Magazine Posts Table of Contents

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Posted 2014-12-02 18:48:07 | Views: 1,039
Works Cited 
Asperen, Peter, and Robinson, Paul. “Age-specific Management of Asthma in Children.”                Medicine Today. Tony Scott, Sept. 2014. Web. 30 Nov. 2014.
Mayo Clinic Staff. “Childhood Asthma.” MayoClinic.org. Mayo Foundation for Medical                    Education and Research, 15 July 2014.Web. 29 Nov. 2014.
Nowak RM, Tokarski GF. Asthma. In: Marx JA, Hockberger RS, Walls RM, et al., eds.                     Rosen's Emergency Medicine: Concepts and Clinical Practice. 7th ed.                               Philadelphia, PA: Elsevier Mosby; 2009: chap 71.
Obie, Kathleen. “Asthma in Children.” The American Academy of Allergy Asthma and                   Immunology| AAAI. N.p., 3 Mar. 2014. Web. 30 Nov. 2014.

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Posted 2014-12-02 18:45:34 | Views: 851
A peak flow meter is a simple device to measure how quickly you can move air out of your lungs.
• It can help you see if an attack is coming, sometimes even before symptoms appear. Peak flow measurements help let you know when you need to take medicine or other action (Obie).
• Peak flow values of 50% - 80% of your best results are a sign of a moderate asthma attack. Numbers below 50% are a sign of a severe attack (Nowak RM).
Unfortunately, there's no way to cure asthma, although symptoms sometimes improve over time. Work with your doctor to create an asthma action plan that outlines in writing when to take certain medications or when to increase or decrease the dose of your medications based on your symptoms. With proper self-management and medical treatment, most people with asthma can lead normal lives.

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Posted 2014-12-01 23:08:16 | Views: 896
Quick-relief Medicines 
These are also called rescue medicines. They are taken:
• For coughing, wheezing, trouble breathing, or an asthma attack.
• Just before exercising to help prevent asthma symptoms caused by exercise (Obie).
Tell your doctor if you are using quick-relief medicines twice a week or more. Your asthma may not be under control and your doctor may need to change your dose of daily control drugs.
Quick-relief medications include:
• Short-acting inhaled bronchodilators (Albuterol (ProAir HFA, Ventolin HFA, others)
• Levalbuterol (Xopenex HFA)
• Pirbutrol (Maxair)
• Oral corticosteroids for when you have an asthma attack that is not going away (such as Prednisone and Methylprednisolone)
A severe asthma attack requires a checkup by a doctor. You may also need a hospital stay. There, you will likely be given oxygen, breathing assistance, and medications given through an IV (Asperen).
Asthma care at home
• Know the asthma symptoms to watch for.
• Know how to take your peak flow reading and what it means.
• Know which triggers make your asthma worse and what to do when this happens
(Mayo Clinic Staff).
Asthma action plans are written documents for managing asthma. 
An asthma action plan should include:
• Instructions for taking asthma medicines when your condition 
   is stable.
• A list of asthma triggers and how to avoid them.
• How to recognize when your asthma is getting worse, 
   and when to call your doctor (Obie).

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Posted 2014-12-01 23:06:20 | Views: 772
Medications for asthma 
There are two kinds of medicines for treating asthma:
• Control medicines to help prevent attacks.
• Quick-relief (rescue) medicines for use during attacks (Asperen).
Long-term Medicines
These are also called maintenance or control medicines. They are used to prevent symptoms in people with moderate to severe asthma. You must take them every day for them to work. Take them even when you feel OK. Some long-term medicines are breathed in (inhaled), such as steroids and long-acting beta-agonists (a bronchodilator medications open up narrowed airways and reduce swelling) (Mayo Clinic Staff). Inhaled corticosteroids include:
• Fluticasone (Flovent Diskus)
• Budesonide (Pulmicort)
• Mometasone (Asmanex Twisthaler)
• Beclomethasone (Qvar)
• Ciclesonide (Alvesco)
Others are taken by mouth including montelukast (Singulair), zafirlukast (Accolate) and zileuton (Zyflo). Which help relieve asthma symptoms for up to 24 hours (Asperen).
In children, long-term use of inhaled corticosteroids may 
slightly delay growth, but the benefits of using these 
medications to maintain good asthma control generally 
outweigh their risks (Nowak RM). Your doctor will 
prescribe the right medicine for you.

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Posted 2014-11-30 20:37:23 | Views: 715
Exams and Tests
        Asthma is generally determined by observation during a physical examination, medical history and family allergic disease. Laboratory tests and x-rays studies may eliminate identification of other diseases. The doctor or nurse will use a stethoscope to listen to your lungs. Wheezing or other asthma-related sounds may be heard (Asperen).
Tests that may be ordered include:
• Allergy testing - skin or a blood test to see if a person with asthma is 
allergic to certain substances
• Arterial blood gas (usually only done is you’re having a 
severe asthma attack)
• Chest x-ray
• Lung function tests, including peak flow measurements (Nowak RM).
        An attack may begin gradually or abruptly and is often preceded by an upper respiratory infection. Typically an attack begins with signs of air hunger; yawning; sighing; shortness of breath; wheezing; hacking, and a productive cough (Mayo Clinic Staff).
       Management of asthma in children is based on four stages of severity: intermittent, mild persistent, moderate persistent, and severe persistent. Intermittent asthma include symptoms that occur less than once a week, brief exacerbations from a few hours to a few days, night-time episodes that occur less than twice a month, and normal lung function between exacerbations. Mild persistent is characterized by symptoms that occur more than once a week, but less than once a day and night-time episodes that occur more often than twice a month. Moderate persistent severity is manifested by daily symptoms with exacerbations that affect daily activities and sleep. Sever persistent is characterized by continuous symptoms that limit physical activities, frequent exacerbations and night-time episodes (Asperen).

Treatment
The goals of treatment are:
• Control airway swelling.
• Stay away from substances that trigger your symptoms.
• Help you to be able to do normal activities without 
    asthma symptoms.
You and your doctor should work as a team to manage 
your asthma. Follow your doctor's instructions on taking 
medicines, eliminating asthma triggers, and monitoring symptoms (Nowak RM). 

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Posted 2014-11-30 20:33:56 | Views: 803
Age-specific management of asthma in children
 
        The medical definition of asthma is a chronic inflammatory disorder marked by spasms in the bronchi of the lungs, causing difficulty in breathing. It usually results can be triggered by breathing in substances called allergens or triggers (Mayo Clinic Staff). Common asthma triggers include:
• Animals (pet hair or dander)
• Dust mites
• Certain medicines (aspirin and other NSAIDS)
• Changes in weather (most often cold weather)
• Chemicals in the air or in food
• Exercise
• Mold
• Pollen
• Respiratory infections, such as the common cold
• Strong emotions (stress)
• Tobacco smoke (Mayo Clinic Staff)
        The inflammation causes symptoms associated with obstructive airflow, wheezing, and irritated cough that is common. Asthma is caused by inflammation (swelling) in the airways. When an asthma attack occurs, the lining of the air passages swells and the muscles surrounding the airways become tight (Nowak RM). This reduces the amount of air that can pass through the airway resulting from bronchial smooth muscle spasm, or inflammation of the bronchial wall or excessive production of mucus. Asthma in children is often confused with acute middle and lower respiratory tract infections. Onset usually occurs between 3 and 8 years of age (Asperen).

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Posted 2014-11-25 17:22:40 | Views: 1,064
Works Cited
“Best Selling Medications Today.” U.S. Food and Drug Administration Home Page.                              Administration, 25 Sept. 2013. Web. 1 Oct. 2014.
Brooks, Megan. “Best Top 100 Most Prescribed, Top Selling Drugs.” Medscape Medical News.             N.p., 20 May 2014. Web. 25 Sept. 2014.
“Cold, Flu and Cough Health Center.” WebMD, 20 Oct. 2012. Web. 27 Sept. 2014.
“Cold Intolerance: Causes, Diagnosis & Treatments.” Mayo Clinic. Mayo Foundation for                      Medical Education and Research, 12 June 2012. Web. 25 Sept. 2014.
Gardner, Amanda. “7 Things You Need to Know About OTC Meds.” Health.com: Fitness,                    Nutrition, Tools, News, Health Magazine. N.p., 6 Feb. 2014. Web. 24 Sept. 2014.
Michalopolous, Deanna. “5 Ways Fall Can Make You Sick.” Women’s Health Magazine:                        Workouts, Fitness Tops, Recipes & More. N.p., Sept. 2014. Web. 1 Oct. 2014.
“What’s Really in Over-The-Counter Medications?” Men’s Health Magazine: Men’s Guide to                 Fitness, Health, Weight Loss, Nutrition, Sex, Style and Guy Wisdom. Ed. Men’s                         Health. N.p., 11 Jan. 2013. Web. 20 Sept. 2014.
“The Dangers of OTC Drugs.” The Dr. Oz. Show. NBC. New York City, NY, 11 Jan. 2011.                     Television.
Vann, Madeline. “OTC Drugs You Need to Know about.” EverydayHealth.com. N.p., 13 Feb.                 2013. Web. 30 Sept. 2014.

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Posted 2014-11-25 17:17:01 | Views: 706
Works Cited 
Bentley, Rhonda, Huynh, Jennifer, Xiong, Grace. “Diabetolgia.” A                   Systematic Review of Metabolite Profiling in Gestational                     Diabetes Mellitus (2014): 1-12. 6 Sept. 2014. Web. 11 Nov.               2014 
“Diabetes.” Medical New Today. MediLexicon International, n.d. Web.           11 Nov. 2014
“Williams Textbook of Endocrinology.” Google Books. N.p., Jan.                   2014. Web. 13 Nov. 2014
“Youth Diabetes.” Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.                      Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. 10 Mar. 2013.                Web. 5 Nov. 2014.

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Posted 2014-11-24 10:27:41 | Views: 787
What can I do to prevent diabetes? 
Making these seven changes in your daily habits is a good way to start.
1. Becoming more active is one of the best things you can do to make diabetes less likely.
2. Lower your weight. If you're overweight, doing 30 minutes a day of moderate exercise will make a difference.
3. Eat better. Load up on fruits and vegetables, especially the less-starchy kinds such as spinach, broccoli, carrots, and green beans. Add more high-fiber foods into your day. Choose whole-grain foods instead of processed grains -- for example, brown rice instead of white rice (Youth Diabetes).
4. Make sleep a priority. Not getting enough sleep regularly makes losing weight harder.
5. Having the right mind set can help. Accept that you won’t do things perfectly every day, but pledge to do your best most of the time (Youth Diabetes).
You will not develop type 2 diabetes automatically if you have pre-diabetes. For some people with pre-diabetes, early treatment can actually return blood glucose levels to the normal range. With these steps, you can stay healthier longer and lower your risk of diabetes.

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Posted 2014-11-24 10:26:27 | Views: 771
3) Gestational Diabetes
This type affects females during pregnancy. Some women have very high levels of glucose in their blood, and their bodies are unable to produce enough insulin to transport all of the glucose into their cells, resulting in progressively rising levels of glucose (Diabetes).
Diagnosis of gestational diabetes is made during pregnancy.
The majority of gestational diabetes patients can control their diabetes with exercise and diet. Between 10% and 20% of them will need to take some kind of blood-glucose-controlling medications. Undiagnosed or uncontrolled gestational diabetes can raise the risk of complications during childbirth (Bentley). The baby may be bigger than he/she should be.

How to Determine Whether You Have Diabetes, Pre-diabetes or Neither
Doctors can determine whether a patient has a normal metabolism, pre-diabetes or diabetes in one of three different ways - there are three possible tests:
The A1C test
- at least 6.5% means diabetes
- between 5.7% and 5.99% means pre-diabetes
- less than 5.7% means normal (Williams Textbook of 
   Endocrinology)
The FPG (fasting plasma glucose) test
- at least 126 mg/dl means diabetes
- between 100 mg/dl and 125.99 mg/dl means pre-diabetes
- less than 100 mg/dl means normal (Williams Textbook of Endocrinology)
The OGTT (oral glucose tolerance test)
- at least 200 mg/dl means diabetes
- between 140 and 199.9 mg/dl means pre-diabetes
- less than 140 mg/dl means normal (Williams Textbook of Endocrinology)

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Posted 2014-11-21 10:45:12 | Views: 730
1) Type 1 Diabetes 
The body does not produce insulin. Some people may refer to this type as insulin-dependent diabetes, juvenile diabetes, or early-onset diabetes (Diabetes). People usually develop type 1 diabetes before their 40th year, often in early adulthood or teenage years
Type 1 diabetes is nowhere near as common as type 2 diabetes.
Patients with type 1 diabetes will need to take insulin injections for the rest of their life. They must also ensure proper blood-glucose levels by carrying out regular blood tests and following a special diet. Between 2001 and 2009, the prevalence of type 1 diabetes among the under 20s in the USA rose 23% (Diabetes).

2) Type 2 Diabetes
The body does not produce enough insulin for proper function, or the cells in the body do not react to insulin (insulin resistance).
Some people may be able to control their type 2 diabetes symptoms by losing weight, following a healthy diet, doing plenty of exercise, and monitoring their blood glucose levels (Bentley). However, type 2 diabetes is typically a progressive disease - it gradually gets worse - and the patient will probably end up have to take insulin, usually in tablet form.





• Overweight and obese people have a much higher risk of developing type 2 diabetes compared to those with a healthy body weight. Being overweight/obese causes the body to release chemicals that can destabilize the body's cardiovascular and metabolic system (Youth Diabetes).
• Being overweight, physically inactive and eating the wrong foods all contribute to our risk of developing type 2 diabetes. The risk of developing type 2 diabetes is also greater as we get older. Experts are not completely sure why, but say that as we age we tend to put on weight and become less physically active.


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Posted 2014-11-21 10:39:37 | Views: 739
Diabetes…will you have it?  

Diabetes, often referred to by doctors as diabetes mellitus, describes a group of metabolic diseases in which the person has high blood glucose (blood sugar), either because insulin production is inadequate, or because the body's cells do not respond properly to insulin, or both (Diabetes). Patients with high blood sugar will typically experience polyuria (frequent urination), they will become increasingly thirsty (polydipsia) and hungry (polyphagia).

Fast facts on diabetes
• Diabetes is a long-term condition that causes high blood sugar levels.
• In 2013 it was estimated that over 382 million people 
    throughout the world had diabetes 
    (Williams Textbook of Endocrinology).
• Type 1 Diabetes - the body does not produce insulin. 
Approximately 10% of all diabetes cases are type 1 
(Williams Textbook of endocrinology).
• Type 2 Diabetes - the body does not produce enough 
insulin for proper function. Approximately 90% of all cases 
of diabetes worldwide are of this type (Williams textbook of endocrinology).
• Gestational Diabetes - this type affects females during pregnancy.
• The most common diabetes symptoms include frequent urination, intense thirst and hunger, weight gain, unusual weight loss, fatigue, cuts and bruises that do not heal, male sexual dysfunction, numbness and tingling in hands and feet.
• If you have Type 1 and follow a healthy eating plan, do adequate exercise, and take insulin, you can lead a normal life.
• Type 2 patients need to eat healthily, be physically active, and test their blood glucose. They may also need to take oral medication, and/or insulin to control blood glucose levels.
• As the risk of cardiovascular disease is much higher for a diabetic, it is crucial that blood pressure and cholesterol levels are monitored regularly.
• As smoking might have a serious effect on cardiovascular health, diabetics should stop smoking (Williams textbook of endocrinology).
• Hypoglycemia - low blood glucose - can have a bad effect on the patient. Hyperglycemia - when blood glucose is too high - can also have a bad effect on the patient.


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Posted 2014-11-17 18:48:10 | Views: 1,126
 Works Cited 
Goldberg, MD, J. (2014, August 8). ADHD in Children Health Center.           Retrieved October 19, 2014, from www.webmd.com.
Grohol, J., & Martin, B. (2013, January 30). How is ADHD diagnosed?           Retrieved October 18, 2014, from Psych Central.
Hallowell, E. M., & Ratey, J. J. (2005). Embrace Change to Meet Your           Goals. In E. M. Hallowell , & J. J. Ratey, Delivered from Distraction: Getting the most out of life with ADHD (p. 380). New               York City: Ballantine Books. Retrieved October 19, 2014
Hwang, K., & Paturel, A. (2014, June). Alternative Approaches to                 ADD/ADHD Treatment. Retrieved October 16, 2014, from                 Everyday Health.
Mayo Clinic Staff. (2013, March 15). Mayo Foundation for Medical               Education and Research. Retrieved October 19, 2014, from Attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) in children.
           Segal, J., & Smith, M. (2014, October). Diagnosing Attention              Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder in Children and Adults.                        Retrieved October 20, 2014, from Helpguide.org.

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Posted 2014-11-17 18:45:02 | Views: 855
• Essential fatty acids. These fats, which include omega-3 oils, are necessary for the brain to function properly. Researchers are still investigating whether these may improve ADHD symptoms.
• Neurofeedback training. Also called electroencephalographic (EEG) biofeedback, this treatment involves regular sessions in which you focus on certain tasks while using a machine that shows brain wave patterns. Theoretically, you can learn to keep brain wave patterns active in the front of the brain — improving symptoms of ADHD. While this treatment looks very promising, more research is needed to see whether it works (Hwang & Paturel, 2014).
Tips for Living with ADHD
• Use folders for complete and incomplete school assignments.
• Use a daily planner to record and remember dates.
• Developing a plan for completing work.
• If you are living with a person with ADHD, you can play an important,                   supportive role in their ADHD management.
• Educate yourself about ADHD.
• Work together to establish a daily routine for chores and other household                responsibilities.
• Focus on important issues and downplay those that are less critical (Grohol &         Martin, 2013).
ADHD Treatment Overview
Treatment plans may include special education programs, psychological intervention, and drug treatment. Long-term treatment with a combination of medications and behavioral therapy is much better than just medication treatment, or no specific treatments in managing hyperactivity, impulsivity, inattention, and symptoms of anxiety and depression. Those kids treated with both ADHD drugs and therapy also have better social skills (Goldberg, MD, 2014). Learn as much as you can about the options and talk them over with your child's health care provider so you can make the best plan for your child.

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Posted 2014-11-13 12:34:01 | Views: 761
ADHD. These medications help improve the signs and symptoms of inattention and hyperactivity, sometimes dramatically. Examples include Concerta, Metadate, Ritalin, Dexedrine and Adderall XR. Stimulant drugs are available in short-acting and long-acting forms (Hallowell & Ratey, 2005). The right dose varies from adult to adult, and child to child. It may take some time to find the correct dose. The dose may need to be adjusted if significant side effects occur or as you or your child matures.
Alternative Medicine
Many parents of children with ADHD and adults diagnosed with ADHD want to know if there are other options out there besides taking stimulants. Some believe in a more realistic and “natural way” of managing ADHD. There's little 
research that indicates that alternative medicine treatments 
can reduce ADHD symptoms. Before considering any alternative 
interventions, talk with your doctor to determine if the 
therapy will be safe. Some alternative medicine treatments that 
have been tried, but are not yet fully proved scientifically. They 
include:
• Yoga, meditation and exercise. Doing regular yoga routines or 
meditation and relaxation techniques may help you relax and 
learn discipline, as well as helping your mood and anxiety. Any 
form of exercise is likely to do the trick. It helps kids and adults 
with ADHD release energy in a healthy, constructive way.
• Special diets. Most diets that have been promoted for ADHD involve eliminating foods thought to increase hyperactivity, such as sugar, caffeine, common allergens such as wheat, milk and eggs. Some diets recommend eliminating artificial food colorings and additives or to be gluten free. So far, studies haven't found a consistent link between diet and improved symptoms of ADHD.
• Mirrors. Researchers claim that having a child complete tasks in front of a mirror may help children with ADHD stay focused. The mirrors act as a coach to remind them they're getting off task. In one study, the more time ADHD kids spent looking in the mirror, the better they were at completing the puzzle they were given. The mirror method only works if the child has a clear diagnosis of ADHD. In normal children, the mirrors may actually decrease attention and performance.