Doctors request a vaginal smear on their patients for different reasons especially for symptoms of vaginosis. These symptoms include vaginal itching, burning sensation in the vagina, rash, unusual or strong odor or atypical discharge. It helps assess patients for yeast infection, bacterial vaginosis and parasitosis caused by Trichomonas vaginalis.
Is there only one type of vaginal smear?
No. The vaginal wet mount smear involves observing the wet mount microscopy characteristics of a vaginal discharge by placing the specimen on a glass slide and mixing with a salt solution. Whereas, another type (vaginal Pap smear) involves a smear taken from the vaginal mucosa and stained for cytological analysis.
What should a patient avoid before getting a vaginal smear?
The patient should abstain from sexual activities at least 24 hours before having a vaginal smear done. Likewise, the patient should stop vaginal irrigation or douching, use of tampon and vaginal medications. For douching, tampon use and medications, especially non-prescription vaginal yeast medication, the patient should stop using these two to three days prior to the test. Sexual activities alter the vaginal pH and thus, the results. An authorized person to perform the vaginal smear must not do so during the menstrual period of the patient. The presence of blood on the smear causes erroneous and misleading results.
How does the authorized medical practitioner perform the test?
The person who will collect the vaginal smear (usually a doctor) will ask the patient to assume the lithotomy position. The doctor then uses a speculum to open the vagina while using a swab or other device to obtain the sample inside the vagina. The test causes no serious side effects after the specimen collection. However, some patients experience mild bleeding within the day. This is no cause for worry and it comes normally with a vaginal smear.
Today it has dawned on many people that homemade remedies for kidney stones are a better alternative that taking in synthetic drugs. It is not only inexpensive it has no side effects and it gives you a sense of pleasure and accomplishment to be able to cure yourself. Read on to learn about natural homemade remedies.
What is a kidney stone?
The first step to curing yourself is to understand the problem. Kidney stones are buildups or deposits of excess minerals and other organic substances in the kidney and urinary tract. Stones maybe deposits of calcium, phosphates, oxalate, magnesium, and carbonates. If this deposits grows and blocks the urethra (tube where urine passes) the sufferer can experience excruciating pain, other symptoms include chills, fever, fatigue, and nausea. Blood in the urine can also be found in urine of persons with kidney stones.
Homemade remedies for kidney stones
Scientists, doctors, nutritionists, researchers, and alternative medicine practitioners all agree that nutrition or diet has a big role in the health of human beings. Therefore, a change of lifestyle and the intake of nutritious natural foods will improve your overall health. Eat foods that are excellent in preventing the formation of kidney stones like celery, ripe fresh apples, melons, and drink 10-12 glasses of water or more daily. These are just a few of the best homemade remedies for kidney stones.
If you already have kidney stones eat lots of fruits and vegetables that can help eliminate or dissolve kidney stones from your body like kidney beans or French beans, grapes, honey with basil juice(1 teaspoon daily). Pomegranate (sweet and sour) seeds; ground this to make a paste and add it to 2 tablespoon of horse gram and make a soup. These are excellent homemade remedies for kidney stones.
If you are taught earlier in life to eat a proper, balanced diet you could have avoided many kidney problems such as kidney stones. Other homemade remedies for kidney stones is to avoid alcoholic beverages, gravies carbonated drinks, condiments and some vegetables like cucumber, radish, tomatoes, spinach, cabbage, asparagus, rhubarb and onions.
If you suspect you have hepatitis, the hepatitis laboratory tests will help you confirm your suspicions. The liver problem is due to virus but alcohol, drugs, chemicals and autoimmune and inherited disease can also cause the inflammation. Although the illness can go for several years untreated, if you keep on ignoring the symptoms, it can worsen to liver cirrhosis, cancer and even death. To prevent the complications, here are the possible hepatitis laboratory tests you can requests.
Blood Chemistry
When you see the yellowish discoloration in your skin or feel pain in the right upper quadrant of your abdomen, your physician may request for hepatitis laboratory tests to rule out liver problems. Some of the important blood tests include serum bilirubin determination, proteins, the liver enzyme levels and test for coagulation. During a liver problem, you will expect an elevated level of these substances. When correlated with the signs and symptoms you present, they help your doctor make a better diagnosis on your condition.
Serological Tests
To make a more definite diagnosis, the serological types of hepatitis laboratory tests are more confirmatory than the blood chemistry tests. They detect for the presence of the antigen of the virus or for the antibodies produced in response to the microorganisms. Different kits are available from manufacturers to detect the specific virus causing the inflammation. The test requires blood specimen extracted by a qualified medical technologist. You just have to wait for a few minutes to get the result of your hepatitis laboratory tests.
Biopsy
If the two hepatitis laboratory tests remain inconclusive, your doctor may use liver biopsy as another option to detect the cause of the problem. The doctor will insert a needle to aspirate a sample of the liver cells and the pathologist will do the microscopic examination. Because the procedure is an invasive method, it is very seldom requested.
If you think you have hepatitis, consult your doctor at once to get an accurate diagnosis.
The demand for Gouty Arthritis homemade cures increased in the past few years because more people today suffer from gouty Arthritis. There are also many people who are now turning back to nature for treatment of most health problems. One way to avoid gouty arthritis is to avoid eating foods that are rich in uric acid like organ meat products and animal protein.
What is Gouty Arthritis?
Gouty arthritis is a kind of arthritis that is caused by uric acid build-up in joints; usually the big toe. However, it could also affect the ankles, knees, elbows, fingers, toes, wrists, and the foot (heel/instep). Gouty arthritis is one of the most painful forms of arthritis. Symptoms include inflammation, acute pain, tenderness, and redness in the affected area.
The best gouty arthritis homemade cures
One of the best gouty arthritis homemade cures is eating a proper diet. Add fruits that are rich in vitamin C to your daily menu. Fruits that are rich in vitamin C include Indian gooseberries, guavas, strawberries, cherries and other citrus fruits. Another vitamin C rich fruit is Lemon. Green leafy vegetables and apples should also be included in your diet.
Eat at least 3-4 bananas daily, this fruit is rich in phosphorous and minerals that can help eliminate uric acid from the body. Eating a well-planned diet is one of the best gouty arthritis homemade cures. You can also take supplements of zinc, and calcium. Aside from eating a balance diet, drink at least 8-12 glasses of water to rid some of the uric acid from the kidneys and liver.
To relieve joint pains caused by gouty arthritis, try these gouty arthritis homemade cures: gently massage warm olive oil or castor oil on the affected area. If your ankles or toes are affected try soaking your feet in warm water with ground ginger this will relieve the swelling and the pain.
People should realize early in life that a healthy diet and a healthy life style lead to long life and good health. So teach you kids what food to eat and what to avoid. You should also formulate or learn more of gouty arthritis homemade cures to be able to help yourself and your loved ones fight the disease.
Do you know that your bruises could be treated making use of home remedies? You just have to know when to treat and when not to. Even if you do not belong to any of the allied medical professions, you should be able to determine whether bruises are serious enough to merit treatment in a hospital or whether home remedies could do. This will save you considerable time and money. Here are some pointers to consider when deciding on the mode of treatment.
When can a bruise be given home remedies?
Bruises can be classified into three:
1. Subcutaneous
This is a bruise which is a result of a mild, physical applied pressure by someone or something. It is superficial because only the skin is affected. This may come from mild bumps, contusions or short falls. The affected area may have a bluish (we also call this in the medical field -hematoma) or reddish discoloration of the skin and some swelling (inflammation).
These are the type of bruises that could be treated with home remedies.
2. Intramuscular
This is a more serious type of the condition because it goes deeper than the skin because the muscles are now affected. The same bluish or reddish discoloration of the skin is present but the pain is more intense and pus formation may develop. When this happens medical assistance should be sought. Some intramuscular bruises can be treated at home if there is no pus formed and the patient does not experience nausea or vomiting.
3. Periosteal
This goes deeper than the skin and the muscle because it involves the bones. This is the most serious type and definitely needs medical assistance because surgery might be in order. This could be caused by vehicular accidents or an intentional hitting of a blunt object. The pain, swelling and discoloration are more pronounced than the two types and the bruise would be more prone to pus formation.
For the subcutaneous bruise and a non pus-forming intramuscular bruise, home remedies could be used. These are some of the home remedies that I myself used at home and during my first aid classes:
1. For swelling, the bruise can be subjected to an ice pack for 10-15 minutes 3 times a day. The ice pack should be wrapped in a cloth to avoid direct contact as this would cause more pain afterward. There are dry ice packs available which could be bought commercially. Do not hold the ice pack steady over the bruise as it would “freeze’ the vein and may render it dysfunctional (just like in frostbite). Move the ice pack over the bruised area in a manner that does not concentrate in one area alone.
2. After the swelling has subsided, you can now apply warm compress. This would hasten the healing of the bruise by encouraging blood flow into the bruised area. In the same manner that you have applied the cold compress, the same manner is also true for the warm compress. Do not hold it steady but move it over the entire area.
3. If the bruise feels hot, then raw egg could be placed over the bruised area to make it cooler. The egg yolk is cleaner and is the cooler portion of the egg and is therefore preferable.
4. Crushed parsley could also be applied into the area until the bruise gets better. This would be evident by the color of the skin returning to its normal color.
5. Crushed ginger could also reduce swelling in the bruised area by applying it overnight. The ginger should be washed thoroughly, (do not peel the skin) and then crushed and applied to the area with a gauze pad (or soft cloth) and micropore (plaster) to hold it in place. This could be done until the swelling subsides. The ice pack could be applied during the day and the crushed ginger during the night.
These are all applicable if you do not have pre-existing debilitating diseases, like diabetes, congenital heart disease or renal dysfunction.
Even if it is only a subcutaneous bruise, if the swelling and skin discoloration is persistent even after the home remedies, then you have to consult your physician. There maybe other underlying pathologic conditions than just the presence of the bruises. Bruises could occur also because of Leukemia and other serious blood dyscrasia, so be wise in deciding when to use home remedies and when not to.
There are still many home cure remedies for bruises but the above-mentioned are the methods I had personally used, hence the recommendation.
Below are signs and symptoms manifested by individuals with Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus:
* Hyperglycemia – increased blood glucose to 200 mg/dL or higher secondary to lack of insulin or the cells of the body do not react properly to insulin, insulin resistance.
* Increased urinary frequency – glucose leaks into the urine and the weight of sugar in the urine triggers urge to urinate.
* Increased thirst – due to frequent urination dehydration occurs and thirst receptors are activated.
* Weight loss
Some of the major complications of Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus are listed below:
* Retinopathy – blurring of vision may occur due to continuous increased pressure in the veins and arterioles of the retina.
* Nephropathy – destruction of the nephrons secondary to the heavy weight of the sugar continuously passing through the kidneys’ filters.
Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus can be managed by diet and lifestyle modification. For a complete diet modification consult a licensed dietician or your doctor. Light exercises and weight loss can also slow or prevent the progress of the disease.
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.
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.
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.
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 commonare 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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