Category Archive: Health Issues

Recently my youngest daughter had a little more frequent than usual bowel movements per day and this went on for several weeks.  I went to the pharmacy and described the situation to the pharmacist who then recommended activated charcoal pills. The pharmacist told me that the gentlest medicine for my daughter’s mild diarrhea would be activated charcoal pills; the pills would help to adsorb toxins and chemicals in the gut, as well as reduce bloating and gas. The pills worked very well and swiftly for my daughter. After just one pill, the mild diarrhea stopped.

Activated charcoal pills have been used for centuries as a natural remedy for various health issues. Among their many applications, preventing diarrhea and treating food poisoning are some of the most notable. This article explores how activated charcoal pills work, their benefits, and how they can be effectively used to maintain digestive health.

What is Activated Charcoal?

Activated charcoal is a form of carbon processed to have small, low-volume pores that increase its surface area, making it highly absorbent. This porous nature allows activated charcoal to bind with toxins and chemicals in the gut, preventing their absorption into the bloodstream.

How Does Activated Charcoal Work?

Activated charcoal works through a process known as adsorption (not to be confused with absorption). Adsorption is the chemical reaction where elements bind to a surface. When ingested, activated charcoal traps toxins and chemicals in its millions of tiny pores. This is particularly useful in the gastrointestinal tract, where it can bind to harmful substances and prevent them from being absorbed by the body.

Preventing Diarrhea with Activated Charcoal Pills

Diarrhea can result from various causes, including infections, food intolerances, and chronic conditions like irritable bowel syndrome (IBS). Activated charcoal pills can help manage diarrhea by:

Absorbing Toxins: Activated charcoal binds to toxins, bacteria, and other harmful substances in the gut, reducing the irritation and inflammation that can cause diarrhea.

Balancing Gut Flora: By removing harmful bacteria, activated charcoal can help maintain a healthy balance of gut flora, which is crucial for digestive health.

Reducing Gas and Bloating: The adsorptive properties of activated charcoal can also reduce gas and bloating, common symptoms associated with diarrhea.

Treating Food Poisoning with Activated Charcoal Pills

Food poisoning occurs when harmful bacteria, viruses, or toxins contaminate food. Symptoms include nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, and abdominal pain. Activated charcoal pills can be an effective treatment for food poisoning due to their ability to:

Bind Toxins and Pathogens: Activated charcoal can adsorb the bacteria and toxins responsible for food poisoning, preventing them from causing further harm.

QuickSymptom Relief: By binding to the toxins quickly, activated charcoal can provide fast relief from the symptoms of food poisoning.

Preventing Absorption: By preventing the absorption of harmful substances, activated charcoal reduces the severity and duration of food poisoning.

How to Use Activated Charcoal Pills

When using activated charcoal pills for preventing diarrhea or treating food poisoning, it is essential to follow the recommended guidelines:

Dosage: The typical dosage for adults is 500 to 1,000 mg per day, usually taken in divided doses. It is important to follow the dosage instructions on the product label or as advised by a healthcare provider.

Timing: For best results, take activated charcoal pills as soon as symptoms of diarrhea or food poisoning appear. If you are using them as a preventative measure, take them before or after meals which may cause digestive issues.

Hydration: Activated charcoal can cause dehydration, so it is important to drink plenty of water when taking these pills.

Consult a Doctor: Always consult a healthcare provider before starting any new supplement, especially if you have underlying health conditions or are taking other medications.

Safety and Side Effects

Activated charcoal is generally considered safe for short-term use. However, there are some potential side effects and considerations to keep in mind:

Constipation: Activated charcoal can cause constipation in some people. Drinking plenty of water can help mitigate this side effect.

Drug Interactions: Activated charcoal can interfere with the absorption of medications, so it is important to take it at least two hours before or after other drugs.

Not for Long-Term Use: Activated charcoal should not be used as a long-term solution for chronic conditions without the guidance of a healthcare provider.

Conclusion

Activated charcoal pills are a powerful natural remedy for preventing diarrhea and treating food poisoning. Their ability to adsorb toxins and pathogens makes them an effective tool for managing digestive health issues. However, it is essential to use them responsibly and consult a healthcare provider for personalized advice. By understanding how activated charcoal works and following the recommended guidelines, you can harness its benefits and maintain a healthy digestive system.

In today’s digital age, many of us rely on our smartphones for various tasks, even while we sleep. Whether it’s charging overnight or serving as an alarm clock, our phones often find their way onto our bedside tables and even our beds. However, a common concern that has surfaced is whether sleeping near a charging phone poses any health risks, including the possibility of causing cancer. Let’s delve into this topic and separate fact from fiction.

Does Sleeping Next to Your Phone Raise Cancer Risk?

Cell phones do emit radiation, and radiation does have the potential to increase cancer risk. But the radiation that comes out of your phone isn’t thought to be harmful to your health.

Ionizing radiation, which is sent out from X-rays and radon, can cause damage to DNA that may increase a person’s chances for cancer. But the radiation emitted from cell phones, called radiofrequency radiation, is nonionizing, meaning it does not cause DNA damage, according to the National Cancer Institute (NCI).  For the record, it’s not the only source in your day to day; radiofrequency radiation is emitted by radio and TV signals, microwaves and Wi-Fi, to name a few, per the NCI.

“Large meta-analyses have been done to look for any support that there’s a relationship between cell phones and cancer, but none have been able to make a strong claim,” says Stephanie Weiss, MD, Chief, Division of Neurologic Oncology at Fox Chase Cancer Center in Philadelphia. “As of now, we do not have any reason to believe cell phones cause cancer.”

That being said, it’s essential to exercise caution and practice good sleep hygiene when it comes to using electronic devices in the bedroom. While the radiofrequency radiation emitted by charging phones are generally considered safe, excessive screen time before bed can disrupt sleep patterns and interfere with the body’s natural circadian rhythm. The blue light emitted by screens can suppress the production of melatonin, a hormone that regulates sleep-wake cycles, making it harder to fall asleep and potentially leading to sleep disturbances.

A sudden beep, buzz or other sound emanating from your cell phone is sufficient to awaken you from sleep.

To promote better sleep quality, experts recommend establishing a bedtime routine that does not involve screen time at least an hour before bed. This can include activities such as reading a book, practicing relaxation techniques, or engaging in light stretching exercises. Additionally, consider keeping electronic devices, including charging phones, at a distance from your bed to minimize potential disruptions to sleep.

In conclusion, there is no scientific evidence to suggest that sleeping near a charging phone poses any health risks, including cancer. While it’s essential to practice good sleep hygiene and limit screen time before bed, there is no need to fear the radiofrequency radiation emitted by smartphones. By adopting healthy sleep habits and maintaining a balanced approach to technology use, you can enjoy restful nights without unnecessary worry.

For many women, the days leading up to their period can bring about more than just mood swings, headache, lethargy and a host of other issues; it can also introduce the unwelcome companions of bloating and painful gas.

While there are a number of emotional and physical symptoms of PMS, gastrointestinal issues are not uncommon.

Gastrointestinal issues that are experienced in the days before, and sometimes during and after, your period are similar to the symptoms of irritable bowel syndrome (IBS). These include:

1. abdominal bloating
2. abdominal cramping
3. diarrhea or constipation
4. excess gas

What causes gas in the abdomen before your period?
For some women, the fluctuation of hormones estrogen and progesterone can cause abdominal bloating and gas before and during their periods.

Rising levels of estrogen in the days leading up to your period affect estrogen receptors in your stomach and small intestine. These higher estrogen levels can cause:

flatulence
constipation
build-up of air and gases in the intestinal tract

The hormones estrogen and progesterone can also cause fluid retention. When estrogen levels rise and progesterone levels decline, women tend to retain more water than they typically do. This commonly results in bloating and weight gain.

Some conditions, such as IBS, can be intensified by your period.

How to get relief from gas pain before your period?

Four ways that may help you get some relief from a uncomfortable gassy stomach before and during menstruation are birth control, exercise, diet, and over-the-counter (OTC) remedies.

1.  Birth control
You may wish to talk to your gynecologist on the use of  birth control  pill to prevent bloating. A 2008 study indicated that the pill may help improve bloating during your period.

2.  Exercise
Regular exercise may also relieve some of the discomfort. A 2013 study concluded that regular exercise may help reduce the physical and psychological symptoms of PMS.

3.  Diet
Although the gas associated with your period isn’t caused by the food you eat per se, certain foods are known to cause gas and can add to the discomfort.

Limiting your intake of these foods before and during your period can help. The Mayo Clinic identifies a number of foods that can contribute to excess gas and bloating, including:

beans
broccoli
cabbage
cauliflower
lentils
mushrooms
onions
peas
whole-grain foods

4.  OTC remedies
For many people, OTC products are helpful for reducing gas symptoms.  Some remedies that are available without a prescription include activated charcoal, Alpha-galactosidase. Alpha-galactosidase (BeanAssist, Beano), Simethicone, and Lactase supplements.

If you find that the bloating and painful gas are disrupting your daily life, discuss your symptoms with your gynecologist.

Throughout this lockdown, I have been suffering from several issues with my hands. Besides having a relapse of Carpal Tunnel Syndrome on my right hand, another new disorder crept up – Achenbach’s Syndrome or Sudden Finger Bruising. I know this must have been contributed by the overuse of my hands. With continuous washing and cleaning (and cooking 2-3 meals a day) everyday for months on end while being quarantined at home, the excessive repetitive movement of my hands have triggered these issues on my hands and fingers.

During my 7 months on home quarantine, I’ve had two incidences of Sudden Finger Bruising on my left index finger.  On both occasions, I was in the midst of doing chores and all of a sudden, I felt an acute throbbing pain on my left index finger.  It felt like I had crushed the finger with something heavy.  Seconds later, the finger turned purplish (picture below).

Symptoms of Achenbach’s syndrome are usually described as a sudden, unexplained burning sensation or pain in one or more fingers followed by purplish or bluish bruising associated with swelling, numbness and sometimes limitation of movement. The condition can also be entirely painless, though on both of my occasions, the attacks were extremely painful. Despite the variable recurrence rate, the disease has a benign course and the bruising disappears spontaneously after a few days, with a mean resolution time of 4 days.  The most commonly affected region is the palmar surface of the left hand, involving most frequently the index followed by the middle finger, and especially the proximal or medial phalanges. Rare cases may involve the thumb.

Achenbach’s syndrome is more common in middle-aged women. The index and middle fingers are the most affected.. This disease does not spread to the fingertips, and AS is distinguishable from ischemic lesions. Specific treatment is not required, and the patient may recover spontaneously within 1 week with local rest.

Picture of a patient with a more severe attack of AS:

Achenbach’s syndrome usually recurs after the first episode and may continue to occur over the person’s lifetime.

Probiotics are live bacteria and yeasts that are good for our health, especially our digestive system.  Probiotics can do more than just keeping your entire gut running smoothly and effectively. In the digestive tract, probiotic therapy has been used to prevent or treat lactose intolerance, intestinal infections and diarrhea, gastritis and ulcers caused by the bacterium Helicobacter pylori, colitis caused by excessive antibiotic use, inflammatory bowel diseases, and irritable bowel syndrome. They are also proving instrumental in preventing colon cancer. Probiotics have also proven to reduce cholesterol levels.

We all have both good and bad bacteria in our body. When we get an infection, there’s more bad bacteria, wrecking havoc in our system. Good bacteria helps eliminate the extra bad bacteria, returning the balance. Probiotic-supplements are a way to add good bacteria to your body.

Though there are many types of bacteria that can be considered probiotics, there are two specific types of bacteria that are common probiotics found in stores. These include:

• Lactobacillus.
• Bifidobacterium.

Probiotics are also made up of good yeast. The most common type of yeast found in probiotics is Saccharomyces boulardii.

A number of large studies have shown that certain probiotics may be able to lower blood cholesterol, particularly in people with high cholesterol levels.  One of these, a review of 15 studies, specifically examined the effects of Lactobacilli.

There are two main types of cholesterol: high-density lipoprotein (HDL) cholesterol, which is generally seen as “good” cholesterol, and low-density lipoprotein (LDL) cholesterol, which is generally viewed as “bad” cholesterol.

This review found that, on average, Lactobacillus probiotics significantly reduced both total cholesterol and “bad” LDL cholesterol levels.

Probiotics were also more effective when taken by people with higher cholesterol, when taken for a longer period of time and when taken in capsule form.

There are a number of ways that probiotics may reduce cholesterol. They can bind with cholesterol in the intestines to stop it from being absorbed. They also help produce certain bile acids, which help metabolize fat and cholesterol in your body. Certain probiotics can also produce short-chain fatty acids, which are compounds that can help prevent cholesterol from being formed by the liver.