Cold Temperature Some people break out in hives when they dash in and out of an air-conditioned store in summer. Or when they come into a warm house after shoveling snow. Or if they take a quick dip in a chilly pond or pool. Or even if they rinse their hands in cold water. That’s [...]
M?ni?re’s syndrome The symptoms of the ear disorder called M?ni?re’s syndrome (or M?ni?re’s disease) are: ringing in the ears (tinnitus); extreme sensitivity to loud sounds; gradual loss of hearing; headaches; and vertigo (a spinning sensation), sometimes accompanied by nausea. Some attacks last only minutes, others continue for hours. Episodes of M?ni?re’s can occur frequently or [...]
You’ve probably never given your gallbladder a thought -unless it’s given you trouble. A holding tank for the digestive fluid known as bile, the gallbladder is located just below the liver. And in certain people, it’s subject to attacks of inflammation. Sometimes an attack causes nothing more than indigestion. More than likely, however, gallbladder attacks [...]
Exercise can also help. Interestingly, school teachers who have asthmatic children in their classes are often confused about exercise. One child has a doctor who says, ‘This child has asthma, so he can’t take gym.’ Another child’s doctor says, ‘This child has asthma and should be encouraged to exercise.’ Who’s right? ‘They’re both right,’ says [...]
Aside from the special need for calcium created by vitamin Ñ supplements, calcium is of special concern for people with milk allergies or lactose intolerance. ‘We see low calcium levels across the board in people on allergy-restricted diets, in all age groups,’ says Lyn Dart of her work with food allergy patients. Nondairy foods do [...]
For some unknown reason the ovaries have a ‘use-by’ date. After a time of useful function, when they can produce eggs to make babies, they and their neighbour (the uterus) down tools and walk off the job, so to speak. Usually the rest of the body has a couple of decades to go, but not [...]
Most men have some bruising and discomfort for a few days after the vasectomy operation. It is important to use another method of contraception like condoms, until the semen has been tested and no sperms arc found in your semen. It takes about eight weeks for you to have enough ejaculations to remove all the [...]
How effective is Natural Family Planning? It is difficult to be accurate about the effectiveness of natural methods. We know that natural methods become more effective the longer they are practiced. They are also more effective if people are very motivated to use them. Some Natural Family Planning specialists believe that if you use a [...]
Where do you get the minipill? You have to go to a local doctor, or see a doctor at a Family Planning Centre to have the minipill prescribed for you. The doctor will take your medical history and give you a check up which will include taking your weight and blood pressure, checking your breasts [...]
Cervical caps are similar to diaphragms but they are much smaller. A diaphragm fits across the upper part of the vagina, and covers the cervix and part of the vaginal wall. A cervical cap just fits over the cervix like a little cap. Most people just call the cervical cap ‘the cap’ and that’s what [...]