Archive for June, 2009

A complete insight into high cholesterol and a possible treatment, Crestor

Monday, June 29th, 2009

As more and more people today become aware about ‘cholesterol’ and its negative affects on our body, they actively seek to change to a healthy lifestyle, which will protect them against this life threatening condition. Normally, when somebody hears the word ‘cholesterol’, he/she automatically assumes that it is bad; however, cholesterol can be both good and bad. Moreover, our bodies require cholesterol in small amounts. But the saddening part is that most people struggle with high levels of the bad cholesterol. Today this can be medically treated.

High Cholesterol
High cholesterol is in fact the leading cause of heart disease and stroke among both men and women. Nevertheless, with simple lifestyle changes as well as with medication this issue is effectively addressed, but to be able to do this you have to be well-informed on this issue and its risk factors.

If a person has high levels of bad cholesterol, then he/she is in danger of acquiring various health problems. For instance, too much cholesterol in the blood can build up on arterial walls, clogging the arteries, and leading possibly to a heart attack or stroke. High cholesterol is something that literally creeps on you without causing too many symptoms.

High Cholesterol Treatment
The goal in treating high cholesterol is to reduce the chances of a heart attack or stroke. After a cholesterol test, the treatment is started based on a person’s cholesterol levels and overall health. Most of people suffering from high cholesterol are asked to change their lifestyles wherein they are asked to eat a healthy cholesterol-lowering diet containing negligible saturated and trans fat, be physically active and lose weight. Smoking cessation also helps in increasing the HDL (good) cholesterol levels.

People with high cholesterol in combination with diseases like diabetes, high blood pressure, or coronary artery disease may need to start on medicines right away because they have higher cardiovascular risks.

Introduction to Crestor
Your doctor will advise you medication based on your risk category. This medicine will more likely be a statin. Statins cut down on the body’s natural production of cholesterol, lowering the risk of heart attack, stroke and even death in people with high risk.

Crestor, a statin, is an effective cholesterol inhibitor. Studies have shown that Crestor can slow down the progress of atherosclerosis significantly. It is already on the market in more than 70 countries worldwide, displaying high effectiveness and safety. Moreover, Crestor can make an important contribution to the health sector because it is cheaper than the current second-line therapy drugs.

Dermalogica Treatments

Wednesday, June 24th, 2009

A few years ago i was given some free spa style treatments as a birthday present. I enjoyed a number of Dermalogica treatments and I have been buying products from the Dermalogica range ever since.

The Dermalogica range as something available to suit all skin types, using natural ingredients blended with latest technologies and research to promote healthy skin. None of the Dermalogica range use pore-cloggingmineral oil or lanolin instead using the finest natural ingredients, they also contain no aftificial frangrances or colours. I am also very pleased to know there is no drying alcohol and the range is not tested on animals.

As you would expect from a range of professional skin care products, Dermalogica is far from cheap, although that said, they still offer incredible value for money when you balance price against quality. It’s not likely you will find Dermalogica products in your local chemist as only specialist salons with treatment facilities are approved by Dermalogica as stockists. It’s advisable to visit a trained Dermalogica therapists for a consultation, they will then be able to give you advice on which products of the range to use.

As previously mentioned the range his huge and ever expanding, Dermalogica have been quick to realise that its not just women that use skin care products and as such they have released Dermalogica Shave products.

Swine Flu Pandemic – 1st in 40 years

Monday, June 22nd, 2009

Swine flu is a respiratory disease of pigs caused by the type A flu virus. H1N1 is a subtype of the species Influenza A virus or flu. A person should seek immediate medical care if they develop flu and they have other significant health problems, or if they become more seriously ill.

Symptoms of swine flu in humans are quite similar to those seen in people suffering from seasonal flu. The symptoms include fever, lethargy, lack of appetite, runny nose, sore throat, nausea, vomiting and diarrhea. World Health Organization has already declared swine flu as a pandemic, first flu pandemic in 40 years.

All suffering from swine flu are being treated with anti viral drug Tamiflu to prevent it from spreading further. There are increasing numbers of people to buy Tamiflu online from the web. People should double-check the sellers and the drug before they place an order. Tamiflu Oseltamivir is a neuraminidase inhibitors (NAI’s). Neuraminidase is a protein on the surface of an influenza virus that enhances its ability to scatter scraps of virus to infect other cells.

Swine flu currently responds to Tamiflu but fears are arising that swine flu viruses might become resistant to Tamiflu. WHO has recommended that pharmaceutical companies should develop a swine flu vaccine.

BID ADIEU TO HAIR LOSS

Thursday, June 18th, 2009

The major cause of hair loss in men is a condition called male pattern baldness or androgenetic alopecia. In this condition hair loss occurs in a well-defined pattern beginning above both temples. Hair may also thin at the crown. Male pattern baldness can progress into partial or complete baldness in some men. Male pattern baldness can be commonly noticed in men in their middle ages, however, these days’ men in their 20s and 30s are also experiencing hair loss due to male pattern baldness.

Common causes for male pattern baldness
Male pattern baldness is said to be primarily caused by a combination of two factors - a genetic predisposition and Dihydrotestosterone (DHT).

According to experts, a man who is experiencing male pattern baldness has inherited a gene that is likely to cause hair loss. On the other hand, DHT is the active form of male sex hormone testosterone that is present in every man, however in some men there may be an excess of DHT. Research has shown that elevated levels of DHT shrink hair follicles and suppress the growth of new hair. It has also been proved that if the production of DHT is suppressed, hair follicle with continue to thrive and thus excess hair fall can be prevented.

Various treatments available for male hair loss
The treatment methods available for male hair loss include –

Natural hair loss treatment – This includes use of herbal shampoos, oils, supplements and hair therapies. Many men prefer natural treatment for hair loss as it does not come with side effects associated with medications. There are many fake treatments available in the market, so it is advised that you consult a doctor before trying a natural hair loss treatment.

Hair transplantation – This is a surgical method. Hence it’s expensive and its success depends on the skill of the surgeon. The method involves relocation of bald resistant hair follicles (from the back and sides of the head) to a person’s bald or thinning hair area. Side-effects include risks of infection and scarring.

Hair Loss Medications – Currently, this is the most popular method for hair loss treatment. Hair loss treatment such as Propecia (Finasteride) offers convenient and effective male pattern baldness treatment for men. Other hair loss medication is Minoxidil (sold under the trade name of Rogaine and Regaine).

Advantages of Propecia over other methods
Listed below are the advantages of Propecia (Finasteride) over other hair loss treatment methods.

  • Propecia (Finasteride) is proven effective in about 80% of men.
  • Studies have proven that Propecia prevents further hair loss and actually helps to increase the number of hair strands in any given area of the head.
  • Propecia is convenient to take as you just need to take one pill a day.
  • Propecia has been approved by the FDA as a prescription only male pattern baldness treatment drug for men.
  • Propecia has been in use since 1997 and is currently one of the most prescribed pills for male pattern baldness treatment. Hence its safety and efficacy is well-proven.

Male Sexual Dysfunction Treatment Solutions

Monday, June 15th, 2009

Good sexual health means the ability to have a satisfying sex life. First and foremost concerning male sexual dysfunction is erectile dysfunction, also known as impotence where a man is not able to sustain or maintain an erection. Today, there are so many treatment options available, the treatment option you choose should be specific and responsive to your needs and expectations as well as your partners. Treatment options include vacuum therapy, hormonal therapy, vascular surgery penile implants, penile injection therapy and Oral medications. At present, oral medications are considered to be safest and most popular treatment option for erectile dysfunction.

Viagra, the oldest impotence drug, offers those suffering from ED a chance to regain their sex life. For many who have been able to enjoy intimacy but not penetration, Viagra is a godsend. Viagra is the first and the most popular erectile dysfunction treatment drug and even though it is facing stiff competition from other erectile dysfunction treatment drugs like Cialis and Levitra, its popularity levels remains unattained.

These oral medications have changed the course of treatment of erectile dysfunction in men. All of three prescription medicines work in quite similar way. These fall into category of what is known as PDE-5 inhibitors. By inhibiting this enzyme a series of natural occurring events, take place resulting in increased blood flow to the penis thus generating a better erection. Viagra is essentially changing the way we treat impotence. The medication is manufactured by Pfizer.com pharmaceuticals. More and more men are turning to buy Viagra. Discovery of these oral medicines for erectile dysfunction treatment has impacted the lives of millions on a global level!

Impotence in men as side effect of prescription medications?

Wednesday, June 10th, 2009

Though there are several causes of impotence in men including psychological, physiological and lifestyle causes. But Treatment of many other medical conditions can also interfere with normal erections. Prescription medicines used to treat these medical conditions may also lead to or worsen Impotence. Medicines can also affect your libido, or cause problems with ejaculation and orgasm. So impotence information would be incomplete without knowing causes of erectile dysfunction in this category.

  1. Antidepressants
  2. Though depression is one psychological cause of impotence in men, certain antidepressant medications can also result in sexual dysfunction. If you are taking am antidepressant prescription medication or over-the-counter medication, regularly, please consult with your physician.

  3. Chemotherapy/Radiation Therapy
  4. Patients undergoing surgery or radiation therapy for cancer of the prostate, bladder, colon or rectum are at high risk for the development of Impotence.

  5. Antihistamine medications
  6. An antihistamine is a medicine used to treat allergies and hypersensitive reactions.

  7. High blood pressure medicines (e g. Atenolol, Propanolol and Tenorium, HydroDiuril and Lasix etc)
  8. Among the anti-hypertensive medications, thiazides are the most common cause of ED, followed by beta-blockers. Alpha-blockers are, in general, less likely to cause this problem.

  9. Chemotherapy and hormonal medications
  10. These include antiandrogens (Casodex, Flutamide, Nilutamide). They function by decreasing the production of testosterone in the testes and adrennal glands. The decrease in testosterone results in sexual dysfunction.

For more, visit impotence information.

How to gain weight naturally?

Monday, June 8th, 2009

Do you think that you are too skinny and will never gain weight? This article is to help change your attitude and get motivated to gain weight in an easy way.

If you don’t want to go with quick fixes like weight gain pills and steroids, there are several ways to gain weight with diet, training, supplements, motivation and exercise to build muscles naturally. Sitting around and eating junk food can help put on weight but it is not healthy way to do so.

Weight Gain Diet

  1. Disciplined diet to put pounds is important factor to gain healthy weight. You should know how many calories your body needs on regular basis. Take a note of what you need everyday and how many calories are there in everything.
  2. If you are doing muscle building workouts then you should increase your calorie intake by 500 calories and with increase in work out, increase the calorie intake too.
  3. Don’t worry about the source of calories carbohydrates, good fats or proteins. All that is required is to focus on consuming sufficient calories.
  4. Don’t skip meals.
  5. Don’t eat low calorie food that satisfies your appetite easily.

Muscle Building Workouts

  1. Workout different body parts on different days (Split routine). For e g do upper body work out on one day while lower body workout on next day.
  2. A push-pull routine may be the most often recommended.
  3. As you progress by adding on more weights, your body will accordingly develop muscles. But don’t be too rush on adding more weight.
  4. Perform cardio after you have successfully gained the weight that you wish for.

So all you need to do is to stick to these 2 underlying principles and you will find it very easy going from skinny to healthy life!

Vitamin C and Vitamin E – Common Antioxidants

Friday, June 5th, 2009

Antioxidants are the substances that help protect the cells of the human body against free oxygen radicals. Free radicals (OH hydroxyl radicals) are substances generated by the normal metabolism. Free radicals are atoms or group of atoms that can destroy cells and play a role in many diseases. Antioxidants are a group of vitamins, minerals, and enzymes that help protect the body from forming free radicals. Most common antioxidant vitamins include vitamin C and Vitamin E.

Vitamin C as Antioxidant
Vitamin C is a water-soluble antioxidant. As our body can not make it on its own, it has to be supplied through diet.

Vitamin C can protect indispensable molecules in the body, such as proteins, fats, carbohydrates, and nucleic acids (DNA and RNA) from damage by free radical. Vitamin C may also be able to generate other oxidants such as Vitamin E. It works along with vitamin E to stop free radical chain reactions.

The daily recommended dose of vitamin C varies general state of health but for a normal man or women, it should be 60mg.Few sources of Vitamin C are grapefruit, orange, strawberries, amla, broccoli, potato etc.

Vitamin E as Antioxidant
Vitamin E is a fat soluble antioxidant and comprised of 8 different antioxidants. Each form has its own biological activity, the measure of potency or functional use in the body. The most active form of Vitamin E in humans is Alpha-tocophero. Vitamin E protects the proteins, blood cells, nervous system, retina and muscles.

The daily recommended dose of vitamin C varies directly with age, sex and general state of health:

  1. 4 mg for infants between 0 to 6 months of age
  2. 5mg for infants between 7 to 12 months of age
  3. 6 mg for children between one to three years of age
  4. 7mg for children between four to ten years of age
  5. 11 mg for those aged between 9-18 years of age
  6. 15mg for adults

Best sources of vitamin E include fats and vegetable oils, green leafy vegetables, corn, cereals, olives.