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Health Focus - September 2006

Tegaserod

September 24th 2006 04:13
Tegaserod :
Tegaserod is used for the treatment of irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) in women who have constipation as their main symptom. It should never be taken by women who have diarrhea as their main symptom of IBS.

Tegaserod works to increase the activity of the bowels by altering certain chemicals and hormones in your bowels. When taken as directed, this medication will help to lessen the constipation, abdominal bloating, and pain associated with IBS. Tegaserod does not cure IBS, but it will help to manage the symptoms as long as you take the medication.

Treatment :
Tegaserod is usually taken twice a day. It is best to take this medication on an empty stomach, shortly before a meal. In addition, it is best to take tegaserod at approximately the same time each day.


It is important to try not to miss any doses of tegaserod. If
you do miss a dose, skip the missed dose and return to your regular dosing schedule. Do not double the next dose of tegaserod.

Side Effects :
Minor: Back pain, bloated feeling, gas, headache, mild dizziness, or nausea. These side effects usually go away during treatment, as your body adjusts to tegaserod.

To avoid dizziness or light-headedness when you stand, contract and relax the muscles of your legs for a few moments before rising. Do this by pressing one foot against the floor while raising the other foot slightly, alternating feet so that you are "pumping" your legs in a pedaling motion.

If you feel dizzy or light-headed, sit or lie down for a while; get up from a sitting or lying position slowly; and be careful on stairs.

Major: Tell your doctor if any side effects are persistent or particularly bothersome. IT IS ESPECIALLY IMPORTANT TO TELL YOUR DOCTOR about cold sweats; confusion; diarrhea; feeling of warmth; itching skin; shortness of breath; stomach pain or cramps; swelling or redness of the legs, feet, hands, or arms; or vomiting.


Interactions :
Tegaserod has not been reported to cause any drug interactions. However, to avoid drug interactions, it is very important that you do not take any over-the-counter (nonprescription) medications for weight control or for asthma, sinus, cough, cold, or allergy problems unless you first check with your doctor or pharmacist.

BE SURE TO TELL YOUR DOCTOR about any medications you may be taking.

Warnings :
It is important to tell your doctor if you have ever had any unusual or allergic reaction to tegaserod or to any other medication.


When you first start to take tegaserod, your doctor may have you return frequently to see how the medication is working. It is important to tell your doctor if you have any abdominal pain after you begin to take tegaserod.


Tegaserod should only be used in adult women; it has not been tested in males.


It is also important to tell your doctor if you now have or if you have ever had kidney disease, liver disease, gallbladder disease, bowel obstructions or intestinal blockage, sphincter of Oddi dysfunction (severe stomach pain with nausea and vomiting), or swelling of the hands or feet.


While taking tegaserod, your ability to perform tasks that require alertness, such as driving a car or operating potentially dangerous machinery, may be impaired.


Be sure to tell your doctor or dentist that you are taking tegaserod before having any kind of surgery or other medical or dental treatment.


Tell your doctor if you are pregnant. Studies in human pregnancy have not yet been completed, and it is unknown if tegaserod can cause birth defects. Also tell your doctor if you are breast-feeding an infant, and discuss the risks and benefits of tegaserod.
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Tendinitis

September 24th 2006 04:05
Tendinitis :
Tendinitis is an inflammation of a tendon (a band of fibrous tissue connecting muscle to bone). The condition appears most often as a result of physical activity. It also can be a symptom of a more generalized inflammatory disease, such as rheumatoid arthritis.

Causes :
Improper activity, lack of conditioning, and poor athletic equipment encourage the development of tendinitis. Nonathletes who suddenly begin athletic activity and athletes who resume strenuous sports after a period of inactivity are especially susceptible. People who wear high heels or shoes with run-down heels put needless tension on the Achilles tendon, which joins the calf muscles on the back of the leg to the back of the heel bone.

Symptoms :
Tendinitis causes pain in the affected tendon, which is worsened by activity. The tendon may grow thicker than normal and be tender to the touch or very painful. When an already inflamed tendon is continually placed under stress, it can rupture, causing further complications.

Diagnosis :
Physicians diagnose tendinitis problems by first acquiring the patient's exercise history. Muscle lengths in the area of inflammation are also evaluated. (Short or inflexible muscles are often the cause of tendinitis.)

Treatment :
Treatment for tendinitis begins with resting the affected area. Pain relievers and anti-
inflammatory drugs are used to ease immediate symptoms. Injecting cortisone and a local anesthetic into the area surrounding the tendon sometimes provides substantial relief within 24 to 72 hours.

In rare cases, surgery is necessary to repair damaged tendons. In the past, tendons were replaced with artificial tissues that never achieved the strength and flexibility of natural tissues. More effective techniques and materials have since been developed.

Prevention :
People participating in sports can prevent tendinitis by taking time to warm-up before exercising. For example, stretching the leg and calf muscles before and after running may help prevent inflammation of the Achilles tendon. When tendinitis does occur, wearing supports in shoes during physical activity can correct instability of the foot and lessen the level of pain.
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Telmisartan

September 24th 2006 04:00
Telmisartan :
Telmisartan is used to treat high blood pressure. It is a vasodilator (it widens the blood vessels) that acts by blocking the production of chemicals that may be responsible for constricting or narrowing the blood vessels. Telmisartan may be used for other medical conditions, including heart failure, when prescribed by your doctor.

Treatment :
Telmisartan may be taken either on an empty stomach or
with food or milk (unless your doctor directs you to do otherwise). To become accustomed to this medication, take telmisartan at the same time every day.

It may take several weeks before you notice the full effects of telmisartan.

If you miss a dose of telmisartan, take the missed dose as soon as possible. However, if it is almost time for your next dose, do not take the missed dose at all; just return to your regular dosing schedule. Do not double the next dose or take more than prescribed by your doctor.

It is important that you take telmisartan on a regular basis as prescribed by your doctor. Telmisartan does not cure high blood pressure, but it will help you to control the condition for as long as you continue to take it.

Side Effects :
Minor: Abdominal pain, constipation, cough, diarrhea, dizziness, dry mouth, fatigue, flushing, headache, insomnia, loss of appetite, loss of sense of taste, nausea, or vomiting. Most of these side effects should diminish or disappear as your body adjusts to telmisartan.

Dry mouth can be relieved by chewing sugarless gum or sucking on hard candy.

To avoid dizziness or light-headedness when you stand, contract and relax the muscles of your legs for a few moments before rising. Do this by pushing one foot against the floor while raising the other foot slightly, alternating feet so that you are "pumping" your legs in a pedaling motion.

If you feel dizzy or light-headed, sit or lie down for a while; get up from a sitting or lying position slowly; and be careful on stairs.

To relieve constipation, increase the amount of fiber in your diet (fresh fruits and vegetables, salads, bran, and whole-grain breads), exercise, and drink more water (unless your doctor directs you to do otherwise).

Major: Tell your doctor about any side effects that are persistent or particularly bothersome. IT IS ESPECIALLY IMPORTANT TO TELL YOUR DOCTOR about chest pains; chills; difficult or painful urination; fever; itching; mouth sores; palpitations; prolonged vomiting or diarrhea; skin rash; sore throat; swelling of the face, hands, or feet; tingling of the fingers or toes; unusual bleeding or bruising; or yellowing of the skin or the whites of the eyes.

Interactions :
Telmisartan may interact with a number of other medications:

Diuretics (water pills) and other antihypertensive drugs can cause an excessive drop in blood pressure when combined with telmisartan (especially the first dose).


The combination of telmisartan with spironolactone, triamterene, amiloride, potassium supplements, or salt substitutes can lead to hyperkalemia (dangerously high levels of potassium in the bloodstream).


Indomethacin and other nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (such as ibuprofen or naproxen) may decrease the blood-pressure-lowering effects of telmisartan.


Concurrent use of telmisartan and digoxin can delay the body's elimination of digoxin and may cause digoxin toxicity. Discuss this with your doctor or pharmacist.


Alcohol should be avoided during treatment with telmisartan. This combination may cause your blood pressure to become too low.


Use of over-the-counter (nonprescription) cough, cold, or allergy medications may reduce the effectiveness of telmisartan and should be avoided.
BE SURE TO TELL YOUR DOCTOR about these or any other medications you are currently taking.

Warnings :
Be sure to tell your doctor if you have ever experienced an allergic reaction to telmisartan, to any medication that is used to treat high blood pressure, or to any other medications, especially to angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE) inhibitors (including captopril, enalapril, lisinopril, and benazepril), candesartan, eprosartan, irbesartan, losartan, olmesartan, or valsartan.


Tell your doctor if you now have or ever had kidney or liver disease, heart disease, swelling of the face or mouth, aortic stenosis, lupus or scleroderma, diabetes mellitus, too high potassium levels in your blood, or any type of blood disorder.


Call your doctor immediately if you experience any swelling of the face or mouth or difficulty breathing or swallowing after taking telmisartan.


While taking telmisartan, your ability to perform tasks that require alertness, such as driving an automobile or operating potentially dangerous machinery, may be impaired. Caution is required.


If you are having surgery or undergoing any type of dental procedure, be sure to tell your doctor or dentist that you are taking telmisartan.


Excessive perspiration, dehydration, or prolonged vomiting or diarrhea can lead to an excessive drop in blood pressure while you are taking telmisartan. Contact your doctor if you have any of these symptoms.


Do not stop taking telmisartan unless you first consult your doctor. Stopping this drug abruptly may lead to a rise in blood pressure.


The first few doses of telmisartan may cause dizziness. Try to avoid any sudden changes in posture.


Be sure to tell your doctor if you are pregnant. Telmisartan may cause birth defects if taken during the second or third trimester of pregnancy. Telmisartan can also pass into human breast milk. Be sure to tell your doctor if you are breast-feeding an infant, and be sure to discuss the risks and benefits of this medication.
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Terazosin

September 24th 2006 03:56
Terazosin :
Terazosin is used to treat high blood pressure. It relaxes the muscle tissue of the blood vessels, which in turn lowers blood pressure.

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Terbinafine

September 24th 2006 03:51
Terbinafine :
Terbinafine is used to treat fungal infections of the nail, scalp, skin, groin, and feet. This medication acts by severely damaging the cell walls of the infecting fungus, preventing the fungus from growing and multiplying. Terbinafine is only effective against certain fungi and does not affect bacteria, parasites, or viruses.

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The Common Cold

September 24th 2006 03:45
The Common Cold :
A simple common cold is a collection of familiar symptoms signaling an infection of the upper respiratory tract, which includes the nose, throat, and sinuses.

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Theophylline

September 24th 2006 03:40
Theophylline :
Theophylline is prescribed to treat breathing problems (wheezing and shortness of breath) caused by asthma, bronchitis, or emphysema. It relaxes the smooth muscle of the bronchial airways (breathing tubes), which opens the air passages to the lungs and thereby allows air to move in and out more easily.

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Tiagabine

September 24th 2006 03:37
Tiagabine :
Tiagabine is used for the treatment of seizure disorders. The mechanism through which tiagabine works against seizures is unknown, but it is thought to act by altering chemical messengers (called neurotransmitters) in the brain. Tiagabine is usually used in combination with other antiseizure medications.

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Tic

September 24th 2006 03:31
Tic :
A tic is a spasmodic movement or twitching that is generally brief, repetitive, purposeless, semivoluntary, or involuntary. This muscle contraction is most commonly seen in the face, shoulders, or arms.

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Ticlopidine

September 23rd 2006 23:45
Ticlopidine is used to lessen the risk of having a heart attack or stroke. It works by preventing red blood cells (platelets) from sticking or adhering to each other. Ticlopidine is usually used for patients who cannot take aspirin.
Treatment :
Take ticlopidine exactly as prescribed by your doctor. Using more than your doctor prescribed may increase the chance


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Timolol (Ophthalmic)

September 23rd 2006 23:41
Timolol (Ophthalmic) :
Timolol (ophthalmic) is used to reduce pressure in the eye caused by glaucoma or other eye conditions. This medication belongs to a group of medications that are known as beta blockers. When applied to the eye, timolol (ophthalmic) reduces pressure within the eye by decreasing eye-fluid (aqueous humor) production and perhaps by increasing the outflow of fluid from the eye.
Treatment


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Tobramycin (Ophthalmic)

September 23rd 2006 23:37
Tobramycin (Ophthalmic) :
Tobramycin ophthalmic is used for the short-term treatment of bacterial infections of the eyes. Tobramycin is an aminoglycoside antibiotic, which acts to prevent the growth and multiplication of infecting bacteria.
Treatment


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Tonsillitis

September 23rd 2006 23:35
Tonsillitis :
Tonsillitis is an inflammation or infection of the tonsils. It occurs most commonly in children from 5 to 15 years old and only rarely in those under the age of 2 years.

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Tooth Decay

September 23rd 2006 23:32
Tooth Decay :
Tooth decay (dental cavities, or caries) is the gradual process of destruction and mineral loss that affects the enamel (outer layer) and dentin (the bony second layer) of a portion of a tooth, causing it to become soft, discolored, and porous.

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Topiramate

September 23rd 2006 23:28
Topiramate :
Topiramate is used along with other medications to prevent seizures in patients with epilepsy. It is thought that this medication works to stop or stabilize some of the electrical activity of the brain, keeping the nerve cells of the brain from becoming overexcited. Seizures occur when the electrical activity of the brain is overactive. Topiramate will not cure your epilepsy but will help to control your seizures when taken as directed by your doctor.

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Tramadol

September 23rd 2006 23:25
Tramadol :
Tramadol is used for the treatment of moderate to moderately severe pain. It acts on the central nervous system (brain and spinal cord) to relieve pain. The mechanism of action of tramadol is not related to any other analgesics. The mechanism of action is poorly understood.
Treatment


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Triamcinolone (Inhalation)

September 23rd 2006 23:19
Triamcinolone (Inhalation) :
Triamcinolone, an inhalation corticosteroid, is a cortisonelike medicine used to help prevent the symptoms of asthma. When used regularly every day, triamcinolone decreases the number and severity of asthma attacks.

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Triamcinolone (Topical)

September 23rd 2006 23:17
Triamcinolone (Topical) :
Your adrenal glands naturally produce certain cortisonelike chemicals. These chemicals are involved in various processes in the body (such as maintenance of fluid balance, regulation of temperature, and reaction to inflammation).

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Triazolam

September 23rd 2006 23:12
Triazolam :
Triazolam is prescribed to treat insomnia, including problems with falling asleep, waking during the night, and early morning wakefulness. It is not clear exactly how triazolam works, but it may relieve insomnia by acting as a depressant of the central nervous system (brain and spinal cord).

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Backache

September 11th 2006 05:43
Backache :
A backache is generally a gripping pain near the inward curve of the back above the base of the spine. It is one of the most common physical ailments, affecting about 80 percent of the population at some time in their lives.

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Understanding Emphysema

September 10th 2006 08:47
Understanding Emphysema :
Emphysema is a chronic, progressive lung disease that develops when the small air passages leading to the alveoli (the tiny air sacs in the lungs, where gas exchange takes place) become distended and the walls dividing the alveoli are injured or destroyed. Spaces form where alveoli had been, and lung tissue becomes nonfunctional and stiff rather than elastic.

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Headaches and working

September 10th 2006 08:39
Headaches and working :
headache is a symptom, not a disease. A headache is rarely the symptom of a serious illness, but severe or frequent headaches can be exhausting and can affect daily life.

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Anemia or an Iron Deficiency During Pregnancy and Childbirth :
Iron deficiency anemia--a lack of iron in the blood--occurs in about 20 percent of pregnant women in the United States. Iron is an important nutrient during pregnancy, so it's important to be sure you have an adequate intake.
There are three primary reasons that a sufficient iron intake to prevent anemia is important. First, iron is necessary for the formation of maternal and fetal hemoglobin, the oxygen-carrying component of blood. Since a woman's blood volume increases by 25 to 40 percent during pregnancy, and the baby is manufacturing blood cells, too, the need for iron increases putting the mother at risk for anemia. Second, during the last trimester, the baby draws from the mother some of the iron reserves that it will need during the first four to six months of life. Third, the increased blood volume and iron stores help your body adjust, to some degree, to the blood loss that occurs during childbirth


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Infectious diseases and working

September 9th 2006 23:55
Infectious diseases and working :

The human body is both surrounded and inhabited by billions of microorganisms (living organisms that are so small that they can be seen only with a microscope). Most microorganisms are harmless or even beneficial; for example, bacteria that normally live in the digestive system help digest food. Occasionally, however, a microorganism capable of causing a disease invades the body. Diseases caused by such microorganisms are called infectious diseases


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How To Calculate Your Pregnancy Due Date

September 9th 2006 23:53
How To Calculate Your Pregnancy Due Date :
Once your pregnancy has been confirmed, what you most want to know is your due date. The average length of a pregnancy is 40 weeks, or 280 days, from the first day of the last normal menstrual period. Calculating the due date, or expected date of delivery, for a pregnancy is quite simple, then, if you know that date. Simply add nine months and seven days to the date, and you've got your pregnancy due date.
Here's an example of how it works: Say the first day of the last normal menstrual period was January 1st. Add seven days to that number, and you get the number 8. Add nine months, and you get October. The expected due date of that pregnancy, then, is October 8. (Some physicians use the term expected date of confinement, or EDC for short, to describe the due date


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How To Get Pregnant Using An Ovulation Calendar :
You can increase your chances of getting pregnant if you understand the ovulation process and how it fits into your monthly menstrual cycle. During each menstrual cycle, the endometrial tissue thickens to prepare the uterus for a possible pregnancy. Approximately midway through the cycle, ovulation occurs. Ovulation is the process by which an ovary produces and releases an egg. The egg develops in the ovary in a small, fluid-filled sac called a follicle. When the egg is mature this sac ruptures, releasing the egg from the ovary.
The fingerlike projections on the nearby fallopian tube sweep the egg into the tube, where it begins to inch toward the uterus. If the egg is fertilized by a sperm, the fertilized egg moves to the uterus and becomes implanted in the rich uterine lining, where it grows for nine months


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Infertility

September 9th 2006 23:46
Male Infertility
Infertility
Infertility :
Infertility and fertility problems are common; in fact, one in every five couples who want to conceive a child are unable to do so. But improved testing procedures and treatments have enabled many couples to become parents.
Infertility is defined as a couple's failure to conceive a child after one year of regular sexual intercourse without birth control. Infertility is not sterility, which means the permanent, irreversible inability to have children. The term infertility implies that the condition can be treated and reversed


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Influenza

September 9th 2006 23:43
Influenza :
Influenza, which is more commonly known as the flu, is a contagious disease that is accompanied by respiratory problems and fever.

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Meningitis

September 9th 2006 23:41
Meningitis :
Meningitis occurs when bacteria or viruses enter the spinal fluid and infect the meninges, the three layers of membrane that surround the brain and spinal cord. Meningitis can prove to be fatal, although this is becoming less common because of the increased use of effective medications.

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Miscarriage Symptoms, Causes and Treatment :
A miscarriage is the ending of a pregnancy due to the premature delivery of the fetus before the 20th week of pregnancy, a point at which the fetus is not developed enough to survive outside the uterus on its own. A miscarriage is called a spontaneous abortion in medical terms, but after the 20th week of pregnancy it is called a premature delivery or, if the fetus is born dead, a stillbirth. Most miscarriages, however, occur within the first 14 weeks of pregnancy.
About 15 percent of known pregnancies end in miscarriage, but it is impossible to know how many miscarriages occur during the first month of pregnancy, before many women may even realize they are pregnant. The only indication may be a slightly late menstrual period with a heavier than normal flow


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Oral Contraceptives

September 8th 2006 23:03
Treatment :
To avoid stomach irritation, you can take oral contraceptives with food or with a full glass of water or milk.

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Placenta Previa

September 8th 2006 22:56