Article: If you are using a stem cutting, remove the lowest cluster of leaves. Strip them with the same, sterilized knife, leaving the lowest 24 inches (510 cm) of the stem bare. Don't remove remaining leaves higher up on the stem cutting. If buds are on your cutting, leave them on. Commercial rooting hormone powder may hasten the development of the cutting, and often includes an antifungal agent as well to prevent rot. This treatment is recommended for rotting cuttings and for older, "woody" stem cuttings, but is typically not necessary otherwise. Some gardeners report success using ground cinnamon as a cheaper alternative to antifungal treatment, sprinkling it onto the cut end. Keep the cutting on a paper towel away from direct sunlight, and check on the cut end regularly. The cut should dry out, making the new plant less susceptible to rot. Stem cuttings can be planted after one or two days of drying. Leaf cuttings undergo a more visible change, growing a "callous" over the cut surface. This can take anywhere from two to seven days. If a leaf shrivels significantly during this time, you may need to plant it early. This has a lower success rate, but the leaf may die if it dries out completely. While waiting for the cuttings to dry, fill a small pot with a fast-draining succulent or cactus potting mix. If you wish to make your own, mix together three parts potting soil, two parts sand, and one part perlite. Use coarse, salt-free, store-bought sand if possible, since hand-gathered sand may contain microorganisms or salts that could harm plants. Succulent plants thrive in pots that aren't too much bigger than the plant itself. Pots that allow for about an inch or two of growing room should be fine while the cutting is getting started. The pot must have a drainage hole. Stems cuttings can be planted as usual, burying the stem until the lowest leaves are just above the soil, but not touching it. Buried leaves are more likely to rot, so if you have a leaf cutting, try just touching the cut end to the soil surface, propping the leaf up with pebbles. Succulents don't need a lot of water, in general. Still, you'll need to water cuttings every 2 to 3 days or so while they establish roots. Once the plants have started to build a root system, you can cut down to weekly watering or whenever the soil is dry. Don't be worried if the cuttings look like they're drying out, at first. This means the plant is using its stored energy while it puts down new roots. If things work, you should start to see new growth in about 4 weeks.
Question: What is a summary of what this article is about?
Strip leaves from the lower part of the stem. Dip the cut end in a rooting hormone (optional). Let the cutting dry out in a lightly shaded location. Prepare a succulent potting mix. Select an appropriately sized pot to plant your cutting. Plant the cutting. Water occasionally.
Article: Your doctor can test your GFR by administering a creatinine blood test. Creatinine is a waste product present in your blood. If the amount of creatinine contained within a sample is too high, your kidneys' filtering ability (GFR) is likely too low. Alternatively, your doctor might administer a creatinine clearance test, which measures the amount of creatinine in both your blood and urine. Your test results are only one factor involved in calculating your GFR. Doctors also take into consideration your age, race, body size, and gender when determining the actual GFR rate. If your GFR is 90 mls/min/1.73m2 or greater, your kidneys are considered to be in good health. GFR between 60 and 89 mls/min/1.73m2 puts you into stage two chronic kidney disease (CKD). A rate between 30 and 59 mls/min/1.73m2 puts you into stage three CKD, and rate between 15 and 29 mls/min/1.73m2 are considered stage four CKD. Once your GFR dips below 15 mls/min/1.73m2, you are in stage five CKD, which means your kidneys have failed. Your doctor can provide you with additional detail regarding your GFR score and how it impacts your life. If your numbers are lower than they should be, your physician will probably recommend some type of treatment, but the specifics may vary from patient to patient. You'll need to make certain changes to your diet and overall lifestyle regardless of which stage of CKD you've entered. During the early stages, however, these changes might be enough to improve your GFR. This is especially true if you've had no prior history of kidney problems. During the later stages of CKD, your doctor will likely prescribe some form of medication to help improve your kidney function. This medication should be used alongside lifestyle changes and should not be thought of as a substitute treatment. In the final stages of CKD, your doctor will almost always put you on dialysis or recommend a kidney transplant.
Question: What is a summary of what this article is about?
Take the test. Understand your numbers. Talk with your doctor.
Article: If home treatments do not help your headache, see your doctor. She can rule out underlying conditions and formulate a treatment plan for you. Your physician will zero in on the correct diagnosis and exclude competing diagnoses in an attempt to pick the correct therapy. She will determine the need for additional testing at this appointment, which may include but is not limited to a blood pressure check, additional cardiovascular review, blood work, head imaging, and more. Depending on the severity and type of headache you have, your doctor may prescribe you a powerful pain reliever as well as a preventative medication to help stave off further headaches. Your doctor may give you prescription pain relievers including sumatriptan and zolmitriptan. Your doctor may give you preventative medications including metoprolol tartrate, propranolol, amitriptyline, divalproex sodium, and topiramate. Many of the preventative medications are especially effective on migraines because they counteract blood vessel constriction or the painful dilation stage. Some antidepressants may also help prevent extremely bad headaches. If you suffer from cluster headaches, oxygen therapy is considered to be one of the best treatments. You will inhale oxygen through a face mask, and your headache may be relieved in as little as 15 minutes. Oxygen therapy is most effective when used right at the start of a headache. You must resume treatment when another headache begins. There are other, more rare treatments you may want to discuss with your doctor. These include botox injections and transcranial magnetic stimulation. There are some studies showing that Botox, which is the Botulinum toxin type A, can help relieve and prevent bad headaches. Discuss this with your doctor should your headache not improve with standard therapy. Transcranial magnetic stimulation uses electric currents to stimulate nerve cells in the brain, which may help minimize the pain associated with headaches as well as their recurrence.
Question: What is a summary of what this article is about?
Consult your physician. Ingest prescription or preventative medications. Try oxygen therapy for cluster headaches. Consider other treatments.