Archive for June, 2010

Practical Ways in Dealing with Anxiety Attacks

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Posted 21 Jun 2010 — by admin
Category Alternative Medicine, Diseases and Conditions

The use of conventional medicines in dealing with anxiety attacks is always a medical option. The prevalence of anxiety has become increasingly alarming. It can affect people from different walks of life, of any nationality or of any age. New products of anti-anxiety preparations are introduced every now and then, because there has been an increasing demand for them. . The truth is this medicines although have been proven effective can cause drug dependency and addiction. This is the reasons why most of the drugs in this category have been regulated by some government agencies.

There are actually some practical ways in dealing with anxiety attacks, you just need a lot of positive mind power to deal with it.

Have some small changes in everyday life.

Sometimes your daily routine causes you to get so bored. Doing the same things at the same time for a long period can add up in making you anxious. Making some little changes in your lifestyle can help in dealing with anxiety attacks. It will be an encouragement to start new things occasionally and find your enjoyment in life.

Have some time of relaxation.

Stressful life always leads to anxiety.  If you are living a stressful life or you are surrounded with stressful activities, it is time for you to relax and unwind. As much as possible you should schedule a relaxation activity every week or even every day even just a few minutes of breathing deeply. You can schedule a visit to the park, beach or simply listen to the music you really love. In dealing with anxiety attacks, make it a habit to have your relaxation time every now and then.

Understand the trigger zones of anxiety.

Anxious feeling can occur any time of the day, or can be triggered by different factors. Most of the trigger zones of anxiety are stress, depression, sad events, worries, sickness and a lot more. You have to recognize within yourself on what causes you to feel anxious, this is an important practical way of dealing with anxiety attacks. If you know these factors then you will be ready to deal with them and can even ignore them.  It is like going in a battle with the necessary weapons to fight them.

Have a worry free lifestyle.

Change your lifestyle if necessary in dealing with anxiety attacks. Laughter is the simplest way of making worries go away. It is easy to say to have a worry free lifestyle but in reality, it is the hardest thing to do. Discipline is the key to achieve this. Positive way of thinking is a sure way to have a worry free lifestyle. Do not entertain negative thoughts and always have a positive outlook in life.

Deal the problem with a professional expert.

Lastly, dealing with anxiety attacks with the help of a professional expert or a medical doctor can of course help you with some medical advice. Depending on the severity of your anxiety, the doctor can recommend some medications or simply the same practical advice as stated above. It is often a helpful way to talk about your anxiety problems to a person you can trust and releasing them can make you feel better.

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The Different Classes of Anti- Hypertensive Drugs

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Posted 13 Jun 2010 — by admin
Category Diseases and Conditions, Drugs

Cardiovascular drugs include anti- hypertensive drugs that are specifically indicated to lower high blood pressure. High blood pressure is a result of many factors including inappropriate diet, unhealthy lifestyle, obesity, genetic factors, and state of health (presence of other diseases such as diabetes) and sometimes brought about by the side effects of some medicines.

There are several classes of drugs use as anti- hypertensive drugs and each class has different mechanisms of action to lower blood pressure.

Diuretics – These agents increase urine volume or output. One factor that causes hypertension is the high level of sodium in the blood. Usually diuretics are combined with other drugs to achieve the ideal level of blood pressure.

Calcium channel blockers – This class of anti- hypertensive drugs are the most trusted to lower blood pressure. Their therapeutic action involves the prevention of calcium entry into the cardiac and smooth muscle and in turn decreases blood pressure.

Vasodilators- These agents directly dilate blood vessels to lower blood pressure. They are indicated for severe hypertension.

The anti-lipidemics or anti-cholesterol drugs- High cholesterol level in the blood is one of the major causes of hypertension. Fat deposits in blood vessels cause atherosclerosis or the hardening of veins. These agents exert their effect by binding with cholesterol or triglycerides that circulates within the blood stream and facilitates their excretion.

There are still other classes of drugs that lower high blood pressure, their effectiveness varies from person to person. You can evaluate the effectiveness of anti- hypertensive drugs by simply monitoring its effect on the blood pressure. If the blood pressure becomes normal, then it is effective.

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Understanding the Side Effects of Zocor

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Posted 11 Jun 2010 — by admin
Category Diseases and Conditions, Drugs

The side effects of zocor are many.  All medicines, no matter how effective they are, will always have unwanted side effects in the body, Zocor is not an exception.   Zocor, although an effective agent for hyperlipidemia will produce unnecessary effects which cannot be avoided.

Persons who are into this medication must have knowledge of the side effects of zocor to understand better the therapeutic implication of this drug.

The most common are the following:

Gastro-intestinal effects such as abdominal pain, constipation or diarrhea, flatulence, dyspepsia and vomiting.  Patients in zocor medication can experience one or two of these abdominal upsets.

Central Nervous System effects such as headache, nausea, dizziness, peripheral neuropathy are also very common side effects of zocor. Bed rest can lessen the said side effects.

Allergic reactions that include rash, pruritis, and hypersensitivity reactions may pose some danger depending on their severity. Stop medication of Zocor immediately if hypersensitivity reactions occur.

Skeletal muscle effects that include cramps, myalgia, and myopathy.  Refrain from doing physical activities while in Zocor medication for a feeling of body weakness can occur.

Jaundice, hepatitis, memory impairment, insomnia, and rhabdomyolysis are the rare adverse reactions of zocor.

Drugs used to lower cholesterol levels are not diminished of side effects, zocor, which belong to the statins, may have unwanted effects, but the therapeutic efficacy should not be ignored.  Adverse drug reactions will always be part of the therapeutic regimen of every drug. Lifetime medication of zocor is sometimes necessary, awareness of the different side effects of zocor is necessary to practice caution.

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What to Know about Panic Disorder

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Posted 10 Jun 2010 — by admin
Category Diseases and Conditions

Do you feel your heart beating wildly like you have ran a thousand miles? If you have experienced recurrent severe anxiety attacks you may be suffering from Panic Disorder (PD). This is different from the anxiety reactions you normally experience when you face stressful events in your life.

The most common symptoms of panic disorder is: sudden nervousness and intense fear coupled with hyperventilation, and shortness of breath. Panic disorder can occur anytime, anywhere and this can cause embarrassment and affect behavioral patterns. If you don’t treat anxiety attacks right away it can cause more problems. Sometimes Panic disorder can be mistaken us life- threatening disorder like heart attack or heart disease this wrong notion can trigger other attacks.

Causes of panic disorder

The causes of panic disorder could be hereditary, it had been noted in studies that panic disorder runs in families. Alcoholism and drug dependence or drug abuse can also cause panic disorder. Other causes like psychological factors, stress and the environment can also cause panic disorder. Physical illness, heavy responsibilities, and medications and major stress can also trigger panic attacks. Other abnormalities such as hyperthyroidism, hypoglycemia can trigger panic disorder. Smoking can also trigger panic attacks as this changes normal respiratory function and smokers experience shortness of breath.

What you can do to get rid of your panic disorder.

• The first step you should take towards recovery is educating yourself about panic disorder. If you understand what’s happening to you the tendency is for you to be less anxious and be able to cope. Teach yourself coping abilities and skills on relaxation.
• With your loved one try simple psychotherapy exercises that will enable you to experience and understand the mechanism of the body and its responses to certain stimuli. Jog or run in place and feel your heart beat race, constantly remind yourself that the racing heart is a normal response of the body to the activity, sit on a spinning chair and let your loved one spin it for you experience the sensation of nausea and dizziness, breathe through a straw and experience shortness of breath. Do this daily under guidance of a loved one, or a doctor or psychotherapist for it to be successful.
• You should always put into mind that panic disorder symptoms like shortness of breath, hyperventilation, etc. are not life-threatening and always assure yourself that you are not going crazy.
• You could also join psychotherapy groups or other panic disorder support group in your community. Sharing your experiences, sharing positive feedbacks with others and knowing that you are not alone can boost your morale. Your panic disorder will seem ordinary in a group of fellow sufferers.

If your condition calls for medication doctors usually prescribe benzodiazepines and SSRI anti-depressants. The best thing to do if you think you need medication is to consult your own doctor. The best recommendation for the treatment of panic disorder is education and psychotherapy exercises and treatment . But for you to be able to be treated permanently you have to cooperate and perform your exercises daily and religiously.

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