Chicken Pox Remedies
Chicken pox is caused due to a virus. It is highly contagious and afflicts children as well as adults. However, when children get chicken pox, the symptoms are not that severe as when adults get it. With the advent of varicella vaccine, the incidence of chicken pox has greatly reduced in the US but there are still some cases. Chicken pox is caused by the virus called varicella. This virus is the one responsible for all the symptoms and complications caused by chicken pox. In order to prevent the infection of the body with this virus, doctors recommend varicella zoster immune globulin (VZIG). Chicken Pox home remedy treatment can be achieved by using Vitamin E Oil. Rub the Vitamin E oil into the skin and watch for a healing effect. The marks left by chicken pox will slowly fade away by the use of Vitamin E oil.
A mild fever, some weakness and tiredness are the first chicken pox symptoms that you will feel, after the incubation period is over. Soon after this signs of chicken pox, a rash will start to appear on your skin. At first only some areas of your body will be affected by these tiny, red spots. There is more than one case for chicken pox. The most common is a virus called herpes zoster. Because chicken pox is highly contagious, if you have contact with the blisters that are broken, you will get infected as well, that is of course, if you have not had chicken pox before. It goes without saying that chicken pox rash is quite itchy and you will want to control the itching otherwise bacterial infection of the lesions could set in. Take 2 teaspoons each of marigold flowers and witch hazel leaves. Soak them overnight in one cup of water and then use the water to apply on the blisters.
Bacterial Superinfection is the most common serious complication of chickenpox being caused by group A streptococcus. Although mild and not very dangerous its spreading to muscle, fat or even the blood can lead to life threatening situations such as the necrotizing fasciitis (the so-called flesh-eating bacteria) but this is still very rare. Persistent or recurring high fever, redness, pain, and swelling in the skin and in the tissue beneath and even pneumonia are some of the symptoms. Some parts of your child’ s body are more likely to be affected by chicken pox than others. The chest and upper part of your child’ s back are the ares where the rash will first appear. However, chicken pox may affect your whole body, even the mouth. These are more rare cases of chicken pox, but they can exist.
Usually no symptoms, except fever, occur before the blister rash. The blister rash goes through the next stages: in the beginning only red spots appear. After their appearance the red spots begin to increase until they develop into small blisters. Within less than a week blisters break and form a crust. Itching is severe in this last stage. Vaccination is a good idea particularly for adults in whom chicken pox runs a more serious course. Moreover, since it isn’t possible to predict who will get a harmless, serious or even fatal form of the disease, it is always better to prevent than to treat now that the vaccine is readily available.
OHIO: Changes in Ohio Law; Hurdles to HIV Testing Removed
Many doctors remain unaware of changes made to Ohio’s HIV testing law in 2009, prompting the state Department of Health to issue screening guidelines this past fall. Previously, doctors had to conduct pre-test HIV consultations and obtain separate consent to test for the virus. When the results were in – regardless of whether they were positive or negative – doctors again had to consult with the patient. “Essentially, the patient had to get down on their knees and beg for the test,” said Dr. Ron Reynolds, a Cincinnati provider who helped push for the change. Under the new law, consultations are no longer mandatory and no separate consent is required. “An HIV test can now legitimately be handled just like a blood-sugar test or cholesterol test,” said Reynolds. Government-supported testing sites, including those at health departments, must still offer counseling after a negative test, said Bill Tiedemann, who runs the state health department’s HIV prevention program. The law “doesn’t reduce someone’s confidentiality around their health information; what it does is reduce the barriers at the clinical level,” he said. Ohio State University Medical Center’s Dr. Michael Para said HIV testing rates will rise when physicians become educated on the law. “We basically have to change physicians’ ideas, and that happens slowly,” he said. The state health department last year was awarded a $1.18 million grant to expand HIV testing by 53,000 residents during a three-year period. Five emergency departments across Ohio will receive grant funds to support routine testing. CDC reported last year that 55 percent of US adults, including 28 percent with a known risk factor, have not been tested for HIV. An estimated one in five Americans with HIV do not know they are infected. [Article source: http://www.dispatch.com]
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Mylan sues FDA nod to Ranbaxy Lipitor generic
Mylan sued the US Food and Drug Administration, seeking to block Ranbaxy Laboratories exclusive rights to sell a generic version of Pfizer’s cholesterol pill Lipitor, the world’s best-selling medicine.
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Donors pledge $65m for Libyan humanitarian crisis
Nairobi, Kenya (IRIN) – Donors have so far announced some US$65 million of humanitarian contributions in response to the Libyan crisis and pledged another $10 million, but humanitarian operations there will need much more than that, say aid agencies.
A preliminary UN-coordinated “flash appeal” for $160 million for 17 organizations has been published. As of 7 March, the five largest donors to the regional crisis response are the US, the European Commission, Norway, Australia and Canada.
Priority areas include assistance in evacuation, food, decongestion of transit areas, assistance packages to people in transit (non-food items, food, water/sanitation and health services); and protection and monitoring at the borders.
Major sectors or clusters highlighted for aid:
- Multi-sector (including camp management and transport) – $81 million;
- Food security – $48 million;
- Health – $11 million, and
- Water, sanitation and hygiene – $6 million.
More than 200,000 people have fled Libya, according to the International Organization for Migration. Given uncertainty around conditions and needs inside Libya, and a volatile situation, the appeal is to be revised in two weeks.
eo/cb/bp/mw
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Lipitor busters
For long, Pfizer’s $10 billion-a-year Lipitor cholesterol lowering drug has been an attractive target for generic copies. And the US drug maker’s response to its duly-earned intellectual property has been on predictable lines-zero tolerance.
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Study: Energy drinks don’t lessen effects of alcohol
Boston, MA, United States (AHN) – A new study finds that mixing Red Bull with alcoholic beverages such as vodka have no effect on enhancing performance on a driving test or improving sustained attention or reaction times.
The study led by researchers from Boston University and Brown University discounts marketing efforts and urban myths that that caffeine will offset the sedating effects of alcohol and increase alertness and stamina.
“There appears to be little or no protective benefit from the addition of caffeine to alcohol, with respect to the safe execution of activities that require sustained attention with rapid, accurate decisions,” says the study, published in the February edition of the journal Addiction.
The study’s results come amidst increased government scrutiny of energy drinks, particularly when mixed with alcohol. Some state lawmakers have banned the sale of caffeine infused alcoholic drinks like Four Loko. While some governments internationally have issued warnings about mixing energy drinks with alcohol.
In 2009, the US Food and Drug Administration issued a statement expressing concern about a lack of safety data on CABs, after survey results showed that the consumption of such beverages correlated with risky behavior among college students.
Researchers believe that consumers should be aware that that adding caffeine to alcohol does not enhance safety, especially when it comes to driving.
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Healthy Heart Foods
Which foods can you eat which will improve your chances of cardiovascular wellbeing and a longer life? Certain whole foods are known for their ability to support heart health. Read on to find out which heart healthy foods you need to keep in your refrigerator and eat more regularly.
There are many foods that we can make a regular part of our healthy diet that can help protect our heart. A healthy diet is one that is low in saturated and trans fats, refined sugars and sodium and adding a bowl of oat bran to a diet that is high in fat and sodium is not going to solve the problem. A healthy diet is one that is an ongoing diet of heart healthy foods and nutrients.
Everyday, thousands of people are put on prescription medication for high blood pressure, high cholesterol or atherosclerosis because heart disease is the leading cause of death in Americans over the age of 45. The process seems to begin with an injury in an artery’s lining caused by high blood pressure, smoking or an amino acid called homocystein which is generated by the breakdown of protein in the body.
You should be eating foods such as red grapes, cranberries, tomatoes, and onions. These foods contain very powerful antioxidants and flavonoids and carotenoids. These nutrients decrease inflammation and take damaging radicals from your body through urination.
Do these habits support you to build and nurture your important relationships? Are you using work as an excuse – to avoid being with, and communicating with those important people? Can you establish boundaries for yourself in regard to your work – to ensure ample high-quality relationship time? Set reasonable expectations for what you will accomplish each day. Plan for success.
A large percentage of the US population believes that a healthy diet must be boring and bland. This is certainly not the case because healthy eating food choices include a wide variety of delicious options. These ingredients are used in healthy food recipes to create tasty dishes that are every bit as refined, savory and appealing as those richer, less healthy menu offerings served at 5 star restaurants anywhere in the world.
If there is not enough vitamin C in our system to produce collagen, an unhealthy substitute is used instead – cholesterol! If this continues, cholesterol builds up and the arteries harden (atherosclerosis) constricting blood flow. This can also lead to angina and a possible heart attack or stroke. Furthermore, vitamin C helps detoxify blood and prevents blood from sticking and clotting. Some good juicer recipes food sources include oranges, kiwi fruit, blueberries, blackberries, strawberries, apples, broccoli, cucumber and carrots.
Eating for a healthy heart isn’t complicated, and it is not about making radical, short-term changes to your diet. It really is about making a life-style change. Eating for a healthy heart is an important initial step to lowering the threat of developing heart problems. Coronary disease will take more lives than the next seven main causes of death. Discover why eating for a healthy heart, seriously, isn’t as rigid as you thought, however it is essential to a happy healthier life.
Do enjoy fresh or frozen fruits and vegetables in salads, smoothies and drinks like mango lassi. Yield not to the temptation to make cherry pie, cobbler, ice-cream or any dish that will destroy the healthy nutrients like vitamin C in fresh fruit. Do not choose recipes with added sugar and more than 2 tablespoons of saturated fat like cream, sour cream and mayonnaise when trying new dishes. Excess saturated fat is documented to put stress on the working of your heart and circulatory system.
Pfizer CEO switch stuns Wall Street
Wall Street initially welcomed the departure of Pfizer CEO Jeffrey Kindler – but now questions abound. |||
New York – Wall Street initially welcomed the abrupt departure of Pfizer CEO Jeffrey Kindler, but quickly turned to questions about the condition of the pharmaceutical company and the behaviour of its board.
Many analysts were amazed that the world’s top drugmaker – a Dow component company, worth $130-billion – could lose its chief without warning on a Sunday night and with no explanation beyond a claim that the job was simply too tiring for Kindler.
The Pfizer board immediately promoted company veteran and global head of pharmaceutical operations Ian Read, apparently not bothering with a wider CEO search.
“It has to raise some red flags, and if nothing else, it’s poor communication by Pfizer,” said Tom Villalta, lead portfolio manager for Jones Villalta Opportunity Fund.
“Couldn’t the transition have been done more tactfully?” Villalta said. “I like Read’s marketing experience and don’t think he’s a bad choice. But this is a weird way to replace the CEO of one of the largest companies in the world.”
Shares of Pfizer rose as much as 2.2 percent on the news of Kindler’s resignation, as investors hoped Read would push through asset sales, cost cuts, share buybacks or higher dividends to boost the company’s lacklustre share price.
But the stock ended the day barely higher with a rise of 0.4 percent, as the suddenness of the news suggested disorganisation at Pfizer.
Mike Krensavage, principal at Krensavage Management LLC and a long-time drug industry watcher, said Kindler, 55, had yet to lead Pfizer through the biggest challenge in its history: the US patent expiration of its top-selling Lipitor cholesterol drug in November 2011.
“It’s a big surprise,” Krensavage said. “Companies usually have a more orderly change of leadership.”
Nell Minow, editor of GovernanceMetrics International, an independent research firm specialising in corporate governance, said boards have become “a bit trigger-happy when it comes to CEOs,” calling it the “new normal”.
“We’re living in an off-with-his-head environment,” Minow said. “I’m not saying they should have given him more time. I am saying they should have been clearer with him about what they wanted… This situation reflects poorly on the board. It makes them look impulsive and desperate.”
Still, few shed tears over Kindler’s exit. Over the course of his tenure, which began in July 2006, Pfizer’s shares have lost 27 percent of their value, underperforming a 10 percent decline in the NYSE Arca Pharmaceutical index of large drugmakers.
A lawyer by trade, Kindler was previously Pfizer’s general counsel and before that led the McDonald’s owned Boston Market restaurant chain.
Analysts said Read could be more active since he knows the pharmaceutical business inside out.
“I have long thought it would be very positive if Kindler left,” said Jordan Schreiber, senior investment officer of Princeton Capital Management Inc. “The manner was highly unusual, but I’m glad he’s gone.”
Kindler said in a statement issued by Pfizer on Sunday night that the job had been “extremely demanding” and that he wanted to “recharge my batteries.” He was also replaced by Sanofi-Aventis CEO Christopher Viehbacher as chairman at the Pharmaceutical Research and Manufacturers of America trade group.
“People are hopeful there will be some more aggressive restructuring that takes place within Pfizer,” said Edward Jones analyst Linda Bannister. “We’re up against the patent expiration of Lipitor…It’s right around the corner.”
Kindler’s departure comes more than a year after Pfizer completed the signature move of his tenure – the $67-billion acquisition of rival Wyeth.
That acquisition, which brought Pfizer more access to biotech drugs and vaccines as well as cost cuts, was intended to help Pfizer move through the decline of Lipitor. But the deal has failed to spur stock gains.
Goldman Sachs analyst Jami Rubin said she had “long argued that Pfizer should be more aggressive in achieving greater efficiencies in both its $28.5-billion operating expenses base as well as its massive balance sheet and portfolio of various businesses, some of which should be divested.”
“We are delighted to see the board taking action as Pfizer’s share price continues to underperform amid a flurry of questions about strategic direction,” Rubin said in research note.
JPMorgan analyst Chris Schott said the CEO change could lead to more aggressive actions at Pfizer, including share repurchases or dividend increases.
“While a CEO transition in the midst of a major merger integration will likely create added uncertainty with the story, the key question, in our view, remains on the changes this transition will bring to the Pfizer story,” Schott said in a research note.
Rubin of Goldman Sachs called Read, who joined Pfizer in 1978, a “seasoned executive with over 20 years of experience running many different regions and businesses in pharma”.
“Some investors may be concerned that the new CEO may not shake up the company to the degree that some would like to see, but he has the ability to focus the strategy and get the ship going in the right direction,” Rubin said.
But Read can only do so much restructuring, and the company will need some promising experimental drugs to succeed, Edward Jones’ Bannister said, citing drugs in development for pain, rheumatoid arthritis, blood clots and Alzheimer’s disease.
“In order for the stock to really start to move on a sustainable basis, it’s going to have to come from positive results from their pipeline,” Bannister said.
Pfizer’s shares ended up seven cents at $16.80 on the New York Stock Exchange. – Reuters
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Overcome Your Heart diseases and Diabetic Complications
The countries like the United States are suffering with a number of death cases due to heart disease every year. The term of this disease has many types and segments that generally affect the heart. Some of the heart disease that are very common like heart disease due to high blood pressure , Coronary Heart Disease , Ischemic Heart Disease , Tachycardia , heart murmurs etc. The heart diseases like the vascular heart disease, colonial heart disease and others can be cured completely. The main cause of a heart disease is mental stress, high blood pressure or hypertension, high level of cholesterol, overweight and/or obesity and many cases the heart disease also occurs due to stress. The habit of excessive smoking or a heavy intake of alcohol is also a great reason of heart diseases. The occurrence of heart disease is also affected by gender and sex. It also occurs due to hereditary issues. In many cases, it has been observed that if in a family , one of the parents are suffering with any sort of heart disease, the children can also be affected. Nowadays, the occurrence of heart disease also has roots in the growing environmental changes and pollutions and other toxins. Many of the stressful situations help to increase the blood clotting in the heart and also lead to hypertension. Some of the sex hormones are also responsible for a heart disease. The women who are in the age of sixty-five or seventy or in the menopausal condition face a drastic change in the sex hormones and have severe kinds of sickness in the heart.
The PSA tests are done especially in case of a cancer in the prostrate in males. The PSA is actually a type of protein, which is known as Prostrate-specific antigen. Antigen is manufactured in the prostrate. The test actually measures the level of this type of protein in the human blood. Thus, this test is done by taking a blood sample. The PSA medically is also known as tumor marker or biological marker. The US Food and Drugs Administration or FDA also has approved the medical use of PSA test. In the test process, the physical experts take blood from the veins, usually from the elbows. Here, the medical experts first clean the place from where he is going to take the blood and the enfold the upper portion of the arm with a band, then he gives pressure on the affected part to let the veins swell with blood and then he takes a particular amount of blood from the body. The medical experts say that the test can be useful if done including a Digital rectal Exam or DRE, especially in case of a prostrate cancer in those patients who are either 50 years old or more than that. In the DRE test process, the medical experts verify the prostrate gland the rectal wall to check the blisters and other abnormal growths. The FDA has also approved that the PSA test also can be useful if a person has a case of re-occurrence of prostrate cancer.
The person who suffers with a high level of blood sugar is diagnosed with diabetes. The condition of diabetes can also interrupt in the functioning of other body parts.The reason of the various complications of diabetes has its roots in some of the other body functions and some of the medicinal affects on the body. It is very widespread in the United States. Many of the patients do not even know that have the sickness. This is a sickness where the human body faces problem to keep a balance between the sugars and is not able to use insulin in an adequate amount. The insulin is a type of hormone, which helps the body to convert the level of starches, sugar and many of the other food into energy to boost the other body cycles. If a person has an invariable level of high amount of glucose, it is been said that the person has diabetes. The diabetic person will also have difficulties in the functions of eyes, heart, feet and even on the liver and kidney. The diabetes Mellitus mainly cause the condition of diabetes. The sickness generally is of three types, Type 1 diabetes, and Type 2 and Gestational diabetes.
Reduce Risk of Heart Attack in Stemi Heart Attack Patients by Using Plavix Clopidogrel
Heart Attack
The first impression that the term “heart attack” brings to mind is someone falling down theatrically, clutching at his or her heart and showing signs of massive discomfort. These dramatic looking heart attacks are literally called “movie heart attack”. Yet this type of attack is much lesser in percentage and many a times a person may not even know that he has suffered a heart attack.
In the United States, around 785,000 Americans suffer their first heart attack every year. Additionally another 470,000 American with a history of heart attack may have a second or next heart attack. Almost every 34 seconds, an American suffers an Attack. According to 2006 estimates, approximately 1 in 4 Americans has some kind of Heart ailment and it is estimated that in 2010 the US will bear a cost of more than $315 billion on heart disease related problems.
What causes a Heart Attack?
Heart attack (myocardial infraction) happens due to interruption of oxygen to heart muscle. Blood carries oxygen to the heart through the arteries. When these arteries are blocked, blood circulation is hampered and oxygen flow reduces. This can cause permanent or partial damage to heart muscle. Damage to heart muscle causes arrhythmia or irregular heartbeat reducing the heart’s pumping action.
Arteries get blocked by plaque formation. This condition is called as Coronary Artery Disease (CAD). Plaque can be made up of cholesterol and other cells. This plaque accumulates at certain positions on the internal walls of the arteries and when sufficiently big may end up blocking the artery completely, stopping oxygen rich fresh blood to the heart. Alternately, the plaque itself may break. Blood cells may stick to the ruptured plaque and form blood clots. If sufficiently big, these clots can block the arteries as well. This is the more common cause of artery blocking.
Heart attack may also take place if there is a sudden surge of emotional or physical distress.
(pic link – http://www.nhlbi.nih.gov/health/dci/Diseases/HeartAttack/HeartAttack_Causes.html)
Types of heart attack
There are three types of heart attack:
Unstable Angina – which is generally be treated by oral medication but if left untreated may lead to heart attack.
Non-ST-elevation myocardial infarction (NSTEMI) – This is a mild heart attack, which is not recorded on an electrocardiogram (ECG) but any damage to heart muscle can be checked by chemical markers in the blood. Damage is minimal and artery blockage could be limited or short term.
ST segment elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI) – This is the most dangerous form of heart attack with a major part of the heart being affected and severe consequences. Blockage is prolonged and the changes are easily recorded on ECG as well as noted through chemical markers.
Heart Attack treatments
There are various types of heart attack treatments available including:
* Medical Management
* Non-invasive Therapies
* Catheter Procedures
* Minimally Invasive & Robotically Assisted Surgery
* Traditional Surgery
* Supplements & Holistic Therapies
The most primary response to Heart Attack is bringing about changes in patient’s lifestyle. Patient should immediately stop smoking, regularly exercise as instructed by cardiologist, undertake diets that control cholesterol intake and reduce stress as much as possible. Patient should visit cardiologist regularly to keep tab on improvements in condition.
Decrease risk factors by not smoking, keeping cholesterol in check, exercising, managing stress and eating healthfully.
Medications – Plavix (clopidogrel bisulfate)
Different medications act differently to reduce stress on the heart. Artery width is increased by use of nitroglycerin; Clot formation is preventer by Aspirin; beta-blockers improve flow of blood; ace inhibitors increase survival chances from a heart attack, whereas lipid management medication prevents artery blockage by controlling cholesterol.
In case of acute ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI), which is a very severe case of Heart Attack, Plavix (clopidogrel bisulfate) is the most useful medication available. Plavix (Clopidogrel) is an anti-platelet drug, which prevents clot formation. It does not allow any subsequent obstacle in affected heart muscle thus reducing chances of further heart attack or stroke.
Affordable Health Insurance- Dutch appeals court denies Apple’s plea to ban sale of Samsung Galaxy Tab 10.1
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