Health

3 Key Signs That Point to Gluten Sensitivity

September 12, 2013 by Painter Mommy Leave a Comment

An influx of gluten-free foods has become popular lately, and products that are gluten-free have been promoting their gluten-free status. The main cause for concern about gluten is two things: Celiac disease and gluten sensitivity.

It’s estimated that up to 10 percent of all people in the world are afflicted with some form of gluten intolerance. Diets rich in gluten can cause all kinds of symptoms for those who have a sensitivity, and they are often disregarded. If you experience one or more of the symptoms detailed below, there’s a possibility you could be sensitive to gluten. Read on to find out where you stand.

Digestive Symptoms

Digestive issues like chronic diarrhea, excessive gas, bloating, queasiness after eating, abdominal pains, constipation, and irritable bowel syndrome can all be symptoms of gluten sensitivity. While not everyone with a gluten allergy or sensitivity experiences these problems, enough do that it’s a cause for concern.

Sometimes people who experience chronic digestive problems accept it as a fact of life, and don’t question it because they grow accustomed to it. Keep a close eye on your body, and make note if your digestive rhythm seems off, or if it’s different from those around you.

Neurologic & Skeletal Symptoms

People experience migraines and headaches for a variety of reasons. For some, it’s a neurological condition or neck injury. For others, these symptoms are brought on by weather patterns or stress factors. It’s for this reason many who are plagued with gluten sensitivity or celiac disease overlook chronic headaches as a symptom. It’s important to know that doctors classify headaches as chronic when they occur more than 15 days each month.

Joint pains and aches are another aspect of this category. If you experience moderate or severe joint pains that aren’t explained by arthritis or other condition, you could suffer from gluten sensitivity.

Hormonal & Immune Symptoms

Hormonal and immune symptoms include depression, anxiety, ongoing fatigue, and chronic eczema or acne. Just like the other symptoms, these can be easily explained away by factors like increased stress and genetic predispositions. It’s possible these symptoms could manifest due to other causes, but if you experience them with a combination of any of the other symptoms listed here, it could be an indicator of gluten sensitivity.

Along with depression comes added irritability and irrational mood changes. If you find yourself irritable and giving your friends and family whiplash with your mood swings, there’s definitely reason to be concerned.

As you can see, many of these symptoms are ambiguous; they’re often explained by a number of other conditions and factors. One out of every 133 people in America have Celiac disease, and an estimated 97 percent of those are undiagnosed. This is why it’s important to be mindful of the symptoms and in tune with your body.

When you experience two or more of these symptoms at a time however, it can point to a larger issue. Stay in tune with your body and pay close attention to any changes in your physical well-being. Above all else, don’t hesitate to seek medical advice if you suspect or are concerned that gluten could be the culprit.

Image by Flickr via psyberartist

Author Bio: Author Jane is a freelance writer who loves to write about anything from tech to mommy stuff. She is featured in many blogs as a guest writer, and can write with authority on any niche or subject.

Helping Your Child Through Dental Fears

February 28, 2013 by Painter Mommy Leave a Comment

Most adults cringe when they think of planning a trip to the dentist, so imagine how most kids feel! The dentist’s office may top the list, or at least land in the top three, of worst places to visit. So in light of this knowledge that many of us can agree on, how do we make the dentist’s office a pleasant, or at least a tolerable place your child finds themselves in every six months?

Choose a Kid-Friendly Dentist Office

Your child will feel more at ease and be able to unwind before their appointment if the dentist’s office is filled with toys, kid-friendly furniture and artwork. Pediatric dental offices are similar to pediatrician’s offices in that they appeals to kids. While you may trust in your dentist, your child might feel more comfortable in an environment that caters to them.

Stick By Your Child

Children feel more comfortable when they have a guardian around them in an atmosphere they aren’t familiar with. Make sure to follow your child into the exam room and keep them company. This is also a great way to keep up on what’s going on in your child’s mouth by asking the dental hygienist and the dentist questions.

Reward Your Child

I don’t know a single child who can’t be bribed…I mean REWARDED for good behavior. Being a good boy or girl at the dentist’s office calls for some kind of reward, don’t you think? If your child knows that there is something special waiting for them at the end of their visit, they will be more likely to cooperate in the dentist’s chair and will find more excitement in what comes after their visit rather than focusing on the negative feelings they may possess.

These can be rewards you were planning on giving your child anyway, just time the delivery after their dental visit. Keep in mind that they did just get their teeth cleaned and polished, so stay away from rewards that include sugary foods or beverages.

A few special rewards your child may enjoy after the dentist can include:

A trip to the library or bookstore to pick out a new book
Go see a movie or a play (Bring along some healthy snacks!)
Keep them out of school for the rest of the day (These visits only happen twice a year!)
Bring them to a museum with interactive exhibits
Buy them a new game on the iPad or computer that they’ll enjoy
Paint your own ceramics at a pottery studio

Don’t Let Your Dental Anxiety Show

As a parent, children take the cues you give off. If you’re nervous about your dentist visit chances are they will be nervous too. Let your child know you have a dentist appointment and talk to them about the positives of your visit. After all, there ARE positives about going to the dentist: they clean your teeth, you get a fun new toothbrush and toothpaste, and you get to see really cool x-rays of your mouth.

If you relay good experiences at the dentist to your child then they are more likely to not put up a stink about going or harvest their own anxieties.

Dental anxiety can be overcome, and it’s better that your child overcome their fear earlier rather than carry it into their adulthood. The dentist may not be the most fun and entertaining place in the world, but it certainly is a necessity and those who care for their teeth properly will be making less dental visits in the future!

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Rory Mycek is a guest contributor from www.TopDentists.com, the dental resource site in the same network as What To Expect.

Protecting Children from What Lies Within

October 26, 2012 by Painter Mommy Leave a Comment

As parents part of the lifestyle is to help teach your kids how to think, how to be prepared in case something goes wrong. They say knowledge is power and that is a life lesson that should be imparted onto children, but it should also be embraced by the parents too. Often times when thinking about how to protect children we think of life threatening situations from the outside without considering the dangers that come from inside the body.

No parent ever wants to think their child may become sick from a disease as dangerous as leukemia, lymphoma, heart disease, or MS but medical experts are encouraging parents to do their research before the baby’s birth. By research doctors often mean becoming informed about the power of stem cells.

At the moment of your baby’s birth there exists a unique type of blood within the umbilical cord called cord blood. Cord blood contains within it a powerful series of stem cells that have the ability to develop into disease fighting immune cells over time. Doctors encourage parents to be to do some research before the birth to learn the benefits of preserving cord blood, news about cord blood treating new illnesses, and stories from other families who have needed a cord blood transplant.

Cord blood has a distinct advantage that doctors encourage more parents to learn about; it cuts out having to look for a suitable donor as a bone marrow transplant would. Because of genetics, your baby will be perfectly suited to receive his or her own cord blood at any point throughout their lives should the need occur. Other family members are likely to also benefit from cord blood preservation because of their blood relation to your baby.

The world can sometimes be a frightening place and it’s best to keep children prepared to stay alert in troubling times. But that advice should apply to parents all the same. There are things we can do to protect children from the outside, and by making a choice we can choose to protect children from what lies inside. Knowledge is power as it makes us informed, informed enough to understand the power of a choice.

How to Keep your Family Fit and Frugal at the Same Time

October 25, 2012 by Painter Mommy 1 Comment

Guest Post by Brett

Nowadays, many families struggle with the balance between living a healthy life and saving money. Not all have the luxury of an expensive gym membership or the ability to buy pricey organic foods. Instead, parents often have to make do with the limited resources at hand. However, just because your family is on a budget, doesn’t mean you can’t stay healthy at the same time. The following are several tips on how to keep your family both fit and frugal:

Pick the Right Exercises

Each member in your family will have their likes and dislikes when it comes to exercise and sports. However, there’s no need to invest in machines or expensive equipment in order to get a workout. Instead, look for activities such as running or swimming that can be done with little or no investment. Other alternatives are soccer or basketball, which require minimal equipment in order to get started. Finding low-cost, yet fun sports can be a great way to get your family moving about without spending too much.

Change How You Cook

Fitness is not just about exercise and moving around; the food you eat also plays a major role in staying healthy. While healthy cooking is a broad topic, there are a number of general tips to keep in mind when planning a meal for the family. Common tips include buying food in season, and only purchasing ingredients that you’ll need, not what you want. In addition, try to make meals for your family as often as you can, as this will cut down on costs and unwanted calories incurred from eating out.

Be Creative

When it comes to getting the entire family up and moving, you’ll need to devise a creative way to include both the adults and the kids. Instead of boring the children with walks or yoga sessions, look for activities that engage both parties. For example, swimming is a great activity that appeals to individuals of all ages. Not only are children able to play in the water, adults can also benefit from a challenging workout. Another way is to add fitness into a chore – by integrating physical activity into chores such as cleaning, you can save time while keeping your home clean and organized.

Adjust your Daily Habits

If you find yourself pressed for time to exercise, try to work around your busy schedule. There are several ways to add more activity to your day without breaking the bank. For example, park further away from your destination to encourage members to walk a further distance. Or opt for a walk in the park, instead of sitting on the couch and watching TV. Changing or adjusting your daily habits can be a great way to avoid a sedentary lifestyle, without investing too much money or time.

Go for Used

If your family is looking to try out a sport, one way to save money is to look for financially friendly options. Buying used or pre-owned equipment can be a smart way to avoid overstretching your budget. For example, if you’re looking for sporting supplies such as a bike or swim gear, then browsing sites such as Craigslist or yard sales can yield substantial savings. In short, there’s no need to strain your wallet with costly equipment, not when there are cheaper options available.

Brett Callan is a writer for Murray Callan Swim Schools, where their Vista swim lessons offer customized support for children throughout San Diego. He loves to enjoy the San Diego weather whenever he can, whether from the beach or at a pool.

Keeping Your Family Healthy all Year Round

September 7, 2012 by Painter Mommy Leave a Comment

Between work, school and social activities, keeping a busy family healthy and active throughout the year can be a real challenge. A well-balanced diet, exercise and good habits will go a long way toward helping a family meet this challenge, but seasonal illnesses may still afflict even the healthiest of people.

Common Seasonal Family Illnesses

Most seasonal illnesses occur between the seasons, in the early spring or late autumn, when the changes in temperature and atmosphere make the body more vulnerable to infection. An exception to this is acute bronchitis, which most often occurs during the winter. Acute bronchitis causes inflammation of the bronchi; the medium and large sized airway passages in the lungs. The result of a virus, acute bronchitis symptoms include a severe cough, a great increase in sputum production and other symptoms that are characteristic of an upper respiratory infection.

Seasonal Influenza, commonly known as ‘the flu’, is an infection of the nose, throat and lungs by the influenza virus. There are many types of influenza virus, but the symptoms are generally the same, beginning with a high fever and including body aches, chills, headaches, nausea and vomiting. A dry, hacking cough, usually develops after about five days of illness and often remains for some weeks, even after the other symptoms have subsided.

A cough is a universal symptom of seasonal illnesses, in particular colds, flu and croup. Croup is most common among young children between the ages of three months and six years and features a barking cough accompanied by wheezing and difficulty breathing. Spasmodic croup is usually mild and caused by allergies or a bacterial infection, while viral croup comes with a fever and is more serious. Croup symptoms are often worse at night.

The ‘common cold’ may be caused by any one of hundreds of viruses, though the main symptoms always involve the nose. Nasal congestion and irritation, along with a low-grade fever, are the standard marks of a cold and the illness general runs its course after a week.

Nasal irritation may not always result from infection. During the spring, summer and early fall, when pollen levels are at their highest, inflammation of the nasal passages may be caused by allergic rhinitis or hay fever. When the body comes into contact with the irritant pollen, it results in an allergic reaction, causing sneezing and runny nose, a sore throat, primarily caused by the irritation of sneezing and post-nasal drip, head congestion and watery eyes. Hay fever can develop at any time in life, but most often begins in childhood after repeated exposure to the allergen; sensitivity may run in families.

Prevention and Remedy

Many vitamin and mineral supplements, such as Vitamin C and zinc, have been found to aid in preventing colds and flu, as well as speeding the healing process. Antihistamines, anti-inflammatories, such as ibuprofen and acetaminophen, and suppressant and expectorant cough syrups may also help with symptoms and promote healing. Vitamins, supplements and medications are all readily available; either in local stores or at discount prices online at Canadian Pharmacy.