General Article

The History and Many Uses of Aspirin

Aspirin may be a fairly modern medication, but the active principle has been used since pre-history. Salicin is found in the stately willow tree, and the inner bark has been found in many archeological sites. The first written record of its use goes back to Hippocrates, who is considered the Father of Medicine.

In 1829, scientists discovered that salicin was the pain killing part of the bark. Several scientists working separately managed to refine the salicin to salicylic acid. Unfortunately, the acid was extremely hard on the stomach. Before the product could be marketed, a buffering agent had to be added. The result is acetylsalicylic acid, or aspirin.

It must have seemed like a wonder drug when it first came out. Until then, powders or tea were the means of getting rid of a headache, and they did *not* taste good. Popping a couple of pills is a lot easier, especially on the taste buds.

Over time, other pain remedies were created, and aspirin began to lose some of its popularity. After all, it can still upset the stomach, and every time it is taken it causes the intestines to bleed. It seemed like a remedy that would slowly be left in medical history.

In the last fifteen to twenty years, however, it has once again entered the limelight. First as a preventative in cases of heart disease; as aspirin is a great blood thinner. It may prevent heart attacks and strokes, even if the person taking it has already had one. It may also help prevent some types of cancer and even a complication in pregnancy.* Recent research indicates that it may help prevent recurrence of breast cancer.

Another study looks promising for those recuperating from breaking a hip or a hip replacement. Many patients dealing with these problems develop a pulmonary embolism, which simply translated means a blood clot in the lungs. Taking aspirin may significantly reduce the risk of this sometimes fatal complication.

*Always consult your doctor before taking any herb, supplement or medication…especially if you are pregnant.…

Strokes In Young People Increasing

More and more we’re seeing strokes in young people increasing in the United States, and their unhealthy lifestyle is likely to blame say experts who looked at hospital data on 8 million patients between the years of 1995 to 2008. Once a condition of older people, strokes are happening with alarming regularity in younger and younger patients. The new research claims that stroke rates in those 5 to 44 years old went up by almost 33% in less than ten years.

Having hypertension, diabetes and being obese are common for victims of stroke. But doctors know that by far the biggest risk for stroke, and other dangerous conditions too, is high blood pressure.

As the fourth leading killer in the U.S., stroke can leave those who do survive with paralysis, speech problems and emotional issues that rob you of independence and impact your quality of life, for the rest of your life.

The team of CDC researchers examined figures on ischemic stroke, which accounts for 85% of strokes and is caused by blood clots.

Hemorrhagic strokes are the less common type and come as a result of bleeding in the brain itself. The blood accumulates and compresses the brain tissue in the area. Either type of stroke causes brain cells to die as a result of a lack of blood flow and thus no oxygen.

According to the research, the number of ischemic strokes went up by 31% in 5-14 year olds, though this age group showed drops in hemorrhagic stroke.

There was a lift of 30% for those from 15 to 34; 37% for those aged between 35 and 44 years old. Across all ages, the rise was bigger for men than women.

Also, more than 50% of the 35-44 year olds with an ischemic stroke suffered from high blood pressure.

It’s important to recognize stroke risk in younger people. Keeping on top of your blood pressure, at any age, and living healthy, is so important.

The good news is that stroke treatment has improved a good deal, and there are medications that can reduce the damage of a stroke. But you must get emergency care as soon as you can, within three hours of your first symptoms. This is why being able to recognize and react to stroke symptoms is so important.

Another of the dangers from stroke is that once you’ve had a stroke, you’re at increased risk of having another. Estimates have at least one in eight stroke survivors having another event in 5 years time. That’s why it’s so important to treat underlying conditions like high blood pressure, atrial fibrillation, high cholesterol, diabetes and heart disease. And why you need to encourage the young people in your life to avoid smoking and alcohol use, and to make serious efforts to lose weight if they’re carrying more pounds than they should be.

Doctors recommend that all of us, especially those at risk for stroke, eat a more healthy diet, get more …

Vitamin D Blood Test – Is It Worth the Investment?

Monitoring vitamin D blood levels is a good idea given the importance of the vitamin to our health. Research has shown that sufficient levels are essential for calcium absorption (to prevent osteoporosis) and for maintaining a healthy immune system. But for most people it is unnecessary to test repeatedly if the correct strategy is applied.

Many health plans will no longer pay for vitamin D blood tests except under extraordinary circumstances. Surprisingly, many plans do not include osteoporosis and osteopenia within the exceptions despite the importance of vitamin D for calcium absorption.

The vitamin D blood test is well worth the investment of approximately $ you are using it to evaluate your supplement program rather than just to see how you are doing. Most people living in the northern regions of North America are deficient in the winter, so there is no reason to take a test to prove that you are part of the crowd.

So here is how to maximize your investment and save your time and money:

Get at least 15 minutes of sun daily in the spring, summer and Fall to build up your reserves.

Begin taking 5,000 IU daily in November.

Take your vitamin D test in late February or March when blood levels are usually the lowest.

Ask the doctor for your results and write them down!

The acceptable blood range is 75-200nmol (30-80ng/ml) you really don’t want to be at the bottom of the range. The Vitamin D Council suggests maintaining a level of 125 nmol/L (50 ng/ml) throughout the year. If you have succeeded in maintaining that level throughout the winter, you know that your supplement program is working. Paying for further tests should not be necessary…unless the doctor suggests that you do so.…

Why Rehabilitation is Important to Stroke Recovery

Not only is a stroke the number 3 killer in the world, but it is also the leading cause of serious, long-term disability. Many stroke survivors are left with mental and physical disabilities. Despite the fact that the most gains in recovery are made within the first 30 days following the stroke, rehabilitation is still important. Successful rehabilitation depends on a variety of different factors. Stroke rehabilitation that is successful depends on how early rehabilitation begins, the extent of the brain injury, and the survivor’s attitude. Success also depends on the rehabilitation team’s skill and the cooperation of family and friends.

The main goal of rehabilitation is to help stroke survivors regain independence and to be as productive as possible. A huge part of rehabilitation is improving physical abilities. Often, old skills are lost during a stroke. This means that old skills will have to be re-taught or new skills will have to be learned to help adapt to the survivor’s new disability. It is also important, when possible, to try to maintain and even improve the person’s physical condition. Stroke rehabilitation should begin early while the survivor is still in the hospital. Nurses and other hospital personnel should work together to prevent secondary problems such as stiff joints, falls, bedsores, and second stroke etc.

It is so important for family to be involved in the process of stroke rehabilitation. Family participation is a huge factor in the success of rehabilitation. If a family member has a positive attitude and knowledge it can make a huge difference. Family members need to understand what the stroke survivor has been through and how the disabilities will affect the person. The whole situation will be easier to handle if they can anticipate problems and now how to handle them when they arise.

There are many different places where stroke survivors can seek stroke rehabilitation. There are both impatient and outpatient units are usually part of larger hospitals. Skilled nursing facilities commonly offer stroke rehabilitation. Home-based rehabilitation programs are also available to stroke survivors and are beneficial because they allow the rehabilitation to revolve around their needs and schedules.

The duration of rehabilitation will depend on the severity of stroke a patient suffered. Usually, stroke victims stay inside rehabilitation facilities for around 16 days. After the brief in-house rehab, further rehabilitation follows in an outside facility for the following several weeks or months.

Stroke victims need to learn and re-learn new and old tasks for as long as you live. Therefore, it is important for stroke victims to continue with their own rehabilitation at home after they complete their therapy at rehabilitation center.…

Type 2 Diabetes – Diabetes and the Risk of Stroke

People diagnosed with Type 2 diabetes are at higher risk for developing heart disease and having a stroke. Blood vessels of diabetics often become clogged with cholesterol, or have difficulty expanding to meet the needs of blood flow. When blood vessels in the brain, or those feeding blood to the brain, are unable to carry adequate amounts of blood, a cerebrovascular accident (CVA), more commonly known as a stroke, can develop. Diabetics actually have twice the risk of stroke as non-diabetics.

In a study reported on in February 2012 in the journal Stroke, researchers at Columbia University and the University of Miami in the United States, compared:

length of time with diabetes, and

number of strokes,

discover whether the amount of time after the diagnosis of Type 2 diabetes would affect the risk of stroke.

Their study included 3298 participants who had never had a stroke when they were recruited. Their average was between 59 and 79 years.

22 per cent had diabetes at the start of the study, and

10 per cent developed the condition over the course of the next 9 years.

Two hundred and forty-four strokes were diagnosed during the study, and those people with the longest duration of diabetes had the highest risk of CVA or a stroke.

From the above information it was concluded the risk of stroke goes up 3 per cent per year for people with Type 2 diabetes, and triples after 10 years.

The American Diabetes Association recommends a plan called ABC for preventing heart and blood vessel disease and strokes. Know your hemoglobin A1c (HbA1c), and keep it within normal limits with a healthy diet, regular exercise, and compliance with medications if needed. Be aware of your blood pressure measurement and keep the number where your doctor recommends. This can be achieved by:

normalizing your weight and

getting enough physical activity, as well as taking whatever

medications are prescribed without fail.

Keep your cholesterol in check by eating a low-fat diet and keep the HDL, or “good” cholesterol, high and your LDL, or “bad” cholesterol down by eating only:

healthful fats, (olive oil, canola oil),

performing regular physical activity, as well as

taking medications as prescribed, if necessary.

If a stroke does strike or is suspected, time is important. Time equals brain tissue damage. Signs and symptoms of stroke include:

an extremely painful headache,

confusion,

slurred speech,

weakness down one side of your body,

tingling, or numbness, especially on one side of your body,

sudden difficulty in seeing, and

problems with balance.

If any signs or symptoms do strike, get emergency care as soon as possible.…

Blood Pressure Test

Nobody expects to live forever but there is nothing wrong with making your stay on this planet as comfortable and for as long as you can. Many people have overcome horrendous illness and disease to live a happy and fulfilling life. However, you cannot overcome anything if you do not take care of the body you have been blessed with.

Having regular medical checks is a step in the right direction. One of the most important things is having a blood pressure test on a regular basis. Many people will say they just do not have the time or time is money. But what use is money if you do not have good health.

High blood pressure has reached epidemic proportions in the world today as a result of the fast lifestyles the majority of people lead. This is the fast food “eating on the move” way of life that many people have adopted. This proves that many people are guilty of abusing and taking their bodies for granted.

You will often hear people say they are saving for their retirement. But when they retire after spending their working lives running around like headless chickens, they sit and do nothing. So it is hardly surprising that a high percentage of people suffer from high blood pressure. High blood pressure can cause heart disease, strokes and many other related illnesses. Therefore it is imperative you have a blood pressure test.

You have got to learn to love yourself and treat your body accordingly. There must be nothing worse than the feeling of regret you would experience when laying in a hospital bed surrounded by machinery after a massive heart attack or stroke. This can be averted by looking after your body. It is the only one you will get.

Remember, it is never too late to begin. Nature has not only blessed you with your body but has also blessed you with the unbelievable power to heal yourself.…

Fluctuating Blood Pressure Increases Risk of Stroke

Hypertension sufferers take note… recent study findings have some pretty important implications for those trying to manage their condition and avoid an increased risk of stroke.

A large five-year study finds that fluctuations in blood pressure over time may be a key indicator of stroke risk.

In the research, a British team of experts tracked the health of over 19,000 patients who were taking either beta blockers or calcium channel blocker medications to manage hypertension.

Patients who were in the highest 10% in terms of swings in blood pressure readings between visits to the doctor had almost four times the risk of stroke as those whose readings didn’t vary so much. The results were the same when the researchers looked at the subjects’ risks for heart attack.

Subjects who took calcium channel blockers had a 22% lower risk of stroke vs. those who took beta blocker medications. The differences in readings between the two groups seemed to explain the difference in risk.

This research findings echo those of a total of four other studies published peer reviewed journals. These studies found that those with the biggest variation in systolic pressure (the top number) over seven visits to their doctor were six times more likely to have a major stroke. Earlier work had looked at short-term variability (24 hours) but this time the researchers examined visit-to-visit variability of readings. Those with the highest blood pressure readings were a whopping 15 times more likely to suffer a stroke.

Everyone is now wondering if recommendations for the treatment of high blood pressure should change.

To date most doctors haven’t been too concerned about variation in blood pressure readings, or the maximum pressure reading for a patient, but this could change based on the latest research.

It may well be that random variations in blood pressure cannot be ignored as they’re telling you something about risk.

This might be especially important if you’re over 55 years old, the age group that makes up 80% of those with hypertension.

More research will surely follow, but this work certainly should have you taking your high blood pressure treatment seriously and talking to your doctor about any variations in your own readings in case of an increased risk of stroke.…

Do Retinoid Gels Help Acne? The Good, the Bad & the Ugly – My Story

My name is Declan; I had a gruelling ten year long battle with acne before finding a method that worked 100%. I’m not acne free and living life to the full. Now I will share my experiences with the retinoid gel differin (adapeline) 0.1%.

Differin contains the active ingredient adapeline (a topical retinoid), which is a deep exfoliation product. Exfoliation helps acne by removing excess dirt, oil and other tiny objects which may contain bacteria or block pores. I used Differin for 6 months during my early 20’s, to some extent it did work, but eventually the negatives outweighed the positives.

The Good: Unlike other topical gels, Differin works under the skins surface towards the root of the problem, this means it’s more than just a temporary effect. My first week of using differin produced no results; in fact my acne seemed to be getting worse. Thereafter the product seemed to be working. My skin actually felt clear over a period of time; in fact medical studies have shown that Differin can reduce lesions by up to a third in people with moderate acne.

The Bad: Any harsh skin product is going to produce side effects. The concentrations of adapeline in differin are either 0.1% or 0.3%, so it’s fair to say that adapeline is very strong! In my first 2 weeks I would have slight burning sensations across the applied areas on the skin. These sensations would gradually get worse as the day went on, plus if any exercise was carried out the sweat would cause further irritation and itchiness. Leading on to the ugly…

The Ugly: Throughout my use of Differin 0.1% I would notice intense peeling the morning after applying the product; this would carry on throughout the day. My first 2 weeks were the worst, not only would I notice the peeling, my skin would have a red tinge to it, this was especially noticeable in direct sunlight.

To be honest, at the time of using differin I would accept the fact that in order for something to have an effect on my acne, I would have to deal with bad side effects (in this case: peeling, red patches & burning sensations). But now I can help… I’ve had the displeasure of spending years of my life trying to find a solution; it was only after I took the advice of medical students at my university that I became free of acne – with no side effects.…

How to Identify a Stroke – 4 Things to Check

How can you tell if someone has had a stroke? It can be very difficult to tell just by looking at them unless you know what to look for, because many times they may seem to have just had a dizzy spell or tripped and fallen and immediately afterward seem just fine.

5 years ago my wife and I owned a small appliance and vacuum store, one day one of our regular customers came in to do business and chit chat a bit. As she was leaving she turned around to say one more thing, and without any warning whatsoever fell straight back and hit her head on the floor as if she had simply fainted.

My wife immediately called for an ambulance, while I insisted that the customer stay down until the paramedics arrived.

Although at the time our customer felt fine and wanted to get up and go home, and was a bit upset that we had called an ambulance, she came in a few days later to thank us for what we had done.

As it turned out, by the time the paramedics arrived at the hospital they had determined that she had suffered a stroke, and because she received medical attention so quickly, there were no lasting effects.

Although some stroke victims don’t die, they end up in a helpless, hopeless condition instead.

HOW TO RECOGNIZE A STROKE

Here are four ways a bystander can recognize a stroke:

1.) See if the person is able to smile.

2.) Ask them to speak a simple sentence such as (It is a beautiful day today.)

3.) Ask the person to ‘stick’ out their tongue.. If the tongue is ‘crooked’, if it goes to one side or the other, that is also an indication of a stroke.

4.) See if they are able to raise both arms at the same time.

If they appear to have any difficulty with one or all of these tasks, call for emergency medical help immediately.

Doctors say that if they can tend to a stroke victim within 3 hours there is a good chance they can totally reverse the effects of a stroke. They say the key is getting a stroke recognized, diagnosed, and then getting the patient medical attention as soon as possible.…

Reduce High Cholesterol – Why All the Concern?

High cholesterol–so why all the concern? It only becomes damaging if there’s too much of it in the body. The body doesn’t need much to do the job. The liver naturally produces all the body needs. Excess cholesterol in the body usually stems from a diet high in saturated fats. It is deposited on blood vessel walls as a thick plaque. And over time, this plaque causes blood vessels to narrow so that less blood reaches the heart muscle, which could result in a heart attack or stroke.

But despite its association with cardiovascular disease, it is essential to the body’s good health. It’s used to make Vitamin D; cell membranes; the sheaths around nerves; bile, which is used to digest fats; and hormones, including estrogen and cortisol.

Cholesterol is a waxy, fat-like substance that circulates through the body attached to substances called lipoproteins. There are two types: High-density lipoprotein (HDL, or “good” cholesterol) gathers cholesterol and returns it to the liver so it can be eliminated from the body. Low-density lipoprotein (LDL, or “bad” cholesterol) allows fatty plague to linger in the bloodstream where it can build up deposits on artery walls, which increases the risk for heart disease.

Fortunately, it’s a risk you can control in part by eating plenty of low-fat, high-fiber, cholesterol-lowering fruits and vegetables.

So, picking freely from the produce and bread aisles helps you lower cholesterol for several reasons:

1. Fruits, vegetables, and whole grains have little or no fat, so a diet rich in these foods is unlikely to deliver excessive cholesterol to your blood.

2. Fruits, vegetables, and whole grains have fiber, a powerful dietary weapon that comes in two forms. Insoluble fiber (or roughage) resists digestion, so it speeds food through your system. Soluble fiber is a gummy substance that dissolves in your blood. While both types are helpful, soluble fiber gets extra credit for helping to regulate production and elimination of cholesterol. Foods that provide the highest levels of soluble fiber include chewy grains (barley, oats, and oat bran), crunchy vegetables (broccoli, carrots), and juicy fruits (grapes).

3. Also, many fruits and vegetables provide antioxidants, such as vitamins A and C and beta-carotene, which help guard against fat buildup in the blood.

Although ample amounts of foods like oatmeal, apricots, and spinach can help you win the fight against high cholesterol, you should also limit foods high in dietary cholesterol and saturated fats, because these foods can raise cholesterol in the blood. Eat sparing amounts of fatty, highly marbled meats and processed cold cuts, whole dairy products, and saturated fat sources–such as butter, palm oil, and coconut oil–often used in backed goods. Choose lean cuts of beef, chicken, or pork; low-fat milk and yogurt; and olive oil.

While diet is key, it’s not the only way to alter cholesterol levels. By losing weight when needed, even as little as 5 to 10 pounds, you can lower total cholesterol, reduce LDL and raise …