Health News and Information

Before you make a decision regarding hormone replacement therapy, you should consider carefully all the known risks and benefits. Get as many competent opinions and as much professional advice as is possible. Discuss the options with your doctor and seek a second or third opinion. In the end, the decision is an individual choice, so you should get as much information as possible and make sure you understand the entire process and its effects.

Known Benefits

1) Very effective for treatment and prevention in the short-term of menopausal symptoms such as hot flashes, sweating and vaginal dryness.

2) May reduce episodes of depression and enhance sleep patterns. The therapy may also provide an overall sense of well-being.

3) Studies suggest that if taken for several years, this therapy slows down the rate of bone reduction. Other research indicates that if taken for at least five years, the incidence of hip fractures is reduced.

4) Some studies show that if the therapy continues long-term, it can help to maintain quality of skin and breast tissue.

5) If the therapy involves estrogen alone, it may help to protect against heart disease or reduce heart disease by 50 percent. However, the addition of progesterone appears to neutralize some of those benefits.

Known Risks

1) The therapy may cause minor side effects, such as headaches, nausea, bloating, weight gain, breast tenderness, and jaundice. Your doctor can lower your dose to alleviate the side effects.

2) Taking estrogen alone may increase the risk of endometrial cancer. However, that risk is apparently eliminated with the addition of progesterone.

3) While not conclusive, some studies suggest that estrogen may increase the risk of cancer. Also not conclusive, is evidence suggesting that the addition of progesterone gives protection.

4) Although rare with the dosage levels currently in use, the therapy may increase blood pressure.

5) Newer regimens attempt to eliminate monthly periods, but many women report regular spotting with this treatment.

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1) Fever— a recent study of persistent, unexplained fevers in children discovered that doctors who used an assortment of imaging tests, such as X- rays or Catscans, failed to make a diagnosis 66 percent of the time. The finding suggests that doctors should pay more attention to the symptoms, rely on basic laboratory findings and observe the child over time, in order to properly diagnose fevers.

2) Parkinson’s disease— a degeneration of the nerve cells in the brain, the symptoms of this disease may include tremors, rigidity, and a shuffling gait. It can be hard to diagnose because the symptoms in the early stages can appear similar to those of other afflictions, including stroke.

3) Clinical depression— this is a disorder which is caused by a biochemical imbalance in the brain. It involves serious mood disturbances which impair the person’s ability to function.

There are many possible symptoms of clinical depression including persistent sadness, emptiness or anxiety; loss of interest or pleasure in ordinary activities including sex; fatigue; changes in sleeping patterns; sudden fluctuations in weight; to concentrate or make decisions; forgetfulness; apathy; and thoughts of death or suicide.

The problems in diagnosing clinical depression arise from doctors who are not trained to detect a major depressive disorder. Such doctors are apt to misdiagnose the condition about half of the time. In many cases it is diagnosed as a “low” mood brought about by a stressful situation. Other times it is attributed to physical problems. Among elderly people, the symptoms of clinical depression are often misdiagnosed as the early stages of senility.

4) Multiple sclerosis— a progressive central nervous system disease which is thought to result from the breakdown of the myelin sheaths which protect and insulate nerve fibers in the brain and spinal cord.

The most common initial symptom of multiple sclerosis is numbness or tingling in the hands or feet. Other symptoms may include visual disturbances, muscle weaknesses, poor bladder control, balance problems or dizziness, or tremors.

The main problems involved with diagnosing this disease are that the early symptoms can easily be mistaken for other disorders, and the symptoms often disappear after a few weeks and then return months or years later.

5) Hypoglycemia— this is a condition in which the sugar content of the blood is abnormally low. The condition, which is common among diabetics can also be due to an underactive thyroid, improper diet or allergies, or emotional problems.

Two to five hours after each meal, a person with hypoglycemia may experience weakness, trembling, dizziness, sweating, fatigue, hunger, craving for sweets, and anxiety.

Current tests for hypoglycemia are not always conclusive. Some doctors may also be skeptical that such a condition exists at all, causing the illness to go undetected and unchecked.

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If your cholesterol level is abnormally high, your doctor may choose to put you on medication. While it is advisable to follow your doctor’s recommendations exactly, there are some people who may be able to lower their cholesterol naturally, without having to go on medication. Here are five ways you may be able to lower your cholesterol naturally:

1) Follow a strict low-cholesterol diet. Most doctors agree that many people may be able to lower their cholesterol levels by making prescribed dietary changes. Some people have experienced as much as a 30 percent improvement after following a strict diet for slightly less than one month, and ultimately experience a cholesterol reduction of up to 50%.

2) Practice weight control. It is important that you maintain your proper weight.

3) Be sure to get regular checkups. This is the only way to keep track of your cholesterol level and other matters related to your health.

4) Maintain a regular program of exercise.

5) If you smoke, quit.

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Severe burns may be caused by dry heat, such as fire; by moist heat, such as hot liquids and steam; or by electricity; corrosive chemicals; or friction. Burns that are critical and require prompt professional attention include third degree burns which leave a charred area after destroying skin and underlying structures; blistering burns on a child or on an elderly person; all burns to the head, face, neck, hands, feet, or genitals; inhalation burns; electrical burns; chemical burns; and burns covering large areas of the body.

The treatment of burns and scalds depends on the severity of the injury. In general, the first treatment involves reducing the temperature of the burned area. This will help prevent further injury to the skin and underlying tissues as well as to stop the burning and reduce pain. The initial cooling of the burned area can be done by immediately flushing the area with cold water. The injury should then be covered with a dry, clean cloth. Do not put any pressure on the burned surface.

Never apply ointments, sprays, antiseptics, or home remedies such as butter to a burn. And don’t break blisters.

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Here are some tips for choosing an HMO.

(1) Will you be penalized for going outside the network of approved doctors? If so — how much?

(2) How much does the plan pay? Does it pay a percentage of the actual medical charges or of the allowable charge? There could be a big difference between the two.

(3) Talk to a few members of the HMO. Find out if they are satisfied with the service, cost, and speed of payment?

(4) What happens when you see a specialist who is not part of your HMO? Must you be referred to a particular specialist by your doctor?

(5) What medical services are not covered by the HMO plan?

(6) Check out the doctors on the approved list. Are they reputable? Do they have plenty of experience? Are there a lot of complaints against them?

(7) How much notification must I give the plan before going to a hospital or when an emergency occurs? Many plans require approval before the medical service is performed.

(8) How good are the services provided by the doctors who belong to the HMO’s. How fast can you get an appointment? Can they answer your questions quickly?

The best way to find out about a particular HMO is to talk to several of its members and doctors. You should also talk to the Better Business Bureau and find out if many complaints have been lodged.

A recent magazine survey rated 46 HMO plans. The top five plans were: (1) Heritage National Health Plan (2) Pilgrim Health Care, (3) Independent Health (4) Blue Choice (5) Preferred Care. Of course these plans may not be available in your area. Also the quality of service varies from one region to another. Therefore you must do a thorough study before committing yourself to any particular plan.

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By now, everyone is aware that one brain hemisphere is more receptive to verbal input while the other responds best to visual symbols. Feeding both visual and verbal suggestions to the brain saturates the mind with suggestions that your hands become heavy and warm.

Usually, within a minute or two one or both hands will begin to tingle, a sure sign of blood vessel dilation. As soon as you feel a hint of tingling in one hand, mentally magnify this feeling and transfer it to the other hand.

At first, you may find that only one or two fingers on one hand begin to tingle. Don’t get discouraged. This is a sure indication that you have achieved a high state of suggestibility, and that the unconscious is carrying out your suggestions. The blood vessels are beginning to dilate in your hands, allowing more blood to flow in to make your hands warmer and heavier, just as you suggested.

Try to notice which mental pictures and suggestions are most effective in making your hand temperature rise. Many people eventually are able to dispense with the beach scene and they end up by directly visualizing warm, fresh blood flowing down their arms and into their hands. They “see” their blood vessels dilate and they “feel” their hands becoming heavier and warmer.

Others have successfully warmed their hands by visualizing them immersed in a bowl of hot water. Still others prefer to picture themselves washing dishes in a tub of hot, soapy water. Yet others imagine themselves reaching out to warm their hands in front of a fire of glowing coals. Use whichever scenes and suggestions work best to warm your hands.

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Poor muscle tone in face and head muscles seems to generalize back into the smooth muscles that surround each blood vessel in the head. Poor muscle tone in blood vessels encourages the constriction and dilation that make headaches possible.

Several headache clinics have found that when voluntary muscles in the face and head are toned up, muscles surrounding blood vessels will assume the same improved tone. As a result, incidence of chronic headache is significantly lessened.

Many people with chronic headaches have reported that, used prophylactically twice a day, this technique has diminished the frequency and seventy of both tension and migraine headaches. Still other headache sufferers have found that the same technique has brought speedy relief from a tension or migraine headache mat has already begun.

Here’s all you do. First, tense your entire scalp, forehead and face muscles, hold tightly for six seconds, and release. Repeat nine more times. Make sure that you tense every part of your face, forehead and scalp.

Secondly, raise and lower the eyebrows; squeeze the eyes shut tight, then hold them wide open; wrinkle the nose; make faces; yawn; frown; and wiggle the ears and scalp. Continue these movements for 90 seconds.

Practiced twice a day, this set of action steps promises almost certain prevention and relief for any type of chronic tension or migraine headache.

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Taken together, vitamin Ñ and a vitamin B-complex supplement are believed to work synergistically to achieve a level of muscle relaxation that has helped some women reduce the frequency and intensity of classic migraine attacks.

Several clinical ecologists have reported finding consistently low levels of  vitamins in chronic migraine sufferers, especially women. Although low levels of vitamins B1, B2 and Bs can each contribute to headache risk, the key nutrient appears to be vitamin B3, or niacin.

Niacin comes in two forms, niacin, also called nicotinic acid, and niacinamide. The principal difference is that niacin causes a skin flush about 15 minutes after taking while niacinamide usually does not. Both types are freely available in health food stores in 50-milligram tablets. For headache therapy, niacinamide is usually recommended.

Although no studies have confirmed niacinamide’s effectiveness, the literature contains numerous anecdotal reports in which niacinamide has been used successfully, both for long-term migraine prevention, and to abort a classic migraine attack. According to these reports, vitamin therapy seems to be most effective when used by female migraineurs.

For prevention, you can take 500 mg of vitamin Ñ daily, together with the manufacturer’s recommended dosage of a B-complex supplement that contains all the principal  vitamins, including niacin or niacinamide.

Even better results have been obtained by adding two heaping tablespoons of brewer’s yeast to your breakfast cereal each morning; or by stirring it into a glass of orange juice. If, in addition, you eat plenty of other whole grain foods plus fresh fruits and vegetables each day, you should not need to take supplements of either vitamin Ñ or the  vitamins. Brewer’s yeast is an inexpensive nutrient available in every health food store. It is a rich source of  vitamins, including niacin. Naturally, if yeast is a migraine trigger for you, you will prefer to take supplements rather man brewer’s yeast.

Whether you take brewer’s yeast or a B-complex supplement daily it will be at least 15 days before the average migraineur begins replenishing her depleted store of  vitamins. So take it for several weeks before anticipating results.

In addition to using vitamins  and Ñ prophylactically, some women have claimed that by taking a 50 mg tablet of niacinamide at the first hint of an approaching aura, they

have aborted a classic migraine headache. We have also seen several reports in which women were able to abort classic migraine attacks by taking a regular vitamin B-complex supplement at the first sign of aura symptoms.

Niacinamide appears to work by dilating capillaries in the skin about 15 minutes after taking. This dilation, it has been suggested, could break up a migraine sequence in Stage 2.

Many approved stress formulas include 100 mg of daily niacinamide. At the daily amounts mentioned here, 500 mg for vitamin Ñ and 50 mg for niacinamide, both vitamins are considered entirely safe. However, it is generally considered that no one should take more than 100 mg of niacinamide per day without a doctor’s supervision.

If you have any kind of health problem, or are taking any kind of medication, you should see your doctor before taking vitamins or changing your diet. Naturally, should any adverse side effects appear, such as itchy skin, nausea or red patches in the skin, you should immediately discontinue taking niacinamide or other vitamins.

Since  vitamins work more effectively when the entire complex is present, a single B-complex supplement is preferable to taking separate amounts of each  vitamin.

Obviously, vitamin therapy isn’t going to stop migraine in everyone. But expensive and toxic drugs are not always successful either. Taking vitamins prophylactically, especially in the form of food, is a low-cost natural therapy available to everyone without risk or inconvenience.

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Amino acids (proteins) in the foods we eat are the body’s only source of norepinephrine and serotonin. The amino acid phenylalanine is the precursor of norepinephrine while trvptophan is the precursor of serotonin. Chronic migraine headache sufferers invariably have a deficiency of one or both.

Immediately the fighti-or-flight response is evoked, norepineprine is released. Swiftly it locks into beta receptors on blood vessels in the head, causing them to constrict powerfully. A few minutes later (typically 4 to 8 minutes), serotonin appears and intensifies the constriction, causing the blood vessels to go into spasm. Artery spasm is further enhanced by the presence of calcium. In vascular headaches, calcium must be present for arteries to constrict.

At this point, the immune system steps in and releases yet another chemical messenger, histamine, which creates inflammation by causing blood vessels to swell.

Both calcium and histamine must be present for the headache process to continue. If either is blocked by intervention, constriction ceases, artery walls return to normal size, and the headache is aborted. Not surprisingly, several anti-headache medications work by blocking one or other

of these chemicals.

Next, serotonin teams up with a substance called bradykinin. Together, they coat the arteries of scalp and brain, making these blood vessels extremely sensitive to pain. Blood flow to cells in the brain and scalp is then reduced.

Faced with this potent array of biochemicals, the stabilizing influence of the body’s normal adrenohormone supply is powerless to prevent a rebound effect. In a desperate attempt to bring in more blood and oxygen, the blood vessels rebel with a sudden and explosive dilation.

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Doctors are under tremendous pressure by drug manufacturers to place as many people as possible on lifelong maintenance drugs. All too often, both doctors and patients fail to realize that long-term use of headache drugs can lead to helplessness, hopelessness, depression and anxiety. In turn, these negative emotions merely exacerbate headache pain.

In reality, virtually all the functions achieved by drugs can also be achieved by using natural, drugless therapies instead. For example, drugs attempt to stop headache pain by intervening in bodily processes that are normally controlled by the involuntary nervous system. Most doctors consider that anything controlled by the involuntary nervous system is beyond our personal control. But behavioral medicine has effectively smashed this cherished belief by demonstrating that we can gain indirect control of several of the most important body functions involved in the headache process. In headache therapy, by warming the hands and feet, we can draw blood away from the head and forestall a migraine attack.

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