Apply For Medicare In Missouri

The Social Security Administration (SSA) offers health care benefits to people over age 65, people with end-stage renal disease and disabled people through the Medicare program. The low-cost insurance consists of tree parts: Part A for hospital expenses; Part B for doctor and other medical expenses; and Part D for prescription drug expenses. Medicare participants pay monthly premiums for parts B and D, but payment for part A comes from general Social Security taxes. You can apply for Medicare benefits in Missouri at one of the SSA offices in your area.

Instructions

1. Collect documentation of your citizenship, identity, medical history, work history and income. Include your Social Security card, birth certificate, utility bills proving Missouri residency and your most recent tax return.

2. Visit the SSA website and click "Find a Social Security Office" to locate an office near you. Enter your zip code and print or write down the office information.

3. Go to the office and bring the original verification documents you gathered earlier. Ask for a Medicare application. Fill out the application with your name, address, Social Security number, date of birth, marital status, work status, income and medical history. Fill out the appropriate section to request automatic enrollment in Medicare Plan B. Without automatic enrollment, you will only have a seven-month window to enroll in Plan B. After that time, you must wait for the open enrollment period which runs January 1 through March 31 each year. You will also pay a 10 percent higher premium, as of November 2010, for each year you did not accept Part B coverage. Ask for assistance from a SSA representative if you need it, but plan for a long wait if you go to a busy office in a city such as St. Louis or Kansas City.

4. Turn the application in to a SSA representative. Give the representative the original documents so the SSA can make copies and mail the originals back to you. The SSA will process your application and, if it approves it, you will receive your Medicare card approximately 30 days after requesting the benefits.

Tags: Social Security, automatic enrollment, each year, expenses Part, medical history

Physican Credentialing Checklist

The physician credentialing process ensures that a doctor has met standard qualifications.

Physician credentialing is the process by which an insurance company or hospital reviews a doctor's education and employment history and determines his qualifications to practice in the medical field. This thorough review of a doctor's employment record, training and other information protects the business and its patients by ensuring physicians are properly licensed and meet the organization's high standards for service and character.

Basic Information

The credentialing bureau or insurance company first checks on the physician's general information. Every three years or longer, depending on state regulations, a doctor must sign a document stating his real name, specialties and affiliations with medical groups or hospitals. This document is filed with the Division of Professional Regulation or a similar department in the state where the physician practices. This information is available for potential employers and the medical credentialing bureau. Any information on a doctor's application to an insurance company, hospital or potential employer may be compared to listings in the National Practitioner Data Bank, The American Board of Family Medicine or other physician organizations.

Education

The physician's education and training is verified by calling and writing the colleges listed on the application. Grade point average, academic awards and research, and classroom conduct are examined. Instructors and classmates may be contacted for references. The depth of research into a physician's training differs according to the hospital or organization initiating the credentialing process.

Licensure

A physician must be licensed in the state (or states) in which she practices. Every state has slightly different procedures for granting a license, but in every case a physician must fill out an application and have graduated from an accredited medical school. The credentialing body checks that the doctor's license is up to date, and that there are no restrictions on her ability to perform medicine in that state.

Board Certification

Physicians specializing in a particular type of practice can apply for and receive board certification. This means that the doctor has passed a number of training milestones in the specialty. A board-certified doctor has graduated from an accredited medical school and trained for a given length of time in his specialty. He must also pass an examination given by the medical board in that specialty. Finally, the board-certified doctor must have practiced in her field for a specified length of time. The American Board of Medical Specialties states that board certification indicates a physician has outstanding expertise in her field.

Malpractice

The credentialing authority checks the doctor's records for malpractice suits and other legal actions. If the examiner decides that the physician has had too many malpractice issues, they may not grant a passing credential. The examiner also determines if the doctor has an adequate amount of malpractice insurance.

Prescriptions

The physician must be authorized by the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) to write prescriptions in the United States. The DEA or National Technical Information Service will have the doctor's name on their roster if he has not abused his prescription-writing privileges.

Work History

The doctor's work history will be verified. Colleagues may be contacted for information about bedside manner and character references. Finally, the credentialing authority will make sure that the physician can legally care for Medicare and Medicaid patients.

Tags: credentialing process, insurance company, physician must, that doctor, accredited medical, accredited medical school, American Board

Apply For Medicare In California

Medicare is a federally funded program that provides health insurance services to senior citizens over the age of 65 and other individuals under the age of 65 with long-term kidney disease or who are permanently disabled. California residents who are interested in applying for Medicare benefits will be working with the Social Security Administration throughout the application and benefit periods.

Instructions

1. Utilize the eligibility tool provided on the Medicare website to determine if you are eligible for Medicare benefits. As a general rule, individuals who have reached the age of 65 will be eligible for Medicare benefits. However, other individuals with permanent disabilities may be eligible as well. A link to the eligibility tool is located in the "Resources" section. Applicants can also contact their local Social Security office in California to determine whether they are eligible for Medicare benefits.

2. Access or obtain the application for Medicare benefits. Applications can be accessed on the Social Security Administration's website or obtained at your local Social Security office in California. See the links in the "Resource" section below to access the online application or to locate your nearest Social Security office.

3. Complete and submit your Medicare application. The application will require you to provide personal information such as your address, Social Security number, date of birth, and information about your disability status if necessary. Submit your completed application to the Social Security Administration online or to your local office.

Tags: Social Security, Medicare benefits, eligible Medicare, eligible Medicare benefits, Security Administration, Security office

Gp Registrar Job Description

A GP registrar makes sure incoming patients sign necessary forms for treatment.

When patients visit physician's offices or health care facilities to obtain care, they must go through a registration process. A general practitioner (GP) registrar, also called a patient registrar or admissions clerk, processes their paperwork. Based on information provided at PayScale, as of 2010, GP registrars earned an annual income between $20,785 and $30,701.

Job Duties

A GP registrar's main job duty is to collect and verify patient information. He also probes incoming patients for clarification of medical history details and symptoms and keeps accurate files and records of patient treatment procedures.

Skill Requirements

GP registrars should have a warm demeanor that puts people at ease and eager to provide personal information. They should also possess impeccable attention to detail to ensure all forms and applications are properly completed. The registrar also needs knowledge of medical terminology.

Preferred Background

A high school diploma or equivalent is required for employment as a GP registrar, and employers prefer candidates with experience in patient relations or intake procedures. Familiarity with medical practice protocol is also helpful for a prospective GP registrar.

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What Is The Yearly Salary Of A Diagnostic Medical Sonographer

Sonography is a medical procedure, diagnostic in nature, which uses sound waves to produce a visual image. The visual image can be of specific organs or to check the blood flow inside the body to make sure there is not a blood clot. The salary of a diagnostic medical sonographer depends on the city, gender of the employee, state, years of experience, and types of certification, education, skill, employer type and size.

Gender Salary Differences

On average, a female sonographer makes more than $26 per hour; while a male sonographer makes more than $27 per hour.

Years of Experience

A sonographer with less than one year of experience makes approximately $21 per hour, while an employee with one to four years of experience makes approximately $24 per hour. If a sonographer has five to nine years experience, he makes more than $28 per hour. If the experience is 10 to 19 years, the hourly wage is approximately $32 per hour. More than 20 years of experience, and the salary is closer to $31 per hour.

Salary Differences by City

Dallas pays the highest salary amount at approximately $30 per hour. Springfield, Mo., pays approximately $27 per hour. The lowest salary is in Orlando at approximately $24 per hour.

Salary Differences by State

California pays the highest salary at more than $31 per hour. North Carolina salary pays approximately $26 per hour. The lowest salary is in Ohio at approximately $24 per hour.

Education

With an associate degree in science, the average salary is close to $26 per hour. A bachelor of science yields an average salary of approximately $30 per hour.

Skill

The OB/GYN sonographer makes approximately $30 per hour, whereas a sonographer hired to work in a radiology department makes approximately $27 per hour.

Employer Type, Size and Setting

Hospital employees make an average salary of $26 per hour. Private practice and self-employed sonographers make a salary averaging $27 per hour. A college or university pays approximately $23 per hour. A company with one to 199 employees pays the sonographer approximately $27 to $28 per hour. Companies with two hundred to 1,999 employees pay the sonographer approximately $30 per hour. A general hospital pays a salary at approximately $26 per hour and an ambulatory surgery center pays a salary of approximately $29 per hour.

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The Effects Of Magi On Medicare Part B

Projected increases in Medicare costs led Congress to raise premiums for higher-income beneficiaries.

Medicare Part B provides medical coverage for physicians' fees and outpatient services. The premiums that beneficiaries pay cover only 25 percent of the program's cost--federal revenues provide 73 percent. The Medicare Modernization Act of 2003 sought to increase the share for the program's cost for higher-income Medicare beneficiaries. Effective 2007, Medicare Part B premiums increased for beneficiaries with income above certain thresholds. The income used is their modified adjusted gross income, or MAGI.

MAGI Definition

Social Security administers the Medicare Part B "Income-related Monthly Adjustment Amount" (IRMAA) notifications. MAGI is the sum of an individual's adjusted gross income as shown on the first page of their tax return, adjusted to include tax-exempt interest income entered on line 8b on Form 1040 of federal returns. If the MAGI exceeds certain thresholds, recipients receive notification their Medicare Part B premiums will increase.

MAGI Information Source

Social Security receives information about recipients' income from the Internal Revenue Service. However, the information is two years old since that is the first tax year for which IRS has complete information available. For example, premiums for 2010 use the MAGI information from a recipient's 2008 tax year's return filed in 2009. If no return information is available, IRS supplies information from three years prior.

Individual Filing Status

Thresholds that trigger increased Medicare premiums may change annually when the consumer price index increases. The threshold varies according to the Medicare beneficiary's filing status. In 2010, filers with a filing status of "individual" and a MAGI of $85,001 to $107,000 have premiums of $154.70. The standard premium is $110.50. A MAGI of $107,001 to $160,000 causes premiums of $221. MAGI income of $160,001 to $214,000 generates premiums of $287.30. MAGI above $214,000 raises premiums to $353.60.

Married Joint Return

SSA uses the MAGI for married couples filing joint returns even if only one member of the couple receives Medicare. MAGI of $170,001 to $214,000 raises premiums to $154.70; if $214,001 to $320,000 premium is $221; for a MAGI of $320,001 to $428,000 premiums are $287.30 and MAGI above $428,000 means the Part B premium will be $353.60.

Married Filing Separately

Medicare Part B recipients who lived with their spouse at least part of the tax year, and whose filing status is "married filing separately," have Medicare Part B premiums of $287.30 when their MAGI income is $85,001 to $129,000. If their MAGI exceeds $129,000, their premium amount is $353.60.

Duration of MAGI

The MAGI only affects premiums for one year. Each year Social Security makes a new premium amount decision. If the income was a one-time increase, such as capital gains from the sale of a home, the premiums will decrease after one year when income drops below thresholds that trigger premium increases.

Appeal Rights

Beneficiaries can appeal the Income-Related Monthly Adjusted Amount (IRMAA) notification. If they had certain life-changing events--such as a divorce, marriage or job loss--SSA may be able to use information from a later year's tax return to reduce premiums. If IRS provided information for a tax year three years earlier than the premium year, but the beneficiary has tax return information from two years earlier, SSA can use the information from the later return.

Tags: Medicare Part, information from, Medicare Part premiums, Part premiums, premiums MAGI, Social Security, adjusted gross

Mri Breast Cancer Diagnosis

The American Cancer Society says women with a notably high risk of developing breast cancer would be prudent to undergo magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) scans along with their annual mammogram. In addition to spotting potential malignancies, an MRI is sometimes used as a complimentary tool for previously diagnosed breast cancer.

MRI's Are Not For All Women

A breast MRI is most often conducted when your doctor needs more information than a mammogram or breast exam can provide.

The ACS says MRI scans are not recommended for women with an average risk of breast cancer, because they are more apt to show questionable spots (false positives) that may appear alarming, but turn out to not be malignant.

How MRI's Work

An MRI uses a magnet that is connected to a computer, which enables the viewing of detailed pictures of the interior body without relying on radiation. Each MRI produces hundreds of images of the breast from side-to-side, front-to-back and top-to-bottom.

What to Expect

During an MRI of the breast, the patient lies on her stomach and the breast suspends into a concave in the screening table. This hollow area contains coils that detect the magnetic signal. The patient is wheeled into tube-like machine that contains the magnet. If a tumor is present, a non-radioactive contrast agent may be administered intravenously to improve its visibility and additional images will be taken.

MRI as an Adjunct Screening

According to the National Cancer Institute, MRI is often used to take a closer look at suspicious areas that are detected on a mammogram or are physically detected after breast surgery or radiation therapy.

An MRI can also be a useful tool after a breast cancer diagnosed to establish the extent of the tumor.

MRI as a Staging Tool

MRI is sometimes used in the preoperative staging in newly diagnosed breast cancers because it can identify other areas of cancer that do not appear on conventional imaging.

However, a recent review that appeared in A Cancer Journal for Clinicians said an MRI prior to breast cancer surgery has not been shown to improve surgical planning, lessen the need for follow-up surgery, or lower the risk of local cancer recurrences.

Study Supports MRI's for High Risk Women

The ACS says Dutch researchers have discovered that magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) can detect breast cancers in high risk women that mammogram's fail to spot.

During the study more 1,909 high risk women underwent a professional physical breast exam twice a year and a mammogram and MRI scan annually.

Fifty breast tumors were detected over a four year period. The MRI spotted 32 malignancies, only10 of which appeared on the mammogram. The findings were published in the New England Journal of Medicine.

MRI & Invasive Breast Cancer

A study conducted by U.S. and Canadian researchers found MRI scans can greatly improve detection rates of breast cancer in the other breast for women who have been diagnosed with a malignancy in the first breast.

The study was co-sponsored by the National Institute of Health and the National Cancer Institute. The findings were published in the New England Journal of Medicine.

Study co-author Dr Etta Pisano said 60 percent of the cancers found by MRI were invasive and could move to other parts of the body.

Tags: breast cancer, high risk, after breast, breast cancer, breast cancers, breast exam

Find Help Paying For Cancer Treatments

The financial aspect of cancer treatments can be exhausting, especially when it comes to determining pay for it all. Cancer treatments can range from chemotherapy, hormone therapy, radiation therapy, and even surgery. If one treatment seems to be working, other treatments may help as well. When it comes to your life or the life of a loved one, you're willing to try anything that could help. If you don't have the best health insurance, there are several other financial aid options available for paying for treatment.

Instructions

1. Determine the full amount of money that you need the best you can. Check with your doctor to see what treatments he wants you to have and how much it will all cost. Track all of the costs in a notebook.

2. Check with your health insurance to see how much co-payments would be for the treatments. Find out the maximum coverage that your insurance could provide and also ask for recommendations for sources of additional aid directly from your insurer.

3. Apply for government aid through Medicaid or Medicare to see if you qualify for financial aid to for cancer treatments (See Resources). Visit the Medicare Website and click on the "Am I Eligible" option to find out apply. This is one of the best options if you don't have health insurance.

4. Try applying for financial from a non-profit organization like CancerCare. See Resources. Go to the Cancer Care Website and click on "Cancer Care Financial Assistance" to apply for assistance.

5. Go to the National Cancer Institute Website for information on organizations that offer financial aid for cancer treatments. Click on the "Cancer Topics" option at the top of the screen. Click on the "Support and Resources" option. Go through the list of resources to find an option the will be most beneficial for you.

Tags: health insurance, Cancer Care, cancer treatments, Check with, Check with your, financial cancer

Radiology Programs In Va

The average annual salary for radiology technicians in Virginia is $56,000.

Radiology programs are educational programs that lead to a career as a radiology technician. Radiology technicians operate x-ray equipment that provide basic medical images of the body to assist doctors in diagnosing patient problems. In Virginia, radiology programs are called radiologic technology programs and are commonly found at private and community colleges in all area of the state. According to Indeed.com, the average annual salary for radiology technicians in Virginia is $56,000 as of May 2010.

Central Virginia Community College

Central Virginia Community College is a public community college located in Lynchburg, Virginia. CVCC offers a fully accredited radiologic technology program that leads to an associate's degree in radiologic technology. This is a six semester, 72-credit program that takes about two years to complete. Some of the classes in this program include radiographic procedures, intro to medical terminology, radiologic science, radiation protection and radiobiology, radiographic pathology and radiographic equipment. Graduates of this program will be prepared and eligible to take the American Registry of Radiologic Technologists certification exam to become a certified radiology technician.

Central Virginia Community College

3506 Wards Road

Lynchburg, VA 24502-2498

434-832-7600

cc.va.us/

Virginia Western Community College

Located in western Virginia in Roanoke, Virginia, VWCC is a public community college that offers a radiography program that is fully accredited by the Joint Review Committee on Education in Radiologic Technology. This program offers an associate's degree that makes graduates eligible to take the American Registry of Radiologic Technologists certification exam to become a certified radiology technician. Some of the coursework in this program includes human anatomy and physiology, introduction to radiologic science, patient care procedures, correlated radiographic theory and studies in radiography. You will also be required to complete some general education courses. Generally, it will take about two years to complete this program, not including any prerequisite classes you may need.

Virginia Western Community College

3054 Colonial Avenue Southwest

Roanoke, VA 24015-4704

540-857-7276

virginiawestern.edu/

Riverside School of Health

Riverside School of Health is a private college that is a part of the Riverside Health System. Located on the east coast of Virginia in Newport News, Virginia, RS offers a fully-accredited radiologic technologist program that takes about 18 months to complete. Some of the classes in this program include radiation physics, patient care, medical ethics and law, fundamentals of radiologic technology and radiologic procedures. This is a diploma program and graduates earn a certificate of completion in radiologic technology and qualify to take the the American Registry of Radiologic Technologists certification exam to become a certified radiology technician.

Riverside School of Health

316 Main Street

Newport News, VA 23601-3808

757-240-2200

riversideonline.com/

Tags: this program, program that, radiology technician, American Registry, American Registry Radiologic, become certified, become certified radiology

Study Medicine In Australia

Star of Life & Rod of Asclepius

Studying abroad is an extremely rewarding experience as an addition to studies in the U.S., or as an entire degree program. Both of those scenarios are something for students pursuing any kind of specialty in the medical field to consider. Highly reputable medical schools exist abroad, specifically in Australia. So why not combine going to college with exploring the land down under?

Instructions

Finding a Program and Applying

1. Begin by searching for a program designed for your specific area of study. Some schools in Australia, like in the U.S., focus on only one area, while other schools (especially larger ones) have numerous health-related paths to choose from. For undergrads who have not decided on what to specialize in yet, taking general health science and biology courses is another option.

Also consider which region or city in Australia you may want to reside in, and any specific schools you perhaps had in mind.

2. Once you have chosen a program, go over what the requirements are, the costs involved, tests that may need to be passed, the application process and any upcoming deadlines. Programs can be run through a study abroad company, an American school or through direct enrollment at the Australian university, so this can affect how a person goes about applying for admission. Either way, a representative at one of the aforementioned places will be able to help you with applying.

3. When contemplating pay for medical school abroad, be aware that there is financial aid available specifically to use while studying abroad, so don't let the cost get in the way of going on this life-changing adventure. Regular financial aid can also be used in many cases. Plus, scholarships and grants are out there, so be sure to look into those.

4. Once all of the necessary application materials have been rounded up, go ahead and apply to a program.

5. Once you are accepted, it's time for the fun part---planning your journey! This involves picking classes, figuring out where to go on side trips and finding and reserving housing in a dormitory or apartment building. Just remember to make the most of this fabulous opportunity and enjoy the ride!

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Lose Belly Fat

belly fat

Discover lose belly fat with these simple steps.

If you've been struggling to get your waistline under control, don't worry you're not alone. Many people all over don't understand why they are fat or what they can do about it.

For those of you that are ready then follow these 7 simple steps on lose belly fat.

Instructions

1. First thing you need to understand is that abs are made in the kitchen not the gym. Stop fooling yourself into believing that if you just do more sit-ups or crunches that you will somehow get a flat stomach and 6 pack abs.

If you want to lose the belly fat, you have to change your habits. There is no such thing as spot reducing fat, well except for liposuction.

2. Diet, diet, diet. Did you get that? No I don't mean go join weight watchers or try the atkins' diet. It's how, what, and when you eat that will get rid of that fat belly. Fad diets and miracle diet pills won't give you a flat stomach but learning to eat right will.

3. Junk food. We all eat it, even me, the difference is that people who have flat stomachs know that there is a time in your diet for those indulgences. That means no more late night desserts, no high sugar/high fat snacks, and no more McDonalds. Do you want a fat belly or a nice waist line?

Pick one day a week that you treat yourself with your favorite food and don't go overboard. Find some alternatives that will help keep away those cravings. Try some sugar free pudding or no added sugar apple sauce. If you want to lose belly fat you need to give up the things that keep it there.

4. Eat 5-6 meals a day. Did I say eat more food? No, you need to eat more frequently. No more skipping breakfast, no more going all day without eating, no more starving yourself. All of these things keep your belly fat. The only way you will lose that fat belly is by speeding up your metabolism and burn more calories than you consume.

5. Start eating healthier. Do you want to have a heart attack at 47? Then treat your body right. Remember the saying we are what we eat. So if you want to be skinny like a carrot...well you get it.

Eat balanced meals with low glycemic carbs (no sugar and starches). Increase how much fiber you eat and healthy fats (omega 3s) in your diet. Your last meal of the day should be light. Eat a leafy salad with a low calorie vinaigrette and some lean meat. Contrary to what you've been told it's OK to eat at night. Problem is most people are starving and over eat. Over eating late at night is why so many people have a problem with belly fat.

6. Stop drinking sugar water. You ever stop to think about what soda is? It's chemically treated sugar water. Sounds delicious when I put it that way right? Lose the soda. If you can't live without soda then at least switch to the chemically treated water minus the sugar. Again all that sugar just leads to a fat belly.

You especially need to start drinking more water before you eat to help fill you up. Start drinking green tea, its fat burning properties are well known, so drink up.

7. Get that blood flowing. Do you honestly think that watching the biggest loser will some how get rid of that fat belly? Must be some new high tech HDTV osmosis thing. If you really want to know lose belly fat then you need to get your butt off the couch and burn some calories. That fat belly won't get lost by itself so go lose it somewhere.

8. While you are here please take a moment to check out the resources area below for more tips and information. For other tips don't forget to check my profile and to take a look at other articles on ehow.

Tags: lose belly, that will, chemically treated, flat stomach, late night, people have

The Average Salary Of Medical Sonography

A medical sonographer is a health care professional who performs diagnostic imaging to take pictures of internal organs and developing babies. In May 2008, the average annual salary of a medical sonographer was $62,660, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics.

Work Experience

With four years of experience or less sonographers earned average annual salaries between $39,906 and $55,637 in October 2009, reports Payscale.com. Those with more than twenty years of experience earned average maximum salaries of as much as $79,625.

Employer Type

Colleges and universities were the highest paying employers of medical sonographers at average rates of between $43,000 and $76,500 in October 2009 as reported by Payscale.com. Those who worked in hospitals averaged between $40,498 and $60,733.

Education

In October 2009, sonographers with a bachelors of science degree had a salary much higher than their peers with only associates degrees or certificates of completion from a medical training program with average maximum annual salaries of $100,000, $55,855, $68,467, respectively reported by Payscale.com.

Geography

The states with highest average salaries for sonographers in May 2008 were Alaska, Massachusetts, Connecticut, Washington and Oregon, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. The average annual salaries in these states was between $73,290 and $76,570.

Benefits

Medical sonographers also frequently receive benefits that contribute to their overall compensation, including profit sharing, paid holidays and sick leave, 401k retirement plans, life or disability insurance, education and tuition assistance programs, malpractice insurance and between 1.5 and 3.2 weeks of paid vacation, according to Payscale.com.

Tags: annual salaries, average annual, October 2009, according Bureau, according Bureau Labor, average annual salaries, average maximum

Craft Ideas For Pink Ribbons For Breast Cancer Awareness

The pink ribbon serves as a powerful symbol of breast cancer awareness.

The pink ribbon has come to symbolize breast cancer awareness throughout the world. Craft ideas for pink ribbons for breast cancer awareness can range from the simple to the elaborate. Many crafts can be worn or displayed to serve as a tangible and visual reminders of the need to play close attention to women's health issues and to support research and funding for a cure.

Pink Ribbon Charm Bracelet

Make a charm bracelet with pink ribbon charms interlaced with pink beads and silver spacers. Use a memory wire or an elastic beading thread to string all elements of the bracelet. For a memory wire, twist the ends under with needle-nose jewelry pliers to secure; with elastic string, secure with a double knot touched with jewelry glue and obscure the knotted section inside one of the larger beads.

Pink Ribbon Mosaic Candle Holder

Turn a glass hurricane lamp into a symbol for breast cancer awareness. Using pink mosaic tiles, create a simple pink ribbon design on the front of the glass, securing tiles with mosaic grout, available in most crafts stores. Use white mosaic tiles to fill in the remaining space.

Pink Ribbon Key Chain

A go-with-you-everywhere pink ribbon key chain can be created using a 12-inch length of pink satin cording. Stiffen the ends with white glue and fold the cording in half. Thread the folded end through the middle of a safety pin and draw the cord ends down through the folded end loop and pull tight.

Slide a pink ribbon bead up both cords and push it up tight and then slide on another bead or charm, pushing the left cord through the left side of the bead and the right cord through the right side of the bead. Finish by sliding another pink ribbon-themed bead up both cords. Tie an overhand knot tightly under the last bead and trim cords.

Pink Ribbon Magnets

Pink ribbon magnets make decorative, useful and inspirational breast cancer awareness reminders. Print inspirational sayings on small pieces of pink card stock, trim and laminate. Secure laminated cards to self-stick magnets and finish with a delicate pink ribbon glued to the surface. You can also print half-inch pink ribbons on white card stock and cut into circles. Use clear-drying craft glue to secure the paper ribbons to the flat underside of a decorative flat glass marble. When dry, secure a circle magnet to the back side of the picture to create a powerful mini magnet.

Tags: cancer awareness, breast cancer, breast cancer awareness, pink ribbon, bead both, bead both cords

Cons Of Sensory Integration

SID is found in all age groups, intellectual levels and socioeconomic groups.

The term sensory integration dysfunction was used first by Dr. A. Jean Ayres in 1963. Sensory integration dysfunction or disorder (SID) is a neurological disorder that is a result of the brain's inability to process sensation and the resulting motor, emotion, behavior and attention responses. There are three classic patterns of sensory integration disorder with subtypes in each, according to SPD Foundation online: sensory modulation disorder, sensory-based motor disorder and sensory discrimination disorder.

Diagnosis Challenge

Those with sensory seeking subtypes may have symptoms that co-occur with ADHD behaviors.

Sensory seeking/craving is one of the subtypes that falls under the category of sensory modulation disorder. For those in this subtype, the need for constant arousal or sensory stimulation is hard to fulfill. In environments where quiet or calm behaviors are expected, children may become disorganized, impulsive and overactive in order to try to increase their sensory stimulation. This type of behavior is often times confused with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD).

Low Self-Esteem

Dyspraxia can also co-occur with language and speech impairments.

Dyspraxia is one of the two subtypes that fall beneath the pattern category of sensory-based motor disorder. Those with dyspraxia often experience trouble with fine motor manipulative activities and oral-motor activities. Daily activities, such as getting dressed and using regular daily utensils, are sometimes slow to develop. Those with dyspraxia often seem disheveled and disorganized. They choose activities that are sedimentary, which leads them sometimes to obesity. Those with dyspraxia often have feelings of failure and dissatisfaction with their abilities, which creates low self-esteem.

Social Challenges

Children with SID often feel like outcasts and spend much time alone.

Sensory integrative problems are found in up to 70 percent of children considered learning-disabled by schools. But SID is not found only in those with learning disabilities. Factors that can contribute to sensory integrative problems are autism, brain injury, premature birth and more. Many who experience sensory integrative problems are labeled as being learning-disabled or as having other developmental disorders, because of symptoms that can range from making noises to having physical challenges. There are many social challenges involved with those who have SID.

SID in Early Childhood

If you suspect symptoms of SID, visit a developmental pediatrician who is familiar with the disorder.

Symptoms of SID may not be easy to notice in early childhood. If they are evaluated properly and early in the child's life, vast improvements can be made. However, families who are not used to the symptoms of SID may not be prepared for or aware of the signs. Watch for coordination problems, delays in language or speech skills, delays in fine motor skills, poor self-concept and oversensitivity to light, sound, touch or movement.

Tags: Those with, dyspraxia often, integrative problems, Those with dyspraxia, with dyspraxia

Hypocalcemia & Treatment

When you have hypocalcemia, the calcium level within your blood becomes too low. Normal calcium levels are necessary to form your bones, contract your muscles, release hormones and help your nerves and brain perform correctly. Hypocalcemia can show a range from no symptoms to very severe. Depending on the severity of your condition, treatments will vary.

Causes of Hypercalcemia

According to Merck Manuals, hypocalcemia is the result of too much calcium being excreted into your urine, or calcium not moving from your bones into your blood. Other causes include low levels of parathyroid hormone (due to damage during thyroid surgery), being born without parathyroid glands, and low levels of magnesium. You can also develop hypocalcemia due to a vitamin D deficiency, kidney dysfunction, the inability to consume calcium, pancreatitis or medications such as antibiotics or anticonvulsants.

Symptoms

Initially, you may not feel any symptoms. According to Merck Manuals, symptoms include confusion, delirium, depression, memory loss and hallucinations. Once your calcium levels are restored, these symptoms no longer appear. Other symptoms include tingling of lips, tongue and tips of your fingers or toes. You may also experience muscle aches and spasms, difficulty in breathing, seizures and abnormal heartbeats.

Diagnosis

A blood test can catch the condition before symptoms become severe. Blood tests can also be conducted on your kidneys to see how they are functioning. Magnesium, phosphate, parathyroid hormone levels and vitamin D levels are also measured.

Supplements

According to Dr. Daniel J. Drucker of the University of Toronto, calcium supplementation is the recommended course of treatment. At times, vitamin D may be necessary to help the calcium get absorbed into your body. It is important to take the supplements according to your doctor's recommendations. Too much calcium or vitamin D can result in the formation of kidney stones and impairment of your kidney function.

Thiazide Diuretics

Sometimes when taking calcium supplements and vitamin D, large amounts of calcium can get excreted through your urine, which can exacerbate symptoms. Taking a small amount of diuretics may help reduce the excretion of calcium. Your doctor may prescribe thiazide diuretics. According to Dr. Drucker, the use of thiazide diuretics can help those who have severe hypocalcemia, as a form of long-term treatment.

Diet

Eating foods that contain calcium can help keep your calcium levels balanced. Red beans, kale, collard greens, sardines, salmon, dairy foods, oranges and orange juice are good sources of calcium.

Tags: calcium levels, into your, According Merck, According Merck Manuals, diuretics help, Merck Manuals, much calcium

Prepare For Radiation Therapy Side Effects

Radiation therapy is an effective treatment for many forms of cancer. While it does a good job of killing cancer cells, it can also damage surrounding tissues. According to the National Cancer Institute (NCI), this tissue damage can lead to diarrhea, fatigue, hair loss, nausea, and/or vomiting. You may notice changes in your mouth, throat, and skin. Radiation therapy can also impair sexual, urinary, and bowel function. The more you know about potential side effects, the better prepared you'll be to deal with problems as they arise.

Instructions

1. Exercise regularly. According to the American Cancer Society, moderate exercise will help relieve fatigue from the radiation therapy and improve your quality of life. Take a short walk several times a week, try a gentle form of exercise such as yoga, and participate in outings you enjoy.

2. Balance physical exercise and rest. It's important to get a good night's sleep, and to rest periodically throughout the day if you need it. Identify activities that are important to you, and make them your priority. Don't be afraid to talk with family and friends about helping out so you don't overexert yourself.

3. Plan your meals carefully. While it's important to eat a well-balanced diet, some foods will make your symptoms worse. Too much fiber may worsen your diarrhea, for example, while spicy foods can be painful if you have mouth sores. Eating five or six smaller meals a day might help reduce nausea, vomiting, and diarrhea.

4. Drink plenty of liquids. If you have diarrhea, nausea, or vomiting, it's easy to get dehydrated. Plan on drinking eight to 10 glasses of water a day, and avoid beverages like alcohol or caffeine that contribute to dehydration.

5. Decide manage hair loss. Unlike chemotherapy, which leads to hair loss over your whole body, radiation therapy affects only the body part(s) touched by the X-rays. If you have brain cancer, you may lose hair from your head. Think about whether you want to purchase a wig, wear colorful scarves, or go au naturel.

6. Ask for emotional support. You may feel angry, irritable, depressed, or isolated during the course of your radiation treatments. Don't be afraid to ask family members, friends, and colleagues to help you by visiting, talking on the phone, or joining you for a short walk.

Tags: hair loss, nausea vomiting, short walk

Assess A Rib Fracture

Assess a Rib Fracture

Suspect a rib fracture anytime a person receives a blow to the chest and feels a great deal of pain at the point injured. Look for the following signs as indicators of the severity of the injury.

Instructions

Simple Rib Fracture

1. Gently touch the area of the chest that received the blow. The injured person will complain of sharp tenderness at the point of the fracture if one or more ribs were broken.

2. Have the injured person take a deep breath or cough: Does he or she feel sharp, stabbing pain? If yes, suspect a fractured rib.

3. Look for the following additional signs and symptoms: deformity or discoloration around the chest area; shallow breathing to minimize the pain with each breath; an elevated respiratory rate. The presence of any of these signs may indicate a fractured rib.

4. Decrease movement on the side of the fracture using one of the following methods: Tape the factured side with four or five pieces of adhesive tape from the sternum to the spine; apply an elastic bandage around the entire chest; use a sling and swathe to immobilize the arm against the injured side; tape a stuff sack filled with clothes loosely to the injured side of the chest. See "Treat a Rib Fracture."

5. Administer ibuprofen, acetaminophen or naproxen sodium for pain.

6. Encourage the injured person to cough frequently, despite the pain, in order to prevent secretions from pooling in the lung causing pneumonia.

7. Evacuate immediately, monitoring for difficulty breathing. The injured person may be able to walk out if there are no signs of respiratory distress.

Serious Fractures and Flail Chest

8. Look for the signs of respiratory distress immediately after a major impact to the chest: rapid and shallow breathing; elevated heart rate; a bluish tint around the nose and mouth; no detectable breathing.

9. Look for the signs of a punctured lung: increased difficulty breathing; coughing up blood.

10. Place one hand on each side of the injured person's chest and observe the way in which the chest moves with inhalations. If one side of the chest rises during inhalation while the other falls, at least three ribs have been broken on the falling side of the chest.

11. Treat immediately if the person appears to have punctured a lung or has multiple fractures. The best treatment is to roll the person onto the injured side and place a rolled piece of clothing underneath the fractured area to support it.

12. Evacuate immediately, monitoring for respiratory distress. The person will not be able to walk out and must be carried on a backboard or in a litter, or flown out with a helicopter.

Tags: injured person, injured side, respiratory distress, side chest, able walk, Assess Fracture

Obtain A Life & Health Insurance License In Tennessee

Tennessee requires a license to sell life and health insurance.

Life and health insurance can provide lucrative sales opportunities for insurance agents. The Tennessee Department of Commerce and Insurance requires a license for life insurance and a separate combined license for accident and health insurance. Aspiring agents who wish to sell both types must attend courses on each type and pass separate exams. Tennessee applicants who complete the education and testing must also pass a criminal background check. Successful applicants may contract with insurance companies to sell policies for life, accident and health insurance in Tennessee.

Instructions

1. Complete 20 hours of approved courses in life insurance and 20 hours in accident and health insurance. Click on the "Provider and Course Listings" link on the Pearson VUE exam information page to find an approved school (see References). You can use the phone numbers in the listings to contact providers and schedule your courses. Use the course materials provided by the school to prepare for your exam. You can also use the exam content outlines to determine which subjects appear on the exam. Get a certificate from your school after completing your courses. You need to present the certificate when you take your exam.

2. Schedule your examinations. You may take the exams for life insurance and accident and health insurance at the same time. As of 2010, the combined fee for taking both exams is $52. Pearson VUE, the company that administers the exam, accepts debit cards, credit cards, payment vouchers and electronic checks. You may call, use the fax request form, or use the online site to register. You can buy a voucher with a check or money order payable to Pearson VUE. The "Insurance Candidate Handbook" contains the fax and voucher forms. Use the following information to schedule your exams:

Pearson VUE

c/o AP Voucher Program

P.O. Box 41508

Philadelphia, PA 19101-1508

Phone: 800-274-4957

Fax: 888-204-6291

pearsonvue.com

3. Take the insurance exams. Pearson VUE will send confirmation to Tennessee if you pass. You may take as many retake exams as you need for six months. If you fail to pass within that time, you will have to attend the courses again.

4. Schedule a fingerprinting session. The Tennessee Department of Commerce and Insurance will use the prints to conduct a background check. Call 877-862-2425 or use the Cogent Systems website (see References) to schedule an appointment. Use "TN920680Z" as the ORI number and "IP" as the transaction type. You may pay by credit card or a money order made out to Cogent Systems. As of 2010, the fee is $48. The authorities will forward the results to the Department of Commerce and Insurance on your behalf.

5. Fill out the "Uniform Application for Individual Producer License/Registration" form (see References). As of 2010, the fee is $50 to apply for a Tennessee insurance license. You may pay by money order, check from an insurance company, certified check, or cashier's check, payable to the Tennessee Department of Commerce and Insurance. Send the application and fee to the following address:

Tennessee Department of Commerce and Insurance

Producer Licensing Section

500 James Robertson Parkway

Nashville, TN 37243-1134

615-741-2693

tn.gov/commerce/insurance

Tags: Department Commerce, Department Commerce Insurance, accident health, accident health insurance, Commerce Insurance, Tennessee Department

Macular Degeneration Treatments By Injection

The wet form of age-related macular degeneration can cause devastating vision loss in some patients; the vision loss results from abnormal growth and the leaking of blood vessels under the retina. The available drug treatments for this condition involve either an injection in the arm or an injection into the eye to administer the medication.

Photodynamic Therapy with Verteporfin

Photodynamic therapy with verteporfin was the first FDA-approved medication treatment of macular degeneration that impacted the growth of the blood vessels. Your doctor injects the verteporfin into your arm and activates the medication with a laser.

Pegaptinib Injections

The next approved drug therapy for macular degeneration was pegaptinib, which your doctor injects into the back of your eye every six weeks. This medication can stop the growth of blood vessels.

Ranibizumab Injections

Ranibizumab also can halt the growth of the blood vessels and is FDA-approved for injection every four weeks to maintain benefits from the medication.

Bevacizumab Injections

Bevacizumab is a colon cancer treatment that is chemically related to ranibizumab and is often used to treat macular degeneration in the same way. However, it has not been FDA-approved for macular degeneration, as of July 2009.

Steroid Injections

Some researchers have used different types of steroids as injections into the eye to attempt to stop the leaking of the abnormal blood vessels, but the results of these studies have not been that promising.

Tags: blood vessels, macular degeneration, growth blood, growth blood vessels, doctor injects, vision loss

Adenocarcinoma Lung Cancer Treatments

Adenocarcinoma comprises about 40 percent of cancers diagnosed in the lungs today. It can start in one lung and grow in spots throughout the lung, sometimes invading both lungs. The disease can spread quickly to other vital parts of your body, including the brain, liver and bones. It must be caught early for treatment to begin in order to have the best prognosis. Of course, treatment depends on how large the tumors are and how far the cancer has spread.

Surgery

If you have adenocarcinoma and it is caught early, surgery will most likely be your doctor's choice of treatment. In addition to surgery, you may have to undergo other treatments to help fight the disease.

During the surgical procedure, depending on the size of the tumor and its location, the doctor may remove part of a lobe in your lung, all of a lobe or all of one lung. He also will take biopsies of lymph nodes to check for metastasis (spreading).

Chemotherapy

Chemotherapy is a fairly common treatment for adenocarcinoma, especially if it is more advanced. The chemo works on cancer cells as well as healthy cells. Some of the side effects inlude extreme stomach upset, loss of hair, mouth sores and weakness and fatigue. The chemo may be used in combination with other treatments like surgery and radiation.

Chemotherapy is either injected into your bloodstream or given orally. You might have more than one medicine acting in the chemo treatments, and you may have to undergo chemo for quite awhile.

Radiation

Radiation is used to try to decrease the tumor's size. If your doctor is concerned about metastasis, he may want you to undergo radiation for your brain to try to stop tumors from growing. Radiation is aimed at the lungs. Not only can radiation be aimed in from the outside, but doctors can inject radiation into you, near the area of the cancer. Radiation can be used together with chemotherapy or surgery.

Medications

If your cancer is more advanced, there are two other options that are relatively new to the field. Avastin works to inhibit blood from going to the tumor. If the tumor tries to pave the way for more blood to get in, this drug will help to put a stop to this. Another drug that is used, especially if chemo hasn't helped, is Tarceva. This medication helps put a stop to the cancer cells' growth: "it blocks chemicals that signal the cancer cells to grow and divide" (Mayo Clinic).

Palliative Care

If your cancer is so advanced that it cannot be helped or if it has not responded to any treatments that you have undergone, you might choose to forgo any more treatments and receive comfort measures. These comfort measures will be available to help you gain relief from any of the pain or effects you might be feeling from your illness, but they will not stop the cancer from progressing or spreading. They will simply be there to help you to enjoy your last few weeks or months of being alive with family and friends.

Naturopathic/Homeopathic Treatments

If you are undergoing treatments, you might want to add some naturopathic treatments to your regimen in order to make you feel more comfortable and help relieve some of the stress and effects that go along with a diagnosis and treatment of cancer. These might include stress-relieving techniques, such as acupuncture, visual imagery, exercise and massage. Other naturopathic treatments include nutritional changes in your lifestyle. Eating plenty of raw vegetables and fruits provides nutrients that can help to strengthen your immune system and give you more strength through your illness. Avoiding sugar is a must, as sugar helps to feed the cancer. Supplementing your diet with important vitamins and minerals like vitamin C, folic acid and modified citrus pectin can be of great value. It's also important to give yourself a chance to relax; get as much rest as possible.

Tags: cancer cells, caught early, comfort measures, have undergo, more advanced, naturopathic treatments, other treatments

The Disadvantages Of Sonography

Sonography is often used to check on the development of a growing fetus.

Sonography, more commonly known as ultrasound, is a diagnostic medical procedure used to visualize anatomical structures inside a living body. This technique involves using high-frequency sound waves to produce dynamic visual images of blood flow, tissues,and organs. One common use for sonography is in abdominal ultrasound, which allows medical professionals and mothers-to-be to check up on the growth and health of a developing fetus.

Bone and Gas

The main disadvantage of sonography is its inability to penetrate bone. This makes visualization of some areas of the body very difficult, if not impossible. The presence of gas also affects the visual quality of ultrasound images, as gas induces poor quality image output. Poor quality images are difficult for medical professionals to interpret, which often means another form of diagnostic procedure is necessary.

Body Size

Another disadvantage of ultrasound technology involves body size of the patient. Sonography visualization problems can arise when the target area is deep within the body. Image quality is often poor in this case. Obese patients are typically not good candidates for sonography because of these visualization problems.

Operator Error

Sonography is completely dependent on the skill of the operator. A diagnostic procedure performed by a poorly trained ultrasound technician or a well-trained technician making an error can produce inconsistent and incorrect results. Sonography is an extremely safe, useful procedure, but it's only accurate as long as its operator's performance is without error.

Qualifications

A final disadvantage of sonography is the qualifications necessary to use it. Ultrasound technicians are highly trained and specialized. Ultrasound technicians complete at least two to four years of medical training before entering the work force. Additionally, technicians undergo continuing education throughout their career to stay updated on current information and procedure modifications within the field. Demand for ultrasound technicians is expected to grow as the baby boomers age.

Tags: diagnostic procedure, disadvantage sonography, medical professionals, Ultrasound technicians, visualization problems

Adult Requirements For Medicaid In Texas

Medicaid is a healthcare program for low income individuals and families.

Adult Medicaid in Texas is a government medical coverage program that pays all or part of the medical bills for eligible people. Medicaid covers low-income individuals and families; however, not all low-income people qualify. Age, disability, family status, income and available resources determine your eligibility.

General Eligibility Requirements

To qualify for adult Medicaid services in Texas, you must be a U.S. citizen and a resident of Texas. Your monthly income cannot exceed the current limits, determined by family size and your personal resources cannot total more than the current allowable limit. Low-income groups that may be eligible for Medicaid in Texas include people over age 65; people under age 65 who are blind or unable to work because of a severe disability that prevents seeking employment for at least one year; pregnant women; custodial parents of minor children; people receiving welfare or Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF), and certain people who have aged out of foster care. Typically, adults under the age of 65 who have no dependent children and do not meet the above criteria are not eligible for Medicaid coverage.

Income Requirements

As of 2010, the monthly income limit for an individual is $903. The limit for a couple is $1,214 and the limit for a family of four is $1838. Income includes wages, rental income or royalties, Social Security benefits, Veterans benefits, child support, gifts, interest income and pensions or other retirement benefits.

Resource Limits

Resources included in determining eligibility for adult Medicaid services include cash on hand, bank accounts, retirement accounts, stocks and bonds, real estate (other than your primary residence) and cars other than your primary car. Your home, one car, jewelry, clothing and home furnishings do not count as resources that may affect eligibility.

Automatic Eligibility

If you receive Supplemental Security Income (SSI), TANF, or Refugee Cash Assistance, you are automatically eligible for adult Medicaid in Texas.

Apply

You can get more information on options available to you by calling 211 or 877-541-7905. The Texas Health and Human Services Commission has application forms available in both English and Spanish on their website, as well as a screening questionnaire that will help you locate additional assistance programs.

Things You'll Need

When applying for adult Medicaid services in Texas, you'll need photo identification, such as a driver's license or a state ID card, your Social Security card or proof of alien status, copies of your medical and life insurance policies, current statements of any income sources and your most recent bank statements

Tags: Medicaid Texas, adult Medicaid services, Medicaid services, adult Medicaid, adult Medicaid

Does An Employer Have To Offer Cobra

The federal law known as the Consolidated Omnibus Budget Reconciliation Act of 1985 (COBRA) allows workers to remain covered by their former employers' health insurance plans for up to 18 months after they leave their jobs, although they have to pay the full cost of the premiums themselves. If an employer's health plan is covered by COBRA, then in most cases, that employer has to give departing employees the option of continuing their coverage.

Covered Plans

Whether a health plan is covered by COBRA depends on the size of the employer's workforce. If an employer had at least 20 employees for the majority of its business days in the previous calendar year, then any group health insurance plan it offers its employees is subject to COBRA. Employers covered under COBRA are required to tell workers when they leave their jobs that they can continue their coverage.

Covered Employees

To qualify for coverage under COBRA, a worker has to have been participating in the employer's health plan before leaving the company. In other words, if you're working for a company and you aren't enrolled in its insurance plan, your employer doesn't have to offer you COBRA when you leave. COBRA coverage extends not only to the employee but also to other members of that worker's family who were covered by the plan. That means that if your spouse and children were on your plan while you worked at the company, they'd be covered by COBRA, too. But if they weren't covered, you cannot add them to your coverage after you leave. There's one exception: If you have a new baby or adopt a child while you're under COBRA, that child will be covered.

Reasons for Leaving

Employers covered by COBRA must offer continued coverage to anyone who leaves the company for any reason unless that person was fired for "gross misconduct." The law doesn't define gross misconduct, but the legal advice website Nolo says it generally covers illegal or dangerous conduct and deliberate violations of workplace standards. Simply being a bad worker -- making mistakes, being inefficient, showing bad judgment -- doesn't qualify as gross misconduct.

Other Situations

Though COBRA usually applies to workers who are leaving a job, employers must also offer continued coverage in some other circumstances. For example, if a covered employee dies or retires, her family can continue coverage under COBRA. Same thing if the employee gets kicked off the company health plan because she now qualifies for Medicare. If a worker gets divorced, her ex-spouse can continue her coverage. And if a worker's child reaches the age where the child is no longer eligible under family coverage, that child also can get COBRA coverage.

Tags: covered COBRA, health plan, under COBRA, gross misconduct, COBRA coverage, continue coverage, continued coverage

Silicone & Breast Cancer

Woman with breast implants

The most common way silicone comes into contact with the breast is through silicone breast implants, which were banned in 1992 by the Food and Drug Administration.

Breast Cancer

Breast cancer is a malignant tumor that develops in the breast. It can occur in men, though it is most common in women.

Silicone

Silicone is a man-made, rubber-like substance that is used for various applications including cookware, adhesives and medical equipment.

Silicone Implants

First marketed in the early 1960s before the Food and Drug Administration required proof that medical devices were safe, silicone implants were considered biologically inactive.

Theories/Speculation

A study conducted by the National Cancer Institute in 2006 investigated the theories that silicone implants contribute to connective tissue disorders and the development of cancer, specifically in the breast.

Participants

The participants in the 2006 NCI study included 13,500 women who received either silicone or saline implants in both breasts for cosmetic purposes before 1989.

Findings

The 2006 NCI study found no association between breast implants and subsequent breast cancer and no association of breast cancer risk in years to follow. Though breast cancer was detected at a later stage among breast implant patients, breast cancer was not associated with any particular type of implant.

Tags: breast cancer, breast implants, 2006 study, Drug Administration, Food Drug, Food Drug Administration

What Is Abdominal Sonography

Ultrasound uses sound waves to image structures within the body. A detailed survey of the abdominal organs can be done to diagnose the cause of symptoms a patient may be having. Ultrasound may be used in conjunction with other imaging modalities to obtain a more detailed diagnosis.

Imaging Modalities

There are several modalities that can be used to examine the abdomen. X-ray and computed tomography (CT) use X-rays to obtain images. X-ray produces general images that may show a subtle soft-tissue mass. CT gives clear, detailed images. Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) uses magnetism to produce detailed images. Ultrasound uses sound waves and is a safer and more affordable alternative to the other modalities, which is why it is often used as a first step to finding abdominal masses or other problems.

Patient Preparation

The abdomen is filled with small and large bowel. The bowel is often fill with gas, especially after eating. Ultrasound cannot be used to see through gas, so the patient is asked to fast for eight hours prior to the ultrasound exam. The gallbladder must be filled during the ultrasound, and it fills with bile during a fast. When digesting food, the gallbladder contracts and squeezes the bile out to aid in the digestion of fats.

Frequency

Different frequencies of ultrasound are used depending on how deep the sound waves must travel into the body. Lower ultrasound frequencies are used for abdominal ultrasound. Generally, five megahertz is sufficient, but a range of two to seven megahertz may be used. The sonographer may press hard on the abdomen with the camera to displace fat and bowel, allowing for better imaging of the abdominal organs.

Protocol

Abdominal ultrasound is used to evaluate specific organs. A series of pictures is taken in two planes for each organ. One plane is called longitudinal, and is an image splice in the head-to-toe direction. Transverse is the side-to-side plane. The organs imaged are the pancreas, liver, gallbladder and spleen. The liver and spleen are measured. The gallbladder wall and common bile duct are measured. Kidneys often are not imaged and are evaluated during a renal ultrasound.

Patient Positioning

The patient generally starts out lying on his back, called the supine position. The gallbladder will be evaluated while the patient is in the supine and left lateral decubitus positions. The left lateral decubitus position is when the patient lies on his left side. The patient may be asked to lie on his right side, right lateral decubitus position, when imaging the spleen. This causes the bowel to fall toward the right side and away from the spleen so it can be seen better using ultrasound.

Tags: lateral decubitus, sound waves, abdominal organs, decubitus position, decubitus position when, detailed images

What Methods Are Used To Reconstruct The Breast Following A Mastectomy

Breast reconstruction is a surgical procedure that aims to rebuild the contour of the breast, including the nipple and areola. It is usually performed for patients who have undergone mastectomies or those who have gotten undesirable results such as a botched breast lift after going through cosmetic surgery. Several methods exist for breast reconstruction.

Skin Expansion with Breast Implants

Skin expansion is common method used in breast reconstruction. It is done by inserting a small tissue expander similar to a balloon, under the skin's surface. The process of inserting the tissue expander typically takes about 45 minutes. Periodically, in a span of weeks or even months, the surgeon injects saline (salt-water) solution to stretch and expand the skin.

Once the balloon expander has reached the desired size, it can then be removed and replaced with permanent breast implants. After the skin has finished stretching, reconstruction of the nipple and areola region can then be performed.

Saline Implants

Saline implants are one potential choice for implants in breast reconstruction. If saline implants are selected, the tissue or skin expander is replaced with a saline implant. One benefit of saline implants is that saline can be injected over time to adjust the size of the implant. Some people also believe that saline has a more natural feel to it.

Silicone Implants

Silicone implants are implants pre-filled with saline gel. If a silicone implant is used, it cannot be inserted until the skin has been stretched large enough for the implant to fit. Silicone implants are pre-filled and the size cannot be changed or adjusted once the implant has been inserted in the breast unless you have another procedure, remove the silicone implant, and put in a different sized implant.

Flap Reconstruction

Another common procedure is the Flap Construction. It uses tissues from other parts of the patient's body such as the thigh, back, abdomen, or buttocks. Usually, the donor tissue from the abdomen for example, is left connected to its source to maintain its blood supply. This is done by tunneling the veins underneath the skin's surface to its new site. Or, it may totally be cut off and will simply connect new blood supply to them. A downside of this kind of procedure is the scar tissue that is left in both the breast and donor area. Tissue rejection is never a concern though since the donor and the recipient are one.

However, since the flap constructions involves the handling of blood vessels, patients who have diabetes, vascular tissue disease, or those who smoke are typically unsuccessful candidates for this procedure.

Flap constructions take longer to perform as compared to breast implant surgery. Flap procedures typically take about 4 to 5 hours. Recovery period is also longer. Patients who undergo a flap construction stay in the hospital for three to seven days as opposed to the possible one-day stay of breast implant patients. However, results of a flap procedure are said to be more natural looking.

Recovery

Breast reconstruction patients will stay in the hospital either for just a day or up to 5 to 7 days following the surgery. Stitches will be removed after 7 to 10 days.

After surgery, patients will experience moderate pain, fatigue, and discomfort for several weeks. Patients should rest and avoid any strenuous physical activities. No heavy lifting, no sports, and no sexual activity for up to 6 weeks for speedier recovery.

Although full recovery can be expected in 6 weeks, surgeons usually perform nipple reconstruction after 8 weeks. This is also the time that surgeons refine the natural breasts for more symmetry. This improves the aesthetics of the breasts.

Tags: blood supply, breast implant, breast reconstruction, implants pre-filled, more natural

Feline Dry Eye Symptoms

Feline Dry Eye Symptoms

When a cat can't produce enough tears to keep the surface of his eyes moist, then the cat is suffering from dry eyes. Dry eyes in cats can occur for a variety of reasons, but the most serious is keratoconjunctivitis sicca or KCS. Its nicknames are "dry eye" and "chronic dry eye." This can happen to dogs as well as to cats.

Causes

Although a lot about KCS is still mostly unknown, the theory is that in cats it is caused for three reasons. The first reason is injury to the eye, the inner eyelid or tear ducts. The second is a bad reaction to different medications, such as sulphonamide drugs. But the most common reason, according to Dr. Alexandera Van der Woerdt, is because the cat is infected with feline herpes virus.

Early Symptoms

When KCS begins, the eye will appear reddish and there will be a constant discharge from the corners of the eyes that is a dark reddish-brown. The eyes will also look as if there is a transparent film over them. The cat may also spend a lot of time rubbing her eyes and may avoid getting stroked or touched around the head.

Later Symptoms

The infected eyes become cloudy and the discharge will often become thicker and coat over the eyeballs. The inner eyelid may also not be able to close all the way, so the cat will look as if his inner eyelid is always half open. The cat is usually in considerable discomfort at this time and may go off food.

Warning

The cat needs to be taken to the vet when these symptoms occur. KCS gets worse over time. Eventually, the cat's eyes become so sore that they develop ulcers and the cat will go blind. The cat will also be in a considerable amount of pain.

Treatment

Although difficult to prevent, KCS is relatively easy to treat. Mar Vista Animal Medical Center says that only in extreme cases is surgery required to transfer the salivary ducts to the malfunctioning tear ducts. But usually, drops and ointments can help clear up KCS. The cat's eye can also be rinsed with lukewarm water to give some relief.

Tags: inner eyelid, eyes become, Feline Symptoms, Symptoms When, tear ducts, will also

Ideas For Birthday Parties For 14 Year Olds

Give your 14-year-old a party she'll never forget.

The challenges involved in planning a 14-year-old's birthday party can be daunting. Fortunately, however, they are not insurmountable. You can plan and execute a fun and even adult-like party for your teen that she will adore. Whether you choose to go out or stay in, your teen will remember her 14th birthday for years to come. Does this Spark an idea?

Themes

The options for birthday party themes are nearly endless. Throw a retro-themed party using the 1960s or 1970s. Play music from your chosen decade and have guests dress in the fashion of the time. Or, pick a popular book or movie series. Decorate a room of your home to resemble a place in the movie and play the soundtrack during the party. You could also choose a particular stereotype, such as jocks, goths or preps, and have everyone dress up.

Outings

Using your home can be convenient, but your 14-year-old may prefer a more grown-up venue. Take him to a professional sports game or race track with several of his friends or to an adventure park where they can ride go karts, play mini golf and play video games. Take her and her friends to a spa for a day of grown-up beautifying or drop them off at a big-city mall for the afternoon. Both genders may enjoy a concert or any outing at night because being out at night is more grown-up. Have a swimming party at night, take them late-night bowling or arrange a private 10 p.m. show at a local cinema.

At Home

Have the party at home to keep costs down. If you have a lawn or backyard, spread blankets, put up beach umbrellas and have a picnic party. Turn your living room into a darkened theater and have a movie party. Cover all the windows and doorways and serve popcorn, candy and soda. You could also split the party guests into teams and devise a neighborhood-wide scavenger hunt. The winning team gets to pick the toppings for the pizza you order afterward.

Adventures

Tell your teen to pick three or four close friends and give them all a birthday adventure. Get each teen's parents' permission and take them all skydiving or bungee jumping. Or, take a road trip to the nearest big city and spend a day sightseeing and shopping. Top the day off with a Broadway show or a professional sports match. You could also head for the mountains and do an adventure hike (with a guide), go whitewater rafting down exciting rapids or take a weekend camping trip.

Tags: could also, your teen, birthday party, more grown-up, professional sports

Indiana Teenage Pregnancy Parental Rights Laws

Indiana has several laws requiring pregnant teens to consult with their parents.

According to the Guttmacher Institute, Indiana ranks 26th of all states in teen pregnancy based on 2005 data. As of 2005, teenagers 15 to 19 accounted for 13,740 reported pregnancies in Indiana. Of those, 4,050 were among teenagers 15 to 17 and 9,690 occurred in teens 18 to 19. Indiana has several laws in place requiring teenagers to seek direction from a parent or guardian on handle a pregnancy.

Parental Consent for Health Care Services

Indiana law requires pregnant teenagers under 18 to obtain consent from their parents to seek services from a health care provider. Emancipated teens don't have to abide by this law and may seek health care in the event they become pregnant without their parents' approval.

Pregnancy Test

A teenager doesn't need her parent's approval to purchase a home pregnancy test. In addition, a prescription isn't required to obtain a test.

Adoption

A mother under 18 can place her child for adoption without agreement from her parents or guardians. However, the teenage mother must notify the biological father of the adoption. When the biological father is known, he must provide consent or a judge must endorse the adoption.

Abortion

A girl under 18 must receive a written consent from one parent or guardian before an abortion. The consent can come from any parent and not necessarily the one with custody of the pregnant teenager. A minor is allowed to appeal to a juvenile court judge for a waiver of this requirement. The law doesn't apply to emancipated children under 18.

Mandatory Waiting Period

Indiana imposes an 18-hour waiting period before a teen receives an abortion. A health care provider also must inform the teen of the options available to her, including adoption, before an abortion is performed.

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A Radiologist Assistant'S Salary At Hospitals

A radiologist assistant may specialize in conducting sonograms on expectant mothers.

A radiologist is a physician who specializes in imaging techniques. A radiologist's assistant, or radiologic tech, works closely with the radiologist to administer the tests that the patient's physician requires. Radiologist assistants may specialize in tests such as magnetic resonance imaging, or MRIs, or they may prefer to conduct a variety of imaging tests. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, most radiologist assistants work for hospitals, but the BLS's May 2010 report showed that salaries varied by the type of hospital.

General Medical Hospitals

Overall, general medical hospitals paid radiologist assistants an average salary of $55,880 annually, with 10 percent earning $38,110 or less and 10 percent $76,980 or more. State-owned hospitals paid radiology assistants an average salary of $55,960 annually. At hospitals owned by local governments, radiology assistants earned an average annual salary of $52,310. Privately owned hospitals paid the highest average salary at $56,390 per year.

Psychiatric and Substance Abuse Hospitals

Hospitals for substance abuse or psychiatric treatment paid radiology assistants an average of $48,500 annually, with 10 percent earning no more than $33,010 and 10 percent earning at least $67,460. State-owned facilities paid an average salary of $46,230, while privately owned facilities paid $54,090.

Specialty Hospitals

Specialty hospitals, except those for substance abuse or psychiatric treatment, paid radiology assistants an average salary of $60,550, with 10 percent earning $39,780 or less and 10 percent earning $84,910 or more. At privately owned specialty hospitals, the average pay was $60,730 annually.

Average for All Types of Hospitals

When taken as a whole, the average salary for all hospitals was $55,950 annually for radiology assistants, with 10 percent earning $38,130 or less and 10 percent earning $77,170 or more.

Average for All Employers

Salaries for radiologist assistants averaged $55,730 annually among all employer classes. The best-paid 10 percent earned at least $76,850 and the lowest-paid earned no more than $36,510.

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What Is A Wildlife Photographer'S Yearly Salary

Wildlife photographers may sometimes work in extreme weather conditions.

Wildlife photographers capture images of subjects in the natural world. Their photographs are intended to document how plants, animals and natural landscapes look and behave. Most wildlife photographers work on a freelance basis and while the salary expectations are not extraordinary, their job can take them around the world to some of the natural world's most beautiful locations.

Average Salary Expectations

The vast majority of wildlife photographers are freelancers who specialize in this particular field. Thus, salary expectations can vary depending on the photographer's experience, reputation and ability to secure commissions. As a rough guide, SimplyHired.com places the annual average salary for a wildlife photographer at $41,000.

Additional Opportunities

Wildlife photographers may also be able to supplement their income in a variety of ways. They may be able to secure grants from government or charitable agencies in order to undertake a specific photography project. They may also be able to teach part-time or sell images to image libraries and picture agencies.

Expenses

Given that most wildlife photographers operate on a freelance basis, they will accrue expenses which they, rather than the employer, must pay for. Purchasing, repairing and updating camera equipment is the primary expense, but travel and other costs may also have to be factored into the photographer's salary expectations.

Increasing Earning Potential

In order to give oneself the best chance of securing commissions and thus increasing one's earning potential, it is advisable to work at establishing a good contacts base and develop a portfolio that demonstrates a good technical ability as well as a large range of subject matter. The photographer may need to operate with little or no profit in the first few years of her career in order to establish herself in the field.

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Become A Dental Radiologist

A dental radiologist evaluates dental images.

Dental radiologists evaluate images related to the teeth and jaw to diagnose problems, advise treatment and teach dental students. Dental radiologists can help to interpret images taken by dentists and dental assistants during examinations. They are involved in many aspects of dentistry including implants, orthodontics, and other oral problems. They can have their own private offices, but more commonly work at a research facility, hospital or dental school.

Instructions

1. Earn a bachelor's college degree -- some dental schools require several years of undergraduate work. Although some do not require a full degree, many do. Take classes that are generally considered pre-dental such as chemistry, biology and calculus. If you are interested in one or more particular dental schools, then ascertain the exact class requirements.

2. Gain admission into dental school. You will need to score well on the Dental Admission Test, attain good grades (generally a 3.5 G.P.A.) in your undergraduate classes, and complete the interview and application process. Only one-third of dental applicants are accepted.

3. Obtain a Doctor of Dental Surgery or a Doctor of Dental Medicine Degree, which are considered similar or even the same degree. Typically, dental school takes four years to complete, and includes both class work and training in a clinical setting. You must also pass the National Board Dental Examination Part I and II, and a licensing examination.

4. Complete a residency in radiology. This usually involves at least two to four additional years of education and training in areas including diagnostic image interpretation, radiation biology, safety in radiology and pathology. Programs often include clinical rotations to give students hands-on experience in dental radiology.

5. Pass the American Board of Oral and Maxillofacial Radiology (ABOMR) exam. Spend the necessary time to study for this long and comprehensive test. You will then be awarded Diplomate status in the Board.

6. Complete all continuing dental education requirements. The exact courses required vary by state, but dentists are generally required to complete coursework to keep abreast of new advances and techniques in the dental field.

7. Secure a position as a dental radiologist. Dental radiologists commonly work in dental schools where they educate dental students and complete research. Others create radiology safety protocol, consult in dental cases, work in the radiology department of a hospital, or open up private practices.

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