This year has been crazy for allergies. I think it's the early warm weather. People who haven't suffered before are coming in with classic allergy symptoms.
Seasonal allergies (usually spring and fall) can cause itchy, watery, red eyes; itchy, runny, stuffy nose, with lots of sneezing; and can cause itchy ears or a feeling of fullness. You can have drainage down the back of your throat causing a scratchiness, and even a dry cough. Usually the cough is worse in the morning, from all the overnight drainage.
Allergies don't involve fevers, swollen glands, nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, or muscle aches. If any of these symptoms are present, it is more likely a cold.
The best bet is to try an over-the-counter antihistamine (claritin, allegra, or zyrtec, or their generics), and see if your symptoms are improved after a few days. Also nasal saline sprays can help clear out the nose.

If you do think you have allergies, I have heard of a honey mixture that works well and have several friends that find relief with an alfalfa combo. Please let me know if you would like more details. Hope you feel better soon :).

Stephen, that is a great question. Definitely nutrition changes must be made. I would first cut out anything with preservatives and high fructose corn syrup. Basically, eat real food. Focus more on eating vegetables and some good lean meats. It's also been my experience that Chiropractic adjustments along with some nutritional changes can help stop reflux for good. The nerves from the mid back go to the esophagus, bronchials and stomach. I would call around and ask a local Chiropractor if they have had experience with that. Hope this helps, please ask for clarification if you need it. -Dr. Wes

I agree that nutrition comes into play a lot. Some of the common foods/substances that can worsen acid reflux are caffeine, alcohol, tobacco, mint, chocolate, spicy foods, and citrusy foods (think pineapple and even tomatoes). These foods cause the muscular ring at the top of the stomach that prevents stomach acid from entering the esophagus (or food tube) to open wider, allowing acid to splash upward. Eat smaller meals. Don't eat within 2 hours of bedtime, especially if your symptoms are worse at night. Try not to lie down after meals. Some people even prop up the head of their bed a few inches, to get some help from gravity in keeping the stomach acid where it belongs.

Hi Stephen! Wes and Brianne had some great suggestions for GERD.

Another thing that we find with our patients is LOW stomach acid as a cause for reflux. I know this sounds counter-intuitive - it is acid reflux after all. But we need to remember that those muscular rings that Brianne was mentioning are supposed to act as a one-way valve, to so speak. We swallow food, it goes down, the sphincter (rings) open, and the food enters the stomach. These rings remain closed based on nervous system input, mechanical stimulation (food in the stomach presses back and closes the valve), and chemical/ acidic stimulation - that is, you NEED enough stomach acid for the valve to remain closed.

Too little stomach acid doesn't give the stimulation to the rings to fully close.

The stomach is still acidic, so after you eat, or when you lay down, the low-acid-but-still-acidic secretions seeps into the esophagus and you can experience irritation, pressure, and burning.

When we take antacids, the acid is lowered even further - enough that the backward leakage isn't irritating anymore and the reflux is no longer noticed.

So what, you ask? Well, low stomach acid is related to not only GERD, but also nutrient malabsorption (especially calcium and other minerals), slowed peristalsis or digestion - which can result in GI inflammation and IBD's - poor protein breakdown (which can be related to food sensitivities and other allergies), and other problems...

So, taking these antacids may actually lead to even worse problems than the GERD itself.

This is why so many (all?) of the antacids have such clear warnings associated with them and are recommended for SHORT TERM use - not as an end-all treatment (which is unfortunately is how these meds are prescribed most of the time).

So how do you know if you have low or high stomach acid? Well, there are a number of tests available. You can be fitted with a catheter that will monitor your acid production; there is the "capsule" or "string" test, where you swallow a capsule attached to a string or a litmus-based string, which when pulled out is colored coded to indicate your acid; or an easy provocative test you can do at home which involves eating a protein-rich meal and taking a standardized Betaine HCl medicine, which you should NOT be able to tolerate - if you CAN tolerate it, you are most likely low in acid.

As with most conditions, there is no one way to treat every single person, as every single patient comes to the table with different set of genetics, environmental factors, deficiencies, toxicities, imbalances, and medical needs.

As always, talk to your physician about your individual needs and work out a plan that is individualized to your specific needs.

Good luck and be well.

Great points Jason!

You can also do an apple cidar vinegar test. Please let me know if you would like the details; thanks!

wes - i thought you said focus on vegAs and i was trying to work that out - ha!

And just a quick comment: I can't tell you how many patients I've seen that we've taken off gluten and their GERD clears up within a few months (yes, it takes patience) and they are able to get off their meds...

That's a really good question, and hard to answer online. Because a lot of the "abnormalities" are determined by actually looking at the mole.
Some generalizations are that if a mole is bigger than a pencil eraser, is changing in size or color, or just "looks different" than the rest of your moles, it probably deserves to be looked at by your family doc. If a mole is irritated, gets caught of clothing or causes other issues, it can be easily removed as well. Anything suspicious should be checked out, and usually removed and sent to pathology (where they look at it under a microscope to see if there's any cancerous or pre-cancerous changes). If you have a personal or family history of skin cancer, you really need to pay attention to your skin. Doing a general skin review at least once a year can help identify lesions early.

Todd,

Great Question and one that is often asked in our office. There is a recommended sequence to to losing weight and gaining strength at the same time.

Its important to remember that while exercising, if you are not getting an adequate amount of calories and proper nutrition your body will begin stealing protein from other sources, for example the muscle you already have in your body making it more difficult in the long term to attain your goals. The best suggestion for losing weight and building muscle is to do it simultaneously following a strict meal and exercise regime. By doing it this way, as you transform adipose (Fat) tissue into smooth muscle fiber you will not only notice a decrease in your weight but also a decrease in inches.

We also recommend variety in your exercise routine. You will get much more benefit from your workouts if you try something follow a program such as this Day one: cardio, day two cross train (High intensity short duration; example: kettle bell training), day 3: Speed and Agility or plyometrics, Day 4 rest, Day 5: Cardio/crosstrain. Day 6: Weight Training, Day 7: Rest. Your rest days and proper nutrition and hydration are as equally important as your exercise days meaning that giving your body an opportunity to recover is hugely beneficial when looking towards the long term, long lasting benefits you desire.

It is important to note, if you have not been physically active you should always be checked by a health care professional before beginning an exercise program. Congratulations for taking a interest in your health and getting active...best of luck.

Dr. Aaron

Dr. Aaron mentioned the importance of proper nutrition, including protein. If you would like information about a natural source of both (which helps keep muscle while you lose inches and weight), let me know. Kudos for wanting to lose weight and build muscle the healthy way :).

My good friend, colleague, and fellow board member Dr. Al Sears, MD has researched your question more than anyone I know. He proposes what he has labels PACE exercises - Progressively Accelerating Cardiopulmonary Exertion.
While he has written a book on this, I'm the first to say that he is a GREAT doctor - and a sub-par writer, so I'll save you the read and give you the skinny here (I'm just ribbing Dr. Al - we should all buy his book PACE: the 12 Minute Fitness Revolution):
1. Warm up for 1 - 2 minutes
2. BURST at your 100% effort in whatever activity you are choosing to do (run, swim, jumping jacks, elipticals, treads, etc.) until you are winded
NOTE: This should take you <60 seconds - if it takes longer, you aren't bursting with enough intensity
3. STOP and catch you breath
4. BURST again - repeat burst/ stop sequence 6x
NOTE: Each burst will take less and less time and each recovery will take a little longer
5. Cool down 1 - 2 minutes
As noted by the title of his book, it takes about 12 minutes to do the whole thing and it is only recommended 3-4 times per week.
We get all the things we want out of exercise (lose weight, gain muscle, lower cholesterol/ blood sugar, decreased stress, increased cardiac ejection fraction, and increased total lung volume) - and it only takes about 36 - 48 min/wk!
And you'll notice the effects within just 3 exercise periods!
On your off days, do other activities you find fun like yoga, hiking, biking, weight lifting, etc.

I would definitely have this checked out. Unless part of the tick, like the head, was left behind, it should heal without problem.
Lyme disease isn't really a concern unless the tick fed for long enough to become engorged. The bacteria that causes Lyme disease lives in the tick's stomach, and when it gets full, it actually regurgitates some blood, and the bacteria, back into your body, and you become infected. Early signs are a "bulls eye" rash that moves around to different areas of your body, and flu like symptoms (fever, muscle and joint aches, etc).
Again, i would recommend a check up with your doc about any non-healing lesion.

Combining more raw foods and alkaline (vs. acid) foods with appropriate exercise, rest, hydration, and a positive environment can do wonders. I would also encourage you to consider a cleanse to start. In addition, I work with a weight management program based on soy protein powered by leucine to help keep muscle while you lose weight and inches. If you would like more details on anything I mentioned, please let me know. Kudos for wanting to lose weight in a healthy way!

Your case is a little tricky given your health issues. Kidney transplant patients are more susceptible to kidney injury from dehydration, so it is key to balance your fluid status. Gout makes it difficult to do certain foods, too.
Eagle Barrett syndrome can cause weakness in the abdominal wall muscles, which could cause problems with certain types of exercise.
Best advice would be to limit your calorie intake and do cardiovascular exercise, with a goal weight loss of 1-2 pounds per week. Speaking to a dietician may be helpful as well to come up with a specific meal plan for your unique situation.

Deb- diet and exercise always work, it never fails. but if you're having sharp pains when you kneel and numbness, your body is telling you that something is not right. Along with diet and exercise you really should have your spine checked by a Chiropractor. The nerves that control the knee and muscles around there start in the low back. It sounds like you are having a good amount of nerve stress. You never want to mess around when you are having sharp pains and/or numbness. The pain may come and go but the problem is still there. Getting checked by a Chiropractor along with your walking and nutrition changes would really make a difference, not just for short term but for the long haul.

Deb,

Knee pain is not uncommon and if its a biomechanics problem pretty easily treatable. On average we see about 4-5 similar knee injures a week. Typically we see jolts of pain with Patellar (knee cap) tracking problems and also ligament injury. There are some things diet wise that you can do to help control any associated inflammation in the knee joints: Fats and Oils. Omega-3 fatty acids, flax seeds, canola oil and pumpkin seeds.
Beverages. Your body needs water. Drink tap, sparkling or bottled water
Fruits and Vegetables. Whole fruits, berries and vegetables are rich in vitamins, minerals, fiber, antioxidants and phytohemicals. Choose green and brightly colored vegetables, and whole fruits.
Deb, I would also consider seeing a healthcare professional due to the occasional numbness in your knees to take a further look at your knees to make further suggestions and get a better clinical picture of what is exactly going on with your knees.

Dr. Aaron

Difficult to say what this may be without more information and a good examination of your knee. It may be related to arthritis, could possibly be damage to the cartilage or ligaments, or inflammation of the tendons (tendonitis) or the bursa sacs (bursitis).
Arthritis is the most common of these complaints. Keeping mobile with frequent exercise is important, but high impact exercises can be painful. Something like biking, ellipitical machines or swimming is a good option. There are some supplements proven to be effective in the treatment of knee arthritis - glucosamine and chondroitin. An occasional ibuprofen can help if the pain flares up worse, as well. If it starts interfering with your daily activities, it's best to have it checked out by your family doc.

If you do identify arthritis, tendonitis, or bursitis as the cause of your pain, I would encourage you to explore anti-inflammatory foods and nutrients. Either way, you may benefit from these foods and nutrients if you have silent inflammation in other areas of your body. Please let me know if you would like more info; thanks!

It sounds like you have some great healthy habits - kudos! Have you considered alkaline (vs. acid) foods and/or nutrients that help the immune system work better? Please let me know if you would like more details; thanks!

I would love more information, Jessica! We need all the immune health help we can get!!!

Londa, please email me at Jessica@OrganizeAnywhere.com so I can send the info; thanks!

I'm not sure they will do this, but try the office of Dr. Dennis Porto in the Westlakes
Medical Center. They are very good to work with and saved my mother-in-law a ton of money on hearing aids compared to what the places who put the big ads in the paper charge.