WEST NILE VIRUS

WEST NILE VIRUS

   This has been an extemely active season for the West Nile Virus in the United States.  Across America, there have been more than 1400 cases reported this year.  People are dying from being bitten from mosquitoes.  Cities and counties have taken to the air to spray insecticide to kill them, but losing one life to this disease is one too many.

   There is a vaccine for the West Nile Virus, that is very effective.  In fact, last year, only 87 cases of equine West Nile Virus was reported.  The government had been urging horse owners to vaccine.  It worked.  However, this year, there have been 187 cases of non-human cases reported.

   Here is the question:  if the vaccine works in horses, why can't humans be vaccinated?  The answer:  the pharmaceutical companies say it is not cost effective to market the vaccine to humans.  We have lost 57 people in Texas to the disease.  It is not cost effective.  What is a human life worth?

   Then, we hear that whooping cough is on the rise and people who are not at risk need to be vaccinated.  Why?  Do the pharmaceutical companies need the money?  If those who are not at risk very rarely contract the disease, why spend the money on the vaccine?  THEY CLAIM it is to prevent the disease in those we come in contact with.  What about their vaccine?  Won't their vaccine protect them?  You would think.  So I ask again, why would the pharmaceutical companies urge so many people to pay for the vaccine when they don't need it?

   What are your thoughts?

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CVS PHARMACY JUNE 9, 2012

CVS PHARMACY   JUNE 9, 2012

   I need to say, before I get too far into my latest experience with CVS Pharmacy, that I am not happy being forced to use this pharmacy exclusively by our new insurance.  Go Obama! 

   So, I went to pick up our refills today on routine medicines.  I had dropped off a new script yesterday, so I decided to just pick up all the scripts together.  I arrived and was given the scripts and asked to sign for them.  As I always do, I checked them before leaving.  I asked where the new script was.  That started the clerk scrambling.  She didn't know where it was.  I explained that I had brought the doctor's prescription in yesterday and told them I would pick it up today. 

   I also noticed I was given a medication that was not ordered.  I separated that med. from the ones I was supposed to have while the clerk continued to look for the new med.

   In a little while, the clerk came to me, looking through the medicines I had signed for.  She reached and took the medication I had separated, saying I had been given the wrong medicine.  Well, imagine that!  Do I look like a pharmacist who works at CVS?  No, but I am an informed consumer.

   The Pharmacist on shift tried to cover up the mistake.  Here is why it is such a big deal:  Maybe I would have been allergic to the medication that was initially filled.  Maybe I was so uninformed that I did not know that was the wrong med. and took it.  Maybe the wrong med. was a diabetes medicine that would have lowered my normal blood sugar, leaving me in a coma.  Maybe the wrong med. would have been an antihypertension med that would have dropped my blood pressure and sent me into hypovolemic shock.  The possibilities are many.

   All I have to say is that if you are forced to use CVS Pharmacy, please pay attention to what they are doing to you.

What are your thoughts?

 

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THE PANCREAS, INSULIN

THE PANCREAS

   The pancreas is both an endocrine gland that produces hormones and an exocrine gland that produces digestive enzymes.  It is, therefore, responsible for much metabolism within the body.  A major disorder of the endocrine pancreas is diabetes mellitus.

   The pancreas is located behind the stomach, between the spleen and the duodenum. 

Human Anatomy

Picture of the Pancreas

It houses the islets of Langerhans, which secrete glucagon and insulin, hormones that help to regulate much of the carbohydrate, fat, and protein metabolism within the body.  The islets of Langerhans have three types of hormone-secreting cells:  alpha, beta, and delta cells.  It also has F cells, which secrete pancreatic polypeptide.

   Somatostatin is produced by delta cells of the pancreas.  It is a hormone essential in carbohydrate, fat, and protein metabolism (i.e., homeostasis of ingested nutrients).  Little is known about pancreatic somatostatin, but it is probably involved in the regulation of alpha-cell and beta-cell function within the islets.  Presumably, somatostatin inhibits both glucagon and insulin secretion.  Pancreatic somatostatin is different from hypothalmic somatostatin, which inhibits the release of growth hormone.

   The beta cells secrete insulin.  Insulin is an anabolic hormone that promotes the synthesis of proteins, carbohydrates, lipids, and nucleic acids.  The major sites of insulin-promoted synthesis are the liver, muscle, and adipose tissue.  The net effect of insulin in these tissues is to stimulate cellular metabolism.  Overall, however, the major consequence of insulin release is to decrease blood glucose.  Insulin also facilitates the intracellular transport of potassium.

   Glucagon is produced by the alpha cells of the pancreas and by a number of cells lining the gastrointestinal tract.  Glucagon acts primarily in the liver.   It acts as an antagonist to insulin.

Pathophysiology  The Biologic Basis for Disease in Adults and Children 1990.

Questions or comments are welcomed.

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SEEK THE PROFESSIONALS

SEEK THE PROFESSIONALS

   When I was young....er, I went fishing all day, staying out of doors in the heat, not hydrating myself as I should have.  Normally, eight glasses of water is the recommendation.  I was having fun and was not paying attention to the signs of thirst.  Anyway, I was dehydrated.  In that particular situation, simply drinking Gatorade or any other fluids would not take care of the problem.  I had to receive IV fluids at the hospital.

   Sometimes, when we go about living our lives, things get a little stressful.  We may not always pay attention to our own bodies when they warn us that we need help.  Work, relationships, family, bills, situations we are not in control of, etc.  Everything builds.  What could have been handled with a night off or going to the spa now requires a professional's intervention.

   Know this:  You have family who have loved you all of your life.  We love you with all of your "warts" and will do all we possibly can for you. Relax and allow the professionals to do their work.  I am praying for you.

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4 20

4 20

   Today, many in America are celebrating 4 20.  There is a subculture here involving cannabis.  Today at 4:20, pot-smokers observed the ritual in celebration of the plant.  I posted this observation on the health blog, because I believe marijuana use should be legalized in America, especially medicinally.  There are many reasons I believe this way:

   First of all, I would like to introduce you to a friend of mine who died of breast cancer, Donna B.  She was a registered nurse.  Her goal in life was to live long enough to see her only child, a daughter, graduate from high school.  She missed it.  She would tell me that if she had to break the law to obtain relief from the nausea and anorexia which resulted from the chemotherapy treatments, then so be it.  Many cancer patients suffer from the nausea and anorexia when they undergo chemo. treatments.  Why?  There is a substance they can use that would relieve the symptoms.  It is just not right.    

   Of course, we all know that the pharmaceutical industry would loose a lot of money if Americans could grow their own marijuana and use it like they are allowed to brew their own beer and drink it.  Then, you have the federal government who tax drugs but cannot tax reproducing plants the individual American grows.

   Next, I am an eye-witness to a healing due to the use of the marijuana tincture.  A guy I know, David N. had had heartburn/indigestion from an early age.  Taking over the counter indigestion pills was common for him, several times daily.  He discovered the tincture, used it, and hasn't had heartburn/indigestion since.  He also didn't have to continue taking the tincture.  I have read many articles about cancer healing using marijuana in different forms.

   Then, what about anxiety?  Eating a little brownie or other treat using another form of marijuana, calms the spirit.  Therefore, the use and abuse of anti-anxiety medicines will also decrease.  The pharmaceutical industry would be destroyed!  But pay attention of the commercials promoting drugs.  They always list a load of side effects when promoting them.  Why?  Marijuana is natural.

   The last thing I want to say on the subject is this:  Prisons are overloaded with people who smoked a little marijuana.  Yes, it was illegal.  No, I don't agree that it should have been.  But, can we spend our tax dollars in a better way?  How many murders occurred by someone who was relaxing with marijuana?

   What do you think?

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DASH DIET DAY 7

DASH DIET DAY 7

Their menu:

   We update our success at http://omaslife.blogspot.com/.  Just click the name.  We would love to hear from you.

DASH DIET DAY 6

DASH DIET DAY 6

Their menu:

DASH DIET DAY 5

DASH DIET DAY 5

Their menu:

DASH DIET DAY 4

DASH DIET DAY 4

Their menu:

DASH DIET DAY 3

DASH DIET    DAY 3

   The DASH eating plan also emphasizes potassium from food, especially fruits and vegetables, to help keep blood pressure levels healthy.  A potassium-rich diet may help to reduce elevated or high blood pressure, but be sure to get your potassium from food sources, not from supplements.  Many fruits and vegetables, some milk products, and fish are rich in potassium.  However, fruits and vegetables are rich in the form of potassium that favorably affects acid-base metabolism.  This form of potassium (potassium with bicarbonate precursors) may help to reduce risk of kidney stones and bone loss.  While salt substitutes containing potassium are sometimes needed by persons on drug therapy for high blood pressure, these supplements can be harmful to people with certain medical conditions.  Ask your doctor before trying salt substitutes or supplements.

Here is their menu:

Here's what we had:
Breakfast:
3/4 C Raisin Bran
1 C milk
1 C cranberry-grape juice

lunch:
1 tuna sandwich with slice of cheese
1 medium avocado
1 fruit on the bottom yogurt
walnuts

dinner:
1 tuna sandwich with slice of cheese
1 large green tossed salad
2 T Italian dressing
1 medium banana

the tuna was prepared with 1 can tuna packed in water, 1 T miracle whip, 1 t mustard, 1 t pickle relish, and 1 hard boiled egg.

fruit: 4:  raisins, cranberry-grape, fruit on the bottom yogurt, banana
vege: 3 avocado, large salad
sodium total:
potassium total:

DASH DIET DAY 2

DASH DIET   DAY 2

   Day 1 of the Dash Diet can be located at http://omaslife.blogspot.com/.  Just click the name.  Today is the second day we are on this diet.  Our goal on this diet is a plan that is low in saturated fat, cholesterol, and total fat and that emphasizes fruits, vegetables, and fat-free or low-fat milk and milk products.  The plan also includes whole grain products, fish, poultry, and nuts.  We want to reduce lean red meat, sweets, added sugars, and sugar-containing beverages compared to the typical American diet.  This plan is rich in potassium, magnesium, and calcium, as well as protein and fiber.

   We began with a blood pressure reading, because I feel it is important to monitor the results to minimize the risk of getting the pressures too low.  If you are following at home, post your pressures. 

   I spent a lot of time today reading labels.  That is time consuming and tedious.  I was reading the sodium labels.  On this plan, our goal is 2300mg/daily.  I also have a history of high cholesterol, which I lowered with a change of diet, so I am incorporating that with this.  Today, I wanted to make turkey burgers, so I researched the condiments.  Boy, what a surprise!
   The following is from YOUR GUIDE TO LOWERING YOUR BLOOD PRESSURE WITH DASH courtesy of the U.S. Dept. of Health.  It is free of charge.

mustard: 55mg/t

miracle whip:  95mg/T

ground turkey: 80mg/ 1/4 lb

wheat bread: 100mg/slice

American cheese:  230/slice

Mt. Dew: 65mg/can

Monster:  360mg/can

Oikos fruit on the bottom greek yogurt:  50mg--that is my favorite!

Here is what we had:

Breakfast:

3/4 C Raisin Bran

1 C milk

lunch:

1 turkey burger with cheese

large tossed green salad

2T Italian dressing

1 C fruit salad

dinner:

1 turkey burgers with cheese

1 C cooked broccoli

yogurt

walnuts

For the fruit salad, I combined 1 pear, 1 delicious apple, 1/2 orange, 1 medium banana, and 2T sugarfree cool whip.

turkey:  80mg X 2 = 160 mg sodium

4 slices whole wheat bread = 400mg sodium

mustard X 2 =110mg

miracle whip X 2=190mg

2 slices cheese=460mg

Italian dressing=340mg

Raisin Bran=220mg

milk=110mg

                 total=1990mg

the salad, fruit, broccoli, and walnuts are 20mg of sodium or less.

   The take-away for today is the condiments.  Pay close attention to the content of sodium of the condiments.

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