Saturday, December 31, 2011

How Electrotherapy Helps With Healing

By [http://ezinearticles.com/?expert=Ariel_Norton]Ariel Norton
Electrotherapy has been around for many years now and has helped people all around the world. Dating back to 1855, this treatment has helped with pain and swelling within the body. Electrotherapy is often stated as the best form of pain relief especially when compared to all the drugs on the market that come with many side effects. The way it works is by passing electric currents though the body and more specifically the muscles to stimulate the affected muscles or body part. Although both direct and alternative currents are often applied, research has shown that alternative currents are more effective. Electrotherapy treatment helps to increase the flow of blood around the body, which in turn helps to speed up the healing process and is largely used by physiotherapists and chiropractors. Currently there are no known serious side effects when using this treatment.
Electrotherapy has also been very successful in helping patients with arthritis and particularly with arthritic inflammation as it blocks the pain signals from reaching the rest of the body and so distinguishes the need for pain killers or injections of any kind that are common among patients suffering from arthritis. However, any patients that use a pace maker or are pregnant are not recommended to use Electrotherapy due to the risk involved for them. In any case it is important that you should always follow your doctor's advice before taking part in any sort of treatment even if you don't use a pacemaker or are not pregnant.
Electrotherapy equipment is not only used to treat muscle or body pain but is also used to help measure certain diseases and conditions. For example an EKG machine helps to discuss and measure heart disease within a patient and can measure abnormalities in the way the heart pumps blood around the body. Another important piece of equipment that also uses the electrotherapy concept is ultrasound equipment. This piece of equipment has revolutionized treating pregnancies as well as being used to show certain conditions within the body.
An ultrasound allows a doctor to look inside the body and to show certain abnormalities or conditions within the patient and more importantly it is a rather quick and painless test. In general, Electrotherapy equipment is quite expensive to buy for yourself. In most situations the machines are available in hospitals and clinics for doctors and qualified staff to use only. They are usually manufactured by companies who specialize in Electrotherapy equipment and have years of experience in innovating and manufacturing this type of equipment. And will continue to do so in the years to come. [http://electro-medical.com/]Electro-Medical offers a vast array of physical therapy, chiropractic, athletic training, and other medical supplies such as [http://electro-medical.com/]electrotherapy equipment. Electro-Medical has offered the best personal service in therapy supplies, EMG electrodes and the equipment industry for over 28 years.
Article Source: [http://EzineArticles.com/?How-Electrotherapy-Helps-With-Healing&id=6651564] How Electrotherapy Helps With Healing

Thursday, December 29, 2011

Ways to Get Certified As A Pharmacy Technician

By [http://ezinearticles.com/?expert=Mary_Rose_Lily]Mary Rose Lily
If you have good academic background, you will be preferred first for any position you apply. Similarly a certification as a pharmacy technician will lead you to numerous job opportunities in the field of healthcare. If you have a certificate, you will find it easier to have your first job. You won't need to wait too long after graduating to have a job. Besides, you will be offered higher salary and benefits at the beginning. Even you will have multiple job offers to choose from whereas a person without a certificate can't find a single job easily. So, to have a job with a handsome salary you need to have a certificate and the way to get it has been described in the rest of the article.
At first get trained on the topic from where the question will be set in the exam. There are many pharmacy technician institutions which offer training on it. You can search on the internet to get your best deal. Different services like online learning facility, flexible schedule and packages are offered by these schools. You can attend any of these schools depending on your needs and convenience.
The materials of these courses have been designed to give you the basic knowledge and training of the duty of a pharmacy technician. You will be taught about the elementary medical facts and pharmacology, basic ideas about serving customers in proper way and using inventory system to allot and manage medication of different patients.
The duration of the training may vary from 3 to 12 months. It depends on the type of program you have undertaken. It may be a self-paced program or any other course. In case of self-paced courses the duration of the course largely depend on how fast you can understand things and finish the materials.
The expense of the course ranges from approximately $400 to $1000. Some schools offer scholarship and financial assistance to the meritorious and poor students. After passing the training session you need to pay some more money apart from tuition fees of the school to sit in the certification exam.
The question of the certification exam will be based on the training you received from the training school. Most of the schools design their course to help the students to pass the certification exam. The exam is taken at regular intervals all the year round by the corresponding authority. You can sit for the exam at any time you want.
Now you know the process to get certified as a pharmacy technician. So go for it and make your future bright and promising.
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Article Source: [http://EzineArticles.com/?Ways-to-Get-Certified-As-A-Pharmacy-Technician&id=6643590] Ways to Get Certified As A Pharmacy Technician

Tuesday, December 27, 2011

White Tongue Coating? It Could Be Oral Thrush

By [http://ezinearticles.com/?expert=Dr._Kristie_Leong_M.D.]Dr. Kristie Leong M.D.
Do you have a yucky white film on your tongue? Sometimes a white tongue coating comes from debris that's accumulated on the tongue from poor oral hygiene, but there are other causes as well. A white tongue coating can also come from an overgrowth of Candida on the tongue and in the mouth. The name for this condition is oral thrush. Candida is a normal inhabitant of cavities such as the mouth and vagina, but your immune system and "good" bacteria in the mouth normally keep this fungus from overgrowing and causing the tongue to look white.
What Causes Oral Thrush?
Certain factors can cause the equilibrium between Candida, mouth bacteria and the immune system to get out of whack and lead to an oral thrush infection. Some of these include taking oral steroid medications, a suppressed immune system due an illness, taking chemotherapy drugs, wearing dentures, having diabetes or simply being in bad health.
Taking antibiotics also increases the chances of getting thrush by destroying the mouth bacteria that normally keep Candida in check. People who are very young or very old are more likely to get oral thrush, because their immune systems are weakened. The only symptom of oral thrush may be a white tongue coating, but it can also cause white patches to appear elsewhere in the mouth or even the throat.
How Do You Know if Your White Tongue Coating is Due to Thrush?
If you run a tongue scraper over the area, and it leaves a red spot that bleeds a little, it's likely thrush. This isn't a foolproof test though. To make a definitive diagnosis, your doctor can take a sample of the white tongue coating, and send it to the lab to see if they see Candida under the microscope.
How Do You Treat a White Tongue Coating Due to Oral Thrush?
Your doctor can give you a mouthwash or lozenges that contain an anti-fungal medication to kill the fungus. Clearing the infection isn't the only issue though. It's important to find out what caused Candida fungi to overgrow in the first place. If you're taking antibiotics, prednisone or drugs that suppress the immune system that could be the cause. If not, your doctor will probably want to get blood work to see if you have signs of immune deficiency or a weakened immune system. They'll also want to check a blood sugar level to make sure oral thrush isn't coming from undiagnosed diabetes.
Can You Prevent Oral Thrush?
If you use antibiotics, taking a probiotic supplement or eating yogurt with active cultures may help. Doing this replaces the good bacteria that help keep Candida in check. Otherwise, eating a nutritious diet and getting enough sleep helps your immune system fight off Candida infections.
The Bottom Line?
Take care of yourself by eating a nutritious diet and getting enough sleep, but if you develop a white tongue coating that won't go away, see your doctor. It could be a sign of other health problems.
Kristie Leong M.D. is a family physician and medical writer. If you want to find out more about what causes a white tongue coating and other tongue problems, visit her website at [http://www.whitetonguecoating.com]http://www.whitetonguecoating.com.
Article Source: [http://EzineArticles.com/?White-Tongue-Coating?-It-Could-Be-Oral-Thrush&id=6654926] White Tongue Coating? It Could Be Oral Thrush

Sunday, December 25, 2011

Knee Injections for Knee Pain: Just The Facts

By [http://ezinearticles.com/?expert=Dr_Alexandra_K_Schnee]Dr Alexandra K Schnee
Cortisone knee injections (aka steroid injections) are common knee treatments prescribed by orthopedic knee doctors as a means of providing temporary knee pain relief. Unfortunately, most knee pain sufferers don't really understand what cortisone does, its side-effects, and why it's important to consider other knee treatment alternatives before getting cortisone knee injections.
Two Types of Cortisone:
1) The first form of cortisone is the one naturally produced by our adrenal glands and released into our bloodstream in times of stress. It is considered our 'fight or flight' hormone.
2) The second form of cortisone is man-made or synthetic. This is the form that is injected into the knee joint to temporarily reduce swelling and inflammation in the knee. For example, Kenalog and Celestone are all name brands of synthetic cortisone injections that are used by orthopedic doctors.
What Do Steroid Injections Actually Do?
Cortisone is a type of steroid. It is not a pain reliever it is simply an anti-inflammatory. It indirectly provides knee pain relief because it reduces the fluid around the knee joint thereby relieving the pressure on the tissues in the knee.
When Should You Get A Cortisone Injection?
If you've had a recent injury, for example from a fall, a car accident, or playing sports and you have acute or severe swelling or inflammation in the knee joint then you should consider getting a cortisone injection. More than likely you will notice immediate relief after the shot; however, the effects will be temporary so while you're still experiencing relief you should be searching for a REAL SOLUTION to your problem.
Reasons to Avoid Cortisone Shots:
1) Steroid injections will not cure you. Results will be temporary, even if you experience a reduction in swelling, inflammation, and pain in the knee joint. After having an injection, you must be cautious, since it is not unusual to exacerbate an injury during this time. (The worst part is you won't know if you've reinjured the knee until the effects of the cortisone wear off.)
2) Only three steroid injections are allowed on a yearly basis because long term and repeated use will cause bone loss, weakening of tendons, and cartilage loss in the knee joint.
3) Do not get a cortisone injection if you don't have fluid or swelling around your knee. It won't help you.
4) If you're diabetic then your blood sugar will need to be monitored since it causes a spike in blood sugar levels.
5) Shots in the knee joint are painful (especially if the area isn't numbed properly) and can cause infections.
6) Again getting a cortisone injection is not a long term solution to relieving chronic knee pain. It does nothing to heal and repair injured tissue that is causing the pain.
A Better Knee Treatment Alternative...
A safer more effective knee treatment alternative to knee injections is cold laser therapy. Cold laser therapy is a painless, non-invasive knee treatment option that allows physicians to treat the cause of the problem thereby eliminating knee pain and inflammation. Cold laser therapy doesn't just temporarily 'cover up' the pain like pain medications or knee injections. Cold laser therapy works by stimulating the healing process on a cellular level so that injured and damaged tissue can heal and repair itself faster.
In the long run, cortisone injections destroy bone and cartilage as well as weaken the tendons and make them more vulnerable to tears. For example, if you have been diagnosed with 'bone on bone' the last thing you want is more cartilage or bone loss. Or if you have tendonitis and you've gotten multiple cortisone injections to help relieve the inflammation around the knee then its highly likely that the tendon could tear. Even a torn meniscus will have a difficult time healing on its own with prolonged cortisone use.
The problem with knee injections is that you're trading short term relief for long term problems. It's similar to taking prescription medications, you're 'helping' relieve one condition but you're creating another problem because of the side-effects from the drugs.
In Conclusion...
A cold laser therapy knee treatment program should certainly be an option considered by individuals suffering from chronic knee pain; especially since it is painless, safe, and more effective than cortisone. Cold laser therapy is certainly not a cure-all but it sure beats the 'conventional' alternatives that we KNOW aren't long term solutions for treating chronic knee pain.
Copyright (c) 2011 Dr.Schnee,D.C.,PA
Dr. Alexandra Schnee, D.C. specializes in cold laser therapy for knee pain. She practices in Irving, Texas at the DFW Spine & Joint Center. She helps knee pain sufferers avoid uneccessary [http://www.HelpMyKneePain.com]knee injections and knee surgery with cold laser knee treatments. To order a free report about Dr. Schnee's Cold Laser Knee Program visit [http://www.helpmykneepain.com/]http://www.HelpMyKneePain.com
Article Source: [http://EzineArticles.com/?Knee-Injections-for-Knee-Pain:-Just-The-Facts&id=6600565] Knee Injections for Knee Pain: Just The Facts

Friday, December 23, 2011

Natural Remedies and Precautions to Prevent Catching a Cold or the Flu

By [http://ezinearticles.com/?expert=Donna_Doss]Donna Doss
Why is it so hard for some to believe that the healthy natural body is innately equipped to fight off germs that cause the body to get sick? Truth be told, the human body is able to quickly rid itself of foreign substances without any outside help from man-made medicine. In some cases, unnatural medicine may inadvertently cause health problems down the line or side effects immediately after administering. However, when the body does need a helping hand, there are all natural remedies as an alternative.
I work in a place where we service many children and are in contact with their parents five days a week. I can not help but notice that each time a child or adult gets the flu vaccination, the majority end up with a horrible bout of the flu itself. I am sure there is a medical reason, but I would rather skip that route all together. And I have. Using a very simple, all natural remedy, I have kept the cold and flu at bay for over forty years. I can honestly say that the only times that I have gotten sick in this capacity (five times total) has been when it was not readily available. So, what's the secret? Actually, it is no secret at all. It's actually common sense mixed with a little help from Mother Nature.
Most people are aware that white distilled vinegar is strong enough to fight off bacteria, and raw honey is soothing to the throat. When 1/3 white distilled vinegar and 2/3 honey is mixed together, you have a not so good tasting, yet all natural medicine to keep air born and transmittal germs at bay. When two - three full tablespoons are filled with the concoction and taken orally, the vinegar immediately begins to fight against and kill bacteria in the sinuses while the thickness of the honey pushed it down to the stomach. If any bacteria is pushed down to the stomach, the acid there will kill it.
Have you noticed that the worst of the symptoms of any cold or the flu hit hard in the morning? That is because the sinuses are laid back during the night allowing whatever bacteria that entered to multiply until it is the cause of a full-blown, mucous ridden, common cold. Thus, it is a very wise idea to take the honey and vinegar prior to laying down for a nap or going to bed for the night.
Since the nose hairs hold in air born and transmittal germs, it is also an excellent idea to take a q-tip, dip it in a small mixture of lukewarm and salt. Thoroughly swipe the hairs in the inside of the nose to remove dirt and germs. If you have a problem with re-occurring ear infections, using a clean dry swab before going to bed is helpful to keep any bacteria from dripping back and building up in your sinuses as well.
Some commons sense tips to staying healthy this winter:
1) Wash your hands with antibacterial soap throughout the day as needed.
2) Refrain from touching your face with your hands throughout the day (nose, mouth, and ears) since your hands have undoubtedly been in contact with multiple objects contaminated by germs.
3) Use natural peroxide to clean the door knobs, sink fixtures, etc. that you frequent... heck, carry a small bottle with you for use in public rest rooms.
4) Orally administer 100% raw honey and distilled white vinegar 4 times a day during flu season... especially before laying down for a nap or going to bed for the evening.
Do the above while maintaining a healthy diet full of nutrients, proteins, and vitamins while exercising at your normal rate daily. Following this simple regimen and putting into practice these precautionary measures will bring your chances of catching the common cold very rare. Bodies are created with a strong immune system to ward off harmful substances from growing in our body. However, every now and again it may need a little help. When it does, why use a foreign substance when you can keep it natural! Even if it doesn't work for some people, unless you are allergic, it can cause absolutely no harm to the body... now or long-term.
Donna Doss
Article Source: [http://EzineArticles.com/?Natural-Remedies-and-Precautions-to-Prevent-Catching-a-Cold-or-the-Flu&id=6650623] Natural Remedies and Precautions to Prevent Catching a Cold or the Flu

Wednesday, December 21, 2011

SB 202190 - Helps In The Study Of The Role Of P38 And Beta - MAPK

By [http://ezinearticles.com/?expert=Kate_Rabia]Kate Rabia
INTRODUCTION
SB 202190 is a potent inhibitor of p38 MAPK and hence regulates the synthesis of inflammatory cytokines. It also stimulates the process of apoptosis in cancerous cells. This small molecule competed with ATP and binds at the ATP binding site. In this way it affects the catalytic activity of the kinase enzyme.
SB 202190: HELPS IN THE IDENTIFICATION OF THE P38Β MAPK
The extracellular signals are transduced into various cellular responses by various MAPK cascades within the eukaryotic organisms. Within human beings there are 4 subgroups of MAP kinases which are JNK (SAPK), ERK5, ERK and p38. SB 202190 helped in the identification of new MAPK that is p38β MAPK, which is a protein made up of 372 amino acids. It is very similar to p38, in its mode of action and contains a short motif made up of amino acids, Thre-Gly-Tyr. This short motif serves as a dual phosphorylation moiety which is very essential for the kinase activity. p38β also gets stimulated by external stress and inflammatory cytokines. The upstream enzyme for p38β is MKK6 whereas p38 MAPK gets equally activated by the upstream enzymes MKK3, MKK6 and MKK4. The downstream substrate for p38β was found to be ATF2. SB 202190 belongs to the group of pyridinyl- imidazoles which inhibits the synthesis of IL-1 and TNF from human monocytes. The p38 and p38β MAPK are close homologues and are termed as CSBPs. SB 202190 inhibited the kinase activity of CSBPs hence inhibiting the production of cytokines.
SB 202190: REGULATES LPS INDUCED MRNA IN MONOCYTES
Previous research studies have shown that p38 MAPK blocks the synthesis of IL-1 and TNF -alpha at the level of translation within monocytes. SB202190 blocks the LPS induced gene expression and is also a selective inhibitor of p38. The genes which are stimulated by LPS (neuroleukin, gene 15 which is introduced by interferon, early gene-1 which is induced by radiation, IL-1b, A20 and superoxide dismutase) were suppressed to significant levels by SB202190. This inhibitor blocked upto 50% of the expression of these genes at a concentration of 41 to 123 nM. SB202190 also blocked the IL-8 mRNA levels, which was induced by both LPS and TNF- alpha. These studies showed that p38 was responsible for the expression of all the genes which were stimulated by TNF- alpha and LPS. As SB202190 is a specific inhibitor of p38 it was potent enough to suppress the LPS-induced gene expression within monocytes.
SB 202190: ROLE IN APOPTOSIS
SB 202190 has been found to be very specific in its action against p38β and p38α isoforms of p38 MAPK. It was potent enough to induce apoptosis in cancer cells by causing condensation of the nucleus and fragmentation of DNA within the neucleosomes. It also stimulated the activity of caspases whose action was similar to CPP32. This effect of SB202190 on apoptosis was completely blocked by proteasomal inhibitor or by the bcl-2 expression. SB202190 also stimulates the apoptosis which is induced by the ligation of Fas(APO-1) or radiation by ultra violet rays. However these effects on apoptosis were reversed by the expression of p38β. This also shows that p38β and p38α have different functions in the process of induction of apoptosis.
CONCLUSION
To summarize, SB202190 is a potent inhibitor of different isoforms of p38 MAPK. It had helped the scientists to study the physiological role of p38 MAPK. It plays a significant role in inducing apoptosis within the cancerous cells.
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Article Source: [http://EzineArticles.com/?SB-202190---Helps-In-The-Study-Of-The-Role-Of-P38-And-Beta---MAPK&id=6653217] SB 202190 - Helps In The Study Of The Role Of P38 And Beta - MAPK

Monday, December 19, 2011

Iridology and Reiki for Natural Healing

By [http://ezinearticles.com/?expert=Fran_Seserko]Fran Seserko
If you have some form of chronic or acute pain then there are countless options out there open to you. The best option is hard to choose, but will focus on many factors. For instance the best option will depend on you and your personality - the kind of treatment you tend to respond to and the kind of treatments you have enjoyed using in the past. At the same time it will depend on the nature of the pain you are feeling and different solutions are of course always going to be better for different problems.
For instance for some people seeing a doctor for back ache might not seem like the best solution. In many cases a doctor will only tell you to lie down and rest while giving you medication - there is no actual physical intervention and often the drugs have unwanted side effects. In these situations you might want to do something else. However in other cases if you have a very serious problem then drugs and medication might be the only recourse that's fast acting enough to save you and so a doctor is a must.
In many cases it is a good idea to try several approaches and sometimes it can take a few until you find the best answer for you. Thus you might want to see a doctor and get physical therapy, and at the same time you might practice Iridology and Reiki.
Iridology and Reiki are great forms of natural healing that are alternative forms of medicine but that provide success for a lot of different people. As this is completely natural, it won't involve any medication or any surgery and it thus won't damage your medical treatment. If it doesn't work then there is no harm done, both are an interesting and pleasant experience, but if it does then you might have found the right solution for your body and your pain.
Reiki for instance works using the Chinese belief in Qi. Qi is the lifeforce that flows around all things, and it is known by different names in different countries and belief systems. However there are some very convincing demonstrations for the existence of Qi - as you will notice when you watch Shaolin monks who perform superhuman acts such as cracking bricks with their skulls. This is all achieved as a result of Qi and this is a great argument for its existence.
This Qi flows around our body through chakras and promotes good health. When those chakras get blocked this can cause a range of pains and problems and so it is the job of someone involved in Reiki to help encourage this flow and to promote the transfer of 'good' Qi. Actually they will o this by just holding their hands over the area that hurts, but many people report feeling a tingling or warming sensation as they do. This is actually the same fundamental belief that underlies acupuncture, and so if you've had good experiences with that but don't enjoy the idea of the pins, then Reiki might be the right solution for you.
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Article Source: [http://EzineArticles.com/?Iridology-and-Reiki-for-Natural-Healing&id=6648921] Iridology and Reiki for Natural Healing

Saturday, December 17, 2011

Solar Refrigeration for Vaccines in Third World Countries

By [http://ezinearticles.com/?expert=Hermann_Pfaller]Hermann Pfaller
Solar refrigeration is mainly used in third world countries to store vaccines in proper temperature and to prevent them from spoiling. In addition to this, these solar power refrigerators are also used for preserving goods like dairy, meat and vegetables.
Types of solar refrigerators
There are basically two types of solar refrigerators; portable and battery supplemented ones. The solar powered refrigerators and vaccine coolers work on a combination of solar panels and lead batteries.
While these batteries help in storing energy for use in cloudy days and nights, they are expensive. Moreover, these lead acid batteries tend to have problems in hot climate, and may be misused for other purposes. They also need more maintenance, have to be replaced every 3 years When disposed, they are disposed of as hazardous waste, which adds to pollution.
Portable solar refrigerators
Portable solar powered refrigerators are popular in developing countries and work on the principle of evaporation. This is because though these fridges are solar powered; they work without any solar panels.
To reduce costs, these fridges are made using household materials which makes them easily accessible to people in developing countries. These fridges can easily store perishable goods at a temperature of 6 degrees Celsius for days, without any power consumption.
These fridges work with two cylinders, the inner metal cylinder and the outer cylinder that is made of anything like wood and plastic. The inner cylinder is fit in the outer cylinder, with some space in between the two.
This space is filled with organic material like wood, sand or wool, which is saturated with water. When placed in sunshine, the sun evaporates this water, which leads to the cooling of the inner chamber. This in turn reduces and maintains the temperature of the refrigerator at 6 degrees Celsius.
These solar powered refrigerators are limited in size, have no impacts on the environment and can be easily transported. While these fridges can work in places without electricity or a reliable power supply source, they do require water in order to function.
Solar refrigerators to control global warming
While solar powered refrigerators are used extensively in developing countries, some developed countries also use them to reduce the fridge's impact on the environment. Conventional refrigerators contribute to the ozone layer depletion and global warming, and thus have dangerous impacts on the environment.
It is the chlorofluorocarbons (CFC's) in conventional refrigerators that cause problems in the insulation foam or refrigerant cycle. This is why CFC's were banned and replaced with other substances like hydrochlorofluorocarbons (HCFCs) and hydrofluorocarbons (HFCs) in the 80's.
However as these substances also contribute to ozone depletion and global warming chemicals, solar powered refrigerators are environmentally friendly options and have minimal impact on the environment.
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Article Source: [http://EzineArticles.com/?Solar-Refrigeration-for-Vaccines-in-Third-World-Countries&id=6653366] Solar Refrigeration for Vaccines in Third World Countries

Thursday, December 15, 2011

Alternative Treatment And Its Effects On Anorexia

By [http://ezinearticles.com/?expert=Ziah_Jolley]Ziah Jolley
When someone is talking about anorexia, they are usually talking about the effects. Rarely will someone mention the cause. The reason behind this is there is no one definitive cause for anorexia. In most cases, there are two or more contributing factors to the disorder. There are some prescription medications out there that are designed to improve appetite, but they often come with some adverse effects that could exacerbate the symptoms instead of providing relief.
Anorexia is most commonly caused in this day and age by a negative body-image. The way Hollywood and Media portrays everyone, this is to be expected. We're expected to live in a skinny, posh society, according to Hollywood. When people are constantly being told that they should look a certain way, and that the way they look isn't good enough, they develop a necessity to improve what they feel others don't like. This causes a psychological issue with the person never feeling good enough about themselves, and always seeing the negative image that was placed upon them.
Anorexia can also be caused by certain prescription and narcotic drugs. Cocaine, Heroin, Methamphetamine, and Morphine are just some of the many drugs both illegal and legal that can cause a major drop in appetite. They don't help with the psychological factors either. These drugs can irritate the stomach lining, and often cause nausea and vomiting in users.
Another way that Anorexia is caused is by other persistent conditions of the body. Peptic Ulcer Disease, Gastroesophogeal Reflux Disease, Crohn's Disease, Cholelithiasis, Diabetes, Addison's Disease, Hepatitis, HIV/AIDS, Cancer, Cachexia, Ulcerative Colitis, Irritable Bowel Syndrome, and Celiac Disease, are many of the conditions that can directly result in Anorexia. All of these have some sort of direct impact on appetite, or ability to keep something down.
Anorexia is to put it in simple terms: A disorder that severely limits appetite/consumption. Those who're afflicted must gain control over their disorder, or they could pass away from malnutrition. This is often the case in those who do not seek help. There are a lot of people who don't realize they have anorexia, due to having one of the many conditions listed above. Also, those who seek treatment for Anorexia may not be getting treated for the proper issue. They may not actually have just anorexia, but another (often psychological) factor as well.
There have been incredible breakthroughs when it comes to helping people with psychological issues to overcome their condition. However, for those with the conditions listed above, relief isn't as easy to find. Doctors can prescribe a synthetic form of THC. However, they can only prescribe it for those suffering from AIDS or Cancer, or they risk losing their license. These synthetic drugs though, have been reported as having a very minimal effect on people even for the conditions they're prescribed specifically for. The current accepted reason behind this is because THC is just one cannabinoid, where natural cannabis has hundreds.
Natural cannabis has over 200 known cannabinoids. Each one plays its own tiny part in regulating the primary ingredient, THC. Some certain types of THC medicine has shown the biggest benefit of all is when it comes to regulating appetite. A minimal 5MG dose is enough to bring someone going through Chemotherapy to the dinner table, and give them the ability to finish their meal without nausea or loss of appetite. As tolerance builds, you can step the dosage up. The wonderful thing about THC is you will never be able to overdose from it. If a little bit didn't give you an appetite, you can always have a little bit more and not worry about the many side-effects of prescription medication. Not only can Cannabis provide a great benefit to those with Anorexia, but it can also help the symptoms of other disorders that may be causing the Anorexia. Cancer and AIDS patients often use it for both the appetite enhancing properties, and the pain relief. A majority of people find natural cannabis to be a much cheaper and safer method of controlling appetite than any prescription available.
Ziah is currently self-studying Medical Marijuana and how it effects certain diseases on the body. Although there is no 'official' research, there are multiple stories and solid proof coming out that Medical Marijuana is helping thousands of people. Research is now being done by only a few companies and more research needs to be conducted. For more information visit Cannabis Clubbing - Fast Medical Marijuana Card - A free service to provide Medical Marijuana caregivers in your area. [http://fastmedicalmarijuanacard.com/directory]Fast Medical Marijuana Card
Article Source: [http://EzineArticles.com/?Alternative-Treatment-And-Its-Effects-On-Anorexia&id=6613803] Alternative Treatment And Its Effects On Anorexia

Tuesday, December 13, 2011

Fighting Cold and Flu Symptoms Without Taking Drugs

By [http://ezinearticles.com/?expert=Felix_Poppell]Felix Poppell
Every winter, millions of people are affected by the cold and flu because, as any doctor will tell you, there is no cure for the common cold or the flu. The only thing you can do is manage the cold and flu symptoms so you can continue with your day to day life as effectively as possible. This can be difficult depending on how much you're affected by a cold or the flu but commercials promise complete relief. This is usually a bit of a stretch but there are things that can be done to help you feel somewhat better. Many of the best ways are all natural.
All too often the commercials and ads you see that promise relief is chemical based drugs that can have all sorts of negative side effects. While they promise relief from the symptoms of the cold or flu, the side effects can be just as debilitating as the symptoms you're already suffering. These side effects can include a sore throat, sinus congestion, chest congestion, nose bleeds, nausea, constipation, diarrhea, drowsiness and a whole host of effects that are worse than what you're going through. All natural ways to alleviate the symptoms of cold and flu have virtually no side effects at all.
By using homeopathic medicines like green tea, zinc, Echinacea, vitamin D and vitamin C enables you to have the tools you need to alleviate or maybe eliminate many cold and flu symptoms. Since these are all natural ingredients, the body processes them naturally as well which means the side effects are minimal to non-existent. An added benefit of using all natural remedies like these is the fact that there are no gluten binders in them. This means that those who suffer any type of gluten allergy like Celiac disease have to suffer through the discomfort of a gluten reaction because they took a cold remedy containing some form of gluten that wasn't listed on the package by the manufacturer.
It's possible any time of year to catch a cold or get the flu and even getting a flu shot doesn't protect people against all the flu strains out there. While a flu shot does protect against the most common strains, it's not an impervious shield against all of them. This means finding ways to combat cold and flu symptoms with natural remedies means you'll be able to get back to living your life without having to worry about side effects that may sideline you even longer.
You don't have to let [http://www.pharmacablog.com/category/symptoms-relief/cold-flu-symptoms/]cold and flu symptoms ruin this winter, there are several ways to combat them the healthy way. The Pharmaca blog has the information you need to fight the illnesses of the season with [http://www.pharmacablog.com/category/symptoms-relief/]natural remedies.
Article Source: [http://EzineArticles.com/?Fighting-Cold-and-Flu-Symptoms-Without-Taking-Drugs&id=6653837] Fighting Cold and Flu Symptoms Without Taking Drugs

Sunday, December 11, 2011

The Abuse Of Arthroscopy?

By [http://ezinearticles.com/?expert=David_Shakespeare]David Shakespeare
There has always been an uneasy relationship between the british medical profession and BUPA the UK's biggest private medical insurer. This is particularly so in orthopaedics where surgeons are very industrious and BUPA picks up the cost. The latest battleground is arthroscopic surgery of the knee.
There has been no increase in the fees paid to surgeons by BUPA for the best part of a decade. In the old days the British Medical Association had its own fee schedule, but this was considered uncompetitive by the predecessor to the Competition Commission, which gave the insurers the upper hand. The surgeons being a resourceful lot realised that even if the cost per case remained the same, doing more surgery made it pretty irrelevant. And this is where arthroscopy comes in. There are two types of arthroscopy as far as the insurers are concerned. Just taking a look, for which the fee is around �250, and doing something inside the knee, for which the fee is around �600. As a quick wave of a shaver blade or the odd biopsy can mean �350, it comes as no surprise that the "look see" arthroscopy has become an endangered species.
In addition to this, convincing a patient to undergo an arthroscopy is much easier than for major surgery. A quick look in with telescope, day case procedure, low risk of complications is an attractive option for a troublesome knee. Even if, as is often the case it all takes much longer to recover than expected, and the procedure turns out to be a bit more than the patient bargained for.
So BUPA has realised that there are lots of arthroscopies being done, the indications for which are to say the least a bit woolly. Some surgeons do far more than others. This may of course mean that this signifies they have busy practices with a lot of deserving patients. It may of course indicate that not all are necessary. The solution as far as BUPA is concerned is to try and put a stop to over servicing. Rather than tackling those surgeons who are obviously practicing on the wilder shores of surgery, which might have been more sensible, they are having a go at all knee surgeons. They have commissioned a review of all the indications for arthroscopy by Bazian an outfit which has "independent" expertise in evidenced based healthcare. The result is a document entitled "Clinical best practice in knee arthroscopy, which is full of tables and a colour coding system not dissimilar to that used by supermarkets to indicate the harmful ingredients in food. To top this BUPA now requires surgeons to justify why an arthroscopy is required by provision of relevant documentation by the consultant before they will sanction payment.
This is all wrapped in conciliatory language about what is best for their clients. It is of course all about cutting costs, by attempting to take over the decision making process of the professionals by applying a list of criteria devised by people who would not know one end of an arthroscope from another if they saw one.
What BUPA will come to realise is that the medical profession, orthopaedic surgeons in particular are a slippery lot. If hurdles are put in their way they will simply adapt to circumvent them. All the relevant paperwork will duly be honed to fulfill the necessary criteria.
There are sharp practitioners in all walks of life. BUPA should get on and identify each of them properly and deal with them. Instead they are in danger of creating a bureaucratic monster taking up valuable time and money to administer which will not reduce the amount of surgery performed, and will cause massive resentment among their clients. The cry of "My surgeon says I need an arthroscopy, but why aren't you prepared to pay for it?" will be hard to silence. Worse still may be litigation from clients forced to follow the route of self pay surgery which cures the condition BUPA refused to pay for. There is nothing worse for an insurance company, than to be seen wanting when it is time to pay up. The competition won't be slow to announce that they prefer to leave decision making to the professionals and will honour any reasonable claim.
It would be a simple matter to analyse the outcome of surgery carried out by consultants who are causing concern by contacting the clients and requesting clinical information. The risk of investigation would make many surgeons more wary of how they behave.
The majority of knee surgeons are acutely aware of their reputations within the community. After all the patients all attend the same social activities. The news of operations that don't work or worse still make things more painful travels fast. Asking permission to operate is therefore intensely irritating. You can only infer so much from a meta analysis. Experienced surgeons are the only ones who can correlate the clinical findings with the internal pathology in any one individual. It is an insult to imply that they do not fully understand the criteria for surgery.
So is the whole process about saving clients from unnecessary pain and suffering?
Not really. It is all about money and an attempt by BUPA to limit its liabilities. They should admit as much to their clients and see what the reaction is.
The choice lies between believing an insurance company which says that statistically you don't need an operation and a professional who has examined your knee and says you do. Both have a financial interest in the transaction. One loses the other gains. But only the surgeon might have to explain to you afterwards why surgery hasn't worked and believe me that is not in anybody's best interests.
If you want to know more about what lies behind decision making in knee and hip surgery take a look at my website at http://www.davidshakespeare.com explaining knees and hips.
Article Source: [http://EzineArticles.com/?The-Abuse-Of-Arthroscopy?&id=6653962] The Abuse Of Arthroscopy?

Friday, December 9, 2011

Easy And Sure Ways To Get Medical Advice

By [http://ezinearticles.com/?expert=Bill_Browski]Bill Browski
With the information age we are in now, there are many new ways to receive medical advice. By taking advantage of the medical information available, a doctor is able to provide a better level of care for patients. Also, a patient can be more proactive about their own medical care.
Through the use of a medical data base, doctors and other medical specialists are able to exchange medical information on patients in minutes, rather than the weeks it took to send records through the mail. By moving information this way, medical specialist can see a patient history and notes from other doctors on the day of the first visit to provide more effective care.
Along with the exchange of patient records, medical professionals and researchers can exchange ideas about new procedures and medicines. In exchanging ideas and information quickly, new medicine can reach doctors and patients in less time. Researchers also benefit from faster idea exchange because it takes less time to find out about side effects and reactions from patients.
Another part of the medical industry benefiting from the medical database is pharmacies. When a pharmacy can look up a patient record, fewer mistakes are made when filling prescriptions. Also a doctor can reference the same database to see what past doctors have prescribed to prevent negative drug interactions.
Patients can also take advantage of this new wave of knowledge. Through the use of a medical data base, patients can verify the accuracy of their own medical records and provide doctors with needed medical histories. Also, patients can use the available medical advice to look into different health care options and make informed decisions along with their doctors.
With a doctor database, patients can research different doctors and medical specialists to find one which best suits their needs. If a patient is unhappy with the care given by a doctor, they can look through the doctor data base and see what other patients have reported. Another benefit of this type of database is the ease of finding doctors in new areas when a person relocates. A patient can contact doctors in the new location to set up care before they move, allowing them to continue treatments without much interruption.
Medical databases also can make an impact on emergency care. By having quick access to patient medical records, emergency doctors can make informed treatment choices even if the patient is unable to provide the needed information. By using the database in this way, doctors can avoid possibly lethal drug interactions and also can beware of underlining health issues which might affect their course of treatments.
In a world with a central database of medical advice, patients and doctors can educated themselves with information on medical issues such as diseases and procedures. They can also make more informed decisions about treatments and medications. Whether patients chose to use conventional medicine or holistic treatments under the advisement of a doctor, patients can look into all options available to them in one place.
Bill Browski is a medical consultant of individual people. You can get more information after asking [http://webctor.com]medical questions. For even more knowledge read other [http://webctor.com/articles]medical articles.
Article Source: [http://EzineArticles.com/?Easy-And-Sure-Ways-To-Get-Medical-Advice&id=6656071] Easy And Sure Ways To Get Medical Advice

Wednesday, December 7, 2011

Know Which Health Products Are For You

By [http://ezinearticles.com/?expert=Emma_Wanjiku]Emma Wanjiku
It is not uncommon for some alternative health products or food products to react with medications that one may currently be on. Some of these products can also make a health condition turn worse. Adverse drug reactions that can result to death are also a possibility. It is important to do more research about any health product you intend to use in effort to find the right health products for you.
If you are suffering from diabetes there are foods that you are already restricted from eating. However, take precautions on the kind of health products you choose to use. Natural supplements might not be all that safe especially if you are on medication. If you choose to treat diabetes with ginseng, make sure you are not on warfarin because it will react with it.
Aloe Vera being able to lower blood sugar levels and a laxative at the same time might be very dangerous for diabetes patients. Together with Vanadium and fenugreek, aloe Vera will also react with anesthetics. Other herbal supplements that diabetics should take precaution about are licorice, cinnamon and stevia.
Chamomile tea reacts with warfarin. Warfarin is an anticoagulant recommended for patients with heart diseases of strokes. Other herbs that will react with the anti coagulants include ginseng, garlic, ginger, danshen and gingko.
Of course there are a variety of health products for you but know which ones to avoid. St John's wort will react with anti depressants. Also avoid alfalfa, ginseng, Echinacea and licorine root if you are on immunosuppressant drugs such as corticosteroids. Bittersweet and Thuja are not recommended for patients of kidney diseases. If you have ulcers avoid guarana, kola nut and ephedra.
During pregnancy, it can be difficult to find the health products for you because of the aching back or feet. Therefore one might consider turning to herbal remedies after all they are natural. Some of these herbs can cause damage to the fetus and cause illness to the mother. Some of the herbs you need to take precaution about before you take them include rosemary, ginger, cinnamon, licorice, ginseng, ephedra, St John's wort and wormwood. Other health products that expectant women should avoid are oral retinal products that might be meant for skin care, soy products or antihistamines.
Know the kind of prescription medication you are on and participate in your health care. Your doctor knows the best health products for you so make sure you consult with her or him.
Emma Wanjiku is an experienced writer and publisher who focuses/reports on issues affecting you. Her research is based on aspects and topics of life that matter. She is a trained journalist. For daily health tips and fitness information, access her health site at http://www.emmalifetips.com
Article Source: [http://EzineArticles.com/?Know-Which-Health-Products-Are-For-You&id=6662924] Know Which Health Products Are For You

Monday, December 5, 2011

Some Of The Most Important Global Health Products

By [http://ezinearticles.com/?expert=Emma_Wanjiku]Emma Wanjiku
Some of the important health products that are needed globally include the following Vaccinations. Vaccinations are vital especially for children. Some of the diseases children are immunized against include hepatitis A, Meningococcal disease and chicken pox.
Vaccines are vital global health products that need to be readily available in health centers. Dipheria, polio, measles, mumps, Rubella and tetanus vaccines are other of the important vaccinations that need to be readily available for the children in rural as well as the urban settings.
Different vaccines are administered at different ages. Some of these immunizations will have mild side effects on the child such as a fever and soreness at the point where the shot was given. Some severe side effects can include neurological damage, cancer and even death. This can be as a result of vaccination with vaccines containing toxic substances such as mercury and aluminum phosphate.
Condoms. When used correctly and consistently, condoms are sure ways to prevent against sexually transmitted diseases. These are crucial global health products which their use is being highly advised in effort to control HIV/AIDS. Condoms are available for both men and women with various sizes, shapes and flavors. Some are lubricated to make it more comfortable during use.
Condoms have been made available for free in among others, institutions such as schools to encourage safe sex among students. Although it has been questioned that making condoms easily accessible will make the students feel more prone to having sex. However, according to the World Health Organization, the provision of sex education, condoms and counseling does not mean that the children will initiate sexual relationships. Access to these and may other essential global health products is being checked by not only the government but non governmental organizations as well.
According to the World Health Organizations' World's malaria report for 2010, 2.23% of deaths throughout the world were as a result of malaria. Drugs to treat conditions such as malaria are global health products that sometimes lack in some areas especially those living in poverty. The lack of these medications results to deaths especially among children and expectant women. Malaria can also be prevented using medicines such as malarone and chloroquine. It can also be prevented by sleeping under a treated mosquito net. WHO has however noted progress in fighting against malaria with more than 50% reduction in malaria cases in 43 countries over the past decade.
Emma Wanjiku is an experienced writer and publisher who focusses/reports on issues affecting you. Her research is based on aspects and topics of life that matter. She is a trained journalist. For daily health tips and fitness information, access her health site at http://www.emmalifetips.com
Article Source: [http://EzineArticles.com/?Some-Of-The-Most-Important-Global-Health-Products&id=6662933] Some Of The Most Important Global Health Products

Saturday, December 3, 2011

An American Citizen Talks About His Neighborhood Walk In Clinic

By [http://ezinearticles.com/?expert=Slava_Fuzayloff]Slava Fuzayloff
America has a new doctor in town and he resides at the professional, clean and discreet, friendly neighborhood walk in clinic. Over the years many people have grown accustomed to waiting for hours upon hours in a germ-infested emergency room to see a doctor for whatever ails them. In the old days, we all were able to afford a friendly old family doctor. They were mostly wonderful people with wrinkles and a big black bag of tricks to go.
There was nothing like waiting as your parents called up your doctor and he or she came over to your bedside (in your home!) to treat you. This was merely thirty years ago, yet it feels like a century ago. For those too young to remember it, it truly does feel like some surreal fever dream (oh, they came for those, too!). Believe it or not, it was the norm. If you were sick, they came to you.
These days, the closest you will get to that old fashioned care is at a walk in clinic. No, of course they will not travel to your bedside. That is not to be expected these days. But the doctors in these facilities open their doors for anyone at anytime. An appointment is not needed to see your friendly neighborhood walk in clinic doctor. And the wait is always less than an hour.
A doctor has a true tie to his patients and he understands how important your time is. Hospital emergency rooms are great if you have suffered a true medical emergency, like for instance, a serious accident or a life threatening illness. For everything else, a walk in clinic offers the same care without all the sitting around and waiting.
Also, a walk in clinic has prices that make sense in this awful economy. A walk in clinic doctor is proud to serve his patients - they will not charge you like you are a stranger who just rode into town in a Rolls Royce. A walk in clinic will also tend to accept almost every insurance plan under the sun, because they truly want to help. At least this has been the experience that my family and I have had.
It sounds too good to be true, but it's really not. Unfortunately there is a lot of cynicism in America these days, and a whole bunch of it is aimed at the medical industry. I for one am glad to know that not everything is about making a buck in America these days. I see it all over, but have received great care at a walk in clinic and just wanted to share.
A walk in clinic can deal with almost any ailment out there-as long as it is not life-threatening. Say you need a flu shot, or have a backache, or a pounding headache, or have been stung by bunch of hornets, or are suffering through food poisoning, or have a bad rash, or your feet hurt... get to a walk in clinic quickly and you will be treated with respect and dignity.
For those in New York City who'd like to give a [http://www.walk-in-clinic-ny.com/walk_in_clinic.html]walk in clinic NYC a shot at caring for you, just log onto [http://www.walk-in-clinic-ny.com/walk_in_clinic/urgent_care_clinic.html]Urgent Care NYC for more information. Located in midtown Manhattan, they are the city's neighborhood doctor. The fact that they are just two blocks from Grand Central Station is great because anyone in the five boroughs can get there in a flash on the subway. Call 1-212-696-5900 for the address and get rolling (or trainin'.)
Article Source: [http://EzineArticles.com/?An-American-Citizen-Talks-About-His-Neighborhood-Walk-In-Clinic&id=6664399] An American Citizen Talks About His Neighborhood Walk In Clinic

Thursday, December 1, 2011

AZD6244 - Regulates The Downstream Kinases To BRAF And RAS

By [http://ezinearticles.com/?expert=Kate_Rabia]Kate Rabia
INTRODUCTION
Most of the human tumors are related with the up regulation of the MAPK pathway. This pathway gets activated as a response to various extracellular ligands, overexpression of few genes, mutations in genes belonging to BRAF and RAS family. The proteins encoded by BRAF and RAS genes regulate a common effector pathway. MEK1/2 are dual specific kinases which phosphorylate the ERK1/2, at their tyrosine and threonine residues and they later on modulate a number cellular responses. AZD6244 is a selective inhibitor of MEK1/2 and is presently undergoing phase II clinical trials. It has been found to be cytotoxic in various kinds of tumors.
STRUCTURE AND MECHANISM OF ACTION OF AZD6244
AZD6244 is an uncompetitive inhibitor of MEK1/2. It does not compete with ATP for its binding site. MEK1/2 are the downstream targets to BRAF and RAS. AZD6244 was found to be effective both under in vitro and in vivo conditions. The mechanism behind its action under in vivo conditions is cleavage of caspase-3, which effects the proliferation of cells and the cell viability. These results suggest that AZD6244 induces apoptosis and differentiation of tumor cells. It also enhanced the cytotoxic effects of other inhibitors like irinotecan and docetaxel. It showed proapoptotic action in Calu-6 and Colo-205, which were two xenograft models. When AZD6244 was tested in SW-620 model, it was found to be antiproliferative and induced cellular differentiation.
AZD6244: EFFECT ON TRANSCRIPTIONAL PATHWAY SIGNATURES
Diverse lineage of tumor cells were tested with AZD6244 and it was found that there is no perfect correlation between the mutation and phosphorylation of RAS, BRAF/MEK or PI3K activity. 18-gene signatures were identified to show differential expression and this was found to be present exclusively in resistant cells. This action was correlated to the mutational pathway activity. In case of cells which show an activation of MEK but are resistant to AZD6244, 13-gene signatures were identified. These results suggest that there is a complementary signaling pathway which starts from RAS effectors and is away from PI3K pathway. Different signatures were responsible for the functional activation of MEK and/or sensitivity to AZD6244, in different kinds of cancers. Hence there signatures helped in the study of the physiological role of MEK.
AZD6244: EFFECT ON BRAF GENE
At least 15% of cancers have been related to the mutations in RAS gene. 66% of cancers have been related with the mutations in BRAF (somatic missense) gene. The mutations within the RAF gene are in the kinase domain and are associated with the substitution of valine with glutamic acid at 599th position. This single substitution is responsible for the cancerous growth. At least 3 RAF genes have been identified which code for ser/thr kinases present in the cytoplasm. These kinases are modulated by the binding of the RAS. The inhibitors which can control the mutations in the BRAF gene can effectively put a check on the cancerous growth.
CONCLUSION
Cells which get mutated in BRAF gene become selectively sensitive to the MEK inhibition as this mutation is associated with suppressed expression of cyclin D1 protein. Being a selective inhibitor to MEK1/2, AZD6244 can effectively control the BRAF mutations. However this inhibitor can control the RAS mutation induced cancers partially. In a nut shell AZD6244 controls the kinases lying downstream to BRAF and RAS.
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Article Source: [http://EzineArticles.com/?AZD6244---Regulates-The-Downstream-Kinases-To-BRAF-And-RAS-&id=6662277] AZD6244 - Regulates The Downstream Kinases To BRAF And RAS