Down Syndrome Treatment

Down syndrome genetically defined disorder, which is also known as Trisomy 21in UK & many other countries. It is defined as chromosomal condition caused by the occurrence of all or part of an additional 21st chromosome. Down syndrome condition was actually recognized by chromosome 21 trisomy ~ Jérôme Lejeune in 1959.

Basically, it is a chromosomal order characterized by the existence of an extra copy of genetic material on the 21st chromosome; it may be of any type as in format or also due to internal translocations. As such, the impact of the additional changes varied from people to people, depending on the genetic history & earlier symptoms. Rarely found syndrome, is due to increased mutagenic exposures upon some older parents' reproductive cells. Apart from this, many other factors may also play a role. Till now, as Medical science believes it occurred in all human populations, and parallel effects have been found in other creatures also.

On symptoms scale, it is identified by early childhood intervention, screening for common problems, a conductive family environment, and professional training can only recover the in general growth of children with Down syndrome. Again, Education and proper care will too help to improve quality of life notably, in spite of genetic limitations. Individuals with Down syndrome face a higher risk for many other conditions. As per as medical consequences of the extra genetic material in Down syndrome, they are highly variable and may also affect the function of any organ system or overall process. Experts say, most of them are originated from the birth itself, such as certain heart malformations. Others too become noticeable over time, such as epilepsy.

Looking on opponent side, treatment of individuals with Down syndrome totally depends on the particular manifestations of the situation. For example, those with congenital heart disease may require undertaking foremost corrective surgery soon after birth. Others may have moderately slight health problems requiring no such therapy.

Treatments taken care under the Down syndrome considerably depend on few specific factors:

• Assessment at birth (Early attempts)
• Plastic surgery (Advocated therapy)
• Cognitive development (On scale of development)
• Childhood and adulthood Record (Grown up issues)

In present society, Down syndrome treatment advocated for people to various terms & conditions, such as additional educational & parental support groups to develop parenting awareness and skills. Cultural strides being also attempted in education, housing, and social settings to generate environments which are nearby and helpful to people with Down syndrome. Since in the early 1960s, parents and their organizations, educators and other professionals have usually advocated a policy of enclosure & bringing all people together on social platform to keep them updated about the trending & stimulating cures. Treatments are likely to concern on individual's role on performing their own tasks in understanding & acknowledging Down syndrome symptoms & epidemic.

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Fibromyalgia Treatment

There is no one treatment for fibromyalgia. In addition, it has to be said that when you treat fibromyalgia, what you are really doing is relieving the symptoms that are associated with the disease. And since fibromyalgia is a multifaceted illness, even the treatment is a conglomeration of different modalities that can help the patient lead a quality life.

It is most beneficial for the patient if they are treated not only to relieve their symptoms, but rather to help them cope and adjust to their illness. In this light, there is a need to combine different kinds of treatment and see which ones work best for the patient. In a way, finding the right combination is achieved through trial and error.

The treatments can be broken down to the use of behaviour therapy, cognitive therapy and medications.

BEHAVIOURAL AND COGNITIVE THERAPY

Patients should learn to deal with their stress so that it does not trigger and of the pain symptoms that are common in patients with fibromyalgia. Without the stress, the patient will remain calm and unable to precipitate any pain. It also wards off feelings of anxiety that is also an aggravating factor in fibromyalgia.

The objective of cognitive therapy is to teach the patient to ward off any negative thoughts and feelings that may trigger the illness. This will also allow them to enjoy their life and have more appreciation for it. They are advised to also keep a pain or symptom journal so that they are able to keep track of the factors that may trigger the pain attacks.

IMPROVED FITNESS

It may also help if the patient is able to do some exercises so that any stiffness and muscle pain can be eased. A patient can start with some low impact exercises and increase in increments as they see fit. It is important though that they be advised not to exercise too much. Walking and swimming is a good start. While Ta'i chi is said to do wonders but you can also start with something simpler, like stretching. A massage can be good too. It eases sore muscles and will probably contribute a sense of wellbeing to patient.

GOOD DIET

A good diet can work wonder for patients with fibromyalgia. For one thing, it fosters a good feeling about one's self. A well balanced diet and holding off on the caffeine may also improve one's ability to sleep. In this way, sleep too, becomes a means of treating with fibromyalgia. A good sleep signifies deep sleep which means that the patient will be rested. This gives him a better chance of waking up rested and refreshed.

MEDICATIONS

The goal of using medications in the treatment of fibromyalgia is to relieve the patients of the symptoms that may hound them because of fibromyalgia. Among these medications are anti depressants, pain relievers, anti-seizure medications and muscle relaxants. Patients should have access to these medications when they are needed. In combination with the other treatment modalities already presented, it makes life for the fibromyalgia patients a little bit more comfortable.

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Magnetic Therapy and Its Little-Known Benefits

Magnetic therapy is an alternative form of treatment that gives you relief from several painful conditions such as severe arthritis pain and inflammation in the joints and also helps you to sleep well.

Medicine and science today

Although we see a lot of development in medical sciences and technology, we find that new and complicated medical conditions are simultaneously making their entry every day. Pollution, ecological imbalance and various other factors are responsible for the present day unhealthy status of people. As a result of more findings in medical sciences, you find more side effects caused by the new medicines.

Safer alternative

Therefore the number of people looking for safer alternative therapies is increasing by the day.You cannot blame them. If their chronic health problems are solved by even an obscure or unapproved or unestablished but natural therapy without adverse effects, they are certainly going to recommend it to friends and family and spread the word.

Side effects? None

For instance, water therapy is advised for people with hypertension and diabetes. The Japanese propagated this therapy on the precept that water is a natural element that cannot produce harmful side effects. And water therapy has proven its worth too. Likewise, any natural form of treatment that gives relief from pain and other discomfort is always favored by the masses, irrespective of approval from FDA or a similar health department agency.

Magnetic therapy

Magnetic therapy is one such form of alternative medicine that is getting more and more popular today. It is believed to provide muscle and joint pain relief to the affected people. Several painful conditions such as arthritis, fibromyalgia, sciatica and migraines have been found to be treated effectively by using magnetic therapy.

The advantages of using magnetic therapy are many:

• Uses simple devices for treating the affected parts
• Does not need much of an equipment, so can be done in the privacy and comfort of your home
• Helps in post-surgery healing
• Heals a sports person's injuries faster
• Reduces stress levels
• Refreshes you helping you to do more work actively
• Improves blood circulation and metabolism thereby enhancing vital activity

Different kinds of magnetic therapy

There are several magnetic therapy products that cater to the needs of the people suffering from pain. For instance, arthritis disability is one that gives you inexplicable pain and discomfort without warning or any symptoms. It starts with a slight pain and no matter what you do to mitigate it, it will keep aggravating and make you writhe in agony unless otherwise you take a painkiller for a temporary relief. Diagnosing mild arthritisis any time safer than ignoring the early signs of arthritis and making the condition worse. The effects of arthritis can be detrimental to your overall health if you neglect its early symptoms.

Trust magnetic therapy for good health

Magnetic therapy is based on the premise that all the cells and tissues in the human body emit electromagnetic impulses. According to practitioners of alternative medicine, if you are ill or injured, these electromagnetic fields are blocked. It is believed that by using external magnets, you'll be able to restore the balance and good health of the body. This is accomplished when the energy fields of varying strengths given out by magnets penetrate into the cells and tissues in the body.

Static or constant magnets, as the name suggests, are different from electromagnets in that the magnetic field in the former is constant and does not change. They are made of lodestone or magnetized metal. These magnets are used in the form of magnetic beds, magnetic mattress pads and toppers, magnetic therapy bracelets, magnetic insoles, magnetic belts and wraps such as knee and ankle wraps.

However, the medical uses of static magnets have not been proved scientifically, hence magnetic therapy has not been approved by the FDA so far. But let us keep our fingers crossed and hope that as more and more studies with magnetic therapy are conducted, the medical community will begin to feel the need to recognize this ancient form of alternative medicine in the interest of the society at large.

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Residential Addiction Treatment Facilities: How They Can Help Your Teen

Over the years there has been an increase in the number of teens struggling with the drug and alcohol abuse and addiction. As those who know, live with, or love an addict, the disease of addiction is a very real and very serious ailment that ruins the lives of the addicted and the lives of their friends and family. There is no proper way to prepare for the difficulties that accompany drug addiction. Whether they are addicted to prescription drugs, recreational drugs, or alcohol, teens and their families across the country are suffering from drug abuse and addiction.

The road of recovery from drug and/or alcohol addiction is arduous and cannot be cured overnight, or alone. Addiction is a life threatening disease that needs to be treated by experienced professionals. A serious drug addiction will not only compromise a teenager's present health and day to day life but it can also negatively impact their future the longer the disease goes untreated. This is why it is imperative that any person, especially a young person, that is dealing with addiction find help at a residential treatment as soon as possible, so they can begin to rebuild and move forward with their lives.

Residential addiction treatment facilities are great resources for individuals struggling with addiction, where they can learn to better understand their addiction, and discover how to live life sober. By beginning at a younger age, teens are at a grater risk of developing life-long physical and emotional problems due to drug addiction. The brain is still growing during the teenage and adolescent years and thus, the sooner a drug problem can be controlled, the more likely the young person can recover. A residential addiction treatment facility can show a young person how to live life without using drugs and alcohol. Unfortunately, not all residential addiction treatment centers are designed with teens in mind. When addiction treatment programs do not cater to the specific needs of young people they are often less effective for teenagers.

Teenagers struggling with drugs and alcohol, most of the time, have issues in their lives that have driven them to use. Teens look at the world in a completely different way than adults do, which is why when they need help overcoming something as serious as drug addiction, they need to be in an environment with peers and professionals who understand the teenage mindset. In a residential treatment facility just for teens, addicts are surrounded by their peers whom they can relate to, and professionals who are trained specifically in treating addiction in young people giving them the greatest opportunity for success. The most successful forms of treatment for teenagers dealing with addiction come in the form of teen residential addiction treatment facilities. At these residential treatment centers, teens can grow and thrive in an environment created specifically for them, and learn alongside their peers.

The age-specific approach to treating adolescents and teens, and helping them overcome addiction is one that has been proven to work which is why the number of teen facilities in increasing. Facilities like the California residential addiction treatment facility Vista Academy have created an entire addiction treatment center specifically for teens. By providing teens with a safe and comfortable environment to learn about their addictions they are able to find the strength and support they need to overcome their disease and move forward with their lives.

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Snapping Hips: Causes and Treatment

Snapping hip or dancer's hip is a medical condition resulting in a snapping sound whenever the hip is used such as running, walking, jumping or even simply standing up from a sitting position. There are many possible causes for snapping hip and will often cause annoyance to the patient.

Iliopsoas band snapping

There is a thick connective tissue called the iliotibial band located at the outside of the hip. This iliotibial (IT) band passes through the part of the thigh bone that is protruding out called the greater trochanter and standing up from a previously sitting position can cause the IT band to snap, creating a snapping sound.

Iliopsoas tendon snapping

Similar to the above, the IT tendon acts as the primary flexor muscle for the hip passing through the front of the hip joint. During hip flexing motions, the IT tendon can cause a snap, creating the annoying sound that disturbs patients. This is usually harmless, only annoyance.

Cartilage tear

Cartilage is another possible reason for snapping hips. Due to injury or various reasons, the cartilage can be injured and result in a loose flap. During hip motions, this loose flap can hit against the hip, causing a snapping sound that is rather faint. Since this is due to injury, patients may experience instability in their hips and will require stability aids.

Physical therapy

Physical therapy can help to strengthen the soft tissues around the hips to better support it. Most of the exercises can be performed at home or your office and will not take up much of your time.

Iliotibial band stretching

This exercise requires the presence of a wall for support. Cross your right leg over the left and lean your hip towards the wall. You will be able to feel a stretch at the hip region and hold for 20 seconds. Change the leg and repeat the step. Repeat the exercise for 3 sets of 15.

Piriformis stretch

Lie down on your back and bend your knees slightly while keeping your feet flat on the ground. Cross the leg of the side of the injured hip and hold your hands behind your thigh. Pull the injured hip towards you and you will be able to feel a stretch. Hold in the position for 15 seconds and repeat for 3 sets of 15.

Quadriceps stretch

This exercise also requires the presence of a wall. Place your hand on the wall for support. Reach for the ankle of the injured hip and pull it towards you while standing in an upright position. Hold for 30 seconds and repeat for 3 sets of 15.

If the cause of your snapping hips is not due to injuries, it does not affect you much except annoyance. If they are due to injuries, you will need to administer medical treatments. Try doing physical therapy exercises initially and if it fails, you may need corticosteroid injections or even surgical treatments such as hip arthroscopy.

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Drug Rehab Center, A Right Place for Addicts Recovery

Drug or alcohol addiction is a harmful disease that spoils the life of an individual by slowly developing bad habits of using those dangerous substances in excess. These addictions are the most terrible influences that cause a fear of no recovery in the mind of the addict and his loved ones. It is often found that many young people got trapped into the bad habits of using drugs and alcohol in order to come over with their depression, loneliness, financial problems and other problems. These addicts have myth in their mind that consuming drugs and alcohol can help them in lightening their problems. They even fail to realize the hazardous impacts of these harmful substances in their lives.

An effective drug and alcohol drug rehab can be of great help to all such individuals who are misguided and are in urgent need of recovery treatment. They offer the required medication, counseling and therapies help people suffering from addiction of drug or alcohol. They prefer giving a natural healing approach to the patients along with special care and attention. The main focus of these alcohol and drug centers is to assist addicts in reconnecting with this outer world and to their friends, family members, associates and themselves.

A person suffering from any kind of addiction should go to the rehabs and get high quality and reliable treatment. Backed with the support of many specialists, substance abuse located across the globe are known for their cost-effective and dependable addiction recovery treatment. Make sure if you are seeking a substance abuse center for yourself or your loved ones, then always prefer to register rehab that is more trustworthy. Licensed practitioner is just like a sign of their quality service. Choose inexpensive, but supportive drug and alcohol rehab center that can meet your specific demands related to addiction recovery treatment.

Out of many drug rehab centers accessible, the best center is one that gives maximum services to the patients and maximum satisfaction to his family members. These centers are right place for the addict's recovery and plays a vital role in helping every patient in the best manner. Starting from right medication as per individual addiction status to offering a family care and environment, these rehab centers focus on every patients demand. The selection of a correct the rehab center is worth than waiting for addition to grow further and effecting patient's life badly.

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How to Beat Your Age With Testosterone Treatment

If you're a man, testosterones are what make your world go round. They're the amazing little soldiers in your body that help you feel and look young. They fill you with energy, help you build muscles and keep your memory razor sharp. Heck, they're even responsible for the blood rushing into your head when you see someone attractive!

But, as you march past the age of 25, your testosterone levels drop naturally. By the time you're in your forties, your body is really low on its reserves of testosterone. This is when most men begin to feel the effects - slow metabolism, putting on weight in the middle, lack of libido, loss of memory, wrinkles, mood changes and the loss of vitality. All this is because of dipping levels of testosterone. Imagine what a shot of testosterone can do for your body at this time! That's exactly what testosterone treatment does.

Response to testosterone therapies:

Several studies have shown that subjects generally show good response to testosterone therapies. Some of the benefits you can expect from such a treatment include:

1. Increased energy
2. Improved sex drive
3. Better sleep quality
4. Increased lean body mass
5. Decreased signs of depression
6. Decrease in the risk of heart diseases

The single biggest benefit of testosterone therapy is that it imbues the subject with high levels of energy, which in turn enhances efficiency and improves self-esteem. Improved muscle mass and muscle strength are also experienced. An overall sense of wellness is reported just after 3 to 6 weeks of therapy. But, before you jump into testosterone treatments (there are a dime a dozen these days), it is important to choose your options safely. You see, hormones are powerful little guys and you do not want them messing with your body. Therefore, the kind of hormones you use during therapy is important.

The best testosterone replacement treatment:

There are two kinds of popular testosterone treatments:

1. Taking in testosterone directly (orally, as injections and as topical applications)
2. Taking in a hormone (HCG) which in turn stimulates the body to produce testosterone naturally

Obviously, there are different ways of testosterone delivery but the most effective way depends on the individual. In general, the oral mode of taking in testosterone is associated with a number of undesirable side effects. However, the other forms of delivery are not associated with these side effects. By controlling the levels of testosterone administered precisely, subjects experience 100% success rate. One way of ensuring that the chosen delivery method works for your body is through proper follow ups.

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Which Herbal Treatment for Menopause for Right for You?

Herbs grow all over the world and each one offers a unique characteristic. Some herbs can even assist in reducing menopausal symptoms. Discomfort and pain is nothing new with women and the changes their bodies go through. Finding ways to alleviate these issues are sought after every day by millions of women. Following a proper Herbal Treatment for Menopause will offer a number of benefits that are appreciated each day.

Who to talk to - To discuss your options, you have a number of options that you can reach out to. You can consult with your doctor and/or nurse practitioner, a herbalist and a holistic health coach. Each one will provide you a wealth of information to help you make the best choice for you.

What questions to ask - First and foremost you need to be honest with whomever you speak with. This is to ensure that you are provided the right information; if you give wrong information you could be taking something that won't work and you will be disappointed and you don't want to feel worse than you already do. Ask how each particular Herbal Treatment for Menopause will work for you, how often should the herb be consumed, how it can be consumed and the quantity of the herb that can be consumed.

You should not limit yourself to one type of treatment either. Consider all of the herbal treatments that are available. You may find that one may work better to decrease several symptoms rather than just one.

When you do decide upon a particular treatment, please also consider other natural therapies that can work with the herbal treatment to help heal your body faster. Therapies such as exercises, acupuncture and/or reflexology and perhaps you many want to include spiritual therapy along with the Herbal Treatment for Menopause.

A great way to learn about healing yourself from within is to consult with a holistic health coach. There are numerous life coach's in many areas that are there to help you through your life. They goal is to not tell you what to do, but to help you make the best decisions for yourself and guide you through the processes.

These individuals are wonderful people who care about you and know that sometimes you need a little help to get through the rough times life can throw at you. They are not like your doctor who write you a prescription and send you on your way. They are people just like you who are searching for the best way to get through life the happiest and healthiest way possible.

A holistic health counselor can discuss the various herbs that our planet offers and what they can do to help you with your menopausal symptoms and even other mental/physical issues you may be experiencing. Through discussion, you can find an herb that you feel comfortable with and are willing to try. Life is a learning experience that we must all go through and together you can get through and achieve your goals.

You may be able to only buy the herbs for your specialized Herbal Treatment for Menopause or you may learn that you can grow the herb in your garden. Regardless if you reap the benefits yourself or purchase herbs at your local natural food store, choosing an Herbal Treatment for Menopause is a natural and healthy way to deal with symptoms you would rather do without.

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Help for Those Involved in Drug and Alcohol Abuse

How to Prevent Drug and Alcohol Abuse

Early drug and alcohol abuse education is one of the best methods of prevention. Everyone involved needs to be educated, from parents and educators to children and adults. Each needs to know the risks for altered behavior and addiction associated with use in their life situations. With enough education, hopefully most people will never try drugs and will recognize drug abuse in others in order to facilitate quick admission to drug and alcohol treatment programs.

If you recognize the symptoms of drug and alcohol abuse in someone, it is up to you to be a support system for that individual. Encourage the drug abuser to seek treatment and reassure that you'll be supportive of efforts made to overcome addiction. It is important to educate yourself about how addiction works so that you can be an adequate support system in the fight against drugs and alcohol.

You will need to help that person get into a drug and alcohol treatment program quickly if he shows any willingness to overcome addiction. The earlier intervention is sought, the more easily drug addictions can be overcome. So make use of any resources you have available to find a good drug and alcohol abuse treatment program. Don't forget to check the Internet and your local phone book.

You need to try to elicit a commitment to recovery out of the addicted individual. This will go a long way in sustaining the addict when the going gets tough. Even much later, at the end of counseling such a commitment can remain helpful. Just don't let yourself feel discouraged or betrayed if the addict relapses, as many addicts relapse many times before achieving success. The important thing is the willingness to keep fighting for sobriety.

Most people begin with drug and alcohol abuse treatment programs that involve talking to counselors and attending meetings. When this proves unsuccessful, it may be time to consider an inpatient drug and alcohol abuse treatment program. Inpatient treatment programs have many advantages over other types of treatment.

Most of these advantages center around the ability to control one's exposure to the addictive substance and to control all other aspects of the addict's environment. Of course, aside from a court order, inpatient drug and alcohol abuse treatment is voluntary and requires a firm commitment on the addict's part to stick to the inpatient drug and alcohol abuse treatment program.

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Effective Treatments For Panic Attacks

Ironically, searching for treatments for panic attacks can almost be enough to bring on another attack. It's difficult to know where to turn and what steps to take for an effective treatment.

Before learning about treatments for panic attacks, it's important to first understand what constitutes an attack, as opposed to just feeling a little anxious. The symptoms can be exceedingly frightening.

Symptoms include:

• Heart palpitations
• Dizziness
• Numbness or tingling
• Hot flashes
• Cold flashes
• Chest pains
• Excessive sweating
• Feeling of impending doom
• Abdominal pain that comes on suddenly and is accompanied by other symptoms
• Difficulty swallowing/ feeling as if you will choke
• Hyperventilating
• Headache accompanied by other symptoms

Panic disorders and panic attacks affect a great number of people here in the United States and the world. It not only involves the mind but also the body.

People in the throes of an attack often think they are dying. Since many of the symptoms mimic those of a heart attack, it is a good idea to have a thorough physical to rule out any other possible causes before proceeding with panic attack treatment.

Treatments for these attacks will depend on the severity and frequency of the attacks. They can either strike out of the blue, or you may be aware of certain scenarios that tend to trigger them.

If you experience attacks with any degree of regularity, keep a journal to document what may be triggering them. This will be beneficial in helping you to determine the particular type of treatment to be used.

Cognitive Behavioral Therapy

Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) is widely viewed as one of the most effective treatments for anxiety disorders.

CBT consists of:

• Learning to identify symptoms
• Keeping a record of anxiety producing situations
• Learning relaxation techniques
• Learning to change your response
• Deliberate exposure to anxiety producing situations

Medications as a Treatment for Panic Attacks

Other possible treatments for these disorders include medications. These are exceedingly helpful for some people, but should only be used in severe cases.

Antidepressants and anti-anxiety medications are also being used as effective treatments.

The most common class of anti-anxiety medications prescribed for the treatments of these attacks are Benzodiazepines, also known as tranquilizers. They include Valium, Klonopin and Xanax.

It is important to note that there are side effects associated with both antidepressants and anti-anxiety medications. They should only be used as treatments for panic attacks in more severe cases. Also, the are most effective when used in conjunction with Cognitive Behavioral Therapy.

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Middle Aged Baby Boomers And Addiction - The Fastest Growing Population

A woman enters my office disheveled, thin, mid forties, with hollow eyes. It is as if the sparkle in her eyes ceased to exist a very long time ago. She tells me she has been drinking and is using methamphetamines. I am not surprised to hear this because lately my practice has been filled with middle aged baby boomers seeking help for their serious addictions. Whether it is alcohol, cocaine, crack, methamphetamines, pain killers, heroine, or smoking marijuana, many have crossed the line into addiction. Their lives have become unmanageable and they have lost their ability to control their use. Some believe they can just cut down, but as addiction specialists, we know it is impossible once you have crossed that invisible line into dependency. One of their defense mechanisms is "denial" so they can still continue their love affair with drugs or alcohol. Addiction is the only disease that tells them in the most insidious of ways, "I don't have a problem or disease." It can be very difficult treating someone who doesn't think they have a problem. However, on some level this particular woman who landed in my office may already know an issue exists, but can't bare to admit it.

So what brings this middle aged woman into see me with such desperation on her face? Her husband has told her if she doesn't stop using, he will leave her and take the children with him. She tells me she can't imagine not using meth. "It gives me energy to deal with my four kids and keeps my weight down." I am sure it might be hard to believe that someone in middle age, a soccer mom and a wife feels this way. It is no longer teenagers or urban minorities taking the lead, although there still is an epidemic of young addicts out there. These all American business men, stay at home moms, career women and even the elderly are filling the treatment centers and therapists offices and some, never make it. In a recent study, it was revealed that drug deaths from illicit drug over doses had risen 800 per cent since 1980. One of the fastest growing abuses is pain killers with suburbia filled with these individuals. It has long been known that there are many reasons for the abuse, but for the middle aged the reasons may be not only the genetic predisposition, but as a buffer to numb the pain of divorce, un-employment, an empty nest, retirement, trauma or illness. Depression may be one of the biggest culprits to addiction, with it being the highest amongst the ages of 45 to 60.

The "free love" generation of "sex, drugs, and rock 'n roll" has taken a turn; many would have never expected drug addiction to be their legacy. Often long standing drug abusers find when the marijuana stops working; they often go to stronger drugs. For some it is losing their children, a job, a spouse, or homelessness that leads them to seek help.

If you think you have a problem or know someone who does, contact a therapist, psychiatrist, and or chemical dependency counselor to assess the problem. You can also call one of your local alcohol or narcotics anonymous offices for resources. There are 12 step meetings going on all day every day. However, if the addiction or alcohol abuse is serious enough, a detox, a residential treatment center, or a dual diagnosis program may be the best treatment. A dual diagnosis program works with patients who have not only an addiction, but a mental illness, as well. The detox may be medically necessary and should always be assessed and treated. Some of the signs of chemical dependency include tolerance, which is a need for increased amounts of the substance to get the desired effect, withdrawal symptoms, a persistent desire to cut down or control the substance but can't, spending lots of time obtaining the substance, continued use despite psychological or physical problems. And finally, social, occupational, and or recreational activities are given up or reduced because of the substance use.

There are many professionals out there to help. Just like the women who entered my office confused and ambivalent, a first step was taken in her battling the disease and beginning the recovery process.

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Sinusitis Treatment - Help is on the Way

Mayo Clinic researchers have made great strides in recent years regarding sinusitis treatment and have come up with a new therapy for chronic sufferers called topical antifungal therapy. This particular sinusitis treatment is still new and is not widely practiced. This author, a sinusitis sufferer of long standing with two painful operations under his belt, has been in contact with one of the Mayo Clinic research physicians. I was pointed to several papers and articles describing the research completed thus far, the theory behind the research, and the resulting therapy.

In simple and general terms, the Mayo Clinic research showed that some people (i.e., chronic sinusitis sufferers), have a harmful immune reaction to fungi that others do not experience. The research demonstrated that fungi are present in the air and show up in the nasal mucus of just about everyone. In the noses of chronic sinus sufferers, it showed that certain types of white blood cells will attack the fungi that are present. In doing so these cells create a compound that damages nasal membranes. Once damaged, bacteria can easily enter and cause pain, inflammation and infection. Conventional sinusitis treatment often includes antibiotics to attack the bacteria. This new sinusitis treatment aims to attack the fungi instead, thus avoiding the nasal membrane damage in the first place. One drawback is that it is not easy to determine if a patient is someone whose white blood cells attack fungi in the nose or not. It is also not known why this white blood cell reaction occurs in some people and not in others.

Antifungals such as Amphotericin B and Itraconazole are used in this sinusitis treatment regimen. These have already been approved by the FDA for other uses, and they can be mixed by a compounding pharmacy such as Anazao to make the topical solution needed for this new therapy. Amphotericin B, for example, was only available in my local pharmacy as an injection medication. The pharmacist was not aware that it is sometimes reformulated as a topical spray for sinusitis treatment. Patients spray the antifungal into their nostrils daily. About 75% of the chronic sinus sufferers in one of the Mayo Clinic studies saw significant improvement in their conditions following this regimen.

I also contacted Accentia, the biopharmaceutical company who has obtained a license from the Mayo Foundation to produce and market medications based on the Mayo Clinic research. They informed me that they plan to market a product based on Amphotericin B, which will have the brand name SinuNase. They will start clinical trials soon, and I submitted my name as a possible participant. Apparently I would be a good candidate since I've had sinus surgeries that didn't cure my problems.

Topical antifungal therapy is a new form of sinusitis treatment. It takes time for a new approach to become accepted in the medical community at large. I asked the Mayo research physician if he knew of a colleague in the Denver area, where I reside, who was utilizing this approach. He responded that he didn't know anyone there, but gave me two names of physicians in Texas, which I also asked about. So it is obvious that this approach to sinusitis treatment is not yet mainstream therapy, but it does have momentum. For people who have received sinusitis treatment which has not improved their suffering, more details regarding this and other sinus related subjects can be found at the web site in the resource box for this article.

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Stroke Rehabilitation - A Novel Treatment Pays Off

In a landmark study, researchers at the University of Alabama at Birmingham used a randomized controlled trial -- the gold standard method for evaluating the effectiveness of a treatment -- to show that immobilizing the good arm of stroke patients and intensively exercising the weakened arm actually improved recovery, even when performed long after the stroke occurred. At one level, randomized controlled trials in the field of rehabilitation medicine have been so rare that the publication of each and every one should be applauded. At another level, the outcome of this study is so satisfying in terms of what we think we know about brain physiology (function) that even if the results turn out not to be true, they ought to be.

A controlled trial is one in which there is a comparison group of patients that is either untreated or is treated differently. When a controlled trial is also randomized, it means that upon entering the study, participants agree to be assigned to one group or the other based on the equivalent of a coin-toss. Randomization eliminates bias that might otherwise come from (knowingly or unknowingly) assigning more promising patients to one group and less promising patients to the other.

Publishing their results in the March 2006 online issue of Stroke, a medical journal, Edward Taub, PhD, and co-workers studied 21 patients treated with "constraint-induced movement therapy" (CI) and compared their outcomes to those of another 20 stroke patients who received placebo treatment.

In strokes a loss of circulation damages a portion of the brain, resulting in impairment of whatever mental or bodily function that part of the brain controls. Strokes often cause weakness in an arm with or without concurrent numbness. Strokes are the leading cause of long-term disability in the U.S.

The researchers included stroke victims in their study who had mild to moderate impairment in use of their affected arms, but excluded those with severe impairment. The research subjects varied widely in age, averaging in their fifties. The investigators selected patients whose stroke had occurred a minimum of one year earlier with an average interval between stroke and treatment of 4.5 years. Patients with concurrent numbness were included, but those with poor walking or balance were excluded, as were patients with excessive confusion or too much additional impairment caused by other medical conditions.

The CI treatment was administered over a 2-week span, during which the good arm was immobilized about 90% of the time with an arm-sling and a hand-splint. CI patients had 10 weekday sessions with therapists, lasting 6 hours each. During those sessions, patients received one-on-one therapy that was individualized to their needs and abilities and involved specific, practical tasks of gradually increasing difficulty. The therapists praised patients each time their performances improved even just slightly. By contrast, placebo-treated patients received a more general program of physical fitness, cognitive and relaxation exercises over the same schedule.

The abilities of CI and placebo-treated patients were compared in two main ways. In one, the research subjects were videotaped in the laboratory while attempting specific tasks like holding a book, picking up a glass and brushing teeth. Their performances were rated by viewers who were purposely not told which treatment the subject received. The other rating, called the "real world outcome," came from structured interviews of the patients and their caregivers concerning performance outside the treatment facility.

The researchers found significant improvements in CI-treated patients compared with both their own initial abilities and those of patients receiving placebo treatment. The CI patients showed a moderate improvement in their laboratory skills and a large improvement in use of the affected arms in their daily lives. Improvement was still evident 4 weeks after treatment, and even after 2 years in the 14 of 21 CI patients who could be retested at that time.

The researchers interpreted the improvement as due to two factors. The first factor, probably more important for faster gains, was in overcoming "learned non-use" of the weaker arm. The idea is that after a stroke, patients quickly learn to avoid using the weaker arm to a greater extent than its impairment might warrant, and CI training forces them to put it back into action. The second suspected factor, developing more slowly, was "neural plasticity" or actual rewiring of the brain. In neural plasticity surviving brain cells -- previously uninvolved or less involved in controlling use of the arm -- attempt to make up for the lost brain cells either by creating new contacts with other brain cells or by modifying the effectiveness of existing links.

In 1992 researchers at the Hammersmith Hospital in London used positron emission tomographic (PET) scans to examine patterns of brain use in stroke patients. PET scans are good at showing which parts of the brain are most engaged by specific tasks. Investigators compared PET scans in 10 patients who recovered from a stroke to those of 10 patients who never had a stroke. In this study subjects repeatedly moved one hand (which in the stroke patients was the affected hand) while their brains were being scanned. Compared to non-stroke patients, stroke patients used more areas on both sides of the brain to perform the requested movements, as if the surviving brain cells were trying to fill in for their fallen comrades.

Taub and collaborators at the National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke used similar methods to compare patterns of brain activation in 9 CI-treated stroke patients with those in 7 less-intensively treated stroke patients. In this 2003 study, CI-treated patients showed a shift in the extent to which different parts of the brain participated in moving the fingers of the weakened hand. Thus, CI treatment seemed to modify the brain pathways responsible for the finger movements.

(C) 2006 by Gary Cordingley

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