DRUG ABUSE: HARMFUL EFFECTS, AND PREVENTIVE MEASURES AMONG ADOLESCENTS Meaning of Drug/Substance Abuse The use of drugs for puposes other than those for which they are meant to be used. It can also mean the use of prescription or over-the-counter drugs in large amount than required clinically (Drug abuse is said to happen when someone takes a drug over and over again, in ways that hurt their health. Such a person is taking the drug to feel good and not for any health benefits.) Examples of Drugs of abuse are numerous but the most common ones include: Tramadol Rohypnol Caffeine Codeine-Containing Cough Syrups Cocaine Heroine Marijuana Cannabis(Indian Hemp) Tobacco cigarette Alcoholic Beverages etc. HARMFUL EFFECT OF DRUGS Emotional Effect All these drugs affected the limbic system (emotional seat) of the brain. The drugs cause the release of dopamine (a brain chemical that helps regulate emotions and feeling of pleasure) to flood the brain. This flood is wha...

FISH OIL SUPPLEMENTS MAY DO YOUR HEART GOOD  Millions of Americans pop a fish oil supplement each day, hoping to bolster their heart health. Now, research suggests they may be on the right track. The most up-to-date review of data from 13 prior studies found daily omega-3 fish oil supplement use tied to a significant lowering of risk for heart attack, according to a team led by Dr. JoAnn Manson. She is a professor of epidemiology at Harvard's T.H. Chan School of Public Health, in Boston. Daily use of the supplement -- typically about 840 milligrams per day -- was also linked to a lower overall risk of dying from heart disease, the review found. In total, the 13 studies involved data on more than 120,000 adults, a sample size that is 64% larger than any other yet conducted, the researchers said. Although the findings are encouraging, fish oil remains just one factor in heart health, Manson said in a school news release. Public health recommendation...

COMMON DRUGS WITH HIGH RISK OF ADVERSE REACTIONS IN CHILDREN 1. Chloramphenicol (Gray baby syndrome) 2. Aspirin (Reyes syndrome) 3. Ciprofloxacin (Bone & Joint disease) 4. Tetracycline (permanent teeth discoloration) These drugs should be avoided in children, use should be considered only in severe infections when no safer alternative is available. Use of Chloramphenicol has been restricted to only serious infections because of severe problems associated with it. Chloramphenicol use in children (particularly <1year) can lead to Gray baby syndrome. Symptoms of Gray baby syndrome include- swelling of the abdomen, pale skin colour, vomiting, loose green stool etc Reyes syndrome may also occur due to Aspirin use in children causing inflammation of liver and brain. Safer alternatives like Paracetamol, Ibuprofen etc should be considered. Use of Ciprofloxacin in children is contra-indicated because of its potential to cause bone & joint disease. Exposure of chil...

MAINTAIN A HEALTHY HEART! cardiovascular diseases are the most common cause of death globally. In the early 2000s roughly 17 million people worldwide died from cardiovascular diseases annually. The majority of these deaths were the result of coronary heart disease or stroke. Although cardiovascular diseases are often considered to be afflictions of people living in developed countries, where sedentary lifestyle is common, more than 80 percent of deaths from these diseases occur in low- and middle-income developing countries. While cardiovascular diseases can refer to different heart or blood vessel problems, the term is often used to mean damage to your heart or blood vessels by atherosclerosis, a buildup of fatty plaques in your arteries. Plaque buildup thickens and stiffens artery walls, which can inhibit blood flow through your arteries to your organs and tissues. Atherosclerosis is also the most common cause of cardiovascular disease. It can be caused by correctable p...

Tadalafil is a popular drug known to increase sexual performance in men. However, like other drugs, it does not work without its inherent side effects , drug interactions and contraindications. Present in the picture below are things to take into consideration before taking tadalafil tablets.

MANAGEMENT OF HYPERTENSION Many guidelines exist for the management of hypertension. Most groups, including the JNC, the American Diabetes Associate (ADA), and the American Heart Association/American Stroke Association (AHA/ASA) recommend lifestyle modification as the first step in managing hypertension. Lifestyle Modifications JNC 7 recommendations to lower BP and decrease cardiovascular disease risk include the following, with greater results achieved when 2 or more lifestyle modifications are combined: • Weight loss (range of approximate systolic BP reduction [SBP], 5-20 mm Hg per 10 kg) • Limit alcohol intake to no more than 1 oz (30 mL) of ethanol per day for men or 0.5 oz (15 mL) of ethanol per day for women and people of lighter weight (range of approximate SBP reduction, 2-4 mm Hg) • Reduce sodium intake to no more than 100 mmol/day (2.4 g sodium or 6 g sodium chloride; range of approximate SBP reduction, 2-8 mm Hg) • Maintain adequate intake of diet...

BENEFITS, SIDE EFFECTS OF BITTER KOLA Garcinia kola or in simple terms, bitter kola originated from West and Central Africa. Signifying the importance of this second largest continent, it produces many healing wonders for us. Garcinia kola belongs to the species of a tropical flowering plant. It produces brown, nut like seeds, similar looking to kidney beans. MEDICINAL BENEFITS  Lungs, the internal organ carry one of the most critical functions of the body. It helps us to breath. The considerate amount of regular consumption of the seed helps in strengthening the fibers and the lung tissue, stabilising any counter effects. It further assists in maintaining a good respiratory track and treats chest colds. It has a favorably high antioxidant content for a healthy body. So, if you are a smoker or even a passive smoker, definitely this is the ‘cure’. TREATING MALARIA Kolaviron is an anti-oxidant and anti-inflammatory phytochemical. Kolaviron is a major constituent of...