Friday, January 29, 2010

Commonly Prescribed Drugs Use and Consequence

The most commonly used prescription drugs are:

Opioids like Oxycodone (OxyContin, Percodan, Percocet), Propoxyphene (Darvon), Hydrocodone (Vicodin, Lortab, Lorcet), Hydromorphone (Dilaudid), Meperidine (Demerol), Diphenoxylate (Lomotil), Morphine (Kadian, Avinza, MS Contin), Codeine, Fentanyl (Duragesic), and Methadone are generally prescribed for Postsurgical pain relief, control of acute or chronic pain, cure of cough and diarrhea. Opioids get attached to opioid receptors present in the brain and spinal cord, and causes to block the feeling of pain. The short-term effects reduces pain, causes drowsiness, constipation, weakened respiration. Sometimes over dosage can cause serious respiratory depression or death.

CNS Depressants like Barbiturates such as Mephobarbital (Mebaral), Pentobarbital sodium (Nembutal) and Benzodiazepines such as Diazepam (Valium), Chlordiazepoxide hydrochloride (Librium), Alprazolam (Xanax), Triazolam (Halcion), Estazolam (ProSom), Clonazepam (Klonopin), Lorazepam (Ativan) are generally prescribed for anxiety, tension, panic attacks, intense stress reactions, sleep disorders, and anesthesia. CNS depressants decelerate the activity of brain generating a calming effect. The short-term effects are sleepy and clumsy feeling during the first few days. When these drugs are suddenly stopped, then there will be convulsive attacks.

Stimulants like Dextroamphetamine (Dexedrine and Adderall) and Methylphenidate (Ritalin and Concerta) are generally prescribed for Narcolepsy, Attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), and Depression. Stimulants increases brain activity, generating increase in alertness, attention, and energy. Short-term effects are raised blood pressure, increased heart rate, increased respiration, reduced appetite, and loss of sleep. Over doses can cause dangerously high body temperature or an irregular heartbeat, cardiovascular failure or harmful seizures.

The long-term use of any prescription drug leads to physical dependence and addiction.


Related Links:
THC Drug Test
Drug testing

Monday, January 11, 2010

Impact of Gardening on Individual, family and communities

Gardens provide higher quality of life and benefits to society. Researchers observed that openness to nature was the most important factor in supplying pleasure to life after the marital role. Yard care and gardening activities helps in developing individuals, strengthening families, and building communities.

For Individuals:
Gardening provides exercise, stress reduction, and relaxation to an individual. For many Americans, gardens provide a creative channel, a sense of skill, and the gardener's personal attachment to nature. Unlike popular video games, gardening demonstrates that life does not always provide rewards instantaneously but the result comes after some time in the future for one's efforts. Gardening is progressively used for its rehabilitation therapy in jail or prison systems.

Family bonds become stronger as families come together and work on yard care and gardening activities. It helps children to learn work skills and team skills by using gardening projects.

Building Communities – Gardening conversations and activities gathers neighbors together, reducing differences between racial and cultural groups. Gardening is a powerful tool to gather neighborhoods. Community gardens and urban forestry projects helps to reduce levels of domestic violence.

Businesses:
Business owners have many positive aspects provided by maintenance of landscaping, trees and plants. They are:
  • • Helps in increasing employee productivity, morale, and pride at workplace
  • • Attract customers or new business holders or tenants
  • • Play major role in creating a corporate image
  • • Some times add value as a marketing tool

Related Links:
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