Steps To Ensure Safe Laser Eye Surgery
In the modern world, laser eye surgery is one of most widely performed procedures every year. Since it was first performed in the United States in 1991, more and more people looking to rid themselves of expensive and inconvenient eyeglasses and contact lenses, have turned to corrective eye surgery to achieve their goals.
Today, more than one million people in the U.S. alone have undergone the procedure – most with no complications and amazing success. In fact, only 3-6% of those who have undergone the procedure have reported any long term complications associated with it, making safe laser eye surgery what most people have come to expect. But in order to really ensure your safety when it comes to laser eye surgery it is imperative to act as an advocate for yourself and take the steps necessary to protect your health and your eyesight.
Laser eye surgery utilizes laser technology to resurface the cornea – the thin, transparent covering of the eye. During the procedure, the surgeon will make a small incision in the top layer of the cornea in order to create a flap. Once the flap is folded back the mid-section of the cornea is revealed and the surgeon can then use a low-powered laser to resurface the cornea – clearing the way in which light is refracted in our eye and thus improving vision.
The patient’s eye is numbed the entire time during the procedure and most who have undergone laser eye surgery report little to no pain associated with the procedure. Nonetheless, there is risk associated with every surgery. And when it comes to laser technology used in and around the eye, it is absolutely imperative to ensure that you are working with skilled and reputable surgeons and a surgery center that is committed to patient care through safe laser eye surgery.
The burden of finding this information is up to you – the patient – but is well-worth the time it will take to ensure a positive experience. Begin your search for safe laser eye surgery by researching the laser eye surgery centers in and around your area. Talk to friends and family who have undergone the procedure to assess their experience; and get recommendations from your general eye doctor and even your primary care physician. Recommendations are key to narrowing your search for a reputable surgery center.
Once you have narrowed your search through recommendations it is crucial that you conduct your own research by examining each surgery center’s history, surgical and patient care philosophy, reputation in the industry, and financial options that will be available to you. Follow-up this research by visiting the surgery centers yourself to assess cleanliness of the facility, professionalism of the office and medical support staff, and commitment to safe laser eye surgery through the level of technology being used.
Finally, meet with the surgeon who would perform your procedure to determine his/her experience and strategy for patient care and safety procedures. Any surgeon in which you are interested should perform laser eye surgery on a daily basis and have an overall dedication to safe laser eye surgery and successful results.
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Alzheimer’s Disease – Natural Treatment With Spices
Alzheimer’s disease is a debilitating and ultimately lethal neurodegenerative disorder that currently afflicts about 18 million people worldwide. The incidence of the disease increases exponentially with age and, with life expectancy rising in many parts of the world, global prevalence is expected to double by 2025. Alzheimer’s disease is characterized by progressive intellectual deterioration; starting with memory loss that is followed by intellectual impairment, poor decision making, uncoordinated movements, speech impediments and loss of recognition of familiar people and places. Although the incidence of Alzheimer’s disease is increasing rapidly in many developing countries, on the Indian subcontinent it remains rare, even among the high-risk age groups. Recent studies have associated this reduced risk primarily with the high levels of consumption of turmeric that, together with several other spices, has been shown to have protective and possibly curative effects against the disease. This discovery has led to intensive research into the potential use of spices as natural treatments for Alzheimer’s disease.
The causes of Alzheimer’s disease are not fully understood, but there are several pathological processes that occur in those afflicted with this illness. The most prominent of these is the deposition of an abnormal protein, beta-amyloid, in the brains of Alzheimer’s disease sufferers. ß-amyloid is deposited in the form of plaques between the neurons and also accumulates in the walls of small blood vessels in the brain, where it impedes the flow of blood to brain tissues. The aggregation inside the neurones of abnormal amounts of tau protein filaments is another pathological feature of Alzheimer’s disease. A further process associated with this malady is atrophy (wasting) of nerve tissue which leads to the loss of synapses and their associated neurotransmitter chemicals from key areas of the brain. In all cases, the precise causes of these pathological processes are unclear but they, and certain other factors, appear to increase the risk and aggravate the development of Alzheimer’s disease.
Factors implicated in Alzheimer’s disease are: Metals like aluminum, copper and zinc; oxidative stress and chronic inflammation. Genetic factors may also play a role in the development of Alzheimer’s disease.
Confirming epidemiological pointers that diet plays a key role in the low incidence of Alzheimer’s disease in India are several promising laboratory studies of the phytochemical, curcumin. Found in large quantities in turmeric, curcumin has been shown to inhibit the deposition of ß-amyloid in the brain and, in some cases, actually reverse this process. Studies have also shown that rosmarinic acid, present in rosemary and several other spices as well as gingerol and zingerone found in ginger (which also contains curcumin) have similar protective effects. Although these are the most thoroughly researched spices in respect of Alzheimer’s disease, evidence is accumulating that several others, including garlic, have similar preventive effects against this disorder. Moreover, it is almost certain that the list of spices shown to protect against Alzheimer’s disease will continue to grow.
If we look at the known underlying factors that are thought to cause Alzheimer’s disease we can see the reasons why spices have the potential to prevent and even alleviate this condition.
Chelation: Several spices have chelating properties. Chelating agents are substances that attach to toxins (such as heavy metals) and help the body to excrete them. There is a strong possibility that the chelating characteristics of some spices help to rid the body of toxic metals like aluminium, copper, lead, mercury and zinc. Coriander and turmeric are two of the most potent chelating spices.
Inflammation: An inflammatory process is also likely to be an underlying cause of Alzheimer’s disease. Many spices contain high levels of anti-inflammatory compounds like salicylates. Curcumin (found in turmeric) is one of the most important anti-inflammatory phytochemicals.
Antioxidants: Spices are the richest source of antioxidants and, as oxidative stress is one of the processes underlying this malady, one would expect that they would be useful natural treatments for Alzheimers’s disease.
Alzheimer’s disease could affect any one of us and, as spices may be one the only defenses we have against this debilitating illness, we should eat more of these remarkable foods. The most important spices known to help Alzheimer’s disease are turmeric, garlic and rosemary.
Dr Keith Scott is a medical doctor with a special interest in nutrition and complementary therapies. He has written several books including “Medicinal Seasonings, The Healing Power of Spices” and “Natural Home Pharmacy”. Find out why spices are the “Missing Links” in nutrition at:
Three Of The Best Fat Burning Exercises
You want to lose weight? Perhaps you’re desperate to lose weight? You know you need to perform aerobic activities but you just can’t find one that works and that interests you. This article will outline three different aerobic activities you can complete to start to burn your fat and tone your body quickly and easily.
Take the stairs
I know it’s much easier to simply hop in the lift or jump on the escalator, but is it really the best option for your body? Next time you need to climb a storey or two, consider taking the stairs instead of the elevator or the escalator. It doesn’t sound like much in itself, but if you were to do this every day, then over time it will contribute to significant weight loss.
Park far away
When you get to the store, you want to be in and out as quickly as possible. You want to be located as close as possible, but again, is this the best option for your body? Next time you have to park your car, park it at the back of the car park, or further away from your destination. This will force you to walk a greater distance, therefore burning more calories.
Don’t park at all
Better than the above option is to not take the car with you at all. If your destination is within walking distance, then walk it. The fresh air will do you good, you’ll lose weight, feel better about yourself, and contribute to reducing carbon emissions and therefore saving the world! All because you decided to walk instead of drive!
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Breast Implant Augmentation Surgery: What To Expect
Many breast implant augmentation surgery patients do not mentally prepare themselves for the pain involved after surgery. The amount of pain experienced by patients varies, and some patients feel very little pain or discomfort. Others, however (like me) experience a lot of pain. It is not possible to predict how much pain any particular individual is likely to feel, so you should discuss this with your surgeon. If you choose to have “under the muscle” surgery, this increases the risks of post-operative pain.
Breast implants can sit much higher than expected until they eventually ’settle’. This can be disconcerting as it causes the nipples to actually point downards. Not the effect you want! You can expect the implants to take up to 6 weeks to begin looking ‘normal’, and perhaps a further 6 weeks to settle properly into the position they were meant to be.
Expect the implants to feel hard. Again, like the position of them, this will improve as they settle, and they will soften. Do not expect them to actually ever feel like real breast tissue though.
Breast implants are likely to cause some bruising, and the risk of this is higher with an armpit incision. You can also expect some scarring (as with any invasive procedure). Although the scarring will be permament, it should be light enough so it can be easily masked with makeup. To give you an idea of the risks of heavy scarring (sometimes called “hypertrophic scars”) this occurs in roughly 10% of crease incisions (under the breast), 5% of areola incisions, and under 1% of armpit (or axillary) incisions.
You can, of course, expect your breasts to be lifted as a result of breast implant augmentation surgery. However, do not expect them to stay where they are after surgery. Age, pregnancy, and childbearing will have the same effect on your breasts whether you have had implants or not.
If you have any pre-existing stretch marks, you may expect breast implants to actually fill these out and make them less noticeable! Likewise, implants can cause fresh stretch marks if there is not enough breast tissue to comfortably take your new size. You should discuss this with your surgeon and not be tempted to go too big if this is a risk issue for you.
About The Author: Polly Summer maintains an information site about improving the look of breasts. For information on
Take Control of Your Health and Fitness
Health and fitness is your business and taking personal responsibility for one’s own health is the key. Your health and fitness is in your power, and activity is a fundamental element of keeping healthy and fit. Because of its impact on wives, mothers, daughters, sisters, and husbands, health is truly a family issue. Health care and fitness is in our hands and can ultimately influence every aspect of life.
In its most general meaning, physical fitness is a general state of good physical health. Discover healthy tips on exercise, eating right and personal care. Choose physical activities that fit in with your daily routine, or choose recreational or structured exercise programs, or both. Exercise offers extra benefits for health compared to calorie restriction but prior to participating in any exercise program or activity, you should seek the advice of your physician or other qualified health professional. Exercise is one of the best things you can do for your health. 60 percent of American adults do not get enough exercise to improve their health but exercise physiology is rapidly becoming increasingly important in the delivery of health care.
The Surgeon General’s Report on Physical Activity recommends getting 30 minutes of exercise on most days of the week. So just why should you get active and how little exercise can you get away with? A single session of exercise improves lipids and vascular function so even a single session of exercise will improve your health. Research confirms how important exercise and physical activity are to maintaining health and independence for older adults, and those on a traditional cardio exercise program saw their health improve more than twice as much as those on a walking regimen. There is some evidence that links exercise to better prostate health, and vigorous exercise helps to reduce abdominal fat. Walking is a popular form of exercise, but may not be enough to experience significant health benefits, a University of Alberta study shows. Remember that how well you eat and how much or little you exercise now affects not only your present state of health but also later life. Vigorous exercise involves minimal health risks for persons in good health or those following a doctor’s advice.
Everyone knows that regular exercise improves your health and helps you feel good. With exercise, elders can improve weakened physical abilities and should do weight-bearing exercise (such as walking) regularly. To burn more calories it is better to exercise for a longer time. Fortunately, exercise can be free (not counting what you choose to spend on health-club memberships, workout clothes and bottled water).
Diet and lifestyle choices affect health and well-being, as do food safety policies and practices. Diet is a big contributor to health, but the science is complex and constantly evolving. A balanced diet and regular physical activity, along with restraining from smoking, are important factors in the promotion and maintenance of good health. There’s far more research on diet and health available now than there was 30 years ago, and cholesterol continues as the focus of diet and health advice. By eating a well-balanced diet and exercising regularly, you are paving a path of good health. A good diet is central to overall good health, and many women health and fitness related problems can be avoided if careful attention is given to diet, specific nutrients and exercise.
Human nutrition is enormously complex and a healthy diet may vary widely according to an individual’s genetic makeup, environment, and health. People diet for two primary reasons, to lose weight, to fix health or both, but not every diet will work for you. Crash diets and diet pills can compromise growth and are not recommended by many health care professionals. Choose a diet that is low in saturated fat and cholesterol and moderate in total fat, and a detailed diet plan that states what, how, and when a person will eat and drink. Fruits and vegetables are key parts of your daily diet.
Ken Asselin is webmaster for the Selections Guide series of information websites. health-fitness.selectionsguide.com health-fitness.selectionsguide.com
Quit Smoking Tips
You have probably heard the phrase “by failing to prepare, you are preparing to fail”? This phrase is something of a cliché these days but if you are serious about giving up smoking you will need to be prepared. First of all you need to be prepared mentally. Many people find giving up smoking extremely difficult. You need to know what side effects you are likely to encounter and plan on how you are going to overcome them.
Preparing
Why are you giving up? You need to be clear on this one as you need to remember your reasons to keep you going when you feel like giving in. Most people use their health, finances, taxes or the public smoking ban laws or perhaps all of these as reasons for wanting to quit. It may be an idea to write out your list and put it in a prominent place, such as on your fridge, so that if the road gets a little tough you can use it for motivation.
Support of family and friends
You will need the support of your family and friends to ensure that you persevere with you objective. You will need to get their ‘buy-in’ so that they encourage you throughout your journey. They will also need to be considerate and realise that this may be a tough period for you and perhaps going to a bar may breed temptation to pick up a cigarette.
Aids to quitting
Nicotine is an extremely addictive drug. If the addictive qualities of nicotine begin to get too much, you can try using a nicotine patches or chewing gum. Patches and gum are the two most popular aides used by somebody trying to quit smoking and do not require a prescription. They work by releasing a small amount of nicotine into your bloodstream but not the dangerous levels released by the nicotine in tobacco.
Substitute your habit
As you probably spend a long time during the day with a cigarette in your hand, your hands are also going to miss not having a cigarette in them. Not only do you have to contend with not having the nicotine in your bloodstream you also have to contend with keeping your hands busy. You could try drinking more water, rolling a coin, holding hands more or even paging your loved ones.
Don’t let your hard work go to waste!
Once you have successfully kicked the habit you must ensure that you are not tempted to relapse by picking up another cigarette. You will still at times be caught remembering the time when you smoked but you also need to remember why you decided to quit in the first place. If you need to, refer to the list that you made at the beginning of your journey. When you do quit you (and you will) you should be immensely proud of yourself. You will have achieved something that millions of other people wish they had also achieved. Good Luck!
Nigel owns Quit-Smoking-Here, a website which contains lots of useful information if you wish to
Diabulimia – A New Eating Disorder?
Diabulimia is a condition that is currently under recognized, but which deserves more attention. If there is little awareness, more deaths can occur. So what is diabulimia? If you look at the term “diabulimia” closely, you will find that it is a combination of the terms “diabetes” and “bulimia”. In fact, this refers to a recent finding of young patients diagnosed with a Type I diabetic condition. Although diabulimia is not considered an eating disorder per se, it is likened to a body image disorder.
In Type 1 diabetes, patients produce little or no insulin. They have no choice but to take insulin shots every day in order to survive. Type 1 diabetes can inflict children from a young age and young adults. However, some young patients got to learn more about their condition; specifically that their body is dependent on insulin, and that insulin is an anabolic or storage hormone. With insulin encouraging fat storage, they realise that weight gain is a possible consequence with taking insulin shots. Thus, to avoid putting on weight, these patients would often skip doses and manipulate taking their insulin shots. Thus, giving rise to the term “diabulimia”.
Recognise the similarity of diabulmia with a bulimic eating disorder condition? Bulimic eating disorder sufferers often try to manage their weight through vomiting or other forms of behavior so that their bodies do not put on the calories from the huge amounts of food that they just ate.
For diabulimics, they wise up to the technique on using insulin shots pretty quickly. They take just enough insulin to avoid going into diabetic ketoacidosis, and narrowly avoiding hospitalization.
Unfortunately, a diabulimia is not recognized as a medical condition, unlike anorexia or bulimia. However, the American Diabetes Association has long known about insulin omission as a tactic for weight control. An expert estimates “that 450,000 Type 1 diabetic women in the United States — one-third of the total — have skipped or shortchanged their insulin to lose weight and are risking a coma and an early death.” There is no doubt that diabulimia is becoming more common as the secret of controlling weight through managing insulin shots is being exchanged in online bulletin boards for diabetics as well as those with eating disorders
If a Type 1 diabetic does not take the required insulin shots and skip his or dosage, there can be serious health threats. These include dehydration, fatigue and a breakdown in muscle tissue. Other complications include eye and kidney failure and a high risk of coma, amputation and even death.
Ironically, almost all diabetics need to learn about the basics of good diabetic management which also includes meal planning. However, these programs have overlooked the needs of some of its patients, who have unhealthy associations with food. Much like any other eating disorder, more studies should be conducted about this group of patients to shed light on their preoccupation with weight issues.
Sandra Kim Leong publishes a learning site on eating-disorder-research.com eating disorders. She hopes to draw awareness that eating disorders can cause serious health threats. For a free report, please visit eating-disorder-research.com eating-disorder-research.com
Basic Facts about Prescription Eyeglasses
Persons, who have the following vision problems such as astigmatism, myopia, or farsightedness, need prescription eyeglasses. Although it may sound like common sense, sometimes it’s not that easy to spot who needs prescription eyeglasses.
Here’s a short but telling list of mannerisms you could be subconsciously doing. Any combinations of these are signs that you need to have your eyes examined.
• If you find yourself consistently sitting too close to, the television set to see clearly.
• If you hold a book too close that it’s almost touching your nose.
• If you use a finger to follow along while reading.
• If you squint when you look into the distance.
• If you tend to tilt your head to see better.
• If you frequently rub your eyes.
• If you notice, you’ve become more sensitive to light.
• If you find that, your eyes are constantly tearing.
• If you close one eye in order to read, watch TV or see objects better.
If you see yourself, or any member of your family exhibit a combination of these mannerisms, have your eye check up with a licensed optometrist.
Don’t fall into the temptation of self prescribing or picking discount eyeglasses. You’ll end up damaging your eyes. That said, as you get older, you should have regular or annual eye exams. This will stop any early eye condition from worsening. Don’t think a one kind of prescription eyeglasses works for all kinds of eyes. You’ll get headaches, and make the problem permanent.
Ok, now you’ve got your eye condition properly diagnosed. You’re ready to pick your very own pair of prescription eyeglasses, what are the tips to remember? Should the frame be fashionable or frugal?
Well, if you are buying only one pair of prescription eyeglasses, it’s better to pick a classical pair.
Ask that your lenses be scratch resistant.
If your are buying for your child, whose prescription changes often, just keep changing the lenses so the prescription warrant this rather than to keep changing the frame.
You can resort to buying cheap frames, but you can not compromise on the quality of the lenses. If you need prescription eyeglasses, it’s always wise to go to a licensed optometrist. Protect your these two most precious resources.
Tim Gorman is a successful webmaster and publisher of Vision-Doctor.com an online website that offers discounts on contact lenses, sunglasses, vision-doctor.com/Discount-Eyeglasses.html popular eyeglasses and free information on LASIK eye surgery procedures that you can view in the privacy of your own home.
Scar Prevention and Alligator Embryos
The secret to scar-free healing comes from alligator embryos. It is a protein called transforming growth factor B3 (TGFB3), and a synthetic form of the protein is soon to be available in a product called Juvista.
Mark W. J. Ferguson discovered that TGFB3 helps to reduce scarring while studying cleft palates in alligators. Alligator palates develop in the same way as human palates. When Ferguson tried operating on alligator embryos in the womb, he discovered that the baby alligators were born with no scars. 20 years later he developed a prescription drug that helps to reduce scarring in humans. In 2000 Ferguson and Sharon O’Kane formed Renevo LTD.
Scar prevention and reduction can benefit cosmetic surgery patients in many ways. For years cosmetic surgeons have worked to reduce the effects of scarring, devising methods that allow for a smaller incision and finding ways to place incisions in less visible areas.
Preventing or reducing the development of scar tissue means that doctors and patients will have more freedom to choose how the procedure will be performed. Patients will no longer be forced to weigh the visual benefits of surgery against the appearance of scars.
Existing scars can be significantly reduced without the use of lasers or skin grafts. Juvista can significantly reduce existing scars with only two injections. An exact figure has not yet been announced, but Renevo expects Juvista injections to cost less than BOTOX.
While Juvista can lead to incredible improvements in cosmetic surgery, the benefits go far beyond appearances. For some people, scarring is a serious and debilitating problem, causing pain and loss of motion, and disfigurement. Burn and accident victims, who often have significant scarring over large areas of their bodies, will experience a significantly improved quality of life after scar reduction.
Renevo is currently developing drugs to prevent abdominal adhesions and reduce scarring in blood vessel, eyes and tendons. Juvista is its lead product and is still in clinical trials, but should be available in the U.S. soon.
If you are considering cosmetic surgery, wish to reduce existing scars, talk to your doctor about Juvista today.
The the-cosmetic-surgery-directory.com cosmetic surgery directory, the authoritative information resource about the-cosmetic-surgery-directory.com/procedures.html cosmetic surgery procedures and the-cosmetic-surgery-directory.com/articles_skincare.html skin care, has provided this article.
Tips To Relieving Your Bronchitis All On Your Own
Bronchitis is a disease that can affect the lungs, but usually only the respiratory system is the one affected. There are two types of bronchitis: acute and chronic bronchitis. Both of them can be treated at home, but the chronic bronchitis poses a little more problems than the acute type.
As it is an illness that affects the respiratory system, here are some tricks to make your breathing a little easier if suffering from bronchitis. Drinking a lot of fluids every day can help you very much. Fluids can help in keeping the mucus very thin, therefor easy to cough up. The best thing to drink in such conditions is water. Sugar products or dairy’s are better to be avoided, because they have a tendency to weaken your immune system and even produce more mucus.
Another useful trick is not to take any pills that suppress your cough. When you have acute bronchitis and you cough, mucus is brought up together with your cough, and believe it or not this is a good thing. If you take cough suppressants, mucus can buildup and cause serious complications, like pneumonia. Another medication that must not be taken is antihistamines. Instead of making you feel better, they can do a lot of damage. These medication dry your airways and cause the phlegm to thicken up, which can make your condition even worse than before.
Using a vaporizer or a humidifier is a very good idea. These help your airways stay moist. A worm bath can also do you very good. Another trick is to stay away from any things that can irritate your respiratory system, such as chemicals, paint, dust, and so on.
If your symptoms get worse after a couple of days, the smart thing to do is see a doctor.
Now, let me answer you a question that I believe it is in everybody’ s mind: what is the difference between bronchitis and pneumonia. Well, they are both respiratory diseases, but there are lots of differences between them. To better understand this, let us talk about each one of them.
First pneumonia: this is a very serious infection that takes place in the lungs. The alveoli, that usually help make the exchange of the oxygen in your lungs, get filled with pus, or other liquids. As you can imagine this is very bad because you then suffer from a lack of oxygen that together with the spread of the infection from the lungs can cause death.
Bronchitis does not affect the lungs, but the passage that carry the air from the trachea to the lungs. These airways can get inflamed of irritated, but they either get better on their own or with treatment. This condition is not a life threatening one, although it may have some serious complications.
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