The bird flu virus is supposed to be really affecting the birds only. However, because of the nature of flu viruses that can be able to mutate and transfer from one species to the other. The bird flu virus that has been killing birds has now been affecting humans as well. The good news is that bird flu virus has only killed few humans as of the moment. That’s why health officials are working overtime to prevent bird flu from becoming an outbreak. How the virus works on humans is still a complete wonder. There are still more and more studies undertaken to fully understand this virus. What is known however is that there are 15 types of avian flu virus that affects birds. That’s why birds also have running noses as well, only theirs is a running beak (corny). The current outbreak of bird flu is caused by the H5N1 strain. This strain is very contagious and can cause rapid fatalities. This strain, unlike the others, can be transmitted to humans, which makes it deadlier. Remember the SARS scare we experienced years back? Compared to Bird Flu, SARS is just an ordinary cold. Their symptoms are similar but the virus that causes them is completely different. SARS is also less contagious because the person infected can just be isolated. There could be low pathogenic virus or high pathogenic virus that can affect birds. The low pathogenic virus can affect birds in minor ways only. Ruffled feathers and reduced egg production are some. Highly pathogenic virus cause severe diseases such as respiratory diseases. In domestic birds, when the symptoms appear, they die the same day. Other symptoms of the bird flu on birds are: loss of appetite, nervousness like chicken little, coughing, sneezing, diarrhea, and depression. Yes, birds do get depressed and they might end up being suicidal, drinking your Prozac. Just as in the birds, the highly pathogenic forms are the ones that greatly affect the humans as well. These highly pathogenic forms are what cause deaths in humans as well. The incubation period of the bird flu on humans is still not yet known clearly. The ill effects might develop one to five days from exposure to the virus. Sometimes, the only indication that a person has been infected is an eye infection or conjunctivitis. However, having conjunctivitis, you might only think that it’s ordinary sore eyes. Then other symptoms that are common to flu are also developed. That’s why it really is hard to know that the person has been affected by the virus. Other symptoms include, cough, fever, and sore throat. It will then develop to life threatening complications that include viral pneumonia, and respiratory failure and distress. That’s why health officials and scientist are scrambling for ways to just make ways to prevent outbreaks. Because they would not want a person to have misconceptions that he or she only has ordinary flu, but is the already life-threatening bird flu.

He or She Just Aint That Into You. If you have herpes and have the integrity to tell someone about it before you get sexually involved and they reject you because of it, it is one of the most devastating forms of rejection imaginable. Just as bad as being rejected because of your race, or physical disability or anything else not under your control, and just as ignorant and intolerable. When the people I treat tell me their rejection stories I feel for them. Some are so shaken by it that they stop dating for years or ghettoize themselves to only dating others with herpes. What I say to them is that «He or She was Just not that into You». No one who really wants a person, and I do mean want the person, the whole person and the package that comes with them, will reject them just because they have herpes. Who would want that kind of superficial love anyways? Herpes is a great litmus test to let you know who really cares about you and desires you. It reasonable for someone to want the risks and consequences explained to them. It’s reasonable for someone not to be enthusiastic about you having herpes – who would be? But anyone who really loved or or though you were sexy before finding out about your herpes will still think so afterwards. When you further explain to them that you are managing your herpes with herbal medicine or drug therapy and that you practice safer sex with a condom and an anti-viral gel there should be no reason for them not to want to sex you up right then and there. What it all comes to is fear. Do not be afraid of being rejected because of having herpes. Dear member of the Herpes Nation: Hold you head up high. Remember who you are. How special you are. How deserving you are of love and all it’s fruits. Don’t let anyone diss you or make you feel less than. Anyone who wants you must accept the whole package of your life. Don’t settle for anything less than that. If you’ve been rejected or made to feel less than. Remember that although you cannot control what happens to you in this life you can control how you choose to react to whatever happens. You are still a prize and whoever is fortunate enough to be in your life is blessed. Christopher Scipio Homeopath/Herbalist Holistic Viral Specialist

According to the U.S. News World Report Health Center, “Osteoporosis is a disease in which bones become fragile and more likely to break. Literally meaning ‘porous bone,’ it results in an increased loss of bone mass and strength.” Osteoporosis debilitates millions of people every year, but there is good news – prevention is possible! The skeletal structure of the body provides support for our muscles and protection for our vital organs; our bones are also a storehouse of calcium and other minerals. More than 99 percent of the body’s calcium is stored in our bones and teeth, the other 1 percent travels throughout our body in our blood. Calcium is vital for heart and muscle function. Our skeletons are made up of a smooth, tough outer layer of dense bone, a spongier mid section and a soft core of marrow where new cells are made to rebuild our bones. Our bones are constantly changing because our bodies depend on a steady supply of calcium to function properly. When we don’t get enough calcium from our regular diet our bodies break down and rebuild bone to meet our needs. This is called “bone remodeling.” Many things can influence bone remodeling, like injury, illness, medications, exercise, diet, hormonal changes, smoking, heavy drinking and of course the normal aging process. When the body requires more calcium than we are able to consume, or if we aren’t able to store the calcium we consume adequately it is leached from the spongy mid layer of our bones. They gradually lose their density making them weak and porous, and more prone to fractures. This is osteoporosis. Most of our bone mass is established before the age of 30, and after about age 35, as a part of the normal aging process, our bodies begin to breakdown our bone faster than we are able to rebuild it. The natural decline in hormonal production is another contributing factor. When women reach menopause and their ovaries stop producing estrogen and bone loss accelerates. In men a reduction in the hormone testosterone also encourages bone loss. There is no cure for osteoporosis, so disease prevention is vital to maintaining bone density. There are three key areas to consider when it comes to preventing osteoporosis: diet, lifestyle choices and medications. http://www.osteoperosishelp.com/howtopreventosteoporosis To maintain strong healthy bones a diet sufficient in calcium and vitamin D are important from preadolescence and throughout adulthood. Calcium needs become greater in older adults whose bodies can no longer rebuild bone mass. Recent studies suggest that bone fractures can be reduced by 30-50% in individuals with low dietary calcium simply with the addition of a calcium and vitamin D supplement. A few easy lifestyle changes can also influence our risk of getting osteoporosis. Smoking, low body weight and a lack of exercise are all contributing factors to raising our susceptibility to the disease. Weight-bearing exercises like walking, stair climbing, dancing and weight training help to increase bone density, keep muscles flexible and ensure better physical balance in people of all ages. Exercise also helps to regulate body weight to a healthy level. There is a direct link between tobacco use and lower bone density so smoking cessation is also recommended. The use of medications can and does play an important role in the prevention of osteoporosis. Calcium and vitamin D supplements as mentioned previously are often paired with bisphosphonates like Alendronate and Risedronate, selective estrogen receptor modulators (SERMs) like Raloxifene, and hormonal replacements like Estrogen and Testosterone. All medications have some side effects and these are best discussed with your doctor. Though there is no known cure for osteoporosis there is hope and help in preventing this common and often debilitating disease of the elderly. By starting now and working to prevent bone density loss you’ll have a stronger, healthier future.

The medical name for swimmers ear is Otitis externa. Otitis externa is also what we would call a common ear ache. It is an inflammation, infection or otherwise an irritation of the outer ear and inner ear canal. Symptoms of Otitis externa include:

This infection very common, especially among young adults and teenagers. One easy way to contract swimmer’s ear is by swimming in polluted water. Also though, it is possible to contract the infection by swimming in a pool that is well maintained. Swimming in water isn’t the only way to contractOtitis externa; Even simply water trapped in the ear canal after a shower can cause the infection. This is especially true of showering in a humid climate. The condition can also be caused by scratching the ear or having debree caught in it. Thus making water not the only cause. Often times skin is damaged or irrated when trying to clean wax from the ear canal. This is especially true when using cotton swabs or small objects. Sometimes it is associated with middle ear infection or upper respiratory infections such as colds. Middle ear infections can occur after the ear drum is perforated by a fungal growth from the outer ear. Physician are able to detect an ear infection by looking into the ear. An infected ear will in most cases look red and swollen on the outside and on inside of the ear canal. To treat an ear infection the ear canal should be cleaned completely of drainage. Cleaning the ear canal allows topical medications to work more effectively. If the infection is severe, it may be necessary for a doctor to aspirate the ear as twice a week for the first few weeks of treatment.