Garlic

As a cures for colds


Garlic is one of the more popular home cures for colds. Many cultures have a home remedy for the cold using garlic, whether it’s chicken soup with lots of garlic, a drink made with raw crushed garlic, or if it just involves eating raw garlic.

The cold-fighting compound in garlic is thought to be allicin, which has demonstrated antibacterial and antifungal properties. Allicin is what gives garlic its distinctive hot flavor. To maximize the amount of allicin, fresh garlic should be chopped or crushed and it should be raw. It’s also available in pill form.

In a study involving 146 people, participants received either a garlic supplement or a placebo for 12 weeks between November and February. People who took garlic reduced the risk of catching a cold by more than half. The study also found that garlic reduced the recovery time in people who caught a cold. More research is needed to corroborate these results.

Garlic does have some possible side effects and safety concerns. Bad breath and body odor are perhaps the most common side effects, however, dizziness, sweating, headache, fever, chills and runny nose have also been reported. Large amounts may irritate the mouth or result in indigestion. Garlic supplements should avoided by people with bleeding disorders, two weeks before or after surgery, or by those taking "blood-thinning" medications such as warfarin (Coumadin) or supplements believed to affect blood clotting such as vitamin E, garlic or ginkgo.

Common Cold Remedies

The common cold is an infection of your nose and throat caused by viruses. We typically catch between two and four colds a year.

Symtoms (see photo below)of the common cold, which usually appear one to three days after being exposed to a cold virus, include:

• Runny nose
  
• Cough
  
• Nasal congestion
  
• Sore or itchy throat
  
• Sneezing
  
• Watery eyes
  
• Mild headache
  
• Mild fatigue or body aches
  
• Fever less than 102 degrees

• Cold Remedies

  Here's a look at some of the more popular natural remedies for the prevention and treatment of the common cold.

• Zinc Lozenges
  

  Zinc is an essential mineral that's required by more than 300 enzymes in our bodies. It’s found naturally in foods such as meat, liver, seafood and eggs. The full recommended daily allowance (RDA) is 12 mg for women and 15 mg for men, an amount found in a typical multivitamin.

  Zinc lozenges are often found in health stores, online and in some drug stores marketed as cold remedies. A number of studies have found that zinc helped to reduce the duration of cold symptoms, especially if people started taking it within 24 hours after the appearance of cold symptoms. Zinc also reduced the severity of symptoms and decreased the duration of symptoms by three to four days. The problem is that many of these zinc studies have had flaws, so better-quality studies are needed.

  Zinc lozenges may work by blocking the replication of the cold virus (preventing it from spreading) or by impairing the ability of the cold virus to enter cells in nose and throat.

  The zinc lozenges used in the studies contained a minimum of 13.3 mg of elemental zinc. The lozenges were taken every two hours during the day, starting immediately after the onset of cold symptoms. The studies that found zinc to be ineffective may have used a dose of zinc that was too low or have had taste-enhancing compounds known to decrease the effectiveness of zinc, such as citric acid (found in citrus fruit), tartaric acid, sorbitol or mannitol.

  Zinc lozenges usually contain either zinc gluconate or zinc acetate, providing 3.3 mg of elemental zinc in each lozenge. It's typically recommended that people take one lozenge every two to four hours during the day for a maximum of six to 12 lozenges a day.

  Side effects of zinc may include nausea and an unpleasant taste in the mouth. Zinc lozenges are not recommended for the prevention of colds or for long-term use, because zinc supplements in excess of 15 mg per day may interfere with the absorption of the mineral copper and result in a copper deficiency.

Cold symptoms

Colds are caused by a virus and can occur year-round. The common cold generally involves a runny nose, nasal congestion, and sneezing. Other symptoms include sore throat, cough, and headache. A cold usually lasts about 7 days, with perhaps a few lingering symptoms such as a cough for another week.

Garlic as a natural remedies for high blood pressure

In a meta-analysis of seven randomized controlled trials of garlic supplements, three trials showed a significant reduction in systolic blood pressure and four in diastolic blood pressure. Researchers concluded that garlic powder supplement may be of clinical use in patients with mild high blood pressure.

Garlic supplements should only be used under the supervision of a qualified health practitioner. Garlic can thin the blood (reduce the ability of blood to clot) similar to aspirin. Garlic may interact with many drugs and supplements such as the prescription "blood-thinners" drugs such as Coumadin (warfarin) or Trental (pentoxifylline), aspirin, vitamin E, gingko. It is usually recommended that people taking garlic stop in the weeks before and after any type of surgery.

What is High Blood Pressure?

Also known as: Hypertension

According to the American Heart Association, nearly one in three adults in the United States has high blood pressure. But nearly one-third of those people don't know they have high blood pressure, because it's a silent disease. People can have high blood pressure for years without experiencing symptoms or knowing they have it.

The upper or first number in a blood pressure reading is the systolic pressure and the lower or second number is called the diastolic pressure. According to National heart, lung and blood institute guidelines.

• Normal blood pressure is below 120/80 mmHg.
  
• Prehypertension is systolic pressure that's between 120 to 139 or diastolic pressure between 80 and 89.
  
• Stage 1 hypertension is systolic pressure between 140 to 159 or diastolic pressure between 90 and 99.
  
• Stage 2 hypertension is systolic pressure higher than 160 or diastolic pressure of 100 or higher.

High Blood Pressure Symptoms

High blood pressure usually doesn't cause any symptoms in the early stages. Symptoms associated with high blood pressure can include:

• Dizziness or dizzy spells
  
• Headache
  
• Nosebleeds

Causes of High Blood Pressure

In most cases of high blood pressure, the American Heart Association says there is no one identifiable cause. This kind of high blood pressure is called primary hypertension or essential hypertension. It is usually a combination of factors, such as:

• Weight. The greater your body mass, the more pressure there is on your artery walls. That's because more blood is produced to supply oxygen and nutrients to tissues in your body.
  
• Activity level. Lack of physical activity tends to increase heart rate, which forces your heart to work harder with each contraction.
  
• Tobacco use. Chemicals in cigarettes and tobacco can damage artery walls.
  
• Sodium intake. Excessive sodium in the diet can result in fluid retention and high blood pressure, especially in people sensitive to sodium.
  
• Potassium intake. Low potassium can result in elevated sodium in cells, because the two balance one another.
  
• Stress. Stress can raise blood pressure.
  
• Alcohol consumption. Excessive alcohol intake can, over time, increase the risk of heart disease.
  
• Age. The risk of high blood pressure increases as you get older.
  
• Family history. High blood pressure often runs in families.

High blood pressure can also be caused by an underlying condition, such as kidney disease, hormonal disorders, thyroid disease, adrenal gland disease, and the use of certain drugs, such as oral contraceptives, or herbs such as licorice. This type of high blood pressure is called secondary hypertension.

Untreated hypertension

Hypertension is a disorder characterized by chronically high blood pressure. It must be monitored, treated and controlled by medication, lifestyle changes, or a combination of both.