Archive for April, 2009

Treatment for Primary Pulmonary Hypertension (PPH) pt.1

Sunday, April 12th, 2009

Do you have pulmonary hypertension? This medical disorder, which is more serious in some patients than for others, occurs when blood pressure increases in the pulmonary artery to the point where blood flow to the lungs is restricted and the heart becomes overworked.

This, in turn, results in a myriad of unpleasant symptoms ranging from lightheadedness and dizziness to fainting spells and shortness of breath or breathing difficulties, and is marked by a dramatically reduced physical activity and exercise tolerance.

Although there are many different types (venous, hypoxic, arterial, thromboembolic, or primary) as well as specific causes (ranging from pulmonary embolism, heart disorders, and autoimmune disorders to genetics and the use of certain weight-loss pills) of pulmonary hypertension, the condition known as primary pulmonary hypertension, or PPH, refers to pulmonary hypertension with a cause that is unknown or unproven in nature.

However, one specific cause that has often been linked to primary pulmonary hypertension is the use of Fen-Phen, a popular weight-loss and anti-obesity pill until the FDA took it off the market in 1997 after more and more reports surfaced, linking its use to the potential development of primary pulmonary hypertension.

Effective PPH treatment is essential if you have primary pulmonary hypertension, no matter why or how you developed this disorder. Flolan, a vasodilator FDA-approved drug as well as a natural form of prostacyclin produced by Glaxo Wellcome, Inc., is one of the more common choices for PPH treatment for a number of reasons. It works by relaxing the lungs’ blood vessels, slowing down the production of cell growth and scar tissue there, preventing the vessels from narrowing, and increasing oxygen in the blood.

Patients who take this treatment notice an improvement in their level of physical activity and exercise, and it may prolong their lives. This treatment is also considered an alternative to having a lung transplant. Finally, because it is a natural form of PPH treatment, Flolan is often preferred over other types of PPH treatment.

However, it is not taken as an oral tablet to treat primary pulmonary hypertension; it is actually quite a bit more complicated than that. Instead, the body receives it intravenously via a catheter through a vein in the chest leading to the heart.

The drug is then pumped into the patient’s system slowly but continuously through a battery-operated pump generally carried inside a little shoulder pack or worn on the belt. In addition, Flolan is natural and therefore has a short shelf life, meaning it must be mixed daily as well as refrigerated. The fact that it is generally considered to be inconvenient for some to use is one of the drug’s biggest complaints.

However, because it is a natural, biological substance and agent, using this treatment has fewer and less serious side-effects than other types of PPH treatment, such as Tracleer. The most common side-effects associated with Flolan include headaches, nausea and vomiting, diarrhea, jaw pain, and flushing. Very rarely do infections occur within the catheter, but when they do occur, hospitalization and replacement may be necessary.

It is often compared to other types of PPH treatment and drugs used for primary pulmonary hypertension, the most common of which are Remodulin and Tracleer. Flolan and Remodulin are quite similar in a number of ways (how they work and side-effects), but while Remodulin lasts longer than Flolan and does not need to be mixed or refrigerated daily, the location of the injection (abdominal area) must be changed often, and significant pain can develop in the injection area.

Tracleer is considered much more convenient to take than Flolan because Tracleer is taken orally as a tablet; however, it does have more and more serious side-effects, particularly related to the liver.

If Flolan treatment sounds like something that would work well for you in your lifestyle and situation and for treating your primary pulmonary hypertension, talk to your doctor about taking it to find out if it’s right for you. Keep in mind that it does require a prescription.

If you have personally used Fen-Phen as a drug to help you lose weight (particularly substantial amounts of weight) in the past and you now suffer from primary pulmonary hypertension and require PPH treatment, there could very well be a link between the two. Did you know that law firms specializing in cases like these can help you? Contact an established law firm that specializes in helping patients who have used Fen-Phen diet pills and now may have primary pulmonary hypertension or other medical condition or complication as a result.

Nick Johnson is lead counsel with Johnson Law Group. Johnson represents plaintiffs in many states and focuses on injury cases involving Fen-Phen and PPH, Paxil, Mesothelioma and Nursing Home Abuse. Call Nick Johnson at 1-888-311-5522 or visit http://www.jbclawfirm.com

Oh No! Help Find The Way

Sunday, April 5th, 2009

Contacts are available for daily wear or extended wear. Well, what does this mean? Extended lenses can be worn from two to four weeks due to the material they are made of. These contact lenses allows more oxygen to reach the cornea of the eye, where as soft contact lens are made of materials that incorporate water.

Extended lenses are soften by water and this makes them to be more flexible allowing more oxygen to reach the cornea of the eye. Most individual’s choose to wear their extended contact lenses about seven days before removing them. Contacts should be FDA approved. Extended contact lenses have been known to be worn for several days with no complications. Yes, you can sleep in extended contact lens but you stand a greater chance of eye infections and other complications. This is due to the lack of oxygen to the cornea at night while wearing contact lenses.

With the new technology , contacts have now been approved to being worn up to thirty days. These contact lenses are made of new super permeable silicone hydrogen materials. The cornea of the eye is allowed to get much more oxygen while wearing extended wear contact lenses. You should get around six times the amount of oxygen to the cornea than other disposable contact lenses. Bacteria is repelled much better with this new material than the old material.

Proper Care:

If one follows the eye doctor’s instruction while wearing extended contact lens they can minimize the risk of infection by replacing and caring for the extended contact lenses. Studies have shown that most infections and other complications arise from improper care.

It may be best to wear extended wear lenses on daily basis with limited night wear. They serve their purpose well when it comes to traveling on vacations and napping during the day.

If you should notice any irritation to your eyes or lack of vision ,you should consult your eye doctor.

Contacts are made for everyone. If you have a astigmatism , where the eye has an inability to focus due to an abnormal shaped cornea , then you may have to wait to a future time to try wearing contacts. Contacts are in the process of being designed to help people that suffer from astigmatism.

Don’t give up on modern technology. They will have you seeing better in no time. When that time comes , makes sure you use proper care to protect your eyes.

James Brown writes about Lensmart coupon codes, JustLenses.com coupon code and Discount Contact Lenses discounts

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