Asthma, Allergies, and the Atmosphere's Cure

Coughing, wheezing, and shortness of breath - these symptoms are all too familiar to those who suffer from asthma. Sadly, the number of people being diagnosed with this lung disorder is on the rise and has been since the late 1980's. Allergies, too, have become of high concern with over twenty percent of children and adults in America suffering from allergic disorders, making allergies the sixth leading cause of chronic illness in the United States.

A variety of factors can be attributed to this rise in the number of respiratory illnesses in America, including the spread of air pollution, a decrease in sufficient building ventilation due to airtight building materials, and an increase in the number of positive ions (greatly generated by electromagnetic fields) circulating in modernized environments. While outdoor air pollution is a concern, indoor air, which is known to be two to ten times more polluted than that outdoors, appears to be the greater culprit.

Negative ions, as created in the earth's natural atmosphere, actually work to counteract these effects. In nature, these ions form as a result of moving or evaporating water. For instance, as water flows over a waterfall, electrons from the neutral water molecules are easily disturbed. When an electron escapes, it then attaches itself to another nearby particle. If the resulting atom or molecule contains more electrons than protons, a negative charge is created and, thus, a negative ion.

Around areas such as waterfalls and beaches, these negative ions are abundant. Upon visiting such places, many sufferers of allergies and/or asthma experience immediate relief from their symptoms; some who are able to relocate to these settings even claim to be cured completely. Numerous studies have proven the natural benefits of negative ions, demonstrating their positive effects on the body as well as their ability to remove pollutants, literally, from the air.

In modern environments filled with positive ions and pollution, the number of negative ions in the air is greatly lacking. However, the technology of negative ion generators, as used in many homes, offices, and hospitals, has helped to counteract this depletion. Just as negative ions work in nature to alleviate the symptoms of allergies and asthma, manmade air ionizers can accomplish the same effect. In one study, for example, patients felt so much better after fifteen minutes of being exposed to such an air ionizer that they did not want to leave.

One reason negative ion generators work so efficiently is due to the negative ions' ability to actually remove triggering pollutants from the air. Upon being released from an air ionizer, these negatively charged ions attract positively charged particulates, including allergens and other air pollutants such as smoke, dust, mold, pollen, and animal dander. As these positively charged pollutants and negative ions form clusters, they become heavy and fall out of the air to surfaces where they can be easily vacuumed or dusted away rather than inhaled.

In addition to removing triggering particles from the air, negative ions provide many other benefits which help alleviate symptoms associated with asthma and allergies. For instance, studies have shown that negative ions actually appear to neutralize the effects allergens and other pollutants have on the respiratory system. When these ions are inhaled, breathing becomes easier, respiration is stabilized, and the activity of the respiratory system's cilia is increased, allowing the body to filter out polluting particles more efficiently.

The benefits of negative ions are so strongly proven that many sufferers of allergies and asthma are able to rely less on other treatments or even to forego the use of medicine completely. Air ionizers have further been used in treating many other respiratory illnesses, including sinusitis, emphysema, and bronchitis. While positive ions prolong physical recovery, accelerate respiration, and decrease cilia activity, negative ions counteract these effects, making the benefits of negative ions extraordinary.

In environments where pollution and technology allow positive ions to thrive, negative ion generators can help to counteract their effects and allow those residing in such settings to experience the many benefits of negative ions. Sufferers of allergies and asthma who have experienced these positive effects can attest to the fact that negative ions provide exceptional relief. In fact, anyone who has been exposed to a negative ion generator can benefit from these charged particles, just as if breathing in the ocean air.

Overview About Human Tissue Scandal that Rocks Medical World!

Human body tissue is harvested and used in a variety of medical procedures, including, but not limited to bone and skin grafts, dental implants and organ transplants. These tissues are acquired by so-called "tissue banks" from universities, morgues, hospitals, and funeral homes. The tissue banks are regulated by federal and state laws, which require them to report these acquisitions to the family members of the deceased and perform industry-standard tests to determine whether the tissues are free of disease and fit for donation. The FDA has submitted detailed rules that regulate every aspect of the human tissue industry's acquisition and distribution process in an effort to prevent dangerous infected tissues from getting onto the market.


However, the human body tissue industry is largely unregulated. There are hundreds of tissue banks throughout the United States, but less than eighty of these belong to the American Association of Tissue Banks, a peer organization that accredits and inspects tissue banks. In addition, only a few states perform monitoring and licensing on these tissue banks. In addition, critics of the tissue donation system cite often-inadequate training and oversight at tissue bank facilities.


The consequence of this negligence in the human tissue bank industry is often severe: donated human tissue is often infected with diseases that then are passed on to transplant recipients. Tissue transplant infections can be due to pre-existing disease (not caught through proper screening), contamination because of unsterile conditions, or cross-contamination when the tissue is exposed to other infected tissue. The illegal sale of human body tissue puts patients at risk for the contraction of serious health conditions, including but not limited to HIV, hepatitis, and other infectious diseases.


Biomedical Tissue Services Under Fire

The FDA order regarding Biomedical Tissue Services exposes the severe flaws of the unregulated human body tissue industry in this country. The FDA's investigation revealed significant breaches in ethical and health codes at the company's facilities, where industry-standard practices were not followed and donors were inadequately screened for infectious diseases and donation suitability. In addition, the company has been implicated in the illegal acquisition of human body tissue from cadavers whose families did not give consent.


Biomedical Tissue Services also kept inadequate records of tissue origins and sales and was implicated in falsifying death certificates. The FDA specifically named Michael Mastromarino, D.D.S., CEO and Executive Director of Operations for Biomedical Tissue Services, in its order.


If You've Been Affected

If you or a family member has been affected with ill-health side effects from contaminated tissue transplants, contact a medical malpractice attorney immediately. It may be possible to recover financial damages and compensation for medical bills, lost wages, pain and suffering, and other causes of action.

How Diet Effects Your Sleep

What you eat during the day and evening can affect your sleeping patterns. If your diet consists of a high amount of processed foods you may want to try eating more wholesome products. You may want to eliminate, reduce, or substitute the amount of sugars, fats, and preservatives from your daily intake of food. This may benefit your ability to fall asleep at night as well as improve your general health. Eat a well balanced diet by following the recommended daily food allowance. Make sure you are meeting the daily requirements for fresh fruits and vegetables. Eat complex carbohydrates and choose protein that is low in fat.


You can also choose healthy meat substitutes, such at tofu and vegetarian burgers. Become aware of any food allergies that you have and try to avoid them. If your body is allergic to certain foods it may affect the way you think and feel. This could be a contributing factor to your sleep problem. Some common food allergies that are known to contribute to insomnia are corn, dairy products, wheat, and chocolate. Try to schedule your last evening meal at least four hours before bed. Eat a healthy, well balanced meal. Try not to overeat as this may cause you to become tired after your meal. You want to avoid feeling tired or napping in the early evening hours as this will greatly hinder your ability to fall asleep at bedtime. As well, try to eat enough so that you are not hungry later and find your self reaching for foods that are high in fat or sugars. If you find that you are hungry before bed you may find that a small snack an hour or two before bedtime will help.


Avoid foods that are high in protein, fats, and sugars. You should also avoid foods that are too heavy or spicy. Try a bit of cereal and milk or one serving of low-fat yogurt. The key idea is to provide your body with a bit of nourishment to avoid hunger pangs and not overindulge in an evening snack. The goal is to reduce your hunger and allow your body to rest and relax. Make sure that you drink enough water during the day. Studies show that your daily recommended water intake should be around 8 glasses, or 2liters.If your body is well hydrated it won't signal you to wake up during the night.


Try to avoid drinking water or other liquids one hour before bed if the need to urinate wakes you up during the night. The healthier you eat the more balanced you will feel both physically and emotionally. The target here is to get you to sleep regularly and deeply without waking during the night.