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Crohns Disease, unlike ulcerative colitis, may affect any region of the digestive system. From the mouth to the anus, depending on which area of the body is affected, there are different types of Crohns Disease. Each encompasses slightly different symptoms and varies in intensity. You should be familiar with the various forms as your doctor may refer to your condition as one of the following five types of Crohns Disease.

The most common type of Crohns is Ileocolitis, which affects the ileum, or lower part of the small intestine, and colon. Common symptoms experienced with this type is pain or cramping in the lower right part or middle of the abdomen, as well as diarrhea and weight loss. As with the other forms, as a result of inflammation, damage to the intestinal wall is common and may cause additional complications.

Another form is Ileitis, which only affects the lower part of the small intestine, or ileum. There are similar symptoms as Ileocolitis, abdominal pain and diarrhea, and may include the formation of ulcerations or abscesses in the lower right area of the abdomen. Weight loss may also occur as a result of excessive diarrhea.

Gastroduodenal Crohns Disease, on the other hand, involves the first part of the small intestine, the duodenum, and the stomach. Loss of appetite usually occurs, as well as weight loss as a result, and nausea. Vomiting may also occur and be a sign of bowel obstruction. This form is particularly difficult to deal with as it affects nutritional intake and may lead to malnutrition.

Jejunoileitis is another type and causes inflammation in the upper half of the small intestine in patches. Abdominal pain is common, as with most forms of Crohns disease, but may vary from mild to intense. Pain usually occurs after meals and may include diarrhea. Fistulas may also form. If fistulas or abscesses form, they may lead to other complications as well.

Crohns (granulomatous) colitis affects the colon only and not any other part of the intestines. Because of the effect on the lower digestive system, rectal bleeding is common, in addition to anal disease, such as ulcers, abscess, and fistulas. Other symptoms include diarrhea as well as joint pain and skin lesions, which may occur in other forms on Crohns but is more common in this type. This form, in particular, is easily misdiagnosed as ulcerative colitis, because both disorders affect the colon.

When you are searching for an alcohol and drug rehab program, it is important that you select a facility that will best suit the needs of the person in need of treatment. Whether its you, a family member or friend, the most important part of the selection process is ensuring that the facility will be able to offer not only a quality treatment program, but also a professional counseling and support system throughout the entire rehabilitation process.

One of the best ways to find a quality alcohol & drug rehab facility is through the referral of a physician, many of whom will offer a recommendation as to the best treatment options for an individual following a determination as to his/her level of alcohol and/or drug dependency. Without the recommendation of a physician, individuals will have to search for a treatment facility on their own. One way of doing this is by looking through the yellow pages of a local telephone book or searching the web for local treatment facilities.

While each alcohol & drug rehab treatment program is different, the basic fundamentals are the same. Most facilities have a strict list of guidelines that every patient must adhere to including which items can and cannot be brought onto the premises. This is especially true of an inpatient treatment facility, which offers housing to patients. Most programs begin with a detoxification process, often referred to simply as detox, which is followed by a treatment program customized to the patients needs. During this time, counseling sessions and various activities will be participated in by the patient in order to show them the benefits of living a drug and alcohol free life.

According to their level of dependency, patients may be required to attend an inpatient program. As mentioned previously, this entails the patient actually residing on the property during the treatment process. During this time, there is 24-hour supervision with inpatient care. Outpatient treatment, on the other hand, is for individuals who are able to continue living their life, attending school or work and everyday functions without the concern of substance abuse. An outpatient treatment program allows for an individual to live at home and attend regular counseling meetings, such as AA (Alcoholics Anonymous) or other treatment program. The decision between an inpatient or outpatient treatment program will depend heavily on the level of addiction and the patients ability to resist alcohol and drugs without constant supervision.

This article is to be used for informational purposes only. The information contained herein should not be used as, in place of or in conjunction with professional medical advice regarding the treatment for alcohol and drug abuse. Prior to selecting a quality alcohol & drug rehab facility, individuals should consult a licensed medical doctor for a proper diagnosis and recommendation for treatment.

Yaws, a tropical infection of the skin, bones and joints is usually caused by the bacterium spirochete. Yaws is easily and quickly transmitted by skin contact with infected individuals. The Bacteria enters through an existing cut or similar damage to the skin. Usually less than a month but within ninety days of infection with Yaws a painless but vivid “Parent Yaw”, an ulcerous papule appears on the surface of the skin at the point of entry. This Ulcer is described to have the color of a rasberry and is about 15-45mm in diameter. This initial Ulcer can last for up to nine months and other ulcers will appear on skin as the previous one heals.

If left untreated a secondary stage of Yaws will occur after up to four months. This second stage is marked by more ulcers similar to the first one in appearance, although much smaller. These growths can combine together into a thick fissured plaque. These fissured plaques can occur on the feet and induce a distinctive gait. Secondary growths of Yaws are irreversible.

In approximately 10-20% cases of yaws the disease can progress for over a decade or more to a tertiary stage. This tertiary stage will have destructive lesions to the skin and to the bones. The largest group afflicted by yaws are children aged 5 to 11 years in Latin America, the Caribbean Islands, India, West Africa, Oceania and Southeast Asia. Numbers of Yaws outbreaks have been increasing over the past years since, the World Health Organization (WHO) funded campaigns against yaws in 1954 to 1963.

Yaws is easily identified from blood tests or by a microscopic examination of a lesion. Treatment for Yaws is by a single dose of penicillin, erythromycin or tetracycline. It is very oncommon for a victim to have recurrence or a relapse.

According to the U.S. News & World Report Health Center, Osteoporosis is a disease in which bones become fragile and more likely to break. Literally meaning porous bone, it results in an increased loss of bone mass and strength. Osteoporosis debilitates millions of people every year, but there is good news prevention is possible!

The skeletal structure of the body provides support for our muscles and protection for our vital organs; our bones are also a storehouse of calcium and other minerals. More than 99 percent of the bodys calcium is stored in our bones and teeth, the other 1 percent travels throughout our body in our blood. Calcium is vital for heart and muscle function.

Our skeletons are made up of a smooth, tough outer layer of dense bone, a spongier mid section and a soft core of marrow where new cells are made to rebuild our bones. Our bones are constantly changing because our bodies depend on a steady supply of calcium to function properly. When we dont get enough calcium from our regular diet our bodies break down and rebuild bone to meet our needs. This is called bone remodeling.

Many things can influence bone remodeling, like injury, illness, medications, exercise, diet, hormonal changes, smoking, heavy drinking and of course the normal aging process. When the body requires more calcium than we are able to consume, or if we arent able to store the calcium we consume adequately it is leached from the spongy mid layer of our bones. They gradually lose their density making them weak and porous, and more prone to fractures. This is osteoporosis.

Most of our bone mass is established before the age of 30, and after about age 35, as a part of the normal aging process, our bodies begin to breakdown our bone faster than we are able to rebuild it. The natural decline in hormonal production is another contributing factor. When women reach menopause and their ovaries stop producing estrogen and bone loss accelerates. In men a reduction in the hormone testosterone also encourages bone loss.

There is no cure for osteoporosis, so disease prevention is vital to maintaining bone density. There are three key areas to consider when it comes to preventing osteoporosis: diet, lifestyle choices and medications. http://www.osteoperosishelp.com/howtopreventosteoporosis

To maintain strong healthy bones a diet sufficient in calcium and vitamin D are important from preadolescence and throughout adulthood. Calcium needs become greater in older adults whose bodies can no longer rebuild bone mass. Recent studies suggest that bone fractures can be reduced by 30-50% in individuals with low dietary calcium simply with the addition of a calcium and vitamin D supplement.

A few easy lifestyle changes can also influence our risk of getting osteoporosis. Smoking, low body weight and a lack of exercise are all contributing factors to raising our susceptibility to the disease. Weight-bearing exercises like walking, stair climbing, dancing and weight training help to increase bone density, keep muscles flexible and ensure better physical balance in people of all ages. Exercise also helps to regulate body weight to a healthy level. There is a direct link between tobacco use and lower bone density so smoking cessation is also recommended.

The use of medications can and does play an important role in the prevention of osteoporosis. Calcium and vitamin D supplements as mentioned previously are often paired with bisphosphonates like Alendronate and Risedronate, selective estrogen receptor modulators (SERMs) like Raloxifene, and hormonal replacements like Estrogen and Testosterone. All medications have some side effects and these are best discussed with your doctor.

Though there is no known cure for osteoporosis there is hope and help in preventing this common and often debilitating disease of the elderly. By starting now and working to prevent bone density loss youll have a stronger, healthier future.

In our last article, we briefly discussed Osteoarthritis and Rheumatoid Arthritis. This article will take a close look at the cause, symptoms, and current treatment used for Osteoarthritis. So lets take a second look at what Osteoarthritis is.

Osteoarthritis is known by many as wear and tear Arthritis. It is one of the most common forms of Arthritis and is the result of cartilage wearing away from the joints. This cartilage is responsible for the smooth gliding of joints, and once it begins to deteriorate, the patient is left with pain, joint swelling and inflammation, and even deformity.

Osteoarthritis patients usually state that their pain is greatest during times of movement, and then lessens significantly during periods of rest. Osteoarthritis affects many more women than men. There is an estimated 24 million Osteoarthritis sufferers in the United States and roughly 74% are women.

The cause of Osteoarthritis is not known, yet doctors have many suspicions. Some of the symptoms of Osteoarthritis boggle the minds of scientists and more research needs to take place to determine the actual root of the disease. For instance, X-rays can tell that Arthritis is present, yet the amount of pain reported by Osteoarthritis sufferers differs from the results of the X-ray. Though many people refer to Osteoarthritis as the wear and tear disease, evidence shows that this disease and its mysterious cause are not as simple as that definition. In fact, wear and tear does not take place in just one joint, but affects joints simultaneously throughout the body. An example of this, is that sufferers with Osteoarthritis of the knee, offer suffer Osteoarthritis in the hand. Also, doctors have noted that patients dont suffer with Osteoarthritis on just one side of the body (as would be expected due to wear and tear) but because it seems to affect the body concurrently, it appears that Osteoarthritis is a systematic disease affecting all of the cartilage at once.

One suggestion is that Osteoarthritis is a result of cartilage that has stopped functioning at optimum level. Cartilage is continuously undergoing a process where it is broken down, then rebuilt. Some theories state that this process becomes unbalanced and out of hand. This is referred to as End Stage Osteoarthritis. It is at this stage that joint pain and impairment begin to manifest. There are many natural remedies that show promise in the management of Osteoarthritis pain and symptoms. Look for future articles in our Arthritis Series that will offer natural remedies that may prevent enzymes from damaging cartilage.

Some other ideas that point to the cause of Osteoarthritis include:

Previous Sports related or Joint Injuries
Genetically Inherited (it appears that Osteoarthritis runs in families)
Repeated Occurrences of Bleeding into a Joint (as occurs with Hemophilia and other diseases)
Repeated Occurrences of Gout and Gout like Diseases
Avascular Necrosis- this is a condition where blood near a bone is cut off, this leads to bone death as well as joint damage. Avascular Necrosis typically afflicts the hip joint.
Previous Rheumatoid Related Illness- such as Rheumatoid Arthritis can lead to chronic inflammation of the joints.
Osteoporosis-due to the high risk of bone fractures and injury, Osteoarthritis may develop in joints.
Metabolic Disorders- for example, Hemochromatosis can result in high levels of Iron being deposited in the joints
Joint Infection-It is believed that cartilage may deteriorate in people who have defects in their cartilage and joints.

Weve discussed the potential causes of Osteoarthritis, now it is time to look at the various symptoms of Osteoarthritis. The symptoms of Osteoarthritis include:

Joint Pain- this tends to be worse when rising in the morning
Joint Swelling and Inflammation- this occurs during periods of activity
Feeling a Grinding Sensation when a Joint is moved
Loss of Mobility and Flexibility

There is no sure way to prevent Arthritis in any of its forms. There are however some things that you can do to help lower your risk of developing Osteoarthritis or any other type of Arthritis. Some of the preventative methods that you may add to your lifestyle today include:

Maintain an Ideal Body Weight
Take steps to prevent the development of Osteoporosis. Some of these include taking adequate Vitamin D and Calcium, exercising, and taking medication if needed.
Do your best to prevent injuring your bones and joints try to avoid accidents such as sports related, implementing joint protection by using splints and braces.

The coffee table talk goes very low when you whisper, “yeast infection”, but the body screams RELIEF NOW! A trip to the doctor, adverse side effects and nothing natural would be the next thought. Can there be a natural solution to a disease that each woman will suffer at least twice in her life?

Yeast infection is like a ghost waiting to scare young and older women when their body becomes out of balance due to stress, dubious partners, hormonal changes and/or immune system weakness.

A few women will elude this voracious monster but unfortunately most will be frightened at least twice in their life and others will live with a chronic reoccurrence of yeast infection.

The most important message is to recognize the yeast infection early and try an available natural remedy that you can use in the comfort of the home that is safe and no prescription required.

Natural antibiotics are always a choice that should be taken over a prescription if possible. Colloidal silver has been a patented drug and then relabeled a natural supplement. Oregano oil is also a natural antibiotic.

In addition to natural antibiotics there are two other home remedies that have been used to control yeast infection, yogurt insertion and tea tree oil. The body will always respond quicker to a natural solution and return to a healthy state if it doesn’t have a compound job to do. The dual duty of the immune system would be trying to rid the body of an invasive disease while expelling man made toxins in prescription drugs that usually cause unbalanced ph in the blood and immune system.

Natural antibiotics and home remedies are not in any way the answer to all medical problems and do not take the place of a medical doctor. However taking care of your body and boosting your immune system to support good health is your everyday job. Only you know that responsibility best.

The World Wide Web has become a highway to a library of testimonials for natural disease remedies. There is an effort to suppress all natural vitamin, herbs, minerals and home remedy practice. We are a voice crying RELIEF in cyberspace from the proven archives of our word-of-mouth ancestors. We practice freedom of speech, and deny that these references are an attempt to diagnose or treat any disease, symptom or individual.

Every year for the last five years, the prices of the 50 drugs most used by older Americans have increased faster than the rate of inflation, according to Families USA, a nonprofit organization in favor of affordable health care.

Americans pay more for prescription drugs than anywhere else in the world. Many people on low or fixed incomes are desperate for relief from the high prices of the medications they need.

Because of the escalating prices, many Americans are forced to go without the medications or give up other basic necessities in order to afford their prescriptions.

However, there are some things you can do to help control your prescription drug expenses. Here are a few tips from PolarMeds Pharmacy:

* Be sure the medication is covered under your insurance. Most patients have some type of health insurance. However, your policy might not cover all of the medications you need.

Ask your doctor if the prescribed medication is covered under your insurance.

* Substitute a generic equivalent. The drug companies that make generics must meet the same rigorous standards as the brand-name drug companies. The generic medications work the same way, and you can save

hundreds of dollars a year.

Before getting your prescription filled, ask if the drug is available in generic form. On the prescription, there is often a box that can be checked off, which has wording like “substitute for equivalent drug.” That statement allows the pharmacist to switch to a cheaper, generic equivalent medication.

* Take advantage of pill cutting. Most medications come in several different dosages. When prescribed a medication, ask your doctor if it can be cut in half.

Cutting a pill in half that is twice the dosage you usually take can often save you 25 percent to 50 percent off your usual prescription costs. Pill cutters cost only about $3 and can be found at any drugstore. Do not use a knife or razor blade.

* Do some comparison shopping. If your neighborhood pharmacy does not provide the best prices, go elsewhere. One option is to order online or by mail order through Canada, where prices are generally 30 percent to 50 percent cheaper than in the United States. PolarMeds Pharmacy, for instance, is specially licensed by the Manitoba Pharmaceutical Association to conduct international pharmacy services.

As a counselor, I am often asked, Can drugs be helpful for anxiety and depression? The answer I give is Yes and No.

Yes, drugs may be useful for short-term help. No, drugs are not a good long-term solution.

Anxiety and depression are not caused by a lack of drugs. Drugs do not heal the underlying causes of anxiety and depression. However, when drugs are temporarily used to give a person a window of relief to do the inner work necessary to heal the underlying causes, they can be useful.

Anxiety and depression generally have two major underlying causes – emotional and physical.

THE PHYSICAL CAUSES OF ANXIETY AND DEPRESSION

Our bodies go into imbalance when we do not eat well or have enough healthy exercise. Our bodies are not made to handle the unnatural substances found in processed food. When we overload our bodies with chemicals, pesticides, sugar, and devitalized foods, our bodies become depleted of vital nutrients and go into stress. Anxiety and depression can be the result of this physical depletion and resulting stress.

Our bodies are designed to thrive on the food and water that God gave us pure, clean, organic, unaltered food and water. If you take drugs for anxiety and depression and do not clean up your diet and get proper exercise, you are just using a Band Aid for a gaping wound.

THE EMOTIONAL CAUSES OF ANXIETY AND DEPRESSION

Emotionally, anxiety is caused by dysfunctional thoughts thoughts that are not true. For example, if you tell yourself that you are not good enough or you have to be perfect, you will likely feel anxious. Thoughts of not being good enough and having to be perfect are generally focused on our outer qualities of looks and performance, rather than on the inner qualities of kindness, compassion, and gratitude. When we choose to be kind, loving and compassionate with ourselves and others, we feel good about ourselves. When we choose gratitude for what we do have rather than dwell on what we dont have, we create inner peace. Kindness and gratitude are wonderful antidotes to anxiety!

Anxiety is always a sign that we are telling ourselves a lie. The truth creates peace inside, while lies create fear and anxiety. This is a sure-fire way of knowing what is true and what is not true!

Emotionally, depression is caused by not taking good care of ourselves. If we ignore our needs, dont speak up for ourselves, judge ourselves, and make others responsible for our feelings, the result may be depression. If you have a child whom you ignore and judge, that child will likely be depressed. The same occurs on the inner level when we ignore and judge our own inner child. Putting yourself last and taking care of everyone else but yourself may cause you to feel unworthy and depressed.

There is little point in taking drugs for anxiety and depression without attending to your dysfunctional thinking and to how you are treating yourself. However, if you take drugs for a short time and give yourself the opportunity to do your inner work, they may be helpful. Many of the people I work with find that as soon as they start taking good care of themselves, they dont like the effect of the drugs. They dont like the fact that the drugs take the edge off their feelings. They find that, rather than wanting to be numbed out, they want to feel all of their feelings deeply, both the highs and the lows. The more they learn to take responsibility for their feelings by attending to their thoughts and needs, the more they want to feel all of their feelings. They discover that, while drugs may take the edge off pain, they also take the edge off joy.

Most of the people I work with can avoid drugs completely by learning to take loving care of themselves, both physically and emotionally. Many of the people who practice the Inner Bonding process that we teach find Inner Bonding to be far more powerful in healing anxiety and depression than drugs.

If you are a person who does not want to learn to take personal responsibility for your pain and joy, then drugs may be a way out for you. But if you want to feel true peace and joy, drugs are not the answer.

Non-Steroidal Anti-Inflammatory Drugs as a Serious Risk Factor for Ulcer

Ulcer is a common type of digestive disorder that can affect different levels of the gastrointestinal system. Ulcer generally causes inflammation and open lesions to the soft tissues and organs of the gastrointestinal tract. The most common types of ulcer are duodenal and stomach ulcer. While most duodenal ulcers are mild, stomach ulcers can lead to serious complications such as perforation of the stomach wall and internal bleeding. In some cases, stomach ulcer can eventually lead to gastric cancer, a life-threatening disease.

There are various causes and risk factors of stomach ulcer. The major causes of stomach ulcer are infection with Helicobacter pylori bacteria and the stomachs overproduction of digestive fluids. The categories at risk of developing stomach ulcer are: people with ages over 50, smokers, people who have suffered abdominal surgery, people who have acquired abdominal injuries and people who follow ongoing treatments with non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAID).

Recent studies have revealed that certain medications have a great contribution in the occurrence of stomach ulcer. Commonly prescribed in the treatment of rheumatoid arthritis, non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs greatly increase the risk of developing stomach ulcer. These drugs affect the digestive system on multiple levels: they weaken the mucosal protective cover of the internal organs; they stimulate an overproduction of gastric acid and pepsin; they perturb the blood circulation at the level of the stomach.

Diclofenac is a common non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug prescribed in the treatment of arthritis. This medication is known to block the bodys production of cox enzymes, chemicals that have a very important role in renewing the stomachs protective mucosal cover, considerably increasing the risk of developing stomach ulcer. Statistics indicate that ongoing treatment with Diclofenac is responsible for causing more than 150.000 new annual cases of ulcer in the United States. Furthermore, an annual number of 10.000 patients who follow prolonged treatments with this drug are expected to die as a consequence of ulcer complications.

Although new generation non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs such as Celebrex are considered to be safe, most patients who follow prolonged treatments with these medications also develop ulcer or other gastrointestinal disorders. Recent studies indicate that more than 10 percent of patients who receive ongoing treatment for arthritis develop recurrent ulcers. In time, some of these patients also develop serious complications such as perforated or bleeding ulcers.

In present, medical science is unable to replace non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs with other safer medications. Although non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs have many side-effects, they are also the primary option in the treatment of rheumatoid arthritis and other inflammatory diseases. In order to prevent the occurrence of ulcer in patients who receive such medication treatments, this category of people should benefit from frequent medical examinations.

Yeast infection treatments can be administered at home with prescription medication or potentially after recommendations from people who have experienced it. Treatment can take effect within a week. If your infection is not too severe, you can continue with your home treatment, but if you are experiencing heavy infections, it is important to consult your doctor. There might be some symptoms that means your particular infection is not appropriate for self-treatment or medication.

You can buy yeast infection treatments over the counter (OTC) in drugstores without a prescription from the doctor. Some examples of common treatments are: Miconazole, Tioconazole, Butoconazole and Clotrimazole.

These medications are known as the azole treatments, which block the production of ergosterol. Ergosterol is present in yeast cell walls. In the absence of ergosterol, the yeast cell wall deteriorates and the yeast cell dies. Azole treatments are proven safe to use and are known to effectively fight probable symptoms of yeast infection.

Nystatin and amphotericin B. are good treatments, which can be found in Polyene antifungals. Nystatin is known to be effective for superficial candidal infections and also for thrush while amphotericin B is reserved for more serious cases of fungal infection. These works by attacking ergosterol in the yeast cell wall.

These treatments are applied by topically over a period of 1-7 days, but always read the labels carefully for the correct application procedure. You should watch carefully in case irritation occurs. If it does, you should discontinue using the medication immediately. Pregnant women are not advised to use these medications without prescription from their doctors.

Other medical treatments include pills, creams, troches, lotions and vaginal depositories. To know the right and safe option, you should always seek the advice of your doctor.

OTC products are useful in treating vaginal yeast infections. They tend to be made up of four active ingredients that stop the spread of yeast infection. These drugs are part of the anti-fungal family, which works actively to stop and break down the cell wall of the Candida and bacteria. OTC treatments have been approved by the FDA to effectively stop forms of yeast infection, however, it is useful to be aware that antibiotics may disrupt the balance of healthy bacteria present in the vagina and intestine, which may lead to diarrhea, vaginitis and constipation.

It is important to carefully understand and take seriously yeast infection treatment. If it is your first time visiting your doctor regarding a yeast infection, you should be open and candid with the symptoms that you have as this will help the doctor determine if your infection is manageable or needs more serious treatments. When the doctor explains the effects and how the treatments can be handled properly, you should listen closely so that you can apply the treatment effectively. The use of vaginal suppositories and creams need the right dosage as if used incorrectly your infection may get worse.