How to Prevent a Dry, Bloody Nose in the Winter

As the coldest months of the winter begin to make their ominous approach, so too does the impending threat of a dry, bloody nose. The threat is much worse for those who spend most of their time in a warm climate and make trips to have recently moved to a cold weather climate, as well as those who venture high into the mountains to make use of the snow for a skiing or snowboarding adventure. Thankfully, there are ways to combat it and treat it so as to have a pain-free and comfortable winter season.
The first step is preventative measures. These tips are especially important for those coming from warm climates, especially those that are humid, as the change from warm and wet to cold and dry can immediately turn a comfortable nose into a painful one. One of the best ways is to invest in a humidifier, which can keep the room moist enough to prevent the dry air from drying out your nose, which can lead to nose bleeds and pain. Humidifiers can be cheap or expensive, though you don't need to spend a ton of money to find an effective one.
Other possible ways to prevent the nose from drying out is to purchase a saline nose spray that can be used several times throughout the day. This will keep your nasal passages moist and lubricated, which helps to prevent nasal mucus from drying out and hardening, which can lead to pain, discomfort, and a bloody nose. If your nose has already dried out, the nasal spray can be used to moisten the nasal mucus and allow you to more efficiently blow your nose and expel it.

Other simple tips include taking a hot shower (as hot as you can tolerate), which allows the room to fill up with steam. If you'd prefer to not take a shower, you can use a tea kettle or boil some water and breathe in the fumes. The extra humidity and heat will loosen the nasal mucus, allowing you to blow your nose and clear your nasal passages.
When you sleep at night, using the humidifier in conjunction with nasal spray can be helped with the use of nasal strips. These small pieces of plastic or fabric are placed on the outside of the nose and hold the nasal passages open while you sleep. This not only increases your ability to breathe but can prevent frequent snoring as well.
Spring and summer may be horrible seasons for allergy sufferers, but winter doesn't discriminate. If you have yet to acclimate yourself to cold weather, it is best to follow the aforementioned steps to prevent yourself from having an uncomfortable and painful winter season.By Bjorn Fjordnord

Colorectal Cancer Symptoms - Signs of This Disease and 3 Herbs That Can Prevent It!

Today I'm going to talk about the top colorectal cancer symptoms and a few herbs that can really reduce your chance of getting it. If you're not sure what colorectal cancer really is, have you ever heard of colon cancer? They really are the same thing. According to the Colon Cancer Alliance it is the second leading cause of death when it comes to cancer.

In your body you have something called the colon or large intestines. It's main job is to add the finishing touches to digestion. This includes absorbing any water, storing anything of value and eliminating the waste. In the colon there are cells that are constantly dying and being reborn. With a cancerous cell instead of it dying and being reborn like a normal cell, it starts to grow out of control.

The bad news is that oftentimes there really are no symptoms of this disease. Anytime there is a problem in the body one of the most common signs is going to be discomfort. So there might be pains in the stomach or pelvic region. Another sign of this disease could be changes to a person's stools. This could include constipation, diarrhea, bleeding in stools or they can look long and thin sort of like a brown pen. Another sign would be fatigue, losing weight and not being very hungry.

Have you ever heard the expression "kill the monster while it's small?" It definitely applies to cancer because the sooner you discover it; the easier it is to treat. This is why it's a good idea to get screenings so you can catch the disease early before big problems develop. A lot of health experts recommend getting a screening after the age of 50 every 3 to 10 years depending on the results.

Speaking of killing the monster while it's small, how about not getting the monster in the first place? It's not a bad idea right? The best way to prevent this problem is to try to be healthy. This includes things most people already know such as not being overweight, not using tobacco, not abusing alcohol and not eating a very unhealthy diet.

Another idea, which is often overlooked when it comes to cancer is a multivitamin. There are some vitamins such as vitamin D, folate and calcium that really lower the risk of this health problem. Sure you can get vitamins through food, but the truth is that our food isn't the same as it was hundreds of years ago thanks to chemicals.

There are also a few herbs that can really help such as garlic and onions. In one study by the European Prospective Investigation into Cancer and Nutrition they looked at men and women from 10 different countries. They found that higher intakes of both onion and garlic were connected to a reduced risk of intestinal cancer.

Another herb to consider is something called ginseng. There was a study in the BMC Complementary and Alternative Medicine Journal. Researchers took mice and split them into 2 groups. Both groups ate a very high fat diet, but one group received 250 ppm of ginseng. The result was that ginseng significantly reduced inflammation of the colon as well as the growth of cancer tumors.

To sum everything up the top colorectal cancer symptoms are.

• Pain in the stomach or pelvis area
• Constipation
• Diarrhea
• Bleeding in stools
• Stools that are thin and long
• Fatigue, weight loss and a loss of appetite

3 Herbal remedies that can help prevent colorectal cancer are.

• Garlic
• Onions
• Ginseng 

By Kevin Whitsitt

Relieve Your Stomach Ulcer Symptoms Naturally

Stomach ulcer symptoms are characterized by a burning sensation in the stomach, sometimes mistaken for heartburn. These symptoms can last anywhere from one half hour to several hours and may happen at any time. Although once thought to be caused mainly by stress, recent research shows that some stomach ulcers
may be caused by the Helicobacter pylori bacteria which can be passed from person to person through kissing and contaminated foods.

There are two types of ulcers that people think of as stomach or peptic ulcers, the gastric ulcer which is actually formed in the stomach and the duodenal ulcer which forms beyond the stomach and the first foot of the small intestine. Stomach ulcers affect millions of people each year.

To relieve stomach ulcer symptoms naturally, your best bet is to change your eating habits. Certain foods can irritate ulcers and should be avoided which include spicy and fried foods, fatty foods and acidic foods. Although many people think that milk is a good way to relieve ulcer symptoms it should be taken in small amounts as the milk proteins can cause more gastric acids to be made which can irritate your ulcer. You should also avoid aspirin, tea, coffee, ibuprofen, alcohol and cigarettes.

Another natural way to relieve symptoms of a stomach ulcer is to make sure your diet is rich in soluble fiber. Some say that cabbage can help heal an ulcer as it contains glutamine which has been shown to heal ulcers and is also very high in fiber.

Other lifestyle changes such as de-stressing, meditating and yoga can help with stress-induced ulcers and no matter what kind of ulcer you have they certainly can't hurt!

While finding natural ways to relieve your stomach ulcer symptoms is a good idea you also want to be sure that you visit your doctor to be sure that an ulcer is actually what you have and to find out about any treatments that might be better for your particular ulcer. You can also be tested for the Helicobacter pylori bacterium and if this is present, your doctor may recommend a regimen of antibiotics to kill off the bacteria and possibly cure your ulcer for good.

No matter which treatments you're using to relieve your symptoms or possibly cure your ulcer altogether you need to give them time to work. You might see relief in a few days but you want to give it at least six weeks before you give up on the treatment.

While stomach ulcers are common they are nothing to take lightly. More than 4 million Americans will develop an ulcer each year and 40,000 of them will have surgery due to stomach ulcer symptoms. While ulcers are not usually fatal about 6000 Americans die from complications related to ulcers every year.By Lee Dobbins

10 Valentines Day Gifts of Health, Wellness and Fitness

It's February. A month dedicated to love and heart health. Embrace that theme and give a Valentines gift of health and wellness this year. It shows more originality than candy and will last much longer than flowers. Health is always a good investment for a loved one you want to have around for a long time. Whether they are fitness newbies, hard core endurance racers or somewhere in between, everyone can benefit from improved health and will appreciate you thinking of their well-being. Want to add more appeal and make a lasting impression? Add an intangible element to the tangible object and the gift will offer an ongoing experience and create lasting memories.

Here are ten intangible gifts that go beyond 'stuff' and provide your loved one with the tools for a healthier, happier life.

1. A new routine. There are great new videos available to keep boredom at bay when it's too cold to go outside. There are a variety of options for every kind of workout including well known favorites such as P90X and Insanity and some of the latest are designed with efficiency in mind, running only 30 minutes or less such as T25 or P90X3. No more excuses of not enough time to work out.
2. Accountability. There are great gadgets out there that allow you to set goals and be accountable to yourself for achieving them. The Nike Fuel Band and Fit Bit will track your steps and other parameters so you can continually reach higher levels of fitness. These devices are great for any level of fitness and can be especially fun when used to compete against each other. Great for competitive families.
3. Nutrition. This is a great option to those already working out or those who just want to make sure they are getting the nutrients they need everyday. Shakeology is one of the best options for a nutrition packed, great tasting shake. A Nutri-Bullet is another great gift option to whip them up in.
4. A new challenge. Some new equipment can offer a new challenge to both your muscles and your mind. TRX is a great addition to any fitness room. It is lightweight and can be tucked into a drawer or cubby when not in use, yet still offers a full body workout without any additional equipment. Kettlebells are a multi-tasking tool that allows you to get strength, cardio and flexibility all in one workout without taking up too much space.
5. Education. An online personal training class allows an individual to learn how to make healthy improvements in their every day life to manage their weight for a lifetime. Books such as The Skinny Rules by Bob Harper or The China Study by T. Colin Campbell may also be good options for those wanting to gain more knowledge in the areas of health and nutrition.
6. Personal Training. For those already members of a gym or looking into a gym membership, a personal training package can be one of the best investments you can make to ensure the time spent at the gym is getting you closer to your goals.
7. Intensity. A heart rate monitor can help users make sure they are getting into the right heart rate zone when they train. Heart rate monitors help keep track of progress and the number of calories burned during a workout.
8. Camaraderie. Join an online group to keep yourself accountable. Better yet, join a gym or personal training studio together to keep each other on track and accountable. Most gyms have short term memberships available to get you through the next few months before you can take your run back outside.
9. Inspiration. Fun new shoes and clothes always make a trip to the gym a little more fun. A new ipod or yoga mat can also add some excitement to a drab January workout. Even a fun new water bottle or duffle bag can boost the chances of a trip to the gym. Looking for more inspiration: sign up together for a local fun run, monster dash or color run in your area and start training together now.
10. Statistics. For those individuals who are very into the numbers of their athletic endeavors, smart body scales that measures body fat and analyze other measurements may be a great idea. You can get one that even sends your information out to social media sights for those that work well under the pressure of shame. Consider yourself warned: this is NOT a good gift for the self-conscious, weight obsessed individual who's self esteem is directly tied to the number on the scale. Choose your recipient wisely.-By Linda Filipiak