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Teen drug use is on the rise again with the recent introduction of club drugs and the rapid spread of methamphetamines. Teens are exposed to more and more opportunities to use drugs through the increase in availability as well as opportunity since many parents work, leaving their children home alone.

Parents Must Be aware of their children’s actions, so they can detect possible signs of drug use. While some warning signs are evidence of depression, many signs present in a child are more indicative ofdrug use rather than depression.

Parentingteens.com cites numerous warning signs at home and in a school environment. The signs include a sudden change in friends, a significant drop in academics, fatigue, loss of interest in family outings, physical and verbal abuse toward others (especially those they love), lying, unhappiness, change in general appearance, and behavior. There are many other signs of warning when a child is using drugs. Try to stay in tune with your teen in order to quickly pick up on any sudden changes. If your teen is spending a lot of time in their room, then take the initiative to spend time with them in their room, perhaps watching television. Encourage your teen to open up and talk to you.

Teen drug use will always be a universal problem. The way to keep it from becoming your problem is to talk to your child and let them know you have a no tolerance rule in place for drugs. Let them know drugs will never be welcomed in your home, and always remind them how much you love them.



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As mentioned in the name it is a chronic disease which affects the liver disabling it from its functions. Here the disease affects the normal cells in the liver which leads to scarring of the same. This condition leaves the liver with an abnormal and scarred liver tissue. The liver is the largest organ in our body with many functions. As the cells in the liver are injured or scarred an inflammation occurs which chokes the flow of blood through this organ.

The liver has the function of producing proteins and enzymes. It also helps in fighting infections, cleaning blood, helps in digesting food and a storage for energy which can be used any time. It is a life-threatening disease which has taken many lives and left them with high and dry with heft hospital bills. The damage is caused by the toxins, metabolic problems, chronic viral hepatitis or any other causes.

Some of the causes for having this disease is the excess consumption of alcohol or we can say abuse of alcohol, through chronic viral hepatitis (hepatitis B, C or D), autoimmune hepatitis which destructs the liver cells, drugs or toxins and infections, blockage of bile ducts which damages the liver tissue, through inheritance of diseases like hemochromatosis , Wilsons disease, protoporphyria, so one should get proper check up done to diagnose as there has been cases where without the thorough check up it wont be detected.

Some of the changes in your routine can make a lot of a difference to avoid such a deadly disease. Eat healthy, stay healthy, have a good health regime to ward off all the possibilities of such diseases. Avoid alcohol completely which mainly is the reason for being affected by such disease. Stay away from drugs and get a complete check up done on you to be on the safer side.



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As the first baby boomers turn 60 this year, they are beginning to confront the consequences of growing older. A new survey shows the majority of boomers are anxious about how Alzheimer’s disease (AD) will affect their health and quality of life. At the same time, many boomers said they are frustrated with the government’s and the U.S. Food and Drug Administration’s (FDA) efforts to address the looming AD crises.

“These survey findings underscore the fact that when baby boomers are asked to address the potential of Alzheimer’s in their future, they are clearly not ready emotionally, psychologically or financially,” said Daniel Perry, executive director of the Alliance for Aging Research and chair of the ACT-AD Coalition, which commissioned the survey.

About Alzheimer’s

Alzheimer’s disease, which is universally fatal, affects 4.5 million Americans and causes millions more to leave the workforce to care for loved ones who eventually need around-the-clock attention. As the disease progresses, people suffer severe cognitive deterioration, confusion, disorientation, personality and behavior change and eventually death. Estimates suggest that by 2010, Alzheimer’s disease will affect one in 10 people over age 65, or 5.6 million Americans-and the cost of care will increase 75 percent to about $160 billion annually in Medicare costs alone.

The ACT-AD (Accelerate Cure/Treatments for Alzheimer’s Disease) Coalition is launching a campaign to call attention to the urgency of the Alzheimer’s disease crisis and, at the same time, the lack of a well-defined approach in the U.S. for swift delivery and access to promising transformational therapies that could halt or reverse the disease.

“Alzheimer’s is a cruel disease that has been on the back burner of science for 100 years but no one is immune to it and the toll will be staggering unless baby boomers wake up to the threat and do something about it,” said Meryl Comer, Emmy Award-winning television journalist and full-time caregiver for her husband, who was diagnosed with AD at age 58. “When the onset of the disease is early for a loved one, it is like being a witness to your own future, and I am terrified for us all.”

Key Survey Findings

• Boomers said they place top priority on new drugs that could change the course of Alzheimer’s disease, feel that the FDA should give priority review to these drugs, expect the right to decide whether to use them and are willing to accept a degree of risk with promising drugs.

• Ninety to 95 percent of respondents said that they would either be unprepared or would find life “not worth living” if they were forced to face limitations common to AD by the time they were 70.

• Eighty percent of respondents said that their current savings would not be sufficient to cover the cost of care if they were diagnosed and 81 percent said the same thing about their families’ savings. Eighty-three percent said they are worried that the health care system is underprepared for the coming Alzheimer’s crisis.

• Only 8 percent of respondents feel that current AD treatments are adequate. Eighty percent are willing to take experimental treatments that have the potential for stopping the disease and preserving their quality of life, even if significant health risk were involved. Ninety percent of respondents felt that drugs that have the potential to preserve quality of life for AD patients should be given the same priority review and fast-track status that the FDA gives to drugs for other life-threatening diseases.

• When provided with an overview of the FDA’s current review policy for Alzheimer’s drugs, 84 percent said they feel that more should be done and over 75 percent feel that Alzheimer’s should be made a top priority.



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Medicare prescription drug coverage is now available to all people with Medicare. Everyone with Medicare can join a Medicare drug plan to get this coverage, regardless of your income or what drugs you take. You owe it to yourself to look into it, even if you have coverage now.

Medicare is here to help

Since Medicare prescription drug coverage is brand new, it’s natural to have questions like: Where can I get help choosing a plan? And, where can I get help joining a plan?

You can get answers from Medicare in several ways.

Where can I get help choosing a plan?

• Look for enrollment events in the area. Over the next few months, you’ll be able to get help with your drug plan choices at dozens of places throughout your community, like schools, senior centers, clubs, faith-based organizations, and your pharmacy. Or you can talk with friends and family or call your local office on aging for help. For the telephone number, visit www.eldercare.gov on the Web. The Eldercare Locator can help you find places to go to get personalized assistance.

• Use the Medicare Prescription Drug Plan Finder. Visit www.medicare.gov to get a personalized side-by-side comparison of up to three plans at a time based on cost, coverage and convenience. If you don’t use the Internet, call 1-800-MEDICARE (800-633-4227) to get the same information. TTY users should call 1-877-486-2048.

Where can I get help joining a plan?

• Visit Medicare’s Web site. You can join a drug plan at www.medicare.gov on the Web using Medicare’s online enrollment center.

• Call the plan. You can join over the phone by calling the plan’s toll-free number.

• Visit the plan’s Web site. Visit the drug plan company’s Web site. You may be able to join online (not all plans offer this option).



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Statins are a group of medications used to decrease cholesterol in the body. This reduction is shown to prevent heart attacks and strokes. Recent research, however, is shedding a new light on the potential benefits of these drugs.

In a study involving more than 50,000 patients, statins showed a benefit in patients with atherosclerotic disease, or hardening of the arteries. Not only do the medications lower cholesterol, they have favorable effects on the blood vessels, kidneys, and bone. Statins were shown to decrease blood clot formation and scientists are linking statins to a reduced risk for developing Alzheimers disease, prostate and colon cancer, bone fractures, macular degeneration, glaucoma, and osteoporosis.

Statins may also be useful for treating multiple sclerosis, rheumatoid arthritis, and certain kidney diseases. The issue at stake here is; the scientists are not exactly sure how they work to combat these diseases. What they do know for sure is statins have a proven track record in preventing strokes and heart attacks.

Researchers are speculating that cholesterol causes an increase of plaque buildup in the area of the brain damaged in Alzheimers disease. Six published studies show a decrease in dementia or Alzheimers disease in those patients using a statin. They summarize that the decrease in cholesterol reduces the damaging plaque buildup in the brain.

The breast cancer studies have conflicting results with regards to cancer protection. Of the six published studies, four concluded no effect on beast cancer. One study showed a protective benefit but only after five years of taking the statin. Another study showed a large decrease in the risk of breast cancer in women over the age of 75.

Five different studies, involving more that 75,000 people, showed that taking statins reduced fractures. In four different studies, statin use was associated with a lower risk of hip and nonspine fractures. Conversely, several studies have also shown that statins have no effect on bode density or reduction of fractures.

Two studies looked at the effects statins have on the kidneys. Results show that the statins reduced the amount of protein in the urine. An excess amount of protein is released in the urine as a result of kidney damage. Another analysis showed a significant reduction in the loss of kidney function.

Only one study has examined the benefits of statins on multiple sclerosis. At the conclusion of the research, those who received the statin had a significant reduction on multiple sclerosis markers compared to those who took a placebo.

Statins have been used successfully for years and are well tolerated with few serious side effects. A rare but serious side effect presents itself with muscle pain and tenderness. Tell your doctor immediately if you are experiencing any unusual muscle soreness or weakness.

It is still too soon to advise doctors to prescribe these medications for treating anything other than high cholesterol. The research is too conflicting and there are still too many unanswered questions. Researchers are currently examining how cholesterol adversely affects several different disease states. They are looking into whether the lowering of cholesterol has a positive effect or if the benefit is directly due to the statin.

For more free information, free articles, and free newsletter, go to www.rxcostcutters.com



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Parkinson’s disease has been classified into five stages by Hoehn and Yahr. Their classification is based on the severity of symptoms and the degree of disability the patient experiences.

When prescribing treatment, the neurologist will take into account the stage at which the patient is perceived to be, among other things.

Stage 1 is called unilateral disease. The term means that only one side of the body shows symptoms of Parkinson’s disease.

This is considered an early stage of the illness and may last for several years. Neuroprotective treatment is common at this stage. This treatment aims to prevent further damage to the nervous system.

Vitamin E was used at this stage, but many researchers are of the opinion that this is not very effective. A selective MAO-B inhibitor called Rasigiline has shown promise.

Stage 2 of Parkinson’s disease is labeled bilateral disease. Meaning, symptoms of Parkinson’s now show up on both sides of the body. The illness is considered to be at Stage 2 even if there is an insignificant symptom (an occasional tremor, for example) on the side of the body that was symptom-free earlier.

Recent therapies at this stage include use of dopamine agonists. Till some years ago, dopamine agonists were used only at later stages of the disease. Currently, researchers are of the view that if such treatment is started earlier, complications from using drugs like Levodopa may not arise at later stages.

The disease is said to be at stage 3 when symptoms show progression and especially when the patient has difficulty in maintaining their posture. Symptoms at this stage include postural instability and falling down.

Traditionally, this is the stage at which dopamine agonists or Levodopa was prescribed, but as mentioned above, some of these drugs are now used at earlier stages itself.

Stage 4 occurs when there is an increase in the severity of symptoms including postural instability and falling. Surgery is one option for treatment at this stage. Surgery can alleviate some of the symptoms. However, this is generally recommended only for relatively young patients who are in good health otherwise.

Stage 5 is the most advanced stage of Parkinson’s disease. The patient is usually wheelchair bound. Walking is possible only with assistance.

Levodopa continues to be a prescribed drug at this stage, along with a COMT inhibitor, which ensures that the effects last longer. Surgery may also be an option, including pallidotomy, which destroys a small group of brain cells. This helps avoid the rigidity often experienced with Parkinson’s disease and may stop tremors as well.

Another possible treatment is deep brain stimulation, where electrodes are implanted into the brain tissue and stimulated with low level electric currents.

The symptoms of Parkinson’s disease progress as the patient moves from one stage to the next. Ongoing research is producing new treatments including stem cell implants and new drugs.



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What Is Rosacea?

Rosacea is a skin problem of the face. In this the facial skin gets a reddish tone forever. It may cause itching and also cause spider veins and acne like pimples. Rosacea gets flared with triggers such as sun, caffeine, alcohol, spiced food etc. Though there is no cure for rosacea, it can be controlled. Let us find out more.

Rosacea- treatment of spider veins and inflammation

Most of the doctors cut the very small spider veins that become red with a electric needle. Once these veins are destroyed the reddish hue on the facial skin decreases considerably. Laser is also used to treat these veins. Some anti inflammatory topical formulations can be prescribed that will reduce the color and the problem.

Rosacea- treatment of pustules

the pustules that appear in rosacea are not acne but can be treated with topical medications including topical antibiotics.

Rosacea – triggers

Despite all the treatment you need to take care of the triggers. Whenever you get a flare up, please try to find out the trigger and make a list of your personal triggers. Avoid them.

This article is only for informative purposes. This article is not intended to be a medical advise and it is not a substitute for professional medical advice. Please consult your doctor for your medical concerns. Please follow any tip given in this article only after consulting your doctor. The author is not liable for any outcome or damage resulting from information obtained from this article.



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There has been a substantial increase in people having high cholesterol levels. It has been proven in many studies that an unhealthy increase in blood cholesterol levels can lead or be associated with the development of heart disease. High cholesterol levels can also increase the risk of strokes and heart attacks. Coronary heart disease is the leading cause of death among people living in industrialized societies such as the US. The increasing incidence of high cholesterol levels in people living in this part of the world can often be contributed to a high saturated fat diet, smoking and leading a sedentary lifestyle.

There are several dugs now available that is being used to treat unhealthy cholesterol levels in people. Most popular of these is the HMG-CoA Reductase Inhibitor or what is more simply known as Statins. This group of cholesterol lowering drugs come in different name drugs and is increasingly being used in order to help high risk patients drastically lower their cholesterol levels. Statins can also increase the levels of HDL or “good” cholesterol.

Although statins and other known drugs being used to lower cholesterol levels have been proven to be very effective, there are also other ways available for people to lower their cholesterol levels without the use of such drugs. One of these is trying to lead a more active lifestyle. Physical activity and exercise is an important part of several low cholesterol therapies that aim to reduce bad cholesterol levels. Regular exercise can also help in reducing blood pressure, excess weight as well as decrease the diabetes risk.

Following a low cholesterol diet can also help a lot in trying to decrease high cholesterol levels. Scientists have found that a low cholesterol diet can help decrease cholesterol levels by as much as 29 percent in one month. This suggests that a combination diet can also be as effective as drugs like statins used to treat people with high cholesterol levels. It has also been established that eating low cholesterol and high fiber foods can cut individual cholesterol level by seven percent.

A recommended diet that can help people avoid developing coronary heart disease include consuming non-hydrogenated or unprocessed fats, eating a rich diet of soy protein, nuts and fiber rich foods such as oats and barley. Increased consumption of Omega-3 fats from fish and other plant sources can also have a positive effect in any low cholesterol diet as well as a healthy amount of fruits and vegetables.



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What would happen if no pharmacists were available to fill your prescription at the local drugstore, or to recognize medication errors in the emergency room?

That could be reality if America doesn’t train another 150,000 pharmacists by 2020.

According to the U.S. Department of Labor, 7,000 to 10,000 pharmacist positions are left unfilled every year.

Pharmacy graduates can expect a variety of possible career directions as well as four or five job offers. Besides earning a mean annual wage of $77,050, pharmacists can choose from a wide variety of employment settings, from research laboratories to poison control centers to veterinary clinics.

To help teachers encourage students to pursue a career in pharmacy, health and science, the pharmaceutical company Roche created a free teacher’s guide in collaboration with the Parenteral Drug Association Foundation for Pharmaceutical Sciences Inc. and WLIW New York public television.

“Encouraging students who already have an interest in health and science may be key to closing the potential shortage gap of pharmacists,” said Vivian L. Beetle, director of corporate relations and contributions for Roche. “Roche believes that teachers play a positive and vital role in directing students into a career path.”

The guide is designed to help teachers identify students with an interest in science and show them how to engage students in dialogue about career opportunities in pharmacy. It includes profiles of students who have pursued a career in pharmacy, a list of colleges and professional organizations and a student self-assessment tool.

Would your children or students succeed in a pharmacy career? They should consider the following:

* Are they good at math?

* Are they interested in science, especially biology and chemistry?

* Are they detail-oriented and focused?

* Do they care about others and want to make a positive contribution to society?

* Would they be interested in a career that offers the opportunity to work anywhere in the country?



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Is it a sinus infection or a common cold? Sometimes it can be difficult to distinguish the difference. Infection or inflammation of the sinuses also known as sinusitis affects millions of people every year and in many instances causes serious discomfort or pain. The symptoms of sinus infections actually depend upon which of the four sinuses are affected and whether or not the sinus infection is acute or chronic.

Acute sinusitis normally lasts eight weeks or less or occurs no more than three times per year with an average episode lasting less than ten days. Chronic sinusitis on the other hand normally lasts longer than eight weeks or occurs more than four times per year with symptoms usually lasting longer than twenty days.

There are many symptoms of acute sinus infection including nasal discharge, post nasal drip whereby mucus drips down the throat behind the nose, facial pain or pressure in the area of the affected sinus cavities, fever and headaches.

Symptoms of chronic sinus infection include chronic soar throat, chronic nasal discharge, bad breath, prolonged facial pain, discomfort below the eyes or across the bridge of the nose, toothaches and low-grade headaches.

It is often difficult to determine whether or not you have a common cold or a sinus infection. For example, a stuffy nose could be a symptom of a sinus infection or a common cold.

Your doctor can diagnose sinusitis using an assortment of methods including listening to your symptoms, doing a physical examination, taking X-rays, and if necessary, an MRI or CT scan (magnetic resonance imaging and computed tomography).

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