Botox or Faux-tox: 84% Don’t Know the What They’re Injecting

If you’re injecting chemicals into your face, you’d think that knowing exactly what those chemicals are would be high on your list of priorities. However, according to a new study, the majority of youth-seekers are now furrowing their brows – which can’t be good for wrinkles – as 84% of patients have no idea whether their line smoothing treatment is Botox or Faux-tox.

 

While 67% of those surveyed by Transform Cosmetic Surgery researchers claimed that they were aware of wrinkle-smoorthing toxin treatments, 84% had no idea which one had been administered to them. In fact, when this same group of individuals were asked which products they knew of, they were only able to name Botox. However, this isn’t even the most worrying outcome of the investigation, as the research also revealed that more than a third of practitioners failed to tell patients which brand they were receiving. Even the ones that did aren’t shining examples of anti-ageing wellness, as just 20% explained the differences between the products and gave patients sufficient knowledge to choose the right product for them.

 

The research – which is part of a Transform campaign to raise awareness about the specifics of such treatments – also showed, perhaps somewhat sadly, that 67% of people would think having treatment showed that their partner cared about their looks. And it’s not just women who want to turn back the clock; now 90% think line smoothing treatments are no longer just for the girls. In a similar vein, what other people think was a big factor involved in choosing a practitioner, with, worryingly, more than half of those who undergo line-smoothing treatments doing so based on a friend’s or colleague’s recommendation.

 

On the face of it – no pun intended – this seems like a good idea as you know exactly what you’re getting. However, this may end up perpetuating the cycle of ignorance. After all, if the provider misinformed or didn’t advise your friend, you were probably given the same (lack of) information. And if practitioners are indeed not giving the advice they should, it’s really no wonder that 40% of patients are being given this prescription-only medicine in a non-clinical environment, while 4% are buying toxins over the internet!

 

According to Patricia Dunion, Managing Director at Transform, ‘As part of our CLEAR Patient Charter and in support of current reviews into the regulation of cosmetic surgery, we were keen to raise awareness of misconceptions around line & wrinkle treatments. Patients need to be better educated and armed with information they need to make the choices that are right for them. The findings, while worrying, haven’t come as a surprise to us as we have long suspected a lack of understanding and knowledge; perhaps exacerbated by less than forthcoming information from some practitioners. We hope that in highlighting this, consumers who wish to undergo non-surgical treatment for lines and wrinkles will ask better questions of their practitioner, and themselves if they are seeing a great “deal”, or a lower than usual price. At Transform, treatment may cost a little more, but it’s always conducted in a clinical environment, by medical staff using household named products.’

 

Dr Hilary Jones, an independent member of Transform’s Clear Panel, commented, ‘Informed consent is vital for any medical procedure and cosmetic interventions such as anti-wrinkle injections are no exception. It is essential that each patient understands exactly which product is being injected into their body and whether the brand of botulinum toxin used meets stringent standards of quality efficacy and above all safety, and has an enduring and proven track record. If someone is offered Botox specifically for example that is exactly what they should be given and nothing else.’

Categories: botox, clinical environment, cosmetic surgery, faux tox, Injecting, line smoothing, nbsp, Patients, raise awareness, smoothing treatments, transform

Six Ways to Spread Awareness about Today"s Health Issues

Disease is just as big a public concern today as it has always been. While modern medicine has allowed death rates from infections and some viruses to plummet, we’re not out of the woods health-wise. Instead, the diseases of the day take the form of things like cancer, serious digestive disorders, mental health issues, diabetes, heart disease and neurological illnesses.

 

Most people will, at some point, be touched by these diseases. Indeed, many people have a close friend or loved one that has suffered from one or more of these. Such experiences can make people want to increase awareness, either to promote better research or to help others who are affected. If you want to gain more awareness for a health issue, here are some ways to do it.

 

Word of Mouth

Word of mouth has long been one of the most effective methods of advertisement and promotion. Start helping your cause by talking to people about it. Begin with your friends and family, co-workers or anyone else you think will listen. Some of those people are bound to tell others and so on. The information keeps being passed on.

 

Social Networking

The advent of many popular social networking outlets makes it easier than ever to get the word out. The immense popularity of these sites means that thousands, if not millions, of people could view your page. Simply create a page for your particular cause, update it regularly with information and let the Internet do the rest. Post popular articles and news stories that are relevant to your cause, people will be more likely to share and re-post stories they find interesting.

 

Custom Gear

People love free stuff, and this gives you a great opportunity to raise awareness of your cause. Buttons from www.custombuttonco.com, are an ideal item because they’re inexpensive, come in many varieties and they can be custom-made. You should also consider items like lanyards, keychains and magnets, because of their functionality, people will look at repeatedly. This helps keep the cause in their minds and makes it more likely that they’ll spread the word. You can charge a small amount, something like $1, for these items and donate all the proceeds to your cause.

 

Rallies and Events

Consider holding a rally or event to raise awareness. It doesn’t have to be big or fancy. This is a good opportunity to raise money for your cause, too. People are more likely to spend money when they feel it’s for a good purpose and knowing they donated will make them feel good. It can be as simple as selling ice-cream or candy bars and donating the proceeds to your a charity that supports your cause.

 

Blogging

If a social networking site isn’t quite your thing, you can always start a blog. It may not get as much attention unless you actively promote it, but it’s still a start. This is a good platform for posting and analyzing related medical studies and news stories while expressing your own feelings and opinions on the matter. You can share your blog posts on your Twitter or Facebook account.

 

Fashion

Another ideal way to raise awareness is to appeal to people’s sense of fashion. Sell or raffle off t-shirts, pass out custom pins, or have some hats or bracelets made. When people wear these items, it’s like a walking billboard for your cause.

Cancer and other health problems are rampant in our country today. Most people have a family member or friend who is ailed by a common health problem. One of the best ways to help is to generate awareness and raise money for medical research. It doesn’t have to be hard work and you can start by trying a couple of these basic things.

Categories: Awareness, health, health issues, issues, nbsp, people, raise, raise awareness, raise money, social networking

Cystic Fibrosis Month

May is Cystic Fibrosis month. Learn more about Cystic Fibrosis and what we can all do to raise awareness and support the journey towards a cure…

The Cystic Fibrosis Foundation has designated May as CF awareness month. This life-shortening inherited disease affects almost 10,000 people in the UK and 30,000 in the United States.

What is Cystic Fibrosis?

Cystic Fibrosis comes from a faulty gene that controls the way salt and water moves in and out of cells in the body. This means the lungs and digestive system gets clogged with mucus. Breathing and digesting food becomes increasingly difficult as the disease progresses.

At the moment there is no cure for Cystic Fibrosis but the condition can be managed with medication, exercise, physiotherapy and nutrition. Today data from the Cystic Fibrosis Trust estimates that, “More than half of the CF population in the UK will live past 41, and improved care and treatments mean that a baby born today is expected to live even longer.”

Because Cystic Fibrosis is a genetic disease it can’t be caught or developed. However, one in 25 people carry the faulty CF gene which could be a consideration if you are thinking of starting a family.

Being screened or tested for Cystic Fibrosis

There are a number of different types of testing and screening that can be done to identify Cystic Fibrosis depending on your age and situation. If there is a history of the condition in you or your partner’s family then you can be tested easily by taking a sample of the cells from the inside of your mouth. The cells are then tested in a lab. Couples often decide to be tested before starting a family. This can be organised through your GP or if you have health insurance through a private provider.

Bupa’s Health Information Directory gives a comprehensive list of facts and advice on Cystic Fibrosis and pregnancy including the antenatal test Amniocentesis and Chorionic villus sampling. All new-born babies are screened for Cystic Fibrosis in the UK. A midwife will visit you and your baby about five days after the birth and collect a few drops of blood to be tested. Since some tests can provide inconclusive results there are three in total that can be used to determine if a baby has Cystic Fibrosis. The other two are sweat testing and genetic testing. This first test reads the level of salt in a baby’s sweat as people with CF have very high levels in their sweat. The second relies on a sample of saliva taken from inside the baby’s mouth. This test can confirm if a child has CF or is a carrier of the gene.

How can I help?

Cystic Fibrosis charities are always looking for willing volunteers to help them raise awareness and funds to support research into a cure and also help provide support and respite for people living with the condition. You can donate your money or your time by joining an event or organising your own. Companies often donate money to charities or organise team building events around raising money for good causes. It could be as simple as organising a bake sale at your office or as grand as suggesting your local or national Cystic Fibrosis charity be adopted as their national charity as Manchester United did for three years.

Has your company or workplace ever raised money for a Cystic Fibrosis organisation?

Categories: Baby, cystic, cystic fibrosis, Cystic Fibrosis Month, fibrosis, fibrosis month, help organisations, people, raise awareness, Screened, tested