Protect your thyroid

THYROID GLAND:

    It is a butterfly shaped gland that located at either sides of throat region. It secretes thyroid hormones which regulates the body metabolism.

The three main functions of thyroid gland:

1. Metabolism

2. Body Homeostasis

3. Regulates menstrual cycle.

Thyroid hormones are 2 types - Thyronine, thyroxin. 

If any damage occurs to the thyroid gland , several body functions get disturbed. So, never neglect thyroid health especially at menopause stage.

Thyroid Gland

Triggering factors for thyroid damage:

1. Age (Menopause woman)

2. Gender (Female)

3. Food (Junk food) etc.,

Thyroid abnormalities:

1. Hypothyroidism

2. Hyperthyroidism.

Symptoms of thyroid disorder:

1. Weight gain or weight loss unintentionally.

2. Irregular menstrual cycle.

3. Hair loss (Alopecia)

4. Heat or cold intolerance.

5. Various skin problems.

Bothering about your thyroid health???

Follow these tips to protect your thyroid.

1. Salt:

A thyroid needs Iodine to work well. Iodine is absorbed through iodized table salt. So, take sufficient amount of salt in your diet.

2. Leafy greens:

Thyroid needs magnesium(Mg) to do its functions properly. Spinach, lettuce and other leafy greens are rich sources of Mg. So, add these leafy greens to your daily diet.

3. Dry fruits:

Dry fruits are another sources of Mg. They are not only rich in Mg but also Selenium, the another mineral that supports the thyroid.

4. Sea food:

Sea food like fish, shrimp and sea weed are great sources of iodine but avoid kelp if you have hypothyroidism.

Sea food

Dry fruits

Leafy Greens

Thyroid Medication and food:

Thyroid medication interacts with some types of food that we take. So, be cautious about food while taking thyroid medication.

So, take medicine on empty stomach preferably in the morning for better results.

Ask your Doctor or Pharmacist for more information.

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Long term treatment for GOUT is not safe

GOUT:
 
    It is the disease related to degeneration of small and large joints. The excess uric acid is accumulated at the joint areas which leads to degeneration. So the treatment is given by using allopurinol derivatives which decreases the uric acid accumulation by increasing the urinary excretion of uric acid. In gouty patients the urinary clearance is decreased (intrinsic kidney disease) up to 80% which leads to uric acid accumulation.
 
    The symptoms include redness, swelling, tremor, rigidity at the joint area. If untreated this may leads to difficulty in walking and sometimes difficulty in mild movement of joints. The condition is stimulated by age, sex, socioeconomic factors etc. Gout is common in menopause women, geriatrics, persons who is genetic predisposed.

Treatment Options:

Allopurinol derivatives.
NSAID's.
Colchicine.
Corticosteroids.
Analgesics.

INTERVENTION:

     Several diagnostic techniques are available now a days to diagnose gouty arthritis. But there is no proper idea that when we start the treatment.

     The recent clinical studies told that long term treatment with allopurinol derivatives shows side effects like heart attacks. So the patients has to monitor regularly for cardiac symptoms.

Recognized barriers for the treatment are sub optimal patient and physician knowledge about disease, treatment and clinical recommendation, patient and physician preferences for treatment.

OTHER OPTIONS TO RELIEVE PAIN:

Alcohol withdrawn.
life style modifications.

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New FDA approval for Rosacea (Chronic skin disease)

ABOUT DISEASE:
Rosacea is a challenging condition to manage as it is tends to vary from patient to patient often requiring a tailored approach (by using TDM). Rosacea is a common chronic skin disease condition affecting predominantly woman(ACED 30) in US. The symptoms are inflammatory lesions,bumbs and pimples.

Causes:
The main cause of Rosacea is unknown, but researches suggest multiple triggers including exposure to sun, alcohol, spicy food & exposure.

Rosacea rashes

ABOUT DRUG:

1. Ivermectin:
USFDA approves 1% Ivermectin cream (Soolantra, Galderma Labs) for the treatment of inflammatory lesions, bumbs and pimples of Rosacea. While some Rosacea treatments for the commom bumps and pimples may take more than 4 weeks to show effect but Ivermectin cream may provides initial results as early as (with in 2 weeks).

2. Significance of drug:
The API of Ivermectin has Anti- inflammatory and anti-parasitic activity.

3. Frequency:
The ointment has to apply once-daily on lesions.

4. Clinical evidence:
Two pivotal phase 3 randomized, double blind, 12 week, vehicle- controlled studies involving 910 patients with Rosacea.

5. Safety of Ivermectin:
It is safe & well tolerated at long term use(12 weeks) although some patients reported skin burning & skin irritations.

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Viral arthritis

    viral prodrome is the underlying cause for the viral arthritis. In US most of the patients present with viral Arthritis. Generally symmetrical small joints are involved in viral arthritis. Rarely different patterns of joint and soft-tissue with different viral infections may occurs.
   
    But luckily this type of arthritis associated with viral infections is nondestructive and does not lead to any currently recognized form of chronic disease.

    This type of arthritis is completely differ from normal rheumatoid arthritis in severity sense. RA leads to chronic if untreated and also by age where as viral arthritis doesn't vary with age. The pain at joints will be relieved once viral infection clears.

     Viral arthritis will be treated by using antibiotics, analgesics, immunomodulators, NSAID's immunoglobulin agents.

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Irrational antibiotic Prescription

In India antibiotic prescription became irrational now a days which may leads to development of drug resistance against several microbes. USFDA warned clinicians about irrational prescription of antibiotics. But only fewer physicians are practicing this. The reasons for irrational prescribing are may be lack of knowledge about usage of antibiotics. Proper continuous education for medical students and physicians to avoid irrational prescribing.  

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