How to get long term health benefit from Asthma?

March 2, 2010

Asthma is a chronic condition which is controllable and treatable but isn’t curable. Sufferers often describe their asthmatic attack as a metal band squeezing their chest. Traditional model of patient care management doesn’t work for complicated chronic problems like asthma. A more creative way of management is to provide a disease manager or asthma coach who can help children and adults with asthma through their treatment plans.
 
Millions of Americans suffer from Asthma. Unfortunately, both children and adults don’t get the right treatment at the right time. Asthma coaches are the best option and most of them are employed by insurance companies and health plan agencies to help decrease their costs. An asthma coach regularly reviews a patient’s history to ensure right medications are prescribed and given. They coordinate with the doctor for follow ups and stay in touch with patient’s families to monitor the progress.
 
If you are an asthma sufferer, seek long term health benefits by availing help from an asthma coach now. An asthma coach is your ultimate guide to a healthy and normal life.

Recovery process of osteoporosis patients post hip fracture surgery

February 9, 2010

Osteoporosis is a continuous but slow degradation of bone mass density, affecting millions of individuals worldwide. Later stage progression of the disease often causes bone fractures and even death. The fractures commonly occur in spine, wrist or hip, which can be treated only with surgery and that too, with limited success.

A study conducted in 2000 by the Journal of American Geriatrics Society concluded that individuals suffering from osteoporosis related fracture had 20% chance of dying in the first year. Post-hip surgery, osteoporosis patients need to undertake several precautions based on the surgeons’ preference, surgical techniques adopted and their overall health. Many patients are advised to avoid activities that put a strain on the surgical area.

Post surgery, patients can use crotches. The amount of weight they can bear would depend upon the type of procedure. For procedures using metal plates and pins, the surgeon will recommend only toe touch weight-bearing, meaning no weight bearing on the side where surgery was conducted. Exercises are allowed only on surgeon’s instructions, again, depending on the surgical procedure and the individual’s overall health. Post-discharge, the patient undergoes outpatient therapy followed by evaluation at home.

What is a Yeast Infection and alternative treatment

February 3, 2010

The first phase of yeast infection starts mostly with digestive problems like gas, flatulence and bloating. The symptoms occur during the conversion of the yeast into the fungal form. Candida symptoms can change from superficial infections to chronic skin infections like psoriasis and ultimately become systemic and affect the entire body including the brain.

The health of the immune system is another area on which alternative therapies can be used while treating yeast infections. The allopathic doctor who prescribes anti-fungal conventional drugs also insists that you change over to a natural diet and restrict your sugar and carbohydrate intake to the bare minimum. Unless diet is under control, the possibilities of Candida recurring will always remain. The key to inhibiting Candida is cleaning up the main source of the problem - the digestive system. Avoid constipation. Drink lots of water and good amount of fiber diet. It is better to regulate bowel movements the natural way and take antibiotics only when needed. Garlic is a natural anti-fungal herb that also helps with constipation, blood cleansing, and stimulates the immune system.

Your weapon against Candida is your diet and patience. Candida is tenacious and unyielding.

What Are Kidney Stone? What are Their Types?

January 19, 2010

Kidneys are bean shaped organs that process nearly 200 quarts of blood, excreting wastes and extra water through bladder. Kidney stones are solid pieces of materials that are formed out of waste materials in the urine. This mass begins to develop from crystals, getting separated from urine within urinary tract. Though painful, kidney stones don’t cause permanent damage.

There are four types of kidney stones, all of which are treated differently. The most common is formed from calcium. Unused Calcium combines with other waste products and gets excreted through kidneys. The second type - a struvite stone, forms in kidneys after a urinary tract infection episode. These stones contain magnesium and ammonia. Uric acid stones form in those with high protein diet. People with Gout are also likely to develop uric acid stones.

The last type of kidney stone is rather rare. Cystine stones are made out of cystine which is one of the building blocks of muscle, nerves and other body parts. These disorders are hereditary, causing the kidney to excrete excessive amounts of this amino acid. If you suffer from any of the above mentioned symptoms, check with your physician.

Which Diet Is Best – an Alkaline Diet or an Acidic Diet?

January 13, 2010

Modern day lifestyles that are more inclined towards materialistic gains have led to a situation where spirituality, diet and health are ignored at the cost of making it ‘big’ in life. What we fail to realize at times is that comforts and facilities are relevant and pleasurable only if we are in good health and are able to enjoy them.

However, just because the human body is alkaline, it does not mean that all foods that we intake should be alkaline in nature. Good health basically depends upon striking a healthy balance between the acidity and alkalinity produced in our body.

The human body performs best in an internal environment that as a pH level of 7.39. pH refers to power of hydrogen, which is arrived at by calculating the concentration of hydrogen ions in a solution. It is measured on a scale of 0 to 14.
Generally speaking dairy products, meat, seeds, legumes and nuts leave behind an acidic ash. On the other hand, most fruits and vegetables have an alkaline residue. Citrus fruits are generally understood to be acidic in their natural state but turn alkaline once they have been metabolized.
The acidic fruits included plums, prunes and cranberries as the acids it cannot be metabolized by the human body.

Relation between iodine consumption and thyroid ailments

December 17, 2009

the thyroid glad is a small butterfly shaped organ located at the front of the nect just below Adams apple. It controls body’s metabolism and energy production. It requires iodine to manufacture thyroxin and triodothyroine, commodity referred to as T4 and T3. Lack of iodine in the diet halts body’s ability to produce growth related hormones, causing thyroid glad inflammation known as goiter. Minimum sixty mircrograms of iodine are required daily.

iodine utilization process is a bit complicated. It initially converts into free elemental from iodides. which then enters thyroid gland through body’s transport mechanism causing oxidation. The harmones released called as Monoiodothryrosine, contain two iodides which then combine forming active hormones used by body, gets stored in thyroid gland and thereafter get released into the body as required.

The problem occurs whenthe patient develops “Hashimotos Thyroiditis”, caused due to hypothyroidism. On the other hand, increased iodine intake cuases hyperthyroidism. Hence, maintaining a relationship between iodine and thyroid glad is important.

The Top 7 Ways Treat Asthma

December 3, 2009

Asthma management goes beyond medications, peak flow values, medical visits, and understanding triggers. At the most, the doctor might prescribe daily medication and rescue medication to control your episodes and allow you to live an active life.

Here are the top 7 ways to make a positive impact on the treatment of your disease.

1. Keep following your doctor’s recommendations and prescriptions.
2. If your doctor prescribes peak flow values in your asthma management program, graph or record those values. It will help the doctor to follow-up whenever you have an episode.
3. Smoke is a common trigger for asthma. Quit smoking, if possible. Eliminate any source of smoke in your house, e.g.: - firewood, stove etc. Get rid of molds by applying a mild vinegar solution.
4. Prevent dust formation by cleaning your house weekly with vacuum cleaner.
5. In winter, cover your mouth and nose with a scarf so that the air warms itself before reaching your lungs.
6. Stay away from pets as pet dander is another asthma trigger.
7. Be aware of what you eat and drink if you have food allergies.

Symptoms Of Post Traumatic Brain Injury

December 1, 2009

Post traumatic brain injury (TBI) symptoms are classified as mild, moderate or severe depending on the initial injury, treatment and rehabilitation post injury. Mild brain injury symptoms come at a delayed stage, especially when children suffer from mild sporting injuries. They cause long-term effects for affected families. Though not appearing during injury, they develop subsequently, substantially changing an individual’s functioning ability.

Posttraumatic amnesia is another symptom of traumatic brain injury, lasting anywhere from 24 hours to a lifetime. Patients with severe TBI may suffer from permanent posttraumatic amnesia. Other symptoms include headache, loss of consciousness, vomiting, vision, speech and movement problems, confusion, nasal spinal fluid secretion or decreased pupil dilation, caused by swelling of brain within the skull. The more the swelling, the higher is the extent of the trauma.

Delay in treating TBI symptoms cause epidural hematoma. It occurs due to skull fracture where the bleeding occurs between the skull and the brain covering, causing swelling of the brain and a shift in the brain tissue due to continued bleeding. This is a very treatable condition if the patient is quickly transferred to a hospital and physicians are aware of the problem.

What Are The Side Effects Of Tuberculosis Treatments

November 10, 2009

Tuberculosis is caused due to mycobacterium, which lives in highly oxygenated areas, such as lungs, kidneys, brain and liver. Treatment includes medications such as isoniazid, rifampin, ethambutol, and pyrazinamide. Treating tuberculosis needs antibacterial treatment for six to nine months. Side effects of medications include nausea, vomiting, abdominal pain, blurred vision or colorblindness, loss of appetite, yellow coloring of skin or eyes, dark urine, fever, rash or itching, tingling or burning in feet or hands, and tiredness without reason.

Latent tuberculosis treatment involves preventive therapy. Research indicates that four month risampin treatment is effective with improved compliance rate and decreased liver risk. Treatment for active tuberculosis involves different medications administered for initial two months and the other two medications administered for last four to six months. Individuals with above mentioned side effects need to consult their physicians at the earliest.

Individuals with multi-drug-resistant tuberculosis cannot be cured by two major tuberculosis drugs on the market today - isoniazid and rifampin. Even with extended treatment, chances of survival of people with such type of tuberculosis are low.

Signs & Symptoms, Diagnosis And Treatment Of Thyroid Nodules

October 28, 2009

The thyroid gland is a butterfly shaped gland located in the neck, containing lumps, known as nodules filled with either solid or fluid. Sometimes malignant, most remain undiscovered, unless they enlarge and the physician detects it during routine physical examination.

Signs and symptoms of thyroid nodule can be detected only after swelling and include rapid growth, noticeably enlarged lymph nodes, and/or hoarseness or dyspnea. Though the causes of thyroid nodule are unclear, genetics, hypothyroidism or inflammation may play a vital role. Thyroid cysts are either benign (most likely fluid-filled) or malignant (most likely solid). Other form of thyroid nodules includes hyper functioning, inflammatory, multinodular goiter, or thyroid cancer. Certain risk factors such as radiation exposure and thyroid condition predispose a person to thyroid nodules.  Also, women are more prone to thyroid nodules.

Complications arising with thyroid nodules include heart difficulties, thyrotoxic crisis and osteoporosis. Diagnosis is done post physical examination and imaging. Additional diagnostic measures involved include ultrasounds, biopsies, and/or thyroid testing. Treatment is conducted after careful and close observation followed by medications such as hormone suppression therapy, surgery and/or radioactive iodine treatments. Check with your physician for treatment.

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