Q: Most adults who follow a healthy, balanced diet that contains milk, dairy products, and fish should be able to meet their iodine requirements. But supplements containing iodine can help you meet your iodine needs if you do not or cannot consume iodine-rich foods. It's important to speak to your doctor before you take iodine supplements to ensure you are taking the correct amount and you are taking the iodine supplement that is right for your body. You should always talk to your doctor before taking supplements, especially if you have thyroid disease, are taking other medications, or if you have experienced iodine deficiency over a long period of time. Keep in mind that these supplements are dangerous for people with kidney disease, so talk to your doctor first. The capsules should not exceed the daily adult requirement of 150 mcg/day. Do not take seaweed or kelp supplements as sources of iodine. The amount of iodine in these supplements can vary and in some cases, provide excessive quantities of iodine. It can be difficult to meet the higher recommended iodine intake when you are pregnant or breastfeeding through just diet alone. But many multivitamin and mineral supplements contain iodine. Check the labels of these supplements to make sure they provide 140 - 150 mcg of iodine. The remainder of the required iodine intake can be met by your diet. If you consume high quantities of iodine-rich foods while pregnant, you may not need to take an iodine supplement. Check with your doctor about your iodine levels before you take any supplements.
A: Talk to your doctor before you take iodine supplements. Look for 'potassium iodide' supplements. Take multivitamin and mineral supplements if you are pregnant or breastfeeding.

Q: Prozac works by inhibiting how receptors in your brain reabsorb (or "reuptake") the neurotransmitter serotonin. Serotonin is a naturally occurring chemical "messenger" (neurotransmitter) that helps maintain mood balance. Research suggests that a deficit of serotonin is a contributing factor in clinical depression. Prozac helps keep your receptors from reabsorbing too much serotonin, thereby increasing the amount available to your body. Prozac is an SSRI because it's "selective." It seems to primarily operate on serotonin and not any of the other neurotransmitters that are also partially responsible for mood. Prozac can cause some side effects. Many of these will be mild or go away after four to five weeks. You should talk with your doctor if you have severe side effects or symptoms, or if they do not go away. Possible side effects include: Nervousness Nausea Dry mouth Sore throat Drowsiness Weakness Uncontrollable shaking Loss of appetite Weight loss Changes in sex drive or function Excessive sweating In some cases, Prozac may cause side effects that must be attended to immediately. Prozac has been known to increase the likelihood of suicidal thoughts, especially in people under the age of 24. If you experience thoughts about or consider plans to harm or kill yourself, seek immediate medical attention. You should also call your doctor immediately if you experience any of the following symptoms: New or worsening depression Extreme feelings of worry, agitation, or panic Aggressive behavior or irritability Acting without thinking Severe restlessness Feelings of frenzied, abnormal excitement Prozac is generally an effective antidepressant for most people. However, it may not work with every person's brain, or neurochemistry. If you continue to experience any of the following after taking Prozac, talk with your doctor. These could be signs that your depression or disorder is not being adequately managed by the medication. You are experiencing severe or continuous side effects (mentioned above) You continue to feel loss of interest in pleasurable activities or hobbies Your fatigue does not improve Your sleep is disturbed (insomnia, excessive sleeping) You continue to have difficulty concentrating You experience changes in appetite You experience physical aches and pains Because antidepressants alter your brain chemistry, discontinuing them without medical supervision can cause serious symptoms. Longer-acting medications, such as Prozac, usually have fewer discontinuation symptoms. However, you may still experience side effects such as: Nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, or cramping Sleep issues, such as insomnia or nightmares Balance issues, such as dizziness or lightheadedness Sensory or movement issues, such as numbness, tingling, tremors, and lack of physical coordination Feelings of irritability, agitation, or anxiety Antidepressants need to be discontinued slowly over a period of time by gradually reducing the dose. This is known as "tapering." Tapering can take weeks or months, depending on the antidepressant, how long you have taken it, your dosage, and your symptoms. Your doctor will determine the best way for you to taper Prozac. You may experience a relapse of depressive symptoms once you have stopped taking Prozac. To distinguish between discontinuation symptoms and a relapse, think about when the symptoms start, how long they last, and what type they are. Discontinuation symptoms usually develop quickly. They will usually improve over one to two weeks. They will often include more physical complaints, such as nausea or aches and pains. Relapse symptoms gradually develop after two to three weeks. They generally worsen over two to four weeks. If any symptom continues to last more than a month, consult your doctor.
A: Learn how Prozac works. Consider your side effects. Recognize emergency side effects. Think about whether Prozac is controlling your symptoms. Understand the dangers of discontinuing antidepressants.

Q: If your heart is enlarged or the walls of your heart have become thicker, this can be in indication of several problems. For example, the doctor will likely measure the thickness of the wall of the left ventricle (the major pumping chamber of the heart). If it is thicker than 1.5 cm, this is considered abnormal. This or other thickened heart walls could indicate several problems including: High blood pressure Weak heart valves Damaged valves These measures can indicate whether your heart is pumping enough blood to supply your body with the oxygen it needs. If not, you are at risk for heart failure. There are two measurements the doctor may discuss with you: Left ventricular ejection fraction. This is the percentage of blood that is expelled from the heart during a heartbeat. A left ventricular ejection fraction of 60% is considered normal. Cardiac output. This is the volume of blood that the heart pumps per minute. At rest the average adult's heart pumps 4.8 to 6.4 liters of blood per minute. If parts of the wall of the heart are not pumping strongly, this can help the doctor pinpoint areas that have been damaged. This can occur due to tissue damage from a prior heart attack or coronary artery disease. Your doctor will be looking for several things: Hyperkinesis. This occurs when the heart or parts of the walls of the heart contract too much. Hypokinesis. This occurs when the contractions are too weak. Akinesis. This occurs when the tissue does not contract. Dyskinesis. This occurs when the wall of the heart bulges out when it should be contracting. You will likely be able to see the valves as gray lines that open and close with each beat of the heart enabling blood to pass between the chambers. Possible problems that you may see could be: A valve does not close tightly and it lets blood flow backwards through it. A valve does not open all the way so it restricts blood flow. You may be able to observe structural problems such as: Openings between chambers that should not be there Passages between the heart and blood vessels Heart defects that are developing a fetus
A:
Ask your doctor how big your heart is. Determine the strength with which your heart pumps. Observe the pumping action of the heart. Examine the valves of your heart. Look for heart defects.