Clomid - bringing a smile to the faces of infertile couples!

Infertility is a term that describes the inability of a couple to bear a child. The latest advancements in the medical field have helped millions of couples to bear a child with the help of medications and surgery. But, before couples begin to use any medicine for treating infertility, it is essential to detect its exact cause. Infertility occurs due to problems in women as well as in men. Hence, it is essential for both the female and the male partner to undergo some diagnostic procedures to detect the cause of infertility.

Causative factors of infertility in males:

• Varicocele

• Cystic fibrosis 
• Alcohol abuse
• Exposure to environmental toxins including lead and pesticides
• Cigarette smoking
• Hormonal disorders
• Abuse of cocaine or marijuana
• Chemotherapy for the treatment of cancer
• Radiation treatment 
• Increasing age

Causative factors of infertility in females:

Most of the causes of infertility in women are related to the abnormalities associated with the production of eggs by the ovaries, the passage of the mature eggs from the ovaries through the fallopian tubes, and the implantation of the fertilized ovum. Lack of ovulation is a very common cause of infertility in women. Some other common causes of infertility in women are given below:

• Polycystic ovarian disease
• Advancing age
• Endometriosis
• Pelvic inflammatory disease
• Structural abnormalities of the uterus
• Uterine fibroids
• Poor diet
• Obesity
• Smoking
• Sexually transmitted diseases like gonorrhea
• Hormonal disorders
• Athletic training
• Primary ovarian failure

How does advancing age reduce the chances of a woman to get pregnant?

The increase in the prevalence of infertility among females is attributed to the fact that many women, nowadays, prefer to wait until their 30s or 40s to get pregnant. However, as her age advances, the ability of a woman to conceive is reduced, due to a variety of factors that are given below:

• The number of eggs produced and released by the ovaries is lower in older women
• With advancing age, the risk of medical problems causing infertility also increases
• The risk of abortion is higher in older women
• Older women have a higher risk of suffering from an ovulatory menses than younger ones.

Management of infertility in women:

Infertility caused by anovulatory menses can be treated by using Clomid. The active component of Clomid is clomiphene citrate. This drug works by stimulating the synthesis of hormones that are required for the release of eggs by the ovaries.

Dosage of Clomid:

Women can take Generic Clomid in a dosage of 50 milligrams, once per day, from the 3rd till the 7th day of their menstrual period. Almost 3 out of 4 women conceive within 6 months of starting treatment with Clomid. Women are advised to contact a gynecologist before they start using this drug.  

Almost 10% of females and males in the reproductive age suffer from infertility. Purchase Clomid to help women to bear a child.

Why Depression Treatment With Supportive Counseling Therapy Works Better?

Counseling as part of the treatment for depression incorporates talking out your difficulties with a mental health counselor. A supportive therapist is an expert advisor and a good listener. Various types of counseling are developed to assist patients in coping with depression. These are, cognitive behavior therapy, psychodynamic psychotherapy and interpersonal psychotherapy.

How Supportive Counseling Works?
As counseling methodology is different in every form of counseling, it is not possible to assert in general how counseling exactly treats depression; however it is hypothesized that discussing various issues with a counselor mitigates the pessimism of the patient and the problem of depression can be overcome in a more effective manner.

A good counselor is a good listener and a caring and accepting person. Many counselors affirm that the conversation with the client is a restoring experience, not just for the client but also for the counselor. A counselor can understand the patient’s concerns quite well and suggest a practical approach. Once the client feels that the counselor is trustworthy, he/she becomes more interested in seeking help and begins the dialogue. Eventually, the patient begins following the recommendations given by the counselor and starts recovering.

Effectiveness of Supportive Counseling
Studies have revealed that the efficiency of supportive counseling increases, if speaking with the counselor about your problems and emotional support given by the counselor is merged with therapies like cognitive behavioral therapy and/or interpersonal psychotherapy created to treat depression.

Cognitive Behavioral Therapy
This therapy uses a cognitive model to advice the client in solving the problems by modifying thinking, emotional responses and behavior. Cognitive therapy has demonstrated efficiency as a supportive therapy to psychiatric drugs for those dealing with mental disorders like bipolar disorder, depression, schizophrenia and substance abuse, to name a few.

CBT or Cognitive behavioral therapy educates the patient on the correlation between emotions, thoughts and behavior. While the CBT, a short-term therapy, is going on, the patient is made aware about the importance of recognizing and modifying disturbing or negative thoughts that affect behavior in a negative way. For example, a person depressed due to a broken relationship may encounter problems in leading a normal life due to continuously holding himself/herself responsible for that. A cognitive behavior therapist will convince the patient that while every aspect of life cannot be controlled; it is possible to take control on how to look at the problem and encounter it with a more practical approach.

Psychiatric Drugs
Conjunction of supportive therapy and drug treatment works best in treating depression. Duloxetine has indicated effectiveness for the treatment of generalized anxiety disorder and depressive disorder. Duloxetine is a part of a class of medicines known as serotonin noradrenaline reuptake inhibitors (SNRI). Serotonin and noradrenaline are chemicals present in the brain and are responsible for mood lightening.

Generic Duloxetine inhibits the reuptake of these chemicals by nerve cells. The action of the medicine lengthens the mood lightening effect and heals depression. Both supportive therapy and medicines are equally significant in treating depression. Family members should also take part in counseling to learn in-depth about the disease.

How NSAID Painkillers like Diclofenac Aid to Alleviate Pain

Majority of us have consumed ibuprofen or aspirin to deal with some kind of pain or to lower fever. Such medications are primarily classified under a group of drugs called as NSAIDs, that is short for non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs. These medicines possess analgesic or painkilling properties and additionally aid to minimize swelling. The term non-steroidal indicates that these medicines don't have steroids and are also non-narcotic.

NSAIDs are usually suggested to handle the following signs:

•  To give relief from distress on account of acute menstrual cramps, toothache, muscle strain, headache or migraine
•  To decrease fever
• To minimize inflammation that may happen because of rheumatoid arthritis
•  

Diclofenac – A Beneficial NSAID:

A common NSAID prescribed by doctors, Diclofenac helps to cope with pain that may vary from minor to moderate. Moreover, it’s even utilised to provide respite from symptoms like joint pain, soreness or stiffness related to rheumatoid arthritis or osteoarthritis. This medicine is offered in the form of capsules, tablets, extended release tablets and powder for oral liquid.

Prior to taking Diclofenac, it is essential that the healthcare professional is informed about your complete medical background and if you are stricken with any conditions to guarantee risk-free treatment. Furthermore, this NSAID may interact with certain medicines, which can lessen its efficacy. Communicate to the physician if any of the drugs mentioned below are being taken, since they are likely to interact with this drug:

•  Eskalith or Lithobid
•  Any anti-depressant such as Cymbalta, Paxil, Prozac, Luvox, Zoloft, Lexapro or Celexa, etc.
• A water pill
•  Neoral or Sandimmune
•  Rheumatrex or Trexall 
•   Any other NSAIDs
• A blood thinner such as Coumadin

Consume this medication according to the treatment plan given by the family doctor. For people who are taking it on an ‘as needed’ basis must remember that NSAIDs are the most effective when they are consumed the moment the first signs of pain occur. It may not be as effective when the pain has aggravated. Regular appointments with the general practitioner are vital to monitor progress.

Some Aspects to be Considered Before Consuming NSAIDs:

1. Have a discussion with the medical expert to be aware about any unpleasant effects that may be experienced during use and ways to manage them.

2. Some NSAIDs may be safe for use by pregnant or nursing females whereas there are a few others that can be harmful and not recommended to be used. Allow the family physician to determine which NSAID is suitable for you.

3. Intake of alcohol while consuming a NSAID can increase the likelihood of abdominal bleeding. Talk to the doctor to understand the allowable quantity of alcohol.

Various kinds of NSAIDs are available in the market, each one catering to distinct intensities of pain. You must always seek advice from the healthcare provider prior to taking any of these pain-relievers in order to understand their correct usage, precise dosage quantities and precautionary measures to be taken. Some additional approaches such as hot or cold therapy, deep breathing techniques, etc have also been considered beneficial in relaxing muscle joints and easing pain.

Know How Your Brain Perceives Pain and Learn How To Trick This Mechanism!

You grab a painkiller upon experiencing an injury or a pounding headache but do you really know the mechanisms behind your pain? All you want is a quick relief from the pain. You should first understand the way in which the brain feels pain, if you want to know how analgesics treat pain. Nociception, also known as pain perception, includes relay of discomforting stimuli from the damaged or injured part to the central system made of spinal cord and brain. A chain of events take place in pain perception.

Events in Perception of Pain

1.    Injury

Mechanical injuries such as pressure, burn, puncture, cut and/or other wounds activate the damaged tissues, which secrete chemicals like prostaglandins, bradykinin, potassium and histamines.

2.    Reception

A type of nerve cell known as Nociceptor, senses the stimuli and feels the chemicals that are released from the injured tissues.

3.    Transmission

Transmission of signals to brain takes place from the nociceptor cells through the neurons located in the central nervous system. Signals travel via the spinal cord to the brain, through the spinothalamic tract, which is also referred to as the ‘neural freeway’.

4.    Distribution

The relay station medically termed as thalamus, located in the brain spreads signals to various parts of brain. This process involves multiple pain centers, not just one. Signal processing is carried out by an area of the brain known as somatosensory cortex, which makes a person feel the pain.

Suppression of Pain

Somatosensory cortex, thalamus and hypothalamus release impulses through descending pathways for inhibiting the ascending impulses of pain, thereby relieving pain. Some signals release natural pain-healing chemicals like endorphins, dynorphins and enkephalins. These chemicals block nerve impulse transport between the neurons situated in brain pathways.

Analgesics as Pain Relievers

Analgesics function in several ways for the treatment of pain. Non-opioid analgesic drugs like ibuprofen, naproxen, aspirin, acetaminophen and NSAIDs of the similar properties work at the site of injury. They block essential enzymes and prevent inflammation, in addition to inhibiting the secretion of nociceptor stimulating chemicals.

Opioid analgesics like morphine, fentanyl and oxycodone imitate the functions of naturally occurring pain-alleviating chemicals released by body. Anti-epileptic medications and antidepressants block nerve impulse transmission in brain, to cure pain. These medicines are also termed as co-analgesics.

Treating Pain

Pain killers like Generic Ultracet have proven efficacy to heal pain. Ultracet is composed of two medications viz acetaminophen and tramadol along with other inactive agents.  It is used for treating mild to severe pain, for example, pain post surgical or dental procedures. The USFDA approved this medicine in 2001, for the use as an analgesic.

Both acetaminophen and tramadol cure pain; but in different manners. Tramadol treats pain in two ways. It binds itself with opioid receptors present on the nerves, and also prevents the re-absorption of norepinephrine and serotonin by nerves. It causes a decreased transmission of signals of pain between the nerves in brain and the spinal cord.

Acetaminophen appeases pain in brain and spinal cord by increasing the strength of stimuli of pain essential to trigger the sensation of pain. It works by inhibiting the action of an enzyme that manufactures prostaglandins. 

Know More about OCD and the Symptoms of OCD

Do you observe the urge for checking and re-checking things repeatedly? Do you experience disturbing thoughts frequently? Do you feel a strong craving to repeat certain behaviors with no control over them?
If your answer to any questions above is yes, you might have developed OCD. What is OCD? Let’s gather some necessary information about this disease.
What is OCD?
It is normal for somebody to cross check things sometimes, for example, one may double-check if the lights are switched off, before leaving a place, and this is certainly not unusual. However, OCD patients feel an uncontrollable desire to do certain things continually, have certain thoughts frequently or check things repetitively. These rituals and/or thoughts caused on account of OCD traumatize a person mentally and impede his/her daily life to a considerable extent.
Upsetting, repetitive thoughts are known as obsessions, while an effort to quench them by doing certain behaviors or rituals perpetually is termed as compulsions.
The beginning of OCD symptoms occurs during teenage or childhood. Signs may show up and disappear or improve and worsen on different occasions.
Signs of OCD
OCD sufferers usually:
• Suffer from repetitive ideas and thoughts about things like violent behavior; sexual acts; fear of dirt, intruders or germs; hurting loved ones; conflict with religious faith or being overly tidy and neat.
• Do the same things or rituals over and over, for example, reiterating the same steps, and washing hands, storing petty things, locking/unlocking doors or counting.
• Lose control over their behaviors and thoughts.
• Don’t like doing the behaviors or rituals, but feel relieved to some extent from the anxiety that arises because of these thoughts.
• Spend at least 1 hour every day experiencing the thoughts or an hour a day doing some rituals, which disturbs their daily life.
It’s been observed that sometimes, family history is one of the common causes of OCD; however researchers haven’t still determined the exact OCD trigger. Scientists have hypothesized that several brain parts are responsible for anxiety and fear. By carrying out more research on anxiety and fear, scientists will sooner be able to understand the exact cause of OCD.
Treating OCD
It’s been found out that, though exact OCD trigger is yet not known, OCD signs can be very well controlled with psychotherapy and the use of prescription drugs.
If you feel you are suffering from OCD, seek medical advice right away. The doctor will examine you to affirm or negate OCD. Clinical research has demonstrated that the combination of medicines and psychotherapy can mitigate the symptoms of OCD, as only one is not sufficient in several cases. Speak with your doctor for finalizing your course of treatment.
Drugs like Escitalopram are very efficient in treating OCD. Generic Escitalopram falls into a class of medications termed as selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors or SSRIs and treat OCD by inhibiting the re-absorption of serotonin, a brain chemical. Preventing serotonin reuptake effectively manages the signs of OCD. Note that psychiatric medications must be taken exactly as recommended by the psychiatrist, failing which, one may experience certain side effects.

Clear your throat with the help of Amoxil!

Infection in the throat is a common problem suffered by many patients. Every person suffers from throat infections, several times in their life. Use of medicines like Amoxil can provide rapid relief to patients suffering from this condition.
Throat infections:
The most commonly occurring throat infections affect the tonsils and the adenoids. These are glands situated in the throat. Throat infections occur due to bacteria or viruses. These infections are common during childhood. School-going children often miss a few days of school due to these infections.
What are the symptoms of throat infection?
The most common symptom of throat infection is a sore throat. In cases of tonsillitis, throat examination reveals red and swollen tonsils with spots of pus. In case of infection in the adenoids, the gland becomes enlarged.
Some other symptoms of this condition are given below:

• Fever
• Bad breath
• Congestion in the nose
• Running nose
• Swollen lymph nodes in the neck
• Pain or difficulty in swallowing
• Loss of voice
• Headache
• Coughing up blood

Mild sore throat, congestion in the nose, running nose, or continuous sneezing and coughing, are common symptoms occurring due to viral infections in the throat. Viral infections in the throat usually resolve within 2 weeks without any active treatment. The predominant symptoms of bacterial infection in the throat include sudden fever with very bad sore throat.
Is tonsillitis contagious?
Bacterial throat infections, especially those occurring due to streptococci, are highly contagious. Hence, it is very important that the infected person takes precautions while coughing or sneezing so that he does not pass on the infection to others.
Amoxil for throat infections:
Generic Amoxil is a very effective antibiotic that can give fast relief to patients suffering from throat infections. The main ingredient of this medicine is Amoxicillin. It belongs to a class of antibiotics that are called penicillins. This medicine helps in treating tonsillitis and adenoid infections, by preventing the multiplication and growth of the organism. It also prevents the bacteria from forming a protective wall around itself. Due to this, the organism becomes weaker; eventually leading to its death.
This medicine can also be used for the treatment of infections in the respiratory tract, the urinary tract, the larynx, the ears and the skin. It is a very good antibiotic for the treatment of gonorrhea.
What is the dose of Amoxil?
Patients should take Amoxil in a dose of 250 to 750 mg, 2 to 3 times in a day. The dose can be adjusted depending upon the severity of the infection. It is advisable to take the dose of Amoxil after food to avoid any gastric irritation occurring due to it.
Many patients do not consider throat infections as serious. However, they should note that some throat infections like strep throat, if not managed properly, can cause serious complications like rheumatic fever, resulting in permanent damage to the heart. Use of antibiotics like Amoxil can help patients in getting rid of the infections in the throat in an effective and harmless manner.