Archive for December, 2009

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Five Signs Of Prescription Drug Addiction

Comments: 0December 31st, 2009 by admin



Vicodin is a brand name for the combination of acetaminophen and hydrocondone. This powerful pain killer is semi-synthetic that is derived from two naturally occurring opiates, codeine and thebaine. The drug hydrocondone binds to the pain receptors in the brain and spinal cord, subsequently reducing the sensation of pain.

Acetaminophen can control the production of prostaglandins, which cause pain. Vicodin is perfectly safe as long as it taken as prescribed. If Vicodin is taken in a larger dose or for longer than the prescribed duration, it is addictive.

Vicodin comes in tablet, capsule and liquid form.

This drug is becoming one of the most widely abused drugs in the United States. Its misuse is as harmful as cocaine, heroin, marijuana and methamphetamine.

Effects of Vicodin

Vicodin is similar to codeine and is almost equal in strength to morphine in producing opiate-like effects. Continuous use may result in requiring larger and larger doses to achieve the same effect. Long term use can result in physical dependence. The body adapts to the substance and withdrawal symptoms occur if the presence of the drug is removed.

Symptoms of Addiction

Unfortunately, many people who are addicted to Vicodin are also addicted to other substances. One indicator is alcoholism or addiction to another substance. Studies show that 83% of Vicodin addicts are addicted to some other substance as well. Also, most often the addicted person is someone who can afford to pay for medication or is privately insured.

Vicodin is use to the treatment of pain. For this reason, people who can afford to seek medical treatment are more likely to become addicted. The most common source of pain reported is in the head and neck. Though the medical issue was addressed when the patients complained to their physicians, addiction was not a concern. Using Vicodin for chronic pain, real or imaginary, can and has lead to drug addiction. Additionally, patients with chronic pain are at risk for withdrawal from the drug which in many cases can be deadly if the prescription is discontinued for any reason. It is for this reason that many patients who experience chronic illness do not want to use prescription medication.

If the following symptoms are noticed, there is genuine reason to believe the person is addicted to Vicodin:

Anxious feeling about getting a prescription refilled before it runs out Tendency to take more of the drug to achieve the desired effect or to take it more often than prescribed Unable to quit the medication even if there is a sincere wish to do so or feeling guilty about taking Vicodin Committing illegal acts to acquire Vicodin such as juggling doctors or buying Vicodin on the street Thinking about the medication upon awakening or the patient’s Vicodin use has become in issue with friends and loved ones.
If any of these apply to you or to someone you love, then you may want to seek treatment for addiction right away. If you think you are addicted either physically or emotionally to Vicodin, talk to your doctor, a counselor or a substance abuse professional as soon as possible to avoid the inescapable dangers of Vicodin addiction. The Farley Center and Williamsburg Place are available to help. Their staff is caring and supportive. They understand and they want to help. Call the Farley Center at (800) 582-6066 for a free assessment interview and to get immediate referrals to a professional in your area.

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Vitamin B8 Benefits, Deficiency and Sources

Comments: 0December 31st, 2009 by admin



Vitamin B8 is a water-soluble vitamin, which is not only widely distributed in food but also manufactured in the lower digestive tract of the human body. It is very stable when heated.

Benefits of Vitamin B8 -

* Vitamin B8 or biotin is imperative for a healthy immune system. It is necessary for the metabolism of carbohydrates, proteins, and fats from food. It is also required for the utilization of proteins, folic acid and vitamin B 12.

* Vitamin B8 plays an important role DNA and RNA synthesis (genetic material), production of red blood cells and proper functioning of the nervous system.

* It is essential for the growth of healthy hair as well as prevents premature greying of the hair as well as hair loss. Biotin, found as an active ingredient in many of today’s shampoos and hair conditioners, is said to repair damaged hair and keep hair healthy.

* This vitamin also helps to maintain the skin in healthy condition. It helps to evenly distribute the colour pigment – melanin throughout the skin. Deficiency of this vitamin often leads to pigmentation problems.

* Required in the creation of glycogen, and is also essential in the making of fatty acids.

* Essential for pregnant women as it helps prevention of neural tube birth defects

* It has a significant role in red blood cell formation along with homocysteine metabolism (required for proper functioning of the heart). Deficiency of Vitamin B-8 results in megaloblastic anemia.

Deficiency of Vitamin B8 -

A deficiency in B8 is rare since it is widely available in food.

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HIV Symptoms and When to Get Tested

Comments: 0December 31st, 2009 by admin



There is a common misconception among many people these days that HIV home tests are unnecessary for them. While some people still believe that the disease only exists among prostitutes, homosexuals, and IV drug users, the HIV statistics prove that people of any age, race, sexual preference, or lifestyle can contract the disease. While sexual intercourse is by far the most common means of transmission, any contact with the blood or bodily fluids of an infected person can result in transmitting the illness. It is very important to understand that anyone who is sexually active or comes into contact with the bodily fluids of others is at risk of developing HIV.

Another common misconception among many is that HIV testing is only needed if you begin to show symptoms of being sick. While HIV does have numerous symptoms, it is important to know that many people do not show HIV symptoms at all for months or even years. While diseases such as herpes and gonorrhea have specific symptoms, HIV is an immune deficiency, which means that its main effect is that it makes people more susceptible to other illnesses. For this reason, people who are HIV positive often think that a cold or flu is often a symptom only of itself and miss being diagnosed altogether.

In most cases, the early development of HIV is entirely symptom free. People who do show HIV/ AIDS symptoms during this stage often mistake them for the flu, as a fever, muscle pain, and swollen lymph glands are the most common effects. Later symptoms of the disease can range from chronic diarrhea to sudden weight loss, sores on the mouth and skin, rashes, exhaustion, and sweating as well as chronic yeast infections. Because all of these symptoms can also be found with other illnesses, it is important to undergo regular HIV testing to ensure that your status is negative. When diagnosed early, many people can live remarkably long and healthy lives with HIV.

HIV becomes detectable anywhere from a few weeks to a few months after transmission. As the disease begins to spread within the body, the immune system will begin to develop antibodies. The presence of these antibodies is what allows a diagnosis to be made by doctors. While they often develop within a few weeks, it is important to be tested for at least a year after contact with someone who is positive and to get tested regularly if you are sexually active or are exposed to bodily fluids.

Testing for HIV can be done in many ways by doctors. For people seeking a confidential and private way to test for HIV antibodies, an HIV home test allows you to perform a simple needle stick and mail the sample to a lab for rapid analysis. You will never be asked to give personally identifiable information and will be able to learn your results from the privacy of your own home. The test is virtually painless, and results can be available anywhere from the next day to a few weeks. Knowing your HIV status is crucial, and home HIV test kits make it easier than ever to always have the answer.

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Low Blood Pressure Can Be Serious

Comments: 0December 28th, 2009 by admin



When the blood presses against the walls of the arteries, it is called blood pressure. Blood pressure derives from two different things. The force of the arteries as they resist the blood and when the heart pumps blood into the arteries and through the circulatory system. Blood pressure readings can change very quickly depending on the time of day, what you have eaten and stress levels.

Many people are concerned with having high blood pressure but if your blood pressure is to low you may experience some scary symptoms such as blurred vision, nausea, dizziness and fainting. Doctors usually consider low pressure as having a healthy cardiovascular system so if you don’t experience any symptoms then there is usually no need to worry. It is not normal for blood pressure to drop suddenly and can be dangerous because it could indicate a serious problem.

The body has to have a certain amount of fluid to function normally. You can lose too much fluid from a stomach flu that causes severe vomiting or diarrhea. Taking diuretics can cause an excessive loss of fluid. Sweating for a long period of time can also cause fluid levels in the body to drop. If you don’t maintain enough fluid then dehydration can occur and cause blood pressure to drop too low. Allergic reactions to food, bees or medicines can cause a severe drop in your blood pressure as well. Anything that would cause an extreme loss of blood or infections that get into the bloodstream and produce toxins or form bacteria can make blood pressure plummet.

Anemia is from a low blood count that can be brought on by excessive bleeding or iron deficiency. Low blood pressure can accompany anemia especially when you change positions from sitting to standing. If you’re not eating a healthy diet, not only will your iron levels be affected but you may not be getting enough nutrients to maintain a normal blood pressure. Drugs such as heart medicines, anti-depressants, anti-anxiety and alcohol can also disturb your blood pressure by making it low. Tell your doctor if you experience alarming symptoms while on medicine. He might want to change your dose.

Low blood pressure without symptoms doesn’t need treatment. If is coming from a medicine and the adjusted dose doesn’t help you need to completely stop the medicine. In order for your doctor to accurately determine the exact cause tests will need to be done. Blood tests will identify problems such as anemia and low blood sugar or hypoglycemia. Heart tests can reveal any abnormalities with your heart and make sure your heart muscle is receiving enough blood and oxygen. Other tests are valsalva maneuver and tilt-table. One option to bring your pressure up is to increase the salt in your diet but don’t overdo it unless you talk to your doctor. There are some natural treatments you could also try if your blood pressure is mildly low and if you have moderate symptoms. Doctors usually agree that people with low blood pressure live longer then people with high blood pressure.

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Use the Cervical Mucous Test to Determine Your Ovulation Timing

Comments: 0December 25th, 2009 by admin



During a woman’s menstrual cycle, the egg is waiting in the wings to be fertilized. The womb (uterus) prepares itself for joyous conception by thickening its walls and storing blood. If sexual intercourse happens during this time frame, there is an extremely high chance that conception will occur given that all other factors that influence conception are also in tune. If, however, fertilization does not have a chance to occur, the uterus sheds the unfertilized egg as well as the changes on the uterine wall in the form of menstrual blood.

Along with the Calendar method and the Temperature method, the Cervical Mucous Test also indicates when changes are taking place within our body. To understand your body and the times of ovulation, I’ll describe the cervical mucous at each stage of the month.

Normally, as our menstrual cycle ends, we see thick white cervical mucous. This sticky or creamy mucous is easily removed from our vagina with a paper tissue. As ovulation starts and the ovaries release the mature egg, copious amounts of thin, mucous consistency of discharge is produced. The type of mucus at the various intervals differs in people. To understand your body’s signals, it is best to follow the patterns and consistency of your own mucus to decide when ovulation is triggered. Repeat the checks over multiple months to determine the pattern that your own body follows.

The vagina is more or less dry after menstruation as the body’s low estrogen level keeps the mucous level low. In a while, the mucous slowly gets to feel sticky indicating the phase 2 when estrogen builds up. The ovulation time is the monsoon season for the vagina, the wettest time of the cycle. The mucous at the point is gummy, pasty, and sometimes, almost viscous. It is often possible to stretch it between our two fingers (sometimes up to two inches long) and see how elastic it feels. This is the third phase which lasts up to two or three days indicating the most fertile period during this cycle.

After ovulation, the mucous thins and decreases in volume. Estrogen production goes down in our body as the next cycle starts. The vagina gets dry just before our monthly menstrual bleeding starts again and the mucous at this point gets watery and clear.

The peak day of the period is the day with the best quality of mucous. The fertile period starts on the peak day and ends in about four days at the most.

Note that any type of sexual arousal or activity can change the consistency of the mucous. The best time to check the mucous is in the evening. In addition to checking the consistency of the mucous, we can also check the position and feel of the cervix itself. In the course of a menstrual cycle, the cervix changes its position as well as its shape and firmness.

Of course, this depends on the shape and size of your body and the ability of each person to sense the changes. In the beginning of the cycle, the cervix appears to be at a low position and easy to reach. It also feels closed and firm. Around the time the ovulation begins, the cervix feels soft, and in a higher position which is more difficult to reach.

A combination of the methods such as calendar method, temperature method, lower abdomen pain/ache and cervix position changes as well as the mucous changes will certainly help you predict when it is time to have intercourse with the most amazing chances of successful conception.

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Basic Facts to Know When Selecting a Drug Rehabilitation Center For Your Kid

Comments: 0December 24th, 2009 by admin



Consumption of drugs has become very common among kids in today’s world. So, if parents find out from local drug testing centers that their child is drug addicted, they must soon admit their child to drug rehabilitation center for their child’s betterment.

However, this doesn’t mean the parents can admit their child to any drug rehabilitation center that they find out on their way to home. Certain points must be considered while selecting drug rehabilitation center for your child. Read them below.

Firstly, after you find out from the drug testing centers that your child is drug addicted you must first put your best efforts to find out a drug rehabilitation center that is close to your home. You are simply not going to drop off your child to the drug rehab after you come to know about the results that have been derived by the Drug rehabilitation center. You must have an important role to play in your child’s life by visiting him/her on regular basis.

Secondly, while choosing the drug rehab center for your child you must consider the charge of the facility. You must be active in finding out the costs that are involved and about the insurance coverage for your child’s drug rehab. Knowing the costs will help you to compare the costs of one rehab center and the other and make you understand better about what all will be covered by Medicaid or insurance.

Next, you must also find out the type of accreditation that drug rehab center has. Always look for a drug rehab center that is certified by JCAHO or such other equivalent body. Don’t ever admit your child in a drug rehab which is not authorized. Also find out whether the rehab center is licensed by state or not.

Another most important thing that needs to be taken into account while selecting the drug rehab facility is their treatment philosophy. Find out whether the rehab center teats people of different ages together or if teens are kept separately. Teen drug facilities have high success rate if adolescent patients are separated strictly from the adult patients.

You should also find out whether the facility subscribe to 12-step model. Your child may not be receptive to such type of treatments which can thus impact negatively on your child’s improvement. Look if the rehab has other options.

Moreover, you should consider the rehab center that offers educational allowances to your child. Just because the kid is in rehab does not mean the education of the kid must be sacrificed.

Finally, you must find out the duration of treatment that the drug rehab center will take to cure your child completely.

Choosing a good Drug rehabilitation center for your kid is not quite easy. You need to spend much time to educate yourself about the topic of drug abuse. So, if you want to spend your precious time educating yourself on drug abuse for better recovery of your child visit Ara Rubyan’s Drug Rehab Choices blog to get more knowledge about teen drug rehabilitation.

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Normal Blood Sugar Levels ARE Possible for a Diabetic!

Comments: 0December 24th, 2009 by admin



What are normal blood sugar levels? Fasting (blood sugar level after not eating for 8 hours) blood sugar should be between 70 milligrams per deciliter to 100 mg/dL. Your blood sugar should not be above 100 at any given time; If it is, this suggests a pre-diabetes condition. A level of 100 – 199 suggests prediabetes. A level over 200 suggests that you have either Type 1 or Type 2 diabetes.

There are several steps in lowering your blood sugar. Try the following if you are interested in more normal blood sugar levels.

A. Begin slowly lowering your carbohydrate intake. If you want to get very specific on which foods you can and cannot eat, I recommend the diet as per Dr. Richard Bernstein. He has done all the testing for us and eliminated all foods that had a make up that could not be tracked. After all, if you can’t track it, you can’t manage it. Also, check out our diabetic recipes page for some delicious low carb meals. If you stick to a pre-calculated amount of carbohydrates per meal, your insulin amounts should be the same every day.

B. Test your blood sugar more frequently. We test from 5 – 10 times per day. If your fingers can take it, the blood sugar readings are imperative to helping understand if the insulin amounts are correct or not. Know your A1C. This test is very revealing as to how you are doing with blood sugar levels and should be under 6.0%.

C. Pay attention to how and when your type of insulin works. For example, before meals, Isobel gets about 2 units of Regular Humalin insulin. This particular insulin is given about 40 minutes before a meal because it takes that long to begin working. Humalog on the other hand is a more fast acting insulin and if given for meals, should only be given about 5 minutes before eating. Check with your doctor or do your own research on your insulin to make sure you are giving it enough time to start working before you eat.

D. Stop snacking and limit yourself to three meals per day. Snacking is habitual and can easily be broken.

The level of blood sugar control predicts the onset and severity of diabetes-related complications for both types of diabetes. This means that if you have diabetes, if you can keep your blood sugar levels as close as possible to normal, you can live a normal life span with few or even no complications at all. A non-diabetic’s normal blood sugar range is from 70 – 100. There is no reason why a diabetic can’t strive for the same levels.

For more information, visit our website at www.libertybella.com.

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How Drug Addiction is Different Than Drug Dependence

Comments: 0December 24th, 2009 by admin



The prescription drugs and Over-The-Counter drugs are effective in treatment of various kinds of diseases, disorders, reduce pain etc. But besides being used for medical purposes, these drugs have also got strong tendency to result in addiction. Many doctors even avoid prescribing medications that have potential to cause addiction among patients. The terms addiction and dependence are often mistaken to have same meaning. In initial stages, it is difficult to differentiate between addiction and dependence.

Drug Addiction
In drug addiction, the person becomes physically and psychologically dependant on drugs to such an extent that in spite of knowing about its negative consequences, the internal desire of person to consume abusive substances dominates over the feeling to restrain. The person can go to any extent to procure the drugs. The person can become addicted after repeated use with increased dosage each time to get same effect. Addiction can not be reduced by decreasing the amount of substance dosage gradually. Although the addicted person can get rid of physical dependency on substances, it is difficult for him to detach from psychological dependence. When the substance intake is suddenly stopped, the addicted person can not withstand the discomfort and agony due to withdrawal symptoms. Drug addiction has several negative effects on social, economical, and professional life.

Drug Dependence
In drug dependence, the person becomes dependent upon the drugs to attain normal bodily function. A patient taking pain medications can become dependent on that substance. But the patient can become normal after controlled and prescribed use of medications. Suddenly stopping the substance intake produces withdrawal symptoms which indicate dependence on drugs. The withdrawal symptoms may include physiological symptoms like muscle cramps, tremors, seizures etc. The withdrawal symptoms may also include psychological symptoms like anxiety, depression, inability to concentrate etc. It is not always necessary that a patient who is dependent on substances will become addicted. The patient can get rid of dependence after gradually reducing dosage of medications. Many drugs like certain steroids, SSRI class anti-depressant medications, some anti-histamines have shown tendency to cause physical/psychological dependence. But there is not desire of addiction observed among patients who use these drugs.

Managing Drug Addiction and Drug Dependence
There are various effective techniques, behavioral approaches, and medications that can be used to tackle drug addiction and dependence. Substance addicted person can be enrolled in various outpatient Drug-Free Programs which provide group, individual, and family counseling. Those addicted to opioids should be send to Opioid Agonist Programs. Addicted persons can also be enrolled in Inpatient Rehabilitation programs which last from few days to few weeks. Therapeutic communities are long term residential programs for those addicted persons who do not get benefited from other treatments.

Those patients who are physically dependent on medications will find it less troublesome while quitting the use of medications. But, such patients should not suddenly cease intake of medication voluntarily but should consult doctor before taking such step.

Thus, physical dependence on a substance can occur without having addiction, while a person can get addicted to drugs without going through physical dependence. Likewise, psychological dependence can occur without the person getting addicted but it can not be said that a person can get addicted without getting psychologically dependent.

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Ways to Increase Hemoglobin Other Than Iron Pills

Comments: 0December 22nd, 2009 by admin



Low levels of hemoglobin can cause anemia. Hemoglobin or red blood cells carry oxygen through blood to all parts of the body. The characteristic symptoms of anemia include fatigue and breathlessness. A simple blood test can determine if you have low hemoglobin. Once the results are in proper treatment is important.

Treatment for Hemoglobin

Treatment for anemia depends upon the condition of blood in the body. A person needs a blood transfusion in case of substantial loss of blood as in case of an operation. While if the person is suffering from general weakness due to improper diet or illness, the treatment involves increasing the iron intake as iron is the main ingredient of hemoglobin.

Problem with Iron Supplements

Taking iron pills is the most common treatment of anemia. However, all of us can not absorb the high doses contained in those iron pills. In addition, these pills can cause stomach upset, constipation, and heartburn and can be toxic if taken in large doses. If a person has such problems with iron pills, doctors prescribe an iron-rich diet replenishes the lost hemoglobin.

Taking iron-rich diet

There are several commonly available food items, which contain significant doses of iron. It is important to include things like nuts, green leafy vegetables, beans, chicken, liver, Shell fish, beef, red meat, turkey, fish and pork in the daily food. In addition to intake of these iron-rich food items, it is recommended to curtail certain types of foods which block the absorption of iron in the body. These foods include tea, coffee, calcium-rich food like cheese, milk, chocolate, few medicines like antacid and phosphates. At the same time, increasing the intake of foods containing vitamin C, help increase the absorption of iron in the body.

Treating Anemia with herbs

Besides taking iron-rich diet, there are certain herbs which are very useful in treatment of anemia. Drinking liquid chlorophyll is a good way to increase hemoglobin. Chlorophyll has the same molecular structure as that of hemoglobin with a few differences. Though eating green leafy vegetables is good, you can add a few drops of liquid chlorophyll to your drinks.

One wonderful herb having loads of iron is Yellow Dock Root. You can include it in your diet either by cooking it or making an infusion. To prepare infusion, steep two teaspoons of the dried herb in 3 cups of water for few minutes and drink after it gets lukewarm.

Another rich source of iron is Blackstrap Molasses. However, in case of diabetes, it should be avoided as it is sugary. Nettle is one more herb which is rich in iron. One can drink its infusions regularly to increase hemoglobin levels in the blood. To prepare its infusion, mix an ounce of dried nettle herb in 4-5 cups of water and steep for several hours.
Level of hemoglobin determines the health of the body. Consistency in following the measures is the key to treat anemia.

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How Does HIV Home Testing Work?

Comments: 0December 21st, 2009 by admin



Getting an HIV test can be stressful and embarrassing for many people. Due to the stigma that still surrounds the disease, many people fear that having HIV will cause people to judge them as promiscuous or to make assumptions about drug use. While the medical community is now well aware of HIV statistics and the ways that HIV can be transmitted, and of the fact that anyone who is sexually active or comes into contact with blood is at risk, this stigma keeps many people from getting tested. HIV home testing is an excellent way for people to find out for certain whether or not they are HIV positive, without having to face doctors and community members in a local clinic. These tests are anonymous and highly accurate.

A HIV home test is done using a finger stick much like those performed on diabetics to measure blood sugar levels. The sample is then sent to a lab, where results will be available anywhere from the day they are received to a few weeks later, depending on the test and the company. Most companies allow people to send in their HIV home test using only PIN numbers or codes that they set up so that results are completely confidential. Counseling is also offered in many cases, regardless of a positive or negative result in order to help people learn to prevent the disease and to ensure that people are prepared in case the result is positive.

The FDA does not allow HIV test results to be determined or read at home. There are many reasons for this, and it is due in large part to the amount of work required to determine that a diagnosis is accurate. Because HIV is considered such a serious diagnosis, it is a primary goal of these companies to ensure that accurate results are always given.

If your HIV home test shows a positive result, you will be instructed to see a local doctor to confirm the results. False positives are highly unlikely, but confirming the diagnosis is always recommended, as is seeking prompt treatment. HIV is no longer the near-immediate death sentence that it once was, but maintaining proper treatment is imperative.

If your HIV home test is negative, then you should simply maintain a regular testing schedule. While all people should be tested every six months, if you have been exposed to HIV infected blood or someone with HIV/AIDS symptoms, it is important to be tested every twelve weeks for a full year. It can take some time for HIV symptoms and antibodies to develop within the body after exposure.

In short, HIV home testing certainly works and is an excellent idea. While seeing your doctor can be the best method of testing for many and can help ensure that you are psychologically prepared for the results, HIV home testing offers fast results and confidential treatment. Your health is very important, and knowing your HIV status is crucial for anyone who is sexually active or who has a job with a risk of bleeding. If you do not know your HIV status, it is certainly advised that you use a HIV home testing kit to learn the truth right away.

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