Your Health Blog

Posts Tagged ‘Prevention’

Smokers have been around for decades and even though today’s smokers have run out of excuses, there are still many youngsters who are or will become smokers in due course. Of these, both the new smokers and the older smokers, a very large percentage will develop lung and breathing problems.

These breathing problems can end up turning into chronic obstructive pulmonary disease with all the limitations this entails. All smokers run this risk and in fact 20% of them will develop COPD. And of all COPD sufferers, 90% of them did smoke in the past. When you translate these percentages into real figures the results number in the millions - and yet there are new smokers all the time.

By this time regrets and blaming others, though typical will be next to useless. The vast majority of people with COPD will need extra oxygen supplied through a machine.

For those who stop smoking this is not necessarily a guarantee of not developing COPD - but it will reduce the degree of damage.

What to do/ Aside from not smoking (I had to put that in), in most cases oxygen therapy is prescribed as part of the overall recovery and treatment process. With this oxygen therapy, patients are getting the necessary oxygen and are then able to continue with many normal activities. We all need oxygen to stay alive and being alive is more than just surviving. As the additional oxygen is received, together with more modern and practical ways of delivering, it many patients can lead active lifestyles - and this means less psychological limitations which after all does have a lot to do with quality of life.

There are two aspects that need to be highlighted.

Prevention, as they say, is the best medicine. There is a general consensus that smoking is bad for you and so legislation has focused on this. (Whether it is concern for public health or concern for the cost of medication and treatment is another thing). In the meantime many millions of ex smokers, who are growing older will develop pulmonary diseases.

The second relates to activity and quality of life. Home-stationary oxygen delivery machines are available as are oxygen tanks, cylinders and concentrators. These are also been constantly upgraded, bettered and even redesigned all of which will provide greater levels of activity and mobility.

It used to be that a patient that needed oxygen full time would be stuck to a clinic. If extra oxygen had to be given on a partial basis (not 24/7), then continuous visits had to be made. Now patients can get home oxygen systems as well as portable ones. This has made a great difference from all points of view - work, social activities and travel, both short distances and even flights. As a point of fact, the FAA has authorized certain oxygen concentrators on board flights.

Aside from these there is a whole range of accessories that are used - these include oximeters to measure oxygen blood saturation, cannulas (those hoses that deliver the oxygen to the nose or mouth) flow regulators.

What Genital Warts Look Like

Genital warts are very unattractive. They are marked by white, cauliflower looking bumps on or around the penis or vagina. They can also be found around the anus in some individuals. These bumps are not only unsightly, but they can also cause great mental trauma in those that have them. That’s because they fear about other sexual partners finding out about them. Unlike other sexually transmitted diseases that are otherwise invisible, warts are hard to hide. There is hope, however, because they can be treated. Doctors have had success freezing them off with liquid nitrogen. This can lead to scarring but it can get rid of the genital warts that are causing so much stress to the sufferer.

Using Creams and Other Treatments

There are creams and other treatments that have shown promise in getting rid of genital warts. These creams are prescribed by your doctor and should never be used unless approved. Most are prescription strength, so ask your doctor if they’ve heard of them. If you’re too embarrassed to see a doctor about genital warts, do it for yourself and also for any future sexual partners. After all, you don’t want to spread them to other people if you can help it. So make sure you seek out treatment as there are several treatment options available.

There is no cure for HPV or genital warts, but sometimes a person’s immune system will eradicate them on its own. The best thing to do if you have genital warts is to see your doctor. You should do this not only for your own peace of mind, but also the health of any of your future sexual partners. Having this STD isn’t the end of the world, though it can seem that way to anyone who suffers from them. Just know that you’re not alone as warts and HPV are the most common STD around today. Knowing that can make dealing with them a little easier.

Prevention Is Key With Genital Warts

When you have sex, there are more than a few things to worry about. There’s pregnancy and then there are STD’s. One of the most common of these STD’s is genital warts. Genital warts are caused by direct contact by the skin of an infected person. The warts are actually caused by a strain of HPV, or Human Papilloma Virus. Genital warts are not only unattractive but they can lead to cancer if not treated. The best thing to do, however, is practice prevention so that you don’t get genital warts in the first place. Always use a condom during sex and try to limit your sexual partners. These prevention techniques can protect against warts as well as a number of other STD’s. There is no cure for genital warts, but sometimes they will go away on their own. You can have them treated, however, for aesthetic reasons and for peace of mind.