Health Care

By: Hayden Eck

Influenza is one of the more common illnesses affecting a person. There is no specific age group that is prone or not prone to influenza. It affects the young and the old in equal measure. Also, perfectly healthy people can be affected by this virus. Older people are definitely more vulnerable from it and it’s advisable that they get immediate medical attention for the same.

Influenza

Influenza, commonly known as the flu, is a viral infection. Typically, the virus spreads when an infected person sneezes and coughs. The tiny droplets of saliva help carry the virus and spread it in the air, easily infecting other people in the vicinity. The virus affects the nose, bronchi, lungs and throat. The infection is characterized by a sudden onset of fever, sore throat, cough and muscle pain. Some other symptoms of influenza include headache, runny nose, increased sensitivity to light, ocular pain, and a burning sensation in the chest.

The influenza pandemic

The most recent occurrence of the influenza pandemic was in the form of swine flu which spread on a worldwide scale. It affected populations across the globe and countries found it tough to restrict its spread due to the unavailability of any vaccine that could help combat the threat. An influenza pandemic differs in scope to the regular seasonal influenza epidemics. Pandemics are irregular and the mortality rates are high. The latest influenza pandemic has resulted in the deaths of thousands of people worldwide. Swine flu became a pandemic because it was caused by a new strain of the influenza virus. People hadn’t developed the immunity to this virus strain as they had with the older strains of human influenza.

Influenza - Treatment options

There is a range of treatment options available for influenza. It includes a mixture of medications and therapies. There are two types of treatment option for the virus. The first targets the virus directly, while the second provides relief from the associated symptoms of this condition. In the latter, the body’s immune system acts on the virus to help it recover from the infection. The two main antiviral drugs that are used against influenza belong to the family of medications known as neuraminidase inhibitors. Tamiflu, its active ingredient oseltamivir, and Relenza, its active ingredient zanamivir, are the two commonly prescribed medications for influenza.

Tamiflu - One of the first options for influenza treatment

There are many drugs available for the treatment of influenza, but Tamiflu (Oseltamivir) is the most prescribed option. This is because it not only works against influenza Type A virus, but is also effective against the influenza Type B virus. It was also found to effectively treat the symptoms associated with swine flu. Tamiflu takes the lead over most other medications as it directly fights the virus and not its symptoms. Tamiflu is not an over-the-counter drug and a doctor’s prescription is necessary if you want to buy the drug. It’s important that you apprise your doctor of your medical history and intake of medications during the consultation. This will make sure that your doctor prescribes Tamiflu keeping your overall health perspective in mind.

Get more information on working of Tamiflu, its side effects, news and detailed information on Influenza from euroClinix.net.

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By: Riza Belgira

Hysterectomy is one of the gynecological procedures being done to remedy and provide solutions for reproductive health problems that can affect the person or endanger the life of a person. However, there is a long controversy involved with the procedure as the operation would paralyzed the reproductive system. But what is hysterectomy all about and why it is needed to be performed?

Hysterectomy is a procedure that involves taking out of a woman's uterus. Yet, if cancer is present, other organs may also be removed such as the cervix, ovaries and the fallopian tubes. This is also true in case of endometriosis. In an estimate made, 300 out of every 100,000 women will undergo a hysterectomy.

What are the health problems that may lead to hysterectomy?

Cancer. Most people are familiar with surgical operations being made to removed cancer cells in the body and one of these operations is hysterectomy especially when the cancer affects the cervix, the ovaries or surrounding tissues. Yet, contrary to what may be expected only 10% of hysterectomy are performed because of cancer.

Fibroids. Fibroids happen when tumors (non-cancerous) grew in the uterus. This is the most common reason why hysterectomy is being done. Some cases of uterine fibroids can be asymptomatic while most known symptoms are pain during sexual intercourse, heavy bleeding, backache and urinary retention.

Pelvic adhesion. This happens when the lining of the abdomen had been irritated that can result to adhesions (scarring). This can bind affected organs to each other. Most common causes for pelvic adhesions are endometriosis, an infection or an injury.

Endometriosis. This reproductive problem is a noncancerous condition in which cells from the uterine lining grow like islands outside of the uterus. This is common in women who were later found to be infertile.

Pelvic prolapse. In some instances, the bladder may be pulled downward with the uterus. A hysterectomy with repair of supporting structures is usually recommended in more serious cases.

Women who underwent the said operation usually get admitted in the hospital for one or two days after surgery. This can extend however depending on the response of the body to the operation.

Riza C. Belgira is health enthusiast and an advocate of strengthening women's health and well-being through informative health resources and articles.

Visit her web site and explore informative and useful tips on pregnancy, dieting and weight loss at http://www.4d-ultrasoundscan.co.uk/

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By: Robert Whitney

Yaz gallbladder disease is usually discussed in the context of cholesterol-based gallstones and inflammation of the gall bladder. The condition can also lead to acute pancreatitis. While pancreatitis can normally be treated with fluids and medications (delivered through an IV), a small percentage of cases may become serious - even potentially life-threatening.

This article will first describe the function of your pancreas and its role in your body's digestive process. We'll then take a closer look at how Yaz gallbladder disease can lead to inflammation of the pancreas and other side effects of acute pancreatitis.

How Your Pancreas Works

Your pancreas has two important jobs to perform. First, it produces enzymes that are vital to the digestion of proteins and fats within your small intestine. The organ secretes these enzymes through the pancreatic duct, which leads to the duodenum. The pancreas's second responsibility is to release insulin into your bloodstream.

If something blocks the passage of the digestive enzymes as they move toward the duodenum, the enzymes can activate while still contained within the pancreatic duct. If this happens, they will attack the organ. This leads to inflammation which manifests as abdominal pain (mild to severe), nausea and vomiting, and fever.

It is estimated that over 200,000 cases of acute pancreatitis are diagnosed each year. Up to 40% are due to blockages caused by gallstones.

Yaz Gallstones And Acute Pancreatitis

Gallstones can form due to several factors. For example, there may be higher than normal levels of cholesterol contained within the bile secreted by the liver. The cells within the wall of the gall bladder may be unable to fully absorb the excess cholesterol. As a result, the cholesterol crystallizes and forms stones. A lack of activity (i.e. contractions) within the gallbladder can also lead to gallstones; the bile is not pushed out of the organ quickly enough and is allowed to stagnate.

Yaz birth control pills are thought to contribute to stones in two ways: increased levels of cholesterol and less frequent contractions of the gallbladder.

If the stones migrate from the gallbladder into the common bile duct, they can travel to the lower portion of the duct. This is where the common bile duct merges with the pancreatic duct before both empty into the duodenum through the Sphincter of Oddi. Yaz gallstones that become lodged within this area can block the digestive enzymes secreted by the pancreas. The result is acute pancreatitis, also commonly known as gallstone pancreatitis.

Treatment For Yaz Gallstone Pancreatitis

If acute pancreatitis is not associated with gallstones, it can usually be treated by the approach mentioned above: intravenous infusion of fluids and medications. However, Yaz gallbladder disease complicates matters. If inflammation or stones are present, your doctor will likely recommend gallbladder removal surgery.

Your gallbladder can normally be removed with a minimally invasive procedure called laparoscopic cholecystectomy. However, gallstones that trigger acute pancreatitis are found in the bile duct. If the surgeon is unable to remove them through laparoscopy, he must convert to open surgery. Not only are the risks greater with open surgery (including injury to the bile duct), but there is more postoperative pain and the recovery time is longer.

Gallbladder disease is one of the serious side effects of using Yaz birth control pills. If you have suffered inflammation within your gallbladder, gallstones, or acute pancreatitis after taking this combined-hormone oral contraceptive, you may have the right to file a claim against the manufacturer.

Robert Whitney is the author of this article on Yaz gallbladder settlement. Find more information about Yasmin gallbladder removal here.

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By: Gregg Camp

One of the most common diseases that affect the aging population of California is COPD. COPD( chronic obstructive pulmonary disease), is a progressive disease that makes it hard to breathe. "Progressive" means the disease gets worse over time. There is no cure; doctors try to treat the symptoms to relieve the patients' discomfort. COPD can cause coughing that produces large amounts of mucus, wheezing, shortness of breath, chest tightness, and other symptoms.

To understand COPD, you need to be able to figure out the lungs work. The air that you breathe goes down your windpipe into tubes in your lungs called bronchial tubes, or airways. The airways are shaped like an upside-down tree with many branches. At the end of the branches are tiny air sacs called alveoli. The airways and air sacs are elastic. When you breathe in, each air sac fills up with air like a small balloon. When you breathe out, the air sac deflates and the air goes out.

In COPD, less air flows in and out of the airways because of one of the following reasons:
• The airways and air sacs lose their elastic quality.
• The walls between many of the air sacs are destroyed.
• The walls of the airways become thick and inflamed (swollen).
• The airways make more mucus than usual, which tends to clog the airways.

COPD is made worse by a lot of dust in the air or on days that smog is really high. The smog and dust will close the airways, causing a person to have even more difficulty breathing.

California has recently passed some new emissions control laws to help people with lowered lung capacity. These laws require trucking companies to operate trucks that have a new pollution control system. The new pollution control systems are projected to decrease the amount of fine particulates (smog causing) released into the air by as much as 75% to 85%. These laws don't go into effect until 2010. Although the new laws are coming in the future, they represent a ray of hope for COPD sufferers.

COPD patients can reduce their symptoms by making a few changes in their lifestyles. The biggest is to move away from the smog centers in California. Not everyone can do that, so try some of these other things: avoid lung irritants, get ongoing care, manage the disease and its symptoms, and prepare for emergencies.

Avoid lung irritants means to stop smoking, and avoid air pollution as much as possible. You can avoid air pollution by closing your windows and have filters on your air condition that filter out the smallest particles as possible. Visit your doctor regularly to receive ongoing care and to manage your illness and all of the symptoms as they appear. Prepare for emergencies by having inhalers on hand and oxygen nearby.

States are trying to pass laws to lower air pollution, treatment is getting better, and patients are becoming more aware. While a cure is not on the horizon, treatment and prognosis is improving.

Gregg Camp, of Propertyinsantacruz.com is a local realtor who sells Santa Cruz homes. He works in the Santa Cruz real estate market and specializes in Rio Del Mar beach homes

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