DiseaseIllness

In this article we're going to discuss the possible dangers and side effects of antihistamines and what people should be aware of when taking antihistamines to treat their allergies.

For the most part
antihistamines are safe. Having said that
antihistamines can have side effects which
if the antihistamine is not properly administered
can be serious.

The truth is
all medications have side effects. Some are mild
as in the case of an aspirin
unless you have stomach ulcers or aspirin sensitivity and others are more serious such as the side effects from chemotherapy
but for the most part
antihistamine side effects are fairly mild. The newest antihistamines are probably about the safest medications that there are. But there are differences between the various antihistamines and their side effects.

The older antihistamines have the most serious side effects. Because technology wasn't where it is now
older antihistamines can make you very sleepy
even to the point of falling asleep behind the wheel of a car. The harsh truth is
antihistamines have the same effect on your brain as alcohol. If you've been keeping up with the latest news you'll notice that people seem to be driving around in a drug induced haze. This is becoming a very serious problem in itself as there are no laws against driving while under the influence of prescription medication. That is most likely going to change very soon. According to experts
there is no doubt in their mind that older antihistamines can cause traffic accidents.

But that isn't where the effect of older antihistamines ends. They also affect learning and exam performance. Studies show that children with allergies who go to school after taking an antihistamine have poorer test scores than children who are not on antihistamines.

Another problem with older antihistamines is that one of the side effects is that people who use them sometimes have difficulty in passing water. or have increased pressure in their eyes. These symptoms
however
are very rare.

With the newer antihistamines
most
if not all of these side effects are a thing of the past. We have certainly come a long way. Therefore it is no longer necessary to use the older antihistamines.

Many people ask
how do we know the newer antihistamines are better? Actually
there are studies that clinically show that they are.

For starters
road safety studies were done. Two control groups were used. The one group was given older antihistamines and the other group was given the newer improved antihistamines. The results were staggering. The reaction time of the old antihistamine group was slower
their turning was more erratic
their attention was poor and in general they did not drive as skilfully. In some cases their driving was so bad and so dangerous that the test itself had to be stopped.

Another study was done on children going to school. Two control groups were again set up. The group that was given the older antihistamines had much lower test scores
sometimes as much as 20 to 30 points lower. Many of the students couldn't even finish their exams.

The only downside of the newer antihistamines
and for that matter any treatment of this sort for allergies
is that they are not a cure and over time a person can build up a resistance to a particular antihistamine where it no longer works. A new one then has to be given. The average length of time that a person can take a particular antihistamine before they have to move on to a new one is between 3 and 6 months.

In this article we're going to discuss probably the most common form of treatment for allergy sufferers; the use of antihistamines
what they are and how they work in the body to rid people of their allergy symptoms.

The first question most people ask about antihistamines is what they are. The reason is because when they see these little wonder pills advertised they are seeing the brand name and not what the pill actually is. The most popular brand names of antihistamines are Clarityn
Zyrtec
Allegra and Benadryl. There are plenty more though. The antihistamine industry is a multi billion dollar a year industry because of all the allergy sufferers but this still doesn't tell us what an antihistamine is.

The best way to explain what an antihistamine is and what it does is to actually break the word down. Antihistamine is composed of two words
anti and histamine. Anti means to be against something or act against something. Which leaves us with what a histamine is. A histamine is something that your body produces in defense to an attack of allergens. It is these histamines that bring on the terrible symptoms of sneezing
itching
watery eyes
etc. that we suffer from when we are attacked by these allergens. Thus
an antihistamine is something that works against the histamines that our body produces.

Your common antihistamine comes in a little pill. How it actually works is quite amazing. What these pills do is release a chemical in our body that is very similar to and looks like a histamine to our body. These look-alike histamines make our body think that we basically have enough of these and keep the receptors in our body from working against them. In other words they stop the histamines in our body from working
thus relieving the symptoms.

What most people don't know is that this is not the only function of histamines. They also play a very important role in the brain
keeping us attentive
alert and awake. So
if we stopped all of the histamines in the body from working we would basically fall asleep. This can be especially dangerous when driving a car or operating heavy machinery and in fact
this is exactly what happens when we take old antihistamines. So if you have any of these laying around in your home
please get rid of them and do not take them. Those expiration dates on antihistamines are there for a reason.

The good news is
newer forms of antihistamines have a much better effect on your allergies with less effect on your brain. How this is accomplished is actually very simple. Some medicines barely make it into the brain from the blood. This is actually not a good thing with antibiotics for brain infections. But when research workers figured this out they started to make antihistamines that also had the same properties as antibiotics
thus making it so that very little of the drug makes its way to the brain. If you read most antihistamine labels today it will say right on it
non drowsy
.

In our next article in this series we'll discuss the safety concerns of antihistamines.

In this article we're going to discuss a common form of battling allergies with the use of allergy shots and how allergy shots work to build up a person's immunity to outside allergens.

A growing number of people who suffer from allergies and not finding the relief that they want from antihistamines are turning towards allergy shots to hopefully put and end to their dreaded sneezing
wheezing
itching and misery.

So exactly what are allergy shots? Allergy shots actually contain a very small amount of whatever it is that you're allergic to. If you have multiple allergies
such as a combination of indoor and outdoor allergies
then two shots are actually given. One for the outdoor allergies and one for the indoor allergies.

How do allergy shots work? Well
in theory it's actually very simple. Allergy shots help your body fight the allergen that is bothering you. When you get shots of the allergen itself your body makes antibodies to the allergen. These antibodies help block the effects of the allergen itself. Your symptoms become less severe because the antibodies block the way your body reacts to the allergens. After taking enough of these shots over a long period of time you might start to get relief from your symptoms. This relief should last for a very long time.

Many kinds of allergies can be battled with allergy shots. They work very well with allergies to pollen
or what is commonly called hay fever. They also work for eye allergies
bee sting allergies
and even some drug allergies. In many people
allergy shots can greatly improve asthma symptoms. Most people will get allergy shots after they have exhausted every other option.

Unfortunately
not everyone can get allergy shots. If you have severe asthma or a heart problem you should not get allergy shots. Also
if you take a beta blocker for a heart condition you shouldn't take allergy shots. Children under five years of age should also not get allergy shots. Also
you shouldn't start allergy shots if you are pregnant.

If you decide
along with your doctor
to get allergy shots
he will first have to give you an allergy test to determine what allergies you have. This test in effect is actual treatment as some of each allergen has to be injected into you in order to do the test. After the results are in
a vaccine can be made which can then be given on a weekly or biweekly basis or for whatever interval the doctor thinks is necessary.

Once you start taking your shots you will at first have to take them every week or every other week. After about 6 months most people can go on what is called maintenance and get shots once each month. This usually continues for about 3 to 5 years until eventually most people no longer need to take shots because their immunity has been built up enough to the allergens.

Allergy shots are normally not harmful but some people do have reactions to them. If you should have a severe reaction the doctor will usually keep you in his office for about 20 minutes each time you get your shot so that if you have a reaction he can give you something to counteract it.

Alcoholism stages can be categorized into three stages of alcoholism - early stage
middle stage and end stage alcoholism or late stage alcoholism. Alcoholism stages generally take years to develop. Alcoholism is a disease where alcoholic beverage consumption is at a level that interferes with physical or mental health
and negatively impacts social
family or occupational responsibilities.

Consuming no more than one or two drinks per day for healthy men and a drink a day for healthy non-pregnant women are generally considered acceptable alcohol consumption without health risks. However
as the amount or frequency of drinking increases
the earliest of the alcoholism stages can develop as a result.

Early Stages of Alcoholism

In the early alcoholism stages
a person begins to depend on alcohol to affect their mood. They drink for relief from problems
and they begin thinking more and more about alcohol. The person and others around them may not recognize that they are in the earliest of the stages of alcoholism. A gradual increase in tolerance happens
meaning
it takes increasing amounts of alcohol to achieve the desired mood-altering effects. Often
the person can consume large amounts of alcohol without appearing impaired.

At the early alcoholism stages
the body has adapted to increasing amounts of alcohol. In fact
how a person functions will likely be improved with drinking as blood alcohol levels rise. For example
they can think and talk normally or walk a straight line with no problem. However
with continued alcohol consumption over time
the body begins to lose its ability to deal with high alcohol levels. As this occurs
when the alcoholic stops drinking and their blood alcohol level decreases
their thinking
talking or walking functions deteriorate
and they are moving into the next of the stages of alcoholism.

Middle Alcoholism Stages

The need and desire to drink gradually becomes more intense. Drinking larger amounts and more often happens as well as drinking earlier in the day. The alcoholic is losing control over drinking
and the body is losing its ability to process alcohol like it did in the early stages of alcoholism. Their tolerance decreases as they become intoxicated more easily. Withdrawal symptoms begin to become more severe if alcohol is reduced.

The person may now secretly recognize there is a drinking problem
and others may begin to notice as well. Unfortunately
the alcoholic no longer can judge how much alcohol their body can handle. Typically
the drinker denies to themselves and others that alcohol is a problem so they won't have to deal with their inner turmoil. Hangovers
blackouts and stomach problems can now be physical symptoms that occur on a regular basis.

End Stage Alcoholism

As alcoholism progresses
the alcoholic has become obsessed with drinking to the exclusion of nearly everything else. Everyone can tell there's a major problem. During the late alcoholism stages
the mental and physical health of the alcoholic are seriously deteriorating. Many of the body's organs have been damaged which lowers resistance to disease. Relationships at home or socially may have been severely damaged
and there can be mounting financial and legal problems due to the alcoholic's powerlessness over alcohol.

Every alcoholic will suffer from malnutrition. Alcohol in large amounts interferes with the digestion process and the passage of nutrients from the intestines into the bloodstream. Liver function has been damaged
further limiting the conversion of nutrients into a usable form that the body can assimilate. The damaged cells are not receiving the needed nutrients
they cannot repair themselves and the damage continues. Nutritional deficiencies cause a host of related problems to become worse. For example
a vitamin B-1 deficiency common in alcoholics can result in loss of mental alertness and appetite
fatigue
confusion and emotional instability.

And if the alcoholic continues drinking
alcohol will cause the death of the alcoholic in one way or another. From suicide
accidents and related injuries to direct damage to the body's organs and systems
death will likely be the final outcome of end stage alcoholism.

Are there warning signs of alcoholism? Yes! Understand the signs and symptoms that indicate that alcohol consumption is becoming or is already a problem. There are resources available in a variety of ways to help deal with alcoholism stages and the serious consequences of this disease.

Copyright 2006 InfoSearch Publishing

Alcoholism signs - are there ten warning signs of alcoholism? Yes! Understanding alcoholism signs can help you determine whether there is alcohol abuse or dependency. Consuming a drink or two per day for healthy men and a drink a day for healthy non-pregnant women is generally considered acceptable consumption without health risks. However
as the amount of drinking per occasion or per week increases
one or more of the ten warning signs of alcoholism can develop as a result.

Alcohol dependency is the most severe alcohol disorder. Two alcoholism signs associated with dependency are tolerance and withdrawal. Tolerance is the need for increasing amounts of alcohol consumption to become intoxicated. Withdrawal symptoms occur when alcohol intake is reduced or discontinued. Alcohol abusers are drinkers that may drink heavily at various times. Alcoholism signs for alcohol abusers can be related problems such as drinking and driving
violent episodes
or missing work or school.

In the USA alone
as many as 14 million adults are chronic heavy drinkers that abuse alcohol or are alcoholics. What is considered 'heavy drinking'? According to the National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism
drinking more than the amounts shown below would be considered heavy drinking:

• For healthy men under age 65
consuming no more than four drinks a day nor more than fourteen drinks a week.

• For healthy women under age 65 or healthy men over age 65
consuming no more than three drinks a day nor more than twelve drinks a week.

What are ten warning signs of alcoholism? Here are alcoholism signs listed (in no particular order):

1. Drinking Alone
2. Making Excuses
Finding Excuses to Drink
3. Daily or Frequent Drinking Needed to Function
4. Inability to Reduce or Stop Alcohol Intake
5. Violent Episodes Associated with Drinking
6. Drinking Secretly
7. Becoming Angry When Confronted About Drinking
8. Poorer Eating Habits
9. Failure to Care for Physical Appearance
10. Trembling in the Morning

Alcoholism signs can also include the inability to remember portions of the events of the previous evening or feeling anxious in a social situation where alcohol is not available. As you may know
it can be called 'problem drinking' when it becomes 'drinking that causes problems'.

Does heavy chronic drinking have health consequences? You bet it does. Chronic heavy drinking can result in serious damage to the liver
heart
brain and other vital organs. Such severe physical damage may irreversable and result in serious illnesses or even early death.

If the above ten warning signs of alcoholism help create interest in exploring possible alcohol addiction and finding help
the good news is that help is available. Consider contacting your physician
counselor or other qualified professional. Another time-tested source of help would be Alcoholics Anonymous. AA has local groups that meet regularly throughout the USA and other countries around the world. No matter how many alcoholism signs may exist
it is never too late to begin recovery from alcohol addiction. Obviously
the sooner recovery begins
the better.

Copyright 2006 InfoSearch Publishing

Alcoholism facts can help one better understand the extent of alcoholism and alcoholism warning signs. One of the alcoholism facts is that alcoholism is a type of drug addiction that can be both physical and psychological.

Facts of alcoholism include the reality that alcohol acts as a depressant on the central nervous system
resulting in a decrease of activity
tension and inhibitions. Alcohol affects other body systems as well. Gastrointestinal tract irritation can occur with erosion of the esophagus and stomach linings
causing nausea
vomiting and perhaps bleeding.

Additional alcoholism facts are that liver disease may develop and eventually become cirrhosis of the liver. The muscles of the heart may be negatively affected. Other facts of alcoholism can be related to sexual dysfunction. In men
problems with erections can occur with alcoholism. And alcoholic women can cease having their menstrual periods prematurely.

Here are more alcoholism facts:

• Alcohol and caffeine are the two most widely abused substances in the world. The facts of alcoholism are that alcohol is the more serious addiction due to alcohol-related accidents and incidents.

• The incidence of alcohol consumption and related problems is increasing. Researchers have found that about 15% of the population in the United States are problem drinkers
and about 5-10% of male drinkers and 3-5% of female drinkers can be diagnosed as alcohol dependent. This means as many as 14 million persons are affected by alcoholism in the USA alone. These facts of alcoholism numbers do not include family
friends and others additionally affected by the actions of alcoholics.

• Alcoholism can be divided into two categories - abuse and dependence. Alcohol dependence is the most severe alcohol disorder and is characterized by tolerance and withdrawal. Tolerance is the need for increased amounts of alcohol to become intoxicated. Withdrawal symptoms occur when alcohol intake is reduced or discontinued. Alcohol abusers are drinkers that may drink heavily at various times and have problems such as drinking and driving
violent episodes
or missing work or school.

• Alcohol use is mainly influenced by attitudes developed during the childhood and teen years. In addition
parent's attitudes and behaviors toward drinking
influence from peers and family relationships can impact how one views and treats the consumption of alcohol.

• About 20% of teens are considered 'problem drinkers' in the U.S. What this means is that they get drunk
they may have accidents
or they have problems with the law
family members
friends
school or work due to alcohol consumption and related facts of alcoholism.

• Alcohol effects appear within 10 minutes of drinking and are the maximum in approximately 40-60 minutes. Alcohol will stay in the bloodstream until the liver metabolizes the alcohol. If a person consumes alcohol at a rate faster than the liver is able to break it down
the blood alcohol content rises.

• Each state defines alcohol intoxication which is measured by blood alcohol concentration. A breathalyzer field test is commonly used to measure blood alcohol content for drivers. And another of the alcoholism facts is that most states have a legal limit of between 0.08 and 0.10. Different levels lead to increasingly serious effects. A blood alcohol level of 0.05 reduces inhibitions
.1
results in slurred speech and a blood alcohol level of 0.50 can result in coma.

The above information can be considered basic facts of alcoholism. If you or someone you know may have a drinking problem and wish to learn more alcoholism facts and perhaps seek help
there are resources available in various ways. It is never too late to begin recovery from alcohol addiction. Help is available
and the sooner one begins the recovery process
the better.

Copyright 2006 InfoSearch Publishing

Alcoholism can be given a lot of definitions and all of them stress the fact that there is a terrible disease that involves addiction to spirits. Apart from the physical dependence on alcohol
there are other psychological
genetic and social factors that may play a role in the development of alcoholism. Many social
economic and public health problems are determined by this very serious disease.

When alcoholism is concerned
symptoms include craving for alcohol
incapacity to have control over the use of alcohol
a greater tolerance to its effects
and withdrawal symptoms during the periods of abstinence. One should as well know that many alcoholics deny having a problem. In many cases intervention is necessary in order to persuade them to start treatment. Treatment in cases of alcoholism usually includes detoxification
counseling and psychotherapy
as well as treatment of associated medical problems
and different programmes for recovery and support.

Alcoholism involves physical and psychological addiction to the alcohol
and it often gets to a chronic
progressive form. There are situations in which it can become fatal
when alcohol consumption begins to interfere with your health
your social life or your occupational functioning. Alcoholics often continue to consume alcohol in huge quantities despite the multiple negative consequences of the disease. Nowadays
alcoholism is the most serious form of alcohol abuse. Alcoholism can be also defined in terms like "having a problem with drinking". If one has a problem with drinking
that can result in health or social problems (drunk driving
for instance)
but that doesn’t make one yet dependent on alcohol and it doesn’t mean one has fully lost control over using spirits - as in the case of alcoholism.

What is alcoholism?

Alcoholism is a disease that affects the part of the brain that controls your feelings
the way you make decisions
and the way you act. People with alcoholism cannot control how much they drink. What causes alcoholism?

Nobody knows what causes alcoholism. People with parents who have alcoholism have a greater chance of getting the disease. Alcoholism may be related to the things we learn when we are growing up. Alcoholism is not caused by a lack of will power or moral values.

How can I tell if I have alcoholism?

It is not easy to tell if you have alcoholism. You might drink socially at first
but over time the drinking can get out of control. Your family
friends
or doctor might notice it before you do. You might drink to help yourself go to sleep or deal with stress and anxiety. Over time
you need to drink more to feel the same way. As the drinking gets worse
you may have some of the following:

* Stomach ulcers

* Liver disease

* Mood problems
such as depression and irritability

* Trouble sleeping

* Problems with family and friends

* Problems at work.

You might have alcoholism if you have tried to quit drinking but were not able to stop. Alcoholism can make you do things you wouldn't do if you were sober. Some of these things can hurt other people
even the people you love.

Where can I get help for alcoholism?

Your doctor can help you find the right treatment program. You also can check with your health insurance company. Some insurance plans cover alcohol treatment only at certain places.

If you have been a heavy drinker for a long time
do not stop drinking suddenly. This can lead to serious withdrawal symptoms. What is withdrawal?

When you stop drinking
your body might find it hard with no alcohol. You might have some uncomfortable feelings. That is called withdrawal. You might feel anxious and confused or have trouble sleeping. If you get "the shakes" when you don't drink
or if you feel like you need to have a drink early in the day
you might need to take medicine when you stop drinking to help with the withdrawal. This is called detoxification (say:dee-tox-uh-fuh-kay-shun
or "detox
for short).

How can my doctor tell if I need detoxification?

Your doctor will ask you questions to see if you need to take medicine to stop drinking. It is important to be honest with your doctor about how much you drink and the kinds of drugs you take.

Can detoxification be done at home?

Yes, but only with close supervision from your doctor. You will need to have another person at home to help you take your medicine. If you have serious withdrawal symptoms or other medical problems, you might have to go to a hospital for detoxification. Tell your doctor if you had a seizure or got delirious when you tried to stop drinking before.

What happens after detoxification?

Detoxification is not enough to treat alcoholism. You should have counseling before and after detoxification. Counseling will help keep you from drinking again.

What about Alcoholics Anonymous?

Alcoholics Anonymous, or
A.A.
is a free support group for people with alcoholism. The people in A.A. help each other stay sober. Most communities have A.A. meetings, and most alcohol treatment programs tell their patients to go to these meetings.

Where can I get more information?

Your doctor

This information provides a general overview and may not apply to everyone. Talk to your family doctor to find out if this information applies to you and to get more information on this subject.

The first step of the program refers to the addition of the alcohol dependency and acceptance of the fact that the patient is powerless to alcohol
which leads to significant and unwanted life changes. After admitting the problem
the patients deal with admitting that they can recover from the unwanted condition and leave healthy lives again
due to a power “greater than themselves”. The third step of the program concentrates upon this “greater power”
which is associated with God; the patients accept that God can lead their lives and behavior
by guiding their wills in the right direction.

After the first steps that admit the problem and the power to change it
the patients are asked to make a morel introspection of themselves
in order to discover their needs and expectations regarding their problem. Admitting their mistakes to themselves
to God
to their family and friends represents the step that follows and which is the base of a process that accepts that patients are capable
as humans
to commit wrongs. This process
which is expressed in the steps from 5 to 9
includes asking for help from the “greater power” in order to remove the shortcomings
but also
it implies listing the persons that were affected in the past by the patient’s wrong means and asking them for understanding and forgiveness. Making direct amends to relatives and acquaintances is represented in step number 9 and it is the base for the further conduct
as patients are thought to continue observing their inner self and promptly admit their mistakes.

The last 2 steps of the Alcoholics Anonymous program refer to improving the contact that the patients established with God and constantly praying and asking for knowledge to entirely overcome their condition. Step 12 basically refers to the accomplishment of a spiritual awakening
as a result of the recovery steps and accepting and willing to teach other alcoholic patients to discover and overcome their problem. The ending result of the twelve-step program in alcohol rehab is sharing the experience
believes and behavior means with the others
in order to prevent further collapses and live a healthy life. Full body detox treatments are the most sought after toxin removing remedies that help people rebalance their bodies
achieving a very good health condition. Lots of doctors are recommending to their patients to follow a full body detox treatment in order to get healthier and of course
to ease the healing treatments they must take for recovering from different diseases. A general cleansing diet is recommended to be done from time to time even for people who don't seem to suffer from any chronic or profound maladies because the effect of a full body detox may prevent the development of many diseases and also it increases the body's immune system.

Research has shown that risks for cancer increase among men who have two alcoholic drinks a day and women who have one alcoholic drink per day. While everyone has been widely aware of the fact that smoking cigarettes greatly increase your risk of contracting cancer
there has been very little publicity of the fact that alcohol can act as a similar carcinogen.

By its very nature and design
the consumption of alcohol damages cells in your body. This damage can easily promote cell division
stimulate enzymes which cause the activation of other carcinogens and destroy certain nutrients that act as natural preventatives to cancer.

Most of the research indicates that a strong link exists between alcohol and cancers of the esophagus
pharynx and mouth. There is a suggested
those less strongly proven
link between cancers of the liver
breast and colon.

According to the American Cancer Society
oral cancers are six times more common in alcohol users than in non alcohol users.

Obviously
all of this evidence points to the conclusion that you should avoid alcohol so you can lower your chances of contracting these types of cancer.

For most people the question then comes down to a simple decision: are the benefits of drinking alcohol larger than the potential deficits of cancer? As long as the mythology continues that there is no cure for cancer
the question should be fairly simple to answer. Very few people would happily enjoy a few nights out with friends drinking for months or years of painful cancer.

Put plainly
our bodies are designed to heal themselves. Our immune system was created to keep our bodies healthy. However
like any other worker
our immune system cannot do its work if we don’t give it the necessary tools.

One of the effects of alcohol
which isn’t one of the reasons most folks drink it
is that it reduces the ability of your immune system to do its job. So
people who regularly drink alcohol are regularly inhibiting the ability of their immune system to do its job.

Our cells are constantly dividing and there are a large number of ways the cell can become malignant. In reality
we probably develop malignant cells on a daily basis. However
once they become known to our immune system as a threat
they are destroyed.

It’s only when our immune system somehow misses the indications that a cell is becoming a problem that we term it cancer.

There is no dispute about the fact that doing anything which will inhibit our immune system increases our chances for becoming ill. It’s significantly odd
then
that we all continue going about our lives while continually doing things that inhibit our immune systems.

In the end
we all need to evaluate the actions we take and the decisions we make with an eye towards the potential rewards versus the potential risks. Alcohol diminishes the immune system and a diminished immune system greatly elevates our chances of developing cancer. Next time you start to drink alcohol
stop and ask your immune system if it really wants to get drunk.

AIDS is an acronym for Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome it causes a destruction of the immune system. It is the most advanced stage of the HIV virus (HIV stands for Human Immunodeficiency Virus). AIDS is defined by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) as the presence of a positive HIV antibody test and one or more of the illnesses known as opportunistic infections.
The HIV virus
type 1 or 2 is widely known to be the cause of AIDS. HIV breaks down and attacks your T cells so your body is unable to defend itself against different infections. The HIV virus also attacks your peripheral nervous system
this causes nerve and muscle pain
especially in the feet
legs
and hands.
HIV is spread through direct contact with semen or blood of an individual that is infected. This can be transferred in many ways the most common is unprotected sexual intercourse. Other means of infection are infected blood transfusions
mother to infant (at time of birth
or through breast milk)
sharing needles with an infected person
and rarely a healthcare worker that gets pricked with an infected needle.
Often people who are infected with HIV have few symptoms and in some cases there are none. Other times
symptoms of HIV are confused with other illnesses such as the flu. This may be severe
with swollen glands in the neck and armpits
tiredness
fever and night sweats. This is where as much as 9 out of 10 of the infected individuals will develop AIDS. At this point the person may feel completely healthy and not even know that he/she has the virus. The next stage begins when the immune system starts to break down and the virus becomes more aggressive in damaging white cells. Several glands in the neck and armpits may swell and stay swollen for an extended period of time without any explanation. As this disease progresses boils or warts may spread over the body. They may also feel tremendously tired
night sweats
high fevers
chronic diarrhea
and they may lose a considerable amount of their body weight. Most cases have shown thrush as a symptom as well. At this point the person is in the final stages of HIV--AIDS. Severe chest infections with high fever are common and survival rate is above 70% but decrease with each recurrence.
A person is diagnosed with AIDS when he/she has one or more positive HIV screening and the presence of an AIDS defining condition. Some of the common conditions include but are not limited to: Meningitis
Encephalitis
Dementia
Pneumonia
Kaposi sarcoma
and Lymphoma. There is also a blood test called an Immune Profile that can be done. This test is used to measure the loss of immunity and help decide on the best treatment. There is a test that is rarely used due to its high cost
it is known as a Viral Load: This test detects the virus itself
and also measures the amount of HIV in the blood. It shows how quickly the HIV infection is likely to advance. A high viral load suggests that the person may progress rapidly to AIDS.
Although there is no cure for AIDS there are medical treatments that aide in prolonging
and maintaining the best quality of life possible. These include two nucleoside inhibitors
lamivudine and zidovudine. Actual treatment plans will vary with each patient
along with the physical aspect of this disease. The psychological side has to be addressed in order for a treatment plan to be effective.
The easiest way to escape contracting this disease is to avoid the risk factors that you are in control of. Such as: unprotected sex
not sharing a needle
and if you are in the healthcare field be sure to use all precautions necessary to avoid an accidental prick from a possible infected needle (remember that in this diseases early stages it is common for the person not to even know they are infected). Today AIDS is the fifth leading cause of death among all adults aged 25 to 44 in the United States. Among African-Americans in the 25 to 44 age group
AIDS is the leading cause of death for men and the second leading cause of death for women. Our society needs to become aware that by not protecting ourselves we are killing ourselves and that this has to stop.

AIDS: is now a commonly-used term for Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome and also for HIV/AIDS; WHO uses the term to กฐdenote the entire health problem associate with HIV infection.กฑ

American Foundation for AIDS Research (AmFAR): was co-founded in 1985 by Dr. Mathilde Krim and by Dr. Michael Gottlieb. It remains an influential advocate for HIV/AIDS research and programs.

Anal sex: Sexual intercourse when the penis is inserted in the anus. Often used as a birth control measure by young adults.

Antibiotic: A substance that kills or inhibits the growth of organisms. Once considered a magic bullet
antibiotics are now commonly used to combat disease and infection. Indications are growing that many human viruses and bacteria are becoming resistant to current antibiotics.

Antibody: Members of a class of proteins known as immunoglobins. Antibodies may tag
destroy and neutralize bacteria
viruses or other harmful toxins. Antibodies attack infected cells
making them vulnerable to attack by other elements of the immune system.

Antigen: A foreign protein that causes an immune response (the production of antibodies to fight antigens). Common examples of antigens are the bacteria and viruses that cause human disease. The antibody is formed in response to a particular antigen unique to that antigen
reacting with no other.

For Detailed info about AIDS education: http://treatments-4-incurable-diseases.us/healthtalk/?p=76

If you or someone you know has a history of cancer
it is important to be aware of the potential health consequences from cancer and its treatment. Frequently
patients and families are not informed or do not recall discussions that occurred during the stress-filled days after diagnosis about such potential problems as pain
depression
infertility and other physical and emotional changes. Regardless of whether problems are temporary or permanent
most can be managed.

To begin to address the many and varied health-related needs of long-term cancer survivors
the American Journal of Nursing (AJN) recently released a report
based on a July 2005 symposium
that offers action strategies and recommendations.

"The late effects of cancer and treatment for survivors diagnosed as adults remain poorly documented
said Pamela J. Haylock, MA, RN, symposium co-director, cancer care consultant and doctoral student at the University of Texas Medical Branch School of Nursing in Galveston, TX.
Yet up to 75 percent of survivors have some health deficits related to their cancers and therapies. Knowing about potential risks and learning and using risk reduction strategies are important steps in survivors' recovery."

Nurses recommend that cancer survivors heed the following advice:

• Incorporate regular exercise
stress management
a healthful diet and weight control as part of a healthy lifestyle.

• Schedule regular health checkups.

• Ask your oncology team for a written summary of your cancer diagnosis
treatments
tests and recommended follow-up once treatment is complete. Create a folder to organize diagnostic and laboratory reports
and give it to your current health care provider to make a copy for his or her records.

• Ask your nurse or physician to help you and your caregivers learn about possible long-term effects of your cancer therapy and ways to prevent or minimize them. Effects differ from person to person; therefore
educating yourself is important.

• Inform physicians and nurses about your previous cancer history
treatment
current medications and long-term effects you may experience
including infertility
early menopause
indigestion
dry mouth or taste changes
constipation
diarrhea
sleep issues
fatigue
dry skin
memory loss
changes in thinking
vision or hearing problems
depression
relationship/sexuality issues
anxiety
confidence issues
pain
tingling
or numbness or swelling in the fingers and toes.

• Look for resources to assist with any physical
emotional or financial issues that you may experience.

Helpful Internet sites are www.acor.org
www.cancer.org
and www.canceradvocacy.org.

Adult Scoliosis is a spinal abnormality that occurs during adulthood
or is a continuation of the disease that was undiagnosed or ignored during childhood or adolescence.

Adult Scoliosis is generally idiopathic
which means that its cause is unknown. However
several other types of Scoliosis also occur in adults. These include congenital curve
paralytic curve
and myopathic deformity.

A congenital curve is present at birth
and if undiagnosed or untreated
may worsen in adulthood due to age and weakening of the spine. This results in Adult Scoliosis. A paralytic curve may be caused by an injury to the spine
while myopathic deformity may result from diseases like polio or cerebral palsy. Degeneration
osteoporosis
and spinal surgery are other causes of Adult Scoliosis.

Signs of Adult Scoliosis include one shoulder or hip higher than the other
a rib or back hump
and one arm longer than the other. Severe cases of Scoliosis are often accompanied by pain because the abnormal curvature creates pressure on the spine. This may even lead to difficulty in walking.

Doctors subject individuals suspected to be suffering from Scoliosis to the Adam’s Forward Bending Test. Test results are confirmed through X-ray
CT scan
or MRI. Treatment options include medication
physical exercise
bracing
and surgery.

Medication is recommended by doctors to relieve pain caused by Scoliosis. Physical exercise
such as walking
cycling
and swimming
helps to keep the body fit and maintain a correct posture. These counter the deforming effect of Scoliosis. Exercise also helps to reduce pain. Physical therapists can design exercise programs to suit the different needs of patients. Bracing in adults is used to ease pain and discomfort rather than prevent worsening of the curve
while surgery is generally used as the last resort.

Surgery becomes essential if the spinal curve is greater than 50 degrees and is accompanied by continuous pain. It is also conducted if the curve is increasing
because this could cause heart and lung problems. In certain cases
deformity caused by the disease necessitates surgery.

To conclude
Scoliosis in adults can be largely avoided through proper treatment of the disease in its early stages
during childhood or adolescence. The earlier the treatment commences
the lesser will be the pain and discomfort
and chances of surgery. Leading a healthy lifestyle can also curb its occurrence during adulthood.

Attention Deficit Disorder (ADD) is usually identifiable in early stages of childhood. There are instances when the disorder continues until adulthood if treatment is not prompt or effective. This is known as Adult Attention Deficit Disorder (AADD). The impact of AADD is severe compared to ADD because as an adult
coping strategies are required to a greater extent with regard to disorganization and other symptoms of the syndrome. The visible signs and symptoms of the disorder in adults are as below:

Impulsiveness. ADD adults have difficulties handling their impulsiveness. Sudden bouts of anger
impulsive spending
butting into conversations
and breaking relationships are all side effects of impulsiveness. This in turn leads to lack of cordial atmosphere and feelings of regret at later stages.

A high level of distraction. The ADD adult is always thinking of a myriad subjects and incidents that leave him/her unfocused and distracted. Apart from this
external stimuli introduce further distraction to the overactive mental process. When the adult leaves home and mixes with the society
he/she is bombarded with words
visuals
and noises that disturb and irritate.

Anxiety and lack of focus. Since the patient is also on the thinking track
there is tendency to do the task at hand with lesser concentration. This leaves them confused as to why mistakes occur in their work or why they leave their work half-completed. The patient resorts to writing important things in hand notes or schedulers.

Impatience. Just like children with ADD
adults too are fidgety with staying put in one place. They are always taking in things
keeping their hands busy
or keeping engaged in multiple activities. This tends to make them feel exhausted at times.

Socializing problems. Making friends
retaining relationships
caring for family members
and working co-operatively with colleagues are a strain for ADD adults due to their impatience and impulsiveness. This further brings down trust levels.

Lack of planning and disorganization. It is difficult for ADD adults to comprehend instructions
work procedures
do time estimates
and complete work within deadlines. They are unable to chalk out tasks involved in an activity and estimate the time likely to be taken for completing each task. This issue is the result of all the factors discussed above.

Memory problems. Short term memory loss is a hurdle for ADD adults that leads them to forget the task at hand or instructions given only a little while before. Their mind tends to jump from though to another in a matter of minutes
leaving them with no idea of the real situation.

Several strategies such as maintaining reminders in mobile phones
keeping notes in calendars and schedulers
attending skill-developing sessions
and deploying pneumonic to remember things would help these adults lead a comparatively normal life.

One of the things people with Adult ADHD symptoms really struggle with is procrastination. And procrastination really comes out of fear. What kind of fear?

There are two main fears people with Adult ADHD symptoms face when they try to start a big project.

1. How do I know I'm choosing the right thing to work on?

2. How do I know I won't fail
especially if I don't know anything about this yet?

First of all
you've got to ask yourself
What am I so afraid of?
Let’s just bring it out into the open. If I pick an opportunity
the fear becomes
Oh, my gosh. What am I going to miss?


The truth is
the second someone with Adult ADHD focuses on something
you're missing a lot of other things. That’s just the way it works.

It’s not about the opportunity. It’s not about which Internet-type thing you should be doing. It’s "why." You've got to ask yourself
How would this particular opportunity fit in with my larger vision?


Some people with Adult ADHD might not feel like they know exactly what they want to do with their whole lives. And this is where a lot of fear about choosing what to do next comes from.

Well
you know what? Whatever you want to do with your life right now
it probably is going to change at some point (especially if you have Adult ADHD). Just because you're going full tilt on something right now doesn't mean you have to do that for the rest of your life.

It does mean that
if you're going to spend your time doing something
it should be something you're incredibly passionate about to begin with
something that you'd like to spend all your time on anyway.

Most likely
if you have Adult ADHD symptoms
you'll find yourself in the exact same situation at some point in the future. It happens. You work really hard. You go full speed at something
and occasionally
you look up and you say
What the heck am I doing?


That's ok. At that point
if you really want to
you can shift your focus. No one's stopping you. But don't let that fear stop you from starting.

The second fear those with Adult ADHD symptoms feel has to do with how much there is to learn about a subject or skill
and the information overload that occurs so often with Adult ADHD.

My experience was
I said
I'm going to learn this Internet thing. I'm going to go out and I'm going to learn everything that I possibly can,
and I didn't realize at the very beginning that there were so many different subspecialties. It’s an entire industry.

You could be a specialist in list building
in search engine optimization
in advertising or all these different subspecialties
and you realize that what you're trying to do is go out and learn an entire industry. Of course
it doesn't really work that way.

You don't go out one day and say
Okay, I'm going to be a lawyer,
and understand every aspect of law. Even lawyers have to pick a specialty
be it corporate
criminal
bankruptcy or whatever. You don't say
I'm going to go out and learn everything there is to know about foreign language,
right? You pick one.

So
if that is true
that brings up another question for people with Adult ADHD symptoms: "What sub-specialty do I pick then? I have to pick one."

Again
we're teaching you ways to think with your Adult ADHD brain instead of against it here. As you're thinking about the anxiety of having to pick one area of specialty
for example
to grow your business or to work on in your life
remember that people with Adult ADHD symptoms have something that they use automatically every day they don't usually appreciate
and that is a very highly-developed intuition.

Intuition is why people with Adult ADHD make snap decisions all the time. You're really good at it naturally. It’s coming from your gut.

But you need a clear head to do it. So if you've got information overload
and you can't decide to focus on one thing
how do you clear your head?

What you need to do is this: You need to go on an "unsubscribe" campaign! Start with the information you have coming in on your computer every day.
You should continue subscribing to or buying the information from the people that you intuitively know are going to help you with your one main focus. But clear out the rest
so you don't even see it. Let your computer sort it so your head doesn't have to.

Do this with other things in your life too. Once you decide what you're main focus is (at least for now)--then "unsubscribe" or disconnect from anything
and anyone
that doesn't contribute to that one goal.

Then you can get down to the business of choosing a specialty and learning all about that one thing. You'll be amazed how much more focused you'll be
automatically! To learn more about how to beat procrastination and focus on your goals with Adult ADHD
see below.

ADHD stands for attention deficit hyperactivity disorder and it is a chronic condition that can have a great impact on a child if a child does not get help
or if the right ADHD treatment is not prescribed.

Some of the most common symptoms of ADHD are impulsivity
inappropriate behavior
and hyperactivity. These children have difficulty staying on task and completing projects
which if not identified and treated early can be a huge barrier throughout the school years and eventually on the job. Before there was a diagnosis
these children were just seen as having lots of energy
or were just wild and always getting into trouble. Now that ADHD treatments are available
parents have the option of getting their child help so that they can be more productive in school and have fewer disruptions at home.

Not all parents and professionals agree on what type of ADHD treatment is the best
or if it should be used at all. Some parents feel that it is unnatural to treat a child with prescription medication that could have significant side effects
or otherwise harm the child. Side effects are dose dependent and can be lessened by reducing the dosage or switching to a different medication. Many times behavior modification therapy is not effective on its own
which is why ADHD treatment usually requires use of a stimulant drug. Stimulants have a paradoxical effect on children; these drugs do not increase hyperactivity
which is a normal response in adults
but help the child focus
control behaviors
and improve self-esteem. Stimulants used in ADHD treatment help children to complete tasks
learn more efficiently
and interact more positively with their peers.

Physicians and psychiatrists develop individualized ADHD treatments for each child
because not all experience the same symptoms or have the same level of severity. There can also be other conditions that are present as well
such as mental or physical disorders that need to be addressed in addition to ADHD treatment. Such conditions may have a great impact on how the child responds to therapy
and if not treated simultaneously will tend to slow down progress. There are a number of sites on the internet that discuss ADHD
the symptoms
and how to go about getting help for your child. ADHD treatments and the controversies surrounding them are also discussed in depth. If you suspect your child has ADHD have him or her evaluated by a professional as soon as possible
so that your child can get the treatment he or she needs.

While most people enjoy casino gambling
sports betting
lottery and bingo playing for the fun and excitement it provides
others may experience gambling as an addictive and distractive habit. Statistics show that while 85 percent of the adult population in the US enjoys some type of gambling every year
between 2 and 3 percent of will develop a gambling problem and 1 percent of them are diagnosed as pathological gamblers.

Where can you draw the line between harmless gambling to problem gambling? How can you tell if you or your friend are compulsive gamblers? Here you can find answers to these questions and other questions regarding problem gambling and gambling addiction.

What is the Meaning of Problem Gambling?
Problem gambling or compulsive gambling is defined as an uncontrollable urge to gamble despite the destructive effect of gambling on the gamblers life and despite feelings of guilt and remorse. Problem gambling tends to have a negative effect on the gamblers financial state
relationships and daily life. Severe cases of problem gambling can be defined as pathological gambling.

Am I a Compulsive Gambler?
1
Do you gamble until your last penny runs out?
2
Do you gamble to win back your former losses or debts?
3
Did you ever had to borrow money to continue gamble?
4
Did your gambling habit ever made you lie to your friends or family?
5
Did you ever skip work or other obligation to gamble?
6
Do you tend to gamble to forget about your personal problems or to celebrate happy occasions?
7
Does gambling have a negative affect on your daily life or relationships?

If you have answered yes on at least one of the questions listed above
then you have a problem.

Can Anyone Become a Compulsive Gambler?
Theoretically
yes. Any gambler can develop gambling problem regardless to the type of gambling he is occupied with
the amount of money and time he is spending on gambling. Researches show that slot machines that can be found in bars and convenient stores are the most addictive type of gambling activity
while lottery draws and bingo games are located on the other end of the scale. Gambling addiction is an emotional problem; its symptoms
causes and treatments are similar to any other form of addiction.

How Can I treat Gambling Addiction?
1
Group Therapy:
Gamblers Anonymous offers a 12 step self help program similar to the one offered to alcohol addicts in Alcoholics Anonymous. Group therapy also offers gambling addicts advice and support from professional counselors and other gambling addicts in different phases of their recovery process. Gambler Anonymous centers are available in more than 1
200
locations statewide.

2
Individual Therapy:
Cognitive or behavior therapy can help gambling addicts to identify their unaware thinking and acting patterns
which led them to gamble compulsively
and to replace them with controllable and healthier ways of thinking.

3
Psychiatric Medication:
It has recently been proven that antidepressant medications from the family of SSRIs
selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors can be affective in treatment of gambling addicts.

ADD is often accompanied by a coexisting condition. On the other hand
often ADD and these other conditions have similar symptoms and
therefore
are easily misdiagnosed. Of course
this creates a plethora of problems as these disorders
when separate
must be treated differently. A misdiagnosis will lead to ineffective treatment. As coexisting conditions
these are especially of concern
because they increase the severity of many of the symptoms of ADD
as well as the negative impact on those that suffer them.

One such condition is Oppositional Defiant Disorder or Conduct Disorder. Children with this disorder tend to be very aggressive and defiant. They usually lose their tempers very easily and challenge authority figures. This is the most easily diagnosable behaviors
as teachers and parents become aware of this conduct quickly and seek treatment almost immediately. This particular disorder is common in children that are the hyperactive/impulsive type of ADD and occurs in 35% of children with ADD. This coexisting condition makes it much more likely that these sufferers will get in legal trouble as they age due to their authoritative defiance.

Many children that have ADD also suffer from mood disorders and/or depression. The complication associated with this coexisting condition is the increased likelihood of suicide common during teen years. 18% of ADD children also suffer from some type of mood disorder
and is it more likely to occur within the inattentive type of ADD. This is often not as easily diagnosed as compared to other conditions. Children with mood disorders as a coexisting condition must be treated with different medication than typical ADD treatment; therefore
such therapy may be more difficult.

Also a concern is anxiety disorders among ADD sufferers
which constitutes roughly 25% of those with ADD. Traits common of Anxiety Disorders are fear
panic
and worry
which may necessitate medication and/or counseling. As with mood disorders
combined treatment make therapy more complex and arduous.

Learning Disabilities are also conditions common with children that have ADD. While ADD
in itself
is not a learning disability
it can make it extremely difficult for children to perform well in school. If coupled with a learning disability
it makes it considerably more challenging for children to grasp academic concepts and utilize such knowledge.

For the most part
coexisting conditions make treatment more difficult and the side effects of both disorders more severe. The typical signs and symptoms of ADD are difficult enough to deal with
but with more intense severity
it often makes side effects deadly or incredibly negatively life altering.