise what you think is right.

As with almost every other major decision in life, you need to do what is right for you and not anyone else. If you think sex is a good idea because a boyfriend or girlfriend wants to begin a sexual relationship, think again.

Anyone who tries to pressure you into having sex by saying, "if you truly cared, you wouldn't say no," or "if you loved me, you'd show it by having sex" isn't really looking out for you and what matters most to you. They're looking to satisfy their own feelings and urges about sex.

If someone says that not having sex after doing other kinds of fooling around will cause him or her physical pain, that's also a sign that that person is thinking only of himself or herself. If you feel that you should have sex because you're afraid of losing that person, it may be a good time to end the relationship.

Sex should be an expression of love - not something a person feels that he or she must do. If a boyfriend or girlfriend truly loves you, he or she won't push or pressure you to do something you don't believe in or aren't ready for yet.

By: D'Arcy Lyness, PhD

Virginity: Peer Pressure Problems and Movie Madness

Nobody wants to feel left out of things - it's natural to want to be liked and feel as if you're part of a group of friends. Unfortunately, some teens feel that they have to lose their virginity to keep up with their friends or to be accepted.

It doesn't sound like it's all that complicated; maybe most of your friends have already had sex with their boyfriends or girlfriends and act like it isn't a big deal. But sex isn't something that's only physical; it's emotional, too. And because everyone's emotions are different, it's hard to rely on your friends' opinions to decide if it's the right time for you to have sex.

What matters to you is the most important thing, and your values may not match those of your friends. That's OK - it's what makes people unique. Having sex to impress someone or to make your friends happy or feel like you have something in common with them won't make you feel very good about yourself in the long run. True friends don't really care whether a person is a virgin - they will respect your decisions, no matter what.

Even if your friends are cool with your decision, it's easy to be misled by TV shows and movies into thinking that every teen in America is having sex. Writers and producers may make a show or movie plot exciting by showing teens being sexually active, but these teens are actors, not real people with real concerns. They don't have to worry about being ready for sex, how they will feel later on, or what might happen as a result. In other words, these TV and movie plots are stories, not real life. In real life, every teen can, and should, make his or her own decision.

By: D'Arcy Lyness, PhD

Virginity: A Very Personal Decision

Sometimes it might seem like everyone in school is talking about who's a virgin, who isn't, and who might be. For both girls and guys, the pressure sometimes can be intense.

But deciding whether it's right for you to have sex is one of the most important decisions you'll ever have to make. Each person must use his or her own judgment and decide if it's the right time - and the right person.

This means considering some very important factors - both physical ones, like the possibility of becoming pregnant or getting a sexually transmitted disease (STD) - and emotional factors, too. Though a person's body may feel ready for sex, sex also has very serious emotional consequences.

For many teens, moral factors are very important as well. Family attitudes, personal values, or religious beliefs provide them with an inner voice that guides them in resisting pressures to get sexually involved before the time is right.

By: D'Arcy Lyness, PhD

Having different sized breasts?

Having different-sized breasts is perfectly normal. It's quite common for girls to have different-sized breasts or nipples, especially as they develop during puberty. Everyone's different, and no two women's breasts will look exactly the same. In fact, asymmetry - where one body part, like a foot or a hand, is a slightly different size or shape from its partner - is quite common in humans.

When girls begin puberty, usually between the ages of 8 and 13, their breasts begin to develop starting with just a little swelling under the nipple. This is known as breast budding. You may notice that one of your breasts starts developing before the other or that one is growing more quickly. Many times this difference in breast size evens out once a girl is older, usually by age 20. But it's also perfectly normal for women's breasts to remain different sizes even when they're fully developed.

Some girls with different-sized breasts worry that there's something medically wrong, but chances are, for a teen, there isn't. If you're really worried about your breast size, talk to your doctor or gynecologist. He or she should be able to reassure you that your breasts are normal.

Girls who notice their breasts are different sizes are aware of their breasts - and that's good news. Being aware of your breasts can help you stay healthy! Learning how your breasts normally look (and feel) can help you notice any changes that might not be normal. Your doctor can teach you how to do a breast self-exam (BSE) that will help you become familiar with your breasts so you can identify any changes.

Some girls worry about their different-sized breasts for cosmetic reasons. Many girls with different-sized breasts or nipples just accept that they are normal and don't do anything differently. But other girls feel self-conscious. It's likely that no one else notices your breasts look different, though. Other people usually can't see the difference in the size of a girl's breasts - even if that difference is a full cup size.

The fact is that exercises, supplements, or diets won't change the size or shape of a girl's breasts - only plastic surgery can do that. (And most doctors recommend that a girl wait until her breasts have finished growing before considering plastic surgery.) Some girls decide to wear especially supportive bras or special inserts that make their breasts appear more equal in size. Talk to a lingerie salesperson if you want some suggestions for evening things out. It may also help to talk to your mom, older sister, or an aunt or grandmother - they may have worried about having different-sized breasts during their teen years, too.

Everyone develops differently, and it's normal for the two sides of our bodies to be a little different from each other. We humans aren't as evenly proportioned as we appear at first glance!

by: Larissa Hirsch, MD

Why Does a Gynecologist Ask About Your Last Period?

Knowing when your last period was can give your gynecologist (or nurse practitioner) a lot of information. For example, it can help pinpoint where you are in your menstrual cycle, which can affect your vaginal discharge, your breast exam, and things like bloating and cramps.

Knowing when your last period was also can let your gyn know about the timing of your menstrual cycle. If it's been a while since a girl's period, the doctor might want to test for things like hormonal imbalances or pregnancy. If a girl is pregnant, the date of her last period helps doctors and nurse practitioners figure out the baby's due date.

Since knowing the date of your last period can be so helpful, it's a good idea to make a note of it on your phone or calendar so you have the information handy when asked.

Your gyn or nurse practitioner might ask lots of questions about your periods. How you answer them can help you get the best care for your specific needs.

Don't leave all the questions to your doctors and nurses, though. Asking your own like why your gyn is doing a pelvic exam or ordering certain tests lets you take charge of your own health.

Reviewed by: Larissa Hirsch, MD