Wellness Choice

Archive for the ‘Conditions’ Category

Heart attacks are a common form of ischemic heart disease. The World Health Organization estimated in the year 2002 that over twelve percent of all worldwide deaths arose as a result of ischemic heart disease. In developed countries, it is the leading cause of death. In developing countries, however it comes third behind AIDS and lower respiratory infections.

Heart attacks, known by their medical name of acute myocardial infarction, is a state of disease that involves the interruption of the bloody supply to part of the heart. The result is a shortage of oxygen that can damage the heart tissue and potentially kill. Heart attacks are the leading cause of death all over the world. Major heart attack risk factors include a history of angina or vascular disease, a previous stroke or heart attack, old age, excessive alcohol, the abuse of illegal drugs, smoking, episodes of abnormal heart beat, obesity, high levels of stress, high or low cholesterol, high triglyceride levels, high blood pressure, and diabetes.

Heart disease forms the leading cause of death in the United States – it is even more common than cancer. An estimated one fifth of all deaths in America come as a result of coronary heart disease. Over thirteen million individuals across the nation suffer from coronary heart disease. Every year, over a million people suffer from coronary heart attacks; four out of every ten individuals die from their attacks.

Symptoms of heart attacks include anxiety, a feeling of impending doom, chest pain, sweating, shortness of breath, palpitations, nausea, and vomiting. Oftentimes, heart attack patients will feel sick very suddenly. The symptoms for heart attacks in men are often different from the symptoms in women. Women most often experience fatigue, shortness of breath, and a feeling of weakness. About one third of all heart attacks are silent and do not consist of any chest pain or associated symptoms.

Below, you will find some recent statistics for heart attacks in the United States.

452,327: the number of deaths due to heart attacks in the United States in the year 2004.

20: the percentage of all deaths due to heart attacks in the United States in the year 2004.

1.2 million: the average number of heart attacks that occur each year.

38: the percentage of all those who die from a coronary heart attack.

15.8 million: the number of heart attack patients who survive.

8.9 million: the estimated amount of angina patients in the United States.

400,000: the number of new angina cases each year in the United States.

233,000: the number of women who died from cardiovascular disease each year.

14 million: the number of Americans afflicted with some form of heart disease or angina.

50: the percentage of deaths that occur one hour after a heart attack when not treated.

60 billion: the amount of dollars spent on heart attack treatment and prevention each year.

20: every 20 seconds, a new heart attack occurs somewhere in America.

60: every minute, another heart attack death occurs.

Visit us or share your opinions at the worlds best homepage or free content resource

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Dr._Mark_Clayson

The National Institutes of Health reports that many patients are unsatified with conventional Crohns disease treatments for a variety of reasons and more than half of these people seek alternatives.

Symptoms of the disease are uncomfortable to live with and can greatly affect the quality of a person’s life. As such, it is understandable that those who suffer from this condition would seek alternatives, especially when traditional therapies are often ineffective or cause unwanted side effects.

Recommended Crohns disease treatments depend primarily on the severity of symptoms.

The cause of the disease is unknown still, but recent Crohns disease information indicates that the disease may be caused by a bacterial infection. The most commonly accepted theory, however, is that Crohns is the result of a dysfunction of the immune system.

Milder symptoms are usually experienced during the onset of the condition and, in such cases, Crohns disease treatments may include an anti-diarrhea medication, aminosalicylates or corticosteroids. In the event these options fail, prescription medications that suppress the immune system may be prescribed by a physician.

Current Crohns disease information indicates that symptoms are caused by inflammation;however, it’s not an open and shut case because non-steroidal, anti-inflammatory drugs have been linked to flare-ups as well.

Corticosteroids are used with other Crohns disease treatments, such as dietary changes, to control and reduce inflammation. Corticosteroids, however, are not believed to be safe for prolonged use due to potentially serious side effects, such as increased blood pressure, osteoporosis and a heightened risk of infection.

Additionally, corticosteroids lose their effectiveness over time so they do not present a long term solution.

In some cases, Crohns disease treatments with medications that work by suppressing the immune system have been effective. However, the problem here is that using these drugs increases a patient’s risk of infection because of the compromised immune system. With a compromised immune system, the body will find it more difficult to combat infection effectively.

In addition, the use of such medications may increase the risk of cancer. This is because the immune system’s function is to help the body attack and destroy abnormal cells. Such abnormal cells, if left unchecked, could progress into cancerous ones. The latest Crohns disease information indicates that aminosalicylates alleviate symptoms for some Crohns sufferers; however, on the downside, they may reduce white blood cell counts. In short, aminosalicylates may also lower a person’s resistance to infections and other diseases by compromising the immune system.

Current convetional Crohns disease treatments, in summary, obviously have their fair share of drawbacks and downsides. Current Crohns disease information lists surgical removal of the affected areas of the intestines as the only cure. And, it should go without saying that many people view surgery as an extreme, last resort measure. A compilation of Crohns disease information published in August, 2006 concluded that conventional Crohns disease treatments were inappropriate 52% of the time.

A group of gastroenterologists, surgeons and general practitioners evaluated the treatment plans of their colleagues for appropriateness.

This is not told to alarm you, but it could be part of the reason why more and more people are choosing natural alternatives to alleviate Crohns.

Some of the most prominent of these natural alternatives are: aloe, slippery elm, and mangosteen. If you have not heard of any of these, what’s important to know is that there is evidence that these substances may effectively reduce inflammation and relieve pain.

However, none of them have been proven in clinical studies to relive Crohns symptoms, but there are many anecdotal cases of people claiming they helped greatly.

What we do know is that slippery elm and mangosteen have a long history of use as digestive aids. Indeed, the Mangosteen in particular is referred to as “Queen of Fruits” in its native land for its many healing properities and uses, which include relieving diarrhea, pain and inflammation. Scientifically speaking, the mangosteen has been shown to harbor anti-inflammtories, which explains why it is sought out as a natural pain reliever.

Current Crohns disease information indicates that reducing inflammation relieves abdominal pain and other symptoms. In the end, decisions about Crohns disease treatments are a personal choice. But whichever way you choose — conventional or natural — make sure you tell your doctor of your intentions.

Recent Crohns disease information indicates that patients sometimes do not inform their doctors about natural remedies they are using. Some doctors and researchers are concerned about this, because some botanicals and herbals have been known to interact with certain prescription medications.

One possible reason for patient non-disclosure may be that people are afraid of what their doctors will say about the use of a natural treatment, but increasingly, many doctors today are more open minded to natural alternatives.

Mike Leuthen is chief editor of http://www.restore-your-health.com Visit us on the web for more crohns disease information today.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Mike_Leuthen

Any type of surgery, whether major or minor, can often vary greatly in price depending on a number of factors. Many surgical procedures will be covered, at least in part, by your medical insurance, but unfortunately dental implants are usually not among the procedures covered under regular insurance. This may make it a necessity for the patient to do some serious shopping around and to have all of the facts covered before entering into an agreement for a dental implant procedure.

Here are some of the factors that may end up affecting the cost of the procedure in one way or another and how to give yourself at least a ball park estimate of what a dental implant may end up costing you.

Where You Live

The place you make your home doesn’t necessarily sound like something that could have an effect on the general cost of a surgical procedure, but it most certainly does. The cost of almost anything in our lives is affected by our place of residence: homes, milk, gas and taxes all vary depending upon which area of the country you reside and though it may not seem fair the same holds true for surgeries. If you live in New York City or Los Angeles you will most likely be paying more for your dental implant than someone who lives in Knoxville or Boise.

The Difficulty of the Procedure

This is a part of the equation that’s very hard to determine, cost wise, before actually seeing the oral care specialist that’s going to perform the procedure. There are things that can make the overall procedure more difficult and time consuming that will ultimately run up the price – if there is a good deal of bone and/or gum restoration work that needs to accompany the implant procedure itself, the cost will likely be substantially higher than the average procedure.

The Location of the Implant (which tooth)

Some areas of the mouth are much more difficult to work on than others. The cost for a canine will be different from the cost of an incisor and that of a molar. The more difficult the area of the mouth is to work on, the more time it will require to do the procedure and the more labor it will involve – so in turn the price will go up.

Before entering into an agreement to have a dental implant procedure it’s important that you understand everything about what one doctor’s price includes as compared to anothers’ so there are no surprises once the bill comes. People often obtain a quote for just the implant procedure itself, but fail to realize that the extra charges are piling up throughout the process.

Get detailed quotes from each implant dentist Toronto that you are considering having the procedure performed by, in writing, for everything that will be involved in the process, including: the implant surgery itself, x-rays, anesthesia, subsequent visits and the cost of the crown to go on the implant. By doing this you will ensure two things – that you’ll be getting the best price for the work being performed and that you won’t keel over once the bill arrives.

On a very, very wide plane – the average dental implant can cost anywhere from $1500.00 all the way up to $6000.00 or more for just the procedure and exponentially more depending upon what else will be involved. Though it’s good to shop around to make sure that you are getting a reasonable price for the services being performed, make sure you aren’t sacrificing quality to save money – be one hundred percent certain that the procedure is being performed by a qualified professional with plenty of experience in the type of work that you need done.

Dentist Toronto providing advanced cosmetic and general dentistry such as dental implants, teeth whitening, porcelain veneers and porcelain crowns.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Amy_Nutt

Is your family member or friend is struggling with drugs or alcohol. If yes then you need to find a professional drug treatment center. There are several centers offering treatment for drug and alcohol addiction. But your job is to find a drug detoxification program which suits you the best. While going under a detoxification programs patient learns new skills at the centers. Centers help the patient to reconcile with family as well as society. A skilled professional always tries to know the cause of drug abuse. In this way the root of the problem can be treated.

The needs of treatment differ from one patient to another. Some need outpatient treatment and others need intensive inpatient treatment. The minimum duration for which a patient should live in the center is 28 days.

There are many patients who think that there is no way out of drug addiction. The patient should believe that addiction can be effectively treated. It is the duty of physician and the family members to educate the patient about the treatment methods.

A typical drug rehab program comprises many types of therapies. First of all the patient goes under the personal therapy. The personal therapy is designed to identify and treat the mental disorders. The second type of therapy is known as group therapy. Every center organizes some group discussions and other activities. These activities promote personal growth of the patient. The third type of therapy is known as marital and family therapy. The aim of this therapy is to solve family conflicts.

As I have stated above that there are several types of treatment which are practiced all over the world. But most effective among them is residential program. In this type of treatment program the patient is isolated from outer circumstances and stress. Residential program can last up to 2 years. The duration of the treatment depends on the needs of the patient.

Number of drug and alcohol rehabilitation centers is increasing every day. Lots of patients were able to get rid of addiction with the help of these programs.

If you want to know more about Drug Rehabs then it is a good idea to visit Drug Treatment.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Jitesh_Arora

Many people suffer all their lives with migraine headaches. Migraines can last for hours or even days. Often affecting only one side of the head and face, migraines almost always cause severe pain, although men who have migraine may have milder pain and greater visual disturbance. Before 1990, most doctors accepted the idea that migraine is caused by a dilation, or swelling, of blood vessels serving one side of the brain. Then in the 1990’s, medical theory began to describe migraine as a “slow seizure,” and the theory currently in vogue is that migraine results from imbalances of the neuroreceptors dopamine and serotonin.

The most recent thinking on the cause of migraine is that it involves an overload of the locus ceruleus, the “switchboard” of the brain. The locus ceruleus anchors nerve fibers that generate the chemical serotonin. When the production of serotonin along these fibers gets out of sync with the brain’s needs, various processes that “gate” the sensation of pain cease to function. As the imbalance spreads through the cerebral cortex, the permeability of the outer layers of the brain to blood is also altered, and a throbbing headache typically ensues.

Doctors usually treat migraine with prescription drugs that can also be used to treat other neurological conditions, such as prochlorperazine, sumatriptan and ergotamine.

But what are the contributing factors of migraine that doctors never tell you about? Although the vascular explanation of migraine has fallen out of favor, vascular dilation is at least a factor in the migraine that can be controlled in ways that relieve pain. So, what can cause vascular dilation?

An allergic reaction, usually to a “C” food: cabbage, cane sugar, candied fruits, cantaloupe, capers, caramel, carrots, casein, cassava, cashews, cauliflower, cheese, chestnuts, chicken, chocolate, citrus, coffee, corn, cow’s milk, or crustaceans. Other common triggers include red wine and foods containing nitrites, such as bacon, ham, lox. smoked salmon and any cured meat with a “red” tint.

Musculoskeletal triggers, such as trauma to the neck or head. This is more characteristic of recurrent throbbing migraine attacks on one side of the head without significant visual disturbance.

Hormones, such as the Pill and estrogen replacement therapy.

Stress, insomnia, changes in diet, and binge drinking.

The best thing you can do to avoid migraines is to avoid these triggers. And if you can’t always avoid these triggers, you can eat foods that reduce the frequency and severity of attacks.

Read about changing your Diet and Migraine. Robert Rister is the author or co-author of nine books on natural health.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Robert_Rister

Hot peppers (Chili peppers) include a special ingredient called Capsaicin in their composition. Capsaicin is the particular ingredient which makes Chili peppers taste hot. Pure Capsaicin is a colorless and odorless crystalline compound.

Some plants naturally have Capsaicin in them for the protection of their leaf from animals eating them, and possibly also for the protection from certain fungi. The highest concentrations of Capsaicin are usually found in the fleshy parts of the seeds and the fruits of the genus Capsicum plants (i.e. chili peppers, red or green peppers).

Capsaicin causes a sensation of heat anywhere it comes in the contact with the skin (especially in the sensitive skin areas) or the mucous membranes of a human or an animal.

Capsaicin is used in the sprays for the riot control, as it will cause a severe burning if it gets onto the face or into the eyes of a human.

In medicine Capsaicin is most commonly used as a component of the Over the Counter (OTC) pain relievers for arthritis, and sometimes also as a circulatory stimulant. Over the Counter pain relieving creams usually contain Capsaicin in concentrations between 0.025 % and 0.075 %. Some studies show that Capsaicin can also help to reduce the pains, associated with Psoriatic Arthritis.

Topical creams with Capsaicin help to relieve the pain in the nerve endings near the skin surface. Capsaicin interrupts the action of molecules at the nerve endings, which affect how the brain recognizes pain, itch, and heat. When Capsaicin is removed, the nerve endings recover back to their normal state.

May Capsaicin also help in psoriasis treatment? And if yes, then how will it – topically or internally?

Several double-blind placebo controlled studies have shown that a topical application of a 0.025% cream with Capsaicin has helped to sufficiently relieve the skin symptoms in the people with psoriasis when compared to the placebo controlled group of people with psoriasis.

Due to the burning sensation caused by Capsaicin when it comes in contact with mucous membranes (mucous membranes include mouth, gums, stomach, intestines, nose, bronchial tubes, and urinary tract), it is often used in food products to make them taste spicy or “hot”.

According to some studies, Capsaicin may also cause the release of endorphins in the body – the compounds produced by the pituitary gland and the hypothalamus during exercise, a sexual intercourse, an excitement etc. Endorphins cause a feeling of pleasure when released into the human body.

Some people with psoriasis say that they also benefit from the dietary intake of foods containing Capsaicin. Other people can not use Capsaicin as an internal psoriasis treatment, due to that, hot peppers (Chili peppers or Cayenne peppers) and other products with Capsaicin cause heartburn in them.

I suspect that Capsaicin may work in psoriasis treatment due to acting as an irritant for the psoriatic plaques. Just as with Cryotherapy (treatment with the use of ultra low temperatures), Capsaicin may irritate the skin due to causing the sensation of a strong heat on the skin, and thus to cause the skin to “pay attention” to what is going on with the site and to adjust accordingly.

Capsaicin may also serve a natural anti-inflammatory agent for the psoriatic plaques.

I have had psoriasis for the last 14 years of my life. I share unique information on psoriasis and psoriasis treatment on my website.

More on the:

Capsaicin Psoriasis Remedies

More on the:

OTC Psoriasis Treatment

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Jane_F_Robinson

With modern brain imaging, it becomes clear that bipolar is not a disorder, but a brain disease, as real as cancer or a cold. While science is still investigating the differences between the brain of a normal person and the brain of a bipolar individual; here are four differences between the two.

1.) Ventral Striatum

The ventral striatum allows the brain to process rewards, such as feeling happy after eating or having sex. If someone suffers from bipolar, this part will be overactive and have a 30% loss in the amount of gray matter.

The ventral striatum also aids in judgment, such as what is considered normal or moral. Since bipolar persons suffer a reduction in this part of the brain, they will be prone to overspending or sexual promiscuity, especially when manic.

2.) Prefrontal Cortex

The prefrontal cortex allows the brain to process and regulation emotion, an important part of impulse control. For example, when one feels angry, they don’t go out and hit the first person they see.

In those with bipolar disorder, there is a 20% to 40% reduction in gray matter material in the prefrontal cortex, causing rash behavior and anger control issues.

3.) Amygdala

The amygdala controls facial expressions and tones of voice. For example, if you see a person you like on the approach, neural transmissions will occur in your brain, telling you to smile. In the bipolar brain, there is a loss of gray matter in this area, causing a delay reaction in facial expressions.

4.) Hippocampus

In those with bipolar disorder, the hippocampus has lost branches that connect neurons, leading to a loss of an ability to tell the difference between danger and reward, causing a state of anxiety.

If you are interested in learning more about bipolar I visit the site Identify Bipolar Disorder, and discover the types of bipolar.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Paula_Capp

Review Summary

Currently, there are over 350 Herbal Magic locations across North America, many of them appearing to be up in Canada. These centers claim to be a provider of quality nutritional support products and personalized weight management services. The weight loss programs offered at these centers are said to combine real food, a personal coach and natural products. Though, we do wish to note that we came across a high number of consumer complaints for these centers, but we will still take a closer look at the programs offered by this company to see whether or not they can actually lead to weight loss.

Programs at a Glance

Currently, these centers offer 6 different programs to choose from with names like QLP1 and QLP III. They have separate programs for children, people with diabetics, people over 65 years of age, people who would like to lose over 60 pounds and more.

Programs in Focus

Dieters are told that whatever program they end up choosing will be customized to their personal needs and lifestyle. It appears that regardless of which program is chosen dieters will also be required to purchase Herbal Magic supplements in order to follow this diet plan. There are many weight loss centers that use similar business tactics, and oftentimes it seems that rather than providing quality formulas that can support a weight loss program, most companies are more concerned about pushing as many products on to consumers to make a bigger profit.

In fact, we came across several complaints about the high cost of this program. One woman shared that, despite advertisements of low cost program, she ended up spending an outrageous amount of money at one of these centers. Between the supplements and membership fees she shared that it cost her $1000 to start her program and $300 a month to maintain membership and to buy the mandatory supplements. After all this she shared that she did not experience any weight loss and was very unhappy with her whole experience.

Consumer Reviews

As mentioned above, there are actually a high number of complaints about this company posted online. Dieters are sharing that they feel these Herbal Magic centers are overpriced, utilize staff that practice aggressive sale tactics and the programs are not as effective or as easy to follow as the company claims. Such complaints certainly do raise a big, bright red flag, so we suggest that people use caution if they are thinking about going to one of these centers. If these consumer reviews are any indication, the company appears most concerned about making a profit.

Positives

· Company website posted

· Programs are said to be customizable to each dieter

Negatives

· May be very expensive

· Limited locations available

· Many negative reviews posted online

· Programs are reportedly hard to follow

Final Thoughts

Many people desire guidance and support when it comes to losing weight. A weight loss center may seem like the perfect answer, but we suggest researching a program before signing up. We are concerned about the high number of complaints we found about this company, but we can recognize that some consumers may still be interested in learning more about these weight loss centers. In that case, we do want to point out that the links below lead to an additional article on Herbal Magic.

Before purchasing any weight loss product, it would be a good idea to see what people are saying about Herbal Magic on the very popular DietBlogTalk.com.

You can also click here to get even more detailed information from Sensational.com on Herbal Magic.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Shane_Crafton

Glucose, the primary energy source for human and animal cells, is a type of sugar that travels through the bloodstream. Glucose enters your body whenever you eat carbohydrate foods. Glucose levels are regulated by insulin and glucagon. Insulin is a hormone that is produced by the pancreas and released into the bloodstream when glucose levels rise.

Normal glucose levels fall between 70 and 150 mg. Levels typically are lower in the morning, and rise after meals. Blood sugar levels falling consistently above 150 are indicative of hyperglycemia, or high blood sugar. Chronic low levels, falling below 70, characterize hypoglycemia, or low blood sugar. Hypoglycemia is a potentially fatal condition. Symptoms of this condition are lethargy, impaired mental functioning, irritability and loss of consciousness. Persistent hyperglycemia results in diabetes mellitus, which is the most common disease related to blood sugar regulation failure. Diabetes can cause eye, kidney and nerve damage.

A blood glucose test measures the amount of glucose in the bloodstream. Reasons for testing glucose levels are to check for diabetes, to monitor treatment of diabetes, and to check for hypoglycemia. There are several different types of glucose tests. The ‘fasting blood sugar’ test checks glucose levels after an eight-hour fast and is often the first test performed when checking for diabetes. For this test, levels have to fall between 70 and 99 in order to be considered normal. The ‘two-hour postprandial blood sugar’ test measures glucose levels two hours after eating a meal.

Normal glucose levels for this test fall between 70 and 145. Random blood sugar testing checks glucose levels randomly throughout the day, regardless of meal times. If levels vary widely, there could be a problem. Blood sugar levels should be between 70 and 125 in order to be considered normal for random testing. The ‘oral glucose tolerance test’ diagnoses diabetes and predicaments. This tests your blood after drinking a glucose drink. If you think you may have a blood sugar disorder, contact your primary care physician for testing. There are many conditions that can cause a change in your blood glucose levels. Normal results may vary depending on the lab.

For more about diabetes testing equipment and specific information on type 1 or type 2 diabetes mellitus, visit the Free Diabetic Supplies Center at http://free-diabetic-supplies.net today!

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Jackie_Jones

LASIK eye surgery has gained in popularity, precision and prestige over the last decade. Though a fairly new technology and process, LASIK eye surgery (also known as refractive surgery) offers significantly better vision with vision correction aids to those who have spent their lives dealing with the hassle of glasses and contacts.

No surgery is without risks and complications, LASIK eye surgery does have a few risks that should be explained to your clearly by the eye surgeon you are considering. Some of those risks and potential complications are double vision or halos, problems with lines of vision in the eye chart, potentially worse night or low light vision, and the possibility of the need to continue the use of vision correction products.

One of the key ways to avoid these risks and complications is with a professional and inclusive pre-operative LASIK evaluation. This evaluation should include the standard eye exams you are used to with the additional of being preformed by a LASIK eye surgeon. They will also be looking at the curvature of your eye and the extent of your eye health issues, such as astigmatism or cataracts. Overall health concerns may play a role as well, especially in diabetes patients.

While, the LASIK eye evaluation is a good way to determine if you are a good candidate for the procedure or not, you need to take this time to ask the eye surgeon and his staff some questions of your own. You should be asking about qualifications, experience, pricing and whether or not the eye surgeon received endorsements or bonuses from the LASIK equipment manufacturers.

This many not be an issue with your doctor, but some tend to use it as a reason to get as many people qualified and through the door as possible, which can compromise your level of care. Never be afraid to ask for references either. Though the weight the risks and complications are directly connected to your personal belief system and level of risk comfort, talking with a former patient about their experience can tell you a lot about the doctor and the staff you are considering.

LASIK eye surgery is similar to other surgeries in that there are risks and complications and the results is often dependent on the doctor’s skill level and your body’s ability to heal and adapt. LASIK eye surgery offer many benefits that just a few years ago were not considered a possibility. LASIK eye surgery has changed the life of millions of vision correction sufferers and you too could have a chance at a life without contacts and glasses.

In 2006, a study was done that concluded that contact wearers are at a greater risk for infection than individuals who have had LASIK eye surgery. In the past 10 years, over 3 million people have experienced the benefits of Lasik with nearly perfect results. Would you like to be one of them? Find out today what Lasik eye surgery could do for you: http://OnlineLasikInfo.com

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Becki_Andrus