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Showing posts with label treatment. Show all posts
Showing posts with label treatment. Show all posts
Cancer is a major health concern, which is why beating it is such a boost to your wellbeing. But what happens after you defeat cancer? In 2012, Kathryn McPeake noticed a lump in her chest—again. ‘I had just gotten my hair back and was feeling pretty,’ she recalls, but her doctor confirmed she had relapsed.
Wellness writer Nina Strochlic details, ‘It was a nightmare scenario—a realisation of a nagging fear that occupies the thoughts of most post-treatment survivors for the rest of their lives. Overshadowed by a focus on recovery through the months or years of chemotherapy and medical procedures, the aftermath of being declared cancer-free can be unexpectedly harsh. In the year following treatment, survivors say they’re unprepared for the reality that dawns instead of the expected bounce back into “normal” life. There are the long-lasting side effects, dismissal and isolation from family and friends, financial burden, and constant anxiety that sickness could return. Finishing treatment, they find, is just the beginning of lifestyle adjustments and reevaluated priorities that fall into place in the post-chemo year.’
McPeake explains, ‘It’s almost like you’re holding your breath through treatment and then, after, you breathe and everything else comes to the surface. I was almost bothered when people were like, “Congratulations, you’re done.”’ Traci Brundage, a 29-year-old mother of two who finished treatment for triple-negative breast cancer in February 2013, confirms, ‘Once you hit the “you’re-cancer-free” mark, you’re kind of forgotten about. People say, “Move on…why do you keep bringing it up?” I can’t snap my fingers and be back to who I was.’ Brundage started an online survivor’s support group one month after finishing her last treatment, to battle the isolation and find the help she felt she needed. She points out, ‘It’s a club you don’t wanna join, but the bond is unbreakable.’
McPeake is quick to note that the lack of preparation for these after-affects isn’t the doctors’ fault: ‘They’re just there to cure cancer, and once the cancer’s cured you almost don’t want to tell them about problems you’re having.’ After her second remission, McPeake – who once eschewed support groups – joined two on Facebook. ‘A big thing we talk about is how stupid we are,’ she comments of her fried mental capacity known as “chemo brain.” Brundage suggests that it’s especially hard for younger victims of breast cancer, as the diagnosis is traditionally associated with a later generation. She outlines, ‘I think there’s a lot more support for older women than for us. I think they think we think we’re invincible, but cancer brings us to our knees.’
Daniel Bachove, who got married one month after he finished his last dose of chemotherapy for stage 4 small bowel cancer, asserts, ‘We don’t know how much time we have or what kind of time we have, that’s why every moment is so important.’ Unexpected donations meant Bachove didn’t have to cut corners for his fiancé Mindy, which would otherwise have been a certainty due to the financial strain that the cancer put on their finances. He recalls thinking, ‘I want her to have a real wedding, not something to look back on and say, “Because I had cancer we couldn’t do this and couldn’t do that.”’ Now the wedding is over, Bachove needs to figure out the next chapter of his life. ‘I got used to a life of treatments every other week,’ he says. ‘It’s kind of like being released from jail. You are incarcerated when you have chemo, everything stops.’ Brundage adds, ‘Every day means a little more—you don’t take life for granted, you just take every moment and treasure it.’
Written by Jenny Catton
Estimates suggest that smokers could be costing the NHS over £5 billion each year so is it fair that smokers receive free healthcare for smoking-related illnesses?
No – Katie
People who choose to smoke are completely aware of the health risks. The dangers of smoking have been well publicised in marketing campaigns and even on packs of cigarettes so anyone who does smoke knows full well that it can cause serious illness. If despite the warnings, people still choose to smoke, they must be responsible for the consequences and this should include paying for their own healthcare if they become ill.
Smokers are a huge burden on the NHS – why should tax payers who live healthy lifestyles be penalised by having to pay higher taxes to fund treatment for smokers? The NHS doesn’t have enough money to treat everyone and it isn’t fair that people who have become ill through no fault of their own should go without treatment in order to pay for smokers. If the NHS didn’t have to spend so much money on smokers, they would be able to fund research and treatment in other areas.
Many smokers who do receive treatment for a smoking-related illness don’t even give up smoking! I’ve seen patients stood outside hospitals smoking – so any money spent on making them better is just a waste as inevitably they are going to carry on smoking and possibly get ill again. Perhaps if smokers knew they would have to pay for their own medical treatment it would provide an extra deterrent to smoking in the first place.
Yes – Liam
We are very lucky to have the NHS in the UK and one of the great things about the NHS is that everyone is entitled to free treatment regardless of their lifestyle choices. To ask smokers to pay for treatment would mean radically changing the founding principles of the NHS. This would not only put smokers at risk but could lead to changes for other groups of people too. For example, if we decide smokers should be charged for treatment, then the next natural step would be charge people who drink alcohol or eat unhealthily too. Where would this stop? No-one should be afraid of seeking medical treatment because they are worried about the potential costs.
People say that smokers are aware of the risks when they smoke and this is true but a skier knows that they risk breaking a leg when they go skiing – should they therefore be made to pay for treatment if they have an accident?
The cost of treating smokers is often cited as an argument against giving smokers free healthcare but it’s important to remember that the Government receives billions of pounds in tobacco taxation. If they allocated this money directly to treating smoking-related illnesses then I suspect that smokers would be covering the cost of their own healthcare anyway.
Rather than constantly attacking smokers, we should continue to provide treatment to everyone who needs it and then help them to give up smoking as part of their recovery.
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When you look in the mirror, you might see teeth that are crooked because there isn’t enough space in the mouth for all of them to grow in properly. There could be teeth that have gaps in between them. You might have difficulty eating or talking because of the condition of your teeth. Orthodontics gives more than just a beautiful smile. It can change the entire layout of your mouth.
Self-Esteem
One of the reasons why you might want to consider orthodontic treatment is to increase your self-esteem. If you don’t see straight teeth that give you the beautiful smile that you want, then it can play a factor on how you feel about the rest of your appearance. When you start seeing that the teeth can be straight with orthodontics, then you can feel better about the way that you look. Orthodontic treatment isn’t just for teenagers who feel as though they want to have straight teeth. Adults can have the treatment as well so that they have teeth that are aligned properly to give the desired appearance.
Biting Down
If you notice that you have problems with biting on foods, then orthodontic treatment can solve this issue. According to the Coquitlam Centre Dental Clinic, braces can help pull the teeth into an alignment so that you have a natural bite. You won’t have the top teeth that extend over the lower jaw or bottom teeth that seem to appear as though they are in front of your mouth. Creating a natural bite can take some of the tension off of the jaws. This can decrease any headaches that you might have as well as relieve pressure on the gums and teeth.
Crowding
Some people have a mouth that doesn’t have enough room for all of the teeth inside. This can cause the teeth to be crooked, and if the teeth are crooked, it can be hard for them to function properly while you’re eating. When the wisdom teeth grow in, there likely won’t be room, so they will either grow under the back teeth or further push the teeth together in the front of the mouth. After a few teeth are pulled, orthodontic treatment can be used to get the teeth back in a straight line. When the teeth aren’t crowded, there will be a decrease in bacteria build up, which will decrease the chances of cavities forming or teeth chipping.
Orthodontic treatment is ideal for teenagers and adults who want a straight smile or if there are issues involving the teeth that need to be corrected for your overall health. The treatment doesn’t last long. Most people are out of braces or other methods of treatment in only one or two years. The smile that you have as a result will be something that you want others to see.
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By Jenny Hope, Medical Correspondent for the Daily Mail
A new once-daily hormone treatment has boosted the sex lives of older women.
Using VagiCap increased by a third the number of women getting sexual satisfaction, say findings from a trial.
The treatment, which is not yet available, is aimed at women who experience pain during sex and other symptoms caused by the menopause.
More than half of post-menopausal women suffer vaginal dryness that can make sex uncomfortable because of a lack of the hormone oestrogen.
A new gel claims to be able to boost a woman’s sex life after the menopause – by relieving the pain and discomfort associated with a lack of oestrogen
The new treatment is a tear-shaped softgel capsule designed for easy insertion once a day, alleviating local symptoms.
However, the oestrogen has less effect throughout the body than hormone replacement therapy (HRT) which should lessen any side effects.
Dr Sheryl Kingsberg, chief of the Division of Behavioral Medicine Department at UH Case Medical Center in Cleveland, presented the trial at the International Society of Women’s Sexual Health Annual Meeting, in Austin, Texas.
Dr Kingsberg said: ‘Menopause is typically associated with hot flashes (flushes), but there are other common and distressing symptoms such as pain and discomfort during sex due to lack of oestrogen.
‘Approximately 30 million women in the United States experience this condition, which can really impact their quality of life.’
She said the VagiCap, if approved by regulatory authorities, could be a treatment that women ‘may find to be convenient and easy to use’.
At least half of menopausal women experience uncomfortable, often distressing symptoms such as dryness -making sex painful.
In the UK, the average age of the menopause is 51 years, when periods stop and oestrogen hormone levels decline.
Research earlier this week found at least half of menopausal women experienced uncomfortable, often distressing symptoms for more than seven years on average and often much longer.
The latest study involved women between the ages of 40-75 who were assigned to use the VagiCap once daily – usually at the same time in the morning – or a placebo (dummy) treatment.
A qualitative survey by the researchers found that 63 per cent of women on the VagiCap reported an improvement in quality of life after only two weeks of therapy treatment, compared to 48 per cent on the placebo.
Dr Kingsberg said: ‘For many women, symptoms such as these have a major impact on frequency and spontaneity of their sexual activity.
‘It is essential that health care attendants routinely engage in open and sensitive discussions with postmenopausal women to ensure that symptomatic atrophy is detected early and appropriately managed.’
New treatment options have the potential to improve satisfaction for these women, she said.
‘There is medical consensus that oestrogen administered locally is the preferred mode of treatment for both symptom reduction and restoring and maintaining healthy vaginal tissue and sexual function’ she added.
TherapeuticsM, manufacturers of the VagiCap, began a phase three trial in September 2014 which is investigating 4 mcg, 10 mcg and 25 mcg doses of oestrogen as different options to meet women’s treatment needs.
Keeping a positive attitude during addiction rehab may sound difficult, even unrealistic. But a conscious effort to remain positive is a goal that is achievable, and it can be one of the most important and helpful aspects of recovery. It isn’t difficult to imagine that a person suffering from substance abuse cannot, on a very deep level, be happy about themselves or their life. But learning to think and act in a positive way can help tremendously by re-wiring the brain and giving it a new path to take the place of the old one.
A Healthy Lifestyle
Of course, substance abuse takes a tremendous toll on the body and causes neglect in all areas of self-care. An important part of recovery and learning to be positive includes learning new habits, like good nutrition, regular exercise and getting enough sleep. A regular bedtime, a walk around the block, and a healthy way of eating are new habits that help feeling and thinking positively.
Recognizing the Goodness Inside of You
It is challenging to overcome a bad self-image that has been fed by addiction. But this is the time to dig down, find the good qualities that you possess and own them. When you finish a book that interests you or hold the door open for someone, recognize that you have a good brain and genuine kindness in you. Build on those realizations and let them take on the importance they deserve.
Giving Back
Giving without expectations of reward or recognition is an extremely effective way to learn to feel good about yourself. It can be volunteering at a library or shelter, knitting caps for newborns or helping clean up a neighborhood park. Big or small, these selfless actions are a powerful confidence builders.
Spiritual Practice
Regardless of what you believe, many report spirituality as an excellent coping strategy to fall back on during the tougher times in the recovery process. Creative people often feel a sense of spirituality when painting, playing or listening music or journaling. Some can feel the wonder of the universe just from taking a walk in the woods. Still others find that regular meditation is the way to feel connected to something bigger than themselves. And feeling that connection—the feeling of not being alone in the universe—is extremely important and positive.
These are just a few of the ways to learn, grow and incorporate positive thinking and behavior into your life. Enrolling in a drug rehab center can provide you with the support you may need to maintain a positive attitude. Allowing this new outlook on life to take root and flourish in you is a powerful way to help you find and build a positive future.
Estimates suggest that smokers could be costing the NHS over £5 billion each year so is it fair that smokers receive free healthcare for smoking-related illnesses?
No – Katie
People who choose to smoke are completely aware of the health risks. The dangers of smoking have been well publicised in marketing campaigns and even on packs of cigarettes so anyone who does smoke knows full well that it can cause serious illness. If despite the warnings, people still choose to smoke, they must be responsible for the consequences and this should include paying for their own healthcare if they become ill.
Smokers are a huge burden on the NHS – why should tax payers who live healthy lifestyles be penalised by having to pay higher taxes to fund treatment for smokers? The NHS doesn’t have enough money to treat everyone and it isn’t fair that people who have become ill through no fault of their own should go without treatment in order to pay for smokers. If the NHS didn’t have to spend so much money on smokers, they would be able to fund research and treatment in other areas.
Many smokers who do receive treatment for a smoking-related illness don’t even give up smoking! I’ve seen patients stood outside hospitals smoking – so any money spent on making them better is just a waste as inevitably they are going to carry on smoking and possibly get ill again. Perhaps if smokers knew they would have to pay for their own medical treatment it would provide an extra deterrent to smoking in the first place.
Yes – Liam
We are very lucky to have the NHS in the UK and one of the great things about the NHS is that everyone is entitled to free treatment regardless of their lifestyle choices. To ask smokers to pay for treatment would mean radically changing the founding principles of the NHS. This would not only put smokers at risk but could lead to changes for other groups of people too. For example, if we decide smokers should be charged for treatment, then the next natural step would be charge people who drink alcohol or eat unhealthily too. Where would this stop? No-one should be afraid of seeking medical treatment because they are worried about the potential costs.
People say that smokers are aware of the risks when they smoke and this is true but a skier knows that they risk breaking a leg when they go skiing – should they therefore be made to pay for treatment if they have an accident?
The cost of treating smokers is often cited as an argument against giving smokers free healthcare but it’s important to remember that the Government receives billions of pounds in tobacco taxation. If they allocated this money directly to treating smoking-related illnesses then I suspect that smokers would be covering the cost of their own healthcare anyway.
Rather than constantly attacking smokers, we should continue to provide treatment to everyone who needs it and then help them to give up smoking as part of their recovery.
Estimates suggest that smokers could be costing the NHS over £5 billion each year so is it fair that smokers receive free healthcare for smoking-related illnesses?
No – Katie
People who choose to smoke are completely aware of the health risks. The dangers of smoking have been well publicised in marketing campaigns and even on packs of cigarettes so anyone who does smoke knows full well that it can cause serious illness. If despite the warnings, people still choose to smoke, they must be responsible for the consequences and this should include paying for their own healthcare if they become ill.
Smokers are a huge burden on the NHS – why should tax payers who live healthy lifestyles be penalised by having to pay higher taxes to fund treatment for smokers? The NHS doesn’t have enough money to treat everyone and it isn’t fair that people who have become ill through no fault of their own should go without treatment in order to pay for smokers. If the NHS didn’t have to spend so much money on smokers, they would be able to fund research and treatment in other areas.
Many smokers who do receive treatment for a smoking-related illness don’t even give up smoking! I’ve seen patients stood outside hospitals smoking – so any money spent on making them better is just a waste as inevitably they are going to carry on smoking and possibly get ill again. Perhaps if smokers knew they would have to pay for their own medical treatment it would provide an extra deterrent to smoking in the first place.
Yes – Liam
We are very lucky to have the NHS in the UK and one of the great things about the NHS is that everyone is entitled to free treatment regardless of their lifestyle choices. To ask smokers to pay for treatment would mean radically changing the founding principles of the NHS. This would not only put smokers at risk but could lead to changes for other groups of people too. For example, if we decide smokers should be charged for treatment, then the next natural step would be charge people who drink alcohol or eat unhealthily too. Where would this stop? No-one should be afraid of seeking medical treatment because they are worried about the potential costs.
People say that smokers are aware of the risks when they smoke and this is true but a skier knows that they risk breaking a leg when they go skiing – should they therefore be made to pay for treatment if they have an accident?
The cost of treating smokers is often cited as an argument against giving smokers free healthcare but it’s important to remember that the Government receives billions of pounds in tobacco taxation. If they allocated this money directly to treating smoking-related illnesses then I suspect that smokers would be covering the cost of their own healthcare anyway.
Rather than constantly attacking smokers, we should continue to provide treatment to everyone who needs it and then help them to give up smoking as part of their recovery.
Getting a little nip and tuck in the pursuit of beauty has never been so popular. But is cosmetic surgery worth the financial, physical, and emotional pain?
Yes – Carl
Once it was only the rich and famous that could dream of cosmetic surgery but now a range of different enhancements are easily available, making it more accessible for everyone. So if you’re not happy with your looks and you can afford the treatment, then why not?
I began having treatments about 10 years ago. I was starting to look and feel old and that was making me depressed. The more unhappy I felt, the worse I looked. I was trapped in a vicious cycle and decided to do something about it by dealing with my appearance.
I used Botox to treat the frown lines on my forehead and the difference it made was amazing – I looked so much better. Since then, I’ve also had eye-lid surgery as my eyes had become puffy and baggy with age. After I’d healed from the surgery, I felt amazing. I look younger and feel happy again. My friends have all commented on the improvement.
I haven’t had any other work done yet but I wouldn’t rule it out in the future. After all, we’re all living longer and like many others, I want to enjoy my old age rather than hiding away. I like to go out and looking good is important to me.
For me, however, cosmetic surgery isn’t just about looks – it’s about confidence too. The popularity of cosmetic surgery means that the costs are coming down; making it more accessible for normal people. And yes, it can be painful while you’re having treatment but I believe it’s a short-term pain for long-term benefits.
No – Beth
I think it’s really sad that our society puts so much pressure on people to look a certain way – to the point where they will pay for painful, expensive, and sometimes risky procedures in a bid to change their looks.
If you’re unhappy in life it’s easy to think that making a change to your appearance will make all the difference. But usually it’s not the wrinkles, big nose, or small boobs that’s the real problem. Often people focus on their appearance when really there are psychological issues that need resolving. This is why surgery is addictive – people think that it will solve their problems and in the short-term they may feel better but when their insecurities come flooding back, they seek out more surgery to try and counteract the negative feelings.
The results of cosmetic surgery don’t always last that long so once you start having treatment it can be a slippery slope to years of surgery. And even though treatments are becoming more common, they are still ridiculously expensive. I’d much rather spend thousands of pounds travelling the world – and I’m sure that would make me happier than a boob job would! The risks also put me off – we’ve all seen pictures of celebrities with cosmetic surgery that’s gone wrong. And the risks aren’t just about how you’ll look after the surgery; there are health risks too. The PIP breast implants scandal showed that cosmetic surgeons can sometimes get things massively wrong – resulting in stress and harm for thousands of people. For me, the risks just aren’t worth it – I’ll just stick to make-up, thank you.
Inside of every tooth is a small area known as the pulp chamber. The pulp chamber houses the soft tissue that keeps the tooth alive, and this makes any damage to this area extremely risky. If the pulp becomes infected it can lead to serious discomfort and infect nearby tissue and other teeth. This issue is relatively common and one of the best treatment options is a root canal, also referred to as an endodontic treatment. Millions of these treatments are successfully carried out every year, and here is a look at three of the most common signs that a root canal may be needed.
1. An Overly Sensitive Tooth
A sensitive tooth or tender gums around the tooth is a common sign that the pulp within the tooth is damaged or diseased. Most patients will notice this sensitivity when eating or drinking hot or cold foods. They may also experience extra sensitivity any time that other objects come into contact with that specific tooth or the soft tissue around the tooth. This may include when brushing, flossing, chewing on gum, or even when talking. Any sensitivity in the mouth is a cause for concern and should be checked immediately.
2. Discolored Teeth or Gums
According to Smith Family Dental, a Utah family dentist, another common symptom that could indicate damaged or diseased pulp is discoloration around the tooth or gums. When the pulp becomes damaged it can no longer nourish or protect the outer layers of enamel and dentin. For some patients, this will mean a slight discoloration of the tooth that gets worse as time goes on. The infected cells could also leak out of the tooth and begin to damage the surrounding gums. Patients could notice sores on their gums or gums that have become especially bright or dark when compared to the rest of the mouth.
3. Swollen Soft Tissue
If the gums or other soft tissue around the mouth become swollen at any time and there has not been direct trauma patients should schedule an immediate appointment with their dentist. The mouth is home to a variety of bacteria, some of which is good and some of which can be harmful. When the harmful bacteria is coming damaged teeth or diseased pulp it can result in swelling around the tooth, bleeding, and discomfort. Any swelling lasting longer than a day is generally due to a more severe issue that must be treated.
Root canals are now more stress-free and pain-free than ever. Anyone experiencing any of these three symptoms should contact their dentist immediately and discuss their options for treatment.
The degenerative disc disease is normally the reason why a person suffers from lower back pain. Although such disease may trigger the symptoms of lower back pain, there is still good news to this. That is- the pain is normally controllable with a variety of different treatment options.
Sufferer’s Goal
Majority of suffers of degenerative disc disease endure the symptoms of lower back pain that periodically flare up, although it doesn’t worsen over time. For these individuals, their major objectives for coping with lower back pain due to degenerative disc disease are the following:
- To get sufficient pain relief so they can engage in exercises for lower back pain and join in a healing program.
- To prevent the use of too much stress on the disc by means of appropriate posture and ergonomics.
- To try to control the lower back pain and be able to maintain the ability to effectively function at work and home.
Most kinds of surgery for continuing, incapacitating pain and failure to function due to degenerative disc disease are somewhat extensive, therefore it is normally for the benefit of many patients to be able to cope with lower back pain through non-surgical procedures and self-help. Eventually, lower back pain and other degenerative disc disease symptoms will gradually subside. Degenerative disc disease occurs as the disc begins to become firmer with age, and a firmer disc calms down the motion segment and hence lessens pain.
Lower Back Pain Treatment for Degenerative Disc Disease
The pain caused by degenerative disc disease is due to the mixture of the inflammation in the degenerated disc and the unsteadiness at the motion segment. Both the inflammation and unsteadiness need to be dealt with in treating back pain in order to be effective. To know more about back pain click here Spine Tech.
The treatments are even classified as active and passive. It is active when performed by the patient, and it is passive when it is performed to the patient. Normally, a mixture of treatments is utilized to help in controlling the symptoms.
Below are some of the passive treatments for lower back pain due to degenerative disc disease:
- Pain Medication
Usual pain medications used to cure lower back pain are NSAIDs, narcotic drugs, muscle relaxants, acetaminophen, and oral steroids. Each kind of medicine has strength, weakness and risks. The specific lower back problem of the patient and overall health are the determinants of which pain medication is necessary.
2. Epidural injections
This is injected through the spine to deliver steroids which can offer lower back pain relief be lessening the soreness in the affected area.
3. Massage
Therapeutic massage on the lower back is known to give lower back pain relief by enhancing blood flow, lessening muscle stiffness, escalating range of motion and increasing the levels of endorphin in the body.
On the other hand, below are active treatments for lower back pain:
- Exercise
For most sufferers, the only means to obtain long lasting healing is through active exercises. These exercises normally involved stretching to reduce low back pain, strengthening the low back to reduce pain, stretching and low-force aerobic exercises.
2. Stopping Smoking
Sufferers who also smoke are advised by their doctors to stop smoking in order to enhance their chance of healing and improve their blood circulation.
3. Weight Loss
In order to lessen the pain in the lower back, overweight sufferers should do something to lose weight. Once a sufferer loses weight, the quantity of stress in the ligaments and muscles of the lower back is also lessened.
If you have gingivitis, your gums are sensitive and they might bleed a bit when you floss or brush. If you have serious gingivitis, your gums can bleed just from eating foods that put pressure on the teeth like apples. This is not only uncomfortable but unhealthy. Be proactive and follow the advice set forth below to begin your fight against gingivitis.
Brush and Floss Twice a Day at a Minimum
If you don’t brush and floss on a regular basis, you leave deposits of plaque, a sticky film of bacteria and food particles, around your teeth. When plaque hardens into tartar along the gum lines, the gums become irritated and gingivitis occurs. Make sure that you clean your teeth at least twice a day, preferably after eating.
Seek Help from a Dentist
If your teeth develop plaque that hardens into tartar, you will have to visit with a dentist to have it removed. There is no other way to remove tartar from your teeth. If you live near Edmonton, schedule an appointment with Saddleback Dental Centre. Dentists like Dr. N. W. Kherani will not only remove the tartar from your teeth, but they’ll also help reverse the gingivitis so that you don’t experience infections, swelling and bleeding.
Clean Your Teeth the Right Way
Instead of following the same teeth cleaning methods that you learned as a child, switch things up. The proper way to clean your mouth is to floss first to remove any food that is caught between the teeth. Then rinse out your mouth with mouthwash to eliminate even more particles. This will also allow help to keep the fluoride on your teeth while you brush. When you brush, brush all the way to the gums and at a 45 degree angle in small circular motions. Then use a tongue scraper to scrape your tongue to eliminate bacteria and prevent halitosis.
Be Mindful of What You Eat
If your nutrition is poor, your body will be less capable of fighting germs. Germs are part of the cause of gingivitis. Avoid sugary foods that stick to the teeth as they’ll directly feed bacteria in the mouth. Avoid foods that are high in acid as well. Try to consume vegetables, complex carbohydrates and drink mainly water.
If you follow the tips listed above, you’ll reduce your gums’ sensitivity and you might eventually eliminate gingivitis entirely. Your own actions determine the fate of your gums. The effort that you put into the fight against gingivitis will be a direct determinant of your oral health.
Your cornea is the portion of your eye that covers the iris and pupil and defines the shape of your eye lens. On a normal eye, both the cornea and lens have curvature that’s equal in all directions to allow light rays to adequately focus onto the retina.
Astigmatism occurs when the cornea or lens is not smooth or has irregular curvature. When this happens, light rays don’t reflect in the same way they do on a normal eye.
There are different variations of astigmatism, including corneal,which is defined by an irregularly shaped cornea. Another is when there is a distortion in the eye’s lens, which is known as lenticular.
Regardless of the type of irregularity or astigmatism an individual suffers from, the result is blurriness and overall distortion of how you see things.
Most people that have this issue are born with it, which is very common. If you have astigmatism, it’s also possible to be afflicted with other vision problems, such as nearsightedness, also known as myopia and farsightedness, which is known as hyperopia.
Frequently when a child has this issue, he or she may not notice there is a problem. It may be an issue that is not discovered until a person is a teenager or even an adult. Unfortunately, vision problemsthat are not corrected early can cause extended issues in a child’s life, including trouble with in school and outside activities. For this reason, vision professionals recommend children have an eye exam on a regular basis to detect and correct astigmatism or any other vision problem as soon as possible.
The Causes
The shape of your cornea is a difference that can vary significantly between individuals. If someone is born with astigmatism, there’s not a real reason that can be pinpointed as causing the condition, although your likelihood of having it is can be affected by genetics.In some cases, if you’re not born with this issue, it can result from something like an eye disease, injury, or surgery.
Contrary to popular belief, astigmatism will not develop or get more severe because you read in dim lighting or sit too close to a computer or television screen.
The Symptoms of Astigmatism
Aside from vision problems, you may have headaches, feel like your eyes are being strained, or constantly find yourself squinting to see things in front of you.
Getting a Diagnosis
If you feel you may suffer from astigmatism, it is important to request an eye exam as soon as possible.During your exam, the practitioner will take a number of steps, including measuring your visual acuity. This simply means you’ll be asked to read a chart containing letters and numbers to determine your vision at varying distances.
In addition to the standard chart reading, the doctor will look at how effectively your eyes are able to focus by placing different lenses in front of you. Your cornea’s curvature will be measured using a device called a keratometer.
With this series of non-invasive tests, an eye doctor can diagnose whether or not you have astigmatism.
Treatment Options
The most common corrective measure for astigmatism is the use of glasses or contact lenses. During your eye exam your eye doctor will determine the power of lenses you’ll require in order to see clearly.
Many popular manufacturers are creating lenses specifically to address this malady. Acuvue has created Oasys for Astigmatism, found here; andtoric lenses are made by Frequency and can be found here. In some cases, it may be recommended corrective surgery, such as LASIK or any number of other possible corrective procedures designed to remedy problems associated with astigmatism. No matter what route you take though, it is crucial that you obtain the guidance of a medical professional.
**This article has been contributed by Dan Cheong.
With modern life, many new behaviors and substances have emerged that have caused more addictive behavior in society. There are few families who have not had a member or several members struggle with addiction of some sort or another. Addictions to pornography, drugs, alcohol, eating, and electronic devices are among the most common addictions, but an addiction can be anything that you habitually do and is disruptive to the productivity of your life. Treating an addiction the right way is the best hope to recovery.
Recognize the Impact of Your Addiction
You’ve recognized your addiction, and that’s why your looking for more information about how to address it. Recognition and acceptance are the first steps to recovery. Once you realize you have an issue, you need to determine the seriousness of your addiction. Some addictions are more annoying than seriously disruptive. Essentially, any addiction that is harming your health, preventing you from working, or harmful to others requires treatment. You will want to seek medical help to determine what kind of treatment will be best suited to your current situation.
Get Treatment Promptly
Any addiction that is stripping you of dignity and the ability to function normally should be treated immediately. When something becomes dangerous to your physical health, such as drugs, you could be putting your very life in jeopardy. Addictions that affect both physical and mental health should be treated through dual treatment programs, which are available at rehabilitation centers like the INSynergy Rehab Treatment Center. Such programs aim to heal the physical ailments and correct the mental disorders that affect people with addictions.
Follow the Path You’ve Been Given to Recovery
Through dual treatment, you may be given medication and different psychological treatment to follow. By following the instructions of your physicians and implementing the tools they give you when you are back in the real world, you will have a much better chance of staying clean. Finding positive activities to replace bad habits that lead to your addiction will also help you remain on the path your physicians give you.
Determining how serious your addiction is, seeking treatment, and staying on the road to recovery will help you remain in a safe place. It’s best to act quickly and to do what you can to distance yourself from thoughts and actions that may lead you back to addiction behaviors. With modern treatment centers, there is compassionate and effective help available to all who seek it.
While HIV can have an impact on anyone’s wellbeing, the sexually transmitted disease (STD) is particularly associated with those of the LGBT community. However, HIV is a virus that hits the sexual health of people, not sexualities. According to wellness writer Chris Jones, ‘A radical re-think is underway in the area of HIV, its prevention and its treatment. While we are seeing what feels like an ever increasing reduction in support for LGBT across the world, and something of a religious backlash underway in so-called civilised societies, we are also seeing breakthroughs in treatments and therapies for HIV, provided the people who need it are given access to the treatments.’ But how do you ensure that the treatments are given to those who need it?
‘A consortium of groups including the European Aids Treatment Group (EATG), Global Network of People Living with HIV (GNP+) and the National Aids Manual (NAMS) issued a joint statement on 27/12/2014 to encourage, almost demand the basic human rights of individuals to choose their treatment – especially in terms of preventative treatments,’ says Jones. ‘Their statement calls for the choice to start treatment belonging to the individual concerned, and not the state, doctor or charity. This is so that treatment is seen as a benefit to the individual, and not to aid anyone else or further their agenda. HIV treatment has been proven to increase life expectancy and should be available to anyone who wants or needs it, without social stigma or fear of legal reprisals.’
In certain regimes, treatment is indeed available, but not in a way that will actually help. Jones details, ‘Greece in 2012 introduced mandatory testing for some women, in 2013 it was re-introduced and gave the police the right to stop anyone they suspect of being HIV+ and forcibly testing them. Botswana is another country currently considering mandatory testing. Add these to the recent legislative changes in Russia and these measures can only serve to drive HIV underground and prevent those who need treatment from obtaining it. Repressive regimes have shown time and time again that their stance against LGBT is linked to HIV, and as a result the most vulnerable in their societies are denied basic healthcare and endanger the global fight against HIV and its spread. Some of the worst regimes (Russia/Ukraine) have some of the lowest proportion of people on treatment, but the highest mortality rates.’
Jones points out, ‘Antiretroviral Therapy (ART) has been shown to decrease the chances of passing the disease by 96%, as one of the biggest issues facing someone HIV+ is the risk of passing the disease to someone else. ART has been proven to effectively render the patient non-infectious. This doesn’t negate the need for standard prevention (condoms, etc) but goes a long way towards that day. The recent statement release by this consortium is simply that – a statement that shows the common sense approach on offer there – but one that is constantly under threat from narrow minded legislation that will, inevitably, do more damage than good.’
Jones concludes, ‘As the statement says, ART itself will not end the epidemic, but it is an essential component. I am no expert in this field, and more than willing to listen to anyone who is – I grew up alongside this disease, have lost friends and lovers to it and the prospect of it getting hold of newer generations when we have, within our grasp, the tools to help eradicate it, is nonsensical and abhorrent. Go over to the site and add your voice. If you have questions, ask them, get this topic back on the agenda and up for discussion, alongside the erosion of LGBT rights worldwide. But don’t forget, HIV is a virus that hits people, not sexualities! You can see and sign the statement at www.HIVt4p.org.’
A new study has found that the health concerns associated with the wellness and wellbeing of children who live with smokers could be more serious than previously thought. A shocking report shows that children who are exposed to cigarette smoke at home do not respond as well to asthma treatment as those who live with non-smoking parents in a non-smoking household.
Children who are regularly exposed to cigarette smoke had lower levels of an enzyme that helps them to respond to the main asthma treatments. This report was published in a journal called Chest recently.
This is bad news, as the number of children in the UK who have asthma is on the increase. Over a million children in this country are believed to be suffering from asthma, and they are most commonly treated by steroids and inhalers. For some patients, however, these treatments are not totally effective, leaving them unprotected from harm in the event of an attack.
It is now known that passive smoke can not only worsen the symptoms of asthma in children, but can actually impair their response to treatments in the form of inhaled steroids. It is not yet known how or why this effect occurs.
Researchers into the subject have found that children who have severe asthma, and parents who smoke at home, have a lower level of an enzyme called HDAC2, especially when compared like for like with children who do not have smoking parents.
This enzyme – HDAC2 – is required in the human body to help it benefit from steroids, and to allow them to exert their anti-inflammatory type effects over the symptoms of asthma.
To come to this conclusion, researchers looked at a group of 19 children who were suffering from severe asthma. Nine of the children in the group had a parent who smoked whilst ten of the children had parents who were non smokers.
“Cancer” just might be the scariest word a patient can hear from a doctor’s mouth. It sounds like a death knell, like a pronouncement of the end. But with all the research and treatment options available to cancer patients in this day and age, many patients who are diagnosed with cancer will find themselves returning to or continuing on with their normal lives. What can make the difference? Hope.
Hope Can Keep You Going
Hope can be the motivation to accept or continue treatment even when it’s hard to go through. It can keep your spirits up day by day and hour by hour. Finding hope can help you look past today’s trials and tribulations toward the better days to come. Hope lends us strength in the hard times, as it has for centuries.
Explore Your Many Options
Treatment professionals like the ones at Century Wellness Clinic can help you locate sources of hope. You might also find hope in little personal things, like an upcoming birthday, a visit from a friend or a movie you plan to see. Look for hope in the words of cancer survivors, in person or through the many online references available. Find hope in the research of organizations like the American Cancer Society.
Everyone Has Unique Sources
What provides hope for one person might not work for you, and that’s perfectly normal. If what you find isn’t giving you hope, don’t give up. And don’t hesitate to ask someone for help, or use more than one source for help. Reaching out to others may even be something that brings you hope all by itself. Find what works for you.
Yours is Renewable
Even when it seems like everything is at it’s gloomy worst, there are still more things to find that offer hope. A friend can often help find them. A professional can guide you toward them. Someone who’s already gone through what you’re going through can show you some. Sometimes it’s just a matter of looking harder, or finding something to look forward to, especially when you’ve thought your hope is lost. You can always get it back.
There is hope in even the smallest things in life. And hope can give you the emotional strength to continue, even in the face of something as frightening as cancer. Reach for it, and let it help you through your whole treatment plan. And all of your life!
Prostate cancer is a sexual health issue that can negatively impact all areas of your wellbeing. According to recent projections from the American Cancer Society, of the 232,090 new cases to be diagnosed, about 30,350 men will die from prostate cancer. This is why it’s so important to get tested early and often, and find the right treatment.
According to Licensed Acupuncturist Dr. Mao Shing Ni, PhD, who has diplomas in Chinese Herbology and Anti-Ageing Wellness, ‘If you are a man over the age of 40 and prostate cancer runs in your family, it is extremely advisable to monitor your Prostate Specific Antigen (PSA) levels. A PSA blood test measures the level of a protein released by prostate cells. Recent experts state that if a PSA level is 2.5 or higher, it reveals the possibility of prostate growth (hyperplasia), but it does not always mean that cancer is present. Since PSA levels may fluctuate with infection and lab errors, usually more than one test over a period of time is done to confirm your PSA level. Digital Rectal Exam (DRE) and ultrasound are other ways to evaluate the prostate. However, only biopsies can truly determine whether the growth in the prostate is benign or malignant.’
So what exactly is your prostate, and why does it become more likely to be damaged as you age? ‘The prostate gland lies at the base of the bladder surrounding the urethra (urinary tract from bladder to penis),’ Dr. Mao explains. ‘During ejaculation, the prostate secretes a fluid that combines with the seminal fluid in order to prevent infection in the urethra while protecting and invigorating sperm. Due to the ageing process, the prostate naturally enlarges as hormones change and weaken after the age of 40. The swelling of the prostate puts pressure against the bladder and urethra, thereby affecting the smooth flow of urine. Abnormal patterns of urination such as higher frequency at night, burning sensation, difficulty, blockage and dribbling are common symptoms and signs of prostate enlargement.’
But why are we asking a Traditional Chinese Medicine specialist about prostate cancer? Dr. Mao notes, ‘TCM associates hyperplasia of the prostate with damp heat and kidney deficiency. After the age of 40, one’s vital energy in the kidney system decreases, resulting in the disturbance of sex hormones. This process also decreases one’s sexual energy, which affects the function of the prostate and the circulation in this region. Throughout the ages, in order to compensate for the decline of prostate function, men in China have used regular acupuncture treatments to improve the circulation and energy in the prostate.’
Dr. Mao continues, ‘To enhance the effect of acupuncture, they have also used Chinese herbs such as Poly Goni He Shou Wu, in traditional, custom herbal formulas to replenish the kidney essence. In fact, at Tao of Wellness, we have had many successful cases of normalising elevated PSA levels in patients with prostate conditions. Kidney essence nurtures the prostate. As the prostate is revitalised, it is now capable of self-regulating toward normal functioning and maintaining a balance of growth and non-growth. This is the balancing property of Chinese medicine.’
Dr. Mao adds, ‘TCM nutrition encourages men to eat more nuts, seeds, pumpkin, mushroom and berries to help nourish their prostate. Managing stress, regular exercise and massaging the prostate are also vital to help maintain prostate health. Besides Chinese and western herbs such as saw palmetto, there are many delicious foods that you can eat to help maintain a healthy prostate. Regular consumption of foods that contain lycopene (a prostate protective antioxidant) is highly recommended.’
Even though depression has been affecting our wellbeing since prehistoric times, treatment for this mental health issue has, until fairly recently, been fairly basic and, well, rubbish. These days, with better diagnoses and less social stigma, more people than ever are taking care of their emotional wellness and seeking treatment. However, even this isn’t the rosy, sunshiney age for depression sufferers that we’ve been waiting for, as studies show that only 10% of depression patients are getting adequate treatment.
Hippocrates, the father of Western Medicine, was the first to describe depression (which he called melancholia). His 5th century BC definition, which deemed depression to be a condition ‘in which sadness, anxiety, moral dejection, tendency to suicide, aversion to food, despondency, sleeplessness, irritability and listlessness is accompanied by prolonged fear,’ is pretty much the same definition that ended up in psychiatric manuals in the 1950s. Sure, Hippocrates attributed the condition to a build-up of black bile in the spleen, but other than that he was pretty much bang on the money.
However, Hippocrates wasn’t alone in his misdiagnosis of depression. During the Dark Ages, for example, wellness experts at the time believed that depression was a sign of God’s disfavour of you, and so, if you were depressed, you were labelled as a heretic or even a witch. This meant you were either imprisoned – which, I find, really does wonders for lifting the spirits – or you were executed. Apparently the Middle Age-definition of preventative medicine is killing someone before you kill yourself.
When the depression began to be recognised as a clinical condition during the Enlightenment, it paved the way for more humane treatments than, you know, imprisonment or death. Popular cures included ‘the bath of surprise,’ – in which you were submerged in scalding-hot or freezing-cold water to shock their mind ‘back into a normal state’ – and Dutch physician Dr. Hermann Boerhaave’s “gyrating chair” which was designed to achieve a similar effect, but really only served to knock some patients unconscious while causing others to ‘bleed from the mouth, ears and nose.’
It wasn’t until the 1780s that we put the “care” into depression care, when French physician Philippe Pinel took over the Bicêtre insane asylum and forbade the shackling of depressed patients in dungeons – what a guy. Many of Pinel’s patients got better under his regime of sunny rooms and exercise. 15 years later, German doctor Johann Reil first coined the term “psychiatry” and added “psychic” treatments such as massage, opium and flogging to his repertoire existing treatments, which included his own “cannon-fire” edition of the bath of surprise. Still, to get to the “talking cures” that we know today, you have to jump forward to the early 20th century, pioneered by Sigmund Freud, Carl Jung and others.
However, crazy treatments didn’t stop with the 1900s; in 1938, a Portuguese doctor named Antonia Egas Moniz believed he could stop the recurrent thought patterns involved in certain psychoses by surgically separating the nerve fibres that connect your frontal and prefrontal cortex to the thalamus deep in your brain. This lobotomy was championed by American doctor Walter Freeman, the eventual co-founder and president of the American Board of Psychiatry and Neurology – and performer over 3,500 lobotomies – despite admitting that he was ‘uninterested in understanding what was happening in the brain.’ I think I’d rather have a bath of surprise!
Lobotomies went out of fashion with the increasing popularity of drugs in the 1950s, although certain chemicals have been used in the treatment of depression since the late 19th century. The 50s drugs were more than a tool to sedate patients; they were actually created to overcome mental illnesses. However, it wasn’t until 1987 that fluoxetine, better known as Prozac, became the first selective serotonin re-uptake inhibitor (SSRI) approved by the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA), and it remains one of the most widely prescribed drugs ever devised. Still, today many researchers are rethinking their entire approach to depression, and going back in time to agree with Philippe Pinel’s prescription: exercise and sunshine – at least it’s better than lobotomies and an execution.
There are many well-known phrases that make bigger implications than we realise – such as boys will be boys – but what happens when boys want to be girls, or vice versa? Gender Identity Disorder (GID) can play a huge role in an individual’s sexual health, and overall wellbeing, with people feeling that their body does not match who they are on the inside. Also known as gender identity confusion, gender dysphoria, transgenderism and transsexualism, the condition can cause some people to use clothing and cosmetics to explore this identity, while others may choose to change their appearance with hormones or even surgery.
According to noted wellness writer Maria Trimarchi, ‘Mental health professionals believe there are three components that make up our gender identity: our sexual orientation, behaviour and mannerism preferences, and core gender identity (that gut feeling we have about the gender we identify with). In most of us, these three components and our anatomy align as male or female. For some, however, these components don’t all match up. The cause of gender identity disorder is still being debated. Theories suggest it is caused by genetic abnormalities, endocrine problems like a testosterone or oestrogen imbalance in the womb, social factors like parenting or some combination of issues.’ But at what age do parents begin to see symptoms of GID in children?
There are five steps to diagnosing GID: diagnostic assessment, psychotherapy, real-life experience, hormone therapy and surgery. Trimarchi explains, ‘The process begins when a person consults a mental health professional, who performs sessions of psychotherapy and formulates a diagnosis. To become a candidate for gender reassignment surgery, a person must first be diagnosed with Gender Identity Disorder (GID) or gender dysphoria. The International Classification of Diseases-10 (ICD-10) lists gender identity disorder as a disorder and the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, fifth edition (DSM-V) lists gender dysphoria.’
The reason why diagnosis is important is because there is a wide range of variables that fall under the GID umbrella, and prospective candidates for gender reassignment surgery must work with a mental health professional for the right diagnosis. Once the diagnosis is complete, there are three phases left for patients who wish to undergo surgery:
1. Hormone therapy
2. Real-Life Experience, or the Real-Life Test
3. Surgery to change genitalia and other sex characteristics
Trimarchi notes, ‘Not all transgender people need all three phases of therapy; each path to gender reassignment is tailored to the person…Before a patient can begin hormone therapy or breast surgery, a mental health professional must write a letter of recommendation to the physician providing medical treatment. In addition to the letter, the World Professional Association for Transgender Health’s Standards of Care require several eligibility and readiness criteria for hormone therapy.’ To undergo hormone therapy, you must:
- Be 18 years of age
- Understand what the medical ability of hormones, as well as their social benefits and risks
- Have either a minimum of three months of psychotherapy or a documented three month real-life experience
- Show stable or improved mental health
- Demonstrate ability to take hormones in a responsible manner
Trimarchi details, ‘The Real-Life Experience immerses the individual into life as his or her preferred gender. The candidate is required to maintain full or part-time employment (or attend school full or part-time), legally change his or her first name to one that is gender appropriate and prove that people other than the therapist and doctor know his or her desired gender. After 12 months of continuous and successful hormone therapy and Real-Life Experience, the individual is eligible for genital surgery. Two letters of recommendation, usually one from the mental health professional and one from the hormone-prescribing physician, are required for surgery.’
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