IBS & IBD: Turn off the faucet!

Irritable Bowel Disease (IBS) and Inflammatory Bowel Diseases (IBD — which primarily consists of colitis and Crohn’s Disease) — continues to rise. There is an estimated 1.6 million people in the U.S. that have IBD according to the Crohn’s & Colitis Foundation of America. The International Foundation for Functional Gastrointestinal Disorders states that 10-15 percent of people worldwide, have IBS, with 25 percent of them classified as severe. 60-65 percent of sufferers are female, with 47-55 percent of those previously having had a hysterectomy or ovarian surgery.

The complex health picture

With ever-increasing complexity in life, we learn to compartmentalize our life in an attempt to bring order to chaos. We have our spiritual life, family life, work life, social life, animal/pet life, recreational life and our health. Our health gets further compartmentalized into food, exercise, stress-relief, sleep, hydration, energy and disease-management. The disease-management is even further compartmentalized, or fractionalized, to all the specialty fields of medicine. We have a doctor for our joints, one for our heart, another for our digestive system, another for our emotional health, etc. Even within these specialties are sub-specialties! Wow! Is this wise?

Headaches: Much more than just a pain in the head

Almost everyone will experience a headache at some point in their life, but there are some who have severe headaches frequently or even daily. The solution for headaches is relatively universal — just take some ibuprofen or acetaminophen and it will usually go away, right? While I love that we have such readily available solutions to take the edge off our aches and pains, you may have noticed that nearly every painkiller warns against long-term and chronic use in some way or another. The risks of long-term use and overuse of most painkillers are often overlooked, yet they are very real and can potentially cause permanent damage or even death in some cases.

What helps indigestion, heartburn and reflux?

In the U.S., it is estimated that 60 to 70 million people suffer from digestive-related diseases. Doctors are writing $114 million in acid-reducing medication prescriptions. That doesn’t include over-the-counter sales. It’s big business! What’s worse is that taking acid-reducing medications to treat these issues can actually cause, or contribute to many of the diseases we are suffering from today. Yet there are many remedies that actually fix the problem, not just cover them up.

How sweet it is

Kids sell ice cream, donate $1,110 to Coeur d’Alene Food Bank

Wine Rodeo 2011: The full story

As the judging continues and we get closer to fair week we are being asked more questions about the competition and the grand tasting. So here is all you need to know if you are attending the event.

Balancing blood sugar: Part I

Most of us understand the negative effects of sugar. Most know we consume too much. But the draw is just too strong. The problem is, sugar just tastes too good! That oral stimulation, the emotional gratification, the desire to consume the stuff overwhelms all the reason we can muster up within us.

Sports Briefs May 8, 2011

College basketball

Is stomach acid GOOD for you? Part I

Everything we hear about stomach acid is that it is bad for you. Medicines abound that help sop it up or stop the body, as much as possible, from producing it. But what if we are wrong? What if what we are doing to control it is the exact OPPOSITE of what we should be doing? What if we allow the burning to just go on?

City by the Break

Fractured council reflects its constituent camps

Fulfilling the unique needs of donkeys

Owning any animal can be both challenging and rewarding. Although they have a reputation for being stubborn, donkeys can make great additions to an animal herd. But owners should first understand what it takes to keep them healthy before buying one.

Constipation: A gummed up gut

Doctor of Oriental Medicine

Recently a patient came in to be treated for constipation. He asked his medical doctor how long he could go without having a bowel movement (he hadn't gone in a month). He was stunned by the answer: "It doesn't matter. When it gets to the point that you can no longer stand it, we'll just take your colon out!" Mortified at the possibility, and not given a satisfactory answer, he called us for help.

ADVERTISING: Advertorial — Six tips to help you breathe easier

Being able to breathe is kind of necessary! If you are having problems breathing, you need to first get evaluated so you know the cause of your difficulty in breathing — to rule out something serious.

Talking town hall

POST FALLS — When you get six of the county’s nine state legislators in the same room, a turnout as large as the topics addressed at the town hall meeting itself is to be expected.

OPINION: Cultural programming

It is axiomatic that in order to hold a position on a topic you must first think about that topic. A corollary to this is that if you want to persuade someone you must tell them what to think. Experts in influence know that this and repetition are key elements of persuasion. They also know that while they may not be able to control exactly what you think, they can control what you think about. Think of a Unicorn. Gotcha!

Lakeland school board approves gender identity policy

The Lakeland Joint School District Board of Trustees voted Monday to create district policy that requires students to use restrooms and locker rooms that correspond with their biological sex, and the policy identifies gender identity, gender expression, sexual orientation and transgender identity as topics the district will not discuss, address or educate children about.

'Eat Pray Love' exalts purists' gelato in Rome

Ice cream getting boost from film's ads

ROME - Named for a saint and naturally tasting heavenly, San Crispino gelato already was a pass-the-word must for devotees of the Italian treat.

Discourse, decisions drive marathon meeting

Councilwoman Deanna Goodlander said it ranked high on the list of longest Coeur d'Alene City Council meetings during her tenure. City staff who attended last night’s marathon session, meanwhile, were carrying cups of coffee around City Hall this morning.

Finally, some rules of the game

The Cd'A Press has put the kibosh on unbridled hate and racism for the same reason that you cannot exercise your freedom of speech by shouting fire in a crowded movie theater or library. While it is the right thing to do, it is also very apparent that they are not happy about having to do it.

Movers & Shakers June 3, 2010

Best Buy adds clinics