Overview of Gout Symptoms and Treatment

Filed Under (Diseases and Conditions) by Ernestine Clagge on 20-10-2008

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by Ernestine Clagge

Doctors have long understood gout to be a serious and painful medical condition. In fact, it is one of the earliest identified illnesses on record. Most of us, however, really have no ideal what it is all about.

Once considered a disease of the rich and gluttonous, gout is now known to be a form of arthritis that can cause severe inflammation of the joints. This swelling is often accompanied by sharp pain. Gout usually causes inflammation in the feet, ankles, wrists and hands, with the big toe most often affected.

Causes

Gout is created when the body produces an excessive amount of uric acid. This abundance of uric acid causes crystals to form in the synovial joint, which in turn causes the pain and swelling that have become trademarks of the disease. Some in the medical field claim that gout is one of the most painful types of arthritis. Although the condition was once associated with gluttony, health professionals, patients and the general public have become better educated about the causes, symptoms and treatments for gout.

How Do You Know if You Have Gout?

Sadly, the symptoms of gout can come on very quickly, and without warning. Many patients are surprised by the sudden onset of the condition. Pinkish red shiny skin around the affected area is common. This is due to the pain and swelling in the joint. The joint may also feel hot to the touch. If these symptoms are left untreated, they can last for over a week. Some people who have gout also experience lumps under the skin. This is most common in the area around the elbows, the heels, and the ears. These lumps are also caused by a buildup of uric acid in the body. Kidney stones have also been associated with victims of gout.

For some people, these painful gout attacks are a one-time occurrence. Many others, however, will suffer with gout attacks at regular intervals. The pain and swelling will appear and subside every few months. If left untreated, the condition can persist and create permanent damage in the joints.

It can be difficult to diagnose gout as the symptoms are very similar to those of other types of arthritis. Before your doctor determines how to treat your condition, he or she will have to make a positive diagnosis. To determine if there are uric acid crystals in your irritated joints, the doctor may take a sample of your joint fluids. In addition, you may be required to have a blood test to measure uric acid levels in your blood. Also, you will likely have a complete physical examination.

The Treatment of Gout

Current treatments for gout have been very successful. This is good news for the half million people in the United States who deal with gout on a regular basis. It is likely that the doctor will prescribe medication. Allopurinol helps to control the levels of uric acid created by the body. In addition, colchicines reduce the symptomatic inflammation and pain. Anti-inflammatory drugs are also often prescribed. Ibuprofen is an example. Aspirin, however, is not recommended. Most doctors will also suggest a healthy diet and regular exercise to reduce the symptoms of gout.

If you suspect that you have gout, it is important that you speak with your doctor to be properly diagnosed. You can begin proper, healthful treatment as soon as you have been properly diagnosed. There is no point in waiting. See your doctor as soon as you can.

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Hemorroid Treatments - Natural And Painless

Filed Under (Diseases and Conditions) by Kathy Chan on 20-10-2008

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by Kathy Chan

Are you suffering from a persisting, aching hemorroid? Are you advised that there are no hemorroid treatments except dreadful surgery and toxic drug?

Being a former victim I can tell you that’s not true. There are natural and simple home hemorroid treatment. Would you like to be aware of them? Read on.

But before I jump into the information, I thinkbelieve it is appropriate that I begin by telling you how I come to discovering this technique.

I first discovered I’ve got hemorroid around 5 years ago. I become aware of quite a few common symptoms such as the regular blood in my stool, “something” sticking out of my anus and yes, the pain.

It grew more agonizing with each passing day and I believe it would just heal. At first, I did not recognize what it was but I was concerned of the constant bleeding each time I move my bowel.

Hence I checked with various kindred regarding the symptoms and that’s when I discovered out I suffer from hemorroid. And similar to most persons, I was told there are no hemorroid treatment. My lone choice being hemorrhoidectomy surgery.

I believed them, but I postponed to get it done because of the many awful experience people endure with that type of surgery. Plus, a good number of of them experienced a relapse because, as I later discovered out, they didn’t correct real source of hemorroids.

It is merely 4 years later that I started getting desperate. It’s getting awful to sit and I dread each time I need to move my bowel. It was so terrible I tend to “hold it in” everytime I sense the impulse (Modest did I know this was contributing to the trouble).

I started my search online and the amount of information I obtain shocked even me. There was a whole mountain of choice. Worried as I was, I tried them out one at a time each lasting for around 30 days.

Once I spot no progress, I move one to the next “big promise”. I experiment with a total of 8 options and just as I was about to give up, I chanced upon a simple $37 manual.

Now, I know what you’re feeling by now. Why would anyone reveal hemorroid treatment for $37? That’s also what I consider but with 60 days unreserved guarantee, I decided to go for it.

What happened? Let’s just say the outcome is nothing less than extraordinary. Would like to find out what I accomplished? Click here for the guide.

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Cold Sore Treatment - Don’t Suffer Cold Sores Any Longer

Filed Under (Diseases and Conditions) by Denny Bodoh on 19-10-2008

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by Denny Bodoh

Want a great cold sore treatment? How about several of the most powerful and time proved cold sore treatment tactics available today? Read this article now and you will enjoy amazing relief in just minutes.

Thousand of people each week need a good cold sore treatment. Go to the store and you will see many cold sore remedy options to choose from.

Some of these cold sore treatment products work - and some do not. For the most part, you should regard these as comfort remedies for treating your cold sore, fever blister or oral herpes.

However, don’t count on over-the-counter cold sore remedy ointments and salves to shorten the healing time of your outbreak.

Right now I would like to give you four very powerful cold sore treatment tips proven successful when fighting cold sores, fever blisters and oral herpes.

1. GARLIC POWER. Garlic is an old and very potent herbal remedy for many ailments. You can use it as both an external and internal cold sore treatment. Scientists have found that pathogens will flee from even the smell of garlic.

You should choose to use fresh garlic bulbs when you can. Fresh garlic is the most potent and helpful for treating a cold sore. Next to that, you can use garlic oil and garlic powder from your health store.

Cut or crush a fresh garlic clove and rub it right on the sore. This is an excellent cold sore treatment during any stage of the sore. Apply garlic oil to the scab to help prevent cracking.

You would enjoy much faster results if you would also eat some garlic during your cold sores. Fresh garlic or garlic powder will work well for this. The less you cook it, the better it will be.

If you don’t like eating garlic because of offending others, you can use the odorless garlic products available at the vitamin store. This may not give you as good of results however.

2. LYSINE. A much talked about cold sore treatment, lysine works well for many people. It is primarily an internal cold sore treatment. Applied externally, it is not readily absorbed into the cells where it needs to be.

By increasing lysine in your cells, you crowd out the amino acid arginine. Arginine is the primary protein necessary to create new herpes virus. Without enough arginine, the herpes virus will not be able to replicate and create cold sores.

You can eat high lysine foods or take lysine supplements. By doing so, you will flood the affected cells with lysine and stop the cold sores fast.

Most people who use this cold sore treatment try to get about 2000 to 5000 milligrams per day during an outbreak. As a preventative measure, 500 milligrams per day is common.

3. ZINC. Noted as the healing mineral, zinc is a strong ally in your fight against cold sores. Zinc beats all types of virus activity.

You can buy zinc supplements separately but your best bet is a good multi-vitamin regimen. Make sure the vitamin gives you 15 milligrams of zinc per day.

You must be careful not to go overboard on zinc. Do not exceed 50 milligrams daily for any length of time.

You can use certain forms of zinc (zinc sulfate or zinc gluconate) as a topical treatment to shorten the healing period of your cold sores. These two absorb better than most forms of zinc.

4. AMAZING ALOE VERA. The fluid inside the leaves of a live Aloe Vera plant has amazing skin rejuvenation properties. Apply this fluid liberally to your open cold sores and prepare to be impressed.

You will have the best success if you use fresh gel from a living plant. You will see bottled gel at the stores but it has lost much of its healing power by the bottling process.

Break off an inch or two of leaf and use the leaf to apply the gel without having to get your fingers in it. Keep some pieces in a plastic bag for later use. It will stay effective for a couple days this way.

I hope these cold sore treatment tips will help you as much as they have helped thousands of others around the world.

Not every cold sore treatment will work the same for everyone. You need to give different methods and tactics a try. If you do, you will quickly discover the best cold sore treatment for you.

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How Alcoholism Impacts the Family

Filed Under (Diseases and Conditions) by C-P on 18-10-2008

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by C-P

The impact that alcoholism has on any family can be severe. Whether it’s your wife, husband, father or mother - the effect of alcoholism can ruin a family and cause immense damage.

If you’ve been in a long-term relationship with an alcoholic, codependency is almost inevitable, which essentially means that as a codependent you suffer from relationship addiction.

The relationship is destructive because it will inevitably be one sided and emotionally unfulfilling - but you won’t see or acknowledge what’s going on and so your needs will be forgotten about - and should you have kids they will also be greatly affected because you will have difficulty doing what is best for them because you’re so caught up in the codependent relationship.

Being in a relationship or married to an alcoholic obviously puts massive strain on a relationship anyway - so it may reach a point whether you have to ask whether it’s best for you (and your kids) to actually keep at the marriage or relationship. Separation or divorce may be something that you then begin to seriously consider - and looking at the alcoholism and divorce issue may become a reality.

I grew up in a family where alcoholism caused massive pain and heartbreak so I know how difficult it is to handle and to know what to do. It’s different for every family, but asking yourself things like - how is this effecting the kids, is there abuse involved and how bad is the alcoholism/is it getting worse? - will help you get clearer on the kind of action you need to take.

Eventually though the pleading and empty threats will need to stop - because you will need to take a real stand and say to yourself, ‘this is it’, if anything is going to change.

That’s where performing an alcoholism intervention can potentially have a massive impact. Do it right - and it could well mean the beginning of change -because it could get your husband, wife or partner into treatment.

At the end of the day though, there just isn’t a quick fix solution. It will definitely help speaking to, and meeting others, who have gone through what you have. Al-Anon, is a great support network and excellent place for you to start. The worst thing in the world you can do, is try to keep things covered up and be ashamed of what is happening - so don’t be afraid to reach out and ask for help because there is lots of it out there.

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What Is A Genital Herpes Simplex Virus Attack?

Filed Under (Diseases and Conditions) by John Bear on 18-10-2008

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by John Bear

Herpes is a sexually transmitted disease. It is a very common disease — around 50 million people living in the United States have genital herpes. It is a viral infection caused by the herpes simplex virus. There are basically two types of herpes viruses that can cause herpes. Herpes simplex virus type 1 (HSV-1) mainly causes oral herpes (cold sores). Herpes simplex virus type 2 (HSV-2) tragically causes genital herpes.

Ordinarily HSV-1 causes most of the oral herpes cases and HSV-2 causes most of the genital herpes cases, either of these viruses can cause either oral herpes, or genital herpes.

Once a person gets the genital herpes virus, it stays in their body for life.

What happens if someone has an attack of genital herpes?

With recurrent genital herpes, symptoms can soon come and go. When the herpes virus symptoms appear from time to time, it is called a “herpes outbreak.” Between outbreaks, when the virus is not present on the skin surface, the herpes virus is inactive and when reactivated, it travels to the skin in the genital area. An outbreak usually begins with a warning prodrome. Then, redness, bumps, and blisters may appear. The blisters can burst open and cause sores. There may be just one red, itchy blister or several.

What is a sign of a coming herpes outbreak?

A prodrome is the first stage of an outbreak when you feel symptoms such as pain, burning, itching, tingling, or tenderness. Remember, this is the time to start treatment if you are treating episodically.

Eating These Foods Can Lower the Frequency of Your Herpes Virus Outbreaks

Filed Under (Diseases and Conditions) by John Bear on 16-10-2008

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by John Bear

Genital Herpes is not a medical condition normally associated with diet; however, outbreaks of this painful virus have been linked to two amino acids. While the research is not conclusive, those who suffer from this virus are usually willing to try any remedy that may reduce the frequency and severity of herpes outbreaks.

The herpes virus has two types. Herpes simplex virus 1 (HSV-1) is more common and manifests in cold sores or fever blisters that appear around the mouth. Herpes simplex virus 2 (HSV-2) outbreaks are generally found around the genitals. Both types of the herpes simplex virus can result in painful blisters around either the mouth or genitals.

It is important to be informed that this herpes virus is very contagious. Once you have the herpes simplex virus, you will always have it. While it may remain dormant, it does not go away, except that outbreaks may lessen over time.

Research has shown that people with viral diseases such as herpes can benefit from a diet that is high in lysine and low in arginine. Lysine is an essential amino acid, which means it cannot be synthesized in the body and must be consumed through food, or taken as a vitamin or supplement. This amino acid inhibits viral replication. Experts tell us that a diet rich in lysine may reduce the severity and frequency of herpes virus outbreaks.

Lysine is found in a great many foods, helpful sources include:
* dairy products
* beef
* cheese
* eggs
* potatoes
* soybeans
* fish

Another amino acid associated with the herpes simplex virus is arginine. The herpes simplex virus needs this amino acid to replicate and so a diet lower in arginine can slow down herpes outbreaks. Foods high in arginine content include:
* whole grains
* legumes
* nuts