Anaphylaxis

Anaphylaxis is a rare but severe allergic reaction that can occur after exposure to an allergy-causing substance. If you have a history of allergies or a family history of anaphylactic reactions, you may be at higher risk. Causes of anaphylaxis include certain medications, latex, insect bites and stings, and foods such as peanuts, shellfish, and dairy products. Anaphylactic reactions are rarely caused by pollens.

Symptoms of anaphylaxis include:

• intense itching or burning
• sneezing or coughing
• flushing, redness of the skin
• watery eyes
• hives
• tightness in chest/difficulty breathing
• wheezing
• tongue swelling
• nausea/vomiting
• rapid/weak pulse
• decreased/low blood pressure
• shock
• dizziness/fainting

If you think you have had an anaphylactic response, you should see an allergy specialist. The specialist will evaluate your symptoms and ask questions related to your exposure and reactions to different allergy-causing substances. This will determine if you have had an anaphylactic response, and if so, what has triggered it. Allergy testing may also be part of the evaluation. Although anaphylaxis is rare, it is serious and potentially life-threatening. One out of every 2.5 million people per year dies from anaphylaxis.

Epinephrine

Epinephrine (adrenaline) is the drug that is most commonly used to treat anaphylaxis. If you are at risk, your doctor or specialist may recommend you carry an epinephrine kit, which includes a self-injecting shot. The shot can be self-administered, and should be given immediately after the reaction until professional medical attention is available. Follow-up by a medical professional should be performed as soon as possible. You may also want to wear a MedicAlert bracelet indicating your condition and instruct family members and friends how to administer the epinephrine to you in case you have a reaction and are unable to administer it to yourself.

Environmental control: allergies

Controlling dust mites, mold spores, house dust, animal dander, and exposure to pollen can help relieve and prevent allergy symptoms. Refer to the following list for ideas on how to control your environment and for better management of rhinitis (nasal - "hay fever") symptoms.

In the home

• Regularly air out tight, closed spaces like bathrooms and closets.
• Use a damp, not dry, cloth to dust rooms weekly.
• Reduce the number of indoor plants in your home - they are a breeding ground for mildew.
• Reduce or discard items that are likely to collect dust (e.g., dried flowers and stuffed animals).
• Use a dehumidifier or air conditioner.
• Remember to change air filters regularly in heating and air-conditioning systems.
• Keep windows and doors closed during heavy pollination seasons.
• If possible, replace wall-to-wall carpeting with wood or linoleum floors.
• Use dust masks when cleaning.

Bedrooms

• To relieve nasal congestion, try tilting the head of the bed upwards.
• Use allergen-impermeable covers on mattresses and pillows.
• Wash linens in hot water to kill dust mites.
• Use hypo-allergenic bedding, pillows, and blankets.

Outside

• Avoid the outdoors during early morning hours - this is when pollen levels are highest.
• Try to limit outdoor work - leaves, grass, peat, and mulch are common allergens.
• If you must mow the lawn yourself, remember to use a mask.
• Keep the grass cut short.

Pets

• Keep pets that produce dander (cats and dogs) outside.
• If pets must stay indoors, do not allow them into sleeping areas or rooms with upholstered furniture.
• If you have a young child who is clearly allergic to your pet, you should probably get rid of the pet (we are assuming you would prefer to keep the child), although some physicians may recommend low-dose nasal corticosteroids for the child.

Allergy treatment

Allergy sufferers should be seen by an allergist or an ENT (ear, nose, throat) specialist. The physician or specialist will ask questions related to the patient's medical history and may perform a series of medical examinations and tests. One common test is the "skin test," done by scratching or lightly injecting a small amount of allergen into the surface of the patient's skin. If a large hive develops, it usually means the patient is "sensitive" (allergic) to that allergen. Skin tests help to determine the patient's sensitivity to each allergen, making it easier for the patient and physician to formulate a plan to alleviate the symptoms caused by the allergens.

Environmental factors

Counselling in proper environmental control is often included as part of allergy treatment. Avoiding substances that cause allergic reactions may make symptoms more manageable. Preventative measures can reduce the frequency and severity of allergic reactions significantly.

Medications

Medications such as antihistamines and decongestants are commonly used to prevent and relieve allergy symptoms. They are widely available over the counter or by prescription. Anti-inflammatory agents such as cromolyn, nedocromil, and corticosteroids are also used to prevent allergy symptoms. These drugs work by helping to reduce inflammation in the airways caused by allergens. Low-dose corticosteroid nasal spray has become very popular and has proven to be extremely effective in managing the rhinitis (nasal inflammation) caused by allergies.

Allergen immunotherapy (allergy shots)

Allergy shots are given to patients with moderate to severe allergies. If the patient's allergy symptoms occur year round, or if the allergy is caused by a substance that is not easily avoidable, allergy shots may be the most effective form of treatment. In immunotherapy, the patient is given a series of shots or vaccinations to help build immunity to the allergen. Patients are given an injection once a week containing only the allergens to which the patient reacts. As the weeks progress, the concentration of the allergen in each shot is gradually increased. Typically, patients will receive injections for 3 to 5 years or more.

Immunotherapy is a relatively safe if somewhat old-fashioned method of treatment. The effectiveness of these shots can be quite variable.

School Health Profiles

The School Health Profiles helps state and district education and health agencies monitor the current status of school health education; school health policies related to HIV infection/AIDS, tobacco use prevention, unintentional injuries and violence, physical activity, and food service; physical education; asthma management activities; and family and community involvement in school health programs. State and local education and health agencies conduct the survey biennially at the middle/junior high school and senior high school levels in their states or districts, respectively.

Health Food

Health Food Cures are where you find them. Some people say that the doctor's record of preventive medicine is disgraceful, but I don't agree. Doctors only get paid when people are sick so why should they prevent you getting sick? It would be bad business. Eat the right foods to stay healthy.

If you want to get right down to practical reading go to
don't waste health foods Or read on about the philosophy behind health food. What do food cures or healing mean to your health? It's not so easy to define.

If you haven't eaten for two days and have a ravenous appetite then you eat a large meal, can that be called a "cure" for your hunger? Won't you be just as hungry in two days time if you don't eat any more?

If your scurvy goes away when you take vitamin C, does that mean that C cured it? Or will it come back again if you don't keep eating vitamin C?

Proof of Poisoning

If you are being poisoned by fluoride in your water or mercury in the fillings in your teeth or selenium in the soil how can you prove it? You can't. All you can do is to try to avoid it.

Refined sugar is a poison, leading to low immunity and triggering obesity and diabetes. How do you prove it? Well in laboratory tests it was shown that 1 teaspoon sugar switches off immune responses of the body for three hours. But if you've used sugar all your life, how are you to know that you would have had the flu less often with no sugar? You don't. You might not be typical.

Proof of Prevention

If you eat 10 anti-cancer fruit or vegetables each day and never get cancer, does that prove that they prevented you getting cancer? No, you might not have got cancer anyway.

I don't really care. If each anti-cancer vegetable decreases my chance of cancer by 40% and I eat 10 of them each day does that mean that I have a minus 300% chance of getting cancer? Probably not.

But I'm still going to continue to eat anti-cancer produce, also anti scurvy, anti-gout, brain enhancers, vision enhancers and so on. I'd have to be pretty unlucky if none of the healthy foods that each protected 40% of the population helped me.

I don't care as long as it works

This site is all about foods that have "cured" other people, or "prevented" diseases, or just made them more healthy. They won't all work for you, because you are an individual, different from everyone else. But if you hit a disease with five healthy food cures at once, probably at least one will work, and who cares which one it was?

Tips for Allergies

Tips for Seasonal Allergy Sufferers

If you’re among the 35 million-plus people in the U.S. who suffer from seasonal allergies, it’s not news to you that the allergy season has arrived early in many parts of the country – especially in Southern California. Your nose knows it’s true and so do your eyes, chest, head and maybe even your ears. Sneezing, congestion, runny nose and itchiness are common symptoms of allergic rhinitis (commonly referred to as “hay fever”.)

This Spring’s burst of color -- a spectacular display of buds and blossoms -- comes hand-in-hand with a bumper crop of airborne pollens and mold spores, due in part to winter’s heavy rains and higher than normal temperatures.

“There’s no doubt that nature has created a wonderful greenhouse effect this year,” says Zab Mosenifar, MD, Director of Pulmonary and Critical Care at Cedars-Sinai Medical Center. “The heavy rains and higher temperatures have produced an impressive growth of vegetation which is wonderful to enjoy if you don’t have allergies. But if you have a history of allergic rhinitis or allergic asthma (the most common type of asthma), you need to be careful in terms of when and where you exercise during this season.”

Both allergic rhinitis and allergic asthma can be triggered by allergens such as pollen and mold. “While allergic rhinitis is an annoying condition, allergic asthma is more serious and can be life-threatening,” explains Dr. Mosenifar.

In allergic asthma, allergens cause the passages in the airways to become inflamed and swollen, making it difficult to breathe. In allergic rhinitis, the mucous membranes in the nose become inflamed, causing sneezing, congestion, runny nose and itchiness in the roof of the mouth, throat, eyes, nose and ears.

It’s almost impossible to hide from pollen and mold since both are carried by wind currents. While pollens are only found outdoors, molds are found both indoors and outdoors. Outdoor molds can be found in soil, vegetation and rotting wood; you’ll find indoor molds in bathrooms, attics, carpets, upholstery and garbage containers ?? and in any moist area.

With pollen and mold just about everywhere, is there anything allergy suffers can do to minimize their discomfort during this season? The following are tips Dr. Mosenifar shares with his patients for “circumventing or getting around” their environment.

1. Change the time and location of your exercise routine. Avoid exercising in the early morning between the hours of 5 and 10 since that’s when pollen is usually emitted. Exercise indoors whenever possible or find a place that’s somewhat removed from green vegetation.

2. Consider swimming. Dr. Mosenifar especially recommends that people suffering from seasonal allergies and asthma integrate swimming into their exercise routine. “Swimming is an excellent exercise for people with allergies. If you’re fortunate to be near a beach, you’ll find one of the purest concentrations of air in the ten to 15 inch layer right above the water. The gentle humidity keeps your airways from drying out.”

3. Ask your physician if he or she recommends long-acting over-the-counter antihistamine medications. “These often can be effective in blocking the effects of exposure to allergens,” Dr. Mosenifar says. He’s hesitant to recommend immunotherapy as a panacea for allergies. “Identifying exactly which substances a person is allergic to is like answering the ‘$64,000 dollar question.’ It would be wonderful if we could do that, but it’s very difficult since there are literally thousands of allergens. Immunotherapy has been around for years, but it’s still more of an unconventional therapy.”

4. Take a look at some of the allergen-specific products on the market. Mattress and pillow covers that keep harmful dust mite allergens from escaping from bedding can be helpful. And wearing a face mask, although it might not be very attractive, is definitely better than not being able to enjoy the outdoors,” Dr. Mosenifar adds.

Finally, if you’re thinking about moving to get away from your allergies, think again. Dr. Mosenifar advises against it. “I am very much against people moving in hopes of finding an allergy-free environment,” he says. “Once you move, your allergies are not going to go away. If you have a propensity for developing allergies, you might buy some time in a new location but you’ll eventually find new allergens.”

Allergy Shots (Immunotherapy)

Allergy shots teach your immune system to react to your usual triggers without generating allergy symptoms. Allergy shots are usually recommended to reduce or eliminate chronic allergy symptoms caused by indoor and outdoor allergens, or to protect you against life-threatening allergy reactions (in the case of insect sting allergies or anticipated antibiotic use). This treatment method is not currently used for food allergies, because injections to treat food allergy have a high risk for causing a serious reaction. Drug development is in progress for food allergy treatment; a safe allergy shot solution to treat peanut allergy may be available in upcoming years.

You and your health care professional should consider allergy shots if you have:

• Moderate to severe allergy symptoms that are present through many months of the year
• Significant side effects from allergy medications
• A severe allergic reaction to an insect sting
• Severe allergic reaction to an antibiotic that you need to take, with no other acceptable antibiotic treatment option
• An unacceptably expensive combination of allergy treatments in order to control your symptoms (such as an asthma inhaler plus a nasal inhaler)

Allergy shots are believed to work by adjusting the way that your immune system responds after exposure to your triggers. Several changes occur after several months of allergy shots. Allergy shots gradually stimulate the production of antibodies that do not cause allergy, called IgG (immunoglobulin G) antibodies. The shots gradually lessen the production of “allergy” antibodies called IgE (immunoglobulin E). Your immune system also activates immune cells called “suppressor T cells” once you respond to allergy shots.

Once these changes have occurred, your allergy triggers are less likely to result in a release of histamine, and less likely to cause allergy symptoms. When they work, allergy shots can limit or even eliminate the need for medications to control allergy symptoms.

The downside of this treatment is that allergy shots have to be given regularly for a few years, and even then they don't work for everyone. It takes several months to a year before symptoms begin to improve. In the beginning, shots containing very small doses of an allergen are given on a weekly basis or more frequently. Later, after your immune system has time to begin its adjustment, somewhat larger doses are given and these can be spaced farther apart in time. Eventually you are given a maintenance dose about once a month.

It is necessary to remain in your physician’s office for at least 20 to 30 minutes after getting allergy shots to make sure you don't have a reaction. Sometimes, reactions are as simple as hives or irritation at the injection site. Reactions requiring immediate medical attention, such as an asthma attack or anaphylaxis, are rare but can be life threatening. This period of observation allows you to get treatment at the earliest signs of a reaction, if one occurs.

Allergies and Asthma on the Go

If you have allergies — to food, pets, pollen, mold or something else — or if you have asthma, borrow a lesson from the Boy Scouts: Be prepared — all the time.

According to the American Academy of Allergy, Asthma and Immunology (AAAAI), allergies affect as many as 40 million to 50 million people in the United States, triggering more than 8 million visits to office-based physicians each year. More than 17 million people, including 5 million children, have asthma.

Allergic reactions range from merely annoying — a friend's cat may trigger a bout of sneezing — to potentially deadly. According to the AAAAI, approximately 100 people in the United States die each year from food-related anaphylaxis and at least 40 die from reactions to insect stings.

Experts say the cardinal rule for allergy sufferers is to know what you're allergic to and to predict and avoid situations where you're likely to be exposed to those allergens. This is particularly important whenever you are away from home, whether you are visiting a friend or traveling abroad. Even if you are rarely affected by your allergies or asthma, you cannot always predict what reaction you might have in a new environment. Make sure you are armed with the medications you might need if you have a reaction.

Hidden Risks

People with food allergies, in particular, need to be on alert. There are numerous cases of people suffering a reaction to a food they thought was safe. U.S. Food and Drug Administration inspections have found bakeries using potential food allergens in products without listing those ingredients even when a business thought it was in compliance with food-labeling regulations. Therefore, you should assume that foods may contain trace amounts of unlabeled food allergens. You should be on special alert if you have an allergy to cow’s milk protein, peanuts, nuts, eggs, or wheat (gluten). Beginning in January 2006, the Food Allergen Labeling and Consumer Protection Act that was recently signed into law will require food manufacturers within the United States to clearly label their foods if they contain common allergy trigger ingredients. When there is not obvious labeling, it can be important to recognize your allergy trigger by alternative names: for example, cow’s milk may be included on an ingredient list under the name “casein” or “caseinate,” soy may be named “textured vegetable protein,” and eggs may be referred to as “albumin.” You should request a list from your doctor or allergist that shows foods to avoid for your allergy.

When traveling, you must be especially careful about the foods you eat that are prepared by others. If you have had serious, potentially life-threatening reactions to food in the past, especially if you have a peanut or nut allergy, make sure you take emergency medications with you when you go out to eat. To keep up to date with the latest alerts about unlabeled food allergens, check periodically with the Food Allergy and Anaphylaxis Network.

What You Can Do

When you're on the go, you can take steps to make sure your travels don't become memorable for all the wrong reasons. The AAAAI offers these tips:

• Be prepared. Do your homework for your trip and be prepared for any unexpected event. Travel with a medical kit, including any allergy medications — prescription or over the counter — that help relieve your symptoms. Also pack medications in your carry-on luggage in case your checked luggage is delayed.
  
  If you have a potentially dangerous food or insect allergy, your doctor may have prescribed an epinephrine injection for emergencies. You should have one with you at all times. If you are traveling by air, an epinephrine syringe is permitted on board but it must be labeled with a professionally printed label from the pharmacy or manufacturer, which states the name of the medication or the manufacturer. It is strongly advised that you also carry a letter from your health care professional stating your medical condition and the need for you to carry your medication on board. You should carry this documentation with you through all airport security gates, and you should carry your own supplies or stay with your traveling companion who is carrying them. Do not eat airline food if you have a peanut allergy; it is best for you to bring your own food along.
  
  If your asthma is particularly severe, your doctor might prescribe prednisone for you to take with you when you travel. You and your doctor might have a plan for when you might have to use it or when to call for instructions. Take your physician's phone number with you. You never know when you might need to contact him or her.
  
  And here's one last tip: Don't forget to obtain travel medical insurance (or check to see what your own insurance policy covers). You may need it.



• Take extra precautions if traveling abroad. If you're traveling abroad, check with your physician for any immunizations you may need. Remind your doctor if you have an egg allergy, because egg protein is contained in some vaccines. Make sure to carry your physician's phone number at all times. Take your allergy medications in their original containers, which are easier for customs officials to identify. And if you use a portable nebulizer, find out the local electrical currents of where you are going; if you need to, invest in an adapter for the electrical plugs.



• Avoid triggers of food allergies. If you have any potentially life-threatening food (or insect) allergies, always carry an epinephrine kit to administer emergency medication. When eating in restaurants, ask how the food is prepared. You may want to contact the chef beforehand and outline your special dietary needs, especially if you're staying in a resort or taking a cruise and will be eating several meals in the same place. Bring extra food with you when traveling, just in case you experience any travel delays.



• Check pollen counts. Check pollen counts and weather forecasts for your destination. Pollen doesn't affect all regions of the country at the same time. So if you've got a particular vacation spot in mind, go when you're least likely to experience symptoms. Good vacation bets, the AAAAI says, are the beach or mountains any time of the year. Ocean breezes are generally free of allergens, and dust mites don't thrive above 2,500 feet. In addition, snow kills mold spores. Also keep in mind that pollen counts are highest in the morning. Try to schedule your indoor activities in the morning and your outdoor activities for the afternoon if possible.



• Ask the hotel staff questions. Concentrations of dust mites and molds in carpeting, mattresses and upholstered furniture can worsen your allergy symptoms. Fumes from cleaning products also can cause problems. So if you are planning to stay in a hotel or a bed and breakfast, ask in advance if there are allergy-proof rooms available. At a minimum, ask for a nonsmoking room with air conditioning and portable air filters. Also ask if any rooms are available with wood, tile or vinyl floors. If you're sensitive to molds, ask for a room away from the indoor pool.



• Air out the car. Once on the road, keep the car windows rolled up and use the air conditioner if you are in a polluted area or if it is pollen season. You can avoid excess air pollution by traveling early in the morning or late in the evening when the air quality is better and traffic isn't as heavy.



• Prepare for the airplane. If you have bad nasal congestion from allergies at the time that you take an airplane flight, then you will be more susceptible to having ear pressure problems during your flight. It is optimal to treat your allergy symptoms aggressively in the days leading up to a flight, and it may be necessary for you to use a decongestant medication in addition to antihistamines. Alert the airline if you have food allergies so you can get special meals. If your allergy reaction is anaphylaxis, then you should not rely on the airline meals and should bring your own food. In addition, make sure your seat is as far as possible from the smoking section. All domestic flights are now smoke-free, but some international flights are not.



• Investigate the ship. If you are taking a cruise, you should ask in advance about the capabilities of on-board medical staff and what type of medical issues they're prepared to handle. Check the climate and season of your destination and talk to your allergist about any potential hazards. Ask for smoke-free accommodations.



• Don't let your guard down in private homes. Do your friends have pets? It may be wise to take an antihistamine — or any other "pre-exposure" medication or inhaler that you use — before visiting a friend or relative with pets. Holiday treats can contain hidden, significant food allergens.
  
  The key to visiting is to talk to your hosts and plan for any potential difficulties.

Allergy Medications: Questions To Ask Your Pharmacist

You've been sniffling for a couple of days, or maybe that headache above the bridge of your nose is hanging around too long this season.

"Allergy symptoms are best managed by avoiding the allergen, not by taking drugs," says Harold J. DeMonaco, M.S., director of drug therapy management and the chair of the Human Research Committee at Massachusetts General Hospital.

"If you can't figure out what's causing the symptoms — 'I have no idea why my nose is stuffy' versus 'it gets stuffy every time I play with the cat' — then drug therapy may be useful."

So off to the local drug store you go, only to find yourself dazed, not from the allergy symptoms alone, but from the dozens of medications on the shelves or the confusing directions that come with them.

Rather than sorting through the multiple remedies alone, it might be a good idea to stop by the pharmacist's counter for some help.

To help your pharmacist help you, be prepared to tell him or her:

• The symptoms that are bothering you. Try to be specific. Red and itchy eyes, nasal stuffiness, runny nose can be treated in different ways, so it is important not to put a label on the problem (I have allergies), but rather to describe your symptoms.



• About any medical problems with which you have been diagnosed. "Many drugs are perfectly safe when taken alone but can cause problems when used in combination or when used by people with health problems," DeMonaco says. Although over-the-counter nasal decongestants can be taken safely by most people, those with high blood pressure or a history of stroke should avoid them.



• About any other allergies that you may have.



• How often you are having symptoms. For example, if symptoms occur sporadically then you'll need to decide whether relief or prevention is most important to you. It can mean the difference between using nasal sprays or pseudoephedrine, which are drugs that relieve symptoms, or antihistamines that can be used before an anticipated exposure to prevent allergy symptoms.

Allergies require treatment suited to your lifestyle and medical history. To get some help with finding a medication that works for you, here are some specific questions to prepare for your pharmacist.

• What's the difference between the store brand and the name brand of an over-the-counter allergy medicine?



• How does this herbal drug compare to my prescription or the store and name brands? DeMonaco notes that there are few if any studies that support the use of herbal remedies for allergy relief.



• Are there specific side effects with this drug?



• If it doesn't say don't drive, but the medicine causes drowsiness, should I drive?



• What kinds of other medications should I not take?



• Is it important when I take the medication?



• Are there some medications that should not be given to children?



• Are my symptoms too serious for an over-the-counter drug?



• Will this prevent or relieve my symptoms?

Your questions may not be limited just to your in-store visit. Some pharmacists will answer questions over the phone as well, particularly with the drugs your doctor prescribes for you.

Finally, a pharmacist also will suggest a visit to the doctor or nurse practitioner if symptoms persist or sedation becomes a problem.

Allergic Disease, Allergic Disorders, Allergic Illness

Allergy
Allergic Disease, Allergic Disorders, Allergic Illness

Viennese paediatrician Baron Clemens von Pirquet coined the term "allergy" (from the Greek "allos" meaning changed or altered state and "ergon" meaning reaction or reactivity) in 1906 [ 1 ]. Von Pirquet used the term to describe an altered reaction he had observed in patients, which he put down to the influence of external factors, an allergen , on the immune system.

Allergies are hypersensitivity reactions of the immune system to specific substances called allergens (such as pollen , stings , drugs , or food ) that, in most people, result in no symptoms .

The most severe form of allergy is Anaphylactic shock , which is a medical emergency.

Various types of classifications exist.
Allergy has different names depending upon where in body it occurs.

Allergy

Allergy is a disorder of the immune system often also referred to as atopy. Allergic reactions occur to environmental substances known as allergens; these reactions are acquired, predictable and rapid. Strictly, allergy is one of four forms of hypersensitivity and is called type I (or immediate) hypersensitivity. It is characterized by excessive activation of certain white blood cells called mast cells and basophils by a type of antibody known as IgE, resulting in an extreme inflammatory response. Common allergic reactions include eczema, hives, hay fever, asthma, food allergies, and reactions to the venom of stinging insects such as wasps and bees.^[1]

Mild allergies like hay fever are highly prevalent in the human population and cause symptoms such as allergic conjunctivitis, itchiness, and runny nose. Allergies can play a major role in conditions such as asthma. In some people, severe allergies to environmental or dietary allergens or to medication may result in life-threatening anaphylactic reactions and potentially death.

A variety of tests now exist to diagnose allergic conditions; these include testing the skin for responses to known allergens or analyzing the blood for the presence and levels of allergen-specific IgE. Treatments for allergies include allergen avoidance, use of antihistamines, steroids or other oral medications, immunotherapy to desensitize the response to allergen, and targeted therapy.

AIDS: HIV & denial

Think you will live forever? Or that nothing bad can happen to you?
Thinking that is natural, especially for kids. But Ali’s story will help you understand that when you take risks, you can get hurt.

Ali looked like a cover girl with gorgeous hazel eyes. You would never guess Ali had AIDS.

As the only child of a wealthy couple, Ali had lived the easy life. She was thoughtful and fun to be with. Talking with her, you would understand why she had so many friends.

Ali was a talented artist. She had gone to one of the finest design schools in the country. After graduation, she worked hard to perfect her skills. But dreams of a success as an illustrator crashed the summer she was 23. She was too tired and weak to draw.

"I was in the hospital for three weeks,” Ali said. “I was so sick, and had a million painful tests. They couldn't find anything wrong. When I started to have trouble breathing, they did a biopsy of my lung. My doctor came into my room with tears in his eyes. He said, 'Ali, you have AIDS.' My first thought was ‘My God! I am going to die!' "

To Ali, AIDS was a disease that gay men or intravenous drug users got. She couldn't imagine how she was infected. Finally she traced it back seven years, to a handsome guy she knew when she was 16.

He had worked as a bartender at a local club. They had a crush on each other and flirted. Finally, they went out on a date. She remembers every detail of the night, including sex.

"It was a romantic evening with candlelight, roses, and champagne,” Ali said

Even though he later died from AIDS, Ali was positive he didn't know he was infected with HIV when they were together. At that time, most people had never heard of AIDS. Today, when so much is known about the disease, it can be prevented. No one has to become infected.

"Teenagers have to stop thinking they are immortal and start thinking about being safe,” she said. “I was young and carefree, and didn't think anything like this could happen to me."

When Ali met Nancy, they felt as if they had known each other forever. Like best friends, they shared everything – dreams, secrets, clothes, and tears. When Ali was diagnosed with HIV, Ali's mother called Nancy to the hospital. Nancy learned the news.

"We all said nothing for five minutes,” Nancy says, “and we started to cry and hug each other. I am still in shock that she had AIDS, because she absolutely didn't look sick. She looked healthy. She had her bad days when she’d call and say she was depressed and sad and lonely, and she wanted to be normal and have babies. It broke my heart. One day she looked at me and said, 'Nan, I wish I would just die.' What do you say to that?"

Info About Workouts & Diets

Bulking Plan
(click here to download)

Cutting Program
(click here to download)

Summer Diet Plan
(click here to download)

All About the Numbers
(click here to download)

Blitzkrieg Program
(click here to download)

Women's Workout
(click here to download)

Athletic Nutritional Plan and Peak Building Bicep Workout

Athletic Nutritional Plan
(click here to download)

Peak Building Bicep Workout
(click here to download)

Workouts & Diets : Junior Athletic Nutritional Plan

Junior Athletic Nutritional Plan
(download here - pdf file)

More H5N1 worries in Seoul

the Korea Times: Bird Flu Scare Heightening in Seoul. Excerpt:

Authorities have issued the highest level of alert for avian influenza after the virulent bird flu hit Seoul.

The move comes as the virus found at an aviary in Gwangjin, eastern Seoul, was confirmed to be the H5N1 strain that can be deadly to humans.

It is the first case of the disease in the capital since an outbreak April 1 in southwestern Jeolla Province. At the aviary, two pheasants were found dead on April 28 and later one turkey and two chickens. All other birds in the aviary were culled.

Health inspectors from Gwangjin ward said that five residents reported symptoms similar to those of human bird flu including a high fever, but concluded that they had not been infected by the virus after a medical checkup.

"There have been a number of people complaining of fever after the news of the bird flu. But most were sent home as the symptoms were not as serious as those for bird flu,'' a ward official said.

The Korean Centers for Disease Control and Prevention advised citizens with typical symptoms of the disease such as high fever, difficulty in breathing and headaches to have a medical checkup at a hospital or public health center.

South Korea has stocks of the bird flu vaccine, Tamiflu, for 1.4 million people, or 2.6 percent of the population, but no preventive vaccine.

For its part, the Seoul Metropolitan Government said that it has taken precautionary quarantine measures to prevent the flu from spreading further.

I'm now off to Winnipeg, where I doubt I'll have time or resources for flu blogging. I should be back online again by Saturday morning. Until then, let's hope for a serious lack of flu scares.

Food Allergy

Food allergy is an abnormal response to a food triggered by your body's immune system. Allergic reactions to food can sometimes cause serious illness and death. Tree nuts and peanuts are the leading causes of deadly allergic reactions called anaphylaxis.

In adults, the foods that most often trigger allergic reactions include

• Fish and shellfish, such as shrimp, lobster and crab
• Peanuts
• Tree nuts, such as walnuts
• Eggs

Problem foods for children are eggs, milk (especially in infants and young children) and peanuts.

Sometimes a reaction to food is not an allergy. It is often a reaction called "food intolerance". Your immune system does not cause the symptoms of food intolerance. However, these symptoms can look and feel like those of a food allergy.

What causes allergies ?

You have an allergy when your body overreacts to things that don't cause problems for most people. These things are called allergens. Your body's overreaction to the allergens is what causes symptoms (see the box below for a list of symptoms). For example, sometimes the term "hay fever" is used to describe your body's allergic reaction to seasonal allergens in the air, such as grass or pollen.

Your doctor may want to do an allergy skin test to help determine exactly what is causing your allergy. An allergy skin test puts tiny amounts of allergens onto your skin to see which ones you react to. Once you know which allergens you are allergic to, you and your doctor can decide the best treatment. Your doctor may also decide to do a blood test, such as the radioallergosorbent test (called RAST).

What Is Allergy ?

An allergy is a reaction of your immune system to something that does not bother most other people. People who have allergies often are sensitive to more than one thing. Substances that often cause reactions are

• Pollen
• Dust mites
• Mold spores
• Pet dander
• Food
• Insect stings
• Medicines

How do you get allergies? Scientists think both genes and the environment have something to do with it. Normally, your immune system fights germs. It is your body's defense system. In most allergic reactions, however, it is responding to a false alarm.

Allergies can cause a runny nose, sneezing, itching, rashes, swelling or asthma. Symptoms vary. Although allergies can make you feel bad, they usually won't kill you. However, a severe reaction called anaphylaxis is life-threatening.

Guide to Health Care Quality: How to know it when you see it

Guide to Health Care Quality: How to know it when you see it
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About Healthy Schools

The National Healthy Schools Programme is an exciting long-term initiative which is making a significant difference to the health and achievement of children and young people. The National Healthy Schools Programme supports the links between health, behaviour and achievement; it is about creating healthy and happy children and young people, who do better in lea

rning and in life.

Children and young people in Healthy Schools tell us that they feel healthier, happier and safer. Their parents tell us that they feel more involved in their child’s health and learning and often feel better themselves. Schools tell us that the National Healthy Schools Programme has brought sustained improvement in behaviour, standards of work and school management.

The impact of our programme is based on a whole-school approach to physical and emotional well-being focused on four core themes:

• Personal, Social & Health Education
• Healthy Eating
• Physical Activity
• Emotional Health & Wellbeing

The whole school approach involves working with children and young people, parents, school staff and the whole school community to provide a solid foundation from which developments and improvement are embedded in a systematic way. These processes contribute to the physical and emotional development of all members of the school community.

Download Information : "About Healthy"

Download Information : "About Healthy"

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How Was Healthy People 2010 Developed ?

The 28 focus areas of Healthy People 2010 were developed by leading Federal agencies with the most relevant scientific expertise.

The development process was informed by the Healthy People Consortium—an alliance of more than 350 national membership organizations and 250 State health, mental health, substance abuse, and environmental agencies. Additionally, through a series of regional and national meetings and an interactive Web site, more than 11,000 public comments on the draft objectives were received.

The Secretary's Council on National Health Promotion and Disease Prevention Objectives for 2010 also provided leadership and advice in the development of national health objectives.