Believe it or not, impacted earwax – a problem that affects millions of us every year – can stimulate nerves in the ear that bring on coughing fits. And this is most likely to happen when cold, irritating winter air hits the ear canal!
Rx: Dissolve and flush out excess earwax using an over-the-counter product twice daily, and a University of Michigan study shows you could silence a related cough within four days.
Women’s World, 1/11/11
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Some blood-pressure controlling ACE inhibitors, have a bizarre side effect: “One in five people who take them develop chronic coughs,” says Dr. Wong. “And it can take up to six months for this cough to develop, so people often don’t realize that the drugs are to blame.” The tip-off: These coughing jags are often set off by a tickling at the back of your throat.
Rx: Ask your doctor about taking an iron supplement. A Korean study suggests pumping up your iron stores by taking 250 mg. of ferous sulfate daily often quells ACE-triggered coughs in as little as one month.
Women’s World, 1/11/11
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The number of women with asthma has doubled recently and often the only symptom i s coughing spells, say experts. A tip-off: Asthma-triggered coughs often flare at nighttime, after exercise or after exposure to cigarette smoke.
Rx: Try supplementing with pycnogenol, a natural anti-inflammatory that opens airways and dramatically improves breathing in asthmatics, says Fred Pescatore, MD., author of The Allergy and Asthma Cure. The study-proven dose: 750 mg/day.
Important! Always talk to your doctor before starting a new supplement; see an allergist if you don’t get relief in three months.
Women’s World, 1/11/11
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“Heartburn gets a lot of attention, yet half of women over forty have hypochlorhydria – their stomachs produce too little acid, not too much!” notes Michael T. Murray, N.D., author of What Drug Companies Won’t Tell You And Your Doctor Doesn’t Know. “This triggers heartburn-like symptoms, plus a dry cough because undigested food backs up into the esophagus.” To determine if you have the condition, simply try the remedy below – if an acid shortfall is the culprit, your cough should clear up within a day!
Rx: Sip a tonic made from unpasteurized apple cider vinegar, its acids improve digestion. To do: Mix 1 Tbs. of apple cider vinegar with 8 oz. of water and drink before meals.
Women’s World, 1/11/11
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Postnasal drip is the hidden trigger behind almost 50% of chronic winter coughs! The tip-offs: a dripping sensation in the throat, congestion and hoarseness, especially if your symptoms worsen in overheated rooms and super-dry spaces.
Rx: Set a cold-air humidifier for 30% to 40% humidity and enjoy a steamy bowl of chicken soup! “Sipping the soup opens nasal passages and thins secretions, making it easier to expel them before they drip down your throat,” explains Raymond Wong, MD.
Women’s World, 1/11/11
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Do you have a cough that just won’t stop? Join the masses! Government studies show chronic coughs are the number one health hassle that sends us to the doctor during the winter months! But, chances are, there’s an easier way to stop the hacking fast. Simply find the trigger of your cough in the six (6) following blogs, then follow your MD-approved advice!
#1 – Aerosol sprays! You’re 1,000 times more likely to inhale an aerosol in your home than anyplace else, and these sprays can irritate vocal chords, triggering dry, tickling coughs that can last for hours.
Rx: Protect your airways by sticking to deodorants, hairspray, furniture polish and the like that you pump, swipe, squirt or pour. Stop using aerosol products today, and you could be back to normal in 24 hours.
Women’s World, 1/11/11
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Cloves contain the highest number of cancer-fighting antioxidants compared to any other spice or herb, the Flavor and Fragrance Journal reports. Try sprinkling ground cloves over soups, casseroles and baked goods to add a potent dose of protection against disease-causing free radicals.
They also ease toothaches! When the aromatic herb is crushed, it releases eugenol, an oil that has potent antibacterial properties, according to studies. Plus, it acts like a mild anesthetic, dulling toothaches and mouth pain, says Chris Fielder, author of The Complete Idiot’s Guide to Natural Remedies.
Kitchen Rx: For the most powerful infection-fighting effect, chew on a few whole cloves. “Crushing them between your teeth releases the eugenol oil and gives you relief,” says Fielder. This will ease the pain from a toothache or other mouth pain until you can get to the dentist.
Women’s World, 1/3/11
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Avoid plaque build-up by timing your toothpaste! Using plain water to brush your teeth for two minutes daily reduces plaque build-up as much as 60%, and also cuts gum bleeding in half, studies suggest. “Brushing without toothpaste is extremely effective at removing bacteria and food stuck to the teeth,” explains Levato. “But do finish with a quick once-over with toothpaste for its cavity-fighting fluoride and breath-freshening ingredients.”
Women’s World, 1/3/11
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Protect arteries by brushing at bedtime! Researchers say brushing twice a day is all it takes to cut heart disease risk by 30% – as long as one of those daily cleanings is done right before bed. You swallow more than 2,000 times during the day, but only 20 times at night. “Brushing well before bed removes the germs that would otherwise spend hours in your mouth growing like wildfire,” says cosmetic dentist Claudio Levato, DDS.
Women’s World, 1/3/11
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Folks who regularly eat cheese, yogurt, or milk have a 50% lower risk of gum disease, a Japanese study shows. “Dairy is rich in calcium, a nutrient proven to nourish and support healthy gum tissue, just like it does bones,” says Jeffrey Gross, DDS, associate clinical professor of periodontics at Case Western Reserve University.
Women’s World, 1/3/11
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