Wheezing and coughing often come along with a cold or virus, which most primary care doctors are able to treat. Sometimes, though, respiratory problems are more serious and a visit to a specialist is in order. Specialists usually spend a few years of intensive focus on a particular field of medicine after getting a basic medical degree.

Here’s a look at the specialists who are trained to help people breathe easier:

Pulmonologist

When the lungs and bronchial tubes don’t function properly, a pulmonologist can diagnose and treat the problem. These physicians treat patients with pneumonia, emphysema, asthma, tuberculosis and other complications of the respiratory system. These conditions may also extend to the upper respiratory tract, including the nose and throat, and to the heart.

Allergist/Immunologist

Sometimes respiratory problems are a reaction to airborne irritants, or allergens. The body’s immune system goes into attack mode when an allergen is inhaled, producing antibodies that lead to sneezing, wheezing and more. An allergist/immunologist helps pinpoint allergic responses and reduce the symptoms through a combination of medication, allergy shots, and environmental controls. Allergists also treat asthma, which often goes hand-in-hand with allergies.

Otolaryngologist

Also called an ENT or ear, nose and throat (ENT) specialist, these doctors treat upper respiratory problems, as well as hearing loss and a variety of head and neck conditions. ENTs are trained in both medicine and surgery, so they can offer a wider range of medical services to patients than other respiratory specialists. Some otolaryngologists even perform plastic and reconstructive surgery.

The post Doctor Who’s Who: Sorting out Respiratory Specialists appeared first on h2ublog.

Look at some of the exciting resources and benefits you could be enjoying right now. H2U membership brings a world of wellness information right to your computer or mobile device.

Members simply log into H2U.com Health Library to access 15 different wellness centers that compile information about your age or interests.

Whether you want to know about healthy aging, getting in shape, or losing weight, H2U can help.

Explore the H2U.com physical fitness center to fiind practical exerices tips and easy to follow videos of specific movements.

H2U can even help you plan dinner with hundreds of nutritious, delicious recipes and dietary guidelines for those with special needs.

And it’s all at your fingertips when you become a member.

H2U – all about health, all about you.

Logon today at http://h2u.com

If the H2U video doesn’t appear on your screen automatically above, please click here to watch it on the H2U YouTube channel.

The post H2U: Health Library 2 appeared first on h2ublog.

When bronchial tubes become irritated or infected, they swell and create mucus, leading to a cough and difficulty breathing. Bronchitis typically clears up within a week to 10 days, but some people experience a lingering cough that lasts for weeks or even months.

Although viruses cause most cases of bronchitis, chemical fumes, smoke, dust and other air pollutants and can also cause the condition. Occasionally, bronchitis is caused by bacteria or fungus, which may need to be treated with antibiotics or anti-fungal drugs.  No matter what triggers the illness, your bronchial tubes will need time to heal.

To ease your symptoms and speed recovery, try these home remedies:

• Run a humidifier to add more moisture to the air.
• Inhale steam in a hot shower or from a sink or pot to break up mucus.
• Avoid smoking and exposure to secondhand smoke.
• Limit exposure to harsh cleaning products, paints or other airborne chemicals to avoid inhaling irritants. Or use a respirator.
• Use over-the-counter cough suppressants only for dry coughs or to help you sleep. Avoid them if your cough produces mucus, as coughing it up helps clear bronchial tubes.
• Take aspirin, ibuprofen (Motrin, Advil) or acetaminophen (Tylenol) to control a fever.
• Try alternative breathing techniques, such as taking deep breaths and exhaling through pursed lips, which increases air pressure in your airways.
• Drink warm liquids like herbal tea or chicken broth to help loosen mucus. One well-known folk remedy is thyme tea. Pour boiling water over two teaspoons of dried thyme; steep for 10 minutes; strain and drink.

If a mild cough worsens over the course of a week, a fever persists more than three days, breathing becomes painful, or coughing produces blood or foul-smelling phlegm, make an appointment with your doctor. You may have chronic bronchitis or another type of infection.

The post Battling Bronchitis: Home Remedies Can Relieve Symptoms appeared first on h2ublog.

Look for classes like these at local H2U facilities, community centers, dance studios and gyms:

Salsa Dancing

The hard-to-resist rhythm of Latin music entices dancers into the hip-twisting abandon of salsa dancing. Feel a little too shy to give it a try? Zumba fitness classes can teach you easy-to-follow Latin dance moves that give you an exhilarating cardio workout.

Ballroom Dancing

Thanks to the television show “Dancing With the Stars,” ballroom dancing is back in style. Precision moves in the waltz and tango emphasize posture and muscle control, while energetic styles like the foxtrot, cha-cha and swing dancing get the heart pumping. Most classes will pair up solo dancers with partners so no one has to dance alone.

Country Line Dancing

You don’t have to live in the country to try the “Boot Scootin’ Boogie.” Line dancing is one of the least intimidating forms of dance because it’s easy to learn and you don’t need a partner. Many steps in this low-impact workout may already be familiar if you did the “Stroll” in the ’50s or the “Hustle” in the ’70s and ’80s.

Jazzercise

As the name implies, Jazzercise combines jazz dance steps with muscle-toning and stretching exercises for a total body workout. Routines are choreographed to popular music for an energetic romp that participants can modify to their fitness level.

The post Kick Up Your Heels for Better Health appeared first on h2ublog.

The heart and lungs are life-giving partners. Healthy lungs pull in oxygen, which is absorbed into the blood and circulated by the heart through the body. After the oxygen is extracted from the blood, the waste (carbon dioxide) is returned to the lungs for exhalation. If lungs are weak, less oxygen is delivered to vital organs, including the heart. So even mild lung disease can have damaging effects on the heart, according to a study in the New England Journal of Medicine.

Heart troubles can, in turn, harm lung function. When the heart isn’t working well, fluid can build up in the body. Fluid in the lungs reduces their capacity, leading to shortness of breath.

Yet, many people don’t understand the intimate connection between the heart and lungs. Researchers at Cedars-Sinai Medical Center found that most people don’t associate shortness of breath with a stressed-out heart, even though shortness of breath is one of the chief symptoms of heart failure. In fact, the study reported that cardiac patients experiencing shortness of breath were more likely to die from heart problems than those who did not have shortness of breath.

That’s why if you regularly experience shallow or labored breathing, especially if you haven’t been exerting yourself, you should see your physician. Like most health issues, early detection is key to successfully treating heart and lung problems. So if you are winded a lot, don’t just chalk it up to getting older or needing to lose a few pounds. Get checked out to make sure your heart-lung team is operating at full capacity.

The post Dynamic Duo: Understanding Heart-Lung Teamwork appeared first on h2ublog.

Celebrate life on your birthday, and everyday by giving yourself or those you love the gift of health. With each birthday comes a new set of health challenges. Learn what to expect and how to live life with vitality, motivation, and a sense of community.

H2U is health to you for life. H2U has the customizable tools and trusted information your loved ones need most to manage a health and wellness plan at any age.

Give the gift of health today by going to http://h2u.com or by calling 800.771.0428.

If the H2U video doesn’t automatically appear in your screen, please click here to view it on the H2U YouTube channel.

The post H2U Video: The Gift of Health – Birthday appeared first on h2ublog.

Sure they do, so here are some foods that can help you breathe better.

Garlic. Research is ongoing, but it seems that antibacterial compounds in garlic can guard against respiratory tract infections.
Chicken Soup. In people with a cold, chicken soup may slow the production of mucus in the airways, thus reducing nasal stuffiness.
Hot peppers. When eaten, capsaicin in chili peppers opens your sinuses. So when you’re all stopped up, chomping down on a hot pepper can help relieve congestion. Peppers are also a good source of vitamin C, which can help you bounce back from a respiratory infection sooner.
Apples, tomatoes, pineapple, pumpkin, cherries and sweet potatoes. These fruits and vegetables contain high amounts of vitamins, antioxidants and enzymes that promote lung health.

Healthy lungs need a steady supply of nutrients to work at peak efficiency. A diet with plenty of vitamins A, C and E, along with omega-3 fatty acids, which you can get from fatty fish or fish-oil supplements, help prevent coughs and respiratory infections and reduce asthma symptoms.

Research shows that upping the intake of fruits and vegetables can also reduce the chances of COPD in people who smoke. Of course, quitting smoking is the best thing you can do for your lungs, but if you want maximize the smoke-free benefits, add more fruits and vegetables to your diet, too.

The post Life Support: Best Foods for Respiratory Health appeared first on h2ublog.

The ACS website offers free tips and these tools to help smokers:

• Customizable quit plan
• Stop smoking quiz
• Cigarette cost calculator
• Dos and Don’ts for helping someone quit tobacco

Find information on Great American Smokeout activities and other resources at www.cancer.org/healthy.

You can also find tools and tips for quitting tobacco at Smokefree.gov. Cellphone users can sign up the SmokefreeTXT to get encouragement and tips to kick the habit. If you have a smartphone, you may also want to try out of the free apps designed to support quitting by helping you get ready to quit, as well as track carvings and overcome challenges after you stop using tobacco.

The post Join the Great American Smokeout appeared first on h2ublog.

H2U Health Challenge with NBC’s Biggest Loser Season 11 Runner Up, Hannah Curlee.

Want a simple exercise that can be done just about anywhere?
Want an exercise that can improve your upper body strength and tone your mid-section?
Let’s re-examine the push up.

H2U challenges you to strengthen your muscles by using your own body for resistance.

First, figure out what push up position is best for you based on your current fitness level. There are several positions and modifications that can be made, including regular floor pushups, pushups against a bench for those who can do a pushup but can’t go all the way down to the floor, floor push ups on your knees or an exercise ball, also wall push ups.

Hannah sets out the challenge to do pushups regularly and to add one or more pushups per weeks to the total number completed.

Pushups not only help strengthen your body, but they give your muscles a strong foundation.

Log on to http://h2u.com today and join to get access to thousands of pages of health content and resources.

If the Hannah Curlee video does not automatically appear on your screen, please click here to go to the H2U YouTube site.

The post Health Challenge with Hannah Curlee: Rediscover the Power of the Pushup appeared first on h2ublog.

If more than a month has passed since you checked, you and your family may be at risk. Detectors should be tested monthly by pressing the test button to ensure the signal is working. In battery-operated detectors, batteries should also be changed twice a year, such as when you reset your clocks in spring and fall.

Properly maintained detectors save lives. In fact, about two-thirds of all home fire deaths occur in homes where there are no smoke alarms or the alarms do not work. Working carbon monoxide detectors are also a must if you have a gas furnace or other appliances that burn natural gas, oil, wood, or other fuels, or if your home has an attached garage. Carbon monoxide is an odorless gas that can cause headaches, fatigue, shortness of breath, dizziness, nausea and even death.

For the highest level of fire and carbon monoxide protection, follow these suggestions:

Synchronize alarms

New detectors can “talk” to each other, which means when one alarm goes off in the house, all the alarms go off. These alarm systems may be wired or wireless. Wired systems may have to be installed by an electrician. Some battery-operated alarms, however, have radio transmitters that can alert a receiver in your bedroom to sound an alarm if there’s a fire anywhere in your house.

Pick the right spots

Install smoke alarms in every bedroom, outside each separate sleeping area, and on every level of the home, says the National Fire Protection Association. Be sure to install in or near places where fires often start like the kitchen and the laundry room, where clogged dryer vents can ignite. If cooking or steam sets of nuisance alarms, move alarms further away from the stove or steam source, or buy detectors with a temporary “hush” button. Alarms are available for ceiling and wall installation, but follow manufacturer’s directions carefully for optimum placement.

Toss out old alarms

Detectors don’t last forever. If those in your home are more than 10 years old, invest in new ones. Most detectors cost around $10.

The post Check Your Detectors: Safeguard your Health at Home appeared first on h2ublog.