Itsanutha

Archive for January, 2010

HIV and Its Progression

The Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) is the term used to describe a retrovirus that infects cells of the immune system, destroying or impairing their function. HIV is known to be a progressive disease that debilitates the immune system and eventually results in the diagnosis of Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome (AIDS). As HIV progresses to AIDS, it could cause the occurrence of at least 20 known related illnesses that result from the compromised health of the immune system.

Initial Stage Acute Retroviral Syndrome (ARS)

This is the period of rapid HIV replication in the body that occurs two to four weeks after contracting HIV. As HIV levels in the blood increase, it results in acute HIV infection which is characterized by a drop in CD4 cell counts. CD4, alternately called T-4 cells send signals to activate the disease combating immune response that wards off sickness. In a HIV infected person the CD4 count falls to under 200 making the sufferer vulnerable to a host of infections and cancers. Many individuals experience flu-like symptoms during this period of infection. These symptoms can include fever, inflamed lymph nodes, chills, sore throat, rash and muscular aches. These symptoms may last from a few days to 4 weeks and then go away. Those that experience these symptoms often liken their suffering to ‘the worst possible flu’ which is what medical experts call Acute Retroviral Syndrome (ARS). It is also called Primary HIV Infection.

Chronic HIV Infection

During this phase, unlike in the initial ARS stage, HIV reproduces at very low levels, although it is still active. The estimated sufferers of HIV who are unaware of being carriers of the deadly HIV virus are likely to be so in part due to the characteristics at this stage of the disease. A HIV-positive individual can have an undetectable viral load and a healthy CD4 cell count without the use of medication through earlier years of this phase.

Though this phase may last upto even 8 years, one may not have symptoms or opportunistic infections. Towards the middle and end of this stage, the onset of constitutional symptoms of the HIV virus affecting the entire body such as fatigue, weight loss, fevers, night sweats and muscular aches can be seen. Recurring outbreaks of cold sores, mouth sores, genital herpes and diarrhea can also be suspected symptoms of HIV.

In women, abnormal pap tests, persistent yeast infections and cervical cancer can also be symptoms of presence of HIV virus in the body.

Late Stage

An HIV-infected person may not develop the late stage commonly referred to as AIDS until 8 to 10 years after being infected. Normal CD4 counts in a healthy individual range between 500 and 1,600 cells per cubic millimeter of blood. As HIV progresses to AIDS, CD4 count falls to under 200 cells. As AIDS occurs, a collection of opportunistic infections that are usually severe, such as pneumonia, tuberculosis or cancers are seen.

HIV virus has no known cure. But with early treatment and strict adherence to medication regimen, many individuals continue to live active lives for several healthy years.

The diabetes cure with the use of the ingredient in red wine is an old story. People have believed the medicinal value of wine for a long time now. In fact The Pharmacopoeia of the United States of America that was published in 1882 has listings for 14 different wine preparations.

The list included preparations of wine from the white ones made of the unmodified grape juice from stems, skins and seeds to red wine made by fermenting the grape juice in their skins. The result is the purple red color in the red wine which is produced by anthocyanin found in the skin of the grapes.

Anthocyanin belongs to a group of four chemicals called falvonoids. Scientists have commented that the diabetes cure in the red wine also lessen oxidative stress that is caused by high blood sugar levels after eating a meal. Dr. Antonio Ceriello, M.D. and team wrote a letter to Diabetes Care about a research they conducted. What did they say?

They presented their findings. They revealed that the intake of two five-ounce glasses of red wine by the type 2 participants of their study lowered significantly the compounds that could result in vascular damage through oxidative stress. At this point it is good to remember that oxidation of the bad cholesterol can result in the build-up of fat in the arteries.

Still trying to determine the link of resveratrol to diabetes cure, Hui-Chen Su, Jan-Kan Chen and Li-Man Hung submitted to the American Journal of Physiology – Endocrinology and Metabolism an article detailing how resveratrol reduced the secretion of insulin and delayed the beginning of insulin resistance in mice.

Then the October 2007 issue of Cell Metabolism reported a new research that found even a low dose of resveratrol can make the sensitivity of mice to insulin better. Resveratrol is a chemical in red grapes and red wine. Since insulin resistance is a factor in the development of type 2 diabetes, this finding offers possible new ways to treat or prevent this condition.

The researchers also said that there were increased levels of SIRT1. This is an enzyme that was connected to DNA repair, longevity, and insulin secretion in previous researches. Known to make the SIRT1 active, resveratrol helped improve the insulin sensitivity of the mice. So now could a diabetes cure be far behind?

Qiwei Zhai from the Chinese Academy of Sciences, said that though the result shows red wine might improve insulin sensitivity, there is a need for other researches to confirm this. It is better to find sources of resveratrol in foods since there is complication in drinking alcohol.

Foods that could be enriched with resveratrol or foods with resveratrol supplements could be a better alternative. He noted further that resveratrol is an ingredient in plants like Polygonum cuspidatum which is used in traditional Japanese and Chinese medicine.

Even with a low dose of just 2.5 mg/kg/day, resveratrol improved sensitivity to insulin. Even when fed a diet a high in fat, the researchers said that the resistance to insulin was reduced . So you see resveratrol is showing promise as a diabetes cure.

Cold sores cause misery for millions of people by causing both physical discomfort as well as the mental anguish that goes with having an unsightly facial blemish that usually lasts from seven to ten days. The bad news is that there is no absolute cure for cold sores because the virus remains in your body once infected, but by modifying your lifestyle you can reduce the frequency of cold sore attacks as well as help them heal faster.

Phase 1: boosting the immune system

Phase one of treatment for cold sores is therefore to try and prevent them from arriving in the first place and to do this may require some lifestyle changes. While the virus is always in our bodies once we are infected, most of the time it lies dormant in the nerve cells because our immune systems are able to keep it at bay. However, when our immune system is weakened the virus can begin to replicate and move from the nerve cells to the surface of the skin, causing a fluid filled blister that bursts and becomes the cold sore. Our priority is therefore to keep our immune system in good shape, which can be achieved by the following:

1. Eat a healthy, well balanced diet

2. Take regular exercise, such as 30 minutes walking every day

3. Ensure you get adequate sleep and don’t get overtired

4. Avoid periods of prolonged stress

All of these contribute to keeping your immune system in good shape and will help reduce the number of cold sore attacks you have. However, there will still be times when the dreaded cold sores appear, despite following all this advice, at which point you need to move to phase two of the treatment of cold sores.

Phase 2: effective cold sore treatments

As previously discussed while it is not actually possible to completely cure cold sores, there are two main ways of how to treat cold sores: cold sore medication and natural remedies.

The medicinal route is by taking an anti-viral medication containing either penciclovir or acyclovir, which acts as a suppressant to the cold sore virus. If it is first applied when you feel the tingling sensation it can interfere with the virus’s ability to replicate and so the cold sore attack will not be as severe as if untreated.

In addition to the cold sore medications there are also a number of home remedies for cold sores, some of which date back to Roman times. Taking L-Lysine supplements can act to reduce the severity of attacks, while many people swear by applying ice to the infected area as soon as the tingling sensation appears. Other useful tips include covering the cold sore with a petroleum product such as Vaseline to both prevent secondary bacterial infection and also to lessen the chances of spreading the virus to other parts of your body or to someone else.

This article is not intended as a replacement for medical advice and so if your cold sore persists you should see your physician or a qualified pharmacist, particularly if you suffer from a weakened immune system through HIV infection or cancer.

Uterine cancer occurs in women aged 40 to 50 years and post-menopausal women, with fewer than 5% of child bearing women at risk of developing this cancer. A common approach against most tumors is its removal together with the organ it is attached to thereby necessitating a hysterectomy. Physicians determine if uterus removal is adequate or whether the tumor has extended to surrounding lymph nodes and ovaries.

There are standard surgical and chemotherapeutic procedures or other options and certain women may opt for a hysterectomy followed by alternative methods of treatment to replace radiation, chemotherapy, hormonal blocking which cause anemia, nausea, hair loss and generally feeling totally miserable. Some women decline surgical procedures while some may choose the hysterectomy and chemotherapy together with alternative treatments.

Certain medical centers approach cancer treatment with alternative procedures which could (or could not) incorporate regular Western type medical procedures. Cancer Treatment Centers of America, the Issels and Envista are some of the centers that view cancer treatment from the position that medical options must help the body in treating itself.

Alternative cancer treatments (including uterine cancer) start by focusing on the improvement of the immune system – the body has self healing abilities provided it gets the correct nutrition.

Diet intakes, low in whole, raw foods and high in animal fats and processed foods, don’t provide the minerals, vitamins and living enzymes required by the body for new cell creation. Chemically or artificially produced vitamins do not possess intricate enzymatic activities as found in natural food sources. Alternative treatment centers recommend, even insisting on diet changes for patients, to diets that support the fight against cancer. Changing eating habits may be problematic, however, it becomes easier once the patients perspective has changed.

Naturopathic physicians use non-toxic, natural alternative treatments and therapies which supports the person as a whole, not only focusing on one facet of the disease treatment (as in standard Western medical procedures) and seek to minimize harmful effects by applying the least force possible in boosting the immune system. Scientific and time tested therapies include botanical medicine, clinical nutrition, classical Chinese medicine, environmental medicine, hydrotherapy and minor surgery thereby resulting in a natural environment which promotes self healing in the body.

Another alternative treatment is immunotherapy in conjunction with a multidisciplinary approach and involves physical therapists, nutritionists, dieticians, naturopathic physicians and immunizations (to boost immune systems).

Although alternative therapies are more main stream nowadays, before choosing it to treat uterine cancer, check the track record and other references of applicable treatment facilities – avoid sole practitioners as best results are achieved when medical professionals combine their skills in a team effort.

Making the decision to end an unplanned pregnancy will not be an easy one. It is not a decision to be made lightly. Most people know about and are ready for the physical effects of abortion, but what about the psychological effects?

Abortion is one of the most common surgeries performed on women between the ages of 10 – 29 years of age in Canada; doctors perform over 100,000 annually. Those staggering statistics point to the fact that it’s not just teenagers with unplanned pregnancies having this life-altering surgery, but women of all ages. Impoverished women who can’t possibly, feed another child; women who didn’t ever plan on having children, women with mental health issues; women who have been abused; the list is endless.

Terminating an unexpected pregnancy is emotionally exhausting no matter what your physical or emotional state is at the time. What most women don’t realize is that after the abortion, the hard part is usually not over; the difficult times may lay ahead. Aside from the hormonal effects of the pregnancy and the termination, women who have abortions performed are much more likely to have a long list of emotional problems after the event. Abortions increase women’s susceptibility to common mental disorders and also can be the starting point for hospital visits due to psychiatric reasons. Women who have been sexually abused resulting in the pregnancy, coerced or forced into an abortion have even more chance of ending up in the hospital.

The list of common problems following an abortion is as follows: anxiety, depression, insomnia, sexual dysfunction, drug abuse, eating disorders, avoidance of babies, fear of pregnancy, post-traumatic stress disorder and suicidal tendencies. Post Abortion Syndrome (PAS) poses a serious threat to women’s psyches and can be worsened by a history of abuse, relationship difficulties and taking on such a huge emotional burden alone – without proper guidance and support.

Exposure to abortion is a traumatic event and needs to be treated as such. PAS is a treatable condition; with proper counseling before, during and after the process, most women can resume somewhat normal lives and come to terms with their motivation to abort their unplanned pregnancies and their feelings about the unborn baby. Not having a support network in place or a professional counselor in your time of need could be disastrous.

Women of all ages can be treated for PAS, at any time after the pregnancy is ended. PAS does not become apparent for most women for months (sometimes years) after abortions are performed; the birth of a “wanted” child is a usual time for these overwhelming feelings to become apparent. There are many local pregnancy and abortion counseling centres in cities across Canada and North America with trained Counselors who want to help women heal emotionally after abortions. It is critical to women’s well-being to seek these people out for help rather than repressing feelings and a state of mental turmoil that could lead to catastrophe in later life.

If you are faced with an unexpected pregnancy and considering an abortion, no matter what your life situation or history is, there are people willing to help deal with your emotions and ultimately help you on the road to a healthy, normal life.

The practice of abortion is by no means a new concept. There has been documented proof of abortion procedures going back for centuries. The history of abortion reaches as far back as the ancient Greeks and Romans who used very frightening and unscientific methods to expel the fetus from the body.

Throughout the centuries, many different herbs were also thought to terminate pregnancy; some were only myths, while others not only terminated pregnancy, but could even be lethal to the woman. Many of these herbs were dubbed “abortifacient herbs”. Even sharp objects or extreme pressure on the abdomen were used to terminate pregnancy.

Some common things such as egg, dill, marjoram, thyme, parsley, lavender, and juniper were thought to cause miscarriage. Some of the more lethal recipes, however, consisted of plants such as pennyroyal, Italian catnip, and soapwart. While generally speaking herbal remedies are no longer used today, some cultures still use herbal methods to end pregnancy.

Many of the tools used today in modern surgical procedures take their roots from centuries passed. The curette, a sharp tool used to clean the uterine walls, was developed in France in the 18th century for the purpose of abortion. The method of dilation and curettage has been used since the 19th century as were vacuum-type implements originally used only in Japan and China, until introduced to the United States and Britain.

The legalities surrounding abortions have also always been a dilemma faced by those who sought help.

Clergymen often had to give the stamp of approval for a woman to have an abortion for any reason, and it would often have to be determined if “quickening” had occurred, or if the baby had yet moved.

In the 18th and 19th centuries men began to speak out about abortion which led to the controversy that surrounds it today. Abortion was a taboo well into the 20th century when women used hangers and other sharp objects to cause trauma and miscarry.

While legally abortion is permitted after the findings of the Roe vs. Wade case in 1973, much heated controversy still surrounds the practice, enough so that some extremists are willing to kill to make their point by, in recent decades, bombing abortion clinics and doctors. While the battle still isn’t over for the right to abortion, society has made great strides in coming to terms with a women’s right to her body.