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November 8, 2007

Reducing High Blood Pressure with Adalat Posted By : David Parton

Filed under: Medicine — webmaster @ 12:13 pm

Adalat is a dihydropyridine calcium blocker. It is mostly used for treating hypertension. and Angina Pectoris. Other conditions that benefit from Adalat are Raynaud’s phenomenon, Tetanus and Angina Pectoris. Brand names of the drug include Procardia and Nifedical. Adalat is a brand name given to the nifedipine component.

How Adalat works



The substance, nifedipine, treats the diseases by reducing the calcium content in your cells. Muscles need calcium to contract. By lowering calcium levels the muscles relax improving blood flow in the blood vessels and the heart. Adalat primarily focuses on the arteries. As the arteries expand through relaxation the blood pressure is reduced.

Side effects of Adalat

As with other medications, Adalat has some side effects. Generally most side effects are experienced by less than 10% of the users and their intensity differ from one person to another. It is best to do your research and consult your physician about possible drawbacks to any medication.

This drug has the following side effects:

- Dizziness

- Headache

- Tiredness

- Flushed appearance

- Constipation

- Abdominal pain

- Vomiting

- Swollen ankles

- Fast heart rate

- Visual disturbances

- Skin reactions like itching, sweating or rash

- Impotence

- Depression

Talk to Your Doctor

It is always wise to keep your doctor fully informed on all other drugs and medication you are taking. Certain combinations of different drugs can create adverse reactions and potentially harmful results. For instance, Rifampicin, lowers the blood level and renders the drug, Adalat ineffective. A simple adjustment in your medications by your doctor can often reduce or eliminate mild reactions such as dizziness, headaches or fainting. Consult your physician about safe drug interaction.

Who Should Avoid the Adalat drug?

There are certain people that should not take the drug, Adalat due to pre-exsiting conditions. During pregnancy and while breast-feeding women should avoid the use of Adalat. The same applies to patients with a history of heart conditions, children, and those suffering with blood disorders. Caution must be exercised if consuming Adalat by diabetics, anyone with liver or kidney difficulties or the elderly. Also it is not advised to take Adalat if you are allergic to calcium blockers like felodipine and amlodipine.

Is effective treatment of high blood pressure possible?

Yes, effective treatment of high blood pressure is possible. The danger of a stroke or heart attack may be reduced considerably by controlling high blood pressure. It is important to follow your doctor’s recommendations carefully. Sometimes, when altering your diet and exercise regimen are not enough to control high blood pressure, your doctor will also prescribe medication.

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Aldactone: What is Aldactone? Posted By : David Parton

Filed under: Medicine — webmaster @ 12:13 pm

What is Aldactone?

Aldactone (generic name: Spirionolactone) is a water pill (diuretic) and antiandrogen. The medicine is also marketed under other names such as Novo-Spiroton, Spirotone, Spiractin and Berlactone.



Aldactone is known as a potassium-sparing diuretic, as the term suggests, this medication keeps your potassium levels from getting too low while preventing your body from absorbing too much salt .

While regularly prescribed for high-blood-pressure patients, the drug can also be prescribed along with other drugs. However, the drug is useful only for controlling, rather than curing, high blood pressure. Aldactone has to be taken regularly for its effect to become apparent. Blood pressure cannot be brought under control quickly. It is also advisable to keep using Aldactone even after you have started feeling better.

Aldactone also treats fluid retention (edema) in people with congestive heart failure, cirrhosis of the liver, or a kidney disorder called nephrotic syndrome. This medication is also used to treat or prevent hypokalemia (low potassium levels in the blood).

What is Aldactone prescribed for?

Aldactone is also used for the diagnosis as well as the treatment of Hyperaldosteronism .This is a condition in which you have too much aldosterone in your body. Aldosterone is a hormone produced by your adrenal glands to help regulate the salt and water balance in your body. Excessive amounts of Aldosterone can increase the fluid retention in the body and is a contributing factor of high blood pressure or hypertension.

Precautions

The safety and effectiveness of Aldactone is dependant upon a strict adherence to a medication schedule and should never be used without a prescription and consultation of your doctor. To avoid any complications and possible worsening of the condition it is essential to follow a specific schedule for dosage and avoid any sudden discontinuation of the drug. If a dose is missed, Aldactone should be taken as soon as possible, however, doubling-up on the dosage can be dangerous and is not recommended.

Certain foods should be avoided while taking the medicine. In case of surgery or other medical emergencies, the doctor should be informed beforehand about the usage of the drug.

What are the Side effects?

Because aldactone is designed to alter the levels of potassium in your system, some side effects may occur as your body adjusts to these changes. These may include symptoms such as excessive thirst and dry mouth, arrythmia, cramps or muscle pain all conditions related to the change in the levels of potassium in the body.

Other potential side effects may include breast development in among male users, deepening of voice, excessive hairiness, irregular menstruation, fever, headache, diarrhea, drowsiness, bleeding or inflammation of the stomach and liver, and skin problems.

Last word

Patients who have problems related to the heart, kidney or liver, and a high level of potassium in the blood should not be prescribed the drug.

Do not start using a new medication without telling your doctor. If you are being treated for high blood pressure, keep using this medication even if you feel fine. High blood pressure often has no symptoms but can be treated effectively without adversely affecting your active lifestyle.

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Natural Panic Attack Cures - 5 Tips Posted By :

Filed under: Medicine — webmaster @ 12:13 pm

Panic attacks are sudden episodes of unknown cause that can make you feel that you are dying, suffocating, or having a heart attack. Symptoms can include an accelerated heartbeat, increased levels of perspiration, tightness in the chest, numbness in various parts of your body, and nausea.

Once you have had a panic attack, you will want to do everything in your power to prevent another one. One of the worst feelings in the world is having had a panic attack and being afraid that you are going to have another one: that fear can actually induce another attack in some circumstances.



Many people prefer natural cures for their panic attacks. Here are 5 tips for a natural cure.

Tip #1: Recognize the problem: If you suspect you are having panic attacks, you probably are. Some people who are having panic attacks fear they are going to have a heart attack: rest assured that your attack will not cause a heart attack in and of itself. Panic attacks - while terribly uncomfortable - are generally harmless in terms of long-term health effects. If you are having a panic attack while driving, it is best to pull over and wait it out. Apart from that, the attack should subside in maybe 10 or 20 minutes, and you may feel completely exhausted once the attack is over for up to hours later. Still, rest assured that you will be okay. The key is to recognize you have a problem that could well return unless you get help.

Tip #2: Gain control of your mind: During a panic attack, you might feel like you are going crazy. This is because your body is releasing adrenaline and other chemicals into your bloodstream at much higher rates than usual, causing your mind and body to react in very strange, unexpected ways. Just realize that you indeed are NOT going crazy. Try to take a series of deep, regular breaths. And, remove yourself from the situation which is causing the attack. Getting some fresh air and visiting an area with fewer people and crowds is often an effective way to end an attack.

Tip #3: Have the confidence to know you will make it through: It is important to know that you can get through this and to have the motivation to find a natural cure. Millions of other people have experienced panic attacks, and all of them have survived. However, some people do not do anything between attacks to try to seek help: they just wait for another attack to come. But, mid-attack, almost everyone wishes they had spent some time finding a cure.

Tip #4: Understand what is causing the attacks: People who have panic attacks often spend an inordinate amount of time trying to second-guess what caused their attack. Was it a lack of sleep? Poor diet? Too much caffeine? It is entirely possible than any one of these items could be triggering your attacks, but it is unlikely that it is the sole cause. Panic attacks may be caused by something in one’s past such as a traumatic event. Still, for most people, it is difficult to trace the cause of an attack to a single source. Luckily, knowing what originally caused you to be predisposed to having attacks in the first place is not necessary in order t find a natural cure.

Tip #5: Avoid the situations that cause the attacks: Many people who have had more than one panic attack start to see patterns in the situations that cause their attacks. Some people get them when they are feeling claustrophobic or when they are spending time in smoke-filled environments, for example. Whatever it is that seems to spark your attacks: while you are working out a cure, try to avoid those situations.

Panic attacks can be hellish and they can leave you feeling shaky, tired, and frustrated. Educate yourself now on how to prevent future attacks. You will thank yourself later.

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What Is The Right Plantar Wart Treatment For You? Posted By : Rashel Dan

Filed under: Medicine — webmaster @ 12:13 pm

The plantar wart is a common type of wart that infects feet, primarily, while also appearing on other parts of your body. Its external appearance resembles a hardy little cauliflower with little black dots clustered in the middle. It can be spread in gym communal showers, around public swimming pools, and by sharing shoes, socks and clothing. So it is good that looking for the best plantar wart treatment is easy. Read on and know more about some of the many effective types of medications for plantar wart treatment.

Plantar wart treatment medication can come as over-the-counter medication meant for home use and self-medication. The most common types are the salicylic acid or silver nitrate-based medications. These plantar wart treatment medications are readily available at your local pharmacy. They come in two applications: The solution-coated adhesive tape variety, and the diluted solutions type. Most plantar wart treatment packs include instructions for their use and application. To be sure, consult your doctor, or at least your pharmacist, for the correct application and dosage.



When using a salicylic acid-treated adhesive pad as a plantar wart treatment, simply cut a short length of the adhesive tape and cover over your plantar warts. This plantar wart treatment should be applied regularly over a period of time. Be diligent and patient; plantar wart treatment may take over two weeks to a month, or even extend even up to three months. When changing your salicylic acid-coated adhesive tape, wash the affected area, and dab it dry before putting on a fresh length of tape. This ensures that your plantar wart does not have a moist environment to spread in.

Another type of plantar wart treatment medication is the diluted solution. You have two choices: The diluted solution of salicylic acid and silver-nitrate-based medication. Depending on the size, severity and location of the plantar, there are specific instructions for the application of these plantar wart treatment medications. It’s best that you ask for advice from your doctor, or the local pharmacist, at the very least, on how use these plantar wart treatment medications to their fullest effect. And remember that applying these medications requires a strict regimen that will require your diligence patience. Plantar wart treatment may take place over a period of time, anywhere from two to four weeks, even up to six months.

There are also plantar wart treatments that require a doctor’s prescription. There are three types: Imiquimod, Podophyllin and Podofilox. This type of plantar wart treatment requires a doctor’s prescription, which is a good thing, because your doctor will be able to diagnose whether your infection will require a stringent and stronger plantar wart treatment, or another medication that would be more appropriate.

The Imiquimod is a highly-prescribed medication for plantar wart treatment. It is a wart medication that most doctors would prescribe to patients who are suffering from plantar warts, because of its know effectiveness against this type of what. Imiquimod stimulates your body’s natural immune system to attack the plantar warts on your body. Podophyllin and Podofilox are two plantar wart treatment medications that are applied externally, as well. But unlike Like Imiquimod, care should be taken in using these two plantar wart treatment medications, especially for pregnant women.

Pregnant women or those expecting pregnancy should steer clear of using either Podophyllin or Podofilox, at all. These three plantar wart treatment medications are applied on the warts and the skin surrounding them, and therefore, are absorbed into your skin. Both Podophyllin and Podofilox can cause severe and irreparable birth defects in your unborn child. So stick to another plantar wart treatment if you suspect you could be pregnant, or if you are on the family way.

Follow the instructions for applying any of these plantar wart treatments. Exercise caution, and always, consult your pharmacist — or better yet, your doctor. Attempting these plantar wart treatments without proper understanding of the instructions, or going against your doctor’s advice could only make your wart worse, or injure healthy skin and tissue along with your wart and leaver permanent scarring. Remember that plantar warts are very contagious and will easily spread in warm and moist surfaces. It is caused by a viral infection called the Human Papillomavirus (HPV), and is so contagious that the slightest contact is enough for it to spread. So be sure to stick to your plantar wart treatment so that you can get rid of your wart sooner and faster.

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When Health Insurance Covers Cosmetic Surgery Posted By :

Filed under: Medicine — webmaster @ 12:13 pm

In most cases cosmetic surgery is considered optional and as such, most health insurance plans will not cover it. There are instances, however, when cosmetic surgery is medically necessary and is thus, covered under health insurance plans. For example, if you are in an accident such as a fire or automobile accident, especially when injuries to your face result, this falls into the category of medical treatment rather than surgery solely for cosmetic reasons. The same holds true for some conditions with which you are born that can cause problems with your vision, smell, hearing, or eating.

In young children, health insurance often covers cosmetic surgery for conditions that appear to be cosmetic in nature but that may have a detrimental effect on their emotional growth and well-being. There are certain things that are important to children that should be of less importance to adults. Appearances that are harmed because of some type of gestational or early childhood condition should not deter their emotional growth. Fortunately, insurance companies understand this when it comes to children, but in adults, it’s a different story. Unless you need cosmetic surgery for a condition that is accident-related or is inhibiting your bodily functions in any way, they will not pay.



Of course, it is not fair to say insurance companies should cover all cosmetic surgery, because some people are just vain and have no justifiable reason to undergo cosmetic surgery. There needs to be a standard for treatment. However, it shouldn’t have anything to do with age, but rather the physical or emotional impact the condition has on the patient. Too many times it is assumed that adults bear less emotional scars as a result of a disfiguring condition, but that is not always true.

Health insurance covers any kind of accident related injury, including those caused by fire, automobile accident, or any kind of chemical or other type of spill that affects the skin. We mostly think of severe burns when skin grafts are necessary, but sometimes even severe cuts require the skill of a plastic surgeon in order to prevent permanent scarring, especially in young children. Cosmetic surgery has come a long way in the past few years, and conditions that were untreatable even a couple of decades ago can now be treated. Even now conditions that were once considered cosmetic are fully covered by health insurance because of the effect on both the physical and emotional health of the patient.

Of course, there are some things that insurance companies should cover that they still consider cosmetic in many cases, such as removal of skin cancer lesions, scars from moles and acne, and other types of “minor” skin imperfections. Sometimes even for adults, insurance companies consider scars from injuries cosmetic, even if they are obvious enough to cause the patient to feel self-conscious. There needs to be a standard that applies to all of humankind, no matter what the age or gender. Until that happens, one can only say that insurance companies are discriminatory when it applies to cosmetic surgery financing.

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