Health information

QUESTION:

QUESTION: I am an American living in France-Vichy
A friend living in
Daytona suggested that I write to you in reference to a sickness named
“Maladie de Horton” which I have
Would you be kind enough to give me the
details of this sickness?

I would appreciate any information you could give me on the
condition called Giant Cell Arteritis
A 70 year old woman diagnosed as
having this condition has been given very little information as to the
prognosis, complications and treatment.

ANSWER: At first glance, it would seem that I have two different diseases to
deal with here, but the fact is that they are one and the same
Perhaps
better known in this country as “temporal arteritis,” both Horton’s and Giant
Cell Arteritis are but other names for a chronic generalized inflammatory
disease of the branches of the aortic arch, principally found in the temporal
and occipital arteries
Rarely seen in individuals under the age of 50, it is
most frequent in women over the age of 80
Although no specific cause has
been identified, research and clinical data makes the probability of an
autoimmune reaction most likely
The name “Giant Cell” comes from the
appearance of the affected tissues when biopsied and examined under the
microscope, where giant cells may be seen in great profusion
The beginnings
of the disease may be either acute or gradual, and frequently seem to imitate
a viral or flu like disease with low-grade fever, aches and pains, severe
weakness, loss of appetite and weight loss
Usually there are some associated
muscle aches and pains in the neck, shoulders and hip-pelvic area
There is
a characteristic severe throbbing or piercing headache over the temporal areas
on one or both sides, and the area may be tender, red and swollen
About half
the patients have visual symptoms ranging from blurred vision, double vision
to loss of sight
Apart from the classical signs and symptoms, the red cell
sedimentation rate (sed rate) is markedly elevated, but in view of the length
and importance of the therapy, a tissue biopsy should be obtained to make the
diagnosis
As soon as the diagnosis is suspected, however, high doses of
corticosteroids (such as prednisone) should be administered, as much as 60
mg/day until the symptoms subside, sometimes in just a few days, and the sed
rate returns to normal (usually from 2 to 4 weeks)
Such prompt and high
dosage therapy can do much to prevent visual loss or blindness
Therapy with
smaller doses may continue for two years or longer, and patients should be
checked regularly with monitoring of the sed rate to detect early signs of
possible relapses, which frequently occur.

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 baby boy was born with a large pink birth mark on the back of
his neck, which looks quite large to me
Although I have indicated my worry
to my doctor, she is not concerned and just tells me that these marks, which
she calls a “salmon patch,” are nothing to fret about
Could you please tell
me if you think she is correct?

ANSWER: I think we can agree with your physician, although I think she might
have offered a word or two of explanation to help calm your natural anxiety.
Salmon patches, sometimes called “angel’s kiss” or “stork bite,” are the most
common birthmark composed of small blood vessels seen in babies
They can
occur on the forehead, eyelids, nose and lip areas, and are frequently seen on
the nape of the neck
They are seen in the midline area, and are usually
symmetrical
And yes, they do disappear by themselves, about 99 percent of
those found on the face are gone by 1 year of age
While 5 to 10 percent of
those on the neck may remain, they are easily covered by growing hair and
represent no health danger to 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.

Tulasi
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Tulasi is a medicine that promotes optimum respiratory support.

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QUESTION: I am having the darndest time getting my young son off to school
each day
He will use any excuse not to go
One of the teachers called this
a “school phobia” and suggested that I seek some counseling and help for my
child
What do you think? Does this phobia really exist?

ANSWER: I think many experts agree that there is a condition called “school
phobia” and that it may be more common than once thought
However, in many
cases it is more truly a fear of leaving home than a horror of being in
school
Actually many of these children want to attend their classes but
suffer from the effects of a separation anxiety, not wishing to leave the
protection of their home and parents
Some fear their mother will desert them
when they are away at school and will put up quite a battle when the moment to
leave arrives, clinging to the mother, crying and screaming
Many develop
complaints of headache, dizziness, abdominal pains, nausea and vomiting, all
of which resolve quite rapidly when they are permitted to stay at home
To be
sure, some events at school, such as a school bully or an overcritical teacher
may aid the development of the problem, as will a fear of certain subjects.
Most of these children have an average or superior intelligence, and the
problem may occur in families of all social, ethnic, religious and economic
classes
Do not confuse school phobia with truancy, where the child leaves
home without any problem, but does not attend school, roaming the streets
instead with others who are also “taking the day off”
These youngsters are
frequently poor students, and their parents are unaware of the absence.
School phobia is a complex problem in many cases and seeking professional help
in these cases is well advised.

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: Although I have read a few of your answers concerning shingles and
the pain that can remain after the rash has gone, I don’t believe you ever
mentioned a new treatment my doctor is trying with me
It consists of using
crushed aspirin in a lotion, that I put right on the painful area with quite
some relief
Do you know of this treatment, and what do you think of it?

ANSWER: The treatment your doctor is now trying with you is quite new, and
reports of its use have only just recently appeared in the medical press.
This type of pain, called posthepatic neuralgia, which follows the acute
stages of herpes or shingles, occurs most frequently in older patients
It
has always been a difficult pain condition to treat, and while local
application of steroid creams, and more recently a preparation derived from
naturally occurring chemical in pepper plants (capsaicin, brand name Zostrix)
have been used with success, some individuals were still left with continuing
pain
In the continuing search for a treatment that could offer relief to
these individuals, a new technique has recently been reported from several
pain management centers
Two 350 mg aspirins are crushed to a fine powder and
dissolved in some solution or lotion that makes it possible to apply the
mixture directly to the painful areas
In one study, chloroform was used as
the liquid base, and in another report Vaseline Intensive Care Lotion was
used
The results seemed to indicate that most patients experienced
substantial and lasting relief from the tormenting chronic pain that had
persisted after the herpes infection
While these results are certainly
encouraging, I must point out that they are still preliminary, and additional
large scale studies are needed to fully prove the worth of this technique.
However, the use of this treatment technique, with due caution to avoid
inhaling the fumes of the chloroform preparation, would seem to offer the
possibility of pain relief with out posing any undue hazards for most
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.

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: A splitting headache drove me to the doctor’s office, where after
an examination, the diagnosis of sinusitis was made
A prescription for an
antibiotic was given to me, but I sensed that my doctor was very concerned
I
was required to return in just three days, but everything seemed to be going
fine
Can you read my doctor’s mind and tell me what he was worrying about?

ANSWER: It is not difficult to imagine the concerns of a caring physician
when faced with a case of acute sinusitis
He was already visualizing the
possible complications, and was planning your care to avoid those
possibilities
The sinuses are actually hollow spaces within the bones that
form parts of the skull, normally filled with just air and lined with delicate
mucous membranes
When an infection strikes, the membranes become swollen and
may close the small holes (ostium) which provide drainage for the liquid
normally formed by the tissue, and which allow for the free passage of air in
and out of the sinus
As a result, the air in the sinus is absorbed by blood
cells in the membranes, and the pressure within the sinus drops (vacuum
sinusitis), which can be painful
If this condition persists, the membranes
then produce large amounts of fluid which fill the sinus cavity, and which can
serve as perfect breeding grounds for bacteria
As the body attempts to
defend against this infection, it pours additional serum and white blood cells
into the area, and soon creates a positive pressure within this closed space,
causing pain often described as “splitting” and tenderness
This can lead to
the extension of the infection beyond the sinus, provoking infections in the
orbit of the eye (orbital cellulitis) as well as within the skull itself
(meningitis and brain abscesses)
However, full doses of appropriate
antibiotics, ampicillin or amoxicillin in most cases, for 10 to 14 days, is
usually sufficient to prevent these serious complications
Drainage of the
sinus may be aided by using a vaporizer, which helps to reduce the pressure,
relive the pain and hasten the 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.

Aleve
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Aleve (Naproxen) is used for the treatment of mild to moderate pain, inflammation and fever.

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QUESTION: During the last of my frequent falls while skiing, I injured my
left thumb quite severely
I am now in a cast, and have been told I will need
extensive therapy to get my thumb back in good working order
The diagnosis
was “skier’s thumb”
Good joke, but can you tell what really happened to me?

ANSWER: It is no joke, as I am sure you will agree, and “skier’s thumb” is
one of the most common hand injuries among athletes
It has another name, of
course, ulnar collateral ligament (UCL) injury, and occurs when the thumb is
forcefully pushed or pulled away from the hand, as may happen in a fall, or by
knocking the thumb against an object
The UCL is stretched, or even torn by
the blow, and the thumb becomes unstable
The injury is graded 1, 2 or 3
depending upon the presence and severity of ligament tear
If there is merely
stretching, (grade 1) a cast for from 2 to 3 weeks followed by a splint and
rehabilitative exercise usually suffices as treatment
In grade 2, with a
partial tear of the ligament, the cast is required for a longer period of
time
When a complete tear occurs (grade 3) it is possible that surgery may
be needed to repair the damage
A historical note, the injury was also known
as gamekeepers thumb, as English gamekeepers frequently stressed their thumbs
in a similar fashion when fracturing the necks of rabbits.

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.

Tulasi
Our price: $23.1
Tulasi is a medicine that promotes optimum respiratory support.

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QUESTION: Some time ago, my wife and I moved to this retirement facility, so
that we would have a bit more social life than was possible before
However,
ever since we arrived I have been unable to sleep well, and only get a few
hours a night
Will this loss of sleep cause me any harm?

ANSWER: It is not how many hours of sleep that count, or even if the sleep is
light or interrupted that is important but rather how well you rested
If you
still feel perky in the morning, no matter what pattern your sleep took, you
are fine, and no harm will occur
With advancing age, and with a change in
your home environment, you have some very understandable reasons for a change
in the amount and type of sleep you are now experiencing
As we grow older
our sleep needs change, so that we spend more time awake in bed than before,
have less light and less deep sleep, but our bodies function just as well.
There are a number of things you might consider that could be causing your
sleep habits to change
They include various medications that you might be
taking; blood pressure pills, cortisone like medications, various
antidepressants and antihistamines
You might wish to discuss these with your
doctor
Then too, aches and pains, the need to visit the bathroom, irregular
heart beats, difficulty in breathing, outside noises you have yet to become
accustomed to, and even your wife’s snoring (does she?) can all contribute to
breaking up a night’s rest
Are you napping more during the day? If so, that
too can be contributing to making your night sleep at night less satisfying.
Try a few of these suggestions, in addition to correcting any of the
situations I have outlined
While you should establish a regular routine for
retiring and arising, it may help to stay up a bit longer, and participate in
some relaxing activity
Stay away from stimulants like coffee or tea in the
evening
If you suffer from a condition that causes a chronic pain, ask your
doctor to help you change the schedule of pain medication so that you take one
before retiring
Review your problem with your physician, who should have
some insight about you and may have just the remedy you need.

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: I am afraid that my question is a bit confusing, but I assure you I
am telling it the way I heard it
A close friend relates that he has had a
heart attack, without pain or suffering, and that after taking all the tests,
his doctor is treating him at home, without hospitalization, with medications
and diet
How can this be? Is my friend in any danger?

ANSWER: In order to put everything into perspective, I am going to change the
words “heart attack” to “heart condition”, for I believe that more closely
describes the situation
It certainly is possible to suffer from a condition
known as Silent Myocardial Ischemia, without pain or symptoms, and still be
faced with a serious problem that warrants care and treatment
In this
situation the supply of blood, and therefore of oxygen to the heart, is
reduced
It is probable that this is caused by a narrowing or blockage of one
or more arteries that bring blood to the heart (coronary arteries), and that
the narrowing is due to atherosclerosis
Atherosclerosis occurs when the
walls of the arteries are thickened by fatty deposits in the artery wall.
Despite the fact that this lack of oxygen may cause damage to the heart
muscle, and that the same condition in many people causes the pain of angina,
there are some individuals who do not experience the stabbing pain that
normally occurs when the muscles are deprived of oxygen
When pain is absent,
an important clue to the diagnosis is missing, but the condition may be
discovered by taking an electrocardiogram while the patient is exercising on a
treadmill, or by recording the heart’s activity during 24 to 48 hours using a
portable monitor called a Holter monitor
When the tracings are reviewed, the
sign of ischemia, or lack of oxygen is detected
These tests offer some
indication of the extent of the problem, and whether or not there has been
damage to the muscles
Depending upon the patient’s condition, treatment may
consist of medications that help prevent increasing blockage of the arteries,
and include a diet to lower blood levels of cholesterol
A full program will
certainly include a weight loss plan (if that is indicated), an exercise
program under medical direction, and help to stop a tobacco habit if that is
present
Your friend may be considered lucky, if the condition was caught
before heart muscle damage occurred
He is in no danger from the treatment,
only from failure to follow through.

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
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Plendil (Felodipine) is used to treat high blood pressure (hypertension).

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QUESTION: I am sure that all these new controls on smoking wouldn’t have
happened without some dramatic proof of the dangers, but I have never seen
anything about that
My father has been a smoker for 40 years and still shows
nothing wrong on his medical examinations
What kind of research has shown
that the effects of smoking are as bad as they are made out to be?

ANSWER: Your father is a lucky man and for his sake, I hope he continues to
remain untouched by the many ill effects of tobacco
However, in my mind the
proofs of serious diseases that result from the smoking habit are
overwhelming
More than 30,000 studies have been published on the
relationship between smoking and disease, and over and over again the
connection is made clear
Statistically, lung cancer is seen in cigarette
smokers far more frequently than in the population of nonsmokers
More
important, when an individual finally manages to quit, the chances of
developing lung cancer are reduced
In experiments on animals, cigarette tars
painted on the skin result in the growth of cancerous tumors
When chronic
diseases of the lung that diminish the flow of air into the lungs are
investigated, the relationship between smoking and emphysema seems clear
And
the numbers indicate that heavy smokers suffer the greatest reduction in
their lung function
The same holds true for heart disease, where those who
have smoked more than 2 packs a day have a 200% greater risk for coronary
heart disease (CHD) than nonsmokers
With statistical evidence that goes back
to 1954, the link between CHD and smoking reveals that smokers in general have
a 70 percent greater chance of dying from heart disease than do those who have
resisted temptation
While it may not be apparent just how the diseases
develop in all cases, there is little room for doubt that there is a clear
“cause and effect” connection
What astounds me most is not that we are now
trying to help people by preventing them from smoking in public places and on
public transportation, but that in view of all the evidence that exists, it
has taken us this long to do something important about this avoidable health
problem.

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 husband claims that when you sneeze, your heart stops
Isn’t
this an old wives’ tale? He will have sneezing episodes for anywhere from 3
to 15 minutes
What causes this and what damage is he doing to his heart? He
claims he has had such episodes for about 20 years.

ANSWER: Sneezing is an uncontrollable reflex that occurs when something
irritates the upper air passages, such as the nose or pharynx
First a large
amount of air is pulled into the lungs and then pushed out by the breathing
muscles in a rapid and forceful manner, so that a large volume of air passes
through the nose and mouth at great speed
This is designed to clear the
passages of the cause of the irritation
The heart does not stop during this
action, although the rate may be altered by the changes in the timing and
pattern of breathing
Your husband, therefore, is inflicting no damage to his
heart, as his 20 years of experiences surely proves
Sneezing is frequently
caused by allergens such as pollen, or the increased mucous flow in the nasal
passages provoked by a cold
However, other irritations may be the root of
the problem such as cigarette smoke, an abrupt change in air humidity or
temperature, the smell of certain perfumes and even bright light or high
pitched sounds in certain sensitive individuals
No damage occurs, provided
the sneeze is not suppressed but allowed to happen, while mouth and nose are
gently covered to prevent the spread of germ carrying droplets.

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.

Tulasi
Our price: $23.1
Tulasi is a medicine that promotes optimum respiratory support.

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