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The Importance of Not Ignoring Vague Symptoms
Health insurance companies are a god send for many people these days. Even with our world famous National Health Service, it pays to take out some extra security for the future of our families health, given the pressures that the NHS are often under. Anybody can take out health insurance providing relevant medical history is disclosed. Some health insurance will cover less than others, it depends on how much you are willing to pay and what your pre-existing health issues or risks are.
Anyway, health insurance can help you to get the medical assistance you need at a much speedier rate than if you were waiting on an NHS list. One of the costliest illnesses to health insurance companies is cancer. Despite constant research and medical breakthroughs, this is one of the world's biggest killers. Even when the disease is not fatal, it can incur long lasting and expensive treatment plans and if these plans are carried through on the NHS, it can sometimes be a bit of a lottery as to whether or not your NHS healthcare trust will be able to afford the drugs that you need.
Excluding skin cancers, new cases of cancer are being diagnosed at approximately 270,000 per year. This could be due to better and earlier diagnostics or other factors, such as changing lifestyles and diets, which are causing the higher figures. Breakthroughs in treatment are being made daily but breast cancer is becoming more commonplace and lung cancer cases are reducing because of a drop in smokers, according to Cancer Research UK.
We are well informed of the symptoms to look out for when it comes to common things such as breast and testicular cancers, such as unusual lumps, but the problem with many cancers is that the symptoms are vague and could be misdiagnosed as many things. Cancer is often the last thing looked for by which time it is quite advanced. Therefore, it may pay for individuals to not only invest in a health insurance policy, but to also be aware of some of the other symptoms for lesser known cancers, in order to look out for their own health.
Bladder cancer brings around ten thousand new UK cases every year and almost half of these will prove terminal. This mostly begins as a change in cells which line the bladder and is often not detected until the later stages when it has spread through to the muscles of the bladder. Symptoms include blood in the urine, painful and/or frequent urination. As with all cancers, these symptoms are typical of many other illnesses which are easily treated but always push the doctor to investigate further if symptoms don't clear up.
Cervical cancer is well covered these days with regular screening processes but ovarian cancer is much more difficult to spot, making it one of the top terminal cancers. It is less common that lung or breast cancer but less than a third of diagnosed patients are alive five years after initial diagnosis so it is vital to recognise the symptoms. These include general discomfort or bloating around the abdomen with appetite or weight loss also. Fluid build up around the abdomen and/or lungs can also cause a shortness of breath. Again, all vague symptoms but for those whose family members have suffered ovarian cancer, it is a must to fully investigate all symptoms.
Pancreatic cancer is not something we hear a great deal about but with 7,000 new cases per year in the UK, it is certainly worth knowing that a yellowing of the skin and eyes, accompanied by darker urine should certainly be looked at closely and even more so if it is accompanied by any pain on eating or if weight loss or nausea are frequent events.
Nausea and vomiting, blood in the stools, indigestion or heartburn, weakness and loss of appetite are all symptoms of stomach cancer. They are also symptoms of minor viruses and stomach ulcers which are easily treated. However, stomach cancer involves some very invasive surgery therefore, if you experience any of the above, be persistent with you GP until a solution is found and your symptoms eased.
Cancer facts courtesy of BBC News Online and Cancer Research UK.
About the Author
Health Expert, Donald Donaldson, takes a look at importance of not ignoring vague symptoms.
private health insurance
Herbal Medicine Review
Introduction
Herbal and supplement aisles abound in supermarkets and local health food stores nationwide, providing evidence of the booming market for "Complementary and Alternative Medicine" (CAM) products. In 1997, retail sales of bottled herbs at neighborhood pharmacies alone.
Sixty per cent of doctors' surgeries in Scotland prescribe homeopathic or herbal remedies, according to a study of nearly two million patients, published in the December issue of the British Journal of Clinical Pharmacology.
Researchers from the University of Aberdeen analysed official prescribing data from 2003-4, covering 1.9 million patients from 323 practices.
Their findings have led them to call for a critical review of homeopathic and herbal prescribing in the UK National Health Service, particularly the high levels given to babies and children under 16.
The research team discovered that:
* 49 per cent of practices prescribed a total of 193 different homeopathic remedies and 32 per cent prescribed 17 different herbal remedies.
* Five per cent of the practices included in the study prescribed 50 per cent of the remedies and accounted for 46 per cent of the patients receiving them.
* 4160 patients (2.2 per 1000 registered patients) were prescribed at least one homeopathic remedy during the study period. 73 per cent were female and the average age of patients was 47.
* Children under 12 months were most likely to be prescribed a homeopathic or herbal remedy (9.5 per 1000 children in that age group), followed by adults aged 81-90 (4.5 per 1000). 16 per cent of homeopathic prescribing was to children under 16.
* 361 patients were prescribed at least one herbal remedy during the study period (0.2 per 1000 registered patients) and 12 per cent of these were children under 16 years old. 72 per cent of prescriptions were issued to females and the average age was 61.
* Doctors who prescribed patients a homeopathic remedy also prescribed them a median of four conventional medicines during the study period. This figure went up to five for people prescribed herbal remedies.
* Four per cent of patients prescribed a herbal remedy were, at the same time, prescribed conventional medication that has been documented to interact with herbal treatments.
* The top five prescribed homeopathic remedies were Arnica montana (for injury, bruising), Rhus toxicodendron (joint symptoms, headache), Cuprum metallicum (cramp, poor circulation) Pulsatilla (PMT, menopausal symptoms, breast feeding problems) and Sepia (PMT, menopausal symptoms, fatigue).
* The top five prescribed herbal remedies were: Gentian (poor appetite, digestive problems), Cranberry (urinary tract infection), Digestodoron (indigestion, heartburn, constipation), Evening primrose (PMT) and Laxadoron (constipation).
"Our study shows that a substantial number of Scottish family doctors prescribe homeopathic and herbal remedies" says co-author Dr James McLay from the University's Department of Medicine and Therapeutics.
"This level of prescribing raises important questions about homeopathic and herbal provision in the UK's National Health Service
"The major problem with homeopathic preparations is the lack of scientific evidence that they are effective."
"Given the rise of evidence-based medicine and the trend toward prescribing guidance in the UK, should therapies with no convincing positive clinical trial evidence be prescribed and funded by the health service"
"Or are proponents of such remedies correct in stating that the difficulties inherent in trialling such therapies make evidence irrelevant."
"Whatever the arguments, our study shows an apparent acceptance of homeopathic and herbal medicine within primary care, including extensive use in children and young babies. We believe that these findings underline the need for a critical review of this prescribing trend."
"The research by the University of Aberdeen adds an important dimension to the ongoing debate about homeopathic remedies, as it shows what is actually happening at grass roots in Scottish general practice" adds Dr Jeffrey Aronson, Editor-in-Chief of the Journal and Reader in Clinical Pharmacology at Oxford University.
"In September 2006 the Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA) introduced new rules to regulate homeopathic medicines, allowing manufacturers to specify the ailments for which they can be used."
"This move has been criticised by a number of leading UK scientific institutions, who argue that homeopathic medicines should not be allowed to make 'unsubstantiated health claims' and that the policy is damaging to patients' best interests."
"We hope that this paper will further inform the debate, as it provides clear evidence on prescribing patterns within the NHS and raises a number of important issues, particularly about prescribing homeopathic and herbal remedies to children."
About the Author
You can read more review in Metrovillez like this Men's Health Review , Women's Health Review , Skin Care Review , Weight Loss Review . Pharmacy Review
