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5 Ways To Remain Healthy Whilst Growing Older

Jul 19, 2016

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Declining health is something which, unfortunately, many people see as an inevitable byproduct of getting older.

But while it’s true that our bodies do change as we age, and certain health problems do become more of a risk, it’s no reason to cast down your arms and accept defeat. �

Looking after your health during middle age and beyond is no less important than it is during your younger years; and making healthy decisions will still have a significant, positive influence on your well-being and quality of life, no matter what age you are.

For those approaching their later years, here are five key practices worth keeping in mind to help you stay in good shape and offset health problems:

Get Your Numbers Checked Regularly

Taking care of your heart is of course important throughout life, and not just in old age. Lifestyle, as we’ll go on to discuss, has a pivotal role in this: but as you get older, knowing your numbers does too.

One dangerous characteristic of high blood pressure is that it doesn’t cause any outward physical symptoms, so it is very easy to miss. The inward effects of the condition are on the other hand quite drastic, and can have a lasting impact on cardiovascular function: left untreated, it can heighten the chances of heart disease and stroke.

The risk of hypertension does increase with age, so it’s especially important to have blood pressure monitored on a regular basis. For those over the age of 40, once every five years is recommended, but those who are at increased risk (for instance, those who have a close relative with the condition) should ideally have it checked once every 12 months.

Keep Active

There are several reasons why exercise should remain an integral part of life as you get older.

First of all, for the reasons we’ve just discussed: good cardiovascular function. Regular exercise helps to keep heart and circulatory conditions which become more of a risk as we age at bay.

Secondly, it’s vital for good bone health. In our advancing years, our bones lose density and become more susceptible to breaks (known as osteoporosis). Weight-bearing exercise helps to strengthen bones and prevent this condition developing.

Another important reason relates to muscular health. Sarcopenia is the process by which our muscles shrink as we get older. Exercise plays an important role in slowing this process down, and helping us to maintain muscular strength.

The definition of staying active isn’t as arduous as most people think. Just two and a half hours of moderate aerobic exercise each week, such as fast walking or swimming, combined with strength exercises on two days or more, will be enough to help adults aged between 19 and 64 stay in good physical shape.

Adults who are 65 and over and are generally healthy and mobile should be able to adhere to these guidelines too; however those who aren’t as mobile should focus more on activities which aid balance, such as yoga and dancing.

Don’t Duck Your Optometrist

Once again, eye health is something we should be mindful of in our younger years too, but is particularly important to keep in mind as we get older. Eye tests are generally recommended every two years for those under the age of 40, but an optometrist may advise more frequent check-ups for people over this age or who have one or more risk factors for glaucoma.

This is because glaucoma can cause irreversible, lasting sight damage; the only way to protect against it is to get tested regularly and, where it is present, treat it early. So, to make sure your sight remains healthy, stay in contact with your optometrist and make them a regular fixture in your diary.

Give Up the Bad Stuff If You Haven’t Already

Here’s something you likely already know: hard evidence has conclusively found that tobacco use and excessive alcohol consumption are directly related to poor health in later life. Consequently, the sooner you take action, the better.

Firstly, that means giving up smoking as soon as possible if you do smoke. There is no age at which smoking presents health benefits, but the older you get and the longer you smoke, the harder it is to quit and the tougher it is for the body to make repairs.

Those who have smoked for a long time may experience great difficulty quitting or be more susceptible to relapse. But there are several measures, both physical and mental, which quitters can utilise to help them stay stopped.

When it comes to alcohol, there is no universally recognised ‘safe level’. Research is constantly coming into conflict with itself over whether small amounts of alcohol can actually provide health benefits. However, what is clear is that consuming too much is significantly detrimental to health; the list of harmful physical and psychological conditions which alcohol can either cause or exacerbate is exhaustive.

Staying within ‘low risk’ guidelines is therefore essential. For otherwise healthy adults this is 14 units per week.

Meet Your Fibre Needs

We don’t need as many calories in later life as our metabolism naturally begins to decelerate. But to ensure that the calories you do eat go further, fibre becomes a more essential nutritional tool. This is because it helps food to pass through the digestive system more slowly, which enables a more sustained and continuous rate of energy release. However, fibre has several other benefits, helping to protect against high cholesterol, weight gain and improves digestive health; making it just too valuable a nutrient to neglect.

For our diets, this means decreasing the amount of fat and sugar we eat as we get older, while increasing the amount of vegetables and wholegrain we consume.

It may not sound exciting, but eating healthily doesn’t necessarily mean cutting treats out altogether. Rationing your dessert and sweet indulgence consumption serves two benefits; it helps you stay healthy; and makes the occasional treat all the more valuable and enjoyable.

—

Dr Wayne Osborne is a doctor of medicine. He serves as the head practitioner at health website Treated.com and writes for a collection of online medical and lifestyle titles.

Ecstasy: The Unplanned Addiction

Jul 13, 2016

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MDMA (3,4-methylenedioxy-methamphetamine) goes by many names, including molly, ecstasy, E, and X or XTC.

Despite becoming illegal in 1988, MDMA gained popularity in the US during the late 1980s and early 1990s. The synthetic (man-made) party drug found its popularity at all-night raves, but the allure of emotional warmth and feelings of increased energy soon caught on with a broader range of users. Chemically, it’s comparable to hallucinogens and stimulants, but it’s different too because it produces feelings of pleasure, while distorting the senses and time perception.

Unfortunately, MDMA abuse is dangerous and addictive. It increases three neurotransmitters: dopamine, serotonin, and norepinephrine. Your brain will attempt to adjust to the MDMA abuse and begin blocking these neurotransmitters or it will produce less of them. The result is tolerance and dependence�otherwise known as Addiction. Like most addictions, MDMA has withdrawal symptoms, including fatigue, appetite loss, depression, and trouble concentrating. MDMA detox is not something you have to experience alone; you may require medicine to successfully kick the habit, as well as counseling and therapy.

Signs You (or Someone You Love) May Be Suffering from Ecstasy Addition

Although not signs of long-term addiction, there are some clear signs a person is abusing MDMA. People on the drug often experience heightened sensory perception. They experience increased pleasure from touching and have increased alertness. Other signs of ecstasy abuse include teeth clenching, excessive sweating, enhanced energy, and increased alertness. If you suspect someone you care about is abusing the drug, you may want to talk to an addiction specialist or counselor who can provide information on staging an intervention or convincing your loved one to enter rehab.

Long-term use typically results in addiction, and addiction has some tell-tale signs. MDMA alters brain chemistry and emotional states, so heavy use does result in lasting depression, trouble sleeping, and periods of confusion. The physical body suffers too, and weight loss, increased blood pressure, and increased heart rate are all symptoms of prolonged use. Because it affects blood pressure and the heart, MDMA addiction has the potential to be fatal. Other physical effects include involuntary teeth clenching, double vision, and muscle tension. Addicts may experience all or only a few of these symptoms.

Tolerance is ecstasy’s most dangerous side-effect because it pressures the user to use more of the drug. MDMA is not safe. Taking large amounts can result in overdose, which has the potential to be fatal. If you or a loved one is facing intense cravings for the drug, it’s absolutely time to seek out treatment. Addiction specialists can help users overcome the painful side-effects of addiction and return to normal healthy lives once again. It is possible to help someone you care about get help and get sober. It starts with a conversation.

Ecstasy is Rarely Pure MDMA

One of the major problems with ecstasy is that people believe it’s not dangerous. MDMA has its medical benefits; it was used in psychotherapy and to treat marital problems. When prescribed by a physician it maybe isn’t so harmful, but drug dealers are not physicians and ecstasy is rarely pure MDMA.

According to DrugAbuse.gov, “Adding to MDMA’s risks is that pills, capsules, or powders sold as ecstasy and supposedly ‘pure’ molly may contain other drugs instead of or in addition to MDMA. Much of the molly seized by the police contains additives, such as cocaine, ketamine, methamphetamine, over-the-counter cough medicine, or synthetic cathinones (‘bath salts’).” Ecstasy use is extremely dangerous even the first time because you really don’t know what you’re getting and how it’s going to react to your body.

The most effective treatment for drug abuse is therapy, cognitive behavioral interventions, and drug recovery support groups. You or your loved one aren’t alone. There are many battling addiction to MDMA and, like them, you can overcome it. The first step is admitting you have a problem and seeking help to overcome the addiction.

Read about the psychoanalysis part written by Patrick Mahony

Jul 12, 2016

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All people in the world will be having more desire to judge a character or the personality of the person. There are many ways to find out the character and the personality of the person. There are many online helping lines found and people can make use of it to determine the nature and the character of a person. It will be really useful for the people to judge the nature and the behavior of the person.

Patrick Mahony’s psychoanalysis

The analysis which is done related to the psychology of an individual is named as the psychoanalysis and the people who are in need to learn about this psychoanalysis can make use of theories given by the Patrick Mahony. He is the person who has given a very clear description about the psychoanalysis and the people who are in need to understand the behavior of a particular person can make use of this analysis and they can really do wonders by judging the nature and the behavior of the person.

57 questions

This man has his own website and he has given all the necessary details regarding the psychoanalysis and so people can visit this website and they can learn all the methods which are explained in the psychoanalysis part. It will be highly helpful for the people to develop the quality of judging the other people. He has given 57 basic question for the people and the person who about to be analyzed must fill up the questions and the results will be highly related to the answers of the questions which are answered by the person. It will be very much useful to determine the quality of the people and also the in � depth nature of the people. All the questions are related to the human behaviors and their tendencies. So, people who are in need to check out a person’s behavior can make use of these questions which are given by the Patrick in his psychoanalysis tests.

All his 57 questions are highly divided into three main categories and they are divided in order to formulate the process of determining the nature of the people very easily. There are three main titles given to all the 57 questions and they are the lie score, E score and then finally N score. All these three will determine the nature and the behavior of a person. There are also maximum and minimum marks which are highly required for the person who appears in this test. By using this method people can easily judge the nature and the behavior of the person. It is a very simple psychoanalysis made and this man Patrick has made many deep surveys to make the process very simple and easy.

All the people who are in need to learn more can visit this website which will give all the information related to the concepts such as the extroversion, introversion and the neuroticism stability. There are also many other websites which may give explanations regarding this topic but it will be better to make use of patrickmahony.co.uk website.

7 Tanning Tips You Need This Summer

Jul 7, 2016

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While fair skinned people may often wonder if they have the ability to tan, the ability to get a bronzed skin tone is not exclusive to anyone! We can all look our best during the coming summer months, without having to go to the local tanning salon. Read on to learn more about these helpful tips:

1. Use Protection

Don’t worry, suntan lotion is not going to stop you from soaking in the rays and getting some color. However, it will stop you from burning, so be sure to remain protected in the sun at all times! There are many different sunscreen levels for various purposes so make sure you find the one that’s right for you. They can be easily bought for instance on Amazon.

2. Take Your Time

When you first begin to tan, make your sessions in the sun short. Spend 15-20 minutes in the sun to start with and slowly increase the amount of time you spend outside in five-minute increments. If you do decide to use a tanning bed, space the sessions out and don’t go every day.

3. Allow The Skin To Tan On Its Own

Tanning continues to take place, even after we are no longer in the sun. The production of melanin is not over once we step back inside and the cell stimulation continues taking place, so there is no need to sit in the sun and wait for the skin to change color.

4. Using Accelerators

To speed up the tanning process, you can use accelerators. For best results, apply the tanning accelerator on top of your SPF cream. The skin produces melanin at a greater rate if it is fed by tanning accelerators that are rich in l-tyrosine. While some may consider the use of tan accelerators to be “cheating”, it is not the same as using a fake tan and there are no unsightly streaks. They create the proper conditions for golden skin by giving it the essential fatty acids, vitamins, and antioxidants that are needed most.

6. Don’t Forget To Moisturize

Moisturizing is always key, especially when we are tanning our skin on a regular basis. The sun will strip the skin of its natural oils if we do not take the proper precautions. Quality moisturizing takes place both inside and out, so be sure to drink plenty of water and create a layer of moisturizer on the skin’s surface during each tanning session.

7. Tan On A Regular Basis

Those who are fair skinned tend to struggle with building the base tan and they must slowly increase their exposure to the sun. It is important not to fall behind. Otherwise, all of your hard work will be for naught and you will be forced to start over again!

Easy Ways to Look After Your Feet

Jul 7, 2016

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Almost all of us take our feet for granted � there they are, at the far end of your body, hidden away in shoes, trainers and socks � carrying the entire weight of our bodies. Even worse, sometimes they’re forced to do this in ill-fitting shoes or high heels.

The average person walks around 100,000 miles during a lifetime, and of course if you run or walk as a hobby, that distance goes up. A car gets a service every 30,000 miles, so why are we so happy to neglect our feet? Feet are the parts of the body most likely to be injured, so by adopting some self-care tips you can keep them healthy and ready for action.

Don’t forget to wash your feet

And between your toes! Use a flannel or a soft brush to clean them, focusing on your toes, before letting your feet dry completely. If you find bending down difficult, then a long-handled brush is ideal. This care and attention helps to lessen the risk of problems like athlete’s foot, foot odour and other fungal and bacterial infections.

Soft soap your feet

Some of us love a good foot soak, but if you like to use bath salts, give them a swerve. Salts tend to dry out the skin, potentially causing tiny lesions that, given the right conditions, let in bacteria and the dreaded fungus. Use a mild bath foam and make sure the water is no hotter than your usual bath.

Moisturise

Once your feet are dry, use a good moisturiser on them. You can buy specialist foot creams or just use a regular body lotion, depending on your tastes. This helps to prevent painful cracks in your heels.

Change your shoes daily

If you have a particular favourite shoe, buy another pair so you can alternate them. This gives the unworn pair a chance to air, preventing the build-up of bugs. Don’t forget to change your socks or tights daily as well.

If your feet are painful, seek advice

Wearing badly-fitting shoes, or shoes that don’t support your feet and ankles, can lead to serious problems. If you’re worried you may have damaged your feet, an assessment and a course of foot physiotherapy from Northwich Foot Clinic might set you back on the right track.

Ditch the flip-flops

Shoes, sandals or flip-flops with completely flat bases are a no-no! These types of footwear don’t support the arch of the foot and can lead to tendon, ankle and bunion problems in later life. Make sure you hardly ever wear shoes like this � many styles of sandal have arch support, so you needn’t sacrifice style.

Your feet are vulnerable

Pregnancy can place a lot of stress on the feet � the extra weight combined with the softening of ligaments can actually make your feet a size bigger, often permanently. Additionally, as people get older they lose some of the fat pads under their heels, which makes well-cushioned shoes an essential. Diabetes can also lead to circulation problems, so if you’re diabetic, a yearly check-up with a podiatrist is doubly important to keep you on your toes.

3 Severe Illnesses That Are Commonly Misdiagnosed

Jul 6, 2016

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Some illnesses are so common, you’d be surprised how often they’re misdiagnosed. This can be for many different reasons. Sometimes several illnesses mimic nearly all of the same symptoms with minor differences. Other illnesses require symptom elimination, which can take a while to go through each one. Here are three commonly misdiagnosed illnesses that everyone should know about.

Celiac Disease

Celiac disease has gained a lot more awareness with the gluten-free movement that has been storming through the United States. There is a lot of confusion about what Celiac actually is. Everyone should be aware because the average time to become properly diagnosed with Celiac is about six to 10 years. Taking too long to be diagnosed with Celiac disease can lead to irreversible damage in the small intestines, and in more severe cases, even death. Celiac is extremely important to diagnose as early as possible.

Celiac disease is an autoimmune disorder that causes a severe intolerance to gluten, a protein found in wheat. It can affect people differently. If you have any of these symptoms, you should speak to a doctor about it, so your doctor can start taking steps to diagnose you. Symptoms include:

Bloating
Abdominal pain
Gas
Pale stools
Diarrhea
Weight loss
Muscle cramps
Joint pain
Mouth sores
Seizures
Anemia (low iron)

Children with Celiac may have been diagnosed with failure to thrive (FTT) because they exhibit severe growth problems. Women with Celiac often experience irregular and missed menstrual periods. Celiac disease can cause other health problems such as vitamin and mineral deficiencies, Osteoporosis, infertility, chronic miscarriages, and birth defects. In rare cases, it can cause intestinal cancer.

Celiac disease is severe. The intolerance causes the small intestines to swell and become damaged. Eventually, surgery to move portions of the damaged intestines may be required. If you are worried you have Celiac disease, you should immediately eliminate foods containing gluten from your diet and consult with a doctor immediately. Internal Medicine doctors, like Dr. Bruce Eaton, are your best choice.

Lyme Disease

Lyme disease is another serious disease that often goes undiagnosed. Lyme mimics symptoms of illnesses such as rheumatoid arthritis, multiple sclerosis, ALS, Parkinson’s Disease, and fibromyalgia. In fact, many people with Lyme start out with a fibromyalgia diagnosis. Lyme can be easy to spot for some, because if a tick is infected with Lyme when it bites you, it sometimes leaves a tell-tale bullseye mark around the bite. However, the CDC has discovered that only 42% of people who have lime initially presented with a rash, and some people have different types of Lyme rashes. Sometimes people do have a rash and don’t notice. If the bite is in a hard-to-see place like your back or under your hair, you might never see it.

Lyme disease can produce a wide range of symptoms when left untreated. Common symptoms of Lyme include:

Cognitive impairment
Mood changes
Insomnia
Muscle pain
Difficulty sleeping
Severe joint pain
Depression
Headaches
Heart-related issues
Bell’s Palsy

The early stages of Lyme feel similar to the flu. Chronic Lyme generally presents much more severe patients. ³/₄ of Lyme sufferers report that they have at least one severe symptom. On average, people with Lyme each have about three severe or very severe symptoms. Luckily, Lyme can be diagnosed through a blood test. If you have any of these symptoms, it would be a good idea to ask for a blood test to rule out Lyme at the very beginning. When found early, cognitive impairment can be eliminated or much less severe.

Endometriosis

Endometriosis is a commonly misdiagnosed disease that affects between 10 and 20% of women in the United States. Endometriosis can strike any woman at any given time. There are no known risk factors that increase your risk, including age, race, and socioeconomic class. Endometriosis is extremely painful, but since many women commonly have menstrual pain, it often goes unnoticed. Endometriosis is where the uterine lining grows outside of the uterus, most commonly inside of the abdominal cavity.

With endometriosis, the uterine lining still acts as it would if it weren’t misplaced. It thickens throughout the month, and it sheds when the affected women starts her period. Unfortunately, the lining has nowhere to go, so it begins to build up, causing excess pain during the menstrual cycle. Sometimes it affects the ovaries, which can cause lesions, scar tissue, and cysts. Symptoms of endometriosis include:

Infertility
Excessive bleeding during periods
Bleeding between periods
Painful intercourse
Excessive pain during periods
Pain with urination and bowel movements

The most common cause of endometriosis is retrograde menstruation. This is where menstrual blood that contains endometrial cells backup into the pelvic cavity and fallopian tubes. These cells can stick to the walls of pelvic organs and continue to grow. Other causes include surgical scar implantation, immune system disorders, and embryonic cell growth.

Endometriosis is most commonly cured with a hysterectomy. If the endometriosis hasn’t spread to the fallopian tubes, you will likely be able to only have your uterus removed. If it has spread to your fallopian tubes, you will likely need them removed as well.

These three illnesses can cause serious complications when left untreated. If you are exhibiting symptoms that mimic any of these illnesses, make sure you see a doctor immediately for testing

How Voice Disorders caused by Cerebral Palsy can be treated by a Speech-Language Pathologist

Jul 5, 2016

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For many people, the simple act of speaking clearly and efficiently can be a difficult task. Among those suffering from cerebral palsy, the act of speaking can even be a torturous process, and many suffer in literal silence. However, there are a number of options for those suffering from speech-language disorders associated with CP � as long as they know where to look for help.

Prevalence and Characteristics of CP

According to the Government of Canada, Cerebral palsy (CP) is the most common motor disability among children.
Global population-based studies report prevalence estimates of CP ranging from 1.5 upward to more than 4 per 1,000 live births or children of a defined age range.
About 1 in 323 children has been identified with CP according to estimates from recent documents collected from the CDC’s Autism and Developmental Disabilities Monitoring (ADDM) Network.

According to speech-language expert Simone Friedman speech therapy in Toronto or any other city can help patients cope with and even overcome speech disorders caused by CP. Those who suffer from CP may experience a number of voice disorders that can make speech difficult to near-impossible. Voice disorders affecting vocal quality (hoarseness, strained etc.), vocal loudness (the volume; loud or quiet), pitch (the notes going up and down), or of someone’s speaking or singing voice are often due to poorly functioning larynx (voice box), respiration system, or possibly the vocal tract.

The following voice disorders have been known to affect many children and adults suffering from cerebral palsy:

Aphasia�� A language disorder caused by brain damage or disease resulting in difficulty in formulating, expressing,�and /or understanding language.
Apraxia�� A speech programming disorder which makes words and sentences sound jumbled or meaningless.
Articulation disorders caused as a result of neurological damage such as stroke or head injury are termed�motor speech disorder.
Fluency disorders:�(stuttering) � A disruption in the standard flow of rhythm of speech. Characteristics may include repetition of vocables such as sounds, syllables, words or phrases, hesitations, prolongations or interjections.

How is a Voice Disorder Assessed?

Perceptual analysis by an experienced Speech-Language Pathologist�and/or anOtolaryngologist�is still considered the best way to assess a voice disorder. It is also important to conduct a physical examination and acoustic measures to determine whether or not a more serious condition associated with the disorder (such as CP or Down syndrome) is present.

Who Can Benefit from Voice Therapy and Coaching?

In the discipline of speech-language pathology, voice therapy and coaching can help children, adults and the elderly of both gender (female and male) better cope with speech disorders associated with CP or Down syndrome. �At a recognized speech-language pathology clinic such as Simone Friedman SLS, assessment and treatment follows several carefully monitored steps.

Step 1: A 1.5 hour assessment session is an integral part of the process and is conducted by an experienced Speech-Language Pathologist (SLP). This is the stage where a case history, oral exam and acoustic measures are conducted.

Step 2: A patient may be referred to other professionals (otolaryngologist etc.) for further testing and concurrent treatment if needed.

Step 3: A course of 8-12 weekly or bi-weekly sessions of 45 minutes to 1 hour are conducted.

Step 4: A short review of voice changes is conducted by a speech language expert while acoustic measures are compared for progress.

Step 5: The client may be discharged or recommended to continue using other techniques from home.

To learn more, visit a speech-language pathology centre near you to begin a potential assessment session and start treating impeding speech disorders with the help of trained experts.

Our Out of Control Opioid Crisis: Can Cannabis be the Cure?

Jun 26, 2016

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There are a good number of medical experts and addiction specialists who are prepared to argue that there is a solid case for considering that medical marijuana could provide a genuine cure for opioid addiction.

The use of medical marijuana is growing, and you only have to witness the number of marijuana dispensaries in Arizona and other states, to see this for yourself, but what are the pros and cons of this argument, and can cannabis really be the cure?

Treating chronic pain

Opioids and narcotics are the widely used drug of choice when trying to alleviate and treat chronic pain.

This widespread use continues despite the fact that there are some noxious side effects associated with opioids and narcotics used in this way. The CDC estimate that a staggering 44 people a day, die as a result of a prescription drug overdose, which seems like a heavy price to pay, whichever side of the argument you are on.

This is one of the compelling reasons why the use of medical marijuana as a viable alternative, is being put forward by a diverse range of medical experts as well as addiction specialists.

Helping to ease the pain

Cannabis has low levels of toxicity in comparison and is considered impossible to overdose on, so on the face of it, these two attributes would seem to suggest that the soothing power of cannabis could provide the pain relief required, but without the same inherent dangers attached.

It is also worth considering the fact that there are cannabinoid receptors located in some regions of your brain that can even possess the potential to alter chronic pain accordingly.

Fewer deaths

One of the most powerful arguments put forward in favor of medical marijuana as a viable solution for dealing with chronic pain, is the noticeable reduction in death rates within states that have legalized the use of medical marijuana.

Research carried out by the University of Pennsylvania and John Hopkins University, discovered that as many as 60% of all opioid analgesic overdoses occurred in patients who were known to have taken doses dictated by the prescription.

Comparing mortality rates with 13 states that permitted the use of medical marijuana, revealed a 24.8% lower mortality rate after the state laws were changed, which would seem to suggest that death rates could be influenced in a positive way, by extending the use of medical marijuana over opioids and narcotics.

It is worth pointing out that the rate of opioid-related deaths actually increased in all of the states studied during evaluation period, but it simply increased less in those states that permitted the use of medical marijuana, so there is still work to be done to tackle the death rates.

You will not find many dissenting voices amongst medical doctors that marijuana is likely to prove safer than opioids, and with some research figures demonstrating a positive influence in the reduction of death rates through its use, you may well expect an increase in its usage to deal with chronic pain.

Karen Powers works as a medical research assistant and spends much of her day in the lab. Karen enjoys writing and calls her articles her hobby. She is also a keen cyclist and Mom of two dogs.

Understanding the Urgency of Urgent Care

Jun 15, 2016

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Years ago, there was no such thing as an urgent care center. You either went to the doctor or the emergency room. But with the growth in demand for off-hours care, as well as increasing numbers of people needing treatment thanks to the Affordable Care Act, almost every community has a couple of after-hours facilities to simplify treatment of minor illnesses.

Today, it has advanced even further to permit care by phone. Patients can contact caregivers to describe symptoms and get a prescription called in. That’s with no waiting room visit and no exposure to other sick people. San Francisco urgent care can be sought out in this manner, and other cities are seeing an increase in it as well.

So why are people contacting Urgent care in Oakland instead of traipsing off to the doctor or emergency room? What conditions can best be treated in this way? There are a few common issues that can be easily handled with this unique approach.

Persistent Discomfort

One of the most common causes of doctor visits is allergic reactions. Coming into contact with a substance that creates a reaction in your body can create significant problems for you.

We should stop here and point out that ANY allergic reaction that leads to an itchy throat or mouth, or to any difficulty breathing, should be treated at an emergency room. This is a sign of anaphylaxis and could be deadly. In addition, a patient with a known, established allergy to anything–bee stings, food allergens, or medications, for example–should be seen at an emergency room if any of those known triggers are involved, or may be involved, in the episode.

For minor ailments like skin irritation, urgent care by phone is fine and is certainly preferable to long ER waits or to a next-day visit to the general practitioner. These conditions can interfere with work or rest, creating a high misery index for the patient. Seeking care immediately upon the onset of symptoms can permit a definitive treatment that could quickly improve the patient’s comfort level.

The Run-Of-The-Mill Illness

We all have those sick spells that come along from time to time. Sore throat, sneezing, and a low-grade fever. We’ve all been there dozens of times, and we know exactly the course of treatment we need.

But that course requires a prescription, and we still have to go to the doctor no matter how predictable the whole thing is. It’s needless to waste a work day in a waiting room with people who’ve come in for checkups, follow-up visits, and medication reviews. Instead, when the old familiar visitor drops in, it’s best to contact urgent care and save your sick time from work. With luck, that first day’s doses will knock the symptoms down enough to keep you on the job.

The Ounce Of Prevention

Taking quick action on certain ailments is critical to keeping them from turning more serious. An easy and common example of this is a stomach virus. Children in particular can quickly dehydrate if vomiting and diarrhea go on for several hours, and it is much easier to prevent dehydration than to correct it.

If someone in your home is suffering symptoms that could lead to dehydration, you still have time to contact an urgent care center and avoid an ER visit for fluids and possibly admission. The caregivers may be able to prescribe anti-nausea medications that will settle the stomach and permit oral intake of fluids and electrolytes, getting the body back to its normal hydration more easily and without deeper medical intervention.

Urgent care by phone can jump-start the recovery process, without the miserable experience of trekking the sick person out of the house. It’s also better for the would-be fellow patients, who don’t want to be exposed to a virus on top of their other problems..

Balancing the time and effort we spend to treat a condition with the seriousness of that condition can be tricky. Certainly, if you have any doubts about the situation, you should see a doctor in person. But in these cases where it’s clear that other options are on the table, this unique approach to medical care can make for a quicker and more positive outcome.

How to Stop Snoring

Jun 9, 2016

1869

Original infographic can be found here :�How to stop snoring�

Infographic is provided�in courtesy of PositiveHealthWellness.com

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