Archive for October, 2009

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Oral Dental – How to Promote Good Hygiene to Your Children


2009
10.31

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Children mimic what their parents do, which can often have either positive or negative results. As a human being, you are the only person that has the greatest impact on your own oral hygiene. Good dental care starts in the home, and it is also your responsibility to make sure that your children know the importance of taking good care of their mouth. When your child goes to the dentist, he or she will try to teach your child the benefits of taking care of their teeth. However, at home, it is likely that your child will remember what they were taught. Also, if a child is lucky they’ll get to see a dentist twice per year. Unfortunately, most kids don’t have that luxury because their parents simply can’t afford it. This makes promoting good oral dental hygiene at home all the more important.

Make sure that your dental plan includes your child and that they are able to have at least annual checkups, if possible. This is the first step towards proper oral care. Just as good health insurance is necessary to save you money, a good discount dental plan is also important. When your child is older, he or she might need extra dental care, such as braces or the extraction of wisdom teeth. This is when a good discount dental plan will pay off.

The reason for annual cleanings is due to the fact that plaque and deep tarter buildup accumulate on your teeth over the course of a few months. The oral exam also helps show if you have any cavities or signs of any future issues that could cause problems with your teeth. They’ll likely have x-rays taken too while they’re there.

Many dental plan providers will take further steps to ensure proper oral hygiene. For example, some of the large dental companies will have tools online for their members to access. The families can take certain quizzes that ask questions such as how often your child brushes, if they floss, and other questions related to their oral hygiene. The idea is that the quizzes will help to educate you and your kids and get you taking the proper step in order to prevent future cavities from happening. It is good for your child to be there with you to help answer the questions. It will help them become more aware of how often they brush their teeth and floss.

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The Good and Bad of the Hip and Knee Replacement


2009
10.28

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When I speak with other orthopedic doctors, one thing is clear-hip and knee replacement surgeries are on the rise. As the baby boomer generation grows older, demand is growing for these increasingly common surgeries, according to a study presented at the American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons’ 2006 annual meeting.

It’s obvious that the baby boomers are not so willing to give up their active lifestyle and leisure pursuits, so hip and knee replacement is going to be more prevalent as time goes on! So the question for many over the age of 55 is:

Is Surgery For You?

When people suffer from severe osteoarthritis, hip or knee replacement is often the best option to stay active longer. In over 70% of patients, implants replace joints that are damaged or worn out due to osteoarthritis. But many also have the same surgery performed due to fractures, injury trauma or rheumatoid arthritis. Although the average age of patients is 71 years old, the trend seems to be leaning toward younger and younger patients.

Undergoing a hip or knee replacement is a major decision for you and your doctor, so it may help to know that 82% of 1,001 patients surveyed by Consumer Reports were “very satisfied” or “completely satisfied” with their results.

As I tell my patients, however, recovery doesn’t happen overnight and may be painful. Of the people surveyed, the majority was able to cease taking pain medication after two months, but 12% were still taking it one year after surgery.

It is encouraging to know that 90% of patients could do everyday activities after one month. At the same time, it is important not to push your body too hard. In fact, one-third of hip patients and one-quarter of knee patients were unable to walk half a mile one year after their surgeries. While most people have success with replacement surgery, there is a small chance of infection, and complications, like weakened muscles and legs of unequal length, can occur.

Are There Less Drastic Alternatives?

It is true that a standard replacement gives most people the best possible results, but some alternatives are available:

Hip resurfacing – This procedure can help even severe arthritis sufferers by employing a smaller implant and removing less of the bone than standard replacement surgery.

Knee Osteotomy – Best for young, active patients, this surgery shifts pressure off of the weakest part of the joint. It is an option for people whose arthritis is located on only one side of the knee.

Partial knee replacement – This is a choice if you have limited osteoarthritis and involves resurfacing only one compartment of the knee.

Although hip or knee replacement-or the alternatives-is a big decision, it is important not to wait too long. If you have pain that makes it difficult to sleep and perform everyday tasks, and doesn’t respond to pain medication, you should see an orthopedic surgeon who will help you decide what course of action to take.

The good news is that joint replacements are improving, so chance of success is high, and patients can enjoy many years of freedom from aches and pains. There is no reason why you shouldn’t make your golden years as active and fulfilling as possible.

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Calendula Flowers Are Useful For Gastrointestinal Disorders


2009
10.26

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Calendula (Calendula officinalis), has several aliases, like pot calendula, pot marigold, Garden Marigold, Gold-Bloom, Holligold, Marigold, Marybud, and Zergul. It has an orange or yellow flower and is native to the Mediterranean area.

Calendula got its name because it blooms every new moon. The name “marigold” refers to the Virgin Mary, and the flower is often used in Catholic events that honor her. With a name like marigold, some probably think they can use the annual flowers from their garden. That is probably either French marigold or African marigold and is a totally different species.

For those who like the technical facts, calendula contains these medicinal ingredients: calendulin, beta-carotene and other carotenoids, isoquercitrin, narcissin, rutin, amyrin, lupeol, sterols, and volatile oils. The flowers also contain complex polysaccharides with properties that stimulate immunity.

Calendula can be taken internally or externally. Internally, calendula is especially used for gastrointestinal disorders. It protects the lining of the stomach and intestines by inhibiting the causes of swelling and inflammation, and by limiting the effects of the bacteria associated with gastritis, peptic ulcers, and stomach cancer. Taken orally calendula has been used to sooth stomach ulcers and inflammation. Some report it to be effective in fighting fever, boils, abscesses, and recurrent vomiting.

External uses are related to the antibacterial and anti-inflammatory qualities of calendula’s orange petals. These two traits have made this flower a popular treatment for a host of bodily infections. Some feel it is as effective in treating ear infections as some leading prescription drugs. Try using calendula tea to wash eyes suffering from chronic conjunctivitis (pink eye). As an ointment, it will both soothe the inflammation and reduce it by attacking the bacteria causing the swelling. It is also effective in treating other inflammations. These include hemorrhoids, vaginal itching caused by menopausal tissue changes, insect bites, diaper rash, acne, burns, scalds, eczema, and sunburn.

By using this herb on infections, healing is more pain-free, better, and faster. Cosmetic creams use calendula to lessen the appearance of wrinkles and hydrate skin. Gargling with calendula water or tea may ease the pain of a sore throat.

Calendula is also recommended for use in treating varicose veins, chronic ulcers, capillary engorgement, and congestion. Calendula flowers are edible, and may be added to salads or cooked foods. They can also be dried for use in teas. Calendula adds flavor and color to cereals, rice, and soups.

Calendula may be purchased or prepared as creams, teas, tinctures, infusions, compresses, and washes. To make calendula tea, simply pour about a cup of boiling water over 1-2 teaspoons of calendula flowers and let sit for 15 minutes. Calendula tea may be taken 3 times per day. Calendula tincture, which can be taken with water or tea, can be taken 3 times a day (in doses of 1-2 ml). To make calendula tincture, soak a cup of flowers in .5 quarts of rectified alcohol for 5 to 6 weeks. A tincture dose is 5 to 15 drops. To create a calendula salve for external application, boil 1 oz of dried flowers or leaves with 1 oz lard.

Calendula is a very safe herb. The only known reactions are in people with ragweed allergy. Do not use tincture on wounds as the alcohol base will burn the raw tissue. Be sure wounds are cleaned before applying calendula.

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Knee Replacement Surgery – Fighting Infection


2009
10.24

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Getting a total knee replacement requires major surgery. In the operating room an eight inch incision will be made in your leg so the doctor has room to do his work. Whenever total knee replacement occurs, there is a small risk of infection. Even though the doctors and his assistants take every precaution to prevent infection, you are in a hospital. And hospitals are full of sick people.

It is a normal precaution for knee replacement surgery for the doctor to prescribe antibiotics to be included in your intravenous, both during and after the surgery for a few days. This helps protect you if you have been exposed. But there are things you can do to protect yourself. One of them is to ensure your own immune system is humming along at a high level.

There has been an explosion of books on boosting your immune system. Several that do a good job of explaining how you can ensure your immune system is operating at optimum levels are “The Immune System Cure”, published by Kensington (2000), and “The Top 100 Immunity Boosters”, published by Duncan Baird (2006). There are numerous others available, check your local book store.

In general terms, you should know that your immune system can be compromised if you are simply suffering from a deficiency in certain vitamins or nutrients. The famous Recommended Dietary Allowance (now called Reference Daily Intake) was developed in the United States during World War II to define the minimum allowance for “energy and eight nutrients” that would meet the requirements of 98% of the population. Note: these values were not the “optimum” levels, simply the amounts that would prevent deficiency diseases from occurring, with some additional safety margin. In most cases, optimum levels have not been determined for most vitamins and minerals.

The typical multi-vitamin has less than your required RDI of each item, frequently as little as 10% or less. It is expected that most of your vitamins and minerals will come form your diet, and this is the preferred source, because fresh foods typically include additional useful components such as flavinoids and other micronutrients. Nonetheless, depending on the freshness of your food, the amount of processing, and the variety of your diet, it is probably a good idea to take two of your usual one-a-day vitamin supplements each day, in the weeks leading up to your hospital stay.

In addition, there are two other products you may want to consider for their immune boosting effect. Echinacea is a well know, easily available, cold and flu relieving product that has proven immune system benefits. White blood cells are important components in your total immune system and Echinacea has been shown to both increase their number and their activity in study subjects. It also helps counteract an enzyme released by bacteria that allows them to penetrate human tissue.

Lomatium dissectum (fernleaf biscuitroot) is a plant with a long traditional of medicinal use by Native Americans. It first came to the attention of western medicine when Ernst Krebs, MD of Carson City noticed, during the great influenza epidemic of 1918 that killed over 20 million people world wide, that the local aboriginal peoples, the Washoe, were recovering more quickly than his other patients. Extracts of this plant are now being used in the treatment of numerous viral diseases, including Hepatitis-C, AIDS and Pneumonia. Since respiratory problems are of particular concern after surgery involving general anesthetic, you might want to consider a regimen of taking this product starting 3 or 4 days before your surgery.

You should always discuss supplementation with your doctor. Your case is different from everybody else’s because you are an individual. However, there should be no problem with taking your multi-vitamin supplement. And there is no problem in making an effort to eat a varied diet, rich in fresh vegetables and fruits, with adequate sources of protein, all cooked as little as possible. Steaming, stir frying and roasting or grilling as opposed to deep frying or frying would be the preferred cooking methods.

Support your immune system, before you get into the hospital, so that it will support you while you are there, and after you get out.

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The Most Ancient Cure For Pain – Secrets of Massage Therapy


2009
10.24

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Known as early as 2700 BC in China and depicted on tomb paintings in Egypt, the noninvasive therapy of massage has been relieving aching muscles, stress and other pains caused by tension and strained muscles. To keep from contact friction, oils, lotions or powders are usually used. This assures a much gentler and more enjoyable treatment.

In order to maintain the natural flow of the spinal fluid, cranial/sacral massage, a massage to the neck, spine and pelvis is used. When this natural flow is blocked, there can be muscle and joint strains that often cause headaches, occasionally even migraine headaches. If the temporo-mandibular joint spasms, the result could be a pain in the front of the ear and an inability to open the mouth normally. These situations can be relieved by cranial/sacral massage.

Message therapists are now considered integral parts of professional and college locker rooms. Keeping minor injuries from becoming detrimental to the effort of the team is one of the ways they help by increasing circulation to the injured area and returning it to full functionality. The sports massage therapist will often concentrate on certain muscle groups to improve flexibility and range of motion.

The sheaths around the organs, bones, nerves, and blood vessels to and from the nerves are called the fascia. When these sheathes become short, desiccated, gluey, inelastic, short, hard, or rigid, they may cause acute or chronic pain. Since none of these distortions of the fascia can be seen in an MRI or on an x-ray, doctors used to believe that the pain caused was psychosomatic. Massage therapists proved that myofascial massage could gently stretch and ease these fascia, giving great relief to the pain, proving it was real. Therapeutic massage service is an important part of healing and recovery.

Long-term adhesions in ligaments, muscles and tendons, which cause limited movement, inflammation and pain, can be relieved by deep tissue massage. Because the massage therapist will apply deep friction or pressure across the grain of the muscle, in order to break up the adhesions that cause permanent pain, parts of deep tissue massage can hurt. It may take a few days for the pain of deep tissue massage to go away, but once it does, the patient will discover that his/her permanent pain is greatly lessened.

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Anemia Does Not Have to Be Pernicious Any More!


2009
10.21

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Pernicious anemia is a condition caused by insufficient red blood cells due to a lack of vitamin B12 in the body. In the anemic person, the blood cannot carry enough oxygen to the cells of the body. The blood cells are larger than, and do not split like healthy ones.

The name “pernicious anemia” was coined in 1872 by the German physician Anton Biermer because it was often fatal as there were yet no treatments available. The disease, even today, can be severe if it is not treated in time. It is especially common in older adults.

Vitamin B12 deficiency can be caused by a number of factors. A diet low in this vitamin, like a strict vegetarian diet that excludes meat, fish, dairy products and eggs is the main culprit. However, most of the average North American diets of today are sadly lacking in B12. Breastfed infants of strict vegetarian mothers can develop anemia in a short time because they don’t have enough vitamin B12 stored in their bodies.

Chronic alcoholics and the aged are prime targets for this disease as they tend not to eat nutritious meals and have digestive troubles. The main causes are insufficient stomach acid, or Intrinsic Factor, to digest food in the intestine, parasite infections, an overabundance of intestinal bacteria, and medicine. B12 is very hard to digest and is dependent on sufficient Intrinsic Factor to be absorbed from the intestines into the blood stream. Celiac disease, a genetic disorder of intolerance to gluten, and Crohn’s disease, an inflammatory bowel disease, can also precipitate anemia.

The main risk factors for developing pernicious anemia include a family history of pernicious anemia, diabetes, a malfunctioning thyroid, and intestinal disorders.

The most common symptom of anemia is feeling tired and weak. As anemic blood is not carrying enough oxygen, it causes the heart to work harder to get enough oxygen to the body’s organs and tissues. There is a plethora of other symptoms. These include a smooth bright red tongue, pale or yellowish skin, low-grade fever, mental changes, nervous disorders, dizziness, shortness-of-breath, heart palpitations, tingling and numbness in hands and feet, giddiness, and digestive disorders.

As mild to moderate anemia may have no signs or symptoms, it may initially be hard to discover.

Anemia is usually diagnosed by a general practitioner by means of checks on your family and medical history, physical examinations, and diagnostic tests and procedures including a complete blood count (CBC).Depending on the symptoms and/or conditions, neurologists, cardiologists, hematologists and gastroenterologists may diagnose your condition.

Typical treatment for pernicious anemia is lifelong vitamin B12 injections. A lack of folic acid, however, can also cause anemia. Due to the lack of vitamin B12 and folic acid, the arteries of an anemic person are clogged with homocysteine as well. Without treatment, therefore, pernicious anemia can cause serious problems and can be fatal.

People with pernicious anemia also have an increased risk for developing stomach cancer and should be closely monitored by their health professionals.

The good news, and yes there is good news, is that you can not only prevent this condition, but also treat it naturally and without painful, expensive injections! A tiny sublingual tablet combining B12, B6 and Folic acid is now available to cleanse arteries as well as boost both mood and energy speedily as it dissolves directly into the blood stream! These three vital vitamins each work best when combined with the others.

Enjoy your health. It’s your most precious commodity. Remember, an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure!

Disclaimer:

All material provided is for informational and educational purposes only, and is not to be construed as medical advice or instruction.

It is of utmost importance that you do your own due diligence. Consult with your physician or a qualified health professional on any matters regarding your health and well-being or regarding any findings expressed herein.

If you are taking any prescription medication, consult with your physician about possible side effects before taking any supplement.

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