Weight Loss

Posted by admin | Diseases | Sunday 22 February 2009 5:08 am

There is no one on this entire planet that is entirely happy with the way they look. Everyone wants to look like those reed-thin models on TV but not every one has the same metabolism and same body shape. People try dieting and exercise and they do it day in and day out; but the ultimate in weight loss now is weight loss surgery. Throughout the US, the process of using weight loss surgery is now considered as one which offers a quick and relatively easy way to lose weight.

If you really look at it carefully weight loss by surgery seems to be the best solution for people who are severely obese. So obese that ordinary dieting and weight loss processes do not work or are not advised. But it’s not for everyone. Weight loss surgery is contraindicated for patients who want to lose only ten to twenty pounds. Doctors prescribe the process of surgical weight loss only for those patients who are atleast 100 pounds overweight. Patients who have a BMI of about 35 are also the ideal patients for this surgery especially if they have other complications like hypertension, diabetes and sleep apnea.

But nothing is really that easy. You have to remember that if weight loss surgery can make you lose a few pounds there are several catches that come with the process too. The surgery is pretty serious and takes a long time to recover from. After the surgery, the patient has to stick to a serious diet and dietary guidelines so that the patient does not relapse into the same eating patterns. Exercise is also really important. Patients have to follow atleast thirty minutes of exercise routines that will exercise every part of the patient’s body as set by a trainer.

There are several varieties of weight loss surgery and one of the most common procedures that everyone knows about is gastric bypass surgery. In this surgery, a bypass is created in the patient’s stomach to allow the food to pass into the intestine without any digestion taking place. As a result, there is a chance that the patient may suffer from severe nutritional deficiencies that will lead to health complications. Gastroplasty is another weight loss surgery that is similar to gastric bypass surgery. But instead of sending food directly to the intestine, in this surgery the amount of food that enters the stomach is severely limited by reducing the size of the stomach.

As the name suggests, both of these procedures are major surgeries. They can only be done in a hospital with trained gastroenterology surgeons who have sufficient experience. The surgery requires the use of a five to eight inch incision in the abdomen and a hospital recovery period of about seven days. Even after the patient is discharged from the OT, the patient may experience severe complications like nausea, vomiting, chest and abdominal cramps, sweating and diarrhea. One of the worst complications which may arise from this surgery is the chances of an anastomotic leak which is life threatening and requires immediate surgery.

No matter, how easy the surgery looks and how much weight loss is expected; you have to remember that the process is risky and complicated. Or you might lose more than you bargained for!

Weight Loss Medicines

 

  • Acomplia
  • Generic Actoplus Met
  • Generic Xenical
  • Generic Zimulti
  • Proactol
  • Surgery

    Posted by admin | Diseases | Sunday 22 February 2009 5:02 am

    If you are one of those lucky ones, who have never had to be operated on; then count your blessings. The very name of surgery can make a grown man shiver with fear; simply because we know that the process is painful and extremely scary. But surgery is a medical specialty that deals with the use of instruments and human intervention to treat patients of disease. Surgeons train for several years to be allowed to work on the intricate organization of the human body. The main reason for this is because books can teach you only so much. Surgeons become better and better as they work on niche areas of the human body and that is the reason why there are special surgeons assigned to work on special parts of the body.

    Surgeons use surgery as an advanced medical tool to treat diseased tissues. The process is called as surgery when human tissues are cut into or a part of the human body is removed or previously open wounds are treated by medical intervention. There are several procedures which also involve the same treatments processes but are not called as surgery. For example, angioplasty or endoscopy also involve the use of an operation theatre, sterile environment, surgeons, surgical instruments and suturing but they are not considered as surgeries as they are carried out from the outside of the body. Let us check out some common methods of surgery.

     Elective surgery is done to correct non-life threatening conditions. These surgeries are done at the patient’s request.

     Emergency surgery is not elective. You cannot choose to do emergency surgery. Emergency surgery is done when there is no other alternative and there is a severe danger to the patient’s life and limb.

     Exploratory surgery is done when the doctor carries out surgery to confirm his diagnosis. If the disease is small then the doctor usually removes the diseased part in the same surgery and then this is also called treatment surgery.

     Therapeutic surgery is carried out to treat a diagnosed condition.

     Amputation surgery is carried out when a diseased part has to be cut off the human body.

     Replantation is the process by which a severed body part is reattached to the human body.

     Reconstruction surgery is done when a destroyed body part is rebuilt again for cosmetic or essential reasons

     Cosmetic surgery is carried out to improve or change the existing physical appearance of a person.

     Excision is the removal of a body part from the human body

     Transplantation surgery is the process by which a human body part is transplanted from a cadaver or a living human person to another human person. Animal parts are also transplanted into humans and this process is also considered as a transplantation surgery.

     Minimally invasive surgery is done when you do not want to damage the patient’s body too much. The surgery is carried out through keyhole procedures that reduces the damage to the human body and decreases the time for recovery.

    Stop Smoking

    Posted by admin | Diseases | Sunday 22 February 2009 4:56 am

    Is it easy to stop smoking? Not at all! It takes a lot of effort and hard work and unless you are really determined to stop smoking, you are not going to! Before you actually stop smoking there are several steps you have to take to prepare yourself mentally and physically to succeed in your aim. The main steps you should remember are-

    Believe in your decision to stop smoking.
    You already know that smoking is bad for you. The whole world knows it but the habit is very addictive. You may want to stop but your body may not co-operate with your mind. But you can try the “Health Belief Model” which prepares you to lose weight by predicting certain health behaviors seen in the general population. The program believes that the only way you can lose weight is by
     Believing you can lose weight if you can remember that tobacco smoking can and will compromise your health pretty seriously.
     You should believe that you are committed to the process of stop smoking.
     Remember that quitting smoking is much better to continuing smoking
     Take a look at the large amount of diseases that smoking can cause to the human body.

    Prepare to actually stop smoking
    Once you’ve actually committed to stop smoking you have to be motivated enough to pick a date to stop smoking. You should pick a specific date and label it as your “Quit Day.” Prepare a day that you know that you are mentally and physically prepared to stop smoking. Remember that this day is final for your QUIT SMOKING campaign. Prepare yourself by cleaning your room of ashtrays and cigarettes and removing everything that reminds you of smoking. Don’t interact with smokers and don’t let people smoke near you or at your home. Think why previous attempts to stop smoking did not succeed. And rework your present attempt around the pitfalls.

    Use medication if necessary!
    If you want to really stop smoking you have to acknowledge the fact that you will need help. Trying to get your body off the addiction is not as easy as it seems. Get in touch with a doctor to find out what will help you to control your cravings. It will not be easy so be prepared for a difficult time. Common drugs prescribed by doctors to stop smoking are Buproprion. The medication controls the urge to stop smoking but contains no nicotine.

    Nicotine substitutes
    Smoking is addictive and many people fall of the smoking bandwagon for the simple reason that the addiction is difficult to control. But if you don’t want to do the process all of a sudden, you can try nicotine substitutes like lozenges, patches, nasal sprays, inhalers, gums etc. all of these products work to provide your body with tapering and reducing dosages of nicotine to get your body off the addiction.

    The advantages of using nicotine substitutes are –
    1. They prepare you to receive tapering dosages of nicotine and that reduces the cravings and withdrawal symptoms that smokers experience when they try to stop smoking
    2. It increases your confidence levels that you can stop smoking and the fact that you do not need a cigarette to complete your day.

    Skin Care

    Posted by admin | Diseases | Sunday 22 February 2009 4:51 am

    You might feel that taking care of your skin is close to impossible. Don’t worry, here are a few tips that will help you out:

    Acne

    Sebum, a type of oil that normally lubricates the skin and hair, clogs the pores of the skin. This results in pimples or acne. During puberty the hormones go into an overdrive and sebum production increases. So Acne is more common during adolescence. The forehead, nose, and chin— the T-zone- has more oil glands so pimples are more common here.
    To tackle this, follow these tips:
    Twice daily wash your face with a mild acne special soap and warm water. Massage your face gently in small circles. Do not over scrub or wash. Apply a lotion with benzoyl peroxide over this to decrease oil and microorganisms.
    Do not break your pimples. This could lead to other problems like redness, further swelling and scarring.
    Consult a dermatologist, if needed. A dermatologist will treat you based on your skin type. Certain salons and spas have estheticians or specialists who can advice you.

    Protection from sun

    Sun’s rays could be harmful and what’s more they are very difficult to avoid. There are some uses of sunlight too. For example it creates Vitamin D. You should manage the level of exposure your skin faces. Here are some pointers:
    Always wear a sunscreen when going out in the sun. See to it that the sun protection factor or SPF of your sunscreen in more than 35. Wear a sunscreen even when it seems cloudy outside or you do not intend to spend too much time outside. Even if the sunscreen is waterproof, reapply the sunscreen after you swim or re-apply it every 2 or 3 hours if you perspire a lot.
    A few medications, for example prescription acne medications or birth control pills could increase your level of sensitivity to the sun. So it would be advisable to protect yourself more against the sun in such a situation.

    Eczema

    Eczema makes the skin dry, red and itchy. A person with eczema will be more prone to rashes, which are also itchy, especially near the bend of the knees or the elbows and the neck and the face. Symptoms of eczema vary according individuals. A few steps to prevent eczema could be:
    Steering clear from heavily fragranced lotions or harsh detergents and perfumed soaps that have a tendency to start or aggravate eczema.
    Taking short, warm showers and baths as water can dry the skin and thus increase the skin irritation. Wear gloves while washing dishes or car or at any other time when your hand will be exposed to water for long.
    To prevent itching and dryness, apply fragrance-free moisturizer to your skin regularly. This will soothe you. It is seen that creams last longer than lotions and moisturize better. It is recommended that you apply cream just after bathing, when the skin is slightly wet.
    You could also consider seeking the help of a dermatologist if you are having trouble managing eczema by yourself.

    When it comes to treating and relaxing your feet, the French pedicure is the best you can get. It has a smooth and relaxing feeling that leaves your feet with an outstanding look just by using luscious lotions, callus removers, hydrating butters and scented soaks or scrubs. The procedure is quite simple and not complicated in any way. However, it’s recommended for one to visit a beauty supply or a drug store in order to acquire the materials needed.

    In French Manicure; you soak your feet in Luke warm water containing a few drops of Epsom salt so as to make them softer and completely remove the old nail polish with the use of cotton bands dipped in acetone remover. The next step is to cut the toe nails and in this case, quality clippers will give you outstanding results. Nevertheless, when cutting the nails, make sure you leave about 1/8th of an inch so that the nails don’t extend over the tip of the toes.

    Filing all round the edges will also help in acquiring soft square shaped nails.
    The feet should then be soaked in a in a bath of salt and aroma oils so as to help loosen the dead skin. Trimming of the loose skin can also be done with the help of a cuticle nipper though care should be taken to avoid cutting the toe flesh.

    Finally in Manicure Pedicure set white nail polish is applied to the nail tips followed by a clear, pearl or pale colored pink polish over the nails. It’s done by painting a strip of color down the center of the nail that overlaps with a strip on either side. When you’re done, you should make sure the nails are dry before wearing shoes.

    Peter Gitundu Researches and Reports on Pedicure. For More Information on French pedicure, Visit His Site at FRENCH PEDICURE You Can Also Add Your Views About French pedicure At My Blog here FRENCH PEDICURE Visit for more Skin Care Tips

    Respiratory

    Posted by admin | Diseases | Sunday 22 February 2009 4:45 am

    These are modern healthier times but the incidence of respiratory diseases has not decreased. You would have thought that with better food, health and economic levels, people would have developed resistance to common respiratory disorders. But that has not happened. According to the CDC or the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, more than 121000 people worldwide are affected with lung disease. Lung cancer is one of the larger killers of people all over the world along with other respiratory diseases which come a close second. At present there are more than 35 million adult Americans who have some sort of lung disorder and that amount of people will increase over the next few years.

    How It Happens?

    The lungs are thin balloons which are responsible for filtering air and allowing only oxygen to enter the body and allow carbon dioxide to escape. As we breathe in air, it enters into the windpipe and the trachea and ultimately into the bronchial tubes. The entire respiratory system is dependent on the last part of the respiratory system called as the alveoli. The actual exchange of gases takes place in the alveoli which are nothing but thin walled balloons. But, under disease conditions, these thin walled balloons become thick and dense or filled with thick mucus. The thin wall of the alveoli is the main reason that gases can pass through easily.

    With constant irritations from allergens like cigarette smoke, the cell wall becomes multi-cellular and thick. This interferes with the exchange of gases and causes the amount of oxygen entering the body to decrease. As the actual exchange of oxygen decrease, breathing becomes more and more difficult for the patient. This is the primary symptoms for all patients who have Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease. Along with the thickened walls, the alveoli also start to develop recurrent swellings and infections.

    Cuses of Infections

    No one really knows what causes respiratory diseases. There are several reasons for it but sometimes it can be a combination of all these factors which causes respiratory diseases. At least one lung disorder can also be blamed on contemporary medications and their side effects. For example, pulmonary hypertension which is characterized by high blood pressure in the pulmonary artery can be also caused due to the widespread use of diet drugs like fenphen or fenfluramine and dexfenfluramine. Many patients who were on the drug to lose weight developed symptoms of the lung disease. Although the drugs were later banned from regular use, they are still used illegally by patients to lose weight.

    Infectious diseases can also cause lung disorders. Two of the world’s most dangerous diseases are pneumonia and tuberculosis which can severely damage the lungs and destroy the patient’s respiratory health almost permanently. But newer and better antibiotics have made it possible to control these diseases to a manageable condition.

    Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease is another extremely common lung condition found all over the world. Smoking or exposure to dangerous toxins can cause the lung tissue to get irreparably damaged. There is a permanent decrease in the breathing capacity of the patient.

    Parkinson And Alzheimer

    Posted by admin | Diseases | Sunday 22 February 2009 4:40 am

    Parkinson
    What is Parkinson disease? The neurons or a nerve cell of human brain that controls muscle movement gets affected in this disease. The neurons that are responsible for making dopamine ether die or do not function right. Dopamine is needed to send signals for coordinated movements. There is no known reason for the damage. Some of the symptoms of this disorder are:
    • Stiffness of arms, legs or trunk
    • Sluggish movements
    • Twitching or trembling of hands, arms, legs, jaw and face
    • Lack of coordination and balance
    With the progress of the disease, even simple tasks like walking or talking could become difficult for the patient. Sleep disorders, depression, problems of speech and difficulty in food intake can be noticed.
    Usually Parkinson’s starts after 60 but at times it could start earlier. It is more commonly seen in men than women. No known cure for this disorder exists; however, there are a lot of medicines that could reduce the symptoms dramatically in certain cases.
    Alzheimer
    This brain disorder affects the memory, reasoning, imagination and takes away the power to learn. Unlike the slight forgetfulness in older people, those suffering from Alzheimer’s forget everything about themselves and people related to them. They could also suffer anxiety, depression and paranoia. There is no complete cure for Alzheimer’s but with current medicine, its pace could be decreased and symptoms reduced.
    Senile plaques or abnormal clumps and neurofibrillary tangles or irregular knots are characteristics of Alzheimer’s. They attack the healthy brain tissue corrupting intellectual function. The reason for this is not known.
    The most common form of dementia, Alzheimer’s, has over 4million people under its sway in the US alone. It is predicted that by the time baby boomers age the figure will rise to 14 million. It is spread all over and affects 10% or more of those over 65 and close to 50% of those over 85. The number of women with this disorder is slightly more than men. Epidemiologists have called Alzheimer’s “the disease of the century” due to it growing prevalence.
    Although Alzheimer’s disease normally affects those who are above 65 years, there are aggressive forms of the disease that could affect people in the 40s and 50s. The progress of Alzheimer’s is gradual. It could take from3 years to two decades to progress from the earliest symptoms to death. On an average the disease takes 8 years. Usually death is the result of some secondary illness like pneumonia or urinary tract infection but not Alzheimer’s itself. Today the thrust is given to slowing the progress of this disease and coping with the symptoms.
    Unfortunately, during the early and middle stages of Alzheimer’s people are aware of their own intellectual difficulties and know what to expect. So it becomes of great essence to support them at this and all other stages with the help from doctor, social worker, or psychological counselor. Throughout they need love, care and nurturing. Give them a lot of tender loving care.

    Pain Medicine

    Posted by admin | Diseases | Sunday 22 February 2009 4:37 am

    Preventing, evaluating, treating pain and rehabilitating those in pain is concentrated upon in the discipline of medicine called Pain Medicine, or Algiatry. Certain conditions could have pain accruing from causes like postoperative pain or pain associated with a malignancy; in others the pain itself could be the important problem like neuropathic pains or headaches. The specialists in Pain Medicine or Algiatrists have a broad-based approach that could range from pain as a primary problem to pain as a symptom. An Algiatrist could be the primary treating physician or at times a consultant. An Algiatrist could treat the patient directly, look at medication or rehabilitation, consult at hospitals, counsel, direct a team of experts or coordinate with other medical care givers.

    Pain Medicine specialists have to come up with treatment plans that take into reckoning the patient’s culture and special needs depending on age.
    Interpreting historical data, reviewing of previous lab reports, assessing behavioral, social, occupational, and avocational issues and talking to the patient are some evaluation techniques an Algiatrist will try out.

    Medication for severe pain:

    A combination of acetaminophen and narcotic can be prescribed for slightly severe pain-
    1. Acetaminophen and codeine (Tylenol and Codeine, Capital with Codeine, Phenaphen and Codeine)
    2. Acetaminophen and hydrocodone (Anexsia, Dolacet, Vicodin, Bancap HC, Co-Gesic, Anodynos-DHC, Lortab)
    3. Acetaminophen and oxycodone (Roxicet, Percocet, , Roxilox, Endocet, Tylox)

    The medications have a different effect depending on individual:

    1. Tylenol with codeine is not stronger than a similar dose of ibuprofen. It has other side effects like nausea, vomiting, constipation, and disorientation. For Codeine to be effective it has to be converted morphine by the body. Certain patients don’t have the enzyme necessary for the conversion. Codeine is not effective in such cases.
    2. Vicodin is double the strength of as acetaminophen or any NSAID and rarely has side effects. It is effective and quite safe. But using it long could cause dependency, unless recommended by the doctor. Narcotics are not commonly addictive but they do have the potential in some cases to cause addiction.
    3. Percocet is similar to Vicodin in safety as well as side effects. One of which is constipation.
    A good way to use these medicines short-term would be to take a regular dose of NSAID (e.g.: ibuprofen) and take a Percocet or Vicodin as and when needed.

    Avoid the following pain medicines:
    Tylenol with codeine and oral Demerol should be avoided. These apart, there are other pain medications that ought to be avoided for some reasons.

    Osteoporosis

    Posted by admin | Diseases | Sunday 22 February 2009 4:21 am

    Osteoporosis is a health problem that affects the bones. Low bone mass and a loss in the bone tissue probably leading to weak and fragile bones are typical characteristics. A person with osteoporosis has a greater risk of fracture, especially in the hip, spine or wrist.

    For long, osteoporosis was thought of as something connected only to older women. But as a matter of fact, it starts damaging you pretty early. By 25 years of age, you should have built strong bones because by then peak bone density is reached and this will help you throughout the life. Calcium intake is essential for this.
    About 10 million people suffer from osteoporosis in the US alone. Another 18 million are at risk due to low bone index. 80% of those affected are women. 50% of women and 20% of the men have the chance of getting osteoporosis.

    Symptoms:

    Initially there may be no visible symptoms of osteoporosis. As time progresses, slight back or neck pain or pain in other parts might be felt. Afterwards the sharp pains could be felt all-of-a-sudden. It might not radiate and might become worse as pressure on the region increase due to work. It will start decreasing within a week but pain maybe felt for the next 3 months.

    A fracture of the spine due to osteoporosis could give the person a stoop (dowager’s hump) and make the person shorter. A fall could cause fracture of hip, wrist etc.

    Treatment:

    The most important part of treatment involves cutting down the mineral loss, improve bone density and prevent fractures and pain. A vertebral fracture due to osteoporosis could lead to other fractures and is called a “fracture cascade.” Here treatment is to prevent fracture.

    Nutrition: At least 1000mg of calcium intake daily is important for young adults. Milk or calcium-fortified orange juice and foods high in calcium are recommended. Maintaining average weight is of essence.

    Consulting: Each case is to be treated differently. Spinal, hip, or wrist fracture cases should see an orthopedic surgeon or bone specialist. They will get tips on fracture management. They also benefit from the recommendations of physical and occupational therapist and learn how to exercise without injuring themselves. For instance, a person with spinal fracture is advised not to touch toes, do sit ups or lift heavy weight.

    Keeping fit: Exercise is an important part of the treatment. Consistent exercise can decrease the chance of bone fracture in those suffering from osteoporosis.

    Muscle Relaxers

    Posted by admin | Diseases | Sunday 22 February 2009 12:09 am

    Muscle relaxer is a kind of medication that is mostly given to relieve pain. Generally called as pain pills, these medicines are also often referred to as skeletal muscle relaxants (SMRs). The muscle relaxer provides relief from pain that could be caused because of an injury, but it must also be added that it does not contribute in any way to the healing process of the place injured. By reducing the mobility and contraction of the skeletal muscles, pain relief is achieved.
    There are two types of muscle relaxers:

    1. Neuromuscular blocker: Neuromuscular blocker prevents the brain from sending messages to the muscle, that is, the activity of the neurotransmitter is restricted. This blocking is done either by inhibiting synthesis of acetylcholine or sometimes holding back its performance at the receptor sites. It could be said that these kinds of drugs bring about a short-term paralysis of muscles. As a result, neuromuscular blocker is also used for anesthesia, just before surgical procedures.

    2. Spasmolytic: Called quite often as a centrally acting muscle relaxer, a spasmolytic muscle relaxer has an impact on the Central Nervous System (CNS). Not only does the spasmolytic muscle relaxer inhibit pain, but it also becomes useful in controlling spasms in the muscles. These kinds of muscle relaxers are prescribed more often. As matter of fact when a muscle relaxer was referred to, it was actually a spasmolytic that was being spoken about. Of course, now neuromuscular blockers are also included in this definition.

    Another accurate term to refer to a spasmolytic drug would be anti-spasmodic, because there are certain pain medications in this group that do not show CNS activity.

    A vast majority of patients might show a positive response to a muscle relaxer and exhibit pain relief, but the variations among the several drugs of this class make a few medications less apt for some types of injuries and conditions. A case in point would be baclofen- a muscle relaxer, which has been found to be useful in certain neurological conditions like cerebral palsy, multiple sclerosis etc. But despite this, this muscle relaxer cannot be prescribed for orthopedic disorders. A muscle relaxer is never free from risks to begin with. It could lead to conditions like blurred vision, giddiness or sleepiness. It could also make the effects of other medicines stronger and thus suppress the CNS even more. Plus it could lead to drug addiction and abuse for someone who takes these drugs for a long term.

    Some situations might also be noticed where specific types of muscle relaxers are contraindicated. Take for instance metaxalone. In a diabetic, it could create false serum glucose readings. Methocarbamol, yet another muscle relaxer could actually raise the chances of epileptics getting seizures. As it is possible that any of the prescribed muscle relaxant can create complications, it is essential that the patients discuss their condition and medical history in detail with the medical practitioner. They should also inform the doctor about the medications they are taking even if they using only dietary supplements or over-the-counter drugs.

    Migraines

    Posted by admin | Diseases | Saturday 21 February 2009 11:54 pm

    Nearly everyone has suffered from migraines at least once in their life time. It’s not a pleasant experience at all. The symptoms of a splitting endless headache are combined with nausea, vomiting, light sensitivity and a whole range of symptoms which make any normal person turn into a recluse. Most of the time the symptoms are limited to one side of the head and can make normal functioning impossible for the duration of the headache.

    A few of the more obscure symptoms are auras, with vision disturbances that indicate that an attack of migraines is imminent.

    Causes of migraines

    The cause of migraines is not really known. But a lot of people get it and very frequently too. According to modern statistics, at least 11 out of 100 people do get migraines at least once in their lifetime. The most common age for migraines to occur are from 10 to 46 years of age. Migraines may occur later in life but they are more common in women and do have a familial history. The incidence of migraines decreases after pregnancy and during pregnancy.

    The most common reason for a migraine headache is supposed to be due to stress, tensions, certain foods, environmental factors and a load of other reasons. But no one is exactly sure at the exact cause of migraines. Researchers believe that the main cause of the migraines is due to dilation of blood vessels that supply blood to the brain. The exact pathway is supposed to be inside the nerve pathways of the brain and the release of specific chemicals that can change the flow of blood in the brain and surrounding tissues.

    What are the common symptoms of migraines?

    The most common symptoms of migraines are auras which come before the actual attack. The patient will experience visual disturbances that are supposed to be the indicators or warnings of an impeding migraine attack. The exact symptoms vary from person to person with symptoms ranging from temporary blind spots, blurred vision, eye pain, shooting stars, or cloudy vision around objects and tunnel vision. The symptoms precede an attack and vary in intensity. A few patients do not experience auras at all.
    The exact intensity of the migraine attach differs from person to person. Patients have described attacks as bad as drumming pain in the head, eyes, neck and forehead. Several patients complain of the pain being one-sided and starting as a dull ache which gets worse with time. Attacks last from several minutes to days

    Reducing the frequency of attacks

    Once the attacks have started, there are medications that doctors prescribe to patients to take every day. Most common medications prescribed by doctors are-
    1. Anti depressants like amitriptyline
    2. Blood pressure medicines like betablockers (propanolol) and calcium channel blockers (verapamil)
    3. Seizure medications like valproic acid and topiramate
    4. Serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs) like venlafaxine

    Controlling attacks

    There are several groups of medications that are available for use to control your pain once the attack has started:
    1. Over the counter pain medications like aspirin and ibuprofen.
    2. Triptans – This group of medication is the most common group of tablets prescribed for migraines like almotriptan (Axert), frovatriptan (Frova), rizatriptan (Maxalt), sumatriptan (Imitrex), and zolmitriptan (Zomig)
    3. Ergots like dihydroergotamine or ergotamine combined with caffeine (Cafergot)
    4. Isometheptene (Midrin)

    Precautions

    You must always be careful while using medication as they are designed specifically for dilation blood vessels. If you have other medical conditions you should not use medications. Check with your doctor, before you start taking any medicine.

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