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For years, there has been concern that antibiotics are overprescribed, and with good cause. Despite clear guidelines calling for prior testing, physicians prescribed antibiotics in 53 percent of sore throat cases in children, researchers from Brigham and Women’s Hospital (BWH) and Children’s Hospital Boston found in a recent study.

This represents significantly more prescriptions than warranted for actual rates — 15-36 percent — of strep throat among kids with sore throat. Furthermore, almost half of those prescriptions were given in the absence of a test. Details of this research appear in the November 9, 2005, issue of the Journal of the American Medical Association.

Group A streptococcal pharyngitis, or strep throat, is the most common cause of sore throat for which antibiotics are indicated. However, many leading health organizations, including the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and the American Academy of Pediatrics say that a common “strep” test should be performed prior to prescribing recommended antibiotics.

Antibiotic-Resistant Bacteria

“This study demonstrates that children with sore throat are frequently given unnecessary antibiotics,” says lead author Jeffrey A. Linder, MD, MPH, a BWH internist.

“This overprescribing of antibiotics could be easily remedied by following known guidelines, which include doing a simple, inexpensive strep test,” he adds.

“This is critical for not just children but all patients,” Dr. Linder notes, “as unnecessary prescription of antibiotics can lead to a variety of issues, including increased costs, the potential development of antibiotic-resistant bacteria, and adverse drug effects.”

Researchers analyzed data from children aged 3 to 17 years from 1995 to 2003 with sore throat who visited office-based physicians, hospital outpatient departments and emergency departments.

Among an estimated 7.3 million visits for sore throat over this time period, physicians prescribed antibiotics in 53 percent of the cases, the researchers found.

Just 15 to 36 percent of children with sore throat actually have the strep throat bacterium, according to estimates. But only 53 percent of those who were given the antibiotics had been tested first.

Testing Is Underused

Over the eight-year time period of the study, physicians prescribed antibiotics less frequently, the researchers found, which suggests an encouraging trend. In 1995, 66 percent of cases were given antibiotics, decreasing to 54 percent of cases in 2003.

Still, there was no decrease in the prescribing of non-recommended antibiotics, which made up 27 percent of antibiotic prescriptions, Dr. Linder points out. Recommended antibiotics for the treatment of strep throat are penicillin, amoxicillin, erythromycin and first-generation cephalosporins.

“Strep testing is underused, and physicians should be ordering this important diagnostic test before prescribing antibiotics to kids with sore throat,” emphasizes Dr. Linder.

“Instead of writing a prescription, physicians should order a test and make sure they are treating kids’ symptoms by offering a pain medication like acetaminophen or ibuprofen,” he advises.

Copyright 2005 Daily News Central

Has your doctor recently told you that you need to be working at lowering bad cholesterol? Have you learned that your LDL levels are too high? If so, you may have also heard some commonly accepted ideas about reducing cholesterol that simply are not true. Let’s take a look at a couple of them.

The first lie that you may have heard states that naturally lowering cholesterol does not work. Nothing could be further from the truth.

Here’s an irrefutable fact. A reduction in cholesterol levels is proportional to weight loss. In other words, a simple weight loss diet will reduce your cholesterol, even if it is not centered around natural substances that have been shown to lower cholesterol.

As a matter of fact the most effective way to lower your cholesterol is not by using medication, but rather by making changes in your diet so that it includes increased amounts of high fiber foods and fewer foods that contain high amounts of saturated fats.

Studies have shown over and over again that fiber is the most effective substance for cholesterol reduction. This is due to the fact that cholesterol attaches itself to fiber in the intestines so that it is eliminate it from the body before it has a chance to be absorbed into the bloodstream.

Another misnomer that is out there has to do with cholesterol medications that are on the market today. Many people believe that they are safe (after all, would your doctor ever give you something that wasn’t). In reality, there are some extremely severe side effects associated with long-term use of statin medication

It is a known fact that they have the potential to cause permanent damage to the kidneys and liver. Because of this, and because of how effective naturally lowering cholesterol can be, medication should be used as a last resort, not the first option.

If you have high LDL readings, then you really do need to be working at lowering bad cholesterol (LDL) and raising your good cholesterol (HDL) levels. The most effective way to do this is by incorporating a high fiber diet that contains healthy fats such as those found in nuts, whole grains and fish.

Taking an approach of naturally lowering cholesterol will provide benefits for you for the long-term. You will have more energy, lose weight and perhaps even extend your lifespan. I invite you to visit my website where I provide more details about safe and effective ways to lower cholesterol without the use of medication.

Getting allergy sinus relief begins with understanding sinus problems. A lot of sinus victims confuse its symptoms with cold and for a good reason, they are quite similar – itchy watery eyes, runny nose – this may translate into a serious sinus infection, sinus allergies or even worse a combination of both.

What are sinuses? Sinuses are four hollow spaces also known as para-nasal sinuses. Their individual names and location is: frontal – Over the eyes next to the brow area; sphenoids – Upper region of the nose; ethmoids – Behind the bridge of the nose; maxillary – Inside each check bone.

The tissue lining in the sinuses secrets a fluid called mucus. The mucus keeps the sinuses moist and helps clean away dirt when you inhale and exhale. When this tissue gets inflamed increases mucus discharge. They swell up with time and air cannot circulate as normal. This in turn creates pressure in the head giving you headache known as sinus headache.

What are the common symptoms of sinus allergy? Sinus allergy may produce a range of symptoms, some of which are: pain in the forehead, caused by the frontal sinus; pain in the ear, neck and the top of the head, caused by sphenoid sinus; pain in the upper jaw and teeth, caused by maxillary sinus; pain around the eyes with swelling, caused by ethmoid sinus.

You may also experience fever, fatigue, and body ache. Sinuses draining at the back of the throat can give you a sore throat also cough may be present which will worsen during the night. At this point, one will do anything for allergy sinus relief.

To get allergy sinus relief you have to first and foremost unblock your sinuses or nasal passages. Over the counter decongestants are usually very efficient. If you have chronic sinus allergies the doctor may prescribe something more specific, such as a steroid nasal spray; using the spray daily will help get you allergy sinus relief.

Another very important factor in dealing with allergy sinus relief is to keep your doctor informed so he can recognize your condition and treat you with the right medication. This will not only get you allergy sinus relief but your doctor will work with you to prevent any outbreaks.

One should also get informed on everything there is to know about allergy sinus relief and prevention. Preventing is better then a cure; it will save you a lot of pain and suffering that is for sure.

If you are an overweight Houston resident, you may want to consider seeking the services of a slim-down doctor. A Houston weight loss doctor can give you options regarding diet and exercise. Also, they can give your assistance in achieving your ideal weight and weight management goals.

Skilled professional

A Houston weight loss doctor has the expertise and experience to create suitable programs for you. Doctors would schedule a consultation first. There will physical exams and body analysis that would be done. Also, your dietary history will be asked.

All these procedures would provide your with correct measurements – water weight, fat pounds, muscle pounds, among others. Plus, your ideal calorie intake and body fat amount will be calculated. When measuring all these, your body type will be considered.

Program recommendation

The consultation would provide your doctor how to make a suitable program. Then, a program would be recommended to you. Sometimes, doctors may provide you with different options for medication. They may even suggest giving you booster shots to increase your energy level and slim-down rate. Also, surgery may even be recommended.

There are different options for surgery that a Houston weight loss doctor can recommend. These include stomach stapling and gastric bypass surgery. Stomach stapling, or vertical banded gastroplasty, entails stapling a stomach part to regulate food intake. Gastric bypass surgery, on the other hand, involves having a new stomach that is planted on the small intestine.

Dietary supplements and prescription medications are recommended to those who need other approaches aside from controlled diet and physical regimen. However, these supplements and medications need to be regulated. Surgery is recommended to those persons whose health conditions are gravely affected. Obesity poses health risks, so weight problems should be properly addressed. A Houston doctor can certainly address your problems and provide you with effective options.

As we mentioned in previous articles, with either mental or physical stimulation, your brain signals the nerve ending in the penis to release nitric oxide. Nitric oxide relaxes or dilates blood vessels, enabling them to open up and bring more blood to the penis and helping to create an erection. In this article, we will discuss the risk factors of erectile dysfunction:

1. Chronic health conditions
People suffering from chronic diseases have a high risk of erectile dysfunction. Chronic diseases such as:
a) Heart diseases are caused by cholesterol building up in the arteries and blood vessel resulting in inadequate blood flow into the penis.
b) Diabetes with unhealthy diet causes high levels of glucose build-up in the bloodstream resulting in narrowed arteries and blood vessels that prevent adequate blood from entering the penis.
c) Prostate enlargement and chronic prostate: Inflammation of the prostate also reduces the blood flow entering the penis resulting in erectile dysfunction.
Other chronic diseases affecting organs like the lung, liver, and kidney also can lead to erectile dysfunction because of inflammation, inadequate blood flow or hormonal imbalance.

2. Aging
Aging results in more testosterone to be converted to dihydro-testosterone causing erections to take longer to develop and to need more direct touch to the penis.

3. Nerve damage
It is obvious that any damage to the nerve that directly controls erections can cause temporarily erectile dysfunction.

4. Medication
The side effects of some medications used to treat high blood pressure, depression, and prostate enlarged may interfere with nerve impulses and reducing the blood flow to the penis.

5. Prolong cycling
Prolong cycling over an extended period and pressure from a bicycle seat compresses nerves and blood flow to the penis, leading to temporary erectile dysfunction.

6. Psychological conditions
Other psychological conditions such as depression, anxiety and stress also contributes to some cases of erectile dysfunction.

7. Substance abuse
Substance abuse such as smoking, alcohol, marijuana or other drugs often causes erectile dysfunction.

There are many other risk factors such as obesity, diabetes, high levels of cholesterol and triglycerides that can cause erectile dysfunction. I hope this information will help. If you need more information of the above subject, please visit my home page at:

Has your doctor recently informed you that it’s time for you to begin lowering bad cholesterol readings? If so, you will find the information in this article informative and interesting. You see, when your doctor informed you of your high cholesterol, he probably also suggested beginning a regimen of cholesterol lowering medication.

For some reason, you rarely hear from the established medical community that there are some very effective natural ways of reducing high LDL readings without having to resort to these medications and the associated side effects. I was shocked to hear that as many as 25% of individuals who use statin cholesterol medication experience muscle pain and spasms, often accompanied with muscle damage.

Here are three effective steps you can take to lowering bad cholesterol without having to resort to cholesterol medication:

1.) Greatly reduce the amount of saturated fat in your diet. When first beginning, it is helpful to completely eliminate beef and pork. At the same time increase the amounts of skinless turkey and chicken in your diet. Fish is also very beneficial when you’re trying to balance out your lipid readings.

2.) List foods that help lower cholesterol and keep it on hand to refer to frequently. Foods such as vegetables, fruit, nuts and whole grains are all high fiber foods that should become a part of every meal. Fiber has been proven to be extremely effective in lowering bad cholesterol and should become a mainstay of your eating habits.

3.) If you’re in the habit of eating out frequently, the best thing you can do for lowering cholesterol levels is to break this habit. Avoid fast food. Prepare your own cholesterol lowering recipes at home. This is essential to restore healthy cholesterol levels.

Following these three steps will quickly put you on the road to lowering bad cholesterol raising good cholesterol and developing a healthier lifestyle.

I invite you to visit my website where I list foods that help lower cholesterol and describe the best things you can do to improve your lipid readings.

Many years ago, I remember reading an article about the overuse of antibiotics and its dangers. One of the dangers was the mutation of antibiotic resistant bacteria. Alexander Flemming, the man who discovered penicillin, warned that the overuse of this miracle drug might lead to problems with resistant bacteria “super bugs”; therefore antibiotics should only be used in cases of life or death. It’s unfortunate that his warning was not taken seriously, for it’s no secret that antibiotics have been used and abused as a medicine of convenience. In addition, most people consume a small steady dose of antibiotics by eating commercially grown meats, poultry and farm raised fish. It’s time to pay the piper, for “super bugs” are now a very serious threat and have already taken the lives many people throughout our country.

We’ve been hearing about a form of staph infection called methicillin resistant staphylococcus aureus, also known as MRCA. The symptoms of MRCA and other staph infections are very similar so it is important that a doctor diagnoses the condition; pimples, rashes, pus-filled boils, especially when warm, painful, red or swollen, can mean that you have a staph skin infection. Staph can also cause more serious infections such as severe skin infection, surgical wound infections, bloodstream infections, and pneumonia. The symptoms could include high fever, swelling, heat and pain around a wound, headache, fatigue, and others. These infections can be very serious and life threatening. It’s important to see a doctor is one suspects MRCA.

The good news is that if ones immune system is up to snuff, staph or any other bacteria usually will not pose a problem. The bad news is that the typical American life style, diet and overuse of antibiotics and prescription drugs don’t allow ones immune system to thrive. Each time one takes a course of antibiotics, they knock their immune system a notch or two. 70% of ones immune system is in their gut and antibiotics destroy all the good bacteria living there, so after a course of antibiotics, the first line of defense has been destroyed leaving one defenseless. That’s why it is not uncommon for one to contract a yeast/fungal infection after antibiotics. Most people have been taking antibiotics since they were a child so it’s understandable why there are so many people with compromised immune systems.

There are many ways to build ones immune system to reduce the chances in contracting MRCA or any other germ. Every human being would benefit by restoring the good bacteria in their gut by taking a probiotic supplement (acidophilus and bifidophilus). Vitamin C in the form of emergen C or a buffered variety is helpful. If one has irritable bowel and is on a diarrhea swing, this may not be a good choice. Colloidal or ionized silver is a natural antibiotic that is not staph resistant and can be taken throughout the winter as prevention at 1 teaspoon a day. A good “immune building” multiple can be taken at 2 a day for prevention. Garlic is another natural antibiotic that is not staph resistant because of its active ingredient, allicin. If you and others can stand the odor, eating a clove a day is the cheapest route. There are also garlic pills available. An old fashion remedy to treat a staph or any other skin infection or wound is to crush a clove of garlic and add 5-10 drops of tea tree oil. Place directly on problem area and cover with a large Band-Aid or gauze for as long as possible, for it may burn a little due to the garlic. Repeat the process each day until the area is healed. If one is not able to walk around smelling like garlic and tea tree oil, Miracle II gel is an odorless topical oxygenated formula that has a reputation of healing a variety of the most stubborn skin conditions. There are homeopathic remedies such as silicia, hepar sulphuris calcareum and calcarea sulphurica that help with severe skin conditions a helping boils suppurate (pop) and heal. The 30C potency will suffice.

Common sense hygiene is always important. Washing hands with soap and water is the most important. Carrying disinfecting wipes around comes in handy for wiping down the handle of shopping carts, payphones, etc. For more information on MRCA and some additional hygiene tips, go to www.cdc.gov and click on MRCA in schools.

Please feel free to read more of this article by visiting my link in the resource box below. I always enjoy getting emails pertaining to my articles or my site. Your feedback is important to me.

What Causes Arthritis? Arthritis is one of the most common causes of chronic pain. But, arthritis pain relief is not as common. There are over one hundred diseases associated with arthritis, affecting areas in and around joints. Just below heart disease, arthritis is the second leading cause of disability and the inability to work. Pain from arthritis can limit the ability to perform simple, every day activities. Many people believe that nothing can be done for arthritis – but there are ways to relieve the pain caused by arthritis. The most successful way is to manage your pain and try to avoid things that aggravate the problem area.

In many situations, arthritis is caused by the wear and tear of joints. Some of this wear and tear is caused as the body ages naturally. Some is brought on earlier than normal by overusing certain joints. Maintaining a healthy weight is essential in the prevention of the early onslaught of arthritis. As with many other medical conditions, the way you take care of your body will be a determining factor in whether or not you arthritis affects you and how early you begin to see signs of the condition.

Ways to Prevent Or Decrease Your Chance of Arthritis There are many ways to prevent the early onslaught of arthritis. Your body treats you the way you treat your body. Thinking ahead to the years when your body begins aging and taking care of yourself with that in mind can sometimes help you to avoid arthritis pain later in life – or in the very least, help you to prevent arthritis for a longer period of time.

Here are some ways you can decrease your chances of suffering from arthritis pain:

Maintain a healthy weight. Excess weight causes early wear and tear of the weight-bearing joints, which include the feet, ankles, hips, knees, and spine. Maintain a regular exercise routine. The old saying, “If you don’t use it, you lose it”, holds true. By not exercising regularly, muscles weaken and place more strain on the joints. By exercising regularly, the muscles are allowed to do their job and work with the joints, rather than the joints working for the muscles. Don’t over exercise. While a regular exercise regimen is essential for your overall health, overusing your joints will have a detrimental effect on your body. The key is to exercise regularly – rather than trying to perform a week’s worth of exercise once a week. Exercise daily – or maintain a consistent schedule. Avoid repetitive movements as often as possible. Repetitive movements of the wrists or knees can cause problems later in life. Try to switch activities frequently enough to avoid repetitive strain on the joints. Eat a healthy diet and drink plenty of water. A healthy diet and keeping your body properly hydrated are important factors in avoiding the early onslaught of arthritis. Arthritis Pain Relief Once you begin showing signs of arthritis pain, it is very important to see your physician so that, together, you can form a plan to manage your pain. Arthritis can cause debilitating pain and limit your activities. But, with proper care and pain management, it is possible to lead a normal life. Here are a few ways in which you can accomplish arthritis pain relief: Medication. Some physicians recommend medications for the relief of arthritis pain. Before you choose medication as your management program, you should discuss the side effects and interactions with other drugs with your physician. Always be sure to learn as much as you can in order to make an informed decision. Herbal supplements. Many people choose to avoid the risks associated with medications. In this case, herbal remedies may be used as a means of arthritis pain relief. Magnet Therapy. Many people believe in the therapeutic effects of magnet therapy. Acupuncture. For those who believe in the healing powers of acupuncture, this may be a route for you. Ayurveda. Many people who are in search of a holistic method of arthritis pain relief use this method of treatment, which originated in India. http://www.ayurvediccure.com/arthcarecapsules.htm

There are many ways in which a person can prevent, decrease, or treat the effects of arthritis. The most important thing in determining the best course of action for arthritis pain relief is to learn as much as possible so that you can make an informed decision – one that is right for you.

It’s All in the Mind

Companies that offer weight loss hypnosis claim that their services help their clients loose weight by retraining their minds to no longer crave sweet, fatty, and salty food; to be motivated to exercise, and to have the will power to stick with the program. The programs suggest a combination office therapy sessions and listening to self-hypnosis tapes/CD’s when not in sessions for different specified amount of times (this varies between programs).

While it’s true that will power is ultimately the deciding factor in any weight loss plan, it is also true that in order for any weight loss plan to work: Diet, exercise, medications, or hypnosis for weight loss; and the person must have real desire, commitment, and motivation must already be prevalent. This being said, losing weight by hypnosis is in fact as hard as loosing weight any other way, hypnosis has been shown to assist weight loss efforts, however there is no conclusive scientific evidence that hypnotism improves the chances of success.

The Idea Behind the Method

The concept of hypnosis for any behavior modification is not so far fetched; people under hypnosis are known to be more acceptable to suggestion. This does not mean that hypnosis for weight loss is necessarily a quick fix to instantly loose weight; any weight loss program is going to require self discipline, self motivation, and a comprehensive plan that includes diet and exercise.

If someone were interested in trying to use hypnosis for weight loss there are a few things to consider; first there is no instant weight loss anything, if the company or person selling a hypnotism for weight loss product claims there is, do not work with those people. Second, hypnosis cannot make a person do something that they don’t want to do, advocates of hypnosis claim that they are able to modify behaviors, but there is no evidence to this claim. Third, there is no scientific evidence for the safety of hypnosis nor is there a regulatory service for hypnotists, a person can take a 2 day course and claim to be a hypnotist.

Methods of Delivery

There are recordings on tape or CD and therapy sessions available; many sources offer hypnosis for weight loss recordings on tape or CD, they can be found all over the internet and in alternative reading stores that offer motivational, meditation, and other types of self help tapes and CD’s.

Therapy sessions can be found in most major cities, these sessions average about $30 dollars each and most incorporate recorded self hypnosis as a supplemental tool. Many hypnosis for weight loss programs will have six to eight weekly sessions with the recording being used to supplement nightly.

(Especially pain of the head, neck, back, sacrum, hip, knee, ankle or foot)

“I hurt!” is one of the most common things a doctor hears. Most of the people I saw in 44 years of practice had failed to receive lasting pain relief – conventional or alternative, integrative or complementary. Often I found just listening to a patient I’d not only hear how they got hurt but quickly they’d tell me what didn’t work – And then they’d tell me what helped them!

Many times I’d find that gentle pressure or a slight sidewise-movement over their painful spots would relieve the trouble quickly, but briefly. These were ‘clues’ telling me what therapy to do next. Sometimes simple soft-tissue movement, simple naturopathic movements (without painful ‘crunching’), taping a special magnet over selected spots, and off they’d go: feeling MUCH better and not needing to return unless pain returned! Sometimes a simple touch upon one ear (the warmth of a colored felt-marker on THE spot could be enough!). It’s important to determine if there’s left/right handedness involved. When acupuncture is indicated, there are needle-free techniques; for more difficult conditions our THREE-POINT method can relieve and/or eliminate deep-seated problems immediately! NO NEED TO ‘MARRY’ ME FOR THREE TIMES A WEEK VISITS… if you don’t feel better immediately and I can’t rid you of your pain in 4-5 visits, then I’m not going to do it in 105 visits. My goals: pain relief NOW on less medication than you were using before and putting you in control of your own treatment.

The best results come from those who have never-ending pain. 24/7 pain relief is usually immediate, sometimes delayed for up to 8-10 hours, but always THE SAME DAY. If you’re a chain-smoker, plan to QUIT SMOKING in one twenty-minute (drug-free!) visit: but remember, I don’t sew shut your lips! No one but you puts that cigarette in your mouth… we need to change your lifestyle, and that’s the TRUTH!

If your pain comes-and-goes, it’s tougher to get rid of. If you have a migraine attack or tic-douloureaux once a month and it’s gone after one treatment, don’t think it’s over. The first time you eat chocolate or peanuts or drink alcohol, you may have another attack. I find MOST such attacks are sensitivity- or allergy-related; we need some good detective-work here plus your willingness to stop whatever we find is the cause of the trouble! The curious thing about some of these treatments: there may be what I choose to call ‘reverse tolerance’. That is, they can provide relief for 3-6 months at a time, then pain may return, and a single treatment then provides relief for another 3-6 months… or it just goes away until the ‘next time’ you slip on a banana peel or whatever…

If that’s the way you might respond, there is usually some structural or physical condition underlying. We’ll go ‘back to basics’: making sure it isn’t unequal leg-length; maybe it’s narrowing of bone where a nerve passes by or there’s scar-tissue from a prior injury or surgery. Or (worse-yet) no one paid attention to ligaments you may have overstretched or ‘pulled’ a long time ago. Herniated disc? Normally, that does NOT need surgery in over 90% of cases! (I speak from personal experience here.)

I can’t ‘undo’ damage from bone rubbing on bone. But most persons can expect to live fairly well several months pain-free; then a single ‘tune-up’ visit and away they go. Typically, such persons may need referral to a specially-trained MD or ND for 6-8 specific non-steroid prolotherapy treatments (approximately a month apart) and surgery may well be avoided. Many people have been told their problem’s “in their head”. Well yes, our brains do run everything: but I maintain that SYMPTOMATIC MEDICINE IS NOT GOOD MEDICINE… nothing beats a good doctor who makes a good diagnosis and then selects the best treatment. Ridding you of the cause gets rid of your symptoms.

I’ve been a user of Auriculotherapy for over 35 years now: In my opinion this particular form of treatment makes almost everything else work better… For that reason, if you’re not better after your first visit you may not be in the right doctors’ office. Yes, whether treating dogs, horses or humans: we have made HUGE advances. Many of us just need to slow down a bit and ‘listen tightly’ to what you tell us. There are still those among us who are not treating just to collect the fee (sometimes, money can be a root of ‘evil’). You should be comfortable asking your own doctor about what ails you and he/she should answer you.