Latest Medical Treatment

Can't Sleep? Try These Insomnia Treatment Alternatives!

2010-07-07T14:27:00.000-07:00

If you are one of the many people who have always found sleep elusive, you might probably want to check out these alternative treatments to insomnia.

Behavioral Therapy

Usually, undergoing behavioral therapy is the next resort for most insomniacs who have already tried all sorts of common methods to no avail. The objective is to alter one's perception of sleep, as well as how he takes charge of his sleep environment.

Cognitive Behavioral Therapy

When most nights find you struggling to sleep but can't, it is not unusual for you to develop a kind of anxiety due to your frustration. However, developing anxiety could only further compound your sleep woes. To deal with this, some people try cognitive behavioral therapy—it aims to help them take control of their negative thoughts and attitude toward sleep.

Sleep Restriction Therapy

For some insomniacs, taking sleep restriction therapy works better than the other alternatives. The objective behind this method is simple: If you can't sleep, then don't. However, this does not mean staying up all night until the next day without doing anything to induce drowsiness. This therapy requires that you do any sleep-stimulating activities like deep breathing or reading boring materials.

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Source: http://www.sleep-deprivation.com/articles/sleep-disorder-treatments/insomnia-

treatment.php

Multiple Sclerosis: Doctors Find Bio-Marker That Indicates MS

2010-04-08T14:20:00.001-07:00

University of Alabama at Birmingham (UAB) researchers have found the first bio-marker for multiple sclerosis (MS). Bio-markers are genetic codes that indicate whether an MS patient will respond to standard therapy or not.

The UAB team discovered that patients with a specific type of T helper immune cells respond well to the usual first-line therapy for the disease while those patients with a different type of T helper immune cells do not and even experience worsening symptoms.

For those patients who don't respond well to conventional MS treatments, there is a personalized medicine in which therapies are based on an individual's physiology and genetic makeup and the nature of disease.

According to Chander Raman, Ph.D., lead investigator of the study, their findings, in both animal and human models, indicate that the type of T helper cell present is the determining factor in predicting whether interferon-ß will be effective. He suggests this might be another rung on the ladder leading to personalized medicine. A simple blood test could be used to determine which type of T helper cell is predominantly responsible for the disease in an MS patient, enabling clinicians to provide the proper therapy from the beginning of treatment and eliminate the guesswork.

by: Kristine Gonzaga

From The Neck To The Lips

2010-04-07T14:23:00.000-07:00

There are different ways to make your lips look fuller. One of the recent discoveries in lip augmentation makes use of muscles and connective tissues grafted from the neck.

Many aging women opt for lip augmentation when the groove of their upper lip starts to flatten and lesser amount of pink tissue remains visible. To create fuller lips, the procedure requires injection with collagen or with fat from another site of the patient's body. When the collagen or fat is absorbed, maintenance requires repeat treatments. Implants, however, provide longer-lasting options compared to injections.

According to Anurag Agarwal, MD. of The Aesthetic Surgery Center in Naples, his team conducted a study involving 25 patients who underwent lip augmentation using sternocleidomastoid, the muscle and connective tissue at the side of the neck.

In two years time, results of the study are as follows:

an average of 20% to 24% increase in the amount of pink tissue showing on both upper and lower lips
an increase of 0.9 to 0.99 millimeters on the average projection of upper and lower lips
no deformities in lip contour
no limitations in head movement
no neck pain
no nerve injuries associated with the procedure

Contributed By: Monch Bravante

New System For Blood Sugar Control

2010-04-06T13:30:00.001-07:00

There's a new diabetes management system from Medtronic that has been approved by the FDA. It's the MiniMed Paradigm REAL-time Revel System with predictive blood sugar level alerts and smaller insulin delivery rates to help patients and physicians come up with a customized therapy for individual needs.

This system makes use of a device to be plugged into a USB port of a computer and uploads information from the glucose monitor and insulin pump. The link reduces the risk of blood sugar crashes by improving blood sugar control. Tracking blood sugar control is done by the patient through a Wev software applications. According to Medtronic, the system simplifies the complexities of most daily diabetes regimen.

Based on the research study, there is a 36% improvement in the detection of low blood sugar condition, while detection of high blood sugar condition has only decreased by 4%. It is now available for $6,500 with reimbursement plan for those with medical indication.

Contributed By: Monch Bravante

Early Detection Of Tumors In Just One Scan

2010-04-05T14:18:00.000-07:00

Technological advancement revolutionizes brain scanning method through the utilization of highly sensitive camera in detecting brain tumors with just a single scan.

The project, known as ProSPECTus, aims to improve the technology of next generation SPECT (single photon emission computed tomography) imaging devices. It is a collaboration of the Nuclear Physics Group from the University of Liverpool and the Technology Department of the Science and Technology Facilities Council (STFC) at Daresbury Laboratory.

This cutting-edge medical imaging will allow the early detection and effective diagnosis of tumors resulting in fewer patient-doctor appointments and a better probability of effective treatment. The new generation camera also has the advantage of lower radiation exposure due to shorter imaging time. This will benefit a lot of patients who normally need to be scanned frequently. With patients having fewer trips for scanning treatment, clinics will have more time to accommodate more patients who need medical imaging.

Contributed By: Monch Bravante

Predicting Prostate Cancer With 98% Accuracy

2010-03-30T14:42:00.000-07:00

Most often, conventional methods of diagnosing cancer are inadequate because cancer usually spreads at a microscopic level. In a new study at the University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, researchers found a new blood biomarker that can predict the spread of prostate cancer with 98% accuracy.

The new procedure could help medical practitioners in predicting the spread of prostate cancer from the solid tumor site into the regional lymph nodes by measuring endoglin levels in a patient's blood. The same endoglin is the plasma biomarker that has previously helped predict the spread of colon and breast cancer.

Methods currently used to predict spread of prostate cancer are Gleason grade, prostate specific antigen, and rectal exam. However, these procedures are not adequate enough to predict which cancer will spread when lymph nodes metastases are small, but clinically significant.

While pelvic lymphadenectomy is a procedure that can provide significant staging and prognostic details, it is not universally practiced on all patients. This procedure may take so much time with potential morbidity. That is why it is important to have an accurate blood marker to identify patients who will be qualified to undergo lymphadenectomy, thus sparing patients who are at low risk.

Contributed By: Monch Bravante

Detecting Alzheimer's Disease With High Accuracy

2010-03-26T12:45:00.000-07:00

It's sad to think that as we get older, there is a chance that we may get afflicted with Alzheimer's disease – the loss of memory and mental abilities. While the condition is not a regular component of normal aging, the risk of acquiring it increases with old age.

There is no known cure yet for Alzheimer's disease, only treatments that can help improve the quality of life for those with the disease. In 2009, major advances were made in the area of accurate diagnosis of the condition. Experts from UCLA have come up with a reliable blood test for detecting Alzheimer's. Over at Mayo Clinic, MRI imaging of changes in brain activity has been analyzed with an accuracy of almost 80%.

The most accurate method, however, is developed at West Virginia University where defective memory enzymes are detected with 98% accuracy by just pricking a finger. Also, they discovered that low doses of bryostatin, a drug used in chemotherapy, can help reactivate the defective enzymes. The stage is now being set for human clinical trials to start this 2010.

Contributed By: Monch Bravante

Heart Surgery Procedures

2010-03-25T14:01:00.000-07:00

When serious heart conditions occur,surgeons require heart surgery to correct the problem before it becomes too late. Some of the reasons for heart surgery are:

1. Repair or replacement of heart valves that control blood flow

2. Repair of abnormal or damaged structures in the heart

3. Implant of medical devices to regulate heart rhythms or support blood flow and heart function

4. Replacement of a damaged heart with a healthy heart from a donor

One of the most commonly performed heart procedures is open heart surgery, whereby the chest wall is opened to expose the heart and the patient is connected to a heart-lung bypass machine.

Some heart surgery procedures don't require cutting open through the breastbone. Instead, only smaller incisions are made on the chest directly on top of the heart area. Other procedures don't use heart-lung bypass machine. Recently, surgeons perform heart surgery outside of the patient's body.

Experts are comparing these non-traditional procedures with the traditional method of open heart surgery to know which is better in reducing risks and faster recovery time.

Contributed By: Monch Bravante

Tips To Ease Computer Vision Syndrome

2010-03-24T12:06:00.000-07:00

In this advanced age of information highway, computer eye strain is fast becoming a major health concern among office workers. Based on studies, computer-related visual problems comprised 50% to 90% of ailments complained about by computer workers such as decreased productivity, physical fatigue, and increased numbers of work mistakes.

To reduce chances of experiencing computer vision syndrome (CVS) and other symptoms of computer eye strain, here are some practicals:

1. For upstart, have an eye exam before starting on the job and do it in an annual basis.

2. Proper lighting means reducing interior and exterior light sources. Use blinds or drapes to eliminate exterior lights. Minimize bulbs and fluorescent tubes and use low-intensity lighting fixtures.

3. Installing anti-glare screen on your monitor can reduce, if not eliminate, reflections on walls and surfaces with glossy finished. Better yet, repaint these surfaces with dark hues and a matte finish.

4. Upgrade your monitor to a flat-panel liquid crystal display (LCD) with at least 19-inch (diagonal) screen size.

5. Adjust the brightness and contrast of your computer screen in relation to the lighting of the work surroundings. Optimize text size and color for eye comfort.

Contributed By: Monch Bravante

Removing Uterine Fibroids Without Major Surgery

2010-02-23T13:49:00.000-08:00

As women get older, their bodies undergo a lot of changes. By the time they reach the age of 40 to 50, most African American women are at risk of having uterine fibroids. These are tiny muscular tumors found in the wall of the uterus. Usually, they are as small as apple seeds, but in rare cases can grow as big as a baby's head. Uterine fibroids are not cancerous and seldom have symptoms. But for those who gets heavy bleeding, enlargement of the lower abdomen, painful and disruptive symptoms, they can have them remove through surgery known as hysterectomy.

Statistics show that every year, about 600,000 women undergo hysterectomy. A third of these cases are due to uterine fibroids. Recently however, a new treatment is developed involving minimal surgery. UFE, or Uterine Fibroid Embolization, is a procedure that makes use of real-time imaging to guide a catheter in releasing tiny particles into the uterine arteries, blocking blood flow to the fibroids that eventually die and shrink.

Almost 90 percent of women who undergo UFE experience relief and improvement of symptoms. However, this procedure is usually offered to women who no longer wish to become pregnant.

Contributed By: Monch Bravante

Treating Scoliosis With Stem Cells

2010-02-12T13:47:00.000-08:00

Scoliosis is a condition of the spine whereby the natural curve of the spinal column becomes deformed. Depending on the severity of the condition, doctors may recommend surgery to correct the curve. Usually, a spinal fusion is done by grafting a bone taken from the iliac crest. The problem with this procedure is that it is very painful and the pain can become permanent.

A new procedure in treating scoliosis is said to be less painful. Using stem cells taken from the patients' own bone marrow, they serve as catalyst for the growth of the new bone. Permanent screws and rod are then fused together to correct the curve.

It is important that scoliosis is detected on its early stage. People with severe scoliosis may experience difficulty in breathing and heavy pressure in their lungs. If the curvature of the spine is more than 70 degrees, the ribs press against the lungs and reduce oxygen level. As it reaches 100 degrees or more, the lungs and the heart become prone to injury, which may lead to infections and pneumonia.

Contributed By: Monch Bravante

Painless Vaccines: No Need For Needles

2010-02-11T12:04:00.000-08:00

I'm afraid of needles. I knew I'm not the only one who have a phobia on needles. I guess, even those who say that they are afraid of doctors or hospitals are actually afraid of the possible administering of injections for treatment. Obviously, needles are always associated with illness, medicine, and pain.

When it comes to vaccine, it seems that the only procedure is to get a shot. Not anymore. A team of medical researchers from Georgia Tech and Emory University have collaborated to develop a painless flu vaccine.

The technology is called microneedles which, unlike the traditional syringe and needle, allows the vaccine to penetrate into the skin and muscles intra-dermally. It is a patch-like device that contains microscopic needles coated with the flu vaccine. The patch can be used like a regular bandaid, and after awhile, it can be disposed. It is convenient, hassle-free, and painless.

The technology is very promising and potentially effective in eliminating “belonephobia,” the fear of needles.

Contributed By: Monch Bravante

The Merging Of Man And Machine

2010-02-09T14:14:00.001-08:00

Creating better prosthetics could benefit not only the many wounded soldiers from war missions, but also millions of civilian survivors from tragic accidents. Today's prosthetics have become interactive that it becomes like the real thing.

While traditional prosthetic limbs remain static as the patient moves, the latest bluetooth technology allows for interaction between the patient and his bionic part. It is designed with advanced sensors to detect the patient's movement, so much so that it loosens or tightens as it adjust to the patient's stride. Electrodes are attached to the end of the patient's limb which pick up signals from the muscles around it and are sent to a computer chip inside the patient's limb.

To give patients even more control, a new technology is being developed that will allow these prosthetics to detect pressure and feel hot and cold temperatures. The success of these technologies definitely opens up a whole new possibilities in the future of amputees.

Contributed By: Monch Bravante

Immunotherapy To Stop Prostate Cancer

2010-02-05T14:29:00.000-08:00

One of the most common diseases to hit the male population is prostate cancer. While some cases seem harmless as they develop so slow, about 30 percent of those who've been diagnosed carry a more aggressive type of prostate cancer. Meaning to say, the cancer has already started spreading throughout the body.

Based on studies, the cancer grows more rapidly in the presence of testosterone. That is why hormone treatments help in stopping the production of testosterone, if not outright removal of the testicles by surgery. If these treatments don't work, chemotherapy comes in next.

As scientists continue to find ways to treat prostate cancer, a new option is being developed through immunotherapy, a treatment that allows the immune system to fight against cancer cells with the help of a vaccine. In an experiment involving 125 male adults, those who were treated with the PRSTVAC-VF vaccine lived eight to nine months longer than those who were given placebo.

While it is still too early to conclude about the validity of the experiment, the success of this phase 2 stage should lead to an experiment with a larger population to further test the effectiveness of the vaccine.

Contributed By: Monch Bravante

New Treatments For Type 2 Diabetes

2010-01-28T11:40:00.000-08:00

Diabetes is said to affect more than 220 million people all over the world, with type 2 diabetes, known as late-onset diabetes, comprising 90% of the statistics. Type 2 diabetes develops later in life when body tissues become resistant to insulin.

In a study involving 125,000 volunteers, scientists discovered a set of genes responsible in controlling the body's reaction to blood glucose.

According to Edinburgh University geneticist Jim Wilson, the discovery of nine new genes associated with type 2 diabetes can help develop new therapies for the condition. In five to 10 years from now, scientists are looking forward to easily identify which persons are genetically susceptible to develop type 2 diabetes. They are also hoping that new treatments will be available to prevent the onset of the disease. Genes influencing blood sugar levels and insulin levels are those included in the nine new genes, with a subset linked to diabetes itself.

Contributed By: Monch Bravante

Treating Urinary Incontinence

2010-01-26T06:13:00.000-08:00

When we drink, we pee. However, there's more to urine than just the drink we had earlier. We urinate in order to get rid of the toxins, waste, and excess water that our body doesn't need. Urinary control is a function of the smooth muscle tissue of the urethra and bladder in coordination with the skeletal muscle and the autonomic nervous system.

When muscles of the bladder become too weak or too active, urinary incontinence occurs. There are two types of urinary incontinence:

Stress incontinence – loss of bladder control may happen when you laugh, sneeze, or lift heavy objects.

Urge incontinence – overactive bladder makes you feel like going to the bathroom even if you have little urine in your bladder.

Causes of urinary incontinence may be congenital or acquired disorders, such as prostate problems and nerve damage.

In addition to medication, treatment includes simple exercises, special devices and procedures, depending on your lifestyle. A relatively new procedure in treating men with incontinence resulting from prostate cancer treatment is the Male Sling. It's an out-patient procedure that can take less than half an hour to one hour. This minimally invasive procedure allows men to regain urinary control.

Contributed By: Monch Bravante

Play Attention: A New Treatment For ADHD

2010-01-19T08:51:00.000-08:00

We all know that Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder or ADHD is a common childhood illness considered to be a neuro-behavioral developmental disorder. While regarded as a childhood disease, ADHD can continue throughout adulthood. Many adults with ADHD have developed coping mechanisms. However, many aspects of our daily living becomes difficult due to ADHD symptoms.

In the UK, a new thought-operated computer system aimed to reduce the symptoms of ADHD in children will be rolled out this month. The system, called Play Attention, is supplied by Games for Life, a non-profit community interest company. It allows kids to play a fun educational computer game using a helmet just like a typical bicycle helmet. This helmet picks up the brain activity related to attention, and controlling the game depends on the child's concentration. It stops the moment the attention waivers.

In a study involving 10 kids, researchers learned that the kids' impulsive behavior was reduced compared to a control group who had not used the system. According to Professor Karen Pine at the University of Hertfordshire's School of Psychology and assistant Farjana Nasrin, the Play Attention method may prevent long-term problems by helping the children to be less impulsive and more self-controlled.

Contributed By: Monch Bravante

Immunotherapy Proving Effective Against Melanoma

2010-01-18T07:03:00.000-08:00

Some people may not be aware of it, but the skin is the largest organ in the body. Its purpose is to cover and protect the different organs inside the body. Without it, the muscles, bones, and other organs will be exposed. We need the skin to hold everything together. That is why when something happens to our skin, we could be in real jeopardy.

Skin cancer is the most common form of all cancers. And melanoma is a skin cancer that is considered a deadly disease. While it only accounts for less than five percent of all skin cancers, it is the one responsible for more than 75% of skin cancer deaths.

The good news, however, is that new forms of treatment are underway which make use of the body's immune system to attack the cancer cells. While immunotherapy has had a limited role in treating cancer, it shows great potential as far as treatment for melanoma is concerned.

Survival rates for melanoma are low because it does not respond well to traditional radiation and chemotherapy once it has spread. But in rare cases, melanoma simply goes away which make scientists believe is due to an immune reaction against the cancer.

New Modes Of Chronic Pain Relief

2010-01-12T10:14:00.000-08:00

In the past, many have actually believed that “chronic pain is all in the head.” However, today's pain specialists understand how the sensation of pain occurs. According to Rollin M. Gallagher, MD, MPH, director of pain management at the Philadelphia VA Medical Center, the nervous system, including the spinal cord, interacts with the brain to create the sensation of pain.

Learning how to manipulate the neurotransmitter system paved the way for new modes of chronic pain relief, antidepressants, and other drugs that work with specific brain chemicals that affect emotions and help with the perception of pain.

Advances in MRI imaging allow researchers to demonstrate that the changes are very real in the brain, showing exactly where the sensation of pain is occurring in the brain when it is activated by stimuli. MRI imaging clearly shows the effects of pain on emotion, and vice versa.

These insights help pain specialists to develop treatments that attack moderate-to-severe chronic pain from different angles -- innovative drugs, targeted nerve-zapping procedures, and drug pumps that deliver strong painkillers to the nerve root.

Adding Chemo to Tamoxifen Helps Some Breast Cancer Patients

2009-12-11T01:55:00.000-08:00

Adding chemotherapy to traditional cancer-suppressing tamoxifen can increase survival in postmenopausal women with the most normal type of breast cancer, known as estrogen receptor-positive, also it's best given before the tamoxifen regimen starts, according to a new study.
"Chemotherapy with Adriamycin adds to your survival benefit over and above what tamoxifen would do if you are postmenopausal and have the positive lymph nodes and estrogen receptor-positive cancer [the most common type]," explained Dr. Kathy Albain, the lead researcher and professor of medicine at Loyola University Chicago Stritch School of Medicine.
And in another study, Albain found that screening breast tumors with an available multi-gene test spots patients who may not need this form of chemotherapy, despite fitting the standard profile.
Both studies are published online Dec. 10, the first in the journal The Lancet and the second in The Lancet Oncology. Albain is also due to present her findings Thursday at the annual San Antonio Breast Cancer Symposium in San Antonio, Texas.
In estrogen receptor-positive cancer, tumor cells carry many receptors on their surfaces to which estrogen can attach, fueling tumor growth. Tamoxifen works by blocking the receptors.
Experts have long debated whether women with estrogen receptor-positive cancers -- whose growth is fueled by circulating estrogen -- would get more benefit from having a chemotherapy regimen on top of tamoxifen.
Albain led a research team from multiple centers that followed nearly 1,500 breast cancer patients for up to 13 years, with a median (half longer, half less) of nearly nine years. All were past menopause and had hormone receptor-positive cancer that had spread to at least one lymph node in the armpit area.
Albain's team assigned 381 women to tamoxifen alone, 587 to chemotherapy alone and 590 to both, with some receiving tamoxifen and chemo together and some in a sequential manner.
Tamoxifen was taken daily for five years. The chemo regimen used is called CAF, for "cyclophosphamide, Adriamycin and 5-fluorouracil."
In all, after accounting for study dropouts, 1,460 women received treatment.
The combined treatments of chemo plus tamoxifen increased the women's disease-free survival by 24 percent, Albain found. When her team looked at which delivery protocol worked best -- simultaneous tamoxifen and chemotherapy or chemo followed by tamoxifen -- the sequential approach was found to be better, giving slightly better disease-free survival.
Ten-year disease-free survival estimates were 57 percent for the combination group and 48 percent for the tamoxifen-only group, the researchers found.
However, women receiving chemo were more likely to have drops in white blood cells, important for fighting infections, the team noted. And they were also more prone to blood clots, congestive heart failure and other complications.
In a second study, Albain's team analyzed whether a gene test, called Oncotype DX, could predict which women would benefit from chemotherapy. Genomic Health, which makes the test, helped fund the study, along with the U.S. National Cancer Institute.
The test, which Albain said is already widely used, is done on the tumor itself. "This puts 21 genes together and comes up with a score," she said. The score -- low, intermediate, high -- predicts the risk of recurrence over 10 years if a woman used tamoxifen alone.
When the researchers performed the test on 367 specimens, they found a low score identified those women who may not need the chemo, despite the fact that they have cancer that spread to lymph nodes.
"This is a positive study, there's no question," said Dr. Joanne Mortimer, vice chair of medical oncology for the City of Hope Cancer Center in Duarte, Calif., of the first study. "This study tells us [that] if you have positive lymph nodes [and are postmenopausal with estrogen receptor-positive cancer], you should have both chemo and tamoxifen, because the survival was better."
But, she added, "when you give everyone [who has the estrogen receptor-positive, node-positive breast cancer] chemotherapy, probably there are some who don't need it."
According to Mortimer, that's why the gene test looks promising -- it may spare some women from having to have chemo while ensuring that those who will benefit from the treatment get it.
More information
To learn more about breast cancer, visit the American Cancer Society.

New type of vaccine against allergies.

2009-12-07T23:57:00.000-08:00

This may be the final effect of research at Uppsala University in Sweden. New result is presented by Ms. Anna Ledin in her doctoral dissertation. She vaccinated animals like dogs and rats against their own IgE antibodies, and appears that their allergic symptoms reduce.

The new type of antibody called IgE is part of the body’s defense against parasites, but today it is best known for its key role in allergic reactions. IgE is what brings about an allergic reaction. Normally it constitutes 0.02 % of all antibodies in the blood, but people with allergies can have up to ten times as much. The best way for a person with allergies to avoid reactions is to avoid the substance that triggers the allergies. But if you are allergic to pollen it is not easy to avoid all the pollen produced by blossoming birch trees, for example, which can lead to asthma, hay fever, and/or eczema.

Anna Ledin belongs to a team of scientists at Uppsala University that is developing vaccines against allergies, under the direction of Professor Lars Hellman. Her dissertation is part of this project. She presents a new form of treatment for allergies in her study. By producing and injecting an IgE vaccine that looks like IgE, she demonstrates that the body perceives the vaccine as something alien. Antibodies are then produced to fight both IgE and the vaccine, bringing down the levels of IgE in the blood and reducing the allergic symptoms. The allergy vaccine has been tested on rats and dogs, and the results indicate a clear reduction of IgE levels after vaccination. Dogs are one of the few animals that have allergic reactions like humans, but it has been unclear just how IgE levels are related to their symptoms. A new method for monitoring IgE levels in the blood of dogs was developed by the research team, and it was found that dogs have extremely high levels of IgE, regardless of whether they were healthy or had allergic eczema, autoimmune disorders, or skin parasites. This makes it problematic to diagnose allergies merely on the basis of IgE from dog blood. What’s more, IgE was measured from three sets of puppies, and, unlike mature dogs, the puppies evinced low levels of IgE.

What causes allergies then? It is certain that both environmental and genetic factors play a role. But it has not been determined exactly which genes are involved or to what extent they are involved. Therefore Anna Ledin and the research team examined how a part of one chromosome, containing many different genes, is involved in the regulation of IgE in rats. That particular chromosomal region has previously been implicated in the susceptibility of rats to developing pain in their joints in a model for arthritic rheumatism, and they found that it also affects IgE levels in rats. It remains to be studied whether this chromosomal region also impacts IgE levels in humans.

Cryosurgery treatment for Cancer

2009-12-06T23:24:00.000-08:00

Cryosurgery abides a novel method for treatment of cancer which has been accepted by the united states' food & drug administration (FDA) in 1998 also China's SFDA in 1999. Fuda cancer Hospital-Guangzhou has applied the method since 2000. To date, Fuda has the best amount of experience in this minimally invasive operation; usual Fuda trains doctors from around the world on the cryosurgery technique. recently, Fuda's number of cryosurgery cases has nearly topped 5,000 cases with a variety of malignant tumors (more than 34 different kinds of cancers). In this field, Fuda Cancer Hospital leads the world in experience and research.

Principle

Cryosurgery is an important ablation technique for tumors. It destroys tumors by cycles of freezing and thawing. Cryosurgery's destructive effects on tumors are due to two major mechanisms, one immediate, the other delayed. The immediate mechanism is the damaging effect of freezing and thawing the cells. The delayed mechanism is the progressive failure of microcirculation; ultimately, vascular stasis becomes operative as an important cause of tumor tissue destruction. Once the temperature falls below -40^oC, ice crystals may form within the cells. Once it occurs, cell death is almost certain. During cryosurgery, progressive failure of microcirculation occurs due to a cascade of events: endothelial layer destruction causing vessel walls to become porous, interstitial edema, platelet aggregation, microthrombi, and ultimately vascular congestion and obliteration. It was theorized that during cryosurgery, the immune system of the host became sensitized to the tumor being destroyed by the cryosurgery. Any primary tumor tissue undamaged by the cryosurgery and the metastases were destroyed by the immune system after cryosurgery. This response was termed the "cryo-immunological response".

Procedure of cryosurgery

Cryosurgery is performed through intraoperative, endoscopic or percutaneous routes depending upon the location and size of tumor.

Cryoablation is performed by using argon-helium system. Two to three cycles of the freezing/thawing are performed. The freezing continues until the "ice-ball" formed at the tip if the cryoprobe is large enough to cover tumor. A 5-10 mm margin of normal tissue is included in the freezing process. For larger tumors, multiple cryoprobes were used. In some cases, it may become necessary to perform at least 2-3 sessions of the cryoablation procedure. This is possible because the procedure is minimally invasive, and often does not require cutting. The probes are simply inserted through the skin and guided by real-time ultrasound.

Advantages

Cryosurgery is a localized medical procedure. It can be used as the sole means of cancer treatment or it can be combined with other conventional treatment techniques such as surgical operation, chemotherapy, radiotherapy.
Combining cryosurgery with excision can be advantageous since freezing the tumor before excision minimizes the risk of spreading the cancerous cells during excision
In addition to sparing healthy tissue, cryosurgery is advantageous because it is not dose-limited can be repeated as necessary in order to destroy all cancerous tissue
In situations where the tumor is not removed after freezing, especially percutaneous cryosurgery, operative blood loss is small and post-surgical discomfort is minimized
Cryoprobes are relatively small (generally in the range of 24 mm in diameter) and therefore they may be used in minimally in-vasive surgical procedures
There are no major side effects which are commonly found in chemotherapy or radiotherapy
Cryosurgery is adaptable for treatment of tumor close to large vessel which cannot be removed by operation
Cryosurgery can treat small as well as large tumors, and solitary as well as multiple tumors
Cryosurgery per se aims at a local effect, namely, destruction in situ of neoplasms resistant to conventional treatments, but it also elicits an immunologic reaction (cryoimmunologic reaction) against cancer for eradication of residual or metastatic tumors
There is evidence that the recurrence rate of cancer after cryosurgery is lower than that of operation

Indication

Nearly all parenchymal cancers are prime candidates for cryoablation.

These malignancies include:

*Liver cancer

*Lung cancer(non-small cell lung cancer)

*Kidney cancer

*Ovarian cancer

*Pharyngeal cancer

*Testicular cancer

*Uterine tumors

*Vaginal cancer

*Pancreatic cancer

*Breast cancer

*Sarcoma and other benign or malignant lesions of bone

*Prostate cancer

*Skin cancer and melanoma

*Head and neck cancer

*Tumor of soft tissues

In addition, cryosurgery can be an effective treatment for the following:

* Retinoblastoma (a childhood cancer that affects the retina of the eye).

*Early-stage skin cancers (both basal cell and squamous cell carcinomas)

*Precancerous skin growths known as actinic keratosis.

*Pre-cancerous conditions of the cervix known as cervical intraepithelial neoplasia (abnormal cell changes in the cervix that can develop into cervical cancer).

For More information Visit:Fuda Cancer Hospital-Guangzhou

Early Abuse Affects Depression, Mental Health

2009-03-02T19:33:00.000-08:00

It is no secret that children who have experienced abuse or neglect are at a high risk of developing a wide range of mental problems in life, and the range seems to cover the whole list of disorders and illnesses. Other problems include an increased likelihood of substance abuse and suicidal tendencies. While this is no longer surprising, even if it can be considered rather tragic, it has managed to raise a significant question.

It isn't unknown for depression, anxiety, and other mental health conditions to be influenced by biological factors. Levels of hormones in the brain, glands producing too much or too little of certain chemicals, and other factors can all cause someone to develop one of many psychological problems. The answer to the question of whether or not abuse can cause biological changes leading to mental health problems has never really been answered, let alone answered in a satisfactory manner. However, that doesn't mean researchers aren't trying.

Researchers have determined that affectionate parenting helps alter certain expressions in the genes of animals, and this allows them to dampen their psychological response to stress impulses. These buffers were also found to be passed on from generation to generation, particularly among primates. It was also found that species that were better suited to handle stress on a biological level were also more likely to care for their offspring.

There has never been any direct evidence linking this sort of mechanism to humans until recently. A study published in the journal Nature Neuroscience indicated that people who were abused or neglected during their childhood years showed a number of alterations to their genes that made them more sensitive to stress than the average person. The data helped clarify an old question of whether or not a difficult childhood could affect one's mental resiliency.

Summary : For many years, it was unknown whether or not childhood abuse could have a biological effect leading to depression and other mental problems. Recent research has revealed that abuse during childhood does cause biological changes that could lead to various disorders.

Acknowledging The Benefits of Coffee

2009-02-24T18:54:00.000-08:00

There are many people who have made coffee a regular part of their daily routine and lifestyle. They can't seem to live without it. They are those who look forward to their first cup of coffee as soon as they wake up in the morning. They are the habitués of coffee shops day-in and day-out.
The increasing number of coffee “addicts” have also raised concerns about the possible effects of coffee on the body, and whether or not caffeine causes harm to ones health. While some people acknowledge the beneficial effect of coffee when you have a headache, others claim that it's bad to drink coffee if you have stomach problems.

The general effects of coffee fall into the following categories:

as stimulant – caffeine makes coffee a well-established stimulant as it stimulates the nervous system, including the nerves controlling intestinal activity, blood pressure and airway size which may keep you alert and awake, yet may also impair sleep, cause jitters and anxiety.

as heartburn trigger – all types of coffee, even decaf, can stimulate secretion of stomach acid, which may lead to heartburn.

as diuretic – caffeine encourages the kidneys to produce urine to rid the body of excess fluid. However, coffee leads to urination so effectively that it may cause mild dehydration.

In addition to yellowing of teeth which are common among regular coffee drinkers, burn injuries from steaming hot coffee are very common. Some mental health professionals even suggest that regular caffeine users, including coffee drinkers, should be considered dependent, addicted or struggling with substance abuse.

The therapeutic effects of caffeine includes:

treating premature babies or those who have undergone surgery just after birth with caffeine to stimulate their breathing.

Some over-the-counter headache or pain relief medication include caffeine, acetaminophen and aspirin. The effectiveness of these agents may be linked, at least in part, to the treatment of caffeine withdrawal, a common cause of headaches.

Several studies found modest benefits with caffeine in the treatment of asthma as it gives dilating effects on airways. In fact, some recommend that coffee intake be avoided before breathing tests so as not to diminish the breathing abnormalities which the tests aim to detect.

During the Experimental Biology 2007, an American Society for Nutrition's annual conference, research experts reviewed evidence that moderate intake of coffee, say 3 to 5 cups per day, might reduce the risk of diabetes, Alzheimer's disease, kidney stones, gallstones, and depression.

Since coffee causes minimal and rare health risks, the vast population of coffee lovers welcome the good news.

Erasing Fearful and Unpleasant Memories

2009-02-19T02:13:00.000-08:00

People who survived the horrible memories of war may develop severe stress and anxiety, which can lead to other serious medical conditions. Most of them suffer from emotional and psychological disorders, such as Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD).

However, there are other incidents that may prove traumatic to an individual, such as rape, torture, being kidnapped or held hostage, child abuse, vehicular accidents, plane crashes, and even natural disasters, like floods or earthquakes.

PTSD is experienced when a terrifying ordeal involving physical harm or the threat of physical harm happens to a person. It could be that the person may have been the one who was harmed, or he may have witnessed a harmful event that happened to loved ones or strangers.

Doctors usually prescribe antidepressant drugs to help ease the ever-present aching wounds of war, or to induce sleep to those who are suffering from insomnia, as well as to relieve their daily stress and anxiety.
While various psychotherapy programs are being studied and developed to bring modest relief from stress and anxiety, a new study from the University of Amsterdam reported that a commonly used blood pressure medication may also help erase or subdue fearful memories.

According to the researchers, they have discovered that a beta-blocker drug prevents the return of unpleasant memories. This finding will benefit a lot of patients with PTSD and other emotional disorders.
Scientists said that propranolol, which is a beta-blocker, targets nerve receptors in the part of the brain called the amygdala while it is processing emotional information. The amygdala helps you learn and respond to fear, create memories, and perceive how you and other's feel. Some think that the use of beta-blockers during reactivation of fearful thoughts may cause the breakdown of the unpleasant memory in the amygdala while leaving other memories untouched.
However, medical ethics experts warn that the possibility of eliminating unpleasant memories is not without risk. Daniel Sokol, a lecturer in medical ethics at St. George's University of London said that personal identity, which is linked to memories, may change.

“It may perhaps be beneficial in some cases, but before eradicating memories, we must reflect on the knock-on effects that this will have on individuals, society, and our sense of humanity,” said Sokol.

A Comparison Of Medical Treatments

2009-02-17T01:58:00.000-08:00

It has been a long, long time since the government had a large-scale study intended to compare the medications designed to treat a single condition. This is coming after the onset of a new legislation, mandating $787 billion be allocated as economic stimulus. The substantial amount of money is intended for the federal government to find which medications are the best treatments for any given condition. The bill also includes cash to compare medical devices, surgical procedures, and other treatments for specific conditions.

The program was developed due to a concern that has been growing among doctors and patients recently concerning the lack of solid evidence on the effectiveness of numerous medications, procedures, and treatments. The basic idea was to use the research results as a way to determine which treatments really do work – or at least have a reasonable chance of working – and which ones don't, allowing people in both the public and private sectors to discourage the use of costly-but-ineffective treatments and drugs. With the soaring costs of health care becoming a potential economic problem, many believe cutting costs on ineffective medications would be a good idea. The plan involves the use of numerous systematic reviews of published studies, clinical trials, and detailed comparisons of existing treatments. It is worth noting that none of the money involved will go into researching new treatments.

There are, however, a few that worry about the implications of this. There are some groups that do not believe the enforcement of treatment guidelines would be a positive change for some patients. There are also others that contend that a single study may not be enough to truly verify how effective something is, or whether or not one treatment is more effective than another. However, the intention is simply cut down on the use of expensive treatments that are not as effective as others, rather than cut out these options entirely.

Tips to Avoid Lumbago

2009-02-11T18:43:00.000-08:00

Low back pain can affect anybody of any age, male or female, regardless of whether they are physically active or not. Commonly referred to as lumbago in the medical community, it can be caused by a lot of different factors, like sports injuries and strenuous work to name a few.

For most people, low back pain is not an issue until they actually experience it first hand. For severe cases, taking muscle relaxants or pain relievers does wonders in relieving the discomfort. For mild lumbago, massage and over-the-counter analgesics is enough to make it bearable. But wouldn't it be better if you didn't have to deal with all the hassles of lumbago at all?

There are things you can do as precautionary measures to avoid experiencing low back pain, like:

1.Be mindful of your posture. Having poor posture strains the back muscles as well. as the spine. Constantly slouching can cause the natural concave curvature of the lumbar vertebrae to flatten and cause pain.

2.Exercise your back. Your abdominal muscles work hand in hand with the back muscles to provide the spine with muscular support. Be careful not to strain yourself too much or you'll end up injuring yourself.

3.Injury-proof your home and workplace. One common cause of low back pain are injuries from accidents that could have been prevented. Always be on the look out for items that you can trip over, slip on, or fall off from.

4.Make your office back-friendly. Get ergonomically correct chairs that provide your back with proper support, as well as one of the proper height. Certain chairs are uncomfortable to sit on and make it difficult to get on or off it, causing discomfort and injury.

5.Make your home back-friendly as well. Choose mattresses that offer firm back support. Don't go with one that is too soft or too firm because both of them can cause your lower back to hurt.

There are more ways to avoid suffering from lumbago. Ask your doctor for more tips to prevent from having low back pain as well as to understand the different things that cause it. Always remember than prevention is better than cure.

Healing and Restoring Wholeness For The Sexually-Abused Person

2009-02-08T18:22:00.000-08:00

Child sexual abuse may be hard to believe but it really happens and it is more prevalent than one would believe. Race, religion, and economic status notwithstanding, children are getting sexually abused. And its effects don't stop until the child grows through adolescence and into adulthood.

Victims of sexual abuse usually grow up insecure and have a hard time trusting people. They experience bouts of depression and self-hatred, that may lead to eating disorders and deviant behaviors such as alcoholism, drug addiction, and thoughts of suicide.

These children often feel hopeless. They experience nightmares and would wake up in the middle of the night with panic attacks. There is the feeling of being crazy, that there is something wrong with them. Once they get involved in a relationship, they find it hard to be sexually expressive. They shut off during sexual encounters and most of the time, they just feel empty, disconnected, and alone.

Sexual abuse comes in different forms. It could be an unwanted touch by a babysitter, a brother or sister, a parent, step-parent, friend, or even a minister. Recurring instances sexual abuse may last for a long period of time. For others, it could just be a one-time occurrence, such as date rape or coercive sex with a partner.

Survivors of sexual abuse don't speak about their experience, keeping it as a secret all their lives. They usually blame themselves, feeling shame, guilt, and depression. Some victims experience flashbacks as they live in fear. Others just try to block it all out. Their spiritual struggles and injuries are often deep and painful. They may feel abandoned by God, lose their faith, or feel a pervasive sense of spiritual isolation.

Healing and restoring wholeness from the trauma of sexual abuse may not come easy. But it is not impossible to regain a sense of wholeness once again. Spiritually-integrated therapy helps a lot in overcoming deep psychological issues and addressing wounded spiritual beliefs. It involves counseling on how sexual abuse creates deep feelings of shame, and how this shame covers the true beauty within. Spiritually-integrated therapy allows healing and empowerment for the sexually-abused person.

Sex and How It Affects Your Health

2009-02-05T19:45:00.000-08:00

For a lot of adults, sex can be considered the best physical activity in the world. Not only does it give you the opportunity to release sexual desires, but it also helps you form a sort of intimate bond with your partner. Little do people know that aside from being a fun activity shared by partners for intimacy purposes, making love also has its effects on your health.

Here are some of the effects sex has on your well-being:

Sex can act as an effective pain reliever. When one engages in sexual activities of any sort and gets sexually excited, the body releases more of the hormone oxytocin, which, in turn triggers the production of endorphin, a chemical that increases a person's pain tolerance. Some doctors believe that sex can be quite helpful in relieving minor headaches, while some believe that it works well with arthritis and whiplash pain.

Sex reduces stress and promotes sleep. Once a person reaches climax, a aura of calm and relaxation usually follows. This is the same reason why most individuals fall asleep after having sex. Also, a survey once found that people who have a regular dose of sex reported to sleep better at night and feel refreshed throughout the day.

Sex improves cardiovascular health. This is in relation to how sex increases blood flow all over the body. To begin with, the heart starts pumping blood faster when you get aroused, resulting to quicker blood flow to the brain and heart. With fresh blood constantly circulating through the brain and the heart, one can be assured of better performance in and out of the sexual arena.

These are only three of the most important health effects of having sex, there are still others left that aren't listed here. But it is important to note that these health effects can be obtained if the amount of sexual activity you have is moderated. If you have too much sex, you might end up with health complications instead.

The Role Emotions Play In Man's Overall Wellness

2009-02-02T22:28:00.000-08:00

It has always been said that a healthy body cannot be divorced from a healthy mind or a healthy spirit. Emotional health is considered an integral part of man's overall wellness. Neglecting your emotional health can damage your physical health in the process. Research has shown that one of the leading contributors to illness is stress caused by unresolved emotional issues.

Psychologists believe that emotions, such as fear, joy, sadness, or anger, are mental responses to events, circumstances, people, or our own thoughts and memories. They course through our conscious and unconscious beings at all times, whether at critical junctures or during seemingly inconsequential moments of our lives.

Biologists, on the other hand, tells us that our emotions are rooted in self-preservation, triggering physiological reactions that enable us to find food, escape danger, and reproduce. Author Daniel Goleman pointed out in his work, Emotional Intelligence (Bantam, 1995), “All emotions are, in essence, impulses to act, the instant plans for handling life that evolution has instilled in us.”

Emotions have also evolved into facial expressions and body language so that each member of the group can signal his or her wants and needs to other members. As John D. Mayer, a leading expert in the study of emotions, has remarked: “Emotions convey information...about relationships.”

Emotions are so powerful it has the ability to make us sick, as well as provide healing. Emotions are relayed to the immune system through the autonomic nervous system. When people experience anxiety, depression, and other painful emotions, the immune system can be affected and may cause risk for a whole host of illnesses. In the same way, having a healthy emotional outlook in life can boost the resistance against disease.

Mayer has emphasized, “People can reason with emotions in the same way they reason with cognitive information. So you can solve emotional problems just as mathematicians solve math problems.” However, he also acknowledged that some emotions, such as grief and anger, can be harder to reason effectively with than others. And oftentimes, identifying the various emotions at play can be extremely difficult.

The Kissing Disease Is Still Spreading

2009-02-02T01:52:00.000-08:00

There is an infection known as mononucleosis, which is also given the name “the kissing disease.” Also known as Epstein-Barr, it is a variation of the herpes virus, and almost all Americans are known to have been infected with it at least once by the time they reach their late 30s. Teenagers and young adults are known to be the most susceptible age group to the condition, with an estimated 35 to 50% of all those who were affected developing severe fatigue, though other symptoms are not uncommon. There are physicians that worry that it has become severely trivialized, despite the fact that new medications and vaccines for it are lacking.

The symptoms of the condition are easily identifiable, but can easily disrupt a person's daily life. The disease can turn a previously active, athletic person into someone who sleeps as much as she can, at every available chance. The person in question may feel exhausted, and may feel as if they are never well-rested, despite getting regularly getting enough sleep. Some may just dismiss this as one thing or another, but other symptoms can make the possibility of a condition hard to ignore. One such symptom is when the glands in the neck become swollen, and areas of the abdomen become visibly enlarged, to the point that it is painfully clear something is wrong.

This condition is spread by close physical contact, and it is sometimes seen as a rite of passage for many young adults. The symptoms of the condition can last for months at a time, and there are patients who become infected with this and never display any of the symptoms of it. These include a sore throat, severe fatigue, fever, swelling of various glands, and an enlarged spleen. The disease is considered a common one, which makes experts fear that it may become trivial for the research community. The lack of studies going into treatments and vaccines for it is taken as an indication of the lack of interest.

The Genetic Marker For Breast Cancer

2009-01-30T00:21:00.000-08:00

Breast cancer is easily one of the foremost killers of women in the world today, and like other cancers, it can be very difficult to properly treat. The fact is, like any other cancer, it can be difficult to detect accurately, and treatments for it can range from being limited in scope to being potentially harmful to healthy areas of the body. So research delving into ways to detect, treat, or even prevent cancer can be considered among the most invaluable projects that medical science can undertake. One recent development in this area is very promising, as it has found what appears to be a genetic marker linked to breast cancer.

The team has found evidence suggesting that a single gene can play a crucial role in the development of breast cancer, and can increase the risk factor significantly. The metastasis gene metadherin or MTDH also displayed evidence of being able to increase the cancer's resistance to chemotherapy. The genetic mutation was found in people with aggressive cases of breast cancer. Drugs capable of blocking the gene are believed to potentially be able to keep localized tumors from spreading, increasing the chances of the patient's survival. The gene was also found to be one of the few such genetic alterations that have had their mode of action identified, making it an easier task to find a way to nullify it.

Stopping the spread of cancerous cells in a body is actually of critical importance. While an estimated 98% of all patients who have breast cancer will survive five years or more, only a smaller percentage of them – around 27% – who have had the condition spread to other areas of the body will survive. The survival rate for patients with breast cancer drops dramatically once it has spread to other areas or organs, though this is not a very common occurrence.

Tips for Successful, Long-Term Weight-Loss

2009-01-29T01:06:00.000-08:00

With obesity rates continuously climbing the charts, and more people leaning towards being overweight, it's no surprise that weight-loss clinics and other similar service providers are popping up left and right. Even on the Internet you'll find a lot of weight-loss how-to's and diet plans that will help you lose weight.

Sure they work. There's no doubt about that. However, a lot of people tend to have their weight loss go up and down like a yo-yo. It's difficult to say that you're successful in your goals of losing weight if you can't keep the weight off, now, can you?

The trick to successful weight loss is to find one that helps you keep it off for a long time, if not permanently. To help you get started on shedding those excess pounds and keeping them off, here are some tips:

1.See a doctor. Nobody else is best equipped to tell you how to go about losing weight safely and effectively but your doctor. They'll be able to give you helpful advise what to do and how to go about with your weight-loss goal.
2.Do it with your health in mind, not just to get thin. Thin isn't necessarily healthy. You may be able to trim your waistline down a couple of inches, but still be unhealthy because of your poor planned weight-loss program.
3.Commit yourself to the cause. Without commitment, you're bound to lay low on your weight-loss goals every so often. You may lose five pounds while you're in the program, but gain seven pounds after you slack off. If you're going to do this, see it through to the end. There's no use dieting and exercising for a few months if you're going to be pigging out and slacking off on the next few.
4.Incorporate exercise with your daily routine. You can either choose to set aside 30 minutes every day just for exercising, or look for ways that you can have physical activities at work, school, or even at home. A good example for this would be walking to work, doing some gardening, cleaning the house, etc.
5.Eat healthy. Avoid foods that are filled with artificial stuff. As much as possible, go with healthy, natural food items that are both delicious and nutritious. Take note that some food can even help in speeding up your metabolism to better burn those calories.

These tips may work for you or it may not. Again, the key to making you keep your excess weight off for the long haul is commitment and dedication. If you're truly focused on losing weight and becoming healthy, no amount of influence can sway you to veer away from your goals.

The Cancer Center Checklist

2009-01-28T01:18:00.000-08:00

Cancer is one of those conditions where any doctor would not fault their patient for seeking out a second opinion, or the help of a specialist. Certainly, no doctor would willingly deprive a patient with cancer of the necessary referral to get better help. Let's face it, not every medical practitioner or facility is prepared to handle a patient with cancer – any type of cancer. As such, patients will often find themselves being sent to cancer centers – facilities designed specifically to deal with patients with cancer. With that in mind, what sorts of things would a person going to such a place need to bring on their first visit?

Well, the obvious requirement would be medical records from their previous doctor. The new doctor, no matter what the skill level, would be unable to help a patient if the patient did not bring medical records with them. Without those records, the doctor would have to start things off from scratch, and while the new doctor can take the time needed to understand every medical nuance in the person's life, it would inevitably take a lot more time than the average cancer patient would theoretically have. In other words, be sure to bring complete and accurate medical records.

It would also be a good idea to have information on any tests that were recently taken – along with results – and the list of medications currently being taken. This includes any over-the-counter medications or prescription drugs that someone is taking currently, and any that may have been taken recently. Alternative medications, dietary supplements, and any medications introduced into the body through surgical procedures should also be included. Radiology exams like x-rays and ultrasounds should also be included, along with a review made by the primary physician in written form.

Referrals would also be a good idea. This includes a letter from the original physician referring the person to the cancer center, and documentation from the insurance company. Some insurance companies may require the first one, or a formal referral from the primary physician. Insurance companies and cancer centers may also require formal documentation of this nature to make sure that the visit is fully paid for by the insurance company.

The Curious Case of Medicines

2009-01-26T23:36:00.000-08:00

Medicines are developed to make us feel better and get well when we are sick. Most probably, there are a lot more medicines than there are illnesses to be cured. Yet not very many realize that medicines have risks aside from their usual benefits. It may cause unwanted side effects or drug interactions with food or with other medicines you may be taking.

There are strict standards and guidelines from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) when it comes to approving the sale of medicines to the general public. Benefits of over-the-counter and prescription medicines must outweigh its known risk. Otherwise, the FDA can withdraw a medication from the market if found to cause harmful side effects.

The benefits of medicines are the positive effects you get when you take them, such as lowering blood pressure, curing bacterial infection or relieving back pain. The risks of medicines are the chances that something unwanted or unexpected could happen to you when you use them. Some risks could be less serious, such as a headache, or more serious, such as liver damage. In order to reduce the risks, always follow the directions carefully when taking medicines.

Medicines are chemicals substances or compounds that are used for the treatment and prevention of diseases and its symptoms. Advances in medications have enabled doctors to find cure to many diseases and save lives.
Today's medicines come from varied sources. Some medicines have been developed from substances found in nature, such as plant extracts. But most are produced and developed in laboratories using chemical mixtures, or by products of organisms, such as fungus. And a few medicines are even biologically engineered by inserting genes into bacteria that make them produce the desired substance.

Medications come in different forms, such as tablets, pills, liquids, drops, creams, gels, ointments, inhalers, patches, and injectables. Always consult your doctor or pharmacist before taking any medication to avoid further aggravating your condition. Inform your health care provider about all of the medicines and supplements you are using to avoid possible drug interactions. It is important to mention if you are pregnant or nursing to avoid harmful effects to the unborn.

Drug Resistant Staph Prevalent Among Children

2009-01-26T00:14:00.000-08:00

A staph infection can become a major medical concern for most people, and especially so if the person infected is a child. The infection can do a lot of damage, but is easily treated by conventional antibiotics. However, recent reports have found that children are starting to break that trend. Staph infections were once considered to be rare in areas such as the ear, nose, or throat. However, reports indicate that children are starting to develop infections in those areas far more than before. Doctors are also discovering an additional problem: the infections are showing resistance to most antibiotics used to treat them.

The study that found this report only managed to obtain data from a limited number of facilities, but there was enough evidence to suggest an overall trend. The increase of drug resistant staph infections in children was not just a fluke, and the data suggests that it may spread further. The change was noted to have occurred in parallel to an increase in community-acquired cases of staph resistant bacteria among people who were found to be healthy and did not require any sort of hospitalization.

Statistics and data indicate that the number of drug resistant staph infections appearing on the heads and necks of children had seen a dramatic increase over a six-year period. The strains found were largely resistant to methicillin, the antibiotic most commonly used to treat staph, and that it was found to manifest the most in the ear, nose, sinus, and pharynx. About 60% of all head and neck infections detected were found on children, and all of them had been in medical settings prior to the infection. It was noted that they could potentially have encountered other infected people while in the outpatient section. The situation and the data suggested that the children may have been exposed to resistant strains from the community.

Turn Your Home Into A “Budget Home Gym”

2009-01-21T21:44:00.000-08:00

In these times of global crisis, people have the tendency to shun away from expensive gym memberships and costly gym equipments. However, if you will just think outside the (treadmill) box, you'll be blown away at the idea of using household items as substitute for those premium fitness apparatus.

In place of those shiny gym dumbbells, you can make use of soup cans for weights to exercise your biceps and triceps.

A household bucket or jug filled with water or sand, rock salt or powdered detergent can also be used as weights. Make sure the top is secured by using some duct tape to seal it before you lift it up and down infront of you as you do your squats.

As for body sculpting equipment, try substituting it with paper plates to help your body slide on a carpet. This will simulate body sculpting moves that would ordinarily require workout equipment. Do the sliding lunge by putting the paper plate under one foot, and lunge forward. Skate with it to work your butt and thighs by attaching the plates to your feet with rubber bands and slide away. You can also get down on all fours, put the plates under your hands, and use them to work your chest by sliding your arms back and forth.

A push-up bench can be replaced by a mere countertop in the kitchen or bath.

Simply put both hands on the countertop, extend your legs behind you at an angle, lean down into the counter and then push back up.

Any exercise that makes use of a resistance band can do with an old pantyhose or tights. For example, while sitting on the floor with legs straight, loop a pair of pantyhose around the balls of your feet and pull back with both hands as if you were using a rowing machine.

These are just few of the many things you can do to turn your home into a “budget home gym.” Just be creative and workout your way to fitness and health without the big bucks.

Myths About Coffee's Health Benefits

2009-01-20T23:36:00.000-08:00

Caffeine, like any other foreign substance, has its own set of health benefits and side effects. However a lot of people have their information mixed up and base their knowledge about the effects of coffee to one's health solely on hand-me down information. To straighten things out, here are some coffee health myths and the actual fact behind it:

1.Drinking unfiltered coffee increases caffeine's health risks.

Studies suggest that drinking unfiltered coffee, those prepared in French Presses, can cause an increase in bad cholesterol (LDL) and homocysteine levels, leading to a 10% increase in risks of heart diseases. However, homocysteine levels in people who drink filtered coffee were found to be just the same as those who drank unfiltered coffee.

2.Three cups of regular coffee a day can help improve memory retention.

Studies have shown that caffeine in coffee can temporarily enhance a person's focusing and recalling ability. However, different results came up for different genders. Women aged 65 and older who took more than three cups of coffee a day showed 33% less decline in memory compared to those who drank only a cup a day. Men, on the other hand, did not show such promising results. It has been attributed to the fact that men and women digest caffeine differently.

3.Coffee causes stomach ulcers.

A lot of people, especially the elderly, are convinced that coffee can cause stomach ulcers supposedly because coffee can add to the stomach acids already upsetting your stomach. Coffee doesn't cause the ulcer on it's own, but it can add to your stomach acids and worsen an already existing ulcer.

You may think that you know a lot of things about coffee and its supposed health benefits and effects, but you might want to think that over again because you might actually be under the wrong impression.

Surgery Checklists Save Lives

2009-01-18T22:01:00.000-08:00

The old adage that words can't hurt anyone tend to be true in many cases, but that is not the case with surgical theaters. The right words in the operating room can end up saving lives on the table, according to a study published by the New England Journal of Medicine. It was found that the use of a simple checklist to make sure all the equipment is in order and everything is done correctly can save lives, as well as potentially cut complications because of a procedure by almost a third or more.

The study noted that death rates dropped from 1.5% prior to the inclusion of the checklist to 0.8% after it was instituted. Complications that arose form surgical procedures were also noted to have dropped, becoming 7% from the 11% it was prior. The numbers may seem small, but the study's authors said they had never expected any sort of dramatic reductions or changes. In fact, the results were revealed to be much larger than the initial estimates made by the team.

The checklist suggested included various items that were carried out over the course of an operation – seven of them prior to administering anesthesia, seven just before the first incision is made, and the remainder before the patient is allowed to leave the operating theater. The study included numerous basic safety issues, which have all been linked to one medical screw-up or another in the past. These include reminding doctors to double check the identity of the patient, the type of surgery that is required, whether or not there is an adequate supply of blood for excess bleeding, and whether all the equipment were accounted for after the operation.

The checklists had manage to improve compliance only by some teams, with some of them still not adhering to the list. Checklists could be credited with the improvement, but there's not enough data to confirm such an assumption. The change in behavior is considered trivial by many experts, and the reduction did not seem to be enough of a change to make the findings concrete.

Weight Loss By Coffee – Does It Work?

2009-01-15T23:45:00.000-08:00

The average American takes about three cups of coffee within the day. Some do it to jump start their day, while some drink it to wind down after a long day. Some take to keep themselves awake, while some take it improve endurance. But little did we know that coffee can also be helpful in shedding excess weight.

It might take a lot of convincing before people start letting go of their Xenicals and believe that coffee can be an effective weight-loss beverage, but here are some important pointers to explain how coffee can help you lose those extra pounds:

Caffeine, found in coffee, can help speed up metabolism. It if with a boosted metabolic rate that one burns calories faster and lose weight in the process. Because it is an effective metabolism booster, it is used as an active ingredients in a lot of over-the-counter diet pills.

Caffeine aids in fat oxidation. Fat oxidation is the process wherein fat is broken down, freeing fatty acids that the body can easily burn into energy. The said process of energy conversion is increased by 30 percent for people who take coffee or other caffeine-based products before exercise. The only thing is, the increased fat burn only occurs when you start working out.

Caffeine can act as an appetite suppressant. While you burn more fat because of the caffeine you took before working out, essential substances like glycogen, glucose, and amino acids remain reserved. This makes the blood sugar level remain constant for a longer period of time. When one has low blood sugar, you start feeling hungry. On the other hand, high blood glucose levels can help stave off hunger.

You must understand that it is the caffeine in coffee that aids in losing weight, not the coffee itself. And although coffee is our biggest source of caffeine daily, it would help to find other caffeine sources if you aim to use it to facilitate in your goals of weight loss.

Using The Internet To Find Another Doctor

2009-01-12T23:34:00.000-08:00

The Internet is something that has helped the medical world to some extent, particularly with allowing patients to do research on doctors or on their own conditions. Sure, people may find it difficult to sift through all the information available on doctors, specialists, and diseases, but that's a small drawback compared to just how much one can learn off the Internet. However, most people who are looking for medical information on the Internet are likely not going to be planning on spending too much time looking for that data, and may even need it as quickly as possible. For those people, there are some bits of advice from medical professionals themselves on how to sift through the information faster.

Most doctors would actually give numerous suggestions based on common sense, such as urging patients to seek out doctors that their close friends had gone to. Or asking any prospective doctor questions related to how much experience they had and whether or not the doctor had any experience with the patient's specific condition or operation needed. Patients should also use that time to see if they're comfortable with the doctor in question, and if they feel they are being respected and understood by the doctor.

Doctors will also typically stress the fact that primary care physicians make great contributions to the well-being of patients, particularly when it comes to identifying the right specialists or pointing them to other, more specialized physicians. Every patient is advised to have one primary care physician they trust, to help them navigate the complicated health care system to find the right care. This is because most primary care doctors would be part of a network of local specialists and health care providers, or would at least know one or two reliable medical professionals that they can recommend.

Water and Why You Should Drink More of It

2009-01-11T22:27:00.000-08:00

With a lot of drinks coming out in the market like sugary juices, carbonated sodas, caffeine-based beverages, and health drinks, it's no surprise that the one drink people take for granted is water. But little do people know that water is, in fact, the best drink there is.

Here are some background facts on water: our blood is made up of 83% water; our muscles, 75% water; the brain is 74% water; and our bones are made up of 22% water. Water is a part of us and a part of nature. Long before man created the first flavored beverage, we have been indulging ourselves in Mother Nature's famous concoction – clear and refreshing agua.

We may only take water as the quickest thirst quencher on a hot day, but there's a lot more to water than just that. Here are some benefits that water offers the body:

Water rids the body of its dirt.
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We all know that the main organs that help excrete toxins from the body are the kidneys and the liver. But without a sufficient amount of water, detoxification just won't be as effective. Water aids in the flow of excess salt and other toxins in the body. It makes directing such bodily wastes into the organs that do the job. Without it, you can expect major complications with your excretory system.

Water helps you lose weight.

Water can act as a very cunning appetite suppressant. If you drink a glass of water before a meal, the stomach is fooled into thinking it already has something in it, making you feel full after half the usual meal you eat. The less food you consume, the less fat you need to burn. Of course this is considering you keep your diet balanced enough to provide you with the necessary nutrients. Fiber, the digestive system's natural waste sweeper, won't work efficiently if you don't take it with enough water. Instead of having healthy bowel movement, you may end up with constipation instead.

Water keeps your blood flowing.
Water aids in better blood circulation. When you drink less water, your blood thickens, making it more difficult for the body to circulate fresh and used blood. In effect, your brain becomes less active, and your body feels fatigued.

More than the reasons mentioned above, there are more to water than what we know. It's health benefits are countless. If you think about it, why is 70% of the Earth covered in water if it wasn't good for us?

Managing Narcolepsy with Eyes Wide Open

2009-01-08T23:32:00.000-08:00

A lot of people complain about losing sleep, but there are those who suffer from too much shut-eye. Narcolepsy is a chronic sleep disorder that is characterized by overwhelming drowsiness and sudden attacks of sleep during the daytime. While the National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute pegs the number of narcolepsy sufferers in the United States at 200,000, only 50,000 cases are diagnosed. As such, it means that there are about 150,000 people out there who are falling asleep in classes, at work, and in random places more than usual. If you are one of these people, read on for some tips on managing narcolepsy:

1.Read up information on narcolepsy.

When you have some free time in your hands – meaning you're not nodding off to sleep – read up about narcolepsy. Understanding your condition is key in finding the right solutions. For example, do you know that a person who suffers from narcolepsy is called narcoleptic and that imbalances in brain chemicals cause it? And one more thing – narcolepsy is incurable. It is a chronic disorder that needs a lifetime of management if you want to spend some time out of the bedroom. But despite it being incurable, it'll help you to know that there are medications and techniques that can actually keep you awake when you want to.

2.Be ready for symptoms.

A lot of narcolepsy symptoms get misdiagnosed as that of other more popular disorders such as anxiety, depression, and drug abuse so it is important to pay attention. Symptoms of narcolepsy rarely come singly; most often than not, these signs come in pairs or in progression. Some symptoms to watch out for include overwhelming drowsiness and an uncontrollable need to sleep during the day, cataplexy (sudden loss of muscle tone which results in slurred speech and general muscle weakness), sleep paralysis (temporary inability to move or speak while falling asleep or upon waking), and hallucinations. Restless nighttime sleep is also a symptom.

3.Address and treat symptoms.

Since managing narcolepsy largely depends in controlling its symptoms and causes, it is time to pay attention to these matters. Excessive daytime drowsiness or EDS can be prevented by establishing good nighttime sleep routines. If you are bothered by insomnia – which can make EDS worse – buying cheap sleeping aid drugs online can help. Just be sure to check with your doctor to ensure that no negative interactions will occur. EDS can also be fought off by using stimulants. On the other hand, antidepressants are also useful in preventing hallucinations. Just remember to follow your doctor's prescription religiously to avoid overdosing and other complications.

4.Practice preventive measures.

To stave off EDS, take short naps at strategic times during the day. These naps can help boost your alertness and prevent drowsiness for at least three hours. Avoiding nicotine and alcohol can also help a lot since they can cause other symptoms to worsen. It also helps to stick to a strict sleep schedule as this can help your body clock recognize between the right and wrong time to fall asleep. Exercising and eating a balanced diet can also prevent muscle loss and weakness.

5.Form a support group.

Having a support from your workplace or school can significantly boost your chances of coping with narcolepsy. The American with Disabilities Act prohibits discrimination against narcoleptic workers and requires employers to provide reasonable accommodations to qualified employees. You can talk to your teacher or boss about taking short naps during the day, recording meetings and lectures, or breaking up monotonous tasks.

Resource Box:

Kristine Anne Gonzaga is a content writer and researcher who specializes in health topics and health-related issues. She delights in finding tips and ideas on simple and practical health care and sharing them through her writing.

Relieve Yourself from the Pain of Sore Throat

2009-01-07T22:28:00.000-08:00

Among the many body pains commonly experienced by men and women these days, sore throat is probably the most bothersome of all. Sore throat, which is also referred to as tonsillitis or pharyngitis, is a disease that is generally located around the tonsils. Health experts claim that sore throat is caused by a number of factors. It can occur due to viruses and bacteria. Other causes of sore throat are breathing polluted air, drinking alcohol, hay fever, allergies, and smoking.
Causes of sore throat: In-depth review.

As stated earlier, sore throat can occur due to a number of factors:

1.Viruses

Viruses, particularly the flu, are known to cause sore throat. These can cause blisters in the throat and mouth, thus, leading to sore throat.

2.Breathing through the mouth

Sore throat can also occur when one breaths through the mouth. This can dry the throat and produce soreness.

3.Bacteria

The most common sore throat causing bacterias are Streptococcus and the Arcanobacterium haemolyticum, which usually triggers young adults.

4.Treatments with antibiotics

Sore throats are also noted to occur among individuals who underwent antibiotic treatments such as chemotherapy.

Home treatments for sore throat

There are cures for sore throat that do not necessarily need a doctor's consultation. The following are some of the known easy-to-do treatments for sore throat that can be practiced at home:

1.Gargling salt water

One of the easiest sore throat pain relief tricks that can be done at home is to gargle salt water. Gargling water with salt brings temporary relief to a sore throat.

2.Lozenges and hard candy

Aside from gargling water with salt, eating lozenges and hard candy is also a good way to treat sore throat. However, lozenges and hard candy may be a choking hazard among children. Hence, avoid giving these to young children.

3.Humidifier

A humidifier is a perfect treatment in relieving sore throat that is caused by dry air and mouth breathing.

4.Nasal spray

Nasal sprays like Afrin are perfect for adults whose nose are plugged. These are used for two to three days in order to prevent mouth breathing.

When sore throat persists for weeks, it is best to consult medical consultation with a licensed healthcare expert. It is necessary to seek medical care if the following consequences occur:

1.If sore throat is related with fever, swollen glands, or white patches on the back of the throat.

2.If the front of the the neck is stiff and sore.

3.If there is difficulty in swallowing liquids.

Defining strep throat

Strep throat is generally caused by Streptococcus bacteria. Streptococcus is also the bacteria that causes rheumatic fever. Statistics show that some adult and children sore throat conditions are caused by strep. With this, healthcare professionals recommend a strep test to patients with sore throat conditions. It is important to diagnose and treat strep throat as this condition often leads to rheumatic fever, which is a grave illness that can lead to heart valve damage and joint pain.

Free yourself from the pain brought by sore throat. Choose and practice a treatment that is best suited for your condition.

Resource Box:

Rcon Franchesca V. Pascua is a web content writer and researcher who specializes in health and fitness topics. She enjoys reading health-related features and articles and sharing what she learns by providing tips and guidelines on how to achieve a healthier lifestyle.

Tips on Staging a Schizophrenia Intervention

2009-01-06T22:38:00.000-08:00

If you are living with or taking care of someone who is suffering from schizophrenia, you know that the best way to prevent a full-blown episode from turning into a crisis is to head it off while it is just starting. If you are not sure how to approach the situation, read on for some tips on staging a schizophrenia intervention:

1.Pay attention to symptoms.

Schizophrenic episodes are rarely instantaneous. The episodes usually start off with a slow build up before the patient's paranoia boils over. While ritualistic obsessions and fixations, suspiciousness, restlessness, and aggressiveness are not threatening on their own, watch out for these symptoms as they are likely prelude to an episodes. Start the intervention process as soon as you notice these symptoms. Waiting for the actual episode will just make it doubly harder to get the patient under control.

2.Encourage the person to talk.

Before his paranoia takes over fully, set aside a time to talk with the patient in a non-threatening environment. Approach the patient gently and express your concerns in a manner that is caring and non-judgmental. This is an excellent opportunity to get the patient to open up to you about the things that bother him; regardless whether these are real or imagined. If the patient refuses to talk, do not badger or force him, but let him know that you can be trusted should he need help.

3.Get the patient to take his medications.

Anti-schizophrenia drugs like Geodon and Abilify can be easily bought as discount drugs from an online pharmacy as long as you have a prescription. These drugs can help stabilize the imbalances in the patient's brain which can help him cope and get out of his imagined reality. If the patient refuses to take or has stopped taking his medications, call his doctor to ask for alternative means of getting the patient to take the drugs. The longer the patient is off his medication, the harder it will be to manage the episode.

4.Keep the patient away from cigarettes, alcohol, and other drugs.

Closer to the episode, the patient may exhibit signs of brooding and isolation. During this time, it is best to keep possibly dangerous objects out of sight like guns, knives, and other potential weapons. It is also best to get rid of cigarettes, alcoholic drinks, and other dangerous drugs. You can also keep them away from where the patient might get them. These substances can make episodes worse by furthering the hallucination and making the patient jumpy. Aside from these effects, these substances may also negate the effects of the medications.

5.Inform the doctor of your suspicions about an impending episode.

The crisis team at the local hospital can help you just in case an episode goes out of hand and the patient loses control. Informing the patient's doctor beforehand about your suspicions of an impending episode can help the crisis team get to the patient before the situation turns ugly. You and his doctor can even work together into luring or convincing the patient to get further treatment without him resorting to schizophrenia-induced violence.

Resource Box:

Kristine Anne Gonzaga is a content writer and researcher who specializes in health topics and health-related issues. She delights in finding tips and ideas on simple and practical health care and sharing them through her writing.

Tips on Managing PCOS

2009-01-05T23:45:00.000-08:00

PCOS or polycystic ovary syndrome is a common condition that affects about 10% of the female population of the United States. Characterized by the irregular menstrual periods, obesity, and excessive hair growth, PCOS can cause a wide variety of discomfort and problems for women.

Diagnosis for PCOS usually comes in three stages in order to eliminate other probable conditions that may have caused the symptoms. First up is a discussion of medical history to determine whether there are past medical and health conditions that can be linked to PCOS. After this, a physical examination is conducted to check for symptoms like excess weight, darkened skin, and blood sugar and cholesterol levels. A gynecologic exam is done last to check for other probable infections which may have caused the symptoms. Due to the long process of getting treatment, tips on managing the condition are particularly helpful. Some ways to manage PCOS include:

1.Open communication lines with your doctor.

It can take a long time before PCOS can be treated fully. As such, constant and open communication with your health care provider is necessary. Talk to your doctor about your concerns and if you have any questions about the disorder, he is the best person to ask about it. He may also have ideas on how to speed up your recovery.

2.Follow your doctor's prescription religiously.

Often, oral contraceptives are used to treat and correct the imbalance caused by PCOS. If you are worried about the costs, you can usually buy prescription drugs online at affordable prices. Just be sure to use the medications exactly as prescribed by your doctor to get the maximum benefit for them.

3.Be open to changes.

Managing PCOS and treating it will require several key changes in your lifestyle. This can cause you stress and anxiety if you are not willing to accept these changes. Instead of thinking of these lifestyle changes as nuisances, think of them as means and ways to get better. If you have trouble coping with these changes, it is wise to enlist the help of a counselor to help you understand and make sense of what is happening to you and why these changes are necessary. Understanding and acceptance are key factors in treating PCOS and you should have a great store of these things if you want to recover.

4.Treat accompanying symptoms.

Symptoms like excessive hair growth, skin darkening, and acne can easily be treated using prescription and over-the-counter medications. Anti-acne soaps and topical ointments are also good for treating breakouts. You can use depilatory creams and methods like shaving, plucking, and waxing to keep unwanted hair growth to a minimum. Lotions and rich, moisturizing creams are also useful in reducing skin darkening and thickened patches' scaly appearance. Be sure to seek your doctor's advice before using any of these treatments.

5.Do preventive and maintenance measures.

In the case of PCOS, preventive and maintenance measures are often one and the same. Following a balance and healthy diet and exercising regularly can control two major factors that contribute to the disorder – diet and obesity. By striving to reach your ideal weight, you lower your PCOS risks and improve your chances at recovery. With these measures and the right medications, you are well on your way to recovery.

Resource Box:

Kristine Anne Gonzaga is a content writer and researcher who specializes in health topics and health-related issues. She delights in finding tips and ideas on simple and practical healthcare and sharing them through her writing.

Re-writing The Book On Psychiatry

2009-01-04T21:55:00.000-08:00

The revised edition is a good three years away from publication – if not more so. Yet, even as early as that, there are already debates raging about the content of the book. Psychiatrists the world over have engaged in arguments on what should and should not end up as recognized conditions in the next edition of the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders. The outcome of the debates and questions could determine changes to existing policies regarding insurance reimbursement, research, and even how to classify people's psychological profiles and histories. So it comes down to more than just which apparent mental illness gets to join conditions like depression, anxiety, and schizophrenia in the text.

Should compulsive shopping be considered a mental problem? Is the so-called “post-nuptial depression” a real mental disorder, or just part of the transition from single life to married life? Should this fetish or that be considered a mental disorder, as many of them currently are? These questions need to be answered before the revised edition of the manual – arguably the main authority psychiatrists consult on mental illnesses – is put to the printers. It has become so contentious in some areas that contributors are being made to agree to a nondisclosure agreement for the first time since the book's inception.

The debates rage because the book is not merely a manual, but also serves as a medical guidebook and, according to some, a bit of a cultural institution. The text is designed to help doctors make an accurate diagnosis, provides insurance companies with codes that would help them reimburse for a patient's treatment claims, and serves as reference material for many mental health professionals. The manual typically organizes conditions under evocative names, with labels such as obsessive-compulsive disorder and clinical depression having strong connotations outside of the mental health profession.

One concern of the people behind the manual is that their field is not like other medical fields, where the conditions are relatively well-known. For the most part, prior to the introduction of Prozac, psychiatrists were uncertain about what, exactly, caused most mental disorders. The manual doesn't address all those concerns, but it does provide a good framework for the ones that medical science does have an understanding of.

Getting Over Your Social Anxiety for the Holidays

2008-12-21T22:45:00.000-08:00

The holiday season is the time where people set up a lot of parties and events to get together. Fun as it may seem for a lot of people, these kinds of gatherings can be very challenging for people suffering from social anxiety disorder.

Social anxiety disorder can be a very difficult condition to bear with, since feelings of anxiety can be triggered whenever they are in social gatherings. Their irrational fear of being judged and evaluated in such events can be too much that it causes them to withdraw.

Aside from taking anti-anxiety meds and psychotherapy, there are other ways to make managing social anxiety disorder easier, especially when family and social gatherings are afoot. Here are a few tips to help make social anxiety in holiday parties more bearable:

1.Choose the events you go to
You may feel that you're forced to attend holiday gatherings because everybody's going to be there, but you're not. Party organizers may not understand why you're refusing to attend the party, but know that forcing yourself to attend such parties unprepared can only exacerbate the anxiety you'll feel once you get there.
2.Check the attendance list
It may sound weird asking the organizer about the other people who are going to attend the party, but having a brief knowledge of who's coming and what they're interested in can make blending in during the party easier for you.
3.Arrive at the party early
Arriving at a party earlier that most guests saves you the trouble of having to receive a lot of weird stares for coming in late. For anxiety sufferers, receiving such stares can be discomforting to the point of inducing an attack.
4.Do not use alcohol to gain courage
A glass of wine or a sip of spiked eggnog may help you get over party jitters, but drinking too much can have a negative effect on your interacting skills.

The holidays may prove to be the most difficult time of the year for most social anxiety disorder suffers, but with the help of supportive friends and family, along with an effective anxiety coping technique, sufferers need not stay in one corner during parties.

Improving Sleep And Performance of Shift Workers

2008-12-18T22:00:00.000-08:00

There are more than 22 million Americans who work at times other than the usual “9 to 5” business hours. They are called shift workers, those who work when most people are in bed, and who attempt to sleep when the rest of the world is starting to get up for work.

Shift workers are usually found in hospitals, on police forces, in the transportation and manufacturing industries. They perform critical functions as emergency personnel who meet the demand of global interaction “round-the-clock.”

Shift workers don't get enough sleep. Night shift workers have to fight against the natural wake-sleep pattern. Since it's difficult for them to stay alert at night, and equally hard to fall asleep and stay asleep during the day, night shift workers get less sleep, and even if they get sleep, it is usually less restful.

More than just a mere “beauty rest”, sleep is essential to the body to help restore and rejuvenate the brain and organ systems for normal function. Lack of sleep may lead to a chronic condition which can be harnful to a person's health, on-the-job safety, task performance, memory, and mood.

In a study at Rush University Medical Center, researchers found that participants who worked a simulated night shift and who were exposed during the wee hours to bright lights for five 15-minute periods became more alert, not immediately but later.

According to one of the researchers, Charmane Eastman, PhD, it wasn't just the lights that helped them. They were also given dark sunglasses to wear on their way home and they went straight to bed at 8:30am.

On the other hand, people in the “control” group who also worked simulated night shifts weren't exposed to bright lights, were given dim but not dark sunglasses, and were allowed unrestricted sleep and all the exposure they wanted to outdoor light.

The study, which involved 24 participants who worked from 11 p.m. to 7 a.m. with two days off, was conducted by Eastman and colleague Mark Smith, a postdoctoral fellow, to try to make the participants' body clocks more normal. They discovered that the bright lights, the dark sunglasses, and enforced sleeping times helped the night workers become more alert and feel less abnormal.

Eastman said that the sunglasses cut out a lot of blue light, “that light in the morning is what keeps real shift workers from adjusting. You go outside, that light tells your body clock it's morning. So the real night shift worker never adjusts. We're tricking the body clock to think night is day and day is night.”
The study suggests that light therapy, sunglasses, and strict sleep schedules helped night shift workers create a “compromise circadian phase position,” which may result in increased performance and alertness during their night shift while still allowing adequate nighttime sleep on off days. Those in the study's experimental group had black plastic placed over windows.

One important finding is that night shift workers should wake up late on their off days, but no earlier than noon.

In conclusion, the study suggests that light therapy, sunglasses, and strict sleep schedules helped night shift workers create a “compromise circadian phase position,” which may result in increased performance and alertness during night shifts while still allowing adequate nighttime sleep on off days.

Resource Box : Monch Bravante is a frelance writer and advertising practitioner with special interest in public health issues.

Aggressive Osteoporosis Approach To Curb Hip Fractures

2008-12-17T20:16:00.000-08:00

Osteoporosis screening and treatment could cut U.S. hip fractures by 25% or more, according to a new study by researchers who work at Kaiser Southern California, a branch of the Kaiser Permanente health maintenance organization (HMO).

The new study shows that the aggressive three-pronged approach to osteoporosis can go a long way toward preventing hip fractures.

In the first step, bone scans using dual X-ray absorptiometry, which is the gold standard for bone density tests, were given to the following patients:

All patients over age 50 with a history of fragility fractures or fractures not due to trauma

All women over age 65

All men over age 70

All patients on high doses of corticosteroids and certain other drugs

The second step focuses on osteoporosis education and treatment. Those with poor bone density or previous fragility fractures were included in the osteoporosis education program. In addition to bone drugs, patients who needed osteoporosis treatment also got home safety checks to help prevent falls.

The third step is a fall-reduction program, including physical therapy, for at-risk patients.

From 2002 to 2006, more than 620,000 patients were included in those programs at 11 Kaiser Southern California centers. Based on statistics, hip fractures dropped by 37% overall, ranging from 23% to nearly 61% across the 11 centers during that time.

According to Kaiser researchers, who included Richard Dell, MD, the difference among the centers may be due to the fact that some centers had a longer history of treating osteoporosis aggressively.

Dell and his colleagues reported that achieving that result didn’t require experimental drugs or a radical change in screening. However, it did require a coordinated, aggressive approach.

In the November edition of The Journal of Bone & Joint Surgery, Dell’s team wrote that the first step must be a more active role by orthopedic surgeons in osteoporosis disease management.

Lifestyle Changes Add Motivation To Weight Loss Program

2008-12-16T22:02:00.000-08:00

It is not unusual to see some people engaging in physical fitness only once in a while. In fact, many Americans don't even exercise at all. However, there are those few who find time to go the gym and sweat it out to their heart's delight.
While it may be easy to start a weight loss regimen, being consistent is another story. There are people who show so much enthusiasm in the beginning, spending money to enroll in gym memberships or buy those weight loss equipments, only to quit as soon as they start. Either they are too busy that they couldn't find time to keep it going or they quickly lose their interest due to lack of motivation.

To keep yourself motivated, set some specific and realistic fitness goals. Write them down on paper to give them more weight than just saying things to yourself. Unrealistic goals will only lead to disappointment and frustration. While exercise can give you a healthier body and add a certain glow, don't expect that it will help you catch a lover or turn you into an overnight celebrity or supermodel.

Set aside a specific regular time for your weight loss program to keep your enthusiasm going. Most people, especially women, don't exercise because they're too busy doing things for other people: their spouse, their kids, their boss. Incorporate your time for exercise into your daily routine like biking to work or taking a walk to do errands. Be sure to follow it and stick to it to make a great deal in adding physical activity to your lifestyle.

Treat exercise as a social event by joining a group or being with a workout buddy. Camaraderie helps in keeping the spirits up. Make family time a lot of fun by playing catch or kick with your kids, or swimming together in a lake or pool.

Continue being faithful to your schedule and goals even if the changes may not be visible at once. While most of these bodily changes are invisible, they are actually happening and are important in laying the groundwork for a strong, healthy physique.

Birth Control Pills and Health Concerns

2008-12-15T19:32:00.000-08:00

Back when the first birth control pill was introduced to the public in 1960, it was considered the most amazing medical discovery for women and contraception. Thanks to the invention of the oral contraceptive pill, women of that time had a safer and more convenient way to control their chances of getting pregnant.

Up to this day, the pill, as it is commonly called nowadays, remains one of the most commonly used female birth control products since the first time it was launched for sale. With more or less 100 million American women trusting the pill, more and more women are using it.

But over the years, a lot of health concerns have surfaced regarding oral contraceptives. There are the occasional side effects that a lot of women complain about. Such side effects as weight gain, nausea, headaches, and loss of libido have been reasons for concern. Also, back in the 70s, reported increased risks of blood clot formation and cardiac problems, among other diseases, have alarmed women wanting to use oral contraceptive pills.

Another source for concern is the fact that certain conditions may be aggravated by the use of pills. Women with unexplained vagina bleeding, liver diseases, migraine, and have a history of cardiovascular or blood clotting diseases, or any form of cancer are strongly discouraged to use the pill to avoid health complications.

Since its original launch in the 60s, a lot of brands like Triphasil and Ortho Tri Cyclen have come up to give more freedom to choose which kind they want to take, and from which manufacturer. Also, a great thing about medicines is that they are continuously being improved to further help consumers. Health concerns like blood clot formations and cardiovascular complications have been resolved by making pill variants that contain lower doses.

Of course, there are still some unresolved health concerns to find solutions for, but for the meantime, it's good news for women to know that as time progresses, each concern is being addressed to come up with a better, safer, more effective oral contraceptive pill that will work to the benefit of women taking it.

Do not forget to consult your trusted physician before taking oral contraceptive pills. This is to ensure that you are cleared to use the birth control product. Again, keep in mind that the birth control pill is not for all women.

Carbon Monoxide Facts

2008-12-14T19:18:00.000-08:00

It may be said that one of the greatest and most pathetically hilarious ironies of modern living would be the signs warning of the dangers of cigarette smoking printed right on the pack of cigarettes itself. It has become as commonplace as the cigarette's own brand that smokers and non-smokers alike already consider it as one of the trivialities of daily life. Flipping the top part of the pack to get a stick of cigarette, smokers would probably not even give it so much as a glance, let alone heed its warning.

However, current developments in modern scientific research combined with an all-out campaign against smoking has yielded favorable results, leading to an increase in the number of people working hard at kicking this very deadly habit. Said to have more than 4,000 chemical components, 69 of which are carcinogenic, tobacco or cigarettes poses very serious risks to our lives in general. Of the many deadly components found in a single cigarette stick, one of them is carbon monoxide. Primarily intended for producing gas, carbon monoxide is not responsible for the addictive effects. However, it greatly contributes to the dangers of smoking, adding to one of the many reasons why we should put an end to it once and for all.

What is carbon monoxide?

In chemistry, CO stands for carbon monoxide; a kind of gas that has neither smell, taste, nor color. It is made by means of the partial combustion of compounds with carbon components. It is the kind of gas that is more likely to be formed than carbon dioxide if there is less oxygen present during the combustion process. Although it is considered generally toxic, it bears a significant fuel value and is very useful in modern technology.

Along with nitrogen oxides, hydrogen cyanide, and ammonia; carbon monoxide is also contained in cigarette smoke. Usually, we already have some of it in our blood due to our surroundings. However, smoking tobacco or cigarette increases it. The amount varies in accordance to an individual's exposure to it combined with the rate at which he or she smokes per day. For a person who regularly smokes at least a pack daily, his or her CO level would be around 20 parts per million. If he or she smokes more than a pack, it only stands to reason that this figure would go up considerably. However, looking at the bright side, the amount of CO could be decreased, too. Given that the concerned individual would cease smoking for a day or two, his or her CO level would diminish to its normal level.

How does carbon monoxide affect our body?

Carbon monoxide makes its way to our bloodstream when we inhale it through the lungs. Once it mixes with our hemoglobin, it displaces the oxygen therein. Thus, it decreases the normal amount of the latter, which is necessitated by our heart. Being exposed to carbon monoxide could produce the following symptoms: fatigue, headache, discombobulation, nausea, vomiting, and increased heart rate. carbon monoxide is lethal, but it is reliant on the amount we are exposed to. If we have been exposed to low concentrations of it for a long period of time, we are likely to develop heart disease. For pregnant women, it could endanger their unborn fetus.

Resource Box: Maricel Modesto is a writer and editor who writes for various health and lifestyle magazines.

Do's and Don'ts in Handling Schizophrenic Episodes

2008-12-11T20:04:00.000-08:00

Schizophrenia is a psychiatric disorder that causes imbalances in the brain chemicals. These imbalances can lend themselves into excessive paranoia and nonexistent fears which can make it difficult for a patient to determine what is real and not. While it is difficult for the patient to live with the disorder, it is also difficult for his caregivers. His family and friends constantly live with the dread that their loved one will end up dead or hurting another person under the influence of a schizophrenic episode.

If you live with a schizophrenic person or are a family to one, here are some tips on handling schizophrenic episodes that can help you keep your loved one – as well as other persons – safe from harm:

Do's

1.Do watch out for signs of an impending episode.

Schizophrenic episodes do not happen instantly. They are usually the culmination of a long-standing, imagined affair or paranoia. Watch out for signs like sleeplessness, ritualistic obsessions, and increased suspiciousness. As much as possible, encourage the patient to take his medicines regularly which you can keep in stock by buying from a discount pharmacy.

2.Do contact the patient's doctor or the nearest hospital.

When under the influence of a full-blown episode, strong doses of medication and sedative are often needed to calm the patient. He may also seem to possess increased strength due to the adrenalin in his or her system that a medical team is necessary to subdue him. When necessary, you can also contact the police but request that they keep guns out of sight since this might provoke your loved one more.

3.Do play along with the hallucination when reasonable.

Understand that the patient is experiencing an altered reality; he may be hearing or seeing things that you couldn't. Stay calm throughout the ordeal and play along with whatever hallucination he is having as long as it is still within your reasonable abilities. If he asks you to climb a chair or desk because “the pipes burst and are flooding the whole house,” do so. It'll help him feel in control of the situation regardless if it is only imagined.

Don'ts

1.Don't scream and panic.

Screaming and panicking will only agitate the patient more and may result in untoward accidents. Try to stay calm and speak in a gentle soothing voice in order to reach into the turmoil inside the person's head. If you are afraid, call someone to stay with you but never let kids into the room.

2.Don't threaten and bait the patient.

Never patronize a schizophrenic person who is having an episode. Avoid threatening the patient as this can result in a renewed fear and assaultive behavior. It is also unwise to bait the patient into doing what he is threatening to do since this may result in irascible behavior on his part and push him into acting out his threat. It is also necessary that you don't appear to be a threat. If the patient is sitting, you should also take a seat as standing may give the impression that there is a power play going on.

3.Don't let the patient out of sight or out of the door.

As tempting as it is to just walk out and leave the patient alone, don't. He is not in control of his behavior which may result in him hurting himself or another person. To the best of your ability, keep the patient away from the door while keeping it open. Closing the door may give the patient the impression that you are locking him in which can result in violent behavior. But if push comes to shove, remember that you are also responsible for your personal safety. Flee and lock the door if you have to until the medical team and the authorities arrived.

Resource Box:
Kristine Anne Gonzaga is a content writer and researcher who specializes in health topics and health-related issues. She delights in finding tips and ideas on simple and practical health care and sharing them through her writing.

Smoking: A Hard Habit to Break

2008-12-10T20:11:00.000-08:00

The rising cost of health care in the United States today have made it difficult for average wage earners to get proper health care at a price that won’t make them go hungry for the next few days. Millions are also joining the ranks of the uninsured since many insurance providers are increasing the cost of their premiums. Smokers are especially at a bad position since they are considered as high-risk individuals. With 440,000 people dying from smoking-related diseases, no one can argue the insurers’ actions.

There is no easy way to quit smoking instantly but if you want to try, a method that helps you quit the habit gradually is more effective. A gradual quitting procedure reduces the severity of nicotine withdrawal symptoms that may discourage a smoker from quitting. A gradual method also lessens the chances of a relapse because the smoker's body is given more time to get used to a nicotine-free system. Below is a guide that can help you start to quit smoking now: If you want to save up on medical bills and get more affordable health insurance, here are five steps that can help you quit smoking:

Call or consult your doctor about your plan to quit.

Your doctor has probably given you numerous warnings before about smoking. Give him some joy while in the office by calling him up and informing him of your plan to quit. You can also set up an appointment to discuss possible strategies that you can use to make quitting easier. Ask about smoking cessation programs or a non-nicotine prescription medicine that can help you quit the habit.

Keep a list of reasons you have to quit smoking.

Seeing a reminder of the reasons you have for quitting smoking is a source of motivation and encouragement. This list will also remind you of why you do not need smoking in your life. Reasons can range from bad breath, stained teeth, and bad odor from clothes and hair to more serious health reasons like high blood pressure and lung cancer. Make several copies of this list and post them in areas that you can easily see like the fridge, your dashboard, cabinet, and places where you used to keep your cigarettes.

Decide to quit smoking.

Unless you are really keen and decided on quitting, your chances of success are limited. Make it your choice to quit smoking since doing so eases the process of quitting a long-time habit. Set a time for your quit date and do not put it off. Better yet, you can start the quitting process even before your quit date arrives. Destroy all of your cigarettes by dousing them with water or shredding them to pieces before throwing them in the trash. By doing this, you eliminate any temptation that might make you hesitate to quit. Removing all ash trays, lighters, or anything that reminds you of smoking can help get you on the right track.

Inform your family, friends, doctor, and build a support group.

Quitting smoking is best done when you have allies on your side. Forming a support group with friends and family members can make quitting easier since they can motivate you to continue and distract you when nicotine cravings arise. Your doctor can also tell you what to expect during the withdrawal phase and help you prepare better. You can work with your doctor to develop a comprehensive quitting strategy that is gradual and realistic.

Keyword: quit smoking

Resource Box:
Kristine Anne Gonzaga is a content writer and researcher who specializes in health topics and health-related issues. She delights in finding tips and ideas on simple and practical healthcare and sharing them through her writing.

Helping Loved Ones with Paranoid Personality Disorder

2008-12-09T22:37:00.000-08:00

Living with a loved one who is encumbered with Paranoid Personality Disorder is far from easy. Always suspicious of the actions or intentions of the people surrounding him/her, they see others and the world at large as a threat to themselves. As always, their distrustful nature causes friction in their relationships, hurting those who should have been closest to him/her. Sometimes it can be hard to tell if they are aware of the pain they are causing, for their minds are perpetually focused on themselves. They have a general distrust of other people, and are constantly suspecting that plots are being hatched against them. Due to this unfounded belief, they are always on their guard, acting very defensive, and striking at anyone who they might hurt them emotionally even if he/she had neither done nor intended to do anything to hurt him/her at all.

The highly suspicious nature of people with Paranoid Personality Disorder makes them whiners who are antagonistic and very defensive of themselves. Although they always have a rational and distant front, sufferers manifest an offensive, sarcastic, and tenacious behavior. And even if they can be very thorough in dealing with their work, it would be advisable if they work on their own, isolated from others instead of in a group. The only thing that distinguishes them from those riddled with paranoid schizophrenia and delusional states is that they do not experience delusions.

Although the origin of Paranoid Personality Disorder is unconfirmed, research suggests that it may stem from genetics. Such personality disorders are common among families with a history of delusional disorder and schizophrenia. Signs of this personality disorder often become obvious during childhood and the teenage years. Individuals with Paranoid Personality Disorder are likely to show the following traits during the aforementioned stages: self-isolation, inability to relate well to peers, inclination to interpret others' behavior, overly sensitive to others, and a strange way of thinking.

To be able to diagnose a patient with Paranoid Personality Disorder, doctors must be able to tell it apart from the symptoms of those who are suffering from substance abuse. A psychological evaluation of the patient would help a doctor arrive at this diagnosis. Among the characteristics that doctors can look out for in their patients are:

Belief in an impending catastrophe or disaster

Perception that there are enemies throughout the world

Belief that he/she is blameless regardless of circumstances

Does not believe in accidents, and instead, he/she views others' actions as the cause for misfortune or unlikely events

Everything that happens involves him/her in one way or another

Belief that he/she has a special way of seeing things and this sets him/her apart from the rest

There are several methods of treatment that could be employed to address the problem of people with Paranoid Personality Disorder:

Subjection to psychotherapy

Administering remedies in the likes of anti-anxiety or anti-depressant drugs if needed

Cooperation of family members to help or involvement in self-help groups

Resource Box: Maricel Modesto is a writer and editor who writes for various health and lifestyle magazines.

Mid-Summer Health Problems: How to Deal

2008-12-08T23:14:00.000-08:00

Summer is almost ending – almost being the operative word. With a few weeks left before summer officially ends, some people are getting careless about sun protection and other what-not that can put them at risk of health problems that often occur during the season. Most have been dabbing on sunscreen like there is no tomorrow but more than sunburned and scaly skin, summer health problems can range from the fatal to the trivial. Below are just some of the common health problems people suffer from during the summer:

Heat stroke. When your body is unable to cool down on its own, you may suffer from symptoms like a high body temperature (106 F or higher), very hot and dry skin, rapid and strong pulse, delirium. When left unattended, heat stroke can be fatal. Spray your face and body with cold water to help lower the temperature. Putting ice packs under the armpits and the groin can also speed up cooling. Immediate medical attention is needed since the intense body heat can cause damage to the internal organs so contact medical aid as soon as possible.

Heat exhaustion. It occurs when your body loses water and salts through perspiration and does not replenish them. Symptoms include pale, clammy skin, fatigue, excessive sweating, and cramping despite normal body temperature. The techniques given for treating heat exhaustion are similar to those that are used for heat stroke. But since heat exhaustion is primarily caused by dehydration, drinking lot of water and electrolyte-loaded drinks like Gatorade can help lessen the seriousness of the condition. Even so, medical attention is still needed.

Bug and insect attacks. Insect stings can cause allergic reactions in many people. There are also instances when bugs can fly into a person's ear and cause severe pain. Bug bites such as that of ants and mosquitoes are easily treated tea tree oil. For attacks that leave stingers such as those of bees you can use a tweezer or a credit card to remove the stinger. Wash the affected area with soap and water then apply a calamine lotion. .

Animal bites. Domesticated animals like dogs and cats and wild ones like raccoons and squirrels can leave bite marks that wound. They may even be infected with rabies. Wash the wound with soap and water or cleanse it with an antiseptic swab immediately. Dry the wound gently then apply an antibiotic cream to prevent the spread of bacteria and a possible infection. Cover the bite with a clean bandage to avoid infection from insects that might land on it. When done, seek medical attention immediately especially if the wound looks infected and deep.

Burns. Whether it caused by fire or overexposure to the sun, burns reveal a delicate layer of skin which is shiny, raw, and red. Burned areas are often painful and sensitive. Without proper treatment permanent scarring might occur. Hold the burned area under cold running water or compress for at least five minutes, or until the pain subsides. However, avoid putting ice directly on the burn as this can cause more damage. Wrap a gauze loosely to avoid putting pressure on burned skin to keep air off the burned skin, reduce pain, and protects blistered area. You can take an OTC painkiller to reduce the pain. Wear loose clothing made of breathable materials to let your skin breathe.

Fungal infection. The humid temperature and the possibility of excessive sweating during the summer are the perfect conditions required to speed up fungal infections. Athlete's foot, jock itch, ringworm, and nail fungus are some of the most common fungal infections. While these infections look differently, they are mostly itchy and can cause swelling. Unsightly and rough patches in red and discolored patches are often visible. Applying ketoconazole on affected areas can soothe the irritated skin and kill fungi.

While uncomfortable and possibly dangerous, the health problems described above can be easily remedied if you keep your medicine cabinet and first aid kid stocked with basic supplies. You can order medicine online and pick up other supplies from the local drugstore.

Resource Box:
Kristine Anne Gonzaga is a content writer and researcher who specializes in health topics and health-related issues. She delights in finding tips and ideas on simple and practical healthcare and sharing them through her writing.

Natural Methods to Help You Quit Smoking

2008-12-07T19:09:00.000-08:00

Smoking is one of those habits that is difficult to stop once you become addicted to it. Although it does not make sense why people would become addicted to a stick of weed that really tastes and smells like one, we have to respect their personal reasons regardless of what they may be. However, all of us know by now how harmful smoking can be not only to the smoker, but also to the unfortunate people who would happen to inhale the smoke coming from his cigarette or cigar. And since smoke is air borne, we can conclude that smoking endangers everyone whether he/she is a smoker or not.

Regardless of the confirmed facts of the harmfulness of smoking, there are still some people who insist on continuing with this dangerous habit. But then again there are also those individuals who are attempting to make that vital change, which could literally prolong their life and create wonderful changes to their health. But as mentioned previously, trying to quit smoking could be 10 or more times more difficult than learning how to get started with it. Then again, if an individual is really serious, there is no way he/she could ever not succeed. There are a variety of natural methods a person can use in order to help him/her quit smoking. Here are some of them:

Try Using St. John's Wort

Medical and scientific breakthroughs are beginning to see the other wondrous benefits of the herbal supplement St. John's Wort, which is originally used as an anti-depressant. Current studies reveal, that this decreases the cravings of smokers. This is made possible because St. John's Wort raises the level of dopamine in the brain. This, in turn, helps combat the depression that usually accompanies attempts to quit smoking. St. John's wort, which is available in powder or pill form, is one natural way to help people ditch their smoking habit.

Hypnotherapy

Another alternative is hypnotherapy. It is an external means of helping people kick the habit without chemical side effects. The manner in which hypnotherapy addresses the problem of smoking is through targeting the source: the person's cravings. Attacking the problem from the source gives you a better chance of dealing with it.

Just Quit

Some smokers curtailed their smoking habit simply by making the decision to stop and stuck with it. Although this can be very challenging for most, it is not far from achievable. After all, our will plays an integral role in the things that we do. Gathering substantial will power and persistence is what some smokers utilized to aid them in kicking the nasty habit once and for all.

Be a Busy Bee

Sometimes, trying to substitute certain activities to replace smoking can help smokers quit. Keeping the mind preoccupied is one very effective way of diverting one's thoughts from the need to smoke. Try a new hobby or engage in a sports activity. These do not only keep your thoughts away from putting a cigarette in your mouth, but they also benefit your physical and mental well-being.

Resource Box: Maricel Modesto is a writer and editor who writes for various health and lifestyle magazines.

Treating and Preventing Varicose Veins

2008-12-04T22:12:00.000-08:00

Varicose veins are twisted and enlarged veins that commonly occur in the lower legs. This terms is oftentimes associated to the veins seen on the leg, but varicose veins occur in various parts of the body.

Varicose veins are most of the time painful, most especially when walking or just merely standing. Aside from the fact that varicose vein is considered one of the most unwanted cosmetic problems, this often itch and scratching it can even cause ulcers.

Today, varicose vein is now treatable since serious complications are rare in this kind of condition. Non-surgical and pain relief treatments include elastic stockings, sclerotherapy, exercise, as well as by elevating the legs. The traditional surgical treatment for varicose veins is called the vein stripping, wherein it involves the removal of the affected veins. On the other hand, less invasive and newer treatments like endovenous laser treatment and radiofrequency ablation are now replacing the said traditional treatment for varicose veins.

Moreover, there are a number of factors involved in the development or occurrence of varicose veins. These factors include gender, hereditary, age, as well as pregnancy. Although most people, particularly the women, prefer to have their varicose vein outbreak treated immediately by a specialized doctor, those who cannot afford costly treatments make do of natural and non-costly methods to treat and prevent the said condition.

Below are some of the recommended lifestyle changes that can best prevent and treat varicose veins:

1.Practice having a good posture.

Always standing up straight can lead to a good posture. This can also lessen the pressure on the veins.

2.Maintain a healthy and ideal body weight.

If one is overweight, it causes the circulatory system to function harder, thus, increasing the inside pressure in the leg veins.

3.Exercise regularly.

Simple exercise routines such as cycling, swimming, walking, and jogging are enough to improve the overall circulation of the body without adding pressure to the veins.

4.Avoid standing for a long time.

Standing for a long period of time can lead to the development of varicose veins. Wearing mild compression hose is recommended to women who have jobs that require them to stand for a long period of time. This hose will help blood pump efficiently back to the heart.

5.Choose your clothing well.

Wearing clothes that do not constrict the legs, waist, and groin is a must in preventing varicose veins in the legs.

6.Stretch your legs when sitting for a long time.

To prevent developing varicose veins, stretching the legs is a must if one is to sit for a long period of time.

7.Avoid taking birth control pills containing high estrogen.

As for women who want to prevent varicose veins, most doctors prohibit them to take birth control pills that contain high level of estrogen. High-level estrogen can lessen the valves ability to close.

8.Raise the legs for a couple of minutes when lying down.

When lying down, women should raise their legs a few inches above their heart for a couple of minutes. This way, the blood in the lower legs will flow easily back to the heart and lessen the work of the valves.

Resource Box:

Rcon Franchesca V. Pascua is a web content writer and researcher who specializes in health and fitness topics. She enjoys reading health-related features and articles and sharing what she learns by providing tips and guidelines on how to achieve a healthier lifestyle.

Five (Radical)Ways to Say Goodbye to Smoking

2008-12-03T23:16:00.000-08:00

We know all too well that at one time or another, that familiar hooded man always carrying a long-handled scythe would eventually find his way to our door. However, letting him proceed with his own schedule and willingly inviting him over to dinner are two very different things. If we persist with our smoking habit, we have already given him the invitation. So if we value our life and the people we care so deeply for, then don't you think it's about time we say goodbye and split up with our habit for good? We know it is never easy. A cigarette is a paramour to us. To quit smoking cigarettes would mean losing a valuable piece of ourselves. Nevertheless, it is what needs to be done. It should not be too hard when you think about it, really. Below are a five radical suggestions that might just work.

Use the power of imagination. Before we pop that cigarette into our mouth, pause. Then, let us close our eyes and take a deep breath. Once we decide to open our eyes, we would no longer see that all too familiar slim white stick nestled in between our thumb and forefinger(A cigarette, what else?). In its place, what we see is a mottled piece of dried up excrement, filthy and putrid as can be. How would we react?

Search the net for a picture of what was once a living smoker's lungs, all blackened and rotten. Produce a print out of the latter as big as we can make it. Now, go to a doctor and ask for an x-ray procedure to be done on our lungs. Get the results and run back home with them. Go to our room and on the wall right at the foot of our bed or on the ceiling right above it, paste the print out alongside the x-ray of our own lungs. This final step is the easiest: upon waking up and before dozing off, look at these for as long as we can without thinking of anything else. The outcome of this would just flow naturally.

Record our own voice as we say this:”I would never ever smoke again.” Do this for an hour or so. We could also make another record of the terrible effects and data about smoking. Program our player to play these recordings non-stop as we sleep. Leave the rest to our subconscious mind.

Let us go vegetarian. Instead of popping cigarettes into our mouths we can pop carrot or celery sticks instead. This would do us more good than we could possibly imagine. We do not only stave off the bad habit, but we also improve our overall health.

Now, this last suggestion is very easy. Before we start smoking, we should mention these two words repeatedly( more than 12 times at least) to ourselves: 'bad breath' and 'cancer'.

These suggestions are humorous takes on the possibilities of putting an end to our deadly smoking habit. As funny, disgusting, or ridiculously ludicrous as they can be; we know that the effects of smoking is never a laughing matter. Just think: precious minutes of our life are at stake with each stick we smoke.

Resource Box: Maricel Modesto is a writer and editor who writes for various health and lifestyle magazines.

Using Self Hypnosis to Quit Smoking

2008-12-02T23:17:00.000-08:00

Similar to meditation, hypnosis makes use of the right side of the brain—the part of the brain in charge of introspective awareness, calm perceptions, passiveness, and that floating feeling. Hypnotherapy, therefore, is the practice of using hypnosis as a therapy for alleviating certain conditions through the power of suggestion. If a person were to undergo hypnotherapy by himself/herself, this is referred to as self-hypnosis. Using self-hypnosis to quit smoking is one suggested method that can help an individual forgo the habit of smoking permanently. However, it is important that we keep in mind that we have to willfully allow ourselves to believe that this method could work. As with every other method, doubt could deter our success at any cost.

One effective way of self-hypnosis is using the “swish” technique, which was created in 1985 by Bandler. It utilizes “imagery” in helping an individual fend off the effects of any past. This does so through the process of mixing up messages our subconscious has received about what we really desire for ourselves and the habit we want to cut off. Here are the steps for this method:

1.Relax yourself gradually, closing your eyes as you do so.

2.Picture yourself in a theater as you are seated in front of a gigantic screen. Visualize an image of your worst fear regarding smoking. Focus on the worst effect possible and try to conjure an image of it as vividly as you can. Allow yourself to feel the negative feelings stirred up by this image as you fixate your attention to it.

3.Take away this image, leaving the screen blank. Then, replace it with an image of what you would want to be or what you want to happen to yourself. Make it as positive as you can and just as vivid as you did with the negative image. Again, allow yourself to experience the positive feeling that comes with looking at this specific image. Then remove it, leaving the screen blank again.

4.Replace the negative picture on the screen. Afterwards, put the positive picture on its lower right corner. The superimposition of the small positive image over the big negative image would make the aforementioned look like a stamp.

5.Do these things at the same time: say “swish” and as you do this, visualize the small positive image getting bigger and brighter until it supersedes that of the negative image. The latter eventually diminishes until it is gone from the screen.

6.The second the “swish” has transpired, leave the screen blank, or open your eyes abruptly.

7.Repeat the process for at least five times, ascertaining that each “swish” procedure is quicker than the previous one before it.

8.Prior to finishing this method, visualize one more time the negative image you came up with. If the “swish” procedure has been successful, it should be harder for you to get the same image you have visualized originally(it could either become less accurate or blurry).

9.Visualize the positive image again, and take note of how much easier it is for you to conjure this image more vividly than the negative one. Allow this positive image to prevail in your mind. In the event that you haven't achieved the desired results, repeat and think of ways to make your imagery more effective or exact.

Resource Box: Maricel Modesto is a writer and editor who writes for various health and lifestyle magazines.

Common Treatments for Mild Sun-Damaged Skin

2008-11-27T19:27:00.000-08:00

As children, we embraced the glorious energy and delightful pleasures the rays of the sun had to offer us. Remember those times we used to spend on the beach with our families? We bathed in the salty seawater and frolicked in the sand until our skin turned red and raw from too much sun exposure. Back then, we were way too young to worry about sun damage, and even if we had to suffer from the stinging pain of our sun-burned skin, the thought of the seriousness of the condition did not cross our minds at all. To us, it seemed to a be a minor (and temporarily unsightly) inconvenience.

However, with the extensive studies done by scientists came the realization that prolonged and frequent sun exposure would be detrimental to our skin. None of us thought of the possibility of acquiring skin illnesses like skin cancer, which is caused by sun damage.

Generally, curing sun damage requires a lengthy treatment process. However, it can be reversed totally given that correct treatment is utilized. As always, prevention is far better than any cure. Protection from the sun is still our best bet in staving off skin related conditions borne of the damaging effects of the sun. But if the damage is already present, seeking treatment by consulting a dermatologist is our best option.

Luckily, there are now effective treatments available that could prevent skin conditions due to sun damage from getting worse. In the case of mild sun damage, treatments are already widely available. We could also ask our dermatologist for sun exposed skin care intended for alleviating our condition.
Here are some of the common treatments used for mild sun damage. Let us get to know a little about their properties.

Alpha Hydroxy Acids

Alpha Hydroxy Acids help us shed dead skin cells, which in turn would be replaced by new ones. Shedding off dead skin cells promotes improved moisture levels and a more improved skin tone.

Soybeans

Soybeans are proven to be both mild yet effective enough to alleviate or even treat a number of skin conditions. Aside from its soothing properties, these are known to help provide moisture to the skin. Also, it slows down the resurfacing of hair growth.

Vitamins C and E

Vitamins C and E are antioxidants. Although they are popular for their ability to ease damage due to the sun, they can only deal with mild cases. However, when they are applied to the skin directly, they are known to help in diminishing skin discoloration as well as the appearance of fine line and wrinkles.

Retinol

Capable of promoting and keeping our skin healthy, Retinol is a pure form of Vitamin A. It helps in promoting a more effective production of skin cells and Keratinocytes—cells that combine Keratin, a kind of protein that comprises the skin, hair, and nails. Retinol is also popular in promoting softer skin as well as a marked reduction in the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles.

Resource Box: Maricel Modesto is a writer and editor who writes for various health and lifestyle magazines.

Not All Fat is Bad

2008-11-27T01:09:00.000-08:00

When people say fat, they usually start thinking of oily, greasy foods. But not all fat is bad for the body. True that it may not be the safest of food choices, but foods rich in unsaturated fat like avocados, olive oil, and nuts have been found to play and important part in sending a vital message to your brain – “you're full, stop eating.”

A recent study suggests that the above-mentioned healthy oils trigger the production chemical compounds in the small intestine that helps curb hunger pang. According to researchers, this new discovery could well point the way towards new approaches in treating obesity as well as other eating disorders.

Daniele Piomelli, chairperson in Neurosciences for Louise Turner Arnold, and his colleagues observed how oleoylethanolamide (OEA) controls hunger and body weight. In the same study, the group found out that an unsaturated fatty acid called oleic acid triggers OEA production that helps decrease appetite.

Oleic acid is converted into OE by cells in the upper portion of the small intestines. OEA then stimulates nerve endings specifically designed to send hunger-curbing messages to the brain. From there, it triggers a brain circuit that creates a feeling of fullness. Aside from these findings, previous studies have also shown that increasing OEA levels can reduce appetite, aid in weight loss, and lower blood cholesterol levels and triglyceride levels.

Piomelli is hopeful that OEA could soon be used in a variety of medications because it will serve as a key to unlocking how the body naturally processes fatty foods and how it regulates eating and body weight.

The study group excitedly explains that OEA activates cell receptors that have already been the subject of a lot of successful drug development. According to Piomelli, this new discovery is enough to spark hope for a new class of anti-obesity medications which will be based on the use of natural substances and mechanisms to control our appetite.

According to the Center for Disease Control and Prevention, a big chunk of the United States, 30 percent to be more accurate, is obese. And if you look through the steady climb of the country's obesity rate, you'll find that the occurrence of obesity has increased by roughly 60 percent since 1991. It continues to greatly increase the risks of premature deaths, diabetes, heart ailments, stroke, and certain types of cancer. This new information will be quite helpful for obese individuals who wish to turn over a new leaf and start losing weight.

Resource Box : The writer, Abbey Grace Yap, is an active advocate for health consciousness and disease awareness. She possesses a deep passion in discovering new health-related information and sharing it to her readers.

Medical Treatments for Sun-Damaged Skin

2008-11-25T23:02:00.000-08:00

We owe so much to modern medical research and advancement. If not for them, many people would have perished from a variety of illnesses, which were once deemed incurable. These days, detection and prevention of even life-threatening ailments are very plausible given that the individual concerned seeks medical help immediately. Among those ailments blessed to have modern cures capable of reversing the damaging or destructive effects is sun damage wrought on our skin.

Current medical practices now involve the use of high-technology skin care equipment and advanced forms of treatments in reversing the signs of sun damage. Included therein are over-the-counter remedies, prescribed medications, and medicinal healing processes.

Below are the varied medical treatments used for treating sun damaged skin:

Tazarotene

The latest product used for the reversal of sun damage on the skin is Tazarotene. Formerly used for treating psoriasis, it is a retinoid or Vitamin A derivative. Also used for acne treatment, it has been proven effective in curing photoaging.

Tretinoin

Used in the forms of either creams or gels, Tretinoin has been recorded capable of reversing the damaging effects of the sun on our skin. It can smoothen the skin given a certain number of weeks. However, it results to a thickening of both the dermis and the epidermis. It can decrease skin pigmentation by suppressing the melanin content of the epidermis. If continuously used over a long period of time, fine lines and wrinkles are most likely to diminish.

Laser Surgery

For the past decade, laserbrasion has been used and has yielded favorable outcomes. It works by vaporizing very thin layers of the skin. The Erbium laser is more popularly used these days because it yields diminished heat damage to the skin, resulting to more damage to the surface layer and quicker recovery.
The long time allotted for healing serves as the liability of the use of this method. The noticeable redness occurring right after treatment and lasting up to 10 days would require some patients to have a prolonged leave of absence from their work. On the other hand, for some individuals, prolonged redness of the skin leads to its whitening.

Botox

The use of botox is especially advisable to people with wrinkled foreheads or glabella. It works through the inactivation of the muscles found beneath the skin, which is responsible for creating wrinkles and lines. However, these wrinkles are not borne of sun damage. Thus, the quality of the sun-damaged skin is neither removed nor alleviated.

Skin Fillers

Using skin fillers is more advisable for people with deep lines and wrinkles. Collagen and hyaluronic acid are used for this method. Although this form of treatment is tolerable, stinging and burning are common complaints. After treatment, the patient is most likely to experience redness and swelling. Nevertheless, prolonged or continuous redness is few and far between. Prior to subjecting the patient to this process, a minute amount is injected into the test area weeks before, to make sure that the former has no allergic reactions to it.

Resource Box:

Maricel Modesto is a writer and editor who writes for various health and lifestyle magazines.

Tips on Migraine-Proofing Your Home

2008-11-19T22:40:00.000-08:00

Migraine, contrary to popular belief, is not just a severe headache. It is a neurological disease that is debilitating, disabling, and disruptive. Aside from the severely painful headache, migraine attacks are often accompanied by other symptoms like nausea, dizziness, and blurred vision. It is bad enough for people who are suffering migraine to try and manage their symptoms in environments for which they have limited control over like their workplace or other public domains. As such, their homes remain to be their number one refuge when migraines attack.

If you suffer from migraine, there are ways that can help you keep your home family-friendly but migraine-proof as well. Live a comfortable and happy family life despite the migraine by following these tips:

1. Identify potential triggers in your home and keep them out.

Some of the most common migraine triggers are in abundance at home like fragrance, noise, stress, bright lights, and particular foods. While these are common triggers, not all are applicable to every migraine sufferer. Some people experience excruciating headaches when they smell strong fragrance while others do not. Other migraine sufferers might react strongly to noise while some may find bright lights more irritating. Identify the things and situations that trigger your migraine by recording attacks in a journal. This will help you spot patterns and keep the triggers out of your home.

2. Set aside a room to serve a migraine refuge.

This can easily be your bedroom or a small corner in a low-traffic area in your house. Put up dark curtains or blinds to keep the room darkened but install a small lamp for subdued lighting. A comfortable bed or chair can serve as a place to rest and lie down during an attack. If you are easily troubled by noise, you can put in a CD player with soft music or a relaxation CD. Put anything else that makes you more comfortable inside the room but remember to avoid clutter as this can cause stress.

3. Keep a private medicine cabinet.

Migraine pain medications are strong and can cause severe side effects on people who do not need them. As such, it is important to keep your migraine drugs out of the way and in a safe place. The drawer in your nightstand is a good storage space especially if you can lock it. Keep your medicine drawer stocked by learning a safe way to purchase from an online pharmacy that can sell you pain medications at affordable prices.

4. Simplify household chores.

There are a lot of household chores and doing them all on the same day will only mean that you have to do some of them again the next day. Simplify matters by making lists of tasks that need to be done on a daily basis and tasks that need to be done on particular days. You can do this on a computer so you can change the tasks accordingly. Instead of shouldering everything, assign tasks to the members of the family and put this list where people can easily see it. This way, your home can still run smoothly and remain friendly to you instead of becoming a cause of stress when you're unable to do or oversee chores due to migraine attacks.

5. Stock up on anti-migraine foods and fluids.

When migraine attacks, you are less likely to have the appetite to eat a full meal, much more prepare something healthy. Stock your kitchen and pantry with small but healthy snacks like fruits and precut vegetable sticks so you can grab one easily for nourishment. If you have difficulty eating during migraine attacks, stock up on natural fruit juices and low sodium and low fat canned soups and stocks so you can still get adequate nourishment. Keep in mind also to drink plenty of water as hydration is necessary to prevent migraines.

Resource Box:

Kristine Anne Gonzaga is a content writer and researcher who specializes in health topics and health-related issues. She delights in finding tips and ideas on simple and practical healthcare and sharing them through her writing.

Exercise for Less

2008-11-19T01:08:00.000-08:00

Exercising in a gym can be a very motivational fitness move for a couple of reasons: First, gym memberships are usually so expensive – that's why you will be making time for it regardless of how busy you are. And second, going to the gym makes the whole exercise for fitness thing seem more real and gives you the feeling that you are actually exercising. However, if the steep gym fees are what's keeping you from exercising, here are some tips that can help you remedy the problem:

1. Be resourceful.

Everyday activities can be a good source of exercising opportunities. While exercise equipment do contribute to the whole fitness experience, they are not necessary. With a little foresight, activities you may take for granted can become part of your exercise routine. Walking to errands, taking the farthest parking space, or climbing the stairs are excellent opportunities to sneak in some exercise in your daily routine. Household chores, especially those the require movement like vacuuming, scrubbing the floors, raking leaves, or shoveling snow, are also great in providing you with chances to exercise. If all else fails, playing and running after your children should do the trick.

2. Invest in your own equipment.

If you are really in the mood for some exercise equipment, you can invest in your own instead of sharing with other sweaty gym members. And more importantly, you do not have to pay huge monthly fees to get to use them. You do not even have to go for those bulky exercise machines since there are inexpensive exercise equipment that can give you the same benefits without breaking the bank. Dumbbells, for one, are small, hand-held weights that you can use to strengthen your upper body. You can also use resistance tubings to build strength in your arms and other muscles. You can even customize each according to your fitness levels. Jump ropes and exercise videos are also good and cheap exercise equipment.

3. Practice smart shopping.

While window shopping can be great exercise, it does not really do much for the fitness department except make your calves look unbelievably solid. If you're interested in a specific exercise class or piece of equipment, shop around. If you live near a high school or college with a fitness center, ask if the facility is available to community members. Some sporting goods stores specialize in used equipment, or you can check out listings for exercise equipment in the local newspaper. Just make sure that the shipping fees are reasonable and will not put you over your budget.

When it comes to fitness and exercising, don't buy herbal supplements or other products that claim fitness benefits overnight or promise to melt away pounds without diet and exercise. Also avoid exercise products that focus on one body part such as abs or thighs. There's no such thing as spot reducing. What will serve you well is stocking up on muscle relaxants since muscles have the tendency to hurt and seize up after exercising.

Resource Box:

Kristine Anne Gonzaga is a content writer and researcher who specializes in health topics and health-related issues. She delights in finding tips and ideas on simple and practical healthcare and sharing them through her writing.

Mitigating Migraine Attacks

2008-11-16T22:16:00.000-08:00

A home is supposed to be a haven of comfort, but when migraines attack, it can be hard to imagine why. Make your home into a safe and migraine-free zone by practicing the following tips:

1. Keep potential migraine triggers out of your home.

Some of the most common migraine triggers are in abundance at home like fragrance, noise, stress, bright lights, and particular foods. While these are common triggers, not all are applicable to every migraine sufferer. Some people experience excruciating headaches when they smell strong fragrance while others do not. Other migraine sufferers might react strongly to noise while some may find bright lights more irritating. Identify the things and situations that trigger your migraine by recording attacks in a journal. This will help you spot patterns and keep the triggers out of your home.

2. Indulge in a migraine refuge.

This can easily be your bedroom or a small corner in a low-traffic area in your house. Put up dark curtains or blinds to keep the room darkened, but install a small lamp for subdued lighting. A comfortable bed or chair can serve as a place to rest and lie down during an attack. If you are easily troubled by noise, you can put in a CD player with soft music or relaxation CD. Put anything else that makes you more comfortable inside the room, but remember to avoid clutter as this can cause stress.

3. Keep a private medicine cabinet.

Migraine pain medications are strong and can cause severe side effects on people who do not need them. As such, it is important to keep your migraine drugs out of the way and in a safe place. The drawer in your nightstand is a good storage space especially if you can lock it. Keep your medicine drawer stocked by learning a safe way to purchase from an online pharmacy that can sell you pain medications at affordable prices.

4. Simplify household chores.

There are a lot of household chores and doing them all on the same day will only mean that you have to do some of them again the next day. Simplify matters by making lists of tasks that need to be done on a daily basis and tasks that need to be done on particular days. You can do this on a computer so you can change the tasks accordingly. Instead of shouldering everything, assign tasks to the members of the family and put this list where people can easily see it. This way, your home can still run smoothly and remain friendly to you instead of becoming a cause of stress when you're unable to do or oversee chores due to migraine attacks.

5.Stock up on anti-migraine foods and fluids.

When migraine attacks, you are less likely to have the appetite to eat a full meal, much more prepare something healthy. Stock your kitchen and pantry with small but healthy snacks like fruits and pre-cut vegetable sticks so you can grab one easily for nourishment. If you have difficulty eating during migraine attacks, stock up on natural fruit juices and low sodium and low fat canned soups and stocks so you can still get adequate nourishment. Keep in mind also to drink plenty of water as hydration is necessary to prevent migraines.

Resource Box:

Kristine Anne Gonzaga is a content writer and researcher who specializes in health topics and health-related issues. She delights in finding tips and ideas on simple and practical healthcare and sharing them through her writing.

How to Go to Sleep Without the Aid of Sleeping Drugs

2008-11-13T22:22:00.000-08:00

Millions of people find it hard to go to sleep every night. This condition is often diagnosed as insomnia, wherein it takes a lot of effort for a person to fall asleep.

Generally, doctors prescribe sleeping aid medications to patients who experience difficulty in sleeping. Although sleeping aid drugs can be quite effective in helping one have a good night sleep, these drugs can become addictive.

To avoid becoming dependent on prescription sleeping aids, people who find it difficult to go to sleep at night are advised to opt for alternative and non-drug sleeping aid methods and practices. Below are some of the most commonly recommended ways on treating insomnia:

1. Try to do simple chores or other tasks that can keep your mind and body busy.

If you can't go to sleep, try to perform simple or light chores or activities until you feel sleepy. Once you feel tired and sleepy, that is the best time then to go back to bed and sleep.

2. Try to listen to soft music or melody while lying on the bed.

Most people find soft music very relaxing, especially during the time you are about to hit the sheets. Hence, ready your favorite soft tunes before you go to bed, as this can help you find sleep easily.

3. Try to do relaxation techniques.

If you feel agitated or stressed, better practice some relaxation techniques such as gentle stretching and yoga.

4. Try to take a hot bath before going to bed.

Sometimes, difficulty in sleeping only takes having a hot and relaxing bath before hitting the sheets. Put some aromatherapy bubble bath liquid in the hot water, dive in, and enjoy!

5. Try to keep your room lights dim as you sleep.

Some people claim that it is hard to fall asleep in a well-lighted room or place. That is why it is best to keep your room lights dim, for bright lights can make you less sleepy and alert.

6. Try a herbal sleeping aid instead of prescription medications.

Instead of taking prescription drugs as sleeping aids, better take herbal alternatives instead. Some herbal sleeping remedies are proven to induce relaxation and sleep. These herbal sleeping remedies include chamomile, lavender, lime flower, catnip, as well as valerian.

7. Try to take in light snacks if you find it hard to sleep.

If sleep won't come, chow on foods that are high in trytophan amino acid, a perfect sleep inducer. These foods are tuna, turkey, bananas, and figs.

8. Try to make use of essential oils.

To help you relax, essential oils can definitely do the trick. Put them on your hot bath or slather them on your pillows and bed.

9. Try to drink milk before going to sleep.

For a faster trip to dreamland, try to drink one glass of milk before you go to bed. This is not just a healthy daily ritual to practice, but this also helps you sleep faster.

10. Try to establish a regular sleeping routine.

To effectively manage your sleeping problem, try to go to bed and wake up at about the same time everyday. A regular sleeping routine can surely help you not to experience difficulties in sleeping.

Resource Box:

Rcon Franchesca V. Pascua is a web content writer and researcher who specializes in health and fitness topics. She enjoys reading health-related features and articles and sharing what she learns by providing tips and guidelines on how to achieve a healthier lifestyle.

How to Go to Sleep Without the Aid of Sleeping Drugs

2008-11-13T00:07:00.000-08:00

Millions of people find it hard to go to sleep every night. This condition is often diagnosed as insomnia, wherein it takes a lot of effort for a person to fall asleep.

Generally, doctors prescribe sleeping aid medications to patients who experience difficulty in sleeping. Although sleeping aid drugs can be quite effective in helping one have a good night sleep, these drugs can become addictive.

To avoid becoming dependent on prescription sleeping aids, people who find it difficult to go to sleep at night are advised to opt for alternative and non-drug sleeping aid methods and practices. Below are some of the most commonly recommended ways on treating insomnia:

1. Try to do simple chores or other tasks that can keep your mind and body busy.

If you can't go to sleep, try to perform simple or light chores or activities until you feel sleepy. Once you feel tired and sleepy, that is the best time then to go back to bed and sleep.

2. Try to listen to soft music or melody while lying on the bed.

Most people find soft music very relaxing, especially during the time you are about to hit the sheets. Hence, ready your favorite soft tunes before you go to bed, as this can help you find sleep easily.

3. Try to do relaxation techniques.

If you feel agitated or stressed, better practice some relaxation techniques such as gentle stretching and yoga.

4. Try to take a hot bath before going to bed.

Sometimes, difficulty in sleeping only takes having a hot and relaxing bath before hitting the sheets. Put some aromatherapy bubble bath liquid in the hot water, dive in, and enjoy!

5. Try to keep your room lights dim as you sleep.

Some people claim that it is hard to fall asleep in a well-lighted room or place. That is why it is best to keep your room lights dim, for bright lights can make you less sleepy and alert.

6. Try a herbal sleeping aid instead of prescription medications.

Instead of taking prescription drugs as sleeping aids, better take herbal alternatives instead. Some herbal sleeping remedies are proven to induce relaxation and sleep. These herbal sleeping remedies include chamomile, lavender, lime flower, catnip, as well as valerian.

7. Try to take in light snacks if you find it hard to sleep.

If sleep won't come, chow on foods that are high in trytophan amino acid, a perfect sleep inducer. These foods are tuna, turkey, bananas, and figs.

8. Try to make use of essential oils.

To help you relax, essential oils can definitely do the trick. Put them on your hot bath or slather them on your pillows and bed.

9. Try to drink milk before going to sleep.

For a faster trip to dreamland, try to drink one glass of milk before you go to bed. This is not just a healthy daily ritual to practice, but this also helps you sleep faster.

10. Try to establish a regular sleeping routine.

To effectively manage your sleeping problem, try to go to bed and wake up at about the same time everyday. A regular sleeping routine can surely help you not to experience difficulties in sleeping.

Keyword:

Sleeping aids

Resource Box:

Rcon Franchesca V. Pascua is a web content writer and researcher who specializes in health and fitness topics. She enjoys reading health-related features and articles and sharing what she learns by providing tips and guidelines on how to achieve a healthier lifestyle.

The Wonders of Using Avocado Oil in Natural Advantage Skin Care

2008-11-10T17:17:00.000-08:00

With an astounding 731 calories and 30 grams of fat per piece, it comes as no surprise that the avocado fruit has been tagged as a “No-No” for those among us aspiring to lose weight. However, despite its heftiness in the calorie scale, nutritionists still advise us to include moderate portions of it in our daily diet, for the nutritional benefits we can obtain from it still outranks its heavy calorie and fat content.

The avocado oil in particular is very useful both as a food and as a natural advantage skin care emollient. On one hand, it is used as an ingredient for certain dishes. It can also be used for cooking in replacement or as a substitute for standard cooking oils. It is touted to be as good and flavorful as olive oil.

On the other hand, the avocado oil has been used since time immemorial as a lubricant. It is one of the most popular ingredients in beauty products. Its inherent rich moisturizing and regenerative components are perfectly beneficial to our skin and hair. Aside from this, its high content of important fatty acids make it ideal for not only preventing dry skin, but also for keeping it firm and supple. But there is more to the avocado oil when it comes to beauty benefits apart from these. To learn more about the wonderful benefits of the avocado oil in natural advantage skin care, read on.

* Avocado Oil has better skin penetrating properties than other natural oils. Thus, it is more suitable for use in making transdermal treatments. In addition, its capability to permeate even very deep target areas make it effective in transporting other additional supplements.

* Avocado oil can restructure connective tissue and retard or stop the growth of unwanted bacteria.

* It is also used for wounds because it can speed up the healing process. Moreover, it is used to keep post-operative dressing from sticking to wounds and burns.

* Famous for its anti-wrinkle properties, it raises the amount of soluble collagen in the dermis. It also benefits the skin by softening it and slowing down the aging process.

* Avocado oil is widely used for various hair products because it works well on damaged hair aside from acting as a natural stimulant for its good health and growth.

* The powerful UV-absorption components of avocado oil makes it an excellent supplement in reinforcing the effects of UV-A and UV-B absorbers. Using avocado oil as an ingredient for these products makes it more effective in the sense that it diminishes the sunscreen concentration, thus, decreasing the possibility of skin irritation for some people. Based on a comparative study of eight plant oils, the avocado oil proved to be the best sunscreen of them all.

* It is a high quality base oil that can be used for making massage oils and other skin and facial oils.

* Avocado oil has been proven safe and effective for use in making cosmetics because it does not generate problems related to the following: photo-toxicity, sensitization potential, comedogenicity, and formation of free radicals.

* Large amounts of avocado oil is not necessitated to produce optimum results as compared to other natural oils.

Resource Box: Maricel Modesto is a writer and editor who writes for various health and lifestyle magazines.

Methods of Treatment for Depression

2008-11-06T01:06:00.000-08:00

In selecting the best antidepressant to address your symptoms, your doctor/psychiatrist takes into consideration several factors. Included therein are your family history and other health conditions you may possibly have. It may take several attempts before you would determine the one that works best for you, addressing your symptoms head on without inflicting very serious side effects.

On the whole, majority of antidepressants available in pharmacies are efficacious. However, some of them could increase your chances of suffering from intolerable side effects. Generally speaking, no antidepressant drug is without any side effects. Yet, the manner in which each one of them affects patients differs on a case to case basis. In most people's cases, however, the best treatment comes through a combination of taking the best medication and psychotherapy.

Certain cases of depression can be treated by your regular doctor. Nevertheless, in most cases, a certified psychiatrist is consulted for such illnesses related to emotional and psychological well-being. The variegated forms of treatment conventionally used for addressing depression are the following: prescribed drugs, psychotherapy, and Electroconvulsive Therapy (ECT). As previously mentioned, the prescribed drugs used to alleviate this kind of condition are usually effective. Prior to prescribing them to patients, psychiatrists/doctors have a systematic way of assessing them. Here is how they do it:

* Initial Options

At the beginning of the treatment, most doctors/psychiatrists would prescribe an SSRI. An acronym and common term for Selective Serotonin Reuptake Inhibitor, SSRI is the typical first choice for two important reasons: It is effective and has bearable side effects as compared to other antidepressants. Fluoxetine, paroxetine, setraline, citalopram, and escitalopram are all classifed as SSRIs. Aside from SSRIs, the other typical first options would include any of the following other antidepressants: serotonin and noropinephrine reuptake inhibitors(SNRIs), noropinephrine and dopamine reuptake inhibitors(NDRIs), tetracyclic antidepressants, and a combination of reuptake inhibitors and receptor blockers.

* Second Options

Although tricyclic antidepressants(TCAs) have been in existence prior to the introduction of SSRIs, the latter is considered as the most popular first choice. The main reason explaining this is the fact that the aforementioned possess a greater number of more intense side effects over that of SSRIs. Despite this, it does not discount the effectiveness of tricyclic antidepressants. For most cases, they are only prescribed if SSRIs fail to address the patient's symptoms.

* Last Options

When neither SSRIs nor TCAs would not work, monoamine oxidase inhibitors (MNRIs) are prescribed by doctors/psychiatrists. Although MAOIs are efficacious on the whole, they possess more severe side effects in comparison to SSRIs and TCAs. At times, these side effects can even be injurious to the patient. Moreover, in using MAOIs, doctors/psychiatrists may advise skipping certain foods, for they may pose dangerous negative effects that can even be life-threatening.

* Other Methods

Certain instances may prompt your doctor/psychiatrist to use augmentation, a process of using two or more antidepressants and other medicines to obtain the maximum benefits. Included among these other choices are the following: mood stabilizing drugs, anti-anxiety drugs, and anti-psychotic drugs.

Resource Box: Maricel Modesto is a writer and editor who writes for various health and lifestyle magazines.

Honey Cures and Benefits

2008-11-04T18:14:00.000-08:00

Probably, when man first started hunting for honey approximately 10,000 years ago, he was unaware that it had more uses beyond the realms of the kitchen. A thick golden liquid with a distinctively sweet taste and aroma, honey as we all know is a product derived from flower nectar. Its characteristically sweet taste, which is similar to that of granulated sugar, is obtained from the monosaccharides, fructose and glucose. It possesses distinctive chemical components which make it ideal for baking purposes. However, it wasn't until 2,700 years ago that the medicinal properties of honey were placed under the spotlight courtesy of the Egyptians.

At present, it is being used for a variety of medicinal purposes. It is also regarded as one of the natural materials used for safe pain relief. Apart from these, it has chemical properties that make it beneficial for health and beauty purposes. Let us get to know more about the different ways in which honey can be used. Here they are.

Honey is used as treatment for some digestive disorders. It is known to be easily processed and imbibed into the stomach. It benefits our intestines by making it more active. Also, it does not irritate the digestive channel walls, which makes it ideal for patients with digestive problems. In line with this, it is known to boost metabolism and aids in comfortable bowel movement.

Honey can be effectively used to prevent ulcer formations in the stomach because it has the capacity to block the intensity of raised acidity in the digestive system.

It is also used as an effective treatment for poisoning.

Honey is particularly helpful in obliterating pain. It possesses helpful antifungal and antibacterial components for healing tissues associated with all kinds of injuries.

It is also known for its beneficial uses in curing and preventing various skin ailments and infections.

For our skin, it works as an excellent moisturizer. It contains both rejuvenating and moisturizing properties. It is particularly effective in reducing the appearance of wrinkles.

In the case of skin burns, honey does not only cool the affected area, but it also relieves pain. It can heal the burn without scarring.

For sleep disorders, honey aids in promoting a peaceful sleep. In line with this, it is also known to help us fall asleep more quickly.

The calcium and phosphorus content of honey makes it ideal for promoting the healthy growth of our bones and teeth. It can be helpful in preventing children from contracting rickets.

Aside from those mentioned previously, honey works well in healing infections caused by athritits and rheumatism.

The antibiotic properties of honey aids in soothing throat and tonsil infection. It also alleviates coughing.

Science has proven the effectiveness of honey in weight reduction. It stimulates the production of hormones that are known to fight obesity.

Mixed with milk, honey can raise a man's sperm production.

For nursing mothers, honey can be taken to replace the vitamins and minerals she has lost while breast feeding.

As a pain reliever, honey can help diminish menstrual pain. It is also touted as an effective means for healing breast cancer.

Resource Box: Maricel Modesto is a writer and editor who writes for various health and lifestyle magazines.

Facing Side Effects of Birth Control Pills

2008-11-02T21:39:00.000-08:00

Loosely defined, birth control pills are female hormones in capsule or tablet form. The hormones in birth control pills or BCP control the functions of the ovaries and in general, the whole female reproductive system. They can alter and cause changes in a woman's regular hormonal cycle which will in turn prevent a pregnancy from occurring.

By releasing additional female hormones in the body, birth control pills or oral contraceptives, as they are commonly called, prevent ovulation. The process of ovulation pertains to the development of a young egg cell or ovum into maturity which makes it ready for fertilization. Aside from preventing ovulation, birth control pills can also cause the thickening of cervical mucus which will make it difficult for sperm to pass through. Another function of the pill is to thin out the uterine lining which will make it next to impossible for the mature ovum to attach itself and be fertilized. Its benefits notwithstanding, birth control pills or BCPs also cause some side effects:

Light bleeding in-between periods
Some women may experience bleeding in-between periods when they first start using oral contraceptives. While uncomfortable, this side effect is only a sign that the body is adjusting to the introduction of additional hormones. This side effect may last for up to three months but will eventually pass. Using low-absorbency tampons, sanitary pads, and pantyliners can make in-between period bleeding more manageable. It is also generally advised that women who experience this side effect should take iron supplements to combat anemia.

Missed periods
Alternatively, the body may skip periods in the course of adjusting to oral contraceptive use. While this is relatively better than bleeding, skipped periods can leave a woman feeling bloated. Decreasing sodium intake can minimize water retention and the bloated sensation. However, if pill use is inconsistent or there are times of missed pill intakes, medical attention should be sought especially if a woman engaged in unprotected sex for possible pregnancy.

Nausea or dizziness
Due to increased hormones in the body, a woman may feel dizzy and nauseous when taking oral contraceptives. The best way to manage this is to chart when the dizzy spells come or what triggers the nausea. For example, if dizzy spells are experienced an hour or two after taking the pill, a woman should consider changing the schedule of her pill intake to a comfortable time like before bedtime. Carrying smelling salts or soothing aromatherapy oils can make passing dizzy spells easier.

Weight change
Although some women lose weight when taking oral contraceptives, a larger number reports experiencing weight gain when taking birth control pills. While studies show that there is no causal relationship between weight gain and oral contraception, they indicate that a large percentage of the reported increase in weight of pill users are based on how women react to the mood swings and other side effects of pill use. Women can manage their weight when taking oral contraceptives by exercising portion control, staying active, and maintaining a healthy diet.

Resource Box:
Kristine Anne Gonzaga is a content writer and researcher who specializes in health topics and health-related issues. She delights in finding tips and ideas on simple and practical healthcare and sharing them through her writing.

Hypnotize Those Fats Away

2008-10-30T20:52:00.000-07:00

Food is not only intended to provide our body with physical sustenance. A necessity to fuel our biological system, without food, none of us would be capable of performing our usual functions at work, school, home, and even in our private affairs. However, to some of us, they mean so much more than just something we need to stay alive.

If you find yourself frequently munching on the largest pack of potato chips every time you feel the urge, to the point that you no could no longer fit into your favorite pair of jeans, then you know very well what is being addressed here. You understand that there are some people like you who see food as so much more than just sustenance.

Put it this way, you are among the growing population of people who have come to rely on food to compensate for whatever lack you may have in your life. As distressing as this may sound, you have to accept that this is the global truth we are stressing here: There are many emotional eaters in the world who use food to make up for the emotional distress they experience. On top of this, majority of them are not even aware of it, not even when they realize they have ballooned to such enormous proportions that they could not fit through the front door any more.

Luckily, there are so many ways for people like you to come to terms with this reality, and help you banish those excessive fats from your body for good. One such method is hypnosis.

The common practice of using hypnosis to stop smoking has extended beyond to other problems including weight-related ones like yours. Emotional eating is linked to how your brain addresses the negative emotions brought on by the stressful events you have encountered. Using hypnosis can work in going straight to the heart of your problem. If you are interested in trying out this method, here are the steps.

*Let yourself relax. Then close your eyes and allow yourself to explore this state of relaxation further.

*Using imagery, identify the many different reasons that prompt you to eat. Triggers can be anything from the time of day, down to the mere act of thinking about the food item itself. For emotional eaters, it could be an exact emotion or anything that would remind them of a specific trauma.

*Find out if you are feeling hungry as of this moment. Then ask yourself what might feel good in your stomach at this time. Use your imagination to visualize your choice of food.

*Picture yourself consuming this particular food. Then try to see how it would feel in your stomach afterwards.

*Now, picture yourself eating nothing at this point. Compare the feelings you get from these two visualizations. It is only when it feels better would you entertain the possibility of keeping the food for eating purposes.

*Try out as many different kinds of food as you like. Do this until you have decided on which kind of food would provide you with comfort over time. In this case, bear in mind that fattening foods tend to make you feel bad after some time. They also make you feel lethargic and heavy.

*After you have done this exercise, eat the food, which you have identified as the one that would make your stomach feel best over time.

Resource Box: Maricel Modesto is a writer and editor who writes for various health and lifestyle magazines.

How to Ease Tension Headache

2008-10-27T19:38:00.000-07:00

With all the pressure brought on by the hustle and bustle of daily life, who would not be tense? In everything we do, we face challenges and have no other recourse but to take necessary risks in order to thrive in an ever-competitive environment. Our own frustrations could raise the tension level a notch if we let it get to us. The same thing goes for our interpersonal relationships. Friction caused by misunderstandings or hefty demands are also contributory factors, leading to that perennially increasing ball of solid pressure bearing down on our heads. These are just some of the many reasons why we often get tension headaches these days.

Nevertheless, tension headaches, like pollution, is just another aspect of reality that we all have to contend with. However, uncomfortable as they can get, we do have several choices when it comes to dealing with tension headaches. There are several measure we can take that may provide fast pain relief for that all too common tight feeling we get around our heads when we feel overwhelmed by tension. Some of them may not prove to be as quick, but they may still work. Let us give them a try next time we feel the beginnings of a tension headache striking us again.

*

Take a pain reliever immediately. All of us are most likely to reach into our medicine cabinets at the first sign of a headache, and we have a very good reason to do so: pain relievers work. Their components alleviate our condition by easing the swelling of our blood vessels, which helps our blood flow more easily.
*

Lie down and relax. Choose a dark quiet place free from obstructions and interruptions of all sorts. Make sure that it has a comfortable couch or bed for us to lie on. Close our eyes for a few minutes, and free our thoughts of anything and everything preoccupying it at the moment.
*

Slowly imbibe a very cold drink. Do not drink it all at once. Let us take our time and make sure that it is really cold. Put lots of ice cubes. Take sips of this freezing water as we are lying down. We can also try putting some of the ice in an ice pack, and then place it on our head. This would help cool us down.
*

Inhale deeply and then exhale. Do not rush. Feel the air fill our diaphragm. As we do this, our tummy should expand. When we exhale, our tummy should contract. As we exhale, let the air out through our lips. Imagine that we are releasing the tension.
*

Let us try doing a muscle relaxation exercise.
*

Determine every possible reason we may have for feeling so tense. Do not hold back. Let it all out. It would be better if we write down all these reasons. This practice symbolizes our attempt to free ourselves from these causes of tension. Writing them down helps ease the pressure off our chest, as well as our head.

Resource Box: Maricel Modesto is a writer and editor who writes for various health and lifestyle magazines.

Treating Female Sexual Dysfunction

2008-10-24T02:34:00.000-07:00

Millions of women from around the world suffer from Female Sexual Dysfunction or frigidity. This condition lessens or completely dissolves a woman's sexual appetite or libido. There are a number of factors that can trigger female sexual dysfunction. Among these are physiological conditions, side effects of medicinal products, as well as emotional or psychological issues.
Despite the fact that female sexual dysfunction is a very common sexual health condition that can trigger in sexually active women anytime, there is a treatment available for this condition. This is none other than to go to a licensed therapist who specializes in sexual health complications.
Now, if you are one of the many women who are suffering from female sexual dysfunction, the best thing to do is to consult a doctor regarding your condition. Read on below for the course of treatment commonly conducted by a doctor for the female sexual dysfunction condition.

A competent sexual health doctor will:

* Diagnose and treat causes of sexual dysfunction.

The sexual health therapist will conduct a thorough physical examination in order to determine if you manifest any common physiological contributor to sexual dysfunction such as infection, renal failure, cardiovascular and vascular disease, hypertension, nerve or spinal trauma, genital and pelvic conditions, as well as neurological complications. During the consultation, the doctor will check for vaginal dryness, infections, or painful areas in the genitalia.

* Make use of counseling as treatment.

Sexual health doctors can make use of counseling to treat psychological and emotional issues that trigger female sexual dysfunction. Emotional and psychological issues may include anxiety, fear, depression, and difficulty interacting with the opposite sex.

* Show what a healthy sexual function and libido is as well as the association of good physical health to a healthy sexual life.

As part of the treatment, sexual health doctors will educate you on what a healthy sexual function is. The doctor will also explain the relationship of a healthy physical condition to a good sexual function. It is also possible that the doctor will give suggestions on how you can better your sexual performance with your partner. Most of the time, sexual health doctors refer their patients to a sex therapist for further treatment.

* Check if harmful factors like alcohol and nicotine trigger the condition.

Sexual health doctors will also check if nicotine or alcohol has something to do with your condition. If ever your condition is linked to the intake of either of the two substances, the doctor will most probably help you in reducing or eliminating your use or intake of these substances, which can trigger the said sexual health condition.

* Determine if current prescription medication used adversely affect sexual health condition.

It is very important for your doctor to know what medications you are currently taking, as these may have adverse effects to your overall sexual health. If ever you are currently taking medicines that can somehow affect your sexual functioning, the doctor will either request you to stop or reduce taking them. On your part, it is best to be honest to your doctor regarding your other health conditions to avoid having further complications.

Resource Box:
Rcon Franchesca V. Pascua is a web content writer and researcher who specializes in health and fitness topics. She enjoys reading health-related features and articles and sharing what she learns by providing tips and guidelines on how to achieve a healthier lifestyle.

Natural Cure for Anxiety

2008-10-08T20:40:00.000-07:00

Feeling anxious every once so often is normal. Looking at it positively, anxiousness pushes us to become wary of possible consequences which may not be entirely to our liking. It keeps us from becoming too comfortable to the point that we become negligent and come to harm. However, if we are anxious all the time, and it has already gotten in our way of enjoying a peaceful existence, then it is high time we pay our psychiatrist a visit. For all we know, we could already be suffering from an anxiety disorder. Generally, such psychological ailments would entail the use of certain prescription medicines, most of which would be classified under psychotropic drugs, and psychotherapy.

However, prior to resorting to these traditionally accepted treatments for anxiety, there are other options that do not involve the use of synthetic drugs. A natural cure for anxiety could be in the form of herbs and other medicinal plants in order to alleviate our condition. According to people who advocate natural remedies, making use of natural plants and other materials for addressing ailments could work better since they are supposedly devoid of side effects. If you have been feeling more anxious than you used to lately, then trying these out could be the answer you are searching for.

Get a massage.

All forms of massage therapy are intended to ease muscle tension, promote better sleeep, and diminish stress.

Try the powers of passionflower.

A study that involved 198 participants has proven the efficacious properties of passionflower in addressing the symptoms of anxiety. In addition, another study has confirmed that its effect is similar to that of benzodiazepine drugs. However, unlike other natural remedies for anxiety, using passionflower can have adverse physical effects. These are vomiting, dizziness, and heart palpitations. It is also important to take into consideration that passionflower can never be taken alongside other sedatives without medical supervision.

Valerian may work, too.

Valerian is an herb that is widely popular for treating insomnia. Yet, it is also used for treating anxiety. Like passionflower, using it may generate adverse physical side effects, such as dizziness, headaches, slight indigestion, and rapid heartbeats.

Consider the positive effects of kava.

Popularly utilized as a medicine, kava, a shrub native to Polynesia, is known to work against human anxiety. However, the United States Food and Drug Administration has released a public advisory warning consumers of its negative effect to our liver.

Why not try the therapeutic effects of aromatherapy?

A commonly known branch of herbal medicine, aromatherapy makes use of the medicinal components of plants, essential oils, and herbs. Among the essential oils used to address the symptoms of anxiety are the following: lavender, ylang-ylang, rose, sandalwood, melissa, neroli, jasmine, geranium, cypress, and bergamot. However, among them, lavender is the one that is widely used for promoting relaxation.

You can also try GABA.

Gamma-aminobutyric acid or GABA is an amino acid used in some anxiety drugs to impact our brain receptors. It is known to have a positive effect in addressing the symptoms of anxiety.

Summary:

Prior to resorting to these traditionally accepted treatments for anxiety, there are other options that do not involve the use of synthetic drugs. A natural cure for anxiety could be in the form of herbs and other medicinal plants in order to alleviate our condition. According to people who advocate natural remedies, making use of natural plants and other materials for addressing ailments could work better since they are supposedly devoid of side effects.

Resource Box: Maricel Modesto is a writer and editor who writes for various health and lifestyle magazines.

Possibility Of Cracking Herpes Now Exists

2008-07-23T02:34:00.000-07:00

Cold sores and shingles, two forms of the very annoying – and very difficult to deal with – herpes virus may no longer be as difficult to find and flush out as it has been since it was discovered. U.S.-based researchers believe they have managed to found a way to flush out the annoying little virus using a mysterious genetic trait carried by the herpes simplex-1 virus – which causes cold sores in those who are infected by it – that allows it to linger undetected in the nerves that it infects. The herpes virus, according to the research team, manages to remain in stealth mode via the use of microRNAs, small bits of genetic material that allow for the regulation of the activities of many viruses.

According to the researchers, it is possible to force the virus to become active, and then proceed to eliminate it by using standard antiviral medications. One cited example was acyclovir. This information was stated by Jennifer Lin Umbach, from Duke University in North Carolina, who was one of those who worked on the study that obtained the data. Umbach said that the team was trying to go into animal trials to determine the veracity of their assumptions.

Based on news reports, the team from Duke is engaging in discussions for a potential collaborative effort with Regulus Therapeutics LLC, a joint venture between Alnylam Pharmaceuticals, Inc and Isis Pharmaceuticals, Inc. The group is known for specializing in microRNA studies.

The herpes viruses are known for causing many permanent infections, often heading straight to the nerve cells they damage. The ability of the virus to remain dormant in the life of any given host – animal or human – can often cause periodic outbreaks to occur when the virus begins to awaken. Herpes simplex-1 causes cold sores, herpes simplex 2 causes genital herpes, and varicella can cause chicken pox in younger patients. For older patients, varicella can appear as herpes zoster, the cause of shingles. Anti-viral medications have only been known to slow the progress of the virus down, not remove it from the body outright.

The main problem I’ve seen in texts about herpes is that it can’t be killed with any treatment available if the bug is still inactive. Without the virus being active and causing damage, it simply can’t be treated or stopped. Another interesting trait of the condition is that the same virus can end up infecting different neurons in the same body, and were also able to activate the infections at different times. These two combined traits make it difficult – if not outright impossible – to wipe out an infection in a single person, let alone a widespread and dormant one. This means that discovering the gene that controls the microRNAs that trigger the active stage of the virus can go a long way in helping medical science counter the threat of herpes.

However, for the time being, this is all strictly conjecture at this point. There’s still no direct evidence saying that it would be possible to activate those genetic markers, let alone be able to activate them reliably. Still, this is currently the best lead medical science has to finding a cure for herpes, so not everything is bad.

Resource Box : Harvey Ong is currently employed as a researcher for an online media company, currently writing about pharmaceutical products and herbal remedies. He is also an amateur paleontologist and has a collection of various animal toxins, for research reasons.

Protein-Alzheimer’s Link Being Probed

2008-07-06T19:38:00.001-07:00

Alzheimer’s. People know it. People fear it.

Unfortunately, people can’t cure it, either.

The sad part is that nobody seems to have any idea what causes this problem. There are numerous scattered theories that suggest one thing or another, but really, the medical community knows very little about the causes of this. Which sort of makes it a disease that’s exceedingly tough to cure, doesn’t it? After all, if you don’t know what’s causing a problem, you’re sort of stuck playing damage control for the effects. You can’t really solve it without knowing what the root of it is. This is, presumably, why there are so many studies going on that are trying to find out what makes Alzheimer’s tick. Once we know what causes it, maybe we can find a way to reverse the damage? Or maybe even prevent it from happening. A bit of a dream, so for now, we stick with treatment.

Well, there might be some hope along that horizon. A research team believes that they may have found a sticky little protein that could be linked to the condition. They’ve found that they caused symptoms of memory loss similar to a number of forms of dementia in rats by injecting a protein they call beta-amyloid. According to them, this protein is also present in patients with Alzheimer’s. Apparently, it forms some sort of plague-like problem that can be found in the brains of people with the aforementioned condition. Nobody’s really been able to tell whether this was the cause or just one of the side effects, though. After all, the problem shows up in people without Alzheimer’s.

Tests have been done on this protein before, I’m told. This is because, as stated, it does tend to show up in patients with Alzheimer’s. Many believed that it might have held some sort of connection to the cause of the disease. Some believed that the discovery of the protein in people without the condition negated that hypothesis, but this latest revelation is proving promising in reviving beta-amyloid as a potential avenue of research. And in the quest to find out what triggers Alzheimer’s – and how to fix the damage so that the trigger can be undone – then any given lead is as good as anything.

It should be made known that there are basically three types of the aforementioned protein. Each of them is, clearly, of the sticky variety. Each one is generally found in patients with Alzheimer’s, and in some cases, in people who don’t have the condition and have no signs of developing any form of dementia. According to the research team, the first two types did not cause any sort of dementia in the laboratory test subjects that were injected with it. Whether or not this disproves the connection with dementia is unknown. The third type of the protein, in contrast, definitely caused some effect. Most of the test rats that were injected with it developed dementia.

The question now, however, is why did this happen? And furthermore, can it be prevented?

Resource Box : Harvey Ong is currently working as a writer-researcher for an online pharmaceutical company. He has also had experience field testing blackjack betting systems and is an amateur poker player.

Protein-Alzheimer’s Link Being Probed

2008-07-06T19:38:00.000-07:00

Alzheimer’s. People know it. People fear it.

Unfortunately, people can’t cure it, either.

The question now, however, is why did this happen? And furthermore, can it be prevented?

Differing Approaches To Achieving Wellness

2008-06-27T06:30:00.000-07:00

Everyone wants to achieve a state of better health and wellness. There are medications, treatments, exercises, shows, and books dedicated to helping people get to this proposed state. However, there is something that is being ignored amidst all this. This is something important, I think. In fact, it is probably more important than any of the advice or techniques about achieving wellness. You see, this thing is a question that people don’t seem to be answering. If they are answering it, the answer either isn’t very clear or conflicts with what everyone else seems to think the answer is. No, I’m not talking about life itself. Everyone knows life means ’42.’ What I’m talking about is what does it actually mean to “achieve wellness?”

Most of the medical establishment tends to recapitulate the same words and phrases that comprise that is seen to be standard wisdom for achieving wellness. Watch your diet. Exercise regularly and properly. Drop the extra pounds that you have. Quit smoking. Have your body screened regularly for various dire illnesses so you can avoid problems early on. Keep your blood sugar and cholesterol levels as low as you can. Keep in touch with your primary medical provider, and have any aches and pains checked out – they might be signs of even worse problems. These things are what the medical establishment wants you to remember; these are the things they saw will help you achieve wellness and better physical health. Still, there are those who choose to dissent – and some of them are from the medical community itself.

According to a certain Dr. Hadler, all the fitness and health in the world can’t undo one simple fact: we’re all going to die. No, he doesn’t have a skull decorating his desk, but that would add a touch of visual confirmation of his view. He says that all the good stuff in the world isn’t going to do much help against the ravages of time and aging. There is no way to hold off every dire illness in existence at bay for eternity, much less something as unstoppable as time. The fact is, permanent wellness is simply impossible to achieve – it isn’t even a real option. He says that the real goal should be reaching a ripe, venerable age with most of one’s core physical abilities still largely intact – no loss of hearing, sight, bodily functions, and the like. He also says that if you want to achieve that long-term goal, ignoring the medical establishment is the easiest way to do it.

The fun part is that both these sets of advice are from people in the medical establishment. That simple little detail means that they both have a rather large degree of credibility. The question becomes which one is really the more accurate one. That isn’t so easy, because on one hand, Hadler is right in saying that you’re going to die eventually, so delaying it shouldn’t even be considered an option. On the other, nobody really wants to die and doing a lot of healthy things can not only delay death, but also decrease the risk of dying in certain ways.

Resource Box : Harvey Ong is a part-time writer and a part-time researcher. He is currently self- studying various Far Eastern languages and is an avid fiction reader. He is currently writing articles oriented towards consumers of pharmaceutical products, but has written about used car loans, gambling and casino strategies, and overseas travel in the past.

Old Drug, New (Cancerous) Horizons

2008-06-12T07:42:00.000-07:00

Competition, they say, is one of the reasons for innovation and development. So long as one group isn’t trying to sabotage the other and is legitimately working on their project, things should go fine. This has been applied to everything from business to weapons development, and it has worked. So really, you and I should not be shocked to learn that something like this is going on in the twisted little world we know as medicinal research. The way most pharmaceutical and medical research companies go about their business is highly driven by competition – the urge to get the product out and start raking in the profits for it. Only in rare situations will the competitive nature of the game actually make two companies meet in battle at one of the biggest cancer conferences in the world and both leave standing tall.

Incidentally, this is also good news for cancer patients.

You see, data presented at the aforementioned conference is predicted to boost the sales of a drug called Erbitux. The drug, developed and sold by ImClone Systems, is expected to see increased use as an initial medication for patients that have advanced cases of lung and colorectal cancers, thanks to this data. However, others believe that this increase in revenue might come at the cost of the drug Avastin. Avastin, made by a company known as Genentech, has long been used as the frontline pharmaceutical treatment for the cancers previously mentioned. Still, most analysts of the industry and the doctors working the hospitals believe that the growth of one drug does not necessarily have to be the thing that kills the other.

Supposedly, the view these doctors have is that the data doesn’t hold enough clinical merit to take market share away from the established Avastin.

Both of these medications were designed to target a specific type of therapy. They’re supposed to help in blocking the mechanisms that are responsible for the growth of the cells in a tumor. Avastin has long been seen as the primary medication of this type, with more than double the sales of its closest rival, Erbitux. Still, the two drugs do have a number of differences that kept them largely away from each other’s market shares. Avastin, if I’m recalling this right, was used in advanced colorectal cancer – with some patient using it for lung and breast cancer, too. Erbitux, up until now, was approved for use as a treatment for colon cancer of the last resort variety – which means that it could only be given to a patient if all else fails. Head and neck cancer are not alien to the drug, either.

Still, the information does prove interesting to look at. Data showed that patients with certain genetic triggers and mutations in their tumors did not react to Erbitux. Most of the patients don’t have the mutation in their tumors, and they showed remarkable levels of improvement in their colorectal cancer after being given the drug. Regulators in Europe are considering approving it, but only for patients that don’t have mutant tumors rampantly growing inside them.

Resource Box : Harvey Ong is a part-time researcher, with special interest in the occult, medical anomalies, herbal lore, and psychology. He is also employed as a writer- researcher, researching and writing articles about a variety of pain killers, muscle relaxants, sexual health medications, and psychoactive drugs.

Stem Cells Might Fix Neurological Problems In Children

2008-06-09T08:18:00.000-07:00

The Catholic Church would have you think that anything involving these things would be tantamount to selling your soul, your children’s souls, and your children’s children’s souls to the devil himself. All for the price of a shiny nickel, at that. Medical science would have you thinking otherwise. Medical science claims that the cells might be the key to curing a number of conditions, and providing treatment for some of the most lethal conditions known to man. The science behind it is sound, but the Church is opposed to it because of the supposed price tag: human embryos.

Now, we’re not going to get ourselves into the ridiculous debate about whether or not an embryo is alive or is just a bunch of cells (I personally take the latter side, but that’s beside the point) here. We are, however, going to delve into the latest development along the scientific front of this argument, because let’s face it, even if stem cells cure cancer, the Church is going to stay the Church and renounce it as “the devil’s work,” like they’ve been doing to various scientific achievements since the Dark Ages.

The latest development involves sticking embryonic stem cells into the brains of mice. Why is this a major development, oh wise and all-knowing guru, you may ask? I’ll tell you, and I won’t even charge you $300 for it, like a certain group that claims to be a religion but is actually a sham. You see, scientists stuck a few of the cells into the brains of mice. Now, these injected mice were all suffering from a neurological condition that, oddly enough, is something that human children suffer from. Okay, the conditions are eerily similar, but they’re not exact replicas of one another. Anyway, that’s not the point. The point is this: the mice recovered.

That’s right, the mice recovered from debilitating neurological conditions that would have otherwise left them mentally handicapped for the rest of their lives. Well, as mentally handicapped as can be recognized in mice, at least. The fact that some of these mice recovered has put up a lot of hope for the same technique being used to fix similar conditions in human children. As soon as science works all the problems out and figures out why other lab rats ended up dead anyway.

The core idea of the treatment is fixing the defective wires running though the brain and spinal cord. This means that the broken ones will either need to be repaired or replaced. The human body is largely capable of regenerating any sort of cell, even brain cells and neurons. However, some conditions can make that task either too slow to do any good, or completely shut it down. Besides, a lot of damage can be done while the body is working to fix itself. The stem cells are triggered to become the appropriate cells to conduct repairs, which is generally a lot faster than waiting for the body to generate new cells on its own.

By:Harvey Ong