Itsanutha

Archive for July, 2011

It is important to take your dog to see a vet the second you notice it is having seizures. There is a very good chance that if your dog suffers from seizures, the vet will diagnose the issue as being epilepsy. This article will explain some methods you can use to help treat this problem. First, you must realize that epilepsy is not the only reason for dog seizures. There could be something else to blame such as a brain tumor or some kind of injury caused to your dog’s head; it could even be down to your dog coming into contact with harmful toxins. If these are the reasons for your dog’s epilepsy then the following treatments will not help in the slightest.

Do not try these options before you have actually had your dog diagnosed as epileptic by a vet; do not just assume that epilepsy is the cause. If your dog only suffers from seizures occasionally and not as frequently as once a month, then it is advised that you do not treat it. Treatment of seizures will not completely cure the problem, it will simply lessen the amount of times your dog has seizures, so bear that in mind when you are treating your dog and the seizures continue; don’t get disheartened.

In most cases, your dog will be prescribed some Anti-Epileptic Drugs; these will likely be in the form of Phenobarbitol and Potassium Bromide. These drugs will either be given alone or sometimes together if one does not have as large an impact on seizures as desired. If your dog suffers from seizures that last longer than 5 minutes, or seizures that are quickly followed by more seizures, then you may be prescribed Diazepam. Recent studies indicate that Neurontin can also be useful for helping your dog cope with epilepsy; it is also known as Gabapentin. With Anti-Epileptic drugs, liver enzymes can increase, causing issues for you dog. So you will need to have regular tests done in order to determine that your dog’s liver is not being damaged.

There are alternative treatments you can try, such as acupuncture and gold bead implants. This is where gold beads are placed inside the acupuncture areas. Acupuncture is worth a try, but the use of gold bead implants is something better avoided unless as a last resort.

When trying to help your dog through epilepsy, you need to closely watch its diet. You can also try homeopathy and vitamin treatments. Diet can have a big impact on epilepsy, as most dog foods are crammed full of chemicals, additives, preservatives, and flavoring. It is widely known that dogs can suffer from seizures due to preservatives; for this reason you should try to remove them from your dog’s diet completely. In my case, the change of my dog’s diet from manufactured dog food to fresh, raw food with green vegetables did more good than the use of Anti-Epileptic Drugs. You should certainly seek the advice of a holistic vet in order to help your dog have the best possible diet and homeopathic treatments. If your water supply has fluoride added, you should invest in a filter for your dog’s water.

It is also a good idea to get some Rescue Remedy, and even some ice cream. You can pick up ‘Rescue Remedy’ in most health stores. You should add 4 drops of this to your dog’s mouth when a seizure starts; it can help lessen the seizure dramatically. Another great idea is to give your dog some preservative-free vanilla ice cream once the seizure has ended. Dogs are small, and a seizure can be hard on their body. So giving them some ice cream afterward helps bring their blood sugar levels back up. It is also nice to get your dog’s mind off the terrifying event that has just occurred after going through a seizure; my dog would actually happily go to his bowl waiting for some ice cream after each one.

Strep rash also known as scarlatina or scarlet fever is one of the more common types of skin rashes. And it usually occurs during a bout of strep throat.

Looking at pictures of skin rashes, you’ll see that many look similar which is why getting a diagnosis is difficult. That is why its best to see your physician to get a skin rash diagnosis.

According to the American Dermatology Association a strep rash usually appears about 12 and 48 hours after strep throat manifests. Some symptoms of strep throat include a headache, sore throat, high fever, swollen glands and infected tonsils.

A strep rash looks like a bad sunburn with little red bumps. These bumps can start on the chest and then develop into a groin rash, underarm rash, and into a rash on the legs. It can also develop into a sweaty rash and be very itchy.

When the skin is pressed, the area of the rash turns white which is why some people may mistake it for sunburn. A strep rash may last about 7-10 days, but the skin itching and peeling may persist for weeks.

Strep rashes are most common in children and young teens 5-15 years of age. Antibiotics are the most common course of treatment and may clear the strep throat and rash, but the itching might still persist.

Note that strep rash can also develop when someone gets a strep skin infection. If this is the case, its necessary to get immediate professional care.

While a strep rash is not contagious, the strep infection is very contagious. You can protect yourself against this by keeping your hands clean, especially during flu season. Also, avoid contact with others until you have been taking antibiotics for a least a full day. You can also arm yourself with an herbal tonic that helps boost your immune system and keeps the skin healthy.

The conventional wisdom (?) of cancer researchers is that there is absolutely no connection between eating (or not eating) certain foods and taking (or not taking) dietary supplements. As a matter of fact, Dr. Daniel W. Nixon, the president of the Institute for Cancer Prevention in New York, said, “Vitamins and minerals are probably more or less worthless as far as cancer prevention is concerned.” Horse feathers!

There is not nearly enough information available about the cause of OR the prevention of cancer for anybody to make that kind of sweeping (and dismissive) statement.

Most cancer researchers will tell you that cancer has everything to do with vitamins, minerals, foods, and nutrition, and they’ll tell you that many of the cancers we see today are caused by cancer-causing food ingredients like sodium nitrate, hydrogenated oils, MSG, artificial food colors, and all kinds of chemical preservatives.

So the question is, if there are cancer-causing ingredients in the foods that we eat, might there not also be cancer risk-reducing substances as well? The answer is a qualified “yes.” The fact is that you can increase the intake of foods, vitamins, minerals, and herbs that are known to reduce the risk of cancer, but if you don’t eliminate or at least greatly reduce the intake of cancer-causing food additives and preservatives, there will be no benefit gained.

Some foods that reduce the risk of cancer and even help to cure cancer include garlic, onions, broccoli, cabbage, berries, cauliflower, any of the sprouts, green food concentrates like wheat grass, barley grass, and others, cereal grasses, super foods like chlorella and spirulina, unsaturated oils, and many medicinal herbs. These foods and supplements all fight and even prevent cancer by supporting a healthy functioning of our immune systems.

CANCER IN MALE BREAST

breast cancer in male cases contributed to 2.77 % of all cancer cases in the country according to the ‘Consolidated Report of Population Based Cancer Registries’ by Indian Council of Medical Research.

Like women breast cancer,male breast cancer is the uncontrolled growth of the cells of this breast tissue. Anyone who has breast tissue is at a risk for developing cancer in male breast.

It happens most often to men between the ages of 60 and 70, although the condition can develop in men of any age. Breast cancer is 100 times more common in women than in men.

Causes and Risk factors include:

Causes of cancer of the male breast have not been fully characterized, but both environmental influences and inherited factors play a role in its development.
Breast cancer in men usually causes a lump or mass in the left breast.

Risk factors include:

-Exposure to ionizing radiation has been associated with an increased risk.

-High levels of estrogens.

- this occur often between the ages of 60 and 70.

Signs & symptoms:

Like most diseases,cancer in male breast has some symptoms and signs that are more common than others:

-You can see that a breast lump and changes in the nipple.

-Nipple retraction.

-Serosanguinous or bloody nipple discharge is unusual.

-Ulceration of the nipple or skin.

-Fixation to skin or underlying muscle.

-Tumor tenderness and palpable axillary nodes.

-Sores on the nipple and areola (the small ring of color around the center of the nipple)

Treatment with herbal food supplements

Herbal ayurveda organic food supplements made from organically grown herbs only are very useful in curing male breast cancer and all malignant cancer.

Home remedies

• Eat raw garlic cloves or in powder form as it make good anti-cancer agent.

• Vegetables like broccoli, Brussels sprouts, cabbage, turnip, kale, and cauliflower have cancer fighting nutrients.

• Grapes are efficient treatment.

• High fiber food such as whole grains, fruits, vegetables which are rich in Cartenoids, helps to decrease the level of estrogen.

• Use Wheat-grass in a raw form or juice because studies have shown that there is a lessening in the cancer cells.

• Drink herbal Green tea, it has anti-inflammatory properties, it reduce the chances of cancer in male and female’s breast.

• Cancer patients must add Soybean in his diets because it contains substance that block the cancerous cells.

Recommendation

o Cut down on hot dogs, beef, lamb and pork as they contain high amount of saturated fats.

o Quit smoking and alcohol.

o Reduce intake of the oil in diet.

o Mono saturated oil like olive oil should be used in cooking purposes.

o Fat rich diet should be avoided.

o Refined soy product such as soy milk should be avoided.

Cystic fibrosis (CF) is a common hereditary disease (genetic based disease) that affects the mucus producing tissues of the body. Many systems of the body rely on fully functioning mucus glands and when they do not work well, many medical complications can arise.

Cystic fibrosis symptoms are caused by heavy, thick, mucus. They include frequent coughing that brings up thick discolored mucus and frequent bouts of chest congestion that often leads to pneumonia. The skin may taste salty and sufferers are easily dehydrated.

The stools of a CF patient are thick, greasy, and smell foul. The patient may be eating well and have a good appetite, but fails to gain weight and thrive. Stomach pain, bloating and excessive gas is caused by too much gas in the intestines and is painful.

There are other medical problems caused by cystic fibrosis. Infertility in men is often caused by this disease. Sinusitis is caused when the space behind the eyes, nose, and forehead are being blocked by thick mucus. Nasal tissues under these condition become infected and cause sinusitis when the lining of the sinuses becomes blocked. This is very common in patients with CF. Nasal polyps may also develop in the sinuses and require surgery to remove.

Cystic fibrosis affects the lungs and bronchial tubes. The bronchial tubes are the large airways in your lungs. Bronchiectasis is a lung disease that causes these airways to become stretched and flabby. They produce pockets where mucus collects. These pockets are a breeding ground for bacteria and infection causes more damage to the bronchial tubes. This can lead to further bronchial infections and serious illness including respiratory failure.

If your lungs are not moving enough oxygen through the body, “clubbing” can be a result. Clubbing is the widening and thickening of the toes and fingers. Clubbing is a definitive sign of CF, if the condition has not already been diagnosed.

Other serious illnesses and complications include liver disease, diabetes, gallstones, collapsed lungs, and rectal prolapse. Extensive coughing and the body having problems passing stools cause rectal prolapse. This pushes the rectal tissue outside of the body.

Another serious illness that may occur because of this genetic disease is low bone density. The body does not get enough Vitamin D and this can cause rickets. Your doctor may recommend Vitamin D supplements to prevent low bone density.

Since there is currently no cure for cystic fibrosis, medical treatment is focused on treating the various symptoms and medical problems that spring up from having CF.

Arthritis medicines for dogs had never been so useful and functional until today. With the alarming population growth of dogs with arthritis, experts know that it is important to administer reliable medicines for dogs to control or prevent arthritis.

Like humans, dogs have a remarkable array of cartilage, bones, and ligaments that make up the canine skeletal system. Just like the typical bone structures in humans, dogs’ bones are also connected by joints. These joints provide flexibility for jumping, running, moving the neck and head, climbing, and trotting.

Joint Damage

For proper lubrication and to ensure that bones maintain flexibility, a thin membrane known as synovium provides synovial fluid. However, due to the joints’ wear and tear and intermittent cases of diseases or injuries, joints can be damaged and may cause inflammation or arthritis.

The most common cause of dog arthritis is old age. Due to the wear and tear of the joints or cartilages, a protective layer that guarantees bone flexibility, joint inflammation or arthritis develops. And dogs cannot simply escape this condition. And even if there cannot be marvelous medications to treat dog arthritis, much can be done to help dogs bear the pains arthritis can bring.

At some point, surgery can be administered to dogs with severe cases of arthritis. However, most dogs experience manageable arthritis and are simply given medications to control pain. Along with the right diet and consistent exercise, dogs can effectively manage the bouts of arthritis attack.

Pain Relievers

One of the most distracting effects of arthritis in dogs is pain. Unlike humans, who have higher tolerance for pain, dogs may find it hard coping with the soreness and throbbing that arthritis can bring.

Hence, it is important that dogs be given pain relievers. Health experts say that pain relievers used by humans can also be used in dogs. Although dogs are prone to side effects, controlling pain can still be provide significant relief.

For so many years, aspirin has been the most common pain reliever for humans. With this, experts say it can also be used in dogs. However, dog owners should take note that aspirin can also cause stomach irritation in dogs especially if the medication has been taken with an empty stomach. Hence, it is advisable that aspirin must be taken during meals.

Also, keep in mind that dogs should not be given more than two tablets of aspirin in a week. Try to consider your dog’s weight as well for proper dosage. For example, a 30 to 40 pound dog should take half tablet twice a day.

Fewer Side Effects

On the other hand, some medicines are said to be more effective and have fewer side effects. One good example is Rimadyl, generic name for Carprofen. This medication aids in controlling pain. However, just like any drug, long-term use may cause adverse effects such as liver damage. Hence, veterinarians suggest that dogs are subject to regular blood tests just to assess the normal functioning of the liver.

Some medicines are also effective in stimulating the creation of joint fluid known as synovial fluid. They can also impede the accumulation of harmful enzymes that trigger swelling or soreness in the joints. These medications attach to torn or broken cartilage to increase metabolism, thus, speeding up the progress of repair.

One good example is Adequan or polysulfated glycosaminoglycan. This is an injectable medication for dog arthritis. Since it is injectable, Adequan is said to be fast acting and effective when administered through intramuscular injection. Best of all, experts say that this specific type of arthritis medication for dogs can provide pain relief as long as six months.

Some medicines are designed to provide fast relief with minimal side effects and gastrointestinal problems. And with the natural behavior of dogs, some medicines provide ease in administering treatment.

Supplements

Supplements count as one of the most important medications for dogs with arthritis. These medicines do not just provide reliable pain relief but can also promote proper shaping of cartilage and joint.

Veterinarians suggest that these medicines should be administered in dogs that are still at the earliest stage of arthritis. In this way, further damage and inflammation in the joints can be prevented. Moreover, these medicines try to preserve the remaining joints to facilitate growth and repair and maintain the normal functioning of the skeletal system.

To date, there are still no medications that can effectively eliminate dog arthritis. But with the help of arthritis medicines for dogs, such as pain relievers and supplements, dog arthritis can be bearable. To be on the safe side, make sure to discuss all treatments with your veterinarian.