Health information

QUESTION: I have a friend who has “Reiter’s Disease.” I am considering a
sexual relationship with this man, but am concerned, since I understand it is
a sexually transmitted disease with no cure
Could you please provide
information about the disease, including its symptoms and effects on both men
and women?

ANSWER: There are four elements in the symptoms which form Reiter’s Syndrome,
arthritis, urethritis (inflammation of the tube in the that carries urine from
the bladder to outside the body) or a cervicitis in women (inflammation of the
cervix), conjunctivitis (red eye) and small painless ulcer-like lesions
usually found in the mouth, tongue or head of the penis
It may result from
bacterial infections to the digestive system such as salmonella or shigella,
but a sexually transmitted form occurs most frequently in men ages 20 to 40.
This sexually transmitted form is usually associated with an infection by
chlamydia trachomas and should be treated with antibiotics, tetracycline or
erythromycin, for at least ten days
Both sexual partners should be treated
at the same time, to prevent the infection passing back and forth from one to
the other
The arthritic symptoms receive the same care as any other form of
arthritis; aspirin, or other anti-inflammatory medications
Few patients are
disabled by chronic or recurrent outbreaks of this disease.

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.

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QUESTION: My teenager refuses to work at his desk where there is a good study
lamp
Instead he reads in the worst light and I am afraid he is going to
permanently damage his sight
Is that true or is it just another “old wive’s
tale”?

ANSWER: Eyes do not get damaged from use
Proper lighting is more
comfortable and excessive close work may tire the eyes but has not been proved
to harm the eyes
Too much light, especially when it produces glare, can be
even more uncomfortable
It’s a good idea to encourage rest breaks to avoid
fatigue and the so-called headaches of “eyestrain.” If your youngster rubs
his eyes, squints, holds the book in an unusual position, or tilts his head in
an awkward position, it might mean that he is not seeing properly
An eye
doctor can determine if the child needs glasses or has some other condition
that needs attention
However, when there seems to be a perfect environment
for study available that is not being used properly, it indicates that it is
time you had a sit down with your son to find out just why he isn’t using his
desk
Some of the answers may surprise you, and the remedy for the situation
may be simpler than you think.

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.

Diovan
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Diovan (Valsartan) is used to treat high blood pressure and heart failure.

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QUESTION: I have been trying to conceive for some time, without any success.
I am a heavy smoker, and my husband is blaming this as the cause
Is it
possible that smoking is affecting my fertility?

ANSWER: So it appears
While many factors affect a woman’s chances of
becoming pregnant, it seems that smoking is one of them.
In one large study performed by British researchers to determine the
factors that effect fertility, they discovered several factors, but the most
significant one was smoking.
There was a consistent connection between smoking and lack of fertility
and the fertility rate went down as the number of cigarettes smoked per day
went up
Women who smoked more than 15 cigarettes a day were only 80 percent
as likely to become pregnant in any given month
Almost 11 percent of women
who smoked 20 cigarettes a day (a pack) were infertile over a five-year
period, versus only 5 percent of nonsmokers.
No one is sure how smoking affects fertility, but it is known to alter
the levels of estrogen found in a woman’s urine
Also, women who smoke
experience menopause sooner than those who don’t
If you’re trying to become
pregnant (or even if you’re not), it’s advisable to 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.

Accutane (Anti - Acne)
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Accutane (Isotretinoin) is used for treating severe acne.

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QUESTION: Is it true that the fiber in a diet can protect you from colon
cancer? That’s what I keep seeing on television, but I can’t figure out how
this works
Could you please explain?

ANSWER: Dietary fiber, found only in plants like vegetables, fruits and
grains, cannot be digested by humans
Some forms of fiber (particularly the
type in wheat bran) can absorb water in the gut, which softens and increases
the volume of the stool, thus speeding up the elimination of wastes through
the digestive tract.
That, of course, is how high-fiber diets help prevent constipation and
other intestinal disorders, but researchers aren’t sure how this protects
against colon cancer
They believe that by increasing fecal bulk, fiber
dilutes carcinogens, or cancer-promoting substances, found in the intestine.
And by speeding up elimination, these substances are in the intestine for a
shorter length of time.
Studies have shown that the incidence of colon cancer decreases 40 to 50
percent if the diet includes 30 grams or more of fiber a day
(The average
American consumes 15 grams of fiber a day.)
But be careful
Fiber is not a cure-all
Gradually add it to your diet;
a sudden increase may cause diarrhea and flatulence.

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.

Imitrex
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Imitrex (Sumatriptan) is an antimigraine medicine.

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QUESTION: They are telling us our grandchild has something called “biliary
atresia” and it is causing us much anxiety
Would you please explain what
this means in language we can understand?

ANSWER: Biliary atresia is a peculiar sounding disease with serious
consequences to the very young infant
The word biliary comes from the Latin
word “bilis” or bile
Atresia comes from Greek words meaning “without a hole”
and means blockage
Babies who have this condition suffer from a blockage in
their bile ducts which keeps the bile from flowing normally into the
intestines
The result is a “back-up” of bile into the liver which causes
“jaundice” or yellowing of the skin, and eventually cirrhosis (scar tissue)
which interferes with the liver’s normal job of metabolizing (changing)
carbohydrates, fats, and proteins into a form of food the body can use
As
yet, the exact cause is unknown
But researchers suspect a virus near the
time of birth may cause the bile ducts to become infected and swollen
The
most successful treatment is surgery, followed by observation
If bile flow
is good, jaundice will soon disappear and liver damage will be stopped
If
bile flow is still somewhat reduced, a low fat diet and extra vitamins will be
prescribed to help the liver do a better job.

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.

Superloss Multi
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Superloss Multi is a hunger suppressant.

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QUESTION: I don’t know whether you have ever dealt with this subject, but I
know you like medical trivia questions
How about trying this one: where did
the term “blue blood” come from? If I don’t see this in your column, I’ll
know you don’t have the answer.

ANSWER: You mustn’t challenge me like this
It drives me to degrees of
frenzied activity which could be bad for my health
As you know all blood
vessels look blue when viewed through the skin, although they contain blood
that is red
The lighter the skin, the more noticeable that blue shade is.
In the days of Aristocrats and Peasants, the peasants worked in the fields,
becoming brawny and tanned, and the color of the vessels became obscured.
Meanwhile, back at the palace, the aristocrats remained carefully protected
from the sun’s rays, with white, translucent skin
It was easy to see their
vessels, as fine blue lines contrasting with the fairness of the skin
Blue
vessels meant blue blood to these folk, and thus aristocrats became known as
“Blue Bloods”
The fact is their blood is no different than ours
Two points
for the Doctor, and who is next?

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.

Rythmol SR
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Rythmol SR (Propafenone) is used to treat irregular heartbeats (arrhythmias) and maintain a normal heart rate.

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QUESTION: Is a bone scan necessary after an x-ray has been taken? I may have
to have this test and am wondering why, as well as what it will be like
Can
you describe it for me?

ANSWER: Bone scans are used to evaluate bones and to see into areas
containing abnormalities that have been caused by infections, fractures,
tumors, or other disorders
They are safe and sometimes provide more accurate
information than x-rays do.
If you must have a bone scan, a liquid containing a little radionuclide
(radioactive material) will be injected into a vein
In about two hours,
after your bones have absorbed that material, the scan begins
During it,
radionuclide emits signals that the scanner picks up and converts into images
of your bones
Signals from problem areas differ from normal ones, so that
they reveal areas where something may be wrong
Scans take about 45 minutes.
During the procedure, you lie still on a table as the scanner moves around
your body
Should the scanner be stationary, the table will be moved.
Immediately following the scan, you probably can return to work
Radionuclide
is excreted from your body within a day or two
The scan may clear up
questions that your x-ray was unable to answer, and assist your doctor in
making an accurate diagnosis.

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.

Cystone
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Cystone is a proprietary herbal formula that naturally promotes a healthy urinary tract.

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QUESTION: My son is definitely off his feed as far as his baseball is
concerned this year
His coach keeps using the term “burnout,” but my son is
only 15 years old
Is there such a thing, and are there any treatments that
might help?

ANSWER: Yes, there is such a thing as burnout in teenage athletes
If your
teenager frequently complains of chronic fatigue, and you notice that he is
not performing in athletics and/or studies as well as usual, medical attention
probably is needed to find out exactly what is occurring in that body
The
driving forces behind all exercise performance are exceedingly complex and
involve a great many heart/lung, blood and psychological factors
Therefore,
finding out what really is wrong with a person who suddenly seems to tire
easily, experiences frequent headaches, gains or loses considerable weight
rather rapidly, has chest pains, lightheadedness and other such symptoms, is a
matter for on-the-spot medical professionals to diagnose
An undetected
disease certainly might be impairing the teenager’s athletic performance and
such a possibility should be explored immediately, even though the reason
might only be the normal fatigue seen after intense athletic activity
Among
conditions that frequently result in low energy for teenagers are heart
disease, anemia, emotional problems, excessive weight or anorexia nervosa,
certain medications taken for chronic conditions, and most important,
unrealistic expectations regarding one’s athletic abilities
In addition
there are certain infrequent muscular diseases and exercise-induced
bronchospasms (coughing, a feeling of chest tightness, wheezing or shortness
of breath after a work out).
Now all of these symptoms sound like real illness, and can be, but the
fact is that they may also arise from prolonged stress and activity required
for sports
I am not trying to hedge your question, but “burnout”, in anyone,
is poorly understood at this time.
Often it is blamed on over training
When such is the case, early
recognition and prevention are truly important since rest is the only
effective treatment and recovery may be slow.

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.

Remeron
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Remeron (Mirtazapine) is used to treat major depressive disorder.

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QUESTION: Ever come across the term “boxer’s fracture”? Though I suspect I
might figure this one out, I would appreciate your explanation
Is it
difficult to treat?

ANSWER: A “boxer’s fracture” is simply cracked knuckles, a common side effect
of fist fighting, and is frequently called this even when caused by other
circumstances
There are several options for treating such a fracture, and
the final decision on how to treat it depends on the severity of the injury,
how important the hand’s function is to the patient, and how often he expects
to be using the hand as a weapon
For instance, if he uses his hands in his
work or hobbies, he may opt for more aggressive treatment
And, if the
patient is a regular fist fighter, then the possibility of re-injury must be
considered before advising extensive and delicate surgical repair
The
choices for treatment of boxer’s fracture mainly revolve around whether to
operate or treat more conservatively with protective splinting
More time is
lost from work when surgery is chosen, because recovery is slower
There is
some controversy over whether the functional and cosmetic improvements gained
in surgery are worth the delayed recovery that it involves.
The best results in treating boxer’s fracture occur when the extent of
the injury is fully evaluated, considering how the hand is used in
occupational and leisurely pursuits, and how important cosmetic results are.
Based on this information, the patient can decide with the physician on the
best course of action.

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.

Copegus
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Copegus (Ribavirin) capsules are used in combination with Interferon to treat patients with chronic hepatitis C.

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QUESTION: Could you please explain a bit about the tests that I may be facing
with a diagnosis of coronary heart disease? Do any of them cause pain, or are
they dangerous? I am more than a little anxious.

ANSWER: Coronary heart disease is the number one cause of death in the United
States
It is the most common form of heart disease, and since treatment is
based upon knowing the extent of your problem, testing is very important.
Coronary artery disease (CAD) is a condition in which the muscle tissue
of the heart is not receiving enough oxygen
The heart can not take any
oxygen from the blood that it pumps
It gets its own supply through the
coronary arteries, a set of arteries that encircle the heart and resemble a
crown (coronary means crown-like)
When these arteries become clogged,
blocked or narrowed, heart tissue dies from lack of oxygen, and a myocardial
infarction (or heart attack) occurs
Gradual narrowing or spasm of these
arteries causes the chest pain known as angina.
Your doctor will decide which tests to use to diagnose coronary heart
disease based on several factors, the most important of which is your
symptoms
If you feel chest pain on exertion or if you’ve suffered a heart
attack, your doctor will probably have you undergo several tests
Tests for
CAD fall into two general categories, noninvasive and invasive
Noninvasive
testing means that, except for some injections, nothing enters your body.
Invasive testing means that a catheter (a very small tube) is placed into a
vein or artery and used to inject a contrast medium (which shows up on x-ray),
or to measure pressures in the vessel
Invasive tests are more reliable than
noninvasive tests, but they are more expensive and carry some risk.
Noninvasive tests include stress or exercise testing, where you walk or
run on a treadmill while an electrocardiogram (ECG) is taken
Your doctor
will evaluate how your ECG changes as exercise stresses your heart
This is
an easy, relatively inexpensive test and will probably be the first you
undergo.
You may need additional tests that can give more information about the
condition of your heart
Some of these tests require an injection with small
amounts of radioactive materials
The amount of radioactivity is very low and
passes out of your body quickly.
In exercise echocardiography, your doctor will look at an ultrasound
picture of your heart as you exercise
Ultrasound works on the same principle
that sonar does and is quite safe.
Based on results from noninvasive tests, your physician may ask you to
undergo an invasive test for CAD
The most common one is cardiac
catheterization
A catheter is placed in a small blood vessel and, under
local anesthesia, is snaked along into your heart, where a great deal of
information about the way your heart pumps blood can be gathered
This
procedure is considered a minor operation and has some risks, but gives your
doctor the best information about your coronary arteries.
It may seem like a long and complicated process, and it is
Expensive
too
But it provides all the necessary information that helps the physician
help you choose the right therapy to fight your heart disease.

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.

Calan
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Calan (Verapamil) is used to treat chest pain (angina), high blood pressure or irregular heartbeats.

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