14 Mart 2010 Pazar
Healthy living tips
Are you a busy entrepreneur or employee who is usually on the go and doesn’t have a lot of time, but still wants to make 2008 the year that you get more healthy?Don’t worry, you’re not alone. Most people want to get healthy, more fitter and look younger yet they can’t seem to find the time for it. In fact, I have seen advertisements on TV since the new year for at least 7 different fitness workouts by various celebrities and actresses, but I wonder how many people will actually stick to the plans when they purchase it.Listen, if 2008 is going to be different for you, your body and your family, then it’s time to buckle up and find new habits that will serve you better. Don’t you agree? Healthy living doesn’t have to be hard, it was never created to be. But it does require a small amount of commitment and a big love for being refreshed.Here are eight tips for healthy living on the go:;1. Enjoy a pint of water first thing in the morning.If you haven’t got time for anything else in the morning, make time to drink a big glass of water. We lose a lot of oxygen through the night and to rejuvenate our cells, we need to supply them with water and oxygen. Drink a glass of water and within a week you’ll begin to feel less tired. I like the taste of water, but I know some people do not so if you’re one of them, squeeze some fresh lime into your water to give it taste and drink up.2. Grab a few fresh fruits on your way out.Wherever you’re going – whether it’s a walk or drive to the supermarket or on your way to a meeting – pick up one or two fruits and eat them. If you leave for work in the morning and don’t return ’til evening, take a few fruits and eat them throughout the day. Fruits are great for their nutrients, vitamins and sugars that are required in our body.3. Avoid going to junk food shops with your work mates.If your work mates are going and you want to go along, go ahead but don’t order the burger or french fries. Go for a nice salad instead. Or any other healthy meal that takes your fancy. Junk food is full of “empty calories” that do nothing for your body but put on extra unneeded and unhealthy fat.4. Exercise on the go.If you work in an office, get up every 30 minutes and go for a walk. If you have an office with stairs, run up and down the stairs every couple of hours. Get your blood flowing and your muscles moving.5. Drink herbal teas.When at work or home, many people love to get a cup of tea or coffee. Decide that you’ll be more healthy and get a warm cup of herbal tea. The selection available today is absolutely massive, so you’re guaranteed to find one you enjoy. I like mandarin and ginseng tea as well as fennel seed tea.6. Eat a handful of nuts.Get your favorite selection of nuts (almonds, cashews, pecans, walnuts, etc.) and raisins and have a big handful of them at around 3pm. This has been shown to increase afternoon energy and productivity.7. Say yes to freshly squeezed juice.One of the biggest and most exciting changes I made in my health about 7 months ago was when I said “yes” to having my own freshly squeezed juice every morning. Since then, my energy, body health and vitality has increased ten-fold. I create the time to squeeze my own carrot-apple-ginger juice; however if you don’t have the time, ask someone if they can make it for you in exchange for something you can help them with, or get yourself to a local juice bar and get your share of the juice!8. Deep breathing.When you’ve got time – at your desk, driving the car, cooking food – do some deep breathing. Inhale and count up to 5 seconds, hold it for a few seconds, and release slowly. Exchange of oxygen and carbon dioxide is one of the best things we can do for
Influenza
Influenza, commonly referred to as the flu, is an infectious disease caused by RNA viruses of the family Orthomyxoviridae (the influenza viruses), that affects birds and mammals. The most common symptoms of the disease are chills, fever, sore throat, muscle pains, severe headache, coughing, weakness/fatigue and general discomfort.[1] Sore throat, fever and coughs are the most frequent symptoms. In more serious cases, influenza causes pneumonia, which can be fatal, particularly for the young and the elderly. Although it is often confused with other influenza-like illnesses, especially the common cold, influenza is a much more severe disease than the common cold and is caused by a different type of virus.[2] Influenza may produce nausea and vomiting, particularly in children,[1] but these symptoms are more common in the unrelated gastroenteritis, which is sometimes called "stomach flu" or "24-hour flu".[3]
Typically, influenza is transmitted through the air by coughs or sneezes, creating aerosols containing the virus. Influenza can also be transmitted by direct contact with bird droppings or nasal secretions, or through contact with contaminated surfaces. Airborne aerosols have been thought to cause most infections, although which means of transmission is most important is not absolutely clear.[4] Influenza viruses can be inactivated by sunlight, disinfectants and detergents.[5][6] As the virus can be inactivated by soap, frequent hand washing reduces the risk of infection.
Influenza spreads around the world in seasonal epidemics, resulting in the deaths of between &0000000000250000.000000250,000 and &0000000000500000.000000500,000 people every year,[7] and millions in pandemic years. On average 41,400 people died each year in the United States between 1979 and 2001 from influenza.[8] Three influenza pandemics occurred in the 20th century and killed tens of millions of people, with each of these pandemics being caused by the appearance of a new strain of the virus in humans. Often, these new strains appear when an existing flu virus spreads to humans from other animal species, or when an existing human strain picks up new genes from a virus that usually infects birds or pigs. An avian strain named H5N1 raised the concern of a new influenza pandemic, after it emerged in Asia in the 1990s, but it has not evolved to a form that spreads easily between people.[9] In April 2009 a novel flu strain evolved that combined genes from human, pig, and bird flu, initially dubbed "swine flu" and also known as influenza A/H1N1, emerged in Mexico, the United States, and several other nations. The World Health Organization officially declared the outbreak to be a pandemic on June 11, 2009 (see 2009 flu pandemic). The WHO's declaration of a pandemic level 6 was an indication of spread, not severity, the strain actually having a lower mortality rate than common flu outbreaks.[10]
Vaccinations against influenza are usually given to people in developed countries[11] and to farmed poultry.[12] The most common human vaccine is the trivalent influenza vaccine (TIV) that contains purified and inactivated material from three viral strains. Typically, this vaccine includes material from two influenza A virus subtypes and one influenza B virus strain.[13] The TIV carries no risk of transmitting the disease, and it has very low reactivity. A vaccine formulated for one year may be ineffective in the following year, since the influenza virus evolves rapidly, and new strains quickly replace the older ones. Antiviral drugs can be used to treat influenza, with neuraminidase inhibitors being particularly effective
Typically, influenza is transmitted through the air by coughs or sneezes, creating aerosols containing the virus. Influenza can also be transmitted by direct contact with bird droppings or nasal secretions, or through contact with contaminated surfaces. Airborne aerosols have been thought to cause most infections, although which means of transmission is most important is not absolutely clear.[4] Influenza viruses can be inactivated by sunlight, disinfectants and detergents.[5][6] As the virus can be inactivated by soap, frequent hand washing reduces the risk of infection.
Influenza spreads around the world in seasonal epidemics, resulting in the deaths of between &0000000000250000.000000250,000 and &0000000000500000.000000500,000 people every year,[7] and millions in pandemic years. On average 41,400 people died each year in the United States between 1979 and 2001 from influenza.[8] Three influenza pandemics occurred in the 20th century and killed tens of millions of people, with each of these pandemics being caused by the appearance of a new strain of the virus in humans. Often, these new strains appear when an existing flu virus spreads to humans from other animal species, or when an existing human strain picks up new genes from a virus that usually infects birds or pigs. An avian strain named H5N1 raised the concern of a new influenza pandemic, after it emerged in Asia in the 1990s, but it has not evolved to a form that spreads easily between people.[9] In April 2009 a novel flu strain evolved that combined genes from human, pig, and bird flu, initially dubbed "swine flu" and also known as influenza A/H1N1, emerged in Mexico, the United States, and several other nations. The World Health Organization officially declared the outbreak to be a pandemic on June 11, 2009 (see 2009 flu pandemic). The WHO's declaration of a pandemic level 6 was an indication of spread, not severity, the strain actually having a lower mortality rate than common flu outbreaks.[10]
Vaccinations against influenza are usually given to people in developed countries[11] and to farmed poultry.[12] The most common human vaccine is the trivalent influenza vaccine (TIV) that contains purified and inactivated material from three viral strains. Typically, this vaccine includes material from two influenza A virus subtypes and one influenza B virus strain.[13] The TIV carries no risk of transmitting the disease, and it has very low reactivity. A vaccine formulated for one year may be ineffective in the following year, since the influenza virus evolves rapidly, and new strains quickly replace the older ones. Antiviral drugs can be used to treat influenza, with neuraminidase inhibitors being particularly effective
Swine influenza
Swine influenza (also called swine flu, hog flu, or pig flu) is an infection by any one of several types of swine influenza virus. Swine influenza virus (SIV) is any strain of the influenza family of viruses that is endemic in pigs. As of 2009, the known SIV strains include influenza C and the subtypes of influenza A known as H1N1, H1N2, H3N1, H3N2, and H2N3.
Swine influenza virus is common throughout pig populations worldwide. Transmission of the virus from pigs to humans is not common and does not always lead to human influenza, often resulting only in the production of antibodies in the blood. If transmission does cause human influenza, it is called zoonotic swine flu. People with regular exposure to pigs are at increased risk of swine flu infection. The meat of an infected animal poses no risk of infection when properly cooked.
During the mid-20th century, identification of influenza subtypes became possible, allowing accurate diagnosis of transmission to humans. Since then, only 50 such transmissions have been confirmed. These strains of swine flu rarely pass from human to human. Symptoms of zoonotic swine flu in humans are similar to those of influenza and of influenza-like illness in general, namely chills, fever, sore throat, muscle pains, severe headache, coughing, weakness and general discomfort. The recommended time of isolation is about five days
Swine influenza virus is common throughout pig populations worldwide. Transmission of the virus from pigs to humans is not common and does not always lead to human influenza, often resulting only in the production of antibodies in the blood. If transmission does cause human influenza, it is called zoonotic swine flu. People with regular exposure to pigs are at increased risk of swine flu infection. The meat of an infected animal poses no risk of infection when properly cooked.
During the mid-20th century, identification of influenza subtypes became possible, allowing accurate diagnosis of transmission to humans. Since then, only 50 such transmissions have been confirmed. These strains of swine flu rarely pass from human to human. Symptoms of zoonotic swine flu in humans are similar to those of influenza and of influenza-like illness in general, namely chills, fever, sore throat, muscle pains, severe headache, coughing, weakness and general discomfort. The recommended time of isolation is about five days
Variable blood pressure can mean stroke risk
Findings suggest current treatments for hypertension need revision
LONDON - People with occasional spikes in their blood pressure could be at higher risk of having a stroke than those with regularly high blood pressure, new studies said Friday.
In four articles published in the medical journals Lancet and Lancet Neurology, European researchers suggest current guidelines for treating people with high blood pressure need to be revised.
In one of the studies, Peter Rothwell of the Stroke Prevention Research Unit at John Radcliffe Hospital in Oxford, Britain, tracked about 8,000 patients who had had a heart attack. They found patients who had consistently variable blood pressure rates were at least six times more likely to have a stroke than those with regularly high blood pressure.
LONDON - People with occasional spikes in their blood pressure could be at higher risk of having a stroke than those with regularly high blood pressure, new studies said Friday.
In four articles published in the medical journals Lancet and Lancet Neurology, European researchers suggest current guidelines for treating people with high blood pressure need to be revised.
In one of the studies, Peter Rothwell of the Stroke Prevention Research Unit at John Radcliffe Hospital in Oxford, Britain, tracked about 8,000 patients who had had a heart attack. They found patients who had consistently variable blood pressure rates were at least six times more likely to have a stroke than those with regularly high blood pressure.
Broccoli sprouts offer protection
A concentrated extract of freeze dried broccoli sprouts cut development of bladder tumours in an animal model by more than half, according to a report in the March 1 issue of Cancer Research, a journal of the American Association for Cancer Research. This finding reinforces human epidemiologic studies that have suggested that eating cruciferous vegetables like broccoli is associated with reduced risk for bladder cancer, according to the study's senior investigator, Yuesheng Zhang, MD, PhD, professor of oncology at Roswell Park Cancer Institute. "Although this is an animal study, it provides potent evidence that eating vegetables is beneficial in bladder cancer prevention," he said. There is strong evidence that the protective action of cruciferous vegetables derives at least in part from isothyiocyanates (ITCs), a group of phytochemicals with well-known cancer preventive activities."The bladder is particularly responsive to this group of natural chemicals," Zhang said. "In our experiments, the broccoli sprout ITCs after oral administration were selectively delivered to the bladder tissues through urinary excretion." Other cruciferous vegetables with ITCs include mature broccoli, cabbage, kale, collard greens and others. Broccoli sprouts have approximately 30 times more ITCs than mature broccoli, and the sprout extract used by the researchers contains approximately 600 times as much. Although animals that had the most protection against development of bladder cancer were given high doses of the extract, Zhang said humans at increased risk for this cancer likely do not need to eat huge amounts of broccoli sprouts in order to derive protective benefits. "Epidemiologic studies have shown that dietary ITCs and cruciferous vegetable intake are inversely associated with bladder cancer risk in humans. It is possible that ITC doses much lower than those given to the rats in this study may be adequate for bladder cancer prevention," he said. Zhang and his colleagues tested the ability of the concentrate to prevent bladder tumours in five groups of rats. The first group acted as a control, while the second group was given only the broccoli extract to test for safety. The remaining three groups were given a chemical, N-butyl-N-(4-hydroxybutyl) nitrosamine (BBN) in drinking water, which induces bladder cancer. Two of these groups were given the broccoli extract in diet, beginning two weeks before the carcinogenic chemical was delivered. In the control group and the group given only the extract, no tumours developed, and there was no toxicity from the extract in the rats. About 96 percent of animals given only BBN developed an average of almost two tumours each of varying sizes. By comparison, about 74 percent of animals given a low dose of the extract developed cancer, and the number of tumours per rat was 1.39. The group given the high dose of extract had even fewer tumours. About 38 percent of this high-dose group developed cancer, and the average number of tumours per animal was only .46 and, unlike the other animals, the majority were very small in size.
Bariatric Medicine - Behavior Modification after Surgery
Bariatric Medicine - Behavior Modification after Surgery Co-Editor-in-Chief, Tracy E. Austin, MD Monday, February 1, 2010 - 07:01 PM Behavior Modification after Surgery Bariatric medicine is the study and treatment of obesity. Most people think that bariatric medicine has only to do with surgery that alters a person�s stomach so that he or she can not consume as much food. This is only a part of the treatment concerning bariatric medicine. The causes and prevention of obesity is one of the main elements of bariatric science. For a person to maintain weight loss and his or her health, that patient will be under the care of a bariatric specialist for the rest of his or her life. Included in this treatment is intense therapy and behavior modification. Behavior modification can involve numerous facets or treatment. These include: Physical activity Medication Active behavior modification Bariatric treatment is not simply going under the knife and having the stomach stapled or banded. It overwhelmingly involves the emotional elements and the understanding of what is happening with the patient. Before surgery, the patient will go through therapeutic sessions and intensive discussions with the doctor so that the side effects are thoroughly explained and understood. The follow up treatment is also extremely important to follow. After Surgery ModificationsMost recovery times range from one to three weeks for laparoscopic gastric bypass surgery and two to six weeks after gastric bypass surgery. There are many different habits after surgery that the patient will have to modify. DietThe patient cannot eat normally after the surgery and will have to take protein supplements and multivitamins to avoid nutritional deficiencies. Immediately after surgery, the patient will be on a liquid diet. This diet may include tea, broth, or electrolyte beverages such as Gatorade. Patients also have to avoid drinking from a straw or a bottle and should gingerly sip from a cup. Using this method will help the patient to avoid swallowing too much air and avoiding extreme discomfort. Carbonated beverages are also to be avoided. If they aren�t, the carbonation can expand the newly-formed pouch in the stomach. Staying hydrated is essential. However, a patient can not drink and eat at the same time as the liquid will expand the stomach and not enough food will be eaten and absorbed since the patient will feel too full to eat the correct amount of food to stay healthy. Examples of pureed foods that are accepted for the post-operative diet are: Protein shakes Broth only Blended poultry Low-fat yogurt or milk Mashed bananas After a couple of months, patients can move on towards a more solid diet of pureed substances. Most patients at this point can tolerate approximately 16 to 24 ounces a day. Dumping SyndromeIf a patient strays from the correct diet and neglects to follow the modifications in his or her diet, then a symptom know as �dumping� can occur. If the patient eats foods that are too sugary or high in fat, or too much artificial sweetener, he or she can experience numerous maladies: Nausea Chest pain Vomiting Diarrhea Sweating Drinking AlcoholIt is recommended that patients not drink alcohol for at least six months after surgery because it is high in calories, sugar, and low in nutritional value. Not only that, alcohol will actually deplete the body of nutrients. PregnancyDoctors do not recommend that female patients get pregnant within a year after surgery because of injury that may be suffered to the mother and thereby injuring the fetus. This means that sexually active females should use some form of birth control for at least one year after surgery. Pain MedicationPatients will have to avoid medication like NSAIDs (including aspirin and ibuprofen). Instead, patients are safe to take acetaminophen. The doctor should be consulted if the patient is not sure if a pain medication is safe. ExerciseIt is very important to maintain an exercise regimen after surgery to maintain a healthy weight and decrease weight gain. This exercise begins one to two days after surgery, which may seem odd, but movement of the legs helps to decrease the chances of acquiring deep vein thrombosis (a blood clot in the legs). Specific exercise plans will be drawn up by the doctor, which will begin with a low-impact program that will increase over time to more physical challenging exercises. Lifetime DietIt will always be important to maintain a very, low-fat and sugar free diet for the rest of a patient�s life. Good foods that doctors recommend are: Lean meat (chicken, turkey, pork) Fish Low-fat cottage cheese Tofu Whole grains Cheese Soft pasta Bariatric surgery requires extreme dedication from the patient undergoing the surgery to be diligent about the pre- and post-surgery instructions. By not following these directions, the person can suffer malnutrition, gain back weight, or worse, suffer from life-threatening internal injuries. For referenced and resourced information, go to http://www.smilemd.com/bariatric-medicine/behavior-modification-after-surgery.aspx
http://www.smilemd.com instantly schedules nationwide online medical and dental appointments for doctors dentists bariatrician bariatric surgeon nyc. Patient versions of medical & dental articles are library referenced for online publication by co-editors-in-chief Judy J. Johnson DDS and Tracy E. Austin, MD. Dr. Johnson is a member of The New York Academy of Cosmetic Dentistry. Dr. Austin is a member of the A.M.A., American Medical Writers Association and the Association of Health Care Journalists.
http://www.smilemd.com instantly schedules nationwide online medical and dental appointments for doctors dentists bariatrician bariatric surgeon nyc. Patient versions of medical & dental articles are library referenced for online publication by co-editors-in-chief Judy J. Johnson DDS and Tracy E. Austin, MD. Dr. Johnson is a member of The New York Academy of Cosmetic Dentistry. Dr. Austin is a member of the A.M.A., American Medical Writers Association and the Association of Health Care Journalists.
Avandia is Killing Americans, FDA Negligence Comes Front and Center
It appears the new FDA leadership is not much different than the last administration, as the diabetes drug Avandia killed 304 people in the third quarter of 2009 while the FDA dragged its feet. The scandal is hitting a fever pitch as the New York Times and Washington Post feature stories on a bipartisan Senate investigatory report released over the weekend. It criticizes GlaxoSmithKline for failing to warn patients years earlier that Avandia was potentially deadly. “Instead, G.S.K. executives attempted to intimidate independent physicians, focused on strategies to minimize or misrepresent findings that Avandia may increase cardiovascular risk, and sought ways to downplay findings that a competing drug might reduce cardiovascular risk,” concludes the report, which was overseen by Senator Max Baucus, a Montana Democrat, and Senator Charles E. Grassley, an Iowa Republican.
In reality, the FDA is sitting on several dozen of these big-selling-drug time bombs. FDA management refuses to take action in a timely manner to protect Americans. The logical conclusion as to why the FDA behaves this way is to protect the drug company, in this case GlaxoSmithKline, from a flood of lawsuits. A second reason is that the FDA management knowingly approved a dangerous drug in the first place and now looks inept (which they are) taking it off the market. Back in 2006 the FDA management (headed by cancer biotech kingpin Andrew von Eschenbach) forced their own safety expert to retract the black box warning she wanted to place on Avandia for congestive heart failure. She was then stripped of her power to make such warnings and removed from supervision of the safety of Avandia.
The new FDA commissioner, Margaret Hamburg, doesn’t seem to have a clue. On Friday evening she said she was going to wait several more months until a new advisory committee (typically industry friendly) offered a new opinion on the issue, adding “Meanwhile, I am reviewing the inquiry made by Senators Baucus and Grassley and I am reaching out to ensure that I have a complete understanding and awareness of all of the data and issues involved.” Is Dr. Hamburg willing to be personally responsible for all the needless deaths that occur in the meantime?
The Senate investigation showed that FDA safety scientists conducted a report on Avandia and concluded that it should be removed from the market. Their report was ignored by FDA management, as FDA commissioner Hamburg continues to do. It is pretty obvious that GlaxoSmithKline aggressively marketed Avandia knowing that it injured and killed, reaching peak sales in 2007 of 3.2 billion. When cardiovascular concerns began coming to public light worldwide profits fell, and were just over a billion last year.
The Senators think this problem of drug safety can be solved by placing the safety scientists in their own FDA entity, rather than having their findings overruled by managers who approved the drugs in the first place. While such a change may help, the FDA resists making such a move. I don’t think it would solve the problem.
The only way this problem is going to get solved is if criminal penalties are given to management at Big Pharma companies who knowingly withhold safety data and then Americans die. If they were tried for involuntary manslaughter, as they should be, then this nonsense would stop. FDA managers who overrule safety findings which then result in deaths of Americans should face the same penalty – and then the FDA management, often in a revolving door with the industry it is supposed to be regulating, would stop acting like the best friend of Big Pharma.
Avandia is the tip of the iceberg as far as FDA-approved blockbuster drugs that are injuring and killing Americans. If not for a few Senators trying to look out for the public this information would not see the light of day. The FDA is utterly incompetent at doing the job it is supposed to be doing. It does not need more money to do its job. It needs a legal and ethics overhaul. The next question the FDA should be forced to answer is, “How many other drugs have your safety scientists warned should not be on the market?” And what about the poisoning of our food supply with GMOs - didn’t your scientists warn they were unsafe to eat?
In reality, the FDA is sitting on several dozen of these big-selling-drug time bombs. FDA management refuses to take action in a timely manner to protect Americans. The logical conclusion as to why the FDA behaves this way is to protect the drug company, in this case GlaxoSmithKline, from a flood of lawsuits. A second reason is that the FDA management knowingly approved a dangerous drug in the first place and now looks inept (which they are) taking it off the market. Back in 2006 the FDA management (headed by cancer biotech kingpin Andrew von Eschenbach) forced their own safety expert to retract the black box warning she wanted to place on Avandia for congestive heart failure. She was then stripped of her power to make such warnings and removed from supervision of the safety of Avandia.
The new FDA commissioner, Margaret Hamburg, doesn’t seem to have a clue. On Friday evening she said she was going to wait several more months until a new advisory committee (typically industry friendly) offered a new opinion on the issue, adding “Meanwhile, I am reviewing the inquiry made by Senators Baucus and Grassley and I am reaching out to ensure that I have a complete understanding and awareness of all of the data and issues involved.” Is Dr. Hamburg willing to be personally responsible for all the needless deaths that occur in the meantime?
The Senate investigation showed that FDA safety scientists conducted a report on Avandia and concluded that it should be removed from the market. Their report was ignored by FDA management, as FDA commissioner Hamburg continues to do. It is pretty obvious that GlaxoSmithKline aggressively marketed Avandia knowing that it injured and killed, reaching peak sales in 2007 of 3.2 billion. When cardiovascular concerns began coming to public light worldwide profits fell, and were just over a billion last year.
The Senators think this problem of drug safety can be solved by placing the safety scientists in their own FDA entity, rather than having their findings overruled by managers who approved the drugs in the first place. While such a change may help, the FDA resists making such a move. I don’t think it would solve the problem.
The only way this problem is going to get solved is if criminal penalties are given to management at Big Pharma companies who knowingly withhold safety data and then Americans die. If they were tried for involuntary manslaughter, as they should be, then this nonsense would stop. FDA managers who overrule safety findings which then result in deaths of Americans should face the same penalty – and then the FDA management, often in a revolving door with the industry it is supposed to be regulating, would stop acting like the best friend of Big Pharma.
Avandia is the tip of the iceberg as far as FDA-approved blockbuster drugs that are injuring and killing Americans. If not for a few Senators trying to look out for the public this information would not see the light of day. The FDA is utterly incompetent at doing the job it is supposed to be doing. It does not need more money to do its job. It needs a legal and ethics overhaul. The next question the FDA should be forced to answer is, “How many other drugs have your safety scientists warned should not be on the market?” And what about the poisoning of our food supply with GMOs - didn’t your scientists warn they were unsafe to eat?
Atrial Fibrillation Treatment: What Are My Options?
After a patient moves from the ER to the hospital, doctors will deal with any complications and help prevent future strokes. Here's what to expect during his hospital stay, and how to prepare for his care and recovery after he gets out.
Once a patient's stroke has been evaluated and his condition has been stabilized, he'll be transferred out of the ER and into a hospital bed. How long he spends in the hospital depends on a number of factors, including the type and severity of his stroke, what medical complications arise, and the extent of his disability. But it's unlikely that he'll be in the hospital for long. According to the National Center for Health Statistics, the average length of hospitalization for stroke in 2005 was 5.2 days.
Even though the person you're caring for is out of the ER, serious complications may still arise. An estimated one out of five stroke patients dies during his hospital stay.
The patient's treatment team has two main goals: To prevent another stroke from occurring and to minimize and respond to any complications.
To this end, the person you're caring for will undergo more testing to determine the cause of this stroke. Although the doctors should know what type of stroke he had, they'll still need to pinpoint the exact cause. They may perform one or more of the following tests:
* Carotid ultrasound to determine if either carotid artery is narrowed or blocked. This test is noninvasive and painless: A technician applies jelly to the patient's neck, then slides an ultrasound wand over the skin covering his carotid artery.
* Transcranial Doppler test for blockages in the large brain arteries. This test is similar to the carotid ultrasound, although the sound waves go through the patient's skull instead of his neck.
* Cerebral angiogram to look for atherosclerosis or a brain aneurysm. The patient will be sedated to minimize his anxiety and discomfort during this procedure. A long, thin catheter, or tube, is inserted into a large artery in his groin, then maneuvered all the way through blood vessels into his chest. Once the tube reaches his carotid artery, dye is injected, which travels through the artery into the brain. Then a series of X-rays is taken to spot any abnormalities in the blood vessels of the brain. Because this procedure carries a slight risk of causing another stroke, it will be performed only if other tests are inconclusive.
Depending on the patient's test results, his doctors will treat him to reduce his risk of having another stroke:
* For an ischemic stroke, he may be given anticlotting drugs, have a procedure known as a carotid endarectomy, or both.
* For a hemorrhagic stroke, he may need to have a torn brain artery or aneurysm repaired, both of which require major surgery.
* No matter what type of stroke he had, risk factors such as high blood pressure, high cholesterol, and diabetes will be evaluated and treated.
* Complications could include brain swelling, seizures, clots in his legs, aspiration due to difficulty swallowing, arrhythmias, bleeding stomach ulcers, and pressure sores. The patient's doctors will be on the lookout for these serious and potentially fatal complications.
The patient's hospital stay may be even more stressful for you than his stroke and time in the ER. Now that you're no longer in crisis mode, you have more time to think -- and worry -- about the future. But try to use that time to prepare for life after his discharge instead:
* Figure out how much care he will need. The extent of his stroke-related disability may not be immediately obvious, but it will become clearer as his recovery progresses. Talk to his rehabilitation team about how much care he'll need immediately after discharge, then discuss options for his care with his family or friends. Will he be able to return to his own home or to a family member's home? Or will he need more short-term or long-term attention and care? For more information about this decision-making process, see difficult work of recovery.
Once a patient's stroke has been evaluated and his condition has been stabilized, he'll be transferred out of the ER and into a hospital bed. How long he spends in the hospital depends on a number of factors, including the type and severity of his stroke, what medical complications arise, and the extent of his disability. But it's unlikely that he'll be in the hospital for long. According to the National Center for Health Statistics, the average length of hospitalization for stroke in 2005 was 5.2 days.
Even though the person you're caring for is out of the ER, serious complications may still arise. An estimated one out of five stroke patients dies during his hospital stay.
The patient's treatment team has two main goals: To prevent another stroke from occurring and to minimize and respond to any complications.
To this end, the person you're caring for will undergo more testing to determine the cause of this stroke. Although the doctors should know what type of stroke he had, they'll still need to pinpoint the exact cause. They may perform one or more of the following tests:
* Carotid ultrasound to determine if either carotid artery is narrowed or blocked. This test is noninvasive and painless: A technician applies jelly to the patient's neck, then slides an ultrasound wand over the skin covering his carotid artery.
* Transcranial Doppler test for blockages in the large brain arteries. This test is similar to the carotid ultrasound, although the sound waves go through the patient's skull instead of his neck.
* Cerebral angiogram to look for atherosclerosis or a brain aneurysm. The patient will be sedated to minimize his anxiety and discomfort during this procedure. A long, thin catheter, or tube, is inserted into a large artery in his groin, then maneuvered all the way through blood vessels into his chest. Once the tube reaches his carotid artery, dye is injected, which travels through the artery into the brain. Then a series of X-rays is taken to spot any abnormalities in the blood vessels of the brain. Because this procedure carries a slight risk of causing another stroke, it will be performed only if other tests are inconclusive.
Depending on the patient's test results, his doctors will treat him to reduce his risk of having another stroke:
* For an ischemic stroke, he may be given anticlotting drugs, have a procedure known as a carotid endarectomy, or both.
* For a hemorrhagic stroke, he may need to have a torn brain artery or aneurysm repaired, both of which require major surgery.
* No matter what type of stroke he had, risk factors such as high blood pressure, high cholesterol, and diabetes will be evaluated and treated.
* Complications could include brain swelling, seizures, clots in his legs, aspiration due to difficulty swallowing, arrhythmias, bleeding stomach ulcers, and pressure sores. The patient's doctors will be on the lookout for these serious and potentially fatal complications.
The patient's hospital stay may be even more stressful for you than his stroke and time in the ER. Now that you're no longer in crisis mode, you have more time to think -- and worry -- about the future. But try to use that time to prepare for life after his discharge instead:
* Figure out how much care he will need. The extent of his stroke-related disability may not be immediately obvious, but it will become clearer as his recovery progresses. Talk to his rehabilitation team about how much care he'll need immediately after discharge, then discuss options for his care with his family or friends. Will he be able to return to his own home or to a family member's home? Or will he need more short-term or long-term attention and care? For more information about this decision-making process, see difficult work of recovery.
Alternative Options for Treating Allergic Rhinitis
Here in northern California, allergies are a significant health problem leading to fatigue, sick days from work and school, and secondary infections. Allergic rhinitis is a reaction to seasonal airborne allergens. It affects about 7 percent of the population of North America and is a risk factor for 88 percent of asthma patients. We have some excellent prescription medications for treating this, and there are many over-the-counter medications available also. However, BEWARE of the sedating effects of those nonprescription medications!!! Recent studies have shown that an individual on a therapeutic dose of diphenhydramine (Benedryl) is a more dangerous driver than one who is legally drunk on alcohol.
Fortunately, there are also some effective alternative therapies for allergic rhinitis.
Remember: no matter what method you use to treat your allergies, nasal rinsing to clear the mucus membranes of trapped allergens is essential. It only takes about 30 seconds, doesn't hurt a bit when done correctly, and makes all the difference. I recommend Nasopure®, a product developed by Dr. Hana Solomon, a pediatrician who has put together in one simple kit all you need for successful nasal rinsing. There is an excellent article about this on the Nasopure website (www.nasopure.com). If you are regularly using your Nasopure®, and still having difficulties, you can try some of the following remedies without significant side effects.
Vitamin and mineral supplements:
* Vitamin A - 10,000 IU/day
* Vitamin B6 - 50-100 mg/day
* Vitamin B5 - 50-75 mg/day
* Vitamin C - 1,000 mg/day in 3 divided doses
* Vitamin E - 400 IU/day
* Zinc - 20-30 mg/day
In addition some herbs and nutrients can help:
Quercetin has anti-allergy and anti-inflammatory effects if you take it 250mg two or three times a day.
Freeze-dried stinging nettles (Urtica dioica) can relieve symptoms of allergic rhinitis at a dosage of 300mg twice a day.
Eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) and docosahexaenoic acid (DHA), also called fish oil, can help asthma patients with allergies by stabilizing the airways. They come in capsules and the total dose of the combination should be 2-4 g/day.
Acupuncture has given many patients significant relief. The Chinese medicine paradigm is very different than Western medicine, so I can not explain the mechanism of action. But I know that it is effective!
See your doctor about allergy symptoms if you are unable to manage them on your own - the nonsedating antihistamines and anti-inflammatory nasal sprays available today are excellent in treating this significant health problem!
Stacey Marie Kerr, M.D. graduated from the University of California Davis Medical School in 1989 and is currently a board certified family physician. Dr. Kerr is a member of the California and American Academy of Family Physicians. She holds a B.S. in Education/Special Education from the University of Missouri, Columbia Missouri. She hosts a website the-doctors-inn.comthat provides personalized answers to medical questions.
Fortunately, there are also some effective alternative therapies for allergic rhinitis.
Remember: no matter what method you use to treat your allergies, nasal rinsing to clear the mucus membranes of trapped allergens is essential. It only takes about 30 seconds, doesn't hurt a bit when done correctly, and makes all the difference. I recommend Nasopure®, a product developed by Dr. Hana Solomon, a pediatrician who has put together in one simple kit all you need for successful nasal rinsing. There is an excellent article about this on the Nasopure website (www.nasopure.com). If you are regularly using your Nasopure®, and still having difficulties, you can try some of the following remedies without significant side effects.
Vitamin and mineral supplements:
* Vitamin A - 10,000 IU/day
* Vitamin B6 - 50-100 mg/day
* Vitamin B5 - 50-75 mg/day
* Vitamin C - 1,000 mg/day in 3 divided doses
* Vitamin E - 400 IU/day
* Zinc - 20-30 mg/day
In addition some herbs and nutrients can help:
Quercetin has anti-allergy and anti-inflammatory effects if you take it 250mg two or three times a day.
Freeze-dried stinging nettles (Urtica dioica) can relieve symptoms of allergic rhinitis at a dosage of 300mg twice a day.
Eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) and docosahexaenoic acid (DHA), also called fish oil, can help asthma patients with allergies by stabilizing the airways. They come in capsules and the total dose of the combination should be 2-4 g/day.
Acupuncture has given many patients significant relief. The Chinese medicine paradigm is very different than Western medicine, so I can not explain the mechanism of action. But I know that it is effective!
See your doctor about allergy symptoms if you are unable to manage them on your own - the nonsedating antihistamines and anti-inflammatory nasal sprays available today are excellent in treating this significant health problem!
Stacey Marie Kerr, M.D. graduated from the University of California Davis Medical School in 1989 and is currently a board certified family physician. Dr. Kerr is a member of the California and American Academy of Family Physicians. She holds a B.S. in Education/Special Education from the University of Missouri, Columbia Missouri. She hosts a website the-doctors-inn.comthat provides personalized answers to medical questions.
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