Thursday, January 17, 2008 

Common Drugs and Their Uses

The five drugs that are discussed in this article are Ibuprofen which is a non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug (NSAID) that is commonly used for relief of Arthritis, Warfarin which is an anticoagulant drug commonly prescribed by doctors to treat venous thrombosis, pulmonary embolism, to treat or prevent dangerous blood clotting in people with arterial fibrillation and to prevent strokes, a benzodiazepine drug called Diazepam which is commonly prescribed by doctors for relieve nervousness, anxiety, and anxiety disorders, a sulfonylureas drug called Glipizide which is used to help control blood sugar levels and used to treat type 2 diabetes and a thyroid medication called Armour thyroid which is prescribed for the treatment of hypothyroidism.

Arthritis is a common illness in todays society; doctors prescribe drugs called non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) for this condition. A common NSAID is Ibuprofen which reduces inflammation, pain and high temperature and is used widely to relieve the symptoms of arthritis. Ibuprofen is available in prescription and nonprescription. As well as rheumatoid arthritis, Ibuprofen is used to treat mild to moderate pain, primary dysmenorrhoea, osteoarthritis, menstrual cramps, bursitis, gout, migraine headaches and fever.

NSAIDs such as Ibuprofen can cause gastrointestinal (GI) irritation, bleeding, iron loss and kidney dysfunction and increased blood potassium levels, especially in older people. Ibuprofen may cause drowsiness, dizziness, or blurred vision especially when taken with alcohol.

Ibuprofen has adverse results when taken with lithium, sodium and white willow.

Lithium a mineral which is commonly prescribe to treat manic depression, many NSAIDs stop the excretion of lithium from the body which results in higher blood lithium levels which in tern can create unwanted side effects and interferes with efficacy. NSAIDs should be taken with caution for those people who are taking lithium whether in supplement form or for mood disorders. It is wise to reduce salt intake when taking Ibuprofen because Ibuprofen may cause sodium and water retention.

people who are taking the herb white willow should be aware that links have been made that white willow reduces the blood level of NSAIDs.

Warfarin is an anticoagulant drug commonly used to treat venous thrombosis, pulmonary embolism, treat or prevent dangerous blood clotting in people with arterial fibrillation and to prevent stroke.

Coenzyme Q10, green tea, Iron, Magnesium, St. Johns wort, vitamin C and Zinc should be avoid when taking Warfarin as they can reduced drug absorption/ bioavailability. Also American ginseng, Asian ginseng, Cranberry, Dan shen, Devils claw, Dong quai, Fenugreek, Garlic, Ginger, Ginkgo biloba, Horse chestnut, Lycium barbarum, Papain, Quilinggao, Quinine, Red clover, Reishi, Sweet clover, Sweet woodruff, vitamin D and vitamin K should be avoided as they can cause dangerous or undesirable results.

The long term of heavy drinking of alcohol can affect the efficiency of warfarin and also certain foods such as broccoli, Brussels sprouts, kale, parsley, spinach, which contain high amounts of vitamin K, can interfere with the effectiveness and safety of warfarin.

Known side effects of warfarin are difficulty breathing, closing of the throat, swelling of the lips, tongue, face, hives, black, bloody, or tarry stools, blood in urine or vomit, coughing up blood, bleeding gums or sores in the mouth, decreased urine production, yellowing of the skin or eyes, severe dizziness or headache, easy bleeding or bruising under the skin, purple discoloration of the toes or fingers, sudden leg or foot pain, unusually heavy menstrual periods, excessive gas or bloating, diarrhoea, nausea, or vomiting, hair loss and decreased appetite or weight.

Diazepam is commonly used to relieve nervousness, anxiety, and anxiety disorders. It is in a class of drugs called benzodiazepines which effect chemicals in the brain. people can become physically and psychologically dependent on diazepam, it is habit forming and withdrawal effects can occur when stopped. Diazepam can cause dizziness and drowsiness, alcohol can make these symptoms worst.

Diazepam can harm unborn babies and can be passed into breast milk. Known side effects of Diazepam are an allergic reaction, sores in the mouth or throat, yellowing of the skin or eye, a rash, hallucinations or severe confusion, changes in vision, drowsiness, dizziness, clumsiness, depression, nausea, vomiting, diarrhoea, constipation, difficulty urinating, vivid dreams, headache, dry mouth, decreased sex drive and changes in behaviour.

Glipizide is a sulfonylurea drug which is used to help control blood sugar levels and used to treat type 2 diabetes. Known side effects of glipizide are severe headaches in children, skin rash or hives, signs and symptoms of overdose, chest pain, confusion, fast or irregular heartbeat, mood swings, muscle weakness, psychosis, extreme restlessness, yellow eyes or skin, shortness of breath, changes in appetite, changes in menstrual periods, diarrhoea, fever, hand tremors, headache, increased sensitivity to heat, irritability, leg cramps, nervousness, sweating, trouble in sleeping, vomiting and weight loss.

Adverse reaction can take place when Glipizide is taken together with fenugreek and Ginkgo biloba. Fenugreek has been proved in studies to reduce blood glucose levels in people with type 2 diabetes and ginkgo biloba worsened glucose tolerance in people who took oral anti-diabetes medication.

thyroid medication are used for the treatment of hypothyroidism and are either synthetic or animal-derived hormones, Armour Thyroid is a common example of thyroid medication. Calcium and Soya may reduce drug absorption and bioavailability within the body, bugleweed and lemon balm cause adverse reaction when taken with thyroid medication.

thyroid medication has been known to increase loss of calcium from the body through urine and calcium has been known to reduce the effectiveness of certain thyroid medication. Soya being taken at the same time as thyroid medication has been known to reduce it abilities.

Bugleweed and lemon balm should not be used with thyroid medication as it is known that they interfere with the action of thyroid hormones.

In conclusion, it is important for a Nutritional Therapist to ask patients what medication has been prescribed for them and to research these medications so that they know what side effects are caused by these and what supplement and food types can be used without causing further negative effects.

Stewart Hare C.H.Ed Dip NutTh

Download 'Harmful Foods - What Not To Eat' E-book FREE NOW

Website: http://www.newbeingnutrition.com

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Do You Live in a Flood Zone - 12% of Americans Do!

Over 12% of the united States population lives within a flood zone and even more people live close to the ocean, which means they are also potentially in danger of being flooded out by excessively high tides high, tsunamis or hurricanes storm surges. We have all heard of the famous fifth-year flood or the hundred year flood study if we look at Environmental Impact reports and building codes or master plans for most municipalities and counties.

These are quite real no matter how much they are downplayed or how often they are mitigated by giant cement ditches or runoff canals. The fact is 12% of Americans still live in a flood zone and that means is not a matter of if, but when. Lately we have been seeing quite a bit of flooding in the united States due to extreme weather.

Indeed, more people die from floods, then any other natural disaster and just because we live in a modern civilization such as the united States does not mean we are immune to these challenges or problems. Of course if you live in a flood zone it might be wise to have flood insurance although this might not be enough and even if you collect on insurance you still generally lose everything.

It would be wise before buying a home or moving into an area that you check to see if the region has historically had large floods within the last 200 years. And don't kid yourself even if a big flood only comes every 200 years that means in any 20 year that you have a one in 10 chance of being flooded out. It makes sense to play it safe and smart and not take anyone else's word for it. If you do not believe what I'm saying, turn on the news.

L. Winslow is a Disaster Assistance Advisor to the online Think Tank, a Futurist and retired entreprenuer. Currently he is planning a bicycle ride across the US to raise money for charity and is sponsored by http://www.Calling-Plans.com and all the proceeds will go to various charities who sign up.

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Metabolism and Weight Loss - How to Burn Calories

According to science, weight of a person is mainly determined according to a ratio between numbers of calories consumed against number of calories burnt. However, weight of a person is never dependent on the metabolic rate of the person. Hence, it is wrong to believe that slim person have a higher rate of metabolism and overweight people have a lower rate of metabolism.

Metabolism can be described as a biochemical process where food is converted into energy. The calories consumed in the form of proteins, carbohydrates and fats are oxidized to release the energy required for the proper functioning of the body. The total energy expenditure of an individual can be explained as the number of calories burnt on one single day. Two-thirds of the total energy released is primarily utilized for basic needs such as breathing, blood circulation, brain functioning, maintaining hormone levels, cell growth and repair. However, another 10 percent of the energy is required for processes such as digestion, absorption, transportation and excretion of foods. Remaining part of the energy is spent for doing physical activities.

Explanation for being over weight could be energy imbalance, where the calorie intake exceeds the calories that body burns. A weight-loss program primarily involves restoring this energy balance through reduction in the calorie intake. Another way to restore the balance is to burn more calories.

Calories can be burnt in excess by increasing daily exercises and activities that aid in muscle building. Some of these exercises include regular walking for 30 minutes, aerobic exercises and weight training exercises. Slight changes in the lifestyle can also help significantly in burning more calories. These changes could be increased usage of staircase while avoiding elevators, gardening, washing car and participating in routine household activities.

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