Thursday, December 6, 2012

Propecia and hair loss as a side effect of drugs

We often set off around the world for these articles because there's useful research being conducted in every major country. Hair loss is not just an American problem. All men are at risk. This time, we find ourselves in the University of Melbourne, Australia - one of these islands in the southern hemisphere. They have been carefully going through all the different types of medication on the market and rating them in terms of their side effects. For these purposes, their research is not limited to the regulatory authorities. Perhaps daringly, they have been collecting information directly from doctors and hospitals. The results are a fascinating insight into all the different ways in which drugs can affect people's hair. Not only do some drugs cause hair to fall out, others turn curly hair straight and change the color. These changes are not necessarily immediate which is why they were not recorded in the drug trials. Many of the effects took up to one year to appear.

Insofar as there's good news, most of the changes were reversible. But if you find changes to your hair, and you are or have been taking different types of drugs, talk to your doctor before jumping to conclusions. Even if you think you can see the fatal M shape emerging, this can be a false sign. In particular, do not stop taking any of your current drugs. After discussion with your regular physician, a change to another drug may see your hair grow back. In a way this research confirms something we've always known but never wanted to admit. That our doctors and research scientists have only a general understanding of why men lose their hair. That's what makes diagnosis so difficult.

Always remember, Propecia is a drug with its own side effects and these are effects you would prefer not to experience. All drugs come with benefits and side effects. In every case, you have to weigh the risks before you take the decision. Always eliminate other drugs as the cause before you begin taking Propecia.

Saturday, November 17, 2012

How To Select Affordable Health Insurance In Dayton, Ohio

When you select affordable health insurance in Dayton, you're obviously going to consider the premiums; however, price isn't the only factor that goes into making a Dayton health insurance plan affordable. The insurance policy needs to cover your health needs, too.

Consider this checklist as you're selecting your Dayton affordable health insurance policy.

Find out what is and is not covered.

Not every health insurance policy is going to cover every health care need. When you search for affordable health insurance in Dayton, have a clear picture of the kind of health coverage you need. Do you have any pre-existing health conditions, such as diabetes or cancer? Do you need mental health services, such as counseling or prescription medications? If so, you want to choose a health insurance policy that will cover your needs.

Find out how much you're responsible for.

With employer-sponsored group health insurance in Ohio, policyholders are usually only responsible for a low-cost co-pay at the time of services. Sometimes policyholders are responsible for a low portion of the premiums, as well, which are deducted from payroll. However, when you're searching for an individual health insurance plan in Dayton, you'll likely be responsible for more costs. So, find out the exact cost of your premiums, as well as how much co-pay you'll be expected to pay at the time of service.

Find out what you can do if you just can't afford health insurance.

If you just can't afford Dayton health insurance right now, Ohio has state-sponsored health care plans from which you can choose. Visit the Ohio Department of Insurance website for information about these programs, as well as other nationwide health insurance plans and tips on how to save money on your premiums. You can also use this website to answer any questions you may have regarding the license of a particular health insurance company, and to file complaints about any unsettled health insurance claims.

The what, why and when of Health Insurance

A lot of us probably wonder why we need health insurance when we are in the pink of our health. But as they say, life is unpredictable and you never know when the tables can turn. So it's really best to get oneself a health insurance policy at the earliest.
Let's start with what health insurance is. Like any other insurance, this demands that you pool in your money at regular intervals, to conveniently incur medical expenses in the future. It is a way of protecting yourself against the medical costs that life has in store for you. If you ask what a good time to get yourself insured is, then the answer is 'yesterday', as you never know what today holds for you.
There are two broad categories of health insurances.

  1. Fee-for-service

    In this type of policy, the insured is admitted to hospital. The insured or his family is expected to pay the costs, such as hospital bills, medicine costs, ambulance charges etc, but can later claim the damages from the insurance company. This however, depends on the amount that the person is insured for. It also depends on whether the insurance company considers the medical expenses as 'reasonable or customary'. If the expenses are more than the 'reasonable amount', you may have to make up for the difference yourself.
  2. Point-of-Service (POS)

    This type of health insurance policy features cashless transactions. Here, insurance companies have tie-ups with certain hospitals or doctors. Thus, if you go to the hospital that has a tie-up with your insurance company, you don't need to pay the bills as you are financially covered. However, even if you choose to go outside the network of doctors or hospitals, the plan covers about 80% of the costs.
    A lot of companies now-a-days are shifting to the cashless transaction method as it is more convenient option.
There are several other kinds of health insurance policies that vary from company to company. A full-service health insurance policy consists of an expensive premium but in times of need, it is worth every penny as it covers every medical expense of the insured regardless of the institution or the doctor.
Group health insurance policies offer health insurance to specified group of people such as employees of a company, members of a joint family, members of a co-operative society, groups of doctors, chartered accountants, etc.
Note: Health insurance types and its terms and conditions vary for different companies, thus read through different health insurance policies carefully, before opting for a particular one. There is no best policy. It differs on an individual's needs and preferences.

Wednesday, September 19, 2012

Considering Prednisone and losing weight when you stop taking it

Taking this drug and focusing on getting the desired treatment outcome is something that many people prefer. So, for example, you may have asthma. Although this is never going to go away completely, it can be brought under control. Once this happens, you then look at your body and discover you have not only put on weight, you have put it on in the wrong places. Worse, the additional pounds do not go away automatically. You have to work to get them off. Here's a quick guide to losing weight.
  1. Eat smaller portions. Prednisone will make you feel hungry and so, when you are taking it, you will eat more, which is something you will have to recognize when taking it. If you took the drug for a relatively long period of time, you will have changed your eating habits to consume more. This will have included both snacking between meals and eating more at meal times. To get back to where you were, you have to cut out the snacks and eat smaller portions as the main meals. This will not be easy because you have to unlearn the habits you gained.
  2. Drink more water. While you take Prednisone, one of the more common problems is fluid retention. When you stop, you can increase the amount you drink. This fills up your stomach and cuts down hunger pangs. Indeed, you should drink a glass of water before eating one of your main meals. This will make a smaller portion feel more satisfying. Note the reference to water. Just because you can drink more is not an excuse to start drinking sweetened sodas or other high-calorie drinks.
  3. Begin exercising. This should be an every day activity that significantly raises the heart rate and makes you breathe more quickly. This will burn calories. But if your doctor advises against even moderate exercise, you must discuss alternate strategies with a physical therapist. Aerobic exercise is the best but lower levels of exertion over longer periods of time may be equally beneficial. Take detailed advice and find your own level of activity.

Tuesday, September 4, 2012

Propecia and hair hygiene

Millions of people deal with hair loss problems of different kinds. It can be a little bald spot or a progressive baldness of the entire scalp. Problems like these don't have a crucial impact on one's health in any way but they sure affect the person's looks, which are a crucial element of a person's psyche. As a result, hair loss can trigger different kinds of psychological issues starting with socialization problems to clinical depression. Things get so aggravated because hair loss is often seen as a sign of poor health, although it isn't necessarily so, and because it is actually hard to stop or reverse the process without the use of such potent drugs as Propecia. Moreover, hair care product makers also add insult to damage and target many of their products on hair loss patients, stating that their new shampoo or balm can stop hair loss. But, despite the widespread belief, hair loss is not about poor hair hygiene.

When it comes to hygiene, there's no denying the fact that it is very important for your health. Many serious diseases can be prevented by simply following some basic rules of hygiene. Hair hygiene also plays a very important role since it affects the condition of hair in general and can seriously decrease the attractiveness of the person if not applied. Still, in order to make hygiene such a problem that would trigger hair loss one would need to seriously forget about any kind of care for an extended period of time. Simply put, your hair won't start falling out just because you didn't wash it for a long period of time or didn't use the right shampoo. It will simply become greasy, smelly and maybe more fragile. But it certainly won't trigger baldness if you somehow disregard hygiene for a period of time.

Now, when it comes to special products advertised by manufacturers as having the possibility to prevent hair loss, it is very important to know how hair loss is triggered in the first place. It is usually caused by a buildup of a specific hormone in the bloodstream, which at a certain point starts shrinking hair follicles and lowering natural hair growth rates. So, any kind of external balms or vitamin-containing shampoos won't do much to stop hair loss since they don't address the primary reason for the issue. Sure, your hair will look very nice and may become thicker, which will conceal the problem in a way. But for real results you need real treatments, including such potent drugs as Propecia. And it takes a doctor to decide what's the best solution, not a shampoo manufacturer.

Saturday, September 1, 2012

Cialis becomes a relief for single involving in sexually activity again

Some men never form permanent relationships and essentially live solitary lives, making friends where possible. As they age within the community, there's a tendency not to leave the home so often to socialize. This reinforces the loneliness and, quite commonly, leads to some level of depression. Other men find their relationships brought to an end, whether by separation, divorce or the death of the partner. Involuntarily, this forces the men into a decision on returning to a social life outside the home, or just staying home to wait for the end. Ironically, one of the best things that can happen to a single man is to move into a community of older people. This may be in separate homes with central services provides by a management company, or it may be a room in a home for the elderly. Although this is a loss of independence which may threaten self-esteem, it also represents an opportunity to meet other people. On occasion, men who remain sexually active can find themselves in demand from single women in the same or nearby communities. At times like this, Cialis becomes the reliable support to rejoining the world of sexual activity.

In this, the quality of the neighborhood is the key to whether the single man prospers or succumbs to depression. Some cultures are very unwelcoming to the old. Like annoying children, they are expected to stay out of sight. In such environments, the elderly feel trapped in their own homes. However, some neighborhoods are broadly supportive and open to all. For example, a recent survey in some Australian states discovered strong pub cultures in which men of all ages mixed and, in both positive and passive terms, offered support to older members of the community. This actually has more general health implications because older men who continue to drink beer on a regular basis are over overweight and inactive. This increases the risk factors of heart disease. Fortunately, the Australian women of all ages know where to find the men and, if they are looking for a partner can bring the Cialis pills with them to ensure a good result.

The guidance on how to manage the tapering to stop Prednisone

Prednisone is known to produce high levels of cortisone in the blood stream, your adrenal gland slows down and ultimate stops working. This ultimate loss of natural production can be delayed either by taking a significantly lower dose over the relevant period of time, or taking the prescribed dose every other day. This allows the artificial level of cortisol to fall and encourages the adrenal gland to maintain some production. But if the evidence suggests the adrenal gland has stopped, it's actually dangerous to stop taking Prednisone suddenly. The almost inevitable symptoms are an initial feeling of nausea, followed by a sudden and severe feeling of tiredness, your body will start to ache with particular pain in the joints. If the gland fails to start, you will find yourself increasingly weak. Needless to say, this turns you from an active individual into a bedridden invalid in a few days.

To reduce the likelihood of adverse effects, you have to slowly reduce the daily dosage. This slow reduction will take weeks if not months. The actual length of time will vary depending on the disease being treated, how long you have been taking the drug, the dosage, and your general state of health. There are different approaches. The most popular calls for alternating higher and lower doses over the first weeks, then dropping down to lower doses every day. Many find it better to reduce the individual doses, but take them spaced evenly through the day. If you begin to feel joint pain, you take one of the nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs to ease you through. If your skin has been affected by the Prednisone, stay out of the sun or, if this cannot be avoided, use sunscreen and keep as much of your body covered as possible. You should also cut down on food rich in vitamin D.

If you find the withdrawal symptoms are growing worse, you are tapering too fast. Never ignore this. Always discuss the symptoms with your regular doctor and change the dosages and the times you take them until you are comfortable again.