Medication | Wellness Connection

Getting The Most From Vitamins

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If you are like most Americans then you are certainly not getting the most out of the food you eat. Or like most Americans, there isn’t much in the food you eat. We all know that drive through’s and pizza parlors are not a good source of the vitamins and minerals that you need. If you have been for a recent physical then you were probably told that you aren’t getting everything your need from your diet. The question isn’t why is that the case, but rather what are you going to do about it? If you haven’t thought about getting into the world of vitamins and minerals then you are going to continue to lack the same things in your diet. The most important thing you can do is stock up on some essentials at the store.

Multi-Vitamin

This is your catch all. This is exactly what you need to get to make sure you are getting everything you needs as far as the basic vitamins and minerals. There really isn’t a bad choice to be made here. You can compare labels but truthfully there is really no bad way to go. Just pick one and make sure you take it with a meal every day.

Fish Oil

Fish oil is an essential vitamin in keeping the heart healthy. It is one of the few things you can use if you are a person who doesn’t enjoy sea food. So if you are interested in getting yourself fish oil please do so and be sure to take it once to twice daily.

Vitamin D

Of all the vitamins that you could be deficient on most people lack a little vitamin D. This is a readily available over the counter vitamin so don’t forget to pick some up the next time you are at the pharmacy.

Varying Your Workout Routine

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If you are part of a fitness program then you are probably spending three to five days a week at the gym just trying to get the weight off or keep the weight off. Either way you are probably at a point where what you do at the gym has become so commonplace that you don’t even think about it anymore. The truth is it might be making you a little crazy in the process. It’s natural to be bored by your workout routine. It happens to everyone. What you need to do is fix it before it kills your drive to workout. The worst thing you can do is stopping working out. Even a bad routine is better than no routine at all.

The first thing you should try doing is being creative. If you spend your saturday’s staring at the person on the treadmill in front of you, wondering how not to die of boredom then you should vary it up. Go play basketball instead. It will work up the same sweat and you can get yourself in shape while making friends.

If you are looking for something a little more refreshing than building a sweat in the gym, try your hand at swimming. Swimming is one of the best total body workouts you can get anywhere and if the weather in your area permits, it’s a great activity to try outdoors. Going to the local beach or pool will be a great time and a great reason to buddy up with some friends.

If you are serious about adjusting your workout then you can do it if you just put your mind to it. Don’t make the mistake of waiting until your workout schedule gets too much for you to want to go out in the morning.

Pilates for Fitness

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Pilates fitness exercises work wonders for the health and wellness of people over the age of 50. Increased flexibility, alignment, coordination and core muscle strength are but a few of the benefits from a regular Pilates program. Pilates incorporates a philosophy of mind and body control that is based on the concept and low impact and non-aerobic exercises developed by German-born physicist Joseph Pilates in the 1920s.

One of the beauties of the Pilates approach to fitness lies in its adaptability. Anyone can achieve positive results through either a traditional or modified exercise program provided she commits herself to improved health. Pilates’ focused physical movement and deep breathing improve health and wellness at all fitness levels. Exercises begin with the core back and abdominal muscles (the “powerhouse”) and radiate outward to engage every muscle group in each session.

If followed consistently, Pilates exercises will improve strength and flexibility, muscle and mind coordination, posture, balance, core strength and increase circulation and lung capacity. Quality, rather than quantity, of movement is stressed. For people suffering from conditions like fibromyalgia, Pilates reduces joint pain and muscle tension, improves muscle tone and promotes relaxation. Its gentle movements greatly alleviate widespread pain. However, health medicine experts do recommend that fibromyalgia and chronic fatigue sufferers space their Pilates workouts a few days apart. A greater frequency could trigger a flareup of symptoms.

Fibromyalgia sufferers interested in joining a Pilates program should first consult their physicians, just as they would before beginning any other fitness regimen. A health medicine professional can suggest specific muscle groups that the fibromyalgia patient can target in her exercise program for maximum relief of her symptoms. Gentle workout sessions spaced a few days apart safely keep muscles and joints flexible and pain to a minimum. The improvements in overall health and wellness realized from participation in a Pilates program certainly make the effort worthwhile!

Fitness for Cancer Patients

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Gyms and fitness centers are beginning to introduce programs designed to teach cancer patients to combat recovery-related issues, such as treatment-associated fatigue, muscle tone loss and lymphedema swelling. In fact, the Y.M.C.A. has recently partnered with the Lance Armstrong Foundation to offer cancer patients fitness classes at Y.M.C.A. locations around the country. This follows on the heels of a growing trend among oncologists to prescribe some form of exercise for their patients, at strengths they can tolerate.

Health medicine experts believe that the shift toward fitness for cancer patients began in the mid-1980s, when cultural awareness shifted toward health and wellness in general. Health professionals at that time also began to notice that individuals who ate well and kept their bodies in shape were generally less likely to develop cancer in the first place. Since then, the number of studies on the relationship between fitness and cancer has grown tremendously; the results are astounding.

Some studies found that moderate exercise strengthens cancer patients- immune systems, decreases the incidence of cancer recurrence and lowers cancer mortality rates. Other studies focused on more immediate results, such as less fatigue and increased strength and aerobic capacity. Still others found that fitness activities positively impact cancer patients- moods and outlook on recovery.

A study of prostate cancer patients revealed that a regular walking program can reduce the impact of the radiation and hormone therapy used to treat the disease on bone density. It has already been shown that men who undergo hormone therapy treatments can expect to lose between four and 13 percent of their bone density per year; however, study participants who walked for 30 minutes a day, five days per week, actually maintained or even gained bone density, even while actively undergoing hormone therapy. The men who did not walk lost more than two percent of their bone density over a period of eight to nine weeks. Those are pretty stunning results!

Naturally, any cancer patient should consult with her oncologist before beginning any exercise program. However, in the face of rising evidence, she can be fairly certain that her doctor will support her efforts.

New Study Debunks Italian MS Theory

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According to Italian-based research published in a series of papers, people with multiple sclerosis (MS) have a condition in which venous overflow deviates from the normal flow. This means the flow through veins could go backward or flow slower than normal. Based on the study, test subjects underwent surgery to correct the venous flow, resulting in two fatalities. So far, additional research fails to support the Italian theory, and two studies debunk it.

A German study published results stating the flow of blood to and from the brain doesn’t contribute to MS. To test the theory, researchers used the same ultrasound and technique as the Italian research team. According the data from the German study, there isn’t a difference in venous blood flow for MS patients when compared to a control group of non-MS participants.

A Swedish study by researchers at the Umea University confirms the German findings and claims the flow of spinal fluid in the brain is also not a contributing factor. The information from both the German and Swedish studies calls into question a common hypothesis that MS is the result of vein constrictions, referred to as chronic cerebro-spinal venous insufficiency.

For the Swedish study, researchers worked with colleagues at the Department of Radiation Sciences and the Department of Clinical Neuroscience. The group examined blood flow from the brain to the internal jugular vein by using a magnetic camera and evaluated the flow of spinal fluid to the brain in participants who have MS. Some doctors and researchers aren’t surprised by the latest data. Dr. Peter Sundstrom with the University Hospital of Umea’s Neurology Clinic provided reasons why the Italian theory didn’t make sense. He said patients who have impaired venous outflow because of certain conditions have not developed MS. Many MS patients have testing done with magnetic camera technology, but physicians haven’t noticed a trend of changes in the venous flow.

While it may seem like debunking theories isn’t helpful, the new information can help researchers focus on other areas that might contribute more beneficial information about MS rather than following an incorrect hypothesis.

Find Out How to Treat Bipolar Depression in 40 Minutes

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Research indicates an approximate four percent of the U.S. population will develop the psychiatric condition known as bipolar disorder. The condition is one of the top 10 disorders causing medical disability on a global scale. People who suffer from bipolar disorder often experience depressive symptoms, often to a suicidal degree. While several treatments, including valproate and lithium, can help alleviate the depressive symptoms, some patients fail to respond to current methods. Those who do respond to treatment often suffer through a week of therapy before the treatment relieves the depression.

New research may open the door to a treatment capable of alleviating severe depression in just 40 minutes. In a small study, featuring 18 participants, the National Institute of Mental Health tested the effectiveness of ketamine hydrochloride to treat bipolar depression. Typically, ketamine is an anesthetic. During the study, 71 percent of the people showed significant improvement after taking ketamine, and six percent improved after taking the placebo. Dr. Nancy Diazgranados and her colleagues injected the bipolar individuals on two test days with a two-week waiting period between tests. The participants accessed their depressive symptoms before each injection and continued to access the symptoms at set intervals running from 40 minutes to 14 days.

Organizations, including the National Institutes of Health’s Intramural Research Program, the National Alliance for Research on Schizophrenia and Depression, and the Department of Health and Human Services, funded the study. With the successful data so far, more research may be in the works. Doctors will need to consider the impact of long-term use for ketamine to treat bipolar depression. They will need to evaluate the method of delivery to determine whether injection is the best route or if another delivery method may be available. While no one in the study reported negative side effects, the Food and Drug Administration may require additional testing to determine the risk of long-term use before approving the use of ketamine for the treatment of depression. If the research continues to yield positive results, bipolar patients may find relief in just minutes, reducing the rate of suicide associated with the disorder.

Find Out the Best Hospitals for Your Care

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When you’re struggling with a serious illness like cancer, you need to know the best hospital for treatment. While not everyone can pack up and move, for some people it’s worth it to have access to nationally recognized hospitals and doctors. This is especially true if you haven’t responded to traditional treatments. Top-rated hospitals have research trials and offer experimental treatments.

There are several sources that rank hospital and wellness facilities in the U.S., but one of the most trusted is U.S. News and World Report. Every year it evaluates hospitals based on criteria, including reputation, death rates, and safety for patients. In 2010, it evaluated nearly 5,000 hospitals encompassing 16 specialties. 14 hospitals landed in the top three places for at least six categories.

Out of those 14 hospitals, Johns Hopkins Hospital in Baltimore, Maryland ranked in the top three for eleven categories, making it the number-one-rated hospital in the U.S. It ranked first for ear, nose, and throat; gynecology; neurology and neurosurgery; rheumatology; and urology. It ranked second for kidney disorders and psychiatry and third for diabetes and endocrinology, heart and heart surgery, gastroenterology, and geriatrics. The first-place rank is the 20th consecutive year for Johns Hopkins to come in first. Johns Hopkins Hospital followed its opening in 1889 with the addition of its school of medicine in 1893. The school combined teaching and research with patient care. Today, the hospital continues to lead the way in health care through a complex network of health professionals and facilities.

The Mayo Clinic, located in Rochester, Minnesota, ranked in the top three places for ten categories. It placed first for diabetes and endocrinology, gastroenterology, and kidney disorders; second for gynecology, heart and heart surgery, neurology and neurosurgery, orthopedics, and pulmonology; and third for cancer and urology. The Mayo Clinic is a non-profit medical practice with locations in Rochester, Minnesota; Phoenix and Scottsdale, Arizona; and Jacksonville, Florida. While the clinic offers the same services at each facility, the Rochester one ranked the highest in the evaluation. Like Johns Hopkins, the Mayo Clinic blends patient care with medical research and education.

Denver Gears Up for Medical Marijuana Business

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The use of marijuana for medical purposes is a topic of hot debate for many individuals, but with states beginning to approve the natural product for wellness, more people are beginning to recognize the benefits of the substance when used for medical purposes. Research on the benefits of marijuana when used for medical purposes show practical applications for people who suffer from a variety of issues, including weight loss, pain, vomiting, glaucoma, arthritis, insomnia, Tourette’s syndrome, seizures, dystonia, and some mental health conditions.

Most of the states approving medical marijuana view the substance as a form of treatment for conditions and see it as a beneficial option for people who have failed to respond to traditional forms of medication. In some cases, medical marijuana costs less than pharmaceutical medications. The majority of these states, including Colorado, have set into place strict regulations to oversee the business of medical marijuana. For example, Colorado is in the process of clarifying a law requiring business owners to have residency in the state for at least two years prior to opening a medical marijuana business.

Denver’s announcement that the city will allow medical marijuana business within city limits has generated thousands of applications for business licenses. Of the 2,059 forms Denver has received, 717 are for dispensaries; 1,071 are for growers; and 271 are for marijuana product makers. Once the state receives all applications currently in the mail and received prior the deadline, the total may go up.

Even with the high numbers, there are many opponents to approving the use of medical marijuana. Some suburbs of Denver, including Broomfield, are not allowing marijuana businesses within their limits, which could cause trouble with enforcement. Despite the opposition, it’s clear from the number of applications that medical marijuana will be big business in Colorado. On average applicants paid $3,400 to file for the licenses and have generated over $7 million in fees.