Phil's Health Tips

Cardiovascular General Health Tips

2010-10-24T22:19:00.000+02:00

Cardiovascular General Health Tips

Alcohol Consumption and the Heart
Heavy alcohol consumption is associated with cardiovascular diseases such as cardiomyopathy, hypertension, arrhythmias, and stroke.

　Aspirin After a Heart Attack

　
Aspirin During a Heart Attack
　
C-Reactive Protein (CRP)
　
Cardiovascular Disease
　
Cloning and Transplants
　
Dine at the Dinner Table Only
　
Exercising When Obese
　
Fat Free vs. Calorie Free
　
Food Labels to Reveal Artery-Clogging Trans Fat
　
Garlic and Heart Disease
　
Heart Reshapes After Injury
　
High Sodium Foods
　
Ibuprofen vs. Aspirin
　
Inflammation May Cause Heart Attacks
　
Inflammation Twice as Bad as Cholesterol
　
Mini-Meals for Weight Loss
　
New MRI Technique for CAD
　
Nuts Cut Sudden Death Risk in Men
　
Nuts for Nuts
　
OTCs and Sodium
　
Prioritize Exercise
　
Reducing Dietary Sodium - Breads and Cereals
　
Reducing Dietary Sodium - Fats and Sweets
　
Reducing Dietary Sodium - Fruits and Vegetables
　
Reducing Dietary Sodium - Meats
　
Reducing Dietary Sodium - Milk
　
Salt Substitutes
　
Sodium = Na
　
Tea Reduces Heart Disease
　
Treatment May Help Body Grow Bypasses
　
Whole Grains, Older Women and Heart Health
　
Women and Heart Disease
By increasing the intake of folate and Vitamin B6, you may also prevent heart disease. Women with the highest intake of folate (545 micrograms or more per day) and Vitamin B6 (4.6 mg or more per day) were 45% less likely to develop coronary artery disease than women with the lowest intake of folate (less than 190 mg per day) and Vitamin B6 (less than 1.1 mg per day). The main source of both vitamins is a multivitamin supplement and many cold breakfast cereals that are fortified with both nutrients.
Older women who eat the right amount of whole grains cut their risk of a fatal heart attack significantly. At ages 55 - 69, women who eat whole grains for at least three of their daily carbohydrate servings were found to be in better heart health during the next 10 years. Whole grain breads, crackers and cereals -- made from grains that have not been stripped of their bran and germ -- protect against heart disease and diabetes. Its unclear which part of the whole grain -- the fiber, the vitamin E, the folate, the magnesium or some of the health-protective phytochemicals -- provides the health benefits. Read labels carefully. Look for "whole-grain" or "whole-wheat flour" as the first or second ingredient.
Medication that prompts the growth of new blood vessels (angiogenesis) may one day help the body produce its own bypasses around clogged heart or leg arteries.
Studies show tea can help prevent cancer, osteoporosis, and heart disease. Tea antioxidants, called polyphenols, may be 100 times as effective as vitamin C and 25 times as effective as vitamin E.
Read the labels when you buy packaged foods. Look for different sodium compounds that are added to foods. Watch for the words on labels that identify sodium ingredients. These include "sodium" and sodium's symbol, "Na" which is a capital "N" with a small "a."
People with kidney problems, or who are taking medicines, should check with their health care provider before using "salt substitutes." Potassium chloride is found in many salt substitutes. Too much potassium can be harmful to some people.
Milk, Yogurt, and Cheese Group:
* Cheeses vary in sodium content, but tend to be higher in sodium than milk or yogurt.
* Processed cheeses, cheese foods, and cheese spreads contain more sodium than natural cheese.
* Reduced sodium cheeses are available.
Meat Group:
* Processed luncheon meats are high in sodium. Select lower sodium luncheon meats.
* Choose unsalted nuts.
* Most canned soups are very high in sodium.
* Reduced-sodium soups are available; however, they still contain substantial sodium.
* Many frozen dinners, convenience foods, combination dishes, and packaged mixes are also high in sodium. Check the Nutrition Facts Panel to compare the sodium content of these foods.
Fruit and Vegetable Groups:
* To keep the sodium content down try seasoning vegetables without salt.
* Herbs and spices can provide a tasteful alternative.
* Canned vegetables are higher in sodium than fresh or frozen.
* Try the low-sodium or "no-salt added" versions.
* Plain frozen vegetables contain less salt than those frozen with sauces.
* Canned vegetable juices are high in sodium, select reduced sodium versions.
Fats, Oils and Sweets:
* As a general rule salad dressings and condiments are high in sodium.
Breads, Cereals, Rice and Pasta Group:
* Read the Nutrition Facts Panel to compare the sodium content of cereals.
* Snack foods are typically high in sodium.
* There are lots of reduced sodium or no-salt-added snacks available.
The beds might not get made, but you still must make time for exercise. That's how you keep weight off, you make exercise part of your daily schedule.
Some OTC drugs have large amounts of sodium in them. Always read the labels for over-the-counter drugs. When in doubt, ask a pharmacist, or your health care provider, if the drug is one you can use.
Have you stopped snacking on nuts because you've heard they're too fatty, caloric, and salty? Well, take heart. Recent studies have shown that nuts can help prevent coronary disease. They're rich in unsaturated fats, vitamin E, fiber, folic acid, and other B vitamins. And walnuts are especially rich in heart-healthy oil. So dig in, but choose the unsalted variety and, as with any food, enjoy them in moderation.
Men who eat nuts regularly have roughly half the risk of sudden cardiac death as those who don't consume the food.
Nuts contain unsaturated fats that aren't as hard on the arteries as their saturated siblings. Some nuts have other cardiac benefits. Walnuts are rich in alpha-linolenic acid, a form of omega-3 fatty acid that has been shown to boost cardiovascular health and which may prevent heart rhythm anomalies. They can also be a good source of nutrients such as vitamin E and magnesium.
A new type of imaging technique using an MRI device can detect most diseased coronary arteries, potentially sparing many heart patients a more invasive, expensive and uncomfortable test, the angiogram.
Having smaller, more frequent meals can prevent you from getting ravenously hungry and overeating. On average, weight loss winners eat five times a day.
Despite their seemingly healthy cholesterol levels, new research shows many people are at high risk of heart attacks because of painless inflammation in the bloodstream.
The inflammation comes from many sources and triggers heart attacks by weakening the walls of blood vessels, making fatty buildups burst. A large study concludes it is twice as likely as high cholesterol to trigger heart attacks.
Inflammation can be measured with a test that checks for C-reactive protein, or CRP, a chemical necessary for fighting injury and infection. The test typically costs between $25 and $50.
Diet and exercise can lower CRP dramatically. Cholesterol-lowering drugs called statins also reduce CRP, as do aspirin and some other medicines.
In what doctors are calling a revolutionary departure from long-held beliefs about the causes of heart attacks, there is new emphasis on low-grade inflammation in various parts of the body as triggering such events.
While medical experts have for years focused on cholesterol and clogged arteries, research indicates that inflammation may just as often be the cause of heart attacks, and in fact half of all heart attack victims have normal or even low levels of cholesterol.
New research shows that people with high levels of C-reactive protein - - an indicator of inflammation - - have twice the risk of heart attack than those with elevated cholesterol.
In response to the findings, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) is drawing up new recommendations that will likely urge doctors to test most middle-aged Americans for inflammation, as well as cholesterol, as a prevention for heart attack.
The popular pain reliever ibuprofen blocks the heart-protecting effects of aspirin when taken at the same time. Regular aspirin can be taken two hours before or after ibuprofen. Enteric-coated aspirin, which is released more slowly into the blood, could be taken at bedtime without a conflict.
High sodium foods include:
Canned soup, canned vegetables, canned tomato products, canned tuna/salmon, ham, hot dogs, bacon, sausage, olives, pickles, sauerkraut, instant mixes, garlic salt, onion salt, celery salt, soy sauce, processed foods, lunch meat, cheese
Using the male chromosome as a marker, researchers studying eight cross-gender heart transplants from New York Medical College have discovered that the body can actively reshape the heart after injury.
Garlic helps fight heart disease. It contains sulfur compounds, which scientists suspect inhibit the formation of artery-clogging blood clots. It may reduce both elevated blood cholesterol and blood pressure. Roasting transforms garlic into an almost buttery substance that makes a great fat-free spread for bread or addition to dips. To roast, wrap a garlic head in aluminum foil and bake at 400 degrees F (200 degrees C) for 40 minutes.
Trans fat hasn't gotten the attention its infamous cousin, saturated fat, earned through warnings and labels. That's about to change: After 10 years of debate, the government is requiring food labels to reveal exact levels of the artery clogger.
Tran’s fat is in numerous products, from meats and dairy products to pastries. The most common source is partially hydrogenated vegetable oil, where liquid oil is turned into a solid to protect against spoiling and maintain long-term flavor.
Just because a product is fat free, doesn't mean it is calorie free. In fact, fat free or reduced fat products can have as many, if not more, calories per serving than regular products. So, yes, you do need to watch your fat intake. But remember that calories count, too.
If you're obese, check with your physician before initiating any exercise program. Search for a low impact aerobic program as a starter.
If you eat in front of the TV, then every time you nestle in with the remote control, it's a cue to eat. Instead, designate an eating spot for all meals and snacks.
Researchers say they've taken a major step toward cloning pigs whose hearts, lungs and kidneys could be safely transplanted into humans. Such organs would save the lives of thousands of critically ill people who cannot get transplants because of the shortage of human organs. Scientists say they produced four piglets without one of two genes that lead to the massive rejections that have plagued efforts at xenotransplantation -- the process of replacing human organs with animal organs.
Cardiovascular disease is a disease of the heart and blood vessels and is the nation's leading killer, claiming 939,610 lives in 2000. The personal, social, and economic impacts of cardiovascular disease are significant. In 2000, the economic impact was estimated to be almost $290 billion. Knowing the risk factors for heart disease and heart failure and adopting life-long heart-healthy practices can improve heart health.
The C-Reactive Protein test (CRP) is a blood test that may be a better indicator of heart attack risk than tests for cholesterol.
Up to 10,000 more people would survive heart attacks if they would chew one 325 milligram aspirin tablet when they first had chest pain or other sign of a heart attack. Patients should be given aspirin during the first hour -- during pre-hospital transport or in the Emergency Room -- if a heart attack is suspected.
Studies show that heart attack patients who took aspirin when their symptoms began, and then daily for one month, significantly lowered their risk of dying and of having another heart attack or stroke.

Cancer Tips

2010-10-13T12:44:00.003+02:00

General Cancer Information

Alcohol Consumption
Chronic heavy drinking has been linked to an increased risk of cancer of the mouth, throat, esophagus, liver, pancreas and rectum. Consuming as little as three ounces of hard liquor every day for several years can cause damage.

Aspirin Linked to Reduced Lung Cancer Risk
Aspirin has already risen from the ranks of a mere pain reliever to become a highly valued heart attack and stroke prevention tool, and now researchers say preventing lung cancer may be added to its list of benefits.

　
Cancer and Nutrition
　
Cancer Risk Factors
* Breast- Family history of breast cancer, obesity, late childbearing and childlessness
* Bladder- Smoking (nearly half of cases), hair dye - bladder cancer is more common in men than women
* Cervical- First intercourse at an early age, multiple sexual partners, smoking, history of genital herpes
* Colorectal- Being over 50 with colon polyps or ulcerative colitis, family history of these disorders or colon cancer, high-fat, low-fiber diet
* Leukemia- Exposure to radiation, benzene and other chemicals
* Lung- Smoking (83 percent of cases), exposure to asbestos, radiation and secondhand tobacco smoke
* Lymphoma- Being over 50, no other known risk factors
* Oral- Smoking, chewing tobacco and heavy alcohol use
* Pancreatic- Smoking, high-fat diet
* Prostate- Risk increases with age; more than 80 percent of cases occur after 65
* Skin- Fair skin, severe sunburn in childhood, frequent sun exposure, family history of skin cancer
* Uterine- Being post-menopausal with a history of infertility, ovulation failure or abnormal bleeding, also obesity, hypertension and diabetes
　
Early Detection
　
More Precise Cancer Treatments
　
Nutrition and Cancer Patients
　
Orange Zest and Cancer
　
Seven Cancer Warning Signs
　
Startling Facts About Smoking and Cancer
　
Tea for Tumors
　
Understanding Blood Counts
Normal blood counts fall within the range that has been established by testing healthy men and women of all ages.
The approximate normal ranges of blood cell counts for healthy adults are as follows:
* Red blood cell (RBC) count: 4.5 to 6.0 million red cells per microliter of blood in men, 4.0 to 5.0 million red cells per microliter of blood in women
* White blood cell (WBC) count: 4.5 to 11 thousand white cells per microliter of blood
* Platelet count: 150 to 450 thousand platelets per microliter of blood
Hematocrit is the percent of the blood that is composed of red cells:
* 42% to 50% is normal in men
* 36% to 45% is normal in women
Hemoglobin is the compound in the red blood cell that carries oxygen.
* 14 to 17 grams per 100 milliliters of blood is normal for men
* 12 to 15 grams per 100 milliliters of blood is normal for women
White cell differential count, sometimes referred to as a "diff," measures the proportion of the total white cell count that is composed of one of the five principal white cell types. The observer can also tell if the white cells in the blood are normal in appearance. The five types of normal white cells that are counted are neutrophils, lymphocytes, monocytes, eosinophils, and basophils. Blood contains about 60% neutrophils, 30% lymphocytes, 5% monocytes, 4% eosinophils and 1% basophils.
　
Vitamin E and Cancer
　
Want to Quit Smoking?
　
Watermelon and Cancer Prevention
Juicy, red watermelon is not only delicious, it may help prevent cancer. As long as you spit out the seeds, watermelon is the biggest supplier among fresh fruits and vegetables in the antioxidant lycopene, which is believed to play a big role in the prevention of the killer disease. Antioxidants such as lycopene work in your body by disarming free oxygen radicals, which are thought to contribute to the development of many cancers. A 2-cup serving of watermelon contains 15 - 20 milligrams of this vital plant pigment. Other sources include tomatoes, red grapefruits and guavas.
Most people who quit smoking have tried before, so don’t give up! Try these tips:
* List the reasons you want to quit. Refer to the list every time you want to smoke.
* Typical triggers to smoking include working under pressure, feeling depressed, having a drink, drinking coffee, driving a car, finishing a meal and watching someone else light up a cigarette. Learn to look for these triggers and then avoid them, for example, by cutting down on alcohol and caffeine.
* Reward yourself for not smoking. Spend the money saved from not buying cigarettes on a treat for yourself.
* Keep lots of low calorie snacks handy, including sugarless gum.
* Try taking a few deep breaths when you start to feel stressed.
* Quit smoking with a friend, bet someone you will quit, or get involved with a group having the same goal of quitting.
* Take your mind off smoking by keeping your hands busy with handwork or hobbies.
Vitamin E has been found to reduce cancer risk when consumed at recommended levels.
Counting and examining blood cells are very important in the diagnosis of blood cell diseases. Blood has several different types of cells in it:
* Red blood cells pick up oxygen as blood passes through the lungs and release it to the cells in the body.
* White blood cells help fight bacteria and viruses.
* Platelets are the cells that form a plug in response to a cut or wound. The platelets aggregate and plug up the site of bleeding.
Research shows one kind of tea can be up to 100 times more potent at blocking growth of cancer cells than another. While all tea (green, oolong or black) contains antioxidant compounds called catechins that protect against cancer (especially of the lung, breast, colon, stomach and skin) by neutralizing free radicals, green tea contains about 7 times more catechins than black tea. Green tea also has unique catechins that block an enzyme involved in breast, prostate and colon cancers. Green tea is 10 to 100 times stronger than black tea in blocking the growth of cancer cells. Catechins also prevent heart disease and stroke, primarily by defending against the harmful effects of artery-clogging LDL cholesterol.
Eighteen little-known facts about smoking might motivate even a veteran smoker to give up the habit:
1. Cigarette smoke contains tar, made up of over 4,000 chemicals, including 43 known to cause cancer.
2. Chemicals in smoke include cyanide (a deadly poison), methanol (wood alcohol), formaldehyde (a preservative), acetylene (fuel used in torches) and ammonia (found in fingernail polish remover). It also contains nitrogen oxide and carbon monoxide, both poisonous gases.
3. Smokeless tobacco (snuff) exposes a person to at least 10 times more cancer-causing substances than smoking does.
4. Smoking filtered cigarettes lowers the risk of lung cancer by only about 20 percent.
5. Smokers are more likely to get pneumonia than are nonsmokers.
6. Smokers are more likely to have and die from stomach ulcers than are nonsmokers.
7. Smoking causes and worsens heart disease, emphysema, bronchitis, sinusitis, and cancers of the lung, mouth, larynx (voice box), and esophagus (swallowing tube), and increases the risk of bladder, kidney, pancreas, stomach and cervical cancers.
8. Women smokers experience earlier menopause and have less dense bones, making them more susceptible to osteoporosis and hip fractures.
9. Children whose parents smoke are at a higher risk for pneumonia and bronchitis.
10. Diseases caused by cigarette smoking kill about one in four smokers.
11. By the time lung cancer is diagnosed, it has usually spread to other parts of the body. The survival rate is low: only 13 percent are still alive five years after diagnosis, fewer than 10 percent after 10 years.
12. Lung cancer now kills more women than any other type of cancer.
13. Smoking takes an average of seven years off a person’s life.
14. Smoking causes one out of every six deaths in the United States.
15. Nine out of ten smokers say they want to quit.
16. More men have quit smoking than women.
17. More than 43 million Americans have quit smoking, and–over the past decade–the percentage of smoking adult Texans has decreased from 31 to 22 percent.
18. Between 1964 and 1985, approximately 750,000 deaths were avoided or postponed as a result of decisions to quit smoking or not to start.
And That’s Not All!
Lung cancer is the leading cause of death from cancer in America, but it could be prevented 80 to 90 percent of the time if only people would not smoke.
1. A change in bowel or bladder habits
2. A sore that does not heal
3. Unusual bleeding or discharge
4. Thickening or a lump in the breast or other area
5. Chronic indigestion or swallowing problems
6. An obvious change in a wart or a mole
7. A nagging cough or hoarseness
Don't toss away that orange peel -- it may help protect you against cancer. Grated citrus zest -- the outmost layer of the peel, not the white pith -- includes compounds may provide health benefits, such as inhibiting development of some cancers and lowering cholesterol. Scrub the rind with warm water and a drop of soap before starting to grate. Press a piece of wax paper onto the grater to make clean-up easier; the zest accumulates on the paper instead of getting stuck in the holes of the grater. Best of all, you can use the zest for a flavor boost in low-fat baked goods, pilafs, salad dressings, marinades and fruit salads.
A great tasting, nutritious milkshake for cancer patients requiring extra calories in small amounts is made by adding 2 large scoops of ice cream and 1 package of vanilla-flavored Carnation Instant Breakfast to 8 ounces of milk and blending until smooth.
Once, a cancer was a cancer was a cancer. Now, scientists have succeeded in using DNA to determine whether a particular type of cancer will be resistant to certain therapies, paving the way to choosing more effective, tailor-made treatments for patients.
The earlier cancer is detected, the greater the chance it can be treated before it spreads to other areas of the body. That's why self-examinations (such as checks of the breasts, testicles and skin) are important to build into your routine. And it's why regular medical screenings (such as mammograms, fecal occult blood tests, Pap smears and prostate exams) are crucial even if you feel perfectly healthy.
The following are various types of cancer and their risk factors:
To prevent cancer, avoid dietary fats. Eat a diet rich in soy, fruits, vegetables and fiber.
Aspirin has already risen from the ranks of a mere pain reliever to become a highly valued heart attack and stroke prevention tool, and now researchers say preventing lung cancer may be added to its list of benefits.
Chronic heavy drinking has been linked to an increased risk of cancer of the mouth, throat, esophagus, liver, pancreas and rectum. Consuming as little as three ounces of hard liquor every day for several years can cause damage.

Brain Tumors Tips

2010-10-07T11:15:00.002+02:00

What is a brain tumor?

A brain tumor is an abnormal mass of tissue in which the cells grow and multiply without restraint, apparently unregulated by the mechanisms that control normal cells. One factor that distinguishes brain tumors from other tumors is that they arise in the skull, an organ encased by bone, and there is very little room for expansion with the skull. They are also among the few types of tumors that generally do not tend to metastasize or spread to other parts of the body.

Whereas certain brain tumors occur almost exclusively during childhood and adolescence, others are predominantly tumors of adult life. The patient's age appears to correlate with the site where some tumors develop in the brain. Although most primary tumors attack member of both sexes with equal frequency, some, such as meningiomas, occur more frequently in women, while others, such as medulloblastomas, more commonly afflict boys and young men.

The prognosis for patients with a brain tumor is as individual as the patients themselves. Your doctors will help you understand the possible consequences of your specific tumor.

There are several different types of brain tumors and this section describes most except the ones that are quite rare. We will help you locate the structures of the brain mentioned in these descriptions and will tell you in general terms the functional roles of each structure.

Gliomas
Astrocytoma and Glioblastoma Multiforme (GBM)
Other Gliomas
Brain Stem Glioma, Epdendymoma, Ganglioneuroma, Juvenile Pilocytic Astrocytoma, Mixed Glioma, Oligodendroglioma, and Optic Nerve Glioma
Non-gliomas
Chordoma, Craniopharyngioma, Medulloblastoma, Meningioma, Pineal Tumors, Pituitary Adenoma, Primitive Neuroectodermal Tumors (PNET), Schwannoma or Acoustic Neuroma, and Vascular Tumors
Other brain-related conditions
CNS Lymphoma, Meningeal Carcinomatosis, Neurofibromatosis, Pseudotumor Cerebri, and Tuberous Sclerosis
Metastatic brain tumors
Any tumors that spread to the brain from other parts of the body.
　
Facts about Brain Tumors
o Each year approximately 190,000 people in the United States and 10,000 people in Canada will be diagnosed with a primary or metastatic brain tumor.
　
o Brain tumors are the leading cause of SOLID TUMOR death in children under age 20 now surpassing acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL), and are the third leading cause of cancer death in young adults ages 20-39.*
o Brain tumor patients, including those with certain "benign" brain tumors, have poorer survival rates than breast cancer patients.
o Metastatic brain tumors (cancer that spreads from other parts of the body to the brain) occur at some point in 10 to 15% of persons with cancer and are the most common type of brain tumor. The incidence of brain tumors has been increasing as cancer patients live longer.**
o In the United States, the overall incidence of all primary brain tumors is more than 14 per 100,000 people.
o There are over 120 different types of brain tumors, making effective treatment very complicated.
o Because brain tumors are located at the control center for thought, emotion and movement, their effects on an individual's physical and cognitive abilities can be devastating.
o At present, brain tumors are treated by surgery, radiation therapy and chemotherapy used either individually or in combination.
o Only 31 percent of males and 30percent of females survive five years following the diagnosis of a primary or malignant brain tumor.
o Brain tumors in children are different from those in adults and are often treated differently. Although as many as 69 percent of children with brain tumors will survive, they are often left with long-term side effects.
o Enhancing the quality of life of people with brain tumors requires access to quality specialty care, clinical trials, follow-up care and rehabilitative services. Improving the outlook for adults and children with brain tumors requires research into the causes of and better treatments of brain tumors.
o Complete and accurate data on all primary brain tumors are needed to provide the foundation for research leading to improved diagnosis and treatment and to investigations of its causes.
o The National Cancer Institute and the National Institute for Neurological Disorders and Stroke are working together to implement the brain tumor research priorities set by the research, clinical and advocacy community, as summarized in the Brain Tumor Progress Review Group Report.
o Symptoms of a brain tumor can include headaches (headaches that wake you up in the morning), seizures in a person who does not have a history of seizures, cognitive or personality changes, eye weakness, nausea or vomiting, speech disturbances, or memory loss. While these are the most common symptoms of a brain tumor, they can also indicate other medical problems.
　
Treatment of Brain Tumor

1. Which therapies are used to treat brain tumors?
2. Which medications are used for brain tumor patients?
3. What is radiation therapy?
4. What is stereotactic radiosurgery?
5. What is chemotherapy?
6. What are the newest chemotherapy drugs?
7. What is gene therapy?　

Surgery is the chief form of treatment for brain tumors that lie within the membranes covering the brain or in parts of the brain that can be removed without damaging critical neurological functions. Because a tumor will recur if any tumor cells are left behind, the surgeon's goal is to remove the entire tumor whenever possible. Radiation therapy and chemotherapy, in general, are used as secondary or adjuvant treatment for tumors that cannot be cured by surgery alone.

2. Which medications are used for brain tumor patients?

Steroids and anti-convulsants (to stop seizures) are the most common medications used for brain tumor patients. Steroids are given to reduce inflammation of tissues and control swelling of the brain, particularly before and after surgery. They do not kill tumor cells, but used alone or combined with other forms of treatment, can cause remarkable improvement in a patients condition. If used for only a few days, steroids generally cause no side effects, but used over a long time or withdrawn without monitoring, steroids may produce several side effects. You should discuss monitoring of the steroid and all possible side effects with you doctor.
Other drugs commonly used with brain tumor patients are anti-convulsants. Some are used to keep seizures from happening (prophylactic) while others cut short (abort) seizures that have already started. Some of the more common drugs now used to prevent seizures are Dilantin, Tegratol, Depakote, and Phenobarbital. It is important to remember that side effects of these drugs vary greatly from person to person. But if side effects are a serious problem, there are plenty of newer drugs that can be used, either alone or in combination with others. Newer drugs include Neurontin (gabapentin), Topomax (toiramate), Lamictal (lamotrigine) and Gabitril (tiagabine).

3. What is radiation therapy?

Radiation therapy is mainly used after surgery for tumors that cannot be removed completely, as well as for cases in which surgery would involve too great a risk to the patient. It may be given in a single dose each day, usually for 30 days with weekends off, or it may be "hyper fractionated" into two or more doses daily for the recommended course of treatment.
Standard radiation therapy delivers an external beam of radiation aimed at an entire region, such as the portion of the brain containing the tumor and typically delivers a daily dose of 1.8-2.0 Gy (Gray) to a total dose of 50-60 Gy over 5-7 weeks.

4. What is stereotactic radiosurgery?

Stereotactic radiosurgery is a non-invasive therapeutic alternative for treating brain disorders. Instead of a scalpel, clinicians using stereotactic radiosurgery technology aim multiple"pencil-thin" beams or arced beams of high energy particles directly at the tumor site while sparing healthy tissue as much as possible. With stereotactic radiosurgery techniques, a higher dose of radiation is delivered to the specific site (or tumor) of 15-20 Gy and is usually given in one day. Both Gamma Knife and LINAC X Knife are types of stereotactic radiosurgery.

5. What is chemotherapy?

Chemotherapy works to destroy tumor cells with drugs that may be given either alone or in combination with other treatments. A key problem with chemotherapy has been the difficulty in delivering sufficient amounts of drug directly to the tumor while sparing normal brain cells. Another problem is the blood-brain barrier mechanism that normally serve to keep harmful substances out of the brain - unfortunately, this same blood-brain barrier can also work to keep potentially helpful drugs out of the brain. Although chemotherapy is usually given by mouth or injected in the vein, some new techniques of intratumoral chemotherapy use either small pumps or biodegradable wafers to place the drug inside the tumor.

6. What are the newest chemotherapy drugs?

There is currently a great deal of scientific activity focused on the area of the discovery of new chemotherapy drugs, many with novel or alternative mechanisms of action (how drugs work). Following is a brief list of the various categories of chemotherapies being used to treat brain tumors: Cytotoxic Agents, Anti-angiogenic drugs, Differentiating agents, Anti-invasion agents, Cell signal transduction modulators and Growth factor inhibitors.

7. What is gene therapy?

Currently for patients with malignant brain tumors who have a recurrence after surgery, radiation therapy or chemotherapy, gene therapy may provide an experimental option for treatment. Using gene therapy, researchers inject a substance into the brain tumor that changes the genetic makeup of the tumor cells.
　
Frequently Asked Questions
1. What is a brain tumor?
2. What is the difference between a primary brain tumor and a metastatic (secondary) brain tumor? 3. What is the difference between a benign brain tumor and a malignant (cancerous) brain tumor? 4. What does it mean when a brain tumor is in remission?
5. What are recurrent tumors?
6. Is a brain tumor cancer?
7. How is a brain tumor diagnosed?
8. How is a brain tumor treated?
9. What will happen to a patient with a brain tumor?
10. What are the parts of the brain? 　

A brain tumor is an abnormal mass of tissue in which the cells grow and multiply without restraint, apparently unregulated by the mechanisms that control normal cells. One factor that distinguishes brain tumors from other tumors is that they arise in the skull, an organ encased by bone, and there is very little room for expansion with the skull. They are also among the few types of tumors that generally do not tend to metastasize or spread to other parts of the body.
Whereas certain brain tumors occur almost exclusively during childhood and adolescence, others are predominantly tumors of adult life. The patient's age appears to correlate with the site where some tumors develop in the brain. Although most primary tumors attack member of both sexes with equal frequency, some, such as meningiomas, occur more frequently in women, while others, such as medulloblastomas, more commonly afflict boys and young men.
The prognosis for patients with a brain tumor is as individual as the patients themselves. Your doctors will help you understand the possible consequences of your specific tumor.

2. What is the difference between a primary brain tumor and a metastatic (secondary) brain tumor?

Primary brain tumors originate in the brain. The tumor cells do not travel to the brain from other parts of the body and, in most cases, primary brain tumor cells do not travel to other parts of the body either. The most common exception to this rule is the primary brain tumor of childhood called medulloblastoma, which can spread to the lymph nodes, bone marrow, lungs or other parts of the body. But even in this case, it is unusual for medulloblastoma to spread outside the nervous system. Pathologists classify primary brain tumors into two groups: the gliomas, composed of "glial" cells that invade the neural tissue surrounding them; and the nonglial tumors, which are not composed of glial cells and compress, rather than invade, the neighboring brain tissue as they grow.
Metastatic (secondary) brain tumors have spread to the brain from another part of the body. They most often metastasize from tumors of the lung or breast, but almost any tumor can spread to the brain. They arise when abnormal cells that developed elsewhere in the body are carried to the brain by the blood flow. Metastatic tumors are the most common form of brain tumor, affecting 20-40% of all cancer patients.

3. What is the difference between a benign brain tumor and a malignant (cancerous) brain tumor?

Benign brain tumors do exist, and often can be cured with surgery alone. Some primary brain tumors are called benign because their rate of growth is so slow that many years may pass before the tumor grows large enough to compress functional areas of the brain, causing symptoms that require treatment. Others are considered benign because - once the tumor is diagnosed and treated - in many cases, the patient will be cured and live a normal life span and in many others, the tumor will not grow back for many years or even decades.
We use the term benign with caution, however. Even a benign brain tumor may cause intolerable symptoms or may not be controllable because of its particular location in the brain. A tumor in the brain stem or the spinal cord, for example, is often impossible to remove with surgery. In those particular locations even a small amount of tumor growth can compress and cause very serious damage to brain or spinal structures that control functions critical to life. While such a tumor may be called "benign" because of its slow growth, the situation is far from benign.
No one is certain why, but some benign brain tumors may change over time to become malignant. The meningioma, for instance, is one type of primary brain tumor that can be cured, either with surgery alone or sometimes with surgery and radiation therapy. In such cases, meningioma is considered a benign tumor. But in rare cases, even a meningioma may have invasive features, which the pathologist can see in the tumor's cells under the microscope and which suggest that the tumor may behave more aggressively than usual. In such a case, the meningioma may not be curable. It may continue to grow despite surgery, irradiation and chemotherapy and might cause death by its uncontrolled growth. It is because of this potential for aggressive and uncontrolled growth that a tumor is considered malignant.
Malignant brain tumors behave in an aggressive manner and require aggressive treatments. They grow much more quickly than benign tumors and tend to invade normal brain tissue. The goal of treatment in some cases is to control the growth of the tumor as long as possible with the least possible side effects. But just because a tumor is considered malignant does not always mean that it cannot be cured. Many malignant tumors, including malignant primary brain tumors, are curable. Medulloblastoma, for example, is considered a malignant tumor, yet many patients are cured of medulloblastoma by surgery, radiation therapy and chemotherapy.

4. What does it mean when a brain tumor is in remission?

When a brain tumor is in remission, the tumor cells have entered a phase in which they generally have stopped growing or multiplying. This may or may not mean that these tumor cells will never grow again. After treatment, in some cases, the tumor has actually been destroyed and the area it occupied in the brain is composed only of dead tissue. In other circumstances, tumor cells remain alive, or viable, and retain the capacity to grow actively again, meaning that the tumor may recur at a later date.

5. What are recurrent tumors?

Tumor recurrence is a term that describes any of three conditions.
1. A recurrent tumor may be a tumor that still persists after primary treatment - a tumor that does not respond to surgery, radiation therapy, or chemotherapy or a combination of these therapies.
2. Alternatively, it may be a tumor that grows back some time after therapy has seemed to destroy it.
3. A new tumor that grows in the same place as the original one is also called a "recurrent" tumor because it is difficult, often impossible, to distinguish its cells from the cells of the original tumor.
Once treated, a brain tumor may remain in remission for many years, or may never recur. Unfortunately, it is not yet possible to predict whether, or when, any particular tumor may recur, which is why lifelong medical monitoring is essential for people treated for a brain tumor, even for a benign lesion.

6. Is a brain tumor cancer?

Some brain tumors are a form of cancer and some are not. The word cancer suggests a tumor that behaves aggressively and in fact, the word malignancy generally means cancer. According to this definition, most anaplastic astrocytomas as well as medulloblastomas are considered cancer, whereas meningiomas and pituitary tumors are not. In practical terms, these working definitions become blurred, however, because a benign tumor growing in the brain stem or spinal cord may cause severe injury or death whereas frequently, medulloblastoma, a form of cancer, can be cured.

7. How is a brain tumor diagnosed?

The most accurate diagnosis of a brain tumor is made with surgery, which permits the neurosurgeon to see the tumor and obtain a specimen for a pathological examination. Diagnostic surgery is not without its risks, however and there are several diagnostic procedures available today that have considerably improved the chances of detecting brain tumors without resorting to surgery. If a patient's symptoms lead the doctor to suspect a tumor, then a neurological examination, computerized tomography (CT) scans, and magnetic resonance (MR) imagings are the first diagnostic tools most often used to determine if more definitive procedures are needed. Other studies, such as X-ray films of the head and skull, an electroencephalogram (EEG) or radioisotopic brain scans, may also be done.

8. How is a brain tumor treated?

Surgery is the chief form of treatment for brain tumors that lie within the membranes covering the brain or in parts of the brain that can be removed without damaging critical neurological functions. Because a tumor will recur if any tumor cells are left behind, the surgeon's goal is to remove the entire tumor whenever possible. Radiation therapy and chemotherapy, in general, are used as secondary or adjuvant treatment for tumors that cannot be cured by surgery alone. Radiosurgery is used as both a primary and an adjunctive therapy for many brain disorders.

9. What will happen to a patient with a brain tumor?

To a large extent, what happens to you from this point forward depends on the type of tumor you have, its location, the area of the brain involved and the forms of therapy you'll have. But each patient is different, and these are not the only factors to be considered. The more you and your family know and understand each aspect of your treatment, the less uncertainty remains about what will happen. The confidence you place in yourself and your medical caretakers makes a tremendous difference. Perhaps most important of all is your outlook toward your condition and treatment and your willingness to believe in the power of healing - to be a survivor.

10. What are the parts of the brain?

The BRAINSTEM
The CEREBELLUM
The FRONTAL LOBE
controls the higher cognitive functions such as judgement and emotions, and motor ability. A tumor located in this area can cause marked mood elevation or loss of initiative. Other symptoms may include hemiplegia, difficulty talking and slowing of movements.

The OPTICAL LOBE is the area of the brain that perceives vision. Tumors in this area can cause loss of vision partially or completely in one eye.

The PARIETAL LOBE is the part of the brain that controls the sensory, perceptual and speech functions. Tumors in this area can produce a decrease in perception of light touch and pressurre. Other symptoms may include impairment of right-left discrimination and visual-spacial orientation of the body.

The TEMPORAL LOBE is the area that contains speech, hearing and emotional changes. Tumors in this area can produce aggresive behavior, difficulty processing or expressing words, and memory disorders.

High Blood Pressure Tips

2010-09-29T15:59:00.004+02:00

Tips to help you control your high blood pressure

Make sure your blood pressure is under 140/90 mm Hg

If your systolic pressure is over 140, ask your doctor what you can do to lower it.Ask a Doctor Now.

If you have diabetes it is even more important to maintain your blood pressure at an acceptable level, which reduces long-term complications associated with this disease process. You should be receiving regular monitoring and advice from you GP/diabetic practitioner.

Aim for a healthy weight
Ideally try not to gain extra weight in the first place, if you have then try to lose the weight slowly, at about half to one pound a week until you reach a healthy target. This can be easier to achieve if you include exercise as well to burn off those unwanted calories and tone your body as you lose the weight.

If you are overweight or obese, carrying this extra weight increases your risk of high blood pressure because the heart has to work very hard to keep blood circulating efficiently.

Exercise - be active every day!
Even the simplest exercise will help; you can walk, dance, use the stairs, play sports, or do any activity you enjoy. For instance: get off the bus one or two stops early; park your car at the other end of the car park and walk; walk or cycle to the corner shop.
Being physically active is one of the most important steps you can take to prevent or control high blood pressure and will help you keep your weight down. It will also help to reduce your risk of heart disease and enhances overall wellbeing. All you need to do is 30 minutes of moderate level activity preferably every day of the week - you can even divide the 30 minutes into shorter 10 minute periods if you are not used to regular exercise.
Exercise does not have to be strenuous; you should start slowly and build up the amount of exercise that you do.
It is not advisable, however, to lift heavy weights or to take on certain strenuous activities if exercise has not been gradually and appropriately introduced. If you are worried that your health could be adversely affected by exercise, i.e. you have a heart complaint; make sure that you are reviewed by your GP.

Look at what you are eating.
Does it contain a lot of sodium?
It is suggested that no more than 2.4 grams of sodium should be consumed per day. Read the labels and be aware of hidden sodium, which is known to increase blood pressure. Try not to add salt to your meals.

Eat more fruit and vegetables
Eating more fiber should help to stop you feeling hungry and less likely to pick at sweets, chocolate and crisps etc.
Stop/reduce smoking - smoking causes the blood to thickenNot only does this make you more at risk of developing a dangerous blood clot but it makes the heart work harder in order to 'push' the blood around the system to provide oxygen and other important components.

Reduce your stress levels
Take time out for yourself each day to do something you like to do without feeling guilty. If there are any problems worrying you try talking them over with a friend, or someone you trust, this is often all that is needed to make you feel better. Also remember if you wear a smile, it will rub off on others. Try it and see!

Watch your alcohol intake
Keep the amount of units you consume to a minimum, as your body works hard to flush it out of your system and this will have an effect on your blood pressure (plus it will increase your weight).
It is recommended that men limit themselves to no more than one or two drinks per day and women should have no more than one drink per day.

Take medication correctly
If you have been prescribed medication from your GP to control your blood pressure, make sure that you take the medication correctly and visit your GP regularly for your blood pressure to be monitored effectively
Ask a Doctor Now.

Bipolar Tips

2010-09-29T15:09:00.000+02:00

Bipolar disorder explained

What is Bipolar Disorder?

Bipolar Disorder is the name used to describe a set of 'mood swing' conditions, the most severe form of which used to be called 'manic depression'.

Bipolar Disorder I is the more severe disorder - with individuals being more likely to experience mania , have longer 'highs', be more likely to have psychotic experiences and be more likely to be hospitalized.
Bipolar Disorder II is less severe, with no psychotic experiences, and with episodes tending to last only hours to a few days.
The high moods are called mania or hypomania and the low mood is called depression.
It is important to note that everyone has mood swings from time to time. It is only when these moods become extreme and interfere with personal and professional life that Bipolar Disorder may be present and medical assessment may be warranted.

Causes of Bipolar Disorder
While we don't yet know exactly what causes Bipolar Disorder, we do know that it appears to have primarily biological underpinnings. However, its onset is often linked to a stressful life event.

And while the causes of Bipolar Disorder are still unknown, there are a number of factors that are believed to play a role, including genetics, brain chemicals, environmental factors and sometimes medical illnesses.
Read about:

Genetics
Brain chemicals
Environmental
Medical illness
Pregnancy
What is the future for someone with Bipolar Disorder?

Genetics

Bipolar Disorder is frequently inherited, with genetic factors accounting for approximately 80% of the cause of the condition.
If one parent has Bipolar Disorder, there is a 10 per cent chance that his or her child will develop the illness. If both parents have Bipolar Disorder the likelihood of their child developing the illness rises to 40 per cent.
However, just because one family member has the illness, it is not necessarily the case that other family members will also develop the illness. Other factors also come into play.

Brain chemicals

A recent theory about the cause of Bipolar Disorder is that it is related to abnormal serotonin chemistry in the brain. Serotonin is one of the neurotransmitters in the brain, and one that strongly affects a person's mood. It is thought that the abnormal serotonin chemistry causes mood swings because of its feedback effect on other brain chemicals. It is unlikely, however, that serotonin is the only neurotransmitter involved.

Environmental

While the onset of Bipolar Disorder may be linked to a stressful life event, it is unlikely that stress itself is a cause of Bipolar Disorder. Notwithstanding this, people who suffer from Bipolar Disorder often find it beneficial to find ways of managing and reducing stress in their lives (as do people without the disorder!).
Again - while not a cause - seasonal factors appear to play a role in the onset of Bipolar Disorder, with onset chance increasing in spring. The rapid increase in hours of bright sunshine is thought to trigger depression and mania by affecting the pineal gland.

Medical illness

Medical illness is not a cause of Bipolar Disorder, but in some instances can cause symptoms that could be confused with mania or hypomania. Some medications and certain illicit stimulant drugs can also cause manic and hypomanic symptoms.

Pregnancy

For women who are genetically or otherwise biologically predisposed to developing Bipolar Disorder, the postnatal period can coincide with a first episode of Bipolar Disorder.

What is the future for someone with Bipolar Disorder?

Like any other medical condition, such as heart disease or diabetes, Bipolar Disorder is an illness that requires careful management.
While there is no known cure for Bipolar Disorder, the good news is that its severity and the frequency of episodes can be reduced or prevented with medication and other supports, such as psychological therapies.
Treatments of Bipolar Disorder
Bipolar Disorder involves episodes of depression and episodes of mania or hypomania. Therefore its management usually involves two parts:

Treating the current episode of mania or depression, and
Preventing the long-term recurrence of mania and depression.

In this section we cover the main treatment approaches for Bipolar Disorder.

Key points about treatments

Bipolar Disorder is an illness which can require long-term treatment.
Everyone is different and therefore the appropriate treatment for a particular individual is a matter for a skilled medical practitioner
Physical treatments are necessary for Bipolar Disorder - psychological approaches by themselves are not sufficient but, alongside drug treatments, serve a valuable complementary role.
With the right medical management people with Bipolar Disorder can achieve stability and live successful lives.
While the great majority of people with Bipolar Disorder will benefit from treatment, it is difficult to know beforehand;
which drug regime will be of most benefit to any particular individual, and
how long it will take to bring the mood swings under control.
Therefore, keeping a Daily Mood Graph can be of fundamental importance to your clinician in assessing the impact of differing treatments on your mood swings over time, and will be of great benefit to you.

key points about Bipolar Disorder

Occasionally people can experience a mixture of both highs and lows at the same time, or switch during the day, giving a mixed picture.

A small number of people with Bipolar Disorder (5%) experience only the 'highs', whereas the vast majority of Bipolar sufferers alternate between highs and lows.

Some people may only have one episode of mania once a decade, while others may have daily mood swings. For each individual the pattern is quite distinct.
People with Bipolar Disorder experience normal moods in between their swings.
Women and men develop Bipolar I Disorder at equal rates while the rate of Bipolar II is somewhat higher in females.
Bipolar Disorder can commence in childhood, but onset is commoner in the teens or early 20s. Some people develop their first episode in mid-to-late adulthood. Many people go for years before it is accurately diagnosed or treated (see How to tell if you have Bipolar Disorder)
Women with Bipolar Disorder have a very high chance of a significant mood disturbance both during pregnancy and in the post-partum period - most commonly in the first four weeks. (Most will have a depressive episode, a significant proportion will have highs, and 10% will have mixed highs and lows.)
With the right treatment, the vast majority of people with Bipolar Disorder are able, to varying extents, to live normal and productive lives.
Some people with Bipolar Disorder can become suicidal. It is very important that talk of suicide be taken seriously and for such people to be treated immediately by a mental health professional or other appropriate person.

FAQ about Bipolar Disorder

1. What is Bipolar Disorder?

2. What are the signs of Bipolar Disorder?

1. What is Bipolar Disorder?

Bipolar Disorder is the name now given to what used to be called manic depression and other related disorders, with milder versions called Bipolar II.

The term describes the exaggerated swings of mood from one extreme to the other that are characteristic of the illness. People with this illness suffer recurrent episodes of high, or elevated, mood (mania or hypomania) and of depression. A very small percentage of sufferers of Bipolar Disorder only experience the 'highs'. Most experience both the highs and the lows.

2. What are the signs of Bipolar Disorder?

Bipolar Disorder can be difficult to diagnose. The chief feature that distinguishes it from depression is the mania , or elevated mood that its sufferers also experience periodically. However, the degree of mania experienced differs from one person to the next.

Mild mania, or hypomania, which is characteristic of Bipolar II Disorder, can go unnoticed for some time by anyone other than the person concerned.

A person experiencing hypomania or mania would usually be in very high spirits, feel terrific, enthusiastic, confident and invincible. However, others have a different experience and instead become irritable and aggressive. The person's mind would be working much faster than usual, with both ideas and speech being more rapid. They tend to require less sleep and may stay up late to do housework or to begin a new project.

However, mania (in particular) affects a person's judgement, so that the person is likely to have unrealistic perspectives and beliefs about their own abilities, and this can cause serious problems for him or her and/or family members. For instance, people may engage in reckless spending sprees, gambling, or in sexual activity they would not normally engage in, without thinking of the consequences.

3. How is Bipolar Disorder treated?

Bipolar Disorder is usually treated with a combination of mood stabilisers and atypical antipsychotics to treat the mania, and antidepressants to treat the depression, with maintenance (aimed at preventing recurrence) usually relying on a mood stabiliser (or sometimes an antidepressant) alone.

Psychological therapies by themselves are ineffective and inappropriate, but can be a useful adjunct to the physical treatment.

4. Will I have to stay on medication forever?

Bipolar Disorder is an illness which usually requires long-term medication. Most people who have had one manic episode will go on to have further illness. Without medication, relapse is likely. Long-term stability is usually a key objective for people with Bipolar Disorder, and correct medication is central to long-term stability.

5. Can Bipolar Disorder be cured?

There is presently no known cure for Bipolar Disorder. However, with the help of skilled medical management, the person with Bipolar Disorder is able to lead a stable and productive life, and may, over time, be able to reduce the level of their medication.

6. What should I do if I'm (or someone close to me is) feeling suicidal?

See the list of emergency contact numbers (and add the numbers of your GP and your local Community Mental Health Service) and keep a copy handy somewhere. Don't hesitate to call one of them if in need of help.

Recognise that having suicidal thoughts is one of the features of depression, and seek help, either from your GP or another mental health professional such as a psychologist or a counsellor. Make sure you tell them you have been having suicidal thoughts.

If you have already received treatment for depression, and you are having suicidal thoughts, contact the person who has been giving you the treatment, or a close friend who you trust, and tell them you are feeling suicidal.

If someone close to you is suicidal or unsafe, talk to them about it and encourage them to seek help. Help the person to develop an action plan, involving him or her and trusted close friends or family members, to keep him or her safe in times of emergency. Take away risks (e.g. remove guns or other dangerous weapons and hold the keys of the car if the depressed person is angry, out of control and wanting to drive off into the night).

7. Where can I get help for Bipolar Disorder?

Bipolar Disorder usually requires diagnosis and treatment by a psychiatrist.

However, if you have not previously sought help for Bipolar Disorder, as a first step, you should see your General Practitioner. He or she will either conduct an assessment of you to find out if you have Bipolar Disorder, or refer you to a psychiatrist who will conduct the assessment.

The psychiatrist will develop a management plan in consultation with you and possibly also your General Practitioner. Depending on the nature of your illness, ongoing management may be done by the psychiatrist, or by your General Practitioner in consultation with your psychiatrist.

If you have recurring episodes of mania, you may need to see a mood disorders specialist.

Ask a Doctor Now.

Bilharzia Tips

2010-09-29T14:28:00.002+02:00

Bilharzia Prevention Tips
The Integration of Schistosomiasis Since 1996, The Carter Center has been working with the national River Blindness Program developing a community distribution network in country to distribute the drug Mectizan® in parts of Nigeria. In 1998 the program began investigating the idea of targeting additional diseases through the same distribution channel, an approach that had never been done before.

Soon after the investigation started lymphatic filariasis was found to be preventable when Mectizan treatment was combined with the drug albendazole. By March 2000, communities in the Plateau and Nasarawa states, endemic for both river blindness and lymphatic filariasis, were being treated with the combined drug therapy. Simultaneously, the Center's groundbreaking approach was discovering that schistosomiasis control could be integrated too. That same year, urinary schistosomiasis was added, and today approximately 300 villages that receive the drug praziquantel also receive albendazole and Mectizan.

Transmission of Schistosomiasis

Schistosoma haematobium (urinary schistosomiasis) and S. mansoni (intestinal schistosomiasis) are microscopic parasites found in standing water.

Children are at greatest risk of becoming infected with this destructive disease because schistosomiasis is easily contracted while bathing or swimming in contaminated water. However, this disease can be transmitted simply through contact with contaminated water while performing daily chores, such as washing laundry, fetching water, and herding animals.

The parasite that causes schistosomiasis lives for years in veins near the bladder or intestines, where it lays thousands of spiny eggs that tear and scar tissues of the intestines, liver, bladder, and lungs. Damage to the urinary tract and intestine causes blood vessels to break creating internal bleeding. The blood resulting from internal bleeding carries the parasite eggs, which then enter the urine and stool.

When infected people, often children, urinate or pass feces in the water, the eggs are immediately released into the community water source. The eggs infect fresh water snails, such as the Bulinus, which than becomes an intermediate host. Inside the snails, the parasites develop and multiply; they are now able to re-enter the skin infecting new victims and continuing the cycle.

Community Impact

In the village of Kwa'al, Nigeria, like most rural communities in the developing world, there is only one water source. There are no alternatives if the source becomes contaminated. It is not a choice between the contaminated water and clean water for bathing, laundry, playing, or drinking; it is a choice between water contaminated with schistosomiasis and no water at all.

The blood in urine and stools is only one symptom of the damage caused by the infection. Victims of schistosomiasis suffer from stunted growth and poor school performance, as well as bladder dysfunction, kidney disease, and premature death. There is also increasing evidence of high rates of bladder cancer due to repeated schistosomiasis infections. The WHO states that bladder cancer is 32 times more prevalent in some areas of Africa than in the United States. Fatality usually occurs as a result of bladder cancer or intestinal bleeding.

Sadly, school-aged children shoulder the majority of schistosomiasis' consequences, especially poor growth and impaired cognitive function. For communities already burdened by poverty and ravaged by scourges such as malaria and HIV/AIDS, schistosomiasis is especially devastating.

The Integration of Schistosomiasis

Since 1996, The Carter Center has been working with the national River Blindness Program developing a community distribution network in country to distribute the drug Mectizan® in parts of Nigeria. In 1998 the program began investigating the idea of targeting additional diseases through the same distribution channel, an approach that had never been done before.

Strategies Against Schistosomiasis

Although schistosomiasis is not eradicable, the disease can be prevented and transmission controlled with a single, annual dose of praziquantel. Community health workers conduct rapid assessments to determine the prevalence of schistosomiasis in a given village.

A dipstick is used to detect the presence of blood in the urine of children and the proportion of infected children in a village determines the treatment plan for that community.

Nigeria's Schistosomiasis Control Program, in partnership with The Carter Center, began in 1999 in two Nigeria states, Nasarawa and Plateau, expanding to Delta state in 2004. Since 1999, more than 70,000 treatments have been distributed to nearly 400 villages in the three states. Although this success is remarkable, more than 6 million praziquantel tablets are still needed every year to treat those in just two of the states; the need for Delta state is unknown as the area is still being evaluated. Unlike Mectizan, used to fight river blindness, and albendazole, one of two drugs used to fight lymphatic filariasis, no company donates praziquantel, so the Center's distribution is limited to the drugs it can afford to purchase.

Furthermore, there is a limited supply of praziquantel; only 89 million tablets are made when there is a need of 423 million. Nigeria needs more than any other country; approximately 43 million tablets. Not everyone who needs the drug can get it, which is yet another harsh reality for some of the most poverty stricken areas of the world. To ration the limited supply, the program follows the WHO distribution guidelines:

When a village reports more than 50 percent of children have blood in their urine, only then does everyone get treatment.
When 20-50 percent of children have bloody urine, only the children get treated.
When less than 20 percent of children have symptoms, no one in the village gets pills.

This is a tragic situation, but there is hope. Studies of those treated show that, within six months of receiving praziquantel, up to 90 percent of the damage due to infection can be reversed. In the past, praziquantel has been used successfully to treat millions of people at risk for or infected with schistosomiasis in Brazil, Egypt, and China.

With success in these two Nigerian states, when sufficient funds are secured, the next step is to help extend the Schistosomiasis Control Program to all of Nigeria. The Carter Center hopes the hard work and success of its partners in Nigeria will kick start a nation-wide initiative to address the quiet plague of schistosomiasis.

Schistosomiasis (Bilharzia) Control and Prevention:

Nigeria is the most schistosomiasis-endemic country in Africa and among the most highly effected in the world. Yet until the Nigeria Ministry of Health and The Carter Center launched the schistosomiasis program in 1999, no one had been effectively addressing the disease in Nigeria.

Building on the existing community-based approach and drug distribution systems used in the river blindness and lymphatic filariasis programs in Nigeria, the Schistosomiasis Control Program was founded. Since 1999, the Center has been helping the state ministries of health distribute the drug praziquantel and provide health education to prevent the disease in villages in two Nigeria states, Nasarawa and Plateau. In 2004, the Center expanded its work to include the Delta state.

Preliminary surveys conducted in 1999 identified alarming needs: 1-in-5 school-aged children in Nigeria had blood in their urine and more than 90 percent of the tested villages were in need of treatment with praziquantel-because everyone, not just children, in the village should receive praziquantel

Beriberi Tips

2010-09-29T14:15:00.001+02:00

Beriberi Info
What is Beriberi? Beriberi is a vitamin deficiency disease caused by inadequate bodily stores of thiamine (vitamin B-1). It can damage the heart and nervous system.

Alternative Names:

Thiamine deficiency; Vitamin B1 deficiency

Causes, incidence, and risk factors:

There are two major manifestations of thiamine deficiency: cardiovascular disease (wet beriberi) and nervous system disease ("dry beriberi" and Wernicke-Korsakoff syndrome). Dry beriberi is somewhat of a misnomer because both types are most often caused by excessive alcohol consumption.

Symptoms of dry beriberi include pain, tingling, or loss of sensation in hands and feet (peripheral neuropathy), muscle wasting with loss of function or paralysis of the lower extremities, and potentially brain damage and death.

Wet beriberi is characterized by swelling (edema), increased heart rate (tachycardia), lung congestion, and enlarged heart related to congestive heart failure.

Beriberi has become very rare in the United States because most foods are now vitamin-enriched, which means that a normal diet contains adequate amounts of thiamine.

As a result, beriberi now occurs primarily in patients who abuse alcohol, because drinking heavily can lead to malnutrition and poor absorption and storage of thiamine. This is the cause of Wernicke-Korsakoff syndrome, which is alcohol-related brain damage affecting language and thinking.

Beriberi can also occur in breast-fed infants when the mother has an inadequate intake of thiamine. It can also affect infants fed unusual formulas with inadequate thiamine supplements.

Others at risk for beriberi include patients undergoing dialysis, patients receiving high doses of diuretics, and people in developing countries with limited diets who consume milled rice.

Nervous system symptoms are caused by degeneration of the nerve fibers and their insulation (myelin sheath). Heart failure is the most common cause of death in people with beriberi.

Beriberi Symptoms

Complaints of symmetric tingling or burning pain in the extremities
Numbness in the extremities
Vomiting
Strange eye movements (nystagmus)

Later Neurologic Symptoms (Wernicke's encephalopathy):

Mental confusion/speech difficulties
Difficulty walking (ataxia)
Coma
Death

If a patient with Wernicke's encephalopathy receives thiamine replacement, language problems, unusual eye movements, and walking difficulties may subside, but may be replaced by Korsakoff's syndrome, which includes retrograde amnesia (memory loss), impaired ability to learn, and confabulation (making up stories to explain behavior that have little relation to reality).

Heart Failure Symptoms:

Shortness of breath with exertion (dyspnea)
Symmetric swelling of the lower legs
Awakening at night short of breath (paroxysmal nocturnal dyspnea).

Adequate intake of thiamine will prevent beriberi. Nursing mothers should insure that their diet is adequate in all vitamins and be sure that infant formulas contain thiamine. People who drink heavily should try to cut down or quit and supplement their diets with B-vitamins to ensure appropriate intake of thiamine.

Treatment:

Administration of thiamine can reverse the deficiency, and symptoms should improve rapidly. However, with severe deficiency, some symptoms may be irreversible. Patients should also receive therapeutic doses of other water-soluble vitamins.

Expectations (prognosis):

Cardiac damage is usually reversible and is not permanent. Full recovery is expected after treatment. Untreated, beriberi is often fatal.

If acute heart failure has already occurred, the outlook is poor.
Nervous system damage is also reversible, if caught early. If not, some symptoms (such as memory loss) may not be completely recovered with treatment.

Complications:

Psychosis
Coma
Congestive heart failure
Death

Ask a Doctor Now.

Bedwetting Tips

2010-09-29T14:04:00.000+02:00

Bedwetting Info
Most Bed-wetters Inherited Small BladdersBed-wetting, or Enuresis, is the involuntary passage of urine during sleep. "It is considered normal until a child is at least six years of age," explains Kent Amstutz, D.O., a pediatrician with Boys Town Pediatrics.

An inherited small bladder is the cause of bed-wetting for most children. "Their bladder is so small that it cannot hold the urine their bodies produce throughout the night," says Dr. Amstutz. "Although their kidneys are normal, they sleep so deeply that the signal of a full bladder does not wake them."

Enuresis is not caused by emotional problems, says Dr. Amstutz, however they can be created if the situation is mishandled. "Bed-wetting causes guilt and embarrassment in most children. Parents should create a supportive environment, encouraging their child to overcome his or her problem." suggests Amstutz. "Punishment or pressure to stop having accidents in the night often creates secondary emotional problems and causes the child to take even longer to overcome bed-wetting."

Even without treatment, most children will overcome bed-wetting. However, Dr. Amstutz suggests trying these simple home care treatments:

Encourage your child to get up during the night. At bedtime, be sure to gently remind your child to get up when he or she has to urinate.
Empty the bladder before bedtime. Remind your child to use the restroom before getting into bed at night.
Limit fluid before bedtime. Discourage your child from drinking excessive amounts during the two hours before bedtime and avoid drinks with caffeine.
Improve access to the bathroom. Put a nightlight in the hallway and bathroom or place a portable toilet in your child's bedroom.
Parent-awakening. Wake your child up at a specific time each night, such as your own bedtime.

Once a child reaches eight years of age, he or she may need additional assistance awakening at night. "A bed-wetting alarm is one technique that teaches a child to awaken when he or she needs to urinate," explains Dr. Amstutz. "A less expensive option is to teach your child to use an alarm clock to self-awaken three to four hours after going to bed. Medication can also be used to temporarily stop bed-wetting for special occasions such as slumber parties or other overnights."

Call your child's physician if urination causes pain or burning, the stream of urine is weak, your child wets during the daytime, bedwetting is a new problem, or your child is over 12 years old.

Ask a Doctor Now.

Ask a Doctor Online Now

2010-09-27T15:56:00.003+02:00

Healthy Kids Nutrition Game

2010-09-27T02:51:00.000+02:00

Back Pain Tips

2010-09-26T17:40:00.003+02:00

What makes up the spine?The lower spine consists of five bones, called the lumbar vertebrae. The vertebrae support the body and protect the spinal core and nerves. Between each vertebra is a disk filled with a jelly-like material. The disks act as shock absorbers for the vertebrae. Along the spine are many nerves. Injury to these nerves can cause pain.

What can cause low back injuries?Many things can cause low back injuries - muscle strain or spasm, sprains of ligaments (which attach bone to bone), joint problems or a "slipped disk." The most common cause of low back pain is using your back muscles in activities you're not used to, like lifting heavy furniture, playing basketball or doing yard work.
A slipped disk happens when the disk between the bones bulges and presses on nerves. This is often caused by twisting while lifting. But many people won't know what caused their slipped disk.
Back pain can also follow normal activities such as bending over the sink to brush your teeth. Back pain may be made worse by stress, long periods of inactivity or being in an unusual position for a long time.
Call your doctor if Pain goes down your leg below your knee.
Your leg, foot, groin or rectal area feels numb. You have fever, nausea or vomiting, stomach-ache, weakness, or sweating. You lose control over going to the bathroom. Your pain was caused by an injury. Your pain is so intense you can't move around. Your pain doesn't seem to be getting better after two to three weeks. What should I do when I've hurt my lower back?The best position for relief when your back hurts is to lie on your back on the floor with pillows under your knees, with your hips and knees bent and your feet on a chair, or just with your hips and knees bent. This takes the pressure and weight off your back.
If you're resting a hurt back, you may need a few days of this sort of rest. Resting longer than this can cause your muscles to weaken, which can slow down your recovery. Even if it hurts, walk around for a few minutes every few hours.
If you're resting a tired back, stay in one of these positions for five to 25 minutes at a time.
Heating pads can help to relax painful muscle spasms. Use heat for 20 to 30 minutes at a time. Ice packs and massages may also give relief. Medicines that reduce pain or swelling include ASA (some examples are Aspirin, Entrophen), ibuprofen (some examples are Advil, Medipren, Motrin IB) and acetaminophen (some examples are Panadol, Tylenol).
Is there relief for ongoing back problems?Treatment of ongoing back problems must be directed at the cause. This may mean losing weight (because being overweight can make back pain worse), getting your muscles in better shape, and improving your posture when you're standing, sitting and sleeping. Most people feel much better within a few weeks. Serious problems are rare.
Tips for preventing back strainDon't lift by bending over. Lift an object by bending your hips and knees and then squatting to pick up the object. Keep your back straight and hold the object close to your body. Avoid twisting your body while lifting. Push rather than pull when you must move heavy objects. If you must sit at your desk or at the wheel of a car or truck for long hours, break up the time with stops to stretch. Think about your posture. Wear flat shoes or shoes with low heels 2.5 cm (1 inch) or lower. What's the best position for standing?If you must stand for long periods, rest one foot on a low stool to relieve pressure on you lower back. Every five to 15 minutes, switch the foot you're resting on the stool. Move around as much as you can. Maintain good posture: keep your ears, shoulders and hips in a straight line, with your head up and your stomach pulled in.
What's the best way to sit?Sitting puts more pressure on your back than any other position, even more than standing. To reduce this pressure, sit in chairs with straight backs or low-back support. Keep your knees a little higher than your hips. Adjust the seat or use a low stool to prop your feet on.
Turn by moving your whole body rather than by twisting at your waist. Use a swivel chair to help reduce twisting.
When driving, sit straight and move the seat forward. This helps you not lean forward to reach the controls. You may want to put a small pillow or rolled towel behind your lower back if you must drive or sit a long time.
What's the best position for sleeping?The best way to sleep to reduce the pressure on your back is on your side with your knees bent. You may put a pillow under your head to support your neck. You may also put a pillow between your knees.
If you sleep on your back, put pillows under your knees and a small pillow under you lower back. Don't sleep on your stomach unless you put a pillow under your hips.
Use a firm mattress. If your mattress is too soft, use a board of 1.3 cm (1/2 inch) plywood under the mattress to add support.
What exercises can I do to help my back?Some specific exercises can help your back. One is to gently stretch your back muscles. Lie on your back with your knees bent and slowly raise your left knee to your chest. Press your lower back against the floor. Hold for five seconds. Relax and repeat the exercise with your right knee. Do 10 of these exercises for each leg, switching legs.
While some exercises are specific for your back, it's also important to stay active in general. Bicycling or walking is good overall exercises to improve your fitness.

Ask a Doctor Now.

AIDS Tips

2010-09-26T17:35:00.001+02:00

AIDS Tips for TeensAIDS is a condition caused by a virus called HIV that attacks a person's immune system, making it defenseless against diseases and infections. The full medical name for AIDS is Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome and the virus is called the Human Immunodeficiency Virus.

HIV is transmitted through all forms of unprotected sexual intercourse, i.e., vaginal, anal or oral sex without the proper use of a latex condom, and through sharing needles or syringes with someone who is infected with HIV. Because HIV can "hide" in the body for 10 years or more before it shows up as AIDS, you must never assume that just because you cannot "see" it in a person, it is not there!
Ask a Doctor Now.

Asthma Tips

2010-09-26T17:29:00.001+02:00

Asthma Information

Caffeine and Asthma
If you feel an asthma attack coming on and don't have your inhaler handy, try a couple cups of coffee, tea, hot chocolate, or chocolate bars. The caffeine will help open your airways.

Controlling Your Asthma
If you find yourself using your quick-relief inhaler to stop an asthma attack more than twice a week, it may be time for a different medication. In fact, if you have to refill your inhaler more than two times a year or are awakened by asthma symptoms two nights or more per week, you also probably need a change.

Correct Inhaler Use
If you use an inhaler to treat your asthma, remember that it's not a breath freshener. You must deeply inhale the medication into your lungs and hold it for three to five seconds before exhaling slowly.

NSAIDs, Aspirin and Asthma
Asthma sufferers should use the non-aspirin pain reliever acetaminophen (Tylenol) because the use of aspirin and NSAIDs (Non-Steroidal Anti-Inflammatory Drugs), such as Advil/Motrin (ibuprofen) and Aleve (naproxen sodium), have the tendency to worsen asthma.
Ask a Doctor Now.

Asthma is characterized by coughing, chest tightness, shortness of breath and wheezing. Asthma symptoms can be triggered by several factors, including: allergens or irritants; viral or sinus infections; exercise; reflux disease (stomach acid flowing back up the esophagus); medications or foods; and emotional anxiety.
Ask a Doctor Now.

Arthritis Tips

2010-09-26T16:30:00.002+02:00

Arthritis Info
Arthritis ('arth' meaning joint, 'itis' meaning inflammation) isn't a one-note story or even a few variations on a single theme; it actually consists of more than 100 different conditions.

These can be anything from relatively mild forms of tendinitis (as in 'tennis elbow') and bursitis to crippling systemic forms, such as rheumatoid arthritis. There are pain syndromes like fibromyalgia and arthritis-related disorders, such as systemic lupus erythematosus, that involve every part of the body. There are forms of the disease, such as gout that almost nobody connects with arthritis and there are other conditions - like osteoarthritis, the misnamed 'wear and tear' arthritis - that a good many people think is the only form of the disease.

True, many older people do have arthritis,
but it's not just a disease of the old. Some forms of arthritis affect children still in diapers, while thousands of people are stricken in the prime of their lives. The common denominator for all these conditions is joint and musculoskeletal pain, which is why they are grouped together as 'arthritis.' Often that pain is a result of inflammation of the joint lining.

Inflammation is involved in many forms of arthritis. It is the body's natural response to injury. The warning signs that inflammation presents are redness, swelling, heat and pain. These are the same kinds of reaction the body has to a sliver in the hand, for example. When a joint becomes inflamed, it may get any or all of these symptoms. This can prevent the normal use of the joint and therefore it can cause the loss of function of that joint.

Anatomy of a Joint
There are more than 100 joints connecting the body's 206 bones. Most of the major bone connections in the body are joints designed to allow a broad range of motion. There are different kinds for different functions: ball-and-socket (hips and shoulders), saddle joints (which connect thumb to hand), hinge joints (fingers and knees) or pivot joints (wrists).

Tied together by ligaments, the bones of joints are capped with a smooth substance called cartilage. This tough elastic material acts as a shock absorber and allows the bone ends to glide smoothly across each other. If the cartilage is destroyed (as in osteoarthritis), the bones of a joint can grind against each other causing pain, loss of mobility, deformity and dysfunction.

Between the bones is a joint cavity, which gives the bones room to move. The joint space between two bones is enclosed by a capsule that's flexible, yet strong enough to protect the joint against dislocation. The inner lining of this capsule, the synovium, produces a thick fluid that lubricates and nourishes the joint. In many forms of arthritis, the synovium becomes inflamed and thickened, producing extra fluid which contains inflammatory cells. The inflamed synovium and fluid can damage the cartilage and underlying bone.

No one knows what causes arthritis, though scientists have uncovered a host of clues. Something can be done to manage most forms of arthritis, but it's very important that a correct diagnosis is established early. Most therapies work best when started early in the disease process. You can read more specific information under Types of Arthritis
Ask a Doctor Now.

Tip of the day

2010-09-26T15:24:00.000+02:00

Healthy Tips-Parents' Nutrition Scoop-Healthy Kidsgreat free widgetsWidgetboxMore info

Anxiety Prevention Tips

2010-09-26T14:47:00.001+02:00

Everybody knows what it's like to feel anxious " the butterflies in your stomach before a first date, the tension you feel when your boss is angry, the way your heart pounds if you're in danger. Anxiety rouses you to action. It gears you up to face a threatening situation. It makes you study harder for that exam, and keeps you on your toes when you're making a speech. In general, it helps you cope.

Anxiety Info

But if you have an anxiety disorder, this normally helpful emotion can do just the opposite it can keep you from coping and can disrupt your daily life. Anxiety disorders aren't just a case of "nerves." They are illnesses, often related to the biological makeup and life experiences of the individual, and they frequently run in families. There are several types of anxiety disorders, each with its own distinct features.

An anxiety disorder may make you feel anxious most of the time, without any apparent reason. Or the anxious feelings may be so uncomfortable that to avoid them you may stop some everyday activities. Or you may have occasional bouts of anxiety so intense they terrify and immobilize you.

Anxiety disorders are the most common of all the mental disorders. At the National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH), the Federal agency that conducts and supports research related to mental disorders, mental health, and the brain, scientists are learning more and more about the nature of anxiety disorders, their causes, and how to alleviate them. NIMH also conducts educational outreach activities about anxiety disorders and other mental illnesses.
Many people misunderstand these disorders and think individuals should be able to overcome the symptoms by sheer willpower. Wishing the symptoms away does not work - but there are treatments that can help. These pages are meant to help you understand these conditions, describe their treatments, and explain the role of research in conquering anxiety and other mental disorders.
Ask a Doctor Now.

Allergy Prevention Tips

2010-09-26T14:38:00.001+02:00

Air Conditioning and Allergies
To help alleviate problems with pollen, molds and dust mites, air condition your house and car and, if possible, add an air cleaner to your central air conditioner.

Anaphylactic Shock
Anaphylactic shock, the most severe allergic reaction, is most commonly associated with bee or fire ant stings. If welts (hives) erupt following a sting, this is a warning flag to seek prompt medical attention.
Attic Fans
Don't use your attic fan during allergy season. The fan sucks pollen into the house.

Avoid Dyes
Avoid dyes, especially the ones in toilet paper. Use white to wipe.

Bedding and Dust Mites
If dust mites give you trouble, seal your mattress, box springs and pillows in allergy-resistant plastic covers available at most discount stores.

Carpeting Causes Allergy Problems
Allergy experts recommend you dump the carpeting and use throw rugs instead. Since most people enjoy a carpeted home, try the new allergy care carpet treatments now available.

Cheap Fungicide
Clean humid areas, such as the bathroom and basement, with a fungicide (mold-killer). A cheap and effective one is bleach. Use a solution of 3/4 cup bleach to one gallon of water, let stand 5 minutes and rinse.

Choose Antiperspirants Carefully
Aluminum chloride, aluminum sulfate and zirconium chlorohydrate in antiperspirants often cause dermatitis, especially after shaving. Try to choose antiperspirants that contain the anti-irritants allantoinate, zinc oxide, magnesium oxide, aluminum hydroxide, or triethanolamine.

Cold Compresses for Allergy Relief
Are your allergy eyes giving you fit? Try a cold compress for 15-20 minutes. Wet a washcloth with cold water and place over your eyes.

Common Allergens and Allergy Symptoms
A listing of common allergens: pollen, mold spores, dust mites, animal dander, feathers, foods, medications, and insect stings. Common allergy symptoms: watery, itchy eyes, sneezing, and a constant runny nose.

Common Pollens
The most common pollens causing allergies include: tree pollens (April - May), grasses (June - July) and ragweed (August - October).

Dandruff and Shampoo Dyes
Dandruff sufferers may be allergic to the dyes in the shampoo they use. Even dandruff remedy shampoos often contain dyes.

Decongestants and Blood Pressure
If you are hypertensive, over-the-counter decongestants are a big no-no. Decongestants raise blood pressure and can lead to heart attack or stroke.

Dehumidifier and Allergies
Keep the humidity in your home below 45%. To measure the humidity level, buy an inexpensive hygrometer available at many discount stores.

Driving and Antihistamines
Antihistamines often cause drowsiness and should not be taken if driving or operating machinery.

Drug Treatment for Allergies
The over-the-counter antihistamine diphenhydramine (Benadryl) works well for allergy treatment and has few drug interactions. Be sure to read the label for proper dosage, side effects, etc. and check with your doctor if you have any questions.

Face Masks
Wear a face mask when doing chores that are most likely to expose you to allergens like vacuuming and gardening. You can buy face masks at a hardware store.

Fall Allergies
Even though fall temperatures are mild, keep windows closed and use air conditioning to reduce allergy problems. Air conditioning filters out pollen and keeps humidity low, which keeps indoor mold down.

Hay Fever vs. Sinusitis
Allergic rhinitis (hay fever) is caused by allergies and is often characterized by a runny nose, sneezing and congestion, and itchy eyes, nose, throat and inner ears. Non-allergic rhinitis (sinusitis) is characterized by a swollen, inflamed nasal lining and a stuffy nose. It may be triggered by irritants such as smoke, changes in barometric pressure or temperature, or overuse of over-the-counter decongestant nasal sprays.

Hidden Sources of Peanuts
Hidden peanut sources may include:
Artificial nuts can be peanuts that have been deflavored and reflavored with a nut, such as pecan or walnut. Mandelonas are peanuts soaked in almond flavoring.
Arachis oil is peanut oil.
It is advised that peanut-allergic patients avoid chocolate candies unless they are absolutely certain there is no risk of cross-contact during manufacturing procedures.
African, Chinese, Indonesian, Mexican, Thai, and Vietnamese dishes often contain peanuts, or are contaminated with peanuts during preparation of these types of meals. Additionally, foods sold in bakeries and ice cream shops are often in contact with peanuts. It is recommended that peanut-allergic individuals avoid these types of foods and restaurants.
Many brands of sunflower seeds are produced on equipment shared with peanuts.

Laundry Allergies
If you have severe allergies to laundry products, try using baking soda to wash your clothing and linens.

Mites and Mattress Pads
Wash your mattress pads weekly in hot water to kill dust mites.

Nasal Sprays
Don't be tempted to treat an allergy with an over-the-counter decongestant nasal spray for more than three days. After a few days of use you may get a "rebound" effect, and your nose may become even more congested than before. These drugs are more useful for short-term use to relieve nasal congestion associated with a cold.

No Open Windows
If you're an allergy sufferer do not ride in a vehicle with the windows down or vents wide open. It will worsen your allergies 200 percent. The same goes for your home. Invest in an air conditioner.

One Room Sanctuary
If central air conditioning isn't an option for you, make your bedroom your sanctuary. Install a window air conditioner, properly care for your bedding and keep the door closed at all times.

Pets, Bedrooms and Allergies
Pet dander is a common allergen, especially cat dander. To ease the suffering that Fido or Fluffy may cause you, ban them from your bedroom at all times.

Preventing a More Severe Peanut Allergy Reaction
In one of seven studies published in the Journal of Allergy and Clinical Immunology, researchers say liquid charcoal, which is often used when people ingest poison to block absorption, can also absorb peanuts.
"After you've eaten the peanut and you have an allergic reaction, you still have peanut in your stomach," explained Dr. Donald Leung, editor of the journal. "And so rather than allow further peanut to be absorbed and have an even more severe reaction ... drinking the charcoal will prevent the further triggering of increased symptoms."
Leung advised that parents of young children with the allergy keep liquid charcoal -- available in pharmacies -- in the home, in case of accidental ingestion.

Ragweed
Problems with ragweed, the most common weed pollen, usually start in the middle of August and continue until the frost begins. Interestingly, some regions are less affected than others: The West coast does not have any ragweed.

Synthetic Pillows
Dust mites like synthetic pillows as much as down or foam ones, but synthetic pillows have the major advantage of being washable in hot water which kills the mites.

Tree Allergies
Trees that can cause seasonal allergy symptoms include: maple, ash, oak, elm, birch and cedar. When they pollinate depends on the area in which you live.

Ask a Doctor Now.

Health Tips

2010-09-26T14:29:00.002+02:00

These Health tips and tricks can help you maintain your health, speed up your morning routine, or pamper yourself in new ways.