The Inflammation Blog

Is Pharmacy Technician Training Right for You?

2010-07-08T16:49:00.000-07:00

Do you want a career in an exciting environment, where you can help others with
their medical needs? If you have always wanted work in this career field, then
pharmacy technician training is the right thing for you. With this training online,
you can be assured you are getting the help you need through a course that has
helped tens of thousands achieve their dream job. The online training makes it
easier for everyday life as well, no more going to classes everyday at a certain
time. Meet all of your daily obligations, as the flexibility allows you to study
any time like.

What all does the pharmacy technician training program have to offer? The program
will allow you to learn about the pharmacy team, as well as the fundamentals of
helping the pharmacist. You will also learn terminology, pharmacy calculations, and
pharmacology among many other important topics. The online training gives you
access to everything you need, from textbooks and exams to study guides. The online
student center is where you can find other students just like you to chat with, at
any time of the day or night. All of this and dozens of other tools and resources
are included in tuition.

How does the tuition for the pharmacy technician training work? It's extremely
affordable, and you can make small monthly payments if you like with no interest.
As mentioned earlier, tuition does include all materials needed to complete your
studies. The number of jobs in this field is expected to grow 31% by 2018! As a
skilled pharmacy technician, you can go to work in a health system or a pharmacy.
Of course, the more experience you have, the more you will earn; some individuals
earn up to $40,000 or more per year. How much you can earn also depends on what
state you choose to work in after earning your diploma.

Have you ever thought about becoming a pharmacy technician? With Pharmacy Technician Training, you can earn your degree and pursue a rewarding career in a
short amount of time. The tuition is affordable and the flexibility makes it
possible for anyone, no matter how busy a life they lead, to gain the skills
necessary for a rewarding career. You won't have to worry about being on time for
class each morning, or the stress attending school can cause. Pharmacy technician
training online allows you to do things YOUR way - enroll now!

Prenatel Fish Oil studies

2007-05-10T21:21:00.000-07:00

In the first large-scale study of its kind, published in the American Heart Journal, researchers investigated the health effects of daily Omega-3 supplementation in combination with a drug commonly prescribed for those at-risk for heart attacks, angina and other negative coronary events.

Patients who were identified as having higher than average levels of cholesterol were divided into two groups: a main group that included nearly 15,000 participants with no prior history of coronary artery disease, and a secondary group with over 3,600 subjects with a prior history of coronary artery disease. Some of each group were given highly-purified fish oil supplements in addition to a statin (a prescription enzyme blocker that lowers cholesterol levels in the blood by reducing the production of cholesterol by the liver), while others were given only the prescription drug.

Over the course of the nearly five-year study, there was a significant difference between those receiving the fish oil supplements and those who did not. While both therapies proved effective in reducing cholesterol levels, those taking both statins and fish oil supplements had a 19% reduction in risk for heart illness. The researchers also noted that a similar, preventative benefit may result from daily fish oil supplementation for those not currently deemed at-risk for heart problems.

Fish oil has been validated recently in terms of it's role in higher intelligence. In a study published in the British journal The Lancet, researchers followed the eating habits of nearly 12,000 pregnant women. The subjects completed questionnaires over the period of eight years following the birth of their children so that researchers could track developments in communication and social skills, hand-eye coordination and IQ levels.

Scientists have found a strong correlation between consuming a diet rich in Omega-3 fatty acids from fish and higher intelligence and developmental skills. The study found no evidence of increased harm.
More research at
Pharmaceutical Grade Fish Oil Research

For the ultimate in safety, it is advised that if you are pregnant, that you consider only a highly purified and highly concentrated fish oil supplement. The supplement that you select should be certified by a reputable oversight agency like IFOS (International Fish Oil Standards) to meet or exceed safety regulations as outlined by the Council for Responsible Nutrition and the World Health Organization.

Fish Oil-Latest studies

2007-04-26T20:05:00.000-07:00

Researchers have known for a long time that the sea holds many great cures and treatments for humans. Some of the compounds made naturally in sea life are not found anywhere on land and have proven to help humans in a number of ways. Now researchers are saying that fish oil that contains omega-3 fatty acids can help people fight depression.

Doctors at the Massachusetts General Hospital who have watched the clinical trials report that they are impressed with the results. These early results should encourage more testing. Since fish oil does not have negative effects, it is a study that can easily be conducted on a wide scale.

Many scientists and researchers first became interested in fish oil when they observed that the countries with the highest rates of fish consumption had the lowest rates of reported depression. It was also observed that mothers in England that ate little or no fish during pregnancy had twice the risk of going through postpartum depression when compared to women that ate higher amounts of fish during pregnancy. These initial observations are what caused scientists and researchers to want to find out why these trends occurred, and if fish really was the cause. In the research, it was found that the specific cause of the anti-depression benefits was the omega-3 fatty acids found in many fish oils. Researchers have also fed omega-3 fatty acids, independent of fish oils, to piglets and found the omega-3 fatty acids had a similar effect on the piglet brains as some prescription medicines does.visit pharmaceutical grade fish oil supplements for more information. Some anti-depressants help fight depression by raising the level of serotonin, and omega-3 fatty acids have been shown to do the same.

Omega-3 fatty acids are not produced by the human body and are mainly found in seafood. Of the omega-3 fatty acids, the one with the largest impact on the human brain is DHA. DHA is believed to help neurons communicate, which means the signals in the brain can be processed faster and better. Like other omega-3 fatty acids, DHA cannot be produced by the human body, so we must attain it purely from our diets.

At Sheffield University, researchers have found that depressed patients given omega-3 fatty acids see improvement more than twice as often as depressed patients given a placebo. Many patients that have taken anti-depressants to combat their depression find that it makes them feel strange. While omega-3 fatty acids raise the level of serotonin much like these anti-depressants do, no patients have reported the side effects that they can have.

Many early studies indicate that as little as one gram of omega-3 fatty acids is effective in treatment. This dose can be taken as part of a supplement, or simply by eating fish such as salmon, tuna, or sardines. These positive early results should lead to more study using larger sample sizes. Some researchers even feel omega-3 fatty acids will be effective at fighting the effects of bipolar disorder and schizophrenia. Even though fish oil may not help everyone with depression, people who do not like how some anti-depressants make them feel might be very interested to discuss with their doctor if they can try it as a means to fight their depression.

These statements have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration.
This product is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure or prevent any disease.

Lori Matthews studies health, nutrition and wellness. She enjoys writing articles on health for both people and pets. Please

Fish Oils and the mind

2006-10-06T08:12:00.000-07:00

Find out of omega-3 fatty acids can possibly help your mental health.
Is fish oil good for your brain?

We always hear about ways that we can take care of our bodily organs with the foods we eat. When we think about our diet and lifestyle, we can't help but think about the effect our choices have on our heart, liver and kidneys. But what about the brain? When it comes to our diet, the brain has traditionally been the most overlooked organ, when the brain is in fact greatly affected by our dietary choices. A mature human brain uses up to 20% of the energy used by the body. As you can see, it's time we start using our heads to help nourish our brains.

Next to water, lipids (or fats) constitute the largest percentage of the brain’s composition, which is around ten percent or so. Omega-3 fatty acids, composed of DHA (docosahexaenoic acid) and EPA (eicosapentaenoic acid), are among the most beneficial brain nutrients. Of the two, the most essential asset to the brain is DHA, the chief polyunsaturated fat in the central nervous system. DHA is believed to have a direct effect on the brain’s chemistry, development and functioning. The richest source of Omega-3 fatty acids is found in fish and fish oil (especially in the ultra refined or 'pharmaceutical grade' fish oil because of the high concentrations).

There are several ways that the Omega-3's found in fish oil can help maintain the brain. Here are the highlights, based upon recent scientific research …

HELPS MAINTAIN A POSITIVE
STATE OF MIND:

DHA helps to regulate serotonin, a neurotransmitter considered to be responsible for our "feeling good." Chronically sad people tend to have low levels of serotonin. Research suggests populations that consume large amounts of fish have lower numbers of people that are chronically sad. Also, a recent Australian study confirmed that the most severely depressed participants had imbalances of fatty acids in their cell membranes and in their blood. Establishing a healthy balance of fatty acids is thought to have a positive effect on your mood.

ENCOURAGES CALM THINKING:

The expression of stress-induced aggression has proven to be less likely if your brain is under the influence of fish oil, according to an extensive Japanese study. In a test of 41 adult students, those taking 1.5 – 1.8 grams of DHA (in fish oil) for three months were less likely to become more socially aggressive at a time of severe mental stress: final exams. On the other side of the study, students taking placebos displayed rather explosive moments of social aggression. This may also explain why fish oil is good for heart health. Stress hormones triggered by anger and hostility can constrict the arteries and accelerate the formation of blockages. Fish oil is said to suppress the release of such detrimental hormones.

It is essential that Fetuses and toddlers obtain adequalte quantities of Omega-3 rich oils for ideal brain development. In a research study of premature babies, those fed breast milk had eight points higher IQ at age eight than those fed standard infant formula. This suggests that the higher amounts of DHA in breast milk may contribute to superior intelligence. Doctors also advise soon-to-be moms to integrate Omega-3's into their diet, especially during the last trimester where most crucial brain growth takes place. Studies also show that boys with lower levels of Omega-3 fat have a higher incidence of behavioral problems like hyperactivity, impulsivity, anxiousness and temper tantrums.

New Article

2006-05-24T10:42:00.000-07:00

If you take a trip around the world, one of the first things you'll notice is how vastly food varies from culture to culture. Each culture's menu is a poem that has been writing itself since the beginning of that society.

Over thousands of years, people in different parts of the world have developed specific dietary needs as an adaptation mechanism due to climate, geography, vegetation, animals and other naturally occurring food supplies.

Which takes us to the here and now. Though many of us are American, we all have ancestral diets that are far older than this country. Let's take into account that many of us are several ancestries rolled into one. Our bodies today have many of the same nutritional requirements that our ancestors' bodies did centuries ago, though we most likely eat nothing like our ancestors.

This may explain why there are so many contradictions in the nutrition world. Why the same nutritional protocol that enables one person to lead a healthy, robust life can be a medical disaster for another. Why your co-worker can eat steak virtually every day and not have high cholesterol while just a few ounces a week can send yours through the roof.

The answer is as simple as it is complicated: we are all crafted differently based on our hereditary influences. Because we are all scattered pieces of the world, we are each as biochemically unique as a thumbprint. Our bodies utilize foods and nutrients very differently based on these factors:

Hereditary/Genes ... As a result of evolution and socialization, our genetic profiles differ. Depending upon your origin, there will be differences in physical as well as biological characteristics.

Age ... Our bodies require different types and amounts of nutrients as we progress from infant to senior. Long chain omega 3 fatty acids, Calcium and Vitamin D are just a few of the additional nutrients seniors require.

Geography ... For instance, if you live in NYC with pollution, noise and stress, you may need more antioxidants, adrenal support nutrients and B vitamins to counteract that lifestyle. If you live in Alaska or the Northern parts of Europe and Asia, you may need more Omega 3 long chain fatty acids and more lutein because of the blinding winter sun and the long periods of darkness, which often causes depression.

Personality Type ... Believe it or not, Type A personalities need more adrenal support nutrients such as tyrosine and vitamin B's more than Type B personalities.

Vocation ... What we do for a living will have an effect on the nutrients our body needs to stay healthy. An office worker may require more vitamin D because of decreased sun light than a person that is outside directing traffic all day. Both will require additional antioxidants due to the poor quality of air they both breathe.

Based on the fast and polluted life we live today, it's highly unlikely that we're getting all the nutrients that we need to satisfy our genetic codes let alone furnish our bodies with all the micro and macro nutrients required for good health. It makes "wellness sense" to supplement the diet with macro/micronutrients. When selecting the supplement for you, do your homework. Why take a supplement if it isn’t really giving
Author Info:

This article initially appeared in the May 2006 Issue of The Zone Net Newsletter. More info at http://www.diabeticzone.net/taxonomy/term/1

Coal Miner saved

2006-04-07T14:21:00.000-07:00

In what most people are describing as a medical miracle, Randall McCloy Jr., the only surviving miner from the Sago mine disaster, has returned home. When rescued from the Sago mine nearly four months ago, he had brain failure, heart failure, kidney failure, and liver failure. Needless to say, his outlook appeared very bleak. He was immediately transferred to one of the 30 brain trauma centers in the United States located at the West Virginia School of Medicine to be under the care of Dr. Julian Bailes.

Dr. Bailes called upon Dr. Barry Sears, one of the leading authorities in high-dose fish oil in the United States, to see if there was anything Dr. Sears might suggest.

"Barry's our hero," Bailes said Friday. "For me, Barry is one of the main reasons why I got interested in the whole essential fatty acid area. I've read everything he's written, and he convinced me that DHA could play a role in Mr. McCloy's recovery. He sent me his product, which was the main source in his treatments."

Dr. Sears suggested administering 30 grams per day of the fish oil concentrate he developed, OmegaRx, that would provide 18 grams of eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) and docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) via tube feeding. The oil was sent from Dr. Sears' lab via Federal Express and for the next several months was an integral daily part of Randall McCloy's treatment.

Because this was a very high dose of EPA and DHA, McCloy's blood levels were constantly monitored to ensure that the levels of these fatty acids (EPA and DHA) fell within a certain therapeutic range. Bailes said the blood test numbers were "right on the money".

The EPA was needed to reduce the inflammation caused by the lack of oxygen within the organs, and the DHA was required to rebuild the brain, Dr. Sears said.

Today the damage to his heart, kidneys, and liver has been reversed, and he is home with his family. A miracle it is, but a miracle that Dr. Bailes believes was considerably helped by high-dose fish oil.

"I certainly think it played a big role, Bailes said. "How can he rebuild his brain, if he doesn't have the substrate to do it?"

Dr. Sears said he plans to continue to do studies, through his nonprofit Inflammation Research Foundation, with Dr. Bailes on the impact of high-dose fish oil on brain trauma patients.

New Article

2006-02-07T12:14:00.000-08:00

Dangers of Silent Inflammation
by Beverly Storer

Inflammation has been in the news a lot lately. Not just inflammation
but silent inflammation. It’s been the topic in countless newspaper
articles and TV news reports. So what’s all the fuss about silent
inflammation?

According to Dr. Barry Sears author of The Anti Inflammation Zone,
Silent inflammation is inflammation that you can’t feel and what’s more
average Americans are leading a lifestyle that causes chronic silent
inflammation. He also states that silent inflammation is the first sign
that your body is out of balance and you are no longer well. You can’t
feel it but its grinding down your heart, your brain, and your immune
system. It’s insidious and is the greatest threat to your wellness.

When over produced by the body, three hormones - Cortisol, Insulin and
Pro-Inflammatory Eicosanoids - contribute to silent inflammation and
set the stage for disease.

Dr. Sears states that wellness is ultimately dependent on the levels of
cellular inflammation and especially silent inflammation found in your
body. If you have what he calls screaming pain or an existing chronic
disease then you know your aren’t well. However silent inflammation is
different because it’s ongoing inflammation that is under the pain
threshold, it’s difficult to detect and you can’t determine it by sight
alone.

Your first line of defense against silent inflammation is the Zone
Diet. The Zone Diet was designed to reverse silent inflammation. The key
to keeping silent inflammation under control lies in keeping your
glycemic load high enough to avoid ketosis and low enough to avoid excess
insulin secretion. You also need to balance that with the proper amount
of protein and fat. It’s really not that hard. You can learn all
about the Zone Diet by reading either of Dr. Sears’ books, The
Anti-Inflammation Zone or The OmegaRx Zone.

The other single most important thing that you can do to control silent
inflammation is to take a daily supplement of high-dose, ultra-refined
fish oil. It’s not the cod liver oil your grandmother used to take.
It’s the new generation of fish oils – the ultra-refined, ultra-pure
fish oils. These fish oils have less than 10 parts per billion (ppb) of
Mercury, less than 45 (ppb) of PCBs, less than 1 part per trillion (ppt)
of Dioxins and less than 13 meq/L Total Oxidation. These fish oils are
not the fish oils found in health food stores or supermarkets. It
takes 100 gallons of a health food store grade fish oil to make one gallon
of the new ultra refined fish oil recommended by Dr. Barry Sears in his
book, The Anti-Inflammation Zone.