Archive for December, 2009

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Are Glucosamine and Chondroitin Safe For Type 2 Diabetics?

Comments: 0December 17th, 2009 by admin



Glucosamine is a substance that occurs naturally in the human body. It provides strength, flexibility, and elasticity to cartilage and connective tissue by stimulating the production of glycosaminoglycans, molecules that hold joint tissue together. Glucosamine also decreases inflammation that can lead to the joint destruction of arthritis.

Because of some studies done several years ago involving high dose glucosamine injected into participants, there has been some concern that glucosamine might lead to insulin resistance or even diabetes and might make diabetes worse.

A study published in the July 14, 2003 issue of the Archives of Internal Medicine tested whether or not taking oral glucosamine and chondroitin supplements, a popular type of treatment for osteoarthritis pain, is safe for type 2 diabetics.

In the 90-day study, 34 mostly elderly patients received either a placebo or 1500 mg of glucosamine hydrochloride and 1200 mg of chondroitin sulfate. Most of the patients were already taking drugs for glycemic control, and four participants withdrew from the study.

The dose tested is what is routinely recommended by doctors for arthritis treatment.

The researchers found that the supplements did not alter hemoglobin A1c concentrations.

Hemoglobin A1c is a measure of the amount of glucose clinging to red blood cells in the blood. It is good indicator of overall blood glucose control over a period of 3 months. The fact that the glucosamine and chondroitin taken did not have any effect whatsoever on these levels ii an excellent indicator that these supplements did not altering blood sugar control.

The researchers concluded that this dosage does not significantly alter glucose metabolism in diabetes patients.

This is good news for people with both diabetes and arthritis. 1500 mg of glucosamine hydrochloride and 1200 mg of chondroitin sulfate in pill form are still one of the safest and most effective arthritis treatments available, even for type 2 diabetics.

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Posted in anemia

Treating Herpes

Comments: 0December 16th, 2009 by admin



Genital herpes is one of the most common sexually transmitted diseases in America. In some cases it can be accompanied by painful outbreaks and a diagnosis may create many emotional ramifications. Once a person finds out they have herpes, they can decide if treatment is a feasible option for them to look into.

Some people never have herpes outbreaks, and ma decide to bypass a treatment regiment. But for the people who do experience outbreaks and if these outbreaks are frequent, long-lasting and/or very painful, finding out about different kinds of treatments is a good idea. Treatment proves helpful in the management of physical symptoms and when the physical symptoms of genital herpes are alleviated, much of the emotional stress associated with the virus is alleviated as well, then people who have the virus can lead lives that are not dictated by their herpes diagnosis.

A physician may prescribe doses of oral antivirals, designed to shorten the life of an initial outbreak and decrease severity of recurrences. People who experience numerous outbreaks can take oral antivirals daily for up to one year to decrease virus activity and prevent recurrences.

However, a more cost-effective, successful and easily accessible way to treat herpes is with nutraceuticals – or herbal treatments. There are many benefits to taking herbal treatments for herpes.

One of the main reasons a person may choose to opt for natural treatment for herpes is the fact that the ingredients in natural treatments are indeed, natural. They were not produced in a lab and often do not carry the side effects associated with prescription drugs. And many nutraceutical treatments for herpes and other conditions offer money-back guarantees if you are not pleased with their results.

Another reason natural treatments are a good choice in herpes management is that they are more cost-effective than prescription drugs. In a time when health insurance is scarce and a person needs relief from their herpes outbreaks, a natural treatment is a great choice.

And since discussing genital herpes with a physician may be difficult, or if you want to keep your condition confidential, many nutraceutical products are available without going to a doctor for a prescription. You can easily manage your herpes condition successfully and cost-efficiently.

In addition to treating herpes with medication-pharmaceutical or nutraceutical-here are some additional things that you can do to keep your genital herpes outbreaks under control:

Ways You Can Treat Genital Herpes

* Wash the genital area in a salt bath. This cleans, soothes and dries the sores.

* Take pain relievers and simple analgesics (i.e. aspirin), apply ice directly on infection and use creams that have an anaesthetic component. Keep in mind that creams may slow down drying and should only be used sporadically for pain relief.

* Wear loose underclothes, preferably cotton (avoid nylon), to reduce pain associated with outbreaks.

* For people who have painful urination, drink lots of fluids, because this dilutes urine and reduces pain.

Regardless of the treatment method you choose, it is important to always maintain other healthy lifestyle practices like getting adequate sleep, avoiding stressful situations, eating a balanced diet and following safe sex practices. When a person who has genital herpes engages in a healthy lifestyle and takes the proper safe sex precautions and undergoes some type of treatment regiment, the chances of genital herpes affecting his/her life are reduced greatly.

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Prostate Cancer Survivors – How Les Brown Survived Cancer of the Prostate and How You CAN Too

Comments: 0December 16th, 2009 by admin



If you have been diagnosed with cancer of the prostate and you are serious about surviving it, it’s not as difficult as many people might have told you. There are lots of survivors of the condition and what I like to say is this – if lots of people have survived it, you can survive it too. All you should do is to find out what they did to survive the condition and do the same thing. This article looks at what one of the popular survivors of the condition – Les Brown – did and how you too can do the same things to survive the condition.

In case you have never heard of Les Brown, he is a popular American motivational speaker, one of the best motivational speakers out there. He was diagnosed with prostate cancer about 10 years ago and given a limited prognosis. Instead of giving up like most people would, he was determined to survive it. The first thing he did was to find out if indeed other people have survived the cancer. When he found out that lots of other people had actually survived, he then went out of his way to find out what they did so that he too would do the same thing.

He also read as many books as he could find about how to survive not just prostate cancer but the other cancers out there. He also visited as many websites on the subject as he could find and discovered a lot more that he didn’t previously know about the condition.

Apart from just finding out how to survive the condition from the many people who have survived it and apart from just reading the books and materials about surviving the condition, he then went ahead to take action. Among the actions he took was to eat the right kinds of food and avoid eating the wrong types of food. He also started and maintained a rigorous exercise regimen that helped him survive the condition.

Doing these and more he was able to survive the condition. He is now a 10 year old prostate cancer survivor, despite being given a limited prognosis. So, like I always say – if Les Brown and the many other survivors could survive it, you can do… if you do what they did and you have the zeal and determination to survive. And what’s very important – despite the prognosis you are given, even if the doctors say you only have one or two years to live, you can still survive.

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Posted in cancer

Cause Of Drug Addiction

Comments: 0December 15th, 2009 by admin



Whether you have a loved one addicted to drugs or you yourself are addicted, you may be asking “what is the cause of drug addiction”? The cause of drug addiction is a complex topic, being that each person has their own set of circumstances, but there are some common factors that can help you understand the cause of drug addiction.

Curiosity Humans are born curious and information about drugs is everywhere. It’s not hard to wonder what the hype is about if you have never been taught otherwise.Gateway drugs A person may have started out using something less addicting such as Marijuana and looking for a better high, they come in contact with heavier substances that offer a different type of high.Anxiety, depression, low self esteem and stress A person’s mood and state of well being can play a large part in a person’s perception of right or wrong. When you add drugs into the mix, it becomes a habitual circle of self destruction.Peer pressureThis is NOT a kids only topic; adults are also pressured – Everyone has peers and if getting high is what is acceptable in your social setting or circle of influences, you will be pressured to perform or act in the same way.Alteration of the perception of realityDrugs alter one’s state of mind and it’s for that very reason that many people begin using drugs and attempting to keep their mind in altered state can, and generally does lead to addiction.EnvironmentWe are all a reflection of our environments. If a person is raised in a home where drugs were part of life, or a culture where drugs are accepted, then it is much more likely that they too will become curious first and addicted shortly thereafter.

These are just some of the most common things that can cause drug addiction. The most complex part of the cause of drug addiction is the changes in the brain’s chemistry that take place when a person uses.

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Posted in Alcohol

Have Ovarian Cysts? – Don’t Eat These Foods!

Comments: 0December 15th, 2009 by admin



Ovarian cysts are known to sometimes heal themselves. In essence, your body will resolve its own issues. Not all ovarian cysts are that friendly though. Some are painful and just want to react to anything you do to your body, or put IN your body. If you have ovarian cysts, you might want to steer clear of these foods.

There are ten ‘danger’ foods that women with cysts on their ovaries need to avoid. Oddly, some of these foods are foods that common sense would tell you to avoid anyway.

As with any healthy eating plan, caffeinated and carbonated beverages are a no-no. There drinks with caffeine (like cola and coffee) are know to also aggravate and lead to more discomfort from ovarian cysts. The best idea is to drink more water than any other type of beverage in order to help your body help itself.

Alcohol is another beverage that needs to be moderated, if not avoided completely, when suffering from the symptoms of an ovarian cyst. Alcohol, and the sugar in it, is difficult for the body to process. Anything that is normally hard for your body to handle will make life extra miserable when you have an ovarian cyst.

My ovarian cysts hurt me all the time – especially when I was ovulating. I learned to stay away from any foods that were not good for my body. There were some foods that were difficult (for me) to avoid, but after a few bouts with an aggravated cyst, I learned my lesson.

Now that my cysts are gone, I can ‘slip’ and enjoy some of these foods again without incident.

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Posted in cancer

He Died After Chemotherapy And A Shot of Blood-Count-Boosting (Epoetin) Injection

Comments: 0December 14th, 2009 by admin



Some years ago, one young man came to see me for his cancer. He was prescribed some herbs which he did not take. He preferred to go for chemotherapy instead. Not too long after that his wife came to my house in the middle of the night and asked for help. She told me that after chemotherapy, her husband’s red blood counts dropped drastically. The doctor gave him an injection to boost up the blood counts. He suffered a blood clot in his thigh and had to undergo an emergency operation. She wanted me to help him with the herbs. But it was not to be, her husband died soon afterwards.

In the early days of my practice, I did not document patients who came to see me. So, I only have vague recollection of some outstanding cases. This was one outstanding case that I remember, involving a young professional. When he had cancer, I could see the agony and hopelessness in the face of his young wife.

This case would not have resurface and find itself in print if not for some articles I have just read in the net about erythropoiesis stimulating agents (ESAs). ESA is commonly used to treat anemia, i.e., a lower than normal number of red blood cells. Examples of such drugs are Procrit, Epogen and Aranesp. These are synthetic, genetically engineered version of a natural glycoprotein known as erythroprotein. The US-FDA had approved the use of ESAs to treat anemia in patients with chronic kidney failure and in patients with cancer after chemotherapy had lowered their blood counts. To patients in Malaysia, each injection cost a good tidy sum of money.

According to Alison Tonka, associate editor of the British Medical Journal (BMJ) “thousands of patients worldwide rely on synthetic ESAs to alleviate the anemia that accompanies chronic renal disease and chemotherapy for cancer.” Two news articles in the BMJ had these titles: “Safety of anemia drug erythopoitin is to be reviewed” and “FDA calls for warning on anaemia drugs amid reports of incentives to doctors.” The main message from these articles is that more patients treated with ESAs died from the treatment rather than live longer or are helped. That is to say, ESAs increase the risk of death. Studies also showed that at a dose higher than indicated ESAs could cause increased risk of blood clots, stroke and heart attack. In patients with head and neck cancer, higher doses of ESAs promoted tumour growth.

In November 2006, February and March 2007, the US-FDA put out safety alerts informing the public about this safety concerns. From the net, I learn the following:

1. ESAs can cause serious and life-threatening side effects.

2. A greater number of deaths occurred in patients treated with these blood-count-boosting injections than in patients who did not receive chemotherapy.

3. ESAs cause increased rate of tumour growth in patients who had radiation therapy for their head and neck cancers and chemotherapy for their metastatic breast cancer.

4. ESAs cause higher chance of death and increased number of blood clots, strokes, heart failure and heart attacks in patients with chronic kidney failure.

All users of this blood-count-boosting drugs need to be told that they are at increased risk of death as well as serious cardiovascular complications including stroke, heart attack, blood clots to the heart, lungs, brain and major blood vessels. Those with chronic kidney failure given ESAs may suffer from seizures and hypertensive encephalopathy, i.e., swelling of the brain caused by very high blood pressure.

I now know why this young man met his premature death after chemotherapy plus a shot of erythropoiesis stimulating agent (ESA) that the doctor gave him. Goethe, a German philosopher once wrote: “There is nothing more frightening than active ignorance.”

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Posted in anemia

Genital Warts and Herpes

Comments: 0December 13th, 2009 by admin



Genital warts and herpes are both sexually transmitted diseases. They are caused by different viruses. Genital warts are caused by human papilloma virus (HPV) and herpes is caused by a virus called herpes simplex virus (HSV). Millions of people are infected every year by these two most common STDs. Let us look at these diseases separately so that we may understand the better and know the differences between genital warts and herpes.

Genital warts
These occur in the genital areas and are transmitted mainly through vaginal, anal and oral sex. Genital warts are more common among women than men and therefore there are more works being done to prevent women from getting infected. These warts are flesh colored or gray growths. They may be flat or occur in lumps. Thee warts itch and pain and may eve bleed. These are common symptoms for both men and women.

The HPV can remain inside the body for a long time without showing itself. Once the symptoms are noticed, it is very important to show them to the doctor. There are many treatments for genital warts. They may be removed by freezing using liquid nitrogen, cutting them off with blades heated by electricity, laser surgery or by a method called excision where the doctor uses the surgical tools to remove them. There are also several over the counter effective medicines.

HPV can also attack a pregnant woman and this will involve a lot of risk as the warts may be transmitted to the baby. The pregnant women cannot use the same medicines to treat the warts and need proper medical help.

There are vaccines to prevent genital warts but these vaccines are only for women but search is on for men also. It is best to prevent the problem because there is no cure.

Herpes
This is also a highly contagious STD that has no cure. In this case rashes with blistery sores appear in different parts of the body. These sores may appear even in the anus, vagina, penis and cervix. The symptoms include, itching, burning sensation, pain, fever, swollen glands, headaches, etc. Psychological distress is another symptom from which an infected person suffers from. Herpes is so contagious that it may be transmitted from casual touching or sharing of the same items with an infected person.

There is no treatment available for herpes and therefore it is very essential to protect oneself from it. It is also the responsibility of the person to do everything to prevent the transmission off the disease to other people.

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Posted in anemia

Knowing the Vitamin B12 Deficiency Symptoms

Comments: 0December 12th, 2009 by admin



We don’t often see or experience Vitamin B12 deficiency symptoms since our body requires a very little amount of it, not to mention we normally get sufficient amounts of Vitamin B12 from our normal meals – enough to satisfy or meet our daily requirements. Nevertheless, it is still best to recognize the Vitamin B12 deficiency symptoms so that we can counteract these symptoms just in case we experience them.

Vegetarians are most vulnerable to deficiency of Vitamin B12 since they don’t use the dietary supplements that provide our body with Vitamin B12. Infants being breast-fed vegetarian mothers may also be at risk. However, it is safe to take Vitamin B12 supplements since these have very few adverse effects of over-dosage.

One of the main Vitamin B12 deficiency symptoms is a certain type of anemia that makes you feel weak, tired, and lethargic. It might also make you constipated, feel nauseous, and flatulent. People suffering from Vitamin B12 deficiency also have poor appetite and usually suffer from weight loss.

Severe cases of Vitamin B12 deficiency may exhibit symptoms such as tingling or numbness in the hands or feet, loss of memory, insomnia, lack of balance, dizziness, digestive problems, depression, eye problems, liver enlargement, headaches, inflamed tongue, hallucinations, breathing difficulties, neurological damage, palpitations, and ringing in the ears or tinnitus.

Source of Vitamin B12 include animal products like dairy, eggs, meat, fish, and other animal organs. It is rarely found in fruits and vegetables and this is the reason why vegans, especially those who don’t eat meat or dairy products are at risk of Vitamin B12 deficiency. If you fall under this category, then it is a good idea to take vitamin B12 supplements. You can consult your physician for recommendations of a good Vitamin B12 supplement.

It is also very important to be aware that the functions of Vitamin B12 in the body is dependent on the sufficient amount of other necessary vitamins present in the body; thus, you should make sure that you are getting a balanced diet in order to avoid Vitamin B12 deficiency symptoms. Like what we always hear, prevention is always better than cure.

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Posted in anemia

Natural Diabetes Management – Herbal Remedies

Comments: 0December 10th, 2009 by admin



Following are some of the known herbal remedies that are reported to help in the natural management of diabetes.

Aloe Vera – The dried sap and gel taken from the inner portion of the leaves have been effective reducing blood glucose and glycosylated hemoglobin levels.

Banaba – Helps to lower blood sugar levels and assists with weight loss. Banaba is found in some of the better diabetes supplements. It is a plant that is native to Southern Asia.

Bitter Melon – Has long been used for it’s glucose lowering properties. It must be taken in small doses however, because larger doses can cause abdominal pain and diarrhea. It helps to increase the number of beta cells, which produce insulin. Bitter melon tea is still used in the Philippines today to help control blood sugar levels. Blood sugar levels should be closely monitored when using diabetes nutritional supplements that contain bitter melon, in order to avoid an unsafe drop in blood sugar.

Black Seed or Nigella Sativa extract – Can lower elevated blood sugar levels and increase antioxidant activity, possibly preventing the complications associated with uncontrolled type II diabetes.

Chromium – Helps the body’s cells properly respond to insulin. Chromium is an essential trace mineral that plays an important role in carbohydrate and fat metabolism and helps body cells properly respond to insulin. Studies have found low levels of chromium in people with diabetes. There are many promising studies suggesting chromium supplementation may be effective.

Cinnamon – A spice that is derived from the bark of the Cinnamon or Cassia tree. It can be used in cooking and can help to control blood glucose levels. Cinnamon bark makes fat cells more accessible to insulin. It blocks the formation of dangerous free radicals and increases the conversion rate of glucose to energy.

Fenugreek – stimulates insulin secretion from the pancreatic cells and helps lower your blood sugar levels.

Garlic – Can be beneficial in lowering blood glucose levels.

Ginkgo Biloba – Extract of leaves taken from the Ginkgo tree. This herbal treatment is noted for antioxidant qualities and improving blood circulation. This can aid or prevent complications such as diabetic neuropathy or diabetic retinopathy occurring.

Ginseng – An herb that can be added to cooking, taken as a supplement or tincture. It can help control blood sugar levels and lower blood pressure. It has long been used in the treatment of diabetes. It can increase the release of insulin from the pancreas and enhance the function of insulin receptors.

Gymnema Sylvestre – Helps the pancreas to produce insulin and help insulin to lower blood sugar levels in both type 1 and type 2 diabetics.

Indian Gooseberry – Helps to stimulate the pancreas, causing it to produce more insulin.

Indian Kino – Helps to regenerate beta cells and pancreatic islets cells which are responsible for producing insulin.

Magnesium – Can help regulate blood sugar levels. Magnesium can be found naturally in foods such as green leafy vegetables, nuts, whole grains and seeds. Low magnesium levels can increase diabetes symptoms.

Neem Tree – Reduces blood sugar levels.

Onions – Can be beneficial in lowering blood glucose levels. They can increase the production of insulin, which will lower high glucose levels in your blood.

Stevia – A shrub found in South and Central America – noted for it’s sweet taste. It is widely used as a sweetener alternative to sugar. It has little effect on the blood sugar level so is useful for controlling diabetes.

Turmeric – Is used in cooking, and is a member of the ginger family. It helps lower glucose levels.

Vanadium – is a trace mineral found naturally in soil and many foods. It is also produced during the burning of petroleum. Vanadium has been found to improve insulin sensitivity and reduce blood sugar in people with type 2 diabetes. It seems to mimic many of the actions of insulin in the body. You should not use vanadium without the supervision of a qualified health care practitioner because the dose needed to affect blood glucose levels can be potentially toxic.

Zinc – Aids in the production and storage of insulin. Zinc can be found naturally in foods such as oysters, ginger root, buckwheat, split peas, lima beans, almonds, walnuts, pecans, egg yolk, beef liver, sardines, almonds, lamb, and chicken.

If you decide to try any of the above herbal treatments, please remember to monitor your blood sugar frequently and be sure to keep your health care professional informed about what you are doing.

If you find the right herbal treatments for diabetes that works for you, prescription medication for your diabetes may become a thing of the past!

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Posted in Diabetes

A Few Facts About Drug Rehabilitation Centers

Comments: 0December 10th, 2009 by admin



The main goal of all drug rehab facilities is to unlock you from the chain of addiction and allow you to live a good life and be a healthy contributing member of society. The programs help you to go through a normal day without having to feel like you need to always be on drugs. Each program is specifically designed and created to deal with only one or two different types of addiction. Here are a few pieces of information to help you choose the absolute best facility for what you need it for.

Talk with a counselor or therapist first to find out what kind of drug treatment facilities are going to be best for you to go to. These people will conduct a few tests and look into a few possibilities before they determine which type of treatment facility is going to give you the best chance to succeed. Each person has a different and unique story and situation as to why they are there. This is why each situation and person needs to be evaluated on an individual level.

There are a variety of different types of programs and treatment methods that they could implement on you, but really impossible to say which specific one or two they may choose. Not to worry though, many of these professional counselors and doctors were once addicts themselves and certainly understand the best steps of progress for you to follow.

Most people with drinking illnesses will either go to an outpatient program or an inpatient type of addiction program for individuals with a more advanced form of the disease.

The outpatient alcohol rehab program will consist of few different things. First you may get put in a few different peer groups like Alcoholics Anonymous and/or certain alcohol learning courses designed to show you the dangers of drinking. You may also have to report to a counselor or psychologist who will talk to you about how to cope with your past and deal better with certain situations.

Outpatient services are meant more for people who are in the first stages of this serious disease. These people may have a drinking problem, but they are still responsible enough to hold down a job and pay bills.
Inpatient alcohol rehab programs are more for those that have a long history of drinking and are in serious physical and mental health conditions. These individuals will have all day medical attention and will be hand guided towards recovery.

Alcohol though is only one form of addiction and many people require more help than just for alcohol. Some people may get suggested a dual diagnosis program where you would get help on a few different addictions so you can understand how to better the both of them.

No matter your own illness, it is important to seek help once you realize you might need it. There are plenty of people out there willing to help without question. Contact the professionals in your local area so you can get the attention you need in order to live a happy and healthier life.

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Posted in Alcohol

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