Sip Oolong Tea

Sip Oolong Tea

Research suggests that people with mild eczema who drink oolong tea three times a day may show improvement in itching and other symptoms. Compounds in the tea called polyphenols appear to be responsible.

Enjoy Ginger

The volatile oils in ginger have long made it a useful herbal remedy for nasal and chest congestion. Pour 2 cups of boiling water over a 1-inch piece of peeled, grated ginger; steep for 10 minutes; and strain. Add a pinch or two of cayenne pepper to the water and drink as needed.

Benefit From Bilberry

Studies are mixed, but some have found that bilberry, a relative of the blueberry, may improve night vision. During World War II, fighter pilots reported better night vision after eating bilberry jam. Take 25 to 50 milligrams of bilberry extract; expect best results within the first few hours.

Can I harm my natural nails by wearing acrylic nails every day?

Can I harm my natural nails by wearing acrylic nails every day?

Answer

from Lawrence E. Gibson, M.D.

Nail infection

Acrylic nails aren't likely to harm your natural nails. It's important to be cautious when using acrylic nails, however.

Sometimes a gap develops between the acrylic nail and the natural nail. If the acrylic nail is bumped or jarred, it can separate from the natural nail. This gap provides a moist, warm environment in which a nail infection can flourish. A nail infection might also occur if acrylic nails are too long or too rigid, or the nails are applied with unsanitary tools. If you develop a nail infection, your natural nail might become thick or ragged and appear discolored.

It's also possible to have an allergic reaction to components of acrylic nails or the adhesives used to apply them. This can result in redness, swelling and pain around the nail.

If you choose to have acrylic nails applied in a salon, take steps to minimize the risks:

• Stick to salons that display a current state license, and work only with technicians also licensed by the state board.
• Be wary if you notice fumes. A strong odor could be a sign that the salon is poorly ventilated.
• Make sure your nail technician properly sterilizes all tools used during your treatment and washes his or her hands between customers.
• Soak your nails in a fresh bowl of soapy water before treatment begins.
• Don't allow your cuticles to be pushed back or trimmed. This can increase the risk of a nail infection.
• Don't allow the surface of your natural nails to be filed or roughened before the acrylic nails are applied. This weakens your natural nails.
• Request a new nail file — or consider bringing your own, since nail files can't be sterilized.

If you opt to apply acrylic nails at home, follow the safety precautions printed on the package. Work in a well-ventilated area, and be careful to protect the skin around your nails from the chemicals used to apply acrylic nails.

If you suspect a nail infection or have redness, swelling or pain around a nail, consult a dermatologist for an evaluation.

Health Matters with Dr. Sanjay Gupta |  

Diabetes And Heat Don't Go Together

Diabetics are more vulnerable to the heat — and so are their medications.

Diabetes makes it harder for the body to cool itself, so diabetics need to be even more aware of the early signs of heat illness, such as heat stroke.

Muscle cramps, wooziness, or nausea on a hot day are signs that you need to get into a cool place and rehydrate.

“Not only do they have to worry about their health, they also have to worry about the impact of the hot weather on their equipment, their medications and their supplies,” says Curtiss Cook, MD, of the Mayo Clinic.

Insulin is less effective in the heat, so diabetics may choose to leave their insulin at home on very hot days. The test strips in blood-sugar meters may also be affected by the heat.

Diabetics don’t have to be summertime hermits, but they need to take extra precautions: Carry water, wear a hat and sunscreen, and be alert for early signs of trouble.

8 Fascinating Pain Facts You Didn't Know

Do women feel chronic pain more than men? Can the brain feel pain? Find out whether you can separate pain facts from pain myths.

By Chris Iliades, MD

Medically reviewed by Lindsey Marcellin, MD, MPH

Acute pain is your body’s way of waving a red flag for immediate attention, often because of an injury. Chronic pain, on the other hand, is pain that lasts for weeks, months, or years, and it affects more than 76.2 million Americans — more than cancer, diabetes, and heart disease combined. But how much do you really know about it? We've rounded up eight little-known facts about pain.

Pain Is Both Physical and Emotional

Pain, especially chronic pain, affects more than your body. It's psychologically stressful and can (understandably) lead to emotions like anger and frustration. And pain and stress can be a vicious circle: Pain can increase stress levels, and increased levels of stress can make pain worse. This can cause depression and make it difficult to concentrate.

Women Feel More Pain Than Men

Women actually do experience more pain than men over their lifetimes because of conditions and experiences such as menstruation, childbirth, and migraine headaches. Studies also show that women may experience pain differently — often more intensely — than men do. For example, some animal studies show that females require twice as much pain medication to get the same relief as males. However, there's conflicting research on whether women actually have a higher tolerance for pain than men (although millions of women who have gone through childbirth might disagree).

The Brain Doesn't Feel Pain

Ouch! When you stub your toe or touch something hot, your body releases chemicals that send pain signals up through the spinal cord to receptors in the brain. The brain then sends the pain message back down to the part of the body that hurts. But although it's the interpreter of pain, the brain itself does not have pain-sensitive nerves. Only the structures that surround the brain feel pain. As a matter of fact, once inside the brain, surgeons can operate on the brain without anesthesia. In one technique known as brain mapping, surgeons probe brain tissue while monitoring reactions like muscle movement and speech — all while the patient is awake.

Back Pain: The Most Common Pain Condition

All those aching backs! In a survey done by the National Institutes of Health, 27 percent of Americans said low back pain was their most common type of pain, followed by headaches or migraines (15 percent). More than 26 million Americans aged 20 to 64 suffer from back pain, and each year we spend at least $50 billion on back pain relief. What's the best way to ease chronic back pain? Experts say a combination of gentle, regular stretching and strengthening exercises, as well as reaching and maintaining a healthy body weight, can make a real difference.

Gout: The Disease of Kings and Dinosaurs

Gout, a painful type of arthritis that affects about 3 million people every year, was once called the disease of kings because it was blamed on too much eating and drinking. Today we know that gout — and the pain associated with it — is caused by the buildup in the blood of a substance called uric acid, which causes sharp crystals to form inside joints. But one "king" who had gout was the king of dinosaurs, Tyrannosaurus rex. Analysis of casts of a forearm from a tyrannosaurus fossil named Sue revealed that the dinosaur had a bad case of gout. Today, the dinosaur's relatives, including birds and all orders of reptiles, can also develop gout.

Creaky Joints in (Pre)History

Osteoarthritis is a type of arthritis that causes chronic pain due to gradual wear and tear on joints. It's also been plaguing humans for a long, long time — in fact, osteoarthritis has been found in human skeletons dating back to the Ice Age (before 8000 BC), and it was also detected during x-ray examinations of Egyptian mummies. But despite the fact that osteoarthritis has been around forever, doctors still do not completely understand the cause.

Want to Help Osteoarthritis Pain? Get Moving!

The belief that rest is the best treatment for a back, neck, or knee that is painful due to osteoarthritis is a pain myth. Experts agree that exercise is an important way to manage and in fact prevent pain due to osteoarthritis. Benefits of exercise include increasing blood supply to cartilage and bone, strengthening the muscles that support joints, and decreasing joint stiffness. Exercise also improves general health and reduces the risk of injury and osteoporosis in people with osteoarthritis. Finally, exercise can improve sleep and help fight depression for people with chronic pain from osteoarthritis.

Kick the Habit, Ease Your Pain

Studies show that smoking increases your risk for back pain, and it's also been shown to increase chronic pain in people with fibromyalgia and neck pain. Nicotine in cigarette smoke can decrease the blood flow to joints in the back and can delay healing as well as increase the risk for further injury. Also, people who smoke need to take more medication than those who don't to get back pain relief.