Archive for the ‘health’ Category

FSH levels Sexual Hormones   no comments

Posted at 3:08 am in health

FSH—Follicle Stimulating Hormone, is one of the most vital sexual health hormones among females and males. However, in women FSH levels are more crucial for ensuring appropriate reproductive health. FSH levels have a tendency to rise in the puberty stage onwards. FSH is responsible for some fundamental reproductive health processes including ovulation and menstruation in women and maturation of sperm among men.

FSH levels are generally checked through normal urine and blood tests. The most common factors for conducting this sort of screening include delayed or premature onset of puberty traits. It has been established that FSH levels have a tendency to change in conjunction with Luteinizing Hormone or LH levels. These two hormones are principal responsible for ensuring appropriate ovulation and menstruation apart from generating certain that the female is in a position to sustain her pregnancy. Women who are about to reach or have entered menopause have a tendency for getting higher than usual FSH levels. This makes it nearly impossible to conceive inside a natural, unassisted manner.

Usually, LH and FSH levels have a tendency to rise exponentially from puberty onwards until the age of 40 years and in the age of 45 years onwards, the level of FSH tends to dip seriously with each progressing year. Apart from infertility, factors for which FSH level screening is ordered include other hormonal disorders, including Estrogen Dominance among women. This really is mainly because disturbed FSH levels have a tendency to impair the overall hormonal balance of reproductive/sexual hormones.

Written by bogart on July 15th, 2011

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Ideal Weight for Height   no comments

Posted at 1:04 am in health

In present society as weight becomes more and more of a concern and individuals become increasingly health conscious and try to small down to appear more like the icons and models of today. The question of best weight becomes a greater subject of interest.

Of course best mass is not something that only larger persons are interested in. Individuals that are underweight also are concerned about their ideal weight as being underweight may also have serious health risks. Persons looking to maintain their weight, weightlifters and persons generally interested in fitness might also be interested in knowing the average range that their weight can be in.

So how does a person calculate his/her best weight? Well the primary factor is the persons height. While persons have various body kinds and carry weight differently, the model weight of all individuals of a certain height can be within the same weight range. For instance a woman who is 53 should average between 107, 141 lbs; anything under this might be thought to be underweight and above this, the woman is overweight.

The second aspect in discovering best weight may be a individuals age; regardless of height a individuals weight will fluctuate as he/she ages so the ideal weight for a 6 foot tall 22 year old man can not be the same as that of a 6 foot tall, 60 year old man.

So given a individuals height and age, how is a persons best weight calculated? How much should a man weigh? Body Mass Index (BMI) is the recipe that is utilized to find a individuals model weight array; the BMI is found by dividing a individuals weight by the square of his/her height.

For persons who cannot be bothered to do the calculations or have trouble with mathematics, there are various web pages on the internet that will find your BMI and your model weight without a hassle.

A individuals ideal BMI is between 18.5 and 25, thus if you are overweight, try changing your weight calculations until your BMI is within this range. The weight that places your BMI within typical range for your height is the weight you ought to work towards. The same might be done for individuals that are underweight, so keep this in mind when calculating your BMI and trying to get your best weight.

You may question why the average weight bracket is so extensive for persons all the same height, however, keep in mind that everyone is built differently and whereas one person may have a broad frame and be of sturdy build, another person may be lean and lanky. Additionally fat occupies more space than muscles do, thus one person might be thought overweight while another is thought muscular even though they are the same weight, as a result of the variances in build.

Several weight calculators alongside a persons present weight, height and age will additionally take into thought the level of activity that a person takes part in on a day to day basis. For those trying to gain weight evaluating physical activity is critical since an individual occupied in strenuous exercise, who is burning many calories will be required to recover more calories to achieve their best weight than a person who rarely does any exercise at all. The opposite is additionally true for people that are overweight, adding strenuous exercise will permit a person to burn more calories than an individual that does no exercise at all.

To get an idea of the model range for individuals of various heights and weights you may go on the internet and check out one of the countless calculators that will make it easy for you to calculate your BMI. Model weight, ideal body fat and the number of calories you will require to get to your best weight.

Please visit these links for more information on, Ideal Weight For Height and Dead Weight Loss.

Written by admin on March 16th, 2011

Cell Phone Signal Booster enhances the power of a cell phone   no comments

Posted at 1:37 am in health

Cell phone signal booster helps a particular cell phone to avoid call drops and cope with weak signals. A cell phone signal booster is a great asset to areas where there is no sufficient network coverage. The price differ from model to model.

 

 

The cell phone has become more than just another medium of communication; it has become a lifeline of sorts when one is danger or is about to step into it. It is a beacon of hope and assistance when there is no other channel of communication available. But as it is with all mediums of communication, there are certain disadvantages with this equipment too. One may have a cell phone, but what use is it, if it has a poor reception? The cell phone technicians have a solution to that too- they are called cell phone signal booster. They not only improve the reception, but they also reduce the number of call drops.

 

Although cell phones have reached-or rather-covered a lot of countries and regions, there are still many areas that do not receive proper signals. These areas are usually known as the the “cellular dead zones” which may defeat the whole purpose of carrying a cell phone. In times like these, cell phone signal boosters come to the rescue. These usually act like a TV antenna. They enhance a weak signal to the point where making or receiving a call is possible. They are mostly like miniature cell broadcast towers which is used by the network providers. They usually work with most mobile carriers but it is recommended to check the specifications while buying a device. There are some good products to choose from such as the Wi-Ex zBoost and JD Teck and so on.

 

To install a cell phone signal booster may be easy or tough. The procedure depends from product to product. However there are some steps that hold true for each of them. They are listed as below:

 

  1. To install the external antenna, one must have have an idea of the location which attracts the strongest signals in the house or the office. One can refer to the signal strength indicator on one’s mobile phone handset.
  2. To install the antenna, one can use the mounting brackets. The antenna also need to be installed out of range of metallic objects such as pipes or air-conditioning accessories.
  3. The coaxial cable needs to be attached to the base of the antenna.
  4. There are options for optional window entry kit with the help of which one can pass the other end of the coaxial cable through the window and then attach it to the base of the antenna.
  5. The base unit’s antenna must be atleast 90 degrees to the base unit.
  6. The power supply needs to be connected to the base unit. The distance between two antennae needs to be adjust to avoid any error indications.

 

There are different types available in the market today such as mobile boosters, cheap cell phone, in-house boosters and so on. The functions and features may differ from model to model but the main usage is the same. They can cost anywhere between $ 50 to $225, based on the make.

Written by admin on March 9th, 2011

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Blood pressure medication-The Dos and Don’ts   no comments

Posted at 11:59 pm in health

Blood pressure medication is for the treatment of the most important part of the body. Blood pressure medication is not something to be frivolous about and extreme caution should be excercised, while doing so.

 

Before one starts taking the prescribed medication for high blood pressure, it is important to keep certain guidelines in mind. If there are unexplained complications to high blood pressure, other drugs may also be prescribed. No matter, what may be one’s treatment, one can follow the guidelines to be safe:

 

  • It is helpful to know the names of the blood pressure medication taken and their workings. For instance, it is advisable to know about the brand name, generic and side effects and so on. Keep the list of the medication handy.
  • The medications need to be taken at the same time every day (as far as possible). Any change in the schedule should be only done after consultation with the doctor. Even if there is an improvement in condition, stopping medication can lead to extreme deteoriation.
  • In the event of change in doctors, the replacement should be updated about the medications taken or the change in the quantity in medicine
  • It is recommended to keep a medicine calendar handy. The medicine calendar can have the name of the drug, and should be marked accordingly, with every dose taken.
  • It is important to follow a routine for taking medication. To use a pillbox which are marked with the days of the week, is useful.
  • One must not reduce the intake of the recommended dosage to save on finances. It is mandatory to take the entire amount for the necessary benefits. If the cost is too high, one may talk to the doctor for cheaper and equally effective medicines.
  • If one forgets to take a dose at a particular time, it should be taken as soon as possible. However, if it coincides with the time of the next dose, one should skip the previous dose and take the other at its proper time. Blood pressure medication should not be overcompensated by taking two doses at one time.
  • One should refrain from taking herbal therapies or over-the-counter drugs unless consulted with the doctor beforehand. Drugs have the potential to interact with each other and cause nasty effects.

     

     

    There are different types of blood pressure medication and they should be taken as per requirement. The medicines and their properties are listed as below:

  • Beta-blockers: These medicines reduce the nerve impulses or stimuli to the blood vessels and the heart. This can enable the heart to beat slower, which means lesser exertion. This helps in the fall of blood pressure
  • Direutic: They are sometimes referred to as “water pills” because they work in the kidney and flush out the extra salt and water from the body.
  • ACE inhibitors: Angiotensin converting enzyme inhibitors prevent the formation of a hormone called angiotensin II which usually causes blood vessels to narrow.
  • Angiotensin antagonist: These medicines shield the blood vessels from angiotensin II. This helps the vessels to expand in width and reduction in blood pressure
  • Alpha blockers: These reduce nerve impulses to blood vessels which allow blood to pass more easily and the blood pressure to fall.

 

Written by admin on March 8th, 2011

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Fexofenadine-the myths and facts behind the drug   no comments

Posted at 6:00 am in health

Fexofenadine is a drug used to treat allergies such as hay fever or pollen allergy. Fexofenadine is marketed as Allegra and it is a successor and an improvement on its predecessor, terfenadine. The drug can administered to children from the age of 6, but younger need supervision.

 

Not many are aware of this fact, but Fexofenadine is marketed as Allegra. It is basically an antihistamine medicine which is used for treating allergic reactions or symptoms. It is a successor and at times, is also an alternative to terfenadine. The medicine is used to treat allergies which are usually seasonal.

 

Fexofenadine is used to treat seasonal allergies which have synonyms such as “pollen allergy” or “hay fever” which are the most common allergies in today’s world. An estimate of 35 million Americans suffer from “hay fever”. The symptoms of these seasonal allergies include watery eyes, runny nose and itchy throat. It is used to treat itching of the skin and other conditions which are prescribed by the doctor. The medication contains antihistamine which works against histamine in the body. The natural histamine is released from mast cells of the histamine storing cells and attaches itself to the other histamine-receptor cells. When this attachment occurs, the cells are then activated to release chemicals that produce the effects which are related to the allergy. The drug is only capable of being effective with second-generation antihistamine such as the loratidine, zelastine and cetirizine. The drug is generally used to treat the symptoms of hay fever in both adults and children who are of six years and older.

 

Allegra is also used to treat chronic hives. Chronic hives are also known as “chronic urticaria” which manifests itself through red, raised bumps (hives) and itching. To be diagnosed with chronic hives or “chronic urticaria” a person needs to experience an outbreak of hives and its consequent for atleast 6 weeks. The drug is used to reduce the hives and the itching in people.

 

Like every medicine, Fexofenadine may also have its own share of side-effects. Listed below are some of the symptoms of side effects one needs to take note of:

 

  • Cough, cold and Flu- There has been an increase in the number of patients who are coming down with the flu, after using Allegra. The symptoms are common in patients between the age group of 6-11.
  • Pain- Patients above the age of 12, may suffer from backpain and headaches. Additional symptoms such as dizziness and ear pain have also been reported by other Allegra users. While the side effects are harmless, they should be brought to the attention of the doctor as soon as possible.
  • Anxiety-The drug may cause a lot of anxiety related issues. May also include insomnia, nervous breakdown and nightmares
  • Nausea and diarrhea- Some not-so-pleasant experiences with allegra may also include irregular bowel movement, vomiting, fatigue, nausea and so on. These symptoms are common in patients between the age group of 6 month to 5 year olds.

 

To prevent the manifestation, of these side effects, it is best if some effective precautions are followed before taking in this drug. During a pregnancy term, Allegra should be taken under medical supervision. For children of or above 6 years may use Allegra, the dosage for younger children should be prescribed. It should be taken with a glass full of water, accompanied or not, with food.

 

Written by admin on March 8th, 2011

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HIPAA Violations- What one can do and what one can’t?   no comments

Posted at 5:02 am in health

HIPAA violations are not just civil but can also have criminal intentions. To know if a medical act falls under HIPAA violations, one can report the activity to the concerned authority such as the Office Of Civil Rights.

 

HIPAA is not only an integral part of health organization, but to emphasise its importance, in case the regulations of this law are violated, one can face a sizeable penalty. This Act is sorely for the safeguard of confidential medical information that may be transferred from one source to another. HIPAA violations may lead to both, criminal and civil penalties. First, the civil penalties:

 

On February 17, 2009, the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act was signed. This established a tiered civil penalty setup for HIPAA violations. There has been several discretions on the part of the Secretary of the Department of Health and Human Services, when it comes to determining the amount of the penalty based on the extent and the nature of the violation and the harm occured due to the violation. The Secretary is refrained from imposing penalties if the violation is corrected within a month (the duration may be elastic). A tentative table has been provided below to illustrate the penalties attached to the violation:

 

  • HIPAA Violations (Ignorance of the individual and guilty of reasonable diligence was not aware of the violation)- The minimum penalty is $100 per violation, with an annual fine of $25 000 for repeat violation. It can be imposed by the State Attorneys General and the maximum penalty can go upto $50,000 per violation, with an annual maximum of $1.5 million.
  • HIPAA Violation (due to reasonable cause and not wilful neglect)- The minimum penalty can go upto $1000 per violation with an annual maximum of $100,000 for repeat violations and the maximum can go upto $50,000 per violation with an annual maximum of $1.5 million.
  • Violation caused due to willful neglect and the violation should be corrected within the required time period- The minimum penalty is $10,000 per violation with an annual maximum penalty of $250,000for repeat violations whereas the maximum penalty is $50,000 per violation with an annual maximum of $1.5 million.
  • Violation is due to wilful neglect and not corrected- The minimum penalty is $50,000 per violation with an annual maximum penalty of $1.5 million and the maximum penalty is $50,000 per violation with an annual maximum of $1.5 million.

 

Next, come the criminal penalties. The Department of Justice is very clear about what kind of neglect comes under criminal penalties. Covered entities and specified individuals as explained below who obtain health information of an individual “with full knowledge” violates the Administrative Simplification Regulations. They may face a penalty which may go upto $50,000 and imprisonment for a year. Offenses that include the charges of “false pretenses” may be increased upto $100,000 fine with 5 years in prison. And the charges with the intent to sell, transfer or use individually identifiable health information for malicious harm or personal gain or individually identifiable health information and so on may attract fines upto $250,000 and imprisonment for upto ten years.

 

People must remember that HIPAA is a Federal law and the penalty for HIPAA violations is a felony. To put it in simpler terms, one can lose his fundamental rights and without these basic rights, one may end up being treated as an alien in one’s own country.

Written by admin on March 8th, 2011

What is the B12 deficiency syndrome?   no comments

Posted at 6:27 am in health

B12 deficiency symptoms is a lacking or absence of the vitamin of the same name in the body. B12 deficiency symptoms leads to temporary breakdown of several important systems in the body. To help prevent that, one must have a balanced diet.

 

B12 is a vitamin that is necessary for normal red blood cell formation, cellular and tissue repair and DNA synthesis. A B12 deficiency symptoms reflects a shortage of this vitamin. As the body stacks upto 3 to 5 years worth of B12, it takes some time, for the symptoms to manifest themselves. Children and infants show the symptoms of this defiency more rapidly. This vitamin is very essential to good health. It helps the body produce a normal blood count. When there is a lack of this particular vitamin, it usually means one is following a diet that has less B12. It can also be caused due to the Crohn’s Disease which limit the amount of B12 absorbed by the body.

 

To absorb vitamin B12 from food is complex. Thus a defect in the absorption method can become a cause of deficiency. The absorption often takes place in the stomach area, where pepsin and gastric acid help release cobalamine from animal proteins. Vitamin B12 absorption also occurs in the muth where it may bind to the R protein present in the saliva.Alkaline pH and pancreatic enzymes also have a tendency to reduce absorption. The two compounds may help to digest the cobalamine-R protein complex before the absorption process, and B12 is bound to the intrinsic factor (IF) to form an IF-colabamine complex.

 

There are two types of sufferers from B12 deficiency symptoms. The first group is comprised of asymptomatic vitamin B12 deficiency and the other group is hematologic vitamin B12 deficiency. To circumvent that, there are may sources of this particular vitamin. It is mostly obtained from animal proteins such as poultry, eggs, fish, dairy and red meat. Vegetables and plants are not popular sources of the vitamin, unless the plants have been infected with soil microorganisms, in that case, they may be considered as an exception.

 

There are various symptoms of B12 deficiency symptoms. One of the biggest tell-tale signs is the feeling of fatigue. There are also gastro problems such as dyspepsia or diahoerra or recurring ulcers in the stomach. There can be nausea sensations accompanied by gas accumulation, which may lead to bloating of the stomach. A patient may lose or gain weight depending on the way they react to the lack of the vitamin. Other symptoms may also include loss of memory, insomnia, lack of balance, depression, liver enlargement, headaches, eye problems, hallucinations, breathing difficulty, inflamed tongue, neurological damage and so on.

 

To combat anaemia, a person suffering from this syndrome can be given folic acid to rectify this condition. Also, one can be given an injection, to increase the levels of the required vitamin in their blood. This particular procedure can go on for a while if the levels of B12 do not remain constant.

 

The  B12 deficiency symptoms in most cases, cite the cause of OCD, i.e., Obsessive compulsive disorders as one of the neurological disorders, prevalant in children and adults. Vitamin B is also known for an immune and healthy nervous system along with good vision and healthy skin.

Written by admin on March 7th, 2011

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Complex Regional Pain Syndrome- symptoms and treatment   no comments

Posted at 4:55 am in health

Complex Regional Pain Syndrome is a very rare and painful nerve disorder. Most doctors are unable to diagnose the disease right away and at times, Complex Regional Pain Syndrome has some dubious theories backing it up.

 

The disease Complex Regional Pain Syndrome (CRPS) is a rare nerve disorder. It’s symptoms usually causes intense pain and the affected areas may be hands, arms, legs and feet. It usually happens after a serious injury to the tissue or nerve of the affected areas. The disorder is also called Causalgia. The cause responsible for the disorder is unknown. The pain often spreads to the entire arm or leg. Some of the changes observed in the affected areas post the disorder are dramatic changes in the color and temperature of the skin of the affected limb. Other symptoms also include skin sensitivity, intene burning pain, swelling and sweating. Although there are some theories behind the cause of this disorder, the authenticity of these theories are questionable. One theory is the cause behind the sustainance of the pain may be the sympathetic nervous system. The other speculation is the CPRS is caused by the triggering of the immune response which leads to the inflammation in the affected area.

 

 

The various symptoms of Complex Regional Pain Syndrome are listed as below:

 

  • A burning, painful pain in the affected region (usually an arm, leg, hand oe foot)
  • Change in skin color (may turn red, blue or white)
  • The affected area may be sensitive to touch, temperature
  • Change in skin texture (either too thin or shiny)
  • Loss of movement in affected areas
  • Muscle pain and weakness

 

Although it is a rare disorder, most doctors are familiar with it. The doctor will make a diagnose on the basis of a physical exam and the pain symptoms. The above symptoms will help the doctor make a correct diagnosis. Although, the disease is diagnosable, there is no one single test to determine Complex Regional Pain Syndrome. For instance, the doctor may take a test to check the skin temperature and the amount of blood circulation to a particular area. In case the diagnose is doubtful, a magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) can help determine CRPS.

 

There are two kinds of CRPS which have completely different causes. They are listed as follows:

 

  1. Type one CRPS- This disorder is triggered by injuries such as ankles which are fractured or sprained. There is usually minimal nerve damage.
  2. Type two CRPS- This type of disorder is caused by more serious injuries where there has been nerve damage such as an operation, a serious infection or a broken bone.

 

Although the disorder is rare, but it is not completely eradicated. Putting a number is hard, the estimate change from country to country. Some countries have 1 affected in 18,000 whereas others have 1 in 4000. Complex Regional Pain Syndrome is more common amongst women and people between the ages of 50 to 70.

 

There is solution for the disorder. Doctors usually recommend sympathetic block. This usually involves an injection of anaesthesia which obstructs the pain signals. Physiotherapy and counselling may help at times.

 

If the disorder is diagnosed early regular treatments may help keeping the pain from recurring. But if it is diagnosed later or if the symptoms are severe, the patients may not respond to treatments.

Written by admin on March 7th, 2011

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Understanding Morgellons Disease   no comments

Posted at 3:20 am in Diseases,health

Morgellons Disease is also named Morgellons Syndrome because there’s no defined pathology or diagnostic pathway for decoding and curing this condition. Morgellons Disease is basically a complex condition with the skin, i.e. a dermatological well being problem, and resemblance in appearance to scabies infestation with the skin with mites.

Morgellons Disease induces a wide range of symptoms, doing it extremely hard to identify this condition. Morgellons Disease Symptoms are normally a combination of numerous skin-related symptoms, including the development of fibrous bands on the skin and chronic skin lesions.

However, one of the most normal of morgellons disease symptoms may be the feeling of ‘biting’ on the skin. Numerous patients refer to this as a feeling of ‘insects crawling on the skin’. A additional right definition for ones same is a sensation of biting or pinching along the skin.

Read here for more information on: Morgellons.

Written by bogart on February 25th, 2011

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Signs And Symptoms Of Syphilis   no comments

Posted at 3:29 am in Diseases,health

Before knowing the symptoms of syphilis, one should have a basic idea of what this disease is? It is basically a sexually transmitted disease which is caused by bacteria named spirochaete bacterium known as Treponema pallidum and can affect people of both sexes. It has gained a reputation or more appropriately it is notorious of being “the great imitator” because most of the syphilis symptoms resemble the symptoms of other diseases. This is the reason why diagnosing this disease is so difficult. It is also contagious and can pass through intimate sexual contact. Women who are expecting may pass on the infection to the yet-to-be-born child.

The syphilis may pass through 3 distinct stages. There are possibilities that not all 3 of these stages may be observed, one after the other. The phases are listed below and along with them; the syphilis symptoms are listed too:

1)Primary stage- It usually starts with a sore at the site of the infection. This sore is popularly called shanker. It is in the form of a lesion which may appear on the male or the female genitals although all parts of the body are equally at risk. Any person who touches the infection lesion may end up with an infection. It can develop after a month after the first appearance and heals after 1 week. Though the sores may vanish, the disease does not.

2)Secondary stage- The secondary phase develops after a month after the first appearance of chancre. The phase has numerous symptoms, which is the reason why syphilis has the, unflattering name of “the great pretender”. Due to this reason, this phase may go without treatment. These are the most frequently reported symptoms of the phase:

Joint fever

Muscle aches

Fever

Flu-like symptoms

Headache

Whole body rash

Patchy hair loss

Decreased appetite

Swollen lymph nodes

3)Latent phase- This phase is characterized by relapse of the secondary phase of the syphilis. After two years of the latent phase one may not have symptoms and may be completely cured. However one can still transmit infection through blood transfusion. One third people will progress from latent syphilis to tertiary one. During this phase, parts of the body such as brain, skin, bones and the heart are at risk.

4)Tertiary Syphilis- The syphilis symptoms of this stage depends on which part of the body the infection spreads to. For instance, it may spread to nerves, eyes, brain, bones, blood vessels or skin. It can cause the following symptoms:

Dementia

Stroke

numbness

loss of coordination

blindness

paralysis

deafness

skin rashes

heart diseases

As soon as the symptoms of syphilis are observed, one is required to visit their physician. He/she will check for signs of the disease such as skin rashes or chancre. A blood sample will be taken and that is analyzed. The treatment and the prescription depends on the stage of the disease.

Visit here for more information on: Herpes Simplex 1.