Health is a state of physical, mental and social well-being and not merely the absence of disease or infirmity. The enjoyment of the highest attainable standard of health is one of the fundamental rights of every human being without distinction of race, colour, religion, political belief, economic or social condition. In the modern understanding of health, we have come to appreciate that it is much more than just a state of being free of diseases and ailments. It is a process that can be nurtured by individuals and communities as they learn to live in ways that promote health and well-being. The notion of health is closely linked to our sense of personal and social identity. For this reason, people have different definitions of what it means to be healthy in their own particular situations. The concept of health is constantly evolving in the context of the changing world we live in. A person’s understanding of health can be influenced by their family history, which includes genes and an individual’s unique biological composition. It can also be influenced by the environment in which they live and work, including what they eat, how they exercise, and the quality of their relationships and community life. In addition, people’s ability to cope with the challenges and responsibilities of daily life influences their health and well-being. Moreover, the balance of positive and negative emotions such as joy, sadness and anger also affects our health. For example, when we feel overwhelmed with stress and anxiety, it can lead to depression that causes problems in our physical and mental health. On the other hand, when we are happy and satisfied with our lives, it contributes to our mental and emotional health. The earliest Greek thinkers such as Democritus and Hippocrates connected health with behavior, wondering why people prayed to God for good health when it was in their own hands to control. The later Greek philosophers, Empedocles and Heraclitus, focused on the connection between diet and health. They advocated a balanced diet, regular exercise and rest, and avoided exposure to cold air. They also emphasized the importance of the seasons’ influence on human bodies, which caused symptoms such as the prevalence of respiratory illnesses in winter and digestive disorders in summer. In the 20th century, the development of the field of social medicine and public health brought about a shift in our view of what makes us healthy. It replaced the pathogenesis approach of studying factors that cause disease with a salutogenesis approach of exploring what supports health. To write a health and wellness article effectively, it is important to be in a healthy mind and body. It is also important to have the right resources – access to experts, books and subscriptions to leading websites in the area of health and wellness. This will enable you to create an informative, authoritative article that can inspire and encourage people to take steps towards better health.
Read MorePharmacy is a discipline that encompasses the discovery, manufacture, preparation, dispensing, and review of medications. It is also an interdisciplinary science that links health sciences with pharmaceutical sciences and natural sciences. Pharmacy is a key part of the healthcare system, providing expert advice to doctors and patients on medication use. It is a complex and challenging profession. In the 1950s, a change occurred in the profession and it became more scientific. In that era, the basic sciences such as pharmaceutics, medicinal chemistry, and pharmacognosy were introduced into the curriculum and this made pharmacy a true science-based profession. This shift resulted in the demise of apprenticeship training and a greater emphasis on research. Institutions that built strong research programs grew to become the premier colleges of pharmacy. Today, there is a larger selection of medicines available than ever before. This has been fueled by advances in technology and changes in the way that diseases are treated. This has increased the demand for pharmacists. However, there is a concern that the number of people working in the field may not be enough to meet this growing need. Many pharmacies are now using automation to help them process prescriptions and store medicine. They are also promoting a range of health-related products such as vitamins, weight loss supplements, and herbal medicines. Some pharmacies are also selling beauty products and toiletries. There is also a growing interest in online pharmacies. Some of these websites offer a wide variety of medications, while others specialize in a particular type of drug. It is important to be cautious when purchasing drugs from an online pharmacy, because some of these sites may be fraudulent. They may advertise claims that a certain medication will cure a serious disease, or they may contain medically unsubstantiated case histories. In addition, some of these sites may suggest that the government or the medical profession is conspiring to suppress a certain product. Whether you are looking for a specific medicine or just want to browse, it’s easy to find what you need at an online pharmacy. Most online pharmacies require a valid prescription before delivering medication to your home. Some offer free shipping on orders of $25 or more, while others charge a small fee for shipping. If you’re unsure about the legitimacy of an online pharmacy, ask your doctor for recommendations. Aside from selling medications, some pharmacies provide health services such as taking blood pressure and temperature, checking cholesterol, or testing urine for diabetes. Often, pharmacies are the best place to get rid of unwanted or expired medication. This ensures that unused medicines don’t end up in the wrong hands and can be used by someone who shouldn’t be taking them. You should always check the expiration date before buying a medication from an online pharmacy.
Read MoreCancer is a disease that starts when abnormal cells start growing out of control and forming tumors. The cells may also break away from the tumor and travel to other parts of the body, where they continue to grow and form more tumors. Normally, the number of cells in the body is carefully controlled so that new cells are made to replace old ones and to grow and develop as needed. Cancer begins when genetic changes tip the balance toward excessive cell growth and development. The first signs of cancer may be similar to symptoms of many other conditions, such as the flu or a common infection. For this reason, it is important to talk to your doctor about any new or unusual symptoms. The earlier cancer is found, the easier it is to treat. When doctors discovered that living tissues are composed of cells and that all cells are direct descendants of previous cells, they began to ask how and why abnormal cells arise. They wondered what kinds of cells cancers begin in, how they differ from normal cells and what events promote their growth and spread. With the help of the microscope, doctors observed that cancer cells look different than healthy cells and could be distinguished by their size, shape, color and other properties. They were able to grow some of these cells in laboratory tests and showed that they are capable of forming tumors. They also found that cancer cells can break down the tissues they invade and can produce substances that attract blood vessels to the tumor and help it grow. Cancer cells are also characterized by the fact that they have more DNA than healthy cells and that their DNA contains mutations (abnormal changes). Mutations can cause normal cells to lose control of the way they grow and develop. The mutations that cause cancer also change the ways that genes express themselves. These changes disrupt the normal functions of cells and the way the body makes proteins, which carry out the instructions in our cells. The body normally safeguards against cancer through a process called apoptosis, which causes abnormal cells to die or to be reabsorbed into the body. In addition, the body has other methods for protecting itself, such as helper molecules that repair damaged DNA or that cause precancerous cells to die. But in cancer cells, the DNA damage isn’t repaired or the abnormal cells don’t die. As a result, the cancer cells keep dividing and growing, producing more and more abnormal cells with defective DNA. The abnormal cells also rob the body of nutrients and oxygen as they grow and spread.
Read MoreMedical is the science and art of treating disease, preventing illness and injury and promoting health. It is the profession of physicians, surgeons and other practitioners who are trained in diagnosing and treating disease and ill health. It also includes research into the causes, processes and effects of disease. The scientific basis for medicine is the natural sciences, which include biology, chemistry and physics. The study of these disciplines allows us to understand how the body works and what goes wrong when it stops working. Doctors have to be able to explain these concepts in terms that their patients can understand. This has led to the development of a language known as medical terminology. It is a combination of prefixes and suffixes that are taken from the languages of ancient Greece and Latin. The prefixes have specific meanings and the suffixes are dropped if they don’t fit with the root word. For example, arthr/o/itis is inflammation of a bone and joint. Other areas of medicine include cytology, which studies microscopic cells; embryology, which is the study of early development; epidemiology, which is the study of patterns of disease in populations; and genetics, which is the study of genes and their role in biological inheritance. All of these fields have applications in the practice of medicine. A major challenge for doctors is to establish the underlying cause of a patient’s symptoms. This is done by talking to the patient (the history), examining them (the examination) and, when necessary, requesting tests like bloods or X-rays (the investigations). The information gathered from these sources is then used to form a hypothesis about what might be causing the symptoms. This diagnosis is then tested against the results of the investigations to confirm or reject it. It is important for all patients to know what their doctor’s background and specialisms are. This will help them to decide if they have the right doctor for them and whether they should be referred on for specialist care. It is also important to find out if the doctor has any conflicts of interest that might influence their recommendations or treatment options. These could be financial, such as being on the payroll of a pharmaceutical company, or they might have been involved in medical research that was funded by a drug company. Patients can do simple checks on their doctors by searching the internet for their name and the word “conflicts of interest.” This will reveal any recommendations that might benefit the doctor rather than the patient, such as prescribing drugs that aren’t in your best interests. It might also show that the doctor has published papers with companies that are interested in your medical condition. This is called the Vancouver protocol and is internationally recognised as good practice. You should always read the full text of any paper you are considering citing, not just the abstract. This will give you the full picture of what is being reported and allow you to assess its value and accuracy.
Read MorePharmacy is an activity that encompasses research, production, dispensing, and distribution of drugs and medications. It also includes education and training of pharmacists, as well as the supervision of the activities of other pharmacy practitioners and staff. The term is used in many different countries, each with its own specific laws and regulations. In the United States, pharmacy is regulated by both the Federal Drug Administration and state governments. The pharmacy profession has a long history and is one of the oldest healthcare professions. The first documentation of pharmacological knowledge dates from ancient Egypt, with papyri such as the Ebers and Edwin Smith papyri. In China, the earliest known manual for medicine was the Shennong Bencao Jing (Recipes for 52 Ailments), compiled during the 1st century AD and attributed to the Shennong Emperor. Pharmacy has been influenced by changing social, economic, and technological factors. In addition, it has been affected by changing health care policies and practices. The current focus is on the role of pharmacy in the health system, particularly its relationship with primary healthcare and public health. The focus is on achieving health equity and improving the quality of life. A pharmacist’s job is to make sure that people are getting the right medication for the condition they have. This is done by providing advice and information to the patient, preparing and dispensing prescribed medicines, assuring the quality of drugs dispensed, and ensuring that the correct dosage is taken. It is also important to keep up-to-date with the latest developments in medicines. Many pharmacies are located in retail outlets, although more and more are becoming internet-based. This makes it easier to get access to medications for common ailments, such as coughs and colds. It is also possible to order medicines for more serious conditions, such as diabetes and HIV, from online pharmacies. Online pharmacies are easy to use and can be convenient for those who are too busy or ill to go to the local pharmacy. They also offer a variety of extra services such as medication reminders, email notifications when stock runs out or medicines are about to expire, and electronic billing invoices. They also offer customer care representatives who are available to help customers twenty-four hours a day. This is especially useful for elderly people and women. The convenience of having these medicines delivered directly to the home is a real benefit, especially in the winter when roads can be treacherous. Online pharmacies also allow customers to recycle their unused or unwanted medicines, which prevents them from falling into the wrong hands. This service is free of charge. It is best to talk to your doctor before ordering these medicines, though. They will advise you on the safest and most effective medicines for your condition. This will also reduce the risk of adverse reactions.
Read MoreCancer is a disease that happens when abnormal cells grow too quickly and don’t die when they should. They can spread to other parts of the body where they can damage or destroy healthy cells. Cancer is sometimes a very serious disease but it can also be treated and cured. Cancer can affect anyone. It most often happens to older people. It can happen in many different places in the body and in all types of tissues. It can be found in the skin, lung, blood, bones and brain. Cancer isn’t contagious. You can’t catch it from other people, and you can’t get it by touching someone who has it. Cancer happens when certain genes make mistakes and keep dividing without stopping. This makes more and more abnormal cells that can eventually form a tumor (say: TOO-mer). Cancer usually starts in just one part of the body, but it can start in any kind of tissue or cell. Normally, when cells need to divide, they get signals from outside the cell that tell them when and how to divide. These signals come from growth factors, cell-cell adhesion molecules and extracellular matrix components. Cancer cells develop a different way of receiving these signals and no longer obey them. They also have more mutations (say: MUT-tur-uns) than normal cells. This means that cancer cells are genetically very different from normal cells. Each cancer type is very different and each person’s cancer is different, too. This is why it is important to find out what kind of cancer you have and the stage of your cancer. It helps your doctors plan treatment and give you the best chance of a cure. Doctors classify cancers by where they start and whether or not they have spread. They use a staging system to describe how far the cancer has spread, using Roman numerals from I to IV. There are lots of ways to treat cancer, including surgery, chemotherapy and radiation therapy. Many types of cancer can be prevented by changing some lifestyle habits like staying a healthy weight, not smoking or using other forms of tobacco, drinking less alcohol and getting more exercise. Surgery is the oldest cancer treatment and still the most common. During surgery, your doctor tries to remove as much of the cancer as possible. They may need to remove some healthy cells and tissue to make sure the cancer is completely gone. Chemotherapy is the use of drugs to kill cancer cells and stop them from growing, dividing and making more cancer cells. It is usually given over a period of weeks to months and can be combined with other treatments. Doctors can use chemotherapy before surgery to shrink a large tumor and make the operation easier or after surgery to help prevent the cancer from coming back, called adjuvant chemotherapy. A newer type of treatment is immunotherapy. It involves giving medication to “wake up” your own immune system so it can fight the cancer cells. This is being studied in clinical trials and may be useful for treating some cancers.
Read MoreMedical is a term that describes the practice of treating disease and injury, such as strep throat or a broken wrist. Medical practitioners are known as doctors, and they use a variety of tools and techniques to diagnose and treat medical conditions. Some examples include taking a patient’s blood pressure, inserting a needle into a vein to draw blood, and stitching wounds using sutures. Modern medicine is a highly scientific field, and advances in biotechnology often influence the development of new medicines and treatment methods. In some cases, a doctor will recommend that the patient follow certain diets or exercise regimens to help combat an illness. Other treatments can involve the use of pills, injections, or surgery. Medical technology continues to advance at a rapid pace, and scientists are working hard to develop artificial intelligence systems that can assist doctors in the decision-making process when diagnosing patients or performing complex surgical procedures. The field of medicine is incredibly diverse, and it has many sub-disciplines and specializations. Some of these include conservation medicine (the study of the relationship between human and animal health and environmental conditions), diving medicine (the prevention and treatment of dive-related problems), forensic medicine (the examination of evidence used in legal cases, such as the cause of death, type of weapon used to inflict trauma or reconstructing the features of the deceased to aid identification), and gender medicine (studies of biological and physiological differences between men and women). Anatomy is the study of the structure of living organisms. Cytology is the microscopic study of cells, and endocrinology focuses on hormones and their effects in the body. Genetics is the study of genes and their role in biological inheritance, and epidemiology studies the statistical analysis of disease trends. Training in medicine varies widely between countries, but usually involves three to five years of residency following medical school. Surgical training can take longer, and some doctors may also spend several years in post-residency fellowships in specific sub-specialties. Most developed nations have national health care systems that provide access to affordable healthcare for all residents, regardless of their ability to pay. However, there are still large disparities between rich and poor countries in terms of the availability of quality healthcare. Smart medical devices that network with other equipment can allow doctors to monitor patients remotely, and some medical experts believe that future generations will live in a world where the majority of medical treatment is delivered through robotic devices. In addition, companies such as Elon Musk’s Neuralink are developing implantable brain chips that can monitor neural activity and respond to signals sent by the brain. This could lead to new treatments for cognitive disorders such as dementia and depression, and reduce the need for invasive procedures such as spinal taps.
Read MoreHealth is the condition of being free from disease or injury. It also means having the ability to participate in social and cultural activities without limitation or impairment. People define health in different ways. Some definitions are more subjective and focus on the emotional, spiritual or psychological aspects of health. A more objective definition was adopted by the World Health Organization (WHO) in 1948 and it states that health is a state of physical, mental and social well-being and not merely the absence of disease or infirmity. Traditionally, when a person is considered healthy, they must have no symptoms of disease and all investigations must show that their body functions normally. This is known as the medical model of health. This model of health is flawed because it only takes into account what a person can do at a particular point in time and ignores the fact that with the progress of medicine, a person who has no symptoms today may be diagnosed as having a disease tomorrow. Another view is that health relates to the capacity of individuals to realize their aspirations and satisfy their needs, to change and cope with their environment in a healthy way. This is called the salutogenesis theory of health. In the 1980s, there was a shift away from viewing health as a state and towards seeing it as a process that depends on a range of factors. Most people will agree that the health of a person is influenced by many factors, such as genetics, the microbiome of their digestive tract, lifestyle and their social and physical environments. Some of these factors can be controlled and others cannot. For example, if someone has an increased risk of a specific illness due to their genes they can take steps to reduce the chance of developing that disease by following good nutrition, being physically active, and avoiding smoking or excess alcohol. Regardless of the definition of health that is used, it is important to promote health by encouraging healthful behaviors and by discouraging unhealthy ones. A common way to do this is through health articles in newspapers and magazines, on the internet, or on television and radio. These articles can be helpful and informative, but they must also be balanced. If an article is biased or exaggerated it can lead to distrust of the information being presented. It is therefore vital to include accurate statistics when promoting health and using evidence-based research. For example, if an article claims that ‘most people who take medication Y do not experience side effects’ it is important to quote figures to counterbalance this claim. This will make the reader more confident that the information is valid and trustworthy.
Read MorePharmacy is the practice and science of discovering, producing, preparing, dispensing, reviewing, and monitoring medication, aiming to ensure safe, effective, affordable, and equitable use of medications. It is a hybrid discipline that links health sciences with pharmaceutical and natural science, and it is an important part of the health care industry. It is a profession that is concerned with the preparation, storage, preservation and distribution of medicines, including herbal remedies and vitamins. It is also concerned with the evaluation of new drugs and the monitoring of existing drug treatments, and with educating patients about the proper use of their medicines. People have been using herbs and other natural substances as medicines for thousands of years, but professional pharmacy as a distinct health care discipline became established in the mid-nineteenth century. Pharmacists work in a variety of settings, including pharmacies, medical clinics, hospitals, universities, and research laboratories. Pharmacists are trained to recommend the right medicine for any condition, and they can explain how to take and store medications properly. They can also answer questions about other health issues, and they are responsible for filling prescriptions that have been written by doctors or other healthcare professionals. In addition, pharmacists are trained to advise patients about preventive health care, such as vaccinations. They can help patients with chronic diseases such as diabetes and hypertension, and they can provide counseling on adherence to medication treatment regimens. Moreover, they are trained to make sure that drugs are not harmful in combination with other medicines or with certain foods or activities. The five-year curriculum at a pharmacy school typically includes courses in the biological and physical sciences, such as chemistry, biology, physics, bacteriology, and physiology. In addition to these core subjects, pharmacy students often take courses in business and merchandising, and they learn the fundamentals of computer techniques and pharmaceutical law. Some pharmacies offer a wide range of goods, including confectionery and cosmetics, and even some grocery items. Some also sell magazines and newspapers. Some pharmacies, especially those in the United States and Canada, offer prescription services and are licensed by government agencies to fill certain types of prescriptions. Depending on the state, there are different requirements for pharmacy licensure. In general, a license to practice pharmacy requires at least a bachelor’s degree in pharmacology or a related field, a period of clinical experience, and passing an exam. The state of Washington, for example, requires pharmacy students to complete a minimum of four clinical training rotations in order to be eligible to apply for their license.
Read MoreCancer is a disease that begins when cells in the body start dividing without control or order. These abnormal cells can then grow and eventually spread to other parts of the body. The most common types of cancer are breast, lung, skin and colorectal cancers. Other types include sarcomas, brain tumors and lymphomas. Cancers are classified by the type of cell they begin in and by what part of the body they affect. The cells that make up your body are essential for all the things you do, from breathing and digesting to thinking and walking. Almost every cell in your body can become cancerous if it develops a genetic mutation that makes the cell grow and divide more than it should. There are many different kinds of mutations that can turn healthy cells into precancerous cells and then into cancer, and the time it takes for a person to get cancer varies. Normally, the cells in your body form new cells as they are needed and old or damaged cells die so that new cells can replace them. In cancer, this process goes awry: cancerous cells begin growing and multiplying out of control and the tumors that result can invade other tissues and organs. Cancer can be divided into stages, describing the progression of the disease. Stage 0 is when the cancer begins in the place where it starts (also called localized cancer). Stage 1 is when the cancer has begun to spread beyond its original site, usually to nearby tissue or nearby lymph nodes. Stage 2 is when the cancer has grown deeper into nearby tissue or lymph nodes, but has not yet spread to distant organs. The exact cause of cancer is not known, but experts know that certain characteristics, called risk factors, can increase the chance of getting the disease. These factors include smoking, sun exposure and inherited genes. Some cancers are caused by chemical changes in DNA that can occur in the normal course of aging, but most are triggered by events outside the body. The most common types of cancer start in cells that line blood vessels, tissues that cover internal or external surfaces and in glands that produce hormones or other substances. There are more than 100 kinds of cancer, and they can be divided into groups based on where they start in the body, for example, bone cancers, lung cancers and breast cancers. Some are also grouped according to what they look like, for example basal cell carcinomas, squamous cell carcinomas and melanomas. Other cancers, such as leukemia and lymphoma, start in blood-forming cells. These are often referred to as haematological cancers. Other cancers start in other parts of the body, and are referred to as solid tumours or haematological tumours. These cancers are less common but still serious. They may affect the bones, lungs and other organs, or they can spread to them from other parts of the body. They can be hard to treat because they can grow quickly and spread through the bloodstream to other parts of the body.
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