Wish you, all my readers "A Very Happy and Healthful new Year 2011". We will continue with the same spirit of providing reliable health information.
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Friday, December 31, 2010
Tuesday, December 28, 2010
Fish to be Taken Baked or Grilled NOT Fried to Avoid Stroke Risk?
Image Stroke from AutopsyOmega-3 fatty acids are good for the health of heart. These are unsaturated fatty acids, reduce inflammation and act as antioxidant; work to decrease the bad fat, LDL (Low Density Lipoproteins). These are essential fatty acids and are not synthesized in the body; so has to be supplemented from food.Omega-3 fatty acids are abundantly found in fish oil. Most omega-3 rich fishes are;
• Salmon
• Mackerel
• Herring
• Lake trout
• Sardines
• Albacore tuna
Less omega-3 rich fishes are;
• Cod
• Haddock
• Catfish
• Sole
The fatty acid is also found in;
· Nuts
· Oils like;
1. Canola and
2. Flaxseed.
The American Heart Association recommends at least two servings of fish each week for heart health.
Now in a study in the South America’s stroke belt, where consumption fried fish is higher; it is inferred that at least fried fish may be associated with increased stroke risk. The researchers say, though more study is required in this field; frying of fish might leach out the beneficial omega-3 fatty acids. Moreover, the oil used for frying may be responsible for curtail of beneficial effects of omega-3 fatty acids.
They suggest baking or grilling of fish to retain the beneficial effects of oil found in it.
Tuesday, December 21, 2010
How to Get and Install Drivers for Lexmark Printer Z 600 in Ubuntu 9.10 and Above
Image Ubuntu 9.10 Drivers for Lexmark Inkjet printer Z 600 series are not available there in Ubuntu 9.10, 10.4 and 10.10. This will be apparent while configuring the printer. I searched the web for a clue for long time and went through many articles on it. Since I am not a technical person failed to install the drivers in the command line. Even, I followed exactly the commands but failed at the first step of making directory.
That is why; I searched for an easiest way to do so. I narrate it for the persons least acquainted with Ubuntu, like me.
- First a .deb file has to be downloaded from https://help.ubuntu.com/community/HardwareSupportComponentsPrinters/LexmarkPrinters?action=AttachFile&do=view&target=lexmark.z600-0.4.deb . (attachment in serial number 12; Click on get)
- While downloading it there will be option either to open that with Gdeb installer or save that.
- In either way the drivers can be installed.
- If we choose to open it with the installer, after drivers are downloaded it will show option to install it. Once the option is chosen it is done.
- If downloaded and saved; it has to be opened with default Gdeb installer and everything is done.
Wednesday, December 15, 2010
Salt Restriction for Control of Hypertension
Somehow hypertensive patients do not accept medical advice of salt restriction to keep control on their blood pressure. Even after a lot of persuasion a few people only could accept this.
Patents of hypertension want a quick relief from their disease with drugs only. The primary advice of salt restriction, lifestyle modification and Yoga etc are not well accepted.
But, the fact is that only these measures can control blood pressure in many mild hypertensive patients. In moderate to severe hypertension, these measures can reduce the quantum of drug required.
Recommended salt intake per day is around 5 grams/day. Hypertensives are advised to take salt less than this. At this recommendation the systolic blood pressure and diastolic blood pressures are expected to decrease about 7 mms of mercury and 4 mms of mercury respectively at the end of a month.
If Yoga and physical exercises are added it is bound to give more result.
Patents of hypertension want a quick relief from their disease with drugs only. The primary advice of salt restriction, lifestyle modification and Yoga etc are not well accepted.
But, the fact is that only these measures can control blood pressure in many mild hypertensive patients. In moderate to severe hypertension, these measures can reduce the quantum of drug required.
Recommended salt intake per day is around 5 grams/day. Hypertensives are advised to take salt less than this. At this recommendation the systolic blood pressure and diastolic blood pressures are expected to decrease about 7 mms of mercury and 4 mms of mercury respectively at the end of a month.
If Yoga and physical exercises are added it is bound to give more result.
Sunday, December 5, 2010
Taking Omeprazole or A PPI and Clopidogrel Together?
Clopidogrel an anti-thrombotic drug, usually prescribed to the patients of heart disease; after cleaning the coronary artery of a atherosclerotic plaque and/or placing a stent inside the artery to keep that open.
Coronary Artery Stents in Place
Clopidogrel interacts with the proton pump inhibitors (PPIs); and more so with omeprazole. Clopidogrel has the adverse effect of causing bleeding from stomach. Concomitant administration of omeprazole decreases the activity of clopidogrel; which may result in more cardiovascular events and hospital re-admissions. That is because both compete for same enzyme in the liver, PPIs may interfere in metabolism of clopidogrel to its active form.
Many times PPIs are prescribed to help arresting bleeding episodes in stomach and co-prescribed with clopidogrel or clopidogrel and aspirin combination. The bleeding tendency is increased in case a patient is already on steroids, analgesics, blood thinning agent like aspirin or warfarin. PPIs are very much helpful in these cases.
It has been agreed upon by the top researchers in the field to individualize such combination rather than a blanket rule. They recommend PPIs other than omeprazole in case the patient has a pre-existing disease like peptic ulcer; disease requiring long term steroid use, analgesics or warfarin. Sometimes in place of PPIs H2 receptor antagonists like ranitidine or famotidine can be used; though these are less powerful than PPIs in arresting bleeding or ulceration.
The preventive role of PPIs in stomach bleeding from clopidogrel has not been clearly substantiated.
So, those patient taking PPIs to ward off the possible adverse effects of clopidogrel, aspirin or other analgesics and anti-inflammatory drugs, steroids and warfarin in some short of combination; need to approach their physician to review the prescription. Their physician will judge the combinations on risks and benefits ratio; and may individualize an advice.
Continue...
Coronary Artery Stents in Place Clopidogrel interacts with the proton pump inhibitors (PPIs); and more so with omeprazole. Clopidogrel has the adverse effect of causing bleeding from stomach. Concomitant administration of omeprazole decreases the activity of clopidogrel; which may result in more cardiovascular events and hospital re-admissions. That is because both compete for same enzyme in the liver, PPIs may interfere in metabolism of clopidogrel to its active form.
Many times PPIs are prescribed to help arresting bleeding episodes in stomach and co-prescribed with clopidogrel or clopidogrel and aspirin combination. The bleeding tendency is increased in case a patient is already on steroids, analgesics, blood thinning agent like aspirin or warfarin. PPIs are very much helpful in these cases.
It has been agreed upon by the top researchers in the field to individualize such combination rather than a blanket rule. They recommend PPIs other than omeprazole in case the patient has a pre-existing disease like peptic ulcer; disease requiring long term steroid use, analgesics or warfarin. Sometimes in place of PPIs H2 receptor antagonists like ranitidine or famotidine can be used; though these are less powerful than PPIs in arresting bleeding or ulceration.
The preventive role of PPIs in stomach bleeding from clopidogrel has not been clearly substantiated.
So, those patient taking PPIs to ward off the possible adverse effects of clopidogrel, aspirin or other analgesics and anti-inflammatory drugs, steroids and warfarin in some short of combination; need to approach their physician to review the prescription. Their physician will judge the combinations on risks and benefits ratio; and may individualize an advice.
Saturday, December 4, 2010
Non Small Cell Lung Cancer Update
Discovery could lead to breakthrough for non-small cell lung cancer
Research at Virginia Commonwealth University Massey Cancer Center led by Charles E. Chalfant, Ph.D., associate professor of biochemistry and molecular Biology, discovered a previously unknown mechanism in non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) cells that contributes to their ability to maintain and grow tumors. Narrowing in on this mechanism could provide a breakthrough for the development of effective therapies for NSCLC and other cancers.
Continue...
Research at Virginia Commonwealth University Massey Cancer Center led by Charles E. Chalfant, Ph.D., associate professor of biochemistry and molecular Biology, discovered a previously unknown mechanism in non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) cells that contributes to their ability to maintain and grow tumors. Narrowing in on this mechanism could provide a breakthrough for the development of effective therapies for NSCLC and other cancers.
Thursday, December 2, 2010
Beat the Age by Endurance Exercise
Image by sirwiseowl via FlickrAmong the various old age problems muscle, bone and joint related problems are much more incapacitating. It becomes increasingly difficult to follow the day to day pursuits as osteoarthrosis, osteoporosis and muscular weakness work their tricks.The combination of aging and a sedentary lifestyle give rise to development of diseases such as osteoporosis, obesity, diabetes and cardiovascular diseases, as well as a decline in cognitive abilities.
Exercise in any form is good for healthy living, but endurance exercise increase the muscle mass and thereby the strength. It reduces osteoporosis or osteopenia to maintain good bone health.
Our musculoskeletal system is more susceptible to daily wear and tear. It has been seen that endurance exercise increases the number of muscle stem cells which work in the place of old and worn out muscle cells.
This can be achieved through resistance exercises like push ups, jogging and brisk walking.
