Overactive bladder is characterized simply as experiencing the sudden urge to urinate. However, patients who’ve been diagnosed with this disorder often also experience involuntary loss of urine (or incontinence) as well as trouble ceasing urination. Having an overactive bladder can greatly affect your work, social, and personal life, especially if you’re afraid to venture far from a bathroom. Thankfully, doctors offer management and treatment techniques in a combination of the following: 1. OAB medications Medications prescribed for overactive bladder (i.e., Oxytrol, Sanctura, Detrol, etc.) aim to relax the bladder itself, thus reducing urinary urgency and incontinence. However, taking these drugs often has a drying effect on the rest of the body. Patients often complain of dry eyes, dry mouth, constipation, and increased thirst. 2. Absorbent pads To avoid embarrassing mishaps, doctors will often recommend wearing absorbent undergarments fitted with pads to protect clothing should an accident occur. 3. Bladder training Bladder training is a type of physical therapy that trains patients to delay urinating (by about 30-minutes to 3 hours at a time) when they feel a sudden urge to urinate. The idea is to gradually work up to holding urine longer by contracting the pelvic floor and urine sphincter muscles (kegel exercises) to reduce involuntary bladder contractions.

Nowadays filling out a prescription for Fido or Fluffy is about as commonplace as doing so for yourself or a (human) loved one. In fact, veterinarians recommend a number of pet medications for treating everything from joint pain to rashes to infections. However, the American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA) says pet owners should beware of giving cats and dogs any over-the-counter medications meant for human consumption without first checking with a veterinary professional. The AVMA warns that toxicity is often common when owners give pets drugs that are meant for humans, or doses that are too high for the pet in mind. Instead, if your beloved pet is ill, book a vet visit where the following medications may be prescribed to treat these common cat and dog ailments: 1. Pet diabetes Insulin is commonly prescribed to diabetic cats and dogs in order to keep pet blood glucose levels within a healthy range. Vets most commonly recommend insulin administered by injection (or needle and syringe) to treat diabetes mellitus in cats and dogs. In addition, several dietary changes may be recommended to keep blood sugars in check, such as maintaining a strict feeding schedule at home. 2. Joint pain and inflammation Aging pets, especially sedentary or larger breeds of dogs, may develop joint pain and inflammation with age.

Sometimes we all need a little extra incentive to break a bad habit. Smoking is one of the toughest habits to quit for good. However, continuing to light up has a negative and well documented domino effect on the body—including putting smokers at risk of heart disease, stroke, lung disease, and several types of cancer. If that’s not enough to get you or a loved one to butt out for good, take in these overlooked reasons to quit smoking once and for all… 1. Snoring and obstructive sleep apnea Does your partner or children claim you sound like a bear when sleeping? If you’re guilty of sawing an entire forest during an 8-hour sleep cycle, smoking may be to blame. In fact, a American Journal of Respiratory and Critical Care Medicine study claims that even second hand smoke exposure can cause other residents of the same home to habitually snore and potentially develop sleep apnea. Overall, the study found that the more individual participants smoked; the louder and more disturbingly they snored. Study findings also showed that current smokers had a greater risk of developing moderate to severe obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) compared with nonsmokers, while high rates of OSA were not common in former smokers.

Hepatitis C occurs when a patient contracts the hepatitis C virus, an infectious disease that causes chronic inflammation of the liver. Early onset HCV infection often displays no to very mild symptoms (i.e., abdominal cramps, yellowing skin, fever, and dark colored urine), which is why many people infected with hep C have no idea. Hep C eventually causes permanent liver damage, such as cirrhosis, if untreated. Research from the World Health Organization estimates that there are approximately 71 million individuals living with hepatitis C, or hep C, globally. Here are a few of the common misconceptions associated with hep C: 1. Hepatitis C isn’t a death sentence While cirrhosis of the liver can occur if hepatitis C is left untreated over the long term. Research from the U.S. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) estimate that a mere 25% of hep C patients suffer fatal liver damage. Rather, the majority of patients with hep C are diagnosed early and live healthy lives with treatment. 2. Hepatitis C occurs in many subtypes Regardless of popular belief, hep C occurs in several different infection types. The World Health Organization (WHO) recognizes HCV in the following genotypes: HCV genotype 1 is the most common among North Americans HCV genotype 2 is prevalent globally HCV genotype 3 is common worldwide HCV genotype 4 is prevalent in Northern Africa HCV genotype 5 exists largely in South Africa HCV genotype 6 is most common in Asia 3.

Many of us associate Botox with a minor cosmetic procedure meant to smooth fine lines and wrinkles. However, Botox has many practical uses aside from smoothing foreheads and plumping pouts. Botox is actually a purified from of the neurotoxin derived from the bacteria that triggers botulism. However, researchers from the American Migraine Foundation recommend the use of Botox in minute amounts in order to soothe several medical pain conditions, including migraine headaches. Here’s how Botox works… To treat migraines, Botox is injected in small amounts directly into the pain fibers that cause muscles to contract and trigger severe headaches. Patients may need a series of treatments, but many have reported a 50% reduction in severity and frequency of headaches for up to 12-weeks following a single treatment. Before you opt for Botox to treat your chronic migraines, first consult with a Botox migraine specialist for these very important reasons: 1. Consult a doctor experienced with migraines It’s one thing to consult a cosmetic doctor to help treat your chronic migraines. However, a physician versed in migraines specifically, such as a headache specialist or neurologist, will be up to date on the leading research and studies on migraines and provide you with several options, including the use of Botox, which most can prescribe right there in the office.