Is Gas a Major Concern for You?

Imagine this… you lay out an elaborate dinner or lunch spread, and invite over dozens of people and you hear someone who says that her husband has gas and can’t stomach even a salad. You hear the pain in to voice and can imagine the expression on his face and have a great well of sympathy for them. This person is not alone. He is just one, one in the large company of people who suffer the same problem of “GAS”.

What exactly is gas and why do some people have it and other doesn’t? Gas is slang for flatulent dyspepsia. The most common source of gas formation in the human stomach is when gas is swallowed because of faulty eating habits like keeping irregular eating habits. Then there’s this valve between the stomach and the esophagus, which if lax allows the air to enter the canal. This is another source of gas buildup.

Thirdly, when pancreatic bicarbonate neutralizes the hydrochloric acid in the stomach and carbon dioxide is released, gas is caused. Finally a fourth source is when gas enters the bloodstream and diffuses into the stomach and intestine. Also, if some eatable cannot be digested, they get fermented by the colonic bacteria and get passed out as carbon dioxide.
In Asians, there is a tendency for gas formation from eating certain vegetables like cauliflower, cabbage and beans, besides certain foods that contain carbohydrates. Though cauliflower is a rich source of vitamins such as A,B and C and iron and other minerals, it is otherwise not so useful and should be taken in limited quantities to avoid gas.

Doctors have said that the very act of chewing could get gas to enter the GI tract. Sipping water in between bites is another way for gas to make an entrance. Fizzy drinks are also not the best option as they also cause gas. We are at particular risk from milk products because they generally lack in the enzyme lactose. Too much of any dairy product can cause gas to build up in the stomach.

What exactly happens from gas build up? Well, it actually differs from person to person depending on each individual’s accommodation reflex- the stomach wall tension as also the intestines. IN some people with wall tensions, their stomach will not be able to contain more than a certain amount of food. People who suffer from hypertension also find that they cannot stomach too much food. When such thing happens, that causes the buildup of gas.

The symptoms of gas and heart attack are very common and are often mistaken by people. Beware of vegetables and drinks which are mentioned above and should be taken in moderation as they cause gas and also other problems.

The Latest Swine Flu Medical Treatments

As the swine flu, also known as H1N1, continues to sweep its way across the world, people are developing new and unique medications to prevent sickness. While there may not be many scientific and overly-complicated medications like we’re used to, there are simple herbal remedies that a person can find instead.

First off, to know if you have even the slightest sign of the swine flu, you’ll need to know what the symptoms are. Some of the symptoms include: fever, cough, headache, sore throat, runny nose, muscle pains and, occasionally, vomiting and diarrhea. For some most people, the symptoms are mild and self-limited. If a person has these symptoms, they are highly advised to visit their doctor where they can easily be tested with a nasal swap.

For people who are more accustomed to medications prescribed by the doctor, they can use Tamiflu and Relenza. Tamiflu is a pill that is taken twice per day for 5 days and Relenza is an inhaled medication. However, for people who like to use more natural remedies, they can eat plenty of fresh fruit and vegetables and consume high protein foods. The herbs and foods that a person could also use are: lomatium, reishi mushrooms, garlic, pau d’arco, beta glucan and colloidal silver.

Whichever form of medication that you choose to use, the best way to prevent the slightest form of sickness is to thoroughly wash your hands with soap and water daily. Keeping yourself away from others who may be infected with swine flu and maintaining the cleanliness of the home are also effective methods in preventing yourself from becoming sick.

Death Toll of Swine Flu

Since the first outbreak of swine flu in Mexico, the sickness has spread to many places in both North America and Central America. However, the flu is gradually making its way to many other countries around the world. Countries, such as Spain, Austria, China, Costa Rica, Denmark, France, Ireland, Israel, Germany, Italy Netherlands, New Zealand, Republic of Korea, Spain, Switzerland and the United Kingdom. Luckily, those countries have not reported any deaths, only causes of the person being infected.

Out of all the countries reported having swine flu, there has been one major country that has, obviously, been the most affected: Mexico. From what has been reported, Mexico has suffered 506 infections and 19 deaths. The second most affected country is America. The United States has recorded 226 laboratory confirmed infections and one death. Third is Canada and Spain is forth, neither of which have death counts. These statistics are valid as of May 3, 2009 by the World Health Organization (WHO).

WHO has officials stress that there is no risk of infection from this virus from utilization of well-cooked pork and other pork products. However, people are asked to rinse their hands carefully with soap and water on a regular basis. If a person begins to develop symptoms of influenza-like illnesses, they should seek medical attention. Also, if you wish to keep track of the latest on the swine flu pandemic, you can visit the WHO website. WHO updates their information daily.