Thyme Tea for coughs from flu

For the first time in about 20 years I have let myself be sick while I have the flu - I don't think I wanna ever do that again.

I've been sick for about two weeks now, and although I am past the stage where I just wanted to tuck into bed and sleep through the sickness stuff, I am now into coughing every time I try to lay down. I don't like it, and I'm not getting enough sleep because I can't lay down without having to get back up because of the coughing.

I looked up home remedies online and found that thyme made into a tea is supposed to be good for stopping coughs, so I decided to try it. I had already tried the honey, lemon and brandy trick. And spoons of honey. And several other tricks - I even tried a trick I saw on a video where the pharmacy guy had said that you can stop nighttime coughs by putting Vicks Vapor Rub on the soles of your feet and putting on warm socks then going to sleep. Not sure on how that works, my test was flawed by inability to sleep at the time I tried it.

The thyme tea seems to be of some help though. I made up a recipe for thyme ginger tea:

1 tsp thyme leaves
1/4 tsp powdered ginger
3 whole cloves

Place into small tea pot and add 1 cup boiling water. Let steep for 10 minutes. Add 1 more cup boiling water to warm it back up.

Pour into tea cups and sweeten with honey. Sip to soothe coughs.

I don't know if there is a safe limit on how much thyme a person can drink, I will need to look that up, but the tea has a nice flavor to it and is even good cold - which makes me want to try it as an iced tea next summer. Will need to look into if there is a limit to how much thyme someone should consume and what its side effects are.

Exercise can help prevent silent stroke

Rresearchers at New York's Columbia University and Florida's University of Miami have published a study that included roughly 1,200 older people, most in their 60's, who had no history of stroke at enrollment. Each participant completed a questionnaire that included questions on how often and how intensely they exercised.

After six years, with the average range of participants now at age 70, the participants were given magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) brain scans. Approximately 16% of the participants (197 persons) had small lesions that were indicative of what are called silent strokes.

Those who had reported they engaged in moderate to intense exercise were found to be 40% less likely to have lesions than people that did not exercise. The difference remained the same even after researchers included other factors such as high blood pressure and high cholesterol.

 Light exercise, defined as activities such as golf, walking, bowling and dancing, while having health benefits, did not seem to have any contributing factors in lowering the risk of silent strokes.

So, what is needed to help lower the risk of stroke? The American Heart Association (AHA) recommends 150 minutes a week of moderate intensity exercise, or 75 minutes of intense activity. Moderate to intense activities include activities such as brisk walking, gardening, housework, swimming, jogging, hiking, biking or tennis. The important factor is to work with you healthcare professional to create a plan for you, based on your health needs and fitness level, that will help you meet the suggested activity level or work up to that level.

Eye Exams - get a baseline exam at age 40

According to the American Academy of Ophthalmology everyone should get a baseline eye exam at age 40, even if they do not have any risk factors for eye disease.

They recommend a screening exam during a regular pediatric appointment before age three. And suggest children have eye screenings between the ages of 3 and 19, then at least one full exam by age 29 and two more full exams by age 39. Various risk factors and chances of injury to the eyes can make more frequent exams necessary, but these are the baselines.

Then at age 40 it is recommended that everyone have a baseline exam even if they have no signs of trouble or risk factors. 40 marks a point when doctors can detect early signs or disease or vision changes that are starting to occur and can discuss proper times between follow-up exams with the patient.

Starting at age 65 it is important for the eyes to be examined on a yearly basis to watch for cataracts, glaucoma and macular degeneration among other age related eye issues.

For more information see Eye Exams at the American Academy of Ophthalmology website.