Archive for March, 2011

Benicar 10 mg for Easing Blood Pressure and Managing Hypertension

Monday, March 28th, 2011

Manufactured by Pfizer, this FDA approved drug has revolutionised the treatment of hypertension and is recommended for use by itself or in combination with other HBP medications. The active ingredient in Benicar is olmesartan medoxomil. Benicar is available in varying doses and adult hypertension patients are started off on Benicar 20 mg daily. The dosage is increased in case the patient is not responding to lower dosage. A diuretic might be necessary to complement the Benicar dosage for optimum effect. In the case of hypertensive children below 16 years, similar dosage is recommended although under close medical supervision.

Blood pressure is measured on the basis of two readings. The reading on top is known as the systolic blood pressure and the number below is the diastolic blood pressure. An individual is said to have high blood pressure when his or her average blood pressure readings are higher than 140/90. (more…)

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Adjusting to Life with Childhood Diabetes

Wednesday, March 23rd, 2011

It’s hard enough to cope with parenting an adolescent, and if you throw juvenile diabetes into the mix it may feel impossible. Educate yourself, make a plan with your diabetes team, and keep lines of communication open between you and your child, and you can go back to disagreeing about things like dating and borrowing the car.

Signs and Symptoms
Because of the changes your child will experience with puberty, the signs and symptoms may be difficult to recognize, so regular check-ups are important. Type 1 diabetes usually shows up at 10 to 12 years of age in girls and around 12 to 14 years of age in boys, but may present earlier or later. Some of the symptoms of diabetes are:
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Glaucoma Can Bring Permanent Damage to Eye Sight and Cause Blindness

Friday, March 18th, 2011

Glaucoma is a condition in which blockage of channels through which aqueous humor or the clear fluid present in the eye is discharged. This can cause excess intraocular pressure in the eye. Buildup of such pressure can cause damages to the main optic nerve of the eye which carries the signals to and fro from the brain. This is the second most common cause of blindness in people around the world while some ethnic populations such as African Americans and South Asians are at high risk of developing this disorder. There are many forms of Glaucoma and a proper awareness of this health condition can help remedy the situation and avoid permanent damage to the eyes.

Sub Type of Glaucoma
The main type of Glaucoma present is the open angle glaucoma and the angle-closure glaucoma. In addition to this, congenital and secondary glaucoma can also be present in persons. The natural process of aqueous humor is that it travels through the meshwork of nerves and circulates the eye and leaves the eye with the use of the anterior chamber angle.
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Surviving Breastfeeding by Frankie Dahl

Wednesday, March 16th, 2011

After my daughter was born, she was weighed, briefly poked and prodded, and all her digits were accounted for. Swaddled and squirming, she was then laid onto my stomach, and with no hesitation she made eye contact with me and latched onto my right breast. After a long pregnancy filled with worry and stress, this was a very simple but profound act for me. I sighed the deepest sigh possible, the room melted away and it was just her and I. Baby brain and sleep deprivation, that cruel but inevitable duo, take away a lot of your memories, but I will never forget that moment.

Every baby book, every baby blog and every baby “professional” (aka my mother) stresses how important breastfeeding is for your newborn. Emotionally, the bond between the newborn baby and the new mama is cemented with breastfeeding. Health-wise, not only is breastfeeding the cheapest and most convenient option, breast milk has the perfect balance of nutrients for your baby. Looking at the bigger picture, breastfeeding can increase the child’s immunity to disease and infection, and down the road breast-fed babies are less likely to be obese, or develop osteoporosis and allergies like eczema.
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Colchicine Effectively Cures FMF and Gout

Monday, March 14th, 2011

When gout is likely to affect 1% or the entire Western population, a drug like Colchicine becomes very useful in suppressing severe inflammation caused by it. The exact effect may not be known, but it reduces uric acid crystallization thereby effectively bringing down the inflammation.

Approximately 5 million US citizens already suffer from gout. In acute conditions, people suffer from frequent attacks of acute inflammatory arthritis where the joints get tender and swell up. High uric acid levels in the blood crystallize and form deposits mainly in the joints. Canada drugs provide a cheap and effective solution to reverse the condition. (more…)

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Insulin Producing Cell Pouch Approaching Clinical Trials in Humans

Thursday, March 10th, 2011

Photo credit: ninci

A Canadian health sciences company focusing on innovative medical technology has successfully tested an organ-like device containing insulin producing islet cells in animals, and is pursuing FDA approval to conduct clinical trials in humans in 2011.

There were no adverse side effects associated with the device during the study, during which the diabetic pigs receiving the insulin delivery system achieved long-term blood sugar control. Sernova Corporation’s patented Cell Pouch System is implanted under the skin, where it develops into what the company refers to as “a tissue engineered pancreas” when infused with islet cells. The islet cells deliver insulin to the body, much as the islet cells of the pancreas do in people and animals without insulin dependent diabetes. (more…)

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Retin A Gives You Healthy Glowing Skin that Lasts

Wednesday, March 9th, 2011

The search for the best anti-aging product will never end. Till a new discovery hits the market, the best known drug that works is Retin A. Dr. John J. Voorhees, heading the dermatology department at the University of Michigan medical school had this to say, “To my knowledge, this is the only drug for which there has been crystal-clear demonstration that it works at the molecular level.”

The drug has a generic name of tretinoin and is derived from vitamin A. It is used to treat certain types of acne. The outer surface of the skin tends to get dry and can cause irritation. What the drug does is remove the top layer of dead epidermis cells to keep the skin clear and healthy looking. (more…)

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High Cholesterol is One of the Main Contributors of Heart Diseases

Monday, March 7th, 2011

Cholesterol is a substance which is essential to the normal function of the body as it is used in the production of hormones and bile acids. However, when present in excessive quantities, this can lead to life threatening complications. Cholesterol which is not utilized by the body is deposited in the arteries, causing this plaque build up to narrow the arteries and reduces or blocks the blood supply. This can happen to different parts of the body and the repercussions can be fatal. For example, when the coronary arteries are blocked with cholesterol deposits, angina or chest pain can result in while the risks of heart attacks can increase while blockages in carotid arteries can cause strokes by blocked bloody supply to the brain. When peripheral artery disease results from cholesterol deposits, the leg arteries are blocked, causing difficulties in walking. In addition to the adverse health effects resulting from blocked arteries, there is also the risk of plaques rapture which can result in blood clots. Blood clots in arteries can be life threatening, completely cutting off blood supply to critical organs or areas of body and cells may die from lack of oxygen. (more…)

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Diabetes a Common Cause of Gastroparesis

Tuesday, March 1st, 2011

Diabetics who experience frequent heartburn, stomach pain or bloating may be experiencing the symptoms of delayed gastric emptying. Diabetes is the most common cause of gastroparesis, or delayed gastric emptying. That’s because high blood sugar causes chemical changes in nerves, including the vagus nerve, which controls the movement of food through the digestive tract. High blood sugar also damages the blood vessels that carry oxygen and nutrients to the nerves, further impairing their functioning.

When the vagus nerve is damaged, then the passage of food through from the stomach through the digestive track slows, or even stops. People commonly suffer from a wide range of gastroparesis symptoms, making the condition difficult to diagnose. Frequency and severity of symptoms also vary widely from individual to individual. Common symptoms are:
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