Health Blog and Health Product Reviews

Dutasteride, which is commonly marketed under the brand name Avodart, belongs to a class of drugs called 5-alpha-reductase inhibitors, which block the action of the 5-alpha-reductase enzymes that convert testosterone into dihydrotestosterone (DHT). The drug was approved by the FDA for the treatment of prostate enlargement in men in 2002.

Avodart has not been approved for the treatment of hair loss, although physicians can use an approved medication in ways other than that it was specifically approved for. That said, the use of dutasteride certainly requires doctor supervision. Avodart is used mostly for men who have an enlarged prostate.

If your prostate is smaller, it will put less pressure on your urethra. AVODART has been shown to improve symptoms after 3 to 6 months, with continued improvement extending to 2 years, and this improvement can be maintained up to 4 years. By shrinking the prostate, it stops the symptoms associated with prostate enlargement from getting worse.

Like finasteride (the active ingredient in Propecia), dutasteride blocks the enzyme 5 alpha-reductase that converts testosterone to DHT (DHT causes hair loss). Unlike finasteride, which only inhibits the Type I form of the enzyme, dutasteride inhibits both the Type I and Type II forms. This combined effect lowers circulating DHT more with dutasteride than with finasteride, but also increases the incidence of side effects.

The Type II form of the enzyme (blocked by finasteride) is found predominantly in the hair follicle. The Type I form of the enzyme has been found in the scalp and sebaceous glands, but its exact role in hair growth has not been determined. It is felt that the ability of dutasteride to lower serum levels of DHT is what makes it a more potent medication in hair loss.

When considering the safety of dutasteride, one should consider several facts. It acts on other parts of the body besides the hair follicle. Unlike finasteride, where families that had a deficiency of the Type II 5-alpha reductase enzyme were followed for years without any adverse effects, there is no natural biologic model to show the safety of dutasteride.

Avodart has been approved for prostate enlargement in an older male population. It is not approved for hair loss and, in fact, the clinical trials for hair loss were discontinued, so there is no safety data for its use in younger patients. There is a greater incidence of sexual side effects with dutasteride compared to finasteride.

I hope you have found this information helpful. In any case, you should consult your physician before using Avodart. It may or may not be appropriate, depending on your medical situation, to use the drug to treat hair loss. Be sure to disclose to your physician any other drugs you might be taking before requesting a prescription for Avodart.

Jim Pretin is the owner of http://www.forms4free.com, a service that helps programmers make an HTML form

If you hear of an illness that ends in mycosis, it was probably caused by a mold. Those who are particularly at risk to contract this class of diseases are those with compromised immune systems and this often occurs in people who have a cancer of the blood, chemotherapy patients, those with HIV or AIDs, anyone with serious blood disorders.

Even though these diseases are far more likely to affect those with compromised immune systems, they can develop after a person has surgery or any other invasive procedure. It can also be transmitted by contaminated surgical instruments.

Generally the first symptoms of these mycotic diseases are those that are similar to the flu, such as chills, coughing, pain in the muscles and the joints, and fever. Medications that are antifungal can cause some of these symptoms, as well, even though the fungal infection that it is intended to treat cause these exact same symptoms.

These drugs can also cause kidney damage and end up affecting the eyes, skin, or liver and a doctor will probably ask for labwork often in order to catch some of these serious side effects before they become out of control.

Some of the diseases that can be caught from a mold are histoplasmosis, cryptococcosis, coccidioidomycosis, candidiasis, blastomycosis, and aspergillosis. These are serious fungal diseases and should be treated as such.

Aspergillosis is caused by molds in the Aspergillus genus and tends to be found in many places including buildings, plants, food, water, and soil.

Blastomycosis is caused by Blastomyces and is found soils that are rich in nutrients and very moist. It has been known to affect both animals and humans.

Candidiasis is caused from the mold Candida and can cause mouth infections or genital yeast infections, but it is even more serious when it ends up invading the bloodstream. Candida is found in the intestines naturally, however.

Coccidioidomycosis is caused by the mold coccidioides and this is found most often in the dry soil in the southwestern United States, and central and South America. It starts as a flu-like disease, but can infect the lungs and infect the other organs in the body, including the brain.

Cryptococcosis is caused by Cryptococcus and associated the most with Eucalyptus trees and bird droppings. It typically begins in the lungs, but has no symptoms until it spreads to the rest of the body.

Histoplasmosis is caused by Histoplasma and tends to infect the lungs. Like other fungal infections, it includes flu-like symptoms and can spread to the rest of the body.

Jim Corkern is a writer and promoter of quality
flood and water damage cleanup and
water damage restoration> companies across the united states.

The therapeutic benefits of aloe vera were revealed more than 4000 years ago, both on an Egyptian papyrus dating back to 1550 BC and a Sumerian tablet dating back to 2100 BC. Some records even reveal that it was used by Cleopatra in order to protect her skin from the sun’s rays.

The properties of the aloe vera have also been found in ancient Chinese and Indian records. Likewise, legend has it that Alexander the Great conquered the Socotra Island, now a part of Yemen, in the Indian Ocean, primarily to ensure the uninterrupted supply of this healthy plant, in order to heal the wounds of soldiers injured in battles. According to ancient records, it was also used in some European countries as well.

Aloe vera, also known as Aloe barbadensis, is a medicinal plant that belongs to the desert lily family. Nowadays, it is available in a myriad of forms including sprays, gels, lotions, ointments, and sometimes even in the form of capsules.

This medicinal-value plant has been discovered to be an effective remedy for a variety of diseases such as ulcers, heat burns, fever, digestive disorders, and several skin injuries such as burns and lacerations.

Whether it is used internally or externally, the aloe vera plant is highly beneficial for your health, as it contains a range of essential ingredients such as amino acids, enzymes, proteins, minerals, mano-saccharides as well as poly-saccharides, salicylic acid, sterols, and vitamins including vitamin B-12. Perhaps for these reasons, aloe vera is sometimes referred to as a “natural healer” or a” miracle herb”.

The aloe leaf usually takes after a cactus and primarily consists of four layers: the outer layer known as the rind; the bitter fluid layer, namely, the sap; the inner portion known as the gel; and the mucilage. Studies reveal that the plant consists of more than 400 species.

EXTERNAL BENEFITS:

1. Since it has soothing properties, it is highly beneficial for healing burns and wounds.

2. The application of aloe gel is considered very effective in reducing itching and pain due to psoriasis.

3. It is also considered valuable in alleviating chronic joint and muscle pains due to such problems as tendonitis and arthritis.

4. As it can stimulate collagen as well as elastin synthesis, it is effective in preventing early signs of aging.

5. Restoration of immune system, i.e., application of this therapeutic plant on the skin reduces the chances for developing skin disorders from exposure of the sun’s rays.

6. Above all, it is a great moisturizer, i.e. it possesses the properties to hydrate and soften the skin.

INTERNAL BENEFITS:

1. The intake of aloe juice is considered to be one of the more effective remedies for gastrointestinal, ulcerous, and intestinal-related problems such as diarrhea and constipation.

2. Aloe vera juice is also considered effective in killing bacteria and fungus within the body.

3. It contains several useful ingredients such as zinc and super oxide dismutases, and hence serves as a good antioxidant.

3. Further, the presence of salicylic acid in the plant allows it to serve as one of the best medicines to combat inflammation and high fever.

4. With detoxification properties, this healthy plant is advantageous in preventing liver and kidney-related ailments.

5. Due to its medicinal properties, the intake of aloe vera is even regarded as effective in preventing such devastating ailments as arthritis, cancer, and diabetes.

6. This plant is also beneficial in improving the blood’s circulation throughout the body.

As you can see there are many benefits to this healthy plant, so it is wise to always have some on hand, and if you happen to have a green thumb they also make wonderful plants, and think of the money you will save. Whenever you need relief from a burn, just cut a little piece off and rub it directly onto the burned area, and feel the relief immediately.

Scott White is a Personal Trainer Arizona, Scottsdale: Real Estate Agent Scottsdale Arizona, Fitness Model Alicia Leombruni Arizona