Natural Cures for GERD

Strict discipline is a must if natural cure is preferred for GERD. There are basic things that do not require daily medication. A change in the way of eating and  clothes worn will help. One such way is to change eating habits from regular big meals to  small frequent meals. This  enables the stomach to digest the food smoothly and prevents hyperacidity. Large meals may trigger the stomach to produce more acid.

In terms of clothing, GERD patients should wear loose and comfortable clothes. Though tight clothes are trendy, they press the stomach causing  heartburn. It is good to get rid of tight-fitting clothes  while still suffering from the symptoms of GERD as there will be no use for them. Obese GERD patients should also exercise to lose weight. Exercise does not need to be extensive and tiring. Simple brisk walking for few minutes will do; finding natural cures for GERD is not difficult.

There are appropriate ways of sleeping which will minimize the occurrence of heartburn. GERD patients should know the basics. It is advised not to go  to bed right after eating dinner. There must be at least three hours interval before going to sleep. This interval will give time for the stomach to digest the food. Another way is to keep the bed  elevated with pillows which are placed just below the head. This will ease the discomfort of heartburn at night time as  heartburns are felt more often while lying down to sleep.

Be vigilant on the food you are about to eat. Over-consumption of  carbonated and caffeinated drinks triggers GERD. Each GERD patient must secure their own list of foods to avoid. Acidic, spicy and fatty foods are the most common triggerfactors of GERD and may   worsen the condition. The long list would include fruits namely, orange, citrus and lemons. Chocolates have higher cholesterol level and is included on the list as well. Caffeinated drinks like coffee, cola, soda and tea contributes to the acidity of the stomach. Fatty foods include fried fish, chicken or pork and should be avoided. Have them cooked grilled or roasted instead.

Some herbal medicines -  a natural way of curing GERD, are readily available over-the-counter. Most GERD patients prefer to take these herbal substitutes  since they are a lot cheaper, effective, have no side effects and containno harmful ingredients. Herbal medicines are proven to alleviate and control the acidity of the stomach. Some herbal medicines soothe the inflammation inside the intestines and relax the nerves. Heartburn is oftentimes relieved  with the use of  herbal medicines.

Ginger roots, herbal liquorice and German chamomile are boiled to squeeze their extracts. Cumin, baking soda, lemon balm and skim milk are then mixed with a glass of water. The mixture may be given to GERD patients. Meadows sweet tea and Aloe Vera juice are also effective drinks for GERD patients and may be consumed without limit as long as the patient feels better.

Glutamine containing food reduces the acidity of the stomach and inflammation. Patient may chew fennel seed to reduce spasms inside the stomach. Apple cider vinegar is also proven to be effective - a mixture of a tablespoon of apple cider vinegar and  a glass or water will do. GERD patients must also take extra caref when  taking herbal products, making sure there is no  over-dosage. However, there are patients that who are allergic to the components of a particular herb. GERD patients must know if they have allergic reactions to what herbal components.

Triple Bypass Surgery Survival Rate

Families of the patient who should undergo triple bypass surgery may have questions in mind about the survival rate. They can’t help but worry if the patient will survive. They would also like to know what things are likely  to happen after the surgery. In a discussion forum, patients who have undergone triple bypass surgery have expressed their different experiences.

The summary of their discussion sums up that they have a successful surgery. Majority of them have survived and lived normal lives as an outcome of the surgery. The group of patients  discussing consists of nine males and six females. Their age bracket is divided into two for each  gender. The male age ranges from ages 45 to 82 years old while female age ranges from 30 to 80 years old. The blockage that they had on their arteries ranges from 80% to 90%.

To show the results of their surgery, we separated the feedback of the males and the females. According to the males, they lived normal lives after the surgery. They have been living remarkably well with no complications and in excellent mood. Right after the surgery some have experienced few struggles. Those adjustment periods included four days of pain after surgery, chest muscles are sensitive to cold, feeling nauseous  for several weeks, cardiac rehab three times a week for three months and the first year after surgery had been generally tough. One patient presented quite a rare outcome and that is going through another triple bypass surgery 14 years after the last surgery. All of them were physically fit before the onset of chest pains and heart attacks. Their recovery span varied from three months until  a year. After the recovery period they lived well and longer.

Females’ feedback have variations and each with their own stories before having heart attack. One of them is a chain smoker, another one is an active triathlon and others just lived normal lives before the heart attack. Chest pains or angina had led some of them to the emergency room of  the hospital and never thought it was that serious until they were admitted for surgery. Almost all of the females went well after the surgery. However, one of them didn’t makeit to the recovery stage. The woman  was 80 years old when she had the surgery. Her family thought she made it because she did pretty well 24 hours after the surgery.  But unfortunately, at 33 hours she passed away.  One  had the fastest recovery which was about 9 days after the surgery.  She had already gotten  back to work 9 days after her surgery.  Another one stated she fully recovered after 5 months.

Based on this triple bypass surgery survival rate discussion, the mortality rate of the patients who undergotriple bypass surgery is a low  1 out of 15 patients. Only one of them didn’t make it and died. It goes to show that this medical procedure  is still a safe way to extend  the life of the patient and to somehow reduce  the occurrence of chest pains and heart attackin the future. The discussion  somehow alleviates the worrying hearts of the family whose  family member will undergo triple bypass surgery.

What is FOLFIRI Chemotherapy

Finding out you have cancer is scary, especially when you are told that chemotherapy will be a part of your treatment. And, while there is no way to make chemotherapy pleasant, it is important to know that, if your doctor has recommended chemo, it is your best chance at beating the cancer.

If FOLFIRI chemo has been recommended by your doctor, they have taken the time to carefully evaluate your condition and feel that this type of treatment is your best chance at success. FOLFIRI chemotherapy is a type of chemo that is used to treat certain types of cancer – generally colon or rectal cancer. However, it has also been used to treat a variety of other conditions.

Drugs Found in FOLFIRI

There are five different cancer fighting drugs found in FOLFIRI: 5-fluorouracil, leucovorin, and irinotecan or Camptosar. The 5-fluorouracil and irinotecan are used to help prevent cancer cell growth. It also prevents the cancer cells from multiplying. Eventually, the cancer cells should shrink and die. The Leucovorin in FOLFIRI is used to increase the efficacy of the 5-fluorouracil.

Before You Start Treatment

There are some things that you should be aware of before you start FOLFIRI treatment that can help prevent any adverse effects and protect you and your children. First, you should talk to your doctor about any medications that you are currently taking. This includes dietary supplements, herbal remedies, and vitamins.
To protect you and your children, you should try to avoid getting pregnant while you receive FOLFIRI treatment. FOLFIRI can harm your unborn baby and it is essential that you take proper precautions to avoid this situation. Do this by taking a good birth control and talk to your doctor immediately if you should become pregnant. If you have recently had a baby, you should avoid breastfeeding while you are receiving FOLFIRI treatment. There is currently no research available as to whether or not FOLFIRI can harm your infant while nursing.

You should also be aware that there is a possibility that you could become sterile from your FOLFIRI treatment. This is a possibility with many different types of chemotherapy drugs. If you plan to have a family in the future, take the time to talk to your doctor about how FOLFIRI might impact your future plans.

Health Conditions You Should Be Aware Of

There are some side effects that can occur with FOLFIRI that go beyond the normal chemotherapy side effects that you normally hear about. Some of the side effects are potentially fatal, so you need to be aware of them. If you display any of the symptoms that could indicate that you are suffering from a potentially fatal side effect, you should talk to your doctor immediately.

One of the most common side effects found with FOLFIRI is heart complications. This is caused by the 5-FU drug found in the FOLFIRI. Some complications can include heart attack, angina, arrhythmia, and heart failure. Those with heart conditions or a history of heart disease are at higher risk than patients that have never had a heart condition. Signs that you may be suffering from a heart-related complication could include back pain or tightness in the chest.

Diarrhea is also very common with the FOLFIRI treatment. This is caused by the drug Irinotecan. Diarrhea can occur within 24 hours after initial treatment or several days after treatment. It often peaks around the eleventh day after treatment. If you experience diarrhea within the first 24 hours, you may need to take atropine, a drug that can help reduce symptoms.

Dehydration is a risk with excessive diarrhea and you should take steps to making sure that you stay properly hydrated. Not staying properly hydrated can lead to other complications, including kidney problems. You should also have over-the-counter Imodium A-D at home before you start treatment and take it as soon as you start experiencing loose stools. This will help to reduce your risk of dehydration. Let your doctor know if you take any type of stool softeners or laxatives because these can worsen symptoms. You should also let your doctor know immediately if you experience a runny nose, flushing, watery eyes, excessive salivation, sweating, or stomach cramps after treatment.

Rare cases of intestinal inflammation can occur during FOLFIRI treatment. Complications experienced with this type of condition can include infection, ulcers, and bleeding. You should tell your doctor immediately if you start to experience rectal bleeding or have sudden abdominal pain. Side effects are often more severe in patients that are older or who have had radiation therapy to the abdominal or pelvic area. Your doctor may prescribe antibiotics to help prevent infection from the inflammation.