Gastro esophageal reflux disease (GERD) or acid reflux as it is commonly known, can be brought under control effectively by the use of prescription drugs. These drugs, however, are not free from side effects and should be taken only after a proper discussion with your physician.The main work of these prescription drugs is to control or stop the release of the acids that are produced in your stomach to the esophagus or food pipe. As a result some of these drugs are even referred to as proton pump inhibitors.
Medicines like ‘Reglan’ which are known as motility drugs, helps to empty the stomach soon, which lessens GERD.Certain other medicines like ‘Carafate’, referred to as mucosal protectors, protect the esophageal lining by forming a protective coat in it, thereby stopping further damage to the esophagus. None of these medicines are free from side effects though.
Proton pump inhibitors sometimes cause nausea, flatulence, stomach pain, and constipation in certain cases as per Nexium’s test studies. Medicines like Prilosed, Prevacid, and Protonix too revealed similar side effects and come with a warning of getting prompt medical attention if any discomfort arises. In the case of Motility drugs, this includes Reglan, the stomach empties faster which actually results an overall accelerated absorption rate, which is a case for concern. Reglan may also lead to problems like insomnia, restlessness, depression, and anxiety as it has an effect on the nervous system too. It may also result in involuntary muscle movements.
Mucosal protectors like Carafate contains aluminum and may hence cause aluminum toxicity which are revealed through symptoms like sleepiness or convulsions. But this is a very rare side effect. The more common ones are constipation, dizziness, indigestion, nausea etc. It is always advisable to have a thorough discussion with the doctor before taking any of these medications prescribed for GERD.
Tuesday, June 10, 2008
Saturday, June 7, 2008
Anti Aging
Getting older is a process which we cannot reverse or stop. But we definitely can slow down the whole process by means of opting for sensible choices right from a young age because our skin certainly relies upon these very choices to stay young and supple for a longer period. It is an established fact that people leading a more stressful and unhealthy lifestyle looks much older than their actual age.
When we speak about bad or negative choices regarding our lifestyle, it would include choosing things that speed up damage to the body. The body can be damaged by vitamin deficiencies, or by the prolonged consumption of high-fat food which leads to cholesterol build up. It can also be damaged by vices like smoking, alcohol, anger or stress. Do remember that whatever goes into your body will definitely affect it at a later stage.
These days, we find a lot of controversial topics which actually claim to reverse or slow down the aging factor. While many of these factors actually remain to be proved, it is certainly a established fact that our diet plays a major role in retaining the youthful appearance of our skin. Stick to good choices in food habits and also supplement it with a regular dose of multivitamin tablets to help control the aging process. Sun-exposure is another factor which contributes to skin damage. Use protective sunscreens and accessories before venturing out into the sun and try to avoid the peak hours. A lot of cosmetic creams available in the market claim to slow down the aging process.
Aging is inevitable in our life. No matter what we do, we just cannot escape from it. I have just given you some general suggestions regarding slowing down of the aging process
When we speak about bad or negative choices regarding our lifestyle, it would include choosing things that speed up damage to the body. The body can be damaged by vitamin deficiencies, or by the prolonged consumption of high-fat food which leads to cholesterol build up. It can also be damaged by vices like smoking, alcohol, anger or stress. Do remember that whatever goes into your body will definitely affect it at a later stage.
These days, we find a lot of controversial topics which actually claim to reverse or slow down the aging factor. While many of these factors actually remain to be proved, it is certainly a established fact that our diet plays a major role in retaining the youthful appearance of our skin. Stick to good choices in food habits and also supplement it with a regular dose of multivitamin tablets to help control the aging process. Sun-exposure is another factor which contributes to skin damage. Use protective sunscreens and accessories before venturing out into the sun and try to avoid the peak hours. A lot of cosmetic creams available in the market claim to slow down the aging process.
Aging is inevitable in our life. No matter what we do, we just cannot escape from it. I have just given you some general suggestions regarding slowing down of the aging process
Monday, June 2, 2008
Acne Prevention
Acne is a normal problem which occurs at some time or the other in our lives. Teenagers especially live in perpetual fear of this ‘crisis’. Below are a few tips that can help you to combat acne very effectively, along with a short explanation of each.
The face should not be ‘over washed’.
It is a general belief that a person afflicted with acne should wash their face very frequently. But this is a myth because it should be understood that dirt is not responsible for acne. Frequent washing will only cause the skin to get irritated and result in a severe breakout. It is enough that you wash your face twice a day.
Wash the face with a gentle face wash.
Harsh products like strong soaps and scrubs only results in damaging your skin. Use a gentle face wash and a scrub with small and gentle grains to exfoliate. Things like almond or apricot shell fragments will damage your skin.
Alcohol should not be used to wash face.
Alcohol strips the face of its topmost layer of skin and results in more oil production, thereby causing more acne.
Never squeeze pimples.
Picking at the face or squeezing the pimples results in it getting inflamed. It also causes the acne to spread. Scarring is also a result of such habits.
Do not touch your face unnecessarily.
Touching the affected parts will only result in the spreading of the acne which is actually due to the bacteria being transferred to the pores due to the touch.
Shower after your work-out.
A shower is a must after your work out because during the exercise regimen, heat and moisture are trapped against your skin which results in the multiplying of bacteria. A shower cools down the body and controls the problem.
The face should not be ‘over washed’.
It is a general belief that a person afflicted with acne should wash their face very frequently. But this is a myth because it should be understood that dirt is not responsible for acne. Frequent washing will only cause the skin to get irritated and result in a severe breakout. It is enough that you wash your face twice a day.
Wash the face with a gentle face wash.
Harsh products like strong soaps and scrubs only results in damaging your skin. Use a gentle face wash and a scrub with small and gentle grains to exfoliate. Things like almond or apricot shell fragments will damage your skin.
Alcohol should not be used to wash face.
Alcohol strips the face of its topmost layer of skin and results in more oil production, thereby causing more acne.
Never squeeze pimples.
Picking at the face or squeezing the pimples results in it getting inflamed. It also causes the acne to spread. Scarring is also a result of such habits.
Do not touch your face unnecessarily.
Touching the affected parts will only result in the spreading of the acne which is actually due to the bacteria being transferred to the pores due to the touch.
Shower after your work-out.
A shower is a must after your work out because during the exercise regimen, heat and moisture are trapped against your skin which results in the multiplying of bacteria. A shower cools down the body and controls the problem.
Sunday, June 1, 2008
Acne Cures
Acne can be effectively treated with a variety of home remedies or even over-the-counter drugs. If the breakout is severe, they should undoubtedly be tackled by prescription medicines too. But it should be noted that acne really doesn’t have any definite ‘cure’.
Actually, most acne problems can be brought under control with an effective cleansing schedule especially making use of solutions containing benzoyl peroxide. It can be combined with a topical application of the same on the affected parts. Nevertheless, skin types can differ from person to person and curing acne problems with either home remedies or OTC drugs can sometimes be a trial and error process. So it is essential that you contact a good dermatologist for your problem.
Treatment of acne cannot be generalized because skin types differ widely. This is where a good dermatologist can take over as they are well versed with different types of skin and can identify an effective treatment accordingly. For example, people with oily skin need a different treatment when compared to people with dry skin.
The medicine called ‘Accutane’ which is actually a form of Vitamin A is considered extremely beneficial in the treatment of acne. But unfortunately, it also has several side effects, which may or may not be made aware by the dermatologist. In any case, a long term consumption of the said drug done only after a discussion with your doctor.
Normally, for acute acne problems, the doctor may prescribe a course of antibiotics like erythromycin or tetracycline. These may have to be taken for a period of 16 to 20 weeks to totally destroy all the bacteria that forms the root cause of the problem. But here again, the problem is that along with the acne causing bacteria, the good bacteria (probiotics) too are destroyed by the antibiotics. This aspect should also be discussed with your dermatologist thoroughly.
Actually, most acne problems can be brought under control with an effective cleansing schedule especially making use of solutions containing benzoyl peroxide. It can be combined with a topical application of the same on the affected parts. Nevertheless, skin types can differ from person to person and curing acne problems with either home remedies or OTC drugs can sometimes be a trial and error process. So it is essential that you contact a good dermatologist for your problem.
Treatment of acne cannot be generalized because skin types differ widely. This is where a good dermatologist can take over as they are well versed with different types of skin and can identify an effective treatment accordingly. For example, people with oily skin need a different treatment when compared to people with dry skin.
The medicine called ‘Accutane’ which is actually a form of Vitamin A is considered extremely beneficial in the treatment of acne. But unfortunately, it also has several side effects, which may or may not be made aware by the dermatologist. In any case, a long term consumption of the said drug done only after a discussion with your doctor.
Normally, for acute acne problems, the doctor may prescribe a course of antibiotics like erythromycin or tetracycline. These may have to be taken for a period of 16 to 20 weeks to totally destroy all the bacteria that forms the root cause of the problem. But here again, the problem is that along with the acne causing bacteria, the good bacteria (probiotics) too are destroyed by the antibiotics. This aspect should also be discussed with your dermatologist thoroughly.
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