<?xml version='1.0' encoding='UTF-8'?><?xml-stylesheet href="http://www.blogger.com/styles/atom.css" type="text/css"?><feed xmlns='http://www.w3.org/2005/Atom' xmlns:openSearch='http://a9.com/-/spec/opensearchrss/1.0/' xmlns:georss='http://www.georss.org/georss' xmlns:gd='http://schemas.google.com/g/2005' xmlns:thr='http://purl.org/syndication/thread/1.0'><id>tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-29548194</id><updated>2012-01-19T21:02:56.926-08:00</updated><category term='drug'/><category term='altocor medicine'/><category term='medicine'/><category term='blood+presure'/><title type='text'>Alternative Medicine Blog</title><subtitle type='html'>Get all information about medicine and alternative medicine</subtitle><link rel='http://schemas.google.com/g/2005#feed' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://medicine-resource.blogspot.com/feeds/posts/default'/><link rel='self' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.blogger.com/feeds/29548194/posts/default?max-results=100'/><link rel='alternate' type='text/html' href='http://medicine-resource.blogspot.com/'/><link rel='hub' href='http://pubsubhubbub.appspot.com/'/><author><name>sham</name><uri>http://www.blogger.com/profile/10638826878676990626</uri><email>noreply@blogger.com</email><gd:image rel='http://schemas.google.com/g/2005#thumbnail' width='16' height='16' src='http://img2.blogblog.com/img/b16-rounded.gif'/></author><generator version='7.00' uri='http://www.blogger.com'>Blogger</generator><openSearch:totalResults>9</openSearch:totalResults><openSearch:startIndex>1</openSearch:startIndex><openSearch:itemsPerPage>100</openSearch:itemsPerPage><entry><id>tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-29548194.post-1293259688089099391</id><published>2007-06-09T11:59:00.000-07:00</published><updated>2007-06-09T12:00:23.123-07:00</updated><category scheme='http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#' term='blood+presure'/><title type='text'>Simple Tips To Lower Your Blood Pressure Naturally</title><content type='html'>Many people take their rain gutters and downspouts for granted. They see the guttering attached to their home, but they never give them a second thought. That can be a mistake for several reasons that we will take a closer look at in a second, but gutter maintenance is a very important part of your entire homes maintenance.&lt;br /&gt;Without properly installed and functional gutters and downspouts, you can easily find yourself with roof damage or erosion problems in your yard. In many cases this can lead to leaky basements and other problems as well.&lt;br /&gt;Gutter Maintenance If you have been diagnosed with high blood pressure, you know how important it is to look into ways to bring it back under control. People with high blood pressure are at a greater risk for a stroke or a heart attack. But there are ways to lower your blood pressure naturally. This article will look at a few of these alternative treatments for high blood pressure.&lt;br /&gt;There are several herbs and dietary supplements that can be effective in lowering your blood pressure. Garlic, fish oil, and Coenzyme Q10 are just a few. Do your homework. Study these supplements to find the most effective and best one for you. Make sure to look for any information on interactions that natural supplements may have with any other medicines you may be taking. Look for a holistic practitioner in your area and ask what they recommend for your blood pressure.&lt;br /&gt;This second alternative is a no-brainer but probably one of the most difficult things to do. Eat healthy. Cut back on your salt intake. Eat more fruits and vegetables. Stop eating all of those processed foods. They are very high in sodium and fat. Stay away from the fast food drive thru. Cook healthy meals at home and have a nice sit down dinner with your loved ones. This can be a very relaxing experience, which can also help to lower your blood pressure.&lt;br /&gt;Another important method to help lower your blood pressure is to start exercising. People today have a much more sedentary lifestyle than they did 20 years ago. This is really showing in our waistline and our general health conditions. Get out and begin exercising. Take walks daily, join a gym, and lose that excess weight. Exercise will help you reduce your blood pressure by helping you to lose weight and by keeping your heart healthy.&lt;br /&gt;Yoga or biofeedback are other ways to help lower your blood pressure. These methods teach you to control your internal body functions that are normally controlled by your body automatically, such as blood pressure. Learning to meditate and control these functions can go a long way in reducing stress in your life and in lowering your blood pressure.&lt;br /&gt;Choose one of these methods or choose all of these methods. It is up to you. But the most important thing that you can do for your overall health is to eat healthy and start exercising. These two things will not only help lower your blood pressure, but will help ward off any health problems that may be looming in your future.&lt;br /&gt;After you start any of these alternative methods, monitor your blood pressure frequently. With the right alternative blood pressure medicine and treatments, you can be successful in lowering your blood pressure naturally.&lt;br /&gt;All Rights Reserved Worldwide. Reprint Rights: You may reprint this article as long as you leave all of the links active and do not edit the article in any way.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;About the Author&lt;br /&gt;By the way, you can learn more about how to &lt;a href="http://www.highbloodpressurea-z.com/Simple_Tips_To_Lower_Your_Blood_Pressure_Naturally.html" target="_new"&gt;Lower Your Blood Pressure Naturally&lt;/a&gt; as well as much more information about blood pressure at &lt;a href="http://www.highbloodpressurea-z.com/" target="_new"&gt;&lt;/a&gt;&lt;a href="http://www.highbloodpressurea-z.com/"&gt;http://www.HighBloodPressureA-z.com&lt;/a&gt;&lt;div class="blogger-post-footer"&gt;&lt;img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/29548194-1293259688089099391?l=medicine-resource.blogspot.com' alt='' /&gt;&lt;/div&gt;</content><link rel='replies' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://medicine-resource.blogspot.com/feeds/1293259688089099391/comments/default' title='Post Comments'/><link rel='replies' type='text/html' href='http://www.blogger.com/comment.g?blogID=29548194&amp;postID=1293259688089099391' title='3 Comments'/><link rel='edit' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.blogger.com/feeds/29548194/posts/default/1293259688089099391'/><link rel='self' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.blogger.com/feeds/29548194/posts/default/1293259688089099391'/><link rel='alternate' type='text/html' href='http://medicine-resource.blogspot.com/2007/06/simple-tips-to-lower-your-blood.html' title='Simple Tips To Lower Your Blood Pressure Naturally'/><author><name>sham</name><uri>http://www.blogger.com/profile/10638826878676990626</uri><email>noreply@blogger.com</email><gd:image rel='http://schemas.google.com/g/2005#thumbnail' width='16' height='16' src='http://img2.blogblog.com/img/b16-rounded.gif'/></author><thr:total>3</thr:total></entry><entry><id>tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-29548194.post-6736782261323480313</id><published>2007-05-24T09:21:00.000-07:00</published><updated>2007-05-24T09:23:04.891-07:00</updated><category scheme='http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#' term='altocor medicine'/><category scheme='http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#' term='medicine'/><title type='text'>5 Types of Alternative Medicine for High Blood Pressure</title><content type='html'>&lt;p&gt;If you suffer from high blood pressure, one thing you probably dread is the use of strong medicine. Some even believe that this is their only option. There are, however, many types of alternative medicine for high blood pressure. Provided here are five types of alternative medicine techniques you can use to control your high blood pressure.&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt; 1. Lose Weight and Eat Healthy&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt; One of the most effective types of alternative medicine for high blood pressure is to lose weight. A major cause of high blood pressure is obesity, so losing weight is a great way to lower your blood pressure. This isn't the easiest thing in the world for a lot of people. It takes dedication and consistency, but it is your health and, overall, it is your life. Losing weight involves changing your diet and getting plenty of exercise and the best time to start is now!&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt; 2. Relieve Stress&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt; Stress can cause a lot to go wrong with your body and high blood pressure is no exception. Another type of alternative medicine for high blood pressure is simply to learn how to relax. Learn some relaxation techniques such as:&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;  &gt; Meditation  &gt; Yoga  &gt; Massage  &gt; Music&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt; There are many more ways to relax and apart from lowering your blood pressure, it will also improve your quality of life.&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt; 3. Magnet Treatment&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt; This can definitely be classified as an alternative medicine for high blood pressure. Not much is known behind why this works, but copper and iron bracelets can help reduce the effects of blood pressure. There are no side effects or any type of harm that can come of it, so it doesn't hurt to try it out.&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt; 4. Chiropractic Treatment and Acupuncture&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt; Another great alternative medicine for high blood pressure is visiting your chiropractor. Realigning the vertebrae in the spine can reestablish the body's balance and help you function properly. Acupuncture can help release strain on your heart. Both treatments contribute to reducing stress, therefore dramatically reducing high blood pressure.&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt; 5. Herbs and Vitamins&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt; I'm sure you've heard of using supplemental vitamins for health reasons and you may even take vitamins already. This is a great alternative medicine for high blood pressure. Not only can you take supplements, but you can also increase the amount of vegetables and fruits in your diet. This will also contribute to eating healthier, which will help you lose weight. You are looking to increase three major elements in your diet&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;  &gt; Calcium  &gt; Potassium  &gt; Magnesium&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt; All five types of alternative medicine for high blood pressure will give you options for treating your high blood pressure other than taking strong medicine. They may not be your cure, but they can work together to help improve your quality of life and lower your high blood pressure.&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt; KJ King &lt;a href="http://www.fightinghighbloodpressure.com/"&gt;http://www.FightingHighBloodPressure.com&lt;/a&gt; © 2007&lt;br /&gt;&lt;/p&gt; &lt;p&gt;For more techniques on &lt;a href="http://www.fightinghighbloodpressure.com/" title="how to lower your high blood pressure"&gt;how to lower your high blood pressure&lt;/a&gt; and improve your quality of life, visit &lt;a href="http://www.fightinghighbloodpressure.com/" title="alternative medicine for high blood pressure"&gt;Fighting High Blood Pressure&lt;/a&gt; today.&lt;/p&gt;&lt;div class="blogger-post-footer"&gt;&lt;img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/29548194-6736782261323480313?l=medicine-resource.blogspot.com' alt='' /&gt;&lt;/div&gt;</content><link rel='replies' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://medicine-resource.blogspot.com/feeds/6736782261323480313/comments/default' title='Post Comments'/><link rel='replies' type='text/html' href='http://www.blogger.com/comment.g?blogID=29548194&amp;postID=6736782261323480313' title='0 Comments'/><link rel='edit' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.blogger.com/feeds/29548194/posts/default/6736782261323480313'/><link rel='self' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.blogger.com/feeds/29548194/posts/default/6736782261323480313'/><link rel='alternate' type='text/html' href='http://medicine-resource.blogspot.com/2007/05/5-types-of-alternative-medicine-for.html' title='5 Types of Alternative Medicine for High Blood Pressure'/><author><name>sham</name><uri>http://www.blogger.com/profile/10638826878676990626</uri><email>noreply@blogger.com</email><gd:image rel='http://schemas.google.com/g/2005#thumbnail' width='16' height='16' src='http://img2.blogblog.com/img/b16-rounded.gif'/></author><thr:total>0</thr:total></entry><entry><id>tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-29548194.post-7166754575027611491</id><published>2007-03-10T22:09:00.000-08:00</published><updated>2007-03-10T22:12:06.544-08:00</updated><category scheme='http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#' term='drug'/><category scheme='http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#' term='altocor medicine'/><category scheme='http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#' term='medicine'/><title type='text'>Altocor Medicine - Uses, Dosage and Side Effects</title><content type='html'>&lt;p&gt;Altocor is an extended-release form of the cholesterol-lowering drug lovastatin. Altocor is prescribed to slow the clogging process in people who already have heart disease. &lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt; Altocor reduces low-density lipoprotein (LDL) cholesterol and total cholesterol in the blood. Lowering your cholesterol can help prevent heart disease and hardening of the arteries, conditions that can lead to heart attack, stroke, and vascular disease.&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt; Altocor Dosage   *For adults, the usual starting dose is 20 to 60 milligrams, and you should be taken once a day at bedtime.  *If you are taking cyclosporine and Altocor, then the usual starting dose is 10 milligrams. &lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt; Uses of Altocor   *Altocor is used to lowering the cholesterol (a type of fat) in the body.  *It may also be used to treats other medical conditions those are listed in this medication guide. &lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt; Side Effects of Altocor&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt; Side effects are rare. Minor side effects include:&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;  * Constipation  * Diarrhea  * Gas  * Heartburn  * Headache  * Insomnia.&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt; Major side effects include&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;  * Abdominal pain or cramps  * Blurred vision  * Dizziness  * Itching  * Muscle pain or cramps  * Rash  * Yellowing of the skin or eyes.&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt; Warnings and precautions before taking Altocor :&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt; *In rare cases, drugs such as Altocor cause rhabdomyolysis, a potentially fatal condition that destroys muscle cells and sometimes causes kidney failure. Alert your doctor immediately if you experience any unexplained muscle tenderness, weakness, or pain, especially if you also have a fever or feel sick. You'll probably need to give up Altocor therapy. *If you have a history of liver disease, then you should be used this medicine with extra caution. *If you have surgery or a major illness, then you should not stop taking Altocor without talking with your doctor. *After taken this medicine, then you may feel dizzy, or drowsiness. So you should not participate in any activities that require alertness such as driving and operate machinery. Drug Interaction :- &lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt; If you are taking Altocor with certain other drugs, then the effects of either could be increased, decreased, or altered. So it is especially important to check with your doctor before combining Altocor with the following: &lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt; *Antipyrine  *Blood-thinning drugs  *Cyclosporine (Sandimmune, Neoral)  *Erythromycin  *Gemfibrozil (Lopid)  *HIV protease inhibitors such as Agenerase, Norvir, and Viracept  *Itraconazole (Sporanox)  *Ketoconazole (Nizoral)  *Spironolactone  *Verapamil (Calan, Verelan) &lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt; Overdose&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt; Although there is no specific information available about Altocor overdose, any medication taken in excess can have serious consequences. If you suspect an overdose of Altocor, seek medical attention immediately.&lt;/p&gt; There is no specific information available about Altocor overdose. But after taken Altocor if you feel that overdose is suspected, then you should contact with your doctor immediately. Because it may lead to another serious effect.&lt;div class="blogger-post-footer"&gt;&lt;img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/29548194-7166754575027611491?l=medicine-resource.blogspot.com' alt='' /&gt;&lt;/div&gt;</content><link rel='replies' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://medicine-resource.blogspot.com/feeds/7166754575027611491/comments/default' title='Post Comments'/><link rel='replies' type='text/html' href='http://www.blogger.com/comment.g?blogID=29548194&amp;postID=7166754575027611491' title='1 Comments'/><link rel='edit' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.blogger.com/feeds/29548194/posts/default/7166754575027611491'/><link rel='self' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.blogger.com/feeds/29548194/posts/default/7166754575027611491'/><link rel='alternate' type='text/html' href='http://medicine-resource.blogspot.com/2007/03/altocor-medicine-uses-dosage-and-side.html' title='Altocor Medicine - Uses, Dosage and Side Effects'/><author><name>sham</name><uri>http://www.blogger.com/profile/10638826878676990626</uri><email>noreply@blogger.com</email><gd:image rel='http://schemas.google.com/g/2005#thumbnail' width='16' height='16' src='http://img2.blogblog.com/img/b16-rounded.gif'/></author><thr:total>1</thr:total></entry><entry><id>tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-29548194.post-117041629668517397</id><published>2007-02-02T03:37:00.000-08:00</published><updated>2007-02-02T03:38:16.696-08:00</updated><title type='text'>A Very Medical Miracle</title><content type='html'>Madeline Mann once weighed less can a can of soda making her the tiniest surviving newborn known to medicine. Next week, she enters high school as something even more exrtaordinary- a honor student who likes to play violin and Rollerblade.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;"Her survival wasn't the miracle; her development was." says Dr. Jonathan Muraskas of Loyola University Hospital in Maywood, Ill. She was Born 27 weeks into her mothers pregnancy, she weighed just 9.9 ounces, less than any surviving baby in medical history. Just 10 inches long, smaller than a football. She rested easily in the nurses hand.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;Madeline, now 15, weighing 61 pounds and measuring 4 feet 7 has no major medical problems.&lt;div class="blogger-post-footer"&gt;&lt;img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/29548194-117041629668517397?l=medicine-resource.blogspot.com' alt='' /&gt;&lt;/div&gt;</content><link rel='replies' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://medicine-resource.blogspot.com/feeds/117041629668517397/comments/default' title='Post Comments'/><link rel='replies' type='text/html' href='http://www.blogger.com/comment.g?blogID=29548194&amp;postID=117041629668517397' title='0 Comments'/><link rel='edit' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.blogger.com/feeds/29548194/posts/default/117041629668517397'/><link rel='self' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.blogger.com/feeds/29548194/posts/default/117041629668517397'/><link rel='alternate' type='text/html' href='http://medicine-resource.blogspot.com/2007/02/very-medical-miracle.html' title='A Very Medical Miracle'/><author><name>sham</name><uri>http://www.blogger.com/profile/10638826878676990626</uri><email>noreply@blogger.com</email><gd:image rel='http://schemas.google.com/g/2005#thumbnail' width='16' height='16' src='http://img2.blogblog.com/img/b16-rounded.gif'/></author><thr:total>0</thr:total></entry><entry><id>tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-29548194.post-116235799435945408</id><published>2006-10-31T21:07:00.000-08:00</published><updated>2006-10-31T21:13:14.366-08:00</updated><title type='text'>Gout can be cure!!!</title><content type='html'>This is true Story of gout can be cure..&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;One of my Father friend's wife has been paralyzed because of gout. Then my father has give him alternative medicine which is my father make it buy himself with Coconut and Papaya.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;Then,1 month later.She can walk and do all the jobs that she cannot do before. This is miracle that cannot they imagine.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;If you got gout. Want try an alternative medicine.  I'll release a ebook about it soon...&lt;div class="blogger-post-footer"&gt;&lt;img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/29548194-116235799435945408?l=medicine-resource.blogspot.com' alt='' /&gt;&lt;/div&gt;</content><link rel='replies' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://medicine-resource.blogspot.com/feeds/116235799435945408/comments/default' title='Post Comments'/><link rel='replies' type='text/html' href='http://www.blogger.com/comment.g?blogID=29548194&amp;postID=116235799435945408' title='0 Comments'/><link rel='edit' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.blogger.com/feeds/29548194/posts/default/116235799435945408'/><link rel='self' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.blogger.com/feeds/29548194/posts/default/116235799435945408'/><link rel='alternate' type='text/html' href='http://medicine-resource.blogspot.com/2006/10/gout-can-be-cure.html' title='Gout can be cure!!!'/><author><name>sham</name><uri>http://www.blogger.com/profile/10638826878676990626</uri><email>noreply@blogger.com</email><gd:image rel='http://schemas.google.com/g/2005#thumbnail' width='16' height='16' src='http://img2.blogblog.com/img/b16-rounded.gif'/></author><thr:total>0</thr:total></entry><entry><id>tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-29548194.post-115720403194006812</id><published>2006-09-02T06:32:00.000-07:00</published><updated>2006-09-02T06:33:51.963-07:00</updated><title type='text'>10 Tips for Responsible Medication Use</title><content type='html'>All medications, which include prescriptions, over-the-counter preparations, vitamin and mineral supplements, and herbal preparations, are potentially dangerous. Following some simple rules will not only reduce your chance of having a problem, but should reduce your cost as well.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;Always shop around for medications - there is a significant difference in cost from pharmacy to pharmacy. Check both online and offline sources. For example, several of my patients have realized a significant cost savings by using the Costco pharmacy as well as online Canadian pharmacies. Should you choose to use a Canadian pharmacy, please keep abreast of any laws that may affect your purchase.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;Always check to see if a generic equivalent is available. Today, there are very few medications on the market where generics are not acceptable.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;If you can, have your prescription filled for 90 days. It will cost less than if you bough 30 days worth over 3 months. One of the reasons is that pharmacies charge a filling fee for each prescription filled.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;Will you medication allow you to take a half-tab? For example, if you are taking lisinopril 20mg, you can purchase 40mg tablets and break them in half - a savings of 50%. Always check with your health care provider and/or pharmacist first?not all medications can be broken. Also, consider those nifty little pill cutters?they work wonderfully.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;Do you really have to take all that medication in the first place? The best advice I can give you is to put everything into a bag and take it with you to your appointment. Make sure that you and your provider are on the same page when it comes to medications/supplements that you are taking. This is especially true when you are seeing more than one prescribing provider. You may have duplicates that you are unaware of. Always ask?"do I really need this"?&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;Keep an up-to-date list of your medications with you at all times.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;It is your responsibility to learn the names of your medications and why you are taking them! Most likely, your provider does not know what you mean by the "little pink pill" or the "white capsule". There are literally dozens of each.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;Check your medications before you leave the pharmacy. If something does not look right, ask about it right then. DO NOT take something you are unfamiliar with.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;Follow label directions. If you are taking something for osteoporosis, chances are you were told to take it with a full glass of water, sitting upright while avoiding any other food or fluids for 30 minutes. They were not making it up! This goes for the labels on over-the-counter preparations. This is one time that "if a little is good, a lot must be better" can be a dangerous thought.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;Another very important tip. If at all possible, it is in your best interest to have a primary care provider. Ideally, he or she will coordinate your care with specialists, and keep track of all the medications you are on. If you have a complete profile on record, then between your one primary provider, and your one pharmacist, any problems in your medications should be picked up.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;This bonus tip comes from a lesson taught to me by a wonderful patient of mine?If you and your partner both take medication, do NOT mix them up. It can have serious consequences! While proper nutrition and exercise are the mainstays of treatment for most health challenges, medication use is sometimes unavoidable. Make sure you need them; know what they are and how to take them. Follow directions, and don't share! Most of all, always seek to understand what you are taking and what it's suppose to do for you.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;Your body will thank you.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;For over 26 years, Barbara C. Phillips, MN, NP has been involved in health care. Now, as the founder of OlderWiserWomen, LLC, that experience and passion is focused on Women who want to experience the freedom, magic and wisdom of successful aging. She can be reached through http://www.OlderWiserWomen.com&lt;div class="blogger-post-footer"&gt;&lt;img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/29548194-115720403194006812?l=medicine-resource.blogspot.com' alt='' /&gt;&lt;/div&gt;</content><link rel='replies' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://medicine-resource.blogspot.com/feeds/115720403194006812/comments/default' title='Post Comments'/><link rel='replies' type='text/html' href='http://www.blogger.com/comment.g?blogID=29548194&amp;postID=115720403194006812' title='0 Comments'/><link rel='edit' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.blogger.com/feeds/29548194/posts/default/115720403194006812'/><link rel='self' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.blogger.com/feeds/29548194/posts/default/115720403194006812'/><link rel='alternate' type='text/html' href='http://medicine-resource.blogspot.com/2006/09/10-tips-for-responsible-medication-use.html' title='10 Tips for Responsible Medication Use'/><author><name>sham</name><uri>http://www.blogger.com/profile/10638826878676990626</uri><email>noreply@blogger.com</email><gd:image rel='http://schemas.google.com/g/2005#thumbnail' width='16' height='16' src='http://img2.blogblog.com/img/b16-rounded.gif'/></author><thr:total>0</thr:total></entry><entry><id>tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-29548194.post-115699518660522018</id><published>2006-08-30T20:32:00.000-07:00</published><updated>2006-08-30T20:33:06.620-07:00</updated><title type='text'>Fifteen Ways to Fight Heel Pain</title><content type='html'>There are many different causes of heel pain, but the most common cause is plantar fasciitis (plan * tar fash* ee * I * tis). If you experience a sharp pain in your heel when you first step down in the morning, it is most likely due to plantar fasciitis. This problem is a result of excess stress through a long ligament type structure (the plantar fascia) in the bottom of the foot. The excess stress causes tearing and results in inflammation and pain. The classic symptoms are pain in the heel at the first step in the morning, or upon rising after long periods of rest. Many will complain of a sharp pain in the heel when they step out of their car or after finishing their lunch break. Other individuals only experience heel pain at the end of the day or during certain types of activity like running, soccer or tennis. The pain may extend into the arch and feel achy at the end of the day.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;Individuals develop plantar fasciitis for a variety of reasons. One of the most common reasons for the development of plantar fasciitis is wearing poor quality or worn out shoes. Another common reason is starting a new activity, such as walking or running, after a period of inactivity. Many active individuals develop plantar fasciitis after incorporating hills, stairs or uneven terrain into their training routine. A new job that requires standing all day or switching to a job with a harder surface, like cement floors, may contribute to it's development. Individuals with flatfeet or excess pronation (rolling in of the feet) may have a natural predisposition for plantar fasciitis. Regardless of how the problem started, the treatment is aimed at decreasing the stress on the arch and decreasing the inflammation.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;1. Identify the cause: There is usually a reason for the development of plantar fasciitis, but since the condition is not typically associated with an acute injury it may be hard to remember. The pain may have gradually developed after starting a new training routine, changing the routine, running or walking on a new surface, switching shoes, wearing worn out shoes or starting a new job. Once the cause is identified, stop the activity or modify it.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;2. Avoid aggravating activities: Going up and down stairs, walking or running on hills, squating, lifting heavy items and walking on uneven terrain all aggravate this condition. Try to decrease these by limiting the number of times you go up and down the stairs and avoiding hills. If you must squat down, keep the affected foot in front and flat on the ground. Do not lift or carry heavy items including your kids. Use a stroller or have your spouse, significant other or friend carry them.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;3. Stop running or walking: Aerobic activity is important to maintain and cross training can help. Try biking or swimming. Most walkers hate the stationary bike at the gym, but remember this isn't forever. Don't drop your heel when you bike and try to avoid standing and hills if you cycle outdoors. If you participate in spin classes, you may need to modify the class to avoid further injury to the foot. The recumbent stationary bike may place excess stress through the arch because of the position. The classic stationary bike is more appropriate.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;4. Use an ice massage: Freeze a sports water bottle or a juice can and place it on the floor. Roll your foot over the water bottle for at least 20 minutes twice a day. This helps decrease the inflammation in the foot while stretching out the arch.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;5. Use a contrast bath: Icing helps decrease inflammation occurring within a 48-72 hour period. To help decrease chronic inflammation, try contrasting between ice and heat. Start with an ice pack on the heel and/or arch for 5 minutes. Switch to a heating pack or a hot water bath for 5 minutes. Alternate between the two for 20- 30 minutes 3-4 times a week. This may be more time consuming than the ice pack alone, but can bring considerable relief.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;6. Roll a ball under your foot: Take a tennis ball, soft ball or even a rolling pin and roll your foot over it to help stretch out the plantar fascia. This can be done while watching TV or reading the paper. Rolling the foot over the tennis ball can also be done at work if you have a desk job or during a lunch break. (This should not cause pain. Don't continue if you have pain).&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;7. Stretch your calf in the morning: If you have pain in the morning upon waking, place a towel or a belt on your dresser. Before you get out of bed, wrap the towel or belt around the ball of your foot. By pulling the foot towards you and keeping your leg straight, you should feel a stretch in the back of the calf. This will also stretch the bottom of the foot. This is not time consuming or difficult to do, but it does require adjusting to a new routine.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;8. Stretch your calf throughout the day: Spend about 5-10 minutes each evening stretching the calf as described above or with the runner's stretch. To really help keep the calf and the bottom of the foot stretched out, try and stretch for 30 seconds, 10 times a day.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;9. Take anti-inflammatory medications: Anti-inflammatory medications, like naproxen or ibuprofen, will help decrease the inflammation that occurs in the fascia as a result of the tearing. You don't want to mask the pain with these medications. If you decrease the pain with the anti-inflammatory medications but continue to participate in an activity which causes tearing and inflammation of the plantar fascia, you are not healing. Continue resting, icing and stretching while you take the medications. Take the medication with food and stop taking the medication if you experience stomach discomfort.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;10. Lose Weight: This is probably the last thing you wanted to hear. In fact, there is a good chance that you have gained some weight since the onset of your heel pain due to a decrease in activity. But, there is no way around the fact that increased weight on the body transmits to the feet. Increasing the stress on the plantar fascia can worsen plantar fasciitis, making it more difficult to treat. Eat smart and try to incorporate aerobic activity which decreases the impact on the feet.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;11. Wear supportive shoes: This step may seem logical, but most individuals don't realize how many shoes lack support. A supportive shoe will only bend at the toes. Test all of your shoes and don't assume your running shoe is a supportive shoe. Take your shoe and flip it over. Grab the toe area and the heel and try to fold the shoe. If the shoe bends in half, then the shoe is not supportive. Don't go barefoot. Get up in the morning, do your stretch and then slip your feet in a supportive slipper or clog. See the American Podiatric Medical Association's (APMA) list of approved shoes at www.apma.org/ seal/sealaccategory.html.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;12. Try anti-fatigue mats: These mats help to decrease the stress through the heel and add some shock absorption to the floor. The mats can be a great asset for employees who work on a hard surface. You may want to consider them for home if you spend many hours standing in a workshop or in the kitchen. See the APMA's list of approved anti-fatigue mats at www.apma.org/ seal/sealaccategory.html.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;13. Strengthen the muscles in your feet: Place a thin towel on your kitchen floor. Place your foot over the base of the towel closest to you. Bring the towel towards you by curling the toes and gripping the towel as it slides under your foot. Place marbles on the floor and pick them up one by one with your toes and place them in a bowl.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;14. Wear orthotics: Prefabricated orthotics are semi-rigid inserts that fit into the shoe to help control motion in your feet. Controlling abnormal motion in the feet can decrease the stress in the plantar fascia. Soft inserts available at the drug store may be comfortable, but they will not help control abnormal motion.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;15. Try a night splint: A night splint holds the foot at 90 degrees while you sleep. This keeps the foot and the calf stretched out all night long. Night splints are an effective treatment, but can be quite uncomfortable. Some individuals have more luck with the sock night splints than with the rigid splints. These devices are available online, but may be covered by your insurance when dispensed by your doctor.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;If your symptoms persist, see a podiatrist.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;Christine Dobrowolski is a podiatrist and the author of Those Aching Feet: Your Guide to Diagnosis and Treatment of Common Foot Problems. To learn more about Dr. Dobrowolski and her book visit http://www.skipublishing.com/ .&lt;div class="blogger-post-footer"&gt;&lt;img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/29548194-115699518660522018?l=medicine-resource.blogspot.com' alt='' /&gt;&lt;/div&gt;</content><link rel='replies' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://medicine-resource.blogspot.com/feeds/115699518660522018/comments/default' title='Post Comments'/><link rel='replies' type='text/html' href='http://www.blogger.com/comment.g?blogID=29548194&amp;postID=115699518660522018' title='78 Comments'/><link rel='edit' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.blogger.com/feeds/29548194/posts/default/115699518660522018'/><link rel='self' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.blogger.com/feeds/29548194/posts/default/115699518660522018'/><link rel='alternate' type='text/html' href='http://medicine-resource.blogspot.com/2006/08/fifteen-ways-to-fight-heel-pain.html' title='Fifteen Ways to Fight Heel Pain'/><author><name>sham</name><uri>http://www.blogger.com/profile/10638826878676990626</uri><email>noreply@blogger.com</email><gd:image rel='http://schemas.google.com/g/2005#thumbnail' width='16' height='16' src='http://img2.blogblog.com/img/b16-rounded.gif'/></author><thr:total>78</thr:total></entry><entry><id>tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-29548194.post-115521879026226851</id><published>2006-08-10T07:05:00.000-07:00</published><updated>2006-08-10T07:06:30.273-07:00</updated><title type='text'>Top 7 Ways that Exercise Helps Diabetics</title><content type='html'>by: Katrina McKenna &lt;br /&gt;Exercise is an important tool in managing your diabetes in order to live a longer, healthier life. &lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;1. Exercise increase insulin sensitivity and glucose metabolism. The key problem of Type 2 diabetics is insulin insensitivity, or insulin resistance. By exercising you can improve how well your insulin works; this helps you to control your blood glucose level. &lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;2. Exercise improves your cholesterol levels. Exercise helps by raising the good kind of cholesterol (HDL) and lowering the bad kind of cholesterol (LDL). Exercise can also lower triglyceride levels. This is good news for diabetics as diabetics are at increased risk for cardiovascular disease. I myself have had cholesterol problems, but between proper diet and exercise and no drugs, I now have a much healthier cholesterol levels. &lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;3. Exercise can decrease blood pressure. Many diabetics also have hypertension or high blood pressure. Exercising can reduce both your resting blood pressure and your blood pressure during effort (including exercise). This is very important for reducing your chances of heart disease and stroke. I also used be on blood pressure medication, and have been able to get off the drugs. Because of the strong genetic component, this took more than just diet and exercise; I take several supplements specifically to help keep my blood pressure in the healthy ranges. I also work on stress management and meditate, but exercise is a key ingredient to lowering it in most people. &lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;4. Exercise can also improve heart efficiency, and help it work less. This also helps with the cardiovascular risk factors. You will be able to exercise harder and it does not feel harder. This will make performing your daily tasks easier. Many people do not exercise because they think they do not have the energy. They need to exercise to get the energy. Your resting heart rate can also lower. &lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;5. Exercise can improve your mood. Diabetes can be a stressful disease, exercising can help you feel better mentally. Exercise can even improve depression which can be an issue with a disease like diabetes. &lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;6. Exercise aids dramatically in weight-loss and maintaining weight-loss. Specifically, the right kind and right amount of exercise aids in fat-loss and preservation of muscle tissue. Losing weight can improve blood pressure, insulin resistance, glucose levels, and cholesterol levels above and beyond what exercise alone does. &lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;7. Exercise helps you to reduce your chances of diabetic complications. Better control of your blood glucose helps prevent serious complications of diabetes, including blindness, neuropathy, and kidney failure. &lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;Please talk to your doctor and start exercising! You will feel so much better! &lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;About the author:&lt;br /&gt;Katrina McKenna is the leading diabetes and heart disease fitness expert. She is the author of the upcoming book "Diabetes Secrets: How You Can Lose Weight, Control Your Blood Sugar, Look Great and Feel Great with Diabetes". For more information and to subscribe to her free Health and Fitness Journal please go to: http://www.metamorfitness.com&lt;div class="blogger-post-footer"&gt;&lt;img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/29548194-115521879026226851?l=medicine-resource.blogspot.com' alt='' /&gt;&lt;/div&gt;</content><link rel='replies' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://medicine-resource.blogspot.com/feeds/115521879026226851/comments/default' title='Post Comments'/><link rel='replies' type='text/html' href='http://www.blogger.com/comment.g?blogID=29548194&amp;postID=115521879026226851' title='0 Comments'/><link rel='edit' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.blogger.com/feeds/29548194/posts/default/115521879026226851'/><link rel='self' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.blogger.com/feeds/29548194/posts/default/115521879026226851'/><link rel='alternate' type='text/html' href='http://medicine-resource.blogspot.com/2006/08/top-7-ways-that-exercise-helps.html' title='Top 7 Ways that Exercise Helps Diabetics'/><author><name>sham</name><uri>http://www.blogger.com/profile/10638826878676990626</uri><email>noreply@blogger.com</email><gd:image rel='http://schemas.google.com/g/2005#thumbnail' width='16' height='16' src='http://img2.blogblog.com/img/b16-rounded.gif'/></author><thr:total>0</thr:total></entry><entry><id>tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-29548194.post-115001978047054866</id><published>2006-06-11T02:52:00.000-07:00</published><updated>2006-06-11T02:56:20.480-07:00</updated><title type='text'>7 Bad Eating Habits You Should Change Immediately</title><content type='html'>by: Emily Clark &lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;People are obsessed with dieting and weight loss! Don't believe&lt;br /&gt;me? Just tune-in to any source of advertising...you're instantly&lt;br /&gt;bombarded with the latest diet schemes and "Hollywood" food&lt;br /&gt;fads. &lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;Here in America, we have built a thriving industry trying to&lt;br /&gt;control our weight and treat the consequences of over-indulgence.&lt;br /&gt;The cost of weight loss and obesity related health care&lt;br /&gt;treatments is staggering...Americans alone spend around $114&lt;br /&gt;billion every year! And even with all this interest in losing&lt;br /&gt;weight, we continue to pack on the pounds like never before... &lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;- A whopping 64 percent of U.S. adults are either overweight or&lt;br /&gt;obese...up about eight percent from earlier estimates. &lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;- Among children and teens ages 6-19, 15 percent or almost nine&lt;br /&gt;million are overweight...triple the rate in 1980! &lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;- Nearly one-third of all adults are now classified as obese. &lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;For Americans, modern life may be getting TOO easy. Our cushy&lt;br /&gt;lifestyle means we expend less energy and consequently need fewer&lt;br /&gt;calories to sustain our normal body weight. &lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;Think about it for a moment... &lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;Entertainment no longer requires energy expenditure. In fact,&lt;br /&gt;it's usually quite the opposite. We now entertain ourselves in&lt;br /&gt;the comfort of our own home while watching TV and munching on our&lt;br /&gt;favorite snack. Whether it's television, computers, remote&lt;br /&gt;controls, or automobiles, we are moving less and burning fewer&lt;br /&gt;calories. Common activities that were once a part of our normal&lt;br /&gt;routine have disappeared...activities like climbing stairs,&lt;br /&gt;pushing a lawn mower or walking to get somewhere. &lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;And please do not misunderstand me...I appreciate comfortable&lt;br /&gt;living just as much as the next person. But, here is the&lt;br /&gt;problem... &lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;With all of our modern day conveniences and "cushy" style of&lt;br /&gt;living we have not adjusted our caloric intake to compensate for&lt;br /&gt;our decreased caloric expenditure. We consume more calorie rich&lt;br /&gt;and nutrient deficient foods than ever before. Consider a few of&lt;br /&gt;the following examples comparing what we eat "today" vs the&lt;br /&gt;1970's (U.S. Department of Agriculture survey): &lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;- We are currently eating more grain products, but almost all of&lt;br /&gt;them are refined grains (white bread, etc.). Grain consumption&lt;br /&gt;has jumped 45 percent since the 1970's, from 138 pounds of grains&lt;br /&gt;per person per year to 200 pounds! Only 2 percent of the wheat&lt;br /&gt;flour is consumed as whole wheat. &lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;- Our consumption of fruits and vegetables has increased, but&lt;br /&gt;only because French fries and potato chips are included as&lt;br /&gt;vegetables. Potato products account for almost a third of our&lt;br /&gt;"produce" choices. &lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;- We're drinking less milk, but we've more than doubled our&lt;br /&gt;cheese intake. Cheese now outranks meat as the number one source&lt;br /&gt;of saturated fat in our diets. &lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;- We've cut back on red meat, but have more than made up for the&lt;br /&gt;loss by increasing our intake of chicken (battered and fried), so&lt;br /&gt;that overall, we're eating 13 pounds more meat today than we did&lt;br /&gt;back in the 1970's. &lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;- We're drinking three times more carbonated soft drinks than&lt;br /&gt;milk, compared to the 1970's, when milk consumption was twice&lt;br /&gt;that of pop. &lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;- We use 25 percent less butter, but pour twice as much vegetable&lt;br /&gt;oil on our food and salads, so our total added fat intake has&lt;br /&gt;increased 32 percent. &lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;- Sugar consumption has been another cause of our expanding&lt;br /&gt;waistlines. Sugar intake is simply off the charts. People are&lt;br /&gt;consuming roughly twice the amount of sugar they need each day,&lt;br /&gt;about 20 teaspoons on a 2000 calorie/day diet. The added sugar is&lt;br /&gt;found mostly in junk foods, such as pop, cake, and cookies. In&lt;br /&gt;1978, the government found that sugars constituted only 11&lt;br /&gt;percent of the average person's calories. Now, this number has&lt;br /&gt;ballooned to 16 percent for the average American adult and as&lt;br /&gt;much as 20 percent for American teenagers! &lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;Unfortunately, it would seem that the days of wholesome and&lt;br /&gt;nutritious family dinners are being replaced by fast food and&lt;br /&gt;eating on-the-run. We have gradually come to accept that it's&lt;br /&gt;"OK" to sacrifice healthy foods for the sake of convenience and&lt;br /&gt;that larger serving portions equate to better value. &lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;It's time recognize that we are consuming too many calories and&lt;br /&gt;time to start doing something about it! Each of us can decide&lt;br /&gt;TODAY that healthy eating and exercise habits WILL become a&lt;br /&gt;normal part of our life! &lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;We can begin by exploring our values, thoughts and habits...&lt;br /&gt;slowly and deliberately weed-out the unhealthy habits and&lt;br /&gt;activities and start living a more productive and rewarding life.&lt;br /&gt;And remember, it has taken a long time to develop bad habits, so&lt;br /&gt;be patient as you work toward your goal! &lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;The information contained in this article is for educational purposes &lt;br /&gt;only and is not intended to medically diagnose, treat or cure any &lt;br /&gt;disease. Consult a health care practitioner before beginning any &lt;br /&gt;health care program.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;About the Author &lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;Emily Clark is editor at Lifestyle Health News and Medical Health News &lt;br /&gt;where you can find the most up-to-date advice and information on &lt;br /&gt;many medical, health and lifestyle topics.&lt;div class="blogger-post-footer"&gt;&lt;img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/29548194-115001978047054866?l=medicine-resource.blogspot.com' alt='' /&gt;&lt;/div&gt;</content><link rel='replies' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://medicine-resource.blogspot.com/feeds/115001978047054866/comments/default' title='Post Comments'/><link rel='replies' type='text/html' href='http://www.blogger.com/comment.g?blogID=29548194&amp;postID=115001978047054866' title='1 Comments'/><link rel='edit' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.blogger.com/feeds/29548194/posts/default/115001978047054866'/><link rel='self' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.blogger.com/feeds/29548194/posts/default/115001978047054866'/><link rel='alternate' type='text/html' href='http://medicine-resource.blogspot.com/2006/06/7-bad-eating-habits-you-should-change.html' title='7 Bad Eating Habits You Should Change Immediately'/><author><name>sham</name><uri>http://www.blogger.com/profile/10638826878676990626</uri><email>noreply@blogger.com</email><gd:image rel='http://schemas.google.com/g/2005#thumbnail' width='16' height='16' src='http://img2.blogblog.com/img/b16-rounded.gif'/></author><thr:total>1</thr:total></entry></feed>
