PharmaPassport Health Tips Blog

July 26, 2010

Diet Soda is linked to Premature Births

Filed under: diets, pregnancy — Tags: aspartame, blood pressure, diet soda, high blood pressure, pregnancy, premature birth — Amanda @ 8:22 pm

Artificially sweetened soft drinks have been linked to high blood pressure and an increased risk of premature birth. A recent study examined almost 60,000 women at around 25 weeks of pregnancy. The women reported on their daily diet – specifically how many soft drinks they drank every day.

The study was conducted by the Statens Serum Institute in Copenhagen, Denmark. Lead Dr. Thorhallur I. Halldorsson said “It may be non-optimal for pregnant women to have a high consumption of these types of products”. Diet drinks sweetened with aspartame are considered to be good alternatives to their sugar-filled counterpart, but Halldorsson notes that there has been too little research on the safety of the consumption of artificial sweeteners. New studies have found a link between soft drinks and high blood pressure. High blood pressure increases the risk of premature birth.

After analyzing the results from the study of 60,000 pregnant women, it was found that 5% delivered their babies before 37 weeks. Women who had at least one serving of artificially sweetened soda a day while they were pregnant were 38% more likely to deliver their babies preterm than women who drank no diet soda at all.

The shocking find from the study was that women who had at least 4 diet sodas a day were 80% more likely to deliver preterm.

Only diet soda was linked to early delivery, not sugar sweetened soda. The findings propose that the artificial sweetener itself is the cause of the findings. However, researchers say that other possible causes for the link cannot be ruled out.

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July 22, 2010

Your Feet and Your Health

Filed under: anemia, diabetes, health — Tags: anemia, athletes foot, diabetes, feet, foot health, hair, hair loss, hypothyroidism, iron, thyroid — Amanda @ 7:02 pm

Your feet can tell you a lot about your health by sending you important signals. These signs can indicate that you have anything from anemia to diabetes. Pay attention to the signs your feet are sending you in order to stay in good health. Unsolved foot problems can lead to bigger problems in the future.

No hair – If you have hairless feet or toes, it might be an indication of poor circulation caused by vascular disease. Growing hair on your toes isn’t your body’s biggest concern when you have a vascular problem. Since your feet are the farthest from your heart, they are usually harder to reach when your circulatory system isn’t up to par.

A foot sore that doesn’t heal – if you have a sore on the sole of your foot that isn’t healing, it could be a sign of diabetes. High blood sugar levels can damage the nerves in the feet leaving you with cuts that don’t heal and can even go unnoticed. If you have an infected, foul-smelling sore on the bottom of your foot that’s been there a while, it might be a good idea to see a doctor about having your blood glucose level checked.

Cold Feet – Women usually tend to experience this every now and then because they have a lower core temperature than men. It’s usually nothing, but if you are having persistently cold feet in even normal conditions, you may be suffering from hypothyroidism. An under active thyroid can lead to irregular body temperature and metabolism.

Flaky Skin – If you have dry, flaky skin on your feet, don’t ignore it. This is a sign of athlete’s foot. This fungal infection usually starts with dry, itchy skin and then turns into swelling and blisters. It usually shows up first between the warm, moist cracks of your toes and can spread to other parts of the body.

Sunken, spoon-shaped indents on your toenails - This is a sign of anemia that makes your nail beds look like strange, spoon-like shapes. This happens when you don’t have enough iron in your body. You don’t have enough iron-rich hemoglobin proteins that transfer oxygen to the body through the blood.

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July 21, 2010

Natural Acne Treatments

Filed under: acne — Tags: acne treatment, clear acne, skin acne — Nicole @ 9:35 pm

For those of us who are weary of man-made medications, natural treatments often seem like an excellent alternative to the regular prescription acne medications, they’re inexpensive, have few side effects and are easy to store and use – but do they really work? Many natural methods of acne treatment have not been studied as well as the typical acne treatments, but that doesn’t necessarily mean that they won’t work. For thousands of years, different cultures have used an array of natural methods to treat many different conditions, and acne is not an exception.

There are several different factors that contribute to acne. Most commonly, acne is the end result of bacterial, inflammatory and hormonal disturbances at the level of the oil pores. There are several natural treatment methods that address different factors which contribute to acne. A change in diet, for example, will affect the hormonal factors that contribute to acne, by supplementing any mineral deficiencies causing any hormonal imbalances. Different topical herbal preparations, with main herbal ingredients such as tea tree oil, basil tea and sandalwood, will address any inflammatory disturbances that have caused acne. Bacterial factors that contribute to acne may also be taken care of by a daily facial cleanse to remove all traces of dirt and bacteria.

Because there are different factors that can contribute to the cause of acne, not every treatment will work for every person. Talk to your dermatologist or doctor about an acne treatment that is likely to work for you, based on the type of acne you have and its severity. If natural products or methods aren’t working as an effective treatment for your acne, you may wish to talk to your dermatologist or doctor about taking an acne medication; either in addition to your natural treatment method or as a single treatment method.

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July 15, 2010

Is It a Cold or Allergies?

Filed under: allergies, colds — Tags: allergen, allergies, allergy symptoms, cold symptoms, colds, common cold, flu, seasonal allergies, sneezing — Amanda @ 6:33 pm

Its summer but you’re feeling lousy. You might have a runny nose, congestion and watery eyes, but you’re unable to tell if it’s a summer cold or seasonal allergies. Telling the difference between a cold and allergies is difficult to do – especially if you need to choose between Benadryl and Claritin. Read on to learn about the difference between cold symptoms and allergy symptoms.

Colds are caused by viruses that trigger symptoms because of your body’s immune response. The common cold is contagious and causes symptoms like coughing, sneezing, and congestion. Allergies, on the other hand, are not caused by a virus but by an overactive immune system. When harmless substances (like pollen) enter your body, your body over-reacts and releases the chemical histamine into your blood stream. This causes swelling in your nasal passages, coughing, sneezing, and itchy or watery eyes. Allergies are not contagious, but can be commonly mistaken for a cold.

How to determine if you have a cold or allergies:

Colds

Symptoms of a cold are slightly different than symptoms of allergies. Colds tend to last anywhere between 3 days and 2 weeks. They are most common in the winter, but you can catch a summer cold. The symptoms tend to take a few days to appear after the infection with the virus occurs.

Common symptoms: aches, fever, cough, fatigue, sore throat, and runny or stuffy nose (yellow mucus). It is not likely that you will have itchy or watery eyes if you have a cold.

Allergies

Symptoms of allergies can last days to months – as long as you are exposed to the allergen that triggers your symptoms. Allergies usually occur in the spring and summer months when pollen and allergens are more likely to be airborne, but allergies can occur at any time of year. Usually your symptoms will occur immediately after you have been exposed to an allergen.

Common symptoms: Itchy or watery eyes, sore throat, runny or stuffy nose (usually clear mucus), and sometimes fatigue. If you have allergies, you will never have a fever or aches.

The symptoms of colds and allergies are very similar; however the main difference is that colds don’t normally last more than 14 days.

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July 12, 2010

6 Tips for Migraine Relief and Prevention

Filed under: headaches — Tags: calcium, calcium deficiency, headaches, health, migraines, omega 3, pain medications, topamax — Amanda @ 8:59 pm

Migraines affect the lives of over 28 million Americans. The world health organization estimates that there are 303 million people worldwide who suffer from migraine headaches. These headaches are intense and can even disrupt peoples lifestyles. They seem to be caused by changes in the level of the hormone serotonin which shrinks the blood vessels. When serotonin levels are low, the blood vessels swell. The swelling can cause pain and migraine headaches. Here are some tips on how to prevent and relieve migraines.
1. Omega 3 –The tissue surrounding the brain becomes inflamed when you have a migraine and omega 3 lessens the cells reaction to inflammation. Take omega 3 everyday to help lessen migraine pain.

2. Calcium– Calcium deficiencies can increase migraine symptoms. That’s why women are more susceptible to having migraines. Most women have low calcium levels during ovulation. The hormones that regulate calcium react with the high hormone levels causing low calcium levels and triggered migraines.

3. Preventative measures – There are several preventative prescription medications that are used to treat migraines. Topamax, for example, is a medication that prevents migraines from starting. Topamax cannot, however, treat a migraine that has already begun. There are other pain medications available for a migraine that has already started. Despite what you believe, over-the-counter medicines like Motrin and Excedrin are both great at reducing the pain of a migraine.

4. Ice Packs – Freezable neck pillows are perfect for wrapping around your neck where your migraine hurts. Ice packs work too. Migraines are different than regular headaches. In a normal headache, your blood vessels get smaller and tighter. With migraines, they expand and become more open. Putting ice on a migraine constricts the blood vessels helping the pain, but if you put ice on a regular headache you might find that it becomes worse.
5. Sleep – Sleeping your migraine off is the easiest way to get away from the pain. Sleep is often the best remedy for any minor illness.

6. Exercise – Exercise will improve your overall health – and the length and severity of your migraines. Many people who suffer from chronic migraines find that exercise makes their headaches more manageable and less painful.

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July 5, 2010

6 Ways to Keep Your Heart Healthy

Filed under: healthy living, heart condition, heart disease, high blood pressure — Tags: beta-carotene, cholesterol, dieting, exercise, healthy living, heart disease, high blood pressure, quitting smoking, stroke — Amanda @ 9:06 pm

Heart disease is preventable, and maintaining a healthy heart will increase your quality of life. There are many everyday things you can do to ensure your heart is working at its best.

1. Don’t Smoke! Smoking is the worst thing you can do for your lungs and heart. If you are having trouble quitting, try eating sunflower seeds and oat straw infusion for a month before you quit. This will reduce your body’s craving for nicotine and strengthen the blood vessels and nerves before the impact of withdrawal.

2. Get More Beta-Carotenes - These reduce your risk of a stroke by 40%. Foods containing beta-carotene are carrots, cabbage, sweet potatoes, spinach, and apricots. Beta-carotene’s lower your cholesterol levels.

3. Embrace Garlic Breath – Garlic has the amazing ability to lower blood pressure, reduce cholesterol, strengthen the heart muscle, improve the immune system, stabilize blood sugar, and lower risk of stroke.

4. Exercise! The best thing you can do for yourself is to be active daily. Skipping rope is the best for your heart, but even walking and swimming and great exercises for your heart – as long as you are exercising on a regular basis.

5. Show affection - Recent studies have found that people who are lovingly touched everyday have a lower risk of developing heart problems than people who are not touched by others.

6. Be consistent - try not to be inconsistent in your eating habits. On and off dieting, fasting, and binging cause an imbalance in your electrolyte levels which will weaken your heart muscle and eventually lead to heart damage.

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June 24, 2010

6 Uses for Melatonin

Filed under: health-tips — Tags: ADHD, breast cancer, cancer, cancer cells, epilepsy, insomnia, irritable bowel syndrome, melatonin, prostate cancer, seizures, sleep, sleep deprivation, sunburns, uv light, vitamin e — Amanda @ 6:44 pm

Melatonin is a hormone secreted by the brain and helps regulate other hormones and the body’s internal clock. Melatonin plays a huge role in when we fall asleep and wake up. When it’s dark out, your body produces more melatonin. When it is light out, the production of melatonin levels decreases. If you are exposed to bright lights at night, or darkness during the day, your body’s normal melatonin cycles. Jet lag, and shift work can drastically affect your melatonin levels. You can increase your melatonin levels by spending time in the sunlight, sleeping in complete darkness, and following your body’s urges to sleep and wake up. You can also visit a doctor for melatonin supplements. Melatonin is available in tablets, capsules, cream, and lozenges that dissolve.

Uses for Melatonin

Better sleep - Melatonin supplements can help you sleep if you have insomnia or disrupted sleep rhythms, or if you have naturally low melatonin levels. Studies found that melatonin reduces the time it takes to fall asleep, increases the number of sleeping hours, and boosts alertness during the day. The study found that melatonin supplements work better on people over the age of 55 who have insomnia. For people with primary insomnia, melatonin helped them fall asleep faster, sleep better, be more alert in the morning, and improve their overall quality of life.

Breast cancer - Studies suggest that low melatonin levels are associated with breast cancer risk. Women with breast cancer have lower levels of melatonin than those who do not have breast cancer. Experiments found that low levels of melatonin help the growth of cancer cells, whereas adding melatonin to these cells slows their growth. Other experiments found that melatonin can strengthen the effects of certain chemotherapy drugs used to treat breast cancer. A study of women who were taking tamoxifen for breast cancer but saw no improvement added melatonin to their medication schedule and found that their tumors shrunk in size in 28% of women.

Prostate cancer - Men with prostate cancer have lower melatonin levels than men without prostate cancer. Melatonin has been found to block the growth of prostate cancer cells. Taking melatonin supplements combined with conventional medical treatment improved survival rates in 9 out of 14 men with prostate cancer.

Sunburns - Studies tested melatonin alone and combined with topical vitamin E before exposure to UV light and found that gels, ointments, or lotions containing melatonin can protect against sunburn and other skin damage.

Irritable Bowel Syndrome - Studies suggest that people with IBS can take melatonin to reduce symptoms like abdominal pain. There were also some preliminary studies that found melatonin can help to improve other symptoms of IBS such as bloating and frequency of bowel movements. Further studies are required.

Epilepsy- Melatonin can reduce the frequency and duration of seizures in children with epilepsy. Talk to your doctor to find out if melatonin supplements can help your child.

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June 21, 2010

5 Reasons Why You Should Take Multivitamins

Filed under: health-tips — Tags: arthritis, calcium, cancer, folic acid, high cholesterol, menopause, pregnancy, vitamin A, vitamin B6, vitamin c, vitamin e, vitamins — Amanda @ 6:02 pm

The food quality on the market today is not like it used to be and the human body needs a specific amount of vitamins to function properly. Since we get most of our vitamins from the food we eat, sometimes a multivitamin is needed to compensate for the vitamin deficiency’s in our diets. If you aren’t convinced that multivitamins are a necessity, here are some other reasons why you should take them.

1. Our bodies need to use more nutrients than normal to detoxify and eliminate substances from environmental pollution in the air, water, and food. The antioxidants including vitamin A, vitamin C, and vitamin E are likely to decrease at a more rapid rate due to this pollution.

2. The busy schedules of our lives are contributing to our lack of vitamins. Our wavering eating habits, lazy chewing, eating on the run, and stress are causing poor digestion. This makes it hard for our bodies to take in all of the nutrients from our food.

3. Certain health conditions can increase your need for vitamins. During pregnancy, a woman’s body requires more folic acid and during menopause, they are more susceptible to calcium deficiencies. In addition, the use of pharmaceutical drugs can increase the body’s vulnerability to vitamin deficiencies since most medications reduce essential nutrients in the body.

4. The food industry isn’t helping our vitamin deficiencies. Modern agricultural techniques are leaving the soil deficient of minerals causing the food grown there to share the same deficiencies. After the foods have been harvested, they are often stored for long periods of time and transported great distances. This depletes the food of important vitamins. The processing, preserving, and cooking involved with our food doesn’t help either. This also contributes to nutrient depletion and makes it difficult for us to be nutritiously satisfied from foods alone.

5. Vitamins and minerals will improve your overall health. Vitamin C, Vitamin E, Folic Acid, Beta Carotene, and Vitamin B6 have all been proven to help in the treatment of high cholesterol, arthritis, birth defects, and even cancer

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Top 10 Proven Risk Factors for Stroke

Filed under: stroke — Tags: abdominal obesity, alcohol, cardiovascular disease, diabetes, high blood pressure, low physical activity, risk factors, smoking, stress, stroke, unhealthy eating habits — Tanveen @ 4:31 pm

A recent study was performed using people who have just had their first stroke. Approximately 6000 people from twenty-two countries were studied from March 1, 2007 up until just last month. It was found that ten risk factors contribute for approximately 90% of all strokes. These risk factors include:

Smoking: Smokers are at an increased risk of stroke in comparison to non-smokers. Smoking damages the cardiovascular system significantly.

High Blood Pressure: Hypertension is known to be the number one cause of strokes. Treatment for high blood pressure is necessary in order to lower your risk.

Blood Lipids: A high level of blood of blood levels puts one at risk of stroke.

Low Physical Activity: If you are an inactive person your chances of stroke are significantly higher than active individuals. Lack of physical activity can cause many other health problems as well.

Abdominal Obesity: Many people in the United States are facing the same problem- obesity. Eating right and physical exercise are very important in order to obtain a normal weight.

Unhealthy Eating Habits: Developing a balanced meal plan is necessary in order to avoid stroke. Diets high in cholesterol, saturated fat, or unsaturated fat should be avoided.

Cardiovascular Disease: Any current heart problems or heart problems of the past put you at a greater risk of having a stroke in comparison to someone who has had no heart problems. Your family background can also have an impact.

Diabetes: Having diabetes increases the risk of stroke, but there are many things you can do in order to reduce that risk.

Stress: Many health problems can be traced back to stress. Stress has a negative impact on your body. Reducing stress is very important.

Alcohol Intake: Those who consume alcohol in large quantities or abuse it are at a high risk of stroke. Two drinks per day are recommended for men and one for women.

There are a lot of risk factors that you have no control over like your age, family backgrounds, and gender. You can however work towards limiting the list up top. In order to lower your chances of stroke avoid the list above as much as possible and work towards developing a healthier lifestyle.

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June 16, 2010

Are Depression and Heart Disease Linked?

Filed under: depression — Tags: depression, heart disease, heart surgery, risk — Tanveen @ 4:45 pm

Depression and heart disease are closely related. Depression can lead to heart disease, and heart disease can lead to depression. It has been determined that those suffering from depression are at an increased risk of developing heart disease. As well, people who currently have heart disease or have gone through a heart problem have a greater chance of becoming depressed.

Heart disease, although not always the case, is noticed relatively quick. Depression on the other hand is difficult to detect in some people. It may not be a severe form of depression, but if present, it will definitely have an effect on your body.

How Do I Know If I am Suffering From Depression?

You no longer have interest in the things that you used to be interested in.
You are always tired and do not feel like doing anything.
You are having difficulty making everyday decisions
You feeling bad about yourself and the things you do.
Your appetite has changed.

After having had a heart problem it is easy for people who have never been influenced by depression to become depressed. There is no definite reason as to why this happens. Many different factors contribute to the development of depression. In this case it is probably the increased feeling of weakness and vulnerability that arises from having an impactful event such as a heart attack.

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