Health information

QUESTION: I am enclosing an ad from my Sunday paper which almost sounds too
good to be true
I have had trouble losing weight all my life which has
become just one never-ending diet
As you can read, they claim that this new
break through has excited the “scientific community” and that I can now melt
the fat away without diet
Can you please tell me if this product is safe and
will it do what they claim it will?

ANSWER: Your letter is just one of the many that flow in each week, enclosing
similar advertisements and equally seductive promises
I decided this time to
try and follow through, to try to find out the true facts, the name of the
substance or something about the scientific research that backed up the
claims
I found that the number called was merely an order taking service; I
could not get any additional information through them, nor was an address
available
In rereading the ad and picking up on a clue here and there, I
believe the product is probably one of the dietary fiber supplements which are
known to reduce cholesterol, and since they are natural products, do not come
under the same strict surveillance by the Food and Drug Administration that
chemicals classified as medications do
There is no astounding medical
breakthrough here, just a few inflated claims, and a very inflated price for a
product which you probably can find on the shelves in any pharmacy
Weight
loss can only be accomplished through sound nutritional management, lots of
motivation and perseverance, and a full understanding of your own patterns of
eating
Modifying your own eating habits, along with some help from a
counselor, and even the assistance of a “diet product” if you must, can make
you a suitable candidate for the “before” and “after” pictures featured in all
of these ads that claim miracles for a price.

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.

Synthroid
Our price: $0.25
Synthroid (Levothyroxine) treats hypothyroidism (low thyroid hormone).

More info

QUESTION: I have read this term several times, but never could understand
what they were talking about
What is a “dowager’s hump”? What causes it to
form, and what do you have to do to get rid of it?

ANSWER: As certain women grow older, past the age of menopause, they develop
a curvature of the spine as the result of a bone condition called
osteoporosis
As it becomes more pronounced, it is called a “Dowager’s Hump”,
one of the definitions of dowager being “an elderly woman of wealth and
dignity”
(Check the longer definition in your dictionary if you wish to
learn a bit more about this old English term.) Osteoporosis is predominantly
a disease of women, and is a generalized progressive reduction in bone mass,
causing the bones to weaken
The spinal column, which is composed of
vertebrae piled one upon the other like a tower of building blocks, supports
our skeleton and provides us with a standing posture
As the mineral content
(calcium amongst others) diminishes in these bones they begin to collapse
slowly, with the front (anterior) end of the “block” becoming smaller,
changing the shape of the vertebral body from a square into a triangular form.
This creates the curve in the spinal column which we describe as a “hump”.
There is no cure for this condition as yet
It may be prevented by an active,
healthy premenopausal life, with proper nutrition that supplies the calcium
and other minerals needed to build strong bones
Once the process has begun,
it may be halted by replacing the female hormones lost at menopause and
supplementary calcium
While real cures are still being investigated, there
seems little hope of discovering a medication that would reverse the process
and reduce the hump
That would require a new growth process similar to the
one that Ponce de Leon was looking for in Florida.

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.

Hair Loss Cream
Our price: $55
Hair Loss Cream is a scientifically proven hair loss prevention and hair re-growth formula.

More info

QUESTION: I obtain my prescriptions from a well equipped and modern pharmacy
that provides a little slip that lists the cautions I should observe while
taking the medication
A warning about driving while taking the medication
appears frequently, even when the medication is not a sedative or
tranquilizer
Could you explain why, since I have never experienced any
difficulties with my medications?

ANSWER: Despite all the controls and experimentation done before any
medication is allowed to be prescribed, we humans continue to react to all new
things, including medications, as individuals, not as collections of
statistics
These individual reactions are different for each of us, and so
while many people never experience a negative side effect from medications,
some do, and it is to protect them that the cautions are published
When the
investigation of a new medication has shown that it may cause drowsiness,
dizziness, overstimulation or confusion in some people, the notice is given to
all that are to take a new medicine for the first time
There is no way of
predicting who may be affected, and so good sense dictates that you refrain
from driving until you are sure that you will experience no ill effects from
the medication
Give your system a trial period, and when you have proven
that nothing unusual is occurring, you may then return to your normal routine
without anxiety or doubt.

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.

Zyloprim
Our price: $1.26
Zyloprim (Allopurinol) is used to lower blood uric acid levels.

More info

Lexapro
Our price: $0.5
Lexapro (Escitalopram) is used for treating depression and anxiety.

More info

QUESTION: I know that reactions to new medications and drugs frequently take
the form of skin rashes
I have a delicate, light complexioned skin, and am
always breaking out in one way or another
Is there some simple or exact rule
that I can use to figure out if I am having a drug reaction?

ANSWER: I wish it were that simple, but unfortunately I can only give you
some general considerations to use, and advise you to keep a attitude of
suspicion alive when ever you are starting on a new medication
Also remember
that new cosmetics, perfumes, soaps, in fact any chemical that comes in
contact with your skin, as well as new foods taken into the body, may cause
similar reactions
The first and certainly most important clue is the
history
Any new medication must be evaluated as a possible cause of a new
skin rash, and should, with the doctor’s approval, be discontinued
Most drug
reactions will begin within the first two weeks after starting to take it.
Even if the drug had been taken without problems some time in the past, it is
possible that your immune system has changed over time, and that this time a
reaction has occurred
Though skin reactions may take many forms, there are
three which are most common
Hives (or urticaria) are the most common, and
can occur within minutes to hours after a new drug has been taken
In other
cases they may first appear in 12 to 36 hours after the first dose
They are
red, wheal like lesions which usually are short-lived and will remain evident
for about 10-12 hours
However they may be just a prelude to a life
threatening condition known as anaphylaxis, which may start with intense
itching, tingling of the lips, wheezing and breathing difficulty, leading to
shock
Immediate medical treatment is necessary when these symptoms occur.
The other two commonly seen rashes are morbilliform (or measles-like) and
erythema multiform (which usually is a target like lesion with concentric
reddened rings around a dark red center)
The most common medications
producing rash reactions are amoxicillin, sulfonamides and penicillins, as
well as blood products, barbiturates and nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs
(NSAIDs)
Medications least likely to produce reactions are digoxin,
antacids, acetaminophen, nitroglycerin and prednisolone
You may have to use
all your talents as a “drug detective” to identify the culprit in your case.

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.

Phentrimine
Our price: $96.54
Phentrimine is a pharmaceutical quality appetite suppressant, acting in the same way as Phentermine and Adipex.

More info

QUESTION: Over a long period of time, my hand has developed small hard bumps
in the palm, and I can no longer open my fingers completely
I remember my
Dad had a similar problem, but I can’t remember the name the doctor gave to
condition
Can you tell me the name of the condition, and how to go about
getting it cured?

ANSWER: Your description of your hand allows me to be reasonably sure of the
diagnosis, which is called Dupuytren’s Contracture
It generally is more
frequent in men than women, starts its course around the age of 50 or 60, and
progresses slowly
It is not painful, and the bumps you feel are not tumors
and never turn into cancer
They are, rather, nodules of fibrous tissue that
form in the sheet of tissue that lies between the skin and the tendons (called
the palmar fascia)
The sheet of tissue becomes shortened, pulling on the
fingers and causing them to curl
Usually it is the ring finger and the
little finger that is most affected
It is known to be inherited,
particularly in people of Irish, Scotch or Scandinavian descent, and although
it was first described more than 150 years ago by the French physician
Dupuytren, the cause of the disease is still unknown
Many medical treatments
have been tried, including injections of steroids, as well as diet and
exercises, but none have met with any real success
The recommended treatment
is the surgical removal of the affected tissue
While the operation may seem
straight forward, it is complicated by the presence of many small nerves and
arteries and requires a skilled hand surgeon to perform the operation
The
postsurgical period is most important, with the hand kept immobile for about a
week, followed by regular exercises to regain mobility and function
Since
the condition may continue to progress, some patients require this operation
on more than one occasion, but the earlier the treatment is started, the
better the results will be
You should certainly be seen by a surgeon at this
time for confirmation of my impression, and to get your own therapy started.

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.

Lotensin
Our price: $0.45
Lotensin (Benazepril) can be used in treating high blood pressure.

More info

QUESTION: I am on a strict diet to lose weight, and when I am at home, I
manage very well
But you can go stir crazy unless you get out once in a
while, and then I am in trouble dealing with the menu
I don’t want to give
back a single ounce that I have lost, so what can I do?

ANSWER: Your question must strike home for many of my readers, for this is a
problem that many have to deal with
And you can manage by following three
simple rules
First, choose the types of cuisine that fit into your dietary
restrictions
There are many low fat items to be found in Italian and Asian
restaurants
Pasta and a fish dish make great Italian fare, and plenty of
steamed vegetables as well as rice will keep the fat and calorie count down at
Asian restaurants
Second, be sure to have your food cooked as you desire,
boiled or baked, but never fried in fat
Ask for salad dressings and sauces
on the side, then use them in limited quantity
Don’t permit the waiter to
bring a basket of bread and butter before your meal, or you will nibble your
precious calorie allotment away before the meal starts
Finally, eat only a
part of your portion
Cart the remainder away in a doggie bag, to serve as a
full meal at another occasion
You will get your money’s worth, keep your
calories down, and get out of preparing another a meal all at once
Now, go
out and enjoy!

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.

Speman
Our price: $23.65
Speman tablet is useful in oligospermia.

More info

QUESTION: Although I think I know what a cardiogram involves, I am less
certain about the way an Echocardiogram works
A member of my family is to
have one, and I am both curious as to why as well as concerned with the safety
of this test
Would you please shed some light on this question?

ANSWER: I would be pleased to, for I can certainly reassure you as to the
safety of this procedure
It is simple and noninvasive, and uses very fast
sound waves which pass through the patient’s chest to the heart and bounce
back (echo) to produce a record or graph which forms an image that the
physician can use to evaluate the walls and chambers of the heart, as well as
the valves which control the flow of blood through the heart as it beats.
While an electrocardiogram produces the pattern of electrical flow through the
heart and may be used to evaluate changes in rhythm, for example, and blood
tests may show the alterations in enzymes produced by a heart during a heart
attack, an echocardiogram may yield early information on the size and extent
of the attack, the location, as well as the presence of clots or masses, while
measuring heart function and the condition of the valves
Sometimes a chest
x-ray shows the heart to be enlarged, and the “echo” will reveal whether the
heart wall has become stretched or thickened due to disease
It may detect
the presence of fluid in the sac that covers the heart, and is a useful tool
to measure the effect of medications and treatment on the heart muscle mass
and size
There is little preparation necessary, and there is no pain nor
discomfort while the test is being conducted
The patient remains totally
awake and conscious while the probe that both sends and receives the sound
signal is moved about the chest to obtain the best “picture” of the heart in
action
The test has been in use for more than twenty years, is relatively
inexpensive when compared to other tests, and is free from side effects, both
physical as well as psychological
While I can not offer you more information
as to why the test is being conducted for your family member, you may be
confident as to their well being.

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.

Plendil
Our price: $0.5
Plendil (Felodipine) is used to treat high blood pressure (hypertension).

More info

QUESTION: Now that a cause for some of my shortness of breath has been
diagnosed as emphysema, I want to find out all I can about a condition I have
never really understood
Is this considered a rare disease, and is there any
hope for any improvement in my condition?

ANSWER: I don’t believe that you can classify a disease that affects between
one and two million Americans as a rare disease, and it is a problem for an
ever increasing number of people
It generally begins to show its symptoms of
increasing breathlessness between 40 to 60 years of age, and may be attributed
to both age and obesity by new sufferers of the disease
Yet a healthy person
approaching retirement age should still be able to breathe with ease of a 20
year old, even when in involved in moderate activity such as a brisk walk
along level paths
The causes of emphysema are poorly understood,
particularly why certain individuals seem to develop a more severe type of
disease than others
Smoking is definitely linked to the disease in nine out
of ten cases
The walls of the little sacs at the end of the air tubes
leading into the lungs (alveoli) lose their elasticity, and cannot contract
and force the air out of the sac with each expiration, resulting in trapped
air within the lungs
This lowers the amount of air flowing in and out of the
lungs each time a breath is taken and reduces the lungs ability to exhale the
carbon dioxide built up in the blood stream by the body’s metabolism, as well
as reducing the amount of oxygen in freshly inhaled air that can be delivered
to the blood stream
That results in the feeling of being smothered that so
many emphysematous patients experience
There is no cure for this chronic
obstructive lung disease, and recurring bacterial and viral infections may
aggravate both the disease and its symptoms, leading to the development of an
aggravating cough
The best way to slow the progress of emphysema is to stop
smoking once and for all time
Avoid areas where other smokers may be filling
the air with fumes that are truly hazardous to your health
A supervised
exercise program and the prompt treatment of any respiratory infections will
also help you reduce the complications of this common 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.

Mycelex-G
Our price: $3.3
Mycelex-G (Clotrimazole vaginal) is an antifungal agent used to treat vaginal yeast infections.

More info

QUESTION: With the arrival day for my first baby fast approaching, it seems
that all the conversations with my girl friends now turn to the “cut” the
doctor may make during the birthing
Can you tell me the scientific name for
it, and explain its use? Does it cause a lot of pain?

ANSWER: When a delivery can be helped by providing a bit more room for the
baby’s head to pass, a physician may elect to perform an “episiotomy”
The
term is from a Greek word “epision” describing the region of the pubes and it
is through this area that an incision is made
There are several advantages
to the procedure, as it can allow a quicker and easier birth and reduce
pressure on the baby’s head
Since the forces pushing the baby through the
birth canal are powerful enough to both stretch and tear vaginal tissues,
making a clean surgical cut at the appropriate moment avoids the complications
that torn tissue can provoke
With all else that is going on at that moment,
many women are unaware that the “cut” has been made
After the birth the
incision is repaired as with any other surgical incision and permitted to
heal
While the swelling and pain passes in a few days to a week, the area
may remain tender for a month or so
Total healing is usually completed in
about six weeks
The mainstay of care is hygiene, keeping the area clean and
free from any possible contaminating elements that cause irritation or
infection
Your own physician will guide you through this period as well as
counseling you about resuming normal activities and relations.

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.

Superman
Our price: $66
Superman is a non-hormonal and safe sexual stimulant.

More info

QUESTION: I have a condition that I am told is rare, in which my feet become
burning red and hot
My friends here says that everyone has the same thing
and my problem is not so special
The doctor gave me a long name for my
diagnosis, and if could remember the name, I could convince my friends that I
did not make it all up
Can you help?

ANSWER: It is true that many people suffer from burning of the feet, usually
due to standing too long, or walking too far in badly fitted shoes
There are
also many medical conditions that can produce the symptoms
The one I think
you mean though, is rare, and is called “erythromelalgia”
When it occurs
there is a burning pain, the feet turn bright red and the skin temperature
actually rises
It is the result of the blood vessels in the foot (sometimes
the hands) dilating and allowing more blood to flow through the area
No one
knows what causes it, and although it may remain mild for years it can become
so severe that disability may result
You can avoid an attack by elevating
the feet and applying cold packs
600 mg of aspirin 1 to 4 times a day can
also produce prolonged relief, as can other medications
Stay away from
alcohol or other vasodilators
He is not kidding, fellows, the disease does
exist.

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.

Retin-A
Our price: $13.2
Retin-A (Tretinoin) is used to improve the appearance and texture of the skin.

More info

Viagra
Our price: $1.43
Viagra (Sildenafil) is an oral drug for male impotence, also known as erectile dysfunction. Having been around for a lot longer, Viagra has a great safety track record and proven effects that start acting in 30 minutes and last for about 5 hours.

More info