Medical Advices Blog

Archive for the ‘Health and Diseases’ Category

A recent study found a close relationship between diabetes and dementia. People with diabetes are much more likely to develop problems in brain function, as time passes. Here we tell you more about this finding and how to care for something as delicate as the mind.

Diabetes is a disease that affects more than 346 million people around the world. It manifests itself through a rise in blood glucose or blood sugar because the body does not produce or efficiently use insulin, a hormone that helps convert glucose into energy in the body.

If uncontrolled, diabetes can cause various health problems over time, such as blindness, renal insufficiency or failure (the kidneys), heart disease, circulation problems and even death. For example, the World Health Organization estimates that in 2004 3.4 million people died in consequence of diabetes. Read the rest of this entry »

Risks

Most people do not experience adverse reactions to allergy shots. Sometimes they may have swelling, redness or itching at the site of injection. These mild reactions are usually treated with antihistamines, and the doctor may adjust the dose for the next injection.

Rarely more severe reactions are manifested. In sensitive individuals, the vaccine can cause asthma symptoms such as difficulty breathing, wheezing or coughing. In addition, an anaphylactic reaction can cause dizziness, nausea, chest tightness or swelling of the throat that prevents you from breathing. These reactions can be treated in the office, but sometimes may require treatment in hospital. Read the rest of this entry »

Preparation

Before administering vaccines allergy testing is needed to determine which allergens will trigger allergic reactions. These studies include skin or patch tests and a blood test called “radioallergosorbent test” or RAST. The results are not always accurate. You may get a positive test without allergic symptoms or, conversely, to show allergy symptoms even with a negative test.

How it is done

When given an allergy vaccine is injected a small amount of allergen under the skin, usually in the fleshy part of the forearm. At the start of treatment, the injections are usually once a week and go increasing doses of allergens gradually with each injection. A patient can achieve the maximum dose, also known as a maintenance dose at four to six months of starting treatment. Read the rest of this entry »