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	<title>eHealthopedia.com - Because Your Health Deserves The Right Answers &#187; Health Care</title>
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		<title>Is There Any Harm In Wearing Contact Lenses?</title>
		<link>http://www.ehealthopedia.com/is-there-any-harm-in-wearing-contact-lenses.html</link>
		<comments>http://www.ehealthopedia.com/is-there-any-harm-in-wearing-contact-lenses.html#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Thu, 05 Mar 2009 16:13:22 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>contactlense</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[Diseases and Conditions]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[General Health]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Health Care]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Health Sciences]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Procedures and Therapies]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Wellness]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[contact lense]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[contacts]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[contacts lenses]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[eye contacts]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Health]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[vision]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://www.healthwikinews.com/?p=499</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[Have you ever wondered if what you know about contact lense is accurate? Consider the following paragraphs and compare what you know to the latest info on contact lense.
Current info about contact lense  is not always the easiest thing to locate. Fortunately, this report includes the latest contact lense info available.
Modern contacts are manufactured to [...]]]></description>
			<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p>Have you ever wondered if what you know about <strong>contact lense</strong> is accurate? Consider the following paragraphs and compare what you know to the latest info on contact lense.<span id="more-499"></span></p>
<p>Current info about contact lense  is not always the easiest thing to locate. Fortunately, this report includes the latest contact lense info available.</p>
<p>Modern contacts are manufactured to extremely high standards. Millions wear them daily and for years without health problems or even discomfort. Still, about 4% of all contact lens users experience some type of health issue at some point. Risks of wearing contact lenses, while very low, are not zero. Your odds can be improved by proper use, though.</p>
<p>One overall issue is the fact that any contact lens will restrict the amount of air that gets to the eye. That increases the odds of infection, even when lenses are well sterilized. With the popularity of 7 day or even 30-day continuous wear lenses, that problem (while small) is larger than it was in the past.</p>
<p>Apart from infection, discomfort and blurred vision can occur when a lens is worn for more than a few days. That irritation can occur to the eyeball itself, and also to the lens and surrounding tissues. One possible result is GPC (Giant Papillary Conjunctivitis).</p>
<p>GPC produces itching and redness on the surrounding tissue, the result of protein buildup on the surfaces of the lens. Swelling occurs on the interior surface of the eyelids and can produce a sticky discharge as well. When this occurs, you should discontinue use until your eye care professional declares the lenses are safe to wear again. Regular, careful lens care and proper use can reduce the odds of any re-occurrence.</p>
<p>Corneal abrasions, while uncommon, are also far from unknown among contact lens users. A small scratch on the clear tissue over the pupil can happen when small particles of grit get between the lens and the eye, usually as a result of poor cleaning or handling. But it can occur even to the most careful, as airborne or finger-borne material lands on the surface of the eyeball.</p>
<p>Knowledge can give you a real advantage. To make sure you&#8217;re fully informed about contact lense , keep reading.</p>
<p>Hopefully the information presented so far has been applicable. You might also want to consider the following:</p>
<p>Small pieces of eyelash, cotton threads, airborne plant material and much more can all wind up in the eye. In the absence of contacts these things are normally washed away by the tears and eyelid working together. Contacts can interfere with that process. In many instances, antibiotics are called for since infection is common under these circumstances.</p>
<p>Pollen and other material can also produce allergic reactions that are sometimes amplified by contact lenses. The eyes become red and irritated and excessive tearing can occur, leading to blurred vision and discomfort. Sometimes the reaction is the result of preservatives in the lens cleaning solution. It happens more often with soft contact lenses. Treatments include removing the lens for a time, changing solutions and using different storage methods.</p>
<p>The lenses themselves can cause problems if they change shape. While rare, previously well-fitting contact lenses can be affected by temperature and age, causing tears and oxygen to less efficiently make it to the eye. This so-called Tight Lens Condition can cause pain, redness and even swelling of the cornea. Correction consists of remeasuring the eye and fitting new contacts after the eyes have recovered.</p>
<p>The cornea itself can change shape, as can the whole eyeball. The change is subtle, but with contact lenses the tolerances are small. If corneal warpage (as it&#8217;s called) does happen the result can be discomfort and an increase in the odds of infection. The condition is more common with gas permeable and hard lenses, which are less flexible than soft contact lenses.</p>
<p>If this happens, healing can take weeks or months, during which time contact lenses can&#8217;t be worn. As the eye resumes its normal shape, vision can change. More than one glasses prescription may be required for optimal sight. In rare cases the astigmatism is permanent.</p>
<p>In all cases, following the manufacturer&#8217;s and your eye care professional&#8217;s guidance about cleaning, insertion and removal, contact lens care and wear are your best bet to avoiding problems.</p>
<p>Of course, it&#8217;s impossible to put everything about contact lense into just one article. But you can&#8217;t deny that you&#8217;ve just added to your understanding about contact lense, and that&#8217;s time well spent.</p>
<p>Sometimes it&#8217;s tough to sort out all the details related to this subject, but I&#8217;m positive you&#8217;ll have no trouble making sense of the information presented above.</p>
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		<item>
		<title>Contact Lenses &#8211; How The Eye Works</title>
		<link>http://www.ehealthopedia.com/contact-lenses-how-the-eye-works.html</link>
		<comments>http://www.ehealthopedia.com/contact-lenses-how-the-eye-works.html#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Wed, 04 Mar 2009 15:04:34 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>contactlense</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[Diseases and Conditions]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Exercise & Fitness]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[General Health]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Health Care]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[bausch lomb]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[ciba vision]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[contact lense]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[contact lenses]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Health]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[vision]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://www.healthwikinews.com/?p=498</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[When the parts and process of vision work correctly, you see sharp, colored entities out in the world. When things go wrong, the need for a contact lense or glasses arises.
The human visual system is both simple and complex. Complex, because there are so many parts that have to work together to make sight possible. [...]]]></description>
			<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p>When the parts and process of vision work correctly, you see sharp, colored entities out in the world. When things go wrong, the need for a <strong>contact lense</strong><a href="http://mycontactlense.com/"> </a>or glasses arises.<span id="more-498"></span></p>
<p>The human visual system is both simple and complex. Complex, because there are so many parts that have to work together to make sight possible. Simple, because those parts and the process can really be explained without in-depth knowledge of anatomy and biology.</p>
<p>An ordinary glass lens, such as a magnifying glass, focuses the light that moves through it by bending the rays toward a focal point. That&#8217;s the bright spot you see when you hold one over a newspaper, for example. Something similar happens when light enters the eye through an opening called the pupil, behind a clear protective portion called the cornea.</p>
<p>The pupil is surrounded by the iris, the colored portion of the eye. The pupil can narrow or widen to regulate the amount of light admitted, from as small as about 2mm to as much as approximately 8mm. The iris contains the muscles that change the diameter of the opening. Just behind the pupil is the lens, the part that focuses the light rays similar to the magnifying glass.</p>
<p>But there&#8217;s an important difference between a magnifying glass and the eye. The magnifying glass&#8217;s focal point is fixed. The eye, by contrast, contains muscles that help shape the lens and that shaping process performs a number of important tasks. Most importantly, it makes it possible for the focal point to change.</p>
<p>A camera lens is a good analogy. Because the camera lens contains multiple pieces of glass that can be moved by turning the barrel, objects at different distances can be brought into focus on the film. The muscles attached to the lens perform a similar function in order to focus light onto the retina, which is like the film.</p>
<p>Focused light rays strike the cells of the retina, the cones and rods. The names come from the shapes of the cells. The cones &#8211; 7 million cells in the central part of the retina, called the macula &#8211; are responsible for sharp, detailed vision and color vision. The approximately 100 million rods around them help us see in dim light and provide peripheral vision.</p>
<p>When those focused light rays hit the cells chemical reactions occur that stimulate the optic nerve attached to the back of the retina to produce electrical impulses. Those impulses are then transmitted to the visual cortex, the part of the brain that organizes them. Many parts of the brain cooperate to cause the mind to conclude: &#8216;Ah, a car.&#8217; But the visual cortex does the initial heavy lifting.</p>
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		<title>How to get health insurance and add years to your life</title>
		<link>http://www.ehealthopedia.com/why-get-health-insurance.html</link>
		<comments>http://www.ehealthopedia.com/why-get-health-insurance.html#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Tue, 23 Dec 2008 18:37:53 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>laurenc</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[General Health]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Health Care]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Health Insurance]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Wellness]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Add new tag]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[health problems]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[medical]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://www.healthwikinews.com/?p=406</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[Everyone should know why having health insurance is so important, and still  many Americans are left with out any health coverage at all.  For some people it  is the thought that, &#8220;it can not happen to me&#8221; and for others it is simply the  cost involved. If you are someone who goes [...]]]></description>
			<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p>Everyone should know why having health insurance is so important, and still  many Americans are left with out any health coverage at all.  For some people it  is the thought that, &#8220;it can not happen to me&#8221; and for others it is simply the  cost involved. If you are someone who goes through life thinking you are  invincible , that is a dangerous way to live. Accidents happen every second  around the world and most are out of your control.</p>
<p>The benefits of health insurance coverage will outweigh the costs for any of  your medical emergencies or unforeseeable illnesses.  Individuals who are  uninsured receive less medical care which can lead to even worse health  outcomes. The financial burden of health care for the uninsured is most times  too much for people to bare. It can lead to debt, the loss of a home, or job and  the stress can end relationships.</p>
<p>Not having health insurance also means forgoing annual exams and recommended  screenings that could detect major health issues early. Most problems that if  not taken care of could result in untreatable cancers, heart problems or even  death. Pregnant women who are uninsured run the risk of endangering their unborn  child by not having adequate prenatal care. Those with out coverage also have no  help paying for prescriptions,  some that can combat a wide range of illnesses  and chronic conditions.</p>
<p>Having insurance can improve the quality of life by taking the burden of  health care out of your hands. There are many types of affordable health  insurance plans for every budget.  Plans for individuals, families and different  types of coverage may make it a bit confusing when deciding which company to go  with. There is also a large and foreign <a rel="nofollow" href="http://www.insurance.ca.gov/0100-consumers/0070-health-issues/health-insurance-terms.cfm"> dictionary of insurance terms</a> that you should become familiar with.</p>
<p>Before you choose your health insurance provider take a look at their track  record. Take time to talk to a representative one on one about what the plan  will provide and what costs will be covered.  Make sure you look over each  policy carefully and find an agent that is more then happy to answer all of your  questions. There are many useful <a rel="nofollow" href="http://www.ahrq.gov/consumer/insuranceqa/"> health insurance guides</a> out there that can assist you in your search for a  provider. They can take you step by step answering the most frequent questions  and giving you a great base of knowledge for when you take the next step and  talk to an agent.</p>
<p>There is also a great way to find the best health insurance provider for you  and your family online. By using a free service to compare <a rel="nofollow" href="http://www.1sthealthinsurancequotes.com/"> health insurance quotes</a> you can easily narrow down your choices. After you  have a few providers to pick from call them up and see how their customer  service is. Once you find a company you are comfortable with speak to an agent  one on one so they can answer any other questions you may have. Once you are  insured you can then relax and enjoy life with out having to think about the  &#8220;what ifs&#8221;. Having health insurance can greatly improve the quality of life by  making the best care, tests,  and medication available to you.</p>
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		<title>Blood Pressure: A Silent Killer</title>
		<link>http://www.ehealthopedia.com/blood-pressure-a-silent-killer.html</link>
		<comments>http://www.ehealthopedia.com/blood-pressure-a-silent-killer.html#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Wed, 23 Jul 2008 07:14:53 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>peter</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[Diseases and Conditions]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Exercise & Fitness]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Health Care]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://www.healthwikinews.com/?p=228</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[Introduction
The blood in the arteries exerts pressure on its walls. This pressure is  known as blood pressure. There are two factors responsible for blood pressure:  pumping of blood through arteries ( by the heart) and the opposition of arteries to flow of blood through them.  Blood pressure is given in two numbers, [...]]]></description>
			<content:encoded><![CDATA[<h4>Introduction</h4>
<p>The blood in the arteries exerts pressure on its walls. This pressure is  known as blood pressure. There are two factors responsible for blood pressure:  pumping of blood through arteries ( by the heart) and the opposition of arteries to flow of blood through them.  Blood pressure is given in two numbers, separated by a slash. The first number(  the higher one) is called systolic and it represents the pressure while the  heart contracts to pump blood to the body. The second number( the lower one) is  called diastolic and it represents the pressure when the heart relaxes between  beats. Blood pressure of 118/76 is read as &#8216; 118 over 76&#8242; and means systolic =  118, diastolic = 76 . All the figures are for mmHg ( millimeters of mercury).<span id="more-228"></span></p>
<p>The optimal blood pressure for adults is that below 120 over 80 mmHg. A systolic  pressure between 120 to 139 mmHg or a diastolic pressure between 80 to 89 mmHg  is categorized as &#8221; prehypertension &#8221; and needs to be watched carefully. The blood pressure of 140  over 90 comes under the category of High blood pressure.</p>
<h4>Symptoms And Diagnosis</h4>
<p>Usually, high blood pressure has no symptoms. A person can have blood pressure  for years without knowing it. This fact has earned it the sobriquet &#8211; &#8217;silent  killer&#8217;. The medical term for high blood pressure is hypertension. Contrary to popular belief, hypertension  does not mean being tense, nervous or hyperactive. A person may be calm &amp;  relaxed and still have high blood pressure. A single elevated blood pressure  does not mean that the person has high blood pressure. Rather it&#8217;s a sign that  further observation is required. Your doctor can tell you how often your blood  pressure is to be checked. Generally blood pressure is checked at least once  every two years or more often. Even reading lower than optimal should be  reported to the doctor as it may have some medical cause.</p>
<h4>Cause</h4>
<p>Diseases like kidney disease can cause high blood pressure. However, in 90%  to 95% of cases , doctors are not able to find the cause for high blood  pressure.</p>
<h4>Prevention</h4>
<p>A healthy lifestyle will go a long way in preventing high blood pressure.  Healthy lifestyle includes maintaining a healthy weight, being physically  active, healthy eating habits, intake of fruits, vegetables and low fat dairy  foods, consuming less salt and sodium. Also, if you drink then it should be in  moderation.</p>
<h4>Treatment</h4>
<p>When a person is detected to be suffering from high blood pressure, the first  attempt to control it is through changes in diet and lifestyle. However, when  these attempts fail, doctor has to take recourse to medications. The medicines  available are diuretics, beta blockers, ACE inhibitors,&#8230;</p>
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		<title>Balance Diet: A Key To Healthy And Fit Body</title>
		<link>http://www.ehealthopedia.com/balance-diet-a-key-to-healthy-and-fit-body.html</link>
		<comments>http://www.ehealthopedia.com/balance-diet-a-key-to-healthy-and-fit-body.html#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Tue, 22 Jul 2008 06:26:10 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>admin</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[Diet & Weight Loss]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Exercise & Fitness]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[General Health]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Health Care]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://www.healthwikinews.com/?p=222</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[Every body wants to be healthy and fit. Many people believe that only regular exercise will keep them fit and healthy. Yes, it’s true but not completely, you should also need to have a healthy diet i.e. balance diet. Regular exercise and balance diet together keeps you healthy and fit.There are many myths and misconceptions [...]]]></description>
			<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p>Every body wants to be healthy and fit. Many people believe that only regular exercise will keep them fit and healthy. Yes, it’s true but not completely, you should also need to have a healthy diet i.e. balance diet. Regular exercise and balance diet together keeps you healthy and fit.<span id="more-222"></span>There are many myths and misconceptions regarding balance diet. Let us here clear them all.</p>
<p>A balanced diet consists of protein, carbohydrate, vitamins, fat, fibre and mineral salts. Not only this it should be in correct proportions. Sprout a very essential component for an effective balanced diet is Sprout<br />
The ideal food is the food which a yogi prefers. For a diet to become balanced, you must have fresh vegetables, salads, nuts and fruits in your daily menu plan.</p>
<p>If you have a problem knowing what a balanced diet is, then this will clear your doubts:<br />
A Balanced Diet consists of the following food groups.</p>
<h4>Proteins</h4>
<p>These helps in building your body properly. The sources from which you can get proteins are:<br />
Meat, fish, eggs, pulses, soybean ( contains unto 40% protein), oil seeds, nuts, defattened oilseed cakes, and milk.</p>
<h4>Carbohydrates</h4>
<p>These are energy boosters. Examples are &#8211; starch and glucose, pectin&#8217;s, gums, hemicelluloses, lignin&#8217;s, etc</p>
<h4>Vitamins</h4>
<p>This is a functional food.</p>
<p>Vitamin A:  You can get Vitamin A through ripe yellow fruits as mangoes, papaya. Vegetables as carrots and pumpkin also contain Vitamin A. Red palm oil. Also Curd, butter, ghee, meat, whole milk from cereals, eggs, milk, oilseeds etc. contain Vitamin A</p>
<p>Vitamin D: You can get Vitamin D from Ultra-violet rays of the sun. The cholesterol derivative in the skin is converted into Vitamin D by these u-v rays.<br />
Vitamin K &amp; Vitamin E, both are widely distributed in all foods.<br />
Vitamin E is present in high concentration in vegetable oils &amp; cereal grains<br />
Vitamin B (complex)<br />
Vitamin C : It is present in gooseberry, guava, grapes, lime, orange, etc. Sprouted green gram and Bengal gram is also rich with Vitamin C.</p>
<h4>Fats</h4>
<p>They are the concentrated energy sources.<br />
You can get fats through hydrogenated vegetable fats, butter, animal fats,  oils etc. Also Cereals, oilseeds, milk, meat, eggs contains fats.</p>
<h4>Minerals</h4>
<p>This is also included in functional food.</p>
<p>One can get minerals in the form of Calcium example milk (butter milk, cheese &amp; skim milk),  pulses, amaranth, fenugreek, green leafy vegetables, drumstick leaves,  pulses, nuts, oil seeds, cereals, millets.</p>
<p>You must have all these carbohydrate, protein, fat, vitamins, minerals salts and fiber in the correct proportions. If you do not consume enough protein, you body will not be able to grow properly and you will not be able to repair yourself i.e. your wounds will not heal properly.<br />
You must consume more energy food properly to keep your body fit and healthy.<br />
If you eat less you will feel tired and if you eat more you will become overweight. So you must consume a balance diet.</p>
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		<title>Alzheimer&#8217;s: The Disease Of The Elderly</title>
		<link>http://www.ehealthopedia.com/alzheimers-the-disease-of-the-elderly.html</link>
		<comments>http://www.ehealthopedia.com/alzheimers-the-disease-of-the-elderly.html#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Mon, 21 Jul 2008 07:19:09 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>alo</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[Aging]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Health Care]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Senior Health]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://www.healthwikinews.com/?p=220</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[Introduction
Alzheimer&#8217;s is associated primarily with memory lapses that occur with  advancement in age. In addition to memory lapses, persons may experience  physical or verbal outbursts, emotional distress, restlessness, hallucinations  or delusions. Some amount of memory loss, with advancement in age is normal and is not a sign of Alzheimer&#8217;s. In fact there [...]]]></description>
			<content:encoded><![CDATA[<h4>Introduction</h4>
<p>Alzheimer&#8217;s is associated primarily with memory lapses that occur with  advancement in age. In addition to memory lapses, persons may experience  physical or verbal outbursts, emotional distress, restlessness, hallucinations  or delusions. Some amount of memory loss, with advancement in age is normal and is not a sign of Alzheimer&#8217;s. In fact there is a very thin line of  separation with memory lapses that are &#8216;normal&#8217; and those that signal Alzheimer&#8217;s. So if you fear someone elderly in your family to be suffering from  Alzheimer&#8217;s, it is best to consult a doctor.<span id="more-220"></span></p>
<p>Alzheimer&#8217;s has acquired its name from the name of a German doctor with similar  name who first described it in 1906.</p>
<h4>Cause</h4>
<p>Like machinery, our body also undergoes wear and tear with time. It is common  for thinking to slow down and have occasional problems remembering certain  things. However, in some cases brain cells start &#8216;failing&#8217;. This manifests  itself in serious memory loss, confusion amongst other symptoms.</p>
<p>The brain is a network of 100 billion nerve cells( neurons). These nerve  cells communicate with each other. Nerve cells are assigned special jobs. Some may be involved in thinking, learning and remembering while others are  engaged in seeing, hearing , smelling. Brain cells operate like tiny factories.  They are involved in the work of taking in supplies, generating energy and throw  out waste material. Brain cells are also involved in the job of processing and storing information. For smooth functioning of the brain, it  needs coordination amongst cells and large amounts of fuel and oxygen.</p>
<p>In persons affected with Alzheimer&#8217;s, parts of the cell&#8217;s factory face problems  in running well. Experts are still not sure about the site where the problem  starts. Different parts of brain are interrelated. So problem in one part  interferes with normal functioning of other parts too. Finally, the cells die.</p>
<h4>Symptoms</h4>
<p>Alzheimer&#8217;s destroys brain cells. This leads to problems with memory,  thinking and behavior. These problems could be severe enough to affect work, lifelong hobbies or social life. With time, Alzheimer&#8217;s gets worse and is  fatal. Today about 5 million Americans are suffering from this disease. Alzheimer&#8217;s has emerged as the sixth leading cause of death in US. Alzheimer&#8217;s  is the most common form of dementia. Dementia is a general term for loss of memory and other intellectual abilities that interfere with daily life.</p>
<h4>Treatment</h4>
<p>Sadly, there is no &#8216;cure&#8217; as such for Alzheimer&#8217;s. Still there are drugs that  slow the advancement of Alzheimer&#8217;s and help in checking deterioration   of symptoms. Treatment  for Alzheimer&#8217;s is divided into two categories:  &#8220;cognitive&#8221; and &#8220;behavioral and psychiatric&#8221;. Former affect memory, judgment,  language, planning, concentration and other thought processes. Behavioral and  psychiatric symptoms affect the way the patient feels and acts.</p>
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		<title>Chickenpox: A Global Disease</title>
		<link>http://www.ehealthopedia.com/chickenpox-a-global-disease.html</link>
		<comments>http://www.ehealthopedia.com/chickenpox-a-global-disease.html#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Sat, 19 Jul 2008 06:01:16 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>alo</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[Diseases and Conditions]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Health Care]]></category>

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		<description><![CDATA[What is Chickenpox?
Chicken Pox is an ubiquitous and extremely contagious viral illness. The primary  illness, characterized by a generalized skin rash, is caused by the Varicella  Zoster virus. Recurrence of the infection results in a localized skin rash,  otherwise known as shingles or Herpes Zoster. Chicken Pox, often confused with  Small [...]]]></description>
			<content:encoded><![CDATA[<h4>What is Chickenpox?</h4>
<p>Chicken Pox is an ubiquitous and extremely contagious viral illness. The primary  illness, characterized by a generalized skin rash, is caused by the Varicella  Zoster virus. Recurrence of the infection results in a localized skin rash,  otherwise known as shingles or Herpes Zoster. Chicken Pox, often confused with  Small Pox in earlier times, occurs seasonally and in epidemics the world over.  Humans are the only known reservoir. The virus is spread by the respiratory  route and is a common infection in children.<span id="more-218"></span></p>
<h4>Symptoms</h4>
<p>The typical sign of chicken pox is an irritating, itchy rash that starts on the  trunk and slowly spreads over the face, including the scalp, mouth and ears, and  also the upper arms and legs. Scabs form over the lesions after four or five  days and may stay for one or two weeks after which they drop off. In addition,  children may also develop fever, chills, nausea and vomiting.</p>
<h4>Spread</h4>
<p><strong>Chickenpox spreads easily. It is most contagious the day before the rash  appears.</strong></p>
<ul>
<li>It spreads from person to person through direct contact with the virus. You can  get chickenpox if you touch a blister, or the liquid from a blister. You can  also get chickenpox if you touch the spit of a person who has chickenpox. The  virus enters the body by the nose or mouth and can make you sick also.</li>
<li>It can also spread through the air, if you are near someone with chickenpox who  is coughing or sneezing.</li>
<li>A pregnant woman with chickenpox can pass it on to her baby before birth.</li>
<li>Mothers with chickenpox can also give it to their newborn babies after birth.</li>
</ul>
<p>The only way to stop the spread of the virus from person to person is to prevent  infected people from sharing the same room or house, which isn&#8217;t practical.  Chickenpox cannot be spread through indirect contact. You may notice several  symptoms before the typical chickenpox rash appears. Known as prodromal, or  early symptoms, they include fever, a vague feeling of sickness, or decreased  appetite. Within a few days, a rash appears. The rash looks like small red  pimples or blisters. Chickenpox does not infect chickens (humans are the only  animal infected by the VZV virus), but it was felt that the red pimples  resembled chick peas, hence the name &#8220;chickenpox.&#8221;</p>
<h4>Treatment</h4>
<p>Parents can do several things at home to help relieve their child’s chickenpox  symptoms. Because scratching the blisters may cause them to become infected,  keep your child’s fingernails trimmed short. Calamine lotion and Aveeno®  (oatmeal) baths may help relieve some of the itching. Do not use aspirin or  aspirin-containing products to relieve your child&#8217;s fever. The use of aspirin in  children with chickenpox has been associated with development of Reye’s syndrome  (a severe disease affecting all organs, but most seriously affecting the liver  and brain, that may cause death). Use non-aspirin medications such as  acetaminophen (e.g., Tylenol®).</p>
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		<title>Leprosy: Relax! It Is No Longer Incurable!</title>
		<link>http://www.ehealthopedia.com/leprosy-relax-it-is-no-longer-incurable.html</link>
		<comments>http://www.ehealthopedia.com/leprosy-relax-it-is-no-longer-incurable.html#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Thu, 17 Jul 2008 08:05:19 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>alo</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[Diseases and Conditions]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[General Health]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Health Care]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://www.healthwikinews.com/?p=211</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[What It Is
Leprosy is a chronic infectious disease of humans caused by the bacteria  Mycobacterium leprae. Leprosy is also known as hansen&#8217;s disease.
Greek:  lepid = scales on a fish.
The disease can affect the skin, mucous membranes, and eyes and some of the  nerves that are located outside the central nervous system (peripheral nerves). [...]]]></description>
			<content:encoded><![CDATA[<h4>What It Is</h4>
<p>Leprosy is a chronic infectious disease of humans caused by the bacteria  Mycobacterium leprae. Leprosy is also known as hansen&#8217;s disease.<br />
Greek:  lepid = scales on a fish.<br />
The disease can affect the skin, mucous membranes, and eyes and some of the  nerves that are located outside the central nervous system (peripheral nerves).  These are primarily the nerves of the hands, feet, and eyes, and some of the  nerves in the skin. In severe, untreated cases, loss of sensation, muscle  paralysis of hands and feet, disfigurement, and blindness may occur.</p>
<h4>Types</h4>
<p>Leprosy has traditionally been classified into two major types, tuberculoid  and lepromatous. Patients with tuberculoid leprosy have limited disease and  relatively few bacteria in the skin and nerves, while lepromatous patients have  widespread disease and large numbers of bacteria. Tuberculoid leprosy is  characterized by a few flat or slightly raised skin lesions of various sizes  that are typically pale or slightly red, dry, hairless, and numb to touch  (anesthetic). Lepromatous leprosy is at the other end of the spectrum, with a  much more generalized disease, diffuse involvement of the skin, thickening of  many peripheral nerves, and at times involvement of other organs, such as eyes,  nose, testicles, and bone. There are also intermediate subtypes between these  two extremes that are commonly known as borderline leprosy. The intermediate  subtypes are borderline tuberculoid, midborderline, and borderline lepromatous  leprosy. Borderline leprosy and the subtypes are characterized by more extensive  disease than polar tuberculoid, with more numerous skin lesions and more nerve  involvement, but not as widespread disease as in lepromatous leprosy.  Indeterminate leprosy refers to a very early form of leprosy that consists of a  single skin lesion with slightly diminished sensation to touch. It will usually  progress to one of the major types of leprosy.</p>
<h4>Spread of Leprosy</h4>
<p>It is not clear how leprosy is spread. However, one way the disease is  likely passed from person to person is through droplets expelled from the nose  and mouth of an infected person and breathed in or touched by an uninfected  person. But even with the bacteria in the air, most people do not contract  leprosy. About half of the people with leprosy probably contracted it through  close, long-term contact with an infected person. Casual and short-term contact  do not seem to spread the disease. Leprosy cannot be contracted by simply  touching someone with the disease, as is commonly believed. Health care workers  often work for many years with people who have leprosy without contracting the  disease. Other potential sources of Mycobacterium  leprae are soil, armadillos, and possibly bedbugs and mosquitoes.<br />
About 95% of people who are exposed to Mycobacterium  leprae do not develop leprosy because their immune system fights off the  infection. In people who do develop the disease, the infection can range from  mild (tuberculoid leprosy) to severe (lepromatous leprosy). The tuberculoid form  of leprosy is not contagious.</p>
<h4>Treatment of Leprosy</h4>
<p><strong> </strong> For many years, it was considered a mysterious disorder associated  with some type of curse, and persons with the disease were isolated and  ostracized. Today, there is effective treatment and the disease can be cured.  There is no longer any justification for isolating persons with leprosy.  Antibiotic treatment can stop the progression of leprosy but does not reverse  any nerve damage or deformity. Thus, early detection and treatment are vitally  important. Because some leprosy bacteria may be resistant to certain  antibiotics, doctors prescribe more than one drug. The standard combination is  dapsone and <span class="MMdrugTerm"> <a class="MMterm" onmouseover="drugTerm(2,'d2069010e1629',1);" onmouseout="drugTerm('','d2069010e1629',2);"> rifampin</a></span></p>
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		<title>Tuberculosis-A Common And Deadly Infectious Disease</title>
		<link>http://www.ehealthopedia.com/tuberculosis-a-common-and-deadly-infectious-disease.html</link>
		<comments>http://www.ehealthopedia.com/tuberculosis-a-common-and-deadly-infectious-disease.html#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Thu, 17 Jul 2008 07:49:11 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>alo</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[Diseases and Conditions]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[General Health]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Health Care]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://www.healthwikinews.com/?p=209</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[What It Is
Tuberculosis (TB) is a contagious disease. Tuberculosis was earlier known as &#8216;consumption&#8217;. Its symptoms include chest pain, coughing  up blood and a productive, prolonged cough for more than three weeks. Its  systematic symptoms include fever, chills, night sweats, appetite loss, weight loss,  pallor, and often a tendency to fatigue very [...]]]></description>
			<content:encoded><![CDATA[<h4>What It Is</h4>
<p>Tuberculosis (TB) is a contagious disease. Tuberculosis was earlier known as &#8216;consumption&#8217;. Its symptoms include chest pain, coughing  up blood and a productive, prolonged cough for more than three weeks. Its  systematic symptoms include fever, chills, night sweats, appetite loss, weight loss,  pallor, and often a tendency to fatigue very easily. When the disease becomes active, 75% of the cases are  pulmonary TB. In the other 25% of active cases, the infection moves from the lungs, causing  other kinds of TB more common in  young children. The primary cause of TB,  Mycobacterium Tuberculosis, is an aerobic bacterium that divides every 16 to 20  hours, an extremely slow rate compared with other bacteria, which usually divide  in less than an hour.<span id="more-209"></span></p>
<h4>Transmission and Diagnosis</h4>
<p>When people suffering from active pulmonary TB cough, sneeze, speak, or  spit, they expel infectious aerosol droplets 0.5 to 5 mm  in diameter. A single sneeze, for instance, can release up to 40,000  droplets. Each one of these droplets may transmit the disease, since the  infectious dose of tuberculosis is very low and the inhalation of just a single  bacterium can cause a new infection.<br />
Tuberculosis can be a difficult disease to diagnose, mainly due to the  difficulty in culturing this slow-growing organism in the laboratory (4–12 weeks  for blood culture). A complete medical evaluation for TB must include a medical  history, a chest X-ray, and a physical examination. Tuberculosis radiology is used in the diagnosis of TB. It may also include a tuberculin skin test, a serological test, microbiological smears and cultures. The interpretation of  the tuberculin skin test depends upon the person&#8217;s risk factors for infection  and progression to TB disease, such as exposure to other cases of TB or  immunosuppression.</p>
<h4>Prevention</h4>
<p>TB prevention and control takes two parallel approaches. In the first, people  with TB and their contacts are identified and then treated. Identification of  infections often involves testing high-risk groups for TB. In the second  approach, children are  vaccinated to protect them from TB. Unfortunately, no vaccine is  available that provides reliable protection for adults. However, in tropical  areas where the levels of other species of mycobacteria are high, exposure to nontuberculous mycobacteria gives some protection against TB.</p>
<h4>Cure</h4>
<p>Treatment for TB uses antibiotics to kill the bacteria. The two antibiotics most commonly used are rifampicin  and isoniazid.  However, instead of the short course of antibiotics typically used to cure other  bacterial infections, TB requires much longer periods of treatment (around 6 to  12 months) to entirely eliminate mycobacteria from the body.</p>
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		<title>Jaundice: Not A Disease, But A Symptom</title>
		<link>http://www.ehealthopedia.com/jaundice-not-a-disease-but-a-symptom.html</link>
		<comments>http://www.ehealthopedia.com/jaundice-not-a-disease-but-a-symptom.html#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Thu, 17 Jul 2008 06:54:04 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>alo</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[Diseases and Conditions]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[General Health]]></category>
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		<category><![CDATA[Mental Health]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://www.healthwikinews.com/?p=206</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[What Is Jaundice?
Jaundice, a yellowing of the skin and whites of the eyes, is not a  disease itself but a symptom of an underlying disorder. The discoloration occurs  when excessive amounts of the body pigment bilirubin accumulate in the  bloodstream. Normally bilirubin &#8212; a natural byproduct of the  breakdown of red [...]]]></description>
			<content:encoded><![CDATA[<h4>What Is Jaundice?</h4>
<p><em>Jaundice</em>, a yellowing of the skin and whites of the eyes, is not a  disease itself but a symptom of an underlying disorder. The discoloration occurs  when excessive amounts of the body pigment bilirubin accumulate in the  bloodstream. <em>Normally <strong>bilirubin</strong></em> &#8212; a natural byproduct of the  breakdown of red blood cells in the liver &#8212; mixes with the digestive juice bile  and passes harmlessly out of the body through the digestive tract. But if the  liver is not functioning properly or the passage of bile is obstructed (perhaps  by gallstones), bilirubin backs up into the blood. Jaundice in newborns and very  young children, in most cases, is relatively benign. But in older children and  adults it can be a sign of a more serious ailment.<span id="more-206"></span></p>
<h4>Causes</h4>
<p>Jaundice indicates the malfunctioning of the liver or the gallbladder due to  some other underlying problem. The diseases that can cause jaundice in a person  are:-</p>
<ul>
<li>Hepatitis</li>
<li>Cirrhosis</li>
<li>Tumors in the liver or gallbladder</li>
<li>Gallstones</li>
</ul>
<p>Jaundice can also be caused due to proliferation of the liver due to  excessive drug intake, alcohol abuse or smoking. Sometimes, jaundice is a result  of wrong techniques adopted during blood transfusion. Etiologically speaking,  jaundice occurs when the bile cannot be ejected from the body of a person. In a  normal human body, the red blood corpuscles in the body continuously break down  after some time. When this happens, the heme of the hemoglobin undergoes two  important conversions. In the spleen, heme is converted to a greenish yellow  substance known as bilirubin and in the liver, heme is converted to hepatocytes.  Bilirubin goes to the liver where it is processed into bile. Bile is necessary  for digestion. The excess bilirubin is discarded with fecal matter. However, if  this bilirubin cannot be discarded, then it remains in the bloodstream causing  yellowness of the skin. This is the onset of jaundice.</p>
<h4>Prevention</h4>
<p>The most important step in  prevention of Hepatitis B infection is vaccination. Three doses of the vaccine  need to be given at intervals of one month each or alternately two doses may be  given at monthly intervals followed by the third dose at the sixth month. The  immunity lasts for five years and booster doses are required after that period.  It is important to avoid causes of liver disease such as alcohol abuse, drugs,  and toxins. Prompt treatment of underlying hepatic disorders or pathology is  essential to prevent or minimize permanent damage to the liver.</p>
<h4>Treatment</h4>
<p>In mild or moderate levels of jaundice, by 5 to 7 days of age the baby will  take care of the excess bilirubin on its own. If high levels of jaundice do not  clear up, phototherapy &#8211; treatment with a special light that helps rid the body  of the bilirubin by altering it or making it easier for your baby&#8217;s liver to get  rid of it &#8211; may be prescribed.<br />
More frequent feedings of breast milk or formula to help infants pass the  bilirubin in their stools may also be recommended. In rare cases, a blood  exchange may be required to give a baby fresh blood and remove the bilirubin.<br />
If your baby develops jaundice that lasts more than a week, your doctor may ask  you to temporarily stop breastfeeding. During this time, you can pump your  breasts so you can keep producing breast milk and you can start nursing again  once the condition has cleared.<br />
If the amount of bilirubin is high, your baby may be readmitted to the hospital  for treatment. Once the bilirubin level drops, however, it is unlikely it will  increase again.<br />
The cause of jaundice must be determined before treatment can be given.  Prescribed therapy is to be followed to treat the underlying cause. Treatment of  jaundice depends upon an individual case. In most cases, it is treated with  antibiotics, a mild case usually resolves on its own. The disease leaves a lot  of weakness in its wake and thus recuperation may take a long time. Generally,  the best way to treat jaundice is to correct the underlying cause; the exact  remedy depends on the nature and severity of the case.</p>
<ul>
<li>Drink 6-8 glasses of water a day</li>
<li>Eat lots of raw fruits and vegetables (especially green leafy vegetables)</li>
<li>Juice is good (make your own with a juice machine)</li>
<li>Do not drink coffee, alcohol, soda pop, other junk food drinks</li>
<li>Do not eat processed foods white sugar, white flour, etc.</li>
<li>Use stress relief like going for walks in the park</li>
<li>Brown rice and millet are good</li>
<li>Avoid red meat and animal fats</li>
<li>Reduce dairy products cheese, milk, and others</li>
<li>Fast a few days a month</li>
<li>A colon intestinal cleansing is helpful</li>
<li>Get sleep</li>
<li>Exercise light to moderate amounts eg. yoga and stretching are good</li>
<li>Do not smoke and avoid second hand smoke</li>
</ul>
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