Getting Into Holistic Treatment For Hypertension

September 30th, 2009



Hypertension is considered to be a silent killer. And as American population increases and ages, cases of hypertension also rise. Today, almost 60 million Americans have hypertension. This alarming rate of hypertension cases has led many experts and doctors to come up with a more holistic treatment for hypertension.

In the past decade, various organizations have strongly recommended the insistent reduction of blood pressure among patients as the leading and primary approach to treating hypertension. However, a meeting in 2000 of various cardiologists emphasized the more updated and holistic treatment for hypertension. It further stressed that decreasing and maintaining appropriate blood pressure is not enough. A holistic treatment to hypertension must include a variety of strategies that will prevent further damage to highly susceptible organs like the eyes, brain, heart and kidneys.

This holistic treatment for hypertension indicated that systolic blood pressure should be the primary figure for reviewing and evaluating hypertension cases in middle-aged and older patients. Furthermore, blood pressure must be kept under 140/90 mm Hg reading for the rest of the patient’s lifetime to prevent vulnerable organ damage. This holistic treatment for hypertension also required hypertensive patients with diabetes, kidney disorder and heart failure to strengthen blood pressure management and control. Support for blood pressure targets that align with age was dismissed.

Medications with anti-hypertensive drugs or agents were taken into consideration. As more and more products and drugs become available in the market, patients become more prone to drug misuse. A holistic treatment for hypertension would mean stringent use of prescription and control for over-the-counter anti-hypertensives.

Experts like William Cushman of the University of Tennessee asserted that improvement of lifestyle comprises a holistic treatment for hypertension. According to Cushman, lifestyle change can lower blood pressure. A good exercise consisting of walking for 30 minutes can help decrease blood pressure from 5 mm Hg to 10 mm Hg. Maintaining a manageable and ideal weight must also coincide with the patient’s age and height.

It is said that a weight loss of 5 to 10 kilos can lower blood pressure especially those who are in Stage 1 hypertension. Limit of alcohol intake to two glasses for men weekly and one glass for women every week will also improve condition. Prohibition of smoking and large consumption of sodium, calorie and fat rich foods also make up a holistic treatment for hypertension.

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Why Sinusitis Affects Your Vision

September 25th, 2009



Sinusitis and vision problems can be very much related to one another. Many people often find their vision is impeded every time their sinus flares up. Watery eyes, blurred vision, and frequent dull eye pain are all associated with sinusitis. Bacterial sinusitis accounts for more than 15% of all sinus infections and sinusitis vision problems. Depending on the sinus that is infected, multiple symptoms may occur. The main reason why people experience blurred vision is that all the four sinus regions are located close to the eye. The maxillary sinus is located in the cheek, the ethmoid sinus between the eyes and nose, the sphenoid sinus behind the ethmoid sinus, and the frontal sinus is located in the forehead above the eyes.

A sinus infection may occur in any or all of the sinus regions. Vision is most likely to be impaired when the infection is in the ethmoid or sphenoid sinus regions. Blurred, and in some cases, double vision are common in these cases. However, the symptoms do not last for very long. In rare cases of ethmoid sinusitis, the pressure exerted on the optic nerve causes a patient to lose eye movement. In other cases, an abscess forms around the eyes due to prolong sinus infection, leading to permanent eye damage without timely medical intervention.

In young males with sinusitis, vision is affected due to the inflammation of the frontal and ethmoid sinuses, in a condition known as osteomyelitis. The inflammation may spread to the inner eye socket and occurs mainly in the frontal sinus region above the eyes. However, this is a rare phenomenon. Common symptoms of osteomyelitis include watering of the eyes, squinting, and severe pain. In a bacterial infection that causes ethmoid sinusitis vision can also be impaired and is accompanied by severe pain in the midline of the face. In chronic cases an orbital infection may occur, which spreads to the cavernous venous sinuses next to the pituitary glands causing an abscess or meningitis. Blood clots may also occur in those suffering from ethmoid and frontal sinus infections. The most common symptom is dilation of the pupils. The blood clot travels to the venous structures around the eye thereby causing impaired vision. However, these symptoms are rare and occur only in chronic cases.

With infections caused by sinusitis, vision is affected mainly due to the drainage of mucus being blocked. The nasolacrimal duct that is right next to the entries sinus areas get blocked due to the inflamed sinus leading to excessive water and moisture in the eyes and subsequent sinusitis vision problems.

The nasal saline irrigation technique with the use of a Neti pot is among the best ways to treat sinusitis vision problems. This therapy involves the use of a salt and water solution to flush out the nasal cavity. The Neti pot is a ceramic pot that has been in use in ayurvedic and yoga as a form of natural medication. Several ear, nose, and throat surgeons recommend nasal irrigation to clear the nasal passage. This helps to thin the mucus and flush it out of the nasal passages. The cilia, which are tiny hair-like structures that line the nasal and sinus cavities wave back and forth, pushing the mucus back into the throat or to the nose so that it can be blown out.

It is advisable to seek the help of a medical professional in case of any sinusitis vision problems.

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Primary Pulmonary Hypertension Complication

September 21st, 2009



The Complications associated with Primary Pulmonary Hypertension can lead to fatal consequences in patients afflicted by this progressive lung disorder. However, there is no reason for despair. The situation may be grave but a variety of treatments are now available, aiming at prevention or even curing of Primary Pulmonary Hypertension-related Complications.

A serious Complication may be blood clots. Blood clot formation where there is no need for it can turn fatal. If there are clots in the small arteries of the lungs then this can pose a threat by disturbing the already narrowed or blocked blood vessels, thereby terminating normal blood circulation to the lungs. This undesirable clotting or coagulation of blood can be remedied by the use of anti-coagulants. However, it must be remembered that anti-coagulants have their own risks and benefits, which need to be carefully considered by a doctor prior to administration.

Fluid build-up in the body may be another complication. Two kinds of edemas- pedal edema (fluid accumulation in legs) and ascites (fluid accumulation in abdomen) are among such Primary Pulmonary Hypertension Complications. Pulmonary edema may also develop as a complication, whereby the lungs fill with accumulated fluid. This may even prove to be fatal, as the accumulated fluid can hamper the proper exchange of oxygen and carbon dioxide in the lungs. As medication for such edema, diuretics are helpful. A less-fluid, low-sodium diet may also manage the risks of such complications.

The enlargement of the heart’s right ventricle, leading to its functional failure, is among the most serious of the Primary Pulmonary Hypertension Complications. This might even lead to a complete failure of the heart.

Several drug treatments come in aid of these complications- digoxin therapy, vasodilators, calcium channel blockers; endothelin receptor antagonists and oxygen therapies are carried out as treatment. It may be that a lung transplant proves a workable solution for the prevention or treatment of Primary Pulmonary Hypertension Complications.

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