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Some wearers of contact lenses may be tempted to save money by taking hygienic shortcuts when it comes to keeping their contacts clean. Instead of buying cleansing solution for their lenses, they may decide to rinse them with plain water or even attempt to use a homemade solution. While a few dollars may be saved by taking this nonchalant approach to cleaning the contacts lenses, the possible harmful consequences far outweigh the financial benefits of adopting a do-it-yourself mentality.

The problem with homemade concoctions is that these will lack anti-bacterial efficacy harmful bacteria will continue run rampant on contact lenses and can cause serious medical complications if the eyes become infected.

A corneal ulcer is an open sore or non-penetrating erosion in the transparent area at the front of the eyeball the cornea and is associated with infections caused by bacteria. This is exactly the kind of bacteria that freely grows on contact lenses when homemade solutions are substituted for commercial cleansing solutions. Corneal ulcers can also be precipitated by wearing soft contact lenses overnight.

Those who attempt to use their own homemade cleaning solutions also run the risk of contracting Acanthamoeba keratitis, Acanthamoeba is a water-borne, microscopic parasite that can wreck havoc in the form of an infection when it invades the cornea. While using homemade solutions are often the cause, swimming in lakes and swimming pools while wearing contacts can also trigger the condition.

The symptoms that accompany this infection are intense pain and redness, and those afflicted with the infection are often hospitalized. If corneal scarring results, a cornea transplant may be necessary. Treatment and therapy may last a year or more, and sometimes severe vision lost can be the outcome of a bout with Acanthamoeba keratitis.

Its crucial to remember that accessories like the lens cases for contact lenses must also be kept clean in accordance with the manufacturers instructions. These instructions will specify what cleansing solution to use or may even specify that the use of hot tap water to clean the lens case is permissible. A case that isnt properly cleaned can be a breeding ground for bacteria in the same way that improperly cleansed contact lenses can be. Eyecare professionals suggest discarding cases every three months or so and replacing them with new ones.

The good news is that the risk of contracting Acanthamoeba keratitis can be minimized by adopting these simple measures:

*Avoid the use of homemade cleansing solutions

*Make sure you use commercial cleansing solutions

*Msure you clean the cases for your contacts; discard and replace the cases every three or four months

*Be aware that sometimes wearing soft contact lenses overnight can cause infections for some people

*Be aware of all factors that may cause infections and medical complications, such as wearing contacts while swimming in lakes, pools or the ocean

Dont allow destructive bacterial to build up on your contact lenses and in your cases. Eye-damaging conditions like A keratitis can be held at bay by following a simple set of hygeinic procedures that will help to ensure that your eyes stay healhly and infection free.

You should always keep in mind that whatever actions you do today can either help to prevent, delay or minimize the effect of heart disease or worsen it. The key is to control risk factors. Granted that you cannot control every risk factor for heart disease such as family history but you can definitely do something about your behavior. Age and gender also influence your risk of heart disease. Oral chelation can have a very beneficial effect on reducing your risk of heart disease.

Major Risk Factors of Heart Disease

Cholesterol Levels

Cholesterol is a type of a lipid, a soft, fat-like substance that serves as a source of fuel. Excessive cholesterol can cause build-up of atherosclerotic plaque. Accumulation of plaque in arteries can block blood flow and lead to a heart attack. LDL cholesterol, the so-called “bad” cholesterol, is transported to sites throughout the body, where it’s used to repair cell membranes or to make hormones. LDL cholesterol can accumulate in the walls of your arteries. HDL cholesterol, the so-called “good” cholesterol, transports cholesterol to the liver, where it’s altered and removed from the body.

Blood Pressure

Normal blood pressure level is defined as less than 130 millimeters of mercury (mm Hg) for systolic blood pressure and less than 85 mm Hg for diastolic blood pressure. The higher the blood pressure, the more likely it is to take a toll on the heart and on the brain. Blood pressure should be checked whether or not your levels are high. For normal, check once every two years. For high-normal, check once a year. If extremely high, you should get immediate care. Then get multiple measurements to know if a high level is sustained over time.

Diabetes

Another risk factor for heart disease is diabetes, a chronic disease of insulin deficiency or resistance. Type 2 diabetes, the most common type, is associated with obesity and may be prevented by maintaining ideal body weight through exercise and balanced nutrition.

Tips For Controlling Risk of Heart Disease

Stop Smoking

The effect of smoking on your lungs can cause almost every other medical condition.

Get Active

Routine physical activity is highly recommended and helpful in controlling obesity. Try to perform 30 minutes of moderate physical activity every day. Fast walking is one of the best way to prevent heart disease. If you can lose even a small amount of weight, five pounds for example, it may have a positive effect on lipid levels and blood pressure preventing heart disease.

Limit Alcohol Consumption

Limit daily alcohol intake to three ounces or fewer to prevent heart disease. People who drink large amounts of alcohol (six to eight ounces a day) tend to have higher blood pressure.

Watch What You Eat

Eat five helpings of fruits and vegetables daily to prevent heart disease.
Maintain adequate dietary potassium, calcium and magnesium intake.
Reduce saturated fats and cholesterol to stay away from heart disease.

Consider using a quality edta or oral chelation product in your diet.

Resources:

http://www.edta-oral-chelation-product-reviews.com

http://www.oral-chelation-products-reviewed.com

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.

Are you aware that arthritis has become one of the most invasive diseases in the United States today, afflicting one of every seven Americans? People who are already fifty years of age or more are the ones usually afflicted with arthritis but there are plenty of younger people who have the disease.

While arthritis is a disease related to aging due to the deterioration of a persons joints as he ages, it is generally a manageable disease. Arthritis can affect almost anyone but it can be avoided or the pain lessened through proper diet, exercise and even surgery. The presence of arthritis can be diagnosed by undergoing x-rays to show the quality of your bones and also by having blood tests.

Once arthritis has set in, there is a great possibility that it will be a disease you have to live with for a long time. Resorting to proper treatments and medication can however help you live with arthritis.

You probably have arthritis if you experience pain excruciating pain in your joints. An inflamed joint can be very sensitive and painful to touch or even with light movements. Arthritis can start with joint or muscle pains which last for a few days.

Arthritis can be debilitating because it can inhibit your movements and your regular functions. This disease can be very painful even for those who are just lying or sitting down. Once arthritis sets in, the ordinary actions like writing, seating or buttoning your shirt can be very painful. People who have arthritis tend to have a limited mobility so they tend to be more irritable and depressed.

There are ways to keep arthritis pain manageable such as proper treatment or weight management plans. There are different kinds of arthritis and knowing which kind you have can help you manage tour pain properly. It also helps to be more vigilant of your daily tasks and to stop putting stress on your joints.

The pain you experience is actually a sign that some parts of your body is not doing fine. However, fibromyalgia or the pain that comes with arthritis is a different kind of pain and harder to manage than ordinary pain. The secret to living with arthritis is managing the pain that it gives you.

Arthritis pain can get worse with fatigue, stress and too much physical work that encourages arthritis attack. A person who have arthritis pain attacks can learn to minimize his pain by not focusing too much on the pain and by resorting to proper exercises, relaxation techniques and appropriate medicine. Others resort to topical relievers that can stop the pain for a few moments, hot and cold sponges and other things to divert their attention off the pain.

While strenuous exercises can worsen arthritis pain, there are activities that can minimize pain and even prevent it like swimming and biking. However, you have to consult your doctor before doing any physical activity as it can worsen your pain when done the wrong way.

What Is The Avian Flu – Also Known As The Bird Flu?

The Avian flu is a virus carried by birds and spread through their feces and other secretions. Those most at risk are people who come into contact with infected birds. Of the people who have been infected, many are from families that keep chickens around the home.

There have been no signs of the Bird Flu in the United States as yet, and the virus is not easily transmitted from birds to humans. However, once confined to Asia, the Bird Flu has now been identified in other countries. Those that have been diagnosed with the Bird Flu have been in close contact with the infected poultry.

A trial vaccine is being developed for the Bird Flu, however since the virus is constantly changing there will have to be a vaccine created to the specific strain that is spreading.

Bird flu in poultry does not pose any food safety risk because it is unlikely a sick chicken would be slaughtered for consumption, and thoroughly cooking meat and eggs would kill the virus. Dr Judith Hilton, the head of microbiological safety at Britain’s Food Standards Agency, said salmonella poses more of a risk to consumers than bird flu. She added that people generally get flu through the respiratory system, not from what they eat. Dr. Hilton advises thorough cooking of poultry meat and eggs. If you cook your poultry and your eggs thoroughly, you would get rid of any viruses present.

The symptoms of the Bird flu are common flu like symptoms:

Fever
Aches
Pains
Chills
Sore throat
Diarrhea
Respiratory disease
Pneumonia

Precautions that should be taken are avoiding contact with live poultry. Do not keep live poultry at your residence. If you do come in contact with live poultry wash your hands very thoroughly. If you suspect you have come in contact with poultry and have flu like symptoms see your doctor immediately.

The Best Help With The Medicare Prescription Drug Plan Could Be Online

No one missed the recent launch of the Medicare Prescription Drug Plan.

Countless newspaper and TV stories have chronicled the complex programs and the difficulties that many people have had finding the best plan to help them get the drugs they need.

However, many older Americans aren’t using the detailed medical information available on the Internet. A recent study by the Henry J. Kaiser Family Foundation found that only 21 percent of American senior citizens have gone online to research health information, confirming that most elderly Americans are not using the Internet to become better informed about their health and health care options.

The TV Services division of Microsoft Corp. has compiled a list of third-party online resources that seniors can use to find answers to their questions about the Medicare Prescription Drug Plan, including these sites:

• Medicare. The official government Medicare Web site now has answers to the many questions seniors have about the new Prescription Drug Plan. The site includes a Medicare Prescription Drug Plan Finder, an interactive tool that enables you to narrow your search for a Medicare prescription drug plan based on your personal preferences such as cost, coverage and convenience. Go to http://www.medicare.gov/pdphome.asp.

• AARP. AARP, the leading nonprofit, nonpartisan membership organization for people age 50 and over in the United States, has designed a site with many articles and detailed information to answer your Medicare questions. Visit http://www.aarp.org/ health/medicare.

• WebMD Inc. WebMD, the popular health information Web site, and the Henry J. Kaiser Family Foundation created a Medicare Drug Benefit Calculator to help seniors figure out what they will pay for prescriptions under the standard Medicare prescription drug plan. Visit http://www.webmd.com/content/article/113/110712.htm.

If you are a senior or you have an older family member who doesn’t use the Internet because it seems too complicated, did you know there are easy-to-use and affordable devices designed to help you get online? With the MSN TV 2 Internet & Media Player (http://www.msntv.com), you simply connect it to a regular television, plug in your phone line (for a dial-up connection) or broadband cable, sign up for MSN TV service, and you can be online within minutes, sending e-mail and researching valuable health and wellness information.

“Some Americans are still intimidated by technology and the Internet,” said Kevin Mizuhara, director of marketing for the TV Services division at Microsoft. “Our customers love MSN TV 2 because it’s easy to set up and doesn’t require computer skills to use.”

More important, the MSN TV 2 player is affordable for just about any budget. The MSN TV 2 Internet & Media Player sells for about $200 MSRP (U.S., plus monthly subscription fee). And, if you order directly from Microsoft (1-866-901-4882), monthly payment plans are available. In addition, the MSN TV 2 player is available at many retailers including Best Buy, Circuit City and Amazon.com.

“With MSN TV 2, you can check e-mail and surf the Web via a regular television from the comfort of your living room,” Mizuhara said. “And you can stay in touch with family and friends by sharing digital photos. With the rich resources available online, you can not only use the Web to research hobbies such as gardening, travel or genealogy, you can also find answers to almost any questions you may have about vital subjects such as Medicare, health, retirement and finances.”

Note to editors: The MSN TV 2 Internet & Media Player requires a subscription fee to MSN TV service and is subject to acceptance of the terms of service upon registration. A credit or debit card is required to pay for MSN TV service. MSN TV services are available as a local call in most areas. In some areas, long-distance telephone toll charges may apply.

Support Needed For People With Breathing Problems. Emotional Burden Of Chronic Bronchitis And Emphysema May Make Some Patients Reluctant To Seek Treat

Imagine how you’d feel if walking up even a few stairs made you so winded that you gasped for air and had to sit down to catch your breath. For millions of Americans with Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease, or COPD, that scenario is part of their everyday lives, and the simple act of breathing can be a constant struggle.

COPD, which includes chronic bronchitis and emphysema, is a progressive respiratory disease characterized by a loss of lung function over time. Primarily triggered by cigarette smoking, COPD is the second-leading cause of disability and the fourth-leading cause of death in the United States after heart disease. Beyond COPD’s physical symptoms lies a range of troubling emotions-frustration, anxiety and depression-which, according to a national survey conducted by Efforts (Emphysema Foundation For Our Right to Survive), may affect the way patients manage their disease. Efforts is a nonprofit patient organization dedicated to supporting and educating COPD patients.

“I’d wake up in the middle of the night scared and anxious because I couldn’t breathe,” says COPD sufferer Jacquie Bossert, 72, from San Diego. “To me, this disease meant I would have to give up all the important things in my life. But with the right resources, I’ve learned to manage my disease, so instead of feeling frustrated, I now feel empowered to get back to doing some of the things I enjoy.”

Overall, the 649 COPD patients in the survey, which was supported by Boehringer Ingelheim Pharmaceuticals, Inc. and Pfizer Inc., said that they most frequently felt uncomfortable, tired and frustrated. More than half reported more extreme emotions, saying that they “always” or “very frequently” felt troubling emotions. These included feeling burdened, overwhelmed, depressed, isolated, defeated, embarrassed or ashamed because of their disease. Nearly all said that they think about their condition at least once a day; are concerned about experiencing an exacerbation, a worsening of symptoms; and believe that other people think that they caused their condition themselves.

Importantly, patients who experienced extreme emotions were more likely to be very concerned about their condition worsening, think that there is nothing they can do to control it or were uncomfortable or reluctant to seek treatment. This group was also more likely to consider immediate symptom relief important and use short-term medications, often called rescue medications, at least once a day.

“These findings illustrate the fear and hopelessness that many patients feel, along with a possible emotional attachment to rescue medications,” says Dennis E. Doherty, M.D., Professor of Medicine and head of the Division of Pulmonary, Critical Care and Sleep Medicine at the University of Kentucky Chandler Medical Center and Chairman of the National Lung Health Education Program, which is dedicated to the identification and treatment of patients in the early stages of emphysema and related chronic bronchitis. “Maintenance therapies are more effective in managing COPD over time, but many patients are confused about the role of short- and long-term treatments in managing symptoms. Physicians need to recognize the emotional aspect of this disease and better educate patients on the value of maintenance therapy so they can get the treatment they want and need.”

To help address the issues found in this survey and the need for better disease education, Boehringer Ingelheim Pharmaceuticals, Inc. and Pfizer Inc., in conjunction with COPD Foundation, NLHEP (National Lung Health Education Program) and Efforts, have launched The Breathing Room, a nationwide COPD education program. The Breathing Room gives patients and the public the opportunity to learn more about COPD through innovative tools such as interactive disease animation. The program will also offer information about COPD from medical experts and will provide lifestyle and disease management tools and treatment options to help patients manage their disease more effectively.

Hepatitis is a disease taking on many forms which feature inflammation of the liver. The cause is depended on the prognosis and on the symptoms shown. Certain forms of hepatitis are unable to reveal many signs or symptoms and are only noticeable when the longstanding inflammation has led to the replacement of liver cells by connective tissue. General symptoms of hepatitis are noticed by fever, enlarged liver, abdominal pain, and jaundice (icterus).

Viral infections are the cause of most acute Hepatitis. Hepatitis comes in 7 not so delicious flavours: Hepatitis A, B, C, D – Agent (which requires the presence of the hepatitis B virus to form), Hepatitis E, F, and G. None of these are very yummy, and should be avoided at all costs.

The most common of the 7 is Hepatitis A. It is transmitted through the orofecal route, or in other words, contaminated food. This one is the easiest to contract, but it does not reach a chronic stage, so the body is able to build up an immunity against it by creating antibodies. An excellent preventative measure is to get a Hepatitis A vaccination. This will prevent infection of the virus.

Hepatitis has a close brother – Hepatitis B. This evil twin is also very easy to contract. you can get it through blood, tattoos, sexually, and you can even inherit it from your mother when you are born. Hep. B can be acute, however, some peoples’ bodies are unable to produce antibodies against it, thus turning an acute virus into a chronic one.

The easiest way to avoid contracting Hepatitis is simple cleanliness and vaccinations. click the link to my website at the bottom for more information on all forms of Hepatitis.

Sinusitis in children and adults are different. Oftentimes, sinusitis in children is over diagnosed because the symptoms are minor and the causes are complicated. Parents and doctors think that children suffer from sinusitis when what they experience is only a runny nose. But this is often not the case. Your child may not simply be suffering from common cold and they would require treatment. So if a yellow or green runny nose does not mean a sinus infection, how could a parent know if his or her child is actually suffering from sinusitis?

If your child has the following symptoms, it can indicate that a sinus infection is present: chronic cough; cold that lasts for more than ten to fourteen days; low-grade fever; thick yellow or green drainage; irritability; fatigue; swelling in the eye area and post nasal drip. Remember though that even if symptoms last for two weeks it does not necessarily mean that there is sinus infection. If the symptoms are improving, then it may just be a cold. But if your child remains sick beyond two weeks, a visit to a doctor is recommended.

Although most children respond well to antibiotic, it still wont help your child get better faster. When antibiotics are used unnecessarily it can cause secondary infections to your child with bacteria that has become immune to the medicine. Nasal sprays may be prescribed to relieve short term stuffiness and nasal saline can help in improving mucous membrane function. If your child is suffering only from acute sinusitis, it should get better in the first few days. But for chronic sufferers, it is important to get the help of doctors to avoid any further infections in your child.

A correct diagnosis of sinusitis is often done upon careful examination of a childs nose, throat and ears and making a careful study of the symptoms that the child is having. Getting a sinus x-ray is not really necessary especially if your child is six years old or younger. Nevertheless, the use of an x-ray cannot be underestimated as it can help know where the blockage has occurred and it can help check the reliability of a sinusitis diagnosis.

If left untreated sinus infection can lead to serious complications, including brain damage. So, as a parent you have to be always concerned about your childs health. But you have to also keep in mind that sinus infection is not diagnosed by a mere yellow or green runny nose. It is detected by analyzing the symptoms and looking at how bad they are.