Health information

QUESTION: I know that blood tests form an important tool for doctors to use
to help make diagnoses
Still it is hard to understand why at each visit,
there are either new tests to take, or old tests to repeat
With each test
costing more than I make in an hour, I need some answers about their value.
Please explain.

ANSWER: There are several good reasons for a doctor to take blood samples for
testing, even when they seem to come too frequently and too often
In the
initial stages of evaluation, when the diagnosis is still uncertain, it may
take several tests before one shows any evidence of a disease
When results
are normal, a test is classified as “negative”, and while negatives are signs
that little is wrong, they don’t help too much in establishing just what is
wrong
There are many diagnostic blood tests available today, and it would be
foolish to test for everything at once, so most physicians proceed in a manner
that will provide the quickest answers at the least cost to the patient
They
test first for the most probable cause, and then proceed to lesser diseases
that can provoke the symptoms and complaints you presented when you arrived at
the office
Once the diagnosis is obtained, treatment is started, and the
effects of the treatment can be followed by testing the blood regularly
The
first abnormal results (they are called “positive”) soon begin to return to
normal as the treatment takes effect
This is particularly important in
diseases such as diabetes, anemia and kidney ailments
I don’t know the
reason for each test in your case, but it is most important that you find out
the purpose for these examinations from your physician, and become well
informed about your condition, its causes and its treatment, and satisfy
yourself that the tests are truly needed
You may then learn that your money
was well spent.

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.

Shuddha Guggulu
Our price: $23.1
Shuddha Guggulu lowers the cholesterol and triglycerides levels in blood.

More info

QUESTION: I have suffered for many years with a condition called pernicious
anemia
It seems to be a disease that is in my family as my two other sisters
and brother have it as well
The only treatment offered to me seems to be
vitamin B12 injections
Could you tell me a bit about this disease, and if
you think a single injection each month is sufficient treatment?

ANSWER: Although Vitamin B12 is readily available in meat, many other animal
protein foods as well as legumes, it can not get into our system without the
presence of a substance named “the intrinsic factor” which is secreted by the
parietal cells which form part of the tissue that lines the stomach
The B12
is stored in the liver in enormous quantities, sufficient for the body’s needs
for a three to five year period
Therefore, when the mucosal tissue of the
stomach begins to atrophy and shrink, it takes a long period of time before
the lack of the vitamin can be detected and before the anemia becomes evident.
As the anemia develops the body adapts, hiding the disease for even longer
periods of time
We are beginning to learn that both inherited and immune
factors may play important roles in the development of this condition, and so
the fact that your brother and sisters also have pernicious anemia (PA) is not
unusual
Since the B12 cannot be absorbed through the digestive tract, it is
replaced by injections
In the first stages of treatment, regular injections
are given intramuscularly as frequently as 2 to 4 times a week to allow the
body physiology to resume producing red cells normally, and to replace all the
reserves the liver can hold
This may take about six weeks, but once the
blood tests show a normal picture, the frequency of the injection may be
reduced to once monthly
It would seem that you have now reached this stage
and therefore the once monthly schedule you are on is appropriate
Since this
does not change the underlying cause of the anemia, B12 injections must be
continued throughout life.

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.

Naprosyn
Our price: $0.97
Naprosyn (Naproxen) is indicated for the treatment of rheumatoid arthritis, osteoarthritis.

More info

QUESTION: I suddenly broke out with a rash that caused burning pain and
blistered
I am not an allergic person, and had not been near anything
unusual, but my doctor provided me with a diagnosis of “perfume dermatitis”.
Now the area where the rash appeared is blotchy and darker than the
surrounding skin
Does any of this sound reasonable to you or am I in deep
trouble?

ANSWER: No, you are not “in deep trouble,” although the darker pigmented or
colored area may remain the way it is now for quite some time
Actually you
were lucky to have the acute burning rash first, since this condition (it is
called a “phytophotodermatitis” in medical parlance) often skips the acute
phase, producing only the coloration (hyperpigmentation) and making the
diagnosis a very difficult one to make
The condition develops when the skin
has been in contact with a class of chemical compounds (furocoumarins) that
sensitizes it to the ultraviolet rays of the sun
These compounds are
contained in many fruits and vegetables, including limes, lemons, citrus and
parsley
Since some perfumes contain oil of bergamot, which is produced from
the rind of the bergamot orange, and since this oil contains a furocoumadin,
the first step in the process occurred when you put on your good smelling
stuff
The second step happened when you walked out into the rays of the sun.
Usually the rash develops about 48 hours after this exposure, and can be quite
painful
Creams and ointments containing corticosteroids are quite effective
for controlling the acute phase, but should not be used now to treat the
pigmentation of the skin
Incidentally, the condition is also known as “the
Club Med Rash” as it appears frequently after a game that requires one partner
to roll a lime up and down the skin of the other partner, just using the chin
to manipulate the lime
Oh to be young (and foolish) again!

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.

Kytril
Our price: $2.28
Kytril (Granisetron) is an anti-emetic agent, used to prevent nausea and vomiting, caused by cancer chemotherapy and radiation.

More info

QUESTION: Our grandson was born recently at 26 weeks; he lived three hours.
The neonatal doctor diagnosed his problem as “Potter’s Syndrome”
We would
appreciate any information you might share with us
Our daughter has a
healthy 3 1/2 year old, and had a normal pregnancy with her
Thank you so
much.

ANSWER: When such tragedy strikes a family, it is easy to understand the
search for more answers and information
Potter’s Syndrome has a number of
other names, including facial-renal dysplasia, which describes the problem
quite concisely
In addition to failure to develop several components that
make up the face, nose and jaw, these babies do not develop kidneys, and so
have no chance for survival
Although they may be born alive, their life span
is usually measured in hours
The syndrome is classified as a congenital
malformation, and there are no abnormalities present in the chromosome makeup
or number
Thus this is not an inherited disease, and the chances of it
happening again are almost infinitesimal
The condition was first described
by Dr
E.L
Potter in an article in the Journal of Pediatrics in 1946
The
fact that your daughter has one normal child, and had a normal pregnancy, is
an indication that future pregnancy would most likely be normal, and that this
syndrome would not occur again
There are few explanations as to the “why” of
such congenital malformations, but it is clear that there was nothing that
could have been done to save the life of this child
I hope that both you and
your daughter will find the reassurances you must be seeking in this answer,
but suggest a conference with your neonatologist to cover any other points I
may have missed that may still be causing you anguish.

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.

Prandin
Our price: $0.75
Prandin (Repaglinide) is used to treat Type 2 (non-insulin dependent) diabetes.

More info

QUESTION: I am a bit of an exercise fanatic, but now the welcome news that I
am pregnant is causing me to rethink my training program
I would appreciate
any information you may have concerning the safety of exercise during this
period of my life
I would hate to lose all of the progress I have made, but
will doing nothing to hurt the baby.

ANSWER: This is a most common situation, and the question of exercise during
pregnancy still remains one of controversy and discussion in the medical
literature
The basic concerns relate to the way your body is changing as you
progress in your pregnancy, and whether the modifications that occur because
of intensive training can affect these changes
It seems as there is no
absolutes; with many differing opinions, I can only point out some basic
considerations
You realize that as you as the baby grows bigger, your own
balance and center of gravity will change, and throw your coordination off.
Your body is even now preparing for the delivery, and changes in your hormones
are loosening your ligaments and other tissue
That may cause increased
mobility in your joints that could lead to an exercise injury
There is
concern that the increased demand for oxygen for exercising muscles may
diminish the available oxygen for the baby
In an attempt to bring some order
to the situation, the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists
developed guidelines which suggest that you only participate in exercise
designed to keep your pulse rate under 140/min and that you limit your
sessions to only 15 minutes
Any complications in the pregnancy would require
you to stop all extra exertion
But when you reflect on the reasons, I am
sure you won’t mind.

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.

Ismo
Our price: $0.35
Ismo (Isosorbide-5-Mononitrate) is used for preventing symptoms of angina(chest pain).

More info

QUESTION: During a regular check up for my pregnancy, my doctor discovered
bacteria in my urine
Though I have no symptoms, my physician claims that it
must be treated and wants to use an antibiotic
I am against all medicining
during the time I am carrying the baby, and feel he is being over cautious.
May I have your opinion, please?

ANSWER: Your point of view that resists medications of any kind during early
pregnancy is a fine one, and I wish more mothers-to-be understood the
principles
However, your physician is aware of the dangers of urinary
infection to both you and your baby, and is not merely playing it safe but is
most wise in his advice to you
During your pregnancy your body undergoes
many changes, including alterations in both the structure and function of your
urinary system
Urinary tract infections can be far more dangerous now than
under other conditions, and can lead to a condition called pyelonephritis
which is one of the most frequent reasons that pregnant women require hospital
care
Though you may have no symptoms now, if left untreated, symptoms can
develop 30 to 40% of the time
Your physician has a wide choice of
medications that can be used
Penicillins, cephalosporins and erythromycin
type medications are considered safe
Others, such as sulfonamides,
nitrofurantoin, metronidazole, aminoglycosides and isoniazid may be used with
caution
I doubt that your doctor will chose a tetracycline or
chloramphenicol, which are contraindicated for you
His choice will depend
upon the type of infection you have as well as your own sensitivities,
tolerance to the medication, and any possible allergies to medications.
Though you are to be complimented on your caution, this is one time when your
physician’s advice is right in line with the best of current medical practice
for situations such as yours, and should be carefully followed.

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.

Himcolin
Our price: $34.1
Himcolin gel helps achieve longer-lasting erections.

More info

QUESTION: Your advice is always so welcome in our home, for it always rings
true
I know many people write to you to ask about cures for disease, but we
think your emphasis on prevention is most important
Now if you could discuss
ways to prevent cancer, you would be doing everyone a service.

ANSWER: If ever I wished I had a simple and complete answer for a question,
this would be the one
The problem is that there are so many cancers, so many
causes, that there are no simple answers
The basic rules of good health are
always a fine starting point, and must be emphasized over and over again, for
they help prevent illness of all kinds
Regular physical checkups, exercise
and diet are always in order
And the researchers have given us some specific
tips that may be useful
Foods high in fiber are not merely the latest fad,
but help to lower the risk of colon cancer
Keep the fat content in your diet
low to reduce risks of breast, prostate colon and rectal cancer
Avoid
unnecessary X-rays, but be quick to permit those that are important for
diagnosis, recommended by your physician
There are so many risk factors that
exist in the workplace that you must become knowledgeable about the materials
that you come in contact with, and the safe procedures that must be used in
handling them
Excessive exposure to the harmful rays of the sun may lead to
skin cancer, so keep covered or use the appropriate sun screens when out in
the open
The evidence for the harm that smoking does is dramatic, and our
new turn to a no smoking society is one that may prevent thousands of needless
cases of lung cancer, heart disease and emphysema
There may be many more
such tips, each directed at a specific cancer, but the call for moderation in
all things, which I call for here on frequent occasions, must still be amongst
the most valuable tips one can offer to prevent cancer, and in fact all
disease
One day, I hope, I will be able to answer your question more
directly, but until then, give these tips a try.

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.

Purinethol
Our price: $3.78
Purinethol (Mercaptopurine) is used to treat leukemia.

More info

QUESTION: I had heart surgery several weeks ago, and thought I was doing fine
until recently, when I began to experience extreme fatigue, a slight fever,
arthritis pain and loss of appetite
I am being treated by my doctor, who is
merely prescribing aspirin
Is this all that is needed to cure me?

ANSWER: Your physician is playing it conservatively, but by the book
The
ever increasing number of heart operations has provided us with new insights
into the results of the surgery, as well as syndromes which develop after the
operations are performed
Your condition is known as “Postpericardiotomy
Syndrome” and can occur in as many as 10 to 50% of all cardiac surgery
patients
Certainly your symptoms fit this diagnosis, and your doctor
probably has some additional evidence from laboratory tests that rule out
other possibilities
The cause of this syndrome may be linked to immune
responses, possibly set off by a viral infection
It is difficult to tell you
how long this may persist, as that varies greatly from patient to patient.
The use of salicylates (aspirin) is recommended, and can bring the symptoms
under control in about 4 days
While steroids can be used to obtain a quicker
result, such treatment may mask the symptoms of a true infection, and patients
treated with this medication have more frequent relapses
The good news is
that this syndrome usually runs its course without other complications or side
effects
Your job is to relax, follow your therapy and obtain a complete and
swift recovery.

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.

Viramune
Our price: $2.64
Viramune (Nevirapine) is used in the treatment of infection with the HIV virus (the virus that causes AIDS).

More info

QUESTION: We recently attended a “high class” affair, a benefit for a
charity, and catered by a very reputable firm
However, only hours after the
dinner was over, several people were taken to the hospital with food
poisoning, but neither my husband nor I fell ill
I know the problem as
“tomain poisoning” but can find nothing in my home medical book by that name.
Can you provide the explanations I am seeking?

ANSWER: Though I can’t give you all the information requested in your four
page letter, I can help clear up a few points for you
To start, it is
spelled “Ptomaine;” but even then you won’t find any information, for
ptomaines are the result of protein decomposition and are perfectly harmless.
Look for your information under “staphylococcal food intoxication” (or “food
poisoning, staphylococcal”) and you will find all your answers
When certain
foods, such as salads using mayonnaise, creamy food dressing, or cream filled
pastries, are prepared well ahead of time and then improperly refrigerated,
staph bugs can reproduce rapidly and produce toxins, which in turn cause all
the symptoms you listed, vomiting, “dry heaves” and diarrhea
There is no way
to detect the tainted food, as it looks and smells normal
Since all the food
may not have been prepared at once, or improperly refrigerated, not all the
guests at the banquet became ill
Be happy that you were among the lucky
ones.

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.

Endep
Our price: $0.25
Endep (Amitriptyline) is used to treat symptoms of depression, along with insomnia.

More info

QUESTION: I have signed up for a regular exercise class at my local Y.
During the tour I noticed that the members of the group were taking their
pulse during the session
I don’t understand the method they were using, or
how to make the calculations
I’ll bet a lot of your readers could use some
help with this math
Please help.

ANSWER: It’s not as complicated as it sounds, and once you have your numbers
figured out, they can be used during any athletic activity quite simply
When
ever you increase your activity, your muscles require an increased blood flow
to bring needed oxygen to the tissues
The heart responds by speeding up its
beat and your pulse measures the number of heart beats in a minute
To obtain
a benefit from your exercise program, and still remain within safe limits,
your heart should be working at a rate that depends your age and condition.
This rate falls between 60% and 80% of your maximum heart rate
Start by
calculating your maximum heart rate by subtracting your age from 220
For a
person 60 years old that would be 160 beats per minute
Multiply that by .6
for the low end of the range (160 X .6 = 96) and by .8 for the high end (160 X
.8 = 128)
Since most exercise instructors use a ten second count for
measuring the pulse, you can divide both numbers by 6, and round off the
numbers to get your exercise range
In the example above it would mean that
the pulse should be between 16 and 21 for a ten second count during an
exercise session for a 60 year old person
Since you are just starting, it is
advisable to keep your rate close to your low end number, at least in the
beginning
If your heart is racing too quickly, reduce the intensity of your
effort during the session, by just moving to the beat of the music, and making
the other movements in a less forceful manner
A good instructor will help
you tailor your program to you needs, and can also demonstrate the correct
method of obtaining your pulse using either the radial artery in you wrist or
the carotid artery in your neck, below the chin.

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
Our price: $1.25
Depakote (Divalproex) is used for controlling certain types of seizures in the treatment of epilepsy.

More info