Hay fever is a leading cause of missed work days and poor productivity.  

An estimated 55 percent of employees reported experiencing hay fever symptoms for an average of 52.5 days, according to a study published in Current Medical Research and Opinion. they were absent an average of 3.6 days per year due to allergies, and were unproductive 2.3 hours per workday when they experienced symptoms. 

That results in an estimated cost of more than $601 million in total lost productivity annually, according to a study in the American Journal of Managed Care.

Why the poor performance? Allergies don’t just cause sniffling and sneezing, which most people can ignore. they can cause sore throats, headaches, sinus infections, itchy eyes, fatigue and general malaise—symptoms that make it difficult to tough it out.    

But experts believe that people with allergies don’t have to suffer quite as much as they do. many people don’t treat their allergies as aggressively as they could be. Here’s what you need to do to reduce your symptoms and increase your productivity at work:

1. start taking meds–now. Some people wait until the symptoms build up to the point of distraction before they start taking their allergy medications.  but as symptoms worsen, they become more difficult to treat, and can lead to complications like sinusitis. in addition, nasal steroid sprays take 5 to 7 days to quell your inflammatory response. It can prevent sneezing and congestion if started early, says allergist Dr. Dean Mitchell, author of The Allergy and Asthma Solution.

Start taking allergy medications a few weeks before allergy season hits (this year, spring has come early so you’ll need to start right away).

2. Don’t quit your meds.  Nasal sprays can take several days to reach their full effect, so don’t assume they’re not working if you don’t get relief right away. Make sure you stick with it for at least a week. And don’t stop using nasal sprays once your symptoms are under control, because your allergies will just return. if symptoms do get worse or your over-the-counter nasal sprays are not working, ask your doctor to write a prescription for a nasal cortisone spray.

3. take an antihistamine at night. The older OTC antihistamines (like Benadryl) are stronger than newer drugs, but they make you drowsy. That makes them perfect for nighttime use.

4. Don’t forget your eyes.  use a prescription antihistamine eye drop as soon as you feel mild itching. Avoid OTC decongestant eye drops because they can cause rebound redness when you stop using them.

Laurie Tarkan is an award-winning health journalist whose work appears in the new York Times, among other national magazines and websites. She has authored several health books, including “Perfect Hormone Balance for Fertility.” Follow her on Twitter and Facebook. 

THREE pupils from different schools in the Shiselweni region died mysteriously, forcing parents to suspect an outbreak of the deadly meningitis disease.However, the ministry of health has allayed fears of the suspected outbreak in Hlatikulu and surrounding areas. The deaths were reported in the past two weeks and the children showed similar symptoms that could be linked to the disease.such include headaches, fever and vomiting.Principal Secretary in the Ministry of Health Dr Steven Shongwe advised the public not to panic as the ministry has not yet detected the disease.  He said the ministry would inform the nation if there was any outbreak. He said for now, there has been no detection of meningitis outbreak through their system which he said was very up-to-date and, therefore, people should not panic.   Teachers in the schools where the children went suspected meningitis. The deceased pupils are all male. Principal of Hlatikulu Central Primary school who preferred to be referred to as Mr. Dlamini, said as a lay person in health issues, he cannot say what caused the death of the boy from his school. He was quick to point out though that the boy was suffering from a headache. He said another pupil of Christ the King died last week and he showed similar symptoms but he could not say exactly what it was. Dr Shongwe said for now there were only suspicions of cholera outbreak but would inform the nation once that was confirmed. Symptoms of meningitisIt’s easy to mistake the early signs and symptoms of meningitis for the flu (influenza). Meningitis signs and symptoms may develop over several hours or over one or two days and, in anyone over the age of two, typically include: n High fever n Severe headache that isn’t easily confused with other types of headache n Stiff neck n Vomiting or nausea with headache n Confusion or difficulty concentrating — in the very young, this may appear as inability to maintain eye contact n Seizures n Sleepiness or difficulty waking up n Sensitivity to light n Lack of interest in drinking and eating n Skin rash in some cases, such as in viral or meningococcal meningitis Signs in babiesNewborns and infants may not have the classic signs and symptoms of headache and stiff neck. instead, signs of meningitis in this age group may include: n High fever n Constant crying n Excessive sleepiness or irritability n Inactivity or sluggishness n Poor feeding n A bulge in the soft spot on top of a baby’s head (fontanel) n Stiffness in a baby’s body and neck n Seizures Infants with meningitis may be difficult to comfort, and may even cry harder when picked up.

Shut up, MP Magongo tells Maqhawe Mavuso

MOTSHANE Member of Parliament Robert Magongo yesterday told former Mkhiweni MP Maqhawe Mavuso to keep his mouth shut.He said the former legislator had his chance as an MP but failed to work efficiently and, therefore, he must leave them as the current legislators to do their job without interference. to use his words precisely, Magongo said Mavuso was “shallow-minded.” this happened live on national radio yesterday morning in the news programme Letishisako.  Magongo’s emotions got provoked after the former legislator made accusations that the Motshane MP was interfering with the work of the ministry of public works and transport, on among other things, the tendering process of heavy plant machinery such as caterpillars. interferingMagongo was clearing his name on the accusations that he was interfering in the awarding of heavy plant equipment tender.  He said he never interfered or issued an order on which company should be given the tender as some people have accused him.During the interview, Mavuso said there was only one company in South Africa that sold heavy plant equipment. it was then that Magongo responded and told the host of the programme Senzo Malaza that he was not surprised Mavuso could say such stressing; “that on itself proves Mavuso is a slow thinker (ucabanga kancane). He must leave us to do our job. He had his chance and failed,” he said. Magongo told Mavuso to keep a distance because he failed to do his job while he was still in Parliament. “I don’t understand why he is interfering because his time has passed. He failed and that’s just it,” said Magongo.  Malaza had to cut the MP short as he failed to control his loose tongue as he kept referring to Mavuso as shallow-minded.

Recently , a friend of mine had head aches and all that. She got her MRI done. and got it checked from a couple of doctors. most of them said that she has sinus so thats the reason. One Homeopathic doctor said that she had a cist in her brain when he looked at the report , and said that she has brain tumour. $ years back her mom even died of cancer, So it might be genetic.
What is this?
Please help.

No, brain tumor and sinus symptoms are not the same. these are different things.
Sinus symptoms are ear infections, nasal congestion etc.
The brain tumor symptoms are like in general Headaches (usually worse in the morning), Nausea or vomiting, Changes in speech, vision, or hearing, ability to concentrate, memory problem, tingling in the arms or legs etc.

With lots of pain in the eyes.

Its because of the pressure drop in the air.

I've always had this problem,

I don't know what causes it but I find that taking less sugar and less salt in my meals, and staying away from edibles containing acid (like cola drinks) makes me feel ok

Me too. you have pressure in your body, muscles and cells that keeps them pumped up against the atmospheric pressure. So when a storm is approaching the atmospheric pressure starts dropping. Problem is, the pressure outside drops faster than the pressure inside of you. You'r e body can't keep up as it tries to balance the pressure drop, so you feel a greater pressure pushing out relative to the low pressure in the air. we get headaches and other things, like pain from the fluid pressure in our joints and muscles.

me too ill be watching for an answer

Justin's answer is the best so far. If you watch the weather channel and pay attention to the pressure readings you will notice what he is talking about. Depending on where you are in the world, the average pressure at seal level is 29.92 inches of mercury. That is the barometric pressure. You'll hear meteorologists talking about the "falling" pressure when a storm is approaching.

We've had numerous storms come through Cleveland, OH, USA in the last few days and since I am a geek and have my own weather station, I have been watching the pressure go up and down like a yo-yo.

Why is it that when a person is watching a program about disease or similar things, they can sometimes start to feel the symptoms of the disease which is being described?

I was watching something about parasites and two common symptoms which popped up was headaches, and itching. Then a short time after I felt itchy and had a slight headache, but I doubt I have a parasite.
Just wandering why this happens? it seems to happen to a lot, my friends say they feel the same sometimes when watching those programs.

Hypocondria…..You always feel what isn't really there. Stop watching those programs and you will realize how good you feel.

Its just the human mind acting paranoid.

the power of suggestion your brain sees whats going on and it reacts to what your feeling

In the world today, many people suffer from Spondylitis. as soon as the symptoms appear, it is essential to consult a doctor for effective treatment. however, it cannot be cured completely since it involves bone degeneration.

PHOTO BY FLICKR.COM/NUMBERSTUMPER/

The condition called Spondylitis can be caused due to a number of factors. Genetic factors also play an important role in this regard. the most prominent of spondylitis symptoms include pain in the neck as well as stiffness. the pain can be of chronic or episodic in nature. during advanced stages of this disease, severe neck pain is experienced by the patient. also, the pain spreads from neck to arms, shoulders, forearms, lower side of the head, hands, upper back region, etc. the Spondylitis symptoms get worse with coughing, sneezing, and other neck movements. some people experience symptoms like loss of sensation, tingling numbness, non-specific headaches, and the like.Neck Pain Symptoms – An in-depth studyNeck pain is a common condition affecting a majority of the people. This may occur due to spinal problems, disruption or dislocation of the joint in the neck and upper back area, muscular tightness in these areas, etc. it may also be caused due to emotional problems. the neck pain symptoms include knot, severe pain, and stiffness in the neck region. Headaches also can occur due to neck pain. other neck pain symptoms include weakness in the arm, tingling sensation, etc. Neck pain causes tiredness or fatigue, anxiety, depression, etc. A doctor can diagnose neck pain from the symptoms and detailed physical examination.Ankylosing Spondylitis Symptoms – Detailed InformationThe ankylosing spondylitis symptoms vary considerably from one person to another. the symptoms usually occur in the late adolescence. it includes pain and stiffness in the lower back region and buttocks. during the budding stage of this disease, discomfort would be felt on only one side. the pain becomes worse in the morning and also in the night. however, it could be relieved to a considerable extent by having a warm shower or doing a light exercise. further, during the early stages, the patients may experience general discomfort, loss of appetite, and mild fever. the back pain resulting from this condition is inflammatory in nature.

Menopause is the transition from reproductive to non-reproductive phase which refers to the natural part of the aging and is a normal life stage of every woman. however, there is a large individual variation and each woman experiences menopause in a different way. one woman may go smoothly through these hormonal changes, while another can suffer with many debilitating symptoms until she receives proper treatment.

Perimenopause is a transitional period from a normal to completely absent ovarian function. During this time ovarian function becomes erratic with fluctuations in estrogen levels that results in some physical symptoms such as hot flashes, night sweats, headaches, mood swings and irregular periods. Perimenopause usually begins when a woman is in her 40s and lasts as long as four to eleven years.

During perimenopause the ovaries start to decrease their ovulatory function. the majority of women do not notice the menopause onset until they reach the last few years of perimenopause when estrogen production drops more quickly and dramatically.

Menopause begins when the ovaries stop to release eggs and a woman no longer has periods. Menopause usually occurs between the ages of 45 and 55 with an average age of 51 in the United States. A general indication of menopause is cessation of periods for 12 consecutive months.

The postmenopausal time is divided into two stages:

• Early postmenopause is within the first five years since the last menstrual period. at this stage hormone therapy is initiated if the symptoms, osteoporosis and bone loss become severe.• Late postmenopause is five years and beyond.

Factors affecting menopause

It is not well understood why the age of the menopause onset varies form woman to woman. Many environmental and lifestyle factors such as the use of oral contraceptives and smoking are related to the beginning of the natural menopause.

Genetics determines the number of eggs in the woman’s ovaries and the age when she goes into menopause. A strong association between genetics and the onset of the menopause were found based on the studies of the menopausal age of mothers, daughters and between siblings. If the women in your family went into menopause around 50, chances are 30 to 85% that you will experience menopause around this time also.

Smokers and women with chronic illness, autoimmune diseases, surgical removal of the ovaries or damage to the ovaries from the chemotherapy or radiation therapy are more likely to experience an early menopause. on average smokers reach the menopause two years earlier than non-smokers.

Premature menopause is characterized by the absence of normal ovarian functions and occurs in less than 1% of women under the age of 40 and 0.1% before the age of 30.

Women experience symptoms such as palpitations, heat intolerance and hot flashes that are believed to be caused by fluctuations of estrogen.

Clinical diagnosis of early menopause is based on the absence of periods for at least 4 months in combination with FSH levels exceeding 40 IU/liter before age of 40. however, about half of the patients show intermittent estrogen production and could ovulate making pregnancy possible after a diagnosis is made.

Thyroid and menopause connection

It is challenging to define the hormone related symptoms of menopause from those caused by aging, environmental stressors or other diseases. for instance, there is a sharp increase of autoimmune thyroid condition called Hashimoto’s disease in women approaching menopause.

At Hashimoto’s, thyroid antibodies attack the thyroid gland causing its destruction and release of an excessive amount of thyroid hormones into the bloodstream. During this transient event called hashitoxicosis a woman can experience typical hyperthyroid symptoms such as hot flashes, heat intolerance and insomnia that can be easily mistaken for symptoms of menopause.

Low-grade hypothyroidism, hyperthyroidism and Grave’s disease in women around 50 can be confused with symptoms of perimenopause and menopause. Hypothyroid symptoms in women such as fatigue, depression and low libido are often attributed to signs of aging and menopause. the disease diagnosis is frequently missed and it can lead to a lack of proper treatment.

Women with Hashimoto’s disease are at a higher risk to develop another autoimmune disease. Premature ovarian failure or oophoritis is a painless autoimmune inflammation of the ovaries resulting in early menopause before age forty with a loss of fertility and ovary hormonal functions. the incidence of premature ovarian failure of the autoimmune origin is higher in women with Hashimoto’s and Grave’s disease.

Marina Gutner has a PhD in natural science and is a medical writer on thyroid issues and associated health conditions. to learn more about treatment for Grave’s and Hashimoto’s diseases subscribe to FREE articles on her blog Thyroid in Women.

I think i may have the flu but i don't have all of the symptoms. i have headaches achy muscles and tiredness. i don't have a sore throat cough runny nose or fever. my symptoms started on jan 1st and hasn't gotten any better. so knowing my symptoms, do i have the flu?

It is possible, but if you don't have a fever it is likely it is just a cold. with the flu, a fever is usually present, 100 degrees or over.

only thing that prevents people, because most of the commission of a sugar-free diet than any other cause is no fear of sugar withdrawal symptoms. – They did not leave stop withdrawal symptoms of sugar addiction, compared to many other medicines are pretty mild, so the task of an addiction to sugar and other refined carbs is fairly easy. E 'to stay "clean" after it hard.

Other drugs, such as tobacco (and caffeine) have far moreunpleasant withdrawal symptoms.

may occur in the early days without sugar, headaches, fatigue, depression, drowsiness, rash, sore throat or mucus.

withdrawal symptoms from sugar do not let stop you from kicking the sugar level Habit

Fatigue and drowsiness can occur every day when you eat a diet rich in sugar, blood sugar rises and falls like – but usually not the fault of these symptoms, especially the mood swings so you can eat a few . when weaning the sugar They are veryaware that these symptoms must be changed in the past from your diet, and we look forward to the day that will then be completely free of them.

Headaches could be caffeine withdrawal is very painful and can last for 2 days or more, while sugar withdrawal symptoms are generally milder in, but can last for a week or two. Some people may be little or no discomfort to the whole experience and is easy to enjoy all the benefits of sugar-free diet almost immediately.

EThe benefits are enormous – better health, better mood, a feeling of vitality and think more clearly.

Sorry, the thought of sugar withdrawal symptoms are an effective barrier to change in good health. People often think that they were much worse than they really are, or think I'm very happy to be a lot more. part of this argument is really about the "stinking thinking" causes created by the addiction.

Know how long your symptoms will give you the lastthe force is moving through the withdrawal phase to commit health. you do not want to be well taken, the annoying symptoms please ring that only a few hours before symptoms would be gone.

For this reason, it is important to emphasize that knowing when you will not feel better. Think of it as a case of voluntary flu, and commit to working with them. In a few days will be over.

this means that you are freesugar cravings for good? No

As already mentioned, not the hard part to give up sugar. E 'to remain free of sugar, if they have passed through the first few weeks. Your mild symptoms at first withdrawal actually stay focused and remind you of your goal to start a healthy diet.

It 's later, when you feel healthy and seem full of energy, when the lure of possible "only" treat it like a harmless indulgence. To be sure to stay on the new, healthy diet, you need aPlan, which prevents you from falling back into old, unhealthy food.

withdrawal symptoms from sugar do not let stop you from kicking the sugar level Habit

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How soon after conceiving can you start to have pregnancy symptoms? my period for October started on the 8th and ended on the 12th. my husband and I are trying to have a child. two days ago I started getting sick to my stomach, feeling dizzy, little headaches, TIRED (I can barely keep my eyes open), one minute I'm hungry and then the next minute I won't have the desire to eat and when I do eat my food just taste a little different to me.

Are these early signs of pregnancy?