Guidant Pacemaker RecallWritten by T.Going
On July 19, 2005 Guidant Corporation have recalled many pacemakers because of a potentially fatal flaw in nine units of their devices. The company says there have been 69 units from these groups that have undergone some sort of failure. Between 1997 and 2000, 78,000 pacemakers were manufactured and all are suspected to have this defect. Over 18,000 of these pacemakers are still in use today in United States.Guidant Pacemakers are small devices implanted into patient’s chest. There is a wire that connects directly to heart which regulates heartbeat by means of subtle yet continuous electric shocks. These Guidant pacemakers have a malfunctioning hermetic seal that might cause moisture to seep in and damage unit. There has been at least one death thought to be related to this feature. The units being recalled are Pulsar Max, Pulsar, Discovery, Discovery II, Meridian, Virtus Plus II, Intelis II, Contak TR and Pulsar Max II.
| | Are Allergy Shots Effective?Written by Harold Miller
Itchy, watery eyes, runny nose and sneezing are all common symptoms which a vast majority of us experience as allergy symptoms at specific times throughout year. Many individuals do everything in their power to avoid allergies including changing their diets, staying indoors or taking vitamin supplements. These may contribute to fighting allergies, but there is another effective way to do so. Immunotherapy or allergy shots are gaining popularity. Getting an allergy shot can be scary for some people, so we thought it would be best to fully explain allergy shots and address some common concerns.How Do They Work? Allergy shots contain a small amount of substance which you are allergic to. If you are allergic to pollen, a small amount of pollen would be added to shot. The amount is small enough so that it does not cause you to suffering from allergy symptoms, but enough so that you body gets used to fighting allergen. Therefore, next time your body comes in contact with that substance, it will be familiar with fighting it off and you will most likely not suffer from allergies. Are Allergy Shots Safe For Everyone? Although most people will have positive results from allergy shots, they are not right for everyone. Allergy shots are not recommended for individuals suffering from severe heart problems, asthma or other respiratory problems. Also, children under age of 5 should not be exposed to allergy shots for safety reasons.
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