Stop, Think & Act. Before you light up your cigarette or eat that second slice of chocolate cake, stop and force yourself to think at once about why you’re doing "SOMETHING YOU KNOW" is real bad for your health.
DR I SYED.
Sunday, March 30, 2014
Friday, March 28, 2014
Unease Grows Among U.S. Doctors Over Indian Drug Quality
India supplies about 40% of generic and over-the-counter drugs used in the United States, making it the second-biggest supplier after Canada.
In recent months, the FDA, citing quality control problems ranging from data manipulation to sanitation, has banned the importation of products from Ranbaxy Laboratories Ltd, Wockhardt Ltd and, most recently, Sun Pharmaceutical Industries Ltd.
"I'm just beginning to realize the gravity of the problem," said Dr. Steven Nissen, head of cardiology at the Cleveland Clinic. "It's terrible and it is starting to get a lot of traction among physicians."
For full article please follow link...
For full article please follow link...
Source:
Tanveer Hussain MS, RPhI
Clinical Pharmacist @ VA HVHCS, Castle Point, NY
Chairman, Pakistani American Pharmacists Association, NY, USA
Chairman, Pakistani American Pharmacists Association, NY, USA
By Toni Clarke and Bill Berkrot, March 19, 2014 Editors' Recommendations, Reuters Health Information
Thursday, March 27, 2014
Health Tips
Snack with Fruit. We all love to snack anyway (hummus) so just eat healthier, and there’s no better snack than nature’s dessert. Grapes, bananas and strawberries are perfect replacements for those tasty looking Doritos or Crisps.
DR I SYED, M.B, B.S, MBA, CRA, PCQI, CPC
OpenDoor Team member. www. OpenDoor.cc
Redditch, Gloucestershire. UK.
LinkedIn: http://uk.linkedin.com/pub/imtiaz-syed/13/89/841
Wednesday, March 26, 2014
Tips Doctors don’t Tell Breast Cancer Patients
The above article is my personal view.Breast cancer patients don’t have identical experiences due to a variety of factors including patient age, overall health, type, dose or sequence of treatment.Depending on cancer stage and biologic markers, a patient may undergo surgery first followed by chemotherapy to control any distant spread (metastasis) and radiation (to maximize local treatment).Others may receive chemotherapy first (neoadjuvant treatment) to reduce tumor size before surgery and radiation.Depending on presence or absence of cell-surface receptors (biologic markers) such estrogen, progesterone, or HER2, a patient could become a candidate for hormonal treatment (e.g. Tamoxifen) and/or Herceptin (antibody against HER2).Chemotherapy regimes vary, but a common one involves 4 cycles (1 cycle/month) of doxorubicin and cyclophosphamide, followed by 4 cycles of Docetaxel and dexamethasone (related to prednisone, a type of steroid). Doxorubicin in high doses can affect cardiac function, so the oncologist will give lowest effective dose or may consider an alternative regime if the patient has pre-existing cardiac dysfunction. A nuclear test called MUGA scan is routinely performed to assess cardiac function prior to initiating chemotherapy. Other common side effects include but are not limited to: Hair loss, nausea, nail discoloration, dry skin, appetite change, neuropathic leg pain.Here are a few tips and information my oncologist didn’t adequately provide prior to treatment:During chemotherapy:Once hair loss becomes noticeable – after cycle 4 in my case, consider shaving your hair instead of waiting to lose it bit by bit, which can be irritating as it can block the drain after showering and a lot of vacuuming/floor cleaning will be required!Eat a balanced healthy diet. Consider beets and other vegetables for their known benefits as anti-oxidants and a natural source for vitamins and iron. That will help maintain red cell count as close to normal as possible.Nausea: Dexamethasone and other modern anti-nausea therapy such as ondansteron are very helpful in almost eliminating the nausea sensation. I experienced only slight nausea the first few days post every cycle – but results may vary.Docetaxel-specific issues:I experienced excruciating sharp/burning leg pain to the point I had to take Gabapentin and Tylenol with codeine (T3). My advice is to ask for T3 and Gabapentin before leaving the hospital after starting taxol. The pain started a few days after my first cycle of taxol and stayed for a week or so. The soles of my feet were painful to touch. Legs felt really weak afterwards and improved over several months. Given the neuropathic mechanism of the pain some people believe Gabapentin helps more than codeine. I tend to agree but it doesn’t hurt to take both if pain is intense. A dose reduction to taxol was required.Docetaxel also causes nail discoloration. I was given ice-filled gloves to wear on my hands during taxol infusion to prevent discoloration. The cancer hospital where I received treatment did not offer protection for my feet, but that is an option. I did not elect to protect my feet so nails turned dusky grey but normalized completely with time.Dexamethasone:It will increase your appetite but not to worry because you will be taking it temporarily. Once you are off Dex try cutting your food portions and stick to a healthy diet to loose the extra kilos.Notice that the effects of first regime and second regime occur together – that can be overwhelming. Afterwards, everything gets better.During radiation:The process is painless and very straightforward, but daily treatments are required so ensure you have ready access to transportation.You will experience darkening of your skin. Later this dark skin will peel off while showering and drying with towel and you will get your most of your normal skin back.Post surgery:Discomfort was minimal in my case. I had two drains, one under my axilla (as lymph node dissection was performed) and one at the mastectomy site. The drains were removed once the drainage was minimal, and again I didn’t feel much. Buy a wedge pillow to sleep comfortably.After completing treatment:Overall fatigue and low energy. This can last for months to years, and no one can predict definitively how long the symptoms will lastLeg weaknessStruggle losing weightPush yourself to establish an active daily routine. Start by walking 10 minutes a day at a minimum. Increase according to your ability. Stay positive, don’t lose hope or be lazyThyroid Cancer:Thyroid Cancer patients usually receive Radio Active iodine treatment in addition to surgery. The Iodine is a clear tasteless liquid. Total isolation is necessary for up to 3 days (in-hospital). Take your laptop and download a couple of movies. Very important is to wrap your gadgets with a clear plastic wrap (laptop, cell phone) and anything you will come in contact with and want to use later, otherwise you will be required to dump you precious iPhone!After hospital discharge, direct physical contact with young children is prohibited. However, you don’t have to book a hotel room! You can stay in the house with your kids but be particularly cognizant about not sharing utensils, hugging your kids etc. (as if you have a bad flu) for up to 1 week post RAI. Official recommendations vary, and some society guidelines suggest total isolation up to 2 weeks – which is both not practical and unnecessary even when the highest dose is given. The guidelines are not based on robust trial data, but feel free to consult with the radiation oncologist regarding this issue. However, also consult the nuclear medicine doctor as they have more experience, and rad-onc can be more conservative.If additional RAI treatments are required, significant but transient (8 weeks) loss of taste can occur.
Always seek the advice of a physician or other licensed health care professional regarding any questions you have about your medical condition(s) and treatment(s)
Author:
Dania Shaikh, Bachelors in CS & Stat
Breast Cancer Survivor, Vancouver, BC Canada
Tuesday, March 25, 2014
Health Tips
Drinking one cup of coffee a day will do no damage, but excessive amounts may be too
stimulating and lead to heartbeat irregularities, higher than optimal blood pressure, and a greater risk of stroke. Drink green tea instead.
DR I SYED, M.B, B.S, MBA, CRA, PCQI, CPC
OpenDoor Team member. www. OpenDoor.cc
Redditch, Gloucestershire. UK.
LinkedIn: http://uk.linkedin.com/pub/imtiaz-syed/13/89/841
Saturday, March 22, 2014
Urinary Tract Infection (UTI) IN ELDERLY
A Urinary bladder infection places stress on
the body. That stress can result in confusion, and abrupt changes in behaviour
in older adult results in an “Elderly Urinary Tract Infection”.
A sudden
change in behaviour is, in fact, one of the best indicators of a urinary tract
infection in older adults. Some common warning signs might include the onset of
elderly urinary incontinence, confusion or not being able to do tasks the
patient could easily do a day or two before. Anytime there's a change in an
older adult. If one day they're able to dress themselves or feed themselves and
then there's a sudden change, a red flag should go up. If a 30-year old woman
experiences painful burning when she urinates, it's almost certain she has a
urinary tract infection (UTI). But an elderly urinary tract infection rarely
causes such clear symptoms and might not involve pain or discomfort at all. As
you get older your immune response changes; it's part of normal aging. Half of
all women will develop a urinary tract infection in their lifetimes. Typically,
UTIs, also known as bladder infections, are easy to cure. But REMEMBER if left untreated, the
infection can spread and develop into far more serious conditions.
The kidneys,
ureters, bladder and urethra work together to rid the body of urine:
1.
The kidneys
remove extra liquid and waste from the blood in the form of urine.
2.
The ureters
carry the urine from the kidneys to the bladder.
3.
And, the
bladder stores the urine until it is emptied through the urethra.
UTIs are thought to be much more common in
women because the urethra is shorter in women than in men, giving
bacteria-which live in the rectal area and also on a person's skin-an easier
route into the body.
·
Cystitis:
The most
common diagnosis is cystitis, (the infection and inflammation of the Urinary Bladder),
which causes frequent and painful urination. However, other parts of the lower
and upper urinary tract system can become infected. As a general rule of thumb,
the higher up the infection in the urinary tract system, the worse it is.
·
Urethritis:
Burning
urination is often the result of urethritis, the infection of the urethra.
·
Pyelonephritis:
Pyelonephritis
occurs when a bladder infection spreads to the kidneys. It can cause:
1.
Upper back
and flank pain,
2.
Shaking,
chills,
3.
Nausea and
vomiting.
·
Prostatitis:
UTIs in men can lead to prostatitis, or
enlargement of the prostate gland, the male organ that produces semen, which is
located just below the bladder.
Symptoms of a UTI include:
1.
General
discomfort.
2.
A feeling of
being over-tired.
3.
Blood in the
urine and pain even when not urinating.
4.
Men might
feel fullness in the rectum. Back and side pain can indicate the infection has
reached the kidneys.
5.
An elderly
person will rarely get a fever, but if an older patient has one it is
considered an emergency. "It shouldn't be taken lightly. If they do have a
fever, it's a serious infection.
Who's at risk?
1.
Older adults
at greater risk for getting an elderly urinary tract infection.
2.
Those who
require a catheter in the urethra and bladder.
3.
Those who
are diabetics.
4.
Anyone with
kidney stones.
5.
Women who've
gone through menopause.
After menopause, women experience a change in
the lining of the vagina and also produce less estrogen, which helps protect
against UTIs. Hormone replacement therapy (HRT) can help protect postmenopausal
women from UTIs, according to the American Urological Association, but HRT may
increase other health risks and so may not be appropriate for all women.
Diagnosis & Treatment:
In most
cases, diagnosing and treating an elderly urinary tract infection is relatively
straightforward. A simple urinalysis can confirm the infection's presence and,
for someone in good health, antibiotics are the first choice of treatment. UTIs
often clear up in only a few days. The course of treatment can take weeks and
perhaps involve hospitalization for the administration of intravenous
antibiotics.
1.
Home tests: A
dipstick is held in the urine stream. Home tests are a convenient way for
chronic UTI sufferers to quickly diagnose whether they have an infection. But
they should only be used with the support and guidance of a patient's
physician.
2.
Ultrasound
exam: Ultrasounds can help evaluate
bladder and kidney problems as doctors are able to see whether there are
abnormalities in the bladder that could be contributing to the infections.
3.
X-rays: Using
a series of x-rays and a contrast dye to highlight abnormalities in the urinary
tract can help pin-point abnormalities.
4.
CAT scan: A
CAT scan provides a detailed three-dimensional picture of the urinary tract.
Patient suffering from UTIs must drink plenty
of fluids to flush the bacteria from their systems. Proper fluid intake makes
it harder for bacteria to live and multiply in the urinary tract. Older adults
drink four to six 8-ounce glasses of water a day. Drinking cranberry juice or
taking cranberry tablets can also make urine less inviting for bacteria.
Patient should keep the urine clear.
·
Drinking plenty of water is an important
prevention tactic.
·
Urinating promptly after the urge arises
·
Wiping front to back
·
Emptying the bladder shortly before and after
intercourse
·
Avoiding use of feminine products such as
deodorant sprays, douches and powders in the genital area that could irritate
the urethra
·
Taking showers instead of baths
·
Noticing a Change In Behaviour
REMEMBER; ALWAYS CONSULT YOUR DOCTOR OR PHARMACIST
BEFORE TAKING ANY TABLET OR MEDICINE.
Dr. Imtiaz
Syed
M.B, B.S,
MBA, CRA, PCQI, CPC
LinkedIn:
http://uk.linkedin.com/pub/imtiaz-syed/13/89/841
OpenDoor
Team member. www. OpenDoor.cc
Redditch,
Gloucestershire. UK.
Health Tips
Be thankful. It might sound different health tip, but remembering to be thankful for everyday things and forgetting about what you don’t have is a powerful neutralizer & powerful stress reliever. As soon as you wake up, and throughout your day, make mental notes of all of the gifts in your life and the people you are grateful for.
DR I SYED, M.B, B.S, MBA, CRA, PCQI, CPC
OpenDoor Team member. www. OpenDoor.cc
Redditch, Gloucestershire. UK.
LinkedIn: http://uk.linkedin.com/pub/imtiaz-syed/13/89/841
How to Overcome Sadness and Depression?
Sadness is a totally natural emotional
response to certain environmental stimuli. Most of us have support, or systems
in place to overcome depression, reach balance, and go on to be happy as
quickly as possible. But some people don’t have that support or environment. I have found that there are two groups of people
who suffer from prolonged sadness or depression. One group consists of those
that have a severe chemical imbalance, which really requires a doctor/ medical
help, and possibly medication to treat. And other are those people who lack the tools,
know how, and support systems to bounce them back from depression and sadness.
This article is written for those who don’t have severe medical condition or
severe chemical imbalance.
In my opinion, being a doctor, the latter
group of people are wise to seek natural treatments instead of simply medicating
the symptoms. That's why I am going to show you about how to decrease or
overcome sadness, without the happy pills. Below are some suggestions.
Gratitude
Sit down and make a list of 10 things
you're grateful for right now (and I dare you not to feel better). Many times
when we complain we can cause ourselves to be sad. Complaining is just a factor
of not taking into account what we're grateful for.
Set
Goals
Something special happens the moment the
paper meets the pen and we write down our main goals. Our brain chemistry
changes, and we start thinking about how we can achieve those goals.
Sleep
Getting the right amount of sleep is
healthy for our body and mind. Some argue that sleep deprivation treats
depression, but I don't agree with this, personally. Get enough rest every day.
Exercise
Try one hour of cardio (or as much as you
can) each day. If you're tee-shirt is soaking wet, you're standing in a puddle
of your own sweat, and you can feel the endorphins pumping through your body,
you did it right. Shower up and try to be happy, I dare you.
Let
go
Many times we're making ourselves sad for
no good reason at all. People have been known to keep grudges for lifetimes. When
you forgive, you remove this weight off your shoulders and put yourself in a
position to be happier.
Sunlight
Certain people have “Idiopathic sadness
disorder”, due to a lack of sunlight, they experience seasonal sadness
(Seasonal Affective Disorder). We all sometimes affected by this in the winter
when the days are shorter.
Good
Communication
It's not hard to make friends if you put
the time in. Everyone wants to be heard, appreciated, and loved. Start off by
listening, appreciating and loving, and it will come back your way.
Reading
Self-help Books
Take a temporary leave from reality and
bury yourself in one of your favourite books. A lot of wise people have been
through what you're going through and they made it through to the other side to
tell about it.
Dr. Imtiaz Syed
M.B, B.S, MBA, CRA, PCQI, CPC
LinkedIn:
http://uk.linkedin.com/pub/imtiaz-syed/13/89/841
OpenDoor Team member. www. OpenDoor.cc
Redditch, Gloucestershire. UK.
Thursday, March 20, 2014
Health Tips
How to wash your hands.(It's generally best to wash your hands with soap and water)
1. Wet your hands with running water.
2. Apply liquid, bar soap.
3. Lather well.
4. Rub your hands vigorously for at least 20 seconds. Remember to scrub all surfaces, including the backs of your hands, wrists, between your fingers and under your fingernails.
5. Rinse well.
6. Dry your hands with a clean or disposable towel or air dryer.
Keep in mind that antibacterial soap is no more effective at killing germs than is regular soap. Using antibacterial soap may even lead to the development of bacteria that are resistant to the product's antimicrobial agents, making it harder to kill these germs in the future.
DR I SYED, M.B, B.S, MBA, CRA, PCQI, CPC
OpenDoor Team member. www. OpenDoor.cc
Redditch, Gloucestershire. UK.
LinkedIn: http://uk.linkedin.com/pub/imtiaz-syed/13/89/841
Wednesday, March 19, 2014
Health Tips
Appreciate the Silence. Our fast paced society is evolving at an increasing rate, leaving us with little time to relax and process our environment. The implications of a fast-paced lifestyle are chronic stress and other negative effects on our health and well being. By slowing down & reducing demands, we place on ourselves is an important step towards stress reduction, and a more fulfilling life.
DR I SYED.
M.B, B.S, MBA, CRA, PCQI, CPC
LinkedIn: http://uk.linkedin.com/pub/imtiaz-syed/13/89/841
OpenDoor Team member. www. OpenDoor.cc
Redditch, Gloucestershire. UK.
Ways to improve your Blood Circulation in Legs at work
1. Take regular breaks
If you are in a prolonged standing position
or a prolonged sitting position at work, take regular breaks to move your arms
or legs. Take a short walk, or take a walk outside the workplace. Get your
circulations moving to your upper and lower extremities. Minimally, shake your
hands and arms and circle your feet.
2.
Improve blood flow with
exercise
Try to take a walk at lunchtime (even if it
is a short walk) around the block, around the outside of the workplace, up and
down the stairs a few times. It is vital to get the blood flowing freely around
the body.
Taking breaks
and exercising regularly is an excellent way of improving health. Making sure
you don't eat high fat foods when you have to sit down all day is important. If
you eat high fat foods without exercising, you increase the chances of clogging
up the arteries.
3.
Avoid tight clothing
Try to avoid wearing tight clothing that
may restrict the blood flow to your feet. This includes socks, shoes, belts
that may be too tight and also under garments that could also restrict blood
flow.
4.
Wear comfortable shoes at
work
Wear shoes that really feel comfortable,
especially if you are on your feet for long hours at a time. If you have to
wear heels to work, then wear sports shoes to and from work and carry your work
shoes with you to increase your circulation at least to and from work.
Try and go
for a 10 minute walk or longer each day. This increases oxygen being inhaled
and pumps the blood faster into the extremities. This can help to remove waste
products from cells even faster and may also help to strengthen the heart.
5. Drink plenty of fresh
Water each day
Working outside may increase the need for a
regular intake of water. It is estimated that an adult should drink between 1.5
and 2 litres of water a day. Drinking plenty of fresh water daily helps to
hydrate cells including the skin, aids digestion and gives one a regular supply
of minerals. Drinking water also helps the body to get rid of waste products.
It is a
well-publicised fact that the solid or saturated fat in our diet can contribute
to a build up of cholesterol deposits or plaque in our arteries. If we eat too
much saturated fat in our diets, the efficiency and health of our circulation
system may well suffer.
6. Keep your feet and hands
warm
Wearing proper clothing for your
extremities can make a huge difference to body warmth and on your work. If you
are sitting or standing for long periods, make sure your feet are warm,
especially if you are outside. Warm, dry footwear is a must for helping to
maintain one's body temperature. If your hands get cold at work and the heating
provided is not warm enough, then finger-less gloves may help to remedy this.
During winter months, wearing thermal under vests and garments can make a huge
difference to maintaining a warm body temperature.
Even doing
some of these things a little each day can make a big difference.
Dr. Imtiaz Syed
M.B, B.S, MBA, CRA, PCQI, CPC
LinkedIn: http://uk.linkedin.com/pub/imtiaz-syed/13/89/841
OpenDoor Team member. www. OpenDoor.cc
Redditch, Gloucestershire. UK.
Monday, March 17, 2014
The Early Bird Catches The Worm.
One
question to ask every morning. What am I grateful for? You should start every
single day with an attitude of gratitude. This is probably the simplest way to
actually do that. If you ask yourself this question enough days in a row, you
will wake up feeling on top of the world every single day. As you start to view
your life and the world around you as full of things to be grateful for, you’re
going to bring more and more of that into your life. We all have lots to be
grateful for but we often get caught up in all the things that are wrong with
our lives. Hopefully this will enable you shift your focus.
Simple Ways to Change Your
Morning Routine
I
wish to give some consideration to changing up how you start your day. In
addition to power questions I encourage you to start your day in a more
peaceful, quiet way then you have in the past.
You’ll find that the impact this will have on you both physically and
mentally will quite powerful.
1.
Picture
an ideal morning.
This
is one of those rare situations where you actually can make your fantasy a
reality. Picture yourself as the morning person you want to become. What do
your mornings consist of? Are you quietly drinking your coffee? Reading a book?
Also, what’s the atmosphere like? This will help you lay the groundwork for
what will later become your morning routine.
2. Let
go.
Throw
away every misconception embedded in your mind, and start this day with a clean
ground. The only way you’ll succeed is if your mind remains open and free of
negativity.
3.
One
barrel at a time.
Take
note of what time you wake up now and when you’d like to wake up from now on.
Set your alarm for 15 to 30 minutes earlier, and once you’re comfortable
getting up at that time, set it earlier again, and again, until you’re
comfortably waking up at your new early time.
4
. Don’t
turn on the Computer/ Mobile or TV.
The
first thing you would probably be doing every single morning is turn on the
computer/ mobile or TV. Starting your brain off with so much information
overload right when you wake up can’t possibly be healthy. I would say to just
enjoy your coffee or breakfast for about twenty minutes. Turning on the TV is
one of the most insidious things you can do. The news can have such a negative
impact on you that you might not even realize it. The news is generally about
everything that’s wrong in the world and this is the first thing you become
exposed to in the morning.
5
. Reading
Spiritual books/ Soothing music.
Try
to find uplifting habits or music that has peaceful melodies. One of the best
times to listen to a self-help books or program is right when you wake up.
Think about how the effect this will have on you if you do this for about
thirty days. If you listen to inspirational/uplifting material right when you
wake up, then you will eventually condition that message into your mind and
connect it with waking up in the morning.
6.
Meditate.
One
of the most challenging things about meditating is to free you from negative thoughts.
Early in the morning your mind is in a fairly quiet state and even five to ten
minutes of deep centred relaxation/meditation can make a huge difference in
your day.
Dr.
Imtiaz Syed
M.B,
B.S, MBA, CRA, PCQI, CPC
LinkedIn:
http://uk.linkedin.com/pub/imtiaz-syed/13/89/841
OpenDoor
Team member. www. OpenDoor.cc
Redditch,
Gloucestershire. UK.
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