Health

Published January 10, 2023

Headaches are incredibly common. It can occur anytime, but it’s more likely to hit you when you’re suffering from other health issues. If you have a fever, for instance, there’s a good chance you’ll get a headache. The same applies to when you catch a cold, get the flu, or have other minor health disorders.

In these cases, it’s relatively easy to recognize that you have a headache. However, the same cannot be said for when you have an earache. After all, chances are you’ll assume the pain is coming from your ear.

In addition, unlike fever, cold, flu, and other health problems, experts have yet to establish that an earache can cause headaches. So, can an earache cause a headache? Read on to find out.

Can an Earache Cause a Headache?

No, an earache cannot cause a headache. The reason why a headache often follows an earache is that they’re both symptoms of the same health disorder. An ear infection, for example, will likely cause you to get an earache in its early stages. The headache will then come as a later symptom.

When that happens, it may seem like the earache caused the headache, but it’d be more accurate to say that the ear infection caused both the headache and the earache. The same applies to other conditions.

What Causes Headache and Earache at the Same Time?

An ear infection is the most common health issue that causes earache, but there are more. Interestingly, most of these health issues have a relatively high chance of causing headaches as well. These include:

• Sinusitis is a condition in which the lining of your sinuses becomes inflamed.
  
  As a result, the mucus that should have gotten coughed up or swallowed without you noticing becomes stuck in your throat or sinuses. The build-up then causes pain in your nasal regions.
  
  Common symptoms of sinusitis include headache, facial pain, and ear pressure.

• Eustachian tube dysfunction is a relatively common health issue in which the Eustachian tubes that connect the back of your throat to your middle ear get blocked with fluid or mucus.
  
  When that happens, you may hear muffled sounds and experience ear pain and headache.

• Meniere’s disease is a rare condition believed to be the result of pressure deep inside your ears. Unfortunately, experts have yet to find conclusive evidence regarding the cause of this disorder.
  
  However, we do know that it’s a condition that may worsen the longer it lasts.
  
  One way to resolve the issue quickly is to be on the lookout for its symptoms. These include a ringing sound inside your ears (tinnitus), a feeling that your surrounding is spinning or moving (vertigo), partial hearing loss, pressure deep inside the ear, and, very rarely, headaches.

• Allergies, as you may already know, occur when you’re exposed to a substance you cannot tolerate. These are known as allergens and can often be found in dust, pollen, insects, animals, foods, and medications, to name a few. Allergies can be severe or mild, depending on the person.
  
  When your allergies are triggered, you may experience a variety of issues, from mild to severe, such as headaches, ear pain, sneezing, runny nose, difficulty breathing, and other symptoms.

• Migraines are best known as the condition associated with a severe headache. The condition is typically caused by stress or an excess of sensory stimuli. Examples of stimuli that may induce migraines include flashing lights, loud sounds, strong perfume, and secondhand smoke.
  
  When you get a migraine, apart from the common headache symptom, you may also experience other issues. These may include vomiting, nausea, sound or light sensitivity, and rarely, ear pain.

Knowing how your health problem came to be can go a long way since the ideal remedy would generally depend on the cause of the issue. But interestingly, the treatments for each condition have a bit of overlap.

Best Remedies for Earache and Headache

If you’re suffering from ear pain and headache at the same time, it’s advisable to first identify the cause and figure out the remedy for that cause. For instance, if you’ve determined that a migraine caused your earache and headache, you must specifically look for remedies for migraine.

Published December 26, 2022

Anyone can suffer from sinus problems. It’s a common health issue, and some are more susceptible to this health disorder. The good news is there are several remedies to this illness.

You can remedy the illness by taking probiotics, drinking water, or by using a nasal spray, to name a few.

However, one remedy that’s not as talked about as most remedies are acupressure.

What Is Acupressure?

Acupressure is a form of massage that originated in Ancient China.

It’s similar to acupuncture in that it involves strategic points that would each have varying effects on the body. The only difference is acupuncture involves needles, while acupressure involves pressure.

The idea is that each pressure point has different effects when it receives pressure.

Needless to say, it shows promising results in regard to its therapeutic potential against all kinds of illnesses. But, alas, not all research studies have shown conclusive evidence that points toward this fact.

Nevertheless, if what’s assumed of acupressure is true, it’d go a long way in treating your sinus problems if you know how to use acupressure. For that, you need to know about sinus pressure relief points.

What Are Sinus Pressure Relief Points?

Sinus pressure relief points are essentially pressure points whose effects are the relief of sinus problems, hence the name. Put simply, applying pressure to these points is supposed to relieve you of your sinus problems. Acupuncture points and acupressure points are often the same.

For instance, if the area between your eyebrows is an acupuncture point that opens nasal passages, there’s most likely an acupressure point in that same place that has the same or similar effect.

Since that’s the case, one would assume that opting for acupressure would be ideal since it’s probably less intrusive. It doesn’t involve puncturing the skin and potentially leading to injuries, after all.

However, there have been talks that acupressure may not be safe.

Is It Safe To Apply Pressure to Sinus Pressure Relief Points?

Yes, acupressure is generally safe and, in fact, much safer than acupuncture, despite the rumors saying otherwise. There are, however, times when it has led to issues, but that’s a rare occurrence.

The only time that would happen will be if you have other issues that may conflict with the treatment.

If you have varicose veins, for example, and you apply pressure on the area where those veins are, you may accidentally burst the veins by applying too much pressure. That’s one example of a condition that doesn’t go well with acupressure. Acupressure may also not be suitable for pregnant women.

Ideally, you’d want to visit your doctor first to confirm whether acupressure would be suitable for your body or current state. It’s also best if you practice caution when applying pressure on the various points.

Where Are Sinus Pressure Relief Points?

Another way to ensure safety when applying pressure to the body is to ensure you’re doing it to the correct spots. With that said, let’s look at four sinus pressure relief points in the body.

Published December 12, 2022

Most people understand that taking excessive medications can lead to minor to severe side effects. Antibiotics, in particular, are infamous for causing gastrointestinal problems like a stomach aches.

Among its typical side effects, diarrhea is one of the most common.

Diarrhea causes an individual to pass stools more frequently, which are watery and loose.

It’s practically the opposite of constipation—a likewise common condition that causes an individual to pass stools less frequently. And usually, the stools of a constipated individual are hard and lumpy.

Due to their contrasting characteristics, one would assume that if diarrhea is a common side effect of antibiotics, constipation can’t possibly be one of its side effects as well. But that’s not entirely true.

Can Antibiotics Cause Constipation?

Yes, research shows that antibiotics can indeed cause constipation. While studies have yet to produce conclusive evidence of why it happens, there are a few speculations from different organizations.

One particular explanation has to do with how antibiotics mess with the body’s gut microbiota.

Why Do Antibiotics Cause Constipation?

Antibiotics are antimicrobial medications that primarily treat and/or prevent bacterial infections in the body. They do so by killing and/or inhibiting the bacteria upon their consumption.

The issue is antibiotics cannot distinguish between good and bad bacteria.

If you know a thing or two about gut microbiota, you’d know that there are good or beneficial bacteria in the gut. Naturally, you would want them to remain in your gut so you can enjoy their benefits.

Unfortunately, antibiotics also kill beneficial bacteria, thereby messing with your body’s gut health.

An unhealthy gut can lead to a variety of issues. Constipation is just one of them. Others include

• diarrhea,
• gas,
• nausea,
• stomach ache,
• stomach upset,
• vomiting, and
• yeast infections.

Some of these side effects are more likely to happen than others. The good news is that your gut microbiota has the inherent ability to regenerate itself. That’s why the side effects are only temporary.

However, damage done by antibiotics can be particularly severe.

How Long Does Antibiotic-Induced Constipation Last?

According to this study, it takes approximately six months for the gut microbiota to recover from the damage done to it by antibiotics. During this timeframe, you may experience other gut-related issues like the ones mentioned earlier. The severity of constipation and the time it takes to pass may vary.

Published December 2, 2022

Dehydration causes a variety of issues in the human body. Weakness, headaches, and light-headedness are some of its common symptoms. Interestingly, despite dehydration having a lot to do with the mouth, coughing doesn’t seem to be a common symptom, at least not according to most medical websites.

So, can dehydration cause coughing? Read on as this article goes over several things you need to know about the correlation between dehydration and coughing. Let’s start by answering that question right away.

Can Dehydration Cause Coughing?

No, according to studies, dehydration doesn’t directly cause coughing.

However, it does increase the chances or likelihood of someone coughing for different reasons. If a person is sick or ill, for example, it’s not guaranteed that coughing will be one of their symptoms.

But if they don’t drink water regularly while they’re sick, the chances of coughing becoming one of their symptoms will increase. So, to conclude, coughing is more prevalent in people who are dehydrated.

That doesn’t necessarily mean dehydration causes coughing. But how does it work, exactly?

Why Does Dehydration Increase Your Chances of Coughing?

To start with, it’s important to understand that dehydration doesn’t always increase your chances of coughing. But in the cases that it does, it’s because if you don’t drink fluids sufficiently, or in other words, hydrate yourself, the mucus your airways generate would become sticky as opposed to watery.

Since sticky mucus doesn’t drain quickly, it’ll irritate your throat once it reaches that point. The itch that comes from your throat may then provoke a cough, thereby making it seem dehydration causes coughing.

The good news is that this usually doesn’t happen because your airways don’t generate too much mucus anyway. That means there’s no mucus build-up happening at any point in time, so coughing is unlikely.

The only time this could happen is when you’re sick, infected, or affected by your allergies. That’s because, during these times, the airways produce more mucus than usual, resulting in the build-up.

Besides, if you’re constantly dehydrated, coughing is the least of your worries.

Other Effects of Dehydration

As stated earlier, dehydration can cause a variety of issues to the body. Common examples include:

• Extreme thirst
• Rapid heartbeat
• Dizziness
• Not passing urine
• Lethargic or extreme fatigue
• Confusion
• Dry eyes, mouth, and lips

These may not necessarily be fatal, but they can be pretty annoying. But now that you’ve determined that dehydration doesn’t directly cause coughing, then why do people sometimes cough uncontrollably?

If Not Dehydration, What’s Causing Your Coughing?

If it’s not dehydration, and you’re also not sick, yet the extent to which you’re coughing is still off the charts, it’s likely because of one of the following reasons:

• You smoke regularly.
• You have a viral infection either on your sinuses or throat.
• You’re being exposed to allergens.
• There are currently a lot of irritants like dust or fumes in the air.
• You’re having an asthma attack.
• You’re experiencing acid reflux.
• You took a medication that has coughing as one of its side effects.

These are some examples of explanations for why you’re coughing uncontrollably despite you not having an apparent health problem. But then again, if the thought that dehydration might’ve been the cause of the problem occurred to you, it might be a sign that you’re not exactly the best at hydrating yourself.

4 Tips To Hydrate Yourself

Published November 21, 2022

When your immune system detects a sickness-causing agent entering the body, it increases mucus production. It does this so that when it pumps out the mucus, it’ll pick up the germs along the way.

The body produces different types of mucus, their main differences lie in where they come from.

Phlegm is one such type, and it comes from the lower airways or the lungs. The throat can normally drain mucus without issue, but it’s not uncommon for a person to have a bit of phlegm stuck in the throat.

What might not seem normal, however, is when you have excess phlegm in throat when you’re not even sick. If that’s what you’re dealing with, an excellent way to solve the issue is by learning a thing or two about excess phlegm in throat. Let’s start by looking at the symptoms that come with this problem.

Symptoms That Come With Excess Phlegm In Throat

Usually, you don’t immediately notice that you have excess phlegm in your throat. Instead, you’ll notice several other signs or symptoms first before you come to that conclusion. These symptoms include:

• Coughing up phlegm (which experts call sputum)
• Headaches
• Itchy eyes
• Runny nose
• Shortness of breath

You may or may not experience some of these symptoms even if you have excess phlegm in throat. The symptoms may vary according to the cause of the problem, and that is yet another thing you must know.

What Causes Phlegm In The Throat?

Aside from having a cold or fever, other causes of excess phlegm in throat include:

• Acid reflux
• Asthma
• Food allergies
• Viral or bacterial infection (acute bronchitis, sinusitis, pneumonia)
• Lung diseases (cystic fibrosis, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease)

If you have excess phlegm in your throat, it’s either because of a minor issue that should normally go away after a few days, or you have a long-term disease. To find out the cause, it’s best to call a doctor.

They should be able to diagnose your condition more accurately by looking at your other symptoms.

Apart from your condition, there are other factors that may lead to excess phlegm. Your environment or lifestyle, for example, can lead to the issue. To be precise, you may have excess phlegm because:

• You don’t drink as much water or other fluids
• You take certain medications that increase the likelihood of excess phlegm in throat
• Your house is too dry, which is often due to poor insulation or heating
• You smoke frequently or regularly
• You drink certain beverages that cause fluid loss (e.g., tea, alcohol, coffee)

So, while it may not be what you consider natural or normal, there’s a reason why you have excess phlegm on throat. And often, the solution depends on that reason.

How To Get Rid Of Excess Phlegm In Throat

Published November 14, 2022

Before you buy over-the-counter (OTC) medications from a pharmacy, it’s usually advisable to first diagnose yourself. That way, you know what kind of drug you need to treat your symptoms. If you diagnose yourself with the flu, for example, the appropriate medication would be antiviral drugs.

While it’s typically a simple process, it can be confusing if your symptoms mostly come from your allergic reaction. After all, two medications – antihistamines and decongestants – can treat allergic reactions.

As such, it makes sense that one would struggle to decide which of the two is more effective for their symptoms. If that’s an issue you’ve been dealing with recently, this article should be plenty of help. 

Read on as this guide goes over several things you need to know about decongestant vs. antihistamine, their definitions, differences, and other questions. Let’s start with a brief description of decongestants.

What Is A Decongestant?

Decongestants are a type of medication that provides short-term relief to symptoms that relate to nasal congestion. These include a blocked, stuffy, or runny nose. The medicine isn’t specifically for allergic reactions, but since congestion is a common symptom of allergies, decongestants work perfectly.

What Is An Antihistamine?

Antihistamine is a type of medicine that’s specifically designed to treat allergy symptoms.

These include watery eyes, sneezing, nausea, and above all, congestion. Yes, it can treat the same symptoms as decongestants. That’s precisely why people often have to choose between the two.

However, while they do have similar effects, they also have several differences.

Decongestant Vs. Antihistamine: Differences

There are two main differences between antihistamines and decongestants:

1. the way they work, and 
2. their side effects.

A decongestant relieves congestion by reducing the swelling of the blood vessels inside the nose. By doing so, the airways become more open, allowing air to pass freely and mucus to drain more quickly.

Meanwhile, antihistamines work by regulating the production and release of histamines, hence the name.

For your reference, histamines are organic compounds that the body releases whenever it detects something harmful. These compounds cause the skin to swell and blood vessels to expand.

That ultimately leads to clogged airways or congestion. Antihistamines prevent that from happening by inhibiting histamine production. Put simply, each of the two medications treats congestion differently.

Published October 25, 2022

All things have their pros and cons and probiotics are no exception. While they may have plenty of health benefits, probiotics may also cause several side effects. The most common of which is the apparent increase in farting which leads some people to ask: can probiotics cause gas and bloating?

Can Probiotics Cause Gas And Bloating?

Unfortunately, yes. As a matter of fact, bloating and flatulence are the two most frequent side effects of probiotics. That’s because our body already has its own population of microorganisms – both good and bad. They make up what we call our microbiota. When we introduce probiotics into the fray, your body may not recognize them immediately. The increased flatulence is one of the signs that your body is responding to probiotics. It may take the body a few days to a few weeks to adjust to the probiotics.

During this period, the good bacteria will also start to affect your body’s digestive process. As a result, the foods you eat are broken down and converted into nutrients much faster. This process creates gas as a by-product. The body then gets rid of this excess gas by burping or passing it through your anus.

Foods rich in carbohydrates are especially known to give off lots of gas. So if you want to minimize farting while on probiotics, cut back on carbohydrate-rich foods. Starting with a low dose of probiotics will also help. It helps your body get slowly acquainted with probiotics thus minimizing adverse reactions.

The good news is these side effects or digestive problems typically clear up after a few days. Ironically enough, if you don’t experience these side effects, probiotics can instead alleviate gas and bloating.

Put simply, once your body adjusts, the health benefits would often outweigh the negative side effects.