Tag Archives: womens health

Top Mistakes Made With Antidepressant Medication

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With 80% of people who’ve been diagnosed with depression in America taking a medication for the disorder, it’s important to be savvy to the top mistakes people make when taking antidepressant medication.

Antidepressants are one of the top most prescribed medications in the United States — with approximately 118 million prescriptions given out by doctors to their depression patients each year, as of 2011. But finding relief from the disorder means much more than just taking a pill. Misuse or mistakes ingesting antidepressants can halt a patient’s recovery.

Find out which are the top mistakes people make with expert advice from mood-disorder physician Michael Banov, M.D., a Harvard-educated psychiatrist who is triple-board-certified and published author, in this article from Lifescript.com, a leading resource for women’s health information.

Here’s a sneak peek at just some of the expert advice contained in this comprehensive article.

The top mistakes people make when taking antidepressants:

Taking medications too soon, before you’re tried other methods to try to resolve your diagnosis, such as counseling and adjustments to your lifestyle.

Not taking antidepressants or starting other depression therapies – the sooner you start treating depression, the better.

Some women may not want to take antidepressants because of fear of weight gain or side effects, but not all antidepressants result in these side effects.

Missing doses. If you don’t take the medication consistently, you won’t get the results you’re hoping to get.

Not paying attention to symptoms. Many patients report feeling much better after taking an antidepressant — so much better, in fact, that they wave away side effects or persisting symptoms — such as varying energy levels or insomnia. Be sure you don’t ignore these signs, despite a medication making you feel better. Make sure to discuss any medication changes with your doctor first.

Continue reading the full article and find many more depression articles at Lifescript.com.

The information contained in this article is provided for informational purposes only and is not, nor is it ever intended to be, a substitute for professional medical advice or professional recommendations, diagnosis, or treatment. Always seek the advice of your physician(s) or other qualified healthcare provider(s).

About The Effects Of Smoking

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The FDA, or Food and Drug Administration, has had the authority to regulate tobacco since 2009; that was the year it banned flavored cigarettes, and in 2011 the FDA also put the minty menthol cigarettes on its “to ban” list.

Despite such bans, and investigations into the detrimental health effects of smoking, efforts to curb smoking have come to a sluggish pace according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. From 1998 to 2008, the percentage of people smoking declined by just 3.5%.

If you’re still unsure whether smoking ruins health or how bad it is, continue reading for a doctor-reviewed article from Lifescript.com, your online resource for women’s health.

Here’s a sneak peek at what’s inside this comprehensive, 10-page article chock-full of expert information, advice and valuable facts you need to know, including a detailed look at the top 12 reasons to stop smoking.

#1. People who smoke tend to die at a younger age. Half of all people who smoke are killed by a disease related to the habit, according to the Surgeon General.

#2. Smokers have 10 times as many wrinkles compared to non-smokers.

#3. Sticky black tar build-up in the lungs, tissues and bloodstream result from smoking. This will damage your whole body, but the most damage is to the lungs.

Check out Lifescript.com to find out 9 more tips.

The happy news is that if you quit smoking, the lungs can start to clear out some of the accumulated tar, and the body actually starts to heal only 12 hours from the last cigarette smoked.

Want more stop-smoking tips? Check Lifescript.com for dozens of smoking cessation articles written by experts.

The information contained in this article is provided for informational purposes only and is not, nor is it ever intended to be, a substitute for professional medical advice or professional recommendations, diagnosis, or treatment. Always seek the advice of your physician(s) or other qualified healthcare provider(s).

Expert Tips For Living With Diabetes

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If you are living with diabetes, you know how difficult managing the condition can be. Julian Whitaker, M.D., offers 7 strategies for living with diabetes:

1. Adhere to your diet – Make sure you don’t forget to play by the rules. And that means the do’s and the don’ts.

  • Do’s: Eat plenty of vegetables, lean protein, healthy fast, and a modest amount of fruit
  • Don’ts: Processed foods, red meat, carbohydrates (pasta, cereal), sugar or artificial flavors

2. Exhibit control – Watch your portions. Some rules to live by: Keep portions to 3-4 ounces of protein (chicken, fish or meat); 4-6 egg whites; 1 ounce cheese; 1 cup raw veggies; one medium-sized piece of fruit (tennis ball).

3. Watch your GI – Avoid foods with a high glycemic index, which is a fancy term for the amount of sugar present in foods, such as refined carbs and sugars. Make sure your diet includes foods with a lower GI, including veggies and lean proteins.

4.Swap foods – Substitutes can be your savior. Switch out regular old sugar for natural sugar substitutes like Xylitol or Stevia.

5. Add some vinegar to your diet – Yes, it’s disgusting. But adding 2 tablespoons of apple cider to water (and including a no-calorie sweetener to make it taste better) can improve your insulin response.

6. Get a boost of magnesium – Diabetics tend to urinate frequently, which depletes your body of nutrients like magnesium. Try eating foods to replenish about 500-1,000 milligrams of magnesium per day. Some good foods include fish, nuts, green veggies and beans.

7.Interval training – A strategy wherein you alternate between periods of low-intensity exercise and shorter spurts of high-intensity exercise.

For more diabetes type 2 info, visit Lifescript.com.

The information contained in this article is provided for informational purposes only and is not, nor is it ever intended to be, a substitute for professional medical advice or professional recommendations, diagnosis, or treatment. Always seek the advice of your physician(s) or other qualified healthcare provider(s).

Can You Prevent Diabetes?

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Did you know that 25% of Americans are at risk for developing type 2 diabetes? It’s true. About 24 million people in America have type 2 diabetes, and the number is expected to double over the next 20 years.

Type 2 diabetes is an incurable disease that simply means the body doesn’t create enough insulin, a naturally-occurring hormone in the body that regulates blood sugar. Insulin changes food to the energy that the body uses to function. Without it, sugar stays in the system and causes a variety of problems including stroke, Alzheimer’s disease, blindness, kidney failure and possible amputation of the limbs due to poor circulation.

Who is at risk for type 2 diabetes? Women who are obese or overweight seem to be at the highest risk. Also inactive adults over age 45 are at higher risk.

One way to help prevent diabetes is to stay active. Physical activity helps to lower blood sugar and boosts sensitivity to insulin. Hate going to the gym? Find a physical activity you enjoy, such as dancing, playing tennis, or swimming. Try to schedule at least 30 minutes five times a week for optimal diabetes prevention. Do try to get your heart rate up when doing your activity. Also building muscle through moderate strength training or resistance exercises (push-ups, band exercises, dumbbells) helps to absorb blood sugar, keeping levels regulated.

Another way to prevent diabetes is to watch your diet. Choose healthier foods such as whole grains (brown rice, whole grain breads, etc.). These have less natural sugar than refined carbs (white bread, white rice and potatoes). And be sure to choose whole grain cereal that is low in sugar.

Your kitchen cabinets may also already contain ways to help prevent diabetes. Two tablespoons of apple cider vinegar a day lowers blood sugar, and can be sprinkled on salads or vegetables. Studies have shown that 1 gram of cinnamon a day reduces blood sugar. And an 18-year Harvard School of Public Health study has shown that women who drank six cups of coffee or more per day reduced the risk of type 2 diabetes by 30% (although drinking that much caffeine may create other health risks).

Other ways to manage your blood sugar include reducing stress, skipping sugary drinks such as sodas and fruit juices, and getting enough rest. Doctors also recommend that you stop smoking (which has a variety of health benefits). Getting enough vitamin D from the sun is an enjoyable way to help prevent diabetes. If you’re not able to get out in the sun, be sure to get vitamin D from food sources such as low-fat dairy, milk, and fish. Or take a vitamin D supplement.

For more information about ways to prevent diabetes, visit Lifescript.com.

Also visit Lifescript’s new Type 2 Diabetes Health Center for even more diabetes information.

The information contained in this article is provided for informational purposes only and is not, nor is it ever intended to be, a substitute for professional medical advice or professional recommendations, diagnosis, or treatment. Always seek the advice of your physician(s) or other qualified healthcare provider(s).

Doctor-Recommended Treatment For Type 1 Diabetes

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If you have been recently diagnosed with type 1 diabetes, chances are you are still in a tumult trying to learn how to live a whole new lifestyle. You could be 6, or 60. Type 1 diabetes is non-age-discriminating. Sadly, there isn’t a cure.

You may now be wondering what exactly caused you to develop this condition, and which is the best treatment for type 1 diabetes? Lifescript.com shares advice from a leading endocrinologist, whose job it is to diagnose and treat type 1 diabetes.

Type 1 diabetes is an auto-immune disease that develops when the body stops converting sugar, starches and other food into energy. If type 1 diabetes is left untreated, it’s possible for serious medical complications to occur, including slipping into a coma.

The secret to keeping tabs on type 1 diabetes is to regulate your blood sugar levels. You can live a healthy and productive life once you get your blood sugar in balance.

Type 1 diabetes is a problem with the immune system; it occurs when the body attacks insulin-creating cells. Without insulin, the body can’t move glucose (sugar) out of the bloodstream into cells, where it produces energy for normal body functions, especially the healthy development of muscles and body tissue. You must supplement insulin loss using pumps or injections.

Being overweight, eating a poor diet and/or not exercising can all lead to type 2 diabetes, a condition that typically occurs from a worn down pancreas, age, genetics and an unhealthy lifestyle. Because the body’s insulin levels aren’t normal, the pancreas works harder to produce the extra insulin the body still needs.

Doctors recommend patients change their lifestyle in order to manage type 2 diabetes: exercising, eating heathfully and losing weight can all help. But type 1 diabetes patients are typically thin and also young. Most patients are diagnosed at a very young age — typically elementary or middle school.A trigger of diabetes type 1 may be a virus; however, the precise cause is unknown.

For more type 1 diabetes information and other diabetes articles, visit Lifescript.com, your online women’s health information resource.

The information contained in this article is provided for informational purposes only and is not, nor is it ever intended to be, a substitute for professional medical advice or professional recommendations, diagnosis, or treatment. Always seek the advice of your physician(s) or other qualified healthcare provider(s).

Common Causes Of Headaches And Migraines

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Getting headaches and migraines are some of the most common medical conditions people struggle with, yet also the most complex. There isn’t one simple answer as to why people get them, how to treat them, or how to prevent them. A headache can be the result of too much stress, sun, or time spent on the computer. Or it can indicate a potentially life-threatening condition.

There are two types of headaches: primary and secondary.

Primary headaches include tension headaches, cluster headaches and migraine headaches, which are not considered life threatening.

Secondary headaches indicate a medical condition in place first, causing the headache. More than 50 diseases are said to cause headaches, from flus to tumors.

One of the leading causes of headaches is caffeine overuse and withdrawal. Other common causes are hormonal changes, starting birth control, hormone replacement therapy, or menopause.

Overuse of over-the-counter medicines can cause headaches. Certain foods may also trigger headaches.

Some of the common foods that trigger headaches are red wine, hot dogs, and aged cheese. For some, citrus and orange juice is the culprit. For others, it’s yogurt and dairy.

Some people may be sensitive to weather, and can get a headache from increased heat or humidity, snow, or a storm.

Those with depression, lactose intolerance, IBS, and OCD can also experience more headaches.

Tension headaches tend to hurt on both sides of the head. It’s a dull pain, typically caused by muscle tension.

Migraines typically occur on one side of the head, often with symptoms such as nausea, or extreme light and noise sensitivity. The pain is more severe and can last between four to 72 hours, and often requires prescription medication to handle it.

Visit Lifescript.com for more information about headaches and migraines.

And for even more migraine help, visit Lifescript’s new online Headache and Migraine Health Center.

The information contained in this article is provided for informational purposes only and is not, nor is it ever intended to be, a substitute for professional medical advice or professional recommendations, diagnosis, or treatment. Always seek the advice of your physician(s) or other qualified healthcare provider(s).

Expert Advice On Diabetes Medications

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If you have diabetes, you know how important taking your diabetic medication is to your health. But do you know if you’re taking your medication correctly?

Suzy Cohen, a pharmacist and author of “Diabetes Without Drugs” addresses the right way to take diabetes medications.

Cohen provides a great overview to help make sense of the various diabetes medications on Lifescript.com, your online resource for women’s health. For this article, we’ll discuss only one group of medications.

Biguanides are medications for people with type 2 diabetes or metabolic syndrome. Biguanides are extracted from the French lilac plant, which contains the active ingredient isoamylene guanidine. Metformin has become a drug of choice for people with diabetes since it was introduced to the market in 1994.

They medication affects your body, making it more sensitive to insulin and pulling glucose into your muscles. They also help prevent the liver from dumping an excess of sugar into the body, making it an excellent choice in medicine for people struggling with their weight. The medicine comes in tablet form (Glucophage, Glucophage XR, Fortamet), liquid form (Riomet), Metformin and Rosiglitazone (Avandamet) and Metformin and Pioglitazone (ActoPlus Met).

It’s best to take these medications with food. If you forget to take one, don’t double up the medication. These drugs could rob you of folic acid, probiotics, Coenzyme Q10 and vitamin B12. This could lead to confusion, depression, liver damage, memory loss, muscle cramps, mouth sores, yeast infections, fatigue, high blood pressure and higher risk for heart disease and stroke.

Possible side effects of biagunides include hypoglycemia, abdominal cramping, bloating, nausea, diarrhea, headache and a metallic taste in the mouth. Excess lactic acid in the bloodstream, called “lactic acidosis” is another dangerous – albeit rare – complication. Lactic acidosis is connected to a high mortality rate, especially in those individuals over the age of 80 or who have other concerning health issues.

The buildup of lactic acid in the bloodstream can cause shortness of breath (fast, shallow breathing), muscle aches, weakness, cramps, fatigue, sleepiness and feeling cold. Stop taking this drug if symptoms like these occur and call your doctor right away, as it may be necessary to go to the hospital.

For more type 2 and type 1 diabetes articles, visit Lifescript.com.

The information contained in this article is provided for informational purposes only and is not, nor is it ever intended to be, a substitute for professional medical advice or professional recommendations, diagnosis, or treatment. Always seek the advice of your physician(s) or other qualified healthcare provider(s).

Expert Tips on Diabetes Travel

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Being diabetic doesn’t require you to always be stuck at home. But when you’re on the road, you need to take the necessary steps to stay healthy. Taking this advice for diabetes travel will help you have a successful journey, whether it’s for business or pleasure:

1. Create a list – Write down the items you’ll need while on your travels, to help ensure nothing’s left behind.

2. Pack a bag – Keep your items packed with you in a small carry-on at all times. Airlines have been known to misplace bags, and they can get lost or stolen. So be sure to keep these items in your carry-on bag and keep it with you at all times:

  • Insulin and syringes, and a disposal container for syringes and test strips
  • Blood and urine testing supplies, with extra batteries and strips for your glucose meter
  • Oral medications with the prescription labels attached
  • Other medications you may need
  • Your ID and diabetes identity card, insurance card, doctor’s emergency number, and emergency contact information
  • A well-wrapped snack pack of crackers, cheese, peanut butter, fruit, raisins, a juice box, and some form of sugar (such as candy or glucose tablets)
  • A portable meal (that doesn’t require refrigeration) in case of unexpected delays

3. Work out – Bring workout clothing and use the gym while you travel – or use parks, hills, etc.) to keep your sugar levels regulated. Don’t forget to wear comfy shoes while sightseeing and traveling.

4. Security – Inform TSA screeners of your diabetes. Before departing, it’s a good idea to check with TSA (tsa.gov) to see the regulations and rules for diabetes supplies specific to the airports you plan to use. You are typically allowed to carry these items with you on the plane:

  • Insulin and insulin-loaded dispensing products
  • Unused syringes (when accompanied by insulin)
  • Lancets, blood glucose meters, blood glucose meter test strips, meter-testing solutions
  • Insulin pump and insulin pump supplies (when accompanied by insulin)
  • Glucagon emergency kit
  • Urine ketone test strips

For more type one diabetes articles, visit Lifescript.com.

The information contained in this article is provided for informational purposes only and is not, nor is it ever intended to be, a substitute for professional medical advice or professional recommendations, diagnosis, or treatment. Always seek the advice of your physician(s) or other qualified healthcare provider(s).

Best Remedies for Type 1 Diabetes

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Type 1 diabetes happens when your body isn’t making enough insulin to convert your food into energy; insulin is a hormone that converts food into energy. With no insulin being produced in the body, sugar from the foods you consume doesn’t get transferred to the body’s tissues as they should, so your muscles and organs become starved of the energy they need.

In order to treat type 1 diabetes, your physician may recommend a prescription medication.

However, there are additional remedies for type 1 diabetes to consider:

1. Self-monitoring – Check blood sugar levels before taking insulin using a blood glucose monitoring kit. To get a reading of your blood sugar level, you will need a lancet (a disposable needle-like device that pricks your finger) and a lancet device (the device that propels the needle into your finger to prick it). The drop of blood that is drawn from the small prick in your finger will be applied to a chemical test strip to read your blood sugar level. You will either compare the color of the test strip to a chart to determine your blood sugar level, or your glucose meter will automatically give you a digital number value. You physician will let you know how many times you should be testing your blood sugar throughout the day.

2. Ketone testing – Your doctor may ask you to check your urine for ketones, which are produced when your diabetes is not under control. Rather than use sugar for energy, the body instead breaks down fats, creating ketones. Large amount of ketones can lead to ketoacidosis, which requires immediate medical attention. A ketone testing kit also uses chemical testing strips to test urine. Pass the strip in your urine stream to get the results, preferably in the morning or any time when your blood sugar reads over 240 mg.

For more type 1 diabetes articles, visit Lifescript.com.

The information contained in this article is provided for informational purposes only and is not, nor is it ever intended to be, a substitute for professional medical advice or professional recommendations, diagnosis, or treatment. Always seek the advice of your physician(s) or other qualified healthcare provider(s).

Management Of Diabetes

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If you’ve recently been diagnosed with type 1 or type 2 diabetes, it’s likely you’re still in shock.

Endocrinologists are working hard to discover a way to cure diabetes, but the best way at present to ensure you don’t get it is to maintain a healthy weight, diet and keep active. If you’re diabetic, the solution is usually to find out the proper methods of managing it.

You may be wondering what caused this condition to happen to you. And no doubt you’re looking for the best possible treatments and ways to manage diabetes.

An auto-immune disease, type 1 diabetes happens when the body can no longer take sugar, starches and other foods and convert them into much-needed energy. Left untreated, type 1 diabetes could result in a serious medical complication — it could even result in a patient slipping into a coma.

Type 1 diabetes develops when the body attacks the cells that create insulin. Without insulin, the body can’t move glucose (sugar) out of the bloodstream into cells, where it produces energy for normal body functions, especially the healthy development of muscles and body tissue. You need to replace lost insulin by use of injections or pumps.

The key to controlling type 1 diabetes is to keep your blood sugar levels regulated and close to normal.

Type 2 diabetes is a disease that is developed when the pancreas wears down due to age, genetics and an unhealthy lifestyle.

For management of diabetes, most doctors recommend patients with type 2 alter their lifestyle. Diabetes patients should try to follow a healthy lifestyle, including a healthy diet and regular exercise.

For more diabetes information, visit Lifescript.com, your online resource for women’s health.

The information contained in this article is provided for informational purposes only and is not, nor is it ever intended to be, a substitute for professional medical advice or professional recommendations, diagnosis, or treatment. Always seek the advice of your physician(s) or other qualified healthcare provider(s).