Jellyfish are  some of the most beautiful of all the creatures, that inhabit the seas around us.  Some prefer warm waters, while others prefer cold.  Jellyfish provide food for sea dwellers as well as for man.  Unfortunately, their stinging tentacles can present a problem to waders, swimmers, snorkelers and divers.  Care should always be taken around areas where jellyfish are plentiful.  This includes the beaches, where jellyfish bodies may be washed up on shore.

Long tentacles trail behind the body of the jellyfish. On smaller jellyfish, these tentacles are threadlike and may be under one inch long, whereas larger jellyfish may trail tentacles over one hundred feet in length.  These tentacles are used for defense as well as to capture and hold prey.   If a wader or swimmer accidentally brushes against these tentacles, they release tiny microscopic barbs, bearing venom.  When these barbs pierce human skin, the venom can cause a variety of reactions.  In severe cases, jellyfish stings can cause death.

Once the tiny barbs scratch the skin, there is an immediate reaction.  The victim will feel a throbbing, burning pain and the area will become reddened.   The pain may radiate away from the site, and there may also be a tingling sensation and varying degrees of numbness. More sensitive victims may get a rash, or the whole area, of contact, may blister.  As with many other medical reactions, the very young, and the elderly are most likely to have the severest.  The severity of the reaction can also depend on the type of jelly fish involved and how much skin is stung.  Reactions may also vary as some individuals are more sensitive than others to the venom excreted.

The deadliest, and most complex of the jellyfish is the box jellyfish, named because of its shape.   Those stung by box jellies need immediate medical attention.  Because the pain is extremely intense and because the venom attacks the heart and nervous system as well as the skin, victims may go into shock, and die or drown, before help can arrive.  Box jellyfish move in large groups and are primarily found in the warmer waters north of Australia.

Fortunately most jellyfish stings can be treated at home.  The pain and discoloration will lessen over the next week or ten days and should disappear completely in about two weeks.  If the victim of jellyfish stings is a child, frail, or elderly or if the area of stings is extensive, is is wise to always seek medical attention.  It is interesting to note that the marks the jellyfish leaves on the skin, are often the exact imprint of the jellyfish tentacles.

If the victim is in good health and the stings appear to be minor, the best treatment is to first wash off any tentacle material, using hot water – as hot as the patient can tolerate.  Salt water can be used in an emergency, but it not as effective as hot.  If any tentacle material remains, remove it by using tweezers.  Make sure to wear gloves when doing this.  It is important that the area is tentacle-free, or the stinging will continue.   For pain and itching use Ibuprofen, or whatever you physician of pharmacist advise.

Some suggest that vinegar, a baking soda solution, and even urine, will help relive the pain of a jellyfish sting.  It is worth trying anything, if your options are limited, but the best treatment is still considered to be an extended soaking – twenty minutes at a time – in tolerably hot water.

Serious jellyfish stings, especially from the more toxic jellyfish, like the box jellyfish, are another matter, and the symptoms are potentially more severe.  They may include extreme pain, nausea, vomiting, fever, dizziness, loss of consciousness, problems with breathing, and muscle weakness.  These symptoms may be delayed, so in the case of a box jellyfish sting, it is essential to get immediate medical attention, irregardless of the victims age or physical condition.

For serious jellyfish stings, and always for box jellyfish stings, more extreme treatments are necessary.  These may include anti-venoms, CPR, and in extreme cases, life support.  The extreme pain may call for injected pain-relievers.  Zinc injections are the latest in jellyfish sting treatments.

If you are stung by a jellyfish and have any concerns, it is wise to see a physician immediately.

Varicose veins are basically just enlarged veins.  The smaller varicose veins, usually red  are called ‘spider’ veins.  Because the pressure on the veins in your lower body is greater when you sit or stand, larger varicose veins almost always appear on the legs, ankles, and feet.

To many people, varicose veins are merely unsightly, and nothing more.  Unfortunately, some varicose veins cause pain and discomfort, and need attention.  In others varicose veins may be an indicator of some really serious problems or may indicate the individuals likelihood of developing circulatory problems.  Only your doctor can tell if your veins are a cosmetic problem or an indicator of trouble.

There are several possible causes for varicose veins.  Blood is pumped by the heart and circulates throughout the body.  Because of gravity, it is more difficult for the veins in the lower part of the body – specifically the feet, ankles, and legs – to pump the blood upwards.  Muscle action within the legs, the elasticity of the veins themselves, and tiny valves within the veins, all help move the blood upwards.  If the veins or valves are damaged, or lose their elasticity, the blood tends to pool, and as a result, the veins stretch and bulge.

Several factors increase the likelihood of varicose veins.   Age may cause the veins to lose their elasticity.  Pregnancy may increase the blood flow to the lower body, but not increase the flow upwards, causing pooling and enlarging of the veins.  Inactivity, and obesity lead to a poor return of blood and increased possibility of engorged veins.  There also seems to be a genetic factor involved.  Women more often than men, suffer from varicose veins.

Anyone who has varicose veins should discuss these with their family physician, especially if the veins cause any pain or discomfort.  Danger signs include a sudden increase in pain, a sudden swelling of the vein or leg, bleeding from the vein.  These factors can indicate that a blood clot has formed deep within your leg.  Any open sores that develop on the surface of the skin, also need immediate medical attention.  These can turn into ulcers and may quickly become infected.

For varicose veins that are of concern, your physician will recommend prompt action.  This may include injections into the vein to scar the interior and cause it to close, or laser or radio-frequency treatments that do much the same thing.  He/her may also suggest a minor surgery option that removes the damaged vein.  Surgery is usually reserved for more serious cases.  Discuss all options with your physician..

There are several treatments for varicose veins which are not causing any major concern.  If there are no dangerous symptoms, your doctor may suggest options such as losing weight, becoming more active, elevating the leg on a regular basis, or wearing compressing stocking.  Stockings must be supportive, but not too tight.  Ask your physician or pharmacist for help in choosing the right size.

There is no magic cure for varicose veins, but there are measure that you can take to help avoid them.  You should keep your weight down, remain active, and avoid standing or sitting for long periods of time.  When sitting, keep your feet flat on the floor, and elevate your feet and legs whenever you have the opportunity.

Whenever you have concerns about your health, always consult your family physician to prevent small problems from becoming large ones.

If you are plagued with snails and slugs in your garden there are some environmentally friendly options that you can use to get rid of them. You may hate the thought of killing snails, (since they are a part of the ecosystem,) however if you want to have a garden and have an invasion, drastic methods may be necessary to get rid of them. Slugs and snails can quickly devour young garden plants and damage mature ones. Also, they can spread diseases which affect humans, such as e. coli and Rat Lungworm disease.  Here are some of the time – tested, eco – friendly ways that gardeners can use to kill snails and slugs and keep them from coming back.

Prevention, The Best Way To Keep Snails Out Of Your Garden

If you have an invasion of snails in your yard or garden it is very likely the result of an ecological imbalance. The most environmentally friendly way to control snails is to prevent them from gaining a foothold in your garden in the first place.  Like almost any other creature on earth, given an unlimited supply of food and water, shelter, and an absence of predators, snails and slugs will continue to multiply. How many eggs does a garden snail lay you may be wondering? Helix aspersa, the common garden snail, can lay a batch of eighty or more eggs, up to six times a year. That’s 480 offspring per year, just from one snail alone! Some species can lay clusters of as many as 2,000 eggs. If you had only a dozen or so snails in your garden, they could easily turn into more than 5,000 in a short period of time, provided they had no predators.

Snails and slugs feed on young vegetation as well as decomposing organic matter, like dog feces, dead plants and food scraps. One of the best ways to prevent a snail or slug population explosion is to avoid creating the ideal conditions for one. The first step in snail control is to keep your yard and garden clean and free of decomposing plants. While it may seem like a good thing to let organic matter lay and decompose in your garden, if you want to avoid creating an ideal breeding situation for insects such as snails, you should avoid this practice. Keeping your garden neat and tidy is the first step in pest management. Plant your garden in neat, wide rows and use a rake to sweep up dead vines, plants and leaves and place them in a compost bin. This is step number one in reducing available food for snails and preventing a population explosion.

Good housekeeping in your garden will also make the job of the snail’s major predators easier. By keeping your lawn mowed and debris out of your garden, birds and other predators can locate snails easier and help you eliminate them. Snails love to hide under objects such as flat rocks, garden decorations and in cracks. Make sure that you remove all of the snail hiding places that you can. This will help prevent snails and slugs from gaining a foothold in your garden.

Hand Removal Of Snails

Probably the most eco friendly way to kill snails is to remove them by hand and place them in a solution of soapy water. Also, if you have chickens, they love to eat snails! If you are really soft – hearted, and don’t want to kill them, I suppose that you could relocate them far away from your garden. Remember though, snails can travel up to a hundred yards or more per day and will quickly return. The best time to hand remove snails is at night or in the early morning. If you get out in your yard just after daybreak, on a day when the grass is still wet with dew, you can often find snails crawling and begin to hand pick them. Place them in a solution of water containing a couple teaspoons of soap or laundry detergent and this will kill them fairly quickly and humanely. Hand removal of snails can be effective during the first stages of an invasion, however if you have an established garden snail population, it will not have that great of an effect. If adult snails have already laid their eggs, there are likely hundreds of young and eggs that you cannot see. If that is the case, it’s time to move on to more drastic measures.

Copper Snail Barriers

Creating a physical barrier that snails will not cross is one way to keep snails out of your garden. For centuries, wealthy gardeners in Europe have used copper sheeting placed around gardens to keep snails away. It is believed that the copper metal reacts with the snails protective slime, therefore creating an electric current which keeps them away. There are several kinds of copper snail barrier tape on the market which you can easily place around your garden perimeter. Snail tape can be very effective against a variety of species, including slugs. In addition to buying snail tape, you can make your own copper snail barrier.

How To Make A Copper Snail Barrier For Your Garden

One way to make a permanent snail barrier for your garden is to place landscaping timbers around your vegetable garden, then affix lengths of copper pipe to the very top of the wood. Simply encircle the perimeter of your garden with landscaping timbers and then attach 3/4″ copper tubing to the top of the board. You can use unsoldered copper fittings and elbows to connect the lengths of pipe together.  You can attach the tubing by drilling holes in it and screwing it down with deck screws. The copper tubing will act in the same way as snail tape does, but will also form a rounded surface that they will hesitate to cross. To keep your snail barrier working, polish the tubing once a year.  Neither of these methods of course will do anything about the snails already in your garden. For those, you will have to use either hand removal, traps or insecticide.

Use Eco Friendly Snail Poisons  (Warning: Metaldehyde Snail Baits Can Kill Dogs, Cats and Other Animals!)

If you visit the garden section of stores such as Home Depot, you will usually find two types of snail bait for sale on the shelves. One type is based on the chemical Metaldehyde, which is highly effective in killing snails, but also highly toxic to dogs, cats and other animals.  If dogs or cats ingest Metaldehyde, they will experience drooling, tremors and death within a few days if not treated. Even if you don’t own pets, you should avoid using Metaldehyde, since you don’t know what domestic and wild animals may visit your garden at night.

There are natural snail poisons which do not contain dangerous Metaldehyde. Iron – based baits are a much more eco friendly snail control method. Iron phosphate based snail poisons are very effective against a wide variety of snails and slugs. Iron phosphate is a common ingredient in lawn fertilizer, and after the the granules are done killing snails they will fertilize your yard or garden. Baits such as Ortho Elementals Slug and Snail Killer and Sluggo Snail and Slug Killer are made with a combination of natural attractants and iron phosphate. The iron compound stops the insect from eating, and they will crawl off somewhere an die in a few days. These eco friendly snail poisons should ideally be applied in the late evening, when rain is not expected. Bait can be sprinkled around gardens and flower beds, and in cases of severe infestations, broadcast in a spreader.

Good luck and happy gardening! Karl Schultz

Although many jokes are made about hair loss, it is no laughing matter.  Losing hair is frightening and, for many, a blow to their self-confidence.  What can be done about hair loss?

First, it is important to understand that there are many causes for hair loss.  Usually, hairs are constantly being shed and new hairs grown.  However, if the cells in the scalp that normally produce hairs, do not live through their normal cycle, new hairs are not grown in sufficient quantities to replace the hairs being shed.  So far science has not developed ways to insure the health of these hair-growing cells so that they can live through their normal life cycle, and so what is known as male-pattern baldness goes on unchecked.  Male-pattern baldness can start as early as the late teens.  Female-pattern baldness has much the same cause but appears as a general thinning of the hair all over the scalp, rather than the male’s receding forehead.

There are other significant causes of hair loss, some temporary, and some permanent.  The most common cause of temporary hair loss is chemotherapy.  This loss is initially devastating, but the hair usually grows back normally when treatments are discontinued.  Some scalp infections can cause temporary or even permanent loss of hair, over parts or all of the body.  Some women experience temporary hair loss during pregnancy.  Others find their hair thins when they take certain forms of birth control.  Many older women experience thinning of the hair when they enter menopause.

Some illnesses and drugs cause hair loss.  Both thyroid disease and syphilis can cause thinning or loss of hair.  Drugs that may cause hair loss include some prescribed for heart disease, high blood pressure, cancer, and depression.  A poor diet with insufficient protein and iron, excessive worry, extreme dieting, severe shock, and protracted illnesses, can also cause hair loss.

Heredity may also play a part in your hair loss, though it is seldom the whole answer.

With so many factors involved in hair loss, it is essential to know what is causing your particular hair loss, and what you can do about it.

To find out what causes your hair loss, start with a visit to your family physician.  After examining you thoroughly, he/she may have an answer, or he may want to do some tests to rule out disease or infection as possible causes.  He may also do a biopsy, removing a very small piece of scalp for further examination. Your doctor will prescribe the treatment he considers best to treat you particular cause of hair loss.  If he finds that your hair loss is primarily due to pattern baldness, he may suggest a medications.

There are only two medications approved by the United States Food And Drug Administration for treating hair loss.  One of these may be useful for women and the second may be useful for male-pattern baldness. These are the medications your physician will suggest, if he feels they are appropriate for you.  Even these medications is not effective in all cases.  They may slow hair loss and in some cases seem promote regrowth.

There are many other products on the market which claim to stop hair loss.  If you are tempted to try these, do ask your doctor’s opinion first.  Many of these treatments only provide false hope and a basically a wast of money.

Your doctor may inform you that your hair loss is unquestionably permanent, and this may be a hard pill to swallow.  There are products that will fluff up the hair to make it look thicker, conditioners and sprays to improve the appearance of your hair, wigs and wiglets to fill in empty areas, and then there are the surgical procedures that plant plugs of hair from the back of your scalp to the problem areas, or fold the scalp to lessen the bald areas.   These procedures are expensive.

A full head of healthy hair is wonderful to have, but it will not bring you happiness.  You can make your own happiness by using what still remains deep under that once thick crop.

Over one hundred thousand people die every year from cholera.  Although it is seldom seen in the industrialized world, areas that lack adequate water and sewage treatment, are prone to periodic outbreaks of this dreadful disease.  Cholera is most likely to occur when war, famine, or natural disasters find masses of individuals living in close quarters, with little in the way of basic facilities.

Cholera is a contagious disease, that, if left untreated, can kill in a matter of hours.  The very young, the elderly, and those with compromised immune systems are the most at risk.

We generally assume that cholera is always caused by drinking water that had been contaminated by bacteria.  This is not always the case.  Cholera can also be caused by eating raw seafood, especially oysters, that have been contaminated by the bacteria which can occur naturally in sea water.  Even uncooked, or poorly washed, fruits and vegetables can become contaminated.

The main symptom of cholera is severe diarrhea, often accompanied by vomiting.  The stools become fishy-smelling, milky rivers with rice-like particles, which are the cells lining the digestive organs.  If treatment is not instigated at this time, and the diarrhea continues, the body becomes dehydrated.  The patient will become lethargic, and suffer from extreme thirst.  The urine will be scant or dry up completely.  The inability to eat causes further loss of strength.  As the disease progresses, the blood pressure will drop; the heartbeat will become irregular; the muscles will begin to cramp; the kidneys may fail, and the patient will go into shock.

With immediate medical attention, most individuals can survive a bout of cholera.  However, those who do not receive attention will die within a matter of hours.  Even when aid is sent to areas of epidemic there is so little in term of resources, that the death toll will inevitably be high.

The United States has not had a serious outbreak of cholera since 1910.  The cases that are experienced here are usually in individuals who have ingested raw seafood, or have spent time in areas of infection.  Nevertheless, in the event that you or a family member experiences a bout of severe diarrhea, it is important to visit you family physician immediately.

Cholera is diagnosed by examining the stool for the cholera bacteria.  Diagnosis is important to ascertain if the patient has cholera, and begin appropriate treatment.

The most important treatment for cholera is re-hydration and the replacement of electrolytes. This is done by administering fluids by mouth, if possible, and, if not possible, then by intravenous injection.  If re-hydration is possible, virtually all victims of cholera can be saved.  Without re-hydration, most victims will die.  Antibiotics may or may not be given, at the discretion of the physician.

Until all areas had adequate supplies of pure water and functioning sewage treatment plants, outbreaks of cholera will continue to occur.

You can prevent cholera from attacking you and your family by observing a few simple rules.

1.  Avoid areas where cholera is known to exist.

2.  Wash your hands in warm soapy water before handling food, and before eating.

3.  If you are traveling in areas where sanitation facilities are less that perfect, drink only purified bottled water, and eat only cooked vegetables and fruits, unless you have washed them yourself.   Avoid letting shower water get into your mouth.  Brush your teeth with purified or boiled water.  Do not eat dairy foods, including ices and ice cream.

4.  Do not eat food from street vendors.

There is a cholera vaccine available in some countries, but not in the United States.  It is not considered to be totally effective, so your health is in your hands.

Have you been contacted by an attorney, oil company or others regarding mineral rights in South Texas which you didn’t even know that you owned? Did you just get a check in the mail along with an offer to purchase those rights and are tempted to cash it?  If so, you’re not alone. You might want to read this article before you sign any offers.

The Winter Garden Area Of Texas, Now One Great Big Oilfield

In the early 1900′s, land promoters lured farmers to an area of South Texas they dubbed the “Winter Garden.”  Towns such as Gardendale, Brundage, Millett, Los Angeles, Derby, Divot, Woodward, Prince, Fowlerton, and Schattel Texas all sprang up as direct or indirect result of  the relentless efforts of South Texas real estate promoters. Agents such as the Hurst And Brundage Company, The Fowler Brother’s Land Company and others advertised the Winter Garden area heavily in the Southern and Eastern United States and recruited many families to move west to their “farming paradise.”  Most of these early settlers, who at one point numbered more than 40,000 in the four county Winter Garden area (comprised of Frio, LaSalle, Dimmit and Zavala counties,) eventually left their farms and returned to where they had come from.  Early Texas Winter Garden settlers soon realized that the climate of the area was better suited for large scale ranching than for vegetable crops. The exodus from the area intensified in the 1930′s, as a severe drought and the Great Depression compounded the problems facing settlers. Although some of the towns mentioned above are still marked by highway signs, many are now just empty fields and farms.

Below is a map of the Winter Garden Area Of South Texas and new oil and gas wells in the Eagle Ford Shale discovery. Green dots represent oil wells, red dots indicate gas wells.

In an around these small communities, such as in the Gardendale Colony Lands Subdivision in LaSalle County, there lie small parcels of land ranging in size of a city lot to ten acres or more which are either still vacant and unfenced or now part of larger ranches. In some cases, the original owner’s walked away and the family forgot about them, and on other parcels property taxes were paid over the years, although they might have been fenced and maintained by an area farmer or rancher who also paid taxes on the land. In some cases, the land may have been sold, but the subsurface mineral rights retained by the seller. Simple phrases inserted into deeds when the land was sold, such as “I reserve for myself, my spouse and all future heirs, all rights to oil and gas which are discovered,  etc…, are all that it takes for you to be an heir to oil and gas riches in South Texas.  Because of this, opportunistic lawyers, mineral rights buyers, oil companies and many others are now pouring over decades – old deeds and wills to locate the heirs who inherited the land or mineral rights in order to make them an offer. In most cases the offer is to buy all of the person’s mineral rights outright. The buyer can then turn around and sell the rights to an oil and gas company or investor for many times the purchase price.  There is nothing wrong with that, per se, but the amounts being offered to unsuspecting persons are downright criminally low. Because Texas counties do not send out tax bills for mineral rights only, many owners forget they even own the rights. In the case of the Texas Winter Garden area, several generations have gone by while forgotten language in land deeds such as “I convey the surface only…” remained forever scribed in ink on hand drawn deeds buried in countless boxes in county courthouses.

Why Not Just Cash The Check?

Many mineral rights buyout offers appear to be little more than borderline scams. The buyer often makes a ridiculously low offer, of something such as a few hundred dollars per acre, and even offers the dumbfounded minerals owner a check which they can immediately endorse and deposit after signing away all their mineral rights. In many cases, the owners of the land live out of state, and haven’t even heard about the Eagle Ford Shale oil discovery in the Texas Winter Garden area. (This major new oilfield covers approximately 20,000 square miles, and there are few, if any, “dry holes”.) In addition to the Eagle Ford Shale oil discovery, a deeper shale rock formation, called the Pearsall Shale, has also been identified as being valuable. (In recent news Osaka Gas Company of Japan paid Cabot Oil more than $14,000 per acre for the rights to drill only the Pearsall Shale, located 2,000′ below the Eagle Ford shale, while retaining all rights to the Eagle Ford Shale.)  This most recent Pearsall Shale transaction could place the value of mineral acreage in some of the Winter Garden area as high as $40,000 or more per acre, if rights were sold outright. (Note: This is a rough estimate, based on transactions such as the one last year by Marathon Oil, where around $21,000 per acre was paid for Eagle Ford Shale leases. Be sure to contact an area attorney for updated information and do not rely on this article as financial advice.)

Below: Twin pumpjacks in motion at night on Eagle Ford Shale Wells in Winter Garden Area Of South Texas.

How Much Are My Minerals In The Eagle Ford Shale Area Worth?

While the Eagle Ford shale oil and gas discovery covers an area more than four hundred miles long by fifty miles wide, not all areas are as valuable to oil companies at the present time. Natural gas prices are currently very depressed, and areas of the Eagle Ford Shale which contain more valuable liquids such as oil and condensate are currently the most sought after. Additionally, the eastern side of the Eagle Ford Shale, from McMullen county northeastward into Karnes, Gonzales and DeWitt counties, has so far produced the highest volume and therefore most profitable wells. The Winter Garden area of the Eagle Ford Shale is still very valuable to oil and gas companies, it’s just that instead of wells initially producing 4,000 barrels per day they may produce 1,000 per day.  In June of 2012, lease rates in the Gardendale area of South Texas were as high as $3,000 or more per acre.  This is only for leasing, mind you, not for purchasing your minerals. A typical oil lease involves a three year “primary term,” with the option to extend the lease for two more years by paying the same price per acre again at the end of year three. In the Eagle Ford Shale, mineral owners often receive one quarter royalties, or one fourth of the proceeds of any oil and gas ever produced from the property. If you have only recently found out that you own minerals in South Texas, it’s because you as an heir to the mineral rights have only just been located.

What To Do If You Get A Check For Your Mineral Rights In Texas

If you receive a check in the mail for mineral rights that you own in Texas, whatever you do,  do not simply cash it without first talking to a lawyer in Texas who is familiar with the Eagle Ford Shale. Cashing any checks that are sent to you could mean you sign away all rights to future royalties if a well is made. If your land is located anywhere, and I mean anywhere, in the Eagle Ford Shale region of Texas, you should sit tight and proceed with caution. Contact an attorney in Texas that understands mineral rights and have them advise you on how to proceed. If you are determined to be the true owner of South Texas mineral rights, but have not yet received a lease offer, then in many cases the attorney can advise you on who to contact.

Check Out Mineral Rights Forums

One good source of potential information about fair mineral rights offers, lease bonus amounts, royalty percentages, and other issues is to join a community of other landowners and minerals owners. You can often find advice from professional landmen and other landownerrs on sites such as Mineral Rights Owners Forum as well as on other similar forum sites.

Pass This Scam Alert On

The Winter Garden region of South Texas is not the only area where there are many long – lost heirs to mineral rights.  If you have been contacted about mineral rights on land you didn’t even know you owned, please feel free to comment below this article.  If you know friends or family who may own mineral rights in South Texas that they may have forgotten about, feel free to pass share this article with them via Facebook or other social media.

Note: This article does not constitute legal advice of any kind. Contact a qualified oil and gas attorney, preferably in South Texas, before making any decisions on what to do about your mineral rights.

  Psoriasis is a chronic skin condition.  In its mild form, psoriasis is little more than an annoyance, but severe, persistent cases of psoriasis can be very distressing, and dangerous, to the sufferer.  Although it most commonly appears on the scalp, the hands and feet, and the knees and elbows, Psoriasis can occur anywhere on the body, including inside the ears, the mouth, and the genitals.

The exact cause of psoriasis is not fully understood.  We know that, in psoriasis, the skin cells grow at a more rapid rate than is normal, piling up on the surface of the skin and causing thick red patches of itchy skin.  Those with depressed immune systems, those suffering repeated infections, and those with family members affected, are more likely than others to suffer from psoriasis. Overweight individuals often develop psoriasis in their fat folds.   Although they do not cause psoriasis, some medications, as well as stress, smoking, and cold weather do seem to ‘trigger’ symptoms or make existing symptoms worse.

Psoriasis usually appears as raised, red patches of skin.  The patches may become covered with loose, silvery scales.  The skin may itch and burn.  Because the skin affected is extremely dry, it may bleed if the scales are scratched, causing bleeding and pain.  If the nails are affected, they will be deeply ridged, pitted, and yellow.  In addition to the skin redness, and scales, joints may become swollen and painful.  Symptoms tend to flare up at times, and may even totally disappear.  Unfortunately, they will return.

There are many types of psoriasis, by far the most common is plaque psoriasis, as seen in the photo.  Plaque psoriasis is characterized by patches of raised, reddened skin, covered with silvery scales.  It can occur anywhere on the body and the areas may itch or crack and bleed, causing pain.  Another type of psoriasis attacks the nails.  The pitted, ridged nails may crumble and the layers may separate.  Often the nails will become lose and separate from the nail bed.  Psoriatic arthritis has all the symptoms of the previous two types of psoriasis in addition to stiff, painful joints.  Severe psoriatic arthritis can cause damage to the joints.

If you have any skin condition it is wise to visit your family physician immediately.  Only a physician can decide if you have psoriasis or another skin condition with similar characteristics.   A physician diagnoses psoriasis by means of a physical examination, and by examining a small portion of affected skin.  The skin is removed painlessly, under local anesthetic.

Once your doctor knows exactly what type of psoriasis he is dealing with, he will discuss treatments as well as what measures may naturally alleviate symptoms.  For mild cases, he will prescribe  a lotion or cream.   More severe cases may need, in addition to an ointment, an oral medication.  The aim of all treatments is to slow down the growth of the skin cells and also lessen the itching and inflammation.  Light therapy is also used for psoriasis.  If you do not feel that you are benefiting from one method of treatment, discuss this with your doctor.  There are other treatment options available.

Your doctor will also make suggestions for alleviating symptoms such as; losing weight, stopping smoking, avoiding alcohol, over-the-counter medications to relieve symptoms, sun exposure, taking measures to release stress and anxiety, and improving your overall health through proper diet and exercise.

Although psoriasis may be chronic and it may reoccur, do not get discouraged.  Your symptoms can be managed.

Your health affects all facets of your life.  Although you cannot achieve better health overnight, if you make some simple changes to your lifestyle, you will begin to notice improvements in just a few weeks.  These simple steps will give you more energy, help you lose weight, and protect you from a wide variety of diseases, including high blood pressure, cancer, and diabetes.  Here are your ten simple steps to better health.

1.  Consume only  100% whole grain breads, cereals, and pastas.  Whole grains are much lower in fat, and contain vitamins, minerals, and complex carbohydrates that are essential for a healthy body, and for the prevention of disease.

2.  Plan your meals so that each day you eat ‘the rainbow’, that means a variety of at least six different, brightly colored, vegetables and fruits.  Eat fresh, not processes, whenever possible.

3.   Cut down on your red meat.  Substitute meals of skinless chicken, or beans.  If you do eat red meat, do so in moderation, and make sure to remove as much fat as possible.  Bake, broil, poach, or grill your meat.  Fried foods are not your friends.  They are hard on the heart, and on the waistline.

4.  Eliminate, or severely limit, the amount of refined sugar in your diet.  Processed sugar has no food value, and contributes to disease, most notably diabetes.  Soft drinks, pastries, and many cereals are loaded with this dangerous ‘so-called’ food.  It has no place in a healthy diet.

5.  Limit your use of salt.  Your body needs some of the sodium in salt, but too much can contribute to high blood pressure, heart disease, and kidney stones.  Many older recipes add salt to all baked goods.  I have found, after many years of baking, that muffins, cookies, and even bread need little or no salt.  Use herbs to add flavor to foods that you previously salted heavily.

6.  Drink at least eight, eight-ounce glasses of water every day, and more if the weather is hot or if you are exercising.  All the organs in your body need water to function properly.  Thirst is not a good gauge of your body’s need for water.  By the time you actually feel thirsty, your body has been in need of water for some time. Substitute water for fruit drinks and sugar-laden sodas.  If you want a drink, drink water.  If you want fruit, eat fresh fruit.  It has fiber, another element essential to your health.

8.  Get regular exercise every day.  Exercise controls weight, keeps your heart and lungs healthy, and benefits your immune system.  Any exercise is good exercise.  Swim, garden golf, kayak, ski, skate, do yoga, or walk.  Just keep moving.  Swimming and walking are two things that you can do literally all your life.  If you are in poor condition or obese, start with walking.  Start slowly, and build on small achievements.

9.  If you are a smoker, cut down slowly, and then stop.  This is not easy.  That I can tell you from personal experience, but it can be done.  Smoking can and will kill you, if you do not stop.

10.  Drink only in moderation.

I would add one last piece of advice, and that is to get a medical check-up once a year, and see your doctor immediately if you have any concerns about your health.

Although many people are infected with the tuberculosis bacteria, not all these individuals will become ill.  In the late 1980s, there was a dramatic increase in the number of people diagnosed with tuberculosis.  This was primarily due to the rapid emergence of the aids virus, which suppresses the immune system, and allows the TB bacteria to flourish.  This is not to say that aids in any way causes TB.  Any illness or disease that suppresses the body’s immune system, increases the likelihood that other illnesses and diseases will gain a foothold.  The elderly, the very young, smokers, and those suffering from diseases such as diabetes and cancer, may also find it difficult to fight off the TB bacteria.

Many people carry the TB bacteria within their bodies, but the body’s normal healthy immune system holds it in check.  This is considered to be ‘inactive’ TB.  If, for any reason, the immune system is to weak or undeveloped to handle the bacteria, the disease becomes ‘active’  TB.    Although we think of TB as a lung disease, that is merely the way it starts.  Untreated TB can spread to literally all the organs in the body, causing wasting and irreparable damage.

The initial symptoms of TB, in the lungs, include:

—-a continuous cough, not related to the common cold,

—-pain in the chest, even when merely breathing,

—-and blood in the sputum.

When any of these symptoms appear, it is time to see a doctor.

Other symptoms of TB include:

—-weakness,

—-weight loss,

—-chills and fever,

—-and loss of appetite.

Most cases of TB are relatively easy to treat.  Treatment consists of several prescription drugs, taken for six months or more.  Even if a patient begins to feel much better, it is essential that treatment continues as long as indicated.  If treatment is interrupted or discontinued too early, the disease will flare up again, and possibly become drug resistant.  In the event that a patient feels any side-affects when undergoing treatment, it is important that they report this to their physician immediately.

Because it is vital that treatments for TB continue until the patient has been completely cured, medications are often administered by health professionals.  This way, on-going health can be monitored, and no doses will be overlooked.

In 2009, over one million people, world-wide, died from TB.  Five hundred of these deaths were in the United States.

Tuberculosis is a highly contagious disease.  It is spread from one individual to another through drops expelled into the air by coughing or sneezing.  Only early diagnosis and immediate treatment can eradicate this disease.

There are several things that you can do to avoid contracting TB, and also to prevent its spread.

1.  Do all you can to keep healthy and strong.  This includes eating a healthy diet, rich in lean proteins, vegetables, and fruits, getting regular exercise, and adequate rest.  Drink only in moderation and do not smoke.

2.  Have regular medical check-ups, and visit your physician if you have any concerning symptoms.

3.  Avoid those with active coughs.  If you have a cough, wear a surgical mask, until your cough has been completely cured.

4.  If you have an active case of TB, protect others by wearing a surgical mask, and continuing treatment until you physician pronounces your TB cured.

5.  If at all possible, avoid traveling in areas known to have active cases of TB.

6.  If you are in contact with infants, the elderly, or anyone with a compromised immune system, consider being tested for TB on a regular basis.  The test is reasonably priced, and painless.

7.  Practice good hygiene.  Wash your hands often with soap and warm water.

In the United States, there is a TB vaccine, which, in rare circumstances, is given to children.  It is not considered to be significantly effective against the lung infection.

•   In spite of world-wide efforts to eradicate this disease, cholera continues to kill close to 100,00 individuals each and every year.  The black dots represent cases of cholera that have been imported into a country from another area, indicating that, even those in highly developed areas are not safe from this terrible disease.  Whenever poverty, war, or natural disaster interrupts the natural order, people tend to be crowded together in less than sanitary conditions.  It is then that cholera strikes, killing even perfectly healthy individuals in a matter of days.

Whenever we assist in international efforts to end poverty, and ensure that all people are properly fed and provided with pure drinking water, we are not only helping others, but ensuring that we at home are protected from disease and death.

Cholera is a disease caused by bacteria, which has made its way from an infected person into water of food.  Once the contaminated water or food is ingested, the bacteria quickly multiplies in the intestine and symptoms follow rapidly.

The main symptom of cholera is extreme diarrhea, often called rice-water diarrhea because of the white mucous like flecks present.  If not treated immediately, cramps and vomiting will occur.  Dehydration follows rapidly, and it is this extreme dehydration that can kill.  It is the young, the elderly, and those with compromised immune systems that are most likely to succumb to the disease.

If cholera is identified early, and medical attention is readily available, victims of cholera can be quickly re-hydrated with fluids containing essential glucose and electrolytes.  Unfortunately, if the disease strikes in crowded, unsanitary conditions, it is unlikely adequate medical attention is readily available, and hence epidemics can occur.

In highly developed parts of the world, cholera victims have an excellent chance of recovery, largely due to modern medical facilities, and readily available supplies of clean, pure water.  Even in the case of natural catastrophes, these countries have the ability to rapidly transport needed support and supplies to affected areas, so deaths are kept to a minimum.

In underdeveloped parts of the world, cholera often gains a foothold before it is recognized, and long before adequate help can arrive.

Those who work or travel in undeveloped areas are constantly in danger of contracting cholera.

Simple precautions can protect you.  If possible avoid areas known to have active cases of cholera.  Wash your hands often with warm soapy water, especially before eating or preparing food.  Remember, sing the happy birthday song  twice while soaping, to be sure you are doing an adequate job.  Avoid eating food from street vendors.  Drink only bottled water, and wipe the mouth of the bottle before each use.  Use only bottled water to brush your teeth.  Avoid accidentally drinking water while showering.  Eat only hot foods.  Avoid salads and fruit that you have not washed yourself in bottled water.  Avoid all seafood.

We joke about traveler’s diarrhea and Montezuma’s revenge, but it is no laughing matter.  If your diarrhea is severe, seek medical attention immediately.

There is a vaccine for cholera that offers varying degrees of protection for up to two years.  This vaccine is not available in the United States.