Current Health Articles

Regarding Drug Addiction

Current Health Articles — Sun, 14 Mar 2010 01:08:54 +0000

Many teenagers these days are ruining their lives and there health by becoming addicted to both drugs and alcohol. Addiction not only hurts those who are addicted, but also it hurts society at large and the families of those who are addicted. In some ways, it is precisely because of the way society is these days that drugs and alcohol is so easily and readily available, as most teenagers have easy access not just to alcohol but to heroin, cocaine, speed, hashish and other illegal substances. Many parents are not sure how to proceed once they find their teenager is addicted to some substance, or how they can help them overcome it.

Centers that Treat Drug Addiction

Addiction Centers are places where people who are suffering with some kind of addiction can go for treatment. There are different kinds of rehab centers, including residential treatment centers where the patient lives at the center in a home like atmosphere, inpatient centers which are more along the lines of a hospital or clinic, and finally outpatient centers. While at the center, the patient receives care from doctors, counsellors and therapists.

Precautions

While addiction to drugs is very dangerous for those suffering with it, it is fortunately possible to cure it. If your teenager is addicted to a substance the first thing to do is to make sure that they feel comfortable and secure with you, and that you are not condemning them for their problems. Next, you should try to encourage them to seek treatment for their addiction. They may feel more comfortable in a residential treatment center, where they will find experts available to help them with their addiction problems.

Damaging effects of addiction

There are different dangers when it comes to taking drugs. Some drugs are very dangerous to the point that an accidental overdose can take someone’s life. Other drugs cause bodily harm over time, and can damage internal organs such as the liver and kidneys. For those not able to afford the more costly private rehabilitation centers, there are also government recovery centers that are free of charge.

Curing Drug addiction

Drug addiction is not easy to cure. First of all, the person with the addiction must want to be cured, and must be committed to going through with the treatment. The next step is to discuss the situation with a doctor or other health provider, and seek their help in getting the person placed in a suitable program. If you are suffering from heroin addiction then your doctor can help you find the right heroin rehab centers to help you recover. Treatment will include medical care, and also psychotherapy to help the person overcome the difficulties in their lives that led to the addiction in the first place.

Acne Treatment: What Exactly is Acne?

Current Health Articles — Sat, 13 Mar 2010 16:28:00 +0000

Acne Treatment: What Exactly is Acne?

Acne is one of the most common skin problems affecting teenagers. Unfortunately, the damage and scarring that it does to the skin can continue into adulthood, causing embarrassment and other psychological problems if the proper anti acne cream or treatment is used. Acne has several different stages, beginning from the early formation of blackheads through till final stage acne.

The first stage of acne is the development of small blackheads and whiteheads. These are really just blocked skin pores. The medical term for blackheads is “open comadones” whereas whiteheads are known as “closed comadones”. In the next stage, these blackheads and whiteheads turn into pimples, which are usually isolated spots filled with pus. These are called papules and pustules. Finally, the blocked pores get inflamed as the body reacts to the bacteria trapped within the pores, and this then becomes acne. When it reaches this stage, it is called nodules and cysts.

Where Will Acne Form: Although it is more commonly found on the face, and sometimes the back, it can form anywhere on the body where there are sebaceous glands. Sebaceous glands produce sebum, which is an oil. When these glands are blocked by oil, and old dead skin, acne can develop. As sebaceous glands surround hair follicles, acne could potentially form anywhere on the body where there is hair, such as the face, neck, chest, back, shoulders, neck, arms and legs.

What Type of People are More Prone To Get Acne: Acne can affect anyone, from any age group. More commonly, teenagers tend to get acne because of the tremendous increase in hormones at this time of their life, however adults, even into their forties, can also get acne. In some cases, people who were free from acne as a teen, developed it later in life.

Red and inflamed acne does not only look a little unpleasant, but it can actually end up causing permanent skin damage and scarring. It can also be very painful during an active outbreak. That is not even considering the considerable psychological hardship that it can put especially teens, who are usually quite self-conscious at the best of times, through. Thankfully there is acne remedies, and medical creams that can clear up acne, or at least lessen the effects of it, fairly quickly.

5 Htp – Depression

Current Health Articles — Fri, 12 Mar 2010 04:39:25 +0000

5 Htp – Depression

Using 5-htp to help treat depression has had a lot more publicity lately due in-part to many high profile celebrities using the supplement at some point in their lives. Jim Carry spoke very publicly about his use of 5-htp, while on Larry King Live Carrey said, “At the risk of like opening up the whole Tom Cruise Prozac argument, you know, I don’t disagree in many ways. I think Prozac and things like that are very valuable to people for short periods of time. But I believe if you’re on them for an extended period of time, you never get to the problem.”

Carrey says – for him – the solution is “Supplements. It is vitamins. But it’s also certain elements of the brain like Tyrosine and 5-hydroxytryptophan that they’re treating depression with now. It is a natural substance that’s in your brain.”

Although 5-htp is classed as a supplement, many of its properties are very similar to anti-depressive medication, as such many draw comparisons between the two parties. However it is important to note that there is a fundamental difference in the way in which they both achieve this.

Specifically designed anti-depressive drugs work by slowing or stopping the serotonin from retreating into the cells in our brain, the effect of this is that the low amounts of serotonin present in the depressed persons brain are, effectively, recycled. This is why they are given the name SSRI’s. SSRI stands for Selective serotonin re-uptake inhibitors or serotonin-specific re-uptake inhibitor.

Drugs in this class include:

Citalopram (Celexa, Cipramil, Cipram, Dalsan, Recital, Emocal, Sepram, Seropram, Citox)
dapoxetine (Priligy)
escitalopram (Lexapro, Cipralex, Esertia)
fluoxetine (Prozac, Fontex, Seromex, Seronil, Sarafem, Ladose, Fluctin (EUR), Fluox (NZ), Depress (UZB), Lovan (AUS))
fluvoxamine (Luvox, Fevarin, Faverin, Dumyrox, Favoxil, Movox)
indalpine (Upstene) (discontinued)
paroxetine (Paxil, Seroxat, Sereupin, Aropax, Deroxat, Divarius, Rexetin, Xetanor, Paroxat, Loxamine)
sertraline (Zoloft, Lustral, Serlain)
zimelidine (Zelmid, Normud) (discontinued)

5-htp however works by supplying the body with the raw material it needs to construct more of its own serotonin. Its a simple solution to the problem and doesn’t require any manipulation of the brains natural processes.

Its important to note here that if you are currently taking any prescribed medication of the SSRI category, or indeed, ANY medication your doctor has prescribed to you to help treat depression and you feel you might try 5-htp instead, DO NOT take both at the same time. Doing so could induce ‘Serotonin Syndrome’ a potentially fatal condition when the body has far to much serotonin.

Types of Mobility Scooters for Senior Citizens

Current Health Articles — Wed, 10 Mar 2010 22:34:48 +0000

Thanks to the improved quality of lifestyle in America, the life expectancy of an average American has increased and we have more senior citizens than ever before in history. Senior citizens have a lot of difficulties in getting around since some of them are sick and highly dependent on others. Arthritis is a problem associated with age; and so is osteoporosis. Some of them have to move around using mobility scooters which are available in the market. These mobility scooters are designed to help them move around much faster and keep them safe. They are not only designed for the elderly but also for the handicapped. Depending on the lifestyle of the person needing a mobility scooter, there are different types to be used by a person who needs them. There is the travel mobility scooter, the heavy duty scooter and the four and three wheeled mobility scooters.

If you are considering buying a good mobility scooter for a senior citizen, who is heavy and is on the overweight side of life, you need the heavy duty scooter; and for the sake of keeping it stable and distributing the weight evenly, you might even want to consider the four wheeled one. If you are lighter than 500 pounds but are still in between 300 to 500 pounds in weight, the three wheel scooter might be the perfect fit for you. You want to make sure that it can move at a considerable speed. Most of them are able to pick up speed of up to 3 to 4 miles per hour. If you are more of an outdoors person and you like traveling, you might want to consider the types of tires that are on the mobility scooters. You want bigger and wider tires that will help you move around much more easily than other tires.

Sitz Baths

Current Health Articles — Wed, 10 Mar 2010 01:34:08 +0000

Many Americans suffer from health problems concerning their pelvic region. Infections and concerns around this area are painful and uncomfortable, and usually need some sort of medicated bath to be treated properly. Fortunately, there is an item available that can make bathing this area easy and relaxing. Taking a sitz bath at home is a great way to address health issues bothering you, such as hemorrhoids and vaginal infections. A sitz bath can give you a full and relaxing hydrotherapy treatment all from the comfort and convenience of your own home.

There are many different types of sitz baths available that can be used for treatment purposes, and all can be placed in comfortable locations, though the most comfortable and widely used is the toilet. A sitz bath can be inflatable for those with travelling with lower body health problems or bought standard and storable at home. Sitz baths come with mechanisms that allow warm water to be poured in while regulating the water level to prevent overflow. Any extra water is automatically poured into the toilet bowl, allowing both the utility of cleaning the water in the bath and keeping it at a comfortable temperature. To use: first start by adding certain doctor recommended ingredients to the bath, such as vinegar for yeast infections or salt for hemorrhoids. Then sit in the bath for twenty to thirty minutes, and be sure to keep the water warm. After use, dry yourself off carefully and pour the remaining water out. This simple procedure has been known to help treat a wide range of pelvic problems.

All doctors recommend using sitz baths for helping with the treatment of health issues around the pelvic region. Daily use of a medicated sitz bath at home has been proven to reduce the severity of hemorrhoids and infections around genitalia and in recovering colonoscopy patients.

Diversify Your Workout With Body Solid Fitness Equipment

Current Health Articles — Tue, 09 Mar 2010 20:56:18 +0000

Among the many types of equipment that it provides, Body Solid is a supplier of several popular freeweight systems, perfect for anyone desiring a more versatile workout. These usually employ a stack of weights that can be controlled by the user via a pin assembly that enables him to adjust how much weight he is lifting. An exceptional option for conditioning the upper body is the Fusion Weight-Assisted Dip and Pull-Up Station. The Fusion personal Trainer Gym boasts Dura-Firm pads to help to reduce the discomfort and the fatigue normally associated with the training. An option for the lower body is their Leg and Calf Press Machine. It’s double-beam design reduces stress to the ankles, while the pivoting press plate provides more versatility in the workout.

Leg training combined with aerobic exercise is the perfect recipe for stationary bikes, which give a great strenuous workout with low impact to joints. Body Solid has its own brand of aerobic machine – Endurance – which offers both recumbent and upright bikes. Upright bikes more closely mimic the posture of street bicycles, while the recumbent bikes put the user in a reclined position, working different muscles and, because of their non-weight-bearing, nature allow users a longer, more effective, workout.

Endurance offers many different treadmills, the most popular probably being the Endurance TF3I Folding Treadmill, an economical and convenient option. Featuring electronic programs and a high-quality build, the TF3I offers a superior workout with the excellent bonus of being able to fold up the running space to fit into any space when not in use.

Endurance offers 6 different elliptical trainers. The E5 Electronic Elliptical gives fifteen levels of magnetic resistance with arm strides and naturally rotating foot pedals, while still offering a compact shape and size as a home-gym option. Ellipticals are an excellent option for anyone just starting to workout because of the low-impact nature of the workout and the safety of the system.

All of the Body Solid exercise equipment, from sit up benches to weight training systems, is supported with a lifetime warranty and superior quality and design. Just as with any physical activity, make sure you get approval from your physician before starting any program.

Treating Panic Attacks With Cognitive Behavioral Therapy

Current Health Articles — Tue, 09 Mar 2010 05:02:26 +0000

A panic attack most probably occurs without any apparent source or cause that could lead you to such extreme levels of fear. The panic attacks are simply the antics your mind is playing. They are the results of your own thinking. So, it is best to treat your very mind in order to overcome panic attacks and panic disorder.

Very aptly defined, a panic attack is nothing but the anxiety sensations which your body experiences which are drastically misinterpreted by your brain with catastrophic implications of the same. Your mind leads you to think that you are in grave danger, when in actuality you are not, thereby adding to your anxiety, which augments your sensations leading to frightening thoughts. All these result into a cataclysmic effect, one that of a panic attack. The root of the problem here is the misunderstood and unnecessary belief of you being in danger. This panic results out of this belief, because that is the natural reaction to anything that might be life threatening. The problem can be averted at its root by simply mastering your beliefs and fear or panic.

This mastery can be achieved by treating your panic disorder or panic attacks with cognitive behavioral therapy. Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) works towards changing your thinking and behavioral patterns, and is a very efficient technique to treat anxiety and the symptoms of panic attacks. CBT can be essentially divided into two separate elements viz. cognitive and behavior therapy.

Cognitive therapy involves monitoring and training the panic attack victims to read and process their thoughts, their thinking patterns and realize their folly of grossly misinterpreting the signals and events, which eventually result in the negative reactions which lead to your losing all control of your sensibilities, what we call as panic.

Behavior therapy treats your way of reacting to signals and impulses and the surrounding situations that lead to extreme anxiety. The aim is to separate the feeling or the event from the bodily reaction or symptom. Behavior therapy also targets to teach the patient how to relax mentally as well as physically.

In the process of these treatments, it is you who is treating yourself here. The doctors or the therapists are only guiding you to perform certain tasks. This way, by working on yourself, CBT is a great way of taking the reins of your condition into your own hands and the progress that you make towards improvement, will be therefore, permanent.

Today, CBT is a widely and popularly applied psychotherapy to treat people for anxiety and panic attack symptoms. It is given as a first-line treatment for panic disorders. With CBT, you can expect guaranteed improvement of about 80 percent, as long as the therapy is applied appropriately.

With CBT strategies, the patient is treated to overcome the extreme fears and coping with when the fear grips you. Cognitive Behavioral Therapy is one of the best ways of treating and coping with panic attacks and disorders that we have today.

Poor Leg Circulation Can Be Worrying

Current Health Articles — Mon, 08 Mar 2010 22:57:38 +0000

When you are told that you are suffering from poor blood circulation, this in almost every case refers to what is known as peripheral circulation, or the reduced flow of blood through the lower extremities, namely the legs and feet. There are many different reasons why this may develop. Most of the time, it is the result of a lifetime of choices, namely a sedentary way of life and prolonged obesity, though it can also be the result of old age. However, most people do not even realize that they are developing them or even know how to recognize the symptoms of poor circulation until it has already begun to advance. The reason for this is that the symptoms of poor circulation develop very gradually, rather than coming on suddenly.

While these problems will grow over time until they affect your entire health, they actually begin very mildly. The first thing you will probably notice is edema, which is the swelling of the lower legs. This will usually be accompanied by discoloration. Even though the cosmetic problems are the first that people usually notice, they fail to realize that there are far worse consequences down the road, some of which can be life-threatening.

Following the initial puffiness and discoloration, there are varicose veins. Varicose veins are raised veins that usually occur on the lower legs, and can be a very unattractive deep purple color. Aside from being ugly, they are a warning sign for other problems, such as deep vein thrombosis or blood clots. After varicose veins, if poor circulation is still left to advance without any sort of treatment, the skin begins to break down and eventually results in ulcers, referring to open wounds that do not heal. These unhealing wounds are almost guaranteed to become infected due to the body’s reduced capacity to heal them. As time goes on, that infection can worsen and spread, and eventually result in the need for the limb to be amputated in order to keep that infection from spreading into the rest of the body.

When you combine poor blood circulation and diabetes, you have accounted for the majority of lower limb amputations that are performed. If you start developing circulation problems, it is important that they be attended to right away. Even though you will probably notice cosmetic concerns before anything else, prompt treatment is necessary if you want to prevent any more serious complications from occurring, up to and including leg amputation. Your health, not to mention your legs, need to be protected. Take care of them, especially when there are so many easy ways to improve leg circulation.

Prevention of Common Skin Conditions

Current Health Articles — Mon, 08 Mar 2010 12:36:34 +0000

In modern society our beauty ideals put a lot of emphasis on clear, smooth, and healthy looking skin. This makes suffering from skin conditions especially tough. Thus, knowing how to best prevent them is very beneficial.

Preventing Acne
Acne is a frustrating and persistent skin condition. It is most common in young people, but can also affect individuals long past their puberty. Before it gets to the point where you need to consider serious treatments and possibilities for removing acne, there are ways which might help the condition from appearing or at least make it less severe.

First of all, proper and basic skin care is crucial. Use mild, water based products for your skin. Don’t go overboard with products like facial scrubs, you should keep the skin clean, but not irritate it by not giving it time to rest.

Be careful with greasy hair hanging in your face, wash the hair of often or possibly consider a shorter haircut.

In general, skin benefits from a healthy lifestyle. If you feel good about yourself, your skin will actually improve as well. Get exercise, but make sure to shower afterward, and consume a diet containing all the crucial vitamins and nutrients.

Preventing Stretch Marks
Stretch marks form in periods with rapid weight changes and hormonal imbalances, such as during pregnancy and puberty. In such periods, it can be beneficial to apply creams especially designed to prevent stretch marks, by stimulating collagen formation. However, if you are pregnant make absolutely sure the cream you choose can be used during pregnancy, some creams contains ingredients that can damage your child.

Additional advice is too keep the skin smooth and hydrated and, again, get all the vitamins and minerals you need through a varied and healthy diet.

Healthy Lifestyle Leads to Healthy Skin
While a healthy lifestyle can by no means prevent all skin conditions, in general, it will improve the appearance of your skin. Get regular exercise, drink plenty of water, eat varied, don’t excessively consume coffee and alcohol, and stay away from cigarettes!

A Basic Introduction To Exercise Bikes. Training With An Exercise Bike. Fitness Bike Information

Current Health Articles — Mon, 08 Mar 2010 03:18:22 +0000

When people think about an exercise routine, images of pulling more and more weights immediately springs to mind, but in reality weights are just a small part of a balanced exercise routine, especially where losing weight is concerned. Cardio exercises that work your heart and lungs are just as important, if not morose than weights for achieving health, longevity and a better quality of life. Probably the most popular aerobic piece of machinery for cardio fitness workouts is the exercise bike. Exercise bikes are cheap and are compact enought to be used in the average house, plus they deliver great workout results when used as part of a consistent exercise routine. Exercise bikes are also known as stationary bikes.

An exercise bike routine will improve your aerobic fitness and stamina. It allows you to perform a vigorous workout of both your upper and lower body at the same time. The benefits of the aerobic workout that an exercise bike can deliver are many. Working out aerobically will improve your heart-rate, cardiovascular fitness and burn calories which will in turn help you to lose weight. You will develop stronger leg muscles and greater agility.

There are many types of exercise bikes available to consumers who want to add one to their home gym. These cater to a range of different exercise types. Certain modes are made for aerobic/stamina training for example, where as other also strengthen and stretch out your muscles. When purchasing an exercise bike, the first step is to decide on what fitness training goals you want to achieve.

Of the different exercise bike types there are three main types: indoor cycling bikes, upright bikes and recumbent bikes.

A recumbent bike has a seat position that allows the “rider” to extend their legs and recline against a padded backrest. Peddling is performed in a forward motion. A recumbent exercise bike is a great device for back pain sufferers as there is less stress on the spine in this position. A recumbent bike delivers a great lower body workout and are useful for cardiovascular workouts sessions and endurance training.

An upright exercise bike let the rider sit astride of the saddle and is designed so to lesson the effort on peddling. Riders can use their body weight to help them in their peddling. Upright bikes are found in most gyms and are commonly used as warm up equipment.

Indoor exercise bikes, are also known as spinning machines and are the most common type of stationary bikes you can find. This type of bike also allows riders to peddle backwards so as to exercise the back part of their leg muscles that would otherwise not get used in the typical forward motion ride.

Exercise bikes deliver a low-impact, endurance workout that will get your heart pounding. Most bikes let you vary the resistance level you work against when you peddle, allowing you to work much harder when you need it, or to ease back when you want something easier. A stationary exercise bike can not only help you to lose pounds and look slimmer, they are also very affordable when compared to many other types of home gym equipment.

For much more information on exercise bikes visit our website. Check it out here Fitness Spaces.