Archive for February, 2010

There were hardly any drugs for the treatment of this condition. It was only in the latter half of the last century, that medical science made rapid advancements, and today drugs allow a hypertensive patient to live a near normal life are available.

The first real drug to treat hypertension was given to the rest of the world by India’s indigenous system of medicine, Ayurveda. The roots of the plant ’sarpgandha’ (rauwolfia serpentina) formed a part of the repitoire used for treating various ailments. Indian researchers of the system discovered the blood pressure lowering properties of these roots. Subsequently in 1953, Swiss scientists isolated the pure chemical substance, and named it reserpine (SERPASIL), which remained in the forefront for the treatment of high blood pressure for almost two decades. Now, it has been replaced by more modern drugs and is rarely used.

In spite of these recent advances, it is a pity that the treatment of hypertension remains palliative rather than curative. There is a difference between anti-hypertensives and other drugs like antibiotics. The latter drugs destroy micro-organisms and remove the cause of the infective state, enabling a complete cure; while the former, hardly ever cure the disease. They only lower the blood pressure without removing the cause. Nevertheless, these drugs are important, as they are all at we have. They increase the lifespan and quality of life of patients of high blood pressure.

Since all of us fear high blood pressure, let us first examine what blood pressure (BP)actually is and why blood should need a pressure at all.

Nimodipine (Nimodip 30 mg)

It increases brain blood flow, therefore, it is commonly used in the treatment of stroke. Nicardipine, nitrendipine, lercanidipine and lecidipine are some other drugs.

Advantages: All CCBs are useful in angina, IHD and hypertension. Except diltiazem and verapamil all can be combined with beta-blockers (Atenolol commonly). They are also usefull in migraine and peripheral vascular disease. Kidney blood flow is well maintained and nifedipine may increase urine output. The antihypertensive effect is not blunted by anti-intlamatory pain relievers which is its unique feature.

Adverse effects and Precautions: As a group CCBs can cause sensation of vomiting, constipation, swelling over feet and hypotension. Verapamil and diltiazem precipitate congestive heart failure and heart blocks. Verapamil and diltiazem are never used with betablockers. They are not safe in pregnancy. These should be used with caution in angina to avoid alarming rise in pulse rate. These drugs do not significantly alter blood lipids and may have some bronchodilatory effects, thus are very useful in asthmatic hypertensives. In this aspect they are better than nonselective beta-blockers.

Alien
http://www.articlesbase.com/medicine-articles/drugs-and-medicine-for-treatment-of-high-blood-pressure-441274.html

If you suffer from frequent migraine headaches or maybe just once every few months, you know how painful and disruptive a migraine can be. You might have had to call off work early or take the entire day off from work or miss a family social event due to a migraine headache. You may have tried to take OTC drugs to help stop a migraine before it starts or reduce the pain while it was occurring with little luck maybe even going as far as getting a prescription drug from the doctor. Many prescription drugs prescribed for migraines have side effects such as nausea, dizziness, dry mouth, weight gain, low blood pressure, decreased sex drive and even insomnia… yet the prescriptions do little to alleviate the pain.

If you seem to be in this category don’t lose hope, there is good news regarding migraine prevention. Butterbur extract is an all natural herbal supplement that can help prevent migraines with out serious side effects. In Germany, this herb has been used for many years successfully to prevent migraines. Now available in the United States for several years, Butterbur Standardized Extract has been validated by clinical studies. Large multi-center studies involving hundreds of migraine suffers have found Butterbur extract to prevent or significantly reduce the effects of a migraine when taking on a regular basis. (3,5) In this article we will discuss how Butterbur extract prevents migraines and its safety.

You might have asked your self already, what exactly is Butterbur? Butterbur’s common name is Petasites hybridus which is a member of a large family of flowers, herbs and shrubs in the plant kingdom. The key component in Butterbur researchers believe reduces migraines is called Sesquiterpenes (Petasin). Petasin has antispasmodic and anti-inflammatory activity which helps prevent migraines from starting. (6-7) All the clinical trials done on Butterbur used a standardized extract of 7.5mg Petasin per 50mg of the extract.

Let’s look at what the difference is between migraine and headache tension. The Journal of American Medical Association Migraine Education Center says there are several differences in the two types of headaches. Tension headaches can span from hours to days and is usually located over the entire head. The intensity of tension headaches is usually mild to moderate as a dull or pressing pain in the head. Generally tension headaches have minimal to no symptoms. Migraine headaches on the other hand can last for at least 4 hours to as long as 72 hours or 3 days. Generally, migraine headaches are located on the sides of the head and are often sever in pain. Migraines can be pounding, throbbing, and increase with intensity with physical activity. Migraines are usually followed by symptoms such as nausea, vomiting, with sensitivity to light, sound and odors.

Migraine headaches are usually caused by blood vessels swelling and expanding with inflammation in surrounding tissues in the brain. Researchers know what happens when a migraine attack happens, but have yet to conclude what causes the migraine originally (what is the trigger point). Most people who experience migraines have family members who experience migraines as well. Migraines headache episodes decline as people get older (1,5) With migraines, individuals sometimes experience unique symptoms; 20% of individuals experience and Aura prior to an attack. Most Aura’s are flashes of light or zigzagging lines making reading difficult and are followed by a migraine headache. Trigger factors are usually what cause the migraine and discovering one’s trigger point can help one greatly reduce there occurrence of a migraine. Certain foods or events can cause a trigger of the migraine. Documenting dietary habits such as chocolate, alcohol, and skipping a meal can help you determine what your trigger might be. Sometimes very bright lights and strong odors, stress such as job loss or divorce can also be a trigger, even hormone factors like menstruation can trigger a migraine. (1,2)

Butterbur extract can help prevent a migraine. Scientists discovered Butterbur extract has the ability to prevent blood vessel expansion during a migraine, while also preventing inflammation which can intensify the migraine experience.

A double blind placebo-controlled clinical trail showed where Butterbur extract actually works to reduce migraine suffering. This study provided accurate and verifiable results and reproducible results. One study with 58 people who experienced 3 or more migraines each month consumed butterbur extract standardized to 7.5mg of Petasin twice a day compared to the placebo group, experienced significant reduction in occurrence and frequency of migraine attacks. (3) While the study was being conducted, members of each group were asked how they felt and 74% of the butterbur extract group stated they had no occurrence of migraines compared to the placebo group.

The individuals who were recruited for these studies were required to discontinue the medications they were taking for migraines to effectively eliminate the possibility of any effect from other medications while the studies are conducted.

Another study conducted divided the butterbur extract group in two and half the group received 100mg total extract and the other group received 150mg total extract each day to see if there was any benefit to taking more butterbur. The group of people who received the 150mg each day of butterbur extract experienced a sixty two percent reduction in the number of attacks compared to the placebo group and less frequency then the 100mg per day group. So there is added benefit to consuming high milligrams each day divided through out the day.

You may be wondering if you can take Butterbur extract with standard migraine medication. The answer is yes. Butterbur extract does not interfere with any migraine medications including prescription medications. (3,4) Most sever migraine suffers take more than one medication so butterbur extract is perfect for those individuals on multiple medications because it has very few side effects. When adding butterbur extract to your regiment of migraine medication be patient because butterbur extract takes up to four weeks before one will start to experience its effects.

For those of you who only experience one migraine a month or less, the research is still investigating butterburs ability to help. If you feel like a migraine is coming on, take 100mg of butterbur extract followed by 50mg every two hours but do not exceed 250mg per day. The second day take 50mg of butter bur extract morning, noon, and night three times the second day. This should successfully help you fight off your migraine.

There are very few side effects with consuming butterbur. In one of the studies, several of the patients experienced some mild gastrointestinal upset. Butterbur extract shouldn’t be taken for more then four to six months, then discontinued. Even after discontinuing use, the butterbur will continue to work, because butterbur extract take a while to eliminate from the body. If a migraine returns, you can take the butterbur extract for another four to six months before discontinuing use again.

Between 11 & 18 million people in America experience migraines every year. Although there is no cure for migraines, butterbur extract may help reduce the frequency or intensity of your migraine. Standardized Butterbur extract and other great herbal supplements can be found at your local health food store or internet health food stores.

References:

1. Journal of the American Medical Association. Migraine Information Center. Accessed February 20, 2002. Available at: www ama-assn org/special/migraine/migraine.htm.

2. American Council for Headache Education. Prevention of Migraine Headaches: What Every Patient Should Know. Accessed on February 20, 2002. Available at: www achenet org/prevention/.

3. Mauskop A, Grossman WM, Schmidramsl H. Petasites hybridus (Butterbur root) extract is effective in the prophylaxis of migraines: results of a randomized, double blind trial. Headache. 2000;40:420.

4. Lipton RB, Gobel H, Wilkes K, Mauskop A. Efficacy of petasites 50 and 75 mg for prophylaxis of migraine: results of a randomized, placebo-controlled study. Der Schermerz 2000;15:S61.

5. Hamelsky SW, Stewart WF, Lipton RB. Epidemiology of migraine. Curr Pain Headache Rep. 2001;5:189-194.

Darrell Miller
http://www.articlesbase.com/medicine-articles/stop-or-reduce-migraine-headaches-with-butterbur-extract-98207.html

Hypertension is a condition that doesn’t usually announce its presence by signs or symptoms until it gets to an advanced stage, which may cause serious damage to the other internal organs. It can be successfully kept under control, which means that blood pressure is not difficult to lower. But in order to prevent some of its so feared complications, it is very important for it to be discovered in the initial phase, that of pre-hypertension.

Once the doctor has identified that imminent phase, there are some steps to take for the lowering of blood pressure. One of the most frequent recommendations made to the people in this situation is to have various life style changes. The medications work, but they are not sufficient, it also take the cooperation of the patient to keep blood pressure under a reach of a safe value, which will spare you a series of severe complications: stroke, kidney failure or heart attacks.

Even people at borderline pressure values, 85 to 90 mm Hg may have affected end organ. A very exposed to the cardiovascular problems category is that of people older than 65 which often have high diastolic blood pressure. So, it is very important for you to be cautious, to have your blood pressure read, and, in case you approach mentioned limits, visit the doctor in order to modify your treatment.

The adequate treatment plays also a vital part, together with the changes in a person’s lifestyle, in the battle against high blood pressure. Diagnosis in the initial stage, followed immediately by medication, will have a quick positive effect on your blood pressure. Depending on whether a person has diabetes (or other condition) or not, the most appropriate treatment scheme will be found and administered; for a diabetic, the chosen medicine will handle both of the conditions.

Sebastian Bunten
http://www.articlesbase.com/medicine-articles/changes-in-your-lifestyle-will-lower-the-blood-pressure-118848.html

Disturbance in your digestive tract is commonly referred to as constipation. In this disorder, there is an irregular movement of your bowels. Constipation itself is a root to many diseases and disorders. This is because it produces toxins in the blood serum and then those are carried to the other body parts. It can cause other diseases such as rheumatism, appendicitis, arthritis, cataract, high blood pressure and even cancer in some of the rarest cases.

The symptoms of constipation include irregular elimination of faecal matter that is hard in nature. The other symptoms are foul breath, coated tongue, loss of appetite, depression, nausea and dizziness. Ulcers in the mouth can also occur sometimes with varicose veins and heart burn.

The main cause of such a state of disorder is the bad lifestyle patterns that you follow, coupled with improper diet. Insufficient intake of water and excessive use of coffee and tea can also lead to this state. Drinking, irregular eating, insufficient chewing, all together makes the functioning of your bowels poor. Apart from this lack of physical activities and and irregular defecation habits with emotional stress and strain, also lead to constipation.

But you can always cure constipation. If the medicines are doing nothing good to you, then you have the option of home remedial treatments. They are:

1.Pear: It is an effective fruit for the treatment of constipation. Making it a part of your regular diet, can help you a lot.

2.Grapes: Since ages, grapes have proved to be a very effective natural remedy to cure constipation. Grapes contains sugar, cellulose and various organic acids that make them an ideal constipation healer. Besides cleaning your stomach, they also tone up the tissues of your stomach and the intestines.

3.Bael Fruit: It is regarded as the best fruit in curing this disorder. It cleans and tones up your intestinal space.

4.Guava: Guava provides you roughage that is very essential for the proper digestion of food. Roughage helps in the normal evacuation of your bowels.

5.Spinach: Spinach is the most vital food for your entire digestive system. The organic elements that are present in spinach cleanse, reconstruct and help the regeneration of the worn out tissues of your intestinal tract.

A simple diet surely helps you to keep away from constipation as it clears your stomach. A simple diet is one that consists of unrefined foods, like honey, bran, wholegrain cereals, lentils, fruits, green leafy vegetables and various milk products.

Apart from them there are also other home remedies that help in treating constipation. For instance, a glass of hot lime water, with added salt is very effective. It is also said that taking an overnight kept water in a copper container helps you considerably in this direction. Linseed is a useful product as it provides both roughage and lubrication to the stomach.

Ashish Jain
http://www.articlesbase.com/medicine-articles/effective-home-remedies-for-constipation-91882.html