Also called Goji berries, Chinese wolfberries have been used in Chinese cultures for over two millennia. The berries are eaten in soups and stews or as fruit, made into teas and drinks and even fermented into wine. The taste is similar to that of raisins or dates.
Immune System
Due to its high Vitamin C content, eating wolfberries helps to support your immune system and fend off illnesses.
Blood Sugar
According to a 2005 Journal of the Pharmaceutical Society of Japan, a diet rich in wolfberries can lower a person's blood sugar level by making a person's cells absorb more blood sugar.
Liver
Wolfberries also help protect the liver from lipid accumulation. The wolfberries actually block the liver from absorbing poisonous matter, thereby supporting its healthful functions.
Relaxation
Wolfberries are even given to promote relaxation and reduce blood pressure. The berries relax involuntary muscles, thereby relaxing the recipient's body and lowering his stress level and blood pressure.
Heat
Wolfberries are given to lower body temperatures in cases of fevers or overheating as well.
Considerations
Do not consume wolfberries while pregnant or trying to become pregnant, or while nursing. Discuss any new herbal supplements or diet with your physician before use.
Prostate cancer is a serious form of cancer that is currently affecting one out of every six males. It is estimated that more than 200,000 new cases will be reported in 2009, and that nearly 29,000 deaths will occur, according to the American Cancer Society.
Since nearly 1 in 35 men will die from this disease, finding a means of prevention is vital. Researchers are studying a variety of different potential treatments, including the effect that natural foods may have on the disease.
History
When the Department of Cancer Studies and Molecular Medicine, at the University of Leicester, Leicester, UK, released a study that showed rice bran could reduce the risk of intestinal cancer by up to 51 percent in mice, it was hoped that the same effects would also be true for other kinds of cancer, namely prostate cancer.
During the study, mice were fed a diet that consisted of 30 percent rice bran, which contains up to 29 percent fiber. It was found that the bran reduced the chance of developing adenomas in the stomach and large intestine.
Significance
This study was very significant in proving a link between rice bran and reducing the risk of developing certain cancers. However, the team was unable to replicate the effects with other cancers, namely breast and prostate cancer.
Further research will be conducted, but at this time, it is uncertain whether or not rice bran will have any long-term effects against prostate cancer.
Effects
In order for humans to see the same benefits in a reduction of the risk of stomach and intestinal cancer, the amount of rice bran that would need to be consumed daily translates to around 200 grams.
It is well-known that fiber, particularly soluble fiber, can reduce cancer risks, and researchers in the study also believe that the antioxidants in the bran may also help reduce these risks.
Theories/Speculation
Since rice bran is rich in antioxidants, it is speculated that there could be at least some benefit in reducing the risk of prostate cancer in the future. A diet rich in antioxidants and soluble fiber has been recommended by many physicians as a part of cancer prevention.
Potential
Although this study did not have the hoped-for result for those who are concerned about developing prostate cancer, it did prove the link between soluble fiber as well as antioxidants in the reduction of cancer.
More research is being conducted that should shed light on other natural means of preventing cancer of the prostate, and the long-term effects are still being studied.
Does this study mean that rice bran definitively will not protect against prostate cancer? While it appears that there is no direct link, there are still many indirect health benefits from eating a diet rich in soluble fiber.
Gugulipid is the registered name for the gum resin that comes from commiphora mukul, an Indian medicinal tree. The gum resin is used to prepare a special extract that is marketed under the name Gugulipid. Gugulipid, also referred to as guggul, is used to lower cholesterol levels by reducing the amount of harmful serum lipids that are present in the bloodstream. In addition to lowering cholesterol, Gugulipid can be used to promote weight loss.
Gugulipid for Weight Loss
Studies done in 1964 found that in addition to lowering cholesterol levels, the commiphora makul tree's gum resin also reduced the body weight of animals. According to Drugs.com, guggul has been used to treat obesity for several centuries.
Gugulipid is thought to stimulate and promote increased thyroid production, which in turn would impact both cholesterol levels and metabolism. It is thought that Gugulipid works in lowering cholesterol by decreasing the amount of cholesterol that is produced by the liver. In turn, more cholesterol and bile acids are excreted by the body, which means that less cholesterol and fat are absorbed. The effect Gugulipid has on the thyroid causes serum lipid levels to drop. Gugulipid helps in promoting weight loss by increasing thyroid production, which speeds up the body's metabolism. The higher a person's metabolism, the more calories and fat stores their body will use to provide the body with energy.
To lower cholesterol, the recommended dose is 100mg to 500 mg per day. A similar dose is recommended to promote weight loss.
Precautions
Gugulipid has been known to interfere with propranolol, diltiazem and thyroid medications. Additionally, individuals who are taking anti-coagulants and anti-platelet medications may have an increased bleeding risk while taking Gugulipid. Speak with your doctor before starting any Gugulipid regimen to minimize the chance of any negative side effects or reactions.
Home health aides provide many important services for the elderly and disabled. Medicare does pay for home health aides--under certain conditions. Here are some guidelines to follow.
Home Health Aide Definition
A home health aide helps patients with activities of daily living (ADLs). These activities include bathing, dressing, toileting, oral care and other day to day necessities. Home health aides are not usually licensed (although they may be state-certified nursing assistants) and cannot give medical care. Aides follow a plan of care created by a doctor or nurse. By using the services of a home health aide, many elderly and disabled people are able to live independently and have an improved quality of life over those in nursing homes.
Medicare Gidelines
Medicare will cover the cost of a home health aide if:
* A doctor decides the patient needs medical care at home and has written a plan of care.
* The home health aide is employed by a Medicare-certified agency.
* The patient is homebound and unable to leave without help. This doesn't mean the patient can never leave home: He or she can go on short outings (i.e., doctor appointments, church) but must have help to do so.
* The patient is getting some other care, such as nursing services, physical or occupational therapy.
Considerations
* The patient and the patient's family may choose which agency to use. However, individual insurance plans may specify which agency to use.
* Medicare will cover home health care if given for less than 8 hours per day or less than 28 hours per week. This amount may be increased to up to 35 hours per week on a case-by-case basis. Nurse, therapist and other caregiver hours are included in these hours. That is, if a nurse visits 1 hour each weekday (5 hours total) and a therapist visits 2 hours each weekday (10 hours total), home health aides can only provide up to 13 hours of Medicare-covered service.
Limitations
*Medicare will not cover full-time or live-in home health aides, only part-time or intermittent aides.
* Medicare will not cover "Meals on Wheels", housekeeping, laundry or other services.
* Medicare will not cover home health aides if no other home medical services are used.
If Service Is Cancelled
If the home health agency cancels or reduces home health aide services, the patient will receive a Home Health Advance Beneficiary Notice (HHBN), which will explain why the agency believes Medicare won't pay for the service. The HHBN will provide instructions on filing an appeal. Home health aide service can continue during the appeal and Medicare will reimburse payments made during the interim if the appeal is granted.
Warning
During the appeal process, a patient will be required to pay for home health aide services as an out-of-pocket expense.
Tags: health aide, home health, Medicare will, health aides, Medicare will cover
Healing crystals are powerful tools that can be used to effectively treat a number of illnesses. Headaches, especially those brought about by stress or worry, can be swiftly remedied by the usage of healing crystals.
Significance
Healing crystals work by channeling the energy of the seven chakras. According to SacredCenters.com, the chakras are seven points of energy within the human body that correspond to various physical structures, colors, elements, mental states, and other correspondences. Aligning a specific healing crystal to a specific chakra can release tensions and negativity that contributes to the formation of a headache.
Causes
In order to use crystals to heal headaches, you must first determine the cause of your headache. Worry and agitation often cause headaches and are one of the first signs of stress. Physical injuries such as neck strains or head injuries can also cause headaches, as well as fatigue or tiredness. Once you've determined the cause of your headache, crystal healing can begin.
Methods
Healing crystals for headaches can be used in a variety of ways. Meditating with a healing crystal can help relieve stress, which in turn reduces tension headaches. Keeping a healing crystal (namely amethyst, which is associated with the third eye chakra) beneath your pillow at night can ease insomnia and nightmares, which produces a better quality sleep and a reduction in fatigue-related headaches.
Identification
To identify which healing crystal can be used for headaches, pair crystal colors with the appropriate chakras. For example, the amethyst is a purple stone and is associated with the third eye chakra, whose color association is also purple. This chakra is located along the brow right above the nose and between the eyes, so amethyst would be a good stone to use to ease a tension headache forming in that area.
Miconceptions
While healing headache pain with healing crystals can be an effective method, please be aware that you should first be examined by a medical doctor to uncover the root of your condition, especially if you suffer from chronic headaches.
Considerations
When using healing crystals to ease headaches, be aware that the process will take time and mental energy. It should not strain or tax you, but the process does require dedication and some amount of focus. When possible, use the healing crystals when you do not have a headache to prevent one from forming.
Tags: healing crystal, associated with, associated with third, aware that, cause headaches, cause your
Sleeping problems account for millions of hours of lost work, along with billions of dollars in medication and doctor bills. Sleeplessness has resulted in people seeking prescription medication, life style changes and relationship modifications. Osteopathy can offer alternative, holistic approaches to treat sleeplessness at a moderate cost-per-visit. Follow these steps to find out how.
Instructions
Understand Causes of Sleeplessness
1. Choose the proper food groups and the appropriate time for eating. Certain foods can significantly impact our sleeping habits. Caffeine, nicotine, alcohol and sugar are the primary causes of insomnia.
2. Change habits and life style patterns. Exercise is important. However, increasing endorphins from exercise close to the hour of planned sleep can affect the depth and quality of sleep. The best time to exercise is in the afternoon. Allow enough time for a full and uninterrupted night of sleep.
3. Evaluate your bedroom's ambience. Change the environment of the room to a more relaxed zone, incorporating new aromas and sounds. Evaluate the temperature, since cooler temperatures lead to better sleep.
4. Determine whether the sleeping area is comfortable. If necessary, change the pillows to those designed for your particular sleep position. Also, evaluate the mattress and padding of the bed. Improper support can affect quality of sleep.
Use Osteopathy Techiques to Treat Insomnia
5. Practice meditation and relaxation techniques. Practitioners of osteopathy often recommend these techniques to focus on peaceful thoughts and concepts. Meditation techniques can be as simple as focusing on a favorite, relaxing activity or location.
6. Use massage to treat stress and anxiety. Osteopathic treatment involves muscle relaxation and conditioning to improve sleep patterns. Invest in an inexpensive to moderately-priced personal massage device, easily found in department stores, to use for self treatment regularly.
Realize the Effects of Sleeplessness
7. Recognize that sleeplessness results in acute and often chronic fatigue.
8. Notice the effect of memory loss that occurs from a sleepless night. Missed hours of work, sick days, limited energy and decreased performance are common in the workplace as a result of a poor night's sleep.
9. Be aware of irritability and mood swings, often reported by those suffering from sleeplessness. This can affect relationships at work and at home.
Tags: life style, night sleep, Osteopathy Treat, Osteopathy Treat Sleeplessness, quality sleep, Treat Sleeplessness
Millions of women suffer from painful menstrual cramps. There are many non-medicinal methods of relieving the discomfort. You can relieve menstrual cramps with massage techniques on your own for some relief.
Instructions
1. Make yourself comfortable by finding a quiet place where you can relax your mind and body to prepare to relieve menstrual cramps with massage.
2. Place your hands on your abdomen and take a few deep breaths.
3. Move your hands over your belly button in small circles in a clockwise direction with pressure for about one minute. Increase the size of the circling until you massage the entire abdomen to relieve menstrual cramps with massage.
4. Put your hands on both sides of the belly button with your thumbs touching and fingers pointed down. Draw a heart using the index fingers of both hands by first pulling up towards the belly button and then down into the original position so that the fingers are back together again. Continue this massage for about one minute.
5. Bring your hands around to your back and position them just below the ribs. Using a steady pressure, slide your hands down slowly to the top of your hips and use your fingertips to massage the area in small circles beginning in the center of your back, gradually working your way outward.
6. Slide your hands up just below the ribs and repeat the previous massage technique at least three times.
7. Shift position from the hips and move your hands to the center of your back, turning your fingers downward. Slide your fingers down until they are in the middle of the tailbone. Make small circles with your fingertips for about one minute to help relieve the menstrual cramps.
Tags: your hands, about minute, belly button, cramps with massage, menstrual cramps
Infertility is a common medical condition. Nearly 12 percent of all women suffer from some form of impaired infertility in their lives. Infertility can be a treated in a wide variety of ways including surgery, weight loss or weight gain and medication. Some infertility treatments may cause side effects in female patients.
Mood Swings
Certain medications may cause mood swings when you take them. For example, Clomid is an infertility medication commonly used to induce ovulation. Clomid is generally taken between three to five days at the start of a menstrual cycle. Clomid is designed to induce the pituitary gland to work harder. Women who take this medication may experience mood swings that are similar to pregnancy. You may feel sad for a minute when you see a commercial about children suffering and then happy two minutes later when watching a commercial about travel to an exotic place. The effect is temporary and subsides after you stop taking the medication.
Breast Tenderness
Fertility medications may cause breast tenderness and swelling after you've taken them for a few days. The swelling is caused by an increase in hormone production that mimics pregnancy. Your breasts may also feel slightly painful. The swelling and tenderness will be reduced once you've stopped taking the medication. If you are pregnant as a result of treatment, expect the breast tenderness to continue for the early part of the pregnancy and possibly until the baby is born.
Pain at Injection Site
Infertility treatment may include the use of injectable medications such as Pergonal or Lupron. The medications are injected with a small needle. Pain, swelling and itching can occur at the site of the injection. To reduce this sensation, ice the area thoroughly before you begin the injection.
Dizziness
Doctors may prescribe progesterone after you have ovulated. Progesterone is taken orally or by injection. The progesterone may make you feel temporarily dizzy for a short period of time, such as 10 minutes. Sit down if you can and relax. The sensation should pass quickly. If you still feel dizzy, contact your reproductive endocrinologist (fertility specialist) to find out if you can reduce the dose and decrease your symptoms.
Headaches
Many infertility medications such as Lupron, progesterone and Clomid can cause headaches when women take them. The headache may be of short duration and feel like a tension headache. It may also be more sustained and last for a few hours. Many doctors will allow you to take a Tylenol to reduce the headache pain. Consult with your reproductive endocrinologist to find out your exact protocol.
While there is no quick and easy solution for losing weight, some people have found that acupuncture treatments administered by a trained acupuncture professional have brought them success in their weight loss goals. Acupuncture is believed to strengthen the digestive system and thereby helps to control appetite. Acupuncture may also improve a person's metabolism by burning more calories at a faster rate. However, before including acupuncture in your weight loss program, learn more about the technique and how it works to control hunger.
Instructions
1. Use acupuncture treatments in combination with eating a healthy diet and regular exercise to lose weight. When used as a component of an overall weight loss program, acupuncture may help to speed weight loss by promoting a state of well-being that results in increased energy and decreased appetite. However, keep in mind that the rate of weight loss varies among individuals.
2. Talk to a board-certificated acupuncturist about how using acupuncture can aid in a weight loss program. You may also want to consult with a medical doctor trained in acupuncture techniques to gain a better understanding of the procedure. Tiny needles are inserted into the upper part of the outer ear. Needles may also be inserted at other points on the body, the locations of which depend on the causes for a person's weight gain.
3. Find out into what areas of the body other than the ear acupuncture needles may be inserted. Acupuncturists typically choose a number of appropriate acupuncture points including the stomach, lung, kidney, thyroid, ovary and spleen when helping a person to lose weight.
4. Ask for how long an acupuncture session normally lasts. Painless needles, which are about the thickness of a human hair, are usually inserted to just below the surface of the skin where they are left in place for about 20 to 30 minutes.
5. Inquire about any potential side effects or risks. While acupuncture is generally safe, some people experience a temporary drop in blood pressure following treatment. Like other medical treatments, acupuncture needles must be sterilized to prevent infection. In rare cases, people have experienced an allergic reaction to the stainless steel needles.
6. Discuss how inserting needles in the ear stimulates the release of endorphins, which reduce stress and anxiety, preventing overeating caused by emotional eating. Depending on the other acupuncture points selected, the goal may be to improve metabolism by stimulating thyroid and endocrine glands to speed a slow metabolism. This, in turn, stabilizes blood sugar levels helping to curb food cravings. Acupuncture for weight loss may also target digestion, so that you get the nutrients you need from the food you eat, making you feel less hungry.
7. Be prepared to feel a slight tingling or some numbness at the sites where needles are inserted. Any pain sensations should be no worse than if you pricked your finger with a pin.
Tags: weight loss, loss program, needles inserted, weight loss program, acupuncture needles
Did your spouse recently inform you that he has filed for divorce? Maybe you did the filing, but now you need to know whether the court received a copy of your information. In either case, you'll need to do a little bit of research and put in some time to find that copy. To find out if a divorce has been filed, you should start by going through your mail and contacting your attorney.
Instructions
1. Go through your mail to see whether you've been served divorce papers. In some cases the papers are sent by registered mail, in which case you'll need to pick them up from the post office or sign for them from your mail carrier. You must be notified of the filing before it's approved by the courts, and the other party must do so by process server or registered mail.
2. Contact your attorney if you filed for divorce and request a copy of the delivery receipt. This receipt shows that your attorney filed the papers in the court system. In some cases you can contact your spouse's attorney and ask for the receipt if she filed for divorce instead of you.
3. Visit the courthouse of the county where you live. If you filed for divorce or had your attorney do it, those papers should be filed with the county courthouse. It is free to search, though if you need a record, you'll probably have to pay copying fees.
4. Call the county courthouse where your ex-spouse lives. The divorce papers must be filed in the county where either you or your spouse lived. If you checked with your own courthouse and didn't have any success, check with the county where he lives. One of the two must have a record of the filing.
5. Perform a public-records search online. There are several websites that allow you to search online, for a small or large fee, but you can also search records in many cities or counties for free. You need to go to the city or county website and look for the Public Records Search option.
Tags: filed divorce, your attorney, county where, your mail, your spouse
Adult day care or day services can be a Godsend for caregivers and their disabled or senior loved ones. The centers vary by services offered, but many provide non-medical services, such as meals and snacks, social interaction possibilities and entertainment, and transportation. As much of a blessing as these services can be, they can gets costly, particularly if you have not invested in long-term care insurance. Often, many are forced to pay out-of-pocket, and some states have found public funding for adult day services pales in comparison to funding for its child care counterparts, so its ability to cover costs may be limited.
Instructions
Get Financing for Adult Day Care
1. Invest in long-term care insurance early on. The best option, of course, is always prevention and foresight. Some insurance advisers suggest individuals invest in LTC in their forties. After all, one never knows what tomorrow may bring. Increasingly, private long-term care insurance is covering community-based care, particularly as more people become aware of the need for such insurance, as life expectancy increases and baby boomers age.
2. Explore Medicaid options for centers earning public revenues. State Medicaid home and community-based waivers are the most common source of public funding, according to the AARP. They allow states to implement options to nursing homes for those who are eligible for Medicaid.
3. Identify if the services offered warrant Medicare funding. The center may help finance such care for a disabled loved one if services are medical in nature, such as speech or physical therapy.
4. Consult with the Veterans Administration or your local Veterans hospital. Help may be available for a veteran and his or her spouse to offset the mounting costs associated with such care.
5. Contact your area agency on aging. Many agencies are strapped for cash, but may have some funding available for those eligible, some programs available for those who quality, or they may be able to steer you toward local groups that could help offset the costs.
6. Explore federal income tax credits for dependent care. To be eligible, families must incure expenses for an older dependent who is unable to care for himself or look for work.
7. Seek out assistance from your church, other local churches or nonprofits, particularly those dedicated to aging and disabled advocacy and assistance. In addition, they may know of affordable programs or special community day care programs, so don't just think in terms of funding.
Tags: care insurance, long-term care, long-term care insurance, Adult Care, available those
The facial sinuses are cavities filled with air. There are four major sinuses in the face, referred to as paranasal sinuses: maxillary, frontal, ethmoid and sphenoid. The function of the paranasal sinuses remains a topic of debate in the medical community, but theories include mucus secretion, shock absorption and making the skull lighter. If there is a problem with the paranasal sinuses, a sinus headache can occur. Possible causes and treatments are discussed below.
Causes
A sinus headache is usually the result of inflammation in the sinuses. The inflammation can be caused by a variety of things, including tumors, allergic responses and respiratory infections.
Symptoms
Symptoms of a sinus headache can include facial tenderness, painful pressure at a specific spot on the face, and increases in pain due to sudden movement or changes in temperature. In some cases, the symptoms can include fatigue, fever, sore throat and postnasal drip.
Diagnosis
Migraines and tension headaches can cause symptoms similar to a sinus headache and are eliminated as possibilities by a series of questions asked by your physician. The doctor's exam will likely include an inspection of the interior of the nose and (in extreme or chronic cases) could also include X-rays, MRI's and being referred to a specialist.
Risk Factors
Risk factors for sinus headaches are respiratory infection, allergies, asthma, frequent exposure to high altitudes (from flying, for example) and polyps in the nasal cavities. Any illness or surgery that causes a general weakness of the immune system is also a risk factor.
Treatment
Treatment of sinus headaches can range from simple over-the-counter decongestants and antihistamines to prescription antibiotics, corticosteroids and surgery, depending on the cause.
A prostate infection is also called prostatitis. This condition only occurs in men, because females do not have a prostate gland. The prostate gland is located beneath the bladder and produces semen. Although usually the size of a walnut, the prostate gland can become inflamed due to infection.
Acute Bacterial Prostatitis
Bacteria causes a prostate infection. It can spread from an infection in the intestines, bladder or urethra. Bacteria is responsible for 5 percent of all prostate infections.
Chronic Bacterial Prostatitis
If some of the bacteria remains after an acute bacterial infection, this can lead to a chronic infection. Other causes of Chronic Bacterial Prostatitis are urinary tract injury, catheters or an infection that has spread to the prostate from another location in the body.
Nonbacterial Prostatitis
It is unknown what causes the other 95 percent of prostate infections other than bacteria.
Increased Risk
Those who have experienced a bladder infection recently, have an enlarged prostate, have an abnormal urinary tract, have recently used a catheter or partake in rectal intercourse are at an increased risk of developing prostatitis.
Prevention
Men who have a history of prostate infections should refrain from activities such as bike riding, horseback riding and jogging. These activities can aggravate the prostate gland.
Do you want out from under the restrictions of a managed care health insurance plan? Do you want the freedom to pick your own doctor, specialists, hospital and lab? Is freedom of choice more important to you than cost? If so, you should take time to understand fee-for-service health care insurance. Fee-for-service plans cost more than managed care plans, but let you choose your own service providers and require no referrals. Managed care plans have tended to replace fee-for-service because they are less expensive for the consumer and for employers. Nevertheless, fee-for-service plans still are available from many employers and insurance companies. If choice appeals to you, fee-for-service represents an option you should investigate.
History
Industrialist Henry Kaiser and Dr. Sidney Garfield created the first fee-for-service health care plan in the 1930s. Garfield, at Kaiser's request, structured the plan to protect Kaiser's workers building the Grand Coulee Dam.
In the early 1940s, World War II-era employers competed for employees in a war-limited labor market. To recruit and keep workers, Kaiser and others like him began providing fee-for-service health care insurance as an employee benefit. Eventually, employer-provided health care became part of the Internal Revenue Code and made fee-for-service health care insurance a non-taxable benefit for millions of employees (and employers).
Two Parts
Fee-for-service can involve two separate policies: Basic Coverage and Major Medical.
Basic Coverage includes all of the elements of normal daily health care, doctor visits, hospitalization and surgery. Basic Coverage plans, however, have financial caps. When you suddenly face a lingering (or chronic) illness or serious injury, Major Medical starts paying most of the bills.
You can think of Basic Coverage as "everyday" health insurance used to cover some of your costs to maintain your health, and of Major Medical as a risk management tool that protects your family from the ruinous cost of catastrophic medical expenses.
How It Works
In a fee-for-service plan, you pick the service provider you want, and the insurance pays for up to 80 percent of the cost.
As originally designed, you paid the provider out-of-pocket, filed a claim and your insurer sent you a check to cover his part of your cost. In the 1970s, many providers began submitting your claim for you, receiving payment directly from your insurer and billing you only for your share of the costs. Medicare is a modern fee-for-service plan.
Comprehensive
A "comprehensive" fee-for-service policy combines Basic Coverage and Major Medical in a single policy, eliminating gaps in your coverage. Although the definition of a comprehensive health care policy has expanded over time to include any policy that provides basic care and catastrophic risk management, its original definition applies only to fee-for-service plans.
Costs
As with other forms of health care insurance, fee-for-service comes with premiums, deductibles and co-payments. A premium is the monthly fee you pay to own the policy. A deductible is an amount you must spend out-of-pocket before the insurance begins paying benefits, and a co-pay is a set amount you pay each time you receive a service.
Tags: health care, Basic Coverage, care insurance, fee-for-service health, fee-for-service health care
Most people suffer from knee pain at one time or another. If we have any excess weight the knees take the stress. Also, running and certain sports will give the knees a pounding that results in acute pain. Arthritis causes a lot of painful knee problems. There are some things you can do for yourself that can make a big difference. Naturally, you would want to get a doctor's diagnosis to make sure it is a common problem and not something that warrants surgery.
Instructions
1. The first step with any inflammation is to cool it down with ice. In the case of a sports injury ice for 10-15 minutes on and off is a great first step. I don't recommend ice for arthritis. I was a massage therapist for 13 years and I am very familiar with joint pain.
2. Next comes warmth from massage or a heating pad. Actually both is best. First warm up the knee for a few minutes and then massage the oil you have bought into the knee using circular friction movements. Massaging in this fashion suits the shape of the knee. You can do it for yourself or if you are lucky ask a friend. Professional massage is best but it is not in everyones budget.
3. The massaging of the knee will not cause pain. Make sure it is oiled enough not to irritate the skin. Work all around the knee for at least 15 minutes. Now try to walk and see how you feel. You can do this as often as you want. It speeds up recovery. In the sports stadiums the work on the injured football, basketball, hockey and baseball players on and off all day which is why they get better so quickly. They do 10 minutes sessions every hour all day. You can, too. Good luck and speedy recovery. You can write to me with questions and I will answer you.
A ringworm is a fungus infection which usually affects the skin, hair and even the nails. Sometimes hair is loss as a result of this infection. It grows back after the infection clears up. It may take a few weeks or, in some cases, months for the hair to grow back.
Instructions
1. Take all of your medication. The doctor will prescribe an oral anti-fungal medication to fight the ringworm infection. It will also help to prevent the growth of new ones. Hair can not grow back until the ringworm is completely gone.
2. Throw away your combs and brushes immediately. Once you start taking your medication, do not use the same combs or brushes. They are infected and could possibly spread the infection further, causing hair growth to be delayed. Don't share anything such as scarfs, hats, combs, or brushes with anyone.
3. Keep your hair clean and dry. Wash your hair often to keep your hair and scalp healthy. The doctor may also prescribe anti-fungal shampoo. This will wash away dead skin in the hair and help to prevent new ringworms from forming. Hair will grow back sooner if the scalp is healthy.
4. Change your linens daily and wash them in hot water. This will keep you from reinfecting yourself. Sleeping on the same pillows could cause the ringworm to come back or others to appear. Keeping everything clean will be beneficial in getting your hair to grow back sooner, because you are preventing the ringworms from spreading.
5. Follow-up with your doctor after you've completed your round of oral medication. The doctor will check to see if your infection is gone. If your infection is completely gone, your hair will soon grow back.
Tags: grow back, your hair, combs brushes, back sooner, completely gone
Epsom salt has been used medicinally for hundreds of years. The salts come from a material in the earth called dolomite, which is rich in magnesium sulfate. The compound came by the name of Epsom salt because the material was distilled from waters near Epsom, England. The "salt" part of the name refers to the chemical structure of the compound. Epsom salt has many uses, but as a medicine, it is used to treat heart arrhythmia, autism, digestive problems, fibromyalgia, osteoporosis, wounds, and skin eruptions.
Instructions
1. Use Epsom salt in a soothing bath. The salt has anti-inflammatory properties that are particularly useful in post-surgery wounds of the extremities. About a quarter-cup per 1 quart of water dissolved in warm water is the standard treatment. It can also be used to help the itching and lesions associated with herpes and shingles.
2. Buy Epsom salt in gel form to help fibromyalgia, a medical condition characterized by widespread pain in muscles, ligaments, and tendons, and osteoporosis, a thinning of the bone tissue that creates pain and tenderness. Anecdotal evidence from users suggests that using Epsom salt in gel form helps the aches and discomfort of these two conditions. The gel form can be purchased at drug stores, at health food stores, or online.
3. Apply Epsom salt to dehydrate boils and abscesses. Epsom salt has drying properties that can be beneficial in the dehydration of wounds. Applying a poultice of Epsom salt can also help treat pimples and acne, and helps in removing blackheads.
4. Use Epsom salts for foot wound care, as advised on the James River Foot & Ankle Center website. Epsom salts has a natural soothing and anti-inflammatory effect on ingrown nails and on wounds from foot surgery. Consult with your podiatrist about after-surgery care. Sore feet are relieved by Epsom salts baths. The skin absorbs the magnesium, which relieves aching muscles and tissues.
5. Try Epsom salt instead of topical antibiotic creams. Overuse of antibiotics is becoming a concern for many people, so try an Epsom salt soak on wounds instead to stop infection. A bath of a half-cup per gallon of water, four times a day, will draw the infection out of a superficial wound. If the wound does not improve within two to three days, see your physician for additional care.
6. Draw out a splinter with Epsom salt -- particularly in fingers and toes which are easiest to keep immersed in the solution. Soak the area in a half-cup of Epsom salt dissolved in water. The Epsom Salt Council says it will soften the skin around the splinter and dry the area enough to allow you to easily pull the splinter out.
7. Soak burns in Epsom salt. About a quarter-cup per quart of water for 10 minutes as a soak helps dry blisters and soothe pain. Epsom salt's mild antiseptic action helps keep burns from getting infected. Burn scabs will heal quickly without scarring.
Tags: Epsom salt, Epsom salt, Epsom salts, About quarter-cup, About quarter-cup quart, Epsom salt form, properties that
Colorectal cancer is the second leading type of cancer in the United States, according to the National Cancer Institute. It ranks second only to breast cancer in women and lung cancer in men. Colorectal cancer is the growth of malignant cells in the colon or rectum that form a tumor. It has a strong link to the liver. The National Cancer Institute estimates that four-fifths of those diagnosed with liver cancer also have colorectal cancer and that at least 30 percent of colorectal cancer cases are the result of metastasis, or spreading from the liver.
Treatment
As with all types of metastatic cancers, the primary site of the cancer, in this case the liver, must be the focus of the treatment. Liver cancer with metastasis to the colon is treated using the generally accepted methods for liver cancer, such as chemotherapy, radiotherapy, medication and surgery. In addition to these, there are other well-accepted treatments such as biological therapy and cryosurgery. The oncologist may decide on any of these options, or a combination.
Embolization Therapy
Embolization therapy is designed to treat the spread of liver cancer. It is a nonsurgical treatment that is minimally invasive. An interventional radiologist carries out this procedure. The patient is given local anesthesia, and remains conscious. A small incision is made into the femoral artery, and a guide wire is put into it. A delivery catheter is pushed into the targeted area (in this case, the colon or the rectum) through the arterial system. A contrast agent is given to help the doctor find the blood vessels of the tumor during the procedure. A syringe containing the embolic material is passed through the skin and delivered to the target area, blocking blood flow to the tumor. Over the next few months, the emoblized blood vessels shrink and the tumor decreases in size. This procedure is considered a safer alternative to expensive and side-effect-prone therapies such as chemo and radiotherapy.
Other Treatments
When the cancer has spread only to a small portion of the colon, the liver cancer and colon cancer mets can be cured using surgery. In this surgical procedure, part or all of the liver is removed and the portion of the colon containing the cancer cells is removed. The liver has the capacity to regenerate, so the digestive system is still able to function properly.
A targeted drug called sorafenib can also be administered if surgery cannot remove the cancer cells. Sorafenib is taken in tablet form. It inhibits receptors that the cancer cells need to grow and slows or stops the spread of the cancer from the liver to the colon and/or other areas in the body. Sorafenib is not curative, but can prolong life and reduce symtpoms of metastatic liver cancer.
Tags: cancer cells, liver cancer, blood vessels, Cancer Institute, colon rectum
It is important to align your own chakras before performing a cleansing on another person.
Performing a spiritual cleansing on another person can be challenging and takes a great deal of focus and preparation. It is not meant to replace any kind of medical treatment, but it can be effective in maintaining both spiritual and physical health, if used regularly. If a close friend or loved one has come to you for a spiritual cleansing, gather your ingredients, find a neutral room to perform the cleansing and prepare yourself to bring clarity and health into another person's life.
Instructions
Instructions
1. Whatever room you choose to perform the cleansing, make sure to prepare it before your friend or loved one arrives. Clean the room by dusting and sweeping, and light the sage smudge stick. Once it is on fire, blow it out and allow the healing smoke to circulate through the air of the room. The smoke will help you to locate the positive vibrations in the room.
2. Meditate and take time to cleanse your own aura and align your chakras before you get started on the spiritual cleansing. Be seated, close your eyes and focus on positive energy, as it is essential to be positive when performing this cleanse.
3. Prepare your friend or loved one for the cleanse. Allow him/her to lay down on the mat, close his/her eyes and breathe slowly and deeply to feel relaxed and focused on the cleansing. Make sure the person is comfortable and relaxed, and tell him/her to focus on breathing slowly throughout the cleansing. It is also important not to speak during the cleansing.
4. Cleanse and fluff the person's aura with your hands. Hold both hands approximately 6 inches from your friend or loved one's body, and focus on the person's energy. Beginning at the head, work your hands through the air down to the feet, pulling out the negative energy with grabbing motions of your hands. Do not actually touch the body. Have your friend or loved one roll over, and perform the same actions again. Then, fluff up the aura through both sides of the body by making sweeping motions over the entire body without touching it.
5. Wipe any negative energy away from the body beginning at the head and moving to the feet. Focus on the removal of the negative energy, feel the person's aura and make wiping motions with your hands first on the front and then on the back of the body. This will rid the body of any excess negative energy that remains from the previous cleansing exercises.
6. Locate hot and cold spots on the body. Focus on the temperatures of the various parts of the body, beginning once again at the head and moving down to the feet. Any area that feels hot, try to project healing coolness through your hands onto the body. Stay focused on the transfer of this energy. Shake your hands to remove any negative energy from them, and the process is complete.
Tags: your hands, friend loved, negative energy, your friend, your friend loved, another person
Whether choosing a diet plan that features low carbohydrate intake for general purposes or as a means of managing a health condition like diabetes, one of the challenges will be preparing meals that are tasty as well as nutritious. Making use of different types of beans and legumes in meal planning will help to ensure the food selections are varied, flavorful and easy for the body to process.
Instructions
1. Start with obtaining a glycemic index chart. Many people with diabetes use the charts as a means of identifying the beans and legumes that are lower in carbohydrates, and thus less likely to cause a spike in blood glucose levels. Knowing the number of carbs per serving will help you stay in your range of daily carb intake.
2. Choose fresh or frozen beans and legumes when possible. The sodium content will be lower and the nutrient content higher than with processed canned foods.
3. Remember that color is your friend. Generally speaking, the darker beans will provide lower carb content and be loaded with carbohydrates that are easy for the body to assimilate.
4. Enjoy raw beans. Snow peas and green beans do not have to be cooked. Rinse thoroughly and chill for a crunchy snack that will provide nutrients without a lot of carbs.
5. Buy a new cookbook. Look for one that contains many vegetable dishes that are easy to make, and lean toward the use of low carb beans and legumes as key ingredients.
Tags: beans legumes, easy body, that easy, will help, will provide
Depression is actually more common than most people think, which should not be surprising, as we all must deal with considerable stress in our lives. One study conducted by researchers at the Harvard Medical School found that of the nearly 10 percent of adults in this country estimated to suffer from depression each year, most experience symptoms of major depression. Dealing with someone who is severely depressed can be difficult. However, if you prepare yourself and know what you are dealing with, you can help the person even if it is someone with whom you work.
Instructions
1. Research the facts about depression (see Resources). Educating yourself can help you to understand the person better. One of the first things about which you need to be aware is that a depressed person cannot help how she is feeling. Read up on all the information you can about depression, its symptoms, causes and treatment.
2. Learn to recognize the signs that the person is having a particularly bad day. While the symptoms of depression can vary from person to person, an overwhelming sadness is frequently one of the first signs. Lack of interest in work may eventually become obvious as well. A depressed co-worker or professional colleague may appear irritable or seem to lack stamina. You may notice that the person has difficulty concentrating, is unable to make decisions, or is becoming increasingly forgetful on the job. If these traits are out of character for the individual, knowing what to expect can help you to react in a more empathetic rather than judgmental manner.
3. Practice patience. Reach out to the person so that he does not feel alone. People often fall into a deeper depression if they feel isolated from the others around them. Let the depressed person know that you are there for him. Communicate with the individual, encouraging him to take care of himself both physically and emotionally.
4. Walk with the person during the lunch hour or a break. This is one way to work on building a bond of trust between the two of you. Simply walking beside the person even when she might not be in the mood for conversation might help her to feel less awkward. She may find comfort just in your proximity. Walking is also a way to keep a depressed person physically active.
5. Offer to help complete work that the person may have been putting off. Do not make the individual feel guilty about what is not getting done. Instead openly discuss which tasks need to be completed and what you can do to help. By working on developing a caring rapport, you should be able to do this without the person becoming offended. If the individual continues to do his job without evading any of his responsibilities, you might want to give him some space. Sometimes a depressed person just wants to be left alone for a little while, especially during a period of added stress at work. Let him know that you are there if he needs help or wants to talk, but do not force the issue.
Tags: depressed person, that person, about depression, know that, know that there
Syphilis is a sexually transmitted disease caused by a bacteria. Generally it is acquired via sexual contact, but it can be transmitted from a mother to her child. Syphilis is a progressive disease that can be treated by antibiotics.
History
Syphilis is a sexually transmitted disease caused by the bacteria Treponema pallidum. It generally is passed through sexual contact with the skin lesions and sores from an already affected individual. A small sore, also called a chancre, will often appear after an average of 21 days post-infection. This skin ulcer will appear on the initial infected area, usually the penis, vagina or on the rectum.
Identification
The initial infection, called primary syphilis, generally will only show one sore, which is painless and will remain for 4 to 6 weeks. It often heals spontaneously. At this stage an infected person will otherwise show no additional symptoms aside from possible swelling of the lymph nodes, and as a result may not seek medical treatment.
Considerations
Many diseases cannot be passed along in utero. However, syphilis is part of a body of diseases that can be passed between a mother and her fetus. In these cases, special attention must be paid as the immune system of the child is initially weak and may require stronger treatment. Contrary to urban legend, syphilis cannot be contracted from hot tubs, toilet seats or from sharing forks and other eating utensils with an affected individual.
Effects
Fetal syphilis, also known as congenital syphilis, is a severe condition which can be fatal. Typical symptoms of fetal syphilis include a failure to gain weight, fever, loss of the nose bridge, and severe pneumonia. Young children and older infants may experience abnormally shaped teeth, skeletal pain, deafness and blindness, and deformed shins.
Prevention/Solution
For infected women who are pregnant, the best course of treatment is an injection of penicillin G into the abdomen. Treating an infected mother during pregnancy greatly decreases the risk of it being passed along to her infant. Otherwise, congenital syphilis can best be treated using penicillin, though for infants the treatment should be given as soon as possible.
Genital warts, which are also called veneral warts, are caused by the human papilloma virus (HPV). It is one of the most common sexually transmitted diseases (STD) in the world. Early detection is important for effective treatment because, left untreated, they can spread rapidly. Here are some of the symptoms of genital warts in women that you can look out for.
Lesions
Genital warts are flesh-colored or gray lesions, and typically develop on the skin of a woman's vagina, cervix, vulva or anus. They often appear as raised bumps, but may also be flat, with just a slight elevation from the skin surface. The lesions vary in size from less than 1 milliliter to more than 2 inches across. Genital warts typically develop in the moist areas of the vaginal opening and labia minora. They may also occur in the cervix or anus. There may be increased moistness in the infected area.
Bleeding
When a genital wart is located in the woman's urethra (the opening from which urine exits the body), it may cause abnormal bleeding that is unrelated to the woman's menstrual periods. Warts in this area may also obstruct the urethra, hindering the flow of urine. Bleeding warts or warts that cause urinary obstructions must be treated promptly.
Increased Vaginal Secretions
Another unusual symptom of genital warts in women is an increase in the amount of vaginal discharge. This may result when genital warts infect the vaginal canal. The secretions may not be directly caused by the warts themselves, but rather by an irritation of the vaginal wall.
Localized Itching
Genital warts may cause localized itching in the area of wart infection. This symptom is one of the easiest ones to overlook or disregard, because when it occurs, the genital wart infection may be mistaken for a skin rash. In rare cases, genital warts may also cause extreme pain. This is usually a burning, painful sensation at the site of the wart infection.
Painful Intercourse
In the event that the genital warts develop in the vaginal canal, it may cause discomfort or pain during as well as after sexual intercourse. This may occur when the warts manifest in the entrance of the woman's vagina. When this happens, vaginal bleeding may also result from intercourse.
Throat cancer is characterized by the uncontrolled proliferation of cells lining the throat as well as the voice box (larynx). However, in a majority of the cases, the cancer often spreads to the other parts of the mouth such as the esophagus, as well as the nasal pipe (nasopharynx). As a result of the cancer development, patients often experience extreme pain and discomfort while speaking and eating and breathing. According to the National Cancer Institute, nearly 24,000 cases of throat cancer are detected and diagnosed annually in the U.S., out of which close to 6,000 die of the cancer.
Cures for Throat Cancer
Like the majority of the other cancer forms, no treatment options are yet available to completely treat and cure the disease. Thus doctors try and control the proliferation and metastasis of the malignant cells by employing treatment forms such as surgery, chemotherapy and radiotherapy. The common surgical process involves removal of the affected part of the throat in order to restrict the growth of the cancer cells. Pharyngectomy (complete removal of the pharynx and larynx) is often performed in certain rare and severe cases where in the cancer spreads across the entire throat. After the surgery, doctors try to reconstruct an artificial throat in order to help the patients to swallow.
Patients with high threat of cancer redevelopment are frequently recommended radiotherapy and chemotherapy after surgery. Chemotherapy involves injecting anti-cancer drugs such as interleukin so as to destroy the cancerous cells and prevent their subsequent proliferation. While in radiotherapy, the affected part of the patients is exposed to high-energy rays (commonly X-rays) in order to damage the cancerous cells.
Five-Year Survival Rate
The typical five-year survival rate after the administration of the treatment forms mentioned above generally varies, depending on the stage at which the cancer was detected and diagnosed and on the proliferation of the cancerous cells inside the patient's body. However, the National Cancer Institute reports that the average five-year survival rate from 1999 to 2006 was approximately 63 percent.
Time Frame
The time frame for which the treatments are administered generally varies from patient to patient depending upon the metastasis of the cancerous cells. Commonly patients are administered with radiotherapy daily for about one to two months.Chemotherapy is performed periodically over four to five months.
Side Effects
Surgery often carries certain risks and side effects such as bleeding, infection and other possible complications, including problems with speech and swallowing, among others. Side effects associated with radiotherapy and chemotherapy include loss of hair, loss of appetite, tiredness, nausea and diarrhea, among others,
Prevention/Solution
According to the Mayo Clinic, some of the general preventive measures that one can take against throat cancer include avoiding exposure to chemicals and toxins, quitting smoking, avoiding alcoholic drinks or having them in moderation, among others.
Tags: cancerous cells, among others, affected part, cancer detected, cancer detected diagnosed
Muscle pulls are injuries that occur any time a muscle is stretched too far, resulting in a tear in the muscle fibers. Muscle pulls can occur anywhere, but are common in the leg muscles. Regardless of the muscles affected or the severity of the pull, there are a few things you can do to reduce pain and decrease healing time.
First Steps
The first thing to do when you pull a muscle in your leg is to stop your activity and elevate your leg. Ice placed on the injury will help keep the swelling to a minimum. Take care not to put ice directly on your skin. If the injury is on the back of your leg, place the ice under your leg. If the injury is on your shin or front of your thigh then you may wish to gently wrap an elastic wrap around it to keep it in place. Alternate ice with no ice for 20 minutes at a time.
Compression
Keeping the injury compressed with an elastic bandage will also keep the swelling from increasing. It will also reduce the pain associated with the injury. A compression bandage can also reduce the discomfort felt when you are walking and can protect the pulled leg muscles from further injury. Make sure the bandage is not so tight as to cut off the circulation to your lower leg or foot. Begin your wrap slightly above the injured muscle and end it just below.
Rest
Resting the pulled muscle will help it heal more quickly. The degree of rest will depend on the severity of the injury. Do not allow your pulled leg muscle to become painful. If you experience pain, you need to rest more. Keep in mind that the muscles in your calf are responsible for pushing your toe off the ground, as in walking or climbing stairs. Your quadriceps (front thigh) muscles help you stop as you come down the stairs. Your hamstrings (back thigh) help you climb stairs. Depending on which type of injury you have, these are the motions you need to consider.
Medication
Taking anti-inflammatories such as ibuprofen or naproxen sodium can help reduce the swelling and pain of a pulled leg muscle. Just make sure you can tolerate such medications.
Stretching
Although it may seem stretching a muscle that was injured by overstretching may induce further injury, it can actually help a pulled muscle heal if done properly. Oftentimes muscle fibers surrounding the torn muscle will overcompensate and become sore and overworked. A slow gentle stretch can help relax the overly worked muscles and increase blood flow to the pulled muscle and promote quicker healing. Stretch muscles in the calf by leaning in toward a wall with one foot behind another. By bending the front leg and keeping the back leg straight, the muscles on the calf of the back leg will stretch. Muscles on the front of the thighs can be streched by grabbing the toe of the injured leg and gently pulling the toe toward the butt. Hamstring muscles (on the back of the thigh) can be stretched by gently bending over at the waist with straight legs.
Medical attention
Occasionally a pulled leg muscle may require medical attention. If you experience a lot of pain or a prolonged healing period you may need to seek the advice of your physician. She may be able to prescribe physical therapy or stronger medications to help heal the torn muscle.
Tags: pulled muscle, also reduce, back thigh, experience pain, further injury
Light therapy is exposure to artificial bright light through a light therapy box. It gives off light that simulates natural light from outdoors. Light therapy is also called phototherapy. It is used for treatment of a variety of conditions.
Conditions
Light therapy is used to treat certain psychological conditions such as depression, seasonal affective disorder, obsessive-compulsive disorder, jet lag and sleep disorders, premenstrual dysphoric disorder and postpartum depression. The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has not yet approved the use of light therapy for these conditions. However, the FDA has approved some types of light therapy for the treatment of acne and mild psoriasis.
Side Effects/Risks
There are some side effects and risks with the use of light therapy. You may experience eye strain, headache, nausea, vomiting, irritability or agitation, fatigue, dry mouth, sleep difficulties or mania in people with bipolar disorder. These conditions are typically mild and may go away after a few days of treatment. Changing the length of the treatment or taking breaks during treatment may help with these problems. For skin conditions, a common side effect is bruising that may last up to 10 days and a low risk of scarring.
Treatment
The treatment involves sitting at or near a light therapy box for periods of time. (It is necessary for the light to indirectly enter your eyes in the case of psychological conditions.) Typically it may start with 15-minute treatments, and in some cases gradually increasing the length of time to as much as 2 hours each day. For skin conditions, a common treatment may be 15 to 30 minutes every few weeks or two treatments per week. It may take up to six or eight treatments to be effective.
Results
While light treatment does not cure any of the mental conditions, it may diminish your symptoms. There may be noticeable improvement after a few days of treatment, but in some cases it can take as long as a couple of weeks. While the light therapy treatments for skin conditions have been successful, it is not yet known whether the improvements will be long term.
Considerations
You should not use light therapy without the advice of your doctor if your skin or eyes are sensitive to light or you are taking certain medications, such as some antibiotics and anti-inflammatory medications that cause adverse reactions in sunlight. Some people with severe depression may have suicidal thoughts following light therapy treatment. Talk with your doctor or therapist before beginning light therapy treatment.
Tags: light therapy, light therapy, light therapy treatment, skin conditions, therapy treatment, after days
Cervical spondylosis, commonly referred to as osteoarthritis, is the degeneration of the neck joints. Spondylosis occurs when the joint facets in the spine degenerate. Degeneration of the facets occurs when the surrounding cartilage breaks down due to the normal aging process.
Anti-Inflammatory Medication
Treatment of early spondylosis may include anti-inflammatory medications and over-the-counter pain medication such as ibuprofen. Wearing a cervical collar may help reduce irritation of the surrounding nerves.
Muscle Relaxants
If spondylosis fails to subside with anti-inflammatory medication, muscle relaxants my be prescribed in order to reduce the stress around the facet.
Injections
Some persons with more severe cases of cervical spondylosis may require spinal injections of corticosteroid.
Traction
Where medications fail, hospitalization may be required. Complete bed rest in a hospital setting as well as traction of the spine may help reduce pressure on the surrounding nerves.
Surgery
When all else fails, or cervical spondylosis poses additional problems such as weakness, or pain that radiates down the arms, surgery may be required.
Tags: cervical spondylosis, help reduce, occurs when, surrounding nerves
Include free weights in your strength training routine.
Aging, lack of activity and illness can all impact muscular strength. Properly balanced workouts require both aerobic exercise and strength training to gain important muscular strength and endurance. Muscular strength helps provide the necessary energy to perform everyday tasks with ease. Building muscle provides the fuel to help your body burn calories and increases overall fitness, according to the Mayo Clinic. Take charge of your health and resist letting your muscles fade into oblivion by performing simple and regular strengthening exercises.
Instructions
1. Warm up and stretch properly. Warm up for approximately five to 10 minutes. Accomplish this by doing a gentle aerobic activity, such as walking or bicycling. Follow your warmup with gentle stretching exercises. Stretch all major muscle groups to ensure you limit the chance of injuries, including strained muscles. Visit the American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeon website (see Resources for a link) for examples of specific stretching exercises and safely complete them.
2. Choose an appropriate exercise routine. Develop muscular strength by engaging in exercise routines featuring free weights, weight machines or resistance bands. Use your own body weight for resistance by including exercises like push-ups and sit-ups into your routine. Focus on including exercises that work all the major muscle groups, including the arms, legs and core. Examples of strength building exercises include bicep curls, triceps curls, squats and lunges. View the American College of Sports Medicine brochure, Free Weights, for additional help on developing a strength training routine utilizing free weights (see Resources for a link). This information is transferable to weight machine routines as well. View recommendations from Fitness magazine to help plan strengthening routines utilizing resistance bands (see Resources).
3. Perform the recommended amount of repetitions at an appropriate weight or resistance. Complete eight to 12 repetitions of each exercise. Determine the appropriate amount of weight to lift with free weights and resistance machines and adjust as you gain strength. You should have a difficult time finishing the final repetition. Check with a personal trainer or other fitness professional if you need additional help determining an appropriate weight for your fitness level.
4. Aim for consistency. Perform strength training exercises a minimum of two times a week, per guidelines established with the help of the American College of Sports Medicine. Allow muscles to rest for one day before completing another session. To include weight training in your daily routine, alternate muscle groups. Work arms and legs on alternating days to ensure each muscle group receives rest.
Tags: free weights, strength training, muscle groups, additional help, American College, American College Sports, appropriate weight
Colorectal cancer is cancer that originates in either the colon or the rectum. Although the colon and the rectum are distinct, the cancers are considered related, and often cancer that originates in the colon spreads to the rectum or vice versa.
Both colon cancer and rectal cancer generally begin with a specific polyp, called an adenoma, that begins to grow in the lining of the colon or rectum. Approximately 95 percent of colorectal cancers begin with this adenoma. The cancers typically develop slowly, spreading first to the center of the colon or rectum.
Colon cancer is said to be metastatic when it spreads beyond the colon and rectum into other organs or body parts. According to Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center, up to half of those patients diagnosed with colorectal cancer will experience metastases to the liver at some point during their disease.
Surgery
Surgery is the most common treatment for metastatic colon cancer. The surgery obviously removes cancer within the colon and rectum, but additional procedures must also be performed on areas to where the cancer has metastasized.
The liver is the most common site for colorectal cancer metasteses. Approximately 15 percent of patients who are diagnosed with advanced colorectal cancer have liver metastases, with this number rising to 75 percent in those patients as their cancer progresses. This surgery can involve removing the cancer in both the colon and rectum, as well as the metastases in the liver. The liver metastases can be treated either by removing parts of the liver, or by cyrosurgery, in which the liver tumors are frozen but not removed.
Colorectal cancer that metastasizes to the lungs can also be treated by surgically removing spots of cancer on the lung.
Image-Guided Ablation
If surgery is not possible, there is an alternative option for metastases to the liver or lungs. This procedure is called image-guided ablation, and it is performed only by interventional radiologists. This treatment is currently only available for those whose colorectal cancer has metastasized to the liver and the lung.
Image-guided ablation is currently only recommended for patients who are unable to undergo surgery and/or for patients with very small local metastases to the liver or lung. The procedure involves the insertion of a special needle, which delivers heat to areas on the liver or lung where metastases have occurred. The heat kills tumor cells, without affecting the liver or lung functions. For patients with small localized metastases, this treatment is as effective as surgery.
Chemotherapy
Chemotherapy is also used to treat metastatic colorectal cancer. Irinotecan, a newer drug approved for treatment of metastatic colon cancer, has proven relatively effective at Sloan-Kettering, when combined with the chemotherapy agents leucovorin and 5-fluorouracil.
Sloan-Kettering also pioneered studies combining the use of oxaliplatin and cetuximab with leucovorin and 5-fluorouracil. This drug combination was tested on patients with stage IV metastatic colorectal cancer, and was found to slow the growth of cancer cells, lower the risk of recurrence and improve the survival rates in some patients.
Sloan-Kettering also uses several other drugs in the treatment of colorectal cancer. Panitumumab, bevacizumab, and cetuximab (alone or combined with irinotecan) have also been demonstrated to slow the progression of metastatic colon cancer in some patients.
Intrahepatic Pump
A 2006 study at Sloan-Kettering suggested that patients with colorectal cancer that had metastasized to the liver benefited from receiving intrahepatic chemotherapy. Patients who received intrahepatic chemotherapy had slower growth of cancer cells, responded better to the treatment and had a longer survival rate than patients who received traditional chemotherapy .
An intrahepatic pump is a liver pump that allows chemotherapy drugs to be administered directly to the liver, as opposed to intravenously throughout the body.
New Treatments
According to researchers at the University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, new treatments for colorectal cancer, as well as better surgical procedures for liver metasteses, have increased the five year survival rates for metastatic colorectal cancer from 8 percent to 30 percent as of 2009.
However, despite the advances, metastatic colorectal disease is still incurable.
Tags: colon rectum, colorectal cancer, cancer that, liver lung, metastases liver, metastatic colorectal, patients with
Bone tumors can be divided into malignant and benign categories, and the malignant tumors are known as bone cancers. There are multiple kinds of true bone cancers, which are differentiated from cancers such as some leukemia, lymphoma and myeloma that might start in bone but are not considered bone cancers.
Definition
Primary bone cancer is any malignant tumor originating in any part of the bone. Most bone cancers are rare, accounting for less than 1 percent of all bone cancer cases, and of these, most cases are the result of other cancers spreading into the bones (metastatic cancer).
Osteosarcoma
Osteosarcomas are the most common type of primary bone cancer. The tumors usually originate in the arms, knees, legs or pelvis. Osteosarcomas are most common in young adults and children.
Chondrosarcoma
A cancer of cartilage cells, chondrosarcomas often begin in the cartilage around the long bones such as arms or legs as well as in the pelvis and other cartilaginous areas of the bones.
Ewing's Sarcoma
Also called Ewing sarcoma or Ewing tumor, this term refers to a group or family of tumors usually originating in the bone but can arise in soft tissues. The third-most common bone cancer, Ewing's sarcoma is rarely found in people older than age 30.
Soft-Tissue Sarcoma
Soft-tissue sarcomas, including fibrosarcomas and malignant fibrous histiocytomas, usually affect middle-aged and older adults. These rare cancers arise in the soft tissues that surround the bone such as fat, ligaments and tendons, and muscle. The bones most frequently affected include the jaw, legs and arms.
Chordoma
Most common in adults older than 30, chordomas are slow-growing tumors usually affecting the bones of the spine and at the base of the skull.
Tags: bone cancer, bone cancers, tumors usually, arise soft, arise soft tissues, most common, older than
Rheumatoid arthritis is a chronic condition that affects the daily lives of those who are diagnosed with it. Though serious steps can be taken to cure rheumatoid arthritis, such as taking powerful disease-modifying antirheumatic drugs (DMARDs) or having joint replacement or tendon reconstruction surgery, other steps can be taken to just reduce the amount of joint inflammation, stiffness and pain a person with rheumatoid arthritis experiences.
Drugs
A variety of medications are available to decrease the pain and discomfort that one experiences with rheumatoid arthritis. Some drugs, such as non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs), can be bought over the counter to reduce pain, swelling and stiffness in the joints. These drugs include ibuprofen and naproxen. To reduce the amount of side affects, such as stomach bleeding, your doctor can prescribe a selective NSAID, such as Celebrex.
Corticosteroids are a stronger type of medication that decreases the inflammation that causes arthritis activity and the pain. In order to not be affected by the possible side affects, which include a weakened immune system and osteoporosis, these medications are taken for short periods of time during intense flare-ups.
Alternative Medicine
Natural vitamin supplements and minerals can cause health wonders if used correctly, according to the Arthritis Today Supplement Guide. Before taking any of these alternative options, it's always important to talk to your doctor and see if they counteract with a medication that you're taking.
For rheumatoid arthritis, vitamin and mineral options include black currant oil or seed, borage oil or seed, evening primrose, fish oil, flax, ginger, Indian frankincense and turmeric. For more information on these natural minerals, go to http://www.arthritistoday.org/treatments/supplement-guide/conditions.php.
Exercise and Rest
Gentle exercise is recommended as a natural cure and pain reliever for rheumatoid arthritis. Walking is the simplest form of exercise, and yet it strengthens every part of your body. Tai Chi is a popular strength and relaxation form of exercise that is used to improve mobility. Working out in the water is the safest way to improve flexibility and reduce stiffness.
To find an organization in your area that specializes in fitness for those with rheumatoid arthritis, go to http://www.arthritis.org/programs.php. According to the National Institute of Arthritis and Musculoskeletal and Skin Diseases (NIAMS), a good balance between rest and exercise is also needed. Periods of rest reduce fatigue and joint inflammation, making it just as important as exercise.
Tags: rheumatoid arthritis, rheumatoid arthritis, with rheumatoid, with rheumatoid arthritis, form exercise, joint inflammation, medication that
Six-drawer crash carts consist of a variety of equipment used in hospital emergency rooms. This equipment varies slightly from hospital to hospital but it always serves the purpose of providing easy-to-access life-saving tools for a medical emergencies such as heart failure or drug overdose.
Top
The top of a crash cart consists of immediately needed equipment designed to quickly diagnosis and solve problems, especially those concerning heart failure. The top section of the cart contains a defibrillator, electrodes, a suction machine, adult and pediatric Ambu bags, a stethoscope, an oxygen tank with one regulator, and a CPR board and cook.
First Drawer
The first drawer consists of a large selection of medications. The medication selection typically consists of atropine, adenosine, calcium, epinephrine, dexamethasone, dexamethasone, neo-synephrine, lanoxin, dilatiazen, benadryl, romazion, narcan, tongue baldes, an oxygen wrench, and thermal paper. Crash carts contain duplicates or triplicates of some of these medications, as well as a variety of doses.
Second Drawer
The second drawer contains the following medications and tools: Glucagon emergency kit, vasopressin, dextrose, amiodarone, nitroglycerine, sodium bicarb, dopamine, a microshield, a yankeur tip and suction tubing.
Third Drawer
The third drawer consists solely of Lasix and magnesium sulfate. Both deal with water absorption.
Fourth Drawer
The fourth drawer consists of life-saving tools rather than medications. This includes a variety of gloves and syringes, tape, introcan, a tourniquet, alcohol swabs, needles, conductivity gel, KY gel, and injectable saline.
Fifth Drawer
The fifth drawer consists of dantrium, a laryngoscope handle, miller and macintosh blades, ET tubes, airways and batteries.
Sixth Drawer
The sixth drawer consists of a Cric kit with a tracheotomy tube, lactated ringers, NACL and IV tubing.