Archive for April, 2008

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Acid Reflux Surgery

Tuesday, April 22nd, 2008

Acid reflux is an advanced disease of the digestive system (specifically the stomach) for which there has long been a steady development in medicine.

In long term cases however, a patient may elect to choose surgery so that he or she need not any longer take daily medication which is considered by some to be an inconvenience.

Add to this that the success rate for such surgery is high and the complications are also low.

There are many different types of acid reflux surgery but a common treatment is wrap the stomach around itself and keep this in place with a few stitches. This is especially often used in the case of a hiatial hernia.

Usually, someone is not considered for surgery until an accurate diagnosis has been made. This often involves a prior endoscopy which is when a small tube is inserted into the stomach via the throat to perform a full investigation and take biopsies if necessary.

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Chinese Herbal Medicine

Wednesday, April 16th, 2008

Chinese herbal medicine, also known as traditional chinese medicine or TCM, is a very wide ranging tradition of experimentation and research tha date back several thousand years. On of the earliest sources is a tribal chief by the name of Shen Nong who would use his own body to record the effects and benefits of various herbs. They can be used for a variety of ailments both mild and severe including allergies, viruses, organ diseases and even cancer and HIV.

Chinese herbal medicine is part of an entire East Asian ethos of Chi energy, Ying and Yang, harmony and other similar themes. Whilst it has some shamanastic origins, the fact remains that it does work even though modern western education cannot always explain it.

As well as Chinese herbal medicine, these traditions also encompass accupuncture, massage, breathing techniques and Tai Chi. Whilst some may scoff at this type of medicine, the fact remains that it has evolved over 4,000 years whereas drug companies have only been making modern medicines for around 100 years.

Drawing from over 5,000 plant, mineral and animal substances, the usual method of ingestion for this type of medicine is in the form of brewing of a tea from the raw material.

If you are thinking about using this type of alternative medicine to supplement or replace your existing drug regimes, seek out a well qualified and educated expert as combining the two methodologies can in rare cases cause adverse complications.

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Insomnia Drugs

Tuesday, April 15th, 2008

Various insomnia drugs are available for those who are having trouble sleeping. But first understand that these should only really be used for the very short term. If abused and used for the long term then you risk getting much worse sleep problems and even addiction.

Used vert infrequently though, they can help with the problems associated with poor or bad sleep such as not being able to go to work, low productivity, short term memory loss and risk of car accident.

There are many different types of sleeping pills. For instance, historically barbiturates were often prescribed but many people have overdosed or more often become addicted to these, hence they are less prescribed these days.

Ambien is a popular medication, as is rozerem. Rozerem works by targetting two of the melatonin receptors in the brain. Melatonin is secreted in the brain when it is time to go to sleep and produces drowsiness. Rozerem targets these receptors, also known as MT1 and MT2, successfully and is not classified as a controlled substance by the FDA.

Zolpidem is the chemical name for Ambien and is a popular member of the benzodiazepine class of drugs. It is available only on prescription and is taken in tablet form just before bedtime. Great care and attention should be exercised when using it with other drugs because it will add to the effects of any anesthetics, alcohol or other depressants and can be lethal if taken in a bad combination.

Zolpidem is also used as a recreational drug by some youngsters, particularly in countries where cheap generic versions are available (the patent has lapsed). If you need this drug to help you sleep then always take it under a controlled program as prescribed by your doctor.

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Migraine Symptoms – What Are They?

Monday, April 14th, 2008

Migraine symptoms are extreme and much more painful than a regular headache. Could you have the symptoms of a migraine? Read on and find out more.

Migraine sufferers can suffer different types of symptoms but they usually have a lot in common too. Regularly, people will talk about nausea, vomiting, sensitivity to light and sound, the headache of course and more.

In some severe cases there can even be a mild form of paralysis. Sometimes, the person with a migraine knows that it is commin on because they see an aura or a strange light effect. Other people just experience an indescribable “feeling” that the migraine is approaching.

Unfortunately, because of their pain and suffering, people with migraine symptoms are more likely to suffer from anxiety and long term depression. It’s important to get the proper treatment available to manage your condition.

There are many drugs available and even natural treatments. For instance, a program of learning how to contract the appropriate muscles and control your breathing can enhance blood flow and reduce the symptoms of a migraine. Chinese medicine is also reported to help some people.

Otherwise, regular pain killing drug treatment such as anti-inflammatories are recommended to manage the symptoms of migraines.

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Common Asthma Treatments

Sunday, April 13th, 2008

Asthma treatments have come a long way in the past few decades that most people can manage this respiratory condition safely and effectively whereas in the old days it used to be a life threatening disease for many.

There are a variety of drug medications that someone with asthma can take. For instance, inhaled corticosteroids or ICSs are used to reduce the inflammation associated with long term asthma. These are also called controllers. Drugs are being developed all the time and trialled to decide whether they are improvements to current medications or not.

These ICSs come in two different forms: either a spray (aerosol) or in dry powder form. Some people also use a spacer device on their inhaler which can help with getting the full dose of the drug. Eventually this is not needed once the inhaling procedure has been mastered.

By reducing the inflammation in the bronchi (airways) they prevent them from narrowing which gives rise to the wheezing of an asthma attack. When trialled against a placebo, there is no better drug that ICS at this present time.

Beta antagonists are used to treat short term symptoms and asthma attacks and bring them quickly under control. These are also known as relievers. These types of asthma treatments are not long term cures and are intended for emergency use. They will act instantly to relieve the airways but will not reduce the long term inflammation which is the cause of asthma. Example relievers include Asmol, Airomir, Cricanyl, Epaq and Ventolin.

A natural remedy for asthma is turmeric. It is advised to take a teaspoon of this two or three times daily mixed with a liquid for easy consumption.

Prevention is also better than cure and it is advised that people with asthma should stay away from tobacco smoke and air pollution.

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Regular Back Pain On Different Sides

Saturday, April 12th, 2008

Back pain is highly complex. Sometimes there are obvious causes such as a slipped disc. But other times the medical profession can be confused and make middiagnoses.

One of these cases is when someone gets what appears to be a “pulled” or strained muscle in the lower back, either on the left or the right hand side.

I, myself, used to suffer from these. At first, the doc just advised to apply warm compresses to the area to help with the pain.

But then I would get this back pain more often. It seemed as if I was pulling a muscle every two days. Surely there was something else happening here?

I decided to see the doc again who referred me to a specialist. Immediately the specialist diagnosed a rare condition where the tiny muscles surrounding the spine were out of balance. This was causing me to feel as if I had a much larger pulled muscle on a regular basis.

I had around 12 weeks of intense physio twice per week. Using electrodes on my skin, we were able to monitor my muscle strength which improved greatly.

The results were outstanding. From feeling pain regularly every week, I now have no back pain whatsoever.

This is why it is important to explore all avenues when getting a diagnosis for chronic back pain – at the very least, get referred to a specialist or consultant.

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Genital Warts Treatment

Saturday, April 12th, 2008

Genital warts treatment is far advanced to years ago. Let’s first understand what they are.

Genital warts come from HPV or human papilloma virus. In both sexes, the warts are found on the genital area including scrotum, penis, anus and even occasionally on thights, buttocks and even the throat. It is spread by direct contact with an infected person. So, even a condom will not protect you fully against genital warn transmission.

HPV is also linked to a number of cancers including cervical cancer in women but also anal and penile cancer in men, as well as some head and neck cancers. so although few people may have outbreaks that lead to warts, a number of people carry HPV – perhaps 30 million in the entire world.

Genital warts treatment focuses on removing the visible warts. But even after they are removed, the virus still remains in the body and can cause future outbreaks. Some treatments work by replacing the water in the skin around the warts.

Drugs such as podofilox are used at home. It can come in a gel form and works to destroy the wart tissue itself. You need to use it for 4 weeks for maximum effectiveness. It is not recommended in pregnant women, however, and the same can be said for many other types of genital wart treatments.

Other treatments, such as interferon alpha, work by stimulating the body’s immune system to rid itself of the warts.

Ultimately, you should see your doctor or a sexual disease practicioner. They are best placed to look at you and the size and number of warts and determine the best medical treatment.

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Genital Herpes Symptoms

Saturday, April 12th, 2008

Genital herpes symptoms can start in many different areas of the body. The virus itself lies inactive in the body until the sufferer gets an outbreak. In fact, most people never have any symptoms or, if they do, they are so mild that they may not know that they even have herpes. The results are different from person to person and some people get very painful lesions. The good thing is that treatment can minimise the pain and reduce the severity of these symptoms.

Genital herpes symptoms do eventually go away but because the virus lives in nerve cells then the potential for outbreaks will be there for life and never go away. They can potentially recur at any time in your life. Because the skin lesions can resemble other skin conditions, you should see a doctor for a correct diagnosis. Luckily, although the first outbreak may be severe, the ones that happen later are usually much less so.

Sometimes, these symptoms can even be mistaken for other harmeless irritations such as razor burn, nappy rash or yeast infection.

The worst types of genital herpes symptoms are the ones where sores or blisters break. Usually, you can feel the symptoms coming because you get warning signs like pain, burning or itching around the genitals. Also, you can get symptoms that are similar to the flu such as a fever and headache. Often the lymph nodes near the genitals will swell up and become tender to the touch.

Sometimes, the symptoms can be even more pronounced. For instance, some people get backaches and vaginal discharge. Others get muscle pains and swollen glands. Again, this is why it is important to see a doctor if you suspect that you have genital herpes. It could be something different altogether.

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What Is Anorexia Nervosa

Friday, April 11th, 2008

Anorexia can affect anyone from any walk of life. It literally means “lack of appetite” but this is a misnomer because most sufferers are perpetually hungry due to lack of food.

Anorexia nervosa is an eating disorder where those affected will intentionally lose weight and then maintain what is an abnormal and also unhealthy weight level, despite being very hungry. Although the effects are seen outwardly on the body, it is recognised as a mental illness rather than a physical one.

In those affected, anorexia is seen during the teenage years and very rarely beyond 40. It mostly affects females and only approximately 1 in 20 sufferers are male. Anorexia nervosa manifests itself in many ways including unnatural fears of gaining weight, over-exercise, a distorted image of one’s own image and irregular periods (in women).

It is more often seen in those cultures and countries where being thin is highly valued. It is mainly, but not exclusively, a product of westernisation. Cases in the developing world are comparatively rare.

In the short to medium term, anorexia nervosa leads to severe malnutrition. In extreme cases, heart problems which can eventually lead to fatal heart attack can occur. One famous example is the 70s singer, Karen Carpenter.

There may even be genetic factors involved but, ultimately, this disease is a mental one and it is highly recommended that a sufferer obtain psychiatric help before the condition becomes too severe and permanent health problems result.

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What Is Diabetes?

Friday, April 11th, 2008

Diabetes is a chronic disease which occurs due to deficiency in insulin when the body cannot produce enough of it on it’s own and is observed via high blood glucose levels. There are two major types: Type I and Type II. It is one of the major causes of premature death in the world.

Diabetes is the sixth leading cause of death in the US and causes a number of other conditions including kidney failure. Also common amongst serious, advanced and untreated cases of diabetes are eye disorders including blindness. However, it can be managed through medication which is taken either orally or intravenously (via injection).

Despite being very serious, we can see that luckily, Diabetes is a very much manageable disease if caught early enough. That said, it can still restrict the activities and freedoms that of the sufferer.

Diabetes is the most common endocrine disorder and genetic factors can also play a part. For instance, Native Americans have a high prevalence of this disease. Unfortunately, once it has developed, it is usually a life long affliction.

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