The environment in your home may be making you sick. Indoor air quality is often ignored. There are hundreds of factors that create indoor air pollution that may be affecting your health. It is impossible to remove ourselves from ALL toxic exposure but we can take small steps to clean our home environments and reduce our toxic exposure.
Especially in the winter when we spend more time indoors the health of our indoor air is especially important. Cases of carbon monoxide and radon poisoning inside homes increase during the winter. Here are a few of the most potential sources of dangerous toxins.
Volatile organic compounds (VOC), such as benzene, formaldehyde and trichloroethylene, are often found in our indoor air. VOCs have been linked to many health issues, including cancer and neurological problems. VOCs have many industrial uses and there are also naturally occurring VOCs in the air, water and soil, often these compounds find their way into our homes.
Benzene is a common solvent and is present in many common items including gasoline, inks, oils, paints, plastics, and rubber. In addition it is used in the manufacture of detergents, explosives, pharmaceuticals, and dyes. Relatively low levels of chronic exposure causes headaches, loss of appetite, drowsiness, nervousness, psychological disturbances and diseases of the blood system, including anemia and bone marrow diseases.
Formaldehyde is in furniture and fixtures. The formaldehyde is the worst culprit in the home. It is identified as a known human carcinogen by the International Agency for Research on Cancer. Formaldehyde is a colorless and flammable chemical used in many household products, building materials, furniture, and carpets. It is also found in "wrinkle-free" and preshrunk clothing. Fuel-burning appliances, such as gas stoves and kerosene heaters, are significant sources of formaldehyde. Since this toxic gas may be floating around in your home, it is essential to keep the home well ventilated, especially at night.
Two of the major sources of formaldehyde include urea-formaldehyde foam insulation (UFFI) and particleboard (pressed wood products) used in manufacturing of the office furniture. Other consumer paper products, which have been treated with UF resins, include grocery bags, waxed papers, facial tissues and paper towels. UF resins are used as stiffeners, wrinkle resisters, water repellents, fire retardants and adhesive binders in floor coverings, carpet backings and permanent-press clothes.
Formaldehyde is a highly reactive chemical, which combines with proteins in the body and can cause allergic contact dermatitis. It irritates the mucous membranes of the eyes, nose and throat with the most widely reported symptoms to include irritation of the eyes and headaches. Formaldehyde exposure may create asthma symptoms. The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) research has identified causation between formaldehyde exposure and a rare type of throat cancer in long-term occupants of mobile homes.
Cleaning products often contain ethylene based glycols and chlorine (bleach). The most dangerous chemicals are those found in floor cleaners, paints, plastics and synthetic fibers. The typical household has over three gallons of toxic cleaners in it.
According to the EPA, this water-soluble solvent (ethylene based glycols) is classified as a hazardous air pollutant. Bleach based cleaning products can react with other chemicals to create volatile chlorinated compounds, which can be deadly if inhaled. A European study (2008) found that breathing in chlorine-based compounds could "significantly increase the cancer risk."
The bug spray we spray in our homes contains chemicals that can affect the nervous system, endocrine system and hormone levels. Some insecticides may even be carcinogenic (cancer causing).
Dry cleaning chemicals contain PERC or percloroethylene. PERC has a distinct smell on dry cleaned clothes. PERC and several other dry cleaning byproducts like carbon tetrachloride are known liver carcinogens. Help protect yourself by removing the plastic wrap from your clothing and airing them out in the garage or outside for 24 hours before you wear them.
For those of us with indoor winter allergies to mold, dust and pet danger, indoor air quality is very important. These allergens and chemical compounds in the air make allergy symptoms worse and can trigger other respiratory ailments, such as asthma.
NASA (National Aeronautics and Space Administration) scientists in the 1980s examined common indoor houseplants as a way to promote clean air. They researched plants, which could serve as oxygen producing sources on long space flights. This benchmark research on plants and indoor air quality found certain plants were more effective than others at removing harmful compounds from the air.
Marc Hachadourian, plant scientist and a director at the New York Botanical Garden, tells us all plants through a photosynthetic process filter out carbon dioxide and produce oxygen as a byproduct. Filtering pollutants and storing them is a byproduct of the plant’s life process.
NASA has developed a list of the best plants for absorbing benzene, formaldehyde and trichloroethylene. Research the plant species before you buy it and introduce it into your home as some species are toxic to animals.
Research has demonstrated plants lower stress levels of people working in office environments compared to where there are no plants. Studies also demonstrate getting outdoors in nature helps stress levels as well.
NASA and the Associated Landscape Contractors of America (ALCA) findings, from a 2-year study, suggest plants in your office or home are not only decorative, but are useful in absorbing potentially harmful gases and cleaning the air inside modern buildings ---natural way of combating “SICK BUILDING SYNDROME”. Sick Building Syndrome refers to Volatile Organic Compounds (VOC), such as benzene, formaldehyde and trichloroethylene that are often found in our indoor air. Formaldehyde is in furniture and fixtures.
Because living plants are extremely efficient at absorbing air contaminants in the, they have been launched into space as part of the biological life support systems and will likely be used on orbiting space stations.
Plant studies have revealed that Philodendron, Spider plant and the Golden Pothos plants are effective in removing formaldehyde molecules. Gerbera daisy and chrysanthemums are rated superior in removing benzene from the environment. Other good performers are Dracaena Massangeana, Spathiphyllum, and Golden Pothos. Plant researcher, Wolverton has determined that plant leaves, roots and soil bacteria are all important in removing trace levels of toxic vapors.
TOP 10 plants most effective in removing
Formaldehyde, Benzene, and Carbon Monoxide from the air are:
Bamboo Palm – Chamaedorea Seifritzii
Chinese Evergreen – Aglaonema Modestum
English Ivy Hedera Helix
Gerbera Daisy Gerbera Jamesonii
Janet Craig – Dracaena “Janet Craig”
Marginata – Dracaena Marginata
Mass cane/Corn Plant – Dracaena Massangeana
Mother-in-Law’s Tongue Sansevieria Laurentii
Pot Mum – Chrysantheium morifolium
Peace Lily – Spathiphyllum
Warneckii – Dracaena “Warneckii”
Although plants can be of great help in eliminating airborne toxins, a highly sensitive person should avoid introducing these chemicals into your home at all. Start by eliminating toxic cleaning products. It can be as simple as purchasing "green" and non-toxic products at your local natural market. You can even make your own homemade cleaning products. For example vinegar and water is a great disinfectant and degreaser while baking soda sprinkled with clove oil can be used to scrub and disinfect your bathroom.
https://weather.com/health/allergy/news/best-plants-for-cleaner-indoor-air
http://www.zone10.com/nasa-study-house-plants-clean-air.html
http://www.prevention.com/health/healthy-living/indoor-plants-combat-air-pollution
http://www.naturalnews.com/z036962_indoor_air_toxic_chemicals_cleaning_products.html
Wednesday, March 30, 2016
Thursday, March 10, 2016
Vertigo Has Many Causes
Since I had a vertigo attack last week it has been fore front in my thoughts. The trigger was a combination of changeable weather and an inner ear virus. I could not stop the nausea on my own so I ended up in the emergency room. A week later I am still trying to retrain my inner ear equilibrium. I decided it was a good time to republish my article on migraine and vertigo.
For many of us migraine and vertigo are related to lifestyle choices. This is not a criticism: it is an acceptance of reality because sometimes we do not even know which choice led to manifesting a migraine. Modern life can be toxic—especially modern chemistry. Migraine triggers include: Foods, Stress, Sensory stimuli, Changes in wake-sleep pattern, Physical environment factors, Changes in the weather, Hormonal changes, and Medications.
I painted my living room—the chemicals in the paint created a feeling of anxiety, my throat and lungs hurt, and my vision blurred. In another case I did not realize that I was hyper-reactive to the nitrites and sulfites used as food preservatives. I was drinking red wine for my health and the next thing I know I have a headache, blurred vision and racing heart.
I have learned from experience that the toxicity, in processed foods and manmade environmental toxins, has an accumulative effect—especially when mixed with emotional and mental stress. It is the accumulative effect that is never or seldom scientifically researched. Each individual chemical or medication is studied on its own and this skews the information we are given on product usage, or from physicians. For me it is the cumulative effect of food sensitivities along with my individual structural self that creates the “perfect storm” that are my migraines.
Food and chemical sensitivities, and allergic reactions are a huge, complex, and highly individual topic. If you have true allergic reactions, it is essential to understand these thoroughly with the help of a physician, as allergic reactions can be deadly. Many of us are aware of foods, medications, chemicals, and other issues that trigger our migraines. However we also need to be aware that physical body structural issues and concerns can trigger migraines.
Migraine symptoms can be frightening. Some individuals experience extreme head pain while others do not. Others will have very odd visual experiences. I once watched the face of the person I was talking to pixilate into colored lights. I have also had objects disappear from my visual field. It is not unusual for one’s first reaction to be—do I have a brain tumor? Stay calm, to avoid panic and anxiety, as these will worsen symptoms by raising your blood pressure. If you are away from home I recommend you do not drive and be honest enough to call family or friends for help.
Many people get nauseous, sensitive to light and sound, or have visual disturbances. If your migraine symptoms are severe and include vertigo you may require a trip to a physician. You can learn to deal with migraine and vertigo to limit their severity.
It is thought that a migraine occurs when swollen blood vessels in the brain press on nearby nerves, causing pain. Migraines can trigger feelings of vertigo. Vertigo occurs when there is a mismatch of information from two or more of these systems in the Central Nervous System. Central Nervous System coordinates and integrates sensory input from the visual, vestibular, andproprioception systems. (Proprioception is the unconscious perception of movement and spatial orientation arising from stimuli within the body itself.)
It is important to know the difference between dizziness and vertigo. Vertigo is the feeling that you or your environment is moving or spinning. Dizziness is a disturbed sense of one’s relationship in space. To physicians dizziness refers to problems with a variety of body systems including circulation, cardiovascular, eyes, brain, and ears. Vertigo is a hallucination of motion frequently caused by inner ear dysfunction. Unsteadiness is a sense of “falling” and may be due to problems with the ear, brain, or nerves. Lightheadedness typically occurs with rapid changes in position and is usually due to a circulation problem such as low blood pressure.
A vertigo migraine is simply another name for what many medical professionals call a vestibular migraine, which is ultimately a migraine that is accompanied by a sense of vertigo. Cervical vertigo is a vertigo or dizziness that is provoked by a particular neck posture. Misaligned Temporo-mandibular joints can cause migraine because of their proximity to the ear.
Vertigo Symptoms
• Visual Aura
Manifests as a flicker in your peripheral vision, spots in your visual field or flashes of light.
• Altered Perception
The room may begin to spin around you, or your surrounding may begin to tilt either up or down.
Dizziness
Caused by that spinning or tilting impression from the vertigo.
• Instability
An overwhelming sense of instability, wobbliness, shakiness, or lack of coordination that may force to sit back down or find a chair almost immediately.
• Nausea
Queasiness which may result in vomiting or retching
• Head Pain
Vertigo migraine will be the severe head pain, overarching throb or a sharp, piercing pain (not every one experiences severe head pain)
• Ringing in the ears
30% of the population will experience vertigo symptoms at sometime in their lifetime. Vertigo, which is an inner ear (vestibular) disorder, can be treated with pharmacological therapy, physical therapy, psychotherapy, surgery or a combination. Because vertigo can be caused by problems in the brain or the inner ear it is important to get a specific assessment from a physician.
Vertigo can be caused by:
• Migraine, a severe form of headache may also cause vertigo. The vertigo is usually followed by a headache. There is often a prior history of similar episodes but no lasting problems.
• Benign paroxysmal positional vertigo (BPPV) is rarely serious and can be treated. It is characterized by the sensation of motion initiated by sudden head movements or moving the head in a certain direction.
• Vertigo may also be caused by inflammation within the inner ear due to a viral or bacterialinner ear infection is characterized by the sudden onset and may be associated with hearing loss.
• Meniere's disease has abrupt onset of severe vertigo, fluctuating hearing loss, as well as periods in which the individual is symptom-free.
• Acoustic neuroma is a nerve tissue tumor that can cause vertigo with one-sided ringing in the ear and hearing loss.
• Vertigo can be caused by: 1.) Decreased blood flow to the base of the brain or, 2.) Bleeding into the back of the brain characterized by vertigo, headache, difficulty walking, and inability to look toward the side of the bleed.
• Vertigo is often the presenting symptom in multiple sclerosis.
• Head trauma and neck injury may also result in vertigo, which usually goes away on its own
For certain vertigo conditions a physical therapist will teach the patient the Epley or Semont maneuvers. The Epley or Semont maneuvers movements are designed to help to move calcium debris from any sensitive parts of the inner ear. Gaze Stabilization exercises for vestibular rehabilitation work by improving the neurological connection between the eye and the ear. Balance Exercises are used to improve the neurological reflexes between movement and visual input. Alternative activities such as yoga, Tai Chi or sports like golf and bowling can also improve balance and ease dizziness.
I developed a personal protocol for dealing with my migraine symptoms. My first step is to take an antihistamine. Antihistamines can be used to short circuit migraine and vertigo symptoms in the early stages by helping to eliminate inflammation. If the migraine is food related I take a digestive enzyme and drink plenty of water.
I once had a strong reaction to food preservatives at a restaurant. I was a little bit panic-ed as I get visual disturbance and should not drive. I ordered a big cup of black coffee and the caffeine worked!
For a migraine put your hands in hot water, as hot as you can stand, to help equalize blood circulation away from your brain—or try a hot pack on you stomach. Homeopathic treatments work quiet well but should be tailored to you as a whole person—check with a homeopathic physician or a good homeopathic website. For visual aura problems homeopathic Belladonna works for me. Cervical vertigo and misaligned Temporo-mandibular joints can be treated by a chiropractor.
For my particular needs, I have experienced great improvement by taking supplemental magnesium. Also, have found that if I feel dizzy, disoriented, and clumsy this signals avestibuloocular reflex issue. In this case I go to the chiropractor as soon as possible to check forCervical vertigo (provoked by a particular neck posture) or Misaligned Temporo-mandibular joints.
On occasion I have had a vertigo migraine that caused me to go to the emergency physician and stay in bed for a couple of days. Obviously, my inner ear (balance reflex) was off. When this occurred I found I needed to practice sitting up and walking in order to short circuit the vertigo.
A natural migraine management plan might include supplemental B vitamins, Coenzyme Q10, Magnesium, Calcium, Folate, Omega 3, Vitamin D, Biotin, and Melatonin. If you have a tendency to migraine you might try these lifestyle changes if they are appropriate to you as a unique individual.
1 Rise slowly in the morning to a sitting position at the edge of your bed. Find a spot on the nearest wall to fix your eyes on to steady any dizziness you feel. Stay in bed sitting upright until the dizziness subsides.
2
Limit your exposure to bright light and loud noises. Avoid direct sunlight during the onset of this condition for at least three consecutive days.
3
Sit quietly away from noise. Sitting with your feet up, comfortably relaxing, will help abate the headache.
4
Drink plenty of water, because hydration is a key component to recovery. Avoid alcohol consumption, which will aggravate the condition and/or lengthen your recovery period.
5
Eat a balanced diet. Choose foods like sweet potatoes or a whole grain like brown rice, quinoa, barley and oats. Limit caffeine and chocolate intake over the three days following an acute onset of migraine vertigo.
6
Breathe in slowly and fully expanding your lungs to ease the headache and the pressure. Inhale through your nose, and then exhale through your mouth five times, repeating three times or more, if needed.
7
Move your neck slowly from side to side, shoulder to shoulder. Gently roll your head forward and around while sitting upright in a chair. Do this movement three times with 20 to 30 seconds rest in-between.
http://emedicine.medscape.com/article/1836134-overviewhttp://ptjournal.apta.org/content/84/4/373.full#sec-19
http://hpathy.com/cause-symptoms-treatment/vertigo/
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