health information
Archive for April, 2010
Acupuncture for Migraines : Using Acupuncture for Migraines
11 year ago
by admin
in Health Care Services
Work on stagnation of the chi and blood with acupuncture. Learn about using acupuncture to treat migraine headaches in this free TCM video from an acupuncture physician and registered herbalist. Expert: ROBERT LINDE Contact: www. acuherbals. com Bio: Robert Linde has been practicing tai chi for 13 years. As an acupuncturist and registered herbalist, he’s studied herbs since 1975 and practiced traditional Chinese medicine for over 6 years. Filmmaker: Christopher Rokosz
Alzheimers is a Disease That Never Seems to Stop
01 year ago
by admin
in Health Care Services
Alzheimers is a difficult disease for any family to deal with. When I was married over 15 years ago, my Father-In-Law was a joke telling, happy go lucky card playing person. We didnât understand at first what started happening to him. At first, we thought it was just part of getting older. He would forget what he was doing, or where he put the keys or some other odd thing. We didnât realize at the time, that all of us were about to start down a long and difficult road.
Alzheimers disease affects the mind in such a way, that the person (at least in our situation) cannot function in normal situations. In our situation, Dad started living more and more in the past, and less and less in the present. One time, when Dadâs wife was sick and in the hospital, he couldnât remember where she was. âWhere is she?â, Dad would ask. She is at the hospital, we would reply. Five minutes later, we would repeat the same discussion. We would do this over and over.
In our case, as Alzheimers progressed, Dad would stop recognizing us. One time, my husband went to visit and Dad hollered and yelled at the strange man who had come over. Dad even threw a punch when the strange man known as his son came into the home.
Alzheimers is a disease that never seems to stop. As Dadâs condition worsened, he would start wandering off â not knowing where he was. We had to get a door alarm that would sound when the door was opened to keep him from leaving. However, even that didnât work all the time. One time, in winter, Dad wandered off in his P. J. s. We had to call the police to help us find him.
Now Dad has moved to a secure facility that is designed to care for patients with Alzheimers. He seems happy, but it is hard for us, to see his life so drained of what it was and what it could still be if he didnât have Alzheimers disease. I think Alzheimers is a disease that affects the whole family. If we visit, he doesnât know who we are. He doesnât even remember that we were there. He still remembers that he was married, but he doesnât remember to whom he was married to.
What causes Alzheimers? The doctors donât know for sure. Doctorâs know that each patient reacts differently to the disease and the disease progresses differently for each person. There is still no treatment for the disease. For our family, we take comfort knowing that Dad is happy and not in pain, even if he doesnât know us anymore.
Muna wa Wanjiru is a web administrator and has been researching and reporting on Internet Marketing for years. For more information on Alzheimers, visit his site at Alzheimers
Long Qt Syndrome – Causes, Symptoms and Treatment Methods
01 year ago
by admin
in Health Care Services
Long QT syndrome (LQTS) is a disorder of the heart’s electrical system. People with this syndrome are susceptible to an abnormally rapid heart rhythm called “Torsade des pointes. ” Long QT syndrome is characterized by a prolongation of the QT interval on ECG and a propensity to ventricular tachyarrhythmias, which may lead to syncope, cardiac arrest, or sudden death. LQTS is usually inherited as an autosomal dominant trait. In the case of LQT1, which has been mapped to chromosome 11, mutations lead to serious structural defects in the person’s cardiac potassium channels that do not allow proper transmission of the electrical impulses throughout the heart. It is associated with syncope (loss of consciousness) and with sudden death due to ventricular arrhythmias. In the long Q-T syndrome, the above-described Q-T interval is prolonged. Arrhythmias in individuals with LQTS are often associated with exercise or excitement. The cause of sudden cardiac death in individuals with LQTS is ventricular fibrillation. Congenital LQTS is a rare disorder that is usually inherited (passed down through family members).
It usually affects children or young adults. In other cases, LQTS can be caused by certain medicines, or it can be the result of a stroke or some other neurologic disorder. LQTS can lead to an abnormal heart rhythm (arrhythmia); fainting or loss of consciousness (syncope); or even sudden death. Long QT syndrome may explain some rare instances of sudden death in young people where no obvious cardiac heart abnormality is found. People with this syndrome may show prolongation of the Q-T interval during physical exercise, intense emotion (such as fright, anger or pain), or by a startling noise. In LQTS, QT prolongation can lead to polymorphic ventricular tachycardia, or torsade de pointes, which itself may lead to ventricular fibrillation and sudden cardiac death. Individuals with LQTS have a prolongation of the QT interval on the ECG. The Q wave on the ECG corresponds to ventricular depolarization while the T wave corresponds to ventricular repolarization. The QT interval is measured from the Q point to the end of the T wave. People who have LQTS are at risk for syncope and sudden death, often at a young age.
Causes of Long QT syndrome
The common causes and risk factor’s of Long QT syndrome include the following:
LQTS can be caused by certain medicines, or it can be the result of a stroke or some other neurologic disorder.
Heart medications.
Lipid-lowering medications.
Psychotropic medications.
Blood relatives of family members with LQTS.
You also have an increased risk for LQTS if other members of your family have the disorder.
Symptoms of Long QT syndrome
Some sign and symptoms related to Long QT syndrome are as follows:
Abnormal heart rhythms.
Seizures.
Sudden shortness of breath.
Fainting: In people with long QT syndrome, fainting spells (syncope) are caused by the heart temporarily beating in an erratic way.
Sudden death.
Sudden chest pain.
In one type of inherited long Q-T syndrome, the person is also deaf.
Treatment of Long QT syndrome
The common causes and risk factor’s of Long QT syndrome include the following:
There are treatments for long Q-T syndrome, including medications such as beta blockers.
Some people may benefit from an implantable defibrillator.
Propranolol and nadolol are the beta-blockers most frequently used, though atenolol and metoprolol are also prescribed in patients with LQTS.
When LQTS causes uncontrolled ventricular fibrillation, you might need an implantable cardioverter defibrillator (ICD). An ICD is a device that sends an electric shock to your heart to restore a normal heartbeat.
For many people with LQTS, the implantable defibrillator is the best treatment.
Juliet Cohen writes articles for diseases cure and health care information. She also writes articles on healing remedies.
Acupuncture treatment to quit smoking
11 year ago
by admin
in Health Care Services
Alternative ways to kick the habit
Alzheimers Information And Facts
01 year ago
by admin
in Health Care Services
With an estimated 5-million plus Americans alone suffering from Alzheimers disease, there is no denying this condition is a real problem. With no definitive cause or cure, Alzheimers is characterized by its slow, but steady ravaging of a person’s mental capacity.
The symptoms of the disease vary a bit from person to person and also between stages. Very early signs of the disease include very minor forgetfulness, which can be attributed to many other causes, as well. As the disease progresses, there is a greater loss of mental abilities. In its final stages, Alzheimers patients are typically totally dependant on caregivers for everything from feedings to tying their shoes.
The disease operates somewhat like a thief in the night, coming in and gradually stripping away a person’s memories, abilities and even identity. It can take up to 20 years for this condition to fully progress, or as little as five. The condition has great impacts not only on the patient, but also family and friends. Loved ones with this disease are very likely to completely forget their families as this condition progresses.
While research into the causes and potential cures continues, right now there are no solid answers. Some risk factors have been identified, however. They include family history and age. The disease is known to strike mostly those age 65 and over, although much younger cases have been documented. The genetic link seems to be strong, but it must be noted that not all patients with this disease have a family history of it.
Alzheimers itself is characterized by the formation of brain abnormalities over time. These plaques and tangles are caused by certain proteins, but how the tangles and plaques form exactly is still under study.
While in its earlier phases, Alzheimers is often mistaken for “normal” aging. This disease is anything but. Although there is no known cure, there are some medications and therapies that have worked in helping slow the progress of the condition. A proper diagnosis is vital, however.
Sadly, this condition is often the one chosen to label many other forms of dementia. The predominance of the disease is generally why this happens. The reality is that there are many, many other conditions that can have very similar symptoms, especially in the early and middle stages. Many of these other conditions are treatable, reversible and even short-lived. It is extremely important to rule out other potential causes for symptoms before an Alzheimers diagnosis is settled upon.
If the symptoms of Alzheimers are suspected in a loved one, it is very important to seek help. It is also important to look for other potential causes for the behavior. Things such as bad medication combinations, extreme stress, normal aging and even other diseases such as multiple sclerosis, Huntington’s and Parkinson’s can evoke similar symptoms in some cases.
With more than five million cases diagnosed in the United States along, there is no doubt that Alzheimers is a major problem for the aging community. The race is on to an answer to this most troubling of medical conditions. Robbing people of their minds.
For more information on Alzheimers, try visiting http://www. helpwithalzheimers. com – a website that specializes in providing Alzheimers related tips, advice and resources to include information on Alzheimers.
About Dementia, SIDS, Breast Cancer
01 year ago
by admin
in Health Care Services
Dementia is not really a specific disease. It is used to denote a group of symptoms that are cause by disorders of the brain. People with dementia undergo drastic changes in the personalities and cognitive abilities. They may find it difficult even to carry out normal activities like dressing up, eating or brushing their teeth. They may become unable to control their emotions or solve problems. Along with personality changes they may even see things that aren’t there.
Dementia commonly occurs in Alzheimer’s disease. Research shows that dementia is on the rise and the numbers are predicted to go up in future as well.
The best approach to tackle this is by preventative measures. Vascular disease, smoking, high blood pressure and smoking are contributing factors to dementia. These are factors that can be kept under control. Also, staying mentally fit and keeping the mind active either through a regular job or through a hobby could also be a highly useful and effective preventive measure.
SIDS
SIDS or Sudden Infants Death Syndrome denotes the infant suddenly dying in his sleep. The mothers whose babies die of SIDS are seen to have an increased risk of preterm delivery and other complications in later pregnancies. Studies conducted on mothers whose babies died of SIDS revealed that in future the women were more likely to deliver babies who were too small and have an increased chance of preterm delivery as well.
This could explain why some women have SIDS running in the family.
Breast Cancer
The traditional treatment methods of breast cancer painted a grim picture. Complete removal of breasts was often performed which led to severe physical and emotional trauma in patients. But now, the entire breast need not be removed, thanks to a procedure called lumpectomy where only the tumor is removed along with a small amount of surrounding tissue. The rest of the breast is saved and radiation therapy to the remaining breast tissue drastically improves the chances of long term survival. Though US guidelines insist on radiation on the remaining breast tissue after conserving therapy, this is not always done because of the side effects and because so far there has not been any solid evidence that radiation is beneficial.
This is good news indeed for breast cancer patients, they may no longer need to undergo the psychological trauma of having to live with having one or both of the breasts removed.
Alex White is a free lance writer and a health & fitness expert who has been associated with several health care providers across various specialties. Through his articles, Alex White wishes to inform and educate public about Breast Cancer which will benefit those who are looking for resourceful information regarding health.
Ayurveda regimen for winter depression.
01 year ago
by admin
in Health Care Services
Long nights, short days, sweaters, warm clothes and chilly weather make many of us sick and depressed. This depression which surfaces especially in winter is a Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD) and is often called as winter Time Blues or Winter depression. The exact cause for this depression is as of yet unclear. But yet few scientists believe lack of exposure to sunlight as the reason for this disorder.
The symptoms of winter depression are tendency to over eat, craving for carbohydrates and sweets and weight gain.
Had our ancestors observed this change in humans? The answer is yes. Have they recommended any remedies? Yes, they have recommended simple and effective natural remedies to overcome Seasonal Affective Disorder. They have laid down explicit guidelines about diet and lifestyles which have to be followed according to seasons.
The winter season is marked as Hemanta ritu and Sisira ritu in ayurveda. Hemanta ritu starts from mid November and ends in mid January. This falls in southern solstice which is called as visarga kala or dakshinayana in ayurveda. Sisira ritu starts from mid January and lasts till middle of march. Sisira ritu falls in Northern solstice which is called as Aadana kaala or uttaraayana.
The response of human body to this season is very well explained in ayurveda. People will have increased strength and their digestion capacity is increased . This is marked by increased hunger. These symptoms are caused by increased body fire which is supported by vata. Vata inside body increases in winter because of cold and dryness which is prevalent in outer atmosphere.
The winter time depression is noticed mostly in persons who have vata as major constituent in their prakriti or body constitution. The cause for this type of change is longer nights of winter.
Light therapy is recommended by doctors for winter time blues. Exposure to artificial light may cause headache , Irritability ,Eye strain , Inability to sleep and fatigue. Exposure to sunlight and if sunlight is not available sitting near fireplace is the remedy suggested in Ayurveda.
Keeping the home well lit with lights help to reduce the intensity of depression.
Moderate exercise like yoga is another remedy for winter depression. Ayurveda recommends oil massage (abhyanga) to body and head (moordha taila. ). Indulging in sexual act to keep the moods elevated and to keep the body warm is another strongly suggested ayurvedic remedy.
Meeting friends who are kind and understanding boosts morale and brightens up the day. Spending time with friends on the beach helps to expose your body to sunlight and keeps your spirits high.
Relaxing with meditation, massage , light music and laughter helps to great extent.
The following ayurvedic tips help to prevent and reduce the intensity of seasonal disorder of winter, the winter time blues.
Expose yourself to sunlight as much as you can. In absence of sun light sitting near fire place is very helpful.
Massage your body with vata balancing herbal oil (abhyanga). Never forget to apply oil on your head (moordha taila. ).
Then remove the oil by taking hot water bath. A mixture of flours of yellow gram (channa), green gram (moong) , fenu greek seeds (methi) in equal proportion is the best herbal scrub which can be used to remove the oil. This mixture prevents the washing of natural oil from skin.
Consume hot soups.
Use vata balancing foods like wheat, oil, corn, black gram and jaggery.
Tickle your taste buds with sweet, sour and salt tastes
Always use hot water for all daily routine activity.
Use thick blankets and sheets made of cotton, silk and wool.
Always wear foot wear.
Indulge in sexual act.
Spend your leisure time with friends and relatives whom you like.
Dr. SavithaSuri has been an Ayurvedic Practitioner since 1989. After getting a graduation degree in ayurveda (Bachelor of Ayurvedic Medicine and Surgery) in 1988 from University of Mysore, India, she started practising ayurveda . Her articles about ayurveda have been published in news papers and websites. She is a regular health columnist to a regional news paper.
http://www. ayurhelp. com http://www. ayurhelp. com/articles/winterblue. htm
email doctor@ayurhelp. com
Communicating With an Alzheimer’s Patient
01 year ago
by admin
in Health Care Services
As Alzheimerâs progresses, it diminishes a personâs ability to communicate with others and makes it difficult for caregivers to fully understand a loved ones needs. Alzheimerâs patients not only have a difficult time speaking and expressing their thoughts, feelings and emotions, but also have trouble understanding others and tend to confuse words and general conversation. Learning to communicate with a loved one who has Alzheimerâs is essential because it helps to understand their daily needs.
There are several changes that take place in the communication of a person with Alzheimerâs and you may notice that your loved one has difficulty finding the right words, uses words theyâre familiar with over and over and invents words that donât exist to describe familiar objects. They may easily lose their train of thought, have difficulty organizing words in a sentence and begin speaking in their native language.
When they sense theyâre not properly communicating, people with Alzheimerâs tend to become agitated and use curse words and stop speaking all together. Instead of relying on their words, they might begin using gestures and pointing to convey their message. Though the process can be frustrating, for both the Alzheimerâs patient and caregiver, itâs important to familiarize with your loved ones gestures and invented words so theyâre able to communicate more efficiently.
Make sure your loved one always knows that youâre listening and trying to understand what theyâre saying. Be patient and make eye contact, allowing them to finish what theyâre trying to say without prodding, corrections or criticism. If your loved one is having difficulty finding the right word, help them by guessing which word theyâre referring to and if you cannot guess, ask them to make a gesture or point to something that relates to what theyâre trying to say.
Patience is the key to communicating with a loved one suffering from Alzheimerâs and if you focus on their feelings, rather than the facts, you may have a deeper understanding of what theyâre really trying to say. Talking slowly, using short sentences and repeating information can help them to process information easier with less confusion and frustration.
For more information please visit the Alzheimer’s Legal Resource Center at: http://www. alrconline. com
Brian Willie is an Elder Law Attorney in California and Texas, and is a frequent author and speaker on the topic. He is the founder of the Alzheimerâs Legal Resource Center. For more information visit: http://www. alrconline. com
Gingivitis Treat it Naturally With Homeopathy
01 year ago
by admin
in Health Care Services
I love those âitisâ diseases. You know, the ones that place âitisâ after the noun that determines the location of the disease. Since it is means â inflammation ofâ, itâs easy to determine the disease. Tendonitis = inflammation of the tendons. Tonsillitis=inflammation of the tonsils. Hence, gingivitis=inflammation of the gingiva. By breaking down the word into its components, it not only gives us information, but comfort in knowing that the disease is often not as serious as it sounds.
So it is with gingivitis. Generally, it is not a disease of severity in our world today. There are, however, varying degrees of severity. If itâs a mild case, then herbs can be curative.
One of the easiest ways to treat gingivitis is with Myrrh. Yes, the gift given by the king at Jesusâ birth. That in itself has value in my book. Another important ingredient is Propolis, which is found in honey. Both are available in high quality toothpaste purchased from a reputable health food store. Having said this, in my estimation, itâs always better to make what ever you can at home. (No hidden ingredients for the sake of shelf life or economy. ) If you choose this path, both of these herbs can be purchased in tincture form, again from a health food store. Place 10 drops of each in a glass of water, then swish in the mouth 2-3 times per day, more often if the problem is severe.
So, local measures of treatment are important. However, if the gingivitis is of an ulcerative nature with severe erosion and halitosis, the problem needs to be approached with a greater degree of person-specific treatment. Homeopathic remedies have repeated success in treating this bacterial infection without antibiotics. Letâs see what is available.
The key homeopathic remedy for gingivitis is Mercurius sol 30. This is of particular value when the tongue is heavily coated. It should be taken thrice daily for one week . Then one week off and then resumed again the following week. Alternate weeks on and off until results are complete, but no longer than over a period of 2 months. If the tongue isnât coated, then use Nitricum acidum 30 thrice daily in the same fashion.
If improvement is noted, but is not complete, it is best to contact a homeopath for an in person or phone appointment. Homeopathy has the ability to address even the most severe cases of mouth disease. It is safe, gentle, effective and carries no side effects. The next time your mouth speaks of illness, consider homeopathy; the world accepted medicine worth spreading the word about.
Joette Calabrese HMC, CCH, RSHom(Na)
298 Ashland Ave
Buffalo, NY 14222
Homeopathy Website
Visit my Homeopathy Blog
SIRA: Sexuality Aging and Dementia
01 year ago
by admin
in Health Care Services
Dr. Daniel D. Sewell, MD Dept. of Psychiatry, UCSD, discusses sexuality, aging and dementia in this presentation by Stein Institute for Research on Aging. Series: “SIRA (Sam and Rose Stein Institute for Research on Aging)” [11/2001] [Health and Medicine] [Show ID: 5394]
