| How to manage reflux disease
Gastroesophageal reflux disease is one of the most common digestive disorders. It is a condition where stomach acid refluxes upward into the esophagus. Usually, the acid in your stomach is retained by a muscular valve at the end of the esophagus, known as the lower esophageal sphincter. The LES is supposed to remain closed, except when swallowing. If it opens at other times, stomach acid can flow upward (reflux) into the esophagus, causing heartburn. Typical symptoms include an uncomfortable feeling of burning, warmth, heat or pain just behind the breastbone, which is commonly referred to as heartburn. Other symptoms can include nausea, increased belching, regurgitation of food and even chronic cough. Occasional heartburn does not necessarily mean you have reflux disease. In GERD, the symptoms last longer and occur more often.
BB King Released From Texas Hospital
HOUSTON -- B.B. King was discharged from a Galveston hospital Saturday following treatment for a fever and was "back to his old self," a spokeswoman for his management agency said. The 81-year-old, Grammy-winning bluesman was "feeling fabulous," said Tina France, vice president of Lieberman Management of New York. .
Schering-Plough's turnaround is moving on apace
Schering-Plough is celebrating what its chief executive Fred Hassan describes as the continuance of "an extraordinary transformation" as the company posted a strong set of financials that were again driven by its cholesterol franchise.
Net income for the fourth quarter rose 75% to $182 million, or $0.12 per share, and the company noted that those figures include an unfavourable impact of $0.04 per share related to the streamlining its manufacturing operations and a charge of $0.01 per share related to the licensing of the over-the-counter heartburn treatment Zegerid (omeprazole/sodium bicarbonate).
Adjusted net sales were up 18.1% to $3.20 billion, which includes the contribution of Merck & Co/S-P joint venture products Zetia (ezetimibe) and Vytorin (ezetimibe and simvastatin).
Tips for that troublesome middle
That cheese- and sauce-laden pizza sitting in the office lunchroom looks splendid. Too bad you can't even look at it without getting heartburn. However tempting, you pass up the fried chicken, too. We've all struggled with the difficult choice between satisfying our taste buds and preventing a long night of digestive discomfort. The stomach and digestive system are hard to ignore. Whether there's bloating and pain because of something you ate or emotional distress because of width, your belly demands attention. "Having a fit and attractive core -- waistline, tummy -- helps us to feel confident and good about ourselves," said Rayna McInturf, co-owner of Hoopnotica Inc. in Marina del Rey, Calif., which offers Hoopdance classes. "Having a strong core helps us maintain good posture and helps prevent back pain and injury." Heather Villarreal, clinical dietitian at Saddleback Memorial Center in Laguna Hills, Calif., said that carrying weight around the abdomen increases the risk of developing diabetes, cancer and heart disease.
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