Articles
January 21, 2010
An Introduction to Anticoagulation
What is anticoagulation?
Coagulation is the natural biological process by which the body forms clots in the blood. Coagulation is a result of many reactions involving many clotting factors and blood components.1 It is often necessary to form clots to stop excess bleeding in trauma and injury, promote wound healing, and prevent too much blood loss However, forming unneeded clots may be dangerous because it will increase the risk of blocking blood vessels, which can affect blood flow to organs and disrupt normal bodily functions.2
Risk factors for increased clot formation (thrombosis) include:
increase in age
previous history of venous thromboembolism (clots in...
January 22, 2010
An Introduction to Diabetes
Welcome to the Ecivon Home of Diabetes! We encourage you to navigate through this site’s many resources geared towards you, the patient! Diabetes, although chronic, is a manageable disease. Like any life-altering event, we understand that this change is overwhelming; however, the Ecivon Team is confident that we have provided you with simple, straightforward information that will empower you to confront the challenges that await. We invite you to not only survive with diabetes, but to thrive with it!
Defining the Disease
In general, diabetes mellitus is a lifelong disease diagnosed by high levels of sugar in the blood. Sugar is a required energy source for the body. The blood circulates and disperses the sugar molecules to your various organs...
January 22, 2010
An Overview of Medications for Diabetes
This article is an introduction to many different medications used to treat diabetes. It is not meant to provide all information about any given drug. However, this article is easy to understand (hopefully…) and should provide a solid background on how diabetes is treated.
Biguanides1,2,3
Metformin, a biguanide, is a popular medication used for Type 2 diabetes.
How do biguanides work?
This medication helps lower blood sugar by increasing your body’s sensitivity to insulin, decreasing the amount of blood sugar your liver makes, and reducing the absorption of sugar in the intestine. Secondarily, biguanides help lower your cholesterol and help you lose weight.
What types of biguanides are there?
· ...
January 22, 2010
An Introduction to Asthma
An Overview of Asthma
Asthma is a chronic respiratory disease that is characterized by the inflammation and narrowing of the airways or lung. In addition, the lung muscles become tight and mucus is produced. The inflammation is a normal immune system response, which helps to protect one’s body from foreign and toxic substances. In individuals with asthma, the immune system may overreact causing red and swollen airways, which makes one even more sensitive to triggers. Asthma cannot be cured, but a patient’s symptoms can be controlled with careful monitoring, avoiding triggers, and taking medication. The disease is very common and according to the American Lung Association, asthma affects nearly twenty-one million...
January 26, 2010
Asthma Treatments
Prevention
Primary treatment of asthma is prevention. You and your doctor should develop an asthma episode prevention plan. This plan should include:
Approaches to minimizing exposure to known triggers, such as cigarette smoke and pet dander.
Clear instructions on what medication to use and how to use the medication.
While you may be able to prevent an asthma attack, you will need to have a specific plan to treat the symptoms if an attack is not prevented. You should have a clear understanding of the medicine your doctor wants you to use and how you should use it. Proper use of medication should alleviate symptoms and minimize side effects of the drugs. The goals of therapy need to be recognized and likely include:
Reaching your best peak flow....
January 27, 2010
Introduction to High Blood Pressure
What is high blood pressure?
Hypertension is the condition of having high blood pressure. The heart pumps blood throughout the body in blood vessels, and the force of the blood pushing on the walls of the blood vessels is referred to as blood pressure. There are two parts in measuring a person’s blood pressure. When blood is forced out of the heart, this is referred to as systolic blood pressure. When the heart relaxes and blood moves into the heart, this is referred to as diastolic blood pressure.1
Table 1 below shows the blood pressure classifications in adults.
Table 12:
Blood Pressure Measurements In Adults
Classification
Systolic Blood Pressure (mmHg)
Diastolic Blood Pressure (...
January, 26, 2010
Preventing Diabetes
Choosing a healthy lifestyle can help prevent the likelihood of developing type II diabetes. For a person that is overweight, losing 5 to 7 percent of their weight will help prevent or delay the onset of diabetes. For example, a 200 lbs person losing just 10 to 14 lbs is significant! The Center for Disease control and Prevention (CDC) recommends eating “right” and being “active.” Eating right would mean eating plenty of and eating a variety of fruits and vegetables, whole grains, low fat foods, and utilizing portion control are recommendations to maintain a well balanced diet that provides good nutrition for your body. Being active would mean, for adults, a minimum of 150 minutes moderate aerobic activity per week. Interestingly, even performing just...
January 10, 2010
High Blood Pressure - Medication Overview
Depending on your current blood pressure and what your doctor wishes to achieve, there are many different treatments available. Different drug classes and what those drugs do will be described in this article.
First and foremost, lifestyle modifications can have a tremendous effect on overall health—especially blood pressure. These healthy choices include maintaining a healthy weight, dining in a more health-conscious way, increasing your physical activity, and regulating your consumption of alcohol.1
If your doctor does not believe your lifestyle modifications are maintaining a healthy blood pressure, the next step is treatment with blood pressure medication. While on any medication, it is important to...
May 13, 2010
What is a peak flow meter?
A peak flow meter is a handheld instrument that measures how well your lungs are working. It is an important tool in the monitoring of a person’s asthma.
Why use a peak flow meter?
A peak flow meter is used to track asthma control over time. It can show how well a patient’s treatment is working, recognize signs of a flare-up before symptoms appear, and can help decide when to call a doctor or get emergency care if a patient is having trouble breathing.
What types of peak flow meters are available?
There are many types of peak flow meters available and these can be purchased at a pharmacy or obtained from various healthcare providers. Basic meters are inexpensive and give accurate peak flow readings. ...
May 14, 2010
Insulin Pens or Syringes?
Traditionally, vials and syringes have been used to take insulin. Insulin pens are newer and offer another way to take insulin. But knowing which one to choose is not always easy. So if you need help choosing between the two, this article is for you.
How do vials and syringes work?
This delivery method is simple in theory but requires dexterity, coordination, and some practice. First, air is drawn into a syringe to equal the number of insulin units needed. Units are marked on the side of the syringe. Then the air is pushed into the insulin vial or bottle. The correct amount of insulin is then drawn into the syringe. Any air bubbles can be removed by pushing a small amount of insulin out before injecting...
