Detox Diets For Weight Loss

The health benefits and weight loss claims associated with the fasting requirements of detox diets are being question by the medical community due to associated health risks. Listed below are some of the positives and negatives attributed to detox diet plans (see Resources).

Weight Loss

The original goal of detox diets was to purify the body by facilitating the removal of toxins. They were not developed for the purpose of weight loss other than the natural loss of water weight occurring in the initial stages of fasting.

Calorie Restriction

Weight loss attributed to detox diets is the result of restricted calorie consumption. Lengthy periods of extreme caloric restriction, however, can lead to diet failure, rebound weight gain, and the possibility of jeopardizing health.

Positives and Negatives of Detox Diets

On the positive side, periodic detox diets lasting no more than a few days offer renewed energy and a feeling of wellbeing. Lengthy detox diets, however, can be harmful to your health, with side effects including headache, lethargy, dehydration and cramps.

Detox Diets Can Work

Detox diets that do not involve severe calorie restriction, include a variety of fresh, high-fiber fruits and vegetables and a protein source, can be used for healthy weight loss.

Where's the Proof?

To date, there is no reliable medical research available to substantiate claims of the beneficial effects touted by promoters of detox diet plans. Before making any dietary changes, obtaining medical approval is advisable.

Tags: detox diets, attributed detox, detox diet, detox diet plans, Detox Diets

Normal Blood Pressure Levels

High blood pressure is a condition that can lead to heart attacks and strokes. It is known as the silent killer, because there are generally few symptoms of high blood pressure. Thus, it is important to take your blood pressure regularly to determine whether or not it is normal.

Normal Readings

Normal blood pressure, generally speaking, is any reading less than or equal to 120 over 80. Blood pressure readings of less than 140 over 90 can still be considered normal, but are high normal and sometimes called borderline.

Children and Adolescents

Normal blood pressure in children and adolescents is higher than that of older adults.

Gender Differences

Normal blood pressure of males can be slightly less than blood pressure of females.

Age Differences

Blood pressure readings of older individuals tend to be higher overall than younger adults. This is because as we age, the flexibility of the blood vessels declines.

Preventing Hypertension

Normal blood pressure levels are more common in people who are not overweight, do not smoke, exercise regularly, have a low sodium diet and get sufficient rest.

Tags: blood pressure, Normal blood, less than, Normal blood pressure, Blood pressure readings, pressure readings

Avoid Alcohol & Drug Abuse

Using alcohol or other drugs to the point where they cause harm is drug abuse. Drug use becomes abuse when the drug causes the user to suffer negative physical or psychological effects, lose control of himself, alienate people or place himself and others in danger. Drug abusers feel they cannot get by without getting drunk or high. They may even become physically addicted, so that their bodies come to depend on the drug. Avoiding drug abuse in the first place is much easier and safer than dealing with it once it starts.

Instructions

1. Avoid situations where you will be pressured into using more of a substance than you want to. Don't go to parties where binge drinking is likely to be a theme, and don't go over to your pothead friend's house to listen to old Pink Floyd albums. If you put yourself in situations where drug abuse is the norm, it will be much harder for you to avoid it.

2. Know your limits and stick to them. If two drinks makes you relax, but three makes you loopy, stick to two. If you do go overboard using alcohol or another drug, learn from the experience, to avoid losing control next time.

3. Don't use alcohol, ecstasy or other drugs just because you are bored. If you do, then drug use will likely become a habit---a way to pass the time and defeat boredom. This can lead to drug abuse.

4. Know when you need to take a break. If you find yourself drinking or using other drugs heavily, take time off. Spend a month pursuing hobbies and activities that don't involve drugs and alcohol, to give yourself a chance to gain perspective.

5. Do not use drugs and alcohol as a way to deal with emotional traumas. Although drinking to forget your breakup will not necessarily lead to addiction, it will lead to abuse. You will probably get very drunk, and may continue to drink more than you should for some time.

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How Does Ion Cleanse Work

Introduction

The Ion Cleanse is designed to help our body release toxins in our body. According to the National Institute of Health, toxins are substances created by animals and plants that are harmful to human beings. Individuals that use the Ion Cleanse believe that you can effectively detoxify your body by soaking your feet in an ionizing foot bath. The Ion Cleanse is still under debate, and there hasn't been any proven research showing that Ion Cleanse benefits your body. The theory behind Ion Cleanse is that it works off of positively and negatively charged ions. According to the National Institute of Standards and Technology, an ion will become positively charged when it gains a molecule. It will become negatively charged when it loses that molecule.

Signs & Symptoms Of An Infected Spider Bite

Spider bites can become infected if the area is not kept clean.

Spider bites cause a large area of redness on the skin with the bite mark in the center of the red skin, according to the Children's Hospital of Philadelphia. An antibiotic on the wound helps to prevent infection. If the bite does become infected, there will be additional signs and symptoms. The Children's Hospital of Philadelphia recommends saving the spider for identification if possible.

Increased Redness

The bite area will continue to remain red and may even spread out farther in a spider bite that has become infected. The reddened skin may feel warm to the touch or even hot. Spider bites cause a larger area of redness than other insect bites and this increases the risk of infection, according to AskDrSears.com.

Swelling

Spider bites are often swollen immediately after the bite, but when there is infection, the area will swell and become more painful. The initial symptoms of the spider bite worsen as infection sets in. Spider bites can be extremely painful, according to AskDrSears.com.

Draining Pus

Draining pus is a sign of an infection as the body attempts to fight off the infection. The presence of pus on a spider bite means that the bite has become infected. Keep the bite area clean and covered. Patients with an infected spider bite that continues to worsen should see a doctor immediately. Fever and red streaks extending from the bite are an indication of a serious infection that requires antibiotics to treat.

Venomous Spiders

A spider bite from a venomous spider must be treated immediately. Symptoms of a bite from a venomous spider can begin to appear within hours of the bite and include sweating, nausea, vomiting, stomach cramps, chills, fever and headache. Contact the poison control center or your doctor immediately if a venomous spider is responsible for the bite.

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Gonococcal Infection Treatment

Gonorrhea is caused by Neisseria gonorrhoeae and is one of the most common sexually transmitted diseases in the United States. The organism can infect several sites, including the cervix, urethra, rectum and pharynx. Because women with gonorrhea often do not exhibit symptoms, serious complications can occur as a result of untreated infection, such as pelvic inflammatory disease, ectopic pregnancy and infertility. Gonorrheal infection can spread throughout the body, resulting in skin lesions on the soles of the feet, palms and scalp; arthritis; and Fitz-Hugh-Curtis syndrome, a complication of pelvic inflammatory disease.

Treatment

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, or CDC, the class of antibiotics called fluoroquinolones should not be used in the treatment of gonorrhea because of increasing resistance throughout the United States. Instead, cephalosporins are recommended. Treatment regimens are explained in more detail below.

Uncomplicated Infection

For gonococcal infection of the cervix, urethra and rectum, the CDC recommends single-dose ceftriaxone 125 mg administered in the muscle or a single dose of 400 mg cefixime by mouth. For gonococcal infection of the rectum or pharynx, a single dose of ceftriaxone 125 mg should be given intramuscularly. In cephalosporin-allergic individuals, 2 g of azithromycin taken orally can be considered. Because chlamydia and gonorrhea often coexist, physicians should also consider treating the individual for chlamydia if this diagnosis has not been ruled out.

Disseminated Gonococcal Infection

An intravenous regimen of antibiotics should be administered for disseminated infection for at least 24 hours or until improvement in symptoms is seen. Specifically, 1 g of ceftriaxone is given every 24 hours, either intravenously or intramuscularly. After 48 hours, the individual should continue on antibiotics for at least a week. Options include 400 mg cefixime by mouth twice daily, a 400-mg cefixime suspension twice daily or 400 mg of cefpodoxime twice daily.

Pelvic Inflammatory Disease

For women who have pelvic inflammatory disease, the physician decides whether treatment should be initiated intravenously or orally based on severity of disease. There are several recommended intravenous regimens: 2 g of cefotetan every 12 hours, 2 g cefoxitin every six hours plus 100 mg doxycycline orally or intravenously every 12 hours, or 900 mg clindamycin every eight hours plus gentamicin administered as 2 mg/kg followed by a maintenance dose at 1.5 mg/kg every eight hours. For oral therapy, combinations of ceftriaxone or cefoxitin plus doxycycline with or without metronidazole should be used. Oral therapy should be taken for 14 days.

Tags: every hours, pelvic inflammatory, pelvic inflammatory disease, twice daily, cefixime mouth, cervix urethra

Organic Hemorrhoid Removal

Hemorrhoids are swollen veins in the anus and rectum, which can cause itching, burning, and other uncomfortable sensations. According to Mayo Clinic staff, half of all adults will experience hemorrhoids by age 50. Remedies include commercial over-the-counter preparations and, in severe cases, surgical approaches.

Prevention, home remedies and organic remedies can potentially aid most common hemorrhoids, but it is important to see a doctor whenever hemorrhoids involve pain or bleeding, or when hemorrhoids do not respond to home treatment within a few days, but prevention, home remedies and organic treatments can potentially aid most common hemorrhoids.

Prevention

The best method of hemorrhoid removal is to prevent their appearance with healthful lifestyle choices. A diet high in fiber from eating organic fruits, vegetables, and whole grains, together with adequate clean water and citric fruit juices, will keep bowel movements softer and more regular, avoiding the strain which can cause rectal veins to form hemorrhoids. Exercise and avoiding long periods of either standing or sitting without motion can potentially prevent a hemorrhoid from getting worse.

Topical Treatment

Several natural topical treatments can instantly ease the discomfort of hemorrhoids. These include witch hazel, which is a distillation of the flowers and budding leaves of the plant Hamamelis virginiana. A number of companies including Thayer's and WildCrops.com offer organic witch hazel which assures a clean, chemical-free product for application to sensitive tissues.

Organic apple cider vinegar is another option for topical hemorrhoid treatment, as is horse chestnut tea. Dilute any of these liquids with cool, clean water, soak a washcloth, and apply to the anal region after careful cleaning with warm soap and water. Be sure to use a gentle, diluted solution, as any of these topical treatments can be irritating to the very sensitive tissues of the anus if left in too strong a concentration. A small gauze pad or cotton ball soaked with any of these treatments can also be tucked just into the anal opening and left there to be replaced at the next bathroom visit.

Internal Treatment

Bioflavonoids found in citrus fruits help strengthen blood vessel walls and can reduce hemorrhoids and prevent their recurrence. Eating fresh, organic citrus fruit adds fiber to the diet and provides bioflavonoids to remove hemorrhoids naturally. Tea made from pomegranate peels, or drinking pomegranate juice, is also a common internal hemorrhoid remedy.

Tags: clean water, common hemorrhoids, hazel which, home remedies, home remedies organic

Siatic Pain Relief

The term sciatica refers to shooting pain that runs down the back of the legs or tingling in the legs. It is caused from irritation or damage to the sciatic nerve, the longest nerve in the body that runs down the spinal cord and each leg. Sciatica is not a medical condition, but a symptom of other medical conditions such as a herniated disk. Rehabilitative exercise and certain foods like raw garlic can provide sciatic pain relief.

Helpful Foods

Consumption of at least 10 oz. fresh potato and celery juices a day can provide sciatica relief, according to Buzzle.com. Consumption of raw garlic along with B-vitamin supplements can also relieve sciatic pain.

Exercise

Exercise is better for healing sciatic pain than bed rest, according to spine-health.com. Low-impact back exercises stretches can help alleviate sciatic pain. Try lying on your back and pulling both knees toward your chest while also bringing your head to your knees until you reach a balled-up position. Alternatively, while laying on your back, place both feet on the floor, knees bent at an angle. Using both hands, bring one knee toward your chest until you feel a comfortable stretch. Place foot back on the floor and repeat with other leg.

Tags: sciatic pain, runs down, that runs, that runs down, toward your, toward your chest

Eat Properly During Ovarian Cancer Treatments

Eat Properly During Ovarian Cancer Treatments

Ovarian cancer is a malignancy of the ovaries, the pair of female reproductive organs which produce eggs. Learning to eat properly is important for adding strength to the immune system during ovarian cancer treatment and maintaining a healthy lifestyle afterwards.

Instructions

Eat Properly to Increase Your Nutrition

1. See a dietitian or nutritionist to help educate you before you start ovarian cancer treatments. A dietitian can help teach you what your body needs during your specific regimen of treatments.

2. Increase your intake of fruits and vegetables. Fruits and vegetables have antioxidants that have been linked to a decrease in the risk of cancer.

3. Lower your intake of fat. Fatty foods are an overall health risk and don't help patients who have weakened immune systems due to ovarian cancer treatments.

Deal With Side Effects By Eating Properly

4. Address nausea and vomiting by staying hydrated and eating small meals often.

5. Eat properly to counter digestive side effects. Women suffering from diarrhea should try to drink a lot of fluids and avoid foods that are high in fat or fiber. Women who are suffering from constipation should also drink water and should speak to their doctors or nutritionists about increasing their fiber intake.

6. Eat foods that are easy to swallow or have small meals with a lot of protein if you are experiencing a sore throat or mouth sores from ovarian cancer treatment. You may also want to switch to a more liquid diet, using shakes and smoothies to supplement your diet.

7. Snack often and on your favorite foods if you have a loss of appetite. Now is an ideal time to treat yourself to your favorites.

Tags: cancer treatment, During Ovarian, During Ovarian Cancer, foods that, ovarian cancer, ovarian cancer treatment

Salt Alternatives For Seasoning

Too much salt can lead to high blood pressure.

Even though salt, also known as sodium, is necessary for proper function of muscles and nerves in the body, too much is not healthy. The human body uses salt to regulate blood pressure and volume, but in people with a sensitivity to it, it may lead to high blood pressure. Individuals with high blood pressure are typically advised to avoid salt. Use alternative seasonings to mask the lack the sodium.

Meat

All types of meat work well with seasonings such as bay leaves, pepper, curry powder, garlic, oregano, sage, thyme, cayenne and vinegar. When cooking beef, regardless of cooking method, try using allspice, dill, garlic or chili powder. Lamb is complimented by cinnamon, sage, celery seed, celery leaves and curry. Cinnamon, garlic, onion, ginger, thyme and coriander are well-suited for pork, while majoram, oregano, bay leaf and ginger top the list for veal.

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Poultry and Fish

Poultry and fish tend to be lighter, with more subtle flavors than other types of meat. Avoid using salt to flavor chicken by replacing it with tumeric, sesame seeds, poultry seasoning, celery leaves, dill or ginger. In addition to the others mentioned, fish is seasoned nicely with fennel, dry mustard, lemon juice, dill and paprika.

Vegetables

Give your ordinary vegetables a kick with a dash of caraway, vinegar, lemon juice, basil, nutmeg or sage. Also, never be afraid to combine vegetables while cooking to mix the natural flavors together, rather than relying on seasonings. For example, combine corn with green peppers, chili peppers and black beans for a spicy corn relish without the added salt. Consider grilling a packet of vegetables such as potatoes, yellow squash, asparagus and onion with a squeeze of lemon juice and a pat of unsalted butter to combine the fresh taste of each.

Other Foods

Baking homemade bread makes the house smell wonderful and gives a feeling of warmth, and salt is not necessarily a key ingredient. Leave out the salt and flavor the bread with caraway, mint, parsley, sesame seeds, garlic or dill.

Use extracts such as almond or vanilla for an added boost to fruits, or try something new like ginger, clove, cinnamon or poppy seed sprinkled over fresh fruit for a new twist.

Tags: blood pressure, high blood, high blood pressure, lemon juice, celery leaves, lead high, lead high blood

Turmeric Powder For Acne

Turmeric is actually the primary ingredient in curry.

Acne is caused when the pores on the skin are clogged by oil or dead skin. When bacteria get into those pores, the situation can turn worse, leading to swelling, redness and even puss. Turmeric can be used to treat acne, both orally as well as topically, applied directly to the problem areas on the skin. The only scientific research, however, to investigate the effectiveness of the herb for this purpose failed to find proof for its efficacy.

Acne

Acne is a problem that starts when the pores on the skin are clogged. The culprit may be dead cells, or oil that is either produced by your own body or contained in products you may apply to your skin. The situation is made worse by bacteria multiplying inside the clogged pores, leading to such symptoms as redness, swelling and puss, as well as the appearance of blackheads. During adolescence, acne is usually more common, as the hormonal changes that occur during this time lead to the production of more oil on the skin. Diet, however, is not a determinant of acne.

Turmeric Properties

Turmeric is a spicy plant and is the main constituent of curry (which is a mixture of spices, as opposed to a single plant). It is yellow and has a strong taste when consumed on its own. Turmeric is a strong anti-inflammatory, which means it has the ability to reduce symptoms associated with injury, such as swelling and redness. Turmeric is usually taken orally, although for certain skin conditions ayurverdic practitioners recommend topical application.

Turmeric in Medicine

Due to its anti-inflammatory properties, turmeric is often used in medicine for a variety of conditions including stomach ache, fever, infections, liver problems, fever, fluid retention, bloating (in the stomach as well as in extremities) and PMS-related pain.

Wart Removal The Duct Tape Method

Duct tape is available in hardware and discount stores and used for repairs and crafts. Duct tape can also be used for wart removal as it is inexpensive and does not cause the irritation and pain of other common wart treatments. Duct tape may not work for all people, but it is recommended as a first try home remedy.

Items Needed

The only item needed for this home remedy treatment is duct tape; no chemicals or medicines need to be applied. Duct tape is available in colors other than the standard gray, which is preferred by people who need treatment on visible areas such as the hand.

Treatment

Cover the wart with a piece of of duct tape. For fingers, wrap the tape around the finger like a bandage. After six days, remove the duct tape and soak the wart. Rub the wart with a pumice stone or emery board to remove any loose skin flakes. Keep the stone or board separate from others that you use, as you don't want to introduce the wart virus to other parts of the body. Keep the wart uncovered overnight to dry out the area. Repeat in the morning for another six days. Repeat the process until the wart has disappeared.

How it Works

The exact reasoning behind why duct tape works is not known. The theory is that the duct tape pulls off active wart cells during the treatment, thus reducing the size of the wart. Another theory suggest that using duct tape causes skin irritation, making the body's immune system focus on the area. These are not proven reasons.

Tips

Duct Tape wart treatment on the feet will leave a sticky residue in your socks. Keep this in mind when choosing socks to wear. Duct Tape does not stay adhered to bare feet in sandals and flip flops as the feet sweat and rub in the shoes.

Tags: duct tape, duct tape, Duct Tape, Duct tape available, home remedy, tape available

Become A Military School Instructor

A military school is an educational institution providing students with academic instruction and a program emphasizing discipline, honor, physical fitness and leadership. These institutions often hire instructors to train the students or cadets in a military service environment to acquire skills and toughness of real life soldiers. Apart from the prerequisites you need to accomplish, such as the minimum education level, you must perform certain procedures as part of a process to gain employment as an instructor within a military school.

Instructions

1. Identify a particular field of military occupation you wish to instruct on, such as firearm handling, scuba diving, hand-to-hand combat, and self defense or drills. Take various courses offered in different institutions for training military school instructors within your state. Most schools offer academic courses, such as military history, literature and political science, alongside military instruction.

2. Learn the various teaching methods and instruments, such as visual and presentation aids, you will use as an instructor to help your recruits to understand your lessons. You will instruct your students mostly in practical applications but you will need to use other media for certain instruction, such as video and audio equipment. Study psychology and behavioral sciences, for instance, to understand how you will deal with the different characters of your students.

3. Acquire a high level of fitness because you need to demonstrate some fitness instructions to your recruits, especially if you want to be a fitness instructor. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, some instructors are former or serving military personnel who perform physical exercises as part of their job to keep fit. When the cadets witness how physically fit you are, they will respect you and try to gain as much as possible to emulate your abilities.

4. Gain expertise in handling various equipment, weapons and instruments military personnel normally use, such as communication equipment and firearms. Learn explain the handling and use of such equipment in a way that is easy to understand. Polish your demonstration skills that you will use to explain the different procedures, such as weapon assembly, repair and maintenance of engines or emergency medical treatment.

5. Acquire the necessary certification allowing you to practice in your state. Enroll for an instructor training course such as the Pre-Service Instructor Certification Course for foreign language skills. If you are in the military service and your unit does not preselect individuals to train to fill a vacant position, consult your administration office for any information regarding need for instructors.

Tags: military school, military personnel, military service, your recruits, your state

Definition Of Opiate

Definition of Opiate

Opiates are any narcotic substances derived from the opium poppy flower. Opiates produce a sedative effect, inhibit pain, suppress appetite and sexual desire, and are highly addictive. Use and possession of opiates may be medicinal or recreational, legal or illegal.

Opium Poppies

Opium poppies, or Papaver somniferum L., are Asiatic flowers that produce a sap rich with morphine and other narcotic alkaloids. Cultivation of opium poppies is restricted in the United States and illegal cultivation is a serious federal offense.

Narcotics

Any drug used to induce sleep or sedation is a narcotic. The term "narcotic" is commonly associated with illegal drug use, but it is equally applicable to legal medicinal uses.

Legal Opiate Use

Legal opiates are used medicinally to relieve pain and induce altered states when needed. Prescription drugs like morphine and codeine are legal when prescribed by a doctor in accordance with U.S. Department of Justice guidelines.

Illegal Opiates

All opiate manufacturing, possession and use is illegal in the United States unless conducted with proper licensing and practiced according to guidelines set by the U.S. Department of Justice. Illegal opiates include opium, heroin, and prescription medications when use is not controlled.

Opiate Addiction

All opiates are highly addictive regardless of origin or use. Addiction is characterized by cravings and intense withdrawal symptoms when opiate use is stopped or reduced. Opiate withdrawal can require medical supervision and may cause vomiting, cramping and hallucinations.

Tags: Definition Opiate, Department Justice, highly addictive, United States

Calculate Weight Watchers Points In A Recipe

If you are following the weight watchers diet, it can be difficult to calculate weight watchers points in a recipe. However, it is actually very simple to calculate weight watchers points in a recipe so you know exactly how many points are in your favorite recipe. Learn quickly and easily calculate how many weight watchers points are in a recipe so you can make your favorite recipes and stay on the weight watchers plan to lose weight.

Instructions

1. Understand Ingredients to Calculate Weight Watchers Points in a Recipe

The first step to calculate weight watchers points in a recipe is to examine your list of ingredients. You need to know exactly how many points are in each ingredient. You can find this out by using your weight watchers materials if you have them or any weight watchers point value website. Determine how many points are in each ingredient based on their quantity and then add together all of those point values. This will give you the weight watchers point value of the entire recipe.

2. Serving Size to Calculate Weight Watchers Points in a Recipe

Next, you will need to determine how many weight watchers points are in each serving. It is very easy to do this - just divide the weight watchers points value for the entire recipe by the number of servings. For example, if the entire recipe was 42 points and it makes 10 servings, each serving has 4.2 weight watchers points.

3. Use an Online Weight Watchers Recipe Calculator

If you do not want to do the math yourself, you can use an online weight watchers point recipe calculator. There is one on the online weight watchers website if you are a member or you can use an online version available on many websites. However, you will get the most accurate version by calculating the weight watchers points yourself.

4. Adjust the recipe to Calculate Weight Watchers Points in a Recipe

Lastly, if you find that your recipe has a higher points value than you want, consider adjusting the ingredients or cooking method. Use no calorie cooking spray instead of oil or low fat versions of your favorite ingredients like cheese, meat, milk, or sour cream. Adjusting small things in your recipe will lower the weight watchers point value of your recipe.

Tags: watchers points, weight watchers points, watchers point, weight watchers, weight watchers

How Can Skin Cancer Be Treated

Skin Cancer Types

The two most common types of skin cancer, basal and squamous, are slow growing cancers that usually appear on areas of the body exposed to sunlight, ultraviolet rays or radiation. The survival rate for basal and squamous skin cancers is excellent when found and treated early. Melanoma is less common than other forms of skin cancer. Because of its fast growth and ability to spread, melanoma is considered the most dangerous type of skin cancer. Sun exposure and genetics both play a part in developing melanoma and the effectiveness of treatment depends upon early detection and how far the cancer has spread.

Freezing

Cryosurgery freezes the affected area with small amounts of nitrogen, effectively killing cancer cells. This type of treatment is common in removing small superficial areas of skin cancer and is the same treatment often used to remove moles and precancerous skin lesions. Freezing is a non-invasive treatment, but it may cause some scarring.

Electrodessication

Electrodessication is another non-invasive treatment for skin cancer. Much like cryosurgery, electrodessication may be done at a doctor's office or out-patient center and complications from treatment are rare. Anesthesia is used to numb the area to be treated. A doctor then uses a small tool to scrape off a cancerous lesion. A small needle is inserted into the site and electricity is discharged into the area killing off remaining cancer cells.

Excision and Mohs Surgery

An effective treatment on smaller areas of skin cancer is excising or cutting away the affected area and some of the surrounding tissue, then suturing the healthy skin back together. Mohs surgery is a minor procedure where layers of skin are removed individually. Each layer of skin removed is tested for cancerous cells, indicating when healthy skin has been reached and no more skin is to be removed.

Laser Therapy

Laser therapy or surgery is sometimes used to remove superficial skin cancer lesions. This type of treatment is generally used in non-melanoma skin cancers. A thin laser beam is used to destroy and remove superficial skin cancer, often avoiding damage to surrounding healthy skin. Laser therapy may require repeated treatments to ensure success.

Radiation and Chemotherapy

For larger areas, cancer that has spread or recurring cancer, radiation or chemotherapy may be used. With radiation treatment, the cancerous area is exposed to radiation rays to shrink or kill cancer cells. Chemotherapy uses medication to kill cancer cells throughout the body. For more advanced cases or individuals with melanoma, chemotherapy drugs are usually taken intravenously or orally. For basal or squamous skin cancers, a topical chemotherapy agent may be used to target a specific area. Radiation and chemotherapy are often be used in conjunction with other treatments.

Tags: cancer cells, skin cancer, basal squamous, healthy skin, skin cancer, skin cancers, skin removed

Definition Of Hemostats

Hemostats are important instruments used by doctors during some patients' procedures in doctors' offices, clinics and in hospitals. Hemostats are predominately used during surgery in the operating room. They are available in a variety of sizes, lengths, shapes and curvatures at the tips. Hemostats are specifically designed for clamping different types of blood vessels and tissues in different anatomical parts of the body.

History

The hemostat is a medical instrument that was invented by Stephen Hales, an English physiologist, chemist and inventor in the eighteen century. The three factors that influenced modern surgery were the control of bleeding, the control of pain and the control of infection. The invention of the hemostat by Hales made a major impact in controling bleeding.

Significance

Without a method of hemostasis patients would not survive emergency bleeding situations, surgical and other such patient care procedures. The blood loss would result in shock leading to death that could occur very quickly. Tourniquets and hemostats have played significant roles in providing hemostasis in the care of patients and they will continue to do so.

Function

The hemostat is a standard instrument used to clamp off subcutaneous blood vessels to provide hemostasis during minor and major surgical procedures. The blood vessels are clamped with curved-tipped hemostats and ligated with fine sutures made of catgut, silk or cotton, then the hemostats are removed. Hemostats are also used to dissect and pull back tissues so doctors and surgeons can better view the surgical area and perform patient care procedures more precisely.

Types

Hemostats are made of stainless steel to sustain the temperature of the autoclave during sterilization. There are straight-tipped and curved-tipped hemostats. The former is used as a straight clamp across a blood vessel or tissue while the latter is better used for clamping blood vessels or tissue in a curved fashion or in a difficult location. Sizes range from tiny for pediatric surgery to large for adult care.

Potential

Hemostats are here to stay. However with continued medical technological advancement other methods of hemostasis have developed. Electro-coagulation and laser technology are two methods of hemostatis. Absorbable hemostatic material is used in another method of hemostasis. These products are either applied to or left on the wound or operative site to achieve impement-free hemostasis. The use of these products is critical in stopping the bleeding in kidney, brain and liver surgery. Some of these products include Gelfoam, Surgicel and Avitene.

Tags: blood vessels, care procedures, curved-tipped hemostats, method hemostasis, patient care, patient care procedures, procedures blood

Treatments For A Broken Fibula

Your lower legs are made of the tibia and fibula. The fibula is the thin, long bone in your lower leg that connects to your knee at the top and your ankle at the bottom. It is slightly curved and does not support your body weight. This bone can break when you severely twist your calf muscle or twist your ankle during physical activity.

Types of Breaks

The four main types of broken bones, or fractures, are compound, simple, complete and incomplete. Compound/open fractures occur when the bone breaks and breaks through the skin; simple fractures occur when the bone breaks but does not break the skin; complete fractures occur when the bone breaks into two or more pieces; and incomplete fractures occur when the bone just cracks.

Simple Fracture Treatment

Simple fractures occur when the bone breaks but does not puncture the skin. The doctor may immobilize the lower leg in a cast or fix it with an elastic sock.

Compound and Complete Fracture Treatments

Compound fractures occur when the bone breaks and pierces the skin and/or muscle and complete fractures involve shattered bone. If the bone is shattered, surgery is required to fix the bone and stitch-up the wound.

Minor Cracks

Incomplete fractures can be treated by elevating the lower leg, applying ice at 20-minute intervals and staying off the injured leg. Using heat treatments such as hot tubs, heat lamps or heating pads may make the injury feel better.

Medicines

Depending on the severity of the pain, a doctor may prescribe narcotic drugs to dull the pain, but most people can treat the injury using over-the-counter pain relievers and anti-inflammatory medications such as acetaminophen or ibuprofen.

Tags: fractures occur, fractures occur when, occur when, occur when bone, when bone, bone breaks, when bone breaks

New Treatment For Cancer And Brain Tumors

There have been many recent advances in cancer treatment.

There have been many new advances in the treatment of cancer and brain tumors. These treatments go beyond chemotherapy and radiation and offer fresh hope to cancer patients and, often, more painless ways of treating the disease.

Targeted Treatments

Targeted treatments treat specific parts or functions of tumor cells, interfering and redirecting the way the cells work. Because of this, a host of new innovative drugs, immune therapies and drug delivery systems are developing.

Immunotherapy Vaccines

The body's immune system identifies and destroys foreign cells, viruses and other potentially harmful organisms; however, sometimes our immune systems do not recognize cancer cells as dangerous or foreign. Immunotherapy vaccines cause the immune system to recognize and attack tumor cells.

Avastin

Avastin is a cancer medication used to stop the growth of brain tumors and other cancer cells by blocking new blood vessels from developing in tumors, thus slowing their growth.

Computer-Assisted Neurosurgery

Computer-assisted neurosurgery allows surgeons to map the brain and treat tumors more accurately and aggressively.

Intraoperative MRI

An MRI (magnetic resonance imaging) is a technique used to create detailed images of the body's organs using magnetic fields and radio waves. An intraoperative MRI allows surgeons to collect real-time data on a tumor's volume and location.

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Wasp Sting Affect The Body

How Does a Wasp Sting Affect the Body?

Defined

Bees, wasps and ants are the insects that cause the most medical problems when they sting. A wasp, like bees and ants, are in the hymenoptera order and a sting from it is often referred to as a Hymenoptera sting.

Wasps sting when they are trying to defend their territory and when nests are disturbed. The most common types of wasps are the yellow jacket, paper wasp and bald-faced hornet. A sting from a wasp is poisonous because of the venom injected, and as a result, it can cause severe allergic reactions.

When a wasp stings a person, the muscles that surround the wasp's venom sac inject venom into the body. Once the venom is injected, the person will experience a severe stinging feeling, followed by swelling, redness and itching.

After that, the person may notice a large red area on the skin where he or she was stung. In rare cases, a bacterial skin infection can also occur. In some cases, people who are allergic to the stings can suffer severe medical problems and death.

Allergic Reactions

Serious medical issues and deaths from wasp stings result from an allergic reaction. If someone's immune system is extremely sensitive or allergic to the venom, the body will overreact and cause an allergic reaction.

Within an hour of the time that a wasp stings someone, the allergic reaction will occur. It is in this time as well, that most deaths from wasp stings have been known to occur. Multiple stings increase the danger of allergic reactions to wasp stings, but deaths and severe allergic reactions have resulted from the sting of one wasp.

Some symptoms of an allergic reaction include, hives, swelling of the throat, nausea, vomiting, low blood pressure, a rash all over the body and faintness. If any of these symptoms occur, the person should receive immediate medical attention.

Non-Allergic Reactions

When a wasp stings someone who isn't allergic to its venom, the effect of the sting is usually minor. However, when multiple wasps sting a person, kidney failure, muscle breakdown and other problems can occur. Major problems can also occur in people who are not allergic to wasp stings, depending on where they are stung. If someone is stung by a wasp in the mouth or throat, swelling can occur that can obstruct the airway and make it difficult to breathe.

In addition to where a person is stung, several other factors determine how severely the sting will affect the person, such as how many times the person is stung and if the person is allergic to a wasp sting.

Treatment

After a person is stung, the stinger should be removed from the sting site. Then the area should be washed with soap and water. Put an antibiotic ointment or cream on the sting site to prevent further infection. If the person is not having symptoms of an allergic reaction, the individual should take an antihistamine to soothe the itching of the sting, as well as acetaminophen or ibuprofen for pain relief. Ice can also be rubbed over the stung area to reduce swelling.

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How Flatten My Stomach In Four Weeks

Flat belly

When it comes to flattening the stomach, it is never a small chore. To do it in four weeks not only makes the challenge harder, but it also makes it much more worth when you do pull it off. In order to do this, you have to be willing to make some sacrifices and go to a place mentally that you may have never been before. But the harder the work and effort you put in to something, the greater the reward you can expect.

Instructions

1. Clean up the diet. Eliminate all the bad foods and beverages from your diet. This includes deep fried foods, processed foods, refined foods and foods that are high in saturated fats. Also avoid high calorie beverages and excessive amounts of alcohol.

2. Eat nutrient dense foods. Foods that are nutrient dense have a lot of vitamins, minerals, fiber and are low in saturated fat. Some examples are fruits, vegetables, seeds, nuts, whole grains, lean protein, beans and legumes.

3. Eat multiple meals. This will give you consistent energy levels, it will raise your metabolism and it will also keep you from overeating big amounts of food. Eat a small, balanced meal every two to three hours all day long.

4. Do cardio. Perform aerobic training three to four days a week for 45 to 60 minutes. This can be running, biking, swimming, stair stepping or elliptical.

5. Jump some rope. Get a weighted jump rope and aim for sets of one 100 with 30-second rest intervals. The weighted jump rope will increase your caloric expenditure and it will also fire up more muscles in the shoulders, back, arms and especially the stomach.

6. Do some kettlebell crunches. Lie on your back with the kettlebell over your head. Grab it by the handle with both hands and the ball part facing up. Now do crunches while simultaneously lifting your legs off the floor and bending your knees.

7. Do some jump jacks. Stand with your feet together. Now crouch down low and get into a tuck position. Explosively jump in the air and extend your arms and legs out in an X shape. This is the same as a jumping jack position except you are in the air.

8. Do ball pus-ups. Push-ups take a lot of chest strength. But when you do them on an exercise ball, this increases the emphasis on the stomach which will help flatten the belly. Come into a plank position with your hands on the ball directly under your shoulders. Now slowly lift your body up until your arms are fully extended. Now slowly lower yourself back down and repeat.

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Duties & Responsibilities Of A Chiropractor

Chiropractors practice "spinal adjustments" to treat inflamed tissues and other musculoskeletal problems.

Chiropractors are health care providers who are trained to resolve problems in the musculoskeletal and nervous systems, such as headaches or pain in the back, neck or joints. They recommend rehabilitative exercises and provide dietary and lifestyle counseling, but are best known for their practice of "spinal manipulation," in which they apply force into joints that have suffered tissue injury to restore mobility.

Quality of Care

A chiropractor must keep up with advances in medical care.