By Julie Damron December 03, 2011 12:01 AM

Valley fever or Coccidioidomycosis is a fungal infection that can develop when spores are inhaled. it affects people, dogs, cats, and other mammals. in the United States it is common in certain parts of Arizona, California, New Mexico, Nevada, Texas, and Utah. in California the fungus is present in the San Joaquin Valley and Central Valley. in the United States, 50,000 to 100,000 people contract this illness annually. Sixty percent of the time when spores are inhaled by animals or people, there is no illness created. when animals or people do become infected with Valley fever, they are not a source of disease for others.

This fungus resides in the soil and can exist several inches below the surface. it is dormant in the dry months, and becomes active with rain. As Coccidioidomycosis proliferates, spores are formed that break off. these spores are released into the air with any disruption of the dirt. People that work in construction, farming, and other jobs involving soil are more at risk for exposure to Valley fever.

When illness is present, there are two different forms. The primary form mainly involves the lungs, and symptoms can include coughing, fever, low energy and loss of appetite. it takes about three weeks for the initial symptoms to occur. when the spores are inhaled, they can form larger structures in the lungs called spherules. these structures grow, produce more spores, and can burst, releasing more spores into the lungs. if this continued uncontrolled, the spores can spread to other parts of the body. in this advanced or disseminated form, Valley fever can involve joints, skin and other organs. this disseminated form is much more difficult to treat, and some cases can result in death.

It can be challenging to identify this illness in animals. Coccidioidomycosis is much more common in dogs than cats because dogs often dig or sniff at the ground. Large breed, young, male dogs are the common group afflicted with this malady. in the primary form, a canine might present with similar symptoms to people including weight loss, low energy, low appetite, coughing or fevers. The disseminated form can involve bones, skin, brain and other organs. Symptoms vary depending on what tissues are affected. Signs can include but are not limited to severe lethargy, limping, swelling of legs, moderate cough or difficulty breathing, fluid buildup in the abdomen or chest, eye inflammation, back or neck pain, heart failure, seizures and more.

Cats are very resistant to Valley fever, and their illness is typically much less severe than in dogs. The main form of infection for felines presents as non-healing, oozing skin wounds that can become abscesses. Cats can also show low energy, low appetite and weight loss. Felines can have lesions in the lungs but they often don’t show respiratory signs.

Valley fever can be tricky to diagnose in animals because symptoms are so varied. most commonly it is diagnosed using X-rays, blood work or biopsies. unfortunately, fungal tests can be negative in the early stages of illness. Treatment is with antifungal medications for six to 12 months. it is important to monitor liver values because these medications can be damaging to the liver. Supportive therapies are also used based on symptoms, and commonly include anti-inflammatories, pain medications, cough suppressants, and appetite stimulants. some alternative therapies are also being used to boost the immune system. if your buddy has any of these symptoms, and you suspect potential exposure to Valley fever, please seek veterinary care for your cherished companion at the first sign of illness. this yields the best chance for full recovery from this potentially devastating illness.

This column is dedicated to the memory of a Zen Davis, a Weimaraner who lost his life this year to Valley fever. he was rescued from Northern California Weimaraner Rescue, and he passed away on July 31. his mom, Chrissy Davis, has created a nonprofit to help the families of dogs who are infected with Valley fever. The website is zenspeaks.org. this venue is designed to educate, provide emotional support, and when able to give financial support for treatment in canines fighting this illness. Davis also plans to have a grief forum on this site in the near future. Donations can be made to this organization via a PayPal link on the website.

Julie Damron is a veterinarian at Sierra Veterinary Clinic in Stockton. Contact her at features@recordnet.com.

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MINNEAPOLIS — Twins first baseman Justin Morneau was scheduled to be held out of the lineup for the sixth consecutive day with the flu before rain wiped out Friday’s contest against the Indians.

the rainout came as welcome news for Morneau, who said he could make his return to the lineup on Saturday despite also having a cortisone shot in his neck on Friday for unrelated pain in one of his vertebrates.

“I hope so,” Morneau said about a possible return to action on Saturday. “That’s the goal. We’ll see, but it’ll be tough because we won’t be on the field able to run around [with a 12:10 p.m. start].”

the injection in his neck, which Morneau has had in the past, came after Morneau began experiencing discomfort in his neck prior to getting the flu. But Twins manager Ron Gardenhire said Morneau had the shot because he was expected to be out of action on Friday regardless.

“It’s a one-day deal and he’d be available [Saturday] anyways,” Gardenhire said. “So the shot is really no big deal.”

Young’s MRI shows no damage

MINNEAPOLIS — Left fielder Delmon Young underwent an MRI on his sore ribs on Friday, and the results came back showing no damage, according to Twins manager Ron Gardenhire.

Young also took batting practice prior to Friday’s game being called due to rain and felt just fine. It was an important step, because if he felt any soreness, he was expected to be placed on the 15-day disabled list.

“It went perfect,” Gardenhire said.

Young, who also has been battling flu-like symptoms, originally injured his ribs during batting practice earlier in the week in Baltimore.

Mauer’s recovery coming along well

MINNEAPOLIS — Catcher Joe Mauer is feeling better after batting a viral infection this week and is progressing in his recovery from soreness in his knees, Twins manager Ron Gardenhire said Friday.

Mauer, who is on the disabled list with bilateral leg weakness, is still battling the flu but has continued to do workouts in the pool to build strength in his knees. But his prognosis continues to get better, as Gardenhire said the hope is that once the flu subsides, he’ll get the strength back in his legs.

“When he first started he was sore all over — from the knees, to the shoulder, to the elbow and it was all thought to be caused from some weakness in his leg,” Gardenhire said. “But we found out that a viral infection caused a lot of it. I’m not a doctor so we just need to get him past this flu bug and then see where he’s at and go from there.”

‘Pen coach Stelmaszek rejoins club

MINNEAPOLIS — Twins bullpen coach Rick Stelmaszek joined the club on Friday at Target Field for the first time this season after undergoing four surgeries over the offseason and Spring Training to reattach the retina in his right eye.

Stelmaszek, who is in his 31st season with the Twins, was temporarily replaced by Minor League coach Phil Roof before getting the OK from the doctors to join the Twins for Friday’s game that ended up as a rainout.

“It’s great,” Twins manager Ron Gardenhire said of Stelmaszek’s return. “Honestly, it’s a lot of fun. he dishes it out as much as he takes it, and he’s been taking a lot today. Guys are having fun with him. It’s good to see him back. He’s excited.”

Rain puts Earth Day caps on hold

MINNEAPOLIS — the Twins and Indians were both scheduled to sport green caps on Friday in recognition of Earth Day before rain postponed the game.

the Twins are certainly an environmentally friendly club, as Target Field was awarded LEED Silver Certification last year by the U.S. Green Building Council. Additionally, the Twins partner with Minnesota State Parks and Trails and any time an opposing player breaks his bat this season, the Minnesota State Parks and Trails will plant 100 trees in one of the 73 Minnesota state parks and recreation areas or along one of the 21 Minnesota state trails.

“We honor the power of sport by leading through example, and we will continue to use sport to inspire, build the best fan experience and cause no unnecessary harm, working with our fans, community, suppliers, partners and employees to have a positive influence in the world,” the Twins said in a statement.

MANCHESTER – the Pursuit of Wellness, a 5K run/walk event to raise money for pancreatic cancer research, will be held Saturday, April 16, at Riley Rink in Manchester.

Currently, the medical knowledge of and treatments available for pancreatic cancer are substantially behind that of many other diseases. the odds of surviving this disease once diagnosed are shockingly low. because the symptoms of pancreatic cancer are so vague, by the time the diagnosis is made, it is frequently too late. the average life expectancy following diagnosis is a mere three to six months, with treatment options being very slim. an estimated 43,140 Americans will be diagnosed with pancreatic cancer this year, and over 36,800 of those diagnosed will die from the disease, leading it to be the 4th leading cause of cancer related death in the United States. with the current methods of treatment available and the current state of research for this terrible disease, sadly , 75 percent of pancreatic cancer patients do die within one year of their diagnosis.

Pursuit of Wellness is an independent event benefitting the Hirshberg Foundation for Pancreatic Cancer Research. the Pursuit of Wellness will be held rain or shine from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. on April 16. the race course will be a 5K loop beginning and ending at Riley Rink at Hunter Park, with a shorter course available for those who prefer it.

Registration fees are $25 and $15 for youths 14 and under. Children six and under are free of charge. For more information or registration forms, visit sites.google.com/site/thepursuitwellness, e-mail or call event organizer Mullainy Fine at 802-379-8932. Registration forms are also available at Riley Rink.

by Greg Lee / two Frogs Healing Center Ever had a difficult time seeing the road when driving in the rain?You want to avoid crashing into something, so you try all sorts of things to be able to see more clearly. You flip on the windshield wipers. If that doesn’t work, then you turn on the defroster to clear moisture off the inside of the windshield. or if you wear glasses, then you try wiping them off. How is driving in the rain similar to blurry vision caused by Lyme disease?  

Just like a blurry windshield, a Lyme infection can obscure your vision There can be several different causes of Lyme induced blurry vision. Clients have reported having blurred vision due to a Lyme infection in their eyes. this condition has been effectively cleared up with antibiotics in most cases. 

Other clients report occasional bouts of blurry vision, which may be due to toxins affecting the visual pathways in the brain. through using detoxification methods such as herbs, acupuncture, cupping, and dietary changes, these clients see an improvement in their vision through detoxifying their brain. However, there are a group of people who have vision problems that persist, despite several rounds of antibiotics or effective detoxification methods. these clients are often suffering from an energy imbalance in their “Liver” as described by Chinese medicine. 

The different energies of the Liver in Chinese medicine and how they affect visionIn Chinese medicine, the term “Liver” is used to describe the actual organ in your body and its associated “energies.” the capitalized version of “Liver” in this article refers to the Chinese definition. the energies of the Liver are further defined using keywords like “Liver-qi,” “Liver-blood,” and “Liver-yin.” Liver-qi is responsible for the smooth flow of energy in the body and the emotions. “Liver-blood” describes how the Liver is responsible for maintaining a smooth flow of blood in the body and its ability to nourish whatever blood comes into contact with, especially the eyes. one quality of “Liver-yin” is the ability to moisten the eyes. 

“Liver-qi communicates with the eyes and if the Liver functions harmoniously, the eyes can differentiate the five essential colors….If the Liver receives blood, we can see. the Liver channel [acupuncture pathway of the Liver] branches out to the eyes. both Liver-qi and Liver-blood flood the eyes to maintain proper eyesight. A person’s eyesight may therefore also serve as an indicator for Liver function.”

- Translated from the Yellow Emperor’s inner Cannon 2nd Century BCE1. How does Lyme disease affect these Liver energies, which can produce vision problems?  

Persistent blurry vision can be due to a depletion of Liver-blood and Liver-yinThe Liver can get overwhelmed and blocked by the toxins produced by a chronic Lyme infection. these toxins have a hot quality and deplete the moistening energy of Liver-yin.  Long-term antibiotics can also block up the Liver’s ability to maintain a smooth flow of energy to the eyes. over a long period, these conditions can lead to a deficiency of “Liver-blood” and “Liver-yin2” which can produce blurry vision. When these two energies of the Liver are replenished, you see an improvement in visual clarity. Here are two methods for replenishing the energies of the Liver, which help people with Lyme disease to improve their vision.  

Two ways to replenish the depleted Liver-blood and Liver-yin to improve visionHere are two methods for effectively restoring the Liver-blood and Liver-yin energies of the Liver: 1) Acupuncture with moxabustion and 2) Chinese herbal medicine.  

Method #1: Acupuncture and moxabustionThere are acupuncture points along the inner surface of the lower legs and also on the mid-back on either side of the spine that are needled to help replenish Liver-blood and Liver-yin. Moxabustion is a process of placing a cone of ground up herb called moxa on these same acupuncture points and lighting it with an incense stick. Once the cone gets warm, it is removed before it gets too hot. this process helps to deeply nourish and replenish these energies that get depleted by a chronic Lyme infection. many patients also report other symptoms like pain resolving quickly through treatments of acupuncture and moxabustion.  

Method #2: Chinese HerbsThere are many herbs that increase visual clarity through replenishing Liver-blood and/or Liver-yin. Here are three different herbs which nourish Liver-blood and/or Liver-yin. Selecting the best herbs depends upon the other presenting symptoms that occur along with blurry vision.  

Herb #1: Shu Di Huang (Radix Rehmanniae Preparata)The properties of this herb are: nourishes Liver-blood, moistens Liver-yin, arrests coughing and wheezing. this herb is used to treat a wide variety of symptoms like blurry vision, dizziness, palpitations, insomnia, fatigue, weakness, sore back, weak knees, tinnitus, night sweats, premature gray hair, and forgetfulness. this herb is to be used with caution in patients with digestive problems, coldness in the stomach, or sharp stabbing pain in the abdomen3. there are no known drug interactions at the time of publication.  

Herb #2: Shi Jue Ming (Concha Haliotidis)This herb works to clear vision by nourishing Liver-yin and reducing heat in the Liver. it also has properties of pacifying the Liver, clearing the eyes, clears heat in the stomach, stops pain, and stops bleeding. this herb is used for symptoms of hypertension, dizziness, tinnitus, headaches, migraines, bitter taste in the mouth, irritability, insomnia, fever, palpitations, forgetfulness, sore knees, weak back, constipation, and heat spells in the body. 

It is also used to treat other eye disorders like red, swollen painful eyes, photophobia, glaucoma, cataracts, dry eyes, and diminished visual acuity. Shi Jue Ming is also used for stomach problems like acid reflux, heartburn, bleeding ulcers, and stomach pain. this herb is cautioned for patients that have loose stools and a poor appetite4. there are no known drug interactions at the time of publication. 

Herb #3: Gou Qi Zi (Fructus Lycii)This herb is very nourishing and a chief herb for treating visual disorders caused by a lack of Liver-yin. it is used especially for weakened patients that need strengthening over a long period of time. it is used for a variety of symptoms like: dizziness, blurry vision, infertility, soreness and weakness of the low back and knees, gray hair, night sweats, impotence, insomnia, or feeling like your bones are being steamed. 

Gou Qi Zi is used to treat lung problems like dry cough with difficult to expectorate phlegm, coughing up blood, and afternoon fevers. this herb is cautioned for use in patients with diarrhea. it is also cautioned with pregnant patients because it can cause a contraction of the uterus5. there are no known drug interactions at the time of publication. A Lyme literate Chinese herbalist can help you to determine which herbs are best for addressing your visual problems and other symptoms. Patients report gradual improvements with treatment. 

One patient reported a gradual increase in visual clarityA 40 year old patient, who reported having Lyme disease symptoms for twenty-two years, was unable to drive or work due to blurry vision. she had been taking the anti-malaria drug Plaqenil for over thirteen years which can have visual disturbances as a side-effect. 

After four weeks of receiving weekly acupuncture and taking Shi Jue Ming (Concha Haliotidis) and Gou Qi Zi (Fructus Lycii) along with other anti-Lyme herbs, she was able to see clearly enough drive over an hour to her medical appointments. at seven weeks, she was able to return to work at a job which required her to read detailed medical charts of patients. Using the right treatments and herbs can make a big difference in resolving persistent blurry vision. 

The right treatment combination can help clarify your visionJust like getting your windshield cleared off in a rainstorm, the proper combination of acupuncture, moxabustion, and herbs help you to regain your visual clarity from the debilitating effects of a chronic Lyme infection. these herbs can also address a wide variety of related Lyme disease symptoms, so work with a Lyme Literate Chinese Herbalist to determine the proper, safe, and effective herbal combination for your condition.

Psoriasis Symptoms Wiki

People often say that the quality of life is as important as life itself.how is your life?If you are a person who has suffered from psoriasis,do you feel at loss what to do about your fish scale-like skin or you have gone all out to find some way to cure it but only to find that everything you have tried is of no help to the matter.sometimes even you wrap youself in heaving clothing,the sneer and stigma from superficial people also come as rain.

How to cure psoriasis?this issue has caused wide public concern.Now there is a piece of good news for the patients who have still afflicted by psoriasis.Katy Wilson,the writer of Psoriasis Free for Life ,who has experienced with psoriasis for many years,has found a step by step guide to cure psoriasis.Perhaps you have an alternative program to take up but the effect may not so amazing as this book.If you have got this book,you would get the detailed information about how to treat the disease in an all-natural way.you should never violate the taboo that turning to any medicine you can find to relieve you pains.Katy Wilson,in this book will tell you how to avoid the trigger of psoriasis which has been ignored by majorities.it is futile to relieve the pain by using some fishy medicines,which sometimes aggravates the situation.what we should do is to apply holistic cures as indicated in the book Psoriasis Free for Life.Our bodies should be take care of as a whole because every party always has internal relation to another.for instance,you should take a bath under an agreeable condition that the water should never be too hot and the the time should never too long,both will dry up your skin,which is bad for you skin.What’more,you must always maintain your skin under good condition.that is to say,using some kinds of clean moisturizers and lotions of good quality will be beneficial to you.you must be aware of that any kinds of medicines should be the last thing to choose.Taking advantage of you own immune system to defend diseases like psoriasis is just the right way.

Ok,we have talked too much.If you are a patient of psoriasis which not only has bad effect on you health,but also your public images ,all you want is involved in the book Psoriasis Free for Life .in view of the seriousness of this problem,effective measures should be take before things get worse. Seeing is believing.Now,take your action to get the guilde and you will be a witness of miracle. Grab a Copy Click here

8 things your Hair says About your HealthWhen it comes to our hair, most of us worry most about what to do with it: how short to cut it, how to style it, whether to color it once it begins to go gray. But experts say that our hair says a lot more about us than how closely we follow the latest styles.Read more on WJXT Jacksonville

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