Saturday, April 14, 2007

The Effects of Ramipril and Hair Loss

Ramipril is used to treat hypertension (high blood pressure), heart attacks or strokes in patients. It is also used to help treat heart failure and may be used to treat people with diabetes who have developed kidney problems.

Ramipril works by causing blood vessels to relax, lowering blood pressure and increasing the supply of blood and oxygen to the heart. Although effective at intended use, there have been concerns about the sides effects of Ramipril. One of the concerns is the side effect of Ramipril and hair loss.

Before taking Ramipril, make sure that you are prepared for any and all side effects. It should be noted that not every person experiences all side effects and some don't have any at all. Ramipril and hair loss do not go hand and hand but it needs to be discussed because it can be very scary when you suddenly look in the mirror to find that you no longer have as much hair as you did yesterday. Typically, only between 1 and 2% of people taking Ramipril frequently may suffer from hair loss.

However, if your hair is really important to you, make sure you discuss Ramipril and hair loss with your doctor. By discussing this nasty side effect well in advance, you can hopefully skip that morning when you find you have a hairball stuck to your hairbrush or that your drain is clogged from the hair that should be on your head.

Ramiprila and hair loss can affect men and women. Hair loss can be traumatizing, but again, if the Ramipril is being given to save your life, hair or no hair, listen to your doctor and take the medication so that it can do its job effectively.

There are many drugs on the market today and they are used to treat many ailments each and every day. Sometimes, those medications that we take have side effects. Some are barely noticeable and some are completely devastating or life hindering. The important thing to remember is that the medications prescribed are by a professional so you should never try to alter or not take your correct dosages, even when you are afraid of certain side effects such as Ramipril and hair loss.

If you take Ramipril and experience hair loss, tell your doctor immediately. Your doctor can sometimes prescribe other medications that don't have as many side effects or that have different ones. If you take Ramipril and experience hair loss, understand that it is not the end of the world. You are taking Ramipril to potentially save your life and if that means that you have a little less hair, that should be one sacrifice you're willing to live with.

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Tuesday, March 27, 2007

Why Many Diets Are Doomed to Fail- How to Choose the Right Diet for You

You have probably seen it before. You or someone you know starts a new diet full of enthusiasm about the amazing weight loss to come. They stick with the diet for about a week, and then return to their old habits and lose all of the ground they had made. This is the saga that goes on in many people's lives indefinitely. Always signing up for the next diet that is going to melt the pounds off in a big hurry only to quit in less than two weeks with no permanent results. This is not the recipe for lasting weight loss.

So what causes people to start out strong a new diet and quickly fade into old habits? This article is going to reveal where most diets go wrong and show you how to avoid this weight loss trap.

A lot of people hold the belief that they need a strict, harsh diet to be able to achieve great weight loss. While these kinds of diets may work, how likely is a person to really stick with something so extreme for the long haul? The diet was doomed to fail because it is too hard to stick with.

If you are accustomed to eating anything you want all day and then suddenly start eating carrots, apples and rice, how do you think you would react? You might be able to stick it out for a couple of weeks, but sooner or later you would likely quit. This is because the diet is not satisfying. If you don't feel ok with what you're eating you will crave all of the things that the diet doesn't allow. These cravings only become stronger with time.

This is why it is critical to choose a diet that is healthy and satisfying. This will give the best of both worlds. You will like the food you eat, and you will experience lasting weight loss. What starts as a healthy diet becomes a lifestyle. This is where all lasting results are found… in a lifestyle change. I hope you take this article to heart and begin a reasonable diet that will provide the change you desire.

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Tuesday, March 13, 2007

What Vitamins Does A Breastfeeding Mother Need?

No single source of food gives you all the vitamins you need except for breastmilk. Because a breastfeed baby gets all the nutrients it requires from its mother breastmilk it's vital that a nursing mother is getting all the vitamins she needs.

Breastfeeding is the best way to give your baby all the nutrients it needs to grow and thrive. And, as a breastfed baby gets all its vitamins for her mother's milk, it's important that a breastfeeding mother is getting her daily quota of vitamins; you get out what you put in.

Amongst other nutrients, such as minerals and protein, vitamins play an important role in your baby's development. A nursing mother should be aware of what vitamins are important and what part of her diet provides these vitamins.

Vitamin A and C, and the B group

Vitamin C is needed every day for a baby to develop well. Vitamin C helps our bodies to fight off infection and disease as well as helping to heal wounds. Vitamin C also plays a role in preventing anaemia (lack of iron in the blood). Vitamin C can't be stored in the body, so we must eat food that gives us the vitamin C we require. Eating fruit and vegetables is the best way to get vitamin C. Citrus fruits especially are a great source as is papaya, broccoli, strawberries, cauliflower and kale. Some breastfeeding mothers may need more vitamin C than others, especially when overcoming a cold, surgery or some form of injury. In these circumstances, it is a good idea to increase your intake of foods rich in vitamin C.

Vitamin A (also known as retinol) helps in the formation and maintenance of healthy skin, hair, and mucous membranes. It is also necessary for proper bone growth and tooth development. Unlike vitamin C, which is water-soluble, vitamin A is a fat-soluble vitamin. Good sources of vitamin A include cheese, eggs, oily fish (such as mackerel), milk, fortified margarine and yogurt. Liver is also a rich source of vitamin A but is to be avoided during pregnancy. However, after birth a breastfeeding mother can eat liver but, because it's such a rich source, if you already eat it every week, you might want to choose not to have it more often.

There are many B group vitamins. Vitamin B12 (also known as cobalamin) is needed for the production of new cells. It also contributes to a healthy nervous system and is involved in the making of fatty acids. Vitamin B12 is only naturally found in foods that come from animals such as meat, fish, eggs and milk. It is very rare for a woman who eats animal foods to be deficient in B12. If you are a vegan breastfeeding mother then you may need to eat foods that have been fortified with vitamin B12. You might also consider a B12 supplement.

Vitamin D

Vitamin D is important as it helps our bodies to absorb calcium, which is important for bone development and strong teeth. Babies who don't get enough vitamin D are at risk of developing rickets - a softening of the bone that causes curvature. Vitamin D can be manufactured by the body when our skin is exposed to natural sunlight. However, many mothers - especially during winter - don't get enough sunlight for their bodies to make enough vitamin D. Foods like salmon, tuna, liver and kidney are good sources of vitamin D. Also, many foods are now fortified with vitamin D such as breakfast cereals and margarine.

If in doubt about your recommended daily amount of vitamins needed while breastfeeding, you should first consult your doctor. But, if you have a well-balanced diet, and eating the 5 portions of fruit and vegetables each day as recommended, the chances are that your baby is getting all the vitamins it needs.

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