Sore Throat - Causes and Remedies

It's been three days since I had this sore throat and it's just getting worse each day. *frets* I haven't got the chance to go the hospital and have it checked up. I just can't find the time. Tsk. But my mother gave me some temporary meds to take until we visit the doctor. Being so worried about my situation, I searched Google about sore throat. And here's what I've read from MedicineNet:

A sore throat can have many causes including:

1. Common viruses, and even the viruses that cause mononucleosis (mono) and the flu, can cause a sore throat. Some viruses can also produce blisters in the mouth and throat ("aphthous stomatitis").
2. Breathing through the mouth can produce throat dryness and soreness.
3. Sinus drainage (post nasal drip) may cause a sore throat.
4. A sore throat can also be caused by bacteria. The two most common bacteria to cause a sore throat are Streptococcus (which causes strep throat) and Arcanobacterium haemolyticum. Arcanobacterium causes sore throats mainly in young adults and is sometimes associated with a fine red rash.
5. Sore throat appearing after treatment with antibiotics, chemotherapy, or other immune-compromising medications may be due to Candida, commonly known as "thrush."
6. A sore throat lasting for more than two weeks can be a sign of a serious illness, such as throat cancer or AIDS.

Now we know the possible causes. I think what caused my sore throat is number 3. Anyway, here are the remedies suggested by MedicineNet:

Generally, sore throats must run their course (exception, strep throat will be addressed below.)

• Salt water gargles, hard candies, sprays for example, Chloraseptic) and lozenges can provide temporary pain relief. (Caution: Lozenges and hard candy are a choking hazard for children. Avoid their use in young children.)
  
• A humidifier may be helpful in relieving symptoms, especially in sore throats caused by mouth breathing and dry air.
  
• Acetaminophen or ibuprofen may help control the pain.
  
• For adults, if your nose is plugged, nasal sprays such as Afrin may be used for two to three days to prevent mouth breathing. It is NOT a good idea to use these products for more than a couple of days; you may become dependent on them.
  
• Other decongestant products, such as Sudafed, may be helpful.

I might try some of these. But then, if all else fails, it's still best to consult a doctor. Right? Gawd. I hope I'll get well soon. This is just so hard. It's painful to swallow. *sighs* Pray for me, will you? Thanks. *smiles*

Ebola Virus Hit Pigs in the Philippines

This morning, I heard a news from the radio saying that there's a virus detected on some pigs in our country. Oh my! Pigs? I love pork!!! Noooo! So I searched about the news and found this most accurate news online. This news is taken from The Earth Times.

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Manila - Philippine President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo Thursday ordered agriculture and health officials to closely monitor an outbreak of an Ebola virus strain in several pig farms in three northern provinces. Deputy presidential spokesman Anthony Golez said Arroyo wanted agriculture authorities to prevent the Ebola Reston virus from spreading to other pig farms in the country.

Golez, a medical doctor, assured the public that the Ebola Reston virus found in the pigs was not harmful to humans.

"From the epidemiological standpoint, humans have high tolerance for this virus," he said. "Just like any other food, we should make sure that the food we are preparing is cooked properly."

Golez said the Ebola Reston virus dies at 70 degrees Celcius, which is below boiling point.

Agriculture Secretary Arthur Yap said the government had temporarily suspended exports of all pork products from the Philippines until the virus has been eradicated.

"Although the virus does not affect the health of humans, we decided to put on hold all exports," he said. "Let us eradicate first this virus."

Yap said agriculture technicians confirmed that 28 pigs from four piggeries in the northern provinces of Bulacan, Pangasinan and Nueva Ecija had tested positive for the virus during a recent random check.

He said the Bureau of Animal Industry set up pig checkpoints to prevent the transport of contaminated animals. A total of 42 people who had close contacts with the contaminated pigs had tested negative for the disease, Yap said.

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So it's not really that harmful, right? But still, we have to be careful on what we eat. Well I have noticed that most animals have diseases or virus. Maybe the safest way to avoid these is to change our lifestyle. Vegetables and fruits are more nutritious. Let us all be vegetarians! *laugh* Yeah right... I, myself, can't be a vegetarian. I mean, I don't think I'd be happy being a vegetarian. I'm an omnivore! *winks* But then seriously, friends, let's be careful alright? Just be careful.

Importance of Potassium

You may ask, "Why potassium?" Oh well... It's because I have this friend who was admitted to the hospital last week because of heart inflammation (?). And the cause? Potassium Deficiency. Years ago, I also had a classmate who was also sick due to the same cause. And so I started to wonder what potassium is and how important it is to our body. I did some research and here's what I found.

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Potassium’s roles in the body include:

maintains fluid and electrolyte balance

helps transmit nerve impulses

helps regulate blood pressure and reduces the risk of stroke

helps maintain a regular heartbeat

helps prevent muscle cramps

Bananas, just one of many potassium-rich foods, are often recommended by health care professionals because they are readily available, easy to chew; and sweet in taste, which almost everyone likes. (Thank God I often eat banana. It's my favorite!)

EXCESS OF POTASSIUM

Normally an overdose of potassium is not life-threatening, since excess potassium triggers a vomiting reflex in the stomach. Babies and people with weak hearts may not be able to withstand this trauma. Consuming too much potassium can be harmful to people with kidney problems, because they are unable to get rid of the excess.

There is no major chronic disease associated with too much potassium. When excess potassium is present in the blood, the cause is usually a health problem such as kidney failure, uncontrolled diabetes or use of certain drugs. Excess potassium can trigger a heart attack and result in death.

POTASSIUM DEFICIENCY

A potassium deficiency is unlikely in healthy people, unless the diet primarily consists of highly processed foods on a continuous basis. A deficiency is usually caused by losing excessive amounts of potassium rather than not getting enough in the diet.

The earliest symptoms of a deficiency are tiredness, muscle weakness, and heart muscle irritability, followed by paralysis and confusion. The following conditions can cause a potassium deficiency:

dehydration (includes excessive sweating)

prolonged diarrhea or vomiting (includes anorexia nervosa and bulimia)

diabetic acidosis

regular use of certain drugs such as diuretics, strong laxatives and steroids

certain chronic diseases like adrenal gland disorders, nephritis and acute leukemia

Note: Low potassium symptoms can last for days.

source

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There you have it... so guys, put some potassium inside your system if you don't want to be rushed to the hospital. *winks* Take care!