Tag: back pain

Scoliosis in Adolescents

Normally, a spine when viewed from rear should appear straight but if the spine is lateral or curved or sideways or rotated then it is affected by scoliosis. It gives an appearance as if the person has leaned to a side. According to Scoliosis Research Society the definition of scoliosis is the curving of the spine at an angle greater than 10 degrees on an x-ray. Scoliosis is a kind of spinal deformity and shouldnt be confused to poor posture. Usually there are 4 common kinds of patterns of curves experienced in Scoliosis which are: Thoracic wherein the right side has ninety percent curves, lumbar wherein left side has seventy percent curves, thoracolumbar wherein right side has eighty percent curves and double major where both right and left sides have curves.

In majority of the cases, as high as eight to eighty five percent, the cause of the deformity is unknown, this is also known as idiopathic scoliosis. It is observed that females have scoliosis more commonly than males. According to some established facts 3 to 5 children per 1000 has chances of developing spinal curves which is a number big enough requiring medical treatment. There are three types of scoliosis that can develop in children namely congenital, neuromuscular and idiopathic. Congenital scoliosis is seen in 1 out every 1,000 births which is caused due to vertebraes failure in normal formation, vertebrae is absent, vertebrae is formed partially and vertebrae is not separated. Neuromuscular scoliosis is linked with various neurological conditions and particularly in children who dont walk like cerebral palsy, muscular dystrophy, spina bifida, tumors in spinal cord, paralytic conditions and neurofibromatosis. The cause of third type of scoliosis called Idiopathic scoliosis is still unknown. It is further divided into infantile, juvenile and adolescent scoliosis. Infantile scoliosis occurs up to the age of 3 years from birth wherein the vertebrae curve is towards left and is more frequently observed in boys. The curve takes normal shape with the growth of child. Juvenile scoliosis is common in children of age three to nine. Adolescent scoliosis is common in kids of age ten to eighteen and this is also the most common form of scoliosis occurring more in girls than boys.

The other possible causes of the deformity include hereditary reasons, different lengths of legs, injuries, infections and tumors. There are numerous symptoms attributed to scoliosis which can vary from individual to individual. The symptoms are: Difference in heights of the shoulders, off-centered head, difference in the height or position of the hip, difference in the position or height of shoulder blade, different arm lengths in straight standing position and lastly different height back sides when the body is bent forward. Other symptoms include leg pain, back pain and change in bladder and bowel habits do not belong to the symptoms of idiopathic scoliosis and require medical checkup by a doctor. The symptoms may be similar to other problems related to spinal cord or other deformities or could result from an infection or injury and consulting a doctor is the best bet in this situation who may conduct diagnosis to know what exactly it is.

The diagnosis of scoliosis requires thorough medical history of the teenager, diagnostic tests and also physical examination. The doctor asks for entire prenatal history, birth history and also would want to know if anyone in the family has scoliosis. The doctor may also ask for the milestones related with the development of the teenager since some kinds of scoliosis are known to be related to neuromuscular disorders. The delay in development may need additional medical evaluation. Doctor may also prescribe x-ray, CT scan and MRI scan of the back to measure the degree of curvature in the spinal. There are various treatments available for scoliosis which is decided by the physician depending on teenagers age, medical history and health in general. The method of treatment also depends on the extent to which disease has reached. The tolerance of the teenager to certain medicines, therapies and procedures are also taken into consideration. Expectations and opinion of the parents or teenager is also the criteria in deciding the type of treatment. The main aim of the treatment is stop the curve from progressing and avert deformity. The treatments include observation and repetitive examinations, bracing and surgery to correct the defect.

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Drugs to Fight Alzheimer’s

Although there is no known cure yet for Alzheimer’s disease, there are already a number of drugs available worldwide that can help slow down a patient’s cognitive deterioration. The main aim of these Alzheimer’s medications is to try and improve cognitive ability or the person’s capability to think, perceive, judge and recognize.

There are currently five drugs approved by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) that can be used to treat Alzheimer’s. There is ongoing research done all the time to test the effectiveness of such medications since they do not serve as a cure-all for the disease.
These medications may not have the same effects on all patients that are suffering from Alzheimer’s. But such prescription drugs can have significant effects on some of the patients with Alzheimer’s disease and should be given consideration as a possible treatment.

The 5 FDA Approved Medications are:
Aricept
Cognex
Exelon
Razadyne
Namenda

The first four drugs listed above belong to a group of drugs known as Cholinesterase Inhibitors. They work by trying to delay the break down of a substance known as acetylcholine in the brain which helps in bridging communication between nerve cells and has an important role in a person’s memory.

Nameda on the other hand acts on another neurotransmitter called glutamate and shields the brain from then said substance which contributes to the death of brain cells in people with Alzheimer’s disease. This drug is more effective in treating moderate to severe forms of Alzheimer’s disease, improving the day to day life of the person with Alzheimer’s disease.

The most common side effects associated with the drug Nameda include dizziness, confusion, constipation, headache and skin rashes. Some patients may experience less common side effects such as tiredness, back pain, high blood pressure, insomnia, hallucinations, vomiting and occasional shortness of breath.

The drugs Aricept, Exelon and Razadyne are seen to be most effective in treating the early stages of Alzheimer’s disease. This group of prescription drugs has been shown to have some modest effect in slowing down the degeneration of a patient’s cognitive abilities.

These drugs can also help in trying to reduce certain behavioral problems usually exhibited by people suffering from Alzheimer’s. When these drugs are administered effectively on an Alzheimer’s patient, they can significantly improve one’s quality of life and more able to cope up with the disease.

Alzheimer’s patients taking these medications may experience some side effects which may not be the same for all patients. Common side effects observed in patients using the drug Aricept include nausea, vomiting, excessive tiredness, sleeping troubles and muscle cramps.

Less frequent observed side effects of the drug are headaches and dizziness with rare cases of patients suffering from anorexia, gastric or duodenal ulcers, gastro-intestinal hemorrhage, bladder overflow obstruction, liver damage, convulsions, heart problems and psychiatric disturbances while using Aricept as medication.

The usual side effects seen in using Exelon as treatment for Alzheimer’s are nausea, vomiting, weight loss, stomach upset and fatigue. Less usual side effects observed with the use of the said drug are abdominal pain, sweating, diarrhea, headaches, tremor, and psychiatric disturbances such as anxiety or depression with rare cases of patients experiencing gastro-intestinal bleeding.

The drug Cognex is used less frequently for Alzheimer’s treatment as it can cause serious liver damage to most patients. Other side effects of the drug include nausea and vomiting. Some patients may also experience some abdominal pain, sore muscles, headache, dizziness, rapid breathing, increased urination, insomnia, runny nose or mouth, swelling in legs and feet when taking Cognex. Some of the most severe side effects associated with using Cornex are liver damage, heart problems and seizures.

The common side effects often reported with the use of Razadyne are nausea, vomiting, appetite loss and weight loss. Less common are fatigue, dizziness, tremor, headaches, abdominal pain, urinary tract infection, blood in urine, runny nose. There are no serious side effects with this drug.

The Truth on Back Pain

Back pain is commonly felt but no one can be blamed for it. It is difficult to figure out and far more difficult to describe. Confusion often arises during diagnosis and patients almost always fail to understand what exactly is hurting and what causes the pain. In this article we will try to resolve some of the most common confusions that often arise as myths.

Contrary to what is popularly believed back pain is seldom related with the spinal chord. Nor does the spinal chord causes any back problems, unless damage is made directly on the spinal cord. This is when paralysis occurs. Otherwise, the chord has nothing to do with frequent back pain rather, the problem may be associated with nerve roots.

The spinal chord ends at the lumbar 1(L1). The spinal column is divided into several sections, the lumbar section comprise the lower back where weight is generally concentrated. Additionally, it is in the lumbar where nerve roots may be located, impairment or any condition that may lead to such is the proponent to pain but never the spinal chord. In any case, paralysis due to back pain is often impossible.

Back pain is believed to be a seldom case among individuals. In opposition, back pain afflicts around 80% of all people some time in their lives. Nobody escapes from this reality, it seems that back pain is a normal part of any stage of life. It will most likely appear during old age but there are people who have been suffering over the pain since time immemorial.

In America alone, back pain is reputed to be the leading cause of disability among individuals aged 45 and above. It is also known to be the second, if not the primary reason why people visit care clinics and stands third for the most frequent reason why people get surgical procedures and fifth for having hospitalized.

Moreover, there is no general rule as to who will be affected with back pain. It doesn’t imply that I you are healthy and do exercise regularly that you may not be susceptible with this form of ailment. In effect, people experience episodes of back pain regardless of the activity they engage into.

Having back doesn’t mean that there is an ongoing damage or degeneration on the lower back. Unlike with acute pain where the level of pain may be associated with the degree of damage on the affected part, chronic back pain doesn’t normally correlate with the level of damage.

There are other myths and beliefs that may be associated with back pain. Removal of such through responsible education can be very effective for people seeking with treatment and coping with their condition.

Things to Consider with Estrogen Patch

Estrogen patches are used to treat and reduce the risks of the symptoms that are caused by menopause. Other doctors prescribe it for people who have low levels of Estrogen. However, the dosage that a person should apply always depends on the doctors recommendation.

Each of the patches is sealed individually in a protective pouch. You can also apply this directly to the skin though some patches require a base medicine. The product is sealed tightly and once opened you need to use it immediately.

There are various types of Estrogen patches that are suited for your individual needs and depending on the type of disorder that you complaint as well. This is not advisable to apply on the breast area due to some possible complications.

If there are times that you fail to apply the patch in the affected area make sure that you will still apply it as soon as you remember. But do not dare to apply the patch more than the prescribed because it can cause some side effects. Most often, instead of treating you, it can worsen the condition.

The doctor will determine if the use of Estrogen patch will be safe for you. They will advise you to undergo a check up first before you will be given the prescription. Some of the patients can be prone to more side effects especially if Estrogen patches are not suited for them.

Most common side effects of Estrogen patches are skin irritation, back pain and sometimes headache. Sometimes you will also experience bloating and abdominal cramps but these are very rare side effects.

People most particularly the women are aware about the fact that Estrogen patches can cause uterus or ovarian cancer. This is especially in the case of people who are recommended to undertake a long term Estrogen treatment.

On the other hand, study shows that Estrogen patches reduce the risk of heart diseases but it is not strongly recommended for people to use it as an alternative for heart diseases because there is no sufficient proof supporting the study yet. These are mere presumptions and theories of some scientists.

The use of Estrogen patches is prohibited for the pregnant women and even after giving birth. This is because it can increase the risk of some reproductive tract problems that cannot only affect the mother but as well as the child inside the womb. Take this kinds of consideration at all times.