Doctor in Your Kitchen

Fibromyalgia: Signs, Symptoms and Home Remedies

2011-08-09T18:55:00.000+05:30

FIBROMYALGIA

Fibromyalgia is a painful condition often associated with illness or injury. It mainly affects the muscles. The affected muscles become sore and tender to the touch. Exposure to damp and cold are frequent causes, but any injury to joints or muscles may bring in this condition. It begins suddenly, and the pain usually feels worse when the muscles are used.

People with this condition cannot sleep at night due to pain. Their muscles begin to ache at night and their sleep is disturbed on account of pain.

Normally, when people sleep, they enter the stage-four sleep, which produces deep relaxation, and their muscles naturally turn off. But people with fibromyalgia don't enter stage-four sleep. As a result, their muscles don't rest properly and they ache.

Most common symptoms of fibromyalgia are pain, tenderness of the muscles, extreme fatigue and general weakness.

HOME REMEDIES FOR FIBROMYALGIA

Bog bean works as an anti-inflammatory, eating this herb or taking the herb in a supplement form can help in combating pain.
Ginger is also known for its properties in fighting joint pain and stiffness.
Take two teaspoons of lemon juice and a teaspoon of honey in a cup of warm water twice daily. It is highly effective for the treatment of pain. This is one of the best home remedies for fibromyalgia.
Half teaspoon of turmeric powder taken with warm water twice a day is also beneficial in curing Fibromyalgia
Drinking alfalfa tea twice daily is also helpful for the treatment of joint pains.
Radish juice mixed with sugar is also helpful to fight with muscle pains.
Drinking 15 grams of fresh bathu juice daily with an empty stomach without adding any salt or sugar to it helps in reducing the symptoms of fibromyalgia.
A cup of papaya seed tea taken six or seven times daily for two or three weeks gives relief in the joint pains.
Eat porridge of 2 teaspoonfuls of winter cherry with ghee and molasses with an empty stomach for 15 days. This is very effective home remedy for Fibromyalgia.
A tablespoon of fruit pectin in a small glass of cranberry juice taken every morning gives relief. A person suffering from pain should eliminate sugar, white flour, macaroni, pie, cake, and sweet drinks from diet.
For fibromyalgia treatment, drink consisting of four raw finely sliced beets soaked in a quart of berry wine for one day. Drink one small glass of this liquid before meals, three times a day.
Dissolve 4 teaspoons of blackstrap molasses in one quart of cranberry juice and drink one glass everyday. This is also very effective home remedy for Fibromyalgia.
Two parts pure olive oil and one part kerosene makes a wonderful solution to be applied on the affected muscles.
For fibromyalgia treatment, add one-tablespoon cod liver oil to the juice of one orange, and drink before going to bed.
Rubbing the aching joints with hot vinegar before going to bed also gives relief to the pain.
Mix 2 tablespoons mullein, 3 of granulated slippery elm bark, one of lobelia, 1-teaspoon cayenne. Use boiling water to make paste. Spread on cloth and place on swollen joints. This is one of the useful home remedies for fibromyalgia.
Bake one or two egg- plants. Mash and fry in about 2 tablespoons of castor oil. Spices like cumin, coriander, turmeric, garlic and salt can be added while frying. Take once daily for two to three months for relief.
Another herb known as Guggulu is very helpful in curing muscle pains. If available, eat half a teaspoon twice a day after meals with warm water. ·Paste of 1 teaspoon red chilies and fresh ginger mixed in half a cup of sesame oil and strain. Gently rub this oil on the affected muscles. Camphor, wintergreen and cinnamon oils are also beneficial for external application.
A vegetable-juice fast significantly reduces pain for many patients with fibromyalgia. Carrot juice, celery juice, cabbage juice, or tomato juice can be used Application of hot packs and ice packs for 10 minutes also provides relief from joint pains.
A combination of burdock, slippery elm, sheep sorrel and Turkish rhubarb was shown good results in improving fibromyalgia.
Soak Spiegel seeds in water, make a paste and apply it on the joints for quick relief from pain.
Omega 3 fatty acids reduce inflammation of joints. Omega-3 fatty acids can be found in salmon, sardines, other oily fish, walnuts, flax, soy, olive oil, nuts, and avocados.
Pine-bark and grape-seed extracts are natural anti-inflammatory that help to ease pain Topical applications of cayenne (capsicum) powder mixed with wintergreen oil can help relieve muscle pain.
Dandelion reduces frequency and intensity of pain and strengthens the connective tissue. Take 1 tbsp. Juice or 1-cup tea twice daily for four to six weeks. This is one of the best home remedies for fibromyalgia.
Willow bark has anti-inflammatory properties and works as a painkiller.

FIBROMYALGIA :

A Description

The word fibromyalgia comes from three Latin words, fibro ("fibrous tissue"), my ("muscle tissue"), and algia ("pain"). It is a chronic condition characterized by musculoskeletal pain and many tender points, particularly in the neck, spine, shoulders, and hips. It is called a syndrome rather than a disease, because not everyone's symptomsare the same.

Fibromyalgia afflicts between three and six million Americans, women more often than men. It often occurs in more than one member of a family, which suggests it may be an inherited disorder. Other possible causes include a virus or an injury that affects the central nervous system. Symptoms may be triggered or exacerbated by stress, anxiety, depression, poor sleep habits, or a change in the weather. For many years, fibromyalgia was thought to be a psychosomatic disorder because no one could find a definitive cause of the pain.

Signs and Symptoms

Chronic, widespread pain that lasts three months or more, with no clear cause, combined with tenderness in at least 11 of 18 well-defined tender point sites on the body
Pains, aches, and stiffness in several muscle groups, joints, and in all four quadrants of the body
Pain that moves from one part of the body to another, most commonly felt in the neck, chest, arms, legs, hips, and back
Pain that may be variously characterized as deep aching, radiating, gnawing, shooting, or burning
Body aches and stiffness upon awakening
Headaches and jaw pain
Disturbed sleep patterns
Fatigue
Anxiety
Depression
Digestive system difficulties, as in swallowing, alternating diarrhea and constipation, or recurring abdominal pain
Numbness or tingling in parts of the body
Increased sensitivity to bright lights, noise, odors, and various foods
Alternating feelings of hot and cold

Conventional Medical Treatment

Diagnosis is frustrating, because fibromyalgia mimics the symptoms of other diseases, such as Lyme disease, rheumatoid arthritis, hypothyroidism, or low-back degenerative disease. Diagnosis usually comes after these and other conditions have been investigated and dismissed. There is no known way to prevent fibromyalgia, and the symptoms can come and go, often lasting for months or years. However, the disorder leaves no permanent damage, and in most cases it eventually does subside.

A doctor may prescribe a combination of muscle relaxers, anti-inflammatory, and antidepressant drugs. The antidepressants amitriptyline (Elavil) or cyclbenzaprine hydrochloride (Flexeril) are beneficial in relieving some symptoms, but can have side effects, including weight gain, urinary retention, and morning grogginess. Other muscle relaxers and antidepressants are occasionally prescribed.

The treatment for fibromyalgia also includes a combination of healthy diet, exercise, and rest. Stationary biking, low-impact aerobics, swimming, and walking may help alleviate symptoms; slowly work up to 60 minutes of exercise 3 or 4 times per week. Warm up and cool down the muscles gradually before and after exercise, and avoid exercises that can cause joint pain. Proper sleep is also important. Experts recommend eating a wide variety of fruits and vegetables because these foods provide trace elements and minerals that help muscles. High-fiber foods help the digestive system perform its functions. Massage and physical therapy (with heat) may bring some short-term relief.

Complementary and Alternative Treatments

Nutrition and Supplementation

When it comes to fibromyalgia, it seems more important to avoid certain food than to include particular foods in your diet. Eliminate meat, dairy products, and all other foods high in saturated fats; these fats interfere with circulation and increase pain. Likewisee avoid fried and processed foods, shellfish, whith bread, and pasta. Eliminate sugar products from your diet, as sugar in any form disturbs sleep and promotes fatigue. Avoid caffeine and alcohol as well. If you have been consuming these foods on a regular basis, you will go through a short with-drawal period where your symptoms may worsen once you eliminate them from your menu. Before long, however, you will notice improvement.

Center your diet around raw foods and fresh juices. Eat lots of vegetables, fruits, whole grains, nuts and seeds, skinless turkey or chicken, and deep-water fish. These foods provide nutrients that help energize and build immunity. It is important to flush out toxins, so drink steam distilled water and herbal teas. Eat four or five small meals daily so your body is supplied with a steady intake of proteins and carbohydrates necessary for muscle function.

Malabsorption problems are common in fibromyalgia, so all nutrients are needed in amounts greater than normal. A daily plan would include:

Most Important

Coenzyme (75 mg)-improves oxygenation of tissues
Lecithin (as directed on label)-energizes and improves circulation
Malic acid and magnesium (as directed on label)-assist in energy production in many cells
Proteolytic enzymes (as directed on label, 6 times daily)-improves the absorption of foods, especially protein
Vitamin A (25,000 IU for 1 month, reduce to 10,000 IU; not to exceed 8000 IU if you are pregnant)-protects the body's cells; use the emulsion form
Vitamin E (800 IU for 1 month, then reduce to 400 IU)-enhances immune function; use the emulsion form
Vitamin C with bioflavonoids (5000 to 10,000 mg)-energizes; use buffered form
A prodophilus formula (as directed on label)-supports intestinal function

Also Recommended

Vitamin B complex (as prescribed by a doctor)-energizes and increases normal brain function; injections are best
Free-form amino acid complex (as directed on label)-supplies protein necessary for repair and building of muscle tissue
Magnesium glycinate (1000 mg)-a deficiency is common in people with fibromyalgia
Calcium citrate or calcium lactate (2000 mg)-balances with magnesium
Potassium (99 mg)-aids in muscle function
Selenium (200 mcg) -an antioxidant
Zinc (50 mg, not to exceed 100 mg total from all supplements)-helps the immune system function properly
Melatonin (as directed on label, 2 hours or less before bedtime)-promotes sleep
Vanadyl sulfate (as directed on label)-protects muscles and reduces fatigue
L-glutamine (2 g)-supports immune system functioning.
Live cell therapy supplement (as directed on label) (thymus, adrenal, liver, and pancreas)-Supports glandular functions Consult your healthcare provider regarding the duration of treatment.)

Herbal Therapy

Since fibromyalgia presents a variety of stressing, even incapacitating, symptoms and discomforts, more than one herb is necessary for relief. try a combination of the following herbal remedies:
To boost blood circulation, alertness, and the immune system, use astragalus, echinacea, and ginkgo. You might also try these teas: burdock root, dandelion, and red clover. To make the teas, steep 1 to 3 teaspoons dried herb or root in 1 cup boiling water for 5 to 15 minutes; strain. Drink several cups daily. You also can brew a blend of the herbs.
For relief from muscular pain, use a topical application of 1 part cayenne powder and 3 parts wintergreen oil. You also can try cayenne (in capsule form) and flaxseed oil (as directed on the label, three times daily).
Sip skullcap or valerian root tea to improve sleep. To make the skullcap tea, steep 2 teaspoons dried leaves in 1 cup boiling water for 10 to 15 minutes; strain. To prepare the valerian tea, steep 2 teaspoons dried, chopped root in 1 cup boiling water for 8 to 12 hours; strain. Both skullcap and valerian are available in tincture form. Be aware that these herbs can cause drowsiness and should not be used to excess.
Grape seed extract helps to protect muscles from free radical damage. Use as directed on the product label.

Traditional Chinese Medicine

Acupuncture

Most of the symptoms and side effects associated with fibromyalgia can be treated with acupuncture. The acupoints to be manipulated will, of course, depend entirely on the symptoms presented by the individual.

Chinese Herbal Therapy

There are numerous Chinese herbs that can be used to treat fibromyalgia-related symptoms. Consult the entry for each specific ailment ("Headache," "PMS," etc.) for detailed information or recommended herbs.

Formulas often used for fibromyalgia muscle pain are Corydalis Formula, Ginseng and Tang Gui Ten, Ginseng and Atractylodes, Peony and Licorice, and Tian Qi and Eucommia.

Reference:

Eating Well for Optimum Health by Andrew Weil.

Clifford R. Anderson, M.D. : Your Guide To Health. Second edition.

The best alternative medicine: what works? What does not? Kenneth R. Pelletier. Simon & Schuster Fireside.

Green pharmacy herbal handbook: Your comprehensive reference to the best herbs for healing. James Duke. Rodale, 2000.

SKIN ALLERGY

2011-07-26T20:09:00.001+05:30

Skin Allergy, causes of allergy, home remedies for skin allergy and ayurvedic treatment of skin allergy,

Clear skin is free from germs. But an irritated skin is a cause of trouble. Chafing of the skin is more likely to occur where two moist areas meet, such as in the groins or buttocks, or under the arms. Skin reactions are more common today due to many new fabrics in use. Babies often develop skin rashes because of irritation from the coloring materials in these fabrics.

Allergies are abnormal or hypersensitive responses of the Immune System to relatively harmless environmental antigens (substance which causes the allergy).

Diaper rash usually arises from some chemical irritation due to certain germs present in the baby’s stool. These germs break down the urea into ammonia, which irritates the skin.

Allergic conditions, such as Hay fever and sinusitis are also greatly aggravated by the presence of the germs within the tissues of the nose and throat. The most common allergens are grass and tree pollens, mold spores, dust mites, and animal dander. Eating certain foods and food additives and being stung by insects can trigger allergic reactions in sensitive people. Such common disorders as eczema, hives, hay fever and asthma are often attributed to allergic reactions.

The most common cause of the skin allergies is impairment in the immune sysytem, which increases the risk of allergic reactions. This occurs due to stress on the immune system due to excess of the toxins.

Other causes of the skin allergies are the nutritional deficiencies, imbalanced diet, chemicals in the food chain due to preservatives and chronic intestinal yeast overgrowth.

Researchers have found that digestion also plays some role in the allergies. These are not just caused by the food. Proper digestion helps to remove toxins from our body. When digestion is disturbed, large amount of toxins get accumulated in the body and our body becomes over loaded with the toxins. This is what leads to allergies.

Itching is an unpleasant sensation, which we try to relieve by scratching. A certain amount of mild itching is normal for every one. Only if it is persistent and troublesome it becomes serious. Persistent scratching may produce swellings in the skin with deep scratch marks and small ulcers into which germs have found their way, causing much more trouble.

HOME REMEDIES FOR SKIN ALLERGIES

Grind 1 tbls of poppy seeds with 1-teaspoon water. Add 1-teaspoon limejuice. Apply to affected area for relief from skin allergies.
Add 1-teaspoon limejuice with sandalwood paste. Apply to affected skin allergy area
Avoid the foods, plants, animals, drugs, dust, or other substances that trigger an allergic reaction.
Smoking exacerbates allergic reactions. Those who are allergic to MSG (Monosodium Glutamate) should avoid smoking.
Vitamin C is very helpful in fighting with the allergic reactions.
Avoid white sugar, and everything made with it. The process of chemically whitening sugar is toxic.
Avoid bleached flours, and everything made with it.
Avoid all processed foods, including the frozen pre-packaged types.
Avoid the processed meat.
Thoroughly wash all fresh fruits and vegetables in warm water
Eat whole foods, and prepare your meals at home using fresh, natural products.
Prepare an eating schedule. It may be that 3 large meals per day or 4 or 5 smaller ones will be better.
Regularly practice juice fasting. This will cleanse your system of toxins and residues.
Avoid smoking and heavy alcohol consumption. Heavy coffee consumption is to be avoided ( 1 or 2 regular cups per day is not considered harmful )
Avoid fried foods and foods cooked in oil to prevent skin allergies. When oil is heated to cooking temperatures it begins to break down and has been identified as a carcinogen.
Regularly try to do regiment of moderate exercise, such as walking, biking or swimming and strive to live in harmonious surroundings that contribute to inner peace.
Rub an ice cube gently over the affected area. This cools the skin, reduces inflammation and soothes the itch immediately.
Pour boiling water over a bowl of oats. Cover the bowl and leave for 10 minutes. Strain the oats away and pour the liquid into an ice cube tray. Freeze the oat liquid to form oat cubes. To relieve itch, rub and frozen oat cube gently over the affected area.
Apply aloe Vera gel on the affected areas. It will sooth the areas and gives a cooling effect.
Take 2 cups water, ½ teaspoon each Echinacea root and marshmallow root, 1 teaspoon chamomile flowers, ½ teaspoon peppermint leaf and ¼ teaspoon ginger rhizome. Combine water and Echinacea and marshmallow roots in a saucepan and simmer for about 5 minutes. Turn off heat and add remaining ingredients. Steep for 15 minutes, then strain out herbs. For a 50-pound child, give 1 to 2 cups daily.This is an effective home remedy for skin allergy.
Take 1 cup boiling water,1 teaspoon each calendula flowers, chamomile flowers, Echinacea root, elder flowers and yarrow flowers, 3 tablespoons baking soda. Pour boiling water over herbs and steep for 15 minutes, then strain out herbs. Stir in baking soda. Apply to irritated skin with a soft cloth or a sponge until itching is reduced. This is also an effective home remedy for skin allergy.
Drink 8-10 glasses of water daily.

Allergies in general are defined as hypersensitivity to some foreign particle or the other. Different people have different kinds of tolerances for foreign bodies. When some people cannot adjust with certain elements in their surroundings, they may suffer from certain skin problems that are commonly referred to as skin allergies.

There is a sure way of determining whether your skin affliction is an allergy or not. If you have got a skin problem due to a cause that has affected no one else, then it is an allergic reaction. For example, several people may be exposed to dust. But if it affects you in a strong way, then you are allergic to dust.

Skin allergies could be in the form of itching, dry and scaly skin, eruptions, rashes, boils, etc. There are three main types of problems that are associated with skin allergies.

These types are as follows:-

(i) Dermatitis – This is the skin allergy which is caused due to contact with some substances. It is shown as an inflammation.

(ii) Hives – Hives is a fluid accumulation in the skin which shows up as a swelling. This is a temporary condition and heals with treatment. Hives are also known as urticaria.

(iii) Prickly Heat – This is a red rash which occurs on the body. Prickly heat is generally caused due to excessive perspiration due to hot and humid climates.

All skin problems are vata dosha disorders. Vata dosha controls the air element of the human body. Hence, when the vata dosha is vitiated, there are skin reactions. In different people, there are different degrees of the vata dosha. In some people, the vata may be weak and get easily vitiated due to external factors. Such people are more specific to skin allergies than others.

In this article, we see how to treat various skin allergies with an Ayurvedic point of view.

Useful Herbs in the Treatment of Skin Allergies

- Cassia (Cassia fistula)

Cassia is used effectively in the treatment of several irritations on the skin caused due to allergies. A paste of the cassia leaves can be applied on the skin in case of inflammation of the hands and feet caused due to extreme cold, and also swellings caused due to accumulation of fluids under the skin, as in hives.

- Henna (Lawsonia inermis)

Henna is an excellent remedy for several skin allergies. It can be used in case of hives, swellings, boils and other kinds of inflammation. Applying henna on the skin cools the skin and removes the symptom of the allergy.

- Holy Basil (Ocimum sanctum) (tulasi)

The holy basil is venerated in Indian tradition as the tulsi. It has an almost maternal status for the Hindus. This plant is venerated for its many medicinal properties. Among the other advantages, tulsi is also used for healing skin problems. In case of itches and rashes, the juice of the tulsi leaves is applied on the skin. This is a very quick treatment for allergic skin problems.

- Madhuca (Madhuca indica)

Madhuca is used as a treatment for skin itch problems. The leaves are made into a paste and applied onto the skin in skin infections due to allergy.

- Rauwolfia (Rauwolfia serpentina)

Rauwolfia is known as sarpagandha in Ayurveda. It is a very good remedy for skin problems. In case of hives, the juice of its leaves is applied on the swollen parts to reduce itching. Relief is almost immediate.

- Sandalwood (Santalum alba)

Sandalwood is a traditional remedy for all kinds of itch problems on the skin. It is made into a paste and applied on the skin. It smoothes the skin and prevents it from allergies. Itches are immediately resolved by applying sandalwood paste on the skin. Permanent relief can be obtained by keeping the paste smeared on the skin for half an hour before washing it off. Sandalwood oil is also used in the treatment of diseases such as erysipelas (an eruptive allergic skin disease) and prurigo (an itchy skin eruption).

Dietary Guidelines for Treatment of Skin Allergies

You must take a lot of water to prevent all kinds of skin allergies. These include fresh fruits and vegetables that have high water content in them. In the summer season, take cooling drinks such as lemon juices and sherbets.

Do not consume sour foods if you have skin allergy problems often. This can vitiate the vata dosha further.

Home Remedies for Treatment of Skin Allergies

- Take about 30 millilitres of the juice of the leaves of wood apple (Feronia limonida) and mix some cumin powder in it. Take this twice daily. This is a very good treatment for urticaria or hives.

- Extract the juice of the jambula (Indian Plum) and mix some soda in it. Apply this in case of prickly heat.

- In hot seasons, drink a glass of lemon juice twice everyday. This will supplement the vitamin C content of the body lost due to perspiration and will prevent the outburst of prickly heat.

- Chomping on sugarcane several times in the hot season is also a good method of preventing prickly heat.

- If the area on the skin is exceptionally itchy, then mash a papaya and spread the paste of the papaya on it. This will reduce the itch and also make the skin healthier.

References:

Milam, Larry J., D.I.HOM, Allergies: How to Avoid Them, 2000.
Ullman, Dana, Discovering Homeopathy, North Atlantic Books, 1988, 1991.
Materia Medica, B. Jain Publishers, Pahargani, New Deli, 1992.
Hass, MD, Dr. Elson M., Staying Healthy with Nutrition, Celestial Arts Pub., 1992.

Home Remedies for Gaining Weight

2011-07-23T13:26:00.000+05:30

HOME REMEDIES FOR GAINING WEIGHT

For every person, there is an ideal weight, depending on his/her height and gender, which describes him/her as healthy. A person who weighs 10 percent less than his/her ideal weight is considered moderately underweight. On the other hand, those who weigh 20 percent less than their ideal weight are termed as simply underweight. Being thin can be a hereditary condition or the result of a number of psychological as well as physical factors. To know more about the causes of being underweight, along with its symptoms, browse through the following lines.

Causes For Underweight

Poverty
Famine
Torture
Anorexia nervosa
Bulimia nervosa
Cancer or cancer treatment
Tuberculosis
Hyperthyroidism
Type 1 Diabetes
Anxiety and depressive disorders
Drug use, especially stimulants
Inflammatory bowel disease
Malfunctioning digestive organs
Dental pain
Over-training (endurance sports)
HIV/AIDS
Genetic factors
Insufficient calorie intake
Unhealthy eating habits, such as skipping meals and frequent fasting
Metabolic disorders
Presence of intestinal worms
Sexual disorders
Chronic diarrhea
Inadequate digestion

Heredity factors

Loss of appetite
Excessive exercising

Symptoms Of Underweight

Fatigue
Poor physical stamina
Low resistance to infection
Low body weight
Loss of menstruation

The problem of being underweight has become a common phenomenon. It is a condition, when a person does not have an ideal weight, according to his/her height and sex. A person, who weighs almost 10 to 20 percent below the average, is termed underweight. Some of the causes for underweight problems are rise in the stress level, lack of sleep, poor nutrition, exposure to pollutants, lack of exercise, etc. Bad eating habits also add to the causes for the occurrence of the problem. Being underweight can also arise due to hereditary reasons. Apart from being skinny, a person starts facing a number of health problems. However, gaining weight is not as major problem and can be treated by indulging in the right kind of eating habit. In the following lines, we provide some of the ways to gain weight.

Home Remedies For Gaining Weight

The most effective and simple remedy to gain weight is to consume banana milk shake. It is a fast way to gain weight.
Another effective way would be to have banana thrice a day. This should be followed with curd or milk.
Muskmelon is beneficial in treating underweight problem. Have muskmelon three times a day as it helps in gaining weight.
Another effective way to cure underweight problem would be to have fruit diet with milk. While fruits nourish the body with sugar, milk provides the proteins.
An effective way to gain weight would be consume a glass of hot milk with a tablespoon of honey.
Take a cup of milk and put some almonds, date palm and anjeer in it. Boil this milk and have it when warm. This is helpful in treating underweight problem.
Mangoes are useful in gaining weight. Have a mango followed by a glass of milk. The other way would be to have a glass of mango milk shake every day for a month.
Raisins are beneficial in solving underweight problems. Have 30 grams of raisins every day for about a month. This would surely cure underweight problems.
Take 3-4 dry figs and immerse them in water. Keep them overnight. Have this twice a day to get cured of underweight problem.
Combine equal amounts of pomegranate seed powder, white muesli powder and Indian ginseng root powder. Intake this mixture, twice a day for about a month, along with a glass of water or milk. Not only does it helps gain weight, but also tones up the body.
Intake 100 to 150 grams of bran with fruits. The best deal would be to take it with papaya. It works as an excellent appetizer improving digestion and reducing constipation.
Increase in the intake of fatty foods such as flour, rice honey, raisins, figs, dates, butter, germinated wheat, etc.

Conjunctivitis or Eye Flu

2010-09-24T18:32:00.001+05:30

Causes & Symptoms of Conjunctivitis

A highly contagious disease, conjunctivitis is the swollenness or inflammation caused in the conjunctiva, a thin membrane which coats the front of the eyes. Also called 'pink eye' and 'eye flu', it is a condition when a person has sore eyes. Conjunctivitis is infectious and easily be transferable from one person to the other through direct contact. Symptoms for conjunctivitis are inflammation caused on the eyeball and underside of the eyelids. It also causes eye pain, burning, blured vision, feeling of dryness and discharge of a sticky fluid. On a severe stage, it also forms pus over and under the eyelid. The main cause of conjunctivitis is unhealthy and unhygienic state of living but since it is transferable, it may also be caused because of someone in the vicinity has it. However, it is treatable and can be cured using home remedies. Check how to cure conjunctivitis naturally.

The infection occurring in the conjunctiva that lines the eyelid is called conjunctivitis. Popularly known as pink eye, conjunctivitis mostly occurs due to an allergic reaction or an infection. The inflammation that results from it causes swelling of the small blood vessels, which, in turn, gives a pink or red cast to the white portion of the eyes. A highly contagious disease, conjunctivitis can spread from one person to other through direct contact. Overcrowded places, dirty surroundings and unhealthy living standards worsen the ailment. In the following lines, we have listed the various causes and symptoms of conjunctivitis.

Causes Of Conjunctivitis

Direct contact with an infected person
Overcrowding
Unhygienic surroundings
Eyestrain
Bacteria
Virus
Irritating substance or material in the eyes
Allergies
Ophthalmia neonatorum
Environmental factors, such as smoke, dust, or pollen
Chemical splash in the eye

Symptoms Of Conjunctivitis

Eyes turn reddish
Itching in the eyes
Watery secretion from the eyes
Pus formation in the eyes
Redness in the white of the eye or inner eyelid
Increased amount of tears
Thick yellow discharge from the eyes, which crusts over the eyelashes, especially after sleep
Green or white discharge from the eye
Burning eyes
Blurred vision
Increased sensitivity to light
Inflamed eyes

Home Remedy For Conjunctivitis

One of the effective remedies for curing conjunctivitis is to mix 2 tsp. chamomile flowers and 1 tsp oregon grape root in 2 cups of boiling water. Once cooled, strain this mixture and use it as an eye wash.

Sliced potatoes would also be beneficial in curing conjunctivitis. Peel the potato and cut it into thin slices. Apply on the affected area of the eye.

Prepare a tea using goldthread leaves and use it as a eye wash. Not only does it cure the swollenness caused and the infection, it also relieves a person of the pain.

An excellent eye wash for treating conjunctivitis would be to prepare a decoction using handful of dried coriander in 60 ml of water. It relieves a person of the pain and lessens the swelling as well.

Increase in the consumption of vitamin A and B2 helps in curing conjunctivitis. The foods rich in Vitamin A are whole milk, yoghurt, butter, carrots, pumpkin, green leafy vegetables, tomatoes, mangoes, and papaya whereas green leafy vegetables, almonds, citrus fruits, bananas and tomatoes have high content of vitamin B2.

Indian gooseberry juice has medicinal properties which cure conjunctivitis. Prepare a cup of this juice and add two teaspoons of honey. Consumption of this juice two times everyday would be beneficial.

Carrot juice also is effective in treating conjunctivitis. To enhance the efficacy of this, add spinach to it. Mix 200 ml of spinach juice with 300 ml of carrot juice. Another combination of raw parsley juice 200ml, mixed with 300 ml of carrot juice also has therapeutic properties and provides relief.

Sterile cotton ball and dip it in warm water. Use this to take away the crust formed on the eyelashes. Warmly compress the cotton against the eye to provide relief.

Another remedy for conjunctivitis, would be apply poultice yogurt on the infected area of the eye. It would heal the itchiness caused.

CHAPPED SKIN

2009-11-08T16:15:00.004+05:30

CHAPPED SKIN

The Best of the Balms
Scratch, scratch, scratch, scratch.
''Kevin, stop that!'' Kevin looks up at you with a frown. Telling him to stop scratching his dry, chapped little arms isn't much help. What do you expect him to do? his frown seems to ask.

Fortunately, there are several things you can do to soothe Kevin's chapped skin--and a dozen more things you can do to keep it from recurring.

First, it helps to understand that water is what keeps the outer skin layer soft. Chapped skin is a result of dehydration. It frequently runs in families and is most common during the late fall and winter months in northern states, although any child can get it anytime, no matter where he happens to be.

MEDICAL ALERT

When to See the Doctor
If your child is itchy over a wide area of his body, or if his skin is cracking, seek professional help, says Rodney S. W. Basler, M.D., assistant professor of dermatology at the University of Nebraska Medical Center in Omaha. Bacteria can invade the skin through such cracks and cause infections.

Fortunately, there are a number of things a parent can do. When some part of your child's skin is rough, red, itchy and scaly, try these expert remedies.

Treatment

Apply bath oil directly to the skin. ''Skin hydrates from the inside out, so apply a good bath oil directly onto your child's skin after bathing,'' says Rodney S. W. Basler, M.D., assistant professor of dermatology at the University of Nebraska Medical Center in Omaha. The oil puts a barrier on the skin to keep moisture from evaporating into the ozone.

''Use a good bath oil like Alpha-Keri,' ' says Dr. Basler. ''Apply it to your child's skin while he's still damp, to lock in moisture.'' But he advises against baby oil, because that just sits on the skin rather than being dispersed into the skin. ( Bath oils have ingredients that act as dispersants to make sure oil gets into the top skin layer.)

Smear it. ''If your child drools in his sleep, the skin around his mouth may get chapped,'' says Dr. Basler. Use petroleum jelly or zinc oxide (which comes in an ointment) just in the mouth area to protect the skin from chapping. Apply it right after his bath and before bed.

Start the moisturizer habit. ''Teach your child to use a light, unscented moisturizing lotion whenever she washes her hands,'' says Dr. Basler. ''She can apply the moisturizer anywhere her skin tends to get dry,'' Keep a squirt bottle handy on the sink--right beside the soap.

Leave the desert. A room humidifier is a must, says Dr. Basler. Ask your pharmacist for advice on models, then buy the best you can afford and place it in the room where your child spends most of his home time. It will not only help relieve his dry, chapped skin, but will help prevent any recurrence as well.

Preventive Care

Play dirty. ''Teach your child to take a five-minute shower or a short bath,'' suggests Jane S. Wada, M.D., a dermatologist in private practice in Montrose, California. ''Twice a week or every other night is enough for young kids. Older children who are more active can supplement their baths and showers with sponge baths to clean the essential areas.''

Soft-soap it. ''Don't let your child wash her face with a harsh soap that strips oil from her skin,'' says Dr. Basler. ''Cleansing bars like Dove are the best. Deodorant soaps are the worst.''

Spot clean the pertinent parts. ''If your tiny baby's skin is dry, don't use soap when bathing her,'' says Dr. Wada. With a newborn's skin, all you really need to do is spot-clean the folds--particularly around the knees, neck and diaper area.

Skip the powder. Avoid following a bath with either talc or powder, says Dr. Basler. Both can dry the skin.

Rinse well. ''Be sure your kids rinse their mouths well if they're using a fluoride toothpaste,' ' says Dr. Basler. Fluoride toothpaste is a known irritant to skin. If a smear of toothpaste dries on your child's chin, or he drools during sleep, the toothpaste residue may irritate the chin and cause chapping.

Banish bubbles. Avoid bubble baths if your child tends to chap easily, says Dr. Wada. ''Bubbles irritate the skin.''

Pat-a-cake. Always pat your child dry, and teach her to do the same, suggests Dr. Wada. Rubbing with a towel can chafe the skin and set the stage for chapping.

Dress your child in soft clothes. ''Irritating clothing contributes to chapping, especially when it's made of coarse fibers like wool,'' says Dr. Basler. Be especially aware that denim has a tendency to chafe the skin, particularly when it gets wet.

Choose mild detergent. Some very strong detergent soaps--particularly those with additives--cause chapping, says Dr. Basler. After all, the word ''detergent' ' means ''to take out oil.'' Avoid using strong detergents on your child's clothing until the chapped areas have cleared up. Try Dreft or Ivory Snow instead. The detergent residues on your child's freshly laundered clothes are just as likely to take out oil as the detergent in your washer.

Toss out dryer sheets. The residue from dryer sheets impregnated with fabric softener can also cause chapped skin, says Dr. Basler. It stays on the clothes and may leach moisture out of your child's skin. Instead of using sheets, switch to a liquid softener, he suggests. Or try one that's combined with your detergent.

Go from pool to shower. Children can get chapped skin just from getting out of a swimming pool and toweling down, says Paul Rehder, M.D., a pediatric dermatologist in private practice in Oxnard, California. The towel roughs up the top layer of skin and dries it out.

Instead of toweling down when the swim session is over, either have your child take a cool shower or sprinkle cool water on his skin for two or three minutes, suggests the dermatologist. ''Then apply a moisturizer like Vaseline to trap water in the skin.''

LIVER CARE

2009-11-08T15:59:00.000+05:30

LIVER CARE

The liver is the largest single gland in the body. It is located on the right side of the abdomen under the lower ribs and just under the diaphragm which divides the chest from the abdomen. Liver performs a number of important functions in the body. When the liver is healthy it works very smoothly. But the liver can be affected by a number of serious disorders, such as virus infections, parasites, and disturbances of the circulation, stone formation in the bile ducts, injuries due to poisonous substances, and various kinds of tumors.

Most of the foods we eat are stored in the liver, after having been digested and absorbed from the gastrointestinal tract. The liver has another very important function, that of detoxifying or destroying many harmful poisons and even certain medicines that are taken into the body for other purposes. When the liver is sick these functions are impaired and soon the whole body suffers. Not only does the liver store food materials, it also produces bile, a golden-yellowish liquid that is needed for the absorption of fat from the intestine. Another important substance produced in the liver is cholesterol, part of which passes into the bile. It may even form stones in the bile ducts and gall bladder under certain conditions.

Another important component is prothrombin, which is needed for the clotting of the blood. Urea, an important component of the urine, is also produced in the liver. The production of all these substances may be changed under certain disease conditions.

Jaundice is a disease marked by a yellow discoloration in the skin or in the whites of the eye. This is due to excessive amount of bile in the blood stream. Hepatitis is an acute inflammation of the liver caused by some infectious or toxic agent. The skin may be discolored and the whites of the eyes turn yellow. Various substances and organisms may be responsible for hepatitis, including germs, viruses, and toxic agents.

Another important disease of the liver is the cirrhosis of the liver. It is mostly associated with alcoholism. Poor nutrition may be responsible for this condition also.. In some cases chronic poisoning with industrial fluids, such as carbon tetrachloride, may also play a part. In the early stages of the disease there may be frequent attacks of gas and indigestion, with occassional nausea and vomiting and with abdominal pain and weight loss.

Cancer may occur in almost any organ of the body. When it begins in the stomach or large bowel, the liver may soon be involved mainly because the blood flows toward the liver from all the digestive organs including the pancreas and gall bladder. This is known as metastatic carcinoma.

HOME REMEDIES FOR LIVER CARE

Papaya has been found beneficial in the treatment of cirrhosis of the liver, caused by alcoholism and malnutrition. Take a tablespoon of juice by grinding the seeds, mix with ten drops of fresh limejuice, and take it once or twice daily for about a month as a medicine for this disease. This is one of the important home remedies for liver care.

The herb trailing eclipta, botanically known as eclipta Alba (Bhringaraj ), has proved invaluable in cirrhosis of the liver. Take the juice of all parts of this plant in doses of one teaspoon, mixed with one teaspoon of honey, three times daily.

Picrorhiza known as picrorhiza kurroa (Katuki) is a drug of choice in ayurveda for cirrhosis of the liver among adults. Mix a tablespoon of the powder with an equal quantity of honey, take this thrice daily.

The juice of carrots, in combination with spinach juice, has been found beneficial in the treatment of cirrhosis of the liver. Mix -200 ml of Spinach juice with 300 ml of carrot juice to prepare 500 ml or half a liter of combined juices. Similarly, 300 ml of carrot juice, combined with 100 ml each of cucumber and beet juices can be used effectively. The patient must stop taking alcohol in any form. One of the best home remedies for liver care.

Vegetables such as beets, squashes, bitter gourd, eggplant, tomatoes, carrots, radishes, and papaya are especially useful in this condition.

The patient should avoid all refined, processed, and canned foods; spices and condiments; strong tea and coffee; fried foods; all preparations cooked in ghee, oil, or butter; all meats; and all chemical additives in food. The use of salt should be limited.

Application of hot and cold compresses, for two to three minutes each, on the liver area are beneficial.

Daily morning exercises, which involve stretching and deep breathing, are also effective in preventing the liver. Stretching and deep breathing kind of exercises early in the morning provide the most benefit for anyone with sluggish liver.

Soak 1 teaspoon to 1 tablespoon of Bentonite clay in 1 cup of filtered water for 12 hours. Then add ½ to 1 tablespoon of psyllium husks or plantago seeds to the clay mixture and mix well. Drink and eat the whole cup of mixture immediately and then followed by 1 cup of warm water before bedtime. This is an effective home remedy for liver.

Drink at least 8 cups of warm water a day including 2 cups first thing in the morning. Epsom salt may help in flushing out the stones from the gall bladder. Epsom salt dilates the bile duct.

Take 2 tablespoons of GCG to crush the stone and wait for 1½ to 2 hours before taking 1 tablespoon each of Coptis and Curcuma again. The crushed stones appear to move easier and the pain is relieved. This is one of the best home remedies for liver care..

Milk thistle is found useful in patients who have developed acute liver disease from drugs, environmental toxins or ethanol or mushroom poisoning.

Another good home remedy for liver care is to take one tablespoon each of Coptis and Curcuma can usually help to push out the stones or other blockages.

A licorice root extract called glycyrrhizin has also shown good result as a possible remedy for chronic hepatitis C and liver cancer.

Home Remedy For Premature Graying Of Hair

2009-07-09T20:26:00.001+05:30

Home Remedy For Premature Graying Of Hair

One of the best home remedies for premature graying of hair comprises of curry leaves. Include them in your daily diet. Alternatively, you can put some curry leaves in coconut oil and boil it. Strain the oil and let it cool down. Apply it over the scalp.

Dry a few pieces of ribbed gourd in the sun. Soak them in coconut oil for about 3 to 4 hours. After this, boil it until the residue becomes black and cool it down a bit. Massage the scalp with the residue.

Extract juice from fresh leaves of amaranth vegetable. Apply this juice on the hair. It will prove helpful in retaining the black color of hair and also aid the growth of new hair.

Massage the scalp with butter made out of cow's milk. This should be applied at least two times in a week.

Indian gooseberry is beneficial in treating premature graying of hair. Cut the fruit into pieces and dry them. Once dried, put them in coconut oil, until the solid matter becomes dusty or powdered. Apply on the hair.

Mix a tsp of Indian gooseberry juice with a tsp of almond oil and few drops of lime juice. Apply this mixture on your hair and keep it overnight. In the morning, wash the hair. This is an effective home remedy for treating premature graying of hair.

Avoid having refined flour and sugar, soft drinks, pastries, jam, too spicy food, hot food, chilies and oily food.

Eat a lot of fresh fruits and vegetables. They are effective in treating premature graying of hair.

Mix a liter of yoghurt with a tablespoon of yeast. Have a bowl of this mixture before every meal, as it is effective in treating premature graying.

Swine Flu

2009-07-04T23:22:00.005+05:30

Home Remedies to Avoid

Swine Flu / Swine flu Virus

Swine Flu:

Swine influenza is common in pigs in the mid western United States (and occasionally in other states),Mexico, Canada, South America, Europe (including the United Kingdom,Sweden, and Italy), Kenya, Mainland China, Taiwan, Japan and other parts of eastern Asia.

MEXICO CITY — The swine flu virus is not as lethal as authorities originally thought, Mexico's health secretary said, though the disease continued to spread quickly and kill on Friday.Tests had confirmed 397 cases of Influenza

A H1N1, or swine flu, in Mexico as of Friday night, up from 312 on Thursday night, Health Secretary José Córdova said. The number of deaths rose from 12 to16.In all, authorities had tested 908 people for the virus, he said.

"The attack rate is not as broad as was thought,"Córdova told reporters, though he said it too early to say if Mexicow as bringing the disease under control.He noted that China's 2002-2003outbreak of severe acute respiratory syndrome, or SARS, lasted three months.

Symptoms of Swine Flu:

Just like the regular flu, the symptoms of swine flu are similar. Some of the common indications of swine flu are cough, sore throat, fever, chills, headache, body aches and tiredness. Some people affected with the disease also report vomiting and diarrhea. Lack of any unique symptom makes it very difficult to detect the presence of the virus in the body. Thus, it is always useful to

conduct proper testing if any of the said symptoms are occurring.

Home Remedies to Avoid Swine Flu:

* Always cover your mouth and nose when coughing or sneezing; ideally use something disposable like a tissue. Avoid touching your face, nose or mouth too frequently with your hands since swine flu appears to be transmitted through respiratory droplets in the same fashion as the common cold.

* Wash your hands frequently with soap and water since swine flu like other viruses can be contracted by touching objects contaminated by the virus. It's unsure how long the swine flu virus can survive on surrounding surfaces.

* Though alcohol based hand sanitizers don't routinely kill viruses they probably do offer some limited protection in preventing swine flu infections.

* If swine flu infections have been medically confirmed in your area consider avoiding large public gatherings. Individuals can be contagious with the swine flu virus for several day before demonstrating any signs or symptoms of infection. Be particularly careful about indoor gatherings where air circulates poorly.

* If you're really paranoid and don't mind looking odd then consider wearing a respiratory mask.. This barrier method does offer some basic protection against infection though not all masks are created equally. Higher quality masks capable of filtering out some respiratory infections are more expensive.

* If you start feeling ill with cold or flu-like symptoms do not go to work. Stay home and begin the usual home remedies for colds and flu. Contact your health care provider, local health department or hospital emergency room if your symptoms worsen or fail to improve for information about where to go to be screened for possible swine flu infection.

Orbital Cellulitis

2009-06-29T22:05:00.001+05:30

ORBITAL CELLULITIS

Orbital Cellulitis most often presents with symptoms similar to preseptal cellulits such as red and swollen eyelids, but also includes pain, blurred or double vision, fever, headache, and a red eye. These conditions refer to an inflammation and infection of the tissue and skin that surround the eye. Your baby won't be able to tell you if his eye hurts, but if his eyelid is swollen and red, call his doctor right away. Both of these conditions are serious and require immediate medical attention by your child's physician. This infection usually results from the spread of another nearby infection such as conjunctivitis or sinusitis. Treatment is with antibiotics and sometimes surgical drainage. The most common location of a subperiorbital abscess is along the medial orbital wall. Orbital cellulitis is an inflammation of the soft tissues in the orbit of the eye posterior to the orbital septum.

Orbital cellulitis affects the eye socket (orbit) as well as the skin closest to it. A CT scan confirms the diagnosis and may further be necessary to rule-out a foreign body in the orbit (eye socket). Periorbital cellulitis is a serious but treatable infection of the tissues around the eye. Preseptal and orbital cellulitis are 2 distinct diseases that share a few clinical symptoms and signs. Periorbital cellulitis is more common in younger children than adults. Pre-septal cellulitis involves the area from the skin of the eyelid to the bony area that encloses the eye. Orbital cellulitis is an acute infection of the tissues immediately surrounding the eye, including the eyelids, eyebrow, and cheek. The medial orbital wall is thin and perforated not only by numerous blood valveless vessels and nerves but also by numerous other defects (Zuckerkandl dehiscences) .

Causes of Orbital Cellulitis

The common Causes of Orbital Cellulitis:

Stye on the eyelid.
Injury to the area.
Infections that spread from the bloodstream.
Bug bite or sting to the eyelid.

Symptoms of Orbital Cellulitis

Some common Symptoms of Orbital Cellulitis:

Bulging eyes
General malaise
Eye may appear red.
Decrease in vision.
Fever.
General discomfort .
Shiny, red or purple eyelid
Painful swelling of upper and lower eyelids

Treatment of Orbital Cellulitis

Your child may be admitted to the hospital for antibiotics through an intravenous (IV) catheter. Hospitalization also allows for close evaluation of your child and the condition.
Antibiotics are given to treat the infection. They will be started immediately, even before results from the laboratory have come back. Antibiotics are generally given by mouth for three weeks. If the infection is serious, the first week of antibiotics will be given through an intravenous drip.
Consultation with an ophthalmologist (eye care specialist).
Surgery may be performed to drain a collection of pus or an infected sinus cavity.
Surgical drainage of the sinuses or any abscesses of the eye is sometimes needed.

DENGUE FEVER

2009-01-16T23:53:00.002+05:30

Symptoms,Causes, Risk factors, Tests & Diagnosis, Complications, Treatment and Prevention

Definition

Dengue fever is a disease — ranging from a mild to severe — caused by four related viruses spread by a particular species of mosquito. Mild dengue fever causes high fever, rash, and muscle and joint pain. More severe forms of the disease — dengue hemorrhagic fever and dengue shock syndrome — can additionally cause severe bleeding, a sudden drop in blood pressure (shock) and death.

No specific treatment for dengue fever exists, and most people recover. But if you have a severe form of the disease, you need hospital care.

Fifty million to 100 million cases of dengue infection occur worldwide each year. Most cases of dengue fever occur in urban areas of tropical and subtropical regions. A few cases have been reported in the United States — particularly in Texas, along the border with Mexico, and in Hawaii.

Symptoms

Signs and symptoms of dengue fever usually begin four to seven days after you've been bitten by a mosquito carrying a dengue virus. These signs and symptoms can vary, depending on the form of the disease. More severe forms of the disease usually begin the same way as the mild form (dengue fever), then become worse after several days.

Dengue fever signs and symptoms typically include:

High fever, up to 105 F
A rash over most of your body, which may subside after a couple of days and then reappear
Severe headache, backache or both
Pain behind your eyes
Severe joint and muscle pain
Nausea and vomiting

Dengue fever rarely causes death, and symptoms usually get better after five to seven days.

Dengue hemorrhagic fever — a more severe form of the disease — can also cause:

Significant damage to your blood and lymph vessels
A decrease in the number blood cells that help your blood clot (platelets)
Bleeding from the nose, mouth and under the skin, creating the appearance of bruising
Death

Dengue shock syndrome — the most severe form of the disease — may also cause:

Blood vessel fluid (plasma) leakage
Heavy bleeding
A sudden drop in blood pressure (shock)
Death

These signs and symptoms usually appear between the third and seventh day of illness, after fever has improved. They may be preceded by severe abdominal pain, frequent vomiting and disorientation. Two percent to 5 percent of those with a severe form of the disease die. Modern supportive hospital care decreases this risk.

Recovery from dengue fever may include a long period of listlessness, fatigue and even depression.

Causes

Dengue fever is caused by any one of four dengue viruses spread by the Aedes aegypti mosquito. These mosquitoes thrive in and near human habitations where they breed in even the cleanest water.

Mosquitoes transmit the virus back and forth between humans. When a mosquito bites a person infected with a dengue virus, the virus enters the mosquito's bloodstream. It then circulates before settling in the salivary glands. When the infected mosquito then bites another person, the virus enters that person's bloodstream, where it may cause the serious illness.

You can become infected with dengue fever more than once. This happens when you're exposed to a different one of the four dengue viruses than one to which you were previously exposed. Infection a second time is typically what causes the more severe form of the disease — dengue hemorrhagic fever.

Risk factors

If you live or travel in tropical areas

Living in or traveling to an area where dengue fever viruses are present puts you at risk of the disease. These areas include many tropical and subtropical areas around the world, for example:

Central and South America
Southeast Asia
The Caribbean
Africa
India
The Middle East
The South and Central Pacific

Particularly high-risk areas include tropical Asia, Central and South America and the Caribbean. Dengue virus transmission may occur year-round, although the risk is highest during a recognized dengue fever outbreak.

If you've had dengue fever before

If you've had dengue fever before, you can get it again if you become infected with another one of the four dengue viruses. Having antibodies to a virus in your blood from a previous infection usually helps protect you. But in the case of dengue fever, it actually increases your risk of severe disease — dengue hemorrhagic fever — if you're infected again. So previous infection with a dengue fever virus increases your risk of a more severe form of the disease. This most often occurs in children.

If you're young, white or female

If you are younger than age 12, female or white, you are also at greater risk of the severe form of the disease — dengue hemorrhagic fever.

When to seek medical advice

If you have any signs or symptoms of dengue fever, see your doctor, and explain that you've recently traveled to a region in which the disease is known to occur.

Tests and diagnosis

Diagnosing dengue fever can be difficult. That's because its signs and symptoms can be easily confused with those of other diseases, such as malaria, leptospirosis and typhoid fever. Still, diagnosis of dengue fever is typically done by evaluating your signs and symptoms along with your medical and travel history. To diagnose your condition, your doctor will likely ask about these. In addition, your blood may be tested for evidence of a dengue virus.

Medical history

Your doctor will likely ask about your medical and travel history and any exposure to mosquitoes. Be sure to describe international trips in detail, including the countries you visited and the dates, as well as any contact you may have had with mosquitoes.

Blood tests

Laboratory tests, usually using a sample of your blood, are needed to confirm a diagnosis of dengue fever. If you have dengue fever, your blood may reveal the virus itself. If not, blood tests known as hemagglutination inhibition (HI) assay, enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) and reverse transcriptase- polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) also can detect antigens, antibodies or nucleic acids specific to the viruses. These tests may take several days.

Complications

Most people with dengue fever recover within five to 14 days. Some, particularly adults, may feel listless, tired and even depressed for several weeks to months after being infected.

If severe, dengue fever can lead to dengue hemorrhagic fever and dengue shock syndrome, which can cause heavy bleeding, shock and — in about 2 percent to 5 percent of those with these conditions — death. Those who survive may experience liver, blood vessel and brain damage, as well as seizures.

Treatments and drugs

No specific treatment for dengue fever exists.

If you have a mild form of the disease, your doctor will recommend making sure to drink enough fluids to avoid dehydration from vomiting and high fever. You can also take acetaminophen (Tylenol, others) for pain and fever. Avoid aspirin or other nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, such as ibuprofen (Advil, Motrin, others) and naproxen sodium (Aleve). These can increase the risk of bleeding complications.

If you have a more severe form of the disease, treatment consists of supportive care in a hospital. Such care includes intravenous fluids and electrolyte replacement, maintaining adequate blood pressure and replacing blood loss.

If you have any form of dengue fever, you may also be kept away from mosquitoes, to avoid transmitting the disease to others.

Prevention

No dengue fever vaccine exists. If you are living or traveling in an area where dengue fever is known to be, the best way to avoid dengue fever is to avoid being bitten by mosquitoes that carry the disease.

To reduce your exposure to mosquitoes:

Avoid unnecessary outdoor activity when mosquitoes are most prevalent, such as at dawn, dusk and early evening.
Wear long-sleeved shirts, long pants, socks and shoes when you go into mosquito-infested areas.
Stay in air-conditioned or well-screened housing. Patch screens if necessary, especially where there will be night-time exposure.
Use bed netting if available.
Apply permethrin-containi ng mosquito repellent to your clothing, shoes, and camping gear and bed netting. You can also buy clothing made with permethrin already in it. Use repellent with a 10 percent to 30 percent concentration of DEET to your skin. Choose the concentration based on the hours of protection you need — a 10 percent concentration of DEET is effective for about two hours, whereas higher concentrations last longer. Keep in mind that chemical repellants can be toxic, and use only the amount needed for the time you'll be outdoors. Don't use DEET on the hands of young children or on infants under 2 months of age. Instead, cover your infant's stroller or playpen with mosquito netting when outside. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, oil of lemon eucalyptus, a more natural product, offers the same protection as DEET when used in similar concentrations.

RETINAL DETACHMENT

2008-12-12T22:44:00.001+05:30

Causes, Symptoms and Treatment

Retina is the light-sensitive layer of tissue that lines the inside of the eye and sends visual messages through the optic nerve to the brain. Retinal detachment is a serious problem that usually affects middle-aged or older people. Retinal detachment is caused by a combination of factors including retinal holes, retinal breaks or retinal tears, liquefaction of the vitreous humor , and mechanical forces on the retina , often referred to as "traction". It is the tissue that turns light INTO an electrical signal to send to the brain. The retina receives oxygen and nutrients from the underlying choroid (vascular layer) of the eye. Rays of light enter the eye and are focused onto the retina by the cornea and the lens. The retina is composed of two main parts; a central macular area and a much larger peripheral retina. Retinal detachment occurs when the retina separates from the choroid. Its job is to translate what we see into neural impulses and send them to the brain via the optic nerve .

Retinal detachment refers to separation of the inner layers of the retina from the underlying retinal pigment epithelium (RPE, choroid). In some cases there may be small areas of the retina that are torn. It is a problem that occurs most frequently in the middle-aged and elderly. The retina is a thin disc-shaped layer of light-sensitive tissue on the back wall of the eye. The retina produces a picture which is sent along the optic nerve for the brain to interpret. If not promptly treated, retinal detachment can cause permanent vision loss. The retina is a thin sheet of light sensitive nerve tissue lining the inside of the eye. The detached retina should be recognized and treated promptly.

Causes of Retinal Detachment

Common causes and risk factor's of Retinal Detachment include the following :

Eye injury.
Diabetes.
High level of nearsightedness.
Sickle cell disease.
Cataract surgery.

Symptoms of Retinal Detachment

Some common Symptoms of Retinal Detachment :

Flashes of light.
A sudden dramatic increase in the number of floaters.
Blurred vision.
A ring of floaters or hairs just to the temporal side of the central vision.
Shadow or blindness in a part of the visual field of one eye
Poor vision.
Vision becomes blurry.

Treatment of Retinal Detachment

In some cases a scleral buckle, a tiny synthetic band, is attached to the outside of the eyeball to gently push the wall of the eye against the detached retina.
In rare cases where other types of retinal detachment surgeries are either inappropriate or unsuccessful, silicone oil may be used to reattach the retina.
Retinal tears with minimal or no detachment may be treated with laser or freezing procedures. Some retinal tears do not require treatment.
Pneumatic retinopexy is a newer method for retinal detachment repair. It is not suitable for all types of detachment.

RETINAL PIGMENTOSA

2008-12-09T22:18:00.002+05:30

Causes, Symptoms, and Treatment

Retinitis pigmentosa causes the degeneration of photoreceptor cells in the retina. There are types of photoreceptor cells: rod cells and cone cells. The rate of decline varies depending on the genetic makeup of the disorder and also varies somewhat in individuals. A light is shone in the eye and the electroretinogram records electrical changes in the retina. They can occur in very young children causing a lifetime of blindness or rob the elderly of their precious independence. Retinitis pigmentosa (RP) is a rare, inherited disease in which the light-sensitive retina of the eye slowly and progressively degenerates. The rods are located in the periphery of the retina and are responsible for peripheral and night vision.

RP causes the thin layer of tissue in the back of the eye, which is called the retina, to deteriorate. Photoreceptor cells capture and process light helping us to see. As these cells degenerate and die, patients experience progressive vision loss. In the progression of symptoms for RP, night blindness generally precedes tunnel vision by years or even decades.

These regions of the retina reflect the cell apoptosis by having decreased nuclei in the outer nuclear layer. An exam of the retina is done using an indirect ophthalmoscope, an instrument that enables the doctor to examine the different parts of the eye through a dilated pupil. An exam of the retina is done using an indirect ophthalmoscope, an instrument that enables the doctor to examine the different parts of the eye through a dilated pupil.

RP is a group of inherited disorders in which abnormalities of the photoreceptors ( rods and cones ) or the retinal pigment epithelium (RPE) of the retina lead to progressive visual loss. Histopathologic changes in RP have been well documented, and, more recently, specific histologic changes associated with certain gene mutations are being reported.

Causes of Retinitis Pigmentosa

There are various factors which give rise to the disease Retinitis Pigmentosa. RP may be caused by a breakdown in the function of the rods or the cones in some part of the retina. The retina is so complex that breakdowns may occur in a variety of ways and so RP is not a single disorder but a great number of disorders. The breakdown of cone function may be called Macular Degeneration. There are other disorders similar to RP like Gyrate Atrophy, Choroideremia etc. The common feature is the degeneration of the retina for one reason or another.

Symptoms of Retinitis Pigmentosa

Some of the common sign and symptoms of the diseaseRetinitis Pigmentosa are as follows:

Vision decreased at night or in reduced lightl.
Loss of peripheral vision.
Loss of central vision.

Treatment of Retinitis Pigmentosa

Find effective treatment methods of treating Retinitis Pigmentosa :

These photoreceptors developed and made the necessary neural connections to the animal's retinal nerve cells, a key step in the restoration of sight .
Controversial studies have suggested that treatment with antioxidant agents may delay the disease from getting worse.
There is no standard treatment for retinitis pigmentosa.
A blood test must be taken to ascertain liver function and Vitamin A levels in the blood BEFORE taking this treatment.

Senior sex: Tips for older men

2008-11-27T23:02:00.007+05:30

Sex and the older man: What you can do to maintain a healthy and enjoyable sex life as you grow older.

Getting older changes sexual function and desire. Senior sex isn't the same as it was in your 20s — but it can still be satisfying. Contrary to common myths about sexuality and older adults, sex is not just for the young. Many seniors continue to enjoy their sexuality into their 80s and beyond.

A healthy sex life is not only fulfilling — but also good for other aspects of your life, including your physical health and self-esteem. Adapting to your changing body can help you maintain a healthy and satisfying sex life. But you may have to make a few changes, such as allowing yourself more time to become aroused and talking more openly with your partner.

Senior sex: What changes as men get older?

As men age, testosterone levels decline and changes in desire and sexual function are common. They include:

Decreased sexual interest
A need for more stimulation to achieve and maintain an erection and orgasm
Shorter orgasms
Less forceful ejaculation and less semen ejaculated
Longer time needed to achieve another erection after ejaculation

Your health also can have a big impact on your sex life and sexual performance. If you or your partner is in poor health or has a chronic health condition such as heart disease or arthritis, sex and intimacy become more challenging.

Certain surgeries and many medications such as blood pressure medications, antihistamines, antidepressants and acid-blocking drugs can affect sexual function. But just because you aren't as spry as you once were doesn't mean you can't enjoy a healthy sex life. You need to adapt to your changing body and know your limitations. Focus on ways of being sexual and intimate that work for you and your partner. Talk with your doctor about your concerns.

Tips to maintain a healthy sex life later in life:

Communicate with your partner. Open discussion of sex has become much more common in the last 40 years, but many older adults come from a generation where sex remains a taboo subject. But openly talking about your needs, desires and concerns with your partner can make you closer and help you both enjoy sex and intimacy more.

Talk to your doctor. Talking about sexual issues with your doctor can help you maintain a healthy sex life as you get older. Your doctor can help you manage chronic conditions and medications that affect your sex life. Many older men have trouble maintaining an erection or reaching orgasm. Your doctor may be able to prescribe medications or other treatments for these problems.

Expand your definition of sex. Intercourse is only one way to have fulfilling sex. Touching, kissing and other intimate sexual contact may be just as rewarding for both you and your partner. Realize that as you age, it is normal for you and your partner to have different sexual abilities and needs. Be open to finding new ways to enjoy sexual contact and intimacy.

Change your routine. Simple changes can improve your sex life. Change the time of day when you have sex to a time when you have the most energy. Try the morning — when you're refreshed from a good night's sleep — rather than at the end of a long day. Because it might take longer for you or your partner to become aroused, take more time to set the stage for romance, such as a romantic dinner or an evening of dancing. Try a new sexual position or explore other new ways of connecting romantically and sexually.

Seek a partner if you're single. It is never too late for romance. It can be difficult starting a relationship after the loss of a spouse or being single for a long time — but socializing is well worth the effort for many single seniors. No one ever outgrows the need for emotional closeness and intimate love. If you start a relationship with a new partner, be sure to practice safe sex. Many older adults are unaware that they are still at risk of sexually transmitted diseases such as AIDS

Stay healthy. Eating regular nutritious meals, staying active, not drinking too much alcohol, and not smoking or using illegal drugs are important for your overall health — and it can help your sexual performance. Follow your doctor's instructions in taking medications and managing any chronic health conditions.

Stay positive. The changes that come with aging — from health problems to changes in appearance and sexual performance — leave many men feeling less attractive or feeling they are less capable of enjoying or giving sexual pleasure. Discussing your feelings with your partner can help. Feeling angry, unhappy or depressed has a strong impact on your sex life. Professional counseling or other treatment can improve your sex life — and your well-being.

Sex may not be the same for you or your partner as it was when you were young. But by adapting to your changing body, sex and intimacy can continue to be a fulfilling and rewarding part of your life.

BROKEN BONES

2008-11-27T22:55:00.001+05:30

Ever since Sir Isaac Newton figured out why apples fall down and not up, we've known the hard truths about gravity--and one of the hardest is that when you hit the ground, you can break a bone. With 206 bones in the human body, there's a lot of potential for breakage.

If you're on the mend from a fracture, there are some ways you can speed healing and make yourself more comfortable.

Butt out.

Smoking can delay the healing of bones--up to five months longer for serious fractures and less for minor breaks, says orthopedic surgeon George Cierny III, M.D., of Atlanta. He has shown experimentally that nicotine and other substances in cigarette smoke reduce the amount of oxygen reaching bone tissue, causing the delay in healing. So if you're a smoker, expect a longer-than- average healing time.

Watch what you drink.

It's still unknown what effect alcohol and caffeine have on healing, but researchers know that people who consume beverages containing these two substances are more likely to endure fractures. That's because caffeine and alcohol affect bone mass and interfere with calcium absorption, which builds stronger bones.

"In our study, there was an increased risk of getting fractures in those who drank more than four cups of coffee daily or about two glasses of alcohol--wine, beer or a highball," says Graham A. Colditz, M.D., a researcher at Harvard Medical School in Boston.

When to See the Doctor

The most important thing you should know about broken bones is that they require immediate medical attention. If you even suspect a fracture, have a doctor check it out. Otherwise, you may further damage the broken bone. There's also risk of infection and delayed healing.

Use Gravity to Stop Itchy Casts

Bothered by that annoying itch from inside a cast? Don't try to scratch it with a ruler, clothes hanger or other device--you' ll just get more itching from the tiny cuts caused by your scratching.

"Instead, simply elevate the fractured area so that it's above the level of your heart," suggests Philip Sanfilippo, D.P.M., a San Francisco podiatrist who specializes in sports injuries and treatment. "By doing that, you'll diminish blood flow to the area and reduce swelling. Often that's enough to relieve the itching."

RICE is nice.

On the first-aid front, most experts suggest some big chill-even after your doctor has treated you. The acronym RICE--rest, ice, compression and elevation-describes the best way to hasten healing and prevent further damage. If you have a minor fracture that's protected by an air cast or soft cast, your doctor might let you remove the cast now and then to apply ice directly.

"Put a bag of frozen vegetables on the fracture for about 20 minutes, then remove it for 10," suggests Steven Subotnick, D.P.M., a sports podiatrist in Hayward, California, and author of Sports and Exercise Injuries. "But make sure you put a washcloth between your skin and the ice bag to prevent an ice burn." Since you want to avoid pressure on the area, the cold compress should be applied lightly.

Even if you can't take off a soft cast, you can apply ice to the outside of the cast, and it will help chill the area underneath.

STUTTERING

2008-11-27T22:44:00.002+05:30

We all get a kick out of watching Porky Pig's animated arsenal of sputters, misfires and f-f-f-false starts. But if you, your spouse or your child is among the millions of Americans whose speech is laden with hesitations, prolongations, repetitions and blockages, then you know firsthand that stuttering is not as amusing as a Looney Tunes cartoon.

About 4 percent of all children between the ages of two and seven will develop a stutter--but there will be far more boys than girls. Although most of the children who stutter will outgrow the problem by puberty, a small percentage (less than 1 percent) carry it into adulthood.

As yet, no one knows what causes stuttering, and there is no cure. "Our best guess is that it is due to a combination of psychological, neurological and genetic factors," says Barry Guitar, Ph.D., professor of communication science and disorders at the University of Vermont in Burlington. But they do know that it is habit forming and is usually related to stress, according to Martin F. Schwartz, Ph.D., executive director of the National Center for Stuttering in New York City.

When a child is learning, to speak, or when an adult has to speak in stressful situations (before a large audience, for instance), that stress focuses tension on the vocal cords, closing and locking them. The person struggles to speak but can't do so easily: The struggle becomes a stutter. "If the vocal cords can be kept open and relaxed, however, the stuttering can be stopped immediately, " says Dr. Schwartz.

If you or your child does stutter, try these techniques.

Pause a second.

If you're stuttering, maybe it's because you're trying to speak as fast as or faster than others--and you just don't need to. "Slow down to a normal rate and set your own relaxed pace," says Edward G. Conture, Ph.D., chairman of the Program of Communication Sciences and Disorders at Syracuse University in Syracuse, New York. "When someone asks you a question, pause one to two seconds before responding, then answer at a rate that is comfortable for you."

Nip stutter starters in the bud.

The moment before a stutter begins, you may grimace, twist your face or purse your lips without being conscious of these movements. R. Gregory Nunn, Ph.D., a clinical psychologist and president of R. G. Nunn and Associates, a private clinic in San Diego, suggests using competing behaviors when you feel these stuttering precursors come on.

When muscles tense up, for instance, let your arms, shoulders, chest and stomach slump and relax. If your lips are pursed, open them slightly. Or loosen your tight throat by letting out a little air through your mouth before saying just one word per breath, gradually increasing the number until you feel comfortable.

Record your stuttering.

Keep a personal log of all your stuttering episodes, noting what takes place prior to and during the stutter, says Dr. Nunn. "When you become aware of situations and behaviors that contribute to your stuttering, you can catch them in advance and prevent stuttering before it starts." If you always stutter on the phone, for instance, be prepared to use some competing behavior techniques even before you dial.

Practice natural breathing.

"A stutterer tries to superimpose speech over short, rapid, uneven breaths or speak while holding his breath," explains Dr. Nunn. "We want him to get used to natural speech breathing." Take a relaxed breath through the mouth, filling your lungs with a comfortable amount of air, and let it out slowly and easily, producing a deep, hollow sound. Practice this breathing pattern daily. Then try to maintain the deep breathing while you speak, letting the words come out easily as the smooth, even breath is being exhaled.

Synchronize your airflow.

Dr. Schwartz recommends the following method to take tension off the vocal cords. First relax. Take a short, easy breath through your mouth. just before speaking, let the air flow passively through your mouth, opening up the locked cords. Slow the first word a bit, easing into the first syllable, gliding to the next. Then proceed at a comfortable pace. Do this with each sentence, stopping and starting at natural pause points. Stuttering should stop right away. Practice this technique for 15 minutes three times a day, and try to integrate it into all your conversation. Four months of daily practice should make this behavior a habit.

Nix cola and coffee.

Caffeine, sugar and other stimulants encourage muscle and vocal tension, says Dr. Schwartz. They should be eliminated or greatly reduced.

When to See the Doctor

How do you know whether to help a stuttering child at home or to see a speech specialist? Martin F. Schwartz, Ph.D., executive director of the National Center for Stuttering in New York City, provides these guidelines.

If you are the parent of a child who stutters and someone in the immediate family also stutters, there's a chance your child's habit may continue into adulthood. Note whether there's a lot of struggling with words or at midsentence and also whether the stutter occurs every day and the child reacts by acting unhappy or refusing to speak. When stuttering is this persistent, you should definitely go to a speech specialist.

By adulthood, the habit is ingrained, and a good bit of one-on-one counseling may be needed to overcome it. The help of a licensed speech therapist may be necessary before you can change the habit.

Also, if stuttering should develop for the first time in adulthood or very suddenly in an older, normally fluent child, it may be the result of a neurological condition, a head injury or an event that has been very upsetting. See a doctor immediately.

Skip the sweets.

Sugar reduction alone has completely eliminated stuttering in some children, says Dr. Schwartz. You may observe rapid improvement in your child's speech simply by decreasing his consumption of cakes, cookies, candy and soda.

Set the pace.

"When kids try to speak as fast as or faster than adults, they often stutter," says Dr. Conture. "If you speak slowly and evenly to your child, he'll soon get the picture and slow down naturally." Other pacemaking tips from Dr. Conture: Pause one to two seconds before responding to your child's questions. Try not to finish the child's sentences, talk over him or interrupt. And don't tell him to speak slowly while you proceed rapidly.

Take a listening break.

A fast-paced, hectic environment where it is difficult to speak and be heard may increase stuttering in children, says Dr. Conture. When talking with a child who stutters, turn off the TV and radio as often as possible, or keep the volume low, so the child doesn't have to verbally compete with background talking. It's ideal if you can set aside time for family discussions and then give everyone a chance to speak in turn without undue interruption. And if your child talks to you while you are doing things that require your concentration, take a time-out. "Assure him you are listening and then do listen," says Dr. Conture.

HEART FAILURE

2008-10-25T22:54:00.003+05:30

Symptoms, Causes, Risk Factors, Tests and diagnosis, Complications, Treatments and drugs, Prevention, Lifestyle and home remedies and Coping and Support for Heart Failure

Definition

Heart failure, also known as congestive heart failure (CHF), means your heart can't pump enough blood to meet your body's needs. Over time, conditions such as coronary artery disease or high blood pressure gradually leave your heart too weak or stiff to fill and pump efficiently.

You can't reverse many conditions that lead to heart failure, but heart failure can often be treated with good results. Medications can improve the signs and symptoms of heart failure and lead to improved survival. Lifestyle changes, such as exercising, reducing salt intake, managing stress, treating depression, and especially losing excess weight, also can help prevent fluid buildup and improve your quality of life.

The best way to prevent heart failure is to control risk factors and aggressively manage any underlying conditions such as coronary artery disease, high blood pressure, high cholesterol, diabetes or obesity.

Symptoms

Heart failure typically develops slowly and is a chronic, long-term condition, although you may experience a sudden onset of symptoms, known as acute heart failure. The term "congestive heart failure" comes from blood backing up into — or congesting — the liver, abdomen, lower extremities and lungs.

Some of the signs and symptoms for chronic and acute heart failure are:

Type of heart failure	Signs and symptoms
Chronic heart failure (A long-term condition with signs and symptoms that persist.)	Fatigue and weakness Rapid or irregular heartbeat Shortness of breath (dyspnea) when you exert yourself or when you lie down Reduced ability to exercise Persistent cough or wheezing with white or pink blood-tinged phlegm Swelling (edema) in your legs, ankles and feet Swelling of your abdomen (ascites) Sudden weight gain from fluid retention Lack of appetite and nausea Difficulty concentrating or decreased alertness
Acute heart failure (An emergency situation that occurs when something suddenly affects your heart's ability to function.)	Signs and symptoms similar to those of chronic heart failure but more severe, and start or worsen suddenly Sudden fluid buildup Rapid or irregular heartbeat with palpitations that may cause the heart to stop beating Sudden, severe shortness of breath and coughing up pink, foamy mucus Chest pain if caused by a heart attack

Type of heart failure

Signs and symptoms

Chronic heart failure
(A long-term condition with signs and symptoms that persist.)

Fatigue and weakness
Rapid or irregular heartbeat
Shortness of breath (dyspnea) when you exert yourself or when you lie down
Reduced ability to exercise
Persistent cough or wheezing with white or pink blood-tinged phlegm
Swelling (edema) in your legs, ankles and feet
Swelling of your abdomen (ascites)
Sudden weight gain from fluid retention
Lack of appetite and nausea
Difficulty concentrating or decreased alertness

Acute heart failure
(An emergency situation that occurs when something suddenly affects your heart's ability to function.)

Signs and symptoms similar to those of chronic heart failure but more severe, and start or worsen suddenly
Sudden fluid buildup
Rapid or irregular heartbeat with palpitations that may cause the heart to stop beating
Sudden, severe shortness of breath and coughing up pink, foamy mucus
Chest pain if caused by a heart attack

In addition to characterizing whether your condition is chronic or acute, your doctor will need to know whether your heart fails to pump, or fills with blood, or a combination of both. Heart failure can involve the left side, right side or both sides of your heart. Typically, heart failure begins with the left side — specifically the left ventricle, your heart's main pumping chamber.

Part of your heart affected by heart failure	Description
Left-sided heart failure	Most common form of heart failure. Fluid and blood may back up in your lungs, causing shortness of breath.
Right-sided heart failure	Often occurs with left-sided heart failure. Fluid and blood may back up into your abdomen, legs and feet, causing swelling.
Systolic heart failure	The left ventricle can't contract vigorously, indicating a pumping problem.
Diastolic heart failure (also called heart failure with normal ejection fraction)	The left ventricle can't relax or fill fully, indicating a filling problem.

While systolic heart failure was once thought to be more common and less serious, recent studies have shown this to be incorrect. Isolated diastolic heart failure, now also termed "heart failure with normal ejection fraction," is just as common as systolic heart failure and has a similar prognosis. Identifying the type of heart failure, whether systolic, diastolic, or a combination, is important because the drug treatments for each type may

Causes

Heart failure often develops after other conditions have damaged or weakened your heart. Over time, the heart can no longer keep up with the normal demands placed on it. The ventricles may become stiff and not fill properly between beats. Also, the heart muscle may weaken, and the ventricles stretch (dilate) to the point that the heart can't pump blood efficiently throughout your body.

Any of the following conditions can cause heart failure, which can damage or weaken your heart over time. Some of these can be present without knowing it:

Coronary artery disease and heart attack. Coronary artery disease is the most common form of heart disease and the most common cause of heart failure. Over time, arteries that supply blood to your heart muscle narrow from a buildup of fatty deposits, a process called atherosclerosis. Blood moves slowly through narrowed arteries, leaving some areas of your heart muscle weak and chronically deprived of oxygen-rich blood. In many cases, the blood flow to the muscle is just enough to keep the muscle alive but not functioning well. A heart attack occurs if plaque formed by the fatty deposits in your arteries ruptures. This causes a blood clot to completely block blood flow to an area of the heart muscle, weakening the heart's pumping ability.

High blood pressure (hypertension) . Blood pressure is the force of blood pumped by your heart through your arteries. If your blood pressure is high, your heart has to work harder than it should to circulate blood throughout your body. Over time, the heart muscle may become thicker to compensate for the extra work it must perform, enlarging the heart. Eventually, your heart muscle may become either too stiff or too weak to effectively pump blood.

Faulty heart valves. The four valves of your heart keep blood flowing in the proper direction through the heart. A damaged valve forces your heart to work harder to keep blood flowing as it should. Over time, this extra work can weaken your heart. Faulty heart valves, however, can be fixed if detected in time.

Damage to the heart muscle (cardiomyopathy) . Some of the many causes of heart muscle damage, also called cardiomyopathy, include infections, alcohol abuse, and the toxic effect of drugs such as cocaine or some drugs used for chemotherapy. In addition, whole-body diseases, such as lupus, or thyroid problems also can damage heart muscle. If a specific cause can't be found, it's referred to as idiopathic dilated cardiomyopathy.

Myocarditis. Myocarditis is an inflammation of the heart muscle. It's most commonly caused by a virus and can lead to left-sided heart failure.

Heart defects present at birth (congenital heart defects). If your heart and its chambers or valves haven't formed correctly, the healthy parts of your heart have to work harder to compensate. Genetic defects contribute to the risk of certain types of heart disease, which in turn may lead to heart failure.

Abnormal heart rhythms (heart arrhythmias) . Abnormal heart rhythms may cause your heart to beat too fast. This creates extra work for your heart. Over time, your heart may weaken leading to heart failure. A slow heartbeat may prevent your heart from getting enough blood out to the body and may also lead to heart failure.

Other diseases. Chronic diseases such as diabetes, severe anemia, hyperthyroidism, hypothyroidism, emphysema, lupus, hemochromatosis and amyloidosis also may contribute to heart failure. Causes of acute heart failure include viruses that attack the heart muscle, severe infections, allergic reactions, blood clots in the lungs, the use of certain medications or any illness that affects the whole body.

Risk factors

A single risk factor may be enough to cause heart failure, but a combination of factors increases your risk.

Risk factors include:

High blood pressure. Your heart works harder than it has to if your blood pressure is high.

Coronary artery disease. Narrowed arteries may limit your heart's supply of oxygen-rich blood, resulting in weakened heart muscle.

Heart attack. Damage to your heart muscle from a heart attack may mean your heart can no longer pump as well as it should.

Irregular heartbeats. These abnormal rhythms can create extra work for your heart, weakening the heart muscle.

Diabetes. Having diabetes increases your risk of high blood pressure and coronary artery disease.

Some diabetes medications. The diabetes drugs rosiglitazone (Avandia) and pioglitazone (Actos) have been found to increase the risk of heart failure. Don't stop taking these medications on your own, though. If you're taking them, discuss with your doctor whether you need to make any changes.

Sleep apnea. The inability to breathe properly at night results in low blood oxygen levels and increased risk of abnormal heart rhythms. Both of these problems can weaken the heart.

Congenital heart defects. Some people who develop heart failure were born with structural heart defects.

Viruses. A viral infection may have damaged your heart muscle.

Alcohol use. Alcohol can weaken heart muscle and lead to heart failure.

Kidney conditions. These can contribute to heart failure because many can lead to high blood pressure and fluid retention.

When to seek medical advice

See your doctor if you experience any of the signs or symptoms associated with heart failure. These include:

Fatigue and weakness
Rapid or irregular heartbeat
Shortness of breath (dyspnea) when you exert yourself or when you lie down
Reduced ability to exercise
Persistent cough or wheezing with white or pink blood-tinged phlegm
Swelling in your abdomen, legs, ankles and feet
Difficulty concentrating or decreased alertness

You may first find out you have heart failure from an emergency room visit after worsening signs and symptoms. Other heart and lung problems can cause signs and symptoms that are similar to heart failure.

If you have a diagnosis of heart failure, and if any of the signs or symptoms suddenly become worse or you develop a new sign or symptom, it may mean that existing heart failure is getting worse or not responding to treatment. Contact your doctor promptly.

Tests and diagnosis

To diagnose heart failure, your doctor will take a careful medical history and perform a physical examination. Your doctor will also check for the presence of risk factors such as high blood pressure. Using a stethoscope, your doctor can listen to your lungs for signs of congestion. The stethoscope also picks up abnormal heart sounds that may suggest heart failure. After the physical exam, your doctor may do blood tests and a chest X-ray followed by an echocardiogram.

Blood tests. Your doctor may take a sample of your blood to check your kidney and thyroid function and to look for indicators of other diseases that affect the heart. In addition, your doctor may check your blood for specific chemical markers of heart failure, such as a hormone called brain natriuretic peptide (BNP). Although first identified in the brain, BNP is secreted by the heart at high levels when it's injured or overworked.

Chest X-ray. X-ray images help your doctor see the condition of your lungs and heart. In heart failure, your heart may appear enlarged and fluid buildup may be visible in your lungs. Your doctor can also use an X-ray to diagnose conditions other than heart failure that may explain your signs and symptoms.

Electrocardiogram (ECG). This test records the electrical activity of your heart through electrodes attached to your skin. Impulses are recorded as waves and displayed on a monitor or printed on paper. This test helps your doctor diagnose heart rhythm problems and damage to your heart from a heart attack that may be underlying heart failure.

Echocardiogram. An important test for diagnosing and monitoring heart failure is the echocardiogram. An echocardiogram also helps distinguish systolic heart failure from diastolic heart failure, in which the heart is stiff and can't fill properly. An echocardiogram uses sound waves to produce a video image of your heart. This image can help doctors determine how well your heart is pumping by measuring the percentage of blood pumped out of your heart's main pumping chamber (the left ventricle) with each heartbeat. This measurement is called the ejection fraction.

Ejection fraction. Your ejection fraction is measured during an echocardiogram. An ejection fraction is an important measurement of how well your heart is pumping and is used to help classify heart failure and guide treatment. In a healthy heart, the ejection fraction is about 60 percent — meaning 60 percent of the blood that fills the ventricle is pumped out with each beat. Other imaging tests may be used to measure ejection fraction, including cardiac catheterization, multiple gated acquisition (MUGA) scanning of the heart, magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and computerized tomography (CT).

Other tests

In addition to the physical examination, blood tests, chest X-ray and echocardiogram, your doctor may recommend one or more tests to help diagnose heart failure, determine its underlying cause and guide treatment decisions. You may have tests such as:

Stress test. You may have one of a variety of stress tests either using an exercise bike or treadmill or medications that stress the heart. In some stress tests, pictures are taken of your heart with either nuclear medicine or echocardiographic techniques to try and determine if you have blockages in your heart arteries as a cause for your heart failure. You may also have an oxygen uptake stress test which helps your doctor know how well your body is compensating for your condition.

Cardiac CT or MRI scan. These tests are now being used with increased frequency for people with heart failure, not only to measure ejection fraction but to check the heart arteries and valves, determine if you have had a heart attack, and look for unusual causes of heart failure.

Coronary catheterization (angiogram). In this test, a thin, flexible tube (catheter) is inserted into a blood vessel at your groin or arm and guided through the aorta into your coronary arteries. A dye injected through the catheter makes the arteries supplying your heart visible on an X-ray. This test helps doctors identify narrowed arteries to your heart (coronary artery disease) that can be a cause of heart failure. The test may include a ventriculogram — a procedure to determine the strength of the left ventricle (the heart's main pumping chamber) and the health of the heart valves.

Classifying heart failure

Results of these tests help doctors determine the cause of your signs and symptoms and develop a program to treat your heart. To determine the best course of treatment, doctors may classify heart failure using two scales:

New York Heart Association scale. This scale classifies heart failure in categories from one to four. In Class I heart failure, the mildest form, you can perform everyday activities and not feel winded or fatigued. Class IV is the most severe, and you're short of breath even at rest.

American College of Cardiology scale. This newer classification system uses letters A to D. The system includes a category for people who are at risk of developing heart failure. For example, a person who has several risk factors for heart failure is Stage A, but a person with end-stage heart failure requiring hospice care is Stage D. Doctors use this classification system to identify your risk factors and begin early, more aggressive treatment to help prevent or delay heart failure.

Ask your doctor about your score if you're interested in determining the severity of your heart failure. Your doctor can help you interpret your score and plan your treatment based on your condition.

Complications

In systolic heart failure, your heart pumps with less force. To make up for the weak pumping, your ventricle enlarges in an attempt to stretch and contract with more strength, allowing it to pump more blood. This can initially stabilize the situation but, eventually the more the heart dilates, the more inefficient it becomes. The heart muscle may thicken to help increase pumping strength. More muscle means the heart needs more blood, and your coronary arteries may not be able to supply it. Your heart may also beat faster in an attempt to pump more often. In addition, levels of heart-stimulating hormones go up.

At first, these means of compensating help a weakened heart pump harder. However, eventually these changes make matters worse by weakening your heart muscle.

If you have heart failure, your outlook depends on the cause and the severity, overall health and other factors such as age. Many people's symptoms and heart function will improve with proper treatment. However, heart failure can be life-threatening. It can lead to sudden death. People with severe heart failure have debilitating symptoms, and some may require heart transplantation or support with an artificial heart device.

Treatments and drugs

Heart failure is a chronic disease needing lifelong management. However, with treatment, a failing heart can become stronger and signs and symptoms of heart failure can improve. Doctors sometimes can correct heart failure by treating the underlying cause. For example, repairing a heart valve or controlling a fast heart rhythm may reverse heart failure. But for most people, the treatment of heart failure involves a balance of the right medications, and in some cases, devices that help the heart beat properly.

Medications

Doctors usually treat heart failure with a combination of medications. Depending on your symptoms, you might take one, two or more of these drugs. Several types of drugs have proved useful in the treatment of heart failure. They include:

Angiotensin- converting enzyme (ACE) inhibitors. These drugs help people with heart failure live longer and feel better. ACE inhibitors are a type of vasodilator, a drug that widens or dilates blood vessels to lower blood pressure, improve blood flow and decrease the workload on the heart. Examples include enalapril (Vasotec), lisinopril (Prinivil, Zestril) and captopril (Capoten). ACE inhibitors also blunt some of the effects of hormones that promote salt and water retention. ACE inhibitors can cause an irritating cough in some people. It may be best to put up with the cough, if you can, to gain the medication's benefits. But be sure to discuss this with your doctor. Switching to another ACE inhibitor or an angiotensin II receptor blocker (ARB) may relieve the problem.

Angiotensin II (A-II) receptor blockers (ARBs). These drugs, which include losartan (Cozaar) and valsartan (Diovan), have many of the beneficial effects of ACE inhibitors, but they don't cause a persistent cough. They may be an alternative for people who can't tolerate ACE inhibitors.

Digoxin (Lanoxin). This drug, also referred to as digitalis, increases the strength of your heart muscle contractions. It also tends to slow the heartbeat. Digoxin reduces heart failure symptoms and improves your ability to live with the condition.

Beta blockers. This class of drug slows your heart rate and reduces blood pressure. Examples include carvedilol (Coreg), metoprolol (Lopressor) and bisoprolol (Zebeta). These medicines also reduce the risk of some abnormal heart rhythms. Beta blockers may reduce signs and symptoms of heart failure and improve heart function.

Diuretics. Often called water pills, diuretics make you urinate more frequently and keep fluid from collecting in your body. Commonly prescribed diuretics for heart failure include bumetanide (Bumex) and furosemide (Lasix). The drugs also decrease fluid in your lungs, so you can breathe more easily. Because diuretics make your body lose potassium and magnesium, your doctor may also prescribe supplements of these minerals. If you're taking a diuretic, your doctor will likely monitor levels of potassium and magnesium in your blood through regular blood tests.

Aldosterone antagonists. These drugs include spironolactone (Aldactone) and eplerenone (Inspra). They're primarily potassium-sparing diuretics, but they have additional properties that help the heart work better, may reverse scarring of the heart and may help people with severe heart failure live longer. Unlike some other diuretics, spironolactone can raise the level of potassium in your blood to dangerous levels.

A medication called BiDil is a single pill that combines hydralazine and isosorbide dinitrate — both of which dilate and relax the blood vessels. BiDil increases survival when added to standard therapy in black people with advanced heart failure. This is the first drug studied and approved for a specific racial group. Further studies will be necessary to determine if this combination medicine will be helpful for others with heart failure.

You'll probably need to take two or more medications to treat heart failure. Your doctor may prescribe other heart medications as well — such as nitrates for chest pain, a statin to lower cholesterol or blood-thinning medications to help prevent blood clots - along with heart failure medications.

You may be hospitalized for a few days if you have a flare-up of heart failure symptoms. While in the hospital, you may receive additional medications to help your heart pump better and relieve your symptoms. You may also receive supplemental oxygen through a mask or small tubes placed in your nose. If you have severe heart failure, you may need to use supplemental oxygen long term.

Surgery and medical devices

In some cases, doctors recommend surgery to treat the underlying problem that led to heart failure. For example, a damaged heart valve may be repaired or, if necessary, replaced with a new one. Doctors recommend coronary bypass surgery to treat severely narrowed coronary arteries that are contributing to heart failure.

Researchers continue to search for new and better ways to treat heart failure. Some treatments being studied and used in certain people include:

Implantable cardioverter- defibrillators (ICDs). An ICD is a device implanted under the skin and attached to the heart with small wires. The ICD monitors the heart rhythm. If the heart starts beating at a dangerous rhythm, the ICD shocks it back into normal rhythm. Sometimes a biventricular pacemaker is combined with an ICD for people with severe heart failure.

Cardiac resynchronization therapy (CRT) or biventricular pacing. A biventricular pacemaker sends timed electrical impulses to both of the heart's lower chambers (the left and right ventricles), so that they pump in synchrony and in a more efficient, coordinated manner. As many as half the people with heart failure have abnormalities in their heart's electrical system that cause their already-weak heart muscle to beat in an uncoordinated fashion. This inefficient muscle contraction wastes the heart's limited energy and may cause heart failure to worsen. Sometimes a biventricular pacemaker is combined with an ICD for people at greatest risk of rhythm problems.

Heart pumps. These mechanical devices, called left ventricular assist devices (LVADs), are implanted into the abdomen and attached to a weakened heart to help it pump. Doctors first used heart pumps to help keep heart transplant candidates alive while they waited for a donor heart. LVADs are now being considered as an alternative to transplantation. Implanted heart pumps can significantly extend and improve the lives of some people with end-stage heart failure who aren't eligible for or able to undergo heart transplantation or are waiting for a new heart.

Some people have such severe heart failure that surgery or medications don't help. They may need to have their diseased heart replaced with a healthy donor heart. Heart transplants have dramatically improved the survival and quality of life of people with severe heart failure. However, candidates for transplantation often have to wait years before a suitable donor heart is found. Some transplant candidates improve during this waiting period through drug treatment or device therapy and can be removed from the transplant waiting list.

Experimental treatments

Cardiac wrap surgery. Researchers are studying a technique that wraps a failing heart in a mesh bag, helping to prevent further failure. A surgeon pulls the mesh wrap over the base of the heart and attaches it with stitches. The goal is to prevent a weakened heart from enlarging (dilating) and failing further. Studies are ongoing.

Ventricular restoration surgery. This surgery is being used experimentally to treat some people with heart failure caused by a heart attack. During the surgery, doctors remove scar tissue in the ventricular muscle caused by a heart attack and reshape the remaining healthy tissue to restore a more normal elliptical left ventricle shape. Reducing the size of and reshaping the left ventricle help restore normal function to the pumping mechanism.

Enhanced external counterpulsation (EECP). This noninvasive technique has been used as a treatment for heart-related chest pain, and researchers are studying this treatment to see if it's beneficial for people with heart failure. Inflatable pressure cuffs are placed on the calves, thighs and buttocks. These cuffs are inflated and deflated in sync with your heartbeat. The theory is that EECP increases blood flow back to the heart.

Prevention

The key to preventing heart failure is to reduce your risk factors. You can control or eliminate many of the risk factors for heart disease — high blood pressure and coronary artery disease, for example — by making lifestyle changes along with the help of any needed medications.

Lifestyle and home remedies

Making lifestyle changes can often help relieve signs and symptoms of heart failure and prevent the disease from worsening. These changes may be among the most important and beneficial you can make:

Stop smoking. Smoking damages your blood vessels, reduces the amount of oxygen in your blood and makes your heart beat faster. If you smoke, ask your doctor to recommend a program to help you quit. You can't be considered for a heart transplant if you continue to smoke.

Weigh yourself daily. Do this each morning after you've urinated, but before you've had breakfast. Notify your doctor if you have a weight gain of 3 or more pounds in a day. It may mean that you're retaining fluids and need a change in your treatment plan. Record your weight every morning and bring the record with you to your doctor's visits.

Restrict sodium. Sodium is a component of salt. Too much sodium contributes to water retention, which makes your heart work harder and causes shortness of breath and swollen legs, ankles and feet. For people with heart failure, the recommended sodium intake is no more than 2,000 milligrams a day. Keep in mind that most of this salt is already added to prepared foods, and be careful when using salt substitutes. Some substitutes or "lite" salts contain a mixture of salt and other compounds. To get that familiar salty taste, you may use too much of the substitute and actually not reduce your sodium intake. In addition, many salt substitutes contain potassium chloride. Too much potassium can be harmful if you have kidney problems or if you're taking certain medications for treatment of heart failure. A dietitian can help you outline a healthy, low-salt diet, but it's up to you to stick to it without exception.

Maintain a healthy weight. If you're overweight, your dietitian will help you work toward your ideal weight.

Limit fats and cholesterol. In addition to avoiding high-sodium foods, limit your intake of saturated fat, trans fat and cholesterol. A diet high in fat and cholesterol is a risk factor for coronary artery disease, which often underlies or contributes to heart failure.

Limit alcohol and fluids. Excessive use of alcohol can directly weaken your heart muscle or increase your risk of abnormal heart rhythms that may worsen existing heart failure. Alcohol may also interact with some medications used to treat heart conditions. Your doctor likely will advise you to abstain from alcohol if you have heart failure. If you have severe heart failure, your doctor may also suggest you limit your total intake of fluids.

Exercise. Exercise was once forbidden for people with heart failure. But, moderate exercise helps keep the rest of your body healthy and conditioned, reducing the demands on your heart muscle. Before you start exercising though, talk to your doctor about an exercise program that's right for you. Your doctor may suggest a walking program. Check with your local hospital to see if it offers a cardiac rehabilitation program; if it does, talk to your doctor about enrolling in the program.

Reduce stress. When you're anxious or upset, your heart beats faster and you breathe more heavily. This can make heart failure worse, since your heart is already having trouble meeting the body's demands. Find ways to reduce stress in your life. To give your heart a rest, try napping or putting your feet up when possible.

Sleep easy. If you're having shortness of breath, especially at night, sleep with your head propped up at a 45-degree angle using a pillow or a wedge. If you snore or have had other symptoms of disordered sleep, make sure you get tested for sleep apnea.

Coping and support

Often people with congestive heart failure complain that they wake up tired because lying flat makes it harder to breathe, and their sleep is interrupted because of excess fluid or medications that increase the need to urinate.

To improve your sleep at night, prop up your head with pillows and avoid big meals right before bedtime. Also, discuss with your doctor changing the time for taking medications, especially diuretics. Taking diuretics earlier in the day may keep you from having to urinate as often during the night.

Although many cases of heart failure can't be reversed, treatment can usually improve symptoms and help you live longer. You and your doctor can work together to help make your life more comfortable. Pay attention to your body and how you feel, and tell your doctor when you're feeling better or feeling worse. This way, your doctor will know what treatment works best for you.

Don't be afraid to ask your doctor questions about living with heart failure. These steps can help you work most effectively with your doctor:

Keep track of the medications you take. Make a list and share it with any new doctors treating you. Carry the list with you all the time.

Keep track of your weight and bring the record to visits with your doctor. An increase in weight can be a sign you're accumulating fluid. Your doctor may instruct you to take extra diuretics if your weight has increased more than a pound or so in a day.

Keep track of your blood pressure. Consider purchasing a high-quality home blood pressure monitor. Keep track of your blood pressure between doctor appointments and bring the record with you to visits.

Write down your questions. Before a doctor appointment, prepare a list of any questions or concerns. For example, is it safe for you and your partner to have sex? Most people with heart failure can continue sexual activity once symptoms are under control.

Ask for clarification. Make sure you understand what your doctor is saying.

Managing heart failure requires an open dialogue between you and your doctor. Be honest about whether you're following recommendations concerning your diet, lifestyle and taking medications. Your doctor often can suggest strategies to help you get and stay on track.

DARK CIRCLES UNDER THE EYES

2008-10-25T22:22:00.004+05:30

DARK CIRCLES UNDER THE EYES

Dark circles under the eyes tell us about the health of an individual. They are produced due to overstrain, after an illness or an allergy. They can also be the result of undernourishment. But these dark circles do not produce any harm to the body. So anybody with dark circles should not worry about them. In fact, sometimes they're not even an indication of physical problems.

Dark circles can be aggravated by fatigue, allergies, overexposure to the sun, menstruation or pregnancy. But they're usually hereditary; if your parents have them, there are more chances that you do, too have them.

Dark circles are the result of the engorged blood vessels under your eyes. Because the skin under eyes is thinner than skin anywhere else on body, therefore blood vessels there are more noticeable, especially in fair skinned persons. Usually, dark circles are caused by hyper pigmentation of melanin, the substance that gives color to the skin.

In western countries, the kidneys are related to the adrenal glands and with stress levels in life being so high; these glands are very often exhausted. When these glands are weakened, allergies are prevalent.. Dark circles under the eyes are known to be a classic symptom of an allergy, together other signs including edema and fatigue.

Dark circles under eyes may also be due to aging which thins the skin around the eyes. Eight hours of sleep is essential. Do not leave cream on the skin around the eyes for long periods. Circles under the eyes can worsen in people who smoke or suffer from allergies.

HOME REMEDIES FOR DARK CIRCLES UNDER THE EYES

Apply a cold compress this will help to constrict blood vessels and turns tissue white, and dark circles will lighten.
Drink at least eight to ten glasses of water everyday. Put slices of raw potatoes or cucumber by closing eyes over the eyelids for 15-20 minutes. Wash with warm water and apply a cream.
Take out the juice of the cucumber. Prepare a mixture of lemon juice, lanolin cream and cucumber juice and apply around the eye for 10-15 minutes.
Prepare a mixture by adding equal quantity of potato and cucumber juices. Dip a cotton swab in this mixture and put the cotton on eyelids and keep for 20 minutes. Wash your eyes with cold water.
Prepare a mixture of lemon and tomato juice (equal parts) and apply it on the black circles 2 times a day.
Make a paste of turmeric powder with pineapple juice for dark circles under the eyes..
Apply crushed mint around the eye.
Another home remedy for dark circles under the eyes is - massage with almond oil under and around eyes at bedtime daily for 2 weeks. Almond helps to remove dark circles.
No cream should be left on the skin around the eyes for long periods..
Rub the area with a powdered Vitamin E capsule and wash off with a mixture of honey and egg white.
Put hot and cold clothes alternatively under eyes for 10 minutes. Then apply some almond oil on the dark circles before going to bed.
The acupressure point for eyes is on the mount below the index finger of your palms. Pressing this mount may help.
Dip some carrot leave in hot water and leave for a few minutes. Drink the liquid 3 times a day before meals.
Dip cotton balls in rose water or cold water and keep under the eyes for 10 minutes.
Make a paste of 1 tsp. tomato juice, 1/2 tsp. lemon juice, a pinch of turmeric powder, and 1 tsp. of flour. Apply around eyes. Leave on for 10 minutes before washing. This is an effective home remedy for dark circle treatment.
Take some freezed parsley. Use the parsley cubes instead of eye creams to reduce the dark circles and puffiness. Parsley is packed with chlorophyll which helps fade darkness, while the ice cubes reduce the swelling.
Takes vasoline, put it on a metal spoon and freeze it for 15 minutes. Then apply it to the eyes for a few minutes.
Add some mint leaves, lemon juice, and salt to tomato juice and drink.
Grate some cucumber and freeze in an ice tray. Massage frozen cucumber cubes onto eyes to reduce puffiness and dark circles.
Avoid excess of chocolates and try to take more fibres in the diet.
To prevent dark circles take 2 magnesium tablets per day, especially if you're taking calcium.
Use a sunscreen especially made for the face with a sun protection factor (SPF) to keep the sun's rays from darkening the skin under your eyes
Eat vegetables and fruits rich in vitamin A for the treatment of dark circles under eyes.

KAWASAKI DISEASE

2008-10-25T22:03:00.004+05:30

Symptoms, Causes, Tests and diagnosis & Coping and Support

Definition

Kawasaki disease is a condition that causes inflammation in the walls of small- and medium-sized arteries throughout the body, including the coronary arteries. It mostly affects children from ages 2 to 5. Identified by a Japanese doctor, Tomisaku Kawasaki, in 1967, Kawasaki disease is also called mucocutaneous lymph node syndrome because it also affects lymph nodes, skin and the mucous membranes inside the mouth, nose and throat.

Kawasaki disease occurs more often in boys than girls, and most commonly in children of Japanese or Korean descent, although any child can get it. It can cause serious complications of the heart and the blood vessels that supply the heart. Some of the complications of Kawasaki disease may be life-threatening.

The condition is not preventable, but it's treatable in most cases. Most children recover from Kawasaki disease without serious problems.

Symptoms

The signs and symptoms of Kawasaki disease appear in phases.

First phase

The first phase begins with a fever, which often is higher than 104 F (40 C), spikes and remits, and lasts one to two weeks. Your doctor may suspect Kawasaki disease if the fever lasts for five or more days, and your child has developed four or more of these signs and symptoms:

Extremely red eyes (conjunctivitis) without thick discharge
A rash on the main part of the body (trunk) and in the genital area
Red, dry, cracked lips and an extremely red, swollen tongue ("raspberry" tongue)
Swollen, red skin on the palms of the hands and the soles of the feet
Sore throat
Swollen lymph nodes in the neck and perhaps elsewhere

Second phase

In the second phase of the disease, your child may develop:

Peeling of the skin on the hands and feet, especially the tips of the fingers and toes, often in large sheets
Joint pain
Diarrhea
Vomiting
Abdominal pain

Third phase

In the third phase of the disease, signs and symptoms slowly go away unless complications develop.

Causes

No one knows what causes Kawasaki disease. A number of theories link the disease to bacteria, viruses, or environmental chemicals or pollutants, but none has been proved. Kawasaki disease doesn't appear to be hereditary.

When to seek medical advice

Most children with Kawasaki disease recover with no problems, with or without treatment. However, the disease can cause serious heart problems and joint damage. Treating Kawasaki disease within 10 days of its onset may greatly reduce the chances of lasting damage. It's important to contact your child's doctor if your child has signs or symptoms of this disease.

Tests and diagnosis

There's no specific test available to diagnose Kawasaki disease. Diagnosis largely is a process of ruling out diseases that cause similar signs and symptoms, including:

Scarlet fever, which is caused by streptococcal bacteria and results in fever, rash, chills and sore throat
Juvenile rheumatoid arthritis
Stevens-Johnson syndrome, a disorder of the mucous membranes
Toxic shock syndrome
Measles
Cytomegalovirus or Epstein-Barr virus infection

Your doctor may conduct a physical examination and have your child undergo other tests to aid in the diagnosis. These tests may include:

Urine tests. These tests help rule out other diseases.
Blood tests. Besides helping to rule out other diseases, blood tests look at white blood cell count, which is likely to be elevated, and the presence of anemia and inflammation, indications of Kawasaki disease.
Electrocardiogram. This test uses electrodes attached to the skin to measure the electrical impulses of your child's heartbeat. Kawasaki disease can cause serious complications of the heart.
Echocardiogram. This test uses ultrasound images to show how well the heart is functioning and provides indirect evidence on how the coronary arteries are functioning.

Complications

Kawasaki disease is the leading cause of acquired heart disease in children. About one in five children with the disease develops heart problems, but fewer than half of them will have permanent damage.

Heart complications include:

Inflammation of the heart muscle (myocarditis)
Enlargement of the heart (cardiomegaly)
Abnormal heart rhythm (arrhythmia)
Inflammation of blood vessels (vasculitis) , usually the coronary arteries, which supply blood to the heart

Any of these complications can cause your child's heart to malfunction. Inflammation of the coronary arteries can lead to aneurysms (weakening and bulging of the artery wall). Aneurysms increase the risk of blood clots forming and blocking the artery, which could lead to a heart attack or cause life-threatening internal bleeding.

For a small percentage of children who develop coronary artery problems, Kawasaki disease is fatal, even with treatment.

Treatments and drugs

Your doctor will want to begin initial treatment for Kawasaki disease as soon as possible after the appearance of signs and symptoms, preferably while your child still has a fever. The goals of initial treatment are to lower fever and inflammation and prevent heart damage.

To accomplish those goals, your child's doctor may recommend:

Aspirin. High doses of aspirin can reduce the fever, rash, joint inflammation and pain and help prevent blood clots from forming.
Gamma globulin. Infusion of gamma globulin (an immune protein) through a vein (intravenously) can lower the risk of coronary artery abnormalities.

Because of the risk of serious complications, initial treatment for Kawasaki disease usually is given in a hospital.

After the initial treatment

Once the fever subsides, your child may need to take low-dose aspirin for at least six to eight weeks, and longer if he or she develops a coronary artery aneurysm. Aspirin helps prevent clotting.

However, if your child develops flu or chickenpox during treatment, he or she will need to stop taking aspirin. Taking aspirin has been linked to Reye's syndrome, a rare but serious illness that can affect the blood, liver and brain of children and teenagers after a viral infection. (This is another reason to immunize your child on schedule against chickenpox.)

Without treatment, Kawasaki disease can last from two to 12 weeks. With treatment, your child may start to improve within 24 hours.

Monitoring heart problems

If your child has any indication of heart problems, your doctor may recommend follow-up tests to monitor heart health at regular intervals. If your child develops continuing heart abnormalities, your doctor may refer you to a doctor who specializes in treating heart disease in children (pediatric cardiologist) . In some cases, a child with a coronary artery aneurysm may require:

Anticoagulant drugs. These medications, such as aspirin, warfarin and heparin, help prevent clots from forming.
Coronary artery angioplasty. This procedure opens arteries that have narrowed to the point that they impede blood flow to the heart.
Stent placement. This procedure involves implanting a device in the clogged artery to help prop it open and decrease the chance of re-blockage. Stent placement often accompanies angioplasty.
Coronary artery bypass graft. This operation involves rerouting the blood around a diseased coronary artery by grafting a section of blood vessel from the leg, chest or arm to use as the alternate route.

Coping and support

Find out all you can about Kawasaki disease so that you can make informed choices with your child's health care team about treatment options. Keep in mind that most children with Kawasaki disease recover completely within the first six months after they begin treatment.

NOSE BLEEDING

2008-09-30T21:28:00.001+05:30

NOSE BLEEDING

Nose bleeding is also known as epitasis, it is common and not a very serious occurrence that demands you to be shifted to a hospital or rushed to the doctor on emergency.

Each one of us has had a nose bleed at some point of time or another. Infact, this is a very common ailment in people, though it’s mostly children who are seen to suffer from it more frequently. The nose lining contains various tiny blood vessels that tend to bleed quite easily. And there are a number of reasons responsible for encouraging a nose bleed in people.

Nose bleeds are often the result of common events, usually trauma, but nose bleeds can be a warning of other problems. Nose bleeds are caused by a small blood vessel rupturing. There are two main types of nose bleed, upper and lower septum nose bleeds.

In children, many doctors feel that nasal drying is a common cause of nose bleeds. Nasal drying is common in the winter during cold dry weather and in the summer with air-conditioning. If due to nasal drying, nose bleeds can sometimes be prevented by placing KY Jelly about 0.5 inches into the nose using a Q-tip. This should be done two to four times a day. Placing a humidifier in the home will also help. However, this will also promote the growth of molds and other allergens. Do not use Vaseline. Vaseline is petroleum-based and thus will dry, not moisten the nose.

Bleeding from the nose originating from sites other than the nasal mucosa is a common and serious occurrence in all species but particularly in the horse because of its implication for safety while racing. The passage of large amounts of blood suddenly is usually associated with pulmonary hemorrhage and is often fatal in horses and cattle. In horses this usually occurs during hardexercise . When the bleeding in the horse occurs at rest the origin is commonly from the guttural pouch and due to mycotic erosion of the blood vessels there.

Home Remedies For Nose Bleeding

To stop a nosebleed pinch the nose firmly (but not hard) at the bridge of your nose just below the bone. Do NOT lie down or tilt the head back, as this makes the blood go down your throat and will make you sick to your stomach. Hold this pinch for 2 -3 minutes until bleeding stops. Do NOT blow your nose. This will blow the clot out and make it start bleeding again.

Apple cider vinegar is useful in getting a nosebleed to stop. Apple cider vinegar safeguards the body from loss of blood. Soak a small cotton ball in the vinegar and pack it lightly into the nostril. The vinegar will help the blood to congeal.

Every time you breathe in air, it the job of the nose to ensure that the air that reaches lungs is well humidified. As such, when your surroundings are dry, your nose has to work extra hard. So it’s advised that you humidify the air with a good air humidifier.

Goldenseal Another herbal remedy is to make a tea from goldenseal using one teaspoon to a pint of boiling water. Steep a few minutes, let settle, and, when cold, snuff some into your nostrils. Do this several times during the day to prevent recurrence.

Take equal parts of Red sandalwood (Rakta Chandan), liquorice (Yashtimadhu) and Naagakesara and make a fine powder out of them. Add 2-3 pinches of this powder in a glass of milk and take it.

Before you begin to stop the nose bleed, blow your nose once forcefully. This will blow out any clot that is keeping the blood vessel in the nose lining open. Once the clot is out, the flexible fibers around that minute opening in the nose will itself contract.

Nose Bleeding Home Remedies with Lemon:

Lemon is a very good antiseptic and also helps in fast coagulation of the blood. Since lemon is very easily available in any household, it is an ideal remedy to stop nose bleeds.

Put a drop or two of lemon juice in the affected nose and the nose bleeding will stop immediately. If it continues even after that it may be a serious complication, consult your physician immediately.

Natural Treatments for Nose Bleeding with Salt Water:

Salt water is an ideal remedy for common nose bleeds.
In case of nose bleeding due to dryness, put a pinch of salt in water and spray the saline water on your nose. The natural anti coagulant properties of salt help curb nose bleeding and the dehumidifying effect of the salt-water arrests drying of the mucous membrane.

Remember these two simple remedies. Salt water and lemon juice are the very easily available in any household.

Nose bleedings can be very anxious moments, now just remember these two remedies and you do not have to suffer from nose bleedings.

Incase of occasional nose bleed, there are a number of home remedies to stop it.

· Before you begin to stop the nose bleed, blow your nose once forcefully. This will blow out any clot that is keeping the blood vessel in the nose lining open. Once the clot is out, the flexible fibers around that minute opening in the nose will itself contract.

At times, the act of blowing the nose accompanied by application of a little bit of pressure is sufficient for stopping the nose bleed.

You can also cap the bleeding side with wet cotton. Keep a nasal spray at home for this purpose. Incase you do not have cotton handy, use simple sterilized gauze instead. You can take the cotton or the gauze out after 10 to 15 minutes.

Sit straight whenever you have a nose bleed. This is because if you recline or tilt your head back, the blood may run towards and into your throat instead of tickling down the nose.

You can try holding an ice pack alongside the nose area. The cold will cause the blood vessels in the nose lining to constrict and lessen bleeding.

Do not pick your nose when it is bleeding. Otherwise, it will take seven to 10 days for the rupture in the nose’s blood vessel to heal completely.

Apply an antibiotic / steroid ointment.

Watch your aspirin intake. Aspirin can interfere with clotting. If you're prone to nosebleeds, experts advise that you not take unnecessary aspirin.

Get your blood pressure checked. Persons with hypertension are prone to having nosebleeds.

Every time you breathe in air, it the job of the nose to ensure that the air that reaches lungs is well humidified. As such, when your surroundings are dry, your nose has to work extra hard. So it’s advised that you humidify the air with a good air humidifier.

Be cautious in selecting oral contraceptives. Estrogen controls the production of mucus in the body and anything altering the estrogen levels makes one more prone to nosebleeds. Some types of oral contraceptives also tend to affect this balance.

Do not smoke

MYOCLONUS

2008-09-27T23:39:00.002+05:30

Symptoms, Causes, Tests & Diagnosis and Treatment & Drugs

Definition

Myoclonus refers to a quick, involuntary muscle jerk. For example, hiccups are a form of myoclonus. So are the sudden jerks, or "sleep starts," you may experience just before falling asleep. These forms of myoclonus occur in healthy people and rarely present a problem.

More severe types of myoclonus can be triggered by an underlying medical condition, such as a head injury or a reaction to a medication.

For effective treatment, you need to discover what's causing your myoclonus symptoms. If the cause of your myoclonus is chronic or unexplained, then treatment focuses on reducing the effects of myoclonus on your quality of life.

Symptoms

The muscle jerks associated with myoclonus are:

Sudden
Involuntary
Shock-like
Variable in intensity and frequency
Often limited to one muscle, or initially limited to a group of muscles before spreading to other areas
Sometimes severe enough to interfere with eating, talking or walking

When to see a doctor

If your myoclonus symptoms become frequent and persistent, talk to your doctor for further evaluation and proper diagnosis and treatment.

Causes

Myoclonus may be caused by a variety of problems, including:

Head or spinal cord injury or infections
Strokes
Brain tumors
Kidney or liver failure
Chemical or drug poisoning
Prolonged oxygen deprivation
Multiple sclerosis
Epilepsy
Parkinson's disease
Alzheimer's disease
Metabolic problems

Preparing for your appointment

You'll probably first discuss your concerns with your family doctor, who may decide to refer you to a neurologist. Because appointments can be brief, it's a good idea to come prepared to make the best use of the time allotted.

What you can do

Write down a list of your symptoms, noting if there's anything that seems to trigger them or make them better.
Take a list of all your medications, including any vitamins or supplements.
Compile a list of questions for your doctor, asking about possible causes, treatments and prognosis.

What to expect from your doctor

Your doctor will ask you to describe your myoclonus symptoms in detail. He or she may also ask if you have a history of:

Seizures
Any other neurological problems
Drug or chemical exposure
Other medical problems
Family members with a similar problem or epilepsy

Your doctor may try to provoke your myoclonus symptoms, so he or she can see how many muscle groups are involved and if there are any other neurological abnormalities that occur at the same time.

Tests and diagnosis

Determining the cause of myoclonus usually is a process of elimination. To rule out potential causes, your doctor may recommend the following types of tests:

Electroencephalogra phy (EEG)

This procedure records the electrical activity of your brain and may help determine from which part of the brain the myoclonus appears to originate. EEGs are painless and take less than an hour. Small electrodes are attached to your scalp with paste or an elastic cap. You may be asked to breathe deeply and steadily for several minutes or to stare at a patterned board. At times a light may be flashed in your eyes.

Electromyography (EMG)

This test measures the electrical discharges produced in muscles. Very fine wire electrodes are inserted into the muscles your doctor wants to study. This may be uncomfortable, but most people are able to complete the test. An instrument records the electrical activity from your muscle at rest and as you contract the muscle, such as by bending your arm. These signals help determine if there's damage to the muscle or to the nerves leading to the muscle. The test takes at least an hour to complete.

MRI

This scan may be used to check for such things as structural problems or tumors inside your skull, which may be causing your myoclonus symptoms. MRIs use radio waves and a powerful magnet to produce detailed images of internal organs. The scan itself is noisy but painless, although some people experience claustrophobic feelings.

Laboratory tests

Your doctor may want to test your blood or urine for evidence of:

Metabolic imbalances
Autoimmune disease
Diabetes
Kidney or liver disease
Drugs or toxins

Treatments and drugs

Treatment of myoclonus is most effective when a reversible underlying cause can be found — such as a medication or toxin that can be discontinued or "flushed out" of your body. There are no drugs specifically designed to treat myoclonus, but doctors have borrowed from other disease treatment arsenals to relieve myoclonic symptoms.

Medications

Medications that doctors commonly prescribe for myoclonus include:

Tranquilizers. Clonazepam (Klonopin) is the most common drug used to combat myoclonus symptoms.
Anticonvulsants. Drugs used to control epileptic seizures have also proved helpful in reducing myoclonus symptoms. The most common anticonvulsants used for myoclonus are divalproex sodium (Depakote), primidone (Mysoline) and levetiracetam (Keppra).

Immunosuppressants. These may be used to treat specialized forms of myoclonus that occur only in children. They may include adrenocorticotropic hormone (ACTH), azathioprine (Imuran), corticosteroids or immunoglobulin therapy (IVIg).

Therapies

Botulinum toxin type A (Botox) injections may be helpful in treating various forms of myoclonus, particularly if only a single area is affected. Botulinum toxins block the release of a chemical messenger that triggers muscle contractions.

Surgery

If your myoclonus symptoms are caused by a tumor or lesion in your brain or spinal cord, surgery may be an option.

STRABISMUS

2008-09-24T18:31:00.000+05:30

Causes, Symptoms & Treatment for Strabismus

Strabismus, more commonly known as cross-eyed or wall-eyed , is a vision condition in which a person can not align both eyes simultaneously under normal conditions. Strabismus can be either a disorder of the brain coordinating the eyes or a disorder of one or more muscles, as in any process that causes a dysfunction of the usual direction and power of the muscle or muscles. Different types of strabismus include crossed eyes, out-turned eyes, or vertical misalignment. The term is used to describe eyes that are not straight or properly aligned. Even though the images are slightly different, the brain interprets them as one. Strabismus can occur early in childhood or later in adulthood, although the causes of the eye misalignment are different. In the past, most eye doctors thought that adults with misaligned eyes could not be treated successfully, or that treatment was "only cosmetic".

Strabismus is a deviation of the eyes. Strabismus is commonly known as crossed eyes, wandering eyes or floating eyes. Strabismus in adults can also result from illnesses, such as thyroid disease, or from an eye injury. If vision is reduced, the brain of the child will learn to recognize the stronger image and ignore the weaker image of the amblyopic eye. Strabismus is associated with reduction of depth perception and if onset is in adulthood, double vision. Furthermore, strabismus presents a cosmetic concern especially for school-age children. In addition to problems with vision, strabismus affects appearance and communication because it diminishes one's ability to make eye contact, which can become a disadvantage in both personal and professional livelihood. At Children's Hospital Boston, pediatric ophthalmologists who specialize in the delicate eye muscle surgery required to fix strabismus see both children and adults.

Causes of Strabismus

Common causes and risk factor's of Strabismus include the following :

Family member with strabismus.
Diabetes.
Squint is caused by a lack of coordination between the eyes, causing the eyes to point in different directions and the eyes do not focus simultaneously on a single point.
Most cases of strabismus in children are of unknown cause.
Squint in adults may result from injuries to the orbit or brain, including closed head injuries and strokes.
Loss of vision in one eye from any cause will usually cause the eye to gradually turn outward.
Persons with diabetes may suffer with squint due to poor blood supply to the eye muscles.

Symptoms of Strabismus

Some of the common sign and symptoms of the disease Strabismus are as follows:

Eyes that appear crossed.
Uncoordinated eye movements.
Double vision.
Vision in only one eye, with loss of depth perception.
Turned or crossed eye.
Head tilt or turn.
Squinting.
Double vision .
Crossed eyes.

Treatment of Strabismus

Find effective treatment methods of treating Strabismus :

Glasses or contact lenses may be prescribed to improve your ability to focus and help overcome poor vision. With better eyesight, strabismus may improve.
Vision training (also called eye exercises)
Eye drops or ointment may be put in the good eye to blur the vision (usually by making the pupil large and preventing the eye from focusing well). This forces the affected eye to fixate properly and may be used as a substitute for patching.
In rare cases, injections of botulinum toxin may also be used to treat strabismus.
The squint is treated by surgery . A tight muscle is surgically loosened by moving the muscle back on the eye. A weak muscle is strengthened by removing a small segment of the muscle to shorten it. Depending on the severity of the strabismus, surgery may involve the straight eye, the misaligned eye or both.

IMPACTED WISDOM TEETH

2008-09-18T22:55:00.003+05:30

Symptoms, Causes, Risk Factors, Tests & Diagnosis, Complications,Treatments & Drugs and Coping & Support for

IMPACTED WISDOM TEETH - Akal Dant

Definition

Wisdom teeth that become impacted can cause a variety of problems, from nuisance pain to serious dental disorders. Impacted wisdom teeth often must be surgically removed.

Wisdom teeth are your third molars that are way in the back of your mouth. You usually have four wisdom teeth, one in each corner of your mouth - two on top, two on bottom. Wisdom teeth are the last of your teeth to come in, or erupt through the gums. They normally emerge between ages 17 and 25.

Wisdom teeth often aren't able to emerge normally and instead become impacted, or trapped within your jaw. Understanding more about impacted wisdom teeth can help you decide how and when to treat them and how to prevent related complications.

Symptoms

You may never experience problems with your wisdom teeth. They may emerge normally and be trouble-free for the rest of your life. Or, you may have impacted wisdom teeth but remain blissfully unaware, since they don't always cause signs and symptoms.

Common signs and symptoms of impacted wisdom teeth include:

Pain or tenderness around your gums
Swelling around your jaw
Red or swollen gums around the impacted tooth
Jaw pain
Bad breath
Unpleasant taste when biting down on or near the area
Prolonged headache or jaw ache

Causes

Early humans needed wisdom teeth and larger jaws to handle a tougher diet. Today's humans typically have smaller jaws and little use for wisdom teeth. That often means problems as your wisdom teeth begin to emerge. Having pesky wisdom teeth surgically extracted seems almost a rite of passage for teens and young adults.

Wisdom teeth develop like your other teeth. But they take the longest to develop and are the last teeth to emerge. Any tooth can become impacted. Because wisdom teeth must fight for space with teeth that have already emerged, they're the teeth most likely to become impacted.

At about age 9, the crown of a wisdom tooth begins to form in a small sac inside your jaw. Over time, the tooth grows and the roots become more firmly planted in the jawbone. By your early 20s, the crown of a wisdom tooth should fully emerge from your gum. By your 40s, the roots of your wisdom teeth are solidly planted within the dense bone of the jaw.

But wisdom teeth often don't follow this normal development pattern. Today's smaller jaws simply may not have room for this last set of molars to grow properly. So the wisdom teeth may become impacted.

The cramped wisdom teeth struggle for a path to grow and emerge. They grow at various angles in the jaw, sometimes even horizontally. Sometimes, a wisdom tooth partially emerges through the gums. Other times, it remains completely hidden.

Risk factors

Having a small jawbone may make you more prone to having impacted wisdom teeth. But otherwise, there are no particular biological or environmental risk factors that make you more likely than someone else to have impacted wisdom teeth.

When to seek medical advice

If you notice pain or swelling in your mouth, teeth, gums or jaw, contact your dentist right away. Also contact your dentist if you notice any changes in your teeth, such as shifting of position, discoloration or changes in sensitivity.

Tests and diagnosis

Your dentist can evaluate your teeth and mouth to determine if you have impacted wisdom teeth or if another condition is causing your problems. Such evaluations typically include:

Your dental and medical history
A dental exam
Dental X-rays

Complications

Impacted wisdom teeth that aren't removed can cause numerous problems. These problems include:

Gum disease. Bacteria and food can become trapped under a flap of gum that can grow over wisdom teeth, creating infections. Gum disease may be initially mild (gingivitis) or progress to a more severe form (periodontitis) .

Crowding. A wisdom tooth can push on other teeth, damaging them or moving them out of position.

Decay. Because they're hard to reach, wisdom teeth may not get fully cleaned during brushing, making them vulnerable to decay and cavities.
Cysts. The crown of a wisdom tooth grows in a sac. If the sac remains in the jawbone, it can fill with fluid, forming a cyst that can damage the jawbone, teeth and nerves. Very rarely a tumor, usually benign, also may develop, which may require removal of tissue and bone.

Treatments and drugs

Impacted wisdom teeth don't always need to be surgically removed. You have two main treatment options, depending on the severity of your situation and other factors. They are:

Conservative treatment
Surgical extraction

Conservative treatment

If impacted widsom teeth aren't causing problems, you and your dentist may choose to simply monitor them. People who can't have their teeth removed because of certain health problems such as a bleeding disorder also need to choose conservative treatment.

Under guidance from your dentist or oral surgeon, you may be able to care for your impacted wisdom teeth and minor problems using mouthwashes, saltwater rinses and over-the-counter pain relievers. If complications arise or worsen, surgery might become an option.

Surgical extraction

Experts agree that when an impacted wisdom tooth causes complications, it should be extracted to prevent further problems.

Some experts say that impacted wisdom teeth should always be removed, even if they aren't causing problems. The belief is that the impacted tooth will eventually cause problems, and that it's better to remove it when someone is younger and more likely to recover faster from surgery. This is why many teenagers or young adults have their wisdom teeth extracted even before the teeth start causing problems. In addition, if a child might require braces, his or her dentist may recommend extraction of the wisdom teeth first.

There's no scientific evidence to recommend for or against extracting impacted wisdom teeth in adults or adolescents if the teeth aren't causing complications. You and your dentist can evaluate your situation to see which treatment option is best for you or your child.

Extracting an impacted wisdom tooth

Extraction of impacted wisdom teeth often can be done in your dentist's office with local anesthesia. However, if the tooth is deeply impacted or if the extraction may be difficult, your dentist may suggest that you consult with an oral surgeon. Sometimes extractions are done in the hospital. You may need general anesthesia for more complicated extractions.

To reach the impacted tooth, an incision is made in your gum. The incision creates a flap of gum, which can be peeled back to expose the impacted tooth and jawbone.

An impacted wisdom tooth that has partially emerged may be removed with forceps. But if the tooth is fully impacted or if the roots reach deep into the jawbone, the tooth may have to be broken into pieces for removal. In more severe cases, portions of jawbone may be removed.

You may need stitches to close the gap in your gum. The socket where your tooth was located is packed with gauze to control bleeding and to help a clot form, which promotes healing.

Care after surgery

Your dentist or oral surgeon gives you specific instructions about caring for your mouth after extraction of an impacted wisdom tooth. Here are general tips about care after oral surgery:

Activity. Plan to rest for the remainder of the day after surgery. Limit strenuous physical activities. If you are a smoker, don't smoke for at least the first 24 hours after surgery, as doing this may disrupt the blood clot in the socket.

Diet. Drink lots of clear liquids and eat only soft foods for the first 12 hours. If you had several teeth removed, stick to a diet of soft foods for the first few days. Don't use straws, as doing so can dislodge the clot that forms in the tooth socket. Avoid hard or crunchy foods, such as popcorn, for two weeks after surgery.
Pain management. If your pain is severe you may need a prescription pain medication during the first few days after surgery. Or you may find that you can manage your pain with over-the-counter pain relievers. Applying ice packs — a bag of frozen peas or corn works nicely — also may help control pain, as well as swelling.

Bleeding. Some oozing of blood is normal for the first day after removal of your impacted wisdom tooth. Swallow blood-tinged saliva instead of spitting it out, to avoid dislodging the socket clot. Get instructions from your dentist or surgeon about replacing the gauze packing. Remember that when blood mixes with saliva, the amount of blood loss can look worse than it actually is.

Swelling and bruising. Swelling of your cheeks and jaw is normal after surgery. You can use ice packs to help control swelling. Swelling normally begins to subside by the third day. Some dentists give an injection of a steroid during the surgery to help minimize swelling. Swelling may make it a bit difficult to open your mouth fully, but this normally improves on its own. You may also have some bruising around your jaw or upper neck.

Cleaning your mouth. The day after surgery, rinse your mouth gently with warm salt water at least six times a day. Mix 1/2 teaspoon (2.5 milliliters) of table salt in 8 ounces (237 milliliters) of water. Brush your teeth, but be very gentle in the area around your surgery.

Complications of extraction

Recovery after the removal of impacted wisdom teeth is usually quick and without problem. However, complications can arise. Your dentist or surgeon will advise you about signs and symptoms to watch for, such as fever and increasing pain.

Other complications can include:

Numbness, usually temporary, of your teeth, gums, tongue and chin
Dry socket when the socket clot dislodges, exposing underlying bone
Infection from bacteria or trapped food particles
Sinus problems if teeth near the sinuses were removed
Weakening of the jawbone from bone removal or damage

Coping and support

A visit to the dentist may cause so much anxiety that you can't get yourself to go, despite the pain you're experiencing. The thought of having a tooth extracted may be overwhelming. But if you're having problems related to an impacted wisdom tooth, delaying care could lead to serious and permanent problems.

Make sure you have a dentist who is sympathetic and willing to help relieve your fears. Talk to your dentist about your concerns. Don't be embarrassed about your anxiety — it's common, especially when you must have a dental procedure that can be uncomfortable.

Many dentists offer ways to ease your anxiety, such as listening to music or watching videos. You may be able to bring along a supportive family member or friend. You can also learn relaxation techniques, such as deep breathing and imagery. If you have severe anxiety, talk to your doctor about medications that may help. And of course, you may be able to opt for full sedation during the procedure itself, so you're unconscious through it all.

PANCREATIC CANCER

2008-09-14T17:17:00.002+05:30

Symptoms, Causes, Risk Factors, Tests & Diagnosis, Complications, Treatment & Drugs, Prevention, Coping & Support and Alternative Medicines for Cancer in Pancreas

Definition

Pancreatic cancer begins in the tissues of your pancreas — a large organ that lies horizontally behind the lower part of your stomach. Your pancreas secretes enzymes that aid digestion and hormones that help regulate the metabolism of sugars.

Pancreatic cancer often has a poor prognosis, even when diagnosed early. Pancreatic cancer typically spreads rapidly and is seldom detected in its early stages, which is a major reason why it's a leading cause of cancer death. Signs and symptoms may not appear until pancreatic cancer is quite advanced and surgical removal isn't possible.

Symptoms

Signs and symptoms of pancreatic cancer often don't occur until the disease is advanced. When signs and symptoms do appear, they may include:

Upper abdominal pain that may radiate to your back
Yellowing of your skin and the whites of your eyes (jaundice)
Loss of appetite
Weight loss
Depression

Causes

Pancreatic cancer occurs when cells in your pancreas develop genetic mutations. These mutations cause the cells to grow uncontrollably and to continue living after normal cells would die. These accumulating cells can form a tumor.

Understanding your pancreas

Your pancreas is about 6 inches (15 centimeters) long and looks something like a pear lying on its side. The pancreas is a crucial part of your digestive system. It secretes hormones, including insulin, to help your body process sugar. And it produces digestive juices to help your body digest food.

Types of pancreatic cancer

The types of cells involved in a pancreatic cancer help determine the best treatment.

Types of pancreatic cancer include:

Cancer that forms in the pancreas ducts (adenocarcinoma) . Cells that line the ducts of the pancreas help produce digestive juices. The majority of pancreatic cancers are adenocarcinomas. Sometimes these cancers are called exocrine tumors.

Cancer that forms in the hormone-producing cells. Cancer that forms in the hormone-producing cells of the pancreas is called endocrine cancer. Endocrine cancers of the pancreas are very rare.

Risk factors

Factors that may increase your risk of pancreatic cancer include:

Smoking.
Being overweight or obese.
Personal or family history of chronic inflammation of the pancreas (pancreatitis) .
Personal or family history of pancreatic cancer.
Family history of genetic syndromes that can increase cancer risk, including a BRCA2 gene mutation, Peutz-Jeghers syndrome, Lynch syndrome and familial atypical mole-malignant melanoma (FAMMM).
Older age. Pancreatic cancer occurs most often in older adults. Most people diagnosed with pancreatic cancer are in their 70s and 80s.
Being black. Pancreatic cancer occurs more frequently in blacks than in whites.

When to seek medical advice

See your doctor if you experience an unexplained weight loss, abdominal pain, jaundice, or other signs and symptoms that bother you. Many diseases and conditions other than cancer may cause similar signs and symptoms, so your doctor will check for these conditions as well as for pancreatic cancer.

Tests and diagnosis

Researchers are studying ways to detect pancreatic cancer early. However, it isn't clear who should undergo screening and which screening tests may most reliably find pancreatic cancer in its earliest stages. Currently no standard screening exists for pancreatic cancer.

Diagnosing pancreatic cancer

If your doctor suspects pancreatic cancer, you may have one or more of the following tests to diagnose the cancer:

Ultrasound. Ultrasound uses high-frequency sound waves to create moving images of your internal organs, including your pancreas. The ultrasound sensor (transducer) is placed on your upper abdomen to obtain images.
Computerized tomography (CT) scan. CT scan uses X-ray images to help your doctor visualize your internal organs. In some cases you may receive an injection of dye into a vein in your arm to help highlight the areas your doctor wants to see.

Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). MRI uses a powerful magnetic field and radio waves to create images of your pancreas.

Endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatog raphy (ERCP). This procedure uses a dye to highlight the bile ducts in your pancreas. During ERCP, a thin, flexible tube (endoscope) is gently passed down your throat, through your stomach and into the upper part of your small intestine. Air is used to inflate your intestinal tract so that your doctor can more easily see the openings of your pancreatic and bile ducts. A dye is then injected into the ducts through a small hollow tube (catheter) that's passed through the endoscope. Finally, X-rays are taken of the ducts. A tissue or cell sample (biopsy) can be collected during ERCP.

Endoscopic ultrasound (EUS). EUS uses an ultrasound device to make images of your pancreas from inside your abdomen. The ultrasound device is passed through an endoscope into your stomach in order to obtain the images. Your doctor may also collect a sample of cells (biopsy) during EUS.

Percutaneous transhepatic cholangiography (PTC). PTC involves injecting a dye into your liver to highlight your bile ducts. Your doctor carefully inserts a thin needle into your liver and injects the dye into the bile ducts in your liver. A special X-ray machine (fluoroscope) tracks the dye as it moves through the ducts.

Biopsy. During a biopsy, your doctor obtains a small sample of tissue from the pancreas for examination under a microscope. A biopsy sample can be obtained by inserting a needle through your skin and into your pancreas (fine-needle aspiration). Or it can be done using endoscopic ultrasound to guide special tools into your pancreas where a sample of cells can be obtained for testing.

Staging pancreatic cancer

Once a diagnosis of pancreatic cancer is confirmed, your doctor will work to determine the extent, or stage, of the cancer. Your cancer's stage helps determine what treatments are available to you. In order to determine the stage of your pancreatic cancer, your doctor may recommend:

Laparoscopy. Laparoscopy uses a lighted tube with a video camera to explore your pancreas and surrounding tissue. The surgeon passes the laparoscope through an incision in your abdomen. The camera on the end of the scope transmits video to a screen in the operating room. This allows your doctor to look for signs cancer has spread within your abdomen.

Chest X-ray. A chest X-ray helps your doctor look for signs that cancer has spread to your lungs.

CT scan. CT scans allow your doctor to see your pancreas and assess whether the cancer has spread to nearby tissues, lymph nodes or other organs.

MRI. MRI images may show if the cancer has spread beyond the pancreas.

Positron emission tomography (PET) scan. PET scans use a radioactive tracer injected into a vein in order to help your doctor look for areas where cancer has spread beyond the pancreas. PET scans aren't typically used for pancreatic cancer, but they may offer another way to examine unusual areas found with a CT scan or MRI.

Bone scan. Bone scans use radioactive tracers to look for evidence that cancer cells have spread to your bones.

Blood test. Your doctor may test your blood for specific proteins (tumor markers) shed by pancreatic cancer cells. One tumor marker test used in pancreatic cancer is called CA19-9. Some research indicates that the more elevated your level of CA19-9 is, the more advanced the cancer. But the test isn't always reliable, and it isn't clear how best to use the CA19-9 test results. Some doctors measure your levels before, during and after treatment. Others use it to gauge your prognosis.

Stages of pancreatic cancer

The stages of pancreatic cancer can be expressed in different ways. One description of the stages uses three broad categories:

Resectable. All the tumor nodules can be removed.
Locally advanced. The tumor can no longer be removed with surgery because the cancer has spread to tissues around the pancreas or into the blood vessels.
Metastatic. At this stage, the cancer has spread to distant organs, such as the lungs and liver.

Another description of the stages uses numerals:

Stage I. Cancer is confined to the pancreas.
Stage II. Cancer has spread beyond the pancreas to nearby tissues and organs and may have spread to the lymph nodes.
Stage III. Cancer has spread beyond the pancreas to the major blood vessels around the pancreas and may have spread to the lymph nodes.
Stage IV. Cancer has spread to distant sites beyond the pancreas, such as the liver, lungs and the lining that surrounds your abdominal organs (peritoneum) .

Complications

As pancreatic cancer progresses, it can cause complications such as:

Jaundice. Pancreatic cancer that blocks the liver's bile duct can cause jaundice. Signs include yellow skin and eyes, dark-colored urine and very pale stools.

Your doctor may recommend that a plastic or metal tube (stent) be placed inside the bile duct to hold it open. In some cases a bypass may be needed to create a new way for bile to flow from the liver to the intestines.
Pain. A growing tumor may press on nerves in your abdomen, causing pain that can become severe. Pain medications can help you feel more comfortable. Radiation therapy may help stop tumor growth temporarily to give you some relief.
In severe cases, your doctor may recommend a procedure to inject alcohol into the nerves that control pain in your abdomen (celiac plexus block). This procedure stops the nerves from sending pain signals to your brain.
Bowel obstruction. Pancreatic cancer that grows into or presses on the small intestine (duodenum) can block the flow of digested food from your stomach into your intestines.

Your doctor may recommend a tube (stent) be placed in your small intestine to hold it open. Or bypass surgery may be necessary to attach your stomach to a lower point in your intestines that isn't blocked by cancer.
Weight loss. A number of factors may cause weight loss in people with pancreatic cancer. Nausea and vomiting caused by cancer treatments or a tumor pressing on your stomach may make it difficult to eat. Or your body may have difficulty properly processing nutrients from food because your pancreas isn't making enough digestive juices.

Your doctor will work to correct the factors contributing to your weight loss. Pancreatic enzyme supplements may be recommended to aid in digestion. Try to maintain your weight by adding extra calories where you can and making mealtime as pleasant and relaxed as possible.
Death. Pancreatic cancer leads to death for most people diagnosed with the disease. Even people diagnosed when their cancer is at an early stage face a high risk of recurrence and death.

Treatments and drugs

Treatment for pancreatic cancer depends on the stage and location of the cancer as well as on your age, overall health and personal preferences. The first goal of pancreatic cancer treatment is to eliminate the cancer, when possible. When that isn't an option, the focus may be on preventing the pancreatic cancer from growing or causing more harm. When pancreatic cancer is advanced and treatments aren't likely to offer a benefit, your doctor may suggest ways to relieve symptoms and make you as comfortable as possible.

Surgery

Only a small portion of pancreatic cancers are considered resectable — that is, they have a good chance of being removed completely with surgery. Once the cancer has spread beyond the pancreas to other organs, lymph nodes or blood vessels, surgery is usually no longer an option. When surgery is possible, your surgeon may recommend:

Surgery for tumors in the pancreatic head. If your pancreatic cancer is located in the head of the pancreas, you may consider an operation called a Whipple procedure (pancreatoduodenect omy). The Whipple procedure involves removing the head of your pancreas, as well as a portion of your small intestine (duodenum), your gallbladder and part of your bile duct. Part of your stomach may be removed as well. Your surgeon reconnects the remaining parts of your pancreas, stomach and intestines to allow you to digest food.
Whipple surgery carries a risk of infection and bleeding. It can cause temporary diabetes until your pancreas recovers from surgery. And some people experience nausea and vomiting that can occur if the stomach has difficulty emptying after surgery (delayed gastric emptying). Expect a long recovery after a Whipple procedure. You'll spend 10 days or more in the hospital and then recover for several more weeks at home.
Surgery for tumors in the pancreatic tail and body. Surgery to remove the tail of the pancreas or the tail and a small portion of the body is called distal pancreatectomy. Your surgeon may also remove your spleen. Surgery carries a risk of bleeding and infection.

Research shows pancreatic cancer surgery tends to cause fewer complications when done by experienced surgeons. Don't hesitate to ask about your surgeon's experience with pancreatic cancer surgery. If you have any doubts, get a second opinion.

Radiation therapy

Radiation therapy uses high-energy beams to destroy cancer cells. You may receive radiation treatments before or after cancer surgery, often in combination with chemotherapy. Or, your doctor may recommend a combination of radiation and chemotherapy treatments when your cancer can't be treated surgically.

Radiation therapy can come from a machine outside your body (external beam radiation), or it can be placed inside your body near your cancer (brachytherapy) . Radiation therapy can also be used during surgery (intraoperative radiation).

Chemotherapy

Chemotherapy uses drugs to help kill cancer cells. Chemotherapy can be injected into a vein or taken orally. You may receive only one chemotherapy drug, or you may receive a combination of chemotherapy drugs.

Chemotherapy can also be combined with radiation therapy (chemoradiation) . Chemoradiation is typically used to treat cancer that has spread beyond the pancreas, but only to nearby organs and not to distant regions of the body. This combination may also be used after surgery to reduce the risk that pancreatic cancer may recur.

In people with advanced pancreatic cancer, chemotherapy may be combined with targeted drug therapy.

Targeted drug therapy

Targeted drug therapy is an emerging area of cancer treatment. Targeted drugs attack specific abnormalities within cancer cells. The targeted drug erlotinib (Tarceva) blocks chemicals that signal cancer cells to grow and divide. Erlotinib is usually combined with chemotherapy for use in people with advanced pancreatic cancer.

Many other targeted drug treatments are under investigation in clinical trials. One such drug being studied is cetuximab (Erbitux), which targets the same signals as erlotinib but goes about it a different way.

Clinical trials

Clinical trials are studies to test new forms of treatment, such as new drugs, new approaches to surgery or radiation treatments, and novel methods such as gene therapy. If the treatment being studied proves to be safer or more effective than are current treatments, it will become the new standard of care.

Clinical trials can't guarantee a cure, and they may have serious or unexpected side effects. On the other hand, cancer clinical trials are closely monitored by the federal government to ensure they're conducted as safely as possible. And they offer access to treatments that wouldn't otherwise be available to you.

Talk to your doctor about what clinical trials are available and whether these may be appropriate for you.

New treatments currently under investigation in clinical trials include:

Drugs that stop cancer from growing new blood vessels. Drugs called angiogenesis inhibitors may help stop cancer from using new blood vessels to get the nutrients it needs to grow. Blood vessels also give cancer cells a pathway to spread to other parts of the body.
Pancreatic cancer vaccines. Cancer vaccines are being studied to treat cancer, rather than prevent disease, as vaccines are traditionally used. Cancer treatment vaccines use various strategies to enhance the immune system to help it recognize cancer cells as intruders. In one example, a vaccine may help train the immune system to attack a certain protein secreted by pancreatic cancer cells.

Prevention

Although there's no proven way to prevent pancreatic cancer, you can take steps to reduce your risk, including:

Quit smoking. If you smoke, quit. Talk to your doctor about ways to help you quit, including support groups, medications and nicotine replacement therapy. If you don't smoke, don't start.
Maintain a healthy weight. Being overweight increases your risk of pancreatic cancer. If you need to lose weight, aim for a slow, steady weight loss — 1 or 2 pounds (0.5 or 1 kilogram) a week. Combine daily exercise with a plant-focused diet with smaller portions to help you lose weight.
Exercise regularly. Aim for 30 minutes of exercise on most days. If you're not used to exercising, start out slowly and work up to your goal.
Eat a healthy diet. A diet full of colorful fruits and vegetables and whole grains is good for you, and may help reduce your risk of cancer.

Coping and support

Learning you have a life-threatening illness can be devastating. But coping with a diagnosis of pancreatic cancer can be especially difficult because the disease is nearly always fatal. As a result, you may feel overwhelmed just when you need to make crucial decisions.

Although there are no easy answers for people dealing with pancreatic cancer, some of the following suggestions may help:

Learn all you can about your illness. Learn everything you can about pancreatic cancer and your treatment options. Ask your doctor about good sources of further information. Seek a second opinion and explore treatments available through clinical trials. You will have many decisions to make in the weeks and months ahead. The more you know, the more active a role you can take in the decision-making process.

Maintain a strong support system. Strong relationships are crucial to dealing with life-threatening illnesses. Although friends and family can be your best allies, in some cases they have difficulty coping with the shock of your diagnosis. In these cases, talking with a counselor, medical social worker, pastoral or religious counselor, or even a formal support group for people with cancer can be helpful. You may also find strength and encouragement in being with people who are facing the same challenges you are.
Come to terms with your illness. Coming to terms with the fact that your pancreatic cancer will likely be fatal can be difficult. For some people, having a strong faith or a sense of something greater than themselves makes this process easier. Others seek counseling from someone who understands life-threatening illnesses, such as a medical social worker, psychologist or chaplain. Many people also take steps to ensure that their end-of-life wishes are known and respected.
A great fear of many people with a life-threatening illness is being subjected to treatments they don't want or spending their last weeks or months in a hospital away from loved ones and familiar surroundings. The welcome news is that many choices exist for people with a terminal illness.

Hospice care, for example, provides a special course of treatment to terminally ill people. This allows family and friends — with the aid of nurses, social workers and trained volunteers — to care for and comfort a loved one at home or in hospice residences. It also provides emotional, social and spiritual support for people who are ill and those closest to them. Although most people under hospice care remain in their own homes, the program is available anywhere — including nursing homes and assisted living centers. For people who stay in a hospital, palliative care specialists can provide comfort, compassionate care and dignity.

Although it can be extremely difficult, discuss end-of-life issues with your family and medical team. Part of this discussion will likely involve advance directives — a general term for oral and written instructions you give concerning your medical care should you become unable to speak for yourself.

One type of advance directive is known as a durable medical power of attorney (POA) for health care. In this case, you sign a legal document authorizing a person you respect and trust to make legally binding medical decisions for you if you're unable to do so. A POA is often recommended because the appointed person can make decisions in situations not covered in a regular advance directive. Whatever you decide, it's important to put your wishes in writing. Laws regarding advance directives and POAs vary from state to state, but a written document is more likely to be respected.

Alternative medicine

If you've been diagnosed with pancreatic cancer, you may want to try every treatment available to cure your cancer. Many people with cancer turn to complementary and alternative medicine when conventional medicine offers little chance for a cure. No complementary or alternative treatments have been found to treat pancreatic cancer.

But complementary and alternative medicine treatments may help with signs and symptoms you experience due to your cancer or cancer treatments. Talk to your doctor about your options. Examples of options that might help include:

Acupuncture
Massage
Meditation
Relaxation techniques

GALL BLADDER DISORDERS

2008-09-10T22:07:00.005+05:30

Causes, Diet, Home Remedies and Herbal Remedies

The gallbladder is a little pear-shaped pouch tucked behind the lobes of the liver. Its main job is to store up the cholesterol- rich bile that's secreted by the liver. Bile helps your body digest fatty foods. So when that piece of prime rib reaches the intestines, they send a message up to the gallbladder to send some bile their way. Once the bile saturates your steak, it becomes more digestible and easily makes its way through the rest of the digestive process.

At least that's the way things should work. But the reality is that many people, especially older people and women, will have some gallbladder trouble. Ninety percent of the time that trouble is in the form of gallstones. Gallstones form when the bile contains excessive amounts of cholesterol. When there isn't enough bile to saturate the cholesterol, the cholesterol begins to crystallize, and you get a gallstone. These tough bits can be as tiny as a grain of sand or as large as a golf ball. You may not even know you have gallstones unless you happen to have an ultrasound or X ray of your tummy. But the 20 percent of the time that gallstones do cause problems, it's excruciatingly painful.

Gallstones become a problem when they get pushed out of the gallbladder and into the tube that connects the liver and the small intestine. The tube gets blocked, and you get 20 minutes to 4 hours of indescribable agony. Pain usually radiates from your upper right abdominal area to your lower right chest, and it can even leave your shoulder and back in agony. Gallstones typically fall back into the gallbladder or make their way through the duct, leaving you feeling better. After you have an attack, you'll probably be sore and wonder what in the world happened.

Sometimes, though, the gallstones can get stuck in the bile duct. Symptoms of a stuck gallstone include chills, vomiting, and possibly jaundice in addition to the pain described above.

Who's at Risk?

Pregnancy, obesity, diabetes, liver disease, a sedentary lifestyle, a high fat diet, and certain forms of anemia can all increase the risk of gallstones. People who are overweight and lose and gain weight repeatedly are more susceptible to gallstones, as are women who have had two or more children. Lack of exercise is a significant contributor to the development of gallstones. In fact, according to the Nurses' Health Study, inactivity can actually account for more than half of the risk of developing gallstones. Women are twice as likely as men to develop gallstones, although the reasons are unclear. And people older than 60 years of age have a greater risk of gallstones.

Other risk factors include a family history of gallstones and taking hormones, such as birth control pills or estrogen.

Take heart. There are some specific things you can find in your kitchen to help you avoid a gallstone attack and even prevent gallstones from forming in the first place. What you eat has a great effect on whether or not you develop gallstones.

Causes of Gall Bladder Disorders

Acute and Intermittent Pain in the Abdomen

The main symptom of gall-bladder disease is acute or intermittent pain in the abdomen. Indigestion, gas, a feeling of fullness after meals, constipation, and nausea are the other usual symptoms. Intolerance to fats, dizziness, jaundice, anaemia, acne, and other lesions may also occur. The main cause of gall-bladder disorders is overnutrition resulting from excessive intake of refined carbohydrates, especially sugar.

Overnutrition also leads to increased cholesterol secretion. Meals rich in fats may cause an attack of gall-bladder pain or gallstone colic. Other causes are chronic constipation, poor health, hereditary factors, and stress. The Chinese relate gall-bladder disorders with the emotion of anger.

Home Remedies for Gall Bladder Disorders

Gall Bladder treatment using Beet

Fresh juice of beets, and the juices of carrot and cucumber in quantities of 100 ml each, are one of the finest cleansers of the gall-bladder. This combined juice has proved beneficial in the treatment of all disorders related to this organ, and should be taken twice daily.

Gall Bladder Disorder treatment using Pear

The pear is another excellent remedy for gall-bladder disorders. The fruit or its juice should he taken liberally by the patient with beneficial results. It exercises a special healing effect on all gall-bladder disorders, including gallstones.

Gall Bladder treatment using Chicory

The flowers, seeds, and roots of chicory or the endive plant are considered valuable in gall-bladder disorders. A decoction of about 30-60 ml of the flowers, seeds, or roots can be used three times daily with beneficial results in the treatment of these disorders. Endive or chicory juice in almost any combination promotes the secretion of bile and is, therefore, very good for both liver and gall-bladder dysfunctions.

Gall Bladder treatment using Dandelion

Dandelion has a beneficial effect on the gall bladder. About 125 ml each of the juices of dandelion and watercress should be taken twice daily. Combined with a vegetarian diet, without much sugar and starch, these juices help to make the gall¬bladder normal.

Gall Bladder treatment using Olive and Sunflower Oil

An oil cure has been advocated by some nature cure practitioners for the removal of gallstones. Raw, natural, unrefined vegetable oils of olive or sunflower are used. The procedure is to take 30 ml of vegetable oil, preferably olive oil, first thing in the morning and follow it immediately with 120 ml of grapefruit juice or lemon juice. This treatment should be taken every morning for several days, even weeks, if necessary.

Home Remedies from the Cupboard

Coffee. New studies are finding that drinking a couple of cups of java a day can prevent gallstones. One study discovered that men who drank 2 to 3 cups of regular coffee a day cut their risk of developing gallstones by 40 percent. Four cups a day reduced the risk by 45 percent. Researchers are not sure what it is about coffee that helps reduce the risk of forming gallstones, but the effect was the same whether it was cheap, store-bought instant coffee or high-priced espresso. It might be the caffeine; however, teas and soft drinks containing caffeine did not produce the same effect -- and neither did decaffeinated coffee.

High-fiber cereal. People who eat a sugary, high-fat diet probably will have more problems with their gallstones. But adding in some fiber-rich foods and avoiding the sugary snacks and fatty foods can help you keep your gallbladder healthy. Grabbing some cereal in the morning will also get something in your tummy. Studies have shown that going for long periods without eating, such as skipping breakfast, can make you more prone to getting a gallstone.

Lentils. An interesting study found that women who ate loads of lentils, nuts, beans, peas, lima beans, and oranges were more resistant to gallbladder attacks than women who didn't eat much of the stuff.

Home Remedies from the Refrigerator

Red bell pepper. Getting loads of vitamin C in your diet can help you avoid gallstones, and one red bell pepper has 95 mg of the helpful vitamin -- more than the 60 mg a day the government recommends for men and women over age 15. A recent study found that people who had more vitamin C in their blood were less likely to get the painful stones.

Salmon. Research is finding that omega-3 fatty acids, found in fatty fish such as salmon, may help prevent gallstones.

Vegetables. Eating your veggies is a good way to ward off gallstones. One study found that vegetarian women were only half as likely to have gallstones as their carnivore counterparts. Researchers aren't sure exactly how vegetables counteract gallstones, but they believe vegetables help reduce the amount of cholesterol in bile.

More Do's and Don'ts

Exercise! Staying active can cut your risk of developing gallstones in half.
Lose some weight. Being overweight, even as little as 10 pounds, can double your risk of getting gallstones.
Diet sensibly. If you are overweight, plan on shedding pounds slowly. Losing weight too fast can increase your chances of developing gallstones.
Reduce your saturated fat intake. Too much fat in the diet increases your risk of gallstones. But don't cut back too drastically. You need some fat to give the gallbladder the message to empty bile. If you're trying to lose weight, don't go below 20 percent calories from fat.
Eat a low fat, low-cholesterol, high-fiber diet. Multiple studies show this is your best bet for a healthy body and a healthy gallbladder.

Gall Bladder Disorder Diet

Smaller gallstones can usually be cleared through dietetic cure. In cases of acute gall-bladder inflammation, the patient should fast for two or three days until the acute condition is cleared. Nothing but water should be taken during this period. After the fast, the patient should take fruit and vegetable juices for a few days. Carrots, beets, grapefruit, pears, lemons or grapes may be taken in the form of juice. Thereafter, the patient should adopt a well balanced diet, with emphasis on raw and cooked vegetables, fruit and vegetable juices, and a moderate amount of fruits and seeds. Yoghurt, cottage cheese, and a tablespoon of olive oil twice a day should also be included in the diet. The patient should avoid meat, eggs, animal fats, processed and denatured foods, fried and greasy foods, refined carbohydrates, alcohol, products made With sugar and coffee, as well as spices, condiments, and pickles. The patient should eat frequent small meals rather than three large meals.

Other Gall Bladder treatment

Application of hot packs or fomentation to the upper abdominal area.

The pain of gallstone colic can be relieved by the application of hot packs or fomentation to the upper abdominal area.

Warm-water enema, Physical exercise

A warm-water enema at body temperature will help eliminate faecal acculumations if the patient is constipated. Physical exercise is also essential. Surgery becomes necessary if the gallstones are very large or in cases where they have been present for long.

Herbal Remedies for Gallstones

Gallstones occur when one of the compounds in bile, particularly cholesterol, becomes so saturated that it forms a solid. If a gallstone lodges in the bile duct, it can cause severe pain, inflammation, infection, and sometimes even jaundice due to the backup of bile.

However, there are some herbal remedies to prevent and treat gallstones. Avoiding gallstone trouble is advised, and often can be achieved by healthy eating.

About Gallstones

As with many health conditions, preventing gallstones is preferable to treating them after they have formed. Research indicates that a high-fiber, low-fat, low-cholesterol diet rich in vitamins C and E helps prevent stones from forming.

That's good news because items commonly found in simple gardens can help ward off gallstones. Vegetables and fruits, which tend to be high in fiber and vitamins, low in fat, and cholesterol free, are popular and healthy choices.

Herbal Treatments for Gallstones

In addition to preventative healthy eating, some herbs stimulate the gallbladder, promoting the flow of bile.

Dandelion and milk thistle are particularly useful. They contain bitter substances -- taraxacin in dandelion and silymarin in milk thistle -- that stimulate bile production.

Increasing the amount of bile produced decreases its concentration. And the greater volume is also more likely to flush out a stone.

These herbs can be taken as tea or tincture or eaten steamed. Trim the sharp edges off young milk thistle leaves. Mix them with dandelion greens and steam as you would spinach; you can even eat them raw.

Oregon grape enhances blood flow to the liver and increases bile production. It can be combined with dandelion and milk thistle in a tea. This blend is even more effective when mixed with herbs such as chamomile, marshmallow, and slippery elm, which have relaxing and soothing properties. This mixture will also help decrease gallbladder inflammation.

Herbal Gallstone Tea

Try this herbal tea to help ease the passing of gallstones.

1 teaspoon Oregon grape root
2 teaspoons marshmallow root
2 teaspoons dandelion leaves, dried (or 1 teaspoon root)
1 teaspoon peppermint
4 cups water

Simmer roots in water for 15 minutes. Remove from heat and add dandelion leaves. Let steep 15 minutes. Strain.

Drink immediately or refrigerate. Use as a tea throughout the day, preferably after meals.

Rosemary stimulates bile production, too, while also eliminating any spasms that might occur in the bile duct. It is well-known for aiding fat digestion and is often used as an herb in high-fat dishes. Its flavor helps to cut the richness of fat.

Several studies have shown concentrated mint oil capsules can, if taken for several months, help break down small gallstones. Wild yam is another herb that increases bile flow and is also said to lessen the pain of gallstones. Like rosemary, it is an antispasmodic herb.

An ultrasound is needed to definitively diagnose gallstones. A qualified health care practitioner should monitor herbal treatment of them.

Once stones have formed, they can cause urgent medical problems if they block the bile duct. In that case, surgery may be necessary.

But if surgery is not needed and the they are not serious, herbal remedies can be a healthy and effective treatment for preventing and helping with gallstones. However, eating healthily to avoid getting gallstones in the first place is always advised.

PARKINSON's DISEASE

2008-09-07T21:58:00.003+05:30

Symptoms, Causes, Diet, Exercise, Herbal & Homeopathic Remedies for PARKINSON's DISEASE

What Is Parkinson's Disease?

Parkinson's disease results from a gradual degeneration of nerve cells in the portion of the mid-brain that controls body movements. The first signs of the onset of the disease are a feeling of weakness or stiffness in one limb, and/or a fine trembling of one hand when it is at rest (activity causes the tremor to disappear). Eventually, the shaking will worsen and spread, muscles will tend to stiffen, and balance and coordination will deteriorate. Depression and other mental or emotional problems are common.

The four primary symptoms of Parkinson's Disease are tremor or trembling in the hands, arms, legs, jaw, and face; rigidity or stiffness of the limbs and trunk; bradykinesia or slowness of movement; and postural instability or impaired balance and coordination. As these symptoms become more pronounced, patients may have difficulty walking, talking, or completing other simple tasks. Over 40% of patients develop a dementia syndrome that is largely distinct from Alzheimer's disease. Depression is common, also occurring in more than 40% of patients with Parkinson's Disease. Careful evaluation is necessary to help distinguish Parkinson's disease from second causes of parkinsonism.

The disease is both chronic, (it persists over a long period of time) and progressive (its symptoms grow worse over time). It is not contagious nor is it usually inherited-that is, it does not pass directly from one family member or generation to the next.

Parkinson's Disease affects about 1 in every 250 people over 40 years old and about 1 in every 100 people over 65 years old. It is slightly more common in men than in women. Medication can treat its symptoms, and the disorder is not directly life-threatening. Mostly it is a quality of life issue. About half of all patients treated with drugs have no major disabilities 10 years after the onset of the disease.

Symptoms

Parkinson's disease is clinically characterized by four main features:

Resting tremor (shaking back and forth when the limb is relaxed)
Bradykinesia (slowness of movement)
Rigidity (stiffness, or resistance of the limb to passive movement when the limb is relaxed)
Postural instability (poor balance).

Tremor. The tremor associated with Parkinson's disease has a characteristic appearance. Typically, the tremor takes the form of a rhythmic back-and-forth motion of the thumb and forefinger at three beats per second. This is sometimes called "pill rolling." Tremor usually begins in a hand, although sometimes a foot or the jaw is affected first. It is most obvious when the hand is at rest or when a person is under stress. In three out of four patients, the tremor may affect only one part or side of the body, especially during the early stages of the disease. Later it may become more general. Tremor is rarely disabling and it usually disappears during sleep or improves with intentional movement.

Rigidity. Rigidity, or a resistance to movement, affects most parkinsonian patients. All of our muscles have an opposing muscle. When we try to move a muscle, it becomes active, and the opposing muscle relaxes. In Parkinson's disease, this delicate balance of opposing muscles is disturbed. The muscles remain constantly tensed and contracted so that the person aches or feels stiff or weak. The rigidity becomes obvious when another person tries to move the patient's arm, which will move only in ratchet-like or short, jerky movements. This is known as "cogwheel" rigidity.

Bradykinesia. Bradykinesia is the slowing down and loss of spontaneous and automatic movement. It is particularly frustrating because it is unpredictable. One moment the patient can move easily. The next moment he or she may need help. This may well be the most disabling and distressing symptom of the disease because the patient cannot rapidly perform routine movements. Activities once performed quickly and easil, such as washing or dressing, may take several hours.

Postural instability. Postural instability, or impaired balance and coordination, causes patients to develop a forward or backward lean and to fall easily. When bumped from the front or when starting to walk, patients with a backward lean have a tendency to step back wards, which is known as retropulsion. Postural instability can cause patients to have a stooped posture in which the head is bowed and the shoulders are drooped. As the disease progresses, walking may be affected. Patients may halt in mid-stride and "freeze" in place, possibly even toppling over. Or patients may walk with a series of quick, small steps as if hurrying forward to keep balance. This is known as festination.

Resting tremor, bradykinesia, and rigidity are relatively early signs of Parkinson's disease. It is often apparent in the first-affected extremity. Postural instability is a late symptom typically emerging ten or more years into the disease. Other common signs include shuffling gait, stooped posture, difficulty with fine coordinated movements, and micrographia (small handwriting) . Secondary features include autonomic dysfunction (constipation, sweating), cognitive symptoms (dementia), affective disturbances (depression) , and sensory complaints including pain in muscles.

The symptoms of Parkinson's disease include:

Slowness of voluntary movements, especially in the initiation of such movements as walking or rolling over in bed.
Decreased facial expression, monotonous speech and decreased eye blinking.
A shuffling gait with poor arm swing and stooped posture.
Unsteady balance; difficulty rising from a sitting position.
Continuous "pill-rolling" motion of the thumb and forefinger.
Abnormal tone or stiffness in the trunk and extremities.
Swallowing problems in later stages.

Muscle rigidity

Stiffness
Difficulty bending arms or legs

Unstable, stooped, or slumped-over posture

Loss of balance
Gait (walking pattern) changes
Shuffling walk

Slow movements

Difficulty beginning to walk
Difficulty initiating any voluntary movement
Small steps followed by the need to run to maintain balance
Freezing of movement when the movement is stopped, inability to resume - movement
Muscle aches and pains (myalgia)
Shaking, tremors (varying degrees, may not be present)
Characteristically occur at rest, may occur at any time
May become severe enough to interfere with activities
May be worse when tired, excited, or stressed
Finger-thumb rubbing (pill-rolling tremor) may be present

Changes in facial expression

Reduced ability to show facial expressions "mask" appearance to face
Staring
May be unable to close mouth
Reduced rate of blinking

Voice/speech changes

Slow speech
Low-volume voice
Monotone
Difficulty speaking
Loss of fine motor skills
Difficulty writing, may be small and illegible
Difficulty eating
Difficulty with any activity that requires small movements
Movement, uncontrolled - slow
Frequent falls
Decline in intellectual function (may occur, can be severe)
A variety of gastrointestinal symptoms, mainly constipation.

Note: Initial symptoms may be mild and nonspecific (mild tremor, slight feeling that one leg/foot is stiff and dragging, and so on).

Additional symptoms that may be associated with this disease:

Depression
Confusion
Dementia
Seborrhea (skin)
Muscle function/feeling loss
Muscle atrophy
Memory loss
Drooling
Anxiety, stress, and tension

Who gets Parkinson's disease?

Parkinson's disease commonly occurs in older individuals, although it may also occur in young adults. It is present worldwide and in all populations. Men have a slightly higher prevalence rate than women. No race or specific region of the world has been found to be completely devoid of the disease.

What is the mean age of onset of Parkinson's disease?

The mean age of onset of Parkinson's disease is approximately 60 years. It usually occurs in patients over 50 years of age, and onset before age 25 is uncommon. The incidence and prevalence of the disease generally increase with increasing age.

How common is Parkinson's disease?

Average crude prevalence (the total number of people with the disease in a population at a given time) rates for Parkinson's disease have been estimated at 120-180 per 100,000 in Caucasian populations) and the prevalence of the disease in individuals over 65 years of age is roughly 1%. Incidence (the number of new cases of the disease diagnosed in a population during a given time period) rates have been estimated at 20 per 100,000.

Does Parkinson's disease occur more frequently in certain locatiom?

The highest prevalence of Parkinson's disease is in North America and Europe, while the lowest prevalence rates have been found in China, Japan, Nigeria, and Sardinia).

The Parsi community of Bombay, India was recently found to have the highest prevalence rates reported to date. The Parsis are a people who migrated to India between the seventh and tenth centuries from Iran. They have a closed community, and rarely allow inter-marriages with other races or religious groups. Whether genetic factors in a closed community or some environmental toxin present in the area is causing this high prevalence is unknown.

Is Parkinson's disease more common in Caucasians or African-Americans?

Studies conducted in the United States have generally found a lower prevalence of Parkinson's disease among African-Americans. Even in Africa, the prevalence has been found to be lower in blacks than in whites or Indians.

Causes

Although Parkinson's disease was discovered over a century ago the exact cause of the disease remains a mystery.

Bodily movements are regulated by a portion of the brain called the basal ganglia, whose cells require a proper balance of two substances called dopamine and acetylcholine, both involved in the transmission of nerve impulses. In Parkinson's, cells that produce dopamine begin to degenerate. Insufficient dopamine disturbs the balance between dopamine and other transmitters, such as acetylcholine. Dopamine is a chemical messenger responsible for transmitting signals between the substantia nigra and the next "relay station" of the brain, the corpus striatum, to produce smooth, purposeful muscle activity. Loss of dopamine causes the nerve cells of the striatum to fire out of control, leaving patients unable to direct or control their movements in a normal manner. Studies have shown that Parkinson's patients have a loss of 80 percent or more of dopamine-producing cells in the substantia nigra.

The exact cause of this cell death or impairment is not known. Significant findings have been made by research scientists lately that provide important new clues to the disease. One theory holds that free radicals-unstable and potentially damaging molecules generated by normal chemical reactions in the body--may contribute to nerve cell death, thereby leading to Parkinson's disease.

Free Radicals and Anti-Oxidants

Free radicals are the highly unstable chemicals that attack, infiltrate, and injure vital cell structures. Most stable chemical compounds in the body possess a pair of electrons. Sometimes, one member of the electron pair gets stripped away. The resulting compound (less one electron) is called a free radical.

In chemistry, the term free radical means that it is now free to combine with another element to form a new stable compound. One way to think of free radical is the way our social system work. In a family there is husband and wife. They are joined together. Both are "tied up" or not available for other partners. Now, for some reason they get separated. Now both mates can look for another person to join together. The way free radicals work, one of these free spouse go and break up a stable marriage of another couple, by joining with one of the spouses. This results in the ouster of a person from that family creating a brand new "free radical" who goes around prowling to find another "compound" to attack. You can see that free radicals can do lot of harm by forming a chain reaction.

A similar thing happens with free radicals in the body. When a free radical is born, it goes around the body looking for another compound to steal an electron from. This breaks up this"contented" couple, that results in releasing another free radical, and so on. While on the prowl, these free radicals (which are really the oxidation products from the body) can do tremendous damage to the delicate machinery of your cells. The most studied free radical chain reaction in living things is lipid peroxidation. (The term lipid refers to any fat-soluble substance, animal or vegetable. Peroxidation means the formation of a peroxide molecule. These are the molecules with the greatest proportion of oxygen molecules. For example, water molecule has tow hydrogen atoms and one oxygen atom. Hydrogen peroxide has two Hydrogen atoms and two oxygen atoms. In other words, there is an excess oxygen atom in hydrogen peroxide.)

Ninety eight percent of the oxygen we breathe is used by tiny powerhouses within our cells called mitochondria, that convert sugar, fats and inorganic phosphate (ADP), oxygen into adenosine triphosphate (ATP), the universal form of energy we need to live. This energy producing activity of the mitochondria involves a series of intricate, complex and vital biochemical processes dependent on vast numbers of enzymes (estimates vary from 500 to 10,000 sets of oxidative enzymes). These, in turn, are dependent upon dozens of nutrient factors and co-factors. In this metabolism process a very small amount of left over oxygen loses electrons, creating free radicals. These free radicals burn holes in our cellular membranes. Calcium penetrate our cells through these holes. This excess calcium results in cell death. This, in turn, weakens tissues and organs. As this damage continues, our body become "rusty", less able to fight other invaders such as cancer, hardening of the arteries, premature aging, and other bodily disorders.

Because of the amount of oxygen we breathe every day (our bodies take 630 quadrillion damaging oxygen hits per day. This means each of our cells takes about 10,000 hits per day and each DNA strand in the cell gets hit 5,000 times per day. This free radical bombardment causes a typical human cell to undergo thousands of changes or mutations daily.If a DNA strand gets hit and it is not repaired before its twin gets hit, we will have the onset to a potentially lethal cancer.

In addition to the oxygen we breathe, the free radicals can also come from such things as environmental pollution, radiation, cigarette smoke, chemicals, and herbicides.

The key to having a healthy body is to repair the damages caused by the free radicals before it is too late, and to protect the body's tissue cells from the free radicals before they cause mutations. Antioxidants are substances that have free-radical chain-reaction- breaking properties. Like a bouncer, the antioxidants deactivate potentially dangerous free radicals before they can damage a cells machinery. Most of these antioxidants come from plants and are called phytochemicals. More than 60,000 such plant chemicals are identified. Among the most effective and dedicated antioxidants are Vitamin A, C, and E (known as the ACE trio against cancer.). Out of these, Vitamin C is the most powerful.

Each cell produces its own antioxidants. But the ability to produce them decreases as we age. That is why diet rich in anti-oxidant and phytochemical rich fruits and vegetables supplemented with additional vitamins and minerals is important.

Oxidation due to free radicals is thought to cause damage to tissues, including neurons. Normally, free radical damage is kept under control by antioxidant chemicals that protect cells from this damage. Researchers found that patients with Parkinson's disease have increased brain levels of iron, especially in the substantia nigra, and decreased levels of feritin, which serves as a protective mechanism by chelating, or forming a ring around the iron, and isolating it. This led to the conclusion that oxidative mechanisms may cause or contribute to Parkinson's disease.

Parkinson's disease may occur when either an external or an internal toxin selectively destroys dopaminergic neurons. An environmental risk factor such as exposure to pesticides or a toxin in the food supply is an example of the kind of external trigger that could hypothetically cause Parkinson's disease. The theory is based on the fact that there are a number of toxins, such as 1-methyl 4-phenyl-1,2, 3,6,-tetra- hydropyridine (mptp) and neuroleptic drugs, that induce parkinsonian symptoms in humans. So far no research has provided conclusive proof that a toxin is the cause of the disease.

Researchers believe that genetics sometimes plays a role in the cellular breakdown. Fifteen to twenty percent of Parkinson's patients have a close relative who has experienced parkinsonian symptoms (such as a tremor). After studies in animals showed that mptp interferes with the function of mitochondria within nerve cells, investigators became interested in the possibility that impairment in mitochondrial DNA may be the cause of Parkinson's disease. Mitochondria is found in all animal cells that convert the energy in food into fuel for the cells.

In some individuals, the normal, age-related wearing away of dopamine-producing neurons accelerates. The exact cause for this is not known; but, if this happens, then it can also result in Parkinson's disease. This theory is supported by the fact that the loss of antioxidative protective mechanisms is associated with both Parkinson's disease and increasing age.

In rare instances, Parkinson's disease may be caused by a viral infection.

Many researchers believe that a combination of oxidative damage, environmental toxins, genetic predisposition, and accelerated aging may ultimately be shown to cause the disease.

The typical symptoms of Parkinson's also occur in meningitis and various types of poisoning from alcohol, carbon monoxide and heavy metals. This group of symptoms is called Parkinsonism. Overdoses of manganese also cause Parkinson's symptoms, and high levels of stored iron are found in those with Parkinson's disease.

Other causes of parkinsonism include:

An adverse reaction to prescription drugs
Use of illegal drugs
Exposure to environmental toxins
Stroke
Thyroid and parathyroid disorders
Repeated head trauma (for example, the trauma associated with boxing)
Brain tumor
An excess of fluid around the brain (called hydrocephalus)
Brain inflammation (encephalitis) resulting from infection
Parkinsonism may also be present in persons with other neurological conditions, including Alzheimer's disease, amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), Creutzfeldt- Jakob disease, Wilson's disease and Huntington's disease.

Poor nutrition is an underlying cause of Parkinson's disease. High consumption of meat, rich in protein, also aggravates symptoms of Parkinson's and inhibits the body's use of vitamin B-6, which helps treat brain dysfunction.

Symptoms of Parkinson's should not be confused with milder problems that are common as people get older, including slower, stiffer movements from aching joints, and trembling. Problems with poor memory and a lack of facial expression are often linked to depression.

Dietary Guidelines

Eating a well-balanced, nutritious diet can be beneficial for anybody. A high protein diet, however, may limit levodopa's effectiveness.

Despite some early optimism, recent studies have shown that tocopherol (a form of vitamin E) does not delay Parkinson's disease. This conclusion came from a carefully conducted study called DATATOP (Deprenyl and Tocopherol Antioxidative Therapy for Parkinson's Disease) that examined, over five years, the effects of both deprenyl (Selegiline) and vitamin E on early Parkinson's disease. While deprenyl was found to slow the early symptomatic progression of the disease and delay the need for levodopa, there was no evidence of therapeutic benefit from vitamin E.

Foods to Eat

Spelt (made as congee): Spelt has been used as an adjunct in the treatment of many disorders, including Parkinson's.
Fruit
Vegetables (especially leafy greens)
Vegetable juice (especially carrot)
Seaweeds
Sprouted grains
Raw seeds (such as sunflower and pumpkin)

Foods to Avoid

Chemicalized and processed food
Coffee
Caffeinated tea
Sugar
Tobacco

Recommendations

Eat a well-balanced, high-fiber diet. Maximize your intake of fresh green vegetables. Green leafy vegetables, rutabagas, sesame seeds, and sesame butter are good.

As much as possible, buy organic fruits, vegetables, and grains to minimize your exposure to pesticide residues.

Limit your intake of high-protein foods to no more than six ounces per day, taken mostly at dinner.

Vitamin B6 (pyridoxine) , found in bananas, beef, fish, liver, oatmeal, peanuts, potatoes, and whole grains, interferes with the action of L-dopa. If you are taking L-dopa, take these foods only in moderation, if at all. (If you are taking a combination Levadopa and cardidopa such as Sinemet, you need not have to avoid the intake of Vitamin B6.)

Fava beans, also called broad beans, are a natural source of levodopa. One-half cup contains 250 mg, or the same amount as one pill. But don't substitute beans for pills without first consulting your doctor.Patients attempt to relieve the constipation that often accompanies Parkinson's by eating bran. But recent research shows that bran is high in vitamin B-6, which interferes with the effectiveness of levodopa when the drug is taken alone. Prune juice, grains, and fiber laxatives should be substituted instead. Foods seasoned with hot spices have been known to cause uncontrollable physical movement in some people with Parkinson's. Avoid such foods.

Avoid all alcohol, caffeine, and sugar. All these substances create an acidic internal environment and are over- stimulating to a stressed nervous system.

Drink at least six to eight 8-ounce glasses of pure water daily to help flush toxins from your body.

Diet for Parkinson Patients

Parkinson's patients should pay close attention to diet; weight loss, possibly caused by persistent involuntary movements, is a common problem.

In the early stages of Parkinson's disease, people may gain weight because they are less active than they used to be. Some people may eat more because they feel depressed about their medical condition. For these reasons, and the effect of different kinds of food on your medication, you should carefully control your diet. The protein in your diet, for example, affects how your body absorbs some of your medication. Therefore, you may need to cut down on high-protein foods, or plan to eat those foods only at times that won't affect your medication.

A diet called the 7:1 plan-for the ratio of carbohydrates to proteins-is designed for patients taking levodopa (proteins reduce the drug's effectiveness) . Researchers disagree as to whether the proteins should be eaten throughout the day or restricted to the evening meal, when interference with levodopa might be less of a problem. Consult your doctor to determine which method works best for you. Either way, a low-protein diet can lead to deficiencies in calcium, iron, and B vitamins; supplements are therefore advised. (if you are taking levodopa without carbidopa, however, avoid vitamin B-6; the vitamin will interfere with the levodopa.)

Nutritional Supplements for Parkinson's Disease

To prevent or correct possible nutritional deficiencies, take a high-potency multivitamin and mineral supplement daily. Choose a form that is easily digested, such as a soft gel-cap.

Gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA) is an amino acid that acts as a neurotransmitter. It helps both to strengthen and relax the nervous system. Take 500 milligrams up to three times daily for up to three months in a row.

Acidophilus and bifidobacteria are friendly bacteria that ensure a healthy gastrointestinal tract. Probiotics are especially helpful for preventing constipation, which is often a problem for people with Parkinson's disease. Take a probiotic supplement as recommended on the product label. If you are allergic to milk, select a dairy-free formula.

Alpha-lipoic acid is an antioxidant that also helps to "recharge" other antioxidants in the body. Take 50 to 100 milligrams three times a day.

Calcium and magnesium are imperative for maintaining a healthy nervous system. Take a multimineral supplement that supplies 500 milligrams of calcium and 250 milligrams of magnesium, as well as trace minerals, twice daily.

Coenzyme Q10 is an oxygenating antioxidant that helps prevent free-radical damage and important for cell renewal. Take 30 milligrams two or three times daily.

People with Parkinson's disease often do not utilize nutrients effectively. To insure complete digestion and assimilation of the nutrients in the food you eat, take a digestive-enzyme supplement with each meal.

Evening primrose oil and flaxseed oil contain valuable essential fatty acids (EFAs), which are often deficient in people with Parkinson's disease. Take 1 tablespoonful (or 500 to 1,000 milligrams) of either or both twice daily.

Green-foods supplements supply chlorophyll and important trace minerals. Take a green-foods supplement as directed on the product label.

Marine alginate concentrate and N-acetylcysteine may help in the process of chelating (binding to) heavy metals in the body so that they can be excreted. If you or your health-care provider suspects heavy metal toxicity, take 500 milligrams of marine alginate concentrate three times a day and 500 milligrams of N-acetylcysteine twice daily.

Nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide hydrogren (NADH) is an enzyme that helps to improve neurotransmitter function. Take 10 to 25 milligrams twice daily for beneficial effects in patients with Parkinson's Disease. The most noticeable results are found to occur after intravenous rather than after intramuscular administration.

Phosphatidylserine is a type of lipid important for normal brain function and the effective transmission of nerve impulses. Low levels of phosphatidylserine are associated with Parkinson's disease. Take 50 milligrams of phosphatidylserine three times daily.

Soy Lecithin is rich in phosphatidylcholine . Choline is a vital building block for acetylcholine. Take 3 tbsp. three times daily.

Pine-bark and grape-seed extracts fight free-radical damage and have anti-inflammatory properties. Many people consider Parkinson's disease to be a consequence of degeneration of nerve cells due to free-radical damage. Take 25 to 50 milligrams of either three times daily.

The B vitamins are very important for brain and nerve function. Take a B-complex supplement so that you are getting 25 milligrams of each of the major B vitamins three times a day from all sources. In addition, take 50 milligrams of vitamin B6 (pyridoxine) and pantothenic acid three times daily, between meals, plus 100 milligrams of niacinamide twice daily (morning and evening).
Note: If you are taking L-dopa, talk to your physician before taking any supplemental B vitamins, and do not take additional vitamin B6, as this vitamin interferes with the action of L-dopa.

Vitamin C and the bioflavonoids are powerful antioxidants that fight free radicals. Take 1,000 milligrams of vitamin C with bioflavonoids three times daily for one month. Then gradually increase your intake to the highest level you can tolerate. Vitamin C may help "on-off attacks" (two to five years on levadopa results in shortened positive response time to treatment) and other side effects of levadopa.

Vitamin E is a powerful antioxidant that prevents free- radical damage. Choose a product containing mixed tocopherols and start by taking 200 international units daily, then gradually increase the dosage until you are taking 400 international units in the morning and another 400 international units in the evening. Recent clinical trials have put a big question mark on the usefulness of Vitamin E for treating Parkinson's Disease. But many experts suggest taking Vitamin E for its other benefits even if it doesnot affect Parkinson's Disease directly.

Note: If you have high blood pressure, limit your intake of supplemental vitamin E to a total of 400 international units daily. If you are taking an anticoagulant (blood thinner), consult your physician before taking supplemental vitamin E.

Selenium is an antioxidant that works with vitamin E. It also helps to increase circulation and tissue oxygenation, thereby limiting damage to nerve cells. Take 200 micrograms of selenium daily.

A study with four patients with Parkinson's disease who were given injections of 100 mg. of neotrophin 1 (complex glycoproteins, derived from snake venom) resulted in dramatic improvement after a period of six to eight weeks.

Exercise

Because movements are affected in Parkinson's disease, exercising may help people improve their mobility. Some doctors prescribe physical therapy or muscle- strengthening exercises to tone muscles and to put underused and rigid muscles through a full range of motion.

Exercises will not stop disease progression, but they may improve body strength so that the person is less disabled. Exercises also improve balance, helping people overcome gait problems, and can strengthen certain muscles so that people can speak and swallow better. Exercises can also improve the emotional well- being of parkinsonian patients by giving them a feeling of accomplishment.

Whatever form of exercise you choose, make sure it is something that gets your muscles moving, your heart pumping, and that you can keep up with it every day. Walking, jogging, stretching, swimming, and other activities are terrific ways to help you cope with the tremor, muscle stiffness, and slow movements that may occur with Parkinson's disease. You will probably find a daily exercise routine will help you to feel better about yourself and your condition, continue functioning, maintain a good body weight, and sleep better at night. Make sure to consult your doctor before starting any exercise program. Do not exercise when you feel tired.

Daily walking

Yoga or gentle stretching

Yoga is an ideal form of exercise for Parkinson's patients because of its slow movements.

Chi Yi

Chi Yi is a Chinese deep breathing exercise. It increases the oxygen supply in the blood and may thereby help alleviate depression. Sit with your back against the
back of a chair and your feet flat on the floor. Reach toward the ceiling with both
arms, inhaling deeply through your nose as you do so. Hold your breath as you ball your hands into fists, squeezing your arm muscles. Exhale slowly through your nose to a count of six as your bring your tensed arms down, crossing them on your chest over your heart. Lower your chin to your chest. Take four short breaths, completely filling your lungs, and feel your chest expand. Hold for a few seconds, then exhale slowly. Repeat this exercise several times each day, concentrating on the rhythm and depth of each breath. If tremor prohibits arm or head movements, concentrate on the breathing, working toward a rate of only four or five breaths per minute. Limit practice to five minutes per day.

Physiotherapy

Induces relaxation, invigorate the patient, and improve various physical functions. Use as a supportive therapy.

Ozone-producing machines:
Ozone may help improve nervous system and brain function in Parkinson's patients. The FDA has not yet approved the machines for medical use; however, they are available through medical doctors and from people who work to make homes and offices more environmentally healthful.
Alternate hot and cold showers: Warm bath with herbs added to the water
Alternate hot and cold head douches
Saunas followed by massage
Outdoor exercise
Sun and ocean baths

Caution: When using warm water, please watch out against skin damage to persons with diminished temperature sensation when extreme temperatures are applied.

Herbal Remedies

Larkspur: 20 grams in 4 cups of boiling water; do not drink more than 3 cups a day, a mouthful at a time.

Lady's slipper is good for tremors, especially in debilitated conditions; it clears depression. Use a standard decoction or 3-9 g; tincture, 10-30 drops. Take 3 or 4 times a day for maximum effectiveness.

Skullcap: Combine with lady's slipper for broader action. Strengthens the brain. Standard infusion or 3-9 g; tincture, 10-30 drops (Very often, instead of skullcap germander is given as skullcap. Ask for the genuine herb.)

A combination of herbs that include rhubarb, peony (paeonia), licorice and magnolia bark are said to stop tremors and relax stiff muscles. Consult a herbalist for proper dosage.

Bupleurum Formula with Paeonia and Licorice Combination with magnolia bark - for persons with irritability, debilitating anxiety and insomnia.

Alcoholism is one of the possible indirect causes of Parkinson's, and herbal remedies which support the liver, pancreas and adrenal glands help to alleviate symptoms.

Ginseng, horsetail, hops, skullcap, passion flower and valerian root help to alleviate symptoms of Parkinson's. Prepare a herbal tea using 1 tsp. of herbs in 1 cup of boiling water and drink 3 cups daily.

Herbs also may be used synergistically with the appropriate drugs used to treat Parkinson's disease. For example, passion flower was found to improve the effectiveness of the drug L-dpa (levodopa). It reduces the passive tremor when used with L-dopa. (more than when using L-dopa alone.) However, passion flower only has minimal effect if used alone. Take one-half teaspoonful of passion flower tincture three times a day.

Ginkgo biloba scavenges free radicals and boosts circulation to the brain. Select a product containing at least 24 percent ginkgo heterosides (sometimes called flavoglycosides) and start by taking 40 milligrams three times daily. If you feel fine at that dosage, you can gradually increase to as much as 80 milligrams three times daily.

Degenerative disease is often facilitated by the accumulation of toxins in the body. The following herbs have detoxifying properties:

Burdock root, dandelion root, ginger root, and milk thistle detoxify the liver.
Cayenne (capsicum), goldenseal, mullein, Siberian ginseng, and yarrow stimulate the thymus and lymphatic system.

Caution: Do not take goidenseal internally on a daily basis for more than one week at a time, do not use it during pregnancy, and use it with caution if you are allergic to ragweed. Do not use Siberian ginseng if you have hypoglycemia, high blood pressure, or a heart disorder.
Hawthorn, licorice, red clover, and sarsaparilla cleanse the blood.

Caution: Do not use licorice on a daily basis for more than seven days in a row. Avoid it completely if you have high blood pressure.

Yellow dock cleanses the blood and detoxifies the liver.
Black cohosh catnip, lemon balm, passionflower, skullcap, and valerian root have anti-stress properties and can help nourish the nervous system.

Caution: Do not use black cohosh during pregnancy.

Homeopathy

Consultation with an experienced homeopath is required for Parkinson's disease. However, given below is a sample of homeopathic remedies for occasional use. Take the 6c strength four times daily for up to two weeks when the symptoms are severe, or while waiting for help from a homeopath.

Anthimonium Tartaricum: six every two hours for trembling of head and paralytic hands tremor.

Choose Gelsemium if you have considerable trembling and eyelids so droopy that you may appear to be asleep. You stagger when walking and feel weak and fatigued much of the time. Take Gelsemium 30x or 15c three times daily for up to three days, as needed to relieve symptoms.

Mercurius corrosivus is for trembling hands and excessive salivation. A tremor is accompanied and made worse by perspiration. Sensitivity to heat and cold is felt equally, memory and concentration is patchy, and willpower is weak. Take one dose of Mercurius corrosivus 30x or 15c three times daily for up to three days, as needed to relieve symptoms.

Agaricus is for limbs that are stiff but tremble and twitch. You likely feel itchy, and your back, especially your spine, is probably very sensitive. Take one dose of Agaricus 30x or 15c, as directed on the product label, three times daily for up to three days, as needed to relieve symptoms.

Hyoscyamus is for the person who exhibits inappropriate behavior at inopportune times. You have a lot of twitching, are restless, and tend to be jealous and very suspicious. Take one dose of Hyoscyamus 30x or 15c three times daily for up to three days, as needed to relieve symptoms.

Rhus toxicodendron is good for mild tremors and stiffness that feels better with movement, worse with dampness. Take one dose of Rhus toxicodendron 30x or 15c three times daily for up to three days, as needed to relieve symptoms.

Bach Flower Remedies

Select the remedy that most closely fits your emotional tendencies and concerns, and take it as needed, following the directions on the product label.

Beech is the remedy for impatience and intolerance of your affliction. You have a tendency to be a perfectionist and like an orderly life. You are critical and intolerant of those who don't measure up to your standards or expectations.

Holly will prove helpful if you are angry, prone to fits of temper, and feel jealous and insecure underneath.

Impatiens will ease nervous tension, feelings of impatience, irritability, and a tendency to fidget.

White Chestnut helps to counteract a tendency to obsess on problems without letup, persistent unwanted thoughts, worry or have mental arguments that circle around your mind, difficulty sleeping due to mental chatter and worries.

Reflexology

Practitioners of reflexology believe that the brain, head, and spine all respond to indirect massage. To help ease the tremors of Parkinson's, walk your thumb across the reflexology area for the diaphragm and solar plexus. Working areas for the brain and spinal column may help stabilize the nervous system.

Press three times per day the following points, three minutes each point:

2-pituitory, 3-cerebrum, 4-cerebellum, 12-spine, 20-adrenal, 21-kidney, 24-liver, 52-autonomic nervous system.

Work on the reflexes of all glands and the entire spine to elevate alertness and ambition.
Additionally work on the reflexes of the toes and the colon. Use gentle pressure at first, then increase pressure for ten minutes every other day.

Acupuncture and Acupressure

Acupuncture

According to some studies by acupuncturists, Parkinson's disease may be accompanied by an imbalance of energy along one or more meridians. The muscle stiffness, soreness, and imbalance of Parkinson's may be alleviated by a series of treatments by encouraging the flow of energy or by addressing the tremors and the hardening of the muscles directly.

GV 14, K 3, LIV 3, SP 6, LIV 2, UB 18.

Ear Points: Brain stem, Shen-men, Occiput, Subcortex, Liver.

For Parkinson's Paralysis Agitans:
GV 20, GV 21, GB 20, CV 23

Acupressure

This treatment otherwise known as pressure-point massage, is used to reduce symptoms such as nausea, excessive salivation, anxiety, or muscle pain. Acupressure is also used to impart vital energy.

Four Gates relaxes the muscles.

Stomach 36 improves the absorption of nutrients and strengthens the overall well-being.

Acupressure may be of some use as a short-term, supportive attempt to treat concomitant symptoms. Some case reports and field studies claim efficacy; however, success is probably seen in only a small proportion of patients.

Anthroposophical medicine

In the AM interpretation of degenerative diseases of the central nervous system, encroachment of the upper pole into the extremities is said to be normalized through curative eurhythrny, bathing, and potentized organ preparations.

Acceptable as a supportive treatment for Parkinson's disease. Some studies claim efficacy; however, success is probably seen in only a proportion of patients.

Make sure that the practitioner is properly qualified and trained. Allergies or intolerance are possible with this treatment.

Body Work

Deep-muscle massage stretches the connective tissue around tight muscles, ridding them of cramping and allowing greater freedom of movement. Massage can also improve motion in your joints, soften hardened muscle tissue, and stimulate your lymphatic system.

One especially appropriate method is the feldenkrais method, which consists of a large number of exercises performed either in group classes or solo with a practitioner, aims at improving autonomic motor responses. While lying down, you are guided through a series of light slow movements designed to support your neuromuscular system and alter habitual patterns of movement.

Classical massage helps to invigorate the patient. It also eases muscular and perhaps emotional tension. It is great for relaxation. Some people, however, may find it hared to tolerate close physical contact. Some may be sensitive to manual stimuli. Use only a qualified practitioner.

Juice Therapy

Carrot and Spinach Juice daily
Carrot, beet, radish, garlic, and cucumber daily
Seasonal raw fruit and vegetables

Diet plays an important role in the treatment of this disease. To begin with, the patient should resort to a short juice fast for five days. In this regimen, he should take a glass of fresh fruit or vegetable juice, diluted with water on 50:50 basis, every two hours from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. Fruits and vegetables which may be used for juicing are apple, pineapple, grapes, orange, tomato, carrot, cabbage and spinach. A warm water enema should be used daily to cleanse the bowels during the period of fasting.

After the short juice fast, the patient may adopt an all-fruit diet for further 5 days. During this period, he should take three meals a day of fresh juicy fruits, such as apple, pear, peach, papaya, grapes, orange and pineapple, at five-hourly intervals. Thereafter, he may gradually adopt a well-balanced lacto-vegetarian diet. The emphasis should be on raw seeds, nuts and grains, plenty of sprouts, raw milk, preferably goat's milk, and raw fruits and vegetables. Green leafy vegetables and yellow turnips are especially beneficial. Sesame seeds and sesame seed butter can be taken with beneficial results. In general, a low-protein diet of raw, organically grown foods is best for the patient with Parkinson's disease.

The patient should avoid tea, coffee, chocolate, salt, spices, condiments, pickles, flesh foods, white flour and white sugar and all processed, tinned, canned and frozen foods. The short juice fast followed by an all-fruit diet should IJP, repeated at monthly intervals till condition improves.

Use of Vitamin E in high doses is considered beneficial on the treatment of Parkinson's disease. There is preliminary evidence to suggest that massive doses of Vitamin E, say, 800 to 3,000 international units daily, may slow down the progress of the disease. Extensive studies about the efficacy of the Vitamin E therapy for Parkinson's disease are, however, still being carried out.

Everything possible should be done to help the patient to maintain a cheerful mental outlook. He should remain as active as possible and lead a quiet life. Hot moist packs may be applied to the stiffened muscles which should also be gently massaged. The daily warm bath is useful. Fresh air and light exercise, especially walking, are essential to the treatment of Parkinson's disease.