A Johns Hopkins Children’s Center study shows that air cleaners can significantly reduce household air pollution and lower rates of asthma symptoms among kids living in homes with smokers.

The improvements are similar to those achieved by using anti-inflammatory asthma drugs.

However, the level of air nicotine remained, leaving kids at risk of some effects of secondhand smoke.

So, the study researchers concluded in the Aug. 1 issue of the Archives of Pediatrics & Adolescent Medicine that air cleaners should only be used as a temporary measure as smokers seeks to quit.

“Air cleaners appear to be an excellent partial solution to improving air quality in homes of children living with a smoker but should not be viewed as a substitute for a smoke-free environment,” lead investigator Arlene Butz, an asthma specialist at the Children’s Center and professor of pediatrics at the Hopkins University School of Medicine, said in a statement.

The researchers followed 115 children for six months. Asthma is the most common chronic illness among children, with some 6.5 million affected in the United States, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

About a third of U.S. kids live with a smoker.

Posted by Mary Roberts Featured News, Health Thursday, December 23rd, 2010

Drug Abuse,Depression Symptoms,Anxiety Symptoms,Mental Disorders More Likely for Pregnant Veterans

A new study found that female veterans who become pregnant may be at more risk of developing mental health disorders such as post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), depression and anxiety.

For this study, researchers looked at data on 43,078 female veterans who served in Afghanistan or Iraq and received health care at the Veterans Health Administration (VHA) over five years. 32 percent of study participants who were pregnant already had a mental health diagnosis, while 21 percent of women who were not pregnant received a mental health diagnosis. When all female veterans taking part in VHA healthcare were compared to those who were pregnant, pregnant veterans were more apt to be diagnosed with either major depression or mild depression, anxiety, post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), schizophrenia, alcohol, drug abuse or dependence during the study.

Pregnant veterans had twice the rates of post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), depression and anxiety compared to their non-pregnant peers. According to the study authors, female veterans with mental health disorders may be more inclined to ask for treatment at the Veterans Health Administration than women without those disorders, and could also have had their pregnancy noted by being cared for.

Women who use VHA healthcare but do not need mental health help may have received prenatal care elsewhere and not reported their pregnancies to the Veterans Health Administration. moreover, other studies have found that veterans may be more likely to pose risky behavior after returning home from war, while women who have depression symptoms, anxiety symptoms or other mental disorders may be more likely to get pregnant.

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Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease or COPD could not be cured. Nonetheless, with proper medication and therapy it can be kept under control. along with standard medications, COPD patients could prevent shortness of breath with the help of certain alternative therapies.

COPD treatment

Breathing exercises

Shallow breathing tends to worsen the breathing problems inCOPD patients. COPD patients are advised to adopt belly breathing or breathing with the diaphragm. This deep breathing process helps to fill the lungs with enough air. to facilitate deep breathing, COPD patients are often advised to practice pursed lip breathing. In this process, you inhale air through your nostrils and exhale slowly through your pursed lips.

Hot mud bath

Mud baths are usually recommended for people suffering from joint and lower back pains and skin problems. in a recent Italian study, researchers found that hot mud bath is also beneficial for people suffering from chronic obstructive pulmonary disease. Thermal mud bath could improve respiratory muscle endurance in COPD patients. It improves breathing. Researchers believe that certain trace elements such as bromide and iodide present in the mud bath and the temperature of the mud bath could improve the function of the damaged lungs.

Herbs for COPD

Certain herbs could be combined with conventional therapies to improve the symptoms of COPD. to strengthen the immune system and to prevent flu and cold that exacerbate your breathing problems, you can take Echinacea. in traditional Chinese medicine, Asian Ginseng is used for treating the symptoms of COPD. This herb might improve the lung function. It can improve the immunity and lower the risk of lung infections, which might be fatal for people with chronic respiratory problems.

Moreover, ginseng could improve stamina and overall quality of health of people with COPD. Ginger, a common culinary herb might be beneficial for people with chronic respiratory illness. This spice could clear the lungs and remove congestion rapidly. in addition, ginger is a natural antibiotic. It can lower the risk of respiratory infections in COPD patients. People with COPD might consider using licorice as a natural expectorant.

However, COPD patients should consult their physicians before taking any herbal medication.