Oral Contraceptives & Age of Menarche Affect The Risk of Asthma

Oral contraceptives and age of menarche affect the risk of asthma

Endogenous and exogenous sex hormones allegedly linked to the development of asthma and respiratory asthma-like disorders in young women, according to a team of researchers in the May issue of the Journal of Allergy and Clinical Immunology.

In the study, 905 were studied menstruating women aged 13 to 28 years old.

It was found that women with the appearance of menarche to 12 years, the risk of asthma after puberty was 2.08 times higher than in patients with the start of menarche at age 12 years.

Use of oral contraceptives is also correlated with an increase in the probability of occurrence of 1.75 in patients without a history of asthma, wheezing. It is not clear how the change in the level of sex hormones increases the risk of developing asthma. Perhaps this is due to unaccounted lifestyle factors, or is due to decrease in the content of physiological levels of estrogen and progesterone during phases of each menstrual cycle.

Data of previous large studies of postmenopausal women showed that hormone replacement therapy increases the risk of developing asthma. Oral contraceptives with higher doses of estrogen and progesterone can have a pronounced effect on asthma or asthma-like respiratory disorders.

However, the researchers argue that a combination of asthma and oral contraceptives have no contraindications.

Assess Your Risk: Should You Be Thinking About Glaucoma?

When it comes to protecting our eye health, we all know the most obvious signs and symptoms to watch out for – blurriness, halos and other changes in vision.  With glaucoma, however, the condition often doesn’t present any symptoms in its early stages.  Often referred to as a “silent thief of sight,” it’s for this reason that patients need to understand potential risk factors for the condition and schedule regular glaucoma screenings.  A common and serious condition, we are challenging our patients to consider one important question:  Should You Be Thinking About Glaucoma?

Here is our list of the Top 5 Risk Factors for Developing Glaucoma:

1. 
   Age. Age is one of the most common risk factors for developing glaucoma.  In fact, according to the Glaucoma Research Foundation, “You are six times more likely to get glaucoma if you are over 60 years old.”


2. 
   Family History. Pointing to a genetic link, those with a family history of glaucoma tend to have a much higher chance for developing the condition.  It’s important for patients to understand their family’s medical history and share it with their healthcare provider.


3. 
   Certain Medical Conditions. Certain medical conditions have been marked as potential risk factors for glaucoma.  In fact, according to the Mayo Clinic, “Several conditions may increase your risk of developing glaucoma, including diabetes, heart diseases, high blood pressure and hypothyroidism.”


4. 
   Ethnicity. Some ethnic groups tend to be more vulnerable to developing glaucoma.  Typically, these include African Americans and Hispanic populations.


5. 
   Taking Certain Medications. Certain medications have been marked as potential contributing factors to glaucoma, particularly steroids.  According to the GRF, “A 1997 study reported in the Journal of American Medical Association demonstrated a 40% increase in the incidence of ocular hypertension and open-angle glaucoma in adults who require approximately 14 to 35 puffs of steroid inhaler to control asthma.”

Schedule a Glaucoma Screening Today

Whether or not you are in one of these “high risk” categories, understand that glaucoma does not discriminate and everyone is ultimately at risk.  This is why we are encouraging all our patients to contact us today and schedule a glaucoma screening. Our offices are located in Winchester, serving Virginia, West Virginia and Maryland, and you can reach us directly at (540) 722-6200.

Source: http://www.seeclear.com/blog/glaucoma/assess-your-risk-should-you-be-thinking-about-glaucoma

plastic surgery cost gynecomastia surgery cosmetic surgery prices

Ipratropium Bromide May Increase Risk For Cardiovascular Events

Patients taking ipratropium bromide, an anticholinergic used in the treatment of COPD, may be at an increased risk for cardiovascular events (CVE), including heart failure. Researchers from the University of Washington in Seattle, WA, and Hines VA Hospital in Hines, IL, conducted a cohort study on 82,717 US veterans with a new diagnosis of COPD between 1999 and 2002. Of the patients, 44 percent were exposed to anticholinergics (mainly ipratropium) at some time during the study. Patients were followed until they had their first hospitalization for a CVE, until they died, or until September 30, 2004. Within the cohort, 6,234 CVE were identified (44 percent heart failure, 28 percent acute coronary syndrome, and 28 percent dysrhythmias). Results showed that any exposure to anticholinergics within the past 6 months was associated with an increased risk of CVE. However, among patients who received anticholinergics more than 6 months prior, an elevated risk of CVE was not seen. Researchers note that their findings are consistent with previous concerns raised about the cardiovascular safety of ipratropium bromide. This study is published in the January issue of Chest, the peer-reviewed journal of the American College of Chest Physicians.