Infectious mononucleosis also known as “mono’ or the “kissing disease”. It is a glandular fever and is a fairly common viral disease that usually affects adolescents and young adults, including college students. The infection is typically caused by the Epstein-Barr virus but may be caused by other related viruses. While usually caused by Epstein–Barr virus, also known as human herpes virus 4, which is a member of the herpes virus family a few other viruses may also cause the disease. It is primarily spread through saliva but can rarely be spread through semen or blood. Spread may occur by objects such as drinking glasses or toothbrushes. Those who are infected can spread the disease weeks before symptoms develop. Mono is primarily diagnosed based on the symptoms and can be confirmed with blood tests for specific antibodies.] Another typical finding is increased blood lymphocytes of which more than 10% are atypical. The mono spot test is not recommended for general use due to poor accuracy.

Mono most commonly affects those between the ages of 15 to 24 years in the developed world. In the developing world, people are more often infected in early childhood when there are fewer symptoms. In those between 16 and 20 it is the cause of about 8% of sore throats. About 45 out of 100,000 people develop infectious mono each year in the United States. Nearly 95% of people have had an EBV infection by the time they are adults The disease occurs equally at all times of the year. Mononucleosis was first described in the 1920s and colloquially known as “the kissing disease”.

Many college students have already developed immunity or resistance by the time they reach college age. Once you have had mono it is unlikely that you will ever get it again. Symptoms usually appear 20-50 days after infection. The severity of symptoms varies greatly between individuals. Symptoms may be so mild that one can have mono without knowing it. In other cases, symptoms may be severe enough to require hospitalization. Common symptoms include:

* Severe sore throat, which is almost always present and lasts about 6-10 days. The throat may be very red, with white spots or pus on the tonsils. This can initially look similar to strep throat.

* Fever of 100-103° F (37.8-39.4° C), which is usually worst during the first week and may worsen at night.

* Swollen, tender glands (lymph nodes) in the neck, lasting up to one month after you are feeling well.

* Fatigue

* Headaches

• The common study shows that the probable mode of transmission of the Epstein-Barr virus is saliva. The virus is indeed found in the saliva as well as the respiratory secretions, however does not readily spread from one individual to another without close contact. In other words, if you are around someone who has mononucleosis and they cough, you will likely not contract the mono. Closer contact is needed for the spread of the virus.

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Further understand how serious mononucleosis is consider some serious statistics. In 2005 they found that E.B.V affects 98% of the world’s population. Also about 1 in 2000 people die a year from Mono. About 1 in 20 children with mono also have strep throat at the same time. 50% of people that have mono will have a swollen spleen or some will have a enlarged liver.

Diagnosis:

If you have any symptoms and are concerned that you may have mono, you should visit a clinician. See How to Get Health Care.

* The clinician will perform a physical exam, including of your throat and glands. Because mono symptoms are similar to those of other infections, the clinician will try to determine whether your symptoms are those of mono, strep throat or another viral infection. The clinician may swab the back of your throat.

* If streptococcus (strep) is present, you may be treated with an antibiotic.

* Blood tests for mono measure antibodies to the virus and therefore testing is not usually positive until symptoms have been present for one week or more.

* If streptococcus is not present and your symptoms continue for 7-10 days, you should return to your clinician for possible further testing.

Treatment:

Like the common cold, mono is a viral infection with no cure. Antibiotics do not work as a treatment for mono.

You can follow these self-care measures to feel better.

* Gargle: To reduce throat pain, gargle with one teaspoon of salt (or baking soda) dissolved in a glass of very warm water. You can purchase non-prescription medications like Chloraseptic gargle or lozenges, or your clinician may write a prescription for gargles that reduce throat pain and make swallowing easier.

* Take medication: For fever, sore throat, head and body aches, ibuprofen or naproxen (Aleve) are available without prescription. Follow directions on packaging. Avoid acetaminophen (Tylenol) because of possible liver inflammation that can be associated with mono.

* In addition, you need to take special care of yourself during recovery.

* Refrain from vigorous activities: Because mono can affect the entire lymph system, including the spleen (located under your left lower rib cage), avoid vigorous activities such as football, soccer or running. Do not play contact sports until at least 6-8 weeks after diagnosis or onset of symptoms. You can do mild exercises such as walking or swimming, as long as the activity doesn’t increase fatigue.

* Rest at least eight hours per night: Attend classes if you feel able, but plan to rest often.

* Eat nutritious foods: To strengthen your immune system and help reduce symptoms, eat antioxidant rich foods like leafy vegetables, peppers, and blueberries, avoid refined foods like sugar and white breads, and blend your foods or eat them with a liquid to soothe a sore throat.

* Drink plenty of non-caffeinated fluids to avoid dehydration: Non-caffeinated Green tea has beneficial antioxidants and anti-inflammatory effects.

* Avoid alcoholic beverages and drugs not prescribed by your clinician for at least six weeks, because of possible liver inflammation.

You will probably feel most ill for the first two weeks of the infection. After this time, you should gradually improve, but your energy level may be reduced longer. The recovery process varies from person to person, so base your activities and check-ups on how you feel.

Prevention:

Mono is usually spread by close contact from one person to another, hence the name “kissing disease.” The infection is not highly contagious and does not usually spread to roommates. As a precaution, you should avoid sharing drinking glasses, eating utensils, food, and kissing until your sore throat and other symptoms have disappeared for several (4-6) weeks. Be sure to cover coughs and sneezes, and wash your hands thoroughly and often.

Try to keep you self hygienically fine and you are good to go!

“The body achieves what the mind believes.” Said by our very own Napoleon Hill

Our body is really a product of our thoughts. The nature of thoughts of emotions actually determines the physical substance of structure of function of our bodies. It’s all connected with what we believe is what we get, like in placebo effect.  it’s a powerful phenomenon. When patients think and truly believe that the tablet is a cure, they will receive what they’ll believe and they’ll be cured.

Dr. John Martini said, ‘that healing through the mind can work harmoniously with medicine’. If pain is involved then medicine can help to eliminate the pain, which then allows the person to be able to focus with great force on health.  ‘Thinking perfect health’ is something anybody can do privately within themselves.

The universe is a masterpiece of abundance, to experience the wonder, joy, bliss and all the great things that the universe has for you- good health, wealth and good nature. But when you shut yourself off with negative thoughts you’ll feel the discomfort, aches and the pain, and you’ll feel as if every day is painful to get through. We’ve got thousand different diagnoses and diseases out there. They’re just the weak link.  They’re all results of one thing; stress.  The effect is stress but the cause is the negative thinking behind it. No matter what you might’ve manifested, you can change it. With one small positive thought and then another.  Focusing on perfect health is something we all can do within ourselves, despite what may be happening on the outside. Laughter attracts joy, which releases negativity, and leads to miraculous cures.

Disease is held in the body by thought, by observations of the illness, and by the attention given to the illness. If you are feeling a little unwell, don’t think about it – unless you want more of it. If you listen to people talk about their illness, you add energy to their illness. Instead, change the conversation to good things, and give powerful thoughts to seeing those people in health. There are also some facts that states that all of this Is not just some vague information but something which is supported by the science too.

6 Scientific Law of Attraction Facts

• The Law Of Attraction Has Platonic Roots. …
• The Power Of Positive Thinking Has Support In Medical Journals. …
• Neurologists Know Visualization Creates A Better Future. …
• Psychologists Support The Use Of Affirmations. …
• Mirror Neurons Help To Explain The Spread Of Good Vibrations.

There is this beautiful and inspiring story of a lady who resides in my neighborhood. She was diagnosed with breast cancer. So when I was talking to her she was telling me her feelings and how she went through the toughest stage of her life. She truly believed and had strong faith in her heart, that she was already healed.  She manifested it in a way and used to say each day, “thank you for my healing” and she told me that her faith and her believe in her heart made her totally healed as she never had cancer. She also told me that to be precise the time she was diagnosed to the time she was healed was exactl 3 months , and that too without any radiation or  chemotherapy.  Talking to her made me feel really good as she has a positive aura and outlook to life and she is one of the reasons which inspired me to write about something like this.

There are certain ways in which you activate the law to attract and help you achieve better health

• Ask specifically for what you want.
• Believe in what you desire
• Practice visualization and affirmation.
• Express your gratitude.
• Let go and be willing to receive
• Have faith in oneself.

You certainly cannot “catch” anything unless you think you can, and thinking you can is inviting it to you with you thought.

Let’s just say that there are two people, both stricken with something, but one chooses to focus on joy and the other chooses to live in possibility and hopefulness, focusing on all reasons  why she should be joyful and grateful. Then you have the second person. Same diagnosis, but second chooses to focus on the disease, the pain, and the “woe is me”.

Recognizing the thoughts that negatively affect your life is the first step toward changing your experiences. If you are cranky, you will have negative thoughts and negative things will happen for you. Try to focus on feeling joy, love and health. Never think about the things you don’t want to have happen, e.g. telling yourself over and over again, ‘I am not going to get sick’, or ‘sickness will not happen’, is the same as focusing on the negative. Instead, tell yourself, ‘I am healthy, whole and complete’. If you think about, and imagine yourself being healthy, you’re attracting vibrant good health.

There are even many more people who thought they were hooked to something but actually it was all what their mind guided them with.

There is this person named Morris Goodman, who was completely hooked to a respirator and the doctor told him that he’ll never breathe on his own again because his diaphragm was destroyed, but  a little voice inside him kept saying that to him that, “breathe deeply, breathe deeply.” And finally when he was weaned from it They were totally at a loss for an explanation. He had his mind set to one thing and he just simply couldn’t afford to allow anything to come into his mind that would distract im from his goal or his vision.

Morris Goodman is known as The Miracle Man himself. He knew the power within him to bring about what he chose to think about.  

On the subject of health I would like to leave these illuminating words from Dr. Ben Johnson: “we are now entering the era of energy medicine. Everything in the universe has a frequency and all you have to do is change a frequency or create anything in the world, whether that’s disease or emotional issues or whatever that is. This is huge. This is the biggest that we have ever come across”.