Buy Manuka Honey - What to Consider
The Efficacy of Manuka Honey Lozenges
Introduction
Throat infections and dental health are both a major health concern, with most people suffering these conditions several times throughout their lifetimes. Throat infections are commonplace, particularly during colder months of the year when respiratory diseases are most widespread. Data for the prevalence of sore throats is difficult to quantify given that many individuals do not seek medical help, although one study in the UK reported that a general practitioner with 2000 patients will see around 120 people with an acute throat infection every year (MeReC, 1999).
Sore Throats (Pharyngitis) usually involve an infection of the throat or pharynx. They are usually accompanied by pain and difficulty with swallowing, the latter often arising due to inflammation. More serious complications can also result, including the development of enlarged tonsils which cause trouble with swallowing and breathing. Some cases can also be accompanied by a cough or fever (MeReC, 1999).
It has been estimated that 40-60% of acute pharyngitis cases are caused by viral infections (including adenovirus (the most common), Orthomyxoviridae, the Epstein-Barr virus and the Herpes simplex virus), with the remainder being due to bacterial infections, fungal infections, or irritants such as pollutants or chemical substances (Acerra, 2009). Bacterial infections comprise the bulk of non-viral throat infections, and of these Group A b-hemolytic streptococcus are the primary contributor (Pichichero, 1998). In particular, one species of Streptococcus, S. pyogenes, has been demonstrated to be the most common bacterial cause of sore throats (Pichichero, 1998), causing 15-30% of all pharyngitis cases (Bisno, 2001) . These streptococci infections have been associated with localised infection (Read and Zabriskie, 1980) and localised inflammation (Pichichero, 1998) and may result in fever, headaches, stomache aches and dysphagia (Anderson, 2000). Other bacterial infections of the throat include others include Corynebacterium diphtheriae, Neisseria gonorrhoeae, Chlamydophila pneumoniae, and Mycoplasma pneumoniae (Bisno, 2001).
In general, treatment of viral causes of sore throats are mainly symptomatic whilst bacterial or fungal infections can be treated with antibiotics and anti-fungals, respectively. However, as mentioned above, most sufferers do not seek medical intervention, instead relying on over-the-counter remedies and easily available pharmacy/supermarket products. Antiseptic lozenges such as Cepacol, Dequandin, Diflam and Strepsils are routinely brought for sore throats, but anecdotal evidence suggest that these may often prove ineffective against Group A Streptococcal infections. This is important when you want to buy manuka honey
Oral wellness is also an area of concern, with many individuals suffering from halitosis (bad breath), gingivitis (inflammation of the gums) and/or periodontitis (inflammation of the periodontum/gum tissues). Indeed, in large studies in the USA and the UK, it was demonstrated that some degree of gingivitis affects 50–90% of the adult population (Albandar and Kingman, 1999; Coventry et al, 2000). Furthermore, in a survey in the UK it was found that in adults with their own teeth the prevalence of plaque and calculus was 72-73%, periodontal pocketing was present in 54% of people, and 43% of those surveyed had significant loss of tooth attachment, indicating moderate to severe periodontitis (Office for National Statistics, 2000). Another important thing to consider before you buy manuka honey.
Research suggests that there is a link between periodontal disease and autoimmune dysfunction; however, it is still commonly accepted that the primary cause of gingivitis and periodontitis is poor oral hygiene (lack of brushing, flossing etc) that leads to an accumulation of a mycotic and bacterial matrix at the gum line called dental plaque (Amilaya et al., 2007). The presence of bacteria in the mouth is not in itself an indicator of poor dental health, though, as it has been shown that there are more than 350 species of microorganisms in the typical healthy mouth, and that periodontal infections are linked to fewer than 5% of these species (Eberhard et al., 2008). Actinobacillus actinomycetemcomitans and Porphyromonas gingivalis are the two bacteria that appear to be the likely cause of aggressive periodontal disease, although, Bacteroides forsythus, Treponema denticola, T. socranskii, and P. intermedia have also been frequently associated with deep periodontal pockets (Eberhard et al., 2008). In addition, Streptococcal species have been shown to be related to gingivitis and halitosis but not plaque development, and certain herpes viruses (herpes simplex and varicella-zoster virus) are known causes of gingivitis ((Eberhard et al., 2008).
Introduction
Throat infections and dental health are both a major health concern, with most people suffering these conditions several times throughout their lifetimes. Throat infections are commonplace, particularly during colder months of the year when respiratory diseases are most widespread. Data for the prevalence of sore throats is difficult to quantify given that many individuals do not seek medical help, although one study in the UK reported that a general practitioner with 2000 patients will see around 120 people with an acute throat infection every year (MeReC, 1999).
Sore Throats (Pharyngitis) usually involve an infection of the throat or pharynx. They are usually accompanied by pain and difficulty with swallowing, the latter often arising due to inflammation. More serious complications can also result, including the development of enlarged tonsils which cause trouble with swallowing and breathing. Some cases can also be accompanied by a cough or fever (MeReC, 1999).
It has been estimated that 40-60% of acute pharyngitis cases are caused by viral infections (including adenovirus (the most common), Orthomyxoviridae, the Epstein-Barr virus and the Herpes simplex virus), with the remainder being due to bacterial infections, fungal infections, or irritants such as pollutants or chemical substances (Acerra, 2009). Bacterial infections comprise the bulk of non-viral throat infections, and of these Group A b-hemolytic streptococcus are the primary contributor (Pichichero, 1998). In particular, one species of Streptococcus, S. pyogenes, has been demonstrated to be the most common bacterial cause of sore throats (Pichichero, 1998), causing 15-30% of all pharyngitis cases (Bisno, 2001) . These streptococci infections have been associated with localised infection (Read and Zabriskie, 1980) and localised inflammation (Pichichero, 1998) and may result in fever, headaches, stomache aches and dysphagia (Anderson, 2000). Other bacterial infections of the throat include others include Corynebacterium diphtheriae, Neisseria gonorrhoeae, Chlamydophila pneumoniae, and Mycoplasma pneumoniae (Bisno, 2001).
In general, treatment of viral causes of sore throats are mainly symptomatic whilst bacterial or fungal infections can be treated with antibiotics and anti-fungals, respectively. However, as mentioned above, most sufferers do not seek medical intervention, instead relying on over-the-counter remedies and easily available pharmacy/supermarket products. Antiseptic lozenges such as Cepacol, Dequandin, Diflam and Strepsils are routinely brought for sore throats, but anecdotal evidence suggest that these may often prove ineffective against Group A Streptococcal infections. This is important when you want to buy manuka honey
Oral wellness is also an area of concern, with many individuals suffering from halitosis (bad breath), gingivitis (inflammation of the gums) and/or periodontitis (inflammation of the periodontum/gum tissues). Indeed, in large studies in the USA and the UK, it was demonstrated that some degree of gingivitis affects 50–90% of the adult population (Albandar and Kingman, 1999; Coventry et al, 2000). Furthermore, in a survey in the UK it was found that in adults with their own teeth the prevalence of plaque and calculus was 72-73%, periodontal pocketing was present in 54% of people, and 43% of those surveyed had significant loss of tooth attachment, indicating moderate to severe periodontitis (Office for National Statistics, 2000). Another important thing to consider before you buy manuka honey.
Research suggests that there is a link between periodontal disease and autoimmune dysfunction; however, it is still commonly accepted that the primary cause of gingivitis and periodontitis is poor oral hygiene (lack of brushing, flossing etc) that leads to an accumulation of a mycotic and bacterial matrix at the gum line called dental plaque (Amilaya et al., 2007). The presence of bacteria in the mouth is not in itself an indicator of poor dental health, though, as it has been shown that there are more than 350 species of microorganisms in the typical healthy mouth, and that periodontal infections are linked to fewer than 5% of these species (Eberhard et al., 2008). Actinobacillus actinomycetemcomitans and Porphyromonas gingivalis are the two bacteria that appear to be the likely cause of aggressive periodontal disease, although, Bacteroides forsythus, Treponema denticola, T. socranskii, and P. intermedia have also been frequently associated with deep periodontal pockets (Eberhard et al., 2008). In addition, Streptococcal species have been shown to be related to gingivitis and halitosis but not plaque development, and certain herpes viruses (herpes simplex and varicella-zoster virus) are known causes of gingivitis ((Eberhard et al., 2008).