health articles from activist

fungal nail infection

2009-12-25T09:03:00.001-08:00

if you have fungal nail infection you need a doctor or your llok up internet advise manager like site.I think doctor best but if you know alternatif medicine method be easly.

Staying Healthy

2009-11-22T13:52:00.000-08:00

Let's not kid ourselves. No matter how noble your intentions may be when you arrive each season, life at uni often leads to grave bodily harm. You stay up late, you party hard, you drink muchly and more than occasionally, you stress and panic about your studies.

It's a recipe for disaster.

But you can minimise the damage by looking after yourself. As alien a concept as this may seem, it’s probably a good idea.

Get some rest, eat well, exercise a bit and take your vitamins and you should be fine. Failing that, don’t forget to sign up with a doctor for when things go wobbly.

StudentUK: we’re good for ails you.

For information on all how to get through uni and survive, click below:

Common Pains

2009-11-22T13:51:00.000-08:00

Day to day bumps and bruises are as common but that doesn’t mean they’re any less of a pain. Here are a few suggestions on how to deal with those annoying coughs, burns, lumps, bumps, sprains and strains, courtesy of our healthful and helpful friends at the NHS Direct web site.

Quick navigation: Colds | Burns | Sprains | Lumps | First aid

Feeling under the weather? Coughs and colds are part of the norm. Short of locking yourself in a room 24 hours a day, try to avoid getting physical with infected people because viruses are passed on through saliva, coughs and sneezes. Other common infections affect the nose, throat and voice box. They aren’t normally treated with antibiotics unless there are signs of bacterial infection. Got a sore throat, a headache and a fever? Does it hurt to swallow? You may have tonsillitis. Look at your tonsils in the mirror - if they’re swollen and red book yourself in to see the doc. Does your face feel full of cold? Your sinuses may well be infected. It should settle on its own, but you might need a fix of antibiotics. Nasal sprays may help in the short term. Laryngitis can develop from a sore throat or cold, leaving your voice box inflamed. Stop gassing, give it a rest and all should be well in a few days. For more information about infections, visit the NHS Direct web site.

Burns & scalds Ever picked up a pan forgetting it’s hot, or burnt yourself on the oven trying to reach the pizza? Physical heat or flame, hot liquids (scalds), friction and electricity can all cause burns. So you’ve burnt yourself – what’s the first thing you should do?... other than swearing! • remove the source of the trouble as quickly as possible • put the burned/scalded part of skin under a cold tap until you can’t bear the cold • cover the burns with clean dressings or cloths to minimise infection Did you know? Effective first aid can do more for burns than the most skilled surgical treatment can later on.

Sprains Have you fallen over your own feet staggering home from the pub and been left limping for days? Or wobbled over on your new killer heals leaving you in a swollen agony? You may have sprained something. A sprain happens when you over stretch your ligaments leaving them feeling sore, swollen and difficult to move. The majority of sprains are minor, however it could be a major tear leaving the joint permanently loose. If you’re unsure…get it checked out. But don’t worry most sprains won’t leave you out of action for too long. Strap it firmly and rest it. If it’s more serious you might need a plaster cast! Not exactly the epitome of cool, so exercise your joints to keep them strong to prevent a repeat performance next time you’re down the SU! Check out the NHS Direct Website for more information on sprains.

Lumps We all need to be aware of changes to our bodies, keeping a look out for lumps and bumps that could be the early warning sign of something more serious.

So, boys… testicular cancer is relatively rare but is on the rise check yourself for changes monthly. Having a hot bath or shower, softens your skin and makes the testicle easier to feel. And girls… it’s well known that breast cancer is the most common form of cancer. Be smart, examination’s the best form of prevention. Try and do it regularly. Slight changes are normal; you’ll know best what’s normal for you. If you are concerned, go see your GP but don’t panic the majority of lumps aren’t cancerous. Want to know more? Click on the links to go to the NHS Direct web site.

First aid Cuts are inevitable when cleaning up broken bottles and glasses after a party. You may have the odd novelty plaster or paracetamol knocking about, but a well-stocked first aid kit is far more useful. What should it contain? • paracetamol and aspirin (don’t give aspirin to under 16s unless advised by a doctor) • selection of plasters • cotton wool • dressings and a bandage • elastic tape • scissors and tweezers • thermometer Don’t forget! • instructions are there for a good reason – read them! • medicine goes out of date just like food • unwanted and out-of-date medicine should go back to the pharmacy – don’t let them get into the wrong hands - Chec k out the NHS INTERACTIVE FIRST AID BOX

Womens Health

2009-11-22T13:50:00.001-08:00

Quick navigation: Breast self-checks | Well woman checks |

The best person to keep an eye on your health isn’t just your doctor. It’s you. Well Woman, cervical and breast cancer checks are crucial to ensure that your boobs and plumbing are in full working and healthy order. Here’s what you need to know about Breast Cancer, the most common form of cancer in women: almost 40,000 women are diagnosed each year. Fewer women are dying of the disease but cancer associations report a rise in the incidence of it. And 90% of lumps are found by the woman or their partners, which means that self-examinations tests are very important for breast health.

Equally important is your sexual health. Listen to what your body is telling you and report anything unusual to your doctor. The last thing in the world you want to be dealing with is a potentially contagious or dangerous sexually transmitted infection. Or worse, the initial signs of cervical cancer. *Shudder* Talk to your GP and see below to find out about doing your own Breast Self Exam and what Well Woman Checks entail. Breast Self-Check It’s never to early to do a breast self exam. Here’s how:

1. Raise your arms above your head, then place them at your hips with your elbows pointing out.

2. Look down at your breasts and turn from side to see them from every angle. Sexy mama! Obviously, it’s helpful if you do this in front of a mirror. Check for anything unusual in the skin, or any strange dimpling.

3. Lie down on a bed or the floor and raise one shoulder. Using your other hand, press down on you breast with the flat part of your fingers (not the tips) and move your hand in a circular motion. Start with the nipple and move outwards to under your arm pit. Be gentle, but firm. And maybe even get a significant other to joyfully lend a hand.

4. Repeat the check on your other breast. If you feel anything unusual, such as a little lump, bump or ripple that you haven’t noticed before, contact your doctor right away.
Do not panic or feel embarrassed if you do find something. Early detection is crucial to successful treatment. Just because you have found a lump it doesn’t mean it’s cancerous; often lumps are harmless and related to changes in hormones. In fact, Breast Cancer Care reports that nine out of 10 lumps are actually not a sign of cancer. But don't risk it; make an appointment to see your doctor right away. And for support, medical information, information and self-help groups, visit Breast Cancer Care or call their helpline at 0808 800 6000. Well Woman Checks
Pelvic exams are performed by NHS doctors every three years. But we all know that it pays to catch anything early, so if you’re concerned about sexual health, shell out the money to visit a Well Woman Clinic. A pelvic exam will be carried out and a cervical smear using a brush and small flat wooden spatula—no, not a kitchen utensil—will be performed.
A urine sample will be taken, and you will also receive breast examination tuition, contraceptive advice and have any of your questions answered.
Well Woman screenings at Marie Stopes International UK, for example, cost abut £75 and are designed to detect the early stages of cervical cancer, breast disease and other pelvic disorders. The checks will include an assessment of your medical history, your weight and blood pressure. You can also have cervical, Chlamydia and HPV tests done separately if you wish. For local clinics, check with your GP and click here for a list of Marie Stopes Well Woman clinics.

Mens Health

2009-11-22T13:49:00.001-08:00

For most men, attending university is not the most, shall we say, healthful of experiences.

Your liver will take such a battering that it will raise a white flag two weeks in, your sleep patterns will be non-existent and your four major food groups will consist of kebabs, Pot Noodle, crisps and curry.

Men in general rarely give a toss about their health. Men at uni? Even less so.

Why? Many men won’t set foot in a surgery as it might be seen as challenging their masculinity. Or they’re in denial. Or embarrassed. Or think that they can take care of it themselves. Which is understandable, really. But when it comes to life and death, perhaps a bit silly. (If anyone has effective home cures for STDs, testicular cancer or stroke, please let us know.)

No one enjoys hearing the words “bend over and cough.” But think of the alternative: testicular cancer. A sobering study in the UK reveals that almost half of men aged 15-34 have never had a feel “down there” for irregularities. Best start now, chaps. And you can see below for how to do it.

Or might we prescribe a simple remedy? Make an appointment for a check-up at your local surgery, post haste. You’ll feel much better for it.

Testicular cancer checks

Testicular cancer isn’t your grandfather’s problem. It
strikes boys as young as 15 and is the most common type of cancer in young men aged 20-35. It normally shows up as a lump in or enlargement of either of your testicals or scrotum and symptoms can include a feeling of heaviness or achiness in your abdomen, groin or scrotum; fluid collection in the scrotum; or sudden tenderness or changes in your man boobs.

But the good news is, it can be treated and, in many cases, cured if you catch the signs early. And besides, we know that young men regularly perform the Jedi Hand Trick anyway, so why not check below the light sabre?

Here’s how:

1. Have a warm shower or bath. That way your skin will be relaxed.
2. Cup your “boys” gently in your hand and feel the weight of each testicle

3. Very carefully (duh, as if we need to tell you) examine each testicle by rolling them between your finger and thumb. Softly press in to feel if there are any changes, swelling, lumps etc.
4. Unless it’s more unusual than normal, don’t freak out if you feel a tube-like thing at the top of each testicle. That’s called the epididymis and it’s responsible for carrying your sperm to your penis.
5. If you do come across any abnormalities or if you’re concerned, do contact your GP immediately. Remember, this is nothing to be ashamed or embarrassed about.

Breast Cancer

2009-11-10T01:45:00.001-08:00

RECENT DEVELOPMENTS IN HORMONAL TREATMENT
A.    Advanced Disease
The most extensively investigated SERM other than tamoxifen in the setting of advanced breast cancer is toremifene. At least 5 randomized studies comparing toremifene 40 to 60 mg PO od with tamoxifen 20 to 40 mg PO od in postmenopausal, ER-positive or ER-unknown patients have been conducted, and a metanalysis of these trials has been published (Pyrhonen et al., 1999). This looked at a cohort of 1421 patients, and all results were consistent with the criteria of statistical equivalence between toremifene and tamoxifen as first-line agents in metastatic disease. Toremifene has only limited activity as a second-line agent in patients who have relapsed on tamoxifen and appears to be clinically cross-resistant to tamoxifen (Stenbygaard et al., 1993; Vogel et al., 1993).
Droloxifene has also been investigated in metastatic breast cancer, where there appears to be at least some evidence of activity in tamoxifen-resistant patients (Haarstad et al., 1992). Despite some theoretical advantages over tamoxifen (higher affinity for the estrogen receptor, higher antiestrogenic-to-estrogenic ratio, more effective inhibition of cell growth and division in ER-positive cell lines), efficacy as a first-line hormonal agent appears similar to that of tamoxifen (Rauschning and Pritchard, 1994; Haarstad et al., 1998). Develop¬ment of this agent as a treatment for breast cancer has now been halted.
Raloxifene, too, has been shown to be cross-resistant to tamoxifen in Phase II trials of second-line treatment of advanced breast cancer (Buzdar et al., 1988) and appears to have equal efficacy to existing hormonal agents as first-line treatment for relapsed disease (Gradishar et al., 1997) Idoxifene has been shown to have activity in tamoxifen-resistant patients with advanced breast cancer in both Phase I and Phase II studies (Coombes et al., 1995; Baselga et al., 1999), but further development of this drug as a treatment for breast cancer has recently been halted. A Phase I study of the third-generation SERM, LY 353381-HC1, in tamoxifen-resistant patients showed some evidence of efficacy (Munster et al., 1999), and early data from a Phase II trial of first-line treatment in locally advanced or metastatic breast cancer patients shows promise (Baselga et al., 1999). EM-800 (SCH 57050) appears not to exhibit complete cross-resistance with tamoxifen: clinical benefit was seen in 53% of 32 tamoxifen-resistant patients (Labrie et al., 1997). This compound has also been described as a pure antiestrogen, owing to its lack of agonist activity on breast or endometrium (Couillard et al., 2000). Advantageous agonist effects on bone and lipids do, however, occur in model systems (Picard et al., 2000).
B.    Adjuvant Therapy
The use of SERMs (other than tamoxifen) has yet to be investigated in early breast cancer. The initiation of adjuvant trials with SERMs in this area is complicated by the ongoing adjuvant trials with aromatase inhibitors, which are likely to identify a new gold standard for adjuvant therapy. Thus trials versus tamoxifen may not be directly relevant.
C.    Primary Therapy
Both raloxifene and idoxifene have been evaluated in short-term presurgical studies examin¬ing changes in the growth fraction as assessed by immunohistological staining, using the mouse monoclonal antibody to Ki67, and the apoptotic index as measured by TUNEL
staining. In both studies, around 2 weeks of the SERM given presurgically significantly decreased the growth fraction in ER-positive tumors only but did not affect apoptosis (Dowsett et al, 1999; Dowsett et al., 2000).
D.    Prevention
In the prophylactic setting, the necessity of finding an agent with as few detrimental side effects as possible combined with as many potential added benefits as possible without sacrificing breast cancer prevention efficacy are all of substantial importance. As such, many of the facets of SERMs appear to make them particularly good candidates for prevention. In essence, all of the drugs going forward clinically in this arena must have decreased uterotrophic effects when compared with tamoxifen, with at least as good a profile on lipid and bone metabolism (Haynes and Dowsett, 1999). Raloxifene appears to fill the bill well. Raloxifene has been developed as an alternative to hormone replacement therapy for the treatment of osteoporosis in postmenopausal women. In the MORE (Multiple Outcomes of Raloxifene Evaluation) trial, which randomised 7705 osteoporotic, postmenopausal women to 3 years of raloxifene 60 mg bid, 60 mg od, or placebo, the incidence of invasive breast cancer was 76% lower in the drug-treated groups (Cummings et al., 1999). Com¬bined data from multicenter, double-blind, randomized trials of raloxifene in approxi¬mately 12,000 postmenopausal women with osteoporosis (including those participating in the MORE trial) demonstrated a 58% reduction in breast cancer risk (Jordan et al., 1998). In these trials, no increase in endometrial carcinoma was seen. Breast cancer incidence was a secondary endpoint in these trials. These data have prompted the initiation of a further breast cancer prevention trial by the NSABP, comparing tamoxifen 20 mg PO od to raloxi¬fene 60 mg PO od in women deemed to be at increased breast cancer risk (the STAR trial). This trial aims to randomize 22,000 women.

medical weight loss

2009-11-08T02:51:00.001-08:00

I have just found a hospital in New Jersey that does disease specified weight loss. I have applied for information, told them about the dystonia, my meds, the weight gain since going on Cymbalta and the fact that my cholestrol has shot up to 270 despite the fact that I eat very little food during the day. I have breakfast, no lunch, dinner and nothing after 8pm.

I will let you know how I make out.

Donna

Akathisia?

2009-11-07T11:41:00.000-08:00

Gave in and went to the ER for a sever migraine.Fioricet totally failed me. Let the ER DR know I have had Dyskinesia due to compazine, and that if I received phenergan/reglan I would like benadryl. Well, he went along with me and guess what? Within about 40 minutes, I started having these uncontrollable urges to twist or move my lower body/legs. Took 2 more benadryl at home so I could fall asleep, since the toradol finally broke the pain.
So, if the benadryl IV didn't prevent the akathisia, what else can I do for the nausea/vomiting? Dr asked about ativan. I know nothing about that drug.
I still feel like there's a wound up spring ready to pop any second in my lower back/hips/upper thighs. Tingling/vibrating/tense. How long can this side-effect last?