Patient Care
The Dangers of Paxil Far Outweigh the Benefits
Paxil is a type of medication that is often prescribed for depression, anxiety, and obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD). However, there are many side effects and hazards associated with it that you need to learn about. In fact, the dangers of Paxil are believed to far outweigh the benefits of the drug. If you are taking Paxil or your doctor prescribes it, you need to look into it further before you make up your mind about taking it.
The most troubling problem is that Paxil is believed to be linked to increased suicide risks for those suffering from various mental health disorders. The fact that the company offering it continues to try to hide the problems is a serious concern. There are many advocates out there trying to expose that the company is well aware of the fact that this medication is addictive and sometimes dangerous.
The dangers of Paxil have come to life in various court proceedings in the last few years. In one event, a man killed his entire family and then himself. The verdict was that Paxil was responsible for that behavior. The company that sold the man the drug paid out a sum of money to settle the situation and to help keep it under the radar.
Many individuals have filed various lawsuits against Paxil. The lawsuits have been about the death of family members or about the violent or destructive behavior of patients using the drug. However, many patients take their doctor’s advice and they use Paxil even though their gut instinct tells them not to do so. With so many other types of anti-depressants on the market that are safer, you need to stand up and be your own advocate. Tell your doctor that you will not be allowing your family or yourself to use Paxil due to the potential risks.
Many doctors are caught in the crossfire with Paxil. They may believe that Paxil can help their patients with various disorders. At the same time, they are inclined to pay attention to the controversy surrounding the drug. The last thing they want is to be sued due to being the one that prescribed such a medication for a particular patient. Any good doctor will shy away from a drug that could be potentially dangerous for his or her patients.
Infants might suffer when their parents use Paxil, too. This is because the medication may be passed along to them during gestation. As a result, some of these newborns could have long- term effects such as low birth weight, irritability, behavioral issues, and more. However, many females are not told about such risks before they become pregnant. They may have been told that Paxil was actually safe for them to take during pregnancy.
The dangers of Paxil are something you should understand. While you may be suffering from depression, anxiety, or OCD, you will find that other types of medication are a better choice. You should be closely monitored if you are using Paxil. While the drug does benefit some patients, the potential risks far outweigh those benefits.
http://www.naturalnews.com/011470.html
http://www.fda.gov/NewsEvents/Newsroom/PressAnnouncements/2005/ucm108527.htm
http://paxil.legalview.info/articles/173922/
The Higher Incidence of Epilepsy in Combat Veterans Can Speed Treatment
There is plenty of data to show a high number of diagnoses of epilepsy in combat veterans. Understanding such a link can assist medical professionals with offering faster treatment. They can bypass many of the usual tests and get to the core of the problem. This is why most doctors ask for a full history and that includes previous military involvement.
It is possible for a head injury during combat to cause seizures to occur. This can be in the days or months after the injury occurs. However, it can also be several decades later when a seizure is triggered. That is why it is sometimes hard to make the connection between what has happened in the past and what is currrently happening.
There is really no rhyme or reason when it comes to the onset of epilepsy in combat veterans. Some of them were all fighting at the same place, but that isn’t the only variable that has to be looked at. A common problem is that these veterans aren’t getting the care that they need. It is frustrating because they have fought for our country and now they have to fight to get their basic medical care needs met.
The Mayo Clinic has been a driving force in studying epilepsy. They have looked at the information concerning combat veterans. They strive to help them have as good a quality of life as they can. This includes comprehensive care for behavior, medications, and even surgery when it is an absolute necessary.
It is important for all veterans to understand this information. If they have had any type of seizure, then it is time to get to a doctor. Too often a person is looking at what has recently gone on to determine why it is happening. At the Mayo Clinic, though, they consider all factors.
They take blood and urine samples. They do a complete physical exam, EEG, and brain image test. They also ask about any military experience, injuries, and more. They want to have the full spectrum of information to do a complete assessment and evaluation.
Studies that follow Vietnam veterans with head injuries have helped to be able to come up with plenty of data for diagnosis and treatment. This information also indicates that all military personnel should be taking precautions to prevent any type of head injury from occurring. Should one happen, though, it is very important to tell supervisors immediately.
When you do have to see a doctor due to seizures you want to make sure they know about any head injuries you experienced during your military service. Epilepsy in combat veterans continues to be something that has to be explored. The fact that those head injuries may have occurred long ago means that we can’t just assume that long-term care won’t be needed later in life for veterans.
http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/news/fullstory_101248.html
http://www.mayoclinic.org/epilepsy/
Treatment of Melanoma via Medication shows Promise
The treatment of Melanoma can take on many forms. One that is proving to be quite promising is the use of various medications. If you aren’t familiar with Melanoma, it is type of skin cancer that occurs from over exposure to UV rays.
One of the medications for Melanoma is called Ipilimumab. This treatment may be the solution that helps patients with advanced Melanoma to live longer. The studies show that the survival rates have been very good. Even when other forms of treatment didn’t stop the progression of the cancer, this is one that did very well.
Patients using Ipilimumab were able to expand their life expectancy. The average was between 6 and 10 months. This is in comparison to those patients that chose not to take any forms of medication in the advanced stages of treatment. This information is certainly important as it shows us that we are moving in the right direction.
Too often Melanoma patients don’t live long term when the disease progresses to the advanced stages. With the use of this treatment of Melanoma, the long term benefits are currently being researched. Many experts are wondering if providing this medication early in the diagnosis of the cancer can help to stop the procession of the Melanoma. If that proves to be the case, that would make a huge difference in the overall way we look at this very aggressive type of cancer.
Patients have to decide if they are willing to take on the side effects of Ipilimumab though. They can be mild such as a rash. They can also be severe including vision problems, liver damage, kidney damage, or death. However, most patients would rather have the longer life expectancy and deal with those side effects then to just give up.
This treatment of Melanoma works with the immune system. It binds to the CTLA4 cells. This slows the progression of the cancer cells. It also helps to boost the immune system. The complex nature of the medication though means that it doesn’t work for everyone. There are people that have a great result with Ipilimumab and others that don’t do well with it at all.
Still, the studies show that we are on the right track. This treatment success can help to introduce future drugs too that will be even better. Melanoma is a very common type of cancer and one that we all need to work hard to fight.
If you are looking for something to help with the treatment of Melanoma, ask your doctor about Ipilimumab. This form of medication is starting to be offered at more facilities. You can also decide to take part of various clinical trials too. This can offer you the medication for free. It can also provide very important information that can assist other patients with this form of skin cancer to live longer.
http://www.cancer.gov/clinicaltrials/results/ipilimumab0610
http://www.skincancer.org/melanoma-treatment.html
There is a Link Between Diet and Exercise and Asthma
Asthma is a chronic inflamed lung disease that narrows the air passage. Asthma causes frequent periods of wheezing, chest tightness, shortness of breath and coughing. Coughing often occurs in the early morning or at night. Asthma affects people of all ages, but most often it starts in childhood.
A balance diet is very important to the body to get the energy that the body needs. This energy that the body needs comes from food and metabolism. Metabolism is the chemical reactions in the body’s cells that transform the fuel from food into the energy needed to do everything from physical activities to thinking and growing.
Exercise goes hand in hand with a healthy diet to achieve a healthy body. There are many benefits in exercise that we can benefit from including…
- A strong immune system means that the body’s ability to fight disease is improved. It also means that your body is less prone to colds, allergies and diseases.
- An increased insulin sensitivity and improved carbohydrate metabolism which results in a reduction of type 2 diabetes.
- Lowered blood pressure that results to an improved cholesterol level.
- A strengthened cardiovascular system, including the heart and lungs. A higher “pump-activity” develops in the heart and the body’s organs.. This supports the prevention of heart disease.
- Better control of body fat because exercise reduces the liklihood a person will become overweight. Overweight individuals are able to reduce their body weight and body fat because of the physiological effect of burning fat while exercising.
- Stronger bone structure and muscle structure.
- Exercise increases the flow of blood to all body tissues including the brain. It also increases the flow of blood transporting more oxygen and nutrients to the body’s cells. Through exercise, active individuals improve the body’s ability to absorb oxygen. People feel more energized because of the increase oxygen in their body’s cells.
A new study suggests that poor diet and lack of exercise may cause an imbalance in metabolism and it may increase the risk in developing asthma in a child. This is also true in people with a healthy weight. This finding challenges the widespread belief that obesity itself is a risk factor for asthma, according to the study.
The Coronary Artery Risk Detection in Appalachian Communities (CARDIAC) Project’s researchers analyzed data from 18,000 children ages 4 to 12 years. They focused on a set of markers for early metabolic problems, including triglyceride (a type of blood fat) levels and display of acanthosis nigricans, elevated patches of tan to brown skin that are often biomarkers for insulin resistance and excess levels of insulin in the blood.
After they controlled for a number of factors.the researchers concluded that asthma prevalence among the children was strongly associated with triglyceride levels and the presence of skin disorder was strongly associated with acanthosis nigricans and independent body mass index.
“Our research showed that early abnormalities in lipid and/or glucose metabolism maybe associated to the development of asthma in childhood,” said Dr. Giovanni Piedimonte, a professor and chairman of the Pediatric Department at West Virginia School of Medicine, physician-in-chief at WVU.
http://www.takethemagicstep.com/coaching/families/training-exercise/benefits-of-exercise-for-children/
http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/news/fullstory_103443.html
The Drug Avastin Appears to be too Risky for Breast Cancer Treatment
Avastin is a type of drug that has been considered for breast cancer treatments. However, many medical professionals have concluded is that it is simply too much of a risk to be used effectively. The FDA is no longer allowing it to be used. They don’t believe through their testing that patients are really benefiting from the use of the drug.
The fact that Avastin is the best selling breast cancer drug on the market makes this decision a tough call. More than $6 million is revenue is generated from the sale of it annually. This doesn’t mean that it won’t continue to be used as a treatment for other types of cancer though. This drug is very aggressive and it does work for colon and lung cancer.
The side effects and risks that come with using Avastin don’t work well when combined with chemotherapy for breast cancer treatments. Avastin was only approved for this type of cancer in 2008. However, it was also stipulated that the future studies had to show serious improvements. That did not happen so the overall benefits don’t seem to be there. There is no higher survival benefits for those using Avastin for breast cancer treatment.
This particular breast cancer treatment also came with plenty of harsh side effects. Those taking Avastin suffered from chronic fatigue, nausea, changes in appetite, irritability, diarrhea, and a metallic taste when eating. The cost of these drug is very expensive too and that has been a burden on many patients.
In fact, some are angry that they have been taking this form of medication for their breast cancer treatment but it was a waste of their time. It is possible that the lawsuits will start to flood in based on the FDA information. Families who lost someone to breast cancer may sue on the grounds that their loved one shouldn’t have been given Avastin.
Some believe that this drug will continue to circulate on the black market. The fact that so many people use it and continue to believe it is effective will drive a market for it. However, consumers are strongly urged to not take this type of medication. It could have very serious health problems for them in the long run. It is just too risky to use this form of medication for this type of cancer treatment.
Sadly, the future use of Avastin for breast cancer treatment isn’t going to be something we can rely on. Still, it is hopeful that this information will help future drugs to emerge that can be more successful. The public does have to commend the FDA for following up and for completing the required testing. This has allowed for consumers to continue being well informed about the medications on the market.
http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/news/fullstory_101281.html http://colon-cancer.emedtv.com/avastin/avastin-side-effects.html
http://www.cancer.org/AboutUs/DrLensBlog/post/2010/07/20/The-FDA-and-Avastinc2ae-Breast-Cancer-Patients-Are-Thrown-Another-Curve-In-An-Ongoing-Saga.aspx
Researchers are Making Progress in Making In Vitro Fertilization Far More Effective
In vitro fertilization is a process to help women have children when they aren’t able to do so on their own. To help ensure that the eggs have the best chance of success, tests are conducted to determine when they may be the most fertile. This has proven that the days in the cycle of the eggs can be a vital role in fertility.
It can also help fertility clients to decide which of the eggs should be implanted into the woman during the in vitro fertilization process. The current method involves several embryos being implanted at once. The doctors hope that at least one of them will be successful, yet this can be a problem as it has resulted in unwanted multiple births. That can result in birth defects and serious problems for the mother and the children. The goal with in vitro fertilization involves being able to give a couple the very best chance of successful fertilization with the least chances of complications for the fetus and for the mother.
It takes a great deal of effort to complete the process of in vitro fertilization. The couple has to be tested and other efforts for conception naturally must be proven to have been a failure. Getting the woman in top shape for the increased benefit of conception is all part of the process. This includes getting to a healthy weight, not smoking, and eating right.
Research that has been done now shows that efforts to improve the process can be done on the other end with the eggs. This means that many women can avoid using various drugs to increase fertilization. Those medications can be very expensive and they can also have harsh side effects associated with them.
Right now in vitro fertilization has from a 25% to a 60% success rate. However, experts are confident that by studying the eggs, implanting the best ones, and then working to avoid birth defects can help to increase the success rate. It can also reduce the chances of a miscarriage or a very difficult pregnancy. It is important for the mothers as well as their offspring to have every chance of being healthy throughout such a process.
The March of Dimes is a huge advocate for children and families with birth defects. They have been greatly involved with the research relating to in vitro fertilization so that they can help to reduce birth defects. They also want to see fewer potential parents going through the emotional roller coaster of waiting to see if conception has been successful or not.
With the research that has been done in the area of in vitro fertilization, there is a very good chance that more women will become pregnant the first time around. Since in vitro can be very expensive ,that can mean the world to the parents to be. They may not have the funding to pay for several more rounds of in vitro in the future.
Science Proves it – the Smell of Chocolate Affects your Brain
It isn’t all in your head. The smell of chocolate actually affects your brain. There is scientific evidence to back it up. This question has been around for years and years. When it comes to the olfactory processes, chocolate happens to be one of the smells that people are very happy with. It is one that stimulates the brain in ways that other scents simply can’t compare to.
There is a biological link to chocolate that gets the brain to respond to it. The fact that the nose takes in the smell of chocolate is only the beginning of it. The studies show that people don’t even have to be eating chocolate for the smell of it to give them energy, help them relax, and even bring a smile to their face.
Studies have compared the smell of chocolate to various other scents. For example, lavender is a well-known type of relaxing scent. However, the studies show that chocolate has a broader effect and one that gets the brain to have a positive response fast.
The fact that chocolate is so often linked to romance could be due to the response from the brain. Most of us will agree that we get lots of pleasure from the smell of chocolate and we often can’t wait to indulge in the taste of it, either, once that smell is present.
Even with all of this information, there isn’t enough information at this time to find out what causes the positive responses in the brain when the smell of chocolate is identified. Further studies have to be conducted in this area. So, in the end, the fact that chocolate makes you feel better is something we now know is a scientific fact. So stop feeling guilty about having it around and just relax and enjoy the smell and the taste of chocolate.
http://www.nytimes.com/2005/08/23/science/23nose.html?_r=1
http://www.nature.com/news/2000/000421/full/news000427-1.html
The Connection Between Sleep and Mental Health is Clear
Sleep and mental health are very important.Your sleep and mental health are connected much more than most people realize. If you aren’t getting enough sleep, then your mental wellbeing is suffering. This is true for both children and adults. Studies show that most of us just don’t get enough sleep. This can make us very irritable. We often cut out sleep hours in order to get more done during the day.
When you have to drag yourself out of bed, you will have a hard time focusing. Small things can really irritate you at home and at work. You will have a hard time staying on task. Then it is going to increase stress as you aren’t getting enough done. You also don’t want to drift off to sleep when you are driving to work.
You can use aromatherapy to help you sleep. There are many scents, including lavender, that will help you to calm your mind and to reduce stress. If you are having problems with your spouse, try to clear the air before bed. You don’t want to be lying next to that person and feeling full of overwhelming emotions due to a conflict. By resolving the conflict, you both will sleep easier.
Try to avoid stimulants before bed, too. You can have a small snack in the hours before you sleep. It should be a snack that is full of protein and that isn’t going to keep you awake. Avoid sugary snacks and drinks that contain caffeine. You may want to get a massage, too, because it will help you feel relaxed before you go to sleep. If you have chronic pain that hinders or interrupts your sleep, medications or acupuncture can help.
Your sleep and mental health are connected, so take care of yourself. Do what you can to ensure you fall asleep when you hit the pillow. You need to have a routine that helps you to relax. Then you will get quality sleep that is recuperative.
Have a quiet place where you can sleep. Your room should be comfortable and the air the right temperature so that you will sleep soundly. You need a pillow that offers you good head and neck support. Try to go to bed at the same time each night. This will help your body to get used to the routine. Get up at the same time, too. This will help you to program your internal clock.
It is important that children have a routine for bedtime, too. Start them off young with good habits of getting an adequate amount of sleep. Those people that sleep well are going to wake up with more energy. They also produce more serotonin that allows them to be in a happier frame of mind.
Smokeless Tobacco and Pregnancy do NOT Mix
It is a known fact that tobacco smoking is dangerous to human health. People addicted to smoking tobacco find it difficult to get rid of that habit. To help this group of people, products that substitute tobacco had been invented. Smokeless tobaccos have been developed to help cut down use of cigarettes, if not eliminate it.
A smokeless product known as “snus” is a different kind of smokeless tobacco because it is “spitless” and it has lesser levels of toxins called tobacco-specific nitrosamines. It was in Sweden that snus originated and is mainly used. Other tobacco companies in the U.S. have also made their own snus products based on the traditional Swedish ones, like the Marlboro Snus and Camel Snus.
Miscarriages, low birth weight, and stillborn births are well-known risks in pregnant women who smoke cigarettes or use tobacco products during their pregnancy. There is limited information about the potential harms of using snus during pregnancy, but a broad study of Swedish women suggests that pregnant women who use snus may have the same risk of stillbirths as pregnant women who smoke cigarettes or use other tobacco products. It was also discovered that women who use snus during pregnancy have a higher risk of pre-term delivery compared to those pregnant women who are non-smokers.
The recent study, published in the journal Epidemiology, revealed that the Swedish team used a national birth register with information on almost 611,000 women who were pregnant between the year 1999 and 2006. Of these, 58,502 were tobacco smokers and 7,629 used snus. Overall, 1,926 of the women registered, or about 0.3 percent, had a stillbirth. Stillbirth generally refers to a pregnancy loss after the fifth month, but in this study it was defined as a pregnancy loss at the seventh month or later.
It was found in the study that women who reported using snus during pregnancy had a 60 percent higher risk of stillbirth compared to women who do not use tobacco products. The risk was 40 percent higher in light smokers, and for heavy smokers it was more than double that of non- smokers of tobacco.
Of the women who reported used snus during pregnancy, 0.5 percent (40 women) experienced a stillbirth, compared with just 0.3 percent (1,386 women out of more than 500,000) of those who are non-smokers of tobacco products. Of those 41,488 women classified as light smokers (who used 9 or fewer cigarettes per day), 0.4 percent (172) had stillbirths, and there was a 0.7 percent (120) stillbirth rate among the 17,000 who smoke more heavily.
Lead researcher Dr. Anna-Karin Wikstrom, of Karolinska University Hospital Solina in Sweden, told Reuters in an e-mail, that “using moist snuff is not a safe way to quit smoking when you are pregnant.” Also agreeing was Dr. Gregory N. Connolly, director of the Tobacco Control Research Program at Harvard School of Public Health, who is not part of the research but stated that “this study is chilling, particularly in light of the expanding marketing of these products.”
http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/news/fullstory_103470.html”tory_103470.html
http://www.thelocal.se/2622/20051205/
A Healthy Doctor is a Better Doctor
There are studies out there to show that a healthy doctor can result in them being a better doctor. It is ironic that many in the medical profession are often overweight and smoke. They have a busy schedule and a demanding job, but that is no excuse for not taking care of themselves. It can be hard to influence other people to make changes when you know you need to make them yourself.
Healthy lifestyle changes are important for everyone to consider. Eating right and exercising can help to reduce the risk of serious health problems. However, doctors that are overweight or that don’t eat right have a hard time talking to their patients about it. They don’t want to seem like they are having a double standard so they don’t share that information with patients. They may be avoiding the issue completely, which is just human nature and not something specific to doctors.
There are many reports that most doctors fail to work out like they should. They also eat fast food or a diet that they would never recommend to their patients. A recent survey found that most doctors don’t get an annual checkup or even have their blood pressure checked on a regular basis. This can make them less effective in the role of counseling their patients.
An unhealthy doctor who has made the decision to change their lifestyle can have a great impact on their patients. They can tell them about their own quest to make changes. The doctor can relate to just how hard it really can be for patients to do so. It can also make them more compassionate when they have frustrated patients that can’t seem to lose weight or to give up cigarettes even though they do have a desire to do so.
There are many ongoing efforts to help doctors become as healthy as possible. The goal is that a healthy doctor who is taking care of himself or herself is a better doctor. They will have the ability to focus on the needs of their patients in a manner that was absent in the past. Doctors often suffer from burnout, so efforts to help them with a schedule that is more routine is important when possible.
A healthy doctor is going to be able to focus on their patients instead of having their own health concerns to worry about. A healthy lifestyle will help a doctor hold up against the stress and demanding schedules of the job. Being a confident doctor means that you know the messages you send can make an impact. As a doctor, you are in a position to help people make positive choices that can really help them in their overall life.