There are plenty of new, different and alternative treatments on the market today, but one of the ones that can make a difference are nitrate patches. Nitrate patches are most commonly used in the treatment of tendon injuries, such as Achilles Tendinopathy, and more commonly, chest pain. Nitrate patches work by opening the arteries that lead to the heart, thereby increasing blood flow to the heart so that it can work more efficiently.
Instructions
1. Before any use of nitrate patches on your body it's best to consult your primary doctor. He or she will be able to tell you whether they think that nitrate patches should be used. If you can use them then a prescription will be written for the nitrate patches.
2. Once you receive the nitrate patches they then should be placed on the body in the appropriate spot and position. For example, one nitrate patch that is full of 5 milligrams of nitroglycerin should be kept on the body for approximately 12 to 14 hours per day.
3. There are some side effects to the nitrate patch, however. Some people experience painful headaches, and if these or any other worse symptoms are felt then your doctor should be called. There are some brands of nitrate patches that may be able to be cut if a lower dose is needed, but your physician should be consulted beforehand. On the other hand, the dose also may need to be increased due to your body's tolerance of the drug. In any case, any lowering or raising of the nitrate patch dose should be done through your primary doctor.
4. If symptoms of your chest pain or tendon injury or pain do not seem to be getting better after 8 to 10 weeks of the treatment then you should stop using the nitrate patches or consult your physician for further instructions of what to do. The dose of the nitrate patch may need to be further adjusted, or ceased altogether.
Tags: nitrate patch, nitrate patches, your primary doctor, chest pain, consult your, nitrate patches, primary doctor
Those who suffer from back or neck pain might visit chiropractors, who are specially trained to work the areas of the spine to bring relief from pain and tension. Chiropractors do relieve pain for many of their patients, but some downsides still exist.
Discomfort
Although the majority of patients claim the adjustments made during treatment are quite comfortable, some report pain and discomfort. This does not mean the chiropractor had made a mistake. It is most likely because bones and joints are being manipulated in a different way.
Limits
Chiropractic care extends far beyond back pain. However, it is quite limited in the types of conditions that it can cure. Chiropractic care works to restore the flow of the nervous system, which promotes the body's ability to heal. The process can take time and doesn't work for everything.
Return Visits
Chiropractic care involves several visits for most patients. Although these sessions usually result in the patient feeling much better, it also amounts to more time and money.
Insurance
Chiropractors were seen as alternatives to traditional medicine for a long time. Although they have gained enormous amounts of credibility over the years, some insurance companies are still reluctant to cover the costs. There has been a great deal of change in this area; however, patients are still advised to check their insurance companies policies before undergoing chiropractic treatment. The cost of treatment can add up quickly if it isn't covered by insurance.
Better Alternatives
The Mayo clinic states that Chiropractic care is safe. However, they go on to say that in some cases, rest and relaxation will benefit the body just as much. In cases of lower back pain in which patients simply rest and reduce strain, the majority of discomfort heals on its own.
Tags: Chiropractic care, back pain, insurance companies
Deep breathing techniques are a powerful way of finding stress relief. Slowing the pace of the breath and breathing oxygen into each chamber of the lungs will help your parasympathetic nervous system take over, the part of the nervous system responsible for resting and digesting. Breathing more oxygen into the body helps each organ function better and the exhale releases toxins. It only takes a few minutes to sit and change the breathing pattern but the results make all the difference when dealing with stress.
The Breath
The more oxygen you take into your body, the better your body functions. Breathing is governed by the nervous system. The nervous system is divided between the central nervous system, which is in charge of voluntary movements and the autonomic nervous system, which is in charge of the automatic functions in the body such as breathing. The autonomic nervous system is divided into two parts. The sympathetic and the parasympathetic system.
The sympathetic system rules the response toward stress. The body goes into fight or flight mode when it feels threatened. Your breathing becomes fast and shallow. Sometimes we will even hold our breath to avoid intense emotional responses. When we breathe like this, we tell our bodies to panic and stress.
The parasympathetic system produces a state of relaxation and well-being where you can rest and digest. Deep breathing is related to this aspect of the nervous system and deep breathing will shift a person's state, so that this system is in charge.
Take a deep breath in to the count of four, filling your lungs with oxygen at a slow, controlled pace. Hold the breath in for four counts, allowing the oxygen to circulate through your body and then exhale to the count of four, releasing toxins from within the cells and the lungs. Hold the breath out for four counts, making sure to completely empty the lungs of toxins.
The Lungs
Many people only use the middle part of the lungs when breathing. The top and bottom chambers remain unused. This means we are only breathing in a tiny amount of what our lungs are capable of holding and when the body is getting enough oxygen, it improves our entire state of being.
To be sure that you are taking in the full capacity of breath, place your hands on the bottom of your ribs and feel the air fill the diaphragm, which is located behind the lowest part of the ribcage. As you inhale, feel it inflate like a balloon and once you fill that area, fill the middle of the chest and then upper chest too. As you exhale, feel the air leave your body and feel your lugs deflate.
Breathing Techniques
The sigh breath is a quick way to release tension and find a sense of calm very fast. Breathe in comfortably and moderately. There is no need to inhale too deeply. Then release the breath at an extremely slow pace. This will give you an immediate sense of calm, and quell anxiety and any heightened emotional state.
When you need calm, concentration and focus, close your eyes and sit somewhere comfortably. Just notice your breath. Notice the inhale, the pause, the exhale, the pause and then focus on what physical sensations you feel. Allow the breath to become more shallow, even and light. This will help with calm and concentration.
With all breathing exercises, breathe in through the nose and out through the mouth.
Tags: nervous system, your body, autonomic nervous, autonomic nervous system, breath four
Tooth decay in children is preventable. Even if your child already has signs of some tooth decay, you may actually be able to reverse it through nutrition, according to clinical research by Drs. Edward and Edward Mellanby and Weston A. Price, D.D.S. Even so, prevention is better than cure, and the best time to prevent tooth decay in your child begins when she get her first tooth.
Instructions
1. Make sweets and sugars an occasional treat in your house. Giving your child too many sweets or sugary foods leads to quicker tooth decay.
2. Limit the number of snacks and meals that you serve your child to to six a day. Don't let your child graze all day long on food. Doing so actually will harm your child's teeth as the food will sit on the teeth all day long and cause the teeth to decay.
3. Give your child plenty of water to drink. Water increases saliva production in the mouth which helps to wash away the sugars left on the teeth after eating. Water with fluoride in it will also help to protect your child's teeth from acid production. Water is strongly preferable to soda or even juice, both of which essentially rinse the teeth in a sugary solution.
4. When you eat out with your child or are on the go, use dental wipes on your child's teeth. They will help to prevent plaque formation on the teeth, which causes tooth decay. Dental wipes are available at local drugstores, usually placed alongside the toothpaste.
5. Take your child to the dentist on a regular basis. After your child's first several teeth have sprouted, start your child going to the dentist on a regular basis.
6. Ask your dentist about a fluoride sealant for your child's teeth if you live in area without fluoridated water or if your child's teeth are prone to cavities. The sealant can help to protect your child's teeth for months and will prevent tooth decay and cavities.
7. Make sure that your child is brushing his teeth every night before bedtime. This is the best time to brush the teeth as you are removing all the food and sugars on the teeth from the day. Most kids who are 5 and under never do a good enough job on brushing their teeth, so make sure that you are checking their work and brushing their teeth for them if needed.
Tags: your child, child teeth, your child teeth, tooth decay, best time
Metabolic acidosis occurs when the body begins retaining too much acid, or fails to eliminate a proper amount of acid. Metabolic acidosis encompasses several types of acidosis, including lactic acidosis and ketoacidosis. Several medical conditions can cause metabolic acidosis, including diabetes, renal failure, some blood disorders, a lack of oxygen and the ingestion of toxic substances that break down to acids during digestion. Treatment options depend on the cause and usually address the underlying disorder.
Treatment
Treatments to restore acid balance include hemodialysis to filter out toxins the kidneys can't process, IV fluids and medications. Hemodialysis is usually reserved for someone suffering from kidney failure, especially if it is caused by the ingestion of toxins, such as ethylene glycol (antifreeze), methanol (fuel) or an overdose of salicylate (aspirin). Antibiotics and carbohydrate restriction can sometimes be beneficial for someone withlactic acidosis.
Severity
The severity of the acidemia, which is the term for excess acid levels, determines whether the condition is treated. For someone with mild acidemia, it is usually better not to interfere with the acidosis. Instead, doctors will attempt to regulate the disorder causing the acid imbalance. However, if blood pH is too low, it might be necessary to attempt to reduce the acidemia more quickly, instead of allowing the body to return to normal levels on its own.
Bicarbonate Therapy
Bicarbonate, or baking soda, is used when a patient requires emergency therapy to lower the acid level and restore a pH balance. This therapy is controversial, because it doesn't always work and can cause severe side effects. If a doctor gives too much bicarbonate, the patient might develop metabolic alkalosis. Metabolic alkalosis is the opposite condition of metabolic acidosis, where the blood becomes too alkaline. Bicarbonate treatment can cause respiratory issues, electrolyte imbalances and the depletion of optimal potassium levels. With severe cases of acidemia, most doctors find the risks associated with bicarbonate therapy warranted.
Tags: acidosis including, lactic acidosis, metabolic acidosis, someone with
Hodgkin's disease, the category of cancer that affects the lymphatic system, is rare. According to the American Cancer Society, only about 4 percent of all new cancer cases are Hodgkin's disease. The survival rate is over 94 percent, making it one of the more treatable forms of cancer. Even so, it can be tough to live with the disease if you're not prepared.
Instructions
1. Ask your doctor about clinical trials. There are usually clinical trials that are looking to find more effective ways of treating Hodgkin's disease. Visit the American Cancer Society Web site (see Resources, below) to learn more about clinical trials.
2. Talk to people you love about your condition. Sometimes just talking about how you feel can have a tremendous impact on your state of mind and take away some of the your fear and anxiety.
3. Be prepared to deal with the side effects associated with treatment. You'll probably get nauseated and suffer from some fatigue. Hair loss is also a very common side effect.
4. If the patient is a child, they will probably be frightened and may need a positive example to help them to maintain courage. Always be encouraging and upbeat.
5. Remember to schedule regular follow-up appointments with your oncologist to carefully monitor your health.
Tags: clinical trials, Hodgkin disease, about clinical, about clinical trials, American Cancer
The National Cancer Institute estimates that in 2009, over 70,000 individuals will be diagnosed with bladder cancer, and over 14,000 people will die from the disease. The bladder is the organ in your lower abdomen that stores urine. This article will give an overview of the early symptoms of bladder cancer, but is not a tool for diagnosis. If you are experiencing any of these symptoms, please see your doctor for an examination. These symptoms can also be signs of an infection or stone, so it is important to be examined properly.
Risk Factors
White individuals are twice as likely to receive a diagnosis of bladder cancer than African-Americans or Hispanics, and those with a family history of the disease are at elevated risk. Once an individual has been diagnosed withbladder cancer once, he is also at higher risk to be diagnosed again with the disease. Using tobacco, male gender, and older age are also all risk factors for being diagnosed with bladder cancer.
Types
There are three categories of bladder cancer, and cancers fall into each group depending on the stage of the cancer at diagnosis. The three categories are, in order of severity: superficial cancers, muscularis propria-invasive cancers and metastatic cancers. The types of cancers in each group are different in the way they behave, the prognosis, and how they are treated.
Symptoms
The most common symptoms of bladder cancer include urine tinged with blood, pain with urination, and having the urge to urinate even though no urine is produced and the bladder is empty. These can also be symptoms of an infection, so if you do have these, it is best to see a doctor for a clinical examination.
Diagnosis
When you see the doctor, he will likely do several tests in addition to a physical exam. The physical exam may include an examination of the abdomen, rectum and pelvis. Urine tests will be ordered, to check for malignant (cancerous cells) and blood, as well as any other possible causes for symptoms, such as bacteria or infection. An intravenous pyelogram might be done. This is when the doctor puts dye into a blood vessel. The dye then binds to the urine, which helps the bladder become visible on any X-rays. Another test the doctor might do is called a cystoscopy. This is when the doctor uses a thin tube that has a light on it to see right into the bladder. He inserts the tube through the urethra to examine the bladder. This is often done under anesthesia.
Prognosis
Early bladder cancer has a high survival rate, about 85 percent. Invasive bladder cancer has a lower survival rate, and metastatic bladder cancer that has spread to other organs has a low survival rate. Only about 5 percent of individuals diagnosed with bladder cancer that has metastasized are still alive two years after diagnosis.
Tags: bladder cancer, diagnosed with, diagnosed with bladder, with bladder, with bladder cancer
The pituitary is a small gland about the size of a pea. It is located at the base of the brain, where it hangs from a slender stalk attached to the hypothalamus, which also contains nerves and blood vessels. The pituitary is responsible for controlling many hormone systems within the body. Sometimes a tumor develops in the pituitary. Tumors that allow for continued hormone production are known as functioning tumors; those that don't are nonfunctioning tumors.
Pituitary
The pituitary gland controls hormones in the body that are responsible for body metabolism, physical growth, handling stress and sexual organ functioning (which is done in conjunction with the thyroid and adrenal glands as well as the female ovaries and male testes).
Pituitary Tumors
Abnormal cell growth in the pituitary is known as a pituitary tumor. Pituitary tumors can be benign or cancerous. In addition, they can be considered a functioning pituitary tumor or a nonfunctioning one. According to the National Institute of Health, they are often undiagnosed due to their symptoms being too similar to the symptoms of other diseases.
Benign (Functioning) Pituitary Tumors
Tumors that are benign (noncancerous) usually don't spread to other parts of the body, and they grow at a slow pace. They can, however, still produce hormones and often produce too many of them, creating health problems. Medication is sometimes used to decrease such hormone production. Benign tumors that make hormones are known as functioning tumors.
Nonfunctioning Tumors
Nonfunctioning tumors, on the other hand, do not make hormones but can cause many symptoms, which can include vision problems, headaches, vomiting and nausea. These symptoms can be due to the tumor's growth inside the brain and that growth's impact on other brain functions (like vision). In addition, nonfunctioning tumors can cause a condition known as Cushing's disease as well as other abnormal hormone-related diseases.
Treatment
If the condition is recognized soon enough, three treatment options can be considered: removing the tumor surgically, killing its cells with radiation, or shrinking the tumor with drug therapy. However, if a nonfunctioning tumor grows large enough to press on carotid arteries, it can cause a stroke. If it presses too much on optic nerves, it can damage vision, and if it grows too large for the brain, other serious complications can be experienced as well.
Significance
According to the Mayo Clinic, the exact cause of pituitary tumors is not known, but genetic alterations are believed to play some role in their formation. And while tumors can run in families, hereditary factors do not always exist.
Tags: functioning tumors, grows large, hormone production, known functioning, known functioning tumors
Finger injuries can occur during any number of athletic events or as a matter of course in day to day life. Where the finger injury is severe, it might be necessary to resort to surgical means to correct the break. According to information from the Sports Science Orthopaedic Clinic, rehabilitation for finger surgeries is crucial to help prevent permanent disfigurement and restore proper range of motion as soon as possible. Although rehab exercises for the finger can be painful, the results will be well worth the effort.
Ball Squeezes
Perform a regular regime of ball squeezes to improve finger strength and mobility in the weeks following surgery. Ball squeezes are a deceptively simple exercise that can help to regain strength in the finger tendons while concurrently preventing lasting stiffness from the operation. To perform ball squeezes, obtain a new set of tennis balls. New balls are best as older ones will have lost some of their rigidity, decreasing the efficacy of the movement. Hold the ball in your injured hand, applying gradually increasing pressure to squeeze it as hard as you are able without undue discomfort. While you will likely experience some level of pain (which is only normal), you will want to avoid exceeding your pain threshold, so stop increasing the pressure before you experience anything greater than moderate discomfort (a five on a scale of one to ten). Hold the maximum squeeze for a second or so before relaxing, repeating the exercise during the morning and before bed at night, performing 50 to 100 squeezes per session.
Finger Extensions
Perform finger extensions to ensure that your hand remains supple in the weeks following surgery. To perform finger extensions, simply place your palm and fingertips lightly on a wall or other flat surface (like a desk). Initiate the movement by pressing down with gradually increasing force until all of your fingers are fully flat against the wall or until you experience greater than moderate pain. Hold in the maximal stretched position for five to ten seconds, repeating the drill five to ten times per session. As with ball squeezes, practice the exercise every single day, both morning and night.
Considerations
One tip that you might want to employ while practicing these exercises is to first limber up your injured finger by soaking it in a cup filled with hot water or by taking a hot shower before practicing. This can help to remove some of the stiffness from your finger, decreasing the pain experienced while exercising it.
Tags: ball squeezes, finger extensions, following surgery, gradually increasing, greater than, greater than moderate
The anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) is a ligament that connects your knee's femur and tibia bones. Positioned diagonally between the two bones, the ACL provides support and rotational flexibility to your knee. The American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons estimates that 100,000 people a year require ACL reconstruction surgery due to tears and other injuries often acquired during sports activities. After surgery, proper physical therapy is essential to healing. Most people require 4-6 months of physical therapy before they regain full leg functioning.
Phase 1 Recovery
Immediately after ACL surgery your postoperative rehabilitation process will begin. At first you will visit a physical therapist three times a week or more. Over the next six to eight weeks, your visits to the physical therapist may decrease to around once or twice a week. During Phase 1 recovery, your physical therapist will give you a variety of strengthening exercise that aim to reduce your knee's swelling and build up the strength of the surrounding muscles. Even on days that you don't visit your physical therapist, you will have a regimen of exercises to do for 30-60 minutes each day.
Another set of rehab guidelines, published by the Journal of Sports Medicine, breaks the Phase 1 recovery period into more detailed phases (Phase I for preoperative recovery, Phase II for the first two weeks after surgery and Phase III for the four- to six-week postsurgical period). During the first two weeks, ice your knee several times a day and keep the knee elevated to reduce swelling. Phase 1 (or Phase I and II by the Journal of Sports Medicine guidelines) exercises include knee extensions (with your leg extended in front of you, holding your heel on an object for 10 minutes at a time so that your calf is not on the ground), quad sets (knee extensions that require you to flex your quad for 10 seconds at a time) and straight leg raises (a slow raising and lowering of your leg as you keep your quad flexed).
Phase 2 Recovery
After your knee has healed a bit (roughly two months postsurgery), your physical therapist will move you on to more intense strength exercises to restore your knee's full range of motion. During Phase 2 you will begin to use weights and engage in more intensive cardiovascular exercise (such as on a bike or treadmill). In addition, your physical therapist will give you new exercises and stretches designed to restore your sense of balance and stability. The Mayo Clinic notes that since many people have insurance limitations on how many physical therapy sessions their plan allows, you may have to complete your Phase 2 recovery at a gym or sports club rather than in a medical physical therapy facility.
Typical Phase 2 recovery exercises include closed-chain kinetic exercises that require your foot to remain stable on the ground. Squats (either with a free weight or on a squat deck machine) are common closed-chain kinetic exercises. While your Phase 2 therapy may sometimes include open-chain kinetic exercises (like curls) during which your foot leaves the ground, most therapists do not recommend open-chain exercises during the healing process since they may aggravate the ACL. Talk to your doctor or physical therapist about the appropriate amount of weight you should use during strength exercises and how many repetitions you should do during each session.
Phase 3 Recovery
Your final two months of recovery will entail strength, balance and stability exercises that begin to test your new knee's full range of motion and functioning. One Phase 3 agility exercise used often is called the box jump. To perform the box jump, stand next to a small wooden box and jump sideways onto the box. Once you land, jump off the box to the other side. Pay careful attention to ensure that you land with both feet together. As you progress in your rehab process, you will eventually jump over the entire box sideways and land on the other side.
Phase 3 recovery will not begin until your knee's swelling has subsided, your motion is nearly full and your muscle mass is back to normal. Physical therapy during the final months helps to ensure your knee stays strong and helps to prevent further injuries. You may still feel some knee pain even after you have reached Phase 3, but your exercises will help to reduce pain and ease you back into your regular routine.
Tags: your knee, physical therapist, physical therapist will, therapist will, your physical
Kidney infection possibly will cause one or more of these signs and symptoms: frequent urination; strong, persistent urge to urinate; burning sensation or pain when urinating; abdominal pain or pressure; cloudy urine with a strong odor; pus or blood in urine; inability to urinate; need to urinate during the night; back, side or groin pain, and fever.
In infants and young children, signs and symptoms of kidney infection may include irritability, loss of appetite, loose bowel movements and new episodes of bed-wetting (enuresis). In older adults, mental changes including confusion sometimes are signs of a kidney infection.
Frequent Urination
A child with a kidney infection will probably need to urinate frequently. It's always important to pay attention to how often a child uses the bathroom in a day. A sudden increase in frequency is a sign of a kidney infection. If you notice a child is urinating frequently. it's important to ask her if it hurts to pee, as painful urination is an indicator of infection. In addition, pay attention to how many times a child tries to use the bathroom but then declares, "Nothing came out." Another sign of kidney infection is a frequent urge to urinate without the ability to do so.
Abnormal Urine
If a child is urinating more frequently than normal, pay attention to the urine. Instruct the child not to flush until you exam the urine. If the urine appears cloudy or has a strong odor, something may be wrong. If the urine has pus or blood in it, there is a high probability of kidney infection. Call a pediatrician and explain the systems; make an appointment for the child to be examined as soon as possible.
Bed Wetting
Bed wetting is a sign of kidney infection if the child has been staying dry at night for long amounts of time. This sign is more indicative of a kidney infection in older children, because younger children may revert to bed wetting for any number of reasons (such as high stress or changes to normal routine). Older children are more likely to try to cover up bed wetting, so it's important for children to understand it's not something to be ashamed of. Talking about it is the first step to treating the problem and stopping the bed wetting by treating the kidney infection.
Fever and Pain
Fever is usually a sign that the body is fighting an infection. When a child is having urination problems coupled with fever, there's a good chance that a kidney infection is the culprit. In addition, the child may complain of pain in the lower back or side of the abdomen, where the kidneys are located. The fever and pain can be helped with Children's Tylenol. Always call a doctor if the fever is about 102 degrees F.
Other Symptoms
A child with a kidney infection may show other symptoms that seem more like a general illness. A child who is extremely irritable, refuses to eat and has loose bowel movements along with urination issues is most likely suffering from an infection. Make note of any of these symptoms and the duration, and tell the child's doctor.
Tags: kidney infection, kidney infection, sign kidney, sign kidney infection, back side
We can experience joint pain for a number of reasons: arthritis, tendonitis and simple overuse are a few. Over-the-counter and prescription anti-inflammatory medications can provide some degree of relief for most people. People who want to avoid taking medications or who feel that medicine is just not reducing the pain enough can use acupuncture to treat their joint pain.
Instructions
1. Write a brief history of your joint pain that you can bring with you to your first acupuncture appointment. Points to consider are whether the pain gets worse when you are moving the joint or resting it, if the weather plays a role in the intensity of the pain and whether your pain worsens at night or during the day. Also write down the ways in which you have tried to treat your joint pain so far.
2. Locate a licensed acupuncturist in your area. Acufinder has an extensive online directory of acupuncture providers on its website (see Resources below). Choose a professional by an area of expertise that relates to your specific joint pain, such as rheumatology, fibromyalgia or sports medicine.
3. Rest your injured joint as much as you can, but especially in the 2 to 3 hours before your acupuncture appointment. Acupuncture will treat pain more effectively when your body is in a relaxed state than when it is overworked or tense.
4. Avoid tight, fitted clothing that cannot be easily rolled up or moved aside. Most of the acupoints used to treat joint pain will be near the affected joint. The acupuncturist may also insert needles in your hands, feet or face.
5. Attend acupuncture sessions twice a week for about 4 weeks before making a decision whether to continue treatment in this manner. Some people may experience a reduction in pain before the 4 weeks are over.
6. Follow the acupuncturist's directions regarding self-care. This could include using an ice pack or heating pad on the affected area between appointments. He may also instruct you to use a splint at night to restrict movement and give your injury time to heal.
7. Consider switching to another form of acupuncture if you find the needles uncomfortable but would like to continue an alternative treatment for your joint pain. Acupressure is the art of manipulating acupoints with the hands and can be effective for pain relief. Laser acupuncture is a newer form of acupuncture in which laser beams put pressure on acupoints throughout the body.
Tags: joint pain, your joint, your joint pain, acupuncture appointment, Acupuncture Treat, Acupuncture Treat Joint, form acupuncture
Seasickness can spoil a cruise or boat ride. The nausea and vomiting caused by the rocking motion of the boat do not go away until you can get on solid ground. Medications are available to alleviate the symptoms of seasickness, but you can also prevent seasickness by wearing a Relief Band on your wrist. The Relief Band has no side effects, making it preferable for people who can't or don't want to use medication.
Cause of Seasickness
The often extreme discomfort of seasickness is caused by conflicting messages to the brain. Normally, the stomach has regular contractions which we don't notice. On the water, your body senses motion that your eyes don't see, particularly if you go below deck. When this happens, the stomach begins having irregular contractions which can cause vomiting or make you feel nauseated or tired. Seasickness can also occur if you've been seasick before and you become anxious about being seasick again.
How the Relief Band Works
The Relief Band controls nausea by stimulating the median nerve with small electrical pulses. This nerve sends a message to the brain to make the stomach stop contracting. That makes the feelings of nausea and vertigo go away. This device looks like a wristwatch and is powered by two small lithium batteries. The dial on the Relief Band turns it on and off. It can be adjusted for weaker or stronger electrical pulses.
Use The Relief Band
To use the Relief Band, clean the inside of your wrist with alcohol and apply the conductive gel that comes with the band. The electrode plates of the band should be about an inch below the crease where your hand bends, between the two tendons on your inner wrist. Press the Rx button to turn the band on, and increase the electricity level until you can feel a tingling sensation in your two middle fingers. The Relief Band should be turned up as high as is comfortable.
If you know you're going to be seasick, set up the Relief Band and turn it on as soon as you get on the boat. If you are not wearing a Relief Band when the boat sets off, put one on at the first signs of nausea, including belching or excessive salivation. Leave the band turned on until the nausea goes away completely. You can turn off the band by pressing the Rx button for 5 seconds, but turn it back on right away if any signs of nausea return. If you leave the band on for more than 3 hours, you should reapply the gel for it to continue to be effective.
Other Uses For the Relief Band
The Relief Band is a drug-free remedy for any kind of nausea, including motion sickness in cars or amusement park rides, airsickness, morning sickness in pregnant women, and the nausea and vomiting associated with chemotherapy and other medications.
Tags: Relief Band, Band Relief, Band Relief Band, contractions which, electrical pulses, nausea including
LaserComb uses laser energy to stop and prevent hair loss, and stimulate the re-growth of hair in men. LaserComb has nine different laser beams that work together to generate coherent visible light in the red spectrum. The LaserComb uses a hair parting devise that parts your hair and allows the laser beams to reach the scalp and effectively treat it. Here is what the company says about its product.
Technology
LaserComb's laser beams stimulate your hair follicles by increasing vascularization and increasing cellular metabolism in your scalp. Vascularization is an organic process where your body tissue becomes vascular and develops capillaries. Cellular metabolism is a combination of reactions that take place in your cells that convert biochemical energy into adenosine triphosphate (ATP) and release waste products in your body. By increasing vascularization and cellular metabolism, it increases the blood flow and circulation in your scalp, and it brings important nutrients to your hair follicles. When your follicles have the important nutrients and stimulation, they are capable of growing rich and thick hair on your scalp. The nutrients in your hair will also help you get rid of wasteful products, such as DHT, which causes hair loss. DHT stands for Dihydrotestosterone, which is a natural metabolite in your body that causes hair loss. If you are losing your hair, it is because your body is producing too much DHT.
Time Frame
In the first six weeks of using LaserComb, you will see a dramatic decrease in hair loss from your scalp. After using LaserComb for eight weeks, you will begin to notice your hair beginning to re-grow. It will start out looking like "peach fuzz," but will begin to thicken and become more manageable. After 10 to 12 weeks of using LaserComb, you will notice all of LaserComb's capabilities. Your hair loss will stop, and your hair will continuously grow in.
Tags: hair loss, your body, your hair, your scalp, laser beams, using LaserComb, your hair
Energy points within the body are identified as chakras.
Energy points throughout the body known as chakras influence the vitality of one's life. Relationships, career and finance relate to the alignment of individual chakras. Although there are reported to be as many as 20 or more chakras, the most commonly referenced are the seven major chakras. Chakras identified as crown, root, heart, solar plexus, sexual, throat, and the third eye or brow chakras correspond energetically with those areas in the body. Spiritual tools, including crystals, and meditation may unblock stagnant energy. Consistently maintaining open chakras is key to a harmonious life.
Instructions
1. A strong sense of self and capabilty relates to the root chakra.
Connecting with the feelings of stability and contentedness indicates an opening in the root chakra.
2. Opening of the sexual chakra represents a passionate and sensual nature.
Displaying deep passion and attracting fiery physical attraction and admirers in romantic interests indicates the opening of the sexual chakra.
3. The solar plexus chakra unleashes power.
Jumping into actions with freedom and commitment means the solar plexus chakra has enabled power and personal freedom. The solar plexus chakra connects to the chi or life force energy.
4. Giving and receiving love indicates an open heart chakra.
Giving and receiving love, attracting love from babies, animals, friends, family and community indicates an open heart chakra. This chakra honors all matters of the heart.
5. The throat chakra enables open communication.
Speaking freely and openly with expression and confidence suggests energy flow from the throat chakra. The throat chakra is responsible for communication and personal expression.
6. Following deep intuiton indicates an opening of the third eye chakra.
Foretelling events, seeing auras and following intuition, suggests that the third eye chakra --- associated with psychic energy --- has been opened.
7. Connecting to God, the earth and universe indicates an open crown chakra.
Connecting easily to the earth and God means the crown chakra has released its energy. The crown chakra is aligned with spiritual connection and spiritual foundation.
Tags: solar plexus, crown chakra, indicates open, indicates opening, plexus chakra
High levels of LH (luteinizing hormone) and FSH (follicle stimulating hormone) are a common cause of infertility, most common among perimenopausal women. High LH and FSH levels can prevent conception and may be linked to complications such as miscarriage and Down's syndrome. Traditional Chinese Medicine uses a number of herbs to balance hormone levels and lower LH and FSH.
Causes
High LH or FSH levels may be caused by primary ovarian failure, stress or estrogen levels that are too high. Anticonvulsant drugs may also increase LH levels. Traditional Chinese Medicine explains high LH or FSH levels as an imbalance in the kidney yin and yang.
Function
Chinese herbs for high LH and FSH work to normalize hormones, increase blood flow to reproductive organs and reduce stress. The herbs are also said to regulate qi (life-force) and yin and yang.
Common Herbs
Jia-Wey Shiau-Yau San is a common Chinese herbal combination for women that contains Chinese herbs such as dong quai (angelica sinensis), bai zhu (atractylodes macrocephala) and Chinese peony (paeonia lactiflora). This herbal combination may be recommended for women to lower LH and FSH.
More Herbs
Other Chinese herbs used to lower LH and FSH levels include ginseng, dragon tooth (longchi) and bamboo sap (tianzhuhuang).
Research
Scientific research on using Chinese herbs for high LH and FSH levels is limited. According to a study at the Institute for Traditional Medicine, perimenopausal women taking an herbal combination containing schizandra, zizyphus, tang-kuei and other Chinese herbs demonstrated a significant decrease in FSH levels.
Tags: Chinese herbs, herbal combination, Chinese herbs high, Chinese Medicine, herbs high
Adult diapers allows the wearer to protect himself from incontinent activity. The disposable adult diaper is not for everyone because some people break out in rashes, find the diaper uncomfortable or do not want to have extra padding in their clothing. If a person needs protection but is not ready to start wearing disposable adult diapers, there are alternatives. The alternatives are not always as convenient as the adult diaper, but they do work.
Male Cups
The male cup device is designed to catch a man's urine stream. It is usually designed to surround the man's private area so that the urine does not leak out. The device can then attach to a bag that collects the urine. The bag is strapped to the man's leg, and he can still wear pants and go about his normal daily activities. The bag that collects the urine gets emptied and cleaned on a daily basis.
Pads
Soft insertable pads are placed on the normal undergarment to catch incontinent accidents. These pads can be disposable or made out of cloth, and they are designed to soak up any stray drops of urine that come out. The pads look like sanitary napkins that women use for menstrual flows but are longer and cover a larger area. The pads are changed whenever they get wet from incontinent accidents.
Plastic Undergarments
Plastic undergarments are an alternative to adult diapers. The plastic underwear will keep in moisture so that it does not soak clothing. The only problem with plastic undergarments is that the moisture is kept close to the body, which could potentially cause rashes and discomfort. Cloth is usually placed between the plastic and the body to absorb the moisture.
Bed Pads
Flat cloth bed pads are an alternative to adult diapers when the adult is sitting on a chair or in bed. The bed pads are large, sturdy squares of cloth that the adult sits or lies down on. The cloth will soak up any incontinent spills. These square cloths can be washed and be reused again and again.
Tags: adult diaper, adult diapers, alternative adult, alternative adult diapers, collects urine
From the time of the ancient Egyptians and Mesopotamians, humans have used scents to enhance their beauty and charisma. Archaeologists have discovered perfumes on the island of Cyprus that date back 4,000 years. The art of perfumery came to Europe sometime in the 1300s as Arabic traders spread throughout the region. During the Renaissance, Italy was a center of the perfume-making and perfume-trading industry, and later, France became a hub for the perfume industry. Today, perfume is as popular as ever.
Types
The main supplies for making perfume are aromatic compounds, water and alcohol. Aromatic compounds, consisting of essential oils or other scent sources, are diluted in ethanol or a mixture of alcohol and water. Sometimes preservatives or fixatives are also added to keep the perfume oils from breaking down. The type of aromatic compounds can further be broken down into plant sources, animal sources, other natural sources and synthetic sources. Examples of plant sources include bark (for example, cinnamon), flowers (rose), resins and seeds. Musk and ambergris are two perfume-making supplies that come from animals. Lichen and seaweed are natural ingredients sometimes used in perfumery as well. Scents that don't come from nature can be made synthetically in a lab.
Features
Perfumes rarely contain one simple scent. Traditionally, fine perfumes have had three main parts: the base note, the top note and the middle notes. The top note is the first scent noticed when you apply the perfume. As the top note fades, the middle note becomes apparent. When the first two scents dissipate, the base note comes through. These scent notes can be fruity, floral, spicy, or reminiscent of wood or leather.
Identification
Perfume can be identified by the concentration of aromatic compounds versus other ingredients, such as alcohol or fixatives. Aftershaves may contain only about 3 percent aromatic compounds, and colognes around 5 percent. In order to qualify as an "eau de parfum," a scent must contain 10 to 20 percent aromatic compounds, with the average perfume containing about 15 percent.
Considerations
Perfumes can sometimes cause allergic reactions in the wearer or those who come in contact with the wearer. If you're new to a perfume, you may want to test it before buying and check for skin irritation in response to one of the ingredients. When you wear a perfume, it's better to go easy on the scent and not over-apply it, since others you encounter may have a sensitivity to your scent. Fragrances can cause asthmatic reactions or nausea in people who are sensitive to fragrance ingredients.
Potential
It's possible to make custom fragrances at home with basic ingredients such as vodka, distilled water and essential oils. You can mix and match oils to come up with combinations you enjoy, such as lavender, ylang-ylang and vanilla, or jasmine and rose. This can be done by stirring a few drops of each oil into a few ounces of good quality alcohol and letting it sit for 48 hours, then adding a few tablespoons of distilled water and letting the mixture sit for another 48 hours. Glycerin can be added to help preserve the homemade perfume (see Resources below).
Warning
While it's fine to use vodka or brandy to make perfumes for yourself, you cannot legally sell perfumes you have made this way. The U.S. Federal Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms considers the sale of perfume containing brandy or vodka to be equivalent to serving alcohol, for which you would need a permit. Instead, if you want to make homemade perfumes to sell, you would have to obtain denatured perfumer's alcohol as the solvent (see Resources below).
Tags: aromatic compounds, about percent, base note, come from, distilled water, essential oils
Peppermint provides many remedies, primarily for digestive problems and upset stomach. Peppermint can be taken in pills, drops and teas. Several controlled trials have proven the positive effects of peppermint oil on irritable bowel syndrome, showing that it relaxes the muscles of the intestines, helping relieve the pain and cramping associated with IBS. However, caution must be used because large amounts of peppermint oil, especially when taking drops, can cause heartburn, negating its positive effects.
Peppermint Tea
Tea is the most common form of peppermint served to ease digestive problems. Tea can be served hot or cold, either by adding the leaves to the tea or purchasing commercially prepared tea in bag form. In case you don't like the taste of tea, add peppermint leaves to another beverage and mix them in to allow the oils to blend into the drink.
Peppermint tea is gentle enough for use on infants with upset stomachs. As little as a tablespoon of peppermint tea can help ease a baby's digestive upset. However, a baby may not like the taste, in which case you may place a warm wash rag soaked in peppermint tea on the baby's stomach. This will help alleviate the symptoms.
Peppermint Oil Pills
Peppermint oil can be taken in pill form as well, though it requires more caution. Make sure that peppermint oil pills are enteric-coated because this coating ensures the pills will reach the intestines before dissolving. If the oil were to dissolve in the esophagus or top of the stomach, it would cause heartburn or acid reflux, negating its positive effects on the intestinal region.
Peppermint Oil Drops
Peppermint oil drops are used in different ways to help treat digestive problems. Drops can be placed in the palm and rubbed around the navel and over the stomach area, allowing time to soak into the intestinal area to relieve indigestion, gas, nausea or diarrhea. Drops can also be placed into herbal teas as an aid for digestive problems.
Tags: digestive problems, positive effects, cause heartburn, like taste, negating positive
A penectomy procedure---partial or complete removal of the penis---can be performed for a variety of reasons. If a child's penis is injured beyond repair during a circumcision, if penile cancer necessitates removal or if a male pursues gender reassignment surgery, a penectomy in full or in part may be included in treatment. In spite of the psychological issues surrounding this kind of surgery, many variations on the penectomy exist, sometimes allowing for a male to be left with a part of the penis that may later be surgically reconstructed.
Partial Penectomy
Partial penectomies are intended to save as much of the penis as possible in order to allow normal sexual and urinary function. They are usually performed in cases of penile cancer. During a partial penectomy the anesthetist will administer medicine to numb the affected area. Urinary function is diverted to the area between the scrotum and the anus for the course of the procedure. A partial penectomy may remove any part of the penis---often the head, or the glans, of the penis is the part removed in this type of procedure, but doctors have recently tried to preserve as much of the glans and shaft as possible to allow for normal urination and sexual function. Several centimeters of healthy tissue are usually removed along with the cancer to avoid recurrence. Plastic surgery may be attempted later to restore functionality to the penis.
Radical Penectomy
Total, or radical, penectomies involve the removal of your whole penis. While the procedure is relatively similar to a partial penectomy in some ways, surgeons must make special allowances in this type of surgery to ensure that bodily functions continue to work properly. For example, urinary diversion to the area between the scrotum and the anus is made permanent. If the bladder is removed, a catheter must often be placed through the body via the small intestine to allow urination to occur. Urine is then collected in a bag outside the body that can usually be worn underneath clothing. Plastic surgery is rarely attempted following this type of surgery, but at times doctors will attempt to reconstruct the penis using skin from a patient's forearm to create a new penis.
Sex Reassignment
Some penectomy patients want genital surgery to "reassign" their physical sex. People who are born male but identify as females might follow up a penectomy with a vaginoplasty in order to experience womanhood to a fuller degree. In cases of sexual reassignment, a total penectomy is usually not required. Rather, a doctor will divert urinary function, use the shaft of the former penis to create a vagina, and use the glans of the penis to form a sexually functional clitoris. Alternative types of vaginoplasty are available that do require full removal of the penis. Such radical types of body modification are not usually recommended by doctors, as the risks are high and the realization of fully functioning sexual organs following such procedures is difficult.
Tags: this type, allow normal, area between, area between scrotum, between scrotum
Preventing neck pain can be as easy as changing a few habits or as involved as buying special equipment to deal with it. If you find that you often suffer from neck pain, it may be worth it to consult a doctor or a physical therapist to learn special exercises. These professionals may also be helpful for ruling out more serious causes. Read on to learn prevent neck pain.
Instructions
1. Do not sit in the same position for long periods of time. If you work at a desk or are traveling long distances, get up once every hour and walk around for several minutes.
2. Sit up straight to prevent back pain. Do not hunch over the computer. A chair with a tall back and arm rests can help you maintain good posture comfortably.
3. Warm up before stretching, especially if you are involved in sports that put pressure on your muscles, such as yoga or pilates.
4. Do light stretches if you are sitting in the same position for long periods of time. Roll your neck from side to side to prevent stiffness and encourage circulation and flexibility.
5. Invest in a good pillow. Avoid pillows that are too soft or too hard. Choose one that keeps your head straight in relation to your spine.
6. Avoid sleeping on your stomach, as doing so puts additional pressure on your neck and shoulders.
7. Avoid carrying a lot of weight on one side of your body. Always favor backpacks over one-sided bags or over-the-shoulder carriers.
8. Learn to perform self-massage and practice it regularly. Do not wait until pain strikes to start a massage.
9. Position your TV or computer monitor at a good angle to avoid twisting your neck when viewing it. If you watch TV from the sofa regularly, get a support pillow you can use to keep your neck in a straight position.
10. Exercise good body mechanics when moving things of significant weight. When you need to move something, try to push rather than lift. When lifting from the floor, bend at the knees instead of at the waist.
Tags: your neck, long periods, long periods time, neck pain, periods time, position long
StarCaps Diet System, a weight loss program marketed using the Hollywood glitz of Nikki Haskell's smile, was frowned on by the FDA. The capsules, which were labeled as being an all-natural supplement, apparently had a secret ingredient. The manufacturer in Peru conveniently neglected to list the bumetanide, a strong diuretic drug, which prompted the FDA to take action against the diet capsules.
StarCaps weren't really an "all-natural blend"
A voluntary recall of the StarCaps Diet capsules was announced by Balanced Health Products and the FDA on December 1, 2008, because they were found to contain a drug called bumetanide. The main ingredients of papaya and garlic were not a problem, but the FDA took issue with the strong diuretic drug, bumetanide.
Diuretics cause the body to rid itself of water more quickly than normal. The FDA felt that this was dangerous for those who were taking StarCaps. This particular diuretic is usually prescribed by physicians for relief of water retention in patients with heart failure, liver disease or kidney disease.
Using diuretics to rid the body of fluids in order to show a weight loss is not a proper dieting technique. It clearly poses a danger for the consumer to continue taking the StarCaps and unwittingly suffer ill effects from dehydration.
StarCaps were manufactured in Peru, but there are many diet capsules on the market made in other foreign countries that also contain drugs that pose a health hazard to the consumer. Apart from the dieter not losing body fat, health experts were concerned that there could be other problems caused by the bumetanide, such as raised blood pressure or seizures. The bumetanide could also have negative reactions with other medications the dieter might be taking.
How StarCaps' secret ingredient remained a secret
StarCaps were marketed as a weight loss supplement, which meant that they didn't need FDA approval before they were put on the shelves in the US. The FDA declared the dietary supplement illegal once they discovered the undeclared ingredient of the drug bumetanide.
Nikki Haskell, a Beverly Hills socialite and "Diet Queen to the Stars," was selling StarCaps as part of her Diet to the Stars program. She claimed that the supplement worked based on a blend of all natural ingredients, such as papaya and garlic from the Andes in Peru. The label claims the StarCaps help "metabolize protein, eliminate bloat and detoxify your system" and melt off 10 - 125 pounds.
Although the bumetanide was not on the list of ingredients, there was a warning that the dietary supplement was not recommended for anyone with heart disease, kidney impairment, high blood pressure, anemia or diabetes.
If you have unused StarCaps, you can return them to the store you bought them at, even if you don't have a receipt, and get a full refund. Alternatively, mail the unused portion of the product to: Balanced Health Products, 215 East 68th Street, New York, NY 10065. Consumers can call the company at (212) 794-9793, Monday through Friday, 10:30am - 4pm with any questions.
National Institute of Mental Health states 1.1 percent of the U.S. population suffer from the chronic brain disorder schizophrenia. Symptoms usually develop in the late teens to early twenties for men, and in women, they develop in their twenties and early thirties. They often occur gradually and can be classified into five types of symptoms.
Delusions
Over 90 percent of schizophrenics have delusions which are firm beliefs or fantasies are true when they clearly are illogical.
Hallucinations
Hallucinations may involve five senses, however, they are often visual and/or auditory. Often the auditory hallucinations are examples of the patient's "inner self" coming through.
Disconnected Thoughts
People with schizophrenia have a difficult time with one concentrated thought. They might ramble incoherently and not be able to finish one topic before talking about the next.
Behavior Control
An early symptom of schizophrenia is the inability to control behavior, and can range from inappropriate, emotional backlash or strange behaviors that may inhibit the person from performing daily functions.
Negative Symptoms
Negative symptoms are clinically referred to absence of normal behavior. They can range from lack of enthusiasm or emotion to the point of catatonia---a state that prevents a person to become completely unaware of the environment.
Biorhythms are cycles that many people believe the body goes through over time. These cycles are believed to be physical, emotional, and intellectual, and have periods that could be as short as a day or as long as a year.
Biorhythm
The term biorhythm literally means "life rhythm." It refers to the belief that the body goes through various cycles through time. The length of a biorhythm may be hours, days, or longer.
History of Biorhythms
The theory of biorhythms was created by a German physician named Wilhelm Fliess in the 19th century. Fliess was interested in the relationships between numbers (specifically 23 and 28), and thus there was an early relationship between numerology and ideas about biorhythms. Other contemporary physicians and intellectuals helped develop the concept of biorhythms into one about cycles of varying lengths that eventually included cycle charts.
Examples of Biorhythms
Perhaps the most well-known biorhythm is the circadian (from the Latin for "about a day") rhythm. This is the belief that our bodies go through a cycle each day, which is related to light sensitivity, and thus is related to sleep cycles.
Other examples of biorhythms include infradian (several days), circannual (annual), a 23-day physical cycle, a 28-day emotional cycle, and a 33-day intellectual cycle.
Different Uses of the Term
While the term, biorhythm is used in a variety of ways, the most basic is any physiological cycles that the body experiences as part of its functions.
However, many biorhythmicists propose various specific rhythms of stipulated times for things such as aesthetics (43 days), and spirituality (53 days), and thus try to claim more than mere cycles of functioning in the body.
Scientific Evidence for Biorhythms
There does not seem to be any valid scientific research that supports the veracity of biorhythmic claims. The field is considered by many, to be a pseudoscience. Various attempts to validate the various cycles claimed have been unsuccessful. These failures have not dissuaded many believers, and biorhythmics is an active field with many advocates.
Tags: belief that, body goes, body goes through, cycles that, goes through, term biorhythm
Parasite cleansing has been performed by people since ancient times. People ate herbs and plants to rid them of parasites from poorly cooked meat or from other food sources. People can get parasites from food, air, water, and walking barefoot on soil or sand where parasites live. Today, you can purchase special supplements containing wormwood and black walnut, for example, that will have a similar effect: remove parasites from the body. Using these items along with eating foods such as pineapple, papaya, garlic and flax seeds all support a parasite cleanse.
Identification
Parasites can enter the body from foods you eat as well as from exposure to your pets, the air you are exposed to as well as the water you drink. Walking barefoot on sand or dirt can also expose you to parasites that can burrow through your skin.
According to Dr. Group, about 85 percent of Americans have parasites of some kind. While using prescription anthelmintics can work, there can be side effects. Instead, using a prepared parasite cleansing product or using wormwood or black walnut hull is very effective for parasite cleansing.
Types
Parasite cleansing can effectively be done by continuing to eat lighter meals every day and also consuming foods or herbs known to flush out the parasites quickly. To continue eating regular meals during a parasite cleanse, eat pineapple or papaya in the morning, fresh steamed vegetables as lunch and dinner. Eat plenty of fresh garlic with your meals and one tablespoon of flaxseed oil. Between your meals take wormwood or black walnut hull as a tincture or as an herbal tablet. Both are available in health food stores and can be purchased online. Snack on pumpkin seeds, blackberries and pomegranate juice; all foods known to help rid the body of parasites. To do a directed parasite cleanse, use Dr. John Christopher's wormwood and molasses treatment. On an empty stomach in the morning and at night, eat one tablespoon of powdered wormwood and one tablespoon of molasses mixed together. Do this for three to six days and on the last day, take a strong laxative such as senna leaf to clear the bowels of any parasites and their eggs.
Significance
There may be as many as a thousand different types of parasites, according to Carrie L'Esperance, who authored The Ancient Cookfire. Carrie recommends doing a colon cleanse and a directed parasite cleanse twice a year. According to a study done by the World Health Organization, about 1. 4 billion people are affected by intestinal worms, hook worms, round worms, and other parasites. The study showed that by giving children an anti-parasitic drug three times a year, prevents parasite-related illnesses.
Features
Choose any of the following foods or herbs to use as a parasite cleanse: castor oil, garlic, pinkroot, wormwood, pumpkin seeds, black walnut hull and pomegranate juice. Follow the wormwood and molasses parasite cleanse and on the last day, take 3 or 4 capsules of frozen castor oil or simply consume 1 to 2 tablespoons of castor oil and a wedge of lemon to cut the taste.
Misconceptions
The greatest misconception is to believe that we get parasites only from traveling to other countries: this is not so. You can get parasites from your dog if you do not worm him or from walking barefoot in your backyard where other dogs may have defecated.
You can get parasites through open cuts and gardening or from walking and being exposed to parasites that live in the air and dust. Healthy individuals can fight off most of these parasites.
Prevention/Solution
Keeping your immune system healthy is the best way to prevent getting parasites. Have all your pets de-wormed and regular vet exams. Eat whole vegetables and fruits and especially pineapple, papaya, pomengranate juice, garlic, flax seed oil and also use the parasite cleansing herbs and food listed above. If you do like walk barefoot at the beach and in your backyard, plan to do a parasite cleanse two or three times a year as a matter of course. If you travel frequently, do the same.
Tags: parasite cleanse, black walnut, parasites from, black walnut hull, parasite cleansing, pineapple papaya
Low-carb diets are very popular. Unfortunately, many people are unable to give up their high-carb breakfasts. After all, most of the foods that play a role in big breakfasts are high in carbs. Luckily, there are some very simple changes that you can make which will ensure that your breakfast is low carb.
Instructions
1. Cook eggs for breakfast. One of the best things about eggs is that there are so many different ways to cook them. Whether you want them fried, scrambled or in the form of an omelet, eggs are very low in carbs. Even more importantly, they also are very filling. Including eggs in your breakfast will not hurt your diet. If you have high cholesterol, you may want to choose egg whites or avoid eating the yolk.
2. Opt for whole wheat whenever possible. Toast and pancakes are just two examples of high-carb foods that can be replaced with low-carb varieties. Some cereals even offer whole wheat choices. Whole wheat will save you a lot of calories and fat in the long run. It also provides the body with fiber and other essential nutrients. This is probably the best way to make your breakfast low carb without giving up the foods you love.
3. Avoid serving muffins at breakfast. They are very unhealthy, with a high amount of fat and calories. Although it is possible to find wheat or whole grain muffins to serve at breakfast, most regular muffins should be avoided. If you do choose to eat them, make sure that they are the only thing that you eat for this meal.
4. Remember that fruit may not be the healthiest to serve at breakfast. Although fruits are complex carbs, you should pay attention to what type you are eating. Certain types of fruit may be higher in sugar than others, making them inappropriate choices. Watermelon, for example, is very high in sugar and can actually cause weight gain. Berries tend to be less high in sugar and may promote weight loss.
5. Be sure to cook healthy proteins. Although bacon is probably the most common type of meat to serve at breakfast, keep in mind that it can be very high in sodium and fat. Consider choosing a variety of bacon which contains less of these waist busters, such as low-fat bacon, turkey bacon or Canadian bacon.
Tags: serve breakfast, your breakfast, breakfast carb, foods that, high sugar, very high, your breakfast carb
Synchronized swimmers dance and perform gymnastic moves in the water. The workout for such swimmers must include swimming, cardiovascular exercise as well as dance moves and muscle strengthening. Performing these workouts while in the water helps the synchronized swimmer's muscles, heart and lungs to grow stronger.
Swimming
Swim for several hours a day. Swimming for hours on end is a requirement to be fit enough to perform professionally. In addition, top synchronized swimmers are able to stay underwater a full minute or even more as they perform routines with their legs, according to Dr. Jane Katz, a synchronized swim coach at the John Jay College of Criminal Justice. Interested swimmers have to become proficient in the eggbeater kick as well as sculling if they want to excel in the sport. Swimmers also need to master the freestyle and the backstroke.
Cardiovascular
Practice swimming laps back and forth and completing "over and unders," if you want to make a synchronized swim team. Swimming laps is but one portion of the overall workout swimmers must be able to complete. This cardiovascular component of synchronized swimming challenges your lungs, building up lung capacity, which you will need to be able to smile, do flips and stay under water for long stretches of time. Synchronized swimming workouts eventually dictate you build up to the ability to cover a 25-yard distance with one breath.
Dance and Muscles
Take dance and gymnastic classes. This part of the workout will require the ability to do leg raises, backflips, and somersaults while holding your breath and moving in the water. Dance moves are incorporated into a routine, which round out the synchronized swimming workout. All-in-all, synchronized swimming workouts use all the body's muscle groups. The workout is demanding and tiring, but it can keep a person looking more youthful, according to Katz, who is 64, and still coaching and participating in synchronized swimming workouts.
For people who struggle with obesity, gastric bypass can be the favored weight-loss surgery because it is safer and less complicated than other weight-loss surgeries. In gastric bypass surgery, the surgeon uses staples to make a small pouch about the size of a walnut at the top of the stomach. Then the surgeon makes a bypass around part of the stomach and small intestine. So after the surgery, food (which used to travel through the stomach into the small intestine) now travels, bypassing most of the stomach and part of the small intestine. The pouch that the surgeon created can hold about 1 oz. of food at any time. The food that is eaten no longer enters the lower part of the stomach, but the stomach still produces digestive juices. This change in the digestive system anatomy limits the amount of food a person can eat and digest. As a result, the person is more easily able to lose weight, which in turn, lowers the risk of medical problems related to obesity.
Options During Surgery
Gastric bypass surgery is performed using general anesthesia that puts you to sleep during the procedure. The surgery can be done as either a traditional "open" procedure or a laparoscopic procedure. In a laparoscopic procedure, several short incisions are cut in the abdomen and a small instrument with a camera attached is inserted. The surgeon performs the procedure using the camera to "see." With the laparoscopic procedure, the recovery time is quicker. A person considering the surgery can talk to the surgeon to determine which procedure would be best in her situation.
After the Surgery
Once the gastric bypass surgery is finished, the patient cannot eat for 1 to 3 days to allow the stomach to heal. Foods are then introduced in a progressive way over a period of several weeks, starting with liquids and moving to regular foods. Because the stomach is now so small, the patient must eat small meals. During the months following the surgery, changes (body aches, fatigue, feeling cold, dry skin, thinning hair, mood changes) may occur because of the rapid weight loss. In addition, it requires a lifelong commitment to changes in diet.
Positive Outcomes
Besides losing a dramatic amount of weight, gastric bypass surgery can help people who have other conditions, such as type 2 diabetes, high blood pressure, high cholesterol, and sleep apnea or gastroesophageal reflux disease.
Risks
Not everyone who is obese should have gastric bypass surgery. It is major surgery and there are risks involved. There are possible complications associated with gastric bypass surgery, including death (one death per 200 to 300 surgeries, according to the Mayo Clinic), blood clots in the legs, leaks where the staples are placed, incision hernia, narrowed opening between stomach and small intestine or dumping syndrome (where the stomach contents move through the small intestine too quickly). As with all surgeries, anyone considering the procedure should talk to the surgeon to have a clear understanding of any possible risks.
Tags: small intestine, bypass surgery, gastric bypass, gastric bypass surgery, laparoscopic procedure, stomach small, bypass surgery
Although stomach cancer is a severe and potentially life-threatening disease, there are treatments and options available to those who suffer from the disease. Because the severity of cases of stomach cancer varies, the ways that stomach cancer can be treated vary as well.
Surgeries
Surgery is one of the primary treatments for stomach cancer and involves removing tumors from the stomach along with a portion of the surrounding healthy tissue. Some surgeries are use a lighted tube with a camera on it called an endoscope; this option is often used for small cancers on the inner lining of the stomach.
A more drastic surgery is called a total gastrectomy, in which the stomach is completely removed. After the stomach has been taken out, the esophagus and the small intestine are directly connected to each other in order to allow food to move through the digestive system.
A person who has advanced cancer can get some relief from symptoms by having all or part of his stomach removed. While such a procedure might help with symptoms, it cannot cure the person of cancer at this late stage of the disease.
Radiation
Radiation therapy is another treatment available to stomach cancer sufferers. The high-powered beams that are used as a part of this procedure are able to kill some of the cancerous cells. This therapy can also be done before a surgery occurs to help shrink stomach tumors, making them easier to remove. Patients in the advanced stages of cancer sometimes undergo radiation therapy in an effort to provide relief to the side effects that are caused by large tumors. Although radiation therapy can provide help, it comes with some side effects as well, including nausea, indigestion, vomiting and diarrhea.
Chemotherapy
Chemotherapy kills cancer cells in the stomach by using chemicals. This treatment is particularly helpful beacuse the compounds used can travel throughout the body and kill cancer cells anywhere. This is important for those people who have cancer cells that may have spread outside of the stomach. Chemotherapy can be used before and after a surgery and is often used concurrently with radiation therapy.
Tags: stomach cancer, cancer cells, often used, radiation therapy, side effects
A medical doctor is defined as someone who trained in the healing arts and is licensed to practice medicine. There are a number of areas that doctors are able to practice in, which can be done independently or through a medical facility (such as a hospital). Depending on the type of medical doctor, the time that it takes to achieve licensing varies and continuing education is required to keep up with changes in the healthcare industry. Becoming a doctor is not just about diagnosing conditions or performing medical procedures, it's also about caring for and consulting patients. People go to doctors for advice, treatment and support. It's important for doctors to have a genuine compassion for people and the many problems that they face, in addition to giving proper care in order to be successful in this career.
Time Frame
To become general medical doctor, it can take up to 12 years to completely finish the primary portion of obtaining the title of M.D. This does not include additional schooling to specialize in any particular area, or the continuing education that is required to stay current. There are four years of undergraduate school required and then an additional four years of medical school. After this time, there are a few years required to complete the pre-med and med internships. A doctor is never actually done with "schooling" because there are yearly CME's (continuing medical education) required of medical doctors.
Types
The type of doctor that cares for patients is divided into four general specialties: general medicine, Internal medicine, surgery and radiology. Of these four sections are additional specialties. General primary care physicians are the doctors who you would typically see for annual checkups and basic care. Pediatricians are an example of a type of primary care physician that specifically cares for infants and children. There are also obstetricians who are considered primary care physicians for pregnant woman and unborn babies. Specialty doctors are those who deal with specific disorders or conditions that a person may have. An example of a specialist is an orthopedic doctor. These doctors treat conditions directly related to the bones and muscles of the human body. A person who breaks a wrist would be referred to an orthopedic doctor by the primary care physician for treatment. Another example of a specialist would be a cardiologist, which is a doctor who cares for issues affecting the heart. Those with heart conditions would go to this particular doctor. Pediatric specialists are those doctors that care for specific parts of the body or certain conditions but only for infants and children. These would include pediatric dermatologists and pediatric orthopedic surgeons.
Function
On any typical day, a medical doctor can expect to see patients either for actual care or consultation. The doctor may also have to have consultations with other doctors as well as complete tons of paperwork for each patient. Some doctors who work out of standard offices may have additional hours of hospital rotations to complete. Certain doctors, such as OB/GYN's may need to be available 24 hours a day in the event that a patient goes into labor or has other medical emergencies. Doctors who have patients that are hospitalized must do visits daily and update records on their progress regularly. In addition to what may go on during a regular work day for a doctor, they may also be scheduled for medical conferences or classes to keep up with their required training. Medical surgeons may have to perform multiple surgeries in one day in addition to being available for emergency surperies in some cases (such as will hospital surgeons). A doctor such as an anesthesiologist may have to participate and sit in on multiple surgeries in one day to ensure medical protocol is followed and patient health is maintained while under anesthesia.
Benefits
Being a doctor is both a stressful, yet rewarding career. There are many situations that occur that are heartbreaking and sad for a medical doctor such as in a death or when they have to inform a patient of a disease. But, on the other hand, doctors are healers. They are able to help people live a better quality of life, and they are looked to for help. When they are able to do something to benefit the patient or even save their life, it makes all the stress and schooling worth the time that it took to complete. Doctor's are looked at as heroes because of the things that they are able to do for patients, both medically and emotionally.
Salary
Depending on the field of practice that the medical doctor is into, their salary can be anywhere from $120,000 to $256,539 a year according to the U.S. Department of Labor, or more if their specialty is more advanced. General pediatricians are on the lower side of the payscale, whereas an anesthesiologist is at the higher end. Pay can also vary depending on if the doctor has a private practice, or if they work out of larger medical companies.
Expert Insight
The American Osteopathic Medical Degree D.O. also entitles a person to practice medicine and is equivalent to the M.D. Those who go to school to obtain the Osteopathic degree must complete the same type of residencies and CME's that MD students and professionals must complete. At one time in contrast to MD professionals, doctors of Osteopathic medicine place emphasis on returning the body as close as possible to normal functioning. Today's practices however are identical to their MD counterparts, the only difference is the titile behind their name.
Tags: medical doctor, primary care, care physician, care physicians, continuing education