Tag: Health

Deviated Septum Natural Treatment and Remedies

Deviated Septum refers to the condition where the nasal septum (the bone and cartilage that divide the nasal cavity of the nose in half) is slanted or tilted to one side. The symptoms are typically nasal congestion or stuffiness in one side of the nose. Mild deviated septum is actually very common, 80% of people have it. Moderate to severe deviated septum may lead to nasal problems.

Deviated septum can be typically diagnosed through an X-ray or by nasal endoscopy. Currently, the main treatment for deviated septum is septoplasty, which is a surgical procedure. Due to the surgery involved, quite many people with deviated septum are not keen to undergo the procedure unless it is really serious.

Deviated septum is not a major illness, but the symptoms (of nose congestion) can be very annoying, and also may lead to related problems like sinus infections.

In my personal experience, the deviated septum itself is not the main cause of nose blockage. After all, air molecules are tiny, no matter how narrow is the nose passage, definitely air can pass through it. It is the associated problems of nasal turbinate swelling, and also other nose tissue (such as polyps) swelling and blocking the nose passage that causes the main problem of nasal blockage.

I have compiled a list of natural treatments and remedies that I have personally tried and found to relieve the symptoms of deviated septum. Hope it helps, and if you have other tips, you are welcome to leave a comment below.

Medical Disclaimer: This content is not intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always seek the advice of your physician or other qualified health provider with any questions you may have regarding deviated septum or other medical conditions.

1) Nose Unblocking Exercises

I have previously blogged about this on Amazing method to unblock stuffy nose. This should be the first method you try since it is totally free and does not require any special equipment.

Basically, pinch your nose and sway, until you are almost out of breath, then breath in through your nose. This has scientific basis, by allowing carbon dioxide to build up and naturally clear your nose by constricting the blood vessels in your nose.

Another method is Nasal Septum Mobilization invented by Dr Alan Mandell. It is quite a novel method, so far I have only seen it on his YouTube channel and not anywhere else. I think it may work for people with Deviated Septum as a natural remedy. Basically, the way it works is by moving the septum so as to create a “motion” to unblock the nose.

2) Nasal Sinus Rinse or Spray

Due to deviated septum, there is a high chance that mucus / dust particles can get “stuck” on the side of the nose that is narrower. Without help, it can be stuck there for a long time and lead to sinus infections, nose blockage, or allergic reactions.

One way to loosen the mucus and wash away the dirt particles is via Sinus Rinse. This is actually a modern version of Neti Pots, which is an ancient Indian Ayurvedic treatment. The classic brand for Sinus Rinse is NeilMed, which is very convenient with pre-packed saline salts for the sinus rinse. (Rinsing with pure water is not recommended as it will be painful. Adding saline salts will make the rinse more comfortable as it has the same osmotic pressure as the human body.)


NeilMed Sinus Rinse – A Complete Sinus Nasal Rinse Kit

A related method to sinus rinse is sinus spray. It is a low-volume method of spraying salt water into the nose. The advantages is that it is more convenient to perform (no need to be near water source or sink). The disadvantage is that it may not be as effective as the high-volume sinus rinse in terms of dislodging particles in the nose.


Stérimar Nasal Hygiene Set of 2x100ml

3) Vicks Inhaler

Vicks inhaler is a menthol-based scented stick, that has the effect of creating a “cooling” effect in the nose, hence immediately creating a sensation of the nose being unblocked. It also has mild decongesting properties. I find that it does reduce the symptoms of nose block due to deviated septum.


Vicks Vapoinhaler Portable Nasal Inhaler, 2 Count – Non-Medicated Vapors to Breathe Easy

The above 3 methods are considered non-medical in nature. Basically, safe to try as long as you follow the instructions in the labels.

4) Decongestants / Anti-histamines

When the nasal blockage is serious, one may try decongestants, which can typically be found in pharmacies without a doctor’s prescription. An example is pseudoephedrine, which can be found in medications like Robitussin, or Clarityn-D.

Anti-histamines can also help to reduce nasal turbinate swelling due to allergy. (Nasal turbinate swelling, also known as nasal turbinate hypertrophy, makes deviated septum worse by making the already narrow nasal passage even more congested.) Clarityn-D also contains the anti-histamine loratadine.

Not Recommended

It is usually not recommended to use Afrin nasal sprays or similar products. It is well known that it can lead to “rebound effect”, meaning that your problem becomes worse when stopping the spray.

The above are just personal natural remedies that I have tried, and found effective in combating deviated septum symptoms. Hope it helps!

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Buy surgical mask online Singapore

Just bought this Dotafa (4-ply surgical mask made in Vietnam) mask from Qoo10.

The quality is good, with good thickness (see picture below). Delivery speed is fast as well (just 2 days using Qprime delivery). Only issue is the expensive price (around S$1 per mask), but that is the market rate nowadays…

The consensus is that made in Vietnam & made in Indonesia (3-ply or 4-ply) are the best options to get nowadays. This current batch may be the last batch since the respective countries are cracking down on the export of masks.

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Photo of the “Dotafa” surgical mask (4-ply). There are other equivalent Vietnamese manufacturers as well on Qoo10.

See also:

Centrum Vitamin Review

I used to think that with a balanced diet, there is no need to take vitamins. However, recently I read several articles that due to soil depletion, there is lack of minerals in the soil that is used to plant the crops. According to the Bible, the soil is supposed to rest every 7 years for the Sabbath, but I doubt many countries practice this as it will lead to total loss of income for that year.

By the way, Northern China has a type of rice called Dong Bei Rice that is considered one of the best type of rice, certainly superior to Thai rice. I have tasted Dong Bei Rice in Liaoning Province, it is absolutely delicious. The reason it is so good is because due to the harsh winter, the soil there is forced to rest once a year during the winter. Hence, the soil is rich in minerals.

As a result of soil depletion, the plants that you eat may lack certain trace minerals like Magnesium, Molybdenum, Zinc, etc. The animals (cow/pig/lamb) eat plants that lack the minerals, hence the animals themselves lack the mineral too. Basically, the entire food chain, including humans, lack the mineral. Magnesium deficiency is especially serious, even in 1st world countries like America, 57% of the US population lack Magnesium.

Centrum Men’s and Women’s Vitamin Review

Centrum is the number one selling vitamin in the US. And it is very affordable. For its price range, it is probably the best multivitamin. There are two types for Men and Women. (Women need more iron due to the monthly loss of blood; Men need less iron. There are some other differences too, like Men need more Zinc.)

After just one day, I can feel the difference, more energetic and alert. My wife feels it too, and also experienced less hair dropping. Possibly people in Singapore and 1st world countries do not need to eat it everyday, since our diet is relatively nutritious (but still lacking certain minerals due to soil depletion). One can eat it every other day, or up to your own schedule.

Amazon sells it quite cheaply (different packaging from the Singapore version):


Centrum Men (250 Count) Multivitamin / Multimineral Supplement Tablet, Vitamin D3


Centrum Women (250 Count) Multivitamin / Multimineral Supplement Tablet, Vitamin D3

For faster delivery in Singapore, one can purchase in Qoo10:

[S$23.90](▼53%)[Centrum]★Centrum★ 40% OFF SALE! Silver / MultiVitamin / MultiMineral Supplement For Adults / Women / Men

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Does Reboiled Water Cause Cancer?

Just to share with all. Hard to imagine that a simple act like reboiling water is actually causing harm to health.

The logic makes sense though: reboiling water evaporates some of the water which is lost as water vapor. The remaining salts (including arsenic / nitrates) become more concentrated, and hence more harmful.

Do share this with your loved ones!

Source: ThoughtCo

There is a concern that reboiled water may lead a person to develop cancer. This concern is not unfounded. While the boiled water is fine, increasing the concentration of toxic substances may put you at risk for certain illnesses, including cancer. For example, excessive intake of nitrates has been linked to methemoglobinemia and certain types of cancer. Arsenic exposure may produce symptoms of arsenic toxicity, plus it has been associated with some forms of cancer. Even “healthy” minerals may become concentrated to dangerous levels. For example, excessive intake of calcium salt, commonly found in drinking water and mineral water, can lead to kidney stones, hardening of the arteries, arthritis, and gallstones.

Good night’s sleep adds up to better exam results – especially in maths

To all students taking Maths exams, do have a good night’s sleep before the exam!

Source: http://www.telegraph.co.uk/health/healthnews/5486844/Good-nights-sleep-adds-up-to-better-exam-results-especially-in-maths.html

Researchers found that higher scores were related to greater sleep quality, especially less awakenings rather than the actual length of time asleep.

The team of researchers, led by Dr Jennifer Cousins at the University of Pittsburgh, studied 56 adolescents and compared their sleep patterns with their exam grades.

They found those that enjoyed deeper, less disturbed, sleep were the most successful, especially in maths but also in English and history. 

Those who fell asleep and awoke easily – especially at weekends – were found to have better exam results.

Higher maths scores were related to less night awakenings, less time spent in bed, higher sleep efficiency and great sleep quality.

Maths Skills to be a Doctor

Doctor and Lawyer are the top two favourite careers in Singapore. Do doctors need to use Maths? Read the below to find out.

Even if Maths is not directly needed, the logical thinking skills learnt in Mathematics will definitely be of great use. 🙂

I am not a medical doctor, but my two younger siblings are medical students, and the Mathematical knowledge and thinking skills have definitely helped them in their medical studies.

Source: http://www.rossu.edu/medical-school/students/Mathematics-in-Medicine-.cfm

Functional numeracy is as essential to an aspiring medical professional as functional literacy. As a physician, perhaps the most important mathematical skills you will need are:

1. Basic mathematical knowledge sufficient to calculate drug doses, concentrations, etc.

2. An understanding of the core statistical concepts most commonly represented in the medical literature.

3. Knowledge of algebra to understand calculations of acid–base status, etc.

4. Ability to appreciate whether or not results are mathematically plausible.    (Nusbaum, 2006)

The careful logical reasoning that is necessary for the study of mathematics is an essential element of clinical reasoning. Although you do not need higher mathematics to get through medical school, you will need the ability to manipulate numbers, including fractions, ratios, powers of 10 and logarithms. You will also need a basic understanding of probability, graphs and simple algebra. You will need to rearrange equations and convert between units of measure.

 

Source: http://everydaylife.globalpost.com/kind-math-work-doctor-know-26082.html

It’s often unclear from your interactions with a doctor how much math she is using in order to treat you. While not all doctors have to use math as directly and frequently as engineers do, all of them must understand the complex mathematical equations that inform different medical treatments in order to administer treatments correctly.

Dosages and Half-Life

One of the most common ways in which doctors use mathematics is in the determination of medicine prescriptions and dosages. Doctors not only have to use basic arithmetic to calculate what dosage of a particular drug will be effective for your height and body type over a specific period of time, they will also have to be aware of the medicine’s cycle through the body and how the dosage of one drug compares with the dosage of a similar type of drug. Sometimes doctors have to use calculus to figure out the right dosage of a drug. Calculus is the study of how changing variables affect a system. In the human body, the kidney processes medicine. However, people’s kidneys are at varying levels of health. Doctors can designate the kidney as a changing function in a calculus equation known as the Cockroft-Gault equation. This equation uses the level of creatine in a patient’s blood to find the level of the kidney’s functioning, which allows the doctor to determine the appropriate dose.

Cancer Treatment

When a doctor administers radiation therapy to a cancer patient, the radiation beams have to cross each other at specific angles, so that they harm the cancerous tumor without harming the surrounding healthy tissue. The precise numbers for these angles must be calculated mathematically. Cancer tends to respond to any drug by mutating so that its DNA is no longer affected by that drug. Oncologists and medical scientists have decided to target cancerous tumors with many different kinds of drugs at once so that the cancer is unable to respond adequately. They use complex mathematical models that plot the speed and timing of the cancer’s different mutations to figure out what combinations and dosages of different drugs should be used.

Medical Images and Tests

Doctors in medical imaging use two-dimensional images of a patient’s body taken from thousands of angles to create a three-dimensional image for analysis. Determining what angles should be used and how they will fit together requires mathematics. Medical researchers who study disease will analyze the mathematical dimensions of these images. Neurologists who run EEGs on patients to measure their brain waves must add and subtract different voltages and use Fourier transforms to filter out signal static. Fourier transforms are used to alter functions in calculus.

Treatment Research

Medical scientists working with cardiologists use differential equations to describe blood flow dynamics. They also build sophisticated computer models to find the ideal size of an artificial aorta and where to place it in an infant pending a heart transplant. Doctors have to read medical journals to keep up on the latest scientific findings for the benefit of their patients. In addition to describing the calculus used to model health conditions, medical journal studies also make heavy use of statistics and probability to describe the health conditions of whole populations and the likelihood that different treatments will be effective.