Canadian Medical News

Until now, the swine flu appeared to be the result of an infection from a virus exchange virus between pigs and humans. Influenza A H1N1 that started in early 2009, leading the global pandemic (for now include all countries of the earth) of influenza A H1N1, is an infection by a new virus that is a combination of several viruses currently circulating, Parents flu (in connection with birds), swine (in connection with the pig) and human.

Patients suffering from swine influenza have exactly the same symptoms as ordinary flu (seasonal).

What are the symptoms of swine flu?

There, after an incubation period (period between infection with influenza A H1N1 and the onset of symptoms) from 24 to 48 hours:

• A rise in temperature up to 41°C.
• Pain above type muscle throughout the body and, as usual for the flu, mostly in the back.
• Pain in the throat associated with headache .
• A prostration (with extreme weakness) sometimes with severe fatigue but variable among individuals.
• Difficulty breathing, sometimes very important.
• A rather dry cough had also the characteristic of being profound.
• A very important nasal discharge.
• Diarrhea (rarely).
• Vomiting (rarely).
• A loss of appetite occur suddenly.

The evolution of influenza A H1N1 is variable among individuals. With the new virus, it is impossible to predict changes with certainty. Usually, influenza A H1N1 evolves favorably toward recovery in a week (sometimes more).

It is possible to attempt to identify the pathogen, that is to say, the causative agent or if you prefer the microbe, using a reaction of hemagglutination or indirect immunofluorescence.

Moreover, the demonstration of antibodies can be obtained by performing a hemagglutination inhibition and radial hemolysis.

All these techniques require a relatively long period to highlight the causative agent, namely the virus. The laboratories are working hard to try to finalize a new test quicker and used daily.

Allergies are something that affects millions of people on a daily basis. Pollen allergies in particular affect nearly 1 in 7 people. Pollens are the small male cells that are produced in flowering plants. These plants product pollens are a part of their reproductive system. Many different kinds of plants and trees use pollination for reproduction. Most of the pollen that is released travel through the air. This can often land in people’s eyes or mouth causing a pollen allergy.

Different symptoms that some pollen creates are stuffy noses, itchy watery eyes, sore throats, and often headaches. The time of year will usually dictate exactly how much pollen is released into the air. Also the amount of wind and temperature also has an effect on pollen production and release. The amount of pollen that is in the air on any given day is called a pollen count.

Usually the worst months for pollen in the air are between October through the end of March. This will depend on the region and climate that the different trees and plants are located. Someone living in the tropics will have a different experience that someone who lives in the north. There are a variety of different plants and grasses that release pollen at various time of the year.

Some of the ways to reduce pollen allergies are to ensure that you shower after you come inside. Because pollen can stick to your clothes and skin, it is important that you wash it off after you have gone outside. Avoiding being outside when it is dry and windy is also another great idea for reducing your pollen allergy outbreaks.

If you suffer from Pollen Allergies you should ensure that you find the right treatment. Doing a comprehensive search for the right Allergy Treatment is important to ensure that you get the relief you need.

Women who lose their hair is more of a problem then most might realize. Men are certainly more prone to it then women are but their numbers are rapidly growing each year. Let us take a look at the most common causes of why women lose their hair and some female hair loss treatment options available.

Common causes

Hormones and stress are two of the top causes for hair loss in women. When it comes to hormonal hair loss it is the hormone dht (dihydrotestosterone) that is the culprit. When it comes to stress induced hair loss it is usually a traumatic event or pregnancy or after child birth that brings it on. Vitamin deficiency is also another reason women lose their hair. So in order to have an effective treatment it must address all three of these issues.

Hormonal hair loss – Dht is produced from testosterone which is found in both men and women. If you are genetically acceptable to hair loss you will have a sensitivity to dht. This means that sooner or later you are going to start losing your hair which can lead to pattern baldness.

To avoid this, you need to prevent testosterone from getting converted into dht (dihydrotestosterone). A fantastic way of doing that is to take a herbal dietary supplement on a regular basis. The supplements need to contain stinging nettle and horsetail (to name a few) which are powerful herbs that combat dht. For women who are battling with losing their hair this is one of the best treatment options available today.

Stress induced hair loss – Dealing with stress is not easy but it is not impossible either. Studies have shown that partaking in some kind of physical activity and doing some form of meditation can help a person with stress. You need to eat a healthy diet and should develop a positive attitude towards life.

Taking a dietary supplement that has Vitamin B-6, also known as the ‘womens vitamin’ can go along way as well in helping you deal with stress. It improves your ability to ‘handle’ stress better and it helps with pms as well as help prevent any further loss of hair caused by stress.

Loss of hair due to vitamin deficiency – You should try to add a lot of fruits, vegetables, whole grains, eggs, and fish to your diet. Fish, in particular, is very good for hair growth. A healthy diet plays an important role in any female hair loss treatment. Because of this you also want to take zinc and magnesium which are vital for new hair growth. By taking a dietary supplement that contains all these herbs, vitamins and minerals mentioned above will go a long way in treating any female hair problem.

You should be aware that if you are taking any prescription drugs or have any diseases like diabetes, could be the reason for you losing your hair so consult your doctor first. You should always know the reasons why your losing your hair before taking any treatments.

There are very few direct signs or symptoms of suicide to the extent that you can look at someone and say, “He or she is about to commit suicide.”

So many signs are similar to other mental conditions. For instance, if a member of the family starts to drink more heavily than usual, it could simply mean that they’re having a bit of a rough time at work. Perhaps a husband tends to snap at his wife when it’s quite uncalled for and becomes angry at small things.

Then again, someone might sit around without seeming to have any purpose in life, and withdraws from the family. None of these actions in themselves, or indeed together, necessarily mean that the person has even contemplated suicide. I would suggest that there are three warning signs that should be taken very seriously.

Firstly, Ideation. This is talking about suicide, the individual making it known that they wish to commit suicide. Either that, or they wish that death would over take them. Now, while this may be simply a ploy for sympathy, the nature of the person must be taken into consideration. A man or woman who’s usually strong and in control, should they start exhibiting thoughts of death, then the matter is almost certainly extremely serious.

The reasons for their thinking must be ascertained. Perhaps something’s happened that they’ve kept to themselves for a long time and it’s been eating away at them. If it happens to a strong person like that, then something very disagreeable must be assaulting their minds.

Secondly, the person who starts to set their affairs in order, particularly if they aren’t terribly well organized as a general rule.

Thirdly, and perhaps the most telling symptom of them all is if a person who’s obviously been experiencing difficulties; who’s shown signs of untoward anger, perhaps mood changes and withdrawal, suddenly becomes calm, maybe even serene. This could mean very well that their minds are made up, that they’re determined to carry out the deed. They’ve made peace with their god, if they believe in one, and more especially with themselves. This is a point of high danger.

The statistics for suicide are quite alarming. Nearly one million people kill themselves per year worldwide, and around 30,000 in the United States alone. The figure is probably higher, because it can be very difficult sometimes to decide what’s suicide and what’s accidental, say, in a car crash. There are the accidental overdoses of prescription drugs, guns going off which are not supposed to be loaded and many other causes.

Over 90% of people who commit suicide suffer from depression, or some other form of mental disorder. I’m not entering into any sort of a debate here, but another high risk is in keeping firearms in the home. Someone suddenly finds themselves in the grip of depression for whatever reason. Perhaps a fight with a spouse or girl or boyfriend. “I’ll show ‘em,” and before they think it through rationally, they’ve grabbed a gun and pulled the trigger.

The other action that tip-toes around the edges of suicide is Euthanasia. The Netherlands is the only country where it’s permitted, but not actually legal, since it’s not specifically allowed by statute. The debate over this will rage for years to come, because there is no right nor wrong. Ethically, for a doctor to take the life of another breaks his Hippocratic Oath, but if that person’s in unbelievable pain, then is the doctor not being merciful? Perhaps we should discuss this thorny subject at another time.

Hypertension or high blood pressure means high pressure in the arteries. High blood pressure does not mean excessive emotional tension, although emotional tension and stress can temporarily increase blood pressure.

Hypertension can be classified as either essential (primary) or secondary. Essential hypertension means that no medical cause can be found to explain the raised blood pressure. It is common. Secondary hypertension indicates that the high blood pressure is a result of another condition, such as kidney disease or tumors.

Symptoms of Hypertension:

The first symptoms of hypertension may appear as a pain at the back of the head and neck on waking in the morning, which soon disappear. Some of the other common symptoms are:

• dizziness;
• palpitations;
• pain in the region of the heart;
• frequent urination;
• nervous tension;
• fatigue;
• difficulty in breathing.

Causes of Hypertension:

The chief causes of hypertension are stress and a faulty style of living. Smoking and an excessive intake of intoxicants, tea, coffee, and refined foods destroy the natural pace of life and prevent the expulsion of waste and poisonous matter from the body. Hardening of the arteries, obesity, and diabetes lead to hypertension. Other cause of hypertension are an excessive intake of common table salt, and eating a high fat and low fiber diet.

High Blood Pressure and ayurveda:

Along with herbal treatment, ayurveda stresses on a healthy balanced diet, healthy lifestyle, yoga and meditation for the treatment of high blood pressure.

Diet :

Diet should be in such a way that it reduces body weight and excess fat, thereby reducing the blood pressure. Therefore the following diet is recommended

A vegeterian diet including the following is ideal for hypertension – Garlic, lemon, parsley, bitter gourd, drumstick etc.

• Fresh fruits like Indian gooseberry, grapes, banana, guava, and watermelon are consider beneficial.
• The quantity of salt used should be decreased.
• Red meat and eggs should be completely avoided.
• Coffee should be avoided.
• Quantity of oil used should be reduced and completely avoid the use of hydrogenated oils. Reduce the intake of cereals and pulses.
• Regular exercise, practicing yoga and meditation are very effective.
• Sound sleep and proper rest is very essential.
• Avoid anger, tension, anxiety and loud speaking, and smoking.
• Laughter therapy is consider a good natural treatment of high blood pressure.

Home remedies for High Blood Pressure:

Garlic: It slows down the pulse rate and modifies the heart rhythm, besides relieving the symptoms of dizziness, numbness, shortness of breath, and the formation of gas within the digestive tract. It may be taken in the form of raw cloves or two to three capsules a day.

Indian gooseberry: A tablespoon each of fresh amla juice and honey mix together should be taken every morning as an effective Ayurvedic treatment for hypertension.

Lemon: The vitamin P found in lemon is essential for preventing capillary fragility

Grapefruit: The vitamin P content in the fruit is helpful in toning up the arteries.

Watermelon: The seeds of watermelon, dried and roasted, should be taken in liberal quantities.

Rice: It makes a perfect diet for hypertension who have been advice salt-restricted diets. Calcium in brown rice, in particular, soothes and relaxes the nervous system and helps relieve the symptoms of high blood pressure.

Potato: Potatoes, specially in boiled form, are a valuable food for lowering blood pressure.

Parsley: It keeps the arterial system in a healthy condition. It may be taken as a beverage by simmering 20gm of fresh parsley leaves gently in 250ml of water for a few minutes. This may be drunk several times daily.

Rauwolfia: Among the herbs, rauwolfia is the best Ayurvedic remedy for high blood pressure. The root of the drug in a powdered form is used. Half a teaspoon of this drug should be taken thrice a day.

Vegetable juice: Raw vegetable juices, especially carrot and spinach, taken separately or in combination, are also beneficial in the treatment of high blood pressure.

Dietary calcium and potassium: These two essential nutrients help the body secret excess sodium and are involve in important function which control the working of the vascular system. Potassium is found in abundance in fruits and vegetables, and calcium in diary products.

Useful Ayurvedic herbs for high Blood Pressure:

Broom (Cytisus scoparius), Black cohosh (Cimicifuga racemose), Blue cohosh (Caulophyllum thalicroides), Boneset (Eupatorium perfoliaturn), Dong quai (Angelica sinesis), Gotu kola (Centella asiatica), Hawthorn (crataegus oxyacantha), Hyssop (Hyssopus officinalis), Javal devil pepper (Rauwolfia serpentina), Myrrh, Sanicle (Sanicula europaea), Skullcap root (Scutellaria baicalensis), Valerian (Valeriana officinalis), and Wild cherry bark (Prunus serotina).

Preventive Measures for Hypertension:

Hypertension prevention include maintaining a healthy weight, being physically active, following a healthy eating plan, that emphasizes fruits, vegetables, and low fat dairy foods, choosing and preparing foods with less salt and sodium and drinking in moderation.

One cause of hemorrhoids is straining when on the toilet. It is recommended that to avoid strain one should sit on the toilet seat, but tip the feet to the balls of the feet or toes, and lean forward, elbows to knees, in order to allow the feces to come out easily and without straining. This protects your veins.

A person who has trouble with constipation may form hemorrhoids. Avoid constipation with proper diet. If you need to pass a hard stool, relax, breathe deeply in and out. Let gravity help the situation.

Frequent diarrhea is hard on the veins around the rectum. This can be a sign of disease and cause hemorrhoids. Prevent infectious diarrhea by practicing good hand washing techniques after using the toilet, and before eating. Wash all fresh produce to eliminate bacteria.

Avoid damage when you wipe. A well formed bowel movement only requires a small amount of wiping. Use a damp, soft cloth or commercially prepared wipe if you are tender.

Pregnancy often causes women to develop hemorrhoids, but women who exercise and walk frequently during pregnancy have better muscles to push the baby down the birth canal. Those stronger muscles also resist the ballooning out of hemorrhoids

People who must lift a lot at their job often develop hemorrhoids. Proper lifting will prevent many problems. Better yet, whenever possible share the load and do not lift things that are too heavy.

Diseases cause pressure to build in the veins of the abdomen. Liver disease is one of them. Be moderate in the consumption of alcohol. Avoid diseases like hepatitis. Be heart healthy as well. Fresh fruits and vegetables are very helpful.

The role overweight plays in the development of hemorrhoids cannot be overlooked. Think of those excess pounds as heavy weights that you are lifting every day putting pressure on your anal area when you sit. This is one more reason to lose weight if you possibly can.

Some families are more prone to hemorrhoids than others. If you know this is a tendency in your family, be proactive. Exercise, eat right, and take care of yourself. There are exercises that isolate the sphincter muscles and allow you to strengthen them, and that would help you avoid the genetic predisposition to hemorrhoids.

Another cause of hemorrhoids that is seldom spoken of is anal sex. Even with lots of appropriate lubricant, that is not the function of the anus. It causes hemorrhoids. So avoid it.

Yeast Infection Remedies are effective when they treat the root cause of the infection and not just the symptoms. This article will feature three of the best remedies that can achieve this.

Yeast Infections can be painful and embarrassing and most women can confirm this. The infection is caused by an overgrowth of fungus (Candida Albicans). This normally grows harmlessly and naturally in women’s vagina and in both men’s and women’s intestines. But when the balance of yeast is upset i.e. through regular intake of antibiotics, birth control pills or if you have diabetes for example, then you develop an overgrowth of yeast resulting in a vaginal yeast infection.

The symptoms are: severe itching and burning, white cottage cheese like discharge, vaginal odour and pain while urinating. If yeast infections are caught early enough though you almost never need to rely on over the counter treatments.

Some of the best home remedies to treat yeast infection quickly are apple cider vinegar, “live” yoghurt and garlic.

Yeast Infection Remedy # 1 Apple Cider Vinegar Douche

Adding apple cider vinegar to a warm bath will help restore the natural pH of the vagina and is a cheaper alternative to over the counter drugs.

Yeast Infection Remedy # 2 “Live” Yoghurt

“Live,” Unsweetened, Plain Yogurt contains Lactobacillus acidophilus, a type of friendly bacteria that also happens to be found in healthy vaginas. This bacterium will help kill the yeast quickly. Simply add some yogurt to a tampon and insert it in the vagina to help clear the yeast infection.

Yeast Infection Remedy # 3 Garlic

Garlic has strong anti-bacterial and anti-fungal properties and makes for a strong home remedy to treat yeast infections.

Gluten intolerance symptoms, be they mild or severe, affect just under a sixth of the US population. Gluten, found in wheat, rye and barley, is a type of protein which some individuals cannot tolerate in their system. In extreme cases, people may suffer from what is known as celiac disease, where body’s immune system undergoes a severe allergic reaction to the presence of gluten. Most people with an intolerance of gluten suffer from much milder symptoms. Either way, whenever the body reacts negatively to a particular food, especially one which can make up a significant part of one’s diet, there is always the possibility of a degree of malnutrition coming into the picture.

Gluten intolerance symptoms are not always easy to pinpoint. They cover a fairly broad range, and the symptoms themselves can often come from other causes. Gluten intolerance therefore, can at times be quite difficult to correctly diagnose. A person suffering from a chronic iron deficiency, chronic fatigue, or a gastrointestinal infection will exhibit many of the same symptoms experienced by the person allergic to foods containing gluten. One way to test for this intolerance, is to test for certain antibodies which will be present if a patient ingests food containing gluten, and does not have a tolerance for the protein. The presence of the antibodies help to isolate gluten intolerance as the cause of whatever symptoms are being experienced.

To the extent the immune system is involved, common symptoms include unexplained changes in weight over time. This can either be weight loss or weight gain. The patient may suffer from gastrointestinal problems, including fat in the stools. This is due to the fact that the body is not processing foods containing gluten properly. As food is not being processed efficiently, chronic fatigue, periods of exhaustion, headaches, and bouts of depression may occur. These symptoms can in turn lead to behavioral changes, such as irritability. Some symptoms are the direct result of gluten intolerance, while others are secondary, with other gluten intolerance symptoms being a root cause. More severe symptoms are aching joints, skin disorders, such as outbreaks of eczema, and cramping. Effects on women can include irregularity in the menstrual cycle and infertility. This intolerance symptoms even include incidences of miscarriage.

It’s important to have tests taken for gluten intolerance if any of these symptoms are present, even when they are mild in nature. Even a mild case of gluten intolerance is an indicator that the body is not properly processing all the food being eaten, and nutritional problems can therefore arise. Food intolerance can lead to other problems over a period of time, including cancer and diabetes. If gluten intolerance symptoms are diagnosed early on, many potentially more serious health problems may be avoided, or at least more effectively treated. You should be able to make a transition to a gluten free diet or a diet better fitted to your individual needs without too much of a problem.

Breast cancer is a serious disorder that attacks women. It is a disease that women dread about. In medical terms, this disease can be defined as a formation of malignant or cancer cells in the breast tissues.

The disease has been termed as heterogeneous. This means that it is a different disease that appears and forms differently in different women of different age groups. Younger women are said to be more vulnerable to this disease.

A lump in the breast or the swelling of the lymph nodes under the arm can mean the onset of breast cancer. But please note at this stage that 9 out of 10 lumps in the breast are usually benign which means they are harmless, and in most cases they turn out to be cysts. (But if you have a lump please get it checked out quickly)

Early breast cancer has practically no symptoms – it can only be conformed by the palpation of breast lump by self examination of the breast. A lump can be present slightly above the collar bone or it can be also in the armpit if. If you are suspecting a breast lump do consult your physician:

• discharge from the breast;
• changes in the nipple;
• changes in the breast skin;

The risk of carcinoma also increases with age. This is also one of the factors which a person can not control. If some gene changes are running in a family, that means if the breast cancer is hereditary, the chance of getting affected automatically increases without any control of it. If a woman is having cancer in one breast the chance of getting it in another breast or in another part of the same breast increases. White women are at a higher risk of breast cancer than Asian women. If a women started menstruating in an early age or went through menopause in later age both of these conditions increase the risk of breast cancer.

It is a difficult task to have sex after the regular side effects of chemotherapy, radiotherapy, such as vaginal dryness. This is due to premature menopause which causes pain during sex. Usually it takes a longer time to get aroused and the touch of your partner is not as pleasurable as before.

The steps of treatment of breast cancer like radiotherapy and chemotherapy makes the breast more sensitive to touch and if a women has gotten a mastectomy it is great shock for the patient as well as for her partner.

Sometimes lumps in the breast can be nothing by a type of cyst, which is just a type of sac that is filled with fluid. That is simple to take care of and can be done quickly and painlessly by just inserting a needle into it and removing the fluid that is accumulating in it. If there is no fluid to be found then they can still use that needle to take a small tissue sample to be tested for cancer, which is called a biopsy.

According to the National Cancer Society, prostate cancer is a disease in which cancer cells form in the tissues of the prostate. Since the disease affects only men, and usually those who are older in age, the disease can cause trouble urinating, back and hip pain, blood in the urine and sexual malfunctions as well, like pain when releasing sperm. There are treatments for prostate cancer, however, and they’re not all as invasive as chemotherapy.

Surgery is a common option for treatment, as it can remove either the pelvic lymph nodes, which can hold cancerous tissue, or the entire prostate and the cancerous tissue that surrounds it. If there are cancer cells in the tissue of the lymph nodes, then there’s no need to remove the entire prostate, but treatment is still needed to eradicate the cancer cells completely.

Radiation is another form of prostate cancer treatment, using x-rays and other forms of radiation to kill off the cancer cells to keep them from growing and coming back. Whether used internally or externally, radiation therapy can cause urination and sexual problems in men receiving this form of treatment. This option is only viable if the tumor is still inside the lymph nodes or prostate altogether, and isn’t necessary if the tumor has spread its way out of the prostate. For that type of prostate cancer, hormone therapy can be used to slow down or stop the production of male hormones, which are mainly found in the testicles. The testicles, either one or both, may also be removed during hormone therapy to rid the body of the androgens that create the male hormone.

For older men in the early stages of prostate cancer, watchful waiting might also be used. This entails watching the tumor’s growth and rapidity to monitor whether treatment will be necessary. Some cancerous prostate tumors grow slowly, which means the risks of cancer treatment might not be beneficial at the end-of-life stage, when a man might be more susceptible to the side effects of treatment. New therapies are being developed, such as cryotherapy, to freeze the cancer cells and destroy them. In the end, the treatment chosen is what’s right for each individual.