Reasons Why You Might Need Cervical Epidural Injections

By Morgan W. Perez

If you are afflicted by a huge amount of pain in the upper spine or alternatively neck, then you might want to consider getting a cervical epidural steroid. The manner in which cervical epidural injections work is actually by making an effort to alleviate almost any pain that is actually brought on by nerves that are agitated. These cervical epidural injections are actually intended to inject steroids into the membrane, which is called the epidural space. This membrane clothes the spine and also the root of the nerves in the neck.

Exactly why a cervical epidural steroid can be so effective is mainly because it acts as an anti-inflammatory agent. Therefore, a cervical epidural block steroid injection is likely to reduce a number of the pain that is acquired around the arms, shoulders and also in the neck. In fact, a cervical epidural block steroid injection can be used as a way to bring in permanent relief, or at a minimum to get pain alleviation designed to go on for a few months while the injury or cause of pain is in its healing process.

Accordingly, if you suffer from any sort of severe pain around these areas of your body, and you feel that regular medication does not seem to be aiding you; it is advisable to confer with your doctor as regards to using this alternative. If you have been given the go-ahead to get this procedure, you will be required to eat a very easy meal a couple of hours before.

Additionally, you'll be anticipated not to take any type of pain medications, and this also includes anti-inflammatory medications on the day that you'll be getting the procedure. Explanation for this is because you actually end up being in pain just before the epidural is provided to you. All the same, after the procedure has been completed, you're then permitted to take a little of that medication when it is needed.

One thing to keep in mind is that even though this treatment can be very effective at and helps to cut down almost all of the pain you feel, it is strongly suggested to find out if it has any type of physical therapy that you can try to prevent this type of pain from finding its way back again. Of course, this greatly depends on the kind of injury you have, which is the good reason why you should consult your doctor first. In the end, you'll need to be capable to alleviate this ache in the most secure environment possible, and this holds true whether you are taking medication or getting physical therapy.

About the Author:

Want to find out more about cervical epidural injections, then visit Morgan W. Perez's site on how to choose the best cervical epidural for your needs.

Diabetes - The Controllable Disease!

By Richard H Ealom

Introduction:

Diabetes is a disease that affects the way the body uses glucose (say: gloo-kose), a sugar that is the body's primary source of fuel. It is a chronic condition that requires close attention, but with some practical knowledge, you can become your most important ally in learning to live with the problem.

"The prevalence of diabetes is going up because obesity is going up," says Judith Fradkin, director of the National Institute of Diabetes, Digestive and Kidney Diseases at the National Institutes of Health. Generally, the first step in treatment is to make patients believe that this is a disease that can be effectively controlled. "The amount of money it will cost in 10 years to manage diabetes is going to bust the economies of many countries" says institute president Paul Robertson.

Diabetes, caused by the body's inability to manufacture or use insulin effectively to prevent a buildup of sugar in the blood, now affects almost 21 million in the United States and roughly 250 million worldwide. It is a disease that can also cause long-term complications in some persons, including heart disease, stroke, vision impairment, kidney damage and can also cause other problems in the blood vessels, nerves, and gums.

Blood:

During the past decade, medical studies have shown that by lowering high blood pressure and cholesterol and keeping blood sugar levels as close to normal as possible, diabetics can forestall many of the disabling complications that once appeared inevitable.

"This information, along with simpler, more accurate blood tests and better drugs, has improved treatment", says Buse, an endocrinologist at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. "New drug treatments, more accurate ways for monitoring blood sugar levels and assessing control of diabetes, and practical steps that people can take are more common than ever", she says. "Before 1993, it wasn't clear that decreasing blood sugar prevented or delayed complications, and it's only within the past 10 years that MD's learned that controlling blood pressure and cholesterol reduced complications", she says.

Types:

There are two primary kinds of diabetes: type 1, an autoimmune disease that results in loss of the insulin-producing cells in the pancreas and occurs most often in children or young adults, who need daily insulin shots; and type 2, which accounts for 90% of diabetes cases and is associated with obesity and inactivity and decreases the body's ability to use insulin effectively.

Type 1 diabetes (formerly known as insulin-dependent diabetes or juvenile diabetes) happens when the person's own immune system attacks and destroys the cells of the pancreas that manufacture insulin. Type 1 diabetes occurs at about the same rate in men and women, but it is more commonly found in Whites than in minorities.

Type 2 diabetes (formerly called non-insulin-dependent diabetes) is different. It is the most common type of diabetes and about 9 out of 10 people with diabetes have type 2 diabetes. It is more common in older people, mainly in people who are overweight.

Conclusion:

The best way to prevent diabetes is to make some lifestyle changes and maintain a healthy weight.

About the Author:

Concerning The Author: Richard H. Ealom is an author who has written more than 60 articles on Diseases,Causes,Cures. To find out more about Diabetes visit Diabetes: The Final Cure! You are allowed to reproduce this article so long as this box remains intact.

Discover Homeopathy

By Mark Archer

Not to be confused with aromatherapy, homeopathy has been around for quite some time. Since the 18th century when bloodletting was the cure of the day throughtout Europe, homeopathy was giving hope to those who rejected the dangerous practices of traditional medicine. Still popular, it is the second most popular treatment in the United States.

The concept of homeopathy is based on the law of similarities. This is very much like the idea behind vaccinations. When we get a vaccination for a disease, we get a little diluted dose of the disease and our immune system fights off the disease. Most healthy people who get vaccinated will develop a little sickness after the vaccination, but it will quickly disappear. This is because their immune system kicked in and killed the disease. Once the disease has been cured by the immune system, it does not reoccur.

Homeopathy is similar. There are approximately thirty common remedies used to treat a variety of ailments. You get a small dose of the remedy that has been highly diluted. This remedy would create the symptoms of your ailment in a healthy person. Homeopathy depends on and strengthens the immune system to come to the rescue. This is why homeopathy works so well for many ailments.

In addition to using the natural immune system in the body, homeopathy also treats the entire body and seeks the cause of the illness instead of just treating the symptoms, as in the case of traditional medicine. In traditional medicine, if you go to the doctor for an ache or a pain, only the ache or pain will be treated.

Instead of traditional medications such as chemotherapy and radiation to treat cancer that may or may not work, homeopathy uses the natural immune system to fight off the cancer. This has been known to work in some people. There has been a medical link between the immune system and cancer. Most people, however, choose to use traditional medicine when treating cancer. Actress Suzanne Somers was criticized for using homeopathic remedies to treating her breast cancer, but she survived her ordeal. Other celebrities with this disease were not so fortunate, yet they went the traditional medicine route.

Homeopathy may or may not work on each individual. Most homeopaths believe that disease or ailments come because of a disturbance in the life force. When an ailment refuses the remedies of homeopathy, it is thought that the disease was inherent and would have been unable to be treated even with traditional medicine. This happens often when people, as a last resort, use homeopathy as a way to cure certain diseases after traditional medicine has failed.

Homeopathy has been enjoying a new popularity lately, though it has been around for about two hundred years. As more people get acquainted with it, more and more people are finding out about its effectiveness and gentleness.

About the Author:

Find out more about homeopathy by checking out Mark Archer's website.

Why Are Blood Pressure Medications So Dangerous?

By Christian Goodman

Medications of high blood pressure is far more dangerous then High blood pressure. The reasons are listed below :

The medical companies are also aware that the medications for hypertension causes serious side effects.

Some of the major side effects are dizziness, headache, fatigue, depression, throbbing of the heart, lack of energy, lack of concentration, impotency, frigidity etc.

What's worse, these medications give rise to the feeling of "false security"

Wearing a safety helmet with an invisible crack on it. It is like taking more risk by trusting the helmet but when something hits you in the head and the helmet breaks and your head along with it.

Hypertension medications neither cure hypertension nor protect you from sudden fatal cardiovascular events - such as heart attack, stroke, embolism, kidney failure and other conditions that are directly caused by high blood pressure. It often doesn't even work to normalize the blood pressure itself.

Around 50 % of the population dies due to these diseases. And people who are using the medications the mortality rate is still higher. But people are put on medications for their life, they think that they are safe , but the safety device doesn't work.

Stress and wrong diet are the reason that medications don't work.

The living standards have been very high in western world. It is not easy to live a good life. Though we have plenty to eat and nice clothes to wear and shelter but the worries and stress have also increased and plagued us so much.

Hypertension is caused by the worrying thoughts running through a normal person mind 24/7. They have tension in their mind and body which doesn't allow them to relax or sleep. This builds an emotional tension.

You definitely need to take a break!

Your mind needs a few minutes focused break every day. And watching TV doesn't cut it. It actually makes it worse. You absolutely do need to give your body and mind a few minutes break from all tension and all worries every single day.

People in the western world are dying due to hypertension. But a focussed break regularly could have saved many life's.

About the Author:

Christian Goodman is the creator of the normal High Blood Pressure Exercise Program. Years of research and experimenting lead him to a simple solution heals this complex situation condition. Learn more about Christian on his "normal Health Cures Blog.

High Blood Pressure - What Your Doctor Didn't Tell You

By Christian Goodman

Today, I beg you to let go of prejudgments and propaganda produced by the traditional health business and apply your common sense. That's the one thing that never lies.

What do I mean by that?

The answer is simple. If you read any official health site, what's the first and main point they try to pressure?

They try to convince you, the only effective method to deal with hypertension is using prescription drugs. Other things, like exercising and changing diet, may be dealt with in a paragraph or two. But the main focus is on the important of medications.

And like it wasn't enough to be put on medication. They also claim, you'll have to be on these medication ( and suffer all the side effects) for the rest of your life.

And what do they claim to be the cause for hypertension?

No1 ... They don't know

No2 ... Genetic reasons

No3 ... Relationships with other diseases

And if you forgot. Their treatment again...

Drugs, Medications, and again DRUGS!

Even if the doctors "treating" hypertension admit, they most often don't have any idea what really causes this condition, they refuse to look at any other method than drugs.

But you don't have to be a rocket scientist to figure out what really causes hypertension.

Here it comes... You've probably often experienced your blood pressure ski-rock. And I bet you, whatever you were dealing with at that time was very stressful. Wasn't it?

When your body raises your blood pressure, it's actually doing exactly what it should be doing. You see, in a stressful situations, your body jumps into an "Emergency" flight or fight mood.

This is an essential mechanism to deal with dangerous situation. This is the mechanism our forefathers depended on to run away from or fight predators. When you go into the flight or fight mood, your blood pressure rises and your muscles get tense.

Think about how different the modern world is from the world of our forefathers. We're surrounded by predators every day, without really knowing if we're in danger or not. There are literally thousands of people walking around us, we don't know. Maybe murderous or something worse.

We have the internal pressure of reaching "a life standard". And the dread of not being able to fulfill it. Money dread is probably the biggest stress factor in the modern world and most likely kills more people than any other thing.

I only take "life standard dread" as an example. Any pressure you're stressed about, raises your blood pressure. These nagging worries just won't let us alone.

So what is the solution? You can't change the world but you can give your body and mind a focused brake!

And it's actually quite easy. Giving your mind a few minutes focused brake is all it needs to recover. Your blood pressure drops drastically during these few minutes and stays down for a long time afterwards. You'll feel relax and happy.

The best part is how quickly this works. Even people suffering from hyper high blood pressure are usually off medications and back to normal pressure within a week of working my exercises.

You can do the same.

About the Author:

Christian Goodman is a well known health researcher. His unique program for managing high blood pressure has been proven to be extremely helpful to quickly lower blood pressure. Learn more at his natural health alternative website

Irritable Bowel Syndrome Help

By Rhonda Dillan

Irritable Bowel Syndrome, otherwise known as IBS, has an unknown cause. Although stress, poor diet, and abnormal muscle spasms in the colon aggravate the condition all that is known is that the muscles in the intestines and colon spasm irregularly and cause abdominal cramp, bloating, nausea, and indigestion.

Not all IBS sufferers experience the same symptoms. There are three kinds of IBS. IBS - C is characterized by constipation as the dominant symptom. IBS - D is characterized by diarrhea. IBS - A alternates between cases of constipation and diarrhea.

Stress reduction and a change in diet are usually the first step in getting help for IBS. Stress from work, school, changing jobs or living situations, bereavement, and any number of other stressors can aggravate IBS. Large meals and even some prescribed antibiotics can trigger diarrhea and constipation in those with IBS. Women tend to be the most vulnerable to developing the condition. This might be due to hormonal changes due to a woman's menstruation cycle.

A sufferer can help IBS by limiting intake of certain foods, alcohol, and milk products. Some sufferers are more sensitive to certain foods than others. Recognizing what foods trigger symptoms is an important part of awareness.

IBS sufferers turn to laxatives or other over-the-counter medicines in hopes that the condition is temporary. But IBS is a chronic condition. Improper or excessive use of laxatives can cause further problems for those with IBS, sometimes causing the condition to change from constipation to diarrhea. Although IBS doesn't cause serious conditions such as colon cancer or intestinal damage, hemorrhoids can result if it goes untreated.

Most people don't know that IBS help is available. Even though the condition can be hard to talk about, it is important to know that there is something that can help IBS sufferers who need to constantly worry about the symptoms.

One in 5 Americans has IBS and the number might be higher in reality because of the large number of people who deal with the syndrome without realizing what they are feeing isn't normal. To help IBS, some sufferers turn to alternative therapies. Balvolex is a natural supplement enzyme that has a calming effect on people with depression, anxiety, and high stress levels. Leveling mood and stress reduction can help IBS in almost all cases. Balvolex's natural ingredients calm the nervous system. It also contains plant and herbal extracts to calm the digestive system and lessen the spasms that are associated with IBS.

IBS help comes from Balvolex in the form of a reduction of diarrhea, cramping, constipation, anxiety, and calming the spasms in the intestines.

About the Author:

Learn more about help for ibs at the IBS Relief website.

Why Metformin Is Being Used For Infertility Treatment

By Elgin Stewart

Infertility is a great tragedy for many but it is also a valuable lesson in life not to take anything for granted. Many times we do not realize what wonderful gifts we have until they are taken from us. I have known women who have undergone several abortions in their young days only to find that they became infertile in their mid thirties.

You can have options to this infertility treatment

When it comes to women infertility, there are numerous reasons behind it, some reasons are naturals and some are included. No matter what the cause is, it is very overwhelming to learn that you'll not be able to conceive a child when you desire to have at least one.

It is one of a heartbreaking experience and this is also one thing that I would never wish for anyone in this world. There are not any words for describing the pain that one feel by going through this.

Before a few decades ago, the most familiar and preferred medication for women infertility was clomiphene citrate and gonadotropin triggering hormones. At present, there is advancement of science by leaps and bounds, and something new is added every day to the arsenal that we obtain for combating off this affliction. It has been discovered and proven after numerous researches done by group of several experts and physicians that the metformin is extraordinarily potent during the infertility of the women and has problems with blood sugar at the same time. However, you can obviously connect metformin with infertility after looking at this.

How to find the connection between infertility and metformin?

Every day, there is a great mess on my office table where I place my entire important and necessary documents at the visible places, so that I would not have to miss them. I will be often be able to found whenever I seek something, however, I often find something that is entirely different from what I was seeking in the most improbable place.

In the same manner, medicine has been used to treat one thing, only to find that it works wonderfully on something else. This is how women find a connection between metformin with infertility.

This also the main reason behind the use of metformin with infertility by the doctor when they doubt that sugar could be acting as vital role in the affliction. Even though this medication is not always correct, metformin with infertility has a true ring if the case includes diabetics. You can find out several stories of success for ignoring this medicine contribution to the ability of reversing the diagnosis of infertility.

You can also find out numerous other medicines that involve this case such as Letrozole which is prescribe for breast cancer patients, Dostinex which is prescribed for women who have Prolactin problems and so on. Of course, some of the great discoveries in the world of medicines are sometimes succeed merely by accident.

About the Author:

Seeking for excellent ideas and sound methods to prevent infertility using metformin which could be troubling you? Understand what is the symptom of infertility and get solutions now.

Use Cholestorol Medications to Improve Personal Health

By Rich Benvin

There are over 100 million American adults that should seek medical advice to lower their high blood cholesterol levels. Statins, a cholesterol lowering medication which have few side effects have helped to fight heart disease and lower cholesterol levels, even though Americans are actually getting fatter.

There are things that can help you fight this problem. This article is designed to teach you how to do something about your cholesterol problems. First we will take a brief look at what cholesterol is and then we will show you how statin medications, prescribed by your doctor, can make you healthier. To treat high cholesterol there are many different types of statins, and we will review them for you.

Cholesterol is a waxy, fat like substance that presents itself naturally in cell walls and membranes everywhere in your body. Your body uses cholesterol to produce many hormones. Where problems arise is when there is an over abundance of cholesterol in your bloodstream.

Your doctor may decide that you need help in controlling your cholesterol if you are not able to reduce it using natural treatments. Even if your doctor prescribes any of these medications, you must still follow through with healthy lifestyle treatments as well. There are several different types of medications used to lower cholesterol, but we will focus only on statins.

What are statins and how do they work? Statins repress the enzyme HMG-CoA reductase. This enzyme controls the rate that cholesterol produces itself in the body. These drugs can lower cholesterol from 20 to 60%. They slow the production while they increase the liver's ability to withdraw LDL (Low Density Lipoproteins). Statins lower the LDL levels better than any other type of drug.

Statins not only decrease total cholesterol and triglycerides, but they can also produce a moderate increase of HDL (High Density Lipoproteins). Encouraging results can usually be seen as quickly as 4 to 6 weeks after beginning use of the medication. Statins are also known to reduce the risk of heart attacks, strokes, and other possible coronary illnesses.

You should not take statins if: you are allergic to statins themselves or their ingredients; you are pregnant or breastfeeding; you have liver disease; you regularly consume excessive amounts of alcohol; you have a history of myopathy; or if you have experienced renal failure.

Lipitor, Crestor, Zocor, Lescol, Altocor and Mevacor are all prescription brand name statins that you might recognize. Please know of certain food and/or drug interactions that may have adverse effects. If you drink more than a quart of grapefruit juice per day it can very well decrease the liver's ability to process some statin drugs. It is critical to know that there are other medications that you might be taking that can possibly interact with the statins to cause some weighty side effects.

It's important to let your doctor know about any other medication you are taking, whether prescription or non-prescription including vitamins, herbal supplements, medication for the immune system, other cholesterols drugs, medication for infections, birth control pills, medication for heart failure, HIV or AIDs, or Coumadin.

Side effects from statins are rare. If you experience muscle soreness, pain, weakness, vomiting, stomach pain, discolored urine, stop taking the medication and contact your doctor immediately.

About the Author:

ExpressMedsCanada.com is your best link to online discount pharmacies in Canada and overseas. Order generic drugs and brand name, cholesterol lowering drugs and other prescription drugs without sacrificing safety, quality or service. Get a totally unique version of this article from our article submission service

Most Common Gout Medicine Prescriptions To Help Reduce Gout Pain

By Sable Woods

There may be a lot of natural gout remedies that surface, but one of the first things people turn to when trying to cure the inflammation of bodily joints is gout medicine. Proper medications are typically the main solutions of people inflicted with any forms of ailments and the ones suffering from the attacks of gout. There are a lot of medications that concentrate on reducing the high levels of uric acid in the blood.

The two most common gout medicines are corticosteroids and NSAIDs. These help reduce inflammation in the affected joints. NSAIDs are taken by mouth in high dosages. They also aid in prohibiting the spread of prostaglandin, a substance that plays its part in causing you severe pain during a gout flare-up.

If NSAIDs aren't effective for you, then turning to corticosteroids are the next doctor recommendation. Like NSAIDs, these also give instant relief to gout victims. They are injected directly into the inflamed joint to mainly target that area.

But there is a downside to using corticosteroids as your gout medicine. You can't take it daily or during repeat flare-ups, because frequently using this medication will damage the joint and weaken the surrounding bone cartilage.

If both of the above medications fail, then your doctor may recommend that you take colchicines. These can be used once every hour for the first 12 hours of the flare-up. Even though you can experience diarrhea and stomach cramps and an upset stomach as side effects of taking this gout medicine, colchicines have been around for hundreds of years and have proven themselves to be an effective pain reliever.

Gout medicine, like most medications, definitely has its share of side effects. Thus, it is important that you take some time to carefully consider your options. Seeking help from professionals, specialists, and even other gout sufferers with resources will play a salient role in relieving your gout attacks.

About the Author:

When modern medicine fails, you have natural gout treatment you can use to conquer your gout once and for all. Halt your suffering and get fast relief and freedom from the pain from now on with a safe kitchen remedy at http://www.GetGoutRelief.com.

How to Cure Toenail Fungus the Natural Way

By Rashel Dan

There are a lot of people who want to know how to cure toenail fungus the natural way. Why? Nail fungus affects about 35 million people in the United States alone. It is a very common problem and there are several treatments available for it.

Unfortunately, some treatments like oral anti-fungal prescription medication can be harmful. Although it is effective, it can exhibit possible adverse side effects that can cause complication to the heart and liver, among others. In extreme cases, it could even cause death. The Food and Drug Administration has already issued out a public health advisory regarding two famous oral prescription medication and its possible side effects.

Also, prescription treatment could interfere or interact with other prescription medications that you may be taking. Another downside is that it can be very expensive, with some treatments costing 1500 dollars for a full course of treatment, or about a hundred dollars per week.

Go Natural - Because of this, more people are turning to natural solutions. There are home remedies that promise to treat toenail fungus. Solutions like vinegar, bleach, mouthwash, tea tree and oregano essential oils are being used as home remedies. However, none of these solutions really work. They are ineffective and you could end up wasting a lot of time, which is enough for the fungus to spread and infect other nails, including your fingernails.

This infection can take time to treat. This is because the toes are more exposed to the dark, damp, and warm environment caused by wearing shoes and socks often. Fungus loves to thrive in this type of environment. Also, the fungus actually lives underneath the nail and is harder to reach, making it more difficult to treat.

However, there is one way you can treat toenail fungus easily. If you apply proper treatment as soon as you detect symptoms of toenail fungus, then the higher chances of getting rid of toenail fungus fast. Just remember to always have a professional diagnose your symptoms so can apply the proper treatment. Treatment varies with the type and severity of infection and professionals can help pinpoint the specific type of fungus and recommend you the suited treatment.

Natural Solutions - Using a topical solution is one answer to how to cure toenail fungus the natural way. It uses all natural essential oils from plants that are known to exhibit antifungal and antibacterial properties. Also, a topical solution contains oils like lavender and jojoba that promote softer and smoother skin. It can be bought over the counter and is very easy to use. Aside from it being very safe to use, it is also very effective. The oils penetrate and go deep down the nail to treat the underlying cause of unsightly nails.

About the Author:

Know how to cure toenail fungus. Select only the best cure for nail fungus.

Understanding Statins and Cholesterol Medications

By Rich Benvin

There are over 100 million American adults that should seek medical advice to lower their high blood cholesterol levels. Statins, a cholesterol lowering medication which have few side effects have helped to fight heart disease and lower cholesterol levels, even though Americans are actually getting fatter.

Don't worry; you are not out of luck. This article focuses on the actions you can take to lower your cholesterol levels and live a healthier life. After we quickly explain to you what cholesterol is we can then provide you with ways your physician can prescribe statin medications to help. Statins are not the only cholesterol reducing drug, but it is the one we will be discussing throughout this article.

Cholesterol is a waxy, fat like substance that presents itself naturally in cell walls and membranes everywhere in your body. Your body uses cholesterol to produce many hormones. Where problems arise is when there is an over abundance of cholesterol in your bloodstream.

Your doctor may decide that you need help in controlling your cholesterol if you are not able to reduce it using natural treatments. Even if your doctor prescribes any of these medications, you must still follow through with healthy lifestyle treatments as well. There are several different types of medications used to lower cholesterol, but we will focus only on statins.

What are statins and how do they work? Statins repress the enzyme HMG-CoA reductase. This enzyme controls the rate that cholesterol produces itself in the body. These drugs can lower cholesterol from 20 to 60%. They slow the production while they increase the liver's ability to withdraw LDL (Low Density Lipoproteins). Statins lower the LDL levels better than any other type of drug.

Statins not only decrease total cholesterol and triglycerides, but they can also produce a moderate increase of HDL (High Density Lipoproteins). Encouraging results can usually be seen as quickly as 4 to 6 weeks after beginning use of the medication. Statins are also known to reduce the risk of heart attacks, strokes, and other possible coronary illnesses.

You should not take statins if: you are allergic to statins themselves or their ingredients; you are pregnant or breastfeeding; you have liver disease; you regularly consume excessive amounts of alcohol; you have a history of myopathy; or if you have experienced renal failure.

Lipitor, Crestor, Zocor, Lescol, Altocor and Mevacor are all prescription brand name statins that you might recognize. Please know of certain food and/or drug interactions that may have adverse effects. If you drink more than a quart of grapefruit juice per day it can very well decrease the liver's ability to process some statin drugs. It is critical to know that there are other medications that you might be taking that can possibly interact with the statins to cause some weighty side effects.

If you are taking prescription or even over-the-counter drugs such as: birth control pills, immune system medications, medication for infections, medication for heart failure, HIV or AIDS, herbal supplements, Coumadin, or other cholesterol drugs make sure to let your doctor know before taking statins.

Although very rare, it is possible for side effects to surface from the use of statins. If you happen to experience vomiting, discolored urine, pain, muscle soreness, stomach pain, or weakness immediately discontinue the use of the medication and contact your physician.

About the Author:

ExpressMedsCanada.com is your first link to online discount pharmacies in Canada and overseas. Order generic drugs and brand name, cholesterol lowering drugs and other prescription drugs without sacrificing safety, quality or service. Grab a totally unique version of this article from the Uber Article Directory

Gout Medicine: 3 Gout Medications You Can Take To Lessen the Pain

By Sable Woods

There may be a lot of natural gout remedies that surface, but one of the first things people turn to when trying to cure the inflammation of bodily joints is gout medicine. Proper medications are typically the main solutions of people inflicted with any forms of ailments and the ones suffering from the attacks of gout. There are a lot of medications that concentrate on reducing the high levels of uric acid in the blood.

NSAIDs and corticosteroids are the most common gout medicine. NSAIDs are taken orally in high dosages, which helps inhibit the presence and spreading of a substance called prostaglandin (this contributes to the painfully severe feeling during gout).

If NSAIDs fail, then you could take corticosteroids instead. These also give immediate pain relief through a direct injection into the swollen joint. With this method of injection, the medication can specifically target the afflicted area.

But there is a downside to using corticosteroids as your gout medicine. You can't take it daily or during repeat flare-ups, because frequently using this medication will damage the joint and weaken the surrounding bone cartilage.

If there are instances where these two medications aren't effective, you can turn to a drug called colchicines that can be used for the first 12 hours of the attack. This differs from the other two medications since this can be taken once every hour. This kind of gout medicine has the following side effects: diarrhea, unsettled stomach, and abdominal cramps. Colchicines are considered to be the oldest cure to gout. This has been around for centuries, offering the same relief with that of the other medications.

Gout medicine, like most medications, definitely has its share of side effects. Thus, it is important that you take some time to carefully consider your options. Seeking help from professionals, specialists, and even other gout sufferers with resources will play a salient role in relieving your gout attacks.

About the Author:

When modern medication fails, you have natural gout treatment you can use to take control over your gout at last. Halt your suffering and get fast relief and freedom from the pain forever with a safe home remedy at http://www.GetGoutRelief.com.

Discovering Treatments For Anxiety and Depression

By The Alternate Medic

These two most common ailments of modern society, Anxiety and depression are likely to interfere with the normal functioning of an individual's life. Those who suffer from anxiety and depression are likely to need help from outside. The help may include the proper administration of medication, continual counseling, and support from the medical community as well as family and friends. Luckily, both anxiety and depression can be treated using a wide variety of effective treatments.

Behavioral Therapy

In this case, Behavioral therapy is used to modify one's thinking patterns and to reinforce corrected behavioral patterns in order to achieve relief from their stressful condition. While treating anxiety, the patient may be gradually introduced to their source of anxiety. This is known as selective exposure. When the patient can reduce his or her level of anxiety in a step by step process, a word of encouragement is provided to him reinforcing their improved state.

While treating depression using behavioral therapy, the practitioner engages the client into the hobbies or activities preferred by the client. It helps in improving the mood of the client. Behavioral therapy is assumed to be the best technique for treating anxiety and depression. If your close ones are suffering from the same, you should consult to the psychiatrist no later than immediately.

Lifestyle Change

A Lifestyle change can contribute significantly in the treatment of anxiety and depression. When a patient is away from the drug scene, there will definitely be an increase in nervousness and anxiety, however it is the first step on the road to recovery itself. By reducing the consumption of any addictive substance whilst engaging in daily exercise may promote the secretion of endorphins into the body.

Antidepressant Medication

It cannot be denied that antidepressant medication is a solution for the treatment of anxiety and depression. However, there are possible side effects involved with the prolonged administration of antidepressant medications such as becoming over-dependant on the medicine. It is recommended that to receive the highest possible benefit, antidepressant medications need to be administered in combination with behavioral therapy and other therapeutic measures.

Counseling

Counseling is another effective option that focuses on the objective to encourage the patient to speak out loudly or to share it with good listeners who have suffered throufg the same or similar experiences.. When it comes to the sufferings of anxiety and depression, many psychiatrists and psychotherapists put their hands on counseling. Not only does it help people to express their overt behavior, but also it aids in understanding the root cause of the problem identified.

Group Therapy

Sharing the pain with same-minded individuals - this is the theme of group sharing. People who have already suffered from this problem can figure out better this problem in other people. In fact, different studies have shown how group setting offer benefits for treating anxiety and depression. A continuous feeling of connected, a strong feeling hope and strength and a sense of brotherhood may accelerate the treatment procedure.

About the Author:

For More Information On Early Signs Of Depression Click Here Visit the Uber Article Directory to get a totally unique version of this article for reprint.

The Controversy Over Homeopathy

Homeopathy is a type of alternative medicine that some people really follow. Others find it to be nothing but some hype. With so much conflicting information on the subject though it can be hard to know if you should try it or not. Many individuals have turned to these natural remedies when modern medicine products failed to give them results.

Sometimes it is due to the fact that natural ingredients offer the same benefits but without side effects. For someone that needs to take ongoing medications the side effects can make it hard to go about their daily routine. That isn’t the case with natural remedies. There is also the issue of the cost involved. It can be expensive even with health insurance to pay for prescription medications all the time.

The medical field is strongly against homeopathy because they fear people will self treat various ailments. Since so many health concerns can have similar symptoms it is quite possible for the wrong diagnosis to be found. As a result a person can end up with a more severe medical problem.

Yet many individuals will tell you they have been misdiagnosed at the doctor’s office as well. They have had to try medicine after medicine in an effort to find out what is wrong with them and how to control it. That can be very expensive as well as frustrating. The days where people assumed the doctor knows best though are behind us. More people are taking an active stand when it comes to their health.

It is still a good idea to get regular check ups when you use homeopathy. Your doctor may not agree with your use of it but won’t refuse to see you because of it. Make sure you are very honest about what methods you are using. That way they can help you to get the most benefits for your health concerns.

There have been plenty of studies out there about homeopathy. In some of them the research has shown that a placebo effect takes place. With others the information was inconclusive to determine if the natural remedies worked or not. Many individuals have found results though while others didn’t. That is the same scenario with the products offered by modern medicine though.

You will find that throughout the course of history forms of homeopathy have been used. They are more evident in some cultures than in others. You can see some great concepts among those people such as the Chinese. They often live for a very long time and they don’t suffer from many typical health concerns. It just may be due to the fact that they regularly engage in homeopathy as a form of preventative medicine.

If you have a particular type of illness you should take a look to find out what types of homeopathy may work for you. Since these natural remedies aren’t going to cause you any harm there is no reason why you shouldn’t see if they can offer you benefits. You may be surprised at the results you get. Make sure you carefully research what remedies can be used for your particular needs.

Author Resource: Cindy Browne loves everything to do with alternative health and is an author of articles about http://homeopathy.youraltmed.org. Visit her site for more information on http://www.naturallyhealthieryou.com.

Article From High Profile Articles

You Need To Raise Your Cholesterol

You can imagine my surprise after my last blood test when my doctor told me I needed to raise my cholesterol levels. What? I had a stroke the year before and had revamped my diet to lower my cholesterol. I was slowly able to walk and move more and was adding as much exercise as my body could handle. I had successfully dropped an extremely high cholesterol level to well within normal ranges. Now she wanted me to raise my cholesterol levels again?

That’s because there are two types of cholesterol; good cholesterol, or HDL (high-density lipoproteins) and bad cholesterol, or LDL (low-density lipoproteins). HDL scour the walls of the blood vessels, sweeping away excess fat and cholesterol in the blood and carries it back to the liver for processing, preventing plaque build-up. We’ve all heard that it is important to decrease bad cholesterol, but it is just as important to keep our HDL levels high. I had lowered my bad cholesterol levels but my good cholesterol had dropped as well.

An HDL reading less than 40 mg/dL is considered to be a major risk factor for heart disease, with a reading between 40 and 50 mg/dL recommended, while readings over 60mg/dL indicate a significantly lowered risk of heart disease. My HDL had dropped to a risky 32 mg/dL. The question now was how to raise good cholesterol. Listed below are some suggestions that will help.
Lose Excess Fat by Increasing Activity: It is important to lose excess body fat. But, often dieting alone can cause the desirable HDL to drop along with LDL. By increasing regular physical activity with aerobic exercise, this trend is stopped and good HDL levels will increase. Aerobic exercise is any constant activity that increases your heart rate. Please note that exercise has a powerful, yet short-lived effect, so it is important to exercise on a consistent basis. Studies show that people who exercise regularly tend to have higher HDL.

Research shows that HDL may be elevated as much as 20 percent from regular aerobic exercise that expends at least 800 to 1,200 calories per week. For example, walking at 3 miles per hour burns roughly 300 calories per hour, so walking 3 to 4 hours a week would meet this goal. Further studies show that the duration of exercise, rather than the intensity is a more important factor in raising HDL. Any aerobic exercise will have a greater effect the longer you can participate in that activity. Instead of increasing how hard you exercise, try adding a little more time to your activity for the greater HDL benefits. Studies show that for every 10 minutes of additional exercise HDL may increase by 1.4 mg/dL

Weight control is critical to raising HDL levels. Researchers note that every kilogram (2.2 pounds) of weight a patient loses raises HDL levels by an average 0.35 mg/dL. So, get walking, hiking, swimming, biking or whatever. Just increase your activity and control what you eat.

Stop Smoking: Giving up tobacco will result in an increase of HDL. Studies show this can raise your HDL by about 4 mg/dL. If you do smoke, please stop! Smoking puts you at high risk for heart disease and stroke. Believe me, these are not experiences you want, especially since they are the #1 and #3 killers in this country and strokes are the #1 cause of disability.

Eliminate Trans Fats: High intakes of trans fats lower HDL. It is hard enough to improve cholesterol levels with food. Cutting out fast foods, processed foods and foods made with hydrogenated oils will at least stop drops in good cholesterol and will stem the rise of bad cholesterol. This is not an easy task since many of our favorite prepared foods contain partially hydrogenated vegetable oil.

Alcohol: One or two drinks a day, no more, can show a beneficial increase to HDL levels, regardless of the type of alcohol, by up to 4 mg/dL. But, use caution if you have liver or other conditions affected by alcohol or you have an addictive nature. Consult your doctor.

Improved Diet: What we eat can help lower overall cholesterol and increase HDL levels. It gets so hard with our lifestyles these days. I had a problem eating right while working an 8-5 job, juggling home life and personal activities. It is just so much easier to eat processed foods. But it can be done. The more I find foods I like that are good for me and include them in my diet, the less room I have for not-so-good foods.

Canola oil, avocado oil, olive oil and the oils found in peanut butter can increase HDL, as can soy, flaxseed, eating more nuts such as almonds, cashews, walnuts, peanuts and pecans. A 2004 study in Diabetes Care found that men and women with type 2 diabetes who included 30 grams of walnuts a day in their diet showed improved HDL levels.

Soluble fiber found in fruits, vegetables, beans and oats help reduce LDL and raise HDL. Orange juice and cranberry juice have also been shown to be beneficial, as are cold-water fish containing omega-3 fatty acids, such as salmon, tuna and mackerel. High glycemic products like cereals and breads on the other hand are associated with lower HDL levels. Consumption of the products should be reduced.

Magnesium rich foods have been shown to both help raise good cholesterol, lower blood pressure, lower blood sugar levels and lower blood fats These include spinach, black beans, kidney beans, lima beans, soybeans, halibut, peanuts, pumpkin seeds and some whole grains.

Other herbs and nutrients that have been beneficial are niacin (vitamin B3), guggul (a gum resin from the mukul myrrh tree), curcumin, chromium and calcium citrate.

As you can see, with a few dietary changes and increasing aerobic physical activity you can win the battle over cholesterol for life. For the balance of this article discussing the above mentioned supplements, please visit my website for the full article.

Author Resource: Jeff Keto suffered a stroke in March, 2007 requiring a much healthier diet and lifestyle. Product links available at: http://njkmarketing.com

Article From High Profile Articles

Medication For Your Back Pain, Know What You Take

If you suffer from back pain the one thing you want as quick as possible is pain relief. The level of pain felt will vary between persons, it all depends on the pain tolerance a person has but also on what the cause of the back pain is. Most often you can treat the pain with medication like naproxen or ibuprofen. These are so called non-steriodal anti-inflammatory drugs. One of the biggest problems with these NSAIDs is that you can get potential side effects like increased risk of heart attack or stroke and/or gastrointestinal bleeding.

When you're looking for medication witch don't have these side effects maybe COX-2 inhibitors are an option. At this moment they haven't shown any negative side effects on the gastrointestinal system. Testing, however, is still continuing because the long term safety still has to be determined. Long term usage of non-sterodial anti-inflammatory drugs can have the increasing potential of gastrointestinal and/or kidney damage. The verdict on COX-2 is still out until the research on long term use is done and the effects are known to us.

Although most of the over the counter drugs don't have the same strength as NAIDs, Acetaminophen has shown some successes as pain medication when it comes to reducing the discomfort of having a back pain, and this all without having the many side effects NIADs have. When muscle spasm is the main cause of the pain there are only a few options in pain medications that can reduce the pain.

Drowsiness is the cause of pain medication

The most prescribed drugs, which are part of a persons back pain medication, are muscle relaxers. About 30% of those users have reported that they become extremely drowse when they take them. Muscle relaxers also have not proved to be very effective against muscle spasms even when they are used together with NAIDs no there was no real benefit shown. Muscle relaxers may be more effective then a placebo but the effects physicians have seen they have on alertness makes them very reluctant to prescribe them.

When a person has acute back pain, in some cases, an opiate medication may be prescribed only they have certain side effects you will have to take in to account. These side effects are sedation, clouded judgement, nausea and not in the least the high potential for addiction. Therefor you will never be allowed to take this type of medication for more then a few days. Constipation is one of the most heard of complaint. All though opiate medication or narcotics as pain medication is very effective for pain relieve they will not help to reduce any of the healing time.

No benefit has been shown of oral steroids being a good medication for back pain and there is also no benefit if taken as an injection in the back or as epidural. When used on sciatica they have been successful but without sciatica it's not known to give any relief as a back pain medication.

Author Resource: Richard Collins knows about back pain first hand. He has seen all kinds of doctors and done all kinds of therapies. On his blog at http://www.gottabackpain.com he talks about what can be done to alleviate the pain.

Article From High Profile Articles

ADHD Medications And What You Should Know

Which ADHD medication is right for you? There have been many new medications released for the treatment of ADHD, however they are all stimulants. The introduction of Straterra was a welcomed announcement to most people, especially those who have children that have been diagnosed with it.

In the past, Ritalin and Adderall have both been considered effective, but a lot of parents have heard some bad rumors about Ritalin and do not want to put their children on a stimulant. Ritalin acts as a type of speed but in people with ADHD it neutralizes their brains and causes a calming effect. If someone without ADHD were to take Ritalin, it would act like a speed to them.

Straterra is not a stimulant. This leaves some people very curious about how it then can be effective for treatment. Straterra is the first and only non stimulant drug that has been approved by the FDA. This drug can be taken by children or adults and is effective for both. Straterra works differently than the typical stimulant drugs as it is considered a nor epinephrine reuptake inhibitor.

The benefits of this drug are that it offers relief for the entire day and well into the evening; it gives continuous symptom improvement over a period of time, it does not cause insomnia in adults or children, and there is no potential for abuse because it is not a controlled substance.

When referring to treatments that include the use of stimulants, Ritalin and Adderall are most often used to treat ADHD. The stimulants work in this manner, they block the absorption of dopamine and nor epinephrine which are the two brain neurotransmitters. The result is an increase in the transmission of certain neurons. Stimulant drugs have been known to be very effective with decreasing the levels of not being able to pay attention, and they are less distracted and less impulsive. This results in, especially with children, that they are no longer labeled the “different” kids in class as children with ADHD have a tendency to stand out from the others in class mainly because they are fidgety and lack self control.

The medications that are used to treat are safe and effective but as with any type of medication there can be adverse side effects such as problems with sleeping, stomach aches, headaches, and a loss of appetite, drowsiness, irritability, and nervous tics.

Often parents are fearful of the side effects that this medication can cause but parents should be made very aware that in most children these are safe and effective drugs that result in no side effects whatsoever. The ADHD medication should be taken as directed and to never just stop administering the drug without first consulting your physician.

There have been especially concerning rumors and stories about Ritalin. They often have heard that it is addictive, it might stunt your child’s growth, or it causes a “zombie” like affect on the child. In fact these are not true and can actually be the tools that your child needs to live a normal and productive lifestyle. As always, consult a licensed physician before using any attention deficit disorder drugs.

Author Resource: An airline pilot has ADHD, his son and daughter both have ADHD. Discover what they've found out and how you can get ADD/ADHD help. http://www.adult-child-add-adhd.com/

Article From High Profile Articles

Doctor How Do I Avoid The Side-Effects Of Steroid Medicines?

Mention steroids and the first thought that comes up is that of a beefy athlete whose head is two sizes too large for his body.

What many people don’t realize is that there are two different kinds of steroids. The first kind, anabolic steroids, are the ones you read about in the sports pages. These build muscle mass among other properties.

The second type of steroid is that used to treat inflammatory disease like arthritis. These are the catabolic steroids such as prednisone. These types of steroids actually break down muscle mass. Their advantage though is that they are powerful anti-inflammatory drugs. These anti-inflammatory steroids – also called corticosteroids- are often used in the treatment of diseases such as arthritis.

In fact, corticosteroids are used by up to 75 per cent of patient with rheumatoid arthritis.

A major concern, though, is how to avoid the potential side-effects of these drugs and that is the subject of this article. The first step in avoiding side-effects is to take the lowest effective dose possible.

Although sometimes, high doses are given intravenously for serious condition such as lupus or extremely active rheumatoid arthritis, maintenance doses are typically in the range of 10 mgs of prednisone or less per day. Your physician should try to lower the dose when possible if your disease is stable.

When corticosteroids are lowered, they must be tapered slowly to avoid symptoms of withdrawal such as headache, increased joint and muscle pain, drop in blood pressure, nausea, vomiting, or fever.

People who have been on long term corticosteroids must be extra cautious. The longer one has taken these drugs, the slower the taper must be.

The reason is that when synthetic corticosteroids are given, the body’s adrenal glands reduce the production of normal cortisone. If the synthetic supply is stopped abruptly, the adrenal glands can’t produce enough cortisone to compensate. The result is a severe medical condition called adrenal crisis. This syndrome presents with shock-like symptoms such as sweating, chills, weakness, loss of consciousness, and sometimes death.

Another side effect is insomnia. Taking the steroid dose in the morning can minimize this side effect. Lowering the amount of caffeine consumed throughout the day is also beneficial.

Another serious side effect is osteoporosis. Corticosteroids reduce the ability of the body to absorb calcium and they also increase the amount of calcium excreted buy the body. The end result is a weakening of the bones with an increased likelihood of fracture.

To guard against this, periodic bone density tests to assess bone loss, along with regular calcium and vitamin D supplementation is needed.

Drugs to prevent osteoporosis such as risedronate (Actonel) and alendronate (Fosamax) may be needed.

Alternate day dosing of corticosteroid- taking the steroid on one day and not the next- may allow control of disease with fewer risks of side effects. While this regiment may be effective for lupus, inflammatory muscle disease, and vasculitis, it is not effective for rheumatoid arthritis, polymyalgia rheumatica, or giant cell arteritis.

Drugs such as methotrexate and azathioprine may have a steroid sparing effect. In other words, they may allow the use of lower doses of prednisone.

Make sure you ask your rheumatologist about your steroid dose and whether it is possible to reduce the total amount of steroid drug you take.

Author Resource: Nathan Wei, MD FACP FACR is a rheumatologist and Director of the Arthritis and Osteoporosis Center of Maryland. He is a Clinical Assistant Professor of Medicine at the University of Maryland School of Medicine. For more info: http://www.arthritis-treatment-and-relief.com/arthritis-treatment.html

Article From High Profile Articles