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I Was A Cardiac Cripple - Life In the Sagittarius Dwarf Galaxy

2008-07-10T13:46:00.001-07:00

Foreword

Dear reader. This is a recounting of my battle with cardiovascular, cerebrovascular, and peripheral artery disease. I am not a Medical Doctor, I am just someone that was sick, and found a way back from the abyss.

From childhood, I have been a voracious reader, and the internet information highway, thanks to Al Gore, has allowed me to research my disease, and develop a lifestyle that lets me to live with my illness in ways I never thought possible.

It is a lifestyle free of Zocor, Plavix, Lopressor and all the other "medicines" associated with vascular disease, and the side effects that go with their use.

I present this information to you in the name of knowledge, good health and peace.

And to future generations of humans: "I hope they have a better understanding."

Disclaimer

The information contained herein is merely for informational and entertainment purposes. No cure or professed cure of any disease should be inferred from the reading of this material, or any portion of it. The writer is not a Medial Doctor, nor does the writer profess to offer any cures. In fact, much of what is written are the ravings of a lunatic fringe nutter, so enjoy, and take everything said with a grain of salt.

The following is simply a recounting of a portion of time in my life. A time when sickness ruled, and the days were long and bleak.

Chapter One

San Francisco

Everyone knows that I never mumbled prayers.

Everyone also knows I never tried to hide my faults.

I don't know whether a higher Judge and a higher Kindness exist - but still,

I am full of confidence as I have always been true to myself.

Omar Khayyam

It was 1993, and San Francisco State University was abuzz with students returning for the new semester. The smell of fall was in the air, a reminder that the monsoon rains would soon return, once again turning the hills a beautiful, emerald green colour. As I walked across the campus, my leg muscles suddenly tightened, making it extremely difficult to maintain my pace. It felt as if my legs were set in concrete. Unable to figure out what was happening, I didn't say anything to my companion. Thankfully we only had a short distance to go to complete our journey, whereupon I was able to sit. The cramps eased away shortly thereafter.

I was forty years old, and had just experienced what was to later become a life and death struggle with coronary and peripheral artery disease. I was six feet tall and weighed 165 pounds. I had always been athletic, and sailed a small sailboat 4-5 hours most Saturdays and Sundays, weather permitting. I was active. I snow skied, played singles tennis and water skied, however I was aware I was slowing down some. I was also a heavy, 2 pack+ a day smoker. And my eating habits were not the best. My life was changing and I wasn't aware of how serious the changes were. After the leg cramping incident, I did realize that I needed to stop smoking. So after 25 years of nasty cigarettes, I did just that. I stopped cold turkey. And enrolled in a health club, where I worked out 4-5 times a week.

This routine carried on for two years, until my girlfriend up and moved to Dubai. In a funk, I quit going to the gym, reverted to smoking, and cast my fate. There was no logic to my actions. The stresses of a drawn out divorce and work pressures would have been better handled by going to the gym. I chose cigarettes instead. It would be many years before I would be able to figure out a way to quit smoking for good. And in the process of quitting, I learned why it is so hard for smokers to quit. Armed with this information, it fortified my resolve to quit. Later on, I will tell you what makes the nicotine so bloody addictive, as well as how to wean yourself from it; for once and for all time.

Life progressed, and in 1999 I found myself in a position to pursue a business venture I had in mind. Carpe diem, eh! I did just that.

Chapter Two

Borneo

The island of Borneo conjures images of headhunters, isolation, mighty rivers, and wild jungle scenery. Situated in south-east Asia, it is the third largest island in the world, and is shared by Malaysia, Brunei (where I was headed), and Indonesia.

Brunei, or more formally, Negara Brunei Darussalam (Abode of Peace) sits a few degrees north of the equator, and roughly 700 miles east of Singapore. It is a small country, with a total population of 300,000 people. Out of that 300,000, probably 100,000 are guest workers, brought in to perform the jobs that Bruneians do not want. Most shop keepers and business owners are of Chinese ethnicity and a multi-tiered citizenship (caste) system exist, with different levels of citizenship and rights for non-Muslims born in Brunei, primarily Chinese. In the main, guest workers are from the Philippines, Indonesia (Kalimantan) and Thailand. It is similar, though on a much smaller scale, to what is happening in the USA today with the Hispanic migration, with the major difference being that all the guest workers in Brunei are there legally. In Brunei, guest workers do not have the rights illegal workers enjoy in the USA. In fact, in Brunei and most Middle Eastern countries, a guest worker may switch jobs, that is become employed by another employer, only by leaving the country for six months prior to beginning the new position. Needless to say, employment is full and stable.

Bandar Seri Begawan, or BSB, is the capitol and largest city of Brunei. Bandar was dubbed "The Venice of the East" in 1521, when Magellan's fleet visited, due to the large number of houses built in the river. The word for village in Malay is kampong, and for water it is ayer, hence kampong ayer, or water village. The homes are elevated on stilts, with interconnecting boardwalks. Accessibility is primarily by water taxi or private water craft. The kampong has its own schools, fire department, mosque, restaurants, shops and hospital. Roughly 30,000 Bruneians live in the kampong ayer. They have been doing so for over 1300 years. A ride out to the kampong is less than two minutes. Once there, you are free to walk around. You will notice the friendly nature of the residents. Do not be surprised if you are asked inside a home to visit, have some tea, and perhaps even stay for dinner. Bruneians are well known for their hospitality and friendliness. When the men shake your hand, they will do so with a light grasp and then take that hand and touch their heart. The Brunei women are some of the most fashionably dressed women in the Islamic world, and are not required to wear the tudong, or head scarf, though many do. When they do, you can bet it will be any colour but black!

Brunei is a cradle to grave society, or Shellfare state, as it is Shell Oil that removes the oil and gas deposits, giving Brunei one of the highest per capita incomes of any Asian nation. Predominately Muslim, it sends its young people off to uni for an education, generally to UK or Australia. When they return, university degree in hand, they find there are no jobs for them. It is a perplexing problem that Brunei has yet to fully address.

A monarchy, Brunei is ruled by Sultan Hassanal Bolkiah, who, until the ascent of Bill Gates and later, Slim Helu, was known as the richest man in the world. The Bolkiah family has been on the throne for over 600 years, making them the oldest seated, surviving, royal family in the world. A former British protectorate, Brunei loves things British .The Istana Nurul Iman, the Sultan's palace, contains 1788 rooms, plus 250 bathrooms. I have had the treat of seeing a portion of the Sultan's personal fourth floor residence, and it is opulent with a capital O.

A joke around Brunei among the ex-pats is that the Sultan will defend Brunei down to the last Ghurka, a reference to the 5,000 man contingent the Sultan employs as a personal mike force. The British also maintain a small garrison of troops in Seria, near the oil fields, conveniently conducting a jungle warfare training and tracker school. I remember that the only time in recent history that a guerrilla insurgency was successfully defeated occurred on the island of Borneo. The ChiComs or Chinese Communists were soundly defeated by British commandos, in the jungles of Malaya, with the conflict culminating in the political capitulation of Sukarno of Indonesia in1965.

Kuala Lumpur, Manila, Ho Chi Minh City, Hong Kong, Jakarta, Bali and Bangkok are all between 700 and 1000 air miles from Brunei, making it a great jump off point for traveling in the region. Brunei's flag carrier is Royal Brunei Airlines or RBA as the locals call it. If you have the opportunity to fly RBA, take it. I found the service to be as good as that of Singapore, whom many consider to have the best cabin service amongst the major global carriers. As with most air carriers of Islamic nations, RBA has video monitors throughout the cabins depicting the geographic location of Mecca and the real time position of your aircraft relative to Mecca, thus allowing the faithful to always know the direction in which their most holiest of cities lies. When inbound, the in cabin service announcements prior to arrival also includes one which states that the penalty for drug possession/use in Brunei is death, so if you are thinking of visiting, leave the spliffs at home. In reality, Brunei does not use the death penalty, as the last execution in Brunei was 1957, and was associated with the uprisings in the region.

So there I was. I had successfully negotiated a joint venture with a European company doing business in Brunei. I had a widening circle of friends and I had traveled to Thailand, Malaysia and the Philippines on business calls, with some side trips for sightseeing. I had also, with some luck, side-stepped a potentially sticky situation in Manila. The Philippine President at the time was Joseph "ERAP" Estrada, a former movie actor and film producer, known as the Ronald Reagan of the Philippines. In my experience, it is the rare Filipino that does not have a nick name. Erap is pare backwards, which means dude or buddy in Englog, which is English upon which Tagalog, a Filipino dialect, is infused. Anyways, I had presented a business proposal to President Estrada through his nephew, who ran a Philippines remittance bank. Before my deal could be consummated, ERAP found himself impeached and behind bars on corruption charges. He recently received a sentence of life imprisonment for plunder. No more Malaca�ang Palace or Forbes Park for him. Such is life in the Philippines, and such is karma.

It was, in some ways, reminiscent of a brief venture a business partner and I had in Russia shortly after the planned fall of Gorbachev and Communism. It was a 10 year multi-million dollar deal. Payment initially was made with Irrevocable Letters of Credit, but switched quickly to wire transfers in U.S. Dollars to an off-shore "sweep account" and. from there on to another corporate bank account.

Our initial contact was a New York based "Russian diplomat," read KGB, who parlayed the deal for a consulting fee of $5,000 US per month. Well, within the first year the whole thing went south on us. The company we were dealing with was taken over, literally, by Chechen mafia types that sped around Moscow in a convoy of black Mercedes 600's.

Most were fond of carrying big iron, and one would occasionally catch a glimpse of a pistol butt under a $2,000 Armani sports coat. It was the Wild West in the East, Russian style. All that was missing were Crockett and Tubbs. I had set up the contract agreement in anticipation of problems, but being in a business dispute with gun toting Black Russians wasn't part of the deal. Our agreement stipulated that any contract dispute be adjudicated in Sweden, under Swedish law. It had become necessary to try and enforce our position, as the Chechens had abrogated our contract. Well, by the time we were about 50 lawyer hours deep into this, the Russian legislative body, the Duma, or House, passed a law allowing complete reorganization of all businesses of the Rodina. There was absolutely no redress for us once this happened. Das vidanya, tovarish

Not too much later, some eighty odd top Mafioso types were killed on the very same day across the 12 time zones of former Mother Russia; presumably compliments of the new and improved "wet affairs department" of the "former" KGB. Since that time there has been a melding of ex-KGB operatives and gangsters. It makes for a particularly violent criminal type, with criminal activities now largely controlled behind the scenes by the state as a result of the contrived "birth of capitalism" there.

Back in Borneo, I am still smoking cigarettes and not doing any exercise. I feel okay, but not great.

One day a friend called and invited me to a Hash. For the uninitiated, a Hash is a staged athletic event in which middle aged men with too much Testosterone crash through the jungle, hell bent for leather and crying "On," On" as they follow a trail of cloth strips laid out the preceding day. At the end of the run, all gather round and drink copious amounts of beer, accompanied by ceremony and ritual that seem bizarre to the first time initiate.

Hash House Harriers, aka H3, came about when A.S. Gispert, a British accountant of Catalonian descent, more informally known as "G", along with other British ex-pats in Malaya conceived the idea in a Kuala Lumpur (KL) hash house; harriers are a British dog used to run game; think of a beagle on steroids and you have a good idea of the size and look of the breed..

Billed as a drinking club with a running problem, the Goals of the Hash from the 1938 charter are:

-To promote physical fitness among our members.

-To get rid of weekend hangovers.

-To acquire a good thirst and satisfy it in beer.

-To persuade the older members that they are not as old as they feel.

Well, that all sounded fine to me, so at the appointed time, my friend rang round, and off we went to run in the jungles of Borneo. After a short ride, we arrived at the edge of a jungle clearing in Kota Batu district. Cars were parked on both shoulders of the road, and a gang of roughly 100 men milled about, exchanging jokes and small talk. This was to be a male only run, as the kennel I was with, BH3 (Brunei Hash House Harriers), is male only. There are mixed and female only kennels in Brunei as well. BH3 is the 4th oldest hash around, and was formed in 1963, following Singapore as number two and a one-off kennel in Italy as third.

As the group started walking out across the clearing, the cry On, On rang out, and the chase began, as the trail was struck. I managed to go 100 meters before my legs began to cramp in a most severe fashion. I recognized the d�j� vuness of the moment instantly.

Well, needless to say, I was not able to do the Hash. I did start a walking regimen the next day with my friend, who kindly offered to buddy up to make the walking a little less boring. We started walking in a park called Tasek Lama, (old lake) sited below the BSB water reservoir. It was a good place to begin, as there was a flat portion leading to a water fall. We did this for several days, and then began the climb up to the reservoir.

Chapter Three

June 2003

Blue Ridge Mountains

It's been some time now since we spoke. When last I left you, I was in Borneo, and things were going okay for me. Time and circumstance are of a new day, and my health and economic situation have, hand in hand, steadily deteriorated. To say I am depressed would be a huge understatement. I live a sedentary lifestyle, brought on by my worsening health. I know that I am on the edge, and chew aspirins whenever I have chest pains or faintness. And I am still addicted to those nasty cigarettes. God how I hate them and my addiction. I managed to roto-till a 20x20 foot patch of dirt this spring, and though it was physically very demanding, today I am blessed with a bumper crop of vegetables. I have just returned from the garden with some of them when I get that familiar sensation in my chest, so I make a beeline for my bed. Five minutes and two aspirin later I am feeling no better. In fact I am feeling like I am going to slip away very quietly. I am at peace with myself. I fully understand what is happening and a call to 911 is made

Like Eric Burden says, "There I was." The time had finally come to pay the piper his dues. And pay I would. I remember very little of the next four or five hours. I awake in a hospital bed, where I am told I have suffered a massive heart attack, and am alive because of two 325mg aspirin I chewed at the onset, and a $10,000 miracle drug that I was given-a super clot buster. I also learn that my heart suffered very little damage thanks to the aspirin I chewed. Stabilized, the following day I am transported to a regional medical center, where I meet with a cardiologist. Actually, he is now MY cardiologist-a sobering thought. There seems to be an endless stream of people into and out of my room for the first few hours, and then everything settles down. This is my first experience with hospitals since I had my tonsils out at age 8. So far it hasn't been too much fun. I'm hooked up to a heart monitor, IV lines, oxygen tube and monitor etc. I am slated for a trip to the cardiac catheterization lab the following morning, where my cardiologist will make a small incision in my groin, and insert a sheath into the artery. He will then carefully thread the catheter through the sheath to the blockage, where he will inflate a small balloon at the tip of the catheter, thus mashing or pressing the buildup of plaque flat into the vessel wall. Often a mesh metal stent is then inserted to ensure the vessel remains open. It all sounds good to me and I sleep as well as one can when a guest in a sick factory. As I slip off to sleep, I reflect on my situation, and recall a line from Persian poet Omar Khayyam; "If you truly want to live in peace, smile at your Fate." I fall asleep with a smile on my face. I am ready for whatever tomorrow will bring. Kismet is my bedfellow.

The catheterization lab is a busy place. Your last food and drink is the night before the procedure, and you are prepped around 5:00 that morning and told you could be called any time. I finally made it to the cath lab at 2:30 p.m. Like I said, it is a busy place. By then, I am starving for something to eat. The cath lab is a cold place and air conditioning reigns supreme as it cools all the high-tech gadgets and toys used to re-plumb you. I am wrapped in several very warm blankets and given Benadryl. It burns briefly as it enters my bloodstream. I watch with interest on the monitor above me, as the catheter is inserted; I see the dye marker and the blockage. I find it all fascinating and I try and hang on, but wind up closing my eyes and resting, until an incredible tightness grips my chest. I am certain I am having a heart attack, and tell the cardiologist of my discomfort. The procedure is halted and I do not remember too much else of what transpired, other than awaking in my hospital bed. After a stent implant procedure, you must lie flat on the bed for 5-6 hours. You may not lift your head for the first 2-3 hours, and then a pillow may be used. A plastic suction device is strapped over the incision and remains on until the incision has healed, usually around 6 hours. If you are not good at going inside your head, this might be a difficult time for you. A friend or relative is always a welcome sight.

I am able to find out that I did have a heart attack, or infarction, in the cath lab. The discomfort I felt was from the brief closure of one of my vessels during the procedure.

My cardiologist had already successfully implanted two stents, and was attempting a third when I experienced the pain in my chest. I now have one Johnson & Johnson Cordis Stent Implant Cards, and one from Boston Scientific. Stent cards should be carried with you at all times my nurse seriously intones. The manufacturers' card provides the basic information, such as the name of the implant physician, date of procedure, location of implant, etc. You get the idea.

Well, I was laying there in my hospital bed thinking that I had come through okay, and that maybe now I could get my life back in order, when the cardiologist came in. He explained that I had heavy plaque buildup in my arteries, and that cardiovascular bypass surgery would be required if I wanted to continue to live. What was that about smiling at your fate?

Next I meet with the guy that is going to crack my chest. He seems competent, and I certainly don't have any options at this late date. The rest of the afternoon is spent subjected to blood samples, x-rays and other diagnostic tests. Everything is a go for surgery tomorrow morning. I am fifty years old.

Namaste

J. Miri

2007

Hairy Problems

2008-07-10T02:35:00.001-07:00

"Dearest granddaughter, come close and look into my eyes." Grandmother Growth beckons and her voice grows deeper and more resonant. "Look deep into my eyes and acknowledge the beauty there.

"Yes, my skin is wrinkled. My face is the face of age, and to many, that is fearful. But my beauty, like my wise blood, now resides inside of me. Can you see it? Can you feel it? Can you look beyond the hair on my chin?" she says grinning, flicking her fingers under her chin in a most unladylike manner.

"Can you forgive the places where my scalp shines through? Can you find the truth of my beauty, the beauty of age, which is so different from the beauty of youth?" Her eyes grow fierce, but sparkle with amusement. "I know you can, for I know how beautiful I am."

Grandmother Growth takes your chin in her strong hand and looks at you with eyes so intense you fear you may catch on fire. She commands: "When you look into your mirror, I ask you to look deep into your own eyes and to acknowledge your own inner beauty.

"I know, I know, metamorphosis is changing you and you don't like it. Like a teenager, you peer and peer into the looking glass, noting every new wrinkle, every hair on your face (and other new places). Counting each grey hair as it grows. Worrying that your hair seems to fall out by the handful.

"Dear one, my most precious child, take care, but do not fret. And do not tell yourself that you are becoming ugly. I know it is difficult, in fact it may be one of the most difficult tasks of your menopause, but you must recast your own opinion of beauty so that it includes old women who have hairy problems and live well with them - like you!"

Too much hair (on the chin), too little hair (on the scalp), falling hair, thinning hair, greying hair - no matter what the complaint, many women notice something happening to their hair during menopause. As hormone levels shift during the menopausal years, hair responds to the changing hormones by changing texture, falling out, or by growing in "odd" places. Here are remedies for those who want more hair, and for those who want less.

HAIR LOSS (ALOPECIA) & GREY HAIR

STEP 1. COLLECT INFORMATION

Menopause does not cause grey hair; taking hormones doesn't stop it. Greying, thinning hair is a normal part of aging. Women whose menopause is induced in their 20s and 30s do not suddenly go grey.

Hair loss at mid-life (androgenic alopecia) is more strongly linked to genes than diet or lifestyle. Those of European origins are far more likely to experience it than Asians, Native Americans, Africans, or African-Americans. Hair loss starts earlier and becomes more extreme on men's heads, but just as many women deal with receding hairlines and balding patches. Roughly half of all women experience some hair loss during their menopausal years. Two-thirds of post-menopausal women deal with thinning hair or bald spots. And no one likes it. Americans spend a billion dollars a year trying to regrow their hair!

Normal hair loss (50-100 hairs a day) is gradual. Sudden unexplained loss is not normal. Events which can trigger hair loss include pregnancy, childbirth, menopause, severe emotional stress, rapid or profound weight loss, thyroid disorders, pituitary problems, malnutrition, iron deficiency, lack of protein, large doses of vitamin A, chemotherapy, radiation, general anesthesia, chronic illness, scarlet fever, syphilis, certain medications (see Step 5), and hair abuse including bleaching, permanents, tight braids, tight pony tails, tight wigs, and tight hats.

(The National Alopecia Areata Foundation, 710 C St, Ste 11, San Rafael, CA 94901 (415-456-4644) can help you contact a local hair loss support group, and gather more information.)

STEP 2. ENGAGE THE ENERGY

Homeopathic remedies for women with hair loss include:

Lycopodium: loss precipitated by hormonal fluctuations.
Sepia especially for menopausal women who have sweaty flushes and heavy bleeding
Phosphoric acid: loss after grief or extreme emotion, accompanied by exhaustion.

STEP 3. NOURISH AND TONIFY

Infusion of stinging nettle, 2-4 cups a day, strengthens hair and checks falling hair with its superb supplies of protein, B vitamins, vitamin E, iron, and other minerals. Regular use restores thickness, body, shine and sheen to hair. If you have any infusion left over, pour it on your head and rub it into your scalp for faster results.
"Every grey hair represents a day with too few minerals," a wise woman said to me. Actually, the color of hair is produced by special cells which gradually die as we age. But it is true that hair is loaded with minerals, and getting extra minerals may keep those color cells alive longer. To increase my mineral intake, and keep my hair healthy, I eat more yogurt, drink more nourishing herbal infusions, prepare more mineral-rich soups, use more herbal vinegars, and increase the amount of seaweed in my diet.
Lack of minerals, especially iron, can cause hair loss. Yellow dock is one of my favorite iron-tonics.
Natural hair dyes can cure the grey blahs. Henna (Lawsonia inermis) is a plant that is easily purchased ready-to-use to change the color of your hair, and you are not limited to carrot-top red. So long as it is not overused (less than four times a year) henna is strengthening to the scalp and hair.
Other natural hair dyes include coffee, black walnut hulls, or infusions of sage or rosemary herb.
Herbalist Amanda McQuade Crawford suggests using lemon balm or lemon grass infusion as a hair rinse to prevent hair loss.
Burdock seed oil, one of the best selling hair tonics in Russia, is especially recommended for those with thinning hair or hair loss. Apply to your hair and scalp, leave on overnight and shampoo it out the following day. Repeat as needed.
Just plain olive oil is also a tremendous hair tonic. So is jojoba oil. Apply a handful of either to hair and scalp, wrap well and leave on overnight, washing it out the next morning.
I know you know, but let me say it again, exercise! Yes, it can make your hair healthier too.

STEP 4. SEDATE/STIMULATE

While some temporary loss of hair at menopause is considered normal, something worse may be brewing. Thin, dry hair is one of the first signs of an underactive thyroid. Hair loss is also an early sign of lupus, an autoimmune disease.
Chugging down a gulp of cod liver oil or wheat germ oil every day for six weeks could help your hair.
Menopause sends lots of energy to the crown of your head. That can overstimulate the scalp and cause hair loss (and/or headaches). Get your energy moving with a scalp massage. Let your head calm down and your hair cool off.
Blow dryers, dyes, perms, and other harsh treatments damage hair and scalp. Rosemary essential oil, a few drops rubbed into the scalp several times a week, repairs the damage, increases hair growth, and improves hair texture.
Other essential oils which improve hair growth and reduce hair loss include lavender oil, lemon oil, thyme oil, sage oil, and carrot seed oil. You can mix 10-20 drops of any of these into 4 ounces of plain olive oil, infused burdock seed oil, or jojoba oil. Other essential oils said to reduce hair loss include birch, calendula, chamomile, cypress, rose, and yarrow.
Avoid chlorinated water on your hair. A shower filter is more important than a drinking water filter. And cut down on the number of times you wash your hair. Once every 5-10 days is ideal for healthy hair.
Avoid cayenne. Heroic herbalists say it increases hair growth by improving blood circulation to the scalp. But when there is hair loss, says Janet Roberts MD, speCialist in women's hair loss and member of the Oregon Menopause Network, there are inflamed follicles. Cayenne increases inflammation, ultimately increasing hair loss.

STEP 5A. USE SUPPLEMENTS

Dry, brittle, thin hair is often due to a deficiency in one or more of these nutrients: protein, vitamin A, vitamin B12, vitamin C, iron, zinc, essential fatty acids. Food and herbal sources of these nutrients are preferable to pills.
Avoid hair weaving, a cosmetic treatment that weaves replacement hair in with the still existing hair; it actually causes more loss (by creating traction alopecia).

STEP 5B. USE DRUGS

Hair loss can be caused by drugs, including: birth control pills, anticoagulants, diet pills, thyroid medications; non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs including aspirin, ibuprofen, and Aleve; cholesterol-lowering drugs such as clofibrate and gemfibrozil; arthritis medications such as gold salts (auranofin), indomethacin, naproxen, sulindac, and methotrexate; beta-blockers such as atenolol (Tenormin), metoprolol (Lopressor), nadolol (Corgard), propranolol (Inderal), and timolol (Blocadren); and ulcer drugs such as Cimetidine (Tagamet), ranitidine (Zantac), and famoridine (Pepcid). And, of course, chemotherapy.
Minoxidil (Rograine) dilates blood vessels, encouraging baby-fine hair. Only the 2% solution is approved for women. Of those who use it only 19% achieve even moderate regrowth; 40% have minimal regrowth. Meanwhile, 40% of the women using the placebo had regrowth! CAUTION: Side effects in women include unwanted hair growth on the face, heart disturbances, and dizziness.
Fertile women are not allowed to use (or even touch) finasteride (Propecia) for fear of the severe birth defects it causes. This is probably a blessing in disguise, as the side-effects (loss of libido, lip swelling, breast engorgement, birth defects) are not pleasant. Finasteride is completely ineffective in reversing hair loss for postmenopausal women. Tell your men friends a dose of 0.2 mg (one-fifth the normal dose) works just as well, costs less ($10 a month instead of $50), and is gentler on the liver.
Hormones, including ERT, HRT, birth control pills, and anti-androgens (cypoterone acetate, spironolactone, and fluramide) are used singly or in combination to treat women with androgenic alopecia.

STEP 6. BREAK AND ENTER

Hair transplants can cover a bald spot but are far less successful on women than on men. Micrografts do a better job of dealing with women's diffuse pattern of hair loss.
"Scalp lifts" tighten the scalp, making hair appear thicker and fuller.

HIRSUTISM/TOO MUCH HAIR

STEP 0. DO NOTHING

A few brazen souls just grin and bear it. Seriously, does anyone else notice that extra hair? Ask a few people who will tell you the truth. Perhaps you are making a mountain (beard/moustache) out of a molehill (a couple of extra hairs)?

STEP 1. COLLECT INFORMATION

It is not at all unusual to find extra hairs growing on the chin, upper lip, breasts, and legs during or after menopause. It is thought that menopause makes some hair follicles more sensitive to Testosterone's hair-promoting effects. However, sudden hair growth can be caused by a tumor on the ovaries, thyroid, adrenals, or pituitary.

STEP 2. ENGAGE THE ENERGY

Visualize a large mirror. Look at yourself in this mirror. When you see something you don't like, ask the mirror how you can change. Finish by telling your image how much you love her. Repeat frequently.

STEP 3. NOURISH AND TONIFY

Oatstraw infusion tends to increase the activity of Testosterone; increased levels of Testosterone contribute to excess hair growth during menopause. It's a long shot, but avoiding oats, oatmeal, and oatstraw infusion may help eliminate or reduce those extra hairs.

STEP 4. SEDATE/STIMULATE

Natural bleaches, like lemon juice or sunlight (or both together), are generally safe even for use on the sensitive skin of the face.
Shaving, plucking, and waxing are minimally invasive means of removing excess hair. Such means may increase the rate of hair growth, however, or make the texture of the hair coarser, or cause hair follicle inflammation and ingrown hairs.

STEP 5B. USE DRUGS

Hirsutism may be caused by corticosteroids and medications for high blood pressure. (Rograine was originally a blood pressure drug.)
Drug treatments - which are 80% successful according to one MD - include the corticosteroids Prednisone and dexamethasone. Hormones, including birth-control pills and anti-androgens such as spironolactone, are occasionally used.

STEP 6. BREAK AND ENTER

Electrolysis is expensive, painful, tedious, must be done several times over, and can cause scarring. Most sources advise against home electrolysis.

_________________________

Legal Disclaimer: This content is not intended to replace conventional medical treatment. Any suggestions made and all herbs listed are not intended to diagnose, treat, cure or prevent any disease, condition or symptom. Personal directions and use should be provided by a clinical herbalist or other qualified healthcare practitioner with a specific formula for you. All material contained herein is provided for general information purposes only and should not be considered medical advice or consultation. Contact a reputable healthcare practitioner if you are in need of medical care. Exercise self-empowerment by seeking a second opinion.

Susun WeedPO Box 64Woodstock, NY 12498Fax: 1-845-246-8081

Vibrant, passionate, and involved, Susun Weed has garnered an international reputation for her groundbreaking lectures, teachings, and writings on health and nutrition. She challenges conventional medical approaches with humor, insight, and her vast encyclopedic knowledge of herbal medicine. Unabashedly pro-woman, her animated and enthusiastic lectures are engaging and often profoundly provocative.

Susun is one of America's best-known authorities on herbal medicine and natural approaches to women's health. Her four best-selling books are recommended by expert herbalists and well-known physicians and are used and cherished by millions of women around the world. Learn more at http://www.susunweed.com

Headache Types and Treatment Options

2008-07-07T08:19:00.001-07:00

What is headache?

Headache is a term used to describe aching or pain that occurs in one or more areas of the head, face, mouth, or neck. Headache involves the network of nerve fibers in the tissues, muscles, and blood vessels located in the head and at the base of the skull.

Almost everyone has occasional headaches, especially when they are sick, tired or otherwise under stress. Headache is the result of pain signals caused by interactions between the brain, blood vessels, and surrounding nerves. During a headache, the pain comes not from the brain. It comes from specific nerves surrounding the skull, head muscles, and blood vessels that are activated and send pain signals, interpreted by the brain as a headache. The reasons why these nerves are activated are not clearly understood. Most headaches go away on their own or are easily treated with over the counter (OTC) drugs.

Headache types

There are two main categories of headache: primary and secondary.

The major types of primary headaches include:

Tension headache

Cluster headache

Migraine

Primary headaches are not caused by other underlying medical conditions. More than 90% of headaches are primary.

Secondary

Secondary headaches result from other medical conditions, such as cerebrovascular disease, head trauma, infection, tumor, and metabolic disorder. These account for fewer than 10% of all headaches. Head pain also can result from syndromes involving the eyes, ears, neck, teeth, or sinuses. In these cases, the underlying condition must be diagnosed and treated. Also, certain types of medication produce headache as a side effect.

Many people have occasional headaches that get better on their own or go away with OTC drug treatment. Most of these people never see a healthcare provider for their headaches, however, there are several circumstances in which an evaluation by a physician may be useful or important:

Headaches that are getting worse over time

Severe headaches that start suddenly

Headaches that start after a head injury

Headaches that always occur on the same side of the head

Headaches that are not responding to treatment

Severe headaches that interrupt work or the enjoyment of daily activities

Daily headaches

Aggravated by exertion, coughing, bending, or sexual activity

Tension Headache

Tension headaches are the most common type of headaches. They affect up to 75% of all headache sufferers. Tension headache is usually episodic but may be chronic, occurring daily or almost daily for more than 15 days a month. This type of headache is linked with tension in neck and scalp muscles, affecting blood flow within the skull.

Tension headaches often start in the afternoon or early evening. The pain is typically on both sides of the head, pressing or tightening. Some people get tension headaches in response to stressful events. Tension headaches usually do not get worse with physical activity (such as walking or climbing stairs).

Treatment

The occasional tension headache can be alleviated by a hot shower, massage, sleep, and through patient recognition and avoidance of stress factors.

For episodic tension headaches that occur less than three times per week, OTC pain relievers such as aspirin, Acetaminophen (Tylenol) or ibuprofen (Advil, Motrin) are convenient and effective. Combination products of pain medication with caffeine may help some people, but also may be habit forming. Use of any OTC pain reliever should be limited to no more than two or three days per week. If pain medications are overused, rebound headaches may occur on the days that medications are not taken.

Chronic tension headaches are more difficult to treat, because rebound headaches are common when pain relievers are stopped. The most effective medications for treatment of chronic tension headaches are tricyclic antidepressants (amitriptyline HCl, doxepin HCl, nortriptyline HCl). However, it is often more effective to prevent these headaches than to treat them.

Some people are able to treat their tension headaches without medications. An ice compress, a heating pad or a massage to any tight areas in the neck and shoulders can be extremely helpful. Relaxation techniques, such as deep breathing exercises or acupuncture, may help to decrease the frequency of headaches.

Cluster Headache

Cluster headaches are relatively rare, affecting about 1% of the population. They are distinct from migraine and tension headaches. Cluster headaches primarily affect men between the ages of 20 and 40. Attacks usually occur in a series, or "clusters" of 1 - 8 headaches per day over a period of several weeks to months. The pain is extremely severe but the attack is brief, lasting 15 minutes to 3 hours. The pain of cluster headache almost always occurs on one side of the head. During cluster headaches, the eye on the same side as the pain may become teary or droopy or develop a small pupil. There may also be nasal congestion on the affected side of the face.

About 80% of cluster headaches occur at night, and in about 70% of patients, drinking alcohol can trigger a cluster headache. Unlike migraine sufferers, those with cluster headache often feel better if they keep moving during the headache.

Treatment

It is difficult to stop the pain of a cluster headache that is in progress, because the headache usually disappears by the time the patient reaches the emergency room or doctor's office. Because the onset of cluster headache attacks is rapid and may occur several times a day, the best approach to treatment is with daily preventive drugs to decrease the severity and frequency of headaches. Lithium (Carbolith, Duralith, Lithane, Lithobid, Lithonate and others) and Verapamil (Isoptin, Calan, Chronovera, Verelan, Novo-Veramil) are the two drugs that are most effective at accomplishing this. Other drugs used for this purpose include Prednisone (Deltasone, Meticorten, Orasone 1, Winpred and others), cyproheptadine (Periactin) and methysergide (Sansert). Prophylactic medications usually are begun early during a cycle of cluster headaches and continued for two weeks longer than the usual cycle.

Abortive treatments include inhalation of 100% oxygen. Inhaling 100% oxygen for about 15 minutes through a facemask has proven to be helpful when it is done at the first signs of an attack. This oxygen must be prescribed by a doctor and obtained through a medical supplier. Other types of drugs that may be effective when used at the outset of cluster pain include the triptans (Imitrex, Maxalt, Zomig, Axert, Amerge), ergotamine (Cafergot) and indomethacin (Indocin).

Migraine Headache

Migraine headaches are less common than tension headaches. About 6% of all men and 18% of all women experience a migraine headache at some time. Migraine headache occurs on one or both sides of the head. The pain is typically pulsating or throbbing in nature. Nausea, with or without vomiting, as well as sensitivity to light and sound often accompany migraines. Migraines are made worse by activity, bright lights and bright noises. In most cases, migraine attacks are occasional, or sometimes as often as once or twice a week, but not daily. Women who have migraines often find that their headaches occur or worsen around the time of their menstrual periods.

One unique feature of migraines is an unusual sensation that a migraine is about to occur. This sensation is called a prodrome. Prodrome symptoms can include fatigue, hunger and nervousness. Not all people who get migraines have prodromes.

An aura is a complex of neurological symptoms that occur just before or at the onset of migraine headache. An aura involves a disturbance in vision that may consist of brightly colored or blinking lights in a pattern that moves across the field of vision. Most patients with migraine have attacks without aura. About one in five migraine sufferers experiences an aura.

Treatment

How your migraines are treated will depend on the frequency and severity of attacks. People who have a headache several times per year often respond well to nonprescription pain relievers.

There are two types of medications to treat migraines:

abortive medications - drugs that are taken when a headache starts

preventive medications - drugs that are taken every day to prevent migraines

Abortive Medications

Migraine-specific abortive medications usually are necessary for moderate to severe migraine headaches. When possible, an abortive medication should be taken immediately after an aura or migraine headache starts. However overusing abortive medications can lead to chronic headaches, that occur day after day without a specific cause or diagnosis. Several prescription and nonprescription drugs are used as abortive medications: aspirin, ibuprofen (Advil, Apsifen, Motrin, Nuprin and other brand names) or naproxen (Aleve, Anaprox, Naprosyn)

Effective agents available by prescription include:

Triptans - sumatriptan (Imitrex), naratriptan (Amerge), zolmitriptan (Zomig) and rizatriptan (Maxalt). Triptan drugs are effective in 60% to 65% of patients, completely or significantly relieving migraine pain and associated symptoms within 2 hours of administration. Triptans reduce inflammation and constrict the blood vessels. The triptan with the longest history of use is sumatriptan (Imitrex).

Ergots - sublingual ergotamine (Ergomar) and dihydroergotamine (Migranal). Ergots cause constriction of blood vessels, but ergots tend to cause more constriction of vessels in the heart and other parts of the body than the triptans, and their effects on the heart are more prolonged than the triptans. Ergots are not as safe as the triptans.

Midrin. It is a combination of isometheptene (a blood vessel constrictor), Acetaminophen (a pain reliever), and dichloralphenazone (a mild sedative)

Preventive Medications

Preventive medication are prescribed when migraine attacks that don't respond well to abortive medications or adverse reactions to abortive medications occur, migraine attacks occur too often, complicated migraines. Many drugs are listed as potentially useful to prevent recurrent migraine attacks. The drugs in the following classes are useful to prevent recurrent migraine attacks:

Beta-blockers. Propranolol (Inderal) and nadolol (Corgard) have a good track record of being safe and effective. Metoprolol (Lopressor) and atenolol (Tenormin) are reasonable alternatives. Beta-blockers have been used for many years to prevent migraine headaches. It is not known how beta-blockers prevent migraine headaches.

Tricyclic antidepressants. These medications are very effective, but often have troublesome side effects such as sedation, blurred vision, dry mouth and constipation. The first choice is often amitriptyline (Elavil). Nortriptyline (Pamelor, Aventyl), doxepin (Sinequan), imipramine (Tofranil) also can be tried.

Anticonvulsants. Of the drugs in this class, valproate (Depakote, Epival) has the best evidence to support using it for prevention. Gabapentin (Neurontin) and topiramate (Topamax) also are effective. It is not known how anticonvulsants work to prevent migraine headaches.

Serotonin antagonists. Methysergide (Sansert) has been available for many years and is very effective. Methysergide prevents migraine headaches by constricting blood vessels and reducing inflammation of the blood vessels. However, this medication has side effects that are potentially very serious and therefore is not widely used.

Rebound Headache

Increasing headache over time with repeated use of pain medicines can lead to a rebound headache. The headache is typically located on both sides of the head and is described as a pressing or tightening type of pain. When headache sufferers use too much pain medicine, their headaches often recur. This leads to a repeated cycle of taking more medicines and still having headaches. Rebound headache may appear if:

taking analgesics on 15 or more days per month for more than 3 months

taking opioid or combination medication 10 or more days per month for more than 3 months

When analgesics are discontinued, the headache may get worse for several days and it may take up to 30 days to recover from the rebound process. Non-drug approaches, such as biofeedback, relaxation therapy, and exercise, can be helpful in reducing both headache frequency and need for medication.

Headache Triggers

Triggers are not direct causes of the headache, but they facilitate or provoke the beginning of an attack. Anything that stimulates the pain receptors in the head and neck can cause a headache. Some of the more common triggers for headache:

Emotional triggers: problems at work, success at work or school, anticipation, anxiety, an emotional crisis, a new job. Emotions can bring on headaches, keep them going, and make them worse. Emotions don't cause your headaches, they just make you more vulnerable to them.

Environmental triggers: bright light, different kinds of aromas like perfume, tobacco, odors (such as gasoline), loud noises, altitude, barometric pressure changes.

Stress triggers: strenuous exercise, excessive physical work at the work place or at school, physical sickness, not enough sleep or too much sleep

Chemical triggers: changes in hormone levels (that occur during the premenstrual period, during the post-menstrual period), low blood sugar.

Food and beverage triggers: caffeine, alcohol (especially red wine), hard cheese, vinegar, hot dogs, chocolate, nuts, MSG (monosodium glutamate), pizza, pork. Foods containing nitrites as preservatives can also trigger headaches. Fasting or missing meals is a major headache trigger.

Changes in the weather can change body chemistry, and have been known to trigger headaches.

Heavy cigarette smoking.

Yury Bayarski is the author of Price-RX.com - a prescription drug price comparison website. Please follow this link if you would like to read more about headache relief prescription drugs.

Hyperthyroidism Treatment Options

2008-07-04T13:56:00.001-07:00

Hyperthyroidism (also known an overactive thyroid) occurs when the thyroid gland produces excessive thyroid hormones. This causes many of the body's functions to speed up. About 2 in 100 women, and 2 in 1000 men, develop hyperthyroidism at some stage of their life.

Treatment of Overactive Thyroid

Three forms of treatment are available for hyperthyroidism. Each of them have their own advantages and limitations and physicians prefer one over the other due to reasons of simplicity, cost and availability and also on the severity of hyperthyroidism, existing illnesses and the age of patient. Each of the possible treatments for an overactive thyroid have some advantages and some disadvantages. In general, all three treatments are highly effective and associated with a low risk of side effects.

Drug Therapy

Drug therapy includes the use of beta-blocking agents and antithyroid drugs.

Antithyroid Drugs (ATD)

Most patients with hyperthyroidism are given antithyroid drugs as initial therapy. There are two main antithyroid drugs available for use in the United States: methimazole (Tapazole) and propylthiouracil (PTU). They interfere with the ability of the thyroid gland to synthesize its hormones and are usually given in high doses until the thyroid gland functions normally (becomes euthyroid). This can take one to two months. PTU is preferred in pregnant hyperthyroid patients.

Indications and Benefits:

availability and simplicity
ATD drugs work well to control the overactive thyroid, bring prompt control of hyperthyroidism, and do not cause permanent damage to the thyroid gland
may be used for long-term treatment of Graves' disease.
PTU is preferred choice in pregnant women with overactive thyroid
preferred treatment by many endocrinologists for children and for adults who refuse radioactive iodine
pretreatment of older and cardiac patients before radioactive iodine or surgery
both medications (methimazole and PTU) considered safe for use while breastfeeding

Disadvantages, Risks and Possible Side Effects:

High relapse rate (relapse is more likely in smokers, patients with large goiters, and patients with positive thyroid-stimulating antibody levels at the end of therapy). Hyperthyroid condition returns in about half of all patients.
PTU can cause elevated liver enzymes, and immunoallergic hepatitis
Methimazole can cause rare cholestasis and rare congenital abnormalities
Minor side effects include rash, fever, gastrointestinal effects, and arthralgia
Rare side effect is called "agranulocytosis". This is a condition in which the white blood cells, which fight infection, disappear from the body. This could be a serious problem if an infection developed while those white blood cells were low. Fortunately, there is usually a warning when you get agranulocytosis - a fever and a sore throat. Patients on antithyroid drugs who develop a fever and a sore throat should stop the pills and call right away to get a blood test. If the blood test shows agranulocytosis, patients must remain off the antithyroid drugs. The white blood cells usually return to normal within one to two weeks.

Beta-blocker Medicines

There are medications available to immediately treat the symptoms caused by excessive thyroid hormones, such as a rapid heart rate. One of the main classes of drugs used to treat these symptoms is the beta-blockers (e.g., Inderal, Tenormin, Lopressor). Some people take a beta-blocker medicine for a few weeks whilst the level of thyroxine is reduced gradually by one of the available treatments.

Indications and Benefits:

Prompt relief of the adrenergic symptoms of hyperthyroidism such as tremor, palpitations, heat intolerance, and nervousness.
Treatment of choice for thyroiditis
First line therapy before surgery, radioactive iodine, and antithyroid drugs
Short term therapy in pregnancy

Disadvantages, Risks and Possible Side Effects:

Must be used with caution in older patients and in patients with pre-existing heart disease, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, or asthma.

Radioactive Iodine (Radioiodine)

The thyroid cells are the only cells in the body that are able to absorb iodine. By giving radioactive iodine, cells in the thyroid are damaged or destroyed and are unable to produce further thyroid hormone. Radioiodine therapy involves taking a drink, or swallowing a capsule, which contains radioactive iodine. The dose of radioactivity to the rest of the body is very low and is not dangerous.

Indications and Benefits:

Inexpensive, highly effective, easy to administer, and safe
High cure rates with single-dose treatment (80%)
Treatment of choice for Graves' disease, multinodular goiter, toxic nodules in patients older than 40 years, and relapses from antithyroid drugs

Disadvantages, Risks and Possible Side Effects:

Delayed control of symptoms
Posttreatment hypothyroidism in majority of patients with Graves' disease regardless of dosage
Contraindicated in patients who are pregnant or breastfeeding
Can cause transient neck soreness, flushing, and decreased taste
Radiation thyroiditis in 1% of patients
May exacerbate Graves' ophthalmopathy
May require pretreatment with antithyroid drugs in older or cardiac patients
Treatment of hyperthyroidism in children remains controversial
Reluctance to use in women of childbearing years

Surgery

In a situation where radioiodine is not available and the patient is not responding to ATD patients are subjected to a surgery. Surgery (thyroidectomy) involves removing part of the thyroid gland. It may be a good option if you have a large goitre (thyroid swelling) which is causing problems in the neck. If too much of the thyroid is removed it is not usually a problem as you can take thyroxine tablets to keep the thyroxine level normal. It is usually a safe operation, although as with all operations there is a small risk. This mode of treatment requires 5-10 days of hospitalization.

Indications and Benefits:

Treatment of choice for people:
- with very large goiters
- who cannot tolerate antithyroid medicine or fail antithyroid drugs
- who refuse radioactive iodine treatment
- who have opthalmopathy (staring/bulging eyes)
- young women and contemplating pregnancy
- with severe disease who could not tolerate recurrence

May be done for cosmetic reasons

Disadvantages, Risks and Possible Side Effects:

Higher morbidity and cost than radioactive iodine
Risk of hypothyroidism or hyperthyroid relapse
Temporary or permanent hypoparathyroidism or laryngeal paralysis
Requires patient to be euthyroid preoperatively with antithyroid drugs or iodides to avoid thyrotoxic crisis

Yury Bayarski is the author of OriginalDrugs.com - website which offers health patches and natural health products.Please follow this link if you would like to read about herbal remedy for overactive thyroid.

Ultimate Guide To Avoiding Hair Loss

2008-07-02T16:42:00.001-07:00

Hair loss (Androgenetic alopecia) refers to the reason of hair loss that is influenced by the androgen hormone, the genetic tendency for balding and aging. Because hair loss is caused by these hormones, treatment is available to immediately and dramatically prevent the loss of hair.

Androgenic Hormones

In general, normal men including women make male hormones. Testosterone, underestimation, and dihydroTestosterone (DHT), are the most common that they produce. Androgens are manufactured by the men's adrenals and testicles, and in women, by their adrenal glands and ovaries. In both sexes, these hormones are important but take place in different concentrations and amounts.

When hair follicles are exposed to DHT, a genetically prone individual, over time, leads to androgenetic alopecia, or female and male pattern baldness.

In particular cells of the hair follicle, as with in the sebaceous glands, there are enzymes called 5-alpha-reductase that are in high levels, converting Testosterone which is then carried to these areas by the blood, and into DHT.

Hair loss myths:

Myth #1: Hair loss of an individual is inherited from the mother side.

Not true. Genetics is one factor of hair loss, it can be inherited from either the father's or the mother's side.

Myth #2. Frequent cutting of hair will make it grow thicker.

Not true. Although when the hair is cut, it would appear thicker at first, after three days or so, your hair would drop off and new hair would grow, having the same diameter as the pre cut hair.

Myth #3. Wearing a Hat Can Cause Hair Loss.

Not true. The hat can help by blocking off the sun's harmful rays. Although wearing a hat for a very long period of time may cause sebum accumulation due to temperature changes and can react with cholesterol creating a hardened sebum plug that will cut off oxygen circulation causing the hair to fall out.

Myth #4. DHT is the reason for hair loss.

Not true. Although an over production of DHT is a significant reason for hair loss, it is not the only cause.

Myth #5. Frequent shampooing and blow drying lead to hair loss.

Not true. Heat can damage the hair, reason for brittle hair; it does not harm the roots of the hair.

Even worse, some perscription drugs are known to cause hair loss. Avoid if at all possible the following drugs:

- Cholesterol-lowering drugs:

- clofibrate (Atromis-S)

- gemfibrozil (Lopid)

- Antidepressants:

- tricyclics, amphetamines

- High blood pressure:

- atenolol (Tenormin)

- metoprolol (Lopressor)

- nadolol (Corgard)

- propranolol (Inderal)

- timolol (Blocadren)

- Antithyroid:

- carbimazole

- Iodine

- thiocyanate

- thiouracil

- Ulcer drugs:

- Cimetidine (Tagamet)

- ranitidine (Zantac)

- famotidine (Pepcid)

- Anticoagulents:

- Coumarin

- Heparin

Actions you can take to prevent hair loss:

- Stop coloring or perming your hair very often for it can damage it

- Limit exposure of your hair to chlorine

- Avoid exaggerated brushing or combing wet hair

- Use a conditioner every after shampoo to make grooming manageable and easier

- Regulate heat exposure.  Blow-drying, hot-curling and exposure to straightening irons may damage your hair over time

- Avoid medications that can lead hair loss such as Vitamin A, Testosterone products, beta blockers, certain antidepressants and certain cholesterol-lowering agents

- Too much alcohol should be avoided. Be careful in choosing your hair care products as some contain alcohol and can contribute to hair dryness, brittle and hair that is prone to breakage. 

- Tight ponytails and braids can lead to hair damage

- Maintain a healthy diet, eating lots of fruits and vegetables and drinking enough water

- Birth control pills can contribute to hair loss

- Consult your doctor if should you notice abnormal hair loss, as certain medical conditions such as lupus or having polycystic ovaries, or hyperthyroidism can cause hair loss

Vitamins you can take to prevent hair loss:

- Thiamin ( B1)

Containing the mineral sulfur, this is the essential element of the hair that gives gloss and shine.

- Riboflavin (B2)

This vitamin is vital for body cell breathing, ensuring efficient oxygen utilization for cell repair and production.

- Niacin (B3)

Helps to widen capillaries and vessels thereby increasing the blood circulation to the scalp to help stimulate hair growth. It also may reduce the cholesterol build up which is essential since cholesterol on the scalp will convert to the enzyme 5 alpha reductase.

- Pahtothenic Acid (B5)

This vitamin helps in restoring hair color and brightness. It works with the amino acid Tyrosine Folic Acid, PABA and Copper in the deterrence white and gray hair.

- Biotin (B7)

Biotin is a widely used ingredient in hair products due to its hair promoting properties. Biotin increases hair cortex elasticity , prevents breakage, and thickens hair cuticle.

- Cobalamin (B12)

Regenerates red blood cells for healthy hair.

- Pyridoxine (B6).

Responsible for protein intake balance, it helps in transporting amino acids to the proper tissues. This is also essential in the conversion of one amino acid to another like the conversion of Methionine to Cysteine. With Inositol, they regulate oil flow to the scalp and the skin.

For more great hair loss related articles and resources check out http://hairloss.haircarehaven.com

The Anti-aging Law of Compensation: You Must Apply It

2008-07-02T13:02:00.001-07:00

I'm often asked how my skin stays smooth. My answer is simple: Early in life I gorged on anti-aging antioxidants (and still do), I drink a lot of water, and compensate for dietary lapses. Heredity plays a role, of course, but we unfairly blame a lot of decline on our genes.

The so-called civilized world we live in makes it difficult to maintain youthful attributes and stay healthy. Fast food, pollution, low and non-nutrition processed edibles eaten as food, stress, medications, lack of adequate information and our own negligence contribute to health problems and signs of premature aging.

To get around it, you can do one of two things: just let it happen or be on the offensive with compensating measures.

The obvious thing to do is to be on the offensive. But how do you do that?

Let's talk about dehydration. Do you drink coffee or caffeine drinks such as colas or so-called energy drinks? If so, then you must compensate by drinking more water. Caffeine is dehydrating. For every can of caffeinated soda or cup of coffee - at least an equal amount of water is in order. If you don't compensate, the dehydration shows up as gray, flaky dry skin.

Do you drink alcohol? It's dehydrating. That's one reason why your face looks like the wrath of God the morning after just a few drinks the night before. For every glass of wine or bottle of beer, you should consume an equal amount of water - or more. The hard stuff is even more damaging. Yes, you will be running to the potty, but you will be compensating for the dehydration and you will feel better in the morning because you have eliminated a lot of the alcohol toxicity.

Alcohol also depletes B vitamins. Some health minded folks who enjoy a glass of wine follow it with a B Complex capsule and a glass of water.

Overall, caffeine and alcohol are the least egregious offenders. Most folks don't drink an excessive amount of coffee or alcohol on a daily basis.

There is something more damaging than daily caffeine and occasional alcohol. It's what most people use a lot of on a daily basis over a long period of time: prescription medications.

Medication induced nutrient loss is responsible for more health problems that anyone realizes. The pharmaceutical companies do not mention nutrient loss in advertising, although warnings may appear in literature no one reads. And chances are that traditionally trained physicians and pharmacists aren't educated enough about nutrition to be aware.

For example, has your physician or pharmacist ever warned you that estrogen replacement depletes magnesium? Magnesium depletion causes muscle weakness, depression, dizziness, hypertension, and heart problems. That doesn't mean you should stop taking estrogen (if in fact you choose to replace estrogen) but you do need to make certain you are getting enough magnesium. A physician who practices integrative medicine will know enough to prescribe compensating nutrients.

Blood pressure medications such as Tenormin and Lopressor deplete CoQ10 which is absolutely vital to stabilize cellular membranes and give cells energy to function. Statin drugs that lower cholesterol deplete CoQ10 as well.

Diuretics ("water pills") may cause magnesium, potassium, and zinc depletion. Men with prostate problems already tend to have zinc deficiency and if it is not supplemented the prostate can enlarge.

Medications such as Tagamet and Pepcid cause depletion of vitamin B12 and folic acid. A deficiency of these two vitamins causes homocysteine levels to rise. High homocysteine causes irritation of blood vessel walls. When cholesterol flows throw them, it clings to the irritated walls and then you have clogged arteries. We can't live without cholesterol. It is vital for cell membrane integrity and hormone production among other things. But we can't live with cholesterol when it is clogging arteries as a result of high homocysteine.

You don't have to wait for your doctor to prescribe B12 and folic acid. You can buy B12, preferably in the form of methylcobalamin under-the-tongue tablets available over the counter. Folic acid tablets are also available without a prescription.

If you want to learn more about how prescription medications deplete nutrients, read Drug-Induced Nutrient Depletion Handbook by Ross Pelton, James B. Lavalle and Ernest B. Hawkins.

Don't suffer premature aging and loss of youthful attributes due to dietary indiscretion, neglect, or just not knowing. You can do a lot to help yourself. When you learn to compensate, or find a doctor who can help you avoid what you don't need, or help with what you do need, you will stay healthier and more youthful a lot longer.

The Anti-aging Law of Compensation is too important to ignore. Educate, compensate, and take care of yourself! If you don't, who will?

Barbara Morris, R.Ph. is a pharmacist, author of "Put Old on Hold" and a recognized authority on health and anti-aging strategies. Sign up for her monthly Put Old on Hold Newsletter at http://www.PutOldonHold.com and receive her complimentary ebook, "Twelve Diva Tested Tips for Fabulous Skin." Her expertise is cited in Art Linkletter and Mark Victor Hansen's new book, "How to Make the Rest of Your Life the Best of Your Life."

The Anti-Aging Law of Compensation: You Must Apply It

2008-07-02T13:01:00.001-07:00

To get around it, you can do one of two things: just let it happen or be on the offensive with compensating measures.

The obvious thing to do is to be on the offensive. But how do you do that?

Do you drink alcohol? It's dehydrating. That's one reason why after just a few drinks the night before, your face looks like the wrath of God in the morning. For every glass of wine or bottle of beer, you should consume an equal amount of water - or more. The hard stuff is even more damaging. Yes, you will be running to the potty, but you will be compensating for the dehydration and you will feel better in the morning because you have eliminated a lot of the alcohol toxicity.

Alcohol also depletes B vitamins. How many drinkers take any kind of supplements? Nutrient deficiency may well contribute to alcoholism.

Overall, caffeine and alcohol are the least egregious health offenders. Most folks don't drink an excessive amount of coffee or alcohol on a daily basis.

There is something more damaging than daily caffeine and occasional alcohol. It's what most people use a lot of on a daily basis over a long period of time: prescription medications.

Medication induced nutrient loss is responsible for more health problems that anyone realizes. The pharmaceutical companies do not mention nutrient loss in advertising, although warnings may appear in literature no one reads. And chances are traditionally trained physicians and pharmacists aren't educated enough about nutrition to be aware.

Diuretics ("water pills") may cause magnesium, potassium, and zinc depletion. Men with prostate problems already tend to have zinc deficiency and if it is not supplemented the prostate can enlarge.

You don't have to wait for your doctor to prescribe B12 and folic acid. You can buy B12, preferably in the form of methylcobalamin under-the-tongue tablets over the counter. Folic acid tablets are also available without a prescription .

If you want to learn more about how prescription medications deplete nutrients, read the Drug-Induced Nutrient Depletion Handbook by Ross Pelton, James B. Lavalle and Ernest B. Hawkins.

The Anti-aging Law of Compensation is too important to ignore. Educate yourself, compensate, and take care of yourself! If you don't, who will?

Barbara Morris is a pharmacist and author of Put Old on Hold. Visit her website at http://www.PutOldonHold.com Sign up for her newsletter and receive "Twelve Diva Tested Tips for Fabulous Skin."

Are These Drugs Robbing You Of A Good Time In Bed?

2008-06-30T15:24:00.001-07:00

Are prescriptions drugs hurting your sex life?

You might not realize it, but many prescription drugs put a damper on your libido or can cause erectile dysfunction. Of course your doctor is not at fault. In his effort to keeping you healthy he might be indirectly killing your sex life!

It is important to understand that you should never stop any medication that your doctor prescribes. If these drugs are acting like a cold shower on your sex life I have a few alternatives that might help you.

First, let's take a look at the prescriptions that have the worst affect on your libido.

Many prescription drugs affect your circulation. This is especially true of the blood pressure medications Norvasc, Vasotec, and Lopressor. The ability to achieve and maintain an erection depends on blood flow to the penis. It's no surprise that when you chemically alter your circulation, it can cause problems. All of these drugs commonly lead to erectile dysfunction.

Other prescriptions affect your brain chemistry. This is especially true of the antidepressant drugs, Zoloft, Prozac, and Buspar. These drugs can be a real problem when it comes to your sex life.

If you find yourself in a situation where your health depends on one of these prescriptions, don't give your love life up as lost. Instead, consider trying a libido-enhancing herbal remedy. They are much safer than Viagra and they can be very effective.

Get Your Sex Life Back on Track

For men, there are many good supplements that can help to correct sexual problems at the source. These supplements usually either improve your circulation or help to bring your Testosterone levels into a proper balance.

Yohimbine: This African herb has a long history of treating sexual dysfunction. It comes from the bark of an evergreen tree. The bark contains an alkaloid that helps to increase blood flow to the penis. In one study, 71 percent of men taking yohimbine for eight weeks reported better sexual function.1 For good results, try taking 150 mg of yohimbine each day.

Muira Puama: This herb is derived from the roots of a shrub that grows in Brazil. In a French study of men suffering from impotence, muira puama successfully helped over half of the participants achieve better erections. 2

DHEA: This hormone plays a variety of important roles within the body. One such role is as a precursor to the male sex hormone, androgen. As you age androgen, Testosterone, and DHEA all tend to decline. Lower levels of these hormones often add up to a lower sex drive. By supplementing with DHEA, you can actually help to bring your sex hormones back to normal levels. It doesn't take much. Just 5 mg each day can make a big difference.

L-Arginine: Your penile blood flow is constantly under control by hormones, nerves and neurotransmitters. And the major bio-chemicals that regulate arterial smooth muscle relaxation and dilation are nitric oxide (NO) and cyclic GMP (guanosine monophosphate).

Research shows that one of the most effective ways to boost blood flow is by increasing the blood's natural nitrous oxide. Oral administration of high-dose L-Arginine can significantly improve sexual function in men. L-Arginine will also stop the breakdown of cGMP, allowing the muscles in your penis to relax.

One More Thing That Can Help

In addition to supplements, I highly recommend beginning a Kegel regimen if you don't practice one already. Kegel exercises work the pelvic floor muscles and can be very effective at restoring erectile function. Just flex the muscles you would use to cut off the flow of urine. Hold them tense for five to ten seconds and then relax. Try doing three sets of ten each day and see if you don't notice a difference.

Mark Rosenberg, MD

Institute For Healthy Aging

http://www.vitalmaxvitamins.com
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http://www.testomaxsupplement.com

1 Vogt H, et al. "double-blind placebo controlled safety and efficacy trial with yohimbine hydrocloride in the treatment of nonorganic erectile dysfunction," Int J Imot RS 1997; 9: 151-61

2 Waynberg J. first International Congress on Ethnopharmacology, Strabourg, France, 6/5/1990

Nervousness and Shaking: Are They the Same Thing?

2008-06-29T14:50:00.001-07:00

Asked if they feel nervous, some people respond by holding up their unshaking hands, watching them a few seconds and saying, "I don't think so. They look steady to me!" This unexpected answer illustrates the confusion many people have about anxiety, tremors, and what they have to do with each other.

A psychiatrist friend proposed a useful labeling system. He refers to internal states of anxiety, worry and upset as "inner nerves." By contrast, when outward, visible tremulousness is present, he calls that "outer nerves." The distinction is important because the causes and treatments of "inner nerves" and "outer nerves" are almost entirely different from each other.

It's not hard to see where the confusion arises. Most people with tremulousness experience worsening of their shaking in states of high emotion, like anger, fear-or even joy. They notice improvement in tremor when they are feeling unstressed, and their companions see their tremoring disappear completely when they sleep. Yet, it's not the emotional states that caused the tremor. Instead, the emotions just increased or decreased a tremor that was already there for another reason.

Although tremor can occur in almost any part of the body, shaking of the hands is most common and can be caused by a variety of conditions. Tremors can also vary in their appearance, and the appearance of the tremor can narrow down the list of possibilities.

Here are the three basic tremor patterns:

#1. Tremors most evident while the hands are at rest. A typical situation is that the hands shake worse while in the person's lap than while in the air or when put to use. This pattern is seen most often with Parkinson's disease or with medications that can produce a Parkinson-like condition, including most antipsychotic and anti-nausea drugs.

#2. Tremors most evident with the hands held in the air. (A related pattern involves tremor maximal when the hands are put to use, for example, to write a letter or hold a cup of water.) This pattern can be seen on an inherited basis, with an overactive thyroid gland, with certain medications (including drugs for asthma, seizures or manic-depressive illness) and for no good reason at all (called essential tremor).

#3. Tremors that worsen when the moving hand approaches a target, for example, to pick up a pencil or scratch one's nose. This relatively uncommon pattern is seen with damage to the part of the brain known as the cerebellum, located in the back of the head.

To the extent that the underlying problem can be fixed, the tremor will usually improve as well. So if someone's tremor is due to an overactive thyroid, the tremor will improve when the thyroid problem is corrected. If a tremor is due to Parkinson's disease, then it will get better with medication for this condition. And if medication itself is causing the problem, then a dose-reduction or substitution of another drug might do the trick.

What if an underlying cause is not found, or correction of an underlying problem doesn't make the tremor go away? Treatment might still be available. In the case of tremors most evident with the hands in the air, certain medications might provide meaningful improvement, including primidone (brand name Mysoline), propranolol (Inderal), metoprolol (Lopressor) and gabapentin (Neurontin).

People with anxiety (inner nerves) respond best to anxiety-relieving medications and counseling. But medications that relieve anxiety do not help tremors (outer nerves) much, except to the extent that they make the patient drowsy. This is because all tremors improve with drowsiness. However, being perpetually drowsy is not a favorable trade-off for controlling tremor.

Who should get treated? It's an individual decision. Assuming that underlying problems have already been screened for, symptomatic treatment of inner nerves or outer nerves depends on the answers to two questions:

#1. Does the symptom cause distress?

#2. Does the symptom interfere with usual activities?

An affirmative answer to either question means that treatment should be considered.

Gary Cordingley, MD, PhD, is a clinical neurologist, teacher and researcher. For more health-related articles see his website at: http://www.cordingleyneurology.com

Best Migraine Prevention Medicines

2008-06-28T18:30:00.001-07:00

Migraine headaches are a destructive part of life for nearly 11 out of 100 people. During migraine episodes, they can barely function. They curtail daily activities, and all of life seems distorted. Between episodes, they may feel anxious about the next one, and wish for some form of migraine prevention.

Although guaranteed migraine prevention seems to be more a promise than a reality as of the writing of this article, you do have options for treating symptoms, and, better yet, options for possible migraine prevention.

One Size Does Not Fit All

Although migraines seem to run in families, migraine prevention does not always run in the same course. For some migraineurs, prevention is as simple as changing a few habits. For others, migraine prevention seems to require strong medication.

What are the best migraine prevention medicines for you? The ultimate answer must be decided by you and your physician. We offer here a number of medicines for consideration.

Common Over-the-Counter (OTC) Medicines

This is the first line of migraine prevention - beginning at the minimal strength, minimal dosage to see if it will be a solution. Among these migraine prevention medicines are the following.

1. Aspirin in a regimen dose, i.e., tiny 81 mg tablets, commonly called "baby aspirin". For migraine prevention, these would be taken daily, just as they are to reduce risks of heart disease.

2. Ibuprofen such as Motrin, Nuprin, or Advil may be taken occasionally. Your physician will advise as to how often you should take ibuprofen for migraine prevention. People with active stomach ulcers or sensitive stomachs will not want to use ibuprofen, since it has aspirin-like effects. If you take ibuprofen, take it with food to minimize the effect. You should also be aware that ibuprofen has a blood thinning effect that can reduce the effectiveness of some blood pressure medicines and diuretics.

3. Naproxen may be effective for you, under its more common name, Aleve. This medicine may reduce the number of your migraines, but is not likely to give total migraine prevention.

4. A fourth OTC pain reliever you may want to try at the first sign of a migraine is Excedrin Migraine.

Ask your doctor before taking any of these regularly for migraine prevention.

Common Prescription Medicines

If OTC medicines fail to provide the degree of migraine prevention you seek, you may want to try a prescription medicine. Prescription strength pain relievers have been found to reduce the number of migraine episodes for more than half of all migraineurs. A few of the many prescription medicines available to you are listed here.

1. Ponstel, Anaprox, Naprosyn, Naprelan, and Topamax. Topamax claims to be the U.S. #1 prescribed brand for migraine prevention. Prescription strength Naproxen (Naprosyn, Anaprox, Naprelan) thins the blood, so your physician may not choose this as a fit for you if you are taking oral blood thinners or anticoagulants. Naproxen can have adverse gastrointestinal side effects also, so you should not use it if you have an active ulcer or sensitive stomach. Most doctors believe it is better to use medicines of this type continuously over a period of time to build up the effectiveness and provide ongoing migraine prevention rather than just pain relief.

2. Another class of prescription medicines that may give migraine prevention is Beta-blockers. These drugs, more often used to reduce high blood pressure, are sometimes helpful in cutting down on the number of migraine episodes. Of those that may give effective migraine prevention are inderal, Lopressor, metoprolol, nadolol, and timolol.

3. Physicians are gradually learning that antidepressants also provide migraine prevention for some patients. It is believed that this is due to the medicines' effects on serotonin, the brain's chemical messenger that influences migraine.

Which Size Is Right for You?

There are many other medicines, both prescription and non-prescription that are thought to provide a measure of migraine prevention. Like shopping for a new pair of dress shoes, you may have to try several before you find the one or two that work for you. Be sure to do your migraine prevention "shopping" with a health care provider, as he or she will know the possible side effects or interactions with medication you are already taking.

(C)2007, Anna Hart. Member of a "migraine family" and sympathizer with all migraineurs, Anna invites you to read more of her articles about the prevention of migraine headaches at http://www.migrainereliefblog.com/ You won't want to miss Anna's flip-side insights and perspectives on the best migraine prevention without medicines.

Does The Large Range Of Blood Pressure Reducing Medications Confuse You?

2008-06-26T16:01:00.001-07:00

Blood pressure reducing medications are often used when exercise and diet has not reduced your blood pressure to a safe level or to control your pressure while you are making the required lifestyle changes to produce the desired results.

The number of blood pressure lowering medicines available is staggering and, as many of the presently available medications are frequently used in combination for treatment, choosing the right medication or combination of medicines presents your physician with something of a headache. Here however is an overview of the different groups of blood pressure lowering medicines presently in everyday use.

Diuretics

The first line of attack are diuretics which are simply designed to rid the body of excess fluid and, most importantly in terms of high blood pressure, to reduce salt levels.

Frequently used diuretics include Midamor, Esidrix, Hygroton, Hydrodiuril, Lasix, Diuril, Lozol, Bumex and Aldactone.

A number of diuretic reduce potassium levels in the body and may lead to weakness, tiredness and leg cramps. This can normally be effectively countered by eating foods which contain potassium or by taking potassium supplements in either tablet or liquid form. Diuretics can also result in increased blood sugar levels and a change of diet or drug, oral diabetic medication or insulin might be needed in the case of diabetics.

ACE Inhibitors

Angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE) inhibitors act to enlarge the blood vessels and therefore reduce the resistance to blood flow and pressure within these vessels. Consequently the heart does not need to work as hard to pump blood throughout the body.

Frequently used ACE inhibitors include Lotensin, Monopril, Capoten, Univasc, Mavik, Accupril, Prinivil, Altace, Aceon, Vasotec and Zestril.

ACE inhibitors can cause a skin rash, a chronic hacking cough and in very rare cases kidney damage.

AT-2 Receptor Antagonists

Angiotensin-2 (AT-2) receptor antagonists work in a similar manner to ACE inhibitors although they have the benefit for many people of not producing the hacking cough so often seen with taking ACE inhibitors.

Frequently used AT-2 receptor antagonists include Atacand, Micardis, Cozaar, Avapro and Teveten.

There are normally very few side effects experienced with AT-2 receptor antagonists although in some people they may produce occasional dizziness.

Beta Blockers

Beta blockers act to reduce blood pressure by decreasing both the heart rate and output.

Frequently used beta blockers include Sectral, Kerlone, Inderal, Cartrol, Betapace, Tenormin, Corgard, Zebeta, Toprol XL, Blocadren, Lopressor and Ziac.

A number of beta blockers may cause insomnia, depression, the symptoms of asthma, tiredness, cold hands and feet and in very rare cases can result in impotence.

Calcium Channel Blockers

Calcium channel blockers lower blood pressure by interrupting the flow of calcium into both the heart and blood vessels. Calcium channel blockers include what is generally agreed to be the most popular blood pressure medication in the world - Norvasc.

Other common calcium blockers include Lotrel, Tiazac, Cardizem, Vascor, Adalat, Nimotop, Isoptin, Sular, Calan, Procardia, Plendil and Verelan.

The side effects differ considerably from one calcium blocker to the next but some frequently seen side effects include headache, palpitations, dizziness, constipation and swollen ankles.

As can be seen there is a very large number of medications available for reducing blood pressure and when you consider that these are frequently used together by combining for example ACE inhibitors and calcium blockers, ACE inhibitors and diuretics or AT-2 receptor antagonists and diuretics then the range of possible treatments is almost too high to count.

Of course on the one hand this is good news because it means that it is possible to tailor treatment to the precise needs of each patient. However, on the other hand it also makes selecting the best treatment somewhat difficult.

TheBloodPressureCenter.com provides information on blood pressure medications including information about Norvasc hypertension dosage.

Are We About To Have a Vaccine To Cure High Blood Pressure?

2008-06-25T19:00:00.001-07:00

For a lot of individuals suffering from high blood pressure the only long-term answer is daily pills and frequent monitoring from your doctor with adjustments to your dosage or changes in your tablets as necessary. So just how much better would it be if you could simply have a vaccination for high blood pressure and dispense with your daily tablets?

Almost one in three Americans are presently suffering from high blood pressure but, because of the complex mixture of medication frequently necessary for treatment, only about one third of those individuals in fact have got their blood pressure under control. But, this might be about to change shortly.

In a trial which was conducted earlier this year (2007) a total of 72 people (65 men and 7 women with an average age of just over 51) suffering from either mild or moderate high blood pressure were injected with a low dose (100 micrograms) vaccine, a high dose (300 micrograms) vaccine or a placebo. This process was repeated for weeks later and at the end of twelve weeks.

Two weeks after the final injection it was noted that the high dose vaccine patients were showing a drop of more than 5 mm Hg in their systolic blood pressure and close to 3 mm Hg in their lower diastolic blood pressure reading.

More significant, it was also found that the characteristic, and often dangerous, spike in pressure which happens in the morning between 5 am and 8 am was also lowered markedly by 25 mm Hg systolic and 13 mm Hg diastolic.

The trial patients all tolerated the vaccine without problem and there were no safety issues during the trial.

Okay, but just how does this vaccine work?

At the moment high blood pressure is treated with a number of drugs which are designed to act on the body in different ways. Two of the classes of drugs in common use are angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE) inhibitors (such as Lotensin, Monopril, Prinivil, Vasotec, Altace, Univasc, Accupril, Aceon and Zestril) and angiotensin-2 (AT-2) receptor blockers (such as Atacand, Micardis, Avapro and Teveten). All of these drugs work by blocking the action of a molecule which causes the blood vessels to narrow and therefore to increase the pressure within the blood vessels.

The vaccine used in the trial, which is known as CYT006-ANgQb, is designed to work in precisely the same way as these two currently used drugs and so should certainly be an alternative for those patients whose high blood pressure is now treated with ACE inhibitors or AT-2 receptor blockers.

But what about those patients whose high pressure is currently being treated with the alternatives of beta blockers (such as Sectral, Corgard, Lopressor, Tenormin, Inderal, Kerlone, Blocadren, Toprol XL, Betapace, Ziac and Zebeta) or calcium channel blockers (such as Norvasc, Cardizem, Tiazac, Calan, Procardia, Vascor, Adalat, Nimotop and Verelan)?

Naturally, it is early days yet and further trials will be needed before we see a vaccine in everyday use to control high blood pressure. However, if the scientists are right, it is likely that this vaccine is going to be effective for the majority of sufferers, whatever the treatment presently being given.

Only time will tell, but this is obviously a very encouraging development.

TheBloodPressureCenter.com provides information on a wide range of topics including blood pressure monitor ratings and the causes of high blood pressure

9 Different Drugs That Are Incompatible With Diabetic Medications

2008-06-25T08:00:00.001-07:00

People with diabetes often have many other serious medical problems as well. A recent study found that diabetics take an average of six medications for other medical conditions each day. Some of these drugs are safe to take with diabetic medications. However, some of these drugs can also cause extremely bad reactions when mixed with diabetic medications.

Ideally you have made all of your doctors aware of every medication you are taking so that they won't put you on drugs that can have adverse interactions with your other medications. However, when you are taking a lot of different drugs, it is hard for your doctor to anticipate every possible interaction. You should take responsibility for yourself to research each of the drugs you are taking. You should take note of all of the interactions those drugs are known to have with other drugs so that you will be able to spot any bad combinations yourself.

In addition to adverse consequences from the drugs themselves, many of the drug interactions and resulting bad reactions may be cloaked under a condition you already have. For example, instead of having some bizarre medical reaction, you may have a reaction that is simply a worsening of a condition you already have. For example, it will be hard for a doctor to determine if your diabetes is getting worse because of medication interactions since there are many other reasons diabetes can go out of control.

Here is a list of 9of the most common drugs that may have adverse effects on diabetics:

1. Beta blockers: These may reduce the release of insulin. Some examples are Lopressor, Tenormin, and Inderal.

2. Minoxidil: This can raise your blood glucose levels. If you are on insulin and you forget your minoxidil dose, your blood glucose may go too low. If you are not on insulin this may make it hard for you to keep your blood glucose down through lifestyle choices.

3. Thiazide diuretics: These diuretics can cause a loss of potassium, which can lead to rising blood glucose levels. Some examples of Thiazide diuretics are Oretic, Diuril, hydroDiuril, and Zaroxolyn.

4. Classic oral contraceptives: Those using the same oral contraceptives they've used for many years should check to make sure theirs is safe for them to continue taking. While the newer oral contraceptives are mostly safe for diabetics to take, the older oral contraceptives were prone to causing hypoglycemia in those susceptible.

5. Calcium channel blockers: These can reduce insulin secretions from the pancreas. Some examples are Norvasc, Adalat, Isoptin, Calan, and Procardia.

6. Thyroid hormone: This can cause a reduction in insulin secretions from the pancreas.

7. Niacin: This B vitamin helps the body control cholesterol. It can also raise your blood sugar if you're a diabetic.

8. Diphenylhydantoin: Commonly sold under the name Dilantin, this drug is useful in preventing seizures. However, it can block pancreatic insulin release.

9. Corticosteroids: You might not think that a topical cream would affect your blood glucose levels, but corticosteroids taken in this manner can in fact raise your blood glucose levels.

Do you want to find out more about Type 2 Diabetes Symptoms Perhaps you have a loved one who has Diabetes? Get more insights on Diabetes Care

For more information, CLICK HERE

Treatment To Deal With Headache

2008-06-23T13:15:00.001-07:00

When we are suffering from a headache we by and large think of ways to stop the pain. As there are different types of headaches sometimes the treatments may work for only a few headaches.

There are two different ways of curing the pain caused by headaches. These types of headache treatment can be called prophylactical and abortive. The prophylactic treatment must be continued everyday in order to cut down the frequency of the attacks and to assure the severity of the headache. The abortive headache treatment is begun only when the headaches start.

You should see that your doctor would not order any prophylactic headache treatment unless you are hurt from several and frequent headache attacks a month. When you take the prophylactic medicine you will be monitored for side effects like weight gain, water retention, lethargy, memory impairment and hallucinations. The discussion of headaches with hindrance medicine begins with low doses. The dosage measure is increased as time passes. You will be tested every calendar month or so to see if the treatment is taking effect. Your doctor will also make sure that during the phase of your headache treatment that you are not taking any other types of medicinal drug or vitamins. One very important fact that must be looked in to is whether you are pregnant. On the off chance that you do become pregnant then your doctor should be informed so that your pregnancy and any possible personal effects to the fetus may discovered quickly.

The major prescription drugs that are used for headache treatment are beta-blockers like Tenormin and Lopressor. Calcium channel blockers such as Cardizem, Dilacor, and Procardia are also used. Doctors may also prescribe antidepressants like Amitriptyline and Zoloft. You can use Serotonin Antagonists like Sansert. Sometimes anticonvulsants such as Tegretol, Depakote, and Dilantin are granted for headache treatment. Cafergot and Sansert, which are Ergot derivatives may also be prescribed by your doctor.

The abortive headache treatment that you can take for your headache trouble is generally the over the counter type. These include Aspirin, Tylenol, Panadol, Motrin, and Advil to name but a few. Panadol are known as Acetaminophen drugs. Motrin and Advil belong to the group of drugs that are known as Ibuprofen. Besides these headache treatment medications include nonsteroidal anti inflammatory drugs or NSAIDs.

The side personal effects of NSAIDs like Naprosyn and Meclomen include nausea, gastrointestinal pain, dizziness, diarrhea, light-headedness and constipation. These headache treatment medications can also cause some people to get headaches. Since these drugs can cause other problems you should confer with your doctor and find out if they are proper for you. For people who would choose an option form of headache treatment talk with your doctor can develop if this character of treatment will help with your headaches.

For more information on Headache Treatments check out http://www.stopyourheadache.com You'll find loads of tips and techniques plus you'll find answers to questions many others in your situation have asked before. But Hurry! For a limited time you can get your very own copy of our award winning Headache Software at absolutely no cost.

A Wide Array Of Effective Headache Treatments

2008-06-22T10:49:00.000-07:00

Being one of the common illnesses of people all over the world, headaches are usually cured by more and more people using over-the-counter painkillers to treat it.

TREATING HEADACHES

Contrary to popular belief, headaches cannot be cured but they can be managed or controlled. Today, more and more medications have emerged that aim to stop the throbbing pain associated with it or stop the symptoms that have resulted from it.

Taking in medications is the most popular way of combating the pains brought about by headaches. People from the medical field have categorized these into two: the Prophylactic treatment that is done every day to reduce the severity and frequency of attacks and Abortive treatment that is done once the headache attack begins.

A physician usually suggests prophylactic treatment only if the person is experiencing numerous headache attacks monthly. Once you have undergone this treatment, the doctor will strictly monitor the possible side effects like lethargy, drastic weight gain, hallucinations, memory impairment, and water retention.

While taking in this medication, make sure that you don't combine it with any weight loss products. For starters, make sure that you are taking in low doses first before taking in large dose under prescription to test if it's working correctly. Your physician should also constantly monitor any drug or vitamin intake and see if these interfere with the medication.

Pregnant women are not allowed to take this kind of medication and make sure that the medication is discontinued once the headache becomes manageable.

Prophylactic treatment involves the use of Beta Blockers like Tenormin, Lopressor, and inderal, Calcium Channel Blockers like Cardizem, dilacor, and Procardia, Antidepressants like Elavil and Zoloft, Serotonin Antagonists like Sansert, Anticonvulsants like Tegretol, Depakote, and Dilantin, and Ergot derivatives like Cafergot.

Abortive treatment, on the other hand, is considered the first line of defense against headaches by taking in over-the-counter painkillers like aspirin, Acetaminophen like Tylenol, panadol or ibuprofen. Usually, physicians prescribe a medication that is a combination of analgesic with other substances in order to increase its effects.

In order to relieve anxiety, abortive treatments also involve the usage of anti-inflammatory drugs known as nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs or NSAIDs that include Naprosyn, anaprox, Ponstel, meclomen, tolectin, and toradol which are helpful in treating headaches.

Although NSAIDs are used both symptomatically and prophylactically, experts warn future users that these may lead to side effects like gastrointestinal pains and disorder like diarrhea or constipation along with nausea or dizziness.

Low Jeremy maintains http://headache.articlesforreprint.com. This content is provided by Low Jeremy. It may be used only in its entirety with all links included.

Chronic Daily Headache Treatment

2008-06-21T16:32:00.001-07:00

Chronic headache treatment is possible as there are a variety of preventive medications available. Here are the medications your doctor may recommend.

Antidepressants

Antidepressants such as Amitriptyline (Aventyl), nortriptyline (Pamelor) and other tricyclic antidepressants are the most widely used treatments for all forms of these headaches. These medications are valuable because they also help treat depression, anxiety and sleep disturbances that often accompany chronic daily headache.

SSRIs ( selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors)

There is also evidence that suggests other antidepressants such as the selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs) may be effective in treating these headaches for some sufferers. SSRIs that have been used to treat this condition include Fluoxetine, sertraline, paroxetine, nafazodone, veniafazine, citaloprom and escitalopram. These SSRIs can have adverse effects so, again, it is important you discuss these with your doctor.

Beta-blockers

While these drugs are most commonly used to treat high blood pressure, they are often helpful in treating episodic migraines. Beta-blockers used to treat chronic daily headache include atenolol (Tenormin), metoprolol (Lopressor, Toprol), nadolol (Corgard), propranolol (Inderal) and timolol (Blocadren). In some cases these beta-blockers are prescribed in combination with antidepressants.

Anti-seizure drugs

Anticonvulsant drugs used in migraine prevention are also being used increasingly to treat this type of headache. Drugs in this category include divalproex (Depakote), gabapentin, (Neurontin) and topiramate (Topamax).

Muscle relaxers

While not always effective in the treatment of chronic daily headache, muscle relaxers such as tizanidine Zanaflex) have helped in some cases.

NSAIDs (Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory agents)

Naproxen and other nonsteroidal and anti-inflammatory drugs may be effective in the treatment of these daily headaches, especially if you're undergoing withdrawal from some other pain relievers. Included in this group are naproxen (Aleve, Anaprox), ketoprofen (Orudis) and mefenamic acid (Ponstel)

Cox-2 inhibitors

While These drugs Are Similar to NSAIDs, they work differently and have fewer side effects. Medications such as Celebrex, Vioxx and Excedrine are most helpful in treating chronic daily headache when combined with other preventive medications. Typically, they are prescribed for one or two months if you are withdrawing from pain relief medications, to help decrease the frequency and severity of rebound headaches.

Others

Botox is currently being researched as a possible for many of treatment for this type of daily headache. Injections of a local anesthetic around a nerve (nerve block) or injections of a numbing agent and corticosteroid at the point of pain are sometimes recommended for chronic daily headache.

If you suffer from chronic daily headache, you have probably wondered, "why me?" If you click here, you can learn the newest theories as to what causes headaches and get more detailed information about chronic daily headache treatment.

What Is The Cause Of Erectile Dysfunction

2008-06-20T12:13:00.001-07:00

Any number of health conditions you already have can impact your sexual experience. Do you suffer from heart disease, hypertension, chronic alcoholism or depression?

You may not thinks so, but having early signs of erectile dysfunction may be a blessing in disguise. A large number of clinical studies found that it is often an early indicator of cardiovascular disease.

"Erectile dysfunction is often a result of hidden heart problems. It even precedes angina. It can be an early warning system in that respect, "said Dr. Andrew McCullough from the New York University School of Medicine.

Diseases such as diabetes, kidney disease, multiple sclerosis, atherosclerosis or vascular disease that cause damage to nerves, arteries, smooth muscles and fibrous tissues are some of the most common causes of erectile dysfunction.

What prescription medications are you now taking? There are over 200 medications that can affect your desire, your stamina and performance. Even ordinary drugstore cold medicines can leave you feeling less capable as a man.

Here are some of the common medications that could cause problems.

Blood Pressure: Norvase, Vasotic and Lopressor

Antidepressant: Zoloft, Prozac, Buspar

Antihistamine: Dramamine, Benadryl

Muscle Relaxant: Zantac

Digestion: Norflex

The worst offenders of prescription drugs are cholesterol lowering satin drugs when it comes to the cause of erectile dysfunction.

Of course, we can't over look our lifestyle choices that contribute to high cholesterol, heart disease, vascular problems and being overweight.

It is vital to keep cholesterol at healthy levels, since erections are assisted by the dilation of unclogged blood vessels. A fact not commonly known is the penis is much smaller than the heart. Therefore it's blood vessels are more prone to blockage than those of the heart. Inflexible, narrowed arteries may impede blood flow to the penis.

Cholesterol isn't the sole blame for poor blood vessel health. Homocysteine, a sulfuric amino acid, a by-product of the normal breakdown of proteins in the body is naturally present in the blood stream. Homocysteine makes the platelets in the blood stickier increasing the potential for clotting and inhibits the blood vessels ability to relax. That's why also managing healthy levels of homocypsteine is essential to maintaining healthy blood vessels.

Adopting a healthy life style with regular exercise will help reduce fat and keep the vascular system, including blood vessels to the penis in good working order.

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Common High Blood Pressure Medications - Know These 8 Types

2008-06-17T10:07:00.001-07:00

There are eight common medications used to treat high blood pressure. While many people dealing with hypertension will possibly be prescribed a combination of a variety of these medications, the amount of medication needed depends greatly on the type and the level of severity of the illness.

While antihypertensive medicines are used to lower blood pressure to normal levels, medications should always be used in combination with a healthy lifestyle change. The main objectives of high blood pressure medications are to not only lower blood pressure but to minimize the side effects caused by some of the medicines.

Diuretics

Water pills are used to remove excess salt from the body. The increase in salt in a person's body causes the blood vessels to retain more fluid than needed. The release of excess fluid in blood vessels, takes a strain off the vessels and arteries.

Examples: Thalitone, Lasix, Esidrix, Lozol, Dyazide, and Maxzide.

Beta-Blockers

Beta-Blockers are used to reduce the amount of blood pressure flowing through the body, by slowing the heart rate down, it allows for an optimal flow of blood throughout the vessels.

Examples: Sectral, Tenormin, Coreg, Lopressor, Toprol, Corgard, Inderal and Blocadren.

ACE Inhibitors (Angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitors)

The hormone Angiotensin II can cause the blood vessels to narrow; ACE inhibitors stop that hormone from production.

Examples: Lotensin, Vasotec, Prinivil, Zestril, Accupril, Altace, and Mavik.

ARBs (Angiotensin II receptor blockers)

This medication defends blood vessels from narrowing affects from angiotensin II.

Examples: Atacand, Avapro, Cozaar, Benicar, Micardis, and Diovan.

CCBs (Calcium channel blockers)

Calcium entering from the body's cells can cause blood vessels to constrict, CCB's stop that from happening.

Examples: Norvasc, Cardizem, Cartia, Dilacor, Tiazac, Plendil, Cardene, Adalat, Procardia, Calan, Covera, Isoptin, and Verelan.

Alpha-Blockers

Alpha-Blockers are used to reduce nerve pressure to allow blood to pass in vessels more freely.

Examples: Cardura, Minipress, and Hytrin.

Centrally acting drugs

Centrally acting drugs work with a person's brain chemistry to control nerve impulses that narrow the blood vessels.

Examples: Catapres and Methyldopa.

Direct vasodilators

Direct vasodilators perform by widening the blood vessels to allow more blood to circulate.

Examples: Apresoline and Loniten.

Alvin Hopkinson is a leading and avid researcher of various high blood pressure treatment. He runs an informational website that provides free tips to lower your hypertension and unbiased reviews on medications such as Cardura. To grab your FREE report on how to prevent and treat high blood pressure, make sure you visit Alvin's site at http://www.minusbloodpressure.com

Atrial Septal Defect - Definition, Causes, Symptoms and Treatment

2008-06-16T11:14:00.001-07:00

Atrial septal defect is an abnormality of the upper chambers of the heart (atria) where the wall between the right and left atria does not close completely. In general the defect is a hole in the wall (septum) between the top two chambers of the heart (atria). Arial septal defects occur in 4 percent to 10 percent of all children born with congenital heart disease. As a group, atrial septal defects are detected in 1 child per 1500 live births. Smaller atrial septal defects may close on their own during infancy or early childhood. The health effects of holes that remain open often don't show up until last age - usually by age 40. Many people don't realize they have an atrial septal defect until then. Sometimes a doctor detects an atrial septal defect during a newborn exam, or during a routine exam later in life. Large and long-standing atrial septal defects can damage the heart and lungs. An who has had an undetected atrial septal defect for decades may have a shortened life span from heart failure or high blood pressure in the lungs. For children with very small ASDs, the ASD closes on its own about 90% of the time. However, most other ASDs must be closed. People with some types of heart defects, including certain rarer forms of ASD, are at greater risk of developing bacterial endocarditis, an infection of the inner surface of the heart.

The term "atrial septal defect" usually refers to holes in the atria resulting from a lack of atrial septal tissue, rather than those related to a condition called patent foramen ovale (PFO). Symptoms usually have manifested by age 30. Infants with larger atrial septal defects may have poor appetite and not grow as they should. Infants may have signs of heart failure or arrhythmias. Congenital heart defects appear to run in families and sometimes occur with other genetic problems, such as Down syndrome. A genetic counselor can predict the approximate odds that any future children will have one. An atrial septal defect allows oxygen-rich (red) blood to pass from the left atrium, through the opening in the septum, and then mix with oxygen-poor (blue) blood in the right atrium. Complete closure occurs in most individuals. In 25-30% of normal hearts, however, a probe can be passed from the right atrium to the left atrium via the foramen ovale and ostium secundum.

The person also could develop heart or blood vessel damage and be at increased risk of having a stroke or getting a heart infection. Congenital heart defects of significance occur in approximately 8 in 1000 live births. Surgical closure of the defect is recommended if the atrial septal defect is large or if symptoms occur. Anticoagulants, often called blood thinners, can help reduce the chances of developing a blood clot and having a stroke. Anti-coagulants include warfarin (Coumadin) and anti-platelet agents such as aspirin. Keep the heartbeat regular. Examples include beta-blockers (Lopressor, Inderal) and digoxin (Lanoxin). Prophylactic (preventive) antibiotics should be given prior to dental procedures to reduce the risk of developing infective endocarditis. Embolization (dislodgement of thrombi) normally go to the lung and cause pulmonary emboli. In an individual with ASD, these emboli can potentially enter the arterial system. In most cases, atrial septal defects can't be prevented. Consider talking with a genetic counselor before getting pregnant.

Treatment for Atrial Septal Defect Tips

1. Surgical closure of an ASD involves opening up at least one atrium and closing the defect with a patch under direct visualization.

2. Embolization (dislodgement of thrombi) normally go to the lung and cause pulmonary emboli.

3. Keep the heartbeat regular. Examples include beta-blockers (Lopressor, Inderal) and digoxin (Lanoxin).

4. Increase the strength of the heart's contractions. Examples include digoxin (Lanoxin).

5. Decrease the amount of fluid in circulation. Doing so reduces the volume of blood that must be pumped. These medications, called diuretics, include Furosemide (Lasix).

6.Prophylactic (preventive) antibiotics should be given prior to dental procedures to reduce the risk of developing infective endocarditis.

Juliet Cohen writes articles for online medical clinic and diseases treatment. She also writes articles on depression treatment.

Myocarditis - Definition, Causes, Symptoms and Treatment

2008-06-15T11:41:00.001-07:00

Myocarditis is an inflammation of the heart muscle. Myocarditis is collection of diseases of infectious, toxic, and autoimmune. Myocarditis may develop as a complication of an infectious disease, usually caused by a virus. It can occur in people of all ages and is diagnosed more often in men than in women. Myocarditis is likely caused by a wide variety of infectious organisms, autoimmune disorders, and exogenous agents, with genetic and environmental predisposition. Myocarditis is defined as inflammatory changes in the heart muscle and is characterized by myocyte necrosis. Many organisms can infect and injure the heart. Type B, a virus among those that usually infect the gastrointestinal tract, is believed to be the most common offending agent. Many other viruses, such as those of polio, rubella and influenza, have been associated with myocarditis. Myocarditis can occur as a rare complication of bacterial infections, including diphtheria, tuberculosis, typhoid fever, and tetanus. Other infectious organisms, such as rickettsiae and parasites, may also cause inflammation in the heart muscle.

Myocarditis is often associated with pericarditis, and many patients present with signs and symptoms that suggest concurrent myocarditis and pericarditis. Myocarditis can be caused by a variety of pathogens including bacteria, viruses, and parasites. Some people have an irregular heartbeat (arrhythmia) or trouble breathing. Usually, a mild case of myocarditis will go away without any lasting damage. Myocarditis can then cause heart failure (with symptoms of shortness of breath, fatigue, fluid accumulation in the lungs, etc.) as well as heart rhythm irregularities from inflammation and/or scarring of the electrical system of the heart. Most cases of myocarditis are subclinical; therefore, the patient rarely seeks medical attention during acute illness. These subclinical cases may have transient ECG abnormalities. Certain chemicals. These may include substances such as arsenic and hydrocarbons. Medications that may cause an allergic or toxic reaction. These include antibiotics such as penicillin and sulfonamide drugs, as well as some illegal substances, such as cocaine.

Myocarditis may start as a flu-like illness that lingers longer than the usual several days. In series of routine autopsies, 1-9% of all patients had evidence of myocardial inflammation. In young adults, up to 20% of all cases of sudden death are due to myocarditis. In South America, Chagas' disease (caused by Trypanosoma cruzi) is the main cause of myocarditis. As most viral infections cannot be treated with directed therapy, symptomatic treatment is the only form of therapy for those forms of myocarditis, e.g. NSAIDs for the inflammatory component and diuretics and/or inotropes for ventricular failure. ACE inhibitor therapy may aid in the healing process. Angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE) inhibitors, such as enalapril (Vasotec), captopril (Capoten), lisinopril (Zestril, Prinivil) and ramipril (Altace). Beta blockers such as metoprolol (Lopressor, Toprol XL) and carvedilol (Coreg). Diuretics and Digoxin (Digitek, Lanoxin), which increases the strength of your heart muscle contractions and tends to slow the heartbeat.

Treatment for Myocarditis Tips

1. Angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE) inhibitors, such as enalapril (Vasotec), captopril (Capoten), lisinopril (Zestril, Prinivil) and ramipril (Altace).

2. Beta blockers such as metoprolol (Lopressor, Toprol XL) and carvedilol (Coreg).

3. Digoxin (Digitek, Lanoxin), which increases the strength of your heart muscle contractions and tends to slow the heartbeat.

4. NSAIDs for the inflammatory component and diuretics and/or inotropes for ventricular failure.

5. ACE inhibitor therapy may aid in the healing process.

6. Diuretics such as Furosemide (Lasix) .

7. Use of a temporary artificial heart (assist device).

Juliet Cohen writes articles for online medical clinic and diseases treatment. She also writes articles on stress treatment.

High Blood Pressure - How Can I Tell If I Have It?

2008-06-14T12:06:00.001-07:00

In my last article I looked at the terminology associated with High Blood Pressure and Heart Disease. I also examined the risk factors, and the dangerous consequences of unchecked high blood pressure (hypertension). This article explores how to find out if you may be prone to suffering from high blood pressure, and what you can do if you think you are likely to suffer from it in the future.

Is High Blood Pressure Hereditary?

An important question to ask yourself if you think you may be suffering, or are likely to suffer from high blood pressure is 'Could I have been born with this condition plugged into my genes?' The answer to this Russian roulette question is unfortunately 'yes'. You may be completely innocent of any non hereditary factors, but you may be destined through birth to suffer from this condition. Amongst the many root causes of high blood pressure, the hereditary factor is a possibility which cannot be discounted by anyone. However most people have only one or two antecedent generations from which to gather historical information, so this makes it a difficult factor to predict.

What are the non hereditary factors?

The non hereditary factors contributing to high blood pressure are usually caused primarily by the lifestyle of the individual, which can usually be controlled or altered once a diagnosis of hypertension has been made. Some of these so called 'lifestyle factors' include :-

Obesity

Lack of physical exercise

High levels of sodium (salt) in the diet

Excessive alcohol consumption

Tobacco and cigarette use

High blood cholesterol due to diet

Stress

There are also some medical conditions which can also contribute to the condition including :-

Kidney Disease

Diabetes Meletis

What should I do if I am worried that I may have high blood pressure?

Without doubt, you should find out more. Because hypertension frequently does not produce observable symptoms, you should take urgent steps to have some diagnostic testing done to determine what the state of your blood pressure really is. Many people make the unfortunate mistake of putting off the small amount of effort required to check out their coronary health. This compounds itself over many years, until suddenly the individual finds themself with a medical condition or emergency which could have been flagged up years earlier, and painless preventive treatment undertaken.

There are two ways to quickly and easily determine whether you have a problem with your blood pressure :-

Make an appointment with a physician (recommended)

Purchase a self testing blood pressure monitor (either mechanical, or more likely electronic device)

It is always good practice to visit your Doctor if you have any questions about your general health or for specific information about blood pressure risk factors. However, there are many excellent affordable electronic blood pressure monitor devices which can be used in the first instance to give an early warning of potential problems.

Typically, these involve the use of an electronic device attached by a tube to a 'cuff' which attaches around the upper arm using a velcro strap. The user presses a button on the control unit, which in turn automatically inflates the cuff using air pressure to apply pressure to the arm. The resulting pulses produced by the heartbeat can be detected by the control unit to produce an accurate digital display of the user's blood pressure reading. The most recent units may also contain sophisticated memory functions to track and monitor the user's readings over many months or even years.

High Blood Pressure Treatment

Should you be unfortunate enough to be diagnosed with high blood pressure your Doctor may prescribe some form of heart medication. There are a plethora of potentially beneficial drugs available, many of which perform an excellent job in helping to reduce blood pressure. One very popular example of these is Lopressor.

Lopressor - How to Reduce your Heart related problems With Lopressor

Lopressor is a type of medication known as a beta-blocker. Typically beta blocking drugs are used to treat chest pain (angina) and high blood pressure. They can also help patients who have suffered from an acute heart attack, and have been shown to improve survival rates if taken for this condition. A program of high blood pressure reduction may reduce the chances of patients developing strokes, further heart attacks and kidney problems.

Malcolm Waters is a keen researcher of all aspects of heart health, care and treatment including Lopressor and runs a successful website dedicated to the prevention and improvement of the condition for the benefit of the visitor. For great free heart health tips, discount offers and more, see Malcolm's site at http://www.lowerbloodpressurecheap.com

One Blood Pressure Med May Not Be Enough

2008-06-13T13:10:00.001-07:00

It should be noted that Lopressor refers to metoprolol tartrate, while Toprol-XL refers to metoprolol succinate, the sustained release formulation.

Lopressor and High Blood Pressure

Metoprolol tartrate, sold as Lopressor, is a beta blocker which means it affects the heart and circulatory system. Lopressor is frequently used in the treatment of angina. Other uses include heart attack prevention and blood pressure control.

Proper Usage

This medication needs to be taken exactly as prescribed. It is best to take this medication with food, or right after a meal with a full glass of water. If you miss a dose you need to take it as soon as you remember, if it is time for your next dose or close to time for your next dose you should take a dose immediately and skip the other dose. Get back on schedule and stay on schedule from then on. Do not take two doses at once, this is unsafe and can cause an overdose which can be fatal.

Complete Treatment

Lopressor is an effective medication but it cannot work alone, it is only one component in a full treatment plan that includes overall health care. Your overall health care plan should include daily activity, diet, weight control, and following your doctor's care. Sticking to your physicians recommendations for medications and exercise as well as dietary changes (if any).

Who Shouldn't Take Lopressor?

If you have had a heart problem including a heart block, a slow heart rate, or a sick sinus syndrome. If you have been diagnosed with:

Circulation problems

Congestive Heart Failure

Asthma

Bronchitis

Liver or Kidney disease

Myasthenia gravis

Pheochromocytoma

Diabetes

Emphysema

Low Blood Pressurev

Depression

Thyroid disorders.

Pregnant women and breast feeding mothers should not take Lopressor. This medication can be passed through mother's milk and can harm the nursing child.

Side Effects

Lopressor can cause hives, facial and tongue swelling as well as difficulty breathing. If you have these, or other serious side effects you should immediately contact your doctor. This medication can impair your ability to react quickly so you should not drive or operate machinery until you know how you are going to react to this drug.

Storage

You should store Lopressor at room temperature, away from heat sources, in a dry area.

Over dose information

In case of an overdose you should contact your physician or emergency medical services. Symptoms of overdose include uneven heart rate, weakness, seizures, shortness of breath, dizziness, fainting, and bluish fingernails.

Warren has done extensive research on the most widely used blood pressure medications. See which one is best suited to your needs by visiting our Blood Pressure Med Reviews pages

Is Your High Blood Pressure Drug Doing What You Want It To?

2008-06-12T12:53:00.001-07:00

Being diagnosed with high blood pressure is not a death sentence. While hypertension is a serious medical condition than can result in heart attack, stroke, or death, you can still live an active lifestyle as long as you follow your doctor's orders. If you doctor has prescribed Lopressor to treat your high blood pressure you will more than likely be prescribed a diuretic.

How Lopressor Works

The drug works by blocking certain chemicals in the body that cause high blood pressure. While mostly prescribed for high blood pressure, it may also be prescribed for other heart problems.

How to Use Lopressor

When prescribed for high blood pressure one of the best benefits of Lopressor versus other hypertension medications is that it works fairly quickly. It is taken long term as part of a comprehensive drug therapy to control hypertension.

Side Effects

The most common side effects are dizziness, fatigue, depression, confusion, and insomnia. These side effects are generally mild and will go away after being on treatment for a while. There have also been reports of digestive disorders like nausea, diarrhea, stomach aches, and heartburn. Be sure to let your doctor know of any side effects you suffer while on drug therapy, as your dosage may need to be adjusted.

Dosage Instructions

As with most hypertension medications, you should try to take Lopressor at the same time every day. Never take two doses at once. If you miss a dose and it's almost time for your next dose then skip the first. You should take it with a full glass of water and continue to drink water in abundance while on therapy. This will help your kidneys work better.

Where to Purchase Lopressor

The medication can be purchased from your local pharmacy or online. If purchased online be sure to purchase it from an authentic site. Never purchase this medication without a prescription from your doctor.

Maryann is an avid researcher of hypertension (high blood pressure) treatments and medications such as Lopressor and runs a successful website dedicated to providing consumers with answers to their hypertension medication questions. For more information on the different types of hypertension medications please visit Maryann's site at hypertensionmedsreview.com

What Else Could My High Blood Pressure Medicine Treat?

2008-06-11T11:10:00.001-07:00

What is the purpose of Lopressor pills?

Lopressor pills are prescribed for sometimes surprising conditions. Here are some.

1. To lower high blood pressure

Lopressor is most commonly used to treat high blood pressure. It can be taken on its own, or with other high blood pressure medicines. What Lopressor does is slow down the speed and strength with which the heart beats. Together, these two actions have the effect of reducing the amount of blood the heart pumps out, thus bringing down blood pressure.

And why bother with treating high blood pressure? Especially when it doesn't seem to be causing you any bother now? Because, untreated, it can develop into strokes, heart attacks, and kidney problems.

2. To control angina (chest pain)

Lopressor offers doctors a way to treat angina over a long period of time. When Lopressor slows down the heart and lessens the strength of its contractions, the heart muscles don't work as hard and therefore need less oxygen. Angina comes about when the heart muscle is supplied with too little oxygen. So, in reducing the heart 's need for oxygen, Lopressor makes it harder for angina to happen.

Why would you want angina to go away? Because having angina means you are more likely to develop serious heart damage or have a heart attack.

3. To prevent further heart attacks

Again because it makes the heart work less and need less oxygen, Lopressor offers doctors a way to make heart attacks less likely to recur.

Heart attacks can have a devastating effect on our health and quality of life. They can even be deadly. Which is why it's important to ensure they don't happen again.

4. Irregular heartbeat

In health, the heart beats in an orderly, harmonious rhythm. When this rhythm is disrupted, the heart beats irregularly. Often faster. Also, the force with which the heart beats becomes random - sometimes stronger, sometimes weaker. End result, the heart simply can't do its job of pumping blood through the body, properly. By blocking the nerves that speed up heart rate, Lopressor slows the heart down. That's why it's used to treat irregular (rapid) heartbeat.

Although having irregular heartbeats is, itself, not life-threatening, it is often quite alarming for the person experiencing them. It is worthwhile keeping an eye on it as it it can sometimes result in fainting, chest pain or congestive heart failure. But the big risk is having a stroke.

5. To prevent migraines.

Interestingly, Lopressor is often used to prevent migraines! No one is clear how, exactly, Lopressor does this. It was purely by chance that this ability was noticed.

As we know, Lopressor works because it stands in the way of a particular group of nerves. Lots of these nerves lead to the heart , but they also go to the blood vessels and the brain. Perhaps Lopressor affects migraines simply because of that - location.

6. To relieve temporary anxiety.

7. To treat aggressive behaviour. This is rare.

Isabel Rawlings researches and reports on successful strategies for treating high blood pressure, including Lopressor. For side effects you need to be aware of, simple tips on minimising Lopressor side effects, and lots of straightforward answers to your high blood pressure questions, visit Isabel's site at http://www.highbloodpressurereports.com.

A Review of A Very Popular High Blood Pressure Medication

2008-06-10T14:36:00.001-07:00

Lopressor is a medication that is mostly prescribed for hypertension (high blood pressure) either alone or in combination with other hypertension medications. While high blood pressure is its most common use it may also be prescribed for the treatment of angina (chest pain) or prescribed for patients who have had a heart attack. It is a beta blocker. It works by reducing the work that your heart has to do as well as the amount of blood that the heart pumps out. By doing this it reduces your blood pressure. It may also be used to stabilize your heart rhythm.

Lopressor may be prescribed in tablet form or injection form. If you are given a prescription for tablets it is important that you take your dose at the same time every day with a full glass of water. DO NOT STOP TAKING Lopressor EXCEPT ON THE ADVICE OF YOUR PHYSICIAN. If you stop taking it abruptly serious adverse reactions may occur.

As with any prescription drug it is very important to tell your healthcare professional of any other medications you are taking as combining these can cause serious side effects. These include not only prescription medications (including eye drops) but over the counter medications and herbal supplements as well. Do not drink while taking Lopressor.

Most common side effects include dizziness, fatigue, depression, mental confusion, insomnia, poor sleep, diarrhea, nausea, stomach aches, heartburn, cold extremities, and palpitations. Even though these side effects are common and usually go away after using Lopressor for a while it is still important to let your doctor know if you experience any of these or notice any health changes while taking Lopressor as your dose may need to be adjusted. It may be a good choice for treating your hypertension but only you and your healthcare provider can decide if it's right for you.

For more information on the different types of hypertension medications please visit Maryann's site at http://www.hypertensionmedsreview.com