4 COMMON HEALTH MISERIES

Best Treatments for 4 Common Miseries
By Naomi Barr
O, The Oprah Magazine  |  From the April 2008 issue of O, The Oprah Magazine

While researchers poke around genes and molecular pathways to find the next great painkiller, what you may want to know right now is which drug to take for a pounding headache—or for cramps, a back spasm, sore joints. There can be vast differences in how individuals respond to a medication, says Scott Fishman, MD, chief of the division of pain medicine at the University of California, Davis, so relief may require trial and error. Still, a few guidelines will help you feel better faster:

1. Headache

Occasional: For a garden-variety tension headache, first try acetaminophen (Tylenol), says Russell Portenoy, MD, chair of the department of pain medicine and palliative care at Beth Israel Medical Center in New York City. "It's the safest of all the over-the-counter pain relievers at recommended dosages," he says. If your headache doesn't disappear, choose a nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug (NSAID) like ibuprofen (Advil) or naproxen sodium (Aleve), Fishman suggests. Aspirin also works, but because it has a slightly higher risk for gastrointestinal bleeding, most doctors don't recommend it for more than a few days in a row, says Portenoy. Aspirin for heart disease prevention is taken at a lower dose.

You need something stronger: If the pain persists, talk to your doctor about a prescription-strength NSAID (Voltaren, Anaprox, Celebrex). For severe headaches, you may be prescribed drugs that contain butalbital (a barbiturate), caffeine, and either aspirin (Fiorinal) or acetaminophen (Fioricet). Migraine sufferers are often helped by triptans (like Imitrex or Zomig). If the headache becomes chronic, your best bet is to work with a doctor or pain specialist to find the right drug cocktail (this is true with any kind of ongoing pain; go to painmed.org/patient to find a specialist). Drug options include short-acting opioids (Percocet, Vicodin), antidepressants such as Effexor or Cymbalta, which double as analgesics, and antiseizure medications like gabapentin (Neurontin) or pregabalin (Lyrica), recently approved as the first drug to treat fibromyalgia.

2. Menstrual Cramps

Regular monthly discomfort: Take an over-the-counter NSAID. "Studies have shown that these are more effective than acetaminophen in reducing this kind of pain," says Portenoy.

You need something stronger: Your doctor may suggest a prescription-strength NSAID. Another option is suppressing your cycle with birth control pills, or—if the pain is bad enough—a short-acting opioid.

3. Back Pain

Flare-up: For the random spasm or ache, grab some Tylenol. "Most acute back pain is not inflammatory, so for many people, taking an analgesic like acetaminophen may be all they need," says Portenoy. When this doesn't work, then try an NSAID.

You need something stronger: When you're in agony, or the discomfort doesn't relent in several days, ask your doctor about a combination drug such as Tylenol with codeine, a prescription NSAID, or a short-acting opioid. Drugs for chronic back pain include antidepressants, antiepileptics, muscle relaxants such as cyclobenzaprine (Flexeril), and long-acting opioids like OxyContin.

4. Joint Pain

Once in a while: For the occasional achy hip or shoulder, either acetaminophen or an NSAID (which may help more if there's inflammation) should do the trick, says Fishman.

You need something stronger: Treatments include prescription-level NSAIDS, muscle relaxants, short-acting opioids, and corticosteroid shots. Chronic pain patients may also be prescribed the new fibromyalgia drug Lyrica, as well as certain antidepressants.

Beyond Drugs

In addition to medication, a number of complementary treatments—including acupuncture, guided imagery, cognitive and physical therapy, massage, and hydrotherapy—can help ease pain. Mindfulness meditation in particular has proven to be incredibly effective, says Jon Kabat-Zinn, PhD, author of Full Catastrophe Living: Using the Wisdom of Your Body and Mind to Face Stress, Pain, and Illness. Begin by simply focusing on your breath. Pay attention to every inhalation and exhalation through your nostrils. Picture the breath circulating all around your body, then imagine breathing specifically through the area where the pain is located. If you have a headache, for example, visualize the breath going through a hole at the top of your head; for menstrual cramps, it would flow through your pelvis. Do this for five to 20 minutes, and you should begin to notice the pressure diminish.

MY THOUGHTS

i think these miseries are too common we fail to realize there could be more to it. if it has become a misery, not a mere occassional pain, it's time to seek professional help.

BEFORE BUYING ANTIHISTAMINES

Before You Buy Antihistamines
By Kristina Duda, R.N., About.com Guide
Updated January 08, 2010

About.com Health's Disease and Condition content is reviewed by our Medical Review Board

Find out everything you need to know about antihistamines. What symptoms they treat, who should take them and who should not.
Check your symptoms

Antihistamines treat:

    * sneezing
    * runny nose
    * watery eyes

    * itchiness
    * scratchy throat

    * Symptoms of Common Cold
    * Symptoms of the Flu

Frequency and Duration for Antihistamines

There are prescription and non-prescription antihistamines. They can last anywhere from 4 to 24 hours. Over the counter antihistamines used for occasional cold symptoms usually need to be taken every 4-6 hours.

Length of Use for Antihistamines

You should not take an over the counter antihistamine for more than 7 days before talking to your doctor. If your symptoms last longer than 7 days, you may have developed something more serious.
Important things to tell your doctor

You should tell your doctor if you have any of the following before taking an antihistamine:

    * asthma or chronic bronchitis
    * high blood pressure
    * glaucoma
    * liver disease
    * kidney disease or difficulty urinating
    * prostate problems
    * ulcers or other stomach problems
    * other chronic illnesses
    * pregnant, trying to get pregnant or breastfeeding
    * ALL medications you are taking, including herbal supplements

Common Antihistamines

Some common names for antihistamines are:
Over the counter

    * Benadryl - diphenhydramine (generic)
    * Claritin - loratidine (generic)
    * Zyrtec - ceterizine (generic)
    * Triaminic - chlorpheniramine (generic) - for children

Prescription

    * Allegra - fexofenadine (generic)

MY THOUGHTS

i must be weird. i love antihistamines.  especially benadryl.  makes me fall asleep in a jiffy.

WHY YOUR MEMORY MAY BE SLIPPING

Head Trip: Why Your Memory May Be Slipping
Mild brain injuries from an old fall may show up years later.
By Tim Jarvis
O, The Oprah Magazine | From the June 2008 issue of O, The Oprah Magazine

Do you remember?

If that's starting to be a touchy, frustrating, panicky question, dementia is not necessarily nipping at your heels. "Many times when I'm dealing with patients who fear they have Alzheimer's, I find they have a history of head injuries," says Jonathan Canick, PhD, a neuropsychologist and the codirector of the Memory Clinic at California Pacific Medical Center in San Francisco. In fact, researchers at the Mount Sinai School of Medicine in New York City have been investigating the effects of unidentified traumatic brain injuries (TBI)—long-forgotten falls, sports injuries, or any accident that resulted in a blow to the head—since the early 1990s. One of their recent studies referred to TBI as a hidden epidemic, because often the symptoms, which can include both cognitive and behavioral problems, are attributed to other causes. Even mild TBIs cause noticeable brain tissue loss, according to a study in Neurology. Normal aging, Canick stresses, is not a process of mental decline, but changes in the brain can unmask the effects of prior injuries.

It's time for a brain check...

Red Flags

Are you easily able to multitask? Can you cope with everyday chores, like balancing a checkbook, without making elementary mistakes? Are you able to keep track of information? If you answer no to any of these, think back to whether you've ever had a hard knock to your head that left you disoriented, suggests Wayne A. Gordon, PhD, professor of rehabilitation medicine at Mount Sinai School of Medicine.

Diagnosis

"Patients go misdiagnosed because their practitioners often rely on a test like the Mini Mental State Exam that may miss more subtle and vexing problems," Canick says. The best specialists are neuropsychologists (the National Academy of Neuropsychologists at www.nanonline.org has a directory).

Treatment

Options include stimulants (such as Ritalin and Provigil), dementia drugs (Aricept, Exelon), and cognitive rehabilitation programs. None of these treatments are cure-alls, says Canick; nor do they work for everyone. But with a proper diagnosis, he says, "they can either significantly improve a person's cognition or increase mental functioning in general."

MY THOUGHTS

The key is, probably, to exercise your mind. Go for mind games. Watch shows that will make you think. Read things of value. Get into blogging. (check out my tutorial)  Have 'thinking' sessions with friends and family. Be aware of your stress levels. Stress can be a contributor to forgetfulness. So, relax and free your mind of anything that will bog it down.

When you do reach that point where you become forgetful, don't just accept it. Find ways around it. Organize yourself.  Live with routines. Organize your things. Keep them labeled. Color code them. Whatever. What I'm saying is don't let memory loss cripple you. And don't make an excuse out of it. If you do, one day, you won't even be able to remember what you can't remember.

WORRISOME EFFECTS OF EVERYDAY DRUGS

Everyday Drugs, Worrisome Side Effects
By Catherine Guthrie
O, The Oprah Magazine | From the April 2008 issue of O, The Oprah Magazine

This is a grim trend: A recent report in the journal Archives of Internal Medicine uncovered a nearly threefold surge—between 1998 and 2005—in the number of serious injuries, disabilities, and deaths linked to prescription drugs. Thomas Moore, a senior scientist at the Institute for Safe Medication Practices in Huntingdon Valley, Pennsylvania, and the report's lead author, says neither doctors nor patients want to think about the downside of drug treatment: "People don't want to look at the risks, and physicians don't want to think they may be hurting their patients instead of helping them." But a little awareness could help you avoid troublesome side effects and even save your life, especially with these three frequently prescribed classes of drugs.

Painkillers: To soothe arthritis, headaches, and muscle pain, more than 30 million Americans reach for NSAIDS (nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs) every day. But these medicine cabinet mainstays, such as aspirin and ibuprofen, pack serious perils. Namely, they can weaken the stomach's defenses against digestive juices, leaving it vulnerable to damage. Every year NSAID-related ulcers and gastrointestinal bleeding send upwards of 100,000 people racing to the hospital; the pills contribute to up to as many as 20,000 deaths annually. If you regularly pop NSAIDS, tell your doctor so she can help you minimize the risks; the biggest is a peptic ulcer. If you have a burning pain in your gut that comes and goes, see a doctor.

Antidepressants: The number of Americans on these drugs—roughly 8 percent of adults—has more than tripled in the past 20 years. The class of medications most often used to lift mood are called SSRIs (short for selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors) and act on the brain's chemical messengers. But they can sidetrack these messengers from their other duties, namely sexual arousal. Up to two-thirds of all users report signs of sexual dysfunction, such as low libido, inability to sustain an erection, and difficulty reaching orgasm. "Don't be embarrassed to talk to your doctor about sexual side effects," says Moore. "Changing the drug or the dose might take care of the problem." A switch to bupropion (Wellbutrin) may help; both male and female patients have also reported that Viagra can boost sensation and performance.

Statins: These cholesterol busters are lifesavers for many of the 26 million Americans who live with heart disease, but they aren't risk-free. The drugs can interfere with proteins that help sustain muscle, leaving users feeling sore and achy. In a small percentage of people, those muscle pains indicate rhabdomyolysis, a potentially deadly condition in which muscle tissue is rapidly destroyed. If you experience muscle pain or weakness on statins, talk to your doctor about adjusting the dose or switching to a different brand—both can alleviate symptoms. You may need to be persistent. A recent survey in the journal Drug Safety found that of the 650 statin users who had reported muscle-related symptoms to their doctors, nearly half had their concerns dismissed. Beatrice Golomb, MD, PhD, associate professor of medicine at the University of California, San Diego, led the study and says she was flabbergasted by how many doctors failed to take patients' complaints seriously. "That troubled me a lot," she says.


MY THOUGHTS

i practically inhale pain relievers. i get migraines so often, some of them awfully painful, i gulp down mefenamic acid at the very first sign of a headache. i guess i'm lucky i'm not having any stomach troubles- as this article warns.

CHANGES TO MAKE FOR HEALTHY BONES

CHANGES TO MAKE FOR HEALTHY BONES

from the article "Is Exercise Weakening Your Bones?"
By the Osteoporosis and Related Bone Diseases National Resource Center
Published January 24, 2011

What changes can I make to improve my bone health?

If you recognize some of these signs in yourself, the best thing you can do is make your diet more healthful. That includes consuming enough calories to support your activity level.

If you’ve missed periods, it’s best to check with a doctor to make sure it’s not a sign of some other problem, and get your doctor’s help as you work toward a more healthy balance of food and exercise. Also, a doctor can help you take steps to protect your bones from further damage.

My friend drinks a lot of diet sodas. She says this helps keep her trim. Is that true?

Girls and women who may be dieting often drink diet sodas rather than milk. Yet milk and other dairy products are a good source of calcium, an essential ingredient for healthy bones. Drinking sodas instead of milk can be a problem, especially during the teen years when rapid bone growth occurs.

If you (or your friend) find yourself drinking a lot of sodas, try drinking half as many sodas each day, and gradually add more milk and dairy products to your diet. A frozen yogurt shake can be an occasional low-fat, tasty treat. Or try a fruit smoothie made with frozen yogurt, fruit or calcium-enriched orange juice.

My coach and I think I should lose just a little more weight. I want to be able to excel at my sport!

Years ago, it was not unusual for coaches to encourage athletes to be as thin as possible for many sports (e.g., dancing, gymnastics, figure skating, swimming, diving and running). However, many coaches now realize that being too thin is unhealthy and can negatively affect performance.

It’s important to exercise and watch what you eat. However, it’s also important to develop and maintain healthy bones and bodies. Without these, it won't matter how fast you can run, how thin you are, or how long you exercise each day.

MY THOUGHTS

milk instead of soda? that doesn't sound like fun. but osteoporosis will take the fun out of your life. so, better think this over.

WHO'S LIKELY TO GET WEAK BONES?

WHO'S AT RISK FOR WEAK BONES

from the article "Is Exercise Weakening Your Bones?"
By the Osteoporosis and Related Bone Diseases National Resource Center
Published January 24, 2011

Who’s at risk for these problems?

Girls and women who engage in rigorous exercise regimens or who try to lose weight by restricting their eating are at risk for these health problems. They may include serious athletes, “gym rats” (who spend considerable time and energy working out), and girls and women who believe “you can never be too thin.”

How can I tell if someone I know, train with, or coach may be at risk for bone loss, fracture, and other health problems?
Here are some signs to look for:

* Missed or irregular menstrual periods

* Extreme or “unhealthy-looking” thinness

* Extreme or rapid weight loss

* Behaviors that reflect frequent dieting, such as eating very little, not eating in front of others, trips to the bathroom following meals, preoccupation with thinness or weight, focus on low-calorie and diet foods, possible increase in the consumption of water and other no- and low-calorie foods and beverages, possible increase in gum chewing, limiting diet to one food group, or eliminating a food group

* Frequent intense bouts of exercise (e.g., taking an aerobics class, then running 5 miles, then swimming for an hour, followed by weight-lifting)

* An “I can’t miss a day of exercise/practice” attitude

* An overly anxious preoccupation with an injury

* Exercising despite illness, inclement weather, injury and other conditions that might lead someone else to take the day off

* An unusual amount of self-criticism or self-dissatisfaction

* Indications of significant psychological or physical stress, including depression, anxiety or nervousness, inability to concentrate, low levels of self-esteem, feeling cold all the time, problems sleeping, fatigue, injuries, and constantly talking about weight

MY THOUGHTS

4-5 hours of exercise seem to be overboard, right? our bones will definitely crack, especially if there's not enough healthy bone food to mend the bones.

WEAKENING BONES

EXERCISE CAN WEAKEN YOUR BONES

from the Article "Is Exercise Weakening Your Bones?"

By the Osteoporosis and Related Bone Diseases National Resource Center
Published January 24, 2011

Working out and dieting can get you in shape, but overdoing it puts bones at risk. Read on to learn how to stay fit without causing fractures…

Are you exercising too much? Eating too little? Have your menstrual periods stopped or become irregular? If so, you may be putting yourself at high risk for several serious problems that could affect your health, your ability to remain active, and your risk for injuries.

You also may be putting yourself at risk for developing osteoporosis, a disease in which bone density is decreased, leaving bones vulnerable to fracture (breaking).

Why is missing my period such a big deal?

Some athletes see amenorrhea (the absence of menstrual periods) as a sign of successful training. Others see it as a great answer to a monthly inconvenience. And some young women accept it blindly, not stopping to think of the consequences.

But missing your periods is often a sign of decreased estrogen levels. And lower estrogen levels can lead to osteoporosis, a disease in which your bones become brittle and more likely to break.

Usually, this doesn't happen until women are much older. But some young women, especially those who exercise so much their periods stop, develop brittle bones and may start to have fractures at a very early age. Some 20-year-old female athletes have been said to have the bones of an 80-year-old woman.

Even if bones don’t break when you’re young, low estrogen levels during the peak years of bone-building – the preteen and teen years – can affect bone density for the rest of your life. And studies show that bone growth lost during these years may never be regained.

Broken bones don’t just hurt – they can cause lasting physical malformations. Have you noticed that some older women and men have stooped postures? This is not a normal sign of aging. Fractures from osteoporosis have left their spines permanently altered.

Overtraining can cause other problems besides missed periods. If you don’t take in enough calcium and vitamin D (among other nutrients), bone loss may result. This may lead to decreased athletic performance, decreased ability to exercise or train at desired levels of intensity or duration, and increased risk of injury.

MY THOUGHTS

anything excessive is never good. and it pays to take heed while you still can. osteoporosis is,indeed,a debilitating illness. never mind that you look deformed. i know some people suffering from osteoporosis and they claim that the pain is indescribable.