Acute adrenal crisis also known as Addisonian crisis is a life-threatening condition that occurs when there is not enough cortisol, a hormone produced by the adrenal glands s.

Adrenal crisis occurs when:

• The adrenal gland is damaged (Addison’s disease, primary adrenal insufficiency)
• The pituitary gland is injured (secondary adrenal insufficiency)
• Adrenal insufficiency is not properly treated

Risk factors for adrenal crisis include:

• Dehydration
• Infection and other physical stress
• Injury to the adrenal or pituitary gland
• Stopping treatment with steroids such as prednisone or hydrocortisone too early
• Surgery
• Trauma

SOURCE:  www.nlm.nih.gov

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The Cleveland Clinic Guide to Menopause

Holly L. Thacker, MD
New York, NY; Kaplan Publishing: 2009
286 pages

This book presents a broad overview of factual information about women’s health issues around the time of menopause. The author’s decades of experience are evident in the clear, concise text and abundant clinical examples. Readers will relate to the narratives that serve as platforms for medical information, for example, the patient with severe hot flashes crying from fatigue. In this scenario and many more, the author explains the transition from the reproductive stage of life through the menopause transition in an engaging and understandable manner.

Discussions of how our bodies work, ovarian function, basic reproductive anatomy, and a glossary of terms provide a basis for understanding not only the contents of the book but also the “medicalese” often used by healthcare providers. The Cleveland Clinic Guide to Menopause is not just another book about menopause and the decision to use hormones or not. There is an emphasis on personal responsibility for a healthy lifestyle such as not smoking, eating sensibly, and exercising regularly. This book from a world-famous hospital puts the reader in the driver’s seat on the road to achieving good health, right next to her healthcare provider.

Dr. Thacker rightly points out that menopause is “not a disease” but that around the time of menopause women are at high risk of developing many chronic diseases. The diseases that become very prevalent during midlife and beyond include heart disease, diabetes, hypertension, and other common causes of high medical costs, illness, and death.

The opinions and interpretation of applying medical research are Dr. Thacker’s own. Written for commercial publication, not as a scientific manuscript, the book is meant to educate and share experiences. As with any commercial venture, it is left to the reader to accept and apply the shared information based on her comfort level with the author’s experience and expertise. The majority of readers will find this book extremely valuable.

Review written by:
Marjorie R. Jenkins, MD
Associate Professor
Executive Director, Laura W. Bush Institute for Women’s Health
Center for Women’s Health and Gender-Based Medicine
Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center
Amarillo, TX
Certified NAMS Menopause Practitioner
Member, NAMS Professional Education Committee

SOURCE: menopause.org

This Pod cast is from a KVEC  interview with Deborah Bayles about quality of life and aging in place no matter where the location.

Gardnerella Vaginalis
Bacterial vaginosis is a common condition, and studies have shown that approximately 29% of women in the US are affected
It is anaerobic gram-variable rod which can cause bacterial vaginosis in some women as a result of a disruption in the normal vaginal microflora which results in an overgrowth of normal bacteria in the vagina.

Gardnerella vaginalis

SOURCE: Wikipedia

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The resident anaerobic lactobacillus population in the vagina are responsible for the acidic environment. Once the anaerobes have supplanted the normal vaginal bacteria, prescription antibiotics with anaerobic coverage may have to be given to eliminate the Gardnerella vaginalis and allow the balance to be restored.

What causes bacterial vaginosis?

Researchers have had difficulty determining exactly what causes bacterial vaginosis. At present, it seems to be that a combination of multiple bacteria must be present together for the problem to develop. Bacterial vaginosis typically features a reduction in the number of the normal hydrogen peroxide-producing lactobacilli in the vagina. Simultaneously, there is an increase in concentration of other types of bacteria, especially anaerobic bacteria (bacteria that grow in the absence of oxygen). As a result, the diagnosis and treatment are not as simple as identifying and eradicating a single type of bacteria. Why the bacteria combine to cause the infection is unknown.

A few antibiotic remedies are routinely used. Metronidazole (Flagyl) taken by either oral (pill) form or by vaginal metronidazole gel (Metrogel) is an effective cure.

SOURCE:medicinenet.com
Click her to read more about signs and symptoms of Bacterial Vaginosis

Tame a nighttime cough with buckwheat honey, not cough syrup.

Syrup on a spoon from Getty Images

This type of honey has been shown to help ease children’s symptoms, affording better sleep. But it shouldn’t be given to children younger than 12 months old because it carries the risk of botulism, a rare but paralyzing bacterial illness.

SOURCE: usnews.com

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Stroke is a type of cardiovascular disease. It affects the arteries leading to and within the brain. A stroke occurs when a blood vessel that carries oxygen and nutrients to the brain is either blocked by a clot or bursts. When that happens, part of the brain cannot get the blood (and oxygen) it needs, so it starts to die.

What Are the Types of Stroke?
Stroke can be caused either by a clot obstructing the flow of blood to the brain (ischemic strokes) or by a blood vessel rupturing and preventing blood flow to the brain (Hemorrhagic or bleeding strokes).
More information on ASA website

Diagnosis of Stroke
When someone has shown symptoms of a stroke or a TIA (transient ischemic attack), a doctor will gather information and make a diagnosis. A doctor may use many different tests. The ones listed here are just some of the more
common options.
More information on ASA website

Impact of stroke
Stroke is the No. 3 cause of death in the United States, behind diseases of the heart and cancer.
More information on ASA website

Warning Signs Prior to a Stroke
Prior to a stroke, many people experience a TIA (transient ischemic attack). This is a “mini-stroke” or “warning stroke.” TIAs can occur days, weeks or even months before a major stroke. TIAs occur when a blood clot temporarily clogs an artery, and part of the brain doesn’t get the blood it needs. The warning signs are the same as for stroke; but they occur and disappear relatively quickly, usually in less than five minutes.

Unlike a stroke, when a TIA occurs, the blood clot resolves itself and there’s no permanent injury. When a stroke occurs and part of your brain dies from lack of blood flow, the part of the body it controls is affected. Strokes can cause paralysis, affect language and vision, and cause other problems.

SOURCE:  powertoendstroke.org

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