FEMALE HORMONES

Posted: under Cancer.

Many women are acutely aware of the effects of hormones on their breast tissue. Many complain of swollen breasts, heaviness, discomfort or even increased ‘lumpiness’ each month, before menstruation. This is the clearest demonstration of the fact that breast tissue responds to hormone fluctuations, and pre-menstrual problems affect around 65 per cent of women. Three types of cell in the breast are sensitive to hormones: those lining the milk ducts, the glandular cells in breast lobules, and contractile cells responsible for squeezing milk out of the lobules.
The hormones oestrogen and progesterone are responsible for the changes that happen in a woman’s body at puberty, during menstruation, pregnancy, breast-feeding and when going through the menopause. The hormone prolactin is responsible for stimulating breast tissue to make milk, and rising levels pre-menstrually may be partially responsible, along with oestrogen and progesterone balance, for breast tenderness at this time. Prolactin levels are high in breast cancer patients and may be an even more potent stimulator of tumour growth than oestrogen.
There is a complicated feed-back mechanism between the hormone control centres (the hypothalamus and the pituitary) as they interact with hormone output from the ovaries. This regulates the quantities of hormones being secreted at any one time.
Oestrogens are secreted by the ovaries, the adrenal glands, fat cells and, in pregnant women, by the placenta. Though oestrogen is usually referred to as one hormone, the term really refers to a group of hormones that have a similar action. There are several types of oestrogen but the three most important are oestrone (El), oestradiol (E2) and oestriol (E3), all of which have slightly different functions and effects. El and E2 are the strong oestrogens associated with an increase in breast cancer risk, while E3 is the milder, benign oestrogen, mainly produced during pregnancy, which is 1,000 times weaker than oestradiol.
Progesterone is produced by the ovaries, and in pregnant women by the placenta. There is only one progesterone hormone produced in the body, although there are many types of artificial progestogens synthesized by the pharmaceutical industry.
*31\240\2*

Comments (0) Dec 30 2010

THE CITY SHADOW: TO THE CITY GOVERNMENT

Posted: under Anti-Psychotics.

Each year you must pay city officials, social agencies, state agencies, insurance funds, police and tax losses to support the kinds of clients mentioned in this work. Instead of trying to maintain the status quo and implying that your social services should keep the shadow quiet because the taxpayers want this, consider the following. The shadow destroys cultures if it is not valued and its meaning not understood. Intensive care for the city shadow would mean learning about it and publicizing both its financial costs to the city and its message from another world about the future of our planet. Some of its present messages seem to be:
1 Trance states are important
Introversion is not a disease, but a corner of the personality waiting to be experienced by everyone. Not everyone needs to talk. Look into trances, examine them. In these states, the world itself is stopped and reconsidered.
2 The gods are still around
The city’s shadow shows that the archetypes of the Virgin Mary, Napoleon and Jesus are still around, though nobody takes much interest in them these days. Fantasy is important, for it teaches about the totality of being human. These savior figures and godlike experiences are channeled through the shadow because they are not welcomed by the collective. You don’t believe in these figures because you do not know yourself yet.
3 The shadow is a trickster
A message of the city’s shadow is to relax. It is important to be retarded sometimes, not to think but to focus only on feeling problems which everyone else skips over. The shadow is a trickster because it says that it is always time for vacation, time for more sex and fun. The shadow says to brag more, because by bragging we see parts of ourselves we do not take seriously now. The shadow says a good fight in the best of families sometimes clears the air. The city shadow says that we are crazy, the shadow is the healthy one.
The shadow wants to be cared for. He says, T am not interested in pain. I have no courage and am not a hero in life like you. I give up on life, I sometimes need to collapse, even commit suicide. I am sometimes a slow and timid outsider, won’t you wait for me? I have troubles. I am old, senile, sick and suffering and cannot make it alone. I am mad, addicted, violent, lonely and homeless. I have fits of jealousy and feel betrayed. You know me in yourself!’
*149\227\8*

Comments (0) Dec 22 2010

PRE-TRAVEL IMMUNIZATIONS

Posted: under Anti-Infectives.

With international travel to more exotic locations becoming increasingly popular, clinicians are finding it necessary to become familiar with current recommendations for travel health safety. Immunizations are a “hot topic” of pre-travel preparation discussions, and they offer one of the best ways to reduce the risks of infections in travelers. A wide spectrum of safe, efficacious vaccines is available, which can help international travelers prevent many of the serious diseases that are absent or uncommon in their home areas. Travel vaccines generally fall into three categories: (1) routine immunizations, which are typically administered during childhood but which may need to be updated; (2) required immunizations, which are necessary for entry into certain countries; and (3) recommended immunizations, which may be useful, depending on the risks of exposure at the travel destination.
Advising travelers on vaccine-preventable diseases is increasingly becoming the responsibility of the primary care physician. The approach to vaccine recommendations should be based on a thorough assessment of the risks for travel-related illnesses, the time available before trip departure, and current knowledge of the epidemiology of vaccine-preventable diseases. Practitioners should also take into account the adverse events and contraindications associated with each vaccine.
*177/348/5*

Comments (0) Dec 15 2010

MINERAL GUIDE: MANGANESE (Mn) AND ZINC (Zn)

Posted: under General health.
Tags: ,

Manganese (Mn)
Functions
Important component of several enzymes which are involved in the metabolism of carbohydrates, fats and proteins. Combined with choline, helps in fat digestion and utilization. Helps to nourish the nerves and brain and assists in the proper coordinative action between brain, nerves and muscles in every part of the body. Involved in normal reproduction and the function of mammary glands.
Deficiency symptoms
Deficiency may cause retarded growth, digestive disturbances, abnormal bone development and deformities, male and female sterility, impotence in men, poor equilibrium, asthma and myasthenia gravis.
Natural sources
Green leafy vegetables, spinach, beets, Brussels sprouts, blueberries, oranges, grapefruit, apricots, the outer coating of nuts and grains (bran), peas, kelp, raw egg yolk and fresh wheat germ.
Zinc (Zn)
Functions
Essential for the formation of RNA and DNA and for the synthesis of body protein. Involved in many enzymatic processes and hormone activities, especially in reproductive hormones. Affects tissue respiration and normal growth processes. Needed in the construction of insulin molecule. As a constituent of insulin, involved in carbohydrate and energy metabolism. Essential for normal growth and development of sex organs and for the normal function of prostate gland. Helps the body to get rid of toxic carbon dioxide. Increases the rate of healing of burns and wounds. Needed for proper metabolism of vitamin a. Essential for bone formation.
Deficiency symptoms
Retarded growth, birth defects, hypogonadism or underdeveloped gonads (sex organs), enlargement of prostate gland and impaired sexual functions, loss of fertility, lowered resistance to infections, slow healing of wounds and skin diseases, white spots on finger and toe nails, poor sense of taste and smell. Deficiency may cause lethargy, apathy, hair loss, dandruff and loss of interest in learning. Zinc deficiency is also associated with atherosclerosis, epilepsy and osteoporosis.
Natural sources
Wheat bran and fresh wheat germ, pumpkin seeds, sunflower seeds, brewer’s yeast, milk, eggs, onions, oysters, herring, nuts, green leafy vegetables. Zinc in grains and seeds is not easily available for assimilation because it is “locked” by phytin, but becomes “unlocked” by the fermentation process (as in sour bread) and by sprouting.
RDA (Recommended Daily Allowances)
15 mg. Supplementary doses up to 30 mg. Therapeutic doses under doctor’s supervision up to 600 mg. a day.
*163/103/5*

Buy generic pills – online pharmacy

Comments (0) Sep 24 2010

MINERAL GUIDE: COPPER (Cu) AND IODINE (I)

Posted: under General health.
Tags:

Copper (Cu)
Functions
Similar to those of iron. Iron cannot be absorbed without copper. Necessary for production of RNA. Involved in protein metabolism, in healing processes and in keeping the natural color of the hair. Aids development of bones, brain, nerves and connective tissues.
Deficiency symptoms
Deficiency of copper may cause anemia, loss of hair, impaired respiration, digestive disturbances, graying of hair, heart damage.
Natural sources
Foods rich in copper are generally those rich in iron. Especially good sources: almonds, beans, peas, green leafy vegetables, whole grain products, prunes, raisins, pomegranates, liver.
RDA (Recommended Daily Allowances)
2mg.
Iodine (I)
Functions
Essential for formation of thyroxin – the thyroid hormone which regulates much of physical and mental activity. Regulates the rate of metabolism, energy production, and body weight. Helps to prevent rough and wrinkled skin. Plentiful dietary iodine can prevent poisoning by radioactive iodine 131. Essential for the health of thyroid gland.
Deficiency symptoms
Deficiency may cause goiter and enlargement of the thyroid gland, or exophthalmic goiter. Prolonged deficiency may result in cretinism. Dietary lack may lead to anemia, fatigue, lethargy, loss of interest in sex, slowed pulse, low blood pressure and a tendency toward obesity. A serious deficiency may result in thyroid cancer, high blood cholesterol and heart disease.
Natural sources
The best dietary sources of iodine are kelp, dulse and other seaweed (available in tablet form). Other good sources are: Swiss chard, turnip greens, garlic, watercress, pineapples, pears, artichokes, citrus fruits, egg yolks, and, of course, seafood and fish liver oils.
RDA (Recommended Daily Allowances)
150 mcg. (0.15 mg.)
*162/103/5*

Pharmacy information

Comments (0) Sep 24 2010

DRUGS USED IN THE TREATMENT OF EPILEPSY

Posted: under Epilepsy.
Tags:

Carbamazepine
Carbamazepine is available in 200 mg and 100 mg tablets as well as a suspension (100 mg/5 ml). The drug does not last very long in the body and so needs to be taken two or three times a day.
Side effects with carbamazepine are few but include sleepiness and double vision; this usually means that you are taking too much medicine. A rash, like measles, may occur during the first month of treatment. If it does, you are sensitive to the drug and should probably stop taking it after discussion with your doctor.
Patients on carbamazepine should avoid taking the antibiotic, erythromycin, as it may make the blood level of carbamazepine rise and produce toxicity. The same applies to Verapamil which is occasionally used in the treatment of epilepsy.
Clobazam
Clobazam is available as a 10 mg tablet.
It is not a drug that can be used on its own; it needs to be used with another anticonvulsant (adjunct therapy). It can be taken twice daily. Side effects are few, but include some drowsiness, weight gain and, occasionally, depression.
As for clonazepam, tolerance may occur.
Clonazepam
Clonazepam is available in 0.5 mg and 2.0 mg tablets and as a liquid (2.5 mg/ml).
Clonazepam generally needs to be taken two or three times a day. Side effects are quite frequent, more so in children than adults. The side effects include hyperactivity, an increase in weight, drowsiness, slurred speech and an unsteady walk (as if drunk). There may also be increased salivation.
In some patients, tolerance occurs. This means that they ‘get used’ to the drug. In these patients, seizures may recur, usually one to six months after treatment was begun.
Ethosuximide
Ethosuximide is available as a 250 mg capsule and a syrup (250 mg/5 ml).
It lasts a long time in the body and so may be taken once a day although it is usually given twice daily.
Side effects are few and include a decrease in appetite, tiredness, headache and an unsteady walk.
Nitrazepam
Nitrazepam is available as a 5 mg tablet and is usually given twice daily. Side effects are similar to those described for clonazepam, but to a lesser extent.
Phenobarbitone
Phenobarbitone is available in 15 mg, 30 mg, 60 mg and 100 mg tablets and as a 15 mg/5 ml syrup.
Phenobarbitone lasts a long time in the body and can be given once a day although it is usually given twice a day. It has been used for many years as an anticonvulsant, but tends to make patients rather drowsy. Children and elderly people may behave the opposite way and become hyperactive. These behaviour changes have made phenobarbitone less popular than it was ten years ago.
Patients on phenobarbitone should not take warfarin (to thin the blood), phenylbutazone (for arthritis), prednisone (for arthritis or asthma) or doxycycline (for infections) without careful medical supervision.
Phenytoin
Phenytoin is available in 30 mg capsules, 50 mg tablets (chewable), 100 mg capsules and two suspensions (30 mg/5 ml and 100 mg/5 ml).
Phenytoin is retained in the body for a long time and can be used once daily.
It has rather a lot of side effects, although many patients are well controlled on this drug with minimal side effects. Drowsiness, unsteady walk and slurred speech suggest that the patient has been taking too much of the drug and should contact his doctor. Other side effects include swelling of the gums, rashes, acne and an increase in body hair.
Patients on phenytoin should not take rifampicin (for tuberculosis), chloramphenicol (for infections), phenylbutazone (for arthritis), dicoumarol (to thin the blood) or cimetidine (for stomach ulcers) without careful medical supervision.
Primidone
Primidone is available as a 250 mg tablet. The drug is broken down to phenobarbitone in the body.
Sodium valproate
Sodium valproate is available as a 100 mg crushable tablet, a 200 mg and 500 mg enteric coated tablet, a syrup (200 mg/ 5 ml) and a sugar free liquid (200 mg/5 ml).
Sodium valproate stays in the body for quite a long time and may be given once daily. It is more usual to give it twice daily.
The side effects of sodium valproate are relatively few and include slight drowsiness, an increase in weight, hair loss (which is usually temporary) and very rarely jaundice (turning yellow). This last complication (jaundice) is serious and immediate medical attention should be sought. It occurs very rarely and is due to liver damage caused by the drug. If a patient taking this medication feels generally unwell, unduly tired or drowsy and has an increase in seizure frequency, a doctor should be consulted immediately. It may be necessary to do regular blood tests, called liver function tests, to see how the liver is working during the first six months of treatment.
*21\192\2*
Epilepsy

Comments (0) Jun 03 2010

EPILEPSY: FAST FACTS

Posted: under Epilepsy.
Tags:

The management of epilepsy has improved considerably over the past two decades but, despite this, a number of problems remain. They have already been alluded to in this text, but it may be of use to summarise them.
Polypharmacy (more than one anticonvulsant). It is worth repeating that the majority of people with epilepsy can be well controlled on one drug only (monotherapy). Naturally there are people with severe or complicated seizures who will need more than one medication. However, it is desirable to be on as little medication as possible.
Blood level monitoring. This has been a very useful advance in the management of epilepsy. There is a risk that doing a blood level may become an end in itself. If you feel that you are having too many blood levels done, ask your doctor what is being achieved. Do not let blood level results become a substitute for conversation and asking questions.
Non-compliance. If you are not taking your medication, be honest and tell your doctor. In a condition like epilepsy there is always a reason for people not taking their medication. It may be that you cannot see the value of taking medication because you have very few fits or perhaps because you have not understood the importance of taking the drugs regularly. If you are honest and tell your doctor that you are not taking your medication and you get a hostile reception, it is probable that he or she does not understand how you see things. A change of doctor may be desirable.
Should all seizures be eradicated? It is the right of epileptics, provided they are not in an occupation where harm might come to others, to decide on the degree of seizure control which they find acceptable. It is not, in my view, the prerogative of the doctor to insist on complete seizure eradication. This is a matter of consensus between patient and doctor which should be reached intelligently. To achieve this takes time and communication with your doctor.
Education. There is an ongoing need for education about epilepsy amongst people with epilepsy, the medical profession and the general public. It is for this reason that Epilepsy Associations exist. By joining your Association you will be helping yourself and very importantly helping the epilepsy cause in general. If you don’t stand up and be counted, the epilepsy movement will remain static, the prejudice and stigma will persist and you will have contributed to this ongoing state of affairs.
*20\192\2*
Epilepsy

Comments (0) Jun 03 2010

YOUR CHILD’S HEALTH: CONJUNCTIVITIS (EYE INFECTION)

Posted: under General health.
Tags:

Eye infections in babies and children occur commonly, and are very contagious, but they usually respond rapidly to the appropriate treatment.

Cause

The conjunctiva, or lining over the eyeball and inside the eyelids, can easily become infected by a germ (bacterium) or a virus. Infection is more common after initial irritation of the eye due either to an object or chemical that has entered the eye, or to an allergic reaction. Sometimes the child develops conjunctivitis as part of a cold.

Clinical features

Your child’s eye will be red and teary, and will be sore or itchy. Sometimes there will be a greenish, sticky discharge in the eye, which cakes the lids together after sleep. The skin around the eyes may look puffy.

Treatment

Keep the eye clean by washing it gently several times a day with cotton wool soaked in tepid water. See your doctor for the appropriate treatment. If an infection due to a germ is suspected, your doctor may suggest doing an eye swab (see p. 48) in for several days. You may need help in administering these — your doctor or nurse may be able to give you some helpful suggestions.

Conjunctivitis is very contagious, so always wash your hands after touching your child’s eyes, and provide a separate towel for his use only. Wash his hands frequently too, and discourage him from rubbing his eyes. Keep him at home until the infection has cleared up completely.

When to see your doctor

It is wise to consult your doctor whenever you suspect that your child has an eye infection. You should definitely see your doctor if

• the infection does not clear up after 3-4 days, despite treatment;

• your child is also generally unwell.

*263\90\8*

Comments (0) May 21 2009

LEAVING YOUR CHILDREN SOMETHING TO LOVE BY/SOME ANSWERS TO THESE MISASSUMPTIONS REGARDING SEXUALITY: SHE SAID I DIDN’T KNOW HOW TO DO IT

Posted: under General health.
Tags:

    I dated this girl for a long time, man. She was a fox and everything.

A real fox. But she didn’t get it on or like that. I did all the stuff,

and she was like nothing’, man. She said I didn’t know how to do

it. I felt like a jerk.

FOURTEEN-YEAR-OLD BOY

There is one magical way to turn a girl on. Only one person in the whole world knows this magical way. I’ll let you in on the secret. The person who knows is the person herself. There isn’t any one way that is the right way. Everyone is different. Getting turned on is something two people do together. Boys don’t turn girls on and girl don’t turn boys on. Even though the books and some of the guys or girls might brag that there are certain ways to do it, they are just plain wrong. Remember, anybody except your parents or the boy or girl you love who is telling you about what they do in sex is either lying, bragging, or covering up their own ignorance. Talk to your parents. They have proven they know at least a little bit of what they are doing, because you are sitting here talking very maturely about sex. They must have done something right.

*299\97\8*

Comments (0) May 18 2009

YOUR MARITAL HEALTH/WHY HUSBANDS DON’T HAVE ORGASM: MR. MYTH – THE SEX-IS-THE-LAST-ACT MYTH

Posted: under General health.
Tags:

We don’t have sex very often. You have to be rested when you have sex, and I can’t remember the last time we were rested. By the time we have time, there won’t be much more time. We’ll be too old for sex. We have sex on vacations. That’s the only time we have time or energy.

HUSBAND

Most couples have sex at night, after the house is straightened up, the cat let in, the kids asleep, and everything else is out of the way. Neurohormonally, the best time for sexual interaction is sometime in the late-morning hours when the sex hormones are at their peak. Of course, there is much more to sex than the hormones, but we are more rested and energized in the morning hours.

The argument for having sex at night is difficult to accept. Turning in for a night’s sleep is hardly the time when we are the most rested anyway. Sometimes sex can be energizing, something to share when you are tired, and this would be a good reason to have sex in the morning. Many people have fallen into a pattern of sleeping after sex, resulting in a conditioning process of kiss, hold, have intercourse, go to sleep. After a time, sex means sleep. Wouldn’t it be nice if awakening meant sexuality rather than the obligation to go to work? Wouldn’t it be nice if we could replace the alarm clock with a sexual clock signaling us to intimacy-rather than calling us to the day’s starting line?

One man in the clinic stated, “I never like to have sex in the morning. It gets me tired, and anyway, you never know who else you might meet during the day.” Although he laughed as he shared this idea, it was apparent that he felt sex was de-energizing, a discharge of energy, and he did not want to waste his vital fluids. He also assumed that new or different partners demand more energy than familiar partners. If we view sexual interaction as dependent upon some predetermined amount of available sex energy, our intimacy is determined by a sense of strength and weakness rather than awareness and responsiveness.

The couples who visited the Masters and Johnson Clinic in St. Louis reported an invigoration of their sex life. They stayed in a hotel room, were not working or parenting, and made love at various times of the day. They communicated about sex almost continually. It became, at least for two weeks, a major part of their life-style. I have found that just changing “when” couples relate sexually has major impact on their IQ, their Intimacy Quotient. One wife reported, “I don’t know what it would be like to make love when the sun is out.” Sex may have come out of the dark ages, but still has a long way to go before it comes out of dark bedrooms.

*126\97\8*

Comments (0) May 18 2009

« Older Entries
Newer Entries »

Related Posts: