Parents are rightfully concerned about their children’s respiratory health. Add to that the recent concerns over the safety and effectiveness of children’s cold remedies and now many parents are thinking twice before opening the medicine cabinet to treat their little ones.

A new survey conducted in March 2009 by Harris Interactive shows that while 90 percent of parents claim to be at least somewhat knowledgeable about the possible dangers associated with over-the-counter cough and cold medicine for children, 62 percent still give these products to children when they are experiencing cough and cold symptoms.

“It’s very concerning to me that so many parents are still giving their children these OTC cough and cold products with the possible associated dangers and the question of their effectiveness in children,” says Marcela Dominguez, MD, certified family medicine physician, Orange County, Calif.

While the FDA is now recommending parents not give OTC medicines to children younger than 4, more parents than ever are looking for ways to proactively support their children’s respiratory health and immune systems. Keeping kids healthy has become the universal objective rather than awaiting illness and then attempting a rescue.

“Evidence shows that over-the-counter cough and cold medicines likely don’t work for very young children, and can, in fact, create potentially lethal side effects,” says Dr. Bob Sears, a noted pediatrician. “Overdosing and side effects of cough and cold medicines send about 7,000 children to the emergency room each year.”

Just last fall the National Institutes of Health’s National Center for Complementary and Alternative Medicine released survey results that found 38 percent of adults and 12 percent of children were using complementary and alternative medicines. The new Harris survey shows that the desire to use these remedies is high and that the public might be using natural remedies more if the products had credible information (a proven track record and clinical testing) to support their claims.

Staying healthy is the safest approach and easier than you think. Here are some tips to keep your kids breathing easier, naturally this summer:

Tip 1:  Use a saline solution to flush noses. Look on the Internet for directions on how to do this, or use a premade kit that includes a squeeze bottle or a Neti pot, available at many drug stores.

Tip 2: When your child plays outside, remove his clothing when he comes in. You might consider showering children to rinse pollen from their skin and hair. Close doors and windows at night or any other time when there are high pollen counts.

Tip 3: Use natural, non-drug remedies to keep kids healthy such as Sinupret for Kids. This helps promotes healthy drainage in the upper respiratory tract, improves airflow in the nose, and supports healthy mucous flow in the nose and sinuses.

Tip 4: Take a multivitamin to support overall health. There are many chewable options for children that taste great.

“While natural, herbal remedies have been in use around the world for generations — Sinupret has been a staple in Europe for 30 years — they are just coming into their own in the United States,” Sears says. This syrup is not a drug, but is a natural remedy for healthy sinus, respiratory and immune support in children ages 2 to 12. It does not contain stimulants, caffeine, ephedra, pseudoephedrine, codeine, steroids, narcotics or gluten.

“Parents are looking for a natural and safe approach to support their kids’ respiratory health, and they need to know if the herbal remedies they are considering have a long track record of effectiveness and lack of any harmful side effects,” Sears says.

Sinupret for Kids syrup is now available at more than 25,000 retail locations across the country, including Wal-Mart. Visit www.SinupretForKids.com to learn more.

Courtesy of ARAcontent

(ARA) – It’s one thing to live in a well-kept home, but is it also a healthy place to live? While your home may look sparkling clean to the eye, there are a number of invisible factors that can seriously affect the health of your entire family, and even contribute to a heart attack or stroke. Chief among them is the quality of the air your family breathes while indoors.

Up to 72 trillion microscopic irritants, or allergens, find their way into your home every day. They include dust, pollen, pet hair and dander, dust mites, mildew, lint, fungus, tobacco smoke, cooking grease and bacteria. Many of these particles are so small that your nose and throat can’t filter them out and they can get deep into your lungs.

The Environmental Protection Agency, American Lung Association and American Heart Association all agree that exposure to airborne particles impairs breathing and increases the risk of asthma attack, stroke, heart attack and other serious illnesses. These fine particles enter your home through doors, windows or small openings in frames, walls and roofs. They stem from various sources outside including fossil fuel burning in vehicles and manufacturing plants, and from activities inside such as smoking or cooking.

No matter how hard you scrub and dust, your family can still breathe in tiny little particles that can aggravate allergies and asthma, and even affect the heart. However, it is possible to have a cleaner, healthier and comfier home. American Standard Heating & Air Conditioning has compiled a list of simple steps to help your family breathe easier.

1. Clean your home’s air.

Start with the basics by installing an effective and proven whole-home air cleaner. For example, studies show that the American Standard AccuClean(TM) whole-home air filtration system may help prevent an asthma attack, heart attack or stroke. With the highest clean air delivery rate in the industry, its patented air cleaning technology eliminates allergens and particles you don’t want in your home, such as dust, pollen, bacteria, pet dander, mold spores, smoke and the common flu virus.

2. Control humidity.

Keep a relative humidity of 30 to 50 percent for optimal comfort and to control irritants like mildew. Controlling your household humidity can also kill dust mites, one of the most common allergens. Having a humidifier or variable-speed fan technology as part of your HVAC system can help you take control of your humidity.

3. Repair damages.

Have your HVAC system components, including furnaces, flues and chimneys, inspected before each heating and cooling season to repair any damages, holes or cracks. In addition to repairing your equipment, a certified HVAC dealer can inspect and clean your system’s parts and pieces, ensuring they perform at optimal efficiency. It’s not just your HVAC system — it is equally important to maintain the other components of your home that impact indoor air quality including the roof, foundation and insulation.

By taking these simple steps you can ensure that you and your family won’t be breathing indoor air full of contaminants and, ultimately, you’ll all breathe easier. For more information on how to breathe easier at home or to locate an American Standard Heating & Air Conditioning dealer near you, visit www.americanstandardair.com.

Courtesy of ARAcontent

One of the proven home remedy for bronchitis is taking one glass of milk then adding half teaspoon of turmeric powder and drinking it two to three times a day regularly on daily basis. It is advisable to have it on empty stomach.

A spoonful of turmeric powder in tomato juice or milk taken once daily will help in reducing tropical eosinophilia and free the pangs of breathlessness in asthmatics. A teaspoon of lettuce seeds mixed with honey when taken twice daily on empty stomach, during the treatment of asthma and bronchitis is a very useful tonic and when used regularly, will reduce dependence on asthma medicines and improve the quality of life.

Chamomile has been used for many years in relieving asthmatic symptoms. Extracts of the herb contain terpenoids or active medicinal compounds that trigger an anti-inflammatory effect on bronchiole disorders. Moreover, the herb produces an antispasmodic effect to common episodes of asthma besides containing antioxidant compounds that inhibit the harmful effects of oxygen free radicals on bodily cells. When pitted against the commonly prescribed antihistamine drugs, the chamomile proved to be an effective alternative.

Broncosmoothe is another natural treatment for asthma, which opens up the bronchioles and relieves your tight chest. This natural treatment will make you breathe better, and provides quick relief. It is mainly for use for asthma attacks from allergic reactions.

Another great home remedies is usage of the wonder drug ginger. This wonderful herb serves as the anti inflammatory and mucolytic. For this, take about ½ teaspoon each of ginger powder, pepper and cloves. One can either prepare tea by using that mixture or else one can simply lick that mixture powder with honey. This will help in boosting the immunity of a patient.

Drinking at least 8 glasses of water a day is also said to help as is adding Vitamin C to the diet. Vitamins control our body and keep it healthy and by adding more certain ones to the diet you can control all health problems.

Other effective asthma treatment involves replacing carpeting with hardwood or tile, using leather or vinyl furniture rather than upholstered chairs and sofas, using the air conditioner and replacing down bedding with bedding made with synthetic materials.

There are a lot of causes of asthma, and each cause of asthma has different things that trigger asthma attacks. Each person needs a different approach medical wise, thus needed different asthma natural remedies. When you first out that you have asthma, using drugs is an obvious choice, especially if your asthma is very critical or life threatening.

Homeopathic cure heals this sinus infection by stimulating and energising this vital force to combat the sinus infection and leading to restoring the mind, emotions and body back to health and is a very holistic cure.

by Grath