Health

Kainat is due to marry today, but the wedding ceremony she awaits is not what she had dreamed of. Several of her nine siblings are sick, her father ill and without work, and since Pakistan's floods washed away her family home she lives in a dusty camp hundreds of kilometers away from where she was raised.....

• WHO’s epidemiological bulletin will now be published on a weekly bases presenting trends, while daily information will be distributed only to concerned staff.

16 October, 2010 ¦ Islamabad - Pakistan's National Institute of Health (NIH) has confirmed that cases of Crimean Congo Hemorrhagic Fever (CCHF) and Dengue fever have been recorded in the country. Twenty-two cases of CCHF have been confirmed this year (13 from Rawalpindi, three from Islamabad, one from Abbottabad and five from Balochistan), and 2164 suspected and 921 laboratory-confirmed cases of Dengue have been recorded, including 842 confirmed cases in Sindh, 24 in Punjab, 17 in Rawalipndi, 18 in Islamabad, 19 in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP) and one in Azad Jamu Kashmire....

SESHEKE, Zambia — It had been a long and difficult journey, fully deserving of the marching band and choirs that greeted the convoy when it finally rolled into this village deep in the African bush.

The shipment had traveled from a factory in India by sea to Kenya, then overland across much of southern Africa to the place where the paved road ended.

The cargo was mosquito nets — weapons in a war against malaria, a disease that has long taken a back seat to AIDS in the world's consciousness of Africa's woes, even though it kills almost as many Africans a year as the HIV virus.

In recent years, however, malaria's profile has risen in the world of celebrities and high-spending philanthropists. Actress Sharon Stone gave the cause a spectacular boost in a 2005, and the shipment of 11,900 mosquito nets to the Zambian village of Sesheke was financed and accompanied by Neville Isdell, a former Coca-Cola CEO, and Chris Flowers, a billionaire American investor.

It was organized by British-based Christian Aid, which works with local churches to distribute the nets free of charge.

Chaze Simbotwe, a 72-year-old villager, was astonished at the spectacle of visitors traveling so far to help. She said she lost a child to malaria, and has suffered bouts of the disease herself.

"It is difficult for me to express my gratitude," she said. "These people have good hearts. Who would have thought of buying an old woman like me a mosquito net?"

Malaria kills close to a million Africans a year, mostly children, a death toll close to that of AIDS. Isdell himself suffered malaria as a boy growing up in Zambia.

"I have shivered in bed with it, but luckily I got over it," he told villagers in Sesheke when the nets arrived three weeks ago.

Flowers discovered the problem while visiting projects he was funding. In Zambia he encountered a mother who had just lost her two-year-old son to malaria. He realized she did not understand what simple steps might have saved that life.

"Your dollar goes a long way toward helping people in a profound way," he told The Associated Press. "It's such a big problem, and it's one where people feel they can have some impact."

Indeed, one reason malaria strikes a chord in the affluent West is that it seems so easily preventable: a $5 donation buys a net, and $5 more will pay to teach a villager rudimentary medical skills. The shipment to Sesheke cost about $100,000.

Actress Stone realized this at the 2005 World Economic Forum in Davos as she listened to Benjamin Mkapa, a former president of Tanzania, telling an audience of movers and shakers how cheap and lifesaving nets could be.

It struck her that "We can get bed nets, we can ship them now, we can change things now. They can have such an impact."

She stood up, pledged $10,000 and asked, "Would anyone else like to stand up and help President Mkapa today?"

"All of a sudden, 80 people stood up in unison," Stone recalled in a telephone interview from Los Angeles with the Associated Press. "I thought I was going to have a heart attack."

A net can be as effective against mosquitoes as a condom is against AIDS, and for those already afflicted, the drug regimen is much simpler and cheaper.

Still, "Malaria is, in fact, not a quick fix," said Awa Marie Coll-Seck, Senegal's former minister of health and now active in the campaign against malaria.

The nets have to be shipped in from afar. Then people have to be taught to use them correctly. Often they forget to use their nets, or the nets becomes frayed, or the insecticide wears off.

Mosquito breeding grounds must be sprayed regularly with insecticide. More clinics are needed, more doctors and nurses, quicker access to the latest drugs because the disease constantly develops new immunities.

Many countries lack the money and infrastructure to distribute nets. Sesheke didn't get its paved road until two years ago.

Susan Lassen, point woman for Isdell and Flowers in Africa, says Zambia has done well overall, organizing and spending donor money wisely. But elsewhere in Africa she has seen mosquito nets piled up in parking lots for lack of distribution systems.

"We've done a disservice by saying it's simple," she said. "It's very important that people understand it's not just '$10 saves a life.' It's not just a one-off. It has to be a continuous process."

And now there are fears the global economic downturn will slow donations.

After winning a 24-hour track run in record time, Stephanie Ehret should have been celebrating. Instead, she was in a Phoenix emergency room, vomiting up a strange substance, which a doctor informed her was part of her digestive tract lining. Feverish and nauseous, Ehret could barely move. "I'd never felt so bad," she says. "I was pretty sure I was dying."

A few hours later, doctors diagnosed the problem — rhabdomyolysis, a potentially fatal precursor to kidney failure. Though dehydration and overexertion contributed to Ehret's condition, doctors told her that the 12 ibuprofen pills she'd taken during the 24-hour race had pushed her kidneys into the danger zone.

When used properly, over-the-counter pain medications can be a godsend. Acetaminophen (Tylenol) can tame many pains. And non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) like ibuprofen, aspirin, and naproxen can reduce pain and swelling in the first few days following an acute injury like an ankle sprain. The trouble comes, doctors say, when people, like Ehret, misuse these drugs. "A couple of ibuprofens really helped, so I figured more was better," Ehret says. Indeed, many runners treat anti-inflammatory drugs like "vitamin I," says pharmacologist Joe Graedon, co-author of The People's Pharmacy book series. "They think, I'm putting my body through a lot, so I'll just dose up on ibuprofen, without appreciating how potentially dangerous this drug can be."

Runners beware
Runners may think that as long as they don't go overboard like Ehret, they'll be safe. But experts say the benefits of popping even one pill before a 10K don't outweigh the risks. NSAIDs inhibit prostaglandins, hormones that help normalize blood flow to the kidneys. Mix an NSAID with physical exertion and dehydration, and you can overwhelm your kidneys.

What's more, NSAIDs can bump up your blood pressure, and when you add this to the natural rise that occurs when you exercise, "suddenly you have two things increasing your blood pressure," Graedon says. If you already have high blood pressure, "you could have a mini stroke or a heart attack," he says. NSAIDs also block an enzyme called cyclooxygenase (COX) that normally protects the heart, and this might explain why many NSAIDs, including ibuprofen, may raise the risk of heart attack.

Some forms of COX also protect the stomach lining from digestive acids, so when an NSAID blocks this enzyme, you may experience nausea, diarrhea, intestinal bleeding, and cramps. When used during a marathon or ultra, NSAIDs also seem to boost the risk of hyponatremia, an electrolyte imbalance that can cause the brain to swell. "It's something you can die of during a race," says Martin Hoffman, M. D., director of research at the Western States Endurance Run.

Many runners believe that NSAIDs increase their pain tolerance, but studies contradict this notion. In 2005, David Nieman, Dr. P.H., director of the human performance lab at Appalachian State University in Boone, North Carolina, examined ibuprofen use at Western States. About 70 percent of the racers said they took it to help them manage the discomfort of racing. But when he measured pain and muscle soreness in these pill poppers, he found no reduction compared with nonusers. Worse, ibuprofen takers had more inflammation. "There's no good reason to use ibuprofen during a race," Nieman says. "There are too many potential negatives." Any pain and inflammation that turns up while running is not something you should medicate but a signal that it's time to reevaluate your training regimen, he says.

For relief during or after exercise, Hoffman recommends acetaminophen since it works via a different mechanism than NSAIDs, and the drug doesn't have the side effects associated with aspirin or ibuprofen. "It's a relatively safe drug, and it doesn't present problems with the kidney or gut," he says.

But watch the dosage. While it's safe at recommended doses, acetaminophen can be toxic to the liver, especially when mixed with alcohol. "You can hit the tipping point pretty fast with acetaminophen," says Graedon. Acetaminophen overdose is the most common cause of acute liver failure in the United States, in part because the drug is found in many over-the-counter cold and allergy medicines, so it's easy to overdose if you take one of these drugs with Tylenol.

No matter where you are, you can be sure there’s a snack close by. As a nation, we snack everywhere—in our home, office, car, gym, and even at church. There’s a Snack Count mobile device that counts your daily nibbles, and I’m sure there’s one to locate your favorite crunchy munchies. Even McDonald’s is in the snack category with its new snack wraps that happen to be more like a meal, with 260–340 calories a piece.

There’s a big downside to all this unabashed between-meal eating: empty calories. And many food experts believe that excessive snacking is contributing to our ever-expanding waistlines.

Need proof? A 2010 study from the University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, found that adults are now eating some 579 calories from snack foods daily, or almost a quarter of their daily calories.

The researchers tracked snacking patterns from the late 1970s through 2006 and found some disturbing trends. Up to 97% of adults snack daily, compared to 71% three decades ago. Snacks used to contribute 357 calories (14% of total caloric intake) a day, but those between-meal calories have increased by 222 calories. Most of us now snack more than twice per day, and the average calories of our snacks is a whopping 226 calories (totaling 579 calories each day).

If we grazed on fresh fruit and veggies, there would be no harm in all the noshing, but our current snack choices are loaded with calories but lacking in nutrients. Dessert-type foods, salty snacks like potato and tortilla chips, and sweetened beverages were the top three contributors of the snack calories in this study. Other popular snack items include nuts, alcoholic beverages, candy, fruit drinks, and sports drinks.

(Getty Images)

We are humans, not cattle
As adults, many of us eat before we are physically hungry, and we stop eating way after we’ve had enough. We have lost all the ability to regulate caloric intake based on our internal hunger cues, and we respond to our emotional and environmental cues.

Unlike cows and other animals that graze all day, humans are genetically programmed for eating then fasting for short periods of time. Getting back to a more “normalized” eating pattern that consists of breakfast, lunch, and dinner with a mid-morning and afternoon snack (100- 200 calories max) can help break this pattern of all-day eating.

Like a bad financial investment, the calories in most snack foods (Doritos, Famous Amos cookies) are worthless, so try some of my favorite healthy snacks. When snacking, try to combine protein, fiber, and fat, like an apple and peanut putter, yogurt and fruit, or carrots and hummus. But portion control is just as important as snack choices. Remind yourself what 200 calories looks like and adapt it to your favorite nibbles. Happy snacking!

Before taking this medication, tell your doctor if you are using any of the following drugs:

• antidepressants such as amitriptyline (Elavil, Etrafon), clomipramine (Anafranil), imipramine (Janimine, Tofranil), and others;
• atropine (Donnatal, and others), benztropine (Cogentin), dimenhydrinate (Dramamine), glycopyrrolate (Robinul), mepenzolate (Cantil), methscopolamine (Pamine), or scopolamine (Transderm-Scop);
• bladder or urinary medications such as darifenacin (Enablex), flavoxate (Urispas), oxybutynin (Ditropan, Oxytrol), tolterodine (Detrol), or solifenacin (Vesicare);
• a bronchodilator such as ipratropium (Atrovent) or tiotropium (Spiriva); or
• irritable bowel medications such as dicyclomine (Bentyl), hyoscyamine (Anaspaz, Cystospaz, Levsin, and others), or propantheline (Pro-Banthine).

This list is not complete and there may be other drugs that can interact with guaifenesin and hydrocodone. Tell your doctor about all the prescription and over-the-counter medications you use. This includes vitamins, minerals, herbal products, and drugs prescribed by other doctors. Do not start using a new medication without telling your doctor.

This medication can cause side effects that may impair your thinking or reactions. Be careful if you drive or do anything that requires you to be awake and alert.

Avoid drinking alcohol. It may increase drowsiness and dizziness caused by guaifenesin and hydrocodone.

Tell your doctor if you regularly use other medicines that make you sleepy (such as other cold or allergy medicine, narcotic pain medicine, sleeping pills, muscle relaxers, and medicine for seizures, depression, or anxiety). They can add to sleepiness caused by guaifenesin and hydrocodone.

Do not take other over-the-counter cough, cold, allergy, pain, or sleep medications without first asking your doctor or pharmacist. Guaifenesin is contained in many medicines available over the counter. If you take certain products together you may accidentally take too much guaifenesin. Read the label of any other medicine you are using to see if it contains guaifenesin.

Seek emergency medical attention if you think you have used too much of this medicine.

Overdose symptoms may include extreme drowsiness, sweating, pinpoint pupils, nausea, vomiting, dry mouth, confusion, cold and clammy skin, muscle weakness, fainting, weak pulse, slow heart rate, seizure (convulsions), weak or shallow breathing, or breathing that stops.

Take the missed dose as soon as you remember. If it is almost time for your next dose, wait until then to take the medicine and skip the missed dose. Do not take extra medicine to make up the missed dose.

Take this medication exactly as prescribed by your doctor. Do not take it in larger amounts or for longer than recommended. Follow the directions on your prescription label.

Guaifenesin and hydrocodone can be taken with or without food.

Measure liquid medicine with a special dose-measuring spoon or cup, not a regular table spoon. If you do not have a dose-measuring device, ask your pharmacist for one.

Do not take more of this medication or take it for longer than is recommended. Call your doctor if your symptoms do not improve, or if they get worse.

Store guaifenesin and hydrocodone at room temperature away from moisture and heat.

Keep track of how many pills have been used from each new bottle of this medicine. Hydrocodone is a drug of abuse and you should be aware if any person in the household is using this medicine improperly or without a prescription.

Hydrocodone may be habit-forming and should be used only by the person it was prescribed for. Hydrocodone should never be shared with another person, especially someone who has a history of drug abuse or addiction. Keep the medication in a secure place where others cannot get to it.

Do not use this medicine if you are allergic to hydrocodone or guaifenesin.

Before taking this medication, tell your doctor if you have:

• kidney disease;
• liver disease;
• asthma;
• urination problems;
• an enlarged prostate;
• a thyroid disorder;
• seizures or epilepsy;
• gallbladder disease;
• a head injury; or
• Addison's disease.

If you have any of these conditions, you may not be able to take guaifenesin and hydrocodone, or you may need a dose adjustment or special tests during treatment.

FDA pregnancy category C. This medication may be harmful to an unborn baby. Tell your doctor if you are pregnant or plan to become pregnant during treatment.

Guaifenesin and hydrocodone passes into breast milk and may be harmful to a nursing baby. Do not take guaifenesin and hydrocodone without telling your doctor if you are breast-feeding a baby.

This medication can cause side effects that may impair your thinking or reactions. Be careful if you drive or do anything that requires you to be awake and alert.

Avoid drinking alcohol. It may increase drowsiness and dizziness caused by guaifenesin and hydrocodone.

Tell your doctor if you regularly use other medicines that make you sleepy (such as other cold or allergy medicine, narcotic pain medicine, sleeping pills, muscle relaxers, and medicine for seizures, depression, or anxiety). They can add to sleepiness caused by guaifenesin and hydrocodone.

Hydrocodone may be habit-forming and should be used only by the person it was prescribed for. Hydrocodone should never be given to another person, especially someone who has a history of drug abuse or addiction. Keep the medication in a secure place where others cannot get to it.

• slow heart rate, weak or shallow breathing;
• feeling like you might pass out;
• confusion, fear, unusual thoughts or behavior;
• seizure (convulsions); or
• urinating less than usual or not at all.

Less serious side effects may include:

• dizziness, drowsiness;
• nausea, vomiting, upset stomach;
• blurred vision;
• constipation;
• dry mouth; or
• sweating.

This is not a complete list of side effects and others may occur. Call your doctor for medical advice about side effects. You may report side effects to FDA at 1-800-FDA-1088. You may report side effects to FDA at 1-800-FDA-1088.

Guaifenesin is an expectorant. It helps loosen congestion in your chest and throat, making it easier to cough out through your mouth.

Hydrocodone is a narcotic cough suppressant.

Guaifenesin and hydrocodone is used to treat cough and reduce chest congestion caused by the common cold, flu, or allergies.

Guaifenesin and hydrocodone may also be used for other purposes not listed in this medication guide.

The Truth About Mouthwash

Have you ever wondered what goes on when you use a mouthwash? Some people believe that what one product does, they all do, with possibly some variances in taste being the main difference between them. The truth is they have a point here. Many people are surprised to learn that most mouthwash products use the same ingredients, with some minor changes to affect taste and color.

Mint mouthwash is a popular choice today, as well as Listerine mouthwash. People will often buy Listerine because they believe, or have been told, that the ingredients in this product are powerful and effective. Anyone who has had a taste of Listerine would certainly agree that it is powerful, too powerful for many people.

Some other common brands that are on the market today include:

* Scope Mouthwash
* Crest Pro Health Mouthwash
* Magic Mouthwash
* And a host of other brands

One ingredient that you will find in many brands of mouthwash is alcohol. This is the ingredient that is used to kill bacteria and it is bacteria which causes most bad breath problems. Research has shown time and again that when certain bacteria release certain by-products (usually in the form of sulfur compounds) we end up with an episode of bad breath. This being the case, you would think that alcohol would be a good thing, right>

The answer to that questions is no. The bacteria that causes bad breath, also known as halitosis, will thrive best when it is in an environment that has less oxygen. Saliva is rich in oxygen and therefore the bacteria are held in check to some degree. By using mouthwash that contains alcohol we set ourselves up for dehydration which leads to less oxygen which leads to more odor-producing bacteria being produced. In other words, the more alcohol you put into your mouth, even in the form of mouthwash, the more likely you are to increase your odds of having bad breath.

Yes, you will kill germs on contact, but once the mouthwash is gone, the bacteria will return, and in many cases, return stronger than before.

The answer to this problem is to use a product, such as OraMD®, that has no alcohol in it. Non-alcohol based mouth wash products are also much safer for children and elderly people. These products are usually much easier on the taste buds as well. But most importantly, they inhibit the new growth of bacteria that causes the bad breath that we all wish to avoid.

If You Suffer from Gum Disease, Gingivitis, Bleeding Gums, Canker Sores or Bad Breath, Then We Have an All Natural Product So Effective, We Guarantee it Will Work for You, or Your Money Back...Click here to order OraMD Gum Treatment Today...and with Same Day Shipping.OraMD "The Mouth Doctor"

Posted by Health Time Products

Posted by Emery Chernan at 4:08 PM 3 comments

Labels: The Truth About Mouthwash

4/18/10

Foods That Trigger or Worsen Canker Sores

Advanced Gum Disease

A Painful Agony Having Canker Sores

Cure for bleeding gums is the wrong way to think about the problem. When your gums bleed, it is not stopping the bleeding that should be your concern, it is the root condition that causes the bleeding that should be addressed. Bleeding gums are caused by gum disease, an inflammation or swelling of the gum tissues that afflicts many people. Untreated, gum disease can cause gingivitis and periodontal disease which can cause tooth loss and oral damage. There is no hard and fast cure for bleeding gums, but there are things you can do to help prevent gum disease.

A cure for bleeding gums - early prevention is the key. Gum disease affects the tissues that surround and support your teeth. The cause is bacteria, which can turn into tartar and plaque buildup, irritate your gums and lead to bleeding and receding gums. Left unchecked, gingivitis can lead to a more serious form of gum disease called periodontitis. This long-term infection can eventually cause loss of your teeth. Gum disease generally doesn't hurt. You may have it for years before you feel discomfort.

Top quality oral hygiene is the answer to a cure for bleeding gums . OraMD® is an all-natural dental care product made from the essential oils of almond, spearmint, and peppermint that provides superior oral hygiene. OraMD® offers a long-term solution for bleeding gums by cleaning the mouth and killing the bacteria that causes plaque, thus preventing the problem before it starts.

Try all-natural OraMD® with confidence. Our product works so well we unconditionally guarantee your total satisfaction with our - no quibble, money-back guarantee - no matter how many you order.

Learn more about ending bleeding gums with OraMD.

If You Suffer from Gum Disease, Gingivitis, Bleeding Gums, Canker Sores or Bad Breath, Then We Have an All Natural Product So Effective, We Guarantee it Will Work for You, or Your Money Back...
Click here to order OraMD Gum Treatment Today. . . and with Same Day Shipping OraMD "The Mouth Doctor"

Cure for bleeding gums is the wrong way to think about the problem. When your gums bleed, it is not stopping the bleeding that should be your concern, it is the root condition that causes the bleeding that should be addressed. Bleeding gums are caused by gum disease, an inflammation or swelling of the gum tissues that afflicts many people. Untreated, gum disease can cause gingivitis and periodontal disease which can cause tooth loss and oral damage. There is no hard and fast cure for bleeding gums, but there are things you can do to help prevent gum disease.

A cure for bleeding gums - early prevention is the key. Gum disease affects the tissues that surround and support your teeth. The cause is bacteria, which can turn into tartar and plaque buildup, irritate your gums and lead to bleeding and receding gums. Left unchecked, gingivitis can lead to a more serious form of gum disease called periodontitis. This long-term infection can eventually cause loss of your teeth. Gum disease generally doesn't hurt. You may have it for years before you feel discomfort.

Top quality oral hygiene is the answer to a cure for bleeding gums . OraMD® is an all-natural dental care product made from the essential oils of almond, spearmint, and peppermint that provides superior oral hygiene. OraMD® offers a long-term solution for bleeding gums by cleaning the mouth and killing the bacteria that causes plaque, thus preventing the problem before it starts.

Try all-natural OraMD® with confidence. Our product works so well we unconditionally guarantee your total satisfaction with our - no quibble, money-back guarantee - no matter how many you order.

Learn more about ending bleeding gums with OraMD.

If You Suffer from Gum Disease, Gingivitis, Bleeding Gums, Canker Sores or Bad Breath, Then We Have an All Natural Product So Effective, We Guarantee it Will Work for You, or Your Money Back...
Click here to order OraMD Gum Treatment Today. . . and with Same Day Shipping OraMD "The Mouth Doctor"