Postnasal Problems

I don’t know about you guys, but the “Wind Storm of 2011” we had a few weeks ago really kicked my allergies into full gear! I had snot dripping out my nose and running down the back of my throat – awesome. NOT! Post nasal drip is the “fancy” terminology for snot that runs backwards instead of forwards and it can wreak havoc on your throat. I felt like I had swallowed a hand full of broken glass. 

Here are some tips to help deal with allergies and the sore throat that can accompany:

1.   Get adjusted! Having a fully functioning nervous system helps keep your immune system from over-reacting to dust and pollen and helps your body heal that sore throat.

2.   Drink herbal tea with local honey in it. The tea is soothing for your throat and the local honey contains pollen that can help your immune system have less of a reaction when it comes in contact with the pollen in the air. It’s very important that it be LOCAL honey. It must contain the same pollen you are exposed to in the air for it to work.

3.   Gargle warm salt water as many times a day as you want to help with the scratchy throat.

4.   Use a netti pot nasal rinse to help clean your sinuses out. Again – you can use this as many times a day as you want. Personally, I’m addicted!

5.   Use a Breathe Right strip on your nose to combat nighttime congestion.

6.   Use OPC Synergy and Allerplex, two products from Standard Process, which contain natural anti-histamines. Both available at our office.

7.   Walk around with tissues shoved up your nose. Okay, I’m just kidding about this one, but it sure is tempting when you have a leaky faucet on your face where your nose used to be!

Tell me how your nose is treating you these days.

-         Dr. Emily

Dealing With DOMS (Delayed Onset Muscle Soreness)

This blog topic is on my mind because it’s IN my arms and legs! Delayed onset muscle soreness (DOMS) is that burning in your muscles after you start a new exercise regimen or sometimes when you increase the workload of the exercise you were already doing. I’m sure you know what I’m talking about – that burning in your quads that won’t let you sit down or get up off the toilet. Yeah – ouch! My beautiful daughter Laramie was born 6 weeks ago and I’ve slowly been working on getting back to my old work-out schedule. I started with some light cardio and have been increasing the intensity slowly. Yesterday I finally got up enough courage to do some weight training. Today I’m having some serious DOMS!

There are a few things that can help ease the pain from DOMS:  

1. Make sure you drink plenty of water. It’s especially important when you’re  working out, but also important everyday
2.  Make sure you’re getting enough protein. Building muscle is a process of creating micro-tears in the muscle and then repairing them so they are bigger and stronger. The body requires protein as the building block for muscle. 
3. And of course, proper cool down stretching can help. When muscles are extra sore, try stretching as many times as possible throughout the day. 
4.  And last, but not least – keep moving! It’s tempting to lie completely still and never move again because it hurts too much, BUT the more you use those muscles, the faster the soreness will go away. Don’t skip your next workout because you’re sore. Be excited about your next workout because it will make you LESS sore!

These tips may not completely relieve your DOMS, but they will help. Don’t fret – while the muscle soreness may be delayed, it is also temporary!

Tell me what you’re doing to exercise these days and have you experienced any DOMS?

- Dr. Emily :-)