How to Get Rid of the Flu

How the Flu is Spread

In an average year for the United States, up to 20 percent of the population will get the flu. More than 200,000 will be hospitalized, and about 36,000 will die. This is more serious than the sniffles, a cough (Learn how to get rid of coughs), and a headache. (Tips on how to get rid of headaches)

Influenza viruses attack the respiratory system, from the nose and throat, down through the bronchial tubes, and into the lungs. In the 1918 flu pandemic, victims built up so much fluid in their lungs that they essentially died of drowning. Symptoms of flu are like those of a cold (For cold treatments, read how to get rid of a cold), except much worse, and they come on much faster. High fevers and chills are common, and there may be vomiting and diarrhea. It’s highly contagious.

Because most healthy adults may be able to infect others beginning one day before their own symptoms develop (and up to 5 days after becoming sick), you can be in danger of becoming infected from someone else before you or the other person knows they are sick.

The Flu: A Good Excuse to Stay Home and Sleep

Most people are not in deadly danger from a flu virus (though occasionally a particularly potent virus emerges that puts vast segments of the population in danger, as it did in 1918). The usual treatment is plenty of bed rest, lots of fluids, and aspirin or Tylenol to reduce fever.


There are many flu home remedies:

Vitamin C, zinc, garlic capsules. These supplements may be of limited value once you’ve got the virus, but they probably can do no harm. Recent studies have said that Vitamin C and zinc supplements show no effect in reducing symptoms.

Drink tea that’s a mixture of 1 tsp. bayberry bark, 1 tsp. grated ginger root, ½ tsp. cayenne powder, and 1 cup of boiling water. Allow to steep for 20 minutes.

Catnip tea and 1/2 tsp. of lobelia tincture every four hours supposedly will lower a high fever. Pregnant women, breast-feeding mothers, and children under one year old should, however, avoid this stuff.

Wash your hands frequently. Doing so helps you to avoid spreading the disease or even getting it in the first place. Additional advice for avoiding the virus:

Follow a well balanced diet. A poor diet lowers your immunity and makes you more vulnerable to infections. A good balanced diet features fresh fruits and vegetables, whole grains, and small amounts of lean protein.

Get enough sleep. The amount needed varies from person to person. If you feel tired during the day, you may be getting too little sleep, which leaves you open to opportunistic infections, such as the flu.

Exercise. Improve your immune system through doing such regular cardiovascular exercise as walking, biking, or aerobics. People who exercise are less likely to get upper respiratory infections, have less-severe symptoms when they do, and recover more quickly.

Avoid air travel. New flu strains tend to spread rapidly in November, during the height of the holiday travel season, and air circulation systems in airplanes are notorious for spreading colds, flu, and other infectious diseases.

Stay away from crowds during flu season. The season is typically from November through March. Flu spreads quickly through any kind of crowd.

Who Should Get a Shot?

At particular risk are older folks, young children, and people with comprised immune systems such as diabetics. These people, from the age of six months to seniors of any age (as well as pregnant women in their second or third trimesters), are advised to get injections of flu vaccine before the beginning of the winter flu season. Older adults and those with chronic illnesses should also be inoculated for pneumococcal pneumonia, a potentially deadly complication of influenza.

But even if you have not gotten an inoculation, if you begin to show severe symptoms, there are anti-viral drugs that may be prescribed to shorten the length of time you are ill and might also prevent even more severe symptoms from developing. Should pneumonia develop, getting medical attention is imperative.

Other flu complications include ear infections, sinus infections, dehydration, and worsening of chronic medical conditions such as congestive heart failure, asthma, or diabetes.

Some people, however, should not be vaccinated without first consulting a physician:

• People who have a severe allergy to chicken eggs.
• People who have had a severe reaction to an influenza vaccination in the past.
• People who developed Guillain-Barré syndrome (GBS) within six weeks of getting an influenza vaccine previously.
• Children less than six months of age (influenza vaccine is not approved for use in this age group).
• People who have a moderate or severe illness with a fever should wait to get vaccinated until their symptoms ease off.
• As a final thought, consider the similarities between influenza and living in earthquake zones. In California, you can expect a mild shake every now and then. Every decade or so, there is a large one that kills a number of people and levels some buildings. But then, there is the “Big One,” like the one that leveled San Francisco in 1906. These generally come about once every 70 years, and California is overdue for the monster quake that will undoubtedly kill scores of people.

How to Get Rid of a Toothache

William Shakespeare once wrote, “There was never yet a philosopher that could endure the toothache presently.” For some people, a toothache feels like having a jackhammer drill a giant hole in the middle of your tooth. For others, toothaches feel like someone's stabbing at the root and the pulp of teeth. Some toothaches feel like a hundred gnomes have made your tooth their home. The pain of a toothache can make you wake up at three in the morning, and make you howl out in pain like a caged animal. Even the bravest and most courageous people can be moved to tears with the excruciating pain of a toothache. The toothache is perhaps the most common cause for pain in the world, with millions of people crying out every day because of an aching tooth. If you suffer from the indescribable pain of an aching tooth, here are some ways to get rid of it once and for all.

Causes of Toothaches

Toothaches, also known as odontolagia, are caused by many different factors:

• Dental caries. If you don't take care of your teeth properly, chances are you'll get a toothache. Plaque, tartar, and cracked teeth all contribute to a painful toothache.


• Sensitive teeth. The enamel of your teeth may have worn down because you're eating or drinking foods that dissolve the minerals that protect the root. If you eat something hot or drink something ice-cold when you have sensitive teeth, you'll end up with a toothache.


• Infected pulp. Sometimes dental caries can be so severe that they cause the pulp (the living part of the tooth) to inflame and get infected. Abscesses and infections are a leading cause of toothache.


• Gum disease. In some cases, it's not actually the tooth that is in pain. Instead, the gums may have receded or inflamed so much that the root of the tooth is exposed.
  Wisdom teeth. Wisdom teeth, or the third molar, are quite sensitive, and they can be really painful when they erupt.


• Other diseases. Some diseases like heart disease angina, and temporomandibular joint (TMJ) syndrome can lead to toothaches.
  

See Your Dentist

Get to your dentist as soon as you feel a toothache. Many people postpone the dental appointment because it may take too much time, or they think they can brave the pain without ever seeing a dentist. Remember that like any sort of pain, a toothache is a sign of worse things to come. Maybe your cavities have enlarged, or the pulp of your tooth has been infected beyond repair. A dentist can cure your toothache through four means:

Dental filling. For dental caries, the holes, cracks, and fissures on the offending tooth are cleaned and filled with silver amalgam, composite resin, or a special type of dental cement. Fillings are only effective for smaller dental caries on teeth that can be saved.

Tooth extraction. Often the best way to get rid of an aching tooth is to remove it. Once the tooth is removed, you wouldn't have any sort of pain until the anesthesia wears out, or the first few days when the wound from the extraction heals. Tooth extraction is cheap, easy, and rids you of all the pain from your aching tooth.

Root canal therapy. Sometimes a tooth (usually a molar) is so important that removing it may be very inconvenient. Root canal therapy, also called endodontic therapy, is often used if there's no visible damage on the enamel of the tooth, but if the pulp is infected. The pulp and nerve endings from the tooth are drawn out, and then replaced with a substance called gutta-percha.

Dental surgery. Some diseases like TMJ syndrome, or abscesses and growths that have grown into the gum or the jaw, need immediate dental surgery. The dentist will first conduct tests to see if your toothache needs to be cured through surgical methods.

Numb the Tooth

If you can't get to a dentist right away, such as if your tooth is bothering you in the wee hours of the morning, you need to numb the pain from the offending tooth. Here are some ways that you can relieve the pain until it's convenient for you to go to the dentist:

Painkillers. Analgesic is a temporary way to tame the throbbing pain in your tooth. Paracetamol, aspirin, or mefenamic acid can help to reduce the pain from a bad toothache.

Oil of cloves. Clove oil has a chemical called eugenol, a naturally-occurring painkiller. Use stem oils, or oil brands that have a high concentration of eugenol. Place a very small amount of clove oil at the end of a cotton bud, and very carefully apply the oil to the tooth. Be very careful not to apply the oil on your gums or on the tongue.

Peppermint oil. Peppermint oil has a less-offensive flavor than oil of cloves. While it is a weaker analgesic, it can be used for children with toothaches. You can also mix some peppermint oil or menthol oil in water, and use it as a mouthwash.

Salty water. If you don't have oil of cloves or peppermint oil, then plain old salty water can do the trick. Dissolve two tablespoons of table salt in a cup of hot water, and hold the water in your mouth for as long as you can. The heat of the water, along with the salt, can help numb the throbbing pain. The effect is temporary, and will usually last for the half-hour it takes for you to get to your dentist.

Black tea bags. If you have a tooth abscess that has come to a head but you can't get to a dentist on time, you can use black tea bags to draw out the abscess. Simply wet a tea bag in warm water, and hold it in your mouth for about four to six hours. The tannins and other chemicals in the tea bag will make the pus come to the surface and drain the abscess.

Ice packs. Ice packs can help soothe swelling and reduce pain. Do not chew ice, or put ice blocks directly on the tooth. Wrap the ice in an ice bag and a thin tea towel, and place it over your cheek.

Brush and Floss

The pain of having toothaches can easily be avoided with proper dental hygiene. With all the hassles there are in going to the dentist and home remedies to dull a toothache, it can be prevented with three simple steps:

1. Three minutes of brushing. Use small, circular motions, and don't use hard pressure on the toothbrush.
2. Three minutes of flossing. Make sure to get into those nooks and crannies in between your teeth and along the gum line.
3. Oral care three times a day. All the brushing and flossing in three straight hours will not prevent tooth decay if you only clean your teeth once a year. You should brush your teeth regularly, after every meal.
4. Few people will ever withstand the pain of a toothache, but you don't have to bear with the misery for one whole day. With these home remedies and a trip to the dentist, even the worst toothaches won't make you scream out in intolerable pain ever again.
   

How to Get Rid of Wisdom Teeth Pain

Wisdom teeth can cause a lot of pain when they start to grow in your mouth between the ages of 17 and 24. These molars only hurt when their growth is "impacted," which means the teeth have failed to emerge fully into their expected positions in the four corners of your mouth. The pain is usually caused by pinched nerves or an infection. You can try to endure the pain and just wait for the wisdom teeth to squeeze in; but if the pain is too much, then maybe it's time to get rid of your wisdom teeth. Aside from tooth extraction though, there are other ways to get rid of wisdom teeth pain.


Nonsurgical Ways to Get Rid of Wisdom Teeth Pain

Consult your dentist if your wisdom teeth needs to be extracted. If he tells you that extraction is not advisable, and that the pain will soon go away, try the following methods to reduce the pain:

Suck in air:

Dentists use an air blower before a tooth extraction, a dental filing procedure, or a root canal session to dry out the tooth, so that the nerves in the pulp become less sensitive to pain. You can do the same thing by using a drinking straw to suck in air into the painful area. Just put the drinking straw into your mouth, and use your tongue to position it in the right angle, then suck air repeatedly.

Pain relievers:

Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs or NSAIDs are very effective in relieving both pain and inflammation caused by wisdom teeth. Prescription and over-the-counter NSAIDs are generally safe and effective, with few side-effects. Commonly used over-the-counter NSAIDs include aspirin (For other uses of aspirin, read 15 surprising uses for aspirin), ibuprofen, naproxen, and ketoprofen. Ask your doctor which pain reliever is best for your toothache.

Cold water:

Cold water works well for impacted wisdom teeth, aching molars, and mild tooth abscess. The temperature can soothe the nerves, and provide some pain relief. Do not use ice-cold water though, or carbonated beverages because they'll only cause more pain. Hold a small mouthful of cold water in your mouth, swish it around the wisdom tooth, and then gently spit it out along with debris that might be embedded in the cavities or crevices of your mouth.

Hot water:

If your teeth are sensitive to cold water, then the old water remedy might make your wisdom tooth more painful. In this case, it's better to use hot water to relieve the pain. Plain hot water and sugarless hot drinks like coffee and tea can also draw out some pus if abscess is present near the wisdom tooth. Hold the hot liquid in your mouth, and then swish it around the painful area for about five seconds. Gently spit the liquid out, and then repeat the process until pain subsides.

Warm water with salt:

Another way to reduce the pain is to gargle warm water with salt several times a day. Salt toughens gums, draws out infection, and reduces swelling. This remedy should work more effectively in combination with over-the-counter or prescription pain medications.

Brush your teeth:

Food particles stuck in the crevices and cavities of your teeth will only make the pain worse. Brushing your teeth will reduce your chance of developing an infection as the wisdom tooth emerges from your gums. Toothpaste also contains some substances that partially numb the pain from the gum line.

When to Have Your Wisdom Teeth Removed

Most dentists will advise against tooth extraction if your wisdom teeth is not causing you any trouble (Don't be afraid of your dentist, read the 15 ways to make a dental appointment more tolerable); or if he thinks that the pain will soon go away after the teeth has fully emerged. Impacted wisdom teeth though, should be removed because they may cause complications. The following are indications that your wisdom teeth need to be removed:

1. Jaw stiffness or pain near an impacted wisdom tooth
2. Pain caused by a wisdom tooth coming in at an awkward angle, and rubbing against your gums, tongue, or cheek.
3. Infection in a flap of gum tissue that has formed on top of an impacted wisdom tooth
4. Risk of tooth decay or gum disease if there's not enough room to clean the wisdom tooth and surrounding teeth.
5. Wisdom Teeth Extraction

Impacted wisdom tooth can cause a lot of complications if not removed. Sometimes, a flap of gum tissue grows over the wisdom tooth. Food can get trapped under this flap of tissue, leading to infection and foul breath. A fluid sac may also form around an impacted tooth, and eventually develop into a cyst, which can then cause permanent damage to nearby teeth and bones. It's best to have a tooth extraction procedure if you have an impacted wisdom tooth. The following is the usual course of the procedure:

Step 1: In your initial visit to the dentist, he will tell you to prepare for the operation. He may ask you to stop smoking if you're a smoker, because it increases your risk of getting an infection and slows recovery.

Step 2: The nurse checks your heart rate, blood pressure, and tests your urine before the procedure.

Step 3: Wisdom teeth extraction is usually done on an outpatient basis. The dentist administers a local anesthesia that completely blocks feeling in your gums. You will stay awake during the procedure, but he may offer you a sedative to help you relax. If you go to a dental hospital, the surgeon or dentist may give you general anesthesia, which means you'll be asleep during the operation. Talk to your dentist about which type of anesthesia is best for you.

Step 4: Once the anesthesia takes effect, the dentist cuts through your gum and, if needed, removes some of your jawbone to access the wisdom tooth. The tooth is pulled out, and the wound is closed with stitches. Ordinary wisdom teeth should only take a few minutes to remove, but more difficult wisdom teeth can take up to 40 minutes.

Step 5: Your dentist will ask you to rest until the effects of the anesthesia or sedative have passed. It may take several hours before the feeling comes back to your jaw if you've been administered a local anesthesia. Take care not to bump or knock the area as this might cause bleeding. If you've had general anesthesia and sedative administered to you, then make sure that you have someone to drive you home. General anesthesia and sedatives affect your coordination and reasoning skills, so don't drive, operate devices, drink alcohol, or sign documents for 48 hours after the procedure.

Step 6: You can take over-the-counter painkillers like ibuprofen or paracetamol at home. Don't vigorously gargle during the first 24 hours after the procedure because this can interrupt blood clots that are necessary to heal. Gently gargle warm water with a half teaspoon of salt after meals to reduce the swelling and prevent infection. Finally, keep your toothbrush away from the healing wound for the first couple of days, or until the wound heals.

Consult your dentist immediately once you notice your wisdom teeth growing. The position of the teeth should be evaluated immediately to determine if extraction is necessary. Also, check for signs of infection during the healing process to prevent further complications.

How to Get Rid of Your Gag Reflex

The back of your throat naturally contracts when an object touches your soft palate. This natural contraction is called the gag reflex or pharyngeal reflex, and it prevents you from choking. The gag reflex is useful, but it can be a big problem when it's overactive. It's very common for people to fear going to the dentist because they think they'll vomit once the dentist starts poking in their mouth. (Learn the ways to make a dental appointment tolerable) Some people's gag reflex is so active, in fact, that they find it difficult to brush their teeth without puking. Others complain of their gag reflex getting in the way of oral sex. Whatever your reason for wanting to get rid of your gag reflex, the following tips will help you achieve this goal.


Getting Rid of Gag Reflex Through Desensitization

It is possible to get rid of your gag reflex through desensitization, which means training your soft palate to receive objects without gagging. The best time to train your soft palate is when you're brushing your teeth. Do the following steps while you're brushing, and get rid of your gag reflex as soon as possible.

Find out where the gag reflex starts. Use the toothbrush to brush your tongue. Start from the farthest tip of your tongue, then work your way in deeper.

Once you begin to gag, try to brush that area for about 10 seconds even while you're gagging. This process is quite unpleasant, but training yourself not to gag naturally involves some gagging. Stop brushing when you feel like you can't continue any longer; training yourself can't be done in a day.

Repeat the process over the next few days, concentrating on the exact same spot. You'll notice that you gag less each time you repeat it. Stay on the same spot until you can handle most of the gagging or gagging completely stops. That part of your mouth is now desensitized.

Reach deeper into your mouth using the toothbrush. Try brushing half an inch behind the desensitized spot. Keep moving further back until you've reached the farthest area that the brush can reach.

The whole desensitization process should take about a month to complete, so don't lose hope if nothing improves in the first couple of days. When desensitization is complete, your doctor can swab the back of your throat all he wants, and you won't gag at all. Remember to repeat the process from time to time because your gag reflex may return if you don't.

Don't start too far back because you'll only gag pointlessly. This process only works if you do it one tiny step at a time.

It's not advisable to do this twice a day because if you vomit your food, then your body won't be able to digest the nutrients it needs. Do it once either in the morning or before you go to sleep in the evening.

Don't breathe through your mouth while you're brushing; instead, breathe through your nose to avoid triggering the gag reflex.

You may want to talk to your doctor first before desensitizing your soft palate. This training is also not recommended for children, as they might choke on the toothbrush.

Some tips to make desensitization work:

Tips to Prevent Gagging During Dental Treatment

Even if your gag reflex is not overactive, you may still find yourself gagging when the dentist starts poking in your mouth. There are many ways to control or completely stop your gag reflex during dental treatment. Some of them are the following:

Concentrate on breathing through your nose: You gag because you're trying to breathe in air through your mouth while the dentist's tools are also in there. Breathe through your nose instead of your mouth to keep the right amount of oxygen in your body.

Lift both of your legs up: For some people, lifting both of their legs up when they feel the gag sensation coming helps to prevent or reduce it.

Use a nasal decongestant before your appointment: Nasal decongestant keeps your nasal passageways open, promoting easier breathing through the nose.

Try a throat spray with numbing properties: Two or three sprays of a numbing throat spray should last for about an hour, enough time to survive the trip to the dentist. Many people also claim that snore-relief sprays suppress gag reflex perfectly.

Use table salt: Putting a pinch of table salt on the tip of the tongue during dental examination to prevent gagging works for many people (For other uses of table salt, read how to make use of household salt). This method probably works because your mind concentrates on the taste of the salt rather than on the tools in your mouth.

Talk to the dentist: Gagging can be caused by psychological factors as much as it is caused by physical factors. Some people gag when they go to the dentist because of fears that the dentist will do something wrong, and they'll be in pain. They fear that they are not in control of the situation, and so their mind overreacts and encourages the gag reflex to go off.Talking to the dentist about your concerns makes you feel more relaxed during the whole procedure. You can request him to put the tools at the correct angles in your mouth so you won't gag. You can also ask him to put as few tools as possible in your mouth at one time.

Desensitize yourself: Gagging is so unpleasant that you may soon start to fear going to the dentist irrationally. Remind yourself of the purpose of dental treatment by reading about the effects of poor dental care. Desensitize yourself by asking your doctor if you can take some of his tools at home, so you can practice putting them in your mouth. Find ways to have positive feelings about your dental visit to reduce your risk of gagging during a dental procedure.

Try topical lidocaine: You can ask your dentist to put a bit of topical lidocaine on a cotton tip applicator, and apply it on the sides of your tongue to prevent you from gagging. Lidocaine is a dental anesthetic that's available in different flavors.

Take a sip of very cold water: Some dentists say that taking a sip of very cold water before a dental procedure helps prevent gagging. There's no harm done in it, so try this for your next dental visit.

Listen to music: If it's OK with your dentist, bring your headphones, and simply listen to music while having a dental procedure. Listening to your favorite music shifts your attention from the tools in your mouth to the music in your ears.

Sit up rather than lie down: Gagging also sometimes has to do with your position during a dental procedure. If it's possible to sit up rather than to lie down during the procedure, request it. Some patients also say that standing up helps prevent their gag reflex from going off.

Tips to Prevent Gagging While Brushing Your Teeth

Another common problem among people with overactive gag reflex is brushing their teeth. Some experience the condition from childhood, while others develop it through time, sometimes as a symptom of a more serious condition, like an eating disorder. The following tips can help prevent you from gagging while brushing your teeth:

Use an electric toothbrush: Your gag reflex may be a response to the jerky motions while you're brushing your teeth. In this case, use an electric toothbrush with a very small brush head to make brushing easier and a lot more comfortable. Select the slower speed setting of the toothbrush to minimize the jerky movement.

Slowly increase the brushing area: Start brushing the area you find easiest to brush, and then move slowly to other areas until you can cover your whole mouth. Some people with overactive gag reflex find it easier to brush with their lips closed. Starting with the outer surfaces of the lower teeth then increasing the brushing area also works well for other people.

Choose a time that works best for you: Many people say that gag reflex is worse in the morning for reasons unknown. You can use a mouthwash in the morning, and then just brush your teeth later to reduce the risk of gagging.

Other Tips to Get Rid of Your Gag Reflex

Consult your doctor or a visit a psychologist: Gagging can be caused by a different medical problem; for instance, an eating disorder. Consult your doctor if you suspect that your oversensitive gag reflex is just a symptom of another illness. Gagging may also be caused by past psychological trauma or repressed fears. In this case, it's a good idea to visit a psychologist to determine the deeper issues that fuel your gag reflex.

Consider hypnosis and acupuncture: Many people suffering from overactive gag reflex find relief in hypnotherapy. A hypnotherapist puts you in a trance-like condition to implant ideas, concepts, and lifestyle adaptations in your subconscious mind. This method may work if your overactive gag reflex is caused by past psychological trauma. Another alternative treatment to overactive gag reflex is acupuncture. One study found out that ear acupuncture helps prevent gagging, although it's controversial whether this is a placebo effect or not.

If your gag reflex is normal, and you only have occasional problems with it, then there's no need to completely desensitize your soft palate. Remember that your gag reflex is there for a very important reason. Unless you're a professional sword swallower, it may not be beneficial to completely get rid of it.

How to Get Rid of Periods

What is a period?

In the female reproductive system, the period (or the menstrual cycle) is a recurring cycle of physiologic changes that occurs in reproductive-age females. Overt menstruation (where there is blood-flow from the vagina) occurs primarily in humans and close evolutionary relatives such as chimpanzees. The menstrual cycle is under the control of the hormone system and is necessary for reproduction. Menstrual cycles are counted from the first day of menstrual flow because the onset of menstruation corresponds closely with the hormonal cycle.

Even though most women would rather do without it, it isn't healthy to never have a period. Your body needs to shed the endometrial lining once in a while. Not doing so can put you at risk for cancer. Having a period is a completely natural and normal thing. There are stories of women who only have three periods a year. That's pretty scary when you don't know what's causing it as it can turn out to be a symptom of a disease, such as endocrine system disorder, which can cause infertility. One good thing about having a regular period is that it reassures you that things down there are working like they should.

Getting Rid of Your Period

Controlling/Removing Periods

If your period starts to disrupt your everyday routine, then drastic, period-controlling measures must be implemented. Contrary to popular belief, there are lots of ways to get rid of a period, and all of them deal directly with your reproductive system. As such, birth control, menopause, hysterectomy and endometrial ablation are among your prime choices for period control and/or removal.

Birth control is one way of controlling your period. Estrogens and progesterone-like hormones make up the main active ingredients of hormonal birth control methods such as the pill. Typically, they cause regular monthly flow that roughly mimics a menstrual cycle in appearance, but suppresses ovulation. With most pills, a woman takes hormone pills for 21 days, followed by 7 days of non-functional placebo pills or no pills at all, and then the cycle starts again.

During the seven placebo days, withdrawal bleeding occurs. This differs from ordinary menstruation and skipping the placebos and continuing with the next batch of hormone pills may suppress it. There are two main versions of the pill: monophasic and triphasic. With triphasic pills, skipping placebos and continuing with the next month's dose can make a woman more likely to experience spotting or breakthrough bleeding.

In 2003, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approved low-dose monophasic birth control pills that induce withdrawal bleeding every three months. Yet another version of the pill is the Loestrin Fe, that has only a four-day placebo "week" (the placebos are actually iron supplements intended to replenish iron lost by uterine shedding). The other three placebos are replaced with active hormone pills. This system is intended to help shorten periods. Mircette contains several days of estrogen-only pills in addition to the usual combination of estrogen/progestin pills, in the case of women who may have problems with low estrogen during the placebo days with other pills.

Other types of hormonal birth control that affect menstruation include the vaginal Nuvaring and the transdermal patch (like the standard pill pack, active hormones are given for three weeks, followed by a one-week break to allow blood flow) and the injection (that can eliminate all flow as long as the injections are taken every 12 weeks, although spotting is a common side effect).

Menopause is one sure way of getting rid of periods naturally. Just wait it out till you're about 40, and you'll never have to worry about your period ever again. Of course, menopause opens up a whole new set of challenges, but at least menstruation isn't one of them.

A hysterectomy can also be effective in getting rid of periods for good. It's the surgical removal of the uterus, usually performed by a gynecologist. Hysterectomy may be total (removing the body, fundus, and cervix of the uterus; often called "complete") or partial (removal of the uterine body but leaving the cervical stump, also called "supracervical").

Removal of the uterus renders the patient unable to bear children (similar to the removal of ovaries and fallopian tubes), and changes her hormonal levels considerably, so the surgery is normally recommended for only a few specific circumstances, including unbearable or extreme period symptoms.

Endometrial ablation should be a rather straightforward way of getting rid of periods once and for all. It's done under general anesthesia, and involves burning off the endometrial lining of your uterus, so that afterwards, there's nothing there to fill up with blood, so no periods.

Dealing with Periods

There are lots of things you can do to make your periods easier. You can wear panty liners right before it starts to avoid staining your underwear, and tampons are a lot easier to use than pads (Learn how to insert a tampon). As long as you change them regularly, you can do almost anything that you want while having your period.

To deal with the period itself, do the following:

Keep a pad, tampon or something similar with you always. Even if it's not that time of the month, you should still carry some with you just in case of an accident.

Try plain ibuprofen first, if you have cramps.

If ibuprofen doesn't work, try Pamprin or Midol next time.

Put a heating pad or hot water bottle on the painful spots, take a bath, or exercise. It might help to cut down on the amount of sugar and salt you eat.

Also, you can try lying on your back on the floor with your legs elevated on the couch—it forces your uterine muscles to relax and is a natural pain reliever after 10 or 15 minutes.

Warn people of your impending period and mood swings ahead of time so that they can prepare and take caution. Part of maturing into womanhood is learning to manage your moods. If you experience severe mood swings, tell your doctor—you may need some help with an imbalance.

Try not to stress out. Stress can affect your flow and/or your cycle. Relax for a little bit and don't worry about it. Other women have to go through the same so you're not the only one.

Try to keep track of how long you have your period, when it started and ended, how heavy it is, and so on. If your period lasts longer than one week to 10 days, consult your gynecologist.

Take a day off. Relieve all that stress. Get plenty of rest and eat healthfully. It will keep your body in balance, and you won't feel as bad. Be careful not to change your diet completely, as it will create more complications.

Wear comfortable clothes. Most women prefer not to wear uncomfortable clothing while having their period. Wear some sweat pants and a sweatshirt or anything else that feels comfortable, but don't make it too obvious. You can just wear black pants and keep a jacket around in case you stain your pants. When that happens - just tie it around your waist.

If you have to change for gym in school, then wear red, black or brown underwear. People will be less likely to notice you have your period. Also, try changing your pad before gym and try to wear pads without wings. It will be much harder for girls to tell that you have your period if you're wearing a pad without wings. Try changing your pants or shorts wearing a long t-shirt, if you prefer.

• Getting Rid of Menstrual Pain
• Apply a heat wipe to your lower tummy (below your belly button).
• Take hot showers or baths.
• Drink warm beverages.
• Follow a diet rich in complex carbohydrates such as grain, fruits and vegetables, but low in saline, sugar, alcohol and caffeine.
• Try over-the-counter anti-inflammatory tablets, such as ibuprofen. Also, use Feminax as it's a particularly good painkiller.
• Practice relaxation techniques resembling meditation or yoga.
• Try vitamin B-6, calcium and magnesium supplements, especially if your stress is from PMS.
• Keep your legs elevated while lying down or sprawl on your side and keep knees bent.

The timing of periods was impossible to predict or to change. For the first time in human history, hormonal contraception has changed women's options, and the use of oestrogen-progestogen contraception can control whether and when a woman has a period

How to Get Rid of Weak Blood Vessels

The blood vessels are a very important part of your internal system, carrying supplying the various body areas with an adequate supply of blood. As you grow old, though, these vessels can become weaker, especially when you live a careless and unhealthy lifestyle. Excessive weight, smoking and alcohol intake raises the cholesterol levels, which in turn causes the fat build-ups in the elastic artery walls, forcing them to bulge outwards and become weak. This can result to aneurysm, reason why you should get rid of weak blood vessels.

What Is Aneurysm?

Aneurism or aneurysm is when a blood vessel dilates and becomes filled with blood, due to weakened blood vessel walls. It most commonly occurs in the arteries just at the brain's base and in the aorta, which is the major artery that comes out of the heart. The bigger the aneurysm, the higher the risk of rupture, resulting in severe hemorrhage, as well as other complications. In some cases, it can even cause death.

Weak blood vessels, if ignored, can become ruptured and cause aneurysm. Although aneurysm itself can be treated, prevention is always the best option. You should get rid of those unhealthy and weak blood vessels. There are ways to get rid of this condition.

Avoid Vices Like Smoking And Alcohol Drinking

Smoking and drinking excessively both have many unpleasant effects on the body, one of which is blood vessel weakening. Stay away from these habits, especially if you're already at an old age. Nicotine not only increases the cholesterol level in the blood stream, but it also weakens the blood vessel walls. Even second-hand smoke can be very detrimental to your blood vessels, so don't stay around people who smoke too often.

Change Your Diet

Lowering your cholesterol levels is the first step to getting rid of weak blood vessels, to flush out the plaque buildup in your arteries. Switch to a high-fiber, low-fat and low-cholesterol diet. Choose foods that strengthen and clean your arteries, such as nuts, apples and beans. Two of three servings of these foods everyday will be great. Also, make sure you read the nutrition label whenever you buy processed foods. Some foods say they are "healthy", even if they aren't.

Here are more diet tips you can try.

Eat citrus foods to strengthen the blood vessels. These are high in bioflavonoids, which are important antioxidants that prevent capillary rupture. Alternately, you can eat bioflavonoid supplements twice a day.

Try black tea instead of black coffee. Tea also has high flavonoid levels, that lower blood pressure and strengthen your vessels. You can also apply the black tea bags externally, reducing swelling and tightening the skin.

Incorporate oatmeal in your diet. Make it a point to eat a bowl everyday. Oats have a soluble fiber called beta glucan, that act as small sponges and soak up bad cholesterol and take it out from your system. Add healthy fruits to make your oatmeal sweeter and healthier.

Try A Garlic Remedy

Garlic is an herb that offers numerous health benefits to the body. Use it as often as you can, by mixing it in your dishes. When ingested daily, it can sufficiently strengthen blood vessels, by lowering cholesterol levels and preventing fats from building up in your arteries. If you can't always include garlic in your diet, try taking one 500mg of garlic capsule everyday.

Take Food Supplements

Ingesting food supplements with fruit extracts will help you get rid of your weakened blood vessels. A couple of options you can try are:

Grape seed extract. It contains proanthocyanidins, helping prevent blood vessel damage. Check the manufacturer's label, so you'll know how much you should ingest everyday.

Bilberry fruit extract. It has anthocyanosides, which can sufficiently strengthen the capillary walls, lessen inflammation and stabilize skin collagen. Take 40 to 80mg of it three times everyday.

Exercise

A healthy person who frequently exercises often doesn't have any weak blood vessel problem. Exercising regularly increases blood circulation, preventing build-up of plaque in the arteries. It removes cholesterol, lessens stress, and even lowers blood pressure. Try to maintain a 30-minute exercise regimen everyday. It can be as simple as stretching or as extreme as outdoor activities (biking or running).

Use Creams

One of the most apparent causes of weak blood vessels, is the formation of dark circles under the eyes. According to some studies, there's a simple way to improve this problem, and that is by using a skin cream rich in vitamins A and K. Regular application of these will improve blood vessel strength and also lessen the appearance of dark circles around the eyes.

Having weak blood vessels might not be very obvious at first, but when you start to feel its effects, you'll definitely be sorry that you didn't take the precuations to strenghten them. Remember these simple, but helpful tips, and you'll surely get the healthy vessels your body needs.

How to Get Rid of Kidney Pain

Your lower back has been hurting for about a week now; and you suspect that all the fatty foods you're eating have finally taken their toll on your kidneys. You think that your kidneys are causing the pain, and you prepare yourself for a kidney stone diagnosis. While it's important to go see your doctor immediately, don't panic because your kidneys may not be the ones hurting. Also, kidney pain is not just caused by kidney stones, but by other conditions as well. (The following are tips on how to identify what's causing your kidneys to hurt, and how to get rid of the pain)

Kidney Pain VS Common Lower Back Pain

It's easy to mistake common lower back pain for kidney pain. Your kidneys are located in the back part of your abdominal cavity, on each side of your spine. The right kidney sits just below the diaphragm behind the liver, while the left is below the diaphragm and behind the spleen. Dull, lower back pain is most likely not caused by kidney disease, but by aching muscles, ligaments or disks in the spinal column touching sensitive nerves. This kind of pain usually gets worse with movement, and can be relived through massage or heat application.

Kidney pain tends to be felt in the flank area, which is located in the back, at the lower edge of the ribs on either side of the spine. The pain tends to be severe, sharp, and occur in waves, as opposed to the dull, aching sensation of strained muscles and ligaments. It's rare for kidneys to cause dull pains; in fact, kidney pain is nowhere near the level of common lower back pain. Simply put, kidney pain hurts a lot more.

Causes of Kidney Pain and Treatment

Kidney Stones

Kidney stones form when the minerals and fluids in your urine are out of balance, which means it contains too much crystal-forming substances, like calcium and uric acid. There are not enough fluids to dilute these crystals, so they stick together and block the ureter, the tube that connects your kidneys to the bladder. The blocked urine backs up into the kidneys, causing them to swell and stretch the pain-sensitive capsule around them.


Pain Profile:

The pain caused by kidney stones is colic, meaning, it comes in waves as opposed to dull, continuous pain. Some people say that the pain caused by kidney stones is comparable to that of giving birth. Patients suffering from kidney stones usually can't hold still, and are constantly writhing and pacing. The pain is so severe that it usually causes nausea and vomiting.

Treatment for Kidney Stones

Home treatment:

If you have a kidney stone, you'll most likely be diagnosed with it when you're already in great pain. You will be taken to the emergency room where your doctor will give you the option to either wait for the stone to pass while taking pain medications, or have a medical or surgical procedure to remove the stone. You can get rid of small stones measuring 5 mm by taking pain medicine and drinking extra fluids.

Small stones usually pass on their own. According to statistics, nine out of every 10 stones smaller than 5mm, and five out of 10 stones measuring 5 mm to 10 mm pass on their own. In addition, only one or two out of 10 stones require more than home treatment. The following are common home treatments for kidney stone:

Drink more fluids. Drink eight to 10 glasses of water a day to keep your urine clear. You may drink two glasses of water every two hours while you're awake. Talk to your doctor first before increasing your fluid intake if you also have heart or liver disease.

Take pain medicines:

Non Steroidal Anti Inflammatory Drugs are typically prescribed to relieve kidney pain. If your body can't still handle the pain even with the medications, your doctor may need to prescribe stronger pain medicines.

Do not drink grapefruit juice:

Drinking grapefruit juice increases your risk of developing more kidney stones.

Other medicines:

Substances known as alpha-blockers and calcium channel blockers have been shown to make passing kidney stones a lot easier. Ask your doctor if any of these medicines can help you.

Hospitalization:

Your doctor will likely suggest medical or surgical treatment if the stones are blocking your urinary tract, preventing urination and causing severe pain. Your treatment options are as follows:

Extracorpreal Shock Wave Lithotripsy (ESWL):

ESWL uses shock waves to break the stones and pass them easily out of your body. It's the most commonly used medical treatment today for kidney stones.

Percutaneous nephrolithotomy:

If ESWL doesn't work for you because your stones are very large and hard, your doctor may perform percutaneous nephrolithotomy. He puts a narrow telescope into the kidney through a small cut in your back. He then removes the stone or breaks it up for easier removal.

Ureteroscopy:

Similar to nephrolithotomy, ureteroscopy involves putting a telescope tube up the urinary tract to the stone's location. The doctor then uses instruments to remove it or break it up. In some cases, a small hollow tube called a ureteral stent is placed in the ureter for a brief period of time to drain urine. This type of procedure is often done when the stones have already moved from the kidney to the ureter.

Open surgery:

Open surgery is rarely used to remove kidney stones. In the procedure, the surgeon makes a cut in the belly or the side of the body to remove the stone.

Kidney Infection (Pyelonephritis)

Kidney infection or pyelonephritis is a type of urinary tract infection (UTI) that begins in the urethra or bladder and travels up the kidneys. Prompt medical attention is required for this condition because the infection can spread to the bloodstream and become life-threatening. Kidneys become inflamed due to the infection, stretching the pain-sensitive capsule around them and causing pain.

Pain Profile:

Pain caused by kidney infection is sharp and aching. Most patients are sensitive even to the lightest touch in the flank area. The pain is usually debilitating, and comes with other symptoms such as: nausea, high fever, and vomiting.

Treatment for Kidney Infection

Home Treatment: Most cases of kidney infection are treated at home through antibiotics and painkillers. Treatment is very similar to that of kidney stones, and involves the following:

Antibiotics:

Kidney infection is usually treated with antibiotics. Some doctors prescribe antibiotics even before they get the results of your urine test if they suspect infection.

Painkillers:

Ibuprofen and paracetamol can help ease pain and reduce your temperature if you have a fever. Take note though that ibuprofen is not recommended if you have a history of liver or kidney disease, or asthma. Your doctor may prescribe stronger painkillers if the pain is severe.

Fluids:

Make sure to drink at least two liters of water a day despite the pain. Inform your doctor if you have another medical condition that prevents you from drinking that amount of water; for instance, heart disease.

Hospitalization:

You don't need to be admitted to the hospital if you're infection isn't severe. Hospitalization is only necessary if your infection doesn't respond quickly to antibiotics; and if you're getting dehydrated because of vomiting and lose bowel movement. You may also need to stay in the hospital if you have medical conditions like diabetes that need to be observed during treatment.

Intravenous (IV) antibiotics may be administered to you if your fever is too high or if you're pregnant. Patients with weak immune systems and low tolerance to oral antibiotics are also likely to receive IV antibiotics. The physician may put fluids directly into your veins to prevent dehydration. Painkillers are also used to help you cope with the pain while waiting for the inflammation to subside.

Dull Aching Kidney Pain

Kidney pain is rarely dull and aching. In fact, it is very unusual for a slowly developing blockage to cause any pain at all. If, however, you experience dull, aching pain from your kidneys, the following are the likely causes:

Kidney Cancer: Rarely, a kidney tumor can grow and stretch the pain-sensitive capsule around the kidneys. Kidney tumors are usually removed through surgery.

Polycystic Kidney Disease: This disease is hereditary and can lead to massive enlargement of the kidneys over a period of years. Dull aching pain due to polycystic kidney disease is usually felt in the front of the abdomen rather than in the back. Treatment usually involves dialysis and kidney transplantation, especially in the end stage of the disease.

Chronic bilateral obstructive uropathy: Kidney blockage can also occur gradually as opposed to the sudden blockage by kidney stones. Chronic bilateral obstructive uropathy is a blockage of urine in both kidneys that gets worse over time. Treatment depends on what's causing the blockage; for example, UTI is treated with antibiotics, while an enlarged prostate is treated with heat therapy.

Many people don't care about their kidneys until they're already writhing in pain. Remember that prevention is always better than cure.