Health related information and news from around the world.

WHY IS HIGH BLOOD PRESS BAD FOR YOU?  Many studies clearly demonstrated a direct relationship between high blood pressure stroke, heart disease, and renal (kidney) failure. People with uncontrolled high blood pressure are about t times more likely to have coronary artery disease, six times more likely to have congestive heart failure, seven times more likely to have a stroke than people with control high blood pressure.Treatment of high blood press can markedly decrease these risks. L treated or inadequately treated hypertension has detrimental effects on your heart, arteries, brain, and kidney. These are explained below.Heart.   High blood pressure force the heart to work harder than normal. Blood pressure is like a weight or load that the heart muscle must lift. Like an muscle, your heart gets larger with heavy weight lifting. Eventually, however, the heart’s pumping efficiency decreases when the muscle can no longer continue to adapt to the excessive work load. If this occurs, the heart muscle may weaken, and congestive heart failure develops.Arteries. High blood pressure also seems to accelerate the development of atherosclerosis in your arteries and arterioles as you ages increasing the chances of stroke or heart attack. High blood pressure can also lead to an aneurysm, or bulge, in an artery. Brain. Your chances of having a stroke (see page 100) are also increased if you have high blood pressure. A stroke is a form of brain injury caused by a blocked or ruptured blood vessel in the brain.Kidneys. Mild, untreated high blood pressure caused the kidney damage in about 25 percent of the people who are now undergoing kidney dialysis. Early and adequate treatment of high blood pressure can prevent or delay the need for kidney dialysis or transplantation in some people.*259\252\8*

THE CARE OF THE PEDIATRIC PATIENT AFTER HEMATOPOIETIC STEM CELL TRANSPLANTIONBone marrow transplantation is a well-established treatment for acute and chronic leukemias, myelodysplasia, some solid tumors, aplastic anemia, hemoglobinopathies, and congenital immune deficiencies and cytopenias. More recently, transplants have been performed using peripheral blood or umbilical cord blood as the source of stem cells, so the term hematopoietic stem cell transplant (HSCT) will be used in this chapter. The complications that occur after a HSCT depend on multiple factors, including the pretransplant conditioning regimen, human leukocyte antigen (HLA) compatibility of the donor, stem cell source, graft manipulation (e.g., T-cell depletion, or tumor purging), as well as the child’s age, underlying disease, and prior therapy.The conditioning regimen uses high-dose chemotherapy with or without regional or total body irradiation (TBI) and is usually completed in 4-8 days. After the stem cell infusion there is an obligatory period of pancytopenia, which has been shortened, to some extent, by the use of peripheral blood stem cells (PBSCs) and hematopoietic growth factors.Discharge from the transplant center usually occurs when the patient achieves a stable absolute neutrophil count (ANC) 500-1000 neutrophils/pL, has resolved any acute infectious or transplant related complications, and is obtaining adequate nutritional support. At the time of discharge all HSCT patients remain profoundly immunodeficient, especially those who develop graft-versus-host disease (GVHD), and many still require platelet and red cell transfusions. Economic pressures and the increased use of mobilized PBSC have resulted in earlier discharge from the transplant unit. Consequently, general pediatricians and pediatric oncologists who may have limited transplant experience are assuming greater responsibility for the care of these children. Management of the HSCT patient requires an understanding of the complications that can arise at different times after transplant, recognition of these problems, and the early implementation of appropriate therapy.*82\168\2*

PEPTIC ULCER: AN OFTEN-PAINFUL CONDITIONPeptic ulcers are craters or eroded areas in the protective lining of the stomach or intestine that are caused by excess stomach acids and other irritants. The most common type of peptic ulcer is called a duodenal ulcer, appearing in the upper part of the small intestine. Severe ulcers can lead to pain, bleeding and even perforations — holes — in the wall of the stomach or intestine. A perforated ulcer is life-threatening and must be surgically treated immediately.Ulcers have been associated with bacterial infections, cigarette smoking and the use of certain drugs. Aspirin, ibuprofen and corticosteroids are known to cause ulcers in some people.With the significant advances in treatment and with early detection, most people will recover from their ulcer in four to six weeks.
What you can do To reduce the likelihood of getting an ulcer and speed the healing process if you already have one:If you smoke, start taking steps to kick the habit, and avoid coffee, alcohol, aspirin and ibuprofen.Avoid hot or spicy foods if they cause discomfort; for the most part you can eat a normal diet.Don’t drink large amounts of milk. Calcium may stimulate acid production.For temporary relief from ulcer pain, try over-the-counter (OTC) antacids such as Maalox or Mylanta.H2 blockers are medications that decrease the production of stomach acid. These medications include famotidine (Pepcid), ranitidine (Zantac), nizatidine (Axid) and cimetidine (Tagamet). If symptoms persist after two weeks, consult your doctor before taking more of these medications.Tell your doctor if you have a history of ulcers. Common medications taken for other ailments could increase your risk of ulcer recurrences.*84\303\2*

The use of barbiturates for sleep has all but disappeared in recent years. In 1971 these drugs accounted for 47 percent of the prescriptions for hypnotic medications; six years later the figure had dropped to 17 percent, and by 1982 it was 9 percent. That the figure is even this high has more to do with entrenched prescribing habits among some physicians than with appropriate choice of therapy. One reason for the decline is the high risk of tolerance, dependence, and addiction involved with the use of barbiturates. Besides, such drugs as Seconal and Nembutal lose their effectiveness quickly, compelling users to step up the dosage.
Barbiturates can be deadly drugs; a dosage only fifteen times higher than that needed for sleep can be fatal. In the past barbiturates were the drugs most frequently used in suicide attempts. The presence of alcohol greatly increases the danger; even relatively small doses of barbiturates and alcohol can be fatal. Furthermore, the liver deterioration that accompanies alcoholism means that heavy drinkers are at special risk if they also use barbiturates because these toxic drugs must be broken down in the liver. These drugs may actually worsen sleep by suppressing the deep NREM and REM stages. And during withdrawal from medication, sleep can be even worse than before use of the drug and is marked by REM rebound, hallucinations, anxiety, or, in severe cases, seizures.
*279\226\8*

Children with a weak constitution who have inherited a dispo­sition for tuberculosis and suffer from swollen glands should be treated with the following prophylactic medicines:
Calc phos. 4x alternated with 6x: 2 tablets, three times daily.
Urticalcin. This is even more effective and, if given for several months, can work wonders.
Ars. iod. 4x. This is indicated for thin children who grow fast. It should be taken over a period of several months in alternation with Urticalcin.
Kali phos. 6x. This should be given when the lungs and bron-chials are affected.
Sulph. 4x. This is indicated when, in spite of packs, the rash is slow in breaking out and very mild.
When the disease has subsided the child should not be allowed outside in the cold air right away. Especially in winter, the child should be kept in bed for another week or in a warm but well-ventilated room. Such care is particularly essential for delicate children who could otherwise suffer from complications.
*81/8/1*
Dvpharm.com – Online Pharmacy Information

The following remedies should be given:
Aconitum 4x: 5 drops every half an hour. When perspiration has been induced and the temperature falls, it may be given less frequently.
Ferr. phos. 6x (for babies use 12x): 1 tablet every hour.
Belladonna 4x: 5 drops every hour. Use when the blood rushes to the head, or with croup, conjunctivitis and ear complications.
Antimonium sulph. 4x or 6x: initially 1 tablet every 2 hours; after about three days, 2 tablets three times daily. This should be given by itself, without additional medication, when the fever has subsided. It will be sufficient to complete the cure if no complications occur.
Nephrosolid: add to the fruit juice, 5 drops each time. This fresh plant preparation will help to eliminate toxins through the kidneys.
Cuprum acet. 4x and Antimonium sulph. 4x. These should be given alternately when a hacking or whooping cough seems to be coming on.
Coccus cacti 4x and especially Thydroca are most effective for whooping cough, if given at once when the first symptoms appear after the measles. Whooping cough can often be arrested with these remedies, without any side effects.
*80/28/1*
Buy cheap medications – online pharmacy

Moles are discrete and small areas of dark pigment (or colour) on the skin. They vary in colour from flesh-coloured to brown or black. Some are hairy and raised, others are smooth and flat. They are very common and start to appear soon after the child’s first year. Some children may only have a few moles scattered around their body, while others may have more than thirty. They mostly occur on the face and neck or on the back. It is extremely rare for a mole in a child to turn cancerous.

When to see your doctor

• if you notice the mole growing rapidly;

• if the mole has become itchy or sore;

• if the mole has been bleeding or has developed a crust;

• if the mole has changed colour, especially if it becomes darker;

• if the mole has become raised and lumpy;

• if your child would like the mole removed for cosmetic reasons.

*322\90\8*

There are a number of positive steps, all of equal importance, that you can take as parents to improve your lot with a new baby:

Organise a support system. Enlist the help of parents, relatives, friends, or neighbours who are willing to assist with the sheer physical work that has to be done (e.g. cleaning, washing, preparing meals). They often provide psychological support and reassurance as well. Reliable and trustworthy paid help, if you are able to afford it, can be invaluable.

Ask for your partner’s help. Explain your needs clearly to each other. Try to have realistic expectations of one another. The preparation of gourmet meals should be put on hold, and simple or easy to prepare food or take-aways become the order of the day. You may also have to turn a blind eye to the housework for a while.

Find a sympathetic maternal and child nurse and enlist her support. She is likely to have a wealth of experience to draw on and her guidance may prove invaluable. Talk to other parents and help each other out. Others may have some good tips. Organise a baby-minding club with other parents so that you can have a couple of hours to yourself every few days. Use this time to do something for yourself that you enjoy — go swimming, go to the hairdresser, or go and visit a friend.

Make sure you own needs are met. Don’t be a martyr. Take time out whenever possible for relaxation, catching up on sleep, or just going down the street. You need this time alone.

Don’t try to be a superman or superwoman. Be realistic about what can be achieved. If the time you would spend making the bed and doing the dishes means the difference between coping and collapsing, forget the housework!

Organise a schedule for essential activities but remember that it needs to be flexible in case of unexpected events.

Acknowledge that all babies are different and that your baby’s temperament may well be the reason for all that grizzling or unpredictability.

Know that all parents experience frustration and despair with their new baby at some stage. Remember it is only a phase and things will improve.

Ask for help! Turn to your partner, doctor, nurse, mother-in-law — anyone! Don’t try to go it alone.

*75\90\8*