The Pharmacy Mart

Psoriasis is an autoimmune disease affecting the skin and joints. When it affects the skin it commonly appears as red scaly elevated patches called plaques. Psoriasis plaques frequently occur on the elbows and knees, but can affect any area of skin including the scalp and genital area. Psoriasis can vary in severity, from minor localised patches to extensive or even complete skin coverage. Fingernails and toenails are often affected. This is called psoriatic nail dystrophy.

Psoriasis can also cause inflammation of the joints. This is known as psoriatic arthritis. Psoriatic arthritis can affect any joint but is most common in the joints of the fingers and toes. This can result in a sausage-shaped swelling of the fingers and toes known as dactylitis. Psoriatic arthritis can also affect the hips, knees and spine. This is known as spondylitis.

Psoriasis affects both sexes equally, occurs at all ages and is prevalent in 2-3% of the Western populations.

Several factors are thought to aggravate psoriasis. These include stress and excessive alcohol consumption. Individuals with psoriasis may also suffer from depression and loss of self-esteem. As such, quality of life is an important factor in evaluating the severity of the disease. There are many treatments available but because of its chronic recurrent nature psoriasis is a challenge to treat.

Psoriasis is driven by the immune system, especially involving a type of white blood cell called a T cell. Normally, T cells help protect the body against infection and disease. T cells help create scabs over wounds. In the case of psoriasis, T cells are put into action by mistake and become so active that they trigger other immune responses, which lead to inflammation and to rapid turnover of skin cells. Epidermal cells then build up on the surface of the skin, forming itchy patches or plaques.

Specialist dermatologists generally treat psoriasis in steps based on the severity of the disease, size of the areas involved, type of psoriasis, and the patient’s response to initial treatments. This is sometimes called the “1-2-3″ approach. In step 1, medicines are applied to the skin (topical treatment). Step 2 uses ultraviolet light treatments (phototherapy). Step 3 involves taking medicines by mouth or injection that treat the whole immune system (called systemic therapy).

Over time, affected skin can become resistant to treatment, especially when topical corticosteroids are used. Also, a treatment that works very well in one person may have little effect in another. Thus, doctors often use a trial-and-error approach to find a treatment that works, and they may switch treatments periodically (for example, every 12 to 24 months) if a treatment does not work or if adverse reactions occur.

In conclusion, Psoriasis is a chronic condition. There is currently no cure. People often experience flares and remissions throughout their life. Controlling the signs and symptoms typically requires lifelong therapy.

Disclaimer – The information presented here should not be interpreted as medical advice. If you or someone you know suffers from Psoriasis, please consult your physician for the latest treatment options.

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No Worries On Medicine Costs With Canadian Drug Stores

If they are not sweating it out over mortgage, many Americans have to deal with the costs of medicine. They land in the hospital or see a doctor and are then slapped with a prescription for medicine that they have to maintain for the long term.

Of course, any way that they can save money is always welcome. But drug stores based in the United States often have higher prices, regardless if they are found online or in an offline location. The cheaper alternative to medicines is just found in Canada, that is, at online Canadian drug stores.

Most people think that ordering medicine at a Canada-based location costs more as they would also have to pay for shipping aside from the cost of medicine. The fact is, you can actually save 25 to 50% on medicine costs just by ordering from an online Canadian drug store.

In general, there are five main reasons why drugs are deeply cheaper in Canada than in the United States:

Since government regulates them, there is a ceiling on how much Canadian pharmaceutical companies can charge for their medicine.

Since Canada has less strict patent laws, more generic drugs are being manufactured.

Since the US dollar is stronger than the Canadian dollar, Americans have more purchasing power.

Taxes are not charged on orders sent outside of Canada.

Shipping costs are charged at per package per order, not per bottle of drug. You may have several drugs in on order, but you only need to pay one shipping fee. Spouses who place their orders together, and have the same shipping address, are changed only a single shipping fee.

How It Works

To get started, you only need to fill an order with an online Canadian drug store Once this is done, you will need to send the prescription made by your doctor in the United States. A licensed Canadian doctor will then review your patient history and your prescription, and then approve the prescription under his or her Canadian professional license. If the Canadian doctor has any questions or concerns, he or she will get in touch with your or your doctor.

When the Canadian doctor approves your prescription, your order. Whenever possible, the Canadian drugstore substitutes the brand name with US-approved substitutes, unless you or your physician indicates you do not want substitutes.

Apart from popularity, brand name drugs differ very little from their generic counterparts. Their looks may differ, but brand name drugs and generic drugs have the same active ingredients and thus work in exactly the same way. The major difference is the price.

Brand name drugs refer to drugs that were first made by a pharmaceutical company. The company that made Prozac, for example, was the only one allowed to make the drug for years. After a time (around ten years in the United States and five to seven years in Canada) other companies were allowed to make generic versions of that drug.

As the new year begins, people with Medicare who have already joined a Medicare drug plan can take advantage of the new Medicare prescription drug coverage. Since this is a new program for Medicare, you might have questions about how to use your Medicare drug plan. For instance, what if you joined a plan but haven’t received a plan ID card in the mail yet? Or, what if your drugs were covered by Medicaid and you’re not sure how to get your medicines now? Whatever questions you have, Medicare has answers.

First Pharmacy Trip

Here are some tips people with Medicare can use to make sure their first trip to the pharmacy goes smoothly:

• When you first join a Medicare drug plan, you’ll get an acknowledgement letter in the mail about a week after you join. Your plan ID card should arrive three to five weeks later.

• If you need to go to the pharmacy before your ID card arrives, bring the acknowledgement letter from your plan, your Medicare and/or Medicaid card, and a photo ID.

• Save the receipts from your pharmacist.

• For additional assistance, call 1-800-MEDICARE, 24 hours a day, seven days a week.

People with Medicare and Medicaid

If your pharmacist is having trouble confirming what plan you’re in or whether you also get Medicaid, he can also call a special toll-free number that Medicare set up for pharmacists to get help. People with Medicare who also get Medicaid should be able to get their prescriptions filled with minimal copayments and no deductibles.

How to Join a Plan

If you haven’t joined a Medicare drug plan yet, don’t worry. You have until May 15, 2006 to choose and join a plan without having to pay a penalty

People all over the world are always catching the flu and there is nothing worse than a flu symptom, any flu symptoms really and unfortunately many a flu symptom will come hand in hand with others. This leads to awful illnesses that can last for days and even a week or more. There is one more common flu symptom though, that many people tend to suffer from.

The most common flu symptom by far is the chills. Everyone dreads getting the chills because there is simply nothing that can be done about them. No matter how many blankets you put on or how many you take off this annoying flu symptom will persist and keep you feeling alternately hot and cold all day long.

There is another common flu symptom and that is sweating and fever. These always go hand in hand with a bad case of the flu. A flu symptom like sneezing or coughing is not usually far behind either. The flu is one of those viruses that cause all manner of different flu symptoms and they are all equally disturbing to those suffering from them.

There is not really any flu symptom that is tolerable, they are all going to make your next few days terrible but keep in mind that this flu symptom too shall pass. All you need to do in order to make sure you get over your flu symptom or flu symptoms is get plenty of rest and plenty of fluids.

Most medicines will not help much with any flu symptom. Some over the counter medications can mask your symptoms somewhat but these do not always work and they never speed up the healing time of the flu symptom. The only thing that makes your actual flu better is time and rest.

If you think that you might have the stomach flu then you may want to go to see a doctor because this could actually be something like parasites or food poisoning. These can get serious so if you are feeling a lot of pain in your stomach and massive vomiting and diarrhea then you are not really suffering from a regular flu symptom and the doctor may be able to help you.

Learning more about each kind of flu symptom will not hurt either, at least that way you will have some idea as to what to expect from a flu symptom.