Sugar Editorial Picks
Dec 15, 2008 -
- Apple has just released its latest OS X update — 10.5.6, which offers many improvements and fixes. — Gizmodo
- Here's a pretty sweet deal from Best Buy. If you purchase a second-generation iPod Touch (8GB), you'll get a $50 gift card in return.
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Other Search Results
Oct 08, 2008 -
In This Report
- Highlights
- Introduction
- Symptoms
- Prognosis
- Risk Factors
- Diagnosis
- Treatment
- Medications
- Surgery
- Rehabilitation
- Resources
- References
HEALTH GUIDE REFERENCE FROM A.D.A.M
Highlights
Drug Approval
In 2006, the FDA approved the use of clopidogrel (Plavix) for patients who have had a STEMI heart attack and who will not be having angioplasty. A STEMI is a very severe type of heart attack caused by sudden and total artery blockage.
Angioplasty and Stents
Surgery with angioplasty and stents that is performed more than 3 days after a heart attack offers no advantage over standard drug therapy for clinically stable patients, indicates an important 2006 New England Journal of Medicine study.
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Oct 08, 2008 -
In This Report
- Highlights
- Introduction
- Causes
- Risk Factors
- Diagnosis
- Medications
- Complementary and Alternati...
- Exercise and Physical Thera...
- Surgery
- Other Treatments
- Specific Treatment for Acut...
- Specific Treatment for Chro...
- Prognosis
- Complications
- Prevention
- Resources
- References
HEALTH GUIDE REFERENCE FROM A.D.A.M
Highlights
Surgery
Kyphoplasty, a surgical technique used to treat spinal fractures, does not improve a person's back pain or quality of life, according to a review published in 2006 by a nonprofit health services research agency. Kyphoplasty should only be done if bed rest, medicines, and physical therapy do not relieve back pain.
Ultrasound
Therapeutic ultrasound uses sound waves to deliver gentle vibrations to an area of the body.
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Oct 08, 2008 -
In This Report
- Highlights
- Introduction
- Risk Factors
- Symptoms
- Diagnosis
- Outlook
- Staging and Treatment Guide...
- Treatment Options by Stage...
- Radiation Treatments
- Chemotherapy
- Transplantation
- Immunotherapy
- Resources
- References
HEALTH GUIDE REFERENCE FROM A.D.A.M
Highlights
Drug Warning
Chemotherapy can cause anemia, a drop in red blood cell (hemoglobin) levels. Erythropoiesis-stimulating drugs, which boost the production of red blood cells, are administered to counteract this complication. However, these drugs, including epoietin alfa (Epogen, Procrit) and darbepoietin alfa (Aranesp), can also cause serious side effects and adversely affect survival when hemoglobin levels are raised too high.
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Oct 08, 2008 -
In This Report
- Highlights
- Introduction
- Cholesterol's Effect on the...
- Cholesterol's Effect on the...
- Risk Factors
- Symptoms
- Diagnosis
- Lifestyle Changes
- Treatment
- Resources
- References
HEALTH GUIDE REFERENCE FROM A.D.A.M
Highlights
New Guidelines for Children and Adolescents
In 2007, the American Heart Association (AHA) established new guidelines for assessing and treating high cholesterol in children and adolescents. According to the AHA’s scientific statement:
- LDL (“bad") cholesterol goals for children should be 190 mg/dL or less for children without heart disease risk factors and 160 mg/dL or less for children with heart disease risk factors.
- Children who are overweight or obese, as well as those with a family history of high cholesterol and heart disease, should get their cholesterol levels checked.
- For overweight and obese children with cholesterol imbalances, diet changes and exercise should be tried before drug treatment. For children with cholesterol imbalances who have a family history of cholesterol and heart problems, statins are the best first-line drug therapy.
Herbs and Supplements
- Garlic, whether raw or in supplement form, does not help lower LDL in patients with moderately high LDL levels, according to a 2007 Archives of Internal Medicine Study.
- Policosanol, a dietary supplement derived from sugar cane, has no effect on cholesterol, indicates a 2006 Journal of the American Medical Association (JAMA) study.
Diet Plans
- In a 2007 JAMA comparison study of four diet plans (Atkins, Ornish, Zone, and LEARN), the low-carbohydrate Atkins diet was best at raising HDL (“good cholesterol”) levels and lowering triglyceride levels, but did not affect LDL levels.
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Oct 08, 2008 -
In This Report
- Highlights
- Introduction
- Causes
- Symptoms
- Complications
- Risk Factors
- Diagnosis
- Dietary Factors
- Symptom Management
- Medications
- Surgery
- Resources
- References
HEALTH GUIDE REFERENCE FROM A.D.A.M
Highlights
Biologic Drugs
- In February 2007, the FDA approved adalimumab (Humira) for treatment of adult patients with moderate-to-severe Crohn’s disease. Adalimumab and infliximab (Remicade) are now the two biologic drugs approved for Crohn’s disease. Infliximab is approved for treating both adults and children.
- As of August 2007, the FDA was considering approving natalizumab (Tysabri) for moderate-to-severe Crohn’s disease in patients who have not responded to, or cannot tolerate, other therapies.
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Oct 08, 2008 -
In This Report
- Highlights
- Introduction
- Causes
- Symptoms
- Risk Factors
- Complications
- Diagnosis
- Treatment
- Lifestyle Changes
- Medications
- Conservative Surgery
- Hysterectomy
- Resources
- References
HEALTH GUIDE REFERENCE FROM A.D.A.M
Highlights
Drug Approval
Women with menstrual pain due to endometriosis have a new treatment option. In May 2007, the FDA approved Lybrel, a continuous-dose oral contraceptive that completely eliminates menstrual periods. Lybrel, which contains low doses of the estrogen estradiol and the progesterone levonorgestrol, is taken 365 days a year with active pills.
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Oct 08, 2008 -
In This Report
- Highlights
- Introduction
- Symptoms
- Causes
- Prevention
- Diagnosis
- Prognosis
- Treatment
- Surgery
- Medications
- Radiation Therapy
- Resources
- References
HEALTH GUIDE REFERENCE FROM A.D.A.M
Highlights
Ovarian Cancer Symptoms
Even early-stage ovarian cancer can produce symptoms, according to a 2007 consensus statement issued by the American Cancer Society, the Gynecologic Cancer Foundation, and the Society of Gynecologic Oncologists. Because ovarian cancer can grow very rapidly, early detection is extremely important. Contact your doctor (preferably a gynecologist) if you experience these symptoms on a daily basis for more than a few weeks:
- Bloating
- Pelvic or abdominal pain
- Difficulty eating or feeling full quickly
- Urgent or frequent urination
Hormone Replacement Therapy (HRT) Increases Ovarian Cancer Risk
- Post-menopausal women who use hormone replacement therapy (HRT) for more than 5 years are 20% more likely to develop ovarian cancer than women who do not use HRT, suggests a 2007 study in the Lancet.
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Oct 08, 2008 -
In This Report
- Highlights
- Introduction
- Symptoms
- Causes
- Risk Factors
- Prognosis
- Prevention
- Diagnosis
- Treatment
- Surgery
- Resources
- References
HEALTH GUIDE REFERENCE FROM A.D.A.M
Highlights
Overview
Several medical conditions can increase the risk for, or even cause, carpal tunnel syndrome (CTS). Diabetes, hypothyroidism, rheumatoid arthritis, osteoarthritis, obesity, and pregnancy are the main conditions associated with CTS. Many of the underlying diseases that contribute to the development of CTS are also associated with more severe forms of CTS.
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Oct 08, 2008 -
In This Report
- Highlights
- Introduction
- Causes
- Symptoms
- Conditions with Similar Sym...
- Risk Factors
- Diagnosis
- Prognosis
- Lifestyle Changes
- Medications
- Alternative and Complementa...
- Surgery
- Resources
- References
HEALTH GUIDE REFERENCE FROM A.D.A.M
Highlights
Pain Medications
- Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) and COX-2 inhibitors work equally well for pain management, but both types of drugs increase the risk for heart attacks, according to an important report from the U.S. Agency for Healthcare Quality and Research.
- The prescription NSAID diclofenac (Voltaren, Cataflam) may present a higher risk for heart attack than other NSAIDs, suggests a 2006 Journal of the American Medical Association study.
- Standard osteoarthritis medications provide moderate pain relief for only 2 - 3 weeks, suggests a 2007 review in the European Journal of Pain.
Acupuncture
Acupuncture may be helpful for people with knee and hip osteoarthritis, according to several 2006 studies:
- An Annals of Internal Medicine study of 1,007 people with chronic osteoarthritis knee pain indicated that patients who received acupuncture plus standard care had greater improvement than those who received only physical therapy and anti-inflammatory drugs.
- An Arthritis and Rheumatism study of 3,663 patients with chronic osteoarthritis knee or hip pain suggested that acupuncture plus routine care can provide significant improvements in pain relief and quality of life. In both studies, the benefits of acupuncture were sustained for up to 6 months after treatment completion.
Exercise and Knee Osteoarthritis
Weight-bearing exercise (walking, jogging) neither prevents nor increases the risk of knee osteoarthritis in healthy middle-aged and elderly people, suggests a 2007 study in Arthritis and Rheumatism.
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