Posted by admin on March 19, 2011 under Asthma | 
When the child leaves home for the first time to go to a boarding school, he should have a sound grasp of the fundamentals of asthma, should know how and when to use medications, how to seek additional care for acute relapses, i.e., learn all the techniques of self-management. The physician should prepare the child’s medical history and a current list of his medications which will help the school doctors. A special request can also be made to the school housing authorities for non-allergenic bedding, and an air-conditioned dormitory.
Sometimes the first term in the hostel produces a dramatic improvement, mainly because a dust mite or pet-sensitive child leaves a dusty home or where his pets were kept. There are cases where a child has been able to stop all asthma medications in school, but experienced a severe relapse on returning home for a holiday. Re-exposure to the family home infested with dust mites and animals is usually the cause of such relapses.
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Posted by admin on March 12, 2011 under Women's Health |
This story is an ironic one. Thirty-two years old at the time, a mother of three children, and a career woman, Annette believed that a hysterectomy would end the pain of endometriosis and she insisted on surgery, although her doctor did not think it was in order at all. As Annette tells it, her story goes this way:
“I was diagnosed as having endometriosis six years ago, right after the birth of my third child,” she said, “ft finally cleared up the mystery of all the pain I’d been having for years. Then an ovarian cyst ruptured and I had to have emergency surgery. At the same time, I had my uterus suspended and some nerves cut.
“Instead of getting better, things got worse. I had an enlarged uterus and unbelievable pain and heavy bleeding,” she continued. “I felt so bad, I couldn’t have sex, i was barely a mother to my children, and life was hardly livable. I went to two doctors who both said hysterectomy was the only answer. That bothered me a lot. A hysterectomy at twenty-nine years of age? This sounded drastic to me.
“Then I went to another doctor who I heard was opposed to hysterectomy. He put me on Danocrine and 1 took it on and off for three years. It helped somewhat, but the drug made me feel depressed and I still had pain in the one remaining ovary. Then I started to hemorrhage. I wanted a hysterectomy, to be free of the cramps, pain, and bleeding. My doctor wouldn’t do it, so I went back to the first doctor, and he did it a week later.
“I felt about a hundred times better the day after surgery,” Annette said. “And I believe I had no real choice about whether or not to have a hysterectomy, even if one doctor was against it. 1 was in severe pain for years and disabled by bleeding. Keeping my uterus seemed less critical to me than ending these problems—they were just ruining my life. I still have one ovary, so my hormone levels arc normal. Most of all, I feel I wasted time when my husband and children saw me debilitated and in pain for years.
“I think this kind of surgery is a personal matter, I am usually happy about my decision to have a hysterectomy, but there are moments when I am ambivalent about it I have come to understand that this ambivalence is normal. There are times when I feel sad knowing I could never have another child. There are times when f fear that there could be a chance that my remaining ovary will be destroyed by endometriosis and will have to be removed. Then I remember how much pain I was in every day and I know I did the right thing for me.”
Although she worries about endometriosis spreading to this organ, Annette is generally optimistic. She is attuned to the possible symptoms resulting from hysterectomy that might affect her, such as weight gain and diminished sex drive, but thus far, she has not experienced these reactions. (In fact, since she is finally free of persistent pain, she feels an increased sex drive.) One factor in her favor is a functioning ovary that is supplying enough estrogen and progesterone for her needs. Annette is lucky. Her hysterectomy did not put her into a traumatic state of sudden and premature menopause, and she is feeling healthy.
These cases are dissimilar, but both women were suffering from symptoms of endometriosis that were difficult to live with, was hysterectomy really the answer for Annette and Penny? The indicators for hysterectomy in cases of endometriosis are:
• when Danocrine or other hormonal therapies do not work and the woman is suffering from debilitating pain
• when a woman does not respond to laser surgery or conservative surgery
• when more than one endometriosis specialist evaluates the case and reels a hysterectomy will help
Even then, it may or may not be the answer. As I have stated, hysterectomy should be the last resort, and ideally done at an age when a woman has completed childbearing and is closer to natural menopause.
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Posted by admin on February 26, 2011 under Skin Care |
There is absolutely no basis to a common belief that removal of the uterus causes a woman to lose her femininity. An old medical joke describes the hysterectomy as an operation that ‘removes the cradle but leaves the play pen*. This is very true. The organ in which the baby develops is removed. Future pregnancy is no longer possible.
But as long as the ovaries are left and hormonal production continues, normal sensations, feelings of sexuality, desire, climax (orgasm), love and affection, will continue unabated. Of this there is no doubt, ft has absolutely no effect on the woman such as her suddenly ageing, becoming ‘old hat’, developing grey hair, a wrinkled countenance, or anything else that would suddenly indicate advanced years.
She will respond to sexual stimulus in exactly the same way as she did previously. In fact, with all fear of pregnancy gone, and the need to take contraceptive precautions eliminated, many women find sex and intercourse far more rewarding mentally and physically.
Tactile stimulation tends to increase; often sensitivity of the breasts (and nipples) to manual or oral stimulation also increase. Some women may have found this lessened after childbirth, and this could continue; but if a woman has always found sexual arousal and enjoyment from such actions, these will continue and probably at a higher level of excitation.
Sexual excitation will usually stimulate the vulval glands to produce lubricating fluid. Intercourse will continue unimpaired and unhampered. The vaginal tract is usually lengthened following surgery, not shortened as some males fear.
It may be several weeks before normal sexual relationships can be resumed. The internal parts must heal and, as with any wound, this takes time. But gentle intercourse by an understanding partner will usually allow the procedure to return to normal fairly rapidly.
Some women believe that the operation will cause them to become suddenly obese. But this is a myth. Admittedly many women will increase weight after their operation, but a careful check will show that they usually feel better physically and mentally. This is often accompanied by a considerable increase in their daily food intake. The operation, in itself, does not cause a person to increase weight.
Some women tend to make invalids of themselves after their operation. The less physical activity that takes place, the less food burnt up as energy. Again, this is self-inflicted, and is another reason why some women appear to become obese after an operation of this nature. It is totally preventable by sensible habits and commonsense eating programmes. The more starch foods that are eaten (represented by sugar and refined flour in all forms), the greater are the risks of developing obesity. This applies to everyone, men and women and children, irrespective of age, maritial status or operational status. Well worth remembering!
In some older women where it was advisable to remove the ovaries as well as the uterus, doctors often back this up by the use of artificial oral hormones for a certain length of lime. This will help
reduce the risk of menopausal symptoms from flaring up. Hot flushes and sweats, a feeling of suffocation, and the other symptoms mentioned in the chapter on the change of life, all may be averted by judicious use of medication. This must be taken under a doctor’s regular supervision.
Women from whom the uterus only has been removed will not experience change of life symptoms, as ovarian hormone will still continue to be produced regularly.
Do not fear your forthcoming hysterectomy. It is for your own good, in your own interest, to make your future happier, symptom-free and more enjoyable. It will improve the quality of life and, most probably, longevity.
Certainly any operation is uncomfortable for several days afterwards. But pain control is easily maintained whilst you are in hospital. Most doctors prefer early ambulation, so you will be up and walking quite soon after the operation. Passing urine may be difficult for a day or two, but this usually settles down quickly.
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Posted by admin on February 19, 2011 under Skin Care |
This third decade of our life is when we start to see the first signs that we truly are entering our adult years. That’s when certain aspects star t showing up more, like puffiness under the eyes. Granted, some people have a genetic tendency to exhibit some of this puffiness, but overall its a sign of ageing. Meanwhile on the upper part of the eyes, there might be some excess skin and the eyebrow starts to droop a little bit. There might be a little fat accumulation in the neck and the skin might lose a bit of its youthful radiance.
Luckily, you can slow it all down by protecting yourself from further bombardment of sun damage. This is also a good time to incorporate a retinol product into your regime, which will boost your collagen reserves.
FORTIES
The picture staffs to get a bit more dire. Expect to see further loss of elasticity in the skin and the loss of collagen and tat in the face will cause the checks to start heading south. The nasolabial folds, a.k.a. the smile lines, will also become, more prominent. Any areas that experience a lot of movement, such as the eyes, will start to exhibit more wrinkling there. The infrastructure of the face might appeal to be “melting’ a bit, and the corners of the mouth will turn down, as if you were frowning. This is also when those annoying age spots start deepening in colour.
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Posted by admin on February 12, 2011 under Men's Health-Erectile Dysfunction |
Marital and family therapists believe that premature ejaculation may be due to hostile interactions in the marital relationship between the couple, also termed Dyadic problems.
Leon Salzman describes interesting sexual cases of premature ejaculation due to hostile relationships between the partners, in Medical Aspects of Human Sexuality (June ’72). He quotes a case in which the husband became a premature ejaculator when the wife took the lead in love-play. Unconsciously, the male partner wanted to dominate in the power struggle and his prematurity was unconsciously directed against her. A similar case was that of Surjit, a chartered accountant who married a wealthy, haughty socialite, Swaroop, and went to live at her parents’ home. Everything was excellent sexually for a year until Surjit began suffering from premature ejaculation. Whenever Swaroop wore the pants and attempted to dominate him in their day-to-day life, Surjit seethed with resentment and hostility towards her and had to keep quiet. Without her father’s help he would not only be without a job but without a roof over his head! By ejaculating prematurely, Surjit was unconsciously showing His hostility and slighting Swaroop. In turn, she believed that he was no longer interested in her, did not bother to arouse her but purposely discharged quickly to get over with it as quickly as possible. She firmly believed that Surjit was having an affair with another woman. However, it has been observed that though marriage therapy improves the marital relationship, premature ejaculation persists.
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Posted by admin on January 29, 2011 under Herbal |
Negative Pine person is over-conscientious, never tries to do anything wrong, never injures the feelings of others, is a vegetarian (usually), and is always conscious of his guilt and therefore remains unhappy all the time. He is very apologetic in his every-day life, never asks for anything as a matter of right, but seeks it as a matter of favour.
Because of his feeling that he is always in the wrong, he develops inferiority complex. He sets a very high standard for himself and may have to over-work and strain to do better in order to improve his work and character. If the over-strain adversely affects his health and he is unable to continue his effort, he still blames himself for the ensuing disability.
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Posted by admin on January 23, 2011 under Gastrointestinal |
A Healthy Bowel Movement
This should be bulky, soft and mid-brown in colour; it should smell very little and disintegrate easily in the water of the lavatory.
A Constipated Bowel Movement
Because it has lost more water it is dark and compacted; it can also be streaked with mucus or blood. Blood in the stool must always be investigated even if you feel it is the result of straining to pass the hard faeces. Sometimes this opens up a crack (fissure) around the anus or causes a pile (haemorrhoid) to bleed.
Haemorrhoids
These varicose veins of the rectum are often the butt of music hall jokes, but any sufferer will tell you there is not a lot to laugh about; it is a very painful condition. Local anaesthetic creams and suppositories are on free sale at the pharmacy or can be prescribed by your doctor. They can make life a lot more bearable, but you cannot be really comfortable until you are no longer passing a hard stool. Your doctor will decide whether any medical treatment such as tying off the veins is necessary. The old remedy for piles was to scrape a clove of garlic to release the juice and then put it in the rectum. The effect is probably similar to eating a crushed clove; a fierce heat followed by a soothing warmth.
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Posted by admin on January 15, 2011 under Diabetes |
Type 2 diabetes results in genetically susceptible people from insulin resistance and diminished insulin secretion by the pancreas. Loss of first-phase insulin secretion after a glucose stimulus is the first recognizable pancreatic functional defect. Postnutrient hyperglycemia occurs, and the pancreas secretes an excess of insulin in an attempt to return plasma glucose to or toward normal. In this phase of type 2 diabetes, impaired glucose tolerance is usually demonstrated. Over time, insulin output by the pancreas diminishes, and at the time of diagnosis by fasting hyperglycemia, insulin secretion is approximately 50% of normal. With increasing duration of type 2 diabetes, further diminution of insulin secretion occurs, hepatic glucose output increases, and insulin resistance of muscle, fat, and liver is accentuated by “glucose toxicity.”
This sequence of events can be viewed as occurring in four stages. In stage 1, diminished first-phase insulin secretion and impaired glucose tolerance may be managed by oral drugs that stimulate an immediate insulin release. Insulin resistance can be addressed by an intensive diet and exercise program and by insulin-sensitizing drugs. As the disease progresses, combination therapy that addresses the dual issues of diminished insulin secretion and insulin resistance are indicated. Combination therapy with insulin stimulators (meglitinides or sulfonylureas) and insulin sensitizers (metformin, thiazolidinediones) is needed. Triple oral therapy with an insulin stimulator, a thiazolidinedione to increase insulin sensitivity, and metformin to inhibit hepatic glucose output may be effective. Some physicians advocate adding an alpha glucosidase inhibitor to blunt the absorption of dietary carbohydrates. Thus, serial addition of many oral antidiabetic agents to address the diabetic state is feasible. The final step is insulin therapy, which can be used as basal replacement with continued oral agent therapy or as the sole pharmacologic agent. Guidelines for glycemic regulation are the same as in type 1 diabetes: the goal for fasting blood glucose is 80-120 mg/dl. Action should be taken for HbA1 c > 8%, with a goal of < 7%.
In type 2 diabetes, hyperglycemia appears to be a major contributor to the progression of retinopathy, albuminuria, and neuropathy. In this respect, the main cause of the so-called “microvascular” complications of type 2 diabetes is comparable to type 1 diabetes. In both cases, prospective randomized trials have provided strong support for a policy of lowering HbAlc to as close to normal as safely possible. For every 1% lowering of an elevated HbAlc, there is about a 25% decrease in the risk for progression of diabetic retinopathy.
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Posted by admin on December 25, 2010 under Cardio & Blood- Сholesterol |
If withdrawal symptoms are severe, it might be useful to consider nicotine chewing gum or nicotine patches. However, these are useful only if they are part of a strategy to quit altogether, rather than to merely reduce the number of cigarettes smoked. It is much better to quit without these props.
WHAT ABOUT ANTI SMOKING’ DRUGS?
These drugs help reduce the dependence on nicotine and make the sensation of smoking less pleasurable. Again, although these may be helpful, it would be better to just stop without their help.
IS IT NOT TRUE THAT I MIGHT GAIN WEIGHT ONCE I STOP SMOKING?
Some ex-smokers do gain weight at first after quitting smoking. However, most
The only way to stop smoking is to just stop – no ifs, ands or butts.”
- Edith Zittler return to their original weight soon, by simple exercises or effortless diets. Moreover the weight gain is no problem for the heart: to equal the cardiac risk of a 20 cigarette-a-day smoking habit you’d have to gain 50 kg in weight!
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Posted by admin on December 18, 2010 under Asthma |
Initial treatment starts with selective beta-2 agonist salbutamol may be delivered by a nebulizer, usually with oxygen. Nebulized treatment is given every 20 minutes for one hour, and the child’s condition continuously assessed.
Theophylline is not given at this stage since it does not help much in bronchodilation, which in the first four hours of emergency medication is achieved with beta-2 agonists.
If the child shows a positive response to the initial treatment (PEFR > 70% predicted or personal best), the interval of beta-2 agonist treatment can be increased to every two hours; and child’s condition observed hourly. If after that time the child’s condition becomes stable he may be discharged after the parents are given instructions about the medication and follow-up plan.
If the child does not show signs of improvement after the first one hour of beta-2 agonist treatment (PEFR < 70% predicted or personal best), then oral or intravenous steroids have to be administered, and nebulized beta-2 agonist treatment given every 20 minutes for two hours. The child’s condition is continually assessed and a decision made after 2 hours whether the treatment should continue in the emergency department, or hospitalisation is necessary, or whether the child can be allowed to go home.
Even if a decision is taken to allow the child to go home, he should be kept under observation for another hour to see that there is continuous improvement in the condition.
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