The Health Blog

Associated Press - Nearly all American women are in danger of heart disease or stroke and should be more aggressive about lowering their risk - including asking their doctors about daily aspirin use, the American Heart Association said Monday in new guidelines.

It is the first time guidelines have urged all women to consider aspirin for preventing strokes, although specialists warn that it can cause ulcers and dangerous bleeding. They said it is probably not a good idea for young women with no big health problems.

“We do not want women to go to the drugstore and just start taking this themselves. It is critical that every woman talk to her doctor,” said Dr. Lori Mosca, director of preventive cardiology at New York-Presbyterian Hospital and chair of the expert panel that wrote the guidelines.

Consumers are now turning to online buying of medicines due to its convenience. But not most of them are aware of the health risks it brings.

According to FDA, some websites that sell medicine:

• aren’t U.S. state-licensed pharmacies or aren’t pharmacies at all
• may give a diagnosis that is not correct and sell medicine that is not right for you or your condition
• won’t protect your personal information

Some medicines sold online:

• are fake (counterfeit or “copycat” medicines)
• are too strong or too weak
• have dangerous ingredients
• have expired (are out-of-date)
• aren’t FDA-approved (haven’t been checked for safety and effectiveness)
• aren’t made using safe standards
• aren’t safe to use with other medicine or products you use
• aren’t labeled, stored, or shipped correctly

In a recent press release of Food and Drug Administration, they warned the consumers of buying medicines through the internet. A few number of consumers who placed orders for specific drug products over the Internet, instead received a product that contains haloperidol, which is a powerful anti-psychotic drug.

Several consumers who have brought the drug containing haloperidol had to seek emergency care after taking the pills. The pills are known to cause difficulty in breathing, muscle spasms and muscle stiffness after ingesting the suspect product. Haloperidol can cause muscle stiffness and spasms, agitation, and sedation.

The origin of these tablets is unknown but the packages were postmarked in Greece. FDA said those who have received medications from an Internet seller should compare them to photos of the faulty orders, which can be seen on the FDA’s Web site. If the tablets received from an Internet seller resemble those in the photos and haloperidol was not specifically ordered, do not take these tablets.

No day is so bad it can’t be fixed with a nap. ~Carrie Snow

Getting enough sleep or a nap is indisputably one of the healthy habits. Now researches are trying to prove this fact.

A study found out that taking a nap after lunch may be good for your heart. Office nappers now have the perfect excuse.

Those occasionally napping had a 12% lower coronary mortality, whereas those systematically napping had a 37% lower coronary mortality. Among men, the inverse association was stronger when the analysis was restricted to those who were currently working at enrollment, whereas among women, a similar analysis was not possible because of the small number of deaths.

The Food and Drug Administration recommends that parents should ask their doctors or pharmacists before giving medications to their children, the following questions:

• What is the name of the drug, and what is it prescribed for?
• Are there any other drugs that may interact in a harmful way with this drug?
• How often does my child need to take this medication, what is the correct dose, and for how long should I give it?
• How quickly will this medication begin to work?
• What happens if my child accidentally misses a dose?
• Are there any side effects to this drug that I should watch for?

Do you suffer from recurring vaginal or male yeast infection? below is a home remedy or yeast infection treatment for men and women.

But first, what causes yeast infection? It is caused by a fungus named Candida Albicans. Yeast is a tiny organism that lives in small numbers on the skin and in the vagina. When the acidic balance in the vagina is lowered, the yeast grows and causes a vaginal infection.

Yeast infection symptoms are not serious but are very unpleasant. They include a thick white discharge from the vagina. Burning during urination, vaginal itching, irritation, redness and swelling. Irritation, soreness and white spots on the penis.

One of the main causes of recurring yeast infection is sexual activity. If a woman with yeast infection has unprotected sex, her partner can contract the infection. Since alot of men do not even know they are infected as they do not show any visible symptoms right away. The woman can treat her infection only to contract it again from her partner. Thus the recurring yeast infection can go on until the male notices symptoms.

We cannot prevent death, that’s a fact, but at least we can try. There are ways we can increase our lifespan.

What can you do?

1. Stop smoking. It has been pointed out in many health articles and in government campaigns that “Smoking is dangerous to one’s health.” In a study conducted by the Journal of the American Medical Association (JAMA), smoking is the major factor that could contribute to reduced lifespan. In my previous health article, I emphasized the hazardous effects of smoking on one’s health which can lead to reduced lifespan.

Acne vulgaris, commonly known as “pimples”, is an inflammatory disease of the sebaceous follicles. It is a common problem among adolescents, but it could occur in adults, too. Adult acne tend to be low-grade and chronic. Aside from its physical effects, it can also bring emotional and psychological effects to a patient.

Acne is preventable, although some patients appear more predisposed to the disease, especially those with hereditary influences and taking some medications that can cause acne. Because it is a common problem, many tend to take it for granted until it worsens. Although, there are numerous acne medications available in the pharmacy, not many of them may prove useful for curing your acne. We have to bear in mind that prevention is always better than cure.

Here are some simple ways to prevent acne:

1. Wash your face regularly but avoid washing too much as it may create more damage to your skin. Washing can help remove excess oils and dead skin cells. Washing twice daily gently is all that is required.