Body Pain

I knew I have a fragile health from the time I was born until now. I tried everything I can to improve my immune system and health. I am desperate to lose weight and eat properly and yet, I still feel pain here and there. Could it be due to my soaring weight or age is simply catching up? All I know is that, the slightest move now either sprains me or causes pain in some areas of my body.

I was happily doing Zumba last Sunday, did some exercises last Monday, did ab crunches last Tuesday and yesterday took a rest. I remember reaching for a piece of paper on my office table and next thing I knew and felt was the twitch or slight pain on my right shoulder, almost above the armpit near the joint area. Since then, I noticed that my right arm's movement had been limited. I could not stretch it nor reach the top of my head. It's as if something is blocking my joint movement. There is no swelling. I don't have fever too nor have redness on the affected area but the pain is there.

I applied hot compress the whole night and straightened my right arm when I slept. I am trying to rule out other possibilities like tendinitis, bursitis, impingement or even high uric levels, arthritis or rheumatism. It can be anything until I see a doctor.

I will give myself another night to see how it goes even after I put another batch of hot compress. If the pain does not subside a bit then I am forced to face my dreaded fear - seeing a physician.

Stop Smoking

I never understand the reason why people have to huff and puff nicotine. I try to understand as much as I can the benefits of doing so but I just don't get it. Nicotine is an alkaloid found in plants. It has a stimulating effect to mammals and that may have caused the habit-forming ability of people to smoke. That is why a lot of people find it difficult to quit smoking. It is very addictive.

Smoking is a risk factor for the following: heart ailments, stroke and lung cancer. Not only that, it is also linked to cancers of the mouth, bladder, kidney, cervix and others. These effects are only for the smokers. How about the passive smokers who are unwillingly exposed to the ill effects of smoking? They breathe in the harmful substances coming from smoking cigarettes and may trigger asthma and lower respiratory diseases including lung cancer.

This is not something we can shrug our shoulders and move on. I am really thankful that a lot of companies, civic bodies and government institutions are taking part to pass information about the adverse effect of smoking to health. Many public areas are putting up designated areas for smoking. Plenty of malls, offices and public transportation have banned smoking in their premises. We may not be able to stop everyone from smoking but at least we can help some to cut back and others to stop smoking now.

There are ways to help smokers quit this vicious habit. There are help centers out there to provide informative guides, support and counselling to participants who wish to cease the habit. Evaluating Adverse Events in a Global Smoking Cessation Study or EAGLES is just one of the companies supporting the "quit-smoking" campaign. Their trial research aims to assist smokers to kick the habit and live a clean and healthy life.

I don't smoke but I have seen people suffer because of this bad habit. Let us just help out and put a stop to this because smoking is harmful to you and to the rest of us who are not even smoking.

Down With Pharyngitis Again

I have been inflicted with this condition twice already in a span of 4 months. The bad thing is, I just wake up losing my voice. I am not an ice-cream lover nor enjoy eating sugary and sweet food to make my throat sore but I still get this condition.

My voice is still horrible and broken for 5 days now. I am into medication again and the cough syrup is making me very groggy. I am okay with the twice-a-day antibiotic dosage but I don't know how I am going to survive work tomorrow feeling like this.

I still have my very dry cough and sad to say but I am already getting headaches every time I cough unproductively. The doctor said that a lot of steam can help loosen up the mucous and I will try that today.

I wonder if I got this from my relatives who were here recently. They didn't lose their voices but I did and I was not even going out of the house often. I think I need to crack up my immune system again. I stopped drinking Vitamin C when I took my uric acid medication. I just couldn't take all these pills/tables/capsules anymore. I hope I will be more healthy this year because I have more challenges to face this time.

So people, if you are feeling a sudden ache in your throat, visit your doctor right away. The climate is harsh these days and does not help so avoid drinking cold and eating sweet stuff. Don't strain your voice too much. Gargle with salt water. Drink plenty of fluids. Have plenty of rest. Have steam.

I hope to recover soon. I am back to work tomorrow despite of the lack of voice. I'll be a pantomime show there!

On Mesothelioma

Mesothelioma is a rare form of cancer which is very fatal. It is a malignant disease which affects the lining of major internal organs like the stomach, lungs and heart. The lining called mesothelium is a protective membrane which covers the organs. When the lining is affected by exposure to asbestos, the symptoms normally appears after 20 to 50 years.

Symptoms of this malignant disease are one or combination of the following (depending on the affected area, ie. abdomen, lungs or heart):

• Chest pain
• Wheezing, severe cough
• Fatigue
• Anemia
• Pleural effusion
• Blood in the sputum
• Shortness of breath
• Abdominal pain
• Weight loss
• Mass in the abdomen
• Jaundice
• Low blood sugar level
• Blood clots in veins
• Blood clots in the arteries of the lungs

Fending off the Bad

Old man's tale claims that garlic can drive away bad spirits and even scare off the vampires . I don't know if that ever holds true but one thing I am sure of, garlic does drive something away and it's not the bad spirits or vampires but the bad bacterias, heart diseases, inflammation, type 2 diabetes complications, high-blood pressure and cancer.

Garlic has a very pungent smell but it has many benefits for our health. Not only that it's quite a stinker but it's rather full of Vitamin C and allicin which studies show can help protect cells from cancer-causing substances.

The only caveat is the longer-lasting smell it leaves in your mouth. However, with the benefits in mind, I think I'll allow myself to smell "pungently nice" once in a while...hehehehe. Booooo...

Cough it out

I woke up with a terrible migraine and a parched throat. What's worse, I am coughing a bit again when few months ago, I was just recuperating from pneumonia. Oh please, not again!

I instantly gargled with an antiseptic mouthwash and drank cough syrup for my itchy throat. I cannot afford to fall ill again as I am still in the process of building my immunity from my half-a-year bout with various illnesses. My body is just too tired and weak to battle another relapse.

I need my mega-dose of Vitamin-C right now and it'll be close by for my reach! Could this be due to the changing weather? Oh boy, here's another bumpy ride on my health...