Hope for Mesothelioma Patients Via the Valley of the Sun
0 Comments Published September 29th, 2008 in Mesothelioma.Results were very positive from the Oncology Nursing Society’s 6th Annual Institutes of Learning (ONS) meeting in Phoenix, Arizona.
There were several clinical studies and several ongoing studies presented formally at the Oncology Nursing Society’s 6th Annual Institutes of Learning (ONS) meeting in the valley of the sun Phoenix, Arizona.
Mesothelioma treatment options provide a longer life expectancy with less debilitating symptoms related to treatment. Some of these recent developments and their impact on helping patients and families cope the challenges of this type of cancer were presented to practitioners by oncology nursing specialists.
The rate of occurrence in the US remains about 2,000-3,000 new cases each year, it continues to increase worldwide. Third world countries where asbestos industry regulations are less stringent are experiencing an increase in this aggressive form of cancer.
The quick acting nature of Mesothelioma requires family members and support groups of the victims scrambling for resources. Patients with various symptoms that require close medical management and an extreme care and support from family members. Dehabilitating cough, shortness of breath and depression are common and painful symptoms. Almost all patients develop pleural effusions that severely limit the ability to breathe; most will need chest tubes, shunts or pleural catheters for relief.
The most important tasks for the nursing team is instructing patients and their caregivers on how to alleviate discomfort at home. To manage pain and breathing difficulty, caregivers need to be taught how to use oxygen delivery systems, steroids and narcotic medications.
Mesothelioma cases are projected to increase yearly until 2020. This combined with medical advances gives us a ray of hope to battle the scourge.
Mesothelioma victims and their families may be entitled to compensation. Protecting your rights through this unfortunate event is priority number one. Get a quality mesothelioma attorney from online resources.
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The term diabetes refers to higher than normal levels of sugar, or glucose, in the blood. Type II diabetes, also known as insulin-dependent diabetes, was commonly referred to as adult onset diabetes until recently when the name no longer accurately describes the population with this disease.
Type II diabetes, in the past, was relegated to the adult population. However, in the new era of ever rising cases of childhood obesity and heart disease, the term adult onset diabetes is quickly becoming a misnomer. The number of children that are presenting to doctors with this disease is rising at epidemic rates.
Unlike Type I diabetes, where there is little to no insulin being produced by the beta cells of the pancreas, in Type II diabetes there is plenty of insulin. The problem lies in the fact that the cells of the body no longer respond to the insulin. The normal response is to cause gates in the cell membranes to open and letting the sugar in from the blood stream. Since this is not occurring, the sugar levels in the blood remain extremely high and the cells are deprived of the necessary energy that they would normally derive from the sugar.
Additionally, as Type II diabetes is sometimes not diagnosed for many years, the pancreas will sometimes stop producing insulin all together since the body sees no need to make something that can’t be used.
Many professionals are prescribing changes in diet and increased activity levels as the medicine needed to help reverse some of the non-responsiveness of the cells to insulin. Making lifestyle changes can dramatically improve the overall health of the patient as well. To augment adjustments in nutrition and exercise, doctors can also prescribe diabetes medication which assists to increase the responsiveness of the cells to the insulin that the body may still be producing.
If left untreated, Type II diabetes can eventually decrease the quality of life and life span of the patient.
Rachel Dayer runs and operates http://www.mustask.com, a health related portal.
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What the Heck is LES? How Can It Cause Acid Reflux?
0 Comments Published September 25th, 2008 in Acid Reflux Disease.Acid reflux has many causes. Most people think that eating fatty foods or
drinking too much are the main causes. This is not the whole truth however. Some
people can produce an excessive amount of stomach acid naturally and this in
turn leads to acid reflux. There is far more than one single cause for this
condition.
The lower esophageal sphincter is one of the major factors in the occurrence of
acid reflux. The lower esophageal sphincter is the muscular tube that extends
from the bottom of your throat to the stomach. Think of the lower esophageal
sphincter as the gatekeeper to the food moving from the throat, or esophagus, to
the stomach as the food is being digested. In the vast majority of people this
muscle (the LES) functions properly. When it does not the trouble begins.
What Is The LES?
The LES is designed to open and close to allow food to move
from the throat to the stomach. When the LES works correctly any food you eat
will be swallowed and passed into the stomach to be digested. People who suffer
from gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) actually have a lower esophageal
sphincter that does not function properly, letting partially digested food out to
wreck havoc in your esophagus.
There are two ways that the LES can stop working properly and cause problems:
1. Weak Contraction.
This dramatically reduces the bodies ability to prevent
acid reflux.
2. Transient Relaxation.
This basically means the LES stays open too long and
acid can then “splash” back upwards into the esophagus.
A Thought To Take Away…
Something to bear in mind, for everyone reading this, is how the stomach reacts when you eat. If you eat a large meal your stomach will become distended (basically it becomes swollen). This can cause the LES to
become overloaded with food which it cannot process properly and then acid reflux
occurs. The main point here is that even people who do not suffer from acid
reflux will experience severe heartburn if they eat a large meal in a hurry -
your stomach simply cannot cope with it.
Be kind to your LES and it will repay the favor.
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Jill Seimer reports on health related topics at RefluxLife.com. Recently she wrote on Natural |
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Battle Rages in Congress Over Mesothelioma Bill Regarding Asbestos Litigation
0 Comments Published September 24th, 2008 in Mesothelioma.There is a groundswell of opposition forming to fight Bill S.852 - the Fairness in Asbestos Injury Resolution Act of 2005.
Battle lines have been drawn, large corporations have enlisted several top lobbyists in Washington DC to champion this Bill.
Lobbyists tout the bill as the answer to help ease the burden on our judicial system regarding asbestos litigation.
The net result of the bill if passed, will be to add several layers of government involvement to an already overburdened legal system.
Increased federal involvement will increase expenses associated with asbestos litigation.
Adding another layer of bureaucracy to victims stricken with Mesothelioma is not the answer. Individuals exposed to these harmful agents have the right to be heard on an individual basis.
The Bill has set guidelines regarding the individuals past exposure to asbestos.
To place individuals exposed to asbestos in a 3 level template is unjust.
The Three levels of asbestos exposure are defined in a qualitative and subjective manner based on the length of employment in an asbestos exposure-related job. They are:
• Moderate Exposure
In a standard work year, the person worked in areas immediate to where asbestos-containing products were installed, repaired or removed and involved regular airborne emissions of asbestos. This counts as one year of substantial occupational exposure.
• Heavy Exposure
In a standard work year, the person was involved in the direct installation, repair or removal of asbestos-containing products and thus was exposed to asbestos on a regular basis. This counts as two years of substantial occupational exposure.
• Very Heavy Exposure
In a standard work year, the person worked in primary asbestos manufacturing, a World War II shipyard or the asbestos insulation trades and thus was exposed to asbestos fibers on a regular basis. This counts as four years of substantial occupational exposure.
The proposed bill will destroy individual’s rights to just compensation in a timely manner. Mesothelioma is a catastrophic disease caused by asbestos exposure.
Become involved in the fight to keeps victims rights regarding asbestos litigation in the hands of the people.
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Type I diabetes is also known as insulin-dependent diabetes or juvenile diabetes. This form of diabetes is mainly found in children. The primary problem in all forms of diabetes, regardless if it is Type I or Type II is that the glucose (sugar) levels of the body are too high.
In a healthy person, the beta cells in the pancreas produce a hormone called insulin in response to sugar in the blood. The sugar gets there through the food and drinks we consume. Normally, the insulin helps to move the sugar from the bloodstream and into the cells of the body where it can be used for cellular processes. The insulin triggers gates located in the membranes of the cells to open, allowing the sugar to flow in.
A person with Type I diabetes can not make enough or any insulin. This produces the abnormally high levels of glucose in the bloodstream seen in these patients.
The question begs to be asked, “Why doesn’t the body produce insulin?” In Type I diabetes the culprit is the immune system. Something, whether it be genetic or environmental is still not clear, triggers the immune system to malfunction. Instead of viewing the beta cells of the pancreas as “self”, the immune system sees the beta cells as foreign invaders. Doing what it’s supposed to do, which is attack and destroy invading cells, the immune system in error attacks the beta cells.
Even though other beta cells can be produced by the pancreas, the speed at which the immune system attacks and destroys is too fast for the pancreas to keep up. Over time the amount of insulin produced in response to sugar in the blood is diminished.
The result is high blood sugar. Insulin shots can control the disease, however, there are currently treatments being studied which may actually stop the immune system from attacking itself which would bring about a natural halt to the problem.
Rachel Dayer runs and operates http://www.mustask.com, a health related portal.
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