Asthma And Its Treatment

Many people on discovering they have asthma often assume they have been given some sort of life sentence when in actual fact most cases of asthma can be controlled very easily. Knowing everything there is to know about your illness if you suffer from asthma enables you to control your disease.

The main treatment when looking at asthma is avoidance of triggers. Asthma triggers are what causes an asthma attack and there are often common denominator triggers.

However many asthma sufferers often find their set of triggers may differ from other asthma sufferers, the trick is to find your own triggers and avoid them as much as you possibly can. Therefore working with your healthcare provider as closely as possible is essential in ensuring you control your asthma triggers as much as possible.

The two main treatments for treating asthma are quick relief drugs which are used whilst having an attack and control drugs which help in preventing attacks. Taking control drugs are essential if you have moderate to severe asthma even if you feel well and healthy.

Many asthmatics make the mistake of discontinuing their control medication when they feel well; the problem with doing this is that attacks may become more frequent and also more intense. If your asthma is fairly mild, you'll probably be able to get away with just using quick relief drugs if and when you have an attack of asthma.

Commonly used drugs in asthma tend to be inhaled as the medication hits the source of the problem as quickly as possible, this is especially true of drugs such as short acting beta agonists like Ventolin. Other quick relief drugs include Alupent, Maxair and Terbutaline and are also known as bronchodilators.

Quick relief or rescue medications are usually taken when the person starts coughing, wheezing or has a tightness in their chest. They are normally very effective and in most cases (as long as they are taken quickly enough) will prevent an asthma attack.

Preventative/quick relief medications work by relaxing the muscles of your airways thus allowing your breathing to be much easier when having an asthma attack. A rule of thumb is if you find you're using your quick relief medications more than twice a week then your asthma is probably not under control and you need to speak to your health care provider, it may just be that your dosage needs to be changed slightly. It's also especially important you don't "run out" of this medication, you should always have a good supply at hand ready in case it's needed.

Side effects of quick relief asthma medication include tremors, (especially if a large dosage has been taken), anxiety and restlessness, they can also have an adverse effect on anyone with cardiac problems so it's vital your healthcare provider is aware of any other health issues you may have especially if they are cardiac in nature.

Asthma Control Drugs are again usually inhaled for the more moderate asthma sufferers, however if symptoms and attacks are fairly severe, medication such as steroids can be taken orally. Common control drugs taken via inhaler include Pulmicort, Azmacort, Vanceril, AeroBid and Flovent.

Treatment with asthma control drugs concentrates on ensuring you manage your asthma effectively so there is no reduction in quality of life. They work well because they prevent the airways becoming inflamed and swollen, they are also known as anti inflammatory drugs.

It's imperative that if a person who suffers from asthma is deemed to require control drugs they take them as prescribed to ensure their symptoms and asthma attacks are kept as low as possible.

Asthma is unfortunate but it doesn't have to be a life sentence, many asthma sufferers lead a full and productive life and find their asthma is only a minor inconvenience most times.

How to Pay for Drug or Alcohol Rehab

If you or someone you care about is suffering from drug addiction or alcoholism, the last thing you want to be thinking about is how you'll pay for treatment. But while this might be a valid concern, it shouldn't be one that stops you from reaching out for help. There are a number of different ways to pay for addiction treatment or alcohol rehab- even if you don't have any insurance. In fact, the people who can help you make all necessary payment arrangements are the same ones that you'll talk to when you call for a confidential consultation at a treatment center. Knowing what to expect before you make that call might help make the process go more smoothly.

Most people pay for rehab with some type of insurance. However, this doesn't always have to be an independent policy that you pay for yourself. It could include employer-sponsored insurance, armed forces insurance, state-funded insurance programs for the underprivileged or disadvantaged, and even as part of riders for some types of life insurance and other products. Each provider is unique, so it's important to understand exactly what your policy covers and what it doesn't. But if you need help figuring it all out, you should simply call a treatment center and they can properly advise you of what your coverage includes.

Many Employee Assistance and Member Assistance Programs offer coverage in the event that drug or alcohol treatment is required. However, a large percentage of people who participate in these programs are unaware of the existence of benefits that can be used for rehab. Furthermore, those who are aware may still be unwilling to seek help because they fear losing their job. While you should always check the terms and conditions of your EAP or MAP, in most cases there are no repercussions when a person seeks help through such a channel. There is often a single liaison person that you can call and discuss your options confidentially with.

Contrary to popular belief, many addiction treatment centers are affordable and people often self-pay for their treatment. Some are able to do this with cash, assets or savings they already had available, while others have taken out loans in order to pay for their treatment. In fact, some rehab centers may offer an overall reduced treatment cost if a person pays in this manner.

If none of the above options apply to you, there are still other ways to pay for addiction treatment. There are a number of federal and state programs that may be able to help- especially state funded insurance programs and Medicare. Additionally, there are scholarships and other funds available from religious and special interest groups including local chapters of AA and NA. Finally, some drug rehab centers may offer full or partial scholarships- check websites or just ask in order to find out more information.

Whatever your situation may be, chances are great that you can work with a drug treatment center to find a payment arrangement that will meet your needs. In many cases the rehab center will make all of the necessary arrangements including dealing with your insurance provider and helping you obtain other funding options, which gives all the more reason to call for a confidential consultation right now.

Achondroplasia Treatment

Achondroplasia is a genetic disorder. It is a condition that results in abnormally short height and is the most common cause of short height with excessively short limbs. The normal height of an adult with achondroplasia is 131 cm, which is 4 foot 4 inches in males and 124 cm, which is 4 foot 1 inch in females. The exact means of achondroplasia is "without cartilage formation," the defect in achondroplasia is not in forming cartilage, but in turning it to bone, specifically in the long bones.

Indication of achondroplasia 

Achondroplasia is a unique condition that mostly can be noted at the time of birth.
The child with achondroplasia has a relatively long, narrow torso with short arms and legs and an irregular shortening of the proximal segments of the limbs (the upper arms and thighs).

In this condition there is a typically large head with prominence of the forehead (frontal bossing), underdevelopment (hypoplasia) of the midface with cheekbones that lack prominence, and a short nasal bridge with narrow nasal passages.

In this condition fingers of the child appear short and the ringer and middle fingers diverge giving the hand a trident (three-pronged) shape. Many joints can extend more than normal. For instance, the knees can hyperextend further the normal stopping point. Not all joints are lax like in this way. However, extension and rotation of the elbow are adversely limited. Hip extension is also limited.

At the time of birth there is often prominence of the mid-to-lower back with a small hump. With walking, the hump goes away and a lordosis of the lumbar region commonly known as lower back becomes apparent. The lumbar lordosis is persistent. The legs are bowed.

The baby shows some decline in muscle tone (hypotonia). Because of the large head, especially compared to rest of the body, and the declined muscle tone, the child suffers from achondroplasia will run behind "schedule" in reaching the usual motor developmental milestones.

Intelligence is usually normal in victims of achondroplasia. Enlargement of the brain (megalencephaly) is normal with achondroplasia.

Gene causes achondroplasia 

Achondroplasia causes by the mutations in the FGFR3 gene, which codes for a protein which is fibroblast growth factor receptor 3 this is substantial for the maintenance of bone and brain tissues. The mutation restricts the process of ossification, or the formation of bone from cartilage. The FGFR3 gene is placed on the short (p) arm of chromosome 4 in chromosome band 4p16.3.

Children and adults suffering from achondroplasia can live normal lives provided they receive attentive, informed care by their doctors and parents. Attention in monitoring children with achondroplasia which include careful measurements of development (length/height and weight) and head circumference using curves specially standardized for those with achondroplasia. Knowledgeable pediatric care and regular orthopedic and neurologic examinations are critical.

When special problems which make achondroplasia complicate, prompt and expert intervention is important. For instance:

The foramen magnum, which is the large opening under the skull may need to be surgically enlarged in cases of stern narrowing and compression of the spinal cord.

The back of victims suffering from achondroplasia can develop a marked sway to the lower back while disabilities in the mid-back may bring about a small hump in babyhood and compression of the spinal cord in adolescence. The spinal cord compression may require surgery to decompress it.

Orthopedic procedures may be carried out for lengthening of the limb bones and correction of bowed legs.

Surgery like lumbar laminectomy is also used when spinal stenosis causes symptoms, which tends to be noticeable in young adults.

Imbalance between the brain and the base of the skull can sometimes result in the form of hydrocephalus which means water on the brain which needs to be immediately detected and treated by placing a shunt to get rid of the excess fluid.

Pregnant females with achondroplasia should be delivered their babies cesarean section, due to their small pelvis, and severe risk of birth related trauma.

Middle ear infections are common and can also cause mild to moderate hearing loss. As a result, ear infections should be quickly suspected and treated with antibiotics or with ear tubes.