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Health Care: an Emerging Industry

admin — Wed, 26 Aug 2009 18:47:01 +0000

Health care is one of the most promising industries in the health and hospitability sector today. Health care relates to the prevention as well as to the treatment of illness. It also implies the overall mental and physical well being of individuals. A health care system refers to the organized functions which are involved in promoting the overall health of the country. The United Kingdom is the only industrialized country that does not offer health care universally. The National Health Service in the United Kingdom deals only with healthcare in the UK.

Overview of The Rising Health Care Sector

The health care industry is an industry that is considered to be one of the most budding among all other recent upcoming industries. Health care deals with delivering quality service towards improving the health of the people residing in a country. In recent years, the health care sector has been witnessing an upward surge. In a developed country, the health care industry contributes to 10% of the country’s gross national product. The professionally trained people serving the health care system ensure that all processes run smoothly.

In most of the developed countries of the world, the health care sector has undergone a lot of privatization. This ensures that the systems that are developed under it run without any bottlenecks. There are several health care models that have come up in recent times. With the growing popularity of the health care industry, some major public insurance systems have also come forward to ensure the smooth functioning of the systems. There are numerous pay systems that have been developed to guarantee the accurate administration of the health care sector.

The health care industry has witnessed a rapid growth in recent times mainly due to its contribution in maintaining the overall health and hygiene of a country. Today, the governments of different countries invest a huge amount of money in the health care sector to ensure that the sector has the proper support needed to grow. Statistical studies have shown that the profit derived from the health care sector is huge, both from the social, as well as the economic point of view. It is due to these reasons that the health care sector is considered to be one of the most emerging and promising industries today.

The technological development brought forth by science in this 21st century, has been seen in the domain of the health care sector too. Today, there are many trained professionals who work in this sector. The professional touch has been given to the health care sector which goes a long way in delivering quality care and support to those who seek its help. With the increase of demand among the people of various countries, the health care sector is also undergoing various stages of evolution to cater to the changing needs and demands of the people. As a result, health care today, stands as one of the most significant industries of recent times.

Source: articlesbase.com

Chronic Fatigue Syndrome (ME)

admin — Mon, 21 Jul 2008 04:06:59 +0000

How Does Chronic Fatigue Syndrome come about ?
A Brief Outline of Integrative Medical Approaches.
Executives Stress, Fatigue and Serious work Disability/ Long-term disability
A Patient Interview
A Working Diagnosic & Treatment Model
Contributing Factors to the causation of Chronic Fatigue Syndrome or M.E. immune dysfunction.
Thyroid Problems
Adrenal Gland Problems
Depression & Brain Chemistry
How Does Chronic Fatigue Syndrome come about ?My experience points to a disorder of mixed causation where the initial insult may have been stress, infection, an accident, an operation an illness, a bereavement, a messy divorce ( and what divorce is not messy ?) and the list goes on. These are generally situations which most individuals can usually survive and bounce back from but people with CFIDS or ME will often say “this time there was just too much and I just didn’t bounce back.” Other times the reason for not bouncing back is the extremely busy, stressed business person on a treadmill who just “cannot” take any time off. Another scenario is the individual who suffers an illness at a time which coincides with a time of great personal stress and strain e.g. the serious illness or death of a parent or perhaps severe marital problems. In quite a lot of cases the actual trigger is very difficult to pinpoint. All the patient knows is that they went into that health nosedive.

Why do some individuals get Chronic Fatigue Syndrome and other individuals, who have been through almost identical circumstances, escape apparently unscathed ?

Each person’s individual biochemistry is different with all that implies: slightly different enzyme systems, a different genetic makeup and a different immune system. Some people just never seem to get ill no matter how hard they try to! We all recognise the individual who drinks like the proverbial fish, smokes like the proverbial chimney, works early and late, travels incessantly and is hardly ever ill. On the other hand we are also familiar with people who have one glass of dry sherry at Easter, another at Christmas (if they are feeling truly daring), whose lives are relatively stress-free but who are always adept at picking up whatever bug is going despite their excessive moderation.
Some scientists have referred to Chronic Fatigue Syndrome sufferers as ‘human canaries’
In the old days the miners took canaries down the mines with them. If toxic gases were escaping the canaries, whose biochemical systems were unable to detoxify poisonous gases as efficiently as the miners, would demonstrate the signs of toxic gas poisoning before any of the miners were affected and the birds would become unconscious. This would, hopefully, alert the miners that it was high time to get out of the mine before they suffered any ill-effects themselves. The canaries were more vulnerable to the toxic gases because their detoxification enzyme systems were not as strong as the miners’ and this afforded the miners a valuable few minutes warning about the presence of poisonous gas before they, too, would be overcome. They knew that it was time to leave the mine as quickly as possible. Some chronic fatigue syndrome sufferers will have enzyme systems that are sluggish and just cannot cope with the amount of detoxification that our drinking, smoking, hard-working, early-and-late, seriously celebratory friend’s system can happily process.
Chronic Fatigue Syndrome often occurs when there is an unfavourable combination of circumstances and an individual’s system is pushed just a little too far beyond his or her physical or emotional (e.g. bullying at work) limits.

Hypothyroidism and Underactive Thyroid

admin — Mon, 21 Jul 2008 04:02:09 +0000

In a nutshell:Hypothyroidism implies an underactive Thyroid gland
Hyperthyyoidism implies an overactive Thyroid gland
Some brief comments on possible thyroid gland problems(for more detailed information please see further below):
If a patient is having problems with their thyroid therapy then it is important to measure FREE T3 and FREE T4…sometimes rebalancing the free hormone levels makes a large difference to wellbeing.I also consider it important that minerals such as iron, selenium, zinc etc which are important for the transformation of T4 to the much more potent T3 are at optimal levels.
Likewise it is important that there is proper adrenal function – Click here to link to information on the adrenal glands
Brain chemistry and neurotransmitter levels( serotonin, dopamine, GABA etc) are also important and it is possible to measure them quite accurately using a urinary sample.Click here for more information on neurotansmitters and brain chemistry.
Thyroid physiology – a synopsis
The thyroid gland is situated in the neck just behind the Adam’s Apple or thyroid cartilage and this gland sets the pace for the whole body’s metabolism.
It is a little like an orchestral conductor giving out the rhythm to the orchestra.
It affects the activity of each and every cell in the body.
Too little thyroid hormone means that the body’s processes all slow down too much with resultant sluggishness, mental fuzziness and weight gain. Conversely too much thyroid speeds the metabolic processes too much resulting in everything running too fast with resultant weight loss, fast heartbeat, insomnia and anxiety.
In the adult female hypothyroidism may result in menstrual irregularities and difficulty conceiving.
Thyroid Hormone
There are two active thyroid hormones T3 and T4 which are carried ‘bound’ in the blood to transport (carrier) proteins.
While attached to the carrier proteins they are inactive. Think of an analogy involving skiers – they cannot ski when they are sitting in the chair-lift – only when they are ‘released’ from the chairlift can they start to ski.
It is important to realise that the at any given time the vast majority of the body’s thyroid hormone (over 90 %)is totally inactive biochemically because it is bound to transport proteins.
Free Thyroid hormones Free T3 and Free T4 (also known as Free Thyroxine)
Only when the T3 and T4 are released from their carrier proteins are they free to do their work. They are then referred to as Free T3 and Free T4.
Much of the time standard laboratory testing only measures TSH and Total T4 ( total includes the portion bound to carrier protein and the free ‘unbound’ portion). Personally I prefer to look at the level of Free T3 and FreeT4.
T3 is several times more potent than T4 but lasts for substantially less time (in medical jargonese we say that T3 ‘has a shorter half-life’). If metabolism is working properly much of the T4 is converted to T3 but this is dependent on many factors including the person’s mineral (especially iron, zinc and selenium) status.
How reliable are thyroid blood tests?
There is substantial controversy about this issue even in the medical community. It varies from those individuals in the medical community who believe that once TSH and T4 level are normal then there is ‘no problem’ with an individual’s thyroid gland to those (thankfully) few doctors who if twenty people all complaining of tiredness lasting over a year or two were lined up in their waiting room would be very likely to ‘diagnose’ an under-active thyroid gland in the vast majority of them and promptly proceed to dish out replacement thyroid hormone to them. These are two extreme viewpoints and I think that the truth probably lies somewhere in between.
My view is that there is a sub-group of patients who despite having ‘normal’ T4 and TSH may well have a thyroid problem.
This being said there is a potential for real harm to patients if this deviation from normal medical practice is undertaken in a casual and thoughtless manner.
If I am seriously considering a diagnosis of hypothyroidism in the presence of ‘normal’ T4 and TSH (both of which investigations will usually have been carried out long before the patient arrives at my door) the first thing I do is to look at free T3 and free T4 levels along with another TSH and usually at thyroid antibody levels. This means I am measuring how much thyroid hormone is active rather than merely present. If the free T3 and T4 levels are in the lower one-third of the range and the basal body temperature is low then I may begin to seriously entertain the diagnosis. I do not consider starting someone who is tired on thyroid replacement is an appropriate first line of treatment.
Broda Barnes and Basal Body Temperature measurement and hypothyroidism.
An endocrinologist in the United States some forty or so years ago felt that the most reliable and sensitive test for hypothyroidism was the basal body temperature test. This involves measuring the axillary (underarm) temperature first thing in the morning on awakening before there is any physical activity. An old-fashioned mercury thermometer should be used and it should be left in place for ten minutes. I ask patients to take at least ten readings scattered over the course of a month or so. Personally I interpret the readings in the light of the clinical symptoms, total history and blood tests. Good medicine is about collating all the data and not getting diagnostically ‘carried away’ by any particular part of it. We need clinical balance. I am concerned about the hazards of over-treatment of people who do NOT need extra thyroid hormone being given it as much as I have sympathy for those people who may benefit from thyroid supplementation but who are denied it without due consideration.
What is Reverse T3?
Reverse T3 is a form of T3 which has exactly the same chemical composition as ‘normal’ T3 but which does not function to stimulate cells in the way which T3 normally should do. Unfortunately, as well as not functioning to stimulate cells as it normally should, reverse T3 still functions to block receptor sites for ‘normal’ T3 and also still functions in negative feedback by duping the hypothalamus into believing that it is ‘real, functioning T3′ and so reduces the TSH released by the pituitary which, in turn, contrives to reduce the overall amount of thyroid hormone in the body.
Armour Thyroid, Tertroxin (a form of T3), l-thyroxine (or eltroxin).
These are all forms of thyroid replacement therapy. ‘Thyroxine’ is T4 only. ‘Tertroxin’ is the UK brand name of a preparation which contains solely T3. ‘Armour thyroid’ is porcine-derived glandular thyroid which contains mostly T4 but a small amount of T3. Some patients do well on ‘ordinary, inexpensive thyroxine’ while other patients appear to experience side effects on l-thyroxine which they do not experience on Armour thyroid. Some people do better on standard eltroxin with a small amount of added T3. It’s about individual variation in response to treatment and patient preference. I should point out that Armour thyroid is more expensive than normal thyroid hormone replacement.
What about the interaction between the adrenal gland and the thyroid gland?
The adrenal glands are two small glands lying on top of the kidneys( the adrenal-literally ‘attached to the kidneys’ glands). These glands produce cortisol, DHEA and also some of the body’s sex steroid hormones. Adequate amounts of cortisol are important for well-being and to maintain the body in a state of physiological balance. If the adrenal glands become completely defunct we die. If the adrenal glands become so weak that they can produce hardly any cortisol a condition which is described as Addison’s disease. There is also (in my opinion) a group of patients who , while their condition is not severe enough to satisfy the diagnostic criteria for Addison’s disease, nevertheless cannot produce adequate amounts of cortisol. These people may have cold hands and feet , postural hypotension, general weakness and may need to eat very frequently etc. ‘Low’ adrenal function may also be a cause of low basal body temperature.
How can adrenl gland function be tested?
There is a reasonable correlation between the amount of cortisol in the saliva and the blood cortisol. This test is useful as an adjunct alongside the standard medical tests for adrenal function. Salivary cortisol is measured by the patient using a home kit at 8AM, midday, 4PM and midnight. Many individuals who have low adrenal function may be very tired in the morning (as may be a lot of hypothyroid patients) and take a long time to ‘get going’.
Patients with co-existent low thyroid function and low adrenal function.
Patients who have both low thyroid function and low adrenal function may actually feel a lot worse when they are commenced on thyroid replacement therapy. I have certainly experienced this with one or two patients over the years. These patients may remark something along the lines of : ‘I was started on thyroxine / armour thyroid / and I immediately felt worse and began to have palpitations and feel weak and so I stopped the thyroid medication.
There is currently a vogue among a small group of doctors for routinely giving adrenal hormones along with thyroid hormones. How sensible is this? As a general rule it is probably not medically sensible to to decide too quickly that a patient should have cortisol replacement. It is important to at least check salivary cortisol levels if a diagnosis of hypoadrenalism is being seriously entertained.
What is the bottom line about deciding whether thyroid hormone supplementation in the presence of normal basic screening blood tests is worth trying?
Before considering thyroid hormone supplementation in the presence of normal screening blood tests there should be a consistently low basal body temperature and screening tests for minerals that affect thyroid function should be used. If there are symptoms such as irritable bowel syndrome which may denote a low-grade bowel infection then this possibility should be dealt with. Under-active adrenal glands need to be considered. Depending on context oestrogen and progesterone imbalances may also need to be considered. Sometimes when other issues such as these are dealt with the patient’s sense of well-being returns without any need to commit them to long-term thyroid replacement therapy.
The Thyroid is critical to normal growth and development of infants and children
In infants and children the processes of growth and development – especially the development of the nervous system are dependent on normal thyroid function and so all newborns are screened in the maternity units for this.
Thyroid Stimulating Hormone (TSH) controls the level of thyroid hormone in the blood.
The manufacture of thyroid hormone by the thyroid gland is under the control of a part of the brain known as the anterior pituitary.
The anterior pituitary produces a substance called TSH (Thyroid
Stimulating Hormone) which travels to the thyroid from the anterior pituitary via the bloodstream.
However the amount of TSH released is also controlled by another centre in the brain.
The release of TSH is controlled by centres higher up the endocrine command chain in another part of the brain called the hypothalamus The hypothalamus releases TSH-Inhibitory Factor and TSH-Releasing Factor .
The story is further complicated by the fact that TSH manufacture and release from the pituitary is either increased by Thyrotropin Releasing Hormone Releasing Factor (TRH-RF) or else reduced by Thyrotropin Releasing Hormone Inhibitory Factor (TRH-IF).
You could think of TRH-RF as a green light and TRH-IF as a red light to pituitary to release TSH or not.
These substances the travel to the pituitary and either increase or reduce the release of TSH into the bloodstream.
The TSH then travels from the brain to the thryoid gland via the bloodsteam and in turn stimulates the manufacture and release of the thyroid hormones into the bloodstream from there – there is certainly some nifty design work there in Nature!
There is a ‘negative feedback’ control loop in that the hypothamalus continuously monitors the amount of thyroid hormone in the bloodstream. Depending on whether levels of thyroid hormone are are high or low it will then release either TSH-RF ( the ‘green’ light) or TSH-IF (the ‘red’ light) which will then either increase or inhibit TSH release and so the level of thyroid hormone in the bloodstream is continuously monitored.

Testosterone Deficiency Syndrome

admin — Mon, 21 Jul 2008 03:56:12 +0000

If you are a man aged 40 or more, you may have become aware of some changes in your physical appearance and general health such as increased weight gain, feeling depressed, disturbed sleep, loss of interest in sex. Testosterone deficiency is one cause which should be considered.
What is Testosterone Deficiency (TD) ?
TD is characterised by low levels of testosterone, (known medically as hypogonadism), and is an under-diagnosed medical condition most common in men over 40.It is estimated that TD may occur in 20% of men over 60 rising to 30% in men over the age of 70, and 50%in men over 80 years of age.
TD can cause a variety of changes to your health – both physical and emotional
The Symptoms of Testosterone Deficiency include:
Decreased sex drive/ loss of libido.
Loss of erections (morning and at other times).
Feeling depressed and / or irritable.
More tired than normal.
Sleep disturbances.
Joint or muscle pain.
Inability to concentrate.
Decreased sense of wellbeing.
Memory loss.
Excessive sweating.
The long-term implications of Testosterone Deficiency include:
Decreased bone mass that may lead to osteoporosis.
Decreased muscle size and strength and increased weight gain.
Decreased virility.
Decreased facial hair/the need for shaving may decrease.
Sparse or absent pubic hair.
Smaller/softer testes.
An increase in breast size.
Recent studies reveal that many men -especially in Ireland- are reluctant to visit their GP since they do not believe their symptoms are serious enough to warrant treatment.
However, if the correct diagnosis is considered to be TD, treatment is proven to reduce the symptoms of testosterone deficiency and return testosterone levels to normal. If left untreated, TD has the potential to impact negatively on your life and you should speak to your doctor about treatment options.
What is Testosterone?
Testosterone has different functions in different phases of life. In the adult male testosterone controls all sexual functions (libido, potency, fertility). In addition, testosterone helps to maintain general physical health, improving mood and feelings of wellbeing.
During Puberty , Testosterone functions to:
Stimulate the development of penis and testes
Growth of facial and pubic hair
Deepening of the voice
Testosterone helps the adult male with the following:
Maintains sex drive, sexual functions and sperm production.
Protects against osteoporosis
Maintains muscle mass
Improves mood
Increases energy levels
What causes Testosterone Deficiency?
Testosterone production declines naturally with age. However, some men’s testosterone levels decline to a level that may affect their overall health and wellbeing.
Treatment of Testosterone Deficiency
(It should be emphasised that only ‘natural’ i.e. biologically identical testosterone should be used in testosterone replacement.)
Testosterone deficiency is treated by administering testosterone, which is available in a number of forms including a colourless, odourless gel, a patch or an injection.
Once a diagnosis of low testosterone has been made, testosterone treatment can begin. Studies have demonstrated improved levels of overall wellbeing with testosterone replacement. Investigations have found that testosterone therapy results in restored levels of sexual interest, body and muscle mass, bone density, mood and improved energy.

Irritable Bowel Syndrome

admin — Sat, 19 Jul 2008 18:04:35 +0000

To make a diagnosis of irritable bowel syndrome there should be at least 3 months of continuous or recurrent abdominal pain or discomfort which is relieved with defaecation and associated with a change in either the frequency or the consistency of the stool.
Irritable bowel syndrome is a diagnosis of exclusion which means that, as part of the initial investigation, other serious or life-threatening disorders are first ruled out.
Can anything be done apart from “more fibre, Madam, relax more and have an occasional yogurt” Do any therapies really work for Irritable Bowel Syndrome?Usually it is possible to obtain relief from the symptoms of irritable bowel syndrome using a clinical approach which combines laboratory investigation and treatment of low-grade gut infections and identification of any food intolerances together with the identification of any lifestyle sreessors whish may be worsening the situation.
At a guess I would say that 95% of IBS patients can be significantly helped by a mixed conventional/ complementary medical approach.
When I see new patient who has come ot me for help with their IBS I prefer it if they have already had a definitive diagnosis of irritable bowel syndrome made by a consultant gastroenterologist. It is important, particularly in certian age groups to exclude serious disease before arriving at a diagnosis of irritable bowel syndrome.
Then, when serious disease has bene excluded, we can concentrate on improving quality of life for the patient
The irritable bowel syndrome / chronic fatigue syndrome connection: How can a gut infection affect a patient’s overall sense of well-being?
Certain areas of bodily function come up again and again in medical problem lists taken from M.E. / chronic fatigue syndrome patients patients. Very often patients are informed (erroneously, in my opinion) that there is no connection between their fatigue and their abdominal symptoms, despite the fact that the patient may have quite severe abdominal disturbance. In my own clinical experience many patients with chronic (i.e. long-standing) medical conditions, may have low-grade gut infections making a large ‘contribution’ to their lack of well-being. Very frequently my experience is that normalising gastrointestinal function makes a huge contribution to the patient’s overall sense of well being.
How can this happen?
The Bowel contains a lot of immune system tissue. Additionally the bowel should function competently as a barrier between the potentially toxic faecal matter contained in the bowel and the bloodstream forming a reliable separation between the two .
A brief explanation of ‘leaky gut syndrome’
The gut contains a large amount of immune or lymphoid tissue. The bowel wall is thin -just the thickness of an upper eyelid- however it needs to form a competent barrier between the essentially toxic faecal matter, which it contains, and the blood/circulatory system. The bowel has its own blood return system -called the portal venous system- which is a subdivision of the blood and circulatory system. Blood coming from the portal (bowel) circulatory system to rejoin the main circulatory system has to pass through the liver filtration system before doing so. The lumen (hollow) of the bowel contains partly digested food, bacteria, bacterial toxins, moulds or fungi, fungal / myco toxins, enzymes, the bugs that did not get washed off the lettuce with that quick wash you gave it(!)

The average healthy bowel contains a greater number of bacteria than the number of cells in the human body.
It is critical for well-being to maintain the correct bacterial balance in our gutfor a wide variety of reasons not least immune competency. If the gut wall is inflamed and ‘leaky’ and not functioning properly as a barrier, then toxic products and half-digested materials get across this barrier into the blood stream. This may make people feel vaguely but decidedly unwell. This ‘leaky gut syndrome’ which then occurs may cause proteins not not to be broken down properly into their constituent amino acids and as a result larger protein particles, called peptides (a particle composed of of several amino acids), become absorbed across the gut wall into the blood stream causing immune system problems and possibly also contributing to joint pains and various forms of arthritis. Dr Alan Ebringer in London’s Middlesex Hospital has done much in his research to study the role of bowel bacterial infections in both rheumatoid arthritis and ankylosing spondylitis and he has identified certain species of proteus and also klebsiella as potential troublemakers.

The Liver and irritable bowel syndrome connection. The Liver has an important role in detoxifying materials after they enter the bloodstream.
Any toxins that get into the blood stream have to be dealt with by the liver before they are allowed out of the specialised gut blood circulation, into what is called the ‘Systemic Circulation’ (the heart, great vessels, brain, etc.). Relatively frequently the liver may be ‘overloaded’ by gut toxins or it may be sluggish for other reasons and find it difficult to cope with its work of detoxification. Consequently patients may feel somewhat weak and fuzzy-headed. Sluggish liver detoxification also contributes to chemical sensitivity. As one patient told me “I constantly feel as if I’m on the morning after the night before – except there was no night before. I constantly feel fuzzy-headed, as as if I had a skinful last night, except that I didn’t!”.

What kinds of troublesome low-grade gut infections are there?
Gut infections may be fungal, bacterial or possibly worm-like. At the moment conventional medicine is working hard to develop more sensitive means of diagnosing gut infection and advances have been made, especially in terms of diagnosing bacterial gut infection using the Hydrogen Breath Test, but there is still a long way to go in terms of developing reliable investigations that are both relative and specific.

What happens if liver pathways are not running at or near full efficiency.
This does not mean that there is something drastically wrong with the patient’s liver, that is life-threatening. Almost everyone I see has had liver function tests, checked by either family doctor or consultant. These will usually have been totally satisfactory. This is important in that it excludes any serious or life-threatening liver disease. However, the liver may be somewhat sluggish in its normal work of breaking down toxins/old red blood cells/old hormone molecules that are past their sell-by date. A liver that is not functioning optimally may result in its owner fee ling sluggish a lot of the time. It may also result in increased sensitivity to toxins.

As a result of sluggish liver detoxification people may notice food sensitivities and sensitivities to perfume, alcohol, chemicals. People may also notice sensitivity to processed foods.

In any case of irritable bowel syndrome I would stress that there are no ‘magic’ cures and people need to take and be guided by the advice of their general practitioner and gastroentrerologist but, that being said, I feel that using integrative therapies in a thoughtful way is frequently, in my experience, a tremendous help.

Depression & Anxiety

admin — Tue, 15 Jul 2008 19:14:27 +0000

Depression Fatigue Fibromyalgia Chronic Pain and Mood problems are closely related to brain chemistry and hormonal status. These are complex, frequently inter-related disorders. Below is a brief introduction to neurotransmitter chemistry – because the brain really does ‘pull the strings’ so to speak and mixed-up brain chemistry is frequently a cause of chronic pain problems.
INTRODUCTION TO NEUROTRANSMITTERS
(with acknowledgement for part of resource material to www.neurorelief.com and Neuro-Lab Ltd, Bournemouth, Dorset, UK)
NEUROTRANSMITTERS: A description of how they work and what they actually do Consider the analogy of a car with its brake and accelerator to gain a basic understanding of neurotransmitters.Normal function in the brain is a matter of the appropriate relay of electrical signals and subsequent chemical (neurotransmitter) release.
Through these electrical signals and the subsequent release of neurotransmitters, neurons (nerve cells) communicate with each other and organs in the body.
Just like a car, neurons use an accelerator and a brake to regulate speed, or in this case, whether or not a neurochemical signal is produced.
The accelerator is equivalent to the excitatory neurotransmitter system.
This includes the neurotransmitters glutamate, epinephrine, norepinephrine, and PEA to name a few.
When these chemicals are released, the hypothetical accelerator is pushed, and the nervous system revs up. The excitatory neurotransmitter system is responsible for sending a signal.
The brake is equivalent to the inhibitory neurotransmitter system.
This includes the neurotransmitters GABA and serotonin.
When these chemicals are released, the hypothetical brake is pushed, and the system slows down.
The inhibitory neurotransmitter system is responsible for preventing a signal from continuing.
There are also many other transmitters and modulators that factor into the effectiveness of the two systems and they include glutamine, glycine, histamine, glutamate, taurine and various hormones.
Just like in a car, the brakes must be maintained or the car will not be able to stop.
If the inhibitory system isn’t maintained or replenished, then the excitatory system will be allowed to go out of control, and eventually, it too will become exhausted.
In order to tell how far along the wear on the systems is, which parts are wearing, and how the parameters that make them more effective are factoring in, it is important to perform neurotransmitter testing.
THERE ARE CURRENTLY A TOTAL OF SEVEN NEUROTRANSMITTER COMPOUNDS WHICH I AM TESTING FOR REGULARLY.
They are: Dopamine, Serotonin, Adrenaline (Epinephrine) , GABA, Nor-Adrenaline(Norepinephrine), Phenylethylamine (PEA), and Acetylcholine
Dopamine is a major neurotransmitter and serves as a precursor to norepinephrine and epinephrine. It plays a significant role in cognitive function and emotion, as well as roles in the cardiovascular, renal, hormonal, and central nervous systems. Long-term excess is often associated with increased blood pressure whilst long-term deficiency may result in impairment of some movement, memory problems, mood swings and low defence activity.
Adrenaline ( called Epinephrine in the US ) is a neurotransmitter and hormone essential to the body’s metabolism and is also known as adrenaline. As a neurotransmitter, epinephrine raises the concentration of free fatty acids in blood and releases glucose form the liver. Long-term excess may result in anxiety, cardiovascular problems and problems with glucose utilization. Long-term deficiency can be associated with fatigue, depression and digestive problems.
GABA is the major inhibitory neurotransmitter of the brain, occurring in 30 -40% of all synapses. Insufficient GABA neurotransmission has been associated with increased anxiety and sleep-related problems.
Norepinephrine (Nor- Adrenaline )is most active in the awake state, and is important for focus and attention. It also seems to contribute to anxiety and its turnover is increased during stress. Patients with depression appear to have lower levels of norepinephrine.
Phenylethylamine (PEA ) is an amine neurotransmitter derived form the amino acid phenylalanine. Studies of PEA have found that it increases mental acuity and elevates mood. It is also involved in depression, ADD/ADHD, schizophrenia, and psychopathic conditions.
Serotonin is an amine neurotransmitter synthesized by enzymes that act on tryptophan and/or 5-HTP. Serotonin has been extensively studied and is a therapeutic target for conditions like depression, compulsive disorders, anxiety, insomnia, and migraines.
Acetylcholine is one of the major neurotransmitters and has been shown to be essential for brain development. Learning ability, mental awareness and memory function tend to decline with lowering levels of acetylcholine whilst long-term excess may be associated with exhaustion of pancreatic activity and activation of destructive processes
Serotonin, Dopamine, Adrenaline, Noradrenaline, GABA (Gamma-Amino-Butyric Acid), Acetylcholine.
Neurotransmitter Therapies offer a lot of hope to patients and clinicians.
• I am hugely excited to now be able to obtain laboratory measurement of neurotransmitter chemicals.
• Actually measuring neurotransmitters adds a wonderfully useful information to tailoring and fine-tuning my treatments for fatigue and mood disorders
• Being able to measure these substances for individual patients has helped solve clinical riddles and explain the origin of odd and unusual symptoms that have plagued some patients.
Now: even better: one now can actually treat and rebalance neurotransmitter levels with Targeted Amino Acid Therapy.
Medicine has advanced significantly over the last 50 years, and lifestyles and health risks have also changed dramatically.
Increased workloads, fast food, and time restraints changed the way people eat and the amount of stress people handle on a day-to-day basis.
Poor diet and chronic stress are the most important factors that lead to neurotransmitter imbalance.
Providing the body with an increased supply of the precursors to neurotransmitters increases the body’s ability to synthesize its own supply of transmitters, leading to balanced neurotransmitter levels.
This process is termed Targeted Amino Acid Therapy (TAAT)
Neurotransmitters are critical to the functioning of the whole body – not just the Brain.
Every organ is connected to the brain via a vast network of neurons and receptors.
The brain uses neurotransmitters to tell the heart to beat, the lungs to breath, and the intestines to digest.
Optimal and balanced neurotransmitter levels are necessary for healthy functioning- not just in the brain but for the whole body.
Neurotransmitter imbalances and the resulting symptoms are extremely common.
Years of research and review of thousand of laboratory test confirm that as many as eight out of ten people have some level of neurotransmitter imbalance.
Once imbalances are identified, the TAAT program re-establishes neurotransmitter levels and effectively resolves many of the symptoms.
Neurotransmitter Testing is Performed by an independent, accredited laboratory in the UK .
Urine and blood samples are used. Frequently in complex illnesses I will also measure levels of Interleukin -1 Beta, Interleukin 2 and Interferon Gamma ( See below for more information on Interleukin).
Neuroscience Labs ( www.Neuroecienceinc.com and www.neurorelief.com ) provide testing for doctors in North America
TESTING STRATEGY USES BASELINE AND FOLLOW-UP TESTING
Laboratory assessment is the basis of optimizing neurotransmitter balance. Together with clinical presentation, laboratory studies help me to address the biochemical status of individual patients.
Testing objectively documents the exact type of neurotransmitter intervention needed.
Retesting allows adjustment of dosage and monitoring of patient progress.
OPTIMIZING NEUROTRANSMITTER LEVELS
Based on years of laboratory and clinical research, NeuroScienceT has developed a model for optimizing neurotransmitter levels as a way to address many conditions.
This model is designed to maximize health and well being using Targeted Amino Acid Therapy (TAAT) to balance neurotransmitter synthesis.
Neurotransmission affects many processes of the body including mood, pain, hormone and regulation, digestion, and metabolism.
Unless the signals that the brain sends to the body and the feedback it receives are sufficiently strong, the hundreds of processes that affect health will be impaired.
Thus, the balance of neurotransmitters can facilitate or hamper well being and directly impact the efficacy of treatments.
According to this model, neurotransmitter testing should be a component of any primary care screening and workup.
Efforts to address neurotransmitter levels should be front-line strategies for health care practitioners, as essential for well-being as interventions based on blood chemistry results, blood pressure readings, and physical examination.
The process of neurotransmission influences many aspects of health and disease in the human body.
Optimizing neurotransmission by optimizing neurotransmitter levels can lead to desirable outcomes in primary medicine.
Laboratory data, in conjunction with clinical findings, demonstrate that many common symptoms are influenced by neurotransmitters.
Correcting the neurotransmitter levels via the use of neurotransmitter precursors improves the many neurotransmitter related symptoms.
LEVELS OF NEUROTRANSMITTER PRECURSORS
THE IMPORTANCE OF ASSESSING THE LEVEL OF SUPPLY OF THE RAW MATERIALS FOR NEUROTRANSMITTER MANUFACTURE
Precursors are the compounds from which the neurotransmitters originate, either directly or indirectly.
The pattern of the precursors influences the pattern of the neurotransmitters and, hence, the mode of nervous system operation.
The pattern of precursors is used to identify problems and to refine any treatment recommendations.
NEUROTRANSMITTER METABOLITES
MEASURING WHAT IS LEFT OVER:
The IMPORTANCE OF MEASURING THE LEVELS OF NEUROTRANSMITTER METABOLITES
Metabolites are the substances left over after the neurotransmitters have been used up.
The patterns of metabolites of Noradrenaline, Adrenaline, Dopamine and 5HT (Serotonin) reflect the patterns of the activities of the neurotransmitters.
Any long-term imbalanced utilization of the neurotransmitters will contribute to the establishment of an imbalanced level of the neurotransmitters and , therefore, an impaired mode of nervous system operation.
The pattern of the metabolites is used, as with precursor substances, to identify problems and refine treatment recommendations.
NEUROTRANSMITTER DERIVATIVES, NEUROTOXINS AND FALSE NEUROTRANSMITTERS
This is a complex area but, in many fatigue anxiety and mood problems, there may either be :
Neurotoxins which can damage brain cells and deplete supplies of ‘proper’ neurotransmitters. Neurotoxins may be produced from neurotransmitters and free radicals (‘loose cannon’ biological compounds which get involved in biologically unhelpful chemical reactions) when some brain areas become overactivated in response to various types of infection.
False neurotransmitters produced by bacteria or fungi within the body (this explains how so-called ‘irritable bowel syndrome’ may cause mood problems, persistent nausea which are not explained easily otherwise)
CYTOKINES
Cytokines are chemical messenger produced by cells of the immune system.
Interleukin -1-beta. IL-1Beta is a cytokine mainly produced by macrophages of the immune system in response to an infection. It is an endogenous pyrogen (i.e. raises the body temperature)and is able to trigger oxidative stress as well as general stress mechanisms. Huigh levels are associated with an acute phase of inflammation, alteration in liver and brain functions.
Interleukin 2. IL-2 is a cytokine produced by some cells usually Th1 cells of the immune system. It promotes the proliferation of various types of immunological cells and also displays both anti-tumoural and pro-tumoural effects. High levels are associated with increased activity of the defence system whilst low levels indicate that the cellular immune response is non-active.
Interferon Gamma. IFN-Gamma is a cytokine produced mainly by the NK cells of the immune system and has both anti-viral and anti-proliferation properties. High levels indicate cell destruction, primarily those cells that have been transformes or infected, and the suppression of the formation of new vessels. Low levels usually indicate that there is a decreased destructive ability of the immune system.

Excessive Sweating (Hyperhidrosis)

admin — Mon, 14 Jul 2008 19:58:29 +0000

Excess Sweating in the Underarm area – also known as Axillary Hyperhidrosis – an effective non-surgical treatment.
1. This treatment is for those patients who have a significant problem with underarm sweating. On average these patients will usually be changing their shirt, blouse or T-shirt five to six times per day, sometimes as often as twelve times per day. 2. The treatment technique involves a painless test to study which sweat glands are the most active so that these can be targeted especially.

3. Testing to identify areas of sweating and the treatment take around 30- 45 minutes total. You are free to go home or back to work immediately afterwards.

4. The vast majority of patients find the procedure, at worst, only very slightly uncomfortable e.g it is infinitely less painful than having a waxing.

5. If you are feeling uptight in any way I usually do a brief laser acupuncture treatment to relax you beforehand which is invariably effective.

6. Avoid anti-perspirant and/or deodorant for 24 hours before the treatment, shave your armpits well, and wear an old t-shirt/shirt/ top and an old bra in case it gets stained with dye.

7. Treatment is highly effective for up to one year and its success has been published in the medical journal The Lancet.

8. We have many satisfied patients who are just delighted to be able to wear clothes normally again.

9. Effects of treatment begin to appear in three to five days and are maximal at approximately two weeks. We usually get a delighted phone-call from the patient announcing with delight that he or she has felt able to ditch the black t-shirts.

10. In contrast to the surgical treatments on offer which are traumatic, frequently not terribly effective and which cause increased sweating at other sites we have had invariably positive feedback with all the patients we have treated for excess underarm sweating.

11. Botox and Dysport have not been tested in patients who are pregnant, breastfeeding and their use in such circumstances is not recommended. Use of Botulinum toxin in severe neurological disorders such as multiple sclerosis is not recommended.

A new auto-injector for people allergic

admin — Sat, 12 Jul 2008 20:51:08 +0000

Do you know that a new auto-injector as small as a credit card was invented and could soon be offered to people with allergies? Although a drug-sized help improve the quality of life of people with allergies but also encourage more people to keep with them. The number of lives saved would be augmente.
From the size of a credit card, this new auto-injector can easily be inserted into a wallet. It was designed to be carried like any other handheld gadget such as cell phones and MP3. Bye Bye bags the size and welcome to freedom of movement and discretion!In addition to being small, EpiCard is equipped with an innovative security mechanism that will allow the needle to retract after use. Like Epipen, EpiCard is a self-automatic injector, which does not require complicated handling.
The marketing of EpiCard is assumed by the U.S. company Intelliject whose website is here. I am quite excited about the EpiCard and I monitor its marketing with great impatience. And you?

The Infertility in women

admin — Sat, 12 Jul 2008 20:43:19 +0000

Is it that you are wondering, as well as your partner, if something is disturbed? After all, you may try to conceive for some time without success. It may be useful to review some basic biological concepts on fertility and conception. Maybe you did not have sexual relations at an appropriate time of the reproductive cycle of the partner. The extent of the basal body temperature (TB) or examination of changes in the cervical mucus will help clarify the timing of ovulation.On the other hand, it may have a physical problem exists. The following is an overview of conditions that can affect the fertility of men and the fertility of women. During your reading, do not draw conclusions for reaching your own diagnosis. If you suspect something, you should talk to your health professional or a specialist in fertility.
Women
When it comes to fertility, hormonal control of the menstrual cycle can be extremely complex. You will find below a short list of diseases that can cause fertility problems. If you think you might be affected by one of them, talk to your healthcare professional. Fortunately, treatments may be available for several of these diseases.
The problems ovulatory
Approximately 33% to 50% of all infertile women have ovulatory problems. The normal ovarian cycle is so complex that even small changes can disrupt the cycle and prevent ovulation.
In most cases, the problem is caused by a hormonal imbalance (eg. The lack of a particular hormone or non-release of a hormone at the right time). This can often be caused by a miscommunication in the brain between the hypothalamus and pituitary glands. It also comes at a discrepancy of ovulation is associated with an extremely low weight or an overweight, as a significant change in weight (loss or gain).
The fertility of a woman naturally decreases with age. If you are aged 35 years or older and you have been able to conceive after 6 months of regular and unprotected, you should speak to your healthcare professional.
The anatomical problems Sometimes the fallopian tubes of a woman to be blocked after infection as pelvic inflammatory disease or after abdominal surgery.Some sexually transmitted diseases (STDs) can also cause scarring or damage fallopian tubes and thus cause a blockage. The blockage of the fallopian tubes may prevent the union of sperm and egg or, if the union occurs, preventing the embryo implant in the uterus. Often, women whose fallopian tubes are blocked not feel any symptoms. The treatment of problems or tubal scarring pelvic may, depending on the disease, require specialized surgery. To determine if the fallopian tubes are blocked, doctors may use the hystérosalpingographie. During this intervention, X-rays are taken after the injection of a radio-opaque dye on the cervix. The dye shows inside the uterus and fallopian tubes. It makes this statement shortly after the end of menstruation.
Factors related to lifestyle
Weight
The fact that a woman, have a low body mass or higher may affect their fertility. People with a BMI less than 18.5 or greater than 30 can run an increased risk of spontaneous abortions or disruption of the menstrual cycle. It is also possible that you will change your lifestyle.
Alcohol and smoking It has been shown that alcohol consumption affects fertility and it has also shown that smoking increases the risk of tubal pregnancies, cancer of the cervix and pelvic infections. The consumption of alcohol and smoking can also have an impact on the quality of sperm. It is important to emphasize these factors to your doctor and how long did you try to conceive. You can also consult the record of infertility in humans
Hoping that this information will be useful.

Safety of Machinery: helps the worker healths

admin — Thu, 10 Jul 2008 18:16:46 +0000

The kit is designed to give an overview of legislation and standards relating to the design of safer machines, as well as the process of reviewing documents four basic techniques. . It has, moreover, the work done by ETUI-REHS to coordinate the intervention of unions at the national and European level, and support their positions within the European debate on the machines. The kit also outlines ways to strengthen the involvement of workers in the development process “standard machines.End Pub 1988, when the CES established the European Trade Union Technical Bureau for Safety and Health (now the department of health and safety ETUI-REHS), one of the key objectives was to promote a high level of safety and health at workplaces in Europe, in the context of completing the single market by the year 1993. At the end of 1988, when the CES established the European Trade Union Technical Bureau for Safety and Health (now the department of health and safety ETUI-REHS), one of the key objectives was to promote a high level of security and health at workplaces in Europe, in the context of completing the single market by the year 1993. In 1985, the principles of the New Approach to technical harmonization and standardization have been established in a resolution of the Council (Official Journal of the European Union, C 136, June 4, 1985). These principles lit with the concept of guidelines including detailed technical specifications. According to the resolution, the guidelines adopted under Article 100A (now Article 95) of the Treaty are limited to “essential safety requirements” expressed in the form of broad objectives, leaving the European standards bodies to determine standards Support detailed.
All this gave more importance to the work done by organizations such as NEC and CENELEC, and led ETUI-REHS to coordinate and support the contribution of association at work European standards. Since 1989, one of the main responsibilities of ETUI-REHS has been to oversee legislation and standardization at European level, and serve primarily interface with the European Commission and the CEN. In the context of the legislation, ETUI-REHS has observer status within the Working Committee 98/37/EC Machines, chaired by the European Commission. This working group provides a platform for discussion to the Commission, Member States and other parties concerned by the single market to discuss the practical implementation of the directive on machines. In the context of standardization, ETUI-REHS follows, as an associate member of CEN, the work of two technical committees (TC), namely CEN / TC 122 “Ergonomics”, and CEN / TC 114 ” Safety of machinery.