Health information

QUESTION: What are those little yellowish bumps people get around the eyes?
They don’t seem to bother anything, but what can be done to prevent them from
growing?

ANSWER: Physicians call these yellow-colored lesions xanthelasma
They are
usually raised slightly above the skin surface and can occur on either the
upper or lower eyelid usually near the inner corner
They occur in
individuals who suffer from elevated blood cholesterol, particularly in an
inherited disorder called “familial hypercholesterolemia,” although they can
occur in any individual with elevated cholesterols
In the familial disease,
the serum cholesterol may be elevated to two or three times normal and
requires aggressive treatment
Their growth can be halted by lowering serum
cholesterol, which means strict avoidance of foods containing cholesterol and
saturated fatty acids
These include meat, especially organ meats and obvious
fats, milk, cream, butter, eggs, lard, and other saturated cooking fats.
As you correctly stated, they don’t bother anything, but remember that
other similar plaques are developing on the lining of the patient’s arteries,
causing a condition called atherosclerosis
With attention to diet and the
lowering of serum cholesterol levels, not only will the plaques on the eye
stop growing, but the more important ones located within the arteries may also
become smaller.

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: Why do doctors always write their prescriptions in Latin? My guess
is that it is to keep the mystery in medicine and to keep patients confused,
but I suppose you will have another point of view
What is it?

ANSWER: Yes, I do have another point of view, and I am happy to share it with
you
Actually physicians do not use a lot of Latin in writing their
prescriptions these days
They did in “the good old days” when pharmacists
prepared prescriptions by mixing various powders and liquids requested by the
physician
But today, most of this preparation takes place at the drug
manufacturing plant, so that the physician merely names the medicine and its
dose, specifies tablet, capsule or liquid, all in English
However there is
one part of the prescription that gives the directions for the patient that
still may seem a bit confusing
It’s called the “sig.,” from the Latin word
that means “to write,” and contains a great many abbreviations which simplify
writing the prescription but still clearly indicates the instructions to be
included on the label
Its a lot easier writing “a
c.” (for the Latin ante
cibos) than “take the medication before meals”, but it means exactly the same
thing to those who know the abbreviations
And that takes the mystery out of
that
But it still doesn’t improve the handwriting of many doctors, which may
be the reason you still can’t decipher it!

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.

Loxitane
Our price: $1.08
Loxitane (Loxapine) is an anti psychotic drug of intermediate-potency.

More info

QUESTION: There was a recent outbreak of salmonella infection in a nursing
home in our area
Our mother lives at a similar home and we have been
concerned that it could happen there too
What are the symptoms we might be
looking out for, can it be prevented and what treatments are available?

ANSWER: There are many members of the Salmonella family and over 2200 types
that can react differently to certain serological tests
Most types produce
an acute gastroenteritis, and therefore the symptoms are those of abdominal
distress
The symptoms include abdominal pain, diarrhea, nausea and sometimes
vomiting
Fever is usually present
When both diarrhea and frequent vomiting
is present, dehydration may occur and must be treated as well, with
intravenous fluids
When the infection is transmitted by contaminated food,
the first symptoms will occur from 4 to 72 hours after eating that food, with
the average time being 18 hours
Prevention is most important, and brings us
back to the basic rules of hygiene
Meticulous hand washing, with soap and
warm water, proper stool disposal, and isolation of infected individuals can
reduce exposure to the bacteria
Attention to the purity of the water and
the preparation of food, as well as handling, storage and refrigeration of
poultry, meat and eggs are musts
Bed clothes should be laundered in hot,
soapy water
The use of antibiotics, with choramphenicol being the drug of
choice, can greatly reduce the severity and duration of the illness and reduce
the frequency of complications
Ultimately the diagnosis of salmonella
infections is based upon finding the bacteria in stool cultures, and you must
not panic at the first sign of a mild stomach ache, since not all such
symptoms herald the outbreak of a salmonella infection
When a salmonella
infection is suspected, however, prompt reporting to the proper health
authorities is essential and can obtain the resources needed to combat the
infection in the most effective manner possible.

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.

Allegra
Our price: $1.36
Allegra (Fexofenadine) is used for treating seasonal allergy symptoms.

More info

QUESTION: With a beloved relative in mind, I am anxious to know more about a
new disease
Can you tell me about the effects of polio disease which seem to
come on long after the patient has recovered from the disease?

ANSWER: “Post Polio Syndrome,” or the late effects of polio disease, is
estimated to affect about one-fourth of all polio survivors
The symptoms,
which generally include a new occurrence of weakness, fatigue, pain, and loss
of muscle function, may occur ten to forty years after the acute illness.
Researchers emphasize the importance of accurately diagnosing patients with
symptoms of post polio syndrome since such symptoms may be mistaken for other,
more common, diseases
A careful and complete medical exam is essential in
making an accurate diagnosis.
It is reassuring to note that the symptoms are generally benign and most
symptoms respond to therapy, which may involve exercise, anti-inflammatory
drugs, brace adjustments, and counseling
Less encouraging, however, is the
fact that most cases of the syndrome involve an underlying disease called
“postpoliomyelitis muscular atrophy” (PPMA), a progressive condition for which
there is no known cure.
Researchers across the country, including physicians, epidemiologists,
and others, continue to conduct clinical and laboratory studies to identify
the causes and treatment of the late effects of polio
Despite these efforts,
however, it may be at least twenty years before such data are available,
according to some experts.
If you were a polio victim, and now are being treated by a new physician,
be sure to alert him or her, so that all your complaints may be properly
evaluated in light of this syndrome.

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: When I visited a new doctor because of a chronic problem with
irregular periods, he proposed a new diagnosis for my condition, one which I
need to know more about
What is “polycystic ovary syndrome”? What are the
symptoms, and how is it treated?

ANSWER: Polycystic ovary syndrome is the catch-all name for a number of
diseases of the female reproductive system.
Symptoms can include amenorrhea (lack of menstrual cycles), irregular
cycles or abnormal bleeding, infertility, obesity, edema (retention of fluid),
and enlarged ovaries
About 70% of patients suffer from hirsutism (excess
hair on the face, chest and back, and up the middle of the abdomen)
One
prominent example of this condition is sometimes referred to as
Stein-Leventhal syndrome.
Women with polycystic ovary syndrome also have a greater chance of
developing endometrial cancer.
The syndrome is the result of abnormal levels of certain hormones; for
instance, one characteristic is the increased production of androgens, the
hormones that stimulate male sexual development
Although women usually have
small amounts of androgens, women with polycystic ovary syndrome produce too
much.
Treatment varies, depending on the symptoms and the patient’s desires
that stem from her life style and personal wishes
Oral contraceptives are
often the first choice for treatment if the patient does not want to get
pregnant
Birth control pills can decrease the risk of endometrial cancer as
well as control hirsutism
Progestins, a form of progesterone, a hormone
necessary for ovulation, can be given to patients who cannot or do not want to
take oral contraceptives
Because pregnancy should not be attempted while
taking progestins, women must use another form of birth control
On the other
side of the coin, fertility drugs can be given to patients who want to get
pregnant
Other medications may be used to help reduce hirsutism
When
medications fail to help the situation, surgery, a procedure known as “wedge
resection of the ovary,” may be required in some cases
Your problem should
be thoroughly discussed with your new doctor to obtain a full understanding of
your personal situation, and to permit you to make the correct decisions.

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.

Hoodia Weight Loss Patch
Our price: $35.06
Hoodia Weight Loss Patch will assist in decreasing your appetite as well as increasing your energy, helping you to lose weight naturally, safely and effectively.

More info

QUESTION: Fifteen years ago, my husband was hospitalized and was diagnosed as
polycythemia, no cure
Since that time, he has had to have one unit of blood
withdrawn four times yearly
They say bloodletting is the only solution to
his problem
I would appreciate another opinion.

ANSWER: Polycythemia vera is a disease in which all of the elements of the
bone marrow grow at a more rapid rate than normal and in which we see an
increase in the mass of the red blood cells and hemoglobin
The average age
at onset is about sixty years, and the disease is seen more in males than
females
About seven million individuals suffer from polycythemia vera.
Complaints of these patients include fatigue, difficulty in concentration,
headache, drowsiness and forgetfulness, and even dizziness
About half of
them suffer from itchy skin, particularly after a hot bath
Most patients’
skin color is normal, but when the physician examines the vessels at the back
of the eye, the veins are dark red, full and betray the presence of a high
level of red cells
In general, the spleen is also palpable on physical
examination
In spite of all of this, however, some patients suffer from no
symptoms at all.
All the textbooks stress that phlebotomy (bloodletting) is part of the
management of every patient
This relatively simple procedure keeps most
patients symptom-free and maintains the levels of hemoglobin, as well as the
number of red cells within normal limits.
It is only when the condition cannot be controlled with occasional blood
removals that other drugs are used in conjunction with phlebotomy
Most of
these medications are still under study and are difficult to administer, as
they must be individualized for each patient.
I am sure that the physicians who are responsible for your husband’s care
are aware of all of the latest developments in the therapy of polycythemia,
and that they will use medications as necessary and when necessary, since
their prime consideration is for your husband’s comfort and welfare.

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.

Cymbalta
Our price: $1.05
Cymbalta (Duloxetine) is used for treating depression and generalized anxiety disorder.

More info

QUESTION: I’ve heard of colitis of the large intestine, but can the disease
also occur only in the rectum?

ANSWER: Ulcerative colitis is an inflammatory disease of the inner lining of
the large intestine, or colon
Ulcerative proctitis and proctosigmoiditis, on
the other hand, are similar inflammations of the rectum and of the final curve
of the colon leading to the rectum, and occur more frequently than colitis.
The symptoms of these two diseases include rectal bleeding and mucus in the
stool.
Medical experts disagree on the nature of ulcerative proctitis and
proctosigmoiditis
Some say the two are a mild, limited form of colitis.
Others argue that they are a completely separate disease
However, it has
been shown that if the disease hasn’t spread to the rest of the colon after
six months, then it probably never will
Furthermore, the prognosis for
proctitis and proctosigmoiditis is better than the outlook for colitis.
Patients with the more limited disease rarely need to be hospitalized or
treated with system-wide corticosteroids
Therefore, it is most important to
distinguish between the diseases.
In any case, ulcerative proctitis is generally a fairly mild disease.
Since most of the colon is not affected, normal stools are usually formed
In
fact, a patient with the disease may even be constipated
Treatment involves
medication for the inflammation and hydrocortisone or corticosteroid foam
enemas.

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.

Gasex
Our price: $24.75
Gasex helps in digestion by exerting carminative, antispasmodic, antiflatulent and antacid actions.

More info

QUESTION: Women are told to exam their breasts for lumps, and so detect
breast cancer
It isn’t that easy for men who are concerned about prostate
cancer
Can you please tell me how you do diagnose cancer of the prostate?

ANSWER: The simplest and best technique for early detection of prostate
cancer is for the physician to insert a well-lubricated and gloved finger into
the rectum and gently feel the prostate gland for any nodules or hard lumps,
which if detected could then be followed up with additional tests.
But since more than 60% of all prostate cancers go undetected until
further symptoms develop, such as urinary problems or spread of the cancer,
approximately 25,000 American men die from the disease each year for lack of
adequate early screening
It is the leading cause of death in black men and
the third leading cause of death in all American men.
These figures should convince even the most squeamish male to have
regular yearly screening exams after the age of 40, for prostate cancer is
rare in men under 50 years
The fact that an estimated 36% or so male readers
of a popular health magazine over 40 years of age had never had a rectal exam
indicates their aversion to what should be a relatively uncomfortable but
painless procedure.
Other tests such as measuring the serum acid phosphatase are widely and
readily available
This blood enzyme test has an accuracy of 84%, and can be
used to confirm a diagnosis made by physical examination.
Less widely used tests use ultrasound, computerized tomography (CT), and
magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), but the last two are not sensitive enough to
pick up early tumors, and are relatively expensive.
If a nodule is found during the finger exam and the serum alkaline
phosphatase is positive, to clinch the diagnosis your physician may insert a
very fine hairlike needle in the nodule to remove a sample of cells which he
can be stained and quickly examined under a microscope
This exam needs no
anesthesia
Interpretation of the removed cells requires an experienced
pathologist.
The digital rectal exam, however, remains the cornerstone of screening,
since it is highly accurate, cost-effective and takes only a few minutes
The
technique detects all but very small or hidden cancers which occur in 5% to
21% of cases and are revealed only after the prostate has been removed for
what appeared to be benign enlargement.

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.

Ventolin
Our price: $21.45
Ventolin (Albuterol/Salbutamol) is used to treat asthma and other chest illnesses.

More info

QUESTION: I have suffered from dry mouth for several years, but only recently
have become aware that my eyes always seem too dry as well
My neighbor
believes that these two conditions are related and that there may be some help
available
Can you tell me what this might be and what I must do to correct
it?

ANSWER: The combination of these two symptoms, dry eyes and a dry mouth, may
well indicate that you have a condition known as Sjogren’s Syndrome (SS)
SS
is, after rheumatoid arthritis, the most common disease of the connective
tissues
It either occurs on its own in its primary form or in its secondary
form accompanying another specific and well defined rheumatic disease such as
rheumatoid arthritis or systemic lupus erythematous.
The condition is caused by lymphocytes and antibodies from the
bloodstream infiltrating the glands that produce tears and saliva and in
effect drying them up
Loss of tears is known as xerophthalmia, and lack of
salivation is called xerostomia
In tandem, the two are referred to as the
“sicca complex.” (Other conditions may cause this complex, including aging
and drug use.)
Women sufferers of the syndrome outnumber men by nine to one
While the
condition usually occurs in the individual’s fifties, it may develop during
adolescence or early adulthood
The syndrome is more readily diagnosed in its
secondary form, where the presence of a recognizable rheumatoid condition
helps tip doctors off to its presence
In its primary form, it may come and
go and be hard to pinpoint.
As you can imagine, lacking the ability to shed tears or produce saliva
can lead to more than a small amount of discomfort
The eyes may be subject
to a gritty or filmy sensation from real or imagined foreign particles, as
well as to general eye fatigue
As the xerophthalmia develops, erosions and
ulcerations can develop in the surface of the unprotected eye.
A dry mouth can lead to a sense of burning discomfort, and a decreased
ability to chew and swallow food
The tongue and lips can develop fissures,
while the senses of taste and smell can diminish or vanish entirely
The
dryness can also spread to nose and throat, compounding the discomfort
experienced
All this in addition to a variety of other pains and aches that
may occur in connection with the syndrome.
In primary cases of the syndrome, artificial tears can help minimize the
discomfort of xerophthalmia; diving goggles are even worn at night to help
retain eye moisture
When this does not help, soft contact lenses, kept well
hydrated by frequent applications of saline drops, may yield the necessary
relief
Xerostomia is easier to treat by sipping fluids throughout the day,
chewing sugarless gum or using a a 2% solution of methylcellulose as a
mouthwash
It would be wise to increase the level of humidity in your home by
using a humidifier.
In cases of secondary Sjogren’s syndrome, the main line of attack is to
treat the specific disease the syndrome accompanies
This requires a complete
history and examination by your physician
He or she may find that you have
some involvement of your joints, as this occurs in about 1/3 of all patients
with SS
The good news is that this form of arthritis is milder than
rheumatic arthritis, and rarely leads to joint destruction.

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.

Sarafem
Our price: $1.12
Sarafem (Fluoxetine) is a selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor (SSRI) used to treat premenstrual dysphoric disorder (PMDD).

More info

QUESTION: Although my wife and I have very different sleep habits we both
seem to be doing fine
However she sleeps for eight to ten hours each night,
and has a good sleep
I only sleep for about four hours, it seems
We would
like to know if is it true that a good night’s sleep is really essential to
good health?

ANSWER: A good night’s sleep, one that is restful and calm, is high on the
list of priorities of many readers, and so your question is an interesting
one
More and more researchers are finding that a good night’s sleep is
actually very important in fighting disease
While there is a great variety
in actual sleep requirements from individual to individual, most doctors feel
6 to 9 hours of total sleep in a 24-hour period is the proper amount for
adults.
Many aspects of sleep remain a mystery to researchers
Some even used to
wonder if sleep was necessary at all
Recent research, however, has shown a
link between sleep and the immune system
In experiments at the University of
Chicago, white rats deprived of sleep died in an average of 19 days
During
the deprivation period, the rats developed brown fur and ulcers of the paws
and tail
In 1980, researchers John Pappenheimer, James Kreuger and Manfred
Karnovsky isolated the chemical that induces sleep, muramyl peptide
This is
a chemical known to activate cells called macrophages, which rush to sites of
infection, where they remove bacteria and other foreign bodies from blood and
tissues.
Macrophages in turn make interleukin-1, a chemical which is known to
influence temperature regulation and fever
Macrophages also signal to other
disease fighting cells called lymphocytes, that they are needed at the site of
an infection.
Research into human sleep deprivation shows that it usually leads to
irritability and fatigue, difficulty in concentrating and remembering, poor
muscle coordination and visual or tactile hallucinations and illusions
Thus
a bad night, with poor sleep patterns or little restful sleep, leads to a bad
day, disrupting normal routines and reducing your efficiency.
Scientists have also experimented with depriving people of one of the two
states of sleep
They are known as REM sleep, or rapid eye movement sleep, in
which dreaming occurs, and N-REM sleep, or nonrapid eye movement sleep
REM
deprivation led to irritability, apathy, poor judgement, increased sensitivity
to pain and a decrease in alertness.
Many people who abuse sedatives, tranquilizers, antidepressants, and
alcohol suffer many of the problems I’ve just mentioned, because these
chemicals interfere with REM sleep.
Most doctors agree that sleep helps people to recuperate from illness.
It also has been theorized that REM sleep allows healing of mental activities
and provides preparation for wakefulness.
So, it seems that sleep is both a period of rest for the body and mind.
There is still much more research necessary to unravel its many mysteries.
Scientists hope to someday understand exactly how sleep works along with the
immune system, and why sleep is part of the daily cycle of life
In your
cases, since you state that you are both doing well, it is apparent that each
of you is getting sufficient sleep, and so have little to worry about.

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.

Viagra Jelly
Our price: $4.25
Viagra Jelly (Sildenafil Citrate) is a jelly solution for the treatment of male erectile dysfunction.

More info