Jan Modric, Author at Healthhype

Chronic Constipation in Children – Cause, Symptoms, Remedies

Jan Modric — Wed, 02 Jun 2010 18:33:44 +0000

Symptoms of Constipation in Children A child is considered constipated when having a bowel movements with difficulty or less than three times a week. Having hard and dry stool, or having a bowel movement every other day and without difficulty is not already considered constipation. Constipation is called chronic when it lasts for more than two weeks. An infant is considered constipated when straining at defecation and having less than one bowel movement in a week.. Symptoms of constipation may include: No bowel movements for several days Hard and dry pebbly stool that is hard to pass, bright red blood on the surface of the stool Poor appetite, nausea Abdominal pain or bloating Tiredness Common Causes of Chronic Constipation in Children 1. Psychological Factors A child can react to early or forced toiled training by withholding the stool. Anxiety or depression slows down bowel motility resulting in constipation. Over-demanding parents and emotional problems with peers may be the cause. A child can deliberately hold the stool back as the way of protest or to express the need for attention. Children, mainly adolescent girls, with anorexia nervosa or bulimia are usually also constipated. Constipation may persist even after the eating disorder [...]

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Colon and Constipation

Jan Modric — Fri, 28 May 2010 11:33:40 +0000

Colonic Conditions That May Cause Constipation 1. Diverticular disease (diverticulosis) is a condition with pouches (diverticles) in the colonic wall, usually caused by repeating straining at defecation. Diverticles are often in lower part of the descending colon (in left lower abdomen), but may occur in any part of the colon. Symptoms may include: Often there is no symptoms Constipation Lower left abdomen my be bloated and tender to touch Headache Left lower abdominal pain, fever and diarrhea when diverticles become inflamed (diverticulitis) In severe chronic constipation, surgical removal of the affected part of the colon may be needed. 2. Crohn’s disease and ulcerative colitis are chronic inflammatory diseases, most often diagnosed in young people. Constipation may be caused by large polyps in the colon and by medications. Main symptoms include: Nausea, fatigue, low grade fever Diarrhea or constipation Abdominal pain Blood in the stool Diagnosis can be confirmed by a colonoscopy, during which colonic and rectal ulcers or polyps may be found. Treatment is with anti-inflammatory drugs, but sometimes surgery is required. 3. Colonic strictures are bands of scar tissue within the colon that may remain after chronic inflammation or infection of the colon and may impede the passage of the [...]

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Opiate Addiction, Overdose, Side Effects, Withdrawal Symptoms

Jan Modric — Tue, 18 May 2010 16:39:54 +0000

What Are Opiates? Opiates are strong narcotic (sleep inducing) painkillers extracted or synthesized from opium. They are available only by prescription and are illegal for non-medical use, since they are highly addictive and may have dangerous side effects. Opiates belong to a broader group of substances – opioids that can bind to opioid receptors in the body. Opiate drugs may be natural or semi-synthetic. NATURAL OPIATES Natural opiates include opium, morphine and codeine. Opium Medical Use of Opium Tincture of opium (oral liquid containing 1% morphine) is used for: Relieving strong pain Stopping severe diarrhea Illegal Use of Opium Opium is a white milky sap obtained from seed pods of the poppy plant. When dried, opium turns into a black hard substance, sold on streets as black powder or chunks (street names: Big O, block, joy plant, skee), intended for smoking or eating. Injecting of opium into a vein can be life dangerous.Opium chunks contain about 10% of morphine; other substances include codeine, thebaine and papaverine, and people abusing it commonly get addicted. Opium is cheaper than morphine or heroine so it is usually abused by poor people. Morphine Medical Use of Morphine In medicine, morphine is used for: Relief [...]

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Ecstasy (MDMA) Abuse, Addiction, Side Effects, Dangers

Jan Modric — Thu, 13 May 2010 15:28:02 +0000

What is Ecstasy? Ecstasy is a semi-synthetic drug that acts as a stimulant of the central nervous system. It can be derived from the oil of the sassafras tree. Chemically, it is 3,4-methylenedioksy-methamphetamine (MDMA). Ecstasy is chemically related to amphetamine (a legal drug that increases alertness) and methamphetamine (meth, an illegal drug). Ecstasy is illegal to posses or deal in most countries. The Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) in US, categorize it as a Schedule I drug (has a high potential of abuse, is not legal even for medical use). Ecstasy Forms and Use Ecstasy Pills (Tablets) A common form of ecstasy are small, round tablets of various colors and with various logos on them. Tablets usually contain 20-90 mg MDMA hydrochloride (2), which is often diluted (cut) with other substances, like caffeine or lactose, or drugs, like amphetamine (speed), ephedrine or ketamine (4). Tablets are intended for ingesting; in this form they are commonly used in disco clubs and rave parties. They have bitter taste. Some users insert the pill in the anus (this is called shafting), from where it is absorbed into the blood. Ecstasy tablets may contain other substances than MDMA: MDA (methylenedioxyamphetamine) has longer (8-12 hours) and [...]

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Heroin Abuse, Addiction, Overdose, Withdrawal – Symptoms, Side Effects

Jan Modric — Wed, 05 May 2010 17:52:57 +0000

What Is Heroin? Heroin is a highly addictive opiate drug (strong painkiller) causing initial euphoria followed by profound relaxation, so it is considered as a ‘downer’ drug. It is synthesized from morphine, a substance obtained from seed pods of an opium poppy plant. Chemically, heroin is diamorphine (diacethylmorphine). It has a quicker and stronger effect than morphine. Most of heroin is said to be produced in Afghanistan. What is ‘synthetic heroin’? ‘Synthetic heroin’ is an informal term used for completely human-made, non-opium based narcotics, like methadone, oxycontin, phentanyl, pethidin. Heroin Name Heroin got its name because of its supposedly ‘heroic’ effects upon a user (as advertised by its first producer on the end of the 19th century). It was synthesized as an alternative for morphine, and should have less side effects and be less addictive than morphine, but it has appeared that just the opposite is true. Heroin Forms and Uses Heroin Powder Pure heroin powder is white, and when mixed (cut) with other substances (quinine, starch..), light to dark brown, and of bitter taste. The purity of heroin may vary a lot. Chemically, heroin is a salt, diacethylmorphine hydrochloride. Heroin powder can be snorted (sniffed) or heated on a foil [...]

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How Long Does Cocaine Stay in Your System? Urine, Blood, Hair Test for Cocaine

Jan Modric — Wed, 28 Apr 2010 18:26:12 +0000

How Long Does Cocaine Stay in Your Body? Like many other drugs, cocaine can be detected in the urine, blood and hair from few hours to several months after its use. Period during which cocaine stays in the body depends on a cocaine dose, form, frequency and duration of use, body mass, age and individual metabolic (breakdown) rate. Urine Test for Cocaine Cocaine can be detected in the urine for 4-8 hours after a single snorted (nasal) dose, and up to 24 hours after a single ingested (oral) dose (1). A breakdown product of cocaine, benzoylecgonine can be detected in the urine for up to 60 hours after a single use, or up to 22 days after repeated use (1). Other metabolites detected in urine after cocaine use: ecgonine methyl ester, cocaethylene (when cocaine is taken by alcohol) (3). The ratio of benzoylecgonine to cocaine in the urine less than 100:1 speaks for cocaine use (or leakage from a body package) less than 10 hours before collection of the urine sample (1). The exact time and the dose of cocaine used cannot be determined by urine tests, though. Blood Test for Cocaine Cocaine in the blood is detectable from few [...]

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Cocaine, Crack Abuse – Addiction Signs, Overdose Side Effects

Jan Modric — Sat, 24 Apr 2010 15:57:54 +0000

What Is Cocaine? Cocaine is a powerful and addictive brain stimulant. It is a popular recreational drug, but illegal in US and most other countries. Naturally appearing cocaine is an alkaloid benzoylmethylecgonine, extracted from the leaves of a coca plant, mostly raised in South American countries Bolivia, Columbia and Peru (1). Cocaine Forms and Uses Coca Leaves Coca leaves contain less then 1% of cocaine (1). Some people in South America chew coka leaves; it suppresses hunger, thirst, pain and fatigue. This use should not be understood as a cocaine abuse; it is considered harmless and is not likely addictive. Coca Tea Coca tea (Mate de coca) is drunk in South America and has about the same effect as leaves. Cocaine Paste Cocaine paste (basa, basuco, paco, pasta base de cocaina (PBC), pitillo) contains 40-70% cocaine in the form of cocaine sulphate, obtained by processing coca leaves with sulphuric acid (2). It is intended for smoking. Cocaine Powder Cocaine powder is chemically a salt – cocaine hydrochloride. It is a white, crystalline powder, odorless, and having bitter, numbing taste. When sold on streets, cocaine powder is usually mixed (diluted or “cut”) with other substances, like baking soda, lactose, talc, quinine (to increase profit) or anesthetics, like lidocaine which mimics cocaine’s numbing effect. Because of all added substances, it [...]

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Sugar Types: Monosaccharides (Simple Sugars)

Jan Modric — Tue, 20 Apr 2010 18:09:40 +0000

Monosaccharides – Simple Sugars Monosaccharides (Gk. mono- = single, saccharide = sugar) have only single sugar unit in their structure. They are called simple sugars, since they cannot be split into substances that would still have characteristics of a sugar. Monosaccharide units can combine together to form disaccharides (containing two sugar units) or polysaccharides as starch (containing several sugar units). Monosaccharides of main importance in the human body are glucose, ribose and deoxyribose. Other monosaccharides, used by human mainly as nutrients are fructose, galactose, mannose, and tagatose. Monosaccharides are made of carbon, hydrogen, and oxygen and are arranged in groups according to the number of carbon atoms in their molecules such as trioses containing three carbon atoms, tetroses four, pentoses (e.g. ribose, deoxyribose) five, and hexoses (e.g. glucose, fructose) six carbon atoms. Detailed List of Monosaccharides A. Glucose Glucose (Picture 1) is the most important monosaccharide found in human body and is the prime energy source for humans and animals. It is also known as grape sugar, corn sugar, starch sugar and blood sugar. It is a six-carbon sugar (hexose). The empirical formula of glucose is C6H12O6. Picture 1. Glucose, structural formula Synthesis of Glucose in Plants Plants with the [...]

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Dehydration and Headache – Symptoms and Prevention

Jan Modric — Sat, 17 Apr 2010 11:39:41 +0000

Can Dehydration Cause Headache? Dehydration can cause both sudden or chronic headaches. Causes of a sudden dehydration headache: Occasional pressure-like headache due to not drinking enough water, especially after physical exertion and in a hot weather Migraine, a pulsating, one- or both-sided headache with nausea and sensitivity to light, appearing shortly after a skipped meal or exertion in a hot weather Hangover, an intense, throbbing headache, usually both-sided, appearing several hours after excessive alcohol drinking, aggravated by bending down or moving around, accompanied by thirst, nausea, fatigue, sensitivity to light and diarrhea Headache due to water loss caused by vomiting, diarrhea, heavy menstrual bleeding, burns, heat stroke Causes of a chronic dehydration headache: Chronic headache due to insufficient water intake. By not drinking enough, you can easily get dehydrated even in winter and when you are not physically active. Water loss caused by excessive intake of caffeine or alcohol Water loss caused by medications, like diuretics, antihistamines or calcium channel blockers Chronic headache with thirst and excessive urination in untreated diseases, like diabetes mellitus, diabetes insipidus (due to pituitary tumor), kidney or adrenal gland disorder Headaches and Other Symptoms of Dehydration A headache is usually not the only or main symptom of dehydration. Symptoms of mild to moderate dehydration may include: Dry and sticky mouth and [...]

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Migraine Headache Triggers: Foods, Estrogen, Stress, Weather…

Jan Modric — Wed, 14 Apr 2010 13:44:54 +0000

Migraine and Migraine Triggers Migraine is a throbbing headache (one- or both-sided) with nausea and sensitivity to lights and sounds, lasting from 4 to 72 hours. Migraine is considered as an inherited sensitivity of the nervous system resulting in dilation (expanding) of the arteries on the brain surface when triggered by certain stimuli (1). Migraine triggers are stimuli that may increase a risk of having a migraine attack in a sensitive person. A certain migraine trigger does not necessary provoke migraine in all migraine sufferers, and not even always in the same person. Migraine triggers include (2): Hormonal changes in women Foods and drinks Psychological stress Sensory stimuli Sleep disturbance Physical stress Weather and environmental effect Health conditions Medications 1. HORMONAL CHANGES IN WOMEN Fluctuations (usually a drop) of estrogen level may trigger migraine attack during puberty, menstruation, ovulation, pregnancy, menopause, or during taking birth control pills or receiving hormone replacement therapy. Pregnany can trigger migraine in a woman who has never had migraines, or just the opposite – chronic migraines may cease completely during pregnancy. 2. FOODS AND DRINKS Common Triggers Cheese, chocolate, alcohol, bananas, and citrus fruit are commonly reported migraine triggers. No of these or below foods, food [...]

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