Wednesday, December 30, 2009

Endometriosis

Endometriosis is the situation in which the tissue resembling that of the uterus lining is found in other areas of the body. These tissues can be found in nearby organs like ovaries or fallopian tubes, or on the sides of pelvic wall. In many cases, it is also seen in scars made by surgical operations like C-section or laparotomy. In rare cases, it may be seen in other organs like bladder, appendix, colon, intestines, and even on rectum. And in very rare cases, it may be found in vagina, under the skin, lungs and in complicated organs like brain. Though it may sound not that bad but the symptoms occurring from this disorder may be very disturbing.

The most common symptom of endometriosis is felt as pelvic pain by the woman. She may mistake it as pain related to her menstrual cycle. For some women, the pain might not be felt like that of menstruation. For many women, the pain may be extremely severe. It may even disturb her life in many ways. Initially this may be just a matter of pain but in advanced stages it can lead to the joining of two or more organs. The condition may also result in infertility. Women wanting to have kids may find it very difficult to conceive.

No particular cause of endometriosis has been distinguished and proved. Researchers say that it may be caused due to combination of many factors. No specific treatment for the disorder that can cure it completely, could be developed as well. Many theories have come up in efforts to find out the exact reason but none has been proved, till date. The treatments developed can’t fetch complete solution to this problem but sure help the woman get some relief from it. Several painkillers are recommended to curb down the pain. Hormonal therapies are also said to have worked in some cases. Other methods like surgery and nutritional therapies are also adopted as the treatment.

How to Travel During Pregnancy

Sometimes, there arise certain situations which are difficult to go through and cannot be ignored. Pregnancy is a nine month long term. You never know what you may have to go through, during these months. If you happen to travel during this phase, it is very obvious for you to get worried over how to travel during pregnancy. Traveling, especially distance travel tours involve stress and exhaustion. So it becomes important for you to think about ways you can minimize this stress giving priority to your comfort and make the travel time a great experience for yourself. There are some tips for such concerned women that are easy to follow.

It depends upon the distance and the mode of transport you are going to travel through. The first answer to the question, how to travel during pregnancy is removal of stress, as much as you can. By reaching the airport or railway station on time you need not worry about the delay from your part. You should call the authorities to know about right time of arrival of train or flight so that you are aware about the delay. Packing should be done in a non-messy way. The luggage should consist of wheels so that it is easy to carry. You can hire a helper to carry your luggage. Even if it is a business tour, ensure you don’t make it very hectic. As you travel, keep your tummy happy by means of fulfilling but light food.

Since, pregnancy is a very crucial phase and the woman may require anything at any point of time, so she should carry all the things that are can be of use for her. The most important thing to carry, are the medicines and complete health record so that she can get aid and quick medical help, anywhere and anytime. You should also carry some snacks that you like having. As soon as you reach your destination, take a shower if you want, followed by a nap. While traveling, keep changing sitting positions and walk after small intervals of time. Following these simple guidelines, you can minimize your concern over how to travel during pregnancy and enjoy your way to anywhere.

Tuesday, August 25, 2009

Laser Scar Treatment

Among the many skin problem types, acne is the one that has been a major cause of concern. The fear of having bad scars as a result of acne or any accident or any kind of bad insect bite, on face or any other part of the body can put conscious minds into trouble, thinking all the time about what to do to get rid of them. Numerous theories and treatments have been coming up past decades but none has been reported to work the way laser scar treatment does. The treatment has been developed in recent years and has found to be really great as it works tremendously.

Laser scar treatment involves laser skin resurfacing, during which the laser beam vaporizes top layers of the skin containing ugly marks. The beam used here is powerful enough but the penetration is also controlled so that it does not harm the surrounding areas. The beam cleans off the scarred skin and comes up the fresh, clear and radiant skin. The treatment thus, works in very effective way giving you best possible results and so is today considered to be the best among all other treatment methods available. Due to its latest technology, it can even work on most chronic of blemish cases.

The laser scar treatment requires just one or two sittings normally but in some cases it may require more sittings. A sitting may last upto one hour. It works much faster than other methods. The healing process may vary person to person depending upon their skin types and severity of the case. For some people it may take as long as 20 days and for some, it is just a matter of 3 to 4 days. Until the healing is over, the patient may feel little discomfort like swelling or burning sensation in that area. So, it is very important for the person to adhere to the instructions of the skin specialist or doctor. He might prescribe you antibiotics or creams and lotions to cope-up with the discomfort.

Tuesday, August 11, 2009

Cardiac Asthma

The cause of cardiac asthma is very different from that of typical asthma. As the name suggests, it is associated with cardiac function and is caused as wheezing due to heart attack. The symptoms may go very severe and require emergency medical aid. As the heart fails to function, the fluid gets accumulated in the lungs and air passages. This condition is known as pulmonary edema. The patient feels extreme shortness of breath, wheezing and too much of coughing as he gasps for breath. The condition quite resembles with that of an asthmatic person. Since the treatment methods for curing the symptoms of heart attack and asthma are very different, it becomes very vital to determine the problem correctly or else the condition may get deteriorated.

To determine if it is a case of cardiac asthma, an expert doctor should immediately be approached who finds out the actual problem by observing breath pattern of the patient. Other symptoms include chest pain, high blood pressure, swollen ankles, extreme tiredness, increased heart beat and frequent urination. Another cause of cardiac asthma is found to be malfunctioning of a heart valve. The condition can threaten life if considered non-seriously.

Due to its life-threatening s symptoms, a cardiac asthma patient should look for quick medical attention. If the cause for cardiac asthma is related to heart valve, a surgery is performed to cure it. In case there is pulmonary edema, medications are prescribed to activate and help muscles of the heart to start pumping the blood adequately. If the response is not as expected, drugs containing corticosteroids are prescribed. Cardiac asthma is more likely to occur among old people as their heart gets weak to keep working efficiently all the time. People who feel they might develop the problem should go for regular checkups. The sooner is treatment started, the better it shows results. Delay of any kind can risk life of the patient.

Friday, July 24, 2009

Eye Allergies

Eye allergies are quite common among people. They occur as allergic conjunctivitis which is characterized by red, itchy, swollen and watery eyes. Conjunctivitis can be categorized in to two, seasonal allergic conjunctivitis and perennial allergic conjunctivitis. The difference between the two is due to different allergic agents. In seasonal one, the agents are grass or pollens and in the case of perennial, the agents can be feather, animal fur or skin and dust mites. Other symptoms of eye allergies can be sensitivity towards light, burning sensation and blurred vision. In some cases, a gelatinous-substance seems to be there in the eyes. The diagnosis of conjunctivitis is done through special medication processes.

Eye allergies can be a very vulnerable experience as the normal vision gets disturbed. In very mild cases, simple eye wash helps but in some cases, medication becomes necessary for relief. Oral antihistamines and eye drops are given to treat such allergies. Decongestant eye drops are also recommended but the usage should be in strict accordance to the prescribed dosage. Its usage should be discontinued within a stipulated time or else the patient might get addicted to it. The condition is known as conjunctivitis medicamentosa. Patients suffering from glaucoma are not recommended these eye drops. Recently, a substitute of decongestant eye drops known as ketotifen eye drops has been developed and is approved by the Food and Drug Administration. It is safe for prolonged use as it would not lead you to addiction. Ketotifen works as antihistamine and also prevents the mast cells to release chemicals causing allergic symptoms to occur.

In any case, eye allergies should be dealt with care and under medical supervision. If not taken seriously, the condition can go worse leading to many complications. Eyes should be kept clean and the hygiene should be maintained come what may. Care should be taken so that he eyes do not get stressed. Remember, eyes are a great gift from God and should be well cared for.

Tuesday, July 14, 2009

Anti Aging Diet

The objective of your efforts for anti aging should not only be a longer life, but also a quality life. Afterall, you yearn for extra life so that you can enjoy it more. Healthy life is possible only if you maintain a good diet. Anti aging diet boosts up both the span and quality of life. A good diet doesn’t mean that you have should have food in bulks. It is vital to maintain a balanced diet. All the nutrients should reach the body in right quantities. There is very less space for calorie food in an anti aging diet. You should take care that you stay away from junk food and rather try to have food that is freshly prepared. Tinned food contains preservatives that, neutralizes your efforts.

An anti aging diet leads to regeneration of new and quality cells in the body. This slows down aging. Foods that really work as anti aging agents are prepared from green veggies, nuts and olive oil. Fresh fruits and vegetables not only help you look young and fresh but also are good for general well-being. Yet today, you can’t completely rely on them as they might be lacking natural goodness due to ultra-modern farming methods. So, its better you pick organic foods as they are rich in nutrients and contain very less amount chemicals or other artificial and harmful substances.

You can’t expect a youthful look just by having anti aging diet. A lot depends upon the way you cook and the way you eat. Avoid over-cooking of foods as it burns all its essentials. It is extremely important to chew the food properly. If you don’t do so, your body would have difficulty in digesting or breaking of foods. Try to include good amounts of spinach, tomatoes and curry leaves in your foods. Chocolate is also said to help heart work normally. It normalizes the blood pressure and so keeps heart away from attacks and strokes. So you can look younger just by adopting these simple tips.

Thursday, June 18, 2009

Women And Heart Diseases

There is a wrong belief among most of the people that women are not to bother about heart-related issues as they are not likely to have them. Even women are more concerned about the cancer problem in them, especially breast cancer. Breast cancer awareness has been on continuous increase past few years. Every year, a huge number of women across the world die of heart diseases, attack or stroke. Some women even remain unaware of the heart ailment they have been suffering from, all through their lives. In US, almost half of the patients dying of heart attacks, are women and heart diseases are still considered to be the man’s matter of worry.

Like men, women are also subject to increasing risk of heart diseases with increasing age. Other possible reasons are family history, race and past case of heart stroke. Survey reports say that Black and Afro-American women have more risk of heart stroke than White women. Along with these natural reasons, in which the woman can’t help, there are other factors also, which the woman herself should be held responsible for. Activities like smoking, alcoholism and drug addiction are some very dangerous habits among women and heart diseases are caused largely due to them.

It is quite interesting to note that women tend to have higher cholesterol levels than men. So, the risk of higher blood pressure also gets higher. Due to the heavy load of family and other responsibilities, many women don’t find enough time for indulgence in exercises, workouts and active sports. The intake of food remains as it is but they don’t burn extra calories. They keep gaining weight and thus, invite heart problems and diabetes. They can avoid them, even if they spare 30 minutes of their busy routine, exercising. Women and heart diseases are as much associated with each as are men to the latter. So, women also require to be alert and aware about these life-threatening troubles.

Thursday, June 11, 2009

Gestational Diabetes

Gestational Diabetes is one among many pregnancy complications. It is the type of diabetes that occurs only among expecting women. Like in routine cases of diabetes, it shows high content of blood sugar which is really bad for the mother and especially, for the unborn baby. The content of sugar increases due to lack of insulin in the body. Because of this, the body is not able to extract enough energy from the food. So the pregnancy remains no more, healthy and needs quick aid inorder to get good results by the end of it.

Chances of gestational diabetes can be high for the expectant mother who is overweight, over-age, who has diabetic history in previous pregnancies if any. Whether you fall into any of these factors or not, yet it would be good if you ask your doctor to check for blood sugar level. Diagnosis of gestational diabetes can be done in many ways through various kinds of tests. After these tests confirm the ailment, it is very natural for the expectant mother to wonder about associated risks to her baby. Ofcourse there are risks to the baby, if the situation is left untreated. The problems arise right at the time of delivery which becomes difficult and stressful. The newly-born baby might suffer low sugar level and breathlessness.

Even for the mother, gestational diabetes can be very bothering. Complications like high blood pressure and delivery issues become challenging to her health. In most of such cases, C-sections are performed as normal delivery becomes risky both for mother and the baby. But women need not worry because they also can look forward to a healthy pregnancy and bonny baby, by means of proper medical aid and some precautionary steps. A recommended meal plan and simple exercising regime can let you forget, you have gestational diabetes. You can stay cool and wait for the time, as every mother-to-be does during a normal pregnancy.

Monday, May 25, 2009

Scalp Acne

Scalp acne is a rare form of acne. Not all people know about it. Though rare, it can be a matter of sheer disgust for anybody. The fear of loss of hair doesn’t let many people have a sound sleep. It can be severely irritating at times and one gets tired of scratching his head all the time. In mild cases, people mostly get confused and get hair care products for cure. But in severe cases, it becomes necessary for the person to seek the full-fledged treatment. A professional dermatologist should be consulted so that the treatment starts on time before it is too late.

There can be many factors causing scalp acne, the major one being, lack of hygiene. Other causes are hormonal imbalance, reaction to any drug and changes in the season. The person suffering from this should be very cautious while picking any medicine to avoid any kind of reaction. Single mistake can lead to severe problems like heavy loss of hair and finally to baldness. Among personality-conscious people, baldness can be nightmarish. So, it is better to get started with the treatment procedure as soon as possible. Alongside the treatment, one should consider taking some precautions that help the treatment work faster. Avoid having too much of oily and sugary stuff. Rather balance your diet with fresh food.

Cleanliness and hygiene matter most, in such conditions. Come what may, maintain regular hygiene. Shampooing hair does not solve the purpose. Wash scalp with a genuine, medicated shampoo. Drink as much water as you can, in a day. Water flushes out all toxins from the body. It cleans the body from inside. Scalp acne can be controlled on time with all the measures taken on time. Without the aid of a professional help, this cannot be possible. So, instead of wasting time and money on useless products, seek a dermatologist’s help.

Monday, May 18, 2009

Back Pain And Gas

The formation of gas in the body, can be problematic till the gas is released. The pressure due to gas becomes unbearable as the gas tries to accommodate itself in wherever possible. When the pressure stresses muscles, they begin to pain. Thus, back pain and gas can occur at the same time. Together, both the problems can take toll on one’s sleep, diet and ability to work. The person gets restless all the time. Several medications are prescribed to combat this problem.

Once the relation between back pain and gas is diagnosed, it becomes easy to start a particular treatment. Usually in such cases, the doctors first treat the problem of gas formation. As soon as the gas is released, the pressure is also released resulting to instant relief. In other cases, the medicines are given in combination to work on both the problems. Also, specially formulated Mitamins are available in the market. The quality ingredients are used in making these formulas to suit your needs. These ingredients used in the making comprise of muscle-relaxants, anti-inflammatory, anti-pyretic and analgesic effects. The ratio of these ingredients to be mixed varies according to intensity of the problem.

Several vitamins are also used as ingredients in Mitamins. The usage of ginger and turmeric is very common in these medicines. Ginger helps in digestion and turmeric corrects dyspeptic situations. Peppermint is also considered to be a helpful source. It lessens spasms in the digestive system tract caused due to indigestion. Vitamins are also added as one Vitamin B Complex which contains many vitamins together. All these vitamins work together, more effectively to soothe your muscles. So, as back pain and gas occur hand-in-hand, you can also get rid of them simultaneously. Thanks to this wide range of available herbs, chemicals, vitamins that are studied well-researched to give us the best. They truly are boon for us.

Friday, May 15, 2009

Pregnancy Ultrasound

Every pregnant woman has a strong desire to see her unborn baby growing in her womb. With the first sight of her little one on the ultrasound screen, she develops a life-long intimate relationship with her baby .Along with the excitement of seeing her baby, she also has apprehensions regarding her baby’s health and growth. A pregnancy ultrasound test is meant for the purpose. The test uses sound waves to develop ultrasound images of the fetus in the womb. With the help of this, the movements of the baby are also recorded.

For the mother, it can be a life-time experience to see the baby just by lying straight. The doctor applies a transparent gel onto her tummy and moves a small thing on it, applying little pressure where necessary. With the help of this, the sound waves are sent in through the areas which are bounced back by the internal organs including the fetus, as well. The images are created in the process. These images show the condition of the baby and other organs. Even today, some people think that these tests can be harmful for the delicate fetus. It’s mere a myth. A pregnancy ultrasound test is safe at any point of time.

To get clear images, the woman is asked to come with her urinary bladder full. So, she is recommended ample fluid intake atleast an hour before. For a normal pregnancy, about three pregnancy ultrasound tests are required to be done. But, doctors might ask for more in case they feel any need. A pregnancy ultrasound test not only records the growth of the fetus but also is helpful in detecting many abnormalities. Even just before the delivery in crucial cases, the pregnancy ultrasound test helps in checking the position of the baby. So, it is most important for expecting mothers to undergo regular ultrasound tests inorder to stay safe throughout and deliver a healthy baby. For soon-to-be parents, It is real fun watching the baby move his little hands, sucking the thumb, cosily in the womb unaware about the outside world of chaos.

Thursday, April 16, 2009

Laser Treatment

Laser treatment is being used for a variety of reasons today. It includes eye care, cosmetics, acne clear and cure, removing stretch marks, piles, hair removal, surgery and medical diagnosis purpose. Low intensity laser is also being used to treat inflammation and pain in joints and tissues, arthritis, back pain and athletic injuries. The use of laser treatment for the cure of acne is quite popular and widespread in the world. Acne is a skin disorder that causes scars and disfiguring in the skin caused on account of a reaction between bacteria and excess sebum (substance produced by the oil gland). Laser treatment works in stopping the infection cased by the bacteria and helps to reduce the already infected skin scars and also prevent further breakouts. The advantages of laser treatment are speed, easier application and almost painless. Laser acne treatments in new Hampshire has broken new grounds with continuous improvements to make the treatment less painful and more comfortable. The advantages of having laser acne treatments in new Hampshire is that it can be combined with other laser treatments like, liposuction, breast surgery and other cosmetic treatments.

Laser treatments used for hair removal, curing skin lines and wrinkles, scars and discoloring on account of acne come under the category of cosmetic laser treatments. Laser beam is directed at the affected part where it is absorbed and converted to heat which destroys the problem causing cells. Laser is also used to rectify spider veins which affect a person’s face and legs. The beam causes the veins to shrink and get absorbed into the body. The treatment causes minimal discomfort and is cost effective. Many people benefit out this cost YAG laser spider vein treatment provided as part of the laser acne treatments in new Hampshire.

Wednesday, April 8, 2009

Laser Treatment

A disorder marked by outbreak of skin lesions is referred to a s acne. The oil glands in the skin produce a substance called sebum. In some people there is an increase in the levels of bacteria named as P.acne. This bacteria and sebum react and clog the pores of the skin and lead to small boil like lesions appear on the surface of the skin. They can be found mostly on the face, neck, shoulders back and chest. Although not a serious threat to life, it causes disfigurement and scarring and is normally more prone to attack people in the teens. Acne is more commonly referred to a pimples and blackheads. The problem of acne tends to get better as people grow. But in many cases the problem worsens and would require the services of a qualified skin specialist especially women who are subject to suffer on account of frequent hormonal changes.

Acne can be very upsetting and lead to feelings of poor image, esteem, self confidence and depression. Today there are treatments to prevent acne and also to cure the problem. An acne scar laser treatment is a new method wherein low level green laser is beamed on to the skin surface. As part of an effective acne treatment light laser skin topical pulsed i.e. a low level laser is combined with steroid creams which is used to reduce and remove the scars and also help in re-growth of normal in its place. Acne scar laser treatment triggers the growth of body’s defenses against bacteria and helps in both reducing current scars and also preventing further outbreaks.

More popular forms of treatment are being introduced in the market by qualified medical doctors and in the United States, laser acne treatments in the New Hampshire region along with rest of the states is getting quite popular. Acne scar laser treatments should be taken under the supervision of a qualified skin specialist.

Sunday, April 5, 2009

Calculatore For Pregnancy due Dates

The expecting mother on knowing that she is pregnant would first like to know as to when she can hold her bundle of happiness physically in her hands. This necessitates the immediate need of a calculator for Pregnancy Due dates. It is the date when your baby is likely to be born. Pregnancy due date is normally calculated as about 40 weeks from the first day of the last menstrual period prior to getting pregnant. Normally a baby is born a few days before or after this date. How close to the estimated due date you deliver depends on the regularity of monthly periods prior to pregnancy. The due date helps the mother and her family to prepare for the arrival of the baby and make the necessary arrangements.

Talking of calculator for pregnancy due dates, we have another such wonder in the form of Chinese Lunar Pregnancy calendar. This calendar is supposed to be 700 years old and helps in predicting the sex of the unborn child. By finding out the month when the baby was conceived and the age at the time of such conception, the calendar predicts if the baby to be born is a male or female. The predictions are supposed to have had a 99 percent accuracy record.

Some people prefer to track their pregnancy on a daily basis. This day by day pregnancy monitoring helps in keeping track of the different stages the body goes through in the course of pregnancy. Pregnancy normally passes through three stages of three months each called as trimesters. Body goes through different changes during these stages and a women has to be prepared for each change. During the first trimester there is a lot of emotional disturbance, tiredness and frequent bouts of nausea and dizziness generally referred to as morning sickness. The second stage is mainly uneventful marked only by the growth of the baby inside. The third trimester is the time when you start preparing to deliver the baby.

Friday, March 6, 2009

Treatment For Prostate Cancer

Treatment for prostate cancer depends on the cancer stage. Once diagnosis has been confirmed, extensive tests are done to determine if there is metastasis occurring in the patient. This is done by staging procedures such as Radionuclide bone scan, MRI, pelvic lymphadenectomy, CT scan and Seminal vesicle biopsy.
A biopsy is used to determine the Gleason score, which is used to determine the rate at which the cancer might spread.

Stages Of Prostrate Cancer

There are four stages of prostate cancer. Stage four is the stage when the cancer has metastasized and affected other organs. This stage is often fatal and hard to recover from.

Types Of Prostate Cancer Treatment

There are several treatment options with each option claiming to be the best. The treatment options may have certain side effects too. Careful research and advice from experts is recommended before opting for any treatment.
Some good treatment options are-

Radical Prostatectomy

Doctors use either radical retro pubic prostatectomy or radical perineal prostatectomy. In this, the entire gland plus some tissue surrounding it is removed. This is done only to treat stage 1 or stage 2 patients in whom the cancer is contained in the gland and has not yet metastasized. Patients need to be hospitalized for a minimum of 3 days for the treatment and need to stay off from work for 3 to 5 weeks after this procedure.

Laparoscopic Prostatectomy

In this procedure, surgery is done using a laparoscope and the patient is able to go home a day or two after the surgery.

Radiation Therapy

External beam radiation or Internal radiation therapy (Brachytherapy) or 3D-CRT is done. In such treatments high-energy rays (such as x-rays) or particles (such as electrons or protons) are used to kill the cancer cells. Systemic radiation therapy is useful when the cancer has spread to the bones.

Chemotherapy

This is used in the final stages when the cancer has spread to other parts of the body also. This cannot cure a patient totally, but can shrink the cancer cells and reduce pain. Certain drugs are injected into the blood stream. They not only kill cancerous cells but have adverse effect on normal cells too.

Cryotherapy

In this method, needles are used to apply freezing gases to the affected prostate gland.

Hormone Therapy

This is used in combination with radiation therapy to treat stage 3 patients. Hormones are used to block or nullify the effects of the androgens. Some cancers do not respond to this treatment and are called androgen-independent cancers.
Orchiectomy, a term given for the surgical removal of the testicles is also another hormone treatment given, as it lowers androgen levels.

Attitude Towards The Cancer Patient

Sometimes due the frail health of an elderly patient or due to other health complications a wait and watch policy is adopted where the cancer is monitored regularly.
After treatment, sufficient rest and a positive attitude is essential. The patient must be encouraged and helped to develop a will to fight and survive.
These are just a few facts about the treatment available for prostate cancer.