Renal Sympathetic-Nerve Ablation

Article Title: Renal Sympathetic-Nerve Ablation
Article Snip: "...This is the most exciting development in hypertension since the advent of anti-hypertensive medication 50 years ago. It is hard to forecast the limitations and it could eventually be compared to medication," said Mel Lobo, a specialist in clinical hypertension with Britain's National Health Service. ..."
Reference: www.india-server.com

Scientists find possible cure for hypertension

Article Title: Scientists find possible cure for hypertension
Article Snip: "...The procedure called renal sympathetic-nerve ablation is likely to offer some respite to the sufferers who do not benefit from medication, the scientists stated. "This is the most exciting development in hypertension since the advent of anti-hypertensive medication..."
Reference: www.themedguru.com

Pulmonary hypertension: USA doctors offer hope, treatment for rare disease

Article Title: Pulmonary hypertension: USA doctors offer hope, treatment for rare disease
Article Snip: "...diagnosed with a rare and dangerous form of pulmonary hypertension characterized by continuous high blood pressure in the lungs. Idiopathic pulmonary arterial hypertension..."
Reference: al.com

Hormones and MS in Women

Last time I saw my Neuro about 6 months ago, he mentioned to me that I should probably not have serious MS progression until after I hit Menopause. Not that I won't have flares or that he was determining my disease progression, because we all know that's not possible, but that I may experience the more debilitating symptoms after I begin Menopause. After hearing this at that time I took pause and thought, it makes sense. Part of what may control our disease could very well be hormonal.

I remember thinking of my mother who had MS and while she was pregnant with my younger brother and sister (10 years my junior) all of her symptoms went away and immediately after the "twins" were born, naturally at that, she came home in a wheelchair and never got out of it again. I won't rehash my mothers story as it is not my story. But it has most definitely influenced my choices and how I live with MS. One of those being mindful of hormonal levels and preparing for when my hormones start to change.

While I could be 10-15 years away from beginning Menopause, my mother went through it early, in her late 30's. Which is exactly the same time she began the progressive track of the disease. So, while at my Gynecologist this past week I mentioned what my Neurologist had said and asked about how Pregnancy Hormones influence our bodies. To my surprise, my gyno completely understood what I was speaking of and was familiar treating women with MS who are pregnant.

The hormone believed to make all those pesky symptoms go away during pregnancy is Estriol. Estriol is one of the main 3 estrogens produced by the human body. I've been doing some research and found that studies regarding Estriol and MS are and have been underway and for that I am thankful. My Gynecologist mentioned to me of some self-pay hormonal treatment centers that are in my area and some of the Synthetic Compounds of Estriol that are becoming available. While she said it isn't something she would recommend for me yet, nor was she promoting them, she did want me to know about it. But also that it is quite expensive.

Some of the results I read about from the MS Studies included up to 80% reduction in active lesions and improved cognitive function. I'm not going to write a complete paper on Estriol and MS, but, I want to make sure women with MS are aware of the link. I had already planned on taking replacement hormonal therapy when I am menopausal, this is just one more reason to consider it.

Please do share any knowledge you have about this topic in the comments section!

Hypertension Drug Lots Face Voluntary Recall

Article Title: Hypertension Drug Lots Face Voluntary Recall
Article Snip: "...Nine lots of the injectable hypertension drug clevidipine (Cleviprex) have been recalled because of potentially harmful debris visible in some vials during an annual inspection, the FDA announced...."
Reference: www.medpagetoday.com

Healthy Christmas Snacks

Healthy Christmas

Following on from the illuminating suggestions about healthy alternatives for a healthy Christmas dinner here we offer our seasonal ideas for healthy festive snacks

Did you know?

• There are almost 6g of fat in a single 37ml shot of Bailey's Irish Cream?
• Two cans of Stella Artois contain 442 calories (the same as 1.5 Mars bars)?
• Just one segment of a Terry's Chocolate Orange has 46 calories and 2.5g of fat?

Instead of: Dry-roasted or salted peanuts

Why not: Brazil nuts, peanuts and walnuts in their shells. There's no added salt and trying to open them will give you a work out too!

Instead of: Closed shop-bought mince pies with cream or sugar

Why not: Open-topped home-baked mince pies (less sugar and calories) with apple slices or clementine pie.

Instead of fun food why not no-fun food?

Keep your powder dry and your blood pressure low - seasons greetings!

What is Prednisone?

Last week I’m attacked by vicious allergic disease. I’m visiting my doctor for a medication. There is no clear root cause of my allergic disease. The doctor gave me some allergic medicine. There was one allergic medicine that I never known before. This made me embittered. This name is PREDNISONE. I tried to ask this allergic medicine to UNCLE GOOGLE and here is the description I found.

Generic Name : PREDNISONE
Pronunciation : (pred' ni sone)
Trade Name(s) : Deltacortril, Hostacortin, Wysolone

Why it is prescribed: Prednisone, a corticosteroid, is similar to a natural hormone produced by our adrenal glands. It relieves inflammation (swelling, heat, redness, and pain) and is used to-treat certain forms of arthiritis and skin, blood, kidney, eye, thyroid, and intestinal disorders (e.g., colitis). Prednisone also is used with other drugs to prevent rejection of transplanted organs and to treat ceratain types of cancer, severe allergies, and asthma.

When it is to be taken:

1. Follow the instructions on your prescription label carefully, and ask your doctor to explain any part that you do not understand.
2. If you are to take prednisone every other day, take it at breakfast on the first day and do not take it at all on the second day. Then take it at breakfast on the third day, do not take it at all on the fourth day, and so on.
3. If you are to take prenisone once a day, take it in the morning with breakfast.
4. If you are to take prednisone more than once a day, take it at evenly spaced intervals between the time you wake up in the morning and the time you go to the bed at night. For example, if your doctor tells you to take it three times a day, take it at 7 a.m., and 11 p.m.

How it should be taken: Prednisone comes in tablets, oral liquid, concentrate, and syrup to be taken orally. Your prescription label tells you how much to take at each dose. You may obtain a specially marked measuring spoon to be sure of an accurate dose of the solution and syrup. Use the specially marked dropper that comes with the concentrate to measure the dose.

Special Instruction :

1. Keep all appointments with your doctor and the laboratory. If you take prednisone for a long time, you probably will have periodic blood test; X-rays; eye examinations; blood pressure, height, and weight measurements; and physical examinations.
2. Checkups are particularly important for children because prednisone can slow bone growth.
3. Prednisone must be taken regularly to be effective. However, do not take more of it, do not take it more often, and do not take it for a longer period than your doctor has directed.
4. If your condition worsens, contact your doctor; your dose may need to be adjusted. Do not stop taking prednisone without consulting your doctor.
5. Stopping the drug abruptly can cause loss of appetite, nausea, vomiting, drowsiness, stupor, headache, fever, joint and muscle pain, peeling skin, and weight loss.
6. If you take large doses for a long time, your doctor probably will want to decrease your dose gradually to allow your body to adjust before stopping the drug completely.
7. Your doctor may instruct you to weigh yourself every day. Report any unusual weight gain. Tell every doctor, dentist, and surgeon who treats you that you take prednisone.
8. Your doctor may instruct you to follow a low-sodium, low-salt, potassium-rich, or high-protein diet. Follow these directions.
9. When you start to take prednisone, ask your doctor what to do if you forget a dose. Write down these instructions so that you can refer to them later.
10. In general, if you take prednisone every other day and remember a missed dose on the morning of the day you should have taken it, take the missed dose as soon as you remember it. If you remember as missed dose on that afternoon, start a new schedule. Take the missed dose on the next morning, do not take it at all on day two, and take the nextdose on the morning of day three.
11. If you take prednisone once a day, take the missed dose as soon as you remember it. If you do not remember a missed dose until it is time for your next dose, omit the missed dose completely and take only the regularly scheduled dose.
12. If you take more than one dose a day, take the missed dose as soon as you remember it; then take any remaining doses for that day at evenly spaced intervals. If you remember a missed dose when it is time for you to take another, you may take both doses at one time.

Side Effects :

1. Nausea, vomiting, stomach irritation. Take this medication with food or milk. If these effects persist or your stools become black and tarry, contact your doctor.
2. Headache, dizziness, insomnia, restlessness, depression, anxiety, unusual moods, acne, thinned skin, increased sweating, increased hair growth, reddened face, easy bruising, tiny purple skin spots, irregular or absent menstrual periods. If these effects persist or are severe, contact your doctor.
3. Skin irritation, itching, or swelling . Contact your doctor at once.
4. Long-term therapy problems: weight gain; swollen feet, ankles, and lower legs; muscle pain and weakness; eye pain; vision problems; puffy skin; a cold or infection that lasts a long time. Contact your doctor.

Other Precautions :

1. Before you take prednisone, tell your doctor what prescription and nonprescription medications you are taking, especially aspirin, arthritis medication, anticoagulants, diuretics, estrogen (e.g., birth-control pills), phenytoin, rifampin, and Phenobarbital.
2. Do not have a vaccination, other immunization, or any skin test while you are taking prednisone unless your doctor specifically tells you that you may.
3. Before you take prednisone, tell your doctor if you are pregnant, think that you may be pregnant, wish to become pregnant, or are breast-feeding. If you become pregnant, contact your doctor. Prednisone can harm an unborn or breast-fed baby.
4. Before you take prednisone, tell your doctor your entire medical history, particularly if you have liver, kidney, intestinal, or heart disease an under active thyroid high blood pressure; myasthenia gravis; osteoporosis; herpes eye infection; or a history of tuberculosis, seizures, ulcers, or blood clots.
5. If you have a history of ulcers or take large doses of aspirin or other arthritis medication, limit your consumption of alcoholic beverages while taking prednisone.
6. Prednisone can make your stomach and intestines more susceptible to the irritating effects of alcohol, aspirin, and certain arthritis medications, increasing your risk of ulcers.
7. Report any injuries or signs of infection that occur during treatment and within 12months after treatment with prednisone. Your dose may need to be adjusted or you may need to start taking the drug again.
8. If you have diabetes, prednisone may increase your blood sugar level. Test your urine for glucose frequently and contact your doctor if sugar is present; your dose of diabetes medication and your diet may need to be changed. Do not allow anyone else to take this medication.

Storage Conditions :

1. Keep this medication in the container it came in, tightly closed, and out of the reach of children.
2. Store it at room temperature.

For final summary I suggested to all of you, beware about the medicine gave by your doctor. Ask to him the description of the medicine to the pharmacist or your doctor before you consume it.

Link between lead and hypertension

Article Title: Florida A&M, Harvard study link between lead and hypertension
Article Snip: "...Officials from the two universities have been awarded $6 million by the National Institute of Health to see if there is a correlation between high-blood pressure and lead in the body..."
Reference: www.tallahassee.com

'Demystifying Psychiatry'

Article Title:Book demystifies psychiatry for the general public
Article Snip: "...high blood pressure or diabetes," says Zorumski. "Those illnesses don't get cured. They're managed over time. And that's one of the things we really want consumers, and those who have illnesses, to understand. The expectation that a pill or some other form of treatment is going to cure you is really inappropriate, just as it is inappropriate with high blood pressure and other common illnesses." ..."
Reference: mednews.wustl.edu

Body clock link to heart disease

Article Title: Body clock link to heart disease
Article Snip: "...Japanese team found a genetic risk factor for a form of high blood pressure is influenced by 24-hour or circadian rhythms. ..."
Reference: news.bbc.co.uk

An Orgasm makes you healthier!

In this century some women suffer from some form of 'Female Sexual Dysfunction’ and often placing the blame on themselves for their inability to reach orgasm. Stop blaming yourself. If you are alone, masturbation will help you find what feels right for you. If you have a partner, talk to them. Often the clitoris is under stimulated during sexual intercourse - which is how many women have an orgasm. If you have orgasms from your cervix being stimulated, tell your partner about this. Or, whatever else does it for you to get orgasms.

Why must got orgasms? Here is some facts about orgasms.

Orgasms: Relieve tension! The faster heartbeat, the increased blood flow and muscular tautness associated with sexual pleasure all come to a relaxing conclusion with an orgasm, and in the process relieve tensions pent up in your nervous system.

Orgasms: Help you sleep better. While an orgasm is followed in the male by a quick drop in blood pressure and sudden relaxation, the effect on women is more progressive but no less important. Orgasms act as a natural tranquilizer. That wonderful release of endorphins is very calming.

Orgasms: Calm your cravings for junk food and sometimes for cigarettes. Sexual stimulation activates the production of phenetylamine, a kind of natural amphetamine that regulates your appetite. So, before you pig-out, maybe go to your room. :)

Orgasms: Burn calories. An “active” session of 15 – 20 minutes of sex can burn as much as 200 calories.

Orgasms: Can work as natural pain management.

If you ever noticed forgetting about a headache or menstrual cramps while masturbating or having sex, it is not simply a psychological phenomenon. Endorphins, (natural compounds close to morphine) are released by your body during sex and can increase your tolerance to pain by as much as 70% during orgasm. This will vary from person to person.

Please remember to ALWAYS practice safe sex and also know the age of consent laws where you reside. This does not imply that you indulge in casual and unrestrained sex.

For more sex education visit http://www.sex-ed101.org/

The Claim: High Blood Pressure Will Increase People’s Risk of Losing Their Hair

Article Title: The Claim: High Blood Pressure Will Increase People’s Risk of Losing Their Hair
Article Snip: "...Scientists are not exactly sure why, but a number of studies have suggested a relationship between blood pressure and men’s baldness, particularly the early-onset kind. ..."
Reference: www.nytimes.com

High Blood Pressure Symptoms : Other Therapy

High Blood Pressure Symptoms : Other Therapy

Alternative therapies may be helpful to people trying to control their blood pressure.

* Acupuncture and biofeedback are well-accepted alternative techniques that may help some people with high blood pressure.

* Techniques that induce relaxation and reduce stress are recommended. These include meditation, yoga, and relaxation training.

* These techniques alone will not keep the blood pressure in the healthy range for many people. Do not use these as a substitute for medical therapy without first talking this over with your health care provider.

Dietary supplements and alternative medications and therapies are sometimes recommended for high blood pressure.

* Examples are vitamins, garlic, fish oil, L-arginine, soy, coenzyme Q10, herbs, phytosterols, and chelation therapy.
* While these substances may be beneficial, the exact nature of their benefits is not known.
* Scientific studies have produced no evidence that these therapies lower blood pressure or prevent the complications of high blood pressure.
* Most of these substances are harmless if taken in moderate doses. Most people can take them without problems.

* Talk to your health care provider if you are considering any of these treatments. Substituting these therapies for medical therapies that have been shown to lower blood pressure and the risk of complications may have a harmful effect on your health.
High Blood Pressure Symptoms
foods-that-should-be-avoided.

Obesity! Can obesity attack children? How to prevent obesity in children?

Obesity not only attack adult. Obesity is also a child problem. Childhood obesity is not an easy thing to over come in today's society. As more and more fast food joints pop up in neighborhoods and advertisements of junk food keep aiming at children. It is not an easy task to sway your child to eating healthy and properly. It seems frustrating knowing there are so much unhealthy choices of consumption for your child. So what is a parent to do in this day and age?

Nutritionist says babies began to be treated for obesity as adults. These treatments include drugs that control weight, but gastric bypass surgery type.

Like adults, children are not easy or convenient to weight loss and so much of obese children turn into obese adults. The first objective in bringing the child to a healthy weight should not be in a first phase of excessive weight loss, but stopping the process of weight gain and thus time, as the child grows in height, distribution pounds will change.

In general, weight loss should reduce the number of calories consumed as solid food and liquids to make more movement and more importantly, to combine the two. Concept, one kilogram of fat contains 7,000 calories and then have to burn 7,000 calories to lose a kilo or to swallow 7,000 calories to make one kilograms.

For example, for a child to lose weight one kilograms every two weeks he should reduce daily caloric intake by 500 calories. At the same time, it is necessary to permanently numbers calories, if a calculation is made weekly, you will see where the excess.

Helping overweight children to lose weight is important, but is also essential to prevent obesity. This process should begin since childhood and is not easy, especially if the parents are overweight.

Bad eating habits and physical inactivity are the first manifestations of child behavioral tendency to weight gain.

Here are some measures that could be preventive but curative that can help children predisposed to obesity:

• Limiting the number of calories from liquids they consume to the child. Many children drink too much fruit juice daily and carbonated liquids.
• Avoid frequent meals of fast food.
• Watch your portion sizes consumed at every meal. A common problem of overweight children is that portions are too large.
• Children should not be forced to "clean plate". To learn to eat healthy, they need to know to stop when you are tired and even a little before.
• Encourage daily physical activity should also be a priority, walking with her parents and grandparents, playing outside the house, cycling, team sports.
• Limit TV and computer time granted and avoid eating during these activities.
• Communication and discussions about healthy nutrition are important but excessive insisting on notions of "calorie", "fat" and "diet" in general, may frustrate the child and lead to imbalances. It is essential that the father be a model for children by eating well and how the physical activity took place daily.

FDA Approves IV Sildenafil for Hypertension

Article Title: FDA Approves IV Sildenafil for Hypertension
Article Snip: "...The tablet form of sildenafil was approved in 2005 to improve exercise ability and delay clinical worsening for patients with pulmonary arterial hypertension. The clinical worsening delay was observed in patients who took sildenafil during epoprostenol therapy...."
Reference: www.medpagetoday.com

Heart Failure Linked to Gene Variant Affecting Vitamin D Activation

Article Title: Heart Failure Linked to Gene Variant Affecting Vitamin D Activation
Article Snip: "...roles in vitamin D regulation and hypertension. One-third of the subjects had both hypertension and congestive heart failure, one-third had hypertension alone and one-third were included as healthy controls. The results showed..."
Reference: www.sciencedaily.com