Germ-Killing Oral Spray can combat Cold & Flu

Researchers have developed a new oral antiseptic spray which they claim can kill 99.9% of infectious airborne germs.

Researchers from the University Hospitals Case Medical Center after two separate studies developed Halo Oral Antiseptic, a first-of-its kind germ-fighting spray.

"Respiratory tract disease is a major cause of morbidity and mortality throughout the world. Halo is unique in that it offers protection from airborne germs such as influenza and rhino virus," Frank Esper, lead author of one of the studies, said.

Esper and his team used glycerine and xanthan gum as a microbial barrier combined with cetylpyridinium chloride (CPC) as a broadspectrum anti-infective agent to fight respiratory illnesses . To test this, clinical strains of 2009 pandemic H1N1 were used as a prototype virus to demonstrate Halo's anti-infective activity in cell culture assays.

"The glycerine and xanthan gum prevent the germs from entering a person's system and the CPC kills the germs once they're trapped there," Esper said.

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Thirty Minutes of Daily Exercise Enough to Lower Weight

30 minutes of daily exercise provides an equally effective loss of weight and body mass as does a 60-minute routine, according to a Danish research.

Forty percent of Danish men are moderately overweight. 

For 13 weeks, a research team at the Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences of the University of Copenhagen followed 60 heavy but healthy men in their efforts to get into better shape.

Half of the men were set to exercise for an hour a day, wearing a heart-rate monitor and calorie counter, while the second group was to exercise for 30 minutes, the American Journal of Physiology reports.

Research results showed that 30 minutes of exercise hard enough to produce a sweat was enough to turn the tide on an unhealthy body mass index, according to a Copenhagen statement.

On average, the men who exercised 30 minutes a day lost 3.6 kilo in three months, while those who exercised for a whole hour only lost 2.7 kg.

The reduction in body mass was about 4 kg for both groups, reports Mads Rosenkilde, doctoral student from the Department of Biomedical Sciences.

Don't Spread Germs

Your mother's plea to cover your mouth when you cough was sound medical advice, says the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

The agency suggests how to prevent the spread of germs:

• When you sneeze or cough, use a tissue to cover your nose and mouth.
• Always throw your used tissue in the trash.
• Sneeze or cough into your elbow (not your hand) if you don't have a tissue.
• Frequently wash your hands with soap and warm water for at least 20 seconds.
• Use a hand sanitizer if you can't wash with soap and water.

Keep Off the Weight You've Lost

Maintaining weight loss can be more difficult than losing it in the first place.

The American Council on Exercise suggests how to help maintain weight loss:

•  Weigh yourself every week.
•  Move as much as possible, walking frequently, watching less TV and even fidgeting while you're seated.
•  Stock your kitchen with plenty of nutritious treats.
•  Place your gym bag near the door, and keep any home exercise equipment where you can frequently see it.
•  Make exercise part of your social life.
•  Measure your waist once monthly and make changes to your diet and exercise routine if your waistline starts growing.

Signs that Baby is in Pain

Babies aren't able to communicate verbally, but they can let you know when they're in pain.

The University of Michigan Health System says parents should be on the lookout for these warning signs of infant pain:

•  Facial expressions, including grimacing, furrowing the brow, squeezing eyes shut, opening the mouth or having deep lines form around the nose.
•  A high-pitched, insistent cry that lasts longer than usual, although some very sick babies may be too weak to cry at all.
•  Stiffness throughout the body, or flailing and squirming. Some very sick or premature babies may appear limp.
•  Behaving irritably and not responding to comforting or feeding.
•  Not eating or sleeping.

Health Tip: Avoiding Gluten

People with Celiac disease should avoid eating gluten, a protein found in most grains, especially wheat.

The Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics makes these suggestions for avoiding gluten:

•  Always read food labels. Look for gluten-free foods that are fortified with Iron and Folate.
•  Opt for whole grains that are naturally gluten free, such as buckwheat, quinoa, teff, millet, corn, flax and amaranth.
•  Carefully read restaurant menus and ask questions about ingredients.

What Constitutes 'Healthy Eating'?

When you commit to healthy eating, it means more than choosing fresh veggies over French fries. It's changing the way you eat, too.

The American Diabetes Association offers these guidelines for healthy eating:

•  Choose a variety of healthy foods, including lean meats, fresh vegetables and fruits, whole grains and non-fat dairy products.
•  Limit portion sizes.
•  Avoid eating too much of the same type of food.
•  Eat meals regularly throughout the day at evenly spaced intervals.
•  Don't skip any meal.

Dealing with Stress

A key way to handle stress is not to avoid life's challenges, but to deal with them head-on, the Cleveland Clinic says.

The clinic offers these suggestions for women:

• Deal directly with challenging situations, instead of avoiding them.
• Accept and embrace change as an opportunity to learn.
• Focus on the present, rather than worrying about the future.
• Trust your instincts and listen to what your "gut" tells you.
• Honor and accept yourself.
• Don't be afraid to seek professional help when you need it.

Listening to Music Daily may Improve Health

Listening to music everyday could be a simple and effective way to enhance well-being and health as it may evoke positive emotions and reduce the listener’s stress levels, a new study has revealed.

The new doctoral thesis in psychology from the University of Gothenburg is based partly on a survey study involving 207 individuals, partly on an intervention study where an experiment group consisting of 21 persons listened to self-chosen music for 30 minutes per day for two weeks while an equally sized control group got to relax without music.

The results of the studies show that positive emotions were experienced both more often and more intensively in connection with music listening.

The experiment group did also perceive less stress and had lower levels of the stress hormone cortisol. The more the participants in the survey study liked the music, the less stress they experienced.

“But it should be pointed out that when studying emotional responses to music it is important to remember that all people do not respond in the exact same way to a piece of music and that one individual can respond differently to the same piece of music at different times, depending on both individual and situational factors,” said the author of the thesis Marie Helsing.

“To get the positive effects of music, you have to listen to music that you like,” Helsing added.

Dealing with Dry Mouth

Dry mouth is more than just uncomfortable. The American Dental Association warns that a lack of saliva to moisten your mouth also can lead to tooth damage.

The association offers these suggestions for people with dry mouth:
•    Chew sugar-free gum.
•    Suck on sugar-free hard candies.
•    Use an oral rinse.
•    Use an artificial saliva solution. Speak with your dentist first.
•    Discuss with your doctor or dentist any medications you are taking that could be causing dry mouth.

Are You Actually Hungry?

When your stomach growls, it's often hunger that's talking. Hunger is your body's way of saying it needs to be nourished.

But there are other things that may prompt you to seek a snack, even when you're not hungry. The American Academy of Family Physicians mentions these "false hunger" signals:

•  Being thirsty. Satisfy this by simply drinking a glass of water.
•  Craving or having an urge to eat a certain food.
•  Feeling emotional, including angry, lonely or sad.
•  Being at a social event.
•  Noticing that it's your normal meal time.

Useful Links: Tips to Minimize Nightmares

Tips to Minimize Nightmares

While parents can't prevent nightmares altogether, they can take steps to help foster sweet dreams.

The Nemours Foundation offers these suggestions:

• Keep a consistent bedtime and waking schedule.
• Implement a calm, quiet, relaxing and consistent bedtime routine -- perhaps including a bath, book and some cuddle time.
• Make sure your child's bed is comfortable and cozy. Allow a favorite stuffed animal or blanket in bed.
• Don't let your child watch any frightening television shows before bed.
• Explain to your child that nightmares are only dreams, and that he or she can't be hurt during a nightmare.

Useful Links:  Physical Problems May Cause Insomnia, Exercise May Help You Sleep Better

Physical Problems May Cause Insomnia

If you often start your day exhausted because of a poor night's sleep, you may suffer from insomnia, a common sleep disorder.

The U.S. National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute lists these common symptoms of insomnia:

•  Lying in bed awake for a long period of time before you're able to sleep.
•  Only sleeping in short bouts before waking.
•  Staying awake for most of the night.
•  Feeling exhausted, as if you had no sleep.
•  Waking very early in the morning.

Useful Links: Tips to Protect Kids Who Have Food Allergies