January 19th, 2010 by admin

In a culture caught up in the can-do mentality, the idea of treating pain through the mind is viewed with some suspicion. People have been taught to believe drugs and formal invention by a trained specialist are the routes to an effective cure. This is the American way. If the body is broken, you fix the body. There’s no need for any New Age, touchy-feely talk. Indeed, people who persistently complain of pain but have no obvious injuries or disease, can find themselves attacked as malingerers trying to game the benefit system.

Family, friends and neighbors can rapidly run out of sympathy if you seem to be a freeloader. Against this background, the healthcare service does offer a limited range of counseling and support options. These services are not pushed more agressively because the high number of staff required to run these services drives up the operating costs. The hospital does not make as much profit as from other services.

There is a substantial volume of evidence from research studies around the world to prove a clear link between a patient’s attitude and a patient’s awareness of pain. Those who are relaxed and have a positive outlook on life have lower sensitivity to pain. Those who are anxious, stressed and shading into depression are more likely to experience more intense pain. For patients to get benefits from psychological counseling, they have to invest time and money. This is not an easy cure that might come from the simple act of swallowing a pill. It requires people to make an effort. Put all this together and you see the problem. Because many private health plans do not include the cost of counseling and family budgets are under strain with the current recession, most believe they cannot afford this approach.

The focus is on the cost now, not the cost of drugs spread over years. In the long term, people will save money but it requires investment now. If this means a little extra debt, it’s well worth it. The most recent research published in The Journal of Pain shows that even one hour of meditation training produces a reduction in the level of pain felt. The full range of treatment options are meditation training, distraction and relaxation. The evidence clearly shows that people feel less pain while actually meditating. Even after meditation, the effect of pain relief continues, i.e. people perceive the pain differently. Similarly, people who train their minds to relax or focus their attention on different factors in the environment also experience pain relief. The level of pain remains unchanged. The focus in all three options is to treat the emotional response to it. Read the rest of this entry »

November 28th, 2009 by admin

One treatment for psoriasis is most average in the application of topical creams, ointments and powders, which slows cell growth and decrease inflammation, which is a major symptom of psoriasis. These drugs include the likes of anthralin, salicylic acid, corticosteroids, etc.
In cases of severe psoriasis ultraviolet (UV) therapy or phototherapy is used. While ultraviolet light B (UVB) therapy slows the excessive growth of skin cells, phototherapy exposes the affected area with bursts of ultraviolet light under medical supervision.

Systemic medications (for domestic supply) are administered to patients with moderate to harsh psoriasis. Drugs most commonly prescribed for this purpose include cyclosporine, methotrexate, generic Soriatane, Accutane, etc., just to name a few.

Among these, Soriatane is more frequently arranged in cases of severe psoriasis (e.g., where more than 10% of the body is involved or the patient can not perform daily activities) is an oral retinoid, also known as acitretin. It works by inhibiting the growth of skin cells and how fast they grow and die. One of its biggest benefits is that it does not cause cell damage or act as an immunosuppressant.

Soriatane is generally available in dosages of 10mg and 25mg; its dosage may vary from one patient to another, depending on factors such as health and individual needs. Systemic treatment with generic Soriatane may take up to two to three months.

Sometimes conditions such as redness and inflammation associated with psoriasis getting worse during Soriatane are administered. However, there is little reason for worry because they usually disappear with the use of this drug.

The use of Soriatane may be risky in pregnant women; its common side effects include dry skin and lips, joint pain, abnormal bone growth, changes in cholesterol and triglyceride levels and vision problems.