Down with Hives

Definition
Hives are raised, often itchy, red welts on the surface of the skin, often on the limbs and trunk. They are usually an allergic reaction to food or medicine. Hives often appear suddenly and last only for a short while, but can be recurring in some cases. The cause of hives is still unknown.

Causes
When you have an allergic reaction to a substance, your body releases histamine and other chemicals into your bloodstream. This causes itching, swelling, and other symptoms.

Common causes are allergies to:
• insect bites or stings (e.g. bee stings)
• certain medicines (e.g. aspirin, penicillin)
• certain food (e.g. shellfish)
• pollen.

Symptoms
• Itching
• Swelling of the surface of the skin into red- or skin-colored welts (called wheals) with clearly defined edges

The welts may get bigger, spread, and join together to form larger areas of flat, raised skin. They can also change shape, disappear, and reappear within minutes or hours.

Exams and Tests
Your doctor can tell if you have hives by looking at your skin.Occasionally, skin or blood tests are done to confirm that you had an allergic reaction and to test for the substance that caused the allergic response.

What you can do
• Wait for the condition to go away. Hives normally clears up on their own in 1–2 days.
• Apply a cool compress to ease the itch.
• Take a cool shower.
• Apply calamine lotion.
• Take anti-histamines (an anti-allergy medicine) as directed by the doctor. Do not drive or operate machines when taking anti-histamines as this medicine causes drowsiness.
• Determine the substances that caused you to have hives and avoid them.

Reference: click here


hmm, problem is... i don't even have ANY clue as to what i am allergic to lor =( so for now, i have really got to watch what i am eating... argghh... aniwae, doc gave me some medicines (prednisolone and hydroxyzin), hopefully it's good enough, hahaha...

Hives, hives, go away
Never again another day
Little missy wants to play
Itching, swelling, all away

Total Solar Eclipse - 22 July 2009

"On Wednesday, 2009 July 22, a total eclipse of the Sun is visible from within a narrow corridor that traverses half of Earth. The path of the Moon's umbral shadow begins in India and crosses through Nepal, Bangladesh, Bhutan, Myanmar and China. After leaving mainland Asia, the path crosses Japan's Ryukyu Islands and curves southeast through the Pacific Ocean where the maximum duration of totality reaches 6 min 39 s. A partial eclipse is seen within the much broader path of the Moon's penumbral shadow, which includes most of eastern Asia, Indonesia, and the Pacific Ocean."

Detailed predictions, maps, figures and information can be found at NASA website (http://eclipse.gsfc.nasa.gov/SEmono/TSE2009/TSE2009.html)

And...

"Seen from Singapore, only 10 to 20 per cent of the Sun will be obscured. However, audience will get to catch the sensational moment of total eclipse live on Ch U.

From 8 - 11am on 22 July, Channel U will simulcast live with China Central Television (CCTV) which will present live telecasts from key China cities - Chengdu, Wuhan, Tongling and Hangzhou where the total eclipse will be seen at its most spectacular. A half-hour special highlights will be shown at 11.30pm on the same day. "

ARGHHH!! I will be on way to work during this time, at work in the morning and CANNOT view the program! Sob sob... Guess I'll have to make do with the special highlights at night then =(



UPDATE (23 July 2009)

A combination picture shows the sequence of a total solar eclipse as observed in Chongqing municipality July 22, 2009. The longest total solar eclipse of the 21st century began its flight on Wednesday across a narrow path of Asia, where it was expected to darken the skies for millions of people for more than six minutes in some places. (REUTERS/Stringer)

Let's go for a drink...

What goes through your mind when someone says "Let's go for a drink"?

Loveflower: Hilarious diagrams to chase away the Monday blues =) I must say the thoughts are pretty accurate though, hahaha...

Home Sweet Home

We are back

from our Taiwan (8D8N) - Hong Kong (4D4N) - Macau (3D2N) trip!! Check out our luggages!! =P Super heavy lor... We all had difficulty carrying them up and down the steps from bus/train/ferry to hotel/airport, really can faint.