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Richard H Ealom

Leukemia Is The White Blood Cell Disease

INTRODUCTION: Leukemia means white blood. It is found in the bone marrow or blood and is characterized by an abnormal growth of blood cells, typically white blood cells (leukocytes)and is separated into its acute and chronic forms.

It affects the lungs, Kidneys, digestive tract or other parts of the body and can also collect in the testicles causing edema and swelling. It is one of the most common cancers among children, although it is not just a children’s disease, as many of us think.

It is newly diagnosed in about 29,000 adults and 2000 children each year in the United States and has four main types and many sub-types of which only some of them are common among children.

Leukemia that has spread to the brain can produce central nervous system disorders, including headaches, weakness, blurred or distorted vision, seizures, balance difficulties, or vomiting and the drugs used to treat it, can cause anemia.

ACUTE LEUKEMIA: Acute leukemia is characterized by the rapid increase of immature blood cells, and is a potentially curable disease; However only a small number of patients are cured with current therapy. It begins with one or a few white blood cells that have a lost or damaged DNA sequence and gets worse very fast and may make you feel sick right away.

Leukemia tends to develop suddenly and quickly, however some chronic types may exist for many years before they are even diagnosed. Immediate treatment is required due to the rapid growth and accumulation of these malignant cells, which then can spill over into the blood stream and spread to other organs.

Whereas acute leukemia must be treated immediately, chronic forms are sometimes monitored for some time before treatment to ensure maximum effectiveness of therapy.

CHRONIC LEUKEMIA: Chronic leukemia is recognized by an excessive build up of relatively mature, but abnormal blood cells and can go undetected for many years until identified in a routine blood test. It is more common between the ages of 40 to 70 and rarely occurs among younger people.

It tends to gets worse slowly and may not produce symptoms for years. Like many cancers, it is a disease that usually occurs in old age. Doctors often find chronic leukemia during a regular checkup, before there are any noticeable symptoms. In grownups, the acute forms occur in those of all ages, whereas the chronic forms tend to occur in people over 40 years. Although slow-growing chronic leukemia can also be seen in children, although it is very rare, accounting for less than 50 cases in children each year in the US.

TREATMENT: Treatment for leukemia is complex and it depends largely on age and health, the type and how far it has spread in the body. Treatment is usually considered necessary when the patient shows signs and symptoms such as low blood cell count. Generally speaking, all treatment is divided into several different phases. In children, an intensive 6-month treatment program is needed followed by 2 years of chemotherapy.

For children with low-risk, standard therapy usually consists of three drugs (prednisone, L-asparaginase, and vincristine) for the first month of treatment. High-risk patients receive higher drug doses plus treatment with extra chemotherapeutic agents. Follow-up therapy for ALL patients usually consists of: supportive care, such as intravenous nutrition and treatment with oral antibiotics.

In general, the indications for treatment are: declining hemoglobin or platelet count, progression to advance stages of the disease, painful and disease related over-growth of lymph nodes or spleen, lymphocyte doubling time (an indicator of lymphocyte reproduction) occuring in less than twelve months. The over all strategy is to control bone marrow and total body disease while using specific treatment for the central nervous system (CNS), when necessary. Maintenance treatments may be used to prevent re-ocurrence of the disease once remission has been accomplished. Regardless the plan or strategy, it is very important for the patient to understand the treatment that he or she is receiving and the reasons behind it.

CONCLUSION: Leukemia is a cancer of blood-forming cells in the bone marrow. These cells crowd out other types of blood cells produced by the bone marrow, including red blood cells, which carry oxygen to tissues throughout your body, and platelets, which help form blood clots.

Leukemia cells can spread to the lymph nodes causing swelling and or pain and can also accumulate in the kidneys, liver and spleen, causing these organs to enlarge. The cells also can affect the lungs and other parts of the body. Acute forms occur in both children as well as young adults. Chronic forms usually occurs in older people, but theoretically can occur at any age.

There is no single known cause for all of the different types of leukemia. Studies have linked exposure to petrochemicals, such as benzene, and hair dyes to the development of some forms. Viruses have been linked to other forms. Until the cause or causes are found, there is no known way to prevent the occurrence of the disease. As of 1998, it is estimated that each year, approximately 30,800 individuals will be diagnosed with the disease in the United States and 21,700 individuals will die of the disease.

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Cancer – The Most Frightful Of Diseases

INTRODUCTION: Cancer is a collection or group of over 100 different diseases that are due to abnormal growth of body cells. Cancer is one of the key diseases that is a “golden eggs laying goose” for Traditional medicine. Cancer is usually classified according to the tissue from which the malignant cells originated, as well as the normal cell type they most resemble.

CHILDRENS CANCERS: Amongst all age groupings, the most common childrens cancers are leukemia, lymphoma, and brain cancer. In nearly all cases, however, childhood cancers come from non-inherited changes in the genes of growing cells. Longer-term effects may include infertility, problems with growth, Damage of internal organs, or increased risk of other cancers.

The diagnosis and treatment of cancers in children requires time, and there are both short and long term side effects.

WOMAN: Many women with inflammatory breast cancer do not have any breast lumps, which can make the disease very difficult to detect. Another challenge is that inflammatory breast cancer is a more aggressive cancer in younger women than most other types of breast cancer.

Still, some benign breast conditions are important because women with these conditions have a higher risk of developing breast cancer. But not all women with lymph node involvement develop metastases, and it is not unusual for a woman to have negative lymph nodes and later develop metastases.

TREATMENTS: Different types of cancer have different signs, symptoms, treatments, and outcomes, depending on the cell type involved and the degree of uncontrolled cell growth.

Every child’s treatment varies, so a child may get daily, weekly, or monthly drug treatments. Radiation is one of the most common treatments for cancer. While surgery is often all that is neccesary, these kinds of cancers may not respond as well to some other treatments used for invasive ductal or lobular breast cancer.

As research develops, treatments are becoming more specific for different varieties of cancer. In addition, histologic grading and the presence of specific molecular markers can also be useful in establishing prognosis, as well as in determining individual treatments. A number of experimental cancer treatments are also under development.

CONCLUSION: Cancer isn’t caused by germs or micro-organism, like colds or influenza are. Cancer is a term for diseases in which abnormal cells division occurs without control and can invade other bodily tissues.

Although controlling the symptoms of cancer is not typically thought of as a cancer treatment, it is an important determinant as to the quality of life of cancer patients, and plays an important role in the decision whether the patient is able to undertake additional treatments. Once diagnosed, it can be treated with a combination of surgery, chemo and radiotherapy. The cure and cause of cancer is within each of us.

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Bone Cancer – One Of The Rarest Of Malignancies!

INTRODUCTION: True cancer of the bone (aka primary bone cancer) happens in over 2 thousand people in the United States each year. Cancer that starts in the bone – primary bone cancer – is rare. Early diagnosis and treatment of this condition increases the probability of survival. Children and young people are more likely than grownups to develop cancer of the bones. In the past, amputation was frequently used for bone cancer in an arm or leg.

CAUSE: Often, when people have bone cancer, it is caused by cancer that has metastasized ( spread ) from another place in the body to the bones rather than true cancer of bone cells.

TYPES: There are at least 100 forms of cancer, and each type is named for the organ or tissue in which it originated. Certain forms of cancers are particularly likely to metastasize (spread) to the bones. It is important to noticed that when these other kinds of cancer spread to the bone, they are still named for the tissue or organ where they originated and are not termed “bone” cancer.

Many different kinds of cancer are able to spread to the bones. The most common kinds of cancer that spread to the bones are lung, breast, prostate, thyroid, as well as kidney.

There are several types of sarcomas of the bone, depending upon the kind of bone tissue where the tumor developed. The most common types of primary bone cancer are osteosarcoma, Ewing’s sarcoma, and chondrosarcoma. Other, more rare types include fibrosarcoma, malignant giant cell tumor, and chordoma.

SYMPTOMS: The symptoms of malignancy of the bone tend to occur slowly and depend on the form, location, and size of the tumor. Pain is the most frequent symptom of this malignancy and physicians sometimes use radiation therapy to shrink tumors to diminish the pressure, pain and other symptoms they may cause.

TREATMENT: Treatment depends on the type of bone cancer, as well as its location, size and stage. Treatment may involve chemotherapy with multiple drugs as well as radiation therapy and surgery to remove the primary tumor.

Treating it after it has spread to the bones (metastatic cancer) depends on the kind of cancer (the tissue where it began) and the extent of the spread. As with other forms, treatment is based on the size, type, location and stage of the cancer, including whether it has spread to the lungs or other organs of your body, and your basic health.

Your M.D. may suggest using radiation therapy on different occasions during your treatment and for different reasons, such as prior to surgery to shrink a cancerous tumor or after surgery to stop the growth of any remaining cancerous cells.

A well-coordinated team of doctors – including surgeons, medical oncologists, radiation oncologists, and physical medicine and rehabilitation specialists who are familiar with treatment of sarcomas – is important for increasing the chance you’ll be able to have limb-sparing treatment. In some cases, chemotherapy may be the only treatment you need. More often, doctors use it in conjunction with other treatments, such as surgery or radiation, to improve results.

CONCLUSION: In contrast to tumors which have spread to the bone, true cancers of the bone are tumors that begin from the tissues of the bones. These tumors, called primary bone cancers, are quite uncommon in comparison to malignancies that have mestastasize to the bones.

Pain is the most frequent symptom of bone cancer, but sometimes a lump on the bone can be felt through the skin. It is much less common to have a true bone cancer, a cancer that arises from cells that make up the bone.

The treatment and prognosis of the disease depends upon multiple factors including the type and extent of the cancer, the patient’s age and overall health status. Bone cancer may be treated with surgery, radiation therapy, chemotherapy, or a combination of these.

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Eczema – “The Itch That Creates Rashes”

INTRODUCTION: Eczema is a kind of dermatitis, or inflammation of the upper layers of the skin and usually cycles, meaning that at some times of the year sufferers are able to feel normal, while at other times they will distance themselves from social inter-action. Diagnosis is usually based on the appearance of inflamed, itchy skin in sensitive areas such as face, chest and other skin crease areas.

It is sometimes spoken of as “the itch that rashes,” since the itch, when scratched, results in the development of a rash. It can occur on almost any part of the body; however, in infants, it most often occurs on the forehead, cheeks, forearms, legs, scalp, and neck. Outbreaks can usually be avoided by taking precautionary measures.

DERMATITIS: One of the most common forms of eczema is atopic dermatitis (or “atopic eczema”). There are several different types, but the one people usually mean when they say eczema is atopic dermatitis. In general,it will come and go, often based on external factors.

Dermatitis is a chronic skin problem recognized by itching rashes, which may be red, scaly, dry, or leathery. It is not yet known what the cause is, but it does tend to run in families that have a history of asthma, allergies or atopic dermatitis.

Some herbs, such as chamomile, are known to produce allergic contact dermatitis. It is a chronic disease, but only a third of children with it will continue to have problems as they get older. In atopic dermatitis it is usual for there to be episodes of calm mixed with flares ups of eczema. Atopic dermatitis is the most common form of eczema.

TREATMENT: Using moisturizers is one of the most important self-care treatments for sufferers of the disease. Another course of treatment is bathing using colloidal oatmeal baths. Other than direct treatments of the symptoms, no cure is presently known for most types of eczema; even cortisone and immuno-modulation may often have only minimum effects on what may be a complex problem.

These applications are often most effective when applied immediately after bathing (within three minutes is a routine recommendation) so that the moisture from the bath is “locked in”. Tar applications and photo-therapy are also used and can have good effects; however, tar can be messy.

While there are many treatments, it isn’t always easy to find the one that’s right for you. Dermatitis patients can be treated, but medical treatments often don’t help a pain which is more than skin deep. The primary therapies are aimed at controlling and preventing inflammation and itching and include avoiding triggers, bathing frequently and hydrating the skin, free use of moisturizers and lubricants, and the use of steroid creams for flare ups.

With many kinds of treatments on the market, it’s critical to be well informed when making decisions with your physician. The natural human desire to scratch or rub an itchy rash simply makes the condition worse, and treatments can be slow and are not always totally effective.

CONCLUSION: Eczema is a general term encompassing various inflamed skin conditions and occurs in both children and adults, but usually appears during infancy. It is an allergic condition that affects the skin. Also known as dermatitis it can be exacerbated by dryness of the skin. It’s not contagious but like many diseases, currently cannot be cured.

The National Institutes of Health estimates that 15 million people in the United States have some form of this disease. About 10 percent to 20 percent of all infants have it; however, in nearly half of these children, the disease will improve greatly by the time they are between five and 15 years of age.

Because dermatitis is often dry and itchy, the most commonly used treatment is the application of lotions or creams to keep the skin as moist as possible. One of the most important components of a treatment plan is to prevent scratching.

Finally, in cases where eczema is non-responsive to treatment, your physician may prescribe the drug cyclosporine A, which modifies immune response; however, this is used only in extreme conditions because of its association with serious side effects.

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Nail Fungus – An Unsightly And Potentially Painful Condition!

INTRODUCTION: Nail fungus is composed of of tiny organisms (Tinea Unguium) that can infect fingernails and toenails and is different from athlete’s foot, which primarily affects the skin of the feet; However sometimes they may co-exist and be caused by the same classification of fungus.

It is more often found among older adults because their nails grow more slowly and thicken with age, making them more susceptible to infection. The fungus also tends to infect men more frequently than women and those with a family history of the disease.

It grows more frequently in people with weak immune systems, which allow the fungus to establish itself. Nail fungus can be very hard to treat, and repeated infections are common. The infection must be treated with medicine once it occurs and is becoming more common in the United States

INFECTION: Fungus Infections make up about half of all nail diseases. These infections often develop on nails that are continually exposed to warm, damp environments, such as sweaty shoes or shower floors. It may begin as a white or yellow spot under the tip of your fingernail or toenail. Toenails are more likely to develop fungal infections because they are confined in a warm, moist environment.

Bacterial Infections cause redness, swelling, and pain of the nail skin folds. Fungal infections of the nail can cause discoloration and abnormal growth. A nail fungus infection is often very difficult to treat, and may recur. Look out for signs of infection, including redness, pain or pus.

TREATMENT: The best treatment of course is prevention. Non-surgical treatments include the use of topical or oral medications. If the topical treatments fail, more potent medications can be taken orally if your health care provider thinks it is necessary.

However, because other nail conditions sometimes ape fungal infection, most MD’s will confirm the diagnosis by sending a nail clipping for laboratory evaluation — especially if treatment is under consideration. To monitor side effects your MD must order periodic blood tests (usually monthly) while treating the infection. At least 20% of patients will have a recurrence of the original nail infection at some time in the future, making re-treatment with medication a must.

If the fungal infection does not create any of these problems, then physicians often discourage treatment because of the possible side effects, the need to monitor the blood during therapy and the high recurrence rate. Without effective treatment these infections can spread and may even cause pain or tenderness.

The good news is your primary care physician, podiatrist, dermatologist or healthcare professional can help you find an effective treatment. They can examine your nails and find a treatment that’s right for you. Questioning the doctor about your condition can help you feel better about the treatment you receive.

CONCLUSION: An infection of nail fungus starts when fungi infect one or more of your nails. As it spreads deeper into your nail, it may cause your nail to become discolored, thicken and develop crumbling edges – A potentially painful and unsightly condition, But there are drugs available to help clear up the infection. Those suffering from this problem should include more probiotics (good bacteria) as part of their diet.

Your physician can diagnose whether you have a nail fungus infection and prescribe medicine, if necessary. Many people do not seek treatment at the beginning of the infection because the signs of nail fungus may appear to be nothing more than a blemish. If you are suspicious that you are infected, you should seek medical care because these infections can last indefinitely when not taken care of.

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Stomach Cancer – 1,000,000 Deaths Worldwide Each year!

Introduction: Stomach cancer is the 4th most common cancer worldwide with 930,000 persons diagnosed with it in 2002. Gastric cancer mostly affects older people – two-thirds of people who have it are age 65 or over. It is more readily treated when diagnosed early.

SYMPTOMS: It is often asymptomatic or causes only non specific symptoms in its initial stages. By the time symptoms or noticed, the cancer has generally moved to other parts of the body, which is a primary reasons for its poor prognosis. Cancer of the stomach can cause the following signs and symptoms: Lack of appetite, Difficult swallowing, particularly difficulty that grows over time, Vague abdominal fullness, Nausea and vomiting, Vomiting blood, Abdominal pain, Excessive belching, Breath odor, Excessive gas, Unintentionally losing weight, A general decline in health, Premature abdominal fullness after eating.

These can be symptoms of other problems such as a stomach virus, gastric ulcer or tropical sprue and diagnosis should be done by a gastroenterologist or an oncologist. To find the cause of symptoms, the doctor asks about the patient’s medical history, does a physical exam, and may order laboratory studies. Unfortunately, because early stomach cancer causes few symptoms, the disease is usually advanced when the diagnosis is made.

RISK: It is suspected that several risk factors are involved including diet, gastritis, intestinal metaplasia and Helicobacter pylori infection. You can reduce your risk of stomach cancer by making a few changes in your lifestyle. Your risk of getting it is higher if you have had a Helicobacter pylori infection, Have had stomach inflammation, Are a man who eats lots of salted, smoked, or pickled foods, Smoke cigarettes or have a family history of stomach cancer. Helicobacter pylori is the main risk factor in about 80% or more of stomach cancers.

TREATMENT: As is usual with any cancer, treatment is adapted to fit individual needs and depends on the size, position, and extent of the cancer, the stage of the disease, and the person’s general health.

The kind of treatment you receive for stomach cancer depends on a number of factors, including the location of the cancer, how advanced it is, your overall health and your own preferences. The goal of any treatment is always to eliminate the cancer completely.

CONCLUSION: Stomach cancer causes close to one million deaths worldwide annually. It often affects nearby organs and lymph nodes. A gastric tumor can grow through the stomach’s outer layer into other neighboring organs, such as the pancreas, esophagus, or intestine. Metastasis occurs in 80-90% of individuals with gastric cancer, with a five year survival rate of 75% in those diagnosed in early stages and fewer than 30 percent of those diagnosed in late stages.

Because gastric cancer can spread to the liver, the pancreas, and other organs close to the stomach as well as to the lungs, the physician may order a CT scan, a PET scan, an endoscopic ultrasound exam, or other tests to check these areas. The use of chemo drugs to treat gastric cancer has no established standard of care. Although the incidence of gastric cancer has declined dramatically in the US and Western Europe in the past 60 years, the disease is still a serious problem in much of the rest of the world, where it’s a leading cause of cancer death.

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Kidney Stones – The Mother Of All Pain!

INTRODUCTION: Kidney stones, one of the most painful of the urological disorders, have bothered humans for centuries. They are produced when there is a high level of calcium oxalate or uric acid in the urine; a lack of citrate in the urine; or insufficient water in the kidneys to dissolve waste material.

They are most prevalent in patients between the ages of 30 and 45, and the incidence declines after age 50. They may be as small as a grain of sand or as large as a pearl and often do not cause any symptoms.

SYMPTOMS: Stones that cause lasting symptoms or other complications may be treated using various techniques, most of which do not require major surgery. Sometimes “silent” stones (those that do not cause symptoms) are found on x-rays taken during a general health exam. The doctor determines if the patient has a history of kidney stones, documents past medical conditions, and evaluates present symptoms. When the stone enters the bladder, the obstruction in the ureter is relieved and the symptoms are resolved.

Kidney stones typically leave the body by passage in the urine stream, and many are formed and passed without causing any symptoms. People with severe symptoms might need to be hospitalized. Call your health care provider if you have symptoms or if symptoms return, urination becomes painful, urine output decreases, or new symptoms develop.

TREATMENT: Treatment varies, depending on the kind of stone and the cause and usually includes pain medication and increased liquids (to drink) until the stone is passed. If a stone has been removed, or if a person has passed a stone and saved it, an analysis by the laboratory may help the physician in planning treatment. A second 24-hour urine collection may be required to determine whether the prescribed treatment is working.

Today, treatment for kidney stones is greatly improved, and many options do not need major surgery and can be performed in an outpatient setting. To lower the risk of complications, doctors usually advise patients to avoid taking aspirin and other medicines that affect blood clotting for several weeks before treatment. Ocassionly the stone is not completely shattered with one treatment, and additional ones may be required. As with any interventional, surgical procedure, potential risks and complications should be discussed with your MD before making a final decision.

If no specific treatment exists, you may be able to stave off additional stones simply by drinking more water and making a few dietary changes. After treatment, the pain may return if the stone moves and causes blockage in another location. The goal of treatment is to relieve and prevent further symptoms.

CONCLUSION: Kidney stones are small, hard collections of mineral and acid salts on the inner surfaces of your kidneys and form when a change happens in the normal balance of water, salts, minerals, and other things found in urine. They are extremely painful but usually can be removed from the body without causing permanent damage. They often produce no pain while in the kidneys, but can create sudden, severe pain while traveling to the bladder.

They are more common in developed nations and do have regional variation in occurrence. They occur all year; however, more people seem to develop or become aware of them during the summer months. They are an ancient affliction dating back to the time of the Egyptian pyramids, yet are still a common malady today. Stones are usually passed out of the body within 48 hours, but attacks can sometimes last for over a month. Most however, leave the body without aid from a doctor.

If anyone in your family has them, you’re more apt to develop them too and if you’ve already had 1 or more, you’re at increased risk of developing another. The Majority people who develop stones are between 20 and 70 years of age. Having high blood pressure doubles your risk.

According to The National Institute of Health, 1 person in 10 produces kidney stones during their lifetime and renal stone disease accounts for 10 out of every 1000 hospital admissions. Conventional wisdom and common sense have long held that consuming too much calcium could promote the development of kidney stones. However, current evidence indicates that the consumption of low-calcium diets is ACTUALLY associated with an increased overall risk for the development of kidney stones. Call your doctor right away if you have signs that suggest you have them.

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Psoriasis – 2% Or More of the World’s Population Affected!

INTRODUCTION: Psoriasis [pronounced sore-EYE-ah-sis] is a noncontagious, lifelong skin disease and happens to both sexes equally and can occur at any age, although it most frequently appears for the first time between 15 and 35 years of age. It is probably one of the longest known illnesses of man and simultaneously one of the most misunderstood and is normally graded as mild (affecting less than 3% of the body), moderate (affecting 3-10% of the body) or severe.

It can also cause inflammation of the joints, which is known as psoriatic arthritis and has been shown to affect health-related quality of life to an extent similar to the effects of other chronic diseases such as depression, myocardial infarction, hypertension, congestive heart failure or type 2 diabetes.

While it does get worse over time; It is not possible to predict who will go on to develop extensive psoriasis or those in whom the disease may appear to vanish. Research continues to accelerate at a rapid pace and will continue to advance our knowledge of what causes this disease.

SYMPTOMS: Research indicates that the signs and symptoms of psoriasis usually appear between 15 and 35 years of age and often vanish (go into remission), even without treatment, and then return (flare up). Managing the signs and symptoms typically requires life long therapy. Symptoms vary from person to person but may include one or more of the following: Red patches of skin covered with silvery scales, Small scaling spots (often seen in children,), Dry, cracked skin that may bleed, Itching, burning or soreness, Thickened, pitted or ridged nails, Stiff swollen joints. Additional symptoms may include: Genital lesions in males, Joint pain or aching (psoriatic arthritis), Nail changes, including yellow-brown spots, dents (pits) on the surface of the nail, and separation of the nail from its base.

Most people report a decrease in illness severity during the summer months or periods of increased sun exposure; however, a small minority find that their symptoms are aggravated by strong sunlight, and these individuals actually experience a worsening of their disease in the summer. Call your health care provider if you have symptoms or if the skin irritation continues despite treatment.

TREATMENT: There are lots of treatments available that work wonders for one victim but have no effect or benefit for another. They range from local (cortisone cream application, emollients, coal tar, anthralin preparations, and exposure to sun)to systemic (internal medications, including methotrexate and cyclosporine). As a first step, medicated ointments or creams, known as topical treatments, are applied to the skin. Treatments for more general or advanced psoriasis include UV-A light, psoralen plus UV-A light (PUVA), retinoids (eg, isotretinoin [Accutane], acitretin [Soriatane]), infliximab (Remicade), etanercept (Enbrel), as well as alefacept (Amevive).

THE NATIONAL PSORIASIS FOUNDATION: Is an excellent organization that provides support to patients with psoriasis. The Foundation reports that 56 million work hours are lost each year by those who have the disease. Additionally, a survey conducted by the Foundation in 2002 indicates that 26% of people living with moderate to severe psoriasis have been forced to change or discontinue their normal daily activities. The Foundation estimates that between 10% to 30% of The affected people also have psoriatic arthritis. Internationally, plaque psoriasis is universal in its occurrence and varies with race, geography, and environmental factors (eg, sun exposure).

CONCLUSION: Psoriasis is a disease of the skin that causes itchy or sore patches of thick, red skin with silvery scales and is a chronic, meaning lifelong, affliction because there is at present no cure. It may be one of the oldest recorded skin conditions and can last a long time, even a lifetime. It is known to affect approximately 2 percent of the world’s population and is rarely found among people with dark skin. Psoriasis has been known about for at least 5 thousand years and if any particular nutrient had been proven to be beneficial surely we would all have heard about it by now.

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Morning Sickness – What A Terrible Choice of Words!

INTRODUCTION: Morning sickness is the nauseated feeling you get during pregnancy and can be, but is not always, accompanied by vomiting. These nauseating feelings, which can actually occur at any time of the day, can really put a damper on your excitement about being pregnant. It can only become a problem for your baby if you can’t keep any foods or fluids down and begin to lose a lot of weight. This problem and the others that occur around this time are almost always mild enough to manage on your own and occurs in 50% to 80% of new mother’s to be.

NAUSEA AND VOMITING: Nausea and vomiting can be one of the first signs of pregnancy and usually begins around the 6th week after conception and continue beyond your 4th month of pregnancy. These signs usually go away 12 to 14 weeks into pregnancy. Nausea and vomiting are the most common complaints of pregnant women and can be made worse by lying on her side.

This nausea seems to stem, at least in part, from rapidly rising levels of estrogen, which causes the stomach to empty more slowly. You should always contact your health care provider: If you are experiencing excessive nausea and vomiting that prevents you from keeping any food down, If vomiting is accompanied by pain or fever, If nausea and vomiting persists well into the second trimester (after 13th week).

TREATMENT: The most important thing is to inform your physician when these symptoms appear and discuss possible solutions. Severe morning sickness (hyperemesis gravidarum) may neccesitate a stay in the hospital and treatment with intravenous (IV) fluids and medications, including anti-emetics, which control nausea.

A lot of women do not request treatment for morning sickness because of fears about treatment safety. Yet, once symptoms progress, treatment can become more difficult. Mild cases may be resolved with lifestyle and dietary modifications, and safe and effective measures are available for severer cases. Your best course of action for controlling the nausea and vomiting is home treatment. These measures include: Modifying what, when, and how much you eat.

Therefore, during the first-trimester use home remedies for your symptoms, unless your physician recommends medicine. Taking Vitamin B6 or Vitamin B6 plus doxylamine (an antihistamine) is safe and effective and should be used as a first-line treatment. Although ginger ale or ginger tea may decrease mild nausea, your best bet for treating with ginger is with regular daily use. With any over-the-counter supplement, including herbs, it’s always a good idea to check with your MD first, particularly to make sure the symptoms aren’t related to a more serious condition that requires medical treatment.

However, few women get complete relief from morning sickness with any treatment. If you’re looking for medical advice, a diagnosis, or treatment, speak to your physician or other qualified medical professional.

CONCLUSION: Morning sickness, which can strike at any time of the day or night, is one of the classic symptoms of pregnancy. The name is a misnomer, since it can strike at any time of the day or night and is more common among women who are under a great deal of stress, either at work or home.

Symptoms can range from mild, occasional nausea to severe, continuous, disabling nausea with bouts of vomiting and generally improves by the 13th or 14th week of pregnancy, but some women continue to experience nausea into their second trimester. Also, it may be more severe if this is your first pregnancy or if you’re carrying multiple fetuses.

Most women who experience morning sickness notice a dramatic improvement after the 1st trimester – at roughly 13 weeks. For prevention: Eat frequent small meals, every two or three hours, rather than 3 large meals daily. Try ginger, which has proven effective in fighting morning sickness. Proven ginger products include: ginger tea, ginger candy, and ginger soda. Call your physician if your symptoms do not improve, despite trying these treatments.

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Yeast Infection – There’s Fungus Among Us!

INTRODUCTION: A vaginal yeast infection is often produced by a fungus called Candida albicans which is normally found in small numbers in the vagina. While it is definitely not a pleasant experience, there’s no need to spend too much time worrying.

Yeast infection is also more common after menopause due to declining estrogen levels, which thin the vaginal walls. It is usually not spread by sexual intercourse.

The only time Candida Albicans causes a problem is when the conditions in its environment are such that it begins to grow and reproduce at an increased rate. When this occurs a vaginal yeast infection is the result. If the yeast infection is left untreated, some doctors feel that the Candida Albican will continue to reproduce at an alarming rate. They feel that if the vaginal yeast infection is left untreated that it will produce an imbalance in the bodies natural bacterias and the person’s immune system will become involved, in short the person will become sicker and sicker.

SYMPTOMS: Signs of a yeast infection are similar to a number of other diseases, including bacterial vaginosis (a bacterial infection of the vagina), trichomoniasis (a sexually transmitted infection), and contact or allergic dermatitis (a skin reaction to an irritating or allergic substance).

They can sometimes include intense and unbearable itching, rash, a burning sensation, vaginal discharge, and pain during sexual intercourse. Your health care provider will ask about your symptoms and examine you. Your provider may collect samples of cells from places you are having symptoms, such as the mouth or vagina.

TREATMENT: Treating vaginal yeast infection may include a topical cream or tablet; most are applied inside the vagina at bedtime with an applicator. Treatment durations vary according to the formulation; one, three, and seven-day treatments are equally effective. Women with recurrent infections should use a longer course of treatment for infections, between 10 to 14 days for a topical (cream or suppository) medication or fluconazole 150 mg by mouth with a second dose 72 hours later.

Treating with antibiotics can lead to eliminating the yeast’s natural competitors for resources, and increase the severity of the condition. Treating yeast infections will not help or cure sexually transmitted infections such as chlamydia, gonorrhea, or trichomonas.

CONCLUSION: Let your physician help you be certain that yeast infection is the problem and, if it is, to determine why does not respond to current treatment. If you feel that your infection is immune to the over-the-counter medicine you are using, you can try using a new product, or go to your physician for a prescription treatment.

A good home treatment for vaginal yeast infection is to boost your immune system through proper diet and complete sleep. Probably the easiest way to deal with a yeast infection is prevention. This may be a major “well duh”, but one of the best ways to treat a yeast infection is to wash yourself thoroughly at least once a day.

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