YOUR HEALTH Updates by Bio-Scope Health data. Topics updated daily.
Celiac disease often mistaken for irritable bowel syndrome. It is a common disorder that is often misdiagnosed because it's symptoms are mistaken for other illnesses, one being irritable bowel syndrome. Diarrhea, weight loss, fatigue, bloating and crampy abdominal pain are celiac disease most conspicuous symptoms. Because this disease interferes with calcium absorption you may also thick you have osteoporosis, or you might feel anemic because iron is not being absorbed by your body. Care must be given that you do in fact have this disease before taken medications.. A simple blood test for celiac disease can find if you are positive. If so, a small bowel biopsy can confirm the diagnosis. Celiac disease is an intolerance to gluten, a protein found in wheat, barley and rye. In intolerant people, gluten activates the immune system, which attacks the digestive tract. Treatment is a gluten free diet. For more info contact the Celiac disease foundation 818 990 2354 or www.celiac.org
Dance is a form of human expression that likely evolved together with music as a way of generating rhythm. Photo, Morena Philpe
DANCE Unconscious entertainment, our special ability
<Dance requires specialized mental skills. One brain area houses a representation of the body's orientation, helping to direct our movements through space: another serves as a synchronizer of sorts, enabling us to pace our actions to music. We unconscious tap our feet to the beat reflecting our instinct for dance. This unconscious entertainment requires calculations related to spatial awareness, balance, intention and timing, among other things, in the brain's sensorimotor system. It occurs when certain subcortical brain regions converse, bypassing higher auditory areas.So natural is this process we take it for granted. This instict to dance is an evolutionary novelty among humans. The unique talent we have for dance demands a type of interpersonal cordination in space and time that is almost nonexistant in other social contexts. Continued below>>
Dancing & tennis is always in my daily lifestyle. As we age however, it seems we get less answers and more prescriptions. My mission with this page is to help in the seach for answers on health issues we may encounter. As some of you know, I keep busy as a manufacturer/designer of beauty products and dance promoter. I studied Biology & medicine at Fordham University, and always loved writing about health issues and did so for New York Health & Beauty Television Show as well as many related journals. I continue still.... Luis
Mercury in Your SeaFood. How it get there!! Based on samples from 16 sites from Hawaii to Alaska it seems bacterial decomposition of algae that has sunk from the surface to mid-depth plays a crucial role. In the presence of mercury the decomposition process creates methylmercury, which is moved via ocean currents and moves up the food chain and into predators such as tuna. Tuna is a major source of mercury in the human diet. The study finds that the North Pacific has seen a 30 percent rise in mercury contamination since the mid-1990s. The cause is industrial pollutants which create algae in rivers, and local freshwater ecosystems and continues generating in the ocean.
Prostrate PSA test devised for early detection of prostrate cancer is not a foolproof test. Sometimes it's high when there is no cancer and sometimes it's low when there is cancer. Higher readings of PSA may be seen 48 hours after ejaculation, or a swollen gland. Repeated testing at different intervals would be advised before any remedies are taken. A normal PSA value is at 4ng/ml. High values (5.27>) may also suggest diabetes. Check with your doctor.
The BRAIN. Left and Right Sides.....The left hemisphere of the human brain controls language, probably our greatest mental attribute. It also controls the dexterity of the right hand. The right hemisphere is dominant in the control of our sense of objects interrelated with space. Dance for instance, requires signals transmission to relate how we move relative to where we are at any time. This right side spatial relationship with objects around us was thought to be a human characteristic, but studies find that many animals also have this specialization that as evolved even before Darwin.
NIGHT SWEATS...can be an exaggeration of a normal process that occurs during sleep. At night, the body temperture drops. To effect this temperture drop, the body sweats. Evaporation of sweat cools the body. You can offset this by cooling down the bedroom, avoiding alcohol, spicy foods at dinner. Best to fight night time sweating without medicines. Finding out about your body functions unables your to make better decisions. There are illnesses such as hyperhidrosis, lymphoma (lymph node cancer) TB, a drop in sugar, overactive thyroid and diabetes which may also be the problem. First try the natural approach.
More on Dancing...Our propensity to link rhythmic movements to music is apparently unique. As Steven Brown notes in article about "The Neuroscience of Dance" Humans are not merely the Fred Astaires of the animal kingdom: they are the only ones on the ballroom floor.
The Melting West Antartic should not worry you much since it is not rising to the level alarmist have predicted of 5 meters. The new revision is 3.2 meters because only some of ice sheet will collapse, those below sea levels or sloping downward. Those parts of ice above sea level will remain in place...put away the boots.
Watch your Carboydrates. See below.
The Brains convolutions are an array of hills and dales all derived from the cerebral cortex, a two-to four-millimeter-thick mantle of gelatinous tissue packed with neurons or grey matter, that mediates our perceptions, thoughts, emotions and actions. Much bigger than small brained animals such as birds which have relatively smooth brains, our brains evolved larger as other large brained animals, dogs, whales etc. This cortex expanded much more than the skull (equivalent to that of a an extra large pizza) and could only fit into our skulls by folding. This folding exibits a pattern from person to person and is physically held together by a network of nerve fibers which pull it together during development and holds it in place throughout life. Disturbances to this network during development or later, as result of stroke or injury, can have far reaching consequences for brain shape and neural communication. Learning disabilities, autisim and other communication blocks between the foldings of the cerebral cortex have been found. A plus for people whom dance and play musical instruments show that the connections by neurons holding this cerebral cortex together become clearer and more defined. These discoveries therefore lead to new strategies for aging and diagnosing and treating patients with certain mental disorders. Scientific American, Nature, On growth and form.
Psoriasis Psoriasis is a skin problem that rears it's ugly head is several ways, least known is psoriatic arthritis which affects 5-30% of those affected with the skin disorder. While people with psoriasis can have other forms of arthritis, such as osteoartritis and rheumatoid arthritis they are different from psoriatic arthritis. Even a mild case of psoriasis can trigger psoriatic arthritis causing backaches, as well as the fingers which often swell to the size of sausages. This disorder can be quite disabling. Next week...What can you do to offset or prevent this type of psoriasis?
Anti oxidants such as those in fresh fruit provide important health benefits to boost immune system and ward off illness.
Dance continued.. In this marriage of the representional capacity of language and rhythmicity of music dance allows people to tell stories while at the same time fostering social cohesiveness. For more see Bio-scope DANCE -The Human modern expression 9 pages $8
Scoliosis and Osteophytes. The two are often associated together in middle age. Osteophytes are bone spurs on the spine often found in middle age people while scoliosis is a bend of the backbone to the right or left. If in middle age the degree of these two conditions is minimal and without symptoms there should not be any worry.
Vision is greatly affected when blood vessels leak on the retina which becomes uneven and does not reflect the vision well. In advanced cases, the eye can fill with leaking blood, and the retina can eventually detach, leading to permanent vision loss. Next....Remedies and safe guards.
The Skin is our largest organ.
Human papillomavirus (HPV) is a very common infection which cause genital warts in men and women. A handful of more than 100 strains cause cervical cancer. Most genital warts resolve on their own. The infection does not interfere with having children.
Obesity. About one-third of U.S. women of reproductive age are obese, which raises the risks for the mother such as hypertension and diabetes and for the baby, pre-term birth and chance of birth defects.
Healthy Lifestyes & less stress are factors in promoting anti-aging.
Blood in the Semen. HEMATOSPERMIA Many men will become quite concerned to see red blood in the semen. The term is hematospermia -blood in seminal fluid. It may result from a breakage of small vessels in the path sperm take when exiting the body. Men men may think it's a cancer sign. There may be some other rare causes and you should consult your doctor. Cancer is a possible but a highly unlikely cause. Hematospermia is common after prostate biopsy. Infections and polyps of the urethra-the tube that drains the bladder-are other possible causes. For most men however, no serious conditions are found and the problem clears on it's own.
Washing hands with soap helps prevent spread of disease. Hot water is not more effective that cold water. The hottest water obtained from a faucet is not hot enough to kill germs.
Will hunger increase in the world?
Hunger. The biggest threat to global stability is the potential for food crises in poor countries to cause government collapse. Those crises are brought on by ever worsening environmental degradation. Food scarcity and resulting higher food prices are pushing poor countries into chaos. These countries can export disease, terrorism, illicit drugs, weapons and refugees. Further problems arise from rising tempertures and water shortages which hamper food production. Some countries already face goverment collapses which will threaten world order. Currently there are 775 million undernourshed people in the world , mostly in the African countries but which also include Haiti, North Korea, bangladesh to name a few. Many of their problems also stem from their failure to control the growth of their populations.
Stem Cell Update. As expected President Obama signed an executive order on March 9 lifting the ban on stem cell research imposed by President Bush in 2001. That restriction had limited scientists who receive federal funding to 21 lines of embryonic stem cells, possibly hampering efforts to transform the cells into therapies. Research was not as promising as adult cell therapies and hence very few companies sought to research embryonic stem cells. Now investigators can use hundreds of new lines, and some of the $10 billion in economic stimulus will go into embryonic stem cell work. The big issue with embryonic stem cell work is that they can develop into a host of different unintended results often not easy to control.
Shingles...comes from the chickenpox virus that stays in the body from the entry time till death. Mostly at older ages, the virus leaves the nerve cell it found a home in, travels down the nerve root to the skin and produces the typical rash and pain. Older people should consider getting the shingles vaccine. It is a painful experience and the pain can last long after the rash is gone.
FLUE. The Elusive Virus. A goal in fighting influenza ia a universal vaccine, one that works on many strains of the pathogen. Problem is the virus's outer coat, consisting mainly of proteins called hemagglutinin and neuraminidase, frequently mutate (change), forcing the reformulation of vaccines every season. Two studies report the discovery of human antibodies that target an area on hemagglutinin that does not mutate. SWINE FLU. Reseachers have a key ingredient for the swine flu but have found that The New Novel Swine Virus grows slowly in eggs- the chief way vaccines are made. This new strain of flu does not come from pork as originally believed, but from a mix strain of influenza of pig, human and bird viruses and while scientifically it's part of the Type A/ H1 N1 family of influenza, they shortened the name to swine flu. U.S officials maintain that it is impossible to get pig strains from food. Using samples of the swine flu from victims, scientists are working on a strain that could trigger the immune system without causing illness.
MRSA...The`Super Germ. Mrsa or "mersa"means methicillin-resistant staphloccus (staff-uh-low-kok-us) aureas or better yet STAPH. It's a bacterium, a germ which you come in contact with daily. Many people have it in their nose membranes and may not get sick, but transmit it to others on their hands. Staph is the cause of boils and other infections. When it penetrates the skin it can infect deep organs like the heart or lungs. When it penetrates the heart it can be deadly. In the early 1940's and 50's - pennicillin killed staph with ease. However it has since become resistant to antibiotics. A new penicillin called methicillan which the bug is now also resistant to hence the name MRSA. We do have antibiotics that work against MRSA but not good enough. When a person gets infected, outcome usually depends on the patients immune system to help combat this bug. At older ages the immune system is not strong enough and falls victim to this resistant bug. Overuse of antibiotics also contributes to the problem as the bug becomes stronger and learns how to survive in the host body.
Tendon Inflamation caused by Levaquin often prescribed for bronchitis. The drug belongs to the quinolone drug family of antibiotics. Cipro, Noroxin, Floxin, Avelox and Maxaquin are other members. The quinolones can cause tendon inflamation in a few people , the Achilles tendon, the heel cord being the most affected. Inflamation may occur after medicine is stopped and in few cases the tendon ruptures.
Current Heart Therapies Questioned. Heart disease is among the most studied illnesses, yet just 11% of more than 2,700 recommendations approved by cardiologists for treating heart patients are supported by high quality scientific testing according to new research. For instance, people who have had a heart attack and take aspirin daily can rest assured that this treatment is supported by the science community. But there is less support that patients treated with artery-opening stents remain on blood thinners for a year to avoid life-threatening blood clots. The downside: patients who stay on blood thinners for an extended period of time risk potential complications if surgery is needed again. Good therapies are those that recommend monitored statin drugs, aspirin and beta blockers for heart patients to avoid a second attack. Also patients arriving at emergency rooms with a major heart attack be treated with an angioplasty balloon within 90 minutes
Arsenic in water continues to attract controversy. How much is harmful in drinking water?? It is also in food! A typical diet contains 10 to 15 micrograms of inorganic arsenic (hazardous type). Food contains much more of the non-hazardous type (organic) which passes through the body. The U.S standard of arsenic in water is 10 micrograms per liter. which is standard used by European Union and the World Health Organization. A new ruling is due in 2002. Unfortunately, the standard of arsenic has been shifting and currently as much as 20-40 micrograms may be in water and food. which could add about 1% to a person's lifetime risk of dying from cancer. That's about the same as the additional risk faced by a person living with a smoker. Which areas have highest levels in municipal water systems? Norman Oklahoma has the highest at 36.3 micrograms per liter and the lowest is Scottsdale Arizona 11.1 micrograms per liter.We are researching new regulations to be released soon by the EPA.
Microwave ovens Leakage... remain safer from since enforcement by Food and Drug Administration continues. Most microwaves have auto shutoff when waves leakout and most modern pacemakers are shielded against microwave interference.
Interstitial Cystitis often misdiagnosed. Known as the painful bladder syndrome, it affects more women than men and results when the protective covering of the bladder thins & becomes extremely sensitive and urine irritants come in contact with the bladder lining. Urination becomes constant and sexual intercourse can be painful. It can be sparked by spicy food, fruits, juices etc. If you need more info call 800 435 7422, ichelp.org.
Citrine Cubic Zirconium 1 inch oval wrapped with 14k gold wire and fresh water pearls and 14k gold necklace in 16 or 17 inch lengths. Item # pend111. $249. To enlarge for better view click on image.
Diabetes and Eye vision. Diabetes is a very common and uncontrolled blood sugar can have devastating effects on your vision. In fact, diabetics are 20 times more likely to go blind than the general population. However, blindness is very rare, especially if you have regular eye checkups. Basically diabetes is a disease of the blood vessels. When you have high amounts of sugar floating through your blood stream, a reaction occurs along your blood vessel walls that makes them leak. Leaking blood vessels leaking in your feet creates healing problems. In your kidneys leaking vessels lose electrolytes out in the urine. When blood vessels leak in your eyes your vision is affected. Like film, the retina in the back of the eye needs to be flat and smooth in order to have the perfect picture or vision.
Dance provide great way to use up sugar in the body. An important step in curbing diabetes and other health issues. Most energy consuming is hip hop & zumba. Photo, The Vibe Dancers in Orlando.
High Triglycerides They are the yellowish-white material you see around and in a cut of meat. They store energy and act as insulation for our bodies. They also have a downside. They cling to arteries and clog them just like cholesterol does. They are both considered risk factors for heart attacks and strokes. A desirable triglyceride level is less than 150 mg. A reading above 200 is high. Very high levels can bring on pancreatic inflamation, pancreatitis. A lower consumption of meat and diary products and eating 2 fish meals a week is recommended. Also a lower intake of carbohydrates, especially sugar carbohydrates is important. Finally at least 30 minutes a day of exercise to utilize stored and new sugar is key. If sugar levels do not go down then triglyceride lowering drugs are indicated.
Vision is greatly affected when blood vessels leak on the retina which becomes uneven and does not reflect the vision well. In advanced cases, the eye can fill with leaking blood, and the retina can eventually detach, leading to permanent vision loss. Next....Remedies and safe guards. What are safe levels of sugar? A fasting blood sugar (plasma glucose) of less than 100 mg is normal. Values from 100 to 125 are called impaired fasting glucose or prediabetes. A reading of 126 or higher is diabetes. Fasting is 8 hours without food. Water is permitted. Pre-diabetes is a waystation on the road to diabetes. People can turn things around by losing weight and exercising daily.
The Skin is our largest organ spreading over 18 sq ft if laid flat on a surface.
Aloe plant abundant in Florida is a perfect remedy for burns and skin irritations. In my product line I incorporate aloe as a soothing natural skin healing agent.
Women die more often then men from heart attacks. Heart disease is the number one killer of both sexes, claiming more lives each year than all cancers combined. More women than men have died from heart disease in the U.S. every year since 1984, and they are twice as likely as men to die after a heart attack, according to the National coalition for women with Heart Disease. Their are several reasons to be discussed next week in this column.
Lupis sufferers... mostly women largely due to environmental factors and hormones create havoc on the immune system. The immune system's own antibodies attack tissues and organs. Skin, joints, kidneys digestive tract, lungs, and nervous system are affected. Fatigue is the hallmark complaint. Ninety percent of patients are women often in their 20's and 30's. The oulook is optimistic. In the 1950's only 40 percent of patients survived lupis. Today, thanks to new medicines, more than 90 percent do.
HEARTBURN....increased risks of esophageal cancer. If you have heartburn several times a week you should consult your doctor. Esopageal cancer although rare, is the fastest growing cancer in the U.S, particularly in white men over 50. It is also one of the most deadly, with a survival rate of just 17%. Signs of cancer show when acid reflux causes cells in the esophagus to mutate and become more like stomach tissue, a condition called Barrett's esophagus. They sometimes continue mutating to cancer (adenocarcinoma.) Treatment involves looking for signs of precancerous changes called dysplasia and in some cases removal of patient's esophagus. A new outpatient procedure that lets doctors zap barrett's tissue with radiofrequency ablation (RFA) shows great promise. In fact trails show that among patients treated with RFA 85% were free of dysplasia, and 74% were free of all signs of Barrett's, 12 months later. None of the patients progressed to high-grade dysplasia or cancer. However, in the control group, several patients got worse, and none were free of Barrett's. What causes Cancer of the esophagus (adenocarcinoma). Rising fast - up to 6 fold in the U.S since 1975 it appears to be related to obesity, especially in belly fat, which puts pressure on the abdomen. afterwards. An estimated 3.3 million Americans have Barrett's. Only about 1 in every 200 of them will develop esophogeal cancer. Note. This type cancer not to be confused with another form of esophogeal cancer, squamous cell, linked to alcohol and tobacco use. For more see Esophageal Cancer Therapy. Bio-scope
This page sponsored by Luis Luis beauty. Great salon grade products since 1978. See LuisLuis.com for more.
Did You Know..........
That the worldwide meat production (beef,chicken and pork) emits more atmospheric greenhouse ngases than do all forms of global transportation or industrial processes. From the data from the United Nations Food and Agricultural (FAO) and the Emmision Database for Global Atmospheric Research the current levels of meat add nearly 6.5 billion tons of CO2 every year to the atmosphere: some 18 percent of the worldwide annual production of 36 billion tons. Only energy production generates more greenhouse gases than does raising livestock and food.
The worlds population is six billion and climbing at an annual rate of 1.4 percent, adding 200,000 people each day or the equivalent of one large city per week. Humans have exceeded by 100 times the biomass of any large animal species that ever existed on land. Can we go another 100 years?
More Americans were born in 2007 than in any other year in history according to the National Center for Health Statistics. This record topped the previous record in 1957 at height of baby boom.
Fibrocycystic Breast changes do not indicate cancer. In fact it's name should be changed from fibrocystic breast disease to simple "fibrocystic changes" since 60% of premenopausal women have the condition. Fibro or scar tissue & fluid filled sacs (cysts) soft fluid filled sacs, usually affect both breasts, unusual for cancer which are solitary hard masses that cannot be moved around. They do not become cancer & pain can be controlled by taking anit-inflammatory medicines such as Tylenol, Aleve or Advil. Reducing caffeine intake and low fat/high carbohydrate diets have also been found to help.
Bacteria winning out over antibiotics. A study conducted at The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reported that MRSA causes 19,000 deaths every year in the U.S., which is more than HIV/AIDS causes. More alarming is the fact almost 20 percent of people who contact MRSA die from it, and an increasing number of it's victim are young, healthy people who were infected going about everyday activities. MRSA is challenging to treat, in part because it spreads quickly if it gains access to the blood stream.. But the most pernicious quality of MRSA is it's ability to resist a major class of antibiotics known as beta-lactams (which includes cephaosporins and all variations of pennicillin) by producing an enzyme that cleaves and destroys drugs. This limits a physicians arsenal of anti-MRSA weapons to a small but powerful set of antibiotics which have serious side effects. And some strains of MRSA have already become resistant to the most effective of these, namely, vancomycin.
How are your Cholesterol and Triglyceride Levels? Statins have been a great success as cholesterol lowering drug, but they only lowers LDL (low density lipids) only one of three components that clog arteries. The other two blood fat components, HDL (high density lipids) and Triglyercerides are often ignored. . For a man, HDL or good cholesterol levels below 40 and 50 for women should raise concerns. Triglyceride levels should be below 150. National guidelines of LDL levels of 130 are recommended. Lack of exercise and poor diets are precursors for diabetes and heart disease often at ages in the low 50s for men and low 60s for women resulting in early death. Statins, including Pfizer's Lipitor and Simvastatin, a generic version of Zocar, are effective agains LDL, but not all three of the blood fats. Crestor made by AstraZeneca does improve levels of HDL and triglycerides yet the impact on those levels is modest. Other remedies such as Niacin and drugs called fibrates. Also being studied is fish oil taken daily. The good news is that cholesterol and triglycerides respond very well to exercise, diet and lifestyle changes. Your body can use up some of these blood fat components. High triglyceride levels predict how your LDL levels will behave. We can get back to the "use or lose it" rule for our bodies instead of depending on drugs to fix the problem.
Dancing. Tone deaf and Parkinson's Having this disease a person experiences tremors, rigidity and difficulty initiating movements they have planned. In both cases the the signals are not processes by the brain's motor-planning area in the pre motor cortex and supplementary motor area. These instructions then project to the primary motor cortex, which generates neural impulses that travel to the spinal cord and on to the muscles to make them contract. At the same time, sensory organs in the muscle provides feedback to the brain, giving the body's exact orientation in space via nerves that pass through the spinal cord to the cerebra cortex. Still, other areas refine and help interpret the signal by analyzing the signal and refining our actual motions. ....dancing continued below.....
Viruses and Cancer. It has been shown in recent years that viruses are involved in cancer. If so, does a weaker immune sustem contribute to the onset of cancer? Human papillomavirus causes cervical cancer; hepatitis B induces liver cancer; and Epstein Barr virus has been implicated in lymphoma. Most recently, scientists discovered that malignant brain tumors called glioblastoma multiforme, the late stage version of the cancer that has afflicted Senator Edward Kennedy of Massachusetts, are almost always teeming with cytomegalovirus (CMV), a common, typically harmless herpesvirus. In fact four out of five people have this virus which remains in latent stage in which it does not replicate and shows itself when a persons immune system is low which could be due to stress or health. In some people overexposure to the sun brings out this type virus. Still the virus has been shown to infect tumor cells while sparing healthy cells nearby. More next week.
Dancing and less stress are paramount to long life. Reading and playing an instument also creates new pathways in the brain circuitry as we age.
continued from above.... When these signals are not processes because signal may not travel to these refining areas or may be blocked, (see brain convolutions right) the resulting signal may be erratic and hence the person moves in a way he had not intent as in Parkinson's. Also, a person that does not process the musical beat even though he did hear it, may dance to a different beat of the music. Good news! Dancing builds the brains circuitry and the ability to process information and signals increases while dancing!
Watch your Carboydrates. Simple carbohydrates (carbs) sugars, fruits, vegetables and most grains (flours) are utilized by the body fast. They are small molecular chains which are not hard for the body enzymes to break down. Hence they raise blood sugar fast. The more complex carbs are starches (longer molecular chains)which take a lot longer to break down hence they are filling and don't yield that much sugar to the body as fast as simple carbs. Also, they don't provoke a great demade for insulin as the simple carbs do.
Three Medicines used in Heart Failure.... 1. A diuretic (water pill) which removes excess fluid that accumultates in heart failure. For the same reason a restricted salt intake diet is reccomended. 2. An Ace inhibitor and 3. A beta blocker. Both of these drugs make it easier for the heart to continue pumping blood. In cases where the heart has lost synchrony (hearts 2 chambers not pumping together), a pacemaker may be used to restore synchrony and pumping effectiveness. A low ejection fraction (normal is 55 percent to 78 percent) indicates heart failure. Indicators would be shortness of breath, swelling of ankles and legs.
Omega -3 fatty acids continue to receive accolades from the American Heart Association and The World Health Organization. They have both endorsed eating two fish meals per week. Fish are rich source of omega-3s, especially bluefish, halibut, herring, salmon, sardines,trout and mackerel. Omega-3 fatty acids go by more daunting names eicosapentenioc acid, and DHA, decosahexenoic acid and DHA, decosahexenoic acid. A caution: Pregnant women and women who are contemplating pregnancy should stay away from shark, swordfish, tile-fish or king mackerel. Omega-3 fatty acids prevent abnormal heartbeats, lessen the risk of clots, heart attacks and strokes, decrease body inflammation, lower blood pressure and decrease the blood level of triglycerides. So eat fish or take omega 3 in capsule form
Pulmonary Fibrosis....Tightening and shortness of breath are indicators of this disease. Strands of collagen crisscrosses the lungs impairing the passage of oxygen into the blood. Those strands are "fibrosis" of pulmonary fibrosis, and they're the same material that form scars. As a result shortness of breath and tightening of the chest occurs. Prednisone is one medicine used but none helps completely. The ultimate treatment is a lung transplant although the short course this disease takes and low supply of lungs makes this cure rarely feasible.
Eczema. Starts at young age and generally improves with time. Sometimes it returns in later life. Eczema appears as dry red patches that have time blisters, often one needs magnifying glass to see them In . This and dry skin accompany the intense itching which leads to scratching which further irritates the skin. In fact, scratching turns the skin leather-like. Most beneficial approach to caring for eczema is to maintain a moisture balance in the skin. I like the colloidal baths to relieve itching before going to bed. I make one that contains Oatmeal and contains oatmeal. (Eczema bath). This should be followed by some cream to seal and maintain the skins moisture. I have formulated an hydrophilic cream (Eczema medic)that contains some cortisone that don't have adverse effect when applied to skin. Another over the counter moisturize is Aquaphor.There are others such as Protopic ointment and Elidel cream, neither a cortisone preparation, often control eczema but have been associated with skin cancer, although, the risks is rather small. After skin is treated, avoid wearing garments of wool or synthetic fibers.
