Tag: Coumadin

Planning for Your Hair Transplant Surgery

It takes courage to take the first steps in going through with hair transplant surgery. Planning for the procedure is necessary before you even make the final decision to have it done. Once that step is completed, you will be ready to start the preparations for your surgery.

Before you are approved for a hair transplant procedure, the doctor will have to sign off on you. You must be deemed appropriate for the surgery. It may seem that everyone would be approved, but there are several reasons why you may not be.

The doctor will explore both the hair loss you have suffered, and the hair growth you still have. This is very important, because knowing where the donor hair for the hair transplant will come from is imperative.

The doctor will also want to know the patterns of baldness and hair growth in your family history. This will give an idea of whether there is hope for a good result that will last for a fair amount of time. You will also need to reveal to the doctor if you have had any hair replacement surgery before.

To get an idea of how you will react to having a hair transplant procedure done, the doctor will ask many questions. He will want to know the basics of your lifestyle as they relate to your health and hair.

The doctor will also want to know what you think will change when you have your hair transplant. If your expectations are too high, you may be referred to counseling before a reputable doctor will perform a hair transplant. If you are positive yet realistic, you may be ready for the next step.

Next, the doctor will get all the facts on your health that are related with surgical procedures. Uncontrolled high blood pressure would be a problem. If you are on anti-clotting medications such as Coumadin, you would have to stop taking them for awhile before having a hair transplant.

People who have a history of excessive scarring might want to think twice about getting a hair transplant. Scars are usually a part of the procedure because the donor hair is taken from the back and sides of the scalp. There, scars are formed when it is removed.

If you get this far into the plan and are approved for surgery, the doctor will begin to discuss the day of the hair transplant itself. You will be assessed and told exactly what hair transplant procedure will be done. The doctor will discuss where this procedure is to take place.

The doctor will give you information like how long it will take for you to treat you transplants like normal hair. He will also give you an idea how different you will look after the hair transplant.

Getting a hair transplant is a big step, but with good planning, you can be sure you are making the right decision. Any respectable doctor will work with your well-being in mind to make sure you are doing the right thing.

How do Physicians Treat Congestive Heart Failure?

Congestive heart failure is precisely what it sounds like; it is a failure of the heart to properly function, and its effects on the body can be devastating. Physicians do their best to treat the symptoms and give the patient the best prognosis possible; however, no true cure for congestive heart failure currently exists.

Heart failure occurs when the heart is unable to properly pump blood throughout the body; as a result, rather than distributing nutrients and oxygen to the tissues and then excreting the excess fluid into the urine the blood pools. This results in either a systemic or localized edema as fluid builds up in the veins and organs, causing swelling of the extremities as well as the organs themselves (this fluid accumulation is responsible for an excessive amount of stress on the heart as fluid accumulates in the pleural cavity as well as the dyspnea, or difficulty breathing, often symptomatic of heart failure). The swelling and lack of oxygen and nutrients will result in permanent damage to the organs if left untreated, providing a very poor prognosis for the patient.

The first stage of treatment generally consists of the administration of extra oxygen to attempt to return the oxygen levels in the tissues to normal. Once oxygen has been administered and a pulse oximeter reveals blood oxygen levels to be acceptable the focus will shift to attempting to treat the fluid build-up in the body. Diuretics will be administered to assist the excess fluid on its path out of the body via the urinary tract, and nitrates are administered to cause the vessels to dilate, allowing blood to flow more freely without the heart having to work quite as hard. Treatment with diuretics is often accompanied by supplemental potassium, as the body will excrete potassium in the urine and long term hypokalemia may result in muscle weakness or paralysis, as well as an increased risk of fatal cardiac arrhythmia.

Patients will often be sent home from the hospital with diuretics, as well as a medication known as an ACE inhibitor (an angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitor) which prevents the body from creating angiotensin, a substance which raises blood pressure and causes the blood vessels to constrict. An angiotensin II receptor blocker may also be administered if the patient continues to produce angiotensin. Patients may also be treated with vasodilators other than ACE inhibitors, particularly if they have responded poorly to treatments with ACE inhibitors in the past. Nitroglycerin is a common example of this type of medication.

Digitalis, or Digoxin, may be prescribed to strengthen the force of the heart’s contractions, aiding it to push blood throughout the body. Treatment with a beta blocker is also beneficial in cases of heart failure, preventing the heart from beating more rapidly in an attempt to compensate for the poor movement of the blood in the body and placing more stress on the weakened muscle.

Blood thinners are used to prevent the formation of clots in the body that may be caused by the decreased movement of the blood in the vessels. Coumadin and heparin are the most commonly prescribed blood thinners in use today; however, due to an increased risk of bleeding patients taking these medications should undergo coagulation testing regularly.

Lifestyle changes are just as important as medications in the long term treatment of heart failure. Patients should consult with their doctor to establish an appropriate (low sodium) diet and exercise program, and should do at least some moderate exercise daily. Equally important is taking sufficient time to rest every day. The heart pumps more easily when the body is at rest, which is vital to an already overstressed muscle. The nicotine from cigarettes causes an increase in heart rate, blood pressure, and the tendency for clumping in the blood vessels; patients with heart failure should abstain from smoking. Flu or pneumonia can be very difficult for hearts that are failing as they attempt to compensate for the lack of oxygen in the bloodstream being carried to the organs. It is very important that patients receive an annual influenza vaccine, as well as a dose of the pneumococcal vaccine, which will protect them from the pneumococcal bacteria that cause over eighty percent of cases of bacterial pneumonia. Wearing non-constrictive clothing will assist in preventing blood clots and facilitating blood flow to the extremeties, and in cases of extremely warm or extremely cold temperatures it is important that the patient take all precautions necessary to keep the body at an appropriate temperature..

Researchers are still seeking to find a cure for congestive heart failure; however, until that day comes it is extremely important that patients suffering from heart failure follow the treatment plan outlined by their physician. With careful attention to maintaining their condition, the prognosis associated with heart failure increases dramatically.

Alternative Spider Vein Treatment

Laser treatment and sclerotherapy are just two of the options if you want to undergo spider vein treatment. If these do not suit you, there are alternative forms available.

The first option will be to take herbs. One of the most widely used happens to be horse chestnut. The active ingredient here is aescin. Studies have shown that this blocks the release of enzymes that damage capillary walls.

In order for people to take it, manufacturers have to remove the toxic component known as esculin. If this is not done properly, those who take it may experience convulsions, diarrhea, headache, nausea or vomiting.

Not everybody can take horse chestnut especially those who have kidney or liver disease. Does it have adverse effects on women who are pregnant or nursing has yet to be established.

To avoid complications, doctors advise patients not to combine horse chestnut with certain medications. These include aspirin, coumadin, plavix, ticlid and trental as well as other anticoagulant drugs unless these are deemed to be safe for you by your doctor.

Spider veins can also be treated with grape seed and pine bark extracts because both contain oligomeric proanthocyanidin complexes (OPCs). These are antioxidants that appear to strengthen the connective tissue structure of blood vessels and reduce inflammation.

People should not confuse grape seed extract with grapefruit seed extract because these are two different things. Unfortunately, there are also side effects if you decide to take it such as nausea and upset stomach.

Those who have autoimmune conditions like Crohn’s disease, multiple sclerosis and rheumatoid arthritis should not take this herb. Just like the first herb, doctors have not studied if there are any side effects for nursing mothers or pregnant women.

Another herb is butchers broom. This plant is also known as box holly or knee holly and contains ruscogenins, which strengthen collagen in blood vessel walls and improve circulation. At one point, some doctors believed that it tightens weak, stretched vessels such as those associated with varicose veins.

The side effects of this herb include indigestion and nausea. Those who have high blood pressure or benign prostate hyperplasia should not take butcher’s broom unless they first consult with their doctor.

Aside from taking herbs, there is a form of therapy that focuses primarily on your feet namely reflexology. Studies have shown that massaging the feet helps reduce leg swelling. The best part is that there are no side effects unlike those mentioned when you take any of these herbs.

Alternative forms of spider vein treatment are cheaper than laser treatment or sclerotherapy. It should be pointed out though that taking these herbs or getting a massage should not replace what medical science can do for the patient.

But before you try any form of spider vein treatment, you should see if wearing compression stockings will improve the situation. This has to be worn the whole day so it can help improve blood flow within the veins and leg muscles.

It should be pointed out that the amount of compression varies by type and brand. It also comes in different colors and types so you should check them out before using it daily.

Spider vein treatment is available. You can check with your doctor what options are available and also inquire about alternative medicine.