My coffee addiction

So last month I confessed that I am a bit of coffee addict...

I actually hadn't really realised just how much coffee I was drinking and what effect it was having until i researched the blog. So I have taken my own advice and reduced my coffee intake down to 1 cup of instant coffee (or occasionally real delicious coffee) and then either tea, decaf coffee or water and here's what happened:

• Eat more often. I continue to try to eat 3-4 times a day - although this doesn't always happen.
• Take more exercise. I bought an exercise DVD which I intended to do every day - after all its only for 15 minutes. Hmmm, its amazing how I haven't achieved this! I really did (and do) intend to, but with my increased workload its surprisingly hard to fit in.
• Lose weight to increase your energy. That was helping, until I ate a huge Mothers Day lunch! 
• Sleep well. I am pleased to report that generally speaking my sleep has improved considerably!
• Reduce stress. I am trying to balance my work and home life - like everyone else this has times which are more balanced than others. Its a work in progress,
• Reduce or stop caffeine. I have reduced my coffee (see above)
• Drink less alcohol. I still only drink at weekends and not during the week (generally speaking).
• Drink more water. I continue to be rubbish at this! I have tried buying bottles of fizzy water (as i enjoy that a bit more) which 1 managed to drink 1 of - poor effort by me!

I must say that I feel more energetic, less irritable and stressed and I haven't missed drinking coffee. My next step is to continue trying to force myself to drink water (I just don't feel thirsty) so this becomes more of a habit, and to try to continue to increase my exercise to a couple of times a week to start with.

As Elaine's blogs say, this is about lifestyle change. I think its OK to acknowledge the baby steps we make and then pick the next one to try. In the past I have been terrible for feeling like I have failed and then giving up altogether, but I know that I need to continue trying to adjust my lifestyle and be happy when I manage to make small changes. One step at a time...

Treating Croup

This is an inflammation of the larynx (voice box), trachea (windpipe) and sometimes the bronchi (the air passages between the trachea and the lungs).  It usually affects young children (6m-4yrs) but can occur in older children too.  It is more common during the autumn and winter months.

It can start with cold like symptoms, but is distinctive in its barking cough, difficulty in breathing and/or harsh grating sound when the child breathes in (known as stridor), difficulty swallowing and hoarse voice.

Most cases are mild (and viral) and will resolve themselves.  Common prescribed home care measurers are drinking plenty of fluids to stay well hydrated and some people suggest sitting your child in the bathroom with the shower or bath running and producing a steamy atmosphere (the child doesn’t need to get in the bath or shower, just be able to breathe in the damp air). There is little scientific evidence to support it – but if it helps then why not try it!

We also have 3 fantastic homeopathic remedies to choose from:

Aconite

The first remedy to give at the onset of croup.  The cough is dry, loud and barking, perhaps with loud difficult breathing  and the child is extremely restless and anxious. Give one dose and wait – if the symptoms have not subsided within an hour, then repeat the remedy again.

Spongia

If the child continues to have the barking cough, give Spongia. The cough will be barking and ringing (like a saw cutting through wood) and the breathing hard and harsh. The child wakens from sleep feeling suffocated, scared with a loud and violent cough.

Hepar Sulph

If the child continues with the cough in the morning, but it is more loose and rattling, give Hepar Sulph. A hepar cough is far worse for the slightest bit of cold air, is loose, rattling and croaking with spells of coughing which are suffocative and choking.

I have had personal experience of this with my children as infants – I gave Aconite and within a very short time the cough stopped and my daughter was far happier.  I had to repeat the remedy once more when the cough restarted, but then it stopped and never returned!