National Nursing Review : Nursing Study Resources & Health Tips

What is the normal cycle of hair growth and loss?
At any time, about 10% of the hair on your scalp is in a dormant phase. After two to three months, the hair that was dormant phase falls and new hair begins to grow in its place. This growing phase lasts between two and six. During this phase each hair grows approximately one centimeter per month. At any time about 90 percent of their scalp hair is growing.
It is normal to fall a little hair every day as part of this cycle. However, some people may experience an excessive loss (more than normal) hair.

What causes excessive hair loss?
A number of things can cause excessive hair loss. This hair loss is related to the stress of illness and is temporary.
Hormonal problems may cause hair loss. If your thyroid gland is overactive, or are less active than normal hair can fall out. This hair loss usually can be helped with treatment of thyroid disease. Hair loss may occur if there is a balance of male or female hormones known as androgens and estrogens. Correcting the hormone imbalance may stop the hair loss. (more…)

How can I improve plane travel?
Most people have no problems when flying, but it may make air travel safer and more comfortable. Here are some tips:

• Carry enough of all the medicines you take in your hand luggage. Ask your doctor if you should change your dosages if your eating and sleeping times will change when you reach your destination. Bring enough medicine to last throughout the trip. Take extra medicine in case your return is delayed.
• If you have diabetes or epilepsy, carry a notification and identification card as the “Diabetes Alert Card” (On Diabetes Alert Card) from the American Diabetes Association (American Diabetes Association), call or write 800-DIABETES American Diabetes Association, 1660 Duke St., Alexandria, VA 22314. Have the name and telephone number of your doctor with you in case of an emergency. Remember to bring the names and dosages of all your medications.
• The air in airplanes is dry, so drink nonalcoholic, decaffeinated beverages and water to avoid dehydration.

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A group of students from 3rd, 4th and 5th year of the School of Nursing at the UNT A study on self-medication among its peers, which yielded disturbing results. While the race field is studied Pharmacology, 91% of the 95 students surveyed to self medicate. 78% said it does sometimes, and 13%, always.
Regarding the type of remedies that youth are not prescribed, the list is headed by painkillers such as aspirin or ibuprofen, with 65%. These drugs are called NSAIDs, because they are a combination of analgesic and NSAID. Secondly include influenza, with 8% after antibiotics, with 6%, and antacids and steroids, with 3%.
The most common reason that triggers self-medication is the pain: headache, muscle injuries or menstrual. It occupies 52% of cases. Other reasons are malaise (19%), fever (11%), allergy (4%) Acidity (3%), tiredness and weakness (2%).
Also, most drugs without a prescription buy in pharmacies (55%). 27% do so in kiosks or drugstores, 11% obtain them in hospitals or CAPS and 7% of relatives or friends. (more…)

Are women at risk?
Women, like men, are at risk for heart disease and heart attacks. In fact, heart disease is the leading cause of death among women over 65 years. The probability that American women are dying of heart disease is four to six times more than they do of dying from breast cancer. Heart disease kills more women over 65 than all cancers combined. Women develop heart problems later than men, typically seven to eight years later. However, more or less at the age of 65 years the risk of a woman is almost equal to man.

What do I need to know about heart disease and heart attacks?
Women are less likely to survive heart attacks than men. It may be that women do not seek or receive treatment as soon as man. Or it may be because the hearts and blood vessels of women are smaller and more easily damaged. Doctors are trying to find answers to these questions. However, there is no doubt that it makes more sense to prevent heart problems before they start. (more…)