Overview

A vitamin is an organic compound required as a nutrient in tiny amounts by an organism. A compound is called a vitamin when it cannot be synthesized in sufficient quantities by an organism, and must be obtained from the diet. Thus, the term is conditional both on the circumstances and the particular organism. For example, ascorbic acid functions as vitamin C for some animals but not others, and vitamins D and K are required in the human diet only in certain circumstances.

Vitamins are classified by their biological and chemical activity, not their structure. Thus, each "vitamin" actually refers to a number of vitamer compounds, which form a set of distinct chemical compounds that show the biological activity of a particular vitamin. Such a set of chemicals are grouped under an alphabetized vitamin "generic descriptor" title, such as "vitamin A," which (for example) includes retinal, retinol, and many carotenoids. Vitamers are often inter-convertible in the body. The term vitamin does not include other essential nutrients such as dietary minerals, essential fatty acids, or essential amino acids, nor does it encompass the large number of other nutrients that promote health but are otherwise required less often.

Friday, June 27, 2008

How to Deal With Nail Fungus

At some time in their lives, many people are grappling with the question of how to deal with nail fungus (Onychomycosis). Today, the puzzle is defined by the wide range of advice available-medical, alternative, and only anecdotal. You have to choose from prescription drugs, natural remedies, and traditional healing methods, which are surrounded by confusing and contradictory reports on its effectiveness. Moreover, treatment of fungal infections of the nails infections usually take so long that many people moving to something else, thinking their first choice does not work, when in fact they simply can not keep them long enough.

It 's on best take a logical step-by-step approach to treating Onychomycosis. First, see your doctor. Nails can be infected by different organisms, not all of them are fungi, but also by a number of noninfectious diseases. To the untrained eye, many of these conditions are similar, before the exploration of how to deal with nail fungus, make sure that is what you have to do. If your doctor says you have a nail fungus infection, he or she can collect scrapings and clippings or send them for laboratory analysis and culture. If mushrooms known to infect nails grow in culture, the diagnosis is practically certain.

Discuss dealing with nail fungus with your doctor. Even if you prefer to try alternative or traditional remedies first, before taking prescription drugs, your doctor can tell you how other patients, and what to avoid. Weighing them carefully and then consult other sources of information on Onychomycosis treatment before they decide what to try. In particular attention to possible side effects or risks associated with specific measures. Some traditional remedies use potentially dangerous substances such as chlorine bleach. Some prescription medications come with a slight risk of organ damage.

Once you on a Onychomycosis treatment, use it properly and be prepared to stick with him about the long term. These infections are difficult to heal and tend to come back, you want to be sure that the infection is really over, before proceeding with the stop solution. Even after the mushrooms are gone, it takes months for a finger or toenail to grow again, and look healthy, so be patient and look for the rest of your nails in the meantime. Hopefully, in the long run your research on how to deal with nail fungus pays off.

 

R. Drysdale is a freelance writer with more than 25 years experience as a health care professional. She is a contributing editor to How to Deal With Nail Fungus at Nail Fungus Treatment, a blog dedicated to the treatment of fingernail and toenail fungus.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=R._Drysdale

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