ho

Wondering how you calculate how much Google Adsense give you money per click? There is a simple formula for this:

Revenue = Traffic * CTR * CPC

Probably understand what traffic.

So CTR is Click Through rate, and this shows how your visitors are clicking on ads. It really depends on what your site is optimized AdSense.

CPC is cost per click. Different words have different incomes. Some may be about $ 0.01, some are over $ 10.

But how to find words that are - highly paid for your site? Well, the answer to this question depends a little of who you are and what you are willing to do to get those keywords. But the good news is that you really can not find such words if you need them.

Here is your example of these words:

S / No.	Keywords	CPC ($)
1.	Purchase Structured Settlements	53.48
2.	Mesothelioma Lawyers San Diego	51.47
3.	Secured Loan Calculator	51.35
4.	Structured Settlement Investments	50.45
5.	Endowment Selling	50.35
6.	Mesothelioma Patients	50.23
7.	Mesothelioma attorney san diego	50.07
8.	Austin Texas dwi lawyers	50.03
9.	New York Mesothelioma Lawyers	50.01
10.	Phoenix dui lawyers	50.01
11.	Secured Loans	50.01
12.	Insurance Auto	50.00
13.	Phoenix dui attorney	50.00
14.	car free insurance online quote	50.00
15.	students debt consolidation loans	49.96
16.	Pennsylvania mesothelioma lawyers	49.87
17.	data recovery Denver	49.71
18.	adverse credit remortgages	49.56
19.	bad credit remortgages	49.47
20.	data recover y service los angeles	49.37
21.	Consolidating Students Loan	49.30
22.	Students Loan Consolidation Rates	49.17
23.	Boston dui lawyers	49.02
24.	memphis car insurance	48.86
25.	conference calling companies	48.64
26.	dui attornes los angeles	48.60
27.	georgia car accident lawyers	48.36
28.	san diego dui defense	48.32
29.	Phoenix arizona dui lawyers	48.28
30.	Los angeles dwi attorneys	48.20
31.	Student Consolidation Loans	48.15
32.	free quote for car insurance	48.11
33.	irs tax lawyers	48.08
34.	nj auto insurance	48.08
35.	dui san diego	48.01
36.	Los Angeles Criminal Defense Attorney	48.00
37.	Consolidating Private Student Loans	47.96
38.	Personal Injury Lawyer Chicago	47.83
39.	Personal Injury Attorney Pennsylvania	47.82
40.	Auto Insurance	47.81

How to win more with Google AdSense

Wondering how you calculate how much Google Adsense give you money per click? There is a simple formula for this:

Revenue = Traffic * CTR * CPC

Probably understand what traffic.

So CTR is Click Through rate, and this shows how your visitors are clicking on ads. It really depends on what your site is optimized AdSense.

CPC is cost per click. Different words have different incomes. Some may be about $ 0.01, some are over $ 10.

But how to find words that are - highly paid for your site? Well, the answer to this question depends a little of who you are and what you are willing to do to get those keywords. But the good news is that you really can not find such words if you need them.

Here is your example of these words:

S / No.	Keywords	CPC ($)
1.	Purchase Structured Settlements	53.48
2.	Mesothelioma Lawyers San Diego	51.47
3.	Secured Loan Calculator	51.35
4.	Structured Settlement Investments	50.45
5.	Endowment Selling	50.35
6.	Mesothelioma Patients	50.23
7.	Mesothelioma attorney san diego	50.07
8.	Austin Texas dwi lawyers	50.03
9.	New York Mesothelioma Lawyers	50.01
10.	Phoenix dui lawyers	50.01
11.	Secured Loans	50.01
12.	Insurance Auto	50.00
13.	Phoenix dui attorney	50.00
14.	car free insurance online quote	50.00
15.	students debt consolidation loans	49.96
16.	Pennsylvania mesothelioma lawyers	49.87
17.	data recovery Denver	49.71
18.	adverse credit remortgages	49.56
19.	bad credit remortgages	49.47
20.	data recover y service los angeles	49.37
21.	Consolidating Students Loan	49.30
22.	Students Loan Consolidation Rates	49.17
23.	Boston dui lawyers	49.02
24.	memphis car insurance	48.86
25.	conference calling companies	48.64
26.	dui attornes los angeles	48.60
27.	georgia car accident lawyers	48.36
28.	san diego dui defense	48.32
29.	Phoenix arizona dui lawyers	48.28
30.	Los angeles dwi attorneys	48.20
31.	Student Consolidation Loans	48.15
32.	free quote for car insurance	48.11
33.	irs tax lawyers	48.08
34.	nj auto insurance	48.08
35.	dui san diego	48.01
36.	Los Angeles Criminal Defense Attorney	48.00
37.	Consolidating Private Student Loans	47.96
38.	Personal Injury Lawyer Chicago	47.83
39.	Personal Injury Attorney Pennsylvania	47.82
40.	Auto Insurance	47.81

How to win more with Google AdSense

Wondering how you calculate how much Google Adsense give you money per click? There is a simple formula for this:

Revenue = Traffic * CTR * CPC

Probably understand what traffic.

So CTR is Click Through rate, and this shows how your visitors are clicking on ads. It really depends on what your site is optimized AdSense.

CPC is cost per click. Different words have different incomes. Some may be about $ 0.01, some are over $ 10.

But how to find words that are - highly paid for your site? Well, the answer to this question depends a little of who you are and what you are willing to do to get those keywords. But the good news is that you really can not find such words if you need them.

Here is your example of these words:

S / No.	Keywords	CPC ($)
1.	Purchase Structured Settlements	53.48
2.	Mesothelioma Lawyers San Diego	51.47
3.	Secured Loan Calculator	51.35
4.	Structured Settlement Investments	50.45
5.	Endowment Selling	50.35
6.	Mesothelioma Patients	50.23
7.	Mesothelioma attorney san diego	50.07
8.	Austin Texas dwi lawyers	50.03
9.	New York Mesothelioma Lawyers	50.01
10.	Phoenix dui lawyers	50.01
11.	Secured Loans	50.01
12.	Insurance Auto	50.00
13.	Phoenix dui attorney	50.00
14.	car free insurance online quote	50.00
15.	students debt consolidation loans	49.96
16.	Pennsylvania mesothelioma lawyers	49.87
17.	data recovery Denver	49.71
18.	adverse credit remortgages	49.56
19.	bad credit remortgages	49.47
20.	data recover y service los angeles	49.37
21.	Consolidating Students Loan	49.30
22.	Students Loan Consolidation Rates	49.17
23.	Boston dui lawyers	49.02
24.	memphis car insurance	48.86
25.	conference calling companies	48.64
26.	dui attornes los angeles	48.60
27.	georgia car accident lawyers	48.36
28.	san diego dui defense	48.32
29.	Phoenix arizona dui lawyers	48.28
30.	Los angeles dwi attorneys	48.20
31.	Student Consolidation Loans	48.15
32.	free quote for car insurance	48.11
33.	irs tax lawyers	48.08
34.	nj auto insurance	48.08
35.	dui san diego	48.01
36.	Los Angeles Criminal Defense Attorney	48.00
37.	Consolidating Private Student Loans	47.96
38.	Personal Injury Lawyer Chicago	47.83
39.	Personal Injury Attorney Pennsylvania	47.82
40.	Auto Insurance	47.81

How To Save $1 Billion And 800 Lives In Canada

The economic burden of alcohol abuse costs each Canadian $463 per year. In fact, the direct health care costs for alcohol abuse in Canada exceed those of cancer. Released by the Centre for Addiction and Mental Health (CAMH), the Avoidable Cost of Alcohol Abuse in Canada 2002 report estimates that, even under very conservative assumptions, implementing six reviewed interventions would result in cost savings of about $1 billion per year and a savings of about 800 lives, close to 26,000 years of life lost to premature death and more than 88,000 acute care hospital days in Canada per year. This pioneering study is Canada's first systematic estimate of the avoidable costs of alcohol abuse, and the first study of its kind worldwide.

To calculate the avoidable burden and avoidable costs of alcohol abuse in Canada for 2002, CAMH Senior Scientist Dr. Jurgen Rehm and his team estimated the potential economic impact of increasing alcohol taxation, lowering the blood alcohol concentration (BAC) legal limit from 0.08 per cent to 0.05 percent, zero tolerance BAC for all drivers under age 21, increasing the legal minimum drinking age from 19 to 21 years of age, a Safer Bars intervention, and brief interventions (routine screening with concise advice for problematic alcohol users by primary care physicians or other health professionals).

The data revealed that:

• Implementing all six interventions would decrease productivity losses by more than $561 million or 58 per cent of the total avoidable cost due to alcohol, decrease health care costs (saving almost $230 million or 24 per cent), and lower criminality costs by almost $178 million or 18 per cent.
  
  
• The most effective intervention to reduce avoidable costs in health care, criminality and productivity losses was the brief interventions (saving almost $602 million per year, 62 per cent of total savings), followed by increasing alcohol taxes (saving more than $211 million per year, 22 per cent of total savings).
  
  
• The most effective intervention for preventing drinking and driving incidents in Canada was lowering the BAC level, which would result in a 19 per cent reduction.
  
  
• The Safer Bars program was the most effective measure to avoid homicide and other violent crimes (more than 3 per cent reductions were estimated).
  
  
• Brief interventions were the most effective measure to avoid other alcohol-attributable criminal activities (e.g., property crime), resulting in an almost 3 per cent reduction in these types of crimes.

"It's clear that the largest impact would come from interventions affecting the level of drinking in general such as brief interventions and increasing alcohol taxation," says Dr. Rehm. "However, the greatest overall cost avoidance would be achieved when multiple rather than single effective and cost-effective alcohol interventions are implemented as part of a comprehensive alcohol policy."

The scientists also estimated the potential impact of privatizing alcohol sales in those provinces that sell alcohol through a government monopoly. The analysis showed that substantial increases in direct and indirect costs would occur if Canadian provinces were to privatize alcohol sales. Productivity losses would increase by more than $468 million (7 per cent), health care costs would increase by more than $258 million (8 per cent), and costs related to criminality would increase by about $102 million (3 per cent).

While studies that investigate the cost of illness are a valuable indicator of the overall economic burden due to substance abuse in Canada, they do not offer potential solutions to reduce the burden. As Dr. Rehm explains, "this study shows the benefits potentially available to the community as a whole by directing public resources to specific policies, strategies and programs. It also helps identify information gaps, target problems, and identify potential solutions."

----------------------------
Article adapted by Medical News Today from original press release.
----------------------------

The Centre for Addiction and Mental Health (CAMH) is Canada's largest mental health and addiction teaching hospital, as well as one of the world's leading research centres in the area of addiction and mental health. CAMH combines clinical care, research, education, policy development and health promotion to transform the lives of people affected by mental health and addiction issues.

CAMH is fully affiliated with the University of Toronto, and is a Pan American Health Organization/World Health Organization Collaborating Centre.

Source: Michael Torres
Centre for Addiction and Mental Health

How To Stop Winter From Weathering Your Skin

All winter flakes are not made of snow. Cold weather wreaks havoc on our skin, sometimes making it dry and flaky. Skin dries out if it's deprived of water and this dryness often causes itchiness, resulting in a condition commonly referred to as "winter itch."

"Most of us experience dry and itchy skin from time to time, but you should seek medical attention if discomfort becomes severe," says Dr. Anjali Dahiya, a dermatologist at the Iris Cantor Women's Health Center at NewYork-Presbyterian Hospital/Weill Cornell Medical Center. "The best thing you can do to relieve the itch is to moisturize your skin because, unfortunately, you can't do anything about the weather."

"Remember, dry skin is due to lack of water. Apply moisturizers immediately after bathing or showering, while your skin is still wet to trap water in the skin," notes Dr. Dahiya.

She suggests the following tips to turn your skin from alligator into suede:

-- Moisturize daily. Cream moisturizers are better than lotions for normal to dry skin. If you have sensitive skin, choose a moisturizer without fragrance or lanolin.

-- Cleanse your skin, but don't overdo it. Too much cleansing removes skin's natural moisturizers. It is enough to wash your face, hands, feet, and between the folds of your skin once a day. While you can rinse your trunk, arms, and legs daily; it is not necessary to use soap or cleanser on these areas every day.

-- Limit the use of hot water and soap. If you have "winter itch," take short lukewarm showers or baths with a non-irritating, non-detergent-based cleanser. Immediately afterward, apply a mineral oil or petroleum jelly type moisturizer. Gently pat skin dry.

-- Humidify. Humidifiers can be beneficial. However, be sure to clean the unit according to the manufacturer's instructions to reduce mold and fungi.

-- Protect yourself from the wind. Cover your face and use a petroleum-based balm for your lips.

-- Avoid extreme cold. Cold temperatures can cause skin disorders or frostbite in some people. See a doctor immediately if you develop color changes in your hands or feet accompanied by pain or ulceration. If you develop extreme pain followed by loss of sensation in a finger or toe, you may have frostbite.

-- Protect your skin from the sun. Winter sun can be as dangerous to the skin. Even in the winter months you should use a sunscreen with a sun-protection factor of 15 or greater, if you will be outdoors for prolonged periods. Overexposure to the sun's rays can lead to premature aging of the skin and skin cancer.

-- See your dermatologist. If you have persistent dry skin, scaling, itching, skin growths that concern you, or other rashes, see your dermatologist -- not only in winter but throughout the year.

NewYork-Presbyterian Hospital

NewYork-Presbyterian Hospital, based in New York City, is the nation's largest not-for-profit, non-sectarian hospital, with 2,242 beds. The Hospital has nearly 2 million inpatient and outpatient visits in a year, including more than 230,000 visits to its emergency departments -- more than any other area hospital. NewYork-Presbyterian provides state-of-the-art inpatient, ambulatory and preventive care in all areas of medicine at five major centers: NewYork-Presbyterian Hospital/Weill Cornell Medical Center, NewYork-Presbyterian Hospital/Columbia University Medical Center, Morgan Stanley Children's Hospital of NewYork-Presbyterian, NewYork-Presbyterian Hospital/Allen Pavilion and NewYork-Presbyterian Hospital/Westchester Division. One of the largest and most comprehensive health-care institutions in the world, the Hospital is committed to excellence in patient care, research, education and community service. It ranks sixth in U.S.News & World Report's guide to "America's Best Hospitals," ranks first on New York magazine's "Best Hospitals" survey, has the greatest number of physicians listed in New York magazine's "Best Doctors" issue, and is included among Solucient's top 15 major teaching hospitals. The Hospital's mortality rates are among the lowest for heart attack and heart failure in the country, according to a 2007 U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) report card. The Hospital has academic affiliations with two of the nation's leading medical colleges: Weill Cornell Medical College and Columbia University College of Physicians and Surgeons. For more information, visit http://www.nyp.org.

NewYork-Presbyterian Hospital
http://www.nyp.org

Scientists Decode Entire HIV Genome

A team of US scientists has for the first time unravelled the entire genetic code of HIV, the virus that causes AIDS, paving the way for a better understanding of how these types of viruses infect humans and hopefully speeding up the discovery and development of new drugs.

The work was done by Dr Kevin Weeks, a chemistry professor of the College of Arts and Sciences at the University of North Carolina (UNC) at Chapel Hill, and colleagues, and features as the cover story of the 6 August issue of Nature.

Before this work, researchers had only modelled small regions of the HIV genome, which is very large and made of two strands of nearly 10,000 building blocks or nucleotides each.

Viruses like HIV, whose genetic code is carried on RNA (rather than DNA) are harder to unravel because unlike DNA where the code is carried almost entirely in sequential building blocks or nucleotides, RNA folds into complex and intricate three-dimensional patterns that are harder to unravel. Other RNA-based viruses include the flu viruses, hepatitis C, the common cold, some cancer precursors, polio, and many others.

The replication of RNA-based viruses is controlled at many levels, including conserved "structures" of RNA genome, many of which have not been studied in much detail.

The way the HIV encodes proteins is not straightforward either: while there is a correspondence between RNA and a primary sequencing of proteins, there is another level of coding between these "structures" and "inter-domain" loops that connect different parts of HIV proteins.

For the study, the researchers used a high-throughput RNA analyser called SHAPE to examine the architecture of HIV genomes isolated from infectious cultures containing trillions of viral particles.

What they found suggests that the complex RNA structures (which they referred to as "motifs") influenced several steps in the HIV infectivity cycle, in other words they modulated "ribosome elongation to promote native protein folding".

They also found that: "Some simple genome elements previously shown to be important, including the ribosomal gag-pol frameshift stem-loop, are components of larger RNA motifs."

Weeks said in a media statement that:

"There is so much structure in the HIV RNA genome that it almost certainly plays a previously unappreciated role in the expression of the genetic code."

The study could be the key to unlocking the secrets of other RNA genomes in other viruses.

"One approach is to change the RNA sequence and see if the virus notices," said co-author Ronald Swanstrom, from UNC's Linenberger Cancer Center.

"If it doesn't grow as well when you disrupt the virus with mutations, then you know you've mutated or affected something that was important to the virus," he added.

And another important insight that Weeks pointed out was:

"We are also beginning to understand tricks the genome uses to help the virus escape detection by the human host."

"Architecture and secondary structure of an entire HIV-1 RNA genome."
Joseph M. Watts, Kristen K. Dang, Robert J. Gorelick, Christopher W. Leonard, Julian W. Bess Jr, Ronald Swanstrom, Christina L. Burch and & Kevin M. Weeks.
Nature 460, 711 -716 (6 August 2009).
DOI: 10.1038/nature08237

What Is Anemia? What Causes Anemia?

When the number of red blood cells or concentrations of hemoglobin are low a person is said to have anemia. Hemoglobin is a protein (metalloprotein) inside the red blood cells that contains iron and transports oxygen.

Anemia is the most common disorder of the blood. Approximately 3.5 million Americans are affected by it. It is much more common in developing countries, especially in very poor areas where people suffer from malnutrition. In many parts of Africa severe anemia is also caused by Malaria.

As many people who become infected with Malaria already have pre-existing anemia, most commonly due to malnutrition and helminthiasis (a disease caused by a parasitic worm), the problem is compounded.

Blood / Hematology News

For the latest news and research on blood, including articles on blood cells, plasma, anemia, platelets, dialylis, transfusions, and much more, and to sign up to newsletters or news alerts, please visit our:

Blood / Hematology News Section.

There are hundreds of types of anemia, which is divided into three groups:

Excessive blood loss anemia

Chronic bleeding (long-term bleeding) is often undetected for a long time. The patient gradually loses blood, which means a loss of red blood cells and hemoglobin. Acute bleeding (not long term), can also reduce red blood cell count. Excessive blood loss can be caused by:

• Stomach ulcers.


• Hemorrhoids.


• Inflammation of the stomach (gastritis).


• Cancer - sometimes cancer of the stomach or colon can cause bleeding.


• Some medications - NSAIDS (nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs) if used for prolonged periods, or in high doses, can occasionally cause stomach bleeding.


• Childbirth - childbirth often involves the loss of blood.


• Menstruation - women who have very heavy periods (menorrhagia) have a higher risk of developing anemia.


• Surgery


• Trauma which results in bleeding, such as a car accident.


• Blood donations - some regular blood donors may develop anemia.

Excessive red blood cell destruction (hemolysis) anemia

A red blood cell usually lives for 110-120 days, after which it breaks down and is removed by the spleen. Some illnesses and conditions cause red blood cells to die too early. When this happens the bone marrow has to make more red blood cells than normal. If the bone marrow cannot keep up with the needed red cell production caused by their early deaths, the red blood cell count will start to fall, leading to hemolysis (anemia caused by excessive red blood cell destruction)

The following can cause hemolysis:

• Immune reactions
• Infections
• Some medications
• Toxins (poisons)
• Some medical procedures, such as using a heart-lung bypass machine, or hemodialysis (used by patients with kidney problems)

Decreased or deficient red blood cell production anemia

In this type of anemia the body either does not produce enough red blood cells, or they may not work properly. People with this type of anemia may have:

• Sickle cell anemia - an inherited disorder which causes the red blood cells to have a crescent shape. The red blood cells break down rapidly, before sufficient oxygen and nutrients can reach vital organs.


• Not enough iron (iron deficiency) - lack of iron is generally caused by poor diet, blood loss, or an inability to absorb sufficient iron from food. Anemia due to iron deficiency among pregnant women who do not take an iron supplement is common.


• Not enough vitamins (vitamin deficiency) - such as vitamin B12, often caused because the stomach cannot produce enough of a substance called intrinsic factor. This intrinsic factor is vital for vitamin B12 to be absorbed from food and drink. People with anemia for this reason have pernicious anemia. The deficiency may be caused by poor diet.


• Bone marrow problems - red blood cells are made in the bone marrow. If the bone marrow is faulty it may not be producing enough. This may be caused by a lack of vitamin B12, a serious bone marrow disorder (e.g. leukemia), long term inflammation (e.g. rheumatoid arthritis), or long term infection.


• Some conditions/diseases - people with HIV/AIDS, rheumatoid arthritis, and Crohn's disease may have problems with adequate red blood cell production. Malaria causes anemia in millions of people worldwide. A protein produced by immune cells during malaria infection triggers severe anemia, researchers from Yale University discovered. Patients with chronic kidney disease often have low levels of erythropoietin (a hormone that stimulates the formation of red blood cells) and develop anemia. A study published by the Canadian Medical Association Journal reported that anemia may be beneficial to patients with inflammatory disease, and advocate restraint in treating mild to moderate forms of anemia.


• Some medications - especially some cancer medications which are given in combination. A cancer drug, Avastin, given in combination with Sutent, is linked to microangiopathic hemolytic anemia, which is caused by by a build up of platelets and other organic obstructions on the inner walls of very small blood vessels. These shred healthy red blood cells as they pass through, eventually leading to a whole body shortage of them.

What are the symptoms of anemia?

People whose anemia develops gradually may have no symptoms for a long time. If it develops rapidly symptoms will usually be felt much sooner. Symptoms will vary according to the type of anemia, its underlying cause, and if there are any underlying health problems.

Below are some symptoms linked to anemia - tiredness and lethargy are the most common ones: Lethargy is a mental state while fatigue is a physical state. Lethargy may or may not be associated with physical symptoms. If somebody suffers from fatigue - is physically tired - it is not uncommon for his/her mental state to be affected as well.

• Fatigue (tiredness)
• Lethargy - sluggishness, apathy, a feeling of laziness
• Malaise - a vague feeling that one is not well
• Dyspnea - shortness of breath; difficult or labored breathing
• Poor concentration
• Palpitations - unpleasant irregular and/or forceful beating of the heart
• Sensitivity to cold temperatures

The following symptoms are possible, but less common

• Tinnitus (ringing in the ears)
• Headache
• Sense of taste is affected
• Sore tongue
• Dysphagia - difficulty is swallowing
• Pallor (pale complexion)
• Atrophic glossitis - very smooth tongue
• Dry and flaky nails
• Angular chelosis - ulcers in the corner of the mouth
• Restless leg syndrome - this is more common among patients with iron deficiency anemia

The following symptoms are possible, but extremely rare

• Swelling of the legs and/or arms
• Chronic heartburn
• Vomiting
• Increased sweating
• Blood in stools (feces)

How is anemia diagnosed?

A GP (general practitioner, primary care physician) will probably carry out a physical examination, order a blood test, and ask the patient some questions.

• Blood test
  
  A blood test will measure the patient's red blood count and levels of hemoglobin. If the levels are low the patient has anemia. The blood test will also reveal whether the blood cells have an unusual shape, color or size. Patients with iron deficiency have smaller and paler red blood cells compared to healthy individuals. A patient with a vitamin deficiency will have fewer and larger red blood cells.
  
  Adults should have hematocrit values (red blood cell count) between 32% and 43%, and hemoglobin values from 11 to 15 grams per deciliter.


• Some questions the doctor may ask
  
  The doctor will also try to find out what may be causing or contributing to the anemia by asking:
  
  
  • Diet - what the patient eats, and whether his/her diet includes enough vitamins and minerals, - especially iron and vitamin B12.
  
  
  • Medications - what drugs the patient has been taking, how often, for how long, and what doses.
  
  
  • Menstruation - whether periods are heavy (menorrhagia) and whether heavy periods have been happening for a long time.
  
  
  • Family history - whether any close relatives have/had anemia, blood disorders, or gastrointestinal bleedin/g. A close relative is usually limited to siblings and parents.
  
  
  • Medical history - whether the patient has a chronic disease.
  
  
  • Blood donation - whether the patient is a regular blood donor.
  
  
• Physical examination
  
  
  • Rectal examination - a doctor may carry out a rectal examination to determine whether something in the gastrointestinal tract may be causing bleeding. GPs are used to doing this kind of examination. If an abnormality is detected the GP will refer the patient to a specialist (gastroenterologist).
  
  
  • Pelvic examination - if the GP suspects heavy menstrual bleeding may be causing the anemia he/she may carry out a pelvic examination. If the patient does not respond to iron supplement treatment and has heavy periods the GP may refer her to a gynecologist.

What is the treatment for anemia?

• Iron deficiency - the GP will prescribe an iron supplement to restore body levels of iron. An example is ferrous sulphate, which is taken orally up to three times daily. Side effects, which are rare, may include diarrhea, constipation, stomach upset, and heartburn. Patients who find ferrous sulphate unsuitable may be given ferrous gluconate, which is less likely to have side effects but takes longer to work.


• Diet - patient's whose diets are found to be lacking in iron will be encouraged to consume plenty of iron-rich foods, such as dark-green leafy vegetables, artichokes, apricots, beans, lentils, chick peas, soybeans, meat, nuts, prunes, and raisins.


• Underlying causes - if there is an underlying cause for the anemia this must be treated. If non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) are found to be a contributory factor the doctor will prescribe an alternative medication.

The doctor will ask the patient to return a few weeks later to check that the treatment is working. If treatment has not worked the doctor will try to find out whether any undesirable side-effects may have made the patient stop taking the iron supplements.

What are the complications of anemia?

• Pregnancy
  
  Pregnant women who are severely anemic have a significant risk of complications, especially when they give birth and afterwards. Giving birth often involves losing blood; being anemic already and then losing blood can result in serious complications. If a mother is severely anemic her baby is much more likely to be born prematurely and underweight. Babies born to mothers with anemia are much more likely to have problems with anemia themselves later on in infancy.


• Fatigue
  
  Fatigue may have a considerable impact on the quality of life of the patient. If the anemia is severe the patient may feel too tired to work, or carry out essential daily tasks. Long-term fatigue may eventually lead to clinical depression.
  
  Researchers from Wake Forest University Baptist Medical Center found that elderly people with anemia have more disabilities and score lower on physical performance and strength tests than those without anemia.


• Susceptibility to illness and infection
  
  People with untreated anemia are more susceptible to illness and infection, compared to healthy people.


• Heart Problems
  
  The heart needs to pump more blood to make up for the lack of oxygen and nutrients if you are anemic. This can eventually lead to congestive heart failure.
  
  Researchers from Charles Sturt University found that the presence of anemia in patients with chronic heart failure is associated with a significantly increased risk of death.


• Nerve damage
  
  Lack of vitamin B-12, one of the causes of anemia, can result in nerve damage. Good nerve function requires an adequate supply of vitamin B-12.

Written by Christian Nordqvist