Health information

QUESTION: When the snow falls, and covers our walk, my 67 year old husband
becomes Mr
Macho himself, and decides that a little shoveling is just the
exercise he needs to get fit and make up for the hours he spends sitting in
his chair and watching television
I keep telling him it could kill him, but
he doesn’t listen
Maybe some words from you can get through, and save his
life as well as others
Please help.

ANSWER: That white stuff seems so light as it floats gently to earth, that it
is easy to believe that little effort is needed to brush it aside or shovel it
off the walk
Don’t be fooled; shoveling snow is real work, requiring a good
deal of muscle power and energy to accomplish the task
And to a “couch
potato” who is unaccustomed to the physical effort, there may be a real danger
of heart attack, which is increased if he is carrying around a few extra
pounds
However, there are a few simple tips that can help get the job done
safely, and they apply as well to those who consider themselves to be in good
shape
Treat the shoveling job as you would any vigorous exercise, and start
by warming up gradually, throwing in a few stretching maneuvers as well
Take
your time, proceeding at a leisurely pace, with frequent stops and several
minutes of rest
Keep the load light, by only partially filling the shovel.
Protect your back as well by grasping the handle near the blade, assuming a
balanced position with knees slightly flexed, to help take up the load
Good
sense demands that you dress properly against the cold, wearing a hat and
gloves, warm boots or shoes, and several layers of roomy clothing
After the
heavy work is finished, take 10 to 15 minutes to cool down gradually, with
activity slowing up over time
Smoking, alcoholic or caffeine containing
beverages during or after exposure to cold can affect circulation and further
tax the heart
Above all, play it very smart
Any pain in the chest, neck,
arms or abdomen, weakness, cold sweat, shortness of breath, or nausea are
signals from your body that something is wrong, and that emergency medical
attention is needed at once
Don’t try to “tough it out”
And if all these
cautions and rules have made you think twice, then pay heed to your wife, and
give the kids down the block a few bucks to do the job for you.

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: Our school provides regular exams by the school nurse to make sure
that all is developing correctly
After just such an exam, I received a note
from the nurse stating that my daughter was developing a condition named
“scoliosis”, and required a physician’s examination
Please help me by
explaining this condition in your column
Thank you.

ANSWER: It is imperative that you take the advice of the school nurse and see
your physician
Most of the cases of scoliosis (a medical name for curvature
of the spine) are discovered in just such school screening examinations, and
medical referral is always indicated.
No one is sure just what the cause of scoliosis is, but we do know some
important things
Young girls fall prey to this condition about twice as
frequently as boys, and their curvature is usually worse
If there is a
history of scoliosis in the family, the chance of a child developing it is
about three times more likely
Treatment will depend upon the amount of
curvature detected on x-rays
If there’s a curve of less than 20 degrees from
normal, most cases are merely observed closely without any treatment other
than a program of exercises, muscle stretching and strengthening
When the
curvature is between 20 degrees and 40 degrees, patients are generally treated
with braces
A great number of different types of braces are now being used
in the United States, and the use of lightweight plastic has made this type of
treatment much more acceptable to youngsters, who can wear them under their
clothing and have a great deal of freedom of motion
However, once the brace
is in place, the patient must wear it almost constantly, up to 23 hours a day,
only removing it for bathing and exercise
Treatment with braces will
continue until the spine matures and has reached its full growth, which will
be detectable on x-ray.
When the degree of curvature exceeds 40 degrees, surgical techniques must
be resorted to
These techniques seek to realign the spine and to fix it into
position with the use of rods or other means of external or internal fixation.
Correcting scoliosis in a timely fashion prevents the development of
complications which can occur later, including neurological disturbances
It
isn’t easy for a youngster to undergo all of the procedures necessary to
correct scoliosis, but it’s very important
They will need a lot of
understanding and counselling, and though your family physician may not be the
one to perform all the surgery, he can help you over some of the rough times
as you work for that wonderful day when braces may be cast aside and your
child will stand straight and erect.

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.

Combivent
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Combivent (Albuterol and Ipratropium) is used to prevent bronchospasm.

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QUESTION: I frequently seem to suffer from dry eyes which bother me most
after I’ve been asleep and try to open them
There are no crusts, and my eyes
don’t appear red or inflamed
The problem is gradually getting worse
Is
there anything you can tell me to help.

ANSWER: You should definitely see an your physician for a close up and
personal opinion, but here is my guess as to what will happen
He will
probably prescribe eye drops (artificial tears) to help decrease the dryness,
but he should also measure your tear production to check for a chronic
inflammatory disorder called Sjogren’s syndrome; a dry mouth is the other
common sign, so your doctor would also evaluate your salivary gland
secretions
For some people with Sjogren’s these are the only mucous
membranes involved, while for others there is dryness at various other sites
on the body
Another common characteristic of the disorder is arthritis or
joint inflammation, occurring in about one-third of patients
Swollen parotid
glands that are usually firm but moderately tender also can be found in about
one third of the patients with this syndrome
Approximately 1 in 2,000
individuals suffers from Sjogren’s syndrome, and it tends to affect women over
40 times more than others
The cause is unknown, but is considered by many
experts to be an abnormality of the immune system, and treatment is basically
aimed at increasing lubrication of the eyes and mouth
You can also obtain
more information and help by writing to the Sjogren Foundation, 382 Main
Street, Port Washington, New York 11050.

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.

Actos
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Actos (Pioglitazone) is used for the treatment of type II diabetes.

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QUESTION: Aren’t the words “strain” and “sprain” used for the same physical
condition? It seems that the doctors always give me the same advice no matter
which one of these two terms is used as the diagnosis.

ANSWER: No, actually “strain” and “sprain” are two separate situations,
although I am sure that many of us have used these words as if they were
interchangeable
A strain results from overstretching or overexertion of a
muscle
When you try to use a muscle once it has been strained, you’ll know
it, because it hurts and you can often actually put your hand over the area of
injury by feeling for the aching muscle
A sprain, however, is a joint
injury, and occurs when some of the fibers in the ligaments which form that
joint are torn or ruptured
The ligament as a whole still remains intact, but
the injury provokes pain in that area
A typical injury of this type that is
most common is an ankle sprain
Because this joint bears most of the body
work and is subject to accidental twisting during walking, running and
athletics, almost everyone has had to deal with this frequent sprain.
Obviously, whether it is a muscle that has been injured or a joint, your
doctor is going to recommend rest, applications of heat to the area, and
possibly some type of analgesic or painkiller
NSAIDs (nonsteroidal
anti-inflammatory drugs) like ibuprofen are also useful to reduce the
inflammation and swelling that may also be present
You would be wise to take
that advice and not to overuse either the joint or the muscle until all signs
of pain or tenderness have disappeared.

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.

Dostinex
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Dostinex (Cabergoline) is used for treating disorders associated with high prolactin levels: persistent breast milk production, lack of a menstrual period, infertility, and other conditions.

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QUESTION: With both my father and uncle passing away recently, both from
strokes, I am now concerned that the same fate awaits me
What is the
likelihood that these events can predict my future? Would you have any
suggestions that might change my odds?

ANSWER: Unfortunately, you may have a higher risk of stroke than people
without a family history of the problem
Some predispositions to stroke are
inherited, and most stroke victims have a parent who has suffered a stroke.
The greatest risk factor for a stroke, however, is high blood pressure.
People with high blood pressure are two to four times more likely to have
strokes than people without elevated blood pressure
Black people die of
strokes almost twice as often as white people in the 35 year old to 74 year
old age range
That’s because of the greater incidence of high blood pressure
among blacks
Heart diseases which allow blood clots to form also increase
the chances of suffering stroke
Diabetics run almost double the normal risk
for strokes
Although people of any age can suffer strokes, 80% of the time
they occur in people 65 or over.
But you can reduce your chances of becoming of stroke victim by
eliminating some of the risk factors
Pay attention to your blood pressure,
keep your weight under control, and get started on a regular exercise program.
Refraining from heavy drinking, and understanding that smoking is an absolute
“no-no”, can help you straighten out the odds.

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.

Triphala
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Triphala provides overall support for the digestive function.

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QUESTION: Although I have never been much good at keeping to a training
program, my new living arrangements permit me access to a swimming pool.
Although most people just splash around, I am interested in knowing just how
good swimming is as an exercise to lose weight?

ANSWER: The only way to lose weight is to expand more calories than you take
in
Swimming is an excellent way to burn calories, and, combined with a
moderate, calorie reduced, balanced diet, can help you take off weight
Since
it’s a rhythmic, aerobic exercise, swimming is also beneficial for the heart.
It has an added advantage of being good for the back and joints since water
bears most of your weight, eliminating excess burdens on the spine, hips,
knees and ankles.
To take off a pound of fat, you have to burn 3,500 calories
According
to The Official YMCA Fitness Program, the breast stroke burns 7 to 11 calories
per minute, the backstroke burns 8 to 11.5 calories per minute, and the crawl
9 to 14 calories per minute, depending on how much you weigh and how fast you
swim
A good regimen would be to swim three times a week for forty minutes.
For the purposes of weight reduction, this can be accomplished in divided
doses
You would burn off a pound every three weeks without dieting! If you
diet too, you could lose weight even faster
And swimming will not only help
take weight off, it will firm you up and improve your muscle tone, perhaps
giving you a new svelte look!

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.

Prinivil
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Prinivil (Lisinopril) is used for treating high blood pressure and heart failure.

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QUESTION: A persistent buzzing in my ear has become a constant torment
It
started about 5 years ago (I am now 64) and has become steadily worse
I am
sure there must be something to help drive it away
Can you help?

ANSWER: Nearly 36 million Americans experience “tinnitus,” the name for
ringing in the ears or other sounds, such as buzzing, humming or clicking
noises.
The causes of tinnitus can vary
The nerve endings in your ears may be
damaged as a result of age or of exposure to loud noises
Other ear problems,
like infections (which may include a hearing loss) could be to blame for your
problem
Tinnitus can also be caused by such disorders as allergies, high or
low blood pressure, or diabetes, or as a side-effect of certain drugs
(aspirin, for instance).
Your doctor can run tests to try to determine the cause
Unless tinnitus
is the result of a specific illness or condition, however, treatment may be
impossible
You might try different devices that mask the sounds you’re
hearing by using “white noise,” a soft, rushing kind of sounds like the sound
of the surf
Certain hearing aids called “maskers” can also provide some
relief by using the same principle to mask out the sounds in your head.
Though provoking at times, the source of this unwanted sound is not life
threatening, and a good mental attitude can help you avoid unnecessary and
unprofitable anxiety
You can also help yourself by staying in good shape,
avoiding stimulants like caffeine and tobacco, and getting enough rest, and,
in the knowledge that there is little you can do about it, ignore the buzz
that is tormenting you.

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.

Premarin
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Premarin (Conjugated Estrogens) is used for treating the symptoms of menopause.

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QUESTION: My legs look terrible, as they are crisscrossed with many unsightly
varicose veins, which I have in both legs
I understand that a treatment is
available that does not require surgery for the removal of the veins
Do you
know of any such treatment and how does it work?

ANSWER: I think you’re alluding to a type of treatment called “compression
sclerotherapy” which is useful for treating superficial varicose veins
A
sclerosing solution (used to thicken walls of the vein and obliterate it,
causing it to collapse) composed of 3% sodium tetradactyl sulfate is injected
into the veins
Anywhere from three to ten injections can be made into each
leg
After the injections, the leg is tightly bandaged
These bandages are
only removed after the medication has had a chance to act.
If the varicose veins are small and not too prominent, many people can be
satisfied with the results which are obtained from surgical elastic stockings,
which can control varicose veins in many individuals
Using these stockings
properly, putting them on each morning while still in bed when the veins have
diminished during the night, and wearing them faithfully all day every day,
may be just enough to allow the veins to return to normal size and function.
These stockings are frequently used after most types of treatments for
varicose veins, to help in healing and maintaining good results.
Incidentally, even with surgical stripping, where varicose veins are
actually removed, between 33% and 45% of all patients will need additional
treatment using compressive sclerotherapy for residual or recurrent varicose
veins
Although the cosmetic results in each of these procedures may not be
all you desire, treatment can prevent the condition from progressing.

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.

Flomax
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Flomax (Tamsulosin) is an alpha-blocker that is used to improve symptoms, associated with an enlarged prostate.

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QUESTION: At first we thought the condition would pass as it had with our
other children, but a condition of crossed eyes has remained in our youngest
son
Besides the kidding he may take from other children, we are worried
about his sight
Can you tell us where the condition comes from and what we
can do to help him?

ANSWER: About two percent of all children are affected by “strabismus”, which
is the medical name for crossed eyes, and there are several causes that should
be considered before planning the treatment strategy
If it was present from
birth, it may be inherited, due to a birth injury, or to problems with the eye
muscles
If the problem arose later, it may have resulted from developing
farsightedness, neurological disease, possibly caused by high fever.
The good news is that you are justifiably concerned about the problem,
and wish to deal with it
Undiagnosed strabismus can cause amblyopia or “lazy
eye” syndrome, where the vision in one eye becomes weakened
A baby should be
able to focus his or her eyes on a object held nearby by age 6 months
When
this is recognized a full evaluation is in order
A child with strabismus
should be examined by a doctor who specializes in eye conditions, who can
decide on an appropriate course of treatment based upon the results of the
investigations
This may include glasses, an eye patch, medication, surgery,
or eye exercises or retraining to overcome the amblyopia, or any combination
of these
The prognosis for normally functioning eyes is quite good
especially when treatment begins before the age of 4, although follow up may
be required until age 10.

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.

Hyzaar
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Hyzaar (Losartan/Hydrochlorothiazide) is used for treating high blood pressure.

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QUESTION: I suffer from Raynaud’s Disease, and do well enough when I take all
the precautions I have learned
Recently I heard of a method that used hot
water to get your blood vessels to open up and help overcome the coldness and
numbness in the fingers
If you know of the method will you please describe
it for me?

ANSWER: Some recently published papers talk of the use of hot water in
changing the response to cold in patients with Raynaud’s
Since Raynaud’s
disease is an excessive reaction to cold, which causes the vessels to
constrict and diminish the circulation to fingers and toes, a possible method
of treatment is to attempt to change that reaction
It uses water at 120
degrees F, but two different environments
First the hands are immersed in
the hot water for from 2 to 5 minutes while you are in a warm room
Next, the
same procedure is repeated while in a colder area, a basement or outdoors.
Then back to the warm room and repeat once again
The whole procedure is
repeated 3 to 6 times a day for a total of 50 trials
Results lasting for
years have been achieved by some patients
I do, however, advise you to
consult your own physician for advise and further instructions before
embarking on this treatment.

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.

Triphala
Our price: $23.1
Triphala provides overall support for the digestive function.

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