Health Care

by Bryan lee

Dizziness is a term used to describe when you are feeling woozy, or faint. Vertigo, a symptom of dizziness, is the feeling that the room is spinning around you. When people experience dizziness, it may be a symptom showing the balance mechanism in your inner ear is not working properly.

What causes dizziness?

Circulation: If your brain does not get enough blood flow, you feel lightheaded. Almost everyone has experienced this on occasion when standing up quickly from a lying down position. But some people have light-headedness from poor circulation on a frequent or chronic basis. This could be caused by arteriosclerosis or hardening of the arteries, and it is commonly seen in patients who have high blood pressure, diabetes, or high levels of blood fats (cholesterol). It is sometimes seen in patients with inadequate cardiac (heart) function, hypoglycemia (low blood sugar), or anemia (low iron). Certain drugs also decrease the blood flow to the brain, especially stimulants such as nicotine and caffeine.

Vertigo refers to the sensation of being in a spinning environment. At rest, continuous and balanced signals from the peripheral vestibular system keep the eyes stationary via connections in the brain. When the head moves, a physiological imbalance in the signals leads to small movements of the eyes that keep vision optimal. When a sudden abnormality in the balance of the signals occurs, the result is a pattern of eye movements referred to as nystagmus.

The most common causes of vertigo are benign positional vertigo and labyrinthitis. Benign positional vertigo is vertigo that happens when you change the position of your head. Labyrinthitis usually follows a cold or flu and is caused by a viral infection of the inner ear. Meniere's disease is another common inner ear problem. It causes vertigo, loss of balance, and ringing in the ears.

Much less commonly, vertigo or feeling unsteady is a sign of stroke, multiple sclerosis, seizures, a brain tumor, or a bleed in your brain. In such conditions, other symptoms usually accompany the vertigo or imbalance.

Dizziness Symptoms

Extremities (arms and legs): tingling, weakness, clumsiness or weakness, fast, slow, or irregular pulses

Chest: pain (tightness, squeezing, burning, or pressure), shortness of breath, palpitations, jaw pain

Dizziness: Treatment

Treatment is determined by the underlying cause. If an individual has a cold or influenza, a few days of bed rest is usually adequate to resolve dizziness. Other causes of dizziness, such as mild vestibular system damage, may resolve without medical treatment.

If dizziness continues, drug therapy may prove helpful. Because circulatory problems often cause dizziness, medication may be prescribed to control blood pressure or to treat arteriosclerosis. Sedatives may be useful to relieve the tension that can trigger or aggravate dizziness. Low blood sugar associated with diabetes sometimes causes dizziness and is treated by controlling blood sugar levels. An individual may be asked to avoid caffeine, nicotine, alcohol, and any substances that cause allergic reactions. A low-salt diet may also help some people.

About the Author

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By: Gerard Malouf Solicitor

As a result of injuries sustained in work accident or motor vehicle claim accidents or other injuries sustained, it is common for doctors to prescribe apart from other forms of treatment, medications for pain relief. These can be non-steroid or anti-inflammatories and stronger types of pain relieving medication. Often, such medication is used on a long term basis, and it is in these instances where complications can arise. The type of problems in the gastrointestinal tract is in part related to the long term ingestion of tablets related to

1. pain relief
2. relief of stress
3. relief of symptoms of diorreia

Often the ingestion of medications has been for months or even years for the relief of pain or in such instances to assist in the management of depression and stress following an injury.

In relation to the type of symptoms one would develop these can be listed as follows:

1. pain in the upper part of the abdomen just below the rib cage, possibly with some radiation through to the back and possibly radiating to the left or right side.

2. nausea with or without the ingestion of food

3. vomiting which may or may not be accompanied by specks of blood

4. pain accompanied by burning sensation in the upper abdomen, possibly aggravated by food

5. the need to take antacid liquids or tablets usually recommended by the patients GP

6. multiple visits to the GP because of the pain in the abdomen

7. diorreia aggravated by food and accompanied by bleeding, fresh blood or dark blood in the stool

8. pain in the abdomen aggravated by the ingestion of food

9. change of lifestyle due to severe pain

10. loss of appetite

11. change of work and social activity because of change of bowel function including diorreia

12. waking at night because of abdomen pain

13. history of duodenal or gastric ulcer

All the above symptoms can reasonably be related to the long term ingestion of medication for the relief of pain. Gerard Malouf and Partners in investigating and preparing claims on behalf of their clients, specifically look at these types of symptoms to determine whether it would be appropriate in the circumstances to ensure that our clients are also examined by one of our independent and specialised gastroenterological specialist’s.

Under the relevant legislation, whether it be the Motor Accident Compensation Act of the Workers Compensation both forms of legislation determine the level of impairment based on a percentage which is calculated by the doctors to determine percentage of Whole Person Impairment relating to AMA 4th Edition (Motor Vehicle Accident Claims), and AMA 5th Edition (Workers Compensation Claims).

A gastroenterologist providing a report in relation to commenting on these symptoms is also able to allocate a significant degree of Whole Person Impairment percentage to the injury which will assist in getting it over the relevant thresholds whether they be under the Motor Accident Compensation Act or the Workers Compensation Act. Once over these thresholds, significant compensation is then attributable to the injury.

About the Author
Gerard has been a legal practitioner and an Accredited Personal Injury/Negligence specialist for over 25 years. Contact Gerard for more information in relation to your injury compensation claim.

By Kirsten Whittaker

A recent study released by the Journal of the American Medical Association raises a concern about the chemical bisphenol-A, (BPA) in plastic bottles, metal cans and various food packaging, as well as in all those eco-friendly reusable water bottles we're all carrying around.

Based on a health survey, the study found that those who had higher amounts of BPA in their urine were more likely to report having heart disease and diabetes. Of course the research presents no information that says the BPA caused these conditions, and the study authors agree that you can't rule out the possibility that people who already have heart disease or diabetes are more vulnerable to having BPA show up in their samples.

True to form, NBC's Today Show aired a report earlier this year that glossed over the facts and highlighted a fearful danger - needlessly worrying millions of us who've fed our children from clear plastic baby bottles and sippy cups, who've tried not to add to the world's pollution by switching to re-useable water bottles.

The story had us turning over our plastic containers in search of numbers (resin ID codes #3, #6 and #7) that it turns out, don't have anything to do with a product being made from BPA, the chemical bad guy of the piece.

The "Consumer Alert" (inaccurately) said:

- There is no safe level of BPA, when in fact the chemical has been studied for many years and found to be safe, especially considering that the levels we ingest are thousands of times lower than the rats that have been studied.

- Plastics containing BPA aren't safe in the microwave, yet a Dutch study that focused on BPA migration after microwaving found no evidence of any such thing.

- Codes on the bottom of a container can tell you if it's safe. Wrong! These resin ID codes are intended to aid in recycling facilities, and have nothing to do with identifying bottles that have BPA. Any item intended to be used for food must pass tough FDA guidelines before its ever allowed on the market.

All this flies in the face of 40 years of science, according to a statement released by the American Chemistry Council a few days after the Today segment aired. Another thoughtful piece by Gilbert Ross, M.D. of the American Council On Science And Health (who also appeared, very briefly in the report) came out and called the Today report what it is - junk science.

Not only that, the in-studio guest, Dr. Leo Trasande of Mount Sinai Medical Center was given ample time during the six minute long segment to convey his message, while Dr. Ross had only 6 seconds to tell viewers that, "The toxic effects found on rats were done at thousands of times higher than we are exposed to in the environment."

Not so "fair and balanced" now is it?

The media mis-information comes as the result of a report by the National Toxicology Program that was a follow up from an expert panel review completed in 2007. Both the expert panel and the NTP reports similarly concluded a low-rate risk, or negligible concern, for adults and some concern for infants and children.

"That is the third-lowest ranking on NTP's five-level scale. Yet the media has mischaracterized the conclusions as suggesting a new direction is being given by NTP about the use of BPA. This is inaccurate," says Sharon Kneiss, vice president of the products division of the American Chemistry Council (ACC).

Until the science is sorted out, there is no way to tell if a bottle you're using is made with BPA. If you're especially concerned, you might want to avoid warming or microwaving food or beverages in plastic containers until more research on the leaking of the chemical can be completed.

In the meantime the FDA is having a second scientific panel give an opinion on the safety of BPA in plastic bottles and other packaging, though the agency has confidence in its own research, more carefully designed and thorough than the human studies that seem to be causing all the concern.

Over 14,000 people have joined Kirsten's popular (and sometimes controversial) Daily Health Bulletin, so why not join them and stay up to date with the latest in BPA Plastic Bottle safety and general health news daily.

You'll also get 5 comprehensive health reports for free when you join - giving you all the information you need to treat common ailments, lose weight, look younger and feel healthier.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Kirsten_Whittaker

by: John Tech

A recent study by BMJ showed that approximately half of U.S. doctors frequently use a placebo. This made mainstream headlines and has spawned much debate among healthcare providers about the results. This number seems staggering at first. The survey was a mailed questionnaire that was sent to 1200 internists and rheumatologists in the U.S. A little more than half responded to the survey, and about half of those indicated that they had indeed used a placebo to treat a patient. Nearly two-thirds indicated that it was ethical to use a placebo.

A little closer inspection of the mind-blowing headline showed that there were several levels of placebo. Many indicated that they had used vitamins or over-the-counter drugs such as aspirin. Only a few indicated that they had actually used a sugar pill or saline, the typical interpretation of a placebo. But more than a handful of doctors indicated that they used antibiotics or sedatives to treat a medical condition for which they couldnt identify or resolve using the traditional treatments.

This dangerous statistic is especially scary because scientists are convinced that use of antibiotics leads to mutations that are more resistant to antibiotics. We may need additional clinical studies on this, but generally this is an understood fact. This fear of a superbug has often led to patient frustration and dissatisfaction, as they ask for antibiotics when they have a common cold or flu. Patients then shop for doctors who ignore these warnings and prescribe antibiotics for conditions in which they should not receive the medicine.

That over 13 percent of doctors are taking this risk to satisfy their patients is alarming. The fact that we as patients are so convinced of the success of the antibiotics that dont work other than as a placebo is more alarming. In short, the reason that this placebo study is alarming isnt that half of doctors are using placebos. It is that these doctors are supporting a behavior that is dangerous to our overall good. It is time that all doctors look in the mirror and decide to not prescribe antibiotics that arent indicated. It is time that patients are educated properly and start listening to the other 87 percent of doctors who refuse (or dont admit) to prescribing antibiotics that dont match the condition.

This is yet another reason we should institute a national electronic health records system (http://www.chartlogic.com) to identify these behaviors and take action to prevent individuals from causing larger health care issues.