Feb 7, 2009

ANTIBIOTICS FOR SINUSITIS

Sinusitis is one of the most widely spread respiratory diseases in the United States. Each year, millions of individuals experience the discomfort of symptoms from some kind of sinus infection.

Symptoms for sinus infection vary depending on the case and severity of your condition. In most cases, these symptoms will include headaches, fever, fatigue, nasal discharge, congestion or blockage.
Sinus symptoms can also be caused by colds, allergies and environmental irritants, which are more common than a bacterial sinus infection. That is why some people actually mistake sinusitis as the common cold and don’t really get proper medical treatment for it, thinking that the symptoms will go away and resolve on its own. Other than viral or bacterial causes for sinus infection or symptoms, your living conditions can also contribute to your sinusitis.

Allergens may be present that may trigger sinus problems.
If your head aches, you have blockage or congestion in your nasal passages, or you have a runny nose and this goes on for weeks without improvement, it is best to see your doctor and get a proper diagnosis to treat your sinus infection. Your doctor will be able to prescribe you antibiotics that will help you with your symptoms, as needed. An analgesic may also be prescribed at the same time, to aid in your sinusitis treatment if you are feeling too much pain. Some over the counter medicines can also be taken for additional relief or comfort for other symptoms. But in most cases, an antibiotic will do just fine and will work successfully if taken the right way. Antibiotics are usually taken anywhere from 7 to 14 days continuously. The dosage and frequency of your intake would depend on the severity of your symptoms and the kind of infection you have. There are also different ways to take antibiotics. Oral antibiotics are the most commonly prescribed antibiotics.

Although it usually takes time for it to be effective because you have to wait for the medication to circulate your bloodstream before you feel any kind of relief from it.
Nebulized antibiotics are getting more and more popular these days. With this type of antibiotic, a nebulizer or inhaler is used to administer the medication. With this method, you inhale the medication through your nose. This allows topical application of the medicine directly onto the infected areas providing a faster and more efficient treatment of your sinus infection. In select cases, the doctor may choose to give you antibiotics intravenously. This method allows the medication to directly enter your bloodstream through a direct injection to your vein and is instantly circulated through your system, giving you faster relief. This type of antibiotic usually lasts 4 – 6 weeks. If you have taken antibiotics according to the instructions given to you by your doctor and there is still no improvement in your condition after 14 days, stop taking any medication and consult your doctor. A different treatment program may be prescribed for you or further tests may be needed to identify the type and severity of your condition.

Feb 6, 2009

PREGNANCY SYMPTOMS - THE CLASSIC SYMPTOMS

The first reaction to early sign of pregnancy is disbelief, joy followed by a feeling of uncertainty. A visit to the doctor and a blood test is the only way to confirm your pregnancy. Early pregnancy tests are very reliable and even show the accurate results of a 2-week-old embryo. Before the visit to a doctor for the confirmation of pregnancy, it is very important to watch out for pregnancy symptoms. The precautions taken during early sign of pregnancy is very important for embryo's health and well being. Some of the most recognizable signs of pregnancy are as follows.

Classic pregnancy symptoms
These pregnancy symptoms appear soon after fertilization, within 8-10 days after conception. Some of the pregnancy symptoms stay with you for the entire period of gestation, while some pregnancy symptoms disappear as the pregnancy advances. They stop troubling you as your body starts getting used to change in hormones and settles to the imminent body changes. A few temporary early signs of pregnancy are:

Missed periods or less bleeding at the onset of periods. The absence of periods during the duration of pregnancy is because now the uterine lining need not be shed but used for implantation of the embryo.

Lower abdominal cramps, which begin soon after the implantation of embryo, disappear within a week or two. Headaches caused by rising levels of hormones in the first few days of pregnancy too disappear once the body accepts the change in hormonal levels.

The pregnancy symptoms that last the entire period of pregnancy are:
Nausea and vomiting are the early signs of pregnancy starting in the second week itself. The degree in which you feel sick varies from full fledged to none as the pregnancy advances. It is fairly controlled during the third trimester, making you feel more relaxed and happy.

Tender and swollen breasts appear soon after conception and stays with you till the entire period. It is the nature's way to make the breast ready for baby's breastfeeding. In the last trimester the breasts secrete a liquid called colostrums, which provides immunity to the baby.

Enlarging and darkening of areola is the first sign of pregnancy, and lasts throughout.
Frequent urination and constipation is early sign of pregnancy and increases with the advancing pregnancy due to the pressure of the growing embryo on the surrounding body organs.

Exhaustion and tiredness occurs from initial stages of pregnancy and stay the entire duration of the gestation.
Food cravings for a particular type of food are still an unsolved mystery. Some doctors feel this is the way the body acquires the adequate minerals required by the growing embryo. This pregnancy symptom is an early sign of pregnancy and stays on till the end.
Increased sense of smell and taste too varies in all stages of pregnancy.

If you experience these pregnancy symptoms then take care of your health. Avoid harmful products; start taking balanced diet and some extra folic acid for happy and healthy pregnancy.