Health information

QUESTION: I am in my mid-forties, slightly overweight and not very active.
Several of my relatives have heart disease
I am wondering if it is too late
for me to start an exercise program that might lower my risk of coronary heart
disease? I’ve heard that exercise really does lower the risk
How does it
work?

ANSWER: You can certainly get on the right track and help lower your risk of
heart disease at your age
Many studies have shown strong evidence that
physical activity can help slow the progression of Coronary Heart Disease
(CHD)
Most of the research supporting exercise as a way of reducing coronary
risks shows physical activity increases the levels of high-density lipoprotein
cholesterol (HDL-C the so-called “good” cholesterol) that is beneficial to
your body and your heart.
In one study, sedentary middle-aged men with heart disease took part in a
13-week program
Every day, the men jogged or ran an average of 1 3/4 miles
(one and three-fourths) on an indoor track
They increased their pulse to 70%
to 85% of maximal heart rate for 20 to 30 minutes
During the course of the
study, the men’s’ HDL-C increased by 10% a very positive sign
In fact, the
American Heart Association recommends exercise for 20 minutes at least 3 times
a week at 70% to 85% of maximum heart rate to promote cardiopulmonary training
and a healthy heart.
In order for you to embark on your adventure towards a healthy heart, you
should first see a doctor and get his advice as to what kinds of exercises may
be good specifically for you
Instead of jogging or running as the men in the
study, you might be best by beginning with a walking program
Walking can be
a great help towards getting you fit, and may be just the ticket for someone
who is just starting a new fitness program.

The material contained here is “FOR INFORMATION ONLY” and should not replace
the counsel and advice of your personal physician
Promptly consulting your
doctor is the best path to a quick and successful resolution of any medical
problem.

Aceon
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Aceon (Perindopril) is in an ACE inhibitor, used to treat high blood pressure and to prevent heart attack.

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QUESTION: A close friend is always complaining about how tired she is, even
though she never seems to actually get sick
Other friends of mine know
people just like her
Are these people lazy, are they actually suffering from
something, or is it just all in their heads?

ANSWER: “Fatigue” is an elusive condition that in the absence of any other
symptoms may be the physical expression of a variety of emotional problems.
Stress, unresolved conflicts, anxiety or depression may all manifest
themselves as fatigue in individuals who are unaware or incapable of facing
their problems directly
In such cases, the doctor can enlighten the patient
as to the emotional component of his or her condition, and, if necessary,
recommend psychological counselling
On the other hand, it is estimated that
20 to 40 percent of fatigue cases result from a physiological condition.
Here, fatigue is accompanied by other symptoms which are usually uncovered
during the patient interview or physical exam (a cough, fever or weight loss
for example), and help pinpoint the underlying condition
It would seem that
your friend could really profit from a visit with her doctor, and obtain the
answers necessary to correct a life style that must be frustrating and
painful.

The material contained here is “FOR INFORMATION ONLY” and should not replace
the counsel and advice of your personal physician
Promptly consulting your
doctor is the best path to a quick and successful resolution of any medical
problem.

Depakote
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Depakote (Divalproex) is used for controlling certain types of seizures in the treatment of epilepsy.

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QUESTION: “Feed a fever, starve a cold.” Is there any medical evidence to
support this advice common in our medical remedies folklore?

ANSWER: The saying would probably be more accurate as “feed a fever, feed a
cold.” That’s because research shows that the body may actually lose
nutrients during an infection.
When you have an infection in your system, your body responds by changing
your metabolism in a certain way no matter what the cause of the infection.
For instance, one study has shown that the level of antidiuretic
hormone which reduces the output of urine increases during illness
For an
illness accompanied by a fever, one day before the fever starts, the body
excretes sodium in the urine
During the fever, the body retains salt and
water.
The way you handle proteins changes during an illness too
Some research
has shown that the level of amino acids (building blocks of protein) in the
blood rises during the incubation period of an illness, and drops once the
illness sets in
Even the changes in concentrations of individual amino acids
during an illness can be predicted: Phenylalanine increases or remains the
same; tyrosine falls in relation to the change in phenylalanine; tryptophan
increases; alanine falls.
During an infection, the body also appears to waste nutrients more are
lost via excretion
And during a fever, your metabolism increases 13% for
each degree centigrade of fever
Plus, blood levels of such metals as iron
and zinc may decrease, the serum level of copper may increase, and serum
cholesterol may fall during mild viral illnesses.
What does all this mean to you? Basically, if you’re ill, it’s important
to eat right
Good nutrition may help your body fight off the bug that is
attacking you and causing your illness.

The material contained here is “FOR INFORMATION ONLY” and should not replace
the counsel and advice of your personal physician
Promptly consulting your
doctor is the best path to a quick and successful resolution of any medical
problem.

Aricept
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Aricept (Donepezil) is used for treating mild to moderate dementia.

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QUESTION: Every now and then my feet break out in small blisters that itch
terribly
They can cover my foot and I can find no relief
Wearing different
shoes has not helped
What’s going on?

ANSWER: Do the blisters tend to come when you’re under emotional stress? If
so, it is possible that the name of your condition is dyshidrosis
This form
of eczema shows up only on the feet and hands, and it’s often triggered by
stress
Though there’s no cure, you can get substantial relief with a steroid
cream your doctor will prescribe.
Other causes of blisters on the feet are allergies and fungal diseases
like athlete’s foot, though with both of these you’ll also see some swelling
not present in dyshidrosis
Less frequently, the blisters signal a condition
called erythema multiforme
The blisters come up like a bull’s eye in the
middle of an inflamed area.
Anytime you have blisters on your feet that you can’t blame on
ill-fitting footwear, see your dermatologist, podiatrist, or family physician.
Try to think back on all the things that may have been happening in your life,
as well as changes in your laundry soap, cosmetics or other chemicals which
may come in contact with your feet
With this help your doctor will probably
be able to solve the mystery of your blisters easily.

The material contained here is “FOR INFORMATION ONLY” and should not replace
the counsel and advice of your personal physician
Promptly consulting your
doctor is the best path to a quick and successful resolution of any medical
problem.

Vasotec
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Vasotec is used to treat high blood pressure (hypertension) in adults and children.

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QUESTION: Back during the energy crisis, I had our house weatherproofed and
insulated
However, after hearing about carbon monoxide poisoning occurring
in airtight houses, I now make sure to leave a few windows slightly open
All
this concern has left me wondering about the signs and symptoms of carbon
monoxide poisoning
What can you tell me?

ANSWER: Carbon monoxide, or CO, is a colorless, odorless gas created by the
incomplete combustion of carbon-containing materials
A major component of
automobile exhaust and a significant part of cigarette smoke, CO is
responsible for half the annual U.S
poison fatalities.
Inhaled and absorbed into the blood stream through the lungs, CO binds
with hemoglobin in the red blood cells, preventing the cells from absorbing
the oxygen they normally carry to all parts of the body
Because of their
need for oxygen, the brain and the myocardium the thick muscles of the
heart are particularly at risk from CO poisoning
Symptoms may range from a
simple headache or lightheadedness, to nausea, visual disturbances or heart
palpitations
CO poisoning can cause comas, abnormally low blood pressure,
irregular heartbeat or convulsions, and lead to death from respiratory
failure
Delayed signs of CO poisoning include emotional disturbances,
disorientation, loss of control over speech and movement, incontinence and
muscular rigidity.
Overexposure to CO is best remedied by treatment with 100% oxygen, and,
if necessary, the administration of hyperbaric oxygen 100% oxygen
administered at 2.8 times normal air pressure
Preventive measures are the
best to take when dealing with CO, since its effects are so deadly, and the
unborn child is particularly at risk: make sure your house or workplace is
well ventilated, even in cold weather; check that furnaces, heating appliances
and autos are operating properly, and to quickly eliminate one easily
avoidable source of CO, stop smoking!

The material contained here is “FOR INFORMATION ONLY” and should not replace
the counsel and advice of your personal physician
Promptly consulting your
doctor is the best path to a quick and successful resolution of any medical
problem.

Allegra
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Allegra (Fexofenadine) is used for treating seasonal allergy symptoms.

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QUESTION: After all I have been through, I was convinced I had my cancer
licked, only to find it has returned
Why? What treatments can be used now
to fight back?

ANSWER: Cancer the uncontrolled growth of abnormal cells in your body that
eventually take over and replace normal cells is a hard-to-fight disease and
it may recur after it was thought to be cured or in remission
In
recurrences, some abnormal cells from the original cancer took root within the
body and started a new tumor
These cells escaped the original treatment and
were not detected because they were too small
Later, after the cells
developed and grew, a new tumor is detected.
A recurrent cancer can appear almost anywhere in the body, but it is
considered to be the same type as the original cancer, no matter where it is.
A recurrence of lung cancer may be in a bone, but it is still lung cancer.
Because it is the same type of cancer, usually the treatment will be similar
to that used for the original cancer, but may be more intensive.
Treatment for most recurrent cancer can include surgery, radiation, and
anticancer drugs
Some tumor growths in the reproductive organs may be
treated with hormone therapy in addition.
Of course, one of the worst parts about recurrent cancer is the emotional
roller-coaster you have been on
Facing cancer again is an even greater
challenge than the first time because, after getting through one or more
courses of therapy and feeling that the disease is beaten, there is a great
sense of fear and shock when it recurs
All cancer patients can help
themselves and their treatment by following their physician’s instructions and
knowing that though it may take longer than you thought it would, you can
still lick this disease
You did it before, you CAN do it again
You can
find the strength in the people who care for you, the family that loves you,
and most important, within yourself
Good Luck!

The material contained here is “FOR INFORMATION ONLY” and should not replace
the counsel and advice of your personal physician
Promptly consulting your
doctor is the best path to a quick and successful resolution of any medical
problem.

Evecare
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Evecare regulates the menstrual cycle by virtue of its uterine stimulant action.

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QUESTION: Will you please explain the meaning of the terms “perform a shunt”
because there is too much water on the brain? This information is very
important to my family and me.

ANSWER: Our brains are normally bathed in a fluid called cerebrospinal fluid
(CSF), but when masses occur within the skull, such as in cases of brain tumor
or when the CSF is produced in excess quantities, or in the last case, when
the flow of this fluid is blocked from its normal exit routes, increased
pressure is built up within the skull
This pressure can cause headaches,
changes in the levels of consciousness, vomiting, mental disturbances, and
even disturb many of the motor functions of our muscles and nerves
In order
to reduce the pressure, a shunt device is put into place
A shunt is made of
a narrow piece of tubing which connects a normally occurring cavity within the
brain to another portion of the body where the fluid may be drained off
The
surgical procedure used to place the shunt device is relatively easy
A small
hole is placed in the skull and the tubing is passed through the skull-bone to
the ventricle (cavity) within the brain
The other end of the tube or
catheter passes under the skin, down the back of the neck, and frequently
empties into the abdominal cavity.
Patients with shunts must be watched carefully, and the family should be
properly advised as to symptoms of complications and care
If your interest
in this procedure is more than academic because someone in your family
requires the procedure, let me advise you most strongly to obtain exact
instructions from your surgeon about the procedure, and most important, all
the details about the care that is required for these patients.

The material contained here is “FOR INFORMATION ONLY” and should not replace
the counsel and advice of your personal physician
Promptly consulting your
doctor is the best path to a quick and successful resolution of any medical
problem.

Liv.52
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Liv.52 acts as a powerful detoxification agent by protecting liver tissue.

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QUESTION: I’ve heard so many bad things about treating cancer with
medications, that I have great fear for my sister, who now needs these
treatments
What are the difficulties experienced with chemical treatment of
cancer?

ANSWER: Chemical treatment of cancer, often called chemotherapy, has many
benefits but also many unpleasant side effects
Drugs used to treat cancer
are designed to affect cells that grow and reproduce very rapidly because
cancer cells grow and reproduce very quickly
Some normal cells, like those
in hair and fingernails, grow quickly, so they are also affected by the drugs
used to treat cancer.
You’ve probably heard that people lose their hair after chemotherapy.
Other side effects are nausea and vomiting and fatigue
Often numbers of
blood cells and sperm are decreased also
Chemotherapy may cause soreness in
the mouth and throat, so it may be helpful to see a dentist before treatment
begins
A dentist who is knowledgeable about cancer treatment can explain
about the best way to clean mouth and gums and prevent infection.
Some side effects occur only when the anticancer drugs are taken with
certain foods, alcohol or other medicines
When undergoing cancer treatment,
talk with your pharmacist or doctor before taking any over-the-counter drug.
If any side effects of chemotherapy become severe, the physician will
provide additional medications that help overcome these unwanted problems.
The important issue here is to fight the cancer and eradicate the disease, if
possible.

The material contained here is “FOR INFORMATION ONLY” and should not replace
the counsel and advice of your personal physician
Promptly consulting your
doctor is the best path to a quick and successful resolution of any medical
problem.

Green tea
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Green tea is a supplement that is used for immune-enhancing effects and fat loss.

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QUESTION: Please help a distressed parent
I fear that my kid is on cocaine.
How can I tell and what can I do about it?

ANSWER: Cocaine is unfortunately widely available in our society and
teenagers have access to it either as powder for snorting or as crack for
smoking
You are right to feel worried
If you suspect your child is abusing
cocaine, the major warning signal is change: change in appearance or
grooming; change in sleep pattern; change in friends; change in school
attendance; or change (usually a drop) in grades
More serious signs are
running away from home or suicide attempts.
There are three “stages” of drug abuse
In the experimentation stage,
your child may have used cocaine in a limited fashion on weekends and there
may be no change in behavior or conduct
The second stage is actively seeking
out drugs, when the drug user may turn to drugs during times of stress and
there may be a change in behavior or conduct
In the third stage, the user is
preoccupied with drugs and has lost control over them
If drug use is stopped
now, withdrawal symptoms occur
At this point, a user may start stealing in
order to get drug money.
Bear in mind that your child may be experimenting and may not be addicted
to cocaine
However, even limited smoking of crack can quickly lead to
dependence and must be stopped
Teenagers also run the risk of interfering
with normal growth by using drugs.
The next step is for you to take action, sometimes a most difficult task.
The first thing to do is talk WITH your child (as contrasted to talking TO
your child)
Build your child’s self-esteem and give advice without frequent
criticism
If talking with your child is a problem, get outside help
Your
Family Physician or a school guidance counselor can advise you and your child.

The material contained here is “FOR INFORMATION ONLY” and should not replace
the counsel and advice of your personal physician
Promptly consulting your
doctor is the best path to a quick and successful resolution of any medical
problem.

Viagra Soft Tabs
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QUESTION: Can you help us identify a disease that causes very serious
constipation in a baby? What else could cause this problem?

ANSWER: You are probably thinking of Hirschsprung’s Disease
Hirschsprung’s
Disease is a disorder in infants that usually occurs within the first week of
life, and is usually marked by the absence of bowel movements
The physician
can usually diagnose this with advanced innovative techniques involving the
examination of the infant’s colon
If this disease is diagnosed, then it can
be corrected surgically.
Constipation in children, and in infants, can be caused by either
anatomical irregularities, or by a disturbance of the normal bowel function
due to problems associated with toilet training, painful bowel movements, and
a host of other related reasons.
Encopresis is usually discovered when a child is about seven years old,
but can become evident earlier or later
Sometimes, parents don’t recognize
that their child has a serious constipation problem until the child begins to
show signs of diarrhea or involuntary leakage or soiling on his undergarments.
By that time, the constipation may have been happening for as long as four or
five months! It is, therefore, important that parents be as aware as possible
of any change in their child’s bowel habits
Once you are aware of the
problem, a physical exam by your family physician is of utmost importance
An
x-ray may help identify the presence of any retained stool, and can be used to
check for abnormalities of the lower spine, pelvis, and anal areas
In
certain circumstances, a barium enema may be required, which is also an
effective diagnostic tool in determining stool blockage.
Once your physician determines the cause of the problem, he can offer
effective treatment plans to help your child overcome this problem
Treating
encopresis may involve a combination of any of the following: enemas,
suppositories, laxatives, multivitamin supplements, a high-fiber diet, regular
toileting, and preventive counseling
Follow-up visits to your doctor are
important because once this condition has been treated successfully, the goal
is to withdraw the child from any medication he has been taking.
Infants with constipation that is not a result of Hirschsprung’s Disease
can usually be treated successfully with gentle laxatives.

The material contained here is “FOR INFORMATION ONLY” and should not replace
the counsel and advice of your personal physician
Promptly consulting your
doctor is the best path to a quick and successful resolution of any medical
problem.

Himplasia
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Himplasia is used to maintain a healthy prostrate and an effective reproductive function.

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