Diseases Talk

Last December my doctor and I decided it was time for me to undergo a colonoscopy as a routine preventative care measure. I was 66 at that time, in excellent health, but had never had a colonoscopy. Unfortunately, for me, I was scheduled for the endoscopy center here in Nevada that since then has been in the national news. Over 40,000 patients here in Nevada have been exposed to Hepatitis B and C and possibly HIV, several cases of Hepatitis, have been linked back to this particular endoscopy center. At the time I was scheduled to have my procedure, December 2007, none of this had been made public.More...

Recently I received a letter indicating that I needed to be tested for this life threatening disease. It takes several weeks to get results from your blood tests because of the volume of people that need to be tested. I had so many questions running through my mind; Have I unknowingly acquired a potentially fatal disease or lifelong serious illness? Am I a victim of gross negligence by the medical professionals that treated me? Not only is this a constant worry, but each time there is a news broadcast or article in the paper, and there is one almost everyday, it just fuels my anxiety and makes me angrier. To make matters worse when I met with my primary physician, I was told since my colonoscopy was so recent, I would have to be tested again in June. It seems I will have to wait even longer before I know I am totally free of any life threatening disease. There is an incubation period for Hepatitis B and C when the tests may not show positive during that time period, therefore you need to be tested again in 6 months.

I am devastated, fearful and very very angry at the doctors and nurses who allowed this to happen. These are individuals who are supposed to be the caretakers of our health, prevent disease and use good judgment when dealing with health issues and the public welfare. These doctors and nurses carried out unsafe practices, jeopardized thousands of people and risked public safety. Someone should have blown the whistle and put a stop to this a long time ago. The nurses involved indicated they were ordered to engage in the dangerous practice of reusing syringes and single-dose medicine vials. Nurses as well as doctors take an oath to prevent disease whenever they can and have a special obligation to the welfare of the public. I fault them as much as the doctors involved. Knowing or even fearing they might lose their job if they reported these practices is inexcusable. Are they all without a conscience, integrity and lack good judgment? They certainly did not treat their patients to their best ability or live up to the oath they took. They were only concerned about saving their jobs. Obviously the oath they took means nothing to them.

Eight to ten thousand deaths occur each year resulting from the complications of Hepatitis C. Eighty percent of affected people can become chronically infected and risk serious long term disease. Hepatitis C can cause serious liver damage, cancer and cirrhosis of the liver. There is no cure for this disease. Not knowing if I am infected for sure is the biggest concern right now. Who to trust when I do need medical help and advise is another worry I need to deal with. No matter how important it is to have a colonoscopy, fear itself could keep me from having another one. I work very hard at living a healthy lifestyle, getting proper exercise and maintaining my weight through good nutrition. Now all my hard work is in jeopardy. There is no good reason anyone should have to risk death or a life-long chronic disease when getting a routine medical procedure to check for colon cancer. This entire travesty is absolutely outrageous and certainly uncalled for!

Rosacea (pronounced "roh-ZAY-sha") is a condition of the skin often referred to as adult acne (although it shouldn't be confused with acne) that causes red blemishes to form on the nose and cheek area.

Rosacea is a condition that afflicts millions of Americans alone, and usually manifests between the ages of 30 to 40. The condition, unfortunately, often worsens with time. This common skin condition is characterized by redness, pimples, and broken blood vessels. Rosacea is not 'picky' about its victims. Both men and women have been diagnosed with it; however, the condition is usually worse in men because men generally wait a long time before seeking treatment for the condition.

General redness, broken and enlarged capillaries are signs that you may have this skin condition. The cause of the condition is unknown but it is suspected that genetics play a role. In its mildest form, Rosacea can be difficult to recognize. In some cases, this skin condition may also occur on the neck, chest, scalp or ears. Over time, the redness tends to become ruddier and more persistent, and visible blood vessels may appear. Left untreated, bumps and pimples often develop, and in severe cases the nose may grow swollen and bumpy from excess tissue.

Flare-ups of this condition have been associated with the consumption of alcohol, spicy foods, citrus, hot beverages, tobacco, external heat and sun exposure. People with Rosacea should avoid these irritating factors. Menopause may also be a factor.

Rosacea, in short, is a skin disorder that can lead to feelings of frustration, anger, embarrassment, and lower self-esteem. It is no wonder that so many people are looking for possible cures and potential treatments. It should be noted that fair skinned people, such as those of Celtic, Irish, and Scandinavian origin are particularly susceptible. The cause of this skin condition is still unknown, but most experts believe it could be a bodily response to bacteria. Oral antibiotics are often prescribed, not as cures, but as treatments.

Unfortunately, there are no proven cures as of yet. However, there are various treatments that you might want to investigate; these will require seeking the advice of your physician, dermatologist, or a skin care consultant. Oral antibiotics are often prescribed. Among the most popular are tetracycline and erythromycin. These will help more with the acne-like flare ups associated with the skin condition, but less helpful for the ruddy complexion and conspicuous blood vessels.

As well as antibiotics, there are also some prescription topical medications that are often prescribed as treatment options. One of the most popular of these is Metronidazole, which is an antibiotic cream.

These topical treatments can help more with the redness of the condition. Again, they are not cures, and they may have side effects.

Some of the treatments for the embarrassingly conspicuous blood vessels include having laser therapy or electro surgery performed. All available treatments should be addressed with your doctor as some can have very serious side effects.

Although hardly constituting cures, what follows are some lifestyle tips and suggestions for those with this condition:

1. Sunlight can make the condition worse, so use sunscreen, or wear clothing that limits your sun exposure (such as a hat). Also, try to cut back on activities that put you in direct sunlight for long periods of time.

2. Stress can sometimes make your flare-ups worse. Try to make time for meditation or other relaxation techniques everyday. Yes, this may be difficult for some, but at least try to relax!

3. Hot weather, hot water, and hot, spicy foods can all make the condition worse. Keep cool!

4. Alcohol can cause flushing of the skin, which makes the visible signs of Rosacea more noticeable.

5. Profuse sweating and flushing from exercise can worsen the condition.

6. Use a gentle cleanser without harsh chemicals.

Although the items listed above are not cures, they should help you control your condition's severity. Unless directed otherwise by a physician, some specific over-the-counter skin care products may help to ease the discomfort and negative effects. Make sure they are mild and contain no harsh chemicals that may further irritate your skin.

Yeast infection in children and infants usually manifest in the vaginal (vaginitis) or rectal area (diaper rash, pruritis ani, or hemorrhoids).

They can usually be treated successfully by changing to a high-fiber diet and using natural remedies, especially lactobacillus acidophilus and bifidus. Spir-ulina, chlorella, barley green, and other green foods are easy to take for infants and children and are good immune system boosters. Topically, creams containing calendula, zinc oxide, and aloe vera are often effective.

The usual cause of the yeast infection in children is the high sugar intake found in commercial infant formulas or "unsweetened" fruit juices. Even if juices are freshly squeezed and consumed immediately, the average glass of apple or orange juice has the equivalent of five or more teaspoons of sugar.

Cow's milk, soy milk, rice milk, and even goat's milk can increase the total daily sugar intake to fungal growth-stimulating levels in susceptible individuals. Switch to water until the infection clears, then use these beverages sparingly, if at all for older children For infants, switch to yeast-free, sugar-free formula and rotate types of milk.

In the case of vaginal yeast infection in children, make sure that underpants are loose and allow the passage of oxygen. Fungi are difficult to eradicate from underwear even if they are machine-washed with detergents.

In persistent, recurrent vaginal yeast infections, placing the moistened underwear in a microwave oven and turning the setting to high for five minutes destroys all traces of the yeast infection. Placing underwear on a clothesline in the sun for one hour will also kill Candida. Sitz baths with Epsom salts or magnesium sulfate are soothing for the inflammation, often the cause of severe itching in Candida vaginitis.

Echinacea, goldenseal, calendula, ginger, pau d'arco, and aloe vera can be consumed in liquid form as herbal juices or tinctures. Lactobacillus products can be taken in a powdered form, as can buffered vitamin C.

Children often seem to respond better to homeopathic remedies like cantheris (123 or 6C) and sulfur (303 or 9C) taken three or more times daily.

Recurrent or resistant yeast infection in children should alert one to the possibility of an underlying diabetes or immune system problem. A medical doctor can order appropriate tests that confirm or rule out underlying diseases requiring medical treatment.

Raynaud's Disease - An Overview

Raynaud's disease is characterized by experiencing numbness or coldness in the extremities due to temperature change or stress. Common extremities that are affected include the nose, fingers, toes, and ears. When a person suffering from Raynaud's disease is exposed to cold or experiencing stress, the blood flow to their extremities is reduced due to the narrowing of the veins and blood vessels. This causes the blood to be low in oxygen, turning extremities blue or white and leaving them feeling cold or numb. Although this disease is most commonly found in women, men may experience the effects of Raynaud's disease as well.

Primary Pulmonary Hypertension (PPH)

Primary Pulmonary Hypertension occurs when the blood pressure in the pulmonary artery increases, causing the right side of the heart to work overtime in order to convert the carbon dioxide in the blood to oxygen. If the blood pressure is too high, the blood does not receive the proper amount of oxygen, causing the veins and blood vessels to become even more constricted. If left untreated, the condition could lead to right-sided heart failure. Most recently, cases of PPH have developed after patients began using diet drugs containing Fen-Phen. This dangerous drug caused the heart's veins and vessels to shrink, or constrict, causing blood pressure to rise. Soon after these dangerous health complications were discovered, the FDA pulled the drug from the market; however, for those who had already been affected by the drug, it was too late.

PPH is often treated with the use of beta blockers, ACE inhibitors, diuretics, and oxygen therapy. These treatments attempt to optimize the left side of the heart in order to relieve the right side from over exerting itself. If you have been diagnosed with PPH and believe that your condition was caused by defective weight loss drugs or other medications, it is in your best interest to consult an attorney. A skilled lawyer will know how best to proceed with legal action and can provide you the guidance you need.

The Link

Studies suggest that people with Raynaud's disease are much more likely to develop PPH. The constriction of the veins and blood vessels that occurs due to Raynaud's disease easily lends itself to the development of PPH, whether or not the person with Raynaud's disease has used weight loss drugs containing Fen-Phen. Studies have yet to determine what might occur if a person suffering from Raynaud's disease was to use weight loss drugs containing Fen-Phen, however, the science behind the conditions show that the outcome would not be favorable for the Fen-Phen user.

If you or a loved one has suffered from PPH due to the use of a defective weight loss drug or other defective medication, contact an experienced PPH attorney immediately to discuss your legal rights.

If you are experiencing hiccups, acid reflux could be a contributory factor and you may need to find a remedy to find relief from this non-serious, yet distressing symptom.

Hiccups, also called hiccoughs, result when the diaphragm suddenly contracts. The diaphragm is the thin muscle located under the heart and lungs that separates the chest from the abdomen and assists with inhaling. After the diaphragm contracts, the top portion of the windpipe known as the glottis, immediately closes which creates the characteristic "hic" sound of hiccups.

A hiccup is a reflex you have no control over and can be hard to stop. That being said, the interesting fact about hiccups is that unlike other reflexes (I.E. sneezing, coughing, etc.), a hiccup does not appear to have a useful purpose.

What is the hiccups acid reflux connection? Most people have a case of the hiccups every once in a while, and in many of these instances, the spell of hiccups is brief, and there is no apparent reason why it was experienced. However, if hiccups are related to acid reflux, it is not uncommon for hiccups to be persistent and last for hours, this could be because of:

- Temporary swollen stomach - This could be caused by eating too quickly, overeating, drinking carbonated beverages, swallowing air.
- Alcohol - This is more common with fizzy alcohol drinks such as beer, sparkling wine, and mixed drinks. Too much air may also be swallowed while drinking alcohol.
- Excessive smoking - taking in too much air
- Emotional stress - when stressed many people tend to overeat, eat too fast, drink alcohol, smoke excessively, and are more prone to gulping air.

How can you treat hiccups? In many cases, there is no need for treatment because hiccups will typically disappear as quickly as they occurred. However, the following are some remedies you can try to treat mild hiccups:

- Drink a full glass of water
- Sip ice water
- Suck on an ice cube
- Hold your breath for 30 seconds
- Breath rapidly
- Breath into a paper bag
- Pull your knees into your chest
- Gasping from sudden fright
- Distract your mind from thinking about the hiccups

The above hiccup remedies will usually only work with short bouts of hiccups, and will not cure persistent hiccups that last for longer than 24 hours, or hiccups that recur frequently throughout the day. If you have persistent hiccups, they could be the cause of acid reflux, in which case you should be experiencing other acid reflux symptoms aside from the hiccups including heartburn, belching, regurgitation, coughing, etc. Therefore, try the following to remedy your acid reflux hiccups:

- Avoid drinking alcohol and carbonated beverages
- Stop smoking
- Eat and drink slowly. You should also eat small portions of food to prevent overeating.
- Reduce stress. Find ways to relax or release bottled up energy through exercise, meditation, or taking part in activities you enjoy.

If you try the above remedies and they do not work, you should see your doctor to discover what the underlying cause of your hiccups are. You may discover that your hiccups and acid reflux are not related. The reason is because there are more than 100 conditions that can cause hiccups. Usually when the underlying cause is identified, persistent hiccups can be cured.