Common Health Problem (common + health_problem)

Distribution by Scientific Domains


Selected Abstracts


Possible Interaction Between Aspirin and ACE Inhibitors: Update on Unresolved Controversy

CONGESTIVE HEART FAILURE, Issue 6 2000
Israel M. Barbash BmedSc
The widespread use of aspirin and angiotensin converting enzyme (ACE) inhibitors in patients with coronary artery disease contributes significantly to the reduction in morbidity and mortality from this common health problem. These agents are widely and concomitantly used, and they share mechanisms that may interact in negative or positive pathways. Data derived from in vitro preparations, animal studies, human studies, and case-control studies are inconsistent. No study has established firm evidence regarding the safety or adverse effect of aspirin on patients who are on ACE inhibitors. The efficacy and safety of aspirin in combination with ACE inhibitors has been questioned and debated. If a negative interaction does exist, it will affect daily practice in treating patients with coronary artery disease and heart failure. This article reviews the available data regarding the safety of combined aspirin and ACE-inhibitor treatment among patients with ischemic heart disease, to assess the possible interaction between the two drugs and to discuss thesignificance and implications of the data. [source]


Epidemiology and Symptomatology of Migraine Among School Children: Denizli Urban Area in Turkey

HEADACHE, Issue 8 2004
Mehmet Zencir MD
Objective.,This study was aimed at finding the prevalence, associated factors, and symptomatology of migraine among 5 to 8 grades of secondary and 9 to 11 grades of high school children (age range between 11 and 18 years old) in the Denizli urban area in the western part of Turkey. Background.,Data from the developed countries indicate that migraine is the most common cause of recurrent headaches in children. Also, childhood migraine is sufficiently severe to prevent the half of the suffering children from carrying on their usual daily activities. Methods.,A cross-sectional school-based study was conducted between May 2000 and June 2000. There were 2,490 participants selected by a multistage stratified clustered sampling procedure. A validated self-administered questionnaire designed according to the International Headache Society criteria was given to the school children of age between 11 and 18 years. Results.,Overall migraine prevalence was 8.8%; it was 6.7% in boys and 11.0% in girls (OR: 1.7; 95% CI: 1.3 to 2.3). Among girls, the highest prevalence (17.7%) occurred at 15 years of age, but among boys, the highest prevalence (11.9%) occurred at 16 years of age. Of children with migraine, 56.5% had a positive family history, and only 29.1% visited a doctor for headache. Conclusion.,Migraine is a common health problem among school children in Denizli urban area and it often goes underdiagnosed. [source]


Management of Chronic Hepatitis C

JOURNAL OF THE AMERICAN ACADEMY OF NURSE PRACTITIONERS, Issue 10 2001
APRN-C, Mary Jo Goolsby EdD
One purpose of the Clinical Practice Guideline column is to increase the awareness of the broad availability of existing guidelines and recommendations on various health topics. The hepatitis C virus (HCV) currently accounts for 20% to 40% of acute viral hepatitis, 60% to 80% of chronic hepatitis, and 20% to 30% of cirrhosis, end-stage liver disease, and liver cancer. Nearly four million Americans are currently infected with hepatitis C. Nurse practitioners should be aware of the recommendations regarding the diagnosis, management, and monitoring of the dis ease. This column summarizes the content of two NIH documents regarding the care of patients with hepatitis C: Management of Hepatitis C: NIH Consensus Statement (NIH, 1997) and Chronic Hepatitis C: Current Disease Management (NIDDK, 2000). Readers are encouraged to suggest specific CPGs for future columns or to request that the editor search for and summarize a CPG addressing a common health problem. Readers are also invited to submit a manuscript reviewing CPGs that they find helpful in their area of practice. [source]


Prevalence of obesity in Canada

OBESITY REVIEWS, Issue 3 2005
F. Bélanger-Ducharme
Summary Excess weight represents a critical and common health problem in Canada. The last survey of a national representative sample based on measured anthropometrics has been conducted in 1992. According to surveys using measured data, the prevalence of obesity (body mass index, BMI = 30.0 kg m,2) between 1970 and 1992 for those aged 20,69 years increased from 8% to 13% in men and 13% to 15% in women. The proportion of Canadians displaying a BMI ,25.0 kg m,2 increased from 47% to 58% in men and from 34% to 41% in women in the same period. The most recent prevalence estimates from self-reported data in a national representative sample indicated that 15% of the adult population (,18 years) was affected by obesity, while an additional 33% was classified in the overweight category (BMI 25.0,29.9 kg m,2) in 2003. However, it has been suggested that self-reported height and weight underestimate the prevalence of obesity by approximately 10%. Canadian children, aboriginal populations, and immigrants are some of the vulnerable groups particularly at risk of excess weight or for which the increase in the recent decades has been greater than the national increase. The increases in overweight and obesity over the past 30 years among Canadians have been dramatic. It will be possible to precisely analyse the current situation and its evolution in the last 10 years when data based on measured height and weight will be released, that is, in 2005 and after. [source]


Patients' help-seeking behaviours for health problems associated with methadone and buprenorphine treatment

DRUG AND ALCOHOL REVIEW, Issue 4 2008
ADAM R. WINSTOCK
Abstract Introduction and Aims. Clients in opioid substitution therapy often have considerable unmet health-care needs. The current study aimed to explore health problems related to opioid substitution therapy among clients on methadone and buprenorphine treatment. Design and Methods. A self-complete, cross-sectional survey conducted among 508 patients receiving methadone and buprenorphine treatment at community pharmacies in New South Wales (NSW), Australia. Results. The most common problems for which participants had ever sought help were dental (29.9%), constipation (25.0%) and headache (24.0%). The most common problems for which participants would currently like help were dental (41.1%), sweating (26.4%) and reduced sexual enjoyment (24.2%). There were no significant differences between those currently on methadone and those currently on buprenorphine for any of the health problems explored, nor differences for gender or treatment duration. Participants on methadone doses 100 mg or above were significantly more likely to want help currently for sedation. Discussion and Conclusions. The considerable unmet health care needs among participants in this study suggest that treatment providers should consider improving the detection and response to common health problems related to opioid substitution therapy. [source]


A viewpoint of mucosal immunity in relation to early feeding method

INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF FOOD SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY, Issue 4 2001
Michael Oladipo Ogundele
Summary Atopic diseases are common health problems in society and their incidence is increasing unabated. A number of studies in animal models have shown that antigen-specific IgE suppression could be induced for the treatment of allergic disorders. Many of the present therapeutic strategies in children have not been entirely successful and early breastfeeding could provide a practicable means of helping the affected children. An overview of the mucosal immune system is hereby presented to explain the natural mechanisms involved in protecting organisms from allergic reactions to food and other non-harmful antigens presented at the mucosal surfaces. The protective role of early breastfeeding in modulating this natural phenomenon is emphasized. The undeniable limitations of breastfeeding in the management of some peculiar cases of childhood dietary protein intolerance are also highlighted. [source]


Alcohol dependence and depression: Advance practice nurse interventions

JOURNAL OF THE AMERICAN ACADEMY OF NURSE PRACTITIONERS, Issue 7 2006
PMHNP (Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner), Tracey L. Fowler RN
Abstract Purpose: To identify alcohol dependence, depression, and their comorbidity as common health problems in the United States. To emphasize advance practice nurse (APN) interventions including screening, treatment, and outcome evaluations for individuals and their families suffering with alcohol dependence and depression. Data sources: Scientific literature on alcohol dependence, depression, and their comorbidity as well as general systems theory. Conclusions: APNs have the opportunity to successfully intervene with individuals and their family with alcohol dependence, depression, and their comorbidity. These complex health conditions need to be screened for, treated, and evaluated to ensure positive outcomes for the individual and their family system. Implications for practice: APNs are in an excellent position to intervene at every contact with the individual and family with alcohol dependence and depression. Interventions aimed at the individual and family system are detailed in order to assist the individual and family to optimal health. [source]


Study of Gerontological Nursing Curriculum

NURSING & HEALTH SCIENCES, Issue 3 2002
S.J. Chon
The purpose of this study was: (i) to survey the present status of the gerontological nursing course in 3-year diploma programs, baccalaureate degree programs (BSN), and graduate programs in Korea; and (ii) to analyze the contents of the syllabus, credits, clinical practise, and gerontological nursing textbooks used within these programs, so as to provide basic data for developing a standard model for a gerontological nursing curriculum. Primary data were collected from all the nursing programs in Korea, from November 2000 to February 2001, by way of mail and fax. Data on the detailed contents of the gerontological nursing curriculum were collected from those programs that had a gerontological nursing course. The results of the study revealed that 36 diploma programs (58%), 40 BSN (80%), and 17 graduate programs (63%) offered gerontological nursing courses. The credits of the gerontological nursing course offered, by program, were found to be: one credit (10 diploma programs, eight BSN programs), two credits (22 diploma programs, 29 BSN programs) and three credits (one BSN program). The gerontological nursing courses were found to be taught mostly by adult health nursing professors. The contents of gerontological nursing curricula were analyzed by comparison with the core curriculum of NGNA. The majority of the nursing schools were found to include the following: gerontological nursing in general; theory of aging; aging processes; care plan options; and common health problems. Legal/ethical issues; evaluation; regulatory and reimbursement issues; education issues; nursing research in gerontology; and environment issues of older adults were not covered in most of the programs. Differences were noted between ADN, BSN, and graduate school curricula. However, similar curriculum contents were found among the undergraduate programs, suggesting that these curricula used gerontological nursing textbooks as references. [source]