RPM Campaigns Blog

Archive for November, 2009

Certain factors can cause poor drainage of aqueous fluids in the eye and this results in the build up of pressure which can cause damage to the optic nerves that helps the eye function for vision. This leads to an eye disease called glaucoma and if left untreated, it can cause permanent loss of vision. Through the years many techniques and procedures have been developed to diagnose and treat it and at this time the most promising solution is glaucoma laser surgery.

Glaucoma comes in different forms and determining what type of glaucoma a patient has helps in determining what treatment options there are. Initially, in an attempt to relieve pressure in the eye, doctors give eye drops and medication taken orally are given. If it does not help, then glaucoma laser surgery is the next option.

Argon laser trabeculoplasty is one form of glaucoma laser surgery technique used primary open angle glaucoma. Tiny burns are made into the trabecular network of the eyes to improve the draining and flow of aqueous fluid in the eyes. A specific form of this procedure is selective laser trabeculoplasty or SLT. This uses laser beams to remove only very specific target cells in the trabecular network. As a result, it improves the flow of aqueous fluids and relieves the pressure.

In some cases, it may take two sessions and in some, it may require repeating the procedure after two or three years. This, however is recommended because it avoids the need for medication after the procedure. It is also the glaucoma laser surgery procedure commonly recommended for pigmentary glaucoma which is common among males of African-American descent.

Angle closure glaucoma results if the space or angle between the iris and cornea is too narrow and this results in poor drainage of aqueous fluids. Peripheral iridotomy is the glaucoma laser surgery option for this type.

To relieve the pressure, laser beams are used to make a small hole on the iris. The space or angle widens as the iris moves away from it. This corrects the flow of aqueous fluids.

For more severe cases of glaucoma, the procedure usually recommended is laser cyclophotocoagulation. An example is when new blood vessels are formed in the eye as a result of diabetic retinopathy. The new blood vessels can seriously affect the flow of aqueous fluids in the eye resulting in pressure buildup. This leads to a form of glaucoma called neovascular glaucoma.

For this glaucoma laser surgery procedure, the doctor uses endoscopic cyclophotocoagulation to observe the ciliary body. This is also connected to an endoscopic camera. This will then guide the application of the laser beam to treat the ciliary body so it reduces or stops the production of fluids. By using a laser beam, part of the ciliary body is destroyed so that it no longer produces aqueous fluid. Less aqueous fluid means less pressure on the eye.

These glaucoma laser surgery procedures are usually painless. Some may feel a slight stinging sensation but apart from that, no major pain is felt. After undergoing glaucoma laser surgery, some rest for a few days is required and soon one can go back to the normal daily routine.

Also, in some cases, the patient needs to take some medication to relieve some minor discomforts that may appear after the procedure. Eye inflammation and slight risks in developing cataract may be some of the problems that may arise after each glaucoma laser surgery.

Glaucoma is a serious problem that can lead to permanent damage to the eye. It is important that it is well-understood and that a number of techniques are available to treat it.

Laser surgery is fast becoming a popular option for glaucoma treatment. The techniques are also becoming more and more advanced and refined to ensure that treatment results only in success and there is complete absence of discomfort during and after the treatment. They are also being improved to make the positive results long lasting, making glaucoma laser surgery a very promising form of treatment for glaucoma patients. As with any medical problem, thoroughly discuss all options with your physician.

Do you have a prescription for a certain medical condition? You are one of the many then. In fact over 50% of Americans take at least one type of prescription drug regularly and staggeringly over 80% of Americans take some kind of pharmaceutical drug, like Tylenol, on a regular basis. However, as unbelievable as this may seem, there are some prescriptions that should have been scrapped from inception, some that we have a hard time believing the FDA actually approved. Are you taking one of them?

The first worst prescription pharmaceutical drugs are Vicodin and Oxycontin. These are listed here not because they have the worst side effects, but because they are the most freely available and the most abused. In fact, Vicodin and Oxycotin account for more deaths than ALL of the illegal drugs, like cocaine, meth, heroin, LSD, etc., combined. The reason is because alcohol should never be mixed with either Vicodin or Oxycontin. Yet almost all of those who abuse these drugs combine them with alcohol. The amount of pills taken should not be more than 1 or 2 at a time. There are those who will take 4 or more pills at a time. Combine those 4 pills with alcohol and you have a recipe for disaster.

There are certain ratings used by research facilities which rate drugs based on their benefit versus risk ratios. What is difficult to understand is why there are certain drugs that are rated as “worst drugs” meaning that there is very little benefit and very high risk, yet some of them are still approved by the FDA. The drug Vioxx, an arthritis pain relief medication, was recently removed from the market. People who took Vioxx had a significantly higher risk for heart attacks, or perhaps better said is a bunch of people died from it. It is one of several banned pharmacy drugs, most of these being weight loss drugs. The FDA has banned these drugs, however they can still be illegally acquired online.

Third we will cover the drugs with the worst side effects. For example a drug that the FDA has approved and it is still on the market is called Mirapex, which is used to reduce the symptoms of Parkinson’s disease. Many people who take this drug develop amnesia. Amnesia is also common among those that take cholesterol drugs. As one man relates, Duane Graveline, a former astronaut, reported coming back from a short walk and not recognizing his wife while he was taking Lipitor. Then he lost memory of any events beyond his high school graduation. One drug that is designed to help deal with menopause symptoms is called EvaMist. However its side effects include cancer, stroke, heart attack, blood clots, and even dementia! How bad does your menopause have to be for you to be willing to take those kinds of risks? Chantix, a drug used to help quit smoking, causes people to commit suicide. Lariam is a drug given to soldiers and tourists to help stop the spread of Malaria but often time will cause those who take it to have intense hallucinations and psychotic behavior. Many who take Plavix, a medicine that is supposed to help prevent heart attacks, vomit blood as a side effect. How is it that the FDA deems these drugs as acceptable to be used by the public?

Fourth we will cover the worst drugs that are now so common that we stop to consider how horrible it is for you, for example, Prozac. Depression has become such a commonplace illness and the conventional pharmaceutical drugs used to treat them so publicized, that when we hear them mentioned we assume that they are reasonably safe. This is far from the truth. The side effects of Prozac are insomnia, nausea, weakness, headache, diarrhea, loss of appetite, drowsiness, anxiety, nervousness, shakiness, dry mouth, decreased sex drive, yawning, indigestion, dizziness, sweating, impotence, ejaculation problems, flushing (redness of the skin, especially the face), abnormal dreams, constipation, gas, vomiting, fever or chills, weight loss, vision changes, chest pain, high blood pressure (hypertension), increased appetite and weight gain and taste changes. Many who take Prozac will experience many of these side effects. However more than all of these combined is the way that Prozac affects the person’s mind. The person becomes, probably most accurately described as, a zombie.

The fifth worst drugs are the ones that are the most addictive. Vicodin and OxyContin again make the list, perhaps this is part of the reason for why so many deaths have resulted from taking these drugs. In spite of these facts the FDA still rules these drugs as being ok. What difference is there in weed and other drugs from Vicodin? Perhaps only because those in charge cannot control the production of illegal drugs where as Vicodin they do control, meaning all of the profit goes to them? Drugs like Demerol, Percocet*, Darvocet, Ritalin** and any amphetamine, are all extremely addictive and are the drugs most pushed on the black market to our kids at their schools. Do you not remember Jr High? How important was peer pressure to you then? We all had to fit in. What if your 13 year old daughter is peer pressured into taking this thing that will destroy her life?

So is there an alternative to these evils? Is there anyway we can stop this? I do not know how to stop this but I know that there are alternatives. There are alternative methods to treating the problems of many of the illnesses that these drugs treat. As far as your 13 year old daughter, my best advice is you talk to her tell her that you know about these drugs and how bad they are for her.

* Also commonly causes death
** Also causes serious mental side-effects

Pain, inflammation and ugly sores in the corner of the mouth can be incredibly hard to heal and are often misdiagnosed and mistreated because of a lack of information about the true nature of the condition that is called Angular Cheilitis.

Angular Cheilitis is a condition that is caused by a lack of certain vitamins in a persons diet that manifest in sores and cuts in the corner of the mouth. The main vitamin deficiencies are riboflavin, vitamin B12, and iron; when a persons body have very low levels of these they risk not only Angular Cheilitis but other conditions such as anemia. What can make matters more confusing for sufferers is that those cuts can get more inflamed and sore if they get infected with thrush or Candida albicans as it is also known doubling your problems.

To prevent being deficient in such vitiamins doctors recommend diets including lots of lean meat, wholegrain cereals, chicken and fish; leafy green vegetables, milk and eggs are also good for riboflavin levels. Vegetarians have the most problem with adhering to these diets so it is recommended that if you suffer from these problems and are vegetarian you take supplements to stay healthy.

Sores in the corner of the mouth, angular cheilitis and dietary deficiencies are all very well but to cure the problem if you already have it can be more of a problem because healing a constantly moving wet area like mouth corners is incredibly hard. Normal creams wash off and taste terrible and the combination of thrush and vitamin deficiencies stack up against you prolonging the agony.

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Cataract is an adult disease that develops in the eye. Its effect is that there will be blurring of vision that will make the person unable to see well. This is indeed a very serious disease because it may lead to blindness. A person who develops this disorder often ignores it, while some who are concerned with their health would consult a doctor or an eye specialist right away. The only way that cataract will be removed is through a surgery. Not everybody can afford to have this type of surgery, most especially a cataract surgery cost because it has different fee for both eyes.

The advancement of the technology is also another problem for people who are needed to have a surgery for their cataract. Advanced machines most likely need higher charges or rates. People will surely have a hard time paying for the fees because this type of surgery is quite expensive. The cost of the surgery per eye can go up to $2,500 or even higher. This amount will not be a hindrance in treating ones cataract because there are many options provided to help people pay for their cataract surgery cost.

Two options are provided for easy payment of cataract surgery cost. First of course is the health care insurance. The only problem about this is that not everybody has their health insurance. Another thing is that the surgery alone is only covered by them and that does not include the lens implants. Because of that, a separate expense is needed to be paid for the surgery to be fully finished. Another option is the loan offered by different banks. Most people are paying for their hospitalizations and surgeries through financing. These two are indeed helpful ways for an individual to have their cataract removed. They need to abide to the terms and conditions as well.

Popular diet plans also known as Fad diets are step by step procedures to lose weight and maintain it. There are many diets popularly used all around the world. These popular diets are made keeping in mind different people with various physiques and health conditions that is why they are popular.

Here are some popular diets.

Ultimate Weight Solution by Dr. Phil

The idea is to manage weight and alter attitude/ behavior with respect to a healthy diet and regular exercise. Inculcation of healthy eating by removing fats, cholesterol, sugars etc from your diet. Use of these ingredients in this popular diet plan may prone you to various discomforts in the long run like diabetes, cardiovascular disorders, fluctuating blood pressures etc.

Glycemic Index Diet

This popular diet is inclusive of low carbohydrates. Use the following ingredients only:

o oats, barely, bran for breakfast

o whole grain or stone ground flour or sour dough breads

o fresh vegetables and salads except potatoes

o basmati or doongara rice

Zone Diet

Make zones of your meal. Divide portions like 40% carbohydrates, 30% minerals and 30% protiens. You can make a variation according to your body requirement and change the portions as per need. Records need to be maintained and regularly checked in this popular diet plan.

Atkins Diet Plan

This diet plan enforces the use of protiens and a combination of minerals and vitamins subtracting all the carbohydrates. This popular diet will burn the fats stored and re-establish the body’s metabolism. It is proved that carbohydrates need to go out of your diet.

Raw Food Diet

Cooked food is processed and looses some essential enzymes which create a strong immune system. In addition, cooking the food makes it loaded with impurities, calories and fats. Nuts, seeds, ripe fruits, leafy vegetables are recommended in this popular diet plan.

South Beach Diet

First step is to remove carbohydrates and eat only protiens. There should be a reduction of about 8-12 pounds in this detoxification process. The second step should be to include only limited carbs in your diet. This should result in the removal of further 2-4 pounds per week. In the third phase you can eat almost everything but in reasonable quantity. The concept is to start drastically, lose pounds by finishing carbohydrates and inducing only low calories. Later decrease intake in general and revert back to normalcy in this popular diet.

Cabbage Soup Diet

Prepare a stock by boiling cabbage leaves in water, add salt to taste. Be sure not to add any fats or cholesterol. This soup is proved to burn calories and visibly reduces weight.

Sugar Buster

Sugar produces insulin in the body and result in storing fats as a consequence any kind of sugar, even as a by product from starchy complex carbohydrates are not to be consumed in this popular diet plan. This diet is especially suitable for diabetic patients, children, people suffering from hypoglycemia and cardiovascular diseases.

Many people want to lose a lot of weight and are willing to try anything from a stomach staple to a far out wacky diet. Some diets are controversial and can be injurious to health. Others are short-term starvation. Here is a list of the top ten fad diets.

#1 The Atkins diet is a one of Americas most popular and still endures after many years. The Atkins diet basis is that processed foods and a high carbohydrate diet are the core problems that make and keep people fat. The diet has four phases.

The first phase and most restrictive is the OWL phase. The Owl phase (Ongoing Weight Loss) restricts the carbohydrate intake to just 20 grams per day. Twelve to fifteen of those grams must come from salads. Meat, seafood, fish and poultry are plentiful in this stage. A little soft cheese is allowed daily, some low carbohydrate vegetables, no alcohol, limited caffeine, butter or oils and water, lots and lots of water, needs to be consumed.

Phase two allows more carbohydrates each week selected from a food ladder. The dieter gets an increase of five grams of carbohydrates per week from a different food group each week during this phase.

The next phase increases the carbohydrates until weight loss stops. Once the dieter reaches the final weight goal the maintenance phase kicks begins.

The Atkins diet shows immediate weight loss but is difficult to stick to because of rigid eating patterns. A study showed that the diet might cause kidney damage.

#2 The green tea diet uses a nutritional low calorie diet and adds green tea to every meal and snack.

#3 Number three on the top ten fad diet list is the negative calorie diet.
The diet gets its name from the theory that the foods on the diet use more calories to digest than they contain. While there is no scientific proof that you can eat your way thin, many of these foods are healthy, nutritional foods that are low in calories. The foods on the list increase the body’s metabolism and aid in faster weight reduction.

#4 The grape diet is number four of the top ten fad diets and one probably the worst. Nothing but grapes and water becomes the fare for days on end. This diet, originally created to cleanse the system and fight cancer, became a weight loss diet somewhere along the way.

#5 The three hour diet takes into consideration the time of day that you eat. The diet breaks the food down to mini-meals eaten every three hours. It resembles a diet for hypoglycemia. The diet is nutritionally balanced and keeps blood sugar levels stable. That stability reduces the urge for a 5:00 o’clock feeding frenzy that frequently occurs in dieters. This one makes sense. The down side is the need to constantly eat, even if you’re busy or not hungry.

#6 The lemonade diet was another cleanse diet that switched to a weight loss one. Nothing but a concoction of maple syrup, cayenne pepper and lemon juice is on the list of edibles for the ten day fast.

#7The ice cream diet is just a regular calorie controlled diet that makes room for a little ice cream at the end of the day. Of course, if calories are controlled, weight loss occurs. The diet is nothing more than allotting for ice cream. The calcium in the ice cream is good for the bones and aids metabolism, but outside of that, you could substitute a brownie and call it the brownie diet.

#8 The cabbage soup diet uses a soup created from cabbage and other vegetables and mixes it with rations of other low calorie foods and cranberry juice or tea for five days of monotony and gassy stomachs.

#9 The raw food diet is a vegan diet with all foods left uncooked. Blend them, chop them and arrange them but don’t cook anything or heat it beyond 116 degrees Fahrenheit. Raw food contains more vitamins in many cases than its cooked counterparts do. Nuts are included in the raw food diet as the protein source. The diet consisting mostly of vegetables is a low calorie diet, but it is difficult to keep it well balanced. It is a lot healthier than most fad diets and the introduction of raw vegetables into the body brings in many nutrients. The fiber of the raw vegetables cleans out a lot of noxious waste.

#10 The final diet on the list of the top ten fad diets is Zone diet. Much like the Atkins diet it has phases and attempts to change lifestyle and eating habits. The Zone diet uses a balancing act for its carbohydrate ratio. Each meal consists of 40 % of the food as carbohydrates, 30% protein and 30% of the meal in fats. The popularity of this diet created by Oprah’s endorsement puts it on the list of the top ten fad diets.