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  • Type 2 Diabetes – An Oral Drug That May Protect Against Heart Failure As Well As Lower Blood Sugar

    Type 2 Diabetes – An Oral Drug That May Protect Against Heart Failure As Well As Lower Blood Sugar

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    Dapagliflozin (Farxiga) is an SGLT2 inhibitor, given in the form of a pill for people who have been diagnosed with Type 2 diabetes and is used along with diet and exercise and sometimes with other medications. It works by making the kidneys secrete more sugar into the urine. According to a study reported on in October of 2018 in the journal Cardiovascular Diabetology, the drug is also helpful for treating heart failure, one complication of Type 2 diabetes.

    Heart failure takes place when the left side of the heart is unable to take in blood from the lungs and send it out fast enough to the rest of the body.

    The heart is made up of muscle tissue which grows when it is stressed. Inward growth of this muscle makes for a smaller space to accommodate blood flowing in from the lungs. This causes the heart to fail, filling the lungs with fluid from the blood.

    In 2017 an estimated 26 million people worldwide had heart failure. In Type 2 diabetes high blood sugar levels damage the heart and blood vessels, and high blood pressure can result. It is vital to bring down the blood pressure reading to a healthy level to lower the strain on the heart. Heart attacks may not cause chest pain in people with Type 2 diabetes because nerve damage reduces sensation. That makes preventing heart disease even more imperative.

    Investigators at Kobe University and several other research facilities in Japan looked at 58 people who had Type 2 diabetes and who also had heart failure. Dapagliflozin at a dose of 5 mg / day was added to their usual regimen. After six months the muscle tissue comprising the left side of the diabetic's heart decreased in size. Brain natriuretic peptide (BNP), a protein secreted by the heart cells in response to being stretched too far, lowered in the participants whose BNP was extremely high. From this information, the researchers concluded dapagliflozin could be helpful for improving heart failure in those who have Type 2 diabetes.

    The natriuretic peptide is effective in making the kidneys secrete potassium into the kidneys, lowering the blood pressure and the amount of blood in the heart and blood vessels.

    Dapagliflozin is given once a day, either with or without food. It is prescribed as part of an overall treatment plan that includes diet and exercise. Side effects include …

    • urinary tract yeast infections,
    • a stuffy nose with a sore throat,
    • frequently urinating in more copious amounts and at night,
    • dizziness or light-headedness,
    • ketoacidosis (check for ketones in urine),
    • nausea and vomiting,
    • feeling very tired,
    • having difficulty with breathing,
    • abdominal pain, and
    • kidney injury.

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    Source by Beverleigh H Piepers

    Views: 1

  • Drugs – An Ugly and Temporary Escape From Reality

    Drugs – An Ugly and Temporary Escape From Reality

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    People that use drugs to cope with life do so because of what the drugs do to them. Most drug addicts have experienced pain from something that has happened to them in the past and the drugs, for a short time, have made that pain go away. Once they realize that the drugs do in fact make them feel better is when the abuse begins to happen.

    Most drugs do a great job of taking reality out of the minds of the user. They feel free once the drugs begin to kick in. They don’t care about the past or anything of that pain that has haunted them and they feel invincible living in the moment. The only problem is that each time the addict does the drug, he or she needs to do even more of it to get to the same feeling.

    What drug abusers don’t understand is that the drugs don’t take away from the problem, they only add to it. The reality of life never goes away it is just masked and distorted due to the effect that the drugs have. In order to overcome this life full of pain and hurt is not to go to drugs for relief, but to deal with life head on. And this is what the drug rehab places do so well.

    Drug rehab centers are there to help the addict overcome their physical addiction to the drug or drugs. They then confine in the individual to learn that the drugs are in fact not their best escape but just a temporary release that compounds their own situation for the worst. True relief from the pain that haunts them is to see the past for what it really is, something that happened before and is now out of everyone’s control. Once they realize that they can’t change something that has happened, they can then learn to live life from this point on.

    The drug rehab centers goal is to educate the addict about their illness so they can understand how to control their mind and eventually learn to live a productive life. They hope to instill in them a confidence that any goal they set to achieve can be accomplished no matter what their situation was or where they came from.

    Drugs are in ugly escape from reality that gives the user an invincible feeling for a short amount of time. Drug addicts too can change but first have to become knowledgeable about their situation and then want to make the change.

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    Source by Wade Davis

    Views: 1

  • The Rise of High School Drug Testing

    The Rise of High School Drug Testing

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    School districts, much like employers, have begun to implement drug-testing policies. Many school officials cite statistics related to school performance and safety among drug users. Whether the drug testing acts as a method of screening students or as a method of deterrence from drug use, the popularity of this practice has increased significantly in many school systems.

    Supporters of high school drug testing often cite governmental statistics. These numbers show a steadily growing number of teenage drug users each year. Those in favor of mandatory drug testing suggest that such measures may be effective in keeping teenagers from using drugs. Fear of facing expulsion from school or punishment from their parents may be a good deterrent for high school students.

    Although some officials would like to see a policy of mandatory testing of every student, most drug screenings require parental consent. Most schools require that there be probable cause or reasonable suspicion before requesting a drug test. If a teacher notices a student who appears aloof or has red and glassy eyes, he or she may request a drug test.

    More common than random or suspicion-based high school drug testing is the testing of high school athletes. In nearly every school district, students who wish to compete in school sports must sign a release for a drug screening. This has become common in schools because of statistics showing that male high school athletes have a greater risk of drug abuse. These facts, accompanied by the fear of injury during competitions, have fueled the debate and existence of drug testing among athletes.

    Opponents of drug testing claim that it is a violation of privacy to require students to take drug tests. Privacy advocates suggest that with requests for mandatory drug screenings comes the potential for abuse. A few cases have existed in which a student was randomly searched and found to be in possession of drug paraphernalia. In these cases, the students were either suspended from school or sent to drug rehabilitation centers; it is often the case that these students were productive in school and were not necessarily considered to be problem students. Regardless of these isolated cases, many school districts defend the benefits of drug testing. Although formal statistics do not prove the theory, many educational experts believe that high school drug testing deters students from using or abusing illegal drugs.

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    Source by Damian Sofsian

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  • Different Types of Drug Rehab

    Different Types of Drug Rehab

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    Drug rehab is a broad topic as there are many forms of drug rehab. Which type would suit a person with an addition would depend on the level of dependence, the type of drug addicted to, and their social situation. Some of the drug rehab centers offer medicine that will help to relieve the withdrawal symptoms, methods to address the underlying reason of additions, and intensive counseling. Many drug rehab centers offer out-patient and in-patient treatment.

    Generally, every form of rehab starts in a medical locale. This is so professional health care staff can monitor the patient during chemical detoxification. This is when the drug leaves their system chemically and the patient no longer is dependent physically on the drug. Under the health care professional supervision, the patient's side-effects can be eased with medication, sleep, and proper nutrition. This is an interventionary stage and it is seldom enough to allow them to recover completely from their drug addiction because there is no psychological component.

    In-patient treatment

    This kind of rehab provides supervision on a full time basis in an environment that is tightly controlled. The patient can live in a community outreach center, psychiatric cent, or a facility that is connected with a hospital. The drug rehab center provides support with housing and meal plans. This form of drug rehab will usually involve an interventionary program. This can be as few as thirty days along with the belief that the patient will continue treatment as an out-patient.

    Out-patient treatment

    This type of rehab relies on addicts voluntarily attending treatment as an out-patient. This means that the patients will work and live independently, attend meeting, classes, or counseling sessions that are designed to give them new coping mechanisms to manage stress so they do not return to drugs. It includes a 12-step program like what is used with Alcoholics Anonymous and has a strong spiritual center. This form of drug rehab can be casual or during group therapy with a counselor trained in drug addictions in a out-patient setting.

    Underlying causes

    Some drug rehab centers try to address the underlying causes of repeated relapse and addition.

    • Estrangement from friends and family
    • Not having a support system
    • Little to no employment skills
    • Living in an area that is united entirely by those that use drugs
    • Mental illness

    Holistic approach to drug rehab

    With this approach there are community centers and half-way houses where they can receive practical advice, acquire job skills, and sufficient time to remove themselves completely from old acquaintances that are still into drugs. Many times, they will allow them to stay six to twelve months. When they leave they are confident they can manage on their own without going back to drugs.

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    Source by Lora Davis

    Views: 1

  • Digital Medicine Platform for Treatment of Cognitive Disorder

    Digital Medicine Platform for Treatment of Cognitive Disorder

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    Akili, a pioneer in therapeutic prescription digital medicine has closed successfully it’s $55 million financing Series C trial of medicine. This funding follows a successful trial, including study, developing and testing a novel digital medicine named AKL- T01. This flagship product of Akili aimed to treat a type of cognitive disorder- attention deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD). Once approved and launched commercially, it would be the first digital and standalone therapeutic medicine for ADHD. Company’s other product in the pipeline and research, AKL-T02 will treat autism spectral disorder (ASD) or what simply known as autism.

    Autism refers to another type of cognitive disorder, particularly in children, making them difficult to interact socially. The repetitive behavior and underdeveloped speech and verbal communication render them vulnerable in society. The reason behind autism could be genetic as well as environmental influence.

    The above news has brought in a new ray of hope for an autism patient where there is no specific traditional medicine is available for its cure. This new development has the potential for treating this disorder, probably with more efficiency.

    This funding will also help to advance products in the pipeline for treating multi sclerosis (MS) and depression. After approval by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA), it will be launched commercially for the patients. According to Akili AKL-T01 would be a standalone treatment for ADHD.

    The company’s founder and CEO Eddie Martucci is quite happy with the response of investors and welcomed the financing. He said this financing indicates faith of people in his company’s potential in digital medicines and growth. According to him, the company will continue to grow and supply novel solutions in the redefined healthcare sector.

    Akini Interactive is a company who believes in transforming healthcare through its digital therapeutics medicine solving Neuro-cognitive disorders. It believes in targeting specific cognitive area or nerve which has been suppressed by the dysfunction. The treatment includes, interestingly, not any pill, but customized action video games for patients to play.

    Video games are designed by neuroscientists and entertainer engineered with algorithms to treat a cognitive disorder like depression. According to the company, highly-interactive and highly engaging games provide a therapeutic experience to patients which actually benefit them. Through high-end therapeutics interactive video games, the specific regions of the brain could become functional which has been suppressed by the disorder, improving the condition of the patient. There would second by second tracking of patient’s cognitive response and data available for any improvement in the patient’s condition.

    AKL- T01 if approved by the FDA and then it would certainly indicate towards the acceptance of new healthcare solutions for patients. It has the capability to transform the whole healthcare process and system in coming years. This funding will boost the confidence of other investors, which are planning to invest or come together for such digital medicine research and development in the future and those patients who are searching for new areas to treat disorders like autism could be more than happy to read such positive news.

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    Source by Shalini Madhav

    Views: 0

  • Heal Your Life Or Cure it – The Difference Between Healing and Curing

    Heal Your Life Or Cure it – The Difference Between Healing and Curing

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    We often hear of prayers for successful healing and other stories of people who have had miraculous cures. Recently I learned a friend who'd had tumors in several places throughout his body had learned that the tumors were gone completely. His doctors were stunned and couldn't explain it.

    While that was very good news, it also may have demonstrated the power of healing prayers. My friend had asked our group to pray for his healing and we did. But of course, we can never be sure how much our prayers contributed to the disappearance of the tumors and how much his own wonderful attitude and philosophy of life and health was responsible for the miracle.

    While we prayed, treated, meditated, for healing, what we really wanted was a cure. There is a very big difference between curing and healing, although the lines between them often are blurred. When I pray and meditate for a loved one who has a problem, whether physical, emotional, spiritual, or otherwise, I start by asking for healing.

    To me, healing means reaching a point of wholeness and peace, no matter what the physical condition or situation may be. I believe it is possible to have a terminal illness, but to be healed though the illness eventually takes the life. On the other hand, to be cured means that the illness goes away or is "fixed."

    Sometimes a person who survives something as serious as cancer, then needs time to heal, even though he or she may have been cured, like my friend was cured of his tumors. Healing will mean taking time to think about what happened and to reach conclusions about life and death and to consider the lessons learned by the experience. While a cure may be found in a short period of time, healing can take a longer time but lead to a better quality of life.

    Healing is closure, but does not mean that the lessons learned are over or that more cannot be learned. Healing leads to personal and spiritual growth. Curing means that we get to live longer and to work on healing. I sometimes think that we spend a lifetime healing.

    While curing comes from an outside source, such as a wonder drug, healing always comes from the same source, from within. When a loved one is sick or dying, first we want a cure, so that we do not lose that one, but ultimately, we realize that death is inevitable and what we really all need in the end, is healing. From a place of wholeness we can face all of life's challenges.

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    Source by Wil Langford

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  • What You Need To Know About Passing A Drug Test

    What You Need To Know About Passing A Drug Test

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    Most professional athletes live with the reality that they can be required to take random drug tests to rule out the presence of prohibited substances. Testing also occurs in the workplace as employers try to ensure that their employees are complying with the rules. If you work in an environment where random tests are carried out, it helps to have some information on how to pass. The fact is that most people get into situations that can sometimes get them into trouble.

    Dealing with Random Tests

    If you know in advance that drug testing is scheduled, there are things that you can do to make sure that you come up clean. The problem comes up if you do not have prior notice. When you are notified that you are about to be examined, it may be necessary to take some remedial action. Trying to accomplish this without arousing suspicion can be difficult and it leaves you with limited options. Random examinations have led to people trying to come up with different ideas on how to pass one.

    Blood and Saliva Testing

    It is important to know the different methods that are often administered in the workplace and sporting events. The most common ones are Blood Testing, where blood is drawn before being sent to the lab to test for certain drugs and Saliva Drug Test, where the saliva is examined. The saliva test involves swabbing the inside cheek using a cotton swab and its simplicity makes it a favorite in the work environment. The testing can detect drug usage in the past few days.

    Urine and Hair Testing

    Urine drug testing or urinalysis involves the collection of urine that is then examined for temperature and creatinine levels. The urine test is usually validity or first screen check and it is often followed by additional procedure using a new sample. A Hair Follicle Drug Test involves examining strands of hair to determine if drugs are present in the body. Hair follicle testing is hard to fool because any signs of toxins remain in the hair for months due to slow hair growth.

    Detoxifying the system

    People try different methods to pass such tests and these include urine substitution and dilution. These methods are difficult to get away with especially when the procedure is random. One option that can work is the process of detoxifying the system. This will depend on how much time you have but it is the most reliable solution. If you have a small window of opportunity, there are detox products in the market that can prove to be very effective.

    There are different products that claim to be able to remove traces of drugs from the system. Research the options and get as much information as you can before using any products.

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    Source by Sila Rodney

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  • Everything You Need to Know About Holistic Doctors

    Everything You Need to Know About Holistic Doctors

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    Holistic medical doctors combine the modern scientific treatment with complementary or alternative medicine like massage, acupuncture and chiropractic. The holistic doctor looks at everything and then gives a pharmaceutical drug option as well as an alternative treatment that could include homeopathic remedy. Homeopathic treatment isn’t something many doctors and institutions embrace, but it is under the umbrella of holistic medicine.

    A holistic doctor will most often encourage some diagnostic testing like hormone levels and adrenal function. This is done so as to try and find if there are any underlying causes that have led to an imbalance. The whole person is considered in the whole healing process so as to have health at its optimal by having balance.

    The practitioners in this area are of the belief that a human has parts that are interdependent and when one isn’t working as it should, all the others are affected. This means that if there is any kind of imbalance regardless of the type, it affects the overall health to a great extent.

    A good example is a person suffering from migraines. If they decide to visit this kind of doctor, they may not work out with only medications. The doctor will take time to look at all the possible factors that could be causing the headaches. He will also search for any other health problems that could cause the migraines including personal problems, stress, sleep habits and even diet. Treatment can involve using drugs as well as modifications to one’s lifestyle to make sure that the headaches don’t recur.

    The principles

    Holistic medicine also believes that unconditional support and love are very powerful healers and that a person is actually responsible for their own wellbeing and health. Other principles are:

    • The patient isn’t a disease but a person
    • Everyone has got innate healing powers
    • Treatment should involve the fixing, of course not just dealing with the symptoms.
    • There is a need for a team approach for healing to be effective and it should involve the doctor and patient and should address all the different aspects of personal life of the patient using a wide range of practices in health care.

    Types of treatment

    Different treatment techniques are applied to help patients to be responsible and to achieve their optimal health. The approaches depend on the training of the practitioner and they can include:

    • Education regarding self-care and lifestyle changes so as to promote wellness, including spiritual counseling, relationship counseling, and psychotherapy and even exercise among many others.
    • Alternative and complementary therapies including naturopathy, massage therapy, homeopathy, chiropractic care and acupuncture. And so on
    • Surgical procedures and modern medicine.

    Where to find a holistic doctor?

    Holistic providers can include homeopathic doctors, chiropractors, Naturopathic doctors, osteopathy doctors and even medical doctors. There are different associations that can help you get in touch with such a doctor depending on where you are based. There are online lists that can help you in finding someone close to you.

    Don’t settle for the first person you find. This is a profession like others, meaning there are people who do a better job than others. A recommendation from, a trusted source like someone close to you or a health organization that is credible could be a great idea.

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    Source by Shalini Madhav

    Views: 0

  • Cost of Alcohol Abuse is Far Greater Than Drug Abuse in California, Says Study

    Cost of Alcohol Abuse is Far Greater Than Drug Abuse in California, Says Study

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    The misuse and abuse of alcohol and drugs can have various repercussions, not only on the individuals doing that and their families, but also on the society as a whole. One of its major consequences is financial burden. Besides causing health complications and raising concerns for public safety, alcohol and drugs cost the United States billions of dollars every year.

    Like the impact, the economic cost of these substances varies immensely from one place to another. In fact, the cost of alcohol misuse is relatively far greater than the cost of drug misuse in most counties in the U.S. Since studies related to economic and social costs of alcohol and drug abuse are generally conducted at the state and national levels, this allows policymakers to better assess the problems within their jurisdiction and come up with countermeasures.

    Similarly, a study, led by author Ted Miller and conducted at the Prevention Research Center of Pacific Institute for Research and Evaluation, sought to find out the consequences of alcohol and drug misuse in California and was published in the journal Alcoholism: Clinical and Experimental Research (ACER).

    Alcohol abuse cost California $129 billion in 2010

    The study highlighted the eye-opening economic burden of alcohol and drug related problems on the Californian taxpayer’s money across all 58 counties and 50 midsized cities. It was found that alcohol-related problems are more prevalent and costlier than drug-related problems in California. Moreover, both costs and repercussions varied greatly from one place to another. Some other findings are as follows:

    • While alcohol-related problems cost $129 billion in 2010, which comes to $3,450 for every Californian, drug-related problems cost $44 billion in the same year.
    • The highest per capita cost ($7,819) of alcohol problem was more than three times the lowest per capita cost ($2,588). Among the counties with drug-related problems the per capita cost varied between $608 and $3,786.
    • The rates of alcohol and drug-related problems were found to be higher in the Californian cities. The highest per capita cost of alcohol-related problems in a city was $10,734, 11 times higher than the city with the lowest costs. Among the cities, the highest per capita cost of drug-related problems was $7,159, almost 19 times higher than the city with the lowest cost.

    Correspondingly, the breakup of alcohol and drug-related costs are as follows:

    • Crashes and accidents under the influence of alcohol cost $26 billion in 2010.
    • Of the $10 billion cost borne due to violence associated to substance use, 73 percent was attributed to alcohol, while the remaining 27 percent was attributed to drugs.
    • Of the $127 billion expenditure incurred due to other illnesses and injuries, 73 percent of the costs resulted from alcohol-related problems. Similarly, 82 percent of the $4 billion cost incurred due to nonviolent crimes were attributed to drug abuse.
    • 74 percent of $2 billion incurred due to treatment expenditure was attributed to drug-related problems.

    The study authors believe that the findings can assist policymakers and help the state in planning and allocating resources for substance abuse problems. In addition, this study provides a crucial tool for predicting and averting alcohol and drug-related problems, as well as a crucial means to plot localized cost estimates.

    According to Dr. Miller, “Efficient funding of substance abuse prevention, enforcement and treatment hinges upon understanding the variation of alcohol and other drug problems from place to place. Because estimated costs combine data across many health and social issues, they provide an effective, comprehensible, and comprehensive measure for use in understanding how communities shape their distinctive social environments and for monitoring the effectiveness of our intervention strategies.”

    Avoid the death trap

    In 2010, problems related to alcohol and drugs in California led to 22,281 and 5,533 deaths, respectively. In addition, crimes related to alcohol and drugs were responsible for 350,000 and 164,000 deaths, respectively. These large and unsettling numbers are pertaining to only one of the 50 U.S. states, signaling a far greater magnitude of the problem.

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    Source by Susan Navarez

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